Tolerance Threshold Research Articles

A random-effect Wiener process degradation model with transmuted normal distribution and ABC-Gibbs algorithm for parameter estimation

Degradation modeling is a widely used technique for evaluating the reliability of high-quality products. However, unit-to-unit variability, stemming from material fluctuations during manufacturing and environmental factors, can significantly impact the accuracy of this assessment. To tackle this issue, we propose a novel time-transformed Wiener process with a transmuted normal distribution to represent unit-to-unit variability. This distribution extends the normal distribution, offering greater flexibility by capturing a wide range of non-normal, asymmetric behaviors in unit-to-unit variability. We derive closed-form expressions for the probability density function and reliability function for the model in two scenarios: (i) assuming the degradation process observations remain unaffected by measurement errors, and (ii) assuming the degradation process observations influenced by measurement errors. Due to the complexity of the likelihood functions, we employ the Gibbs version of approximate Bayesian computation (ABC-Gibbs) for parameter estimation. The effectiveness and application of the proposed method were demonstrated through numerical examples and practical application with light-emitting diode degradation data. Moreover, we use approximate Bayesian computation model choice (ABC-MC) for model comparison studies. The results indicated that our model offers improved approximations to observed degradation results compared to existing models, showcasing its superiority in generating data under the smallest tolerance threshold.

Reduction of sleep bruxism events according to contingent electrical stimulus intensity.

Although biofeedback with contingent electrical stimulation (CES) has demonstrated the reduction effect on sleep bruxism (SB), the relationship between the actual applied CES intensity and efficacy remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate whether the reduction of bruxism events and jaw muscle symptoms could vary according to the intensity of CES and in probable sleep bruxers. Twenty probable sleep bruxers were initially screened for bruxer confirmation based on a 2-week recording of SB events with a portable electromyography recorder (BUTLER®GrindCare®, GC4). A 3-week recording was conducted without CES using a GC4, followed by another 3-week recording with CES. At baseline and before and after the CES (+) session, clinical muscle symptoms were assessed using a 0-10 numerical rating scale (NRS). The relationships between the actual applied CES intensity and the number of SB events/hour, as well as the NRS of clinical muscle symptoms, were analysed. The actual applied CES intensity was positively correlated with the reduction rate of the number of SB events/hour (R = .643, p = .002), as well as with the reduction rate of NRS for pain, unpleasantness, fatigue, tension and stiffness (R > .500, p < .011). Higher CES elicited a more robust reduction in SB events and clinical muscle symptoms, in probable bruxers. Prior to selecting CES biofeedback as a management option for SB, it would be beneficial to assess the tolerance threshold of CES in each bruxer in order to predict the effectiveness of CES in probable sleep bruxers.

Distribution of nitrate (NO3−) and posphate (PO43-) in water, sediment and seaweed of Morowali distric marine waters

Abstract The seaweed market opportunity is very promising, this condition is in line with the national plan which positions Indonesia as the largest seaweed producer in the world. Seaweed production in Central Sulawesi, especially in Morowali district, has continued to decline since 2012-2021. The aim of the research was to examine the distribution of nitrates and phosphates in sea water, sediment and seaweed at seaweed cultivation sites around mining sites in Morowali District which is suspected to be the cause of this situation. Observation stations include South Bungku Waters, Bahodopi Waters, Witaponda Waters and Bumi Raya Waters. The results showed different nitrate and phosphate contents in sea water, sediment and seaweed. The nitrate content in waters throughout Morowali district ranged from 0.071 to 0.202 ppm, and phosphate from 0.001 to 0.013 ppm. The nitrate content in the sediment was in the range of 2.67-8.15 ppm and phosphate was in the range of 0.001-3.03 ppm. Meanwhile, the nitrate and phosphate content in seaweed was from 20.36 to 40.68 ppm and 1.39 to 8.37 ppm respectively. The data showed that the highest nitrate and phosphate content was in seaweed tallus, followed by sediment and the lowest nitrate and phosphate content in sea water. This indicates that the nitrate content of seawater, sediment and seaweed has exceeded the tolerance threshold for seaweed growth. However, the phosphate content in seawater was still relatively low, while in sediment and seaweed tallus has exceeded the threshold.

A study on factors influencing the spatial oppressiveness in small courtyard spaces within university residential areas

ABSTRACT A number of obstacles in terms of the growing demand for residential spaces for students in China's education industry. Changing urban development patterns often lead to densely populated, unpleasant university residential neighborhood, posing threats to the well-being of university personnel. This study addresses the limitations of past research, focusing on a real campus's enclosed high-rise student apartment courtyard. Using three key design variables (courtyard area, building height and ground-level interface transparency), 27 sample scenarios were developed for psychological experiments. The findings indicate that while visual scene complexity has minimal impact on oppression to confined environments, building exposure and sky visibility do. People's perception of openness is determined by building exposure, sky visibility, and visual complexity. Higher visual complexity and greater sky visibility enhance the sense of openness. Satisfaction is primarily influenced by sky visibility. The study also conducts a multiple linear regression of spatial and psychological indicators and discusses the tolerance threshold for spatial oppressiveness and the spatial oppressiveness under various spatial types of samples.

The Effect of Two Siderophore-Producing Bacillus Strains on the Growth Promotion of Perennial Ryegrass under Cadmium Stress.

Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic and cumulative environmental pollutant. Siderophores are heavy metal chelators with high affinity to heavy metals, such as Cd. Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) has a potential remediation capacity for soils contaminated by heavy metals. Consequently, using ryegrass alongside beneficial soil microorganisms that produce siderophores may be an effective means to remediate soils contaminated with Cd. In this study, the Bacillus strains WL1210 and CD303, which were previously isolated from the rhizospheres of Nitraria tangutorum in Wulan and Peganum harmala L. in Dachaidan, Qinghai, China, respectively, both arid and sandy environments, were evaluated for heavy metal pollution mitigation. Our quantitative analyses have discerned that the two bacterial strains possess commendable attributes of phosphorus (P) solubilization and potassium (K) dissolution, coupled with the capacity to produce phytohormones. To assess the heavy metal stress resilience of these strains, they were subjected to a cadmium concentration gradient, revealing their incremental growth despite cadmium presence, indicative of a pronounced tolerance threshold. The subsequent phylogenetic analysis, bolstered by robust genomic data from conserved housekeeping genes, including 16S rDNA, gyr B gene sequencing, as well as dnaK and recA, delineated a species-level phylogenetic tree, thereby confirming the strains as Bacillus atrophaeus. Additionally, we identified the types of iron-carrier-producing strains as catechol (WL1210) and carboxylic acid ferrophilin (CD303). A genomic analysis uncovered functional genes in strain CD303 associated with plant growth and iron carrier biosynthesis, such as fnr and iscA. Ryegrass seed germination assays, alongside morphological and physiological evaluations under diverse heavy metal stress, underscored the strains' potential to enhance ryegrass growth under high cadmium stress when treated with bacterial suspensions. This insight probes the strains' utility in leveraging alpine microbial resources and promoting ryegrass proliferation.

Assessing the effectiveness of high frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for post-mastectomy pain in breast cancer patients: A randomized controlled trial.

Post-mastectomy pain Syndrome (PMPS), characterized by chronic neuropathic pain stemming from intercostobrachial nerve lesions, presents a formidable clinical challenge. With the incidence of breast cancer surging, effective interventions for PMPS are urgently needed. To address this, we conducted this double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial to study the efficacy of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) therapy over the motor cortex on pain, quality of life and thermal sensitivity in PMPS patients. We delivered 15 rTMS sessions over three weeks in a cohort of 34 PMPS patients. These patients were allocated randomly to either rTMS therapy or sham therapy groups. Pain assessments, utilizing the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), alongside quality-of-life evaluations through the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B), were recorded before and after the 15 sessions. Additionally, we assessed thermal sensitivity using Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST). Our findings demonstrate the superior efficacy of rTMS therapy (over sham therapy) in reducing VAS and SF-MPQ scores (p < 0.0001), improving physical (p = 0.037), emotional (p = 0.033), and functional well-being (p = 0.020) components of quality of life, as quantified by FACT-B. Our investigation also unveiled marked enhancements in thermal sensitivity within the rTMS therapy group, with statistically significant improvements in cold detection threshold (p = 0.0001), warm detection threshold (p = 0.0033), cold pain threshold (p = 0.0078), and hot pain tolerance threshold (p = 0.0078). The study underscores the profound positive impact of rTMS therapy on pain, quality of life, and thermal sensitivity in patients havingPMPS, opening new avenues for pain management strategies.

Eelgrass meadow response to heat stress. II. Impacts of ocean warming and marine heatwaves measured by novel metrics

In June 2015, a marine heatwave triggered a severe eelgrass Zostera marina die-off event at the Virginia Coast Reserve (USA), followed by a slow and spatially heterogeneous recovery. We investigated the effects of heat stress on seagrass loss and recovery. Using hourly summer water temperature measurements from 2016-2020, we developed a novel approach to quantifying the stress of ocean warming on seagrass meadows. We defined 2 metrics: cumulative heat stress (as heating degree-hours, HDHs) and heat stress relief (as cooling degree-hours, CDHs), relative to a 28.6°C eelgrass ecosystem thermal tolerance threshold previously determined at this site from aquatic eddy covariance measurements. These metrics were compared to spatiotemporal patterns of summertime eelgrass shoot density and length. We found that the healthiest parts of the meadow benefited from greater heat stress relief (2-3×) due to tidal cooling (inputs of cooler ocean water through ocean inlets) during warm periods, resulting in ~65% higher shoot densities compared to the center of the meadow, which experienced higher heat stress (2×) and less relief. We also calculated the amount of heat stress preceding the eelgrass die-off in summer 2015, and found that this event was triggered by a cumulative heat stress of ~100-200°C-hours during the peak growing season. Sulfur isotope analyses of eelgrass leaves and sediment also suggested that sulfide toxicity likely contributed to eelgrass decline. Overall, our metrics incorporate physiological heat tolerances with the duration and intensity of heat stress and relief, and thus lay the groundwork for forecasting seagrass meadow vulnerability and resilience to future warming oceans.

An algorithm based on quantum phase estimation for the identification of patterns

The quantum phase estimation algorithm has been utilized by a variety of quantum algorithms, most notably Shor’s algorithm, to obtain information regarding the period of a function that is appropriately encoded into a unitary operator. In many cases, it is desired to estimate whether a specific state exhibits a certain pattern quickly. In this paper, we exhibit a methodology based on the QPE algorithm to identify certain patterns. In particular, starting from a properly encoded state, we demonstrate how to construct unitary operators whose eigenvectors correspond to states with proper diagonals. QPE will then output an eigenphase equal to zero with certainty for these states, thereby identifying this class of matrices. For partial matches, our algorithm, based on the tolerance threshold used, will show areas of high similarity, and it will outperform classical ones when the number of mismatches defined by the tolerance is significantly low when compared to the size of the diagonal.

Wood Distillate Promotes the Tolerance of Lettuce in Extreme Salt Stress Conditions.

Soil salinization is an adverse phenomenon in agriculture that severely affects crop growth and yield. The use of natural products, such as wood distillate (WD, derived from the pyrolysis of woody biomass), could be a sustainable approach to enhance the tolerance of plants cultivated in the saline soils. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the potential of WD, a foliar sprayed at 0.2% (v/v), in lettuce plants subjected to grow under both moderate and high soil sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations (ranging from 0 to 300 mM). The changes in the physiological and biochemical responses of these plants to the varying salt stress conditions allowed the identification of a maximum tolerance threshold (100 mM NaCl), specific to lettuce. Beyond this threshold, levels related to plant defense antioxidant power (antiradical activity) were lowered, while those indicative of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde content and electrolyte leakage) were raised, causing significant losses in leaf fresh biomass. On the other hand, WD significantly improved plant growth, enabling plants to survive high salt conditions >200 mM NaCl. Collectively, these observations highlight that treatments with WD could be of paramount importance in coping with current environmental challenges to have better yields under soil conditions of high salt concentrations.

Intraoperative pain prediction of percutaneous kyphoplasty under local anesthesia by preoperative experimental pain assessment.

Percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) is the preferred treatment for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF) Currently, the preoperative anesthesia methods for PKP are mainly local anesthesia and tracheal intubation general anesthesia. To assess whether patient sensitivity to pain measured preoperatively could predict the patients' pain response during PKP treatment under local anesthesia, to facilitate the development of an optimal preoperative anesthesia plan for patients. Fifty-five female patients diagnosed with osteoporotic single vertebral fracture who were treated with PKP under local anesthesia were selected. The patients' pain sensitivities, including pain threshold and pain tolerance threshold, were evaluated with a pain test device on the day before the operation in the ward. Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) were recorded before anesthesia, post-anesthesia, after needle puncture, and after balloon dilatation. At the same time, blood was drawn at the above time points to determine the level of norepinephrine (NA) as an indicator of intraoperative pain stress response. The numerical rating scale (NRS) during surgery was recorded at the end of the surgery. The preoperative pain tolerance threshold of 55surgical patients was correlated with the intraoperative NRS score (r=-0.768, P< 0.001), as well as with the preoperative and intraoperative changes in HR (r=-0.791, P< 0.001), MAP (r=-0.819, P< 0.001), and NA (r=-0.553, P< 0.001). Thus, the lower the preoperative pain tolerance threshold, the more severe the patient's response to pain during PKP treatment under local anesthesia, and the greater the hemodynamic changes. Consequently, the intraoperative experience becomes worse. However, there was no correlation between preoperative pain threshold and NRS scores (r=-0.069, P= 0.616) nor between the preoperative and intraoperative changes in HR (r= 0.103, P= 0.453), MAP (r= 0.086, P= 0.535), and NA (r=-0.058, P= 0.674). The results indicated that preoperative pain assessment could predict the level of pain response in OVCF patients during PKP surgery under local anesthesia.

Resource allocation of cognitive relay networks under continuous transmission mechanism

This paper considers the joint power allocation, path selection and subcarrier pairing design of cognitive radio cooperative networks, where the transmission power of secondary users is limited by its own power budget and the tolerable interference threshold of primary users. In particular, a continuous transmission mechanism rather than intermittent emission, leading to severe signal interference between primary and secondary users, as well as mutual interference between secondary users, is taken into account. This cooperative cognitive radio network is seen as an improvement in the sense that the source transmitter can continuously transmit symbols without silence. Although traditional cooperative network technology has long been applied to the cognitive radio field and it has been proposed to allow continuous transmission signals by source transmitter, the deployment of such improved cooperative behavior in cognitive radio networks has not been reported yet. This improvement assumption may render serious mutual interference between the relay station and the destination receiver, and the signal interference borne by the primary user will also exceed the threshold value, if there is no elaborate signal design and resource scheduling. In order to make full use of the available resources, this paper presents the closed-form solution of the power allocation, the decision criteria of the path selection and the subcarrier pairing technique for the problem of maximization of the sum rate of secondary users in such networks under the dual constraints of the power budget and the interference threshold. Simulation results show that the continuous transmission behavior at the source significantly outperforms the traditional switching back and forth between on and off.

Which SDM Model, CLIMEX vs. MaxEnt, Best Forecasts Aeolesthes sarta Distribution at a Global Scale under Climate Change Scenarios?

A precise evaluation of the risk of establishing insect pests is essential for national plant protection organizations. This accuracy is crucial in negotiating international trade agreements for forestry-related commodities, which have the potential to carry pests and lead to unintended introductions in the importing countries. In our study, we employed both mechanistic and correlative niche models to assess and map the global patterns of potential establishment for Aeolesthes sarta under current and future climates. This insect is a significant pest affecting tree species of the genus Populus, Salix, Acer, Malus, Juglans, and other hardwood trees. Notably, it is also categorized as a quarantine pest in countries where it is not currently present. The mechanistic model, CLIMEX, was calibrated using species-specific physiological tolerance thresholds, providing a detailed understanding of the environmental factors influencing the species. In contrast, the correlative model, maximum entropy (MaxEnt), utilized species occurrences and spatial climatic data, offering insights into the species' distribution based on observed data and environmental conditions. The projected potential distribution from CLIMEX and MaxEnt models aligns well with the currently known distribution of A. sarta. CLIMEX predicts a broader global distribution than MaxEnt, indicating that most central and southern hemispheres are suitable for its distribution, excluding the extreme northern hemisphere, central African countries, and the northern part of Australia. Both models accurately predict the known distribution of A. sarta in the Asian continent, and their projections suggest a slight overall increase in the global distribution range of A. sarta with future changes in climate temperature, majorly concentrating in the central and northern hemispheres. Furthermore, the models anticipate suitable conditions in Europe and North America, where A. sarta currently does not occur but where its preferred host species, Populus alba, is present. The main environmental variables associated with the distribution of A. sarta at a global level were the average annual temperature and precipitation rate. The predictive models developed in this study offer insights into the global risk of A. sarta establishment and can be valuable for monitoring potential pest introductions in different countries. Additionally, policymakers and trade negotiators can utilize these models to make science-based decisions regarding pest management and international trade agreements.

Quinoa growth and yield performance under salinity stress in arid West Texas

AbstractCrops such as quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) that are both salinity and drought‐tolerant and with high seed value are needed to sustain agriculture in arid Far West Texas facing dual threat of freshwater scarcity and soil salinization. However, quinoa's growth and yield performance under arid conditions of Far West Texas has not been studied previously. This study evaluated growth and yield of a salt‐tolerant quinoa genotype under greenhouse conditions using a completely randomized experimental design with irrigation water salinity as the main factor having five different levels (freshwater, 5, 10, 15, and 20 dS m−1). Plant parameters (plant height, leaf SPAD, leaf tissue carbon, and nitrogen concentrations) and seed yield were measured for two growing seasons. Soil quality (salinity and sodicity) changes were also determined for the same time. Seed yields ranged between 747 and 6065 kg ha−1 across 2 years, indicating significant effects of water salinity. However, these yields were comparable to those reported in the literature. Increasing water salinity significantly affected all growth parameters with leaf C and N decreasing by an average of 20%, whereas reductions in plant height reached a high of 60% at 20 dS m−1. Similar reductions in leaf chlorophyll content were found with increasing water salinity. Soil salinity and sodicity significantly increased over time with irrigation water salinity. Importantly, we observed that quinoa has a much higher soil salinity threshold (∼12 dS m−1) above which yields declined rapidly. Higher salt tolerance threshold of quinoa makes it an alternative economically viable crop for the Trans‐Pecos Texas region.

The hard impact low probabilities’ impacts on power distribution system economy

Electricity distribution systems benefit customers, investors, and operational managers economically. However, natural hazards pose significant risks to these networks, contributing to economic instability. This study assesses the impact of low-probability, high-impact events, particularly storms, on asset management and lifespan within the electricity distribution industry. By introducing three key indicators—rate of return, service rate, and cost per asset—the research investigates how different assets respond to various risks. Each asset has a distinct threshold for risk tolerance, which diminishes as its lifespan increases. Utilizing a cost model and analyzing breakpoint curves, the study evaluates the effects of high impact and low probability (HILP) incidents on the indicators mentioned earlier, factoring in asset composition changes. The study assesses the impact of storms with varying intensities on a sample network by formulating economic relations and allocating budgets for HILP events across different network conditions. Results highlight the allocation of budgetary resources for securing assets of different ages within the network. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis explores how changes in network expansion coefficients and failure rates influence these factors. Notably, findings reveal that systems with slower development rates exhibit greater asset resilience; as demonstrated in scenario 3, the assets are strengthened from a 70-year life to a 6-year life for a 145 km storm.

A comparative evaluation of masticatory load distribution in different types of prosthesis with varying number of implants: A FEM analysis

AimTo identify the optimal number and position of implants to reduce stress concentration on the implant, denture, and attachment system for sustaining an overdenture prosthesis. Materials and methodsBy incorporating one to eight indigenous implants with bar-type attachments, eight 3D finite element models of mandibular overdentures were created. All models received a 200 N vertical load, and the biomechanical characteristics of peri-implant bone were assessed. ResultThe study observed that with a vertical load of 200 N, the maximum equivalent stress around peri-implant tissue in all models was within the physiological tolerance threshold of bone. The von Mises stress values ranged from 116.18 MPa to 536.7 MPa. ConclusionThe three-implant-supported overdenture model revealed superior peri-implant stress, stability, cost-effectiveness, and hygiene maintenance outcomes. Placing a third implant in the mid-symphysis region may offer a practical solution to reduce rotations in two-implant-supported overdentures.

Exploring the effects of metallic toxicity on the seed germination and initial growth of Lavandula stoechas L. and Myrtus communis L.: Towards promoting the dissemination of aromatic plants in contaminated lands

The high accumulation of heavy metals (HMs) in soils is becoming a major ecological concern worldwide that negatively impacts all living organisms. Therefore, sustainable solutions are urgently needed to withstand these challenging circumstances and to maintain natural ecosystem functionality. Among the relevant solutions is to select well-adapted plant species and embed them in revegetation operations for degraded areas. In this study, the effects of different concentrations (0, 200, 400, and 600 mg L–1) of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pd) on the seed germination capacity and initial growth performance of two valuable aromatic plants (Lavandula stoechas L. and Myrtus communis L.) were tested. The germination of seeds was greatest in the control treatment (0 mg L–1), while amplifying HM stress restricted germination. The results obtained showed that seeds of L. stoechas were unable to germinate in the presence of high doses of Cd (400 and 600 mg L–1) and Ni (600 mg mg L–1), and subsequently featuring increasing tolerance thresholds in the following order: Pb > Cr > Ni > Cd. Regardless of the HM used, M. communis seeds germinated at all concentrations, and germination increased in the following pattern of HM resistance: Cd > Ni > Cr > Pb. Seedlings of L. stoechas displayed better resistance to Ni and Pb, while M. communis seedlings were most strongly affected by Ni. Overall, the hypocotyl was typically more susceptible to different metal elements than the radicle. The ability of seeds to effectively emerge in a broad range of HM solutions indicates that both species can further establish and propagate in contaminated soils.

Stability and Compatibility of an Intramuscular Fetal Anesthetic Cocktail for Fetal Intervention

Introduction: The aim of the study was to evaluate chemical stability and physical compatibility when combining fentanyl, rocuronium, and atropine in a fixed ratio to support intramuscular drug delivery during fetal intervention and surgery. Methods: A highly concentrated combination of fentanyl, rocuronium, and atropine was created based on common prescribing practices at a maternal-fetal care center. Chemical stability testing was completed using liquid chromatograph mass spectrometry-mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS) to detect and quantitate atropine, rocuronium, and fentanyl, with fentanyl-d5 being an internal standard at 6, 12, 24, and 36 h following sample preparation. Physical compatibility testing was completed using United States Pharmacopeia (USP) <788> recommended analytical technique of light obscuration in addition to novel backgrounded membrane imaging at 6 and 24 h following sample preparation. Physical compatibility was determined using USP <788> particle count limits for both techniques. Results: Based on LC/MS-MS results, the samples retained expected medication concentrations at all time points tested. For physical compatibility testing, the particle counts met criteria to be considered compatible per USP <788> large-volume particle count thresholds at 6 h by both methods but exceeded tolerable thresholds at 24 h. Discussion/Conclusion: The combination of rocuronium, fentanyl, and atropine for intramuscular fetal administration is physically compatible and chemically stable for 6 h.

Selenium-rich Lactobacillus plantarum alleviates salinity stress in Cyprinus carpio: Growth performance, oxidative stress, and immune and inflammatory responses

Salinity is an important environmental factor that affects the health of aquatic animals, when salinity level above the tolerance threshold can pose a significant threat to the survival of aquatic animals. As a trace element necessary for animal growth, selenium participates in the body’s antioxidant reaction, and protect aquatic animals from oxidative stress damage. Biological methods for synthesizing selenium nanoparticles (bio-Se-NPs) from bacteria are safe, inexpensive, and accessible. Therefore, we synthesized selenium nanoparticles using Lactobacillus plantarum (probiotic) to study the growth, immune, antioxidant, and inflammatory responses of selenium-rich Lactobacillus plantarum (SL, a type of bio-Se-NPs) fed Cyprinus carpio under low-salinity (5 g/L salinity) and high-salinity (10 g/L salinity) stresses. Analyses revealed that the addition of SL at a concentration of 1 mg/kg significantly alleviated the growth inhibition caused by high-salinity stress. SL significantly alleviated salinity-induced liver tissue injury (numerous cytoplasmic vacuolations the accumulation, inflammatory cell infiltration, nuclear lysis, and some blood congestion). SL significantly alleviated the abnormal levels of serum ALT, AST, GGT and LDH caused by salinity stress, and improved lipid metabolism (TG, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C). SL can also regulates cytokines and antioxidant genes (TNF-α, iL-1β, iL-10, TGFβ-1, SOD, CAT, GPx1, and HO-1) through the NF-κB and Nrf-2 signaling pathways and thereby reduce the inflammatory response and increase the antioxidant level, and these effects attenuate salinity-mediated oxidative damage. In conclusion, our findings indicate that SL can significantly promote the growth and development of fish and alleviate the adverse effects of high-salinity stress and thus, SL can be a potential feed additive for alleviating oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.

Intraoral optical impression versus conventional impression for fully edentulous maxilla: an in vivo comparative study.

The aim of the present in vivo study was to compare the clinical trueness of primary mucostatic impressions obtained either by a classical alginate or an optical intraoral scanner technique in patients with a fully edentulous maxilla. A total of 30 patients with a fully edentulous maxilla were included in the study and underwent both conventional impressions and intraoral optical impressions (Trios 3). The conventional impressions were casted and the resulting plaster casts were digitized using a desktop scanner (Imetric D104i). These digitized impressions were superimposed over the optical impressions to compare the differences between the two data sets. Statistical analyses were performed to identify relevant deviations. For the 30 intraoral impressions, 80.88% of the surface areas were below the tolerance threshold of 25 µm and were thus considered similar to the areas scanned with the desktop scanner from the reference plaster cast. Interestingly, the differences (19.12% of the surface areas) were localized in depressible areas such as the vestibule, soft palate, incisive papilla, and flabby ridges. These locations were consistent with the mean of positive differences of +22.8 µm, indicating deformation or less compression with the use of the intraoral scanner. The digital primary impression of the fully edentulous maxilla can be considered similar to the conventional alginate impression except in the depressible areas. Considering the mucostatic objective of such a primary impression, one may consider the optical impression to be more accurate than the conventional one.

Temporal dynamics of stress response in Halomonas elongata to NaCl shock: physiological, metabolomic, and transcriptomic insights

BackgroundThe halophilic bacterium Halomonas elongata is an industrially important strain for ectoine production, with high value and intense research focus. While existing studies primarily delve into the adaptive mechanisms of this bacterium under fixed salt concentrations, there is a notable dearth of attention regarding its response to fluctuating saline environments. Consequently, the stress response of H. elongata to salt shock remains inadequately understood.ResultsThis study investigated the stress response mechanism of H. elongata when exposed to NaCl shock at short- and long-time scales. Results showed that NaCl shock induced two major stresses, namely osmotic stress and oxidative stress. In response to the former, within the cell’s tolerable range (1–8% NaCl shock), H. elongata urgently balanced the surging osmotic pressure by uptaking sodium and potassium ions and augmenting intracellular amino acid pools, particularly glutamate and glutamine. However, ectoine content started to increase until 20 min post-shock, rapidly becoming the dominant osmoprotectant, and reaching the maximum productivity (1450 ± 99 mg/L/h). Transcriptomic data also confirmed the delayed response in ectoine biosynthesis, and we speculate that this might be attributed to an intracellular energy crisis caused by NaCl shock. In response to oxidative stress, transcription factor cysB was significantly upregulated, positively regulating the sulfur metabolism and cysteine biosynthesis. Furthermore, the upregulation of the crucial peroxidase gene (HELO_RS18165) and the simultaneous enhancement of peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activities collectively constitute the antioxidant defense in H. elongata following shock. When exceeding the tolerance threshold of H. elongata (1–13% NaCl shock), the sustained compromised energy status, resulting from the pronounced inhibition of the respiratory chain and ATP synthase, may be a crucial factor leading to the stagnation of both cell growth and ectoine biosynthesis.ConclusionsThis study conducted a comprehensive analysis of H. elongata’s stress response to NaCl shock at multiple scales. It extends the understanding of stress response of halophilic bacteria to NaCl shock and provides promising theoretical insights to guide future improvements in optimizing industrial ectoine production.