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Correction: The role of C5aR1-mediated hepatic macrophage efferocytosis in NASH

Small flakes for sharp needs: Technological behaviour in the Lower Palaeolithic site of Marathousa 1, Greece

Marathousa 1 (~430 ka BP), located in the Megalopolis Basin, Greece, represents the earliest documented butchery site in the Southern Balkans, providing clear evidence of a direct association between artefacts and remains of Palaeoloxodon antiquus. The lithic assemblage features a distinctive small tools industry, primarily produced from local radiolarite, comprising both simple flakes and retouched tools. Through technological analysis, raw material characterisation, experimental knapping, and statistical analyses, this study explores how Middle Pleistocene hominins organised their technological behaviour as reflected in the lithic assemblage, and how these behaviours were shaped by the resource-rich setting of the Megalopolis Basin, characterised by abundant raw materials, water sources, and faunal availability. Results demonstrate the interplay between freehand and bipolar knapping, reflecting a flexible technological strategy to exploit the available radiolarite. Freehand percussion was mainly used in flake production, while the bipolar technique facilitated initial core reduction and late-stage exhaustion. The consistent microlithisation at the site is also evident in the exploitation of other locally available raw materials, such as limestone, flint, and quartz, supporting previous studies demonstrating small flakes’ effectiveness in diverse tasks. Technological patterns at Marathousa 1 broadly correspond to those observed at other Middle Pleistocene small tool sites; however, its distinctive intersection of raw material availability, technological choices and functional demands provides new insights into regional patterns of lithic variability across Eurasia during this period.

A neuro-symbolic AI approach for translating children’s stories from English to Tamil with emotional paraphrasing

Prevalence and associated factors of depression among stroke family caregivers on follow up at Jimma medical center, southwest, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

Background Taking care of stroke patients puts a high burden on their caregivers, and this leads to emotional disturbances like depression. However, little is known about the prevalence and associated factors of depression among family caregivers of stroke patients in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of depression among family caregivers of patients with stroke who have follow-up in Jimma Medical Center. Method An institution-based cross-sectional study of 306 family caregivers of stroke patients was conducted using a consecutive sampling method. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. The Patient Health Questionnaires-9 (PHQ-9) was used to screen outcome variable (i.e., depression). The data was entered into Epi-data version 4.6 and exported to the statistical package for social science version 25 for analysis. Bivariable analyses followed by multivariable logistic regression models were performed. The association between depression and associated factors was estimated using an odds ratio of 95%CI and a p-value of less than 0.05 in the final model. Result From a total 310 sample size 306 family caregivers were participated, making a response rate of 98.7%. The prevalence of depression among family caregivers was found to be 35.9% (95% CI = 30.54, 41.35). Poor social support (AOR = 2.31, 95% CI: 1.05–5.08), severe physical dependence of patients (AOR = 3.09, 95% CI: 1.44–6.60), lack of medical insurance (AOR = 2.52, 95% CI: 1.34–4.75), spending more than 13 hours per day on care (AOR = 5.72, 95% CI: 2.32–8.12), and illness duration of 6 months (AOR = 3.50, 95% CI: 1.61–7.60) were factors significantly associated with depression. Conclusions and recommendations This study found that more than one third of family caregivers of stroke patients have depression and almost the same with similar studies conducted across different countries of the world. Poor social support of caregivers, no health insurance by caregivers, greater than 13 hours of care per day, less than six months of illness duration, and severe dependence of patients on caregivers were variables associated with depression. Early detection of depression by health professional working at outpatient service and intervention of identified risk factors among stroke family caregivers were recommended for Jimma medical center and local health sector directors were recommended.

Parameter optimization for fly ash geopolymer mixtures: molarity, silica modulus, and solution/binder influence

Ageing is linked to inflammation — but only in the industrialized world

Daily briefing: NIH still uses directives deemed illegal to screen grants

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Trump team says it’s axing some contracts with publishing giant Springer Nature

External and internal intensity profiles of older male and female participants during a walking football game

Background Walking football (WF) can be used as an impactful activity for healthy aging and decrease the high levels of sedentary behavior among older adults. This study examines the external and internal intensity profiles of male and female participants during a WF tournament, addressing a gap in research on game demands and induced load. Methods The study involved 176 players aged 50 + participating in a 40-min, 5v5 WF tournament with unlimited substitutions. External intensity profiles (total and categorized distances) were measured using Global Positioning System (GPS), while heart rate (HR) monitors assessed internal intensity profiles, including absolute HR and intensity zones based on %HRmax. Results The proportion of male participants (n = 123; 70.3%) was higher than females (n = 52; 29.7%), p < .001. They were similar in age (61.6 ± 8.6 and 60.8 ± 6.9, respectively). Males covered a higher distance per minute than females, with sex showing a moderate effect (63.3 ± 10.7 m/min vs. 54.7 ± 15.8 m/min; p < .001; Cohen’s dunbiased = 0.69 [0.36; 1.03]), especially in fast walking (41.7 ± 12.2 m/min vs. 32.6 ± 16.7 m/min; p < .001; Cohen’s dunbiased = 0.66 [0.33; 1.00]). Males played more time than females (22:26 ± 09:47 min:ss vs. 15:41 ± 07:46 min:ss; p < .001), with moderate effect (Cohen’s dunbiased = 0.73 [0.40; 1.06]). However, no differences between sexes were identified in the intensity load variables, such that the female average %HRmax was 80 ± 11% and the male was 82 ± 8% during the practice. Conclusions Overall, while males generally exhibit higher external intensity profiles in WF, both sexes experience similar internal intensity profiles, highlighting WF’s potential as a scalable, health-promoting intervention for aging populations.

Decoding the “Pain-to-Door” interval using psychological, medical, and demographic factors: A multi-center study

Background Reducing the amount of time between the onset of symptoms and presentation to a healthcare facility, namely the “pain-to-door” interval, is of utmost importance in patients with myocardial infarction. In the present study, we aimed to shed light on the psychological, medical, and demographic factors that are associated with this vital time, and the details of this association. Methods We used the baseline data of 1685 participants from a 3-year, multi-centric, cohort study. The pain to door time was estimated as the interval between symptoms’ onset and arrival at the hospital. Patients were asked to fill out valid and reliable questionnaires regarding sociodemographic factors, depression, health anxiety, type D personality, sense of coherence, coping strategies, and quality of life. Data was then analyzed to attain the p-value and hazard ratios (HR) of different variables. Results In the multivariate analysis, being male (HR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.68–0.98) and a history of angina (0.82, 0.69–0.96) were associated with shorter pain-to-door durations. A history of diabetes mellitus also made the cut marginally (p-value: 0.059). On the contrary, health anxiety (1.27, 1.09–1.49), history of depression (1.57, 1.21–2.05), high socioeconomic status (1.25, 1.03–1.51) and sense of coherence (1.34, 1.14–1.57) scores were associated with longer pain-to-door durations. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that personal, social, and economical characteristics play a pivotal role in determining patients’ pain-to-door time duration. Screening high-risk individuals in terms of the factors that tend to increase the pain-to-door time alongside educating people and healthcare providers on the importance of this interval and its contributing factors must be a priority considering the devastating burden of CVDs.

Differentiating bacteria by their unique surface interactions

New, rapid, and accessible approaches to bacterial detection are necessary to help curb the rising impacts of antimicrobial resistance. In this study, we introduce a technique that distinguishes bacteria through their unique surface interactions. By measuring and combining the interaction strengths of a bacterium across a set of chemically defined surfaces, we produced a novel bacterial identifier termed the surface interaction profile (SIP). The interaction strengths of twelve test bacteria across three discrete polyelectrolyte multilayer films (PEMs) were measured, facilitated by introducing each bacterial suspension to individual PEMs in microfluidic channels over a 10-minute interaction period and rinsing to remove bulk and loosely bound bacteria. The remaining surface-bound cells were counted via microscopy and plotted against suspension concentrations to build attachment curves whose slopes were measured as the strength of interaction for a given bacteria-PEM combination. These slopes were collected, per bacterial type, to produce each SIP. SIPs were capable of distinguishing between our pathogenic strains (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus) by Gram stain and individual species, and each blind test pathogen was successfully identified through SIP comparison. Furthermore, SIPs were also successful at differentiating between select Staphylococcus aureus walKR mutants impacting cell wall metabolism and high-risk antibiotic resistance mutants (MRSA and VISA), highlighting the utility and future diagnostic potential of this technique.

Dissecting the inhibitory activity of Burkholderia orbicola against Gram-positive and - negative multidrug-resistant bacteria

The genus Burkholderia is currently recognized for producing several antimicrobial compounds with potential applications in developing novel treatments for infectious diseases, including those caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. This study aimed to investigate the ability of Burkholderia orbicola TAtl-371T and CACua-24 to inhibit the growth of MDR human pathogens and to analyze the chemical composition of active extracts from cultures of these strains to identify putative compounds associated with their activity. The double-layer agar technique was used to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of B. orbicola strains. Sequential solvent extraction with hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and methanol was conducted on B. orbicola cultures, and the active extract was analyzed by bioautography and fractionated using preparative thin-layer chromatography. Putative antimicrobials in the active fraction were identified through 1H, 13C NMR, and mass spectrometry. B. orbicola strains inhibited several MDR strains of Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus on double-layer agar probes, displaying inhibition halos ranging from 5 to 41 mm. The hexane extract showed the best inhibitory activity against MDR strains, except for P. aeruginosa strains. Analysis through thin-layer chromatography and bioautography revealed a tailing spot with antimicrobial activity. The spectroscopic analysis of this tailing spot revealed the presence of the siderophore fragin. This fragin-containing fraction inhibited the MDR A. baumannii (1024 µg/mL), K. pneumoniae 903137 (128 µg/mL), E. coli (256 µg/mL), and S. aureus (128 µg/mL), but no effect was observed against P. aeruginosa. This fraction also inhibited yeasts of the species Candida albicans and Nakaseomyces glabratus, suggesting an antimicrobial spectrum that extends beyond MDR bacteria. The genomic sequence analysis of strains TAtl-371T and CACua-24 revealed a cluster of 7 genes, resulting in the same organization and over 99% similarity to the fragin genes reported for Burkholderia cenocepacia H111. This study highlights the potential of B. orbicola to produce fragin and its potential activity against MDR bacteria that affect human health worldwide.

Malaria prevention in the age of climate change: A community survey in rural Senegal

Background Malaria results in over 600,000 deaths per year, with 95 percent of all cases occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. Insecticide treated mosquito nets have long been proven to be the most effective prevention method to protect at-risk people from malaria. Temperature increases may now be changing sleeping habits and how people use available mosquito nets. Based on observations of increasing outdoor sleeping and fragility of the mosquito nets, this study evaluated a rural west African population to determine barriers to mosquito net use, including net fragility, heat and outdoor sleeping. Methods This study used a social ecological framework used by the Peace Corps to determine this community’s barriers to malaria prevention. We practiced community-based participatory research by developing and implementing a survey in rural southeast Senegal. Local village health workers received special training to implement this survey. Observations of the mosquito nets and sleeping spaces were performed by surveyors. 164 households in 20 villages were surveyed from October to November of 2012. Results There was a 100% response rate, with 164 of the 164 selected households surveyed, representing 21% of this local population. For the 1806 family members, respondents assessed a total need of 1565 nets, implying that each individual in this area needs 0.86 nets (95% CI: 0.77–0.95). Survey responses gave rich, informative responses about mosquito net use. For example: ‘If it’s in the room set up properly under the mattress then it will be fine. But if it’s outside with the beds that don’t have mattresses, then it will deteriorate quickly.’ The main reasons for not using an available net were heat and fragility of the nets. This population had very positive attitudes regarding mosquito nets and appreciated the work of local malaria educators. Conclusions In a rural Senegalese population with a high malaria burden, our survey indicated a need for 0.86 insecticide treated nets per person. This is 54% higher than the current WHO recommendation of 0.56 ITNs per person. Our findings suggest that there are not enough nets because routine village conditions lead to considerable net damage, and because the heat leads people to sleep outdoors, where they likely do not have mosquito nets. With global warming, we suspect this population will spend even more time sleeping outside, aggravating the current insufficiency. Further research should investigate optimal interventions to address this challenge, including nets designed for outside use and for higher durability.

Intense low-frequency sound transiently biases human sound lateralisation

Intense low-frequency (LF) sound exposure transiently alters hearing thresholds and other markers of cochlear sensitivity, and for these changes the term ‘Bounce phenomenon’ (BP) has been coined. Under the BP, hearing thresholds slowly oscillate for several minutes involving both stages of hyper- and hyposensitivity and it is reasonable to assume that the perception of sounds at levels well above threshold will also be affected. Here, we evaluated the effect of the BP on auditory lateralisation in healthy human subjects. Sound lateralisation crucially depends on the processing of either interaural level- or time differences (ILDs and ITDs, respectively), depending on the spectral content of the sound. The ILD needed to perceive a virtual sound source in the middle of the head was tracked across time. Measurements were carried out without and with a previous exposure to an intense LF-sound in the left ear, to elicit the BP. In 65% of the recordings, significant time-variant deviations from the perceived midline were observed after cessation of the LF-sound. In other words, a binaural stimulus perceived in the middle moved perceptually to the side and often back to the middle after presentation of the intense LF-sound. This means that intense LF-sound exposure can lead to a biasing of ILD-based sound localisation.

In utero exposure to electronic cigarette carriers alters craniofacial morphology

Objectives Despite the popularity of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), there is currently a lack of regulation and consistency regarding the formulation of the e-liquids that undergo combustion in use. The two main constituents of most e-liquids are the humectants propylene glycol (PG) and glycerol (vegetable glycerin, VG). E-liquids consist of a ratio of these two components with PG utilized to increase the “throat hit” effect and VG used to increase visible vapor. As PG-based e-liquids are known to generate more carcinogenic carbonyls and increase the uptake of nicotine, many commercial products have moved toward a more VG-centric formulation to reduce potential harm. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that a common VG-based formulation (30/70 PG/VG) would result in fewer negative effects on craniofacial growth compared to an evenly concentrated formulation (50/50 PG/VG) in the absence of nicotine. Materials and Methods Adult breeder mice were utilized to generate in utero ENDS component exposed litters including free air exposure (control), 30/70 PG/VG, and 50/50 PG/VG groups. The resulting pups were assessed at postnatal day 14 for skull morphology. Results Data demonstrate significant reductions in body weight, facial, and cranial dimensions, where there was a significant reduction in growth for the 30/70 PG/VG exposed group. There were no significant differences found between control and 50/50 PG/VG. Conclusions These results suggest the overall movement to a more VG-centric ENDS formulation may not result in reduced profile for health concerns. Further, it suggests that PG/VG are not a harmless carrier and now popular nicotine-free ENDS formulation may not be considered safe for use in pregnant populations.

Characterizing the trophic ecology of herbivorous coral reef fishes using stable isotope and fatty acid biomarkers

Understanding the trophic ecology of herbivorous and detritivorous fishes is essential for evaluating their ecological roles in coral reef ecosystems. In this study, we combined bulk stable isotope (δ15N and δ13C) and fatty acid analyses to investigate trophic partitioning and dietary resource use among herbivorous and detritivorous fishes from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Isotopic niches and fatty acid profiles confirmed significant trophic partitioning among algivores, detritivorous surgeonfishes, and parrotfishes. We also applied mixing models based on these ecological tracers to quantify the contributions of basal dietary sources to the fish. Our findings further support previous dietary knowledge for several species, including algivorous acanthurids, kyphosid chubs, and the rabbitfish Siganus doliatus. However, they also highlight trophic niche specializations within these groups, particularly in Naso unicornis, which assimilates substantial dietary protein from epiphytic cyanobacteria despite a macroalgal diet, and in the detritivorous Ctenochaetus striatus, which exhibited isotopic similarities to parrotfishes but differed in fatty acid composition, likely due to a higher intake of diatoms. Additionally, our analyses reinforce the distinctive dietary composition of parrotfishes, emphasizing the complexity of their feeding biology, in which microscopic photoautotrophs such as cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates play a key dietary role that has often been overlooked in previous studies on their nutritional ecology. Furthermore, these findings underscore the usefulness of multi-tracer approaches in refining our understanding of coral reef fish trophic ecology.

Public knowledge and attitudes towards wastewater treatment works and plastic pollution in the Vhembe District Municipality, South Africa

Concerns about plastic pollution and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have grown in communities near these facilities due to their negative effects on the local environment and public health. This study surveyed 150 community members in the municipality of Thulamela local municipality (TLM) in the Vhembe district municipality (VDM), and the data was analysed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS. Female participants (57.3%) comprised a larger proportion than male participants (41.3%), and employed participants (32.0%) were more represented than retired ones (4.6%). Sixty–one percent (61%) of participants knew WWTPs, while 39% were not. Forty–eight percent expressed concerns about WWTPs due to odours, health risks, and property value loss due to the proximity to the plants. Seventy–seven percent of participants reported being aware of plastic pollution in wastewater, while 54% indicated receiving information about this issue. Spearman’s rank–order correlation analysis revealed significant relationships among variables (sociodemographic and environmental consciousness behaviour), with higher education levels negatively correlated with WWTP awareness, while awareness of WWTPs positively correlated with knowledge of plastic pollution. Participants showed interest in educational outreach and gaining more information about WWTPs and plastic pollution. Public education and awareness campaigns are essential to address community concerns and increase environmental awareness.

Brain glucose and ketone metabolism in first-episode psychosis: Neuroimaging and brain metabolism before and after antipsychotic treatment: The protocol for the CAST-ATP study

First episode of psychosis (FEP) has an early onset and is associated with significant functional impairment, loss of productivity and premature cardiovascular disease. Antipsychotics (AP) remain the cornerstone treatment of FEP yet they fail to improve key symptom domains and contribute to the metabolic burden of this disorder. A growing body of evidence suggests that a metabolic deficit in the brain, specifically of glucose, at the earliest stages of illness could represent an etiopathological phenotype of FEP. Correcting this metabolic deficit could improve outcomes and disease course. The acronym for this study is CAST-ATP for the collaboration between our clinical research sites in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Sherbrooke and Toronto, on the subject of Antipsychotic (AP) treatment, PET and Psychosis. The main aims of CAST-ATP are to evaluate the effect of 1) a diagnosis of FEP, and, 2) 4–6 weeks of AP treatment on brain energy metabolism measured by PET scans (uptake of ketones and glucose). The hypothesis is that (i) glucose metabolism will be impaired in AP-naïve patients as compared to healthy controls, and (ii) this defect will be worsened by AP. In contrast, across the two aims, brain ketone metabolism is predicted to not be significantly influenced by FEP or AP treatment. Participants on both sites will undergo an imaging protocol (PET scans + MRI) in addition to measures of psychopathology and related peripheral metabolic, inflammatory and hormonal markers. If our hypothesis is confirmed, it will reinforce the strategy to leverage ketone supplementation to improve symptoms, functioning and quality of life by bypassing the brain glucose deficit in FEP. As such, this should be a significant therapeutic development. To this last point, the pharmaceutical treatment of schizophrenia spectrum disorders has not progressed beyond currently available AP for over seven decades.

Randomised controlled trials for improving health outcomes for people living with multiple long-term conditions: Protocol for a systematic review of methodological approaches, risk of bias and reporting quality

Introduction The number of people living with multiple long-term conditions (MLTC or multimorbidity) is increasing. There have been national and international calls for more and better research in this clinical area. This systematic review will assess the methodological approaches, risk of bias and standards of reporting of the included trials. This study will benchmark current methodological practice and identify areas for improvement. Methods and analysis MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL, CENTRAL and the International Research Community in Multimorbidity database will be searched from January 1999 to identify randomised controlled trials conducted with the aim of improving health outcomes for people living with MLTCs. Study screening, data extraction and the risk of bias assessment will be conducted independently by two reviewers. Data to be extracted will include study descriptors, design and analysis characteristics, methodological quality, bias and standard of reporting. A narrative synthesis will be conducted to summarise current methodological practice and to identify areas for improvement. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval is not required. The results of the review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and shared via conferences and webinars. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024595925