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Designing a prototype trauma registry framework for a tertiary health institution in a low- and middle-income country: A qualitative study
Introduction Low- and middle-income countries experience high injury-related mortality rates, with road traffic crashes being a significant contributor in Nigeria. Data from trauma registries are crucial for designing and advocating for trauma intervention programmes. However, there is limited research to inform the development of trauma registries in a Nigerian setting. The aim of this study was to design a feasible prototype trauma registry (TR) including, scope of activities and registry components for University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods In-depth interviews were conducted with eight purposively selected trauma registry stakeholders in UCH to obtain context-specific information for a prototype registry. An expert meeting was conducted with four purposively selected experts within the hospital to assess and validate the suitability of the prototype TR scope and TR components, confirming their applicability and potential efficacy in UCH. Information obtained from the interviews and expert meeting were analysed deductively using thematic analysis. Results Stakeholders identified the most feasible scope for the trauma registry (TR) as daily data collection on all trauma patients from their initial presentation to discharge or death. This data would be gathered primarily at two critical points: the accident/emergency department and the wards where trauma patients are admitted. Stakeholders believed that comprehensive information about trauma patients could be achieved through these collection points. Following this scope, the analysis led to the identification of 21 essential components and activities for the TR, which were then organised into six categories: registry personnel, computers and other materials, trainings, technology infrastructure, administrative services, and monitoring and evaluation. Conclusion The scope and components identified are relevant to our context and have the potential to contribute to trauma prevention programmes, improve patient care and outcomes, and contribute to trauma-related policies and programmes if successfully implemented.
Real world pharmacovigilance assessment of drug related macular degeneration risks
Trojan horse peptide conjugates remodel the activity spectrum of clinical antibiotics
Infections caused by gram-negative pathogens continue to be a major risk to human health because of the innate antibiotic resistance endowed by their unique cell membrane architecture. Nature has developed an elegant solution to target gram-negative strains, namely by conjugating toxic antibiotic warheads to a suitable carrier to facilitate the active import of the drug to a specific target organism. Microcin C7 (McC) is a Trojan horse peptide–conjugated antibiotic that specifically targets enterobacteria by exploiting active import through oligopeptide transport systems. Here, we characterize the molecular mechanism of McC recognition by YejA, the solute binding protein of the Escherichia coli oligopeptide transporter. Structure-guided mutational and functional analysis elucidates the determinants of substrate recognition. We demonstrate that the peptide carrier can serve as a passport for the entry of molecules that are otherwise not taken into E. coli cells. We show that peptide conjugation can remodel the antibiotic spectrum of clinically relevant parent compounds. Bioinformatics analysis reveals a broad distribution of YejA-like transporters in only the Proteobacteria, underscoring the potential for the development of Trojan horse antibiotics that are actively imported into such gram-negative bacteria.
A study of the impact of urban business credit environment on environmental pollution
Environmental pollution has become a global concern, so it is critical to find out the elements that influence it. Is the urban business credit environment influencing urban environmental conditions? The study takes the entropy method for calculating the environmental pollution index of 276 prefecture-level cities across China from 2010 to 2021, the CE1 index to describe the urban business credit environment, and a spatial Durbin model to empirically analyze the mechanism and transmission path of the urban business credit environment on environmental pollution. The findings demonstrate that: (1) there is an important positive spatial association between China’s urban pollution index and urban business credit index, and that the level of spatial clustering of the two is increasing over time. (2) the urban business credit environment and environmental pollution have an inverted "U" shape relationship and a significant spatial spillover effect, which means that once a certain threshold is reached, improving the urban business credit environment reduces environmental pollution in local and neighboring areas. (3) The influence of the urban business credit environment on environmental deterioration varies by region. The extra heterogeneity test results for the different regions show that the relationship between business credit level and environmental pollution is consistent with the overall situation in the eastern and western regions, the opposite effect was observed in the central region. (4) Changes in the urban business credit environment have an indirect impact on environmental conditions due to the amount of regional financial development and technological innovation potential. To reduce pollution in the region, prefectural-level cities must strengthen the construction of urban business credit systems, strive to create a favorable business credit environment, strengthen the spatial spillover effect, and guide the resource elements of business credit planning to flow into the central and western parts of China reasonably. The study’s findings have significant practical implications for modifying the government’s development strategy and improving the urban environment.
Improving model performance in mapping black-soil resource with machine learning methods and multispectral features
AbstractAccurate information on the distribution of regional black-soil resource is one of the important elements for the sustainable management of soils. And its results can provide decision makers with robust data that can be translated into better decision making. This study utilized all Sentinel-2 images covering the study area from April to July in 2022. After masking clouds, all images were synthesized monthly. Based on the revised random forest classification algorithm, model performance using different feature combination programs were evaluated to search for an efficient, high-precision method for mapping black-soil resource. The impact on model performance of adding data from temperature, precipitation and slope geographic covariates was analyzed. And the robustness of the model was verified using Landsat-8 data with lower spatial resolution. The results showed that (1) the model based on multi-temporal ensemble features for mapping black-soil resource shows the best performance, with an OA of 94.6%; (2) adding temperature covariate can effectively improve the accuracy of black-soil resource mapping; (3) compared to the sentinel data, the performance of the model based on Landsat-8 data is reduced but still plausible, verifying the robustness of the model. This study provides a robust method to improve model performance for rapid mapping of black-soil resource.
Dynamic binding of the bacterial chaperone Trigger factor to translating ribosomes in <i>Escherichia coli</i>
The bacterial chaperone Trigger factor (TF) binds to ribosome-nascent chain complexes (RNCs) and cotranslationally aids the folding of proteins in bacteria. Decades of studies have given a broad, but often conflicting, description of the substrate specificity of TF, its RNC-binding dynamics, and competition with other RNC-binding factors, such as the Signal Recognition Particle (SRP). Previous RNC-binding kinetics experiments were commonly conducted on stalled RNCs in reconstituted systems, and consequently, may not be representative of the interaction of TF with ribosomes translating mRNA in the cytoplasm of the cell. Here, we used single-particle tracking (SPT) to measure TF binding to actively translating ribosomes inside living Escherichia coli . In cells, TF displays distinct binding modes—longer (ca 1 s) and shorter (ca 50 ms) RNC bindings. Consequently, we conclude that TF, on average, stays bound to the RNC for only a fraction of the translation cycle. Further, binding events are interrupted only by transient excursions to a freely diffusing state (ca 40 ms), suggesting a highly dynamic binding and unbinding cycle of TF in vivo. We also show that TF competes with SRP for RNC binding, and in doing so, tunes the binding selectivity of SRP.
Soil-transmitted helminthiasis among adolescents in Anaocha Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria: Insights and recommendations for effective control
Over the past decade, Anambra State, Nigeria, has implemented mass administration of medicines (MAMs) to combat soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH), a significant public health challenge in low-income regions. Nevertheless, these efforts have predominantly focused on pre-school and school-aged children, leaving a notable gap in understanding STH infection rates and the efficacy of these campaigns among secondary school adolescents, who have been excluded from this initiative. Our study aimed to address this critical knowledge gap by assessing soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) prevalence and contextual factors hindering effective control among adolescents in Anambra State, Nigeria. We actively engaged 443 adolescents with a mean age of 14 years in a school-based cross-sectional study in selected communities within the Anaocha Local Government Area from 8 February to 7 July 2023 following informed consent and assent procedures. Employing a stratified random sampling technique, we collected demographic data and assessed STH risk factors using a structured questionnaire hosted on the Kobo Toolbox platform. For quantitative analysis of STH infections, the Kato-Katz technique was used. Analysis was performed using SPSS version 25, incorporating descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression, with statistical significance set at p<0.05. Of the 443 (213 males (48.0%) and 230 females (52.0%) adolescents studied, the overall prevalence of STH observed was 35.2% (156/443). Ascaris lumbricoides was the prevalent STH species (16.9%), followed by Trichuris trichiura (1.4%) and hookworm (0.5%). Only light-intensity infection was observed. Mixed infections were observed in 16.5% of adolescents, involving A. lumbricoides and hookworm (10.8%), followed by A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura (3.2%) and all three STH (2.5%). The observed overall prevalence was not statistically significant with respect to gender (OR: 0.961; 95% CI: 0.651–1.420; p > 0.05) or age (OR: 0.686; 95% CI: 0.459–1.025; p>0.05). Class (grade level) (OR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.25–2.45, p = 0.003), knowledge and transmission of STH infection (OR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.42–0.86, p = 0.008), parental occupation (OR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.35–2.67, p < 0.001), parents’ literacy level (OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.48–0.96, p = 0.027), and the type of toilet (OR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.54–3.00, p < 0.001) were all significantly correlated with STH infection. These findings highlight the role of adolescents in sustaining soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) transmission. Coupled with school-based deworming expansion, innovative improvements in water, sanitation, hygiene, and awareness can provide a cost-effective, sustainable solution for combatting STH infections in Anambra State.
Hotspot analysis of COVID-19 infection in Tokyo based on influx patterns
Multitude of glasses of water
Evidence of avian and human influenza A virus infection in farmed Siamese crocodiles (Crocodylus siamensis) in Thailand
Crocodilians are susceptible to a range of virus infection including influenza A virus (IAV). However, little is known about the ecology and epidemiology of IAV in crocodile species. This study aimed to investigate IAV infection in farmed Siamese crocodiles in central Thailand. We collected plasma samples and pharyngeal swab samples from Siamese crocodiles residing in 13 crocodile farms in 9 provinces of central Thailand during 2019. Additional archival plasma samples of Siamese crocodiles collected in 2012 and 2018 were also included in the study. Plasma samples were screened for influenza A antibodies by a hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay and positive were evaluated by a cytopathic effect/hemagglutination based-microneutralization (MN) assay. Swab samples were tested for influenza viral RNA by a real-time RT-PCR assay targeting the influenza matrix (M) gene. Among 246 tested plasma samples, the overall seroprevalence of antibodies against IAV in farmed Siamese crocodiles was 17.5% (43/246). The most common hemagglutinin (HA) subtype was H2 (46.5%, 20/43) followed by H9 (39.5%, 17/43), human H1 (14%, 6/43) and H1 (7%, 3/43). Multiple HA subtypes were also detected in 7% (3/43) of infected crocodiles with combination of H1 and H2 subtypes. All 126 tested swab samples were negative for influenza viral RNA. In addition, we demonstrated the ability of wild-type IAV subtypes (H1, H2, H9 and human H1) to infect primary Siamese crocodile fibroblast cells. To our knowledge, this is the first report of serological evidences of avian and human IAV infection in Siamese crocodiles. Our findings highlighted the role of crocodile species in the ecology of IAV particularly the potential to serve as the reservoir or mixing vessel for the viruses that significantly threaten both human and animal health.
Elucidation of peptide screen for targeted identification of Yersinia pestis by nano-liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry
Deciphering the role of the MALT1–RC3H1 axis in regulating GPX4 protein stability
Ferroptosis, a unique form of iron-dependent cell death triggered by lipid peroxidation accumulation, holds great promise for cancer therapy. Despite the crucial role of GPX4 in regulating ferroptosis, our understanding of GPX4 protein regulation remains limited. Through FACS-based genome-wide CRISPR screening, we identified MALT1 as a regulator of GPX4 protein. Inhibition of MALT1 expression enhances GPX4 ubiquitination-mediated degradation by up-regulating the E3 ubiquitin ligase RC3H1. Using both rescue assays and functional genetic screening, we demonstrate that pharmacologically targeting MALT1 triggers ferroptosis in liver cancer cells. Moreover, we show that targeting MALT1 synergizes with sorafenib or regorafenib to induce ferroptosis across multiple cancer types. These findings elucidate the modulatory effects of the MALT1–RC3H1 axis on GPX4 stability, revealing a molecular mechanism that could be exploited to induce ferroptosis for cancer therapy.
A two-stage hybrid NSGA-III with BWO for path planning and task allocation in agricultural land preparation
Automated large-scale farmland preparation operations face significant challenges related to path planning efficiency and uniformity in resource allocation. To improve agricultural production efficiency and reduce operational costs, an enhanced method for planning land preparation paths is proposed. In the initial stage, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are employed to collect data from the field, which is then used to construct accurate farm models. For single-field operations, a path planning approach is developed that minimizes energy consumption. The approach combines the selection of optimal operational angles with the implementation of efficient turning strategies, aiming to achieve full coverage. In addressing the issue of scheduling multiple machines across multiple fields, a two-stage optimization method, referred to as the BNSGA-III algorithm, is introduced. This algorithm integrates the NSGA-III algorithm with Beluga Whale Optimization (BWO), adaptive parameter adjustment, and Adaptive Inversion Crossover (AIC). The proposed method tackles the inherent complexity of agricultural environments, balancing operational efficiency and resource allocation through multi-objective optimization. Experimental results demonstrate that, compared to random operation directions, the proposed method reduces the path length by 1.9% to 3.1%, decreases the turning frequency by 19.5% to 24.0%, and improves coverage by 1.0% to 1.4%. In the context of multi-machine scheduling, the BNSGA-III algorithm outperforms the NSGA-II, NSGA-III, and MOEA/D algorithms, achieving improvements in total travel distance (12.3% to 34.4%), path balance (60.9% to 66.2%), and workload distribution (78.7% to 92.9%). Further evaluation shows that BNSGA-III excels in key metrics such as convergence (IGD), solution quality (HV), and diversity (Spread), thereby confirming its superiority in solution quality, convergence, and diversity. The findings of this study provide strong support for the advancement of intelligent agriculture.
An optimized eDNA protocol for fish tracking in estuarine environments
CryoSeek II: Cryo-EM analysis of glycofibrils from freshwater reveals well-structured glycans coating linear tetrapeptide repeats
Despite the recent breakthrough in structure determination and prediction of proteins, the structural investigation of carbohydrates remains a challenge. Here, we report the cryo-EM analysis of a glycofibril found in the freshwater in the Tsinghua Lotus Pond. The fibril, which we name TLP-4, is made of a linear chain of tetrapeptide repeats coated with >4 nm thick glycans. In each repeat, two glycans are O-linked to a 3,4-dihydroxyproline and another glycan attaches to the adjacent Ser or Thr. The fibril structure is entirely maintained through glycan packing. Bioinformatic analysis confirms the conservation of the TLP-4 repeats across species, suggesting the existence of a large number of glycofibrils to be discovered. Our findings not only provide valuable insights into the structural roles of glycans in bio-assemblies but also demonstrate the potential of our recently formulated research strategy of CryoSeek to find bioentities and establish prototypes for structural studies of carbohydrates.
The impact of achievement goals on college students’ English performance—A moderated mediation model
The study investigated the relationship between learning engagement and achievement goals, and English performance among college students. With the increasing popularity of online teaching methods, exploring how different teaching modes (online and classroom teaching) might influence students’ learning outcomes is important. The researcher sought to understand how adopting different achievement goals such as mastery and performance-avoidance approaches could impact English performance and learning engagement. By examining this factor, the study aimed to provide insights into effective teaching strategies and interventions that could enhance students’ academic success in English language learning. The survey included 953 college students assessed using the Achievement Goal Questionnaire and Learning Engagement Scale. Their IELTS English scores were also recorded to study the relationship between learning engagement and achievement goals, and English performance. Additionally, the researcher utilized statistical analysis tools such as SPSS and the PROCESS Marco programme to explore the moderated mediation model and to uncover the complex relationships among the variables in the study. The results revealed that adopting a mastery approach positively influenced English performance, while the performance-avoidance approach negatively influenced English performance. Additionally, learning engagement partially mediated the connection between the mastery approach, performance-avoidance approach, and English performance. Teaching mode influenced the initial phase of the mediating effect between the mastery approach and English performance. More importantly, compared to online teaching, classroom teaching with a focus on mastery approach had a stronger predictive effect on learning engagement. Lastly, there was a moderated mediating effect between English achievement and the mastery approach, whereas the performance-avoidance approach showed a simple mediating effect on English achievement. The findings from this research could potentially inform educators and policymakers on how to optimize teaching practices to promote student engagement and improve English language proficiency.
Prediction analysis of human brucellosis cases in Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture Xinjiang China based on time series
Stochastic morphological swings in <i>Hydra</i> regeneration: A manifestation of noisy canalized morphogenesis
Animal morphogenesis, the development of an organism’s body form, is commonly perceived as a directed and almost deterministic process. However, noise and stochastic fluctuations are ubiquitous in biological systems. The questions on the role of fluctuations in morphogenesis and what ensures the robustness of this process under noisy conditions remain elusive. Here, we utilize Hydra regeneration, subjected to an external electric field, to provide unique insights into these questions. We found that during Hydra morphogenesis, a phase can be induced where fluctuations lead to stochastic morphological swings, back and forth, between a nearly spherical structure (the incipient tissue’s state) and an elongated cylindrical shape (the final body form of a mature Hydra ). Despite these prolonged swings, the tissue regenerates into a normal Hydra . The stochastic transitions between two well-defined shapes imply that morphological development occurs through an activation process. Indeed, by introducing a periodic perturbation through modulation of the electric field, we were able to demonstrate morphogenesis dynamics with characteristics of stochastic resonance —the tissue’s response to the perturbation displayed a resonance-like behavior as a function of the noise level. Our findings add a dynamic layer to the problem of morphogenesis and offer an unconventional physical framework based on an activation transition in a slowly varying double-well potential that ensures a canalized regeneration of the body form under fluctuations.
Vaccine hesitancy among health paraprofessionals: A mixed methods study
Background The World Health Organization (WHO) defines vaccine hesitancy as “a delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite availability of vaccination services”. Vaccine hesitancy has also been declared a top threat to global health. Some employers imposed vaccine mandates during the Covid-19 pandemic resulting in health care employees resigning or being fired rather than receive a vaccine. Healthcare paraprofessionals such as certified nursing assistants, dietary and home health aides are among the most patient facing of all health care providers. Their beliefs and attitudes about vaccines are critical to how they communicate about vaccines with their patients. Objective The objective of this project was to survey health care paraprofessionals to explore their thoughts and opinions about vaccines in general, and Covid-19 vaccines specifically. Methods This was a 25 question, mixed methods, cross sectional email survey. Subjects were recruited from the mailing list of a non-profit organization in the Midwest. This organization is dedicated to bringing a face and a voice to healthcare paraprofessionals engaged in direct patient care. Results Most respondents were reasonably well informed about vaccines; had received one or more doses of indicated vaccines; used credible resources to learn about vaccines and believed physicians and pharmacists were the most trusted information sources. Qualitative results indicated that respondents expressed support for vaccines but that the support was often qualified in that a respondent may have had both pro and anti-vaccine opinions in the same response. They also expressed that communications about vaccines were often problematic. Additional vaccine-related continuing professional development for healthcare paraprofessionals appears to be indicated. Conclusions Although attitudes towards vaccines were generally positive, respondents had concerns about the quality of vaccine information. Additional vaccine-related continuing professional development for healthcare paraprofessionals appears to be indicated.