Currently, Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), one of the most infectious diseases in the 21st century, is diagnosed using RT-PCR testing, CT scans and/or Chest X-Ray (CXR) images. CT (Computed ...Tomography) scanners and RT-PCR testing are not available in most medical centers and hence in many cases CXR images become the most time/cost effective tool for assisting clinicians in making decisions. Deep learning neural networks have a great potential for building COVID-19 triage systems and detecting COVID-19 patients, especially patients with low severity. Unfortunately, current databases do not allow building such systems as they are highly heterogeneous and biased towards severe cases. This article is threefold: (i) we demystify the high sensitivities achieved by most recent COVID-19 classification models, (ii) under a close collaboration with Hospital Universitario Clínico San Cecilio, Granada, Spain, we built COVIDGR-1.0, a homogeneous and balanced database that includes all levelsof severity, from normal with Positive RT-PCR, Mild, Moderate to Severe. COVIDGR-1.0 contains 426 positive and 426 negative PA (PosteroAnterior) CXR views and (iii) we propose COVID Smart Data based Network (COVID-SDNet) methodology for improving the generalization capacity of COVID-classification models. Our approach reaches good and stable results with an accuracy of 97.72% ± 0.95%, 86.90% ± 3.20%, 61.80% ± 5.49% in severe, moderate and mild COVID-19 severity levels. Our approach could help in the early detection of COVID-19. COVIDGR-1.0 along with the severity level labels are available to the scientific community through this link https://dasci.es/es/transferencia/ open-data/covidgr/.
Resveratrol (RES), a polyphenol compound with anti‑proliferative properties, has been previously evaluated for its beneficial effects against a variety of tumour cells. The current study elucidated ...the means by which RES enhances the anti‑proliferative effects of cisplatin (CIS) on MCF‑7 cells, focusing on the inhibitory effects on DNA repair of double‑strand breaks (DSBs). Chemoresistant MCF‑7 cells (MCF‑7R) were generated by continuous exposure to low concentrations of CIS (10 µM CIS‑IC40) during 5 passages, with the IC50 value increasing ~3‑fold. Using an MTT assay, we estimated the changes in IC50 for CIS in MCF‑7, T47‑D, MDA‑MB‑231 and MCF‑7R cells in the presence of RES. The relative transcript level of Nbs‑1, Mre‑11 and Rad‑50 genes was assessed using RT‑qPCR analysis. Rad51 and H2AX pSer139 protein expression was determined by western blot analysis. RES at 50 and 100 µM significantly enhanced the anti‑proliferative effects of CIS in both MCF‑7 and MCF‑7R cells, decreasing the IC50 values for CIS to one‑tenth and one‑sixth, respectively. A total of 100 µM RES decreased the relative transcript levels of homologous recombination (HR) initiation complex components and the Rad51 protein level in MCF‑7 and MCF‑7R cells. After 48 h of CIS DNA damage, the levels of Rad51 protein increased, but this effect was inhibited by 100 µM RES. RES also maintained serine 139 phosphorylation of histone H2AX, suggesting that RES prevents the repair of DSBs. It was observed that RES exerts an antagonistic effect over CIS on the activation of Rad51 and sustained phosphorylation of H2AX. The results suggest that RES in combination with DNA damage‑based therapy has potential as a strategy to overcome resistance and provide much safer and more effective treatment for breast cancer.
Aims
To evaluate the phytotoxic, antifungal and antioomycete activity; and, determine the chemical composition of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semi‐volatile metabolites produced by the ...endophyte Hypoxylon anthochroum strain Blaci isolated from Bursera lancifolia.
Methods and Results
Based on its macro‐ and micro‐morphological features, the strain Blaci was identified as Nodulisporium sp.; partial analysis of its ITS1‐5.8‐ITS2 ribosomal gene sequence revealed the identity of the teleomorphic stage of the fungus as H. anthochroum. Phytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of VOCs, and culture medium and mycelium organic extracts from H. anthochroum Blaci were determined by simple and multiple antagonism bioassays, and gas phase and agar dilution bioassays respectively. The volatile and semi‐volatile metabolites were identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. VOCs from a 5‐day H. anthochroum strain Blaci culture caused the inhibition of seed germination, root elongation and seedling respiration on Amaranthus hypochondriacus, Panicum miliaceum, Trifolium pratense and Medicago sativa. In addition, extracts, phenylethyl alcohol and eucalyptol main compounds present in the VOCs and extract displayed a high phytotoxic activity, inhibiting the three physiological processes on the four test plants in a concentration‐dependent manner.
Conclusions
The results revealed that H. anthochroum strain Blaci produces a mixture of VOCs. These VOCs showed a strong phytotoxic activity on seed germination, root elongation, and seedling respiration of four plants and slightly affected the growth of phytopathogenic fungi and oomycetes. Also, the culture medium and mycelium extracts of H. anthochroum showed a high phytotoxic activity on the four test plants and, generally, the culture medium extract was more phytotoxic than the mycelium extracts.
Significance and Impact of the Study
This work firstly reports the phytotoxic activity of volatile and semi‐volatile compounds produced by the endophyte H. anthochroum strain Blaci on seed germination, root elongation, and seedling respiration of four different plants; consequently, these compounds could be useful in biocontrol of weeds and plant pathogens.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia worldwide, affecting 1% of the population over 60 years old. The incidence and prevalence of AF are increasing globally, representing a relevant ...health problem, suggesting that more advanced strategies for predicting risk stage are highly needed. miRNAs mediate several processes involved in AF. Our aim was to identify miRNAs with a prognostic value as biomarkers in patients referred for AF ablation and its association with LVA extent, based on low-voltage area (LVA) maps. In this study, we recruited 44 AF patients referred for catheter ablation. We measured the expression of 84 miRNAs in plasma from peripheral blood in 3 different groups based on LVA extent. Expression analysis showed that miR-486-5p was significantly increased in patients with broader LVA (4-fold, p = 0.0002; 5-fold, p = 0.0001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that miR-486-5p expression could predict atrium LVA (AUC, 0.8958; p = 0.0015). Also, miR-486-5p plasma levels were associated with AF-type (AUC, 0.7137; p = 0.0453). In addition, miR-486-5p expression was positively correlated with LVA percentage, left atrial (LA) area, and LA volume (r = 0.322, p = 0.037; r = 0.372, p = 0.015; r = 0.319, p = 0.045, respectively). These findings suggest that miR-486-5p expression might have prognostic significance in LVA extent in patients with AF.
•Al7075–graphite composites were fabricated by mechanical alloying and hot extrusion.•Mechanical properties are enhanced as function of graphite content and milling time.•The strengthening is due to ...grain refining, Al4C3 and increased dislocation density.
The modification on the microstructure and mechanical response of some Al7075–graphite composites fabricated by mechanical alloying and hot extrusion were studied as a direct function of milling time (0–10h) and graphite concentration (0–1.5wt.%). The experimental results show that the mechanical properties of the resulting composites are enhanced by increasing both the milling time and the graphite content. This effect is attributed mainly to grain size refining, Al4C3 phase formation and an increase of the dislocation density. The yield strength of the hot-extruded samples varies with grain size according to the Hall–Petch relationship. During the hot-extrusion process, recrystallization of samples milled for 10h occurs faster than in samples with 5h of milling, which is associated to the increase of stored energy in the composites caused by the milling process.
Oil and gas pipelines are often threatened by mechanical degradation and corrosion damage. This mechanical degradation is attributable to the aging of the carbon steel, and corrosion damage results ...from the level of environmental aggressiveness combined with the material's metallurgical characteristics. Unfortunately, studying the natural aging of steel in in-service pipelines is difficult because many tests are destructive. For this reason, the present study used isothermal artificial aging to simulate the mechanical degradation of pipeline steel. Charpy energy tests were carried out to assess the changes in the material's ductility. It was found that this energy exhibited random behavior. Our findings indicate that, on average, the aged material exhibited lower Charpy fracture energy and a much higher variance. This evidence will help experts select the correct material properties while considering its degradation over time. In addition, according to the fractographic study, it was confirmed that the aged pipeline steel tended to be more brittle than the unaged material. Moreover, the dominant corrosion mechanism observed during electrochemical tests for aged and unaged steel was analyzed. We concluded that a moderate chloride ion content is insufficient to stimulate pitting corrosion. Corrosion rates with three different electrochemical techniques (LPR, EIS, and ENA) were obtained, showing that the unaged material tended to be more vulnerable to corrosion effects.
This paper addresses the problem of estimating the infrastructure to be made available for refueling alternative fuel vehicles as a function of the profitability thresholds required by the ...investment. A methodology has been devised based on sales forecasts for alternative fuel vehicles. These methods use discrete choice models in which the factor of refueling infrastructure, rather than being considered simply as one more attribute of the model, acts as a constraint on the choice set for vehicle buyers. This methodology is used to estimate the infrastructure of hydrogen refueling stations and electricity charging stations for Spain (8,112 population centers) in 2030. Evolution of fuel cell vehicles over the years 2016 and 2030 is also estimated and compared with forecasts for countries such as France, Germany and the United Kingdom.
•With development of this optimization algorithm proposes a methodology to meet challenge posed by European Directive.•Methodology which corrects the effects of overestimating the AFV sales if infrastructure is considered as another attribute.•Methodology to locate new facilities depending on the protability parameter and its application to Spain Sensitivity analysis on the key parameter breakeven b, of the protability of the new facilities.•Compare the results obtained with the forecasts carried out for France, Germany, UK and Scandinavia for FCEV vehicles.
To evaluate the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) as a predictor of long-term outcomes after injury.
The SVI is a measure used in emergency preparedness to identify need for resources in the event of ...a disaster or hazardous event, ranking each census tract on 15 demographic/social factors.
Moderate-severely injured adult patients treated at one of three level-1 trauma centers were prospectively followed six to 14 months post-injury. These data were matched at the census tract level with overall SVI percentile rankings. Patients were stratified based on SVI quartiles, with the lowest quartile designated as low SVI, the middle two quartiles as average SVI, and the highest quartile as high SVI. Multivariable adjusted regression models were used to assess whether SVI was associated with long-term outcomes after injury.
A total of 3,153 patients were included 54% male, mean age 61.6 (SD = 21.6). The median overall SVI percentile rank was 35th (IQR: 16th-65th). Compared to low SVI patients, high SVI patients were more likely to have new functional limitations (OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.19-1.92), to not have returned to work (OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.40-2.89), and to screen positive for PTSD (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.12-2.17). Similar results were obtained when comparing average with low SVI patients, with average SVI patients having significantly worse outcomes.
The SVI has potential utility in predicting individuals at higher risk for adverse long-term outcomes after injury. This measure may be a useful needs assessment tool for clinicians and researchers in identifying communities that may benefit most from targeted prevention and intervention efforts.
Fuel consumption has been increasing in recent years, especially that of diesel and jet fuel. For this reason, the necessity to build new plants to reduce their sulfur content has arisen. Sometimes, ...just revamping existing plants is feasible, but determining which pieces of equipment are in the appropriate condition to be reused is also necessary. In order to select the equipment, it is essential to have information about the wall thickness of vessels. Sometimes, the information is limited; consequently, the application of advanced statistical techniques is needed. The Bayesian Data Analysis (BDA) used in this study has the goal of determining a more accurate, unobserved thinning rate distribution for existing heat exchangers, taking into consideration all the information available about the thinning rate of the heat exchangers that cool down the effluent of the hydrotreating reactors in Mexican oil refineries. The information obtained from BDA was compared with existing shell wall thickness obtaining favorable results.
Atrial fibrillation is the most prevalent tachyarrhythmia in clinical practice, with very high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality with a high-cost impact in health systems. Currently, it is one ...of the main causes of stroke and subsequent heart failure and sudden death. miRNAs mediate in several processes involved in cardiovascular disease, including fibrosis and electrical and structural remodeling. Several studies suggest a key role of miRNAs in the course and maintenance of atrial fibrillation. In our study, we aimed to identify the differential expression of circulating miRNAs and their predictive value as biomarkers of recurrence in atrial fibrillation patients undergoing catheter pulmonary vein ablation. To this effect, 42 atrial fibrillation patients were recruited for catheter ablation. We measured the expression of 84 miRNAs in non-recurrent and recurrent groups (45.2%), both in plasma from peripheral and left atrium blood. Expression analysis showed that miRNA-451a is downregulated in recurrent patients. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that miR-451a in left atrium plasma could predict atrial fibrillation recurrence after pulmonary vein isolation. In addition, atrial fibrillation recurrence is positively associated with the increment of scar percentage. Our data suggest that miRNA-451a expression plays an important role in AF recurrence by controlling fibrosis and progression.
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