Increased neutrophil elastase in affected lobes of bronchiectasis and correlation of its levels between sputum and bronchial lavage fluid.

Background: Neutrophil elastase (NE) has been proposed as a potential biomarker for evaluating the severity and prognosis of bronchiectasis. This study aimed to compare bronchial lavage quantification of NE levels and activities with those of sputum.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in which 24 Vietnamese adults with bronchiectasis were enrolled from June 2023 to August 2023.

Contribution of the microbial community to operational stability in an anammox reactor: Neutral theory and functional redundancy perspectives.

A comprehensive understanding of microbial assembly is essential for achieving stable performance in biological wastewater treatment. Nevertheless, few studies have quantified these phenomena in detail, particularly in anammox-based processes. This study integrated mathematical and microbial approaches to analyze a 330-day anammox reactor with stable nitrogen removal efficiency (97 - 99%) despite changes in the high nitrogen loading rate, nitrogen concentration, and hydraulic retention time.

Gene abundance and microbial syntrophy as key drivers of anaerobic digestion revealed through 16S rRNA gene and metagenomic analysis.

Genes in microorganisms influence the biological processes in anaerobic digestion (AD). However, key genes involved in the four metabolic steps (hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis, and methanogenesis) remain largely unexplored. This study investigated the abundance and distribution of key functional genes in full-scale anaerobic digesters processing food waste (FWDs) and municipal wastewater (MWDs) through 16S rRNA gene and shotgun metagenomic analysis.

Genome-based analysis reveals niche differentiation among Firmicutes in full-scale anaerobic digestion systems.

Fermentative Firmicutes species are key players in anaerobic digestion; however, their niche differentiation based on carbohydrate utilization in full-scale systems remains unclear. In this study, we investigated niche differentiation among four major Firmicutes classes using a genome-centric approach, reconstructing 39 high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes. Limnochordia and Clostridia exhibited the broadest substrate versatility, utilizing 24% and 18% of the predicted substrates, respectively.

Enhancing the quality and consumer satisfaction of dragon fruit beverage production: The effects of geological origin and processing conditions.

Objectives: In this study, the impacts of various processing parameters on the quality and consumer satisfaction of dragon fruit beverages were investigated in order to establish an informative framework for the manufacturing of commercial dragon fruit beverages, focusing on health benefits and safety for consumers, and sensory appeal of the products.

Methods: This study employed various analytical methods to quantify some important phytochemical compounds in dragon fruit juice such as total and reducing sugars, vitamin C, betacyanins, anthocyanins, polyphenol, and so forth. This study also employed the Box-Behnken response surface experimental design to optimize various processing parameters for quality and consumer satisfaction, which include enzymatic pectin hydrolysis parameters and formulation for dragon fruit energy drink.

The research explores the predictive capacity of the shear strength of reinforced concrete walls with different cross-sectional shapes using the XGBoost model.

Structurally, the lateral load-bearing capacity mainly depends on reinforced concrete (RC) walls. Determination of flexural strength and shear strength is mandatory when designing reinforced concrete walls. Typically, these strengths are determined through theoretical formulas and verified experimentally.

Plasma-induced nanogap narrowing and morphological transformation in gold nanoparticle assemblies.

The plasmonic properties of gold nanoparticle (AuNP) assemblies are critically influenced by the nanogaps between particles. Here, we demonstrate that plasma treatment effectively narrows these nanogaps and ultimately merges the nanoparticles. This process induces a sequential redshift, weakening, broadening, and an eventual blueshift of the plasmon coupling peak in UV-vis spectra, indicating transitions from classical to quantum regimes and finally to contact modes.

Chromosomal Anomalies in Fetuses With Increased Nuchal Translucency: A Vietnamese Retrospective Study.

Background Previously, fetuses with increased nuchal translucency (NT) were mainly tested for aneuploidy. Recent evidence has shown an incidence of other genetic disorders in euploidy fetuses with thickened NT. Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and next-generation sequencing (NGS) can detect the incremental yield of microdeletions and microduplications (copy number variants (CNVs)) and provide useful information for prenatal counseling.

Comparison of Conventional IgE Assay and Measurement of Specific IgE to Haemocyanin for the Diagnosis of Adult Crab Allergy.

Five potential allergens of freshwater crab (Somanniathelphusa sinensis), including hemocyanin, have been discovered. Specific IgE to haemocyanin was increased in crab-allergic than in crab-tolerant patients. The add-on of specific IgE to hemocyanin to skin prick test enhanced the specificity of the crab allergy diagnosis.

Estimating intra- and inter-subject oxygen consumption in outdoor human gait using multiple neural network approaches.

Oxygen consumption ([Formula: see text]) is an important measure for exercise test, such as walking and running, that can be measured outdoors using portable spirometers or metabolic analyzers. However, these devices are not feasible for regular use by consumers as they intervene with the user's physical integrity, and are expensive and difficult to operate. To circumvent these drawbacks, indirect estimation of [Formula: see text] using neural networks combined with motion features and heart rate measurements collected with consumer-grade sensors has been shown to yield reasonably accurate [Formula: see text] for intra-subject estimation.

The Effect of Complexity of a Matrix on Variation of Platinum Group Metal Determination Using ICP OES and Correction Method: A Spent Catalyst as a Case Study.

Recycling of platinum group metals (PGMs) from spent catalysts is a promising alternative to the sustainable metallurgy of critical metals, which requires an accurate and reliable analytical approach for their determination. A potential microwave-assisted digestion and multivariate calibration procedure was investigated to determine the PGM contents in various spent catalyst samples. The effect of several interelements (Al, Mg, Ce, and Na) was evaluated by the single factor at once and multilinear regression models, which demonstrated a significant variation in PGM determination using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry.

Successes and Challenges in Clinical Trial Recruitment: The Experience of a New Study Team.

Participant recruitment is one of the most challenging aspects of a clinical trial, directly impacting both the study's duration and the quality of its results. Therefore, reporting successful recruitment strategies is crucial. This study aimed to document the recruitment tactics and experiences of a research team during a university-based randomized clinical trial, conducted as part of a clinical research immersion program.

Switching to tenofovir alafenamide in patients with virologically suppressed chronic hepatitis B and renal or hepatic impairment: final week 96 results from an open-label, multicentre, phase 2 study.

Background: Phase 3 studies in patients with chronic hepatitis B have shown tenofovir alafenamide to have non-inferior efficacy to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, with improved renal and bone safety. We conducted this study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of switching to tenofovir alafenamide in participants with chronic hepatitis B and renal or hepatic impairment.

Methods: This open-label, multicentre, phase 2 study was done in eight countries or territories at 30 sites.

Feasibility of middle colic artery as a landmark for superior mesenteric artery - first approach in laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy: a prospective study.

Background: SMA-first approach in pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) has been widely applied in open surgery as well as laparoscopy. Finding the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), inferior pancreatoduodenal artery (IPDA), first jejunal artery (J1A) has become a great challenge in laparoscopic PD (LPD). Meanwhile, exposing the midde colic artery (MCA) might be a feasible approach to determine SMA, IPDA, and J1A.

Ultrasound-guided suprainguinal fascia iliaca compartment block and early postoperative analgesia after total hip arthroplasty: a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Hip replacement surgery can be painful; postoperative analgesia is crucial for comfort and to facilitate recovery. Regional anaesthesia can reduce pain and postoperative opioid requirements. The role of ultrasound-guided suprainguinal fascia iliaca block for analgesia after elective total hip arthroplasty is not well defined.

When intervention becomes imperative: a case report of spontaneous vulvar edema during pregnancy.

Spontaneous idiopathic vulvar edema during the second trimester is a rare condition. The approach to managing this condition involves relieving symptoms, identifying underlying causes, and implementing appropriate treatment. Managing such cases during pregnancy is challenging because of concerns for potential adverse fetal outcomes.

A perfusion host-microbe bioreactor (HMB) system that captures dynamic interactions of secreted metabolites between epithelial cells cocultured with a human gut anaerobe.

The human microbiota impacts a variety of diseases and responses to therapeutics. Due to a lack of robust in vitro models, detailed mechanistic explanations of host-microbiota interactions cannot often be recapitulated. We describe the design and development of a novel, versatile and modular in vitro system that enables indirect coculture of human epithelial cells with anaerobic bacteria for the characterization of host-microbe secreted metabolite interactions.

Early Rise and Persistent Inhibition of Electromyography during Failed Stopping.

Reactively canceling movements is a vital feature of the motor system to ensure safety. This behavior can be studied in the laboratory using the stop-signal task. There remains ambiguity about whether a "point-of-no-return" exists, after which a response cannot be aborted.

Adaptive Extended State Observer for the Dual Active Bridge Converters.

The DC-DC dual active bridge (DAB) converter has become one of the essential units for bidirectional energy distribution and connecting various renewable energy sources. When it comes to regulating the converter's output voltage, integrating an extended state observer (ESO) offers the advantage of eliminating the need for a current sensor, thereby reducing system costs. The ESO with a high observer bandwidth tends to acquire a faster system convergence and greater tracking accuracy.