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Effect of solvent-induced packing transitions on N-capped diphenylalanine peptide crystal growth
Radioactive geophysical processing and spatial anomalies analysis based on adaptive weighting fusion and multifractal SVM
Gastroesophageal disease risk and inhalational exposure a systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract Environmental exposure-associated diseases, particularly in the context of rising air pollution and inhalant use, are an active area of research. Our group is dedicated to the study of exposure-related inflammation and its downstream adverse health effects. While many studies have focused on the impact of environmental exposures on respiratory sequelae, there is growing evidence of the involvement of other systems including gastrointestinal. This systematic review provides updates on the associations between inhalation exposures and the risk of upper gastrointestinal disease. Primary search identified N = 764 PubMed and N = 1,036 Web of Science studies, of which N = 111 met eligibility criteria. Our systematic review and meta-analysis showed significant associations between inhalational exposures (cigarette smoking, waterpipe smoking, and particulate matter) and upper gastrointestinal diseases. The pooled estimate of esophagitis was 1.32 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06–1.65; I 2 :86%), gastroesophageal reflux disease was 1.71 (1.14–2.55; I²:94%), peptic ulcer disease was 1.21 (1.03–1.43; I 2 :93%), esophageal cancer was 1.83 (1.54–2.18; I 2 :73%), and gastric cancer was 1.71 (1.39–2.10; I 2 :73%). However, the pooled estimate for Barrett’s esophagus was 0.93 (0.65–1.34; I 2 :76%), indicating no significant association. Sensitivity analyses confirmed these findings. Risk of bias assessment showed most studies were of good quality. Our findings emphasize the impact of inhalational exposures on gastrointestinal disease risk, highlighting the need for further research to better understand this interaction and targeted public health interventions.
Comparative analysis of model compression techniques for achieving carbon efficient AI
Residential proximity to national priorities list superfund sites is associated with increased likelihood of metastatic breast cancer presentation
Quaternary to recent uplift rates of salt diapirs in the Romanian Carpathians determined from radiocarbon dating and PSInSAR data
Abstract Understanding the past and present-day dynamics of salt structures is critical due to their scientific significance and societal and economic implications. Past and present salt movement can trigger hazards like sinkholes and landslides, posing risks to inhabited areas and industries such as mining, hydrocarbon extraction, and energy storage. Moreover, there is a considerable data gap regarding uplift rates of salt diapirs in humid continental climates. In this study, we investigate the relative uplift rates of the Manzalesti salt diapir, one of Europe’s largest rocksalt outcrops. We combine radiocarbon dating of vegetal fragments in sediment-filled dissolution notches (paleo-river terraces) and detailed vertical offsets extracted from digital outcrop models to calculate relative rock uplift rates. The results reveal relative salt uplift rates of 10.5 ± 0.8 and 29.8 ± 4.2 mm/year over the past ~ 720 years. We also compared these results against recent PSInSAR-derived velocities that confirm average relative vertical rates of 10 mm/year, peaking at 55 mm/year, filling a key data gap for uplift rates of salt diapirs in humid continental climates.
Scaling laws of bacterial and archaeal plasmids
Abstract The capacity of a plasmid to express genes is constrained by its length and copy number. However, the interplay between these parameters and their constraints on plasmid evolution have remained elusive due to the absence of comprehensive quantitative analyses. Here, we present ‘Pseudoalignment and Probabilistic Iterative Read Assignment’ (pseuPIRA), a computational method that overcomes previous computational bottlenecks, enabling rapid and accurate determination of plasmid copy numbers at large scale. We apply pseuPIRA to all microbial genomes in the NCBI RefSeq database with linked short-read sequencing data (4644 bacterial and archaeal genomes including 12,006 plasmids). The analysis reveals three scaling laws of plasmids: first, an inverse power-law correlation between plasmid copy number and plasmid length; second, a positive linear correlation between protein-coding genes and plasmid length; and third, a positive correlation between metabolic genes per plasmid and plasmid length, particularly for large plasmids. These scaling laws imply fundamental constraints on plasmid evolution and functional organization, indicating that as plasmids increase in length, they converge toward chromosomal characteristics in copy number and functional content.
Corporate litigation experience and innovation quality
Direct medical cost of first-ever acute ischemic stroke in malaysia: a retrospective cohort study
Abstract Understanding the economic impact of first-ever stroke in a multiethnic population like Malaysia is essential for informed resource allocation. This study aimed to evaluate the direct medical costs associated with first-ever ischemic stroke in Malaysia. The study was a retrospective cohort study that estimated the inpatient direct medical costs of first-ever ischemic stroke in Malaysia. The study involved 122 adult patients managed at Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah, Terengganu (HSNZ), enrolled in the Malaysian National Stroke Registry (NSR) from 2009 to 2020. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) for the patients’ age was 61.0 ± 10.9 years, the length of stay (LOS) was 4.5 ± 3.5 days, and the modified Rankin scale (mRS) score was 3.0 ± 1.1. Most patients experienced functional disability (poor functional status, mRS ≥ 3) and incurred an average (SD) treatment cost of MYR 1,970.7 ± 1,385.8, primarily attributed to hospital admissions and radiology expenses. The medical costs were significantly lower in patients with good functional status [mRS < 3 (p = 0.002)] and shorter LOS (p < 0.001), but higher in patients with the partial anterior circulation infarct (PACI) stroke subtype (p < 0.001). Additionally, patients with good functional status incurred significantly lower costs for admission and medications (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the inpatient direct medical cost of first-ever ischemic stroke in Malaysia is substantial and is influenced by stroke subtypes, length of stay, risk factors, and functional status. Strategies to reduce the length of stay, comorbidities, and functional status can potentially reduce the economic burden of the first-ever acute ischemic stroke. These findings are crucial for guiding the optimal allocation of resources for stroke care.
Mendelian randomization unveils genetic causal relationships between viral infections and systemic sclerosis
Post-variational classical quantum transfer learning for binary classification
Research on the development and performance of new high-brisance emulsion explosives
Adaptively programmable metasurface for intelligent wireless communications in complex environments
Genotype-integrated single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals the role of DDX41 pR525H in a patient with myelodysplastic neoplasms
Mini-scale traffic flow optimization: an iterative QUBOs approach converting from hybrid solver to pure quantum processing unit
Preparation of an exogenous additive from Psoralea corylifolia fruit and its flavor-modifying effects on cigar tobacco leaves
Assessment of neurobehavioral and histopathological impacts of graphene quantum Dots in NMRI mice
Understanding UK policymakers’ evidence needs through policy questions
Abstract The present mixed methods study used UK policymakers to answer the following: (1) are there common topics for which evidence is requested over time (2019 to 2023) that cut across government departments or agencies, and (2) is there a preferred style in the way evidence is requested? Three separate datasets of policy questions (n = 3260) posed by UK policy makers to academics were coded by a combination of humans and an algorithm and then analysed. First, of the 7 recurring topics identified (Climate and Environment, Defence and Security, Economy, Health, Information Technology, Social Welfare, Technology), Economy (27%) was the most featured across all policy makers across all 5 years. Climate and Environment showed the sharpest rise over time (16–38%). Second, of 7 styles of questions, procedural (33%) was the most common, which means addressing “how to” (e.g. measure, intervene, prevent) type questions. In the qualitative interviews policymakers reported gaining the most from an exploratory rather than a goal-specific approach during one-to-one interactions with academics. Also when having their assumptions challenged this helped to expand the way they thought of policy issues that they were currently addressing. This UK test case shows the value of focused iterative policy-academic exchanges and could be a way to enhance evidence-based policymaking initiatives.