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Advancing neutron imaging techniques to highest resolution with fluorescent nuclear track detectors

Analysis of seroprevalence and risk factors for syphilis and HIV among female sex workers and transgender individuals in different cities of Sindh, Pakistan

Introduction Co-infections of syphilis and HIV have been found to exacerbate the impact on sexual and reproductive health, especially among key population groups such as Female Sex Workers (FSWs) and Transgender Individuals (TGs). The data on the prevalence and determinants of syphilis and HIV in Pakistan, particularly in Sindh province, is limited. This prospective cross-sectional study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors for HIV and syphilis infections among FSWs and TGs in different cities of Sindh, Pakistan. Methods A total of 1120 participants (531 FSWs and 589 TGs) were recruited from Karachi, Sukkur, Hyderabad, and Larkana. Community-based serological testing for HIV and syphilis was performed using Abbot Bioline HIV/syphilis Duo test kits, and sociodemographic and risk factor data were collected through questionnaires. Chi-square and logic regression were applied to determine variables associated significantly with syphilis in TGs and FSWs. Results TGs exhibited higher rates of syphilis (16.29%) and syphilis-HIV (6.79%) as compared to FSWs (syphilis: 15.63%; syphilis-HIV: 0.75%). Inconsistent condom use was more common among FSWs (75.32%), and over half reported STI symptoms. Regression analysis showed that for TGs, having five years (adjusted OR: 0.52, p = 0.04) and graduate-level education (adjusted OR: 0.40, p = 0.04) was associated with a lower risk of syphilis, while an income between 30,000 and 50,000 Pakistani rupees (OR: 1.93, p = 0.028) and more than three years in profession (adjusted OR: 2.20, p = 0.04) was associated with a higher risk. For FSWs, five (OR: 0.34, p = 0.03) and ten (OR: 0.02, p = 0.02) years of education were associated with a lower risk of syphilis, whereas an income between 30,000 and 50,000 PKR (OR: 3.05, p < 0.01) and self-reported HIV-negative status (OR: 3.08, p = 0.01) were associated with a higher risk of syphilis mono-infection. Conclusion In conclusion, the results of the study show higher rates of syphilis and HIV co-infection among TG compared to FSW from Sind. The study findings provide valuable insights for national health agencies and policymakers to devise data-driven strategies for preventing and controlling syphilis and HIV infections among FSW and TG populations in Sind.

In situ forming gels as subcutaneous delivery systems of curcumin and piperine

Environmental judicature and firm productivity: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment

The impact of environmental governance on firm productivity has been widely discussed, but few studies have examined the function of environmental judicature. Using the establishment of environmental courts as a quasi-natural experiment, this paper examines the relationship between environmental judicature and firm productivity. Our findings show that environmental courts will reduce firm productivity in the short term, chiefly owing to the increased environmental violation costs, environmental reputation costs and environmental compliance costs. The conclusion remains robust after mitigation of heterogeneous treatment effects, PSM-DID estimation, placebo tests and IV estimation. This negative effect is more pronounced for firms located in regions with high legal scores and low government intervention, for firms located in the eastern region, for firms with weak market power, and for firms with high pollution intensity. In addition, our further analysis suggests that environmental courts would improve the long-term firm productivity and regional green productivity, indicating that strengthening environmental judicature are conducive to firms’ sustainable growth and regions’ green transformation in the long run.

Clinical evaluation of corneal ulcer with a portable and smartphone-attachable slit lamp device: Smart Eye Camera

Prediction of mortality and prioritisation to tertiary care using the ‘OUR-ARCad’ risk score gleaned from the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic—A retrospective cohort study from South India

Background Judicious utilisation of tertiary care facilities through appropriate risk stratification assumes priority, in a raging pandemic, of the nature of delta variant-predominated second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in India. Prioritisation of tertiary care, through a scientifically validated risk score, would maximise recovery without compromising individual safety, but importantly without straining the health system. Methods De-identified data of COVID-19 confirmed patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital in South India, between April 1, 2021 and July 31, 2021, corresponding to the peak of COVID-19 second wave, were analysed after segregating into ‘survivors’ or ‘non-survivors’ to evaluate the risk factors for COVID-19 mortality at admission and formulate a risk score with easily obtainable but clinically relevant parameters for accurate patient triaging. The predictive ability was ascertained by the area under the receiver operator characteristics (AUROC) and the goodness of fit by the Hosmer-Lemeshow test and validated using the bootstrap method. Results Of 617 COVID-19 patients (325 survivors, 292 non-survivors), treated as per prevailing national guidelines, with a slight male predilection (358/617 [58.0%]), fatalities in the age group above and below 50 years were (217/380 [57.1%]) and (75/237 [31.6%]), p<0.001. The relative distribution of the various parameters among survivors and non-survivors including self-reported comorbidities helped to derive the individual risk scores from parameters significant in the multivariable logistic regression. The ‘OUR-ARCad’ risk score components were—Oxygen saturation SaO2<94%-23, Urea > 40mg/dL-15, Neutrophil/Lymphocytic ratio >3–23, Age > 50 years-8, Pulse Rate >100–8 and Coronary Artery disease-15. A summated score above 50, mandated tertiary care management (sensitivity-90%, specificity-75%; AUC-0.89), validated in 2000 bootstrap dataset. Conclusions The OUR-ARCad risk score, could potentially maximize recovery in a raging COVID-19 pandemic, through prioritisation of tertiary care services, neither straining the health system nor compromising patient’s safety, delivering and diverting care to those who needed the most.

Subsistence hunting impacts wildlife assemblages and functional ecology in tropical forests

Abstract Unsustainable wild meat hunting poses a significant threat to wildlife and tropical forest ecosystems. While high levels of extraction linked to commercial trade have received significant attention, the sustainability of subsistence hunting by Indigenous Peoples in Africa has been less studied. Understanding how changing lifestyles, particularly the sedentarisation of former hunter-gatherers, have affected the use of forest resources is crucial for wildlife conservation and livelihoods. The spatial management of hunting through the establishment of no-take zones, which act as sources for adjacent hunting areas, offers promise for the sustainability of Indigenous livelihoods. We conducted an extensive camera trap study in hunting areas subject to source-sink dynamics used by 10 sedentarised Baka communities. We compared species richness, occupancy, abundance, and community composition to a relatively non-hunted reference area in the adjacent Dja Faunal Reserve. Subsistence hunting by the Baka had a limited impact on species richness but significantly altered community composition and the abundance of carnivores, seed dispersers and granivores. These changes highlight that even the spatial management of hunting may have consequences for the sustainability of hunting systems and the functional ecology of tropical forests.

Asymptotic BLSCP models in uncertain and asymmetric environments—Take the charging station location problem

The rapid development of the field of vehicles exposes many problems of charging station, the most common is the uncertainty and asymmetry of its task volume, so the flexibility of location and scale design is crucial. This paper proposes the asymptotic BLSCP model, suitable for uncertain and asymmetric environments, which balances facility workload and minimizes cost through the forward or backward asymptotic methods of candidate center locations and flexible allocation of jurisdictions. Additionally, the findings suggest these methods possess considerable potential for application and generalization.

Companion dogs show signs of jealous behaviour toward non-living agents

Abstract Dogs engage in social interactions with robots, yet whether they perceive them as social agents remains uncertain. In jealousy-evoking contexts, specific behaviours were observed exclusively when dogs’ owners interacted with social, rather than non-social rivals. Here, we investigated whether a robot elicits jealous behaviour in dogs based on its level of animateness. First, dogs observed a robot either moving mechanistically, or showing animate motions in a non-interactive, or interactive manner towards a human. Then, in consecutive trials the owner interacted with a rival dog, the robot, and read a magazine, while ignoring the subject. Dogs displayed more owner-oriented behaviours, interaction interruption, vocalization and snapping when the owner attended the rival dog compared to reading. Dogs showed intermediate interest toward the robot but snapped more toward the robot than the magazine. Thus, dogs adjust their jealous behaviour to the actual rival, and indirect, brief experience is sufficient to consider the robot as distinct from typical inanimate objects.

Decoding the aroma of Rosa canina L.: Chemical composition and gene expression

Objective The aromatic profile of Rosa canina L. petals hold immense potential for the fragrance and pharmaceutical industries. This study aims to investigate the chemical composition and gene expression patterns across different floral development stages to uncover the biosynthetic pathways of floral scent. Methods Essential oils (EOs) were extracted from petals at five developmental stages (S1-S5) and analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), identifying 20 distinct compounds. RNA isolation and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis were performed to assess gene expression. Results Stage S3, notable for its enhanced aromatic profile, was dominated by terpenoid compounds such as β-Citronellol (1.18%), Caryophyllene (8.59%), β-Selinene (1.50%), and Caryophyllene oxide (0.50%), indicating significant upregulation of terpenoid biosynthesis genes. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that CCD1 had the highest expression in S4 (9.51-fold), while DXR and DXS peaked at S3 with fold changes of 29058.38 and 73.35, respectively. Other genes like AAT1, LIS, and GPS also showed peak expressions at S3 with fold changes of 1.33, 10.70, and 1.18, respectively. PAR exhibited the highest expression in S1, while GGPPS peaked in S4 (2.01-fold). Clustering analysis indicated distinct groupings of developmental stages and gene expression patterns, with strong correlations between specific genes and compounds, such as CCD1 with GGPPS (0.78) and β-Citronellol with Caryophyllene (0.92). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) highlighted significant contributions of AAT1, GPS, and nonadecane compounds to the overall variance. Conclusion These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the chemical and genetic factors shaping the aromatic profile of R. canina, with promising applications for both the fragrance and pharmaceutical sectors. The study’s innovation lies in the detailed correlation between EO composition and gene expression, presenting new insights into the biosynthetic pathways of floral scent.

Scalable preparation of furanosteroidal viridin, β-viridin and viridiol from Trichoderma virens

The choice of adjuvant radiotherapy in pancreatic cancer patients after up-front radical surgery

Background The role of adjuvant radiotherapy in pancreatic cancer following radical surgery remains a subject of of controversy. This study aimed to more accurately screen pancreatic patients who benefit from adjuvant radiotherapy. Methods Clinicopathologic characteristics of patients with resectable pancreatic cancer were collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (2004–2015). Univariate and multivariate analyses were applied to identify prognostic factors affecting patient survival. All the patients were divided into two groups, one receiving radiation and the other not. Selection bias were reduced by propensity-score matching (PSM). Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) between the two groups. Results Within 7097 patients, 2276 received adjuvant radiotherapy (external beam radiation), and 4821 did not. Multivariate analysis revealed that race, age, median income, sex, year of diagnosis, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) T stage, N stage, scope region lymph surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy were independent predictors for overall survival of all the patients (all p < 0.05). After PSM, a total of 4304 patients were included. There was no OS and CSS benefit of radiotherapy compared with no-radiotherapy (all p > 0.05). Among patients with N1 stage, the radiotherapy group exhibited a median overall survival (mOS) of 21 months (95% CI, 19.82 to 22.18), while the non-radiotherapy group showed a slightly lower mOS of 18 months (95% CI, 16.88 to 19.12). Similarly, in terms of median cancer-specific survival (mCSS), the radiotherapy group demonstrated a mCSS of 22 months (95% CI, 20.79 to 23.21), whereas the non-radiotherapy group had a slightly shorter mCSS of 19 months (95% CI, 17.81 to 20.19). Radiotherapy reduced the all-cause mortality rate and cancer-specific mortality rate among patients with the N1 stage and T4 stage (all p < 0.05). In contrast, the patients in the radiotherapy group with the N0 stage (mOS, 28 months versus 34 months; mCSS, 30 months versus 41months), or primary focus on the body and tail of the pancreas (mOS, 23 months versus 29 months; mCSS, 25 months versus 32 months), or T1 stage (mOS, 36 months versus 113 months; mCSS, 36 months versus 104 months) exhibited a higher all-cause mortality rate and cancer-specific mortality rate compared to those without radiotherapy (all p < 0.05). Subgroup analysis indicated N1 stage pancreatic cancer patients with T2-4 stage, primary focus on the head of the pancreas, young age of onset, and combination chemotherapy were in favor of the adjuvant radiotherapy group (all p < 0.05). Conclusions Our analysis demonstrates that adjuvant radiotherapy may be beneficial for N1 stage (N+) pancreatic cancer patients who have undergone up-front radical surgery with T2-4 stage, primary focus on the head of the pancreas, young age of onset, and receiving combination chemotherapy. However, radiotherapy needs to be used with caution in patients with T1 stage, N0 stage (N-), or primary focus on the body and tail of the pancreas. These findings may contribute to the development of personalized selection criteria for adjuvant radiotherapy in post-surgical pancreatic cancer patients.

Optimizing healthcare big data performance through regional computing

Correction: Anatomy of the sacroiliac joint with relation to the lumbosacral trunk: Is there sufficient space for a two-hole plate?

Detection of cervical cell based on multi-scale spatial information

Prevalence and associated factors of postpartum anemia after cesarean delivery in public hospitals of Awi zone, North West Ethiopia, 2023; a cross-sectional study

Background Anemia is a serious global public health problem, especially in developing nations. Anemia during pregnancy is appropriately recognized, whereas postpartum anemia especially after cesarean delivery in Ethiopia has received very little attention. Due to this it leads to poor quality of life, palpitations, an increase in maternal infections, exhaustion, diminished cognitive function and postpartum depression. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of postpartum anemia after cesarean delivery in public hospitals of Awi zone, North West Ethiopia, 2023. Method A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 395 mothers who gave birth by cesarean delivery from May 1–30, 2023. Data were collected using a pretested checklist. A simple random sampling technique was used to select study participants. Then the data were entered into EPI-data version 4.6 and exported to the SPSS version 25 for analysis. A logistic regression model was fitted to assess the association between outcome and explanatory variables. Variables with a p-value of 0.25 or less in bivariable analysis were candidates for multivariable analysis and P-value < 0.05 in multivariable analysis was considered to declare a result as statistically significant in this study. Result The prevalence of postpartum anemia after cesarean delivery was 18.9% (95% CI (15.1, 23.1)) with a response rate of 97.97%. Being primipara (AOR = 0.47,95%CI = 0.24,0.92), indication for current C/S (malpresentation) (AOR = 0.29,95%CI = 0.09,0.90), having pre-operation hemoglobin level <11g/dl (AOR = 14.5;95% CI = 4.11,51.16) and having medical complication during current pregnancy (AOR = 5.95,95%CI = 1.88,18.83) were significantly associated with postpartum anemia after cesarean delivery. Conclusion The findings of the study show that the prevalence of postpartum anemia after cesarean delivery is a mild public health problem. Therefore, promoting the benefits of early detection and management of pregnancy complications such as predelivery anemia and medical complications is crucial.

Critical raw material-free multi-principal alloy design for a net-zero future

Abstract Refractory High-Entropy Alloys (RHEAs), such as NbMoTaW, MoNbTaVW, HfNbTaZr, Re0.1Hf0.25NbTaW0.4, Nb40Ti25Al15V10Ta5Hf3W2, Ti x NbMoTaW (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1), and 3d transition metal HEAs such as Al10.3Co17Cr7.5Fe9Ni48.6Ti5.8Ta0.6Mo0.8W0.4 have demonstrated superior performance compared to traditional superalloys, particularly in high-temperature applications for engine components. However, the development of these alloys often depends on critical raw materials (CRMs) such as Ta, W, Nb, Hf, and others. The reliance on critical raw materials (CRMs) not only generates substantial emissions during recycling processes but also imposes considerable risks across global supply chains, hindering the pursuit of Net-zero ambitions. In this pioneering work, we unveil an inventive approach to inversely predict novel multicomponent alloy compositions, meticulously crafted to eliminate CRMs while achieving hardness levels comparable to those of CRM-containing multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs). A robust machine learning (ML) model was developed using a computational database of 3,608 entries, covering unary and binary materials from the Thermo-Calc 2024a software. Among various ML models, the Extra Trees Regressor (ETR) exhibited superior performance and was integrated with metaheuristic optimization techniques to identify novel MPEA compositions. The Cuckoo Search Optimization (CSO) method produced reduced-CRM MPEAs that closely matched Thermo-Calc predictions, with an error margin below ± 20%. To assess the efficacy of these reduced-CRM MPEAs, we compared the hardness of newly synthesized MPEA with CRM-containing counterparts reported in the literature, particularly those with high-risk critical raw materials like Niobium (Nb) and Tantalum (Ta). For example, the CoCrFeNb0.309Ni alloy, which includes CRMs Nb and Co exhibits a Vickers hardness of 480 HV. In contrast, our proposed composition, Ti0.01111NiFe0.4Cu0.4 achieves a comparable hardness of 488 HV without using a CRM. Our objective was not to develop high hardness alloy but to facilitate the development of reduced-CRM multi-principal element alloys (R-CRM-MPEAs). We validated our computational approach through the experimental synthesis of an FCC-phase alloy, Al6.25Cu18.75Fe25Co25Ni25. Thermo-Calc evaluation and ML model predictions of the Vickers hardness showed excellent agreement with the experimental hardness values, which lends credence to our approach. In conclusion, this study provides a robust framework for accelerating the discovery of novel R-CRM-MPEAs, effectively addressing challenges related to supply chain vulnerabilities, import dependence, and related environmental concerns.

Surgical Site Infection after Craniotomy in Neuro-Oncology (SINO): A protocol for an international prospective multicentre service evaluation across the United Kingdom and Ireland

Introduction Given its proximity to the central nervous system, surgical site infections (SSIs) after craniotomy (SSI-CRAN) represent a serious adverse event. SSI-CRAN are associated with substantial patient morbidity and mortality. Despite the recognition of SSI in other surgical fields, there is a paucity of evidence in the neurosurgical literature devoted to skin closure, specifically in patients with brain tumors. The primary objective of this service evaluation is to ascertain the incidence and the risk factors associated with SSI-CRAN. The secondary objectives would be a) to ascertain the incidence of SSI-CRAN in sutured versus stapled wounds, after accounting for patient, surgical and hospital confounders of SSI-CRAN and b) to determine the percentage of patients with gliomas that begin adjuvant oncological treatment in patients with infection versus those without infection. Methods Surgical Site Infection after Craniotomy in Neuro-Oncology (SINO) is a international prospective multicentre service evaluation that will include patients with an intracranial neoplasm, both primary and secondary neoplasms, treated with cranial surgery (including biopsy). Consecutive paediatric (<18 years) and adult (≥18 years) patients diagnosed with a brain tumour, undergoing cranial surgery between 1st October 2024 and 1st December 2024 will be included. Prospective data will be collected with a follow-up of 90 days.

l-Histidine-functionalized KIT-6 with embedded palladium nanoparticles as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for oxidation of sulfide to sulfoxide and amination of aryl halides

Peaceful dying among Canada’s elderly: An analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

Introduction Death is universal, yet relatively little is known about how Canadians experience their death. Using novel decedent interview data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging we describe the prevalence and characteristics of peace with dying among older Canadians. Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of decedent interview data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. Proxies of deceased Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging participants reported on participants’ end-of-life experiences between January 2012 to March 2022. We examined end-of-life characteristics and their association with proxy reports of experiencing peace with dying. We conducted regression analysis to explore the association between demographic and end-of-life characteristics and experiencing peace with dying. Results Of 3,672 deceased participants, 1,287 (35.0%) had a completed decedent questionnaire and were included in the analysis. Respondents reported that two-thirds (66.0%) of the deceased experienced peace with dying and 17% did not experience peace with dying. The unadjusted odds of experiencing peace with dying were higher for those with an appointed power of attorney (OR 1.80; CI 1.39–2.33), those who died of cancer (OR 1.71; CI 1.27–2.30), those in hospice/receiving palliative care (OR 1.67; CI 1.19–2.37), individuals older than 75 years (OR 1.55; CI 1.04–2.30), or widowed (OR 1.53; CI 1.12–2.10). Widowhood (OR 1.51; CI 1.01–2.29), having an end-of-life SDM (OR 1.58; CI 1.14–2.17), and dying of cancer (OR 1.67; CI 1.19–2.23) increased the adjusted odds of dying with peace. Conclusions Close to 1 in 5 older Canadians may not experience peace with dying, which supports greater focus on improving the end-of-life care. Our findings suggest that advanced planning may enhance the experience of a peaceful death in Canada.