Search Results (197,986)

Congenital Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection, which can be caused by a primary T. gondii infection during pregnancy, results in severe neurological sequelae in affected children. We have been conducting a prospective cohort study since January 2019 on pregnant women who were suspected of having primary T. gondii infection based on serological tests. In this study, congenital infection was diagnosed using semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the B1 gene in the body fluids of newborns. Up until December 2023, forty-one newborns born to mothers suspected of having primary T. gondii infection during pregnancy underwent B1 gene semi-nested PCR tests and anti-T. gondii immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM measurements of their blood samples. Eight newborns showed no clinical symptoms of congenital T. gondii infection; however, they were diagnosed with congenital T. gondii infection according to positive PCR results. However, none of the eight infants eventually exhibited any sign of congenital infection, as their serum samples tested negative for anti-T. gondii IgM and IgG until 12 months of age. Therefore, clinicians should consider discrepancies in the diagnosis of congenital T. gondii infection between PCR tests using body fluids of newborns and serological tests during their infantile period. Full article

Nowadays, object detection algorithms are widely used in various scenarios. However, there are further small object detection requirements in some special scenarios. Due to the problems related to small objects, such as their less available features, unbalanced samples, higher positioning accuracy requirements, and fewer data sets, a small object detection algorithm is more complex than a general object detection algorithm. The detection effect of the model for small objects is not ideal. Therefore, this paper takes YOLOXs as the benchmark network and enhances the feature information on small objects by improving the network’s structure so as to improve the detection effect of the model for small objects. This specific research is presented as follows: Aiming at the problem of a neck network based on an FPN and its variants being prone to information loss in the feature fusion of non-adjacent layers, this paper proposes a feature fusion and distribution module, which replaces the information transmission path, from deep to shallow, in the neck network of YOLOXs. This method first fuses and extracts the feature layers used by the backbone network for prediction to obtain global feature information containing multiple-size objects. Then, the global feature information is distributed to each prediction branch to ensure that the high-level semantic and fine-grained information are more efficiently integrated so as to help the model effectively learn the discriminative information on small objects and classify them correctly. Finally, after testing on the VisDrone2021 dataset, which corresponds to a standard image size of 1080p (1920 × 1080), the resolution of each image is high and the video frame rate contained in the dataset is usually 30 frames/second (fps), with a high resolution in time, it can be used to detect objects of various sizes and for dynamic object detection tasks. And when we integrated the module into a YOLOXs network (named the FE-YOLO network) with the three improvement points of the feature layer, channel number, and maximum pool, the mAP and APs were increased by 1.0% and 0.8%, respectively. Compared with YOLOV5m, YOLOV7-Tiny, FCOS, and other advanced models, it can obtain the best performance. Full article

T cells play diverse roles in cancer immunology, acting as tumor suppressors, cytotoxic effectors, enhancers of cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses and immune suppressors; providing memory and surveillance; modulating the tumor microenvironment (TME); or activating innate immune cells. However, cancer cells can disrupt T cell function, leading to T cell exhaustion and a weakened immune response against the tumor. The expression of exhausted T cell (Tex) markers plays a pivotal role in shaping the immune landscape of multiple cancers. Our aim was to systematically investigate the role of known T cell exhaustion (Tex) markers across multiple cancers while exploring their molecular interactions, mutation profiles, and potential implications for immunotherapy. The mRNA expression profile of six Tex markers, LAG-3, PDCD1, TIGIT, HAVCR2, CXCL13, and LAYN was investigated in pan-cancer. Utilizing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), The Cancer Proteome Atlas (TCPA), and other repositories, we characterized the differential expression of the Tex markers, their association with the patients’ survival outcome, and their mutation profile in multiple cancers. Additionally, we analyzed the effects on cancer-related pathways and immune infiltration within the TME, offering valuable insights into mechanisms of cancer immune evasion and progression. Finally, the correlation between their expression and sensitivity to multiple anti-cancer drugs was investigated extensively. Differential expression of all six markers was significantly associated with KIRC and poor prognosis in several cancers. They also played a potential activating role in apoptosis, EMT, and hormone ER pathways, as well as a potential inhibitory role in the DNA damage response and RTK oncogenic pathways. Infiltration of different immune cells was also found to be associated with the expression of the Tex-related genes in most cancer types. These findings underline that the reviving of exhausted T cells can be used to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy in cancer patients. Full article

The growing reliance on chemical pesticides in agriculture has raised significant concerns about their environmental and health impacts. This study investigates the potential of Indigenous entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), specifically Steinernema pakistanense and Heterorhabditis indica, as biological control agents for Leucinodes orbonalis, the brinjal fruit and shoot borer, a major pest in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. A comprehensive soil sampling was carried out across 30 locations. Molecular identification via PCR and sequencing confirmed the taxonomic classification of the isolated strains, showing high genetic similarity to known EPN species. The reproductive potential of the isolated strains varied, with Pak.S.SA.22 exhibiting the highest fecundity, averaging 91,944 offspring per larva, indicating strong biocontrol potential. Laboratory bioassays at different concentrations showed that Pak.S.SA.22 achieved 100% mortality of L. orbonalis at a concentration of 200 IJs/mL, confirming its effectiveness. Field trials further validated these findings, demonstrating up to 90% pest control efficacy over multiple application intervals, highlighting the practical applicability of this strain in field conditions. These results advocate for the inclusion of indigenous EPNs in integrated pest management (IPM) programs as a sustainable, environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides, contributing to the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices. Full article

This study focuses on the deposition of microplastics (MPs) on urban beaches along the central São Paulo coastline, utilizing advanced methodologies such as remote sensing, GNSS altimetric surveys, µ-Raman spectroscopy, and machine learning (ML) models. MP concentrations ranged from 6 to 35 MPs/m², with the highest densities observed near the Port of Santos, attributed to industrial and port activities. The predominant MP types identified were foams (48.7%), fragments (27.7%), and pellets (23.2%), while fibers were rare (0.4%). Beach slope and orientation were found to facilitate the concentration of MP deposition, particularly for foams and pellets. The study’s ML models showed high predictive accuracy, with Random Forest and Gradient Boosting performing exceptionally well for specific MP categories (pellet, fragment, fiber, foam, and film). Polymer characterization revealed the prevalence of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene, reflecting sources such as disposable packaging and industrial raw materials. The findings emphasize the need for improved waste management and targeted urban beach cleanups, which currently fail to address smaller MPs effectively. This research highlights the critical role of combining in situ data with predictive models to understand MP dynamics in coastal environments. It provides actionable insights for mitigation strategies and contributes to global efforts aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 14, aimed at conserving marine ecosystems and reducing pollution. Full article

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), caused by infection with the SFTS virus, is an emerging fatal tick-borne zoonosis endemic to East Asia. Although SFTS is a tick-borne disease, the virus can be transmitted from animals with SFTS without a tick bite. Direct transmission of the SFTS virus from animals to humans has been reported; however, the transmission route is unclear in some cases. Therefore, this study focused on the possibility of SFTS virus transmission through urine and attempted to isolate the infectious virus from the urine of animals with SFTS. Since more efficient cell isolation is needed to determine whether the SFTS virus is present, we first expressed dendritic cell-specific ICAM-3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN), the major receptor for the virus, in Vero cells (Vero-DC-SIGN cells) using a retroviral vector. When inoculated with equal amounts of the SFTS virus strain and SFTS-virus-infected animal serum, Vero-DC-SIGN cells had 42–136% and 20–85% more foci, respectively, than their parent Vero cells. After confirming that Vero-DC-SIGN cells were more suitable for the isolation of the SFTS virus, we investigated whether it could be isolated from the urine of eight cats and two dogs with SFTS. The virus was isolated from 25 μL of urine from two cats with SFTS. Considering that cats excrete 50–100 mL of urine per day, the transmission of the SFTS virus via the urine of cats with SFTS cannot be ruled out. Individuals examining or caring for cats suspected of having SFTS should be aware of the possibility of viral transmission via urine. Full article

Irrigation water quality impacts the agro-ecosystem, human health, and the overall well-being of the environment. The purpose of this study was to investigate upstream municipal and industrial pollution impacts on irrigated farming and ecosystem health. The suitability indices and Heavy Metal Pollution Index methods have been used to identify the contamination extent and corresponding spatial and seasonal variability. Samples were collected twice per annum, i.e., during the low-flow season and high-flow season (rainy season) in the 2022/23 year. Results showed that during the low-flow season, the salinity hazard was 0.7 dS/m to 2.5 dS/m and medium to high. Sodicity hazards were obtained below <10 for the low-flow season, and for the rainy season, medium (16.63), high (18–26), and very high (>26). The toxic level of chloride for low-flow season showed slight to moderate at 3.6 mg/L and 6.07 mg/L, and toxicity was severe at Deho (14.6 mg/L), slight to moderate at Ambash (4 mg/L), Ertaale Lake (5 mg/L), and Gewanie (4.6 mg/L) in high-flow seasons. No heavy metal contamination was observed for low-flow periods except at Werer Research, which had a Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) > 100. But, during the rainy season, Kesem Dam, Sedi Weir, WARC Pumping, WARC Offtake, and Ambash had a HPI > 100, which implied contamination by metals. Cadmium (Cd) was at moderate to ecological risk at low flow in sites Kesem factory, WARC Offtake, Ertaale, Meteka, and Gewanie, whereas Sedi Weir (Cd and Hg) and WARC Offtake (Cd) were at moderate risk during high flow. To conclude, metal pollution is a serious concern that needs upstream quality monitoring. Full article

Flexible grippers based on magnetically sensitive rubber have garnered significant research attention due to their high gripping adaptability and ease of control. However, current research designs often separate the excitation device from the flexible finger, which can lead to potential interference or damage to other electronic components in the working environment and an inability to simultaneously ensure safety and gripping performance. In this paper, we propose an integrated magnetically controlled bionic flexible gripper that combines the excitation device and the flexible finger. We derive a formula for calculating the magnetic field generated by the excitation device, model and simulate the device, and find that the optimal magnetic field effect is achieved when the core-to-coil size ratio is 1:5. Additionally, we fabricated flexible fingers with different NdFeB volume ratios and experimentally determined that a volume ratio of 20% yields relatively better bending performance. The integrated magnetically controlled bionic flexible gripper described in this paper can adaptively grasp items such as rubber, column foam, and electrical tape, achieving maximum grasping energy efficiency of 0.524 g per millitesla (g/mT). These results highlight its potential advantages in applications such as robotic end-effectors and industrial automatic sorting. Full article

The yield and quality of rice are influenced by soil conditions, and the soil issues in saline–alkaline land limit agricultural productivity. The saline–alkaline fields in the northern irrigation area of Yinchuan, Ningxia, China, face challenges such as low rice yield, poor quality, low fertilizer utilization efficiency, and soil salinity and alkalinity obstacles. To improve this situation, this study conducted experiments in 2022–2023 in the saline–alkaline rice–crab integrated fields of Tongbei Village, Tonggui Township, Yinchuan. This study employed a single-factor comparative design, applying 150 mL·hm⁻² of brassinolide (A1), 15 kg·hm⁻² of diatomaceous (A2), 30 kg·hm⁻² of Bacillus subtilis agent (A3), and an untreated control (CK) to analyze the effects of different biological amendments on rice growth, photosynthesis, yield, quality, and microbial communities. The results indicated that, compared with CK, the A3 increased the SPAD value and net photosynthetic rate by 2.26% and 28.59%, respectively. Rice yield increased by 12.34%, water use efficiency (WUE) by 10.67%, and the palatability score by 2.82%, while amylose content decreased by 8.00%. The bacterial OTUs (Operational Taxonomic Units) and fungal OTUs increased by 2.18% and 22.39%, respectively. Under the condition of applying 30 kg·hm⁻² of Bacillus subtilis agent (A3), rice showed superior growth, the highest yield (8804.4 kg·hm⁻²), and the highest microbial OTUs. These findings provide theoretical and technical support for utilizing biological remediation agents to achieve desalinization, yield enhancement, quality improvement, and efficiency in saline–alkali rice–crab co–culture paddies. Full article

Fingerprint recognition is one of the most effective and widely adopted methods for person identification. However, the computational time required for the querying of large databases is excessive. To address this, preprocessing steps such as classification are necessary to speed up the response time to a query. Fingerprints are typically categorized into five classes, though this classification is unbalanced. While advanced classification algorithms, including support vector machines (SVMs), multilayer perceptrons (MLPs), and convolutional neural networks (CNNs), have demonstrated near-perfect accuracy (approaching 100%), their high training times limit their widespread applicability across institutions. In this study, we introduce, for the first time, the use of a multilayer extreme learning machine (M-ELM) for fingerprint classification, aiming to improve training efficiency. A comparative analysis is conducted with CNNs and unbalanced extreme learning machines (W-ELMs), as these represent the most influential methodologies in the literature. The tests utilize a database generated by SFINGE software, which simulates realistic fingerprint distributions, with datasets comprising hundreds of thousands of samples. To optimize and simplify the M-ELM, widely recognized descriptors in the field—Capelli02, Liu10, and Hong08—are used as input features. This effectively reduces dimensionality while preserving the representativeness of the fingerprint information. A brute-force heuristic optimization approach is applied to determine the hyperparameters that maximize classification accuracy across different M-ELM configurations while avoiding excessive training times. A comparison is made with the aforementioned approaches in terms of accuracy, penetration rate, and computational cost. The results demonstrate that a two-layer hidden ELM achieves superior classification of both majority and minority fingerprint classes with remarkable computational efficiency. Full article

Deoxynivalenol (DON), generally the most widespread mycotoxin in wheat, is regulated by the EU regulation in cereals and cereal-derived products. Its presence can be detected by chromatographic or rapid methods; the latter technique is generally used in control analysis, fulfilling the needs of the stakeholders of the wheat grain chain. Lateral flow strips are often used for the rapid detection of different mycotoxins in several agricultural products; regarding DON determination, different lateral flow immunochromatography strips are currently available, also providing quantitative results. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the accuracy of an innovative lateral flow device coupled to a bench top device, following a digital approach. The proposed method was compared to an LC-MS/MS method, analyzing 50 naturally contaminated wheat samples. The results obtained using the two methods were very similar and, applying a paired t-test, the mean difference between measurements resulted not significantly different (α = 0.003). The correlation between the results showed a slope of the line close to 1 (m = 0.9904) and a regression coefficient (r) of 0.9968. Full article

The study of marine and terrestrial palynomorphs in fluviomarine environments has been successfully used in combination with different geophysical approaches to understand high-resolution relative sea-level oscillations and to reconstruct the environmental changes affecting estuaries and adjacent inland ecosystems. However, erosion during the postglacial marine transgression frequently causes sedimentary discontinuities or may lead to the redeposition of ancient upland sediments, including secondary, recycled and rebedded pollen. Therefore, a robust seismic and chronological control of the sedimentary facies is essential. In addition, studies of modern pollen sedimentation and its relationship to contemporaneous vegetation are valuable for obtaining a more realistic interpretation of the sedimentary evidence. To explore the significance of the experimental evidence obtained and to support the interpretation of sedimentary records from the same basin, we analysed a large set of modern pollen data from the Ría de Vigo (NW Iberia). The pollen samples derived from different sedimentary environments were compared with the local and regional vegetation cover. Pollen evidence from the various limnetic systems studied allows the identification of major vegetation types in the basin. However, in all the cases, the reconstructed relative pollen contributions of each vegetation unit are often distorted by the overrepresentation of certain anemophilous pollen types, the underrepresentation of some entomophilous species, and the specific taphonomy of each site of sedimentation. The ability of the seabed pollen evidence to represent the modern deciduous and alluvial forests, as well as the saltmarsh vegetation onshore, increases in the shallowest points of the ria (shallower than −10 m). Conversely, pastures and crops are better represented at intermediate depths (shallower than −30 m), while scrubland vegetation is better represented in samples at more than 20 m below modern sea level. It is concluded that shallow seabed pollen can provide information on the main elements of the modern vegetation cover of the emerged basin, including the main elements of the vegetation cover. However, the selection of the most suitable subtidal sites for coring, combined with pollen data from several environmental contexts, is critical for achieving an accurate reconstruction of the changing conditions of the emerged basin over time. Full article

Background: Cannabis oil titration consists of quantification of the acidic precursors tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and their decarboxylated products, the active neutral cannabinoids delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), and is recommended to ensure galenic preparation quality through gas and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS; LC-MS). Analyses by LC-MS and GC-MS involving derivatization allow for detection of acidic and neutral cannabinoids; on the contrary, GC-MS without derivatization determines only neutral cannabinoids due to high temperature-decarboxylation occurring in the injection system. However, it is not clear if decarboxylation is complete. Methods: Different GC-MS methods with (BSTFA: TMCS and pyridine; incubation at 60 °C for 25 min) or without derivatization and an LC-MS method were developed for cannabinoid quantification. The total Δ9-THC and CBD yield of recovery were compared between the methods by testing laboratory samples with known concentrations of THCA and CBDA (total Δ9-THC and CBD: 175–351–702 ng/mL) and real cannabis oil samples (n = 6). Results: The total Δ9-THC and CBD yield of recovery were determined using LC-MS and GC-MS with derivatization, but not using GC-MS without derivatization (decarboxylation conversion rate of about 50–60%). No high deviation (<10%) in the total neutral cannabinoid concentrations in real cannabis oil samples was noticed, probably due to the low content of acidic forms in the original galenic preparation. Conclusions: This study raised awareness about the potential underestimation of the total Δ9-THC and CBD content in cannabis oils when quantification is performed by GC-MS without derivatization. The advice for pharmacists is to perform complete decarboxylation to convert all acidic precursors in neutral cannabinoids. Full article

The nutritional value of Inga paterno seeds remains largely unexplored. Given the global protein deficiency, underutilized legumes like I. paterno could serve as alternative protein sources. This study evaluated the effect of sprouting on the composition, protein digestibility (PD) as soluble protein (SP), amino acid profile, free amino acids by UHPLC, and nutritional indicators of I. paterno seed flour. Seeds were sprouted for 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 days, then dried, milled, and analyzed. The seeds reached 100% sprouting after six days. Sprouting led to a 54.36% decrease in protein content but a 109% increase in the lipid fraction by day six. PD doubled after 8–10 days of sprouting. Additionally, total amino acid content significantly increased and the chemical score of majority essential amino acids tripled. After in vitro digestion, sprouted flour released higher amounts of free amino acids, particularly aspartic acid (from 9.10 ± 0.18 to 19.65 ± 0.97 mg/L), histidine (from 33.48 ± 0.61 to 46.29 ± 2.34 mg/L), alanine (from 16.32 ± 0.40 to 23.74 ± 0.07 mg/L), and lysine (from no detected to 7.12 ± 0.36 m/L). These findings suggest that sprouted I. paterno seeds could be a valuable, digestible protein source with enhanced nutritional quality, making them a promising ingredient for the food industry. Full article

In this study, the role of blood perfusion in modulating the thermal response of tumors during magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia was investigated through computational modeling. The thermal dissipation of 15 nm magnetite nanoparticles was estimated using micromagnetic simulations of their hysteresis loops under a magnetic field of 20 mT and a frequency of 100 kHz. These calculations provided precise energy loss parameters, serving as inputs to simulate the temperature distribution in a tumor embedded within healthy tissue. Temperature-dependent blood perfusion rates, derived from experimental models, were integrated to differentiate the vascular dynamics in normal and cancerous tissues. The simulations were conducted using a bioheat transfer model on a 2D axisymmetric tumor geometry with magnetite nanoparticles dispersed uniformly in the tumor volume. Results showed that tumor tissues exhibit limited blood perfusion enhancement under hyperthermic conditions compared to healthy tissues, leading to localized heat retention favorable for therapeutic purposes. The computational framework validated these findings by achieving therapeutic tumor temperatures (41–45 °C) without significant overheating of surrounding healthy tissues, highlighting the critical interplay between perfusion and energy dissipation. These results demonstrate the efficacy of combining nanoparticle modeling with temperature-dependent perfusion for optimizing magnetic nanoparticle-based hyperthermia protocols. Full article