Test Group Research Articles

Timing of testing affects earwitness memory.

The present experiments investigated how interpolated testing and postevent misinformation affected earwitness memory. We examined how the number of tests and when tests occurred affected memory for an overheard event and source monitoring. Across three experiments, participants overheard a crime (i.e., the witnessed event), heard a news report summarizing the crime (postevent information), took a cued-recall test, and lastly, took a source-monitoring test. Experiment 1 compared three groups: repeated cued-recall test, repeated listen, single cued-recall test. Participants in the interpolated test group received a test after the witnessed event and again after the postevent information. Participants in the repeated listen group heard the witnessed event, and immediately relistened to the event before being presented with the postevent information. In Experiment 2 and 3, we varied the retention intervals between the witnessed event and the postevent information in a repeated test context. Our findings suggest that when participants took a test before presentation of the postevent information, they were less accurate on a final cued-recall test of the witnessed event. Importantly, the timing of the first test in relation to the witnessed event and postevent information differentially affected memory for the witnessed event and source monitoring of event and postevent details.

Effects of green tea based oral health strategies on disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis

AimIn this study, we aimed to evaluate oral health strategies in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with periodontitis.MethodsWe enrolled 110 RA patients with periodontitis who were diagnosed in a Grade A tertiary hospital into an oral health strategies program. The control and test groups comprised 55 cases each. The management effect was evaluated by self-care ability, oral health-related quality of life, RA-related clinical indicators, and the DAS28 score. The control group received routine nursing, whereas the test group was in a self-health management program for 3 months.ResultsAfter the intervention, compared to the control group, the test group showed better self-care ability, oral health-related quality of life score, RA-related clinical indicators, and DAS28 score (P < 0.05).ConclusionOur oral health strategies program slowed down the progression of the disease and can be popularized in patients.

Student knowledge gains in polar literacy and statistics after completing guided inquiry modules in an undergraduate statistics course

Climate change is a major concern to undergraduate students. Understanding climate change relies on an understanding of polar regions. However, courses on polar regions are rare at undergraduate institutions. Polar ENgagement through GUided INquiry (PENGUIN) modules were designed to give students experience with polar research in a variety of standard courses, including physics, computer science, physical chemistry, and economics, through using course-specific and computational tools to analyze polar data. Here, we present a new PENGUIN module taught in a statistics class, in which students apply statistical tools to ice core data to reconstruct past temperature records. Quantitative student responses on pre- and post-surveys were collected in a quasi-experimental context to assess student knowledge gains for a test group of 91 students and a control group of 73 students (who did not complete the module). Test-group students made statistically significant increases of 25 to 46% on all six statistics questions, with a normalized gain of 56%. By contrast, control group statistics knowledge gains ranged from −4 to 25%, with statistically significant increases for only three questions and a normalized gain of 22%. For polar research questions, the test group demonstrated increases in correct responses to polar research questions (11 to 31%), with statistically significant improvements (p < .05) of 22-31% on 3 of 6 polar research questions. These findings support the conclusion that PENGUIN modules can successfully teach course concepts while increasing polar literacy.

Generation of genomic resources and phylogenetic contributions in Oxalis from desert fog oases in Peru

AbstractSeveral species in the genus Oxalis occupy Peruvian fog oases (Lomas) with a significant habitat‐adapted and endemic diversity. Acknowledging this aspect, the genus Oxalis is a conceivable group for evolutionary and biogeographic hypothesis testing; however, molecular resources for the genus still need improvement. We conducted a genome skimming approach to assemble new plastomes from 18 accessions (six species) of Oxalis collected in Lomas locations in Peru. These complete plastomes of Oxalis species (several reported for the first time) present a highly conserved composition. Our phylogenetic results were congruent with previous section‐based backbone phylogenies of Oxalis; however, a closer look at the phylogeny of sect. Carnosae revealed nonmonophyletic arrangements involving Oxalis megalorrhiza and Oxalis bulbocastanum individuals. We also propose a set of three hypervariable plastid regions as potential molecular markers. Likewise, an array of primers for nuclear simple sequence repeat markers based on the most widely distributed species, O. megalorrhiza, were listed and evaluated for their transferability to the other species under examination. These new genomic resources represent a significant development for future population, phylogenetic, and biogeographic studies in Oxalis.

Clozapine Toxicity Predictor: Deep neural network model predicting clozapine toxicity and its therapeutic dose range

Clozapine is the gold standard for treatment-resistant schizophrenia; however, its superior efficacy is accompanied by potentially serious adverse events (neutropenia, seizures, constipations, pneumonia), many of which are also concentration-dependent. As such, clozapine dose titration should be guided by therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). However, access to TDM is often limited. The present study describes a new deep neural network that can predict the concentrations, toxicity and therapeutic dose range for clozapine and norclozapine. The model was trained on basic clinical data (biological sex, age, clozapine daily dose, BMI, CRP and number of CYP 1A2 and 3A4 substrates, inhibitors and inducers) from 69 patients with treatment-refractory patients treated with different clozapine doses. Our findings provide the training efficacy data for the model, as well as an analysis of clozapine and norclozapine blood concentrations in a test group of three additional patients, to demonstrate its practical capabilities. The model is licensed on a free and permissive 2-Clause BSD license and is available to all clinicians; it can be accessed as a web application, available at https://csk.umed.pl/clotop.

Efficacy of Pseudo-Ceramide Absorption Into the Stratum Corneum and Effects on Transepidermal Water Loss and the Ceramide Profile: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Changes in the level or profile of ceramides are associated with decreased stratum corneum (SC) barrier function. Topical application of a pseudo-ceramide (pCer)-containing moisturizer can improve barrier function. Additionally, pCer that absorbs into the SC may improve ceramide profiles. We investigated the relationship between pCer absorption into the SC and SC properties and determined the efficacyof a pCer-containing spray compared with that of a commercial spray without pCer. Patients with self-perceived dry and sensitive skin and decreased barrier function (transepidermal water loss [TEWL] > 10 g/m2h) were randomized into two groups to topically apply a pCer-containing spray (test group; N = 33) or commercial spray without pCer (control group; N = 19) twice daily as a single-blind study. SC function and ceramide properties were investigated before and after 4 weeks of application. In the test group, the ceramide (NP)/(NS) ratio proportionally increased with the pCer application level after 4 weeks of pCer-containing spray application. In the control group, there were no changes in SC function after topical application of the commercially available spray without pCer; however, the SC water content, TEWL, SC cell area, and scaling score improved in the test group. Furthermore, the changes in TEWL in the test group were significantly negatively correlated with the pCer application level. The efficacy of pCer-containing sprays for those who have sensitive skin with impaired barrier function was demonstrated. Furthermore, the improvement in SC barrier function induced by pCer may contribute to normalizing the SC ceramide profile.

Effect of Nd:YAG Laser Irradiation of the Growth of Oral Biofilm

Background: Oral microbiota comprises a wide variety of microorganisms. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Nd:YAG laser with a 1064 nm wavelength on the in vitro growth of Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, and Streptococcus mutans clinical strains, as well as their biofilm. The study also aimed to determine whether the parameters recommended for photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy, typically used for tissue wound healing, have any additional antibacterial or antifungal effects. Material and Methods: Single- and dual-species planktonic cell solution and biofilm cultures of Streptococcus mutans, Candida albicans, and Candida glabrata were irradiated using an Nd:YAG laser (LightWalker; Fotona; Slovenia) with a flat-top Genova handpiece. Two test groups were evaluated: Group 1 (G-T1) exposed to low power associated parameters (irradiance 0.5 W/cm2) and Group 2 (G-T2) with higher laser parameters (irradiance 1.75 W/cm2). Group 3 (control) was not exposed to any irradiation. The lasers’ effect was assessed both immediately after irradiation (DLI; Direct Laser Irradiation) and 24 h post-irradiation (24hLI) of the planktonic suspension using a quantitative method (colony-forming units per 1 mL of suspension; CFU/mL), and the results were compared with the control group, in which no laser was applied. The impact of laser irradiation on biofilm biomass was assessed immediately after laser irradiation using the crystal violet method. Results: Nd:YAG laser irradiation with photobiomodulation setting demonstrated an antimicrobial effect with the greatest immediate reduction observed in S. mutans, achieving up to 85.4% reduction at the T2 settings. However, the laser’s effectiveness diminished after 24 h. In single biofilm cultures, the highest reductions were noted for C. albicans and S. mutans at the T2 settings, with C. albicans achieving a 92.6 ± 3.3% reduction and S. mutans reaching a 94.3 ± 5.0% reduction. Overall, the T2 settings resulted in greater microbial reductions compared to T1, particularly in biofilm cultures, although the effectiveness varied depending on the microorganism and culture type. Laser irradiation, assessed immediately after using the crystal violet method, showed the strongest biofilm reduction for Streptococcus mutans in the T2 settings for both single-species and dual-species biofilms, with higher reductions observed in all the microbial samples at the T2 laser parameters (p &lt; 0.05) Conclusion: The Nd:YAG laser using standard parameters typically applied for wound healing and analgesic effects significantly reduced the number of Candida albicans; Candida glabrata; and Streptococcus mutans strains.

Interdisciplinary cooperation with solution-focused brief therapy to reduce job stress, burnout, and coping in Chinese nurses: A randomised controlled trial

BackgroundIncreased job stress and burnout are common among clinical nurses in China, reducing their work efficiency and nursing quality. Multiple studies have been conducted on brief interventions to reduce job stress and burnout among nurses. However, research has been hampered by a lack of psychological knowledge among nursing staff. AimTo assess a short-term intervention designed to improve nurses' coping strategies and to mitigate job stress and burnout through interdisciplinary cooperation DesignThis randomised controlled trial Settingsand participants: We randomly allocated 60 nurses working at a tertiary general hospital in a city in China to an experimental (n = 30) or a control group (n = 30). MethodsA collaborative research team comprising psychology and nursing specialists was established to conduct this study. The control group received routine psychological intervention, whereas the intervention group received a short-term interdisciplinary treatment approach that focused on cooperation. Chinese nurses’ job stressors, job burnout, and simplified coping style scales were used to evaluate both groups before and after the intervention. ResultsA comparison of the scores for job burnout, total job stress, and positive coping before and after the interventions revealed significant improvements in the test group, whereas the scores for emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and total work stress in the control group demonstrated statistically significant differences. No significant differences were observed in the scores for negative coping, personal achievement, and simple coping style between the test and control groups before and after the intervention. ConclusionsSolution-focused brief therapy implemented through interdisciplinary collaboration effectively enhances clinical nurses' active coping style, alleviates job stress and burnout, and offers valuable guidance for nursing management practices.

Clinical Effectiveness of Green Tea Extracts as a Local Haemostatic Agent Following Mandibular Molar Extraction.

To determine the clinical effectiveness of different green tea extracts (GTEs) in reducing bleeding after extraction of mandibular molars. Randomised controlled trial. Place and Duration of the Study: College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia, from October to December 2022. A total of 64 patients were selected from those who attended dental clinics at the College of Dentistry, King Khalid University for extraction of their mandibular molars. They were equally and randomly divided into a control and three test groups by asking the patient to choose a numbered piece of paper. In the first group, normal saline-soaked sterile gauze was used after the tooth extraction while in the three test groups, different GTEs (methanolic GTE, aqueous GTE, and tannin isolated from the green tea) were applied. Monitoring of the bleeding by observing the extraction socket was carried out at regular intervals of five minutes until the oozing subsided, and then once an hour after that. Each group had 16 patients. The mean of bleeding stop-minutes was significantly different among the groups (61.56 minutes for the control group, 7.50 minutes 8.44 minutes and 5.62 minutes for the test groups, p <0.001). The median of bleeding stop-minutes of the control group was significantly higher than all test groups (p <0.001). The number of patients in whom bleeding was continued one hour after surgery was significantly higher in the control group (p = 0.005). Moreover, tannin has the greatest haemostatic effect compared to aqueous and methanolic GTEs. Significant haemostatic effect has been shown by all GTEs. Tannin isolated from green tea has shown a significantly higher haemostatic effect than to the aqueous and methanolic extracts. Bleeding, Green tea extracts, Haemostasis, Tannin isolate, Molar extraction.

Clinical Effectiveness of Green Tea Extracts as a Local Haemostatic Agent Following Mandibular Molar Extraction.

To determine the clinical effectiveness of different green tea extracts (GTEs) in reducing bleeding after extraction of mandibular molars. Randomised controlled trial. Place and Duration of the Study: College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia, from October to December 2022. A total of 64 patients were selected from those who attended dental clinics at the College of Dentistry, King Khalid University for extraction of their mandibular molars. They were equally and randomly divided into a control and three test groups by asking the patient to choose a numbered piece of paper. In the first group, normal saline-soaked sterile gauze was used after the tooth extraction while in the three test groups, different GTEs (methanolic GTE, aqueous GTE, and tannin isolated from the green tea) were applied. Monitoring of the bleeding by observing the extraction socket was carried out at regular intervals of five minutes until the oozing subsided, and then once an hour after that. Each group had 16 patients. The mean of bleeding stop-minutes was significantly different among the groups (61.56 minutes for the control group, 7.50 minutes 8.44 minutes and 5.62 minutes for the test groups, p <0.001). The median of bleeding stop-minutes of the control group was significantly higher than all test groups (p <0.001). The number of patients in whom bleeding was continued one hour after surgery was significantly higher in the control group (p = 0.005). Moreover, tannin has the greatest haemostatic effect compared to aqueous and methanolic GTEs. Significant haemostatic effect has been shown by all GTEs. Tannin isolated from green tea has shown a significantly higher haemostatic effect than to the aqueous and methanolic extracts. Bleeding, Green tea extracts, Haemostasis, Tannin isolate, Molar extraction.

Investigate the impact wear failure behavior of CoMoCr engine valve and valve seat pairs under harsh conditions

The wear of sealing face is one of the main reasons for the failure of engine valve and valve seat pair. Changes in engine combustion load, running time, temperature, and other operating conditions can affect the wear of valve-valve seat pair. In this work, the CoMoCr alloy cladding valves and valve seat were used as the pair, to investigate the influencing mechanism of combustion load and valve lift on wear. Three groups of tests under different combinations of combustion loads and valve lifts were completed on self-designed testing rig. The results demonstrate that the increase of combustion load and valve lift exacerbate the wear of the valve and valve seat, and valve lift has a more significant effect on wear than combustion load. The increased combustion load worsens the microslip process and intensifies the abrasive wear process. Whereas valve lift enhances the impact process, causing the dense tribofilm on the material surface to delaminate due to fatigue. Destruction of the tribofilm prevented effective protection of the underlying material, which increased wear process.

Trans-Ferulic acid reduces the sedative activity of diazepam in thiopental sodium-induced sleeping mice: A potential GABAergic transmission.

trans-Ferulic acid (TFA), a bioactive compound found in many plants, has been recognized for its diverse pharmacological activities, including potential neurological benefits. Previous studies suggest that TFA exerts anxiolytic effects via GABAergic pathways. This study aimed to investigate the sedative effects of TFA and its possible molecular mechanisms through in vivo and in silico approaches. Adult Swiss mice were randomly divided into six groups (n=7): control (vehicle), standard (DZP: Diazepam at 3mg/kg, p.o.), three test groups (TFA at 25, 50, and 75mg/kg, p.o.), and a combination group (TFA: 50mg/kg with DZP: 3mg/kg, p.o.). Thirty minutes post-treatment, thiopental sodium (TS) at 40mg/kg was administered to induce sedation, and latency as well as duration of sleep, were observed for up to 4h. In silico studies were conducted with GABAA receptor subunits (α1 and β2) to elucidate the possible molecular interactions. The results demonstrated that TFA significantly reduced latency and extended sleep duration in a dose-dependent manner compared to the control. Additionally, TFA combined with DZP further significantly (p<0.001) enhanced these effects. In silico analysis revealed that TFA and DZP exhibited strong binding affinities with the GABAA receptor subunits (α1 and β2) in the identical binding sites, with binding energies of -6.8 and-8.7kcal/mol, respectively. Collectively, TFA exerted a mild sedative effect in TS-induced sleeping mice and modulated the activity of DZP, likely through interactions with GABAA receptors. TFA showed promising activity as a potential candidate for managing sleep disorders such as insomnia.

Deep Learning‐Based Prediction of Final Infarct Core from CT Perfusion Data: A Comparison to the Clinical Standard

Background In the management of acute ischemic stroke, computed tomography perfusion (CTP) is used to define the ischemic core and penumbra to estimate tissue fate after reperfusion therapy. The core/penumbra dichotomy uses single‐value thresholds, which potentially discards valuable data and oversimplifies the complexity of core and penumbral estimation. Advancing the dichotomous CTP output to a probability model has several advantages such as more sophisticated modeling of pathophysiology, supporting reader interpretation, and assessing a greater range of available data to estimate tissue fate. Methods In this retrospective study, we developed a CTP probability model to move away from single perfusion thresholds to estimate tissue fate. All patients from the International Stroke Perfusion Imaging Registry database had baseline CTP and were included in the current study if they had a large vessel occlusion that recanalized fully after thrombectomy and had follow‐up diffusion‐weighted imaging. Data were split into training, validation, and testing groups. Training and validation cohorts were used to develop a deep learning model in project MONAI (Medical Open Network for Artificial Intelligence) and performance metrics were derived from the testing set. Results In total, 243 patients were included in the study. The Attention U‐Net was the best performing deep learning model, producing the best prediction of follow‐up infarct core on the test set (n = 48): mean diverse counterfactual explanations score = 0.430±0.213, mean area under the curve = 0.765±0.095; better than the single‐value thresholding with a diverse counterfactual explanations scoreof 0.247±0.167 (paired t ‐test, P &lt;0.0001) and area under the curveof 0.604±0.074 ( P &lt;0.0001). Conclusion The deep learning probabilistic CTP model outperformed the current clinical standard, providing a more accurate core estimate than single‐threshold‐based measures.

Efficacy and safety of edaravone combined with Ginkgo Leaf Extract and Dipyridamole in the treatment of acute cerebral infarction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of edaravone combined with Ginkgo Leaf Extract and Dipyridamole (GLED) versus edaravone alone in the treatment of acute cerebral infarction (ACI) by the method of meta-analysis. PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WANFANG DATA, and Chinese Scientific Journal Database were searched to identify publications on edaravone combined with GLED for ACI from inception to June 20, 2024. Stata15.0 statistical software was applied for data analysis. The test group was treated with edaravone combined with GLED, while the control group received edaravone alone. A total of 12 records were involved in this meta-analysis. The combined results exhibited that the effective rate of edaravone combined with GLED was significantly higher than that of edaravone in the treatment of ACI (relative risk = 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.15-1.27, P < .001). The National Institute of Health stroke scale scores of edaravone combined with GLED were significantly lower than those of edaravone alone in the treatment of ACI (standardized mean difference = -1.93, 95% CI = -3.36 to -0.50, P = .008). The incidence of adverse reactions in the edaravone combined with GLED group was significantly lower than that in the edaravone alone group (relative risk = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.33-0.70, P < .001) in the treatment of ACI. The combination of edaravone with GLED for treating ACI has better efficacy and higher safety than edaravone alone. Given the limited number of studies identified and possibility of publication bias, the above findings should be verified by more high-quality trials in the future.

Evaluation of the Mechanical Properties of Provisional 3DPrinted Resin After Repair with Different Materials: An In-Vitro Study.

To evaluate the mechanical properties of the 3D printed provisional restoration material that was repaired using different materials. The bar specimens have been manufactured using three-dimensional printing technology in accordance with the ISO 10477:2020 standards and divided into 5 groups randomly. For repair material application and replacement on the standardized silicone mold, the test specimens were ground at the center by 1x2x2 mm. No grinding was done on the control group specimens. Flowable composite, bis-acrylic composite resin, polymethyl methacrylate resin, and temporary 3D printing resin are utilized as repair materials (n=16). The specimens underwent a three-point-bending (3PB) test, with a cross-head speed of 1mm/min, in order to assess their flexural strength (FS) and flexural modulus (FM). The data received statistical analysis with one-way ANOVA and Tukey test. A Weibull analysis was performed, and the Weibull modulus of specimens was calculated. Control group specimens were showed the highest FS (142±12.6 MPa) and FM (4497±1205 MPa) values. Among the test groups, the utilization of temporary 3D printing resin as a repair material exhibited the greatest FS (67±33.3 MPa) values and showed statistical significance when compared to all other groups. Repairing 3D-printed provisional resin material weakens its mechanical properties. However, utilizing the own resin made of 3D-printed provisional resin material can be an effective choice for implementing minor modifications and additions.

Ameliorative effect of walnut oil against cognitive impairment in Alzheimers type dementia in rodent

Walnut oil (WO), known for abundant polyunsaturated fatty acids and an array of bioactive substances such as tocopherols, phytosterols, squalene, melatonin, and polyphenols, which is endowed with numerous health advantages. The primary objective of this research was to ascertain the impact of WO on cognitive deficits in learning and memory impairment mice caused by scopolamine (SCOP). The Morris water maze and the step-down avoidance test were utilized to assess the memory and learning capabilities. WO notably counteracted the detrimental effects of SCOP on learning and memory in the Morris water maze, as indicated by a reduction in escape latency and swimming distance. Likewise, WO administration led to a notably reduced number of errors in training trial and an increased latency in testing trial when compared to the SCOP group in the step-down avoidance test,. Moreover, WO activated the cholinergic system of the brain by upregulating choline acetyltransferase activity and reducing acetylcholinesterase activity. These results suggest that WO has the potential to protect against memory decline in mice, offering a promising strategy for the prevention of memory-related disorders.

Endogenous Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 Levels Are Associated With High-Quality Neat Semen but Unrelated to Sperm Cryoresistance in Bulls.

Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) is part of the tissue inhibitors of the metalloproteinases (TIMPs) family. Its primary function is to regulate the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) across various tissues, including those of the reproductive system. This study aimed to quantify the natural levels of TIMP-2 in seminal plasma (SP) and sperm membrane (SM) of bulls, explore potential associations between TIMP-2 levels and semen quality parameters, and examine the relationship between TIMP-2 levels and sperm cryoresistance in bulls. Thirty semen samples from Frieswal breeding bulls were categorized into two groups based on their initial progressive motility (IPM): Good (IPM ≥ 70%; n = 21) and Poor (IPM ≤ 40%; n = 9). The samples were evaluated for their quality parameters at the fresh stage, and TIMP-2 levels were measured in SP and SM using a bovine-specific ELISA kit. Following cryopreservation of Good samples (n = 21), post-thaw motility (PTM) was used to further classify samples into Freezeable (PTM ≥ 50%; n = 14) and Non-Freezable (PTM < 50%; n = 7) groups. In frozen-thawed samples, sperm attributes, kinetics, and functional parameters were assessed, and the results were correlated with retrospective TIMP-2 levels of SP/SM. Our study revealed that the quantified levels of TIMP-2 ranged from 100.27 to 535.95 ng/L in SP and from 0 to 115.78 ng/10 million spermatozoa in SM. TIMP-2 levels in both SP and SM were significantly higher in Good ejaculates compared to Poor ejaculates (p < 0.01). Furthermore, total TIMP-2 levels in the SP/SM of semen samples from bulls showed a positive correlation with fresh semen attributes. However, SP/SM TIMP-2 levels in the Freezeable group did not show any significant differences compared to the Non-Freezable group in post-thaw semen quality attributes, kinetic parameters, and functional tests, except for a significant positive correlation (r = 0.530, p < 0.05) between sperm DNA integrity and SP-TIMP-2 levels. In conclusion, the findings suggested that TIMP-2 can be a positive regulator of semen quality at the neat stage. However, when it comes to the resilience of sperm to cryopreservation, the levels of TIMP-2 do not seem to exert any significant influence in breeding bulls.

Establishment and implementation of an artificial intelligent flume for investigating local scour around underwater foundations

Scour is a natural phenomenon that occurs when the coming flow erodes soils surrounding foundations. It is an important consideration in engineering projects involving transportation infrastructures such as bridges, roads, and river embankments. Understanding scour mechanisms and predicting their evolution is crucial for ensuring the stability and safety of these structures, while flume tests have long been used as a valuable tool for scour investigations. By simulating real-world conditions in controlled laboratory settings, researchers can observe how different factors like riverbed materials, underwater foundations, and coming flow affect scour development. However, conducting flume tests is usually time-consuming and expensive due to the need to prepare appropriate models and suitable soil materials, and set up different testing conditions repeatedly. Meanwhile, researchers are also required to carefully design the testing groups to reduce the overall occupancy of the flume due to the long waiting list. To overcome these limitations associated with traditional flume tests, this study established a digital flume based on previous testing results using artificial intelligent algorithms, including artificial neural networks (ANN), decision trees (DT), random forest (RF), extreme gradient boosting (XGB), and support vector regression (SVR). By leveraging previously collected data from flume tests conducted at Tongji University, this artificial intelligent flume is then applied to simulate scour evolution. The advantage of using machine learning algorithms lies in their ability to process large amounts of data quickly and efficiently. This allows for cost-effective investigation of scour mechanisms without the need for extensive physical experiments.

Genomic characterization and probiotic potency of Bacillus velezensis CPA1-1 reveals its potential for aquaculture applications

Biological prevention and control are increasingly applied in sustainable aquaculture, and Bacillus spp. has been revealed to good alternatives to antibiotics. This research examined the probiotic capabilities of Bacillus velezensis CPA1-1 by genomic and phenotypic analysis. The genome sequence showed that B. velezensis CPA1-1 has a 3,925,520 bp chromosome with 46.49 % GC content and 3762 CDSs. And eight clusters of secondary metabolite biosynthesis genes related to antibacterial compounds were predicted in CPA1-1 genome, including surfactin, difficidin, bacillibactin, fengycin, bacilysin, bacillaene, macrolactin H, butirosin A. Besides, the antimicrobial assay indicated that strain CPA1-1 exhibited strong antagonistic capacity against non-O1/O139 Vibrio cholerae GXFL1-4 isolated from diseased Macrobrachium rosenbergii, and MIC of CPA1-1 fermentation broth against GXFL1-4 was 1.0 × 105 CFU/mL. Furthermore, administering CPA1-1 markedly elevated the activities of ACP, AKP, and SOD in M. rosenbergii, and the immune-related genes, including ALF, Crustin, Hemocyanin, Prophenoloxidase, C-type lectin and HSP70, also exhibited higher expression in the CPA1-1 treated groups. Additionally, M. rosenbergii in the test group treated with CPA1-1 could resist non-O1/O139 V. cholerae GXFL1-4 infection by the challenge test. Our study contributed to reveal biocontrol mechanisms of B. velezensis CPA1-1, and demonstrated that CPA1-1 has promise as a probiotic agent for aquaculture.

Comparison of two treatment modalities in the management of gingival enlargement during orthodontic treatment: a randomized clinical trial.

This clinical trial aimed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of diode laser gingivectomy, conventional gingivectomy, and nonsurgical periodontal treatment (NSPT) in the management of gingival enlargement (GE) during orthodontic treatment. forty-five healthy, orthodontic patients with labial gingival enlargement on the 6 anterior teeth were selected and randomly assigned to one of the groups (Conventional, Laser, and NSPT). Clinical parameters including clinical crown length (CCL) , periodontal pocket depth (PPD), and vertical gingival overgrowth index (vGOi) were recorded at baseline, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. Postoperative pain was evaluated at 1,3, and 7 days. Esthetic satisfaction and acceptance of the procedure were recorded on day 10 and repeated after 6 months. Statistically significant results were obtained for mean reduction in PPD for conventional, laser, and NSPT groups (-1.43, -.1.75, and -0.9 mm, respectively; P < 0.001), CCL gain (1.45, 1.7, and 0.38 mm, respectively; P<0.001) and mean vGOi score (-1.14, -1.29 and -0.76, respectively; P<0.001) over 6 months. Both test groups showed greater statistically significant changes in clinical parameters over 6 months compared to NSPT (P<0.001). There was a gradual decrease in postoperative pain for all three groups over 7 days, with conventional group showing statistical difference in mean pain score on days 1 and 3 compared to other groups. Both conventional and laser gingivectomies were more effective in controlling enlargement over non-surgical periodontal treatment alone at 1, 3, and 6 months. laser and conventional gingivectomies as adjunctive treatments achieved superior results when compared to NSPT alone in the treatment of GE and gingival inflammation during orthodontic treatment, with no significant clinical differences between the two treatments.