High Frequency Rate Research Articles

Potential Anti-tumor Properties of PDIA4 in Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Given the high frequency and mortality rate of lung cancer, diverse molecular studies have been undertaken to understand cancer pathophysiology and develop novel treatment strategies. The PDIA4 gene, which is involved in protein assembly and endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis, is overexpressed in various lung cancer subtypes. However, its exact function in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains elusive. The study aimed to investigate the role of PDIA4 in LUAD and explore its role as double-agent gene. PDIA4 expression was knocked out in A549 and LA-4 lung adenoma cells using the Crispr/Cas9 technology. Cell growth, migration, and apoptosis were analyzed in control and PDIA4-deficient cells. PDIA4 deficiency resulted in increased cell growth, enhanced migration capacity, and greater resistance to apoptosis in both A549 and LA-4 lung cancer cells. Mechanistically, up-regulation of oxidative stress followed by NF-[Formula: see text]B activation may contribute to tumor-promoting effects observed upon PDIA4 silencing. PDIA4 appears to function as a tumor suppressor in lung adenocarcinoma, suggesting that PDIA4 may act as a double-agent gene, with roles both on tumor suppression and promotion depending on the context.

Interplay of RNA m6A Modification-Related Geneset in Pan-Cancer.

Background: N6-methyladenosine (m6A), is the most common modification found in mRNA and lncRNA in higher organisms and plays an important role in physiology and pathology. However, its role in pan-cancer has not been explored. Results: A total of 31 m6A modification regulators, including 12 writers, 2 erasers, and 17 readers are identified in the current study. The functional analysis of the regulators results in the enrichment of processes, primarily related to RNA modification and metabolism, and the PPI network reveals multiple interactions among the regulators. The mRNA expression analysis reveals a high expression for most of the regulators in pan-cancer. Most of the m6A regulators are found to be mutated across the cancers, with ZC3H13, VIRMA, and PRRC2A having a higher frequency rate. Significant correlations of the regulators with clinicopathological parameters, such as age, gender, tumor stage, and grade are identified in pan-cancer. The m6A regulators' expression is found to have significant positive correlations with the miRNAs in pan-cancer. The expression pattern of the m6A regulators is able to classify the tumors into different subclusters as well as into high- and low-risk groups. These tumor groups show differential patterns in terms of their immune cell infiltration, tumor stemness score, genomic heterogeneity score, expression of immune regulatory/checkpoint genes, and correlations between the regulators and the drugs. Conclusions: Our study provide a comprehensive overview of the functional roles, genetic and epigenetic alterations, and prognostic value of the RNA m6A regulators in pan-cancer.

A scoring-based clinical grading model for xanthelasma palpebrarum: predicting treatment frequency and prognosis.

Xanthelasma palpebrarum is one of the most common cutaneous xanthomas in humans. Currently, there are various methods available for treating xanthelasma palpebrarum, but the high treatment frequency and recurrence rate remain significant challenges for patients. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a reasonable and effective clinical grading system to guide the diagnosis and treatment of xanthelasma palpebrarum. We developed a clinical scoring system related to local injection of pingyangmycin for the treatment of xanthelasma palpebrarum, which can be used to predict early prognosis and treatment outcomes in patients. We collected and retrospectively studied 246 outpatient cases of xanthelasma palpebrarum treated with local injection of pingyangmycin in the Department of Plastic Surgery at Shanghai East Hospital from February 2020 to August 2022. Potential independent risk factors for adverse outcomes (recurrence or non-recurrence) were considered in univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Predictive factors were determined based on the multivariate logistic regression model and Cox model, and a scoring grading system was established. External validation was conducted on an independent cohort of 110 patients. Based on logistic regression analysis, the number, area, and color of lesions were identified as significant predictive indicators (P < 0.05), with respective AUCs of 0.710, 0.799, and 0.755. The Cox model established hazard ratios for four new severity indicators of xanthelasma palpebrarum: hyperlipidemia, number of lesions, lesion area, and lesion grayscale value. Based on these findings, a new clinical grading model was developed, which was validated to be effective in the external cohort. The new scoring-based clinical predictive model can effectively predict the number of pingyangmycin injection treatments and prognosis in patients with xanthelasma palpebrarum. It holds promise for broader application in clinical practice.

Preparation of polyimide films with ultralow dielectric loss at high frequency by reducing intermolecular friction

Due to the rapid development of high frequency and high rate communication technology, polyimide (PI) films with ultra-low dielectric loss (Df) at high frequency, excellent thermal and mechanical properties are urgently needed. A series of PI films with ultra-low Df were prepared by introducing different mesogen units. Among them, one novel PI film with biphenyl liquid-crystal-like units (BAHQ-TFMB) achieve a recorded low Df of 0.00169 (10 GHz) which surpasses previous studies on pure PI bulk films. Importantly, the high degree of collinearity of the friction work (Wf) and Df of PI films (Pearson's r = 0.992) was confirmed, which indicate that Wf among PI macromolecules plays an important role in determining Df of PI films. To reveal underlying reason for reducing the Wf and Df of PI films, the contribution of the degree of orientation and crystallinity of PI films with or without liquid-crystal-like structures were comparative studied. Through a two-dimensional orientation determinant, it is found that increasing the crystallinity of liquid-crystal-like PI films is the main contribution to reducing Wf and corresponding Df of PI films while the orientation of PI films seems to have weak effect. Moreover, BAHQ-TFMB PI film exhibits excellent mechanical properties. The tensile strengths is 145.5 ± 12.0 MPa and Young's moduli is 4.76 ± 0.28 GPa.

Individual Ultrasonographic Characteristics of Thyroid Nodules and Their Cytopathological Correlation to Determine Malignancy Risk.

Background Ultrasonographic evaluation of thyroid nodules is challenging due to their high frequency and low malignancy rate. The risk stratification system developed by the American College of Radiology (ACR) Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) focuses on addressing the primary contemporary objectives for these lesions, aiming to decrease unnecessary biopsies while maintaining a similar specificity compared with other risk stratification systems. Generally, when indicative of malignancy by ultrasound findings, the next best step in management is an evaluation by fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and cytological analysis with The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC) resultsthat determine further evaluation requirements, actions that are based on the risk of malignancy (ROM) of the assigned category, which could include surgical intervention. Objectives To validate and analyze the individual impact of each ultrasonographic finding indicative of malignancy in the ACR TI-RADS guidelines based on their respective correlation with results obtained by TBSRTC. Materials and method Reports for 212 thyroid ultrasound-guided FNABs from 2018 to 2020 were assessed. Only 117 had both ACR TI-RADS and TBSRTC reports available and were analyzed. Nodules were divided into two groups: ROM < 5% (Bethesda 1, 2; n = 58), and ROM > 5% (Bethesda 3, 4, 5, 6; n = 59).Statistical analysis was performed using the x2 test and bivariate logistic regression model for each characteristic included in ACR TI-RADS. Results Individual ultrasound characteristics with a more pronounced distribution towards the Bethesda > 5% malignancy group were: solid or almost completely solid composition (n=53, 62.3%), very hypoechoic echogenicity (n=3, 75%), wider-than-tall shape (n=50, 50.5%), lobulated or irregular margin (n=23, 65.7%), punctate echogenic foci (n=18, 72%), and thyroid isthmus location (n=6, 75%). Statistically significant individual ultrasonographic characteristics indicative of malignancy included solid or almost completely solid (p = 0.005), very hypoechoic echogenicity (p = 0.046), margin lobulated or irregular (p = 0.031), and punctate echogenic foci (p = 0.015). No significant association was found in the taller-than-wide shape for differentiating malignant from benign lesions (p = 0.969). Conclusions Specific ultrasound characteristics identified in the ACR TI-RADS system demonstrate a stronger correlation with an increased risk of malignancy when compared with cytologic evaluation results. These characteristics include a solid composition, lobulated or irregular margins, punctate echogenic foci, and very hypoechoic echogenicity. Our findings revealedthat the scale points for the taller-than-wide characteristic do not adequately represent its true influence on the risk of malignancy.

Advancing hospital infection surveillance: Automated detection of hospital-onset bacteremia in a large university hospital

Background: Traditional manual surveillance of healthcare-associated infections often neglects certain hospital areas. This study investigated the potential of automated hospital-onset bacteremia (HOB) detection to enhance surveillance comprehensiveness. Our focus was on assessing baseline HOB levels across a large university hospital and demonstrating the algorithm’s ability to discern infection patterns in different hospital areas. Method: Conducted at one of the three sites of Charité university hospital in Berlin, Germany, our study employed an automated HOB detection algorithm, collaboratively developed with the PRAISE (Providing a Roadmap for Automated Infection Surveillance in Europe) network. HOB was defined as a positive blood culture (BC) with a recognized pathogen or two positive BC with common commensals, occurring two days post-admission or later. A retrospective data analysis spanned 2018-2022, with data extraction in January 2024. HOB rates were calculated per 1,000 patient-days and correlated with BC sampling frequency. Trends over time were examined. A comparison was made between intensive care units (ICU) and non-ICU. Result: Data from 58 wards (10 ICU, 48 non-ICU) with 262,058 in-patient admissions and 1,634,793 patient-days were included. Baseline characteristics of the hospital site are summarized in Table 1. Aggregated HOB rates over a 5-year period (Table 2) were substantially higher in ICU compared to non-ICU, applicable to all HOB, HOB with common commensals, and HOB with pathogens. A scatterplot (Figure 1) illustrates a strong correlation between BC sampling frequency and HOB rates in ICU, while Figure 2 displays HOB rates and BC sampling frequency in ICU over time. Notably, HOB rates were higher in the years 2020 and 2021, followed by a decrease in 2022, despite a continually high BC sampling rate. Discussion: The algorithm consistently detected HOB, providing insights into distinctions between ICU and non-ICU. While fewer HOB occurred in non-ICU, continuous monitoring remains crucial, given that the total number of HOB in non-ICU was higher than in ICU, and HOB in non-ICU might currently be overlooked by established surveillance activities. The automated system also demonstrated its effectiveness in identifying trends over time. Although speculative, it appears likely that the higher HOB rates in 2020 and 2021 were at least partially attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying factors. There was a notable correlation between HOB and BC sampling frequency. However, the fact that HOB incidence in ICU decreased in 2022 despite persistently high BC sampling frequency rates, indicates the influence of other factors on HOB rates.

A machine-based corpus optimization method for extracting domain-oriented technical words: an example of COVID-19 corpus data

Although natural language processing (NLP) refers to a process involving the development of algorithms or computational models that empower machines to understand, interpret, and generate human language, machines are still unable to fully grasp the meanings behind words. Specifically, they cannot assist humans in categorizing words with general or technical purposes without predefined standards or baselines. Empirically, prior researches have relied on inefficient manual tasks to exclude these words when extracting technical words (i.e., terminology or terms used within a specific field or domain of expertise) for obtaining domain information from the target corpus. Therefore, to enhance the efficiency of extracting domain-oriented technical words in corpus analysis, this paper proposes a machine-based corpus optimization method that compiles an advanced general-purpose word list (AGWL) to serve as the exclusion baseline for the machine to extract domain-oriented technical words. To validate the proposed method, this paper utilizes 52 COVID-19 research articles as the target corpus and an empirical example. After compared to traditional methods, the proposed method offers significant contributions: (1) it can automatically eliminate the most common function words in corpus data; (2) through a machine-driven process, it removes general-purpose words with high frequency and dispersion rates –57% of word types belonging to general-purpose words, constituting 90% of the total words in the target corpus. This results in 43% of word types representing domain-oriented technical words that makes up 10% of the total words in the target corpus are able to be extracted. This allows future researchers to focus exclusively on the remaining 43% of word types in the optimized word list (OWL), enhancing the efficiency of corpus analysis for extracting domain knowledge. (3) The proposed method establishes a set of standard operation procedure (SOP) that can be duplicated and generally applied to optimize any corpus data.

Association between bowel movement frequency and erectile dysfunction in patients with ulcerative colitis: a cross-sectional study.

The association between ulcerative colitis (UC) and erectile dysfunction (ED) has been previously reported. Numerous previous studies have also reported an association between gastrointestinal symptoms and ED. Constipation and diarrhea are common in patients with UC. However, the specific association between bowel movement frequency and ED remains unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between bowel movement frequency and ED in 164 patients with UC. The definition of ED, moderate to severe ED, and severe ED was the Sexual Health Inventory for Men score <22, <12, and <8, respectively. Bowel movement frequency was divided into three categories: (1) high (More than once a day), (2) normal (once a day, reference), and low (less than one time/day). The definition of constipation was based on the Rome I criteria and/or medication for constipation. The prevalence of constipation and ED was 10.4% and 86.0%, respectively. The rate of high, normal, and low bowel movement frequency was 56.1%, 25.0%, and 18.9%, respectively. High bowel movement frequency was independently and positively associated with ED and moderate to severe ED (ED: adjusted odds ratio [OR] 4.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.35-15.98; moderate to severe: adjusted OR 2.98, 95% CI 1.22-7.61). Low bowel movement frequency was independently and positively associated with moderate to severe ED and severe ED (moderate to severe: adjusted OR 3.96, 95% CI 1.27-13.08; severe: adjusted OR 3.20, 95% CI 1.08-9.86). No association between constipation and ED was found. In conclusion, in Japanese patients with UC, both high and low bowel movement frequency were independently and positively associated with ED.

A fractional order model of auxiliary power batteries suitable for hydrogen fuel cell hybrid systems heavy-duty trucks

Aiming at the problem that the existing battery fractional order model is not suitable for the auxiliary power battery of hydrogen fuel cell heavy-duty trucks, considering the characteristics of multiple influencing factors and nonlinearity in actual driving processes, a fractional order model of auxiliary power batteries is proposed based on the hydrogen fuel cell heavy-duty trucks model and the batteries' fractional order model. Then, to solve the charge state estimation error increases due to the high frequency and large rate charging and discharging, H∞ filter is introduced into the adaptive unscented Kalman filter to optimize the charge state estimation in the model. Additionally, the model's parameters are identified using the evolutionary algorithm and the recursive least squares technique based on the forgetting factor. Finally, the model is verified by dynamic conditions. The results show that compared with the auxiliary power batteries' fractional order model, the optimized model reduces the MAE by 0.08% and the RMSE by 0.22% when estimating voltage, and reduces the MAE by 0.25% and the RMSE by 2.66% when estimating SOC. Therefore, the optimized fractional order model of auxiliary power battery has higher accuracy and applicability.

Effects of continuous supplementation of Acanthopanax senticosus Harms on the cardiac autonomic function of community-dwelling elderly individuals during resting and standing tests: a randomized controlled trial.

Cardiac autonomic function (CAF) decreases with aging, and Acanthopanax senticosus Harms (ASH) consumption reportedly induces anti-stress effects. This study aimed to assess the effect of continuous supplementation of ASH on CAF during resting and standing tests in the elderly population. This double-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted in the morning in a laboratory setting and was carried out between June 2017 and July 2017 at Kambaikan, Doshisha University (Karasuma-higashi-iru, Imadegawa-dori, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8580, Japan). In total, 28 community-dwelling elderly individuals (mean ± standard deviation = 72.5 ± 4.5 years) were included. Each subject was instructed to consume ASH or placebo supplements twice daily for 4 weeks. An autonomic reflex orthostatic tolerance recorder was used to measure CAF in pre- and post-intervention phases. Parameters were measured in a seated position and included coefficient of variation of R-R intervals (CVRR), low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), LF/HF ratio, blood pressure, and heart rate (HR). Changes in each parameter were evaluated before and after standing. All parameters were defined as the difference between the mean value obtained in a standing position for 2 min and that obtained in a 2-min seated position. A two-way analysis of variance revealed a significant group-time interaction effect on CVRR, HF, and ΔLF/HF ratio. Following the intervention, CVRR, HF, LF/HF ratio, systolic blood pressure (SBP), HR, ΔLF/HF ratio, ΔSBP, and ΔHR improved significantly in the ASH group only. Four-week supplementation of ASH improved CAF in community-dwelling elderly individuals during resting and standing tests. https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000031218, UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000027251).

Taking it to the extreme: prevalence and nature of extremist sentiment in games.

More than half of all game players report experiencing some form of hate, harassment or abuse within gaming spaces. While prevalence assessments of these actions in digital gaming spaces are ongoing, little remains known about the more extreme forms of these behaviors. Specifically, experiences of extremism. This paper addresses the gap in research knowledge around the expression of extremist sentiment in games by evaluating their prevalence, location, and nature, and impact. Assessing experiences via an online survey, game players (n = 423) reported an alarmingly high rate of frequency for being the direct target of, as well as a witness to, all forms of extremist content. Most of these experiences were text-based, reported to be happening in-game. Most players endorsed statements relating to a normalization of extreme ideologies within gaming cultures. It is promising that reporting these behaviors was the primary action taken by players for most of the players; however, "ignoring" these actions was also a common strategy. It is possible that player inaction reflects the embeddedness and normalization of these actions in gaming spaces and/or a lack of trust in moderation systems to be responsive. The prevalence of extreme sentiment in gaming cultures should raise concern from game makers, members of the gaming community, parents, and policy makers alike.

A trivalent ferrite ferrofluid compound’s rheological response to angular frequency, magnetic induction and shear induction of chain clusters

At low and high temperatures in the presence and absence of magnetic fields, the effects of shear rate, angular frequency, and shear strain on the rheological characteristics of zinc ferrite ferrofluid is investigated. Chemical co-precipitation was used to create a zinc ferrite ferrofluid that was then coated with oleic acid to improve the stability of the fluid’s particles and avoid particle agglomeration. We looked at the rheological characteristics caused by the induced magnetic field, such as the shear stress, complex viscosity, storage modulus, loss modulus, relaxation modulus, viscous torque, damping factor, and figure of merit. From the analysis of time dependent relaxation modulus, a steady-state rheological system is formed at time interval beyond 50 s. As the shear and complex viscosities increase with an increase in magnetic field and a decrease in temperature, obstruction to fluid flow is produced. When a rheological system operates at low angular frequency and high shear rate, high shear stress is loaded; when it operates at high angular frequency and low shear rate, low shear stress is loaded. In the absence of magnetic field, a low viscosity 0.425 Pa.s and shear force 46 Pa were formed, while high viscosity 8.140 Pas and shear stress 168 Pa were formed when magnetic field 1.000 Tesla was applied. The oscillatory mode test demonstrates a change in structure from solid to liquid due to the establishment of a crossover point between shear strain 55 and 64%, supporting the solid–liquid phase transition behavior. The damping analysis demonstrates that the system is in fact excessively dampened, and it may now be utilized to reduce vibrations in a system. The system is really overdamped showing a maximum damping factor 2.08, according to the damping study, and can therefore be used to reduce vibrations in other systems. The fluid exhibits non-Newtonian shear-thinning behavior as shear rates increase. A high viscous torque is created at low shear strain and high angular frequency, which leads to the creation of a strong rotating magnetic field.

Contrast Agent-Free 3D Renal Ultrafast Doppler Imaging Reveals Vascular Dysfunction in Acute and Diabetic Kidney Diseases.

To combat the irreversible decline in renal function associated with kidney disease, it is essential to establish non-invasive biomarkers for assessing renal microcirculation. However, the limited resolution and/or vascular sensitivity of existing diagnostic imaging techniques hinders the visualization of complex cortical vessels. Here, a 3D renal ultrafast Doppler (UFD) imaging system that uses a high ultrasound frequency (18MHz) and ultrahigh frame rate (1KHz per slice) to scan the entire volume of a rat's kidney in vivo is demonstrated. The system, which can visualize the full 3D renal vascular branching pyramid at a resolution of 167µm without any contrast agent, is used to chronically and noninvasively monitor kidneys with acute kidney injury (AKI, 3 days) and diabetic kidney disease (DKD, 8 weeks). Multiparametric UFD analyses (e.g., vessel volume occupancy (VVO), fractional moving blood volume (FMBV), vessel number density (VND), and vessel tortuosity (VT)) describe rapid vascular rarefaction from AKI and long-term vascular degeneration from DKD, while the renal pathogeneses are validated by in vitro blood serum testing and stained histopathology. This work demonstrates the potential of 3D renal UFD to offer valuable insights into assessing kidney perfusion levels for future research in diabetes and kidney transplantation.

Middle meningeal artery embolization in the management of chronic subdural hematoma in medically complex pediatric neurosurgical patients: technical note.

Middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization has gained acceptance as a treatment for chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) in adult patients but has not been well described in pediatric patients. Standard cSDH treatment has historically consisted of burr hole drainage with or without subdural drain placement. However, due to the high rate of recurrence and frequency of comorbidities within this population, as both pediatric and adult patients with cSDH frequently have concurrent cardiac disease and a need for anticoagulant therapies, MMA embolization has increasingly demonstrated its value as both an adjunctive and primary treatment. In this report, the authors present 3 cases of successful MMA embolization in medically complex children at a single institution. MMA embolization was used as a primary treatment modality and as an adjunctive therapy in the acute setting following surgical hematoma evacuation. Two patients were receiving anticoagulation treatment requiring reversal. Technical considerations specific to the pediatric population as well as those common to both the pediatric and adult populations are addressed. Further work is needed to define the optimal indications and outcomes for MMA embolization in children with cSDH.

A narrative review of management of wounds in palliative care setting.

A chronic wound is one that is physiologically compromised as a result of a disturbance of the wound-healing cycle brought on by, among other parameters, poor angiogenesis, innervation, or cellular migration. Given the high frequency and incidence rates of different wound categories in clinical practice in the setting of chronically ill patients, wound management is becoming an increasingly important component and pillar of the overall care of patients with terminal illnesses. The purpose of this narrative review is to provide an overview and evaluation of the assessment methods and management of chronic wounds in the clinical practice of palliative care. Papers on the management of wounds in palliative care have been retrieved using PubMed to July 2023. The search terms used included "wounds", "ulcers", "palliative care", "palliative management", and "end of life". The review highlights the importance of early palliative care referral and total pain management in the management of wounds. Patients with wounds often report multiple symptoms, and pain is one of the most common and distressing among them. Despite the availability of multiple guidelines about treatment to relieve pain, almost half of all cancer patients still receive inappropriate care for pain. The review also discusses the etiology of pain and provides strategies for managing the painful wound once it has been identified. The greatest need today in the treatment of chronic wounds is consensus-based knowledge vetted by practical experience and backed up by scientific evidence, which is easily communicated and available to all wound care practitioners. High-quality research together with wound care practice that leads to the best outcomes might include pain reduction, exudate management, odor management, and/or other quality-of-life benefits to wound care. There is a need for specialized palliative care teams to manage expectations throughout the process while maintaining hope.

Usefulness of self-assessment of gastrointestinal symptoms: a web-based study in Anhui, China.

Gastrointestinal symptoms (GISs) are highly prevalent worldwide caused by a combination of biopsychosocial factors. Given the complex nature coupled with ineffective communication of diagnosis by physicians, patients with intimate GISs often feel stigmatized which in turn can inhibit their ability to express their thoughts and feelings adequately and lead to either over or underreport of their symptoms. And selective service seeking for and reporting of GISs have direct bearing on the stage of disease at presentation, and consequently, on the overall prognosis. The study aimed to investigate the usefulness of a web-based self-assessment of GISs as a supplementary means to cope with potential over/under reporting during routine consultations. The study used data about GISs collected using a novel web-based self-assessment tool (n=475) and that from non-participative observation of doctor-patient consultations (n=447) and household survey (n=10552) in Anhui, China. The data analysis focused primarily on description of composition of respondents and occurrence rates of GISs by socio-demographics and by methods and settings of symptom solicitation. Chi-square power tests were used, when necessary, to compare the differences in the occurrence rates between relevant groups and the significance level of the two-sided test was set at α<0.05. Both the average occurrence rates of upper and lower GISs derived from the web-based self-assessment were higher than that from the observation, being 20.9% vs 14.2% (p<0.001) and 12.9% vs 10.8% (p=0.02) respectively. The differences in six out of the nine upper GISs and three out of the eleven lower GISs studied were tested with statistical significance (p<0.05), and all these symptoms witnessed higher self-assessed than observed frequency rates. For upper GISs, the self-assessed versus observed differences ranged from 17.1% for bloating to 100% for bad mood after meal; while for lower GISs, the differences ranged from -50.5% for hematochezia/melena to 100% for uncontrollable stool. Stomachache, regurgitation, and dysphagia displayed higher occurrence rates among participants of the self-assessment than those of the household survey, being 20% vs 13%, 14% vs 11% and 3% vs 2% respectively; while the opposite was observed for constipation (5% vs 11%), hematochezia or melena (4% vs 5%) and anorexia (4% vs 5%). All the differences in the self-assessed occurrence rates of specific persistent GISs between socio-graphic groups were tested non-significant (P>0.05); while the same rate of any of the six persistent GISs studied among the respondents aged 51-60 was statistically higher than that among other age groups (P=0.03). The web-based self-assessment tool piloted in this study is useful and acceptable. It helps in soliciting more comprehensive GISs, especially symptoms with concerns about stigmatization, privacy, shame etc. Further studies are needed to integrate the web-based self-assessment with routine consultations and evaluate its efficacy.

The effect of screen use on sleep quality among adolescents in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Insufficient sleep associated with daytime sleepiness is predominant among the pediatric population and upsurges during adolescence. Prolonged screen use is theorized to harmfully disturb sleep through numerous pathways. Though, the connotation between media device use and poor sleep has been inadequately assessed due to the rapid development of these devices which has outdone research abilities. This study aims to assess the effect of screen use on sleep quality among adolescents in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out using a self-administered online questionnaire targeting all accessible Saudi adolescents in Riyadh. The final questionnaire was uploaded online using social media platforms by distributing at high schools and primary health care centers. The study questionnaire covered adolescent's personal data, medical history, screen use including the type of used devices, duration of use per day and at bedtime, effect of using devices, and family and friends' influence on using devices. Sleep quality was assessed using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. A total of 324 adolescents fulfilling the inclusion criteria completed the study questionnaire. Adolescents' ages ranged from 16 to 19 years with a mean age of 17.5 ± 1.1 years old. Exact of 113 (34.9%), the study adolescents used screens for 6-8 hours on a daily basis, 111 (34.3%) use screens for more than 8 hours daily. A total of 154 (47.5%) of the study adolescents were good sleepers while 170 (52.5%) were poor sleepers. In conclusion, the study revealed that adolescents in Riyadh had a high frequency rate and duration of screen use which may exceed 6 hours daily with nearly half of them with poor sleep quality, feeling fatigue, daytime sleepiness, and lack of concentration.

Large scale application of the Finnish diabetes risk score in Latin American and Caribbean populations: a descriptive study.

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) continues to increase in the Americas. Identifying people at risk for T2D is critical to the prevention of T2D complications, especially cardiovascular disease. This study gauges the ability to implement large population-based organized screening campaigns in 19 Latin American and Caribbean countries to detect people at risk for T2D using the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC). This cross-sectional descriptive analysis uses data collected in a sample of men and women 18 years of age or older who completed FINDRISC via eHealth during a Guinness World Record attempt campaign between October 25 and November 1, 2021. FINDRISC is a non-invasive screening tool based on age, body mass index, waist circumference, physical activity, daily intake of fruits and vegetables, history of hyperglycemia, history of antihypertensive drug treatment, and family history of T2D, assigning a score ranging from 0 to 26 points. A cut-off point of ≥ 12 points was considered as high risk for T2D. The final sample size consisted of 29,662 women (63%) and 17,605 men (27%). In total, 35% of subjects were at risk of T2D. The highest frequency rates (FINDRISC ≥ 12) were observed in Chile (39%), Central America (36.4%), and Peru (36.1%). Chile also had the highest proportion of people having a FINDRISC ≥15 points (25%), whereas the lowest was observed in Colombia (11.3%). FINDRISC can be easily implemented via eHealth technology over social networks in Latin American and Caribbean populations to detect people with high risk for T2D. Primary healthcare strategies are needed to perform T2D organized screening to deliver early, accessible, culturally sensitive, and sustainable interventions to prevent sequelae of T2D, and reduce the clinical and economic burden of cardiometabolic-based chronic disease.

Occurrence of enteroviruses, noroviruses, rotaviruses, and adenoviruses in a wastewater treatment plant

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the quality of wastewater by molecular identification of enteroviruses, rotaviruses, and adenoviruses in wastewater samples collected from the ElSerw wastewater treatment facility in Damietta Governorate, Egypt. An additional objective is to assess the usefulness of these viruses as markers of viral reduction during wastewater treatment. A treatment facility's inflow and discharge were sampled 48 times. The incidence of enteric viruses was found in 29 wastewater samples (60.4%). 6.25% (3/48), 0% (0/48), 37.5% (18/48), and 20.8% (10/48) of the samples tested positive for enteroviruses (EVs), noroviruses, rotaviruses, and adenoviruses, respectively. Co-infections with two or more viruses were found in 10.4% (5/48) and 2% (1/48) of all cases, respectively. The viral burden in the wastewater treatment plant's discharge effluents dropped non-significantly when compared to intake samples. According to our findings, rotaviruses and adenoviruses have been found in 10 outlet effluent samples. The removal rates for enteroviruses, rotaviruses and adenoviruses were 39%, 61.5% and 33.3%, respectively. As a result of their high frequency and lower removal rates, both rotaviruses and adenoviruses were deemed an appropriate indicator of human enteric viral reduction during the wastewater treatment process.

Detection and Location Approach to Incipient Grounding Defect in Transformer Winding Based on Sequence Voltage Ratios at PV Inverter Switching Frequency

Silicon Carbide (SiC) power devices are used increasingly in photovoltaic (PV) inverters, with the high switching frequency (fs) and voltage slew rate. For the SiC- based-inverter-fed transformer, the ageing of groundwall insulation is aggravated and the grounding defect should be reliably detected at incipient stage. In this paper, a novel approach based on negative and zero sequence voltage components at fs is proposed to realize comprehensive online monitoring of incipient grounding defect. At fs, the equivalent sequence circuit of the PV distribution network is built and the mechanism and characteristics of sequence voltage components are investigated in scenario of the high-resistance grounding defect. The effects are distinguished caused by defect from imbalanced operation. Two sequence voltages ratios are developed to identify the occurring phase and to evaluate the defect location and severity. The MATLAB&#x002F;Simulink model and the SiC-based- inverter platform are built for simulation and online experimental validation, respectively. The proposed online approach can sensitively detect and locate the defect with grounded resistance above 1 k&#x03A9; from each winding. Due to its noninvasiveness nature and convenient implementation, the operating reliability of the PV distribution network can be enhanced effectively.