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Postzygotic mosaicism in SMC1A and the first reported case of a female with Cornelia de Lange syndrome
A Cross-Sectional Study of Drowning in Saudi Arabia Using First Responder Data
Abstract Drowning is a significant public health issue and is considered one of the most avoidable yet underappreciated causes of mortality worldwide. Drowning likely presents a significant public health burden in Saudi Arabia, especially in children. To our knowledge only three studies have been conducted investigating drowning in Saudi Arabia, all of which were single center hospital-based studies. This is the first national cross-sectional study to assess drowning epidemiology in Saudi Arabia and the first to utilize first responder data. This study’s main objectives are to quantify the burden of drowning in Saudi Arabia, and describe the epidemiological profile and geographic distribution of drowning cases across the country. We conducted a cross-sectional study using electronic data from the Saudi Red Crescent Authority (SRCA) on drowning incidents between January 2019 to November 2021. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were calculated using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), software for Windows (version 23.0). Men and children under 4 had the highest incidence of drowning, with 2021 incidence rates of 19.86 and 54.08 per million, respectively. The regions of Makkah, Riyadh, and Dammam, had the largest number of cases, accounting for 30.49% (n = 501), 19.84% (n = 326), and 13.02% (n = 214) of all cases respectively. The regions with the highest drowning incidence in 2021 were Tabuk, Al-baha, Makkah, Jizan, and Hail with incidence rates of 32.32, 27. 96, 22.28, 20.97, and 20.5 per million people, respectively. Drowning is a leading cause of death in Saudi Arabia and globally, with young children most at risk. Our study identifies data gaps and high-incidence areas requiring further investigation. The low bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) rate and high mortality call for better public education on drowning prevention and first aid.
Effects of different activation strategies on standing start performance in elite female track cyclists
Evaluation of MRI-based synthetic CT for lumbar degenerative disease: a comparison with CT
Use of antiviral medications during pregnancy and the likelihood of preeclampsia in a population-based register study
Abstract Viral infections and reactivations have been linked to several pregnancy complications. Antiviral medications are often prescribed as a prophylactic measure to prevent infant infection. This study examines associations between antiviral medication use during pregnancy and preeclampsia, thereby exploring links between viruses and such pregnancy complication. We analyzed data from 618,814 first-time mothers in Sweden (2007–2019) using four national registers. Of these 27,135 (4.4%) developed preeclampsia and 18,004 (2.9%) filled an antiviral medication prescription. Adjusted logistic regression with inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to evaluate associations between use of antiviral medication and preeclampsia. Antiviral medication use was associated with a reduced likelihood of preeclampsia (aOR 0.88; 95% CI, 0.81–0.96). Particularly, antiviral medication use was associated with a reduced likelihood of developing preeclampsia with delivery before 34 weeks gestation (aOR 0.66; 95% CI, 0.48–0.92) and preeclampsia with a small for gestational age infant (aOR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.57–0.96). Timing of antiviral prescription filling was also investigated. Antiviral medication use in the third trimester was associated with a reduced likelihood of preeclampsia (aOR 0.77; 95% CI, 0.67–0.90), but not when used during the first two trimesters. Our study suggests that viral infections or reactivation might play a role in the etiology of preeclampsia, highlighting the need to further explore viral infections’ role in preeclampsia development.
Open pilot study of a guided digital self-help intervention targeting sleep and the biological clock in university students using a pre-test post-test design
Abstract Insomnia is common among university students and is associated with mental health problems. Students often have irregular day/night rhythms, which contribute to circadian rhythm disruptions. This open pilot study investigated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a 5-week digital guided self-help intervention in university students with self-reported insomnia. The intervention is based on cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia with specific emphasis on the biological clock (‘i-Sleep & BioClock’). We assessed feasibility and acceptability. Pre- to post-intervention (7-week) changes in insomnia, depression, anxiety, chronotype, and quality of life were evaluated. Of 101 included students, 81 accessed the platform, 41 initiated the intervention, and 13 completed the intervention. Post-test response was 39%. Students rated the intervention with good acceptability and the platform with excellent usability. Study completers (n = 39) showed large improvements in insomnia severity (p < 0.001, d = 1.04), and moderate improvements in depression (p < 0.001, d = 0.63), anxiety (p < 0.001, d = 0.35), and functioning (p < 0.001, d = 0.56). No significant changes were found in quality of life (p = 0.07, d = 0.19). To summarize, the intervention had low uptake but moderate adherence and fairly good acceptability along with important improvements in sleep, mental health, and functioning. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05363995.
Optimization and performance of expanded polystyrene concrete for sustainable infill wall construction using response surface methodology
Burden and risk factors of premature drowning mortality in 204 countries and territories, 1980–2021
Optimization of MXene-based aqueous ionic liquids for solar systems using conventional and AI-based techniques
Developing a new protocol for monitoring vegetation in limestone pavement
Abstract Limestone pavements are a rocky habitat formed of slabs of rock with crevices (grikes) between them where a rich community of plants can grow. The habitat is important for conservation but there is currently a lack of evidence to support their management and conservation. Putting monitoring in place when management changes are made will help to build an evidence base to support decision making in conservation but it can be challenging to monitor vegetation in limestone pavements. Here I present a monitoring protocol suitable for use by conservation practitioners and others working in limestone pavements. Following discussion with practitioners, 24 pavements were selected to represent the variety of pavements in Great Britain. Transect surveys were conducted to identify the optimal length of grike for survey. Based on existing practice in other habitats, a suitable approach to when management changes are being made would be to use a before-after-control-impact design. Within each 2500 m2 plot twenty 10 m transects, randomly placed in grikes, should provide sufficient coverage for repeat monitoring. Species should be identified to a species level wherever possible and cover estimated. The results of the analysis support the view that the new method is a reliable approach.
Barriers of continuous positive airway pressure machine purchasing in older adults with obstructive sleep apnea
Comparative study of the effects of different iron sources on bioavailability and gastrointestinal tolerability in iron-deficient rats
Research on a noise-suppression super-resolution enhancement module for positron flow field images based on convolution and SwinTransformer structures
Advancements in noise reduction for wheel speed sensing using enhanced LSTM models
Analysis of thermal wave scattering and temperature distribution in sub-surface, defects of gradient construction materials
A molecular specimen bank for contemporary and future study captures landscape-scale biodiversity baselines before Klamath River dam removal
Nitrogen-doped carbon-based phenolic resin loaded with Pd NPs for hydrodechlorination of 4-Chlorophenol
Evaluating energy efficiency in Turkish electric distribution using network DEA and GA models
Generation of picosecond pulses using soliton compression in a dual cavity laser
Abstract In this work, the development of a novel ultra-short laser system is presented, building upon previous research in passive mode-locking using cross-amplitude modulation (XAM). By combining XAM with cascaded second-order nonlinearity mode-locking (CSM) the system produced a stable bright-dark two-color output with picosecond pulses and a repetition rate of 275 MHz with an average output power of 100 mW for an 808 nm pump power of 4 W. The experimental setup involved two Nd: YVO4 lasers operating at 1064 nm and 1342 nm, where the two cavities were interconnected with a dichroic mirror allowing for a shared section where a periodically poled KTiOPO4 (PPKTP) was introduced. In the separate sections, the independently diode-pumped laser crystals were placed. The enhanced intra-cavity intensity achieved through XAM enabled effective pulse compression via CSM. The results demonstrate the system’s ability to generate near-transform-limited pulses as short as 14 ps, offering potential for applications such as medical imaging and LIDAR.