Significant Findings Research Articles

Pseudomonas aeruginosa heme metabolites biliverdin IXβ and IXδ are integral to lifestyle adaptations associated with chronic infection.

The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes long-term chronic infection in the airways of cystic fibrosis patients. The ability to scavenge iron and to establish chronic infection within this environment coincides with a switch to utilize heme as the primary iron source. Herein, we show the heme metabolites biliverdin beta and delta are themselves important signaling molecules integrating the switch in iron acquisition systems with cooperative behaviors such as motility and biofilm formation that are essential for long-term chronic infection. These significant findings will enhance the development of viable multi-targeted therapeutics effective against both heme utilization and cooperative behaviors essential for survival and persistence within the host.

Security and Privacy of Wearable Wireless Sensors in Healthcare: A Systematic Review

Wearable Wireless Sensor Network (WWSN) devices are widely used in healthcare to monitor health data. However, when WWSN users transmit their data to healthcare professionals or third parties over wireless connections, they face privacy and security vulnerabilities. This paper aims to identify the unsolved privacy and security challenges in wearable sensor devices in healthcare, especially the aspects overlooked by previous research. The main research question is: What are the unsolved privacy and security challenges in wearable sensor devices in healthcare, and what are their implications for users and healthcare professionals? This systematic review employs specific keywords to search for relevant publications on bibliographic databases, including Google Scholar, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, and Web of Science. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) charts helped in screening and summarising the selected papers. The results highlight the critical areas that can make WWSNs vulnerable to security attacks. The findings examine the security and privacy issues of wearable sensor devices in cloud computing, fog computing, the Internet of Things (IoT) and the like. Many studies examine IoT due to its privacy and security challenges, especially regarding handling extensive data, using public channels, deploying advanced technologies, managing sharing policies alongside the growing number of wireless devices, and protecting data from hackers. These challenges seriously threaten the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of health data transmitted by WWSN users to healthcare professionals or third parties in cloud-based environments and IoT and are exacerbated by limited resources. The significant findings thereby focus on unresolved areas in IoT. This paper aims to safeguard against cyber-attacks on healthcare and increase users' adoption rate of WWSN devices.

(044) Does Time of Intraoperative Exposure to the Aerobiome Increase Microbial Growth on Inflatable Penile Prostheses?

Abstract Introduction The use of inflatable penile prostheses (IPP) is a fundamental approach in managing erectile dysfunction that does not respond to medical management. Approximately 28,000 IPPs are implanted annually in the United States. Device infection, with an incidence up to 3%, is a particularly concerning complication as management generally necessitates device removal. This can result in significant cost burden, requiring inpatient admission, return to operative room and extensive postoperative care. One important risk factor for IPP infection is operative time, with the suggestion that increased operative time facilitates a colonization of microbes from the skin flora and ambient air within the operating room (referred to as the aerobiome). Objective To evaluate whether increased exposure to the operating room (OR) aerobiome results in increased microbial colonization of IPPs. Methods We performed an ex vivo study focusing on the reservoir and tips of Coloplast Titan IPP. Conditions of an IPP surgery were attempted to be closely replicated. Setup included a dedicated table within the same institutional OR where IPPs are routinely performed, facilitating sample collection, and with standard intra-operative conditions-pressure 0.024”WC, temperature 66.80F, and humidity 49.2% RH-to emulate surgical conditions. Stringent surgical hygiene was observed to obtain samples in a sterile manner; this including surgical scrub, sterile field, and double-glove technique. A sterile swab was collected at 30-minute intervals over a total duration of 3 hours, from each individual component of the IPP, resulting in a total of 6 samples per component. To prevent any potential interference from previous samples, care was taken to collect each swab from distinct areas. The obtained swabs were subjected to quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and next generation sequencing (NGS) analyses of the V12 16S rRNA conservative region using the MiSeq platform (Illumina, San Diego, CA) with 2x250 paired read chemistry. Subsequent bioinformatic processing was carried out utilizing a clustering-based method with operational taxonomic units set at a 97% similarity threshold, and taxonomic assignment was accomplished using an internally maintained taxonomic classifier. Results The results of the study, obtained through both standard culture and next-generation sequencing (NGS) analyses, demonstrated consistent and significant findings. Through rigorous examination, it was determined that no microbial growth was detected on any component of the inflatable penile prostheses (IPPs) throughout the entire duration of the experiment, which lasted up to 3 hours. This dual approach of standard culture and NGS provided comprehensive and robust evidence of the absence of microbial colonization on the IPP devices. Conclusions These findings suggest that the duration of exposure to the OR aerobiome alone does not appear to increase the risk of microbial colonization on IPP devices. Further ex vivo studies are needed to support these findings and evaluate whether factors such as time of skin-to-IPP contact or changes in OR conditions contribute to risk of IPP microbial colonization. Disclosure Any of the authors act as a consultant, employee or shareholder of an industry for: Coloplast, Boston Scientific.

Air invasion into three-dimensional foam induces viscous fingering instabilities

We conducted an experimental investigation to examine the immiscible radial displacement flows of air invading three-dimensional foam in a Hele-Shaw cell. Our study successfully identified three distinct flow regimes. In the initial regime, characterized by relatively low fingertip velocities, the foam underwent a slow displacement through plug flow. During this process, the three-phase contact lines slipped at the cell walls. Notably, we discovered that the air injection pressure exhibited a proportional relationship with the power of the fingertip velocity. This relationship demonstrated excellent agreement with a power law, where the exponent was determined to be 2/3. Transitioning to the second regime, we observed relatively high velocities, resulting in the displacement of the foam as a plug within single layers of foam bubbles. The movement of these bubbles near the cell walls was notably slower. Similar to the first regime, the behavior in this regime also adhered to a power law. In the third regime, which manifested at higher air injection pressures, the development of air fingers occurred through narrow channels. These channels had the potential to isolate the air fingers as they underwent a process of "healing." Furthermore, our results unveiled a significant finding that the width of the air fingers exhibited a continuous scaling with the air injection pressure, irrespective of the flow regimes being observed.

The tongue of the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans): morphological characterization through gross, light, scanning electron, and immunofluorescence microscopic examination

The red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) is renowned for its remarkable adaptations, yet much of its complex biology remains unknown. In this pioneering study, we utilized a combination of gross anatomy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), light microscopy, and immunofluorescence techniques to examine the tongue’s omnivorous adaptation in this species. This research bridges a critical knowledge gap, enhancing our understanding of this intriguing reptile. Gross examination revealed a unique arrowhead-shaped tongue with a median lingual fissure and puzzle-piece-shaped tongue papillae. SEM unveiled rectangular filiform, conical, and fungiform papillae, with taste pores predominantly on the dorsal surface and mucous cells on the lateral surface of the papillae. Histologically, the tongue’s apex featured short rectangular filiform and fungiform papillae, while the body exhibited varying filiform shapes and multiple taste buds on fungiform papillae. The tongue’s root contained lymphatic tissue with numerous lymphocytes surrounding the central crypt, alongside lingual skeletal musculature, blood and lymph vessels, and Raffin corpuscles in the submucosa. The lingual striated muscle bundles had different orientations, and the lingual hyaline cartilage displayed a bluish coloration of the ground substance, along with a characteristic isogenous group of chondrocytes. Our research represents the first comprehensive application of immunofluorescence techniques to investigate the cellular intricacies of the red-eared slider’s tongue by employing seven distinct antibodies, revealing a wide array of compelling and significant findings. Vimentin revealed the presence of taste bud cells, while synaptophysin provided insights into taste bud and nerve bundle characteristics. CD34 and PDGFRα illuminated lingual stromal cells, and SOX9 and PDGFRα shed light on chondrocytes within the tongue’s cartilage. CD20 mapped B-cell lymphocyte distribution in the lingual tonsil, while alpha smooth actin (α-SMA) exposed the intricate myofibroblast and smooth muscle network surrounding the lingual blood vessels and salivary glands. In conclusion, our comprehensive study advances our knowledge of the red-eared slider’s tongue anatomy and physiology, addressing a significant research gap. These findings not only contribute to the field of turtle biology but also deepen our appreciation for the species’ remarkable adaptations in their specific ecological niches.

Employee Work Values Orientation, Commitment and Performance in the Motor Vehicle Industry in Kenya

The objective of the study was to establish the role of employee commitment in the relationship between employee work values orientation and employee job performance in the motor vehicle industry in Kenya. This relationships was tested using corresponding null hypothesis. The motivation for the study arose from the observation of employee performance challenges that were witnessed in the motor vehicle industry in Kenya. Literature has shown that work values orientation has been associated with employee job performance. This study was based on the social exchange theory. The objective of the study was to eastablish the mediating role of employee commitment in the relationship between employee work values orieontation and employee performance. Descriptive cross sectional survey was used in the study. The study had a population of 2,895 employees out of which a sample of 351 respondents were randomly chosen for data collection. Data was collected by use of structured questionnaires that were dropped and picked back while others were scanned and emailed back. Data was analyzed using regression models. Test findings showed that employee commitment partially mediates the ralationship between work values orientation and employee job performance. The significant findings implied that the hypothesis that the relationship between work values orientation and employee job performance is not mediated by employee commitment was rejected, and the study objective to examine the effect of employee commitment in the relationship between work values orientation and employee job performance in the motor vehicle industry in Kenya positively determined. The study outcomes significantly contributed to theory, policy and practice of work values orientation and its influence on employee job performance. The limitation of the study comprised respondents’ attitude and subjectivity that may have crept in due to bias in choosing suitable responses, however the use of structured questionnaires and supervisor responses was meant to corroborate and reduce personal or subjective ways of responding to statements posed. It was also suggested that a further study be done using similar variables on a longitudinal design for generalizability of results. Further, the study recommended that the motor vehicle industry adopts work values orientation, employee commitment and employee competence as joint factors that significantly improve employee job performance.

Associations of Broader Parental Factors with Children's Happiness and Weight Status through Child Food Intake, Physical Activity, and Screen Time: A Longitudinal Modeling Analysis of South Korean Families.

This study investigated how broader parental factors including parental happiness, parental play engagement, and parenting stress are related to Korean children's happiness and weight status across three years via indirect pathways through the children's energy-related behaviors of healthy and unhealthy food intake, physical activity, and screen time. Data from 1551 Korean parent pairs and 7-year-old children in the Panel Study on Korean Children were analyzed. A path analysis and gender-based multi-group analysis were conducted. Maternal happiness was negatively related to child screen time. Maternal play engagement showed positive concurrent associations with child healthy food intake and physical activity and negative associations with screen time. Maternal parenting stress was negatively related to child healthy eating. There was one significant finding related to fathers' role on children's energy-related behaviors, happiness, and weight status: the positive association between parental happiness and boys' unhealthy food intake. Child screen time was positively related to child weight status and negatively to child happiness at each age. Broader maternal parenting factors can serve as a protective factor for childhood happiness and weight status in 7-to-9-year-olds through being associated with a reduction in child screen time.

Evaluation of Plant Essential Oils as Natural Alternatives for Alcohol-based Mouthwashes: Spotlight—Lemongrass and Citronella Java

Abstract Objective The purpose of our study was to evaluate plant-derived essential oils (EOs) as natural alternatives to commercial alcohol-based mouthwashes in the prevention of dental caries since several recent studies have linked high incidence of oral cancer among users with a history of prolonged use of alcohol-based mouthwashes. Materials and Methods Lemongrass, Citronella Java, Gingergrass, and Caraway seed EOs were tested against commonly occurring multidrug-resistant (MDR) oral bacteria namely Micrococcus luteus, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus oralis, and Streptococcus salivarius. Agar well diffusion method was used to determine the antibacterial effectiveness of these EOs. Samples of Citronella Java and Lemongrass EO were also analyzed by gas chromatography (GC). Results Lemongrass and Citronella Java exhibited the highest antibacterial activity against all four bacterial strains. Inhibition zones of Lemongrass were 12, 21.3, 28.3, and 32 mm in diameter against E. faecalis, M. luteus, S. oralis, and S. salivarius, respectively. In comparison, inhibition zones of Citronella Java were 11.5, 17, 20.7, and 20.2 mm in diameter against E. faecalis, M. luteus, S. oralis, and S. salivarius, respectively. A significant finding in our study was that antibacterial activity of Lemongrass was much higher than that of tetracycline, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, against S. oralis and S. salivarius, while the inhibitory effects of Citronella Java against these two oral streptococci were comparable to tetracycline. The major components of Citronella Java identified by GC were citronellal, citronellol, and geraniol, whereas Lemongrass was primarily composed of cis and trans forms of citral. Conclusion Our results suggest that Lemongrass and Citronella Java could be promising natural alternatives to alcohol-based mouthwashes against MDR oral bacteria in the prevention of dental caries.

A Comparative Biochemical and Pathological Evaluation of Brain Samples from Knock-In Murine Models of Gaucher Disease.

Gaucher disease (GD) is a lysosomal storage disorder stemming from biallelic mutations in GBA1, characterized by glucocerebrosidase dysfunction and glucocerebroside and glucosylsphingosine accumulation. Since phenotypes of murine models of GD often differ from those in patients, the careful characterization of Gba1 mutant mice is necessary to establish their ability to model GD. We performed side-by-side comparative biochemical and pathologic analyses of four murine Gba1 models with genotypes L444P/L444P (p.L483P/p.L483P), L444P/null, D409H/D409H (p.D448H/p.D448H) and D409H/null, along with matched wildtype mice, all with the same genetic background and cage conditions. All mutant mice exhibited significantly lower glucocerebrosidase activity (p < 0.0001) and higher glucosylsphingosine levels than wildtype, with the lowest glucocerebrosidase and the highest glucosylsphingosine levels in mice carrying a null allele. Although glucocerebrosidase activity in L444P and D409H mice was similar, D409H mice showed more lipid accumulation. No Gaucher or storage-like cells were detected in any of the Gba1 mutant mice. Quantification of neuroinflammation, dopaminergic neuronal loss, alpha-synuclein levels and motor behavior revealed no significant findings, even in aged animals. Thus, while the models may have utility for testing the effect of different therapies on enzymatic activity, they did not recapitulate the pathological phenotype of patients with GD, and better models are needed.

In-hospital imaging utilization after elective endovascular brain aneurysm treatment: a surrogate metric for the value of hospitalization.

Despite the adoption of same-day outpatient surgical procedures in some specialties, it remains common practice to admit patients for monitoring after elective endovascular treatment of brain aneurysms to monitor for complications. The necessity of such monitoring has not been fully characterized. Here, the authors reviewed the utilization of imaging during posttreatment hospitalization, a surrogate measure for workup of suspected complications requiring hospital resources, to infer the value of inpatient monitoring after endovascular aneurysm treatment. Clinical and angiographic data from eligible patients were retrospectively assessed for demographic characteristics, imaging indications, timing of imaging, and imaging findings. Patients were included if they underwent elective endovascular brain aneurysm treatment, and patients were excluded if significant intraprocedural complications occurred. The recorded imaging modalities included CT, MRI, catheter-based imaging, and ultrasound; plain radiographs were excluded. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of the need for posttreatment imaging. In total, 1229 elective endovascular procedures for brain aneurysm treatment were included. Patients underwent imaging before discharge in 13.4% (165/1229) of cases, with significant findings in 5.0% (61/1229) of cases. The median (interquartile range) time to first posttreatment imaging was 13.2 (4.2-22.8) hours. The need for imaging during posttreatment hospitalization was positively associated with larger aneurysm size (p < 0.05) and negatively associated with underlying cardiovascular disease (p < 0.05). More than 1 in 8 patients who underwent elective endovascular brain aneurysm treatment required imaging during posttreatment hospitalization, most within the first 24 hours, and 1 in 20 had significant findings. These results suggest the importance of short-term hospitalization after elective endovascular aneurysm treatment.

Characterizing CD8+ TEMRA Cells in CP/CPPS Patients: Insights from Targeted Single-Cell Transcriptomic and Functional Investigations.

The specific involvement of the CD8+ T effector memory RA (TEMRA) subset in patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) has largely not been explored in the literature. Targeted single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) profiles were generated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from two CP/CPPS patients and two healthy controls (HCs) in our recent study. Pseudotime series algorithms were used to reveal the differentiation trajectory, CellChat analysis was used to explore the communication between individual cells, and the SCENIC program was used to identify potential transcription factors (TFs). Based on the cosine similarity, clusters of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were considered to be further enriched in different pathways. To confirm the functional role of the critical clusters, flow cytometry was employed. The results revealed the molecular landscape of these clusters, with TEMRA cells exhibiting pronounced cytokine-mediated signaling pathway enrichment. Pseudotime trajectory analysis further mapped the evolution from naïve T cells to that of TEMRA cells, elucidating the developmental pathways involved in the immune context. A significant finding from CellChat analysis was the differential expression of ligands and receptors, with CD8+ TEMRA cells showing enhanced signaling, particularly in the CP/CPPS context, compared to HCs. Flow cytometry confirmed these results, revealing a heightened proinflammatory cytokine profile in patients with chronic prostatitis-like symptoms (CP-LS), suggesting that TEMRA cells play a significant role in disease pathogenesis. TF profiling across the T-cell clusters identified key regulators of cellular identity, identifying novel therapeutic targets. Elevated TNF signaling activity in CD8+ TEMRA cells underscored the involvement of these cells in disease mechanisms. This study elucidates the pivotal role of the CD8+ TEMRA cell subset in CP/CPPS, which is characterized by increased TNF signaling and proinflammatory factor expression, highlighting potential biomarkers and opening new avenues for therapeutic intervention.

Predictive models for road traffic sign: Retroreflectivity status, retroreflectivity coefficient, and lifespan

This study addresses the critical safety issue of declining retroreflectivity values of road traffic signs, which can lead to unsafe driving conditions, especially at night. The paper aims to predict the retroreflectivity coefficient values of these signs and to classify their status as acceptable or rejected (in need of replacement) using machine learning models. Moreover, logistic regression and survival analysis are used to predict the median lifespans of road traffic signs across various geographical locations, focusing on signs in Croatia and Sweden as case studies.The results indicate high accuracy in the predictive models, with classification accuracy at 94% and an R2 value of 94% for regression analysis. A significant finding is that a considerable number of signs maintain acceptable retroreflectivity levels within their warranty period, suggesting the feasibility of extending maintenance checks and warranty periods to 15 years which is longer than the current standard of 10 years. Additionally, the study reveals notable variations in the median lifespans of signs based on color and location. Blue signs in Croatia and Sweden exhibit the longest median lifespans (28 to 35 years), whereas white signs in Sweden and red signs in Croatia show the shortest (16 and 10 years, respectively). The high accuracy of logistic regression models (72–90%) for lifespan prediction confirms the effectiveness of this approach. These findings provide valuable insights for road authorities regarding the maintenance and management of road traffic signs, enhancing road safety standards.

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles by banana pulp extract: Characterizations, antibacterial activity, and bioelectricity generation

Here, green banana pulp extract (PE) has been used as a bio-reducing agent for the reduction of silver ions to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Bio-synthesized AgNPs were characterized by using UV, XRD, FEEM, TEM, and FTIR analysis. The face-centered cubic structures of AgNPs were formed with an average crystallite size of 31.26 nm and an average particle size of 42.97 nm. In this report, the electrical activities of green synthesized AgNPs have been evaluated along with the antibacterial activities. The antibacterial activities of AgNPs were evaluated against two pathogenic bacteria: Escherichia coli (gram-negative) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (gram-positive). AgNPs were added to the electrochemical cell and results demonstrated the improvement of power of the electrochemical cell. Green synthesized AgNPs showed excellent antibacterial activities against both gram-positive and negative bacteria and most importantly the NPs played an important role as an effective catalyst to enhance the electrical performance of bio-electrochemical cells. These significant findings may help in the advancement of nanotechnology in biomedical applications as well as in the creation of cheap and eco-friendly power generation devices.

The Effect of Joint Hypermobility Syndrome on DOMS and Recovery Time.

Previous research has reported that people with Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (JHS) and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) generally experience a high rate of muscular injury and pain. However, there is limited research comparing the recovery times and length of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) in individuals with JHS to non-hypermobile individuals in response to exercise. The purpose of this study was to investigate JHS and its effects on DOMS and its recovery time. Quasi-experimental, observational comparison. Two groups including a hypermobile group (score >4 on Beighton Scale) and a non-hypermobile group all took part in five-second long standing eccentric bicep curls based using their one- repetition maximum (1-RM) of their dominant arm to failure in order to induce DOMS. Visual analog pain scale (VAS), McGill pain scale, resting arm angle, girth, and the pressure pain threshold, all domains of DOMS, were measured over a five-day period. Results were analyzed using ANOVA with time as the repeated factor. Both groups experienced DOMS following the eccentric exercise. However, VAS reporting was significantly greater in the hypermobile group compared to the non-hypermobile group and there was a significant difference over time. However, other variables did not reveal any other significant findings between groups. Individuals with JHS may experience greater DOMS and require more time to recover between treatment sessions. Therapists need to be aware that patients with hypermobility may experience higher pain levels related to exercise, and they need to adjust treatment parameters appropriately. 2b.

Suppressing the Growth of Dendrites On Ultrathin Lithium Metal Anodes by an Amide Electrolyte Additive

The practical applications of high energy density lithium (Li) metal rechargeable batteries are hindered by the formation of lithium dendrites. Besides, using the thick Li anodes (typically 50 μm to 750 μm) provide more Li inventory than is needed in the cell as well as disappears the advantage of high energy density of Li metal over Li-ion batteries.Therefore, in this study, N-N-diallyl-2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide (NDT) is proposed as an electrolyte additive to inhibit the growth of dendrites on the ultrathin Li anode (20 μm). By virtue of its preferential reduction as well as its participation in the primary Li+ solvation shell, NDT contributes to the formation of a Li3N-contained uniform SEI layer on the Li metal, leading to a low polarization in LillLi cells. Be benefited, the LillLFP cell, utilizing a carbonate-based electrolyte containing 2 wt% NDT, exhibits a prolonged life-span, an enhanced reversibility, along with a retention capacity of 72% after 75 cycles, while the cell using baseline electrolyte shows a retention capacity of 68% after 50 cycles at 0.3 C. Additionally, NDT improves the ionic conductivity, and wettability of the electrolyte to the separator. These significant findings provide valuable insights for designing electrolyte additives to stabilize ultrathin Li metal anodes.

Severity of natural calamities and crop yield prediction using hybrid deep learning model in Uttar Pradesh

AbstractCrop yield prediction has gained major potential for global food production. Predicting crop yields based on specific parameters like soil, environment, crop, and water has been an interesting research topic in recent decades. To accurately predict crop yields, measuring the severities of natural calamities including water level is mainly required. However, the existing studies failed to predict crop yields accurately because of various issues like overfitting problems, difficulty in training, inability to handle large data, and reduced learning capability. Thus, the proposed study develops an efficient mechanism for accurately predicting crop yields by analyzing several natural calamities. Here, the input samples are initially pre‐processed to remove unwanted noises using data normalization and standardization. To enhance the performance of crop yield prediction, natural calamities are computed by using an Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model based on parameters like the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), Severe Hail Index (SHI), and Storm Severity Index (SSI). Also, the hyperparameters of XGBoost model are tuned by utilizing Sheep Flock Optimization Algorithm (SFOA). Finally, the crop yield is predicted by proposing a new one‐dimensional convolutional gated recurrent unit neural network (1D‐CGRU). The proposed classifier predicts the crop yields with reduced error rates like mean square error (MSE) of 0.4363, root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.1904, normalized root mean squared error (NRMSE) of 0.00101, mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.2437, and R‐squared (R2) of .2756. Also, the significant findings of the proposed study positively indicate that this study can be applicable to real‐time agricultural practices and is highly suitable for water quality predictions. Also, it can assist farmers and farming businesses in predicting the yield of crops in a specific season when to harvest and crop a plant for attaining improved crop yields.

Exploring Cost Variability and Risk Management Optimization in Natural Disaster Prevention Projects

The purpose of this study is to analyze the causes of cost variation in natural disaster prevention projects (NDPPs) in Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea, and develop tailored cost and risk management strategies. Utilizing a binary logistic regression model, this research uniquely focuses on the Gyeongsangbuk-do region, gathering data from 244 stakeholders through an online survey. The study identifies critical variables influencing cost deviation, including project management risk (PMR), project costing and execution risk (PCER), project execution strategy risk (PESR), construction project risk (CPR), project cost and schedule risk (PCSR), project management challenges (PMCs), and construction project subcontractor and safety management (CPSSM). Significant findings revealed PMR (OR = 3.744, 95% C.I. [1.657, 8.457]), PCER (OR = 5.068, 95% C.I. [2.236, 11.484]), and PESR (OR = 3.447, 95% C.I. [1.853, 6.413]) as the primary causes of cost deviation, alongside the notable impacts of other factors such as CPSSM. The developed predictive model is instrumental for NDPP stakeholders in Gyeongsangbuk-do, providing advanced risk management capabilities and aiding in effective preventive measures. This study not only corroborates theoretical hypotheses from previous research but also offers new insights into cost deviation causes in NDPPs, thereby enhancing strategic decision-making and advancing risk management perspectives.

Anti-sclerostin antibody therapy prevents post-ischemic osteonecrosis bone collapse via interleukin-6 association

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a debilitating condition characterized by subchondral bone necrosis, which frequently culminates in joint destruction. Although total hip arthroplasty is conventionally practiced to remediate ONFH, for patients under the age of 60, the outcomes can be suboptimal. Chronic inflammation, particularly that mediated by interleukin-6 (IL-6), has been conjectured to be a potential mechanism underlying the etiology of ONFH. This study aimed at exploring the interplay between IL-6, the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, and ONFH to provide insights for potential therapeutic interventions. Human ONFH specimens depicted an elevation in β-catenin expression in the transitional layer, while IL-6 levels were pronounced in the same region. Subsequently, mouse models of ischemic osteonecrosis were treated with an anti-sclerostin antibody to assess its effects on bone metabolism and cellular processes. Histological analysis revealed that the administration of anti-sclerostin antibodies effectuated early recovery from bone necrosis, reduced empty lacunae, and suppressed IL-6 expression. The treatment evidently initiated the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, presenting a potential mechanism associated with IL-6-mediated inflammation. Furthermore, the antibody upregulated osteoblast formation, downregulated osteoclast formation, and increased bone volume. Micro-CT imaging demonstrated increased bone volume, prevented epiphyseal deformity, and improved compression strength.Therefore, this study yields significant findings, indicating the potency of anti-sclerostin antibodies in effectively modulating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, associating with IL-6 expression, and preventing post-ONFH bone collapse. Additionally, this preclinical investigation in mouse models offers an avenue for prospective research on potential therapeutic interventions against human ONFH.

Teachers’ digital literacy overview in secondary school

&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;This study explored the teachers’ digital literacy in secondary school and deciphered the most suggested way of enhancing secondary teachers’ digital literacy, overview levels, and the trends factors in the last five years of research. The methodologies in this study employed the traditional systematic literature review (SLR), which compiled some previous studies to be examined. The initial studies were only selected from an article published in a reputable journal indexed by Scopus. Of the 118 articles reviewed, 46 were selected to be included in the analysis. Significant findings summarize the fact that most of the last five-year research about teachers in secondary schools was impacted by the rapid development of technology and the demand for 21st-century skills. To summarize, as it is at the intermediate level, most secondary school teachers are digitally literate. However, future research may evaluate digital literacy training programs for teachers to assess what improvements should be made to delivery as well as existing frameworks used to test teachers’ digital literacy.&lt;/span&gt;

Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Markers among the Women with Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer represents a formidable peril to the female populace on a worldwide level. The association between breast cancer and various factors, including viral infections, has been extensively investigated. Recently, the link between HBV infection and breast cancer patients has garnered attention. The present research aims to assess the prevalence of HBV markers among women diagnosed with breast cancer in Ahvaz city, Iran. Serum specimens were procured from 90 patients who had been clinically diagnosed with breast cancer. The age of the patients ranged from 29 to 80 years, with a mean age of 49.42±10.7. Histological examination of biopsy specimens revealed that 75 (83.33%) were ductal, 11 (8.88%) lobular, 2 (2.22%) mucinous, 1 (1.11%) medullary, and 1 (1.11%) was metastatic. The serum samples were subjected to initial HBsAg and anti-HBc testing via ELISA. Samples that tested seropositive (HBsAg + anti-HBc) were subsequently analyzed for the S region of HBV through nested PCR and DNA sequencing. Finally, a phylogenetic tree was constructed for positive HBV DNA tests. Among the 5/90 (5.55%) cancer patients, it was found that 3 (3.33%) cases of ductal carcinoma and one (1.11%) lobular carcinoma displayed positivity for HBV markers (HBsAg, anti-HBc, HBV PCR). Notably, one (1.11%) patient with ductal carcinoma solely demonstrated anti-HBc positivity. The phylogenetic tree analysis of the S region revealed that all HBV strains identified were categorized as genotype D. The statistical analysis did not reveal any significant findings (p= 0.315) in the distribution of cancer types across different age groups. Among patients diagnosed with breast cancer, a notable prevalence of 5.5% was observed in HBV markers. The dominant HBV genotype among breast cancer patients was identified as genotype D.