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Estimation method for impact force source in thick coal seams and its application in rockburst risk quantification
Accurately calculating the stress state and its distribution is key to preventing coal burst. Taking a typical mine with extremely thick coal seams and coal bursts as an example, methods such as stress estimation, numerical computation, theoretical analysis, and on-site measurements were used to study the estimation method for coal burst force sources and the quantitative evaluation of coal burst risk under extremely thick coal seams beneath massive gravel rock. The main research content includes: (1) Establishing a coal burst force source estimation model for extremely thick coal seams through the estimation of transmitted stress from massive gravel rock, self-weight stress of the overlying strata, tectonic stress quantitative analysis, and mining disturbance stress estimation; (2) Proposing a calculation method for the fracture angle and strike span parameters required for stress estimation based on microseismic monitoring technology, and comparing and verifying the effectiveness of rapid estimation methods for strike and dip support pressures; (3) Based on the above methods, proposing a quantitative evaluation method for coal burst risk based on stress estimation. The practical results demonstrate that the proposed method enables rapid analysis of impact force sources, accurate assessment of coal burst risk levels, and establishes a foundation for timely and precise early warning of coal burst disasters.
Analysis of vascular aging phenotypes in a high cardiovascular risk population
Platelet lysate-sodium hyaluronate gel promotes diabetic foot wound healing by regulating oxidative stress and autophagy
Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a major complication of diabetes which is difficult to heal and has high recurrence rates. It often requires amputation and even causes death, imposing significant economic burden on the society. Moreover, the current treatment options are not sufficiently effective, necessitating the search for novel treatments. In this study, therapeutic effect and mechanisms of platelet lysate-sodium hyaluronate gel (PL-HA gel) in the treatment of DFU were studied. Initially, the PL-HA gel was examined for quality control, and then the expression of growth factors (GFs) content in PL was determined. The results demonstrated high expression of GFs in PL and the gel exhibited a porous microstructure, which allowed continuous release of PL to achieve its therapeutic effects. In vivo model of type II diabetic rats was established to clarify the therapeutic effect of PL-HA gel and the mechanism by which the PL exerted therapeutic effects was further explored in HUVECs and HSFs. In vivo experiments indicated that PL-HA gel promoted wound epithelialization, collagen deposition, Cytokeratin and angiogenesis, as well as suppressed the expression of Beclin-1 and LC3 levels, while up-regulating that of P62. It also increased the SOD and MDA levels, promoted antioxidant effects, to accelerate the recovery of wounds. In vitro experiments revealed that PL could promoted wound healing by modulating oxidative stress-related parameters (ROS, SOD) and autophagy-related parameters (ULK1, P62, LC3, Beclin-1). In summary, treatment with the PL-HA gel improved diabetic wounds healing by suppressing oxidative stress and autophagy. The PL dissolved in the gel not only increased its efficacy but also ensured its safety and reliability, demonstrating the promising potential of PL-HA gel to treat DFU.
Medication non-adherence and its predictors among chronic heart failure patients in Northwest Amhara region
Survival analysis of parking duration in urban commercial areas: A case study in Zhengzhou, China
This paper studies the parking demand characteristics of large commercial areas in the city’s central regions. The study uses non-parametric and semi-parametric analysis methods in survival analysis to explore if and how weather conditions, parking tariffs, and temporal factors (weekdays, weekends, and short holidays) impact the parking duration. The parking data of a large commercial supermarket in Zhengzhou was collected over one month. Single-factor analysis based on the Product-Limit (PL) approach suggests that the cumulative survival and relative risk curves of parking duration exhibit slight variations across different temporal categories and weather conditions. Based on Cox semi-parametric multi-factor analysis results, the parking duration is significantly influenced by weekdays (regression coefficient = 0.068, hazard ratio = 1.071, P < 0.001), weekends (regression coefficient = 0.042, hazard ratio = 1.043,P < 0.001), moderate rain (regression coefficient = -0.089, hazard ratio = 0.914, P < 0.001), and heavy rain (regression coefficient = 0.030, hazard ratio = 1.030,P = 0.034 < 0.05). The results have indicated that within the study area, compared to short holidays, the parking duration on weekdays and weekends is shorter, with the probability of vehicles ending their parking increased by 7.1% and 4.3%, respectively. Under different weather conditions, compared to sunny days, parking duration is longer during moderate rain, with the probability of vehicles departing decreased by 8.6%, whereas during heavy rain, parking duration is shorter, with the probability of vehicles departing increased by 3%. Notably, the parking tariffs demonstrated no statistically significant impact. These findings suggest that temporal variations and rainfall patterns should inform dynamic parking management strategies, including weather-responsive pricing adjustments and spatial capacity optimization during peak periods.
Agreement between carotid and LVOT non-invasive cardiac output measurements in ED septic shock patients: a prospective observational study
A multicenter cross-sectional study on factors associated with caregiving appraisal in pediatric acute leukemia caregivers
Introduction Caring for pediatric acute leukemia (PAL) patients poses significant psychological challenges for family caregivers, impacting their well-being and caregiving capacity. This multicenter study aimed to assess caregivers’ perception of their caregiving role using the revised Caregiving Appraisal Scale (rCAS) and identify factors associated with negative and positive caregiving appraisals among caregivers of children with PAL. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted across three hospitals affiliated with Central South University. The 4-domain rCAS assessed both positive (satisfaction, mastery) and negative (burden, environmental impact) caregiving appraisals. Patient clinical data as well as demographics of both patients and caregivers were used to perform univariate, correlation, and multivariate regression analyses, identifying predictors of caregiver psychological distress. Results Out of 111 recruited caregivers, 101 valid responses were analyzed. Univariate subgroup analysis showed that several caregiver- and patient-related factors were significantly associated with increased caregiver burden and environmental impact. For mastery and satisfaction, some factors were associated with higher appraisal scores while others were related to significantly lower scores. Correlation analysis showed that patient discomfort and difficulties significantly correlated with both negative and positive appraisals. The regression models revealed that the independent influencing factors contributed to about 23.9% of caregiver-perceived negative impact (P = 0.024) and 30.3% of caregiver-perceived positive impact (P < 0.001). Patient worry (P = 0.024), communication difficulties (P = 0.011), relationship to the patient (P = 0.017), and medical insurance type (P = 0.035) predicted negative appraisals while pain (P = 0.008), anxiety about surgical procedures (P = 0.022), relationship to the patient (P = 0.031), and caregiver educational level (P = 0.023) predicted positive appraisals. Conclusion Caregivers of pediatric acute leukemia experience considerable psychological strain. Despite these challenges, some caregivers report significantly higher positive appraisals. Targeted interventions are needed to reduce caregiver burden and enhance positive caregiving outcomes.
Revealing homoclinic breather waves, periodic lump waves and other waves forms of an integrable reduced spin Hirota-Maxwell-Bloch system
The effects of visual stimulation on the cortical activity of brainstem stroke dysphagia patients: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study
Objective To investigate the difference in cortical activity under food visual stimulation between patients with brainstem stroke dysphagia and healthy adults by using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Additionally, we seek to identify any potential relationship between cortical activity and swallowing. Methods 30 patients with dysphagia after brainstem stroke and 16 healthy adults were selected. The fNIRS was used to assess the functional connection strength of global and ROIs brain regions at rest, as well as the mean change in oxygenated hemoglobin concentration (ΔHbO2) during the food visual stimulation task in both groups. Results In the resting state, the functional connection strength of healthy adults (X―=0.514, s=0.021) was higher than that of patients (X―=0.472, s=0.009) (P < 0.05). In comparison, functional connectivity in the ROI brain region was enhanced in the patient group compared to the healthy adult group. In the task state, the patient’s ΔHbO2 concentration in the left Frontopolar area, right Frontopolar area, left Orbitofrontal area and left Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex dramatically decreased in comparison to the healthy adult group. The correlation analysis revealed a moderate negative correlation between SSA and the MMSE score, VAS score, and the average ΔHbO2 concentrations in specific brain regions, including the right Frontopolar area, left Frontopolar area, left Orbitofrontal area, and left DLPFC. Furthermore, the VAS scores exhibited a moderate positive correlation with the average ΔHbO2 concentrations in the right Frontopolar area, left Frontopolar area, left Orbitofrontal area, and left DLPFC. Conclusion Patients with brainstem stroke dysphagia showed reduced activity during visual stimulation in the Frontopolar region, the left Orbitofrontal area, and the left Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex as compared to healthy individuals. The overall strength of functional connections was decreased, while the ROI between different brain areas increased. Following a brain stem stroke, all of these might be related to pre-oral swallowing issues.
Structural characterization and immunomodulatory activity of a polysaccharide produced by chaetomium globosum CGMCC 6882
Overestimated cytotoxicity and underestimated whitening efficacy of glabridin: A result of its poor solubility in DMSO
Glabridin is widely used as a whitening agent in cosmetics, but its cytotoxicity remains a key concern in safety evaluations. In typical cytotoxicity assays, glabridin is dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) before being added to the cell culture medium because it is insoluble in water. However, our study revealed that when the DMSO solution of glabridin was mixed with cell culture medium, glabridin was rapidly released due to its poor solubility in the DMSO/water mixture. The released glabridin rapidly formed crystals, which failed to enter cells. Consequently, the whitening efficacy of glabridin was reduced. Moreover, the glabridin crystals produced higher cytotoxicity, possibly due to the physical damage caused by their sharp crystalline structures. However, encapsulating glabridin in cyclodextrin (CD) can address these challenges, offering a better approach for glabridin cytotoxicity assays. The CD encapsulation method, compared to the DMSO solution method, not only decreased the cytotoxicity of glabridin but also increased its whitening efficacy. By comparing the efficacy of glabridin dissolved in DMSO and encapsulated in CD, we discovered that the reported cytotoxicity of glabridin may have been overestimated in previous cytotoxicity studies which used DMSO as a solvent, while its whitening efficacy may have been underestimated. These findings not only offer new insights for in vitro studies of glabridin-like reagents, but also facilitate the development of safer and more effective whitening products.
A beginners guide to Sf9 and Sf21 insect cell line culture and troubleshooting
Protocol for evaluation of a virtual wheelchair simulator in assessing mobility skills and cognitive abilities in diverse populations: A multicentric mixed-methods pilot study
Background Current wheelchair acquisition, prescription, and training programs often require comprehensive assessments integrating both power mobility skills and cognitive abilities. While wheelchair simulators offer promise for these assessments, but they have not been fully validated. Objective This study aims to develop and refine a protocol for evaluating the feasibility, reliability and preliminary validity of virtual wheelchair simulator metrics in assessing users’ current power mobility skills and cognitive abilities, following STARD guidelines. Reference standards include the self-report Wheelchair Skill Test (WST), Power Mobility Road Test (PMRT) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Methods This multicentric, mixed-methods pilot study will recruit participants with mobility disabilities, a control group of individuals without disabilities, and healthcare professionals to use a virtual wheelchair simulator. Healthcare professionals will evaluate the simulator’s assessments and provide expert feedback on the protocol. Quantitative data will include simulator-derived performance metrics compared to reference standards, and physiological data (e.g., heart rate, skin conductance, temperature, inter-beat-intervals, accelerometer and eye-gaze tracking). Qualitative data (semi-structured interviews) will capture user experiences and insights for protocol refinement. The Quality of Experience (QoE) evaluation framework will assess cognitive workload (NASA-TLX and PAAS), usability (System Usability Scale), immersion (IGroup Presence Questionnaire), and emotion (Self-Assessment Manikin). Data analysis will include correlation analysis, regression models, thematic analysis, and statistical tests (e.g., independent t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests) to compare simulator-based performance across groups. Discussion This pilot study seeks to fill critical gaps in current wheelchair training and prescription methods by exploring the use of a virtual simulator to objectively assess both cognitive abilities and power mobility skills. Integrating the QoE assessment framework will provide insights into user interactions, ensuring that the simulator supports tailored training and improve user outcomes in mobility, and safety. Future research may extend this protocol to clinical settings to further evaluate its applicability and effectiveness.
Chloroplast whole genome assembly and phylogenetic analysis of Persicaria criopolitana reveals its new taxonomic status
Abstract Persicaria criopolitana (Polygonaceae), a dominant annual herb in wetland ecosystems, is ecologically and horticulturally significant. Despite its prevalence, genomic resources for clarifying its phylogenetic relationships and supporting conservation efforts remain limited. The complete chloroplast genome of P. criopolitana was sequenced, assembled, and annotated. Comparative genomic analyses with other Persicaria species were conducted to identify structural variations and evolutionary dynamics. Phylogenetic relationships were reconstructed using maximum-likelihood methods based on whole chloroplast genome sequences. The chloroplast genome (159,427 bp) exhibits a conserved quadripartite structure, encoding 131 genes, including 86 protein-coding, 37 tRNA, and 8 rRNA genes. Key features include: 208 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were detected, predominantly mononucleotide motifs. A pronounced preference for A/U-ending codons, with leucine as the most frequent amino acid. A 62-bp extension of the ndhF gene into the inverted repeat (IRb) region within the small single-copy (SSC) region.Phylogenetic resolution: P. criopolitana clusters within Persicaria sect. Polygonum, demonstrating distant divergence from sect. Cephalophilon.This study provides the first complete chloroplast genome resource for P. criopolitana, resolving its taxonomic position and revealing adaptive genomic signatures. These findings advance molecular tools for species identification, inform conservation strategies, and elucidate evolutionary mechanisms in Persicaria.
Methods and processes to develop and deliver a theory-informed education program for sustained behaviour change in emergency nursing
Background HIRAID® (History including Infection risk, Red flags, Assessment, Interventions, Diagnostics, communication and reassessment) is an evidence-based framework that supports emergency nurses to optimise safety, quality, and patient experience of care. HIRAID® was the intervention in a modified stepped-wedge cluster randomised controlled trial (SW-cRCT) in a convenience sample of 29 Australian emergency departments (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12621001456842). The aim of this paper is to describe the methods and processes used to develop and deliver a theory-informed education program to support behaviour change during HIRAID® implementation. Methods The HIRAID® education program was developed using: i) existing HIRAID® research using the Behaviour Change Wheel and Theoretical Domains Framework to identify enablers and barriers to HIRAID® use; ii) application of educational pedagogical theoretical frameworks (constructive alignment, backwards design, scaffolded learning); Bloom’s taxonomy of educational objectives, and active and collaborative learning; iii) Australian standards related to safety, quality, clinical governance, and emergency nursing; and iv) behavioural diagnostic data from study sites (n = 670 nurses). Results HIRAID® education program consisted of HIRAID® Provider and Instructor Courses and was delivered using a ‘train-the-trainer’ model. Fifteen HIRAID® Instructor Courses were held from February 2021 to March 2023 with 162 participants, and at November 2023 over 1300 emergency nurses had completed the HIRAID® Provider Course. Conclusions The theory-informed approach to the HIRAID® education program enabled development of a structured program and delivery in the dynamic and complex emergency department environment. The approach reported in this paper provides a blueprint for other researchers aiming to change behaviours in complex settings.
The immunosurveillance signature predicts the prognosis and immunotherapy sensitivity for colon adenocarcinoma
Association between continuity of primary care and preventable hospitalization in adults with asthma: A cohort study
Objective Hospitalization often indicates deteriorating health, longer treatment times, and higher healthcare costs. This study aimed to investigate associations between continuity of care (COC) and asthma-related hospitalizations using a rigorous methodology. Methods This retrospective cohort study was conducted using national health insurance claims data. The study included adults with a diagnosis of asthma between 2015 and 2016 in a primary care setting. The exposure was measured using continuity of care indices (COCIs) during the first two years after inclusion. Cohorts were categorized into two groups based on COCI levels. The primary outcome was the incidence of asthma-related hospitalizations, and the secondary outcomes were emergency department (ED) utilization, systemic corticosteroid use, and asthma-related medical costs. Results A total of 24,173 patients were eligible for analysis, 13,212 of whom were continuously cared for by primary doctors (the continuity group), and 10,961 non-continuously (the non-continuity group). During a 2 year-follow-up period, 230 patients (1.74%) were hospitalized in the continuity group and 404 (3.69%) in the non-continuity group. After adjusting for confounding covariates, patients in the non-continuity group were found to be at significantly higher risk of hospital admission (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR)=2.04 [95% confidence interval = 1.73 ~ 2.41]). In addition, the risk of ED visits, systemic corticosteroid use, and costs were higher for patients in the non-continuity group (aHR = 2.26 [1.32 ~ 3.87], adjusted OR=1.58 [1.35 ~ 1.82], and expβ = 1.41 [1.37 ~ 1.45], respectively). Conclusions In adult asthma patients at the early stages of illness, increased continuity of primary care was found to be associated with fewer hospitalizations, fewer ED visits, and lower healthcare expenditures.
Development of machine learning models for gait-based classification of incomplete spinal cord injuries and cauda equina syndrome
Examination of hyper-palatable foods and their nutrient characteristics using globally crowdsourced data
Hyper-palatable foods (HPF), characterized by specific nutrient combinations at moderate to high levels (e.g., fat and sodium), have been suggested to increase energy intake and obesity risk due to their strong reinforcing properties. The study examined patterns in HPF availability, nutrient characteristics, and overlap with ultra-processed foods (UPF) across countries from a globally crowdsourced, open-source dataset. Food data (N = 314229 food items) from 17 countries were analyzed. Compared to the US, foods from most European countries examined, as well as Canada and Mexico, were significantly less likely to be identified as HPF (ORs = 0.70 to 0.93) and had lower % of calories from fat, sugar, starchy carbohydrates, and sodium compared to HPF items from the US (ORs = 0.76 to 0.98). Across countries, items identified as HPF substantially exceeded HPF threshold criteria by 70–229%. Foods identified as being both HPF and ultra-processed foods ranged from 33% (Bulgaria) to 50% (US). Overall, findings from 17 countries across Europe, North America, and South America highlighted foods from the US as being more likely to be hyper-palatable relative to most other countries examined. Results highlighted variability in the degree to which foods met criteria as HFP and UPF across countries.