A novel hybrid ViT-LSTM model with explainable AI for brain stroke detection and classification in CT images: A case study of Rajshahi region.

Computed tomography (CT) scans play a key role in the diagnosis of stroke, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. However, interpreting these scans is often challenging, necessitating automated solutions for timely and accurate diagnosis. This research proposed a novel hybrid model that integrates a Vision Transformer (ViT) and a Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) to accurately detect and classify stroke characteristics using CT images.

Understanding private equity-owned HHAs in the U.S.: A performance comparison between pe-owned and non-pe-owned agencies.

Background: Private equity (PE) ownership in the healthcare sector has increased, raising concerns about its impact on care quality and patient outcomes. In the U.S.

Reproductive and Hormonal Factors and Thyroid Cancer Risk: Pooled Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies in the Asia Cohort Consortium.

Given the female predominance of thyroid cancer (TC), particularly in the reproductive age range, female sex hormones have been proposed as an aetiology; however, previous epidemiological studies have shown conflicting results. We conducted a pooled analysis using individual data from 9 prospective cohorts in the Asia Cohort Consortium, to explore the association between 10 female reproductive and hormonal factors and TC risk. Using Cox proportional hazards models, cohort-specific hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated and then pooled using a random-effects model.

Clinical efficacy of electrosurgery and steel scalpel surgery for umbilical herniorrhaphy in bovine calves: A comparative analysis.

Electrosurgery (ES) offers a promising alternative to conventional steel scalpel surgery (SSS), providing superior hemorrhage control and efficient tissue dissection with minimal invasiveness. Given the limited literature, this study aims to compare the clinical efficacy of ES with that of SSS in bovine umbilical herniorrhaphy. Fourteen crossbred male calves with reducible umbilical hernias, aged less than one month and weighing 25-47 kg, were randomly assigned to two experimental groups: group A (ES) and group B (SSS), each containing seven calves.

An overview of BAP1 biological functions and current therapeutics.

BRCA1-associated protein 1 (BAP1) is a tumor suppressor gene that was first identified in 1998. Germline loss-of-function variants in BAP1 are associated with a tumor predisposition syndrome with at least four cancers: uveal melanoma (UM), malignant mesothelioma (MMe), renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and cutaneous melanoma (CM). Furthermore, somatic BAP1 mutations are important drivers for several cancers most notably UM, MMe, RCC, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) mediates nicotine-induced podocyte injury.

Introduction: Cigarette smoking is a well-established risk factor for renal dysfunction. Smoking associated with renal damage bears distinct physiological correlations in conditions such as diabetic nephropathy and obesity-induced glomerulopathy. However, the cellular and molecular basis of such an association remains poorly understood.

Designing a multi-epitope vaccine candidate against human rhinovirus C utilizing immunoinformatics approach.

Human rhinovirus C (HRV-C) is a significant contributor to respiratory tract infections in children and is implicated in asthma exacerbations across all age groups. Despite its impact, there is currently no licensed vaccine available for HRV-C. Here, we present a novel approach to address this gap by employing immunoinformatics techniques for the design of a multi-epitope-based vaccine against HRV-C.

Potential renoprotective effects and possible underlying mechanisms of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors in cardiorenal syndrome.

Angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs) represent a novel class of medications characterized by their dual action on major cardiorenal regulators, specifically the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and the natriuretic peptide (NP) system. Sacubitril/valsartan, a pioneering ARNI, has demonstrated strong antihypertensive effect as well as superior efficacy in preserving renal function compared to RAS inhibitors in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction. Here, we gathered evidence on the impact of sacubitril/valsartan on the preservation of kidney function in patients with cardiorenal syndrome (CRS).

Unveiling the emerging concern of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and their potential impacts on estuarine ecosystems.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become ubiquitous chemicals that pose potentially serious threats to both human health and the integrity of the ecosystem. This review compiles current knowledge on PFAS contamination in estuaries, focusing on sources, abundance, distribution, fate, and toxic mechanisms. It also addresses the health risks associated with these compounds and identifies research gaps, offering recommendations for future studies.

Hexagonal Hollow Core PCF-Based Blood Components Sensing: Design and Simulation.

Blood components play a crucial role in maintaining human health and accurately detecting them is essential for medical diagnostics. A cutting-edge sensor utilizing PCF revealed to precisely identify a wide range of blood components with WBCs (white blood cells), RBCs (red blood cells), HB (hemoglobin), platelets, and plasma. A numerical analysis was performed using COMSOL Multiphysics software to assess the capabilities of the sensor.

Adenocarpine, Marmesin, and Lycocernuine from Ficus benjamina as Promising Inhibitors of Aldose Reductase in Diabetes: A Bioinformatics-Guided Approach.

Diabetes affects approximately 422 million people worldwide, leading to 1.5 million deaths annually and causing severe complications such as kidney failure, neuropathy, and cardiovascular disease. Aldose reductase (AR), a key enzyme in the polyol pathway, is an important therapeutic target for managing these complications.

Barriers and enablers in the micronutrient powder supply chain: lessons from a process evaluation of a home fortification programme in Bangladesh.

Background: Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC), a leading non-governmental organization (NGO), implemented a large-scale Home Fortification (HF) with Micronutrient Powder (MNP) programme from 2013 to 2018 aimed to reduce undernutrition and iron deficiency anemia among children aged below 5 years old. An adequate and timely supply of MNP was crucial for successful implementation of the programme, but very few studies have documented implementers' MNP supply chain experiences. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the barriers and enablers in the MNP supply chain in Bangladesh.

Detection of multidrug-resistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from healthy black Bengal goat in Bangladesh.

Introduction: The emergence of livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) is a growing public health concern. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and multi-drug resistant (MDR) profiles of MRSA in goats in Bangladesh.

Methodology: A total of 150 samples from goats comprised of rectal swab (n = 50), nasal swab (n = 50), and milk (n = 50) were collected.

Optimization of Polymers for Organic Solar Cells: Effects of Alkyl, Fluorinated and Thiophenated Chains.

This paper explores optimization strategies for polymeric materials in organic solar cells (OSCs) with the focus on varying alkyl side chain, addition of fluorine atom, and thiophenated derivatives onto polymer. As such, it outlines the significance of renewable energy sources and the potential of photovoltaic technologies, particularly organic photovoltaics (OPVs). Objectives include factors affecting power conversion efficiency (PCE), open-circuit voltage (Voc), aggregation tendencies, and optoelectronic properties in OPVs.

Recent advances in the tools and techniques for AI-aided diagnosis of atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is recognized as a developing global epidemic responsible for a significant burden of morbidity and mortality. To counter this public health crisis, the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI)-aided tools and methodologies for the effective detection and monitoring of AF is becoming increasingly apparent. A unified strategy from the international research community is essential to develop effective intelligent tools and technologies to support the health professionals for effective surveillance and defense against AF.

A Sustainable Approach for the Development of Cellulose-Based Food Container from Coconut Coir.

The increasing demand for sustainable resources has revived the research on cellulose over the last decades. Therefore, the current research focused on the synthesis of biopolymers for the development of viable tableware utensils from cellulose of coconut coir. The synthesized biopolymer was characterized by using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), tensile strength, and contact angle.

Proteomic analysis reveals the roles of silicon in mitigating glyphosate-induced toxicity in Brassica napus L.

Glyphosate (Gly) is a widely used herbicide for weed control in agriculture, but it can also adversely affect crops by impairing growth, reducing yield, and disrupting nutrient uptake, while inducing toxicity. Therefore, adopting integrated eco-friendly approaches and understanding the mechanisms of glyphosate tolerance in plants is crucial, as these areas remain underexplored. This study provides proteome insights into Si-mediated improvement of Gly-toxicity tolerance in Brassica napus.

Residual-attention deep learning model for atrial fibrillation detection from Holter recordings.

Background: Detecting subtle patterns of atrial fibrillation (AF) and irregularities in Holter recordings is intricate and unscalable if done manually. Artificial intelligence-based techniques can be beneficial. In fact, with the rapid advancement of AI, deep learning (DL) demonstrated the capability to identify AF from ECGs with significant performance.

Phase transitions and morphology control of Langmuir Blodget (LB) films of graphene oxide.

Hypothesis: Understanding the Langmuir film formation process of flexible and soft materials like graphene oxide (GO) is essential, as it shows different trends compared to the conventional surface pressure-area (π-A) and compressional modulus (ε) isotherms of hard materials. Additionally, the size distribution and mechanical properties of the GO are assumed to affect the distinctive Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) film morphologies, such as overlaps and wrinkles.

Experiment: To gain a deeper insights of phase transitions in GO LB films, we propose a novel analysis of elastic tensile modulus versus surface pressure (|ε|-π) isotherms.

First evidence of transovarial transmission of Kyasanur Forest disease virus in Haemaphysalis and Rhipicephalus ticks in the wild.

Background: Kyasanur forest disease virus (KFDV) is a tick-borne flavivirus causing debilitating and potentially fatal disease in people in the Western Ghats region of India. The transmission cycle is complex, involving multiple vector and host species, but there are significant gaps in ecological knowledge. Empirical data on pathogen-vector-host interactions and incrimination have not been updated since the last century, despite significant local changes in land use and the expansion of KFD to new areas.

Antibiotic resistance gene levels within a highly urbanised estuary.

Antibiotic resistant bacteria are increasingly being found in aquatic environments, representing a potential threat to public health. To examine the dynamics and potential sources of antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) in urbanised waterways, we performed a six-month temporal study at six locations within the Sydney Harbour estuary. These locations spanned a salinity gradient from seawater at the mouth of the harbour to freshwater at the more urbanised western sites.

Association of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors With Estimated Dietary Salt Consumption in Bangladeshi Adults: A Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Study.

This population-based, nationally representative cross-sectional study assessed the daily salt consumption status and its associated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors using weighted data from the STEPwise approach to noncommunicable disease risk factor surveillance conducted in 2018 in Bangladesh. It included a non-institutionalized adults' population of 6189 men and women aged 18-69 years. Their daily salt consumption was estimated using the spot urine sodium concentration following the Tanaka equation and reported according to the standard nomenclature proposed by the World Hypertension League and partner organizations involved in dietary salt reduction.

Machine learning and spatio-temporal analysis of meteorological factors on waterborne diseases in Bangladesh.

Background: Bangladesh is facing a formidable challenge in mitigating waterborne diseases risk exacerbated by climate change. However, a comprehensive understanding of the spatio-temporal dynamics of these diseases at the district level remains elusive. Therefore, this study aimed to fill this gap by investigating the spatio-temporal pattern and identifying the best tree-based ML models for determining the meteorological factors associated with waterborne diseases in Bangladesh.

Hesperidin Improves Wound Healing and Mineralization of Periodontal Ligament Cells in Elevated Glucose Conditions.

Introduction: Elevated glucose can have a detrimental effect on the function and healing process of periodontal cells in inflammatory conditions. Hesperidin (HPN), a bioflavonoid found abundantly in citrus fruits, has numerous biological benefits, including regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties. The current in-vitro study aimed to assess the impact of HPN on the proliferation, wound healing, and functionality of periodontal cells in optimal and elevated glucose conditions.