Statistical Correlation Research Articles

Robust Chemical Testing for Food Safety: Assessing and Identifying Dye Adulterants in Blueberry Juice: A Comprehensive Case Study with Statistical Measures and Correlation Analysis

In the food sector, the problem of food fraud—which encompasses the more focused category of adulteration driven by economic gain—is becoming more widely acknowledged and is raising concerns. Both the government and the industry are accountable for avoiding food adulteration, regardless of where the food danger originated. Food adulteration can result from incidents concerning food safety, food fraud, and food defence, which poses serious risks to the general public's health. In contrast to inadvertent injury in food safety events and intentional harm in food defence incidents, food fraud entails intentional activities for financial gain. Although financially motivated adulteration may have financial motivations, the unusual nature of contaminants frequently makes the related public health hazards more dangerous than traditional food safety threats. Establishing and executing a database that aggregates reports of food component fraud available for publicly accessible sources is an essential task. For governments, agencies, and individual enterprises assessing the possible dangers associated with certain items created in specific regions and those disseminated and sold elsewhere, this database provides essential information and useful data. The paper also describes current analytical tools for identifying food fraud and highlights new developments and trends in the food production industry and the food production bad sector.

Changes in Serum Oncostatin M Levels During Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract Background Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) consist of Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). They are characterized by a chronic relapsing and remitting disease course that results in intestinal symptoms but also frequently in extra-intestinal manifestations. Among potential targets and biomarkers, oncostatin M (OSM) has gained a lot of interest. OSM is a pleiotropic cytokine produced by activated T cells, monocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils. It is considered proinflammatory given its ability to promote leukocyte recruitment. Objective To evaluate the changes in serum Oncostatin M levels during treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Patients and Methods To elucidate this aim 30 IBD patients and 30 controls were included in this study. Results The mean Oncostatin M in IBD cases before treatment was 120.13 while after treatment was 91.17 with high significant difference. There was high statistical correlation in between Fecal Calprotectin Level after treatment and Oncostatin M After Treatment. The relation between UC, CD and Oncostatin level before and after treatment shows high statistical significant difference. There was no statistical relation in between Oncostatin level (after treatemnt) and type of treatment. That there was a high statistically significant difference in between cases and control group regarding to HB, WBCs, ESR, CRP, Urea, ALT, Oncostatin M and a statistically significant difference in between cases and control group regarding to Platelets. Conclusion Oncostatin M is a promising marker for the diagnosis and follow up of IBD patients, however it has a limited predictive performance for the prediction of the response for IBD treatment.

Pilot study: Measurement of first phase ejection fraction in a sample of Egyptian people

Abstract Background Left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) constitutes the final common pathway for a number of cardiac disorders. Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is the dominant cause of heart failure (HF). The remaining etiologies include cardiomyopathy, hypertension (HTN), valvular heart diseases (VHD) and myocarditis. Data from the Framingham heart study shows that it develops in approximately 16% of men and 18% of women who had diabetes; 12% of men and 8% of women who had HTN; and 30% of both sexes who had myocardial infarction (MI). Aim of the Work to measure the first phase ejection fraction (EF1) in a sample of Egyptian population and to determine its normal value and to assess its reliability in assessment of systolic function. Patients and Methods This study is a prospective and observational clinical that was conducted at El- Mokattam health insurance & Ain Shams University hospitals from October 2019 to March 2022. Results we found that mean EF1 was 35.41 ± 4.16 %, its minimal value was 26.9% and its maximal value was 43.4%. We found that EF1 was reliable and reproducible as there was no statistically significant intra observer nor inter observer variabilities (p-value was 0.547 & 0.602 respectively). We found that there was no significant statistical correlation between EF1 and gender or heart rate or other demographic or clinical data. Conclusion EF1 is a simple and reproducible measurement of LV systolic function that is easily measured by transthoracic echocardiography and is considered comparable to other indices that measure LV systolic function.

P-144 Utilizing artificial intelligence to uncover Day 5 morphokinetic features associated with single blastocyst transfer implantation outcome

Abstract Study question Can AI aid in studing embryos’ continuous development in Day5 and identifying morphokinetic features (blastocyst growth and spontaneous collapse etc.), to improve implantation potential prediction? Summary answer The AI system utilized time-lapse images to measure newly identified morphokinetic features, establishing a significant correlation with clinical pregnancy outcomes. What is known already In Single Blastocyst Transfer (SBT), the conventional Gardner evaluation system may inadequately differentiate between embryos of comparable morphology scores in specific cases. To address this, integrating new morphokinetic features is essential for enhanced blastocyst evaluation. Spontaneous collapse (SC) during blastocyst expansion is a phenomenon that was revealed relatively recently following the clinical application of time-lapse monitoring in IVF laboratories. Previous studies link embryo size and SC to quality, yet these correlations require further validation. In the critical selection process utilizing time-lapse imaging (TLI) systems, AI technology is indispensable for developing automated and interpretable tools to ensure precise quantitative measurements. Study design, size, duration 255 patients underwent IVF with Day5 single blastocyst transfer in fresh cycles at the Center for Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, from April 2021 to August 2022, and were analyzed in this retrospective study. Embryos were cultured in time-lapse incubators (CCM-iBIS, ASTEC). On Day 3 embryos were transferred to sequential media (G2, Vitrolife, Sweden) and cultured in the same incubator until Day5. In this cohort, there were 167 clinical pregnancies and 88 non-pregnant cases. Participants/materials, setting, methods An AI system was developed to calculate the development curves of areas in each part of the embryo (ZP,blastocel, ICM and TE) based on TLI images from 92 to 116 phi(±2). T-test and correlation analysis were used to select effective features. The dataset was divided into training and testing subset in an 80:20 ratio. The performance of different prediction models were compared by Delong test. Main results and the role of chance In this study, an AI system automatically generated blastocyst development curves, from which 35 morphokinetic features were extracted. These features were carefully defined to comprehensively capture the dynamics of embryo size development and spontaneous collapse (SC). Six parameters, including maximum size, max/min ratio of blastocyst area (with and without ZP region), speed of expansion after tSB, and number of minor SC, exhibited statistical correlation with clinical pregnancy outcomes. Using these parameters, an XGBoost model achieved an AUC of 0.71 for pregnancy prediction, surpassing (p = 0.0307, p < 0.05) the AUC of 0.48 from the model trained with manual Gardner evaluation. These findings underscore the potential of AI-generated morphokinetic features of D5 in enhancing blastocyst evaluation systems. Limitations, reasons for caution The limited sample size used in this retrospective experiment may lead to an underrepresentation of certain significant features. Wider implications of the findings In contrast to prior findings, most SC-based features in our study did not significantly correlate with clinical pregnancy outcome. Further research is needed to understand their causes and implications. Integrating AI with TLI offers promise for improving single blastocyst transfer outcomes, emphasizing quantifiability and interpretability in approach. Trial registration number NA

Effectiveness of cupping and aversion therapies as adjuvant methods for smoking cessation

Abstract Background Tobacco addiction affects both the mind and the body. Most people find that a mix of medicine, a strategy to change personal habits, and emotional support is the most effective way to quit. The aim of the work was to compare between the effectiveness of cupping therapy and aversion therapy as adjuvant methods in smoking cessation program. Patients and methods A prospective randomized study was done on 60 smokers recruited from Ain Shams University Hospitals who were divided into three groups. Group I : included 20 participants subjected to counseling only (the five A’S); Group II : included 20 participants subjected to counseling and aversion therapy using onion-powdered cigarettes by mixing tobacco with dried onion powder by an equal amount; Group III: included 20 participants subjected to counseling and a monthly bloodletting cupping session for 3 consecutive months, follow up visits were conducted every 2 weeks for 3 months to assess outcome and withdrawal symptoms. Results There was no statistically significant difference (p value >0.05) between the success rate in the three different groups. The success rate of quitting was the same among smokers in group I and group III ( complete success 10% and partial success 10%), while the success rate of quitting among smokers in group II was ( complete success 0% and partial success 15%). There were significant statistical correlations (P < 0.05) found between the outcome and the age, occupation, duration and pack/year smoking, while there was insignificant statistical difference (P < 0.05) between the outcome and marital status, comorbidities and previous quitting attempts. There was no significant difference between three groups in the frequency of withdrawal symptoms during follow up visits, while there was significant statistic reduction in frequency of dizziness, headache and fatigue between follow up visits in the three groups, weight gain increased during follow up visits. Conclusion Using adjuvant methods like aversion and bloodletting cupping therapy in smoking cessation programs doesn’t seem to produce significant change in success rate of quitting smoking.

Role of Α-L-Fucosidase as a Diagnostic Marker versus Α-Fetoprotein in HCC Post Viral Cirrhotic Patients

Abstract Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer and the third cause of cancer-related mortality world- wide. The incidence of HCC is on the increase, and it is a major threat to our modern life. Epidemiological studies have indicated that HCC are related to chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Aim of the Work To evaluate the role of AFU as a diagnostic marker versus AFP in HCC post viral cirrhotic Egyptian patients. Patients and Methods This study had been carried out on 90 subjects, age range 21-75 year selected from Internal medicine and Hepatology outpatient clinics and inpatient wards at Ain shams university hospitals from January 2022 to June 2022. Results We found that serum levels of AFU were highest in patients of group A with HCC (129.867 ± 32.997 μl U/ml) compared to those with liver cirrhosis (33.433± 14.818 μl U/ml) with P value < 0.001 and the control groups (3.177 ± 1.199 μl U/ml) with P value < 0.001. Similarly alpha fetoprotein its serum levels were much higher in the HCC group (4688.223±11490.009 ng/ml) compared to the cirrhotic patients (4.407±3.107 ng/ml) with P value 0.02 Also, compared to healthy individuals (2.623±1.566 ng/ml) with p value 1.00. We found that there is No significant statistical correlation between serum AFP and AFU in our studied HCC and cirrhotic patients (R 0.332, P 0.073 for HCC and R 0.222, P 0.238 for cirrhotic). Regarding the negative correlation between serum AFU level and AFP level in order to predict the diagnostic value, sensitivity and specificity of both of them in term of tumor size, our study show that for AFU when the best cut off value was >52μl U/ml the sensitivity was 100% and specificity was 90% while for AFP when the best cut off value was > 10.5 ng/ml the sensitivity was 96.67% and specificity 96.67%. AFU is a promising serum tumor marker for HCC diagnosis and can be combined with AFP. Conclusion We concluded from this study that: Serum AFP was highly significant increase in HCC patients compared to cirrhotic and healthy controls, this is in agreement with many several reports that consider AFP in high serum levels as diagnostic for HCC combined with triphasic CT abdomen or dynamic MRI. Serum AFU levels were significantly higher in patients with HCC and mildly elevated in patients with liver cirrhosis compared to the control group. So it can be used as a tumor marker for HCC diagnosis. No correlation between AFU and laboratory data and child score. AFU was not influenced by clinical condition of the liver itself but with HCC. Around 40% of HCC patients have normal or low AFP level so AFU may be useful as a diagnostic marker in those patients. Serum AFP is the standard tumor marker used in clinical practice for diagnosis and surveillance of HCC in cirrhotic patients in spite of normal and low AFP HCC patients that may reach 40%. Sensitivity and specificity of AFU was nearly similar to sensitivity and specificity of AFP. Combined use of AFU with AFP or possibly other markers will improve the diagnostic field and can help in early detection of HCC in surveillance programms.

Analysis of solar plasma parameters during intense geomagnetic storm (SYM/H

We utilize numerous solar plasma and field parameters with geomagnetic indices for the geomagnetic storm in 25 solar cycles. Using Planetary index (Kp) having 3 h data, Dst index hourly data, Symmetric horizontal field (SYM/H) minute resolution data and solar plasma measurements from multiple satellites, examine the chain of significant events that occurred in the year 2023. Statical analysis of geomagnetic provisional activity Sym/H has better results than Kp index during various main phases of geomagnetic activity. The statistical correlation technique is used to examine the relationship between Interplanetary parameters and geomagnetic indices during major geomagnetic storms. This research improves our comprehension of solar–terrestrial interactions and provides valuable insights for enhancing space weather forecasting models.

MRI of knee: high signals in STIR sequences and its relation with anterior knee pain our population.

Objective: To evaluate the significance of high signals in STIR sequences in MRI in patients presenting with non-traumatic knee pain. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Radiology, Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. Period: March 2023 to August 2023. Methods: The patients presented for MRI of knee joint for knee pain unrelated to trauma were analyzed. Data were collected through a proforma based on 9 questions that included demographic data and questions related to the cause of pain. The total calculated sample size was 86 patients Data was analyzed through SPSS. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Association was determined using chi-square test considering p-value ≤0.05 as significant. Results: Our study showed no statistical correlation between knee pain and high STIR signals seen in pre-patellar bursa with 90.9% showing high signals with pain, while 85.3% showed high signals without pain. In our study this signal was found in about 20-30% that were mostly female household help and carpet layers. Conclusion: There is no statistical correlation between knee pain and high STIR signals seen in pre-patellar bursa.

Mesangial cell-derived CircRNAs in chronic glomerulonephritis: RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis

Background Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been shown to play critical roles in the initiation and progression of chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN), while their role from mesangial cells in contributing to the pathogenesis of CGN is rarely understood. Our study aims to explore the potential functions of mesangial cell-derived circRNAs using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and bioinformatics analysis. Methods Mouse mesangial cells (MMCs) were stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to establish an in vitro model of CGN. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and cell cycle stages were detected by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Flow Cytometry experiment, respectively. Subsequently, differentially expressed circRNAs (DE-circRNAs) were identified by RNA-seq. GEO microarrays were used to identify differentially expressed mRNAs (DE-mRNAs) between CGN and healthy populations. Weighted co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was utilized to explore clinically significant modules of CGN. CircRNA-associated CeRNA networks were constructed by bioinformatics analysis. The hub mRNAs from CeRNA network were identified using LASSO algorithms. Furthermore, utilizing protein–protein interaction (PPI), gene ontology (GO), pathway enrichment (KEGG), and GSEA analyses to explore the potential biological function of target genes from CeRNA network. In addition, we investigated the relationships between immune cells and hub mRNAs from CeRNA network using CIBERSORT. Results The expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α was drastically increased in LPS-induced MMCs. The number of cells decreased significantly in the G1 phase but increased significantly in the S/G2 phase. A total of 6 DE-mRNAs were determined by RNA-seq, including 4 up-regulated circRNAs and 2 down-regulated circRNAs. WGCNA analysis identified 1747 DE-mRNAs of the turquoise module from CGN people in the GEO database. Then, the CeRNA networks, including 6 circRNAs, 38 miRNAs, and 80 mRNAs, were successfully constructed. The results of GO and KEGG analyses revealed that the target mRNAs were mainly enriched in immune, infection, and inflammation-related pathways. Furthermore, three hub mRNAs (BOC, MLST8, and HMGCS2) from the CeRNA network were screened using LASSO algorithms. GSEA analysis revealed that hub mRNAs were implicated in a great deal of immune system responses and inflammatory pathways, including IL-5 production, MAPK signaling pathway, and JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Moreover, according to an evaluation of immune infiltration, hub mRNAs have statistical correlations with neutrophils, plasma cells, monocytes, and follicular helper T cells. Conclusions Our findings provide fundamental and novel insights for further investigations into the role of mesangial cell-derived circRNAs in CGN pathogenesis.

Groundwater quality assessment in different volcanic rocks using water quality index in the tropical area, Indonesia

Groundwater is the main water source that is most widely used in the world, one of which is in Indonesia. One of the uses of groundwater is for consumption needs. Therefore, the groundwater used should have good water quality. For this reason, this study aimed to determine groundwater quality in Indonesia during the dry season and make recommendations for groundwater management policies. A total of 211 groundwater samples taken from springs, drilled wells, and dug wells spread across volcanic areas on the islands of Sumatra, Java, Bali, and Sulawesi were collected to test their quality in this research. The method used in this research consisted of 4 analyses: WHO threshold analysis, Piper Diagram, Water Quality Index (WQI), and statistical correlation and regression. Based on the analysis, it was discovered that 47 K+ samples, 1 Na+ sample, 5 Ca2+ samples, 1 Cl- sample, 115 HCO3- samples, 3 TDS samples, and 3 pH samples exceeded WHO standards. The results of the Piper triangle diagram analysis showed that the majority of groundwater in Indonesia falls into the Unpolluted Groundwater classification (categories D and G), and the results of the WQI analysis also showed that 98% of the groundwater in Indonesia analyzed falls into the excellent and good water categories. The results of statistical analysis of the parameters K+, Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, SO42-, Cl-, HCO3-, TDS, and pH showed that all these parameters are strongly and positively correlated with the WQI value.

The effect of mixing EUV proxies on the correlation with foF2 and on long-term trends estimations

Solar proxies are a valuable tool used in most atmospheric models to simulate or predict the state and variation of the different layers linked to the solar source. In this work, we analyze the performance, through correlation analysis, of six solar EUV proxies, and different combination of them, to reproduce annual ionospheric F2 critical frequency (foF2) from ten different stations. We find that certain combinations of traditional proxies outperform the capacity to reproduce interannual ionospheric foF2 variability, resulting in better statistical correlation and time stability, these new proxies could be a valuable tool to predict the state of the atmosphere and for interpolation in case of missing data. Different combinations of proxies such as F30, MgII, Sn or Lya, creates better indicators than using them alone. These new EUV proxies are also used to estimate long-term trends along the ten stations. As we increase the correlation, the estimated trend decrease as expected by definition. However, a key point is that the average trends, after filtering solar activity, result negative as was predicted by the increase of the greenhouse gases.

Relationship Between Asymmetry of Transverse Sinus and Difference in Intraocular Pressure.

This study used two-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance venography (2D TOF MRV) to show the shape of the transverse sinus and to determine whether there is a correlation between the asymmetry of the transverse sinus morphology and the intraocular pressure (IOP) of the two eyes. In this study, 63 male and 42 female volunteers were included. Those with obvious neurological diseases and eye diseases were excluded. According to the morphology of the transverse sinus scanned with 2D TOF MRV, subjects were divided into five groups. The IOP of the volunteers was measured separately. The difference between group I and group V is statistically significant (Z = 6.78, P < 0.01). Statistically, significant differences also existed among the IOP of each group, including the mean values of both eyes and the difference between the right eye and the left eye. The asymmetry of the transverse sinus maintained a negative correlation with the right IOP (r = 0.51, P < 0.01) and the difference between the right eye and the left eye (r = 0.79, P < 0.01). The asymmetry and the left IOP had no statistical correlation. The preliminary conclusion of this study is that if one side of the transverse sinus is thicker, the drainage-related ocular veins are relatively coarser, and the IOP is relatively lower. The 2D TOF MRV examination can be used as an examination to show the shape of the transverse sinus. It is a display method to provide a feasible means of inspection for a reasonable interpretation.

Comparative Evaluation of USG-Guided Single Tissue Marker Versus Multiple Tissue Marker Placements in Breast Malignancy Patients Undergoing Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Tumor Localization.

Background Breast cancer remains one of the most common malignancies affecting women globally, contributing significantly to the disease burden. The advent of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has revolutionized the treatment for locally advanced breast cancer, allowing tumors to be downstaged and making breast-conserving surgery (BCS) feasible. Accurate localization of the tumor bed post-NAC is crucial for successful surgical removal of residual disease. While traditional single tissue marker placement has been effective, recent advances suggest multiple markers might provide superior localization by comprehensively delineating the entire tumor area. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of single versus multiple tissue marker placements in breast malignancy patients undergoing NAC. Materials and methods A prospective study was conducted in the Department of Radio-diagnosis at Saveetha Medical College over 18 months, including 10 patients diagnosed with breast carcinoma, selected through convenience sampling. Inclusion criteria involved patients diagnosed with breast cancer via mammography, sonography, and histological confirmation, referred for clip placement before NAC. Exclusion criteria were patients unwilling to participate. The procedure involved placing one to two surgical clips within the tumor using a 14/16-gauge coaxial guiding needle under USGguidance, with additional clips for larger or multiple tumors. Data collection included pre-procedural USG, post-procedural mammography (MG1), pre-operative mammography (MG2)/USG, and gross specimen histopathological examination/specimen mammography. Statistical analysis Demographic data, clipping distribution, receptor status, localization methods, surgical outcomes, operation diagnoses, and correlation analysis were statistically analyzed. Mean age, standard deviation, and p-values were calculated to determine the significance of differences between single and multiple clip groups. Results The study included 10 patients with a mean age of 52.5 years. Of these, five (50%)had a single clip, and two (20%)had four clips. The average time from clipping to the second mammogram (MG2) was 106.3 days, and from clipping to operation was 111.0 days, with longer follow-up times for multiple clip patients. Six (60%) of the patients were estrogen receptor (ER) positive, and six (60%) were human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative. Localization methods were similar between single and multiple clip groups. However, multiple clip patients tended to undergo more extensive surgeries like modified radical mastectomy (MRM). Imaging responses showed no preoperative ultrasound lesions in single clip patients, while multiple clip patients had higher inconsistent diagnoses (10 (100%)) suggesting that multiple clips provide better tumor localization but are linked to increased complexity and longer follow-up times. Conclusion Patients with multiple clips experienced significantly longer follow-up times, reflecting more complex clinical scenarios. Despite no significant differences in receptor status distributions, multiple clip patients required more extensive surgeries, emphasizing the need for tailored surgical planning. The study underscores the importance of considering the number of clips in clinical decision-making. Future research should focus on larger, prospective studies to validate these findings and explore underlying mechanisms.

Oxygenation Index and Oxygen Saturation Index for Predicting Postoperative Outcome in Patients Undergoing Emergency Surgery: A Prospective Cohort Study.

The OI was originally evaluated as a prognostic tool for acute hypoxemic respiratory failure in children and was an independent predictor for mortality in adult patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Oxygenation index and OSI of 201 adult patients undergoing emergency surgery were evaluated at different time points. The primary objective of this study was to find the correlation between OI and OSI. The secondary objectives were to find the prognostic utility of OI and OSI for postoperative mechanical ventilation and mortality. Significant statistical correlation was found between OI and OSI both at the beginning (r 2 = 0.61; p < 0.001) and immediately after surgery (r 2 = 0.47; p < 0.001). Oxygen saturation index at the beginning [area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC) (95% CI) 0.76 (0.62-0.89); best cutoff 3.9, sensitivity 64% and specificity 45%] and immediately after surgery [AUROC (95% CI) 0.82 (0.72-0.92); best cutoff 3.57, sensitivity 79%, and specificity 62%] were reasonable predictors of the requirement of invasive ventilatory support. Exploratory analysis reported that older age (p = 0.02), higher total leukocyte count (p = 0.002), higher arterial lactate (p = 0.02), and higher driving pressure (p < 0.001) were independently associated with hospital mortality. In adult patients undergoing emergency laparotomy under general anesthesia, OI and OSI were found to be correlated. Both metrics demonstrated reasonable accuracy in predicting the need for invasive ventilatory support beyond 24 hours and hospital mortality. Thakuria R, Ernest EE, Chowdhury AR, Pangasa N, Kayina CA, Bhattacharjee S, et al. Oxygenation Index and Oxygen Saturation Index for Predicting Postoperative Outcome in Patients Undergoing Emergency Surgery: A Prospective Cohort Study. Indian J Crit Care Med 2024;28(7):645-649.

Street vendors as actors of a sustainable food system—The case of Mexico City

AbstractIn this paper, we explore the role of street vendors in enhancing access to sustainable food, using Mexico City as a case study. Through observational fieldwork, we quantify and spatialize the street food offer of two municipalities, which we compare to food offer in outlets (shops and restaurants). We use Mexican traditional food as a proxy for a sustainable diet. Street vendors represent 55% of the food retailers present in the study area. Over half of street vendors only sell traditional food (against 45% of food outlets), but most sell food to be consumed in moderation (e.g. tacos). A weak statistical correlation suggests that street vendors and food outlets tend to cluster in mixed‐use areas; as such, street vendors' role in the urban food system is mainly to provide an alternative food offer in well‐served areas, rather than providing a food offer in neighbourhoods where the formal offer is scarce. We conclude that street vending is a significant element of Mexico City's urban food environment and increases the availability of traditional food, thus enhancing food sovereignty and contributing to a sustainable food system. Street vending, as an unplanned, traditional daily practice that inadvertently contributes to a sustainable food system, is an example of ‘already existing sustainabilities’, which exploration can provide crucial insights to achieve sustainability transitions.

Manipulating the Spatial Structure of Second-Order Quantum Coherence Using Entangled Photons

Abstract High-order quantum coherence reveals the statistical correlation of quantum particles. Manipulation of quantum coherence of light in the temporal domain enables the production of the single-photon source, which has become one of the most important quantum resources. High-order quantum coherence in the spatial domain plays a crucial role in a variety of applications, such as quantum imaging, holography, and microscopy. However, the active control of second-order spatial quantum coherence remains a challenging task. Here we predict theoretically and demonstrate experimentally the first active manipulation of second-order spatial quantum coherence, which exhibits the capability of switching between bunching and anti-bunching, by mapping the entanglement of spatially structured photons. We also show that signal processing based on quantum coherence exhibits robust resistance to intensity disturbance. Our findings not only enhance existing applications but also pave the way for broader utilization of higher-order spatial quantum coherence.

Severity of papular urticaria in children is associated with specific IgG4 anti-salivary gland antigens from Aedes aegypti.

Background. Papular Urticaria (PU) is a cutaneous hypersensitivity disorder triggered by hematophagous arthropod bites. Despite being a common condition, especially in tropical environments, many knowledge gaps are observed for this disease. The main objective of this study was to investigate the patterns of humoral immune response to mosquito antigens in children with PU and establish a correlation between this response and the severity of clinical symptoms. Methods. An analytical cross-sectional observational study was carried out. Clinical and sociodemographic data and children's blood samples were collected to measure the specific antibodies from: 1. A. aegypti salivary gland antigens; 2. A. aegypti whole body antigens (both produced in the laboratory of the Center for Health Sciences at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro). A PU severity score based on clinical data is proposed to correlate disease severity with antibody reactivity signatures. Results. According to the clinical data, 58.9% of children received high severity scores. A significant statistical correlation was found between patients with high PU severity score and the development of symptoms before the age of two (p = 0.0326) and high IgG4 anti-salivary gland antigens concentration (p less than 0.05). Conclusion. It is suggested that PU severity in children is associated with a high concentration of IgG4 anti-salivary gland antigens from Aedes aegypti. Further studies are recommended to deepen the understanding of the mechanisms involved.

Evaluating Distributed Snow Model Resolution and Meteorology Parameterizations Against Streamflow Observations: Finer Is Not Always Better

AbstractEstimating snow conditions is often done using numerical snowpack evolution models at spatial resolutions of 500 m and greater; however, snow depth in complex terrain often varies on sub‐meter scales. This study investigated how the spatial distribution of simulated snow conditions varied across seven model spatial resolutions from 30 to 1,000 m and over two meteorological data sets, coarser (≈12 km) and finer (4 km). Simulated snow covered area (SCA) was compared to remotely sensed SCA and simulated watershed mean peak snow water equivalent (SWE) was compared to four streamflow statistics representing different water management‐relevant aspects of the hydrograph using non‐parametric correlations. April 1 SWE tended to increase with model resolution, particularly below 4,000 masl. Finer meteorology simulations produced deeper April 1 SWE than coarser meteorology simulations. Finer resolution snow simulations tended to produce longer snowmelt durations and slower snowmelt rates than coarser resolution simulations. Finer resolution simulations had better agreement with SCA for both meteorology data sets, particularly at high and low elevations. However, finer resolution simulations did not generally outperform coarser simulations in snow versus streamflow statistic correlations. Snow versus streamflow correlations were most sensitive to meteorology, watershed properties, and then resolution. Watershed physiographic properties such as wetness index may increase snow versus streamflow metric correlations while elevation and slope may decrease correlations. At watershed scales, these results suggest that simulation resolution and choice of meteorology is less important than the physiographic properties of the watershed; however, if resolving snow distribution across the landscape is important, finer‐resolution simulations are useful.

What prognostic factors have impacted the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with recurrent or metastatic oral cancer?

BackgroundImmune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are widely adapted for recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer (RM-HNC), and various studies on its prognostic factors have been reported. We aimed to elucidate the prognostic factors of ICI treatment for RM oral cancer (RM-OC) in a retrospective study. MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed patients with RM-OC treated with ICIs (nivolumab and pembrolizumab) at our department from May 2017 to February 2023. The objective response rate (ORR) for ICI treatment and the relationship between several potential prognostic factors, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were analyzed statistically. ResultsThe investigation enrolled 31 patients, 16 with nivolumab and 15 with pembrolizumab. There were no significant differences in the ORR or disease control rate between the nivolumab and pembrolizumab groups (p = 0.4578 and 0.2524). In multivariate analysis, the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) exhibited statistical correlations with PFS, whereas the use of antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and PNI demonstrated statistical associations with OS. ConclusionOur findings imply that the use of antibiotics and PPIs, which can modify the gut microbiota, may also serve as a prognostic determinant for ICI treatment in RM-OC, consistent with previous studies. Additionally, PNI may be essential in affecting the survival rates of both PFS and OS and could be an exceedingly valuable inflammatory biomarker for RM-OC.

Do Precipitation and Temperature Influence Perceptions of Urban Cleanliness?

Abstract This study explores the correlation between weather and the perception of urban cleanliness across the 47 largest cities in Spain. Utilizing survey data conducted by the national Consumers and Users Organization (OCU) in 2015, 2019, and 2023 to assess cleanliness perceptions, we analyze potential associations with precipitation and temperature recorded by weather stations of the Spanish Meteorological Agency. Additionally, we consider computed values of the De Martonne aridity index. The OCU data reveal regional disparities in perceived cleanliness quality. Higher cleanliness scores are obtained in cities located in the northern and north-central regions of Spain, characterized by humid and superhumid climates according to the De Martonne index. Conversely, lower cleanliness ratings are given to cities in the southern and eastern regions of Spain, where a Mediterranean climate and lower aridity index values prevail. In conducting a statistical analysis on the perception of cleanliness and variables related to precipitation and temperature, the results of the chi-square and linear correlation tests found no strong statistical correlation, although a tendency is observed. Cities with higher annual precipitation and lower values of average annual temperature tend to receive better cleanliness ratings, while drier and warmer cities exhibit the worst values of perceived urban cleanliness. Furthermore, our findings indicate that the Gompertz model effectively captures a strong statistical correlation in the relationship between cleanliness perception and the De Martonne index: As aridity increases, cleanliness perception decreases. These results are relevant for the development of future cleaning methods and systems, particularly in light of the climate change scenarios that are anticipated in the Mediterranean region due to warmer and drier conditions and, consequently, an increase in aridity.