Screening Parameter Research Articles

Laser-Assisted Scattering With Screened Diatomic Potential

This study explores the differential cross section (DCS) for laser-assisted scattering of diatomic molecules, considering various polarization conditions (linear, circular, elliptical) and potential parameters. The primary objective is to understand how polarization, screening effects, and potential parameters influence the scattering behavior. Utilizing a model that incorporates the Morse potential with screening effects, the analysis treats the laser field classically as a time-dependent, spatially homogeneous electric field, while the electron dynamics are described quantum mechanically using the Schrödinger equation. The Volkov wavefunction is derived, and the first-Born S-matrix element is computed to evaluate the scattering process. The results show that the DCS decreases with increasing screening parameters, with linear polarization yielding higher values than circular or elliptical polarization. Specifically, at an initial momentum of 8 MeV and a final momentum of 9 MeV, the DCS for elliptical polarization is notably higher. The DCS also varies with potential strength and well width, showing a peak at 0.14 Å for potential well width. The findings suggest that linear polarization is most effective for scattering studies under varying potential strengths. It is recommended to focus on linear polarization for enhanced scattering efficiency and to carefully adjust screening parameters and potential well widths for optimal results.

Screening accuracy and developmental language disorder remain stable between 2.5 and 3 years.

This study re-evaluated the classification accuracy of language screening. This is because the new Swedish child health programme moved this screening from 3 to 2.5 years of age. Another aim was to investigate the stability of diagnoses between these two time points. Children were recruited consecutively during 2016-2017 from three Child Health Services in Gävle, Sweden. Forty-eight monolingual children (31 boys) and 93 bilingual children (38 boys) underwent language screening and a clinical examination by a speech and language pathologist at 2.5 years of age. They were re-examined after 6 months (at 36-38 months) for clinical diagnosis. Of the 48 monolingual children, 45 retained their status at both 2.5 and 3 years of age, while three no longer met the criteria for development language disorder. Among the 93 bilingual children, 87 retained their 2.5-year status at age 3, two no longer met the criteria, and four new cases were diagnosed. These differences were not statistically significant. All changes in screening parameters between 2.5 and 3 years were within the 95% Confidence Interval, indicating stable classification. Screening accuracy and language status were robust between 2.5 and 3 years, providing no support for a wait-and-see approach.

Sodium-chloride difference is not strongly correlated with base excess in chronic kidney disease: an anion gap problem.

The prevalence of metabolic acidosis is high in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). For the diagnosis, a blood gas analysis is necessary, but not always available. The aim of the study was to evaluate the base excess (BE) of the sodium-chloride difference (BENa-Cl = Na+-Cl--34mmol/l) as a screening parameter for hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis. We retrospectively performed acid-base analyses of 168non-dialysedpatientswith CKDaccording to the physiologic and to the Stewart's approach. We performed linear regression analysis, Bland-Altman plot and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis of BENa-Cland BE to evaluate the accuracy of BENa-Clpredicting the BE. We further investigated possible confounding factors. The corrected R2for the correlation of BENa-Cland BE was 0.60 (p < 0.001). The Bland-Altman plot showed a good overall agreement. The bias was negligible, but the 95%-limits of agreement showed a wide interval (10.4mmol/l). For BE ≤ 2mmol/l, the ROC analysis yielded an AUC of 0.89 and moderate sensitivity (0.75) and specificity (0.86) for the optimal BENa-Clthreshold (≤ 2mmol/l). Subgroup analysis showed similar results. The main factor for the imprecision of BENa-Clpredicting the BE across all stages of CKD is the variability of the serum anion gap (SAG). The BENa-Clis not an adequate parameter for screening of hyperchloremic acidosis because of the high variability of the SAG. Only, if the BENa-Clis ≤ 5mmol/l, a hyperchloremic acidosis should be suspected. Therefore, a complete blood gas analysis is necessary for the correct diagnosis of acid-base disorders in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Triglyceride and Glucose Index as an Optimal Predictor of Metabolic Syndrome in Lebanese Adults.

Background: Globally, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is on the rise, especially in Arab countries, which emphasizes the need for reliable ethnic-specific biochemical screening parameters. Methods: Two hundred twenty-one Lebanese adults were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Biochemical parameters including Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA), Triglyceride and Glucose index (TyG), ratio of Triglycerides to High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (TG/HDL-C), Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP), and Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) were assessed for their prediction of MetS. Analysis of covariance, logistic regression, expected-versus-observed case ratio were used to determine model calibration, concordance statistic, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive predictive values (PPV, NPV). Results: The prevalence of MetS was 44.3%. All biochemical parameters were significantly associated with MetS, with a strong model discrimination (c-statistic between 0.77 and 0.94). In both sex categories, TyG best predicted MetS (females: cut-off value, 8.34; males: cut-off value, 8.43) and showed good estimation among females, but overestimation among males. HOMA had the lowest discriminatory power in both sex categories. Conclusions: This study suggests that TyG best predicts MetS, while HOMA has the lowest predictive power. Future larger studies need to focus on harmonizing ethnic specific cut-offs and further validating our results.

A metapopulation model with exit screening measure for the 2014–2016 West Africa Ebola virus outbreak

We construct a new metapopulation model for the transmission dynamics and control of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in an environment characterized by considerable migrations and travels of people. It is an extended SEIR model modified by the addition of Quarantine and Isolated compartments to account for travelers who undergo the exit screening. The model is well-fitted by using the reported cases from the neighboring countries Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone where the 2014–2016 Ebola outbreak simultaneously arose. We show that the unique disease-free equilibrium (DFE) of the model is unstable or locally asymptotically stable (LAS) depending on whether the control reproduction number is larger or less than unity. In the latter case, we prove that the DFE is globally asymptotically stable (GAS) provided that the exit screening is 100% negative. We also prove the GAS of the DFE by introducing more explicit thresholds, thanks to which the existence of at least one boundary equilibrium is established. We design two new nonstandard finite difference (NSFD) schemes, which preserve the dynamics of the continuous model. Numerical simulations that support the theory highlight that exit screening is useful to mitigate the infection. They also suggest that the disease is controlled or the explicit threshold is less than unity provided that the migration and the exit screening parameters are above a critical value.

Prevalence of amyloidosis among patients with mild to severe aortic stenosis. Validation of screening parameters

Abstract Background Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is an increasingly recognized cause of human heart failure. Up to 16% of patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing transcatheter valve replacement have been reported to suffer concomitant transthyretin CA (ATTR). Since the diagnosis of CA implies distinct therapies with prognostic relevance, early diagnosis of CA is crucial. Different parameters have been described to improve screening accuracy for detection of CA, but it is unknown whether these parameters are valid, and the prevalence of CA is stable throughout the spectrum of AS. Purpose To validate screening parameters for the detection of CA in mild, moderate and severe AS. Methods Patient 65 years and above undergoing echocardiography with mild to severe AS, defined as calculated valve orifice area &amp;lt;2 cm2 by velocity-time-integral, and an intraventricular septum thickness &amp;gt; 11mm, fulfilling at least one of two additional criteria (Sokolow-Lyon-Index to left ventricular mass index ratio &amp;lt; 1.5 or stroke volume index &amp;lt; 35 ml/m2) were prospectively included and screened for CA using bone scintigraphy and immunofixation in blood and urine. Results 57 patients were included and completed the diagnostic work-up. Mean age was 83 ± 0.7 years and 71% were male. Overall, 15 (26%) of patients were diagnosed with CA (12 with ATTR and 3 with light-chain CA, Figure1A). 17 patients had mild, 21 had moderate and 19 patients were diagnosed with severe AS. Among patients with mild AS 41% were diagnosed with CA, whereas only 24% of patients with moderate and 16% of patients with severe AS suffered CA (Figure 1B), these results did not show statistically significant differences (p= 0.2, by Chi-Square Quadrat test). Patients with CA were less likely to have NYHA classes I or II (20 vs. 57%, p= 0.03), had higher values of NT-proBNP (4572 [2323; 6044] vs. 817 [589; 2571], p&amp;lt; 0.001) and high-sensitive troponin (66 [47; 103.5] vs. 22.5 [17; 33.6], p&amp;lt; 0.001) and were more likely to have an atrioventricular block of any degree (60 vs. 26%, p=0.04). Conclusion Prevalence of CA among patients fulfilling the criteria of this screening algorithm seems to be high independent of AS severity. Clinicians should not only focus on patients with severe AS to detect CA early. Further research is needed to estimate the prevalence of CA among all patients with AS. Figure 1 A: Among patients with an age &amp;gt;65 years, IVS &amp;gt;11mm, AS and SLI/LVMMI &amp;gt;1.5 or SVI &amp;lt;35 ml/m2 26% (red area) of patients were diagnosed with CA (n= 57). B: In patients with mild AS 41% were diagnosed with CA, whereas in patients with moderate AS only 24% and in patients with severe AS 16% had CA. These differences did not show statistical significance (p= 0.2). IVS: intraventricular septum, AS: aortic stenosis, SLI: Skolow-Lyon-Index, LVMM= left ventricular myocardial mass index, SVI: stroke volume index, CA: cardiac-amyloidosis. (Statistics performed by chi-square test using GraphPad Prism 9.0).

Association between echocardiographic parameters and abnormal spirometry among chronic heart failure patients

Abstract Background A significant proportion (10-40%) of heart failure (HF) patients have concomitant pulmonary disease which have negative effects on cardiovascular outcome of patients. Because of the similarities in symptoms between HF and pulmonary disease, the prevalence of concomitant pulmonary disease may be underestimated. Early detection manage accordingly may improve outcomes of HF patients. We aimed to study clinical and echocardiographic parameters identifying HF patients with concomitant pulmonary disease. Methods This cross-sectional study included adults (age≥18 years) who were diagnosed with HF. The echocardiogram, arterial blood gas and pulmonary function test (PFT) were performed. The patients were classified into normal and abnormal (obstructive and restrictive) PFT patterns. The primary outcome was the association between echocardiographic parameters and abnormal PFT. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was performed to evaluate diagnostic performance of echocardiographic parameter in detecting abnormal PFT. Results A total of 57 patients was enrolled, of which 32 patients (56.14%) had normal PFT, 14 patients (24.56%) had obstructive PFT, and 11 patients (19.30%) had restrictive PFT. The clinical characteristics were not different between groups. ROC curve demonstrated that only left atrial volume index (LAVI) and main pulmonary artery (MPA) diameter had significant diagnostic accuracy to predict abnormal PFT with AUC of 0.72 (95%CI 0.57-0.87) and 0.66 (95%CI 0.51-0.80) respectively. Using combination of LAVI (cutoff 40mm2/m2) and MPA diameter (cutoff 22.0 mm) had a sensitivity of 95.7% (95%CI 78.05-99.89%) and specificity of 41.94% (95%CI 24.55-60.92%) in detection patients with abnormal PFT. Conclusion Almost half of HF had concomitant abnormal PFT. The combination of LAVI and MPA diameter can identify patients with abnormal PFT with high negative predictive value and should be considered as screening parameters in HF patients.

A new model describing improved bound-state and statistical properties in the framework of deformed Schrödinger equation for the improved Coshine Yukawa potential in 3D-NR(NCPS) symmetries

In this paper, within the three-dimensional non-relativistic non-commutative phase–space (3D-NR(NCPS)) symmetries, we examined the 3D deformed Schrödinger equation (3D-DSE) using the improved Coshine Yukawa potential (ICYP) model composed from Coshine Yukawa potential (CYP) ([Formula: see text]) and other terms produced from the effect of phase–space deformation ([Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]). For this study, the 3D-DSE in the 3D-NR(NCPS) symmetry is solved and discussed with standard independent time perturbation theory and the generalized Bopp’s shifts method. For the homogeneous (H2 and N2) and heterogeneous (LiH, ScH, and HCL) diatomic molecules, it is obtained that the improved non-relativistic energy equation and eigenfunction for the ICYP in the presence of deformation phase–space are dependent on the discrete atomic quantum numbers ([Formula: see text],m), the dissociation energy [Formula: see text], the equilibrium bond length the screening parameter [Formula: see text], the deformation phase parameters ([Formula: see text]) and the deformation space parameters ([Formula: see text]). Additionally, the thermal properties of the CYP and ICYP with 3D Schrödinger equation (3D-SE) and 3D-DSE are thoroughly examined in the three-dimensional non-relativistic quantum mechanics (3D-NR(QM)) known in the literature symmetry and 3D-NR(NCPS) symmetries, including the partition function, mean energy, free energy, specific heat, and entropy. Furthermore, we discussed particular cases of thermodynamic characteristics for the ICYP model. In our study, we have shown that all the physical values related to energy and thermodynamic properties within the framework of the 3D(NR)NCPS symmetry are equal to the corresponding values within the framework of 3D-NR(QM) symmetry known in the literature, in addition to minor effects resulting from their interaction with the topological properties of the deformed phase–space. This study has multiple applications in various domains, including atomic and molecular physics.

Topological defects on mass spectra of quarkonium system with a Class of Yukawa potential (CYP)

In this paper, our focus lies in investigating nonrelativistic quantum systems under external potentials by solving the Schrödinger wave equation within a topological defect background. We opt for a class of Yukawa potential (CYP) and substitute the screening parameter with the Debye mass, which varies with temperature. Employing a Taylor series expansion to simplify the exponential term, we solve the radial wave equation, yielding an analytical solution for the quantum system in question, referred to as the Quarkonium system. Our analysis reveals that the presence of a topological defect modifies the energy profile of the Quarkonium system, consequently disrupting the degeneracy of the energy spectra.

The Use of Artificial Intelligence for Estimating Anterior Chamber Depth from Slit-Lamp Images Developed Using Anterior-Segment Optical Coherence Tomography.

Primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) is a major cause of visual impairment, particularly in Asia. Although effective screening tools are necessary, the current gold standard is complex and time-consuming, requiring extensive expertise. Artificial intelligence has introduced new opportunities for innovation in ophthalmic imaging. Anterior chamber depth (ACD) is a key risk factor for angle closure and has been suggested as a quick screening parameter for PACG. This study aims to develop an AI algorithm to quantitatively predict ACD from anterior segment photographs captured using a portable smartphone slit-lamp microscope. We retrospectively collected 204,639 frames from 1586 eyes, with ACD values obtained by anterior-segment OCT. We developed two models, (Model 1) diagnosable frame extraction and (Model 2) ACD estimation, using SWSL ResNet as the machine learning model. Model 1 achieved an accuracy of 0.994. Model 2 achieved an MAE of 0.093 ± 0.082 mm, an MSE of 0.123 ± 0.170 mm, and a correlation of R = 0.953. Furthermore, our model's estimation of the risk for angle closure showed a sensitivity of 0.943, specificity of 0.902, and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.923 (95%CI: 0.878-0.968). We successfully developed a high-performance ACD estimation model, laying the groundwork for predicting other quantitative measurements relevant to PACG screening.

Convexity subarachnoid hemorrhage revealed contralateral internal carotid artery dissection due to Eagle syndrome: a case report

BackgroundAtraumatic localized convexity subarachnoid hemorrhage (cSAH) is an uncommon form of nonaneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage characterized by bleeding limited to the cerebral convexities. Ipsilateral cSAH can result from a variety of causes, such as internal carotid artery stenosis, obstruction, and dissection, although concomitant contralateral cSAH is exceptionally rare. In this case, the initial findings of cSAH led us to discovering contralateral internal carotid artery dissection (ICAD) and an elongated styloid process (ESP). ESP is recognized as a risk factor for ICAD, which is a hallmark of Eagle syndrome. This sequence of findings led to the diagnosis of Eagle syndrome, illustrating a complex and intriguing interplay between cerebrovascular conditions and anatomical variations.Case presentationA 47-year-old Japanese woman experienced acute onset of headache radiating to her neck, reaching its zenith approximately two hours after onset. Given the intractable nature of the headache and its persistence for three days, she presented to the emergency department. Neurological examination revealed no abnormalities, and the coagulation screening parameters were within normal ranges. Brain computed tomography (CT) revealed right parietal cSAH, while CT angiography (CTA) revealed ICAD and an ESP measuring 30.1 mm on the left side, positioned only 1.4 mm from the dissected artery. The unusual occurrence of contralateral cSAH prompted extensive and repeated imaging reviews that excluded reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS), leading to a diagnosis of left ICAD secondary to Eagle syndrome. The patient underwent conservative management, and the dissected ICA spontaneously resolved. The patient has remained recurrence-free for two and a half years.ConclusionsManaging cSAH requires diligent investigation for ICAD, extending beyond its identification to explore underlying causes. Recognizing Eagle syndrome, though rare, as a potential etiology of ICAD necessitates the importance of evaluating ESPs. The method for preventing recurrent cervical artery dissection due to Eagle syndrome is controversial; however, conservative management is a viable option.

Thermo-Magnetic properties of non-relativistic particles under the effect of energy-dependent Hellmann potential

This manuscript presents an analysis of the thermal and magnetic properties of particles moving in two dimensions under the influence of an external magnetic field and Aharanov-Bohm flux, considering an energy-dependent Hellmann potential. The energy eigenvalue is obtained using the asymptotic iteration method. Next, we model the system as a canonical ensemble and derive the partition function to acquire analytical expressions for the Helmholtz free energy, entropy, mean energy, and specific heat. We observe that an increase in the external magnetic field and AB flux generally increases the energy eigenvalues, with a stronger effect at lower flux values, while energy eigenvalues decrease with an increase in the screening parameter. Additionally, Helmholtz free energy and entropy functions are sensitive to temperature, particularly in the low-temperature regime, while specific heat exhibits a Schottky anomaly. We also compute the magnetisation and susceptibility functions, finding that both magnetisation and susceptibility increase with the external magnetic field strength and the AB flux.

Physicochemical properties of the confined hydrogen atom under dense semiclassical hydrogen plasma

Some fundamental quantities governing the physicochemical properties of the spherically confined (contained in a spherical box) hydrogen atom embedded in dense semiclassical hydrogen plasma have been investigated. These quantities specifically include the energy levels, wavefunctions, 2k-pole oscillator strength, 2k-pole polarizability, hyperfine spitting, effective pressure on the boundary of the confining surface. The effect of plasma is described by a pseudopotential which takes care of the collective effect and the quantum mechanical effects at short distances of the plasma particles by means of two adjustable parameters, namely, the screening parameter and the de Broglie wavelength. Energy eigenvalues of the atom for various box sizes and for different values of the plasma parameters are computed accurately within a variational framework by employing a large wavefunction which automatically takes care of the requisite boundary conditions. Convergence of the computed results is corroborated by increasing the number of terms in the wavefunction. Particular attention is paid on determining the critical size box for which all the bound states of the atom cease to exist. Based on the computed energies and the corresponding eigenfunctions, mean values of various powers of the radial coordinate, oscillator strengths, polarizability of various order, hyperfine splitting, and the effective pressure on the boundary have been evaluated. A comprehensive study is made on the changes of those quantities for varying box size and plasma parameters. Efforts are made to distinguish the changes arising out of the spatial confinement and the plasma confinement.

A Novel De Novo Gain-of-Function CACNA1D Variant in Neurodevelopmental Disease With Congenital Tremor, Seizures, and Hypotonia.

De novo gain-of-function variants in the CACNA1D gene, encoding the L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channel CaV1.3, cause a multifaceted syndrome. Patients show variable degrees of autism spectrum disorder, developmental delay, epilepsy, and other neurologic and endocrine abnormalities (primary aldosteronism and/or hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia). We study here a novel variant [c.3506G>A, NM_000720.4, p.(G1169D)] in 2 children with the same CACNA1D mutation but different disease severity. The clinical data of the study patients were collected. After molecular analysis and cloning by site-directed mutagenesis, patch-clamp recordings of transfected tsA201 cells were conducted in whole-cell configuration. The functional effects of wild-type and mutated channels were analyzed. One child is a severely affected boy with a novel de novo CACNA1D variant with additional clinical symptoms including prenatal-onset tremor, congenital respiratory insufficiency requiring continuous positive airway pressure ventilation, and sensorineural deafness. Despite episodes of hypoglycemia, insulin levels were normal. Aldosterone:renin ratios as a screening parameter for primary aldosteronism were variable. In the second patient, putative mosaicism of the p.(G1169D) variant was associated with a less severe phenotype. Patch-clamp electrophysiology of the p.(G1169D) variant in a heterologous expression system revealed pronounced activity-enhancing gating changes, including a shift of channel activation and inactivation to more hyperpolarized potentials, as well as impaired channel inactivation and deactivation. Despite retained sensitivity to the Ca2+ channel blocker isradipine in vitro, no beneficial effects of isradipine or nifedipine treatment were observed in the index case. Through this report, we expand the knowledge about the disease presentation in patients with CACNA1D variants and show the novel variant's modulatory effects on CaV1.3 gating.

Potential Role of Gall Bladder Wall Thickness as Non-Invasive Screening Parameter for Detecting Oesophageal Varices

Abstract Background Liver cirrhosis is defined pathologically as fibrosis and inflammation of the liver which is caused by chronic HBV, chronic HCV, NASH, NAFLD, chronic alcohol use and auto immune diseases which lead to portal hypertension. Aim and Objectives The aim of this study is to evaluate whether non-inflammatory gall bladder wall thickness serve as predictor of oesophageal varices in combination and comparison with other non- invasive clinical and laboratory parameters. Subjects and Methods This case-control study was conducted at the Hepatology and Gastroenterology Department, Ain Shams University, Egypt. The study was conducted over a period of one year, from January 2022 until January 2023. Result There was no statistically significant difference between both groups as regard age, sex and associated comorbidities. There was statistically significant higher rate of clinical findings either gastrointestinal or systematic in subjects with esophageal varices that those without varices. 37.78% of subjects with cirrhosis without esophageal varices have normal clinical examination. Conclusion According our study, measuring gallbladder wall thickness is very useful for detection of esophageal varices in cirrhotic patients as we find significant association between gallbladder wall thickness and liver cirrhosis patients with esophageal varices. GBWT improve the non-invasive monitoring of liver disease patients to assess the risk for the presence of EV.

Preliminary Screening of Various Parameters for Design and Development of Kumaryasava Formulation.

Ayurveda is the most popular traditional system among these and this indigenous system originated from India. Kumaryasava (KS) is a very popular arista in our state, probably due to their taste, alcoholic content, medicinal uses and physiological importance. The quality assessment of ayurvedic formulation is of prime importance in justifying their acceptability when compared with the modern system of medicine. A study reported that the therapeutic efficacy of herbal formulation always depends on its method of preparation and hence, there is need to develop a formulation with statistical optimization. The constituents essential for preparation of KS involve dravya, dravadravya, sandhaneeya dravya, prakshepa Dravya and madhura dravya. The other ingredients in formulation were selected based on in silico molecular docking for the antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties. In this article attempt is made to describe the screening of Kumaryasava formulation for optimization of the concentration of sweetening agent, fermentation duration and fermentation temperature for alcohol generated and selection of various excipients that affect formulation efficacy. According to the preliminary screening study it was observed that the sugar concentration 35 to 40%, fermentation time 30 days for ghataki flowers and fermentation temperature 25℃ has reported considerably significant results for alcohol content analyzed by gas chromatography. The preliminary screening parameters of KS formulation will be applied effectively for the development of formulation with a statistical approach.

The Protection and Management of Wapiti in Desert Oases: Bare Land Poses a Limitation to Wapiti Conservation.

The Helan Mountains, situated in the heart of the desert, act as a dividing line between China's arid and semi-arid zones. Often referred to as a "desert oasis", they create an ecological island with a uniquely distinctive geographical location, making this area a focal point of contemporary research. Ungulates play a critical role in this ecosystem. The Alashan wapiti (Cervus canadensis alashanicus), an isolated population of China's smallest wapiti (Cervus canadensis) subspecies, is found exclusively within the Helan Mountains Nature Reserve. The conservation of this isolated population is fraught with challenges, particularly during winter, the harshest season for northern ungulates. Winter habitats are crucial for ensuring population stability. Therefore, we used certain methods, such as factor screening and model parameter optimization to assess habitat suitability using multi-scale species distribution models. The optimized results show that suitable habitats overlap with areas of high vegetation coverage in the Helan Mountains, covering just 588.32 km2, which is less than a quarter of the reserve's total area. The bare land area and winter NDVI are the two primary factors influencing habitat suitability, with other factors having minimal impact, underscoring the critical importance of food resources for the Alashan wapiti. The limited availability of these resources poses significant conservation challenges. Our findings provide a more precise foundation for targeted habitat protection and restoration efforts. We recommend enhancing the protection and restoration of food resources, effectively conserving vegetated areas, and preventing desertification.

Placental mosaicism for autosomal trisomies: comprehensive follow-up of 528 Danish cases (1983–2021)

BackgroundMosaicism, characterized by the presence of two or more chromosomally distinct cell lines, is detected in 2% to 4% of chorionic villus samples (CVSs). In these cases, the aberration may be confined to the placenta or additionally present in the fetus. Fetal involvement may manifest as fetal malformations, while confined placental mosaicism (CPM) poses risks such as preterm birth and low birth weight. Differentiating between true fetal mosaicism and CPM at the time of the chorionic villus sampling is challenging and requires follow-up by an amniocentesis and ultrasonography. ObjectiveTo estimate the risk of fetal involvement or adverse pregnancy outcomes for specific chromosomes after detecting mosaicism for an autosomal trisomy in a CVS and identify high (red), intermediate (yellow), and low (green) risk chromosomes. Further, to explore possible associations with level of mosaicism and screening parameters. Study DesignA retrospective descriptive study of all singleton pregnancies with mosaicism detected in CVSs from 1983 to 2021 identified in the Danish Cytogenetic Central Registry and the Danish Fetal Medicine Database. ResultsOf 90,973 CVSs, 528 cases had mosaicism involving an autosomal trisomy and where genetic follow-up had been performed. The overall risk of fetal involvement was 13% (69/528) with extensive variations depending on which chromosome was involved (eg, trisomy 7: 0% [0/55] or trisomy 21: 46% [19/41]). Higher levels of mosaicism in the CVS suggested fetal involvement as mean mosaic level was 55% in true fetal mosaics vs 28% in cases confined to the placenta (P=.0002). In cases with CPM (459/528), the risk of delivering small-for-gestational-age neonates was 14% (48/341). The risk of preterm birth (before 37 weeks) was 15% (51/343). The collective risk of adverse outcome was 22% (76/343) in pregnancies that continued and where information on birth weight and gestational age at birth was available. Adverse outcomes varied substantially between chromosomes. Also, multiple-of-the-median (MoM) values of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A was predictive of these issues as it was significantly lower in cases with adverse outcome compared to cases with a normal outcome (small for gestational age: 0.23 MoM vs 0.47 MoM, P<.0001) or preterm birth: 0.25 MoM vs 0.47 MoM, P<.0001). After the introduction of combined first-trimester screening (cFTS) in 2004, the detection of cases with fetal involvement seemed to increase as the risk before 2004 was 9% (16/174) compared to 15% (53/354) after 2004 (risk ratio: 1.7 [95% CI: 1.0; 2.8]). The risk of adverse outcome in CPM pregnancies increased from 16% (22/139) before 2004 to 27% (55/204) after 2004 (risk ratio 1.7 [95% CI: 1.1; 2.7]). ConclusionIntroducing cFTS increased the detection of placental mosaicism with fetal involvement and CPM with adverse outcome. In cases of mosaicism in CVSs, the risk of fetal involvement and adverse outcomes varied considerably between chromosomes. Importantly, adverse outcomes were seen in CPM for many trisomies besides trisomy 16.

Metabolic Syndrome and Its Component Factors Among Corporate Company Employees in Kampala Uganda.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS), a cluster of metabolic dysregulations indicative of increased cardiometabolic risk is on the rise in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of MetS and its components, among corporate employees in Kampala, Uganda. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken among 408 adults who were employees from seven corporate companies in Kampala, using the WHO STEPwise NCD screening approach. Metabolic syndrome was measured using the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel (ATPIII) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria with the waist circumference (WC) cut-off points adapted for Sub-Saharan African populations. The mean population age (standard deviation [SD]) of the respondents was 34years (± 8.87) years and 52% of them were females. The prevalence of MetS was 22.8% (NCEP ATPIII) and 28.4% (IDF). Of the respondents who did not have MetS, 75% had at least one metabolic dysregulation. Of those respondents with MetS, only 31% perceived that they were at risk of this cluster of metabolic dysregulations. In this analysis, we observed that the systolic blood pressure (BP) and the body mass index (BMI) correlated strongly (r = 0.81 and r = 0.71) with the diastolic BP and waist circumference (WC), respectively. Age on the other hand correlated fairly with the WC and BMI (both r values = 0.46). Principal component analysis showed that the greatest loadings in principle factors one, two and three were from central obesity, with low HDL-C explaining 60.8% variance in the population. Age, BMI, family history of having cardiometabolic disorders, and perceived cardiometabolic disease risk (CMR) were associated with an increased risk of MetS by 5, 8.86, 1.55, and 2.73 (all P values were < 0.05) respectively in this group of respondents. These risks remained for age, BMI and perceived CMR after removing the confounding effects of education status, marital status and family history of cardiometabolic disease. Being single on the other hand, was associated with a reduced risk of MetS (0.23, p < 0.009). While the primary contributors to the high prevalence of MetS among corporate employees in Kampala, Uganda were the high BP, high WC and high fasting blood sugar (FBS); age, BMI and perceived CMR were the key determinants of MetS. Future MetS interventions should aim to control and monitor obesity indicators in this population. Additionally, the findings inform targeted screening parameters for cardiometabolic risk assessment and suggest the need for further research into a weighted algorithm for MetS in this population.

Entropy of strongly coupled Yukawa fluids.

The entropy of strongly coupled Yukawa fluids is discussed from several perspectives. First, it is demonstrated that a vibrational paradigm of atomic dynamics in dense fluids can be used to obtain a simple and accurate estimate of the entropy without any adjustable parameters. Second, it is explained why a quasiuniversal value of the excess entropy of simple fluids at the freezing point should be expected, and it is demonstrated that a remaining very weak dependence of the freezing point entropy on the screening parameter in the Yukawa fluid can be described by a simple linear function. Third, a scaling of the excess entropy with the freezing temperature is examined, a modified form of the Rosenfeld-Tarazona scaling is put forward, and some consequences are briefly discussed. Fourth, the location of the Frenkel line on the phase diagram of Yukawa systems is discussed in terms of the excess entropy and compared with some predictions made in the literature. Fifth, the excess entropy scaling of the transport coefficients (self-diffusion, viscosity, and thermal conductivity) is reexamined using the contemporary datasets for the transport properties of Yukawa fluids. The results could be of particular interest in the context of complex (dusty) plasmas, colloidal suspensions, electrolytes, and other related systems with soft pairwise interactions.