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Candidate blood biomarkers linked with feed intake efficiency and weight gain in sheep

Effects of telerehabilitation-based physical therapy for individuals with Parkinson’s disease: A systematic review protocol

Introduction The use of telerehabilitation (TR) may increase in the next years due to the appreciation and acceptance of individuals with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). The objective of the present study is to evaluate the effects of physical therapy interventions administered remotely (TR) in individuals with PD. Methods and analysis This is a systematic review protocol in which randomized and quasi-randomized clinical trials of studies involving adults (≥ 18 years old) diagnosed with PD undergoing TR will be included. It is expected to provide evidence of the effects of TR in individuals with PD in terms of motor function; gait; balance; quality of life; number of falls; adverse effects; individual adherence to TR and fear of falling. Data will be synthesized using the Review Manager software. Registration details This systematic review protocol was registered on the Open Science Framework ( https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/ZVPX5-https://osf.io/zvpx5 ).

Behavioral determinants of condom use and HIV/STI testing in Chile: a theory-driven mixed-methods study

Abstract Condom use and HIV/STI testing are essential prevention behaviors, yet uptake remains low in Chile. Using data from the 2022–2023 National Health, Sexuality, and Gender Survey (ENSSEX), this study applied a theory-driven mixed-methods approach to identify behavioral determinants influencing these practices among Chilean adults. Considering sexually active respondents, only 23.4% reported consistent condom use and 16.8% reported HIV/STI testing in the past 12 months. Behavioral barriers to condom use were primarily related to perceived reduction in sexual pleasure, social norms within stable relationships, and limited behavioral regulation, while HIV/STI testing was more strongly facilitated by knowledge-related factors but constrained by low-risk perception and structural access barriers. Integrating quantitative classification with theory-informed interpretation using the COM-B model and the Theoretical Domains Framework enabled the identification of key motivational, emotional, and contextual drivers underlying these behaviors. These findings highlight the need for prevention strategies that move beyond information provision to address emotional, social, and structural determinants of behavior. This approach provides actionable guidance for designing behaviorally informed HIV/STI prevention policies and interventions, and demonstrates the value of applying behavioral science frameworks to national survey data in Chile and other middle-income settings.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of invasive mechanical ventilation protocolized weaning among ICU nurses and its influencing factors: A cross-sectional study

Background Many foreign countries have implemented protocolized weaning led by respiratory therapists (RTs) or nurses, which can reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation. At present, the implementation of ventilator weaning in China is led mainly by doctors. Objective To investigate the status quo of the knowledge, attitudes and practices of adult intensive care unit (ICU) nurses in tertiary hospitals concerning invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) protocolized weaning and to analyze its influencing factors. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted from September to November 2023 in 30 tertiary hospitals in Sichuan, Chongqing, and Nanjing, and included a total of 700 nurses. Data were collected using a questionnaire designed by the research team. The questionnaire consisted of 39 items, including 3 dimensions: knowledge (concepts and precautions of protocolized weaning, weaning screening and spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) evaluation, SBT methods, extubation knowledge), attitude (professional perceptions, personal beliefs, learning willingness) and practice (implementation of weaning screening assessment and SBT, implementation of extubation). Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 25. Univariate analysis was performed using a t test or analysis of variance, while multifactor analysis was conducted using multiple linear regression analysis. Results A total of 700 questionnaires were recovered, and after the exclusion of invalid questionnaires, 643 valid responses remained. Among the 643 nurses, 65.47% were from the general intensive care unit (GICU), 86.00% of nurses’ ICU weaning were led by doctors, 43.08% of nurses did not participate in the knowledge of weaning training after work, and 94.56% expressed their willingness to participate in the training of protocolized weaning. The total standardized score of the knowledge, attitudes and practices related to the protocolized weaning of ICU nurses was 82.70 ± 10.69 points, and the standard scores for the dimensions of knowledge, attitudes, and practices were 78.50 ± 16.67, 87.96 ± 10.76, and 76.53 ± 15.51, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that the correlation coefficients between knowledge and attitude, knowledge and practice, and attitude and practice were 0.274, 0.325, and 0.491, respectively, which were significantly positive correlations ( P  < 0.01). The employment form, whether the ICU has a protocolized weaning program, whether the nurse is willing to participate in the protocolized weaning training, ICU type, and the position were the main factors influencing the ICU nurses’ IMV-protocolized weaning knowledge scores ( P  < 0.05). The professional title, ICU type, whether the ICU has a protocolized weaning program, the role of nurses in weaning decision-making, and whether the nurse is willing to participate in the protocolized weaning training were the main factors influencing ICU nurses’ IMV protocolized weaning attitude score ( P  < 0.05). Gender, ICU type, the position, whether the ICU has a protocolized weaning program, the role of nurses in weaning decision-making, the number of weaning training times in the past 3 years, and whether the nurse is willing to participate in the protocolized weaning training, were the main factors influencing ICU nurses’ IMV-protocolized weaning practice score ( P  < 0.05). Conclusion The study found that the participants’ knowledge and practice of the protocolized weaning from IMV were at a moderate level, but they had a more positive attitude. Most participants were willing to participate in the protocolized weaning training. The development of a protocolized weaning program and the provision of related training can promote nurses’ understanding of weaning and increase their willingness to participate in weaning.

A transparent osmotic wound dressing ATKPAD promotes the healing process and regulates hypoxia-dependent inflammatory responses

5 Years of bipolar disorder conversations on Reddit: Methods, key topics and future directions

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a prevalent mood disorder that can be associated with serious personal, societal, and economic costs. Growing attention is being paid to the importance of including the experiences of people living with BD in research and healthcare system advancement. However, there is still much to be learned about what people with BD are prioritizing, and where their needs are not yet being met in research and clinical settings. For the past five years, the Collaborative RESearch Team to study psychosocial issues in Bipolar Disorder (CREST.BD) has facilitated the world’s largest online BD question-and-answer event, an “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) hosted via Reddit. This event allows people internationally to submit BD-related questions to be answered by expert panelists. Altogether, 159 panelists with diverse expertise in BD have participated, and more than 2,000 questions addressed. After five years, the Reddit AMAs have become a large repository of questions that represent the needs and interests of individuals with BD and their supporters. This study used topic modeling, a natural language processing (NLP) method, to algorithmically extract key topics from AMA queries collected over five years. Queries were extracted using a python script and the Reddit API; BERTopic was used for topic modelling. Topic models of 10, 20, and an unrestricted number of topics were run; the 20 topic model was chosen as it best balanced specificity and breadth. The most common topic was BD misdiagnosis/differential diagnoses. Other topics included coping with daily struggles; understanding hypomania and suicidality; medication and use of substances such as psilocybin and ketamine; and supporting loved ones with BD. Future research in these areas would be beneficial for individuals with BD and their loved ones, and patients with BD may benefit from clinicians addressing these topics. Ethical issues are also discussed.

Influence of CuSO4 concentration on microstructures and properties of electroless deposited Ni/Cu-P coatings

TLR9/MyD88/NF-κB signaling mediates mental stress-induced exacerbation of psoriasis through immune dysregulation in a mouse model

Objective Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that affects physical and mental health. Mental stress has been shown to exacerbate human psoriasis by unknown mechanism. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from patients with psoriasis and mental stress-treated psoriatic mice. The expression levels of TLR9/MyD88/NF-κB pathway-related molecules were analyzed by qRT-PCR and western blotting. Histological examination of skin lesions was examined using hematoxylin-eosin staining. The ratios of Treg/CD4 + T cells and Th17/Treg cells were determined by flow cytometry. The associations among mental stress, the TLR9/MyD88/NF-κB pathway, and psoriasis were explored using pharmacological inhibitors and lentiviral transfection. Results Our findings demonstrated a significant upregulation of TLR9/MyD88/NF-κB pathway-associated molecules in the PBMCs of psoriasis patients, accompanied by elevated expression of inflammatory factors. These observations were validated using a mouse model of psoriasis. Notably, mental stress was shown to activate the TLR9/MyD88/NF-κB pathway and enhance inflammatory factor production, while simultaneously increasing the Th17/Treg ratio and decreasing the Treg/CD4 + T ratio. Therapeutic interventions including antipsychotic sertraline, pathway-specific inhibitors, and lentiviral transfection significantly ameliorated inflammatory markers and improved psoriasis severity grading. Conclusion The results of this study demonstrates that mental stress induces inflammation and immune dysregulation, exacerbating psoriasis progression. These findings provide valuable insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying psoriasis progression, particularly the mental stress-mediated immunoregulatory axis.

Native alleles at lhcb6 shape photosynthetic efficiency and early growth in maize

Abstract Maize is a globally important staple crop, providing food, animal feed, and industrial raw materials. Its extensive native diversity can be utilized to broaden the genetic basis for quantitative trait improvement and advance our understanding of the genotype-phenotype relationships underlying complex trait variation. In a forward genetic approach, we dissect a locus on chromosome 10 with major effects on Photosystem II (PSII) maximum quantum efficiency (F v /F m ), non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) and biomass accumulation during early growth stages. Integrating molecular and physiological information we show that allelic variation at the gene encoding LIGHT HARVESTING CHLOROPHYLL A/B BINDING PROTEIN6 (LHCB6 also known as CP24), a component of the PSII light-harvesting complex (LHCII) antenna, underlies this locus. We demonstrate that the allelic variation results from a hAT transposon insertion at lhcb6 and is associated with decreased accumulation of the LHCII antenna components LHCB6 and LHCB3. Based on proteomic analyses we propose candidate genes that partially compensate for the unfavorable early growth effects caused by impaired LHCII antenna assembly. Our work provides novel insights into the function of lhcb6 in the C 4 crop maize and demonstrates the value of natural variation for the understanding and genetic improvement of complex photosynthetic processes.

Correction: Ketogenic diet improves disease activity and cardiovascular risk in psoriatic arthritis: A proof of concept study

Real time fire and smoke detection using vision transformers and spatiotemporal learning

Factors associated with pulmonary tuberculosis in older adults: A scoping review

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease with a substantial impact on public health, with the pulmonary form representing the most significant concern. The disease poses considerable risks to the elderly population, as it frequently manifests in conjunction with other age-related conditions, thereby complicating both diagnosis and clinical management. Several factors, including comorbidities, male sex, smoking, and alcohol consumption, may contribute to the development of the disease. This study aimed to identify, through a literature review, the main factors associated with pulmonary tuberculosis in older adults. A scoping review was conducted following the guidelines of the Joanna Briggs Institute and in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR extension for this type of study and was registered with the Open Science Framework. The research question was developed using the Population, Concept, and Context framework. Searches were conducted in electronic databases including PubMed, LILACS, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase. Additionally, gray literature was retrieved from Google Scholar and the CAPES Theses and Dissertations Catalog. Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS), along with their MeSH and Emtree equivalents, were used to identify the terms “Older Adults,” “Pulmonary Tuberculosis,” and “Risk Factors,” combined with Boolean operators AND and OR. Pulmonary tuberculosis was found to be strongly associated with older male individuals, those with a prior diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, smokers, alcohol users, individuals with close contact with active TB cases, and those with liver cirrhosis. The findings suggest that pulmonary tuberculosis is determined by multifactorial conditions, including those naturally associated with aging. The study underscores the need for targeted public health policies that integrate active surveillance, early diagnosis, and social support. The results provide a basis for evidence-based interventions aimed at controlling pulmonar tuberculosis in this vulnerable population.

Precise orbital parameters,masses, and parallax of the subgiant binary system 12 Persei: a combined spectroscopic–interferometric analysis

PAH-former: Transfer learning for efficient discovery of pulmonary arterial hypertension-associated genes

Background and Aims Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severe disease with limited effective therapies, making the discovery of new therapeutic targets crucial. While single-cell RNA sequencing (sc-RNA seq) offers a powerful tool for this purpose, its application is hampered by the scarcity of patient samples. This study addresses the problem of how to efficiently identify novel, functionally relevant disease-associated genes from limited publicly available data. Methods We employed transfer learning by fine-tuning Geneformer, a deep learning model, with public sc-RNA seq data from patients with PAH to create a specialized model called PAH-former. This model was used to perform in silico perturbation analysis to identify and rank candidate genes predicted to influence the disease state. For validation, we performed RNA interference-mediated knockdown of top novel candidate genes in human pulmonary artery endothelial cells and measured the expression of SRY-Box Transcription Factor 18 ( SOX18 ), a signature gene of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Results In silico perturbation analysis identified 134 candidate genes whose deletion was predicted to shift cells towards a disease phenotype. These included known disease-related genes as well as many novel ones. Subsequent in vitro validation demonstrated that knockdown of the candidate genes resulted in a significant increase in the expression of SOX18 . Conclusions Our novel platform, PAH-former, provides a powerful and broadly applicable strategy for disease-related gene discovery. This approach enables the identification and validation of new candidate genes from limited data, promising to advance cell-specific mechanistic insights and accelerate therapeutic development for rare diseases like PAH. (248/300 words).

Cold microwave plasma jets for wound healing: antimicrobial efficacy, mechanisms and changes in microbial cells

Abstract Given the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, alternative disinfection strategies are required. This study explores the antimicrobial potential of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) as a non-thermal decontamination method for medical applications. The results confirm the efficacy of cold microwave plasma jets in the inactivation of Staphylococcus epidermidis , Escherichia coli , Cutibacterium acnes , and Nakaseomyces glabratus . Optimal treatment conditions ensuring both the antimicrobial efficacy and the safety for living tissue were established. Experiments in enclosed or open-air environment and the use of colorimetric agents confirmed that RONS, rather than UV radiation, are primarily responsible for microbial inactivation. Possible inhibition mechanisms induced by the CAP treatment were examined using scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy. The analyses revealed progressive morphological and intracellular changes in yeast cells following the plasma treatment, including localized thinning and perforation of the cell wall, vacuole enlargement, enhanced vesicle formation, protoplast aggregation and leakage of intracellular content.

Therapeutic role of Cousinia thomsonii in ameliorating the oxidative stress and inflammation: A comprehensive in vitro and in vivo investigation

The present study evaluated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of an edible medicinal herb, Cousinia thomsonii (CT), commonly known as Thomson’s thistle. Preliminary investigations such as DPPH assay, lipid peroxidation estimation, reducing power assessment, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, and plasmid DNA damage assessment revealed that ethyl-acetate extract of the plant exhibited significantly higher antioxidant potential compared to the methanolic extract. We further evaluated the antioxidant potential of ethylacetate extract of Cousinia thomsonii in model cell systems. Using DCFDA staining, our results showed that ethyl acetate extract of this herb alleviated H 2 O 2 -induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. Further, the extract protected these cells from H 2 O 2 -induced cell death as demonstrated by PI/DAPI staining-based cell viability assays. These data were further substantiated by the cleavage status of PARP as evaluated by immunoblotting which pointed at the rescue of HepG2 cells from H 2 O 2 induced cell death. Inhibition of NO release, corroborated by the downregulation of iNOS, also confirmed the effect of the extract in SNP-induced NO stress. Additionally, co-treatment with different concentrations of the extract led to the upregulation of Nrf2, the master regulator of oxidative stress, while dose-dependently suppressing LPS-induced TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 expression in THP-1 cells.The in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of Cousinia thomsonii was further assessed through inhibition of paw edema formation and histopathological analysis of paw tissue. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that the ethyl acetate extract of CT exhibit potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in both in vitro and in vivo models, supporting its potential therapeutic application.

Transport and retention of laundry microplastic fibres in slow sand filtration systems

Abstract This study investigates the transport and retention of microplastic fibres (MFs) in slow sand filtration (SSF) systems using coarse and fine sand media under varying flow conditions. SSF is one of the most energy-efficient and cost-effective tertiary treatment methods. This study examined the performance of SSF for treating washing machine effluents heavily contaminated with MFs, such as those from washing machine discharge. Fine sand filters (with effective grain size of 0.2 mm) consistently retained significantly fewer MFs in the effluent than coarse sand filters (with an effective grain size of 0.6 mm), by a factor of 1.3 ± 0.2, with retention occurring predominantly within the upper 0–10 cm of the filter bed, highlighting the dominant role of the surface layer in MF capture. Between 83.9% and 93.6% of MFs in the filter effluents were 10–50 μm in length, with 10–20 μm fibres forming the dominant fraction across filtration rates of 5, 10, and 20 cm/h. Increasing filtration rate promoted deeper MF penetration into the filter bed, reduced overall retention, and increased MF breakthrough. Dissolved organic carbon removal was slightly higher in fine sand filters than in coarse sand filters, and effluent pH increased modestly with longer retention times. The highest MF removal efficiencies were achieved at the lowest filtration rate (5 cm/h), where removal reached 92.0% and 95.0% for coarse and fine sand, respectively. These trends are consistent with a mechanistic interpretation in which MF transport and retention are governed by interception, straining, and limited diffusion within the porous media, rather than simple size exclusion. SSF therefore represents a promising low-energy treatment option for mitigating MF release from wastewater effluents, particularly for fibres larger than 10 μm.

Conversion from farmland to orchard or agroforestry improves soil carbon sequestration by enhancing microbial biological activity in Northwest China

Land-use conversion from conventional farmland to orchard or agroforestry systems holds great potential for enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and microbial activity in arid regions. This study investigated the impacts of such transitions in Northwest China, utilizing a 15-year chronosequence across seven land-use patterns. Soil profiles (0–30 cm) were analyzed for SOC, nutrient availability, and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN). Results demonstrated that the 15-year-old jujube-wheat alley cropping system (15JW) achieved the highest accumulation of SOC, MBC, and MBN, particularly in the topsoil (0–10 cm). Structural equation modeling (SEM) further elucidated the mechanisms driving microbial dynamics, revealing that substrate quality and phosphorus availability were the predominant controls. Specifically, the model explained 47.4% of the variation in MBC (R 2  = 0.474), with SOC exerting a significant direct influence (β = −0.35). In contrast, available phosphorus (AP) was identified as the primary driver of MBN (β = 0.52), contributing to 56.1% of its total variance (R 2  = 0.561). These findings suggest that long-term agroforestry management mitigates carbon loss by fostering stable nutrient-mediated microbial pools. Our research underscores that transitioning to mature agroforestry systems is a strategic measure for improving soil fertility and climate resilience in semi-arid ecosystems.

Hybrid generative–ensemble approach for predicting recycled aggregate concrete strength properties

“Opening the Box to Explore the Contents”: A study on the design elements of museum cultural and creative blind boxes based on consumer preferences – Taking the Macao Museum as an example

This study adopts a consumer preference-driven approach and employs a mixed-methods research methodology to construct a systematic design decision-making model. By integrating literature review analysis, online review data mining, and screening, the study identifies preliminary key criteria for the design of museum-themed blind box cultural and creative products. Subsequently, the Fuzzy Delphi Method is applied to select the final 12 key design criteria, encompassing three dimensions: product value and experience, design aesthetics and craftsmanship, and cultural drivers and identity. The study uses museums in the Macau region as a case study and combines the Analytic Hierarchy Process to calculate the weighting ratios of each criterion. Based on the decision-making model and the weighting values of its internal elements, two design practices for blind box-style cultural and creative products were conducted, both of which utilized IPA as an auxiliary tool to ensure alignment with consumer preferences. The study also discusses the interdependent relationships among the various elements within the framework. The research findings provide theoretical support and optimization recommendations for museums in the development and design of blind box-style cultural and creative products, thereby promoting the better alignment of such products with consumer needs.