Search Results (6,463)

This review systematically analyzes the latest advancements in preprocessing techniques for electrocardiogram (ECG) and magnetocardiogram (MCG) signals over the past decade. ECG and MCG play crucial roles in cardiovascular disease (CVD) detection, but both are susceptible to noise interference. This paper categorizes and compares different ECG denoising methods based on noise types, such as baseline wander (BW), electromyographic noise (EMG), power line interference (PLI), and composite noise. It also examines the complexity of MCG signal denoising, highlighting the challenges posed by environmental and instrumental interference. This review is the first to systematically compare the characteristics of ECG and MCG signals, emphasizing their complementary nature. MCG holds significant potential for improving the precision of CVD clinical diagnosis. Additionally, it evaluates the limitations of current denoising methods in clinical applications and outlines future directions, including the potential of explainable neural networks, multi-task neural networks, and the combination of deep learning with traditional methods to enhance denoising performance and diagnostic accuracy. In summary, while traditional filtering techniques remain relevant, hybrid strategies combining machine learning offer substantial potential for advancing signal processing and clinical diagnostics. This review contributes to the field by providing a comprehensive framework for selecting and improving denoising techniques, better facilitating signal quality enhancement and the accuracy of CVD diagnostics. Full article

The Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway is highly conserved and essential for numerous biological functions triggered by extracellular signals, including cell proliferation, metabolism, immune response, and inflammation. Defects in STATs, either loss-of-function or gain-of-function defects, lead to a broad spectrum of clinical phenotypes in humans, including a wide range of infectious complications. The susceptibility to pathogens can stem from defects in immune cells within the hematopoietic compartment, impaired barrier functions of non-hematopoietic compartment, or a combination of both, depending on the specific STAT defect as well as the pathogen exposure history. Effective management involves antimicrobial prophylaxis tailored to the patient’s infection risk and improving disease control with targeted therapies and/or hematopoietic cell transplantation. Full article

This study develops a modified SIR model (Susceptible–Infected–Recovered) to analyze the dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this model, infected individuals are categorized into the following two classes: Ia, representing asymptomatic individuals, and Is, representing symptomatic individuals. Moreover, accounting for the psychological impacts of COVID-19, the incidence function is nonlinear and expressed as Sg(Ia,Is)=βS(Ia+Is)1+α(Ia+Is). Additionally, the model is based on a symmetry hypothesis, according to which individuals within the same compartment share common characteristics, and an asymmetry hypothesis, which highlights the diversity of symptoms and the possibility that some individuals may remain asymptomatic after exposure. Subsequently, using the next-generation matrix method, we compute the threshold value (R0), which estimates contagiousness. We establish local stability through the Routh–Hurwitz criterion for both disease-free and endemic equilibria. Furthermore, we demonstrate global stability in these equilibria by employing the direct Lyapunov method and La-Salle’s invariance principle. The sensitivity index is calculated to assess the variation of R0 with respect to the key parameters of the model. Finally, numerical simulations are conducted to illustrate and validate the analytical findings. Full article

Maize is susceptible to pest disease, and the production of maize would suffer a significant decline without precise early detection. Hyperspectral imaging is well-suited for the precise detection of diseases due to its ability to capture the internal chemical characteristics of vegetation. However, the abundance of redundant information in hyperspectral data poses challenges in extracting significant features. To overcome the above problems, in this study we proposed an attention-based spatial-spectral joint network model for hyperspectral detection of pest-infected maize. The model contains 3D and 2D convolutional layers that extract features from both spatial and spectral domains to improve the identification capability of hyperspectral images. Moreover, the model is embedded with an attention mechanism that improves feature representation by focusing on important spatial and spectral-wise information and enhances the feature extraction ability of the model. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model across different field scenarios, achieving overall accuracies (OAs) of 99.24% and 97.4% on close-up hyperspectral images and middle-shot hyperspectral images, respectively. Even under the condition of a lack of training data, the proposed model performs a superior performance relative to other models and achieves OAs of 98.29% and 92.18%. These results proved the validity of the proposed model, and it is accomplished efficiently for pest-infected maize detection. The proposed model is believed to have the potential to be applied to mobile devices such as field robots in order to monitor and detect infected maize automatically. Full article

Background: Obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) promote inflammation, increasing the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity is key to these diseases through biological mechanisms. This study examined the impact of genetic background on the multimorbidity of intestinal cancer, T2D, and inflammation due to HFD-induced obesity. Methods: A cohort of 357 Collaborative Cross (CC) mice from 15 lines was fed either a control chow diet (CHD) or HFD for 12 weeks. Body weight was tracked biweekly, and blood glucose was assessed at weeks 6 and 12 via intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests (IPGTT). At the study’s endpoint, intestinal polyps were counted, and cytokine profiles were analyzed to evaluate the inflammatory response. Results: HFD significantly increased blood glucose levels and body weight, with males showing higher susceptibility to T2D and obesity. Genetic variation across CC lines influenced glucose metabolism, body weight, and polyp development. Mice on HFD developed more intestinal polyps, with males showing higher counts than females. Cytokine analysis revealed diet-induced variations in pro-inflammatory markers like IL-6, IL-17A, and TNF-α, differing by genetic background and sex. Conclusions: Host genetics plays a crucial role in susceptibility to HFD-induced obesity, T2D, CRC, and inflammation. Genetic differences across CC lines contributed to variability in disease outcomes, providing insight into the genetic underpinnings of multimorbidity. This study supports gene-mapping efforts to develop personalized prevention and treatment strategies for these diseases. Full article

Pepper (Capsicum annuum) is a globally important vegetable, and Verticillium wilt is an important disease affecting peppers and is caused by Verticillium dahliae, which can severely reduce yields. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the responses of pepper to infection by V. dahliae are largely unknown. We performed physiological and transcriptome analysis using resistant and susceptible pepper cultivars inoculated with V. dahliae. Compared to the susceptible cultivar MS66, the resistant cultivar MS72 retained higher chlorophyll content and lower malondialdehyde content after inoculation. At 3 days after inoculation (DAI), compared with MS66, 534 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in MS72. At 5 DAI, 2392 DEGs were identified in MS72 compared with MS66. The DEGs in MS72 were mainly enriched in the cell wall and photosynthesis-related Gene Ontology terms, as well as in pathways such as cutin, suberin, wax biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and photosynthesis. Using weighted gene co-expression network analysis, 36 hub genes involved in the resistance response were identified, including the transcription factor bHLH93 (Capana04g000815), defense-like protein 1 (MSTRG.5904), and miraculin-like (Capana10g002167). Our findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the response mechanism of pepper to V. dahliae inoculation, providing new avenues for improving pepper resistance through breeding programs. Full article

Increasing evidence suggests bats are the ancestral hosts of the majority of coronaviruses. In general, coronaviruses primarily target the gastrointestinal system, while some strains, especially Betacoronaviruses with the most relevant representatives SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2, also cause severe respiratory disease in humans and other mammals. We previously reported the susceptibility of Rousettus aegyptiacus (Egyptian fruit bats) to intranasal SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, we compared their permissiveness to an oral infection versus respiratory challenge (intranasal or orotracheal) by assessing virus shedding, host immune responses, tissue-specific pathology, and physiological parameters. While respiratory challenge with a moderate infection dose of 1 × 10⁴ TCID₅₀ caused a systemic infection with oral and nasal shedding of replication-competent virus, the oral challenge only induced nasal shedding of low levels of viral RNA. Even after a challenge with a higher infection dose of 1 × 10⁶ TCID₅₀, no replication-competent virus was detectable in any of the samples of the orally challenged bats. We postulate that SARS-CoV-2 is inactivated by HCl and digested by pepsin in the stomach of R. aegyptiacus, thereby decreasing the efficiency of an oral infection. Therefore, fecal shedding of RNA seems to depend on systemic dissemination upon respiratory infection. These findings may influence our general understanding of the pathophysiology of coronavirus infections in bats. Full article

Background: Zinc oxide nanoparticles are safe, non-toxic, and biocompatible. These NPs are used in food packaging materials, self-cleaning glass, ceramics, deodorants, sunscreens, paints, coatings, ointments, lotions, and as preservatives. This study explored the biological potential of ZnO nanoparticles synthesized using H. rariflorum. Methods: In vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Candida albicans, Penicillium notatum, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus solani were determined. Antioxidant activity was explored using the DPPH radical scavenging method. In vivo analgesic, antipyretic and sedative potential of synthesized nanoparticles was investigated using a mouse model. Results: SEM with various magnification powers showed that some particles were spherical while some were aggregated, flake-shaped, and hexagonal with rough and irregular surfaces. The EDX analysis revealed Zn (12.63%), O (22.83%) and C (63.11%) with trace quantities of Si (0.40%), Ca (0.54%) and P (0.49%). The XRD pattern indicated an amorphous state, with no peaks observed throughout the spectrum. The UV–visible spectrophotometry revealed a characteristic absorption peak at 375 nm, indicating the presence of ZnO nanoparticles. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) displayed several small peaks between 1793 and 2370 cm⁻¹, providing evidence of the presence of different kinds of organic compounds with different functional groups. ZnO-NPs showed dose-dependent antibacterial and antifungal potential against all strains. Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans were the most susceptible strains. The nanoparticles exhibited a maximum antioxidant effect of 85.28% at 100 μg/mL. In this study, the acute toxicity test showed no mortality, and normal behavior was observed in mice at ZnO-NP doses of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg. For analgesic and antipyretic activities, a two-way ANOVA revealed that dose, time, and the interaction between dose and time were significant. In contrast, the samples had a non-significant effect on sedative activity. Conclusions: This innovative study suggests a potential use of plant resources for managing microbes and treating various diseases, providing a scientific basis for the traditional use of H. rariflorum. Full article

Rice (Oryza spp.) is mostly grown directly from seed and sown on wet or dry seed beds or usually used as transplants on nursery beds. Among all the economically important viral diseases in the world, rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) is only prevalent in rice-growing countries in Africa. RYMV has become the main rice production constraint in Africa over the last 20–25 years, causing yield losses of 10 to 100% depending on the age of the plant at the time of infection, degree of varietal susceptibility and the existing climatic conditions. Good agricultural practices and biotechnological tools in the development of improved resistant cultivars have been extensively utilized in controlling the disease. This review focuses on RYMV, its epidemiology, serological and molecular typing, disease management and the way forward for sustainable rice production. Full article

The rice variety Bomba is grown in Calasparra—a rice of origin in southeast Spain—resulting in a product with excellent cooking quality, although its profitability has declined in recent years due to low grain yields and susceptibility to rice blast disease (Pyricularia oryzae Cavara). An innovation project to test the efficacy of mechanized transplanting against traditional direct seed sowing was conducted in 2022 and 2023 at four locations for the first time. A lower plant density (67–82 plants m⁻²) and shorter plants with higher leaf nitrogen content were observed in transplanted plots compared with seed sowing (130–137 plants m⁻²) in the first year. The optimal climatic conditions for P. oryzae symptom appearance were determined as temperatures of 25–29 °C and a 50–77% relative humidity. The most-affected sowing plots presented 3–20% leaf area damage and a reduction in yield to values of 1.5 t ha⁻¹ in the first year and 2.12 t ha⁻¹ in the second year. In transplanted plots, there was generally less humidity at the plant level and therefore, disease incidence was low in both seasons. Grain yields did not significantly differ among the treatments studied; however, there were differences in the yield components of panicle density and the number of grains for panicles. Principal component analysis revealed two principal components that explained 81% of the variability. Variables related to yield contributed positively to the first component, while plant biomass variables contributed to the second component. Plant density, tiller density, and panicle density were found to be positively correlated (r > 0.81 ***). Overall, transplanting (frame of 30 × 15–18 cm²) resulted in uniform crop growth with less rice blast disease, as well as higher grain yields (2.92–3.89 t ha⁻¹), in comparison with the average for the whole D.O. Calasparra (2.3–2.5 t ha⁻¹) in both seasons and a good percentage of whole grains at milling. This is novel knowledge which can be considered useful for farmers operating in the region. Full article

The accurate determination of an individual’s unique human leukocyte antigen (HLA) allele holds important significance in evaluating the risk associated with autoimmune and infectious diseases, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Several allelic variants within the HLA system have been linked to either increased protection or susceptibility in the context of infectious and autoimmune diseases. This study aimed to determine the frequency and association of HLA alleles between people living with HIV (PLHIV) as the case group and Peruvian individuals without HIV with high-risk behaviors of sexually transmitted diseases as the control group. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was used to determine high-resolution HLA allelotypes using the OptiType and arcas HLA tools. The HLA alleles present in HLA classes I (A, B, and C loci) and II (DPB1, DQA1, DQB1, and DRB1 loci) were determined in a cohort of 59 PLHIV (cases) and 44 individuals without HIV (controls). The most frequent HLA alleles were A*02:01, DPB1*04:02, and DQB1*03:419 at 36%, 30%, and 28% prevalence in general population. We found that C*07:01 (p = 0.0101; OR = 10.222, 95% IC: 1.40–74.55), DQA1*03:02 (p = 0.0051; OR = 5.297, 95% IC: 1.48–19.02), and DRB1*09:01 (p = 0.0119; OR = 4.788, 95% IC: 1.39–16.44) showed an association with susceptibility to HIV infection, while DQB1*03:419 (p = 0.0478; OR = 0.327, 95% IC: 0.11–0.96) was associated with protection from HIV infection. Our findings contribute to the knowledge of HLA allele diversity in the Peruvian population (around 70% South American indigenous ancestry) lays the groundwork for further valuable large-scale use of HLA typing and offers a novel association with HIV infection that is relevant to vaccine studies. Full article

The rapid geographic spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus in poultry, wild birds, and other mammalian hosts, including humans, raises significant health concerns globally. The recent emergence of HPAI A(H5N1) in agricultural animals such as cattle and goats indicates the ability of the virus to breach unconventional host interfaces, further expanding the host range. Among the four influenza types—A, B, C, and D, cattle are most susceptible to influenza D infection and serve as a reservoir for this seven-segmented influenza virus. It is generally thought that bovines are not hosts for other types of influenza viruses, including type A. However, this long-standing viewpoint has been challenged by the recent outbreaks of HPAI A(H5N1) in dairy cows in the United States. To date, HPAI A(H5N1) has spread into fourteen states, affecting 299 dairy herds and causing clinical symptoms such as reduced appetite, fever, and a sudden drop in milk production. Infected cows can also transmit the disease through raw milk. This review article describes the current epidemiological landscape of HPAI A(H5N1) in US dairy cows and its interspecies transmission events in other mammalian hosts reported across the globe. The review also discusses the viral determinants of tropism, host range, adaptative mutations of HPAI A(H5N1) in various mammalian hosts with natural and experimental infections, and vaccination strategies. Finally, it summarizes some immediate questions that need to be addressed for a better understanding of the infection biology, transmission, and immune response of HPAI A(H5N1) in bovines. Full article

Phytophthora palmivora is the pathogen causing bud rot in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis). This pathogen secretes effector proteins that manipulate host defenses, contributing to disease progression. In this study, we systematically investigated the role of specific effector proteins in suppressing programmed cell death (PCD) in oil palm leaflets. Our approach included using genomic and transcriptomic data from a Colombian P. palmivora isolate alongside the coexpression network of a substantial effector dataset. From this analysis, ten candidate effectors were selected, characterized, and evaluated for their ability to suppress PCD in oil palm leaflets through transient expression via biolistics. Several effectors exhibited significant anti-PCD activity in susceptible and less susceptible oil palm genotypes. Notably, the effectors Avr3F (689), RxLR (1540), and RxLR (1546) demonstrated suppression of PCD in both genotypes, while the other effectors played variable roles in PCD regulation. Phylogenetic analysis further identified distinct clades among the effectors, possibly associated with their functional activities. Additionally, specific motifs, such as RXLR-dEER, K, and Y, appeared to correlate with PCD suppression. This research enhances our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction between P. palmivora effectors and oil palm host responses, highlighting these proteins’ genotype-specific regulation of PCD. The findings contribute valuable insights into plant–pathogen interactions and offer potential avenues for targeted disease control strategies in the oil palm industry. Full article

Begomoviruses are a major threat to cassava production in Africa. Indeed, during the 1990s, the emergence of a recombinant begomovirus (East African cassava mosaic virus-Uganda, EACMV-Ug) resulted in crop devastation and severe famine in Uganda. In 2023, during a pre-survey of cassava farms at Forécariah, South-West Guinea, 22 samples showing peculiar cassava mosaic disease (CMD) symptoms were collected, and subsequent laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of EACMV-Ug in the samples. Deep analysis of DNA-A and DNA-B of the EACMV-Ug isolates from Guinea indicated that they are similar to those associated with the severe CMD epidemic in Uganda in the 1990s. Therefore, a country-wide survey was conducted throughout Guinea in April 2024 to evaluate the extent of the spread of EACMV-Ug in the country and to collect critical CMD epidemiological data. Findings showed a high whitefly population in Lower Guinea averaging 17 per plant; however, the data suggest a spread of EACMV-Ug via infected cuttings. High CMD incidence was found in Lower Guinea and Forest Guinea, whereas the highest CMD severity was observed in Forest Guinea (2.70 ± 0.06) and the lowest CMD severity was found in Middle Guinea (2.20 ± 0.05). Several cases of double and triple infections involving African cassava mosaic virus, East African cassava mosaic virus, East African cassava mosaic Cameroon virus, and EACMV-Ug were observed. EACMV-Ug was detected throughout Guinea, as well as from samples collected in 2022 in Kambia (Sierra Leone). The 63 accessions cultivated in Guinea that were assessed in this study were found susceptible to at least one of the viruses cited above. This study alerts us to an alarming situation in development in West Africa and provides scientific evidence to guide the rapid response needed to contain and stop the progression of EACMV-Ug in West Africa. Full article

Fanconi anemia (FA) represents a rare hereditary disease; it develops due to germline pathogenic variants in any of the 22 currently discovered FANC genes, which interact with the Fanconi anemia/breast cancer-associated (FANC/BRCA) pathway to maintain genome integrity. FA is characterized by a triad of clinical traits, including congenital anomalies, bone marrow failure (BMF) and multiple cancer susceptibility. Due to the complex genetic background and a broad spectrum of FA clinical symptoms, the diagnostic process is complex and requires the use of classical cytogenetic, molecular cytogenetics and strictly molecular methods. Recent findings indicate the interplay of inflammation, oxidative stress, disrupted mitochondrial metabolism, and impaired intracellular signaling in the FA pathogenesis. Additionally, a shift in the balance towards overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines and prooxidant components in FA is associated with advanced myelosuppression and ultimately BMF. Although the mechanism of BMF is very complex and needs further clarification, it appears that mutual interaction between proinflammatory cytokines and redox imbalance causes pancytopenia. In this review, we summarize the available literature regarding the clinical phenotype, genetic background, and diagnostic procedures of FA. We also highlight the current understanding of disrupted autophagy process, proinflammatory state, impaired signaling pathways and oxidative genotoxic stress in FA pathogenesis. Full article