Browse Articles
Discover research articles across all indexed journals
Cardiovascular risk prediction and influencing predictors identification among Bangladeshi individuals using machine learning algorithms and association rule mining
Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) encompasses a group of disorders that affect the heart and blood vessels, making it one of the leading causes of death globally, including in Bangladesh. Applying predictive modeling for the early identification and detection of CVD holds significant promise for saving lives by enhancing prediction precision through machine learning algorithms. Therefore, this study aimed to predict high-risk individuals for CVD using machine learning algorithms and identify its influencing predictors by association mining rules among individuals in Bangladesh. Materials and methods This study utilized the most recent Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2022 data, which encompassed 2,221 respondents. A Boruta-based feature selection method is employed to determine the important features associated with the high risk of CVD. Different machine learning algorithms, including logistic regression, Naïve Bayes, artificial neural network, random forest, and extreme gradient boosting (XGB), are adopted to predict the high-risk individuals for CVD in the training dataset. The predictive performance of the models is evaluated using accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and area under the curve (AUC) in the testing set. Additionally, the most significant rules are analyzed using the association mining technique to identify the influencing predictors of high risk of CVD. Results The Boruta method indicated that age, residence, marital status, wealth, having an air conditioner (AC), and body mass index (BMI) are important predictors of high risk of CVD. The XGB-based predictive model achieves impressive performance compared to other models, with an accuracy of 68.22%, precision of 69.70%, F1-score of 79.54%, and AUC of 0.721. The association rules identified that being aged 65 or older, living in an urban area, having the richest wealth status, having AC, and being widowed are the influencing predictors of high risk of CVD. Conclusions This study emphasizes the potential of XGB in predicting high-risk individuals for CVD and enhances the investigation of key factors contributing to CVD risk in this population, thereby facilitating the development of targeted prevention strategies that can effectively mitigate the high CVD risk.
Assessing the effect of social contact structure on the impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines
Abstract Although pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) have greatly reduced diseases caused by vaccine-targeted serotypes (VT) of Streptococcus pneumoniae, vaccine impact may be eroded by the increase in rates of disease caused by non-vaccine serotypes (NVT). Here, we investigated the effect of social contact patterns on the dynamics of vaccine impact in carriage. We developed a neutral, age-structured, Susceptible–Colonized model incorporating VT-NVT co-colonization and verified it against real-world carriage data in children. Using social contact matrices from 34 countries, we assessed the impact of contact patterns on the time required to eliminate VT in a given age group (defined here as the time needed for the relative proportion of VT in overall carriage to drop by 95% after the introduction of vaccination). Finally, we quantified the contribution of various parameters—such as vaccine efficacy, coverage, immunity waning, and population susceptibility—to the dynamics of VT elimination. Our model recapitulated the observed decline of VT carriage and showed that varying the contact structure alone led to different time-to-elimination (3.8–6 years). We found that higher total contact rate and assortativity in children under 5 accelerated VT elimination. Additionally, higher vaccine efficacy and coverage, and slower immunity waning led to shorter time-to-elimination. These findings illuminate the mechanisms controlling the dynamics of vaccine impact and may help predict the impact of PCVs in communities with different contact patterns.
Application of ultrasound in assessment of acute lung injury in mice
This study evaluated the effectiveness of non-invasive ultrasound technology in monitoring pulmonary edema in a mouse model of acute lung injury (ALI). Male C57BL/6J mice were instilled through the trachea with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 5 mg/kg, single dose) to induce ALI. The change in B-lines (an ultrasound sign) were monitored using the Vevo 3100 system and the lung ultrasound (LUS) score was generated to quantify the severity of edema, meanwhile lung function was assessed by whole-body plethysmography (WBP) and the progression of ALI was tracked by lung weight and histopathological analysis. LUS detection revealed that non-converging B-lines appeared on the first day, followed by an increase in the number of B-lines that began to converge, peaking on the day-3 and then the number of B-lines decreased, almost disappearing by the 11 days after LPS intervention. Significant changes in lung functional parameters were recorded during 6–24 h with most parameters returning to baseline levels at day-3. Morphological and weight assessments of the lung showed that most severe lung congestion and increased weight at day-3 and returning to normal by 11 days. Histopathological examination unveiled that LPS-induced inflammation was characterized by increased cellular infiltration, thickening of alveolar septa, vascular congestion, and atelectasis, which were most severe on days 3–5 and then gradually improved. A positive correlation between LUS score and the lung injury index (r = 0.783, P < 0.001) or the lung weight-to-tibial length ratio (r = 0.695, P < 0.001) was observed, reflecting a sensitivity of LUS to the severity of edema. In addition, at 24 h following LPS intervention, the LUS score was also positively or negatively correlated with a series of lung functional indices. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that LUS is an effective, reliable and non-invasive tool for monitoring pulmonary edema in a mouse model of ALI. The significant correlations between LUS scores with various pathophysiological parameters, highlight its potential in assessing the severity of ALI in mice.
Antimicrobial activity, ergosterol content and phytochemical screening of Rorippa Islandica (Oeder ex Murr.) and Carrichtera annua (L.)
Abstract The purpose of this study was to identify non-polluting medicinal plant alternatives. Two medicinal plants, Rorippa islandica and Carrichtera annua (family Brassicaceae), collected from the NorthWestern Coastal region (Marsa Matrouh, Egypt), were investigated to determine their bioactive constituents in ethanol crude extracts using GC-MS and HPLC techniques, and to evaluate their in vitro antifungal activity against five pathogenic fungi. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 50 and 54 compounds in R. islandica and C. annua , respectively. The primary compound in R. islandica was 13-Docosenamide (20.54%), while in C. annua it was 2-Hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl) ethyl stearate (9.74%). HPLC identified 19 and 18 phenolic compounds in R. islandica and C. annua , respectively, with gallic acid as the predominant compound in both plants (3417.72 µg/g and 3733.98 µg/g, respectively). Both plant extracts exhibited promising antifungal activity. For R. islandica , the most potent effect at 10 mg/ml was observed with the 70% ethanol successive extract against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (inhibition zone 29 ± 0.3 mm; MIC 7.8 µg/ml; MFC 15.62 µg/ml). For C. annua , the most potent effect at 10 mg/ml was from the total extract against Curvularia lunata (inhibition zone 35 ± 0.1 mm; MIC 1.97 µg/ml; MFC 3.9 µg/ml). A significant reduction in ergosterol content was observed in the total and successive ethanol (96% and 70%) fractions of both plants, with the highest reduction in C. lunata and C. gloeosporioides treated with C. annua extract (49.93% and 47.7%, respectively), and in P. glabrum and C. gloeosporioides treated with R. islandica extract (47.2% and 42.58%, respectively). Morphological changes induced by the total and ethanol (96% and 70%) extracts of both plants were examined using AFM.
Promoting mental well-being among secondary school students in Vietnam using the Y-MIND app: A protocol for a hybrid type 2, sequence pre-post, quasi-experimental study
Youth mental health is recognized as an urgent priority worldwide. Life skills education and self-management skills delivered at the population level are evidence-based approaches to promote mental well-being and resilience among youth and digital technologies are identified as promising approaches for delivering these interventions. The study objective is to assess implementation and clinical outcomes of the delivery of a life skills and self-management intervention delivered at the population level via an app (Y-MIND) in Vietnamese secondary schools. Y-MIND was co-designed with Vietnamese youth to promote appropriateness, acceptability and uptake. We will conduct a hybrid type 2, sequence pre-post, quasi-experimental study in twelve schools across three Vietnamese provinces. Participants will be students aged fifteen years who provide assent to participate and receive parental consent. Control and intervention cohorts from participating schools will be enrolled in subsequent years. The primary clinical outcome measure is well-being measured using the Warwick Edinburgh Well-Being Scale. Secondary outcomes will explore factors including resilience, common mental health conditions, positive childhood experiences, academic stress, internet addiction, substance use and experiences of bullying and punishment. Implementation outcomes include app engagement, uptake, retention and qualitative interviews to understand acceptability and appropriateness of the intervention. Assessments will be administered via an online survey using Qualtrics at baseline, six and twelve months. The intervention cohort will receive access to the app, while the control cohort will receive usual care. The control cohort will have access to the app following the study period, but no app-use data will be collected. Generalized Linear Mixed-Effect Models, with the school specified as the clustering variable, will be used for all outcomes data. Understanding the potential for clinical effectiveness and successful implementation of the Y-MIND app will contribute important evidence to the fields of global youth mental health, digital health and implementation science. Trial registration This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06753344).
Comparative study on the influence of rare earth ion doping on the structural and optical properties of simple B2O3–Na2O glasses
Abstract In this study, a series of sodium borate glasses with the general composition 50 mol% B₂O₃ – (50–x) mol% Na₂O – x mol% RE₂O₃ (where RE = La, Nd, Gd, Ho, Er, Yb and x = 0 and 1 mol%) were synthesized via the melt-quenching technique. This study aims to systematically investigate the effect of substituting different rare earth ions into a fixed sodium borate glass matrix to understand their role in modifying structural and optical properties. XRD analysis confirmed the amorphous nature of all glass samples. FTIR spectra showed structural transformations marked by an increase in BO₄ units and suppression of boroxol rings with rare earth doping. Density and molar volume increased from 2.42 to 2.49 g/cm3 and from 27.17 to 27.74 cm3/mol, respectively, reflecting the influence of RE ionic radii and field strengths on glass compactness. Optical absorption measurements revealed a shift in the absorption edge, with band gap values ranging from 3.13 to 3.38 eV. Tauc, ASF, and HEM models indicated direct allowed transitions in all samples. The refractive index ranged from 2.299 to 2.361. These results demonstrate that rare earth ions act as effective modifiers, enabling tunable structural and optical properties in sodium borate glass systems, which are promising for photonic and radiation shielding applications.
Nurses’ high valuation of palliative care versus patient and family misconceptions: A mixed-approach study of Advanced Care Planning implementation in China
Objective To assess the implementation and barriers of Advance Care Planning (ACP) from the perspectives of nurses, patients, and family members in a Chinese healthcare setting, providing evidence for targeted interventions to enhance ACP awareness. Methods A mixed-methods design combined a cross-sectional survey and qualitative interviews. Questionnaires measured ACP-related knowledge, attitudes, practices (KAP), and perceived barriers among 843 nurses, 384 patients, and 857 family members. Based on responses, 15 patients and 20 family members with negative views on ACP were invited for semi-structured interviews and focus groups. Findings Nurses rated ACP as highly important and reported effective palliative care practices, while patients and families showed substantial cognitive gaps. Over 90% of patients valued ACP, but only ~30% believed it was well implemented; many families associated it with treatment abandonment. Multivariable analysis identified hospital type, clinical experience, and information sources as KAP predictors. Qualitative results linked misconceptions to poor communication and insufficient public education. Conclusion Nurses endorse ACP, but patients and families often misinterpret it as giving up treatment. Improved communication and tailored education are critical to increasing ACP acceptance in China.
Extending shelf life: cold plasma as a tool to preserve long-term germination potential of pea seeds
Dose-response and isotemporal substitution analysis of domain-specific physical activity and sedentary behavior with abdominal aortic calcification risk: A cross-sectional study
Background Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This study aims to examine the dose-response relationships between domain-specific moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), sedentary behavior (SB), and AAC risk, and the effects of time reallocation among these behaviors, in individuals aged 40 years and older. Methods This cross-sectional study used data from NHANES participants from the 2013–2014 cycle. MVPA and SB were self-reported, and AAC status was assessed using the Kauppila scoring system and DXA. Weighted logistic regression calculated odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for dose-response relationships, using restricted cubic splines (RCS). Furthermore, weighted logistic regression models within an isotemporal substitution analysis were employed to examine the effect on AAC risk of reallocating time among different MVPA domains and sedentary behavior. Results This study included 2,842 participants (median age 58 years, interquartile range [IQR] 48−68 years, 48.42% male), of whom 861 (30.30%) had AAC. Adherence to physical activity (PA) guidelines (≥150 minutes/week) for leisure-time MVPA was associated with a 33.7% reduction in AAC risk (OR = 0.643, 95% CI 0.488–0.848, P = 0.035). However, no significant effect of occupation and transportation-related MVPA on reducing AAC risk was found. RCS revealed dose-response relationships between total MVPA, leisure-time MVPA, and SB with AAC risk, indicating a U-shaped pattern for total MVPA, with the lowest risk at 1086 minutes/week (OR = 0.712, 95% CI 0.546–0.928, non-linear P = 0.023). Moreover, isotemporal substitution analysis showed that replacing 30 minutes/day of sedentary behavior (OR: 0.837, 95% CI: 0.747–0.927) or occupational MVPA (OR: 0.842, 95% CI: 0.692–0.992) with leisure-time MVPA was significantly associated with lower AAC risk. Conclusion There is a positive linear dose-response association between sedentary behavior and AAC risk; conversely, leisure-time MVPA shows a negative linear dose-response association. Total MVPA presents a nonlinear dose-response association, with AAC risk being lowest when activity reaches 1086 minutes per week. Isotemporal substitution analysis further revealed that reallocating time from sedentary behavior or occupational MVPA to leisure-time MVPA is associated with a lower risk of AAC. These results suggest that increasing leisure-time MVPA and reducing sedentary behavior may help optimize AAC risk.
Growth period of Kinosternon scorpioides changes the ovary morphology by follicular differentiation and structural reorganization
Correction: Spanish version of the short European health literacy survey questionnaire HLS-Q12: Transcultural adaptation and psychometric properties
A non-destructive method for measuring the surface fractal dimension of foam concrete
Integrated analysis of ARHGAP6 potential function and prognostic value in acute myeloid leukemia
Background Leukemia recurrence continues to be the primary cause of treatment failure, it is meaningful to find new biomarkers for its treatment. In this study, we aim to use cell line study to assess the expression and prognostic value of ARHGAP6 in acute myeloid leukemia. Methods We applied two acute myeloid leukemia cell lines in the research. Expression level, proliferation assay and apoptosis assay for ARHGAP6 in those cell lines were involved for the study. Then, GEO, TCGA data and bioinformatics analysis were evaluated. Results THP-1 and U937 cell lines both had higher expression levels of ARHGAP6 than control. The cell proliferation of THP-1 and U937 transfected with ARHGAP6 siRNA was significantly reduced. Knock down the gene ARHGAP6 increases AML cell apoptosis. The overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) was assessed against the expression of ARHGAP 6 using the KM plotter databases. High expression ARHGAP6 was associated poor OS and DFS in AML. Enrichment analysis suggested that ARHGAP6 mainly mediated the function of growth factor binding, immunoglobulin binding, mRNA binding. Involved in LCK proto-oncogene, Src family tyrosine kinase, tyrosine kinase non receptor 2, platelet derived growth factor receptor beta and Rho associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 1. Conclusion From cell lines-based functional assays to bioinformatic analysis, this study demonstrated that clinical potential of ARHGAP6 as a novel biomarker of AML.
Grain and texture optimisation with dynamic recrystallisation behaviour in laser ablation of 5083 aluminium alloy
The relationship between stigma and alexithymia and their impact on satisfaction with care among people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A path analysis
Introduction Stigma is a common experience for individuals diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It may elicit a set of emotional responses, consistent with alexithymia, that hinders conversations with healthcare providers. Alexithymia describes a set of cognitive-affective traits linked with difficulty identifying and distinguishing emotions. This study explored whether anticipated stigma in healthcare settings among patients with COPD is associated with alexithymia and whether it predicts satisfaction with care from healthcare providers. Methods An online survey comprising validated questions was distributed between May and June 2024 to individuals who self-reported a doctor-diagnosis of COPD. Participants were recruited from advertisements on social media, online COPD support groups, and previous related studies. Correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to examine relationships between variables. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to explore these relationships through path analysis. Results Respondents (n = 123) ranged in age from 33 to 90 years. Greater anticipated stigma was associated with higher levels of alexithymia (r = 0.278, p = 0.002) and lower satisfaction with care (r = −0.462, p < 0.001). In the path analysis, social support emerged as a mediating factor between alexithymia and anticipated stigma. As alexithymia increased, satisfaction with social support decreased, which was associated with higher anticipated stigma and reduced satisfaction with care from healthcare providers. Conclusion This study helps clarify the association between alexithymia and anticipated stigma among people with COPD and how this impacts satisfaction with care. The findings signal a need to raise awareness of alexithymia and implement interventions to reduce stigma and enhance social support resources.
Judgments of learning distinguish humans from large language models in predicting memory
Abstract Large language models (LLMs) increasingly mimic human cognition in various language-based tasks. However, their capacity for metacognition—particularly in predicting memory performance—remains unexplored. Here, we introduce a cross-agent prediction model to assess whether ChatGPT-based LLMs align with human judgments of learning (JOL), a metacognitive measure where individuals predict their own future memory performance. We tested humans and LLMs on pairs of sentences, one of which was a garden-path sentence—a sentence that initially misleads the reader toward an incorrect interpretation before requiring reanalysis. By manipulating contextual fit (fitting vs. unfitting sentences), we probed how intrinsic cues (i.e., relatedness) affect both LLM and human JOL. Our results revealed that while human JOL reliably predicted actual memory performance, none of the tested LLMs (GPT-3.5-turbo, GPT-4-turbo, and GPT-4o) demonstrated comparable predictive accuracy. This discrepancy emerged regardless of whether sentences appeared in fitting or unfitting contexts. These findings indicate that, despite LLMs’ demonstrated capacity to model human cognition at the object-level, they struggle at the meta-level, failing to capture the variability in individual memory predictions. By identifying this shortcoming, our study underscores the need for further refinements in LLMs’ self-monitoring abilities, which could enhance their utility in educational settings, personalized learning, and human–AI interactions. Strengthening LLMs’ metacognitive performance may reduce the reliance on human oversight, paving the way for more autonomous and seamless integration of AI into tasks requiring deeper cognitive awareness.
Insights of red cell distribution width for mortality in septic patients with diabetes mellitus: A multicenter cohort study
The correlation between red cell distribution width (RDW)and mortality in septic patients with diabetes mellitus has not been extensively investigated. This study aimed to explore the correlation between RDW and mortality and potential value of RDW as a prognostic indicator in septic patients with diabetes mellitus. A total of 5476 septic patients with diabetes mellitus were included in this multicenter retrospective cohort study. Multivariate logistic regression, dose-response, and mediation analyses were conducted to examine the association between RDW and mortality in septic patients with diabetes mellitus. The predictive value of RDW was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis. The improvement in the model was assessed using net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI). After adjusting for all confounders, RDW was an independent variable for mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 1.37, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.26, 1.50, per standard deviation in RDW, P < 0.001). Moreover, RDW was positively correlated with 28-day mortality in a non-linear manner. The contribution of the predictive value of RDW was substantial in the ROC curve and SHAP analyses. The addition of RDW improved the predictive performance of the baseline model (continuous NRI [95% CI], 0.284 (0.188, 0.379); P < 0.001; IDI [95% CI], 0.012 (0.007, 0.016); P < 0.001). In conclusion, RDW may be a valuable indicator for predicting risk stratification and outcomes in septic patients with diabetes mellitus.
A novel thermochromic myocardial phantom for radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation
Abstract In the growing field of electrophysiology, cardiac ablation either via heating or freezing target tissues using catheters, induces localised scarring to block or destroy defective electrical pathways in the heart. To test equipment and ablation settings, studies have resorted to ex-vivo and in-vivo models including pigs, dogs, and chickens. The use of animal tissue presents ethical and logistical complications and introduces variability between samples and between studies. In a scientific community faced with progressively more stringent ethics and regulations on animal testing, a more practical and ethical alternative should be established. To meet this need, multiple studies have proposed tissue-mimicking materials. However, either toxicity or poorly matched physical properties, prevented these materials from reaching widespread application. Furthermore, no material has yet been identified to test both cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation. Here, we present a novel thermochromic alginate hydrogel material that can simulate ablation lesions for both radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation. This material could find direct applications in electrophysiology, but adapted mixtures could also be used to recreate other tissues for different simulations.
Associations of discrimination and physical activity with social pain sensitivity and a moderating effect of gender in young adults
Objective Social pain can be evoked by social rejection. Discrimination is a type of social rejection based on attributes of individuals and linked to pain and hyperalgesia, whereas physical activity (PA) is a healthful behavior that is linked to pain relief and hypoalgesia. However, associations of discrimination and PA with social pain sensitivity is currently unknown. Gender differences in social pain sensitivity exist, but it is unclear if gender moderates the associations of discrimination and PA with social pain sensitivity. The primary aim of this study was to examine the associations of perceived discrimination and PA with social pain sensitivity, and the secondary aim was to explore the moderating effect of gender. Methods A total of 172 young adults completed 1) Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (BFNES) and Social Pain Questionnaire (SPQ) to evaluate social pain sensitivity, 2) Everyday Discrimination Scale (EDS) to quantify perceived discrimination, and 3) PA survey. Results The EDS scores were associated with both BFNES and SPQ scores in the total sample (BFNES: Β = 0.16, p = 0.028 & SPQ: Β = 0.25, p < 0.001). The EDS scores were associated with both BFNES and SPQ scores in men (BFNES: Β = 0.28, p = 0.014 & SPQ: Β = 0.46, p < 0.001), but not in women (BFNES: Β = 0.11, p = 0.221 & SPQ: Β = 0.10, p = 0.239). PA levels were associated with the SPQ scores (Β = −0.34, p = 0.024) in the total sample, but when stratified by gender, the significant association disappeared for both men and women (men: Β = −0.49, p = 0.065 & women: Β = −0.33, p = 0.082). Conclusions Both perceived discrimination and PA levels were associated with social pain sensitivity. Gender moderated the association between perceived discrimination and social pain sensitivity.