Developing a streamlined risk-adjusted cesarean section rate model for evaluation of obstetrical quality across hospitals by using EHRs: A provincial-scale multicenter retrospective study.

Objective: This study aims to explore a streamlined risk-adjusted cesarean section rate (RCSR) model and to compare its practical application effects with the traditional RCSR models.

Methods: Utilizing obstetric electronic health record (EHR) data from provincial multicenter hospitals, this study establishes a streamlined RCSR model alongside the traditional RCSR model and evaluates the efficacy of both models. Subsequently, the RCSRs of 56 hospitals within the province are calculated and ranked using both models.

Identification of new reference genes for colony counting by reverse-transcription quantitative PCR in Bifidobacterium animalis.

Bifidobacterium animalis, one of the predominant bacteria in the intestines of humans and other mammals, is widely added to dairy products. We employed RNA sequencing to analyze gene expression variance on a genome-wide scale and found stable reference genes (RG) in B. animalis.

Brain networks involved in the influence of religion on empathy in male Vietnam War veterans.

Humans all over the world believe in spirits and deities, yet how the brain supports religious cognition remains unclear. Drawing on a unique sample of patients with penetrating traumatic brain injuries (pTBI) and matched healthy controls (HCs) we investigate dependencies of religious cognition on neural networks that represent (1) others agents' intentions (Theory of Mind, ToM) and (2) other agents' feelings (Empathy). Extending previous observations that ToM networks are recruited during prayer, we find that people with vmPFC damage report higher scores on the personal relationship with God inventory even when they are not praying.

Differential effects of different delivery methods on progression to severe postpartum hemorrhage between Chinese nulliparous and multiparous women: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Delivery methods are associated with postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) both in nulliparous and multiparous women. However, few studies have examined the difference in this association between nulliparous and multiparous women. This study aimed to explore the difference of maternal and neonatal characteristics and delivery methods between Chinese nulliparous and multiparous women, and then examine the differential effects of different delivery methods on PPH between these two-type women.

Functionalization of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Microspheres for the Highly Selective Removal of Contaminants from Aqueous Solutions and the Analysis of Food-Grade Fish Samples.

The proliferation of pollution in aquatic environments has become a growing concernand calls for the development of novel adsorbents capable of selectively removing notorious andrecalcitrant pollutants from these ecosystems. Herein, a general strategy was developed for thesynthesis and functionalization of molecularly imprinted polymer microspheres (MIPs) that couldbe optimized to possess a significant adsorption selectivity to an organic pollutant in aqueousmedia, in addition to a high adsorption capacity. Considering that the molecular imprinting alonewas far from satisfactory to produce a high-performance MIPs-based adsorbent, further structuralengineering and surface functionalization were performed in this study.

The lonely brain: evidence from studying patients with penetrating brain injury.

is perceived as social isolation and exclusion. The neural substrate of loneliness has been investigated with functional neuroimaging; however, lesion-based studies and their associated outcomes are needed to infer causal involvement between brain regions and function. Here, we applied voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping (VLSM) analyses to investigate the causal role of brain lesions on self-report of loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale) in a unique sample from the Vietnam Head Injury Study, including veterans with penetrating traumatic brain injuries (pTBI) (n = 132) and healthy controls (HCs) (n = 35).

Prefrontal brain lesions reveal magical ideation arises from enhanced religious experiences.

Magical ideation refers to beliefs about causality that lack empirical bases. Few studies have investigated the neural correlates of magical thinking and religious beliefs. Here, we investigate the association between magical ideation and religious experience in a sample of Vietnam veterans who sustained penetrating traumatic brain injury (pTBI) and matched healthy controls (HCs).

Anterior insula lesions and alexithymia reduce the endorsements of everyday altruistic attitudes.

Neuroimaging studies have reported a large network of brain regions involved in altruism. However, these studies are unable to determine if these regions are necessary for altruistic attitudes. Here, we examined the brain-basis of everyday altruistic attitudes ([Self-Report Altruism Scale]; e.

Biological and cognitive underpinnings of religious fundamentalism.

Beliefs profoundly affect people's lives, but their cognitive and neural pathways are poorly understood. Although previous research has identified the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) as critical to representing religious beliefs, the means by which vmPFC enables religious belief is uncertain. We hypothesized that the vmPFC represents diverse religious beliefs and that a vmPFC lesion would be associated with religious fundamentalism, or the narrowing of religious beliefs.

Brain Regions Influencing Implicit Violent Attitudes: A Lesion-Mapping Study.

Unlabelled: Increased aggression is common after traumatic brain injuries and may persist after cognitive recovery. Maladaptive aggression and violence are associated with dysfunction in the prefrontal and temporal cortex, but such dysfunctional behaviors are typically measured by explicit scales and history. However, it is well known that answers on explicit scales on sensitive topics--such as aggressive thoughts and behaviors--may not reveal true tendencies.

White and gray matter contributions to executive function recovery after traumatic brain injury.

Objective: We investigated the association between regional white and gray matter volume loss and performance on executive functions (EFs) in patients with penetrating traumatic brain injury (pTBI).

Methods: We studied 164 pTBI patients and 43 healthy controls from the Vietnam Head Injury Study. We acquired CT scans for pTBI patients and divided them according to lesion localization (left and right prefrontal cortex [PFC]).

The neural bases for devaluing radical political statements revealed by penetrating traumatic brain injury.

Given the determinant role of ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) in valuation, we examined whether vmPFC lesions also modulate how people scale political beliefs. Patients with penetrating traumatic brain injury (pTBI; N = 102) and healthy controls (HCs; N = 31) were tested on the political belief task, where they rated 75 statements expressing political opinions concerned with welfare, economy, political involvement, civil rights, war and security. Each statement was rated for level of agreement and scaled along three dimensions: radicalism, individualism and conservatism.