Linear and Non-Linear Modelling Methods for a Gas Sensor Array Developed for Process Control Applications.

New process developments linked to Power to X (energy storage or energy conversion to another form of energy) require tools to perform process monitoring. The main gases involved in these types of processes are H, CO, CH, and CO. Because of the non-selectivity of the sensors, a multi-sensor matrix has been built in this work based on commercial sensors having very different transduction principles, and, therefore, providing richer information.

First detection of Bandavirus dabieense in ticks collected from migratory birds in the Republic of Korea.

The causative agent of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is Bandavirus dabieense, an emerging tick-borne zoonotic pathogen. Migratory birds have often been suggested as potential carriers of ticks that can transmit Bandavirus dabieense; however, their role remains unclear. The Republic of Korea (ROK) holds an important position as a stopover on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

Observing G4 formation and its resolution by Pif1 in real time by manipulation under magnetic tweezers.

G-quadruplexes (G4s) are nucleic acids secondary structures that may form in guanine-rich sequences, either intra or inter-molecularly. Ability of a primary sequence to form a G4 can be predicted computationally with an improving accuracy as well as tested in bulk using biophysical measurements. As a result, G4 density maps have been devised for a large number of genomes from all life kingdoms.

Magnetic tweezers principles and promises.

Magnetic tweezers have become popular with the outbreak of single molecule micromanipulation: catching a single molecule of DNA, RNA or a single protein and applying mechanical constrains using micron-size magnetic beads and magnets turn out to be easy. Various factors have made this possible: the fact that manufacturers have been preparing these beads to catch various biological entities-the ease of use provided by magnets which apply a force or a torque at a distance thus inside a flow cell-some chance: since the forces so generated are in the right range to stretch a single molecule. This is a little less true for torque.

From the Modeling of an Electrochemical YSZ-Based Gas Sensor Used in Electrolysis Mode.

Electrochemical sensors have been used for many decades. However, the modeling of such sensors used in electrolysis mode is poorly documented, especially in the case of multiple gases' parallel actions. These are of great interest since they constitute the first brick to bring information on the natures and concentrations of gaseous mixture compositions, thanks to gray box modeling of sensor arrays, for example.

Ixodid ticks from wild and domestic animals in East and Central Asian flyways.

Tick-borne diseases have a significant impact on human and animal populations, posing an increasing threat to public health, particularly in the context of climate change. Along with the various natural hosts of ticks, birds play a notable role in transmitting ticks and tick-borne pathogens, indicating the importance of monitoring flyways and establishing a cooperative network for comprehensive surveillance and to collect diverse tick samples across various regions. This study aimed to develop an international network for surveillance of disease, collection of sufficient tick samples, and overall identification of the geographical distribution of host and ticks in Asian regions, especially in 11 countries on East Asian and Central Asian flyways.

Protection of NOx Sensors from Sulfur Poisoning in Glass Furnaces by the Optimization of a "SO Trap".

Electrochemical NOx sensors based on yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) provide a reliable onboard way to control NOx emissions from glass-melting furnaces. The main limitation is the poisoning of this sensor by sulfur oxides (SOx) contained in the stream. To overcome this drawback, an "SO trap" with high SOx storage capacity and low affinity to NOx is required.

Selective Growth of Graphene-Confined Inkjet-Printed Sn Nanoparticles on Plastic Using Intense Pulsed Light Annealing.

Printing graphene-based nanomaterials on flexible substrates has become a burgeoning platform for next-generation technologies. Combining graphene and nanoparticles to create hybrid nanomaterials has been proven to boost device performance, thanks to their complementary physical and chemical properties. However, high growth temperatures and long processing times are often required to produce high-quality graphene-based nanocomposites.

Evaluating Disease Patterns of Military Working Dogs in the Republic of Korea: A Retrospective Study.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate disease patterns among military working dogs (MWDs) at the Armed Forces Medical Research Institute (AFMRI) to provide basic medical data on Korean MWDs. The medical records of procedures performed at AFMRI between November 2017 and March 2021 were reviewed. Physical examination, diagnostic imaging, and laboratory tests were performed according to the status of each dog.

A new class of biological ion-driven rotary molecular motors with 5:2 symmetry.

Several new structures of three types of protein complexes, obtained by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and published between 2019 and 2021, identify a new family of natural molecular wheels, the "5:2 rotary motors." These span the cytoplasmic membranes of bacteria, and their rotation is driven by ion flow into the cell. They consist of a pentameric wheel encircling a dimeric axle within the cytoplasmic membrane of both Gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

Novel approaches to study helicases using magnetic tweezers.

Helicases form a universal family of molecular motors that bind and translocate onto nucleic acids. They are involved in essentially every aspect of nucleic acid metabolism: from DNA replication to RNA decay, and thus ensure a large spectrum of functions in the cell, making their study essential. The development of micromanipulation techniques such as magnetic tweezers for the mechanistic study of these enzymes has provided new insights into their behavior and their regulation that were previously unrevealed by bulk assays.

Strand switching mechanism of Pif1 helicase induced by its collision with a G-quadruplex embedded in dsDNA.

G-rich sequences found at multiple sites throughout all genomes may form secondary structures called G-quadruplexes (G4), which act as roadblocks for molecular motors. Among the enzymes thought to process these structures, the Pif1 DNA helicase is considered as an archetypical G4-resolvase and its absence has been linked to G4-related genomic instabilities in yeast. Here we developed a single-molecule assay to observe Pif1 opening a DNA duplex and resolving the G4 in real time.

Single-molecule kinetic locking allows fluorescence-free quantification of protein/nucleic-acid binding.

Fluorescence-free micro-manipulation of nucleic acids (NA) allows the functional characterization of DNA/RNA processing proteins, without the interference of labels, but currently fails to detect and quantify their binding. To overcome this limitation, we developed a method based on single-molecule force spectroscopy, called kinetic locking, that allows a direct in vitro visualization of protein binding while avoiding any kind of chemical disturbance of the protein's natural function. We validate kinetic locking by measuring accurately the hybridization energy of ultrashort nucleotides (5, 6, 7 bases) and use it to measure the dynamical interactions of Escherichia coli/E.

Metabolomic signatures in elite cyclists: differential characterization of a seeming normal endocrine status regarding three serum hormones.

Introduction: Serum phenotyping of elite cyclists regarding cortisol, IGF1 and testosterone is a way to detect endocrine disruptions possibly explained by exercise overload, non-balanced diet or by doping. This latter disruption-driven approach is supported by fundamental physiology although without any evidence of any metabolic markers.

Objectives: Serum samples were distributed through Low, High or Normal endocrine classes according to hormone concentration.

Folding and persistence times of intramolecular G-quadruplexes transiently embedded in a DNA duplex.

G-quadruplex (G4) DNA structures have emerged as important regulatory elements during DNA metabolic transactions. While many in vitro studies have focused on the kinetics of G4 formation within DNA single-strands, G4 are found in vivo in double-stranded DNA regions, where their formation is challenged by the complementary strand. Since the energy of hybridization of Watson-Crick structures dominates the energy of G4 folding, this competition should play a critical role on G4 persistence.

Parallel, linear, and subnanometric 3D tracking of microparticles with Stereo Darkfield Interferometry.

While crucial for force spectroscopists and microbiologists, three-dimensional (3D) particle tracking suffers from either poor precision, complex calibration, or the need of expensive hardware, preventing its massive adoption. We introduce a new technique, based on a simple piece of cardboard inserted in the objective focal plane, that enables simple 3D tracking of dilute microparticles while offering subnanometer frame-to-frame precision in all directions. Its linearity alleviates calibration procedures, while the interferometric pattern enhances precision.

Hyphal network whole field imaging allows for accurate estimation of anastomosis rates and branching dynamics of the filamentous fungus Podospora anserina.

The success of filamentous fungi in colonizing most natural environments can be largely attributed to their ability to form an expanding interconnected network, the mycelium, or thallus, constituted by a collection of hyphal apexes in motion producing hyphae and subject to branching and fusion. In this work, we characterize the hyphal network expansion and the structure of the fungus Podospora anserina under controlled culture conditions. To this end, temporal series of pictures of the network dynamics are produced, starting from germinating ascospores and ending when the network reaches a few centimeters width, with a typical image resolution of several micrometers.

An Application May Help Improve Protein Consumption after Bariatric Surgery.

This brief communication suggests that in patients who had bariatric surgery and in whom protein intake is lower than 60 g/d, the use of an application is likely to improve protein intake.

Quantification of physical activity using the QAPACE Questionnaire: a two stage cluster sample design survey of children and adolescents attending urban school.

Background: Quantification of physical activity as energy expenditure is important since youth for the prevention of chronic non communicable diseases in adulthood. It is necessary to quantify physical activity expressed in daily energy expenditure (DEE) in school children and adolescents between 8-16 years, by age, gender and socioeconomic level (SEL) in Bogotá.

Methods: This is a Two Stage Cluster Survey Sample.

Post-prandial hypoglycemia results from a non-glucose-dependent inappropriate insulin secretion in Roux-en-Y gastric bypassed patients.

Background: After Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), hypoglycemia can occur and be associated with adverse events such as intense malaise and impaired quality of life.

Objective: To compare insulin secretion, sensitivity, and clearance between two groups of patients, with or without hypoglycemia, after an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT 75-g), and also to compare real-life glucose profiles within these two groups.

Setting: Bariatric surgery referral center.

Salvage Surgery After Chemoradiotherapy in the Management of Esophageal Cancer: Is It a Viable Therapeutic Option?

Purpose: The aim of this large multicenter study was to assess the impact of salvage esophagectomy after definitive chemoradiotherapy (SALV) on clinical outcome.

Patients And Methods: Data from consecutive adult patients undergoing resection for esophageal cancer in 30 European centers from 2000 to 2010 were collected. First, groups undergoing SALV (n = 308) and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by planned esophagectomy (NCRS; n = 540) were compared.

Quantification of physical activity using the QAPACE questionnaire: A two stage cluster sample design survey of children and adolescents attending urban school.

Background: Quantification of physical activity as energy expenditure is important since youth for the prevention of chronic non communicable diseases in adulthood. It is necessary to quantify physical activity expressed in daily energy expenditure (DEE) in school children and adolescents between 8-16 years, by age, gender and socioeconomic level (SEL) in Bogotá.

Methods: This is a Two Stage Cluster Survey Sample.