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17 pages, 631 KiB  
Article
Pooled Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing Performs Within CLSI Standards for Validation When Measured Against Broth Microdilution and Disk Diffusion Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing of Cultured Isolates
by Emery Haley, Frank R. Cockerill, Rick L. Pesano, Richard A. Festa, Natalie Luke, Mohit Mathur, Xiaofei Chen, Jim Havrilla and David Baunoch
Antibiotics 2024, 13(12), 1214; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13121214 - 14 Dec 2024
Viewed by 803
Abstract
Background/Objectives: While new methods for measuring antimicrobial susceptibility have been associated with improved patient outcomes, they should also be validated using standard protocols for error rates and other test metrics. The objective of this study was to validate a novel susceptibility assay [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: While new methods for measuring antimicrobial susceptibility have been associated with improved patient outcomes, they should also be validated using standard protocols for error rates and other test metrics. The objective of this study was to validate a novel susceptibility assay for complicated and recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs): pooled antibiotic susceptibility testing (P-AST). This assay was compared to broth microdilution (BMD) and disk diffusion (DD), following Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines for assessment of error rates and agreement. Methods: This study analyzed consecutive fresh clinical urine specimens submitted for UTI diagnostic testing. Upon receipt, the urine samples were subjected in parallel to standard urine culture and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (M-PCR) for microbial identification and quantification. Specimens with the same monomicrobial non-fastidious bacteria detected by both M-PCR and standard urine culture (SUC) underwent standard antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) and P-AST antibiotic susceptibility testing. Analysis was also undertaken to assess the presence of heteroresistance for specimens with P-AST-resistant and BMD/DD consensus-susceptible results. Results: The performance measures without correction for heteroresistance showed essential agreement (EA%) of ≥90%, very major errors (VMEs) of <1.5%, and major errors (MEs) of <3.0% for P-AST, all meeting the threshold guidelines established by CLSI for AST. The categorical agreement (CA%) also met acceptable criteria (>88%), as the majority of the errors were minor (mEs) with essential agreement. The very major and major error rates for P-AST decreased to <1.0% when heteroresistance was accounted for. Conclusions: The P-AST assay methodology is validated within acceptable parameters when compared to broth microdilution and disk diffusion using CLSI criteria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Mechanism and Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance)
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18 pages, 6536 KiB  
Article
Strong Interference Elimination in Seismic Data Using Multivariate Variational Mode Extraction
by Zhichao Yu, Yuyang Tan and Yiran Lv
Sensors 2024, 24(22), 7399; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24227399 - 20 Nov 2024
Viewed by 634
Abstract
Seismic data acquired in the presence of mechanical vibrations or power facilities may be contaminated by strong interferences, significantly decreasing the data signal-to-noise ratio (S/N). Conventional methods, such as the notch filter and time-frequency transform method, are usually inadequate for suppressing non-stationary interference [...] Read more.
Seismic data acquired in the presence of mechanical vibrations or power facilities may be contaminated by strong interferences, significantly decreasing the data signal-to-noise ratio (S/N). Conventional methods, such as the notch filter and time-frequency transform method, are usually inadequate for suppressing non-stationary interference noises, and may distort effective signals if overprocessing. In this study, we propose a method for eliminating mechanical vibration interferences in seismic data. In our method, we extended the variational mode extraction (VME) technique to a multivariate form, called multivariate variational mode extraction (MVME), for synchronous analysis of multitrace seismic data. The interference frequencies are determined via synchrosqueezing-based time-frequency analysis of process recordings; their corresponding modes are extracted and removed from seismic data using MVME with optimal balancing factors. We used synthetic data to investigate the effectiveness of the method and the influence of tuning parameters on processing results, and then applied the method to field datasets. The results have demonstrated that, compared with the conventional methods, the proposed method could effectively suppress the mechanical vibration interferences, improve the S/Ns and enhance polarization analysis of seismic signals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensor Technologies for Seismic Monitoring)
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16 pages, 4828 KiB  
Article
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Profiling Analysis of the Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter Gene Family Under Abiotic Stresses in Medicago sativa
by Wanhong Li, Bowei Jia, Jiaxun Sheng, Yang Shen, Jun Jin, Xiaoli Sun, Xiangping Liu and Mingzhe Sun
Plants 2024, 13(22), 3176; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13223176 - 12 Nov 2024
Viewed by 903
Abstract
The mitochondrial calcium uniporters (MCUs) are a family of calcium unidirectional transporters important for cytoplasmic Ca2+ signals. Though the MCU proteins in several plant species have been investigated, genome-wide analysis of MCUs in alfalfa is lacking. Here, via genome-wide analysis, a total [...] Read more.
The mitochondrial calcium uniporters (MCUs) are a family of calcium unidirectional transporters important for cytoplasmic Ca2+ signals. Though the MCU proteins in several plant species have been investigated, genome-wide analysis of MCUs in alfalfa is lacking. Here, via genome-wide analysis, a total of 5, 20, and 6 MCU genes were identified in three different alfalfa cultivars, namely Medicago truncatula Jemalong A17, Medicago sativa XinJiangDaYe, and M. sativa Zhongmu No. 1, respectively. They were further phylogenetically classified into three subfamilies. Most MCU genes have only one intron, and gene duplication events of MCU genes were observed within each alfalfa accession and between different accessions. All alfalfa MCU proteins contained a highly conserved MCU domain and 10 conserved motifs, featuring two transmembrane domains and a DI/VME motif. According to the tissue expression data of M. sativa Zhongmu No. 1, MsMCU6.2 was the most abundant transcript with the highest expression in the leaf, and MsMCU5 and MsMCU1.2 showed higher expression levels in the stem than other tissues. We analyzed the expression profiles of five MCU genes (MsMCU1.1/1.2/5/6.1/6.2) under salt, drought, and cold stresses via qRT-PCR assays. All five MCU genes were induced by drought stress, except MsMCU5, whose expression was up-regulated by salt stress, while cold stress slightly altered MsMCU expression. Nine potential interacting proteins and three miRNAs targeting MtMCUs were predicted. These results provide detailed knowledge of alfalfa MCU genes and suggest their potential functions in abiotic stress response. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Plant Response to Abiotic Stress and Climate Change)
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10 pages, 994 KiB  
Article
Colistin, Meropenem–Vaborbactam, Imipenem–Relebactam, and Eravacycline Testing in Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative Rods: A Comparative Evaluation of Broth Microdilution, Gradient Test, and VITEK 2
by Patrick Forstner, Lisa Fuchs, Josefa Luxner, Andrea Grisold, Ivo Steinmetz and Karl Dichtl
Antibiotics 2024, 13(11), 1062; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13111062 - 8 Nov 2024
Viewed by 925
Abstract
Objectives. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the performance of different assays for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination for reserve antibiotics in carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CREs), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPAs), and Acinetobacter baumannii (CRABs). Methods. An analysis was conducted [...] Read more.
Objectives. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the performance of different assays for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination for reserve antibiotics in carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CREs), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPAs), and Acinetobacter baumannii (CRABs). Methods. An analysis was conducted on 100 consecutive isolates: 50 CREs, 35 CRPAs, and 15 CRABs. Sensititre broth microdilution was used as a reference standard to evaluate the performance of VITEK 2 card AST-XN24 (bioMérieux), the respective gradient tests (bioMérieux), and UMIC colistin broth microdilution test strips (Bruker Daltonics). Errors, essential agreement (EA), and categorical agreement of MICs for colistin (COL), meropenem–vaborbactam (MVB), imipenem–relebactam (IRL), and eravacycline (ERV) were assessed. Results. The agreement between both of the COL broth microdilution (BMD) methods was perfect (100/100). The gradient test and VITEK 2 analysis yielded comparable EA rates (92/100 and 72/79, respectively), with the latter not registering any very major errors (VMEs). The MVB gradient test achieved EA in 66 of 85 isolates and VITEK 2 in 70/85. For IRL, EA was reached in 69 and 64 of 85 cases by gradient test and VITEK 2 analysis, respectively. The ERV gradient test yielded false results in nearly all (12/15) CRABs but achieved EA in 46 of 50 CREs. The VITEK system recorded EA for ERV in 60 of 65 isolates. Conclusions. We observed substantial variability in the measured MICs between BMD and the alternative methods. In only a few constellations, VITEK 2 or gradient tests could substitute the reference method. BMD is the method of choice for COL analysis, with VITEK 2 representing an alternative method for CRPA testing. Alternative methods for MVB did not provide reliable results, except for Enterobacterales, when tested with the gradient test. However, resistant results need to be confirmed by BMD. Only BMD can be used for IRL MIC determination. VITEK 2 was mostly accurate in measuring ERV MICs, while the corresponding gradient test yielded reliable results exclusively in CREs. It is essential that laboratories are aware of which testing method provides reliable results for each combination of microorganisms and reserve antibiotics. Full article
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24 pages, 3102 KiB  
Article
Fishes Associated with a Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem Network in the Central Mediterranean Sea
by Angela Carluccio, Francesca Capezzuto, Porzia Maiorano, Letizia Sion and Gianfranco D’Onghia
Fishes 2024, 9(11), 433; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes9110433 - 26 Oct 2024
Viewed by 689
Abstract
In order to collect information on ichthyofauna of a deep-sea vulnerable marine ecosystem (VME) network along the Apulian margin (central Mediterranean Sea), two low-impact sampling tools were used in three VMEs characterized by cold-water corals (CWC), namely Bari Canyon (BC), off Monopoli (Mn), [...] Read more.
In order to collect information on ichthyofauna of a deep-sea vulnerable marine ecosystem (VME) network along the Apulian margin (central Mediterranean Sea), two low-impact sampling tools were used in three VMEs characterized by cold-water corals (CWC), namely Bari Canyon (BC), off Monopoli (Mn), and off Santa Maria di Leuca (SML). Using an experimental longline, 53 deployments were carried out between a 314 and 650 m depth for a total of 217 fishing hours, whereas when using the baited lander MEMO (Marine Environment MOnitoring system), 31 deployments were carried out between 427 and 792 m, for a total of 223 h of video recordings. A total of 37 taxa were recorded, comprising 13 Chondrichthyes and 24 Osteichthyes. The similarities in species observed among the VMEs confirm the presence of a network of CWC-VMEs along the Apulian margin, whereas some differences detected are due to the different abundance of some species, such as Galeus melastomus, Helicolenus dactylopterus, and Phycis blennoides. The presence of commercial species, vulnerable/endangered cartilaginous fishes, and large and sexually mature individuals of G. melastomus, H. dactylopterus, and Pagellus bogaraveo in all the VMEs confirms that the network of CWC-VMEs along the Apulian margin can act as a network of refuge areas and an essential fish habitat (EFH) for species threatened by fishing activities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology and Ecology of Coral Reef Fishes)
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12 pages, 3550 KiB  
Article
Deep Learning Based Characterization of Cold-Water Coral Habitat at Central Cantabrian Natura 2000 Sites Using YOLOv8
by Alberto Gayá-Vilar, Alberto Abad-Uribarren, Augusto Rodríguez-Basalo, Pilar Ríos, Javier Cristobo and Elena Prado
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(9), 1617; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12091617 - 11 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 981
Abstract
Cold-water coral (CWC) reefs, such as those formed by Desmophyllum pertusum and Madrepora oculata, are vital yet vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs). The need for accurate and efficient monitoring of these habitats has driven the exploration of innovative approaches. This study presents a [...] Read more.
Cold-water coral (CWC) reefs, such as those formed by Desmophyllum pertusum and Madrepora oculata, are vital yet vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs). The need for accurate and efficient monitoring of these habitats has driven the exploration of innovative approaches. This study presents a novel application of the YOLOv8l-seg deep learning model for the automated detection and segmentation of these key CWC species in underwater imagery. The model was trained and validated on images collected at two Natura 2000 sites in the Cantabrian Sea: the Avilés Canyon System (ACS) and El Cachucho Seamount (CSM). Results demonstrate the model’s high accuracy in identifying and delineating individual coral colonies, enabling the assessment of coral cover and spatial distribution. The study revealed significant variability in coral cover between and within the study areas, highlighting the patchy nature of CWC habitats. Three distinct coral community groups were identified based on percentage coverage composition and abundance, with the highest coral cover group being located exclusively in the La Gaviera canyon head within the ACS. This research underscores the potential of deep learning models for efficient and accurate monitoring of VMEs, facilitating the acquisition of high-resolution data essential for understanding CWC distribution, abundance, and community structure, and ultimately contributing to the development of effective conservation strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Deep Learning in Underwater Image Processing)
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8 pages, 230 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Reveal® AST (SPECIFIC) for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing from Positive Blood Culture Spiked with Carbapenem-Resistant Isolates
by Delphine Girlich, Agnès B. Jousset, Cécile Emeraud, Inès Rezzoug, Reece Burwell, Pragya Singh, Paul A. Rhodes, Thierry Naas, Rémy A. Bonnin and Laurent Dortet
Pathogens 2024, 13(9), 722; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13090722 - 27 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1058
Abstract
As bloodstream infections and associated septic shock are common causes of mortality in hospitals, rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) performed directly on positive blood cultures is needed to implement an efficient therapy in clinical settings. We evaluated the Reveal® rapid AST system [...] Read more.
As bloodstream infections and associated septic shock are common causes of mortality in hospitals, rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) performed directly on positive blood cultures is needed to implement an efficient therapy in clinical settings. We evaluated the Reveal® rapid AST system on a collection of 197 fully characterized carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales, including 177 carbapenemase producers (CPE) spiked in blood culture bottles. The clinical categorization based on the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) determination of eighteen antimicrobial molecules was compared to the clinical categorization based on the disk diffusion assay as a reference. The Reveal AST system provided results within a mean time to result of 5 h. Overall, the categorical agreement (CA) between the two techniques was 94.1%. The rates of very major errors (VMEs), major errors (MEs) and minor errors (mEs) were 3.8%, 3.7% and 5.6%, respectively. Imipenem was the antimicrobial with the lowest CA rate (78.7%), with rates of 15% VMEs and 10.7% MEs, but the performances were better when considering only the non-CPE category (CA of 89%). On this resistant collection of Enterobacterales with numerous acquired β-lactamases, the Specific Reveal assay proved to be useful for a rapid determination of AST compatible with a quick adaptation of the patient’s antimicrobial treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Epidemiology of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria)
21 pages, 5790 KiB  
Article
Deep-Sea Ophiuroids (Echinodermata; Ophiuroidea) from the Avilés Canyon System: Seven New Records for the Spanish North Atlantic Marine Subdivision
by Aurora Macías-Ramírez, Laura M. García-Guillén and M. Eugenia Manjón-Cabeza
Diversity 2024, 16(7), 407; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16070407 - 14 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1391
Abstract
The Avilés Canyon System (ACS) is located in the southern Bay of Biscay (northern Spain, Cantabrian Sea). It has been declared a Site of Community Importance (SCI: C ESZZ12003) within the Natura 2000 Network and recognized as a Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem (VME). This [...] Read more.
The Avilés Canyon System (ACS) is located in the southern Bay of Biscay (northern Spain, Cantabrian Sea). It has been declared a Site of Community Importance (SCI: C ESZZ12003) within the Natura 2000 Network and recognized as a Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem (VME). This area is included in the North Atlantic Marine Subdivision (NAMD). The present study reviews ophiuroid fauna collected during the INDEMARES–ACS project and compares the new findings with previous studies using the Official Spanish Checklist (“Inventario Español de Especies Marinas”) to update our knowledge on the diversity and distribution of these species. During the surveys carried out within the LIFE + INDEMARES–Avilés Canyon System project (2010–2012), a total of 7413 specimens belonging to 45 ophiuroid species were collected from 50 stations in a depth range between 266 and 2291 m. The most frequent species was Ophiactis abyssicola (M. Sars, 1861). Comparing the identified species with public datasets, seven species should be considered as new records for NAMD: Ophiocten centobi Paterson, Tyler & Gage, 1982, Amphiura borealis (G.O. Sars, 1872), Amphiura fragilis Verrill, 1885, Ophiochondrus armatus (Koehler, 1907), Ophiosabine parcita (Koehler, 1906), Ophiophrixus spinosus (Storm, 1881), Ophiotreta valenciennesi (Lyman, 1879). Furthermore, one species has expanded its bathymetric range: Ophiosabine parcita (Koehler, 1906). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deep-Sea Echinoderms of the European Seas)
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10 pages, 5988 KiB  
Communication
Benthic Biodiversity by Baited Camera Observations on the Cosmonaut Sea Shelf of East Antarctica
by Jianfeng Mou, Xuebao He, Kun Liu, Yaqin Huang, Shuyi Zhang, Yongcan Zu, Yanan Liu, Shunan Cao, Musheng Lan, Xing Miao, Heshan Lin and Wenhua Liu
Diversity 2024, 16(5), 277; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16050277 - 6 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1233
Abstract
A free-fall baited camera lander was launched for the first time on the Cosmonaut Sea shelf of East Antarctica at a depth of 694 m during the 38th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE) in 2022. We identified 31 unique taxa (23 were [...] Read more.
A free-fall baited camera lander was launched for the first time on the Cosmonaut Sea shelf of East Antarctica at a depth of 694 m during the 38th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE) in 2022. We identified 31 unique taxa (23 were invertebrates and eight were fish) belonging to eight phyla from 2403 pictures and 40 videos. The Antarctic jonasfish (Notolepis coatsi) was the most frequently observed fish taxa. Ten species of vulnerable marine ecosystem (VME) taxa were observed, accounting for 32% of all species. The maximum number (MaxN) of Natatolana meridionalis individuals per image frame was ten, and they were attracted to the bait. The macrobenthic community type were sessile suspension feeders with associated fauna (SSFA), which was shaped by the muddy substrata with scattered rocks. Rocks served as the best habitats for sessile fauna. The study reveals the megafauna community and their habitat by image survey in the Cosmonaut Sea for the first time. It helped us obtain Antarctic biodiversity baselines and monitoring data for future ecosystem health assessment and better protection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Biogeography of Marine Benthos)
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27 pages, 22446 KiB  
Article
Bearing Fault Diagnosis Based on Parameter-Optimized Variational Mode Extraction and an Improved One-Dimensional Convolutional Neural Network
by Dongliang Zhang and Hanming Tao
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(8), 3289; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14083289 - 13 Apr 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1347
Abstract
When faults occur in rolling bearings, vibration signals exhibit sensitivity to periodic impact components, susceptibility to complex background noise, and non-stationary and nonlinear characteristics. Consequently, using traditional signal processing methods to effectively identify bearing faults presents significant challenges. To facilitate the accurate fault [...] Read more.
When faults occur in rolling bearings, vibration signals exhibit sensitivity to periodic impact components, susceptibility to complex background noise, and non-stationary and nonlinear characteristics. Consequently, using traditional signal processing methods to effectively identify bearing faults presents significant challenges. To facilitate the accurate fault diagnosis of bearings in noisy conditions, we propose an intelligent fault diagnosis method using the Archimedes optimization algorithm (AOA), coupled with a one-dimensional multi-scale residual convolutional neural network (1D-MRCNN), to optimize the variational mode extraction (VME) parameters. First, we introduce a weighted correlated kurtosis (WCK) indicator, formulated using the correlation coefficient and correlated kurtosis as the objective function, to optimize the VME’s center frequency ω and penalty factor α, enabling targeted signal extraction. Second, deep learning techniques are employed to construct the 1D-MRCNN. The neural network then processes the extracted signal for feature extraction and automated fault-type identification. Our simulation results show that the WCK objective function effectively isolates impact components under fault conditions, and our experimental validation confirms that the proposed method accurately identifies diverse fault types across multiple noise levels. Full article
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11 pages, 2389 KiB  
Article
Photon-Counting Detector CT Virtual Monoenergetic Images in Cervical Trauma Imaging—Optimization of Dental Metal Artifacts and Image Quality
by Daniel Dillinger, Daniel Overhoff, Matthias F. Froelich, Hanns L. Kaatsch, Christian Booz, Achim Hagen, Thomas J. Vogl, Stefan O. Schönberg and Stephan Waldeck
Diagnostics 2024, 14(6), 626; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14060626 - 15 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1231
Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the extent of dental metal artifacts in virtual monoenergetic (VME) images, as they often compromise image quality by obscuring soft tissue affecting vascular attenuation reducing sensitivity in the detection of dissections. Methods: Neck photon-counting [...] Read more.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the extent of dental metal artifacts in virtual monoenergetic (VME) images, as they often compromise image quality by obscuring soft tissue affecting vascular attenuation reducing sensitivity in the detection of dissections. Methods: Neck photon-counting CT datasets of 50 patients undergoing contrast-enhanced trauma CT were analyzed. Hyperattenuation and hypoattenuation artifacts, muscle with and without artifacts and vessels with and without artifacts were measured at energy levels from 40 keV to 190 keV. The corrected artifact burden, corrected image noise and artifact index were calculated. We also assessed subjective image quality on a Likert-scale. Results: Our study showed a lower artifact burden and less noise in artifact-affected areas above the energy levels of 70 keV for hyperattenuation artifacts (conventional polychromatic CT images 1123 ± 625 HU vs. 70 keV VME 1089 ± 733 HU, p = 0.125) and above of 80 keV for hypoattenuation artifacts (conventional CT images −1166 ± 779 HU vs. 80 keV VME −1170 ± 851 HU, p = 0.927). Vascular structures were less hampered by metal artifacts than muscles (e.g., corrected artifact burden at 40 keV muscle 158 ± 125 HU vs. vessels −63 ± 158 HU p < 0.001), which was also reflected in the subjective image assessment, which showed better ratings at higher keV values and overall better ratings for vascular structures than for the overall artifact burden. Conclusions: Our research suggests 70 keV might be the best compromise for reducing metal artifacts affecting vascular structures and preventing vascular contrast if solely using VME reconstructions. VME imaging shows only significant effects on the general artifact burden. Vascular structures generally experience fewer metal artifacts than soft tissue due to their greater distance from the teeth, which are a common source of such artifacts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis and Management in Emergency Medicine)
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14 pages, 5769 KiB  
Article
Influences of Different Acid Solutions on Pore Structures and Fractal Features of Coal
by Jingshuo Zhang, Xiaoming Ni, Xiaolei Liu and Erlei Su
Fractal Fract. 2024, 8(2), 82; https://doi.org/10.3390/fractalfract8020082 - 26 Jan 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1411
Abstract
The effect of different acids on the pore structure and fractal characteristics of micropores and mesopores was determined with the help of low-temperature liquid nitrogen adsorption, X-ray diffraction, and the Frenkel–Halsey–Hill (FHH) model by using Yuwu coal as a sample and placing it [...] Read more.
The effect of different acids on the pore structure and fractal characteristics of micropores and mesopores was determined with the help of low-temperature liquid nitrogen adsorption, X-ray diffraction, and the Frenkel–Halsey–Hill (FHH) model by using Yuwu coal as a sample and placing it in acidic environments, such as HF, HCl, HNO3, and CH3COOH. The results show that the acidization effects of HF and CH3COOH are separately dominated by the micropore and mesopore formation effects, while HCl and HNO3 mainly play their roles in expanding mesopores. After acidization, the surface fractal dimensions D1 and D1′ of micropores and mesopores in coal are always negatively correlated with the total specific surface area SBET, specific surface area Smic of micropores, and specific surface area Smes of mesopores. After being acidized by HF, D2 is negatively correlated with the total volume Vtot and the corresponding micropore volume Vmic, while acidization with HCl and HNO3 leads to the opposite result. After being acidized by CH3COOH, D2 has a negative correlation with Vtot and a positive correlation with Vmic. The structural fractal dimensions D2′ of mesopores in samples acidized by HF and CH3COOH are positively correlated with both the volume Vtot and mesopore volume Vmes, while it is the opposite for samples acidized by HNO3. D2′ of coal samples acidized by HCl is negatively correlated with Vtot while positively correlated with Vmes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fractal Analysis and Its Applications in Rock Engineering)
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15 pages, 2147 KiB  
Hypothesis
The Food-Crushing Reflex and Its Inhibition
by Lauri H. Vaahtoniemi
Appl. Biosci. 2023, 2(4), 550-564; https://doi.org/10.3390/applbiosci2040035 - 18 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1892
Abstract
Anterior tooth (ANT) contacts induce a short-latency reflex inhibition of the human jaw-closing muscles. The jaw is a rigid class 1 lever for pinpoint targeting muscle force into a single bite point, the pivoting food particle. Seesaw reflex movements around the food particle [...] Read more.
Anterior tooth (ANT) contacts induce a short-latency reflex inhibition of the human jaw-closing muscles. The jaw is a rigid class 1 lever for pinpoint targeting muscle force into a single bite point, the pivoting food particle. Seesaw reflex movements around the food particle fulcrum multiply the food-crushing force. Unpredictable jolts of reaction force caused by food crushing are subjected to the rostral ANT and caudally to the two articulate ends of the jaw triangle. The compression/distraction strains of food crushing must be monitored and inhibited by withdrawal reflexes. The mesencephalic ganglion (Vmes), neural myelin sheath, and muscle stretch receptors evolved subsequently to the advent of jaws to improve the velocity of proprioceptive and withdrawal reflexes. In mammalians, the spindles of the taut motor units, stretched by the food fulcrum, send excitatory monosynaptic feedback for the efferent neurons of the respective ipsilateral muscle units via the Vmes. In the Vmes, the spindle-input-mediating afferent neurons are coupled with another source of afferent feedback, which is also excitatory, from the back tooth (BAT) mechanoreceptors. The two sources of excitatory pulses are summated and targeted for the efferent neurons to boost the stretched and taut motor units. Likewise, the afferent feedback from the ANT mechanoreceptors is also coupled in the Vmes with concomitant feedback from spindles. The ANT output, however, is inhibitory to negate the excitatory feedback from the stretched jaw muscle units. The inhibitory feed from the anterior teeth temporarily blocks the excitatory potential of the masticatory motor efferent neurons to protect the anterior teeth and jaw joints from inadvertent strains. The inhibitory inputs from the anterior teeth alternate with the excitatory inputs from the BAT to determine which jaw-closing muscle units are activated or inhibited at any given instant of food crushing. The Vmes exists in all jawed vertebrates, and its evolution was probably motivated by demands for the control of bite force. The monosynaptic unilateral food-crushing excitatory and inhibitory reflexes (UFCRs) override the coexisting bilaterally executed feed for the jaw muscles from the central nervous system. The hypothesis proposed in this study is that the Vmes-mediated UFCRs combine neural inputs from tooth contacts with concomitant feedback from the muscle stretch receptors for the control of the mammalian food-crushing bite force. Full article
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20 pages, 14802 KiB  
Article
Detailed Analysis of the Effects of Viscosity Measurement Errors Caused by Heat Transfer during Continuous Viscosity Measurements under Various Temperature Changes and the Proposed Solution of a Non-Dimensional Parameter Called the Akpek Number
by Ali Akpek
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(19), 10684; https://doi.org/10.3390/app131910684 - 26 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3305
Abstract
It is extremely important to gather the viscosity behavior of fluids accurately for industries and academia. There is no better method than viscosity measurement to detect changes in the specific characteristics of the materials. However, viscosity measurement is indeed a very sensitive process. [...] Read more.
It is extremely important to gather the viscosity behavior of fluids accurately for industries and academia. There is no better method than viscosity measurement to detect changes in the specific characteristics of the materials. However, viscosity measurement is indeed a very sensitive process. In nature, fluids are involved in widely various containers, and they are affected by serious temperature deviations. It is a necessity for viscometers to have the capability to obtain accurate data from all types of containers of fluids even in serious temperature variations in order to understand the natural phenomena inside the fluids. Conventional viscometers mainly neglect the effect of sudden temperature deviations inside the fluids, or they need to use very expensive water bath systems that stabilize the temperature around the test fluids, which is not feasible at all. In this research, the effects of non-uniform temperature fields are analysed detailly to confirm that even in extremely limited amounts, serious viscosity and temperature deviations may occur. Experiments were performed in two parts. The first part was conducted using several thermocouples with different test fluids to find out the effects of thermal conduction and convection. For the second part, particle image velocimetry (PIV) was utilized to comprehend the flow movement within the test fluids. It was shown that even for small volumes and even in very controlled environments, an almost 35% viscosity measurement error (VME) occurs. Finally, as a solution to this problem, a new non-dimensional parameter called the Akpek number was proposed. The Akpek number enables the estimation of VMEs in any possible case. VME is a very crucial obstacle that has urgency to be illuminated by researchers and scientists to improve fluid characteristics. The main goal of this research is to illuminate the importance of this problem and offer a potential solution. The final results are supported by experimental data and numerical simulations using OpenFOAM. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Applied Heat Transfer)
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16 pages, 9290 KiB  
Article
Changes in Abundance and Distribution of the Sea Pen, Funiculina quadrangularis, in the Central Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean Basin) in Response to Variations in Trawling Intensity
by Michela Martinelli, Lorenzo Zacchetti, Andrea Belardinelli, Filippo Domenichetti, Paolo Scarpini, Pierluigi Penna, Damir Medvešek, Igor Isajlović and Nedo Vrgoč
Fishes 2023, 8(7), 347; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8070347 - 1 Jul 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2345
Abstract
Marine resources exploitation through bottom trawling affects marine ecosystems; thus, management should consider the presence of sensitive species as ecosystem health indicators. Epibenthic organisms such as sea pens are widely used to assess benthic conditions, as their populations are declining where trawling is [...] Read more.
Marine resources exploitation through bottom trawling affects marine ecosystems; thus, management should consider the presence of sensitive species as ecosystem health indicators. Epibenthic organisms such as sea pens are widely used to assess benthic conditions, as their populations are declining where trawling is intense. The Pomo/Jabuka Pits fishing ground in the Adriatic Sea, subject to various management measures over the years, is a nursery for European hake and hosts a small, but dense, population of Norway lobster and a remarkable abundance of pink shrimp. The sea pen Funiculina quadrangularis shares its habitat (sandy-muddy bottoms) with these crustaceans. Through UnderWater TeleVision surveys conducted from 2012 to 2019, F. quadrangularis abundance and distribution were quantified in relation to changes in the spatiotemporal distribution of fishing efforts. The average density (n/m2) of colonies was calculated for three periods: BEFORE implementation of measures (before 1 July 2015), during an INTERMEDIATE period in which limitations changed (2 July 2015 to 31 August 2017), and AFTER the implementation of a Fishery Restricted Area (from 1 September 2017). F. quadrangularis revealed an increase in density where fisheries were closed, even after a short period. This showed how management measures can positively influence epibenthic communities and that sea pens can be indicators of impact and/or recovery of habitats. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fisheries and Blue Economy)
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