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A more rapid and less complicated test to diagnose pertussis is required in clinical settings. We need to detect Bordetella pertussis, which mainly causes pertussis, as early as possible, because pertussis is more likely to become severe in infants, and people around them can easily become a source of infection due to its strong infectivity. Nevertheless, methods that can detect B. pertussis rapidly and efficiently are lacking. Therefore, we developed a new immunochromatographic antigen kit (ICkit) for the early diagnosis of pertussis. The ICkit detects B. pertussis antigens in a nasopharyngeal swab without equipment and provides the result in about 15 min with a simple procedure. Additionally, a prospective study to evaluate the ICkit was conducted in 11 medical institutions, involving 195 cases with suspected pertussis. Compared with the real-time polymerase chain reaction (rPCR), the sensitivity and specificity of the ICkit were 86.4% (19/22) and 97.1% (168/173), respectively. The ICkit detected the antigen in both children and adults. Furthermore, the ICkit detected the antigen until the 25th day from the onset of cough, when rPCR detected the antigen. Thus, the ICkit demonstrated a high correlation with rPCR and would help diagnose pertussis more rapidly and efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of deicers in urban areas, on runways and aircrafts has raised concerns about their environmental impact. Understanding the ice-melting mechanism is crucial for developing environmentally friendly deicers, yet it remains challenging. This study employs machine learning to investigate the ice penetration capacity (IPC) of 21 salts and 16 organic solvents as deicers. Relationships between their IPC and various physical properties were analysed using extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) and Shapley additive explanation (SHAP). Three key ice-melting mechanisms were identified: (1) freezing-point depression, (2) interactions between deicers and H2O molecules and (3) infiltration of ions into ice crystals. SHAP analysis revealed different ice-melting factors and mechanisms for salts and organic solvents, suggesting a potential advantage in combining the two. A mixture of propylene glycol (PG) and sodium formate demonstrated superior environmental impact and IPC. The PG and sodium formate mixture exhibited higher IPC when compared to six commercially available deicers, offering promise for sustainable deicing applications. This study provides valuable insights into the ice-melting process and proposes an effective, environmentally friendly deicer that combines the strengths of organic solvents and salts, paving the way for more sustainable practices in deicing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work implements artificial neural networks (ANNs) to monitor tool wear during turning of AISI D6 steel. The goal is to detect wear, prevent tool breakage, and enhance productivity. Experimental tests involve using polycrystalline cubic boron nitride tools to turn AISI D6 steel, measuring wear and surface roughness. ANNs are trained with machining forces, electric current, and acoustic emission data. Findings showed that cutting and machining forces, along with motor current, increased as the wear progresses. The dominant frequencies of the acoustic emission signal range from 30 to 40 kHz, with decreasing RMS as wear increases. The ANN achieved satisfactory results, with wear estimation deviations below 0.09 mm. However, its predictive capability beyond the training range is limited. Workpiece surface roughness estimation showed around 8% error compared to the experimental Ra values. Overall, the ANN-based approach enables real-time tool wear monitoring, reducing the risk of damage and optimizing productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is no treatment for acute aortic dissection (AAD) targeting inflammatory cells. We aimed to identify the new therapeutic targets associated with inflammatory cells. We characterized the specific distribution of myeloid cells of both human type A AAD samples and a murine AAD model generated using angiotensin II (ANGII) and β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). We also examined the effect of an anti-interleukin-1β (IL-1β) antibody in the murine AAD model. IL1B+ inflammatory macrophages and classical monocytes were increased in human AAD samples. Trajectory analysis demonstrated that IL1B+ inflammatory macrophages differentiated from S100A8/9/12+ classical monocytes uniquely observed in the aorta of AAD. We found increased infiltration of neutrophils and monocytes with the expression of inflammatory cytokines in the aorta and accumulation of inflammatory macrophages before the onset of macroscopic AAD in the murine AAD model. In blocking experiments using an anti-IL-1β antibody, it improved survival of murine AAD model by preventing elastin degradation. We observed the accumulation of inflammatory macrophages expressing IL-1β in both human AAD samples and in a murine AAD model. Anti-IL-1β antibody could improve the mortality rate in mice, suggesting that it may be a treatment option for AAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been no report about in vivo active cholesterol-lowering dipeptide in any protein origin, despite their potential health benefits. Cattle heart protein hydrolysate ultra-filtrate (HPHU, molecular weight < ca. 1,000 Da peptide mixture) exhibits cholesterol-lowering activity in hypercholesterolemic rats, but the active peptide in HPHU that lowers serum cholesterol levels and its molecular mechanism are unknown. In this study, we separated and purified HPHU to identify a novel cholesterol-lowering dipeptide (phenylalanine-proline, FP) and characterized the mechanism underlying its effects in vivo and in vitro. We identified FP as an active peptide from HPHU by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. FP significantly decreased serum total and non-HDL cholesterol and hepatic cholesterol levels in rats. FP significantly increased serum HDL cholesterol, accompanied by a significant decrease in the atherogenic index. FP also significantly increased fecal cholesterol and acidic steroid excretion. Moreover, FP significantly decreased ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) expression in the rat jejunum and reduced cholesterol absorption in Caco-2 cells. We found a novel cholesterol-lowering dipeptide FP that could improve cholesterol metabolism via the down-regulation of intestinal ABCA1. The cholesterol-lowering action induced by FP was disappeared in PepT1KO mice. FP-induced cholesterol-lowering action is mediated via PepT1 in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulating evidence suggests that human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes can affect "heart regeneration", replacing injured cardiac scar tissue with concomitant electrical integration. However, electrically coupled graft cardiomyocytes were found to innately induce transient post-transplant ventricular tachycardia in recent large animal model transplantation studies. We hypothesised that these phenomena were derived from alterations in the grafted cardiomyocyte characteristics. In vitro experiments showed that human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hESC-CMs) contain nodal-like cardiomyocytes that spontaneously contract faster than working-type cardiomyocytes. When transplanted into athymic rat hearts, proliferative capacity was lower for nodal-like than working-type cardiomyocytes with grafted cardiomyocytes eventually comprising only relatively matured ventricular cardiomyocytes. RNA-sequencing of engrafted hESC-CMs confirmed the increased expression of matured ventricular cardiomyocyte-related genes, and simultaneous decreased expression of nodal cardiomyocyte-related genes. Temporal engraftment of electrical excitable nodal-like cardiomyocytes may thus explain the transient incidence of post-transplant ventricular tachycardia, although further large animal model studies will be required to control post-transplant arrhythmia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were fortified at a level of 1.5% in a composed diet. The effects were confirmed in 0-year black sea bream Acanthopagrus schlegeli in terms of lipid metabolism and physiological activity. The EPA group was high in EPA in muscle, liver, intraperitoneal fat body (IPF), eye and brain. The levels of DHA in liver, eye, brain and heart were also high in the EPA group, suggesting that conversion of EPA to DHA occurred in those organs. Fortification of DHA increased the levels of DHA in organs except the eye, but did not affect EPA levels. Both the EPA and DHA groups showed smaller adipocytes or lower levels of lipid content than the control group. The starvation followed by feeding experiment caused marked body weight loss in the control group by consumption of muscle protein and lipids in IPF. Fortifications of EPA and DHA induced less mobilization of muscle protein and IPF lipids as energy. Liver function and resistance to air-dipping were improved by both EPA and DHA fortifications. The present results implied conversion of EPA to DHA in the fish with regard to parameters, such as lipid metabolism and physiological vitality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Hatchery-reared black sea bream Acanthopagrus schlegeli juveniles averaging 0.05 g in body weight were fed either a control diet (commercial diet) or an experimental diet in which the commercial diet was fortified with 50 mg l-ascorbyl 2-monophosphate Mg (APM)/100 g diet for 50 days. Calcium ascorbate supplemented as a vitamin mixture in the control diet was completely destroyed during storage. Fortification with APM significantly increased the ascorbic acid levels in the muscle, liver, brain and eye. Although APM fortification did not influence growth, survival or fish body composition, adipocyte diameter in the intraperitoneal fat body (IPF) was significantly reduced. After the feeding experiment, the fish were kept for 39 days without feeding. Fortification with APM resulted in high survival, high muscle protein retention and low body weight loss. The results suggested the necessity of fortification with an adequate amount of ascorbate in the diet. While fatty acid compositions of the IPF, muscle and liver were not significantly influenced by APM fortification, characteristic changes in the fatty acid profile were found after starvation. Vitamin C and highly unsaturated fatty acids seemed crossly interactive in relation to lipolysis activity in black sea bream juveniles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activation of the zinc-finger transcription factor early growth response (Egr)-1, initially linked to developmental processes, is shown here to function as a master switch activated by ischemia to trigger expression of pivotal regulators of inflammation, coagulation and vascular hyperpermeability. Chemokine, adhesion receptor, procoagulant and permeability-related genes are coordinately upregulated by rapid ischemia-mediated activation of Egr-1. Deletion of the gene encoding Egr-1 strikingly diminished expression of these mediators of vascular injury in a murine model of lung ischemia/reperfusion, and enhanced animal survival and organ function. Rapid activation of Egr-1 in response to oxygen deprivation primes the vasculature for dysfunction manifest during reperfusion. These studies define a central and unifying role for Egr-1 activation in the pathogenesis of ischemic tissue damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]