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Proximity ferroelectricity in wurtzite heterostructures

Experienced cognitive load in the emergency department. A prospective study

Background and importance The emergency department (ED) is a hectic place, where many critically ill patients are treated. For residents working in the ED, this environment may be demanding. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the [1] cognitive load experienced by residents working in the ED, and [2] differences in cognitive load during the day. Methods In this multicentre, prospective study in three EDs in the Netherlands, the experienced cognitive load was graded by residents on three scales, agreed upon during Delphi meetings: the complexity (low-high: 1–3), mental effort (low-high: 1–9) and comfortability scale (low-high: 0–100%). We applied the scores per decision, 1-hour and 2-hour intervals, patient and shift. Main results We observed 14 residents and analysed 74 1-hour and 45 2-hour intervals, 79 patients, 24 shifts and 592 separate decisions. The experienced cognitive load per decision was low. In contrast, the cognitive load was higher per 2-hour interval (mental effort: median 4.0 (IQR 4.0) and comfortability 80% (IQR 20)) and per shift (mental effort: median 5.5 (IQR 4.0) and comfortability 80% (IQR 20). Complexity was low for all measurements. Mental effort rose from 17h onwards higher values, whereas a decrease in comfortability was seen from 21h onwards. Conclusion From 17h onwards, residents working in the ED experienced rather high mental effort and reported feeling not optimally comfortable when making decisions. The mental effort was highest between 21-23h. This was found when cognitive load was measured per 2-hour interval and per shift, but not per decision. This study may provide an insights to optimise cognitive load by reorganisation of the ED.

Construction of cuproptosis-related genes risk model predicts the prognosis of Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma

Calcium phosphate formation and deposition in ischemic neurons

Ischemic stroke causes acute brain calcium phosphate (CaP) deposition, a process involving primarily the injured neurons. Whereas the adverse impact of CaP deposition on the brain structure and function has been recognized, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This investigation demonstrated that the neuron-expressed, plasma membrane-associated Ca2+-binding proteins annexin (Anx) A2, AnxA5, AnxA6, and AnxA7 contributed to neuronal CaP deposition in the mouse model of ischemic stroke. These Anxs were released from the degraded plasma membrane of the ischemic neurons and were able to form Anx/CaP complexes, a nanostructure capable of binding to the β actin filaments via Anx–actin interaction to cause neuronal CaP deposition prior to brain infarction. Anx administration to the healthy mouse brain caused brain CaP deposition and infarction. Monomeric β actin was able to block competitively Anx binding to β actin filaments and prevent ischemic stroke- and Anx administration-induced brain CaP deposition and infarction. Administration of siRNAs specific to the four Anx mRNAs alleviated brain CaP deposition and infarction. These observations support the role of Anxs in CaP formation and deposition in ischemic neurons.

Identification of Legionella by MALDI Biotyper through three preparation methods and an in-house library comparing phylogenetic and hierarchical cluster results

Physicists describe exotic ‘paraparticles’ that defy categorization

Prevalence, predisposing factors, and turnover intention related to low back pain among health workers in Accra, Ghana

Background Globally, low back pain (LBP) is responsible for disability among 60.1 million people. Health workers face a higher likelihood of being exposed to LBP compared to employees in the construction and manufacturing sectors. Data on LBP among hospital workers in Ghana are however limited. This study examined the prevalence, predisposing factors and turnover intention related to LBP among health workers in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Methods A multi-centred facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the Greater Accra region from January 30 –May 31, 2023. A multi-stage sampling technique was adopted, and the study participants were selected through proportion-to-size simple random sampling. STATA 15 software was used for analysis. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with LBP at a p < 0.05. Results A survey was conducted among 607 health workers in 10 public and private hospitals. The prevalence of LBP was 81.6% [95% CI: (78.2%-84.6%)]. Advanced age [AOR = 1.07 (1.00, 1.16)], working for more than 5 days in a week [AOR = 8.14 (2.65, 25.02)], working overtime [AOR = 2.00 (1.16, 3.46)], rarely involved in transferring patients [AOR = 3.22 (1.08, 9.60)], most of the time involved in transferring patients [AOR = 6.95 (2.07, 23.26)], awkward posture during work [(AOR = 2.36 (1.31, 4.25)], perceived understaffing [(AOR = 1.84 (95% CI = 1.04–3.27)], sleep duration ≥ 8 [AOR = 0.54 (0.31, 0.97)] and sitting intermittently at work [AOR = 0.31 (0.12, 0.80)] were factors significantly associated with LBP. A substantial number, 123 (24.9%), occasionally had intention of leaving their jobs. Conclusion The study revealed a high proportion of low back pain (LBP), and turnover intention attributed to LBP. Moreover, organizational and occupational factors were found to be significantly associated with LBP. These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions aimed at reducing the burden of LBP within these specific areas.

Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 infection over two epidemic waves in Manaus, Brazil: A serological study of seven thousand blood donors

Background Most longitudinal studies of COVID-19 incidence have used unlinked samples. The city of Manaus, Brazil, has a blood donation program which allows sample linkage, and was struck by two large COVID-19 epidemic waves between mid-2020 and early 2021. Methods We estimated the changing force of infection, i.e. incidence in susceptible individuals. Seroconversion was inferred by a mixture model for serial values from the Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) IgG assay. We estimated the number of suspected COVID-19 hospitalizations arising from each infection over calendar time. Results Whole blood donations between April 2020 and March 2021 were included from 6734 people, 2747 with two or more donations. The inferred criterion for seroconversion, and thus an incident infection, was a 6.07 fold increase in N IgG reactivity. The overall force of infection was 1.19 per person year (95% confidence interval 1.14–1.24) during the two main waves. The estimated number of suspected hospitalizations per infection, was approximately 4.1 times higher in the second wave than in the first. Conclusions Serial values from this assay can be used to infer seroconversion over time, and in Manaus show a higher number of suspected COVID-19 hospitalizations per infection in the second wave relative to the first.

From tiny to immense: Geological spotlight on the Alexander Mosaic (National Archaeological Museum of Naples, Italy) using non-invasive in situ analyses

A key challenge in the art and archaeological field is the instrumental analysis of objects and materials while preserving their integrity. In this study, the world-renowned artwork Alexander Mosaic (The Issus Battle, collection of the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, IT), the most iconic representation of the face of the Macedonian king Alexander the Great coming from a Pompeii domus, was thoroughly analyzed with mobile and non-invasive methods, within a great project of restoration started in 2020. Representative areas of the Mosaic, overall consisting of ca. two million of tesserae, was studied by in situ videomicroscopy, infrared thermography (IRT), multispectral imaging, portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy. Ten tesserae colors were discriminated, and hypotheses on their geological provenances are proposed. Plasters, mineral components and other substances of old protective materials were characterized. The information obtained with this approach paved the way to knowledgeable restoration.

Ongoing measles outbreak in Romania: Clinical investigation and molecular epidemiology performed on whole genome sequences

Aim Romania is currently facing a prolonged measles outbreak. The aim of the study was to analyse the circulating human measles virus (HMV) strains by combining whole genome sequencing (WGS) with phylogenetic analysis, with a focus on the haemagglutinin gene. Methods We conducted an observational study in the first five months of 2024, in which 168 patients diagnosed with measles were randomly included. We have evaluated the clinical and epidemiological differences between children and adults. Screening for samples to be sequenced was performed with a commercial kit (PrimerDesign). WGS was done on Illumina MiSeq platform and phylogenetic analysis was performed with ML FastTree. Results No significant epidemiological and clinical differences between patients in the two age groups were identified. WGS was successfully performed for a number of 124 HMV strains. Genotype analysis indicated all the sequences as D8, except one that was B3. Phylogenetic analysis identified two well supported clusters, suggestive for at least two local transmission networks in Romania. One large transmission network (n = 108) consisted of sequences both from adults and children. Only one sequence from outside Romania (reported in Russia in 2023) clustered within this group. Another small transmission cluster was identified (14 sequences of which 11 from patients infected in the spring of 2024 and three in 2022). A few differences between the two co-circulating viral variants/clusters were observed. The median duration of hospitalisation was 2 days longer for patients in smaller cluster compared to those in the larger one (p = 0.019). Furthermore, these two clusters presented different mutation profiles in the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (N) genes with implications for molecular surveillance. Conclusion The current measles epidemic in Romania is driven mainly by two D8 genotype variants with different mutation profiles and slightly different severity of the disease, highlighting the usefulness of sustained molecular surveillance.

Correction: Association between nutritional level, menstrual-related symptoms, and mental health in female medical students

Are men’s gender equality beliefs associated with self-reported intimate partner violence perpetration? A state-level analysis of California men

Objectives To assess the association between gender equality beliefs and self-reported intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration among California men. Methods We analyzed men’s data (N = 3609) from three waves (2021, 2022, and 2023) of cross-sectional data from a statewide sample of California adults. We assessed gender equality beliefs using a three-item measure adapted from the World Values Survey, with higher scores representing more gender unequal beliefs (e.g., ‘On a whole, men make better political leaders than women’). We assessed IPV perpetration in the last year by asking a) whether men committed any form of violence in the last year (physical violence, use or threat of violence with a weapon, sexual violence) and b) among those who reported committing violence, who they committed violence against. Those reporting violence against “a spouse or romantic partner” were categorized as perpetrating past-year IPV. Analyses were weighted to yield population estimates. Crude and adjusted logistic regression models evaluated the association between gender equality beliefs and past-year IPV perpetration. Results Almost 2% of men–equivalent to more than 280,000 men in California—reported IPV perpetration in the past year [1.9% (95%CI = 1.4–2.5)], and every one-point increase in their gender equality belief scale score [indicative of less gender equitable beliefs] was associated with 2.1 times greater odds of perpetrating past-year IPV (AOR: 2.14, 95%CI 1.61–2.86). Conclusions Findings support prior research indicating that patriarchal beliefs reinforce men’s violence against women in relationships and signal a need for violence prevention efforts focused on boys and men to that can include normative belief shifts related to women’s capacities.

Partially unraveling mechanistic underpinning and weight loss effects of time-restricted eating across diverse adult populations: A systematic review and meta-analyses of prospective studies

Time-restricted eating (TRE) is a promising and cost-effective dietary approach for weight management. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of TRE on weight loss in three adult populations using pre- and post-intervention analyses while also investigating its underlying mechanism. A systematic search was conducted across four databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and the CENTRAL) up until January 28, 2024, specifically focusing on prospective studies that examined the efficacy of TRE in achieving weight loss. A random effects model was employed to conduct meta-analyses, while heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic (PROSPERO: CRD42023439317). The study encompassed 36 selected studies involving 44 effect sizes and 914 participants. The effectiveness of the TRE was found to vary across health conditions, with modest weight loss observed in healthy individuals (pooled effect size -1.04 Kg, 95% CI: -1.42 to -0.65) and more significant weight reduction seen in participants with chronic diseases (pooled effect size -3.33 Kg, 95% CI: -5.05 to -1.62) and overweight/obesity (pooled effect size -4.21 Kg, 95% CI: -5.23 to -3.10). The observed decrease in body weight could be partially attributed to factors influencing energy balance, as evidenced by the significantly lower mean calorie intake at the end of the intervention (1694.71 kcal/day, 95% CI: 1498.57–1890.85) compared to the baseline intake (2000.64 kcal/day, 95% CI: 1830–2172.98), despite the absence of intentional efforts to restrict energy intake by the participants. These findings support the efficacy of this lifestyle intervention for weight loss maintenance and guide the development of its clinical guidelines.

Trait and plasticity evolution under competition and mutualism in evolving pairwise yeast communities

Although we have a good understanding of how phenotypic plasticity evolves in response to abiotic environments, we know comparatively less about responses to biotic interactions. We experimentally tested how competition and mutualism affected trait and plasticity evolution of pairwise communities of genetically modified brewer’s yeast. We quantified evolutionary changes in growth rate, resource use efficiency (RUE), and their plasticity in strains evolving alone, with a competitor, and with a mutualist. Compared to their ancestors, strains evolving alone had lower RUE and RUE plasticity. There was also an evolutionary tradeoff between changes in growth rate and RUE in strains evolving alone, suggesting selection for increased growth rate at the cost of efficiency. Strains evolving with a competitive partner had higher growth rates, slightly lower RUE, and a stronger tradeoff between growth rate and efficiency. In contrast, mutualism had opposite effects on trait evolution. Strains evolving with a mutualist had slightly lower growth rates, higher RUE, and a weak evolutionary tradeoff between growth rate and RUE. Despite their different effects on trait evolution, competition and mutualism had little effect on plasticity evolution for either trait, suggesting that abiotic factors could be more important than biotic factors in generating selection for plasticity.

Unveiling high solifuge diversity: Review of the genus Pseudocleobis Pocock, 1900 (Ammotrechidae) in Chile with the description of nine new species

The Pseudocleobis from Chile are revised. Pseudocleobis morsicans (Gervais, 1849) and P. chilensis Roewer, 1934 are considered species inquerenda. Pseudocleobis andinus (Pocock, 1899) is removed from the Chilean fauna, and its previous records are considered misidentifications. Pseudocleobis alticola Pocock, 1900 is recorded from Chile for the first time. Nine new species are described, Pseudocleobis elongatus n. sp., P. atacamensis n. sp., P. puna n. sp., P. krausi n. sp., P. choros n. sp., P. lalackama n. sp., P. mumai n. sp., P. cekalovici n. sp. and P. escuadra n. sp. The species can be distinguished by the male chelicera morphology. We discuss the relationship of Chilean Pseudocleobis with other species of the genus, based on morphology. This work increases the number of known Chilean solifuge species by almost 70%, revealing the high degree of diversification of this group in Chile.

Nearby armed conflict affects girls’ education in Africa

Female education is a crucial input to women’s agency and empowerment, and has wide-ranging impacts, from improved labor market outcomes to reducing child mortality. Existing gender-specific evidence on the effect of armed conflict on education is conflict-specific and mixed. We link granular data on conflict events to georeferenced survey data on educational attainment from 28 countries in Africa, and use a regression-based approach to estimate the local effect of conflict exposure on female years of schooling. We find that conflict events occurring within 25 kilometers during a female child’s primary school years reduces years of schooling by 0.4 years by adolescence. We do not find the same effect for males. Exposure to only low intensity conflict events with at most two casualties has persistent negative and significant effects. Consecutive years of conflict, however, can have positive effects in later years, which offset earlier negative effects, suggesting a habituation to violence. In the past two decades, we estimate excess child mortality in Africa associated with the indirect channel of women’s education to be similar in magnitude to the number of direct child casualties due to conflict.

Correction: In search of autophagy biomarkers in breast cancer: Receptor status and drug agnostic transcriptional changes during autophagy flux in cell lines

Knowledge of and perception towards eclampsia among women and men in Unguja Island, Zanzibar: A qualitative study

Background Eclampsia is among the primary causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality in Zanzibar. Many women and men are not aware of the signs, symptoms and causes of eclampsia and may have different explanatory models. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the community understanding of pre-eclampsia, as a key stage to improve maternal and perinatal health in Unguja Island, Zanzibar. Methods A qualitative study design of six focus group discussions (FDGs) was performed using a focus group interview guide; 51 male and female respondents at three selected wards of Unguja Island, Zanzibar participated. Thematic analysis was applied using Qualitative data analysis (QDA Miner Lite software version 2.0.9). Results Overall participants demonstrated a lack of understanding regarding eclampsia. The majority of participants perceived that there are certain things related to eclampsia: Mjusi or Mdudu (devil/satanic), superstitious issues, tension/stress from partners, food consumption, eating slaughtered meat like chicken, cow and goat during pregnancy, nice smelling lotion, soap and perfumes have been stated to be the causes of eclampsia. Spiritual and traditional remedies were mentioned as a treatment for eclampsia, including herbs, makombe (written verses of the Qur’an) and steaming (smoked dry leaves). Local names of eclampsia used by the communities, in urban and rural areas are mjusi (lizard) or mdudu (bug), which means the devil enters a woman’s body, especially during pregnancy or within 42 days post-delivery. Conclusion Most participants had a lack of understanding of eclampsia and perceived that there are traditional and spiritual issues related to its causes, attributed risks and clinical presentation, which makes them rely more on traditional and spiritual treatments. Therefore, health educational programs in the community setting and at the antenatal clinics, aiming at improving knowledge and dismissing myths and misperceptions regarding eclampsia, are recommended in rural and urban areas of Unguja Zanzibar.

Prevalence and determinants of unhealthy feeding practices among young children aged 6–23 months in five sub-Saharan African countries

Introduction Despite the World Health Organization’s advice against unhealthy feeding, many low- and middle-income countries, including sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries, are experiencing a nutritional transition to high in sugar, unhealthy fats, salts, and processed carbohydrates for younger children. However, there is a scarcity of recently updated multicounty information on unhealthy feeding practices and determinants in SSA countries. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the pooled prevalence of unhealthy feeding practices and determinants among children aged 6–23 months in five SSA countries. Method A cross-sectional study design was employed with the most recent demographic and health survey secondary data (DHS) from five SSA countries. This secondary data was accessed from the DHS portal through an online request. The DHS is the global data collection initiative that provides detailed and high-quality data on population demographics, health, and nutrition in low- and middle-income countries. We used a weighted sample of 14,064 children aged 6–23 months. A multilevel mixed-effect binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify significant factors associated with unhealthy feeding practices. The level of statistical significance was declared with p-value < 0.05. Result This study found that overall, 62.4% (95% CI: 61.62–63.17) of children aged 6–23 months in five SSA countries had unhealthy feeding practices. Rural residents, lower-middle-income SSA countries, and children aged above 12 months had lower odds of unhealthy feeding practices. On the other hand, richer households and women who had not had an optimal antenatal care visit had higher odds of unhealthy feeding practices. Conclusion According to this study, nearly two out of three young children in five SSA countries had unhealthy feeding practices. Both individual and community-level factors are significantly associated with unhealthy feeding practices. As a result, responsible bodies shall make all efforts to reduce unhealthy feeding practices among young children in SSA countries.

Design and fabrication of novel microfluidic-based droplets for drug screening on a chronic myeloid leukemia cell line

Background The challenges associated with traditional drug screening, such as high costs and long screening times, have led to an increase in the use of single-cell isolation technologies. Small sample volumes are required for high-throughput, cell-based assays to reduce assay costs and enable rapid sample processing. Using microfluidic chips, single-cell analysis can be conducted more effectively, requiring fewer reagents and maintaining biocompatibility. Due to the chip’s ability to manipulate small volumes of fluid, high-throughput screening assays can be developed that are both miniaturized and automated. In the present study, we employ microfluidic chips for drug screening in chronic myeloid leukemia. This study aimed to establish a robust methodology integrating diverse assays, providing a holistic understanding of drug response. Material and methods Herein, we have used a chronic myeloid leukemia derived cell line (K562) for drug screening with an innovative microfluidic-based drug screening approach to investigate the efficacy of imatinib in K562 cells. Cell viability was assessed using MTT assay. Apoptosis was measured using Annexin/PI staining by flow cytometry. Results Significant increased apoptosis was seen in K562 cells treated with imatinib in the microfluidic device compared to cells treated with imatinib in 24- and 96-well plates. Moreover, in the microfluidic chip, drug screening time was reduced from 48 hours to 24 hours. Conclusion Compared to traditional approaches, microfluidic-based drug screening efficiently evaluates the efficacy of imatinib in K562 cells. This approach is promising for drug discovery and treatment optimization, as it increases sensitivity and streamlines the screening process.