Nonparametric bootstrap has been a widely used tool in phylogenetic analysis to assess the clade support of phylogenetic trees. However, with the rapidly growing amount of data, this task remains a ...computational bottleneck. Recently, approximation methods such as the RAxML rapid bootstrap (RBS) and the Shimodaira-Hasegawa-like approximate likelihood ratio test have been introduced to speed up the bootstrap. Here, we suggest an ultrafast bootstrap approximation approach (UFBoot) to compute the support of phylogenetic groups in maximum likelihood (ML) based trees. To achieve this, we combine the resampling estimated log-likelihood method with a simple but effective collection scheme of candidate trees. We also propose a stopping rule that assesses the convergence of branch support values to automatically determine when to stop collecting candidate trees. UFBoot achieves a median speed up of 3.1 (range: 0.66-33.3) to 10.2 (range: 1.32-41.4) compared with RAxML RBS for real DNA and amino acid alignments, respectively. Moreover, our extensive simulations show that UFBoot is robust against moderate model violations and the support values obtained appear to be relatively unbiased compared with the conservative standard bootstrap. This provides a more direct interpretation of the bootstrap support. We offer an efficient and easy-to-use software (available at http://www.cibiv.at/software/iqtree) to perform the UFBoot analysis with ML tree inference.
The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of using platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) as the apical matrix for the placement of MTA in nonsurgical endodontic therapy for teeth with periapical ...lesions and open apices.
Twelve teeth from eleven patients with periapical periodontitis and open apices were enrolled in the study. Nonsurgical endodontic therapy was performed with the PRF used as an apical barrier and the MTA manipulated as an apical plug for further thermoplasticized gutta percha in the remaining part of the root canal. Clinical signs and periapical digital radiographs were recorded and analyzed to evaluate the curing progress after periodical follow-ups of 1, 3, and 6 months. The horizontal dimension of the periapical lesion was determined, and the changes in the dimensions were recorded each time. The Friedman test was used for statistical analysis, with P < .05 serving as the threshold for determining statistical significance.
All patients had no clinical symptoms after the first month of treatment, with a significant reduction in the periapical lesion after periodical appointments.
PRF is an effective barrier when combined with MTA for the treatment of teeth with periapical periodontitis and open apices.
Chemical investigation of the lichen Parmotrema tinctorum (Nyl.) Hale led to the isolation of two new phenolic compounds, 2-ethylhexyl orsellinate (1) and tinctorinone (2). The structures were ...determined by analysis of their MS and NMR data as well as by comparison with literature data. The 2-ethylhexyl ester group of 2-ethylhexyl orsellinate is uncommon among lichen metabolites. Tinctorinone revealed strong inhibition towards α-glucosidase.
Although umbilical cord blood (UCB) is identified as a source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with various advantages, the success in cell isolation is volatile. Therefore, it is necessary to ...optimize methods of cord blood-derived MSC (UCB-MSC) isolation and culture. In this study, we evaluated the efficiency of UCB-MSC isolation and expansion using different commercially available serum- and xeno-free media and investigated the capacity of autologous serum and plasma as a supplement to support cell proliferation. Additionally, we defined the presence of multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring (Muse) cells in the UCB-MSC population. Functions of UCB-MSC in in vitro angiogenesis processes and anti-cancer were also verified.
Mononuclear cells were isolated using density gradient separation and cultured in four commercial media kits, as well as four surface coating solutions. UCB-MSCs were characterized and tested on tube formation assay, and co-cultured with SK-MEL cells in a transwell system.
The results showed that only StemMACS™ MSC Expansion Media is more appropriate to isolate and culture UCB-MSCs. The cells exhibited a high cell proliferation rate, CFU forming capability, MSC surface marker expression, trilineage differentiate potential, and chromosome stability. In addition, the culture conditions with autologous serum coating and autologous plasma supplement enhanced cell growth and colony forming. This cell population contained Muse cells at rate of 0.3%. Moreover, UCB-MSCs could induce the tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and inhibit more than 50% of SK-MEL cell growth.
UCB-MSCs could be high-yield isolated and expanded under serum- and xeno-free conditions by using the StemMACS™ MSC Expansion Media kit. Autologous serum coating and plasma supplement enhanced cell proliferation. These UCB-MSCs had effected the tube formation process and an anti-cancer impact.
Aggressive, high‐risk neuroblastoma (NB) exhibits an immature differentiation state, profound epigenetic dysregulation and high telomerase activity. It has been suggested that aggressive NB may be ...treatable by inducing differentiation whereas therapeutic targeting of telomerase is under investigation for multiple cancer types. While epigenetic regulation of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter has been described in high‐risk NB, the exact molecular mechanisms are still not completely understood. Here we used quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), chromatin immunoprecipitation qPCR, quantitative telomeric repeat amplification protocol, and immunoblot techniques to investigate epigenetic regulation of TERT in wild‐type and genetically modified NB cell lines. We demonstrated that TERT expression is reduced during 13‐cis retinoic acid‐induced NB differentiation and that this inversely correlated with increased expression of AT‐rich interaction domain 1A (ARID1A), a subunit of the SWItch/sucrose nonfermentable chromatin remodeling complex. We showed that ARID1A directly caused suppression of TERT and was reliant on DNA binding and co‐occupancy of the TERT promoter by the SIN3 transcription regulator family member A (SIN3A) repressor complex allowing NB differentiation to proceed. Finally, using data from NB patient cohorts, we reported a significant correlation between low ARID1A expression, elevated expression of TERT, and poorly differentiated, high‐risk NB. These results provide insights into a key epigenetic pathway responsible for modulating TERT‐driven NB progression, which could represent a target for therapeutic intervention.
We use an extended joint connectedness technique and the time-varying parameter vector autoregression (ETVP-VAR) method to examine connections between digitalization captured by a number of Internet ...users (% of the population) (INU) and mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people), green technology (EI), CO2 emissions (CO2), and energy productivity (EP) from 1996 to 2019 in order to examine the relationships between digitalization, green technology and energy efficient. Our results demonstrate that Internet users and mobile cellular subscriptions are identified as crucial net transmitters of shocks. In addition, the energy-efficient index turns from a shock transmitter to a shock receiver and vice versa. Moreover, CO2 emission mostly plays a role as a net receiver of shocks during the surveyed period, except for the phase between 1997 and 2000. Moreover, pairwise connectedness emphasizes the dominance of digitalization, measured by the number of individuals using the Internet all the time. In addition, digitalization performance is a net transmitter of shocks to mobile cellular subscriptions, green energy, and energy productivity. The impact of Interner users on MOBSUB and EP is significantly large, while it is smaller in that than EI and CO2 emissions.
•We use an extended TVP-VAR.•We examine connectedness between digitalization green technology and green energy efficiency.•41.53% of the variant in our network stems from our system.•Digitalization is a crucial net shock transmitter to other variables.•Impacts of digitalization are more significant on green energy efficiency.
African swine fever (ASF), caused by the ASF virus (ASFV), was first reported in Vietnam in 2019 and spread rapidly thereafter. Better insights into ASFV characteristics and early detection by ...surveillance could help control its spread. However, the pathogenicity and methods for early detection of ASFV isolates from Vietnam have not been established. Therefore, we investigated the pathogenicity of ASFV and explored alternative sampling methods for early detection.
Ten pigs were intramuscularly inoculated with an ASFV strain from Vietnam (titer, 10
HAD
/mL), and their temperature, clinical signs, and virus excretion patterns were recorded. In addition, herd and environmental samples were collected daily. The pigs died 5-8 days-post-inoculation (dpi), and the incubation period was 3.7 ± 0.5 dpi. ASFV genome was first detected in the blood (2.2 ± 0.8) and then in rectal (3.1 ± 0.7), nasal (3.2 ± 0.4), and oral (3.6 ± 0.7 dpi) swab samples. ASFV was detected in oral fluid samples collected using a chewed rope from 3 dpi. The liver showed the highest viral loads, and ear tissue also exhibited high viral loads among 11 tissues obtained from dead pigs. Overall, ASFV from Vietnam was classified as peracute to acute form. The rope-based oral fluid collection method could be useful for early ASFV detection and allows successful ASF surveillance in large pig farms. Furthermore, ear tissue samples might be a simple alternative specimen for diagnosing ASF infection in dead pigs.
Our data provide valuable insights into the characteristics of a typical ASFV strain isolated in Vietnam and suggest an alternative, non-invasive specimen collection strategy for early detection.
In Vietnam, erectile dysfunction (ED) is prevalent and recognized to be associated with mental disorders; however, societal taboos impede a comprehensive understanding of this connection. Our study ...aims to investigate the factors related to higher levels of anxiety and/or depression (HAD) in individuals with ED. Between November 2022 and March 2023, a face-to-face survey was conducted at the Center for Andrology of Viet Duc University Hospital, involving 390 patients diagnosed with ED. The survey included 51 questions covering general patient information, the International Index of Erectile Function-15 (IIEF-15), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). The stepwise Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) method was used to identify factors associated with HAD. The study revealed an average age of 37.63 (11.84) years among participants, with a HAD prevalence of 17.69%. Several factors were associated with a higher likelihood of belonging to the HAD group in ED patients. These factors included non-office workers (OR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.21,
= .025), medium and high levels of work-related stress (OR: 1.23; 1.06, 1.44,
= .008; OR: 1.22; 1.04, 1.45,
= .018), multiple shameful experiences related to ED (OR: 1.16; 1.08, 1.25,
< .001), moderate and severe ED (OR: 1.17; 1.03, 1.32,
= .013; OR: 1.31; 1.14, 1.51,
< .001), and dissatisfaction with intercourse skills (OR: 1.09; 1.01, 1.17,
= .028). Our findings suggest a 16% higher likelihood of HAD status in individuals with multiple shameful experiences related to ED, while moderate and severe ED are associated with respective increases of 17% and 31% in the likelihood. These findings emphasize the importance of considering mental health in the care of individuals with ED.
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