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A machine learning method for predicting molecular antimicrobial activity

Values, motivation, and physical activity among Chinese sport sciences students

Different studies have shown that values and motivation predict physical activity, but no study has tested how values and motivation may interact to predict physical activity. Specifically, the present research aimed to test how values and motivation toward physical activity measured within the SDT could predict global physical activity among Chinese sports science students. The indirect effects of openness to change and self-transcendence values on predicting physical activity through autonomous motivation were significant. These results help us understand how highly abstract psychological constructs such as values may influence physical activity through motivation. Studying values combined with motivation may help better understand the factors that motivate or inhibit physical activity.

An isogeometric modeling and vibro-acoustic characteristics analysis of a double panel-acoustic cavity coupling system with in-plane functionally graded materials

Cryptic speciation in arid mountains: An integrative revision of the Pristurus rupestris species complex (Squamata, Sphaerodactylidae) from Arabia based on morphological, genetic and genomic data, with the description of four new species

In the arid landscapes of the Arabian Peninsula, high levels of cryptic diversity among reptiles, and especially in geckos, have recently been revealed. Mountain ranges within the peninsula were shown to contain the highest richness of reptile endemicity, serving as refugia to species less adapted to the hyper-arid conditions of the lowlands. With up to 19 endemic reptile species, the Hajar Mountains of southeastern Arabia are a clear example of this pattern. Owing to its old geological history, complex topography and geographic isolation from the rest of the peninsula, this mountain range rises as a hotspot of reptile biodiversity and endemicity in Arabia, and provides the perfect scenario to study the processes of evolution and diversification of reptiles in arid mountain ranges. In the present study we investigate the systematics of the Pristurus rupestris species complex, a group of geckos exhibiting cryptic morphological traits along with a remarkably deep evolutionary history. Initially considered a single species distributed throughout coastal Arabia, and with some scattered populations at the Horn of Africa, several recent studies have shown that Pristurus rupestris actually comprises a species complex restricted to the Hajar Mountains of southeastern Arabia. Here, we utilize an integrative approach assembling several morphological, genetic, genomic, and ecological datasets to resolve this long-standing systematic challenge. Results support the existence of four new cryptic Pristurus species in the Hajar Mountains with three new Oman endemics. While no unique diagnostic morphological characters were identified, some slight morphological differences occur between species, especially among high-elevation species relative to the rest. Despite the lack of clear morphological differentiation, extreme levels of genetic variation were found between species with genetic distances of up to 24% in the 12S mitochondrial marker, resulting from deep divergence times of up to 10 mya. Moreover, all species have been found in sympatry with at least another representative of the species complex and without any signs of apparent and ongoing gene flow among them. These findings yield profound implications for conservation efforts, as one of these newly described species presents an extremely restricted distribution (only known from a single locality and three individuals), requiring immediate attention for protection. Overall, this study sheds light on the hidden diversity within the P. rupestris species complex, emphasizing the importance of preserving biodiversity in the face of ongoing environmental changes, while highlighting, once again, the Hajar Mountains of southeastern Arabia as a cradle of reptile biodiversity.

Crosado embalming related alterations in the morpho-mechanics of collagen rich tissues

Abstract Crosado-embalming has been successfully used as embalming technique in research and teaching for over 20 years. It is applied in biomechanical testing experiments if the fresh tissues are unavailable, e.g., for cultural, ethical, logistical or health and safety reasons. However, features of human Crosado-embalmed tissues biomechanical characteristics including its load-deformation properties in comparison to fresh tissues and its controllability through hydration fluids may be insightful and therefore need to be studied further. This study compared the uniaxial load-deformation properties and the cross-sectional area (CSA) measurements of fresh-frozen and Crosado-embalmed collagen-rich tissues, namely the iliotibial band (ITB, 16 unembalmed and 35 embalmed specimens) and cranial dura mater (DM, 60 unembalmed cadavers, and 25 embalmed specimens). The water content of 120 Crosado-embalmed ITB samples (30 cadavers) were analysed considering established rehydration treatments, including polyethylene glycol (PEG). Crosado-embalmed tissues presented an increased elastic modulus (EM) (all p < 0.050; e.g., Crosado ITB PEG only 306 ± 91 MPa vs. fresh-frozen ITB PEG only 108 ± 31 MPa; mean ± standard deviation; p < 0.001) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) (e.g., Crosado ITB PEG only 46 ± 15 MPa vs. fresh-frozen ITB PEG only 21 ± 8 MPa; p < 0.001) when rehydrated similar to the fresh tissues. The maximum force was different for the dura mater (Crosado 25 ± 13 N vs. fresh 21 ± 20 N; mean ± standard deviation; p = 0.050) but not for the ITB. The CSA following rehydration in PEG only was decreased for Crosado-embalmed samples (3.4 ± 1.2mm2, ITB; 1.1 ± 0.5 mm2, DM) compared to fresh-frozen (5.8 ± 2.1mm2, ITB; 3.1 ± 1.2mm2, DM) (all p ≤ 0.003). Furthermore, rehydration effects were observed following 24 h of PEG treatment (untreated tissues, 49 ± 9% vs. PEG only, 77 ± 4%; p < 0.001), in comparison to fresh samples (69%) tissues were hyperhydrated. In conclusion, Crosado-embalming appears to alter collagen-rich tissues’ morphological and mechanical properties. While an increase in material properties of Crosado-embalmed tissues was observed (Emod and UTS), the overall load-bearing capacity and peak structural strength remained unaltered for ITB tissues. This may result from CSA-related, geometric or molecular alterations after the fixative and osmotic water protocols related to changes in the collagen backbone and water-binding capacity.

Characterization of methane microseepage from natural gas reservoirs in mild climate: A case study of Xinchang gas field

Methane microseepage from oil and gas fields significantly contributes to atmospheric methane level, making it a critical factor in global climate change. Therefore, accurate monitoring of surface flux and investigating migration mechanism are pivotal to evaluating and mitigating the impact of methane microseepage. In this study, methane microseepage from natural gas reservoirs in a mild climate was investigated, using Xinchang gas field as a case study. Soil samples were collected to analyze geochemical anomalies of acid-hydrolyzed hydrocarbons (AHH) and altered carbonates (AC). Surface methane flux from natural gas reservoirs were monitored, using a greenhouse gas analyzer and static gas collection chambers. Methane release patterns and migration mechanism were then discussed. Headspace and soil gas samples were collected to determine the hydrocarbon composition and carbon isotope profile. The results indicate that surface methane flux in Xinchang gas field is weak, exhibiting three release patterns: continuous, episodic, and flat. Spiked anomalies of AHH and AC co-exist in the test area, suggesting methane migration from reservoirs to surface. Hydrocarbon composition and carbon isotope profile in headspace and soil gas samples confirm thermogenic origin of methane. These findings offer new insights into the behavior of methane microseepage from natural gas reservoirs in mild climate. It is also suggested that close monitoring and stringent regulation of methane microseepage, as well as continuous investigation on factors affecting this phenomenon, are essential to the management of geological methane emissions. The conclusions of this work align with previous studies and are applicable to managing methane microseepage from oil and gas reservoirs in a wider scope.

Hyperkalemia is associated with short- and mid-term mortalities in critically ill patients in the MIMIC IV database

Interventions to improve adherence/compliance to home noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in stable hypercapnic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: A systematic review protocol

Introduction Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent condition often leading to chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure in its advanced stages. Home noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (Home-NIPPV) has emerged as a key therapeutic strategy for managing stable hypercapnic COPD patients, improving survival rates, and enhancing quality of life. Despite these benefits, patient adherence/compliance to Home-NIPPV remains a significant challenge, hindered by various barriers. The present paper is a protocol of a systematic review that aims to identify and evaluate interventions designed to improve adherence/compliance to Home-NIPPV in stable hypercapnic COPD patients. Methods The protocol is developed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024581616). A comprehensive literature search across PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane Library will be conducted. Eligible studies will include randomized controlled trials that focus on interventions that aims to improve adherence/compliance to Home-NIPPV in stable hypercapnic COPD patients. Data extraction will be meticulously carried out by two independent reviewers. The Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool will be utilized to assess the quality and risk of bias of the included studies. The findings of this systematic review will be synthesized to provide a thorough understanding of effective strategies to enhance adherence/compliance to Home-NIPPV in stable hypercapnic COPD patients. Conclusion The results of this review could inform clinical practice and guide the development of targeted strategies to improve adherence/compliance to Home-NIPPV and consequently outcomes in stable hypercapnic COPD patients. Registration This protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews under the reference code CRD42024581616.

Coupling process of carbon sink service flow based on metacoupling framework

Development and validation of predictive models for diabetic retinopathy using machine learning

Objective This study aimed to develop and compare machine learning models for predicting diabetic retinopathy (DR) using clinical and biochemical data, specifically logistic regression, random forest, XGBoost, and neural networks. Methods A dataset of 3,000 diabetic patients, including 1,500 with DR, was obtained from the National Population Health Science Data Center. Significant predictors were identified, and four predictive models were developed. Model performance was assessed using accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and area under the curve (AUC). Results Random forest and XGBoost demonstrated superior performance, achieving accuracies of 95.67% and 94.67%, respectively, with AUC values of 0.991 and 0.989. Logistic regression yielded an accuracy of 76.50% (AUC: 0.828), while neural networks achieved 82.67% accuracy (AUC: 0.927). Key predictors included 24-hour urinary microalbumin, HbA1c, and serum creatinine. Conclusion The study highlights random forest and XGBoost as effective tools for early DR detection, emphasizing the importance of renal and glycemic markers in risk assessment. These findings support the integration of machine learning models into clinical decision-making for improved patient outcomes in diabetes management.

Environmental characteristics shape macroinvertebrate community structure across spatiotemporal scales in a subtropical African river system

Pickup and delivery planning for the crowdsourced freight delivery routing problem

Pickup and delivery problem (PDP) and dynamic vehicle routing problem (DVRP) are two key components of crowdsourced freight delivery services. Although previous research has focused predominantly on static vehicle routing problems, this study formally defines the dynamic problem specific to crowdsourced freight delivery and presents a mixed-integer linear programming model based on a rolling-horizon framework. The objective is to minimize total service costs, including fixed vehicle costs, transportation costs, and penalty costs for delays, while planning routes that cover all orders. To solve this combinatorial optimization problem, we propose an improved partheno genetic algorithm (IPGA) and a simulated annealing algorithm (SA). Numerical experiments demonstrate that the IPGA outperforms the SA, reducing the total service costs by over 10% on average. In addition, a real-world case study illustrates the practical applicability of our model and algorithms, providing a solid foundation for real-world implementation.

Cyclical hybrid imputation technique for missing values in data sets

Assessing the impact of a negative air ionization system on particulate matter and gaseous pollutants in the swine farrowing environment

Air quality on swine farms has long been a concern for both human and swine health as it has been previously linked with respiratory issues; the main cause being the inhalation of small airborne particulate matter (PM) < 10 μm in diameter. Negative ionizing systems have previously been successfully used to improve air quality in human residential- and commercial buildings as well in agricultural settings. However, less is known about the efficacy of negative ionizing systems in commercial swine farrowing environments. Thus, the objective of this study was to use a swine farrowing environment to evaluate the effects of a negative air ionization system on 1) the quantity of airborne gaseous and particulate matter, and 2) swine health and production parameters. Six farrowing rooms containing 60 sows each were installed with 30 negative ionization systems per room. Three out of six rooms were randomly allocated between active ionization (L-ON) or inactive ionization (L-OFF) between farrowing rounds (N =  4). For each round, measurements of PM2.5, PM10, Ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S), temperature, and humidity were collected twice a week, in the morning and afternoon at two heights, pig level (61 cm) and human level (152 cm). Pig performance metrics (parity, number of piglets born, number of live piglets born, piglet mortality, fostered piglets, and number of weaned pigs) were collected at the end of each batch. Comparisons between L-ON and L-OFF treatments were conducted by averaging room and day specific measurements for all days when rotating rooms shared contrasting treatments. Each room-specific L-ON treatment was then compared to all other L-OFF rooms using a linear regression model. No statistically significant differences were found between treatments for PM2.5 or PM10 at the pig nor human level. However, numerical reductions in the cumulative increase of PM2.5, and PM10 for L-ON rooms compared to L-OFF rooms were found in 60% of the L-ON rooms. One out of five L-ON rooms showed statistically slower buildup of NH3 concentrations compared to L-OFF rooms (P <  0.01) and 60% of the L-ON rooms had significantly slower buildup of H2S concentrations compared to L-OFF rooms (P < 0.01). No effect on production metrics were found between treatments. In conclusion, indications of improved air quality were found in this study, but given the complexity of these types of assessments, further work is needed to conclude the efficacy of negative ionization systems in commercial farrowing systems.

Development of the autonomous lab system to support biotechnology research

Changes in energy homeostasis, gut peptides, and gut microbiota in Emiratis with obesity after bariatric surgery

Background Obesity is a growing health concern worldwide, including United Arab Emirates. Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment option, with to date unclear weight loss mechanisms. In this prospective study, we explored post-bariatric surgery changes in energy homeostasis, gut peptides, hormones, and gut microbiota. Method We recruited 19 Emirati adults who were planning to undergo sleeve gastrectomy (SG). We assessed the energy requirements using 24-hour diet recalls, indirect calorimetry for resting energy expenditure (REE), and a questionnaire for appetite. Anthropometrics included body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, fat mass, fat-free mass, and percentage of body fat. Gut peptides, including peptide YY (PYY), glucagon-like peptide-1/2 (GLP-1/2), ghrelin (GHR), cholecystokinin (CCK), insulin, and leptin, were quantified using ELISA. Gut microbiota composition at phylum and genus levels, including the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio and alpha (α) and beta (β) diversity, was determined by sequencing amplicons of the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA at baseline and three months post-surgery. Comparisons used paired sample T-test, Wilcoxon, and McNemar test. QIIME 2 was used to identify taxa and their relative abundance; subsequent analyses were done in R for (α) and (β) diversity (package qiime2R) and Wilcoxon signed-rank test in R for differences in microbiota at phylum and genus levels. We conducted Spearman correlation analyses between genera and energy homeostasis, appetite, anthropometrics, hormones, and gut peptides. Results At three months post-SG, energy intake, appetite, all anthropometric indices, insulin, leptin, and GLP-1 significantly decreased; PYY and GHR significantly increased, and REE was stable. β-diversity of the gut microbiota and its composition at phylum and genus levels significantly changed post-surgery, yet F/B remained constant. Energy intake, BMI, and appetite negatively correlated with several taxa that significantly increased post-SG. Conclusion Gut peptides, hormones, and microbiota change partly account for bariatric surgery’s weight-loss benefits. Understanding these alterations can inform personalized interventions targeting obesity.

Pt-LIS1 participates nuclear deformation and acrosome formation via regulating Dynein-1 during spermatogenesis in Portunus trituberculatus

Association between neutrophile-to-lymphocyte ratio and risk of deep vein thrombosis in patient receiving lower extremity orthopedic surgery: A meta-analysis

Objective This meta-analysis aimed to quantitatively synthesize evidence on the association between the preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients undergoing lower extremity orthopedic surgery. Methods Medline, Embase, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched for observational studies that examined the relationship between preoperative NLR and DVT risk in patients undergoing lower extremity procedures. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects models. Results Ten studies involving 5,697 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled incidence of DVT across the studies was 13.8% (95% CI: 9.7%–19.2%). Elevated NLR was associated with a two-fold increase in the risk of DVT (odds ratio [OR] 2.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.39–3.12, p = 0.0004, I2 = 85%). Patients who developed DVT had a higher NLR than those who did not (mean difference: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.37 to 1.48, p =  0.001, I2 =  86%). Among the patient characteristics, male sex (OR 1.51, 95% CI: 1.12–2.03), diabetes mellitus (OR 1.60, 95% CI: 1.06–2.41), and hypertension (OR 1.43, 95% CI: 1.06–1.93) were significantly associated with increased DVT risk. Subgroup analysis based on the timing of DVT occurrence (preoperative vs. postoperative) revealed no significant difference in the association between NLR and DVT risk. Conclusion Elevated preoperative NLR was significantly associated with increased DVT risk in patients undergoing lower extremity orthopedic surgery. NLR may serve as a useful biomarker for DVT risk stratification in this population. Prospective studies are needed to validate its predictive value and evaluate NLR-guided thromboprophylaxis strategies. Trial registration PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024577952.

Empirical model of public participation intention in biomass project based on integrated TAM-TPB model

The effect of labour hopscotch framework on maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women: A randomized controlled trial

The Labour Hopscotch Framework (LHF) is a practical tool designed for women to use with the support of their birthing partners throughout labor and birth. It was specifically developed to help midwives support women in achieving a physiological birth. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of the LHF on maternal and neonatal outcomes. The study took place from March 2023 to October 2023 in Ahvaz, Iran. A total of 124 primiparous women with full-term pregnancies were recruited and randomly allocated to either the intervention or control group. Eligible participants for the study included women who were 18 years of age or older, had cephalopelvic proportions within normal limits, were carrying low-risk singleton pregnancies, and had attended childbirth education classes. Women were excluded if they had contraindications for vaginal birth, were carrying a fetus with abnormalities, or had medical conditions that could complicate childbirth. Birth mode, average duration of the labor phases, maternal and neonatal outcomes, and overall childbirth satisfaction were assessed as outcomes. Women who used the LHF experienced shorter labor durations compared to the control group (d =  -1.3 min, 95% CI: -1.6 to -0.8). Women using the LHF were 10.3 times more likely to experience a vaginal birth (OR =  10.3, 95% CI: 1.3-88.5, p = 0.030). Women in the LHF group initiated breastfeeding earlier than those in the control group (OR = 20.4, 95% CI:7.7-53.3, p < 0.001), but no difference between the two groups for exclusive breastfeeding (p = 0.496). Two groups did not show any significant difference in neonatal outcomes. The mean satisfaction score was higher among women with LHF compared to women in the control group (d = 2.3, 95% CI: 1.8 to 2.8), p < 0.001). The LHF can increase the rate of physiological births and reduce the duration of the labor phases. Also, women were more satisfied with their birth experiences. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov IRCT20161106030750N2