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Magnetic amino-functionalized hyper-crosslinked resin as a reusable adsorbent for methylene blue

Cardiovascular risk and cognitive performance: A population-based cross-sectional study (NEDICES2-RISK)

Background Cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors increase the risk of cognitive impairment. Our objective was to assess the relationship between CVR and cognitive performance by sex in the Spanish population. Methods Cross-sectional analysis nested within the population-based NEDICES-2 cohort. The included participants were 55–75 years old without previous cardiovascular events. CVR was estimated using the REGICOR and FRESCO risk equations. Outcome variable: performance on premorbid intelligence, global cognition, memory, verbal fluency, visuoconstruction, attention, and psychomotor speed. Generalized linear models were built. Results 863 participants (56.0% women). Women with higher CVR estimated with FRESCO showed worse cognitive outcomes on Immediate memory test OR: 4.77 (CI95% 1.81–13.80), Delayed memory test OR: 2.86 (CI95% 1.09–7.91), Clock drawing test OR 3.23 (CI95% 1.07–10.10), TMTA-1 timing OR: 6.92 (CI95% 2.43–20.90) and TMTA-2 timing OR 3.89 (CI95% 1.34–11.50%). With moderate versus low CVR they scored worse on Clock drawing test OR 2.08 (CI95% 1.08–4.02), TMTA-1 timing OR: 2.99 (CI95% 1.62–5.58) and TMTA-2 timing OR 2.01 (CI95% 1.06–3.83%). Men with high versus low CVR with REGICOR had lower scores on MMSE-37 OR: 2.41 (CI95% 1.08–5.36), Word accentuation OR: 2.90 (CI95% 1.28–6.67), TMTA-1 OR: 3.68 (CI95% 1.57–8.71) and TMTA-2 OR: 2.82 (CI95% 1.24–6.41). With moderate versus low CVR, they scored worse on TMTA-1 OR: 2.21 (CI95% 1.15–4.41). With FRESCO, men with high versus low CVR were worse on Immediate memory OR: 2.23 (CI95% 1.07–4.70), Word accentuation OR: 2.99 (CI95% 1.25–7.53), and TMTA-1 timing 3.72 (CI95% 1.46–10.3) and the men with moderate versus low CVR. performed worse on MMSE-37 OR: 2.99 (CI95% 1.19–8.27). Conclusions Higher CVR was associated with worse cognitive performance in the Spanish population 55–75 years old. The most affected cognitive domains were memory, attention and psychomotor speed.

Transcriptome and resequencing reveal immune-related genes and molecular markers associated with Aeromonas salmonicida resistance in Salmo trutta fario

A gamified choice experiment of traditional African vegetable varieties in West Africa

Understanding trait preferences of value chain actors is essential for designing demand-driven breeding programs for traditional African vegetables (TAVs). The objective of this study was to assess the varietal preferences of farmers, traders, and consumers for amaranth, okra, and jute mallow in Benin and Mali. We employed a gamified choice experiment, following the Bradley–Terry model and recursive partitioning, to identify preference patterns and segment participants by country, age, and gender. Different preference patterns appeared across segments, showing clear social and geographic diversity in varietal needs. Traders and consumers consistently focused on market and organoleptic traits, specifically, leaf integrity and taste for amaranth, high mucilage content (viscosity) for okra, and both leaf integrity and viscosity for jute mallow. Farmers prioritized a range of agronomic traits. For okra, farmers specifically valued harvesting duration, disease resistance, and fruit yield per plant, reflecting the crop’s dual role in income generation and nutritional security. Farmers in Mali placed greater emphasis on drought tolerance across all three crops than farmers in Benin. The findings highlight the need for TAV breeding and variety introduction programs to consider not only agronomic performance but also market preferences and organoleptic qualities.

A critical role for STAT3 Thr714 phosphorylation in NPM-ALK-driven tumorigenesis

Abstract The oncogenic fusion protein NPM-ALK drives anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) by activating the transcription factor STAT3. While STAT3 phosphorylation at Y705 and S727 is well characterized, the present study defines a mechanistic role for phosphorylation at T714 in supporting full STAT3 functionality. In NPM-ALK–positive ALCL cells, STAT3 is phosphorylated at Y705, S727, and T714, and this is suppressed by ALK inhibition. Enforced NPM-ALK expression in Ba/F3 cells induces phosphorylation at all three sites in a kinase-dependent manner. To investigate the role of T714, wild-type STAT3 or a T714A mutant was reconstituted into STAT3-knockdown Ba/F3 cells expressing NPM-ALK. Wild-type STAT3 underwent Y705 and S727 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation, whereas the T714A mutant was phosphorylated at S727 only and failed to translocate. The reduced expression of STAT3 target genes (Cyclin D1, Pim1, Pim2, and Socs3) with STAT3 knockdown was restored by wild-type STAT3, but not by the T714A mutant. In vivo, STAT3 knockdown suppressed tumor formation and hepatosplenomegaly in mice inoculated with Ba/F3 cells expressing NPM-ALK, and these phenotypes were rescued by wild-type STAT3, but not by the T714A mutant. These findings indicate that STAT3 phosphorylation at T714 is required for subsequent Y705 phosphorylation, nuclear translocation, and transcriptional activation specifically within the context of NPM-ALK–mediated signaling.

Digital health technologies in pain management for patients with endometriosis: A scoping review

Objective This scoping review aimed to map the evidence on how digital health technologies are used for pain management in endometriosis. Methods This scoping review adhered to the Joanna Briggs Institute methodological framework and followed the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, and China Biomedical Literature Database were searched. The search timeframe was from the establishment of each of the databases to June 6, 2025. Studies focusing on patients aged 18 years and older with endometriosis, and examining the application and potential impact of digital health technologies in pain management, were included in the study. Collated in data-extraction tables were authorship information, publication date, country, study design, study population, sample size, application forms, content elements, intervention duration, and outcome indicators. Results A total of 18 papers were included. Remote network platforms, mobile applications, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence are some of the application forms of digital health technologies. The content elements covered pain diagnosis, pain assessment and monitoring, pain intervention, and pain education, while the outcome indicators mainly included pain-related indicators, psychosocial indicators, and feasibility evaluation. Conclusion This scoping review systematically synthesizes the forms, core contents, and clinical outcomes of digital health technologies for managing endometriosis-related pain, suggesting their preliminary feasibility and potential benefits. Building on these findings, future research should focus on three priorities: refining objective assessment metrics, using these technologies to build more scientifically comprehensive personalized pain management plans, and implementing long-term studies to enhance intervention outcome optimization.

Transient changes in body weight and behavior during the placentation period in non-human primates and rodents

Abstract During early pregnancy, many women experience physical changes, including nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP), which negatively impact their quality of life. However, the absence of model animals has limited our understanding of such pregnancy-associated physiological changes. Here, we examined pregnancy-associated metabolic and behavioral changes in common marmosets and mice. Marmosets exhibited a transient weight decrease during the period of placental development in approximately 22% of pregnancies. Some marmosets repeatedly showed transient weight loss across multiple pregnancies, suggesting individual variations in the likelihood of pregnancy-associated weight loss. Although mice did not show apparent alteration in body weight, they exhibited a slowdown in food intake and alterations in locomotor activity during the corresponding phase. The observed transient changes in pregnant marmosets and mice may provide a basis for generating hypotheses regarding physiological changes associated with placentation.

Compassion-focused group therapy improves depression, emotional eating, self-criticism and shame in people living with severe obesity: A single-centre, examiner-blind randomized controlled trial

Background Severe obesity (defined as a BMI ≥ 40 kg m -2 ) is often accompanied by significant mental health co-morbidities such as eating disorders and depressive disorder and people living with severe obesity often experience feelings of shame, self-criticism and feelings of inferiority in relation to others. Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) was specifically designed for people with high levels of shame and self-criticism and aims to promote self-compassion which is regarded as an adaptive emotional regulation strategy. Aims To explore the effect on psychological outcomes of a 10-session (weekly for 2 hours) in-person, group-based CFT intervention for people living with severe obesity. We sought to determine whether CFT would lead to improved self-compassion, depressive symptoms, emotional eating, shame, self-criticism, submissive behavior, and negative social comparison. Method A single-centre, randomized controlled trial was carried out with 91 participants allocated to either ‘treatment as usual’ (n = 46) or ‘treatment as usual with additional group based CFT’ (n = 45). Treatment as usual included dietary advice, assessment by a Consultant Endocrinologist with possible prescription of medication, and participation in an eight-week lifestyle modification programme. Psychological outcomes were recorded at three time points (pre-treatment, post-treatment, and three-months after the end of group-based CFT). Results CFT led to statistically and clinically significant improvements in self-compassion, self-coldness, mood, shame, emotional eating, self-criticism, social comparison, and submissive behaviour (all p  < 0.001) compared with treatment as usual. These results were maintained at three-month follow-up. Conclusions Group CFT appears to be an effective psychological intervention to alleviate psychological distress in people living with severe obesity. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03249441

Hyperphagia in craniopharyngioma- a real-world study from the international hypothalamic-pituitary brain tumors patient registry

Navigating cancer: Insights from patient journey mapping

Background Cancer is an increasing public health problem in South Africa, with breast cancer being the most diagnosed cancer and cervical cancer the leading cause of cancer deaths among women. Despite the complexity of breast and cervical cancer patients’ journeys through the healthcare system, patients’ voices are still predominantly missing from the body of literature. Patient journey mapping, as a qualitative research method, offers an opportunity for centring patients in their care journeys and reimagine healthcare provision for the potential improvement of health systems and patient outcomes. Aim The aim of this study was to map journeys of breast and cervical cancer patients across the cancer care continuum. Methods Using patient journey mapping, we conducted six focus group discussions with patients with breast and cervical cancer who had completed treatment in Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape, South Africa. The process involved three steps: 1.) development of individual maps; 2.) narrative sharing; and 3.) development of a collective map. Results of the study were shared in feedback sessions. Findings A total of 31 people participated in the focus groups: 23 with breast cancer, 7 cervical cancer and one had both cancers during her lifetime. The participants’ ages ranged between 30 and 69 years old. A patient journey map was developed drawing on the individual and collective maps and participant narratives. The findings of the paper constellate around three themes. The first theme, (de)personalised care, offers an examination of how relational, institutional and structural factors shape and are reshaped through participants lived experiences across the cancer care continuum. The second theme, self-advocacy, explores how participants advocate for their healthcare needs throughout the cancer care continuum. The third theme, intersecting vulnerabilities, explores how intersecting social identities, such as socioeconomic factors, gender, comorbidities and mental health, shape their cancer care journeys. Conclusions By centring patient with breast and cervical cancer voices, patient journey mapping not only showed where services and systems fall short but also provided guidance for redesigning a more patient responsive health system.

Associations of non-HLA gene polymorphisms with celiac disease in India

Retraction: Ph-triazole as a therapeutic agent for pancreatic cancer: Synthesis, in silico, and in vitro evaluation

Sex differences in psychological distress and its risk factors among US adult Black and White immigrants, NHIS 2005–2018

Abstract Limited research explores sex differences in psychological distress and its risk factors across minority communities, especially immigrant populations. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of psychological distress and its sociodemographic, biological, behavioral, and clinical risk factors among male and female Black and White immigrants. Drawing from the 2005–2018 National Health Interview Surveys data, a sample of male (n = 21,082) and female (n = 24,984) adult Black and White immigrants (n = 46,066) was analyzed using weighted multivariable logistic regression models. In terms of biological factors, older age (i.e., ≥ 65 vs. 18–25 years) was significantly associated with lower odds of psychological distress for males and females. Being overweight was also significantly associated with lower odds of psychological distress factor for males, while being overweight or obese was significantly associated with higher odds of psychological distress for females. For behavioral factors, alcohol drinking (current and former) and smoking (current and former) were significantly associated with higher likelihood of psychological distress for both groups, but the effect sizes for drinking were higher for males while those for smoking were higher for females. With clinical factors, having one or more chronic diseases was associated with higher odds of experiencing psychological distress, especially for females. More sex-specific considerations should be addressed in mental health research and intervention to meet the needs of male and female immigrants.

Comparison of long-term patient-reported outcome and quality of life 10 years after severe trauma versus polytrauma

Purpose Severe trauma and polytrauma are major public health concerns due to their long-term impact on survivors’ quality of life (QoL). While advances in trauma care have improved survival rates, long-term functional, psychological, and social outcomes remain inadequately understood. This study evaluates the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), functional deficits, and mortality of trauma patients ten years post-injury, comparing severely injured (SI) and polytrauma (PT) patients. Methods Patients admitted to the shock trauma unit at a Level 1 trauma center between 2010 and 2013 with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥ 9 were identified. Survivors were categorized into SI (ISS ≥ 9 and <16 or isolated injury in one body region) and PT (ISS ≥ 16 and injuries in multiple body regions). HRQoL was assessed using the Polytrauma Outcome (POLO) Chart, including the EuroQol 5D-3L, SF-36, and Trauma Outcome Profile (TOP). Results Ninety-one patients (42 SI, 49 PT) completed follow-up, with an additional 80 confirmed deceased patients. Polytrauma patients had significantly longer hospital and ICU stays, higher rates of mechanical ventilation, and worse functional outcomes (p < 0.001). While PT patients reported more physical impairments and pain (SF-36 Physical Functioning, Physical Role, and Pain dimensions; p < 0.05), no significant differences were observed in psychological or social dimensions. Overall, 60.4% of the cohort reported reduced QoL (EuroQol Index ≤0.8), with no significant difference between SI and PT groups. Long-term mortality did not differ between groups (p = 0.6). Conclusion Ten years post-trauma, both SI and PT patients experience substantial reductions in QoL, with physical impairments more pronounced in PT patients. However, psychological and social outcomes appear independent of injury severity, suggesting that factors beyond trauma severity influence long-term recovery. These findings highlight important associations relevant to long-term outcomes and underscore the need for further research to better define how persistent pain, functional limitations, and psychosocial factors interact in long-term recovery after severe injury and polytrauma.

Dynamical analysis of lump, breather, M-shaped and other wave profiles propagating in a nonlinear PDE describing the nonlinear low-pass electrical transmission lines

A two-dimensional framework for profiling online reviewer behavior

Consumers frequently rely on extreme online reviews—highly positive or highly negative—for clarity and detailed insights. However, conflicting extremes can generate confusion and erode trust in rating systems, highlighting the need for additional metrics that provide deeper insight into reviewer behavior. To address this, we introduce a novel and intuitive two-dimensional framework for profiling reviewer behavior through two complementary indices: the Reviewer Extremeness Index (REI), which quantifies the frequency of extreme ratings, and the Reviewer Polarity Index (RPI), which measures the directional imbalance between positive and negative extremes, along with its intensity. The framework maps each reviewer onto a two-dimensional plane whose axes are REI and RPI, identifying nine archetypal profiles of reviewers’ historical extreme behaviors. As a case study, we applied this approach to three million Amazon book reviews, demonstrating its practical value in a real-world context. This framework provides dual utility. For consumers, it offers crucial contextual information: knowing a reviewer’s archetype allows for a more nuanced interpretation of their feedback. For online retail platforms, the framework serves as a scalable tool to monitor reviewer behavior and identify systematic rating patterns that may warrant further scrutiny, such as those potentially associated with incentivized reviewing. By making reviewer tendencies transparent, our model contributes to a more reliable and trustworthy digital marketplace ecosystem.

Drought pattern under climate change in Harris County, Texas, USA based on CMIP6 projections

The mediating roles of physical exercise and social-psychological stress in the relationship between socioeconomic status and self-rated health

Objectives Although the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and health is well documented, the contributions of physical exercise (PE) and social-psychological stress (SPS) to this association remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to explore the mediating roles of PE and SPS in the relationship between SES and self-rated health (SRH). Methods This study included 1,507 participants (aged ≥ 16 years) from the Health Survey conducted in Hubei Province during the post-pandemic period of 2021. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the mediating and interaction effects, with PE and SPS specified as mediators in the association between SES and SRH. Results The average SES and SRH scores were 3.07 ± 1.12 and 2.93 ± 0.93, respectively. Significant pairwise correlations ( p  < 0.05) were found among SES, PE, SPS and SRH. Low SES was associated with poorer SRH (β = 0.23), as were insufficient PE (β = 0.11) and higher SPS (β = –0.17). Both PE and SPS demonstrated significant mediating effects, accounting for 6.7% and 14.2% of the total impact of SES on SRH, respectively. The interaction between PE and SPS was statistically significant only among females ( p  < 0.05). Conclusions This study confirms that physical exercise and social-psychological stress play partial mediating roles in the association between SES and SRH. The findings suggest that limited physical exercise and higher levels of social-psychological stress may adversely affect health, particularly with low SES. Promoting healthy lifestyles and supportive social environments is therefore crucial for improving population health.

Microscopic insight into the origin of super-cooled NCCDW state in 1T-TaS₂ nanocrystals

Abstract Tantalum disulfide (1T-TaS₂) is a quasi-two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) that exhibits a series of charge density wave (CDW) transitions upon cooling and heating. These collective electronic phases can be tuned or disrupted by external stimuli such as pressure, electric fields, or illumination, leading to metastable or hidden metallic states. In nanoscale crystals of 1T-TaS₂, rapid cooling suppresses the insulating commensurate CDW (CCDW) phase and stabilizes a metastable metallic state, known as the super-cooled nearly commensurate CDW (SC-NCCDW) phase. However, the atomic-scale structure and microscopic origin of this state remain elusive. Here, we combine electrical transport measurements with structural characterization to elucidate the nature of the SC-NCCDW phase in 1T-TaS₂ nanocrystals. Temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction reveals that, under gradual cooling, the NCCDW-to-CCDW transition is accompanied by lattice-volume expansion. In contrast, this anomaly is strongly suppressed upon rapid cooling, correlating with the stabilization of the SC-NCCDW state. Complementary high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) shows that rapid cooling produces a mixed-phase configuration containing structural motifs of both NCCDW and CCDW phases, indicating that the SC-NCCDW represents an intermediate structural configuration frozen by kinetic constraints. These findings provide, to our knowledge, the first direct structural evidence of the SC-NCCDW state and offer a mechanistic understanding of cooling-rate-controlled metastability in layered correlated compounds such as 1T-TaS₂.

Reducing blood product wastage: Insights from a retrospective study in a tertiary health facility

Introduction Due to the absence of prior institutional assessments and limited local studies lacking key performance indicators, this study examines the operational efficiency of the blood bank at King Fahad Medical City (KFMC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and aims to identify inefficiencies in blood ordering practices and recommend corrective measures. Methods This retrospective study analyzed KFMC blood bank inventory data from January 2022 to December 2023, using descriptive statistics and three key performance indicators: the crossmatch-to-transfusion ratio (C/T), wastage as a percentage of issue (WAPI), and the issuable stock index (ISI). Results Overall, 95.05% of blood products were utilized, 3.8% were returned in acceptable condition, 4.2% expired, and 0.6% were discarded for non-expiry-related reasons. The C/T ratio was 1.5, the ISI was maintained at 1.1 across all blood groups, and WAPI remained below 1.2%, indicating efficient inventory management. Discussion Blood bank management at KFMC demonstrated strong operational efficiency through strategic inventory management. Most post-crossmatch wastage resulted from over-ordering in high-demand areas such as the intensive care unit, reflecting the urgency of these settings. Regular audits and updates to the Maximum Surgical Blood Ordering Schedule are recommended to optimize efficiency and minimize waste. This study provides a valuable benchmark for future research on blood bank operations and inventory management.