Browse Articles

Prevalence of antibiotic resistance gene in different wastewater treatment systems and effluent-irrigated soils through metagenomic analysis

Interleukin-6 as a keystone cytokine in experimental rat models of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity

Abstract Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (CIPN) is one common side effect associated with antineoplastic agents. Despite its relevance, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we explored cytokines and macrophages that contribute to two chronic models of CIPN comparing paclitaxel (PTX)- and oxaliplatin (OHP)-induced CIPN in rats. To detect chemotherapy-induced sensory or neuronal abnormalities behavioral tests, pathological and morphometric analysis were used. To investigate systemic inflammation, a panel including IL-6, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-10, GRO/KC(CXCL1), TNFα, IFNγ were tested in serum. Besides, we analyzed dorsal root ganglia (DRG), caudal nerves and spinal cord mRNA expression of a panel of pro-inflammatory markers IL-6, CCL2 and NLRP3, as well as caudal macrophage infiltration. We evidenced a remarkable difference in caudal macrophage infiltration in PTX- vs. OHP-treated rats, which was associated with serum CXCL1 and to a different IL-6 expression pattern in serum, DRG, spinal cord and caudal nerve. Moreover, CCL2, NLRP3 upregulation was also increased in the caudal nerves in PTX-treated animals. On the contrary, OHP induced IL-6 and CCL2 expression in DRG. Since our results suggest that CXCL1 or IL-6 could be considered as critical lynchpins between inflammation pain and CIPN, targeting early inflammatory events could be a promising therapeutic approach.

Rapid visual detection of Treponema pallidum using the RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a system

Risk factors and long-term outcomes of infantile colic: A nationwide population-based study

Abstract Infantile colic is a common condition during early infancy with unclear etiology, likely involving multifactorial mechanisms and gut dysbiosis. This nationwide population-based study investigated perinatal risk factors and long-term health outcomes associated with infantile colic. Using Taiwan’s national birth cohort data from 2010 to 2015, we identified 19,191 infants with colic and 95,955 matched controls. The inclusion criteria for the infantile colic group were having two or more related ICD codes (ICD-9-CM 789.0x and 780.9) between 1 and 5 months of age. Conditional logistic regression was applied to identify associated risk factors, and Cox proportional hazard models assessed outcomes over a 5-year follow-up. Infantile colic was significantly associated with neonatal antibiotic use, cesarean delivery, maternal atopic diseases, maternal major depressive disorder, and maternal irritable bowel syndrome. Children with a history of colic exhibited higher incidence rates of disorders of gut-brain interaction, including constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, and other functional abdominal pain disorders. Additionally, increased risks of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and atopic diseases were observed. These findings suggest that infantile colic may reflect early-life biological vulnerabilities linked to gastrointestinal, atopic, and neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Early initiation of low-dose aspirin for the prevention of pre-eclampsia in high-risk pregnancies

Comparative efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor combination therapies by metastatic site in metastatic renal cell carcinoma

AI-enabled smart farming framework for sustainable date palm cultivation in arid regions using machine learning and IoT integration

Psychiatric disorders associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer in the UK biobank cohort

Abstract Psychiatric disorders are associated with several cancers. However, data on the association between different types of psychiatric disorders and colorectal cancer (CRC) are scarce. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is an association between psychiatric disorders and CRC using UK Biobank. We excluded participants with a previous diagnosis of cancer (except non-melanoma skin cancer) prior to baseline and conducted a matched cohort study with new-onset psychiatric disorder patients after recruitment as the exposure group and matched non-psychiatric disorder individuals as the reference group. Through UK Biobank, we obtained clinical diagnoses for the psychiatric-disorder patients from their hospital records. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) of CRC risk after diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder. We identified 29,769 individuals with psychiatric disorders. During follow-up (median duration of 5.69 [IQR: 5.43] years), 190 cases of CRC were identified in the psychiatric patients (1.13 per 1000 person-years), compared with 921 cases in the reference individuals (0.53 per 1000 person-years). Individuals with clinically confirmed psychiatric disorders were associated with an elevated hazard of CRC (HR, 1.93 [95% CI, 1.64–2.27]). The risk of CRC in psychiatric patients is higher in those with multiple psychiatric disorders than single (HR 2.53 [95% CI, 1.90–3.37] vs. 1.78 [95%CI, 1.48–2.13], p  < 0.05). Our findings suggest: patients with psychiatric disorders were associated with an elevated hazard of CRC. These findings highlight the need for measures to decrease the risk of CRC in individuals with psychiatric disorders, such as monitoring and early intervention.

Development and practical application of condition monitoring system for ultra-high voltage electrical equipment

Abstract Electrical equipment serves as mission-critical infrastructure in power systems. Operational status monitoring is fundamental to load demand fulfillment. This study employs intelligent methodologies to establish an ultra-high voltage equipment condition monitoring system for real-time operational status surveillance, enabling timely fault diagnosis and early warning through automated analysis of equipment status changes. Key metrics: GIS SF6 gas density achieves 6.452 kg/m³ under ambient cooling conditions; SF6 gas pressure reaches 0.960 MPa during switching operations; SF6 gas temperature declines to -28.491℃ under high-frequency switching cycles; Surge arrester leakage current exhibits non-monotonic behavior with voltage escalation, with peak magnitude observed at 95.591 mA; Under full load, the GIS three-phase voltage reaches 239.958 V. The three-phase current exhibits an overall downward trend, dropping to 2.519 A under heavy load. Active power peaks at 3,472.504 W under medium load, while reactive power reaches 1,078.828 var under heavy load. Apparent power attains 4,431.743 VA under heavy load. The power factor initially decreases, then rises, achieving 0.904 at full load. The successful development of this system provides valuable insights for enhancing equipment reliability, improving monitoring efficiency, and reducing operational costs.

Multi-agent coordination and uncertainty adaptation in deep learning–assisted hierarchical optimization for renewable-dominated distribution networks

Health-related quality of life in poverty-alleviated individuals living with chronic conditions: a cross-sectional survey from an impoverished county in China

Transforming extracted cashew nut shell into biochar and its application as soil amender for jute mallow (Corchorus olitorius L.) cultivation

Proteomic analysis of endothelial progenitor cells secretome identifies Serpine 1 as a potent regulator of osteogenesis

Daily briefing: Same-sex sex is a normal part of some primates’ lives

Epidemiologic survey of ulcerative colitis and crohn’s disease in Japan using claim data

Association of patient health education with the postoperative health related quality of life in low- intermediate recurrence risk differentiated thyroid cancer patients

Abstract Postoperative Differentiated Thyroid Cancer (DTC) patients with low-intermediate recurrence risk often experience anxiety and uncertainty, which adversely affect their health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Patient health education (PHE) plays a crucial role in improving HRQOL by providing information on treatment duration, management strategies and emerging therapies. This study evaluated the association between PHE and HRQOL. This cross-sectional study recruited DTC patients with low-intermediate risk of recurrence at the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China, between October 2018 and March 2019. Eligible patients completed questionnaires assessing HRQOL and a PHE survey at 1 year postoperatively. Patients were categorized based on PHE exposure. The study cohort was derived from our previously published dataset in JAMA Surgery. Univariate and multiple regression analyses were conducted to assess the association of PHE and HRQOL. 574 eligible patients were categorized into four groups based on the type of PHE they had received: article, comic, video, and control group. Patients who received any form of PHE reported higher HRQOL scores in selected domains. Furthermore, increased frequency of PHE was associated with further improvements in HRQOL, independent of the education modality. Regression analysis identified role function, emotional function, and chilly sensation may serve as important correlates of HRQOL. Both PHE frequencies and modalities employed were positively associated with HRQOL in postoperative DTC patients under certain situations, although the observed differences were generally small in magnitude. Comprehensive and frequent PHE is associated with better postoperative recovery and HRQOL in low-intermediate recurrence risk DTC patients.

Stacking ensemble machine learning for predicting photodetector performance under varying illumination intensities

A comparative study of cognitive function among children with coeliac disease and healthy controls

DEM study on the effect of fiber length and content on the macro-micro mechanical behavior of fiber-sand mixture

Abstract This paper investigates the mechanical behavior of fiber-sand mixtures (FSM) by comprehensively examining the effects of fiber volumetric content (FC) and fiber length (FL) from both macroscopic and microscopic perspectives using the discrete element method (DEM). A hybrid digital photogrammetry and deep learning approach integrating YOLOv5 and U-Net is developed to rapidly identify particle contours and construct realistic shape databases for fibers and sand grains. Based on these databases, numerical biaxial compression tests are conducted on FSM samples with different FC and FL. The results show that increasing FC and FL significantly enhances the peak and residual stress ratios, leading to increases in peak and residual friction angles of up to 8.5% and 6.2%, respectively. Higher FC values also promote volumetric shrinkage, while longer fibers delay volume contraction by providing additional bridging and rotational restraint. Microscopic analysis reveals that increasing FC reduces sand-sand coordination numbers and increases sand-fiber contacts, while longer fibers contribute to a higher sliding contact ratio and improve internal stability by restricting particle rearrangement. The findings elucidate the micro-mechanisms governing strength improvement and deformation behavior in FSM and provide guidance for optimizing fiber reinforcement strategies in geotechnical engineering applications.

Ecological analysis of mosquito larval communities in Burkina Faso to inform environmental monitoring of genetic control programs

Abstract In Burkina Faso, the development of the gene drive technology targeting Anopheles coluzzii raises important ecological questions about potential non-target effects. Understanding interactions in mosquitoes’ natural environments is crucial for developing effective post-release environmental safety monitoring. This study assesses the ecological exposure and potential risks to non-target organisms associated with An. coluzzii suppression. Using co-occurrence, niche overlap metrics, and characterisation of physicochemical parameters, we evaluated interspecific relationships among mosquitoes and macroinvertebrate taxa from larval habitats in Burkina Faso. Combined index revealed distinct ecological relationships, ranging from competitive or facilitative coexistence to spatial segregation driven by predation or behavioural avoidance. Based on these interactions, an exposure score was developed to quantify the potential susceptibility of non-target organisms to ecological changes following the removal of An. coluzzii . The results showed variable exposure among taxa, with An. gambiae s.s. having the highest score, followed by An. arabiensis and Culex spp. Predatory taxa such as Corixidae showed niche overlap but limited spatial co-occurrence, suggesting effective predation. The detection of hybrid forms ( An. coluzzii x An. gambiae s.s. ) further highlights the potential for gene flow. This study introduces a quantitative framework that combines ecological indices and exposure scores to predict potential risks to non-target organisms.