Hantavirus infections in the South­Eastern European countries: A study of two cases and literature review.

Hantavirus infection is a rare zoonosis in South-Eastern Europe. Depending on the serotype involved, the virus can cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome which is also known as endemic nephropathy, and cardiopulmonary syndrome. Prompt diagnosis of the disease is essential for reducing the risk of severe manifestations and complications like chronic kidney disease, secondary hypertension or even death because there is no specific treatment or vaccine approved. The present study reported two cases of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome diagnosed in the Department of Nephrology of The Fundeni Clinical Institute (Romania). In both patients, kidney needle biopsy played a major role in establishing the diagnosis. The difficulties encountered in diagnosing this disease were also emphasized, taking into consideration the rarity of this infection in South-Eastern Europe. The key literature data on the epidemiology, pathogenesis and management of this infection were further reviewed.

Machine learning unifies flexibility and efficiency of spinodal structure generation for stochastic biomaterial design.

Porous biomaterials design for bone repair is still largely limited to regular structures (e.g. rod-based lattices), due to their easy parameterization and high controllability. The capability of designing stochastic structure can redefine the boundary of our explorable structure-property space for synthesizing next-generation biomaterials. We hereby propose a convolutional neural network (CNN) approach for efficient generation and design of spinodal structure-an intriguing structure with stochastic yet interconnected, smooth, and constant pore channel conducive to bio-transport. Our CNN-based approach simultaneously possesses the tremendous flexibility of physics-based model in generating various spinodal structures (e.g. periodic, anisotropic, gradient, and arbitrarily large ones) and comparable computational efficiency to mathematical approximation model. We thus successfully design spinodal bone structures with target anisotropic elasticity via high-throughput screening, and directly generate large spinodal orthopedic implants with desired gradient porosity. This work significantly advances stochastic biomaterials development by offering an optimal solution to spinodal structure generation and design.

Multi-input convolutional network for ultrafast simulation of field evolvement.

There is a compelling need for the regression capability of mapping the initial field and applied conditions to the evolved field, e.g., given current flow field and fluid properties predicting next-step flow field. Such a capability can provide a maximum to full substitute of a physics-based model, enabling fast simulation of various field evolvements. We propose a conceptually simple, lightweight, but powerful multi-input convolutional network (ConvNet), yNet, that merges multi-input signals by manipulating high-level encodings of field/image input. yNet can significantly reduce the model size compared with its ConvNet counterpart (e.g., to only one-tenth for main architecture of 38-layer depth) and is as much as six orders of magnitude faster than a physics-based model. yNet is applied for data-driven modeling of fluid dynamics, porosity evolution in sintering, stress field development, and grain growth. It consistently shows great extrapolative prediction beyond training datasets in terms of temporal ranges, spatial domains, and geometrical shapes.

Tumor Lysis Syndrome: An Endless Challenge in Onco-Nephrology.

Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a common cause of acute kidney injury in patients with malignancies, and it is a frequent condition for which the nephrologist is consulted in the case of the hospitalized oncological patient. Recognizing the patients at risk of developing TLS is essential, and so is the prophylactic treatment. The initiation of treatment for TLS is a medical emergency that must be addressed in a multidisciplinary team (oncologist, nephrologist, critical care physician) in order to reduce the risk of death and that of chronic renal impairment. TLS can occur spontaneously in the case of high tumor burden or may be caused by the initiation of highly efficient anti-tumor therapies, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, dexamethasone, monoclonal antibodies, CAR-T therapy, or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. It is caused by lysis of tumor cells and the release of cellular components in the circulation, resulting in electrolytes and metabolic disturbances that can lead to organ dysfunction and even death. The aim of this paper is to review the scientific data on the updated definition of TLS, epidemiology, pathogenesis, and recognition of patients at risk of developing TLS, as well as to point out the recent advances in TLS treatment.

Numerical Simulation of the Mechanical Behavior of a Weft-Knitted Carbon Fiber Composite under Tensile Loading.

Knitted textiles are a popular reinforcement in polymer composites for their high drape properties and superior impact energy absorption, making them suitable for specific composite components. Nevertheless, limited attention has been paid to modeling the mechanical behavior of knitted fabric composites since knitted textiles generally offer lower stiffness and strength. This study presents a 3D finite element (FE) modeling of a precise geometrical model of weft-knitted carbon fiber thermoplastic composite to better understand its nonlinear mechanical behavior and interface damage mechanisms under tension. Toward this end, a representative volume element (RVE) of the weft-knitted fabric composite with periodic boundary conditions (PBCs) is generated based on actual dimensions. The validity of the textile RVE to represent the macroscopic behavior was evaluated prior to analyzing the composite. The effect of fiber tow/matrix debonding during tension on the mechanical behavior of the composite is investigated using the cohesive zone model (CZM). Finally, the predicted results of the mechanical behavior of the composite with and without considering the interface failure are compared with the experimental measurements. It is found that the fiber tow/matrix interfacial strength has a significant effect on the tensile performance of the knitted fabric composites, particularly when they are subjected to a large strain. According to the simulation results, the highest tensile performance of the composite is achieved when the interfacial debonding is prevented. However, considering the fiber/matrix debonding in the modeling is essential to achieve a good agreement with the experimental results. In addition, it is concluded that stretching the fabric before composite manufacturing can substantially increase the tensile stiffness of the knitted composite.

Forming mechanism of equilibrium and non-equilibrium metallurgical phases in dissimilar aluminum/steel (Al-Fe) joints.

Forming metallurgical phases has a critical impact on the performance of dissimilar materials joints. Here, we shed light on the forming mechanism of equilibrium and non-equilibrium intermetallic compounds (IMCs) in dissimilar aluminum/steel joints with respect to processing history (e.g., the pressure and temperature profiles) and chemical composition, where the knowledge of free energy and atomic diffusion in the Al-Fe system was taken from first-principles phonon calculations and data available in the literature. We found that the metastable and ductile (judged by the presently predicted elastic constants) Al6Fe is a pressure (P) favored IMC observed in processes involving high pressures. The MoSi2-type Al2Fe is brittle and a strong P-favored IMC observed at high pressures. The stable, brittle η-Al5Fe2 is the most observed IMC (followed by θ-Al13Fe4) in almost all processes, such as fusion/solid-state welding and additive manufacturing (AM), since η-Al5Fe2 is temperature-favored, possessing high thermodynamic driving force of formation and the fastest atomic diffusivity among all Al-Fe IMCs. Notably, the ductile AlFe3, the less ductile AlFe, and most of the other IMCs can be formed during AM, making AM a superior process to achieve desired IMCs in dissimilar materials. In addition, the unknown configurations of Al2Fe and Al5Fe2 were also examined by machine learning based datamining together with first-principles verifications and structure predictions. All the IMCs that are not P-favored can be identified using the conventional equilibrium phase diagram and the Scheil-Gulliver non-equilibrium simulations.

Role of Chemically Functionalization of Bamboo Fibers on Polyethylene-Based Composite Performance: A Solution for Recycling.

Low-density polyethylene is the most common polymer for manufacturing containers, bottles, tubes, plastic bags, computer components and so on. There is an urgent need to find solutions for its recycling and reintegration in high volume production components such as non-structural auto applications. The reinforcement of recycled low-density polyethylene with natural fibers represents a solution for the re-use of the recycled low-density polyethylene. However, there is a lack of understanding of how the natural fibers influence the behavior of the bare low-density polyethylene, and furthermore, how the interface between the fibers and the matrix can be controlled in composite to obtain the designed toughness, strength, stiffness and damping. In this sense, the study presents an in-depth analysis of the behavior of three coupling agents used in the chemically functionalized bamboo fibers interface for reinforcing low-density polyethylene composites. Through mechanical tests, the mechanical properties are determined and compared and finally, a correlation between the viscous behavior of the resulted composites and the toughening mechanism is proposed. The conclusion of the study enables a flexible design of polymer composite components fabricated of recycled and non-recycled low-density polyethylene and natural fibers.

The Effect of the In-Situ Heat Treatment on the Martensitic Transformation and Specific Properties of the Fe-Mn-Si-Cr Shape Memory Alloys Processed by HSHPT Severe Plastic Deformation.

This work focuses on the temperature evolution of the martensitic phase ε (hexagonal close packed) induced by the severe plastic deformation via High Speed High Pressure Torsion method in Fe57Mn27Si11Cr5 (at %) alloy. The iron rich alloy crystalline structure, magnetic and transport properties were investigated on samples subjected to room temperature High Speed High Pressure Torsion incorporating 1.86 degree of deformation and also hot-compression. Thermo-resistivity as well as thermomagnetic measurements indicate an antiferromagnetic behavior with the Néel temperature (TN) around 244 K, directly related to the austenitic γ-phase. The sudden increase of the resistivity on cooling below the Néel temperature can be explained by an increased phonon-electron interaction. In-situ magnetic and electric transport measurements up to 900 K are equivalent to thermal treatments and lead to the appearance of the bcc-ferrite-like type phase, to the detriment of the ε(hcp) martensite and the γ (fcc) austenite phases.

Renal replacement therapy in cancer patients with acute kidney injury (Review).

Cancer patients are at high risk for developing acute kidney injury (AKI), which is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in these patients. Despite the progress made in understanding the pathogenic mechanisms and etiology of AKI in these patients, the main prevention consists of avoiding medication and nephrotoxic agents such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, contrast agents used in medical imaging and modulation of chemotherapy regimens; when prophylactic measures are overcome and renal impairment becomes unresponsive to treatment, renal replacement therapy (RRT) is required. There are several methods of RRT that can be utilized for patients with malignancies and acute renal impairment; the choice of treatment being based on the patient characteristics. The aim of this article is to review the literature data regarding the epidemiology and management of AKI in cancer patients, the extracorporeal techniques used, choice of the appropriate therapy and the optimal time of initiation, and also the dose-prognosis relationship.

Probing actin filament and binding protein interaction using an atomic force microscopy.

Actin filaments play essential roles in many kinds of cellular functions by interacting with hundreds of actin binding proteins. Here we probe the interaction between actin filament and a binding protein, α-actinin, using an atomic force microscopy (AFM) and dynamic force spectroscopy (DFS). The distribution of rupturing events including specific and non-specific interactions of actin filament/α- actinin and BSA/α-actinin were analyzed. The rupture force of the actin filament/α-actinin binding was significantly larger than that of the BSA/α-actinin non-specific interaction, and the peaks represent typical multiple parallel bonds. In addition, based on the rupture forces in different loading rate DFS experiments, the dissociation constant of actin filament/α-actinin binding was estimated. The value is in good agreement with a previously reported value obtained by optical tweezer measurement. We expect that the present method will be useful for interaction measurement of actin filaments and many kinds of binding protein.

Real-time monitoring of changes in microtubule mechanical properties in response to microtubule-destabilizing drug treatment.

Microtubules are cylindrical protein polymers that play important roles in a number of cellular functions. The properties of microtubules are dynamically changed by interacting with many microtubule-related proteins and drugs. In this study, we used atomic force microscopy to evaluate the changes in microtubule mechanical properties induced by treatment with nocodazole, which is a microtubule-destabilizing drug. The average spring constant of the microtubules, which was used as a measure of microtubule lateral stiffness, was drastically decreased by treatment with nocodazole within 30 min from 0.052 +/- 0.014 N/m to 0.029 +/- 0.015 N/m. Our findings will aid in the understanding of microtubule dynamics, protein interactions in response to drug treatment, microtubule-related diseases, and drug development.

Investigation of ubiquitin deformation mechanism under induced stretch-compression loads.

Proteins folding and unfolding are conformational changes in the life of the proteins, which reveal the modifications in the organization of the molecules inside the chain. It is known that a very organized structure has great amount of entropy and tends to exchange the energy with the environment. The present work presents the results of the atomistic modeling using NAMD software released by the University of Illinois, USA, to reveal the hyper-elasticity under external loads and the progressive conformational shapes that are produced by the H-bonds breaking and recovering. Each H-bond break produces a leap in the internal energy, probably by influencing the bond-bind energy component of the internal energy.

Comparative histomorphometric study of bone tissue synthesized after electric and ultrasound stimulation.

The clinical use of the alternative therapies in traumatology is conditioned by the knowledge and understanding of their actions on the bone tissue. The hereby study aims at the comparative assessment of the effectiveness of the direct current and ultrasounds in treating the fractures. Thus, we have proceeded to a comparative histological study of the bone tissue in the fractured area and the biomechanical description and the three-dimensional model of the stimulated bone's behavior by using micro-CT X-rays and the finite element analysis. The findings clearly show that the bone, which has been stimulated during a period of two weeks, has regained its functions, that is 85% of the compression one and 95% of the shearing one. These values prove that 90% of the bone structure has healed.