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Analysis of the sample size used in clinical MRI studies

Background Choosing the sample size in clinical MRI studies is a common, important, and challenging task, complicated by the substantial variation in potential study parameters. However, considering previously used sample sizes may provide a reference point for future studies. The purpose of the study was to systematically investigate and to provide orientation for sample size selection based on information from current practices in clinical MRI studies. Methods We assessed 1,046 research articles published in the Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (JMRI) between 2020 and 2023. Only studies that involved patients were included. Review articles and studies using phantoms, animals, ex vivo samples, publicly available datasets, and non-imaging techniques (e.g., spectroscopy) were excluded. The included studies were categorized according to various criteria including anatomical region, field strength, contrast category (e.g., T1 mapping or diffusion-weighted imaging), retrospective vs. prospective and single vs. multicenter studies, automatic or manual segmentation, and quantitative or qualitative evaluations. Results The median sample size (=number of patients) of the 734 studies included in the analysis was 74.5 (retrospective studies =  129, prospective studies =  41) and varied between the investigated categories. Sample size clusters were found in multiples of ten (e.g., 20, 30, 40), and 90.3% of the studies had less than 350 patients with 50.5% having less than 75, while 1.6% had more than 1,000 patients. Conclusion There is wide variation in the sample sizes of studies published by JMRI between 2020 and 2023, depending on study type, content category, or evaluation method. In clinical MRI studies, balancing statistical power and minimizing patient involvement is crucial, necessitating carefully choosing the sample size.

Preclinical evaluation of [13xLa]La-FAP-2286 as a novel theranostic agent for tumors expressing fibroblast activation protein

Factors associated with relief from acute pain among patients admitted in medical ward of Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, south western Uganda: A cross-sectional study

Acute pain is an understudied subject among patients admitted in medical wards, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Given that it is one of the commonest causes of hospital admissions, it is necessary to diagnose and adequately treat it in time. Unrelieved acute pain may have negative consequences such as; reduced quality of life, prolonged hospital stays and increased cost of treatment. The purpose of this study was to assess relief of acute pain and factors associated with it in medical ward of Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, South-Western Uganda. Severity of pain was determined using the Brief Pain Inventory. Adequate drug therapy for acute pain was assessed using the Pain Management Index. Relief from acute pain was considered a change in pain grade from severe to mild or moderate to mild or mild to no pain. This was done by comparing baseline pain grade at enrollment (day one) and follow up pain grade on day two. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify associated factors that had statistical significance. Out of 280 patients with acute pain, analgesic drug therapy was adequate for 32 (11.43%) participants while relief from acute pain was achieved among 95 (34%). Multivariate logistic regression showed female gender to be significantly associated with relief from acute pain (adjusted Odds Ratio=1.86; 1.11-3.10 at 95% C.I; p value=0.018). Prevalence of adequacy of analgesic drug therapy for acute pain among patients admitted in medical ward of Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital was low. Proportion of patients with relief from acute pain was also low. Female patients were more likely to experience relief from acute pain compared to their male counterparts.

Health risk assessment of groundwater use for drinking in West Nile Delta, Egypt

Abstract Human health is at risk from drinking water contamination, which causes a number of health problems in many parts of the world. The geochemistry of groundwater, its quality, the origins of groundwater pollution, and the associated health risks have all been the subject of substantial research in recent decades. In this study, groundwater in the west Rosetta Nile branch of the Nile Delta Aquifer is examined for drinking potential. Numerous water quality indices were applied, such as water quality index (WQI), synthetic pollution index (SPI) models, and health risk assessment (HRA) method. The limits of the measured parameters are used to test its drinking validity on the basis of WHO recommendations. TDS in the southern regions is within the desirable to allowable limits with percent 25.3% and 29.33%, respectively. Nearly all the study area has desirable value for HCO3, Al and Ba. Ca and Mg have desirable values in the center and south portion of the investigated area, whereas in the north are unsuitable. Na, Cl and SO4 fall within the desired level in the regions of the south but become unsuitable towards the north. Mn and NO3 are inappropriate except in the northwestern part. Fe is within suitable range in the southwestern and northwestern regions. Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cd were undetected in the collected samples. Regarding to WQI the study area is classified into 4 classes good, poor, very poor and unfit for drinking water from south to north. According to SPI model, 20%, 18.7%, 18.7%, 8% and 34.6% of water samples are suitable, slightly, moderately, highly polluted and unfit, respectively from south to north. Based on HRA, Children are the most category endangered with percent 14.7% of the overall samples obtained, followed by females and males with percent 12% and 8%, respectively. This study offers insights into the conservation and management of coastal aquifers’ groundwater supplies. These findings have significant implications for developing strategies and executing preventative actions to reduce water resource vulnerability and related health hazards in West Nile Delta, Egypt.

Alternate-day fasting differentially affects body composition, metabolic and immune response to fasting in male rats exposed to early-life adversity: Modulatory role of cafeteria diet

The increased risk for obesity and metabolic disorders following early-life adversity is aggravated by poor diet (e.g., cafeteria diet). Alternate-day fasting (ADF) is a dietary regimen shown to improve immune and metabolic dysfunction related to obesity. Here, we evaluate if ADF can ameliorate the negative effects of early-life adversity and/or cafeteria diet on biological, immune and metabolic parameters. At weaning, animals reared under normal or adverse conditions (i.e., low bedding) were fed either standard chow or cafeteria diets ad libitum or subjected to an ADF regimen. In adulthood, we measured 24-hour fasted cholesterol, triglycerides, cytokines, oxidative stress markers, and body composition parameters including perigonadal, retroperitoneal, and brown fat pad weight. Animals exposed to early-life adversity respond differently to cafeteria diet and ADF. Adverse reared animals fed chow diet in the ADF regimen showed the largest reduction in body weight and perigonadal and retroperitoneal fat pad weight, the smallest increase in corticosterone levels, and the largest increase in TNF-α levels. However, the differential effects of the ADF regimen on body, perigonadal and retroperitoneal fat weight observed in adversely reared animals fed chow diet compared to controls were not present if the adversely reared animals were fed cafeteria diet in the ADF regimen. Furthermore, adversely reared animals fed cafeteria diet in the ADF regimen showed high IL-1β and IL-6 levels. Together, the data suggest that the altered vulnerability to metabolic and immune dysfunction following early-life adversity is not just due to the type of diet but also how the diet is consumed.

Causal interaction of metabolic oscillations in monolayers of HeLa cervical cancer cells: emergence of complex networks

Survival status and predictors of mortality among road traffic accident adult patients admitted to intensive care units of referral hospitals in Tigray 2024

Background Globally, road traffic accidents (RTAs) cause over 1.35 million deaths each year, with an additional 50 million people suffering disabilities. Ethiopia has the highest number of road traffic accidents, with over 14,000 people killed and over 45,000 injured annually. This study aimed to assess survival status and predictors of mortality among road traffic accident adult patients admitted to intensive care units of Referral Hospitals in Tigray, 2024. Methods An institution-based retrospective follow-up study design was conducted from January 8, 2019, to December 11, 2023, on 333 patient charts. A bivariable Cox-regression analysis was performed to estimate crude hazard ratios (CHR). Subsequently, a multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed to estimate the Adjusted Hazard Ratios (AHR). Finally, AHR with p-value less than 0.05 was used to measure the association between dependent and independent variables. Result The incidence of mortality for road traffic accident victims, was 21 per 1000 person-days observation with (95% CI: 16, 27.6) and the median survival time was 14 days. The predictors of mortality in this study were the value of oxygen saturation on admission ≤ 89% (AHR = 4.9; 95%CI: 1.4–17.2), Intracranial hemorrhage (AHR = 3.3; 95% CI: 1.02–11), chest injury (AHR = 3.2; 95%CI: 1.38–7.59), victims with age catgories of 31–45 years (AHR = 0.3; 95% CI: 0.1–0.88) and 46–60 years (AHR = 0.22; 95% CI: 0.06–0.89). Conclusion A concerningly high mortality rate from car accidents were found in Referral Hospitals of Tigray. To improve the survival rates, healthcare providers should focus on victims with very low oxygen levels, head injuries, chest injuries, and older victims.

Controlled liquid crystal behavior of graphene oxide/single walled carbon nanotube mixtures for continuous multi hole wet spinning

Efforts and systems by local governments to improve participation rates in national and local health and nutrition surveys in Japan: Findings from a workshop 2019–2024

The Japanese National Health and Nutrition Survey and local health and nutrition surveys have been used to monitor the effects of health promotion policies in Japan. However, participation rates are declining, affecting overall results. Since 2019, we have held workshops to share the efforts of local governments responsible for the survey to improve participation rates, but we have not included systems for survey implementation. Therefore, this study elucidated the efforts and systems through workshops. In 2024, 26 employees of local governments participated in the workshop using the methods developed in a previous study. The participants were divided into five groups to discuss current problems and potentially effective efforts and systems by local governments to improve participation rates. The researchers then analyzed results from the workshop, coded similar contents, and categorized similar codes and integrated them into one. These were organized into three steps (preparation for the survey, distribution and collection of the questionnaires, and following the collection of the questionnaires) for implementing surveys. The study identified that “preparation for a survey” required efforts such as “disseminating information to participants using various channels,” including “handling of the personal information of respondents.” In local structure for survey, they mentioned “cooperation with key persons such as the president of residents’ association.” For “the distribution and collection of questionnaires,” the efforts included “selecting response methods convenient for the subjects.” The systems for implementing surveys included “organization of teams composed of experienced investigators and development of members in research skills” and “specific interview practice and simulation.” For “after the collection of questionnaires,” they pointed to “holding a response standardization meeting,” and “formulating guidelines and raising awareness based on results” as efforts. From these results, the potentially effective efforts and systems for improving participation rates in the national and local health nutrition surveys conducted by local governments were elucidated.

Spatial analysis of COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates in northwest iran for future epidemic preparedness

Comparative evaluation of plasma and serum HIV-1 viral load measurements among HIV positive individuals, Northwest Ethiopia: Analytical cross-sectional study

Introduction Plasma HIV viral load tests have been widely used in clinical practice to monitor treatment success or failure. Inappropriate mixing with anticoagulants and inaccessibility of plasma samples in certain clinical services (such as antenatal care services) might hinder HIV diagnosis and treatment services. Considering that serum has higher stability and availability in prenatal care services, periodic monitoring of serum HIV viral load might be an alternative approach. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the plasma and serum HIV-1 viral load measurements among HIV-positive individuals in Northwest Ethiopia. Methods An institution-based analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 74 paired plasma and serum samples from May to August 2020 at the HIV Treatment Center, Northwest Ethiopia. Four milliliters of paired venous blood were collected to harvest plasma and serum. HIV-1 RNA was extracted and quantified using the Roche COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan assay. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Paired sample t-tests and Pearson’s correlation were employed to observe the mean differences and associations between sample measurements, respectively. Bland–Altman and linear regression models were computed to demonstrate the level of agreement and proportional bias, respectively. A p-value of ≤  0.05 with a 95% confidence interval was considered statistically significant. Results From a total of 74 HIV-positive individuals, 49 (66.2%) were females. The mean ±  SD age was 36.3 (10.1) years. The mean difference ±  SD of plasma and serum HIV-1 viral load was 0.07 ±  0.75 log copies/mL, (p =  0.428). A strong association with a significant linear correlation (r =  0.862) (p < 0.001) and a high level of agreement were observed between the sample measurements using Pearson’s correlation and a Bland–Altman plot, respectively. Conclusions The current study highlights an alternative application of serum-based HIV viral load quantification to enhance the rate of HIV diagnosis and treatment monitoring coverage.

Assessment of the bioaccessibility of zinc in the selected biofortified food grains

Abstract Biofortification of zinc (Zn) is a great means of eradicating Zn deficiency, essentially in developing countries. Current study has evaluated the influence of Zn treatment on bioaccessibility of Zn in food grains along with germination assays. Edible (seed) and inedible (root) portions of BARI Gom 28 ( Triticum aestivum ), BARI Chola 5 ( Cicer arietinum ) and BARI Mung 6 ( Vigna radiata ) sprouts were analyzed for Zn bioaccessibility. The highest Zn (44.50 ppm) was extracted from the seed of BARI Chola 5 at 50 ppm Zn and the lowest (0.45 ppm) was extracted from the root of BARI Mung 6 at control treatment. The highest Zn bioaccessibility percentage (90%) was observed at the seed of BARI Chola 5 and the lowest percentage (62%) at the root of BARI Gom 28 sprouts at 25 ppm Zn treatment. After optimizing fractional factorial design analysis, maximum Zn response is observed in the seed of BARI Chola 5 at 50 ppm Zn treatment with 91.06% composite desirability. Germination percentage, fresh and dried weight of sprouts, sprout length, seed vigor and biological yield showed better results at 50 ppm Zn. Thus, biofortification of food grains through hydroponics approach using control, 25 ppm and 50 ppm Zn treatments produced contrasting effects on Zn bioaccessibility.

What factors influence innovation efficiency in integrating digitalization and low carbonization within the construction industry? A configuration analysis based on fsQCA

In the dual context of the digital age and the ‘double carbon’ objectives, enhancing the innovation efficiency of integrating digitalization and low carbonization in the construction industry has become an inevitable trend. This study utilizes the fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) method, framed within the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) theoretical perspective. By analyzing data from 30 provinces, the research examines how technological, organizational, and environmental factors influence the innovation efficiency of integrating digitalization and low carbonization in the construction sector from a configurational standpoint. The findings reveal that, as a whole, there is a necessary condition for the potential absence of high innovation efficiency in this integration within the construction industry. Additionally, no singular necessary condition was identified that affects high innovation efficiency in the sector. The study identifies four equivalent configuration pathways to enhance innovation efficiency by integrating digitalization and low carbonization. These pathways suggest that provinces can select a trajectory more suitable for the synergistic advancement of “digitalization and low carbonization” in the construction sector based on local city conditions, ultimately achieving the “dual carbon” goal. The research findings support the “Porter hypothesis,” highlighting the critical role of environmental regulation in improving the innovation efficiency of this integration within the construction industry.

Deconstructing Barisanus’ medieval casting technology based on digital twins

Abstract The Italian 12th-century copper alloy doors of Barisanus have long been the subject of art historical studies and have recently been fully documented photogrammetrically and archaeometrically. In addition, digital twins of the three Barisanus doors in Ravello, Trani and Monreale have been produced and made available in open access for further research. These digital twins, together with the orthophotos produced, allow precise and repeatable measurements of the different metal parts of the doors, such as panels and frieze elements. This, and by taking into account the solid shrinkage of metals during the casting process, allowed for the reconstruction of the production sequence for each of the 20 single motif panels present on all three doors, and, finally, also for the establishment of the production sequence of the three doors as a whole—heavily discussed in art history research—with rather astonishing results. Moreover, bronze casting techniques used and the use of moulds and models are discussed, painting a more detailed picture that goes beyond the often purported dichotomy of lost wax vs. sand casting.

Prediction of protein interactions with function in protein (de-)phosphorylation

Protein–protein interactions (PPIs) form a complex network called “interactome” that regulates many functions in the cell. In recent years, there is an increasing accumulation of evidence supporting the existence of a hyperbolic geometry underlying the network representation of complex systems such as the interactome. In particular, it has been shown that the embedding of the human Protein-Interaction Network (hPIN) in hyperbolic space (H2) captures biologically relevant information. Here we explore whether this mapping contains information that would allow us to predict the function of PPIs, more specifically interactions related to post-translational modification (PTM). We used a random forest algorithm to predict PTM-related directed PPIs, concretely, protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation, based on hyperbolic properties and centrality measures of the hPIN mapped in H2. To evaluate the efficacy of our algorithm, we predicted PTM-related PPIs of ataxin-1, a protein which is responsible for Spinocerebellar Ataxia type 1 (SCA1). Proteomics analysis in a cellular model revealed that several of the predicted PTM-PPIs were indeed dysregulated in a SCA1-related disease network. A compact cluster composed of ataxin-1, its dysregulated PTM-PPIs and their common upstream regulators may represent critical interactions for disease pathology. Thus, our algorithm may infer phosphorylation activity on proteins through directed PPIs.

Bidirectional Mendelian randomization study reveals interplay between multisite chronic pain and Post-traumatic stress disorder

Retinal and thalamic alterations in the 5xFAD mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the formation of amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles that lead to decreased quality of life due to behavioral, motor, and cognitive impairments. Due to the widespread pathological nature of AD, many brain regions are affected by Aβ plaques including regions important for vision such as the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of the thalamus which is critical for relaying signals from the retina to the primary visual cortex. Using a wide range of techniques including electrophysiological approaches, in vivo and ex vivo imaging methods, and immunohistochemistry in a mouse model with progressing amyloidosis (5xFAD), the goal of this study was to determine whether AD-like pathology disrupts neuronal and synaptic structure and function in the visual system. In vivo electroretinogram recordings revealed photoreceptor dysfunction in the 6- and 9-month-old 5xFAD mice, while optical coherence tomography indicated no changes in 5xFAD retinal thickness from 9 to 12 months. In the dorsolateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN), the rodent homolog of the primate LGN, we identified decreased densities of retinal ganglion cell axon terminals and fewer thalamocortical (TC) neuron cell bodies. No detectable deficits in excitatory synaptic function or TC neuron dendritic structure were seen in the dLGN, and reflexive visual behavior was also found to be normal in the 5xFAD mice. These results indicate relatively modest amyloid-triggered dysfunction in these stages of the visual system suggesting that Aβ plaque formation may play only a small role in the visual system dysfunction seen in AD patients. These results may also point to potential compensatory mechanisms that preserve function of visual pathways in the 5xFAD visual system.

Knocking down the neuronal lactate transporter MCT2 in the arcuate nucleus of female rats increases food intake and body weight

Gender roles and constraints in enhancing hybrid chicken production for food security in lower Eastern Kenya

The adoption of hybrid chicken production as a source of income and food security among smallholder farmers has recently taken significant global attention. However, the effect of adoption of hybrid chicken across different genders on household food expenditure and food security remains unknown. This study employed propensity score matching (PSM) and endogenous switching regression (ESR) models to analyze the effect of adoption of hybrid chicken on smallholder households’ consumption expenditure and food security in Machakos County. The PSM and ESR models were estimated on a sample of 582 households selected using multistage stratified random sampling method. The descriptive results indicated that adopters of hybrid chicken spent on average KES 1296 compared to the non-adopters who spent KES 1400 on food consumption per month. Furthermore, the adopters of hybrid chicken were more food secure compared to the non-adopters. About 74% of female were also likely to experience chronic food insecurity compared to their male counterparts. The econometric results indicated that farm location, access to credit, access to market, access to feeds, group membership and cost of feeds significantly influenced the adoption of the hybrid chicken production for both male and female decision makers. The average treatment effect results showed that non-adopters spent higher costs on food consumption. Moreover, half of the adopters of hybrid chicken were food secure compared to the non-adopters. The treatment effects of adopting hybrid chicken on household food consumption and food security were positive suggesting that adopters benefited more compared to the non-adopters. To boost food security, this study recommends the National and County governments to develop a facilitating policy environment which supports chicken production systems that are socially, environmentally and economically sustainable while enhancing appropriate technical and extension support to enable cost effective chicken production, marketing, and disease control.

Application of explainable machine learning for estimating direct and diffuse components of solar irradiance