Aerosol particles released from grit chambers of nine urban wastewater treatment plants in typical regions: Fugitive characteristics, quantitative drivers, and generation process.

The flow through the grit chamber is non-biochemically treated wastewater, which contains microorganisms mainly from the source of wastewater generation. There are limited reports on aerosol particles generated by grit chambers compared with those produced by biochemical treatment tanks. This study analyzed the fugitive characteristics of aerosol particles produced in grit chambers at nine wastewater treatment plants in three regions of China.

Investigating the relationship between social media use and the attitudes towards nutrition and body image shame among Iranian female students: A cross-sectional study.

Social media are Internet-based services that allow participation in online communities and exchanges. Considering the high and increasing statistics of the use of social media all over the world and its impact on people's lives, the present study aimed to determine the relationship between social media and nutritional attitudes and body image shame among Iranian female students. This cross-sectional study was performed on 201 female student of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran from May to December 2023.

Effectiveness of regorafenib in second-line therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: In patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following sorafenib failure, regorafenib has been used as an initial second-line drug. It is unclear the real efficacy and safety of sorafenib-regorafenib sequential therapy compared to placebo or other treatment (cabozantinib or nivolumab or placebo) in advanced HCC.

Methods: Four electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Ovid) were systematically searched for eligible articles from their inception to July, 2024.

Associations of cathepsins with pulmonary arterial hypertension mediated by circulating metabolites: A Mendelian randomization study.

The correlation between cathepsins and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is well-established, but the causative link between them remains uncertain. This study aimed to explore the causal role of circulating metabolites mediating cathepsins in PAH using Mendelian randomization (MR). A 2-sample 2-step MR method was used to identify causal relationship between cathepsins and PAH; causal relationship between circulating metabolites and PAH; and mediated effects of these circulating metabolites.

A review of cutting-edge biomarkers for diagnosing coronary artery disease.

Chronic coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a significant global healthcare burden. Current risk assessment methods have notable limitations in early detection and risk stratification. Hence, there is an urgent need for innovative biomarkers that facilitate the premature CAD diagnosis, ultimately leading to reduction in associated morbidity and mortality rates.

Direct and indirect association of domestic violence against women and severe maternal morbidity: A case-control study.

This study aimed to investigate the direct association between domestic violence and the indirect association of exposure through pregnancy, delivery, and neonatal risk factors with severe maternal morbidity (SMM). The target population of this case-control study included all women who gave birth in the hospitals of the Torbat Heidarieh University of Medical Science from June 2018 to May 2020. A total of 123 mothers with SMM according to the World Health Organization criteria were selected as cases, and 127 mothers who did not meet the World Health Organization criteria were included in the control group.

Ultrasensitive Detection of Circulating Plasma Cells Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy and Machine Learning for Multiple Myeloma Monitoring.

Multiple myeloma is a hematologic malignancy characterized by the proliferation of abnormal plasma cells in the bone marrow. Despite therapeutic advancements, there remains a critical need for reliable, noninvasive methods to monitor multiple myeloma. Circulating plasma cells (CPCs) in peripheral blood are robust and independent prognostic markers, but their detection is challenging due to their low abundance.

Correlative Raman-Voltage Microscopy Revealing the Localized Structure-Stress Relationship in Silicon Solar Cells.

Knowledge of localized strain at the micrometer scale is essential for tailoring the electrical and mechanical properties of ongoing thinning of crystal silicon (c-Si) solar cells. Thinning c-Si wafers below 110 m are susceptible to cracking in manufacturing due to the nonuniform stress distribution at a micrometer region, necessitating a rigorous technique to reveal the localized stress distribution correlating with its device electrical output. In this context, a Raman microscopy integrated with a photovoltage mapping setup with high resolution to the submicrometer scale is developed to acquire correlative Raman-voltage of the localized physical properties at the microcracks on the rear side of c-Si solar cells.

One hundred thirty-four germ line PU.1 variants and the agammaglobulinemic patients carrying them.

Leukopoiesis is lethally arrested in mice lacking the master transcriptional regulator PU.1. Depending on the animal model, subtotal PU.

Observation of Robust Compressed CuO Octahedra and Exotic Spin Structure in CaCuFeO.

CuO octahedra usually show elongated distortion, leading to active orbitals and planar exchange interactions, while compressed CuO octahedra with active orbitals and unidirectional exchange interactions are exceptionally rare. Here, we design and synthesize a new frustrated antiferromagnet CaCuFeO through a high-pressure and high-temperature approach, in which robust compressed CuO octahedra are realized, separating the FeO sheets that comprise zigzag spin ladders. Magnetic susceptibility and specific heat measurements exhibit a long-range antiferromagnetic order below the Néel temperature of 165 K, which is further confirmed by neutron diffraction.

Superconductor-Insulator Transition Induced by Precise Subtripled Vapor Chemical Gating.

Recent progress in superconductor-insulator transition has shed light on the intermediate metallic state with unique electronic inhomogeneity. The microscopic model, suggesting that carrier spatial distribution plays a decisive role in the intermediate state, has been instrumental in understanding the quantum transition. However, the narrow carrier density window in which the intermediate state exists necessitates precise control of the gate dielectric layer, presenting a challenge to in situ map the carrier spatial distribution.

Machine Learning to Predict Mortality in Older Patients With Cancer: Development and External Validation of the Geriatric Cancer Scoring System Using Two Large French Cohorts.

Purpose: Establishing an accurate prognosis remains challenging in older patients with cancer because of the population's heterogeneity and the current predictive models' reduced ability to capture the complex interactions between oncologic and geriatric predictors. We aim to develop and externally validate a new predictive score (the Geriatric Cancer Scoring System [GCSS]) to refine individualized prognosis for older patients with cancer during the first year after a geriatric assessment (GA).

Materials And Methods: Data were collected from two French prospective multicenter cohorts of patients with cancer 70 years and older, referred for GA: ELCAPA (training set January 2007-March 2016) and ONCODAGE (validation set August 2008-March 2010).

Oncology Provider and Patient Perspectives on a Cardiovascular Health Assessment Tool utilized during Post-treatment Survivorship Care in Community Oncology (Results from WF-1804CD): Mixed Methods Observational Study.

Background: Most cancer survivors have multiple cardiovascular risk factors, increasing their risk of poor cardiovascular and cancer outcomes. The Automated Heart-Health Assessment (AH-HA) tool is a novel electronic health record clinical decision support tool based on the American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics to promote CVH assessment and discussion in outpatient oncology. Before proceeding to future implementation trials, it is critical to establish the acceptability of the tool among providers and survivors.

Phosphorylation-dependent VaMYB4a regulates cold stress in grapevine by inhibiting VaPIF3 and activating VaCBF4.

Cold stress severely impacts the quality and yield of grapevine (Vitis L.). In this study, we extend our previous work to elucidate the role and regulatory mechanisms of Vitis amurensis MYB transcription factor 4a (VaMYB4a) in grapevine's response to cold stress.

Acceptance of Virtual Reality Training for Chemotherapy Administration Among Nursing Students.

Virtual reality technology offers an extended and repeatable environment for delivering digital learning and training. This study investigated the acceptance of a smartphone virtual reality training program among nursing students for chemotherapy administration using a modified Technology Acceptance Model. The teaching materials for the chemotherapy administration process were designed using smartphone virtual reality to provide prelicensure students with an opportunity to learn procedural steps in a controlled, risk-free environment.

NK cell exhaustion in Wilson's disease revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing predicts the prognosis of cholecystitis.

Metabolic abnormalities associated with liver disease have a significant impact on the risk and prognosis of cholecystitis. However, the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. Here, we investigated this issue using Wilson's disease (WD) as a model, which is a genetic disorder characterized by impaired mitochondrial function and copper metabolism.

MicroRNA as a Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been applied as biomarkers for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. Early diagnosis and management of DLBCL can improve patient survival and prognosis.

Aims: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic accuracy of miRNA biomarkers in DLBCL patients.

Effects of plasma-activated water on germination ‎and initial seedling growth of wheat.

In this research, the effect of seed halopriming with plasma activated water (PAW) on wheat germination parameters have been studied. Response surface methodology was used to investigate the effect of three factors including: 1) type of water (distilled water, 0.2 and 0.

Comparative analysis of data-driven models for spatially resolved thermometry using emission spectroscopy.

A methodology is proposed, which addresses the caveat that line-of-sight emission spectroscopy presents in that it cannot provide spatially resolved temperature measurements in non-homogeneous temperature fields. The aim of this research is to explore the use of data-driven models in measuring temperature distributions in a spatially resolved manner using emission spectroscopy data. Two categories of data-driven methods are analyzed: (i) Feature engineering and classical machine learning algorithms, and (ii) end-to-end convolutional neural networks (CNN).

Assembly and application of a low-cost high-resolution imaging device for hyphae in soil.

Soil imaging in the field and laboratory has greatly advanced our understanding of plant root systems. Soil fungi function as important plant symbionts and decomposers of complex organic material in soil environments. For fungal hyphae, however, the application of soil imaging remains scarce, limiting our understanding of hyphal systems in soil.

Undergraduates' lifestyle and Suboptimal Health Status (SHS): A cross-sectional study in the Ha'il region of Saudi Arabia.

Background: University students in Saudi Arabia are embracing some of the negative traits of the fast-paced modern lifestyle, typified by unhealthy eating, low physical activity, and poor sleep habits that may increase their risk for poor health. Health and holistic well-being at the population level are among the priorities of the 2030 vision of a vibrant society in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The current study thus aims at determining the prevalence and predictive factors of Suboptimal Health Status (SHS) among university students.

Comparative study of bovine and synthetic hydroxyapatite in micro- and nanosized on osteoblasts action and bone growth.

Hydroxyapatite (HA) is widely used as a bone graft. However, information on the head-to-head osteoinductivity and in vivo performance of micro- and nanosized natural and synthetic HA is still lacking. Here, we fabricated nanosized bovine HA (nanoBHA) by using a wet ball milling method and compared its in vitro and in vivo performance with microsized BHA, nanosized synthetic HA (nanoHA), and microsized synthetic HA (HA).

BMI-mediated association between glyphosate exposure and increased risk of atherosclerotic heart disease: A large-scale cross-sectional study.

Background: Glyphosate, as the main component of glyphosate pesticides, has been shown to have toxic effects on multiple human systems. However, the association between glyphosate and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains unclear. This study aims to explore the effect of glyphosate exposure on ASCVD.

Distribution characteristics and pollution assessment of heavy metals in typical black soil profiles of Haicheng city, Liaoning province, China.

In order to understand the spatial distribution, influencing factors, pollution level and sources of heavy metals in black soil profiles in Northeast China, black soil profile samples were collected from five sampling points in Haicheng City, Liaoning Province, with the deepest profile depth of 50m. The contents of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn) in soil at different depths were analyzed, and the distribution characteristics and influencing factors of heavy metals in black soil profiles were analyzed. The pollution level of heavy metals in soil was evaluated based on the geo-accumulation index method and enrichment factor method, and the sources of heavy metals in soil were analyzed based on principal component analysis.

The type of diet consumed during prepuberty modulates plasma cholesterol, hepatic LXRα expression, and DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation during adulthood in male rats.

Childhood obesity increases the risk of developing metabolic diseases in adulthood, since environmental stimuli during critical windows of development can impact on adult metabolic health. Studies demonstrating the effect of prepubertal diet on adult metabolic disease risk are still limited. We hypothesized that a prepubertal control diet (CD) protects the adult metabolic phenotype from diet-induced obesity (DIO), while a high-fat diet (HFD) would predispose to adult metabolic alterations.