Browse Articles

Beyond growth: comparative impact of plastics and natural particles on EPS dynamics and aggregation in Rhodomonas Salina

Difference between mean gestational sac diameter and crown rump length predicts pregnancy outcome in patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion

G-CutMix: A CutMix-based graph data augmentation method for bot detection in social networks

The CutMix technique is a sophisticated approach for augmenting data in order to train neural network-based image classifiers. Essentially, it involves cutting out a portion of a random image and pasting it into the same location as another image. However, because of the irregularity of graph data, CutMix cannot be directly applied to graph learning. Our paper introduces G-CutMix, a CutMix-based data augmentation approach that we designed specifically for bot detection in social media networks. G-CutMix involves conducting CutMix operations between the original graph and a shuffled graph, which precedes the graph convolution process. The outputs of the graph convolution are then strategically merged with the user representations from both the original and shuffled graphs. Our proposed G-CutMix not only leverages the power of graph convolutions but also introduces a layer of complexity that mimics real-world scenarios where bot behavior can be subtle and varied, making G-CutMix a formidable tool in the arsenal against bot detection. Our experiments confirm that our approach can consistently enhance the performance of bot detection across various GNN architectures, including Graph Convolutional Networks, GraphSAGE, and Graph Attention Networks.

MCPIP3/Regnase-3 binds 14-3-3 proteins and contributes to the regulation of the cell cycle in human immortalized keratinocytes

Abstract Skin homeostasis is ensured by a fine-tuned balance of proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes, disturbances in which may initiate or promote skin diseases. The monocyte chemotactic protein-induced protein 3 (MCPIP3), or Regnase-3, is a ribonuclease belonging to the MCPIP family. Keratinocyte-specific loss of MCPIP3 results in increased expression of genes related to cell division, accelerated epidermal proliferation rate, and abnormal differentiation. The aim of this study was to gain insights into the mechanisms by which MCPIP3 affects keratinocyte biology. Immunoprecipitation-proteomics was applied to identify putative interactors of MCPIP3 in HaCaT keratinocytes. It revealed that MCPIP3 forms complexes with keratin 14, 14-3-3 proteins and modulators of cell polarity. Silencing of MCPIP3 and keratin 14 led to significantly increased expression of S/G2 and G2/M phase markers, namely cyclin A2, cyclin B1 and histone H3 Ser10 phosphorylation. Simultaneous silencing of both genes had synergistic effect. Double thymidine block and release protocol was used to synchronize HaCaT cells and indicated that MCPIP3 reaches the highest level of expression in peri-mitotic cells. Altogether, our results uncover the significance of studying the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in the context of cell cycle related events, clarifying the mechanisms by which MCPIP3 modulates proliferation of keratinocytes.

Multistate Markov model for functional recovery in stroke: probability of state transition and prognosis prediction

Associations between nutritional status and jumping performance in pre-school children

Although it has been confirmed that overweight and obesity may have negative impact on jumping performance in school-aged children and adolescents, little evidence has been provided for pre-school children. The findings have provided inconclusive results, but mostly that overweight and obese pre-school children do not have an impaired jumping performance, in comparison to their normal weight peers. Therefore, the main purpose of the study was to examine the differences between normal weight and overweight/obese pre-school children in jumping performance outcomes and their correlations with anthropometric indices. Four-hundred and eleven pre-school children with the mean (SD) age = 4.9 (1.1) years, height = 111.2 (9.3) cm, weight = 20.0 (4.2) kg, 53.5% girls were recruited from 34 kindergartens in four major cities. Anthropometric indices included body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Normal weight, overweight and obesity were classified according to international norms. Jumping performance was evaluated by the countermovement jump (CMJ) without and with arm swing with Optojump system. In general, pre-school children with overweight and obesity exhibited poorer performance in vertical jumping; they had shorter flight time and flight height, lower power relative to body mass and lower relative strength index (RSI), compared to normal weight children. The strongest correlations were observed between WHtR and jumping outcomes, where higher WHtR values led to shorter flight time and flight height, and lower power relative to body mass in both boys and girls. This study adds new information related to nutritional status and jumping performance in pre-school children. Thus, overweight and obesity need to be considered, when monitoring vertical jumping performance.

Phytoplankton phenology paradox in an isolated tropical lagoon of the northern Red Sea

First-principles investigation of bandgap engineering and stability of LiBeZ (Z = P, As) half-Heusler alloys for optoelectronic and thermoelectric applications

Crossing borders, shaping politics: A study on the political interest of Chinese international student returnees of Eastern China

The political interest of highly educated returnees represents a significant force in shaping the political landscape and bridging cultural and political divides. Conducting Bayesian analysis aided by Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms on a sample of 1014 returnee participants, this research probed the influence of sociodemographic and socio-psychological factors on political interest of the Chinese international student returnee population. The findings reveal that education attainment, age, and individualistic values negatively correlate with political interest, while time spent abroad and the intention to emigrate positively affect returnees’ interest in politics.

Leveraging illumina iSeq100 for whole genome sequencing of Salmonella Typhi for a resource-limited setting

Impact of capitation payment on vascular complications among treated diabetic patients in China

Psychometric properties of a Korean version of the pre-sleep arousal scale

Purpose Sleep quality is a multidimensional construct encompassing the effectiveness and restorativeness of sleep. The pre-sleep arousal scale is a widely used instrument for evaluating aspects of arousal that are closely related to sleep quality. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the pre-sleep arousal scale (K-PSAS). Methods We performed a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from 286 adults aged 19–70 years who used electronic cigarettes or heated tobacco products. The original PSAS was translated into Korean, with content validity assessed by experts. Construct validity was evaluated via exploratory factor analysis, and concurrent validity was assessed by correlating the K-PSAS with the Insomnia Severity Index, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Reliability was examined using Cronbach’s α, and split-half reliability coefficient. Results Both the item-level content validity index for all items and the scale-level content validity index average for the K-PSAS-16 were 1.0. After removing the survey item on “being mentally alert and active at bedtime” (item 13) due to low factor loading, the K-PSAS-15 demonstrated a two-factor structure, with somatic and cognitive arousal factors explaining 42.36% and 10.19% of the variance, respectively. A significant positive correlation was observed between the two factors (ρ = 0.61, p < .001). Item 13 also showed a low corrected item-total correlation coefficient of −0.10. The correlation coefficients between K-PSAS-15 and other validated scales ranged from 0.49 to 0.71. The K-PSAS-15 showed good internal consistency, with a Cronbach’s α of.91 for the total scale, and α = .87 and.90 for the somatic and cognitive subscales, respectively. Split-half reliability was also acceptable (total = .90; somatic = .86; cognitive = .88). Conclusion The K-PSAS-15, which excludes one poorly performing item from the original scale, is a reliable and valid tool for assessing pre-sleep arousal.

Comparative analysis of YOLO variants for dental implant brand identification

iDigiChat: intelligent digital marketing service chatbot for providing efficient customer services using artificial intelligence

Identifying robust predictors of treatment response in trauma-affected refugees: Results from a randomised controlled trial

Background Given the high prevalence of trauma-related mental health problems in a growing population of refugees, identifying robust predictors of treatment outcome can optimize treatment strategies and resource allocation. The current study aimed to examine the robustness of predictors from seven previous predictor studies at the Competence Centre for Transcultural Psychiatry (CTP). Methods We studied if predictors from previous studies could be replicated in a sample of 219 refugees with PTSD who participated in a new distinct study conducted at CTP. We included all variables previously found to be significantly related to treatment response, as measured via the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ) and the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D). We categorised the variables as sociodemographic factors, CTP predictor index items, and baseline assessment scores. We performed regression analyses with one exposure variable at a time, controlling for baseline assessment scores corresponding to the dependent variable. We also conducted multiple linear regression analyses to examine the variance explained in total by the identified significant predictor variables. Results The study successfully replicated several predictors of treatment response for PTSD and depression, including a high understanding of therapy concepts, acceptability of psychological treatment, ability to reflect, motivation for active participation and cognitive resources, as well as low baseline pain levels. The findings replicated a U-shaped relationship between age and treatment response for depression, indicating better outcomes for younger participants and those over 60. Multiple regression analyses explained 28% and 39% of the variance in the PTSD (HTQ) and depression (HAM-D) treatment responses, respectively. Conclusions This study contributes to the understanding of treatment response predictors in trauma-affected refugees by replicating findings from previous research in a new sample. It highlights the importance of modifiable factors, such as psychotherapy readiness, and underscores the necessity for tailored interventions to enhance treatment efficacy. As the global refugee crisis grows, the insights from this research can inform mental health strategies, ultimately improving care for this vulnerable population. Future research should continue to investigate modifiable predictors to further enhance treatment outcomes. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02761161

Impact of the CYP27B1 p.R389H mutation on protein stability and function: implications for multiple sclerosis pathogenesis

Understanding human–bat interactions and risk perceptions in rural Thailand: a qualitative study from Nakhon Sawan Province

Layers of exposure risk management measures for the prevention and control of infections of healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients

Background COVID-19 has changed the way hospitals manage infections and how healthcare workers (HCWs) carry out their activities. The pandemic has taught us how safety, hygiene and work schedules should be implemented. After the pandemic, a substantial body of research has examined the managerial capacities of health systems, national prevention programmes, and crisis-response strategies. Objective The aim of this study is to determine the most critical risk management measures in the context of COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus both prevention and post-factum control measures. Methodology We conducted a study using a questionnaire previously validated by the World Health Organization, adapted to identify the key organisational measures for preventing and controlling infections during interactions with patients infected with COVID-19 virus. The setting for the study was the “Sf. Ioan cel Nou” County Emergency Hospital, Suceava, Romania. A total of 312 responses were collected between 10.10.2020 and 19.03.2021. The study complied with two ethical protocols, data were analysed using 21.0 version of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software. Results Statistical analysis identified four constructs grouping the measures – technical, organisational, human resources, and others, all aimed at preventing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 within and beyond the hospital. In our vision, these four main resulted constructs could be conceptualised similarly to a security system, which aims protects an “asset” from a threat by applying several layers that gradually reduce risk to near zero. Specifically, the first layer involves managing exposure risk by separating contaminated from uncontaminated areas; the second comprises general preventive measures for healthcare workers operating in contaminated areas; the third layer addresses staff attendance and workplace organisation, and the fourth focuses on risks perceived and manifested at the individual level. Conclusion Exposure risk assessment and management follow a logic similar to that of a security system designed to protect an “asset” from a threat. In our case, the health of the HCWs was at risk due to their interactions with COVID-19 patients at “Sf. Ioan cel Nou” County Emergency Hospital, Suceava, Romania. Hypothesis testing indicated that all implemented measures contributed significantly to pandemic management, although a functional exposure risk management system requires effective risk reduction across all 4 layers. Given the validity of the second hypothesis – that preventive measures were generally applied at the hospital – we can conclude that HCWs and managers may primarily focus on this type of preventive measure, mainly addressing the second layer alone. This imbalance risks diverting managerial attention and resources toward the second layer at the expense of the other three.

Radiation dose optimisation in paediatric head CT using attenuation-based auto prescription

Musical aptitude moderates ease and vividness but not frequency of the speech-to-song illusion

Abstract Repetitions of a spoken phrase can induce a perceptual illusion in which speech transforms into song, known as the speech-to-song illusion. Speech acoustics that share certain pitch and timing properties with songs seem to be involved in facilitating the illusion, with a recent proposal suggesting that the illusion hinges on the individual ability to detect musical features latently present in speech. The current study tests this proposal by manipulating pitch and timing features of spoken phrases and examining how musical aptitude of listeners (specifically, their sensitivity to disruptions of musical melody and beat timing) moderates their experience of the illusion. The results show that the illusion is perceived by everyone regardless of their musical aptitude, with phrases that contain stable pitch and long periods of high sonority transforming more frequently. However, musical aptitude does moderate the speed and the strength of the illusion. Listeners with lower beat perception ability experience the illusion faster, which suggests involvement of temporal distortion processes during repetitions. Listeners with higher melody perception ability experience the illusion more strongly, which indicates involvement of musical pitch extraction rather than pitch distortion. These findings contribute new evidence on the complexity of an illusory experience in the auditory domain.