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Correction: Prevalence and factors associated with undernutrition among 15–49-year-old women in Sierra Leone: A secondary data analysis of Sierra Leone Demographic Health Survey of 2019

Temporal and spatial interactions in sympatric ungulates: Insights from Japanese serow and sika deer

Sympatric species, commonly evolve behavioural mechanisms allowing them to coexist, thereby reducing direct competition for resources. In Japan, since the 1970s, the endemic Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) and the sika deer (Cervus nippon) have been primarily allopatric. However, due to the rapid expansion of the sika deer population on Japan’s main island of Honshu, the habitats of these two species now overlap. The significant and increasing overlap raises concerns about the potential impacts between these two (now sympatric) ungulates, including changes in distribution, shifts in activity patterns, or displacement due to interspecific competition. In this study, we investigated temporal and spatial segregation between Japanese serow and sika deer, from 2015 to 2017, in Shirakawa Village, Gifu Prefecture, Japan, by means of camera traps. Although our study was limited by a small sample size, it revealed no clear temporal or spatial segregation between the species, suggesting that there is potential for coexistence in shared habitats without pronounced competitive conflict, perhaps due to an abundance of food relative to sika deer density. Nevertheless, during autumn, reduced activity overlap rates, when the relative abundance index (RAI) of sika deer increased, may indicate that Japanese serow have modified their behavior to minimize resource competition. Specifically, during summer, when the RAI of sika deer was low, Japanese serow exhibited cathemeral behavior, whereas in autumn Japanese serow became nocturnal as sika deer RAI values increased. This seasonal adjustment indicates a context-dependent behavioural response that may serve to reduce temporal overlap and mitigate competition. Given the increasing sika deer population, understanding this potential for intensified competition becomes crucial for effective wildlife management and conservation efforts, particularly in maintaining the ecological balance between these species and ensuring the long-term sustainability of their habitats.

Exploring ferroptosis-associated immune characteristics in Kawasaki disease through bioinformatics

To be or not to be a virus: A novel chimeric circular Rep-encoding single stranded DNA virus with interfamilial gene exchange illustrates the considerable evolutionary capacity of ssDNA viruses

Viruses in the family Geminiviridae cause significant economic losses in numerous crops worldwide. Some geminiviruses are often associated with satellite DNA molecules, such as alphasatellites (familly Alphasatellitidae), that require the assistance of a helper virus for their transmission. Here, we report the discovery of a chimeric virus, tentatively named Cenchrus purpureus associated virus (CPAV), in Cenchrus purpureus plants in La Réunion. The genome of CPAV consists of a single component that is primarily geminivirus-like. It contains a rep gene phylogenetically most closely related alphasatellites. This rep gene is positioned upstream of, and in the same orientation as, the movement and capsid protein genes. Both of these genes are phylogenetically most related to members of the genus Mastrevirus (family Geminiviridae). We found that CPAV is associated in the field with Cenchrus purpureus mild streak virus (CPMSV). Using agroinfectious clones and insect transmission assays, we demonstrated that CPAV is able to initiate infections in C. purpureus but its ability to establish long-term infection and be insect transmitted is apparently facilitated by CPMSV. This raises the question of whether CPAV qualifies as an autonomous virus or rather a satellite-like element with partial autonomy. The chimeric nature of CPAV illustrates the interfamily gene exchange between circular ssDNA viruses and satellites and how such recombination events can blur the boundaries between viruses and subviral agents. These findings highlight the evolutionary plasticity of circular ssDNA viruses and suggest that chimerism may be a key mechanism driving the emergence of novel viral forms with modified pathogenicity and host range.

Improvement in functional and mental outcomes after resection rectopexy for obstructive defecation syndrome ODS

Abstract Obstructive defecation syndrome (ODS) is a condition that causes straining and may require manual evacuation and patients’ thoughts circle around defecation impairing their quality of life. Mental comorbidity-related findings suggest a mental burden in ODS patients. In an observational cohort design, this study investigated the relationship between the mental distress and their clinical symptom severity for a group of patients with ODS who underwent surgical treatment. This study included 108 consecutive patients with ODS who were scheduled for laparoscopic resection rectopexy combined with pelvic floor repair, if indicated. Clinical symptom severity (Altomare score, rectal toxicity score, and Wexner incontinence score) and mental health scores (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 [GAD-7] and Personal Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9]) were assessed before and 6 months after surgery. Before surgery, 82.5% of patients had at least mild depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 score ≥ 5), and 55.6% of patients had at least mild anxiety (GAD-7 score ≥ 5). The severity of the mental health scores correlated with the clinical symptom severity. At the 6-month follow-up, the bowel function scores improved significantly. Depression symptoms improved, whereas only slight changes in anxiety symptoms were observed. The improvement in clinical symptom severity correlated with better mental score results, whereas the severity of the preoperative mental distress did not influence the surgical or follow-up outcomes. Patients with obstructive defecation syndrome (ODS) experience significant depression and anxiety that adversely affect their quality of life. Surgical improvement of bowel function reduces depressive symptoms and, to a lesser extent, anxiety symptoms. Early multidisciplinary intervention should be considered for effective management. Future studies should further investigate mental distress caused by ODS symptoms or other underlying psychiatric comorbidities.

Cancer care interventions for forcibly displaced populations in low- and middle-income countries of the Middle East and North African region affected by humanitarian crises: Protocol for a scoping review

Objective The objective of this scoping review is to describe and assess what cancer treatment interventions exist for forcibly displaced populations living with cancer in LMIC humanitarian settings in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region and what research has been done on these interventions. Background Humanitarian aid usually provides short-term requirements for food, shelter, and trauma relief; long-term relief focuses mainly on communicable diseases and not non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cancer. However, no systematic search and synthesis resource of existing cancer care interventions for forcibly displaced populations in LMICs of the MENA region exists. Inclusion criteria Original studies will be included on interventions for all types of cancer which are available to support forcibly displaced populations in settings of humanitarian crisis in Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, occupied Palestinian Territories, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. Methods A scoping review will be conducted in accordance with JBI methods and guidelines and PRISMA reporting guidelines (S3 Appendix). PubMed, Global Health, Embase, Scopus, The Lens, Global Index Medicus, and CINAHL Complete will be searched for peer-reviewed articles published from January to until present. IOM, ReliefWeb, OSCE, UNHCR, WHO, OCHA, and ACLED will be searched for grey literature. A dual review using three reviewers will independently identify all relevant articles and extract data from them. A narrative summary of findings will be reported, Discussion This scoping review will provide an overview of the available cancer interventions for forcibly displaced populations and describe the research done regarding these interventions. Potential gaps in the field will be identified, Systematic Review Registration Zenodo, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14633092

Leaf litter associated fungi from South Africa to control fungal plant pathogens

Clindamycin-resistant among Staphylococcus aureus: Investigation into phenotypic and genotypic profiles

Background Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), particularly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), is a pressing global health concern. These bacteria are increasingly becoming resistant to the most commonly available treatment options. As a choice, the macrolide lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLSB) is used, with clindamycin being the preferred drug. However, an alarming number of staphylococcal strains are developing resistance to MLSB. The resistance exhibits several phenotypes, including inducible MLSB (iMLSB), constitutive MLSB (cMLSB), and macrolide streptogramin B (MSB). One of the biggest challenges is the accurate detection of iMLSB in routine laboratory tests, as they appear erythromycin-resistant and clindamycin-sensitive unless the two antibiotics are placed adjacent to each other, which leads to clinical therapeutic failure. Method To achieve this, double disc diffusion (D test) was used to test iMLSB phenotypically. In addition, the genetic determinants were identified through singleplex PCR using specific primers to detect erm (A, B, C) and msr genes associated with the different phenotypes of MLSB resistance. Result Among 161 S. aureus isolates, 42 (26.1%) were erythromycin-resistant; 25 (15.5%) showed an iMLSB phenotype, and 16 (9.9%) displayed an MSB phenotype. One MRSA isolate expressing cMLSB phenotype. Genotypic analysis revealed a prevalence of ermC in 60% and msr in 40% of S. aureus isolates. Conclusion The D-test is a reliable method for identifying inducible clindamycin resistance in clinical diagnostics, to support antibiotic use and treatment stewardship in Qatar.

High-dose multi-strain Bacillus probiotics enhance treatment and reduce antibiotic usage in children with persistent diarrhea through immune and microbiota modulation

Abstract Persistent diarrhea remains medical challenge to date regarding both its etiology and therapeutic interventions. Here, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of high-dose multi-strain Bacillus spore probiotics (LiveSpo DIA30) containing B. subtilis, B. clausii, and B. coagulans at 5 billion CFU/5 mL ampoule, in the supportive treatment of persistent diarrhea in children. Our findings revealed a significant 3-day shorter recovery period, 1.60-fold enhanced efficacy, and a 9.47-fold increase in odds (all p-values < 0.0001) for effectively resolving diarrhea by day 5 with the Bacillus spores. Notably, the group receiving LiveSpo DIA30 (Dia30 group) experienced a reduction in antibiotic treatment duration by 2 days compared to the Control group, equivalent to a 25% decrease in antibiotic usage. After 5 days of treatment, LiveSpo DIA30 demonstrated significant reductions in elevated blood pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-17 (26.62%; p = 0.0178), IL-23 (25.13%; p = 0.0256), TNF-α (19.09%; p = 0.038), and in fecal sIgA (24.24%; p = 0.0433). Analysis of 16S rRNA metagenome revealed that Dia30 group exhibited a notable increase in density of Actinomycetota and Bacillota phylum, along with Actinomycetaceae, Lactobacillaceae, and Streptococaceae families. Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, a beneficial gut species, was not detectable at day 0 but reached a density of 0.91% (p = 0.015) in Dia30 group by day 5. Additionally, Dia30 group showed a significant reduction in density of the Proteobacteria phylum, Enterobacteriaceae family, and harmful species Escherichia fergusoni (682.8-fold; p = 0.011). In conclusion, this clinical trial presents robust clinical evidence, supported by laboratory testing data, demonstrating the efficacy of multi-strain and high-concentration Bacillus spore probiotics in rapidly alleviating symptoms and reducing antibiotic usage in children with persistent diarrhea. This is archived by improving the native gut microbiota and modulating immunological responses. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier No: NCT05812820, 14/4/2023.

A lightweight intelligent compression method for fast Sea Level Anomaly data transmission

Traditional compression methods struggle to preserve critical mesoscale ocean features like vortices during bandwidth-constrained marine data transmission. To aaddress this limitation, we propose CompressGAN, a novel deep learning framework that transcends conventional approaches reliant on generic image metrics (e.g., peak signal-to-noise ratio, PSNR; structural similarity index, SSIM). The architecture integrates global-local dual discriminators to enforce spatiotemporal coherence of mesoscale vortices, employs dilated convolutions to enhance feature receptive fields without computational overhead, and incorporates vortex recognition rate as a physics-aware evaluation metric. Furthermore, parametric pruning and adaptive quantization strategies are embedded to optimize memory efficiency for shipborne hardware constraints. Validation across multiple ocean reanalysis datasets demonstrates CompressGAN’s superiority at 4 × compression ratios, achieving 91.46% mesoscale eddy identification accuracy (Iden) versus SRGAN (89.71%) and SRResNet (89.82%), while maintaining operational efficiency (148 s/image inference time, 25 GB peak memory). Generalization tests reveal controlled performance degradation: PSNR reduced by 4.2 ± 0.3 dB, SSIM by 0.7126, and Iden by 4.1%, confirming robustness under marine operational scenarios. This work resolves the critical trade-off between vessel-mounted computational limits and real-time ocean data demands, providing a viable pathway for integrated shipboard systems to reconcile multimodal marine data processing with navigation service requirements.

Lightweight remote sensing change detection with progressive multi scale difference aggregation

Abstract Change detection (CD) is the process of acquiring changes in the ground surface by analyzing remotely sensed images of the same location at two different stages. Deep learning is becoming increasingly popular for change detection tasks in remote sensing due to its significant advantages in deep feature representation and nonlinear problem modeling. However, many previous neural network-based approaches require a large number of parameters and computations and high-performance hardware, which makes their practical application in remote sensing challenging. Some lightweight change detection techniques are implemented by enhancing deep features and then extracting their difference information, which tends to ignore many shallow features. We propose a lightweight network MobileNetV2 as an encoder and a modified UNet as a decoder, where MobileNetV2 extracts features from bit-time images and UNet performs layer-by-layer fusion of different stages of difference images to enhance the representativeness of changes. Since MobileNetV2 is used as the encoder of UNet, the computation of the proposed method is greatly reduced. Experiments show that our method has the lowest computational cost (2.38G) and the fewest parameters (2.95M) compared to the current mainstream lightweight networks (FC-Siam-diff32, FC-Siam-conc, A2Net and BIT). Three remote sensing public datasets, SYSU-CD, BCDD and LEVIR-CD, are introduced to validate the proposed method in this paper, and the results show that the F1 of the method in this paper reaches 82.84%, 94.51% and 90.89% respectively. All code as well as detailed instructions are available at https://github.com/tawneydaylily/Mobile-CDNet.

Cysteine dioxygenase knockout and taurine deficiency impair mouse uterine adenogenesis by inhibiting epithelial cell proliferation and enhancing apoptosis

Uterine glands and their secretions are essential for conceptus survival and development, with abnormalities in uterine gland morphogenesis (adenogenesis) are closely related to high rates of peri-implantation embryonic loss in humans and livestock. While uterine adenogenesis occurs postnatally in most mammals, the key regulatory factors and mechanisms governing this developmental event remains largely unexplored. Our recent study reveals that cysteine dioxygenase (CDO) is highly expressed in the uterus of adult mice, which is also rich in taurine. Notably, Cdo knockout (KO) and the resulting taurine deficiency lead to the defects in embryo implantation and subfertility. However, the regulatory roles of CDO and taurine in uterine development and adenogenesis remain unclear. In the current study, we assayed CDO expression and taurine content in the developmental uteri of mice from postnatal day (PND) 3 to PND 28, and investigated the regulatory roles of CDO and taurine in uterine adenogenesis using Cdo KO mice. Our results showed that uterine CDO protein expression gradually increased from PND 3 to prepuberty, closely correlating with uterine taurine levels. Cdo KO and taurine deficiency impaired the formation and development of uterine gland by inhibiting uterine epithelial cell proliferation and enhancing cell apoptosis. Remarkably, taurine supplementation partially rescued these defects in uterine adenogenesis. These findings, for the first time, demonstrate that uterine tissue acquires the ability to synthesis taurine postnatally, CDO and taurine act as novel factors regulating uterine gland development. Uncovering the mechanisms of uterine adenogenesis could significantly improve pregnancy outcomes in humans and other mammals.

Assessment of the antifungal activity of Actinidia deliciosa derived exosome like nanoparticles

Abstract The Exosome-like nanoparticles (ELNs) are essential for both intra- and inter-kingdom communication. The presence and function of plant ELNs discharged into the environment remain unknown, despite their significant biological significance. In the present study, polymer precipitation method was used to isolate the ELNs from Actinidia deliciosa followed by characterization and antifungal activity evaluation against F. oxysporum, F. solani, and B. cinerea in the term of germination and density of fungal spores’ formation. Root-released EVs (extracellular vesicles) were found to have a size ranged from 30 to 150 nm, according to biophysical assessments using dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscope. Thirty-three unique proteins were identified using LC-MS/MS of ELNs. Several of these proteins are known to be associated with interactions between plants and microbes. The presence of multiple plant defense-related proteins in these EVs raises the possibility that they are important elements of plant immunity.

Examining changes in gramicidin current induced by endocannabinoids

Endocannabinoids are a diverse family of lipid molecules, which circulate in the human body, impacting the cardiovascular and the nervous systems. Endocannabinoids can influence pain perception, appetite, stress responses, mood, memory and learning. Regulation of these lipids present a promising therapeutic avenue for numerous neurological disorders. In addition to acting as agonists to cannabinoid receptors (CBRs), endocannabinoids can also modulate the function of various ion channels and receptors independently of CBRs. This modulation of function can arise from direct binding to the channel proteins, or via changes to the lipid properties such as membrane elasticity/stiffness, curvature, or hydrophobic thickness. Here, we assess the effects of endocannabinoids on membrane properties by examining changes in gramicidin (gA) currents in Xenopus oocytes. Endocannabinoids from both classes (Fatty acid ethanolamides (FAEs) and 2-monoacylglycerols (2-MGs)) are studied and current-voltage relationships are assessed. We see no correlation between changes in gA currents and physiochemical properties of FAE endocannabinoids; namely carbon tail length, degrees of unsaturation, position of first unsaturated bond, and lipophilicity. On the other hand, gA currents correlate with the position of the first unsaturated bond, and inversely correlate with the degree of unsaturation of 2-MGs. Correlation of gA currents with the lipophilicity of 2-MG endocannabinoids depended on whether tails were saturated or unsaturated. Employing gramicidin channels as molecular force probes can enable both predictive and quantitative studies on the impact of bilayer-mediated regulation on membrane protein function by endocannabinoids.

Trends in antidote use in France from 2015 to 2021: a nationwide poison centers study

Interpersonal brain synchronization during sensorimotor synchronization in people with different aerobic fitness levels: A fNIRS-based hyperscanning study

Sensorimotor synchronization (SMS) refers to the temporal coordination of individual actions with perceptible external events and rhythms. Previous research has revealed a potential relationship between SMS abilities and physical activity, with proposed links to underlying inner-brain cognitive processes. However, it needs to be explored that whether good aerobic fitness will have a strong SMS ability, its internal mechanism, and the inter-brain mechanism. In the present study, we recruited 23 dyads of long-distance runners as the experimental group and 22 dyads of non-physical education major students as the control group. Participants were required to perform a dyadic finger-tapping synchronization task. During task performance, neural activities were recorded in frontal area by the functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)-based hyperscanning approach. The results revealed that the experimental group demonstrated superior SMS abilities in the seconds-scale task. This advantage was attributed to their enhanced stability. Importantly, significant interpersonal brain synchronization(IBS) in the right superior frontal gyrus (rSFG) was observed only in the experimental group during SMS task performance, and this IBS was associated with their superior stability. These findings provide new evidence supporting the relationship between physical activity, cognitive capabilities, and associated neural plasticity.

Bioelectromics of a photosynthetic microalgae assisted microbial fuel cell for wastewater treatment and value added production

Skin irritation testing using human iPSCs derived 3D skin equivalent model

Artificial skin models have emerged as valuable tools for evaluating cosmetic ingredients and developing treatments for skin regeneration. Among them, 3D skin equivalent models (SKEs) using human primary skin cells are widely utilized and supported by standardized testing guidelines. However, primary cells face limitations such as restricted donor availability and challenges in conducting genotype-specific studies. To overcome these issues, recent approaches have focused on differentiating skin cells from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). In this study, we developed a protocol to differentiate high-purity skin cells, such as fibroblasts (hFIBROs) and keratinocytes (hKERAs), from hiPSCs. To construct the hiPSC-derived SKE (hiPSC-SKE), a dermis was first formed by culturing a collagen and hFIBROs mixture within an insert. Subsequently, hKERAs were seeded onto the dermis, and keratinization was induced under air-liquid culture conditions to establish an epidermis. Histological analysis with hematoxylin and eosin staining confirmed that the hiPSC-SKE recapitulated the layered architecture of native human skin and expressed appropriate epidermal and dermal markers. Moreover, exposure to Triton X-100, a known skin irritant, led to marked epidermal damage and significantly reduced cell viability, validating the model’s functional responsiveness. These findings indicate that the hiPSC-SKE model represents a promising alternative for various skin-related applications, including the replacement of animal testing.

Psychological inoculation improves resilience to and reduces willingness to share vaccine misinformation

Abstract Vaccine misinformation endangers public health by contributing to reduced vaccine uptake. We developed a short online game to reduce people’s susceptibility to vaccine misinformation. Building on inoculation theory, the Bad Vaxx game exposes people to weakened doses of manipulation techniques commonly used in vaccine misinformation and to strategies to identify these techniques. Across three preregistered randomized controlled trials (N = 2,326), we find that the game significantly improves participants’ ability to discern vaccine misinformation from non-misinformation, their confidence in their ability to do so, and the quality of their sharing decisions. Further, taking the perspective of a character fighting as opposed to spreading misinformation is more effective on some outcome measures. In line with the learning goals of the intervention, we show that participants improve their ability to correctly identify the use of specific misinformation techniques. This insight is important because teaching manipulation technique recognition is not only effective to help evaluate information about vaccines, but also more viable than trying to debunk myriads of constantly-evolving myths. Our findings suggest that a short, low-cost, gamified intervention can increase resilience to vaccine misinformation.

Perioperative and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic liver resection for combined hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma versus intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: A propensity score matching analysis

Background Laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) has been increasingly used to treat intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), yet the role of LLR on combined hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CC) remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to compare the perioperative efficacy and long-term prognosis of LLR for cHCC-CC and ICC through the use of propensity score matching (PSM) analysis. Methods Clinicopathologic, perioperative, and survival data of patients with cHCC-CC and ICC who underwent LLR from November 2018 to May 2023 at our institution were retrospectively collected. The two groups were further analyzed using 1:1 PSM to compare perioperative outcomes and long-term prognosis. Results A total of 115 patients who underwent LLR for either eHCC-CC or ICC were ultimately included in the study. Among them, there were 24 cases in the cHCC-CC group and 91 cases in the ICC group. After PSM, the cHCC-CC group exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of preoperative elevated AFP levels (45.8% vs. 0, P < 0.001) compared with the ICC group. The two groups were comparable in terms of perioperative data. After a median follow-up of 34 months, there were no significant difference in 1-year OS (92% vs. 88%), 2-year OS (62% vs. 70%), 3-year OS (49% vs. 59%), 1-year RFS (46% vs. 58%), 2-year RFS (29% vs. 54%), 3-year RFS (29% vs. 42%) between the cHCC-CC and ICC groups (all P > 0.05). Conclusions The perioperative outcomes and long-term prognosis of LLR for patients with cHCC-CC are comparable to those observed in patients with ICC.