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In the present study, a Caputo–Fabrizio (C–F) time-fractional derivative is introduced to the governing equations to present the flow of blood and the transport of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) through an inclined porous artery with mild stenosis. The rheology of blood is defined by the non-Newtonian visco-elastic Jeffrey fluid. The transport of MNPs is used as a drug delivery application for cardiovascular disorder therapy. The momentum and transport equations are solved analytically by using the Laplace transform and the finite Hankel transform along with their inverses, and the solutions are presented in the form of Laplace convolutions. To display the solutions graphically, the Laplace convolutions are solved using the numerical integration technique. The study presents the impacts of different governing parameters on blood and MNP velocities, volumetric flow rate, flow resistance, and skin friction. The study demonstrates that blood and MNP velocities boost with an increase in the fractional order parameter, Darcy number, and Jeffrey fluid parameter. The volumetric flow rate decreases and flow resistance increases with enhancement in stenosis height. The non-symmetric shape of stenosis and the rheology of blood decrease skin friction, whereas enhancement in MNP concentration increases skin friction. A comparison of the present result with the previous work shows excellent agreement. The present study will be beneficial for the field of medical science to further study atherosclerosis therapy and other similar disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to examine children's and adults' performance and strategies in volume estimations. Three tasks were designed and presented to 40 adults and 40 6th grade children who were asked to estimate: (a) the number of unit measures (bricks/rice spoons) that may be put in a container, (b) the quantity of bricks/rice, between two different quantities of bricks/rice, that could fit in a container, and (c) the container, between two containers, that may hold a quantity given. Participants were – randomly and in equal numbers from each age group – assigned to four groups differing in their opportunity for trial condition and the presence of the half reference point in the containers. Although the majority of participants showed quite low performance rates in estimating volume, their estimations were more successful when the trial condition was available to them as well as when the trials referred to small containers and discrete quantities. The mental counting strategy was mainly used by both age groups. Adults, however, often used the algorithm and processed precise volume measurement. These results are further discussed in relation to educational implications as well as to the perspective of early supporting children's abilities for estimations at the primary school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies affirm the importance of students' attitudes for mathematical education. This study uses mathematical autobiographical essays to examine the mathematical experiences and attitudes of undergraduate students enrolled in mathematics classes at a Midwestern University in the United States. The essays of 41 students (20 men, 21 women) out of 170 enrolled in College Algebra, Precalculus, and Calculus were analyzed using the categories of (1) confidence in mathematics ability, (2) value of mathematics, and (3) liking of mathematics. This paper provides context and theoretical depth to student reports of their attitudes in these categories. Statements at the intersections of both confidence and liking, and value and liking provide additional insights. First, students who perceive mathematics as valuable are more likely to like it. Second, the vast majority of students talk about confidence and liking together, and with a positive correlation. Further, these students tend to talk about liking or not liking mathematics because of their perceived ability in mathematics. Our study suggests the importance of proactive teaching strategies to improve students' perceptions of the value, liking of, and their confidence in, mathematics, and also suggests self-efficacy as a potential theoretical basis for this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine learning (ML) methods are proliferating in scientific research. However, the adoption of these methods has been accompanied by failures of validity, reproducibility, and generalizability. These failures can hinder scientific progress, lead to false consensus around invalid claims, and undermine the credibility of ML-based science. ML methods are often applied and fail in similar ways across disciplines. Motivated by this observation, our goal is to provide clear recommendations for conducting and reporting ML-based science. Drawing from an extensive review of past literature, we present the REFORMS checklist (recommendations for machine-learning-based science). It consists of 32 questions and a paired set of guidelines. REFORMS was developed on the basis of a consensus of 19 researchers across computer science, data science, mathematics, social sciences, and biomedical sciences. REFORMS can serve as a resource for researchers when designing and implementing a study, for referees when reviewing papers, and for journals when enforcing standards for transparency and reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document provides abstracts from the Caribbean Urological Association 25th Annual International Conference, summarizing various medical studies and procedures conducted in Trinidad and Tobago. The studies cover a range of topics, including the clinical and pathological profile of prostate cancer patients, complications associated with prostate biopsies, the prevalence of ciprofloxacin resistant Escherichia coli in patients undergoing biopsies, genomic studies in men with prostate cancer, a men's health screening clinic, an analysis of bladder cancer, outcomes of robotic radical prostatectomy, and the impact of kidney stones on quality of life. The abstracts provide valuable insights into urological research and highlight the importance of effective treatment and care. [Extracted from the article]

This document is a collection of abstracts from the ANZ Journal of Surgery, focusing on various topics related to transplantation surgery. The abstracts provide information on the purpose, methodology, and results of each study, highlighting important findings and conclusions. Some of the topics covered include kidney transplantation outcomes, pancreas retransplantation, pancreatic transplants, skin cancer in liver transplant patients, normothermic machine perfusion, and pediatric en bloc renal transplantation. These abstracts can be a valuable resource for researchers and medical professionals interested in these specific areas of transplantation surgery. The abstracts include case reports and studies that explore different aspects of renal transplantation, such as the use of ex-vivo machine perfusion to assess organ viability, complications related to graft ureter in kidney transplantation, and the risk of severe infections in renal transplant patients. [Extracted from the article]

This document is a collection of abstracts and studies on various topics related to medical research and advancements. It covers topics such as clinical chemistry, laboratory medicine, nutrition science, personalized medicine, cancer research, cardiovascular disease, and pharmacogenomics. The abstracts and studies provide insights into ongoing research, challenges, and potential applications in these fields. The document emphasizes the importance of understanding genetic variations and biomarkers for personalized medicine and improving patient care. It also highlights the potential of using saliva as a non-invasive method for disease screening and diagnosis. [Extracted from the article]

This article reports on a rare case of pineoblastoma, a malignant tumor of the pineal gland, diagnosed through cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology in a 15-year-old girl. The CSF sample showed clusters of large round to oval tumor cells with granular cytoplasm and nuclear abnormalities. The diagnosis was confirmed through radiological imaging and immunocytochemistry. The article discusses the differential diagnosis and molecular characteristics of pineoblastoma, as well as the poor prognosis associated with distant metastasis. [Extracted from the article]

Objective(s): Sepsis poses a significant threat to human life, rendering it a burdensome medical disease. Despite significant advancements, the current state of medical science still lacks a viable and efficacious cure. Costunolide (COST) is a multifaceted sesquiterpene lactone that exhibits a range of actions, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. We investigated the potential impacts of COST on a rat sepsis model caused by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Materials and Methods: We created an experimental rat model with the following groups: SHAM, CLP, CLP+low dose COST, and CLP+high dose COST. Blood, kidney, and lung samples were collected. Inflammatory mediators such as interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- α), and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) were investigated. In addition, we assessed oxidative stress by measuring 8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) immunopositivity, MDA levels, glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations backed up our findings. Results: Compared to the CLP group, the COST group showed a reduction in inflammatory and oxidative stress indicators. The expression of inflammatory mediators was suppressed by COST, and histological examinations revealed improvements in kidney and lung tissues in the treatment groups. Conclusion: Our study highlights the preventive effects of COST against CLP-induced sepsis-related injury. Considering its beneficial effects against many diseases, COST is worthy as to be evaluated against sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is increasingly common to encounter prediction tasks in the biomedical sciences for which multiple datasets are available for model training. Common approaches such as pooling datasets before model fitting can produce poor out‐of‐study prediction performance when datasets are heterogeneous. Theoretical and applied work has shown multistudy ensembling to be a viable alternative that leverages the variability across datasets in a manner that promotes model generalizability. Multistudy ensembling uses a two‐stage stacking strategy which fits study‐specific models and estimates ensemble weights separately. This approach ignores, however, the ensemble properties at the model‐fitting stage, potentially resulting in performance losses. Motivated by challenges in the estimation of COVID‐attributable mortality, we propose optimal ensemble construction, an approach to multistudy stacking whereby we jointly estimate ensemble weights and parameters associated with study‐specific models. We prove that limiting cases of our approach yield existing methods such as multistudy stacking and pooling datasets before model fitting. We propose an efficient block coordinate descent algorithm to optimize the loss function. We use our method to perform multicountry COVID‐19 baseline mortality prediction. We show that when little data is available for a country before the onset of the pandemic, leveraging data from other countries can substantially improve prediction accuracy. We further compare and characterize the method's performance in data‐driven simulations and other numerical experiments. Our method remains competitive with or outperforms multistudy stacking and other earlier methods in the COVID‐19 data application and in a range of simulation settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum amplification enables the enhancement of weak signals and is of great importance for precision measurements, such as biomedical science and tests of fundamental symmetries. Here, we observe a previously unexplored magnetic amplification using dark noble-gas nuclear spins in the absence of pump light. Such dark spins exhibit remarkable coherence lasting up to 6 min and the resilience against the perturbations caused by overlapping alkali-metal gas. We demonstrate that the observed phenomenon, referred to as "dark spin amplification," significantly magnifies magnetic field signals by at least three orders of magnitude. As an immediate application, we showcase an ultrasensitive magnetometer capable of measuring subfemtotesla fields in a single 500-s measurement. Our approach is generic and can be applied to a wide range of noble-gas isotopes, and we discuss promising optimizations that could further improve the current signal amplification up to 104 with 21Ne, 105 with 129Xe, and 106 with 3He. This work unlocks opportunities in precision measurements, including searches for ultralight dark matter with sensitivity well beyond the supernova-observation constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses various scientific research findings in different fields. One study focuses on the mechanisms of leaf folding in response to dehydration in bamboo palm leaves, which could have implications for the design of soft machines. Another study explores an illusion related to retinal image magnification and object shape perception, providing evidence for a failure of cue combination in shape perception. A third study proposes a model for the chemistry of Europa's ocean, suggesting a mechanism for neutralizing reactive oxygen species without significant ocean mixing. The article also mentions a preclinical candidate drug for SARS-CoV-2 infection and a study on how gentrification affects mammal diversity in US cities. [Extracted from the article]

Plantar stress perception is highly desired in sports science and medical research, with the constraint of external power supply to impede the portability and flexibility in daily life. Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) opens a new avenue for self‐power sensing; however, a comprehensive sensing of normal and shear plantar stress remains elusive, let alone the further exploration from a mapping perspective. Here, a TENG‐based self‐powered sensing insole is developed for a comprehensive normal‐shear plantar stress mapping among four critical positions. At each position, four TENG units with single‐electrode‐mode triboelectrification are incorporated to decouple the normal and shear stress based on asymmetrical outputs. The insole exhibits excellent static characteristics for plantar stress measurement. Also, it can dynamically capture plantar stress variations to distinguish between different states during a standing long jump, enabling sports performance evaluation and rectification. Moreover, with the assistance of artificial intelligence in signal processing, different abnormal gaits can be precisely identified by the insole, highlighting the potential for disease diagnosis and rehabilitation. To the best of the knowledge, this work is the first demonstration of a self‐powered TENG insole with a comprehensive perception of normal and shear plantar stress perception, holding promise for applications in sports science and medical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evaluating moral principles in the Society of Medical Sciences and health care workers (HCWs) is imperative due to their direct contact with the community and the significant impact of their attitudes and decisions on people's lives. This study aimed to determine the components related to ethical decisions in medical sciences students. Methods: One thousand two hundred thirty-five eligible students in the Alborz University of Medical Sciences participated in this descriptive study. We gathered their socio-demographic information, assessed their moral reasoning, and used the ethical decisions questionnaire, Lutsen moral sensitivity questionnaire, and general health questionnaire (GHQ) for data gathering. The data were analyzed with SPSS software version 25 and LISREL version 8.8. Results: According to the path analysis test findings, ethical reasoning significantly correlated with ethical decision-making (B = 0.40). The number of clinical courses passed, moral sensation (moral sensitivity), and the total number of passed academic semesters had the greatest positive and negative association with ethical decision-making, respectively. (B = 0.54), (B = 0.524) and (B = -0.11). Conclusion: Based on the findings of the moral reasoning test, the moral sensation was associated with ethical decision-making, which indicates the necessity of attending to ethical aspects, promoting moral reasoning, sensitivity, and students' accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microheaters are used in several applications, including medical diagnostics, synthesis, environmental monitoring, and actuation. Conventional microheaters rely on thin-film electrodes microfabricated in a clean-room environment. However, low-cost alternatives based on conductive paste electrodes fabricated using printing techniques have started to emerge over the years. Here, we report a surprising effect that leads to significant electrode performance improvement as confirmed by the thorough characterization of bulk, processed, and conditioned samples. Mixing silver ink and PVA results in the solubilization of performance-hindering organic compounds. These compounds evaporate during heating cycles. The new electrodes, which reach a temperature of 80 °C within 5 min using a current of 7.0 A, display an overall 42% and 35% improvement in the mechanical (hardness) and electrical (resistivity) properties compared to pristine silver ink electrodes. To validate our results, we use the composite heater to amplify and detect parasite DNA from Trypanosoma brucei, associated with African sleeping sickness. Our LAMP test compares well with commercially available systems, confirming the excellent performance of our nanocomposite heaters. Since their fabrication relies on well-established techniques, we anticipate they will find use in a range of applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing use of inertial measurement units (IMU) in biomedical sciences brings new possibilities for clinical research. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the accuracy of the IMU-based wearable Syde® device, which allows day-long and remote continuous gait recording in comparison to a reference motion capture system. Twelve healthy subjects (age: 23.17 ± 2.04, height: 174.17 ± 6.46 cm) participated in a controlled environment data collection and performed a series of gait tasks with both systems attached to each ankle. A total of 2820 strides were analyzed. The results show a median absolute stride length error of 1.86 cm between the IMU-based wearable device reconstruction and the motion capture ground truth, with the 75th percentile at 3.24 cm. The median absolute stride horizontal velocity error was 1.56 cm/s, with the 75th percentile at 2.63 cm/s. With a measurement error to the reference system of less than 3 cm, we conclude that there is a valid physical recovery of stride length and horizontal velocity from data collected with the IMU-based wearable Syde® device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymers stand out as promising materials extensively employed in biomedicine and biotechnology. Their versatile applications owe much to the field of tissue engineering, which seamlessly integrates materials engineering with medical science. In medicine, biomaterials serve as prototypes for organ development and as implants or scaffolds to facilitate body regeneration. With the growing demand for innovative solutions, synthetic and hybrid polymer materials, such as polyethersulfone, are gaining traction. This article offers a concise characterization of polyethersulfone followed by an exploration of its diverse applications in medical and biotechnological realms. It concludes by summarizing the significant roles of polyethersulfone in advancing both medicine and biotechnology, as outlined in the accompanying table. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrashort pulses, characterized by their short pulse duration, diverse spectral content, and high peak power, are widely used in fields including laser processing, optical storage, biomedical sciences, and laser imaging. The complex, highly-nonlinear process of ultrashort pulse evolution within fiber lasers is influenced by numerous aspects such as dispersion, loss, gain, and nonlinear effects. Traditionally, the split-step Fourier transforms method is employed for simulating ultrashort pulses in fiber lasers, which involves traversing multiple parameters within the fiber to attain the pulse's optimal state. The simulation is a significantly time-consuming process. Here, we use a neural network model to fit and predict the impact of multiple parameters on the pulse characteristics within fiber lasers, enabling parameter optimization through genetic algorithms to determine the optimal pulse duration, pulse energy, and peak power. Integrating artificial intelligence algorithms simplifies the acquisition of optimal pulse parameters and enhances our understanding of multiple parameters' impact on the pulse characteristics. The investigation of ultrashort pulse optimization based on artificial intelligence holds immense potential for laser design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document provides a summary of various studies related to cardiovascular diseases. The first study explores the potential of targeting lipolysis in white adipose tissue (WAT) to improve diastolic dysfunction in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The second study investigates a new mouse model for arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy caused by filamin C haploinsufficiency. The third study examines the role of miR-721 in autoimmune myocarditis and its potential as a therapeutic target. These studies contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms and potential treatments for these cardiovascular conditions. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the training approach strategies implemented by the Enterprise Medical Imaging Platform (EMIP) Training Team to counter staff avoidance behaviors during the implementation of a new medical imaging system in Western Australian hospitals. The introduction of the new system impacted over 5000 staff members, and it was crucial to ensure their engagement and understanding of the new applications. By incorporating various strategies and addressing observed behaviors, the training program was successful in preparing the workforce for the system implementation. The training was well received, with high compliance and satisfaction rates, and staff performance in the new system was effective without any related incidents or disruptions. [Extracted from the article]

This document contains summaries of various research studies conducted in Australia and New Zealand. The studies cover a wide range of topics, including preterm birth, maternal health, neonatal care, and child development. The findings provide valuable insights into these areas and can inform future research and clinical practice. The studies highlight the importance of early detection and specialized monitoring for preterm infants, as well as the need for improved maternity care and support for caregivers. Additionally, the document discusses the impact of factors such as betel nut consumption during pregnancy and COVID-19 restrictions on pregnancy outcomes. Overall, these studies contribute to our understanding of maternal and perinatal health and provide valuable information for healthcare professionals and researchers. [Extracted from the article]

The first article discusses the development of a toolkit to support non-Indigenous healthcare professionals in providing culturally secure stillbirth prevention care to Indigenous women in Australia. The second article examines the growth patterns of preterm infants compared to full-term infants when using a standardized feeding protocol. The third article explores shared decision-making in maternity care in Saudi Arabia. The fourth article investigates women's preferences for mode of birth in relation to their future fertility plans. The fifth article examines predictors of neonatal hypoglycemia in infants of mothers with gestational diabetes. The sixth article assesses the long-term outcomes of infants with congenital gastrointestinal surgical conditions who received probiotic supplementation. The seventh article reviews the risk of developing diabetic and hypertensive disorders following early pregnancy loss. The eighth article discusses various research studies related to pregnancy and childbirth, including the impact of early pregnancy loss on gestational diabetes and weaning preterm infants from non-invasive ventilation. The ninth article focuses on the prevalence of maternal obesity in Victoria. The tenth article explores barriers and enablers to antenatal care attendance for pregnant women in a socio-economically disadvantaged area. The eleventh article discusses the development of an interview schedule to gather information from parents about stillbirth. The twelfth article presents a project in Australia that co-designs stillbirth awareness and prevention resources with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The thirteenth article examines the long-term effects of neonatal hypoglycemia on neurocognitive function in school-aged [Extracted from the article]

This document contains summaries of various research articles related to maternal and child health. The first article emphasizes the need for individualized and culturally appropriate education and support for breastfeeding women in diverse populations. The second article focuses on developing interventions to address adverse pregnancy outcomes related to the gut microbiome. The third article highlights the impact of maternal substance use disorders on Aboriginal children and the need for culturally safe screening and support. The fourth article discusses the experiences of South and Southeast Asian migrant caregivers and suggests changes to address health inequities. The fifth article analyzes the effects of physical activity and diet-based interventions during pregnancy on gestational diabetes. The final article evaluates the implementation of a program to reduce the risk of stillbirth in Australian maternity settings. Overall, these studies provide valuable insights into various aspects of maternal and child health and emphasize the importance of tailored support and interventions. [Extracted from the article]

This document is a collection of abstracts from the Journal of Parkinson's Disease. The abstracts cover a range of topics related to Parkinson's disease research. One abstract discusses a trial design forum focused on preventing Parkinson's disease, while another explores a pilot trial using a smartphone app to increase physical activity in people with Parkinson's. Other abstracts examine clinical outcomes in carriers of a specific gene mutation, the association between prodromal Parkinson's features and the risk of developing the disease, and the need for innovative clinical trial designs. The document also discusses the diagnostic accuracy of a skin seed amplification assay for detecting alpha-synuclein aggregates, the importance of diverse participants in clinical studies, the association between B12 levels and gene variants in Parkinson's, the use of wearable devices to track symptoms, and the impact of placebo response on trial characteristics. The document emphasizes the importance of regulatory science and global collaborations in advancing Parkinson's research. Another set of articles in the document focuses on different aspects of Parkinson's research, including biological staging, underrepresentation of minorities in clinical trials, plasma biomarkers for detecting Alzheimer's disease, and REM sleep architecture as a potential biomarker for Parkinson's progression. These articles provide valuable insights into Parkinson's research and highlight the need for diverse representation and innovative biomarkers in understanding and treating the disease. [Extracted from the article]

This article presents a case study of a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who developed rice body formation in the wrist. Rice body formation is a non-specific inflammatory process characterized by small, rice-like structures in the joints. The understanding of this phenomenon is limited to individual case reports, and there is a lack of accurate data on its prevalence and impact. The case study aims to contribute to the understanding of rice body formation in autoimmune diseases and provide insights for rheumatologists. The article discusses the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of the patient, as well as the relationship between rice body formation and SLE. Further research is needed in this area. [Extracted from the article]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the world's second most common gastrointestinal malignancy. Preventing tumor cell proliferation and dissemination is critical for patient survival. Polyphenols have a variety of health advantages and can help prevent cancer. The current study examined different cellular activities of the gut‐microbiota metabolite urolithin A (UA) on several colon cancer cell lines. The results revealed that UA suppressed cell growth in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. In the current investigation, UA substantially affected cell migration in the wound‐healing experiment and greatly decreased the number of colonies generated in each CRC cell culture. UA decreased cellular migration in CRC cells 48 h after treatment, which was significant (p <.001) compared to the migration rate in untreated cells. When compared to untreated cells, UA slowed the process of colony formation by reducing the number of colonies or altering their morphological shape. The western blot analysis investigation revealed that UA inhibits cellular metastasis by lowering the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 2 (MMP1 and MMP2) by more than 43% and 41% (p <.001) in HT29, 28% and 149% (p <.001) in SW480, and 90% and 74% (p <.001) in SW620, respectively, at a 100 µM dosage of UA compared to the control. Surprisingly, at a 100 µM dosage of UA, the expression levels of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP1) were elevated in HT29, SW480, and SW620 cells treated with 100 µM of UA by more than 89%, 57%, and 29%, respectively. Our findings imply that UA has anticancer properties and might be used therapeutically to treat CRC. The findings provided the first indication of the influence of UA on cellular migration and metastasis in colon cancer cells. All of these data showed that UA might be used as an adjuvant therapy in the treatment of various forms of CRC. Significance statement: The current study included novel findings on the cellular activities of urolithin A, a gut microbiota metabolite, against different cell lines of colorectal cancer. The study is the first to investigate its effect on the expression of matrix metalloproteinases MMP1 and MMP2. The study demonstrated the inhibitory properties of urolithin A against clonogenic efficacy and cellular invasion, which affect the transition to metastasis. From our point of view, that might be suitable for publication in the journal as it discussed the anticancer activities of one of the promising natural products against the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis functions of cancer cells. This might add some benefits to the fields of basic science, applied science, medical sciences, and pharmaceutical sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the molecular characteristics and immune microenvironments of secondary radiation-exposed rectal cancers (SRCs) compared to primary rectal cancers (PRCs). The study used single-cell transcriptomic sequencing to analyze the cell type-specific profiles of 18 SRCs and identified distinct differences in copy number variation and immune cell composition between SRCs and PRCs. The findings suggest that oncogene amplification and the activation of Treg cells may promote the progression of SRCs, while the emergence of neutrophils and activation of macrophages contribute to the immune microenvironment of SRCs. The study provides valuable insights into the tumorigenesis of SRCs and potential therapeutic strategies. [Extracted from the article]

This article presents a case study of an older patient who experienced a rapidly progressive neuropsychiatric syndrome. The patient exhibited symptoms such as apathy, social withdrawal, and anorexia, along with mild memory problems. Autopsy findings revealed the presence of argyrophilic grain disease (AGD), limbic TDP-43 proteinopathy, primary age-related tauopathy (PART), and aging-related tau astrogliopathy (ARTAG). The article highlights the complexity of diagnosing and understanding neurodegenerative pathologies in older individuals, where mixed pathologies are common. The case demonstrates the need for further research and diagnostic tools to accurately identify and treat these conditions. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Acromial apophysitis is a traction apophysitis caused by repetitive stress to the distal acromion. Although it is a common non-traumatic cause of shoulder pain in adolescence, data is scarce in the literature. There is a need for a better understanding of acromial apophysitis regarding its cause, diagnosis and management. Aim: To determine the cause, clinical features, radiological findings, management, and outcome of the patients diagnosed with acromial apophysitis. Materials and Methods: A longitudinal descriptive study was carried out at Jaipur National University Institute for Medical Sciences and Research Centre (JNUIMSRC), Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, from August 2018 to August 2022. A total of 30 patients aged 10-20 years with shoulder pain, diagnosed with acromial apophysitis based on history, clinical, and radiological examination, were included in the study. The treatment given, duration of disease, and outcome were noted. Descriptive statistics were performed using Microsoft Office Excel. Results: Out of 30 patients diagnosed with acromial apophysitis, 24 (80%) were male, and 6 (20%) were female, with a mean age of 13.47 (range 10-18) years. The cause was repetitive microtrauma following chronic overuse during athletic and sports activities in 24 patients (80%). Among these patients, 13 played cricket, three played basketball, three played volleyball, two did weightlifting, one was a wrestler, one was a tennis player, and one was a judo player. Six patients (20%) did not give a history of playing any kind of sports. All patients had anterior shoulder pain with tenderness at the antero-lateral acromion. Radiographs showed fragmentation, sclerosis, and irregularity of the acromial apophysis. Conservative treatment included rest and restriction of sporting activities. The duration for the analgesics taken by patients was 8.9 days (range 3-21). The duration from the onset of symptoms to recovery was 5.8±1.61 weeks. None of the patients showed a recurrence of symptoms after complete recovery. Conclusion: Acromial apophysitis is a common cause of shoulder pain in paediatric and adolescent age. It occurs due to repeated overhead abduction, overuse, and throwing activities, mostly in sports persons. It is diagnosed clinically and confirmed with plain radiographs. It is a self-limiting disease with a short benign course. It is treated conservatively with rest and analgesics and has an excellent outcome. This diagnosis should be kept in mind for shoulder pain in young patients to prevent undue investigations and surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Droplet manipulation with high efficiency, high flexibility, and programmability, is essential for various applications in biomedical sciences and engineering. Bioinspired liquid‐infused slippery surfaces (LIS), with exceptional interfacial properties, have led to expanding research for droplet manipulation. In this review, an overview of actuation principles is presented to illustrate how materials or systems can be designed for droplet manipulation on LIS. Recent progress on new manipulation methods on LIS is also summarized and their prospective applications in anti‐biofouling and pathogen control, biosensing, and the development of digital microfluidics are presented. Finally, an outlook is made on the key challenges and opportunities for droplet manipulation on LIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In this era of laparoscopic surgery, with the use of carbon dioxide insufflation in creating pneumoperitoneum for ease of trocar insertion and visualization of anatomy, it comes certain systemic changes in the patient due to the compression effect of the gas as well as resorption of it through peritoneum. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess baseline standards of hepatic and renal functional status in pre-operative patients in comparison with post-operative patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Materials and Methods: Cases were chosen among the persons who presented with chronic calculus cholecystitis to the surgical out-patient department of Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan, Vivekananda Institute of Medical Sciences, Kolkata. Pre-operative liver function tests (LFT) and renal function tests (RFT) values were recorded. Again, LFT and RFT values were evaluated on post-operative day 1 (POD1) and POD12. Results: Serum conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin, aspartate amino transaminase, alanine amino transaminase, urea, estimated glomerular filtration rate values increases immediate postoperatively on POD1 but returns to normal pre-operative levels on POD 12. Serum alkaline phosphatase, albumin, and creatinine values decrease on POD1 and return to normal pre-operative values in POD 12. Conclusion: Hepatic and renal function changes in the immediate post-operative period of 24 h following LC. This change is transient and returns to normal levels within POD 12. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common metabolic disorder affecting insulin secretion, insulin sensitivity, or both, resulting in hyperglycemia. As it progresses, almost all systems including cardiovascular, nervous, renal, etc. are involved eventually manifesting as several health-related complications. As all the systems of the human body work in harmony with each other, development of insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and setting in of chronic inflammatory states evidenced by the rise in inflammatory markers are interrelated. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to establish the correlation of the inflammatory markers, serum ferritin and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and dyslipidemia in patients of type 2 DM. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand. A total of 80 male patients of type 2 DM aged between 40 and 60 years with blood HbA1c level of more than 6.5% were included in the study. Results: The inflammatory markers hs-CRP and ferritin were found to be positively correlated with HbA1c, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol but negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. Conclusion: Estimation of serum ferritin and hs-CRP can detect the ongoing inflammatory and free radical-mediated damages in diabetic patients at an early period before the development of diabetic-related complications such as atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the potential utility of ChatGPT, a generative pretrained transformer tool, in the field of drug development. It highlights the challenges faced by biomedical researchers in filtering out false or irrelevant information when using AI tools like ChatGPT. The article suggests that incorporating reliable biomedical data resources, such as those provided by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), could improve the value of GPT-based AI tools for drug development research. The strengths and limitations of ChatGPT in providing information relevant to drug development are also discussed. The article concludes by emphasizing the need for developers to improve GPT-based tools and for the pharmaceutical R&D sector to identify optimal ways of utilizing them. [Extracted from the article]

The role of visit-to-visit variability of a biomarker in predicting related disease has been recognized in medical science. Existing measures of biological variability are criticized for being entangled with random variability resulted from measurement error or being unreliable due to limited measurements per individual. In this article, we propose a new measure to quantify the biological variability of a biomarker by evaluating the fluctuation of each individual-specific trajectory behind longitudinal measurements. Given a mixed-effects model for longitudinal data with the mean function over time specified by cubic splines, our proposed variability measure can be mathematically expressed as a quadratic form of random effects. A Cox model is assumed for time-to-event data by incorporating the defined variability as well as the current level of the underlying longitudinal trajectory as covariates, which, together with the longitudinal model, constitutes the joint modeling framework in this article. Asymptotic properties of maximum likelihood estimators are established for the present joint model. Estimation is implemented via an Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm with fully exponential Laplace approximation used in E-step to reduce the computation burden due to the increase of the random effects dimension. Simulation studies are conducted to reveal the advantage of the proposed method over the two-stage method, as well as a simpler joint modeling approach which does not take into account biomarker variability. Finally, we apply our model to investigate the effect of systolic blood pressure variability on cardiovascular events in the Medical Research Council elderly trial, which is also the motivating example for this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article critically examines the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act 2021, its development process spanning 15 years, and its potential shortcomings in addressing the needs of India's 27 million infertile couples. By scrutinizing the recommendations presented in the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare's 129th report, the critique argues that the Act may not effectively cater to the diverse reproductive rights of the population. The article claims that most of its suggestions are in opposition to redefining families and accepting inclusive family structures other than heterosexual marriages. The study posits that the Act, with its inherent limitations, perpetuates the reinforcement of patriarchal family structures that medical science intends to disrupt. In order to foster inclusivity and comprehensibility, the article advocates for necessary amendments that align with the interest of the general populace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African science has substantial potential, yet it grapples with significant challenges. Here we describe the establishment of the Biomedical Science Research and Training Centre (BioRTC) in Yobe State, Northeast Nigeria, as a case study of a hub fostering on‐continent research and describe strategies to overcome current barriers. We detail the steps taken to establish BioRTC, emphasising the critical importance of stakeholder engagement, community involvement, resource optimisation and collaborations. With its state‐of‐the‐art facilities and commitment to training African scientists, BioRTC is poised to significantly advance neuroscience research and training in the region. Although we are in the early stages of our journey, our model, emphasizing open access and inclusivity, offers a replicable blueprint for neuroscience research development in similar resource‐limited settings, promising to enrich the global neuroscience community. We invite the support and collaboration of those who share our vision and believe in our potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the surgical result and efficacy of different methods of mastoid obliteration with cavity care. This prospective study included 60 patients who had cholesteatoma, conducted in the Department of Ear Nose and Throat (ENT), Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi from July 2015 to July 2017. The mastoid cavity was obliterated with either muscle flap/bone dust/hydroxyapatite. detailed history otoscopic examination was done pre-operatively and follow up were recorded at 1 month and 3 months in postoperative period. 60 patients were included, who underwent canal wall down mastoid surgery. each group muscle flap (group 1), bone dust (group 2) and hydroxyapatite (group 3) included 20 patients, age group 31–40 year with its maximum incidence of 43.3%, Preop PTA value were almost equal in all group but on comparison at 1 month in postoperative period significant improvement was present in group 1 versus 2(0.021) and group 2 versus 3(0.003) but not in group 1 versus 3. Although at 3 month there were significant improvement was present in all groups. The incidence of pain, discharge, giddiness and wax formation were markedly reduced and healing of cavities was early and better in obliterated cavities done by muscle flap and bone dust material as compared to hydroxyapatite cavities, at the end of 3 months. outcome and quality of life was better and almost equal in muscle flap and bone dust material group as compared to hydroxyapatite group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated changes in educational strategy, including modification of assessments. Students in the Master of Biomedical Sciences (MBS) program at Duke University School of Medicine are required to take a course entitled Organ Systems (OS), which includes organ histology. In pre-pandemic circumstances, cumulative histology knowledge was assessed in the form of a practical exam. This year we used the UnEssay Project in lieu of the practical exam to assess student competency in organ system histology. Students worked within their team-based learning (TBL) teams and submitted unique UnEssay projects in a variety of formats. Notable examples of submitted projects include: a histological poetry slam, a histological travel guide, a TikTok histology tutorial, and histology Jeopardy. Student feedback on the project was overwhelmingly positive and each team met the main project objectives. We utilised the UnEssay Project as a means to assess student knowledge and competency in identification of histological features and organs. We applied this project format as a means for assessment, but believe that other applications within basic science education, including graduate courses, would be equally as successful. Based on positive student feedback, we plan to use the UnEssay Project again in the 2021–2022 academic year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a study comparing the use of two different types of stents, the Hot-Axios stent and the Spaxus stent, for the treatment of pancreatic and peripancreatic fluid collections. The study found that the Spaxus stent had a lower risk of bleeding compared to the Hot-Axios stent. Both stents had similar rates of technical and clinical success. However, the study acknowledges the need for further research and a randomized controlled trial to determine the best treatment option. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Stress measurement for thin films is crucial in a variety of fields such as in semiconductor manufacturing, the optoelectronics industry, and biomedical science, among others. However, most measurement methods require surface treatment of the thin film. Objective: A label-free measurement method for plane stress states in optical isotropic thin films based on spectroscopic ellipsometry analysis is proposed and verified in this paper. Methods: The proposed method is based on the modulation of the stress-optic effect on reflected spectroscopic ellipsometry. A theoretical model is established to describe the relation between all components of the plane-stress state and the classic ellipsometric parameters (Ψ, Δ). An algorithm is developed to determine all components of a plane-stress state by fitting the model to the experiment data. Results: In the verification experiment, we determined the plane stress state of a Cu film coated on a PI (polyimide) substrate. The results show a reasonable agreement between the experimental measurements from spectroscopic ellipsometry and the theoretical analysis based on the applied loading. Conclusion: The results prove that our method can effectively measure the plane stress state of optical isotropic thin films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the potential effects of environmental nanoparticles on placental tissues and fetal development. The focus is on two types of nanoparticles: black carbon and nanoplastics. The article explains that these nanoparticles can penetrate intercellular barriers and be ingested by cells. It also highlights the need for research to understand the placental transfer of nanoparticles and their impact on placental function and fetal development. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of well-controlled epidemiological and experimental studies to determine the effects of nanoparticles on pregnancy outcomes. [Extracted from the article]

A highly miniaturized miniaturised meander-shaped implantable antenna is proposed for biomedical applications. The antenna has a volume of 12.29 mm3 and is designed with slots only. Using only slots on patch and ground surface, the fabrication of proposed implantable antenna is quite effortless unlike using techniques of sorting pin, metamaterial, and multiple patch stacking. The analysis shows that the proposed antenna has excellent impedance bandwidth of 140 MHz (2.39 GHz to 2.53 GHz) with resonating frequency of 2.41 GHz, circular polarisation with an axial ratio bandwidth of 80 MHz (2.45 GHz to 2.53 GHz), gain of −23.45 dB, acceptable SAR 901 W/KG in industrial, science and medical band (ISM). The detail parametric study of the designed antenna with substrate/superstrate materials, different human body tissues, different depth of penetration in human tissues, and thickness of substrate/superstrate have been analysed successfully. For the authenticity purpose, the results are correlated with the prepared skin mimicking gel (saline solution) in vitro model. The fabricated antenna indicates similar performance as provided by the proposed simulated antenna design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compressed Sensing (CS) encompasses a broad array of theoretical and applied techniques for recovering signals, given partial knowledge of their coefficients, cf. Candés (C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 346, 589–592 (2008)), Candés et al. (IEEE Trans. Inf. Theo (2006)), Donoho (IEEE Trans. Inf. Theo. 52(4), (2006)), Donoho et al. (IEEE Trans. Inf. Theo. 52(1), (2006)). Its applications span various fields, including mathematics, physics, engineering, and several medical sciences, cf. Adcock and Hansen (Compressive Imaging: Structure, Sampling, Learning, p. 2021), Berk et al. (2019 13th International conference on Sampling Theory and Applications (SampTA) pp. 1-5. IEEE (2019)), Brady et al. (Opt. Express 17(15), 13040–13049 (2009)), Chan (Terahertz imaging with compressive sensing. Rice University, USA (2010)), Correa et al. (2014 IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing (ICASSP) pp. 7789–7793 (2014, May) IEEE), Gao et al. (Nature 516(7529), 74–77 (2014)), Liu and Kang (Opt. Express 18(21), 22010–22019 (2010)), McEwen and Wiaux (Mon. Notices Royal Astron. Soc. 413(2), 1318–1332 (2011)), Marim et al. (Opt. Lett. 35(6), 871–873 (2010)), Yu and Wang (Phys. Med. Biol. 54(9), 2791 (2009)), Yu and Wang (Phys. Med. Biol. 54(9), 2791 (2009)). Motivated by our interest in the mathematics behind Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and CS, we employ convex analysis techniques to analytically determine equivalents of Lagrange multipliers for optimization problems with inequality constraints, specifically a weighted LASSO with voxel-wise weighting. We investigate this problem under assumptions on the fidelity term A x - b 2 2 , either concerning the sign of its gradient or orthogonality-like conditions of its matrix. To be more precise, we either require the sign of each coordinate of 2 (A x - b) T A to be fixed within a rectangular neighborhood of the origin, with the side lengths of the rectangle dependent on the constraints, or we assume A T A to be diagonal. The objective of this work is to explore the relationship between Lagrange multipliers and the constraints of a weighted variant of LASSO, specifically in the mentioned cases where this relationship can be computed explicitly. As they scale the regularization terms of the weighted LASSO, Lagrange multipliers serve as tuning parameters for the weighted LASSO, prompting the question of their potential effective use as tuning parameters in applications like MR image reconstruction and denoising. This work represents an initial step in this direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ayurveda – a traditional Indian medicinal (TIM) practice advocates a lifestyle regimen utilizing natural products to cure complex ailments. The famous Ayurveda classics, viz. Charak Samhita, Ashtanga Hridayam and Sushruta Samhita, elaborate on various plant and animal products, in which the descriptions are narrated in Sanskrit and often signified through a metaphor. The particulars are empirical and usually lack experimental evidence. Its efficacy needs to be ensured towards the gold standard of biomedical sciences. Indeed, an ordered catalogue on a natural product is quintessential to designing the validation strategies for TIM. We obtained evidence on 60 natural products with a mentioned history in Ayurveda. For this, we manually curated a list of natural products-derived molecules (NDMs). Next, they were sorted into universally accepted chemical identifiers and processed into SDF formats. The 1004 gene targets were identified for 636 NDMs through molecular and reverse docking studies. Subsequently, the functional annotation of differentially expressed genes using KEGG pathways and Gene Ontology analysis unravelled the role of the scrutinized ligands on cell functions. AYUsearch (database) is an attempt to redefine the information embedded in Ayurveda, where the biological role of natural chemical products is decoded through network pharmacology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer metastasis, the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, remains a complex challenge in medical science. Stephen Paget's "seed and soil theory" introduced the concept of organotropism, suggesting that metastatic success depends on specific organ microenvironments. Understanding organotropism not only offers potential for curbing metastasis but also novel treatment strategies. Microphysiological systems (MPS), especially organ-on-a-chip models, have emerged as transformative tools in this quest. These systems, blending microfluidics, biology, and engineering, grant precise control over cell interactions within organ-specific microenvironments. MPS enable real-time monitoring, morphological analysis, and protein quantification, enhancing our comprehension of cancer dynamics, including tumor migration, vascularization, and pre-metastatic niches. In this review, we explore innovative applications of MPS in investigating cancer metastasis, particularly focusing on organotropism. This interdisciplinary approach converges the field of science, engineering, and medicine, thereby illuminating a path toward groundbreaking discoveries in cancer research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a letter that discusses the spectrum of heart defects in the TRAF7-related multiple congenital anomalies-intellectual disability syndrome. The authors present 21 new patients with the syndrome and refine the frequencies of cardiac defects associated with it. They disagree with some arguments made in a previous study regarding the pathogenicity of certain TRAF7 variants. The authors also provide additional information on the clinical features of the new cohort and acknowledge the support received for their research. The information in the document is based on diagnostic testing and genetic analysis of the patients. [Extracted from the article]

Many successful researchers in the biomedical sciences have benefitted from mentors and networks earlier in their career. However, early-career researchers from minoritized and underrepresented groups do not have the same access to potential mentors and networks as many of their peers. In this article we describe how ‘cold emails’ and social media platforms – notably Twitter/X and LinkedIn – can be used to build virtual networks, and stress the need to invest in maintaining networks once they have been established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a list of resources and reagents used in various research studies related to cancer biology. It includes information about antibodies, cell lines, chemicals, kits, and genes that were utilized in these studies. The purpose of this list is to provide researchers with a comprehensive reference for the materials and methods used in these experiments. [Extracted from the article]