Separate Regions Research Articles

Estimation of individual lifetime cardiovascular disease risk and treatment benefit in patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: the updated SMART-REACH2 model

Abstract Background The 2021 ESC Guidelines on Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Prevention in Clinical Practice recommend using (lifetime) risk to guide preventive treatment intensification. Purpose Updating and systematically recalibrating the SMART-REACH lifetime prediction model for the estimation of lifetime risk of recurrent CVD in patients with established atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) to various European and international risk regions. Methods The updated SMART-REACH (i.e., SMART-REACH2) model was derived using data from 9,477 individuals between 40-90 years with coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral artery disease, or abdominal aortic aneurysms included in the UCC-SMART cohort in whom 2,090 ASCVD events were observed during a median follow-up of 8.9 years (interquartile range 4.5–14.1). Coefficients for type of CVD, estimated glomerular filtration rate, non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, duration of CVD, C-reactive protein, current smoking, and presence of diabetes were derived using sex-stratified cause-specific Cox models with age as the time axis, adjusted for the competing risk of non-CVD mortality. Lifetables were used to estimate 10-year and lifetime CVD-risk and CVD-free life expectancy. The SMART-REACH2 model was externally validated in 121,701 patients from the NOR-COR, Nor-COAST, HUNT3, SWEDEHEART, Bialystok PLUS/Polaspire, REACH-EU, and REACH non-EU (Asia, Japan, Latin America, North America) covering 43 countries. The model was recalibrated to specific risk regions based on the expected-observed ratios from representative cohorts. Performance was assessed by calibration of predicted and observed risk and Harrel’s C-statistic for discrimination. Results 16,689ASCVD events were observed in the external validation cohorts. The model was visually well calibrated for the various risk regions. The pooled C-statistic across risk regions was 0.665 [95% confidence interval 0.640-0.691], with adequate performance in the separate regions (Figure 1). Using SMART-REACH2 to estimate potential gain in CVD-free life expectancy upon treatment initiation showed varying projections. For example, two comparable 55-year-old males from the low-risk region and very high-risk region would gain an estimated 2.2 and 3.9 CVD-free life years as a result of smoking cessation (Figure 2). Conclusion(s) By using larger and more contemporary data sources, considering geographical differences, and extending the age range, the updated SMART-REACH2 model provides an improved algorithm for the estimation of lifetime risk and CVD-free life expectancy for individuals with established ASCVD, facilitating shared decision-making for cardiovascular prevention as recommended by the 2021 ESC Prevention of CVD guidelines.C-statistics across global risk regionsCase vignette

High-fidelity simulations of microramp-controlled shock wave/boundary layer interaction

Microvortex generators (MVGs) are a promising solution to control shock wave/turbulent boundary layer interactions (SBLIs), especially in supersonic inlets. In this study, we examine the effects of a microramp vortex generator on an SBLI generated by an oblique shock wave and a turbulent boundary layer using direct numerical simulations (DNSs). Two cases, with and without the presence of a microramp, are compared in terms of their mean and unsteady flow features at free-stream Mach number equal to 2 and friction Reynolds number at the inviscid shock impingement equal to 600. The long integration period allows us to assess how microramps affect the typical low-frequency unsteadiness observed in SBLIs, and the data generated may serve as a reference for simulations of lower fidelity or reduced order models. The analysis shows that the three-dimensional microramp wake alters the interaction region dramatically, inducing a significant spanwise modulation and topology change of the separation. For example, tornado-like structures redistribute the flow in both the spanwise and wall-normal directions inside the recirculation region. The increase in momentum close to the wall by the ramp vortices effectively delays the onset of the separation and, thus, the separation length, but at the same time leads to a significant increase in the intensity of the wall-pressure fluctuations. We then characterise the mutual interaction between the arch-like vortices around the ramp wake and the SBLI. The specific spanwise vorticity shows that these vortices follow the edge of the separation and their intensity, apart from mean compressibility effects, is not affected by the shocks. The shocks, instead, are deformed in shape by the periodic impingement of the vortices, although the spectral analysis did not reveal any significant trace of their shedding frequency in the separation region. These Kelvin–Helmholtz vortices, however, may be relevant in the closure of the separation bubble. Fourier analysis also shows a constant increase, in both value and magnitude, in the low-frequency peak all along the span, suggesting that the motion of the separation shock remains coherent while being disturbed by the arch-like vortices and oscillating at a higher frequency in absolute terms.

ПРОФЕССОР С. П. ПОПОВ: НЕИЗВЕСТНЫЕ СТРАНИЦЫ БИОГРАФИИ

Aspects of scientific, organizational and pedagogical activity in the Crimea of the pupil, colleague and friend of academician V. I. Vernadsky, a major mineralogist, geochemist, Professor Sergei Platonovich Popov (1872–1964), have been restored. The main source for reconstructing the historical daily life of the professor in the conditions of the Crimean province were his letters to Academician V. I. Vernadsky. The analysis of the texts made it possible to identify the lines of intellectual tension «province – center» and show the wide range of S. P. Popov’s communication in the 20-30s. The corpus of documents from the State Archive of the Russian Federation, the Russian State Archive of Economics, and the State Archive of the Republic of Crimea are being introduced into scientific circulation, which made it possible to reveal stories about Popov’s work in Simferopol. The activity of the geologist at the head of the Crimean Research Institute, which he saw as a continuation of the work of the Commission for the Study of Natural Productive Forces of the Crimea established by V. I. Vernadsky, is revealed. The scientist’s activity is shown on the background of socio-economic transformations taking place in the country and in its separate region.

Processing of social closeness in the human brain

Healthy social life requires relationships in different levels of personal closeness. Based on ethological, sociological, and psychological evidence, social networks have been divided into five layers, gradually increasing in size and decreasing in personal closeness. Is this division also reflected in brain processing of social networks? During functional MRI, 21 participants compared their personal closeness to different individuals. We examined the brain volume showing differential activation for varying layers of closeness and found that a disproportionately large portion of this volume (80%) exhibited preference for individuals closest to participants, while separate brain regions showed preference for all other layers. Moreover, this bipartition reflected cortical preference for different sizes of physical spaces, as well as distinct subsystems of the default mode network. Our results support a division of the neurocognitive processing of social networks into two patterns depending on personal closeness, reflecting the unique role intimately close individuals play in our social lives.

The Spatial Evolution Characteristics of Phytoplankton and the Impact of Environmental Factors in a Harbor-Construction-Formed Reservoir

Phytoplankton are an important part of aquatic ecosystems and substantially contribute to primary productivity. Under certain conditions, phytoplankton can grow or cluster in large numbers, resulting in enormous economic losses and serious threats to human life and health. In this study, complex causative species of algal blooms were examined and regulatory factors were determined in a reservoir formed by harbor construction. The reservoir is isolated from the harbor by sluice gates, forming a separate water region. Twelve species of phytoplankton, including normally and abnormally blooming species, were identified to be causing blooms in this continuous water. Different from the areas where simple algae caused blooms, multiple bloom-causative species, which were completely different, occurred at several stations. In this study area, whereas the abundance of algal cells was above 10 million cells/L, the total phosphorus concentration was higher than 0.2 mg/L. When the total phosphorus concentration was lower than 0.2 mg/L, there was no algal bloom. In waters with total algal cell abundance over 10 million, the N/P ratios were all ˂8. This study indicates that the occurrence of algal blooms in this water was influenced by the concentrations of total nitrogen and phosphorus, and total phosphorus plays a more important role.

Sensorimotor adaptation to a non-uniform formant perturbation generalizes to untrained vowels.

When speakers learn to change the way they produce a speech sound, how much does that learning generalize to other speech sounds? Past studies of speech sensorimotor learning have typically tested the generalization of a single transformation learned in a single context. Here, we investigate the ability of the speech motor system to generalize learning when multiple opposing sensorimotor transformations are learned in separate regions of the vowel space. We find that speakers adapt to a non-uniform "centralization" perturbation, learning to produce vowels with greater acoustic contrast, and that this adaptation generalizes to untrained vowels, which pattern like neighboring trained vowels and show increased contrast of a similar magnitude.

Study on the flow characteristics of double-cone in hypersonic flows

Reusable spacecraft is one of the hot topics in the field of aerospace, attracting wide attention from researchers. Due to the high-Mach-number flight of re-entry, the air near the wall exhibits significant thermochemical nonequilibrium effects. Besides, the existing shock wave/boundary layer interaction (SWBLI) leads to severe aerodynamic heating issues. This study utilizes the two-temperature model to conduct simulations of hypersonic laminar flows around a canonical 25°/55° double-cone with low and high enthalpy. By varying the wall temperature and the aft cone angle, the evolution mechanism of the flow under the high-enthalpy and hypersonic freestream is explored. Our findings illustrate that while the thermodynamic nonequilibrium model closely reflects the separation zone evidenced in the experiments, it habitually overpredicts the peak heat transfer, particularly under high-enthalpy conditions. For the thermochemical nonequilibrium model, the flow field structure appears more uniform, with a reduced standoff distance of the detached shock. An incremental rise in wall temperature correlates with a proportional augmentation of the separation bubble, though its impact on the overall flow field is negligible. Increasing the aft cone angle intensifies the shock/shock interaction (SSI), transitioning from a lower-intensity Type VI to a more intense Type IV shock interplay. The examination reveals that the increase in temperature and cone angle amplifies the interaction between the separation region and shock waves, drastically escalating the peak heat transfer and fostering a secondary peak. The hypersonic flow of the double-cone demonstrates a multifaceted interaction of phenomena, notably SWBLI and SSI, with our analyses providing pivotal insights for the aerodynamic and thermal protection design of the high-Mach-number spacecraft.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Pre-operative Percutaneous Synovial Biopsy and Aspirate Compared with Open Biopsy for Prosthetic Shoulder Infections

BackgroundShoulder arthroplasty revision is associated with a high prevalence of prosthetic infection, and diagnosis remains difficult. The primary aim of the study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of percutaneous synovial biopsy (PSB) and joint aspiration compared with open culture results in detecting infection in revision shoulder arthroplasty. The second aim was to determine whether biopsy location within the shoulder was associated with culture status. MethodsThis was a multicenter prospective cohort study involving four sites and 69 patients undergoing revision shoulder arthroplasty. The cohort was 57% female with a mean age of 64 years. Preoperative fluoroscopic-guided PSB’s and aspirates were carried out by a musculoskeletal radiologist prior to revision shoulder arthroplasty. The original prostheses consisted of hemiarthroplasties, total shoulder arthroplasties (TSA), resurfacing TSA, reverse shoulder arthroplasties (RSA), and antibiotic spacers. Six synovial tissue biopsies from separate regions in the shoulder were obtained both preoperatively and intra-operatively. The shoulder joint was aspirated, and synovial fluid collected, if available. Infection was considered positive in the setting of two or more matching positive cultures. The PSB cultures were considered “true positive” if the PSB cultures matched the open biopsy cultures. ResultsNineteen percent had positive infection based on PSB and 23% had confirmed culture positive infections based on intra-operative biopsy. The diagnostic accuracy of PSB compared with open biopsy was as follows: sensitivity 0.37 (95% CI 0.13-0.61), specificity 0.81 (95% CI 0.7-0.91), positive predictive value 0.37 (95% CI 0.13 – 0.61), negative predictive value 0.81 (95% CI 0.70-0.91), positive likelihood ratio 1.98 and negative likelihood ratio 0.77. Of the 71 patients, aspiration yielded synovial fluid in 33 patients. Preoperative aspirates detected no infections confirmed positive by open biopsy and correctly identified 81% of absent infections. The diagnostic accuracy of aspirates compared with open biopsy was as follows: sensitivity 0%, specificity 0.81 (95% CI 0.66-0.96), positive predictive value 0%, negative predictive value 0.78 (95% CI 0.63-0.93). Biopsy location within the shoulder was not associated with infection status. DiscussionPreoperative aspiration detected none of the infections proven positive via open biopsy. Although PSB was superior to synovial fluid aspirate, poor likelihood ratios suggests that PSB is not useful as an isolated test in the preoperative workup of the potentially infected patient.Biopsy location was not associated with culture status suggesting that the capsule is uniformly infected, and the location of tissue biopsies does not appear to matter.

Evaluation of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire for Measuring Prevalence and the Consequence of Pain in a Danish Adult OI Population: A Pilot Study.

Pain is a challenge in persons with OI and causes much concern in the Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) population. We aim to evaluate the usability of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) to identify painful sites in adults with OI and to describe the occurrence of musculoskeletal (MSK) pain and its impact on their work and daily activities. This cross-sectional pilot study uses the OI-NMQ to study MSK pain prevalence in nine separate anatomical regions (neck, upper back, lower back, shoulder, elbow, hand/wrist, hip, knee, and ankle/foot) and its impact on regular work and daily activities in adults with OI. The questionnaire was distributed among participants of the 2023 annual meeting of The Danish OI Society. The response rate was 68%, and all participants considered the OI-NMQ helpful in assessing the presence of pain and its consequences. The analysis included 27 adults with OI type I, III, or IV above 18years. Among all 27 participants, MSK pain was present in 15-56% of the 9 sites within the last 7days and 33-89% of the nine anatomical regions during the last 12months. In 7-48% of all the participants, their regular work and daily activities had been affected by the presence of MSK pain. The OI-NMQ was feasible in assessing MSK pain among adults with OI and displayed a high prevalence of MSK pain with a moderate impact on their regular work and daily activities in this OI population. A larger and repeated measurement of MSK pain in adults with OI is needed to confirm these results.

Analysis of drag reduction and partial setup of riblets surface on the airfoil

Using riblet structures to modulate the turbulent boundary layer to reduce frictional drag is important for vehicle stability and range. The flow on the airfoil surface at different angles of attack is different, and the effect of the riblets structure on the turbulent boundary layer flow will be changed, which in turn affects the drag reduction effect. In this paper, the drag reduction characteristics of V-shaped riblets are investigated experimentally by the particle image velocimetry technique. The distributions of mean velocity, friction coefficient, drag reduction rate, and coherent structure in the boundary layer on the airfoil surface at angles of attack from 0° to 12° are analyzed, and the effects of smooth and riblets surfaces on the turbulent flow characteristics near the wall are compared. Based on these results, the airfoil surface was zonally covered with riblets to investigate further the effects of the riblets' covering positions on the drag reduction of the airfoil at different angles of attack. The results show that the riblets reduce the intensity, distribution, and probability of the eject and sweep events in the turbulence bursts by suppressing the velocity fluctuations at the near-wall surface, thus realizing the reduction of turbulence drag. The zoned arrangement of riblets can effectively regulate the airfoil surface flow and reduce the unfavorable effects of the riblets on the laminar flow region and flow separation region on the surface of the airfoil with different angles of attack, and the results of the study can provide a reference for the influence of the coverage range of the riblets on the drag reduction effect.

Optimization Design of Bionic Leading-edge Protuberances on Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine Blades

Abstract The complex operating environments of horizontal axis wind turbines has made the phenomenon of blade flow separation more obvious. As a passive flow control method, the bionic humpback whale leading-edge protuberances have been shown to effectively enhance the performance of the wind turbine. This study employs a multi-objective genetic algorithm and Computational Fluid Dynamics method to analyse the impact of leading-edge protuberances on the aerodynamic performance and flow characteristics of the blades. The results indicate a significant improvement in blade performance after optimization in the wind turbine’s output power. The streamwise vortices generated by the bionic protuberances not only reduce the suction surface pressure, but also suppress the spanwise flow over the blade surface. The length of the flow separation Region is reduced from 0.410 to 0.368 radius. In the process of wind speed change, the tangential forces on the bionic blade exhibit a wave-like variation. The bionic protuberance alters the pressure coefficient of the position. Compared with the original blade, the pressure coefficient of the trough sections on both sides of the bionic blade protuberance is improved. In this study, the bionic protuberance applied to the leading-edge of horizontal-axis wind turbine blades is proposed for the first time, and holds practical value for guiding practical applications.

Blade Airfoil Optimization and Its Impact on Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Performance

Abstract Amidst the emergence of crises in petroleum prices and supply, the imperative for the development of clean energy has become increasingly apparent. Vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT), as a type of wind turbine, still grapple with challenges such as low wind energy utilization and sensitivity to dynamic wind speeds. This study focuses on optimizing the airfoil of a two-dimensional vertical axis wind turbine and analyzes the performance variations in a three-dimensional model. Following the optimization, the average power coefficients of the dual-blade two-dimensional VAWT increased by 7.9% and 4%, respectively, while those of the dual-blade three-dimensional model rose by 7.9% and 1.2%. However, the performance of the three-dimensional model was compromised due to the influence of tip vortices, resulting in inferior performance compared to the two-dimensional model. Both three-dimensional optimized blade designs exhibited a substantial reduction in the flow separation region downstream and improved pressure distribution fluctuations caused by the shedding of tip vortices, leading to decreased pressure differentials. Along the spanwise section, the power coefficient gradually decreased from the central segment to the tip segment. Notably, the power coefficient of the optimized blades at the tip segment increased significantly, accompanied by an augmented pressure differential between the upper and lower surfaces. This augmentation contributed to a significant enhancement in lift, thereby facilitating the rotation of the vertical axis wind turbine.

SARS-CoV-2 IgG seroprevalence in the Okinawa Main Island and remote islands in Okinawa, Japan, 2020-2021.

We estimated the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-COV-2 IgG in different island groups in Okinawa. A cross-sectional sero-survey was repeated in three periods between July 2020 and February 2021. A total of 2683 serum samples were collected from six referral medical centers, each covering a separate region in Okinawa. In the main island, the seroprevalence was 0.0% (0/392, 95% CI: 0.0-0.9), 0.6% (8/1448, 0.2-1.1), and 1.4% (8/582, 0.6-2.7) at the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd sero-survey, respectively. In the remote islands, the seroprevalence was 0.0% (0/144, 95% CI: 0.0-2.5) and 1.6% (2/123, 0.2-5.8) at the 2nd and 3rd survey, respectively. The case detection ratio was 2.7 (95% CI: 1.3-5.3) in the main island and 2.8 (0.7-11.1) in the remote islands during the 3rd survey. The case detection ratio was the highest in people aged 20-29 years (8.3, 95% CI: 3.3-21.4) in the main island and in those aged 50-59 years (14.1, 2.1-92.7) in the remote islands, suggesting under-reporting of clinical cases by the surveillance system in these subgroups. A sero-survey during an emerging infectious disease epidemic can be useful for validating the reliability of the surveillance system by providing the case detection ratio.

Research on the aerodynamic characteristics of electrically controlled rotor under Parallel Blade Vortex Interaction using Lattice Boltzmann Method

An electrically controlled rotor (ECR), also known as a swashplateless rotor, employs a trailing edge flap (TEF) system for primary rotor control instead of a swashplate, demonstrating the significant potential in rotor vibration and noise reduction. To investigate the aerodynamic characteristics of the blade flap segment of the ECR under parallel blade vortex interaction, an aerodynamic analysis model based on the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is established using the D3Q27 lattice model. The model is validated against experimental data of both the airfoil with trailing edge flap and conventional airfoil under vortex interaction, showing that the LBM can effectively predict variations in aerodynamic loads under both conditions. Based on this model, the effects of different flap deflection angles and miss distances on the aerodynamic characteristics of the ECR under parallel BVI are analyzed. The results indicate that under strong vortex interaction, a region of flow separation forms due to the entrainment effect of the vortex and adverse pressure gradient. The small-scale vortex structure upstream of the flap can also be observed and is believed to contribute to the unsteady flow phenomena such as vortex structure splitting, development, and separation on the upper surface of the flap. The different flap deflection angles mainly affect the scale and type of vortex structures developed on the flap upper surface. As the miss distance increases, the interaction effect is significantly weakened compared to strong vortex interaction. However, as the vortex moves downstream along the airfoil lower surface, it entrains vorticity from the lower surface, ultimately forming a negative pressure region on the lower surface of the flap. The different flap deflection angles will influence the structural characteristics during the downstream motion of the vortex, which changes the size of the negative pressure region, causing differences in the magnitude of the variations in aerodynamic parameters.

Integrating sheath and radiation-based acceleration using scaling coefficients for tailoring radiation dominant hybrid acceleration.

An optimal target condition for generating GeV-energy ions with linearly polarized laser pulse is revealed by a hybrid acceleration theory based on the fractional contributions of the target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA) and the radiation pressure acceleration (RPA) mechanisms in the RPA-dominant regime. The theory is established with two scaling coefficients, which scale the TNSA and RPA velocities, and are sophisticated through two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations where GeV-energy ions are obtained by RPA-dominant hybrid acceleration. By imposing limits on the scaling coefficients, three separate acceleration regions are obtained including a RPA-dominant acceleration region, which is optimal to generate GeV-energy ions. The past experiment/simulation results are in good agreement with the acceleration regions obtained. This RPA-dominant region is narrower than previously reported, and this region becomes even narrower with increasing material density.

Strengthening public health system resilience to disasters in Türkiye: Insights from a scorecard methodology

BackgroundTürkiye is a country that faces many disasters, especially earthquakes and floods, which have serious short- and long-term consequences for public health. The importance of disaster risk reduction activities in building resilience before a disaster strikes is increasingly recognized. Furthermore, resilience assessment is considered to be the starting point for these activities. However, there is a substantial gap in the scientific evidence on systematic assessments of the resilience of the public health system and also a serious lack of activities to strengthen the system against disasters in Türkiye. AimUsing a Scorecard methodology, the study aimed to systematically assess the resilience of the public health system in Türkiye by examining key indicators related to disaster risk management and preparedness, and subsequently to recommend priority actions. A systematic assessment of resilience can provide the scientific evidence needed to identify weaknesses in the system. Furthermore, identifying priority actions based on this evidence allows progress to be made towards strengthening the system. MethodsThis mixed-methods study was conducted in two separate regions of Türkiye with the highest earthquake (Esenler/Istanbul) and flood risk (Ortahisar/Trabzon). Based on the Scorecard methodology, two-stage workshops (online and face-to-face) were held. During the online stage, qualitative data were collected by interviewing participants about their evaluation of the situation in the counties regarding the Scorecard indicators, and quantitative data were collected through scoring. In the face-to-face stage, strategies were developed to improve the resilience of the public health system. Quantitative data were expressed with numbers and percentages, and thematic analysis was utilized for qualitative data analysis. ResultsThe lowest scoring indicators were as follows (Esenler and Ortahisar, respectively): addressing mental health needs associated with disasters (2.17 ± 1.29; 2.27 ± 1.16), resilience of key healthcare facilities (2.22 ± 0.55; 2.91 ± 1.08), and protection and identification of ecosystem services (2.39 ± 1.04; 2.13 ± 1.49). In this study, participants recommended increasing the resilience of the public health infrastructure and improving human resources and ecosystem services to ensure the resilience of the public health system. ConclusionsThe study found that the weakest areas in terms of public health system resilience were the seismic safety and infrastructure of health facilities, the capacity of disaster-related mental health services, and disaster-related ecosystem services. To improve the resilience of public health systems, it is essential to strengthen these areas of weakness and ensure collaboration between all stakeholders in the system. The identification of weaknesses in the study has guided the determination of priority actions to build a baseline of resilience. In addition, the results of the study have highlighted priority areas for investment to improve disaster response and the overall health of the population in the context of disasters.

Identification of genomic regions associated with fatty acid metabolism across blood, liver, backfat and muscle in pigs

BackgroundThe composition and distribution of fatty acids (FA) are important factors determining the quality, flavor, and nutrient value of meat. In addition, FAs synthesized in the body participate in energy metabolism and are involved in different regulatory pathways in the form of signaling molecules or by acting as agonist or antagonist ligands of different nuclear receptors. Finally, synthesis and catabolism of FAs affect adaptive immunity by regulating lymphocyte metabolism. The present study performed genome-wide association studies using FA profiles of blood, liver, backfat and muscle from 432 commercial Duroc pigs.ResultsTwenty-five genomic regions located on 15 Sus scrofa chromosomes (SSC) were detected. Annotation of the quantitative trait locus (QTL) regions identified 49 lipid metabolism-related candidate genes. Among these QTLs, four were identified in more than one tissue. The ratio of C20:4n-6/C20:3n-6 was associated with the region on SSC2 at 7.56–14.26 Mb for backfat, liver, and muscle. Members of the fatty acid desaturase gene cluster (FADS1, FADS2, and FADS3) are the most promising candidate genes in this region. Two QTL regions on SSC14 (103.81–115.64 Mb and 100.91–128.14 Mb) were identified for FA desaturation in backfat and muscle. In addition, two separate regions on SSC9 at 0 – 14.55 Mb and on SSC12 at 0–1.91 Mb were both associated with the same multiple FA traits for backfat, with candidate genes involved in de novo FA synthesis and triacylglycerol (TAG) metabolism, such as DGAT2 and FASN. The ratio C20:0/C18:0 was associated with the region on SSC5 at 64.84–78.32 Mb for backfat. Furthermore, the association of the C16:0 content with the region at 118.92–123.95 Mb on SSC4 was blood specific. Finally, candidate genes involved in de novo lipogenesis regulate T cell differentiation and promote the generation of palmitoleate, an adipokine that alleviates inflammation.ConclusionsSeveral SNPs and candidate genes were associated with lipid metabolism in blood, liver, backfat, and muscle. These results contribute to elucidating the molecular mechanisms implicated in the determination of the FA profile in different pig tissues and can be useful in selection programs that aim to improve health and energy metabolism in pigs.

Reducing strain on primary healthcare systems through innovative models of care: the impact of direct access physiotherapy for musculoskeletal conditions—an interrupted time series analysis

ObjectivesTo evaluate the longitudinal impact of introducing a national, direct access physiotherapy model of care on the rates of primary and secondary care consultations for musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions.DesignInterrupted time series...

Оценка привлекательности ресторанных рынков регионов Сибирского федерального округа

Many restaurant companies turn to territorial expansion to restore and develop the restaurant market after COVID-19 restrictions and disruptions in logistics. As a result, they need to select territories with the greatest business development prospects. As a rule, they choose geographical markets for expansion based on attractiveness assessments and market ratings provided by various research companies and institutes. However, these reports often lack rating attractiveness assessments for separate regions and the domestic restaurant market as a whole. Moreover, a review of scientific publications revealed no standard approach to market parameters in this sphere. The authors employed three different methods to assess the attractiveness of restaurant markets in the regions of the Siberian Federal District. Each method included single-factor or multi-factor parameters that determined the state of the restaurant market at a static moment in time. The methods were based on objective statistical data, which provided a fairly high degree of reliability. The comprehensive diagnosis yielded an attractiveness rating for various regions of the Siberian Federal District and their territorial expansion prospects for restaurant companies. The Krasnoyarsk Region demonstrated the best results byall methods. The republics of Khakassia, Tyva, and Altai appeared to be the least attractive areas for restaurant business expansion. The remaining six regions of Novosibirsk, Altai, Kemerovo, Irkutsk, Omsk, and Tomsk occupied the middle ranking.

Superb microvascular imaging for assessment of post‐cesarean myometrial blood flow from 1 to 4 weeks after operation: A preliminary study

AbstractPurposeTo evaluate superb microvascular imaging for measuring puerperal myometrial microvascular blood flows at incisional sites following cesarean delivery.MethodsTwenty postpartum women (singleton births) were studied: 10 with cesarean and 10 with transvaginal deliveries. All cesarean cases were first operational delivery with lower uterine incision, repaired with double‐layer suture. At 1 and 4 weeks postpartum, the uterus was delineated using transvaginal ultrasonography with superb microvascular imaging. Separate regions of interest were created for anterior myometrium of the isthmus and the body. The microvascular flow profile in three circular sampling points placed in a region of interest was quantified and expressed as vascular density. The vascular density ratio of the uterine isthmus to the body was compared between one and four weeks for both groups. Wilcoxon's signed‐rank test was used to assess statistical significance (set at p < 0.05).ResultsIn cesarean deliveries, the vascular density ratio of the uterine isthmus to the body increased from 1 (median: 0.51, range: 0.30–0.68) to 4 weeks (0.99, 0.85–1.60), whereas no changes were noted in transvaginal deliveries.ConclusionSuperb microvascular imaging can effectively measure myometrial microvascular blood flow recovery at cesarean incision sites, indicating its potential as a tool for monitoring postpartum wound healing.