Search Results (16,202)

Background: Here, we report the isolation and identification of a Paenibacillus polymyxa strain from the citizen science project, Swab and Send. P. polymyxa is well known for its production of polymyxin E (colistin), and polymyxin B. Polymyxins are ranked in the highest-priority critically important antimicrobial classification by the WHO and are of particular importance for treating Gram-negative multi-drug-resistant pathogens. Due to their clinical use, most of the literature focusses on these polymyxin variants, and there is sparse genetic research on other polymyxin variants. Methods: The Paenibacillus polymyxa 1G strain was isolated and tested for antimicrobial activity using a combination of on-agar and liquid-based inhibition assays to detect antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli. The isolate was also tested for activity in liquid media against a panel of isolates showing various resistances to test if our strain could overcome current clinically important resistance mechanisms. Our isolate was whole-genome-sequenced, and bioinformatics was carried out on the resulting sequence to analyse the relevant biosynthetic gene cluster. The cell-free supernatant from the P. polymyxa 1G isolate was also analysed using mass spectrometry to confirm the production of the polymyxin. Results: P. polymyxa 1G was active on agar and resulted in antimicrobial activity, with a 99% reduction in area under the curve when tested in liquid media against E. coli. P. polymyxa 1G did not inhibit the growth of E. coli containing mcr-1 or mcr-4 colistin-resistance genes. Using whole genome sequencing, we are able to describe the biosynthetic gene cluster of the putative polymyxin A, compare the pmxA, pmxB, and pmxE genes to five other polymyxin genes that encode known polymyxin variants, and provide mass spectrometry data that supports the production of polymyxin A₁ (1157 m/z) and A₂ (1143 m/z). Conclusions: Here, we report the isolation and identification of a P. polymyxa strain producing a polymyxin A-like compound that was discovered through the citizen science project, Swab and Send. We add to the genetic and mass spectrometry data for polymyxin A, and demonstrate that this putative polymyxin A, produced naturally by our strain, is unable to overcome the current clinically relevant resistance mechanisms to colistin. Full article

Since October 2019, screening for methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) has been implemented in the Dutch Newborn Screening (NBS) program. Since implementation, most referrals for MMA have been the result of (maternal) vitamin B12 deficiency. Although vitamin B12 deficiency is an important condition and early detection can confer health benefits, its identification was not the original objective of the screening. We therefore examined whether genetic forms of MMA can be distinguished from acquired forms. Early distinction between these forms is essential for guiding clinical management, informing prognosis, and enabling appropriate genetic counseling. Specifically, we tested whether the use of Collaborative Laboratory Integrated Reports (CLIR) to complement NBS results improved specificity of the test for genetic MMAs. We found that with the use of CLIR, genetic conditions including methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (mut) deficiency and cobalamin (cbl) A, B, C and D deficiency can be partially differentiated from acquired causes. This results in a significant reduction in the number of second-tier tests required. However, this approach may also exclude certain other genetic causes. Based on all findings, we provide considerations and implications for MMA screening that may inform decision-makers in (other) NBS programs. Full article

Accurate pavement distress identification is essential for infrastructure maintenance. However, prevailing models frequently underperform in complicated environments due to extreme scale variations, atypical defect geometries, and severe background noise. To mitigate these limitations, this study presents BDC-YOLO, an upgraded detection network built upon the YOLOv8 baseline. The proposed architecture structurally incorporates three specialized mechanisms: Bi-level Routing Attention (BRA) to isolate relevant target features from background artifacts; Dynamic Snake Convolution (DySnakeConv) to capture the topological characteristics of elongated and irregularly shaped cracks; and Content-Aware ReAssembly of FEatures (CARAFE) to minimize information degradation during upsampling and refine multi-scale feature fusion. Evaluated on the RDDChina dataset, BDC-YOLO demonstrates superior accuracy over the baseline and comparative state-of-the-art methods. Specifically, the framework yields a mAP_0.5 of 88.9%, representing an absolute gain of 4.7% against the standard YOLOv8 model while achieving an inference speed of 175.4 FPS. Full article

In today’s consumer-oriented market environment, enterprises face increasingly intense competition, making the identification of key factors in demand-driven product design critically important. Identifying critical product design elements facilitates the optimal allocation of design resources and enhances product competitiveness to better meet user expectations. This study proposes an attribute-network-based method for identifying key product design elements grounded in complex network theory, providing a novel quantitative approach for investigating the mapping relationship between user cognition and design elements within the field of Kansei engineering. First, products are modeled as nodes, and edges are established based on thresholded attribute similarity between products to construct a product attribute network. Second, community detection algorithms are applied to partition the constructed network, revealing the intrinsic association strength among product attributes and enabling the identification of key products within each cluster. Subsequently, a random forest method is employed to extract the core product attributes that influence cluster formation, yielding attribute importance rankings, which are further validated using the XGBoost algorithm to ensure robustness. Finally, a Bluetooth speaker case study is conducted to verify the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed method for identifying key product design factors. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach can effectively identify key product design factors and rank the critical factors influencing the product design process, achieving high accuracy and practical applicability. Full article

The incidence of fungal infections, particularly those caused by Candida species, has significantly risen among immunocompromised patients in recent years. Aim: This study evaluated the species distribution, antifungal susceptibility patterns, and virulence gene profiles of Candida species isolated from critically ill ICU patients while comparing the diagnostic performance of conventional phenotypic isolation media with molecular genotypic identification methods. Materials and Methods: A total of 211 clinical specimens were obtained from 200 hospitalized patients at Menoufia University Hospitals, Egypt. Candida species were phenotypically identified using cornmeal agar supplemented with Tween 80 (CTA) and CHROMagar^TM Candida (CMA) and were molecularly confirmed at the species level by sequencing PCR-amplified ITS regions. Antifungal susceptibility profiles to fluconazole, voriconazole, and amphotericin B were evaluated using the disk diffusion method. Furthermore, real-time PCR was deployed to detect genes encoding adherence factors and Secreted Aspartyl Proteinase. Results: Candida species were recovered from 45 out of 211 clinical specimens. The most frequently isolated species was Candida albicans (15/45, 33.3%), followed by C. parapsilosis (9/45, 20.0%), C. glabrata (7/45, 15.5%), C. tropicalis (7/45, 15.5%), C. krusei (4/45, 8.8%), and C. famata (3/45, 6.7%). Among the recovered Candida isolates, the percentage rates of the ALS1, ALS3, HWP1, and SAP4 genes were 40%, 42.22%, 44.4%, and 37.78%, respectively. HWP1 was the most frequently detected pathogenicity factor, whereas SAP4 was the least prevalent. Conclusions: In the studied immunocompromised cohort, non-albicans Candida species constituted a substantial proportion of clinical isolates. Notable antifungal resistance patterns were also observed, emphasizing the value of integrated phenotypic and genotypic identification for tailored management. Furthermore, virulence-associated genes (ALS1, ALS3, HWP1, and SAP4) were detected in isolates of several Candida species, highlighting their presence in clinical strains. Full article

Moisture significantly reduces the load-carrying capacity of lubricating oil films, accelerates oxidative degradation, and induces equipment corrosion, making it a critical hazard factor affecting lubrication reliability. To overcome the limitations of existing methods for determining water content—such as complex operation, poor real-time performance, and high cost—this paper proposes a radio frequency identification (RFID)-based method for lubricating oil water content detection via the orthogonal fusion of phase and received signal strength indicator (RSSI) as an off-line analytical tool. The method exploits the signal variation characteristics when RF signals penetrate media with different dielectric properties; by analyzing the phase and RSSI of backscattered RFID signals, non-contact moisture sensing is achieved. First, a theoretical model integrating phase and RSSI for water content detection is established to reveal the differential response mechanisms of the two parameters to water content. Second, a detection method based on phase-RSSI orthogonal fusion is proposed, and performance evaluation metrics are constructed. Finally, comparative experiments with different detection approaches are conducted. It is found that as water content increases, the mean phase continuously rises with significantly increased fluctuation, while RSSI exhibits a linear decreasing trend, demonstrating clear complementary response characteristics. Compared with single-phase or single-RSSI methods, the proposed fusion method achieves a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.95 over the 0–2.0% water content range, with reliable detection verified at concentrations as low as 0.1%, and exhibits superior detection sensitivity in the low-water-content range. Furthermore, it possesses a type-discrimination capability absent in single-parameter methods—that is, it can effectively distinguish whether response variations originate from moisture contamination or non-moisture interference. The method offers stable response and high detection efficiency, providing a new approach for accurate determination of water content in lubricating oil. Full article

Background: Early pressure injury detection is essential in acute care, yet diagnostic inequities persist for individuals with dark skin tones. Traditional visual assessment relies on colour changes that may not be visible in richly pigmented skin, contributing to delayed diagnosis and poorer outcomes. Objective: Our aim was to identify and map strategies reported in the literature for assessing skin and underlying tissue to support early pressure injury detection in adults with dark skin tones in acute care settings. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported according to PRISMA-ScR. Searches were performed in CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar (April 2025; updated February 2026). Primary research published in English since 2017 was eligible. After screening and data extraction, descriptive thematic analysis was applied to identify recurrent strategies reported in the literature for assessment of skin and underlying tissues for detection of pressure injury. No appraisal of the included sources was conducted. Results: Ten studies met the inclusion criteria. Strategies identified for detecting pressure injuries were mainly for implementation across diverse skin tones, but all included aspects of dark-skin-tone participants. These approaches are clustered into four categories: thermographic imaging, subepidermal moisture sensors, image processing and colorimetry, and enhanced assessment and lighting techniques. The evidence highlights the growing value of objective, technology-supported methods for improving detection in people with dark skin tones. Routine bedside visual and tactile assessment was notably underrepresented, indicating a clear evidence gap. Overall, the review emphasises the need to integrate objective technologies into everyday practice to support more equitable pressure injury detection. Conclusions: This scoping review highlighted that evidence for routine visual and tactile assessment in dark skin tones remains limited. Technology-supported assessment approaches show promise for improving diagnostic equity in pressure injury detection. Identification of strategies used to perform skin assessment for pressure injury identification is critical to the wellbeing of persons with dark skin tones. This review demonstrates that while emerging technologies offer promising ways to improve pressure injury detection across diverse skin tones, evidence supporting everyday bedside visual and tactile assessment for individuals with dark skin tones remains notably limited. Strengthening this evidence base and integrating objective technologies into routine care are essential steps toward more accurate and equitable pressure injury detection. Full article

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is an infiltrative cardiomyopathy caused by extracellular deposition of misfolded proteins, most commonly immunoglobulin light chains (AL) or transthyretin (ATTR). Once considered a rare disease, CA is increasingly recognised due to improved diagnostic strategies and the availability of disease-modifying therapies. Early diagnosis is crucial, as treatment efficacy and clinical outcomes are strongly influenced by the stage of cardiac involvement. Multimodality cardiac imaging plays a central role in the diagnostic pathway, risk stratification, and evaluation of therapeutic response in CA. Echocardiography represents the first-line imaging modality and is essential for raising clinical suspicion through the identification of characteristic structural and functional abnormalities, including ventricular wall thickening, diastolic dysfunction, and distinctive strain patterns. Bone scintigraphy has revolutionised the non-invasive diagnosis of ATTR-CA, allowing accurate identification of transthyretin-related disease in the absence of monoclonal gammopathy, which needs to be excluded via serum and urinary immunofixation. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance provides advanced tissue characterisation through late gadolinium enhancement and quantitative mapping techniques, enabling detection of early myocardial involvement and robust prognostic stratification. Emerging imaging modalities, including dual-energy (spectral) computed tomography and positron emission tomography tracers, show promise in myocardial amyloid quantification and subtype differentiation, although their role is still evolving. Integration of imaging findings with clinical and laboratory parameters allows comprehensive disease assessment, facilitating early diagnosis, guiding therapeutic decisions, and improving risk stratification. This review summarises the current role of multimodality imaging in CA, highlighting its contribution from early detection to prognostic evaluation and monitoring of treatment efficacy, with particular emphasis on the emerging role of quantitative imaging in monitoring treatment response. Full article

In 2024, we published a paper which described the identification of the fusion DNAJB1::PRKACA kinase in young patients with aggressive hepatoblastoma (HBL) and with biliary atresia (BA). In our study, we used sensitive molecular and cellular techniques and found that about 70% of our analyzed HBL samples showed varying levels of DNAJB1::PRKACA expression. In total, 15–20% of those fusion-positive HBL samples had DNAJB1::PRKACA levels comparable to those observed in FLC, whereas the remaining samples exhibited lower kinase levels. Palaz et al. analyzed five HBL datasets and one BA RNA-Seq dataset with Arriba and found no DNAJB1::PRKACA fusion transcript. Based on their analysis, the authors concluded that DNAJB1::PRKACA is not expressed in HBL patients. They further stated that the identification of DNAJB1::PRKACA fusion in either HBL or BA requires orthogonal molecular validation to confirm the fusion event at the DNA or RNA level. Therefore, we conducted Sanger sequencing on RT-PCR products from several fusion-positive HBL samples and three BA samples. Both HBL and BA cases showed the presence of the DNAJB1::PRKACA fusion transcript, identical to that detected in FLC. These results verify that DNAJB1::PRKACA is present in some HBL and BA patients, as has already been demonstrated using sensitive molecular and cellular techniques. Arriba analysis of current RNA-Seq data may not be sensitive enough for detecting low DNAJB1::PRKACA levels in HBL cases, especially if they are mixed with fusion-negative HBL specimens. Thus, we found that several independent methods, such as immunoanalysis and RT-PCR sequencing, effectively detect DNAJB1::PRKACA in HBL and BA cases. Our study also highlights that detecting low levels of DNAJB1::PRKACA requires individual analysis of HBL and BA patients within the same study, using FLC as the control. Full article

The search and discovery of underwater shipwreck sites represent the most arduous and critical phases of underwater archaeology. Wooden shipwrecks, in particular, are characterized by low acoustic impedance contrast and weak magnetic anomalies, coupled with their limited physical dimensions. Consequently, they predominantly exist as shallow-buried, discontinuous small targets scattered within confined areas, making their detection exceptionally challenging. Furthermore, the complexity of the submarine environment—including rugged topography, turbid water columns, and strong currents—poses formidable obstacles to the effective detection of these archaeological remains. Single geophysical methods are often limited by insufficient imaging resolution, interpretation ambiguity, and geological noise, making precise localization and characterization difficult. Focusing on the Nan’ao I Ming Dynasty shipwreck located in waters approximately 24 m deep off the coast of Nan’ao, Guangdong Province, China, this study proposes and validates an “acoustic-magnetic” multi-source data integration detection method. This approach systematically integrates high-resolution multibeam echo sounding (MBES), side-scan sonar (SSS), sub-bottom profiling (SBP), and marine magnetic data to establish a comprehensive framework for identification and integration analysis. The results indicate that the MBES bathymetric data reveal a regular, elongated structure oriented north–south (approximately 34 m × 12 m), closely matching the main hull and deck configuration. The SSS imagery exhibited high backscatter intensity and parallel linear textures, effectively delineating the hard shipwreck structure and the associated rigid protective frame employed for in situ preservation. SBP data confirmed the semi-buried state of the shipwreck (burial depth of approximately 0.6 m). Spatial variations in sediment thickness around the site suggested ongoing modification by strong hydrodynamic processes. Marine magnetic surveys identified localized negative anomalies (−210 nT relative to the ambient magnetic field), contrasting sharply with the positive anomalies of the surrounding natural reefs, thereby indicating an artificial ferromagnetic source. The spatial registration and feature superposition of multi-source data facilitated the characterization of the shipwreck, demonstrating its potential to mitigate environmental interference and enhance detection reliability in this complex environment. Using the Nan’ao I shipwreck site as a case study, this study provides a detailed characterization of the site’s 3D morphology, burial state, and physical properties. The proposed methodology offers a practical and robust technical solution for underwater shipwreck archaeology in complex nearshore environments, providing significant implications for proactive discovery, efficient investigation, and protection of underwater cultural heritage (UCH). Full article

The conventional parallel seismic test (PST) is a widely used and highly reliable method for determining lengths of in-service bridge pile foundations. However, it relies solely on the manual interpretation of first-arrival in seismic records and often fails to detect, characterize, or geometrically define internal defects within the piles. To overcome these limitations and enable the intuitive identification of internal defects and damage within piles, this study introduces an elastic reverse time migration (ERTM) imaging algorithm based on the spectral element method, achieving high-resolution imaging of existing bridge pile foundations and their defects and damage. To suppress crosstalk between P- and S-waves during the ERTM process, a wavefield decoupling method is employed to separate the elastic wavefield into P- and S-wave components for independent imaging. Two-dimensional numerical testing on a bridge pile model with a necking defect demonstrates that ERTM can effectively image both the pile geometry and its defects, significantly improving the capability of defect detection and characterization. This approach provides more intuitive visualization for assessing the structural integrity of in-service bridge pile foundations. Full article

Background: Streptococcus agalactiae (group B Streptococcus, GBS) remains a leading cause of invasive infections in pregnant women, fetuses, and neonates. Universal screening at 36–37 weeks of gestation and intrapartum antimicrobial prophylaxis are essential to prevent adverse outcomes. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, serotype distribution, and antimicrobial susceptibility of GBS isolates among pregnant women in Greece. Methods: Vaginal and rectal swabs were collected from pregnant women undergoing GBS screening between January 2021 and December 2025. Samples were processed using Todd-Hewitt broth with colistin and nalidixic acid, and cultured on blood agar and chromogenic media. The VITEK2 system was used for GBS identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing against penicillin, erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline, levofloxacin, and vancomycin, according to EUCAST guidelines. The double-disk diffusion test was used for macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLS_B) phenotyping. Serotyping for all ten serotypes was conducted using a commercial latex agglutination assay. Results: Among 941 women screened, 118 (12.5%) were colonized with GBS. The most prevalent serotypes were III (29.7%), V (18.6%), Ib (14.4%), IX (10.2%), Ia (9.3%), and II (9.3%). All isolates were susceptible to penicillin. Resistance to erythromycin and/or clindamycin was detected in 37 isolates. In these isolates, the predominant MLS_B phenotype was constitutive (cMLS_B, 78.4%), followed by inducible (iMLS_B, 13.5%), L (5.4%), and M (2.7%) phenotypes. Conclusions: GBS colonization was detected in 12.5% of pregnant women, with serotype III predominating, underscoring its clinical relevance due to its association with invasive neonatal disease. Although penicillin remains fully effective, the observed resistance to macrolides and lincosamides, primarily mediated by the cMLS_B phenotype, raises concerns regarding alternative therapies. Full article

Pixel-level uncertainty assessment is commonly overlooked in current deep learning-based landslide detection, which greatly limits the reliability, performance, and practical value of the results. To fill this gap, this study employs Monte Carlo Dropout to systematically quantify pixel-level uncertainty. Subsequently, it interprets how external factors, such as terrain, vegetation, clouds, and shadows, interfere with model predictions. Taking SegFormer as an example, this study further investigates how weight allocation across different scales influences the uncertainty. Finally, we introduce an uncertainty ranking-based FP rejection strategy coupled with an FN priority capture strategy to improve the efficiency of mapping results inspection, thus improving landslide identification performance. The results indicate that by removing only the top 10% of pixels with the highest uncertainty, the mIoU increases by at least 7%. This study greatly enhanced the reliability, performance, and practical value of remote sensing-based landslide mapping from a new perspective. Full article

Canine dirofilariosis caused by Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens is a vector-borne zoonotic infection of considerable veterinary and public health importance. Despite reports of the circulation of Dirofilaria spp. in neighboring countries, data on the molecular prevalence, species composition, and genetic diversity of these parasites in dogs from Kazakhstan remain limited. In the present study, owned, shelter, and stray dogs, which serve as the principal reservoirs of infection, were examined for the presence of microfilariae in blood, and the circulation of Dirofilaria spp. was molecularly confirmed. The study was conducted between September 2024 and January 2026 and included 751 canine blood samples collected from 10 regions of Kazakhstan. Initial screening was performed using the modified Knott test. Molecular identification was carried out through amplification of the mitochondrial cox1 gene, followed by DNA sequencing and comparative analysis with reference sequences available in GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis was performed to assess the genetic relationships of the detected isolates. The overall molecular prevalence of Dirofilaria spp. was 3.6% (27/751). The highest infection rate was recorded in the Aktobe region (22.3%), while positive cases were also detected in the Akmola (2.7%), Kostanay (1.7%), and West Kazakhstan (1.8%) regions. Species identification revealed the predominance of D. repens, whereas D. immitis was detected only in Aktobe region. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the species identity of all obtained sequences and demonstrated a high degree of genetic similarity with Dirofilaria isolates previously reported from Europe and Asia. These findings confirm the circulation of Dirofilaria spp. among dogs in several regions of Kazakhstan and indicate the ongoing expansion of canine dirofilariosis in Central Asia. This study provides the first molecular genetic data on Dirofilaria spp. in dogs from Kazakhstan and highlights the need for continued epidemiological surveillance and assessment of potential risks to animal and human health. Full article

Accurate identification of Fritillaria taxa is essential for quality control of Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus. This study evaluated morphological analysis, chloroplast DNA barcoding, and steroidal alkaloid profiling across 40 individuals from four taxa (F. unibracteata, F. unibracteata var. wabuensis, F. cirrhosa, and F. taipaiensis) from Sichuan province, China. Among five chloroplast markers, ycf1 and rps4 were the most polymorphic, with nucleotide diversity of 0.065 to 0.116 and 0.035 to 0.120, respectively, and generally distinguished the four taxa into well-supported clades, though two F. unibracteata nested within the F. cirrhosa group. Morphologically, F. unibracteata var. wabuensis produced the largest bulbs, with a mean fresh weight of 26.99 g, approximately 24-fold greater than that of F. unibracteata at 1.12 g, whereas F. unibracteata and F. cirrhosa overlapped substantially in all measured traits. PCA revealed that biomass traits were slightly more discriminative, while central bud height contributed the least. Among the samples analyzed, alkaloid profiles provided the most distinct diagnostic signals: F. unibracteata var. wabuensis accumulated the highest sipeimine at 298.40 μg/g and sipeimine-3-β-D-glucoside at 156.30 μg/g; F. taipaiensis was richest in peimine and peiminine; F. unibracteata uniquely contained sipeimine-3-β-D-glucoside without detectable sipeimine; and F. cirrhosa showed the lowest levels across all five compounds. The integration of chloroplast markers with alkaloid profiling improved species discrimination for the samples examined. Chloroplast markers for initial screening followed by the alkaloid profiling of the ambiguous sample might offer a practical framework for the authentication and quality control of Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus, but this strategy requires validation across broader geographic scales and with larger sample sizes. Full article