Profile Variations Research Articles

Identification of Gene Signatures Associated with COVID-19 across Children, Adolescents, and Adults in the Nasopharynx and Peripheral Blood by Using a Machine Learning Approach.

Significant variations in immune profiles across different age groups manifest distinct clinical symptoms and prognoses in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Predominantly, severe COVID-19 cases that require hospitalization occur in the elderly, with the risk of severe illness escalating with age among young adults, children, and adolescents. This study aimed to delineate the unique immune characteristics of COVID-19 across various age groups and evaluate the feasibility of detecting COVID-19-induced immune alterations through peripheral blood analysis. By employing a machine learning approach, we analyzed gene expression data from nasopharyngeal and peripheral blood samples of COVID-19 patients across different age brackets. Nasopharyngeal data reflected the immune response to COVID-19 in the upper respiratory tract, while peripheral blood samples provided insights into the overall immune system status. Both datasets encompassed COVID-19 patients and healthy controls, with patients divided into children, adolescents, and adult age groups. The analysis included the expression levels of 62,703 genes per patient. Then, 9 feature-sequencing methods (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, light gradient boosting machine, Monte Carlo feature selection, random forest, ridge regression, adaptive boosting, categorical boosting, extremely randomized trees, and extreme gradient boosting) were employed to evaluate the association of the genes with COVID-19. Key genes were then utilized to develop efficient classification models. The findings identified specific markers: insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (downregulated in the peripheral blood of COVID-19 patients), interferon alpha-inducible protein 27 (upregulated), and SERPING1 (upregulated in nasopharyngeal tissues). In addition, fibulin-2 was downregulated in adolescent patients, but upregulated in the other groups, while epoxide hydrolase 3 was upregulated in healthy controls, but downregulated in children and adolescents. This study offers valuable insights into the local and systemic immune responses of COVID-19 patients across age groups, aiding in identifying potential therapeutic targets and formulating personalized treatment strategies.

Effects of magnetic nanoparticle distribution in cancer therapy through hyperthermia

Magnetic hyperthermia (MHT) is a promising cancer treatment that exploits the heating capabilities of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) when exposed to alternating magnetic fields. The primary challenge in optimizing MHT lies in understanding the influence of MNP distribution within the tumor microenvironment. This study presents realistic simulations of MNP distribution within a tumor, accounting for diffusion, convection, and internalization dynamics, alongside the presence of a necrotic core. Additionally, a vascular network was modeled based on diagnostic images to assess its impact on nanoparticle behavior and heat generation within the tumor. Our results show that uneven MNP distribution, particularly in areas influenced by the tumor's vasculature and necrotic regions, results in highly variable temperature profiles and irregular thermal damage. By contrast, a more uniform distribution of MNPs leads to a consistent rise in temperature and a broader region of thermal damage, with maximum temperatures reaching 47 °C and 99 % tumor cell death after 60 min of treatment. Key quantitative findings indicate that the tumor's vascular architecture plays a crucial role in determining the heat distribution and treatment efficacy. This study highlights the importance of fine-tuning MNP delivery and distribution to maximize therapeutic outcomes in MHT. The approach offers significant potential for applications in treating deep-seated or inoperable tumors, where precise and localized therapy is critical.

Dynamic variations of plasma and urine metabolic profiles in left anterior descending coronary artery ligation-induced myocardial infarction rats and the regulatory effects of Chinese patent medicine Xin-Ke-Shu

Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the most severe cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Traditional Chinese medicines have unique advantages in the treatment of CVD, with Xin-Ke-Shu (XKS) being a commonly used Chinese patent medicine for the prevention and treatment of MI patients. This study aimed to investigate the dynamic metabolic profiles of plasma and urine in left anterior descending coronary artery ligation (LAD) -induced MI rats at days 3, 12, and 21 after surgery, and to evaluate the regulatory effects of XKS at these time points using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) metabolomics. The metabolic profiles of plasma and urine in the LAD-induced MI rats showed significant variations at days 3, 12, and 21 after MI. We identified a total of 23 plasma metabolites and 12 urine metabolites as potential pathological markers related to MI progression. These metabolites were mainly involved in pathways such as TCA cycle, arachidonic acid metabolism, glutathione metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, and fatty acid metabolism, all of which were associated with imbalance of myocardial energy metabolism, oxidative stress, and calcium overload. Disturbances in the TCA cycle, arachidonic acid metabolism, glutathione metabolism, and purine metabolism in plasma and urine were observed as early as day 3 after MI. By day 12, we noted significant changes in fatty acid metabolism in plasma and urine, along with notable alterations in sphingolipid metabolism in plasma. Disorders in plasma glycerophospholipid metabolism were first evident at day 12 and reached their peak severity by day 21. Treatments with XKS significantly regulated the disturbances in the plasma and urine metabolic profiles of MI rats at days 3, 12, and 21, with medium dose of XKS displaying a particularly strong regulatory effect, especially at day 12. Our study demonstrates that host metabolism undergoes dynamical changes following MI with most metabolic disorders manifesting in the early stage of MI. XKS effectively regulates nearly all of these disturbances and can be administered as soon as possible after MI. These findings provide valuable insights into the metabolic progression of MI and highlight the therapeutic potential of XKS in the treatment of MI.

Adulticidal activity of essential oils of Ageratum conyzoides L., Hyptis suaveolens L., Ocimum basilicum L. and their synergistic effects against anopheles mosquitoes

This study investigated the insecticidal efficacy of essential oils (EOs) extracted from Ageratum conyzoides, Hyptis suaveolens, and Ocimum basilicum against female Anopheles mosquitoes, aiming to explore their potential as alternatives to synthetic insecticides amidst rising resistance issues. EOs were obtained through steam distillation from freshly harvested plant aerial parts, and their chemical compositions were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results revealed significant variations in chemical profiles among the oils, with precocene I dominating in A. Conyzoides, eucalyptol in H. suaveolens, and estragole in O. basilicum. Thin layer chromatography analyses revealed various components with rf values ranging from 0.25 – 0.93. Mosquito bioassay demonstrated varying knockdown effects across the oils, with H. suavolens achieving 77.5% knockdown within six minutes of the observation period. None of the oils or their combinations reached susceptibility status (98–100% mortality), indicating prevalent resistance among the mosquito population in the study area. The combination of A. conyzoides and H. suavolens essential oil gave the highest percentage mortality (70%) at the least time (9 minutes), this is a suggestion of synergistic activity. Despite resistance challenges, this study highlights the promise of botanical insecticides in sustainable mosquito control and underscores the ongoing need for innovation and adaptation in vector management strategies.

A review of nutritional recommendations for scuba divers.

Scuba diving is an increasingly popular activity that involves the use of specialized equipment and compressed air to breathe underwater. Scuba divers are subject to the physiological consequences of being immersed in a high-pressure environment, including, but not limited to, increased work of breathing and kinetic energy expenditure, decreased fluid absorption, and alteration of metabolism. Individual response to these environmental stressors may result in a differential risk of decompression sickness, a condition thought to result from excess nitrogen bubbles forming in a diver's tissues. While the mechanisms of decompression sickness are still largely unknown, it has been postulated that this response may further be influenced by the diver's health status. Nutritional intake has direct relevancy to inflammation status and oxidative stress resistance, both of which have been associated with increased decompression stress. While nutritional recommendations have been determined for saturation divers, these recommendations are likely overly robust for recreational divers, considering that the differences in time spent under pressure and the maximum depth could result nonequivalent energetic demands. Specific recommendations for recreational divers remain largely undefined. This narrative review will summarize existing nutritional recommendations and their justification for recreational divers, as well as identify gaps in research regarding connections between nutritional intake and the health and safety of divers. Following recommendations made by the Institute of Medicine and the Naval Medical Research Institute of Bethesda, recreational divers are advised to consume ~170-210 kJ·kg-1 (40-50 kcal·kg-1) body mass, depending on their workload underwater, in a day consisting of 3 hours' worth of diving above 46 msw. Recommendations for macronutrient distribution for divers are to derive 50% of joules from carbohydrates and less than 30% of joules from fat. Protein consumption is recommended to reach a minimum of 1 g of protein·kg-1 of body mass a day to mitigate loss of appetite while meeting energetic requirements. All divers should take special care to hydrate themselves with an absolute minimum of 500 ml of fluid per hour for any dive longer than 3 hours, with more recent studies finding 0.69 liters of water two hours prior to diving is most effective to minimize bubble loads. While there is evidence that specialized diets may have specific applications in commercial or military diving, they are not advisable for the general recreational diving population considering the often extreme nature of these diets, and the lack of research on their effectiveness on a recreational diving population. Established recommendations do not account for changes in temperature, scuba equipment, depth, dive time, work of breathing, breathing gas mix, or individual variation in metabolism. Individual recommendations may be more accurate when accounting for basal metabolic rate and physical activity outside of diving. However, more research is needed to validate these estimates against variation in dive profile and diver demographics.

Hyperspectral Imaging Database of Human Facial Skin.

The perceived color of human skin is the result of the interaction of environmental lighting with the skin. Only by resorting to human skin spectral reflectance, it is possible to obtain physical outcomes of this interaction. The purpose of this work was to provide a cured and validated database of hyperspectral images of human faces, useful for several applications, such as psychophysics-based research, object recognition, and material modeling. The hyperspectral imaging data from 29 human faces with different skin tones and sexes, under constant lighting and controlled movements, were described and characterized. Each hyperspectral image, which comprised spectral reflectance of the whole face from 400 to 720 nm in 10 nm steps at each pixel, was analyzed between and within nine facial positions located at different areas of the face. Simultaneously, spectral measurements at the same nine facial positions using conventional local point and/or contact devices were used to ascertain the data. It was found that the spectral reflectance profile changed between skin tones, subjects, and facial locations. Important local variations of the spectral reflectance profile showed that extra care is needed when considering average values from conventional devices at the same area of measurement.

Associations between acquired antimicrobial resistance genes in the upper respiratory tract and livestock farm exposures: a case-control study in COPD and non-COPD individuals.

Livestock-related emissions have been associated with aggravations of respiratory symptoms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), potentially by altering the respiratory resistome. This study investigates the structure of the acquired oropharyngeal (OP) resistome of patients with COPD and controls, its interplay with the respiratory microbiome and associations with residential livestock exposure. In a matched case-control study in the rural Netherlands, we analysed OP swabs from 35 patients with COPD and 34 controls, none of whom had used antibiotics in the preceding 4 weeks. Resistome profiling was performed using ResCap, complemented by prior characterization of the microbiome via 16S rRNA-based sequencing. Residential livestock farm exposure was defined using distance-based variables alongside modelled concentrations of livestock-emitted microbial pollutants. We compared resistome profiles between patients with COPD and controls, examining alpha and beta diversity as well as differential abundance. Additionally, we assessed the interplay between the resistome and microbiome using co-occurrence networks and Procrustes analysis. Variations in resistome profiles were also analysed based on residential livestock exposures. Patients with COPD exhibited higher resistome diversity than controls (Shannon diversity, P = 0.047), though resistome composition remained similar between groups (PERMANOVA, P = 0.19). Significant correlations were observed between the OP resistome and microbiome compositions, with distinct patterns in co-occurrence networks. Residential exposure to livestock farms was not associated with resistome alterations. Our findings reveal the COPD airway as a hospitable environment for antimicrobial resistance genes, irrespective of recent antimicrobial usage. Demonstrating the interplay between the resistome and microbiome, our study underscores the importance of a deeper understanding of the resistome in respiratory health.

Position-Specific Differences in Speed Profiles Among National Football League Scouting Combine Participants.

Gillen, ZM. Position-specific differences in speed profiles among NFL scouting combine participants. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2024-This study examined the relationships between speed profiles and athletic performance measurements from the National Football League (NFL) Scouting Combine, and position-specific differences in speed profiles. Subjects included NFL Scouting Combines participants with valid scores for the 40-yard dash, as well as the 10- and 20-yard splits of the 40-yard dash (n = 2,156). Subjects were divided into the following position groups: defensive backs (DBs, n = 421), defensive linemen (DL, n = 356), linebackers (LBs, n = 261), offensive linemen (OL, n = 354), running backs (RBs, n = 217), tight ends (TEs, n = 122), quarterbacks (QBs, n = 108), and wide receivers (WRs, n = 317). Performance measures included 40-yard dash time (with 10- and 20-yard split times), bench press repetitions to failure, vertical jump height, broad jump distance, pro-agility time, and L-cone drill time. The 40-yard dash and its splits calculated vmax, τ, and amax to reflect speed profiles. One-way analysis of variances examined position-related differences. Pearson's product moment correlation coefficients examined relationships between performance measures and speed profile variables. Skill positions (DB and WR) had the greatest vmax and amax, and lowest τ, followed by big skill positions (LB, RB, TE, QB), followed by DL, then OL with the lowest vmax and amax, and highest τ. For skill and big skill positions, vmax, τ, and amax exhibited greater relationships with combine measures, whereas OL generally had the lowest relationships. The position-specific differences in this study demonstrate potential areas of strength and weakness for certain positions. This may help guide strength and conditioning coaches desiring to improve position-specific speed and acceleration capabilities for American football players.

Poly (A) binding protein 2 is critical for stem cell differentiation during regeneration in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea.

Post-transcriptional regulation has emerged as a key mechanism for regulating stem cell renewal and differentiation, which is essential for understanding tissue regeneration and homeostasis. Poly(A)-binding proteins are a family of RNA-binding proteins that play a vital role in post-transcriptional regulation by controlling mRNA stability and protein synthesis. The involvement of poly(A) binding proteins in a wide range of cellular functions is increasingly being investigated. In this study, we used the regenerative model planarian organism Schmidtea mediterranea to demonstrate the critical role of poly(A)-binding protein 2 (PABP2) in regulating neoblast maintenance and differentiation. A deficit in PABP2 blocks the transition of neoblasts toward immediate early progenitors, leading to an enhanced pool of non-committed neoblasts and a decreased progenitor population. This is reflected in variations in the transcriptome profile, providing evidence of downregulation in multiple lineages. Thus, an insufficiency of PABP2 resulted in defective formation and organization of tissue, leading to abnormal regeneration. Our study reveals the essential role of PABP2 in regulating genes that mediate stem cell commitment to early progenitors during tissue regeneration.

Exploratory Metabolomics and Lipidomics Profiling Contributes to Understanding How Curcumin Improves Quality of Goat Semen Stored at 16 °C in Tropical Areas.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) exert a vital role in sperm quality during semen preservation, where excessive ROS leads to oxidative damage and undermines sperm integrity. Curcumin, a botanical extract, is capable of neutralizing ROS and enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes. This study was aimed at evaluating the effects of curcumin on sperm viability, acrosome integrity, and antioxidant levels, as well as metabolomic and lipidomic profiles. The results demonstrated that curcumin at 25 µmol/L significantly enhanced sperm motility, plasma membrane, and acrosome integrity, elevated the levels of antioxidant enzymes (T-AOC, CAT, SOD), and decreased ROS production (p < 0.05). Metabolomic analysis identified 93 distinct metabolites that showed significant differences between the control and curcumin-treated groups. KEGG pathways emphasized the participation of these metabolites in key metabolic processes such as the citric acid cycle, cholesterol metabolism, and fatty acid metabolism. Curcumin treatment brought about notable variations in lipid profiles, including increased levels of phosphatidylcholine, acylcarnitine, and triglyceride over the storage time, suggesting enhanced lipid anabolic activity. Overall, the supplementation of curcumin at 25 µmol/L effectively mitigates oxidative stress and prolongs the viability of semen storage at 16 °C by modulating specific metabolic and lipid profiles.

Energy Flexibility Strategies for Buildings in Hot Climates: A Case Study for Dubai

This paper presents a case study of energy flexibility strategies for a building located in the hot climate of Dubai, a type of climate in which energy flexibility has been under-researched. Energy flexibility is changing the routine-consumption profile and deviating from the normal operation of the building by the users to manage the variability in the load profile and cost of electricity. The three flexibility strategies being considered are based on the modulation of the indoor air temperature setpoint profile while considering different marginal costs for electricity. The main objective is to quantify the energy storage flexibility of each strategy and evaluate its impact on the system ramping and load factor. The study was carried out utilizing a grey-box, resistance–capacitance model of the building, which was validated against experimental measurements. This study is the first to use the following five indicators simultaneously: load factor, system ramping, storage capacity, peak-period demand reduction, and cost savings. Combining these indicators helps building facility managers and distribution system operators (DSOs) better understand the implications of implementing a specific flexibility strategy in a building or a group of buildings. When comparing the indicators of each strategy with each other, it was observed that depending on the amplitude of the change in the electricity cost signal during the peak period, a significant cost reduction of more than 25% could be achieved through the implementation of specific flexibility strategies compared with the normal baseline operating condition.

Demographic Trends, Co-Alterations, and Imatinib Resistance across Genomic Variants in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: An AACR Project GENIE Analysis

Introduction: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal neoplasm of the gastrointestinal tract, the treatment of which represents a significant breakthrough in targeted cancer therapy. Given its overall rare nature, genomic differences and clinical implications between demographic groups have not been previously investigated. Methods: Anonymized demographic, clinical, and genomic data from 1,559 GIST patients in the American Association for Cancer Research Project GENIE database were analyzed using cBioPortal and custom Python scripts. Data on patient demographics, genomic alterations, and co-occurrence genetic alerations were collected and classified according to clinical implications using the OncoKB database. χ2 tests for differences in genomic alterations were used across various demographic factors and mutual exclusivity analysis was employed to identify co-mutation patterns. Results: Male patients demonstrated higher incidence of PDGFRA mutation (14.56% vs. 8.05%; p < 0.001), while female patients had higher likelihood of NF1 mutations (7.46% vs. 3.23%; p = 0.001). Asian patients had higher alteration rates at KIT (85.59%; p = 0.002). Co-occurrence analysis revealed KIT alterations frequently co-occurred with CDKN2A (q < 0.001), MTAP (q = 0.045), and PTEN (q = 0.056), while there was mutual exclusivity with PDGFRA (q < 0.001), NF1 (q < 0.001), and BRAF (q = 0.015). CDKN2A alterations co-occurred with MTAP (q < 0.001) and PIK3CA (q = 0.015), while being mutually exclusive with TP53 (q = 0.002) and NF1 (q = 0.007). Trends were similar among patients who had received no prior medical treatment. Imatinib-resistant mutations were more common among male patients (25.6% vs. 18.9%; p = 0.0056) and individuals under 55 (27.3% vs. 20.9%; p = 0.0228). Among patients with imatinib-resistant mutations, 77.78% had sunitinib resistance, while 70.25% maintained sensitivity to ripretinib. Conclusion: Sex and race/ethnic differences in genomic alterations, as well as co-mutations, were prevalent among patients with GIST. Variations in mutational profiles highlight the importance of distinct genetic drivers that may be targeted to treat different patient populations.

Patients with influenza admitted to a tertiary-care hospital in Riyadh between 2018 and 2022: characteristics, outcomes and factors associated with ICU admission and mortality

BackgroundInfluenza is a common cause of hospital admissions globally with regional variations in epidemiology and clinical profile. We evaluated the characteristics and outcomes of patients with influenza admitted to a tertiary-care center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort of adult patients admitted with polymerase chain reaction-confirmed influenza to King Abdulaziz Medical City-Riyadh between January 1, 2018, and May 31, 2022. We compared patients who required intensive care unit (ICU) admission to those who did not and performed multivariable logistic regression to assess the predictors of ICU admission and hospital mortality.ResultsDuring the study period, 675 adult patients were hospitalized with influenza (median age 68.0 years, females 53.8%, hypertension 59.9%, diabetes 55.1%, and chronic respiratory disease 31.1%). Most admissions (83.0%) were in the colder months (October to March) in Riyadh with inter-seasonal cases even in the summertime (June to August). Influenza A was responsible for 79.0% of cases, with H3N2 and H1N1 subtypes commonly circulating in the study period. Respiratory viral coinfection occurred in 12 patients (1.8%) and bacterial coinfection in 42 patients (17.4%). 151 patients (22.4%) required ICU admission, of which 62.3% received vasopressors and 48.0% mechanical ventilation. Risk factors for ICU admission were younger age, hypertension, bilateral lung infiltrates on chest X-ray, and Pneumonia Severity Index. The overall hospital mortality was 7.4% (22.5% for ICU patients, p < 0.0001). Mortality was 45.0% in patients with bacterial coinfection, 30.9% in those requiring vasopressors, and 29.2% in those who received mechanical ventilation. Female sex (odds ratio [OR], 2.096; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.070, 4.104), ischemic heart disease (OR, 3.053; 95% CI 1.457, 6.394), immunosuppressed state (OR, 7.102; 95% CI 1.803, 27.975), Pneumonia Severity Index (OR, 1.029; 95% CI, 1.017, 1.041), leukocyte count and serum lactate level (OR, 1.394; 95% CI, 1.163, 1.671) were independently associated with hospital mortality.ConclusionsInfluenza followed a seasonal pattern in Saudi Arabia, with H3N2 and H1N1 being the predominant circulating strains during the study period. ICU admission was required for > 20%. Female sex, high Pneumonia Severity Index, ischemic heart disease, and immunosuppressed state were associated with increased mortality.

Antioxidant Activities of Exopolysaccharides Extracts from Two Endemic Fungi from Patagonia.

A great number of free radicals have a negative impact on the human body, and an increased interest in the identification of new natural molecules with antioxidant properties has emerged due to concerns about synthetic antioxidants. Here, the antioxidant effect of four exo-polysaccharides (EPS) extracts obtained from submerged cultivation of Nothophellinus andinopatagonicus and Pseudoinonotus crustosus (N and P, respectively) in two culture media (M1 and M2) at 2 concentrations (100 and 250µg/ml) was studied; then, its relation with the chemical composition of the EPS was evaluated. To assess the antioxidant activities of the extracts, several in vitro assays were performed: DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging, ferric-reducing antioxidant power, chelating ability on ferrous ions, and inhibition of the lipid peroxidation. The concentrations tested here were much lower than those reported in previous works. Despite variations in chemical composition and monosaccharide profiles among the extracts, all demonstrated antioxidant activity, although the type of activity differed; only P-M1 exhibited a good antioxidant activity across all assays. This extract contained the highest proportion of phenolic compounds, and also displayed the highest radical scavenging activity. Although the utilization of polysaccharides as functional food ingredients remains limited, we propose P-M1 as a promising candidate for a nutraceutical product. Additionally, a formulation could be made with a combination of extracts to create an antioxidant-rich supplement. Additional research is needed to confirm our findings in a cellular environment and to elucidate the mechanisms that drive their antioxidant activities, ultimately facilitating their development and utilization as nutraceutical products.

Age-Related Variations in Clinical Profiles for Children with Sports- and Recreation-Related Concussions.

The purpose was to examine clinical profiles in concussed children aged 5-9 and 10-12 years and compare them with those of adolescents >12 years. This study included patients aged 5-18 years presenting to a specialty care concussion program with a sports- and recreation-related (SRR) concussion ≤28 days postinjury. Demographics, injury mechanisms, symptoms, and clinical features were assessed. Chi-squared tests, one-way ANOVA, and Kruskal-Wallis were used for comparisons across age groups. A total of 3280 patients with SRR concussion were included: 5.0% were 5-9 years, 18.4% were 10-12 years, and 76.6% were 13-18 years. Younger age groups had more males than females (5-9 years: 70.7% vs. 29.3%) and more commonly sustained their injury during limited- (28.7%), and non-contact (7.9%) activities compared to other age groups (p < 0.01). Younger children presented less symptoms frequently (p ≤ 0.042), but higher symptom severity in somatic and emotional domains (p ≤ 0.016). Fewer 5-9-year-olds reported changes in school (25.6%), sleep (46.3%), and daily habits (40.9%) than adolescents (p < 0.001). Among SRR-concussed children and adolescents, we found significant age-related variations in demographics, injury mechanism, symptoms, and clinical features. Recognizing these unique features in younger children may facilitate targeted management and treatment.

Genetic and environmental contributions to the development of soft tissue facial profile: a twin study.

This study aimed to determine the relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors in the phenotypic variation of the soft tissue facial profile during the mixed dentition and the permanent dentition stages. In this retrospective cohort study, standardized facial profile photographs of 139 twin pairs (55 monozygotic and 84 dizygotic) were obtained from archival records at the Adelaide Dental School. Photographic analysis used 12 angular and 14 linear facial profile measurements from the mixed dentition (7-11 years) to the permanent dentition (12-17 years) stages. A genetic analysis was performed using a univariate structural equation model adhering to the normal assumptions of a twin model. In the mixed dentition stage, the additive genetic (A) and unique environment (E) model, AE model, was the most parsimonious in explaining the observed phenotypic variance for all 26 facial traits with the narrow-sense heritability estimates ranging between 0.38 and 0.79. In the permanent dentition, the AE model was the most parsimonious for 20 out of 26 traits, however, the variance of six traits, particularly those in the lower third of the face, was best explained by the shared environmental and unique environmental factors. This study exclusively included twins of European ancestry. The soft tissue facial profile demonstrated dynamic genetic and environmental influences with a greater additive genetic influence during the mixed dentition and the early stages of the permanent dentition. However, there was evidence of increasing environmental influence in the lower third of the face during the early stages of the permanent dentition.

Succession from acetoclastic to hydrogenotrophic microbial community during sewage sludge anaerobic digestion for bioenergy production.

To assess microbial dynamics during anaerobic digestion (AD) of sewage sludge (SWS) from a municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), a Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) assay at 37°C under mono-digestion conditions was conducted. Utilizing the Illumina MiSeq platform, 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing unveiled a core bacterial community in the solid material, showcasing notable variations in profiles. The research investigates changes in microbial communities and metabolic pathways to understand their impact on the efficiency of the digestion process. Prior to AD, the relative abundance in SWS was as follows: Proteobacteria > Bacteroidota > Actinobacteriota. Post-AD, the relative abundance shifted to Firmicutes > Synergistota > Proteobacteria, with Sporanaerobacter and Clostridium emerging as dominant genera. Notably, the methanogenic community underwent a metabolic pathway shift from acetoclastic to hydrogenotrophic in the lab-scale reactors. At the genus level, Methanosaeta, Methanolinea, and Methanofastidiosum predominated initially, while post-AD, Methanobacterium, Methanosaeta, and Methanospirillum took precedence. This metabolic transition may be linked to the increased abundance of Firmicutes, particularly Clostridia, which harbor acetate-oxidizing bacteria facilitating the conversion of acetate to hydrogen.

Coherent beam combining - Beam characterization of a new 14 kW CBC laser source and first results on copper welding

Laser welding is a widely used process in the manufacturing industry. However, current beam oscillation approaches improve process stability but are limited in scanning frequency and variation of intensity profiles. Coherent beam combining (CBC) is a technique that provides unique intensity profiles by combining multiple laser beams into a single beam. Beam shaping with almost every conceivable intensity distribution are available at MHz range frequency. Process approaches considering physical material properties are conceivable.This paper presents experimental results using 14 kW CBC-IR laser source focusing on beam characterization and process development on copper material. Initial welding trials using different beam shapes at frequencies up to 10 MHz were conducted to investigate process stability. The paper provides an overview of the intensity distributions successful for copper welding using CBC approach.

Unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with sensor packages to study spatiotemporal variations of air pollutants in industry parks.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with a miniaturized sensor package were developed for aerial observations, which realizes aerial observations affordable to scientists in atmospheric science and achieves aerial measurements in high spatial resolution. UAVs are deployed to a variety of aerial detecting tasks in different scientific scenarios including chemical industry parks (CIPs) with hazardous gases emissions, and some places difficult for humans to reach. In this study, UAV sensing technology was deployed to detect air pollutants in a suburb, a CIP and a natural gas plant, respectively. The effects of atmospheric conditions such as the atmospheric boundary layer height, long-distance transport and atmospheric stability on the spatiotemporal variations of the air pollutants vertical profiles were investigated by the UAV. The UAV with the sensor package was deployed to capture the methane (CH4) leakages in a natural gas plant. The spatiotemporal variations of CH4 in both vertical and horizontal directions studied by UAV were employed to calculate accurate CH4 emissions, which is crucial to reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases. The low-cost UAV sensing technology for air pollutants was developed by Dr. Xiaobing Pang, who was funded by the Newton Fellowship in 2009 and worked in the University of York. This article is part of the theme issue 'Celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Royal Society Newton International Fellowship'.

Experimental optimization of the FSW parameters to weld the dissimilar Al- and Cu-alloys by using additives at their joints

Friction stir welding (FSW) stands as a promising technique for joining materials, offering advantages over conventional methods. This study investigates the influence of tool tilt angle, rotational speed and profile on welded joint characteristics using a design of experiment (DOE) approach. The research objective aims to determine optimal parameter combinations for improved mechanical properties. Methodology entails the systematic variation of tilt angle, rotational speed and tool profile in a DOE setup, with subsequent FSW of samples. Mechanical testing, including tensile, bend and hardness tests, is conducted on 24 samples, with scanning electron microscope (SEM) and microstructure analysis on two specimens. Results reveal that higher tilt angles, rotational speeds and threaded profiles yield increased tensile strength but decreased ductility. Similarly, bend tests show higher fracture loads but reduced deflection before fracture under these conditions. Hardness tests indicate elevated hardness in welded areas, with variations based on input parameters. Main findings highlight the importance of parameter optimization for desired mechanical properties. Lower tilt angles and rotational speeds promote smoother material flow and uniform heating, resulting in consistent microstructure and hardness distribution. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights for optimizing FSW parameters to achieve desired mechanical properties in welded joints. The combination of a 2° tilt angle, threaded tool profile and 1500 rpm rotational speed demonstrated the highest tensile strength, while a 1° tilt angle, cylindrical tool profile and 1000 rpm rotational speed yielded highest ductility.