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Evaluating the effectiveness of green roofs and walls in Nigeria’s urban centers: a mixed-methods approach
A five-dimensional classical framework for gravitational and quantum phenomena
Pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy enhances cisplatin efficacy in colorectal cancer organoids
Prominence-guided link prediction in fuzzy robotic networks
Post-weaning maternal presence exerts a protective effect against social isolation-induced behavioural alterations in mice
Rapid potentiometric and spectrophotometric determination of cefotaxime in pharmaceutical and biological samples
CT/MRI-based finite element model construction and biomechanical analysis of acetabular quadrilateral fractures
Abstract The study aims to construct a representative acetabular quadrilateral fracture model and compare the biomechanical performance of three internal fixation techniques. CT data from 70 fractures were analyzed to create fracture line mappings. A finite element model incorporating ligaments, cartilage, and fracture lines was developed using CT/MRI data from a healthy volunteer. Five loading conditions (standing, supine, lateral lying, sitting, femoroacetabular impingement) were simulated. Four groups were compared: unfixed (Group A), posterior column screw fixation (Group B), quadrilateral buttress screws fixation (Group C), and combined posterior column and quadrilateral buttress screws fixation (Group D). The most frequent fractures were both-column and anterior wall fractures. Fracture line displacement under standing conditions was Group A > Group B > Group C > Group D. In other conditions, the trend was Group A > Group C > Group B > Group D. Peak stress on posterior column screws occurred in the supine position for Group D, while Group B had greater stress in other conditions. Quadrilateral buttress screws showed peak stress in lateral lying for Group D, but Group C had greater stress in other conditions. The highest stress among cortical screws fixed via plates occurred in the posterior screws. Combined posterior column and quadrilateral buttress screws fixation may provide superior mechanical stability and could be considered as a preferred option for clinical fixation of acetabular quadrilateral fractures, pending further clinical validation. Placement of cortical screws near the fracture line is recommended, with additional screws at the sacroiliac joint if necessary. Early postoperative weight-bearing should be approached with caution, based on biomechanical evidence.
Circulating cell free HPVDNA in HPV positive head and neck cancer reveals fast responders and early peakers during treatment
Abstract The incidence of human papillomavirus-positive (HPV + ) head and neck cancer (HNC), particularly oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), is rising globally. Although radio- or chemo-radiotherapy yields better outcomes for patients with HPV + tumors compared to those with HPV-negative tumors, these treatments do not cure all cases and are associated with significant side effects. This underscores the need for more personalized therapy. To help individualize treatment, we evaluated the presence of cell-free HPV DNA (cfHPV-DNA) in plasma collected before, during, and after therapy in patients with HPV + HNC and correlated cfHPV-DNA levels with clinical characteristics, HPV genotype, and treatment response. 267 longitudinal plasma samples were collected from 83 patients with HPV + HNC/cancer of unknown primary, at diagnosis/recurrence, during treatment and follow-ups, and tested for cfHPV-DNA with droplet digital PCR assaying for HPV16, 18, 33 or 35.39. 76/81 (93.8%) eligible diagnostic or recurrence samples tested positive for cfHPV-DNA, while a diagnostic sample was unavailable/or had inadequate cfDNA in 2/83 cases. cfHPV-DNA levels declined in most patients by 3–4 weeks post-radiotherapy initiation and became undetectable (fast responders) in approximately 30% of cases. By 3–6 months post-treatment, most patients had no detectable cfHPV-DNA. To date, no new recurrences have been documented, although two patients were unresponsive to therapy. Most HPV + OPSCC patients were cfHPV-DNA-positive at diagnosis and cleared their cfHPV-DNA upon treatment, but the speed of clearance varied depending on tumor sub-site, patient characteristics and treatment. The data suggest that follow-up with cfHPV-DNA is a promising clinical approach and should be expanded to include more patients and longer time periods.
An explainable multimodal artificial intelligence model for classifying suicide attempters with borderline personality disorder: a pilot study
Abstract Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a severe mental disorder marked by emotional dysregulation. Estimates show that 73% of patients with BPD will have, on average, three suicide attempts in their lifetime, with up to 10% of cases resulting in death. Reliable tools to identify risk factors associated with suicide are lacking. Artificial Intelligence (AI) could fill this gap, supporting the development of effective intervention strategies. This pilot study provides preliminary evidence that a multimodal signature could differentiate suicide attempts in individuals with BPD, paving the way to prospective cohort validation and clinical applications. We developed DRAMA-BPD (Detecting Retrospective suicide Attempts with Machine learning Approaches in Borderline Personality Disorder), an explainable, multimodal, Machine Learning (ML) model based on an ensemble classifier of lifetime suicide attempters among people with BPD. DRAMA-BPD was trained on the sociodemographic, clinical, and MRI data of 104 individuals with BPD recruited from two cohorts. Processing techniques adopted included feature extraction. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) was used to assess model interpretability. DRAMA-BPD achieved a balanced accuracy of 0.68, sensitivity of 0.58, specificity of 0.77, and AUC of 0.68. SHAP analysis identified cortical volumes and thickness from T1-weighted images and Symptoms Checklist 90 Revised (SCL-90-R) as the main contributors to classification.
Trajectories of post-discharge cognitive function and associated risk factors in ICU survivors: a secondary analysis
Multivariate data analysis of sex differences in emotional and cognitive evaluations over 1 year after stroke
Abstract Post-stroke disabilities in cognition and mood lead to worse stroke recovery trajectory but are frequently overlooked. Although neurological factors and clinical history have been documented as important predictors of these invisible handicaps, the role of sex has not been given enough scrutiny. Examining sex-based differences in these outcomes could help deliver better post-stroke care. The goal of this study was to explore the interplay over one year between post-stroke cognitive and socio-affective assessments for men and women separately. Clinical evaluations of a monocentric hospital-based cohort including 263 patients with first-ever ischemic stroke were taken before hospital discharge and at 3- and 12-months post-stroke. Univariate comparisons between men and women were conducted, followed by multivariate analyses controlling for stroke severity, age, and education. Partial correlations between neuroradiological (stroke volume, white matter hyperintensities), cognitive (Montreal Cognitive Assessment test), mood (Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale; Apathy Inventory), and quality-of-life (Life Satisfaction Questionnaire-9) metrics were computed for both sexes. In multivariate analyses, women showed higher levels of baseline depression (p adj < 0.05) and apathy Initiate (p adj < 0.05) and Interest (p adj < 0.001) subscores, as well as of anxiety at both follow-ups (p adj < 0.05); they also endorsed lower scores in various quality-of-life sub-domains across all time points. Men had increasing levels of depression over time and showed stronger associations between psychological outcomes, including greater intercorrelations between cognitive assessments. Only spurious associations were found between clinical and neuroradiological characteristics for both sexes. Independently from stroke severity, age, and education, there were notable sex differences in the interplay between post-stroke cognitive and socio-affective functioning, suggesting differences in resilience and resistance to pathological burden. The inclusion of sex- and gender-specific factors in clinical evaluations seems critical to optimize post-stroke care strategies. Clinical Trial Registration : Trial name: Brain Before Stroke; ID: PHRC-12-152; URL: https://scanr.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/project/PHRC-12-152 .
Integrative biochemical and computational analysis of leflunomide-induced redox alterations in Nauphoeta cinerea
Subtidal kelp habitat classification at the Isles of Shoals: An integrative Random Forest approach using bathymetry and Landsat imagery
Kelps form ecologically important habitats around the globe but are threatened by anthropogenic stressors in much of their range. Within the Gulf of Maine, these stressors include rising ocean temperatures and species invasions. Monitoring these habitats is important, but our ability to do so varies regionally based on kelp species. Modelling techniques based on optical satellite imagery are useful for floating kelps but can only identify the subsurface kelps found in the Gulf of Maine within a small upper portion of their depth range. We developed an integrative approach to kelp habitat classification using two existing data sources: sea surface temperature data from Landsat 8 and high-resolution acoustic bathymetry data in a 10-by-13 km area around the Isles of Shoals. Ground truth data were collected by lowering and raising cameras from the seabed; observations were divided into bare substrate, kelp habitat, red turf macroalgae habitat, and intermediate “mixed” macroalgae habitat classes, and used to train a Random Forest model. The model classified benthic habitats with 71% accuracy. Depth, median summer sea surface temperature, vector ruggedness measure, and slope were among the most important variables in classifying kelp habitat. This approach improves upon previous modelling and monitoring methods by expanding the depth range and total amount of area that can be assessed, while also addressing the importance of temperature in mediating substrate competition between kelps and other macroalgae. It may be generalizable to the Gulf of Maine and to other regions where kelp habitats face similar stressors and may aid in identifying healthy habitats for conservation.
Alternating magnetic fields enhance anti-biofilm activity across pathogen and antibiotic space
Integrated transcriptomic analysis reveals a CEBPB–DUSP1 axis driving tumor progression in colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent and lethal malignancy, yet the transcriptional networks driving its progression remain incompletely defined. Here, we used integrated transcriptomic analyses of healthy and colorectal cancer samples from three datasets—TCGA-COAD, GSE100179 and GSE196006, and laboratory assays to uncover CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta (CEBPB) as a key driver of CRC. Elevated CEBPB expression in clinical samples correlated with shorter overall survival, suggesting its utility as a prognostic marker. We next identified DUSP1, a dual specificity phosphatase critical for MAPK regulation, as a direct transcriptional target of CEBPB. Motif enrichment and promoter scans revealed three high-affinity CEBPB-binding sites in the DUSP1 promoter. Luciferase reporter assays confirmed that CEBPB directly modulates DUSP1 transcription. Knockdown of CEBPB in HCT116 cells rescued DUSP1 expression and reduced pro-tumor pathways linked to hyperactive MAPK. The resulting phenotype showed decreased cell proliferation, enhanced apoptosis, and partial reversion of the malignant features typically associated with CRC. These findings underscore that CEBPB–DUSP1 dysregulation contributes to CRC aggressiveness, influencing both inflammatory and metabolic processes. Overall, this work highlights CEBPB as a potential biomarker for poor prognosis and points to the CEBPB–DUSP1 axis as a promising therapeutic target. Our findings also demonstrate the power of integrated transcriptomic approaches in elucidating intricate gene regulatory networks, offering a basis for new strategies to mitigate CRC progression.
Association between systemic immune-inflammation index and disease activity score 28 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study
Correction: Electroencephalography as a diagnostic tool for late-onset efavirenz neurotoxicity syndrome
Associations of LDL and HDL cholesterol with lung function decline and risk of airflow obstruction in a community-based cohort
Landscape associations and population genetics of a generalist carnivore at a range limit
American black bear ( Ursus americanus ) sightings have increased in the Oklahoma Panhandle, an area outside of the species’ historical range, prompting an assessment of bears in the region. We used camera traps and an occupancy modeling framework to identify factors influencing bear detection and space-use patterns. We used noninvasive genetic sampling techniques to evaluate genetic diversity, population structure, and bear abundance in the region. During the summers of 2022–2023, we deployed cameras at 160 sites across western Oklahoma (USA) and detected ≥1 bear at 20 sites. The most-supported model from our single-season single-species analysis indicated that bear detection was positively associated with temperature and precipitation, negatively associated with day of year, and differed between years. The most-supported model indicated that bear space use was negatively associated with elevation (β = −0.013, 85% CI = −0.025, 0.000), and positively associated with slope (β = 0.645, 85% CI = 0.305, 0.984) and coarse woody debris counts (β = 1.539, 85% CI = 0.314, 2.765). We deployed 41 hair snares in Oklahoma resulting in the collection of 153 hair samples and received 69 tissue samples from black bears harvested in northeastern New Mexico. Using 11 microsatellite markers, we identified 21 (12M:9F) bears in western Oklahoma, and 69 (40M:29F) in New Mexico. We found evidence that bears occurring in Oklahoma were an extension of a previously documented population that occurred in northcentral New Mexico. We detected significant population-level heterozygote deficiency ( P = 0.013) compared to expectations under Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Using capture with replacement models, we estimated 26 (95% CI = 19–43) bears in western Oklahoma during 2022–2023. Our results provide baseline data on population distribution, abundance, and genetic health of bears in the region and identify factors that may drive human-bear conflicts as the bear population increases in western Oklahoma.