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Optimized machine learning mechanism for big data healthcare system to predict disease risk factor

Risk factors for emergent delivery before 36 weeks among pregnant women with placenta accreta spectrum disorder

Recent studies evaluating risk factors for emergent delivery in women with placenta accreta spectrum disorders have yielded insufficient results. A limited number of studies have evaluated prenatal ultrasound signs of the placenta accreta spectrum as risk factors and have reported inconsistent outcomes. This retrospective study included women with suspected prenatal placenta accreta spectrum who delivered between January 2007 and December 2022 at a tertiary hospital in Southern Thailand. Women who delivered electively or for conditions unrelated to the placenta accreta spectrum before 36 weeks of gestation were excluded. Women who underwent emergent delivery before 36 weeks and delivery after 36 weeks were compared using univariate and multivariable analyses. Overall, 174 women with placenta accreta spectrum were included; 45 (25.0%) underwent emergent delivery before 36 weeks of gestation. Women who delivered before 36 weeks had significantly more premature uterine contractions (41.7% vs. 7.0%, P<0.001), premature rupture of membranes (8.3% vs. 0%, P<0.05), antepartum hemorrhage (75.0% vs. 27.9%, P<0.001), and sonographic findings of placental bulging (45.8% vs. 23.3%, P=0.003) than those who delivered after 36 weeks. The number of premature uterine contractions and antepartum hemorrhage episodes (P<0.001) and more severe placenta accreta spectrum (P=0.003) were significantly associated with emergent delivery. Significant predictors of emergent delivery before 36 weeks were a history of preterm birth (odds ratio: 10.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.0–97.4), presence of premature uterine contractions (9.7, 2.9–31.5), antepartum hemorrhage (6.4, 2.2–18.3), severe placenta accreta spectrum (6.1, 1.5–25.0), and placental bulging (4.4, 1.3–14.2). In conclusion, the significant predictors of emergent delivery before 36 weeks of gestation among women with placenta accreta spectrum were a history of preterm birth, premature uterine contractions or antepartum hemorrhage before 34 weeks, placental bulging, and prenatal diagnosis of severe placenta accreta spectrum.

Preparation of graphene based composites using silane and Pyracantha fortuneana and their application in Metformin adsorption from aqueous solution

A broad-spectrum lasso peptide antibiotic targeting the bacterial ribosome

Lactobacillus johnsonii JERA01 activates macrophages and increases Th-1 T cell population in mouse small intestine

Lactobacillus johnsonii is a commensal bacterium isolated from the vaginal and gastrointestinal tracts of vertebrate hosts, including humans. It is a potential anti-inflammatory bacterium. As reported in many animal studies, L. johnsonii supplementation reduces inflammation in the intestine and enhances the epithelial barrier. However, in this study, we observed immunostimulatory effects of heat-killed L. johnsonii JERA01 (LJ) supplementation on antigen-presenting cells, such as dendritic cells and macrophages, in mice. LJ pretreatment increased the expression of maturation markers and TNF-α, IL-6, IL-12p40 production in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells and macrophages (BMDCs and BMDMs). Co-culture of LJ-pretreated BMDCs or BMDMs with lymphocytes enhanced IFN-γ production in vitro. Oral LJ (108 CFU) supplementation induced macrophage infiltration into the peritoneal cavity and Peyer’s patch at 12-h after administration, resulting in an increase in the population of IFN-γ-producing T cells in the Peyer’s patch. Our investigation revealed the effects of LJ, which activates macrophages and increases the Th-1 T cell population in the intestine, implying the possibility of using L. johnsonii as an immune stimulator.

A new method to improve the power quality of photovoltaic power generation based on 24 solar terms

Richard Fortey obituary: palaeontologist, author and TV presenter who traced continents through fossils

Genetic data suggest gene flow within a narrow hybrid zone between two recently separated species in the genus Parnassius (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae)

Length polymorphism analysis of six microsatellite loci for 540 Clouded Apollo butterflies from Italy and Switzerland revealed a clear separation between sister species Parnassius mnemosyne and P. turatii and provided updated limits for their respective ranges. Correspondence analysis and Structure clustering of a subset of 140 individuals from the Eastern Alps determined intermediate genetic makeup for three small samples collected in the mid Piave valley (northern Italy). The genotypes of the intermediate individuals are not consistent with F1 hybrids, hinting at clinal genetic variation. Our data indicate a narrow introgression zone with a shallow depth of 50–100 km in what is likely to be the only area of contact between the proposed species P. mnemosyne and P. turatii. Our findings indicate incomplete reproductive isolation between the two species, and are consistent with selection against hybrids or with a recent establishment of a secondary contact. The latter may result from slow recolonization of the Eastern Alps from glacial refugia or from very recent changes in traditional land management practices such as grazing and mowing at semi-natural grasslands.

Bridging the gap between haptic devices and cobots with highly geared magnetorheological actuators

Implementation of a high throughput automated platform for residual DNA quantitation

Host cell DNA is an impurity from cell-based manufacturing processes that must be controlled and monitored to ensure drug purity and safety. Conventional methods for measurement of residual host cell DNA in therapeutic protein require numerous preparations of plates, DNA extraction from the protein samples, followed by quantification of the extracted DNA using real-time PCR (qPCR). Preparation of plates for extraction is the most laborious step, including numerous manual steps such as sample dilution, standard curve preparation, as well as reagent and sample plate preparation. Additionally, much of the work needs to be performed in a biosafety cabinet to avoid contamination. In this study, a robotic platform using a Gilson liquid handler for plate preparation for rDNA extraction is presented. This automated workflow is not only high throughput, but also shows reproducibility that is equivalent or better as compared to manual workflows. Moreover, this approach is faster than traditional extraction and reduces the risk of human error and variability and eliminates the need for manual pipetting and plate preparation. In this study, automated and manual workflows were performed side-by-side in triplicate from different purification steps from bioreactor to ultrafiltration step. Day to day variability, matrix interference, and spike recovery were assessed to demonstrate the robustness of the automated workflow.

Effects of boundaries for high Reynolds number artificial swimmers

Abstract The spatial organization of active particles or swimmers may depend strongly on the nature of the interaction between the particles and the boundary. Here we use robotic fish of several centimeters dimensions that swim at high enough velocities to reach Reynolds numbers Re of order $$10^3$$ or $$10^4$$ . Under confinement in circular arenas filled with a shallow layer of water, these robots swim mostly near the walls and undergo a gradual transition from swirling motion near the boundaries to large cluster formation as the number of particles in the assembly is increased. This transition is highly dependent on the nature of the walls: for solid impermeable walls this transition occurs for small numbers of fish robots. For porous walls this transition is delayed and occurs at larger numbers. The main reason why the two boundaries affect the swimming differently is the alignment of the fish robots at the wall: for the impermeable boundary the fish robots align with a smaller angle to the wall while for the porous case, the fish robots align with a larger angle at the wall allowing the formation of linear clusters. We carry out numerical simulations of model fish in three dimensions to examine how such experimental results can be understood. The interest of these simulations is that they provide a direct and quantitative view of the properties of the flow engendered by the fish like objects. The interaction of this flow with other fish or with the boundaries is the crucial aspect behind the self organization. These simulations reproduce the main features of the behavior of the swimmers such as their swimming near the walls or their angle with respect to the boundary. By using flexible and free to move arenas in experiments and simulations, we show that the assembly of fish robots is capable of creating large deformations as well as induce mobility of the arenas through the self-organization of the robotic fish opening the possibility of making sub-aquatic flexible robots of robots.

Alterations in physiological and biochemical characteristics of Prunus sibirica seedlings raised from spaceflight seeds

The aim was to explore the alterations in growth traits, physiological and biochemical characteristics of Prunus sibirica seedlings raised from spaceflight seeds. The seedlings cultivated by the “Shenzhou XII” spacecraft carrying the seeds of superior clones of P. sibirica were used to observe their growth traits and determine physiological indicators. The results showed that plant height of Prunus sibirica seedlings raised from spaceflight seeds increased by 18–34% and internode length increased by 8–26%, but the number of primary branches, secondary branches, and leaves showed no significant change compared to the ground control. Leaf length and width of Prunus sibirica seedlings raised from spaceflight seeds were significantly higher than those of the ground control, with leaf length, width, and area increasing to 1.21–1.80 times higher than that of the ground control. Furthermore, the antioxidant and osmoregulatory capacities of P. sibirica seedlings raised from spaceflight seeds were altered. The peroxidase (POD) activity and Malondialdehyde (MDA) content were increased in ST28, ST207, and ST507, while they were reduced in ST1 and ST453. Compared with the ground control, the content of soluble sugar(SS), starch (St), and free proline (Pro) were significantly or highly significantly increased in all lines. The content of soluble protein (SP) was significantly increased in ST1, ST28, ST207, and ST507, while there was no significant change in ST453. P. sibirica seedlings raised from spaceflight seeds exhibited increased leaf pigment content, the interstitial CO2 concentration (Ci), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (Tr). In conclusion, compared with the ground control, the growth indexes and physiological characteristics of Prunus sibirica seedlings raised from spaceflight seeds were changed, and the direction of change was different for different lines. This provided a foundation for subsequent germplasm improvement and variety selection.

A biopsychosocial analysis of risk factors for persistent physical, cognitive, and psychological symptoms among previously hospitalized post-COVID-19 patients

Pinpointing neurons that hinder cancer treatment

Expression of Concern: Paroxetine treatment in an animal model of depression improves sperm quality

Characterization of the gut microbiota in different immunological responses among PLWH

Five key climate and space projects on Trump’s chopping block

Understanding intra-individual isotopic variability in modern cremated human remains for forensic and archaeological studies

Cremated bone fragments can be studied using structural, elemental, and isotope analyses in archaeological contexts to reconstruct funerary practices and understand past mobility and migrations of populations that practiced cremation. However, the potential of isotope analyses of cremated bone in forensic contexts remains heavily unexplored. The identification of fire victims can be complex as the remains can be extremely fragmented and commingled. The high temperatures (up to 1000°C and above) destroy most organic matter such that, obtaining reliable DNA from such intensively burned human remains is extremely difficult. Still, other signals present in bone, such as strontium concentrations and isotopes, are preserved during cremation, and could be used to assess the geographical origin of unidentified fire-affected individuals. Carbon and oxygen isotope ratios together with infrared analyses provide information about the burning conditions and could help understanding how a body was burned. Here, isotope and infrared analyses are carried out on fourteen recently deceased cremated individuals of known residential history from the UTK Donated Skeletal Collection curated by the Forensic Anthropology Center (Knoxville, Tennessee). By carrying out these measurements on different bones with different turnover rates (i.e., otic capsule of the petrous part of the temporal bone, femur, and rib), we endeavor to reconstruct life histories of recently deceased cremated individuals and gain new insights into cremation practices. The results highlight differences in carbon and oxygen isotopes between different skeletal elements and confirm their potential to gather information about the way a body was burned (e.g., temperatures, fuel used). Strontium concentrations and isotope ratios were also measured to assess the geographical origin of these individuals. The use of strontium isotope ratios, however, seem to have limitations for individuals born in the last few decades due to globalization of consumed food resources. Nevertheless, it is still possible to obtain information about the birthplace of older individuals (> 50 years) by analyzing strontium isotope ratios in the petrous part of their temporal bone, which retains a signal linked to the first few years of their lives when local resources were still used in larger quantities compared to today.

Urocortin2 measurement for heart failure assessment

Evolution characteristics and pattern optimization of land use conflict in inland river Basin from the perspective of production-living-ecological

Identification of the process and intrinsic mechanisms of land use conflicts is a prerequisite for adjusting optimal national spatial planning strategies. This paper, starting from the perspective of production-living-ecological, constructed a train of thought for optimizing national spatial planning in inland river basins, taking the example of the Shiyang River Basin. Based on the conflict measurement model of “source of risk - receptor of risk - effect of risk”, this paper analyzed the evolution of production-living-ecological land conflicts, employed a geographical weighted regression model to examine the influencing factors of the evolution of land use conflicts, and optimized the national spatial pattern as well as proposed regulation strategies. The results indicated that from 1990 to 2020, the area of unused land in the Shiyang River Basin decreased the most, mainly converted into farmland, construction land, and water areas. The transfer of land use mainly manifested as mutual transformation between production land and ecological land, followed by mutual transformation between production land and living land. During the research period, the overall complexity of land use presented a pattern of “high in the south and low in the north”, the overall vulnerability showed a pattern of “high in the central area and low in the surrounding areas”, and the overall stability was relatively high. The intensity of production-living-ecological land conflicts in the Shiyang River Basin showed an increasing trend, with the average conflict intensity rising from 0.44 to 0.57, exhibiting a spatial distribution pattern of “high in the central area and low in the surrounding areas”. The impact of road network density and river network density on the evolution of production-living-ecological land conflicts in the Shiyang River Basin was the most significant. The optimization results of national spatial patterns and regulation strategies could provide a scientific basis for the optimization and comprehensive management of national spatial planning in arid inland river basins.