Global developmental delay (GDD) and intellectual disability (ID) are common neurodevelopmental disorders with a strong genetic basis. However, comprehensive large-cohort analyses integrating genotype-phenotype correlations and functional mechanisms remain limited. This study aimed to systematically characterize the clinical and genetic spectrum of GDD/ID in a large single-center cohort and to explore the functional attributes of disease-causing genes. We retrospectively analyzed 1024 children diagnosed with GDD or ID who underwent genetic testing, including trio whole-exome sequencing (trio-WES), proband-only WES, and clinical exome sequencing. Clinical phenotypes were categorized, and functional enrichment analyses were conducted for genes associated with diagnostic and probable diagnostic results. A genetic diagnosis was achieved in 48.1% of patients, with trio-WES demonstrating a significantly higher diagnostic yield than proband-only approaches. Pathogenic variants mainly comprised single-nucleotide variants and copy number variants. Identified genes were predominantly involved in protein homeostasis, synaptic and ion channel function, epigenetic regulation, and key developmental signaling pathways. Distinct genotype-phenotype associations were observed among clinical subgroups, including enrichment of synaptic-related genes in epilepsy-associated GDD/ID and epigenetic regulatory genes in patients with facial dysmorphism.  This study provides a comprehensive characterization of the genetic landscape of GDD/ID in a large single-center cohort and identifies distinct genotype-phenotype correlations and convergent molecular pathways underlying these disorders. • Global developmental delay (GDD) and intellectual disability (ID) are highly heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorders with a strong genetic basis. • We report a large single-center cohort of 1024 children with GDD/ID, providing a comprehensive overview of the genetic landscape and diagnostic yield of different sequencing strategies. • Our study systematically integrates genotype-phenotype correlations with functional pathway analyses, highlighting key molecular mechanisms underlying GDD/ID and supporting refined molecular stratification.
The rapid expansion of short-form educational video platforms has substantially increased public access to health information; however, the characteristics and quality of videos concerning patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) have not been systematically evaluated. This study aimed to evaluate the quality and reliability of short-form videos related to PDA posted on TikTok and Bilibili. The Chinese keyword "patent ductus arteriosus" was used to retrieve relevant videos from TikTok and Bilibili, yielding 140 videos for the final analysis. Uploaders were classified according to publicly available account information. Professional uploaders were defined as accounts identifying the uploader as a healthcare professional and displaying official platform verification and/or an explicit affiliation with a recognized medical institution. Credentials were verified using publicly visible profile elements, including verification badges, profile descriptions, professional titles, and stated institutional affiliations. All included videos were independently evaluated by two reviewers. Because paired reviewer-level ratings were available for the Global Quality Score (GQS), inter-rater reliability for GQS was assessed before consensus adjudication using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and quadratic weighted Cohen's kappa. Video quality and reliability were assessed using five established instruments: the Global Quality Score (GQS), Video Information and Quality Index (VIQI), Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT), the JAMA benchmark criteria, and modified DISCERN (mDISCERN). Only the first 100 algorithm-ranked videos from each platform were screened, in order to reflect the content most likely to be encountered by typical users, although this approach may preferentially capture videos favored by platform recommendation systems. No independent clinical subject-matter expert (such as a neonatologist or cardiologist) was separately involved in the formal scoring process; instead, the evaluation focused on quality, reliability, transparency, and understandability using established assessment instruments. Clinical accuracy was not independently assessed or adjudicated in this study. A total of 140 short videos related to patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) were included in the analysis, with 57 from Bilibili and 83 from TikTok. TikTok videos demonstrated significantly higher audience engagement than those on Bilibili, with markedly greater numbers of likes, favorites, shares, and comments. Bilibili videos were slightly longer in duration, and there was no significant difference in posting time between the two platforms. Videos on TikTok also achieved significantly higher scores across all five quality assessment tools-mDISCERN, GQS, VIQI, PEMAT, and the JAMA benchmark-and most high-quality videos were uploaded by professional individuals. In the present study, these professional individuals were defined on the basis of publicly visible healthcare-related identity information and platform verification status. When stratified by uploader type, videos created by professionals consistently outperformed those from non-professional individuals and institutions in both quality scores and engagement metrics. Professional videos were predominantly found on TikTok. Correlation analyses indicated weak to moderate positive associations between most quality indicators and likes, favorites, and shares on both platforms, although the correlation coefficients remained low. Notably, the average JAMA benchmark score was approximately half of the maximum possible score on both platforms. Inter-rater reliability for GQS was acceptable, with a single-measure ICC of 0.632, an average-measure ICC of 0.774, and a quadratic weighted Cohen's kappa of 0.630. The overall quality of PDA-related health information on major Chinese short-video platforms appears to be moderate. TikTok and professional uploaders demonstrated clear advantages in reliability, comprehensibility, and communication effectiveness. Platform attributes and uploader background exert significant influence on video quality and dissemination performance. Future efforts should focus on strengthening platform oversight, encouraging greater involvement of qualified healthcare professionals, and standardizing the disclosure of information sources and conflicts of interest. Such measures are essential for improving the accuracy, quality, and trustworthiness of online cardiovascular health information and for better supporting parents of children with PDA and the general public. These findings should be interpreted as reflecting informational quality, structure, transparency, and understandability rather than independently verified clinical accuracy.
In this study, we examined resident preferences for prospective end-of-life management of a coastal wind farm in Japan through a case study of an 11-turbine, 22 MW installation, based on a questionnaire survey of 218 households within a 4 km radius. Respondents were presented with four disposition options: repowering with unchanged capacity (56.9%), repowering with increased capacity (18.8%), decommissioning (15.1%), and lifespan extension (9.2%). Preferences were examined through perceptual, attitudinal, and demographic lenses, though inferential support remained limited across several predictors. Descriptively, negative impressions were concentrated among decommissioning proponents, yet inferential testing showed no significant predictive effect for visual or acoustic evaluations. Principal component analysis consolidated perceptual dimensions, and binary logistic regression indicated that disaster-risk cognition alone significantly predicted support for active reconstruction, whereas mitigation measures and noise annoyance were statistically non-significant. Analysis of variance followed by Tukey's honestly significant difference post-hoc tests revealed significant yet modest differences in expectations for post-operational attributes-such as landscape harmony, tourism attraction, information transparency, proper explanations, and blade length-across preference groups, though effect sizes remained limited. No demographic or geographic variables were significantly associated with end-of-life preferences, indicating limited explanatory power of conventional socio-spatial characteristics. These findings highlight the limited role of demographic determinants and the importance of disaster-risk cognition and procedural fairness in shaping wind farm end-of-life strategies. They also underscore the need to incorporate local perspectives into policy frameworks through transparent communication, locally adaptive mitigation, and sustained stakeholder engagement.
High biocompatibility and three-dimensional printability of gels make them highly promising for the food industries. Appropriateness of gels for the food industry depends heavily on their mechanical characteristics and molecular dynamics. For identifying dynamic molecular information at the atomic level, molecular docking (MD) and molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) are thought to be viable methods. They can be used as a tool in creating food gels because they may investigate chemical bonding, particular binding sites, changes in spatial structure, and binding energy between molecules, as well as assess the ideal conformation. MD techniques can reveal the biopolymer interactions. Promising methods include data-driven protein engineering, which designs proteins using computer techniques. The history and evolution of MD techniques are discussed in this article, with a focus on their uses in the food-based gel field. Lastly, research avenues for enhancing the quality attributes of food-based gels via MD and MDS are discussed.
The primary objective of this study was to explore the existence and identify predictors of incongruent perceptions of pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance, and to examine their associations with negative mood, intimate relationship, and quality of life in colorectal cancer patient- caregiver dyads. 271 colorectal cancer dyads completed questionnaires designed to assess a range of outcomes, including patient symptoms (pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance), negative mood, intimate relationship, and quality of life. Pearson's correlation, multiple linear regression analysis and structural equation modeling were used to analyze the data. There were significant disparities in incongruent perceptions of sleep disturbance between patients and caregivers (t=-3.241, p < 0.001). For incongruent sleep disturbance, regression analysis showed patient education level (B=-1.014, p = 0.001) and caregiver education level (B=-1.140, p < 0.001) demonstrated significant negative associations. Longer patient diagnosis duration (B=-1.876, p = 0.010) was negatively associated. Caregiver religious affiliation (B=-1.611, p = 0.027) and marital status (B= -3.097, p = 0.001) showed negative associations. Patient gender (B= 1.361, p = 0.037) and caregiver gender (B = 1.803, p = 0.004) exhibited positive associations. Dyadic relationship type (B = 1.568, p = 0.043) was positively associated. The analysis revealed that incongruent perceptions of sleep disturbance exhibited a significant correlation with the quality of life and negative mood of both individuals within colorectal cancer patient-caregiver dyads. The model fit estimates were as follows: χ2/df = 1.570, GFI = 0.967, CFI = 0.957, IFI = 0.922, RMSEA = 0.036, SRMR = 0.053. Pathway analysis demonstrated that incongruent perceptions of sleep disturbance exerted a significantly direct effect on the quality of life of both individuals in colorectal cancer patient-caregiver dyads, albeit in opposite directions (B=-0.238, p < 0.001; B = 0.358, p < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, the analysis revealed an actor-partner mediating effect of incongruent perceptions of sleep disturbance, negative mood, intimate relationship, and quality of life. The findings of the present study indicated that incongruent perceptions of sleep disturbance were associated with negative mood, low intimate relationship satisfaction, and low quality of life. The individual attributes of patients (gender, educational level and time since diagnosis) and caregivers (gender, educational level, religious beliefs and marital status), as well as dyadic factors such as relationship, could predict patient-caregiver concordance on assessing patients' symptoms. It is recommended that healthcare providers should reinforce patient-caregiver dyadic symptom education to reduce incongruent perceptions of sleep disturbance in colorectal cancer dyads with a view to enhancing their quality of life. More sleep management and substantial emotional support should be provided by family caregivers and healthcare providers.
Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), the active coenzyme form of vitamin B6, plays indispensable roles in multiple metabolic pathways, and its abnormal levels are closely related to a variety of diseases. Herein, we developed a rapid and sensitive fluorescent sensing platform for PLP determination based on surface coordination engineering of 6-aza-2-thiothymine-stabilized gold nanoclusters (ATT-AuNCs) through a Sc3+-mediated competitive coordination strategy. Among 16 screened rare-earth ions, Sc3+ exhibited the strongest fluorescence activation toward ATT-AuNCs, inducing an approximately 38-fold emission enhancement together with a pronounced bathochromic shift. These effects are attributable to Sc3+ coordination to the N/O donor sites of the ATT ligands, which stabilizes an intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) emissive state and restricts intramolecular motions, thereby suppressing nonradiative decay. In the presence of PLP, the phosphate oxygen donors competitively bind Sc3+, extracting it from the nanocluster surface and reversing the Sc3+-induced fluorescence enhancement in a concentration-dependent manner. Under optimized conditions, the proposed assay enabled PLP quantification over a linear range of 0.1-8 μM with a detection limit of 0.04 μM. The sensor also exhibited excellent reproducibility, good selectivity against vitamin B6 analogues and common coexisting species, and satisfactory recovery in spiked serum samples. This work presents a facile and reliable fluorescence-based strategy for PLP analysis and provides a versatile route to constructing nanocluster-based probes through coordination modulation regulated by hard Lewis acids.
Anaerobic chain elongation (CE) has emerged as a promising technology for upgrading low-value organic substrates into high-value medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs); however, achieving targeted metabolic flux and efficient electron transfer remains challenging. To address this, this study explores the role of iron speciation in enhancing chain elongation (CE) driven by ethanol. Two iron-modified activated carbons, Fe3O4@AC and ZVI@AC, were evaluated to assess their impact on microbial metabolic networks. Results revealed that Fe3O4@AC significantly enhanced caproate production (4600.0 mg/L) and electron transfer efficiency (87.0 %), while ZVI@AC triggered a diversion towards alcohol production (940.61 mg/L n-butanol). The superior performance of Fe3O4@AC was attributed to its semiconductive properties, which facilitated interspecies electron transfer (potentially via DIET-like mechanisms) and balanced electron flow, promoting the activation of both fatty acid biosynthesis (FAB) and reverse β-oxidation (RBO) pathways. Metagenomic analysis revealed a shift in microbial community composition, with Massilibacterium enrichment under Fe3O4@AC, highlighting the importance of tailored material design for targeted MCFA production. These findings provide insights into optimizing microbial metabolism for enhanced CE efficiency.
Biochar, an economical porous carbonaceous material, exhibits considerable potential for diverse applications, particularly in soil remediation and wastewater treatment. Rhamnolipid-a ubiquitous biosurfactant in natural environments-may significantly influence the interaction between biochar and neonicotinoid pesticides. To evaluate this, the adsorption of two representative neonicotinoid pesticides (nitenpyram and dinotefuran) on biochars produced at 300 °C and 750 °C (BC_300 and BC_750) was investigated in the presence of rhamnolipid. The adsorption kinetics were well described by the pseudo-second-order model (R2 = 0.994-0.999), and the isotherms by the Langmuir model (R2 = 0.951-0.997). In the absence of biosurfactants, BC_750 exhibited substantially higher adsorption capacity for both neonicotinoid pesticides compared to BC_300. Furthermore, nitenpyram demonstrated greater adsorption affinity to the biochars than dinotefuran. These differences are primarily attributed to variations in the physicochemical properties of the biochars, including surface area, aromaticity, and surface functional groups, as well as the molecular structures of the pesticides, particularly the presence of nitrogen-containing heterocyclic moieties. More importantly, rhamnolipid suppressed the adsorption of neonicotinoid pesticides onto both biochars, primarily through pore blockage, competitive adsorption, and steric hindrance. For instance, the maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) of nitenpyram onto BC_300 declined from 7.3 mg/g (without rhamnolipid) to 2.8 mg/g (with 30 mg/L rhamnolipid). Additionally, for a given biochar, the inhibitory effect of rhamnolipid on nitenpyram adsorption was more sensitive to variations in biosurfactant concentration compared to dinotefuran. This enhanced inhibition stemmed from the disruption of π-π interactions between nitenpyram and the biochar. Additionally, the inhibitory effect of rhamnolipid on pesticide adsorption decreased progressively from pH 3.0 to 10.0 due to the pH-dependent adsorption behavior of the biosurfactant on the biochars. These findings highlight the necessity of considering the influence of coexisting biosurfactants when employing biochar as an amendment in soil/water systems.
Coptidis Rhizoma (CR) is a typical cold-attribute herb with potential anti-anxiety properties. Bile is of cold nature and can also interfere with the central nervous system. Bile-processed CR (BCR) exhibits synergistically enhanced anti-anxiety performance. However, the underlying mechanism and material basis for this synergism are not clear. To decipher the enhanced anti-anxiety mechanism and material basis of BCR from the perspective of cross-organ regulation. A rat model of anxiety with sthenic heat syndrome was established to systematically evaluate the enhanced anti-anxiety efficacy of BCR in terms of anxiety behaviour, liver metabolism, and histopathology. Subsequently, the gut microbiome sequencing and untargeted metabolomics of the brain, liver, and serum were performed to explore the mechanism of BCR and CR in regulating the gut-liver-brain axis. In vivo and in vitro molecular biology experiments were performed to further clarify the mechanisms underlying the differential efficacy of BCR and CR. Finally, supramolecular self-assembly simulation and tissue distribution in target organs were carried out to predict the material basis for the enhanced efficacy of BCR. BCR performed better than CR in improving the anxiety behaviour and liver metabolism and in alleviating cerebral injury in the rat model of anxiety. The results of gut microbiome and metabolomic analyses indicated that BCR was superior to CR in reshaping the gut microbiota composition and correcting the metabolic disorders in the brain, liver, and serum. Mechanistically, multiomic analysis revealed that BCR and CR (especially BCR) could block the TLR4/NF-κB pathway in the colon, attenuate hepatic inflammation, improve the integrity of the intestinal mucosa and blood-brain barrier, and inhibit the NLRP3/Caspase-1/IL-1β pathway in the brain, thereby blocking the transmission of inflammation along the gut-liver-brain axis and exerting anti-anxiety effects. BCR and CR (particularly BCR) could suppress the overactivation of ammonia-induced MAPK/NF-κB/iNOS pathway and overexpression of glutamine synthetase in the brain, consequently maintaining the normal morphology and glutamate uptake function (GLAST and GLT-1 activities) of astrocytes, alleviating neuronal apoptosis caused by glutamate excitotoxicity (GluN2B), and ultimately blocking the transmission of neurotoxicity along the gut-liver-brain axis to relieve anxiety. The alkaloid-bile acid supramolecules assembled during the decoction of BCR enabled more alkaloids and bile acids to be distributed in the brain and liver, providing material support for the enhanced effect of BCR. BCR was superior to CR in blocking the transmission of inflammation and neurotoxic substances along the gut-liver-brain axis and, hence, exerted stronger efficacy in alleviating neuroinflammation and improving neuronal survival in the rat model of anxiety. The alkaloid-bile acid supramolecules may provide the material foundation. This study fully considers the characteristic of traditional Chinese medicine being able to exert therapeutic effects through multiple pathways, providing novel avenues for research on the processing mechanism.
Cardiac arrest in pregnancy can occur for a variety of reasons. During maternal cardiac arrest or shortly thereafter, the fetus may remain viable. Postmortem caesarean section can potentially save the fetus with or without long-term neurological sequelae; in the absence of timely intervention, however, fetal death is inevitable. Given the limited documentation in developing countries and the possibility of unfavourable outcomes, this report presents one of the few documented cases from resource-limited Sub-Saharan Africa describing a live birth with a sustained favourable neurological outcome following a postmortem caesarean section performed after maternal death from a dental abscess. This case expands the evidence base for the feasibility and value of such a procedure in settings lacking advanced critical care. We report the case of a 34-year-old multigravida at a gestational age of 36 weeks and 2 days, who was admitted to Sumbawanga Regional Referral Hospital as a referral from a lower facility, presenting with a painful left jaw swelling and a diagnosis of dental abscess. She had a one-month history of this swelling associated with fever, hoarseness of voice, and purulent discharge. Abdominal examination revealed a gravid uterus with fundal height of 36 cm, longitudinal lie, and cephalic presentation. There were no palpable contractions, and the fetal heart rate was 143 bpm. The patient was managed as a case of dental abscess in a near-term pregnancy. The dental team performed incision and drainage, and during the procedure, the patient developed cardiorespiratory arrest attributed to endotoxic septic shock secondary to the dental abscess. The exact cause of death, beyond endotoxic shock, could not be determined in the absence of an autopsy, and other potential causes of death cannot be definitely ruled out. Despite resuscitation attempts, the patient could not be saved and was pronounced dead. In consultation with the Obstetric team, an immediate postmortem caesarean section was performed, delivering a female neonate weighing 2600 g with an APGAR score of 6 and 8 in the 1st and 5th minutes, respectively. The newborn was admitted to the neonatal care unit for further management. At the time of this publication, the child is one year and nine months old and has no apparent neurological impairment, with normal developmental milestones. Despite several limitations and the possibility of poor neonatal outcomes, a timely postmortem caesarean section performed at a favourable gestational age, in an appropriate setting with skilled personnel, basic equipment, and access to a neonatal care unit, can result in a live birth with good early neonatal outcomes even in a resource-limited environment.
To review the current evidence on quality of life (QOL) and psychological wellbeing of adults with anaphylaxis. A mixed method systematic review was conducted. The comprehensive search used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Nine databases (MEDLINE, EBSCOhost, Embase, CINAHL Complete, Joanna Briggs Institute [JBI], Nursing and Allied Health ProQuest, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar) were searched for literature published between January 2011 and October 2024. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to assess methodological quality. Data from included studies were analysed using convergent mixed methods design. The protocol was prospectively registered (PROSPERO 2024 CRD42024583368). A total of 11 papers (10 studies) met the inclusion criteria. Most studies reported that anaphylaxis has a negative impact on adults' psychological wellbeing, with many experiencing high levels of stress, anxiety, and/or depression. Women reported worse mental health than men. QOL was also affected, as most participants reported daily limitations, and many expressed reduced enjoyment in social activities. Impaired QOL was attributed to fear and emotional burden arising from previous episodes of anaphylaxis, contributing to avoidant behaviours and social withdrawal in an attempt to reduce the risk of future anaphylaxis events. Anaphylaxis affects adults' psychological wellbeing and QOL. This review highlighted that clinicians may consider routine assessment of QOL and psychological wellbeing to not only provide adequate support but to identify patients who may require additional support as they learn to balance daily living with anaphylaxis.
Exploring how Turkish-speaking immigrants understand and express common mental health conditions is crucial, as discrepancies in this area have real-life consequences for treatment. Some key concepts to examine within this are the long-standing belief that Turkish-speaking immigrants somatise emotional difficulties and cannot identify them, and that they predominantly rely on traditional explanatory models of mental health. Accordingly, this study aimed to explore how this population experiences, expresses and understands these conditions and to examine their coping resources and help-seeking attitudes. Qualitative design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in Turkish with 18 Turkish-speaking immigrants who self-identified as having experienced common mental health difficulties. Data were analysed inductively using reflexive thematic analysis within a critical realist framework. Four themes with ten subthemes were generated: symptom presentation, explanatory models, coping strategies and help-seeking attitudes. Participants reported both emotional and physical symptoms, often expressed through rich idioms and metaphors. They attributed their distress to upbringing, traumatic events, chronic adversities, discrimination, interpersonal relationships and their own perceived shortcomings. Coping included personal, interpersonal, community and religious resources alongside lay resources. While most participants were open to professional help, all expressed distrust towards UK services and many preferred Turkish-speaking professionals. Contrary to popular belief, Turkish-speaking immigrants articulated distress in both emotional and physical terms. Their explanatory model was mainly psychosocial but also included biological and traditional elements, reflecting a dynamic, multi-model approach. Moving beyond reductive stereotypes about Turkish-speaking immigrants and Global South populations is crucial for providing meaningful and effective care.
Vegetation, though central to terrestrial ecosystems, remains highly vulnerable to fluctuations in climate and human-induced activities. Such combined influence on vegetation health dynamics necessitates the application of robust remote sensing-based vegetation indices, such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The latter enables the detection of subtle structural and functional changes, offering an early warning of plant stress before visible symptoms appear. It is therefore crucial to predict vegetation activities by modelling NDVI that is able to detect and attribute the climate change impacts on vegetation growth through its temporal and spatial variations. For this reason, in this paper we introduce an advanced combined deep learning method (bidirectional long short-term memory and convolutional neural network model, BiLSTM-CNN) for temporal-spatial modelling of NDVI informed by meteorological and soil moisture data. BiLSTM-CNN is a composite progressive processing model that can investigate potential trends of vegetation alterations that may be abrupt and barely obvious, localized and extensive, happening over short or long-time scales. Our proposed BiLSTM-CNN forecasting method has been evaluated and compared with state-of-the-art techniques, and the experimental results have shown clearly that our proposed method is competitive with the existing relevant NDVI deep learning predicting models.
Nitrogen (N) cycling in peatlands is sensitive to variations in water table, temperature, and soil moisture. Water table fluctuations in peatlands can trigger the formation of transitional oxic and hypoxic zones within the peat and influence N2O fluxes. However, studies exploring these transitions by combining isotopic and microbial analyses are rare. This study assessed the impact of oxic-to-hypoxic transitions on N dynamics in drained peat soil. Birch-planted mesocosms were treated with 15N-NO3- and 15N-NH4+ tracers, while artificial fog generation allowed for the quantification of N2O exchange between the soil surface and the atmosphere. Rewetting reduced soil oxygen levels, significantly increasing N2O fluxes; peak value (162 ± 22.80 μg N m-2 h-1) was recorded under hypoxic conditions. During the transition, the abundance of nirK-type denitrifiers increased. N2O was initially enriched by the 15N-NH4+ tracer, followed by the 15N-NO3- tracer, which contributed significantly to the N2O flux under hypoxic conditions. The 3D Frame isotope model attributed early N2O production to nitrification (Ni) and nitrifier denitrification (nD); however, it identified a dual contribution from nitrification (Ni) and bacterial denitrification (bD) during the later phases. nosZ genes were detected in birch leaf samples, suggesting a potential aboveground microbial N2O sink. 15N tracer also confirmed the solubility of soil N2O in fog droplets during the experimental period, but the fraction of dissolved N2O was found to be very low (< 0.2%). Nonetheless, these findings warrant further research.
Respiratory illness contributes to substantial global morbidity and mortality. In Madagascar, an island nation off the southeastern coast of the African continent, hospital-based public health surveillance for respiratory pathogens screens for common respiratory viruses. However, many cases remain undiagnosed. We conducted metagenomic Next Generation Sequencing (mNGS) to identify the pathogen profile of 102 undiagnosed febrile patients who presented to public hospitals with respiratory symptoms and screened negative on a 14-virus multiplex RT-qPCR. We analyzed the diversity of the respiratory microbiome of each patient from mNGS data and identified viral infections potentially linked to undiagnosed fever. We assembled whole genome consensus sequences of viruses with sufficient read depth and coverage, characterized each phylogenetically, and identified any discrepancies with the primers used in the multiplex RT-qPCR panel. Finally, we compared all whole genome sequences against publicly available global databases in a phylogenetic analysis. We identified evidence of infection by a wide range of known human viruses in approximately two thirds (64.7%) of study participants from nine different families of viruses and generated 30 complete or nearly complete consensus sequences of known respiratory viruses including orthopneumoviruses, metapneumoviruses, rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, parainfluenza virus, and bocaparvovirus. mNGS-attributed evidence of infection was predominantly due to orthopneumovirus (also called respiratory syncytial virus [RSV]; n = 24; n = 8 previously diagnosed) and rhinovirus (n = 18) detections, despite previous negative RT-qPCR results for the majority of these cases. Finally, phylogenetic analysis identified two distinct phylogenetic clusters of RSV subtype A, suggesting local transmission following distinct international introductions for this virus. mNGS provides a sensitive pan-pathogenic tool for virus detection. We demonstrate the diversity of viruses associated with undiagnosed respiratory fevers in Madagascar, emphasize the importance and relevance of the existing respiratory surveillance in the country, and highlight the interconnectedness of regional respiratory infection dynamics with global networks of respiratory pathogen transmission.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a necessary causal factor for most cervical cancers and contributes to several other HPV-related malignancies. The nonavalent HPV vaccine targets the most prevalent oncogenic genotypes and has the potential to prevent up to 90% of HPV-attributable cancers. However, cervical cancer screening remains essential, as vaccination does not cover all oncogenic HPV genotypes, does not treat established HPV infection, and cannot prevent disease in individuals after HPV exposure. Available Spanish data do not yet show a clear sustained decline in HPV-related cancers comparable to that reported in some other high-income countries. This narrative review examines HPV vaccination, cervical cancer screening, and the burden of HPV-related cancers in Spain, with a focus on implementation gaps, surveillance limitations, and opportunities for improvement. Strengthening vaccination coverage, population-based screening, follow-up after abnormal results, and national data integration will be essential to accelerate progress toward cervical cancer elimination.
Pericardial drainage is a lifesaving intervention for cardiac tamponade. Difficulty in catheter removal is rare and is typically attributed to thrombus formation or pericardial adhesions. A 66-year-old woman developed cardiac tamponade after cryoablation for atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia. Subxiphoid pericardiocentesis was performed without resistance, and a 6-F pigtail catheter was placed under fluoroscopy. Two days later, removal was hindered by marked resistance. Computed tomography revealed inadvertent catheter passage through the transverse pericardial sinus, posterior to the ascending aorta, with lateral reentry into the pericardial cavity, creating a sharply angulated, mechanically anchored course. Saline-induced re-expansion combined with gentle diastolic-phase traction allowed safe removal. The transverse pericardial sinus, a well-known surgical landmark, is a previously under-recognized site of pericardial-drainage catheter impaction. Smooth catheter insertion does not guarantee correct placement; transverse-sinus malposition should be considered when removal resistance occurs.
We demonstrate that anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) in metal-ferromagnet bilayers can arise entirely from interfacial scattering, without invoking bulk spin Hall or inverse spin Hall effects. Using a minimal boundary-value formulation of the Boltzmann equation with interfacial exchange and Rashba spin-orbit coupling, we identify a resonant spin-filtering mechanism whereby one spin projection becomes immune to backscattering at a clean interface. This mechanism quantitatively reproduces the magnitude (Δρ/ρ∼10^{-4}-10^{-3}), thickness dependence, and angular symmetry conventionally attributed to spin Hall magnetoresistance in Pt/YIG. Crucially, the maximal AMR scales linearly in the smaller of the interfacial exchange or spin-orbit coupling: a parametric behavior forbidden in any spin-Hall-based theory. The effect is intrinsically sensitive to interface quality, charge transfer, and disorder, providing clear signatures that can be experimentally tested. Our results establish interfacial spin filtering as an essential and previously overlooked origin of AMR in metal-ferromagnet heterostructures, calling for a fundamental reassessment of magnetotransport mechanisms in spin-orbit-coupled metals.
Bromate has been strictly regulated in drinking water (< 10 μg L-1), due to its potential carcinogenicity and its poor removal efficacy by conventional water treatment processes. Although low-pressure UV-based advanced reduction processes (ARPs) can degrade bromate, their real‑world application is hindered by low efficiency under aerobic conditions and high energy demand. Herein, we demonstrated that the far-UVC (UV222)/sulfite process achieved efficient bromate removal under aerobic conditions at a fluence-based degradation rate constant of (5.08 ± 0.32) × 10-2 cm2 mJ-1 in deionized water at pH 9.0, which is 103.46 times higher than that of the conventional UV254/sulfite process. The UV222/sulfite process also exhibited robust performance in removing bromate in real tap water and surface water. The enhancement in efficiency is primarily attributed to the generation of higher concentrations of reductive radicals in the UV222/sulfite process. Kinetic modeling revealed a pronounced contribution of sulfite radicals (SO3•-) and hydrated electron (eaq-) to bromate degradation under aerobic conditions, accounting for 53.17% and 43.52%, respectively. The degradation of bromate in the UV222/sulfite process was promoted by increasing pH and initial sulfite dosage, and by decreasing the initial bromate concentration, whereas carbonate, nitrate, and natural organic matter (NOM) exerted inhibitory effects. The UV222/sulfite process reduced the formation of chlorinated disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in the post-chlorination and lowered the total calculated toxicity of the treated water by 78.29%. The UV222/sulfite process is thus established as a practical and energy-efficient technology to achieve effective bromate control in water under aerobic conditions.
In this study, raw finger millet (FM) and solid-state fermented finger millet (FFM) were incorporated into composite noodles (FMN and FFMN respectively) by replacing wheat flour at 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% substitution levels. The cooking quality, textural properties, tensile properties, sensory attributes and in vitro digestibility of noodles were evaluated. Results indicated that FM and FFM addition shortened the optimal cooking time of noodles, significantly enhanced free phenolic content (from 15.70 mg/g to 23.04 mg/g for FMN, and to 24.83 mg/g for FFMN), and reduced the extent of starch digestion (the estimated maximum starch hydrolysis extent decreased from 86.60% to 73.15% for FMN and 68.52% for FFMN). However, the hardness of FMN increased while that of FFMN decreased. Noticeably, FFMN exhibited superior performance to those with FMN, and FFMN with 10% substitution exhibited best sensory characteristics. This study offered a new strategy for the application of FFM in noodles.