Search Results (14)

As a keystone predator within forest ecosystems, the dhole (Cuon alpinus) plays a pivotal role in shaping the population structure and dynamics of these biomes. In China, dhole populations have experienced a dramatic decline, primarily due to habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, and other historical factors. However, the distribution patterns of suitable habitats and the key environmental factors influencing their suitability remained unclear. In this study, we employed the MaxEnt model to assess the habitat suitability for dholes across China. The results revealed that the primary factors influencing the distribution of potential suitable habitats for dholes were the mean diurnal range (Bio2), temperature seasonality (Bio4), minimum temperature of the coldest month (Bio6), and elevation. Potentially suitable habitats were predominantly located in the central-western and northwestern regions, with scattered distributions in the southeastern parts of China, while areas of high suitability were mainly concentrated in the central-western region. The proportion of suitable habitats varied significantly among the nine provinces analyzed. This study clarified the distribution patterns of suitable habitats and identified the key environmental constraints affecting dhole distribution in China. The findings provide critical ecological data to support the conservation and management of dholes in the region. Full article

Background: Lactate is a byproduct of glycolysis, often linked to oxygen deprivation. This study aimed to examine how lactate levels (LLs) affect clinical outcomes in patients with severe TBI, hypothesizing that higher LLs would correlate with worse outcomes. Methods: This is a level 1 single-center, retrospective study of patients with severe TBI between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2023, inclusive. Results: Single-factor ANOVA indicated a significant decrease in LLs with increasing age. Linear regression models showed the same for hospital admission, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission LLs, and death LLs. Prognostic scores such as Injury Severity Scores (ISS) and Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) showed a strong correlation with both Hospital admission and ICU admission LLs. ANOVA indicated higher LLs with increasing ISS and increasing LLs with decreasing GCS. Linear regressions revealed a strong positive correlation between ISS and LLs. On linear regression, the LL measured at hospital admission and ICU admission was positively associated with the length of stay (LOS) in the hospital, LOS in the ICU, ventilator days, and mortality. Linear regression models showed that a decreased delta LL during ICU admission led to an increased LOS at the hospital and the ICU, as well as a higher number of days on a ventilator. Discussion: We discovered that high LLs were linked to higher AIS and GCS scores, longer stays in the hospital and ICU, more days requiring a ventilator, and higher mortality rates in patients with severe TBI. Conclusions: LLs can be considered a strong predictor of poor clinical outcomes in patients with severe TBI. Full article

DENV belongs to the Flaviviridae family and possesses a single-stranded RNA genome of positive polarity. DENV infection manifests in mild subclinical forms or severe forms that may be dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) or dengue shock syndrome (DSS). Despite a lot of effort worldwide, the exact mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of severe DENV infection remains elusive. It is believed that both host and viral factors contribute to the outcome of dengue disease. The host factors are age at the time of infection, sex, nutrition, and immune status, including the presence of pre-existing antibodies or reactive T cells. Viral factors include the serotype, genotype, and mutation(s) due to error-prone RNA-dependent polymerase leading to the development of quasispecies. Accumulating bodies of literature have depicted that DENV has many ways to invade and escape the immune system of the host. These invading strategies are directed to overcome innate and adaptive immune responses. Like other viruses, once the infection is established, the host also mounts a series of antiviral responses to combat and eliminate the virus replication. Nevertheless, DENV has evolved a variety of mechanisms to evade the immune system. In this review, we have emphasized the strategies that DENV employs to hijack the host innate (interferon, IFN; toll-like receptors, TLR; major histocompatibility complex, MHC; autophagy; complement; apoptosis; RNAi) and adaptive (antibody-dependent enhancement, ADE; T cell immunity) immune responses, which contribute to the severity of DENV disease. Full article

We report a milestone in achieving large-scale, ultrathin (~5 nm) superconducting NbN thin films on 300 mm Si wafers using a high-volume manufacturing (HVM) industrial physical vapor deposition (PVD) system. The NbN thin films possess remarkable structural uniformity and consistently high superconducting quality across the entire 300 mm Si wafer, by incorporating an AlN buffer layer. High-resolution X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analyses unveiled enhanced crystallinity of (111)-oriented δ-phase NbN with the AlN buffer layer. Notably, NbN films deposited on AlN-buffered Si substrates exhibited a significantly elevated superconducting critical temperature (~2 K higher for the 10 nm NbN) and a higher upper critical magnetic field or H_c2 (34.06 T boost in H_c2 for the 50 nm NbN) in comparison with those without AlN. These findings present a promising pathway for the integration of quantum-grade superconducting NbN films with the existing 300 mm CMOS Si platform for quantum information applications. Full article

Background and Objectives: Stable fixation is essential for successful healing after medial open wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO) to minimize the risk of non-union and correction loss. In Asians, potential complications such as D-hole screw osteotomy plane violation (D-hole violation) and inadequate plate fitting arise due to improper plate size. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors for D-hole violation and compare the conventional anatomic (CA) plate with an individualized anatomic (IA) plate in MOWHTO procedures. Materials and Methods: A simulation study on D-hole violation using the CA plate was conducted, involving preoperative radiographs and CT scans of 64 lower extremities from 47 MOWHTO patients. Additionally, a randomized controlled study compared CA and IA plates in MOWHTO procedures with 34 patients (17 in the CA plate group; 18 in the IA plate group). Patient demographics, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), and radiological measures were analyzed. Results: In the simulation study, the rates of D-hole violation ranged from 20.3% to 59.4%, with an increase observed as the plate was distalized from 5 mm to 10 mm away from the joint line. Short stature was identified as an independent risk factor for D-hole violation (p < 0.001), with a cutoff value of 155.3 cm. In the randomized controlled study, no significant difference in PROMs and D-hole violation was observed between the CA plate and IA plate groups. However, the IA plate group showed better plate fitting compared to the CA plate group (p = 0.041). Conclusions: This study identified a high risk of D-hole screw osteotomy plane violations in MOWHTO procedures, particularly when the plate is positioned more distally and in individuals with a stature below 155.3 cm. It also revealed that individualized plates provide better tibial fitting compared to conventional anatomic plates, particularly in Asian populations where tibial morphology tends to be shorter than in Western populations. Therefore, evaluating patient stature and selecting tailored plates are essential to optimize plate positioning and minimize plate-related complications in MOWHTO procedures. Full article

The Thung Yai Naresuan (East) Wildlife Sanctuary (TYNE), in the core area of the Western Forest Complex of Thailand, harbors a diverse assemblage of wildlife, and the region has become globally significant for mammal conservation. From April 2010 to January 2012, 106 camera traps were set, and, in 1817 trap-nights, registered 1821 independent records of 32 mammal species. Of the 17 IUCN-listed (from Near Threatened to Critically Endangered) mammal species recorded, 5 species listed as endangered or critically endangered included the Asiatic elephant (Elephas maximus), tiger (Panthera tigris), Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus), dhole (Cuon alpinus), and Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica). The northern red muntjac (Muntiacus vaginalis), large Indian civet (Viverra zibetha), Malayan porcupine (Hystrix brachyuran), and sambar deer (Cervus unicolor) were the most frequently recorded species (10–22 photos/100 trap-nights), representing 62% of all independent records, while the golden jackal (Canis aureus), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata), and Sunda pangolin were the least photographed (<0.1/100 trap-nights). Species accumulation curves indicated that the number of camera trap locations needed to record 90% of taxa recorded varied from 26 sites for herbivores to 67 sites for all mammals. TYNE holds a rich community of mammals, but some differences in photo-rates from an adjacent sanctuary and comparisons with other research on local mammals suggest that some species are rare and some are missed because of the limitations of our technique. We also conclude that the management and conservation plan, which involves the exclusion of human activities from some protected areas and strict protection efforts in the sanctuaries, is still suitable for providing key habitats for endangered wildlife populations, and that augmented and regular survey efforts will help in this endeavor. Full article

The prototypical chalcogenide perovskite, BaZrS₃ (BZS), with its direct bandgap of 1.7–1.8 eV, high chemical stability, and strong light–matter interactions, has garnered significant interest over the past few years. So far, attempts to grow BaZrS₃ films have been limited mainly to physical vapor deposition techniques. Here, we report the fabrication of BZS thin films via a facile aqueous solution route of polymer-assisted deposition (PAD), where the polymer-chelated cation precursor films were sulfurized in a mixed CS₂ and Ar atmosphere. The formation of a single-phase polycrystalline BZS thin film at a processing temperature of 900 °C was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. The stoichiometry of the films was verified by Rutherford Backscattering spectrometry and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The BZS films showed a photoluminescence peak at around 1.8 eV and exhibited a photogenerated current under light illumination at a wavelength of 530 nm. Temperature-dependent resistivity analysis revealed that the conduction of BaZrS₃ films under the dark condition could be described by the Efros–Shklovskii variable range hopping model in the temperature range of 60–300 K, with an activation energy of about 44 meV. Full article

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), first discovered in 2000, serves as an important counterregulatory enzyme to the angiotensin II-mediated vasoconstrictive, pro-inflammatory, and pro-fibrotic actions of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS). Conversion of angiotensin II to the peptide angiotensin 1–7 (ANG 1–7) exerts protective vasodilatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic actions through interaction with the MasR receptor. There are many important considerations when noting the role of ACE2 in the pathogenesis and sequelae of COVID-19 infection. ACE2, in the role of COVID-19 infection, was recognized early in 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic as a cell membrane-bound and soluble binding site for the viral spike protein facilitating entering into tissue cells expressing ACE2, such as the lungs, heart, gut, and kidneys. Mechanisms exist that alter the magnitude of circulating and membrane-bound ACE2 (e.g., SARS-CoV-2 infection, viral variants, patient characteristics, chronic disease states, and the degree of cell surface expression of ACE2) and the influence these mechanisms have on the severity of disease and associated complications (e.g., respiratory failure, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, acute myocarditis, acute kidney injury). Several medications alter the ACE2 receptor expression, but whether these medications can influence the course of the disease and improve outcomes is unclear. In this review, we will discuss what is known about the interrelation of SARS-CoV-2, ACE2 and the factors that may contribute to the variability of its expression and potential contributors to the severity of COVID-19 infection. Full article

Mycotoxins are deleterious fungal secondary metabolites that contaminate food and feed, thereby creating concerns regarding food safety. Common fungal genera can easily proliferate in Indian tropical and sub-tropical conditions, and scientific attention is warranted to curb their growth. To address this, two nodal governmental agencies, namely the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), have developed and implemented analytical methods and quality control procedures to monitor mycotoxin levels in a range of food matrices and assess risks to human health over the last two decades. However, comprehensive information on such advancements in mycotoxin testing and issues in implementing these regulations has been inadequately covered in the recent literature. The aim of this review is thus to uphold a systematic picture of the role played by the FSSAI and APEDA for mycotoxin control at the domestic level and for the promotion of international trade, along with certain challenges in dealing with mycotoxin monitoring. Additionally, it unfolds various regulatory concerns regarding mycotoxin mitigation in India. Overall, it provides valuable insights for the Indian farming community, food supply chain stakeholders and researchers about India’s success story in arresting mycotoxins throughout the food supply chain. Full article

The paper presents ways to reduce the vibrations of special cantilever boring bars mounted on spindle heads of finishing and boring machines. Special cantilever boring bars are designed for machining holes in non-standard conditions, for example, when boring deep holes with l/d>3 (l–hole length, d-hole diameter) or holes with a discontinuous surface. The results of the experiments and theoretical developments, as well as the schemes of the experimental stands, are presented. The investigated methods for reducing fluctuations are the following: the use of a dynamic damper with intermittent cutting elements; the suppression of the normal vibrations of the cutter to the workpiece surface due to the excitation of vibrations directed tangentially to the workpiece surface and not causing processing errors; increased damping in the cutting zone when changing the design of the boring bar. The tuning parameters of the dynamic damper, the logarithmic decrement of vibrations, as well as the conditions for effective damping of vibrations during the interaction of their two coupled forms are given. The results are shown in the tables and graphs. Full article

Perovskite offers a framework that boasts various functionalities and physical properties of interest such as ferroelectricity, magnetic orderings, multiferroicity, superconductivity, semiconductor, and optoelectronic properties owing to their rich compositional diversity. These properties are also uniquely tied to their crystal distortion which is directly affected by lattice strain. Therefore, many important properties of perovskite can be further tuned through strain engineering which can be accomplished by chemical doping or simply element substitution, interface engineering in epitaxial thin films, and special architectures such as nanocomposites. In this review, we focus on and highlight the structure–property relationships of perovskite metal oxide films and elucidate the principles to manipulate the functionalities through different modalities of strain engineering approaches. Full article

Ratiometric delivery of combination chemotherapy can achieve therapeutic efficacy based on synergistic interactions between drugs. It is critical to design such combinations with drugs that complement each other and reduce cancer growth through multiple mechanisms. Using hyaluronic acid (HA) as a carrier, two chemotherapeutic agents—doxorubicin (DOX) and camptothecin (CPT)—were incorporated and tested for their synergistic potency against a broad panel of blood-cancer cell lines. The pair also demonstrated the ability to achieve immunogenic cell death by increasing the surface exposure levels of Calreticulin, thereby highlighting its ability to induce apoptosis via an alternate pathway. Global proteomic profiling of cancer cells treated with HA–DOX–CPT identified pathways that could potentially predict patient sensitivity to HA–DOX–CPT. This lays the foundation for further exploration of integrating drug delivery and proteomics in personalized immunogenic chemotherapy. Full article

Bioconversion of lignocellulose into renewable energy and commodity products faces a major obstacle of inefficient saccharification due to its recalcitrant structure. In nature, lignocellulose is efficiently degraded by some insects, including termites and beetles, potentially due to the contribution from symbiotic gut bacteria. To this end, the presented investigation reports the isolation and characterization of cellulolytic bacteria from the gut system of red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. Out of the 15 isolated bacteria, strain RSP75 showed the highest cellulolytic activities by forming a clearance zone of 28 mm in diameter with a hydrolytic capacity of ~4.7. The MALDI-TOF biotyping and 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the strain RSP75 belongs to Bacillus altitudinis. Among the tested enzymes, B. altitudinis RSP75 showed maximum activity of 63.2 IU/mL extract for xylanase followed by β-glucosidase (47.1 ± 3 IU/mL extract) which were manifold higher than previously reported activities. The highest substrate degradation was achieved with wheat husk and corn cob powder which accounted for 69.2% and 54.5%, respectively. The scanning electron microscopy showed adhesion of the bacterial cells with the substrate which was further substantiated by FTIR analysis that depicted the absence of the characteristic cellulose bands at wave numbers 1247, 1375, and 1735 cm⁻¹ due to hydrolysis by the bacterium. Furthermore, B. altitudinis RSP75 showed co-culturing competence with Saccharomyces cerevisiae for bioethanol production from lignocellulose as revealed by GC-MS analysis. The overall observations signify the gut of T. castaneum as a unique and impressive reservoir to prospect for lignocellulose-degrading bacteria that can have many biotechnological applications, including biofuels and biorefinery. Full article

The Asiatic wild dog (Cuon alpinus), restricted today largely to South and Southeast Asia, was widespread throughout Eurasia and even reached North America during the Pleistocene. Like many other species, it suffered from a huge range loss towards the end of the Pleistocene and went extinct in most of its former distribution. The fossil record of the dhole is scattered and the identification of fossils can be complicated by an overlap in size and a high morphological similarity between dholes and other canid species. We generated almost complete mitochondrial genomes for six putative dhole fossils from Europe. By using three lines of evidence, i.e., the number of reads mapping to various canid mitochondrial genomes, the evaluation and quantification of the mapping evenness along the reference genomes and phylogenetic analysis, we were able to identify two out of six samples as dhole, whereas four samples represent wolf fossils. This highlights the contribution genetic data can make when trying to identify the species affiliation of fossil specimens. The ancient dhole sequences are highly divergent when compared to modern dhole sequences, but the scarcity of dhole data for comparison impedes a more extensive analysis. Full article