Browse Articles

Further evidence that averageness and femininity, rather than symmetry and masculinity, predict facial attractiveness judgments

Abstract Facial attractiveness influences important social outcomes and most studies investigating possible predictors of facial attractiveness have tested for effects of shape symmetry, averageness (i.e., the converse of distinctiveness), and sexual dimorphism (i.e., masculinity–femininity). These studies have typically either tested for these possible effects by experimentally manipulating shape characteristics in faces images or have tested only for bivariate correlations between shape characteristics and attractiveness judgments. However, these two approaches have been criticised for lacking ecological validity and providing little insight into the independent contributions of symmetry, averageness, and sexual dimorphism, respectively. Moreover, the few studies that have investigated the independent contributions of symmetry, averageness, and sexual dimorphism have reported mixed results. Here we measured shape symmetry, averageness, and sexual dimorphism from face images and assessed their independent contribution to attractiveness ratings. Linear mixed effects models showed that facial attractiveness was significantly predicted by averageness in male and female faces and femininity in female faces, but not by masculinity in male faces or symmetry. These results are consistent with other recent work suggesting that averageness and femininity, rather than symmetry and masculinity, predict facial attractiveness.

Hyperchaotic hashing: a chaotic hash function based on 2D linear cross-coupled map with parallel feedback structure

Postoperative outcomes and their risk factors in left pancreatectomy with and without multivisceral resection

Abstract The aim of the present study was to identify risk factors associated with postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing isolated left pancreatectomy and those undergoing left pancreatic resection as part of a multivisceral resection. We performed a retrospective analysis of 296 adult patients who underwent elective left pancreatectomy from 2005 to 2022 at the University Hospital Erlangen. Patient demographics, pre- and intraoperative findings, along with postoperative outcomes, were collected and tested as predictive factors for various short-term postoperative parameters. Isolated left pancreatectomy (LP) was performed in 173 patients, while 123 patients underwent left pancreatectomy as part of a multivisceral resection (multivisceral LP). Multivisceral LP was associated with a higher rate of major morbidity (27% vs. 17%, p = 0.043) and mortality (7% vs. 2%, p = 0.046) compared to LP. Independent risk factors for major morbidity included the need for intraoperative blood transfusion and oncological lymphadenectomy in the LP group and longer operative time in the multivisceral LP group. CR-POPF was associated with the indication for surgery in the LP group. Independent risk factors for re-surgery included intraoperative blood transfusion in the LP group and ASA III or IV in the multivisceral LP group. Cardiovascular diseases were associated with higher mortality in the LP group, while COPD was the only risk factor for mortality in the multivisceral LP group. Multivisceral left pancreatectomy is associated with worse outcomes compared to isolated left pancreatectomy. In both groups, relevant risk factors predict postoperative complications. Patients with these identified risk factors should receive close monitoring during the postoperative course to anticipate outcomes with an increased risk of complications.

Publisher Correction: Transcriptomic profiling and machine learning reveal novel RNA signatures for enhanced molecular characterization of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

Circulating extracellular vesicles as potential biomarkers and mediators of acute respiratory distress syndrome in sepsis

New approach to improve COP and heat recovery in transcritical CO2 refrigeration system for milk processing application

Abstract In hot climates, subcooling or after-cooling is an effective method to enhance the coefficient of performance (COP) of CO2 transcritical refrigeration system. This study investigates improvement of two contemporary subcooling arrangements: Integrated mechanical subcooling (IMS) and dedicated mechanical subcooling (DMS) and evaporative cooling arrangement to gascooler by introduction of gravity-fed evaporator in a dual evaporator parallel compression system suitable for milk processing. Using location-specific average meteorological data, the performance of the proposed systems is evaluated for Pune, India. Comparative analysis is conducted against a baseline transcritical CO2 system with flash gas bypass but lacking any subcooling arrangement. A considerable improvement in COP is observed when subcooling is combined with parallel compression. Incorporation of evaporative cooling with parallel compression yields 62.3% improvement in COP over the flash gas bypass system. However, heat recovery potential is considerably reduced by adopting evaporative cooling. Additionally, the study quantifies a potential reduction in water consumption of 45.6% over a system using flash gas bypass with an indirect evaporative cooling arrangement, and a reduction of 34.3% over a system employing parallel compression with a split gas cooler indirect evaporative cooling arrangement.

Exploring the potential mechanism of B-phycoerythrin on DSS-induced colitis and colitis-associated bone loss based on network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation

The association between age and acute pain sensitivity in patients with Herpes Zoster

Process optimization of jet electrodeposition Ni–Co–P alloy coating using response surface methodology and the tribological behavior of Ni–Co–P nanocomposite coatings

Abstract A novel Ni–Co–P alloy coating and Ni–Co–P nanocomposite coating were prepared by jet electrodeposition. The influence of jet electrodeposition processing parameters on the microhardness and wear track width of the Ni–Co–P alloy coating was investigated. Additionally, the cross-section morphology, EDS spectra, XRD patterns, microhardness and wear resistance of the coatings under the optimum jet electrodeposition parameters were evaluated. The BBD analysis results revealed that the established mathematical model was reliable. Furthermore, the optimum Ni–Co–P alloy coating parameters optimized through the response surface method were as follows: jet voltage: 12.14 V, plating solution temperature: 61.60 °C, reciprocating sweep speed: 173.19 mm·s−1, jet gap: 2.05 mm, pulse frequency: 4.06 kHz and duty cycle: 0.81. Under the optimum jet electrodeposition parameters, the results revealed that the significant influence of nano BN(h) and Al2O3 particles on the coatings’ thickness, Co contents, crystallite size, microhardness and wear resistance of Ni–Co–P nanocomposite coating. In addition, compared with the Ni–Co–P alloy coating and Ni–Co–P–BN(h) nanocomposite coating, the Ni–Co–P–Al2O3 composite coating exhibited a larger thickness (18.16 µm) and Co element contents (39.51 wt·%), a smaller crystallite size (16.440 nm), a higher microhardness (676.5 HV0.2), a more excellent wear resistance (402.9 µm).

Using major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II expression to predict antitumor response to CD4 + lymphocyte depletion

A comprehensive analysis of the impacts of Image Resolution and Scanning Times on the quality of MPI-reconstructed images

Alleviating biotic stress of powdery mildew in mango cv. Keitt by Sulfur nanoparticles and assessing their effect on productivity and disease severity

Abstract The control of powdery mildew disease is one of the main objectives in Mango production. Mango production with superior quality is becoming increasingly challenging due to climate change, which may negatively affect all stages of their development. Recently, Nanotechnology is a promising and rapidly evolving field that could be a very useful tool to raise the efficiency of fungicides. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of sulfur nanoparticles (SNPs) and reducing the incidence of powdery mildew, improving growth performance and productivity of mango cv. Keitt ( Mangifera indica L.). Four concentrations of SNPs (0, 100, 300, and 500 ppm) were compared to sulfur microform (bulk) at a concentration of 500 ppm. At a private farm on Cairo Alex Desert Road K78, Egypt, foliar spray treatments were administered to an eight-year-old mango cv. Keitt grafted on Sukari rootstock. The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design, with each tree receiving a five-liter spray of the solution. The results suggested that the use of 500 ppm concentration of SNPs led to reducing powdery mildew disease incidence by 8.8% but it negatively affected productivity, as it decreased by 27% compared to the control treatment. Whereas 100 ppm concentration of SNPs led to increasing the productivity by 342% compared to the control treatment, reducing powdery mildew disease incidence in mango was recorded at 14.6%. Furthermore, the TSS and vitamin C increased significantly by 16 Brix and 46.3 mg, respectively, in association with decreasing titratable acidity in fruits. In aggregate, our data demonstrated that 100 ppm and 300 ppm of sulfur nanoparticles was more efficient than 500 ppm of sulfur bulk in improving POD and PPO enzyme activity. It is recommended to add SNPs of 100 ppm as foliar spraying three times at 15-day intervals for alleviating the harmful impact of disease on mango trees by improving the enzyme activity, thereby yield, and fruit quality of mango trees exposed to powdery mildew disease.

Study on the pressure relief energy dissipation law of variable-diameter boreholes in roadway surrounding rock

Analysis and forecast of the coupled development level of socioeconomy ecological environment and tourism in China’s Yellow River Basin

Analyses of an age structure HIV/AIDS compartmental model with optimal control theory

Comparison of approaches for assessing detection and quantitation limits in bioanalytical methods using HPLC for sotalol in plasma

miR-455-3p has superior diagnostic potential to PSA in peripheral blood for prostate cancer

Background Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is commonly used as a biomarker to diagnose and predict the course of prostate cancer (PCa). However, PSA detection is susceptible to changes in the physiologic environment, which may lead to some misdiagnosis. Thus, it is crucial to find a novel diagnostic marker. Methods We accessed microRNA (miRNA) expression datasets (GSE206793 and GSE112264) from the GEO database, analyzing peripheral blood samples from PCa patients. Differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) were identified using GEO2R. A specific miRNA, miR-455-3p, was pinpointed through rigorous analysis of clinical correlations and ROC curves. Peripheral blood samples from healthy individuals and PCa patients were subjected to qRT-PCR validation, aligning results with the GSE206793 dataset. The miRWalk database was utilized to predict downstream genes, while STRING facilitated the construction of a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. KEGG pathway analysis enriched our understanding of potential molecular pathways. Results We found that miR-455-3p was highly expressed in the peripheral blood of PCa patients with Gleason score (GS) ≥ 8, while independent of T stage, age and PSA. ROC analysis revealed a favorable diagnostic efficacy of miR-455-3p and AUC for the two datasets was respectively 0.943 and 0.847. The qRT-PCR assay also revealed consistent results. Interestingly, the PSA levels of P1 (GS = 5 + 4) and P6 (GS = 3 + 3) were respectively 3.38 and 4.45 ng/ml, while miR-455-3p was highly expressed in both, suggesting its low misdiagnosis. The speculation was validated in GSE206793 dataset. Finally, 9 potential targets of miR-455-3p were predicted. PPI network revealed PPP2R2A, ITGB1 and CDKN1A as key nodes. KEGG pathway analysis revealed that they were enriched in various cancers, biological processes and molecular signals. Conclusion Our study identifies miR-455-3p as a promising diagnostic marker for PCa, outperforming PSA in terms of specificity and sensitivity. The robustness of miR-455-3p, coupled with its potential downstream targets and associated pathways, highlights its clinical significance for improved PCa diagnosis and management.

Notch2/3-DLL4 interaction in urothelial cancer cell lines supports a tumorigenic role of Notch signaling pathways in bladder carcinoma

Introduction The Notch pathway plays an important role in many aspects of cancer biology and acts in a dichotomous way in bladder cancer. The mechanisms behind this behavior are still elusive. Here, we analyzed DLL4 and Notch receptor expression, interaction and downstream signaling in human bladder cancer cells. Materials and methods The expression levels of Notch pathway components (Notch1-4, DLL4, HES1, HEY1) were assessed in papillary (G1: RT-4) and non-papillary bladder cancer cell lines (G2-G4: RT-112, 647-V, T-24, KU-19-19, CAL-29) by qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence. Expression data were validated by analyzing data from open-source databases (CCLE; TCGA). The endogeneous interactions of Notch2/Notch3 receptors and the ligand DLL4 were studied by in situ proximity ligation assay. Activation of canonical Notch signaling was evaluated by stimulation with recombinant DLL4 protein. Results All Notch targets were expressed, with Notch2 and Notch3 showing the highest expression levels. Endogeneous interactions between Notch2/3 and DLL4 were detected in all BCa cell lines. Amounts of Notch2/3-DLL4 complexes were high in RT-112 and CAL-29, while RT-4/647-V showed moderate and T-24, KU-19-19 low abundance. Proportion of (peri-) nuclear interaction complexes correlated negatively with Notch downstream targets. DLL4 stimulation resulted in canonical Notch pathway activation and increased tumor cell viability and proliferation in RT-4, 647-V, T-24 and KU-19-19 cells. Discussion The Notch signaling pathway can discriminate between different receptors and may play an essential role in the progression of bladder carcinoma. We demonstrated for the first time direct interactions between DLL4 and Notch2/3 associated to activation of canonical downstream Notch signaling and increased tumor cell behavior in human bladder cancer cells. Our data support the view that the Notch2/3-DLL4 axis plays an oncogenic role in bladder cancer. Further analyses of Notch signaling in bladder cancer can promote the development of tailored anti-DLL4/Notch bladder cancer therapies in the future.

Nutrition educational interventions for athletes related to low energy availability: A systematic review

Low energy availability (LEA) is a prevalent concern among athletes, often attributed to intentional or unintentional under-fueling behaviors. Nutritional and energy availability educational interventions are poised for successful LEA prevention, with a robust body of literature examining intervention effectiveness. Thus, this systematic review aimed to synthesize the available evidence on nutritional education interventions to address gaps in nutritional knowledge and combat LEA among athletes. Medical databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science) were systematically searched on July 11, 2023, and an updated search was conducted on July 26, 2024. Studies conducted among adult athletes who underwent nutritional education interventions with assessed effects on dietary knowledge, behaviors, and/or LEA outcomes were included. Study quality was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale by two blinded assessors. Intervention methodology and primary outcomes related to nutritional interventions were extracted by a single assessor. Twelve articles were included (mean PEDro score: 5). Interventions ranged from 1 to 20 sessions, and 10- to 120-minute durations. Most studies employed in-person educational sessions on fueling and macro- and micro-nutrient intake for athletic performance. Half of included studies included LEA education. Intervention approaches were largely heterogeneous, although most programs had favorable outcomes for nutrition knowledge and fueling behaviors. Nutrition interventions appear to be beneficial for athletes in the context of LEA, though current approaches are largely heterogenous. Future research should seek to develop a translational nutritional education plan for broad application in athletes designed to increase nutritional knowledge and combat LEA.

Measuring progress in availability and readiness of Basic emergency obstetric and newborn care (BEmONC) services in Bangladesh, 2014–2017

Increasing the availability and readiness of basic emergency obstetric and newborn care (BEmONC) services is essential for improving maternal and neonatal health. However, little is known about any progress made in the availability and readiness of BEmONC services in Bangladesh. Using nationally representative data from the Bangladesh Health Facility Survey conducted between 2014 and 2017, we measured changes in the availability and readiness of BEmONC services in health facilities in Bangladesh, calculating the BEmONC service availability and readiness scores according to the World Health Organization Service Availability and Readiness Assessment guideline. The percentage of health facilities performing all seven basic signal functions declined slightly from 13% in 2014 to 11% in 2017. The decline was largely noticed in Maternal and Child Welfare Centers, Upazila Health Complexes, and Union Subcenter/Rural Dispensaries, as well as in all divisions except Rangpur. No remarkable changes in overall readiness of health facilities across location, division and facility type were observed between 2014 and 2017. However, significant reductions in availability and readiness were noticed when item-specific assessment was made. Type of health facility was significantly associated with both availability and readiness scores in adjusted regression models. Appropriate strategies and efforts could improve the availability and readiness of BEmONC services in health facilities in Bangladesh.