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Prevalence and consumption patterns of energy drinks among Iraqi adolescents: A cross-sectional study
Background Most energy drinks contain significant levels of caffeine, sugar, and other ingredients, which are consumed increasingly among adolescents. Excessive energy drinks consumption is associated with various adverse health effects. Objectives To investigate the prevalence and pattern of energy drink consumption among high school students in Erbil City, The Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 15th, 2024 to March 15th, 2025. A multistage cluster sampling technique was used to recruit 800 students from 20 selected high schools in Erbil, Iraq. SPSS version 27 was used for data entry and analysis, a p-value ≤0.05 is considered statistically significant. Results Overall, 82.1% of participants had reported at least a one-time-consumption of energy drinks in their lives, and 57.6% had consumed them in the past 30 days. The prevalence of energy drink consumption was significantly higher among males (58.3%, p = 0.001). The study found a statistically significant association between gender (p = 0.001) and living arrangement (p = 0.023), and the prevalence of energy drink consumption. Conclusion The prevalence of energy drink consumption among high school-aged adolescents in Iraq was high, and associated with sociodemographic characteristics. The finding highlights the importance of considering gender differences in understanding energy drink consumption patterns. The study underscores the need for educational interventions to enhance students’ awareness of the health risks associated with energy drink consumption.
Prediction model of postoperative mortality for congenital heart disease: evidence from two large-scale cohorts
Broadly applicable hydrophilic additive enhances electrochemical transistor function
Organic semiconductors offering efficient mixed ionic-electronic charge transport are key components of organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) needed for future bioelectronics and other technologies. However, hydrophobic semiconductors typically have limited ion mobility and are unstable in aqueous environments, restricting OECT applications. To address these issues, we report a broadly applicable strategy for high-performance OECTs by blending polymeric semiconductors with a photocrosslinkable hydrophilic ion-conducting supplement, poly(ethyleneglycol)-dimethylacrylate (PEGDMA). The result is ordered, interconnected semiconductor domains within an amorphous ion-conducting matrix, enabling rapid and reversible doping/dedoping without compromising charge transport. This approach enhances OECT performance across diverse electrolytes, semiconductors, and device architectures. Furthermore, PEGDMA enables high-resolution photopatterning of both semiconductors (<0.4 μm) and electrolytes (<2 μm), affording high-stability OECTs sustaining >10,000 cycles. This approach also enables wafer-scale array fabrication of 2,548 OECTs on 2” wafer, and miniaturized inverter, NAND, and NOR circuits. Also demonstrated are integration of these OECTs with a photosensor, creating a vision sensing array (10 × 10 pixels) that mimics visual image processing similar to the brain’s perception system.
A geospatial hybrid platform to support public policy-making and monitoring for community-based food management and security in the context of global climate change: A study protocol
In Latin America, Food and Nutritional Insecurity (FNI) is a challenge, particularly in households that receive social assistance programs, where food scarcity affects up to 50% of these households. Environmental degradation and climate change are significant contributors to FNI, underscoring the importance of ongoing monitoring. In this paper, we present the roadmap for a higher-impact project to support Food and Nutrition Security (FNS) policymaking in Latin America. The ultimate goal is to improve FNS in communities affected by climate change through the development of an interactive platform that evidences the identification of variables, a transnational data acquisition program, the development of predictive models, and the assessment of climate vulnerability in the region. Additionally, an open data platform, together with the dashboard and a virtual assistant, is being developed for monitoring FNS indicators in Latin America. The project was awarded the ALSEA prize and addresses technological and regional challenges through a multidisciplinary and international team. Effective coordination between space agencies, academia, government, and the productive sector is required to ensure that project results are usable and add value at the local level. The Supporting Evidence for the Proposed Approach presented in this paper are promising and pave the way for future developments that extend not only the geographic scope but also the dimensional analysis.
Self-propelled platinum based magnetite Janus nanomotors prepared from PCL and PHEMA graft copolymer with physicochemical properties motility and peroxidase-like activity
How and why avian reproductive success varies in response to precipitation: A global meta-analysis
Precipitation influences animal physiology, behavior, and ecological interactions, therefore affecting demography. However, the nature and strength of those effects vary widely, have been attributed to mechanisms operating over different time scales, and may depend on species-level attributes. We conducted a global meta-analysis accounting for shared evolutionary history to a) understand the nature of relationships between precipitation and avian reproductive success and b) test alternative hypotheses explaining where and why precipitation affects some bird species more than others based on species-level attributes or environment. The nature and magnitude of responses to precipitation were unrelated to species attributes but were dependent upon the timing of precipitation and geographic context. Birds responded negatively to precipitation that fell during the nesting period, while birds responded positively to precipitation that fell prior to the breeding season. Responses to precipitation varied with elevation and latitude; at high elevations at high latitudes, birds experienced lower reproductive success following precipitation, while at high elevations at low latitudes (i.e., in the tropics), the responses were opposite, though sample sizes at high elevations in the tropics were small. Negative responses in colder regions likely reflect direct thermogenic consequences of wetting. In warmer regions, because positive responses to precipitation were unrelated to diet or predation risk, responses to precipitation were likely indirect and mediated by vegetation. Ultimately, this study implicates both direct and indirect responses to precipitation that depend on the timing of precipitation and biogeographic context with large implications for avian populations under changing climate regimes.
Recognition of Japanese university students one year after the discharge of treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station
The study clarified the perceptions of the Japanese university students regarding their acceptance of the discharge of treated water (DTW) into the Pacific Ocean approximately a year after the process began. Among the 1453 study participants, 1246 (85.7%) showed DTW acceptability, and 207 (14.3%) were unacceptable. Compared to non-acceptance group, majoring in science, experience collecting information or knowledge about DTW, the ability to explain the difference between contaminated water and treated water, the belief that the Japanese government provides accurate information about DTW, the belief that decision-making of the Japanese public is calm and rational about the DTW, and having no feel reluctant to consume kinds of seafood in Fukushima were independently associated with the acceptance group. Furthermore, the most common way to collect information about DTW was via television or newspapers. The paper suggested that effectively conveying information about DTW to the younger generation is best done passively, such as through TV, street flyers, or Internet advertisements. Participants who had received some kind of information about DTW were more likely to accept DTW than those who had not. The health and environmental effects of DTW from FDNPS are limited; therefore, this complex issue must be dealt with calmly.
Rapid peptide analysis in dried bloodspots to identify novel markers for newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism
Abstract Early diagnosis of Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH) is critical to prevent irreversible neurodevelopmental damage. However, current TSH-based newborn screening using Dried Blood Spots (DBS) is limited by factors that lead to false-positive and false-negative results, necessitating the development of alternative methods. Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) as a high-throughput solution was investigated. This study presents a novel diagnostic approach utilizing DBS peptide barcoding, which was supported by comprehensive LC-MS/MS and network analysis. Peptide profiles showed a marked and reproducible difference between groups. MALDI-TOF MS identified a unique signature, including six dominant peptides specific to the CH-positive group. Subsequent analysis identified 37 candidate peptides, with network analysis linking 12 key proteins to established CH-related agents (e.g., thyroxine, TSHR). The MALDI-TOF MS peptidomic approach is validated as a robust, rapid, and cost-effective alternative for CH screening. This methodology represents a significant advance toward overcoming the limitations of current TSH assays and establishing a clinically translatable biomarker panel for improved personalized diagnosis of CH.
A distinct subclade of AlkB family demethylases in ciliates safeguards the positional fidelity of eukaryotic N <sup>6</sup> -methyladenine (6mA)
DNA N 6 -methyladenine (6mA) is a newly recognized transcription-associated epigenetic mark in eukaryotes. While its methylation pathway has been well established, the identity of eukaryotic 6mA demethylase(s) responsible for its removal and dynamic regulation has remained elusive. Here, we identify and characterize DMT3 (TtALKBH5), an AlkB family dioxygenase in Tetrahymena thermophila , as a 6mA demethylase in ciliates and potentially several other unicellular eukaryotes with abundant 6mA and a defined AMT1 methyltransferase (MTase) complex, supported by genetic and molecular evidence. DMT3 acts on both fully and hemimethylated ApT dinucleotides, an activity partially facilitated by a naturally occurring cysteine-to-serine substitution. Genome profiling shows that DMT3 is enriched at transcription start sites (TSSs) of 6mA-enriched genes, complementary to the occupancy pattern of the AMT1 complex, where it selectively removes spurious 6mA deposited by AMT1. Genetic disruption of DMT3-mediated demethylation, either by knockout or catalytic inactivation, leads to aberrant 6mA accumulation at TSS regions, transcriptional dysregulation, altered chromatin accessibility, and impaired initiation of sexual reproduction. Notably, simultaneous removal of DMT3 and AMT1 eliminates these defects, indicating that spurious TSS 6mA underlies transcriptional and developmental impairment.
Intravenous thrombolysis for acute central retinal artery occlusion: Protocol for a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Importance Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is a disabling subtype of acute ischemic stroke. It is not known whether intravenous (IV) thrombolysis delivered within 4.5 hours of time last known well (LKW) improves visual outcomes. Study design Systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis. Objective The objective of this study is to determine whether IV thrombolysis improves visual outcomes among patients with acute non-arteritic CRAO when administered within 4.5 hours of time LKW compared with placebo, no IV thrombolysis, and/or anti-thrombotic therapy. Evidence review plan This study is prospectively registered through PROSPERO (#1154900). We will include randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that enroll patients with non-arteritic CRAO presenting within 4.5 hours of time LKW. We will not include non-controlled interventional studies or retrospective studies. We will search MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and the ClinicalTrials.gov registry from inception through the date of commencement of the systematic review. We will assess the risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 2.0. We will contact the corresponding author(s) of any studies identified that meet the study selection criteria. We will inspect, harmonize, and collate trial datasets. The primary end point will be attainment of a final best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) equal to or better than 20/63 (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution [logMAR] of ≤0.5). Secondary end points will include shift analyses of key visual acuity outcome categories according to the World Health Organization (WHO) International Classification of Disease (ICD)-11, final BCVA considered as a continuous variable, final BCVA equal to or better than 20/100 (logMAR of ≤0.7), final BCVA equal to or better than 20/200 (logMAR of ≤1), a quantitative measure of visual field function (where available), global disability (modified Rankin Scale score [mRS]), and key safety end points (including symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage [sICH] and other systemic hemorrhage). We will fit a series of mixed logistic and linear regression models with trial, and trial by treatment interaction terms as random effects. To probe for sources of heterogeneity, we will pursue a series of subgroup and sensitivity analyses. Finally, a GRADE assessment will be presented. Conclusions and relevance Completion of the proposed study will permit a synopsis of the interventional literature on IV thrombolysis for CRAO, generate a pooled estimate of the treatment effect, and allow exploration of sources of heterogeneity. Such results may be of interest to healthcare professionals, guideline development bodies, policymakers, payors, and future patients with CRAO. Registration This systematic review is prospectively registered: PROSPERO #1154900.
Duck lncRNA lnc455 enhances RIG-I/MAVS type I interferon signaling by modulating hnRNPAB-mediated regulation of MAVS signaling
Extended local anesthesia enabled by flavonoid permeation enhancers
Site 1 sodium channel blockers (S1SCBs), such as tetrodotoxin (TTX) and neosaxitoxin, are ultrapotent local anesthetics with low tissue toxicity. Their duration of action is relatively brief, but increasing the dose can lead to systemic toxicity. Here, we report that selected flavonoids—puerarin (PUE), naringenin, and kaempferol—prolong nerve block from S1SCBs 4- to 25-fold. Using both tympanic membrane (TM) permeation and sciatic nerve fluorescence distribution models, we demonstrate the flavonoids increase drug penetration across biological barriers (the TM and the barriers in and around nerve), suggesting that they act as chemical permeation enhancers (CPEs). Importantly, flavonoids exhibited minimal tissue toxicity compared to conventional CPEs. Coencapsulation of TTX and PUE into a liposomal delivery system further prolonged local anesthesia to over 25 d from a single injection. These findings establish flavonoid compounds as a safe class of CPEs and provide a platform of long-acting, nonopioid pain therapies. Flavonoids may be attractive alternatives to conventional CPEs in biomedical applications.
Methionine restriction provides sex-specific protection against high-fat diet-induced adiposity, peripheral insulin resistance, and neuroinflammation in FGF21-dependent and independent manners in mice
Excessive consumption of high-fat diets is linked to peripheral insulin resistance, neuroinflammation, and obesity. While dietary methionine restriction improves peripheral metabolic health, its effectiveness in attenuating central insulin resistance and neuroinflammation, especially in a sex-dependent manner, remains unclear. This study investigates whether methionine restriction can mitigate high-fat diet-induced alterations in insulin resistance and neuroinflammation in male and female mice and explores the role of endogenous fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) in mediating these effects. We utilized wild-type and Fgf21 knockout ( Fgf21 -/- ) mice to assess the impact of methionine restriction on body composition, insulin sensitivity, central insulin signaling, and neuroinflammation. methionine restriction reduced body weight and adiposity in males, regardless of diet or genotype. In females, methionine restriction reduced weight gain under high-fat diet conditions in both genotypes but had limited effects on female adiposity. Methionine restriction improved insulin sensitivity in WT mice, but this effect was absent in Fgf21 -/- mice, highlighting the importance of FGF21. Likewise, methionine restriction enhanced hepatic insulin signaling in WT males, but not Fgf21 -/- males. In contrast, methionine restriction had minimal impact on insulin signaling in the liver or brain of female mice. Methionine restriction decreased neuroinflammatory gene expression in the hippocampus of males following the high-fat diet, a process dependent on FGF21. These findings demonstrate that methionine restriction confers sex-specific protection against high-fat diet-induced metabolic disturbances, with FGF21 playing a critical role in both peripheral and central insulin sensitivity, particularly in males. Future studies should further elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the sex-specific effects of methionine restriction and the role of FGF21 in mediating these responses.
Zebrafish otic vesicle and mouse epididymis as model systems for studying columnar epithelial cell division
Dynamic reprogramming of the tumor immune network via multicycle checkpoint degradation for cancer immunotherapy
The efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade is often limited by intrinsic immunosuppressive networks within the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Despite progress in cancer treatment, current extracellular targeted protein degradation approaches often overlook the multicellular distribution and crosstalk of immune checkpoints. Here we reported a Receptor-mediated Endolysosomal recYcling Chimera (RECYC) platform. RECYC employs a CI-M6PR-targeting aptamer that remains stable across late endosomal pH and a protein-binding peptide with moderate affinity and pH responsiveness, which together drive recycling and sustained checkpoint clearance. In ex vivo co-culture and in vivo murine models, RECYC efficiently eliminated programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression from both tumor cells and tumor-associated myeloid cells (macrophages, neutrophils and dendritic cells). By converting an immunosuppressive TIME to an immunostimulatory state, RECYC remodeled the tumor-immune network in an anti-tumor direction, thereby enhancing CD8 + T cell response and repolarizing immunosuppressive myeloid cells. Moreover, in both immune-cold and immune-hot murine cancer models, RECYC demonstrated superior anti-tumor effect compared to PD-L1 blockade treatment. Collectively, we propose an effective strategy to induce recycling and broad checkpoint clearance in the TIME, which in turn reprograms the multicellular tumor–immune network to achieve durable immunotherapy responses.
Visual search for people wearing protective clothing in a forestial environment – Differences between gaze and behavior
To prevent hunting accidents, people in forests should be well-visible to others. However, there is debate which kind of protective clothing should be required. We created a database containing photographs of 22 individuals in forestial settings. The database is available online; for the present study a subset of images was used. The photographed persons (“models”) wore four different clothing variants adding to typical forest garment: Two conditions included protective clothing, either a reflective vest or a hat with reflective hatband. We included two conditions without protective clothing, either with a hat (without hatband) or with no hat, and a condition without person. For the present study, we cropped and scaled the image of the database to generate 800 stimuli (160 per condition). These were presented to N = 16 observers, who were asked to respond as quickly as possible without sacrificing accuracy whether a human was present. Reaction times (RTs) and miss rates depended on clothing. The two conditions without protective clothing had indistinguishable error rates, while fewer errors occurred with hatband, and even fewer with the vest. RTs were faster with protective clothing than without. In the absence of protective clothing, responses were faster without hat. Interestingly, vest and hatband led to indistinguishable RTs. However, individuals in vests were looked at earlier than individuals without. This difference between RTs and fixation latencies is likely explained by a frequent additional saccade from vest to face before the response, presumably to verify the human presence. In conclusion, although RTs suggest no advantage for wearing reflective vests over hatbands, error rates and eye-tracking data reveal a potentially critical safety benefit of wearing reflective vests in forestial environments. More generally, our study demonstrates the benefit of combining eye-tracking data with behavioral measures using a real-world example.
Intestinal morphology and host‑ and system‑associated microbiome dynamics during short‑term fasting and refeeding of Atlantic salmon in recirculating aquaculture systems
Abstract Short-term fasting is common in aquaculture prior to handling events, yet its impact on microbial communities and fish health remains poorly understood. We assessed the effects of a 5-day fasting period followed by refeeding on microbial dynamics in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS), with RAS communities sampled after 5 days of refeeding and the mucosal skin and intestine microbiomes of post-smolt Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) sampled after 6 days. The biofilter and biofilm bacterial profiles remained relatively stable throughout fasting and refeeding, unlike the water microbiome, which showed the most significant changes during refeeding, consistent with distinct microbial growth strategies under fluctuating nutrient conditions. The skin mucus microbiome shares similarities with trends in the water microbiome. No change in skin histomorphometry was observed during the fasting and refeeding periods. In contrast, distal intestinal tissue structures showed differences during the fasting period, indicating potential effects on the intestinal health of salmon. Notably, fasted fish had a higher relative abundance of Vibrio bacteria in their remaining digesta. Neither fasting or subsequent refeeding had any effect upon injury-based operational welfare indicators (OWIs) or serum cortisol levels. The study sheds light on the interactions between short-term fasting, microbial community dynamics, and Atlantic salmon health in RAS.
Coupling of functionality to trafficking of KCNQ2/3 potassium channels at the axon initial segment
KCNQ2/3, a major voltage-gated potassium channel at the axon initial segment (AIS), plays a crucial role in controlling neuronal excitability. While the functionality of KCNQ2/3 is regulated by conformational changes from voltage sensing, the AIS localization of KCNQ2/3 is regulated by ankyrinG (ankG). However, the potential coupling between the mechanisms governing channel functionality and trafficking remains unresolved. Here, we combine genetic engineering of channel functionality with advanced imaging techniques of channel trafficking to uncover a coupling of KCNQ2/3 functionality to trafficking. Single-molecule imaging reveals that reduced KCNQ3 functionality alters the entire trafficking pathway, including exo/endocytosis and lateral diffusion, reducing AIS localization of KCNQ2/3. Furthermore, we develop a live-cell assay to quantify the interactions between full-length KCNQ3 and ankG, demonstrating that the active conformation of KCNQ3 is essential for the stable ankG binding. Our findings establish a mechanistic basis for the integration of KCNQ2/3 gating and trafficking in regulating neuronal excitability.
Cognitive and affective empathy in binge drinking during late adolescence
Empathy–the ability to understand and share the feelings of others–has been identified as a potential correlate of binge drinking behaviors in adolescence. Our preregistered study aimed to investigate the relationship between cognitive and affective empathy and alcohol consumption in late adolescence. Building on prior research, we predicted a dissociation of cognitive and affective empathy related to alcohol consumption. Specifically, we hypothesized that whereas a negative association between affective empathy and alcohol consumption would emerge, no significant association would be observed for cognitive empathy. To test these hypotheses, we surveyed a convenience sample of U.S. college students ( N = 116; ages 18–23; 73.28% women). The online survey comprised questions assessing drinking behavior (categorized as non-binge drinking, binge drinking, and extreme binge drinking), engagement in hazardous drinking behavior (continuous measure), and self-reported empathic traits. We found that binge drinking categories and hazardous drinking scores were closely aligned, suggesting that the two measures capture similar aspects of drinking behavior. Men reported more problematic drinking patterns than women, while women scored higher on affective empathy. Age was positively related to hazardous drinking, with participants at the upper end of the age range reporting riskier alcohol use. Contrary to our preregistered hypotheses, we found no significant relationship between affective empathy and engagement in binge drinking or hazardous drinking among late adolescents. Cognitive empathy, as predicted, was not related to the extremity of alcohol consumption. Additionally, we observed a striking pattern in our data: 20.69% of our sample indicated extreme binge drinking (EBD), which is higher than the 12% reported by a U.S. national survey conducted in 2020. While the relationship between drinking behavior and empathy may be more nuanced than expected, the observed disparity in EBD behavior emphasizes the importance of addressing its prevalence within U.S. college communities and implementing proactive measures to promote responsible alcohol consumption during late adolescence.