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An efficient cyber-attack detection and classification in IoT networks with high-dimensional feature set using Levenberg-Marquardt optimized feedforward neural network
This paper examines the escalating challenge of detecting cyber-attacks within Internet of Things (IoT) networks, where conventional security measures often falter in addressing the speed and complexity of contemporary threats. In response to the necessity for more precise, efficient, and adaptive security solutions, we propose a deep learning-based approach that employs feedforward neural networks optimized through the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. Our findings indicate that this method markedly surpasses traditional machine learning and deep learning models, such as Support Vector Machines (SVM), Random Forest, and Artificial Neural Network (ANN), achieving an accuracy rate of 99.7%, precision of 99.93%, recall of 99.93%, and an F1-score of 99.93%. Furthermore, the model demonstrates minimal misclassifications and effectively processes substantial data volumes, rendering it highly suitable for the real-time detection of various cyber threats. This system substantially reduces false positive rates and enhances the classification accuracy of different attack types within IoT networks. This research contributes to the advancement of cybersecurity in IoT environments by providing a scalable and robust solution for identifying emerging cyber threats.
Screening mild cognitive impairment using aspects of personal, social, and functional lifestyle: Machine Learning Approaches
Objective Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) signals cognitive decline beyond normal aging and increases dementia risk. Early identification enables preventative interventions, yet many patients in primary care go undetected. This study examines whether machine learning (ML) models can predict MCI using routinely collected personal, social, and functional lifestyle factors and identifies the most important predictors. Methods Data from round 2 and 3 of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project was used, including 4,586 older adults with complete Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores. Predictors included demographics, childhood experiences, health behaviors, psychosocial measures, and functional difficulties. Eight ML models—including elastic net, multivariate adaptive regression splines, random forest, oblique random forest, boosted trees, decision trees, and a stacked ensemble—were trained and tuned using repeated cross-validation, with 20% of the dataset withheld for final testing. Model performance was assessed using area under the receiver operator curve (AUROC), accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and Matthew’s correlation coefficient (MCC). Results Most models achieved good discrimination (AUROC > 0.8), with the stacked ensemble performing best (AUROC = 0.823; MCC = 0.462). The best individual model was logistic regression (AUROC = 0.818). Across models, key predictors of MCI included age, ethnicity, functional difficulties, social disconnectedness, and perceived stress. Discussion Logistic regression outperformed more complex machine learning models, providing the best combination of predictive accuracy and interpretability for identifying MCI. Across models, age, ethnicity, functional difficulties, social disconnectedness, and stress consistently emerged as key predictors, highlighting their central role in cognitive health. These findings suggest that psychosocial and functional measures can serve as practical indicators for those who need to be screened early for MCI, offering an opportunity for timely intervention and support. However, future work should include longitudinal data and clinical diagnoses to validate and refine these predictive tools.
Molecular consequences of mitochondrial replacement may be masked from organismal traits in Tigriopus californicus
Mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT) presents a promising preventative measure to combat mitochondrial diseases. However, the long-term consequences of disrupting mitonuclear coevolution at both the molecular and organismal levels remain understudied. Data on sex-specific effects are also lacking despite predictions that males may be especially vulnerable to mitochondrial replacement. To address this, we used backcrossed lines of the copepod Tigriopus californicus to produce offspring with nuclear genotype contributions from two populations and a mitochondrial genotype from a third, separate, population. When compared to hybrid controls with mitochondrial genotypes that matched the maternal nuclear genotype but not the paternal, these “three-parent offspring” did not significantly differ in lifespan or routine metabolic rate. While these organismal-level traits showed no effect, molecular metrics of mitochondrial health revealed consequences of mitochondrial replacement. Oxidative DNA damage, measured by 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine content, was higher in three-parent offspring, and mitochondrial DNA content was lower than in hybrid controls. While differences between sexes were present in some traits, sex did not interact with mitochondrial replacement for any of these metrics. Although these results could be due either to donor mitochondrial DNA matching neither of the nuclear parents, or to deficits in the donor mitochondrial DNA itself, they highlight the importance of considering molecular level consequences of mitochondrial replacement that may be masked at the organismal level when evaluating the health impacts of this treatment.
Assessment approaches and methods in physiotherapy education: A scoping review protocol
Introduction Assessment in physiotherapy education is essential to ensuring graduates meet professional standards, demonstrate competence and are prepared to provide high-quality, patient-centered care. Assessment approaches (principles guiding assessment design, sequence and implementation) and methods (techniques used to evaluate performance) should be constructively aligned with curriculum content and learning outcomes, and assess the breadth of competencies required for practice. While individual studies describe assessment approaches and methods in physiotherapy education, there is no comprehensive synthesis or strategic analysis of their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Objectives To 1) identify and characterize assessment approaches and methods used in physiotherapy education; 2) analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of assessment approaches and methods used in physiotherapy education. Methods This scoping review will follow Joanna Briggs Institute guidance and report according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-analysis extensions for Protocols and Scoping Reviews. The protocol is registered with Open Science Framework. Searches will be performed in Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE, ProQuest Education Research Index, Scopus, PsycINFO, and relevant grey literature from inception until July 23, 2025. Eligible studies will report primary research on assessment approaches or methods in the academic curriculum of university-based clinical physiotherapy education programs. Studies focusing only on clinical education, reviews, opinion pieces will be excluded. Two reviewers will independently screen studies and extract data using a standardized tool. A narrative synthesis will characterize assessment approaches and methods, categorizing approaches by guiding principles and methods by type. Methods will be mapped to Miller’s pyramid of clinical competence. A directed content analysis will identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats influencing assessments in physiotherapy education. Conclusion This review will provide a comprehensive synthesis and strategic analysis of assessments in physiotherapy education. Findings will inform evidence-based assessment practices that support optimal student learning, experiences and readiness for contemporary practice.
Incidence and predictors of dehydration among preterm neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Southern Ethiopia hospitals: A prospective follow-up study
Background Dehydration is one of the causes of preterm morbidity and mortality. Many efforts are being implemented to decrease the cause of preterm mortality, but there is a gap regarding dehydration in generating research-supported evidence. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the incidence and predictors of dehydration among preterm neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care units of Southern Ethiopia hospitals. Methodology A prospective, institution-based follow-up study was conducted among 363 maternal-preterm neonatal pairs. Data were collected using a checklist and entered into Epidata version 4.4.2.1, and analyzed using STATA version 14. Bi-variable and multivariable regression were computed using the Cox regression model. A statistical significance was declared at a p-value of <0.05 in line with a 95% confidence interval (CI) and hazard ratios. Result This study was conducted among 363 maternal-neonatal pairs. The incidence of dehydration was 41 per 1000 patient-days, with a total of 3546 patient-days observed. Maternal hypertension (AHR) = 2.95, CI: 1.56, 5.58), phototherapy (AHR = 2.71, 95% CI: 1.37, 5.39), nurse to patient ration 1:2 (AHR = 2.62, 95% CI: 1.5, 4.6), kept in incubator (AHR = 3.38, 95% CI: 1.77, 6.45), asphyxia (AHR = 1.58, CI: 1.09–2.30) and absence of every four hour dehydration assessment (AHR = 1.62, CI: 1.42, 3.62) were predictors for incidence of dehydration among neonates admitted in NICU. Conclusion and recommendation In this study, the incidence of dehydration among preterm neonates was high (41 per 1000 patient-days observation). The major associated factors were being under phototherapy, kept in an incubator, maternal hypertension, nurse-to-patient ratio, dehydration assessment practice, and asphyxia. So, establishing strategies on these identified predictor variables could be essential to reduce the suffering of preterm neonates’ dehydration.
Kinetic analysis suggests that malathion at low environmental exposures is not toxic to humans
Malathion has the reputation of being a safe pesticide. There are no reported cases of cholinergic toxicity in people exposed to low environmental doses of malathion. Our goal was to explain the safety of malathion in terms of the mechanism of malathion detoxication. The structure of malathion includes a built-in safety feature, specifically two ethyl esters. The ethyl esters are decarboxylated by human esterases to negatively charged malathion which does not react with acetylcholinesterase. Acetylcholinesterase is the toxicologically relevant target for organophosphates such as malathion. A toxic form of malathion is produced by Cytochrome P450 enzymes which convert malathion to malaoxon. Malaoxon is toxic because it inhibits acetylcholinesterase. We used high pressure liquid chromatography on a Prodigy 5 µm ODS column to monitor the production of enzyme-catalyzed decarboxylation of the malathion ethyl esters. The products of malathion decarboxylation were identified by mass spectrometry using a Thermo RSLC Ultimate 3000 ultra-high pressure chromatography system with a Thermo Easy-Spray PepMap RSLC C18 separation column attached to an Orbitrap Fusion Lumos Tribrid mass spectrometer. Decarboxylation and enzyme inhibition were assayed with recombinant human acetylcholinesterase (rHuAChE), human butyrylcholinesterase (HuBChE), and recombinant human liver carboxylesterase (rHuCE1). A trace contaminant in 98.5% pure malathion was identified by mass spectrometry. Consistent with the fact that negatively charged compounds are not inhibitors of HuAChE, HuBChE, or HuCE1, we found that negatively charged, decarboxylated malathion did not inhibit the activity of rHuAChE, HuBChE, or rHuCE1. Carboxylesterase detoxified malathion 100,000-fold faster compared to rHuAChE and HuBChE. Low dose exposures to malathion are not directly toxic The toxic metabolite, malaoxon, is produced very slowly. By comparison, detoxified malathion acids are formed rapidly. In conclusion, our data suggest that the safety of low dose environmental exposures to malathion is explained by the fact that malathion is detoxified faster than it is activated to the toxic malaoxon. Our review of the literature finds no convincing evidence that low dose malathion exposure causes cancer.
Anti-inflammatory effect of bergamot leaves extract attenuates cardiac remodeling in obese rats by regulating the protein expression of the collagen/metalloproteinase axis
Inflammation is associated with the pathogenesis of obesity-related disorders, including cardiac remodeling. Bergamot is known for its promising anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of bergamot leaves extract (BLE) in attenuating cardiac remodeling in obese rats through the regulation of protein expression of the collagen/metalloproteinase axis. Male Wistar rats were fed a control diet (C) or a high sugar-fat diet (HSF) for 20 weeks. After developing cardiac remodeling, the animals were again distributed into three groups to receive BLE (50 mg/kg/day) or placebo (water) via gavage for 10 weeks: C, HSF and HSF + BLE. The HSF group exhibited obesity (HSF 8.77 ± 2.64 vs C 3.09 ± 1.02, p = 0.007), dyslipidemia (HSF 94.4 ± 19.1 vs C 26.7 ± 5.2, p < 0.001), hypertension (HSF 141 ± 8 vs C 120 ± 4, p = 0.001), insulin resistance (HSF 6.91 ± 1.38 vs C 2.47 ± 1.01, p < 0.001), cardiac remodeling and dysfunction, cardiac inflammation, decreased metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) (HSF 0.43 ± 0.09 vs C 0.71 ± 0.07, p = 0.009) and increased type III collagen (HSF 1.32 ± 0.27 vs C 1.00 ± 0.18, p = 0.038). In contrast, BLE was effective in improving dyslipidemia (HSF + BLE 55.2 ± 9.7 vs HSF 94.4 ± 19.1, p < 0.001), insulin resistance (HSF + BLE 3.79 ± 0.76 vs HSF 6.91 ± 1.38, p < 0.001), cardiac remodeling and function, as well as inflammation, MMP-2 (HSF + BLE 0.84 ± 0.22 vs HSF 0.43 ± 0.09, p < 0.001) and type III collagen (HSF + BLE 0.68 ± 0.11 vs HSF 1.32 ± 0.27, p < 0.001) in the HSF group. Therefore, the anti-inflammatory effect of BLE improved cardiac remodeling in obese rats through the regulation of protein expression of the collagen/metalloproteinase axis.
Intraoperative cell-salvaged versus allogeneic red blood cell transfusions in high-bleeding-risk cardiovascular surgery: Protocol for a single-center, randomized, parallel-group, noninferiority trial
Introduction Patients who undergo cardiac surgery have a high risk of significant blood loss and anemia. While allogeneic red blood cell (RBC) transfusions are effective, they are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Intraoperative cell salvage may reduce reliance on allogeneic transfusions. Although intraoperative RBC salvage is recommended for cardiovascular surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass, there are concerns about increased bleeding due to coagulopathy in patients with a high bleeding risk, and its clinical impact remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate whether salvaged RBC transfusion is noninferior to allogeneic transfusion in terms of postoperative blood loss in patients with a high bleeding risk. Methods This single-center, randomized, two-arm, parallel group, interventional clinical trial will include 142 participants aged ≥ 40 years with a high bleeding risk who undergo elective cardiovascular surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either salvaged RBC or allogeneic RBC transfusions intraoperatively. The primary outcome is postoperative chest tube blood loss within 12 hours from the end of surgery. Noninferiority will be demonstrated if the upper limit of the 95% confidence interval for the mean difference in blood loss between the salvaged and allogeneic groups is < 200 mL. Secondary outcomes comprise the RBC transfusion volume intraoperatively and for 12 hours from the end of surgery, prevalence of re-thoracotomy within 48 hours from the end of surgery, and prevalence of ≥ 1000 mL postoperative chest tube blood loss within 12 hours from the end of surgery. These outcomes will be analyzed using the modified intention-to-treat set and repeated, for sensitivity reasons, for the per-protocol set. Discussion Our trial aims to determine the noninferiority of intraoperative RBC salvage compared with allogeneic blood transfusions regarding postoperative blood loss and to promote its use in surgical procedures with a high bleeding risk. Trial registration The trial was registered with the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCT1052240102) on July 30, 2024.
Effectiveness of Antenatal Corticosteroids in reducing morbidities and mortality in Preterm neonates: Evidence from a Tertiary Level Hospital in Nepal
Background The use of antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) in mothers less than 34 weeks’ period of gestation has shown promising results with significant reduction in neonatal mortality and morbidities in high income settings. This study was carried out to assess the effectiveness of ACS in terms of neonatal outcome in less than 34 weeks in resource limited settings. Methods A prospective study was conducted from 15 March 2022 to 14 March 2023 among the babies born before 34 weeks’ period of gestation (POG), in Paropakar maternity hospital, Nepal. Descriptive statistics using frequency and percentages was used to describe the socio-demographic, obstetric and neonatal characteristics. Multi-variable logistic regression analysis was done to assess the significance of ACS against various neonatal conditions. Results Out of 358 preterm neonates (<34 weeks), 206 were born to mothers who received ACS and 152 to mothers who did not. Mothers having any complications during delivery were more likely to receive ACS, (69.7% vs 50.0%, p = 0.002). Newborns of mothers who received ACS had significantly lower rates of respiratory distress syndrome (21.8% vs 61.8%, p < 0.001), necrotizing enterocolitis (5.8% vs 19.7%, p < 0.001), perinatal asphyxia (18.4% vs 35.5%, p < 0.001), neonatal sepsis (32.0% vs 43.4%, p < 0.027), and need for mechanical ventilation (15.5% vs 41.4%, p < 0.001). Newborn of mothers who did not receive ACS had higher odds of respiratory distress syndrome (adjusted odds ratio (a0R): 4.181, 95% CI: 2.462–7.100) and the need for mechanical ventilation (a0R: 2.266, 95% CI: 1.300–3.950). Lack of exposure to ACS was associated with higher odds of prolonged hospital stay (aOR: 3.321, 95% CI: 1.957–5.638) and mortality (aOR: 5.731, 95% CI: 3.199–10.266). Conclusion ACS was more frequently used in mothers of less than 34 weeks POG having some complications during pregnancy. Use of ACS in deliveries of less than 34 weeks POG was associated with reduced risk of RDS, NEC and need for Mechanical Ventilation along with decrease hospital stay and neonatal mortality. Strengthening national guidelines with recommendation for the use of ACS in mothers less than 34 weeks POG can avert deaths due to complications of prematurity and help save more newborns.
Sacubitril/valsartan preserves kidney function in rats with cardiorenal syndrome after myocardial infarction
Renal dysfunction in heart failure increases mortality, limits treatment options and blunts responses to therapy. Angiotensin receptor-blocker and neprilysin inhibitors (ARNI) may preserve renal function by modulating both the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and the natriuretic peptide system. We investigated the renal effects of the ARNI Sacubitril/valsartan (Sac/Val) in rats with systolic dysfunction secondary to myocardial infarction. Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent surgical MI induction and were randomized to six weeks of treatment with vehicle, valsartan or Sac/Val, and compared to sham operated animals. Renal function was evaluated by creatinine clearance, mean arterial pressure (MAP) by tail-cuff measurements, and cardiac function by magnetic resonance imaging and echocardiography. Vehicle treated animals developed cardiorenal syndrome, with impaired cardiac systolic function and mild renal dysfunction. Both valsartan and Sac/Val preserved renal function compared to vehicle (creatinine clearance mL/min [median with interquartile range]; sham 5.4 [4.8–6.0], vehicle 4.5 [4.1–5.1], valsartan 5.1 [5.1–5.5], Sac/Val 5.1 [5.0–5.6]; vehicle vs valsartan p = 0.034 and vehicle vs Sac/Val p = 0.044). MAP was reduced by both treatments compared to sham and vehicle groups (MAP mmHg ; sham 131 [116–138], vehicle 123 [115–132], valsartan 108 [99–112], Sac/Val 111 [99–119]; sham vs valsartan p < 0.001 and sham vs Sac/Val p = 0.003, vehicle vs valsartan p = 0.006 and vehicle vs Sac/Val p = 0.041). Only Sac/Val reduced left atrial dilatation (diameter mm ; sham 4.1 [3.7–4.4], vehicle 4.6 [3.8–5.6], valsartan 4.6 [4.1–5.5], Sac/Val 3.9 [3.6–4.5]; vehicle vs Sac/Val p = 0.047, valsartan vs Sac/Val p = 0.017) despite no improvement in systolic function in either treatment group. Sac/Val initiated in the acute post-MI phase preserved renal function to the same extent as valsartan alone and uniquely reduced left atrial dilatation, suggesting additional benefits beyond renoprotection in the setting of persistent systolic dysfunction.
Video-based pelvic floor muscle therapy for patients with pelvic floor disorders: A Protocol for a prospective single-arm pilot and feasibility study
The number of patients who suffer from pelvic floor disorders increases with age and can have a significant impact on quality of life. The first-line treatment for these different disorders includes pelvic floor rehabilitation. However, there are high rates of non-compliance with completing the recommended duration of treatment due to delays in appointments and time constraints. Thus, the primary goal of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an online eight-week video-based pelvic floor muscle therapy program. A secondary goal is determining whether the treatment can improve quality of life and symptoms. This study is a registry-based pilot single-arm prospective trial (NCT06689891: Video-Based Pelvic Floor Muscle Therapy). A single-arm design was utilized because our primary aim was to assess feasibility rather than comparative efficacy. Methodical guidance recommends a single-arm approach when outcomes focus on process measures instead of hypothesis testing. This design allows us to evaluate whether the intervention can be delivered as intended, establish feasibility before a larger trial, and maintain flexibility for modification without compromising a control group. Eligible participants will be offered the online program as an alternative to in-person pelvic floor rehabilitation. Primary timepoints include a pre-intervention in-person visit with a licensed pelvic floor therapist and the 8-week video-based pelvic floor muscle therapy program. There will be a midpoint evaluation followed by a post-intervention visit with the same pelvic floor therapist, where participants will be graded on their ability to complete the various exercises to assess efficacy. A survey assessing the online-based program’s usability will be conducted post-intervention. Patient-reported outcome measures, including quality of life and symptom changes, will be collected pre-, mid-, and post-intervention. As this is a pilot trial, the goal is to establish the acceptability and feasibility of a video-based pelvic floor muscle therapy program as an alternative to in-person treatment.
A novel variant in MYBPC3 causes hypertrophic cardiomyopathy by haploinsufficiency
Background Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common genetic cardiovascular disease (CVD). Related mutations contributing to hypercontractility and poor relaxation in HCM are not completely understood. Purpose This study aimed to explore and verify a novel variant of cardiac myosin-binding protein C (cMyBP-C, encoded by MYBPC3 ) in an HCM family. Methods Clinical information and cardiac parameters were collected in the pedigree. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and second-generation sequencing technology was used to investigate the proband and his family members. Subsequent sequence analysis was performed with DNAMAN software. The cardiac expression levels of MYBPC3 mRNA and cMyBP-C protein were assessed using RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. Results Typical interventricular septal thickening was detected in all four HCM patients without left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. The c.1042_1043insCGGCA mutation in MYBPC3 was verified in the proband and family members. In silico analysis of the mutation revealed that c.1042_1043insCGGCA led to a shift in the sequence of nucleotides, creating a premature stop codon at the new reading frame. RT-qPCR analysis of MYBPC3 mRNA revealed a marked reduction in HCM heart compared to the normal controls (P < 0.05). Consistently, Western blot analysis showed significantly reduced expression of cMyBP-C in the pedigree in comparison with the controls (P < 0.05). Conclusion The novel c.1042_1043insCGGCA MYBPC3 mutation is a genetic basis for HCM due to c-MyBP-C haploinsufficiency.
Epidemiological characteristics of hand, foot and mouth disease in Pingdu, Shandong, China from 2013 to 2023 and DLNM analysis of its variation with temperature
Background The purpose of this study is to describe the epidemiological situation of HFMD in Pingdu over the past decade, and investigate the relationship between environmental factors, specifically temperature, and the incidence of hand, foot and mouth disease. Methods S tatistical techniques, including Distributed Lag Non-linear Models and spatial autocorrelation analysis, were employed to elucidate epidemiological characteristics of hand, foot and mouth disease in Pingdu and the non-linear effects time-lagged relationships of temperature on the incidence. Results The incidence of hand, foot and mouth disease in Pingdu exhibits seasonal distribution, and the incidence rate is highest from May to August each year. The spatial distribution shows almost no spatial autocorrelation. Children under the age of 7 account for 91.09% of HFMD cases, with an obvious trend of increased incidence in older age groups by 2023. Notably, severe cases predominantly occurred in children under 3 years old, and EV-A71 accounts for a higher proportion compared with other enteroviruses. The pathogen types of hand, foot and mouth disease have changed from mainly EV-A71 and CVA16 to other enteroviruses. When the daily maximum temperature reaches 33.4°C, the relative risk (RR = 1.33) is highest at the one lag day. Conclusion This study reveals the epidemiological characteristics and climate risk factors of hand, foot and mouth disease in Pingdu. It is important to note that children, especially those under the age of 3, are the key population for the prevention and control of hand, foot and mouth disease. It is recommended that health authorities incorporate temperature into the formulation of hand, foot and mouth disease prevention and control policies.
Structural optimization of pit bionic drip irrigation emitter to improve hydraulic performance and anti-clogging performance
The blockage inside the flow channel of drip irrigation emitters is a key issue that restricts their usability. The low-speed vortex zone that exists in traditional channel design is the core reason. This study designed four different structures of pit bionic drip irrigation emitters based on the principles of plant bionics. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) numerical simulation method was adopted and the flow velocity and turbulence energy of four structures were analyzed. The discrete element method (DEM) was combined to study the motion trajectory of 0.1 mm sand particles. The results indicate that schemes 1, 2, and 4 all have significant low-speed vortices in the return water zone (D zone). The situation in scheme 3 is relatively mild and the probability of sand particles depositing in the channel decreases. The flow channel structure was further optimized based on the original foundation and eight types of sand particles with different sizes were selected for anti clogging experiments. The relative traffic of the optimized model in the third and fourth stages was 13.34% and 14.51% higher. In terms of the sensitive particle size causing blockage, the maximum allowable particle size of the optimized flow channel structure was nearly twice that of scheme 3. When the particle size was 0.120, 0.165, 0.187, 0.212, and 0.245 mm, the sedimentation rate was reduced by an average of 58.02%. This study confirms that optimized drip irrigation emitters have better anti clogging performance under multiple particle size drip irrigation conditions.
Impact of hydatid cyst laminated layer antigens on cell death rate, apoptosis induction, and key genes in the cell proliferation pathway: Insights from A549 cell line studies
While lung cancer remains a lethal disease despite treatment advances, some parasitic infections can demonstrate cancer-modulating roles and exhibit anti-tumor effects. The emergence of hydatid cysts as a potential anti-cancer treatment has sparked optimism for the development of more successful therapies. This research examines the effect of hydatic cysts on the growth and proliferation of lung tumor cells, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms involved. The laminated layer (LL) of the hydatid cyst antigens was administered to lung cancer cells with varying dosages and durations. The MTT assay was applied to evaluate cell viability. After exposure to different concentrations of LL antigens, the apoptosis, necrosis, cell cycle, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) of the cell culture were measured using flow cytometry. The expression levels of SOX-9, β-catenin, CD133, and CD44 genes were assessed using Real-Time PCR. Treating A549 cells with varying concentrations of LL antigens resulted in a decrease in viable cells, which depended on both time and dosage. Treatment with cysts led to apoptosis induction and a reduction in necrosis percentage in a dose-dependent manner. The induction of apoptosis correlated with elevated ROS production and a notable decrease in the expression of invasion-related genes (β-catenin, CD133, and CD44) (P < 0.05). However, this reduction in expression was not statistically significant for SOX-9. Exposing lung cancer cells to precise amounts of crude LL antigens resulted in cell death, apoptosis, increased intracellular ROS levels, and reduced expression of genes linked to cancer cell growth and invasion. These results lay the groundwork for further exploring purified Echinococcus granulosus parasite antigens as potential drug targets in cancer treatment.
Key body size/shape predictors of physical fitness in Saudi College-aged males: Role of the body roundness index
Physical fitness, a crucial factor in health and well-being, is influenced by an individual’s body composition. This study aimed to identify the key body size/shape predictors of fitness test performances among university-level students with diverse weight categories. This cross-sectional study involved 495 healthy, recreationally active male university students aged 18−23 years, categorized into normal weight (NORMW, n = 256), overweight (OVERW; n = 156), and obese (OB; n = 124) groups based on their body mass index (BMI). Anthropometric measurements including weight, height, BMI, waist and hip circumference (WC and HC), waist-to-hip and waist-to-height ratios (WHR and WHtR), body roundness and shape body indexes (BRI and ABSI) were recorded. The shuttle-run, push-ups, 20m Multi-Stage shuttle-run, and sit-and-reach tests were performed. The OB and OVERW groups performed significantly lower fitness test performances than the NORMW group (medium-to-large effect size). The correlation matrix showed that all anthropometric measures correlated with test performances, except for the sit-and-reach in the OB group and the shuttle-run in the NORW group. Higher WHtR and HC improved shuttle-run performance predictability in the OB group (R 2 = −0.29), while WC and HC, and WC and BMI improved push-up predictability in the OB (R 2 = −0.38) and OVERW (R 2 = −0.24) groups. BRI was the best indicator of VO 2 max performance, accounting for 56%, 42%, and 32% of its variance in OB, OVERW, and NORMW groups, respectively. The BRI is proposed as a potential alternative to BMI for evaluating cardiorespiratory endurance performance, enabling individual monitoring.
TRIM37-mediated stabilization of PEX5 via monoubiquitination attenuates oxidative stress and demyelination in multiple sclerosis insights from EAE and LPC-induced experimental models
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS), characterized by myelin damage and neurodegeneration. This study focuses on the role of the TRIM37-PEX5 axis in regulating oxidative stress in oligodendrocytes and myelin repair, exploring its potential as a novel therapeutic target for MS. Through bioinformatics analysis, TRIM37 was found to be significantly downregulated in MS patients. In vitro experiments demonstrated that overexpression TRIM37 could stabilize PEX5 protein via non-degradative monoubiquitination, thereby maintaining peroxisomal metabolic function, reducing oxidative stress levels, significantly decreasing apoptosis in both oligodendrocytes and neurons, and promoting the expression of myelin basic protein (MBP). Further mechanistic studies revealed that the TRIM37-PEX5 axis mitigates apoptosis in oligodendrocytes by regulating oxidative stress levels. in vivo experiments further confirmed the neurorestorative effects of TRIM37. In an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model, overexpression TRIM37 significantly suppressed neuroinflammation mediated by microglia, reduced the expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and alleviated demyelination lesions (as evidenced by reduced myelin damage shown by Luxol fast blue (LFB) staining, P < 0.001), while simultaneously increasing MBP expression levels ( P < 0.001). In conclusion, targeting the TRIM37-PEX5 axis holds promise as a novel strategy for improving myelin damage and providing neuroprotection in MS, offering a theoretical basis for interventions in metabolism-oxidative stress-related diseases.
The validity and reliability of motion analysis sensor system for wheelchair users (MASSWU)
The Motion Analysis Sensor System for Wheelchair Users (MASSWU) is designed to collect wheelchair movement data such as distance, duration, speed, and angular velocity during competitions and training sessions to enhance athlete performance. Developed as a simpler alternative to complex 2D motion analysis software, MASSWU was evaluated for validity, intra-rater and inter-rater reliability by comparison with the established 2D motion analysis program Kinovea. The assessment involved six wheelchair skill-related fitness tests performed under simulated real-world conditions by twenty-three healthy wheelchair users aged 18–35. The tests included One Stroke Push (distance), Muscle Power Sprint (speed), 10x5-meter Sprint (duration), Slalom (duration), and 360° Clockwise and 360° Anticlockwise Rotations (angular velocity). Validity was evaluated using the Pearson Correlation Coefficient, while intra-rater and inter-rater reliability were assessed through Intra-Class and Inter-Class Correlation Coefficients, respectively. MASSWU exhibited good to very good validity across all tests (r = 0.887–0.998). Both intra-rater reliability (ICC = 0.765–0.988) and inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.899–0.996) ranged from good to very good. These results indicate that MASSWU is a highly valid and reliable tool compared with Kinovea for measuring wheelchair performance among these wheelchair skill-related fitness tests.
MultiFAR: Multidimensional information fusion with attention-driven representation learning for student performance prediction
The advancement in computing technology, online learning platforms, and pedagogical tools enable educators and learners to connect without temporal and geographical boundaries. The existing deep learning models to predict student performance are either simple recurrent neural networks or artificial neural networks employing demographic and hand-crafted features. This manuscript proposes a model, MultIFAR, that infuses multi-dimensional information representing different aspects of student behavior with an attention-driven deep learning model integrating bidirectional long short-term memory and convolutional networks to learn student representation efficiently. MultIFAR employs student demographic, assessment, and VLE-interaction to understand different aspects of student behavior from multifaceted data. MultIFAR includes bidirectional long short-term memory to process and capture patterns from demographic, assessment, and interaction information. The model applies a convolutional operation on the daily interaction information with the VLE. We also implement the attention mechanism to assign weight to significant features. The empirical evaluation over the Open University Learning Analytics (OULA) dataset establishes the efficacy of MultIFAR against the state-of-the-art approaches and baseline methods. Considering accuracy, MultIFAR reports results from 80.31% to 97.12% over the four different problems of student performance prediction. The ablation analysis reveals that diurnal interaction shows the highest, whereas demographic attributes show the least impact on MultIFAR accuracy. We also extend MultIFAR to predict at-risk and high-performing students early. We also evaluate the model over the balanced dataset and multiclass scenario.
Predictive value of aorta enhancement on computed tomographic pulmonary angiography in pulmonary embolism
Background Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening condition requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment. Visual assessment of computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is the first-choice diagnostic tool. New imaging biomarkers could provide additional prognostic information for improved risk stratification. We hypothesized in this exploratory study, that contrast enhancement patterns in the aorta may contain such information. Methods CTPA scans of 93 acute PE patients were analyzed retrospectively. Firstly, the aorta was segmented automatically by TotalSegmentator and its centerline was extracted. Subsequently, lines were fitted on intensities within a region of interest perpendicularly to the aorta centerline, from which three parameters were extracted: mean intensity, proximal intensity and contrast gradient. After confounder analysis, logistic regression with forward selection evaluated the predictive value of these parameters for 12 adverse outcomes (six short-term and six long-term). Results Lung volume, aorta dimension and contrast delay were considered as possible confounders but were not selected by forward selection. Logistic regression (n = 93) showed that a less steep contrast gradient (decreasing by 10 Hounsfield unit/%) was associated with a reduction in odds of the following short-term adverse outcomes: 48.1% for intensive care unit admission (odds ratio [OR] = 0.519, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.306–0.804), 29.3% for oxygen therapy >24 hours (OR = 0.707, 95% CI: 0.496–0.976), 60.6% for reperfusion therapy (OR = 0.394, 95% CI: 0.178–0.682), 57.5% for vasopressor therapy (OR = 0.425, 95% CI: 0.194–0.741), and 50.2% for PE-related death (OR = 0.498, 95% CI: 0.246–0.915). No significant associations were found with long-term outcomes. Conclusions The aorta contrast gradient, automatically quantified from CTPA, is a relevant adjunctive predictor for short-term outcomes in PE patients. Long-term outcomes, however, could not be predicted by aorta measurement. This pilot study provides initial insights into predictive value of aorta enhancement, stimulating further exploration with external data.