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Reconstructing spruce budworm outbreak severity: a comparison of paleoecological and tree-ring signals
Applying a centennial or millennial perspective to disturbance regimes permits an understanding of how these events have varied in the past in relation to climate change. Correctly interpreting this variability is crucial when preparing sustainable forest management practices for future warming. The eastern spruce budworm (Lepidoptera) is the most important biotic disturbance in the eastern Canadian boreal forest. Adult moths are covered by chitinous scales, and lepidopteran scale records in lake sediments have been analyzed to reconstruct Holocene spruce budworm populations. However, the magnitude of these scale accumulations has yet to be calibrated using an independent proxy. Here, we determine whether the impacts of spruce budworm defoliation are recorded by both sedimentary lepidopteran scale accumulations and tree-ring widths. Agreement between proxies was found at five of nine sites and strongest between the proportion of affected trees and scale accumulations while agreement in signal synchronicity was found at six of nine sites and strongest when comparing scale accumulations to a growth suppression index. A species-based composite chronology relying on white spruce produced the clearest outbreak record for both proxy records. Peak scale accumulations correlated well with smaller tree-ring widths, demonstrating that larger scale accumulations correspond to more severe defoliation events. Therefore, lepidopteran scales provide reliable records of spruce budworm abundance serving as a proxy record ameliorating our understanding of how budworm impacts have fluctuated at centennial and millennial time scales in the context of past climate change.
Monte carlo simulation for evaluating spatial dynamics of toxic metals and potential health hazards in sebou basin surface water
Geographic disparities in access to outpatient stroke rehabilitation in Texas
Background Outpatient rehabilitation plays a vital role in providing post-discharge care for stroke survivors’ optimum recovery. Geographic variability in access to post-stroke rehabilitation care in rural areas is poorly understood. Methods This study used Medicare claims from 2016 to 2019 to estimate incidence of stroke discharges home and compared rehabilitation utilization rates after discharge from acute hospitalization in the state of Texas. We also examined spatial accessibility to post-discharge outpatient rehabilitation centers between rural and urban areas. We supplemented claims results with a survey to better understand locations where outpatient rehabilitation clinics provided services to stroke patients. Results After discharge from the hospital, patients from rural counties neighboring urban counties had lower adjusted predicted probabilities of using outpatient clinic services compared to urban areas. Patients with primary diagnosis codes of stroke sequelae: adjusted relative rate of 0.84 (CI: 0.76,0.93) with an adjusted rate difference of −0.05 (CI: −0.08, −0.02), cerebral infarction: adjusted relative rate of 0.82 (CI: 0.72,0.91) with adjusted rate difference of −0.04 (CI: −0.06,-0.02), hemorrhagic patients: adjusted relative rate of 0.81 (CI: 0.71,0.91) with an adjusted rate difference of −0.04 (CI: −0.06,-0.01). We did not find discernable differences between rural and urban areas for home health utilization or the combination of outpatient clinic services with home health as a single category. Estimates from a floating-catchment spatial accessibility model scaled from 0 (worst access) to 1 (best access) showed that, compared to urban counties, indices in rural not adjacent to urban counties were −0.16 (CI: −0.23, −0.08) lower and −0.14 (CI: −0.20, −0.08) lower in rural areas in counties adjacent to urban counties. Conclusions Compared to urban areas, rural areas have lower spatial access to and utilization of outpatient clinic services in the state of Texas.
Influence of load-bearing wall material properties on building mine-induced dynamic response
Abstract Various construction materials are used in contemporary building structures. Modern buildings face impacts like dead, live, snow, and wind load. They may also face extreme conditions, such as seismic activity, which can threaten their safety and functionality. Few publications address how construction material choice affects a building’s dynamic response to seismic impacts, including mining tremors. The main goal of this article is to analyse the effect of load-bearing wall materials on a building’s dynamic response to mine-induced vibrations. Seven materials with different properties were considered: two types of reinforced concrete (standard and high-strength oil palm shell lightweight), cellular concrete, standard brick, and three types of sand-lime bricks. Numerical analysis was based on a low-rise building with a typical wall-bearing structure. The finite element method (FEM) was used to create a three-dimensional (3D) model of the building. The validity of the numerical model was verified through in situ experimental measurements of actual vibrations induced by mining tremors. The numerical predictions showed sufficient accuracy for a building with load-bearing walls made of brick. The study found that the properties of construction materials significantly impact the building’s dynamic behaviour under mine-induced excitations. The natural vibration frequencies of the building varied depending on the wall material used. The maximum vibration acceleration values due to mine tremors also varied significantly with the material type. Differences in maximum acceleration between materials reached up to 56.6% in some tremors. The highest values were observed for cellular concrete walls, which have the lowest stiffness. Using this material in areas affected by mine tremors is not advisable due to the high level of dynamic response, which could cause damage and negatively affect inhabitants. Fourier analyses of the calculated acceleration waveforms revealed differences in dominant vibration frequencies for different materials and tremors with varying energy levels. Although the vibration shapes of buildings with walls made of different materials were similar, the magnitudes of relative displacements differed. The dynamic response is complex, but for weaker tremors, displacement shapes in the longitudinal building direction dominated for all materials. The study concluded that the properties of load-bearing wall materials significantly influence the dynamic behaviour of a building subjected to mine-induced vibrations. This article makes significant scientific contributions and is innovative in several aspects. It presents a validated 3D FEM model for the numerical estimation of a building’s dynamic response to mine-induced kinematic loading. It also compares the effects of various construction materials on the dynamic response of buildings to mine-induced vibrations. By examining seven different materials within a single study, it adds valuable knowledge to the field. Additionally, it provides a practical finding that low-stiffness materials (especially cellular concrete) can lead to increased dynamic responses in mining areas, potentially posing a risk of damage.
Advancing infection profiling under data uncertainty through contagion potential
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of asymptomatic cases challenged the reliability of epidemiological statistics in policymaking. To address this, we introduced contagion potential (CP) as a continuous metric derived from sociodemographic and epidemiological data to quantify the infection risk posed by the asymptomatic within a region. However, CP estimation is hindered by incomplete or biased incidence data, where underreporting and testing constraints make direct estimation infeasible. To overcome this limitation, we employ a hypothesis-testing approach to infer CP from sampled data, allowing for robust estimation despite missing information. Even within the sample collected from spatial contact data, individuals possess partial knowledge of their neighborhoods, as their awareness is restricted to interactions captured by available tracking data. We introduce an adjustment factor that calibrates the sample CPs so that the sample is a reasonable estimate of the population CP. Further complicating estimation, biases in epidemiological and mobility data arise from heterogeneous reporting rates and sampling inconsistencies, which we address through inverse probability weighting to enhance reliability. Using a spatial model for infection spread through social mixing and an optimization framework based on the SIRS epidemic model, we analyze real infection datasets from Italy, Germany, and Austria. Our findings demonstrate that statistical methods can achieve high-confidence CP estimates while accounting for variations in sample size, confidence level, mobility models, and viral strains. By assessing the effects of bias, social mixing, and sampling frequency, we propose statistical corrections to improve CP prediction accuracy. Finally, we discuss how reliable CP estimates can inform outbreak mitigation strategies despite the inherent uncertainties in epidemiological data.
An exploration of the spatial and temporal factors influencing industrial park vitality using multi-source geospatial data
Social determinants of health, health behaviors, and general health among colorectal cancer survivors: A cross-sectional study
Purpose Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death globally, yet the extent to which social determinants of health (SDOH) and health behaviors contribute to disparities in general health status among colorectal cancer survivors (CRCS) is not well understood. This study aimed to identify SDOH associated with general health among CRCS and determine whether the number of current positive health behaviors mediated these associations. Methods Cross-sectional data from 655 CRCS participating in the 2017, 2019, or 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey were analyzed. The outcome was poor/fair general health. SDOH included age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, marital status, employment, income, and three healthcare accessibility factors. Current positive health behaviors were fruit intake, current vegetable intake, regular exercise, non-smoker, and non-user of alcohol. Multivariable regression covarying for chronic conditions was used to examine the relationship between the SDOH, health behaviors, and general health. Results The sample was primarily older adults (79.5%) and Non-Hispanic White (75.2%). Most had healthcare access (95.5%), with 39.5% having multiple chronic conditions and 32.6% reporting poor/fair health. Odds of poor/fair health were significantly greater among those unmarried (aOR = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.08, 3.33, p = .0263), unemployed (aOR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.09, 3.38, p = .0243), and reporting multiple chronic conditions (aOR = 2.97, 95% CI = 1.46, 6.01, p = .0026). The number of current positive health behaviors did not mediate these associations. Conclusion Family support and socioeconomic factors are important social contributors to general health disparities among CRCS. Establishing comprehensive social support systems is important to enhance the general health of CRCS.
A multi-perspective qualitative study on robotic-assisted surgery training demand
Liquefaction analysis of marine diversion dike foundation and gravel pile reinforcement treatment based on the PL-Finn model
This study investigates the liquefaction characteristics and failure mechanisms of sand foundations in the marine diversion dike of a coastal nuclear power plant, along with the anti-liquefaction performance of gravel pile-reinforced foundations. Using the three-dimensional finite difference software FLAC3D (Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua), we conducted numerical simulations of both unreinforced and reinforced liquefiable sand foundations. A three-dimensional model was developed, incorporating dynamic analysis with the PL-Finn constitutive model to simulate post-liquefaction large deformations. The efficacy of compacted gravel piles was evaluated through residual deformation, excess pore water pressure, and pore pressure ratio. Results demonstrate that unreinforced foundations exhibit systematic residual deformation due to liquefaction-induced sand flow, which is significantly reduced by gravel pile reinforcement. Both excess pore water pressure and pore pressure ratio decrease markedly after reinforcement. This substantially enhances the composite foundation’s structural stability and liquefaction resistance. These findings confirm that compacted gravel pile groups provide effective drainage and anti-liquefaction capacity, meeting site liquefaction mitigation requirements under design-level ground motion intensity, thereby offering a reference for similar engineering projects.
A non-sub-sampled shearlet transform-based deep learning sub band enhancement and fusion method for multi-modal images
Florida Keys Cassiopea host benthos-like external microbiomes and a gut dominated by Vibrio, Endozoicomonas and Mycoplasma
Interactions with microbial communities fundamentally shape metazoans’ physiology, development, and health across marine ecosystems. This is especially true in zooxanthellate (symbiotic algae-containing) cnidarians. In photosymbiotic anthozoans (e.g., shallow water anemones and corals), the key members of the associated microbiota are increasingly well studied, however there is limited data on photosymbiotic scyphozoans (true jellyfish). Using 16S rRNA barcoding, we sampled the internal and external mucus of the zooxanthellate Upside-Down Jellyfish, Cassiopea xamachana during August throughout eight sites covering the full length of the Florida Keys. We find that across sites, these medusae have low-diversity internal microbiomes distinct from the communities of their external surfaces and their environment. These internal communities are dominated by only three taxa: Endozoicomonas cf. atrinae, an uncultured novel Mycoplasma, and Vibrio cf. coralliilyticus. In addition, we find that Cassiopea bell mucosal samples were high diversity and conform largely to the communities of surrounding sediment with the addition of Endozoicomonas cf. atrinae. The microbial taxa we identify associated with wild Florida Keys Cassiopea bear a strong resemblance to those found within photosymbiotic anthozoans, increasing the known links in ecological position between these groups.
Role of prokineticins and T-reg cells in obesity-associated metabolic oxidative dysregulation in NAFLD
Association between Estimated Pulse Wave Velocity (ePWV) and in-hospital and ICU 28-day mortality in ischemic stroke patients: A retrospective analysis of the MIMIC-IV database
Background Ischemic stroke poses a substantial global health burden. Reliable biomarkers for risk stratification in critically ill stroke patients are lacking. This study investigates estimated pulse wave velocity (ePWV), a non-invasive measure of arterial stiffness, as a novel prognostic indicator for mortality in this population. Methods This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from 3,408 adult ischemic stroke patients admitted to the ICU within the MIMIC-IV database. Patients were categorized by ePWV tertiles. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality (in-hospital and ICU). Multivariate Cox regression models were employed to assess the association between ePWV and mortality, adjusting for comprehensive clinical variables. Results Of the 3,408 patients, 481 (14.1%) died within 28 days of hospitalization. Non-survivors demonstrated significantly higher ePWV values (11.19 vs. 10.57, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that ePWV was an independent predictor of both in-hospital (HR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.05–1.28, P = 0.0033) and ICU 28-day mortality (HR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.16–1.48, P < 0.0001). Subgroup analyses revealed significant interactions between ePWV and atrial fibrillation for in-hospital mortality (P = 0.0498) and mechanical ventilation for ICU mortality (P = 0.0294). For in-hospital mortality, the ePWV-associated risk was higher in patients with atrial fibrillation (HR 1.19, 95% CI: 1.07–1.31) compared to those without (HR 1.10, 95% CI: 0.98–1.23). For ICU mortality, the ePWV-associated risk was higher in patients without mechanical ventilation (HR 1.45, 95% CI: 1.24–1.70) compared to those with (HR 1.26, 95% CI: 1.11–1.44). Conclusion ePWV is a promising biomarker for predicting mortality in critically ill ischemic stroke patients, particularly identifying high-risk subgroups with atrial fibrillation or those not receiving timely mechanical ventilation.
2-aminoethoxydiphenylborane intervenes intracellular calcium signaling and attenuates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice through ITPR1/MCU pathway
Comparative study of pavement anomaly detection using detection models with rotated bounding boxes
A comparative study on automated pavement anomaly detection is conducted to improve the detection accuracy of models based on You Only Look Once version 4-Tiny (YOLOv4-Tiny). This study is the first to introduce a rotated rectangle labeling strategy for pavement anomaly detection. The pavement image dataset, primarily collected in Nantong, China, includes 1,107 cracks and 691 potholes. First, the YOLOv4-Tiny model is trained and validated as a baseline, achieving a mean average precision (mAP) below 0.4, which is inadequate for practical use. To improve performance, the YOLOv4-ResNet50 model is proposed by replacing the original backbone with a ResNet50 network, resulting in modest gains. To further enhance precision, rotated rectangles—bounding boxes that include an additional rotation angle—are used instead of conventional axis-aligned boxes. Accordingly, the YOLOv4-Tiny-rotated and YOLOv4-ResNet50-rotated models are developed and evaluated on the same dataset. Results show that the YOLOv4-ResNet50-rotated model achieves an mAP of 0.742, outperforming the more advanced YOLOX model, which reaches an mAP of 0.627. Moreover, the rotated bounding boxes enable more accurate representation of the shape and orientation of inclined cracks, making this model particularly well-suited for pavement anomaly detection. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of rotated rectangle labeling and rotated predicted bounding boxes in detecting inclined cracks and potholes, laying a foundation for further research in this area.
Comparative analysis of library preparation approaches for FFPE gene expression profiling and related recommendations
Incidence and risk factors for heart failure in the ELSA-Brasil cohort
Background Heart failure (HF) is a clinical condition with high morbidity and mortality and a growing impact on global public health. Longitudinal studies with large samples and extended follow-up are essential to understand its incidence and risk factors in diverse populations. Objective To estimate the incidence over time and identify factors associated with the development of HF among participants of the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). Methods A cohort study with 14,854 ELSA-Brasil participants, followed for an average of 12.3 years. A total of 251 individuals with a previous diagnosis of HF at baseline (2008–2010) were excluded. Incident cases were identified in visits 2 (2012–2014) and 3 (2016–2018). Cumulative incidence and incidence rates were estimated. Bivariate comparisons were performed using the chi-square test, while multivariate analysis employed Cox regression to estimate crude and adjusted Hazard Ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). A statistical significance level of p < 0.05 was adopted. Results The incidence of HF was 1.35 per 1,000 person-years (1.39% cumulative) over visits 2 and 3, with 93 new cases in visit 2 (0.61 per 1,000 person-years; 0.63% cumulative) and 113 new cases in visit 3 (0.74 per 1,000 person-years; 0.76% cumulative). Incidence was higher among older adults (65–74 years), self-reported Black individuals, and those with excess weight. Advanced age and abdominal obesity were risk factors present in both visits, while Chagas disease, valvular heart disease, and smoking were specific predictors in visit 2, and hypertension, rheumatic fever, angina, and fatigue were predictors in visit 3. Conclusion The study highlights the progression of heart failure (HF) incidence and identifies important modifiable risk factors in the Brazilian population, reinforcing the need for preventive strategies and public policies focused on early detection and management of HF.
Rolling bearing fault diagnosis under small sample conditions based on WDCNN-BiLSTM Siamese network
Revealing the endocrine landscape of INSL3/RXFP2 signaling in hamster
In mammals, insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) and its cognate receptor (RXFP2) are reported to be essential regulators of male reproductive physiology. It is also believed that INSL3/RXFP2 signaling has a role in female ovarian function and follicle development, although its exact mechanisms and functions are still being studied. This research aimed to explore the transcriptional landscape of INSL3/RXFP2 genes in adult hamsters. The cloned cDNA fragments of INSL3/RXFP2 were 888 and 3233 base-pairs (bp), including an open reading frame of 375 bp and 2211 bp, encoding 125 and 737 amino acids, respectively. The phylogenetic relationships, gene function predictions, and three-dimensional structure predictions of INSL3/RXFP2 revealed evolutionary conserved domains. Quantification analysis showed that INSL3 mRNA was highly expressed in the testis, male adrenal glands, and ovary, weakly expressed in male reproductive glands and the female adrenal gland, and barely expressed in the male hypothalamus. INSL3 mRNA expression peaked in ovaries during the proestrus phase, indicating sex-steroid-dependent regulation. RXFP2 mRNA was mainly expressed in the male hypothalamus and uterus, slightly lower in the female cerebellum, epididymis, and ovary, and much lower in the female hypothalamus, male cerebellum, and testis. The RXFP2 in the uterus exhibited the highest expression during the proestrus phase, suggesting regulation via sex steroids. Our findings suggest that sexually dimorphic INSL3/RXFP2 signaling plays a novel role in the reproductive and endocrine systems, particularly in uterine tissue. These results suggest that INSL3/RXFP2 signaling in the hamster model may provide an alternative avenue for studying human female reproduction and endocrine disorders in conditions such as endometriosis or uterine disease in future clinical research.