Development of an image quality evaluation system for bedside chest X-ray images using scatter correction processing.

In plain radiography, scattered X-ray correction processing (Virtual Grid: VG) is used to estimate and correct scattered rays in images. We developed an objective evaluation system for bedside chest X-ray images using VG and investigated its usefulness. First, we trained the blind/referenceless image spatial quality evaluator (BRISQUE) on 200 images obtained by portable chest radiography.

Partial Attention in Global Context and Local Interaction for Addressing Noisy Labels and Weighted Redundancies on Medical Images.

Recently, the application of deep neural networks to detect anomalies on medical images has been facing the appearance of noisy labels, including overlapping objects and similar classes. Therefore, this study aims to address this challenge by proposing a unique attention module that can assist deep neural networks in focusing on important object features in noisy medical image conditions. This module integrates global context modeling to create long-range dependencies and local interactions to enable channel attention ability by using 1D convolution that not only performs well with noisy labels but also consumes significantly less resources without any dimensionality reduction.

Event-Based Visual/Inertial Odometry for UAV Indoor Navigation.

Indoor navigation is becoming increasingly essential for multiple applications. It is complex and challenging due to dynamic scenes, limited space, and, more importantly, the unavailability of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals. Recently, new sensors have emerged, namely event cameras, which show great potential for indoor navigation due to their high dynamic range and low latency.

Postprandial Vascular Effects of a High Potassium Meal in Patients with Treated Hypertension.

Background: There is compelling evidence of an inverse association between potassium intake and blood pressure (BP). A potential mechanism for this effect may be dietary potassium-mediated augmentation of endothelium-dependent relaxation. To date, studies have investigated potassium intake supplementation over several weeks in healthy volunteers with variable results on vascular function.

The Association of Dining Companionship with Energy and Nutrient Intake Among Community-Dwelling Japanese Older Adults.

Background: Community-dwelling older adults are at risk of malnutrition due to age-related declines in energy and nutrient intake. While the positive effect of dining companions on energy and nutrient intake has been suggested, evidence remains inconclusive. This study investigated the association between the number of dining companions and energy and nutrient intake, as well as the contribution of specific food groups to higher intake in the presence of dining companions.

Characterizing Curing Efficiency of EGCG-Encapsulated Halloysite Nanotube Modified Adhesives for Durable Dentin-Resin Interfaces.

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-induced collagen degradation at the resin-dentin interface remains a significant challenge for maintaining the longevity of dental restorations. This study investigated the effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a potent MMP inhibitor, on dental adhesive curing efficiency when encapsulated in halloysite nanotubes (HNTs). EGCG-loaded HNTs were incorporated into a commercial dental adhesive (Adper Scotchbond Multi-Purpose) at 7.

A hybrid explainable model based on advanced machine learning and deep learning models for classifying brain tumors using MRI images.

Brain tumors present a significant global health challenge, and their early detection and accurate classification are crucial for effective treatment strategies. This study presents a novel approach combining a lightweight parallel depthwise separable convolutional neural network (PDSCNN) and a hybrid ridge regression extreme learning machine (RRELM) for accurately classifying four types of brain tumors (glioma, meningioma, no tumor, and pituitary) based on MRI images. The proposed approach enhances the visibility and clarity of tumor features in MRI images by employing contrast-limited adaptive histogram equalization (CLAHE).

Qwen-2.5 Outperforms Other Large Language Models in the Chinese National Nursing Licensing Examination: Retrospective Cross-Sectional Comparative Study.

Background: Large language models (LLMs) have been proposed as valuable tools in medical education and practice. The Chinese National Nursing Licensing Examination (CNNLE) presents unique challenges for LLMs due to its requirement for both deep domain-specific nursing knowledge and the ability to make complex clinical decisions, which differentiates it from more general medical examinations. However, their potential application in the CNNLE remains unexplored.

Fluoride-Induced Autophagy and Apoptosis in the Mouse Ovary: Genomic Insights into IL-17 Signaling and Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis.

Chronic fluoride (F) exposure is linked to gonadotoxicity in females, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated fluoride-induced reprotoxicity using advanced genomic profiling. RNA-seq analysis identified significant activation of autophagy, apoptosis, and IL-17 signaling pathways in fluoride-exposed female mice.

Twelve tips on applying AI tools in HPE scholarship using Boyer's model.

AI has changed the landscape of health professions education. With the hype now behind us, we find ourselves in the phase of reckoning, considering what's next; where do we start and how can educators use these powerful tools for daily teaching and learning. We recognize the great need for training to use AI meaningfully for education.

Health Literacy and Internet Use Among Japanese Older Adults: A Gender-Stratified Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Moderating Effects of Neighborhood Relationships.

: Internet use positively impacts mental health in older adults, with health literacy (HL) playing a key role. While social networks may complement individual HL, the role of neighborhood relationships in this association, particularly by gender, remains unclear. This study examined how the association between HL and Internet use among older adults was modified by neighborhood relationships.

Country-specific key lifestyle factors and health outcomes for resource allocation in the general population: a network analysis across 29 countries.

Background: We aimed to identify the central lifestyle, the most impactful among lifestyle factor clusters; the central health outcome, the most impactful among health outcome clusters; and the bridge lifestyle, the most strongly connected to health outcome clusters, across 29 countries to optimise resource allocation for local holistic health improvements.

Methods: From July 2020 to August 2021, we surveyed 16 461 adults across 29 countries who self-reported changes in 18 lifestyle factors and 13 health outcomes due to the pandemic. Three networks were generated by network analysis for each country: lifestyle, health outcome, and bridge networks.

Beneficial effects of ultrafine bubble shower on a mouse model of atopic dermatitis.

Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common and relapsing skin disease characterized by skin barrier dysfunction, inflammation, and chronic pruritus. Both cutaneous barrier dysfunction and immune dysregulation are critical etiologies of the pathology of AD. Although various anti-inflammatory pharmacological agents, including cytokine inhibitors and signaling pathway blockers, have been developed recently, keeping the skin clean is of utmost importance in maintaining physiological cutaneous barrier function and avoiding an AD flare.

Developing and using a school menu healthiness assessment tool to analyse school food provision in Wales.

Objectives: To design and develop a new, innovative and valid School Menu Healthiness Assessment Tool that is suitable for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of school food and drink provision. Secondly, to analyse primary and secondary school menus and price lists pan-Wales to ascertain their healthiness and whether free school meal eligible pupils can afford to access healthy, nutritious food across the school day.

Design: Codable items and categories of school food and drink provision were operationalised before the tool underwent iterative development and testing.

In Vitro Selection of Collagen-Binding Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Containing Genetically Encoded Mussel-Inspired Adhesive Amino Acids.

Protein immobilization technology is important in medical and industrial applications. We previously reported all-in-one in vitro selection, wherein a collagen-binding vascular endothelial growth factor (CB-VEGF) was identified from a fusion library of random and VEGF sequences. However, its interaction chemistry is mainly limited to the interaction established by the 20 canonical amino acids.

Pandemic or "Plandemic"?: The Mediating Role of Epistemic Justification Strategies in the Relationship Between COVID-19 Conspiracy Beliefs and COVID-19 Vaccine Conspiracy Beliefs.

Background: In today's post-truth times, where personal feelings and beliefs have become increasingly important, determining what is accurate knowledge has become an important skill. This is especially important during uncertainty crises (e.g.

Quality of life in people with syndromic heritable thoracic aortic disease and their relatives: a qualitative interview based study.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate perceptions and opinions on what constitutes determinants for quality of life (QoL) in individuals with syndromic Heritable Aortic Disease (sHTAD), utilizing a qualitative study approach. Further to discuss clinical implications and direction for research.

Method: A qualitative focus group interview study was conducted of 47 adults (Marfan syndrome (MFS) = 14, Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) = 11, vascular Ehlers Danlos syndrome (EDS) = 11, relatives = 11).

Patients´ experiences of TENS as a postoperative pain relief method in the post-anesthesia care unit after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a qualitative study.

Background: High-frequency, high-intensity transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (HFHI TENS, i.e. 80 Hz and 40-60 mA) is an effective, fast-acting pain relief modality after elective surgery, offering pain relief within 5 min.

Detection of Eimeria oocysts in chicken feces using flotation recovery with sucrose or saturated saline solution.

Purpose: Flotation methods are widely used to detect oocysts/cysts of protozoans and eggs of helminths, except trematodes. However, details regarding the concentration and recovery rates of these parasites are poorly understood.

Methods: Using Eimeria tenella oocysts as a model parasite, the present study evaluated three check points: (1) the proportion of parasites that remain floating in flotation solution (sucrose or saturated saline) during centrifugation, (2) the proportion of oocysts that naturally float after addition of flotation solution after centrifugation, and (3) the rate of recovery on cover slips after completion of the flotation protocol.

The anti-melanoma roles and mechanisms of tricholoma isoflavone derivative CA028.

As a form of skin cancer, melanoma's incidence rate is continuing to rise globally. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find new agents to improve survival in melanoma patients. Isoflavones, a class of phytoestrogens, are primarily found in soy and other legumes.

Precuneus activity during retrieval is positively associated with amyloid burden in cognitively normal older carriers.

The precuneus is a site of early amyloid-beta (Aβ) accumulation. Previous cross-sectional studies reported increased precuneus fMRI activity in older adults with mild cognitive deficits or elevated Aβ. However, longitudinal studies in early Alzheimer's disease (AD) are lacking and the relationship to the Apolipoprotein-E () genotype is unclear.

Factors Associated With Mental Health Literacy, Depression, and Anxiety Amongst Indonesian Adolescents.

Aims: This study aims to identify factors associated with mental health literacy (mental health knowledge and attitudes towards mental health and help-seeking behaviours), depression and anxiety amongst adolescents, and test the hypothesised model by examining the interrelationships between these outcomes.

Design: Cross-sectional descriptive quantitative research.

Methods: Using convenient sampling, 615 adolescents from four public schools completed online questionnaires measuring mental health literacy, depression, and anxiety.

The impact of new-onset atrial fibrillation in the setting of acute coronary syndrome.

Approximately 10 % of patients who have suffered from myocardial infarction develop new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF). Coronary artery disease implicating atrial branches has been associated with AF. The following variables have been associated with new-onset AF in the setting of acute coronary syndrome: older age, history of hypertension, history of angina, history of stroke, chronic renal failure, body mass index, no statin use, worse nutritional status, worse Killip class, admission heart rate ≥ 85 bpm, complete atrioventricular block, Glasgow prognostic score, Syntax score, CHEST score > 3, PRECISE-DAPT score ≥ 25, left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40 %, increased left atrial diameter, E/E' ratio > 12, epicardial fat tissue thickness, and thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow <3.

Toward a functional future for the cognitive neuroscience of human aging.

The cognitive neuroscience of human aging seeks to identify neural mechanisms behind the commonalities and individual differences in age-related behavioral changes. This goal has been pursued predominantly through structural or "task-free" resting-state functional neuroimaging. The former has elucidated the material foundations of behavioral decline, and the latter has provided key insight into how functional brain networks change with age.

Analysing the influence of hydrodynamic and sedimentary factors on the microplastic distribution in the Ashtamudi estuary, India.

This study evaluates the influence of water current and suspended sediment concentration (SSC) on microplastic distribution in various mixing regimes of the Ashtamudi estuary, India. Microplastic abundance ranged from 3.2 to 53 items/L, with highest concentrations observed near the confluence of the river and the sea.