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The relationship between maternal uterine artery doppler ultrasound during the second and third trimesters and infant cognitive development at one year of age: Findings from a South African prospective cohort study

Introduction Increased resistance to uterine artery blood flow is an index for poor pregnancy outcomes. This study aimed to examine the association between maternal uterine artery pulsatility index and cognitive development in infants aged one year, and whether placental dysfunction moderates this relationship. Methods This was a prospective cohort study in an economically deprived community in South Africa. 1297 pregnant women with singleton gestations and their term infants were assessed. uterine artery pulsatility index, assessed by Doppler ultrasound in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy were examined. Placental dysfunction is indicated by maternal vascular malperfusion and accelerated villous maturation of the placenta. The primary outcome was infant cognitive development, assessed by the composite score of the Mullen Scales of Early Learning, at one year of age. Results Higher uterine artery pulsatility index was associated with lower cognitive scores, when adjusting for alcohol consumption and antenatal depression in the second trimester (β = −0.086, p = 0.007), explaining 5% of the variance in the model. There was no evidence of moderation by maternal vascular malperfusion or accelerated villous maturation of the placenta. Conclusions Abnormal uterine artery pulsatility indices during the second trimester is associated with cognitive development in infants.

Inconsistency of AI in intracranial aneurysm detection with varying dose and image reconstruction

Abstract Scanner-related changes in data quality are common in medical imaging, yet monitoring their impact on diagnostic AI performance remains challenging. In this study, we performed standardized consistency testing of an FDA-cleared and CE-marked AI for triage and notification of intracranial aneurysms across changes in image data quality caused by dose and image reconstruction. Our assessment was based on repeated examinations of a head CT phantom designed for AI evaluation, replicating a patient with three intracranial aneurysms in the anterior, middle and posterior circulation. We show that the AI maintains stable performance within the medium dose range but produces inconsistent results at reduced dose and, unexpectedly, at higher dose when filtered back projection is used. Data quality standards required for AI are stricter than those for neuroradiologists, who report higher aneurysm visibility rates and experience performance degradation only at substantially lower doses, with no decline at higher doses.

Sufficiency and consistency of antenatal care services in Ethiopia: Evidence from Mini Ethiopian demographic and health survey

Background Antenatal care plays a critical role in promoting the health of mothers and infants. In Sub-Saharan Africa, about 76% of women accessing at least one visit. However, rural areas in Ethiopia face more significant challenges, including traditional beliefs, geographical distance, and the need for more awareness. Despite advancements, ensuring quality ANC for all women necessitates targeted interventions. There are needs of evidence regarding adequacy and consistency ANC services in different regions of Ethiopia. Therefore, study aimed to evaluate and compare the adequacy and consistency of ANC services across various regions in Ethiopia. Methods Data for the 2019 Mini Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey (Mini EDHS) were collected using a cross-sectional study design. The survey included 2,918 women aged 15–49 from various regions of Ethiopia. Data analysis was carried out using STATA version 14. Descriptive statistics, such as frequencies and percentages, were used to present the background characteristics of the participants. To assess the significance of variations and associated factors, a logistic regression model was applied. Variables with a p-value of 0.25 or less in the bivariate analysis were included in the multivariable analysis. A significance level of p < 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval were used to determine the significance of the variables. Results The study surveyed 2,918 women aged 15–49, with 70.7% receiving antenatal care (ANC) from a skilled provider. Among them, 56.8% had four or more visits, and 43% started care in the first trimester. Overall, 35.8% received all routine ANC components, and 14.7% received adequate ANC services. ANC adequacy varied by region, with the highest in Addis Ababa (39.1%) and lowest in SNNPR (6.2%). About 72% of women received consistent ANC, with Addis Ababa showing the highest consistency (54.2%). Logistic regression analysis found that education status, region, wealth status, and literacy were significant factors influencing ANC adequacy. Regional disparities showed lower ANC adequacy in Oromia, Benishangul, SNNPR, and Gambela compared to Tigray. Wealthier women and those with secondary or higher education were more likely to receive consistent ANC. Conclusion The study underscored the significant impact of regional disparities, financial constraints, education levels, and geographic location on the unequal access to and quality of antenatal care (ANC) services in Ethiopia. Promoting ANC utilization, especially among women with lower education and economic disadvantages, was identified as a key priority. The study recommends targeted interventions to address service gaps for less-educated women and highlights the need for focused efforts to reduce regional disparities in both the adequacy and consistency of ANC services.

The implicit association between masculinity and criminal organizations

Abstract Criminal groups, such as Italian criminal organizations, exert governance over communities. According to Intra-Cultural Appropriation Theory (ICAT), these groups can gain a degree of legitimacy by strategically appropriating masculinity values. Specifically, by portraying themselves as embodying masculinity, criminal organizations are evaluated more positively by individuals who endorse masculine honor ideologies. An untested assumption of this process is that individuals ascribe masculine qualities to criminal groups. In two studies (N tot = 310), we employed the Single Category Implicit Association Test to investigate whether individuals implicitly associated the categories of ‘male’ (Study 1) and ‘masculinity’ (Study 2) with criminal organizations as opposed to the state. Additionally, in Study 2, we tested whether this implicit association moderated the relationship between individuals’ endorsement of masculine honor ideology and their attitudes toward criminal organizations. The findings supported the hypothesis that individuals implicitly attributed masculinity-related concepts to criminal organizations. Study 2 further showed that the positive link between endorsement of masculine honor ideology and legitimizing attitudes towards criminal organizations was stronger when individuals also held a stronger implicit association between masculinity and criminal organizations.

Correction: The interface between SARS-CoV-2 and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in a high HIV/TB burden district level hospital setting, Cape Town, South Africa

Modelling the effects of virus-resistant planting material on the transmission dynamics of banana bunchy top disease

Fixed-axis spacelike ruled surfaces and their evolute offsets

This study investigates fixed-axis spacelike ruled surfaces and their evolute offset counterparts within E13 (Minkowski 3-space). The analysis utilizes the Blaschke frame associated with the striction curves of these surfaces. Spacelike ruled surfaces play a crucial role in various fields of both classical and modern physics. The research begins by introducing the fundamental concepts of fixed-axis spacelike ruled surfaces and defining a height function that establishes the necessary criteria for a ruled surface to be classified as a fixed-axis spacelike ruled surface. Subsequently, the study derives parameterization for both the fixed-axis spacelike ruled surfaces and their evolute offsets. Finally, several surface models are extended and visually represented through graphical illustrations.

Mindful eating is associated with a healthier plant-based diet in the NutriNet-Santé study

Abstract Scientific evidence suggests that mindful eating (ME) may be effective for promoting healthy plant-based diets. However, data are scarce. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between ME and plant-based diets. In 2023, 13,768 participants from the NutriNet-Santé cohort completed the Mind-Eat Scale, at least three 24-hour dietary records, and a food choices questionnaire. The contribution of plant-based foods was evaluated using the Plant-based Diet Index (PDI), the healthy PDI (hPDI), and the unhealthy PDI (uPDI). Multivariable linear and logistic regressions were performed to analyze the association between ME, the PDI, hPDI, and uPDI scores, the proportions of meat, fish, and dairy products in the diet, and diet groups, adjusting for socio-demographic and lifestyle factors. ME was positively associated with PDI (β = 1.19; 95%CI: 0.98, 1.41) and hPDI (1.00; 0.76, 1.24), and negatively with uPDI (-0.48; -0.70, -0.27), meat (-0.63; -0.76, -0.50), and dairy (-0.86; -1.14, -0.58) consumption. Individuals with higher ME levels were more likely to be lower meat eaters (OR = 1.13; 95%CI: 1.04, 1.23), pesco-vegetarians (1.56; 1.33, 1.83), vegetarians (2.19; 1.57, 3.05), or vegans (1.35; 1.24, 1.48). Participants with higher ME levels were more likely to follow healthy plant-based diets, suggesting ME could help to promote a reduction in animal product consumption. Longitudinal studies are needed to continue exploring this relationship. Clinical Trial Registry: The NutriNet-Santé study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and all procedures were approved by the Institutional Review Board of the French Institute for Health and Medical Research (IRB Inserm n◦ 0000388FWA00005831) and the Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL n◦ 908450 and n◦ 909216). Electronic informed consent was obtained from all participants. Written informed consent by electronic means for adults, and for legal representant for children < 18 years old. The study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT03335644 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03335644?locStr=Bobigny,%20France&country=France&state=%C3%8Ele-de-France&city=Bobigny&term=Cohort%20Study&rank=6).

Estimation method for impact force source in thick coal seams and its application in rockburst risk quantification

Accurately calculating the stress state and its distribution is key to preventing coal burst. Taking a typical mine with extremely thick coal seams and coal bursts as an example, methods such as stress estimation, numerical computation, theoretical analysis, and on-site measurements were used to study the estimation method for coal burst force sources and the quantitative evaluation of coal burst risk under extremely thick coal seams beneath massive gravel rock. The main research content includes: (1) Establishing a coal burst force source estimation model for extremely thick coal seams through the estimation of transmitted stress from massive gravel rock, self-weight stress of the overlying strata, tectonic stress quantitative analysis, and mining disturbance stress estimation; (2) Proposing a calculation method for the fracture angle and strike span parameters required for stress estimation based on microseismic monitoring technology, and comparing and verifying the effectiveness of rapid estimation methods for strike and dip support pressures; (3) Based on the above methods, proposing a quantitative evaluation method for coal burst risk based on stress estimation. The practical results demonstrate that the proposed method enables rapid analysis of impact force sources, accurate assessment of coal burst risk levels, and establishes a foundation for timely and precise early warning of coal burst disasters.

Analysis of vascular aging phenotypes in a high cardiovascular risk population

Platelet lysate-sodium hyaluronate gel promotes diabetic foot wound healing by regulating oxidative stress and autophagy

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a major complication of diabetes which is difficult to heal and has high recurrence rates. It often requires amputation and even causes death, imposing significant economic burden on the society. Moreover, the current treatment options are not sufficiently effective, necessitating the search for novel treatments. In this study, therapeutic effect and mechanisms of platelet lysate-sodium hyaluronate gel (PL-HA gel) in the treatment of DFU were studied. Initially, the PL-HA gel was examined for quality control, and then the expression of growth factors (GFs) content in PL was determined. The results demonstrated high expression of GFs in PL and the gel exhibited a porous microstructure, which allowed continuous release of PL to achieve its therapeutic effects. In vivo model of type II diabetic rats was established to clarify the therapeutic effect of PL-HA gel and the mechanism by which the PL exerted therapeutic effects was further explored in HUVECs and HSFs. In vivo experiments indicated that PL-HA gel promoted wound epithelialization, collagen deposition, Cytokeratin and angiogenesis, as well as suppressed the expression of Beclin-1 and LC3 levels, while up-regulating that of P62. It also increased the SOD and MDA levels, promoted antioxidant effects, to accelerate the recovery of wounds. In vitro experiments revealed that PL could promoted wound healing by modulating oxidative stress-related parameters (ROS, SOD) and autophagy-related parameters (ULK1, P62, LC3, Beclin-1). In summary, treatment with the PL-HA gel improved diabetic wounds healing by suppressing oxidative stress and autophagy. The PL dissolved in the gel not only increased its efficacy but also ensured its safety and reliability, demonstrating the promising potential of PL-HA gel to treat DFU.

Medication non-adherence and its predictors among chronic heart failure patients in Northwest Amhara region

Survival analysis of parking duration in urban commercial areas: A case study in Zhengzhou, China

This paper studies the parking demand characteristics of large commercial areas in the city’s central regions. The study uses non-parametric and semi-parametric analysis methods in survival analysis to explore if and how weather conditions, parking tariffs, and temporal factors (weekdays, weekends, and short holidays) impact the parking duration. The parking data of a large commercial supermarket in Zhengzhou was collected over one month. Single-factor analysis based on the Product-Limit (PL) approach suggests that the cumulative survival and relative risk curves of parking duration exhibit slight variations across different temporal categories and weather conditions. Based on Cox semi-parametric multi-factor analysis results, the parking duration is significantly influenced by weekdays (regression coefficient = 0.068, hazard ratio = 1.071, P < 0.001), weekends (regression coefficient = 0.042, hazard ratio = 1.043,P < 0.001), moderate rain (regression coefficient = -0.089, hazard ratio = 0.914, P < 0.001), and heavy rain (regression coefficient = 0.030, hazard ratio = 1.030,P = 0.034 < 0.05). The results have indicated that within the study area, compared to short holidays, the parking duration on weekdays and weekends is shorter, with the probability of vehicles ending their parking increased by 7.1% and 4.3%, respectively. Under different weather conditions, compared to sunny days, parking duration is longer during moderate rain, with the probability of vehicles departing decreased by 8.6%, whereas during heavy rain, parking duration is shorter, with the probability of vehicles departing increased by 3%. Notably, the parking tariffs demonstrated no statistically significant impact. These findings suggest that temporal variations and rainfall patterns should inform dynamic parking management strategies, including weather-responsive pricing adjustments and spatial capacity optimization during peak periods.

Agreement between carotid and LVOT non-invasive cardiac output measurements in ED septic shock patients: a prospective observational study

A multicenter cross-sectional study on factors associated with caregiving appraisal in pediatric acute leukemia caregivers

Introduction Caring for pediatric acute leukemia (PAL) patients poses significant psychological challenges for family caregivers, impacting their well-being and caregiving capacity. This multicenter study aimed to assess caregivers’ perception of their caregiving role using the revised Caregiving Appraisal Scale (rCAS) and identify factors associated with negative and positive caregiving appraisals among caregivers of children with PAL. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted across three hospitals affiliated with Central South University. The 4-domain rCAS assessed both positive (satisfaction, mastery) and negative (burden, environmental impact) caregiving appraisals. Patient clinical data as well as demographics of both patients and caregivers were used to perform univariate, correlation, and multivariate regression analyses, identifying predictors of caregiver psychological distress. Results Out of 111 recruited caregivers, 101 valid responses were analyzed. Univariate subgroup analysis showed that several caregiver- and patient-related factors were significantly associated with increased caregiver burden and environmental impact. For mastery and satisfaction, some factors were associated with higher appraisal scores while others were related to significantly lower scores. Correlation analysis showed that patient discomfort and difficulties significantly correlated with both negative and positive appraisals. The regression models revealed that the independent influencing factors contributed to about 23.9% of caregiver-perceived negative impact (P = 0.024) and 30.3% of caregiver-perceived positive impact (P < 0.001). Patient worry (P = 0.024), communication difficulties (P = 0.011), relationship to the patient (P = 0.017), and medical insurance type (P = 0.035) predicted negative appraisals while pain (P = 0.008), anxiety about surgical procedures (P = 0.022), relationship to the patient (P = 0.031), and caregiver educational level (P = 0.023) predicted positive appraisals. Conclusion Caregivers of pediatric acute leukemia experience considerable psychological strain. Despite these challenges, some caregivers report significantly higher positive appraisals. Targeted interventions are needed to reduce caregiver burden and enhance positive caregiving outcomes.

Revealing homoclinic breather waves, periodic lump waves and other waves forms of an integrable reduced spin Hirota-Maxwell-Bloch system

The effects of visual stimulation on the cortical activity of brainstem stroke dysphagia patients: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study

Objective To investigate the difference in cortical activity under food visual stimulation between patients with brainstem stroke dysphagia and healthy adults by using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Additionally, we seek to identify any potential relationship between cortical activity and swallowing. Methods 30 patients with dysphagia after brainstem stroke and 16 healthy adults were selected. The fNIRS was used to assess the functional connection strength of global and ROIs brain regions at rest, as well as the mean change in oxygenated hemoglobin concentration (ΔHbO2) during the food visual stimulation task in both groups. Results In the resting state, the functional connection strength of healthy adults (X―=0.514, s=0.021) was higher than that of patients (X―=0.472, s=0.009) (P < 0.05). In comparison, functional connectivity in the ROI brain region was enhanced in the patient group compared to the healthy adult group. In the task state, the patient’s ΔHbO2 concentration in the left Frontopolar area, right Frontopolar area, left Orbitofrontal area and left Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex dramatically decreased in comparison to the healthy adult group. The correlation analysis revealed a moderate negative correlation between SSA and the MMSE score, VAS score, and the average ΔHbO2 concentrations in specific brain regions, including the right Frontopolar area, left Frontopolar area, left Orbitofrontal area, and left DLPFC. Furthermore, the VAS scores exhibited a moderate positive correlation with the average ΔHbO2 concentrations in the right Frontopolar area, left Frontopolar area, left Orbitofrontal area, and left DLPFC. Conclusion Patients with brainstem stroke dysphagia showed reduced activity during visual stimulation in the Frontopolar region, the left Orbitofrontal area, and the left Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex as compared to healthy individuals. The overall strength of functional connections was decreased, while the ROI between different brain areas increased. Following a brain stem stroke, all of these might be related to pre-oral swallowing issues.

Structural characterization and immunomodulatory activity of a polysaccharide produced by chaetomium globosum CGMCC 6882

Overestimated cytotoxicity and underestimated whitening efficacy of glabridin: A result of its poor solubility in DMSO

Glabridin is widely used as a whitening agent in cosmetics, but its cytotoxicity remains a key concern in safety evaluations. In typical cytotoxicity assays, glabridin is dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) before being added to the cell culture medium because it is insoluble in water. However, our study revealed that when the DMSO solution of glabridin was mixed with cell culture medium, glabridin was rapidly released due to its poor solubility in the DMSO/water mixture. The released glabridin rapidly formed crystals, which failed to enter cells. Consequently, the whitening efficacy of glabridin was reduced. Moreover, the glabridin crystals produced higher cytotoxicity, possibly due to the physical damage caused by their sharp crystalline structures. However, encapsulating glabridin in cyclodextrin (CD) can address these challenges, offering a better approach for glabridin cytotoxicity assays. The CD encapsulation method, compared to the DMSO solution method, not only decreased the cytotoxicity of glabridin but also increased its whitening efficacy. By comparing the efficacy of glabridin dissolved in DMSO and encapsulated in CD, we discovered that the reported cytotoxicity of glabridin may have been overestimated in previous cytotoxicity studies which used DMSO as a solvent, while its whitening efficacy may have been underestimated. These findings not only offer new insights for in vitro studies of glabridin-like reagents, but also facilitate the development of safer and more effective whitening products.

A beginners guide to Sf9 and Sf21 insect cell line culture and troubleshooting