Search Results (77)

Background: Pulmonary involvement is the most common prognosis-related organ involvement in idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM). Owing to the large number of antibodies, the evidence for lung involvement and rare antibodies is limited. In everyday clinical practice, the interpretation of positive myositis antibodies represents a challenge. Methods: This study is a retrospective monocentric analysis. The data collection regarding positive myositis antibodies and possible pulmonary involvement was carried out from July 2019 to May 2022. Data analysis revealed positive results for one of the following antibodies: EJ, PL7, OJ, PL12, Mi-2α, TIF1γ, MDA5, SAE, NXP2, SRP, Ku, PM-Scl100 and PM-Scl75. In our analysis, patients with IIM, patients with inflammatory rheumatic disease other than IIM and patients without inflammatory rheumatic disease are described. The results of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), pulmonary function tests, echocardiographic examinations and their associated clinical findings are examined. Results: In the entire cohort, 209 patients with positive myositis antibodies were detected. In total, 22 (10.5%) patients had interstitial lung disease (ILD) patterns on HRCT. In the subgroup of patients with IIM, a significantly higher proportion of patients with lung involvement (n = 13, 35.1%) was found than in the group with other inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRDs) (n = 6, 6.7%) or in the group without IRDs (n = 3, 3.7%). When the antibody groups were considered, the PL12-positive patients had the largest proportion of ILD (42%), followed by the MDA5-positive patients (40%). Conclusions: In patients with IIM, myositis antibodies are highly relevant for assessing the risk of lung involvement. In groups with other IRD or without IRD, antibody detection does not represent this high relevance for lung involvement. A differentiated assessment of the various MSAs or MAAs detected, as well as clinical parameters, allows for further important risk assessment for prognosis-relevant lung involvement. Full article

The separation of three proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole, lansoprazole, and rabeprazole) as exemplified molecules containing chiral sulfoxide groups was investigated in polar organic liquid chromatographic mode on seven different polysaccharide stationary phases (Chiralcel OD and OJ; Chiralpak AD, AS, and IA; Lux Cellulose-2 and -4). Different alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, and their combinations, were used as eluents. After method optimization, semi-preparative enantioseparation was successfully applied for the three proton pump inhibitors to collect the individual enantiomers. A detailed investigation was conducted into elution order reversal, thermodynamic parameters, the effect of eluent mixtures, and the hysteresis of retention time and selectivity. Using Chiralpak AS, containing the amylose tris[(S)-α-methylbenzylcarbamate] chiral selector, the separation of the investigated enantiomers was achieved in all four neat eluents, with methanol providing the best results. In many cases, a reversal of the enantiomer elution order was observed. In addition to chiral-selector-dependent reversal, eluent-dependent reversal was also observed. Notably, even replacing methanol with ethanol altered the enantiomer elution order. Both enthalpy- and entropy-controlled enantioseparation were also observed in several cases; however, temperature-dependent elution order reversal was not. The hysteresis of retention and selectivity was further investigated on amylose-type columns in methanol–2-propanol and methanol–ethanol eluent mixtures. The phenomenon was observed on all amylose columns regardless of the eluent mixtures employed. Hystereticity ratios were calculated and used to compare the hysteresis behaviors of different systems. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed that Chiralpak AS exhibited the most distinct enantioselective behavior among the tested columns, likely due to the absence of a direct connection between the carbamate moiety and the aromatic substituent. The present study aided in understanding the mechanisms leading to enantiomer recognition, which is crucial for developing new chiral stationary phases and chiral HPLC method development in general. Full article

The development of beverages with functional potential and maximum sensory acceptability are priorities for the food industry. This study investigated the effect of orange juice (OJ), lemon juice (LJ) and ginger juice (GJ) concentrations on overall acceptability (OA), total phenic compounds (TPC) and vitamin C (VC). The experimental design used was simplex-centroid mixtures, and maximization was achieved using response surface methodology (RSM). The bioactive content of TPC and VC was measured using the Folin–Ciocalteu method and the dichlorophenol indophenol method, respectively; sensory evaluation was conducted with 100 panelists on a continuous scale acceptability primer (0–10 points). The RSM results indicated that the optimum formulation was obtained with: OJ = 79.8 mL, LJ = 5.7 mL and GJ = 4.37 mL, yielding maximum values of OA = 6.81 points, TPC = 14.64 mg GAE/100 g and VC = 32.3 mg/mL. The optimized beverage presented a free radical scavenging capacity of 65.72% (DPPH method). The regression models were validated and significantly (p < 0.05) predicted sensory acceptability, total phenolic compounds and vitamin C content. The development of this beverage and its potential application in the food industry is attractive due to its high sensory acceptability and bioactive content. Full article

The X-ray spectrum of OJ 287 has exhibited diverse variations with broadband spectral behavior representative of all the spectral classes of blazars. These changes have been explained either via new emission components or as the sum of the jet synchrotron and its inverse Compton part. In the current work, we focus on the systematic spectral investigation of the lowest X-ray state recorded by the Swift facility to understand X-ray spectral changes. Considering optical-to-X-ray observations jointly, we found a power-law optical–UV spectrum with a photon spectrum of 2.71 ± 0.03 extending to X-ray energies. Accounting for this contribution in X-rays, we inferred a power-law photon X-ray spectrum of 1.22 ± 0.20 that improves to 1.29 ± 0.06 when considering other observations with similar X-ray spectra. An extended optical–UV spectrum with an associated low hard X-ray spectrum is further strengthened by the natural explanation of another optical–UV state of similar flux with a very different optical–UV-to-X-ray spectrum by its synchrotron and this hard X-ray spectrum. This is the hardest reported X-ray spectrum (0.3–10 keV), consistent with the Swift-BAT X-ray spectrum. We further found that this X-ray spectrum can reproduce most of the flat X-ray spectra when combined with the corresponding optical–UV continuum during the low and intermediate flux states, strengthening the synchrotron as the primary driver of most of the X-ray spectral changes in the LBL state of the source. Compared with the sharp steepening/cutoff of the optical–UV spectrum during bright phases, the inferred extended spectrum implies a comparatively larger emission region and could be associated with large-scale jet emission. The optical–UV spectrum implies a high-energy power-law particle spectrum of ∼4.4, while X-ray implies a hard low-energy particle spectrum of 1.3–1.6 that alternatively can also result from a higher lower-energy cutoff in the particle spectrum. Full article

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of Class II subdivision teenage patients treated with Invisalign^® clear aligners (CAs) and elastics. Materials and Methods: A total of 23 individuals aged 14.3 ± 2.5 years were enrolled in this study. The participants were divided into Group 1 (mandibular midline deviation) and Group 2 (maxillary midline deviation). The midline deviation from the facial midline; anteroposterior discrepancy; overjet (OJ), overbite (OB), and Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) scores; upper incisor and lower incisor (L1) positions; and angulation were measured at the beginning (T0) and end (T1) of the orthodontic treatment. Results: Group 1 showed significant higher variations in OJ (−2.3 ± 2.3 vs. −0.6 ± 0.8, p < 0.001), OB (−2.1 ± 2.3 vs. −1.1 ± 1.4, p < 0.001), PAR score (−32.0 ± 11.7 vs. −27.3 ± 13.1, p < 0.001), L1-to-mandibular-plane angle (−3.6 ± 7.0 vs. −1.3 ± 3.2, p < 0.001), and interincisal angle (10.07 ± 8.7 vs. 5.9 ± 5.3, p = 0.007). The midline deviation was the only measurement with higher variation in Group 2. The average distance between the mesiobuccal cusp of the maxillary first molar and the buccal groove of the mandibular first molar was 0.3 ± 0.5 mm. Conclusions: A total of 21 patients achieved bilateral Class I (91% success rate) and demonstrated great improvement (72–96%) in PAR scores. Regardless of the etiology of malocclusion, the orthodontic correction of the Class II subdivision with CAs showed high accuracy and predictable results. Full article

To reveal the global regulation of photosynthetic electron transport (PET) in shade plants, the changes in chlorophyll a fluorescence induction kinetics (CFI) curves and proteomics were investigated using Hosta varieties. There was a significant difference in CFI curves between Hosta ‘Fire Island’ and other varieties (such as Hosta ‘Sum and Substance’) grown under weak light. Weak light induced the appearance of the W phase of CFI curves in the two varieties, which was consistent with a clear decrease in the oxygen-evolving complex and a large upregulation of photosystem (PS) II proteins. In Hosta ‘Fire Island’, the O-J rise of the CFI curves increased faster under weak light than under appropriate light, and this was not only accompanied by a large upregulation of the PS II protein but also a great downregulation in cytochrome b₆/f, plastocyanin, and PS I. Moreover, weak light resulted in a considerable increase in photosynthetic rate and Rubisco abundance in Hosta ‘Fire Island’, yet the non-photochemical quenching and abundance of CP24 declined significantly. By contrast, weak light had fewer effects on these parameters in Hosta ‘Sum and Substance’. Therefore, we suggest that the PET is mainly affected by the abundance of PS II, oxygen-evolving complex, cytochrome b₆/f, plastocyanin, and PS I in Hosta plants grown under weak light; meanwhile, the improved photosynthetic capacity under weak light was mainly related to the enhancement of light energy absorption and capture of PS II as well as the increase in the abundance of Rubisco. Full article

The Jingbai pear is one of the best pear species in China with high quality and nutrition values which are closely linked to its geographical origin. With the purpose of discriminating the PGI Mentougou Jingbai pear from three other producing regions, the stable isotope ratios and elemental profiles of the pears (n = 52) and the corresponding soils and groundwater were determined using isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), respectively. The results revealed that δ¹⁵N, δ¹⁸O_J, and Li were significantly different (p < 0.05) in samples from different regions, which indicated their potential to be used in the geographical origin classification of the Jingbai pear. The nitrogen isotopic values of the pear pulp were positively correlated with the δ¹⁵N value and nitrogen content of the corresponding soils, whilst the B, Na, K, Cr, and Cd contents of the pear pulps were positively correlated with their corresponding soils. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was performed in combination with analysis of the stable isotopes and elemental profiles, making it possible to distinguish the cultivation regions from each other with a high prediction accuracy (a correct classification rate of 92.3%). The results of this study highlight the potential of stable isotope ratios and elemental profiles to trace the geographical origin of pears at a small spatial scale. Full article

This study evaluated the forecasting accuracy of various models over 5-day and 10-day trading horizons to predict the prices of orange juice futures (OJ = F). The analysis included traditional models like Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) and advanced neural network models such as Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), Backpropagation Neural Network (BPNN), Support Vector Regression (SVR), and Convolutional Long Short-Term Memory (ConvLSTM), incorporating factors like the Commodities Index and the S&P500 Index. We employed loss function metrics and various tests to assess model performance. The results indicated that for the 5-day horizon, the LSTM and ConvLSTM consistently outperformed the other models. LSTM achieved the lowest error rates and demonstrated superior capability in capturing temporal dependencies, especially in single-factor and S&P500 Index predictions. ConvLSTM also performed strongly, effectively modeling spatial and temporal data patterns. In the 10-day horizon, similar trends were observed. LSTM and ConvLSTM models had significantly lower errors and better alignment with actual values. The BPNN model performed well when all factors were included, and the SVR model maintained consistent accuracy, particularly for single-factor predictions. The Diebold–Mariano (DM) test indicated significant differences in forecasting accuracy, favoring advanced neural network models. In addition, incorporating multiple influencing factors further improved predictive performance, enhancing investment outcomes and reducing risk. Full article

Background: the reference method for detection of myositis-specific and myositis-associated antibodies (MSAs and MAAs) is considered immunoprecipitation (IP), but it is routinely replaced by semi-automated methods, like lineblot (LB). Few data are available on the consistency with clinical diagnoses; thus, we aim at analysing these aspects. Methods: sixty-nine patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) were studied via LB (Myositis Antigens Profile 3 EUROLINE, Euroimmun) and IP (RNA and protein antigens). The degree of concordance between methods was calculated using Cohen’s coefficient. Results: a substantial concordance was found for anti-Ku and anti-PM/Scl and a moderate concordance was found for anti-Jo1 and anti–Mi-2, while a fair concordance was found for anti-EJ, anti-SRP, and anti-Ro52 antibodies. The concordance could not be calculated for anti-OJ, anti-PL-7, anti-PL-12, anti-NXP2, anti-TIF1ɣ, and anti-MDA5, because they were only detected with one method. Multiple MSAs were found only with LB in 2/69 sera. Anti-MDA5, TIF1ɣ, NXP2 (detected via IP), and anti-Jo1 in anti-synthetase syndrome (both LB and IP) had the best concordance with clinical diagnosis. Conclusions: LB and IP show substantial concordance for PM/Scl and Ku, and moderate concordance for Jo1 and Mi-2, with a good concordance with clinical diagnoses. IP shows a high performance for DM-associated MSAs. LB seems to be more sensitive in detecting anti-Ro52 antibodies, but it identified multiple MSAs, unlike IP. Full article

Screening the edible parts of low-cadmium (Cd) and high-nutrient crop cultivars is an effective method for reducing Cd intake and enhancing the absorption of beneficial elements for humans. In a hydroponic experiment with Cd toxicity treatment (5 μmol/L CdCl₂), we analyzed the differences in the absorption and transport characteristics of Cd and mineral nutrients in 30 rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) cultivars during the seedling stage, as well as the correlations between various elements. Firstly, Pearson correlation analysis indicated that Cd content in the shoot parts of 30 rapeseed cultivars was not correlated with the Cd uptake ability of the roots and was obviously positively correlated with the Cd translocation coefficient from root to shoot (r = 0.452 *, p < 0.05). Hierarchical clustering selected 26 cultivars with lower Cd content in the shoots, and correlation analysis of Cd and other nutrient element contents in the shoots of the 26 cultivars revealed significant negative correlations (r = −0.40 *, p < 0.05; r = −0.45 *, p < 0.05) between iron (Fe) and magnesium (Mg) content and Cd content, while potassium (K), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) content had no correlation with Cd content. Then, hierarchical clustering screened 19 cultivars with higher dry weight, 4 cultivars with higher K content, 1 cultivar with higher Ca content, 8 cultivars with higher Mn content, and 3 cultivars with higher Zn content. Finally, a Venn diagram identified four superior rapeseed cultivars with lower Cd and higher nutrients in the shoots, namely, OJ114 (lower Cd, higher Mn and K content), BN365 (lower Cd, higher Mn, Fe, and Zn content), BN275 (lower Cd, higher Ca, Zn, Mn, and Fe content), and BN112 (lower Cd, higher K, Mg, Fe, and Mn content). Full article

To investigate the effects of pulse electric field stimulation on the photosynthetic electron transport chain and negative air ion (NAI) release capacity of snake plants, the chlorophyll content, fluorescence induction kinetics curve (OJIP curve), chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and NAI release concentration of snake plants kept under identical greenhouse conditions under different pulse electric field stimulations were compared and analyzed. The experimental results show that (1) after pulse electric field stimulation, the chlorophyll content in treatment group T1 (5 kv) and T2 (7 kv) of snake plants increased by 6.30% and 6.70%, respectively, with significant differences observed between the two treatment groups and the control group (CK). (2) In both treatment groups, the OJIP curve exhibited higher values for the inflection point (I) and peak (P) compared to the origin (O) and inflection point (J) values, with the rising trend in the I–P segment being more gentle than that of the O–J segment. Additionally, the J band was above 0, with the peak value in the T2 group being higher than that in the T1 group. (3) The chlorophyll fluorescence parameters showed fluctuating variations. Specifically, Fm, TR_o/CS_o, ET_o/CS_o, and DI_o/CS_o showed ascending trends in the treatment groups. F_v/F_o, S_m, and ABS/RC exhibited descending trends; F_v/F_m, V_j, ET_o/RC, and φ_Eo showed relatively minor changes. The PI_abs displayed a decreasing trend. The PI_total in the CK was greater than that in the T1 and T2 groups. (4) After 4 h of pulse electric field stimulation, the NAI concentration increased by 87.60% in the T1 group and by 62.09% in the T2 group, compared to the same measurement taken at 3 h. Pulse electric field impacts the photosynthetic electron transport chain of snake plants, thereby influencing their NAI release capacity. This study aims to elucidate the physiological responses of the chloroplasts in snake plants to pulsed electric field stimulation and to lay the foundation for enhancing the plant’s release of negative air ion concentrations through physical and technological means. Full article

The BL Lacertae (BL Lac) object OJ 287 underwent an intense X-ray activity phase, exhibiting its brightest recorded X-ray flare in 2016–2017, characterized by much softer X-ray spectra and, concurrently, its first-ever recorded very-high-energy (VHE) emission (100–560 GeV), reported by the VERITAS observatory. Broadband spectral energy distribution reveals a new jet emission component similar to high-synchrotron-peaked BL Lac objects, thereby implying the soft X-ray spectrum for the synchrotron emission. Using the advantage of simultaneous X-ray and VHE spectral information, as well as the source being a low-synchrotron-peaked BL Lac object, we systematically explored the extragalactic background light (EBL) spectrum by demanding that the VHE spectrum cannot be harder than the X-ray spectrum. We used three different phenomenological forms of the EBL spectral shape (power-law, parabola, and polynomial) motivated by current constraints on the EBL with the Bayesian Monte Carlo approach to infer the credible EBL range. Our study favors an almost flat power-law spectral shape and is consistent with previous studies. The other spectral forms capable of capturing curvature though result in a better statistics value; the improvement is statistically insignificant given the additional parameters. Full article

This study examined the effects of orange juice (OJ) supplemented with vitamin D3 (2000 IU) and probiotics (Lacticaseibacillus casei Shirota and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG, 10⁸ cfu/mL) on cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight and obese adults following a Westernized-type diet. Fifty-three high-risk individuals were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Over 8 weeks, one group consumed a vitamin D3 and probiotic-enriched OJ and the other regular OJ (control). Diets remained unchanged and were documented through food diaries. Measures of metabolic and inflammatory markers and blood pressure were measured at the start and end of the study. Post-intervention, the enriched OJ group showed the following significant metabolic improvements (without changes in triglycerides, inflammation, or central blood pressure): reduced fasting insulin, peripheral blood pressure, body weight (−1.4 kg 95% CI: −2.4, −0.4), energy (−270 kcal 95% CI: −553.2, −13.7), macronutrient (dietary fat −238 kcal 95% CI: −11.9, −1.0; carbohydrates −155 kcal 95% CI: −282.4, −27.3; sugars −16.1 g 95% CI: −11.9, −1.0) intake, and better lipid profiles (total cholesterol −10.3 mg/dL 95% CI: −21.4, 0.9; LDL-C −7 mg/dL 95% CI: −13.5, −0.5). The enriched OJ led to weight loss, less energy/macronutrient consumption, improved lipid profiles, and increased insulin sensitivity after 8 weeks in those following a Westernized diet, thus indicating potential benefits for cardiometabolic risk. This study was a part of FunJuice-T2EDK-01922, which was funded by the EU Regional Development Fund and Greek National Resources. Full article

Chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence induction (FI) upon a dark–light transition has been widely analyzed to derive information on initial events of energy conversion and electron transfer in photosystem II (PSII). However, currently, there is no analytical solution to the differential equation of Q_A reduction kinetics, raising a doubt about the fitting of FI by numerical iteration solution. We derived an analytical solution to fit the OJ phase of FI, thereby yielding estimates of three parameters: the functional absorption cross-section of PSII (σ_PSII), a probability parameter that describes the connectivity among PSII complexes (p), and the rate coefficient for Q_A⁻ oxidation (k_ox). We found that σ_PSII, p, and k_ox exhibited dynamic changes during the transition from O to J. We postulated that in high excitation light, some other energy dissipation pathways may vastly outcompete against excitation energy transfer from a closed PSII trap to an open PSII, thereby giving the impression that connectivity seemingly does not exist. We also conducted a case study on the urban heat island effect on the heat stability of PSII using our method and showed that higher-temperature-acclimated leaves had a greater σ_PSII, lower k_ox, and a tendency of lower p towards more shade-type characteristics. Full article