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Comprehensive analysis of lipid metabolic signatures identified CEBPD promotes breast cancer cell proliferation

Alternative perimetric tests for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy

Objective Visual field assessment is an important presurgical test for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE), particularly with posterior cortex epilepsy. However, the assessment using conventional perimeters like Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer (HFA) may not always be feasible in some patients. This study aims to determine if alternative methods like tangent screen perimetry or Baby Vision Screener (BaViS) can be used for such patients. Methods This retrospective study included 17 patients (mean age: 18 ±  8.7, range: 6 to 38 years) with DRE. Visual fields were attempted first with HFA and then with one or both alternative methods, by different examiners. Visual field extent was measured using the kinetic perimetry mode in the alternative methods. With HFA, kinetic and/or static perimetry was attempted. Results Only 12% of the patients were able to perform the HFA. Whereas the testability of BaViS was 91% and tangent screen perimetry was 87%. Comparable visual field isopters were obtained on one patient on whom all the 3 tests could be performed, and in two patients on whom at least two tests could be performed reliably. For one patient, visual field isopters could not be quantified on any device. In this patient, a gross visual field assessment was possible using BaViS. Conclusion BaViS or tangent screen perimeter can be used to quantify visual field defects in patients with DRE when conventional perimetry is not possible. Such an approach may help the clinician in assessing the suitability of patients with DRE and visual field deficits, for epilepsy surgery.

An assessment of machine learning methods to quantify blood lactate from neutrophils phagocytic activity

Abstract Phagocytosis is a critical component of innate immunity that helps the body defend itself against infection, foreign particles, and cellular debris. Investigating and quantifying phagocytosis can help understand how the immune system identifies foreign particles and how phagocytosis relates to other biomarkers, e.g., cytokines, cell surface receptors, or blood lactate levels. In particular, increased blood lactate levels can be a potential biomarker to study diseases, e.g., septic shock. Establishing a relationship between phagocytosis and lactate levels can serve as an effective tool to monitor the immune response and may help stratify patients. In this study, we use phagocytosis activity data to classify the patients into two groups of blood lactate levels (High and Low) with machine learning models. The neutrophils extracted from the whole blood samples of 19 patients were used to collect data on phagocytosis, where the neutrophils were allowed to internalize IgG coated fluorescent bioparticles. The data collection process involved collecting whole blood samples, neutrophil isolation, adding fluorescent beads, incubating, and imaging the sample using a fluorescence microscope. The phagocytosis assay images were used to generate a numerical dataset by manually counting the number of particles engulfed by each cell. The study first presents an improved understanding by employing hierarchical clustering and heatmaps to generate the graphical representation of phagocytosis data. By comparing the results of heat maps and clustering techniques, it can be observed that the phagocytosis activity data can be used to differentiate blood lactate levels in two groups (control and high-risk). Later, three machine learning models (Decision Tree, k-nearest Neighbor, and Naïve Bayes) were trained on the original and pruned datasets after the outliers were removed. The AI models classified the data into high-risk and low-risk groups of blood lactate levels. A maximum classification accuracy of 78% and an area under the curve of 0.78 was achieved using the trained models.

A randomized trial to evaluate a complex, co-created, culture-sensitive intervention to promote healthy lifestyles and compliance to therapy in immigrants with type 2 diabetes: A protocol of a multicenter Italian study

Introduction The active involvement of end users may overcome socio-economic, cultural and context-related barriers that may reduce health promotion effectiveness in type 2 diabetes control and prevention. The “Cardio-metabolic diseases in immigrants and ethnic minorities: from epidemiology to new prevention strategies” (DIABETHIC) project funded by the European Union through the Italian Ministry of Health includes a multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT) aimed to assess the effectiveness of a co-created health promotion intervention for immigrants affected by type 2 diabetes. This protocol describes the co-creation process and methodological challenges in evaluating co-created health promotion interventions. Methods and analysis Between November 2023 and July 2024, four Italian primary care centres will recruit 200 immigrants with type 2 diabetes that will be randomised to usual health promotion practice or to the experimental health promotion intervention developed through a participatory process. Endpoints are changes in glycated haemoglobin, Body Mass Index, diet, physical activity and therapeutic adherence at 12 months after recruitment. Qualitative research experts supported the participatory process at local and national levels. According to available evidence and recommendations, the participatory process focused on the three pillars of type 2 diabetes control (diet, physical activity, and therapeutic adherence). To co-create the intervention, interviews, focus groups and role-plays were conducted with patients and immigrants, healthcare workers and representatives of social services. Identified barriers were ranked according to priority and actionability. Given different health promotion practice in the four centres, the intervention was standardised by function (dietary counselling, culturally tailored information materials, access to cultural mediation, training in effective and reflective communication, individual and group meetings) rather than by form (operators involved, protocols and timeframes), which was defined locally by feasibility and by contrasting usual health promotion. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT06131411).

Assessing groundwater and soil quality in West Kazakhstan amid climate impacts and oil industry contamination risks

Altered spawning seasons of Atlantic salmon broodstock transcriptionally and epigenetically influence cell cycle and lipid-mediated regulations in their offspring

Manipulating spawning seasons of Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) is a common practice to facilitate year-round harvesting in salmon aquaculture. This process involves adjusting water temperature and light regime to control female broodstock maturation. However, recent studies have indicated that altered spawning seasons can significantly affect the nutritional status and growth performance of the offspring. Therefore, gaining a deeper understanding of the biological regulations influenced by these alterations is crucial to enhance the growth performance of fish over multiple generations. In this study, we investigated omics data from four different spawning seasons achieved through recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and sea-pen-based approaches. In addition to the normal spawning season in November (sea-pen), three altered seasons were designated: off-season (five-month advance, RAS), early season (two-month advance, sea-pen), and late season (two-month delay, sea-pen). We conducted comprehensive gene expression and DNA methylation analysis on liver samples collected from the start-feeding larvae of the next generation. Our results revealed distinct gene expression and DNA methylation patterns associated with the altered spawning seasons. Specifically, offspring from RAS-based off-season exhibited altered lipid-mediated regulation, while those from sea-pen-based early and late seasons showed changes in cellular processes, particularly in cell cycle regulation when compared to the normal season. The consequences of our findings are significant for growth and health, potentially providing information for developing valuable tools for assessing growth potential and optimizing production strategies in aquaculture.

Raman spectra and microwave dielectric properties of Na5Tm1 − x(Y1/3Yb2/3)x(MoO4)4 ceramics with ultra-low sintering temperature

Live and heat-killed Leuconostoc mesenteroides counteract the gastrointestinal dysfunction in chronic kidney disease mice through intestinal environment modulation

Probiotics are well-known therapeutic agents for managing constipation and have been used to improve chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. However, heat-killed probiotics on CKD remain inadequately explored. This study aimed to evaluate the probiotic potential of lactic acid bacteria derived from natural sources and to investigate the effects of both live and heat-killed Leuconostoc mesenteroides (Ln.m) on renal and gastrointestinal functions in CKD mice. Ln.m was selected from acid and bile salt intolerance tests, non-hemolytic activity, and antibiotic sensitivity. CKD mice demonstrated significantly elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels compared to control mice (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01). Treatment with live and heat-killed Ln.m significantly reduced BUN and creatinine levels in CKD mice (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05). Additionally, kidney damage observed in CKD mice compared to control mice, including glomerular necrosis, tubular dilatation, inflammation, and fibrosis, was significantly alleviated following live and heat-killed Ln.m treatments. CKD-induced gastrointestinal dysfunction was characterized by an imbalance in Firmicutes/Bacteroidota populations, increased colonic uremic toxin (p < 0.01), reduced fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) (p < 0.05), and constipation. Treatment with live and heat-killed Ln.m restored gut microbiota, decreased uremic toxin (p < 0.001), increased SCFAs (p < 0.05), and alleviated constipation. In summary, both live and heat-killed Ln.m effectively alleviated gastrointestinal dysfunction and renal damage in CKD mice, primarily through modulation of the intestinal environment. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of live and heat-killed Ln.m as the gastrointestinal dysfunction treatment in CKD.

Re-examining the optimal extent of lymph node dissection for colon cancer using the lymphadenectomy index

Gynura procumbens leaf extract-loaded self-microemulsifying drug delivery system offers enhanced protective effects in the hepatorenal organs of the experimental rats

Gynura procumbens, known as longevity spinach, is a plant traditionally used in tropical Asian countries for its anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-hypertensive, and anti-hyperglycemic properties. The current study aimed to enhance the hepatorenal protective activity of Gynura procumbens leaf extract (GLE) by developing a self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS). SMEDDS-GLE exhibited the formation of small micelles with a mean droplet size of 231 nm. This resulted in a significant enhancement in the dispersion of GLE in water, as evidenced by a dispersibility that was at least 4.8 times greater than that of GLE alone. In the rat model of hepatic injury induced by cisplatin (7.5 mg/kg, i.p.), the administration of SMEDDS-GLE (75 mg-GLE/kg, p.o.) significantly reduced liver damage, observed by histological examination and reduced levels of plasma biomarkers associated with hepatic injury. Furthermore, according to histological examination findings and plasma biomarkers assessment, SMEDDS-GLE enhanced the nephroprotective benefits of GLE in the rat model of acute kidney injury. Based on these findings, a strategic application of the SMEDDS-based approach could be a viable choice to enhance GLE’s nutraceutical properties.

Design, synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of 1,4-naphthoquinone- 1,2,3-triazole hybrids as new anticancer agents with multi-kinase inhibitory activity

Redox cycling of sulfur via microbes in soil boosts the bioavailability of nutrients to Brassica napus

Deficiency of sulfur (S) has been recognized for both dry and wetland plants as a significant growth limiting factor. S-oxidizers enhance the oxidation rate of S and increase sulfate (SO4 − 2) production by making them available in critical growth stages, resulting in higher plant growth and yield. A two-phase study was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of microbial redox reactions on soil nutrient bioavailability and crop growth. In the first phase isolation of S bacteria was carried out while in the second phase, a pot experiment was conducted and these bacteria were evaluated as a nutrient source along with different ratios of NPK fertilizer by growing canola (Brassica napus) as a test crop. Treatment combinations were, viz., Control (no inoculum), ½ NPK fertilizer (50, 30, and 25 kg ha−1), Full NPK fertilizer (100, 60, and 50 kg ha−1), ½ NPK+SOB, ½  NPK+SRB and ½ NPK+SOB+SRB. Sulfur oxidizing bacteria (SOB) strains were isolated from samples and then screened based on pH reduction (in thiosulphate broth). Sulfur-reducing bacteria (SRB) are characterized by their anaerobic energy metabolism based on the dissimilatory reduction of SO4−2 to hydrogen sulfide (H2S) or S ° to be useful for SOB. Among different bacterial consortiums, the best results for nutrient bioavailability (macro- and micronutrient) in soil and plant the treatment ½ NPK+SOB+SRB compared to full NPK increased soil N, P, K, and SO₄ by 15.9%, 38%, 2.0%, and 72%, respectively. In plants, it boosted N, K, and SO₄ by 7.7%, 31%, and 239%, respectively. The greatest pH reduction (4%) was observed with ½ NPK+SOB relative to full NPK. This study demonstrates that microbial inoculation along with ½ NPK increases the bioavailability of macro- and micronutrients for crops.

Caveolin 1 and 2 enhance the proliferative capacity of BCAM-positive corneal progenitors

Abstract Caveolin (CAV) 1 and 2 are integral membrane proteins that constitute major components of small membrane pouches termed caveolae. While several functions have been described in other tissues, the roles of CAV1 and CAV2 in the ocular surface have remained unknown. In the current study, we investigated the expression and function of CAV1 and CAV2 in the human cornea. We found CAV1 and CAV2 to be preferentially expressed by proliferative Basal Cell Adhesion Molecule (BCAM)-positive progenitor cells along the entire limbal and corneal basal epithelial layer. Functional gene knockdown studies reveal that BCAM, BCAM co-expressed Laminin α5 (LAMA5) and Laminin α3 (LAMA3) regulate expression of CAV2. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that CAV1 and CAV2 contribute to enhanced BCAM-positive cell proliferation through regulation of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 2 (FGFR2) cell surface expression. In aggregate, our study identifies specific expression of CAV1 and CAV2 in BCAM-positive corneal basal epithelial cells and uncovers a novel CAV1/CAV2-dependent mechanism of corneal progenitor cell proliferation, with potential implications for therapeutic enhancement of corneal regeneration.

Adaptation to acidic conditions that mimic the tumor microenvironment, downregulates miR-193b-3p, and induces EMT via TGFβ2 in A549 cells

The acidic tumor microenvironment plays a critical role in the malignant transformation of cancer cells. One mechanism underlying this transformation involves epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This is induced by prolonged exposure to acidic conditions. EMT is an essential process in cancer progression, with Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGF-β) playing a central role in its induction. However, little was known about the factors regulating TGF-β under acidic conditions. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism of EMT under acidic conditions and identify novel therapeutic targets to inhibit cancer cell migration and metastasis. Focusing on lung cancer, we explored microRNAs associated with EMT that were differentially expressed under acidic conditions in A549 cells and identified miR-193b-3p as a novel candidate. Under acidic conditions, miR-193b-3p expression decreased around days 3–14. Downregulation of miR-193b-3p promoted increased TGFβ2 expression, resulting in EMT changes in A549 cells. Our study suggests that the interaction between miR-193b-3p, TGFβ2, and the acidic tumor microenvironment promotes cancer EMT change. Understanding these interactions may not only enhance our biological comprehension of cancer, but also pave the way for the development of targeted therapies to inhibit cancer metastasis.

Antimicrobial activities of biosynthesized nanosilver using Musa paradisiaca and Citrus sinensis peel extracts against major human and plant pathogens

Virtual voyage: Unveiling the ‘3I’ influence on student learning

This study delves into the multifaceted “3I” technological attributes of metaverse classrooms—namely perceived immersion, perceived interaction, and perceived imagination—and their interplay with psychological imagery and representational ability. This investigation seeks to elucidate the nexus between these constructs and their collective influence on students’ learning outcomes. To achieve this, an integrative conceptual model has been meticulously constructed, encapsulating the dynamic interrelationships between the “3I” characteristics and the pivotal cognitive factors of psychological imagery and representational ability. Employing a Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) approach, an empirical inquiry was conducted on a dataset comprising 930 meticulously validated questionnaires. The analysis yielded significant findings: perceived immersion and perceived interaction were found to exert a direct and positive influence on learning outcomes. Furthermore, psychological imagery emerged as a central mediator in the pathway from metaverse classroom characteristics to learning outcomes. Representational ability was identified to have dual roles, exerting both positive and negative moderating effects on the relationship between perceived imagination and learning outcomes, as well as between psychological imagery and learning outcomes.The study’s empirical evidence offers substantial theoretical and empirical validation for the practical application and strategic refinement of metaverse-based educational practices. It underscores the imperative to account for individual differences and to foster immersive and interactive learning environments. Additionally, the study highlights the untapped potential of perceived imagination in enhancing learning outcomes, suggesting a rich vein for future research.

Research on digital infrastructure construction empowering new quality productivity

Robust adaptive control with dung beetle optimization algorithm and disturbance observer for load displacement tracking of shock absorber damper test bench

Shock absorbers are indispensable components utilized for vibration mitigation in various fields, including construction, bridges, wind power, and pipelines. The shock absorber test bench serves as an essential apparatus for evaluating the dynamic and static characteristics of these absorbers. To address the significant tracking errors between actual and expected displacements during displacement loading on shock absorber damper test benches, a novel control strategy is proposed. This strategy incorporates a robust adaptive controller (RAC) enhanced by a dung beetle optimization (DBO) algorithm and a disturbance observer (DO). The dung beetle optimization algorithm is specifically designed to iteratively optimize the control parameters of the robust adaptive controller. Concurrently, a disturbance observer is implemented to accurately estimate external disturbances and perform feedforward compensation. A mathematical model of the electro-hydraulic servo control system of the test bench is established, and the stability of the proposed controller is rigorously verified using Lyapunov theory. To simulate and analyze the control method for the electro-hydraulic servo system of the test bench, a joint simulation model integrating Simulink and AEMSim is constructed. The performance of the proposed robust adaptive controller with DBO and DO is compared against an unoptimized robust adaptive controller and a traditional PID controller in terms of load displacement tracking. Simulation results demonstrate that the control method proposed in this study significantly outperforms other controllers in enhancing position tracking accuracy and improving system robustness. Furthermore, experimental verification was carried out on the proposed control strategy, compared with unoptimized robust adaptive control, the maximum displacement tracking error was reduced by 54.8%, and the response speed was improved by 36.3%, compared with traditional PID control, the minimum displacement tracking error was reduced by 67.4%, and the response speed was improved by 47.7%. The results confirmed the superior performance of the proposed control method.

Natural language processing of electronic medical records identifies cardioprotective agents for anthracycline induced cardiotoxicity

Examining the relationship between reproductive empowerment and contraceptive self-injection: Tackling the endogeneity problem

Background Self-care interventions, including contraceptive self-injectables such as subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-SC), are hypothesized to be empowering to users. It is also believed that those who are empowered are more likely to use self-care. Though critical for ensuring equity of these interventions, evidence for the relationship between empowerment and contraceptive self-care is scant. However, studying this relationship is challenging. In addition to the potential reversed causality between these two constructs, empowerment is determined by similar factors as the motivation for using self-care, contributing to an endogeneity problem. If not addressed, endogeneity can lead to incorrect causal assertions. Methods Using data from a study of 400 women in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia who opted to self-inject DMPA-SC, we assessed the directionality between the two constructs. First, we assessed the change in empowerment after participants’ first self-injection. Second, we assessed the effect of empowerment on potential future use of self-injection. To address potential endogeneity, we identified instrumental variables of empowerment and then applied a two-stage regression approach to predict desire to continue self-injecting at follow-up with an instrument for empowerment, controlling for other variables. Results Empowerment scores among the 343 women who were followed-up were high and did not significantly change from baseline to endline. Most women (78%) wanted to continue self-injecting. The following variables were identified and used as instruments: religion, employment status and post-secondary school attendance. The final model did not identify a significant relationship between desire to continue self-injecting and empowerment. The test of exogeneity was marginally significant (p = 0.08). Conclusions We did not find evidence of a significant relationship between reproductive empowerment and desire to continue self-injecting. Though there are limitations to this secondary data analysis, we recommend future research investigate this relationship using the methodology demonstrated to address endogeneity inherent in answering this critical question about self-care interventions.