Quantitative comparison of bile acid glucuronides sub-metabolome between intrahepatic cholestasis and healthy pregnant women.

Because of the pathological indication and the physiological functions, bile acids (BAs) have occupied the research hotspot in recent decades. Although extensive efforts have been paid onto BAs sub-metabolome characterization, as the subfamily, BA glucuronides (gluA-BAs) profile is seldom concerned. Here, we made efforts to develop a LC-MS/MS program enabling quantitative gluA-BAs sub-metabolome characterization and to explore the differential species in serum between intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) patients and healthy subjects. To gain as many authentic gluA-BAs as possible, liver microsomes from humans, rats, and mice were deployed to conjugate glucuronyl group to authentic BAs through in vitro incubation. Eighty gluA-BAs were captured and subsequently served as authentic compounds to correlate MS/MS spectral behaviors to structural features using squared energy-resolved MS program. Optimal collision energy (OCE) of [M-H]->[M-H-176.1]- was jointly administrated by [M-H]- mass and glucuronidation site, and identical exciting energies corresponding to 50% survival rate of 1st-generation fragment ion (EE50) were observed merely when the aglycone of a gluA-BA was consistent with the suspected structure. Through integrating high-resolution m/z, OCE, and EE50 information to identify gluA-BAs in a BAs pool, 97 ones were found and identified, and further, quantitative program was built for all annotated gluA-BAs by assigning OCEs to [M-H]->[M-H-176.1]- ion transitions. Quantitative gluA-BAs sub-metabolome of ICP was different from that of the healthy group. More GCDCA-3-G, GDCA-3-G, TCDCA-7-G, TDCA-3-G, and T-ß-MCA-3-G were distributed in the ICP group. Above all, this study not only offered a promising analytical tool for in-depth gluA-BAs sub-metabolome characterization, but also clarified gluA-BAs allowing the differentiation of ICP and healthy subjects.

AChR-seropositive myasthenia gravis in muscular dystrophy: diagnostic pitfalls and clinical management challenges.

The co-occurrence of genetic myopathies with myasthenia gravis (MG) is extremely rare, however a few studies have been reported. We aim to explore the link between genetically inherited muscle disorders and immune-mediated neuromuscular junction conditions, taking into account the diagnostic and therapeutic implications posed by these combined conditions. We searched all English medical papers registered in Web of Knowledge, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct between January 1987 concerning the association between muscular dystrophies (MD) and MG, also adding three new cases to the series reported so far. Three new clinical cases in which MG concurs with oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) or facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) or myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) were reported. A comprehensive literature review showed that FSHD is the dystrophy most frequently associated with generalized MG. The AChR antibody titer is high and neurophysiologic tests prove to be an essential tool for the diagnosis. The association between MG and MD is rare but should not be underestimated. The presence of unusual clinical features suggest investigating additional overlapping condition, especially when a treatable disease like MG is suspected.

Minding mentalizing - convergent validity of the Mentalization Breakdown Interview.

Objectives: Mentalizing difficulties are central to borderline personality disorder (BPD), have severe consequences, and are an explicit focus in mentalization-based treatment. The significance of mentalizing capacity as a predictor or mediator of change is however still uncertain due to a scarcity of research. The Mentalization Breakdown Interview (MBI) was developed as a time saving tool for studying psychotherapy processes and outcome in borderline pathology. This study aimed to investigate the convergent validity of reflective functioning (RF) ratings based on the MBI (MBI-RF) by a comparison with the gold standard, i.e., RF assessments based on the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI-RF). A secondary aim was to investigate how MBI-RF relates to core symptoms of BPD, levels of functional impairment and symptom distress compared with AAI-RF. Method: Forty-five patients with BPD or significant BPD traits were included. MBI-RF and AAI-RF were rated using the Reflective Functioning Scale. Levels of MBI-RF and AAI-RF and the correlation between the measures were calculated, as well as their associations with the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, Levels of Personality Functioning-Brief Form 2.0, Work and Social Adjustment Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire, Depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, self-harm, suicide attempts, and PD diagnostics. Results: The correlation between MBI-RF and AAI-RF was 0.79 (p<0.01), indicating high convergent validity. There were few significant associations between MBI-RF and AAI-RF and clinical measures. Conclusions: The study provides support for the convergent validity of the MBI as a BPD-focused RF assessment method. The MBI has the potential as a time saving, reliable and valid method to be applied in treatment research on patients with borderline pathology. The results indicate that measures of MBI-RF and AAI-RF are different from clinical symptoms. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT04157907.

Analysis of metabolic characteristics of metabolic syndrome in elderly patients with gastric cancer by non-targeted metabolomics.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and gastric cancer (GC), which is a common metabolic disease, has attracted much attention. However, the specific metabolic characteristics of MetS in elderly patients with GC remain unclear. AIM: To investigate the differentially abundant metabolites and metabolic pathways between preoperative frailty and MetS in elderly patients with GC based on nontargeted metabolomics techniques. METHODS: In this study, 125 patients with nonfrail nonmeal GC were selected as the control group, and 50 patients with GC in the frail group were selected as the frail group. Sixty-five patients with GC combined with MetS alone were included in the MetS group, and 50 patients with GC combined with MetS were included in the MetS group. Nontargeted metabolomics techniques were used to measure plasma metabolite levels by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Multivariate statistical analysis was performed by principal component analysis, orthogonal partial least squares, pattern recognition analysis, cluster analysis, and metabolic pathway annotation. RESULTS: A total of 125 different metabolites, including amino acids, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, fatty acids, sugars, nucleosides and nucleotides, and acidic compounds, were identified via nontargeted metabolomics techniques. Compared with those in the control group, there were 41, 32, and 52 different metabolites in the MetS group, the debilitated group, and the combined group, respectively. Lipid metabolites were significantly increased in the MetS group. In the weak group, amino acids and most glycerol phospholipid metabolites decreased significantly, and fatty acids and sphingosine increased significantly. The combined group was characterized by significantly increased levels of nucleotide metabolites and acidic compounds. The alanine, aspartic acid, and glutamate metabolic pathways were obviously enriched in the asthenic group, and the glycerol and phospholipid metabolic pathways were obviously enriched in the combined group. CONCLUSION: Elderly GC patients with simple frailty, simple combined MetS, and frailty combined with MetS have different metabolic characteristics, among which amino acid and glycerophospholipid metabolite levels are significantly lower in frail elderly GC patients, and comprehensive supplementation of fat and protein should be considered. Many kinds of metabolites, such as amino acids, lipids, nucleotides, and acidic compounds, are abnormally abundant in patients with MetS combined with fthenia, which may be related to tumor-related metabolic disorders.

A novel bounded loss framework for support vector machines.

This paper introduces a novel bounded loss framework for SVM and SVR. Specifically, using the Pinball loss as an illustration, we devise a novel bounded exponential quantile loss (Leq-loss) for both support vector machine classification and regression tasks. For Leq-loss, it not only enhances the robustness of SVM and SVR against outliers but also improves the robustness of SVM to resampling from a different perspective. Furthermore, EQSVM and EQSVR were constructed based on Leq-loss, and the influence functions and breakdown point lower bounds of their estimators are derived. It is proved that the influence functions are bounded, and the breakdown point lower bounds can reach the highest asymptotic breakdown point of 1/2. Additionally, we demonstrated the robustness of EQSVM to resampling and derived its generalization error bound based on Rademacher complexity. Due to the Leq-loss being non-convex, we can use the concave-convex procedure (CCCP) technique to transform the problem into a series of convex optimization problems and use the ClipDCD algorithm to solve these convex optimization problems. Numerous experiments have been conducted to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed EQSVM and EQSVR.

Progress and challenges in designing dynamic in vitro gastric models to study food digestion.

Understanding the mechanisms involved in food breakdown in the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract is essential in food digestion research. Research to study food digestion in the human GI tract requires in vivo and in vitro approaches. In vivo methods involving human or animal subjects are often cost-prohibitive and raise ethical concerns. For these reasons, in vitro approaches are becoming more common. Several dynamic in vitro models that mimic one or more components of the GI tract have been developed at various research institutions and by commercial companies. While there is evidence of considerable novelty and innovation in the design of these models, there are many differences among them in how the mechanical breakdown of solid foods is accomplished. In some systems, modulating water pressure is used to achieve peristaltic contractions of the gastric antrum, whereas, in other models, the flexible walls of a gastric chamber are compressed by the movement of rollers or clamps outside the walls of the test chamber. Although much progress has been made in standardizing the biochemical environment appropriate to the food digestion process, there is a lack of standard protocols to measure mechanical forces that result in the breakdown of solid foods. Similarly, no standardized methods are available to evaluate the results obtained from in vitro trials for validation purposes. Due to the large variability in the design features of in vitro models used for food digestion studies, developing consensus-based standards for the mechanical aspects of food breakdown is needed.

High Efficiency Flat-Type GaN-Based Light-Emitting Diodes with Multiple Local Breakdown Conductive Channels.

We investigated a flat-type p*-p LED composed of a p*-electrode with a local breakdown conductive channel (LBCC) formed in the p-type electrode region by applying reverse bias. By locally connecting the p*-electrode to the n-type layer via an LBCC, a flat-type LED structure is applied that can replace the n-type electrode without a mesa-etching process. Flat-type p*-p LEDs, devoid of the mesa process, demonstrate outstanding characteristics, boasting comparable light output power to conventional mesa-type n-p LEDs at the same injection current. However, they incur higher operating voltages, attributed to the smaller size of the p* region used as the n-type electrode compared to conventional n-p LEDs. Therefore, despite having comparable external quantum efficiency stemming from similar light output, flat-type p*-p LEDs exhibit diminished wall-plug efficiency (WPE) and voltage efficiency (VE) owing to elevated operating voltages. To address this, our study aimed to mitigate the series resistance of flat-type p*-p LEDs by augmenting the number of LBCCs to enhance the contact area, thereby reducing overall resistance. This structure holds promise for elevating WPE and VE by aligning the operating voltage more closely with that of mesa-type n-p LEDs. Consequently, rectifying the issue of high operating voltages in planar p*-p LEDs enables the creation of efficient LEDs devoid of crystal defects resulting from mesa-etching processes.

[Effect of freeze-thaw cycles on aggregate breakdown of typical black soil during transportation]. / å†»èžå¯¹å ¸åž‹é»‘åœŸå›¢èšä½“è¾“ç§»ç ´ç¢Žç‰¹å¾çš„å½±å“.

During the snowmelt period, the external erosive forces are dominated by freeze-thaw cycles and snowmelt runoff. These forces may affect soil structure and aggregate stability, thereby influencing snowmelt erosion. The process of snowmelt runoff can lead to the breakdown of aggregates during their transportation. However, few studies examined the effects of freeze-thaw cycles on the breakdown of aggregates during transportation. Focusing on 5-7 and 3-5 mm soil aggregates of typical black soil region in Northeast China, we analyzed the composition of water-stable aggregates, mean weight diameter (MWD), normalized mean weight diameter (NMWD), as well as breakdown rate of soil aggregates (BR) under different freeze-thaw cycles (0, 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 times) and different transport distances (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 m). We further investigated the contribution (CT) of both freeze-thaw cycles and transport distances to BR. The results showed that: 1) After freeze-thaw cycles, the 5-7 and 3-5 mm aggregates were mainly composed of particles with a diameter of 0.5-1 mm. With increasing frequency of freeze-thaw cycles, the MWD generally showed a downward trend. Moreover, under the same number of freeze-thaw cycles, the NMWD of 3-5 mm aggregates was higher than that of 5-7 mm aggregates. 2) As the transport distance increased, the BR of 5-7and 3-5 mm aggregates gradually increased. Compared that under control group, the BR under one freeze-thaw cycle increased by 59.7%, 32.2%, 13.7%, 6.2%, 13.4%, 7.5%, and 60.0%, 39.0%, 18.4%, 13.0%, 6.3%, 6.1% at the condition of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 m transport distances, respectively. However, with increasing frequency of freeze-thaw cycles, the BR increased slowly. 3) The breakdown of soil aggregates was mainly influenced by the transport distance (CT=54.6%) and freeze-thaw cycles (CT=26.2%). Freeze-thaw cycles primarily altered the stability of soil aggregates, which in turn affected the BR. Therefore, during the snowmelt period, freeze-thaw cycles reduced the stability of soil aggregates, leading to severe breakdown of soil aggregates during snowmelt runoff process. This made the soil more susceptible to migration with snowmelt runoff, which triggered soil erosion. Therefore, more attention should be paid on the prevention of soil erosion during snowmelt period.

Optical Effects of Focused Fractional Nanosecond 1064-nm Nd:YAG Laser: Techniques of Application on Human Skin.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Considering the pulse widths of picosecond and nanosecond lasers used in cutaneous laser surgery differ by approximately one order of magnitude, can nanosecond lasers produce the optical effect in human skin similar to laser-induced optical breakdown (LIOB) caused by picosecond lasers? METHODS: Cutaneous changes induced by a focused fractional nanosecond 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser were evaluated by VISIA-CR imaging, histological examination, and harmonic generation microscopy (HGM). RESULTS: A focused fractional nanosecond 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser can generate epidermal vacuoles or dermal cavities similar to the phenomenon of LIOB produced by picosecond lasers. The location and extent of photodisruption can be controlled by the laser fluence and focus depth. Moreover, laser-induced shock wave propagation and thermal degeneration of papillary collagen can be observed by HGM imaging. CONCLUSION: Focused fractional nanosecond lasers can produce an optical effect on human skin similar to LIOB caused by picosecond lasers. With techniques of application, the treatment can induce epidermal and dermal repair mechanisms in a tunable fashion to improve skin texture, wrinkles, scars, and dyspigmentation, without disrupting the epidermal surface.

A 1.6 kV Ga2O3 Schottky Barrier Diode with a Low Reverse Current of 1.2 × 10-5 A/cm2 Enabled by Field Plates and N Ion-Implantation Edge Termination.

In this work, by employing field plate (FP) and N ion-implantation edge termination (NIET) structure, the electrical performance of the ß-Ga2O3 Schottky barrier diode (SBD) was greatly improved. Ten samples of vertical SBDs were fabricated to investigate the influence of the relative positions of field plates (FPs) and ion implantation on the device performance. The device with the FP of 15 µm and the ion implantation at the edge of the Schottky electrode exhibited a breakdown voltage (Vbr) of 1616 V, a specific on-resistance (Ron,sp) of 5.11 mΩ·cm2, a power figure of merit (PFOM) of 0.511 GW/cm2, and a reverse current density of 1.2 × 10-5 A/cm2 @ -1000 V. Compared to the control device, although the Ron,sp increased by 1 mΩ·cm2, the Vbr of the device increased by 183% and the PFOM increased by 546.8%. Moreover, the reverse leakage current of the device with the FP and NIET structure decreased by three orders of magnitude. The TCAD simulation revealed that the peak electric field at the interface decreased from 7 MV/cm @ -500 V to 4.18 MV/cm @ -1000 V. These results demonstrate the great potential for the ß-Ga2O3 SBD with a FP and NIET structure in power electronic applications.

Effect of Nanoporous Molecular Sieves TS-1 on Electrical Properties of Crosslinked Polyethylene Nanocomposites.

Crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) is an important polyethylene modification material which is widely used in high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) was used as a matrix to improve the thermal and electrical properties of XLPE composites through the synergistic effect of a crosslinking agent and nanopore structure molecular sieve, TS-1. It was found that the electrical and thermal properties of the matrices were different due to the crosslinking degree and crosslinking efficiency, and the introduction of TS-1 enhanced the dielectric constants of the two matrices to 2.53 and 2.54, and the direct current (DC) resistivities were increased to 3 × 1012 and 4 × 1012 Ω·m, with the enhancement of the thermal conductivity at different temperatures. As the applied voltage increases, the DC breakdown field strength is enhanced from 318 to 363 kV/mm and 330 to 356 kV/mm. The unique nanopore structure of TS-1 itself can inhibit the injection and accumulation in the internal space of crosslinked polyethylene composites, and the pore size effect of the filler can limit the development of electron impact ionization, inhibit the electron avalanche breakdown, and improve the strength of the external applied electric field (breakdown field) that TS-1/XLPE nanocomposites can withstand. This provides a new method for the preparation of nanocomposite insulating dielectric materials for HVDC transmission systems with better performance.

Robust explicit estimators using the power-weighted repeated medians.

This paper consists of two parts. The first part of the paper is to propose an explicit robust estimation method for the regression coefficients in simple linear regression based on the power-weighted repeated medians technique that has a tuning constant for dealing with the trade-offs between efficiency and robustness. We then investigate the lower and upper bounds of the finite-sample breakdown point of the proposed method. The second part of the paper is to show that based on the linearization of the cumulative distribution function, the proposed method can be applied to obtain robust parameter estimators for the Weibull and Birnbaum-Saunders distributions that are commonly used in both reliability and survival analysis. Numerical studies demonstrate that the proposed method performs well in a manner that is approximately comparable with the ordinary least squares method, whereas it is far superior in the presence of data contamination that occurs frequently in practice.

Multiple stressors affecting microbial decomposer and litter decomposition in restored urban streams: Assessing effects of salinization, increased temperature, and reduced flow velocity in a field mesocosm experiment.

A multitude of anthropogenic stressors impact biological communities and ecosystem processes in urban streams. Prominent among them are salinization, increased temperature, and altered flow regimes, all of which can affect microbial decomposer communities and litter decomposition, a fundamental ecosystem process in streams. Impairments caused by these stressors individually or in combination and recovery of communities and ecosystem processes after release from these stressors are not well understood. To improve our understanding of multiple stressors impacts we performed an outdoor stream mesocosm experiment with 64 experimental units to assess the response of microbial litter decomposers and decomposition. The three stressors we applied in a full-factorial design were increased salinity (NaCl addition, 0.53 mS cm-1 above ambient), elevated temperature (3.5 °C above ambient), and reduced flow velocity (3.5 vs 14.2 cm s-1). After two weeks of stressor exposure (first sampling) and two subsequent weeks of recovery (second sampling), we determined leaf-associated microbial respiration, fungal biomass, and the sporulation activity and community composition of aquatic hyphomycetes in addition to decomposition rates of black alder (Alnus glutinosa) leaves confined in fine-mesh litter bags. Microbial colonization of the litter was accompanied by significant mass loss in all mesocosms. However, there was little indication that mass loss, microbial respiration, fungal biomass, sporulation rate or community composition of aquatic hyphomycetes was strongly affected by either single stressors or their interactions. Two exceptions were temperature effects on sporulation and decomposition rate. Similarly, no notable differences among mesocosms were observed after the recovery phase. These results suggest that microbial decomposers and leaf litter decomposition are either barely impaired by exposure to the tested stressors at the levels applied in our experiment, or that communities in restored urban streams are well adapted to cope with these stressor levels.

Temporal control of RNAi reveals both robust and labile feedback loops in the segmentation clock of the red flour beetle.

Animals from all major clades have evolved a segmented trunk, reflected in the human spine or the insect segments. These units emerge during embryogenesis from a posterior segment addition zone (SAZ), where repetitive gene activity is regulated by a mechanism described by the clock and wavefront/speed gradient model. In the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum, RNA interference (RNAi) has been used to continuously knock down the function of primary pair-rule genes (pPRGs), caudal or Wnt pathway components, which has led to the complete breakdown of segmentation. However, it has remained untested, if this breakdown was reversible by bringing the missing gene function back to the system. To fill this gap, we established a transgenic system in T. castaneum, which allows blocking an ongoing RNAi effect with temporal control by expressing a viral inhibitor of RNAi via heat shock. We show that the T. castaneum segmentation machinery was able to reestablish after RNAi targeting the pPRGs Tc-eve, Tc-odd, and Tc-runt was blocked. However, we observed no rescue after blocking RNAi targeting Wnt pathway components. We conclude that the insect segmentation system contains both robust feedback loops that can reestablish and labile feedback loops that break down irreversibly. This combination may reconcile conflicting needs of the system: Labile systems controlling initiation and maintenance of the SAZ ensure that only one SAZ is formed. Robust feedback loops confer developmental robustness toward external disturbances.

Rapid Determination of Cr3+ and Mn2+ in Water Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Combined with Filter Paper Modified with Gold Nanoclusters.

Excessive emissions of heavy metals not only cause environmental pollution but also pose a direct threat to human health. Therefore, rapid and accurate detection of heavy metals in the environment is of great significance. Herein, we propose a method based on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) combined with filter paper modified with bovine serum albumin-protected gold nanoclusters (LIBS-FP-AuNCs) for the rapid and sensitive detection of Cr3+ and Mn2+. The filter paper modified with AuNCs was used to selectively enrich Cr3+ and Mn2+. Combined with the multi-element detection capability of LIBS, this method achieved the simultaneous rapid detection of Cr3+ and Mn2+. Both elements showed linear ranges for concentrations of 10-1000 µg L-1, with limits of detection of 7.5 and 9.0 µg L-1 for Cr3+ and Mn2+, respectively. This method was successfully applied to the determination of Cr3+ and Mn2+ in real water samples, with satisfactory recoveries ranging from 94.6% to 105.1%. This method has potential application in the analysis of heavy metal pollution.

Trabecular Bone Component Assessment under Orthodontic Loads and Movements during Periodontal Breakdown-A Finite Elements Analysis.

This numerical analysis, by employing Tresca and Von Mises failure criteria, assessed the biomechanical behavior of a trabecular bone component subjected to 0.6, 1.2, and 2.4 N orthodontic forces under five movements (intrusion, extrusion, tipping, rotation, and translation) and during a gradual horizontal periodontal breakdown (0-8 mm). Additionally, they assessed the changes produced by bone loss, and the ischemic and resorptive risks. The analysis employed eighty-one models of nine patients in 405 simulations. Both failure criteria showed similar qualitative results, with Tresca being quantitatively higher by 1.09-1.21. No qualitative differences were seen between the three orthodontic loads. Quantitatively, a doubling (1.2 N) and quadrupling (2.4 N) were visible when compared to 0.6 N. Rotation and translation followed by tipping are the most stressful, especially for a reduced periodontium, prone to higher ischemic and resorptive risks. In an intact periodontium, 1.2 N can be safely applied but only in a reduced periodontium for extrusion and intrusion. More than 0.6 N is prone to increasing ischemic and resorptive risks for the other three movements. In an intact periodontium, stress spreads in the entire trabecular structure. In a reduced periodontium, stress concentrates (after a 4 mm loss-marker for the stress change distribution) and increases around the cervical third of the remaining alveolar socket.

Rapid quantitative analysis of coal composition using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy coupled with random forest algorithm.

Coal is the primary energy source in China, widely used in energy production, industrial processes, and chemical engineering. Due to the complexity and diversity of coal quality, there is an urgent need for new technologies to achieve rapid and accurate detection and analysis of coal, aiming to improve coal resource utilization and reduce pollutant emissions. This study proposes a rapid quantitative analysis of coal using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy combined with the random forest algorithm. Firstly, a Q-switched Nd: YAG laser at 1064 nm was employed to ablate coal samples, generating plasma, and spectral data were collected using a spectrometer. Secondly, the study explores the impact of different parameters in the preprocessing method (wavelet transform) on the predictive performance of the random forest model. It identifies elements related to coal ash content and calorific value along with their spectral information. Subsequently, to further validate the predictive performance of the model, a comparison is made with models established using support vector machine, artificial neural network, and partial least squares. Finally, under optimal parameters for spectral information preprocessing (wavelet transform with Db4 as the base function and 3 decomposition levels), a model combining wavelet transform with Random Forest is established to predict and analyze the ash content and calorific value of coal. The results demonstrate that the Wavelet Transform-Random Forest model exhibits excellent predictive performance (coal ash content: R2 = 0.9470, RMSECV = 4.8594, RMSEP = 4.8450; coal calorific value: R2 = 0.9485, RMSECV = 1.5996, RMSEP = 1.5949). Therefore, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy combined with the random forest algorithm is an effective method for rapid and accurate detection and analysis of coal. The predicted coal composition values show high accuracy, providing insights and methods for coal composition monitoring and analysis.

EXPRESS: Quasi-Non-Destructive Estimation of Concrete Compression Strength Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy and Multivariate Analysis.

Micro- and non-destructive methods of estimating compressive strength are useful for diagnosing the degradation of reinforced structures. The velocity of waves propagating through concrete can be measured using conventional non-destructive methods; however, the propagation path of waves varies depending on the distribution of coarse aggregate, resulting in variations in velocity at different measurement points. To address this issue, a method based on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and multivariate analysis was developed in this study for estimating the compressive strength of concrete non-destructively, ensuring the non-influence of the coarse aggregate spatial distribution. The method is based on the correlation between the emission intensity of the spectrum and the hardness of the object to be measured. Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares regression (PLSR) were used to extract the mortar spectrum, which determines the compressive strength of concrete, from a mixture of aggregate and mortar spectra. The compressive strength estimated based on the proposed method was consistent with the values obtained from the compressive strength test, which indicates the possibility of using multi-variable analysis to estimate the compressive strength of concrete. Furthermore, the proposed method enabled on-site measurements through a simple experimental setup and insensitivity to spectral noise offered by partial least-squares regression.

Sequential breakdown of the Cf-9 leaf mould resistance locus in tomato by Fulvia fulva.

Leaf mould, caused by Fulvia fulva, is a devastating disease of tomato plants. In many commercial tomato cultivars, resistance to this disease is governed by the Cf-9 locus, which encodes five paralogous receptor-like proteins. Two of these proteins confer resistance: Cf-9C recognises the previously identified F. fulva effector Avr9 and provides resistance during all plant growth stages, while Cf-9B recognises the yet-unidentified F. fulva effector Avr9B and provides mature plant resistance only. In recent years, F. fulva strains have emerged that can overcome the Cf-9 locus, with Cf-9C circumvented through Avr9 deletion. To understand how Cf-9B is circumvented, we set out to identify Avr9B. Comparative genomics, transient expression assays and gene complementation experiments were used to identify Avr9B, while gene sequencing was used to assess Avr9B allelic variation across a world-wide strain collection. A strict correlation between Avr9 deletion and resistance-breaking mutations in Avr9B was observed in strains recently collected from Cf-9 cultivars, whereas Avr9 deletion but no mutations in Avr9B were observed in older strains. This research showcases how F. fulva has evolved to sequentially break down the Cf-9 locus and stresses the urgent need for commercial tomato cultivars that carry novel, stacked resistance genes active against this pathogen.