Application of Mechanistic Models and the Gaussian Process Model to Predict Bacterial Growth on Baby Spinach During Refrigerated Storage.

Models that predict bacterial growth in food products can help industry with decision-making with regard to microbial food spoilage. Such models have recently been developed using machine learning (ML) rather than a mechanistic understanding of bacterial growth. Thus, our aim was to compare the performance of mechanistic (M) models and the Gaussian process (GP) model (i.

Discovery and Enzyme Kinetic Characterization of Novel CYP2D6 Variants.

Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) exhibits rich genetic polymorphism, and functional changes caused by variations are the key reasons for differences in substrate drug systemic exposure. Discovering novel variants and defining their enzymatic kinetic characteristics can contribute to the personalized application of drugs. In this study, a data chain of variant-function-structure was established through population-based sequencing, baculovirus insect cell expression, enzymatic incubation, and ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

Functional Electrical Stimulation of the Lateral Knee Muscles Can Reduce Peak Knee Adduction Moment during Stepping: A Pilot Study.

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is an age-dependent disease dominantly affected by mechanical loading. Balancing the forces acting on the medial knee compartment has been the focus of KOA interventions. This pilot study investigated the effects of functional electrical stimulation (FES) of the biceps femoris and lateral gastrocnemius on reducing peak knee adduction moment (pKAM) in healthy adults and individuals with medial KOA while stepping on an instrumented elliptical system.

Biofluid GPNMB/osteoactivin as a potential biomarker of ageing: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Glycoprotein non-metastatic melanoma B (GPNMB)/osteoactivin was first identified in the human melanoma cell lines. GPNMB plays a key role in the anti-inflammatory and antioxidative functions as well as osteoblast differentiation, cancer progression, and tissue regeneration. Recently, GPNMB was used as an anti-aging vaccine for mice.

Determining Individualized Foot Progression Angle for Reduction of Knee Medial Compartment Loading during Stepping.

Purpose: Modifying foot progression angle (FPA), the angle between the line from the heel to the second metatarsal head and the line of progression, can reduce peak knee adduction moment (pKAM). However, determining the optimal FPA that minimizes pKAM without inducing unnatural walking patterns can be challenging. This study investigated the FPA-pKAM relationship using a robotic stepping trainer to assess the feasibility of determining the optimal FPA based on this relationship.

Exploring discrepancies in muscle analysis with ImageJ: understanding the impact of tool selection on echo intensity and muscle area measurements.

Purpose: The aim was to compare the use of different tools within the ImageJ program (polygon vs. segmented line) and their impact on the calculation of muscle area and echo intensity (EI) values in ultrasound imaging of the vastus lateralis muscle.

Methods: Thirteen volunteers participated in this study.

Cell-free DNA methylation patterns in aging and their association with inflamm-aging.

Liquid biopsies analyzing cell-free DNA (cfDNA) methylation in plasma offer a noninvasive diagnostic for diseases, with the potential of aging biomarkers underexplored. Utilizing enzymatic methyl-seq (EM-seq), this study assessed cfDNA methylation patterns in aging with blood from 35 healthy individuals. It found aging signatures, including higher cfDNA levels and variations in fragment sizes, plus approximately 2000 age-related differentially methylated CpG sites.

Are extra locking bolts or fibular plating more important in extreme nailing of distal tibia fractures? A cadaveric biomechanical analysis.

Objectives: In far-distal extra-articular tibia fracture "extreme" nailing, debate surrounds the relative biomechanical performance of plating the fibula compared with extra distal interlocks. This study aimed to evaluate several constructs for extreme nailing including one interlock (one medial-lateral interlock), one interlock + plate (one medial-lateral interlock with lateral fibula compression plating), and two interlocks (one medial-lateral interlock and one anterior-posterior interlock).

Methods: Fifteen pairs of fresh cadaver legs were instrumented with a tibial nail to the physeal scar.

The Biomechanical Effects of Intramedullary Fixation to the Level of the Physeal Scar on Distal Tibia Fracture Stability.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether intramedullary nail contact with physeal scar improves construct mechanics when treating distal tibial shaft fractures.

Methods: Axially unstable extra-articular distal tibia fractures were created in 30 fresh frozen cadaveric specimens (15 pairs, mean age 79 years). Specimens underwent intramedullary nailing to the level of the physeal scar locked with one or two interlocks or short of the physeal scar locked with two interlocks (reference group).

Comprehensive genomic analysis of strain BP9, pan-genomic and genetic basis of biocontrol mechanism.

Many species are essential antibacterial agents, but their antibiosis potential still needs to be elucidated to its full extent. Here, we isolated a soil bacterium, BP9, which has significant antibiosis activity against fungal and bacterial pathogens. BP9 improved the growth of wheat seedlings via active colonization and demonstrated effective biofilm and swarming activity.

Regulation of 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol biosynthesis and biocontrol capacity by the BolA family protein IbaG in 2P24.

The monothiol glutaredoxin GrxD plays an essential role in the biosynthesis of the antibiotic 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (2,4-DAPG) and the biocontrol capacity of the soil bacterium 2P24. However, the detailed mechanism underlying GrxD-mediated activation of the production of 2,4-DAPG remains unclear. Here, we found that GrxD directly interacted with IbaG, a BolA protein family member.

Multi-joint Assessment of Proprioception Impairments Poststroke.

Objectives: To investigate shoulder, elbow and wrist proprioception impairment poststroke.

Design: Proprioceptive acuity in terms of the threshold detection to passive motion at the shoulder, elbow and wrist joints was evaluated using an exoskeleton robot to the individual joints slowly in either inward or outward direction.

Setting: A university research laboratory.

Pre- and post-operative comprehensive nursing care versus conventional nursing care: An evaluation of quality of life, postoperative pain, adverse effects, and treatment satisfaction of patients who underwent surgeries and interventional therapies for liver cancer.

Interventional therapies including chemotherapies and radiotherapies are the most preferred treatment for liver cancer. However, these therapies have adverse effects. Therefore, careful care is required to relieve these adverse effects.

The Efficacy of REG Proteins as a Diagnostic Biomarker for Pancreatic Cancer: a Meta-Analysis.

Background: Regenerating gene (REG) family proteins play a pivotal role in cell proliferation, tissue regeneration, and tumor metastasis. Recent studies have concentrated on the role of REG proteins in pancreatic cancer, but the results remain controversial. In this study, a meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the precise diagnostic value of REG proteins in pancreatic cancer.

Abnormal coordination of upper extremity during target reaching in persons post stroke.

Understanding abnormal synergy of the upper extremity (UE) in stroke survivors is critical for better identification of motor impairment. Here, we investigated to what extent stroke survivors retain the ability to coordinate multiple joints of the arm during a reaching task. Using an exoskeleton robot, 37 stroke survivors' arm joint angles (θ) and torques (τ) during hand reaching in the horizontal plane was compared to that of 13 healthy controls.

Citrate Synthase GltA Modulates the 2,4-Diacetylphloroglucinol Biosynthesis of 2P24 and is Essential for the Biocontrol Capacity.

Carbon metabolism is critical for microbial physiology and remarkably affects the outcome of secondary metabolite production. The production of 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (2,4-DAPG), a bacterial secondary metabolite with a broad spectrum of antibiotic activity, is a major mechanism used by the soil bacterium 2P24 to inhibit the growth of plant pathogens and control disease occurrence. Strain 2P24 has evolved a complex signaling cascade to regulate the production of 2,4-DAPG.

Quorum quenching by a type IVA secretion system effector.

Proteobacteria primarily utilize acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) as quorum-sensing signals for intra-/interspecies communication to control pathogen infections. Enzymatic degradation of AHL represents the major quorum-quenching mechanism that has been developed as a promising approach to prevent bacterial infections. Here we identified a novel quorum-quenching mechanism revealed by an effector of the type IVA secretion system (T4ASS) in bacterial interspecies competition.

MCP extensors respond faster than flexors in individuals with severe-to-moderate stroke-caused impairment: Evidence of uncoupled neural pathways.

Damage in the corticospinal system following stroke produces imbalance between flexors and extensors in the upper extremity, eventually leading to flexion-favored postures. The substitution of alternative tracts for the damaged corticospinal tract is known to excessively activate flexors of the fingers while the fingers are voluntarily being extended. Here, we questioned whether the cortical source or/and neural pathways of the flexors and extensors of the fingers are coupled and what factor of impairment influences finger movement.

Biomechanical Comparison of Four- versus Six-Strand Transosseous Suture Repair for Patellar Tendon Rupture.

Background:  Surgical repair is indicated for patellar tendon ruptures that result in loss of knee extensor mechanism function. However, biomechanical studies report conflicting results when comparing transosseous suture versus suture anchor repair techniques. This discrepancy may be due to inconsistencies in experimental design as these studies use various numbers of suture strands.