Selective Green Colorimetric Liquid- and Solid-Based Determination of Furfural in Power Transformer Insulating Fluid.

Furfural (FF), an intermediate aldehyde compound, can serve as an indicator of the extent of the Maillard reaction on heat-induced food processing and storage, as well as for the aging assessment of the solid insulation of oil-immersed transformers because it is formed by the degradation of cellulosic insulation. By considering the concepts of green analytical chemistry, a new furfural-bis-(4-aminophenyl) disulfide (APDS) colorimetric chemosensory assay, based on the Stenhouse reaction between furfural and APDS, was developed for the quantification of furfural by utilizing UV spectroscopy and colorimetric analyses. A strong correlation between UV-vis absorbance and furfural concentrations was observed, which confirmed the high sensitivity (0.

Asxl1 regulates optic cup development through interaction with Lhx2 and epigenetic modulation of Wnt signaling.

The () gene is a chromatin regulator involved in transcriptional activation and repression. While Asxl1 plays a crucial role in various organ development, its role in ocular development remains unclear. Here, we analyzed knockout (KO) mice and observed disrupted optic cup formation at embryonic day 10.

Diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in disseminated tuberculosis with bone marrow involvement and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: A case report and literature review.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB)-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare and potentially fatal condition characterized by a hyperinflammatory response. Bone marrow TB poses unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, often leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. Here, we report a case of disseminated TB with bone marrow involvement, characterized by unexplained fever, pancytopenia, liver dysfunction, and associated hemophagocytosis.

Xenes-based QCM sensors: exploring borophene and silicene for humidity sensing.

Borophene and silicene, two novel members of the Xene family, feature high surface reactivity and stability suitable for sensing applications. However, the gas sensing capabilities of these materials in their pristine form have not been systematically investigated. Here we show that borophene- and silicene-based quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensors achieve stable and sensitive relative humidity detection and we model their adsorption-desorption mechanisms.

Co-blockade of TGFβ and PD-1 Reinvigorates Glioblastoma-Infiltrating CD8+ T Cells That Characteristically Upregulate TGFβRI Expression.

Purpose: Clinical trials have shown limited efficacy of anti-PD-1 treatment for glioblastoma (GBM). In this study, we examined the expression of TGFβ type I receptor (TGFβRI) in GBM-infiltrating CD8+ T cells and the characteristics of TGFβRI+CD8+ T cells. We examined the ex vivo effects of the co-blockade of PD-1 and TGFβ on the functions of GBM-infiltrating CD8+ T cells.

Patients With Mild COVID-19 Exhibit Low Functional Avidity of SARS-CoV-2 Membrane Protein-Reactive CD4 T Cells.

Herein, we found that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-unexposed individuals exhibited an increased frequency of CD4 T cells against SARS-CoV-2 membrane (M) protein, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 M-reactive cells may be primed by previous infection with common cold coronaviruses (CCCoVs). We confirmed that CCCoV M-reactive CD4 T cells cross-recognize SARS-CoV-2 M in unexposed individuals. Among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) convalescents and unexposed individuals, SARS-CoV-2 M-reactive CD4 T cells exhibited significantly lower functional avidity than CD4 T cells reactive to other viruses.

Asxl1 loss in mice leads to microcephaly by regulating neural stem cell survival.

Additional sex comb-like 1 (ASXL1) is a chromatin-associated factor essential for transcriptional regulation. De novo truncating mutations in the gene are linked to Bohring-Opitz syndrome, a developmental disorder characterized by microcephaly; however, the role of Asxl1 in brain development remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that Asxl1 deletion in mice induces microcephaly, primarily caused by a reduction in the size and number of cortical neurons.

Spontaneous rolling of a soft sphere on a vertical soft substrate.

On perfectly vertical surfaces, rolling is conventionally deemed impossible without external torque. While various species like geckos and spiders exhibit vertical locomotion, they cannot achieve rolling; instead, they fall. In this study, we demonstrate the spontaneous rolling of a soft polyacrylamide sphere on a soft polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate held vertically at a 90° incline, given specific elasticity values for the materials.

Targets of influenza human T-cell response are mostly conserved in H5N1.

Frequent recent spillovers of subtype H5N1 clade 2.3.4.

analysis for the development of multi-epitope vaccines against .

As Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine's effectiveness is limited to only children, the development of new tuberculosis (TB) vaccines is being studied using several platforms, and a novel TB vaccine that overcomes this limitation is required. In this study, we designed an effective multi-epitope vaccine against using immunoinformatic analysis. First, we selected 11 highly antigenic proteins based on previous research: Ag85A, Ag85B, Ag85C, ESAT-6, MPT64, Rv2660c, TB10.

Rapid Spreading of Yield-Stress Liquids.

When a liquid drop makes initial contact with any surface, an unbalanced surface tension force drives the contact line, causing spreading. For Newtonian liquids, either liquid inertia or viscosity dictates these early regimes of spreading, albeit with different power-law behaviors of the evolution of the dynamic spreading radius. In this work, we investigate the early regimes of spreading for yield-stress liquids.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Extrapulmonary Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infections in a Tertiary-Care Hospital: A Retrospective Study.

The incidence of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections has increased globally; however, the clinical manifestations and optimal treatment strategies for extrapulmonary NTM infections remain poorly defined. This study assessed the clinical manifestations and treatment outcomes of extrapulmonary NTM infections. Data from adult patients with suspected extrapulmonary NTM infections at a tertiary-care hospital from 2009-2022 were categorized into NTM disease and isolation groups.

Unravelling soft interfaces: Visualization of gel ridges.

Hypothesis: Soft materials, particularly elastomers, are extensively studied, but investigations into purely soft gel contact systems are limited due to their complex dual phases consisting of polymer and free liquids. While Dual Wavelength-Reflection Interference Confocal Microscopy (DW-RICM) is effective for noninvasively visualizing interfaces from a bottom view, it faces challenges in gel studies due to close refractive indices of polymeric networks and free liquids. We hypothesize that modulating the refractive index of soft gels using nanoparticles (NPs) enhances the visualization of contact zone beneath the free surface, providing insights into the configuration of phase-separated free oil within gel-on-gel contact systems.

Adaptive immune response to bordetella pertussis during vaccination and infection: emerging perspectives and unanswered questions.

Introduction: Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, remains a significant challenge as a vaccine-preventable disease worldwide. Since the switch from the whole-cell Pertussis (wP) vaccine to the acellular Pertussis vaccine (aP), cases of whooping cough have increased in countries using the aP vaccine. Understanding the immune system's response to pertussis vaccines and infection is crucial for improving current vaccine efficacy.

Enterococcus Phage vB_EfaS_HEf13 as an Anti-Biofilm Agent Against Enterococcus faecalis.

Enterococcus faecalis is a Gram-positive bacterium that is frequently found in the periapical lesion of patients with apical periodontitis. Its biofilm formation in root canal is closely related to the development of refractory apical periodontitis by providing increased resistance to endodontic treatments. Phage therapy has recently been considered as an efficient therapeutic strategy in controlling various periodontal pathogens.

Flexible hydrogels connecting adhesion and wetting.

Raindrops falling on window-panes spread upon contact, whereas hail can cause dents or scratches on the same glass window upon contact. While the former phenomenon resembles classical wetting, the latter is dictated by contact and adhesion theories. The classical Young-Dupre law applies to the wetting of pure liquids on rigid solids, whereas conventional contact mechanics theories account for rigid-on-soft or soft-on-rigid contacts with small deformations in the elastic limit.

Comparison of the Clinical Outcomes Between Early and Delayed Transplantation After SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Our study analyzed 95 solid organ transplant (SOT) and 78 hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients with prior coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Patients who underwent transplantation within 30 days of COVID-19 infection comprised the early group, and those who underwent transplantation post-30 days of COVID-19 infection comprised the delayed group. In the early transplantation group, no patient, whether undergoing SOT and HSCT, experienced COVID-19-associated complications.

Density Functional Theory Approach to Interpret Elastowetting of Hydrogels.

Sessile hydrogel drops on rigid surfaces exhibit a wetting/contact morphology intermediate between liquid drops and glass spheres. Using density functional theory, we reveal the contact forces acting between a hydrogel and a rigid glass surface. We show that while transitioning from liquid-like to solid-like hydrogels, there exists a critical hydrogel elasticity that enables a switch from attractive-to-repulsive interaction with the underlying rigid glass surface.

Outbreak investigation of Serratia marcescens bloodstream infection in an obstetric ward for high-risk pregnant women.

Background: Serratia marcescens is a gram-negative bacterium that is widespread in the environment. S. marcescens bacteremia can be fatal during pregnancy and cause persistent chorioamnionitis.

Clinical safety of remdesivir therapy in COVID-19 patients with renal insufficiency.

Though remdesivir benefits COVID-19 patients, its use in those with renal dysfunction is currently limited due to concerns about possible toxic effects of accumulated sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin (SBECD) on liver and kidney. We examined renal and hepatic function for a month in renally-impaired COVID-19 patients who were treated or not treated with remdesivir to assess the safety of the drug. A retrospective study was performed in adult COVID-19 patients with glomerular filtration rates of <30 ml/min/1.

Clinical Characteristics of Nocardiosis: a Multicenter Retrospective Study in Korea.

Background: Nocardiosis is a rare, but potentially life-threatening condition. It is difficult to diagnose, and bacterial culture identification can be time consuming. We investigated the characteristics of nocardiosis and the suitability of the treatment approach in Korea.

Organohydrogels with cellulose nanofibers enhanced supramolecular interactions toward high performance self-adhesive sensing pads.

Gel materials with tailored functions and tissue-like properties have gained significant interest in emerging applications, including tissue engineering scaffolds, flexible electronics, and soft robotics. In this work, we developed a stretchable, flexible, adhesive, and conductive organohydrogel through physical cross-linking of the poly (N-[tris (hydroxymethyl) methyl] acrylamide-co-acrylamide) (denoted as P(THMA-AM)) network in the presence of cellulose nanofiber (CNF), sodium chloride, and glycerol. The gel matrix is rich in intermolecular interactions, including hydrogen bonding and ionic interactions, which contribute to a highly compact and cohesive structure without the requirement of any chemical crosslinkers.

Clinical Characteristics of and Risk Factors for Subsequent Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) Bacteraemia in Rectal CPE Carriers.

Background: Due to high mortality and limited treatment options, the rise in carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) has become a major concern. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and characteristics of subsequent CPE bacteraemia in rectal CPE carriers and investigate the risk factors for CPE bacteraemia compared with non-carbapenemase-producing (non-CP) Enterobacterales bacteraemia.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on adult patients who were confirmed to have CPE colonisation by stool surveillance culture at a tertiary hospital from January 2018 to February 2022.