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Allied health care in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study on the perceptions of non-hospitalized patients and allied health professionals
Purpose Worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted access to primary care and rehabilitation services, leaving many non-hospitalized patients with persistent symptoms unsure where to seek support. Primary allied health care (pAHP) became an important source of guidance and rehabilitation in several countries. This qualitative study explored how pAHP was accessed, experienced, and delivered in the Netherlands during the early stages of the pandemic, focusing on non-hospitalized patients with lingering symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection and the allied health professionals who supported them. Methods A qualitative study was conducted in the Netherlands between January and May 2021. Semi-structured interviews were held with 11 non-hospitalized patients and 30 primary allied health care professionals across five disciplines. Participants reflected on their experiences with primary allied health care during the first year of the pandemic. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results Three main themes described this period: (1) navigating uncertainty in the absence of guidelines and knowledge about the disease; (2) adapting care, balancing treatment content and delivery; and (3) forging connections, including interprofessional collaboration and organization in primary care. Patients generally reported positive experiences and valued feeling heard and supported, while professionals described adaptive strategies and organizational challenges. Conclusions Primary allied healthcare played a valued and adaptive role for non-hospitalized patients during the early pandemic. These findings underscore the importance of acknowledging patients’ symptoms, strengthening interprofessional collaboration, and supporting flexible, evidence-informed care strategies to prepare primary care systems for future health crises.
Publisher Correction: Overactive bladder phenotype induced by chronic activation of hypothalamic neuroendocrine stress pathways in rats with no extrinsic behavioral stress applied
Viable fertilizer prescription model: Soil test crop response approach for sustained and targeted yield, quality of Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) in Alfisols
A comprehensive three-year field study was conducted to develop and validate soil test crop response (STCR)–based nutrient prescription equations for coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) in Alfisols. The research comprised three distinct experimental phases: a fertility gradient experiment, a main experiment, and a validation trial. Across these phases, over 72 soil and plant samples were collected and analyzed for nutrient content and compositional quality. The fertility gradient experiment established significant variability in soil NPK status using fodder maize as an indicator crop. In the main experiment, coriander plots subjected to varying fertility levels and nutrient management strategies—including farmyard manure (FYM) supplementation—were assessed for yield, nutrient uptake, and key quality metrics (total phenols, flavonoids, and ascorbic acid). Prescription equations targeting specific yield levels were developed by calculating nutrient requirements and quantifying contributions from soil, fertilizer, and FYM. The validation trial demonstrated that STCR-based recommendations, especially those integrating 7.5 t ha ⁻ ¹ FYM, substantially improved green foliage yield (up to 56.9% higher), nutrient uptake (N, P, K), and quality parameters compared to generalized recommended doses and soil fertility rating approaches. Enhanced outcomes were observed for value cost ratio, response yield stick, and nutrient use efficiency indices (Partial Factor Productivity, Agronomic Efficiency, Partial Nutrient Balance, Internal Utilization Efficiency). Overall, the STCR approach with integrated nutrient management proved effective in increasing yield, improving quality, and optimizing nutrient use efficiency in coriander, advancing the case for site-specific and balanced fertilizer application in sustainable coriander production.
Exploiting topic analysis models to explore psychological dimensions in social media data
The latitudinal speciation gradient in freshwater fishes: Higher speciation across assemblages at higher latitudes in the northern hemisphere
Speciation rates are a key driver of diversity patterns and are often used to explain the latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG). However, latitudinal variation in speciation rates at both assemblage and species levels remains poorly explored in freshwater fishes. This highlights a gap in understanding the mechanisms driving geographic biodiversity gradients in freshwater fishes. Here, we investigated the latitudinal speciation gradient in freshwater fishes, using a comprehensive database of freshwater fish distributions and phylogenetic relationships of Actinopterygian fishes at the global scale. We estimated speciation rates using three metrics (BAMM, DR, and ClaDS) and evaluated the latitudinal speciation gradient through spatial and phylogenetic regressions at assemblage and species levels. Finally, we analyzed those patterns based on the species assemblage’s phylogenetic diversity and structure. Our results show that areas and species with the highest speciation rates were in the tropics. However, the general assemblage pattern revealed a positive relationship between absolute latitude and speciation rates. This relationship is generally absent in tropical regions below 24.39° and became significant only at higher latitudes, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere. We did not find a significant relationship at the species level, mainly due to the strong influence of hyper-diverse groups like Cichliformes. Species-level findings showed the contribution of particular lineages to the speciation gradient as a whole, while the assemblage-level results emphasize the high speciation rates across the Northern Hemisphere, especially North America, potentially resulting from environmental filtering and dispersal events consistent with glaciation dynamics in the Pleistocene.
A multiomics profile of coordinated defense and key candidate genes against bacterial wilt in tobacco
Abstract Bacterial wilt, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, is a devastating disease that limits global tobacco production. To decipher the molecular basis of resistance, we conducted an integrated multiomics analysis of a susceptible cultivar, Honghua Dajinyuan (HD), and a moderately resistant cultivar, Yanyan 97 (YY), leveraging LC‒MS-based metabolomics and RNA-seq transcriptomics. The resistant YY cultivar exhibited coordinated multitiered defense, characterized by the accumulation of resistance-related metabolites (e.g., prenol lipids and organooxygen compounds) and the enrichment of plant hormone signaling pathways. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 818 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in cell wall modification and stress responses. Crucially, the integration of weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) with prior QTL mapping pinpointed Nta17g05760 within the qBWR17b locus as a core candidate gene. Our study systematically elucidates a defense network involving hormone signaling, cell wall reinforcement, and antimicrobial synthesis and provides a key candidate gene and theoretical foundation for the molecular breeding of wilt-resistant tobacco.
Preventive effect of bentonite against pyoderma via direct binding capability of staphylococci
Bentonite, a naturally occurring clay mineral, is widely used for detoxifying mycotoxins and chemical contaminants, yet its potential interactions with microorganisms remain poorly characterized. Staphylococci, including Staphylococcus aureus in humans and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in dogs, are major contributors to impetigo or pyoderma and other skin diseases, with rising antibiotic resistance underscoring the need for novel preventive strategies. This study investigated whether sodium bentonite directly modulates staphylococcal growth and associated inflammatory responses in vitro and in vivo . In bacterial culture assays, sodium bentonite showed a strong binding affinity for staphylococci, leading to significant reductions in viable colony counts. Pre-treatment of S. aureus and S. pseudintermedius with bentonite attenuated keratinocyte injury and markedly suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, including IL-6, IL-8, and CCL2. In a murine pyoderma model, bentonite pre-treatment of S. pseudintermedius prevented lesion development, reduced bacterial burden, and downregulated cutaneous expression of TNFα, IL-1β, and IL-13, findings that were corroborated by histological improvements. Importantly, these effects extended to methicillin-resistant strains, highlighting a potential application against drug-resistant staphylococcal infections. By contrast, direct topical administration of bentonite gel in a murine atopic dermatitis model produced only modest benefits: ear swelling was reduced, but transepidermal water loss and clinical scores remained unchanged, suggesting limited therapeutic value in established chronic inflammatory conditions. Overall, sodium bentonite does not exhibit intrinsic bactericidal or anti-inflammatory properties but exerts protective effects through direct bacterial binding and subsequent inhibition of staphylococcus-induced cytotoxicity and inflammation. These findings identify sodium bentonite as a safe, non-antibiotic preventive option for staphylococci-associated skin diseases, particularly pyoderma, in both humans and companion animals. Future studies should further explore formulation strategies and delivery methods to optimize its clinical utility.
Integrated analytical hierarchy process and neural network approaches for assessment of soil erosion risk in Manjira River sub-basin, India
Abstract Soil erosion poses critical threats to agricultural sustainability and food security in semi-arid regions, necessitating innovative assessment frameworks for effective sustainable land management. This study presents an integrated Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)—Artificial Neural Network (ANN) framework for enhanced soil erosion susceptibility mapping in the Manjira River Sub-basin, Maharashtra, India, addressing sustainable development challenges in agriculturally intensive landscapes. The methodology utilized ten environmental sustainability indicators derived from Shuttle Radar Topography Mission Digital Elevation Model (SRTM DEM), Sentinel-2 & Landset-8 imagery, and meteorological data to assess erosion risks across 10,160 km 2 of predominantly agricultural terrain. AHP analysis established factor importance through expert consultation, identifying slope (0.20) and rainfall (0.15) as dominant sustainability indicators, achieving satisfactory consistency (CR = 0.092). The novel integration employed AHP-derived susceptibility classifications as training targets for a multilayer perceptron neural network, representing a paradigm shift toward sustainable, data-driven environmental assessment. The integrated framework demonstrated significant improvements over traditional approaches, achieving 86.3% overall accuracy with F1-score of 0.88, providing enhanced reliability for evidence-based conservation planning. Spatial analysis revealed 41% of the basin exhibits high to very high erosion susceptibility, concentrated in agriculturally intensive western regions requiring immediate sustainable management interventions. The ANN enhancement refined classification precision by reducing moderate susceptibility areas from 44.33% to 39.91% while providing definitive risk designations crucial for targeted sustainable development strategies. This integrated approach successfully combines expert knowledge interpretability with advanced computational capabilities, offering a robust methodology for sustainable soil conservation planning in semi-arid agricultural environments. The framework provides practical applications for achieving sustainable development goals through improved land management decisions.
Impact of cardiometabolic risk factors on hepatocellular carcinoma incidence in patients with chronic hepatitis B: A retrospective cohort study
Background and aims Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major global health burden and a leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While cirrhosis is a well-established risk factor, the contributions of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs) are less clearly defined. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of MASLD and CMRFs on HCC risk in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of CHB patients at Songklanagarind Hospital between 2011 and 2021, excluding those diagnosed with HCC within six months of follow-up. Clinical and imaging data were analyzed. Cumulative HCC incidence was estimated using Nelson-Aalen plots. Multivariable Cox regression was used to identify independent predictors. The aMAP score was evaluated in subgroups with obesity, CMRFs, and MASLD. Results Among 4,944 patients, 151 (3.1%) developed HCC. Cirrhosis (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 7.22), obesity (aHR 1.85), and male sex (aHR 1.78) were independent risk factors. Statin use (aHR 0.43), higher platelet count (aHR 0.62), and higher albumin (aHR 0.64) were protective. Diabetes and hypertension showed nonsignificant trends, and steatosis and dyslipidemia without statins were not significantly associated with HCC. Risk increased with the number of CMRFs. The aMAP score showed good discrimination in patients with obesity (C-index 0.82), CMRFs (0.79), MASLD (0.74), and in the non-cirrhotic MASLD and non-MASLD (0.69 and 0.71, respectively). Conclusions Cirrhosis, male sex, and obesity were key HCC risk factors. The aMAP score effectively stratified HCC risk among metabolically at-risk CHB patients.
Genetic divergence and lower frequencies of insecticide resistance markers in the novel Anopheles gambiae Bissau molecular form in The Gambia
Exploring predictive models to improve the accuracy of Housing Price Index forecasts in India’s real estate sector
This study aims to improve the predictive accuracy of the Housing Price Index (HPI) in India using the unrestricted MIDAS (U-MIDAS) model with novel predictors, including total digital payment value (TDP), consumer price index (CPI), and financial stress index (FSI). Quarterly HPI data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and monthly data for other variables were used from October 2019 to September 2024. Correlation analysis indicates that HPI and digital payments are positively correlated. There is a weak relationship between HPI and FSI. HPI and CPI have a negative relationship. The U-MIDAS model outperformed other models. The study highlights the effectiveness of the U-MIDAS methodology for short-term forecasting. The study further demonstrates that the forecast accuracy obtained with the unrestricted mixed data sampling (U-MIDAS) regression exceeds that of the ARIMAX model.
Effective control and probe of Néel order in polycrystalline NiO films: a combined approach to study antiferromagnets
Abstract Antiferromagnetic (AFM) materials are promising for next-generation spintronic applications, however, practical implementation remains challenging due to difficulties in controlling the Néel order and the lack of sensitive, device-compatible readout techniques. In this work, we demonstrate spin Hall magnetoresistance (SHMR) as an effective and versatile approach for probing Néel order, even in polycrystalline AFM films. Using NiO/Pt and LaNiO 3 /Pt bilayers as model systems, we show that SHMR measurements can detect the Néel temperature (T N ), monitor spin-flop transition, and reveal field-induced orientation of the Néel order. Crucially, we establish that the control of Néel order with non-volatility is effective when initiated from the “soft” AFM phase at elevated temperature (380 K) via field-cooling (FC), enabling robust alignment of Néel order without the need for adjacent heavy metals as spin current sources. This spin-current-free control greatly expands the flexibility and scalability of AFM device design, especially in the form of polycrystalline microstructure. The results highlight the combined FC and SHMR technique as a powerful and flexible platform for both manipulation and sensitive readout of AFM states, providing a reliable basis for the design and characterization of a broad class of AFM materials and devices.
Changes in pneumococcal vaccine coverage in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA): An analysis based on the 2018–2021 follow-up 2 survey
Introduction Pneumococcal vaccination is recommended for older adults and individuals with chronic medical conditions (CMC) due to the high risk of invasive pneumococcal disease in these groups. Despite this, vaccination coverage in Canada remains below the national target of 80%, to be achieved by 2025. We conducted a new analysis of recently released data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), aimed at providing estimates of pneumococcal vaccine coverage from 2018–2021 among eligible adults, identifying sociodemographic disparities, and exploring changes over time since 2015. Methods The CLSA, a nationally representative cohort launched in 2011, recently released data collected during the second follow-up visit (FUP2; 2018–2021). We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of participant self-reported pneumococcal vaccination status, stratified by sociodemographic characteristics, receipt of influenza vaccine in the previous 12 months, and contact with family doctor in the previous 12 months. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with being newly vaccinated for pneumococcal disease as reported during FUP2 compared with three years earlier during follow-up 1 (FUP1; 2015–2018). We previously reported pneumococcal vaccination estimates for 2015–2018. Results Only 56.8% (95% CI: 55.8–57.7%; n = 10,530) of eligible study participants aged 65 years and older and 19.3% (95% CI: 18.1–20.5%; n = 4,055) of those aged <65 years with at least 1 chronic medical condition reported having received the pneumococcal vaccine when surveyed between 2018–2021. Males, rural residents, and individuals in certain provinces reported lower vaccination rates. Compared to three years prior, 28.4% of participants aged 65 years and older and 11% of participants aged <65 years with at least one CMC reported being newly vaccinated. Higher odds of being newly vaccinated were observed among individuals who reported having received influenza vaccination in the previous 12 months in both age groups. Conclusions Pneumococcal vaccine coverage among Canadian adults aged 65 and older enrolled in the CLSA increased by only 2% between 2015–2018 and 2018–2021, and no changes were observed among those under the age of 65 with underlying conditions.
LightECA-UNet: a lightweight model for segmentation of coal fracture CT images
Abstract Coal fracture segmentation in CT images is critical for coal structure analysis, coalbed methane extraction, and mine safety, but it is challenged by complex fracture features and limited computing resources for mine-site deployment. Basic UNet exhibits redundancy, sensitivity to image noise, and high overfitting risk. This study proposes LightECA-UNet, integrating depthwise separable convolution (DSC), efficient channel attention (ECA), and adaptive channel pruning. Experiments show LightECA-UNet achieves 1.6% higher mean Intersection over Union (mIoU) and 2.5% higher fracture IoU than currently popular models. Compared to lightweight counterparts, it reduces computational load by 87.1% and parameter count by 86.9%, enabling deployment on mine-used edge equipment while maintaining segmentation accuracy.
Comparison of whole-body muscle imaging findings between GNE myopathy and other young adult-onset hereditary myopathies
Objectives Previous muscle imaging studies of GNE myopathy are limited to the lower extremities. This study aimed to use whole-body MRI to differentiate between GNE myopathy and other young adult-onset hereditary myopathies. Materials and methods This retrospective cohort study recruited patients with GNE myopathy or young adult-onset hereditary with limb girdle weakness pattern followed up in a single-center neuromuscular clinical registry between 2019 and 2023. Fatty tissue replacement was evaluated using a 5-point scale using T1-weighted images (T1WI) and proton-density fat fractions (PDFF) from mDIXON Quant images. Inflammation was evaluated using short tau inversion recovery imaging. The distribution and severity of muscle involvement in GNE myopathy were visualized using heat maps, and the parameters were tested for significance. Results Of 103 patients, five with GNE myopathy and 10 with young adult-onset hereditary myopathy were recruited. Prominent fatty tissue replacement was seen in specific muscles with subtle active inflammation in GNE myopathy. The comparison of fatty tissue replacement between GNE and other young adult-onset hereditary myopathies exhibited the classic quadriceps sparing pattern in GNE myopathy group. Beyond these findings, latissimus dorsi showed the significantly lower fatty tissue replacement in the GNE group (median [IQR] of T1WI grade 1 [0, 1] vs. 3 [1, 3.4], p = 0.04) and mean (± S.D.) of PDFF in mDIXON Quant (19.0 ± 9.7 vs. 42.6 ± 22.7, p = 0.04). Conclusion The latissimus dorsi sparing out of proportion to periscapular weakness would be a novel differentiative feature of GNE myopathy.
Disease susceptibility and biological vulnerability of black vultures to fatal clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection
Increased brain coverage and efficiency when measuring current-induced magnetic fields by use of simultaneous multi-slice echo-planar MRI
Purpose Magnetic resonance current density imaging (MRCDI) can non-invasively validate electric field simulations in volume conductor head models. Weak electric currents are injected using scalp electrodes while measuring the MR phase perturbations caused by the tiny magnetic fields (1–2 nT) induced by the current flow in tissue. MRCDI generally has a low signal-to-noise ratio, making it susceptible to technical imperfections and physiological noise. In this technical note, we tested and optimized simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) EPI for time-efficient and robust brain MRCDI. Methods MRCDI data was acquired in a phantom and five human brains using SMS-EPI optimized for measuring current-induced phase perturbations. Multiband factors and interslice gaps were systematically varied and the resulting image quality assessed. In particular, the impact of interslice signal leakage on the measured phase was tested. Results Current-free acquisitions showed the expected noise amplification with decreasing interslice distances. However, physiological noise generally dominated the human data, masking potential SMS-related penalties and making the overall noise levels identical to single-slice EPI for interslice gaps of at least 12 mm and multiband factors between 3 and 5. Upon application of electric currents, the phantom data revealed subtle artifacts for multiband factors 5 and 6, even for large gaps. Nevertheless, artifacts were absent in the human brain for multiband factors up to 5, where the performance of SMS-EPI approached that of single-slice measurements for sufficient interslice distances. Conclusion Optimized SMS-EPI with multiband factors up to 5 and minimum interslice gaps of 12 mm performs on par with single-slice EPI, making it attractive for increasing brain coverage in MRCDI.
Non-destructive prediction of carbonization indices in biochar derived from underutilized forest biomass using ATR-IR chemometric modeling
Clinical characteristics, diagnostic modalities, and therapeutic strategies of spontaneous renal artery dissection: A systematic review and diagnostic analysis
Objective To investigate the clinical features, diagnostic approaches, and treatment strategies of spontaneous renal artery dissection (SRAD) through systematic review and data analysis, thereby providing evidence-based insights for optimizing clinical management. Methods A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang Database. Case-control studies, cohort studies, and case series were included. Demographic data, symptomatology, diagnostic modalities, treatment regimens, and clinical outcomes were extracted. Statistical analyses were performed using RStudio. Results A total of 73 case reports involving 97 patients were included. The mean patient age was 46 years, with a male predominance (82.5%, 80/97). The most common presenting symptom was acute-onset flank pain (74.2%), and comorbid hypertension was observed in 61.9% of cases. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) was the primary diagnostic modality (85.6%), with multimodal imaging utilized in 87.6% of cases. Revascularization rates differed significantly between conservative management (37.1%), endovascular intervention (71.0%), and surgical intervention (6.2%) (P < 0.01). Regarding blood pressure outcomes: the proportion of patients achieving normotension without medication was significantly higher in the non-conservative group (54.1%, 20/37) than in the conservative group (30.0%, 6/20) (P < 0.05); however, there was no statistically significant disparity in the overall blood pressure control rate (normotension without medication + controlled with medication) between groups (P > 0.05). Overall mortality was 3.1%, and renal function deterioration occurred in 30.9% of patients. Conclusion Management of SRAD necessitates individualized decision-making. Conservative therapy remains appropriate for most patients, while endovascular intervention demonstrates superior revascularization efficacy in cases with severe symptomatology or dissection progression. Prospective studies are warranted to validate therapeutic disparities and establish standardized diagnostic and treatment protocols.