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A sharp volatile-rich cap to the Yellowstone magmatic system
FGF18 induces chondrogenesis and anti-osteoarthritic effects in a mouse model for TMJ degeneration
Objective Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis (TMJ-OA) is a degenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of cartilage and subchondral bone sclerosis. Currently there are no effective treatments for TMJ-OA. FGF18 is a member of the fibroblast growth factor family with essential roles for chondrogenesis, selectively binding to FGFR3 receptor. Studies have reported FGF18 attenuates cartilage degradation. Whereas the anti-osteoarthritic effects of FGF18 in the articular cartilage are known, the effects of FGF18 in a TMJ fibrocartilage degeneration mouse model remain to be determined. The goal of this project was to determine the effects of intra-articular injections of FGF18 in a mouse model for TMJ degeneration. Method Prosthesis tubes were bonded at the left lower incisor of 6-week-old triple collagen transgenic mice (Col1a1XCol2a1XCol10a1), creating unilateral crossbite and degeneration of the TMJ fibrocartilage. Six weeks after placement of prosthesis tubes, experimental and control mice received intra-articular injections of rmFGF18 (5µg/week) or saline, respectively, for 3 weeks. Results Mice receiving saline intra-articular injections presented with a thinner cartilage layer with decreased proteoglycan distribution and Edu positive cells (chondrocyte proliferation marker), while mice injected with rmFGF18 presented with significant increased fibrocartilage thickness, remarkable proteoglycan distribution and chondrocyte proliferation, suggesting healing of the induced degeneration. Furthermore, reversal of the TMJ degeneration achieved by rmFGF18 injection was accompanied by a substantial reduction in Noggin (antagonist of BMP signaling), increase in TIMP1 (inhibitor of metalloproteinases such as MMP13) and decrease in MMP13 expression. Conclusion Our results postulate FGF18 as a powerful growth factor for the healing of TMJ fibrocartilage.
Retraction Note: A Tunguska sized airburst destroyed Tall el-Hammam a Middle Bronze Age city in the Jordan Valley near the Dead Sea
The impact of Connexin 43 deficiency on the cell shape and cytoskeleton of murine Sertoli cells: A house with ramshackle walls?
Genetically induced loss of the gap-junction protein Connexin 43 (Cx43) in murine Sertoli cells leads to an arrest of spermatogenesis at the level of spermatogonia, highly vacuolated tubules, and intratubular cell clusters. Transmission electron microscopy as well as 3D-reconstruction of Sertoli cells based on serial block-face scanning electron microscopy imaging revealed severe cell shape changes in Cx43 deficient Sertoli cells. Since the cytoskeleton is important for the transport of germ cells within the seminiferous epithelium and for keeping the cell shape, the study at hand aimed to reveal correlations of Cx43 loss and changes of cytoskeletal components and their spatial organization in the seminiferous epithelium. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, conventional transmission electron microcopy and immunogold labeling indicated alterations in microtubule and actin filament distribution patterns in Cx43 deficient Sertoli cells compared to wildtype mice. Firstly, microtubules seemed to be misoriented in mutant Sertoli cells. Secondly, the actin filament based basal ectoplasmic specializations were increased in spatial extension, but the apical ectoplasmic specialization was missing. Lastly, Sertoli cells of both genotypes immunostained positive for vimentin, the prevalent intermediate filament of Sertoli cells, but not for keratins, markers for Sertoli cell immaturity or dedifferentiation. In conclusion, Cx43 deficiency in Sertoli cells correlates not only with severe cell shape alterations but also with changes in microtubule and actin filament distribution patterns, while intermediate filament expression seems to be only negligibly influenced.
Publisher Correction: Green HPLC technique development for the simultaneous determination of the potential combination of Mirabegron and Tamsulosin
Association between pre-existing Pulmonary Hypertension and COVID-19 related outcomes in inpatient and ambulatory care settings
Background Afflicting up to 1% of population, pulmonary hypertension (PH) is commonly associated with cardiopulmonary and metabolic diseases, but the effect of COVID-19 in patients with pre-existing PH remains unclear. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study in patients who had undergone right-heart-catheterization within the VA Healthcare system and had a subsequent hospital admission with COVID-19 (inpatient cohort, n=1204) or had COVID-19 positivity but not admitted (outpatient cohort, n=6576). Inpatient findings were confirmed in a non-VA validation cohort (n=656) who had undergone echocardiography with subsequent admission. PH was defined invasively as mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) >20 mmHg and non-invasively as estimated right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) >30 mmHg. In-hospital outcomes (inpatient cohort) and 1-year mortality (outpatient cohort) were assessed using multivariable logistic or Cox regression adjusting for confounders. Results Pre-existing PH was independently associated with greater in-hospital mortality (PH using mPAP: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.60, 95%CI: 1.04–2.46; PH using RVSP: aOR 2.12, 95% CI 1.18–3.82). Among outpatients, those with COVID-19 had >8-fold higher 90-day and 2.8 fold higher 91–365 day adjusted hazard of mortality irrespective of PH status. Hazards of 90-day hospitalization were similarly driven by COVID-19. The findings were comparable for patient subgroup with normal pulmonary capillary wedge pressures. Conclusion Pre-existing PH is independently associated with higher in-hospital COVID-19 mortality. In outpatients, COVID-19 positivity was associated with increased mortality over 1 year irrespective of PH status, with highest risk within the first 90 days.
Fracture propagation characteristics and failure mechanisms of parallel-fractured sandstone
R&D and pricing strategies in the intelligent vehicle supply chain under cross-organizational cooperative models
With the development of automotive intelligence, vehicle manufacturers and technology companies have engaged in cross-industry cooperative research and development (R&D), leading to new cooperative R&D models. In this context, this paper develops game-theoretic models for four distinct cooperative frameworks: the technology-dominant model, the supplier-cooperation model, the manufacturer-dominant model, and the joint decision-making model. This paper aims to explore the conditions under which different cooperative R&D models are applicable and examines the strategic choices associated with each model. The results indicate that if a company is a core industry player, the core component supplier should select the technology-dominant model, while the vehicle manufacturer should choose the manufacturer-dominant model. If it is not a core player, the joint decision-making model is the next best choice. If the goal of R&D cooperation is achieving a high level of intelligence rather than short-term profits, the manufacturer-dominant model is more suitable. Though price wars may emerge, under the technology-dominant model, the supply chain adopts a quality strategy. Across the other three models, quality strategies remain consistent. As the consumer price sensitivity coefficient increases, the supply chain is more likely to adopt both quality and low-price strategies simultaneously. These findings offer valuable insights for making R&D and pricing strategy decisions under cross-organizational cooperative models in the intelligent vehicle supply chain.
Improved SwinUNet with fusion transformer and large kernel convolutional attention for liver and tumor segmentation in CT images
Evaluation of plant and animal products against Chilo partellus Swinhoe (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) infestation in sorghum field
Plant and animal products with optimum concentrations were synthesized and evaluated against Chilo partellus Swinhoe infestation in the sorghum field. The experiment was designed in a randomized complete block design in a factorial arrangement with three replications. The treatments were M. ferruginea aqua extract, Cow urine, and a mixture of M. ferruginea and Cow urine each at three rates of concentration (5%, 10%, and 15%). Treatments were applied at two levels of frequencies (2 and 3 times application). The pest infestations and all its activities were systematically screened as well. Results indicated that all formulations significantly (P<0.01) reduced damage at the highest rates with three times applications. The mixture treatments were most effective in reducing leaf damage, dead hearts and the pest infestations with significant larval mortality at a higher rate with three times applications. No larvae per plant were recorded on sorghum treated with M. ferruginea aqua extract at a higher rate in three applications. Likewise, the highest mortality was recorded at the higher rate (15% concentration) of the mixture. Application rates and frequencies of all treatments were positively correlated to larval mortality. M. ferruginea aqua extract and the mixture were negatively correlated while cow urine has no relation to the density of larvae. Significantly taller plants, a smaller number of holes per plant, and the shortest tunnel length were recorded from the mixture, and M. ferruginea aqua extract treated plots at a higher rate and two times more applications. Best grain yields and yield advantages were recorded at three times applications of the higher rates. In conclusion, plant and animal-based insecticides at the higher rates with three times applications were best in reducing C. partellus infestations in the field. Likewise, their effect on the main natural enemy of the pest was minimal.
A novel stroke classification model based on EEG feature fusion
Intelligent recognition of human activities using deep learning techniques
Recognition of Human Actions (HAR) Portrays a crucial significance in various applications due to its ability for analyzing behaviour of humans within videos. This research investigates HAR in Red, Green, and Blue, or RGB videos using frameworks for deep learning. The model’s ensemble method integrates the forecasts from two models, 3D-AlexNet-RF and InceptionV3 Google-Net, to improve accuracy in recognizing human activities. Each model independently predicts the activity, and the ensembles method merges these predictions, often using voting or averaging, to produce a more accurate and reliable final classification. This approach leverages the advantages of each design, leading to enhanced performance recognition for activities. The performance of our ensemble framework is evaluated on our contesting HMDB51 dataset, known for its diverse human actions. Training the Inflated-3D (I3D) video classifiers using HMDB51 dataset, our system aims to improve patient care, enhance security, surveillances, Interaction between Humans and Computers, or HCI, and advance human-robot interaction. The ensemble model achieves exceptional results in every class, with an astounding aggregate accuracy of 99.54% accuracy, 97.94% precision, 97.94% recall, 99.56% specificity, 97.88% F1-Score, 95.43% IoU,97. 36% MCC and Cohen’s Kappa 97.17%. These findings suggest that the ensemble model is highly effective & a powerful tool for HAR tasks. Multi-tiered ensembles boost wearable recognition, setting a new gold standard for healthcare, surveillance, and robotics.
Predicting porosity in tight sandstone reservoirs based on logging while drilling engineering parameters
Spatial immune scoring system predicts hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence
A decline in the coverage and utilization of long-lasting insecticidal nets in Southern Ethiopia: A repeated cross-sectional study
Background Despite ongoing interventions like long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) distribution and indoor residual spraying, malaria is increasing in Ethiopia. LLIN ownership and utilization vary from time to time and place to place; thus, local evidence of LLIN ownership and use is required. Hence, this study aimed to investigate LLIN ownership, access within household, use, and associated factors using repeated indicators measures. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study with repeated measures was conducted in the Sidama region, southern Ethiopia. The first survey was conducted in February and March 2023, and the second was done from October to December 2023. Multi-stage cluster sampling was employed to select representative households. LLIN coverage and use were estimated per the World Health Organization’s recommendations. Descriptive and multilevel logistic regression analyses were performed, and effect sizes were measured using adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results A total of 1647 households with 8054 individuals were included in the study. Most households were headed by males (89%), farmers (63%), and persons who were unable to read and write (55%). The ownership of at least one LLIN per household was 85% in survey one and dropped to 69% in survey two. The sufficiency of one LLIN for every two people was 36% in survey one and decreased to 29% in survey two. Similarly, the proportion of the population with access to LLIN within households decreased from 66.5% to 54.2%. Moreover, LLIN use dropped from 30.5% to 19.9% between the two surveys. The sufficiency of one LLIN to every two household members was consistently associated with geographical residence, sex, and education of household heads. In contrast, the education of household heads, family size, and age of individuals were consistent predictors of LLIN use. Females were likely to use LLIN during first survey, but no difference was noted during second survey. Conclusion LLIN ownership and use were far below the conventional target (80%). LLIN ownership and utilization declined before the expected period. More than half of the population with access to LLIN within households do not use it. Thus, the malaria programs should consider more LLIN distribution and strengthen LLIN use among population with access to LLIN within their households.
Identification and evaluation of Pharmacological enhancers of the factor VII p.Q160R variant
Exploring emotion recognition in patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s dementia undergoing a rehabilitation program
Aim This study aimed to explore differences in the emotions of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) in group rehabilitation using facial analysis. Method We conducted rehabilitation consisting of aerobic exercise, cognitive training, dual tasks (a combination of exercise and cognitive training), and creative activities in a group format with patients with MCI and dementia. The faces of the 30 patients (MCI: n=14; mild/moderate AD: n=16) who participated were filmed from the front with a small camera during the four tasks. Then, we used the Kokoro Sensor (CAC Corporation, Japan), a device which estimates emotion scores (anger, contempt, disgust, fear, joy, sadness, surprise) based on different parts of the face using artificial intelligence, to calculate emotion scores for each activity, and compared them between the MCI and AD groups. Results Emotion scores for fear and surprise were significantly higher for the AD group than for the MCI group during dual tasks (p=0.016), while emotion scores for joy were significantly higher for the MCI group than for the AD group during creative activities (p=0.012). Conclusion Creative activities and dual tasks, which require simultaneous physical activity and cognitive thinking, were difficult for patients with AD. On the other hand, tasks which used a range of cognitive functions, such as creative activities, evoked joy in patients with MCI. It may be beneficial to provide tasks and support to patients with respect to their unique emotions based on these results.
Experimental study on isothermal adsorption and desorption characteristics and influencing factors of transitional facies shale gas
Cynicism among medical students: An in-depth analysis of mental health dynamics and protective factors in medical education using structural equation modeling
Background Medical students frequently grapple with challenges during their studies, including emotional impacts, career socialization, psychiatric comorbidities, and burnout syndrome. Burnout syndrome profoundly influences mental and physical health, impacting patient care. Within this complex landscape, elevated stress levels specifically manifest in increased cynicism, reduced idealism, and other mental health issues. The simultaneous decline of empathy during medical education adds a layer of complexity. Understanding these dynamics and the potential protective factors is crucial for addressing students’ well-being and optimizing curriculum development. Methods The present study comprised third-year and fifth-year Hungarian medical students from the University of Pécs in a partially cross-sectional, partially longitudinal investigation conducted at two time points (2018/19: 124 third-years; 127 fifth-years; 2020/21: 82 third-years; 37 fifth-years). All medical students were sampled in the given year of the selected semester (third-year students at the first timepoint were asked once again as fifth-year students at the second timepoint). In addition to descriptive statistics, structural equation modelling was used to assess the impact of time, role model, perceived stress, empathy, and burnout on medical students. Results The analysis indicated that there was a significant increase in cynicism during the institutional socialization of medical students. While there was only partial support for the reduction in the perception of patient-centered role models during institutional socialization, the findings indicated that the perception of patient-centered role models and empathy acted as protective factors mitigating cynicism. Unexpectedly, the analysis found an increase in stress and cynicism over time, possibly influenced by factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion The study’s findings indicate a rise in cynicism among medical students over time that could threaten future doctor-patient relationships. The findings emphasize the protective role of empathy and patient-centered role models, emphasizing the need for humanistic integration in medical education.