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Synthetic tongue rates chillies’ heat — and spares human tasters
High-throughput isolation of normal and pulmonary fibrosis human alveolar epithelial cells
Elevated blood urea nitrogen-to-creatinine ratio predicts short-term mortality in intensive care unit patients with ischemic stroke: Evidence from a multicenter cohort
Background The blood urea nitrogen-to-creatinine ratio (BUCR) has emerged as a potential biomarker for predicting the prognosis of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients. However, its relationship with short-term mortality in patients with ischemic stroke (IS) remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the association between BUCR and 28-day in-hospital mortality in ICU IS patients. Methods This retrospective cohort study utilized data from the eICU Collaborative Research Database (2014--2015). A total of 2,702 ICU patients with IS were included. The BUCR was calculated on the basis of initial blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels obtained within the first 24 hours of ICU admission. The association between BUCR and 28-day in-hospital mortality was assessed via Cox proportional hazards regression models. Restricted cubic spline analysis was performed to evaluate potential nonlinear relationships. Sensitivity analyses—including complete-case analysis, multiple imputation, propensity score matching, and E-value estimation—were conducted to assess the robustness of the findings. Results The mean age at baseline was 68.59 years (SD: 14.29), and 313 patients (11.58%) died within 28 days of hospitalization. Compared with Q1, BUCR in Q3 was significantly associated with 28-day in-hospital mortality (HR = 1.616; 95% CI: 1.173, 2.226). After full adjustment for potential confounders, a linear relationship was observed between BUCR and mortality risk. Each unit increase in BUCR was associated with a 1.4% increase in the hazard of death (HR = 1.014; 95% CI: 1.002, 1.027; P = 0.021). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of this association. Conclusion An elevated BUCR is an independent predictor of 28-day in-hospital mortality in ICU patients with ischemic stroke. This finding provides compelling evidence to address existing inconsistencies in the field, suggesting that BUCR may serve as a simple and effective biomarker for identifying high-risk patients with severe IS.
Multifaceted insights of experimental, surface, and computational investigations for a synthesized pyrazolyl derivative inhibitor for carbon steel corrosion in an acidic environment
Abstract For sustainable corrosion protection, this study introduces newly synthesized pyrazolyl- N -acetylthiocarbohydrazone ( PTH ) as a highly efficient and environmentally friendly inhibitor for carbon steel (CS) in an aggressive 1.0 M HCl solution. A comprehensive evaluation of PTH inhibition performance was conducted through chemical weight loss and electrochemical techniques, involving potentiodynamic polarization ( PDP ) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy ( EIS ), which demonstrated a significant reduction in CS corrosion. PDP and EIS reinforced these findings, confirming the robust protective nature of PTH with an inhibition potency of 96%. The mitigation power of the PTH can be explained by its adsorption onto the CS surface, which followed the Langmuir adsorption model. The inhibitor exhibited exceptional stability and efficiency across varying temperature conditions and various immersion times using EIS, reinforcing its reliability in harsh acidic media, with a mitigation capacity of 97.16% at 50 °C and 97.3% after 24 h. The morphology of the CS surface was examined using SEM /EDX (Scanning Electron Microscopy), AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy), and XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy), exhibiting the PTH adsorption over CS , which was also proved and elucidated employing theoretical quantum investigations as density functional theory and Monte Carlo simulations.
The association between the C-reactive protein-triglyceride-glucose index and cardiovascular diseases: A cohort study using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study 2011–2020
Background Inflammation and insulin resistance (IR) are both risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The C-reactive protein-triglyceride-glucose index (CTI) is a novel biomarker that comprehensively assesses the severity of inflammation and IR. This study investigates the association between CTI and the risk of CVD. Methods Data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) conducted between 2011 and 2020 were utilized, focusing on individuals aged 45 years and older. The CTI was calculated as 0.412 × Ln (C-reactive protein [CRP, mg/L]) + Ln (triglycerides [TG, mg/dL] × fasting blood glucose [FBG, mg/dL]/ 2). Self-reported CVD events were used as the primary outcome measure. Multivariable Cox regression, restricted cubic splines (RCS) analysis, and subgroup analyses were performed to examine the association between CTI and CVD risk. Results This study included 5,642 participants, with a CVD incidence rate of 23.70% (1,337 cases). After adjusting for covariates, each unit increase in the CTI was associated with an 11% increase in the risk of CVD (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.01–1.23). Similar results were observed when CTI was analyzed as a categorical variable (quartiles). RCS analyses revealed a nonlinear relationship between CTI and CVD risk. Subgroup analysis revealed no significant associations in certain subgroups, suggesting that the effect of the association may be heterogeneous. Conclusion Higher CTI (whether treated as a continuous or categorical variable) was significantly associated with an increased risk of CVD. A nonlinear relationship between CTI and CVD risk was observed.
Comparative impact of edutainment education via web application and mobile application on anemia prevention
The ex vivo effects of ethanolic extractions of black cumin seed, turmeric root, and Ceylon cinnamon bark on the human gut microbiota
Black cumin, turmeric root, and Ceylon cinnamon bark are spices that have been used for both culinary purposes and in traditional medicine practices. These spices are frequently connected with providing antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and gastroprotective properties. However, most studies on potential health effects have not been performed in humans. Since many of the health effect claims relate to gastrointestinal health, we explored the impact of black cumin extract (BCE), turmeric root extract (TRE), and Ceylon cinnamon extract (CCE) on the human gut microbiota ex vivo using the SIFR ® technology. The impact on the gut microbiota were determined using shotgun sequencing and flow cytometry, while the health-related short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) were analyzed to assess the metabolic output. While TRE and CCE had very little effect on the gut microbiota, BCE significantly increased acetate (+ 8.7mM), butyrate (+1.3mM), and propionate (+3mM) production. This related to specific increases of Alistipes onderdonkii , Alistipes shahii and particularly Candidatus Cibiobacter qucibialis , CCE and TRE increased the health related Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Dysosmobacter welbionis , respectively, with CCE also increasing Enterococcus and Veillonella species. Overall, these findings indicate these spices may have an impact on the human gut microbiome that could explain their purported health effects.
Persistent task-specific impairment of holistic face processing in acquired prosopagnosia
Abstract Face recognition deficits observed in Acquired Prosopagnosia are typically associated with impaired holistic processing. Nonetheless, whether this deficit is task-dependent, face-specific, and persistent over time has been under investigated. The present study examined the role of holistic processing in a case of acquired prosopagnosia (Patient DS). Patient DS, along with several neurotypical participants, completed the three standard measures of holistic face processing: the face inversion, part-whole, and composite face tasks, as well as a measure of non-face global processing: the Navon task. Our single-case analyses indicated that, compared to neurotypical participants, DS showed (1) impaired inversion effects, but (2) comparable part-whole and composite face effects, as well as (3) comparable global precedence effect in the Navon task. Interestingly, the same pattern of preserved and impaired holistic processing was observed in a second evaluation of DS four years later. While these findings suggest that holistic processing deficits in Acquired Prosopagnosia may be task-specific and persist over time—pointing toward the potential chronicity of the impairment—they should be interpreted with caution, given the floor effects and the single-case design.
Depressive symptoms and healthcare utilization among older adults in China: A cross-sectional examination of the national CHARLS data guided by Andersen behavioral model
Background With global population ageing, the mental health of older adults is a significant public health concern. Depression and depressive symptoms are increasingly prevalent and have been shown to influence healthcare utilization, but the mechanisms underlying these effects operate remain underexplored, particularly among older adults in China. Building on this context, this study draws on the Andersen behavioral model to explore the associations between depressive symptoms and healthcare utilization among older adults in China. Methods Using data from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, a nationally representative sample of 7,777 individuals aged 60 and above was analyzed. A Bayesian Generalized Structural Equation Model was constructed within the framework of the Andersen behavioral model to estimate both the direct and indirect associations between depressive symptoms and inpatient healthcare utilization. Results Results showed a direct association between depressive symptoms and inpatient healthcare utilization (0.16, 95% HDI: 0.02, 0.29), accounting for a small portion of the total association. The remaining 93.55% operated through indirect pathways, with health status, chronic diseases, satisfaction with health, activities of daily living limitations, disability, and alcohol use identified as key mediators. The model showed strong convergence and estimation stability. Conclusions These findings highlight the importance of distinguishing between direct and indirect associations when evaluating the relationship between depressive symptoms and healthcare utilization. Such differentiation helps to clarify the underlying mechanisms and provides an empirical basis for developing more targeted interventions to improve healthcare service use among Chinese older adults with depressive symptoms.
Sensory interference shapes habitat suitability for an acoustically specialized predator
Abstract Ambient acoustic conditions shape how animals perceive and interact with their environments, yet their role in structuring space use remains underexplored. Noise can mask biologically informative sounds which can impact foraging success, physiological fitness, and displace animals from viable habitat. Here, we test how landscape variables and soundscape characteristics across a mixed-use forest landscape affect spatial distribution of a nocturnal predator with specialized hearing. We used passive acoustic recordings to assess the effects of noise levels within biologically relevant frequency ranges on landscape use of the northern saw-whet owl ( Aegolius acadicus ) across 276 sites in Oregon, USA. Owl landscape use declined with increasing noise levels in the 1.60–7.10 kHz band, corresponding with species peak auditory sensitivity. In contrast, general low-frequency sound (0.25–1.00 kHz) was a poor predictor of landscape use but negatively affected acoustic detection probability. These results provide evidence that sensory masking from ambient soundscapes can constrain the realized acoustic niche and drive avoidance of otherwise suitable habitat. Our findings highlight the importance of considering full-spectrum acoustic environments in spatial ecology and suggest that species distributions are shaped not only by physical habitat but also by the perceptual accessibility of ecological information.
Analysis of the distraction impact on driving performance across driving styles: A driving simulator study in various speed conditions
Distracted driving is a mounting global issue, prompting numerous naturalistic and simulator-based investigations. This study investigates the impact of hands-free (HF) conversation and texting distractions on driving performance during car-following experiments. Three experiments were designed: a baseline (control) condition, HF conversation, and text messaging. Driving data were collected from 40 participants of driving simulator experiments, conducted under six different speed conditions: (i) free-flow, (ii) coherent moving flow, (iii) synchronized flow, (iv) jam density, (v) recovery from jam density, and (vi) collision avoidance. To analyze driving performance across various mobile phone distracted driving (MPDD) experiments, participants are partitioned into three distinct groups: aggressive, moderate, and conservative, based on their driving styles using k-means clustering. Statistical analyses, including t-tests, Friedman Test, and Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test, were conducted to evaluate driving performance metrics such as Standard Deviation of Lateral Position (SDLP) across conditions (i)-(iv), Acceleration Reaction Time (ART) in condition (v), and Time to Initial Braking Location (TIBL) in condition (vi). The findings indicated that HF conversation had no effect on SDLP in the free-flow condition. However, it led to a reduction in SDLP for the conservative group in the coherent moving flow condition, for both moderate and conservative groups in the synchronized flow condition, and for the moderate group in the jam density condition. Additionally, HF conversation was associated with a decrease in ART among conservative participants, while it significantly increased TIBL for both moderate and conservative groups. Conversely, texting led to an increase in SDLP for moderate and conservative participants in the free-flow condition and for the moderate group in the coherent moving flow condition. However, it resulted in a reduction in SDLP for the conservative group in the coherent moving flow condition. Texting had no significant effect on SDLP in the jam density condition or on ART. However, it significantly increased TIBL among moderate and conservative participants. These findings can inform legislation, policy development, countermeasures, and future research.
Population genomics traces zebra mussel invasions along the expanding western North American front in Minnesota, USA to their source waters
Patterns of compensatory mutations in rpoA/B/C genes of multidrug resistant M. tuberculosis in Uganda
Mutations in rpoB , a gene that encodes the bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) beta-subunit, can cause high-level resistance to rifampicin. Approximately 95% of rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates harbour mutations in an 81-base pair rpoB region referred to as the rifampicin-resistance-determining region ( rpoB /RRDR). Also, rifampicin-resistant M. tuberculosis clinical isolates carry multiple mutations in RNAP genes (i.e., rpoA, rpoB , rpoC, rpoD ), particularly rpoA and rpoC, which encode the alpha- (α 2 ) and beta′- (β′) subunits, respectively. Such secondary mutations offset the fitness cost associated with acquisition of rifampicin-resistance mutations in M. tuberculosis , resulting in resistant strains that are as fit as the wild-type drug-susceptible strains. To analyse the patterns of compensatory mutations in RNAP encoding genes of rifampicin-resistant M. tuberculosis clinical isolates in Uganda, whole genome sequencing and Sanger DNA sequencing were performed on 52 M. tuberculosis clinical isolates – 20 drug-susceptible and 32 multidrug resistant (MDR). A total of 24 (75%) MDR-TB isolates had high-level rifampicin-resistance-conferring mutations in rpoB /RRDR, i.e., Ser531Leu (31%); His526Asp (6%); His526Leu (3%); His526Tyr (3%); His526Arg (3%); His526Gly (3%); Asp516Tyr (13%); Asp516Val (6%); Glu513Lys (3%); Leu511Pro (3%); Leu492Leu (3%); Gln490Arg (3%). Further, two putative compensatory mutations (Gln490Arg & Lys1025Glu) outside the RRDR and not resistance-conferring were found in rpoB . Altogether, 15 (63%, 15/24) MDR-TB isolates with rpoB /RRDR resistance-conferring mutations had non-synonymous mutations in rpoC of the following patterns Leu39Phe (3%); Tyr61His (3%); Asp271Gly (3%); Ser377Ala (3%); Pro481Thr (3%); Val483Ala (6%); Leu516Pro (3%); Ala521Asp (3%); Gly594Glu (13%); Asn698Ser (3%); Leu823Pro (3%). In conclusion, putative compensatory mutations are prevalent in rifampicin-resistant M. tuberculosis clinical isolates in Uganda, with rpoC /Gly594Glu and rpoC /Val483Ala as the most frequent. Further studies will determine their association with strain genetic background, fitness and transmission in an endemic setting with a high burden of HIV-TB coinfection.
Modeling fatigue damage evolution in CMDB propellant based on dynamic modulus
Effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (nZnO) on antioxidant defense, lignin metabolism and cadmium subcellular distribution in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L) under low-dose cadmium stress (hormesis)
Most studies on cadmium (Cd) have focused on its toxicity at high concentrations, while its hormetic effects at low doses remain underexplored. Lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L) is cultivated on a wide scale around the world, and its leaves continue to exhibit a high capacity for Cd accumulation at trace concentrations, thereby posing a significant threat to human health. This study investigated the role of foliar-applied zinc oxide nanoparticles (nZnO, 50 μmol l -1 and 100 μmol l -1 ) in mitigating low-dose cadmium (Cd) stress in lettuce. Exposure to 2.5 μmol L -1 Cd significantly enhanced lettuce growth, demonstrating a classic hormetic response. However, this growth stimulation was accompanied by Cd accumulation in leaves (4.45 mg kg -1 DW, 0.22 mg kg -1 FW), exceeding the FAO/WHO safety limit for edible vegetables (0.2 mg kg -1 FW). Foliar application of nZnO significantly reduced the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in lettuce. This was accompanied by increased activities of antioxidant enzymes and elevated endogenous hormone levels, which collectively contributed to enhanced lettuce growth. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that nZnO led to a substantial reduction in Cd accumulation in lettuce tissues. This reduction was attributed to an increase in total phenolic content and changes in the subcellular distribution and chemical forms of Cd. Our results indicate that foliar application of zinc oxide nanoparticles is a viable strategy for reducing Cd accumulation in lettuce and other leafy vegetables under Cd-induced hormesis, thereby ensuring food safety.
Executive functions and classroom quality in kindergarten predict peer acceptance in first grade
Abstract The attainment of sufficient peer acceptance profoundly impacts child development and successful school adjustment. This study aims to determine the extent to which child executive functions and classroom quality in kindergarten predict peer acceptance in first-grade schoolers. Data was collected in two different periods, separated by a 1-year interval. At Time 1, classroom quality and executive functions were measured using a sample of 449 children in kindergarten (M = 6.3 years). By the Time 2, the participants were first-grade primary school students and were diagnosed on peer acceptance dimensions: sociometric status, reciprocity, and self-sociometric status ( n = 203, M = 7.4 years). Regression models were constructed, controlling for sex, age, nonverbal intelligence, child peer acceptance in kindergarten, kindergarten class, and school class as random effects. The results indicated that executive functions in kindergarten are the primary predictor of the sociometric status, as well as the reciprocity. The kindergarten classroom quality, in terms of emotional support, tends to be the most significant predictor of self-sociometric status.
Advances in deep reinforcement learning enable better predictions of human behavior in time-continuous tasks
Humans have to respond to everyday tasks with goal-directed actions in complex and time-continuous environments. However, modeling human behavior in such environments has been challenging. Deep Q-networks (DQNs), an application of deep learning used in reinforcement learning (RL), enable the investigation of how humans transform high-dimensional, time-continuous visual stimuli into appropriate motor responses. While recent advances in DQNs have led to significant performance improvements, it has remained unclear whether these advancements translate into improved modeling of human behavior. Here, we recorded motor responses in human participants (N = 23) while playing three distinct arcade games. We used stimulus features generated by a DQN as predictors for human data by fitting the DQN’s response probabilities to human motor responses using a linear model. We hypothesized that advancements in RL models would lead to better prediction of human motor responses. Therefore, we used features from two recently developed DQN models (Ape-X and SEED) and a third baseline DQN to compare prediction accuracy. Compared to the baseline DQN, Ape-X and SEED involved additional structures, such as dueling and double Q-learning, and a long short-term memory, which considerably improved their performances when playing arcade games. Since the experimental tasks were time-continuous, we also analyzed the effect of temporal resolution on prediction accuracy by smoothing the model and human data to varying degrees. We found that all three models predict human behavior significantly above chance level. SEED, the most complex model, outperformed the others in prediction accuracy of human behavior across all three games. These results suggest that advances in deep RL can improve our capability to model human behavior in complex, time-continuous experimental tasks at a fine-grained temporal scale, thereby opening an interesting avenue for future research that complements the conventional experimental approach, characterized by its trial structure and use of low-dimensional stimuli.
Improving the performance of daily pan evaporation (Evp) prediction using the ensemble empirical mode decomposition combined with deep learning models
Prevalence of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli isolates from healthy chicken droppings
Background The increasing emergence of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) Escherichia coli in poultry represents significant public health concern due to the risk of zoonotic transmission via the food chain. This study investigates the prevalence and resistance patterns of E. coli isolated from healthy broiler and indigenous chickens in Kifri City, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Methods A total of 200 cloacal swab samples were collected from healthy chickens (100 broilers and 100 indigenous). Standard bacteriological methods were used for E. coli isolation, followed by antimicrobial susceptibility testing against ten antibiotics using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Additionally, molecular detection of resistance genes was performed via PCR. Results The overall isolation rate of E. coli was 60%. Broiler isolates exhibited significantly higher resistance rates, including 100% resistance to ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin, and >90% resistance to amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, norfloxacin, and nitrofurantoin. In contrast, indigenous chicken isolates showed lower resistance, with the highest rates seen for amoxicillin-clavulanate (90%) and nitrofurantoin (85%). PCR analysis identified the presence of key resistance genes including blaTEM , qnrS , and sul1 among multidrug-resistant isolates. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in resistance profiles between broiler and indigenous groups. Conclusion The high prevalence of multidrug-resistant E. coli in broiler chickens underscores the urgent need for stricter antibiotic stewardship in poultry farming. The findings support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and 15 (Life on Land) by promoting antimicrobial surveillance and sustainable livestock management.