Distribution Of Types Research Articles

Analysis of medical practices used as indicators in the fourth basic plan for the promotion of cancer control in Japan.

In the Fourth Basic Plan to Promote Cancer Control Programs, the number of medical practices using claims data from the National Database (NDB) is measured as a clinical indicator. This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of patients who received care as an indicator of medical practices using more manageable claims data. We used the claims data collected by the DeSC Healthcare, Inc., and included patients diagnosed with cancer between 2017 and 2022 in this study. We compared age and cancer type distributions between the study population and population estimates, as well as cancer-specific medical practices with the NDB open data. We also described the number of medical practices, patients, and the percentage of patients receiving care by age and region. The percentage of female patients who underwent treatment was also calculated. A total of 1 251 850 patients was included. The distribution of cancer types was similar to the estimated prevalence, and the number of medical practices resembled the NDB open data; however, the age distribution was skewed. The highest median number of medical procedures per patient was six for specialized palliative care, whereas the others were one medical procedure per patient. The percentage of patients receiving care according to age was classified into three groups: increased with age, decreased with age, and peaked in their 40s. The percentage of patients receiving care varied by region depending on the type of medical practice. Of the patients who received care for lymphedema, 93.8% were female. The background information of cancer patients who received designated care may help interpret the total number of medical practices used as clinical indicators in cancer control programs.

A prospective multi-site translational study investigating the association of gut microbiome (GM) diversity with pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant treatment in early stage rectal and esophageal cancer.

TPS849 Background: The diversity of the GM is defined as the number and relative abundance distribution of distinct types of microorganisms colonizing within the gut. Studies have suggested that dysbiosis of the GM confers a predisposition to certain malignancies and impacts response to immunomodulating therapies. The influence of the GM diversity on the pathological response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy is unclear. Some studies have suggested that the GM may offer predictive biomarkers for response to chemoradiation in rectal cancer. Other studies in early-stage rectal cancer patients indicated an association between GM diversity and pathological outcomes following neo-adjuvant therapy (NAT). We hypothesize that a more diverse GM constitution at baseline leads to an improved pathological response at the time of definitive surgery. Methods: We designed a cross-institutional translational study investigating the impact of the GM diversity on the efficacy of NAT in GI cancers by assessing its association with pathological response. The study population includes patients with early-stage rectal or esophageal cancer due to commence NAT (including chemotherapy and chemoradiation) who are planned for definitive surgery. Exclusion criteria includes prior allogenic tissue/solid organ transplantation and prior receipt of anti-cancer therapy. The study assessments include fecal sampling of the GM prior to NAT, upon completion and again six months post completion of therapy. Fecal samples are analysed by 16S RNA sequencing. Pathological response will be examined at time of surgery and patients will be classified as responders (complete pathological response) or non-responders. The primary endpoint of the study is to examine the association between the GM diversity and pathological response. Exploratory analysis will include the assessment of the association between cf-DNA and the GM diversity as well as an assessment of the association between cf-DNA at baseline and pCR. Species richness (Alpha Diversity) will be analysed using the Shannon diversity index and Jaccard similarity index will be used to calculate beta diversity. Following planned study recruitment, classification and clustering analysis will be performed with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Random Forest analysis. Logistic regression analysis adjusting for potential confounding factors will be employed to assess the primary endpoint of the association between GM and complete pCR in the final statistical analysis. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals will be presented. This trial accrued 11 patients between May 2023 and Sept 2024. Out of the 11 patients enrolled, 9 patients have undergone their planned surgery. We are expecting to have 30 patients accrued prior to Jan 2025.

Exploring adult glioma through MRI: A review of publicly available datasets to guide efficient image analysis.

Publicly available data are essential for the progress of medical image analysis, in particular for crafting machine learning models. Glioma is the most common group of primary brain tumors, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a widely used modality in their diagnosis and treatment. However, the availability and quality of public datasets for glioma MRI are not well known. In this review, we searched for public datasets of glioma MRI using Google Dataset Search, The Cancer Imaging Archive, and Synapse. A total of 28 datasets published between 2005 and May 2024 were found, containing 62019 images from 5515 patients. We analyzed the characteristics of these datasets, such as the origin, size, format, annotation, and accessibility. Additionally, we examined the distribution of tumor types, grades, and stages among the datasets. The implications of the evolution of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification on tumors of the brain are discussed, in particular the 2021 update that significantly changed the definition of glioblastoma. Potential research questions that could be explored using these datasets were highlighted, such as tumor evolution through malignant transformation, MRI normalization, and tumor segmentation. Interestingly, only 2 datasets among the 28 studied reflect the current WHO classification. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the publicly available datasets for glioma MRI currently at our disposal, providing aid to medical image analysis researchers in their decision-making on efficient dataset choice.

The carbon transport mediated by the mild oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) in the seamount area of the Western Pacific.

This study analyzed the relationship between the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) and various types of carbon, such as POC, DOC, and DIC, in the Y3 seamount area in the Western Pacific. The results indicated that the OMZ was located at 200-1000m and a threshold of 100μmol/kg was established for this area of the Western Pacific. The DOC and POC changed drastically out of OMZ while they were relatively stable within the OMZ due to the low oxygen. The rates of decrease in DOC and POC within the OMZ were significantly lower than those above the OMZ, indicating that the organic matter (OM) degradation rate within the OMZ was much lower than that above the OMZ. DIC maintained a continuously increasing trend with depth, but the DIC growth rate above, within, and below the OMZ decreased gradually. The controlling factors for the various types of carbon were different. POC was closely related to the decomposition of OM. The presence of recalcitrant organic carbon in DOC weakened the relationship between DOC and OM decomposition, and DIC components were complex and related to biological activity, temperature, and carbonate manifestation. This study explored the distribution of various types of carbon in the Western Pacific, providing support for studying the marine carbon cycle under a low-oxygen background.

Novel-designed antimicrobial peptides with dual antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions against Cutibacterium acnes for acne vulgaris therapy.

Acne vulgaris is a prevalent skin condition among adolescents, primarily instigated by over-colonization and subsequent inflammation triggered by Cutibacterium acnes. Although topical and oral antibiotics are standard treatments, they often lead to the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and are associated with undesirable side effects. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered a promising solution to these challenges. In this study, we aimed to develop novel short AMPs to combat C. acnes. By comparing sequences and abstracting the distribution of residue types of established AMPs, we derived a sequence template. Using this template, we crafted novel anti-C. acnes peptides comprising 13 amino acid residues. To enhance their potential therapeutic application, we designed a series of peptides by varying the number and position of the tryptophan residues. Among these peptides, DAP-7 and DAP-10 demonstrated potent antimicrobial activity against both antibiotic-susceptible and -resistant strains of C. acnes, with minimal cytotoxicity. The antimicrobial action of these peptides was attributed to their ability to target the bacterial membrane, resulting in permeabilization and rupture. Moreover, DAP-7 and DAP-10 effectively reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by C. acnes and remained stable for up to 12 h after exposure to proteases found in acne lesions. Notably, DAP-7 decreased the C. acnes colonies on the ears and significantly alleviated C. acnes-induced ear swelling in a mouse model. Our findings suggest that the DAP-7 and DAP-10 peptides hold promise as candidates for developing a new acne vulgaris treatment.

A Ratio-Type Weighted Geometric Distribution for Modelling Overdispersed Count Data

Weighted distributions have always been a popular approach in developing flexible distributions for data modelling. In this paper, we introduce a flexible ratio-type weighted geometric distribution by adopting the geometric distribution as a basic standard distribution and opting for weights, represented as . The proposed distribution is overdispersed and is capable of accommodating data with small mode values such as 0, 1 and 2. The proposed distribution has the following properties – unimodal, log-concave and has increasing failure rates. The moment estimator is obtained, and the resulting estimated parameter is utilized as the initial point in finding the estimators based on the maximum likelihood technique and probability generating function. A probability comparison between the typical geometric distribution and the proposed distribution is discussed as well. A collection of insurance claim datasets is utilized for model fitting, and it was found out that generally, the proposed distribution can adequately fit the datasets as opposed to other contending distributions.

Organizing Warriors in the 6th and 7th century AD

Late Germanic Iron Age weapon burials from Bornholm, Denmark, have been used to suggest the presence of a Merovingian inspired organization of warriors including conscripts. This article compares these burials’ inventory, focusing on the first part of the Late Ger-manic Iron Age (AD 520-630), to the distribution of similar types of metal stray-finds. Mapping the stray-finds from Bornholm indicates the whereabouts of the warriors and it is discussed whether this can contribute to a plausible representation of warriors and a geographically rooted organization of warriors. This evidence is tested on equivalent stray-find material from Sjælland and adjacent islands where weapon burials are almost absent. The study shows a difference between the burial inventory and the stray-finds regarding relative numbers of specific object types, and it is clear that the standardized set of weapons originally assumed to picture the conscripted warrior cannot be found. It is proposed that answers to how, why and in what numbers armed men were gathered are to be found in a combination of the martial mentality and ideology of the society in general and in a social code of conduct with mutual obligations between free men and leaders and between leaders of different ranks.

Clinico-epidemiological profile of children with atopic dermatitis

Objectives: This study was conducted to assess clinico-epidemiological features of atopic dermatitis (AD) in children and evaluate disease severity using the SCORing atopic dermatitis index (SCORAD Index). Material and Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study carried out at the department of Dermatology at a tertiary care centre in North India over a period of 1 year. This study enrolled children aged between 3 months and 16 years of age clinically diagnosed with AD using Hanifin and Rajka criteria (HRC). Results: The prevalence of AD was found to be 8.12%. Age of presentation ranged from 4 months to 16 years of age, with a mean age of 4.18 ± 3.88 years. 42% of patients had personal and 52.50% of patients had a family history of atopy. We report pruritus as a major presenting symptom seen in 100% of children with AD. Typical morphology and distribution were observed in 97.50% of cases, with the face being the most commonly affected site in infants (95.08%) and flexural involvement more common in children (77.70%). Infants had acute eczema (63.93%) and children with AD mostly presented with chronic eczematous lesions (58.27%). The most common minor feature of HRC observed was xerosis, seen in 94% of patients. Amongst atypical features, scalp scaling was the most common feature seen in 17%. SCORAD Index grading was mild in 49.50% of children with AD, moderate in 40.50% and severe grading was seen only in 10% of children. Conclusion: Clinical features, prevalence and severity of AD are affected by various geographical, environmental and local factors such as lifestyle, clothing and eating/dietary factors.

P-1851. Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns in Pediatric Group A Streptococcus Infections in Houston, TX

Abstract Background Group A Streptococcus (GAS) causes a large spectrum of disease, including invasive, pharyngeal and skin / soft tissue (SSTI)1. Penicillin remains the mainstay therapy but recently, resistance to second-line therapies has steadily increased, especially after COVID19, with macrolide-resistant GAS as an emerging threat2. Given recent surges of GAS associated with later stages of the pandemic,4 we sought to compare pre-pandemic (2013-2019) and pandemic (2020-2023) GAS epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance patterns.Figure 1Total number of isolates and distribution of disease types per year. Methods GAS isolates were collected from Texas Children’s Hospital laboratory from January 2013-December 2023 and grouped into pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. Disease type [invasive (INV), skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI), or pharyngeal (PHG)] was determined from the medical record. Isolates were grown, stocked and emm typed5. Resistance to tetracycline, erythromycin, and clindamycin was determined by disk diffusion. Intermediate and resistant strains were collectively considered non-susceptible (NS).Figure 2Frequency of antibiotic non-susceptibility by year Results We analyzed 2,717 isolates (pre-pandemic n=1640; pandemic n=1077) and observed a similar distribution of disease types between the two periods (Figure 1). Distribution of emm types differed with emm12 (1.7-fold) and emm3 (1.6-fold) increasing significantly and emm89 (0.6-fold), emm4 (0.6-fold), emm87 (0.4-fold) and emm6 (0.3-fold) decreasing significantly. Overall NS to any antibiotic increased from 19% to 39% between the two periods (P< 0.0001). NS in the pandemic period was primarily driven by NS to clindamycin, increasing by >3-fold (6% vs 20%) (Figure 2). Among emm types showing NS to clindamycin pre vs pandemic, emm28 increased 10-fold (3% vs 31%, P< 0.0001), emm1 increased 5-fold (5% vs 24%, P =< 0.001), and emm12 increased 2.6-fold (6% vs 16%, P< 0.001) (Figure 3). NS to any antibiotic increased independent of disease type between the two periods. Figure 3 Frequency of clindamycin non-susceptibility by emm type Conclusion NS increased significantly in pandemic period, mostly driven by NS to clindamycin. A small subset of emm types disproportionately contributed to clindamycin NS in pandemic period, although the mechanism remains unknown. Clinicians should be aware of the possible reduced effectiveness of clindamycin in pediatric GAS infections. Disclosures Jonathon C. McNeil, MD, Nabriva: site investigator on clinical trial Anthony R. Flores, MD, MPH, PhD, GlycosBio, Inc: Grant/Research Support

Accessing Different Protein Conformer Ensembles with Tunable Capillary Vibrating Sharp-Edge Spray Ionization.

Capillary vibrating sharp-edge spray ionization (cVSSI) has been used to control the droplet charging of nebulized microdroplets and monitor effects on protein ion conformation makeup as determined by mass spectrometry (MS). Here it is observed that the application of voltage results in noticeable differences to the charge state distributions (CSDs) of ubiquitin ions. The data can be described most generally in three distinct voltage regions: Under low-voltage conditions (<+200 V, LV regime), low charge states (2+ to 4+ ions) dominate the mass spectra. For midvoltage conditions (+200 to +600 V, MV regime), higher charge states (7+ to 12+ ions) are observed. For high-voltage conditions (>+600 V, HV regime), the "nano-electrospray ionization (nESI)-type distribution" is achieved in which the 6+ and 5+ species are observed as the dominant ions. Analysis of these results suggests that different pathways to progeny nanodroplet production result in the observed ions. For the LV regime, aerodynamic breakup leads to low charge progeny droplets that are selective for the native solution conformation ensemble of ubiquitin (minus multimeric species). In the MV regime, the large droplets persist for longer periods of time, leading to droplet heating and a shift in the conformation ensemble to partially unfolded species. In the HV regime, droplets access progeny nanodroplets faster, leading to native conformation ensemble sampling as indicated by the observed nESI-type CSD. The notable observation of limited multimer formation and adduct ion formation in the LV regime is hypothesized to result from droplet aero breakup resulting in protein and charge carrier partitioning in sampled progeny droplets. The tunable droplet charging afforded by cVSSI presents opportunities to study the effects of the droplet charge, droplet size, and mass spectrometer inlet temperature on the conformer ensemble sampled by the mass spectrometer. Additionally, the approach may provide a tool for rapid comparison of protein stabilities.

P-299. Clinical and microbiological characteristics of hospital-onset and community-onset invasive urinary tract infection caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli

Abstract Background In the era of community spread of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (ESBLEC), the differences in clinical and microbiological characteristics between hospital-onset (HO) and community-onset (CO) invasive urinary tract infection (iUTI) caused by ESBLEC have not been well documented in East Asia. Methods We conducted a post-hoc analysis of a multicenter, observational study between 2020 and 2021 at 10 facilities across Japan. The inclusion criteria were 1) diagnosis of iUTI, 2) isolation of ESBLEC from urine or blood cultures, and 3) treatment with cefmetazole (CMZ) or meropenem (MEM) as definitive therapy within 96 hours of culture collection and continued for at least 3 days. Patients diagnosed with iUTI within 3 days after admission were assigned to the CO group, while others were assigned to the HO group. Clinical characteristics of the HO and CO groups were compared after reduction of treatment bias between the CMZ and MEM groups using a propensity score-based adjustment. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole-genome sequencing analysis were performed to investigate differences between the HO and CO isolates. Results Thirty-two and ninety-five patients were included in the HO and CO groups, respectively. The clinical and microbiological characteristics were summarized in Tables 1 and 2, respectively. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, exposure to β-lactam antimicrobials and indwelling urinary catheter were associated with the HO group. Clinical effectiveness in the early treatment period was more frequently observed in the CO group, although the 30-day mortality rates were not significantly different between the HO and CO groups. There was no difference in distributions of sequence types and CTX-M subtypes between the HO and CO isolates. The CO isolates had a higher resistance rate to gentamicin than the HO isolates. Pangenome analysis revealed that aac(3)-II (aac(3)-IId or IIe), which confers resistance to gentamicin, was frequently present in the CO isolates. Conclusion Compared to the patients with CO-iUTI by ESBLEC, those with HO-iUTI were characterized by prior exposure to β-lactam antimicrobials and indwelling urinary catheter. The CO isolates were associated with resistance to gentamicin and carriage of aac(3)-II. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

P-643. Incidence and Clinical Characteristics of Invasive Group A Streptococcal Infections in Underhoused Adults in Toronto, Canada

Abstract Background Post-pandemic increases of invasive group A streptococcal disease (iGAS) have been reported in many areas of the world; increased risk associated with illicit intravenous (IV) drug use has also been identified. Methods Since 1995, the Toronto Invasive Bacterial Diseases Network (TIBDN) has conducted prospective, population-based surveillance for iGAS in residents of Toronto/Peel Region (pop, 4.5M) in Canada. Homeless adults admitted to hospitals in the surveillance area are counted as residents. General and homeless population estimates were taken from Statistics Canada and published literature (doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030221). Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory performs emm typing. Results In 2022/23, 88 iGAS cases (14% of all iGAS cases, 17% of adult iGAS) occurred in homeless persons; all were adults. Estimated iGAS incidence in homeless adults was 210/100,000/yr, versus 5.4/100,000/yr in other adults. Homeless persons with iGAS were younger than other adults (median age 47 v. 59 yr, P&amp;lt; .001); 70% were male (v. 63% in other adults, P=0.2). Homeless adults were more likely than other adults to be smokers (53% v. 27%, P&amp;lt; .001), to use IV drugs (46% v. 10%, P&amp;lt; .001), to have non-intact skin (43% v. 27%, P&amp;lt; .001) and to report recent soft tissue trauma (27% v. 17 %, P&amp;lt; .001). Compared to other adults, homeless adults were more likely to have comorbidities (90% v. 79%, P&amp;lt; .001), but less likely to be immunocompromised (3% v. 19%, P&amp;lt; .001). Presentations differed in homeless versus other adults (Table 1). 16 (18%) homeless adults required ICU admission, 10 (11%) mechanical ventilation, and 5 (8.5%) died. After age adjustment, outcomes did not differ between homeless and other adults. The median hospital length of stay was 8.5 days (IQR: 4-22) for homeless adults, and 8 days (IQR: 5-18) for other adults (P=0.7). The distribution of emm types of isolates in homeless and other adults is shown in Figure 1. iGAS in homeless adults was less likely to be caused by isolates of emm 1 and 12, and more likely to be caused by isolates of emm 49 and 74. Conclusion Homeless persons are at very high risk of iGAS, with IV drug use and skin integrity issues contributing. Outcomes of iGAS are similar to other adults. Differences in the emm types of isolates may be relevant to future vaccine program planning. Disclosures Allison McGeer, MD, AstraZeneca: Honoraria|GSK: Honoraria|Merck: Honoraria|Moderna: Honoraria|Novavax: Honoraria|Pfizer: Grant/Research Support|Pfizer: Honoraria|Roche: Honoraria|Seqirus: Grant/Research Support|Seqirus: Honoraria

P-133. Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess as the herald of underlying colon neoplasm

Abstract Background Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess (KPLA) is an endemic disease in Eastern Asia, especially Taiwan. Hypervirulent K. pneumoniae strain in the gut is able to translocate across the colonic mucosal defects to the portal system, resulting in subsequent liver abscess. Occult colon cancer in patients with KPLA has been described in several case series. However, data regarding colonoscopic findings in patients with KPLA in Taiwan have not been investigated. We aimed to investigate whether the diagnosis of KPLA serves as a marker of underlying colorectal neoplasm. Methods Consecutive patients with KPLA in Taipei Veterans General Hospital from April 2011 to January 2024 were included in this retrospective study. Clinical data were collected and colonscopy was recommended within 6 months of diagnosis of KPLA according to the patient’s will. Hypervirulent strains were defined as those with rmpA or rmpA2. In patients receiving colonoscopy, we determined the risk factors of underlying colon adenoma/adenocarcinoma using a logistic regression analysis. Results A total of 491 unique KPLA episode was collected during the study period. Most of the available strains (401 of 422, 95%) were hypervirulent strains, and most of them (339 of 422) belonged to capsular type K1 or K2. One hundred and thirteen patients (23%) had undergone colonoscopy within six months of diagnosis of KPLA. Clinical characteristics were similar between patients who had undergone colonoscopy or not. The findings of colonoscopy showed that 48 patients had adenomas (42.5%) and 12 patients had adenocarcinoma (10.6%). Patients with colon adenoma/adenocarcinoma had a higher proportion of age over 50 years (90% versus 62.3%, P&amp;lt; 0.001) and female (45% versus 26.4%, P=0.04), compared with patients without colon adenoma/adenocarcinoma. The proportion of hypervirulent strains and the distribution of capsular types were similar between the 2 groups. In multivariate analysis, age over 50 years was the only independent risk factor for colon adenoma/adenocarcinoma (P=0.002, OR=5.14, 95% CI=1.84-14.36). Conclusion Colon adenoma and adenocarcinoma were notably common in patients with KPLA. We recommended colonoscopy be routinely performed in patients with KPLA in the endemic area, especially for those older than 50 years old. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Single-Cell RNA Sequencing on Formalin-Fixed and Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) Tissue Identified Multi-Ciliary Cells in Breast Cancer

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the suitability of formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples and fixed fresh (FF) samples for single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq). To this end, we compared single-cell profiles from FFPE and matched FF tissue samples of one invasive carcinoma of no special type carcinoma (invasive ductal carcinoma–IDC) and one invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) to assess consistency in cell type distribution and molecular profiles. The results were validated using immunohistochemistry (IHC), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and electron microscopy. Additionally, immune cell proportions identified by IHC were quantified using QuPath and compared to the scRNAseq results. FFPE- and FF-derived libraries demonstrated high-quality sequencing metrics, and cellular heterogeneity was similar. No exclusive cell populations were identified by either approach. The four samples analysis identified six types of epithelial cells, as well as tumoral microenvironment populations. The scRNAseq results from epithelial neoplastic cells were concordant with common IHC markers. The proportion of immune cells identified by IHC in FFPE sections were similar to those obtained by scRNAseq. We identified and validated a previously poorly recognized subpopulation of neoplastic multi-ciliated cells (MCCs) (FOXJ1, ROPN1L). Analysis of FOXJ1 in 214 ER-positive invasive carcinomas demonstrated protein expression in one third of tumors, suggesting frequent focal MCC differentiation. Our results support the suitability of scRNAseq analysis using FFPE tissue, and identified a subpopulation of neoplastic MCC in breast cancer.

Impact of Combined Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (Comb-NMES) on Glucose Signaling and Muscle Myofiber Distribution in a Patient with Acute Spinal Cord Injury and Lower Motor Neuron Lesion

Introduction: This case report examines the impact of a novel combined neuromuscular electrical stimulation (Comb-NMES) regimen on muscle glucose signaling, fiber type distribution, and metabolic function in a patient with acute spinal cord injury (SCI) and lower motor neuron lesions (LMNLs). Case Report: A 32-year-old male with complete T9 SCI underwent a ten-session Comb-NMES intervention targeting the quadriceps. Muscle biopsies and blood samples were analyzed pre- and post-intervention to evaluate changes in muscle fiber types, key metabolic proteins, fasting insulin, glucose, and lipid profiles. Results: The intervention led to a 74.7% and 28.2% reduction in fasting insulin and glucose, respectively. Muscle analysis showed significant increases in CaMK II, Hexokinase II, and IRS-1, indicating improved glucose metabolism. Conclusion: Comb-NMES training markedly improved metabolic control and muscle glucose metabolism in a patient with acute SCI and LMNLs. Enhanced insulin sensitivity and glucose utilization were evidenced by upregulated metabolic proteins, which suggests that Comb-NMES is a promising intervention for improving muscle and metabolic health in SCI patients with LMNLs. Further studies are needed to confirm these benefits and explore the long-term effects.

Multifunctional DNA-Collagen Biomaterials: Developmental Advances and Biomedical Applications.

The complexation of nucleic acids and collagen forms a platform biomaterial greater than the sum of its parts. This union of biomacromolecules merges the extracellular matrix functionality of collagen with the designable bioactivity of nucleic acids, enabling advances in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, gene delivery, and targeted therapy. This review traces the historical foundations and critical applications of DNA-collagen complexes and highlights their capabilities, demonstrating them as biocompatible, bioactive, and tunable platform materials. These complexes form structures across length scales, including nanoparticles, microfibers, and hydrogels, a process controlled by the relative amount of each component and the type of nucleic acid and collagen. The broad distribution of different types of collagen within the body contributes to the extensive biological relevance of DNA-collagen complexes. Functional nucleic acids can form these complexes, such as siRNA, antisense oligonucleotides, DNA origami nanostructures, and, in particular, single-stranded DNA aptamers, often distinguished by their rapid self-assembly at room temperature and formation without external stimuli and modifications. The simple and seamless integration of nucleic acids within collagenous matrices enhances biomimicry and targeted bioactivity, and provides stability against enzymatic degradation, positioning DNA-collagen complexes as an advanced biomaterial system for many applications including angiogenesis, bone tissue regeneration, wound healing, and more.

LANDSCAPE FACTORS FORMING THE STEPPE ZONE OF THE ZHAYIK RIVER BASIN OF THE WEST KAZAKHSTAN REGION

This article examines the influence of various natural factors on the formation of landscape and soil complexes in the Zhaiyk River basin. The key components considered in the study include soil types, topography, and natural landscapes. The analysis reveals that the soils of the region range from chestnut and chernozem to sod-podzolic and solonetz soils, which determine the characteristics of vegetation and agricultural potential. Soil complexes are largely shaped by topography, water regime, and climatic conditions. Based on cartographic data obtained from satellite imagery and digital terrain models, an analysis was conducted to assess the distribution of soils and their relationship with vegetation types, water bodies, and other natural features. The results of the study reveal important patterns in the distribution of soil types and assess their role in the region’s ecosystems, providing practical insights for land resource management, agriculture, and environmental conservation in the Zhaiyk River basin. Topography, in turn, affects water exchange and erosion processes, which significantly influence soil types and their distribution. Special attention is given to identifying the interrelationships between soils, topography, and vegetation, as well as the role of these factors in the formation of sustainable ecosystems. The findings confirm that the complex interaction of topographical and soil features influences the distribution of landscape zones, which is crucial for planning agricultural activities and nature conservation.

ShuttleFlow: learning the distribution of subsequent badminton shots using normalizing flows

This paper introduces ShuttleFlow, a simple yet effective model designed to forecast badminton shot types and shuttle positions. This tool could be invaluable for coaches, enabling them to identify opponents’ weaknesses and devise effective strategies accordingly. Given the inherent unpredictability of player behaviors, our model leverages conditional normalizing flow to generate the distributions of shot types and shuttle positions. This is achieved by considering the players and their preceding shots on the court. To augment the performance of our model, especially in predicting outcomes for players who have not previously competed against each other, we incorporate a novel regularization term. Additionally, we utilize Poisson disk sampling to reduce sample redundancy when generating the distributions. Compared to state-of-the-art techniques, our results underscore ShuttleFlow’s effectiveness in forecasting shot types and shuttle positions.

Statistical identification of cell type-specific spatially variable genes in spatial transcriptomics

An essential task in spatial transcriptomics is identifying spatially variable genes (SVGs). Here, we present Celina, a statistical method for systematically detecting cell type-specific SVGs (ct-SVGs)—a subset of SVGs exhibiting distinct spatial expression patterns within specific cell types. Celina utilizes a spatially varying coefficient model to accurately capture each gene’s spatial expression pattern in relation to the distribution of cell types across tissue locations, ensuring effective type I error control and high power. Celina proves powerful compared to existing methods in single-cell resolution spatial transcriptomics and stands as the only effective solution for spot-resolution spatial transcriptomics. Applied to five real datasets, Celina uncovers ct-SVGs associated with tumor progression and patient survival in lung cancer, identifies metagenes with unique spatial patterns linked to cell proliferation and immune response in kidney cancer, and detects genes preferentially expressed near amyloid-β plaques in an Alzheimer’s model.

Ethological profile and productivity of suckling sows in terms of industrial technology

The analysis of animal behavior, in particular suckling sows, allows us to identify problems of their well-being and health at the initial stages, which ensures an increase in reproductive productivity and profitability of the herd. Most often, the individual characteristics of animals associated with the type of higher nervous activity remain beyond the attention of breeders. The assessment of behavioral reactions of suckling sows with different levels of reproductive qualities (multiple fertility, lactation (nest weight at 21 days), the number of piglets in the nest at 2 months) during the period of the highest daily activity was carried out. The time spent by the sow on feeding piglets, motor activity, rest, feeding, research behavior, urination and defecation were recorded. As a result of the studies, no behavioral abnormalities were found in lactating sows that reduce their well-being, as indicated by the percentage distribution of animal activity types. A significant share in the ethological profile of animals was occupied by rest, the values of which ranged from 33.3 to 45.8%. Motor activity accounted for 10.4 to 20.8% of the studied time budget. On average, a sow spent a third of the daily activity budget on feeding and feeding piglets. The tendency to an advantage in feeding time of piglets of more fertile and dairy sows over the rest is shown. Suckling sows with productivity indicators above the average values in the sample were characterized by slightly less research activity, which probably reflects their individual characteristics.