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Molecular characterization of suburothelial fibrosis in murine acute recurrent bladder inflammation
Is it enough to utilize a single anchor for repair of rotator cuff tears ≤ 3 * 3 cm²?
Background Biomechanical studies showed that increasing number of anchors could improve the repair strength of the repaired cuff at time zero. Purpose The aim of this study was to determine if utilizing only a single anchor for a cuff tear repair is sufficient or otherwise to give a similar retear rate and clinical outcome as multiple anchors in a matched group of patients. Study design Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods Retrospective analysis of 346 matched consecutive patients (single anchor group, n = 173; multiple anchors group, n = 173) who had cuff tears ≤ 3*3 cm² (mediolateral * anteroposterior diameters) repaired by a single senior surgeon. Ultrasound was used to evaluate the integrity of repair 6 months post-surgery. Patient and surgeon reported outcomes were used to evaluate the clinical outcome of the method used for repair. Results 6 months post-surgery; the retear rate for cuff tears ≤ 1*1 cm², tears ≤ 1 cm in mediolateral diameter and > 1 cm in anteroposterior diameter and tears > 1 cm in mediolateral diameter and ≤ 1 cm in anteroposterior diameter was similar in single and multiple anchors groups (4.8%) (3.3%) (P = 1.00), (10.8%) (7.9%) (P = 0.71) and (0%) (0%) respectively. Retear rate for cuff tears > 1*1 cm² was significantly higher in single anchor group (25.4%) compared to multiple anchors groups (10.9%) (P < 0.05). Operative time was significantly lower in single anchor group (14 minutes) compared to multiple anchors group (20 minutes) (P < 0.05) only for cuff tears ≤ 1*1 cm². Conclusion 6-months post-surgery; there was no significant difference in retear rate or clinical outcome between patients with tears ≤ 3*3 cm² (mediolateral * anteroposterior diameters) who had their cuff tears repaired using a single anchor compared to those who had their cuff tears repaired using multiple anchors unless both the mediolateral and anteroposterior diameters of the tear were > 1 cm, for which the utilization of multiple anchors showed a significantly lower retear rate at 6 months post-surgery. Operative time was significantly shorter only when a single anchor was used for repair of tears ≤ 1*1 cm².
Process parameter optimization for minimizing overcut in abrasive waterjet deep hole drilling of SS 316L
Sustained metabolic reduction and hypothermia in humans
Metabolic reduction is an adaptation employed by animals encountering environmental stressors or scarce resources. Lowering metabolism in humans may be useful to reduce consumables, oxygen utilization and carbon dioxide excretion. This is relevant for payload optimization or resource-restricted scenarios such as long-duration spaceflight or austere terrestrial environments (e.g., Arctic/Antarctic, submarine, cave or mine extraction). We previously demonstrated intravenous and single oral or sublingual doses of dexmedetomidine reduce oxygen consumption, wakefulness, and core body temperature in healthy humans. However, longer-acting dosing strategies are required to achieve greater levels of metabolic reduction. We explored whether a sublingual loading dose followed by subcutaneous infusion (SQI) of dexmedetomidine with and without surface cooling can decrease metabolic rate for 6 hours. We recruited 11 healthy volunteers, 4 male, median age 23 (IQR 21–25), who completed one-day laboratory studies measuring core body temperature via telemetry and metabolic rate via indirect calorimetry. Participants consumed an oral loading bolus of dexmedetomidine (2 μg/kg) followed by a six-hour SQI of dexmedetomidine (1 μg/kg/hr). Surface cooling pads were placed on the backs of 7 participants to promote heat loss. We collected vital signs continuously and monitored participants until they could be safely discharged. Energy expenditure (EE; kcals per day) dropped from baseline regardless of surface cooling. With surface cooling, median temperature decreased from 36.9°C (IQR 36.7–37.0°C) at baseline to 35.4°C (IQR 35.3–35.5°C) at 6 hours. Sublingual loading dose followed by 6-hour SQI of dexmedetomidine safely and effectively reduces metabolic rate. Future studies should be evaluating the effectiveness of SQI dexmedetomidine without a sublingual loading bolus, evaluating novel administration methods, and determining if tolerance develops with long-term use.
Evaluating Arundo donax efficiency for pharmaceutical compounds removal from synthetic wastewater in horizontal flow constructed wetland
Assessing physical activity, mental health, and quality of life among older adults in Tehran, Iran: A cross-sectional study
Background The World Health Organisation (WHO/EMRO) funded research aimed to evaluate the effects of physical activity (PA) levels and their relationship with mental health and quality of life (QoL) among older adults in Tehran, Iran. Methods A cross-sectional design was used, and data from five different regions were collected from 7500 individuals aged over 60 years using four questionnaires: The International PA Questionnaire (IPAQ), Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-26), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), and a preliminary individual characteristics questionnaire. The IPAQ assessed PA, while the GHQ-28 evaluated mental health. The WHOQOL-26 assessed quality of life in four areas: physical health, psychological well-being, social relationships, and environment. Data analysis was conducted on MLwiN 3.05, whereby multilevel regression models were constructed. Results Results indicated that most participants had low levels of PA, with 74.4% meeting low levels of PA. No meaningful variation in mental health or QoL was attributable to PA behavior across regions. However, age, marital status, dependents, and MET PA were found to significantly predict mental health scores, while MET PA, age, number of dependents, social welfare, gender, and education significantly predicted QoL values. Conclusion The study highlights the need for executive support, coordination mechanisms, and appropriate infrastructures to improve the level of PA among Iranian older adults and promote mental well-being in this population.
Industrial applications of large language models
Prevalence and determinants of erectile dysfunction among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients at selected government hospitals in gurage zone: A cross-sectional study
Background Erectile dysfunction (ED) is often not recognized in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), despite the prevalence of the disease. Early diagnosis of ED in T2DM is very important for effective treatment and prevention of serious complications such as cardiovascular events.This study investigates the prevalence and determinants of ED among T2DM patients at selected government hospitals in the Gurage Zone. Methods We conducted a study in three public hospitals from September 1 to December 30, 2020. 204 diabetic men were selected using consecutive sampling. ED was evaluated utilizing the International Index of ED-5. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and lipid levels were analyzed utilizing a Cobas 600 clinical chemistry analyzer. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences-20. Results ED was observed in 156 (76.5%) diabetic males. Independent predictors of ED included age above 40 years, alcohol consumption, khat chewing, overweight [Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2], obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2), a diabetes duration of more than 5 years, uncontrolled diabetes (HbA1c > 7%), elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high total cholesterol levels (P < 0.05). Conclusion The study confirmed a high prevalence of ED among males with T2DM in the study settings. Consequently, clinicians should adopt preventive measures and focus on identifying the factors associated with ED in these patients.
Audiometry as a predictive proxy for balance dysfunction
Association of food environment with diet quality and Body Mass Index (BMI) of school-going adolescents in Nepal
Background Adolescents are being more vulnerable to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). A healthy food environment is crucial in maintaining a healthy diet and achieving better health outcomes. This study aimed to determine how certain features of home food environment affect diet quality and Body Mass Index (BMI) of school-going adolescents. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analytical study among 678 school-going adolescents aged 15–19 years in Budanilkantha municipality of Kathmandu, Nepal. We assessed home availability of food items in the past day, walking time needed to reach nearest shops from home, parental modeling, and parenting style. Furthermore, we assessed diet quality using a Diet Quality Questionnaire as Global Dietary Recommendations (GDR) Score and measured height and weight of participants to calculate BMI. We used multiple regression models to analyze data, all statistical analyses were performed using STATA-14. Results Of 678 participants, 51.92% were males, and mean age was 15.56 years. Those who had to walk > 20 minutes to reach nearest vegetable shop had an average 1.44 point lower GDR Score (95% CI: −2.08, −0.19) than those with vegetable shops at their home. Those who had processed meat at home in the past day had 1.61 points lower GDR Score (95% CI: −1.95, −1.28), those with fruits and vegetables had 0.74 points lower GDR Score (95% CI: 0.48, 1.00) as compared to those who didn’t have. Participants who had starchy staple available had a BMI score lower by 5.59 kg/m2 on average (95% CI: − 10.78, − 0.40), and when two participants whose parental modeling scores differed by a unit were compared, the one with a higher score had on an average 0.19 kg/m2 greater BMI (95% CI: 0.01, 0.37). Conclusion This study highlights impact of home food environment on diet quality and BMI among adolescents in urban Nepal. Availability of healthy foods positively affects diet quality, while unhealthy items negatively influences it. Future research should explore wider food environmental factors and intervention strategies to improve adolescents’ diet quality.
Achieving GPT-4o level performance in astronomy with a specialized 8B-parameter large language model
Abstract AstroSage-Llama-3.1-8B is a domain-specialized natural-language AI assistant tailored for research in astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, and astronomical instrumentation. Trained on the complete collection of astronomy-related arXiv papers from 2007 to 2024 along with millions of synthetically-generated question-answer pairs and other astronomical literature, AstroSage-Llama-3.1-8B demonstrates remarkable proficiency on a wide range of questions. AstroSage-Llama-3.1-8B scores 80.9% on the AstroMLab-1 benchmark, greatly outperforming all models—proprietary and open-weight—in the 8-billion parameter class, and performing on par with GPT-4o. This achievement demonstrates the potential of domain specialization in AI, suggesting that focused training can yield capabilities exceeding those of much larger, general-purpose models. AstroSage-Llama-3.1-8B is freely available, enabling widespread access to advanced AI capabilities for astronomical education and research.
Spatial distribution and geospatial modeling of potential spread of secondary malaria vectors species in Nigeria using recently collected empirical data
In Nigeria, most research and malaria vector control efforts have focused on primary vectors within the Anopheles gambiae complex, with less emphasis on other secondary vectors. Consequently, understudied secondary vectors have demonstrated a proportional and increasing role in transmission. This study utilized geospatial models to understand the potential distribution of anopheline species other than An. gambiae complex (non-gambiae species) in Nigeria. Adult mosquitoes were sampled monthly between 2020 and 2022, with concurrent surveys of larval sites in selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) across 20 States resulting in the collection and identification of over 100,000 Anopheline mosquitoes. Utilizing 23 environmental variables, the model produced maps depicting the potential geographical distribution of four secondary vector species under current climatic conditions. An. funestus, An. coustani, An. maculipalpis, and An. rufipes dominated collections, with other species also present. Most species collected exhibited higher occurrences in the Northern parts of the country, albeit with lower numbers, while they seem confined to fewer locations in the southern parts - with higher densities. An. funestus, An. maculipalpis, and An. rufipes demonstrated a higher potential for wide range expansion compared to An. coustani based on the model. Overall, modeling outputs indicate that non-An. gambiae were expected to exhibit a wide-spread across the country, with their distribution primarily influenced by temperature rather than precipitation-related factors. These models provide research scientists and decision-makers with a baseline for research, monitoring towards establishing management plans for future national mosquito surveillance and control programs in Nigeria.
Optimizing weak grid integrated wind energy systems using ANFIS-SRF controlled DSTATCOM
Privacy-preserving recommender system using the data collaboration analysis for distributed datasets
In order to provide high-quality recommendations for users, it is desirable to share and integrate multiple datasets held by different parties. However, when sharing such distributed datasets, we need to protect personal and confidential information contained in the datasets. To this end, we establish a framework for privacy-preserving recommender systems using the data collaboration analysis of distributed datasets. Numerical experiments with two public rating datasets demonstrate that our privacy-preserving method for rating prediction can improve the prediction accuracy for distributed datasets. More precisely, compared to the individual analysis in which each party analyzes only its own dataset, our method reduced prediction errors by an average of 4.5% and up to 7.0%. This study opens up new possibilities for privacy-preserving techniques in recommender systems.
Differential changes in the microglial transcriptome between neonatal and adult mice after spinal cord injury
Health-related stigma among Indigenous Peoples in Canada: A scoping review
Background Indigenous communities in Canada are disproportionately affected by health conditions linked to stigma, warranting the attention of researchers seeking to understand this culturally-determined phenomenon. This study explores the scope of research on health-related stigma conducted with the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples. Method We conducted a scoping review using the method described by Arksey and O’Malley. We searched health and social science databases from 1963 to present using the subject headings Stigma and Health delimited by terms indexing over 600 Indigenous groups in Canada. Within the 1,852 results, we searched for reports in which the construct stigma was used to describe some facet of the participants’ experience of a health condition. We excluded studies in which stigma derived from the participants’ sexual orientation, occupation, or cultural identity. We extracted information about the participants’ health condition, Indigenous affiliation, forms of stigma experienced, and their responses. Results 25 studies involving 1,187 participants met our inclusion criteria. Inuit, First Nation, and Métis participants were drawn from communities in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nunavut, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. Stigma was reported by people living with HIV, mental health concerns, tuberculosis, STIs, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, physical disabilities, asthma, arthritis, substance use disorders, and FASD. Most frequently they reported enacted stigma expressed as social and physical distancing by perpetrators who interpret the diagnoses and symptoms as marks of social deviance or disease contagion. The primary response to stigma was to conceal one’s condition in ways that increased the disease burden. Interpretation Canada’s Indigenous communities have escaped the attention, or perhaps interest, of researchers investigating health-related stigma. In five decades of research, the subject surfaces only tangentially in reports designed to explore other aspects of their health. In the absence of research, pressing questions remain, some about stigma as a construct of social science and some about the health of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
Antimicrobial susceptibility trends of S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi in a post-COVID-19 pandemic India, from a multicenter surveillance network
Abstract We conducted a multicenter surveillance study to identify changes in antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Salmonella Typhi and S. Paratyphi in India since the COVID-19 pandemic began. We collected S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi isolates from blood or bone marrow culture-confirmed enteric fever cases at eight sites in seven cities across India between 2021 and 2024. We tested the antibiotic susceptibility of 1150 S. Typhi isolates and 265 S. Paratyphi isolates via disc diffusion and determined their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of ceftriaxone and azithromycin via broth dilution. We identified 18 S. Typhi isolates from Ahmedabad that were resistant to ceftriaxone, indicating a larger emergence of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant S. Typhi in Western India with a novel plasmid profile. Furthermore, we observed yearly increases in the mean, median and 90th percentile of azithromycin MICs for S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi isolates throughout India between 2021 and 2023. Finally, we found that only 0.70% of S. Typhi isolates and 1.13% of S. Paratyphi isolates exhibited susceptibility to ciprofloxacin. Our results indicate the necessity for a shift from ciprofloxacin in the treatment of enteric fever, and the importance of implementing long-term monitoring of resistance to alternative antibiotics such as azithromycin and ceftriaxone.
Legacy DDT and its metabolites in Brook Trout from lakes within forested watersheds treated with aerial applications of insecticides
To manage defoliation from insect outbreaks, about half of the forested land in New Brunswick, Canada, was treated with dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) between 1952 and 1968. Aerial applications of DDT have thus likely increased the risk of chronic effects in aquatic ecosystems from this legacy insecticide given its high persistence in soil and sediments and its bioaccumulation potential within the food web. We investigated DDT and its metabolites (total ΣDDTs = ∑ DDT + ∑ DDD + ∑ DDE) in Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) associated with geospatial data of historical applications to lake watersheds and sedimentary measures of DDT and its metabolites from five “impact” and two “reference” study lakes. Total ΣDDTs in recent lake sediments were significantly correlated with cumulative DDT applied aerially to the lake’s watershed. Brook Trout muscle tissue showed total ΣDDTs that were significantly higher from impact lakes than reference lakes. On average, total ΣDDTs in Brook Trout from impact lakes exceeded ecological guidelines for consumers of aquatic biota by about ten times. Most legacy DDT in Brook Trout and lake sediments were the metabolites ΣDDE and ΣDDD, which suggests the importance of environmental conditions and transport of weathered sources of this organochlorine insecticide to biota. Stable isotopes from fish and common invertebrate prey also suggested that Brook Trout were at a similar trophic position among all study lakes and thus storage pools of legacy DDT likely explain contamination levels within biota. Our findings clearly demonstrate that chronic effects of historical DDT applications likely persist throughout aquatic environments in north-central New Brunswick.