87 reads in the past 30 days
Acute fatigue-induced alterations in hamstring muscle properties after repeated Nordic hamstring exercisesApril 2024
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308 Reads
Published by SAGE Publications Inc
Online ISSN: 2047-7163
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Print ISSN: 0036-8504
Disciplines: Multidisciplinary Sciences
87 reads in the past 30 days
Acute fatigue-induced alterations in hamstring muscle properties after repeated Nordic hamstring exercisesApril 2024
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308 Reads
49 reads in the past 30 days
A review of modification methods, joints and self-healing methods of adhesive for aerospaceApril 2024
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445 Reads
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4 Citations
49 reads in the past 30 days
Design and implementation of a field robot using a parallelogram mechanismOctober 2024
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158 Reads
43 reads in the past 30 days
Insect-pollinators and their interactions with plants differ in disturbed and semi-natural areas: Tanzania's Southern Highlands case studyJune 2023
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795 Reads
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4 Citations
38 reads in the past 30 days
Renewable energy investments in South Africa: Potentials and challenges for a sustainable transition - a reviewApril 2024
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523 Reads
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4 Citations
Science Progress is an open access, peer-reviewed, multidisciplinary journal, aiming to provide a platform for researchers in all areas of scientific exploration including Agricultural Science, Biology & Life Sciences, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Computer & Information Sciences, Earth Sciences, Ecology & Environmental Sciences, Engineering & Technology, Medicine & Health Sciences, Physics, Psychology and Science Policy.
February 2025
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1 Read
Xuehong Zhou
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Shoubing Jin
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Dong Wu
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Wantong Su
Objective This cohort study investigated the relationship between serum magnesium levels and the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP). Methods We analyzed data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database, focusing on adult AP patients (≥18 years old) with ICU stays longer than 24 h. Univariable logistic regression was used to identify key covariates. Both univariate and multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the link between serum magnesium levels and AKI occurrence. A restricted cubic spline (RCS) was used to visualize the associations, and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results During hospitalization, 455 (69.1%) participants experienced AKI. After adjusting for relevant factors, higher serum magnesium concentrations were significantly associated with AKI (OR: 2.247, 95% CI: 1.234–4.091; p = 0.008). Magnesium levels between 1.6–2.6 mg/dL (OR: 1.872, 95% CI: 1.105–1.174, p = 0.020) and ≥2.6 mg/dL (OR: 3.851, 95% CI: 1.08–13.736, p = 0.038) were linked to increased AKI occurrence. The RCS curve indicated a nonlinear relationship, suggesting a potential threshold effect between serum magnesium and AKI risk. Conclusions Higher serum magnesium levels were found to be associated with AKI in ICU patients with acute pancreatitis. Further studies are needed to explore this relationship.
February 2025
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1 Read
Xuequan Zhao
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Xixi Han
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Chenxu Li
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[...]
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Yafeng Zhang
Objective Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) is a primary treatment for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF). Historically, surgeons preferred a bilateral approach for PVP; however, this approach may impose greater financial strain on patients. This retrospective study examines the efficacy of the unilateral approach compared to the bilateral approach. Methods A total of193 patients were categorized into Group A (unilaterally extrapedicular approach) and Group B (bilateral approach) based on the operative method. Efficacy was evaluated using perioperative indicators, follow-up results, and imaging evaluation results. Results Out of the 193 patients involved, 169 were eligible for analysis. All patients completed follow-up visits lasting 49–70 months. Compared to Group B, Group A exhibited significantly shorter operation time, puncture duration, amount of bone cement injected, and number of X-ray fluoroscopies (P < 0.05). While initial pain reduction, as measured by the visual analog scale and Oswestry Disability Index scores, was lower in Group A, the difference between the groups narrowed by the final follow-up. At the final imaging follow-up, no statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding the relative height of the injured vertebral bodies and local Cobb angle measurements. Conclusions This technique holds the potential for accelerated patient rehabilitation and reduced hospitalization expenses, presenting a promising treatment option for OVCF patients.
February 2025
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3 Reads
Disaster environments, such as fires, distort of two-way radio communication within buildings. This article presents an experimental study on microwave attenuation based on the smoke and wall type in a disaster environment using a two-way radio with digital mobile radio communication, widely used by firefighting crews in Korea. Furthermore, we compared the microwave attenuation of the two-way radio depending on the building materials and smoke. We then present the experimental result of the microwave characteristic corresponding to the four types of walls in a specially designed anechoic chamber (3 m × 1 m × 1 m) to analyze the microwave attenuation by the building materials, with results indicating up to 82% in 200 mm thick concrete. Moreover, we evaluated the propagation attenuation based on the four types of smoke with the same density in a container space (5.8 m × 2.8 m × 2.2 m). The results showed that the microwaves were not transmitted and significantly decreased based on the building materials at 400 MHz, which is the main cause of attenuation. It shows a property of up to 36% reduction in urethane. Although the attenuation of microwaves is not significantly large according to the fuels in smoke, fuels such as urethane, plastic, and rubber have relatively small attenuation of microwaves compared to wood, and the received power corresponding to urethane in smoke decreased the most.
January 2025
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1 Read
Introduction This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of combining induction chemotherapy with concurrent chemoradiotherapy for patients with stage III–IVA nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), particularly focusing on cases associated with Epstein–Barr virus infection. The primary focus is on treatment response and disease control. Methods This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from 81 patients with stage III–IVA NPC (excluding T3N0M0) treated with gemcitabine and cisplatin as induction chemotherapy, followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy at the Vietnam National Cancer Hospital. Patient data and follow-up information were collected between June 2021 and June 2024, focusing on disease-free survival (DFS) as the primary outcome and secondary outcomes including factors affecting DFS and treatment-related toxicity. Results In the initial 3-month period, 76 out of 81 patients achieved a complete response, and five patients achieved a partial response. The follow-up period averaged 18.7 ± 5.3 months, with a 2-year DFS rate of 77.6%. Key factors influencing DFS included patient age, N stage, disease stage, and treatment interruptions. Grade 3 toxicities observed included neutropenia (17.3%) and mucositis (32.1%), while grade 4 toxicity was limited to nausea (2.4%). Additionally, 2.6% of patients experienced delayed grade I–II toxicities, with some presenting grade III anorexia. Conclusion Our findings suggest that gemcitabine and cisplatin induction chemotherapy, followed by chemoradiotherapy, may result in a high response rate and effective disease control with manageable toxicity. However, further research is needed to evaluate long-term outcomes and potential delayed adverse effects to confirm these initial observations.
January 2025
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4 Reads
A backtracking heuristic algorithm (BHA) was proposed for a two-dimensional rectangular strip packing problem with rotations and without guillotine cutting, which has many applications. An improved fitness strategy was used to select the fittest rectangle to be packed on a strip with a certain height. Next, a backtracking constructive heuristic was repeatedly used at a higher height until all the rectangles were packed. A multi-start improvement procedure then found the best solution by taking a different rectangle as the first rectangle, whereas the sequence of the other rectangles remained unchanged. Finally, in order to further expand the scope of the solution, a simple randomized local search procedure based on random sequences of rectangles with the first rectangle unchanged was applied to search for the optimal solution. BHA has only two parameters; it is simple and effective. Computational results on benchmark problems (zero-waste instances and non-zero-waste instances) with different scales (from 10 to 75,032 rectangles) indicate the following: (1) though it is non-deterministic, the difference between the results after each running is tiny and (2) the proposed algorithm outperforms most of the other algorithms under comparison on the whole, especially for large-scale instances with more than 1000 rectangles, which is further verified by statistical analysis and greatly meaningful in mass industrial production like metal cutting.
January 2025
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1 Read
Objective To study the impact of kinetic glomerular filtration rate (kGFR) on clinical decision making and its implications on drug dosing compared to that of estimated GFR (eGFR) using chronic kidney disease epidemiology collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) admitted in a tertiary level intensive care unit (ICU). Methods Cross-sectional, prospective, observational study design. All patients admitted to Medical ICU, Fortis Hospital, Bangalore with AKI defined as per AKI network (AKIN) criteria. Patients were recruited after approval from the scientific and institutional ethics committee, with written informed consent. Serum creatinine values at admission and further values were noted. GFR was calculated using both formulas (CKD-EPI and kGFR) and documented at all intervals of creatinine sampling. Drugs requiring renal dose modification along with the dosing were documented. Sample size was calculated after a pilot study and a total of 107 patients were analyzed. Results Incidence of AKI was 12.84%. The mean (±SD) eGFR was 37.25 (±29.4) and kGFR was 42.5 (±33.2), (p-value .003). 70 (65.42%) patients required drug dose change when kGFR was used. Dosing changes from Day 1 to Day 5 are 53/104 (50.9%), 39/81 (48.1%), 12/26 (46.1%), 2/9 (28.5%), 1/2 (50%). Predominant dose changes were for antimicrobials: vancomycin (35.7%), acyclovir (23.1%), and meropenem (23%). Discussion Drug dosing using different methods of GFR calculation showed a difference in the dosing in 65.42% of patients with AKI. Accounting for change in creatinine over time using kinetic GFR may lead to better drug dosing in critically ill patients with AKI. Conclusion Our study shows that calculating GFR using kGFR formula instead of CKD-EPI may change drug dosages among patients with AKI admitted in ICU. By replacing conventional GFR estimation formulas with kGFR we may reduce the drug dosing inaccuracies that are currently prevalent in this cohort of patients.
January 2025
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14 Reads
Objective Heavy metal pollution is one of the more recent problems of environmental degradation caused by rapid industrialization and human activity. The objective of this study was to isolate, screen, and characterize heavy metal-resistant bacteria from solid waste disposal sites. Methods In this study, a total of 18 soil samples were randomly selected from mechanical sites, metal workshops, and agricultural land that received wastewater irrigation. Isolation and screening of the isolates were based on multiple heavy metal (copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb)) resistance potential. Morphological, biochemical, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing techniques were used to identify the isolates. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the potential isolates was further examined at various concentrations (3, 6, 12, 25, 50, and 100 µg/mL). Each isolate's ability to biodegrade and resist antibiotics was also examined. Results About 21 bacterial isolates were obtained. Among these, six potential isolates (Agri10⁻²Is2, Agri10⁻³Is2, Agri10⁻³Is1, AL10⁻¹Is2, AL10⁻³Is1, and GA10⁻²Is1) were selected. The isolates displayed varied colony morphologies and biochemical characterization features. Phylogenetic tree results revealed that Agri10⁻²Is2, Agri10⁻³Is2, Agri10⁻³Is1, AL10⁻¹Is2, AL10⁻³Is1, and GA10⁻²Is1 were identified as Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus species, Bacillus tequilensis, Klebiesella species, and Cronobacter sakazakii, respectively. Every isolate gave a different MIC value. The biodegradation capacity of Agri10⁻²Is2, Agri10⁻³Is2, Agri10⁻³Is1, AL10⁻¹Is2, AL10⁻³Is1, and GA10⁻²Is1 was 92.2%, 92.57%, 92.37%, 92.66%, 92.85%, and 92.52% against Cu; 95.07%, 94.07%, 93.07%, 93.4%, 91.4%, and 94.4% on Cr; and 95.51%, 94.53%, 95.62%, 96.87%, 94.86%, and 97.09% against Pb, respectively. All isolates were found to be resistant to the tested antibiotics. Conclusion This study concludes that the selected bacterial isolates could be potential agents for bioremediation of heavy metal-polluted environments.
January 2025
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3 Reads
Despite advances in multimodal cancer therapy, such as combining radical surgery with high-intensity chemoradiotherapy, for SMARCB1/INI-1-deficient sinonasal carcinoma (SDSC), the prognosis of patients remains poor. Immunotherapy is gaining increasing popularity as a novel treatment strategy for patients with SMARCB1/INI-1-deficient tumors. Herein, we report on the management of three patients with SDSC who received PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor therapy as a part of multimodal therapy based on surgery and chemoradiotherapy. All three patients survived and demonstrated good clinical remission and disease control. To our knowledge, this is the first case series reporting the use of immunotherapy to improve clinical outcomes in neoadjuvant, adjuvant, and late first-line stages of treatment in patients with SDSC. Furthermore, we reviewed the relevant literature and further explored the correlation between SMARCB1/INI-1 deletion and immunotherapy.
January 2025
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7 Reads
Ensuring the integrity of shipping containers is crucial for maintaining product quality, logistics efficiency, and safety in the global supply chain. Damaged containers can lead to significant economic losses, delays, and safety hazards. Traditionally, container inspections have been manual, which are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and error-prone, especially in busy port environments. This study introduces an automated solution using the YOLO-NAS model, a cutting-edge deep learning architecture known for its adaptability, computational efficiency, and high accuracy in object detection tasks. Our research is among the first to apply YOLO-NAS to container damage detection, addressing the complex conditions of seaports and optimizing for high-speed, high-accuracy performance essential for port logistics. Our method showcases YOLO-NAS's superior efficacy in detecting container damage, achieving a mean average precision (mAP) of 91.2%, a precision rate of 92.4%, and a recall of 84.1%. Comparative analyses indicate that YOLO-NAS consistently outperforms other leading models like YOLOv8 and Roboflow 3.0, which showed lower mAP, precision, and recall values under similar conditions. Additionally, while models such as Fmask-RCNN and MobileNetV2 exhibit high training accuracy, they lack the real-time assessment capabilities critical for port applications, making YOLO-NAS a more suitable choice. The successful integration of YOLO-NAS for automated container damage detection has significant implications for the logistics industry, enhancing port operations with reliable, real-time inspection solutions that can seamlessly integrate into predictive maintenance and monitoring systems. This approach reduces operational costs, improves safety, and lessens the reliance on manual inspections, contributing to the development of “smart ports” with higher efficiency and sustainability in container management.
January 2025
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13 Reads
Existing studies on the symmetric spherical pendulum are limited to small- and moderate-amplitude vibrations. This study was conducted to obtain accurate solutions for analysis of the large-amplitude vibration of a symmetric magnetic spherical pendulum using the continuous piecewise linearization method (CPLM). The stability conditions and bifurcation of the pendulum were derived based on the critical points, while the CPLM was used to estimate the frequency response and vibration histories to less than 0.1% and 1.0% relative error respectively when compared to numerical solutions. The CPLM was found to be significantly more accurate than the Laplace transform homotopy perturbation method and predicted the large-amplitude bi-stable vibrations accurately. The stability analysis that was conducted enabled the characterization of all bounded symmetric vibrations based on the relationship between the cyclotron frequency and azimuthal velocity, whereas the bifurcation analysis confirmed that the symmetric vibrations can undergo pitchfork bifurcation that results in transition from single-well to double-well (or bi-stable) vibrations and vice versa. Finally, a parametric analysis was conducted to study the effect of the cyclotron frequency and uniform azimuthal velocity on the frequency–amplitude response and vibration histories The parametric analysis showed that the frequency–amplitude response has a strong dependence on the cyclotron frequency and azimuthal velocity for all amplitudes. On the other hand, the oscillation profile only depends on the cyclotron frequency and azimuthal velocity for some amplitudes. The results of this study can be applied in the design of energy harvesters and elliptic tanks for liquid transport.
January 2025
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4 Reads
Objective To explore the correlation between cardiac iron deposition and left ventricular function indicators, such as left ventricular end-diastolic volume index, left ventricular end-systolic volume index, and left ventricular ejection fraction, and to evaluate the accuracy of predicting patients with cardiac iron deposition by using left ventricular ejection fraction as an index. Methods This quantitative cross-sectional study involved one hundred and fifty transfusion-dependent patients with β-thalassemia major who were evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging to obtain T2* values, left ventricular end-diastolic volume index, left ventricular end-systolic volume index, and left ventricular ejection fraction. The relationship between cardiac R2* values and left ventricular end-diastolic volume index, left ventricular end-systolic volume index, and left ventricular ejection fraction was analyzed. Results Out of the 150 patients, cardiac iron overload was not observed for 92 patients, 42 patients exhibited mild to moderate cardiac iron overload, and 16 patients were severe cardiac iron overloaded. A linear correlation was not observed between the cardiac R2* values and left ventricular end-diastolic volume index, left ventricular end-systolic volume index, and left ventricular ejection fraction (P > 0.05). For the left ventricular ejection fraction index, the sensibility, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and the agreement rate were 83.3%, 63.2%, 8.6%, 98.9%, and 64.0%, respectively; also, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.348. Conclusions A linear correlation was not observed between cardiac R2* values and left ventricular end-diastolic volume index, left ventricular end-systolic volume index, and left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with β-thalassemia major. Therefore, using left ventricular ejection fraction as an indirect index to predict cardiac iron deposition may be not reliable in clinical practice.
January 2025
Objective Endometrial cancer (EC) is a malignant tumor with various histological subtypes and molecular phenotypes. The evaluation of drug resistance is important for cancer treatment. Progesterone resistance is the major challenge in EC. Knowledge of drug resistance in EC is important in the development of novel therapies. Methods In this study, ten paracancerous and ten tumor tissues were collected to measure the expression of insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) and high-mobility group protein 1 (HMGA1). AN3CA and Ishikawa cells were used to explore the effects of IGF2BP3 on EC. Results The expression levels of IGF2BP3 and HMGA1 were higher in EC tumor tissues than in paracancerous tissues. IGF2BP3 and HMGA1 are highly expressed in cisplatin-resistant EC cells. IGF2BP3 knockdown decreased the growth of cisplatin-resistant EC cells. Knockdown of IGF2BP3 decreased the level of HMGA1 protein. HMGA1 knockdown decreased the growth of cisplatin-resistant EC cells. Discuss and conclusions The findings demonstrate that IGF2BP3 is upregulated in EC and closely regulates the growth of drug-resistant EC cells via HMGA1. The findings will inform the development of novel therapies for EC.
January 2025
Objective To explore the prevalence and risk factors of carotid artery (CA) stenosis among subclavian steal syndrome (SSS) patients and to record their prognoses. Methods This observational study was retrospective. From January 2015 to October 2022, 169 patients were diagnosed with SSS. Among them, 51 combined with CA stenosis have surgical indications for both diseases. In this cohort, 24 were treated for subclavian artery (23 endovascular, 1 open), 12 for CA (6 endovascular, 6 open), and 5 for both (1 endovascular, 1 open, 3 hybrid). The primary end point was mortality, and the secondary end points were vessel re-stenosis and other complications. Patients were followed up through outpatient, online, or telephone. Results Compared with simple SSS, patients who suffered from both were older (60.51 ± 9.304 versus 66.69 ± 7.921, P < 0.001) and more males (57.6% versus 86.3%, P < .001). Besides, they presented a higher prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia (P = .015), diabetes mellitus (P = .036), and CVA/TIA (P = .036). No patient died within 30 days after surgery; four complications occurred (1 stroke, 1 hearing loss, 1 TIA, 1 infection). During a median follow-up of 37.6 months, two patients died without relation to the operation, three appeared in-stent restenosis, and one developed contrast nephropathy. Discussion This study observed and analyzed different intervention methods and their prognosis in SSS combined with CA stenosis patients, and due to the limited number of participants, more data support would be needed. Conclusions The management of SSS patients combined with CA stenosis is more challenging compared to simple SSS. Our research demonstrated different surgical methods and their prognosis.
January 2025
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25 Reads
Introduction The diagnostic boundaries between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are controversial due to the ambiguity of psychiatric nosology. From this perspective, it is noteworthy that formal thought disorder has historically been considered pathognomonic of schizophrenia. Given that human thought is partially based on language, we can hypothesize that alterations in language may help differentiate between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Method In this exploratory study, we employed natural language processing techniques to identify differences in language abnormalities between patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The KoBERT and KoGPT language models were used to determine sentence acceptability, assessing how natural and therefore acceptable a given sentence is to the general population. In addition, semantic word networks were constructed for each group, and network measures were compared. Results Patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder used less acceptable sentences than controls. Post hoc analysis revealed that the schizophrenia group used less acceptable sentences than the bipolar disorder group. Furthermore, the semantic word networks of the three groups were significantly different in the three network measures. Post hoc analysis revealed a significant difference between the schizophrenia and bipolar disorder networks. The bipolar disorder network generally fell between the schizophrenia and control networks, except in terms of the average clustering coefficient. Conclusions Patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder showed significant differences in sentence acceptability as calculated by the language model, as well as in the network metrics estimated by semantic network analysis. Thus, language abnormalities may represent surrogate markers of thought disorders and help differentiate between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
January 2025
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13 Reads
Introduction Evaluating the mechanical–anatomical alignment and angles of the knee joint is crucial for athletes. We aimed to analyse the relationship between lower extremity bone alignment and the importance of the Q angle (QA) in male athletes. Methods We included 38 male professional football athletes without any alignment or varus-valgus deformity who actively played football in various football clubs in Istanbul. This study was conducted using quantitative research methods within the scope of a cohort study design and employed a correlational survey method. A health specialist at the orthopaedic outpatient clinic of the Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, evaluated the participants’ lower extremity bone alignment using standing anteroposterior radiographs and assessed the QA using the goniometric measurement method. The anatomical lateral distal femoral angle (aLDFA), medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA) and QA data were analysed to assess lower extremity straightness. Results Significant relationships between the right and left leg aLDFA, MPTA and QA values of the participants’ lower extremity mechanical axis values and between the aLDFA and right leg QA values (r = 0.380, p = 0.019) were found. These relationships were attributed to the difference between proximal and distal alignments of the lower extremities. The correlation between QA and certain mechanical alignment parameters was due to unilateral and bilateral symmetrical arrangements of the lower extremities. Conclusions The parameters of lower extremity mechanical–anatomical alignment are considered preliminary indicators of relationships among sports injuries, structural factors and predisposition to such injuries. Individual differences in the angular values of mechanical–anatomical alignment and the application of different methods for determining these angles have revealed some uncertainties. We determined the mechanical axis data of football athletes who predominantly used their lower extremities using the most reliable methods and examined the relationship among the right and left leg aLDFA, MPTA and QA values. We believe that our findings provide insights and guidance for experts in the field.
January 2025
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4 Reads
Electrolyte imbalance management is crucial in diverse clinical scenarios, with intravenous potassium repletion often required. High-concentration infusions can pose severe complications if extravasation occurs, leading to phlebitis, local tissue damage, or in severe cases, cutaneous necrosis. This risk is elevated in geriatric patients due to factors like reduced tissue elasticity and sensitivity. We report a case of phlebitis and skin necrosis in an elderly woman after peripheral KCl infusion (6% [800 mmol/L]). A woman in her early 70 s presented with obstructive jaundice and critically low potassium levels. A peripheral intravenous administration of 6% KCl was initiated to rectify hypokalemia. Due to superficial venous site selection and the patient's reduced sensitivity, phlebitis developed unnoticed, leading to cutaneous necrosis. Management involved medication discontinuation, cannula removal, application of a magnesium sulfate dressing, limb elevation, and a hydrogel dressing. Despite initial necrosis, wound debridement, ongoing dressings, and moderate hand exercises led to a complete wound resolution. This case underscores the importance of careful selection and monitoring of infusion sites during administration of irritant solutions like concentrated KCl, particularly in geriatric patients. Patient-specific factors, pharmacological implications, and the necessity for adequate vascular assessment are emphasized. Further, the case highlights the necessity for prompt and multifaceted management strategies to handle complications, including patient and caregiver education, careful wound management, and proactive nursing care. The event underscores the need for established protocols regarding the administration of high-risk drugs to prevent severe sequelae.
January 2025
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8 Reads
Objective This study aims to analyze anatomical parameters of the transmission route of sigmoid sinus tinnitus (SST) to explore its mechanism and speculate on possible responsible anatomical abnormalities. Methods Clinical data were retrospectively collected from SST and sigmoid sinus wall dehiscence (SSWD) patients suggested by temporal bone high resolution computed tomography (HRCT), with and without tinnitus, at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 2015 to August 2022. Patients were divided into SSWD tinnitus (n = 61), and non-tinnitus (n = 60) groups based on HRCT features. Mimics Medical 22.0 and 3-matic Medical 13.0 software measured curvature of the sigmoid sinus bone wall, defect distribution, related parameters, distance to the tympanic sinus and cochlear window, degree of mastoid pneumatization, temporal bone air chamber surface area, volume, and S/V value. Mechanisms were analyzed by comparing clinical data and imaging anatomical parameters between groups. Results The tinnitus group was significantly younger and had more severe low-frequency hearing loss (P = 0.002). The degree of mastoid pneumatization was significantly lower in the tinnitus group (P = 0.032). The volume of the temporal bone air chamber was smaller (P = 0.020), and the S/V value was higher in the tinnitus group (P = 0.001). Bone wall defects in the lower curvature were protective against tinnitus (P = 0.007, OR = 0.071). Larger maximum transverse diameter of the defect increased tinnitus risk (P = 0.030, OR = 1.875). Higher S/V value was also a significant risk factor (P = 0.009, OR = 24.210). Conclusions SST patients exhibit significant female and right-sided predominance, with low-frequency hearing loss. Defects in the superior curvature and descending part of the sigmoid groove are more likely to cause tinnitus. Larger transverse diameters and higher S/V values are independent risk factors for tinnitus. Over-pneumatized temporal bones do not facilitate transmission of sigmoid sinus blood flow murmur, highlighting the importance of specific anatomical features in SST development.
January 2025
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24 Reads
The recent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic has clearly exemplified the need for broad-spectrum antiviral (BSA) medications. However, previous outbreaks show that about one year after an outbreak, interest in antiviral research diminishes and the work toward an effective medication is left unfinished. Martin et al. endeavored to support the early stages of focused BSA development by creating the Small Molecule Antiviral Compound Collection (SMACC), which is publicly available online at https://smacc.mml.unc.edu. SMACC is a highly curated database with over 32,500 entries of chemical compounds tested in both phenotypic and target-based assays across 13 viruses from the NIAID's list of emerging infectious diseases/pathogens. The authors advise judicious use of knowledge collections such as SMACC and recommend users critically evaluate retrieved data and resulting hypotheses prior to experimental testing. When used correctly, SMACC-like databases may serve as a reference for medicinal chemists and virologists working to develop novel BSA medications. To summarize, we emphasize the importance of data curation for both novel outbreak prediction and development of BSAs against these outbreaks.
January 2025
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8 Reads
Firefighters are exposed to the risk of burns at fire scenes. In 2020, the National Fire Agency of the Republic of Korea surveyed 50,527 firefighters and identified 242 burn-related incidents. The body parts affected by these burns were the hands (28.51%), ears (10.74%), and neck (10.33%), with hands and facial areas accounting for ∼50% of all burns. This trend implies that gloves and hoods do not provide sufficient protection against burns. Firefighters alternate between activity and rest during firefighting operations to enhance mission efficiency. However, the accumulated heat in their hood and gloves from these repeated cycles has not been considered thus far. This study investigated thermal accumulation patterns based on the moisture content of hoods and gloves, reflecting repeated cycles of work and rest for firefighters. Consequently, heat accumulation occurred in a dry state in both the hood and gloves, and the degree of heat storage was higher in the hood. The glove stored heat even when wet because of its multilayer structural characteristics. These results suggest that repeated activities (work–rest) with gloves and hoods under dry/wet conditions can generate residual heat and heat accumulation, causing burns on the hand and face. This study clearly demonstrated the impact of the moisture conditions of gloves and hoods in repetitive situations where they are exposed to relatively low levels of heat radiation and are then subject to rest periods. The results of this study are expected to be valuable in designing new protective gear to prevent burn injuries and developing efficient firefighting tactics.
January 2025
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10 Reads
Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the Ahmed glaucoma valve in pediatric patients with refractory glaucoma. Methods A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple major databases, including PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews, Science Direct, China's National Knowledge Infrastructure, and the Wanfang database. We retrieved studies published before December 2022 that met the inclusion criteria, including clinical controlled trials (randomized controlled trials) and clinical noncontrolled trials (non-randomized controlled trials) on the use of Ahmed glaucoma valve in pediatric patients with refractory glaucoma. We performed a meta-analysis and systematic review. The efficacy measures included intraocular pressure, number of anti-glaucoma medications, visual acuity, and success rate. The safety measures were complications. Statistical analysis was performed using RevMan 5.0 software. Results We identified 46 eligible studies: Compared with geographic location and study type, the Ahmed glaucoma valve showed a decrease in postoperative intraocular pressure and number of anti-glaucoma medications compared to preoperative levels in children with refractory glaucoma (P < 0.001). Compared with etiological, the Ahmed glaucoma valve showed a decrease in intraocular pressure after surgery compared to preoperative levels in children with refractory glaucoma (SMD: 14.57, 95% CI: 14.05–15.08, P < 0.00 1), and a decrease in postoperative number of anti-glaucoma medications compared to preoperative number of anti-glaucoma medications (SMD: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.37–1.54, P < 0.001). Compared with trabeculectomy revision surgery, there was no significant difference in the complete success rate between the two groups (SMD: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.52–1.39; P = 0.37). Overall, the postoperative intraocular pressure at the time of Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation was lower than that at the time of trabeculectomy revision surgery (SMD: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.71–1.31, I2 = 99%, P < 0.001). Subgroup analyses based on whether mitomycin C was use d or not. There was a statistically significant difference in intraocular pressure between Ahmed's glaucoma valve surgery and preoperative (SMD: 14.13, 95% CI: 13.47–14.80, P = 0.007). Comparison of cumulative complete success rates of Ahmed S2, S3, and Ahmed FP7, FP8 in Ahmed glaucoma valve surgery (SMD: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.38–1.45, I2 = 85%, P = 0.38). There is no statistical difference between the two groups. Choroidal effusion and anterior chamber hemorrhage are the two most common adverse events after Ahmed's glaucoma valve surgery. Conclusions The Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation has some effectiveness in reducing intraocular pressure in children with refractory glaucoma, but there are still many complications. Valve model may not be the key factor affecting the postoperative effectiveness and adverse reactions of refractory glaucoma in children.
January 2025
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14 Reads
Background Retail involves directly delivering goods and services to end consumers. Natural disasters and epidemics/pandemics have significant potential to disrupt supply chains, leading to shortages, forecasting errors, price increases, and substantial financial strains on retailers. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for retail sectors to prepare for crisis impacts on sales forecasts by regularly assessing and adjusting sales volumes, consumer behavior, and forecasting models to adapt to changing conditions. Methods This study explores strategies for adapting sales forecasts and retail approaches in response to such crises. By employing different machine learning (ML) methods, we analyze consumer behavior changes and sales impacts across various product categories, including bottom wear, top wear, one piece, accessories, outwear, and shoes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results The gradient boosting and CatBoost algorithms excelled in product groups with significant sales changes during the pandemic. The Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) algorithm performed well in low-volume categories like accessories and footwear. Meanwhile, MLP, LightGBM, and XGBoost were effective in medium-volume categories such as outerwear and underwear. Conclusion The findings highlight the efficacy of these models in adapting sales forecasts to crisis conditions, offering a practical approach to enhancing retail resilience against future disruptions. This study offers an effective approach for adapting sales forecasting to shifting consumer behaviors during crises.
January 2025
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38 Reads
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus of significant epidemiological importance, utilizing various transmission strategies and infecting “immune privileged tissues” during both the pre- and postnatal periods. One such transmission method may involve extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs can travel long distances without degrading, carrying complex messages that trigger different responses in recipient cells. They can easily cross specialized tissue barriers, such as the placental barrier and the blood-brain barrier, which protects the central nervous system. It is known that some viruses can hijack and exploit the EVs biogenesis machinery to package regulatory elements, viral segments, and even complete viral genomes. This allows them to evade the immune system, amplify their tropism, and enhance their spread. ZIKV likely uses EVs produced by infected cells to insert its genomic RNA or parts of it. This mechanism can ensure viral entry and infection of the nervous tissue, partly explaining its broad viral tropism and silent persistence in various tissues and organs for months. This narrative review summarizes the main features of ZIKV and EVs, highlighting the most recent evidence on the involvement and effects of EVs during ZIKV infection. It also discusses the possibility of EVs acting as carriers of ZIKV through the nervous tissue.
January 2025
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2 Reads
The main challenge facing current energy management strategies for extended-range electric vehicles is effectively balancing power demand and energy utilization to enhance fuel economy under complex and variable driving conditions. Therefore, to optimize the distribution between the two energy sources of extended-range electric vehicles and improve their fuel economy, this paper proposes an energy management strategy incorporating speed prediction. Firstly, the long short-term memory neural network speed prediction scheme is investigated, and its effectiveness under different cyclic conditions is verified. Secondly, the four hyperparameters of the long short-term memory neural network structure were optimized using the sparrow algorithm (SA) to further enhance the prediction accuracy of the long short-term memory speed prediction algorithm. After optimization, the mean square deviation and mean absolute error are reduced by 46.46% and 54.46%, respectively, compared with the pre-optimization period. Finally, an energy management strategy based on speed prediction was designed using the sparrow algorithm-long short-term memory model. The results show that the speed prediction-based energy management strategy reduces fuel consumption by 6.05% and 3.50% under the New European Driving Cycle and World Light Vehicle Test Cycle conditions, respectively, compared to the rule-based hybrid control strategy.
January 2025
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21 Reads
Symptomatic chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) is amongst the most frequent neurological diseases with an upward trend due to an aging society and development in the field of anticoagulation therapies. Lately, subgaleal drainages and middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization have been introduced to the standard armamentarium as treatment options for cSDH patients. Vascular anomalies, such as internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion with spontaneous extra-intracranial anastomoses, usually lead to forfeiting embolization treatment from patients. This report presents a case of a 67-year-old male with a repeated recurrence of cSDH in conjunction with a history of middle cerebral artery territory stroke and consecutive platelet inhibition therapy. The patient was initially treated with a burr hole plus subgaleal and subdural drainage upon revision surgery. Due to repeated recurrence, MMA embolization was considered, even though an extra-intracranial anastomosis was present on angiography. The patient was deemed to be fully recovered three months after intervention and no further intervention was needed. We can conclude that MMA embolization is a feasible option also in patients with recurrent cSDH after territorial infarction secondary to ICA occlusion with present extra-intracranial anastomoses.
January 2025
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12 Reads
Vangl2, a core component of the PCP signaling pathway, serves as a scaffold protein on the cell membrane, playing a crucial role in organizing protein complexes. Cilia, dynamic structures on the cell surface, carry out a wide range of functions. Research has highlighted a bidirectional regulatory interaction between Vangl2 and cilia, underscoring their interconnected roles in cellular processes. This relationship is demonstrated by the localization of Vangl2 at the base and proximal regions of cilia, where it plays essential roles in ciliary positioning, asymmetric distribution, and ciliogenesis. In contrast, the absence of cilia can disrupt Vangl2-mediated signal transduction processes. This review offers a narrative review of recent research on Vangl2's function in cilia and examines the regulatory effects of cilia on Vangl2-mediated signaling.
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Sage, India
Editor
Sage, UK