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The cellular dance that splits vessels

Analyzing psychological mechanism of physical activity enhancing Chinese L2 learning efficacy with inhibiting aggressive behavior using cross-lagged panel model

Objective For international students coming to China, the process of learning Chinese is very difficult. At the same time, chronic academic underachievement can lead to aggressive behavior (AB). Although physical activity (PA) has been shown to improve learning performance and psychological well-being, its effectiveness in Chinese language learning and AB has not been clarified. Therefore, the present study examined PA as the main variable and explored its dosage profile in Chinese learning and alleviation of AB. Methods A total of 964 international students from different countries from 8 universities in Beijing were selected as the study population and were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) and Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) for 3 longitudinal follow-ups. Analyses of variance, correlations and path models were performed using ANOVA, Pearson and cross-lagged panel model (CLPM). Results High PA level accounted for 18%, moderate PA level for 35%, and light PA level for 47%. PA was significantly elevated on AB and all sub-indicators except HSK (F = 1.58–4.38, η² = 0.03–0.05, P < 0.05), and was decreasingly related to physical aggression, verbal aggression, and angry (F = 4.38, η² = 0.03,; F = 3.24, η² = 0.04,; F = 2.37, η² = 0.04; P < 0.01). In terms of correlation, cross-sectional comparison showed that AB was significantly negatively correlated with both HSK and PA (r = −0.41, P < 0.01; 1 = −0.44, P < 0.01). The longitudinal results showed a decreasing trend of negative correlation between AB and PA under T1-T3 stages (r = −0.29, r = −0.44, P < 0.01), and no significant change in the degree of negative correlation with HSK (r = −0.28, r = −0.35, P < 0.01). The positive correlation between HSK and PA did not change significantly (r = 0.15, r = 0.18, P < 0.01). The positive correlation of PA itself decreased over time (r = 0.83, r = 0.76, P < 0.01). The CLPM results show that under T1 phase, PA negatively affects AB in T1 and T2 phases (β = −0.42, β = −0.18) and positively affects HSK in T2 phase (β = 0.24). AB negatively affects T1 and T2 phase HSK (β = −0.25, β = −0.26). HSK negatively affects AB in T2 phase (β = −0.11). Under T2 phase, PA negatively affects T3 phase AB (β = −0.07) and positively affects T3 phase HSK (β = 0.22). AB negatively affects T3 stage HSK (β = −0.10). HSK negatively influences T3 stage AB (β = −0.08). Conclusions (1) PA may have beneficial effects on both Chinese L2 learning efficacy and the reduction of AB. (2) Higher levels of PA are likely to strengthen these effects. (3) Establishing daily PA habits may serve as an effective strategy to enhance L2 learning outcomes while simultaneously reducing AB in learners.

Relationship between the anxiety of labor companion and labor satisfaction among laboring women

Modulation of human dorsal root ganglion neuron firing by the Nav1.8 inhibitor suzetrigine

Nav1.8 voltage-gated sodium channels are strongly expressed in human primary pain-sensing neurons (nociceptors) and a selective Nav1.8 inhibitor VX-548 (suzetrigine) has shown efficacy for treating acute pain in clinical trials. Nociceptors also express other sodium channels, notably Nav1.7, raising the question of how effectively excitability of the neurons is reduced by inhibition of Nav1.8 channels alone. We used VX-548 to explore this question, recording from dissociated human dorsal root ganglion neurons at 37 °C. Applying VX-548 at 10 nM (about 25 times the IC 50 determined using cloned human Nav1.8 channels at 37 °C) had only small effects on action potential threshold and upstroke velocity but substantially reduced the peak and shoulder. Counterintuitively, VX-548 shortened the refractory period—likely reflecting reduced potassium channel activation by the smaller, narrower action potential—sometimes resulting in faster firing. Generally, repetitive firing during depolarizations was diminished but not eliminated by VX-548. Voltage clamp analysis suggested two reasons that repetitive firing often remains in 10 to 100 nM VX-548. First, many neurons had such large Nav1.8 currents that even 99% inhibition leaves nA-level Nav1.8 current that could help drive repetitive firing. Second, Nav1.7 current dominated during initial spikes and could also contribute to repetitive firing. The ability of human neurons to fire repetitively even with >99% inhibition of Nav1.8 channels may help explain the incomplete analgesia produced by even the largest concentrations of VX-548 in clinical studies.

Work ability and associated factors among female ready-made garment workers in Bangladesh

Background The ready-made garment industry plays a crucial role in Bangladesh’s economy and has made a significant contribution to womenempowerment by employing millions of female workers. The work ability, reflecting the productivity and well-being of a worker, has been less explored among female garment workers. This study aimed to explore this gap. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among 395 female garment workers aged ≥18 years at a factory in Dhaka from August-December 2023. Work ability was assessed using the Work Ability Index (WAI). Sociodemographic and work-related factors associated with WAI scores were identified using linear regression analysis. Results The average age (±SD) of the participants was 31.05 ± 6.71 years. The Work Ability Index scores among participants showed a good mean (±SD) score of 40.65 ± 2.71 [Range: 7–49]. Younger age (p < 0.001), not having any children (p = 0.012), lower family income (<12,000 BDT) (p < 0.001), higher duration of job (p = 0.016) and working in the finishing section (p = 0.001) were associated with higher WAI scores. After adjustment, age (β = −0.06, 95% CI −0.10 to −0.01), income (β = −0.63, 95% CI −1.20 to −0.05), and working in finishing (adjusted β = 1.77, 95% CI: 0.32 to 3.21 compared to administration section) were independently associated with WAI scores. Conclusions The study identified several factors that can be considered when planning interventions to enhance work ability and well-being of female garment workers.

Exploring novel of 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxaline sulfonamide regioisomers as anti-diabetic and anti-Alzheimer agents with in-silico molecular docking simulation

Abstract In this study, a novel series of 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalines containing a sulfonamide moiety was designed and synthesized through regioselective synthesis from 2 and/ 3-hydrazino-6-(pyrrolidin-1-ylsulfonyl)quinoxaline derivatives 5 and 7. The structures of two isomers were confirmed and characterized by IR,1H NMR,13C NMR, and elemental analysis data. The synthesized 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxaline derivatives 8–13 were evaluated for their antidiabetic activities by targeting α-amylase and α-glucosidase, as well as for their anti-Alzheimer activity by targeting acetylcholinesterase (AChE) at a concentration of 100 µM. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis was conducted for all analogs, emphasizing the nature of the substituent groups at position one of the triazole nucleus and the positioning of the sulfonamide moiety. For α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity, the designed compounds exhibited moderate to good activity, with inhibitory percentage values ranging from 21.85 ± 0.01% to 64.70 ± 0.02% and from 23.93 ± 0.01% to 75.36 ± 0.01%, respectively. The N-allyl-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-amine derivative 10a demonstrated the most significant inhibitory activity, with percentages of 64.70 ± 0.02% and 75.36 ± 0.01% against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, respectively, in comparison to acarbose (IP = 67.33 ± 0.01% and 57.79 ± 0.01%). Furthermore, the 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxaline derivatives 8–13 exhibited low to moderate inhibitory percentages against the acetylcholinesterase enzyme, except for the 1-methyl-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxaline derivative 11b which demonstrated the highest inhibitory percentage of 44.78 ± 0.01%, compared to donepezil (IP = 67.27 ± 0.60%). Moreover, the promising derivative 10a demonstrated exceptional inhibitory activity, exhibiting IC50 values of 3.46 ± 0.06 µM and 6.89 ± 0.09 µM against α-glucosidase and α-amylase, respectively, when compared to acarbose, which has IC50 values of 4.27 ± 0.06 µM and 5.90 ± 0.09 µM. Finally, molecular docking simulations were performed for compound 10a within α-amylase (PDB: 2QV4) and α-glucosidase (PDB: 3W37), while compound 11b was analyzed within acetylcholinesterase (AChE) (PDB: 4EY7) to assess binding affinity and to explore the binding interactions with the active sites of the enzymes.

Longitudinal associations between birth-to-six cortical growth and childhood neurocognitive function

The human cortex undergoes immense change in the first years of life, doubling in thickness within the first year and evidencing the greatest change within the first 5 y. While substantial research has identified the early postnatal period as a sensitive period in cortical development, research to date lacks the temporal resolution necessary to identify which aspects of cortical change predict later neural and cognitive function. This study leveraged a rich longitudinal dataset of cortical thickness in 50 children who were scanned up to 11 times between birth and 6 y. We used nonlinear multilevel modeling to explore patterns of cortical change across the brain during this period and distinguish whether different phases of change would predict performance and brain activation during a working memory task children completed at approximately 9 y. Cortical thickness across the brain showed a large increase from birth through 12 mo, a decrease from 12 to 18 mo, and a small increase from 18 mo to 6 y, mirroring patterns of early neural proliferation, pruning, and sustained growth. Performance and neural activation during the working memory task were associated with smaller peak (i.e., 12 mo) thickness and a marginally less steep 12 to 18-mo decline in thickness in the middle frontal gyrus (MFG) of the frontal lobe, in line with evidence demonstrating concurrent links between frontal lobe structure and working memory. These findings validate theories of cortical growth developed in preclinical models using human data and demonstrate that prefrontal cortex development in infancy uniquely predicts neurocognitive function 9 y later.

Association of renal hyperfiltration with incidence of dyslipidemia: a nationwide retrospective longitudinal cohort study

Background Individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are often diagnosed with dyslipidemia, contributing to their cardiovascular risk. However, the relationship between renal hyperfiltration (RHF) and dyslipidemia remains unclear. Here, we aimed to examine the association between RHF and incidence of dyslipidemia. Methods We examined the data of 2,780,874 participants who underwent health examinations between 2010 and 2011 from the Korean NHIS-HEALS database. Renal function was assessed using estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels that were calculated using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation. The incidence of dyslipidemia was defined as the outcome. Dyslipidemia was characterized by meeting the following criteria: having at least one claim of International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 code (E78) with an anti-dyslipidemia agent prescription, claims of ICD-10 code (E78) occurring more than twice, a total cholesterol level ≥ 240 mg/dL, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ≥ 160 mg/dL, triglycerides ≥ 200 mg/dL, or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol < 40 mg/dL. RHF was defined as having an eGFR > 120 mL/min ∙ 1.73 m2 defined by the eGFR range or being in the 10th decile of whole eGFR level. Results Over a median follow-up of 9.56 years, 2,243,502 participants with dyslipidemia were identified. The mean age of participants was 47.35 ± 13.96 years. In the multivariable Cox regression analysis, eGFR > 120 mL/min ∙ 1.73 m2 was associated with a decreased risk of dyslipidemia (HR: 0.35; 95% CI [0.34–0.36]). Furthermore, compared to the fifth decile, tenth (≥ 114.21) (HR: 0.47, 95% CI (0.46–0.48) eGFR deciles were significantly associated with a reduced incidence of dyslipidemia. Conclusions The general population with RHF may have a lower risk of incidence of dyslipidemia. The identified inverse association between RHF and dyslipidemia underscores its significance in risk stratification and preventive interventions in clinical practice.

Factors associated with severe lower extremity artery disease in type 2 diabetes based on a large scale claims database in Japan

Abstract Diabetic foot lesions are becoming increasingly prevalent due to increases in type 2 diabetes (T2D), aging populations, and atherosclerotic diseases. Individuals with T2D with comorbid lower extremity artery disease (LEAD) are particularly susceptible. Although pharmacological therapies are often combined with risk management strategies, like exercise and smoking cessation, their roles in preventing LEAD progression are unclear. Herein, we investigated factors suppressing LEAD progression in T2D. Using data from the DeSC database, this retrospective cross-sectional study defined severe LEAD as a diagnosis requiring revascularization (Revasc). Logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for associated factors. The analysis included 243,606 patients with T2D divided into two groups; those with (n = 890) and without (n = 242,716) Revasc. Subgroup analysis of patients with LEAD (n = 27,258) with (n = 890) and without (n = 26,368) Revasc was also conducted. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) (OR 0.50), metformin (OR 0.78), and fibrates (OR 0.75) were associated with a significant reduction in severe LEAD in the primary and subgroup analyses. In conclusion, the active use of SGLT2 inhibitors, metformin, and fibrates may help prevent LEAD progression. However, these medications are associated with adverse events, making it essential to manage patients individually to optimize benefits while minimizing risks.

Reply to Siqueira-Batista and Gómez: Underscoring the importance of biosafety for the return of Martian samples

Eye-tracking as a measure of receptive vocabulary in non-verbal children with cerebral palsy

Children with cerebral palsy (CP) often struggle to participate in traditional language assessments due to their limited mobility, making it challenging for speech-language therapists (SLTs) to accurately assess their language abilities. In recent years, there has been evidence that eye-tracking is an effective way of measuring the receptive language abilities of children who demonstrate difficulties with traditional language assessments. This study aimed to (i) develop eye-tracking assessment materials based on a receptive vocabulary subtest of a Malay language assessment and (ii) evaluate the performance of children with CP on the receptive vocabulary assessment conducted via eye-tracking, compared to their performance on a traditional receptive vocabulary assessment. The first phase of the study focused on developing eye-tracking receptive vocabulary assessment materials from the Malay Preschool Language Assessment Tool and trialling the materials and assessment protocol. This phase involved 15 typically developing children aged 4–6 years. The finalized materials and protocol were administered to 15 children with CP in the second phase. Each child attended two assessment sessions: the first was a traditional receptive vocabulary assessment, and the second utilized eye-tracking technology. Children practiced eye-tracking through online games. Results showed that eight children with CP performed better in the eye-tracking assessment, two scored similarly across both methods, and five scored lower during eye-tracking. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test conducted revealed no significant difference in scores across both assessment methods (p > .05). Furthermore, most children exhibited poor consistency in their scores across the two methods. These findings suggest that while some children with CP may benefit from receptive vocabulary assessments conducted via eye-tracking, no single assessment method is optimal for all children with CP. Instead, children with CP may benefit from a combination of assessment methods, including eye-tracking, to increase the accuracy of assessment results.

Angular interrogation analysis of metal-dielectric grating metasurfaces for efficient tuning of surface plasmons

Formation of giant ER sheets by pentadecanoic acid causes lipotoxicity in fission yeast

Excess amounts of saturated fatty acids (FAs) are toxic to organisms, a condition termed lipotoxicity, which is often accompanied by pleiotropic cellular and tissue dysfunction. Here, we show that pentadecanoic acid (C15:0) exerts toxicity on the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe by generating an aberrantly planar endoplasmic reticulum (ER) structure, which we named a “giant ER sheet.” Untargeted lipidomics revealed that C15:0 is incorporated into complex lipids depending on an acyl-CoA ligase Lcf1 and an acyl-CoA transferase Slc1, thereby increasing the saturation level of the acyl chains. The toxicity and giant ER sheet formation were abolished by deleting lcf1 or slc1 gene, indicating that the incorporation of C15:0 into glycerophospholipids causes giant ER sheet formation. The giant ER sheets disrupted the correct migration of Mid1, a protein determining the cell division site, and physically blocked septum formation, hindering correct cell separation. Our results suggest that the ER is the primary site targeted by saturated FAs, leading to lipotoxicity.

Gut microbiota composition differences are associated with geographic location and age in malaria-endemic regions of Rwanda

Evidence suggests that a significant interplay exists between the host gut microbiota and both the transmission and severity of malaria. Therefore, we explored the association between malaria and the gut microbiota across various geographic regions, considering host’s nutritional habits, helminth coinfections and age. This observational study was conducted in 3 malaria-endemic provinces of Rwanda: West, South and East. Demographic data, blood and fecal samples were collected from 169 participants (85 females and 84 males) aged between 2–78 years. We used questionnaire-derived qualitative data based on geographic regions, age, and nutrition. Malaria and soil-transmitted helminth diagnosis was assessed by microscopy. The gut microbial composition was analyzed based on bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. We observed that preschool children had a significantly lower microbiota diversity compared to both school children (q = 0.027, K-Wallis) and adults (q = 0.011, K-Wallis). Unlike age, infection status (uninfected, malaria alone, soil-transmitted helminth alone or coinfection) was not significantly associated with the gut microbiota. However, using Bray-Curtis distances, we found a significantly differential gut microbial beta-diversity with a convergent distribution in the Western province compared to the other provinces (q = 0.0045, pairwise PERMANOVA). This geographic difference was not explained by any change in energy intake, protein, lipids, or carbohydrates consumption but was likely due to lower dietary fibre intake in the West compared to the South (q < 0.0001, ANOVA) and the East (q = 0.07, ANOVA). In conclusion, we have not found significant links between infection and gut microbiota. However, we showed a significant difference in the gut microbiota composition of people living in different geographic locations in Rwanda, possibly due to their nutritional habits.

Prescribed time adaptive periodic sliding mode control of unmanned surface vehicle cluster under singular disturbance

Toward elucidating the mechanism of cochlear stimulation by infrared light

Atmospheric pollution in Ulaanbaatar: Persistence and long-run trends

This paper investigates the presence of long-run trends and persistence in various pollutants in the city of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia using fractional integration. Using daily data from January 1st, 2022 until May 31st, 2024 we investigate the statistical properties of four pollutants, namely, NO2, SO2, PM10, and PM2.5. The results indicate the presence of significant negative time trends in the cases of SO2 and PM2.5 and evidence of long memory and mean reverting patterns in all four pollutants. Policy implications of the results obtained are reported at the end of the paper.

Factors associated with patency following drug-coated balloon angioplasty of hemodialysis access

Synthesizing decades of research into one tree for birds

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio as potential predictors of nosocomial infection in patients undergoing veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: A cohort study

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the predictive value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) for nosocomial infection in patients undergoing veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). Methods In this retrospective cohort study, we assessed 95 patients who underwent VA-ECMO between 2018 and 2023 at the Third People’s Hospital of Henan Province. The association between NLR, PLR and nosocomial infection in patients undergoing VA-ECMO was tested using logistic regression model. Results Among 95 VA-ECMO patients, 30 were found to have developed nosocomial infection (infection rate 31.58%). Patients with higher levels of NLR and PLR showed higher rates of nosocomial infections (p < 0.05). Higher NLR were associated with an increased risk of nosocomial infections in patients undergoing VA-ECMO (odds ratio [OR], 4.858; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.864–12.663) (P = 0.001), after adjusting for sex, age, hemoglobin, albumin, and duration of VA-ECMO treatment. In reference to the first tertile of NLR, ORs were 6.931 (95% CI, 1.496–32.118) for the second tertile, 8.898 (95% CI, 1.943–40.751) for the third tertile. PLR was a risk factor for nosocomial infections in patients undergoing VA-ECMO (OR 5.478; 95%CI 2.117–14.176) after adjusting for traditional risk factors (P < 0.001). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of NLR and PLR to predict nosocomial infections in patients treated with VA-ECMO were 0.710 and 0.763, respectively. Conclusions High NLR and PLR were associated with an increased risk of nosocomial infection in patients treated with VA-ECMO.