SEAD reference panel with 22,134 haplotypes boosts rare variant imputation and genome-wide association analysis in Asian populations.

Limited whole genome sequencing (WGS) studies in Asian populations result in a lack of representative reference panels, thus hindering the discovery of ancestry-specific variants. Here, we present the South and East Asian reference Database (SEAD) panel ( https://imputationserver.westlake.

Maternal Colonization of Extended-Spectrum-Beta-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae in Preterm Rupture of Membranes.

Aim: Maternal colonization by Enterobacteriaceae that produce extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL-E) has risen, and the antimicrobial resistance of ESBL-E is significant. We aimed to evaluate the rates of ESBL-E colonization among women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and of maternal-neonatal vertical transmission. We also aimed to compare obstetrical and neonatal complications among ESBL-E positive versus negative maternal colonization in pregnancies complicated by PPROM.

The effects of intelligence on exposure to combat and posttraumatic stress disorder across multiple deployments.

Introduction: Past work relates intelligence quotient (IQ) to risk for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among soldiers. We gathered data over multiple deployments to assess how IQ relates to the rate of symptom development both directly and through increasing the risk for traumatic combat exposure.

Methods: Male infantry soldiers from a maneuver brigade (N = 582) were followed over the 3-year period of their mandatory military service.

Novel Insights into Enhanced Stability of Li-Rich Layered and High-Voltage Olivine Phosphate Cathodes for Advanced Batteries through Surface Modification and Electron Structure Design.

The design of cathode/electrolyte interfaces in high-energy density Li-ion batteries is critical to protect the surface against undesirable oxygen release from the cathodes when batteries are charged to high voltage. However, the involvement of the engineered interface in the cationic and anionic redox reactions associated with (de-)lithiation is often ignored, mostly due to the difficulty to separate these processes from chemical/catalytic reactions at the cathode/electrolyte interface. Here, a new electron energy band diagrams concept is developed that includes the examination of the electrochemical- and ionization- potentials evolution upon batteries cycling.

Shared decision-making, anxiety, and post-traumatic growth among parents in the context of their child's medical care: The moderating role of parental style.

Aim: The importance of parents' involvement in their child's medical care has been extensively discussed in the literature, and studies have indicated the need to expand the active role of parents in decision-making processes regarding such care. However, parents' actual wish to be active and informed in this context remains underexplored. The aim of the current study was to explore this gap by investigating the association between parents' shared decision-making (SDM) experience and their well-being during the course of their child's medical care, with a focus on parents' clinical decision-making style as a possible moderator.

One-Step Fabrication Process of Silica-Titania Superhydrophobic UV-Blocking Thin Coatings onto Polymeric Films.

Developing a durable multifunctional superhydrophobic coating on polymeric films that can be industrially scalable is a challenge in the field of surface engineering. This article presents a novel method for a scalable technology using a simple single-step fabrication of a superhydrophobic coating on polymeric films that exhibits excellent water-repelling and UV-blocking properties, along with impressive wear resistance and chemical robustness. A mixture of titanium precursors, tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), hydrophobic silanes and silica nano/micro-particles is polymerized directly on a corona-treated polymeric film which reacts with the surface via siloxane chemistry.

Direct multi-element analysis of biological samples in dry matrix spots by PIXE.

The dried matrix spot (DMS) method, initially developed for neonatal blood screening, has gained prevalence in various research fields for its efficiency in handling small sample volumes and its adaptability to diverse analytical techniques. This study presents the results of the first systematic investigation of direct multi-element analysis in DMS of human blood and plasma samples with Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE). Internal standard addition was used to address the issue of DMS heterogeneity and to eliminate the need for determining the sample volume equivalent, allowing a single-spot (single-punch) measurement.

Social, environmental, and developmental factors affect the microbiota of barn owls (Tyto alba) in a cross-fostering experiment.

Background: Species host diverse microbial communities that can impact their digestion and health, which has led to much interest in understanding the factors that influence their microbiota. We studied the developmental, environmental, and social factors that influence the microbiota of nestling barn owls (Tyto alba) through a partial cross-fostering experiment that manipulated the social and nest environment of the nestlings. We then examined the nestling microbiota before and three weeks after the exchange of nestlings between nests, along with the microbiota of the adults at the nest and nestlings in unmanipulated nests.

Thyroid Eye Disease and Artificial Intelligence: A Comparative Study of ChatGPT-3.5, ChatGPT-4o, and Gemini in Patient Information Delivery.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of 3 artificial intelligence language models-GPT-3.5, GPT-4o, and Gemini, in delivering patient-centered information about thyroid eye disease (TED). We evaluated their performance based on the accuracy and comprehensiveness of their responses to common patient inquiries regarding TED.

Pathway metrics accurately stratify T cells to their cells states.

Pathway analysis is a powerful approach for elucidating insights from gene expression data and associating such changes with cellular phenotypes. The overarching objective of pathway research is to identify critical molecular drivers within a cellular context and uncover novel signaling networks from groups of relevant biomolecules. In this work, we present PathSingle, a Python-based pathway analysis tool tailored for single-cell data analysis.

HBV serum RNA kinetics during nucleic acid polymers based therapy predict functional cure.

Serum HBV-RNA (seRNA) was proposed to be a circulating marker of cccDNA transcriptional activity in hepatocytes. The combination of tenofovir-disoproxil-fumarate (TDF) and pegylated-interferon-alpha-2a (pegIFN) with nucleic-acid polymer (NAP) treatment was associated with a relatively high rate of functional cure (FC) 48 weeks after discontinuation of all therapy. We aim to characterize seRNA kinetics under TDF and pegIFN±NAP combination therapies.

Nudges may improve hazard perception in a contextual manner.

This research investigates the effectiveness of nudge presentation on Hazard Perception (HP) during a computerized Hazard Perception Test (HPT). Three types of nudges were examined: Reminder, Social Norm, and Negative Reinforcement. Their effects on drivers' reaction times, hazard misidentifications (errors), and hazard recognition failures (misses) were analyzed.

Perceived Social Support, Intolerance of Uncertainty, and War-Related Stress: Unraveling the Nexus with Treatment Burden in Adult-Child Caregivers During War.

Adult-child caregivers encounter various challenges due to their array of roles and tasks, often leading to a substantial sense of treatment burden. While previous research has explored factors contributing to treatment burden, much of it has centered on routine periods, leaving a gap in the understanding of this issue during crisis situations characterized by heightened stress and uncertainty. Therefore, this study aims to address this gap by investigating the mediating role of intolerance of uncertainty and war-related stress in the relationship between perceived social support and treatment burden among adult-child caregivers during the Israel-Hamas war.

Diagnosing gastrointestinal infections based on cycle threshold cut-offs of PCR.

This study compared the performance of molecular vs stool culture assays for gastrointestinal infection (GII) detection, with focus on defining cycle threshold (Ct) cut-off values for positive culture results. A total of 6,000 records of patients with suspected GII between October 2022 and February 2023 and registered at Clalit HealthCare Services in Haifa, Israel, were reviewed. Stool samples were collected from all patients with suspected GII.

Characteristics and survival of hospitalized combat casualties during two major conflicts between Israel and Hamas: 2023 versus 2014.

Background: In the complex landscape of modern warfare, understanding combat-related injuries leading to hospitalization is crucial for optimizing injury treatment. This study aims to compare combat casualty characteristics and outcomes during the major conflicts between Israel and Hamas in 2023 and 2014 as a basis for understanding the effectiveness of trauma care practices for wounded soldiers.

Methods: A cohort study of soldiers hospitalized due to combat injuries during two major wars between Israel and Hamas in 2023 and 2014, using data from the Israeli National Trauma Registry.

Her, His, and their journey with endometriosis: a qualitative study.

Background: Endometriosis, impacting roughly 10% of reproductive-age women and girls globally, presents diagnostic challenges that can cause significant delays between symptom onset and medical confirmation. The aim of the current study was to explore the experience of women with endometriosis as well as that of their partners, from pre-diagnosis to diagnosis to post-diagnosis.

Methods: In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 couples coping with endometriosis.

Personal growth during early and advanced pregnancy according to women's mode of conception.

Background: Pregnancy can be a complex and stressful period, especially for women conceiving through fertility treatment, but this can foster the experience of personal growth (PG). Most of the knowledge on women's PG during pregnancy is based on a single measurement and relates to conceiving achieved through fertility treatments in general. Relying on Schaefer and Moos's PG model, the current prospective study sought to (1) investigate the differences in PG according to women's mode of conception (spontaneous; first-line fertility treatment; IVF) and (2) examine the contribution of the mode of conception, perceived stress, self-mastery, and cognitive appraisal (threat, challenge, and self-efficacy) to PG in two phases during pregnancy.

Within- and between therapist variability in movement and physiological synchrony and its effects on symptom change.

The predictive power of movement and electrodermal activity (EDA) synchrony has been demonstrated in various studies. Although most studies have examined each synchrony modality separately, a growing interest in the simultaneous investigation of multiple modalities has emerged. Previous research has demonstrated the importance of disentangling within and between-dyad effects, however within and between-therapist effects have yet to be investigated.

Post-traumatic stress symptoms and war-related concerns among pregnant women: The contribution of self-mastery and intolerance of uncertainty.

Background: Exposure to traumatic events can significantly impact individuals' mental health, particularly of more vulnerable populations, such as pregnant women. This study focuses on Israeli pregnant women following the terror attack on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent war. It aims to examine the contribution of background and pregnancy-related characteristics, exposure to the traumatic events and personal resources (self-mastery, intolerance of uncertainty) to post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and war-related concerns about oneself, close others, the fetus and raising the baby who is about to be born.

Direct Anterior vs. Posterior Approach in Simultaneous Bilateral Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Meta-Analysis.

Simultaneous bilateral total hip arthroplasty (SimBTHA) offers benefits such as reduced hospital stay and costs for patients with bilateral hip disease. However, the optimal surgical approach remains uncertain. This study aimed to compare the perioperative outcomes of SimBTHA performed via the direct anterior approach (DAA) versus the posterior approach (PA).

Perceiving immunity, predicting somatic symptoms: Validation of the 'Perceived Immunity' scale and its association with daily health.

Objective: While ample research links health beliefs to physical health in both healthy and clinical populations, the specific health beliefs that drive this effect remain underexplored. Addressing this gap is critical for mechanistic examinations and targeted intervention development. Building on previous work, this study aimed to assess subjective beliefs about immune system efficacy and develop a novel Perceived Immunity scale.

Left Ventricular and Atrial Function Analysis Following Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Mitral Valve Repair.

Conventional echocardiography used to assess volumes of the left ventricle (LV) and left atrium (LA) along with mitral regurgitation grade is routine in studies before and after transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (Mitral TEER). Previous studies focus on LV parameter changes and comparison of the functions before and a few months following Mitral TEER implantation, as well as LA reverse remodeling, by assessing LV volumes. However, less is known regarding LA strain changes in the early phase after the procedure.

Disrupted uromodulin trafficking is rescued by targeting TMED cargo receptors.

The trafficking dynamics of uromodulin (UMOD), the most abundant protein in human urine, play a critical role in the pathogenesis of kidney disease. Monoallelic mutations in the UMOD gene cause autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease (ADTKD-UMOD), an incurable genetic disorder that leads to kidney failure. The disease is caused by the intracellular entrapment of mutant UMOD in kidney epithelial cells, but the precise mechanisms mediating disrupted UMOD trafficking remain elusive.