Browse Articles

Retraction: Integrative analyses identify osteopontin, LAMB3 and ITGB1 as critical pro-metastatic genes for lung cancer

In-situ stress evaluation of coal measures based on logging parameters-A case study of Xishanyao formation in the Southern margin of Junggar basin

I want to ensure that Africans take part in the AI revolution

Can the use of a next generation partograph based on WHO’s latest intrapartum care recommendations improve neonatal outcomes? (PICRINO) Study protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial

Background Monitoring labor and childbirth, early recognition, and treatment of complications are critical for preventing adverse birth outcomes. However excessive use of interventions during labor has not been demonstrated to enhance subsequent birth outcomes and may, in fact, pose a risk of harm. The World Health Organization has recently synthesized research from the last decade concerning labor progress and patient-centered care into a new recommendation: the Labour Care Guide (LCG). No trial has, however, compared the LCG with standard care regarding adverse neonatal outcomes or the degree of safety associated with implementing this recommendation within a high-resource setting, and its potential to enhance birth outcomes remains undetermined. Aim and hypothesis This trial aims to evaluate the impacts of using two different guidelines for monitoring labor with respect to neonatal and maternal outcomes, the LCG and the currently used standard care guideline. The hypothesis is that use of the LCG will reduce the number of adverse neonatal outcomes and decrease the rate of intrapartum cesarean sections, as compared with standard care. Materials and methods A national, multicenter, stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled trial that includes 24 Swedish maternity wards randomized to six clusters. The trial is planned to run during a 22 month period in 2023–2025 and the intervention LCG will be implemented in the six clusters, with three months intervals. The recruited wards will together have approximatively 100,000 births during the study period. Outcome data will be extracted from the Swedish national pregnancy, neonatal, and patient registers. Two safety analyses will be performed at one-third and two-thirds of the way through the trial. Discussion The LCG offers a promising new approach, but its effectiveness and safety in high resource settings remain unexplored and must be studied further before LCG can be fully implemented in settings with similar health care. Trial registration The trial has been registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov: NCT05560802.

The impact of the hierarchical medical system on medical resource allocation in China

Deciphering ovarian cancer heterogeneity through spatial transcriptomics, single-cell profiling, and copy number variations

High-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) poses a formidable clinical challenge due to multidrug resistance (MDR) caused by tumor heterogeneity. To elucidate the intricate mechanisms underlying HGSOC heterogeneity, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of five single-cell transcriptomes and eight spatial transcriptomes derived from eight HGSOC patients. This study provides a comprehensive view of tumor heterogeneity across the spectrum of gene expression, copy number variation (CNV), and single-cell profiles. Our CNV analysis revealed intratumor heterogeneity by identifying distinct tumor clones, illuminating their evolutionary trajectories and spatial relationships. We further explored the homogeneity and heterogeneity of CNV across tumors to pinpoint the origin of heterogeneity. At the cellular level, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA seq) analysis identified three meta-programs that delineate the functional profile of tumor cells. The communication networks between tumor cell clusters exhibited unique patterns associated with the meta-programs governing these clusters. Notably, the ligand-receptor pair MDK - NCL emerged as a highly enriched interaction in tumor cell communication. To probe the functional significance of this interaction, we induced NCL overexpression in the SOVK3 cell line and observed enhanced tumor cell proliferation. These findings indicate that the MDK - NCL interaction plays a crucial role in promoting HGSOC tumor growth and may represent a promising therapeutic target. In conclusion, this study comprehensively unravels the multifaceted nature of HGSOC heterogeneity, providing potential therapeutic strategies for this challenging malignancy.

Author Correction: Analysis of Mycobacterium africanum in the last 17 years in Aragon identifies a specific location of IS6110 in Lineage 6

Transitions in sexual behaviour among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in England: Data from a prospective study

The effectiveness of population-level intervention for HIV elimination is influenced by individual-level variation in sexual behaviour. We assess within-person changes in the frequency of condomless anal sex with two or more partners (CLS2+), estimate the transition probabilities and examine the predictors of transitions among a prospective cohort of HIV-negative gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). Participants were recruited through one of three sexual health clinics in London and Brighton (July 2013 to April 2016) and self-completed a baseline paper questionnaire in the clinic. During follow-up, they were invited to complete four-monthly questionnaires twice a year and subsequent annual online questionnaires once a year (March 2015 to March 2018). We used Markov chain models to estimate transition probabilities from ‘higher-risk’ (CLS2+) to ‘lower-risk’ (no CLS2+) and vice versa, and to assess factors associated with transitions between different sexual risk levels. Among 1,162 men enrolled in the study, 622 (53.5%) completed at least one online questionnaire. Higher-risk behaviour was reported in 376/622 (60.4%) men during online follow-up. Overall, 1,665/3,277 (37.5%) baseline and follow-up questionnaires reported higher-risk behaviour. More than 60% of men (376/622) reported higher-risk behaviour at least one period during the follow-up, while 39.5% of men (246/622) never reported CLS2+ during the follow-up. In the next four months, the estimated probability of continuing higher-risk behaviour among men who reported higher-risk behaviour was 78%. Calendar time, recent HIV tests, PrEP and PEP use were the predictors of staying in higher-risk behaviour, while less stable housing status was associated with switching to lower-risk behaviour. Among men who reported lower-risk behaviour, the probability of engaging in the same behaviour was 88%. Recent HIV tests, PrEP and PEP use, recreational drugs, chemsex-associated drug and injection drugs, and bacterial STIs diagnosis were the predictors of switching to higher-risk behaviour. Our results indicate that at any one point in time, the majority of GBMSM are at low risk for HIV acquisition, although many experience short periods in which they are at higher risk. Markers of transitions can be utilized to identify which GBMSM are likely to increase or decrease their risk, thus helping the timing of HIV prevention interventions.

Learning of the mean, but not variance, of color distributions cues target location probability

Centralized scheduling, decentralized scheduling or demand scheduling? How to more effectively allocate and recycle shared takeout lunch boxes

Efficient scheduling of shared takeaway containers plays a significant role in the sharing economy system. An effective scheduling system ensures the maximization of container reuse, reducing resource waste and environmental pollution. To explore the applicability of different scheduling models for shared takeaway containers, this paper constructs differential game models for three modes: centralized scheduling, decentralized scheduling, and demand-based scheduling. The equilibrium outcomes are compared and analyzed. The research findings indicate that when the revenue from scheduling takeaway containers is low, decentralized scheduling can yield the maximum benefit for takeaway platforms; conversely, when the revenue is high, centralized scheduling offers the greatest benefit. For restaurant enterprises, when the revenue from scheduling is low, if the cost of scheduling is also low, demand-based scheduling can provide the maximum benefit; however, if the cost is high, decentralized scheduling is more advantageous; otherwise, centralized scheduling can maximize the benefits for restaurant enterprises.

Enhanced hepatitis E virus infection of polarised hepatocytes in vitro

Planning and layout of tourism and leisure facilities based on POI big data and machine learning

The spatial arrangement of tourism cities and the strategic placement of tourism and leisure facilities are pivotal to the development of smart tourism cities. The integration of Point of Interest (POI) data, enriched with location-specific insights, holds significant potential for urban planning and the optimization of spatial layouts. This study employs machine learning methodologies to evaluate the suitability of Beijing’s main urban area for the introduction of new tourism and leisure facilities. Drawing on POI and demographic data, and considering the distribution patterns of existing tourism and leisure facilities, this research applies machine learning to quantitatively simulate the optimal siting of such amenities. Key findings include: Firstly, compared with the existing tourism and leisure facilities, the fitting degree tested by the machine learning algorithm is 83.5%, suggests that the proposed method is highly feasible. Secondly, the decision-making model, trained with the CART algorithm, reveals that accommodation availability, shopping choices, and transportation infrastructure significantly influence the siting of tourism and leisure facilities in Beijing’s urban core. Thirdly, the model training indicates that facilities at various levels in Beijing exhibit a centralized layout, aligned with the city’s central axis, with a higher concentration in the urban center than in peripheral regions. The predictive analysis suggests that new tourism and leisure facilities are likely to be concentrated in densely populated areas. Lastly, some areas currently devoid of tourism and leisure facilities are identified as prospective sites for development. It is recommended that these areas be prioritized for the strategic placement. By leveraging machine learning algorithms for facility siting, this study aims to enhance the overall urban layout while mitigating the inherent subjectivity in planning and location decisions, offering valuable insights for the site selection of diverse facilities.

GOLPH3 promotes calcium oxalate-induced renal injury and fibrosis through Golgi stress-mediated apoptosis and inflammatory responses

Evaluating sensitivity and specificity of the DPP Vet TB assay in badgers using Bayesian latent class models

In the UK and Ireland, the European badger is the main wildlife reservoir for Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis), the causal agent of bovine tuberculosis (bTB). The ability to diagnose M. bovis infection in badgers is critical to understanding the epidemiology of the infection in this species and for informing control strategies. In this study we determined the sensitivity and specificity of a lateral flow assay (Dual Path Platform (DPP) VetTB assay) to identify infected live badgers using two blood sample types: fresh whole blood (suitable for immediate testing in the field without further processing) and serum (which can be stored frozen for batch testing). Two measures were used for the interpretation of test results: qualitative visual interpretation and quantitative measurement using an optical reader for a range of cut-offs. To overcome the absence of a gold standard comparison test, we used Bayesian latent class methods, applied to results from different sub-populations. Regardless of sample type, the highest sensitivity and specificity of the DPP under qualitative interpretation were obtained using Band 1 (MPB83 antigen) results. Median estimates (95% CIs) of sensitivity and specificity were 79.9% (66.1–91.4%) and 93.3% (90.7–95.7%), respectively for whole blood and 53.0% (43.0–63.7%) and 96.3% (94.7–97.7%), respectively for serum. Band 2 (ESAT-6/CFP-10), when interpreted on its own, had median sensitivity estimates of 21.4% (12.0–32.4%) for whole blood, and 6.8% (3.3–11.9%) for serum. When using Band 1 results from the optical reader, the estimate of sensitivity for whole blood was higher than for serum across the whole range of cut-offs, though with a concomitant reduction in specificity. This study provides reliable estimates of test characteristics for the DPP when applied to whole blood and serum. The results support the use of the DPP test in a field application to identify infected live badgers using whole blood samples.

Predicting intentions towards long-term antidepressant use in the management of people with depression in primary care: A longitudinal survey study

Background Over the last two decades, antidepressant prescribing in the UK has increased considerably, due to an increased number of people staying on antidepressants for longer. Even when treatment is no longer clinically indicated, qualitative research suggests many people continue due to a fear of depressive relapse or antidepressant withdrawal symptoms. The quantitative effects of peoples’ beliefs and attitudes towards long-term antidepressant use remain relatively unexplored. Objectives To determine the extent to which beliefs and attitudes towards antidepressant treatment are associated with intentions to stop or continue long-term use; and whether intentions translate into actual discontinuation. Methods A questionnaire survey formed the main component of an embedded mixed-methods study. Twenty general practices posted questionnaires to adults aged over 18 receiving continuous antidepressant prescriptions for over two years. Outcomes and explanatory variables were determined using an extended model of the Theory of Planned Behaviour, conducting exploratory descriptive and regression analyses. The primary outcome was participants’ intentions to discontinue antidepressants. The secondary outcome of behaviour change was determined by any change in antidepressant dosage at six months. Results 277 people were surveyed from 20 practices, with 10 years median antidepressant duration. Mean questionnaire scores for intention and subjective norms towards starting to come off antidepressants were low, and 85% of participants declared that continuing their antidepressant was necessary. Prescribing outcomes retrieved from 175 participants’ medical records six months after they completed the survey found 86% had not changed their antidepressant, 9% reduced the dose, only 1% discontinued their antidepressant, and 4% increased the dose. All Theory of Planned Behaviour constructs and concerns were associated with intentions, with more favourable attitudes towards stopping and subjective norms having the strongest associations towards intentions to discontinue antidepressant use. Conclusion Given few intentions to stop taking antidepressants, patients should be made more aware of the importance of ongoing antidepressant monitoring and review from their primary care practitioners. This would promote discussion to support an attitudinal change and initiation of antidepressant tapering where appropriate.

Untargeted lipidomic analysis of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis in women with morbid obesity

Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH) represents the severe condition of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). Currently, there is a need to identify non-invasive biomarkers for an accurate diagnosis of MASH. Previously, omics studies identified alterations in lipid metabolites involved in MASLD. However, these studies require validation in other cohorts. In this sense, our aim was to perform lipidomics to identify the circulating lipid metabolite profile of MASH. We assessed a liquid chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer-based untargeted lipidomic assay in serum samples of 216 women with morbid obesity that were stratified according to their hepatic diagnosis into Normal Liver (NL, n =  44), Simple Steatosis (SS, n =  66) and MASH (n =  106). First, we identified a profile of lipid metabolites that are increased in MASLD, composed of ceramides, triacylglycerols (TAG) and some phospholipids. Then, we identified that patients with SS have a characteristic profile of increased levels of ceramides, diacylglycerols DG (36:2) and DG (36:4), some TAG and a few phospholipids such as PC (32:1), PE (38:3), PE (40:6), PI (32:0) and PI (32:1). Later, in MASH patients, we found increased levels of ceramides, deoxycholic acid, a set of TAG, and some phospholipids such as PC, PE, PI and LPI; while we found decreased levels of the DG (36:0). Finally, we have reported a panel of lipid metabolites that might be used to differentiate patients with MASH from SS patients, made up of increased levels of 9-HODE some PC and PE, the LPI (16:0) and decreased levels of DG (36:0). To conclude, our investigation has suggested a lipid metabolite profile associated with MASLD and MASH. Specifically, a set of lipid metabolites seems to be discriminatory in MASH subjects compared to SS individuals. Thus, this panel of lipid metabolites could be used as a non-invasive diagnostic tool.

Wearing face masks when no longer mandatory: An exploratory study about attitudinal and psychological health factors in a large Italian sample

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, face masks emerged as a critical tool to control the virus transmission. While previous studies have investigated the positive and negative attitudes towards the use of face masks when mandatory, our study looks at a different phase: the era of discretionary mask use. Our investigation reached Italian participants (1151), aged 18-64, who underwent an online survey. The study explored the associations between demographic, attitudinal, psychological, and emotional factors that may be involved in the behaviour of wearing a face mask. Then, by using generalized mixed effects models, we explored the predictive role of those factors selected via backward elimination starting from a full model and selecting the model with the best goodness of fit balanced with complexity, and higher explained variance. Specifically, our exploratory study expected that emotional experience aroused by wearing a face mask, negative affectivity, Covid-19-related fear, and anxiety might be significant predictors of face mask wearing. However, only the emotional experience of feeling a sense of care and protected while wearing a face mask, and Covid-19-related fear were significant predictors of face mask-use. We discussed the importance of considering attitudes involved in compliance with healthy behaviours to guide future health interventions.

Detection of mare parturition through balanced multi-scale feature fusion based on improved Libra RCNN

Once a mare experiences parturition abnormalities, the outcome between a live foal and a stillborn can change rapidly. Automated detection of mare parturition and timely human intervention is crucial to reducing risks during mare and foal parturition. This paper addresses the challenges of manual monitoring of parturition in large-scale equine facilities due to the unpredictability of mare parturition timing, proposing an algorithm for detecting mare parturition through a balanced multi-scale feature fusion based on an improved Libra RCNN. Initially, a ResNet101 backbone network incorporating the CBAM attention module was used to enhance parturition feature extraction capability; subsequently, a balanced content-aware feature reassembly feature pyramid, CARAFE-BFP, was employed to mitigate data imbalance effects while enhancing the quality of feature map upsampling; finally, the GRoIE module was utilized to merge CARAFE-BFP’s multi-scale features, improving the model’s perception of multi-scale objectives and minor feature changes. The model achieved a mean average precision of 86.26% in scenarios of imbalanced positive and negative samples of mare parturition data, subtle parturition feature differences, and multi-scale data distribution, with a detection speed of 15.06 images per second and an average recall rate of 98.17%. Moreover, this study employed a statistical method combined with a sliding window mechanism to assess the algorithm’s performance in detecting mare parturition in video stream continuous monitoring scenarios, achieving an accuracy rate of 92.75% for mare parturition detection. The algorithm proposed in this study achieved non-contact, stress-free, intensive, and automated detection of mare parturition, also demonstrating the immense potential of artificial intelligence technology in the field of animal production management.

Dental radiography and safety awareness: Insights from radiographers, dentists, and students in a cross-sectional study

Background Dental radiographs are crucial diagnostic tools for oral disorders, but their low-level radiation can pose health risks over time because of its cumulative effects. Objectives This study aimed to assess awareness and attitudes regarding dental radiography and safety among dentists, radiographers, dentistry students, and radiography students in western Saudi Arabia. Methods This cross-sectional survey study was conducted in the western region of Saudi Arabia. A total of 309 participants were included in the study. A questionnaire containing 13 multiple-choice questions was administered to dentists, radiographers, dentistry students, and radiography students. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 23) was used for data analysis. Results The mean knowledge and attitude scores of the participants were 61.09% and 65.13%, respectively. The mean score knowledge of dentists was 6.8 out of 12, that of radiographers was 7.04 out of 12, that of radiography students was 6.42 out of 12, and that of dentistry students was 6.83 out of 12. The attitude score was 35.45 out of 55, for dentists; 36.21 out of 55, for radiographers; 36.54 out of 55, for radiography students; and 34.79 out of 55, for dentistry students. The knowledge score increased significantly in participants who had Ph.D. and M.Sc. degrees (p value =  0.008). There was no significant variation in knowledge regarding gender, age, area of employment, or experience (p value < .05). The participants exhibited a positive attitude toward dental radiographic examination and radiation safety, with no significant difference observed among the groups (p value > .05). Conclusion This study indicates good awareness among dentists, radiographers, and students about dental radiography and safety, with higher education levels indicating greater awareness and a positive attitude. The safety and knowledge of dental radiography exposure vary among groups, highlighting the need for continuous education and standardized training to improve the understanding and usage of radiation hazards.

Reliability of the Test of Visual Perceptual Skills-4th Edition for people with schizophrenia

Background The Test of Visual Perceptual Skills-4th Edition (TVPS-4) is widely used for repeated measures of visual perception. This study aimed to examine the test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and practice effect of the TVPS-4 in people with schizophrenia receiving care in community psychiatric rehabilitation facilities. Methods A repeated assessment design was employed, involving 80 participants. Test-retest reliability was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Pearson’s r. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha (α). Minimal detectable change (MDC) values were calculated at 95%, 90%, and 80% confidence levels. The MDC% was determined based on the MDC with 95% certainty. Cohen’s d effect sizes and paired t-tests were utilized to assess the practice effect. Results The ICC and Pearson’s r of the overall scale were 0.93 and 0.95, respectively. The ICC and Pearson’s r of the seven subscales were 0.59–0.84 and 0.61–0.84, respectively. The α was 0.66–0.90 and 0.73–0.89 in the first and second assessment, respectively. The MDC95 (MDC%), MDC90, and MDC80 ranged from 4.7–16.3 (13.2–34.8%), 3.9–13.6, and 3.1–10.6, respectively. Cohen’s ds were 0.06–0.26 and paired t-test showed significant differences in scores of the overall scale and the four subscales (p <  0.05). Conclusion The TVPS-4 has acceptable test-retest reliability, satisfactory internal consistency, and trivial to small practice effect. The MDCs at different confidence levels can be used to interpret the score changes at a particular level of certainty for individuals with schizophrenia.