High Confidence Research Articles

Methods for detecting, building, and improving tryptophan mannosylation in glycoprotein structures.

Tryptophan mannosylation, the covalent addition of an α-ᴅ-mannose sugar to a tryptophan side chain, is a post-translational modification (PTM) that can affect protein stability, folding, and interactions. Compared to other forms of protein glycosylation, it is relatively uncommon but is affected by conformational anomalies and modeling errors similar to those seen in N- and O-glycans in the Protein Data Bank (PDB). In this work, we report methods for detecting, building, and improving mannose structures linked to tryptophans. These methods have been used to mine X-ray crystallographic and cryo-electron microscopy maps in the PDB looking for unmodeled mannosylation, resulting in a number of cases where the modification can be placed in the map with high confidence. Additionally, we address most conformational issues affecting this modification. Finally, the development of a structural template to recognize thrombospondin repeats (TSR) domains where tryptophan mannosylation occurs will allow for the mannosylation of candidate-predicted models, for example, those predicted with AlphaFold.

Factors influencing nurses and nursing students' attitudes towards vaccinations: – A cross-sectional study

BackgroundVaccination hesitancy remains the main obstacle to improving vaccination coverage. Influenza and COVID-19 vaccination coverage among healthcare professionals is essential. It is crucial to study the vaccination attitudes of healthcare professionals as they significantly influence the vaccination attitudes and behaviour of the rest of the population. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to describe the attitudes of Finnish nurses and nursing students towards COVID-19 and Influenza vaccination and explain what factors influence these attitudes. DesignA cross-sectional study. Setting and participantsA total of 1353 nurses from five hospital organisations and 580 nursing students from eight Universities of Applied Sciences participated in the survey. Participants were invited to complete the questionnaire through Webropol between March and September 2023. MethodsTo collect data anonymously, a self-reported web-based questionnaire combining the Vaccination Attitude Examination (VAX) scale and Bergen's Social Media Addiction (BSMA) scale was used. K-means cluster analysis was performed to describe vaccination attitude profiles. ResultsFour distinct vaccination attitude profiles were identified: Profile A - Confident Pro-Vaccine (n = 605) exhibited low hesitancy, with high confidence in vaccine safety and effectiveness; Profile B – Cautiously Pro-Vaccine (n = 764) showed moderate hesitancy, mainly concerned about unforeseen future effects; Profile C - Hesitant with Mistrust (n = 405) expressed high hesitancy, with significant worries about vaccine safety and mistrust in health authorities; and Profile D – Strongly Vaccine-Hesitant (n = 159) demonstrated very high hesitancy, marked by strong beliefs in potential long-term negative effects of vaccination. Significant differences in VAX-scale mean scores were found between the profiles, ranging from 1.27 for Profile A to 6.65 for Profile D. Overall, nursing students were more hesitant than practising nurses, with students being overrepresented in the more hesitant profiles. Clinical training in a COVID-19 unit was associated with more favourable vaccination attitudes among nursing students. The uptake of the full series of COVID-19 and annual Influenza vaccines was generally high in the sample (90.8 % and 87 %, respectively). However, a clear pattern between specific social media use and vaccination attitudes was not found. Major concerns related to vaccine hesitancy focused on the uncertainty of vaccines' long-term effects. ConclusionThis study provides valuable insights into the complex nature of vaccination hesitancy among nurses and nursing students. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to address underlying concerns and promote vaccine acceptance within this demographic. In future research, it would be essential to gather more in-depth knowledge, particularly regarding nursing students' attitudes towards vaccination and the factors influencing them.

Unraveling the link between worldwide adakite-like rocks and porphyry Cu deposits

Adakite-like rocks, as an important recorder of magmatic evolution in mantle and crust, are closely associated with major porphyry Cu deposits. However, the underlying mechanism connecting these associations remains insufficiently elucidated. This study compiles ca. 7000 whole-rock geochemical data from Phanerozoic adakite-like rock samples and from ore-forming porphyries in porphyry Cu deposits. Machine learning investigations are performed to characterize the geochemical variations of adakite-like rocks from various orogenic or cratonic systems and investigate any geochemical similarities with rocks associated with porphyry ore systems. Principal component analysis (PCA), along with t-distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (t-SNE), highlights elemental distinctions between adakite-like rocks formed in mature and juvenile crust and the similarities of rocks from porphyry CuMo deposits with the former and rocks from porphyry CuAu deposits with the latter. Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) analyses are applied to the original dataset and the PCA data derived from the dataset to discriminate adakite-like rocks from various geodynamic settings from each other and from rocks associated with porphyry ore deposits. Our models show that XGBoost and SVM can identify the tectonic regions of adakite-like rocks and rocks from porphyry copper systems with high efficiency and confidence e.g., accuracy = 0.88–0.94 and area under curve (AUC) = 0.69–0.86. The application of SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) values is employed to elucidate the parameters that discriminate the different environments, providing insight into the underlying petrogenetic processes, including diverse levels of formation depth and extent of mantle interaction. Additionally, when examining ore-forming porphyries and adakite-like rocks, the incorporation of heatmaps into taxonomic classification (HTC) provides significant distinguishing factors with substantial geological implications. These findings suggest potential geological processes (e.g., remelting of Cu-sulfide-bearing cumulates or flotation of Cu-sulfide phases attached to vapor bubbles) that may enrich the source magma of ore-forming porphyries beyond the conventional geological processes responsible for adakite-like rock formation, which could serve as an exploration indicator.

Contrast-enhanced pseudo-CT of finger joints: Improved diagnostic confidence for detection of inflammatory erosions

PurposeTo evaluate the interest of additional pseudo-CT images to standard clinical contrast-enhanced MR images (CE-MRI) in the detection of inflammatory erosions and to differentiate them from intraosseous ganglia at the finger joints. Method47 prospectively included patients with suspected or diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis received a CE-MRI of the fingers. Additionally, pseudo-CT images were derived from non-contrast MRI (pCT) and from contrast-enhanced MRI data (CE-pCT) using a high-resolution gradient-echo 3D fast low-angle shot sequence (FLASH), respectively. CE-MRI, pCT, and CE-pCT images were evaluated for erosions and intraosseous ganglia at the metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints by two musculoskeletal radiologists. Findings were defined on CE-MRI by an experienced independent 3rd reader which served as reference standard. Diagnostic confidence (1 = worst,4 = best) was rated for 3 different image sets (1 = CE-MRI,2 = CE-MRI + pCT,3 = CE-MRI + CE-pCT) and compared. ResultsReference standard revealed 44 erosions and 37 intraosseous ganglia on CE-MRI. Diagnostic confidence for CE-MRI was moderate for erosions (both readers) and intraosseous ganglia (reader 2). For the combination of CE-MRI and pCT, high confidence levels were observed for erosions for both readers (median 3 (Q1–Q3: 2–3) and 3 (3–3);p<.001 and p<.001) and for intraosseous ganglia for reader 2 (3 (3–3); p<.001). CE-MRI combined with CE-pCT showed very high confidence levels for both readers for erosions (4 (3–4) and 4 (4–4);p<.001 and p<.001) and for intraosseous ganglia (4 (3.5–4) and 4 (4–4);p<.001 and p<.001). ConclusionsPseudo-CT combined with CE-MRI increases the confidence in detection of inflammatory erosions at the finger joints, with CE-pCT being superior to pCT.

Resilience Profiles among Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in the United States: White and Black Differences.

Grandparents raising grandchildren face many challenges and stress regardless of race and ethnicity; however, they are generally resilient. The present study aims to classify resilience profiles of these grandfamilies using a person-centered approach and examine the association of race and ethnicity with these profiles. The present study analyzed cross-sectional survey data collected from grandparents raising grandchildren in the United States (N = 287). A latent profile analysis was conducted. Latent profile analysis identified two distinct latent profiles: (a) profile 1: high interpersonal support but low spirituality and family confidence, and (b) profile 2: low interpersonal support but high spirituality and family confidence. Results indicated that Black grandfamilies were more likely to be in profile 2 compared to their white counterparts. This suggests the importance of recognizing grandfamilies' different resilience profiles, particularly between Black and white grandfamilies, to develop and implement tailored interventions that leverage their resilience to overcome challenges and stress.

A pilot study on diabetes detection using handheld fundus camera and mobile app development

BackgroundDiabetes, affecting more than 500 million individuals worldwide, is the most widespread non-communicable disease, globally. The early identification and effective management of diabetes are crucial for controlling its spread. Currently, the HbA1c test is the gold standard for the detection of diabetes with high confidence. But this is an invasive, expensive pathology test. Therefore, alternative non-invasive and inexpensive methods have been proposed in the literature for the early detection of diabetes.MethodsIn this pilot study, we used a handheld fundus camera that simplifies the accessibility issue for doctors and patients in underprivileged communities, remote areas, enabling a quick and reasonably accurate diabetes diagnosis process. We invited participants from the community to share their demographic information, history of diabetes, and captured their retinal fundus images using the oDocs Nun IR handheld non-mydriatic fundus camera in a non-invasive manner (no dilation is required). Subsequently, we developed a deep learning model for early diagnosis of diabetes based on fundus image only. Moreover, we created an Android-based mobile application, DMPred, which utilizes the fundus images to predict the onset of diabetes.ResultsThe proposed model achieved an 86.4% accuracy rate in diabetes detection showing that handheld cameras can be effective and provide comparable results like tabletop cameras in the early diagnosis of diabetes. We also provide a comprehensive guideline, including necessary steps for transforming deep learning models into Android-based mobile applications for tech transfer.ConclusionsTo the best of our knowledge, this article is the first demonstration of diabetes diagnosis using handheld fundus camera and mobile app. We believe that this pilot study and the proposed tech solution will support the larger community with limited clinical facilities and enhance the accessibility of technology for diabetes detection.

Efficient GPU-accelerated multisource global fit pipeline for LISA data analysis

The large-scale analysis task of deciphering gravitational-wave signals in the LISA data stream will be difficult, requiring a large amount of computational resources and extensive development of computational methods. Its high dimensionality, multiple model types, and complicated noise profile require a global fit to all parameters and input models simultaneously. In this work, we detail our global fit algorithm, called “Erebor,” designed to accomplish this challenging task. It is capable of analyzing current state-of-the-art datasets and then growing into the future as more pieces of the pipeline are completed and added. We describe our pipeline strategy, the algorithmic setup, and the results from our analysis of the LDC2A Sangria dataset, which contains massive black hole binaries, compact galactic binaries, and a parametrized noise spectrum whose parameters are unknown to the user. The Erebor algorithm includes three unique and very useful contributions: GPU acceleration for enhanced computational efficiency; ensemble Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling with multiple MCMC walkers per temperature for better mixing and parallelized sample creation; and special online updates to reversible-jump (or transdimensional) sampling distributions to ensure sampler mixing and accurate initial estimates for detectable sources in the data. We recover posterior distributions for all 15 (6) of the injected massive black hole binaries (MBHB) in the LDC2A training (hidden) dataset. We catalog ∼12000 galactic binaries (∼8000 as high confidence detections) for both the training and hidden datasets. All of the sources and their posterior distributions are provided in publicly available catalogs. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

Impact of parameter selection on seismic loss and recovery time estimates: A variance-based sensitivity analysis

Probabilistic models in performance-based earthquake engineering propagate uncertainties from key input parameters to output performance measures. Although these models integrate important sources of uncertainty, several model parameters are deterministic and remain constant despite the difficulty in defining them with high confidence based on empirical or theoretical arguments. This study employs variance-based sensitivity analysis to investigate how uncertainty in (1) demands, (2) fragility functions, (3) building replacement consequences and (4) impeding factor delays impact seismic loss and recovery time estimates. The results indicate that the size of modeling uncertainty added to the simulated demand distribution has the most significant impact on the variance in seismic losses at all, but the highest hazard level, that is, 2475-year. At low hazard levels, that is, 100 and 475 years, the uncertainty in the capacity of structural components (e.g. slab–column connections) and nonstructural components (e.g. elevator) are the main contributors to variance in downtime to re-occupancy and functional recovery, respectively. At the 2475-year intensity level, the uncertainty in building replacement cost and replacement time becomes the primary contributor of the variance in the seismic loss and recovery time outputs due to the high probability of irreparable damage. The analyses presented in this article offer valuable insights into which parameters deserve more attention when conducting seismic loss and recovery time assessments.

P1175 Handheld ultrasound devices are an accurate alternative to cart-based ultrasound for IBD disease activity assessment

Abstract Background Intestinal ultrasound has revolutionised inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care, as a quick, cost-effective, accurate and reliable tool for assessing IBD activity. Recently high-quality handheld ultrasound devices (HHUS) have emerged, representing a more accessible, cheaper alternative to expensive and cumbersome cart-based ultrasounds (CBUS), however their accuracy for IUS has not been studied. We aimed to assess the accuracy of HHUS compared to CBUS in a real-world IBD population. Methods We prospectively recruited patients attending outpatient IBD clinics in a tertiary centre from 18 July to 1 October 2024. Patients were first scanned by IUS trainees or clinicians certified by the Gastroenterological Network of Intestinal Ultrasound using 1-2 HHUS (Clarius™ L15 HD3 (CL) and/or GE™ Vscan Air CL (GE) using linear and convex probes as needed) and then CBUS. We collected baseline demographics, standard ultrasound parameters, disease activity classification, concordance with CBUS, and the predicted impact on clinical management. Qualitative statistical analyses and diagnostic accuracy calculations were performed. Results We performed IUS on 101 patients (49% ulcerative colitis, 52% Crohn’s disease, 46% male, median age 39 years, median BMI 23.4 kg/m2), using CL in 69 (total segments 260) and GE in 57 (total segments 220). The demographics and scan results are detailed in Table 1. Overall concordance for disease activity status (classified as "active" or "inactive") with CBUS was 93% for CL and 91% for GE, and 100% and 95% respectively for patients with a BMI &amp;gt;25 kg/m2. There were 5 discordant scans each for CL (7%) and GE (9%) mostly related to discrepancies in bowel wall thickness in either the sigmoid colon or terminal ileum (there was a discrepant Doppler result in 1 case), in which 4 cases for both GE and CL reported high clinician confidence with the results. It was anticipated that the discordant result would negatively impact management in 4 (5.8%) cases for CL and 3 (5.2%) cases for GE. Overall sensitivity and specificity were high in both CL (85% and 100%) and GE (76% and 100%) and remained reasonably high for all segments (see Figure 1). Conclusion Both CL and GE HHUS represent viable alternatives to CBUS, with high diagnostic accuracy for IUS in IBD patients with normal and high BMIs. Given significantly lower costs, use of HHUS could improve access to IUS in IBD care internationally. There is a small risk that rare discordant results could negatively impact management, however this risk could be mitigated by interpreting IUS findings in the context of other disease activity markers and considering a repeat IUS using CBUS where there is uncertainty regarding findings.

The strength of confidence is involved in controlling the intensity of attentional allocation

Subjective confidence and uncertainty are closely related to cognition and behavior. However, direct evidence that subjective confidence controls attention allocation is lacking. This study aimed to clarify whether subjective confidence could be involved in controlling attention allocation and intensity. We created a model for predicting the participants’ subjective confidence and verified its validity. Then, an electroencephalogram was recorded while the participants engaged in a behavioral task aimed to allocate their attention based on their confidence level. We observed a negative correlation where trials with higher confidence were associated with shorter reaction times to the target. Regarding event-related potentials (ERPs), we observed higher P1 potentials (early component of the ERP waveform after stimulus onset) in the ipsilateral occipital area during target presentation. Additionally, we observed lower frontoparietal P3a potentials (component of the ERP waveform associated with attention) in the high-confidence condition. We observed a higher alpha (8–12 Hz) power in the ipsilateral occipitoparietal area of the target presentation in the low-confidence condition. Subjective confidence might influence attentional allocation and intensity, possibly achieved by suppressing processing in the target-absent space. Our findings provided important insights into the role of subjective confidence in cognitive and behavioral control.

Perception, Trust, and Motivation in Consumer Behavior for Organic Food Acquisition: An Exploratory Study.

(1) Background: A sustainable healthy diet assures human well-being in all life stages, protects environmental resources, and preserves biodiversity. This work investigates the sociodemographic factors, knowledge, trust, and motivations involved in organic food acquisition behavior. (2) Methods: An online survey via Google Forms platform, with 316 respondents, was conducted from 1 March to 31 May 2024. (3) Results: Our findings show that suitably informed people with high educational levels (academic and post-college) report significant satisfaction with organic food consumption (p < 0.05). There is also a considerable correlation between ages 25-65, moderate to high satisfaction, and "yes" for eco-food recommendations (p < 0.05). The same satisfaction levels are associated with medium confidence in eco-food labels and a moderate to high monthly income (p < 0.05). Our results show that monthly income and residence are not essential factors in higher price perception. Insignificant price variation perception correlated with high confidence and weekly acquisition (p < 0.05). Similar price perception correlates with the highest confidence level and daily acquisition (p < 0.05). Obese respondents exhibited minimal satisfaction and opted for "abstention" from eco-food recommendations (p < 0.05). (4) Conclusions: The present study extensively analyzed Romanian people's knowledge, perception, and trust regarding organic foods. It demonstrates that sociodemographic factors differentiate consumers and influence attitudes and motivation for organic food acquisition.

Exploring Perceptions and Treatment-Seeking Behaviors for Viral Hepatitis Among the Ethnic Irula Tribe in Tamil Nadu, India: A Qualitative Study on Health Disparities.

Qualitative research was undertaken to determine the perceptions and treatment-seeking behaviors of the Irula tribal populations in Tamil Nadu, India, and to explore the depth, diversity, and complexity of viral hepatitis. An in-depth interview (IDI) was conducted among the eligible respondents. A purposive sampling technique was used to obtain the study subjects. The IDI was conducted among the community leader, male and female participants, and other representatives, e.g., ward members (Panchayat). We gathered data regarding the perceptions of viral hepatitis and behavioral intentions. Thematic analysis was used to generate the results of the qualitative research. Four themes emerged from the codes of the current qualitative study: (1) the general perception, transmission, and treatment of viral hepatitis; (2) stigma and discrimination; (3) health-seeking behavior towards viral hepatitis; and (4) morbidity patterns were significant themes. Most of the nomadic tribes hold incorrect perceptions regarding viral hepatitis and liver cancer risk, and women were reported to have a higher perceived risk than men. The participants displayed high hope and confidence, which motivated them to participate actively in viral hepatitis prevention activities. Programs and policies geared towards enhancing viral hepatitis prevention in this sub-population may consider sociocultural factors observed to influence prevention behaviors.

Real-time detection and auto-focusing of beam profiles from silicon photonics gratings using theYOLO model.

When observing chip-to-free-space light beams from silicon photonics (SiPh) to free space, manual adjustment of camera lens is often required to obtain a focused image of the light beams. In this Letter, we demonstrated an auto-focusing system based on the you-only-look-once (YOLO) model. The trained YOLO model exhibits high classification accuracy of 99.7% and high confidence level of >0.95 when detecting light beams from SiPh gratings. A video demonstration of real-time light beam detection, real-time computation of beam widths, and auto-focusing of light beams is also included.

Effect of Characteristic Inflammatory and Structural Pelvic Magnetic Resonance Imaging Lesions on Expert Assessment of Axial Juvenile Spondyloarthritis.

To evaluate the influence of pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings on axial disease assessment in juvenile spondyloarthritis (JSpA). This was a cross-sectional study of patients with JSpA with suspected axial disease. Three experts reviewed each case and rated their confidence (-3 to +3) in the presence of axial disease, first with clinical data and second with clinical and MRI data. Agreement was defined as ≥ 2/3 clinical experts with a rating of ≤ -1 or ≥ 1, and high confidence agreement as ≤ -2 or ≥ 2. The association of clinical features and both global assessments was tested with modified Poisson regression models. Two hundred seventy-two of 303 cases (89.8%) achieved agreement with clinical data alone. Adding imaging data affected agreement in 38.9% (118/303) and directionality of agreement in 23.4% (71/303). Agreement was facilitated in 26/31 cases and lost in 21/272 cases. Of those 71 cases that changed directionality, 33 changed from axial disease being absent to present and 38 from present to absent. The final model had an area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUROC) curve of 0.93 and 3 factors were independently associated with expert agreement (HLA-B27: relative risk [RR] 1.41, 95% CI 1.14-1.74; pain improvement with activity: RR 1.27, 95% CI 1.05-1.54; and bone marrow edema on MRI: RR 4.08, 95% CI 2.91-5.73). The addition of imaging data affected directionality and improved high confidence agreement of expert assessment of axial disease. These results underscore the integral role of MRI in the determination of axial disease in JSpA.

Patient Perspectives of "Failure" in Breast Reconstruction: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Literature: Points de vue des patients sur les «échecs» de la reconstruction mammaire: Revue systématique des publications sur l'aspect qualitatif.

Introduction: The concept of failure in breast reconstruction can occur when negative outcomes dominate the patient experience. The primary objective of this review was to identify experiences of failure in breast reconstruction from the patient's perspective in the qualitative literature. Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, Psychinfo, Emcare, and CINAHL were searched on July 31, 2023 using terms related to breast reconstruction and qualitative research. Thematic analysis was performed on direct quotations from included studies. Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative (CERQual) Research was used to assess confidence of the final findings. Results: Forty-two studies were identified. The following themes were identified in breast reconstruction failure: (1) failure occurs when expectations of restoring the original breast are not met with reconstruction, (2) failure occurs when unexpected outcomes were associated with the reconstruction, and (3) healthcare providers negatively impact the experience of breast reconstruction failure through lack of transparency when educating patients on expected results and poor relational support in the post-operative period. The evidence supporting themes 1-3 scored high confidence with CERQual. Conclusion: Breast reconstruction failure from the patient perspective arises from the limitations and adverse outcomes of the surgery. They may also arise even when the procedure was deemed "successful" from the surgeon's perspective. Dissatisfaction with result is increased by procedural complications. Healthcare providers can aggravate the perception of failure through inadequate patient education. Incorporating these perceptions of failure into discussions with patients can aid in their decision making.

Beekeepers' perceptions toward a new omics tool for monitoring bee health in Europe.

Pressures on honey bee health have substantially increased both colony mortality and beekeepers' costs for hive management across Europe. Although technological advances could offer cost-effective solutions to these challenges, there is little research into the incentives and barriers to technological adoption by beekeepers in Europe. Our study is the first to investigate beekeepers' willingness to adopt the Bee Health Card, a molecular diagnostic tool developed within the PoshBee EU project which can rapidly assess bee health by monitoring molecular changes in bees. The Bee Health Card, based on MALDI BeeTyping®, is currently on level six of the Technology Readiness Level scale, meaning that the technology has been demonstrated in relevant environments. Using an on-line survey from seven European countries, we show that beekeepers recognise the potential for the tool to improve colony health, and that targeted economic incentives, such as subsidises, may help reduce cost being a barrier to the adoption and frequent use of the tool. Based on the description of the tool, 43% of beekeepers appear to be moderately confident in the effectiveness of the Bee Health Card. This confidence could increase if the tool was easy to use and not time consuming, and a higher confidence could also contribute to raising the probability of accepting extra costs linked to it. We estimate that, in the worst-case scenario, the cost per single use of the Bee Health Card should be between €47-90 across a range of European countries, depending on the labour and postage costs. However, the monetary benefits in terms of honey production could exceed this. In order to successfully tackle colony health issues, it is recommended using the BHC five times per year, from the end to the beginning of winter. Finally, we discuss the knowledge needs for assessing beekeeper health tools in future research.

RNA m6A involves in regulation of oxidative stress and apoptosis may via NF-kB pathway in cadmium-induced lung cells

Cadmium has been identified as an environmental pollutant and a carcinogen. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) plays a crucial role in the development of lung tumors, but the mechanisms remain incompletely clarified. In present study, our data demonstrated that prolonged treatment of 1 μmol/L CdSO4 for 40 passages in bronchial epithelial cells (Beas-2B cells) resulted in the development of a malignant phenotype, which manifested as boosted proliferation, migration and invasion capacity as well as apoptosis reduction. Proteomic assay revealed that in passage 40 cells, 350 proteins showed differentially expressed in comparison to control, and these proteins were primarily enriched in Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways of “pathways in cancer” and “Chemical carcinoma-reactive oxygen species”. Moreover, the mRNAs of Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65 and NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), the key signaling molecules in these two signaling pathways, were predicted to contain m6A modification sites with high confidence. The subsequent experimental results indicated that levels of m6A and Fat mass and obesity associated protein (FTO) elevated, while Alkylated DNA repair protein alkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5) and YTH Domain Containing Protein 2 (YTHDC2) reduced with the increasing of cadmium treatment generations. Furthermore, the reduction of m6A levels by 3-deazide adenosine (DAA, m6A inhibitor) was found to significantly inhibit malignant characteristics of cadmium-induced cells, activate molecules involved in the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) signaling pathway, and inhibit the activity of NF-κB. It is also noteworthy that the results based on animals indicate that the relevant indicators and biological changes are partially similar to cell experiments. In detail, m6A modification levels in lung tissue were observed to increase while the expressions of FTO, ALKBH5 and YTHDC2 were found to drop. Additionally, immunofluorescence examination illustrated the co-localization of the m6A regulatory proteins FTO and YTHDC2 with NF-κB. The presented data collectively suggest that chronic cadmium treatment may impact the m6A level through influencing regulatory proteins, which could potentially trigger oxidative stress and apoptosis by regulating transcription factors such as NF-κB and NRF2. In conclusion, our study provides a scientific foundation for understanding cadmium toxicity and offers novel insights for treating cadmium-induced lung diseases.

Applying the Dempster–Shafer Fusion Theory to Combine Independent Land-Use Maps: A Case Study on the Mapping of Oil Palm Plantations in Sumatra, Indonesia

The remote sensing community benefits from new sensors and easier access to Earth Observation data to frequently released new land-cover maps. The propagation of such independent and heterogeneous products offers promising perspectives for various scientific domains and for the implementation and monitoring of land-use policies. Yet, it may also confuse the end-users when it comes to identifying the most appropriate product to address their requirements. Data fusion methods can help to combine competing and/or complementary maps in order to capitalize on their strengths while overcoming their limitations. We assessed the potential of the Dempster–Shafer Theory (DST) to enhance oil palm mapping in Sumatra (Indonesia) by combining four land-cover maps, hereafter named DESCALS, IIASA, XU, and MAPBIOMAS, according to the first author’s name or the research group that published it. The application of DST relied on four steps: (1) a discernment framework, (2) the assignment of mass functions, (3) the DST fusion rule, and (4) the DST decision rule. Our results showed that the DST decision map achieved significantly higher accuracy (Kappa = 0.78) than the most accurate input product (Kappa = 0.724). The best result was reached by considering the probabilities of pixels to belong to the OP class associated with DESCALS map. In addition, the belief (i.e., confidence) and conflict (i.e., uncertainty) maps produced by DST evidenced that industrial plantations were detected with higher confidence than smallholder plantations. Consequently, Kappa values computed locally were lower in areas dominated by smallholder plantations. Combining land-use products with DST contributes to producing state-of-the-art maps and continuous information for enhanced land-cover analysis.

New technologies for future of surgery in Ireland: An RCSI working Group report 2024.

Surgery is a cognitive discipline whose practitioners characteristically use technology during operations for patients. With accelerating technological innovation throughout society and healthcare, we sought to develop a shared position for Irish surgery via a commissioned work programme by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Using Stanford design principles, representative clinical specialty and academic leads and higher trainee representatives across 15 specialties were surveyed regarding sentiments, perspectives and concerns regarding now and near future technology in clinical practice, career considerations and training/education. Selected participants proceeded to semi-structured interview as deeper dive including use-case exemplar development with narrative thematic analysis. New technologies matter to surgeons and surgical practice for patients as evidenced by the high level of engagement and rich perspectives provided. However there is concern, particularly among academic groups, that Irish Surgery could be better positioned for the opportunities inherent in new technologies and better prepared strategically regarding stakeholder (surgical units, healthcare institutions, universities and especially management, health service executive and government) alignment. Investment levels are felt to be insufficient to maximally leverage new technology effectively including training investment where new ways of learning are needed as technologies such as artificial intelligence and data and analytics become more important to surgical practice beyond the current prioritisation of robotics and biomaterials. While there is high engagement, clear ambition and confidence with role of new technologies in the now and near future of Irish Surgery, there is opportunity to demonstrate leadership and synergise stake holders for better healthcare.

Time is Confidence: Monetary Incentives Metacognitive Profile on Duration Judgment.

The question we addressed in the current study is whether the mere prospect of monetary reward gain affects subjective time perception. To test this question, we collected trial-based confidence reports in a task where participants made categorical decisions about probe durations relative to the reference duration. When there was a potential to gain a monetary reward, the duration was perceived to be longer than in the neutral condition. Confidence, which reflects the perceived probability of being correct, was higher in the reward gain condition than in the neutral condition. We found that confidence influences the sense of time in different participants. Participants with high confidence reported perceiving the duration signaled by the monetary gain condition longer than participants with low confidence. Our results showed that only high confidence individuals overestimated the context of monetary gain. Finally, we found a negative relationship between confidence and time perception, and that confidence bias at the maximum uncertainty duration of 450 ms is predictive of time perception. Taken together, the current study demonstrates that subjective measures of the confidence profile caused an overestimation of time rather than the outcome valence of reward expectancy.