Browse Articles

Exploring the potential association between serum selenium and hypertension in obese adult males in the United States

Antioxidant Responses in Chromium-Stressed Maize as Influenced by Foliar and Root Applications of Fulvic Acid

Influence of ESBL colonization status on gut microbiota composition during allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Development and validation of a prognostic nomogram for predicting outcomes in brainstem hemorrhage patients

Evaluation of fatigue performance of asphalt materials based on their relaxation behavior

Abstract Although the fatigue properties of asphalt materials have been extensively studied, the relationship between the rheological properties and road performance of asphalt mixtures remains underexplored. In this study, we have examined the relaxation properties of asphalt binders through relaxation tests conducted on asphalt and its mastic under different conditions. A repeated stress relaxation-recovery test is designed for assessing both the relaxation and elastic properties, and a set of reasonable test parameters is recommended, thereby establishing a novel test method for measuring the relaxation and elastic behaviors of asphalt. In addition, we have proposed evaluation indexes, such as relaxation time, relaxation rate, and strain recovery rate, to assess the stress relaxation performance and strain recovery ability. It is observed that the relaxation rate and strain recovery rate of the material can be used to characterize the material’s relaxation and elasticity properties, respectively. Thus, the proposed indexes can be used to comprehensively evaluate the viscoelastic performance of the material. The fatigue performance of the selected materials is further examined using the linear amplitude sweep (LAS) test, and the correlation between the relaxation properties and fatigue performance (as indicated by fatigue parameters) is explored. Furthermore, a fatigue performance prediction equation based on the repetitive stress relaxation-recovery test is established. The findings reveal a strong correlation between the relaxation properties and fatigue performance, suggesting that the stress relaxation test can accurately assess the fatigue performance of asphalt materials.

Impact of obesity on iron metabolism and the effect of intravenous iron supplementation in obese patients with absolute iron deficiency

Pharmacovigilance study of the association between progestogen and depression based on the FDA adverse event reporting System (FAERS)

The non-nutritive sweetener rebaudioside a enhances phage infectivity

AbstractNon-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) are widely employed in foodstuffs. However, it has become increasingly evident that their consumption is associated with bacterial dysbiosis, which, in turn, is linked to several health conditions, including a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and cancer. Among the NNS, stevia, whose main component is rebaudioside A (rebA), is gaining popularity in the organic food market segment. While the effect of NNS on bacteria has been established, the impact of these sweeteners on bacterial viruses (phages) has been neglected, even though phages are crucial elements in maintaining microbial eubiosis. The present study sought to provide a proof-of-concept of the impact of NNS on phage infectivity by assessing the binding of rebA to phage proteins involved in the infection process of enteropathogenic bacteria, namely the fiber protein gp17 of Yersinia enterocolitica phage φYeO3-12 and the tubular baseplate protein gp31 of Klebsiella pneumoniae phage 32. We employed docking analysis and a panel of in vitro confirmatory tests (microscale thermophoresis, RedStarch™ depolymerization, adsorption, and lysis rates). Docking analysis indicated that NNS can bind to both fiber and baseplate proteins. Confirmatory assays demonstrated that rebA can bind gp31 and that such binding increased the protein’s enzymatic activity. Moreover, the binding of rebA to gp17 resulted in a decrease in the adsorption rate of the recombinant protein to its host but increased the Yersinia bacteriolysis caused by the whole phage compared to unexposed controls. These results support the hypothesis that NNS can impair phage infectivity, albeit the resulting effect on the microbiome remains to be elucidated.

Automatically optimized vectorcardiographic features are associated with recurrence of atrial fibrillation after electrical cardioversion

Hippocampal dendritic spines store-operated calcium entry and endoplasmic reticulum content is dynamic microtubule dependent

Insights into mungbean defense response to Cercospora leaf spot based on transcriptome analysis

Diagnostic value of the MZXBTCH scoring system for acute complex appendicitis

Effects of oil pollution on the growth and rhizosphere microbial community of Calamagrostis epigejos

The effects of interaction between smoking and abdominal obesity on pre-diabetes mellitus

Novel metabolic prognostic score for predicting survival in patients with cancer

Changes of CA19-9 levels and related influencing factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus after antidiabetic therapy

Enhancing water quality and well-being of Penaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) in Inland saline systems using mixed biochar amendments

AbstractAn experiment was conducted for 60 days in a 500L capacity FRP tank containing inland ground saline water (fortified to a level of 50% potassium) with one control (sediment) and three treatments; T1(Paddy Straw Biochar (PSB) in sediment), T2 (Banana Peduncle Biochar (BPB) in sediment), and T3 (PSB + BPB in sediment). Biochar (100 g) was amended with sediment (25 kg) at 9 tons/ha. Shrimps of average weight 5 ± 0.03 g were stocked at 60 juveniles/m3 and were fed at satiation levels using commercially available feed. Compared to control, in biochar contained treatments the ammonia levels were reduced, the pH, alkalinity, calcium-magnesium ratio, and potassium in water, were increased significantly. Growth metrics reveal a significant increase in final body weight, weight gain percentage, PER, HPSI, SGR, and reduced FCR (within 1–1.26) in biochar-treated groups with the highest survivability (92%) was observed in T3, which is mixed biochar amended sediment. At the end of the experiment, shrimp organs (hepatopancreas, gills, and muscles) and serum were sampled for tissue enzymes and serum profiles, respectively. The mean levels of lipase, amylase and protease varied significantly, and in biochar treated groups significant reduction in the activities of oxidative stress enzymes (SOD and CAT in Hepatopancreas) were recorded in comparison to control. For the serum, higher hemocyanin (0.33 ± 0.01mMolL-1) was observed in mixed biochar amended treatment (T3) and the least in control. In addition, the glucose level in the serum was significantly dropped in biochar-amended groups indicating reduced stress levels, while it increased in control. T3 was found to be the best, among all, in improving growth performance and maintaining the water quality. Even though biochar-amended treatments demonstrated positive outcomes regarding inland saline water quality, growth metrics, and well-being of the P. vannamei compared to control, a deeper analysis is necessary to understand the underlying mechanisms determining these beneficial effects of biochar.

Wind energy assessment and hybrid micro-grid optimization for selected regions of Saudi Arabia

Association between allergic diseases and mucosal healing in ulcerative colitis

Otolith chemistry suggests population heterogeneity within a genetically homogeneous Indian scad population along Indian coast

AbstractThe Indian scad, Decapterus russelli is one of the most exploited pelagic resources of India. Population genetic analyses using mitochondrial and nuclear markers indicated a lack of genetic structuring among populations from Indian waters. As this species is highly migratory, it is also important to establish the environmental influence on its population structure. In the present study, the whole sagittal otolith composition was analysed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) to assess spatial distribution of D. russelli collected from 4 sites along the Indian coast. Elemental ratios (Ba/Ca, Fe/Ca, K/Ca, Mg/Ca, Na/Ca, Sr/Ca and Zn/Ca) were analysed using univariate and multivariate statistics to determine whether this chemical signature can provide insight into the adaptive patterns. All element/Ca ratios are found to be significantly different between the four sampling locations (ANOVA, p < 0.05; MANOVA, p < 0.05). Five of the element/Ca ratios were found to be significantly different when the data was analysed coastwise (ANOVA, p < 0.05; MANOVA, p < 0.05). The LDA plot also showed the spatial heterogeneity of Element/Ca ratios between the four sampling sites, but some overlaps were also observed, reflecting the migratory ability of the species. This basic information on spatial ecology is required for formulating effective management and conservation strategies for the species.