Search Results (159)

This study introduces a time-efficient rotating bending fatigue testing system featuring 11 dual-end spindles, enabling simultaneous testing of 22 specimens. Designed for high-throughput fatigue life (S–N curve) assessment, the system theoretically allows over 93% reduction in total test duration, with 87.5% savings demonstrated in validation experiments using AISI 304 stainless steel. The PLC-based architecture provides autonomous operation, real-time failure detection, and automatic cycle logging. ER16 collet holders are easily replaceable within one minute, and all the components are selected from widely available industrial-grade parts to ensure ease of maintenance. The modular design facilitates straightforward adaptation to different station counts. The validation results confirmed an endurance limit of 421 MPa, which is consistent with the established literature and within ±5% deviation. Fractographic analysis revealed distinct crack initiation and propagation zones, supporting the observed fatigue behavior. This high-throughput methodology significantly improves testing efficiency and statistical reliability, offering a practical solution for accelerated fatigue life evaluation in structural, automotive, and aerospace applications. Full article

Madagascar harbors a rich marine biodiversity, yet detailed knowledge of its fish species remains limited. Of the 1689 species listed in 2018, only 22% had accessible cytochrome oxidase I (COI) sequences in public databases. In response to growing pressure on fishery resources, this study aims to strengthen biodiversity monitoring tools. Its objectives were to enrich the COI database for Malagasy marine fishes, create the first 12S reference library, and evaluate the taxonomic resolution of different 12S metabarcodes for eDNA analysis, namely MiFish, Teleo1, AcMDB, Ac12S, and 12SF1/R1. An integrated approach combining morphological, molecular, and phylogenetic analyses was applied for specimen identification of fish captured using various types of fishing gear in Toliara and Ranobe Bays from 2018 to 2023. The Malagasy COI database now includes 2146 sequences grouped into 502 Barcode Index Numbers (BINs) from 82 families, with 14 BINs newly added to BOLD (The Barcode of Life Data Systems), and 133 cryptic species. The 12S library comprises 524 sequences representing 446 species from 78 families. Together, the genetic datasets cover 514 species from 84 families, with the most diverse being Labridae, Apogonidae, Gobiidae, Pomacentridae, and Carangidae. However, the two markers show variable taxonomic resolution: 67 species belonging to 35 families were represented solely in the COI dataset, while 10 species from nine families were identified exclusively in the 12S dataset. For 319 species with complete 12S gene sequences associated with COI BINs (Barcode Index Numbers), 12S primer sets were used to evaluate the taxonomic resolution of five 12S metabarcodes. The MiFish marker proved to be the most effective, with an optimal similarity threshold of 98.5%. This study represents a major step forward in documenting and monitoring Madagascar’s marine biodiversity and provides a valuable genetic reference for future environmental DNA (eDNA) applications. Full article

The majority of early-onset colorectal cancers (EOCRCs) are not substantiated by germline variants in the main CRC predisposition genes (the “DIGE” panel). To identify potentially novel EOCRC-specific predisposition genes, we analyzed 585 cancer pathway genes in an EOCRC patient cohort (n = 87, diagnosis ≤ 40 years, DIGE-), and compared their variant spectrum to the GnomAD cancer-free database. We identified high-impact variants (HVs) in 15 genes significantly over-represented in EOCRC. Among the 32 unrelated patients with a CRC family history (i.e., with a potentially dominant transmission pattern), 9 presented HVs in ten genes, four of which had a DNA repair function. We subsequently sequenced these 15 genes in a cohort of 82 late-onset CRCs (diagnosis ≥ 50 years, DIGE-) and found variants in 11 of these genes to be specific to EOCRC. We then screened these 11 genes in our patient database (n = 6482), which only contained 2% of EOCRCs (DIGE-), and identified two other EOCRC cases diagnosed after our cohort constitution, with HVs in RECQL4 and NUTM1. Altogether, we found that 37.5% and 18.75% of patients carrying heterozygous NUTM1 and RECQL4 HVs, respectively, in our database were diagnosed with EOCRC. Our work has identified a pattern of germline variants not previously associated with EOCRC. Full article

Background/Objectives: Anemia and renal impairment are key predictors of adverse outcomes in acute coronary syndromes (ACSs). The hemoglobin-to-creatinine (Hb/Cr) ratio combines these parameters into a simple index. This study aimed to evaluate its prognostic value at discharge in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: The primary endpoint was one-year all-cause mortality; secondary endpoints included major bleeding and the composite of all-cause mortality or reinfarction. Optimal Hb/Cr cut-off values were identified using Liu’s method. Multivariable logistic regression and propensity score matching were used to assess associations with outcomes. Results: We analyzed 11,236 STEMI patients from the PRAISE registry with available hemoglobin and creatinine values at discharge. The optimal cut-points were 13.68 for mortality and 14.42 for secondary endpoints. Patients were stratified into low (<13.68; 26.5%) and high (≥13.68; 73.5%) Hb/Cr groups. The low Hb/Cr group was older, had more comorbidities, and received less intensive therapy. At one year, low Hb/Cr patients had significantly higher rates of all-cause mortality (8.7% vs. 2.4%), major bleeding (5.0% vs. 2.4%), and the composite outcome (11.5% vs. 4.9%). In the multivariate logistic regression, the Hb/Cr ratio was inversely associated with all outcomes, namely all-cause mortality (odds ratio [OR] 0.94; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.92–0.96), major bleeding (OR 0.96; 95% CI: 0.94–0.97), and the composite endpoint (OR 0.93; 95% CI: 0.91–0.96). The Hb/Cr ratio outperformed hemoglobin and creatinine alone in predicting mortality (AUC 0.684 vs. 0.649 and 0.645; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The Hb/Cr ratio is independently associated with one-year adverse outcomes in STEMI and may serve as a simple marker of increased vulnerability. Prospective studies are needed to validate its clinical utility. Full article

Conventional diagnosis of fungal infections of the skin, nail, and hair requires both expertise in mycology and prolonged cultures. We evaluated a new molecular tool based on an innovative technology, the DendrisKIT^®DP, combining a pan-fungal PCR, a DNA chip and a decision algorithm using machine learning, for the diagnosis of superficial fungal infections directly from clinical samples. It enables the simultaneous detection of Candida albicans and twelve dermatophytes, providing faster results than conventional techniques. Among 85 clinical samples (50 skin scrapings, 29 nail specimens, and 6 hair specimens) routinely tested by microscopic examination and cultures that were retrospectively tested by the DendrisKIT^®DP, we found a sensitivity of 83.9% and a specificity of 88.9%. This performance appeared satisfactory compared to microscopy and culture, and results were achieved much faster than with cultures, saving time for patient management. Moreover, thanks to the continuous improvement in the identification algorithm due to enriching the database, its performance is likely to be further enhanced. Full article

Over the last decade, distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) has received growing attention in the field of seismic acquisition and monitoring due to its potential high spatial sampling rate, low maintenance cost and high resistance to temperature and pressure. Despite its undeniable advantages, DAS faces some challenges, including a low signal-to-noise ratio, which partly results from the instrument-specific noise generated by DAS interrogators. We present a comparison between two deep learning approaches to address DAS hardware noise and enhance the quality of DAS data. These approaches have the advantage of including real instrumental noise in the neural network training dataset. For the supervised learning (SL) approach, real DAS instrumental noise measured on an acoustically isolated coil is added to synthetic data to generate training pairs of clean/noisy data. For the second method, the Noise2Noise (N2N) approach, the training is performed on noisy/noisy data pairs recorded simultaneously on the downgoing and upgoing parts of a downhole fiber-optic cable. Both approaches allow for the removal of unwanted noise that lies within the same frequency band of the useful signal, a result that cannot be achieved by conventional denoising techniques employing frequency filtering. Full article

Exploring shallow mineral resources requires acquiring denser seismic data, for which Distributed Acoustic Sensing is an effective enabler and relevant to mining operations monitoring. Passive seismic can be of interest in characterizing the subsurface; however, dealing with large amounts of data pushes against the limits of existing computational systems and algorithms, especially for continuous monitoring. Hence, more than ever, novel data analysis methods are needed. In this article, we investigate using synthetic seismic data, paired with real noise recordings, as part of a supervised deep-learning neural network methodology to detect and locate induced seismic sources and explore their potential use to reconstruct subsurface properties. Challenges of this methodology were identified and addressed in the context of induced seismicity applications. Data acquisition and modelling were discussed, preparation workflows were implemented, and the method was demonstrated on synthetic data and tested on relevant seismic monitoring field dataset from the Otway CO₂ injection site. Conducted tests confirmed the effects of time shifts, signal-to-noise ratios, and geometry mismatches on the performance of trained models. Those promising results showed the method’s applicability and paved the way for potential application to more field data, such as seismic while drilling. Full article

Background: Rare diseases constitute a heterogeneous group of approximately 7000–8000 conditions, distinguished by their low prevalence. Collectively, they present a significant global health challenge, affecting millions of people worldwide. It is estimated that rare diseases affect approximately 10% of the global population, which places a significant burden on individuals, families, and society. It is, therefore, important to consider strategies to improve the overall well-being and quality of life of individuals with rare diseases. One potential avenue for exploration is the incorporation of physical activity (PA). The scope of this study was to ascertain whether PA has a positive impact on measures of well-being and to determine its potential to enhance the quality of life of these individuals. Methods: The data were collected via an online survey. The one-way ANOVA test for multiple groups and multivariate Poisson models were employed to identify the significant predictors of the outcomes of interest. Results: The protective effects of PA become evident with a minimum of six hours of activity per week. Our data confirm that the weekly hours devoted to PA can serve as a significant protective factor for QoL. The study also provided some insights into the motivations behind patients’ engagement in PA. These included improving QoL and physical well-being, as well as the desire to interact socially, with the goal of meeting friends or making new acquaintances. Finally, for adults and older adults, engaging in PA can also be a way to control weight. Conclusions: It is becoming increasingly clear that individuals with rare diseases stand to benefit greatly from PA, so it is only sensible to educate them on the advantages of an active lifestyle. Full article

This research aimed to study the long-term effects of soccer training on platelet membrane fatty acid levels and antioxidant vitamins. Forty-four subjects divided into soccer players (SP; n = 22; 20.86 ± 0.36 years) and a control group (CG; n = 22; 21.23 ± 0.49 years) participated in the study. The fatty acids of the platelet membrane, the rates of desaturation, lipid peroxidation indexes and intra-platelet levels of vitamins C and E were assessed. SP obtained lower values in polyunsaturated fatty acids 18:3:3 (alpha-linolenic acid), 20:5:3 (eicosapentaenoic acid) and 22:6:3 (docosahexaenoic acid) (p < 0.05). The desaturation index ∆5 was higher in SP (p < 0.05), and they had a higher lipid peroxidation index 20:4:6 (arachidonic acid)/16:0 (palmitic acid) (p < 0.05). Vitamin E and C platelet values were also higher in SP (p < 0.01). There were positive correlations in the ω6/ω3 index (p < 0.05), desaturation index ∆5 (p < 0.05), lipid peroxidation index 20:4:6/16:0 and intra-platelet vitamins E and C (p < 0.01) with the level of physical activity. In addition, there were inverse correlations in fatty acids 24:0 (lignoceric acid), 16:1 (palmitoleic acid), 20:3:6 (eicosadienoic acid) and 18:3:3 (alpha-linolenic acid) (p < 0.05) depending on the degree of physical activity. Regular long-term soccer training could modify the concentration of fatty acids such as 24:0, 16:1, 18:6, 20:3:6, 18:3:3:3, 20:5:3, 26:6:3 and ω3 PUFAs in the platelet membrane. Full article

The BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) is a small DNA non-enveloped virus whose infection is asymptomatic in most of the world’s adult population. However, in cases of immunosuppression, the reactivation of the virus can cause various complications, and in particular, nephropathies in kidney transplant recipients or hemorrhagic cystitis in bone marrow transplant recipients. Recently, it was demonstrated that BKPyV virions can use extracellular vesicles to collectively traffic in and out of cells, thus exiting producing cells without cell lysis and entering target cells by diversified entry routes. By a comparison to other naked viruses, we investigated the possibility that BKPyV virions recruit the Endosomal-Sorting Complexes Required for Transport (ESCRT) machinery through late domains in order to hijack extracellular vesicles. We identified a single potential late domain in the BKPyV structural proteins, a YPX₃L motif in the VP1 protein, and used pseudovirions to study the effect of point mutations found in a BKPyV clinical isolate or known to ablate the interaction of such a domain with the ESCRT machinery. Our results suggest that this domain is not involved in BKPyV association with extracellular vesicles but is crucial for capsomere interaction and thus viral particle assembly. Full article

Polygonati rhizoma, known for its distinct yellow rhizomes, is a common therapeutic and culinary plant in Far East Asia. The hue of medicinal plants is closely tied to the flavonoid biosynthesis and content levels. In this research, the fibrous root and taproot of Polygonatum kingianum Coll.et Hemsl. were studied to explore the secondary metabolite expression and flavonoid biosynthesis mechanisms using transcriptomics and metabolomics. Metabolic analysis identified that the differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) in the fibrous root and taproot were predominantly flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids, and phenolic acids. Overall, 200 flavonoids were identified in P. kingianum Coll.et Hemsl., with 170 exhibiting variances between the fibrous root and taproot. The transcriptome analysis revealed that a total of 289 unigenes encoding 32 enzymes were annotated into four flavonoid biosynthesis pathways, which include phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, flavonoid biosynthesis pathway, isoflavonoid biosynthesis pathway, and flavone and flavonol biosynthesis pathway. The integration of transcriptomic and metabolomic data elucidated that the 76 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) encoding 13 enzyme genes (HCT, CCOMT, C4H, C3′H, CHI, PGT1, FLS, F3′H, CHS, ANR, DFR, F3′5′H, and LAR) and 15 DAMs preferred to be regulated in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. The expression of 10 DEGs was validated by qRT-PCR, agreeing with the same results by RNA-Seq. These findings shed light into the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in P. kingianum Coll.et Hemsl., offering valuable information for the sustainable utilization and enhancement of this plant species. Full article

$\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O₂max is recognized as a key measure in exercise physiology and sports medicine. However, only 20–50% of maximal incremental exercise tests (IET) result in a plateau of $\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O₂ ($\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O₂pl). To our knowledge, no study has yet examined the possible difference in brain activity during an IET, in $\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O₂pl and non-plateau athletes with the same $\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O₂max and age. This study aimed to shed light on the central governor hypothesis, namely that the inability to reach a $\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O₂pl may be dictated by the brain rather than by a peripheral physical limit. This hypothesis can now be explored using electroencephalography (EEG) during IET, measuring concomitant power in specific frequency bands. Forty-two athletes were divided into two groups: those who practiced endurance sports and those who did not, and were asked to perform an IET. EEG signals and gas exchange were recorded. A $\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O₂pl was observed in twenty-two subjects (52%). EEG power increased in all subjects during IET, except in the alpha band, which showed variability, but not significantly (64% increase, 34% decrease, p = 0.07). No differences were found between endurance athletes and non-endurance athletes, except for $\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O₂max (60.10 ± 6.16 vs. 51.77 ± 6.41, p < 0.001). However, the baseline-corrected ratio of EEG power to $\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O₂ was found to decrease in all subjects during IET, in the alpha, beta and theta bands. In conclusion, the presence or absence of a $\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O₂pl is not related to the type of EEG response during an IET. Nevertheless, the decline in brain and $\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O₂ powers/ratios in all frequency bands suggests that aerobic power may be constrained by brain mobilization. Full article

Resistant hypertension (RHTN) prevalence ranges from 4 to 19% in Africa. There is a paucity of data on the role of genetic variation on RHTN among Africans. We set out to investigate the role of polymorphisms in ABCB1, ADRB1, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, NEDD4L, and NR3C2, on RHTN susceptibility among South Africans. Using a retrospective matched case–control study, 190 RHTN patients (cases: blood pressure (BP) ≥ 140/90 mmHg on ≥3 anti-hypertensives or BP < 140/90 mmHg on >3 anti-hypertensives) and 189 non-RHTN patients (controls: <3 anti-hypertensives, BP < 140/90 or ≥140/90 mmHg), 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), quantitative PCR and Sanger sequencing. Genetic association analyses were conducted using the additive model and multivariable logistic regression. Homozygosity for CYP3A5 rs776746C/C genotype (p = 0.02; OR: 0.44; CI: 0.22–0.89) was associated with reduced risk for RHTN. Homozygous ADRB1 rs1801252G/G (p = 0.02; OR: 3.30; CI: 1.17–10.03) and NEDD4L rs4149601A/A genotypes (p = 0.001; OR: 3.82; CI: 1.67–9.07) were associated with increased risk for RHTN. Carriers of the of ADRB1 rs1801252—rs1801253 G–C haplotype had 2.83-fold odds of presenting with RHTN (p = 0.04; OR: 2.83; CI: 1.05–8.20). These variants that are associated with RHTN may have clinical utility in the selection of antihypertensive drugs in our population. Full article

The internal mechanisms of dental air turbine handpieces (DATHs) have become increasingly intricate over time. To enhance the operational reliability of dental procedures and guarantee patient safety, this study formulated temporal convolution network (TCN) prediction models with the functions of causality in time sequence, transmitting memory, learning, storing, and fast convergence for monitoring the health and diagnosing the rotor and collet failure of DATHs. A handpiece mimicking a dentist’s hand load of 100 g was employed to repeatedly mill a glass porcelain block back and forth for cutting. An accelerometer was employed to capture vibration signals during free-running of unrestrained operation of the handpiece, aiming to discern the characteristic features of these vibrations. These data were then utilized to create a diagnostic health classification (DHC) for further developing a TCN, a 1D convolutional neural network (CNN), and long short-term memory (LSTM) prediction models. The three frameworks were used and compared for machine learning to establish DHC prediction models for the DATH. The experimental results indicate that, in terms of DHC predicted for the experimental dataset, the square categorical cross-entropy loss function error of the TCN framework was generally lower than that of the 1D CNN, which did not have a memory framework or the drawback of the vanishing gradient problem. In addition, the TCN framework outperformed the LSTM model, which required a longer history to provide sufficient diagnostic ability. Still, high accuracies were achieved both in the direction of feed-drive milling and in the gravity of the handpiece through vibration signals. In general, the failure classification prediction model could accurately predict the health and failure mode of the dental handpiece before the use of the DATH when an embedded sensor was available. Therefore, this model could prove to be a beneficial tool for predicting the deterioration patterns of real dental handpieces in their remaining useful life. Full article

Observational studies have shown a relationship between eating patterns and chronotypes with metabolic health in the general population and in healthy pregnancies. Data are lacking in the postpartum period, which is characterized by an externally driven misalignment of sleep and food intake. We investigated the associations between eating patterns, chronotypes, and metabolic health in the early postpartum period in women who had gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We prospectively included 313 women who completed their 6–8 weeks postpartum visit between January 2021 and March 2023 at the Lausanne University Hospital. Women filled questionnaires on the timing of food intake, sleep (a shortened Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Questionnaire), and the chronotype (the Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire) and underwent HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose measurements. After adjustments for weight, sleep quality, or breastfeeding, the later timing of the first and last food intake were associated with higher fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c levels 6–8 weeks postpartum (all p ≤ 0.046). A higher number of breakfasts per week and longer eating durations were associated with lower fasting plasma glucose levels (all p ≤ 0.028). The chronotype was not associated with metabolic health outcomes. Eating patterns, but not the chronotype, were associated with worsened metabolic health in the early postpartum period in women with previous GDM. Full article