Acute Q Fever after Kidney Transplantation: A Case Report.

Patients receiving kidney transplant experience immunosuppression, which increases the risk of bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections. Q fever is a potentially fatal infectious disease that affects immunocompromised renal transplant recipients and has implications in terms of severe consequences for the donor's kidney. A patient with acute Q fever infection following kidney transplantation was admitted to the Tsinghua Changgung Hospital in Beijing, China, in March 2021.

Oral Functions and Various Cooking Methods Associated With Chewing-To-Swallowing Time in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Background: Oral frailty in older adults can affect their eating efficiency, prolonging meal times, which can compromise food flavour.

Objective: This study explored the association between cooking methods and chewing-to-swallowing time on the basis of different oral functions in older adults.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 65 community-dwelling individuals aged ≥ 65 years.

A genomic variation map provides insights into potato evolution and key agronomic traits.

Hybrid potato breeding based on diploid inbred lines is transforming the way of genetic improvement of this staple food crop, which requires a deep understanding of potato domestication and differentiation. Here, we resequenced 314 diploid wild and landrace accessions to generate a variome map of 47,203,407 variants. Using the variome map, we discovered the reshaping of tuber transcriptome during potato domestication, characterized genome-wide differentiation between landrace groups Stenotomum and Phureja, and identified a jasmonic acid biosynthetic gene possibly affecting tuber dormancy period.

Transcytosis of T4 Bacteriophage Through Intestinal Cells Enhances Its Immune Activation.

Interactions between bacteriophages with mammalian immune cells are of great interest and most phages possess at least one molecular pattern (nucleic acid, sugar residue, or protein structure) that is recognizable to the immune system through pathogen associated molecular pattern (PAMP) receptors (i.e., TLRs).

Synthesis of Headful Packaging Phages Through Yeast Transformation-Associated Recombination.

De novo synthesis of phage genomes enables flexible genome modification and simplification. This study explores the synthetic genome assembly of phage vB_PaeS_SCUT-S4 (S4), a 42,932 bp headful packaging phage, which encapsidates a terminally redundant, double-stranded DNA genome exceeding unit length. We demonstrate that using the yeast TAR approach, the S4 genome can be assembled and rebooted from a unit-length genome plus a minimal 60 bp terminal redundant sequence.

Bias in Discontinuous Elevational Transects for Tracking Species Range Shifts.

Climate change is compelling species to seek refuge at higher elevations and latitudes. While researchers commonly study these migrations using discontinuous elevational transects, this methodology may introduce significant biases into our understanding of species movement. These potential biases could lead to flawed biodiversity conservation policies if left unexamined.

Importance of OsRac1 in Signalling of Pigm-1 Mediated Resistance to Rice Blast Disease.

In rice, leucine-rich repeat nucleotide-binding site (NLR) proteins are pivotal immune receptors in combating -triggered rice blast. However, the precise molecular mechanism underlying how NLR proteins regulate downstream signalling remains elusive due to the lack of knowledge regarding their direct downstream targets. The NLR protein Pigm-1 was cloned from Shuangkang 77009 in our laboratory.

Trade-Off Between Enzymatic Antioxidant Defense and Accumulation of Organic Metabolite Affects Salt Tolerance of White Clover Associated with Redox, Water, and Metabolic Homeostases.

White clover () is an excellent perennial cold-season ground-cover plant for municipal landscaping and urban greening. It is, therefore, widely distributed and utilized throughout the world. However, poor salt tolerance greatly limits its promotion and application.

Neonatal Circulating Amino Acids and Lipid Metabolites Mediate the Association of Maternal Gestational Diabetes Mellitus with Offspring Neurodevelopment at 1 Year.

: We aimed to identify neonatal circulating metabolic alterations associated with maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to explore whether these altered metabolites could mediate the association of GDM with offspring neurodevelopment. Additionally, we investigated whether neonatal circulating metabolites could improve the prediction of offspring neurodevelopmental disorders over traditional risk factors. : The retrospective cohort study enrolled 1228 mother-child dyads in South China.

Recent Advancements of Bio-Derived Flame Retardants for Polymeric Materials.

The sustainable flame retardancy of polymeric materials is a key focus for the direction of the next generation in the field of fire safety. Bio-derived flame retardants are gaining attention as environmentally friendly additives due to their low ecological impact and decreasing costs. These compounds can enhance char formation in polymeric materials by swelling upon heating, attributed to their functional groups.

Synergistic Effect of Strontium Doping and Surfactant Addition in Mesoporous Bioactive Glass for Enhanced Osteogenic Bioactivity and Advanced Bone Regeneration.

Mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG) is an advanced biomaterial widely recognized for its application in bone regenerative engineering. This study synthesized an MBG powder (80 mol% SiO, 5 mol% PO, and 15 mol% CaO) using a facile sol-gel method with the non-ionic surfactant Pluronic P123, which acted as a pore-forming agent. MBGs form bioactive surfaces that facilitate HA formation, and the presence of Pluronic P123 increases the surface area and promotes HA nucleation.

A Novel Exopolysaccharide Produced by sp. MT01 and Its Potential Application in Enhanced Oil Recovery.

Sphingan is a crucial exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by genus bacteria with wide-ranging applications in fields such as food, medicine, and petroleum. In this study, a novel sphingan, named MT gum, was overproduced from the wild-type strain sp. MT01 at a yield of 25.

A Solar-Heated Phase Change Composite Fiber with a Core-Shell Structure for the Recovery of Highly Viscous Crude Oil.

Due to the high viscosity and low fluidity of viscous crude oil, how to effectively recover spilled crude oil is still a major global challenge. Although solar thermal absorbers have made significant progress in accelerating oil recovery, its practical application is largely restricted by the variability of solar radiation intensity, which is influenced by external environmental factors. To address this issue, this study created a new composite fiber that not only possesses solar energy conversion and storage capabilities but also facilitates crude oil removal.

Role of Metformin in Preventing New-Onset Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

: Recent evidence supports the protective role of metformin on kidney function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, its potential to prevent new-onset chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with normal renal function remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether metformin could prevent the development of new-onset CKD in such patients.

Positive Correlation Between Serum Limonene Levels and Muscle Health in a Representative Adult Population in the United States.

Monoterpenes, a class of organic compounds with the molecular formula CH, have garnered significant attention for their potential medicinal benefits. Emerging evidence suggests they may positively influence skeletal muscle function. However, the impact of monoterpene exposure on muscle strength and mass in humans remains unclear.

Therapeutic Potential of (L.) . Leaf Extract in Modulating Gut Microbiota and Immune Response for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a persistent inflammatory condition affecting the gastrointestinal tract, distinguished by the impairment of the intestinal epithelial barrier, dysregulation of the gut microbiota, and abnormal immune responses. (L.) , traditionally used in Chinese herbal medicine for gastrointestinal issues such as bleeding and dysentery, has garnered attention for its potential therapeutic benefits.

Gegen Qinlian Decoction Attenuates Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer via Suppressing TLR4 Signaling Pathway Based on Network Pharmacology and In Vivo/In Vitro Experimental Validation.

: Gegen Qinlian Decoction (GQD), is used for intestinal disorders like ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and colorectal cancer. But the precise mechanisms underlying its anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects are not fully elucidated. : Use network pharmacology to identify targets and pathways of GQD.

Maternal Infections, Antibiotics, Steroid Use, and Diabetes Mellitus Increase Risk of Early-Onset Sepsis in Preterm Neonates: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.

The global evolution of pathogens causing early-onset sepsis (EOS), a critical condition in preterm infants, necessitates a re-evaluation of risk factors to develop updated prevention and treatment strategies. This nationwide case-control study in Taiwan analyzed data from the National Health Insurance Research Database, Birth Reporting Database, and Maternal and Child Health Database from 2010 to 2019. The study included 176,681 mother-child pairs with preterm births.

The Evaluation of Antibacterial Coatings Against Commonly Found Pathogenic Bacteria in the Environment-Implications for Environmental Safety and Infection Prevention.

Microorganisms, including pathogens that cause skin, respiratory, and urinary tract infections, are widespread in our environment. Despite routine cleaning with bleach and disinfectants, the transmission of pathogens still occurs, leading to potential infectious diseases. This study aimed to determine the antibacterial effect of two coating formulas against common environmental pathogens like , , , , sp.

Low-Complexity Timing Correction Methods for Heart Rate Estimation Using Remote Photoplethysmography.

With the rise of modern healthcare monitoring, heart rate (HR) estimation using remote photoplethysmography (rPPG) has gained attention for its non-contact, continuous tracking capabilities. However, most HR estimation methods rely on stable, fixed sampling intervals, while practical image capture often involves irregular frame rates and missing data, leading to inaccuracies in HR measurements. This study addresses these issues by introducing low-complexity timing correction methods, including linear, cubic, and filter interpolation, to improve HR estimation from rPPG signals under conditions of irregular sampling and data loss.

The Effect of Electrical Stimulation Strength Training on Lower Limb Muscle Activation Characteristics During the Jump Smash Performance in Badminton Based on the EMS and EMG Sensors.

This study investigates the effects of electrical stimulation (EMS) combined with strength training on lower limb muscle activation and badminton jump performance, specifically during the "jump smash" movement. A total of 25 male badminton players, with a minimum of three years of professional training experience and no history of lower limb injuries, participated in the study. Participants underwent three distinct conditions: baseline testing, strength training, and EMS combined with strength training.

An Improved Detecting Algorithm of Moving Targets for Airborne Maritime Surveillance Radar.

The traditional method is capable of detecting and tracking stationary and slow-moving targets in a sea surface environment. However, the signal focusing capability of such a method could be greatly reduced especially for those variable-speed targets. To solve this problem, a novel tracking algorithm combining range envelope alignment and azimuth phase filtering is proposed.

Novel Insights into Surface Energies and Enhanced Gas-Sensing Capabilities of ZnGaO(111) via Ab Initio Studies.

This study investigates the surface energies and work function changes in ZnGaO(111) surfaces with different atomic terminations using ab initio density functional theory. It explores the interactions of gas molecules such as NO, NO, and CHCOCH with Ga-terminated, O-terminated, and Ga-Zn-O-terminated surfaces. This study reveals previously unreported insights into how O-terminated surfaces exhibit enhanced reactivity with NO, resulting in significant work function changes of +6.

Novel Visualization of Building Earthquake Response Recorded by a Dense Network of Sensors.

The strong motion records collected in full-scale structures provide the ultimate evidence of how real structures, in situ, respond to earthquakes. This paper presents a novel method for visualization, in three dimensions (3D), of the collective motion by a dense array of sensors in a building. The method is based on one- and two-dimensional biharmonic spline interpolation of the motion recorded by multiple sensors on the same or multiple floors.