Preventive Measures Research Articles

Critical Threshold-Based Heat Damage Evolution Monitoring to Tea Plants with Remotely Sensed LST over Mainland China

Tea plants (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) are a cash crop that thrive under warm and moist conditions. However, tea plants are becoming increasingly vulnerable to heat damage (HD) during summer growing seasons due to global climate warming. Because China ranks first in the world in both harvested tea area and total tea production, monitoring and tracking HD to tea plants in a timely manner has become a significant and urgent task for scientists and tea producers in China. In this study, the spatiotemporal characteristics of HD evolution were analyzed, and a tracking method using HD LST-weighted geographical centroids was constructed based on HD pixels identified by the critical LST threshold and daytime MYD11A1 products over the major tea planting regions of mainland China from two typical HD years (2013 and 2022). Results showed that the average number of HD days in 2022 was five more than in 2013. Daily HD extent increased at a rate of 0.66% per day in 2022, which was faster than that in 2013 with a rate of 0.21% per day. In two typical HD years, the tea regions with the greatest HD extent were concentrated south of the Yangtze River (SYR), with average HD pixel ratios of greater than 50%, then north of the Yangtze River (NYR) and southwest China (SWC), with average HD pixel ratios of around 40%. The regions with the least HD extent were in South China (SC), where the HD ratios were less than 40%. The HD LST-weighted geographical centroid trajectories showed that HD to tea plants in 2013 initially moved from southwest to northeast, and then moved west. In 2022, HD moved from northeast to west and south. Daily HD centroids were mainly concentrated at the conjunction of SYR, SWC, and SC in 2013, and in northern SWC in 2022, where they were near to the centroid of the tea planting gardens. The findings in this study confirmed that monitoring HD evolution of tea plants over a large spatial extent based on reconstructed remotely sensed LST values and critical threshold was an effective method benefiting from available MODIS LST products. Moreover, this method can identify and track the spatial distribution characteristics of HD to tea plants in a timely manner, and it will therefore be helpful for taking effective preventative measures to mitigate economic losses resulting from HD.

The impact of healthy nutrition education based on traffic light labels on food selection, preference, and consumption in patients with acute coronary syndrome: a randomized clinical trial

BackgroundAcute Coronary Syndrome is the most common heart disease and the most significant cause of death and disability-adjusted life years worldwide. Teaching a healthy eating style is one preventive measure to prevent the disease’s recurrence. This study aimed to determine the effect of healthy nutrition education with the help of traffic light labels on food selection, preference, and consumption in patients with acute coronary syndrome.MethodsThis randomized, single-blinded clinical trial was conducted with 139 participants (66 in the intervention group and 73 in the control group) from January 2021 to August 2021 in Shaheed Rajaie Hospital, Tehran, Iran. The control group received standard training. The intervention group, besides this, received additional bedside training with an educational poster on traffic light labels from the research team during their final hospitalization days. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire on food selection, preference, and consumption.ResultsThe Brunner-Munzel test showed no significant difference between the two groups in terms of selection (P = 0.127), preference (P = 0.852), and food consumption (P = 0.846) in the baseline, while after the intervention, there were significant differences in selection (P > 0.001), preference (P > 0.001), and consumption (p < 0.004). Comparing the difference between the two groups in the difference between the before and after scores for selection (p < 0.001), preference (p < 0.001), and food consumption (p = 0.011) with the Brunner-Munzel test indicated a significant difference in all outcome variables.ConclusionsTeaching healthy eating styles with the help of traffic light labels affected food selection, preference, and consumption and led to healthier diets in these patients.Clinical trial registration numberClinical trial registration: It was prospectively registered in the Iran Clinical Trials Registration Center on this date 30/10/2020 (IRCT20200927048857N1).

A dilute-and-inject liquid-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for the analysis of sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in extra-virgin olive oil

BackgroundPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) represent a diverse group of organic compounds characterized by the fusion of two or more benzene rings arranged in various structural forms. Due to their harmful effects on human health, it is essential to implement monitoring systems and preventive measures to regulate human exposure. Given the affinity of PAHs for lipids, extensive research has been focused on their presence in vegetable oils. This study aimed to develop an on-line liquid-gas chromatography (LC-GC) method (using tandem mass spectrometry) with minimized solvent consumption for the determination of 16 PAHs in extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO). ResultsA side-by-side comparison of the selected-ion-monitoring and the pseudo multiple-reaction-monitoring (p-MRM) acquisition modes was performed, in terms of specificity and detectability. The results obtained using the p-MRM mode were superior, and for this reason it was selected. The method was linear over the concentration range 1–200 μg kg−1 (except in five cases, over 2–200 and 5–200 μg kg−1 ranges). Accuracy (at the 2 μg kg−1 and 20 μg kg−1 concentration levels) was in the 86.9–109.3 % range, with an RSD <10 %. Intra-day and inter-day precision (at 2 μg kg−1 and 20 μg kg−1 concentration levels) were in the 1.2–9.7 % and 3.2–10.8 % ranges, respectively. For all the PAHs, a negative matrix effect was observed. Three out of sixteen PAHs were detected in three EVOOs (among ten samples), albeit at the low ppb level. Limits of quantification were satisfactory in relation to EU legislation on the presence of PAHs in vegetable oils. SignificanceA dilute-and-inject LC-GC-tandem mass spectrometry method is herein proposed fulfilling EU legislation requirements; sample preparation was very simple, inasmuch that it involved only a dilution step, thus avoiding extraction, clean-up, and thus a high consumption of organic solvents. In fact, considering both oil dilution and the LC mobile phase, less than 8 mL of solvents were used.

Cervical cancer - is there anything to worry about? Research on knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer among Poles

Cervical cancer poses a global health challenge, being one of the most common cancers of the reproductive organs and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The disease, resulting from infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), tends to develop in advanced stages, significantly complicating effective treatment. Despite advancements in medicine, diagnostics, and therapy, cervical cancer remains a serious public health threat. Periodic surveillance through screening has significantly reduced the incidence of cervical cancer; however, in Poland, there is a notable gap between potentially available preventive measures and their actual utilization by the population. It has been observed that only around 20% of Polish women participate in screening programs, contributing to Poland having one of the highest rates of incidence and mortality from this type of cancer in Europe. This leads to the conclusion that cervical cancer constitutes an unresolved oncological and epidemiological problem in Poland. In the context of these challenges, a crucial aspect is understanding the level of public knowledge about cervical cancer, its risk factors, and available preventive measures. This study focuses on evaluating the societal knowledge regarding the risk factors of cervical cancer, identifying existing gaps, and suggesting potential areas for educational interventions.

Discontinuation of HIV oral pre-exposure prophylaxis: findings from programmatic surveillance within two general population HIV programs in Nigeria

BackgroundAs oral PrEP scales up in Nigeria, information about uptake, use pattern and client preference in a real-world, implementation setting is invaluable to guide refining service provision and incorporation of oral PrEP and other prevention measures into routine health services. To add to this body of knowledge, our study examines factors associated with discontinuation of PrEP among HIV negative individuals across two large scale programs in Nigeria.MethodsUsing program implementation data from two large-scale HIV projects in Akwa Ibom and Cross River states in Nigeria between January 2020 and July 2021, we used logistic regression to explore factors associated with early discontinuation (i.e., stopping PrEP within one month of starting) among HIV-negative individuals who initiated PrEP in the programs.ResultsOf a total of 26,325 clients; 22,034 (84%) discontinued PrEP within the first month. The odds of PrEP discontinuation were higher among clients who enrolled in community-based distribution sites (aOR 2.72; 95% C.I: 2.50–2.96) compared to those who enrolled in program-supported facilities and never married (aOR 1.76; 95% C.I: 1.61–1.92) compared to married clients. Clients who initiated PrEP because of high-risk sexual behaviour (aOR 1.15, 95% C.I 1.03–1.30) or inconsistent use or non-use of condoms (aOR 1.96, 95% C.I 1.60–2.41) had greater odds of discontinuing PrEPthan those who initiated PrEP because they were in a serodifferent relationship.ConclusionThe behavioural and demographic factors associated with early discontinuation of PrEP suggest that risk stratification of pre-initiation and follow up counselling may be helpful in raising continuation rates. On the service delivery side, strategies to strengthen follow-up services provided by community-based distribution sites need to be introduced. Overall, the low continuation rate calls for a review of programmatic approaches in provision of PrEP services in Nigeria.

Environmental diseases, recognition for care: A qualitative study of nurses' perceptions.

This study aims to investigate hospital nurses' perceptions of illness due to environmental exposures. A qualitative exploratory study, designed in accordance with the specified reporting guidelines for qualitative research. Nurses working in Italian hospitals. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data, then evaluated using the framework analysis methodology. Data collection was from January to June 2022 and analysed from July to September 2022. Forty-two nurses were interviewed. Data analysis revealed three themes: 1) the concept of disease in relation to environmental exposure; 2) the dangers of chemical and physical substances; 3) environmental changes cause concern and a sense of helplessness for the future. The results suggest the need for specific training on topics related to environmental disease types, environmental exposure, preventive measures, health promotion, and environmental impact to support professional development and support nurses in the management of this important aspect of health care.

Improved ResNet50 Deep Learning Algorithm for Dust Explosion Risk Assessment of Dust Removal Pipelines

ABSTRACT In production environments dealing with explosive dust, the associated hazards pose critical risks to employee health and compliance with production environment regulations. To mitigate these risks, prevent equipment cross-contamination, and enhance workplace safety, most production equipment is equipped with dust removal systems. Given the potential explosiveness of dust, dust explosions can initiate high-temperature and high-pressure processes, leading to severe damage. Consequently, preventive measures must be implemented at the source. Incidents of dust explosions caused by dust removal systems are relatively common. To enhance the accuracy of identifying dust explosion risks within dust removal pipelines, this study presents an improved ResNet-50 algorithm for assessing explosion risks in such pipelines. By incorporating the SE attention module and leveraging ImageNet pre-training, we developed the SEResNet50 model, trained on a proprietary dataset using transfer learning. The ablation experiment verified the contribution of the SE attention module and transfer learning to the algorithm. Furthermore, the algorithm is compared with four classic recognition algorithms including VGG16, ResNet18, AlexNet, and GoogleNet. The results show that the SE attention mechanism and transfer learning improve the explosion risk assessment accuracy by 1.81% and 2.33% respectively. More specifically, the algorithm achieves a performance of 97.50%, 95.00%, 100.00%, and 97.43% in terms of Accuracy, Precision, Recall, and F1 Score respectively, which is better than the four algorithms. The algorithm’s ability to detect dust of different colors was evaluated through heatmap visualization of depth features. This algorithm meets the need for accurate risk assessment of dust removal pipelines and improves the safety management level of enterprises.

Farmers’ Knowledge, Attitude and Experience in the Application and Management of Pesticides

A survey was conducted on some vegetable farmers from a few selected vegetable growing areas in Bangladesh to know their social aspects, pesticide knowledge, practices, safety measures, resources and effects of pesticides. A survey questionnaire was developed and sent to 90 randomly selected vegetable farmers to determine to what extent they used pesticides. Almost 87% of the farmers’ stored pesticides in their houses without safety consideration but only about 13% used special storage. About 78.7% of farmers never read the label before applying pesticides. The most protective clothes reported by the farmers were nose masks (18.2%), and about three-fourths (71.7%) of them did not use any protective clothing. The majority (61.8%) of the farmers threw away their empty containers, and only 16.9% burned them. The majority of farmers (92.1%) applied pesticides as both curative and preventive measures. Almost all farmers reported that infested pests were identified by themselves by observing damage to flowers &amp; fruits (86.5%) and leaves &amp; green parts (13.5%). Most of the farmers (64%) selected pesticides for controlling pests by themselves, and 28.1% with the help of experienced farmers. Nearly 45.0% of respondents have moderate knowledge, and 44.8% have good knowledge in pesticide application and management. The most common pesticide related illnesses and injuries reported by respondents were headache/dizziness (44.9%), weakness (33.7%), stomach cramps (29.2%), and blue-red vision (16.9%). Only 23.6% of farmers observed that pesticides decrease plant yield, and 18.0% of farmers knew that pesticides destroy soil microorganisms. As the environment and human health were poorly considered, only 19.1% of respondents were bio-pesticides, 4.5% were organic pesticides, 2.2% were non-persistence pesticides, and 2.2% were natural enemy users. Respondents have very poor knowledge about modern pest control methods like beneficial microorganisms (4.7%), beneficial insects (3.5%), biological control of pests (3.5%), IPM (2.3%), SIT (1.2%), and GMO crops (1.2%). Farmers’ age was correlated negatively with education (r = -0.380) and positively with experience (r = 0.909, P &lt; 0.01). Pesticide related illness and injuries had a significant correlation with age (r = 0.465) and experience (r = 0.395). Jagannath University Journal of Life and Earth Sciences, 9(2): 111–124, 2023 (December)

Comprehensive insights into COVID-19 vaccine-associated multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS): A systematic analysis of reported cases

ABSTRACT Considering the widespread use of COVID-19 vaccines as a preventive measure against the spread of the virus, it’s necessary to direct attention to the adverse effects associated with vaccines in a limited group of populations. Multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS) following COVID-19 vaccination is a rare adverse reaction associated with COVID-19 vaccines. In this systematic review, we collected 19 articles with 27 patients up to November 1, 2023, summarizing the basic information, clinical manifestations, examinations, treatments, and recoveries of the 27 patients. The 27 enrolled patients (6 males, 21 females) had a median age of 34.1 years (15–71 years old) and were mainly from 5 regions: Asia (8), the Mediterranean region (8), North America (7), Oceania (3) and Brazil (1). Symptoms occurred post-first dose in 9 patients, post-second dose in 14 (1 with symptoms after both), post-third dose in 1, and both post-second and booster doses in 1, while details on 2 cases were not disclosed. Treatments included tapered oral steroids (6), topical steroids (3), tapered prednisone with antiviral drugs and vitamins (1), and valacyclovir and acetazolamide (1), while 16 received no treatment. All patients experienced symptom improvement, and nearly all patients ultimately recovered. Moreover, we summarized possible hypotheses concerning the mechanism of COVID-19 vaccine-associated MEWDS. The findings provide insights into the clinical aspects of COVID-19 vaccine-associated MEWDS. More attention should be given to patients with vaccine-associated MEWDS, and necessary treatment should be provided to patients experiencing a substantial decline in visual acuity to improve their quality of life.

Local triamcinolone injection and selective add-on oral steroids to prevent post-ESD esophageal stricture: retrospective analysis of a prospective protocol in a Western center.

Background and study aim Extensive esophageal ESDs without preventive measures are at high risk of stricture. Oral steroids and local injection of triamcinolone acetonide have proven to be effective for prevention of esophageal stricture. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a systematic steroid administration protocol for stricture prevention. Patients and methods A retrospective review of all esophageal ESDs at H.U.B Erasme Hospital (Brussels) between 2016 and 2022 was conducted. Injection of triamcinolone was performed for mucosal defects between 50% and 90% circumference. We added oral corticosteroids for patients with resections of ≥90% circumference . The primary outcome was the incidence of symptomatic stenosis at 3 months. Secondary outcomes were the cumulative stricture rate assessed by endoscopy within 6 months of ESD. Potential risk factors of stricture were evaluated with univariate and multivariate analysis. Results A total of 111 patients underwent 130 esophageal ESDs. Fifty-nine patients received triamcinolone acetonide local injection and 8 patients received local and oral corticosteroids. The primary outcome demonstrated a stricture incidence of 8.4%. The cumulative stricture rate assessed by endoscopy within 6 months of ESD was 10.4%.A mucosal defect of ≥ 6 0 4 0 mm was associated with 15-fold increased risk of stricture. Degree of circumference was also identified as an independent prognostic factor of stricture. Conclusions Our protocol led to a low stricture rate even after extensive resection. As a single session treatment without systemic side effects, triamcinolone injection could provide benefits as a preventive method after large esophageal resection.

A heterotopic pregnancy at 12 weeks’ pregnancy

Heterotopic pregnancy (HP) represents a rare and complex condition where simultaneous pregnancies occur at different implantation sites, with only one located within the uterine cavity. Typically diagnosed in the first trimester, HP presents diagnostic challenges due to its rarity and varying clinical presentations. Here, we present a unique case of HP diagnosed at Bengkalis Hospital involving a 42-year-old multipara at 12 weeks of gestation. The patient's presentation included regular uterine contractions and upper abdominal pain, with a positive Plano test upon admission. Despite experiencing vaginal bleeding two days prior and an initial refusal of care, further examination revealed a 2.13 cm gestational sac in the intrauterine cavity, consistent with the gestational age. Additionally, free intra-abdominal fluid was observed in the Douglas cavity. Haematological examination indicated a low haemoglobin level of 7.2 g/dl and elevated leukocytes at 16,000. An emergency laparotomy revealed a ruptured right ovarian tube containing a gestational sac, which was managed with hemostasis and a subsequent salpingectomy. The left ovarian tube underwent a tubectomy as a preventive measure. The patient received multiple blood transfusions, leading to an improvement in haemoglobin levels to 10.2 g/dl postoperatively. Following a two-day hospitalisation, the patient was discharged in good general condition. HP cases often necessitate laparotomies for tubal pregnancies, and ultrasound plays a crucial role in diagnosis, especially given its prevalence of 1 in 7000 due to assisted reproduction. Treatment typically involves laparoscopic or laparotomic intervention, highlighting the multidisciplinary approach required for managing this rare condition.

Experts’ views on recurrence and progression of varicose veins

Introduction. Despite modern advances in technologies for the treatment and prevention of varicose veins, there is currently no radical treatment for varicose veins. The probability of recurrence of dilated veins, according to various authors, ranges from 5 to 70%. Along with the well-established concept of recurrence of varicose veins, the term progression of varicose veins is increasingly common in everyday life.Aim. To study the current understanding of the term relapse and the practical attitude of specialists involved in the treatment of varicose veins to it.Material and methods. In 2023, a survey of 117 specialists on the recurrence/progression of varicose veins was conducted. The respondents were doctors involved in the treatment of varicose veins: vascular surgeons 22.4%, phlebologists 50%, general surgeons 19.8%, specialists in ultrasound/functional diagnostics 7.8%, X-ray endovascular surgeon 0.85%. The questionnaire included 18 questions regarding the frequency of visits of patients with relapse/progression of varicose veins; views on tactics, as well as the attitude of specialists to the issue of progression and recurrence of varicose veins in patients after its surgical treatment.Results and discussion. The concept of recurrence and progression of varicose veins among specialists dealing with this pathology is not always comparable. There are differences in views both on the predisposing factors for the recurrence of dilated veins, and, accordingly, on the tactics of treatment and preventive measures. In some cases, according to statistics, they are due to specialization.Conclusions. The incidence of relapse and progression at the reception of the respondents has a slight difference. Despite the fact that there are opinions that do not correspond to generally accepted and abhorrent collegiality, mostly specialists try to separate these concepts, see differences in provoking factors and, accordingly, in recommendations.

Associations between immune cell phenotypes and lung cancer subtypes: insights from mendelian randomization analysis.

Lung cancer is a common malignant tumor, and different types of immune cells may have different effects on the occurrence and development of lung cancer subtypes, including lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, the causal relationship between immune phenotype and lung cancer is still unclear. This study utilized a comprehensive dataset containing 731 immune phenotypes from the European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI) to evaluate the potential causal relationship between immune phenotypes and LUSC and LUAD using the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method in Mendelian randomization (MR). Sensitivity analyses, including MR-Egger intercept, Cochran Q test, and others, were conducted for the robustness of the results. The study results were further validated through meta-analysis using data from the Transdisciplinary Research Into Cancer of the Lung (TRICL) data. Additionally, confounding factors were excluded to ensure the robustness of the findings. Among the final selection of 729 immune cell phenotypes, three immune phenotypes exhibited statistically significant effects with LUSC. CD28 expression on resting CD4 regulatory T cells (OR 1.0980, 95% CI: 1.0627-1.1344, p < 0.0001) and CD45RA + CD28- CD8 + T cell %T cell (OR 1.0011, 95% CI: 1.0007; 1.0015, p < 0.0001) were associated with increased susceptibility to LUSC. Conversely, CCR2 expression on monocytes (OR 0.9399, 95% CI: 0.9177-0.9625, p < 0.0001) was correlated with a decreased risk of LUSC. However, no significant causal relationships were established between any immune cell phenotypes and LUAD. This study demonstrates that specific immune cell types are associated with the risk of LUSC but not with LUAD. While these findings are derived solely from European populations, they still provide clues for a deeper understanding of the immunological mechanisms underlying lung cancer and may offer new directions for future therapeutic strategies and preventive measures.

Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Pressure Ulcer Prevention Evidence-based Guidelines among Nursing Students at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia

Abstract Background: Pressure ulcers (PUs) are a common global problem. They affect health-care costs and patient health because of increased morbidity and mortality rates. Critically ill patients are more prone to acquiring PUs than other patients. As the prevalence of PUs is high in Saudi Arabia, more attention is required for PU prevention. Nurses’ knowledge and attitudes toward PU prevention are crucial. Aims: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes of nursing students regarding PU prevention evidence-based guidelines. Setting and Design: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among nursing students at Jazan University. Materials and Methods: Data were collected using an electronic questionnaire. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were entered, coded, and analyzed using the SPSS version 23. Results: A total of 378 participants were included. The mean age was 22.4 ± 3.4 years, and the mean knowledge score was 7.6 ± 2.64 (range = 0–16). Of the participants, 365 (96.6%) and 13 (3.4%) were considered to have poor and good knowledge about PUs, respectively. Only 72 (19%) correctly identified a lack of oxygen as the cause of PUs; other participants answered malnutrition and moisture. Conversely, 200 (52.9%) participants indicated that recent weight loss below patients’ ideal weight increases the risk for PUs. Concerning knowledge about preventive measures, 64 (16.9%) participants correctly answered that a backward sitting position, with both legs resting on a footrest, can reduce the amount of pressure. Meanwhile, 169 (44.7%) participants correctly selected thick air cushion as a means to reduce the magnitude of pressure when patients are sliding down on a chair. Some participants answered that PUs can be reduced if patients are mobilized. Seventy-two (19%) participants indicated that patients laying on a visco-elastic foam mattress should be repositioned every 2 h to reduce the duration of pressure. Age, year of education, training experience, and department were not significantly associated with knowledge about PUs (P = 0.333, P = 0.370, P = 0.700, and P = 0.810, respectively). Conclusions: The general knowledge and attitudes toward PUs of the nursing students at Jazan University were poor. Nevertheless, they had an average knowledge level regarding PU prevention. Age and training experience were not significantly associated with knowledge about PUs.

Potential use of antioxidants for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases

The excessive production of various reactive oxidant species over endogenous antioxidant defense mechanisms leads to the development of a state of oxidative stress, with serious biological consequences. The consequences of oxidative stress depend on the balance between the generation of reactive oxidant species and the antioxidant defense and include oxidative damage of biomolecules, disruption of signal transduction, mutation, and cell apoptosis. Accumulating evidence suggests that oxidative stress is involved in the physiopathology of various debilitating illnesses associated with chronic inflammation, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, or neurodegenerative processes, that need continuous pharmacological treatment. Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation are tightly linked pathophysiological processes, one of which can be simply promoted by another. Although, many antioxidant trials have been unsuccessful (some of the trials showed either no effect or even harmful effects) in human patients as a preventive or curative measure, targeting oxidative stress remains an interesting therapeutic approach for the development of new agents to design novel anti-inflammatory drugs with a reliable safety profile. In this regard, several natural antioxidant compounds were explored as potential therapeutic options for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. Several metalloenzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, are among the essential enzymes that maintain the low nanomolar physiological concentrations of superoxide (O2•−) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), the major redox signaling molecules, and thus play important roles in the alteration of the redox homeostasis. These enzymes have become a striking source of motivation to design catalytic drugs to enhance the action of these enzymes under pathological conditions related to chronic inflammation. This review is focused on several major representatives of natural and synthetic antioxidants as potential drug candidates for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.

Analytical and Experimental Behaviour of GFRP-Reinforced Concrete Columns under Fire Loading

Fire engineering endeavours to mitigate injury or the loss of life in the event of a fire. This is achieved primarily through fire prevention, containment, and extinguishment measures. Should prevention fail, the structural integrity of buildings, coupled with effective evacuation strategies, becomes paramount. While glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) materials have demonstrated efficacy in reinforcing concrete elements, their performance under fire conditions, notably in comparison to steel, necessitates a deeper understanding for structural applications. This study experimentally and numerically investigates the fire performance of GFRP-reinforced concrete (RC) columns subjected to only fire load without additional external loads. The research aims to ascertain the fire resistance based on the thickness of the concrete coating and the ultimate tensile strength of GFRP rebars after 90 min of fire exposure. Four GFRP-RC columns were subjected to a standardized fire curve on all sides in the experimental program. In the analytical program, a theoretical model was developed using the heat transfer module of the COMSOL software. The results of both analyses were very close, indicating the reliability of the procedure used. Based on the findings, recommendations regarding the fire resistance of GFRP-RC columns were formulated for structural applications. Results from this research provide the civil engineering community with data that will help them continue using FRP materials as internal reinforcement for concrete.

Climate change effects on animal presence in the Massaciuccoli Lake basin

Big-data mining approaches based on Artificial Intelligence models can help forecast biodiversity changes before they happen. These approaches can predict macroscopic species distribution patterns and trends that can inform preventive measures to avoid the loss of ecosystem functions and services. They can, therefore, help study and mitigate climate change implications on biodiversity conservation in fragile ecosystems. Wetlands are particularly fragile ecosystems where climate change poses severe risks and has dramatically reduced their size over the past century, with profound consequences on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Through big-data mining approaches, we can predict future wetland biodiversity trends in the context of climate change. This paper proposes such predictive analysis for a specific wetland: The Massaciuccoli Lake basin in Tuscany, Italy. This basin is a critical tourist attraction due to its rich biodiversity, making it an area of interest for citizens, tourists, and scientists. However, the region's suitability for native and non-native species is at risk due to climate and land-use change. Using machine-learning models, we predict the potential effects of climate change on animal spatial distribution in the basin under different greenhouse gas emission scenarios. The results suggest that habitat suitability has generally improved from 1950 to today, presumably owing to the targeted conservation strategies adopted in the area, but climate change will severely reduce bird biodiversity by 2050 while favouring several insect species' proliferation and other species' habitat change, even under a medium-emission scenario. This will lead to significant changes in the basin's biodiversity. Our methodology is adaptable to other wetland basins, being fully based on open data and models. The spatially explicit modelling used in this research provides valuable information for policymakers and spatial planners, complementing traditional biodiversity trend analyses.

Prediction of esophageal cancer risk based on genetic variants and environmental risk factors in Chinese population

BackgroundResults regarding whether it is essential to incorporate genetic variants into risk prediction models for esophageal cancer (EC) are inconsistent due to the different genetic backgrounds of the populations studied. We aimed to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with EC among the Chinese population and to evaluate the performance of genetic and non-genetic factors in a risk model for developing EC.MethodsA meta-analysis was performed to systematically identify potential SNPs, which were further verified by a case-control study. Three risk models were developed: a genetic model with weighted genetic risk score (wGRS) based on promising SNPs, a non-genetic model with environmental risk factors, and a combined model including both genetic and non-genetic factors. The discrimination ability of the models was compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and the net reclassification index (NRI). The Akaike information criterion (AIC) and Bayesian information criterion (BIC) were used to assess the goodness-of-fit of the models.ResultsFive promising SNPs were ultimately utilized to calculate the wGRS. Individuals in the highest quartile of the wGRS had a 4.93-fold (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.59 to 9.38) increased risk of EC compared with those in the lowest quartile. The genetic or non-genetic model identified EC patients with AUCs ranging from 0.618 to 0.650. The combined model had an AUC of 0.707 (95% CI: 0.669 to 0.743) and was the best-fitting model (AIC = 750.55, BIC = 759.34). The NRI improved when the wGRS was added to the risk model with non-genetic factors only (NRI = 0.082, P = 0.037).ConclusionsAmong the three risk models for EC, the combined model showed optimal predictive performance and can help to identify individuals at risk of EC for tailored preventive measures.

Genetically predicted fatty liver disease and risk of psychiatric disorders: A mendelian randomization study.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcohol-related liver disease (ArLD) constitute the primary forms of chronic liver disease, and their incidence is progressively increasing with changes in lifestyle habits. Earlier studies have documented a correlation between the occurrence and development of prevalent mental disorders and fatty liver. To investigate the correlation between fatty liver and mental disorders, thus necessitating the implementation of a mendelian randomization (MR) study to elucidate this association. Data on NAFLD and ArLD were retrieved from the genome-wide association studies catalog, while information on mental disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, anxiety disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, multiple personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and schizophrenia was acquired from the psychiatric genomics consortium. A two-sample MR method was applied to investigate mediators in significant associations. After excluding weak instrumental variables, a causal relationship was identified between fatty liver disease and the occurrence and development of some psychiatric disorders. Specifically, the findings indicated that ArLD was associated with a significantly elevated risk of developing ADHD (OR: 5.81, 95%CI: 5.59-6.03, P < 0.01), bipolar disorder (OR: 5.73, 95%CI: 5.42-6.05, P = 0.03), OCD (OR: 6.42, 95%CI: 5.60-7.36, P < 0.01), and PTSD (OR: 5.66, 95%CI: 5.33-6.01, P < 0.01). Meanwhile, NAFLD significantly increased the risk of developing bipolar disorder (OR: 55.08, 95%CI: 3.59-845.51, P < 0.01), OCD (OR: 61.50, 95%CI: 6.69-565.45, P < 0.01), and PTSD (OR: 52.09, 95%CI: 4.24-639.32, P < 0.01). Associations were found between genetic predisposition to fatty liver disease and an increased risk of a broad range of psychiatric disorders, namely bipolar disorder, OCD, and PTSD, highlighting the significance of preventive measures against psychiatric disorders in patients with fatty liver disease.

Difference in Rumor Dissemination and Debunking Before and After the Relaxation of COVID-19 Prevention and Control Measures in China: Infodemiology Study.

The information epidemic emerged along with the COVID-19 pandemic. While controlling the spread of COVID-19, the secondary harm of epidemic rumors to social order cannot be ignored. The objective of this paper was to understand the characteristics of rumor dissemination before and after the pandemic and the corresponding rumor management and debunking mechanisms. This study aimed to provide a theoretical basis and effective methods for relevant departments to establish a sound mechanism for managing network rumors related to public health emergencies such as COVID-19. This study collected data sets of epidemic rumors before and after the relaxation of the epidemic prevention and control measures, focusing on large-scale network rumors. Starting from 3 dimensions of rumor content construction, rumor propagation, and rumor-refuting response, the epidemic rumors were subdivided into 7 categories, namely, involved subjects, communication content, emotional expression, communication channels, communication forms, rumor-refuting subjects, and verification sources. Based on this framework, content coding and statistical analysis of epidemic rumors were carried out. The study found that the rumor information was primarily directed at a clear target audience. The main themes of rumor dissemination were related to the public's immediate interests in the COVID-19 field, with significant differences in emotional expression and mostly negative emotions. Rumors mostly spread through social media interactions, community dissemination, and circle dissemination, with text content as the main form, but they lack factual evidence. The preferences of debunking subjects showed differences, and the frequent occurrence of rumors reflected the unsmooth channels of debunking. The χ2 test of data before and after the pandemic showed that the P value was less than .05, indicating that the difference in rumor content before and after the pandemic had statistical significance. This study's results showed that the themes of rumors during the pandemic are closely related to the immediate interests of the public, and the emotions of the public accelerate the spread of these rumors, which are mostly disseminated through social networks. Therefore, to more effectively prevent and control the spread of rumors during the pandemic and to enhance the capability to respond to public health crises, relevant authorities should strengthen communication with the public, conduct emotional risk assessments, and establish a joint mechanism for debunking rumors.