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‘LinkedIn is like air to me’: the scientists who’ve cracked professional networking

Service use patterns in community mental health outreach: A sequence analysis of the first 12-month longitudinal data

Aims Community mental health outreach teams offer a range of individualized services tailored to meet the diverse needs of clients. This study aimed to identify service use patterns within community mental health outreach programs using 12-month longitudinal data. Methods Data from users of the Tokorozawa City mental health outreach service in Japan were analyzed. Service trajectories over a 365-d period were mapped and categorized by primary service type each month. These trajectories were then analyzed using state sequence and clustering methods. The services included 10 categories (i.e., family support and psychiatric symptom management) and cases of no support. We compared the demographic characteristics (e.g., sex, age, living situation, and diagnosis) and reasons for service initiation (e.g., symptom-related life problems, treatment interruption, or untreated conditions) between clusters. Results The service use trajectories of 70 participants were divided into four clusters. Cluster 1 had a high proportion of psychiatric symptom management services (n = 25). Cluster 2 focused primarily on family support (n = 11). Cluster 3 offered a mix of diverse services (n = 21). Cluster 4 involved inter-agency collaboration and early termination of services (n = 13). Significant differences were found between clusters in terms of sex and some reasons for service initiation. Conclusions While community mental health outreach programs deliver a broad range of personalized services, we identified four distinct service use patterns over the first 12 months. Given that demographic and clinical characteristics may vary across these patterns, further research with a larger dataset is needed.

Correction: Robust performances of a nocturnal long-term ECG algorithm for the evaluation of sleep apnea syndrome: A pilot study

Disease burden of infertility in five East Asian countries from 1990 to 2021 and prediction for 2050: An analysis of the Global Burden of Disease study 2021

Background With the development of society, fertility seems to have become a public health issue in East Asian countries. At present, there is insufficient attention to infertility, especially male infertility. Understanding the burden and trends of infertility in men and women aged 20–49 years in East Asia is essential for fertility issues. Method The related data in China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japan, Mongolia and Republic of Korea, was extracted from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2021 including prevalence, disability-adjusted life-year (DALY), age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) and age-standardized DALY rate. Annual percentage change (APC) and average annual percentage change (AAPC) were conducted by joinpoint analysis. The impact of age, period and birth cohort on the infertility was calculated by age-period-cohort model. We also predicted the future burden of infertility using Bayesian age period cohort (BAPC) analysis. Result The burden of infertility aged 20–49 years group varied across five East Asian countries from 1990 to 2021, in which the trend of China (AAPC: FI 0.12, 95%UI: 0.01 to 0.22; MI 0.14, 95%UI: 0.02 to 0.27) and Mongolia (AAPC: FI 0.3, 95%UI: 0.24 to 0.35; MI 0.25, 95%UI: 0.21 to 0.28) showed increased, and the others were stable. The risk of male prevalence was significantly higher than that of female in two developed countries, while it was contrary in three developing countries. The burden of infertility increased with age in developing countries and reached the highest at the age of 35–39. In developed countries, the 40–44 age group has the highest burden of infertility. The future burden of infertility showed a downward trend to 2050 in China and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, while it predicted to increase in Japan, Mongolia and Republic of Korea. These differences may be affected by socio-economic factors and health policies, highlighting significant differences between countries. Conclusion The infertility burden in the five East Asian countries aged 20–49 years varies among age group and gender from 1990 to 2021, which is still a public threat. It is necessary to formulate appropriate strategies according to different situations to alleviate the burden of infertility.

A retrospective cohort study evaluating the predictive value of urinary L-FABP combined with the SOFA score for assessing COVID-19 severity

Although the symptoms of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) omicron strains are generally mild, some individuals with initially mild symptoms later required supplemental oxygen or hospitalization, while others died, highlighting the importance of rapid diagnosis and early treatment for such patients. Therefore, this study evaluated the benefit of a combined approach to identify individuals at risk of severe illness due to COVID-19 using urinary L-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) levels and the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores calculated from blood tests for pre-admission screening of patients with COVID-19. L-FABP, a non-invasive urine biomarker, and the SOFA score, an established method for assessing organ failure severity, were evaluated in conjunction with patient data collected from 842 individuals admitted to a hospital in Tokyo, Japan. The combined approach demonstrated a higher accuracy in identifying patients at risk of severe illness compared to the L-FABP levels or SOFA scores alone. Thus, the results suggest that a two-tiered screening process, utilizing measurement of L-FABP levels as an initial rapid test, followed by SOFA score assessment for high-risk patients, results in efficient pre-admission screening and improved patient management. In conclusion, this study underscores the potential of combining L-FABP levels and SOFA scores for optimizing patient care during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the need for further validation and refinement of the predictive models.

Can a bold ‘social contract’ make data sharing more palatable?

The diagnostic value of decreased levels of inflammatory markers for the state of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection

Background Blood-cell-based inflammatory biomarkers are increasingly recognized for their diagnostic value in infections due to their clinical accessibility. With Hepatitis C virus (HCV) incidence rising and its often asymptomatic onset, this study aims to improve diagnostic evidence for HCV by analyzing changes in these biomarkers. Methods Utilizing NHANES database, we employed binary logistic regression and generalized additive models to explore the relationship between systemic inflammatory index and HCV infection. Three adjusted models controlled for confounders, and subgroup analyses were stratified by age, gender, race, and BMI. Results Significant differences were observed in PLR (103.24 ± 44.59), SII (455.23 ± 339.56), PNR (58.22 ± 32.20), PMR (366.85 ± 191.76), and NMR (7.03 ± 3.78) between infected and uninfected groups (P < 0.05). Adjusted analyses revealed associations between anti-HCV and Log2-PLR (OR = 0.58), Log2-SII (OR = 0.64), Log2-PMR (OR = 0.77), and Log2-NMR (OR = 0.79). Individuals under 30 showed no significant differences. A unit increase below 9.30 in Log2-PMR reduced HCV risk by 0.60-fold. PMR demonstrated an AUC of 0.648, specificity 0.7632, and sensitivity 0.4709. Conclusion In individuals aged 30 and above, inflammatory markers PLR, SII, PMR, and NMR decrease in HCV cases. Variability across races, genders, and BMI groups highlights their diagnostic utility in diverse populations.

How to build nature back better — read this manual

Influence of SARS-CoV-2 infection before and during organogenesis on embryo implantation and development outcomes: A prospective cohort observational study

Background Extensive research has demonstrated the detrimental effects of COVID-19 on maternal-fetal outcomes. However, few studies have examined the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection before and during organogenesis on human embryo implantation and subsequent development. Additionally, the influence of SARS-CoV-2 on the endometrial microenvironment, which is critical for embryo implantation, remains poorly understood. This study seeks to address these gaps in knowledge. Methods and findings We prospectively enrolled 971 participants undergoing frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) during the final two months of 2022, coinciding with the nationwide COVID19 outbreak following the end of China’s Zero-Covid policy. Patients undergoing FET during this period were at high risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection before and during organogenesis. Based on self-reported symptoms and nucleic acid testing, 520 individuals were confirmed to have SARS-CoV-2 infection, while 451 were uninfected. Consistent with existing literature, our study reinforced that SARS-CoV-2 infection negatively impacted pregnancy outcomes, as evidenced by reduced clinical pregnancy (52.69% vs. 76.50%, RR = 60.506, [95%CI, 0.259 ~ 0.452]) and live birth rates (46.54% vs. 60.09%, RR = 17.865, [95%CI, 0.448 ~ 0.746]), alongside an increase in obstetric complications (35.89% vs. 27.37%, RR = 4.380, [95%CI, 1.055 ~ 2.223]). Seven fetal congenital heart defects (CHDs) were observed in the infected group versus one in uninfected population. Bioinformatic analysis of endometrial mRNA profiles showed SARS-CoV-2 infection significantly downregulated key endometrial receptivity molecules, increased natural killer cell and mast cell infiltration, and disrupted the balance of cytokine and chemokine. Moreover, our findings demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 infection downregulated the transcriptional activity of endometrial SLC6A, a serotonin transporter, and ErbB-2, a mediator of serotonin-regulated differentiation in cardiac development. This disruption in serotonin signaling may underlie the pathogenesis of congenital heart disease. Conclusions SARS-CoV-2 infection before and during organogenesis negatively impacts embryo implantation and development, primarily through mechanisms involving compromised endometrial receptivity and disruption of the local immune microenvironment.

Iggy bop: how I tune in to the needs of Galápagos marine iguanas

Minimum dietary diversity and its associated factors among children aged 6–23 months in Senegal: Evidence from the demographic and health survey, 2023

Background Children between the ages of 6 and 23 months should be provided a variety of foods to ensure that their nutrient needs are satisfied, according to World Health Organization guidelines for feeding children. In Senegal, lower dietary diversity and an inability to meet nutrient requirements raise the risk of anemia and other disorders caused by a lack of funds and resources, which are essential for consuming a nutrient-rich diet. The objective of this study was to assess minimum dietary diversity and its associated factors among children aged 6–23 months in Senegal using the most recent demographic and health survey data (2023). Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Senegal using data from the most recent continuous demographic and health survey, 2023. A total of 2,995 children aged 6–23 months were included in the study. Using STATA Version 14 software, the data were extracted, cleaned, and analyzed. A multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with meeting minimum dietary diversity. Finally, variables with a p-value less than 0.05 were declared statistically significant. Results In the present study, the proportion of children aged 6−23 months who meet minimum dietary diversity in Senegal was 23.61% (95% CI: 22.12, 25.16). Factors like media exposure [AOR = 1.51; 95% CI (1.08, 2.13)], household wealth index [AOR = 1.84; 95% CI (1.24, 2.74)], ANC visits [AOR = 1.50; 95% CI (1.05, 2.13)], current breastfeeding status [AOR = 1.82; 95% CI (1.37, 2.43)], age of the child [AOR = 7.47; 95% CI (5.43, 10.3)], number of under-5 children in the household [AOR = 3.97; 95% CI (1.38, 11.4)], and community-level media exposure [AOR = 1.41; 95% CI (1.03, 1.93)] were significantly associated with meeting minimum dietary diversity. Conclusions Nearly one in four children aged 6 to 23 months achieved minimum dietary diversity in Senegal. Children from mothers with media exposure, wealthier households, attending 4 + antenatal care visits, currently breastfeeding, older children, and no under-5 children in the household were associated with higher odds of meeting minimum dietary diversity. Therefore, improving media access, women’s empowerment, enhancing antenatal care service utilization, encouraging continued breastfeeding, and giving prior attention to younger children aged 6–11 months and mothers who had under-five children in the household are strongly recommended.

A cross-cultural investigation of the short version of the Celebrity Attitude Scale (CAS-7) across five countries

Background Celebrity worship, conceptualized as an obsessive admiration of celebrities, has generated considerable research interest over the past two decades. Admiration towards a favorite celebrity has been commonly assessed by the 23-item Celebrity Attitude Scale (CAS). Recently, a 7-item short version (CAS-7) was developed on a representative sample of Hungarian adults. This study aimed to provide further evidence for the validity and reliability of the CAS-7 measure by extending the investigation of its factor structure to other cultures and populations. Methods Data from 4,353 participants (64.4% women, Mage = 28.22 years, SD = 11.80, age range: 14–93 years) across five countries (Canada, Hungary, Indonesia, Iran, US) were used, which was collected through online questionnaires. Results Consistent with previous findings, the bifactor structure with celebrity worship as a general factor and entertainment–social and intense–pathological specific factors showed the best fit in all samples. Reliability indices for the celebrity worship general factor were good. Conclusions The present findings confirmed the reliability and the consistency of the factor structure of the CAS-7 across different samples, providing further evidence for the applicability of the CAS-7 in different cultures.

‘Candidatus Pseudomonas auctus’ sp. nov. JDE115 isolated from nodules on soybean (Glycines max)

A Gram-negative, facultative anaerobic, rod-shaped, motile with peritrichous flagella, fluorescent bacterium, designated ‘Candidatus Pseudomonas auctus’ sp. nov. JDE115, was isolated from soybean root nodules in Virginia and characterized using a comprehensive integrative methodology. Growth of JDE115 occurred with 0–5.0% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 1%), at pH 6.0–10.0 (optimum pH 7.0), and at 10–40°C (optimum 28°C) in LB broth. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene placed the isolate as a member of a novel species within the genus Pseudomonas. Phylogenetic analyses based on whole-genome sequences, 16S rRNA, showed JDE115 having the highest similarity to Pseudomonas glycinae MS586. Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) analysis also revealed the highest similarity of JDE115 to Pseudomonas glycinae MS586 (94.59%), which is below the 95% threshold for species delineation. Genome-to-genome distance analysis (GGDC, Formula 2) showed a maximum value of 57.10% with the same strain, far below the 70% cutoff. The primary isoprenoid quinone detected in JDE115 was ubiquinone-9 (Q-9) and the DNA G + C content was 60.68 mol%. The whole-cell fatty acid profile was dominated by C16:0, C17:0 cyclo, and the summed features 3 (C16:1ω7c and/or C16:1ω6c) and 8 (C18:1ω7c and/or C18:1ω6c). Additional fatty acids detected included 12:0, 14:0, and 18:0. Based on these phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and phylogenetic data, strain JDE115 is proposed to represent a new species in the genus Pseudomonas, for which the name ‘Candidatus Pseudomonas auctus’ sp. nov. is proposed.

Rainer Weiss obituary: Nobel laureate who pioneered the technique that detected gravitational waves

Community willingness to participate in prehospital injury care: A cross-sectional survey of injury-prone areas along the national 3 highway in Cameroon

Background Road traffic injuries (RTIs) are a growing public health problem requiring urgent attention in Cameroon where emergency medical services (EMS) are underdeveloped. In other countries, training laypersons to provide prehospital care has been shown to improve injury outcomes, but requires buy-in from the persons being trained to provide care. To inform development of a lay first responder (LFR) program in Cameroon, this study aimed to assess the willingness of community members and associated factors to provide prehospital care for RTIs along the N3 highway, a road linking Cameroon’s two largest cities, known to have high incidence of RTIs. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey of community members living along the N3 highway, between June 18th and August 16th, 2024. Health district officials and community leaders identified N3 communities across 11 health districts with high rates of RTI. Purposeful sampling was performed in each community to assess exposure to injury and willingness to participate in prehospital care. Trained research assistants verbally administered a structured questionnaire to each consenting household representative; data collected included socio-demographic characteristics, injury exposure, first aid knowledge and attitudes, and willingness to provide prehospital care to victims of RTIs. Associations between demographic factors and willingness to provide prehospital care were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. Data were analyzed using IBM-SPSS version 26.0 and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results A total of 449 adult community members were surveyed. Most [268 (59.7%)) respondents were male with a median age of 33 years (interquartile range: 26–40). The majority, 333 (74.6%) community members were willing to provide care to injured victims. However, a third [167 (37.2%)] had adequate knowledge (scored ≥ 80%) of first aid and only 23 (5%) had been trained in first aid. Factors independently associated with willingness to provide prehospital care included having adequate first aid knowledge (adjusted odd ratio (aOR) = 1.69, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01–2.81, p = 0.046), primary education (aOR=4.20, 95% CI: 1.19–4.81, p = 0.026) and secondary education (aOR=4.70, 95% CI: 1.34–16.53, p = 0.016) compared to respondents with no formal education, prior witness of RTI (aOR=1.68, 95% CI: 1.055–2.68, p = 0.028), being aged between 30 and 40 years (aOR=1.82, 95% CI: 1.06–3.14, p = 0.031) and community members being able to call dedicated phone numbers to report RTIs (aOR=3.11, 95% CI: 1.28–7.54, p = 0.012). Conclusion Most community members living in injury exposed-communities reported willingness to participate in prehospital care. However, first-aid knowledge is currently lacking in these communities. LFR training is needed in these communities to enable willing community members to contribute to prehospital efforts for RTIs along this road network.

Induction of an early IFN-γ cellular response and high plasma levels of SDF-1α are inversely associated with COVID-19 severity and residence in rural areas in Kenyan patients

Introduction COVID-19 was less severe in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) compared with Europe and North America. It is unclear whether these differences could be explained immunologically. Here we determined levels of ex vivo SARS-CoV-2 peptide-specific IFN-γ producing cells, and plasma cytokines and chemokines over the first month of COVID-19 diagnosis among Kenyan COVID-19 patients from urban and rural areas. Methods Between June 2020 and August 2022, we recruited and longitudinally monitored 188 COVID-19 patients from two regions in Kenya, Nairobi (urban, n = 152) and Kilifi (rural, n = 36), with varying disease severity – severe, mild/moderate, and asymptomatic. IFN-γ secreting cells were enumerated at 0-, 7-, 14- and 28-days post diagnosis by an ex vivo enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot) assay following in vitro stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with overlapping peptides from several SARS-CoV-2 proteins. A multiplexed binding assay was used to measure levels of 22 plasma cytokines and chemokines. Results Higher frequencies of IFN-γ-secreting cells against SARS-CoV-2 spike peptides were observed on the day of diagnosis among asymptomatic compared to patients with severe COVID-19. Higher concentrations of 17 of the 22 cytokines and chemokines measured were positively associated with severe disease, particularly interleukin (IL)-8, IL-18 and IL-1ra (p < 0.0001), while a lower concentration of SDF-1α was associated with severe disease (p < 0.0001). Concentrations of 8 and 16 cytokines and chemokines including IL-18 were higher among Nairobi asymptomatic and mild patients compared to their respective Kilifi counterparts. Conversely, concentrations for SDF-1α were higher in rural Kilifi compared to Nairobi (p = 0.012). Conclusion In Kenya, as seen elsewhere, pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were associated with severe COVID-19, while an early IFN-γ cellular response to overlapping SARS-CoV-2 spike peptides was associated with reduced risk of disease. Living in urban Nairobi (compared with rural Kilifi) was associated with increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines.

Simulating HIV transmission dynamics: An agent-based approach using NetLogo

Many studies have employed Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) to study the complex dynamics of HIV transmission. However, these studies often focus narrowly on specific subpopulations and limited parameters, restricting the potential of ABM to capture the intricate interrelationships between diverse subpopulations. This paper proposes an improved ABM to simulate HIV epidemic dynamics, exploring parameters such as sexual behaviors, drug use, condom usage, testing frequency, and treatment-seeking behavior. Calibrated with empirical data from the Philippines, the simulation closely aligns with national HIV infection trends from 2010 to 2018, achieving a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 3.5 and a Mean Squared Error (MSE) of 14.9. Findings indicate that extended commitment duration, consistent condom use, sexual inactivity, high testing frequencies, and strict adherence to treatment significantly lowers HIV transmission rate. The simulation results mirror trends observed in other studies, suggesting that the enhanced model provides reliable and expected outcomes. The results also illustrate the relationships between different factors, highlighting the model’s comprehensive approach. Furthermore, the model effectively captures the trends within a 10-year period, predicting the cyclical rise and fall of new infections every 2 to 3 years, along with the overall decline in the percentage of new infections over time. This paper represents an initial step, prompting further efforts to enhance understanding and public health interventions.

Retraction: Board characteristics, institutional ownership, and investment efficiency: Evidence from an emerging market

Diabetes drug shows anti-ageing effects on chromsomes

Genetic association of lipids characteristics and lipid lowering drug target genes with sepsis

Background Sepsis is a severe systemic infection that can result in organ dysfunction and mortality. Dyslipidemia emerges as a key player in the intricate web of sepsis pathogenesis. Yet, the causal relationship between blood lipid profiles and sepsis risk remains uncertain. This study aims to investigate the association between genetically predicted lipid traits, drug targets, and sepsis. Methods The UK Biobank’s Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) produced data on lipid and apolipoprotein characteristics. Four independent GWAS datasets were used to generate the sepsis statistics. The study utilized the two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach, which incorporates multivariable (MVMR) models, to assess the correlations between sepsis risk and lipid-related parameters. To gain further insight, expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) data were used to investigate the significant drug targets for lipid-lowering. Results Increasing ApoA-1 levels was associated with a diminished risk of sepsis (under 75) (OR 0.927, 95% CI 0.861–0.999; p = 0.047). This inverse correlation persevered even after performing multivariable MR. Elevated levels of HDL-C were associated with a decreased risk of sepsis (under 75) (OR 0.897, 95% CI 0.838–0.960; P = 0.002) and incidence of sepsis (OR 0.883, 95% CI 0.820–0.951; P = 0.001), which was consistent across sensitivity analyses. Furthermore, a decrease in total cholesterol exhibited a causal effect on sepsis in multivariable MR (OR 0.779, 95% CI 0.642–0.944; P = 0.01). The genetic variants related to lowering LDL-C, located near the HMGCR and LDLR genes, were predicted to elevate the risk of sepsis. Moreover, genetic mimicry near the ANGPTL3 and LPL gene suggested that reducing the activity of ANGPTL3 and LPL (mimicking antisense anti-ANGPTL3 and LPL agents) was forecasted to decrease sepsis risk. Conclusion Genetically inferred elevated ApoA-1, total cholesterol, and HDL-C manifest a protective effect against sepsis. Within the 9 lipid-lowering drug targets investigated ANGPTL3 and LPL exhibit potential as candidate drug targets for sepsis.