Dynamic changing smoking habits and cardiovascular events in patients newly diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia: a national cohort study

Background and aimsThis study aimed to examine the association between dynamic smoking habit change and cardiovascular risk in a population newly diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia.MethodsThis study included 49,320 individuals who had received health examinations provided by the Korea National Health Insurance Service. To determine the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for incident major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and all-cause mortality based on dynamic smoking habit changes for 2 years, multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were utilized.ResultsDuring the follow-up, there were 1,004 (2.2%), 3,483 (7.6%), and 334 (0.7%) cases of myocardial infarction, stroke events, and cardiovascular death, respectively. The group with worsening smoking habits had an increased risk of cardiovascular events and death (HR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.26–1.40) compared to improved smoking habits. The robustness of the results determined by a series of sensitivity analyses further strengthened the main findings.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that worsening of smoking habits, even for a short period of time, may increase the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular death in patients diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. For the primary prevention of cardiovascular events in patients with underlying diseases, dynamic modification of smoking habits should be actively considered

Efficient Image Enhancement via Representative Color Transform

We propose an improved representative color transformation (RCT++), which is an effective framework to describe complex color transformations between low- and high-quality images. We identify the representative colors and features of the input image. For each representative color, we estimate a transformed color that represents its enhanced version. Then, we enhance all input colors by interpolation, taking into account the similarity between input pixels and representative features. We further improve the original RCT framework by introducing the reconstruction term, which clarifies the representative colors, and the entropy term, which diversifies the representative features. Finally, we develop the enhancement network to achieve fast and lightweight image enhancement. Comprehensive experiments on various image enhancement tasks validate our superiority in both effectiveness and efficiency. Our method exceeds recent state-of-the-art methods in efficient image enhancement on MIT-Adobe 5K, Low Light, and Underwater Image Enhancement Benchmark datasets, with comparable computational and memory costs

Image enhancement with intensity transformation on embedding space

Abstract In recent times, an image enhancement approach, which learns the global transformation function using deep neural networks, has gained attention. However, many existing methods based on this approach have a limitation: their transformation functions are too simple to imitate complex colour transformations between low‐quality images and manually retouched high‐quality images. In order to address this limitation, a simple yet effective approach for image enhancement is proposed. The proposed algorithm based on the channel‐wise intensity transformation is designed. However, this transformation is applied to the learnt embedding space instead of specific colour spaces and then return enhanced features to colours. To this end, the authors define the continuous intensity transformation (CIT) to describe the mapping between input and output intensities on the embedding space. Then, the enhancement network is developed, which produces multi‐scale feature maps from input images, derives the set of transformation functions, and performs the CIT to obtain enhanced images. Extensive experiments on the MIT‐Adobe 5K dataset demonstrate that the authors’ approach improves the performance of conventional intensity transforms on colour space metrics. Specifically, the authors achieved a 3.8% improvement in peak signal‐to‐noise ratio, a 1.8% improvement in structual similarity index measure, and a 27.5% improvement in learned perceptual image patch similarity. Also, the authors’ algorithm outperforms state‐of‐the‐art alternatives on three image enhancement datasets: MIT‐Adobe 5K, Low‐Light, and Google HDR+

HSP70-Homolog DnaK of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Increases the Production of IL-27 through Expression of EBI3 via TLR4-Dependent NF-κB and TLR4-Independent Akt Signaling

IL-27, a heterodimeric cytokine composed of the p28 subunit and Epstein–Barr virus-induced gene 3 (EBI3), acts as a potent immunosuppressant and thus limits pathogenic inflammatory responses. IL-27 is upregulated upon Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in septic mice, increasing susceptibility to the infection and decreasing clearance of the pathogen. However, it remains unclear which P. aeruginosa-derived molecules promote production of IL-27. In this study, we explored the mechanism by which P. aeruginosa DnaK, a heat shock protein 70-like protein, induces EBI3 expression, thereby promoting production of IL-27. Upregulation of EBI3 expression did not lead to an increase in IL-35, which consists of the p35 subunit and EBI3. The IL-27 production in response to DnaK was biologically active, as reflected by stimulation of IL-10 production. DnaK-mediated expression of EBI3 was driven by two distinct signaling pathways, NF-κB and Akt. However, NF-κB is linked to TLR4-associated signaling pathways, whereas Akt is not. Taken together, our results reveal that P. aeruginosa DnaK potently upregulates EBI3 expression, which in turn drives production of the prominent anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-27, as a consequence of TLR4-dependent activation of NF-κB and TLR4-independent activation of the Akt signaling pathway

Towards a general model to predict energy consumption for fused filament fabrication

Additive manufacturing offers the opportunity to manufacture highly complex parts capable of providing improved performance, such as using lattice structures inside parts to reduce part weight. However, further research and development is required to improve the energy efficiency of the machinu85es, given the growing focus on sustainability and sustainable manufacturing. The purpose of this research is to address the interaction between part geometry, layer thickness, and printer type to minimize energy consumption for fused filament fabrication. This experiment was conducted with a Creality Ender 3, Monoprice MP Voxel, and Prusa i3 MK 3S + 3D printers using PLA filament, with two different part geometries and two settings for layer thickness. Active power during printing was recorded during warmup and printing. Energy consumption varied with printer type and layer thickness, while increased part complexity may lead to larger energy consumption. For printer selection, other factors may influence decision making of fused filament fabrication users such as quality and machine cost which have tradeoffs when compared to energy consumption. The first and second energy prediction models evaluated in this study had relatively large mean absolute error of 58 kJ and 29 kJ, when calculated using previously derived empirical coefficients and build time estimates calculated using slicing software, respectively. Our research suggests that improvements in the accuracy of energy prediction models are needed so such models can be applied to a range of printers. This research has implications for additive manufacturing service providers, makerspaces, as well as hobbyists who want to advance the sustainability of additive manufacturing.Open access articleThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Mucilaginibacter oryzae sp. nov., isolated from soil of a rice paddy

A Gram-negative-staining, non-spore-forming bacterium devoid of flagella, designated strain B9 T , was isolated from rice paddy soil associated with the roots of Oryza sativa collected from Jinju, South Korea. Cells were straight rods, were catalase-and oxidase-positive and were able to hydrolyse pectin, xylan and laminarin. Growth of strain B9 T was observed between 15 and 35 6C (optimum 25-30 6C) and between pH 5.0 and 8.0 (optimum pH 6.5-7.5). Strain B9 T contained menaquinone-7 (MK-7) as a major isoprenoid quinone and summed feature 3 (C 16 : 1 v7c and/or iso-C 15 : 0 2-OH), iso-C 15 : 0 and C 16 : 0 as major fatty acids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 44.4 mol%. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain B9 T belonged to the genus Mucilaginibacter, a member of the family Sphingobacteriaceae, and was most closely related to Mucilaginibacter kameinonensis SCK T (95.9 % sequence similarity). O

Molecular and Biochemical Characterization of 3-Hydroxybenzoate 6-Hydroxylase from Polaromonas naphthalenivorans CJ2▿

Prior research revealed that Polaromonas naphthalenivorans CJ2 carries and expresses genes encoding the gentisate metabolic pathway for naphthalene. These metabolic genes are split into two clusters, comprising nagRAaGHAbAcAdBFCQEDJI′-orf1-tnpA and nagR2-orf2I″KL (C. O. Jeon, M. Park, H. Ro, W. Park, and E. L. Madsen, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72:1086-1095, 2006). BLAST homology searches of sequences in GenBank indicated that the orf2 gene from the small cluster likely encoded a salicylate 5-hydroxylase, presumed to catalyze the conversion of salicylate into gentisate. Here, we report physiological and genetic evidence that orf2 does not encode salicylate 5-hydroxylase. Instead, we have found that orf2 encodes 3-hydroxybenzoate 6-hydroxylase, the enzyme which catalyzes the NADH-dependent conversion of 3-hydroxybenzoate into gentisate. Accordingly, we have renamed orf2 nagX. After expression in Escherichia coli, the NagX enzyme had an approximate molecular mass of 43 kDa, as estimated by gel filtration, and was probably a monomeric protein. The enzyme was able to convert 3-hydroxybenzoate into gentisate without salicylate 5-hydroxylase activity. Like other 3-hydroxybenzoate 6-hydroxylases, NagX utilized both NADH and NADPH as electron donors and exhibited a yellowish color, indicative of a bound flavin adenine dinucleotide. An engineered mutant of P. naphthalenivorans CJ2 defective in nagX failed to grow on 3-hydroxybenzoate but grew normally on naphthalene. These results indicate that the previously described small catabolic cluster in strain CJ2 may be multifunctional and is essential for the degradation of 3-hydroxybenzoate. Because nagX and an adjacent MarR-type regulatory gene are both closely related to homologues in Azoarcus species, this study raises questions about horizontal gene transfer events that contribute to operon evolution

Ninhydrin Loaded Microcapsules for Detection of Natural Free Amino Acid

Natural free amino acids present in plant extracts or tea infusions provide a unique flavor and potential effect on anxiety and blood pressure reduction. Accordingly, quantifying free amino acids in foods has been of interest to food science and analytical research fields. The ninhydrin solution-based assay is a colorimetric method based on the formation and detection of Ruhemann’s purple complex. Media-based colorimetric detection requires specialized facilities and personnel; moreover, it can suffer from the interference of the analyte color. In this study, we developed ninhydrin-loaded microcapsules and a simple free amino acids detection procedure, by simply dipping the microcapsules into the analyte solution for 3 min. Among the five tested natural free amino acids, theanine exhibited the highest colorimetric response to microcapsule-based detection, with a limit of detection of 0.826 mM

Neurotoxic Microglial Activation via IFNγ‐Induced Nrf2 Reduction Exacerbating Alzheimer's Disease

Microglial neuroinflammation appears to be neuroprotective in the early pathological stage, yet neurotoxic, which often precedes neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, it remains unclear how the microglial activities transit to the neurotoxic state during AD progression, due to complex neuron-glia interactions. Here, the mechanism of detrimental microgliosis in AD by employing 3D human AD mini-brains, brain tissues of AD patients, and 5XFAD mice is explored. In the human and animal AD models, amyloid-beta (Aβ)-overexpressing neurons and reactive astrocytes produce interferon-gamma (IFNγ) and excessive oxidative stress. IFNγ results in the downregulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and the upregulation of Kelch-like ECH-associated Protein 1 (Keap1) in microglia, which inactivate nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and sensitize microglia to the oxidative stress and induces a proinflammatory microglia via nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB)-axis. The proinflammatory microglia in turn produce neurotoxic nitric oxide and proinflammatory mediators exacerbating synaptic impairment, phosphorylated-tau accumulation, and discernable neuronal loss. Interestingly, recovering Nrf2 in the microglia prevents the activation of proinflammatory microglia and significantly blocks the tauopathy in AD minibrains. Taken together, it is envisioned that IFNγ-driven Nrf2 downregulation in microglia as a key target to ameliorate AD pathology