Optimization of the Entropy-Based Wavelet Method for Removing Strong RF and AC Interferences in a Charge Detection Linear Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer.

We developed an entropy-based wavelet method to effectively remove interference from strong radio frequency (RF) and auxiliary alternating current (AC) fields in a linear ion trap (LIT) mass spectrometer coupled to a charge sensing particle detector (CSPD). By optimizing the energy-to-Shannon entropy, we identified the optimal mother wavelet family and decomposition level and determined suitable threshold values based on the median of sub-band coefficients at each decomposition level. These thresholds were applied as rigid criteria across all decomposition levels to eliminate noise interferences and avoid the arbitrary choice of the threshold.

Comparative efficacy and safety of drug-coated balloons versus drug-eluting stents in small vessel coronary artery disease: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Small vessel coronary artery disease presents challenges in percutaneous coronary intervention due to higher restenosis rates with traditional treatments. Drug-coated balloons (DCBs) offer a potential alternative, but their efficacy compared to drug-eluting stents (DES) remains debated. This meta-analysis aims to provide updated insights into the comparative outcomes of DCBs versus DES in small coronary artery disease.

Perspectives on Barriers to Use and Benefits of Functional Electrical Stimulation From Australians and New Zealanders With SCI and Clinicians and Researchers in the Field.

Objectives: To document, through a survey, perceptions of functional electrical stimulation (FES) from people with spinal cord injury (SCI) and carers, clinicians, and researchers (CCR).

Methods: Online questionnaires were completed in Australia and New Zealand from December 1, 2021 to August 31, 2022. Subgroups included people with SCI who have used FES, people with SCI who have not used FES, CCRs who have used FES, and CCRs who have not used FES.

Vaping illusions: The hidden risks of E-cigarette use among young Filipinos and adolescents in Latin America.

The study "E-cigarette use among adolescents in Latin America" reveals a high prevalence of e-cigarette use among teenagers, with a pooled mean of 18.9 %. This highlights the misconception that e-cigarettes are safer than traditional smoking and calls for focused public health initiatives to combat this growing problem.

Lung Abscess Due to Aspiration of Seawater During Recreational Free Diving.

Cough persisting for 5 wk, low-grade fever, and thick, pinkish to reddish, foul-tasting sputum made the doctors seeing this patient think of tuberculosis at first. However, a history of aspirating seawater during recreational free diving gave a clearer picture of how this patient got sick. Investigations later revealed a cavitary lesion in the right lung, and sputum culture grew , resulting in a diagnosis of lung abscess.

A Novel Splice Variant Confers Susceptibility to Otitis Media in Humans.

Otitis media is the most frequently diagnosed disease and a leading cause of hearing loss in young children. However, genetic contributors to susceptibility and pathogen-host-environment interactions in otitis media remain to be identified. Such knowledge would help identify at-risk individuals and effectively monitor, diagnose, and treat patients with otitis media.

Gut Microbiome Diversity in European Honeybees ( L.) from La Union, Northern Luzon, Philippines.

Insects often rely on symbiotic bacteria and fungi for various physiological processes, developmental stages, and defenses against parasites and diseases. Despite their significance, the associations between bacterial and fungal symbionts in are not well studied, particularly in the Philippines. In this study, we collected from two different sites in the Municipality of Bacnotan, La Union, Philippines.

Morpho-Physiological Adaptations of Rice Cultivars Under Heavy Metal Stress: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Soil contamination, including in rice fields, arises from a variety of natural processes and anthropogenic activities, leading to an accumulation of heavy metals. While extensive research has addressed the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in rice, only limited systematic reviews have examined their specific impact on the morpho-physiological traits of rice plants. This review aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis of current studies detailing the rice cultivars, types of heavy metals investigated, study designs, sampling locations, and experimental sites while systematically analyzing the morphological and physiological responses of rice cultivars to heavy metal stress.

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Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) as a Marker of Physical Exercise or Activity Effectiveness in Fatigue, Pain, Depression, and Sleep Disturbances: A Scoping Review.

: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been investigated as a potential mechanistic marker or therapeutic target to manage symptoms such as fatigue, pain, depression, and sleep disturbances. However, the variability in BDNF response to exercise or physical activity (exercise/PA) and its clinical relevance in symptom management remains unclear. This scoping review assesses existing studies exploring the relationships between exercise/PA, symptoms, and BDNF levels, specifically focusing on fatigue, pain, depression, and sleep disturbances in adults.

Deep Learning-Assisted Diagnostic System: Apices and Odontogenic Sinus Floor Level Analysis in Dental Panoramic Radiographs.

Odontogenic sinusitis is a type of sinusitis caused by apical lesions of teeth near the maxillary sinus floor. Its clinical symptoms are highly like other types of sinusitis, often leading to misdiagnosis as general sinusitis by dentists in the early stages. This misdiagnosis delays treatment and may be accompanied by toothache.

Development of attenuated Orf virus as a safe oncolytic viral vector for nasopharyngeal carcinoma treatment.

Background: Orf virus (ORFV) is gaining attention as a promising viral vector for cancer therapy because of its unique properties. Recent studies have shown that ORFV could be effective against various cancers, particularly nasopharyngeal carcinoma. This research explores the ability of wild-type ORFV and recombinant ORFVs, which lack specific virulence factors, to kill NPC cells and modulate the immune response.

Temporal trends and associated factors in cesarean section use in the Philippines: an analysis of Demographic and Health Survey data from 1993 to 2017.

Background: Cesarean section (CS) rate has become increasingly prevalent worldwide, which has raised concerns about the possible risks as they often result in frequently longer recovery periods for mothers and possible complications for both the mother and the child. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a 10-15% CS rate to maintain its safe use. Conducting trends analysis of CS and its associated factors is crucial in understanding its utilization.

Francisco Oller y Ferrer (1758-1831). The surgeon who performed the first smallpox vaccination in a Hispanic American territory.

Balmis arrived on February 9, 1804, in Puerto Rico, the beginning of the American stage of the Philanthropic Expedition of the vaccine that was to begin the campaign to spread the vaccine throughout Hispanic America, in the Philippines, in Macao and Canton and on the island of St. Helena. With this, the surgeon and the expeditionaries under his orders would go down in the annals for heading one of the most transcendental sanitary enterprises carried out in the history of mankind.

Do progesterone receptor membrane components (PGRMC)s play a role in the chorions refractoriness to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)?

Fetal membrane inflammation is one of the drivers of adverse pregnancy outcomes. One of the reported pathways of inflammation is epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of amniotic epithelial cells. EMT is resisted during gestation via signaling initiated by the binding of progesterone (P4) to progesterone receptor membrane components (PGRMC1/PGRMC2).

Response of ozone to current and future emission scenarios and the resultant human health impact in Southeast Asia.

Recent evidence has shown the increasing trend of tropospheric ozone (O) in Southeast Asia. Mitigating O pollution in Southeast Asia has become important and urgent. While the nonlinear O chemistry makes policy-making complicated, the O formation regime and O response to different emissions have rarely been assessed in Southeast Asia.

The International Work Addiction Scale (IWAS): A screening tool for clinical and organizational applications validated in 85 cultures from six continents.

Background And Aims: Despite the last decade's significant development in the scientific study of work addiction/workaholism, this area of research is still facing a fundamental challenge, namely the need for a valid and reliable measurement tool that shows cross-cultural invariance and, as such, allows for worldwide studies on this phenomenon.

Methods: An initial 16-item questionnaire, developed within an addiction framework, was administered alongside job stress, job satisfaction, and self-esteem measures in a total sample of 31,352 employees from six continents and 85 cultures (63.5% females, mean age of 39.

Draft genomes of six methicillin-resistant in a Philippine tertiary hospital with insights on putative antimicrobial and phage resistance mechanisms.

The genomes of six methicillin-resistant (MRSA) revealed CC5(ST5)-SCC-IVc--t105-PVL ( = 3), CC5(ST6)-SCC-IVc--t10002 ( = 1), CC5(ST5)-SCC-IVa--t002 ( = 1), and CC8(ST8)-SCC-IVa--t008-PVL ( = 1) genotypes. All possessed multiple antibiotic resistance genes (putative and and for cotrimoxazole-resistant strains), intact staphylococcal prophages, and putative antiphage systems. The results could aid in MRSA infection management and control.

Schistosomiasis in the Philippines: A Comprehensive Review of Epidemiology and Current Control.

is an infectious parasitic disease caused by infection with the blood fluke , which is endemic in China, small pockets of Indonesia, and the Philippines. Of the three countries, the prevalence of infection is the highest in the Philippines, despite decades of mass drug administration (MDA). As a zoonosis with 46 potential mammalian definitive hosts and a snail intermediate host, the control and eventual elimination of requires management of these animal hosts in addition to new interventions for the human hosts, including health education and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure.

Community-Dwelling Filipino Older Adults' Experiences with Virtual Coach for Health-Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA): A Phenomenology.

Physical inactivity among older adults persists as one of the global burdens. Older adults' physical activity (PA) levels decline simultaneously with age, causing health problems and poor outcomes. Immersive interventions, such as mixed reality virtual coaches, are gaining the potential to provide innovative solutions to prevent physical inactivity among older adults.

DNA-Based Nanobiosensor for the Colorimetric Detection of Dengue Virus Serotype 2 Synthetic Target Oligonucleotide.

Annually, the Philippines is burdened by a high number of infections and deaths due to Dengue. This disease is caused by the Dengue virus (DENV) and is transmitted from one human host to another by the female mosquito. Being a developing country, most of the high-risk areas in the Philippines are resource-limited and cannot afford equipment for detection and monitoring.

Do indigenous people get left behind? An innovative methodology for measuring the unmeasurable economic conditions and poverty from the poorest region of Luzon, Philippines.

One of the most vulnerable, neglected, and marginalized groups in society is indigenous communities. Their socioeconomic circumstances are intricate and varied. The oldest societal issue ever is poverty, which is also the hardest to solve.