Calculated Pearson Correlation Research Articles

Numerical simulation of natural gas-ammonia combustion characteristics in a U-shaped radiant tube

NH3, recognized as a carbon-free fuel and a high-energy–density renewable hydrogen carrier, holds promise as a low-carbon alternative fuel. However, its direct combustion is often posed with challenges such as a limited ignition zone and high NOX emissions. To address this, the present paper proposes a strategy to blend more reactive hydrogen-containing fuels with ammonia to enhance combustion stability and concurrently reduce NOX emissions. This study developed numerical models for natural gas-ammonia combustion within a U-shaped radiant tube. The dynamic characteristics of combustion flame flow fields inside the radiation tube were investigated across various mixing ratios, analyzing the effects of nitrogen-containing fuel temperature on NOX generation and elucidating NOX generation patterns under different mixing ratios. The findings indicated that a 30 % NH3 blending ratio in the radiation tube yielded uniform wall temperature distribution along its length, minimal circumferential temperature variation, and an outlet NOX emission of only 20.3 ppm. Furthermore, Pearson correlation coefficient calculations revealed strong correlations between NH3 concentration (0.97), URT temperature (0.88), and NOX generation rate (0.88) within the U-type radiation tube combustion flame and NOX emission content.

The Level of Depression and Irrational Thoughts among Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum

This study aimed to identify the depression and irrational thoughts level among mothers of children with autism spectrum in Jordan. The researcher applied the descriptive method, and the study population consisted of all the mothers on the autism spectrum who are constant visitors of the Autism Academy of Jordan and have children inside the academy. The sample consisted of (40) mothers of autism spectrum children who were chosen intentionally. The researcher employed the Irrational Beliefs Scale that was used in Al-Nawasreh's study (2017), which consists of 40 items to measure irrational beliefs. Test-retest procedures calculated the scale reliability by calculating Pearson Correlation Coefficient, which amounted (to 0.90). Furthermore, reliability was also verified through the internal consistency according to the Alpha Cronbach equation, where the reliability coefficient reached (0.98). Beck Depression Scale was also used (Abdel Khaleq, 2015 translated that), which is valid, reliable, and suitable for the Jordanian environment. The scale consists of (21) items, and every item consists of 4 statements. The study results showed a medium level of irrational thoughts and a medium level of depression among the mothers of children on the autism spectrum. The results also showed a clear relationship between irrational thoughts and the existence of depressive disorder in the mothers. Depression level

The Influence of Village Fund Allocation and Village Income on Infrastructure Development in Four Villages in Parungkuda District

This research was carried out in four villages in Parungkuda sub-district, Sukabumi district, including Parungkuda Village, Sundaauthor Village, Kompa Village, Langensari Village. The aim of this research is to find out whether there is an influence of Village Fund Allocation income and Village Income on Infrastructure Development in four villages in Parungkuda sub-district, Sukabumi district. The research method used is a quantitative method. The population in this study is the village financial report for 2019-2021. Based on the research results of the normality test with a value of 0.200 > 0.05, the multicollinearity test results VIF 0.10 <10.00, the Durbin-Waston autocorrelation test 2.4206, Village fund allocation Based on the value of r, calculate the Pearson correlation for the Village Fund Allocation variable (X1) = -0.206 < r table n = 12 samples from two-tailed test 0.576. Village income Based on r calculated Pearson correlation variable Original Village Income (X2) 0.395 < r table n = 12 samples from two-way test 0.576. So the Village Original Income variable (X2) has no positive relationship or correlation with the Infrastructure Development variable (Y) with a Pearson Correlation degree of 0.395, which is in the very low correlation category. And testing the hypothesis simultaneously with a value of 0, .394 > 0.05 means that the village fund allocation and village income variables simultaneously have no effect on the infrastructure development variable

The Impact of Liquid Biopsy in Advanced Ovarian Cancer Care.

Ovarian cancer is the third most common gynaecological cancer and has a very high mortality rate. The cornerstone of treatment is complete debulking surgery plus chemotherapy. Even with treatment, 80% of patients have a recurrence. Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) has been shown to be useful in the control and follow-up of some tumours. It could be an option to define complete cytoreduction and for the early diagnosis of recurrence. We aimed to demonstrate the usefulness of ctDNA and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) as a marker of complete cytoreduction and during follow-up in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. We selected 22 women diagnosed with advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer, of which only 4 had complete records. We detected cfDNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), presented as ng/mL, and detected ctDNA with droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). We calculated Pearson correlation coefficients to evaluate correlations among cfDNA, ctDNA, and cancer antigen 125 (CA125), a biomarker. The results obtained in the evaluation of cfDNA and ctDNA and their correlation with tumour markers and the radiology of patients with complete follow-up show disease progression during the disease, stable disease, or signs of recurrence. cfDNA and ctDNA correlated significantly with CA125. Following cfDNA and ctDNA over time indicated a recurrence several months earlier than computed tomography and CA125 changes. An analysis of cfDNA and ctDNA offers a non-invasive clinical tool for monitoring the primary tumour to establish a complete cytoreduction and to diagnose recurrence early.

Measuring perceived utility of genomic sequencing: Development and validation of the GENEtic Utility (GENE-U) scale for adult screening

PurposeAs population-based screening programs to identify genetic conditions in adults using genomic sequencing (GS) are increasingly available, validated patient-centered outcome measures are needed to understand participants’ experience. We aimed to develop and validate an instrument to assess the perceived utility of GS in the context of adult screening. MethodsInformed by a 5-domain conceptual model, we used a 5-step approach to instrument development and validation: (1) item writing, (2) cognitive testing, (3) pilot testing and item reduction, (4) psychometric testing, and (5) evaluation of construct validity. Adults undergoing risk-based or population-based GS who had received GS results as part of ongoing research studies participated in structured cognitive interviews and 2 rounds of surveys. After item pool refinement, we conducted an exploratory factor analysis and calculated Pearson correlations with related instruments. ResultsWe derived the 18-item Adult Screening version of the GENEtic Utility scale (total sum score α = .87). Mirroring the Pediatric Diagnostic version, the instrument has a 2-factor structure, including an Informational Utility subscale (14 items, α = .89) and an Emotional Utility subscale (4 items, α = .75). The Informational Utility subscale was strongly associated with empowerment and personal utility of GS. Correlations of the Emotional Utility subscale with psychosocial impact and anxiety and depression were weak to moderate. ConclusionInitial psychometric testing of the Adult Screening GENEtic Utility scale demonstrates its promise, and additional validation in translational genomics research is warranted.

Personality Factors as Predictors of the Level of Personality Functioning in Adolescence: Examining the Influence of Birth Order, Financial Status, and Sex

This study aimed at examining the correlation between personality factors measured by the HEXACO Model of Personality Structure - which defines the personality in terms of: Humility-Honesty H, Emotionality E, Extraversion X, Agreeableness A, Conscientiousness C, and Openness to experience O - and the level of personality functioning (LOPF). It also examines HEXACO’s predictability of LOPF in adolescence in terms of sex (male, female), birth order (eldest child, middle child, youngest child, and the only child) and financial levels (above average, on average, below average). The sample included 1450 students from both secondary schools and universities all over Lebanon. Participants responded to the HEXACO PI-R-60 scale of personality structure, and Level of Personality Functioning LOPF 2.0 that pinpoints to the degrees of dysfunctionality in both intrapersonal and interpersonal domains; participants also answered other demographic questions. Data were analyzed through SPSS 23 by calculating Pearson correlation coefficients, running ANOVA and post Hoc Hochberg GT2 and Dunett t tests to explore variance among subgroups. Independent T- tests were also utilized to determine sex differences. Multiple linear regression was utilized to determine the predictability of LOPF by HEXACO. Results show that HEXACO factors are inversely correlated to LOPF except for Emotionality; no significant differences in LOPF exist between males and females; on the financial level, differences in LOPF are found only between middle group and below average group, and in terms of birth order, between the only child and the middle child. It is also depicted that LOPF can be predicted by HEXACO factors in different ways. Implications of the study are discussed in the light of the related theories.

Availability of Alcohol on an Online Third-Party Delivery Platform Across London Boroughs, England: Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study.

Higher availability of alcohol is associated with higher levels of alcohol consumption and harm. Alcohol is increasingly accessible online, with rapid delivery often offered by a third-party driver. Remote delivery and online availability are important from a public health perspective, but to date, relatively little research has explored the availability of alcohol offered by online platforms. This cross-sectional exploratory study describes the availability of alcohol on the third-party platform Deliveroo within London, England. We extracted the number of outlets offering alcohol on Deliveroo for each London borough and converted these into crude rates per 1000 population (18-64 years). Outlets were grouped as outlets exclusively selling alcohol, off-licenses, and premium. We calculated Pearson correlation coefficients to explore the association between borough's crude rate of outlets per 1000 population and average Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) 2019 scores. We extracted the number of outlets also selling tobacco or e-cigarettes and used non-Deliveroo drivers. We searched addresses of the top 20 outlets delivering to the most boroughs by outlet type (60 total) to determine their associated premise. We identified 4277 total Deliveroo-based outlets offering alcohol across London, including outlets delivering in multiple boroughs. The crude rate of outlets per 1000 population aged 18-64 years was 0.73 and ranged from 0.22 to 2.29 per borough. Most outlets exclusively sold alcohol (3086/4277, 72.2%), followed by off-licenses (770/4277, 18.0%) and premium (421/4277, 9.8%). The majority of outlets exclusively selling alcohol sold tobacco or e-cigarettes (2951/3086, 95.6%) as did off-licenses to a lesser extent (588/770, 76.4%). Most outlets exclusively offering alcohol used drivers not employed by Deliveroo (2887/3086, 93.6%), and the inverse was true for premium outlets (50/421, 11.9%) and off-licenses (73/770, 9.5%). There were 1049 unique outlets, of which 396 (37.8%) were exclusively offering alcohol-these outlets tended to deliver across multiple boroughs unlike off-licenses and premium outlets. Of outlets with confirmed addresses, self-storage units were listed as the associated premise for 85% (17/20) of outlets exclusively offering alcohol, 11% (2/19) of off-licenses, and 12% (2/17) of premium outlets. We found no significant relationship between borough IMD scores and crude rate of outlets per 1000 population overall (P=.87) or by any outlet type: exclusively alcohol (P=.41), off-license (P=.58), and premium (P=.18). London-based Deliveroo outlets offering alcohol are common and are sometimes operating from self-storage units that have policies prohibiting alcohol storage. This and the potential for increased alcohol accessibility online have implications for public health given the relationship between alcohol's availability and consumption or harm. There is a need to ensure that regulations for delivery are adequate for protecting children and vulnerable adults. The Licensing Act 2003 may require modernization in the digital age. Future research must explore a relationship between online alcohol availability and deprivation.

Religious orientations on attitude toward a secular state: Case of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in north regions of Kazakhstan

The main objective of this study was to explore the connections between orientations (Quest, Intrinsic, and Extrinsic) and peoples' attitudes towards a secular state among members of the Evangelical Lutheran Churches in the northern regions of Kazakhstan. To achieve this, established scales were used to assess participants' perspectives on secularism and their religious orientations. The article analyses the opinion on the separation of church and state using measures of tendency. There were also calculated Pearson correlation coefficients to understand how religious beliefs interacted with views on governance. The findings indicated that there was an inclination towards secularism among the participants. While some respondents valued the guidance provided by the Church in decisions, others preferred a separation between religious institutions and legislative affairs. However, when examining orientations, none showed a significant influence on attitudes towards a secular state. This highlights the relationship between religious beliefs and societal views on governance. Overall, this study emphasises that while religious orientation provides insights into beliefs, it does not solely determine attitudes towards secularism. It underscores that belief systems are multifaceted and interact intricately with governance perspectives. Future research should focus on uncovering factors that influence these perspectives within and beyond the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Validation Study of the Spanish Version of the Measure of Happiness (MH) Questionnaire.

This study aims to validate the Spanish version of the Measure of Happiness (MH), a questionnaire that identifies the specific areas of an individual's life that are related to experienced happiness. The sample consisted of 458 Spanish native speakers (65.7% women, 34.3% men; mean age = 24.14, SD = 8.45) and was divided into two groups: Sample 1 (N = 226) underwent Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), and Sample 2 (N = 232) underwent Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). The convergent and discriminant validity of the Spanish version of the MH and its subscales was assessed by calculating Pearson correlations between the MH factors and the Subjective Happiness Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the WHOQOL-BREF. The EFA and CFA confirmed the original five-factor structure of the MH questionnaire. The only difference in the Spanish version of the MH is that Item 4, which was originally assigned to Factor 2 "Financial Status", was reallocated to Factor 1 "Psychophysical Status". The reliability of the Spanish version of the MH questionnaire was also confirmed, and the factors correlated in the expected direction with the constructs of quality of life, happiness, anxiety, and depression. The MH questionnaire demonstrated excellent psychometric properties among Spanish respondents.

Measuring perceived utility of genomic sequencing: Development and validation of the GENEtic Utility (GENE-U) scale for pediatric diagnostic testing

PurposeMeasuring the effects of genomic sequencing (GS) on patients and families is critical for translational research. We aimed to develop and validate an instrument to assess parents’ perceived utility of pediatric diagnostic GS. MethodsInformed by a 5-domain conceptual model, the study comprised 5 steps: (1) item writing, (2) cognitive testing, (3) pilot testing and item reduction, (4) psychometric testing, and (5) evaluation of construct validity. Parents of pediatric patients who had received results of clinically indicated GS participated in structured cognitive interviews and 2 rounds of surveys. After eliminating items based on theory and quantitative performance, we conducted an exploratory factor analysis and calculated Pearson correlations with related instruments. ResultsWe derived the 21-item Pediatric Diagnostic version of the GENEtic Utility (GENE-U) scale, which has a 2-factor structure that includes an Informational Utility subscale (16 items, α = 0.91) and an Emotional Utility subscale (5 items, α = 0.71). Scores can be summed to calculate a Total scale score (α = 0.87). The Informational Utility subscale was strongly associated with empowerment and personal utility of GS, and the Emotional Utility subscale was moderately associated with psychosocial impact and depression and anxiety. ConclusionThe pediatric diagnostic GENE-U scale demonstrated good psychometric performance in this initial evaluation and could be a useful tool for translational genomics researchers, warranting additional validation.

Influence on Sample Determination for Deep Learning Electromagnetic Tomography.

Deep learning (DL) has been frequently applied in the image reconstruction of electromagnetic tomography (EMT) in recent years. It offers the potential to achieve higher-quality image reconstruction. Among these, research on samples is relatively scarce. Samples are the cornerstone for both large and small models, which is easy to ignore. In this paper, a deep learning electromagnetic tomography (DL-EMT) model with nine elements is established. Complete simulation and experimental samples are obtained based on this model. On the sample sets, the reconstruction quality is observed by adjusting the size and configuration of the training set. The Mann-Whitney U test shows that beyond a certain point, the addition of more samples to the training data fed into the deep learning network does not result in an obvious improvement statistically in the quality of the reconstructed images. This paper proposes a CC-building method for optimizing a sample set. This method is based on the Pearson correlation coefficient calculation, aiming to establish a more effective sample base for DL-EMT image reconstruction. The statistical analysis shows that the CC-building method can significantly improve the image reconstruction effect in a small and moderate sample size. This method is also validated by experiments.

A study demonstrating users' preference for the adapted-REQUITE patient-reported outcome questionnaire over PRO-CTCAE® in patients with lung cancer.

The use of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) has been shown to enhance the accuracy of symptom collection and improve overall survival and quality of life. This is the first study comparing concordance and patient preference for two PRO tools: Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE®) and the adapted-REQUITE Lung Questionnaire. Patients with lung cancer were recruited to the study while attending outpatient clinics at a tertiary cancer centre. Clinician-reported outcomes were generated through initial patient assessment with CTCAE v4.03. Participants then completed the PRO-CTCAE® and adapted-REQUITE questionnaires. Concordance between the 2 questionnaires was assessed by calculating Pearson correlation coefficient. PRO-CTCAE® and CTCAE concordance was demonstrated by calculating Pearson correlation coefficient from the linear predictors of an ordinal logistic regression. P-values were also calculated. Out of 74 patients approached, 65 provided written informed consent to participate in the study. 63 (96.9%) patients completed both PRO-CTCAE® and adapted-REQUITE questionnaires. Pearson correlation coefficient between PRO tools was 0.8-0.83 (p <.001). Correlation between CTCAE and PRO-CTCAE® ranged between 0.66-0.82 (p <.001). Adapted-REQUITE and CTCAE correlation was higher for all symptoms ranging between 0.79-0.91 (p <.001). Acceptable discrepancies within one grade were present in 96.8%-100% of symptom domains for REQUITE and in 92.1%-96.8% for all domains in the PRO-CTCAE®. 54% of the total participant cohort favored the adapted-REQUITE questionnaire due to reduced subjectivity in the questions and ease of use. The adapted-REQUITE questionnaire has shown a superior correlation to clinician-reported outcomes and higher patient preference than the PRO-CTCAE®. The results of this study suggest the use of the REQUITE questionnaire for patients with lung cancer in routine clinical practice.

DNA based phenotype optimization of oryza sativa using machine learning and MolCNN

The prediction of phenotype from the genotype of oryza sativa (rice) is very crucial for optimizing the crop management. utilizing molecular convolutional neural networks (MolCNNs) and machine learning for crop management in oryza sativa provides a data-driven method for phenotype prediction based on DNA data, improving farming techniques. Data gathering, preparation, and integration of phenotypic and DNA data are all part of this process. Meaningful DNA features are extracted by MolCNN, and phenotypic qualities are predicted by a machine learning algorithm. Making educated decisions is ensured by assessing the model’s effectiveness, applying it to crop management, and updating it frequently. Choosing crop varieties, planting schedules, and management techniques are guided by molecular insights, which support sustainable agriculture and increase yields and quality. In the proposed research we are calculating pearson correlation coefficients between anticipated and actual trait values and the model’s performance on a test set. Additionally, it determines the (PCC) for every characteristic in the model and we have received a binary accuracy of 0.9998 in 139 seconds.

Hippocampal subfields and thalamic nuclei associations with clinical outcomes in multiple sclerosis: An ultrahigh field MRI study

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown that thalamic and hippocampal neurodegeneration is associated with clinical decline in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). However, contributions of the specific thalamic nuclei and hippocampal subfields require further examination. ObjectiveUsing 7 Tesla (7T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we investigated the cross-sectional associations between functionally grouped thalamic nuclei and hippocampal subfields volumes and T1 relaxation times (T1-RT) and subsequent clinical outcomes in MS. MethodsHigh-resolution T1-weighted and T2-weighted images were acquired at 7T (n=31), preprocessed, and segmented using the Thalamus Optimized Multi Atlas Segmentation (THOMAS, for thalamic nuclei) and the Automatic Segmentation of Hippocampal Subfields (ASHS, for hippocampal subfields) packages. We calculated Pearson correlations between hippocampal subfields and thalamic nuclei volumes and T1-RT and subsequent multi-modal rater-determined and patient-reported clinical outcomes (∼2.5 years after imaging acquisition), correcting for confounders and multiple tests. ResultsSmaller volume bilaterally in the anterior thalamus region correlated with worse performance in gait function, as measured by the Patient Determined Disease Steps (PDDS). Additionally, larger volume in most functional groups of thalamic nuclei correlated with better visual information processing and cognitive function, as measured by the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). In bilateral medial and left posterior thalamic regions, there was an inverse association between volumes and T1-RT, potentially indicating higher tissue degeneration in these regions. We also observed marginal associations between the right hippocampal subfields (both volumes and T1-RT) and subsequent clinical outcomes, though they did not survive correction for multiple testing. ConclusionUltrahigh field MRI identified markers of structural damage in the thalamic nuclei associated with subsequently worse clinical outcomes in individuals with MS. Longitudinal studies will enable better understanding of the role of microstructural integrity in these brain regions in influencing MS outcomes.

Radiomics analysis of contrast-enhanced computerized tomography for differentiation of gastric schwannomas from gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors

PurposeTo assess the performance of radiomics-based analysis of contrast-enhanced computerized tomography (CE-CT) images for distinguishing GS from gastric GIST.MethodsForty-nine patients with GS and two hundred fifty-three with GIST were enrolled in this retrospective study. CT features were evaluated by two associate chief radiologists. Radiomics features were extracted from portal venous phase images using Pyradiomics software. A non-radiomics dataset (combination of clinical characteristics and radiologist-determined CT features) and a radiomics dataset were used to build stepwise logistic regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression models, respectively. Model performance was evaluated according to sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and Delong’s test was applied to compare the area under the curve (AUC) between different models.ResultsA total of 1223 radiomics features were extracted from portal venous phase images. After reducing dimensions by calculating Pearson correlation coefficients (PCCs), 20 radiomics features, 20 clinical characteristics + CT features were used to build the models, respectively. The AUC values for the models using radiomics features and those using clinical features were more than 0.900 for both the training and validation groups. There were no significant differences in predictive performance between the radiomic and clinical data models according to Delong’s test.ConclusionA radiomics-based model applied to CE-CT images showed comparable predictive performance to senior physicians in the differentiation of GS from GIST.

Abstract 55: Cerebral Autoregulatory Curves in Postpartum Individuals With and Without Preeclampsia

Introduction: Risk of maternal stroke is higher in patients with preeclampsia (PEC), with the highest risk seen in those with chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia (siPEC). Most strokes occur postpartum. Changes in cerebral autoregulation (CA) could contribute to elevated postpartum stroke risk. We describe CA curves in postpartum patients with no hypertension, PEC and siPEC. Methods: We prospectively recruited postpartum patients with and without PEC and measured 10-minute continuous mean arterial pressure (MAP) and cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) with finger plethysmography and transcranial Doppler within 1 week of delivery. We generated polynomial S-curves to derive limits of CA, CA plateaus (defined as slope &lt; 0.15), and mean and minimum slopes between CA limits. We calculated Pearson correlation coefficients (Mx) between normalized MAP and CBVF; Mx &gt; 0.3 indicates high MAP-CBFV correlation, suggesting impaired CA. Results: CA curves were produced from 71 patients (28% normotensive, 42% PEC, 30% siPEC). Group means for MAP were higher in those with PEC and siPEC (normotensive 72 mmHg, PEC 88, siPEC 87 [p=0.001]). CA was preserved in all groups, with Mx nadirs below 0.3 (Figure). The normotensive group demonstrated a wide, flat plateau in the S-curve (minimum slope 0.02). In the PEC group, we observed a narrower and slightly steeper autoregulatory plateau (minimum slope 0.05). The siPEC group displayed the narrowest and steepest plateau (minimum slope 0.15). Conclusion: In conclusion, in our sample of postpartum patients with normotension, PEC and siPEC, we observed a gradient in CA plateau range and slope. Compared with the normotensive group, the PEC and siPEC groups had progressively narrower and steeper CA plateaus, suggesting a more limited CA range and diminished CA efficacy. Future studies should investigate whether sustained MAP outside CA limits contributes to adverse maternal outcomes, particularly in those with siPEC.

Indicators of Validity and Reliability of the Jordanian Version of Kember Reflective Thinking Scale among Upper Basic Stage Students in Amman

The study aimed to adapt Kember scale of reflective thinking to Jordanian context, and to extract the indicators of validity and reliability of the scale, the study sample consisted of (1065) male and female students, namely, (548) male and (517) female students from sixth, eighth and tenth grades from Amman, they were reached by social media after the coordination with school managers and teachers, where the scale was distributed on the social media sites of a number of schools in Amman city. To achieve the aim of this study, the Kember, et al. (2000) scale of reflective thinking has been translated, the scale contains four dimensions: Habitual behavior, understanding, reflection, and critical reflection. The indications of validity were extracted through two ways, face validity, and construct validity by calculating Pearson correlation coefficients between the items and the total degree on each dimension, whereas, indicators of reliability were also extracted by means of test re-test, and Cronbach’s Alpha methods. Further, the results showed differences in reflective thinking performance due to students’ academic achievement, whereas, they showed no differences due to gender differences nor grade differences.

Upregulation of vesicle-associated membrane protein 7 in breast cancer tissues.

Vesicle-associated membrane protein 7 (VAMP7) plays oncogenic roles in cancers. However, its clinical significance in breast cancer (BC) tissues remains unknown. To elucidate the clinical implications of VAMP7, as well as its involvement in the tumor microenvironment and molecular pathways of breast cancer. BC (n=100) and non-cancerous breast tissues (n= 100) were collected for an immunohistochemical experiment (1:200). The protein expression level of VAMP7 was determined by using a semi-quantitative scoring method. High-throughput RNA-sequencing data of BC tissues were analyzed to confirm the mRNA expression trend of VAMP7. Additionally, the largest BC prognosis cohort data were collected to mine the potential impact VAMP7 has on BC progression. The association between VAMP7 and the microenvironment of BC was evaluated by using a CIBERSORT algorithm. Moreover, we explored the co-expressed molecular mechanisms of VAMP7 in BC by calculating Pearson correlation coefficients and overexpressed genes. Finally, the biological mechanism underlying the relationship between VAMP7 and the key pathways was also explored using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Potential therapeutic strategies were predicted targeting VAMP7. VAMP7 protein was significantly over-expressed in BC tissue than that in controls (p< 0.001). Compared with 459 normal breast tissues and 113 non-cancerous breast tissues, the expression level of VAMP7 mRNA was significantly increased in 1111 BC tissues. CD4+T cells, macrophages, and naïve B cells had a higher infiltration rate in BC tissues with high VAMP7 expression, while regulatory T cells and CD8+T cells had a lower infiltration rate. Over-expressed VAMP7 was associated with macrophages activation and transition from M1 to M2 polarization. Upregulated VAMP7 could predicted poorer OS, DMFS, PPS, and RFS outcomes. Upregulated VAMP7 co-expressed genes were significantly enriched in the cell cycle checkpoints. GSEA confirmed that over-expressed VAMP7 are markedly associated with functional enrichment in cell cycle related categories, including mitotic spindle, G2M checkpoint, and E2F targets. KU-55933 was predicted as a putative therapeutic drug for BC targeting VAMP7. VAMP7 was upregulated in BC tissue and correlated with poor prognosis of BC patients. VAMP7 may promote BC progression by targeting the cell cycle pathway.

An imprecise probability approach-based determination of over-represented southern African plant genera and families used in ethnopharmacology

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe analyses of patterns of over-representation of southern African traditional medicinal plants at the genus and family level provide information about the differences in plant use among southern African countries and disease categories. ‘Over-representation’ refers to the phenomenon whereby the proportion of plants belonging to a taxonomic group is higher in ethnobotanical pharmacopoeia than in the total flora. Aim of the studyThis study aimed to use the Imprecise Dirichlet Model (IDM) to analyse data from ten southern African countries to establish how over-represented medicinal plant families compare with over-represented genera, how over-represented medicinal taxa differ among countries in this region of Africa, and how over-represented taxa differ among six major disease categories. Materials and methodsFloral data for the total species composition of each country were obtained from online databases. Medicinal plant species lists were generated from published surveys, inventories, and books. IDM calculations were executed using the inverse of the cumulative beta probability density function in Microsoft Excel™. Python programming language source code was used to calculate Pearson correlation (r) values and Jaccard coefficients (J). ResultsNine of forty-two over-represented medicinal plant families in southern Africa (group 1) do not have over-represented genera. Seven of the forty genera with the highest margins of over-representation belong to under-represented families. Nineteen of the forty-two over-represented families have margins of over-representation smaller than the cumulative margins of their over-represented genera. Groups of countries with similar overall flora (J ≥ 0.333) are Botswana and Namibia (group 2), Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe (group 3). The families and genera with the highest margins of over-representation are Loganiaceae and Albizia in group 1, Combretaceae and Vachellia in group 2, Dioscoreaceae and Senna in group 3, and Sapotaceae and Solanum in group 4 (South Africa). The families and genera with the highest margins of over-representation across disease categories are Ebenaceae and Albizia, Canellaceae and Dicoma, Combretaceae and Pterocelastrus, Ebenaceae and Bersama, Francoaceae and Erythrina, and Aristolochiaceae and Strychnos for plants used in the treatment of STIs, febrile and mosquito-vector diseases, microbial infections, pain, skin conditions, and female sexual/reproductive problems, respectively. ConclusionsGenus-level calculations are more efficient in generating taxonomic lists that can be used for ethnopharmacological investigations due to the exclusion of under-represented genera. Limiting the size of geographical areas from which medicinal plant lists are sampled and targeting plants used to treat specific types of disease prevents the underestimation of niche over-represented taxa.

Muscle Pressure Correlates With Pain Levels in Fibromyalgia Patients.

We evaluated patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) to determine whether there is a correlation between pain scores based on a 0- to 10-point visual analog scale (VAS) and muscle pressure. One hundred forty-two patients who satisfied the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for FMS and 38 non-FMS controls comprised the study groups. Muscle pressure was measured in mm Hg using a pressure gauge attached to a no. 22 needle inserted into the midportion of the trapezius muscle. The muscle pressure was then correlated with the VAS pain score of 0 to 10, some with an increment of 0.5. A second muscle pressure was obtained from 19 patients at a subsequent visit, which was compared with their pain scores. The mean (SD) pain score for 142 patients with FMS was 6.6 (SD, 1.84) on a 0- to 10-point VAS. The mean pain score in the non-FMS subjects was 0.7 (SD, 1.26). The mean muscle pressure in the FMS group was 32.9 (SD, 6.57) mm Hg. The mean muscle pressure in the non-FMS subjects was 10.6 (SD, 3.85) mm Hg. The calculated Pearson correlation coefficient for muscle pressure versus pain score was 0.8312 ( p < 0.0001). This indicates a highly significant association between subjects' muscle pressure and pain scores. For the repeat muscle pressures, the change in muscle pressure was correlated with the change in pain score, and the resulting Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.9255 ( p < 0.0001). These results again indicate a highly significant association between subjects' muscle pressure and pain scores. The results show that increased muscle pressure may be a significant cause of pain in FMS, and the etiology of the pain may have a large peripheral component in addition to a centralized origin of the pain.