Search Results (1,642)

Optical density (OD)-based cell growth measurement is commonly used in high-throughput screening (HTS) during drug discovery or when deciphering the pharmaceutical mechanism of action. While resuspending the cells via a mixing step is often assumed to be necessary prior to OD measurement, its essentiality in HTS workflows has not been systematically verified. Here, through the measurement of the growth of several strains of the microbial yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe cells, we compared the overall growth dynamics between samples that have been mixed and not mixed. Using statistical quantification by a two-tailed paired t-test followed by multiple comparison corrections, we concluded from the comparison of the doubling time of cells growing in the exponential phase that mixing did not significantly affect the biological interpretation compared to unmixed samples. Doubling time quantification between mixed and unmixed samples showed a difference of approximately 10% on average based on the assessment of the growth of eight strains. As such, if the experimental outcome can accommodate this level of variability, incorporating a mixing step before OD determination would not be necessary. These observations support the simplification of HTS processes, improving the cost efficacy and process efficiency of readouts, yet maintaining the accuracy of data acquisition. Full article

Skin and its appendages form an integrated system of ectodermal mini-organs that rely on Wnt signaling for lifelong homeostasis and regeneration; yet, the pathway operates in a highly organ-specific manner in each compartment. In interfollicular epidermis, the Wnt activity is spatially graded, thus maintaining the balance between basal progenitor proliferation and terminal differentiation. The hair follicle is governed by an intrinsic oscillator based on cross-regulation between Wnt and BMP signaling, providing a cell-autonomous layer of control over hair cycle dynamics. Finally, the nail organ is characterized by the spatial compartmentalization of Wnt activity, with a distal matrix activation zone supported by specialized mesenchymal niche cells that sustain continuous nail plate growth and coordinate the digit tip regeneration. Understanding these divergent regulatory architectures provides a conceptual framework for targeted regenerative strategies aimed at enhancing repair in skin and its appendages. Therefore, in this review, we synthesize recent molecular studies on Wnt signaling in the adult skin, hair follicles, and nail mini-organs, highlighting appendage-specific features that underlie their distinct regenerative capacities. We further discuss how dysregulated Wnt signaling contributes to skin, hair, and nail pathologies such as alopecia, chronic wounds, excessive scarring, skin cancer, and nail deformations, and summarize the emerging strategies that target Wnt pathway to therapeutically enhance hair regrowth, wound repair, cancer treatment, and digit tip regeneration. Full article

In karst tunnel engineering, water-filled cavities located above the tunnel crown, under the combined effects of excavation disturbance and hydraulic pressure, are prone to triggering water and mud inrush disasters. The thickness of the water-resisting rock layer is therefore a key factor controlling the stability of the surrounding rock. To address the difficulty in accurately characterizing the mechanical behavior of the crown of horseshoe-shaped tunnels using conventional circular plate or beam models, this study innovatively develops an explicit analytical model for the minimum safe thickness of the water-resisting rock layer based on clamped elliptical thin plate theory and Kirchhoff plate theory, incorporating the influence of cross-sectional geometry. Parametric sensitivity analysis indicates that both karst water pressure and tunnel crown height significantly amplify the required minimum safe thickness, whereas an increase in the tensile strength of the surrounding rock effectively reduces the thickness demand. Specifically, when the karst water pressure increases from 2.5 MPa to 4.5 MPa, the minimum safe thickness rises from 7.5 m to 10.0 m, showing an approximately linear growth trend. The analytical model is further validated through numerical simulations under different “water pressure–thickness” conditions. The results demonstrate that at the calculated recommended thickness, the surrounding rock achieves stable convergence after excavation. High tensile stress and elevated pore pressure zones are mainly concentrated near the tunnel crown, without the formation of through-going tensile failure. Engineering application indicates that the proposed model can provide a quantitative basis for the design of water-resisting rock layer thickness and the assessment of water inrush risk in karst tunnels. Full article

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) have been widely studied due to their high energy density; however, the practical implementation of LMBs is limited by issues of uncontrolled dendrite growth, continuous electrolyte decomposition, and poor Coulombic efficiency (CE). Highly concentrated electrolytes (HCEs) have emerged as a promising approach to addressing the above issues. In this work, we propose a new HCE system based on a single carbonate solvent of 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methyl carbonate (FEMC) with a high concentration of lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI). The resulting electrolytes exhibit enhanced anodic stability and improved compatibility with lithium metal anodes and high-voltage cathodes. The optimized 4 M LiFSI–FEMC HCE achieved the highest CE for Li plating/stripping in Li/Cu cell and lowest overpotential in Li/Li symmetric cells, outperforming both low-concentration FEMC and ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC)-based electrolytes. In full-cell configurations with LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂ (NCM811) cathodes, the HCE demonstrates stable cycling with minimal capacity fade over 250 cycles. Importantly, the HCE enables stable operation of 4.6 V high-voltage NCM811/Li cells for more than 120 cycles with a high-capacity retention of 88.61%. Post-mortem analysis revealed a more uniform and compact solid electrolyte interphase and a thinner cathode electrolyte interphase, contributing to the enhanced cycling performance. Full article

Despite abundant scholarship on religious architecture and urban history, a systematic city-wide analysis that treats the parish system as a territorially relevant infrastructure for planning remains uncommon. This article examines Barcelona’s network of 132 Catholic parish churches as a cartographic layer for interpreting distributed centralities and their relationships with public space. The study is grounded in an exhaustive inventory based on on-site visits and archival consultation, and on a standardised redrawing protocol (Sitte and Nolli conventions) developed from municipal cartography and architectural plans. Synthesis maps and fabric-specific drawings document spatial patterns that vary across phases of urban growth, as well as recurrent typologies of relationships between churches, squares, and urban axes. Across the corpus, at least 25 churches are associated with squares and can be grouped into four recurrent arrangements (12 with a single frontal square; 4 with concatenated lateral squares; 3 surrounded by open space; and 6 with squares severed by through-traffic infrastructure). District plates further reveal contrasting typological distributions between Ciutat Vella (n = 16), Eixample (n = 19), Gràcia (n = 11), and Nou Barris (n = 14). The findings show that Barcelona’s Catholic parish cartography constitutes a key interpretative layer for understanding the city’s complexity, including its social and urban transformations, neighbourhood-level mechanisms of resilience, and the interaction between religious networks, urban form, and civic culture. The resulting cartographic protocol is reproducible and transferable to studies of urbanisation and regional development, offering an operational framework for planning debates on the governance of public space, heritage conservation, and urban sustainability. Full article

The microstructure and mechanical behavior during 100 °C warm rolling of the high-Zn-content Al₈₀Zn₁₄Li₂Mg₂Cu₂ alloy were investigated. The alloy plate was warm-rolled to reductions of 40%, 60%, and 80%. Hardness and tensile strength decreased continuously with increased rolling up to 60%, demonstrating work softening, followed by a slight increase at 80% reduction, indicating work hardening. Systematic characterization revealed that this non-monotonic mechanical response arises from a competition between particle-stimulated nucleation (PSN)-assisted recrystallization and dislocation-driven hardening. The multi-scale intermetallic particles in this alloy play a dual role: coarse Al₅CuLi₃ particles generate high-strain particle deformation zones (PDZs) that serve as potent PSN sites, while fine nano particles pin the recrystallized grain boundaries and restrict their growth. The unusually low PSN activation temperature is attributed to the synergistic effects of the high PDZ storage energy and the progressive subgrain rotation mechanism within the PDZ. The ability to control PSN via micro- and nano-scale intermetallics presents a viable pathway for achieving grain refinement in Al-based alloys and enhancing the machinability of high-Zn-content Al alloys. Full article

Metal-chalcogenide compounds with perovskite-type compositions have drawn increasing attention for their optical properties for solar energy conversion. Herein, a new α-type polymorph of the ternary sulfide SrHfS₃ is described, crystallizing in the NH₄CdCl₃ structure type. The yellow-colored plate-shaped crystals were synthesized at 1173 K using an elemental tin flux in an evacuated sealed tube. Its crystal structure was characterized at room temperature using single crystal X-ray diffraction to form in the orthorhombic Pnma space group, with the refined cell parameters of a = 8.5041(4) Å, b = 3.8004(2) Å, c = 13.8935(6) Å, and V = 449.02(4) ų. The structure comprises five independent crystallographic sites, having one Sr, one Hf, and three S sites. The structure can be described as containing one-dimensional chains of distorted HfS₆ octahedra extending down the b-axis to form ${\displaystyle \genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{1}{\infty }}[$HfS₃]²⁻ strips of edge-sharing octahedra. The Sr atoms act as charge-balancing space fillers in the structure. High-purity bulk samples of α-SrHfS₃ could be prepared for measurement of its bandgap by optical diffuse-reflectance spectroscopy, showing a direct bandgap of 2.1(1) eV. Results of electronic structure calculations are consistent with this bandgap and type. The conduction and valence band edges stem from the respective empty Hf d-orbitals and the filled S p-orbital states. In summary, crystal growth of the α-type polymorph of SrHfS₃ has been demonstrated using a Sn flux approach, which can facilitate future broader synthetic explorations at lower temperatures. Full article

Insect pests are a major limiting factor to producing profitable soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) in South Carolina. Production practices within the soybean industry have drastically evolved over the last few decades, but treatment thresholds for insect pests have stayed the same. Evaluating treatment thresholds for insect pests typically involves simulating injury because it offers a controlled and repeatable way to evaluate an injury–yield relationship. Simulating defoliation injury in soybean typically involves methods such as hand-plucking or cutting leaflets, but these methods are not truly representative of insect feeding injury. This study describes the design, development, and validation of a novel pneumatic leaf puncher created with a 3D printer and used to simulate insect defoliation injury in soybean. The device was engineered to deliver controlled, repeatable leaf tissue removal at varying target levels (5, 15, 30, and 40%) by using interchangeable punching plates. Simulated defoliation treatments were applied to mature leaves on soybean plants at the V6 growth stage in a greenhouse study. The leaf area removed was quantified using LeafByte, a mobile app designed for measuring leaf area, and confirmed against target values. Results showed a high level of correlation between intended and actual defoliation levels, with accuracy ≥ 90%. The pneumatic leaf puncher provides a potential standardized method for administering foliar damage and offers a reliable alternative to manual clipping or herbivory feeding trials in defoliation research. Ongoing field trials at Clemson University will incorporate yield data to refine defoliation thresholds. Due to its adaptability and ease of use, the pneumatic leaf puncher could be implemented regionally, nationally, or internationally to support standardized defoliation studies across diverse cropping systems. Full article

The methodical work describes all the necessary steps for establishing a stable oral ex vivo biofilm using saliva and crevicular plaque samples from periodontal healthy donors. First, cover slips were preconditioned with saliva supernatants and subsequently inoculated with crevicular plaque suspensions. Ex vivo biofilm formation was characterized by confocal laser scanning microscopy (cLSM) after 1, 4, 24, 48 and 72 h of anaerobic cultivation. Exemplarily, the inhibitory characteristics of blackcurrant fruit extracts [all-fruit juice (AFJ); alcoholic fraction from berry skins (AFBS)] were observed on 1, 4 and 24 h-aged ex vivo biofilms. Chlorhexidine (CHX, 0.2%) served as positive control. After direct contact (3 min), biofilms were dispersed, plated onto agar and anaerobically cultivated for 24 h. Early ex vivo biofilms (1 h-biofilm) showed scattered microbial colonies. After 4 h of cultivation, a multilayered biofilm was formed. Biofilm mass gradually increased, displaying a complex polymicrobial structure after 24 h. At 72 h, the biofilms had a dense three-dimensional appearance. Treatment with AFJ and CHX was more efficient in inhibiting biofilm growth compared to AFBS. Early biofilms (1 h, 4 h) were more susceptible to AFJ and CHX compared to 24 h-biofilms. The introduced model can be recommended for testing the efficiency of plaque-controlling agents. Full article

Background: In children with cerebral palsy, bony acetabular deficiencies are common and may be associated with progressive hip subluxation, abnormal joint loading, and ultimately hip dislocation. Hip reconstruction surgery is typically performed to prevent dislocation, and this includes acetabular reshaping using acetabuloplasty. The location of acetabular deficiency may vary among individuals; however, only radiographs are used for planning and intraoperative correction in many centers. Precise reconstruction and preop planning are necessary for the accurate correction of acetabular coverage. This study compares conventional hip reconstruction with a 3D-guided technique using individual preop 3D planning and 3D-printed guides during surgery to determine which method allows for a more accurate correction. We hypothesize that the patient-specific 3D planning leads to more precise anatomical correction of acetabular coverage compared to conventional freehand osteotomy. Methods: This study was registered in the German Clinical Trial Register (DRKS-ID: DRKS00031356) on 14 July 2023. In a randomized controlled trial, various imaging-based parameters were used to assess the bony anatomy preoperatively and postoperatively. Preoperative and 6-week postoperative computed tomography (CT) scans are part of routine clinical care. Additionally, an immediate postoperative CT scan was performed. One hip was operated on using individualized 3D preoperative planning, while the other hip was corrected using a conventional surgical approach. A standardized subtrochanteric osteotomy was performed for the varisation, derotation, and shortening of the proximal femur. This osteotomy was followed by acetabuloplasty under fluoroscopic control. For the 3D-planned operation, patient-specific cutting and repositioning guides were produced based on preoperative CT imaging. Patients with bilateral cerebral palsy (GMFCS levels I–V), aged 4–18 years, with an open triradiate growth plate and a migration index ≥ 40% in at least one hip were included. In a preliminary retrospective part, this project reproduces the existing three-dimensional acetabular index (3-DAI) and compares it with established radiographic methods to determine the utility and reliability of a reconstructed 3D CT measurement technique. A further component of the retrospective part is the creation of an age-adjusted database of typically developed hips and the development of a 3D head coverage index (3D-HCI) as a new 3D parameter to express acetabular coverage; therefore, it will be used as a secondary parameter and correlated to the 3DAI in the prospective part. Conclusions: Improved precision may have meaningful clinical implications for long-term joint congruency, load distribution, pain, and mobility outcomes. Full article

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the performance of the Derma-SR-screen agar for accurate discrimination between susceptible and non-susceptible clinical Trichophyton isolates. Consecutive Trichophyton isolates, received for identification and susceptibility testing, were screened for terbinafine and itraconazole resistance using Liofilchem Derma-SR-screen 4-well panels alongside EUCAST reference testing (E.Def 11.0). EUCAST tentative ECOFFs (terbinafine: T. rubrum 0.03 mg/L; T. indotineae 0.125 mg/L; itraconazole: both species: 0.25 mg/L) were applied for wild-type/non-wild-type classification. Plates were evaluated after 5 days of incubation at 25 °C, with growth graded 0-+++. Faint growth (+) was disregarded. All isolates underwent sqle sequencing. Forty isolates were included; 25 were non-wild-type harbouring Sqle alterations (F397I (number (n) = 1), F397L (n = 17), L393F (n = 3), L393S (n = 1), and Q408L (n = 3)). On day 5, 21 isolates reached +++ growth in the control well; a further 10 reached this level on day 6. The remaining isolates reached a ++/+++ score after 5/6 days (n = 7/n = 2). The 0.125 mg/L terbinafine agar correctly identified 7/8 non-wild-type T. indotineae isolates (4/5 F397L and 3/3 Q408L alterations), all 17 non-wild-type and eight wild-type T. rubrum isolates, as well as the five wild-type isolates of other Trichophyton spp. The 0.016 mg/L agar correctly identified all 17 non-wild-type T. rubrum isolates, but misclassified 2/8 wild-type isolates as non-wild-type. All isolates were wild-type to itraconazole and correctly identified. The Derma-SR-screen agar resulted in correct classification of 24/25 (96%) sqle mutant T. indotineae and T. rubrum isolates. Two wild-type T. rubrum isolates grew at the 0.016 mg/L terbinafine agar suggesting possible reduced agar potency at this concentration. Full article

In this study, a three-dimensional simulation of a walking-beam reheating furnace was developed to improve the steel slab reheating process and reduce surface oxidation kinetics using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Combustion, heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and chemical reaction models were integrated into the numerical framework of this study. In addition, dynamic mesh remeshing was coupled through user-defined functions (UDFs), enabling the simultaneous simulation of slab movement and evolution of the involved transport phenomena. Turbulence was modeled with the realizable k-ε formulation, combustion with the Eddy Dissipation model, and radiation with the P-1 model coupled with WSGGM to include CO₂ and H₂O gas radiation. Scale formation was modeled using customized functions based on Arrhenius-type kinetics and Wagner’s oxidation model, evaluating its growth as a function of time, temperature, and furnace atmosphere. The predicted thermal evolution inside the furnace was validated using industrial data, yielding an average deviation of 5%. Furthermore, the proposed operating conditions led to an average slab temperature of 1289.77 °C at the exit of the homogenization zone, which was 16 °C higher than that under the current operation but still within the target range (1250 ± 50 °C). The reduction in combustion air decreased energy losses and improved product quality, lowering the molar oxygen content in the furnace atmosphere from 4.9 × 10² mol to 6.7 × 10¹ mol. Additionally, annual savings of 4,793,472 kg of natural gas and 13,884 tons of steel were estimated owing to reduced oxidation losses. The proposed air–fuel adjustment led to estimated annual energy savings (equivalent to 4,793,472 kg of natural gas) and a reduction in material loss due to oxidation from 4.5% to 3.75% (an absolute reduction of 0.75 percentage points; relative reduction ≈ 16.7%), which has a significant industrial impact on metal conservation and descaling cost reduction. Although there are CFD studies on plate overheating and scale growth separately, this work presents three main contributions: (1) the integration, within a single numerical framework, of combustion, radiation, species transport, oxidation kinetics, and actual plate movement using a dynamic mesh; (2) validation against continuous industrial records (16 thermocouples) and quantification of operational benefits such as fuel savings and reduced material loss; and (3) a comparative analysis between actual and optimized conditions, which standardize the air–methane ratio. Full article

Heat stress (HS) is one of the most challenging environmental conditions, responsible for impaired growth and reproduction in living systems. It also leads to altering the release of different biochemicals responsible for controlling the metabolic pathway. Five White Wistar rats were exposed at 42 ± 1 °C inside a closed chamber for the induction of hyperthermia. Their rectal temperature was recorded before and after heat exposure. The semi-digested food from the gut (colon) of sacrificed rats was collected under sterilized conditions for the isolation of gut bacteria on a nutrient agar plate at 50 °C, 60 °C, and 70 °C. The sample was incubated for 24 h and isolates were further purified. The proteolytic, amylolytic, cellulolytic, and xylanolytic activities were measured via plate assay and the enzymatic index was calculated. Total protein and estimation of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) were also quantified. Initially, the rectal temperature of the animal was 37.1 ± 0.2 °C, but after exposure to heat, the temperature was 40.8 ± 0.2 °C. The number of purified isolates was recorded, i.e., at 50 °C (04), at 60 °C (01), and at 70 °C (03). Among eight isolates, Bacillus licheniformis (50 °C) showed all four enzymatic activities with a higher enzymatic index. Further, this novel isolate also exhibited a maximum concentration of HSP70. This preliminary study reveals the survival of a bacterium (B. licheniformis) capable of producing key metabolites, highlighting its significance in supporting host physiology and other pathophysiological conditions. As a probiotic, it may serve as a potential therapeutic bridge connecting HSP70, host physiological function, and gut health. Full article

Background/Objectives: The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria highlights the need for improved methodologies to evaluate antimicrobial activity beyond conventional minimum inhibitory concentration testing. While resazurin-based assays are widely used for minimum inhibitory concentration determination due to their simplicity and sensitivity, minimum bactericidal concentration assessment still relies on labor-intensive colony-forming unit counting. The objective of this study was to develop and validate a resazurin-based microwell assay capable of determining both the minimum inhibitory concentration and the minimum bactericidal concentration without routine plate counting, thereby simplifying bactericidal evaluation. Methods: A two-step resazurin-based fluorescence assay was designed and performed in microplates. After determining the minimum inhibitory concentration using resazurin as a metabolic indicator, well-showing inhibited bacterial growths were subjected to a regrowth phase by transferring aliquots into fresh antimicrobial-free medium containing resazurin. This additional step allowed discrimination between reversible metabolic inhibition and irreversible bacterial death. The method was evaluated using ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol against four bacterial species: Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Minimum bactericidal concentration values obtained using this assay were compared with those obtained through conventional colony counting on agar plates. Results: Minimum bactericidal concentration values obtained using the two-step fluorescence assay were fully concordant with the conventional colony-forming unit counting method for all tested antibiotics and bacterial species. Conclusions: The proposed two-step resazurin-based microwell assay represents a rapid, reliable, and less labor-intensive alternative for the determination of both the minimum inhibitory concentration and the minimum bactericidal concentration, with potential applications in clinical and industrial microbiology laboratories. Full article

Background: Given global population growth and aging, it is imperative to prioritize early eye disease detection and treatment. However, as patient volume increases, providers are facing a shortage of workforce capacity, particularly in areas where eye doctors are already scarce, making it important to consider alternative innovative solutions that could help increase eye screening capabilities. This study compared virtual reality (VR) platform of vision screening exams that are used to evaluate ocular health, such as 24-2 perimetry, Ishihara tiles, and the Amsler grid, against their in-clinic counterparts. Methods: A total of 86 subjects were recruited from Mount Sinai’s ophthalmology clinic (New York, USA) for a comparison trial that was internally controlled across healthy eyes and those with glaucoma and retinal diseases. VR and in-office tests were administered to the patients during their clinical visit, including 24-2 perimetry, Ishihara tiles, and the Amsler grid in a randomized order, and the results were compared for each test. Results: Perimetry results from Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer (HVFA) and VR suprathreshold testing demonstrated a good sensitivity both overall (80% OD, 84% OS) and across control (86% OD, 89% OS), glaucoma (69% OD, 78% OS), and retinal disease (76% OD, 80% OS) groups. A Garway-Heath anatomical map showed an overall 70–80% agreement. Ishihara plate tests did not show a significant difference between the two testing modalities (p = 0.12; Mann–Whitney U test), which remained true across all groups. Amsler grid testing differences were also non-significant within each subgroup (p = 0.81; Mann–Whitney U test). Patient time required to complete VR exams was significantly improved (p < 0.0001; Welch’s t-test) compared to the clinical standard tests. Conclusions: All VR-based exams tested in this study showed high sensitivity and percent agreement when compared to their in-office standards. Given the results of this study, VR has a promising potential in visual function screening, which, in addition to its portable design and easy use, could assist eye doctors in screening for prevalent diseases such as glaucoma and retinal conditions. Translational Relevance: VR-based vision exams that test vision fields, color vision and visual distortions provide comparable results in healthy patients, as well as those with glaucoma and retinal diseases, indicating its potential as a screening technology for different ocular pathologies. Given VR’s portable and low-profile features, it is important to consider leveraging VR to augment delivery of vision care. Full article