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Mixed and forced convection heat transfer and pressure drop in inclined tube with twisted tape in transition flow

Recording of HIV diagnosis in mental health records: A data linkage cohort study

Background Mental health professionals play a crucial role in promoting the physical well-being of people with mental illness. Awareness of HIV status can enable professionals in mental health services to provide more comprehensive care. However, it remains uncertain whether mental health professionals consistently document HIV status in mental health records. Aims To investigate the extent to which mental health professionals document previously established HIV diagnoses of people with mental illness in mental health records, and to identify the clinical and demographic factors associated with documentation or lack thereof. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted using an established data linkage between routinely collected clinical data from secondary mental health services in South London, UK, and national HIV surveillance data from the UK Health Security Agency. Individuals with an HIV diagnosis prior to their last mental health service contact were included. Documented HIV diagnosis in mental health records was assessed. Results Among the 4,032 individuals identified as living with HIV, 1,281 (31.8%) did not have their diagnosis recorded in their mental health records. Factors associated with the absence of an HIV diagnosis included being of Asian ethnicity, having certain primary mental health diagnoses including schizophrenia, being older, being with a mental health service for longer, having more clinical mental health appointments, and living in a less deprived area. Conclusions A significant number of individuals living with HIV who are receiving mental healthcare in secondary mental health services did not have their HIV diagnosis documented in their mental health records. Addressing this gap could allow mental healthcare providers to support those living with HIV and severe mental illness to manage the complexity of comorbidities and psychosocial impacts of HIV. Mental health services should explore strategies to increase dialogue around HIV in mental health settings.

Optimized YOLOv8 framework for intelligent rockfall detection on mountain roads

Determinants of sibling relationships in the context of mental disorders

Many studies have been conducted on sibling relationships to explore the well-being of siblings of persons with mental disorders. In this research project, two mediation models were tested. Model 1 examined whether a sibling’s distress and the quality of the parent-typically developing sibling relationship would mediate the path between sibling-focused parentification and sibling relationships. Model 2 tested the same paths by comparing siblings of persons with mental disorders (n = 262) and siblings of typically developing persons (n = 303). From March to May 2021, 565 siblings of persons with and without mental disorders were asked to fill in an online survey. Aged 19 to 26 years, most of the siblings who participated in the study were older females. Cross-sectional results showed that the lower sibling-focused parentification was, the higher quality sibling relationships were, through the mediating role of lower distress and higher-quality parent-typically developing sibling relationships (Model 1). Siblings of persons with mental disorders reported low-quality sibling relationships (Model 2). Females and young siblings showed high distress. The findings of this study could become instrumental in promoting high-quality sibling relationships and best practices.

Examining the relations between psychosocial and caregiving factors with mental health among Vietnamese family caregivers of hospitalized lung cancer patients

Retraction: Craniofacial similarity analysis through sparse principal component analysis

Clinical characteristics of neonatal lupus erythematosus complicated by congenital heart block: a multi-center retrospective study in East China

Understanding sociocultural influences in sexual health promotion and HIV protection among Latinx sexually minoritized men: A qualitative study

In the United States, Latinx individuals account for 18% of the overall population, yet sexual minoritized men (SMM) within this demographic disproportionately represent 30% of new HIV diagnoses among all SMM. Despite the availability of highly effective HIV prevention strategies such as Pre- exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), there are marked inequities in access and utilization of these strategies among Latinx SMM. Sociocultural factors and the experiences of Latinx SMM shape beliefs about sexual health promotion and influence HIV self-protective behavior (e.g., the correct and consistent use of condoms, regular engagement in HIV testing, and PrEP use) in this group. A descriptive, qualitative study, using thematic analysis, was designed to describe the sociocultural barriers and facilitators that influence sexual health promotion and HIV self-protection among Latinx SMM. A convenience sample of 15 Latinx SMM was recruited from an ongoing longitudinal study and online for individual interview, which were conducted virtually between October 2020 and October 2021. Five themes emerged from the data: 1) prevention is better than to cure; 2) cultural and religious norms create a culture of silence around sexual health; 3) lack of information and misinformation leading to self-reliance for sexual health protection; 4) growing wiser: maturity’s impact on sexual health and relationships; and 5) unjust and dehumanizing sexual health care. The findings from this study highlighted that stigma and structural factors shape the opportunities of Latinx SMM to engage in sexual health promotion and HIV self-protection. These findings emphasize the need for focus on addressing structural barriers such as sexual health education, access to care, and healthcare provider bias to improve sexual health outcomes among Latinx SMM.

The impact of eyeliner usage on dry eye symptoms

Poor sleep and high rheumatoid arthritis risk: Evidence from large UK Biobank cohort

Objective To evaluate the relationship between sleep behaviors and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk. Methods First, based on large-scale data from the UK Biobank, we analyzed the associations between multiple sleep factors and RA risk and calculated a poor sleep score (PSS) to assess their combined effect. Then we constructed genetic risk scores (GRS) based on a large genome-wide association study and assessed the interaction or combined effect of sleep and genetic factors on RA risk. Finally, we conducted a case-control study to explore the effect of RA on sleep. Results Sleep duration, getting up, napping during the day, insomnia, and daytime dozing were associated with the risk of RA, but no associations were observed for chronotype and snoring with RA. Participants in the high genetic risk and high PSS group had a 363.1% higher risk of developing RA compared to those with low genetic risk and low PSS. We also found that women were more likely than men to be affected by the combined effects of PSS and GRS. In the case-control study, there were statistically significant associations of RA with getting up, PSS grade and PSS. Conclusions Unhealthy sleep patterns were associated with increasing risk of RA among participants with low, intermediate, or high genetic risk.

Multi-strategy improved gazelle optimization algorithm for numerical optimization and UAV path planning

The effect of interprofessional game-based learning on perceived cognitive load and self-efficacy in interprofessional communication and collaboration in patient safety incidents

Background This study aims to investigate the effect of the interprofessional game-based learning method on students’ perceived cognitive load and self-efficacy in interprofessional communication and collaboration during patient safety incidents, in comparison to traditional instructional methods. Methods The quasi-experimental study was conducted in 2023–2024. The educational objective was to improve the interprofessional collaboration of the students in patient safety incidents. Students in operating room nursing and anesthesia nursing (n = 60) participated in this study. Interprofessional game-based learning and traditional methods were used in the intervention group and the control group, respectively. Participants completed two questionnaires about cognitive load and self-efficacy two months after intervention. The data were analyzed using descriptive tests (mean, standard deviation, and percentage) and analytical tests (including ANCOVA and Student T-test). Results The IP-GBL intervention significantly improved students’ self-efficacy in the intervention group compared to the control group (F = 26.51, df = 1.57, p-value = 0.0001, Partial Eta Squared = 0.31). The IP-GBL method enhanced GCL and eliminated ECL and ICL compared to the traditional method. (p = 0.0001). Conclusion The IP-GBL enhanced germane cognitive load and decreased the intrinsic and extrinsic cognitive load, which facilitated students’ learning. Patient safety training using interprofessional game-based learning has a favorable educational effect on students’ self-efficacy. The findings indicated that the students’ self-efficacy in interprofessional collaboration and communication regarding patient safety incidents in the surgical department significantly improved. Therefore, the interprofessional game-based learning method in formal and informal education of patient safety that requires collaboration between different professions is recommended.

20:4-NAPE induced changes of mechanical sensitivity and DRG neurons excitability are concentration dependent and mediated via NAPE-PLD

Abstract Alterations in the excitability of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons are critical in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic pain. Neurotransmitter release from the terminals of DRG neurons is regulated by cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), both activated by anandamide (AEA). In our experiments, the AEA precursor N-arachidonoylphosphatidylethanolamine (20:4-NAPE) was used to study the modulation of nociceptive DRG neurons excitability using K+-evoked Ca2+ transients. Intrathecal administration was used to evaluate in vivo effects. Application of 20:4-NAPE at lower concentrations (10 nM − 1 µM) decreased the excitability of DRG neurons, whereas the higher (10 µM) increased it. Both effects of 20:4-NAPE were blocked by the N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD) inhibitor LEI-401. Similarly, lower concentrations of externally applied AEA (1 nM − 10 nM) inhibited DRG neurons, whereas higher concentration (100 nM) did not change it. High AEA concentration (10 µM) evoked Ca2+ transients dependent on TRPV1 activation in separate experiments. Inhibition of the CB1 receptor by PF514273 (400 nM) prevented the 20:4-NAPE- and AEA-induced inhibition, whereas TRPV1 inhibition by SB366791 (1 µM) prevented the increased DRG neuron excitability. In behavioral tests, lower 20:4-NAPE concentration caused hyposensitivity, while higher evoked mechanical allodynia. Intrathecal LEI-401 prevented both in vivo effects of 20:4-NAPE. These results highlight anti- and pro-nociceptive effects of 20:4-NAPE mediated by CB1 and TRPV1 in concentration-dependent manner. Our study underscores the complexity of endocannabinoid signaling in pain transmission modulation and highlights 20:4-NAPE as a potential therapeutic target, offering new insights for developing analgesic strategies.

Methylome and transcriptome analyses reveal HLA-DMB’s contribution to periodontitis development

Background Periodontitis is a typical oral disease. Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are crucial immune cells in periodontal tissues, relating to infection, inflammation, and innate immunity. We herein aimed to explore important periodontitis PMN related genes. Methods Periodontitis and control samples were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus database, including GSE173082 (methylation data, n=72), GSE10334 (n=127), GSE43525 (n=23), GSE16134 (n=134). Differential expression analysis and differential methylation analysis was employed to find candidate genes. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic value of the hub gene. The functional pathways were determined by gene set enrichment analysis. Using CIBERSORT software, the immune cell infiltration landscape of periodontitis tissue was explored. The mRNA and protein levels of target gene in clinical tissue samples were determined employing RT-qPCR and western blotting. All statistical analyses were conducted in R software. Results After integrating DNA methylation with transcriptome profiles, GRASP, HLA-DMB, HLA-DMA, CAB39, NCOA2 and TLE4 were identified as candidate genes in periodontitis PMNs. HLA-DMB showed the highest correlation with core DNA methyltransferase DNMT3B (p < 0.05). Between high and low HLA-DMB expression samples, multiple immune related pathways were enriched, and differential immune cell infiltration was observed (p < 0.05). HLA-DMB exhibited significantly higher expressions in both public database and clinical tissue samples (p < 0.05). HLA-DMB was a diagnostic marker for periodontitis (GSE43525 AUC=0.777 and GSE16134 AUC=0.783). Conclusions Significantly higher HLA-DMB expression was noticed in PMNs of periodontitis, which probably contributed to the development of periodontitis. HLA-DMB is a promising diagnostic marker for periodontitis.

Two year comparative outcomes of drug coated balloons in long versus short femoropopliteal lesions

Effects of repeated gravity changes during parabolic flight: Evidence of the need to assist space tourists to outer space

In the era of space tourism, walking in the steps of Neil Armstrong has never been more real. Future space tourists will have to face the harshness of the environment, especially the travel, and adapt quickly for their own safety. This issue raises both the question of preparation and the impact of such a journey on novice populations who have not been selected for their physical and cognitive abilities. The objectives of the study are (1) to investigate the impact of space travel on psychophysiological and sensory responses during a parabolic flight experience; (2) to assess recovery from this experience one week later; and (3) to evaluate the relevance of high parasympathetic functioning at baseline as a biomarker of adaptation. Seventeen healthy participants were enrolled in the 79th ESA Parabolic Flight Campaign on board the Airbus A310. Psychological, physiological, and sensory responses were measured at different times from the day before the 3h-flight (baseline) to one week after the flight (recovery). Labels were allocated to two groups according to their parasympathetic functioning at baseline: high parasympathetic (HP) profile and low parasympathetic (LP) profile. At the psychological level, those with an HP profile have a higher coping acceptation and a higher level of interoceptive awareness than the LP profile, except for sleep quality. At the physiological and exteroceptive level, they have a higher heart rate variability, preserved identification of odors and a predisposition to a more adaptive postural response postflight. Nevertheless, postural stability is affected in both profiles, particularly during visual deprivation, while their heart rate variability is increased in both linear and non-linear components. Nevertheless, our results reveal that the recovery constitutes a critical period. Flyers have a decrease of interoceptive awareness and emotions, especially the HP profile. Although the LP profile reported a better subjective sleep quality, both profiles decreased their sleep quality. These results raise the question of the risks that may be induced by space tourism. They highlight two major outcomes: (1) travel of future space tourists does not seem to be at risk as long as the individuals are qualified and fit for the flight and adaptation may be improved by targeting parasympathetic functioning; (2) level of experience has no impact on the psychophysiological and sensory responses. The results highlight the need to monitor the crews over several days and/or to include in the preparation a module allowing them to be prepared for the postflight period and the return to life on Earth. Beyond this, these results contribute to enriching our knowledge of the human challenge of confronting space travel constraints.

Treatment outcomes and predictors of success for multidrug resistant tuberculosis MDR TB in Ugandan regional referral hospitals

Abstract Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a form of tuberculosis caused by strains resistant to both isoniazid and rifampicin, the most critical first-line drugs. Managing MDR-TB presents substantial challenges due to prolonged and costly treatment regimens, which are less effective than those for drug-susceptible TB. These difficulties are further exacerbated in low-resource settings by inadequate healthcare infrastructure, limited diagnostic capacity, and suboptimal access to treatment. Uganda, a high-burden TB country, faces persistent challenges in meeting national MDR-TB treatment targets, with high mortality rates and unfavourable outcomes. This study evaluated the treatment outcomes and factors associated with success among MDR-TB patients in regional referral hospitals. Of the 293 registered patients, 284 were included in the analysis, with a median age of 38 years (IQR: 30–45) and a predominance of male patients (65.1%). Overall, 68.7% of patients achieved successful treatment outcomes, while 31.3% experienced unfavourable outcomes. Multivariate analysis identified weight at treatment initiation (41–49 kg) as significantly associated with poor outcomes. These findings highlight a treatment success rate below national targets, with persistent high mortality and treatment failure in several regions. Addressing these challenges requires the development of innovative therapies and personalized care strategies to improve MDR-TB management in Uganda.

Enzyme-Mimic Activities of RuCo Bimetallic Nanosheets for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treatment

Effects of sensory room intervention on autonomic function in healthy adults: A pilot randomized controlled trial

Sensory rooms are those equipped with various visual, auditory, and other sensory items that can be adjusted according to user preferences. Although several studies have reported the effectiveness of sensory rooms, their physiological effects remain unclear. This pilot study aims to investigate the effect of sensory rooms on vagal function, mood states, and attentional functions. Thirty-nine healthy young adults were randomly divided into the sensory room intervention (SRI) and sedentary activity (SA) groups, and given a 30-minute intervention. The SRI group spent time in a dimly lit room with beaded cushions and aroma oils. The SA group engaged in activities such as handicrafts and puzzles. We compared changes in respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) at rest, RSA variability during discomfort sensory stimulation, mood states, and attentional functions between the groups, both before and after the intervention. As a result, 1) SRI significantly increased RSA compared with SA. 2) It also reduced the variability of RSA in response to specific sensory stimuli compared with SA. 3) However, no significant differences existed in negative mood or attentional function between the groups. The results suggest that sensory rooms might contribute to the sensory modulation, including that of the autonomic nervous system. Further investigation with larger samples in clinical settings, particularly among individuals with sensory modulation issues and mental illness, is necessary to confirm and generalize these findings.

Mechanical, workability, economic and environmental properties of concrete with limestone calcined clay cement and recycled aggregates

Abstract Limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) and recycled aggregates (RAs) are important innovations in civil engineering, offering solutions to the industry’s energy and carbon challenges. However, limited research on their combined use has hindered widespread application. This study systematically evaluates LC3-based concrete with both coarse and fine RAs, using material testing, cost analysis and carbon footprint assessments to examine the effects of water-to-binder ratio, metakaolin-limestone powder synergy, RA content and particle quality on workability, compressive strength, elastic modulus, splitting-tensile strength, unit cost and environmental impact, while establishing clear quantitative relationships. Key findings include: (i) Using up to 50% metakaolin-limestone powder by mass, 30% coarse RA and 20% recycled sand by volume results in minimal reductions in 28-day strength and elastic modulus. However, exceeding 70%, 50% and 40%, respectively, leads to significant mechanical deterioration. (ii) LC3 concrete has 4-15% lower strength than Portland cement concrete at 14 days due to slower pozzolanic reactions, but strength levels equalize by 28 days. Similarly, recycled aggregate concrete shows lower early-age strength, with extended curing further highlighting performance differences, likely due to the residual mortar on recycled particles. (iii) Lifecycle analysis confirms that replacing 50% of the binder with metakaolin-limestone powder reduces carbon emissions by 29.9% and costs by 12.4% for strength-equivalent concrete. In contrast, RAs offer only modest sustainability benefits, with 20% recycled sand and 30% coarse RA increasing emissions by 5.4% and 2.8%, respectively, while keeping costs stable. (iv) The quality of RA particles plays a key role in their sustainable application. Additionally, transportation distance significantly affects the circular benefits of RA use but has a limited impact on the sustainability of metakaolin-limestone powder.