Real-Time Low-Cost Personal Monitoring for Exposure to PM2.5 among Asthmatic Children: Opportunities and Challenges

This study aims to evaluate the accuracy and effectiveness of real-time personal monitoring of exposure to PM concentrations using low-cost sensors, in comparison to conventional data collection method based on fixed stations. PM2.5 data were measured every 5 min using a low-cost sensor attached to a bag carried by 47 asthmatic children living in the Seoul Metropolitan area between November 2019 and March 2020, along with the real-time GPS location, temperature, and humidity. The mobile sensor data were then matched with station-based hourly PM2.5 data using the time and location. Despite some uncertainty and inaccuracy of the sensor data, similar temporal patterns were found between the two sources of PM2.5 data on an aggregate level. However, average PM2.5 concentrations via personal monitoring tended to be lower than those from the fixed stations, particularly when the subjects were indoors, during nighttime, and located farther from the fixed station. On an individual level, a substantial discrepancy is observed between the two PM2.5 data sources while staying indoors. This study provides guidance to policymakers and researchers on improving the feasibility of personal monitoring via low-cost mobile sensors as an alternative or supplement to the conventional station-based monitoring.

Biosynthesis, Quantification and Genetic Diseases of the Smallest Signaling Thiol Metabolite: Hydrogen Sulfide

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gasotransmitter and the smallest signaling thiol metabolite with important roles in human health. The turnover of H2S in humans is mainly governed by enzymes of sulfur amino acid metabolism and also by the microbiome. As is the case with other small signaling molecules, disease-promoting effects of H2S largely depend on its concentration and compartmentalization. Genetic defects that impair the biogenesis and catabolism of H2S have been described; however, a gap in knowledge remains concerning physiological steady-state concentrations of H2S and their direct clinical implications. The small size and considerable reactivity of H2S renders its quantification in biological samples an experimental challenge. A compilation of methods currently employed to quantify H2S in biological specimens is provided in this review. Substantial discrepancy exists in the concentrations of H2S determined by different techniques. Available methodologies permit end-point measurement of H2S concentration, yet no definitive protocol exists for the continuous, real-time measurement of H2S produced by its enzymatic sources. We present a summary of available animal models, monogenic diseases that impair H2S metabolism in humans including structure-function relationships of pathogenic mutations, and discuss possible approaches to overcome current limitations of study.

A puzzle in $$\varvec{\bar{B}_{(s)}^0 \rightarrow D_{(s)}^{(*)+} \lbrace \pi ^-, K^-\rbrace }$$ decays and extraction of the $$\varvec{f_s/f_d}$$ fragmentation fraction

We provide updated predictions for the hadronic decays $$\bar{B}_s^0\rightarrow D_s^{(*)+} \pi ^-$$ B ¯ s 0 → D s ( ∗ ) + π - and $$\bar{B}^0\rightarrow D^{(*)+} K^-$$ B ¯ 0 → D ( ∗ ) + K - . They are based on $${\mathcal {O}}(\alpha _s^2)$$ O ( α s 2 ) results for the QCD factorization amplitudes at leading power and on recent results for the $$\bar{B}_{(s)} \rightarrow D_{(s)}^{(*)}$$ B ¯ ( s ) → D ( s ) ( ∗ ) form factors up to order $$\mathcal{O}(\Lambda _\mathrm{QCD}^2/m_c^2)$$ O ( Λ QCD 2 / m c 2 ) in the heavy-quark expansion. We give quantitative estimates of the matrix elements entering the hadronic decay amplitudes at order $$\mathcal{O}(\Lambda _\mathrm{QCD}/m_b)$$ O ( Λ QCD / m b ) for the first time. Our results are very precise, and uncover a substantial discrepancy between the theory predictions and the experimental measurements. We explore two possibilities for this discrepancy: non-factorizable contributions larger than predicted by the QCD factorization power counting, and contributions beyond the Standard Model. We determine the $$f_s/f_d$$ f s / f d fragmentation fraction for the CDF, D0 and LHCb experiments for both scenarios.

Characterizing therapeutic signatures of transcription factors in cancer by incorporating profiles in compound treated cells

Motivation Cancers are promoted by abnormal alterations in biological processes, such as cell cycle and apoptosis. An immediate reason for those aberrant processes is the deregulation of their involved transcription factors (TFs). Thus, the deregulated TFs in cancer have been experimented as successful therapeutic targets, such as RARA and RUNX1. This therapeutic strategy can be accelerated by characterizing new potential TF targets. Results Two kinds of therapeutic signatures of TFs in A375 (skin) and HT29 (colon) cancer cells were characterized by analyzing TF activities under effective and ineffective compounds to cancer. First, the therapeutic TFs (TTs) were identified as the TFs that are significantly activated or repressed under effective compared to ineffective compounds. Second, the therapeutically correlated TF pairs (TCPs) were determined as the TF pairs whose activity correlations show substantial discrepancy between the effective and ineffective compounds. It was facilitated by incorporating (i) compound-induced gene expressions (LINCS), (ii) compound-induced cell viabilities (GDSC) and (iii) TF–target interactions (TRUST2). As a result, among 627 TFs, the 35 TTs (such as MYCN and TP53) and the 214 TCPs (such as FOXO3 and POU2F2 pair) were identified. The TTs and the proteins on the paths between TCPs were compared with the known therapeutic targets, tumor suppressors, oncogenes and CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screening, which yielded significant consequences. We expect that the results provide good candidates for therapeutic TF targets in cancer. Availability and implementation The data and Python implementations are available at https://github.com/jmjung83/TT_and_TCP. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

The cross section of $$e^+e^-\rightarrow \Lambda \overline{\Sigma }{}^0+\text {c.c.}$$ as a litmus test of isospin violation in the decays of vector charmonia into $$\Lambda \overline{\Sigma }{}^0+\text {c.c.}$$

Under the aegis of isospin conservation, the amplitudes in Born approximation, i.e., considering the only one-photon-exchange mechanism, of the decay $$\psi \rightarrow \Lambda \overline{\Sigma }{}^0+\text {c.c.}$$ ψ → Λ Σ ¯ 0 + c.c. , where $$\psi $$ ψ is a vector charmonium, and of the reaction $$e^+e^-\rightarrow \Lambda \overline{\Sigma }{}^0+\text {c.c.}$$ e + e - → Λ Σ ¯ 0 + c.c. at the $$\psi $$ ψ mass, are parametrized by the same electromagnetic coupling. It follows that, the modulus of such a coupling can be extracted from the data on the two observables: the decay branching fraction and the annihilation cross section. By considering the first two vector charmonia, $$J/\psi $$ J / ψ and $$\psi (2S)$$ ψ ( 2 S ) , it is found that, especially in the case of $$\psi (2S)$$ ψ ( 2 S ) , there is a substantial discrepancy between the values of the modulus of the same electromagnetic coupling extracted from the branching ratio and the cross section. We propose, as a possible explanation for such a disagreement, the presence in the decay amplitude of isospin-violating contributions driven by two different mechanisms, that, however, appear to be more favored in the $$\psi (2S)$$ ψ ( 2 S ) than in the $$J/\psi $$ J / ψ decays.

Central reader evaluation of MRI scans of the sacroiliac joints from the ASAS classification cohort: discrepancies with local readers and impact on the performance of the ASAS criteria

ObjectivesThe Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) MRI working group conducted a multireader exercise on MRI scans from the ASAS classification cohort to assess the spectrum and evolution of lesions in the sacroiliac joint and impact of discrepancies with local readers on numbers of patients classified as axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).MethodsSeven readers assessed baseline scans from 278 cases and 8 readers assessed baseline and follow-up scans from 107 cases. Agreement for detection of MRI lesions between central and local readers was assessed descriptively and by the kappa statistic. We calculated the number of patients classified as axSpA by the ASAS criteria after replacing local detection of active lesions by central readers and replacing local reader radiographic sacroiliitis by central reader structural lesions on MRI.ResultsStructural lesions, especially erosions, were as frequent as active lesions (≈40%), the majority of patients having both types of lesions. The ASAS definitions for active MRI lesion typical of axSpA and erosion were comparatively discriminatory between axSpA and non-axSpA. Local reader overcall for active MRI lesions was about 30% but this had a minor impact on the number of patients (6.4%) classified as axSpA. Substitution of radiography with MRI structural lesions also had little impact on classification status (1.4%).ConclusionDespite substantial discrepancy between central and local readers in interpretation of both types of MRI lesion, this had a minor impact on the numbers of patients classified as axSpA supporting the robustness of the ASAS criteria for differences in assessment of imaging.

Bioavailability Based on the Gut Microbiota: a New Perspective

SUMMARY The substantial discrepancy between the strong effects of functional foods and various drugs, especially traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), and the poor bioavailability of these substances remains a perplexing problem. Understanding the gut microbiota, which acts as an effective bioreactor in the human intestinal tract, provides an opportunity for the redefinition of bioavailability. Here, we discuss four different pathways associated with the role of the gut microbiota in the transformation of parent compounds to beneficial or detrimental small molecules, which can enter the body’s circulatory system and be available to target cells, tissues, and organs. We further describe and propose effective strategies for improving bioavailability and alleviating side effects with the help of the gut microbiota. This review also broadens our perspectives for the discovery of new medicinal components.

Lamb Waves in Functionally Graded and Laminated Composites

Propagation of Lamb waves in both laminated and functionally graded (FG) composites is analyzed. Anomalous dispersion at high frequencies is observed revealing substantial discrepancy in the high frequencies asymptotes for quasi-flexural and quasi-symmetric fundamental modes. The applied methodology is based on a variant of sextic complex formalism.

Do Most U.S. Farms Really Lose Money? Taxation and Farm Income Underreporting

This article explores whether income underreporting for tax purposes can explain why the majority of U.S. farmers earn low or negative net farm income. Using 10 years of U.S. Department of Agriculture farm-level data, the extent of underreporting is estimated by exploiting the fact that farm households face an incentive to underreport farm income that varies with their reported off-farm income. Results indicate that 39% of total farm income is underreported. For large farms, the results imply a substantial discrepancy between reported and earned farm income. For small-scale operations, underreporting reduces but does not eliminate the gap between farm and off-farm wages.

Experimental study of alternating magnetic field in laminated ferromagnetic core

At engineering simulations of magnetic fields in ferromagnetic cores standard Preisach and Jiles-Atherton models are commonly used. At that a material magnetic properties are considered similar in all points of a core. However, the view of experimental hysteresis loops can differ from calculated even for materials with well-known magnetic properties, e.g. transformer steel. Experimental registration of hysteresis loops in characteristic zones of laminated steel core have revealed substantial discrepancy as in the loops view as in the field strength distribution in comparison with calculation results. Measurements at the frequency and field amplitude variation in order to reveal their influence on the magnetization process are conducted. The results obtained point to possible significant influence of magnetostriction effect on functioning of the ferromagnetic core. This influence can appear at frequencies of the core mechanical resonance and lead to changes in the core inductance and quality factor. The effect is relatively weakly pronounced at laminated steel core, but in some cases needs to be considered, e.g. if big size core operates at network frequency.