Search Results (43)

The lithofacies and pore structural characteristics of shale reservoirs directly affect the exploration and development of shale gas. To clarify the exploration and development potential of the Lower Cambrian Shuijingtuo Formation (SJT) shale in the Middle Yangtze region, China, this study employs integrated experimental approaches, including optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations, X-ray diffraction (XRD) mineralogical analysis, and low-pressure gas (N₂/CO₂) adsorption, to classify mudstone lithofacies within the SJT and elucidate pore structural characteristics and dominant geological control across different lithofacies. The research results show that (1) Six main types of shale lithofacies are found in the STJ, including low-TOC massive calcareous mudstone (LMCM), low-TOC laminated mixed mudstone (LLMM), medium-TOC massive mixed mudstone (MMMM), high-TOC massive mixed mudstone (HMMM), high-TOC laminated siliceous mudstone (HLSM), and laminated argillaceous mudstone (LAM). (2) The pore types of SJT mudstone primarily include organic pores, intragranular clay mineral pores, and microfractures. The pore structure of mudstone is mainly controlled by clay mineral content and TOC content. However, the controlling factors of pore structure vary among different mudstone lithofacies. LMCM and LLMM are dominated by intragranular clay mineral pores, with their pore structures mainly controlled by clay mineral content. The pore types of HLMM and HLSM are organic pores, with pore structures predominantly controlled by TOC content. (3) The SJT mudstone gas reservoir exhibits diverse types, including HLSM, LAM, and LLMM. HLSM is characterized by the highest brittleness index and elevated pore volume (PV) and it can be considered the optimum lithofacies in the study area. Additionally, LLMM has the highest PV and relatively high brittleness index, positioning it as another significant reservoir target in the study area. Therefore, the Lower Cambrian shale gas reservoirs in the Middle Yangtze region exhibit diverse reservoir types. These research findings provide a scientific basis for the next phase of shale gas exploration planning in the Lower Cambrian. Full article

Tuberculosis remains a significant health issue in Mexico, which has one of the highest incidence rates in the Americas. This study aimed to analyze the circulating sublineages, spoligotypes, drug resistance, and transmission patterns of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Mexico’s Central Western region using whole-genome sequencing. Seventy-seven Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains underwent phenotypic drug susceptibility testing via MGIT. Genotypic resistance was assessed with TB-Profiler and Mykrobe, while phylogenetic relationships were reconstructed using Snippy and RaxML. SpoTyping identified circulating SITs and families, with a 5-SNP threshold defining genomic transmission clusters. The predominant sublineages were 4.1.1.3 (X-type, n = 19) and 4.1.2.1 (LAM, n = 11), with rare sublineages (EAI5, EAI2-Manila, and Beijing) also observed. Resistance to at least one first-line drug was found in 63.3% of strains, with streptomycin mono-resistance (24.5%) being notable. Multidrug-resistant TB was identified in 16.3% (n = 8) of strains. Five genomic clusters, involving 18.7% of strains, were identified. This study highlights the sublineage diversity in Mexico, emphasizing its importance in global databases and resistance research. The findings, such as SIT47 in GC1, underscore the value of localized genomic studies for effective TB control. Full article

Background/Objective: High-risk subsets of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) experience decreased access to optimal care and have poor clinical outcomes, reflecting an inertia to the delivery of guideline-directed and evidence-based therapy and implementation of critical care pathways. We aim to investigate the clinical effectiveness of a simplified implementation checklist to counter treatment inertia in patients with high comorbidity burden. Methods: An ACS critical care pathway was simplified and reduced to a minimalistic checklist including only items on GDMT and invasive strategy. A total of 2005 consecutive patients with ACS were evaluated including 1499 patients receiving standard care and 506 patients managed with the checklist. Patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary interventions and patients receiving upfront cardiovascular intensive care were excluded. Multivariate regression spline models were used to study the relationship between comorbidity, expressed as the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and a management strategy including guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) and an early invasive approach. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to address confounding factors. The use of GDMT and early invasive therapy were compared in patients receiving standard care and checklists. The 90-day composite outcome of all-cause mortality, recurrent ACS and stroke were compared between patients receiving standard care and those receiving checklists. Results: High CCI was associated with decreased GDMT, invasive strategy and the utilization of critical care pathway. Checklist utilization was unaffected by high CCI and led to sustained and higher use of GDMT and invasive approach in patients despite high CCI. Checklist managed patients have >10% higher rates of prescription of each class of GDMT (p < 0.0001) and more than twice the rate of early invasive approach (51.0% vs. 20.7%, (p < 0.0001) compared to patients receiving standard care. The 90-day composite outcome was lower in checklist management patients compared to patients receiving standard care, adjusted hazard ratio 0.61 (95% CI 0.46–0.81), log-rank p = 0.0006, especially in patients with high CCI, adjusted hazard ratio 0.60 (95% CI 0.38–0.97), log-rank p = 0.035 for CCI 5–6; adjusted hazard ratio 0.53 (95% CI 0.35–0.84), log-rank p = 0.0057 for CCI 7 or more. Conclusions: The use of a simplified checklist is associated with better implementation of GDMT and invasive strategy as well as better 90-day clinical outcomes in ACS patients with high comorbidity burden Full article

Two strains, M1 and H32 with nitrogen-fixing ability, were isolated from the rhizospheres of different plants. Genome sequence analysis showed that a nif (nitrogen fixation) gene cluster composed of nine genes (nifB nifH nifD nifK nifE nifN nifX hesA nifV) was conserved in the two strains. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strains M1 and H32 are members of the genus Paenibacillus. Strains M1 and H32 had 97% similarity in the 16S rRNA gene sequences. Strain M1 had the highest similarity (97.25%) with Paenibacillus vini LAM 0504T in the 16S rRNA gene sequences. Strain H32 had the highest similarity (97.48%) with Paenibacillus faecis TCIP 101062T in the 16S rRNA gene sequences. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between strain M1 and its closest member P. vini were 78.17% and 22.3%, respectively. ANI and dDDH values between strain H32 and its closest member P. faecis were 88.94% and 66.02%, respectively. The predominant fatty acid of both strains is anteiso-C15:0. The major polar lipids of both strains are DPG (diphosphatidylglycerol) and PG (phosphatidylglycerol). The predominant isoprenoid quinone of both strains is MK-7. With all the phylogenetic and phenotypic divergency, two novel species Paenibacillus haidiansis sp. nov and Paenibacillus sanfengchensis sp. nov are proposed with the type strain M1^T [=GDMCC (Guangdong Culture Collection Centre of Microbiology) 1.4871 = JCM (Japan Collection of Microorganisms) 37487] and with type strain H32^T (=GDMCC 1.4872 = JCM37488). Full article

Objective: This study examines the association between major urban pollutants and the long-term decline of non-idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis interstitial lung disease [non-IPF ILD]. Materials and methods: A total of 41 patients with non-IPF ILD were analyzed from 2011 to 2020, correlating disease long-term decline with concentrations of key pollutants [SO₂, CO, NO₂, O₃, PM_2.5, and PM₁₀] in Madrid. The likelihood of meeting severity criteria was assessed using a generalized linear model, considering the average pollutant levels during severe episodes. Results: At diagnosis, the average age of patients was 62.95 ± 13.13 years, with 47.6% women. The study found no significant association between pollution levels and the probability of meeting severity criteria for non-IPF ILD. The odds ratios were as follows: OR SO₂ = 0.92 [0.82–1.03], p = 0.16; OR CO = 0.99 [0.97–1.05], p = 0.70; OR NO₂ = 0.97 [0.92–1.03], p = 0.38; OR PM_2.5 = 0.79 [0.54–1.17], p = 0.24; OR PM₁₀ = 1.1 [0.94–1.28], p = 0.21; OR O₃ = 0.97 [0.92–1.01], p = 0.20. Conclusions: Our study suggests that, within the cohort of 41 patients with non-IPF ILD enrolled in this study, urban air pollutants in Madrid are not significantly linked to increased long-term decline of non-IPF ILD. This is one of the first studies to explore the impact of various urban pollutants on a diverse cohort of non-IPF ILD patients, including rare conditions like LAM and histiocytosis X. Further research with larger sample sizes and comprehensive exposure assessments is recommended. Full article

This study explores the application of AncorLam HR (Höganäs, Sweden), a soft magnetic composite material, in the stator core of an axial flux permanent magnet drive motor. Building on previous research that provided mechanical and thermal properties of the material, the focus is on analyzing how the manufacturing process affects the motor core’s shape. A bulk prototype was created based on case 3, which demonstrated the least deviation in density and internal stress. The prototypes were produced under the conditions of SPM 7 and 90 °C, and a heat treatment in a nitrogen atmosphere for 1 h, resulting in an average density error of 0.54%, confirming process effectiveness. A microstructural analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on Sample 2, with the highest density, confirmed consistency between simulation and prototype trends. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses revealed that the internal phase structure remained unchanged. Energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) identified the elimination of phosphorus (P) during molding, affecting the insulating layer, a critical factor for SMC materials. In motor simulations and actual measurements, the average torque was recorded as 37.7 N·m and 34.7 N·m at 1500 rpm and 27.7 N·m and 25.1 N·m at 2000 rpm, respectively. The torque comparison observed in the actual measurements compared to the simulation results indicates that the output loss increases in the actual measurements due to the deterioration of the insulation performance judged based on the microstructure evaluation. This study confirms the viability of using AncorLam HR in motor cores for electric vehicles and provides key data for improving the performance. Full article

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of microwave-assisted and conventional extraction using ethanol, hexane, and petroleum ether as solvents, and to optimize the process for extracting oil from Moringa oleifera Lam. seeds, with a focus on improving food-grade oil production. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to enhance the extraction process of the oil. Central composite rotational design (CCRD) was used to analyze the impact of solid–liquid ratio (x₁), power (x₂), and temperature (x₃) on oil yield. The optimization identified the optimal conditions as a solid/liquid ratio of 1:38, power of 175 W, and temperature of 50 °C, achieving a 42% oil yield. Notably, the microwave-assisted extraction reduced the processing time from 8 h (using conventional Soxhlet extraction) to just 1 h. Conventional extraction with hexane and petroleum ether was also performed for comparison, resulting in similar oil content and fatty acid profiles, predominantly, oleic acid. FTIR analysis confirmed that the microwave-extracted oil contained fatty acids and had similar characteristics to the conventionally extracted oil. Thus, the use of ethanol as a green solvent in the microwave has shown significant improvement in terms of time and energy savings compared to the Soxhlet method with toxic solvents. This study concludes that microwave-assisted extraction with ethanol provides a more energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and time-saving alternative for food-grade oil production, aligning with advancements in food engineering and production. Full article

There has been very limited investigation regarding the genetic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTb) strains isolated from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients in Mexico. In this study, we isolated 93 MTb strains from pulmonary and extrapulmonary samples of HIV-infected patients treated in a public hospital in Mexico City to evaluate the genetic diversity using spoligotyping and mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit-variable-number tandem-repeat (MIRU-VNTR) typing (based on 24 loci). The cohort comprised 80 male and 13 female individuals. There was a positive correlation between a high HIV viral load (>100,000 copies) and extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) (r = 0.306, p = 0.008). Lineage 4 was the most frequent lineage (79 strains). In this lineage, we found the H clade (n = 24), including the Haarlem, H3, and H1 families; the T clade (n = 22), including T1 and T2; the X clade (n = 15), including X1 and X3; the LAM clade (n = 14), including LAM1, LAM2, LAM3, LAM6, and LAM9; the S clade (n = 2); Uganda (n = 1); and Ghana (n = 1). We also found 12 strains in the EAI clade belonging to lineage 1, including the EAI2-Manila and EAI5 families. Interestingly, we identified one strain belonging to the Beijing family, which is part of lineage 2. One strain could not be identified. This study reports high genetic diversity among MTb strains, highlighting the need for a molecular epidemiological surveillance system that can help to monitor the spread of these strains, leading to more appropriate measures for TB control in HIV-infected patients. Full article

Background: The levator ani muscle (LAM) is crucial for pelvic floor stability, yet its quantitative MRI assessment is only a recent focus. Our study aims to standardize the quantitative analysis of the LAM morphology within the 3D Pelvic Inclination Correction System (3D-PICS). Methods: We analyzed 35 static MR datasets from nulliparous women examining the pubovisceral (PVM), iliococcygeal (ICM), coccygeal (COC), and puborectal muscle (PRM). The PVM consists of three origin-insertion pairs, namely the puboanal (PAM), puboperineal (PPM) and pubovaginal muscle (PVaM). The analysis included a quantitative examination of the morphology of LAM, focusing on the median location (x/y/z) (x: anterior–posterior, y: superior–inferior, z: left–right) of the origin and insertion points (a), angles (b) and lengths (c) of LAM. Inter-rater reliability was calculated. Results: Interindividual variations in 3D coordinates among muscle subdivisions were shown. In all, 93% of all origin and insertion points were found within an SD of <8 mm. Angles to the xz-plane range between −15.4° (right PRM) and 40.7° (left PAM). The PRM is the largest pelvic muscle in static MRI. The ICC indicated moderate-to-good agreement between raters. Conclusions: The accurate morphometry of the LAM and its subdivisions, along with reliable inter-rater agreement, was demonstrated, enhancing the understanding of normal pelvic anatomy in young nulliparous women. Full article

Establishing short supply chains for timber has become important especially in Italy, which is an historically wood-importer country. Timber is an environmentally friendly construction material and a potential mean to reduce carbon footprint produced every year by the building sector. In addition to its sustainability benefits, reversible strengthening interventions can be attained for existing structures. As such, timber can be efficiently used to preserve and protect historical buildings which are, due to architectural and aesthetic values, fundamental components of the Italian cultural heritage. In this study, the use and potential of novel cross-laminated (X-Lam or CLT) timber panels made of Italian hardwood (i.e., beech) for strengthening of existing timber floors is investigated. A quantitative comparison between the mechanical performances of the proposed wood-based product and common retrofitting techniques, such as double-crossed timber planks and reinforced concrete slabs, is carried out in terms of bending stiffness (which is evaluated according to Eurocode 5), influence of weight and reversibility of intervention. It is shown that CLT panels represent a good compromise/alternative for the realisation of reversible and sustainable reinforcing interventions, with rather well promising performances. Full article

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is circulating in many swine-producing countries, causing significant economic losses. It is observed that pigs experimentally vaccinated with a live-attenuated virus (LAV) but not a killed virus (KV) vaccine develop solid homologous protective immunity. The objective of this study was to comparatively analyze antibody profiles between pigs vaccinated with an LAV vaccine and those vaccinated with a KV vaccine to identify potential markers of vaccine-induced protection. Thirty ASFV seronegative pigs were divided into three groups: Group 1 received a single dose of an experimental LAV, Group 2 received two doses of an experimental KV vaccine, and Group 3 was kept as a non-vaccinated (NV) control. At 42 days post-vaccination, all pigs were challenged with the parental virulent ASFV strain and monitored for 21 days. All pigs vaccinated with the LAV vaccine survived the challenge. In contrast, eight pigs from the KV group and seven pigs from the NV group died within 14 days post-challenge. Serum samples collected on 41 days post-vaccination were analyzed for their reactivity against a panel of 29 viral structural proteins. The sera of pigs from the LAV group exhibited a strong antibody reactivity against various viral structural proteins, while the sera of pigs in the KV group only displayed weak antibody reactivity against the inner envelope (p32, p54, p12). There was a negative correlation between the intensity of antibody reactivity against five ASFV antigens, namely p12, p14, p15, p32, and pD205R, and the viral DNA titers in the blood of animals after the challenge infection. Thus, antibody reactivities against these five antigens warrant further evaluation as potential indicators of vaccine-induced protection. Full article

The treatment of 2-(ArNC(H))C₆H₄-HNC₉H₆N with n-BuLi and the subsequent addition of CuCl₂ afforded the anilido-aldimine Cu(II) complexes 1-5 Cu[{2-[ArN=C(H)]C₆H₄}N(8-C₉H₆N)]Cl (Ar = 2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃ (1), 2,4,6-(CH₃)₃C₆H₂ (2), 4-OCH₃C₆H₄ (3), 4-BrC₆H₄ (4), 4-ClC₆H₄ (5)), respectively. All the copper complexes were fully characterized by IR, EPR and HR-MS spectra. The X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that 2 and 4 are mononuclear complexes, and the Cu atom is sitting in a slightly square-planar geometry. These Cu(II) complexes have exhibited excellent catalytic activity in the Chan–Lam coupling reactions of benzimidazole derivatives with arylboronic acids, achieving the highest yields of up to 96%. Full article

Inflammatory-related diseases are becoming increasingly prevalent, leading to a growing focus on the development of anti-inflammatory agents, with a particular emphasis on creating novel structural compounds. In this study, we present a highly efficient synthetic method for direct N-arylation to produce a variety of N(2)-arylindazol-3(2H)-ones 3, which exhibit anti-inflammatory activity. The Chan–Evans–Lam (CEL) coupling of N(1)-benzyl-indazol-3-(2H)-ones 1 with arylboronic acids 2 in the presence of a copper complex provided the corresponding N(2)-arylindazol-3(2H)-ones 3 in good-to-excellent yields, as identified with NMR, MS, and X-ray crystallography techniques. The cell viability and anti-inflammatory effects of the synthesized compounds (3 and 5) were briefly assessed using the MTT method and Griess assay. Among them, compounds 5 exhibited significant anti-inflammatory effects with negligible cell toxicity. Full article

Purpose: Few studies have examined the relationship between duration of oxaliplatin-containing adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer and mortality in routine practice. We examined the association between treatment with 50% versus >85% of a maximal course of adjuvant therapy (eight cycles of CAPOX, twelve cycles of FOLFOX) and mortality in stage III colon cancer. Methods: Using linked databases, we identified Ontarians aged ≥18 years at diagnosis of stage III colon cancer between 2007 and 2019. In the primary comparison, we compared patients who received 50% or >85% of a maximal course of adjuvant therapy; in a secondary comparison, we evaluated a dose effect across patients who received FOLFOX in one-cycle increments from six to ten cycles against >85% (more than ten cycles) of a maximal course of FOLFOX. The main outcomes were overall and cancer-specific mortality. Follow-up began 270 days after adjuvant treatment initiation and terminated at the first of the outcome of interest, loss of eligibility for Ontario’s Health Insurance Program, or study end. Overlap propensity score weights accounted for baseline between-group differences. We determined the hazard ratio, estimating the association between mortality and treatment. Non-inferiority was concluded in the primary comparison for either outcome if the upper limit of the two-sided 95% CI was ≤1.11, which is the margin used in the International Duration Evaluation of Adjuvant Chemotherapy Collaboration. Results: We included 3546 patients in the analysis of overall mortality; 486 (13.7%) received 50% and 3060 (86.3%) received >85% of a maximal course of therapy. Median follow-up was 5.4 years, and total follow-up was 20,510 person-years. There were 833 deaths. Treatment with 50% of a maximal course of adjuvant therapy was associated with a hazard ratio of 1.13 (95% CI 0.88 to 1.47) for overall mortality and a subdistribution hazard ratio of 1.31 (95% CI 0.91 to 1.87) for cancer-specific mortality versus >85% of a maximal course of therapy. In the secondary comparison, there was a trend toward higher overall mortality in patients treated with shorter durations of therapy, though confidence intervals overlapped considerably. Conclusion: We could not conclude that treatment with 50% of a maximal course is non-inferior to >85% of a maximal course of adjuvant therapy for mortality in stage III colon cancer. Clinicians and patients engaging in decision-making around treatment duration in this context should carefully consider the trade-off between treatment effectiveness and adverse effects of treatment. Full article

The issue of environmental sustainability is increasingly topical, and one of the most impactful sectors is the construction industry. As stated in the GlobalABC reports, the building sector is the main sector responsible for GHG emissions, generating about 37% of global CO2e emissions. Already during the phases of production and construction of buildings, about 10% of global emissions are produced, while the remaining part comes from using energy for air conditioning and lighting. Reducing emissions in buildings’ pre-use phase is a crucial issue for fighting climate change. This research investigates the potential of timber construction systems due to the carbon storage property of the material. The proposed calculation methodology is structured according to the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach, referring to the C2H phase (from Cradle-to-Handover), and evaluates emissions related to buildings production and construction. In order to identify the timber construction system that minimizes CO2e emissions, the method was applied within the limits of the investigation (A1–A5 phases) to two buildings built with different technologies: an X-Lam panel and a framed structured building. The results were analyzed, compared, and discussed to demonstrate that timber buildings will be the most virtuous solution in the Net Zero Carbon perspective by 2050. Full article