Changes In Quality Research Articles

Study Protocol: Evaluating the Impact of Diabetic Medications on Semen Quality: A Comparative Analysis of Diabetic Patients and Nondiabetic Controls with Correlation to Fertility Potential

ABSTRACT Background: Infertility is a growing global concern, with diabetes emerging as a significant contributor to male reproductive dysfunction. Diabetes negatively affects sperm quality by altering hormonal balance, increasing oxidative stress, and impairing sperm motility, morphology, and count. While previous studies have established a link between diabetes and infertility, limited research has focused on the effects of diabetic medications on sperm parameters and fertility outcomes. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the impact of diabetic medications on semen quality by comparing diabetic patients receiving pharmacological treatment, untreated diabetic patients, and nondiabetic controls. The research will focus on assessing sperm count, motility, morphology, and oxidative stress markers to determine how different diabetes management strategies influence male fertility. Methodology: A comparative observational study will be conducted over 6 months at Wardha Test Tube Baby Centre, AVBRH, Sawangi Meghe, Wardha. Male participants diagnosed with diabetes and experiencing infertility will be categorized into four groups: (1) Type 1 diabetes patients on insulin therapy, (2) Type 2 diabetes patients on oral medications, (3) diabetic patients without pharmacological treatment, and (4) nondiabetic controls. A semen analysis will be performed using standard laboratory techniques to evaluate sperm parameters and oxidative stress levels. ANOVA and correlation tests will be used for statistical analysis. Expected Results: This study aims to provide detailed insights into how different diabetes treatments impact sperm vitality, helping identify the best options for fertility preservation. By generating comparative data on the effects of insulin and oral medications on sperm quality and fertility, the findings will guide clinicians in recommending the most suitable treatment for diabetic men concerned about reproduction. Additionally, understanding how sperm quality changes over time in diabetic men will help determine critical periods for intervention based on disease duration and treatment type. A comparison between treated diabetic patients and nondiabetic controls will further clarify the effects of diabetic medications on sperm health. Study Implications: This study will help evaluate how different diabetes treatments, such as insulin and oral medications, affect sperm health. Understanding these effects can lead to personalized treatment approaches that reduce the negative impact on male fertility. Additionally, the research will provide valuable insights into the complex relationship between diabetes, its management, and male reproductive health. This knowledge will help healthcare professionals develop better strategies for managing infertility in diabetic men, ultimately improving outcomes for couples struggling with conception.

From healthy to osteoporotic: Exploring how bone quality alters implant performance in Pauwels type III fracture.

Osteoporosis compromises bone strength, making bone more susceptible to fractures. Decreased bone density heightens susceptibility to femoral neck fractures. The study investigated the impact of bone density on implant performance across three categories of bone quality: healthy, osteopenic, and osteoporotic. The effectiveness of three commonly used implant types (Femoral Neck System, Dynamic Condylar Screw, and Dynamic Hip Screw, where later two equipped with an anti-rotational screw) was evaluated through finite element analysis for treating Pauwels type III fracture. The bone geometry and material properties were based on a subject-specific CT data. The density and Young's modulus of bone elements were adjusted to simulate osteopenic and osteoporotic bone. FE models were developed and the peak loading values for normal walking and stair climbing conditions were considered. Stability and performance of the implant were assessed using bone strain, implant stress, deformation and rotation of the femoral head, micromotion at the interfaces, strain shielding, and risk of implant cut-out. Except for DCS with AR-screw and FNS implants under stair climbing conditions in weaker bone qualities, the implant stress remained within the yield limit of Ti-alloy. The comprehensive assessment identified DHS2 as the preferred implant option for treating such fractures, even in poor bone quality. The risk of cut-out risk was up to 3.9% higher in DCS2 and 6.3% higher in FNS implanted models than in DHS2. The effect of change in bone quality was comparatively less in DHS2 implants than the other two types.

Control of Reproduction in Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus 1758) Using Kola acuminata Seeds Powder as Reproduction Inhibitor

Background and Objective: The use of synthetic chemicals in the production of food for human consumption has been condemned by many nations, due to their potential health and environmental hazards. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of Kola acuminata (K. acuminata) seed powder on the reproductive performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) through gonadal sterilization. Materials and Methods: Over 60-days at Ongot Fish Farm, 240 juveniles (average weight 16±5.5g) were randomly assigned to four experimental treatments, each with three replicates. The treatments included different dietary levels of K. acuminata seed powder: T1 (0% K. acuminata), T2 (10% K. acuminata), T3 (15% K. acuminata), and T4 (20% K. acuminata). A 35.5% iso-protein feed was formulated using an Excel spreadsheet, and the fish were housed in hapas within a 302 m² pond. Key parameters such as water quality, fish growth, reproductive metrics, and histopathological changes were monitored throughout the study. Results: Results showed that water quality remained within acceptable ranges throughout the study. The administration of K. acuminata seed powder did not significantly (p > 0.05) affect the fish's weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, survival rate, or condition factor. A negative correlation was found between ovary weight and individual fish weight (R = -0.87; p ≤ 0.05). Fish fed K. acuminata diets exhibited significant reductions in egg diameter, wet weight, and volume (p < 0.05). Moreover, the spawning percentage was lower in fish fed K. acuminata, and histological changes in the ovaries, such as vacuoles in the ooplasm and pyknotic nuclei in granulosa cells, were observed (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Dietary supplementation of K. acuminata seed powder affected the growth, reproductive performance, and ovarian histology of Nile tilapia, likely due to the presence of alkaloids and flavonoids. Based on the findings, it is recommended that farmers considering K. acuminata for breeding control limit its inclusion to a maximum of 20% K. acuminata powder per kg of feed.

Analysis of the changes in health-related quality of life and employment status after surgery in patients with lung cancer: a single-center longitudinal study.

This study analyzed the changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and employment status of patients undergoing lung cancer surgery in Japan. This was a single-center, prospective study on patients who underwent lung anatomical resection. The eligible patients completed self-reported HRQOL and employment surveys at baseline and 6 and 12 months postoperatively. HRQOL was assessed using questionnaires including the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and EORTC QLQ and Lung Cancer module and additional social engagement and work-related stress evaluation tools. In total, 93 patients completed the baseline survey, and 80 provided survey data at 6 months postoperatively. The HRQOL scores of several factors significantly declined immediately after the surgery and then gradually improved. The EORTC global health score, which represents overall health status, returned to baseline levels at 12 months postoperatively. However, symptoms such as fatigue, dyspnea, and coughing did not return to baseline levels at 12 months postoperatively. Approximately 68% of the patients who were employed preoperatively continued to work at 12 months postoperatively. Lung cancer surgery significantly affected the HRQOL and employment status of the patients within the first 6 months after surgery. For patients who decide to return to work before full recovery of QOL, we consider the need for enhanced support to assist them as they can reintegrate into work and activities of daily living.

Water-Quality Spatiotemporal Characteristics and Their Drivers for Two Urban Streams in Indianapolis

Water quality in urban streams is critical for the health of aquatic and human life, as it impacts both the environment and water availability. The strong impacts of changing climate and land use on water quality necessitate a better understanding of how stream water quality changes over space and time. To this end, four key water-quality parameters—Escherichia coli (E. coli), nitrate (NO3−), sulfate (SO42−), and chloride (Cl−)—were collected at 12 sites along Fall Creek and Pleasant Run streams in Indianapolis, Indiana USA from 2003 to 2021 on a seasonal basis: March, July, and October each year. Two-way ANOVA tests were used to determine the impacts of seasonality and location on these parameters. Correlation and RDA (redundancy analysis) were used to determine the importance of climatic drivers. Linear regressions were used to quantify the impacts of land-use types on water quality integrating buffer zone size and sub-watershed analysis. Strong seasonal variations of the water-quality parameters were found. March had higher levels of NO3−, SO42−, and Cl− than other months. July had the highest E. coli concentrations compared to March and October. Seven-days antecedent snow and precipitation were found to be significantly related to Cl− and log10(E. coli) and can explain up to 53% and 31% of their variations, respectively. Spatially, urban built-up land in a 1000 m buffer around the sampling sites was positively correlated with the log10(E. coli) variation, while lawn cover was positively related to NO3− concentrations within 500 m buffers. Conversely, NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) values were negatively related to all variables. In conclusion, E. coli is more impacted by higher precipitation and urban land coverage, which could be related to more combined sewer overflow events in July. Cl− peaking in March and its relationship with snow indicate salt runoff during snow melting events. NO3− and SO42− increases are likely due to fertilizer input from residential lawns near streams. This suggests that Indianapolis stream water-quality changes are influenced by both changing climate and land-cover/-muse types.

Assessing Habitat Quality on Synergetic Land-Cover Dataset Across the Greater Mekong Subregion over the Last Four Decades

In the face of rapid infrastructure expansion and escalating anthropogenic activities, it becomes imperative to prioritize the examination of long-term transformations in land cover and ecological quality within the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). We developed an ecological evaluation system integrating the land cover data assimilation framework (LCDAF) with the InVEST model to accomplish this goal. The LCDAF compensates for the disadvantages of weather interference, difficulty in recognizing complex scenes, and poor generalization in remote sensing image classification, and also adds temporal continuity that other fusion methods do not have. The synthesized land cover dataset demonstrates superior overall accuracy compared to five existing global products. This enhanced dataset provides a robust foundation for comprehensive analysis and decision making within the ecological evaluation system. We implemented a rigorous and quantitative assessment of changes in land cover and habitat quality spanning 1980 to 2020. The land cover analysis unveiled a noteworthy trend that surfaced in the dynamic interplay between forested areas and croplands, highlighting simultaneous processes of forest restoration and agricultural expansion, albeit at varying rates. Further analysis of habitat quality showed that the GMS generally sustained a moderate level with a slight downward trend observed over the period. Significantly, Laos attained the highest ranking in habitat quality, succeeded by Myanmar, China, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand. In human factors, land use intensity and landscape fragmentation emerge as contributors with detrimental effects on habitat quality. Substantial progress was achieved in implementing forestland conservation measures, exemplified in regions such as Cambodia and Guangxi Province of China, where these endeavors proved effective in mitigating habitat degradation. Despite these positive endeavors, the GMS’s overall habitat quality did not significantly improve. It emphasizes the enduring challenges confronted by the region in terms of ecological management and habitat conservation.

Response of river water quality to landscape features in a subtropical hilly region

Landscape features have a profound impact on river water quality. However, its impact in subtropical hilly region is unclear. Here, water quality data from 15 catchments were obtained based on a typical subtropical hilly area, the upper Ganjiang River basin. The landscape features in the catchment and buffer zone were calculated, and its effects on river water quality were investigated using redundancy analysis (RDA) and multiple linear regression (MLR) model. Catchment landscape features were found to better explain overall water quality changes compared to buffer zone, and landscape features were found to explain water quality changes more in winter than in summer. Moreover, within the buffer zone, the percentage of grassland had the greatest impact on winter water quality (72.8%), while at the catchment scale, the aggregation index (AI) of grassland contributed the most to changes in winter water quality (31.6%). Nonparametric change-point analysis (nCPA) was used to identify thresholds of landscape features that lead to abrupt changes in water quality. It was found that river water quality can be improved when the percentage of grassland > 0.193%, the largest patch index (LPI) of forest > 7.48% at the buffer zone or the percentage of impervious surfaces < 2.92%, the AI of forest > 98.6% at the catchment scale. This study demonstrated the pivotal role in enhancing river water quality by implementing informed and effective landscape planning for conservation implementation.

The comparative evidence of efficacy of non-invasive brain and nerve stimulation in diabetic neuropathy: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

BackgroundDiabetes mellitus is a highly burdensome metabolic disorder, affecting over 100 million people worldwide and leading to numerous complications. Among these, diabetic neuropathy is one of the most common, with approximately 60% of individuals with diabetes developing this condition. Current pharmacological treatments for diabetic neuropathy are often inadequate, providing limited efficacy and accompanied by a range of adverse effects. Non-invasive brain and nerve stimulation techniques have been proposed as potentially beneficial for diabetic neuropathy, though existing evidence remains inconclusive. This systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) aimed to evaluate the comparative efficacy of various non-invasive brain and nerve stimulation interventions in patients with diabetic neuropathy.MethodsA systematic search of electronic databases was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of non-invasive brain or nerve stimulation in patients with diabetic neuropathy, from inception to September 6, 2024. The primary outcome was the change in pain severity, while secondary outcomes included changes in quality of life and sleep disturbance. Acceptability was assessed through dropout rates (i.e., withdrawal from the study before completion for any reason). A frequentist-based NMA was performed, utilizing odds ratios (OR) and standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) as effect size measures.ResultsThe NMA, which included 15 RCTs (totaling 1,139 participants, with a mean age of 61.2 years and a mean female proportion of 53.8%), evaluated 10 experimental interventions (1 control group, 4 non-invasive brain stimulation methods, and 5 non-invasive nerve stimulation methods). The analysis revealed that only transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) was associated with significantly greater improvements in pain severity (SMD = − 1.67, 95%CIs = − 2.64 to − 0.71) and sleep disruption (SMD = − 1.63, 95%CIs = − 2.27 to − 0.99) compared to the control group. None of the studied interventions showed significant differences in dropout rates or all-cause mortality compared to the control group.ConclusionThis study provides comparative evidence supporting the use of specific brain and nerve stimulation interventions in managing diabetic neuropathy. Future well-designed RCTs with longer treatment durations are recommended to further validate the long-term efficacy of these interventions.Trial registration PROSPERO CRD42024587660.

Analysis of Internal Quality Changes in Apples During Storage Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the internal quality changes in apples during storage via near-infrared spectroscopy. Specifically, we focus on the performance differences in different apple varieties under diverse storage conditions and construct predictive models to determine the optimal storage period. By using near-infrared spectroscopy technology, 384 samples of four apple varieties (Xinjiang Akesu, Wafangdian Huangyuanshuai, Shandong Fuji, and Luochuan Fuji) were analyzed to monitor the changes in their soluble solid content (SSC) and fruit firmness within 7 weeks. The results indicated that, under cold storage conditions, SSC and firmness gradually decreased after peaking between the third and fifth weeks, while the opposite trend was observed at room temperature. To enhance the predictive accuracy of the model, several pretreatment methods were employed, including standardization, multiplicative scatter correction (MSC), and standard normal variate transformation (SNV). Additionally, competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) and uninformative variable elimination (UVE) were utilized for band selection. These pretreatment and selection processes significantly reduced noise and improved model reliability. The best results were achieved with the Normalization-CARS-PLS model for the sugar content at 1 °C, which demonstrated an optimal predictive correlation coefficient (Rp) of 0.904 and a root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.67. For firmness at room temperature, the Normalization-CARS-PLS model also showed an excellent performance, with an Rp of 0.823 and an RMSEP of 0.809. The study of the quality of four varieties of apples under three storage conditions in this paper was able to analyze the changes in the internal quality of apples and predict the optimal storage period of different varieties of apples, which is important for guiding the optimal storage period of apples before ripening.

Quality of life, sleep, and psychological well-being in chronic spontaneous urticaria patients receiving omalizumab: a case-control study.

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) impacts both physical and mental well-being, causing distress and sleep disturbances. While omalizumab reduces disease activity, its effects on mental health and quality of life remain unclear. This study assesses the psychosocial burden and sleep disturbances in CSU patients receiving omalizumab compared to healthy controls and explores their relationship with disease parameters. This case--control study included 210 CSU patients receiving omalizumab for at least three months and 210 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Disease severity was assessed using the Urticaria Activity Score over 7 Days (UAS7) and Urticaria Control Test (UCT), while quality of life was evaluated with the Chronic Urticaria Quality of Life Questionnaire (CU-Q₂oL). Psychological distress and sleep disturbances were measured using validated scales, including the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). CSU patients had significantly higher scores for perceived stress, depression, anxiety, and daytime sleepiness compared to controls (p < 0.001). Patients with a good response to omalizumab also showed significantly higher psychological distress and poorer sleep quality than controls (p < 0.001). Omalizumab response was good in 29.5%, moderate in 38.6%, and limited in 31.9% of patients. Despite treatment, 32.9% reported no change in quality of life, while 35.7% had mild and 31.4% had moderate improvement. A history of atopic disease was present in 55.7% of patients, who had significantly higher daytime sleepiness scores than those without (p = 0.045). In CSU patients, while omalizumab improves symptoms and quality of life, psychological distress persists in substantial subsets, highlighting the need to address mental health and lifestyle factors.

How Austrian primary care physicians evaluated their available resources and quality of care during the first year of COVID-19: a repeated cross-sectional survey study

BackgroundIn March 2020, Austria was among the first European countries to declare a national lockdown, responding to SARS-CoV-2 infections with a stringent ringfencing policy for inpatient beds. These interventions altered access to the Austrian healthcare system. This study aims to understand demand- and supply-side factors influencing Austrian Primary Care Physicians’ (PCPs’) assessment of their care quality during the first ten months of the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThe study deployed a cross-section design based on stratified random sampling, where all Austrian PCPs (split into three disjointed random samples) were invited to participate in an online questionnaire (in May, September and November 2020, respectively). A multinomial logit model was used to analyse the three sets of cross-sectional survey data. The study subjects are all 6,679 Austrian PCP (2020) with a registered practice. The total sample size was 403 (corresponding to a net response rate of 6.3%).ResultsThe primary outcome was the PCPs’ evaluation of their care quality. Secondary outcomes were “patient behaviour and wellbeing” (five questions), with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.74, and the PCPs’ “pandemic preparedness” (five questions) with a smaller internal consistency (0.69). 47% of the PCPs rated their care quality during the first ten months of the pandemic as worse than before the outbreak of COVID-19. The overall assessment correlates to the pandemic stage, lack of preventive care and mediocre information exchange/cooperation within the medical profession. Towards the end of the first lockdown, PCPs’ care quality perception was exclusively shaped by the availability of SARS-CoV-2 tests at the practice.ConclusionsPCP quality assessments can serve as a real-time indicator, helping to anticipate the need for epidemiologic and diagnostic procedures. In Austria, supply-side factors, such as protective equipment and tests, were generally provided quickly by the public authorities. Findings suggest that perceptions of quality have changed considerably over time. Our results show that the understanding of quality changes during the first year. At the beginning, lack of resources or supply-side factors are the main driver for the assessment, while at the end of the first year, demand-side factors drive the quality assessment. In particular, the strong silo mentality and the separation between the care sectors have impacted the quality assessment of PCP.

Efficacy and Safety of Magnetic Resonance-Guided Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomy in Essential Tremor: A Systematic Review and Metanalysis.

Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is an established surgical treatment for essential tremor, providing tremor relief without the need for an incision or general anesthesia. Meta-analyses have been limited in their exploration of the durability of the treatment effect. The study aimed to assess the treatment effect and safety of this procedure over time. Different to other meta-analyses, this study assessed the durability of efficacy over time from 1 month to 5 years follow-up. Investigating the recurrence of tremor was an important target of this work. A systematic search of the literature utilizing set search criteria was conducted with the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane library databases, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Data analysis was conducted in R, utilizing a random-effects model for meta-analysis and a mixed-effects model for meta-regression. Forty-five studies met the inclusion criteria, of which 42 were included in the analyses. Significant changes in hand tremor, total tremor, disability scores, and quality of life scores were demonstrated across the time points investigated, the pooled standardized mean differences being -2.36 (P < 0.0001), -2.08 (P < 0.0001), -2.85 (P < 0.0001), and -1.41 (P < 0.0001) 1 year post-operation. Sensory symptoms and unsteadiness adverse events were frequently observed, with pooled proportions of 22% (95% CI 15%; 31%) and 23% (95% CI 16%; 31%) 1 month post-MRgFUS. Although the procedure demonstrated efficacy and safety across the studies evaluated, meta-regression analysis suggests a decrease in treatment effect over time that requires further investigation. © 2025 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Design and methods of a multicenter randomized clinical trial of effects of diabetes-educated psychologist on glucose management and diabetes distress

IntroductionMany people with type 1 diabetes struggle to manage their glucose levels and experience stress related to the behavioral demands of the disease. The aim of this study is to investigate whether treatment with a diabetes-educated psychologist can improve glucose levels and decrease diabetes distress.Materials and methodsIndividuals with HbA1c &amp;gt;62 mmol/mol (7.8%) were randomized to either psychological treatment or control group. The study duration for each participant was 52 weeks. Patients who received treatment met with a diabetes-educated psychologist a minimum of seven times. In total 6 outpatient diabetes units and 10 psychologists participated. Cognitive behavioral therapy was primarily the treatment of choice. Both groups met with a diabetes nurse and/or physician at the start of the study and at 3, 6, and 12 months. HbA1c, blood pressure, and weight were measured at scheduled visits. Diabetes distress, quality of life, hypoglycemia confidence, and treatment satisfaction were evaluated using questionnaires. The primary endpoint is the difference in HbA1c from baseline to week 52. Secondary endpoints are changes in diabetes distress and quality of life from baseline to week 52, as well as treatment satisfaction at 52 weeks.DiscussionThis study seeks to improve knowledge about how to support patients who struggle to manage their diabetes. If the results of this study show that psychological treatment has an effect on HbA1c or on diabetes distress, it could indicate that psychologists should become more involved in diabetes care teams. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT03753997

More players in the treatment of transthyretin amyloidosis? The HELIOS-B study.

Transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis is a progressive and fatal disease caused by the deposition of TTR amyloid fibrils in multiple organs and tissues. The HELIOS-B trial (a phase three, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study) tested the safety and efficacy of vutrisiran, a subcutaneous gene silencer, in patients with wild-type or inherited TTR cardiomyopathy. The two primary endpoints were a composite of all-cause mortality and recurrent cardiovascular (CV) events (CV hospitalizations and urgent heart failure visits) assessed in the overall population and the monotherapy group. Secondary endpoints included all-cause mortality up to 42 months and 30-month change in functional capacity, health status, and quality of life. A total of 655 patients were enrolled in the study (vutrisiran, n = 326; placebo, n = 329). The mean age was 77 years, and 40% received tafamidis at baseline. Treatment with vutrisiran resulted in a reduction in all-cause and CV mortality events, as well as preservation of functional capacity, quality of life, and health status in patients with TTR cardiomyopathy.

Mild Changes in Sternocleidomastoid Muscle Quality Predict Pseudarthrosis after Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

Retrospective cohort. To investigate the impact of cervical paraspinal muscle mass and quality on the rate of pseudarthrosis and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Poor muscle quality has been shown to correlate with inferior outcomes in spine surgery. However, few studies have investigated the impact of paraspinal sarcopenia on pseudoarthrosis following cervical spine surgery. Adult patients who underwent primary, elective one-to-four level ACDF with preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and postoperative radiographs were included. MRIs were reviewed to assess sternocleidomastoid (SCM) cross-sectional area (CSA) and Goutallier grade at the C5-C6 disc space. Pseudarthrosis was diagnosed on 1-year postoperative flexion-extension radiographs as greater than 1 millimeter of interspinous motion between each instrumented level. Patient demographic and surgical variables and 1-year patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were compared between those with and without pseudoarthrosis on bivariate and multivariate analyses. 205 patients were included (33.7% with pseudoarthrosis). The pseudoarthrosis group had a higher percentage of patients with 4-level (7.25% vs. 1.47%) and 3-level (30.4% vs. 17.6%, P=0.01) ACDF. The groups were similar in terms of demographics, surgical variables, and SCM area normalized to BMI. After controlling for SCM CSA group, age, sex, BMI, and number of levels fused, higher Goutallier grade independently increased the odds of pseudoarthrosis (odds ratio (OR): 3.46, P=0.009). Patients with greater SCM fatty infiltration experienced greater improvement in PCS scores (P=0.023), but there were no other differences in PROM scores between groups. Although this analysis did not show an association between SCM muscle size and pseudoarthrosis, even mild fatty infiltration appears to be independently predictive of pseudoarthrosis. In contrast, PROMs were not associated with SCM size or fatty infiltration. Further work is needed to confirm these findings and explore their clinical implications.

Blind and endmember guided autoencoder model for unmixing the absorbance spectra of phytoplankton pigments

Hyperspectral sensing of phytoplankton, free-living microscopic photosynthetic organisms, offers a comprehensive and scalable method for assessing water quality and monitoring changes in aquatic ecosystems. However, unmixing the intrinsic optical properties of phytoplankton from hyperspectral data is a complex challenge. This research addresses the problem of non-linear unmixing hyperspectral absorbance data of concentrated water samples using Blind (BAE) and Endmember Guided Autoencoder (EGAE). We show that spectral unmixing using the EGAE model with different objective functions can effectively estimate the abundance of different optical components in spectral data. The EGAE model demonstrated a higher correlation between unmixed endmember abundances and ground truth for chlorophyll-a (chl-a) and fucoxanthin (fx) biomarker pigment concentrations compared to the BAE model, effectively unmixed the absorbance spectrum of cyanobacterial pigment phycocyanin (pc) and was robust to changes in network architecture. It can adaptively unmix various endmembers without impacting the abundance estimates of other pigments. Our results demonstrate that EGAE provided stable abundance estimates and improved the accuracy and reliability of identifying and quantifying pigments, allowing for more precise unmixing of hyperspectral data into their constituent endmembers. We anticipate that our study will serve as a starting point for targeted unmixing of specific photosynthetic pigments using EGAE.

Changes in Health-Related Quality of Life Among Chinese Seasonal Retired Migrants to Hainan Island: A Prospective Cohort Study

Changes in Health-Related Quality of Life Among Chinese Seasonal Retired Migrants to Hainan Island: A Prospective Cohort Study

Interventions influencing patient-reported outcomes (PROs) response rates in cancer: a scoping review.

Despite the emerging evidence around patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) monitoring benefits in oncology, completion rates remain low due to numerous multi-level barriers. This review summarizes existing literature on interventions employed to improve PROMs response rates in routine practice among patients with cancer. PubMed database was used to perform a literature search of articles published between 2000 and 2022. Articles were included if they focused on PROMs implementation in non-clinical trial setting and reported results on methodologies and their influence on response rates. A total of 495 abstracts were screened for eligibility, and 14 articles that met the inclusion criteria were included. PROMs mode of administration varied between electronic only (four studies, 28.6%), paper only (two studies, 14.3%), electronic-paper (six studies, 42.9%), and electronic-telephone (two studies, 14.3%). Reminder systems, using electronic, paper, or in-person, were implemented in 12 studies (85.7%). Different strategies of initial recruitment, aiming to enhance patients' PROM engagements, were outlined in five studies (35.7%). Multiple interventions were implemented to improve PROMs completion rates. Mode of questionnaire administration, reminder systems, patient education on benefits of PROMs, and clinical staff involvement were shown to be effective in increasing the overall completion rate. This review provides a summary for researchers and clinicians on the current practice of PROMs implementation, thus creating a framework for the impact of different methodologies on patient's response rate for better monitoring of recurring symptoms, including long-term side effects, emotional distress, and changes in health-related quality of life.

Application of Ozone Technology on Soymilk and Its Impact on Product Characteristics

ABSTRACT Soymilk, a protein-rich alternative to animal-based milk, requires careful consideration of safety and physicochemical stability during processing. Thermal processing is commonly applied in soymilk product but can impact the quality of the final product. Non-thermal methods are expected to minimize quality changes; one such method is ozone treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ozone exposure time (5, 10, 15, and 30 minutes) on microbial reduction and physicochemical properties of soymilk, including oxidative stability, color, and rheological properties. The ozone is produced from a dielectric barrier discharge reactor at a flow rate of 0.2 L/min, generating an ozone concentration of 8.40 mg/L and a dissolved ozone concentration of (1.32 ppmto1.43 ppm). The results show a significant reduction in total mesophilic aerobes (1.86 log to 4.13 log) and Enterobacteriaceae (780 MPN/mL to undetectable levels). Additionally, there is an increase in peroxide values (0.64 meq O2/kg to 1,93 meq O2/kg) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values (1.6 µg MDA/L to 4.69 µg MDA/L). At the same time, both whiteness index and apparent viscosity decrease with longer ozone exposure times. In conclusion, the non-thermal ozone method has the potential to be applied to process soymilk, as it is effective in inactivating microbial while maintaining product quality. However, future research is required to optimize exposure time and ozone concentration to minimize oxidation effects.

Minimal Clinically Important Differences in CAPE-V Auditory-Perceptual Ratings of Voice Quality.

This study aimed to determine the minimally detectable changes (MDCs) and minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) of auditory-perceptual ratings of voice quality using the Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) scales (i.e., Overall Severity, Roughness, Breathiness, Strain). Participants (n = 63) included patients diagnosed with phonotraumatic vocal fold lesions who underwent either voice therapy or laryngeal surgery and reported posttreatment voice improvements. Nine expert voice-specialized speech-language pathologists rated the pre- and posttreatment voice samples using CAPE-V scales (i.e., via 100-mm visual analog scales with included textual labels for severity). Separately, raters judged the magnitude of perceived change between pre- and posttreatment samples using Jaeschke's Global Ratings of Change Scale, which served as the anchor for MCID calculations. Intrarater reliability and the standard error of measurement were used to calculate MDCs at the 95% confidence interval for each dimension. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to identify MCID thresholds, which were defined as values that optimized sensitivity and specificity while also exceeding the MDC. MDC values, representing thresholds for determining whether a true change has occurred, were 14.9 mm for Overall Severity, 14.6 mm for Roughness, 12.1 mm for Breathiness, and 18.7 mm for Strain. MCID thresholds, representing thresholds for determining clinically meaningful change, were 16.5 mm for Overall Severity, 16.5 mm for Roughness, and 15.5 mm for Breathiness. All potential MCID thresholds for Strain were smaller than the MDC value; thus, a valid MCID threshold was not obtained. This study represents the first known attempt to establish MDC and MCID thresholds for auditory-perceptual ratings of voice quality. The thresholds provide guidance for determining whether real and meaningful changes in voice quality have occurred in patients undergoing treatment for phonotraumatic voice disorders. Future research should explore these values across various voice disorder populations and severity levels and incorporate patient-reported outcomes as anchors to enhance clinical decision making and treatment outcomes in voice rehabilitation.