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Characteristic variation of Mach number in subsonic co-flowing jets by varying lip thickness

Machine learning meets maternal health: Uncovering spatial blind spots in antenatal care quality in Bangladesh

Background High-quality antenatal care (ANC) is defined as four or more antenatal visits with at least one to a medically trained provider, measurement of weight and blood pressure, testing of blood and urine, and receipt of information on potential danger signs at least once during pregnancy. Though Bangladesh has almost universal ANC coverage, there is widespread inequality in the quality of these services. Traditional statistical models utilized in studies have tended to disregard complicated interconnections between socio-demographic, service-based, and regional factors that influence the quality of ANC. Using nationally representative data, this paper applies machine learning (ML) approaches to classify ANC quality, identify regional hotspots of low-quality care, and its factors. Methods This study used data from the 2022 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS), with a sample of 4587 women aged 15–49 who received ANC services. To predict binary ANC quality outcomes (high vs. low), three models were used: logistic regression, random forest (RF), and gradient boosting machine (GBM). Class imbalance was addressed using the ROSE (Random Over-Sampling Examples) technique, and model performance was evaluated using accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the ROC curve with 5-fold cross-validation. The most influential predictors were identified using feature importance analysis, and projected probabilities were aggregated at the cluster and division levels for spatial hotspot analysis. Geographic mapping was then utilized to demonstrate regional differences. Results The GBM model outperformed the others, with the greatest prediction value (accuracy: 81.3%, sensitivity: 70.6%, specificity: 84.7%, AUC-ROC: 0.889). Number of ANC visits, wealth index, place of residence, maternal education, and media access were all significant predictors. Spatial studies found hidden regions with high ANC visit coverage but low predicted ANC quality, highlighting considerable spatial differences in service quality. These hotspots are concentrated in Rangpur and Sylhet, which are far from Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, demonstrating spatial disparities in the usage of ANC services. Conclusions The study shows that machine learning can classify ANC quality and reveal spatial disparities, aiding policymakers in targeting programs and allocating resources.

Synthesis and optimization nanocomposite catalyst based on silver@Zeolite imidazolite frameworks − 67 (Ag@ZIF-67) and catalytic application for ethyl benzene vapor removal in air matrices

Associations of calcium and magnesium intakes and their intake ratio with albuminuria in middle-aged and older adults

Calcium and magnesium both work together and against each other by sharing homeostatic regulatory systems in the kidneys. Previous studies suggested that these minerals and their intake ratio were associated with chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease. Our objective was to investigate the association of calcium and magnesium intake and their intake ratio with albuminuria. This cross-sectional study analyzed data from a Japanese community-based cohort comprising 6,849 individuals aged ≥40 years (mean age 68.8 years, 51.3% women). Energy-adjusted dietary intake of calcium and magnesium and the calcium-to-magnesium intake ratio were derived from a validated food frequency questionnaire. The outcome was spot urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR, mg/g). Linear and logistic regression analyses were performed with adjustments for potential confounders. The analytic population had 1.65 and 73.5 mL/min/1.73 m 2 as median intake ratio and estimated glomerular filtration rate, respectively. In multivariable linear regression analysis, lower intakes of calcium and magnesium were associated with the log-transformed ACR but, after mutual adjustment, only calcium intake was independently associated with the ACR (regression coefficient −0.084; 95%CI, −0.149, −0.019). A lower intake ratio was associated with the log-transformed ACR (regression coefficient, −0.085; 95%CI, −0.150, −0.021). These associations were evident overall and in male participants. Although magnesium intake was associated with albuminuria only before accounting for calcium intake, calcium intake and calcium-to-magnesium intake ratio demonstrated robust associations. Our findings support that the importance of calcium intake and its balancing with magnesium might extend to kidney health, especially albuminuria.

The remote sensing method for large-scale asphalt pavement aging assessment with automated sample generation and deep learning

Assessment of awareness and attitudes of pregnant women toward labor epidural analgesia and factors influencing the decision to opt for it: A cross-sectional study

Background Epidural analgesia is one of the most effective forms of pain relief for active first stage and second stages of labor. Despite its many advantages, the technique is not routinely practiced in most centers in developing countries. Awareness and attitudes toward it, as well as the reasons for its limited utilization, have not been explored in our setting. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the awareness and attitudes of pregnant women toward labor epidurals and to assess the factors influencing their decision to receive labor epidural analgesia (LEA) during labor and delivery. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from June 03 to August 30, 2024 at Hemen Medical Center. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. A systematic sampling method was used to collect the data. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the results, and both bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were employed to identify factors influencing their decision to receive labor epidural analgesia during labor and delivery. A p-value of < 0.05 was used to determine statistical significance. Results Two hundred thirty pregnant women, with a mean age of 29.9 ± 4.3 years, were included in the analysis. Approximately 78% of the participants had heard of labor epidural analgesia (LEA), although only 6.5% reported healthcare providers as their primary source of information. Approximately 47% believed that LEA was effective for pain relief during labor. However, only 14.3% expressed a willingness to consider using LEA during delivery. Education level, family income, perceived risk to the Fetus, and perceived effectiveness in relieving pain were identified as factors influencing the decision to consider LEA during delivery. Conclusion Despite relatively high basic awareness of LEA, many participants remain hesitant to utilize it during labor and delivery. Comprehensive health education and counselling during antenatal care are essential to address misconceptions and promote informed decision-making regarding LEA.

Green synthesized iron oxide (Fe2O3) nanoparticle affects the germination and growth-related characteristics of different basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) cultivars

Sub-chronic exposure to crude acetylene results in the development of deleterious cardio metabolic changes in Sprague Dawley rats

Objective Calcium carbide-derived acetylene is widely used as an artificial fruit ripening agent despite its potential health risks. This study aimed to investigate the effects of sub-chronic exposure to crude acetylene on cardiometabolic parameters using a rodent model. Methods Twenty-four male Sprague Dawley rats were randomized into four groups: control (no exposure) and three test groups exposed to 58,000 ppm crude acetylene for 10, 30, or 60 minutes daily over 42 days. Body weight, fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance, hepatic triglyceride levels, adipose tissue mass, liver enzyme activity, and oxidative stress markers were assessed. Histopathological analysis of liver tissue was also conducted. Results Acetylene exposure did not significantly alter body weight but led to dose-dependent increases in central adiposity, hepatic triglycerides, and markers of oxidative stress. Higher doses were also associated with impaired glycemic control, elevated liver enzyme levels, and increased free heme concentration in plasma, suggesting oxidative damage and hemolysis. Histological analysis revealed central vein congestion and hepatic structural alterations in exposed groups. Conclusion Sub-chronic inhalation of crude acetylene induced metabolic dysfunction characterized by impaired glucose regulation, hepatic steatosis, and oxidative stress, despite no changes in overall body weight. These findings highlight the potential health risks associated with acetylene exposure and underscore the need for regulatory measures to limit its use in fruit ripening.

Assessing solid waste disposal practices and environmental impacts in three communities of Ghana’s Ahafo region

Predicting arthritis risk with machine learning: Insights from the 2023 National Health Interview Survey data

Arthritis, a common chronic disease encompassing multiple subtypes of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, was explored in this study as a risk-related factor based on data from the 2023 U.S. National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). The study included 26,031 participants (6,849 in the arthritis group; 19,182 in the control group), and 21 variables were found to be significantly different between groups by chi-square test. Fourteen key predictors were screened using support vector machine recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE): age, general health, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, gender, hypertension, coronary heart disease, body mass index (BMI), cancer, depression, dementia, asthma, diabetes, smoking status, and hepatitis. The column-linear graphical model constructed based on these variables showed excellent predictive performance (AUC = 0.813), the slope of the calibration curve was close to 1 (P = 0.444) indicating high predictive accuracy, and the decision curve analysis showed that its net benefit was better than that of a single predictor. The study demonstrated that the NHIS column-line graph model constructed based on machine learning algorithms can effectively predict the risk of arthritis and provide an important reference for clinical management. The prediction model established in this study provides a theoretical basis for accurate prevention and treatment strategies for arthritis.

Red and white LED light improve vegetative propagation of Dysophylla yatabeana in closed-type smart farm

Measuring the effects of differentially intense information on political opinions

The field of public opinion has already extensively addressed how political opinions form and change. However, we still need to find out why some information flows affect opinions more effectively than others. The concept of intensity is employed to assess the differential penetrating power attributed to different political information flows. A measure of the intensity of information flows is presented and tested on British respondents with a survey experiment that employs vignettes with information flows concerning the former British Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May. This study finds that the measure of intensity is able to identify information flows that have a larger probability of affecting opinions. Information flows characterised by higher intensity are more likely than information flows characterised by low intensity to influence opinion formation about the former British leader. Still, respondents’ pre-existing political awareness and predispositions condition the effect of information flow intensity in agreement with established theories in public opinion. Different political awareness and predispositions are associated with different reactions to the intensity of information flows. Finally, the study finds that effects can be observed only if the information flow is intense enough, independent of the respondents’ attitudes.

Classifying activities of daily living based on hybrid features from vertical ground reaction force data

TNFAIP3 alleviates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting M1 microglia polarization via deubiquitination of RACK1

Background Microglia polarization plays a crucial role in the progression of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI), but the mechanisms remain largely undefined. The preset study aimed to investigate the mechanism of microglia polarization following CIRI. Methods CIRI was modeled in C57BL/6J mice through middle cerebral artery occlusion-reperfusion and in BV2 cells via oxygen and glucose deprivation/reoxygenation. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, western blotting, flow cytometry and fluorescence staining were used to detect the expression levels of key proteins associated with microglia polarization, as well as the expression of TNFAIP3 and RACK1. The interaction between TNFAIP3 and RACK1 was verified by co-immunoprecipitation. TNFAIP3 or RACK1 gene interference (overexpression and/or silencing) was employed to examine the role of the TNFAIP3/RACK1 axis in microglia polarization following CIRI. Results The results revealed that Arg-1 expression decreased, inducible nitric oxide synthase expression increased and TNFAIP3 was upregulated 24 h after CIRI. Furthermore, TNFAIP3 interacted with RACK1 to deubiquitinate and increase the expression of RACK1. These results indicate that knocking down either TNFAIP3 or RACK1 promotes microglia M1 polarization, and overexpression of RACK1 can promote microglia M2 polarization. RACK1 exerts its neuroprotective effects through NF-κB, as demonstrated by the use of NF-κB inhibitors. Conclusion The present findings indicate that TNFAIP3 inhibits M1 microglial polarization via deubiquitination of RACK1 after CIRI, RACK1 exerts its effects through NF-κB.

Combining organic fertilizer with soil conditioner alleviates continuous cropping obstacles in protected cowpea by improving soil properties and microbiome

Abstract Cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata ) is a nutritious vegetable and a key crop in China, encompassing a sizeable cultivation area. However, continuous cropping has led to declines in yield and quality, limiting sustainable development in the protected cowpea industry. This study investigated the effects of combining organic fertilizer with soil conditioner (an amendment containing beneficial microbes and organic components) on protected cowpea production, soil physicochemical properties, and microbial community structure in soils subjected to five consecutive cowpea cropping cycles. The results demonstrated that combined application significantly improved cowpea yield and quality. Specifically, soil pH decreased by 5.4%, while soil organic matter (OM) content increased markedly, especially during the vegetative growth stage, displaying a 70.4% increase. The activities of key soil enzymes, including sucrase (SC), protease (PT), nitrate reductase (NR), dehydrogenase (DHO), and phosphatase, were enhanced, while the urease (UE) activity decreased. Additionally, the combined application improved bacterial and fungal abundance and diversity. Operational taxonomic unit (OTU) richness exhibited positive correlations with various soil nutrient indicators, enzyme activities, and physicochemical properties. Moreover, cowpea protein, carbohydrate, and energy contents were positively correlated with specific soil enzyme activities and nutrient levels. The combined treatment increased the cowpea yield by nearly 32,849 kg per ha and protein content by 32.3% compared with applying only organic fertilizer while optimizing the soil microbial community, improving soil structure and fertility, and effectively mitigating the issues of continuous cropping in protected cowpea production.

Assessing the inter- & intra-reliability of a customised volleyball performance analysis system to analyse complexes and the efficacy of the associated skills

Within volleyball, performance analysis is employed to identify key performance indicators (KPIs) in relation to success. To date, however, despite the growth in performance analysis, there is little appreciation of the assessment, importance and reporting of reliability of individual variables. This study seeks to establish the inter- and intra-reliability of a bespoke notational analysis system designed for assessing volleyball performance, considering complexes, position, skill, type of skill, and skill efficacy. To establish the inter-reliability, two coders analysed 9 matches, randomly selected from a pool of elite international matches. In addition, to establish the intra-reliability, the primary coder re-analysed one match per month over a nine-month data collection period. Cohen’s Kappa (κ) were established for nominal data, whilst the values for skill efficacy were reported as a Weighted Kappa alongside an Inter-Class Correlation (ICC). Kappa and Weighted Kappa values for all data were shown to be above the acceptable thresholds (κ = 0.75, κ = 0.60, respectively). The present study demonstrates that it is plausible for a bespoke volleyball coding system, implementing a wide array of variables, to have high levels of inter- and intra-reliability. Findings highlight that it is possible for such a system to be utilised over a prolonged period of data collection.

Ex vivo detection of SARS CoV 2 spike protein in human hair follicles and potential link to telogen effluvium

Abstract Telogen effluvium (TE), a form of hair loss, has emerged in a subset of COVID-19 patients, typically occurring several weeks after infection. TE is characterized by premature entry of hair follicles (HFs) into the telogen phase of the hair cycle. We analyzed the expression of the viral entry factors ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in human scalp specimens. In cryosections of skin biopsies and plucked HFs, both proteins localized to the basal layer of the outer root sheath (ORS), with TMPRSS2 also present in Henle’s layer of the inner root sheath (IRS). Ex vivo infection of plucked HFs with SARS-CoV-2 revealed nucleocapsid (NC) protein immunoreactivity in the ORS in two of three donors, corresponding to the K15⁺ epithelial stem/progenitor cell population. These NC⁺ cells co-expressed cleaved caspase3 (CAS3) and TUNEL, indicating apoptosis-related changes. Our findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein accumulates in ORS cells, potentially triggering local stress responses and apoptosis. This may provide a mechanistic link between SARS-CoV-2 infection and TE and highlights the HF as a potential, yet understudied, target organ in COVID-19.

Understanding the challenges of healthcare transition in the context of HIV-related stigma for young adults with perinatal HIV in Thailand

The healthcare transition during adolescence and young adulthood has consistently been reported as a critical period for attrition and adverse health outcomes. The study assessed HIV-related stigma and transition experiences among young people living with perinatal HIV (YPHIV) in Thailand. We conducted a mixed-methods cross-sectional study at two research sites in Chiang Mai and Bangkok, Thailand from December 2023 to February 2024. We recruited YPHIV aged between 18–30 years who remained under care in pediatric HIV clinics (group A), those who had transitioned to adult care from those clinics (group B), and caregivers of group B participants (group C). We assessed HIV-related stigma using the validated 8-item Thai Internalized HIV-related Stigma Scale brief (Thai-IHSS brief) and transition-related experiences through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Thirty YPHIV (median age 23 years [IQR 22–26]) and ten caregivers were enrolled. The Thai IHSS brief score revealed a low level of internalized stigma in the study participants (median score 14; IQR 11–17). Anticipated negative thoughts and negative self-thoughts were common. HIV-related stigma experiences of YPHIV and caregivers were grouped into 3 themes: internalized, anticipated, and enacted stigma/discrimination. Transition experiences of YPHIV in both groups included hesitation to navigate care in adult clinics and feeling unprepared, perceived loss of support, and demotivation from being in care. Anticipated stigma and social problems were expressed by YPHIV and caregivers. In the focus groups, YPHIV indicated their need to learn about the transition beforehand, to be guided to the new clinic while staying connected to their original clinics, and to extend time in the pediatric clinic until they were more confident with transitioning care. In conclusion, we found many stigma issues started since childhood, plus collective experience while growing up. The internalized HIV-related stigma influenced the healthcare transition journey of YPHIV. Healthcare providers need additional guidance on how to manage transition in YPHIV, including individualized transition plans for those at increased risk of adverse outcomes, interventions to manage internalized stigma, and follow-up strategies after transition.

A gamification training system designed according to a mental model structure: A case study of universal robots

Advancing urban management: Integrating GIS, LLMs, and media narratives into environmental and socio-economic analyses for enhanced urban crime analysis

This study examines how crime is reported in the media, how the public perceives crime, and how urban environmental and economic factors interact at both global and local spatial scales to shape criminal activity. The research analyzed 3,507 reports from the top 100 media outlets from 2023 to 2024 and utilized a large language model to extract key information. The test results showed that the inter-coder reliability between human labeling and LLM labeling datasets reached 0.92 and examining the discrepancies between media narratives and actual crime data. By applying traditional econometric and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) geospatial regression techniques, the study revealed the impacts of environmental and economic factors on crime distribution, as well as the spatial relationships between urban structural features (such as road network density and vacant buildings) and crime rates in the Chicago area. Additionally, through Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR), the study further investigated the local differences between crime rates and socio-economic and environmental factors. The research found that selective news reporting might distort public understanding and affect policy responses. The findings provide insights for urban safety strategies and crime prevention policies, emphasizing the need to enhance the accuracy of media reports and public education, and offer valuable guidance for policymakers and urban planners on how to improve urban safety through environmental and economic planning.