Saturation Level Research Articles

Theoretical and Experimental Investigation of Thermal Conductivity of Unsaturated Soils Amended with a Sustainable Biochar

This study investigates the thermal conductivity of unsaturated kaolin soil amended with biochar to promote sustainable geotechnical engineering. Biochar from agricultural waste offers the dual benefits of carbon sequestration and sustainable waste management. Experimental measurements were conducted for kaolin soil with 0% (control) and 10% biochar under varying moisture contents. Peach pit biochar increased thermal conductivity by 2–3% at 30–40% saturation and 40–50% at higher saturation as compared to the bare soil. Reed biochar decreased thermal conductivity by 1–2% at lower saturation but increased it by 55–60% at higher saturation. Applewood biochar increased thermal conductivity by 35–50% at moderate saturation, decreased beyond 50% water content, and had minimal variation at lower saturation. Further, the existing empirical models (such as Kersten and the Johansen model, Wiener’s model, and Mickley’s model) for predicting the thermal conductivity of materials were validated using the measured results of biochar-amended soils. Adding 10% biochar reduces thermal conductivity by 34.8%, and the Haigh model (2012) fits best with high accuracy and lower RMSE values than models such as Kersten and Johansen, which appears to be less reliable in case of biochar-amended soils. With an addition of biochar, the R2 values of the models decreased from a range of 0.8 to 0.9 to a range of 0.4–0.6, indicating the need for better model adaptation. Wiener bounds accurately predicted thermal conductivity at low saturation levels but varied greatly at higher ones. The most variable sample was peach pit biochar, highlighting the need to refine predictive models for material-specific differences. These findings provide a foundation for developing improved predictive models and integrating biochar into sustainable geotechnical and geothermal systems.

Plasma triacylglycerol length and saturation level mark healthy aging groups in humans.

Complex lipids, essential components in biological processes, exhibit conserved age-related changes that alter membrane properties and cellular functions and are implicated as biomarkers and contributors to longevity and age-related diseases. While physical activity alleviates age-related comorbidities and physical impairments, comprehensive exploration of the underlying biological mechanisms, particularly at the level of complex lipids, remains limited. However, clinical studies suggest that physical activity may counteract these age-related lipidomic changes, presenting a promising avenue for intervention. We performed lipidomic profiling of plasma from an extensively characterized cohort of young and aged individuals. Annotating 1446 unique lipid species across 24 lipid classes, we found the most prominent difference in older adults was an accumulation of triacylglycerols (TGs), with lower physical activity levels associated with higher TG levels in plasma and reduced physical functionality. Remarkably, lipid species in the TG class did not accumulate uniformly. Rather, our study unveiled a negative correlation between higher physical activity levels and TGs with shorter chain lengths and more double bonds in this demographic. Overall, our research highlights that plasma TG length and saturation level can help mark healthy aging groups in humans. These findings deepen our understanding of how aging affects complex lipids and the influence of physical activity on this process.

Amplitude versus offset attribute inversion method for characterizing gas hydrate: Insights from high resolution seismic imaging and drilling results in the Shenhu area, South China Sea

AbstractAmplitude versus offset attribute inversion primarily utilizes the change in amplitude with offset to extract lithologic information of the reservoir. We performed high resolution imaging using three‐dimensional seismic data and simulated four different models of gas hydrate and free gas to optimize the selection of sensitive attributes for gas hydrate characterization. We optimized the selection of sensitive attributes for gas hydrate characterization. Our research identified the gradient parameter G as a highly sensitive attribute for characterizing gas hydrate reservoirs. By comparing theoretical models with drilling site data, we predicted the saturation variations of gas hydrate based on the amplitude of G and summarized the amplitude versus offset characteristics and sensitive attributes of gas hydrate at different saturation levels. The results offer valuable insights for identification of gas hydrate in seismic data and provide a reference for their characterization.

Predicting ICU Admission for Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients by Artificial Neural Network Combined with Elastic Net

Background: Machine learning models could assist physicians in identifying high-risk COVID-19 patients. This study aimed to predict the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission in COVID-19 hospitalized patients by the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model combined with Elastic Net algorithm. Methods: In this prospective study, the data of 139 COVID-19 patients admitted to Imam Reza Hospital in Tabriz between 20 March and 5 April 2020, were analyzed. The Elastic Net method was used to choose features with high importance. The chosen variables were standardized and ANN was fitted to the data with one hidden layer based on the descending gradient algorithm. To validate the model, the training and test group method with a ratio of 70 to 30 was used. The model’s predictive power was reported by calculating the overall accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and Area Under the ROC curve (AUC). Results: According to the results of the Elastic Net, the ANN model was constructed based on age, sex, body mass index, diabetes mellitus status, history of heart disease, and vital signs including systolic and diastolic blood pressure, saturated oxygen level, pulse rate, respiration rate, and body temperature. The overall accuracy of this model was 93.15%, sensitivity 80%, specificity 95.8%, and AUC 0.90. Saturated oxygen level, pulse rate, and age were the most important and predictive variables. Conclusion: In the investigated sample of patients admitted with COVID-19, the fitted ANN model had acceptable performance to predict the ICU admission. This finding could be useful for physicians and policy makers.

Complexation with Alginate in Pumpkin Leaf Protein Solutions for the Encapsulation of Folic Acid: The Effect of Extraction Protocols.

This study aimed to assess pumpkin leaves as a protein source and determine the feasibility of these proteins to form complexes with alginate for the encapsulation of folic acid. Different isolation protocols, two based on isoelectric precipitation (one with thermal pretreatment and the other with alkali pre-extraction) and one based on stepwise precipitation with ammonium sulfate, were compared regarding the yield and structural properties of the obtained leaf protein concentrates (LPC). The highest purity of protein was achieved using the thermal-acid protocol and the salting-out protocol at 40% saturation. RuBisCO protein was detected by SDS-PAGE in all LPCs, except for the fractions obtained through salting-out at saturation level ≥ 60%. Complexation of the LPC solutions (1 mg/mL) and sodium alginate solution (10 mg/mL) was monitored as a function of LPC:alginate ratio (2:1, 5:1, and 10:1) and pH (2-8) by zeta-potential measurements and confirmed by FT-IR analysis. Based on the results, the strongest interaction between LPCs and alginate occurred at a pH between 2.20 and 2.80 and an LPC:alginate ratio of 10:1. Complexation resulted in particle yields of 42-71% and folic acid entrapment of 46-92%. The LPC-folic acid interactions elucidated by computational protein-ligand docking demonstrated the high potential of RuBisCO as a biocarrier material for folic acid. The in vitro release study in the simulated gastrointestinal fluids indicated that complexes would be stable in gastric conditions, while folic acid would be gradually released in the intestinal fluids.

Needs Assessment and Tailored Training Pilot for Emergency Care Clinicians in the Prehospital Setting in Rwanda

Background: In low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), 45% of deaths could be addressed by implementation of an emergency medical services (EMS) system. Prehospital care is a critical component of EMS worldwide, and basic, affordable training has been shown to improve EMS systems. However, patient outcome impact is unclear. In this study we aimed to assess the current state of prehospital care in Kigali, Rwanda, through a needs assessment, focused training intervention, and analysis of current practices and patient outcomes. Methods: We identified 30 clinicians through the prehospital medical command office and included them in the study. A prospective, nonrandomized, interrupted time-series approach was used. Data collected through closed- and open-ended questionnaires included age, sex, training, and knowledge assessment. We used the data to create a tailored, 18-hour training after which immediate and 11-month post-tests were administered. Linked prehospital and hospital care datasets allowed for evaluation of patient outcomes and prehospital process indicators that included training skill application, airway intervention, intravenous fluid administration, and glucose administration. Results: Of 30 clinicians, 18 (60%) were female, 19 were nurses, and 11 were nurse anaesthetists. Median age was 36, and median years providing care was 10 (IQR 7–11). Twenty-four (80%) participants completed immediate and post-test assessments. Mean knowledge across 12 core skills significantly improved from a pre-test mean of 59.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 42.2–77.20) to a post-test mean of 87.8% (95% CI 74.7–100). At 11 months post-training, the score improvement maintained, with a mean score of 77.6%(95% CI 59.2–96.8). For patient outcomes, the total sample size was 572 patients; 324 of these patients were transported to the ED during the pre-training period (56.4%), while 248 were transported post-training. Prehospital oxygen administration for patients with a saturation level of <95% significantly increased pre- to post-training (66.7% to 71.7%; Δ = 5.0%; Δ95% CI 1.9,−8.1%). No significant changes were noted in patient treatment outcomes or other process indicators due to small sample sizes. Conclusion: This study provides insights on Rwandan EMS and demonstrates that a tailored intervention targeting education on prehospital process indicators has positive impacts on clinician knowledge and practice.

The effects of zonal fields on energetic-particle excitations of reversed-shear Alfvén eigenmode: simulation and theory

Abstract By employing both nonlinear gyrokinetic simulation and analytical theory, we have investigated the effects of zonal (electromagnetic) fields on the energetic particle’s (EPs) drive of reversed-shear Alfvén eigenmodes (AEs) in tokamak plasmas. Contrary to the conventional expectation, simulations with zonal fields that are turned on and off in the EP dynamics while keeping the full nonlinear dynamics of the thermal plasma indicate that zonal fields further enhance the instability drive and thus lead to a higher saturation level. These puzzling simulation results can be understood analytically in terms of the general fishbone-like dispersion relation with the correspondingly different EP phase-space structures induced by the zonal fields. Analytical expressions for the zonal fields that are beat driven by the reversed-shear AEs are also derived, and shown to be in good agreement with the simulation results.

PbZrO3-based thin film capacitors with high energy storage efficiency

Antiferroelectric (Pb0.87Sr0.05Ba0.05La0.02)(Zr0.52Sn0.40Ti0.08)O3 thin film capacitors were fabricated for dielectric energy storage. Thin films with excellent crystal quality (FWHM 0.021°) were prepared on (100) SrRuO3/SrTiO3 substrates by pulsed laser deposition. The out-of-plane lattice constant of the thin film was 4.110 ± 0.001 Å. An average maximum recoverable energy storage density, 88 ± 17 J cm−3 with an efficiency of 85% ± 6% at 1 kHz and 80 ± 15 J cm−3 with an efficiency of 91% ± 4% at 10 kHz, was achieved at room temperature. The capacitor was fatigue resistant up to 106 cycles at an applied electric field of 2 MV cm−1. These properties are linked to a low level of hysteresis and slow polarization saturation. PbZrO3-derived oxide thin film capacitors are promising for high efficiency and low loss dielectric energy storage applications.

Creative music therapy in preterm infants effects cerebrovascular oxygenation and perfusion

Creative music therapy (CMT) has been shown to promote the development of brain function and structure in preterm infants. We aimed to investigate the effect of CMT on cerebral oxygenation and perfusion to examine how the brain reacts to CMT. Absolute levels of cerebrovascular oxygen saturation (StO2) were measured in clinically stable preterm-born neonates (n = 20, gestational age: ≥30 weeks and < 37 weeks) using two near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)-based tissue oximeters over the right prefrontal cortex and left auditory cortex. We applied the systemic physiology augmented functional NIRS approach. Each CMT session lasted 55 min and involved 9 intervals, including two 10-minute intervals during which the music therapist hummed and held the neonate. We found that CMT-induced changes in cerebrovascular StO2, perfusion and systemic physiology (i) could be classified into two groups (group 1: increase in StO2 during the first singing interval, group 2: decrease in StO2), (ii) differed in female neonates compared to male neonates, and (iii) correlated with individual blood haematocrit levels. Our exploratory study (i) demonstrates the impact of CMT on the neonate’s physiology and (ii) highlights the need to analyze functional NIRS measurements in neonates separately according to their response pattern to avoid erroneous conclusions, e.g. when only the group average of the signal change is determined.

Evaluation of the cell death markers for aberrated cell free DNA release in high altitude pulmonary edema.

The effect of high altitude (HA, altitude >2500 m) can trigger a maladaptive response in unacclimatized individuals, leading to various HA illnesses such as high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). The present study investigates circulating cell free (cf) DNA, a minimally invasive biomarker that can elicit a pro-inflammatory response. Our earlier study observed altered cfDNA fragment patterns in HAPE patients and the significant correlation of these patterns with peripheral oxygen saturation levels. However, the unclear release mechanisms of cfDNA in circulation limit its characterization and clinical utility. The present study not only observed a significant increase in cfDNA levels in HAPE patients (27.03 ± 1.37 ng/ml; n = 145) compared to healthy HA sojourners (controls, 14.57 ± 0.74 ng/ml; n = 65) and highlanders (HLs, 15.50 ± 0.8 ng/ml; n = 34) but also assayed the known cell death markers involved in cfDNA release at HA. The study found significantly elevated levels of the apoptotic marker, annexin A5, and secondary necrosis or late apoptotic marker, High mobility group box 1, in HAPE patients. In addition, we observed ahigher oxidative DNA damage marker, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, in HAPE compared to controls, suggestive of the role of oxidative DNA status in promoting the inflammatory potential of cfDNA fragments and their plausible role in manifesting HAPE pathophysiology. Extensive in vitro future assays can confirm theimmunogenic role of cfDNA fragments that may act as a danger-associated molecular pattern and associate with markers of cellular stresses in HAPE.

Patient use of pulse oximetry to support management of COVID-19 in Greater Manchester: A non-randomised evaluation using a target trial approach.

The pandemic saw widespread use of home pulse oximeters to patients diagnosed with COVID-19 to support early detection of low oxygen saturation levels and appropriate care. Rapid implementation made conventional evaluation challenging, highlighting the need for rigorous non-randomised methods to support decision-making about future use of these technologies. We used routine data to explore the benefits of pulse oximetry in Greater Manchester, under the 'COVID-19 oximetry at home' (CO@h) programme. We used data from the Greater Manchester Secure Data Environment and defined study parameters using a 'target trial' model to compare patients receiving pulse oximetry under the CO@h programme, with matched controls using various comparator groups. Primary outcomes were unplanned hospitalisation and all-cause mortality. This study is based on data from the Greater Manchester Care Record (GMCR), using anonymised, routinely collected data provided in a de-identified format for research. Informed written consent is needed for primary care patient data to be collected for service improvement and research, before data extraction to the GMCR. The study was approved under protocol GMCR RQ-048, on 12/05/2022. As indicated by the University of Manchester ethics decision tool, formal ethical approval was not required for this study. The adjusted odds ratios for an unplanned hospitalisation were higher among patients receiving pulse oximetry: OR 1.86 (95% CI 1.54-2.25) at 28 days, 1.5 (95% CI 1.3-1.74) at 90 days and 1.63 (95% CI 1.44-1.83) at 1 year. Overall odds of mortality were lower among patients receiving pulse oximetry: adjusted ORs of 0.5 (95% CI 0.25-0.98) at 28 days, 0.5 (95% CI 0.32-0.78) at 90 days and 0.58 (95% CI 0.44-0.76) at 1 year. The results were robust to different comparison groups. Use of pulse oximetry at home under the CO@h programme, through the resulting prioritisation for appropriate care, was associated with a higher frequency of unplanned admissions and a reduction in the risk of mortality up to 1 year later. Therefore, it is likely effective for early detection of clinical deterioration and timely intervention among patients with COVID-19. Further research is needed to understand whether this is a cost-effective use of healthcare resources.

An Attempt to Use Virtual Reality as a Tool to Reduce Patient Anxiety During Dental Treatment.

Background/Objectives: Dental fear and anxiety are prevalent issues in both children and adult patients, often leading to avoidance of dental care and deterioration in overall health. While virtual reality (VR) has been increasingly studied as a distraction tool in pediatric dentistry, its effectiveness among adults remains under-researched. This study aims to evaluate the impact of VR distraction on reducing anxiety and physiological stress indicators in adult dental patients. Methods: The study was conducted in a private dental office in Dobrodzień, Poland, involving 90 adult dental patients divided into three groups: two experimental (VR1 and VR2) and one control (C), with 30 patients each. Patients in the VR1 group experienced VR distraction during the first visit, and the second visit was conventional; the VR2 group experienced this in reverse; and the control group underwent traditional treatment in both visits. Physiological parameters (heart rate, saturation, and stress) and psychological anxiety levels (MDAS and STAI-X1) were measured at three time points during each visit. Results: Significant reductions in heart rate and stress levels were observed after VR exposure compared to the control group. VR also demonstrated a significant effect in decreasing anxiety levels (based on STAI-X1) during the visit with VR distraction. No significant changes were found in the saturation levels across the groups. Conclusions: The use of VR as a distraction tool during dental procedures effectively reduces physiological stress and anxiety in adult patients, suggesting its potential as a valuable tool in managing dental anxiety. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term benefits and patient satisfaction with VR-based interventions in dental care.

Immediate effect of sunlight exposure through blue glass on blood pressure in hypertensive patients: a randomized controlled trial.

Hypertension affects approximately 1.28 billion adults worldwide, driving the search for integrative therapeutic approaches alongside conventional treatments. While chromotherapy, particularly blue light exposure, has historical roots in traditional medicine and its specific impact on blood pressure regulation remains understudied. So, the present study aims to investigate the immediate impact of exposure to blue glass through sunlight on blood pressure in hypertensive individuals. This randomized controlled trial was carried out with a sample of 60 hypertensive patients, who were divided into two groups: a study group that received blue glass exposure for 20 min and a control group that received exposure to colourless glass. The primary outcome measures were systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate, and oxygen saturation levels. The results of the study revealed statistically significant differences in systolic blood pressure (p=0.006) and pulse rate (p=0.005) after the intervention in the study group and no such changes were noted in the control group. The findings of this study suggest that blue glass exposure has a significant impact on reducing blood pressure and pulse rate in hypertensive patients, indicating its potential use as a integrative treatment in the management of hypertension.

Low-Cost Sensors for the Measurement of Soil Water Content for Rainfall-Induced Shallow Landslide Early Warning Systems

Monitoring soil water content (SWC) can improve the effectiveness of early warning systems (EWSs) designed to mitigate rainfall-induced shallow landslide risk. In extensive areas, like along linear infrastructures, the adoption of cost-effective sensors is critical for the EWS implementation. The present study aims to evaluate the reliability of different low-cost SWC sensors (frequency domain reflectometry and capacitance-based) in capturing soil moisture conditions critical for EWS, without performing soil-specific calibration. The reliability of the low-cost sensors is assessed through a comparative analysis of their measurements against those from high-cost and well-established sensors (time domain reflectometry) over a two-year period in a shallow landslide-prone area of Oltrepò Pavese, Italy. Although no landslides are observed during the monitoring period, meteorological conditions are reconstructed and statistical analysis of sensor’s responses to different rainfall events is conducted. Results indicate that, despite differences in absolute readings, low-cost sensors effectively capture relative SWC variations and demonstrate sensitivity to rainfall events across both cold and warm periods. The presented low-cost sensors can serve as reliable indicators of soil infiltration and saturation levels, highlighting their potential for real-time monitoring within extensive networks for EWS.

Predictors of adverse outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pulmonary embolism and the predictive value of the simplified pulmonary embolism severity index

Objective: To explore the relevant factors associated with poor prognosis in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) combined with pulmonary embolism (PE), and investigate the predictive value of the simplified pulmonary embolism severity index (sPESI) score on adverse outcomes in these patients. Methods: A total of 168 patients with COPD and PE who were treated at West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 1, 2018, to December 30, 2020 were retrospectively included. Patients were divided into adverse outcome group and control group based on the occurrence of adverse outcomes [any of the following events: in-hospital death, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and endotracheal intubation]. Correlation factors for poor prognosis were explored using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was employed to assess the predictive value of the sPESI score for adverse outcomes in COPD patients with PE. Results: A total of 168 patients were studied, with an age of (73.4±10.4) years and 119 male (70.8%). In the adverse outcome group, there were 18 cases (10.7%), including 12 in-hospital deaths, 6 ICU admission, and 1 endotracheal intubation. The control group comprised 150 cases (89.3%). Statistically significant differences were observed between two groups regarding the proportion of patients with diabetes, nephrotic syndrome, severe pneumonia, respiratory failure and lower extremity edema, and the pulse, diastolic blood pressure, pulse oxygen saturation, lactate dehydrogenase and cholesterol levels (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that severe pneumonia, respiratory failure, lower extremity edema, and diastolic blood pressure<60 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) are correlative factors of adverse outcomes in patients with COPD complicated by PE [OR (95%CI) were 7.363 (1.053-51.772), 4.077 (1.030-16.133), 4.490 (1.131-17.832), and 8.060 (1.209-53.918), respectively, all P<0.05]. The sPESI score in the adverse outcome group was higher than that in the control group [M (Q1, Q3), 2 (2, 2) vs 1 (1, 2) score, P=0.006]; the optimal cutoff value for sPESI score was 2 score, the sensitivity was 77.8%, the specificity was 54.0%, and the area under the curve (AUC) and 95%CI were 0.681 (0.554-0.809) based on the ROC curve analysis. Patients with sPESI≥2 score exhibited a 4.109-fold (95%CI: 1.292-13.063, P=0.017) increased risk of adverse prognosis compared to those with sPESI<2 score. Conclusions: Patients with COPD combined with PE have a higher incidence of adverse prognostic outcomes. Severe pneumonia, respiratory failure, lower limb edema, and diastolic pressure<60 mmHg are associated factors for poor prognosis. The sPESI score has some value in predicting adverse outcomes in COPD patients with PE.

Kangaroo Mother Care on Perfusion Index, Heart Rate, and Oxygen Saturation in Premature Infants Who were Discharged Early and Admitted to The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Randomized Control Tria.

To determine the effect of kangaroo mother care (KMC) on perfusion index, heart rate, and oxygen saturation in premature infants who were discharged early and admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in the following days. This study has a randomized controlled experimental design and uses a pretest-posttest control group model. This study included infants between December 2019 and December 2020 who were discharged early and subsequently admitted to the NICU. Experimental (n=38) and control (n=38) groups were assigned using the simple randomization technique at the NICU of a private university hospital in Istanbul, Türkiye. Heart rate, perfusion index, and oxygen saturation levels of the experimental group in which KMC was applied and the control group in which KMC was not applied were compared. Measurements of these parameters were made at 15-minute intervals for 45 minutes (0-1, 15, 30, 45 minutes). Data were collected via the Mother and Infant Introductory Information Form, Kangaroo Mother Care Preparation Checklist, Kangaroo Mother Care Physiological Parameter Monitoring Form, and Noninvaziv Pulse Co-Oximetry. Statistics of these data were performed with the independent sample t-test, Pearson's Chi-square, Fisher's exact test. In the experimental and control groups, infants' gestational age (31.11 ± 3.25 and 31.61 ± 3.04, respectively; p = .491) and weight (1778.29 ± 436.93 and 1953.29 ± 345.74, respectively; p = .057) were similar, and the differences were statistically insignificant. Before KMC, there was no difference between the heart rate, oxygen saturation, and perfusion index values of the experimental and control groups (p > .05). From the first 15 minutes after the application of KMC to 45 minutes post-KMC, there was a significant decrease in (p=0.001) and stabilization of heart rate and oxygen saturation in the experimental group compared with the control group. The heart rates in the experimental group at 15th, 30th, and 45th minutes during KMC were lower than in the control group (147.63 ± 11.04; 142.47 ± 11.94; 136.82 ± 13.22 and 153.13 ± 8.73; 154.50 ± 7.27; 154.84 ± 7.05, respectively). Also, their oxygen saturation during KMC was higher than in the control group (96.68 ± 2.08; 97.24 ± 2.18; 97.87 ± 1.66 and 94.79 ± 1.27; 94.66 ± 1.45; 94.39 ± 1.38, respectively). This significant difference between KMC on heart rate and oxygen saturation in the experimental group compared to the control group continued for 45 minutes after KMC. The perfusion index was significantly higher at 30 minutes and 45 minutes during KMC. However, although it continued after KMC, this change in perfusion index was not statistically significant. Kangaroo mother care helps to regulate the heart rate, oxygen saturation, and perfusion index of premature infants who were discharged early and admitted to the NICU in the following days.

STEM-08. LIPID SATURATION HOMEOSTASIS PRESENTS A TARGETABLE VULNERABILITY IN MYC-AMPLIFIED GROUP 3 MEDULLOBLASTOMA

Abstract Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant pediatric brain cancer, originating from the cerebellum. Despite advancements in standard of care (SoC), MB remains fatal for 30% of patients. Tumor relapse, spinal metastasis and treatment resistance are the most prevalent in MYC-driven Group 3 MB (G3-MB). Patients surviving SoC are faced with life-long neurocognitive and neurodevelopmental deficits. These issues highlight the urgent need for improved treatment modalities. Reprogramming of cellular lipid metabolism is an emerging hallmark of cancer and may yield novel cancer-specific therapeutic options. Here we explore the lipidome of both G3-MB and its proposed cell of origin, human neural stem cells (hNSCs) by comparing untargeted lipidomics using Liquid-Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS). Comparative analyses revealed a differential abundance of distinct lipid species in G3-MB, with an overall reduced saturation level of fatty acids (FAs). These findings implicate the de novo lipid synthesis (DNL) pathway. We identified the enzymes involved in DNL to be essential for MB survival in our genome-wide CRISPR KO screen. Additionally, mRNA expression of the DNL enzymes increases at relapse in our SoC-adapted murine patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model. Pharmacological and genetic targeting of the DNL enzyme Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase 1 (SCD1) selectively targets G3-MB. Furthermore, small molecule treatment of SCD1 demonstrates efficacy against G3-MB PDX models in vivo. We identified SCD expression as a prognostic marker in Group 3 and 4 MB patients and identified possible pathways for MB treatment. Overall, these findings indicate that SCD1 is a potent target for the treatment of G3-MB.

Effects of Iron Saturations on the Physicochemical Properties and Potential Physiological Functions of Ovotransferrin: Based on Structure-Activity Relationship.

Ovotransferrin (OVT) is a multifunctional protein related to lactoferrin (LF), sharing similar characteristics and considered a cost-effective alternative. Researchers were intrigued by the differences in iron saturation between native-LF and native-OVT, but whether iron saturation affected the cost-effectiveness of the ligand of OVT compared to LF was still uncertain. This study investigated the structure, physicochemical properties, and potential functions of an OVT with varying iron saturation levels, aiming to clarify the impact of iron saturation on an OVT. The findings showed that increased iron saturation altered the structure of an OVT, leading to changes in its physicochemical properties, such as larger particle size and better thermal stability. The findings from peptidomics indicated that iron saturation affects the resistance of OVT to digestion, resulting in the generation of peptides with distinct molecular weights and diverse potential functionalities. Overall, this study provided evidence to support that iron saturation was a limiting factor for the functional performance of the OVT.

The influence of the general vibration on the quality of the assessment of the pilot's physiological indicators

The article considers flight safety issues related to continuous monitoring of the pilot's functional state by using means of monitoring physiological health indicators, which is due to the complexity of flight work, accompanied by a whole range of unfavorable factors that reduce the efficiency of professional activity. The article studies the influence of the general vibration factor on the quality (accuracy) of the assessment of the pilot's physiological indicators recorded by non-invasive diagnostic devices in transmitted light. Such indicators include heart rate, fractional blood saturation level, and respiratory rate. A mathematical model of quasi-deterministic general vibration, which is the resultant of individual frequency components of corrected vibration acceleration directed along three axes of the Cartesian coordinate system, has been developed. Mathematical modeling of the effect of general vibration on the information photoplethysmographic signal has been performed and it has been shown that the effect changes the frequency-time structure of the signal and relative errors of the estimated physiological parameters appear – the level of fractional blood saturation (4.16 %), heart rate (4.78 %) and respiration (3.75 %). As a result of a practical experiment to analyze the effect of general vibration on the quality of assessment of the specified physiological parameters, it was found that, compared to the declared error of a pulse oximeter of ±2 %, the errors in determining the heart rate, fractional blood saturation and respiration rate increased by 3.221 %; 2.483 % and 1.906 %, respectively. The results of theoretical and practical studies have a strong pair correlation according to Pearson, the pair correlation coefficients were 0.72, 0.83, 0.76 for the results of measurements of heart rate, fractional blood saturation level and respiratory rate, respectively, which indicates the validity of the adopted simplifi ations in the development of the mathematical model. The obtained results can be used to develop devices for non-invasive diagnostics of the pilot's physiological indicators, functioning directly during the flight.

Multisensory stimulation to reduce procedural pain in retinopathy of prematurity: A randomized controlled trial.

Retinopathy is frequently seen in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and its examination is a painful procedure for infants. This randomized active-controlled trial aimed to investigate the impact of multisensory stimulation (MSS) on neonatal pain during retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) examinations, in comparison with a white noise (WN) and control group receiving standard care. Conducted as a three-arm, randomized controlled trial, the study was implemented in the NICU of a local university hospital. Recruitment spanned from July 2023 to November 2023, with preterm infants (gestational age < 37 weeks) randomly assigned to either a MSS, WN or a control group. MSS components included visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory and gustatory stimuli, all designed to create a synergistic, comforting environment for the infant during the procedure. Procedural pain, heart rate and oxygen saturation were assessed at various stages before and after ROP examinations. Analysis of 90 participants revealed that the MSS group exhibited lower Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) scores than the WN and control groups (mean difference: -2.12, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -2.62 to -1.62; odds ratio [OR]: 0.004, 95% CI [0.001, 0.012], p < 0.001). Additionally, heart rates were significantly lower in the MSS group (mean difference: -15.3 beats/min, 95% CI: -20.5 to -10.1; OR: 0.025, 95% CI [0.008, 0.073], p < .001) and oxygen saturation levels were higher (mean difference: 3.2%, 95% CI: 1.8% to 4.6%; OR: 1.12, 95% CI [1.05, 1.20], p < .001) than in the other groups. MSS emerges as a favourable, safe and non-pharmacological intervention for pain management in ROP and similar procedures. Multisensory stimulation can be effectively integrated into the routine care provided by critical care nurses during retinopathy of prematurity examinations in preterm infants. This non-pharmacological intervention offers a practical approach for critical care nurses to reduce procedural pain and improve physiological stability in this vulnerable population.