Standard Methods Research Articles

A Simple Method for Estimating Stomatal Aperture from Temperature Measurements on Intact Leaves and Wet and Dry Artificial Reference Leaves

Environmental control in greenhouse horticulture is essential for providing optimal conditions for plant growth and achieving greater productivity and quality. To develop appropriate environmental management practices for greenhouse horticulture through sensing technologies for monitoring the environmental stress responses of plants in real time, we evaluated the relative value of the stomatal opening to develop a technology that continuously monitors stomatal aperture to determine the moisture status of plants. When plants suffer from water stress, the stomatal conductance of leaves decreases, and transpiration and photosynthesis are suppressed. Therefore, monitoring stomatal behavior is important for controlling plant growth. In this study, a method for simply monitoring stomatal conductance was developed based on the heat balance method. The stomatal opening index (SOI) was derived from heat balance equations on intact tomato leaves, wet reference leaves, and dry reference leaves by measuring their temperatures in a growth chamber and a greenhouse. The SOI can be approximated as the ratio of the conductance of the intact leaf to the conductance of the wet reference leaf, which varies from 0 to 1. Leaf temperatures were measured with infrared thermometry. The theoretically and experimentally established SOI was verified with tomato plants grown hydroponically in a greenhouse. The SOI derived by this method was consistent with the leaf conductance measured via the porometer method, which is a standard method for evaluating actual leaf conductance that mainly consists of stomatal conductance. In conclusion, the SOI for the continuous monitoring of stomatal behavior will be useful not only for studies on interactions between plants and the environment but also for environmental management, such as watering at plant production sites.

A study of the effect of organic acids (gallic acid and ascorbic acid) on the coloration and functionalization of wool yarns with Millettia laurentii sawdust natural dye

Wastewater from the textile industry, especially the dyeing sector, is a major contaminant for aquatic ecosystems. Synthetic dye compounds and metal salts from leftover mordant and dyeing baths are washed into rivers, endangering aquatic life and the environment. In regards to the current study’s examination of Millettia laurentii sawdust’s potential as a natural color source, eco-friendly organic acids (gallic acid and ascorbic acid) were studied in conjunction with small amounts of metal salts (aluminum sulfate, stannous chloride, copper sulfate, and ferrous sulfate) for enhancing the color shade palette with simultaneous functionalization (antimicrobial and UV-protection) of wool yarns. The effects of metal salts up to ecologically permissible concentration limits on the dyeing and functional properties were assessed in combination with organic acids. The study focused on optimizing dyeing variables including pH (2–8), temperature (65–95 °C), dye concentration (25–125% o.w.f.), and dyeing time (15–90 min) using a one-factor-at-a-time (OFT) optimization by determining the color depth (K/S) values on the wool yarns. The optimized dyeing conditions were pH of 4, temperature of 95 °C, dye concentration of 75.0% (o.w.f.), and dyeing time of 60 min. The color characteristics (CIEL*a*b*c*ho) and fastness (Wash, rub, and light) properties are evaluated comparatively against control dyed wool yarns using standard methods. The antimicrobial activity of control dyed and mordanted dyed wool yarns was evaluated in terms of the percentage microbial reduction of bacterial colonies. Metal salts especially ferrous sulfate in conjunction with gallic acid (Fe/GA) provided the highest average color strength (13.50) with a maximum percentage microbial reduction of 96.67%. UV protection ability was assessed by an Australian and New Zealand standards (AS/NZS 4399: 1996) method in terms of UPF values. UV protection levels were significantly improved by using binary combinations of organic acids and metal salts with the maximum protection offered by Fe/GA (97.66) and Sn/GA (97.90). Dyeing outcomes were significantly impacted by the chemical structure of organic acids (gallic acid and ascorbic acid) and the type of metal salts; the research proposes a more environmentally friendly natural dyeing process for the textile industry.

Physicochemical Properties of Fortified Coconut Milk Based Chocolate - Like Drinks as Influenced by Cocoa Powder and Sugar Levels

The physicochemical, proximate, vitamins and minerals composition of fortified drinks produced from coconut milk, cocoa powder, and sugar was evaluated. Drinks samples were formulated with different concentration of coconut milk, cocoa powder and sugar levels. Samples includes: “k1 (Coconut milk 100 %), k2 (Coconut milk 99.8 % cocoa powder 0.2 %), k3 (Coconut milk 99.6 %, cocoa powder 0.4%), k4 (Coconut milk 98 %, sugar 2%), k5 (Coconut milk 97.8 %, cocoa powder 0.2%, sugar 2%), k6 ( Coconut milk 97.6 %, cocoa powder 0.4%, sugar 2%), k7 (Coconut milk 96 %, sugar 4%), k8 (Coconut milk 95.8 %, cocoa powder 0.2%, sugar 4%), k9 (Coconut milk 95.6 %, cocoa powder 0.4%, sugar 4%)”. The samples were produced and subjected to physicochemical, proximate, vitamins and minerals analysis using standard methods. Physicochemical composition, pH ranged from 6.50 (k1) to 6.72 (k9), TTA from 0.23 (k9) to 0.41 % (k1), specific gravity from 1.03 % (k1) to 1.13 % (k9), total solid from 18.91(k1) to 22.52 g/100g (k9), SNF from 7.23 (k2) to 10.25 g/100g (k8) and energy values from 124.63 (k1) to 148 Kcal/100g (k9). The proximate composition; moisture from 77.48 % (k9) to 81.09 % (k1), protein from 3.42 (k1) to 3.96 % (k9), ash from 0.71(k1) to 0.98 %(k9), crude fiber from 0.02 % (k1) to 0.06 % (k9), fat from 10.23 % (k1) to 12.27% (k9) and carbohydrate from 4.82 to 5.58% for k1 and k9. Vitamin composition, vitamin A from 1.725 to 2.469mg/100g for samples k1 and k2, Vitamin B1 from 0.044 mg/100g (k1) to 0.205 mg/100g (k9), B2 from 0.028 to 0.0114 mg/100g for k1 and k9, vitamin C from 2.981 to 5.751mg/100g for k1 and k9 and vitamin K from 0.141 to 1.137 mg/100g for k1 and k9. Mineral composition of drinks: Calcium ranged from 16. 31 to 27.05mg/100g for k1and k9, Sodium from 15.25 to 16.99 mg/100g for k1 and k9, Magnesium from 37.20 to 72.64 mg/100g for k1 and k9, Zinc from 0.677 to 3.18 mg/100g for k1 and k9, Iron from 2.87 to 3.38 mg/100g for k1 and k2, Iodine from 0.16 to 0.28 mg/100g for k1 and k9.The Cocoa powder and sugar levels improved the physicochemical, proximate, vitamins, minerals and overall nutritional profile of fortified coconut milk based chocolate drinks.

Simulation-Driven Universal Surrogates of Coupled Mechanical Systems: Real-Time Simulation of a Forestry Crane

Abstract Preparing simulation-driven surrogates for a coupled mechanical system can be challenging because the associated mechanical and actuator dynamics demand high-fidelity numerical solutions. Proposed here is a universal hydraulic surrogate (UHS), which can provide solutions to high-fidelity mechanical systems with a universal actuator in a surrogate-assisted monolithic approach. The UHS acts as an alternative to the standard lumped fluid theory by eliminating the hydraulic pressures differential equations. A surrogate-assisted universal actuator uses an approximated model to define hydraulic force in high-fidelity mechanical systems. The approximated force model was developed through training against the dynamics of a one-dimensional (1D) hydraulic cylinder and spring-damper. A covariance matrix adaption evolutionary strategy (CMA-ES) was used as an optimization algorithm to minimize differences between the standard dynamics and UHS approaches at the position and velocity levels. The robustness of resulting UHS was validated to predict the behaviors of the simple four-bar mechanism and the forestry crane. The focus was on numerical accuracy and computational efficiency. The maximum percent normalized root mean square error (PN-RMSE) between the states of the approximated force model and lumped fluid theory were approximately 2.04% and 6.95%, respectively. The proposed method was approximately 52 times faster than the standard lumped fluid theory method. By providing accurate predictions outside the training data, the simulation-driven UHS promises better computational performance leading to real-time simulation solutions for the coupled mechanical systems. The UHS can be applied in simulation, optimization, control, state and parameter estimation, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) implementations for coupled mechanical systems.

Comparative study of the combustion properties of briquettes produced from blends of mung beans shell, uncarbonized and carbonized sawdust

In this research, the combustion properties of the briquette produced by blending mung beans shell (MBS) with carbonized danta wood sawdust was compared with that of the briquette produced by blending MBS with uncarbonized danta wood sawdust. The briquettes wereproduced atdifferentsawdust to biomass ratios (100%:0, 70%:30%, 50%: 50%, 30%: 70% and 100%:0). Cassava starch was used as a binder. Proximate analysis (moisture content, ash content, volatile matter and fixed carbon) and combustion properties (calorific value, ignition time, burning time, burning rate, specific fuel consumption and thermal efficiency) were calculated using standard methods. The results of the analyses showed that 100% sawdust briquette samples had the lowest moisture content, 4.74±0.00 for carbonized sawdust and 6.76±0.02 for uncarbonized sawdust.100% uncarbonized and carbonized sawdust briquette samples had a fixed carbon of 68.93±0.02 and 87.46%, Ash content:3.70±0.00% and 2.18±0.04%,volatile matter: 20.61±0.00 and 5.61±0.04 and calorific value: 29.401±0.0 MJ/Kg and 32.532±0.05 MJ/Kg respectively.The ignition time increase with increase in biomass load for uncarbonized sawdust samples and decrease with increase in biomass load for carbonized sawdust briquette samples. The burning time decreased from 86±0.57mins (70% sawdust + 30% biomass) to 70±0.57mins (100% biomass) for the carbonized sawdust briquette samples and for the uncarbonized, it ranged from 68±0.00 (70% sawdust + 30% biomass) to 71.6±0.57 mins (30% sawdust + 70% biomass) and then dropped to 68±0.57(100% biomass load). The burning rate decreased in carbonizedbriquette samples and increased in uncarbonized briquette samples with increase in biomass load. The specific fuel consumption for carbonized and uncarbonized sawdust briquette sample decreased with increase in MBS load. 100% carbonized and uncarbonized sawdust briquette samples had a thermal efficiency of 8.78 and 16.47 respectively. It can be concluded that blend of carbonized sawdust and mung beans shell will make a better fuel due to better combustion properties than the uncarbonized sawdust samples.

Safety of Endoscopic Procedures in Thrombocytopenia and Neutropenia: Embracing Assurance.

Few studies have evaluated the post-endoscopic adverse events in patients with neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. Current guidelines do not provide clear direction on this topic. We explore the pooled rates of safety and adverse effects of endoscopic interventions in thrombocytopenia and neutropenia patients via a systematic review & meta-analysis. Databases, including Medline, Scopus, and Embase, were searched (in May 2023) using specific terms for studies evaluating the clinical outcomes of endoscopy in patients with thrombocytopenia and neutropenia. Standard meta-analysis methods were employed using the random-effects model. I2% heterogeneity was used to assess the heterogeneity. Six studies and four studies evaluated endoscopic outcomes in patients with thrombocytopenia and neutropenia respectively with mean age was 56years. The pooled rate of total post-biopsy bleeding and total post-polypectomy bleeding among patients with thrombocytopenia was 4% (95% CI 1-11), I2 = 84%, and 12% (95% CI 3-36) I2 = 43%. The total rate of post procedure-related bleeding in thrombocytopenia was 5% (95% CI 1-14) I2 = 95%. The pooled rate of post-endoscopic infection (fever from any cause, bacteremia) in neutropenia was 10% (95% CI 3-28%) I2 = 96%. On sub analysis, the pooled rate of bacteremia and 30days all-cause mortality in neutropenia was 4% (95% CI 3-5%) I2 = 0% and 13% (95% CI 4-34%) I2 = 95% respectively. Our data supports the notion that endoscopic procedures are safe for neutropenic, thrombocytopenic patients with suitable indications and reasonable functional status and have an acceptable risk/benefit ratio.

Использование сахарозаменителей при производстве сдобного печенья из цельнозерновой муки

The purpose of research is to study the effect of sugar substitutes on the quality of butter cookies made from whole grain flour. Objectives: to justify the need to develop cookies from whole grain flour and sugar substitutes; conduct test baking and develop a recipe for butter cookies made from whole grain flour and sugar substitutes; to investigate the effect of whole grain flour and sweeteners on the quality of finished products in various dosages. The quality of butter cookies was assessed based on organoleptic indicators in accordance with GOST 24901-2014 “Cookies. General technical conditions". Humidity was determined according to the method described in GOST 5900-2014 “Confectionery products. Methods for determining moisture and dry substances”, Methods for determining moisture and dry substances”, wetness – according to GOST 101114-80 “Flour confectionery products. Methods for determining wetness", alkalinity of cookies – according to GOST 5898-2022 "Confectionery products. Methods for determining acidity and alkalinity". A cookie recipe was developed in which premium wheat flour was replaced with whole grain flour and instead of white sugar; Fit-Parad № 7 sugar substitutes were used. Test baking was carried out in the laboratory-bakery of the Department of Food Technologies of the State Agrarian University of the Northern Trans-Urals. The results of an organoleptic assessment of the quality of butter cookies made from whole grain flour with sugar substitutes are presented. The addition of the Slim-Vit sweetener with vitamin D in an amount of 5 and 7 g to the flour mass improved the taste and smell: the balance of the combination of the sugar substitute with whole grain flour is felt. The addition of the sugar substitute Fit Parade № 7 in the amount of 5 and 7 g to the weight of flour did not have any particular effect on the organoleptic characteristics compared to granulated sugar. Physicochemical parameters were determined by standard analytical methods. The physicochemical parameters of a control sample and using whole grain flour and two types of sugar substitutes were studied. Whole grain flour absorbs more moisture and has a higher sogginess compared to premium wheat flour. Replacing granulated sugar with sweeteners did not affect the physicochemical parameters.

Comprehensive genetic analysis of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy by Nanopore long-read whole-genome sequencing

BackgroundFacioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a high-prevalence autosomal dominant neuromuscular disease characterized by significant clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Genetic diagnosis of FSHD remains a challenge because it cannot be detected by standard sequencing methods and requires a complex diagnosis workflow.MethodsWe developed a comprehensive genetic FSHD detection method based on Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) whole-genome sequencing. Using a case–control design, we applied this procedure to 29 samples and compared the results with those from optical genome mapping (OGM), bisulfite sequencing (BSS), and whole-exome sequencing (WES).ResultsUsing our ONT-based method, we identified 59 haplotypes (35 4qA and 24 4qB) among the 29 samples (including a mosaic sample), as well as the number of D4Z4 repeat units (RUs). The pathogenetic D4Z4 RU contraction identified by our ONT-based method showed 100% concordance with OGM results. The methylation levels of the most distal D4Z4 RU and the double homeobox 4 gene (DUX4) detected by ONT sequencing are highly consistent with the BSS results and showed excellent diagnostic efficiency. Additionally, our ONT-based method provided an independent methylation profile analysis of two permissive 4qA alleles, reflecting a more accurate scenario than traditional BSS. The ONT-based method detected 17 variations in three FSHD2-related genes from nine samples, showing 100% concordance with WES.ConclusionsOur ONT-based FSHD detection method is a comprehensive method for identifying pathogenetic D4Z4 RU contractions, methylation level alterations, allele-specific methylation of two 4qA haplotypes, and variations in FSHD2-related genes, which will all greatly improve genetic testing for FSHD.

Diagnostic performance of volatile organic compounds analysis and electronic noses for detecting colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

IntroductionThe detection of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) could provide a potential diagnostic modality for the early detection and surveillance of colorectal cancers. However, the overall diagnostic accuracy of the proposed tests remains uncertain.ObjectiveThis systematic review is to ascertain the diagnostic accuracy of using VOC analysis techniques and electronic noses (e-noses) as noninvasive diagnostic methods for colorectal cancer within the realm of clinical practice.MethodsA systematic search was undertaken on PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library to scrutinize pertinent studies published from their inception to September 1, 2023. Only studies conducted on human subjects were included. Meta-analysis was performed using a bivariate model to obtain summary estimates of sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 tool was deployed for quality assessment. The protocol for this systematic review was registered in PROSPERO, and PRISMA guidelines were used for the identification, screening, eligibility, and selection process.ResultsThis review encompassed 32 studies, 22 studies for VOC analysis and 9 studies for e-nose, one for both, with a total of 4688 subjects in the analysis. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of VOC analysis for CRC detection were 0.88 (95% CI, 0.83-0.92) and 0.85 (95% CI, 0.78-0.90), respectively. In the case of e-nose, the pooled sensitivity was 0.87 (95% CI, 0.83-0.90), and the pooled specificity was 0.78 (95% CI, 0.62-0.88). The area under the receiver operating characteristic analysis (ROC) curve for VOC analysis and e-noses were 0.93 (95% CI, 0.90-0.95) and 0.90 (95% CI, 0.87-0.92), respectively.ConclusionThe outcomes of this review substantiate the commendable accuracy of VOC analysis and e-nose technology in detecting CRC. VOC analysis has a higher specificity than e-nose for the diagnosis of CRC and a sensitivity comparable to that of e-nose. However, numerous limitations, including a modest sample size, absence of standardized collection methods, lack of external validation, and a notable risk of bias, were identified. Consequently, there exists an imperative need for expansive, multi-center clinical studies to elucidate the applicability and reproducibility of VOC analysis or e-nose in the noninvasive diagnosis of colorectal cancer.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/#recordDetails, identifier CRD42023398465.

Migration and natives' inequality: Evidence from Italian local labor markets

AbstractUsing individual data from the Italian Labor Force Survey, we investigate the impact of immigration on the Gini index and the percentile ratio (p90/p10) at the household level within Labor Market Areas (LMAs) in Italy from 2008 to 2018. To identify the effect of immigration we construct a composite index based on demographic and occupation‐related characteristics that captures the degree of similarity between immigrants and natives across LMAs. This approach addresses the limitations of the standard cell segmentation method and allows us to estimate the impact of immigration on the entire distribution of natives' earnings. To address endogeneity concerns we use an instrument proposed by Card, which exploits the tendency of immigrants to migrate to areas with a pre‐existing group of immigrants of the same ethnicity. Our findings show that immigration reduces income inequality among natives and the effect is larger in those LMAs where the degree of similarity between immigrants and natives is higher. We also find that immigration has a positive effect on natives' labor income in occupations that require language skills, while the effect is not significant in low/no skilled jobs that only require basic language skills, or highly skilled jobs where interaction between immigrants and natives is limited.

Exosomes: the next-generation therapeutic platform for ischemic stroke

Abstract Current therapeutic strategies for ischemic stroke fall short of the desired objective of neurological functional recovery. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new methods for the treatment of this condition. Exosomes are natural cell-derived vesicles that mediate signal transduction between cells under physiological and pathological conditions. They have low immunogenicity, good stability, high delivery efficiency, and the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. These physiological properties of exosomes have the potential to lead to new breakthroughs in the treatment of ischemic stroke. The rapid development of nanotechnology has advanced the application of engineered exosomes, which can effectively improve targeting ability, enhance therapeutic efficacy, and minimize the dosages needed. Advances in technology have also driven clinical translational research on exosomes. In this review, we describe the therapeutic effects of exosomes anc their positive roles in current treatment strategies for ischemic stroke, including their anti-inflammation, anti-apoptosis, autophagy-regulation, angiogenesis, neurogenesis, and glial scar formation reduction effects. However, it is worth noting that, despite their significant therapeutic potential, there remains a dearth of standardized characterization methods and efficient isolation techniques capable of producing highly purified exosomes. Future optimization strategies should prioritize the exploration of suitable isolation techniques and the establishment of unified workflows to effectively harness exosomes for diagnostic or therapeutic applications in ischemic stroke. Ultimately, our review aims to summarize our understanding of exosome-based treatment prospects in ischemic stroke and foster innovative ideas for the development of exosome-based therapies.

A Numerical Study on the Influence of Bolt Corrosion on the Long-Term Behavior of Steel–Concrete Composite Beams

This study establishes a numerical model for beam-type steel–concrete composite specimens considering the corrosion of anchor bolts, with which studies the long-term deformation performance of the components under sustained load. The experimental results were compared with the calculated values obtained by combining the effective modulus method according to the CEB-FIP 1990 code and the ACI 209R code. Then a comparison with the calculation method of shrinkage and creep in standards (Standard Creep Method (SCM)) is made, and it shows that by supplementing the degradation of interface stiffness due to corrosion (using the defined modulus method (DMM)), the simulation results match better with the experimental results, confirming that this approach is suitable for analyzing the long-term load conditions of anchor bolt corrosion. Furthermore, based on the defined modulus method, the long-term behavior of composite beams under different loads and varying corrosion rates is studied.

Development of an International Standard Set of Outcomes and Measurement Methods for Routine Practice for Adults with Epilepsy: The International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement Consensus Recommendations.

At present, there is no internationally accepted set of core outcomes or measurement methods for epilepsy clinical practice. Therefore, the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM) convened an international working group of experts in epilepsy, people with epilepsy and their representatives to develop minimum sets of standardized outcomes and outcomes measurement methods for clinical practice that support patient-clinician decision-making and quality improvement. Consensus methods identified 20 core outcomes. Measurement tools were recommended based on their evidence of strong clinical measurement properties, feasibility, and cross-cultural applicability. The essential outcomes included many non-seizure outcomes: anxiety, depression, suicidality, memory and attention, sleep quality, functional status, and the social impact of epilepsy. The proposed set will facilitate the implementation of the use of patient-centered outcomes in daily practice, ensuring holistic care. They also encourage harmonization of outcome measurement, and if widely implemented should reduce the heterogeneity of outcome measurement, accelerate comparative research, and facilitate quality improvement efforts.

Application of Natural Language Processing in Electronic Health Record Data Extraction for Navigating Prostate Cancer Care: A Narrative Review.

Introduction: Natural language processing (NLP)-based data extraction from electronic health records (EHRs) holds significant potential to simplify clinical management and aid research. This review aims to evaluate the current landscape of NLP-based data extraction in prostate cancer (PCa) management. Materials and Methods: We conducted a literature search of PubMed and Google Scholar databases using the keywords: "Natural Language Processing," "Prostate Cancer," "data extraction," and "EHR" with variations of each. No language or time limits were imposed. All results were collected in a standardized manner, including country of origin, sample size, algorithm, objective of outcome, and model performance. The precision, recall, and the F1 score of studies were collected as a metric of model performance. Results: Of the 14 studies included in the review, 2 articles focused on documenting digital rectal examinations, 1 on identifying and quantifying pain secondary to PCa, 8 on extracting staging/grading information from clinical reports, with an emphasis on TNM-classification, risk stratification, and identifying metastasis, 2 articles focused on patient-centered post-treatment outcomes such as incontinence, erectile, and bowel dysfunction, and 1 on loneliness/social isolation following PCa diagnosis. All models showed moderate to high data annotation/extraction accuracy compared with the gold standard method of manual data extraction by chart review. Despite their potential, NLPs face challenges in handling ambiguous, institution-specific language and context nuances, leading to occasional inaccuracies in clinical data interpretation. Conclusion: NLP-based data extraction has effectively extracted various outcomes from PCa patients' EHRs. It holds the potential for automating outcome monitoring and data collection, resulting in time and labor savings.

Immunoglobulin G4 disease-related retroperitoneal fibrosis: A series of five cases

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease has the potential to impact any part of the body, including the walls of large- and medium-sized blood vessels and the ureters. While histopathologic examination is currently the standard method for identifying organ involvement and diagnosing IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD), obtaining biopsy or surgical samples from vessel or ureteral walls is challenging. Given that patients may display only mild symptoms, non-invasive imaging plays a vital role in both diagnosing and managing IgG4-related diseases. Multidetector CT scans are valuable in establishing the primary diagnosis, identifying anatomical landmarks and assessing their relationships. Involvement of the genitourinary organs, such as the ureter, bladder, urethra, and male and female reproductive organs in IgG4-RD, is infrequent when compared to kidney involvement. The imaging findings may include the presence of a localised mass within or surrounding the affected organ or a generalised enlargement of the organ. This report includes cross-sectional images of five cases of IgG4-RD involving large- and medium-sized blood vessels (the aorta and superior mesenteric artery) and the ureters.Contribution: This case series provides insight into the various imaging appearances of IgG4-related retroperitoneal organ involvement and helps differentiate it radiologically from retroperitoneal fibrosis.

The largest European forest carbon sinks are in the Dinaric Alps old-growth forests: comparison of direct measurements and standardised approaches

BackgroundCarbon (C) sink and stock are among the most important ecosystem services provided by forests in climate change mitigation policies. In this context, old-growth forests constitute an essential reference point for the development of close-to-nature silviculture, including C management techniques. Despite their small extent in Europe, temperate old-growth forests are assumed to be among the most prominent in terms of biomass and C stored. However, monitoring and reporting of C stocks is still poorly understood. To better understand the C stock amount and distribution in temperate old-growth forests, we estimated the C stock of two old-growth stands in the Dinaric Alps applying different assessment methods, including direct and indirect approaches (e.g., field measurements and allometric equations vs. IPCC standard methods). This paper presents the quantification and the distribution of C across the five main forest C pools (i.e., aboveground, belowground, deadwood, litter and soil) in the study areas and the differences between the applied methods.ResultsWe report a very prominent C stock in both study areas (507 Mg C ha− 1), concentrated in a few large trees (36% of C in 5% of trees). Moreover, we found significant differences in C stock estimation between direct and indirect methods. Indeed, the latter tended to underestimate or overestimate depending on the pool considered.ConclusionsComparison of our results with previous studies and data collected in European forests highlights the prominence of temperate forests, among which the Dinaric Alps old-growth forests are the largest. These findings provide an important benchmark for the development of future approaches to the management of the European temperate forests. However, further and deeper research on C stock and fluxes in old-growth stands is of prime importance to understand the potential and limits of the climate mitigation role of forests.

Matrix-free laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging for rapid evaluation of wood biomass conversion.

This study overcomes traditional biomass analysis limitations by introducing a pioneering matrix-free laser desorption/ionization (LDI) approach in mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) for efficient lignin evaluation in wood. The innovative acetic acid-peracetic acid (APA) treatment significantly enhances lignin detection, enabling high-throughput, on-site analysis. Wood slices, softwood from a conifer tree (Japanese cypress) and hardwood from a broadleaf tree (Japanese beech), were analyzed using MSI with a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. The developed APA treatment demonstrated effectiveness for MSI analysis of biomass. Our imaging technique successfully distinguishes between earlywood and latewood and enables the distinct visualization of lignin in these and other wood tissues, such as the radial parenchyma. This approach reveals significant contrasts in MSI. It has identified intense ions from β-O-4-type lignin, specifically in the radial parenchyma of hardwood, highlighting the method's precision and utility in wood tissue analysis. The benefits of matrix-free LDI include reduced peak overlap, consistent sample quality, preservation of natural sample properties, enhanced analytical accuracy, and reduced operational costs. This innovative approach is poised to become a standard method for rapid and precise biomass evaluation and has important applications in environmental research and sustainable resource management and is crucial for the effective management of diverse biomass, paving the way towards a sustainable, circular society.

Building Trees for Probabilistic Prediction via Scoring Rules

Decision trees built with data remain in widespread use for nonparametric prediction. Predicting probability distributions is preferred over point predictions when uncertainty plays a prominent role in analysis and decision-making. We study modifying a tree to produce nonparametric predictive distributions. We find the standard method for building trees may not result in good predictive distributions and propose changing the splitting criteria for trees to one based on proper scoring rules. Analysis of both simulated data and several real datasets demonstrates that using these new splitting criteria results in trees with improved predictive properties considering the entire predictive distribution.

Synthesis, Biological and Molecular Docking Studies of Thiazole-Thiadiazole derivatives as potential Anti-Tuberculosis Agents.

Tuberculosis remains a global health threat, with increasing infection rates and mortality despite existing anti-TB drugs. The present work focuses on the research findings regarding the development and evaluation of thiadiazole-linked thiazole derivatives as potential anti-tuberculosis agents. We present the synthesis data and confirm the compound structures using spectroscopic techniques. The current study reports twelve thiazole-thiadiazole compounds (5 a-5 l) for their anti-tuberculosis and related bioactivities. This paper emphasizes compounds 5 g, 5 i, and 5 l, which exhibited promising MIC values, leading to further in silico and interaction analysis. Pharmacophore mapping data included in the present analysis identified tubercular ThyX as potential drug targets. The compounds were evaluated for anti-tubercular activity using standard methods, revealing significant MIC values, particularly compound 5 l, with the best MIC value of 7.1285 μg/ml. Compounds 5 g and 5 i also demonstrated moderate to good MIC values against M. tuberculosis (H37Ra). Structural inspection of the docked poses revealed interactions such as hydrogen bonds, halogen bonds, and interactions containing Pi electron cloud, shedding light on conserved interactions with residues like Arg 95, Cys 43, His 69, and Arg 87 from the tubercular ThyX enzyme.

Isolated ocular sarcoidosis

A rare clinical case of a patient with isolated sarcoidosis of the eyes is presented. Sarcoidosis is a polyethological disease, the morphological feature of which is the formation of epithelioid cell granulomas in various organs and tissues, which is accompanied by a violation of their structure and function. Both congenital and adaptive immune systems are involved in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis, with damage to lymph nodes, lungs, skin, organ of vision, etc. Risk factors for the development of sarcoidosis have not been definitively established. Environmental factors and genetic predisposition play a crucial role in the development of the disease. The above clinical observation demonstrates the polymorphism of the clinical picture of isolated ocular sarcoidosis. In addition to standard ophthalmic examination methods, the genetic method of reverse transcription and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR, English qRT-PCR) was also used to determine the expression profile of signature microRNAs as potential diagnostic markers of sarcoidosis of the organ of vision.An increase in the expression level of hsa-miR-455-3p, hsa-miR-4663, hsamiR68063p, hsa-miR-450b-5p, hsa-miR-6716-3p, hsa-miR-5000-5p, hsa-miR150-5p can be considered as potential diagnostic biomarkers of sarcoid lesion of eye structures. With sarcoidosis, the involvement of the lacrimal gland is possible. In the presented clinical observation, this was indicated by the results of a functional examination, sonographic signs: revealed multiple linear tubular hyperechoic structures and a decrease in blood flow velocity in the ocular and lacrimal arteries, as well as an increase in the expression activity of hsa-miR150-5p (p < 0.05). In order to prevent possible damage to the ocular surface due to the development of lacrimal gland dysfunction, it is advisable to prescribe local tear replacement therapy with hyaluronic acid preparations. Such effective drugs include tear substitutes of the Optinol® line: “Optinol® Express Moisture” and “Optinol® Deep Moisture”.