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Precision power quality control in grid-integrated microgrid via matrix pencil technique

Microsoft claims quantum-computing breakthrough — but some physicists are sceptical

Validation and adaptation of the Arabic version of health-related quality of life with six domains (HRQ-6D): A factor and Rasch analyses study

Background Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) provides a complete picture of patients’ overall health status and should be evaluated in all patients encountered. To accurately assess patients’ HRQOL a comprehensive validated tool is necessary. Therefore, the present study aimed to validate the Arabic version of the Health-Related Quality of Life with Six Domains (Ar-HRQ-6D) scale. Methods This cross-sectional study utilized an online questionnaire targeting adult Jordanians and implemented several validation steps to ensure the adequacy of the Ar-HRQ-6D. These steps included the application of the forward-backward translation technique, assessment of the content and face validity of the questionnaire, evaluation of internal consistency, validation of the construct through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Rasch analysis, and assessment of the questionnaire’s predictive capabilities. Results A total of 808 participants (63% female) completed the Ar-HRQ-6D. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) supported the suitability of the original three-factor model for the present study data, yielding acceptable model fit indices (χ²/df = 4.1, SRMR = 0.03, RMSEA = 0.06, CFI = 0.99, GFI = 0.96, CIF = 0.98, and TLI = 0.97) and factor loadings ranging from 0.63 to 0.86. Cronbach’s alpha for the three factors ranged from 0.81 to 0.90, confirming the high reliability of the questionnaire. Rasch analysis further validated the person and item separation reliability for the three factors. Additionally, all items of the Ar-HRQ-6D fell within the acceptable infit and outfit ranges. All thresholds were appropriately ordered, ranging from -5.27 to 2.86. Significant differences were observed in the median Ar-HRQ-6D scores across the various health status categories (p < 0.001), with the healthy category showing significantly higher median scores than the other categories. These findings confirm the predictive validity of the Ar-HRQ-6D. Conclusion The study confirmed the reliability, validity, and predictive accuracy of the Arabic version of the Ar-HRQ-6D. This tool is suitable for assessing patients’ HRQOL across various medical settings.

T1-weighted MRI-based brain tumor classification using hybrid deep learning models

Identification of potential biomarkers for lung cancer using integrated bioinformatics and machine learning approaches

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Early detection of lung cancer can help reduce the death rate; therefore, the identification of potential biomarkers is crucial. Thus, this study aimed to identify potential biomarkers for lung cancer by integrating bioinformatics analysis and machine learning (ML)-based approaches. Data were normalized using the robust multiarray average method and batch effect were corrected using the ComBat method. Differentially expressed genes were identified by the LIMMA approach and carcinoma-associated genes were selected using Enrichr, based on the DisGeNET database. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis was performed using STRING, and the PPI network was visualized using Cytoscape. The core hub genes were identified by overlapping genes obtained from degree, betweenness, closeness, and MNC. Moreover, the MCODE plugin for Cytoscape was used to perform module analysis, and optimal modules were selected based on MCODE scores along with their associated genes. Subsequently, Boruta-based ML approach was utilized to identify the important genes. Consequently, the core genes were identified by the overlapping genes obtained from PPI networks, module analysis, and ML-based approach. The prognostic and discriminative power analysis of the core genes was assessed through survival and ROC analysis. We extracted five datasets from USA cohort and three datasets from Taiwan cohort and performed same experimental protocols to determine potential biomarkers. Four genes (LPL, CLDN18, EDNRB, MME) were identified from USA cohort, while three genes (DNRB, MME, ROBO4) were from Taiwan cohort. Finally, two biomarkers (EDNRB and MME) were identified by intersecting genes, obtained from USA and Taiwan cohorts. The proposed biomarkers can significantly improve patient outcomes by enabling earlier detection, precise diagnosis, and tailored treatment, ultimately contributing to better survival rates and quality of life for patients.

A new active neutral point clamped (ANPC) nine-level inverter topology with low energy storage switched capacitors

Deformation, fracture characteristics and damage constitutive model of soft coal under true triaxial complex stress paths

Understanding the mechanical properties and damage deterioration mechanisms of soft coal under true triaxial complex stress paths is crucial for predicting and evaluating the stability of the roof during roadway excavation in thick soft coal seams. This study examines the evolution of deformation strength, fracture characteristics, and acoustic emission patterns of soft coal under various initial stress levels and stress paths using true triaxial loading and unloading tests. The research reveals that soft coal undergoes rapid expansion deformation and ultimately fails along the unloading direction, which varies with different stress paths. The initial stress level and stress path significantly influence deformation and strength, conforming to the Mogi-Coulomb criterion. The fracture modes of the coal under different stress paths can be categorized into compressive-shear failure and compression-shear and tension composite failure. Furthermore, based on the experimental results, a damage constitutive model for soft coal is developed that integrates damage mechanics, Weibull statistical distribution theory, and the Mogi-Coulomb criterion to effectively measure microelement strength under true triaxial complex stress paths. Comparing the theoretical model with the experimental curves demonstrates that the proposed damage constitutive model can effectively reflect the deformation strength characteristics of soft coal under true triaxial complex stress paths. These findings offer a crucial theoretical foundation for enhancing methods to predict and evaluate the stability of roadway roofs in soft coal seams, potentially improving safety and efficiency in mining operations.

Quantitative assessment of Ni+ and He+ ion irradiation damage in a tungsten heavy alloy under the simulated nuclear fusion environment

Abstract A 90W-7Ni-3Fe (wt.%) tungsten heavy alloy has been sequentially Ni+ and He+ ion irradiated at 700 °C to simulate the high temperature irradiation environment of a fusion reactor interior. W/Ni–Fe-W dual-phase alloys have been proposed to serve as plasma facing materials and require detailed investigation of their behavior under fusion relevant conditions to assess their overall applicability. To evaluate material performance under five years of simulated fusion reactor service, microstructural characterization of the nanoscale defect distribution has been performed on both constituent phases, revealing peak swelling in the W phase of approximately 0.03%. The γ-phase (Ni–Fe-W) is found to swell approximately 0.68% under the same irradiation conditions, indicating significant cavity formation and growth. Additionally, a novel multi-projection imaging approach has been applied to determine the extent of damage segregation along the dual-phase W-to-γ interface and exposes that these interfaces act as sink sites for the accumulation of cavities. Interphase boundaries are noted to possess an 11.8% areal coverage of defects along the boundary plane, primarily on the γ-phase side of the boundary. The accumulation of cavities at these interphase boundaries is anticipated to adversely affect overall material toughness, and this work reveals a pressing need for mechanical property testing of irradiated W–Ni-Fe dual-phase alloys.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women in the workplace in the Middle East and North Africa: A scoping review protocol

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the livelihoods of working men and women worldwide. The pandemic exacerbated already existing inequities, especially in sectors where women predominate, such as the healthcare, education, and hospitality sectors. Women in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, a world outlier for low female labor force participation despite high female education levels, may have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on women’s livelihoods and health is critical to support and retain women in the labor force during external health shocks. However, until now there has been relatively little research on this topic in MENA. Therefore, this scoping review aims to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health and wellbeing of women workers in low-and-middle-income countries in the MENA region. Methods The outcome of interest is COVID-19 related occupational health (COVID-19 infection related to workplace exposures and pandemic-related occupational stressors) and the impact on mental and physical health among women workers in LMIC in MENA. Academic databases, including APA PsycINFO, Arab World Research Source: Al-Masdar, Global Health, MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection will be searched. The study selection process will involve two independent reviewers and data extraction will involve summarizing key information from the included studies using a predefined charting table. The evidence will be analyzed descriptively, providing a comprehensive overview of the identified themes and patterns. Discussion It is anticipated that this review will facilitate a deeper understanding of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on working women in the MENA region. The findings may inform data-driven policies and targeted interventions that not only attract and retain women in the workforce but also enhance their health and well-being.

Risk assessment and mechanism of rock burst for deep soft coal roadways

Low-iridium device speeds progress towards green hydrogen

Exploring the socioeconomic determinants of dietary diversity in rural Bangladesh: A longitudinal study

Despite significant progress in food and nutrition security over the past few decades, Bangladesh continues to face challenges, especially in rural areas. This study investigates the relationship between socioeconomic determinants and household dietary diversity using three waves of nationally representative longitudinal data from the Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey (2011/2012, 2015, and 2018/2019). Dietary diversity was measured using the Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) and the Food Variety Score (FVS), both indicators of dietary diversity and food security. We employed a Poisson fixed-effects regression model with robust standard errors to model the dietary diversity indicators, appropriate for the count nature of the data. The results show that households where the head is engaged in farming have, on average, a 1.4% higher HDDS and a 2.17% higher FVS compared to non-farming households. Households where the head has primary or lower education demonstrate a 2.11% increase in HDDS, while those with secondary or higher education experience a 2.05% increase compared to households with no formal education. Additionally, each extra household member increases FVS by 5.5%. Cultivable land, as well as access to essential resources like water and electricity, significantly affects dietary diversity. Economic factors, such as higher food and non-food expenditures per capita, also exhibit strong positive associations with dietary diversity. These findings emphasize the importance of socioeconomic factors and household dynamics in shaping dietary quality. Policy interventions should prioritize educational programs to enhance nutrition knowledge and promote sustainable agricultural practices to support farmers. Aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 on zero hunger and SDG 3 on health and well-being, these insights contribute to ongoing efforts to improve food security and dietary diversity in rural communities.

Effects and mechanisms of social support on the adolescent athletes engagement

Using music as a mood regulator in everyday life is associated with unfavourable health and fitness outcomes in overweight adults

Individual traits and habits have shown to be associated with health and health behaviour. One such habit is how individuals use music. This study aimed to examine if using music as a mood regulator is related to risk factors of lifestyle diseases. Participants who joined the present Motivation Makes the Move! lifestyle intervention were overweight and sedentary adults (n = 76, ages 19–40). They answered questionnaires about physical activity and use of music. They also underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test and their body composition was assessed. Additionally, the analyses’ robustness was tested through controlling for physical, sociodemographic and psychological health related factors. We observed that despite the participants’ self-reported commitment to regular physical activity, their fitness level was poor. Using music as a mood regulator was associated with lower cardiorespiratory fitness. Use of music was also positively linked to body fat percentage, although this finding did not remain significant after adjusting for age, educational level and experienced health. We urge future research to address the relationship between music use and risk factors of lifestyle diseases in a population sample.

Author Correction: Screen time exposure and executive functions in preschool children

Plasmodium and intestinal parasite infections among pregnant women at first antenatal care contact in northwest Ethiopia: A study of prevalence and associated risk factors

Background Parasitic infections in pregnancy are detrimental for both the mother and her fetus. Malaria and intestinal parasite infections among pregnant women at their first antenatal care contact (ANC1) could offer information on their burden in pregnancy, community-level transmission, and intervention coverage, which is vital for targeted interventions. However, data is scarce in Ethiopia. This study investigated Plasmodium and intestinal parasite infections along with their associated risk factors among pregnant women at their ANC1 in northwest Ethiopia. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 538 pregnant women attending ANC1 at selected health facilities in Jawi District, northwest Ethiopia, between November 2021 and July 2022. Plasmodium infection was diagnosed by light microscopy, rapid diagnostic tests, and multiplex real-time PCR. Whereas, intestinal parasite infections were examined microscopically using stool wet mount and Kato-Katz techniques. Predictors of Plasmodium and intestinal parasite infections were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. A P-value of < 0.05 was used to indicate statistical significance. Results Overall, 43.1% (95% CI: 38.9–47.4%) of women were infected with intestinal parasites, 19.1% (95% CI: 15.9–22.7%) had Plasmodium infections, and 11.7% (95% CI: 9.1–14.7%) were co-infected with Plasmodium and intestinal parasites. About 84.9% of malaria cases were asymptomatic, and 39.8% were sub-microscopic infections. Younger maternal age (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) =  2.01, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1, 3.65), primigravidity (AOR =  2.37, 95% CI: 1.43, 3.92), lack of insecticide-treated bed net use (AOR =  2.58, 95% CI: 1.26, 5.3), undernutrition (AOR =  1.89, 95% CI: 1.13, 3.15), and intestinal helminth infection (AOR =  2.09, 95% CI: 1.31, 3.36) were significant predictors of Plasmodium infection. Whereas, rural residency (AOR =  1.62, 95% 1.03, 2.57), habit of soil eating (AOR =  2.06, 95% CI: 1.1, 3.9), consuming raw vegetables and fruits (AOR =  1.59, 95% CI: 1.09, 2.3), and lack of latrine use (AOR =  1.66, 95% CI: 1.06, 2.6) were significantly associated with intestinal parasite infections in pregnancy. Conclusion High prevalences of Plasmodium and intestinal parasite infections were observed among pregnant women in northwest Ethiopia. These findings highlight the importance of strengthening prevention and control measures for parasitic infections and implementing malaria screening at ANC1, particularly for young and primigravid women.

Author Correction: Acute mesenteric ischaemia in the elderly - results of combined endovascular and surgical treatment. Primary study

Public attitudes to potential synthetic cells applications: Pragmatic support and ethical acceptance

Synthetic cells constructed bottom-up represent a novel direction in Synthetic Biology. It has the potential to deepen the scientific understanding of life and, in the longer run, to open up new pathways for medical and environmental applications. Mapping preliminary public attitudes towards emerging technologies is an important step to further societal discussion and stakeholder participation. We conducted a vignette survey with nationally representative samples from 13 European countries (Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, and UK; N =  8,382) to explore public attitudes towards prospective synthetic cell technologies, such as anticancer therapy, CO 2 emissions conversion to biofuel, and industrial waste recycling. Using data-driven techniques, we built a decision tree model of the factors affecting participants’ attitudes and summarized the prevalent themes behind one’s motivation. Our findings suggest substantial public support for prospective synthetic cell applications in the societally beneficial fields, most notably in healthcare.

Kondo-like behavior in a mixed valent oxypnictide La3Cu4P4O2

Stress-mediating inflammatory cytokine profiling reveals unique patterns in malaria and typhoid fever patients

Malaria and typhoid fever pose significant health risks, leading to severe morbidity and mortality when inadequately treated. Understanding the role of stress-related inflammatory cytokines is crucial, as they mediate immune responses that affect pathogen clearance and recovery. This study investigated the cytokine profiles in patients with malaria and/or typhoid fever attending the Obala District Hospital in Yaoundé, Cameroon. We conducted a cross-sectional observational study measuring cortisol and inflammatory cytokines in blood samples from 55 infected patients and a control group of 15 healthy individuals using ELISA kits. We also evaluated psychological stress over the past 30 days using a 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) questionnaire to explore the link between stress and immune response. Psychological stress levels were notably higher in the typhoid fever group (18.20 ± 5.5) compared to the other groups, although these differences were statistically insignificant. Cortisol levels were significantly elevated (p < 0.001) across all patient groups compared to controls, with the typho-malaria group demonstrating a 2.5-fold increase. Notably, cytokine levels were elevated in patients with malaria and typhoid comorbidity, particularly IL-1β, IL-2, TNF-α, and IFN-γ. While IL-6 concentrations were significantly higher in malaria and typho-malaria co-infected patients, IL-10 levels were reduced in the typho-malaria group but remained elevated compared to controls. The TNF-α/IL-10 ratio was significantly higher in the co-infected group, suggesting a heightened inflammatory response. Additionally, there was a positive correlation between perceived stress scores and IL-2 (r = 0.365, p = 0.002), IFN-γ (r = 0.248, p = 0.03), and IL-6 (r = 0.412, p = 0.0001) in the typho-malaria group. Beyond IL-6, no significant correlations were observed between stress indices and the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 (r = 0.204, p = 0.09) and IL-10 (r = 0.153, p = 0.20) among co-infected individuals. These results suggest that stress response may play a crucial role in shaping the inflammatory landscape during malaria and typhoid fever. Exposure to severe stressors may disrupt immune response and contribute to negative health outcomes. Understanding the immunopathogenesis of these diseases could potentially pave the way for the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting the stress-cytokine axis.