Search Results (133)

In this study, we report the synthesis of Te and Ag₂Te micron-sized rods (MRs) via a controlled hot-injection-based quenching process, enabling the control of rod morphology and enhanced crystallinity. Structural analysis confirmed that the synthesized Te MRs exhibit a trigonal phase, growing along the (110) direction, while Ag₂Te MRs undergo a phase transformation into a monoclinic structure upon Ag doping. A simple and scalable photodetector (PD) was fabricated by drop-casting Te and Ag₂Te MRs onto PET plastic films, followed by the application of Ag paste electrodes. The PD demonstrated room-light-induced photocurrent responses, which increased significantly upon mechanical bending due to the formation of additional conductive pathways between MRs. The Ag₂Te-based bending sensor exhibited a fivefold enhancement in photocurrent compared to its Te counterpart and maintained high stability over 1000 bending cycles. These results highlight the potential of Te and Ag₂Te MRs for use in flexible and wearable motion-sensing technologies, offering a simple yet effective approach for integrating 1D telluride nanostructures into scalable optoelectronic applications. Full article

ES5-4^T, a Gram-positive, motile, aerobic, and rod-shaped strain, was isolated from the rhizosphere of Galinsoga parviflora growing in the selenium-rich ore area of Enshi, Hubei Province, China. This strain can grow at pH levels of 5.0–10.0 and temperatures of 4–42 °C, with optimal growth at pH 7.0 and 28 °C. It was found to resist NaCl up to 5% (w/v), with an optimal growth condition of 0.5–1.0%. The strain exhibited tolerance to selenite (Se⁴⁺) concentrations up to 5000 mg/L. The major fatty acids of the ES5-4^T strain were anteiso-C_15:0 (46.5%) and C_16:0 (21.7%), its predominant respiratory quinone was MK-7, and its polar lipids included diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), and an unidentified phospholipid (PL). The presence of the 16S rRNA gene sequence implies that ES5-4^T belongs to a member of the genus Paenibacillus, with the highest sequence similarity of 98.4% to Paenibacillus pabuli NBRC 13638^T. The bac120 tree also confirmed that the strain is within the genus Paenibacillus. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between ES5-4^T and closely related members of the genus Paenibacillus were all below the cutoff levels of 95–96% and 70%, respectively. Based on a polyphasic approach, including phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and phylogenetic analyses, the ES5-4^T strain is proposed as a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus hubeiensis sp. nov. is proposed. This type strain is designated as ES5-4^T (=GDMCC 1.3540^T = KCTC 43478^T). Full article

This study investigated thermophilic bacterial communities from two Algerian hot springs: Hammam Debagh (94–98 °C), recognized as the second hottest spring in the world, and Hammam Bouhadjar (61–72 °C), one of the hottest in northwest Algeria. Thirty isolates were obtained, able to grow between 45 °C and 80 °C, tolerating pH 5.0–12.0 and NaCl concentrations up to 3%. Colonies displayed diverse morphologies, from circular and smooth to star-shaped and Saturn-like forms. All isolates were characterized as Gram-positive, catalase-positive rods or filamentous bacteria. Identification by MALDI-TOF, rep-PCR and 16S rRNA sequencing classified them mainly within Bacillus, Brevibacillus, Aneurinibacillus, Geobacillus, and Aeribacillus, with Geobacillus predominating. Rep-PCR provided higher resolution, revealing intra-species diversity overlooked by MALDI-TOF MS and 16S rRNA. A subset of six isolates, mainly Geobacillus spp., was selected based on phenotypic and genotypic diversity and tested for antimicrobial activity against thermophilic target isolates from the same hot spring environments. Strong inhibition zones (~24 mm) were observed, with Geobacillus thermoleovorans B8 displaying the highest activity. Optimization on Modified Nutrient Agar medium with Gelrite enhanced antimicrobial production and inhibition clarity. These findings highlight the ecological and biotechnological significance of thermophilic bacteria from Algerian geothermal ecosystems. While this study focused on microbial interactions within thermophilic communities, the promising inhibitory profiles reported here provide a foundation for future research targeting foodborne and antibiotic-resistant pathogens, as part of broader efforts in biopreservation and sustainable antimicrobial development. Full article

Background/Objectives: Early-onset scoliosis (EOS) frequently requires growth-friendly interventions, such as magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGRs), followed by definitive spinal fusion upon skeletal maturity. The optimal implant density (ID) for final posterior spinal fusion in these patients remains controversial. This study aimed to compare the radiographic, surgical, and economic outcomes associated with high-density (HD) versus low-density (LD) screw constructs in EOS patients previously treated with MCGRs undergoing definitive fusion. Methods: This retrospective study included 27 EOS patients who underwent definitive posterior spinal fusion between January 2017 and September 2022. Participants were categorized into two groups: HD (n = 13) and LD (n = 14). Primary outcomes included coronal and sagittal radiographic parameters assessed at early postoperative and final follow-up visits (minimum of 2 years). The secondary outcomes analyzed were major postoperative complications (grade ≥ IIIB according to Clavien–Dindo–Sink Classification [CDSC]), operative time, blood loss, hospital stay length, and total implant costs. Results: Baseline characteristics between the HD and LD groups were comparable. Early postoperative radiographic assessment demonstrated significantly greater thoracic kyphosis (16.3 ± 7.6° vs. 10.9 ± 14.4°, p = 0.021) and T1-S1 spinal height (43.3 ± 6.7 mm vs. 39.1 ± 4.3 mm, p = 0.039) in the HD group. At final follow-up, only T1-S1 spinal height remained significantly higher in the HD group (45.4 ± 7 mm vs. 39.7 ± 5.1 mm, p = 0.021). Implant costs were significantly higher in the HD group (EUR 6046.5 ± 1146.9 vs. EUR 4376.4 ± 999.4, p < 0.001), while operative time, blood loss, and hospital stay length showed no significant differences. HD constructs had three major complications requiring surgical revision, whereas LD constructs reported no perioperative complications but experienced three late-onset complications also necessitating revision surgery. Conclusions: LD constructs provided comparable long-term radiographic and clinical outcomes to HD constructs, with significantly lower implant-related costs. Despite initial superior kyphosis correction in HD constructs, this benefit diminished by the final follow-up. These findings support a selective, lower-density screw placement strategy to minimize costs and surgical complexity without compromising patient outcomes in EOS undergoing definitive spinal fusion. Full article

In the context of intelligent manufacturing, equipment fault early-warning technology has become a critical support for ensuring the continuity and safety of industrial production. However, with the increasing complexity of modern industrial equipment structures and the growing coupling of operational states, traditional fault warning models face significant challenges in feature recognition accuracy and adaptability. To address these issues, this study proposes a hybrid fault early-warning framework that integrates an improved bees algorithm (IBA) with a categorical boosting (CatBoost) model and kernel density estimation (KDE). The proposed framework first develops the IBA by integrating Latin Hypercube Sampling, a multi-perturbation neighborhood search strategy, and a dynamic scout bee adjustment strategy, which effectively overcomes the conventional bees algorithm (BA)’s tendency to fall into local optima. The IBA is then employed to achieve global optimization of CatBoost’s key hyperparameters. The optimized CatBoost model is subsequently used to predict equipment operational data. Finally, the KDE method is applied to the prediction residuals to determine fault thresholds. An empirical study on a deflection fault in the valve position sensor connecting rod of the mineral oil system in a gas compressor station shows that the proposed method can issue early-warning signals two hours in advance and outperforms existing advanced algorithms in key indicators such as root mean square error (RMSE), coefficient of determination (R²) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). Furthermore, ablation experiments verify the effectiveness of the strategies in IBA and their contribution to CatBoost hyperparameter optimization. The proposed method significantly improves the accuracy and reliability of fault prediction in complex industrial environments. Full article

Background/Objectives: Open-source AI models are increasingly applied in medical imaging, yet their effectiveness in detecting and classifying spinal stabilization systems remains underexplored. This study compares ChatGPT-4o (a large language model) and BiomedCLIP (a multimodal model) in their analysis of posturographic X-ray images (AP projection) to assess their accuracy in identifying the presence, type (growing vs. non-growing), and specific system (MCGR vs. PSF). Methods: A dataset of 270 X-ray images (93 without stabilization, 80 with MCGR, and 97 with PSF) was analyzed manually by neurosurgeons and evaluated using a three-stage AI-based questioning approach. Performance was assessed via classification accuracy, Gwet’s Agreement Coefficient (AC1) for inter-rater reliability, and a two-tailed z-test for statistical significance (p < 0.05). Results: The results indicate that GPT-4o demonstrates high accuracy in detecting spinal stabilization systems, achieving near-perfect recognition (97–100%) for the presence or absence of stabilization. However, its consistency is reduced when distinguishing complex growing-rod (MCGR) configurations, with agreement scores dropping significantly (AC1 = 0.32–0.50). In contrast, BiomedCLIP displays greater response consistency (AC1 = 1.00) but struggles with detailed classification, particularly in recognizing PSF (11% accuracy) and MCGR (4.16% accuracy). Sensitivity analysis revealed GPT-4o’s superior stability in hierarchical classification tasks, while BiomedCLIP excelled in binary detection but showed performance deterioration as the classification complexity increased. Conclusions: These findings highlight GPT-4o’s robustness in clinical AI-assisted diagnostics, particularly for detailed differentiation of spinal stabilization systems, whereas BiomedCLIP’s precision may require further optimization to enhance its applicability in complex radiographic evaluations. Full article

In the study presented herein, an aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, spore-forming bacterium, designated as WLY-B-L8^T, was isolated from a qu-starter (baobaoqu) cultivation facility used for the production of Wuliangye baijiu in Yibin city (Sichuan province, China). The strain comprised short, rod-shape cells of 1.2–1.9 μm in width and 1.7–4.8 μm in length, arranged singly or in pairs. The isolate was able to grow at temperatures of 20–42 °C (optimum growth at 40 °C), pH 5.0–10.0 (optimum growth at pH 8.0), and in the presence of 0–2% (w/v) NaCl (optimum growth with 1% NaCl). Ribose, xylose, arabinose, mannose, glucose, and galactose constituted the major cell-wall sugars. Moreover, meso-diaminopimelic acid (meso-DAP) constituted the diagnostic amino acid. The main polar lipids of WLY-B-L8^T included diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), unidentified aminolipids (UAL 1–2), an unidentified aminophospholipid (UAPL), an unidentified aminoglycolipid (UAGL), and an unidentified lipid (UL). MK-7 was the predominant menaquinone and iso-C_15:0 (23.00%) was the major fatty acid. Comparisons of the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that WLY-B-L8^T was most closely related to Bacillus rhizoplanae JJ-63 DSM 12442^T (98.71%), Bacillus pseudomycoides DSM 12442^T (98.21%), and Bacillus cytotoxicus NVH 391–98^T (98.14%). The average nucleotide identity (ANI) values of strain WLY-B-L8^T and the three type strains mentioned above were 88.24%, 80.57%, and 78.70%. The average amino identity (AAI) values between them were 89.84%, 79.51%, and 80.41%. In addition, the digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between them were 36.70%, 26.10%, and 23.90%. The genomic DNA G+C content was 35.97%. Based on the evidence presented herein, WLY-B-L8^T (CICC 25210^T = JCM 36284^T) exhibits promise as the type strain of a novel species, designated as Bacillus multifaciens sp. nov., that can produce protease (119.38 ± 7.44 U/mL) and volatile flavor components when cultured on raw wheat, such as 2-pipendinone (21.95 ± 1.56 mg/L), phenylethyl alcohol (19.08 ± 0.82 mg/L), hydrocinnamic acid (18.60 ± 0.53 mg/L), and acetoin (7.58 ± 0.11 mg/L). Full article

Aim: Class II Division I malocclusion poses significant challenges in orthodontics. The combination of a Herbst appliance and miniscrew anchorage emerged as a practical solution to improve skeletal and dental outcomes. This study employed finite element analysis to evaluate the biomechanical effects of a miniscrew-supported Herbst appliance on mandibular advancement and dentition movement. Methods: High-definition CBCT scans captured the maxilla and mandible’s detailed dental anatomy. The scans were stored in DICOM format for seamless integration with Mimics software (Mimics Innovation Suite research version 21.0, Materialise NV, Leuven, Belgium) for 3D reconstruction and model refinement. The appliance, designed with a maxillary fixed palatal arch and mandibular acrylic splint connected by telescoping rods, incorporated titanium TADs and elastic chains. STL models were optimized in Geomagic x Design for finite element analysis in Abaqus, assigning validated mechanical properties for materials. Tetrahedral meshing and realistic boundary conditions simulated biomechanical interactions. Tetrahedral C3D4 elements were used for meshing, ensuring a balance between computational efficiency and detailed anatomical representation. Tetrahedral meshing and realistic boundary conditions simulated biomechanical interactions. Dynamic simulations in CATIA evaluated mandibular movement. FEA analyzed displacement across dentoalveolar structures along the X, Y, and Z axes to assess treatment efficacy and biomechanical stability. Results: The Z displacement analysis revealed that the incisal edges of the lower central, lateral, and canines shifted lingually by 0.41, 0.4, and 0.47 mm, respectively. Additionally, the apices of the lower central, lateral, and canines displaced backwards by 0.05 mm, 0.05 mm, and 0.07 mm, respectively. Conclusions: The appliance facilitated mandibular advancement, bodily retracted the lower incisors, well-controlled the upper ones, and mesial-tipped the upper posterior teeth. In contrast with traditional functional appliances, it caused the lower anterior teeth to move backwards, while skeletal anchorage overcame some shortcomings of nonsurgical treatments. This method might be a good treatment option for growing skeletal Class II patients. Full article

In this paper, a bidirectional temperature gradient directional annealing process for growing TiAl columnar crystals was proposed, and the influences of structural parameters and process parameters on the temperature distributions of TiAl rods were discussed through numerical simulation. The results indicate that the α phase zone is expanded and its boundary becomes planar as the thickness of graphite ring (b) and gap width (d) decrease. Increasing the graphite rod length (l) and the height of the graphite ring from the Ga-In coolant surface (h) results in an expanded α phase zone with flattened boundaries, but the temperature gradient decreases. Taking all the α phase zone height, its boundary shape, and the temperature gradient into consideration, the optimal b, d, l, and h are 10 mm, 5 mm, 50 mm, and 50 mm, respectively. The higher heating temperature within the α phase temperature range, such as 1375 °C, is favorable for the establishment of the required temperature field during directional annealing. The effect of drawing speed is more complicated. Although its effect on the temperature field of the TiAl rod is almost negligible, it will seriously affect the microstructure of the annealed alloy, and it needs to be optimized by subsequent experiments. Full article

Biallelic pathogenic variants in the CRB1 gene are associated with severe retinal dystrophies, including early onset severe retinal dystrophy/Leber congenital amaurosis (EOSRD/LCA), retinitis pigmentosa (RP), cone–rod dystrophy (CORD), and macular dystrophy (MD). Despite growing research, scant genotype–phenotype correlations have been established. Here, we present two cases involving individuals that presented with cystoid macular oedema and high intraocular pressure, which were later diagnosed as CRB1-MD, demonstrating a mild and stable phenotype. Two unrelated patients of African heritage were included, a 7-year-old female (case 1) and a 25-year-old female (case 2), both presenting with ocular hypertension and cystoid macular oedema. Case 2 had a history of bilateral plateau iris, treated with laser iridotomy. Baseline visual acuity for case 1 was 0.66 logMAR in the right eye and 0.54 logMAR in the left eye. For case 2, visual acuity was recorded as 0.30 logMAR in both eyes. Genetic testing confirmed a homozygous c.2506C>A p.(Pro836Thr) variant in the CRB1 gene in both cases. Longitudinal follow-up over seven years revealed stable visual acuity, improvement of cystoid macular oedema, and effective intraocular pressure control with topical ocular hypotensive therapy. This study establishes a novel genotype–phenotype correlation between the c.2506C>A p.(Pro836Thr) variant and MD, suggesting a mild, stable disease course in homozygous cases. The findings also highlight a potential association of this variant with elevated IOP, expanding the clinical spectrum of CRB1-related ocular conditions. Early genetic diagnosis and regular ophthalmic monitoring are essential to optimise management and identify therapeutic opportunities in patients with mild CRB1-related phenotypes. Full article

Background: Inquilinus species are Gram-negative, non-sporulating, non-pigmented rods that are catalase-positive, indole-negative, and able to grow at various temperatures and in 1% NaCl. Infections due to Inquilinus spp. are increasingly identified, especially in patients with cystic fibrosis. Objective: This review aims to present all reported cases of Inquilinus spp. infections in humans, with an emphasis on data regarding epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial treatment, and mortality. Methods: A narrative review based on a literature search of the PubMed/MedLine and Scopus databases was performed. Results: In total, 13 articles providing data on 25 patients with Inquilinus infections were included in the analysis. The median age was 19 years, while 60% were male. Cystic fibrosis was the predominant risk factor (92%). Respiratory tract infection was the most common type of infection (96%). Inquilinus limosus was the most commonly identified species. Polymicrobial infection was very common (77.3%). Microbial identification required the use of advanced molecular techniques, such as 16s rRNA sequencing. The pathogen exhibited resistance to beta-lactams, with the exception of carbapenems. The most commonly used antimicrobials included carbapenems (68.4%), followed by quinolones (57.9%) and aminoglycosides (52.6%). Mortality was low (4%). Conclusions: Due to the potential of Inquilinus spp. to cause infection in patients with cystic fibrosis, and given the difficulties in microbial identification, clinicians and laboratory professionals should consider it in the differential diagnosis of patients with cystic fibrosis and respiratory tract infection not responding to beta-lactam treatment or with polymicrobial infections, especially when traditional techniques are used for microbial identification. Full article

Changes in cell shape have been shown to be an integral part of the mycobacterial life cycle; however, systematic investigations into its patterns of pleomorphic behaviour in connection with stages or conditions of growth are scarce. We have studied the complete growth cycle of Mycobacterium monacense cultures, a Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterium (NTM), in solid as well as in liquid media. We provide data showing changes in cell shape from rod to coccoid and occurrence of refractive cells ranging from Phase Grey to phase Bright (PGB) in appearance upon ageing. Changes in cell shape could be correlated to the bi-phasic nature of the growth curves for M. monacense (and the NTM Mycobacterium boenickei) as measured by the absorbance of liquid cultures while growth measured by colony-forming units (CFU) on solid media showed a uniform exponential growth. Based on the complete M. monacense genome we identified genes involved in cell morphology, and analyses of their mRNA levels revealed changes at different stages of growth. One gene, dnaK_3 (encoding a chaperone), showed significantly increased transcript levels in stationary phase cells relative to exponentially growing cells. Based on protein domain architecture, we identified that the DnaK_3 N-terminus domain is an MreB-like homolog. Endogenous overexpression of M. monacense dnaK_3 in M. monacense was unsuccessful (appears to be lethal) while exogenous overexpression in Mycobacterium marinum resulted in morphological changes with an impact on the frequency of appearance of PGB cells. However, the introduction of an anti-sense “gene” targeting the M. marinum dnaK_3 did not show significant effects. Using dnaK_3-lacZ reporter constructs we also provide data suggesting that the morphological differences could be due to differences in the regulation of dnaK_3 in the two species. Together these data suggest that, although its regulation may vary between mycobacterial species, the dnaK_3 might have a direct or indirect role in the processes influencing mycobacterial cell shape. Full article

Spinopelvic dissociation is a highly unstable orthopedic injury with a growing incidence worldwide. Operative treatment classically involves an open lumbopelvic fusion and sacroiliac stabilization, which carries high perioperative morbidity and mortality in a frail patient population. Advancements in spinal navigation, robotics, and minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques now allow these fracture patterns to be treated entirely percutaneously through small incisions. These incisions are just large enough to accommodate pedicle screw guides and enable the placement of lumbopelvic instrumentation, with rods being passed subfascially across pedicle screws and extending caudally to iliac fixation. This contrasts with the open midline approach, which requires more extensive soft tissue dissection and results in increased blood loss compared to percutaneous techniques. Modern imaging techniques, including CT navigation and robotics, facilitate the precise placement of sacral S2AI screw instrumentation in both open and percutaneous methods, all while safely avoiding previously placed trans-sacral fixation and other existing hardware, such as acetabular screws. Trans-sacral screws are typically percutaneously inserted first by the orthopedic trauma service, utilizing inlet, outlet, and lateral sacral fluoroscopic guidance to navigate the limited available corridor. With the advent of MIS techniques, trauma patients can now benefit from faster postoperative rehabilitation, minimal blood loss, decreased pain, and quicker mobilization. This article will review current concepts on spinopelvic anatomy, fracture patterns, indications for treatment, and current concepts for minimally invasive percutaneous lumbopelvic fixation, and it will present illustrative examples. Full article

Precipitation strengthening is one of the fundamental factors occurring at high temperatures in medium-alloy structural steels, which offer greater durability under service conditions. This research employed transmission electron microscopy (TEM) via carbon replicas combined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to analyze carbide evolution and its influence on both mechanical properties and high-temperature strength. During the tempering process, ε-carbides precipitate at 200 °C and subsequently transform into M₃C at 400 °C and coarser M₇C₃ at 600 °C. Coarser carbides (M₇C₃ and M₃C) and metastable carbides (ε-carbides) are not sufficient to make steel strong at high temperatures. Moreover, nucleating and growing at interfaces, rod-shaped M₃C diminishes the toughness of the steel. Under tempering at 600 °C, a substantial amount of nanoscale M₂C carbides precipitate. This improvement not only elevate the material’s toughness but also leads to an enhancement of yield strength (from 1237 ± 12 MPa to 1340 ± 8 MPa) along with a rise in high-temperature strength (from 388 ± 8 MPa to 421 ± 4 MPa). Combined with high toughness, nanoscale M₂C with high thermal stability promoted both yield strength at room temperature and high-temperature strength. The type and size of carbides serve as key determinants for yield strength while being decisive parameters for high-temperature strength. Full article

The mechanical properties of surfacing layers are significantly affected by the precipitation and evolution of carbides in nickel-based alloys. At present, the study of carbide precipitation in a Ni-Cr-B-Si surfacing layer is described by using the phase field method. In this paper, the true Gibbs free energy of the M₂₃C₆ carbide phase in Ni-Cr-C ternary alloy was established by the CALPHAD method and thermodynamic database. The growth and coarsening process of M₂₃C₆ carbide was simulated based on phase field method. The microstructure of M₂₃C₆ carbide of Ni-Cr-C alloy at 1373 °C isothermal aging time was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results show that the growth and coarsening of the precipitated M₂₃C₆ carbide phase are undergone through multiple processes during isothermal aging. First, a single precipitate core is formed, and then the single precipitate continues to coarsen and grow, forming a lamellar structure. Two precipitates contact to form a single rod-like structure, and multiple precipitates form slender rod-like structures. Finally, the contacting elongated rod-like structures grow, forming a typical layered eutectic carbide. The precipitation behavior, growth, and coarsening process of M₂₃C₆-type carbides in Ni-Cr-B-Si series alloys are explored through phase field simulation and experimental research in this paper. A theoretical basis is provided for the rational control and distribution of carbides in surfacing layers. A reference is also offered for optimizing the nickel-based superalloy materials used for surfacing the surface of descaling rolls. Full article