Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a severe complication of traumatic brain injury (TBI) associated with poor prognosis. The glucose-to-potassium ratio (GPR), an emerging marker of metabolic stress, may play a role in post-TBI AKI, but its precise relationship is unclear. This retrospective cohort study investigated the association between early-admission GPR and AKI in 2,388 TBI patients from the MIMIC-IV database. Using multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) models, we explored both linear and non-linear associations. Of the patients, 56.7% (1,355/2,388) developed AKI. While a simple linear association between GPR and AKI was not significant after adjusting for confounders (P = 0.20), we discovered a significant non-linear "J-shaped" relationship (P for non-linearity = 0.012). The risk of AKI increased steeply once GPR surpassed an inflection point of approximately 30. A random forest model incorporating multiple clinical variables demonstrated significantly superior predictive performance (AUC = 0.808) compared to traditional logistic regression (AUC = 0.785; DeLong test P = 0.025). These findings reveal that a high GPR (> 30) acts as an independent non-linear risk indicator for post-TBI AKI, Rather than a direct driver of injury, an elevated GPR represents a valuable early warning signal for metabolic decompensation, suggesting clinicians should closely monitor high-risk patients to facilitate early recognition of AKI.
The linear carbon allotrope carbyne has been predicted to display outstanding electrical and mechanical properties, but its preparation and characterization are hindered by synthetic challenges. Although oligoyne and [n]cumulene models of carbyne have been explored, the end-groups used to avoid decomposition have a profound effect on their electronic configuration. Here we show that transmetallation of linear carbon fragments from Au(I) species to Au(0) electrodes delivers stable Au|CC…CC|Au devices. Scanning tunnelling microscope break junction techniques were used to characterize charge-transport behaviour in these one-dimensional carbon chains (up to 16 atoms) free of end-capping groups. Shorter chains exhibited oligoyne-like behaviour, with conductance attenuation as a function of length, whereas longer chains show evidence of bond-length equalization towards a cumulenic structure, with remarkably enhanced charge transport. The direct contact between the electrode and the carbon fragment at the Au|C interfaces grant high conductance and quasi-ballistic transport to one-dimensional carbon chains, providing a pathway to advanced carbon-based nanoelectronics based on the stabilization of carbyne within the junction environment.
The propylene methoxycarbonylation is a potential atom-economical reaction for the synthesis of butyrate esters, which minimizes wastewater discharge and alleviates subsequent separation difficulties. However, to the best of our knowledge, the mechanism of this reaction has not been thoroughly investigated, and the regioselectivity enhancement remains challenging. Herein, we studied the structure-performance relationship of Palladium-based homogeneous catalysts with different monophosphine and bisphosphine ligands by combining experiments and theoretical calculations. The ligands primarily influence the catalytic activity through electronic effects, while regulating product regioselectivity through steric effects. Using an optimized catalyst, the turnover frequency reaches 12,500 h-1 with a normal-to-iso selectivity ratio of 15.8, representing 13.9-fold and 6.6-fold improvements over a conventional palladium-phosphine catalyst. Mechanistic calculations reveal that regioselectivity is determined by the hydrogen insertion position in the first elementary step. Our work fills a gap in propylene methoxycarbonylation research and provides a basis for rational design of regioselective catalysts.
Shear strength of soil plays an essential role in geotechnical properties affecting construction stability. Conventional laboratory testing for determining soil shear strength is often expensive and time-consuming. Therefore, machine learning (ML) methods were employed to predict soil shear strength using geotechnical parameters compiled from previously published literature based on investigations conducted at the Le Trong Tan Geleximco project in western Hanoi, Vietnam. In total, there were 202 samples analyzed, including parameters such as depth, sand percent, loam percent, clay percent, moisture content, wet density, dry density, void ratio, liquid limit, plastic limit, plasticity index, and liquidity index. Four predictive models have been developed and analyzed, including Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), and Multi-Expression Programming (MEP). The model performance was evaluated using several parameters like coefficient of determination (R2), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), residual analysis, and Taylor diagrams. RF showed the best predictive performance, with training R2 = 0.9527 and testing R2 = 0.8578, along with the lowest prediction error. The SVM model performed impressively in terms of prediction, while the MEP model demonstrated satisfactory accuracy along with the added benefit of mathematical equation formulation. Conversely, the MLR model was relatively less accurate because of its inability to deal with nonlinear relations. Moreover, the SHAP analysis revealed that liquid index, moisture content, and plasticity index were the most critical factors influencing the prediction of soil shear strength. This research has established that modern machine learning models like RF and SVM prove to be efficient at modeling the nonlinear nature of soil characteristics.
Colloidal quantum dot photodiodes (QDPDs) are becoming an increasingly mature technology for infrared sensing and imaging that can offer high detectivity, short response times, and micrometer-scale pixelation. Even so, QDPDs suffer from a limited linear dynamic range (LDR), with photocurrents saturating at modest light intensities. Here, we analyze this remaining QDPD bottleneck in PbS-based QDPDs through operando transient absorption spectroscopy. As compared to isolated QDs, we find that recombination of photogenerated charge carriers accelerates in device-ready QD films and full QDPD stacks. Supported by kinetic Monte Carlo simulations, we assign this loss pathway to trion recombination mediated by hopping and doping-induced background charges, and we show that the photocurrent saturates when the rate of trion recombination and charge separation match. On the basis of this result, we argue that the widely varying literature data on the linear dynamic range of QDPDs mainly reflect different carrier extraction rates and conclude that faster carrier extraction is essential to extend the linear dynamic range.
Degree-based topological indices are widely used in mathematical chemistry because they provide simple numerical descriptions of molecular graphs and can support structure-property analysis. In this work, we introduce the Inverse Prodeg index [Formula: see text] and its coindex [Formula: see text] as new degree-derived graph invariants. Unlike product-, sum-, and mixed-degree descriptors such as the Randić, sum-connectivity, harmonic, atom-bond connectivity, geometric-arithmetic, Sombor, Nirmala, inverse Nirmala, and misbalance prodeg indices, [Formula: see text] reduces to the vertex-wise concave sum [Formula: see text], whereas [Formula: see text] transfers the same inverse square-root degree weighting to nonedges using the original graph degrees. We establish their main mathematical properties, including bounds involving graph order, size, and degree extrema, equality cases, Nordhaus-Gaddum-type inequalities, exact expressions for standard graph families, and estimates under several graph operations. These results show that the proposed descriptors are analytically tractable and computationally efficient, with linear-time computability in the number of edges. To examine their chemical relevance, we evaluate a small Prodeg-based descriptor family on a dataset of 90 aromatic-carboxylate compounds using training and external test sets generated by the Kennard-Stone algorithm. The models indicate that these descriptors capture useful structure-property information, especially for size- and thermodynamics-related endpoints. Linear regression and partial least-squares regression achieved the strongest average external-test performance among the considered Prodeg-only models, with mean external-test [Formula: see text] across the nine core endpoints, while Ridge regression was close with mean external-test [Formula: see text]. Nonlinear methods did not improve the average prediction accuracy. Additional validation through bootstrap analysis, Y-randomization, residual diagnostics, and applicability-domain assessment supports a non-spurious but dataset-dependent predictive signal. Overall, the Inverse Prodeg index and its coindex provide mathematically well-founded and practically useful graph descriptors, although broader validation and combination with chemically richer descriptors are needed before claiming general predictive superiority.
Galactolipases catalyze the hydrolysis of galactolipids, a major class of membrane lipids in photosynthetic organisms and an important dietary source of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Quantitative determination of galactolipase activity remains analytically challenging because galactolipids are amphiphilic molecules and catalytic rates strongly depend on interfacial organization within lipid aggregates. Here we describe a real-time spectrophotometric microplate assay for galactolipase activity based on synthetic medium chain monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (C8-MGDG) and digalactosyldiacylglycerol (C8-DGDG) organized in mixed micelles with bile salts. Enzymatic hydrolysis was monitored through proton release associated with fatty acid ionization and detected using pH sensitive chromogenic indicators producing linear responses across pH values from 6.0 to 9.2. The assay displayed a well-defined linear working range, with proportional increases in reaction rate between 5.75 and 46 ng of enzyme per well. Using guinea pig pancreatic lipase-related protein 2 (GPLRP2) as a galactolipase reference standard, optimum specific activities of 1206 U mg-1 toward MGDG and 1508 U mg-1 toward DGDG were obtained at pH 8.2. The method discriminated against enzymes with galactolipase activity from lipases that do not hydrolyze galactolipids. The assay also enabled detection of galactolipase activity on galactolipids obtained from spinach leaves. At pH 8.2, increasing amounts of GPLRP2 produced proportional increases in activity over the tested range of 11.25-90 ng of enzyme per well, confirming that the assay maintains a linear response when applied to complex natural lipid mixtures. This method provides a versatile analytical platform for galactolipase characterization, comparative enzymatic studies, inhibitor screening, and activity profiling in biological samples.
This in vitro study evaluated the accuracy of digital impressions for full-arch implantsupported restorations by assessing scan body (SB) positional accuracy and inter-arch registration under different intraoral scanners (IOS) and scan protocol conditions. Two IOSs (Medit i700 and Trios 5) were evaluated across multiple protocols. In Part A, SB trueness and precision were investigated using three inter-implant distances (1-2, 1-3, 1-4) and angulations across five groups (n=10 each), with and without reference objects (ROs) on an edentulous maxillary model. In Part B, inter-arch distance accuracy was evaluated with the help of four sphere pairs used in the same upper edentulous arch with implants and a dentated mandibular model in an articulator using six scanning protocols, including one- and two-step bite registration. Trueness and precision were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models for each data type. In Part A, Medit i700 with ROs (A-M700-RO) showed the highest trueness and precision in both linear and angular SB measurements. RO use significantly improved performance, particularly for Trios 5. Angular deviation was lowest in A-M700-RO, especially in distal segments (mean difference -0.24°, p < 0.05). In Part B, Trios 5 with a two-step RO bite registration (B-T5-RO-1) had the highest inter-arch accuracy, especially in molar regions. Accuracy in this group was significantly higher than all other groups (p < 0.01). Digital impression accuracy is influenced by both the scanner type and scanning protocol. Additional reference objects improved the accuracy of distance measurements but did not significantly affect measurements of angulation. Medit i700 outperforms in SB accuracy, while Trios 5 excels in inter-arch registration when combined with ROs and a two-step protocol. Additional reference objects may improve the digital implant impressions' distance accuracy, although they do not significantly affect angulation outcomes.
This study aimed to evaluate sexual dimorphism in Kyrgyz horse skulls by separating size and shape components using Mosimann log-shape ratios, based on 18 linear cranial measurements recorded from 39 specimens. Raw linear data were analyzed alongside size-corrected Mosimann log-shape ratios to distinguish overall size from size-independent shape. Males showed larger raw means than females for all 18 variables, and 14 measurements remained significant after false-discovery-rate correction. The strongest raw differences involved skull length to nasale, total skull length, nasal length, breadth between temporomandibular joint regions, and hard palate length. Geometric mean size was also significantly greater in males, confirming strong overall cranial size dimorphism. Multivariate analysis supported the same pattern: MANOVA showed a significant sex effect, and raw PCA was dominated by PC1, which explained 53.57% of variance and functioned as an overall size axis separating the sexes. In contrast, no size-corrected variable and no shape PCA score remained significant after FDR adjustment. Residual size-independent variation was concentrated mainly in diastema length, occipital squama height, foramen magnum dimensions, and nasal length, but these patterns were not strongly sex-structured. Correlation analysis further showed strong integration among rostrocaudal facial measurements and midfacial breadth variables. Overall, the findings indicate that sexual dimorphism in Kyrgyz horse skulls is pronounced in absolute size but weak in size-independent proportions, meaning that male skulls are largely scaled-up versions of female skulls rather than markedly different cranial shapes.
In recent years, the application of gas injection, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2) dissolved in water, known as carbonated water (CW), has gained increasing attention. In this context, the current study is designed to examine the effect of CO2 dissolution in water under pressures ranging from 500 to 4500 psi, covering subcritical to supercritical conditions, and at temperatures between 25°C-65°C. Additionally, the synergistic effects of surfactants, namely dioctyl sulfosuccinate sodium salt (AOT) and sodium dodecyl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate (AES), were examined at concentrations ranging from 0 to 700 ppm, along with the dissolved CO2 on IFT and swelling factors. The measurements revealed that as the pressure increased, the swelling factor reached a maximum value of 19.3% when it was contacted with crude oil, while the maximum swelling factor for the solutions contacted with synthetic mixed resinous and asphaltenic oil (SMRAO) was reached at a value of 22.3%. The second oil type was selected as SMRAO since crude oil comprises thousands of components, making it hard to extract any generalized conclusions based on the obtained results. In this way, using only one or two specific fractions, especially resin and asphaltene which acts as natural surfactants, providing the chance to examine the generalized interactions between chemicals and oil fractions. The measurements revealed that the presence of surfactant in the carbonated water (CW) reduced the swelling factor up to 50% for AOT and 38% for AES as the pressure and temperature and surfactant concentration increases. The reason of this observed trend was correlated to the bulky structure of AOT compared with the linear chain-like structure of AES. Besides, the measurements revealed the positive impact of pressure and temperature on a higher swelling factor regardless of the used surfactants, which can be due to the higher dissolution of CO2 under higher pressures and better movement and migration of CO2 molecules, which means a penetration of higher amount of CO2 into the oil drop leading to higher swelling factors. In the next stage, the IFT of different solutions under different temperatures (25 °C-65 °C) and pressures (0-4500 psi) was measured. The obtained IFT values showed that using SMRAO instead of crude oil has a reducing impact on the IFT values with minimum value of 19.2 mN/m, while the IFT value for similar thermodynamic condition and crude oil was 23.1 mN/m. Besides, further IFT measurements revealed that although increasing pressure has a reducing impact on the IFT, increasing temperature increases the IFT values regardless of the presence of surfactant or even the type of surfactant. The measurements also revealed that the effect of AES on the IFT reduction was better than AOT, leading to a minimum IFT value of 1.1 mN/m for AES concentration of 700 ppm dissolved in CW with pressure and temperature of 4500 psi and 65 °C, respectively due to longer alkyl chain length and easier packing in the interface compared with AOT which has a bulky structure prevents the high number of AOT molecules to be packed in the interface. The measured IFT values revealed the linear IFT variation behavior for the systems were in contact with SMRAO compared with crude oil due to this fact that the SMRAO has less complexities than crude oil comprises of thousands of components makes the IFT variations more straightforward for SMRAO.
Investigating early life growth dynamics is important for understanding the developmental origins of obesity. Basis splines (B-splines) provide excellent flexibility for modelling complex growth patterns, but they are prone to overfitting. Penalised B-splines (P-splines) extend B-splines by using a penalty to control their flexibility and avoid overfitting. Despite their advantages, P-splines remain underused in epidemiology, partly due to lack of guidance and accessible software. Our aim was to provide a guide on applying P-spline linear mixed effects models to analyse early life growth trajectories and extract key growth features. We outline the theoretical foundation and fitting procedures for P-splines and illustrate their use on repeated height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) measures up to age 10 years from a Southeast Asian birth cohort (n = 1014). P-splines linear mixed effects models were fitted by reformulating P-splines as mixed models with sparse matrices for efficient estimation. From the fitted trajectories, we estimated infant peak growth velocity, magnitude and timing of infant peak BMI and childhood rebound BMI, and examined their sex differences, intercorrelations, and associations with prenatal factors. Infant peak height velocity (means:.4.4 vs. 3.9 cm/month) and peak weight velocity (1121 vs. 890 grams/month) was higher in boys than girls. Infancy peak BMI (17.4 vs. 16.8 kg/m2), childhood rebound BMI (15.1 vs. 14.9 kg/m2), age at peak BMI (5.8 vs. 6.4 months), and age at rebound BMI (5.4 years) were comparable between sexes. Ages of peak and rebound BMI had a negligible correlation, higher maternal height was associated with higher peak growth velocity, higher maternal early-pregnancy weight was associated with higher and earlier rebound BMI, and higher birth weight was associated with higher and earlier peak BMI. P-splines simplify knot selection, making them a valuable approach for growth modelling. Software, code and datasets are provided to promote uptake of this method.
Colorectal and pancreatic cancers impose profound physical, psychological, and social challenges on patients, underscoring the need for comprehensive assessments of their impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to evaluate HRQoL levels in colorectal and pancreatic cancer patients, including the comparison to the general population and the assessment of sociodemographic as well as disease- and treatment-related predictors. The analyses are based on data from a clinical registry of the NCT/UCC Dresden. Patients were recruited during consultation hours between August 2020 and December 2024. Baseline quality of life data and routine data from the tumor documentation system were used. The final analytical sample comprised n=417 patients in the colorectal study group and n=193 patients in the pancreatic study group. Multivariable linear regression analyses were calculated, with results presented as regression coefficients (b) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Colorectal and pancreatic cancer patients exhibited significantly lower HRQoL compared to the general population, with large differences in social function and medium differences in role function and global health. Pancreatic cancer patients reported lower HRQoL across most domains compared to colorectal cancer patients. In the colorectal study group, statutory health insurance (b=-14.10, CI=-22.54; -5.66), living in rural counties with some urbanization (b=-5.34, CI=-10.51; -0.17) and recent chemotherapy (b=-9.10, CI=-16.36; -1.85) predicted worse global health. With regard to pancreatic cancers, residence in rural counties with some urbanization (b=-10.26, CI=-18.93; -1.59) was associated with worse global health, whereas longer time since diagnosis (b=0.06, CI=0.01; 0.12) was associated with better global health. Sociodemographic factors were the most consistent predictors of HRQoL in patients with pancreatic and colorectal cancer. These findings suggest social disparities, particularly for patients in rural areas and those with lower socioeconomic status. Efforts to improve access to healthcare, provide psychosocial support, and manage symptom burden are critical to enhancing the quality of life for these patients. Kolorektale und Pankreaskarzinome stellen für die Patienten erhebliche physische, psychische und soziale Herausforderungen dar, was die Notwendigkeit unterstreicht, ihre Auswirkungen auf die gesundheitsbezogene Lebensqualität (HRQoL) zu untersuchen. Ziel dieser Studie war die Untersuchung der gesundheitsbezogenen Lebensqualität (HRQoL) von Patienten mit kolorektalem und pankreatischem Krebs, einschließlich eines Vergleichs mit der Allgemeinbevölkerung und der Analyse soziodemografischer sowie krankheits- und behandlungsbezogener Prädiktoren.Die Analysen basieren auf Daten eines klinischen Registers des NCT/UCC Dresden. Die Patienten wurden zwischen August 2020 und Dezember 2024 in Sprechstunden der Klinik rekrutiert. Es wurden Basisdaten zur Lebensqualität und Routinedaten aus dem Tumordokumentationssystem verwendet. Die analytische Stichprobe umfasste n=417 Patienten in der Kolorektal-Studiengruppe und n=193 Patienten in der Pankreas-Studiengruppe. Es wurden multivariable lineare Regressionsanalysen durchgeführt, deren Ergebnisse als Regressionskoeffizienten (b) und 95%-Konfidenzintervalle (KI) dargestellt wurden.Krebspatienten wiesen im Vergleich zur Allgemeinbevölkerung eine signifikant niedrigere Lebensqualität auf, mit großen Unterschieden in der sozialen Funktion und mittleren Unterschieden in der Rollenfunktion und der allgemeinen Gesundheit. Patienten mit Pankreaskarzinomen berichteten in den meisten Bereichen eine niedrigere Lebensqualität als Patienten mit kolorektalem Krebs. In der kolorektalen Studiengruppe waren eine gesetzliche Krankenversicherung (b=–14,10, KI=–22,54; –5,66), das Leben in ländlichen Gebieten (b=–5,34, KI=–10,51; –0,17) und eine kürzlich erfolgte Chemotherapie (b=–9,10, KI=–16,36; –1,85) Prädiktoren für eine schlechtere allgemeine Gesundheit. Bei Pankreaskarzionomen war der Wohnsitz in ländlichen Gebieten (b=–10,26, KI=–18,93; –1,59) mit einem schlechteren allgemeinen Gesundheitszustand verbunden, während ein längerer Zeitraum seit der Diagnose (b=0,06, KI=0,01; 0,12) mit einem besseren Gesundheitszustand assoziiert war.Soziodemografische Faktoren waren die konsistentesten Prädiktoren der gesundheitsbezogenen Lebensqualität bei Patienten mit kolorektalem und pankreatischem Krebs. Diese Ergebnisse deuten auf soziale Ungleichheiten hin, insbesondere bei Patienten in ländlichen Gebieten und mit niedrigerem sozioökonomischen Status. Die Verbesserung des Zugangs zur Gesundheitsversorgung und die Linderung der Symptomlast sind entscheidend für die Verbesserung der Lebensqualität der Betroffenen.
Predicting soft tissue response to hard tissue support is complex. Current methods cannot easily predict the dynamic biomechanical variations between static and active facial states. The purpose of this clinical study was to quantify the biomechanical relationship between a labial augmentation prosthesis (LAP) thickness and sagittal upper lip displacement under maximum smile and rest positions and to evaluate the influence of participant-related variables on soft tissue displacement. Twenty-three participants (mean ±standard deviation age: 27 ±8.71 years; 16 men and 7 women) were recruited. Digital facial scans were acquired using a 3-dimensional facial scanning system under 2 conditions (rest and maximum smile) with LAPs of 1-, 2-, and 3-mm thickness. Facial landmarks were analyzed using a coordinate-based alignment system with a custom algorithm. Measurement reliability, scanner trueness, and precision were verified. Generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used to assess the effects of LAP thickness, facial expression, and their interaction on upper lip displacement. The Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to evaluate the influence of sex, while Spearman correlation coefficients (ρ) were calculated to assess the influence of other participant-related variables (α=.05). The scanning system demonstrated high trueness (systematic error 0.24 mm) and precision. Upper lip displacement showed a strong linear correlation with LAP thickness (R2>0.98). A significant interaction was found between thickness and facial expression (P=.049); specifically, at the 3-mm thickness, the maximum smile condition resulted in significantly greater displacement (mean ±standard deviation: 3.24 ±0.35 mm) than the rest position (mean ±standard deviation: 2.76 ±0.41 mm). The mean displacement for 1-mm and 2-mm LAP thicknesses were 1.20 and 2.20 mm during maximum smile and 1.08 and 1.92 mm at rest, respectively. Regarding participant-related variables, both age and sex were identified as significant predictors during maximum smile; older participants and women exhibited significantly reduced lip displacement during maximum smile (P<.05), whereas body mass index and other variables showed no significant correlation. Within LAP thicknesses up to 3 mm, upper lip displacement was strongly and linearly correlated with prosthesis thickness. This response was expression-dependent, exhibiting a synergistic increase in displacement at the 3-mm thickness during maximum smile. While the LAP thickness was the primary determinant, older age and female sex were significantly associated with reduced lip displacement during maximum smile.
Fiber electronics have shown considerable potential in various applications, including electronic skin, human-machine interfaces, and intelligent sensing systems. However, stretchable fiber-based strain sensors confront fundamental challenges in concurrently achieving robust mechanical endurance, wide linear response range, and effective composite motions decoupling under complex deformation conditions. Here we present a highly stretchable tri-channel fiber featuring concentric and double-helical microchannels integrated with gallium-based liquid metal, constructing a dual-strain fiber sensor capable of decoupling composite motions involving both elongation and torsional deformations. The helical architecture promotes a three-dimensional orientation of polymer chains, thereby effectively enhancing both the stretchability and cyclic durability of the sensor. Owing to the specific configuration within the fiber, the sensor exhibits a highly linear response to tensile strain, along with bidirectional torsional strain sensing across a wide operational range. Furthermore, by synergistically integrating geometric deformation with hybrid resistive-capacitive sensing mechanisms, the sensor demonstrates the ability to simultaneously monitor and decouple stretching and twisting composite motion behaviors. This strategy enables the precise characterization of object motion and deformation states, offering valuable prospects for real-time health monitoring and motion tracking applications.
To assess the radiosensitivity of different pancreatic cancer (PC) cell lines and examine their differences regarding their sensitivity to radiation, and to quantify the inter-study variability. The parameters for the Linear Quadratic (LQ) model and a Nonlinear log-logistic regression (LL) model were derived using the data from clonogenic assays reported in the literature. In this study, the cell survival data from 108 clonogenic assays for four PC cell lines: Panc-1, BxPc-3, MiaPaCa-2 and AsPc-1, were fitted to the LQ model and the LL model performing bootstrapping. The lognormal, the generalized extreme value and the normal distributions were parametrized to describe the distribution of model parameters. The best representation was used to determine the median value of the parameters and their interquartile (IQR) ranges for each cell line. For the LQ model, no differences in the radiosensitivity between the four cell lines were found. A median α of 0.14 Gy -1 [IQR 0.08-0.25], β of 0.04 Gy -2 [IQR 0.03-0.06] and α/β of 3.2 Gy [IQR 1.6-6.7] were obtained. For the LL model, MiaPaCa-2 showed slightly higher radiosensitivity compared to BxPc-3 and AsPc-1 cell lines. The median value for all PC cell lines of φ2 was 2.44 Gy [IQR 1.99-3.09] and φ3 was 2.54 ]. The LQ model remains a robust method to assess radiosensitivity of cells, but due to its susceptibility to experimental heterogeneity, caution must be taken during the selection of a proper α/β value. The LL model can offer a more reliable method than the LQ model to capture radiobiological differences between cells' response to radiation. There is need for standardization of the clonogenic assays procedure, and a more thorough report of the setup used.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), CRC incidence has risen substantially over recent decades. This study aimed to assess the burden and temporal trends of CRC in KSA from 1990 to 2023 and to forecast its future burden through 2030. We analyzed data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2023 from 1990 to 2023. Age-standardized rates and case counts were extracted for prevalence, incidence, deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), years of life lost (YLLs), and years lived with disability (YLDs). We conducted decomposition analysis, age-period-cohort analysis, joinpoint regression, and forecasting through 2030 using autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), error-trend-seasonal (ETS) exponential smoothing, and Poisson regression models. Between 1990 and 2023, age-standardized CRC prevalence rates per 100,000 population increased from 30.5 to 81.7 for prevalence (168% increase; APC: 3.91%), from 9.7 to 21.2 for incidence (118% increase; APC: 3.33%), and from 8.8 to 13.5 for mortality (53% increase; APC: 2.18%). Absolute case counts rose more steeply: prevalence increased from 2001 to 14,136 cases (606.5%), incidence from 532 to 2961 cases (456.8%), deaths from 414 to 1526 cases (268.1%), and DALYs from 12,737 to 45,774 (259.4%). Females experienced greater relative increases than males across most measures with narrowing the historical male predominance (male-to-female incidence ratio declined from 1.39 to 1.05). Decomposition analysis revealed population growth as the primary driver of increased burden (contributing 30.2-96.0% of the increase), while changes in age-specific mortality rates offset the expected rise in deaths and DALYs by approximately 50%. Joinpoint analysis showed consistent linear increases with significant trend points changes. Forecasts to 2030 project modest declines for both sexes combined (incidence: -15.9% to 17.9 per 100,000; DALYs: -6.7% to 252.5 per 100,000), with marked sex differences: females are expected to experience substantial reductions (incidence: -33.6%; prevalence: -22.6%; DALYs: -16.5%), while males show lower changes or slight increases (incidence:-6.2%; prevalence:2.9% DALYs: -1.4%). CRC burden in KSA increased substantially from 1990 to 2023, driven primarily by population growth and aging, with a partial offset by improvements in mortality rates. The narrowing sex gap reflects rising rates among females. While modest declines are projected toward 2030, CRC will remain a major public health challenge. Strengthened primary prevention efforts targeting modifiable risk factors and enhanced screening coverage are urgently needed.
Socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with higher obesity risk in older adults, but whether walkable neighborhoods modify these inequalities remains unclear. We examined whether neighborhood walkability moderates the association between area-level socioeconomic status (SES) and adiposity among older adults with overweight or obesity living in Mediterranean cities. This cross-sectional study analyzed baseline data from 1286 urban-dwelling adults aged 55 to 75 years with overweight or obesity and metabolic syndrome residing in six Andalusian cities. Area-level SES was assessed using the 2011 Spanish Deprivation Index, and neighborhood walkability was derived from an open-source index incorporating population density, street intersection density, and access to daily amenities. Adiposity outcomes included waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and a body shape index, all objectively measured. Two-level linear regression models, with individuals nested within census tracts, evaluated SES-walkability interactions while adjusting for demographic and lifestyle factors. No overall differences in adiposity were observed between higher- and lower-SES neighborhoods. However, walkability significantly modified the SES-adiposity association. In highly walkable and dense neighborhoods, participants living in more deprived areas had larger waist circumference and higher body shape index compared with those in less deprived areas, indicating a steeper SES gradient in central adiposity. In low-walkability neighborhoods, SES differences in central adiposity were minimal. No interaction was observed for body mass index. Highly walkable urban environments may therefore amplify socioeconomic inequalities in abdominal obesity among older Mediterranean adults with overweight or obesity. Urban planning strategies promoting walkability should incorporate equity-focused, age-friendly approaches to ensure benefits reach socioeconomically disadvantaged populations.
Opioid use disorder (OUD) is common among adults with cerebrovascular disease, but its association with outcomes after cerebral aneurysm rupture (CAR) and the role of medications for OUD (MOUD) are poorly characterized. Using Oracle Health Real-World Data™, we assembled a cohort of patients with CAR (2000-2025), identified using a prespecified EHR phenotype based on hemorrhage diagnosis codes, aneurysm-related diagnosis/procedure codes, and exclusion criteria. The primary exposure was pre-existing OUD; secondary analyses compared patients with OUD who did versus did not receive MOUD before rupture. Outcomes included epilepsy/seizures, hydrocephalus, myocardial infarction, death, length of stay (LOS), and 30-day readmission. Shared frailty Cox models estimated adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for time-to-event outcomes; mixed-effects log-linear regression estimated percent change in LOS. Among 71,235 patients, 2,125 (3%) had OUD; 273 (13% of those with OUD) received MOUD. Compared with patients without OUD, those with OUD had higher hazards of epilepsy/seizures (aHR 1.27, 95% CI 1.14-1.41), myocardial infarction (1.41, 95% CI 1.20-1.66), death (1.26, 95% CI 1.16-1.36), and longer LOS (eADJβˆ =1.13, 95% CI 1.05-1.23). No clear association was observed for 30-day readmission (aHR 1.07, 95% CI 0.98-1.19). Among patients with OUD, MOUD-related analyses were exploratory; hydrocephalus and 30-day readmission showed nominally lower hazards before multiplicity adjustment but did not remain significant after false discovery rate correction. Pre-existing OUD was associated with higher post-rupture mortality, seizures, myocardial infarction, and longer hospitalization. Further studies are needed to clarify mechanisms, better address residual confounding, and determine whether these associations persist across settings.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking-water sources demand sorbents that capture both long- and short-chain species and can be efficiently regenerated. A hydrolytically robust fluorinated polymer is reported, in which cationic heteroaromatic charges and perfluoroalkyl moieties are co‑localized within each operative functionality. Thus, dual-mode binding sites matching electrostatic and fluorophilic attraction were evaluated as sorbent design for anionic fluorosurfactants. The fluorinated polymer-based anion exchange resin (FP-AER) was synthesized via UV-initiated copolymerization of a perfluoroalkyl-tethered vinylimidazolium monomer with a bis-vinylimidazolium crosslinker and comprehensively characterized by physicochemical methods. Batch adsorption assays versus powdered activated carbon (PAC) quantified single- and multicomponent isotherms, kinetics, co-solute and ionic-strength effects, regeneration, and performance in spiked aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF)-impacted groundwater. FP-AER achieved Langmuir capacities of 597 mg g-1 (PFOA) and 143 mg g-1 (GenX); PFBA exhibited near-linear Freundlich behaviour. At a benchmark equilibrium concentration of 50 μg L-1, FP-AER outperformed PAC by 3-9-fold. The adsorbent was selective in the presence of organic micropollutants (OMPs) and showed pronounced sensitivity to chloride. Regeneration using methanol-salt eluents yielded >90 % recoveries across at least six cycles. In AFFF-impacted groundwater spiked at 0.5 μg L-1 per PFAS, batch tests confirm high PFAS removal by FP-AER relative to PAC. Exploratory rapid small‑scale column tests (RSSCTs) demonstrated feasibility under continuous-flow conditions. A focused mini-review and comparative benchmarking contextualize FP-AER against established AERs and emerging fluorinated sorbents, highlighting the remarkable capacity of the developed dual-mode sorbent; future work will target lower influent levels and optimized column operation.
Rapid identification of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is crucial for early optimization of antibiotic treatment, but current routine susceptibility testing typically requires 48-72 h. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy has emerged as a promising approach for bacterial identification and has recently been used to distinguish MRSA from methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) after 60-120 min of β-lactam exposure. Here, we test whether ATR-FTIR can resolve MRSA versus MSSA within the first hour of antibiotic challenge. We exposed three MSSA (ATCC 6538, WKZ1, RN4220) and four MRSA (ATCC 43300, USA300-JE2, WKZ2, CA629) strains to sub-MIC ampicillin (0.5 μg/mL) and acquired spectra from 800 to 1800 cm-1 at 0, 20, 30, and 60 min. We compared classification pipelines based on the full spectrum, PCA-reduced features, and LASSO-selected bands, coupled with linear discriminant analysis, partial least-squares discriminant analysis, and support vector machines. Models based on LASSO-selected features achieved the strongest early performance, with strain-aware classification accuracies of 0.91 at 20 min and 0.92 at 30 min. Leave-one-strain-out cross-validation (LOSO-CV) further showed that focusing on mechanistically relevant difference spectra enabled robust across-strain discrimination, with balanced accuracies of 0.91 at 20 min and 0.90 at 30 min. The most informative early bands mapped primarily to peptidoglycan and carbohydrate precursor regions, while later discrimination increasingly involved lipid-associated bands. Transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy at 20 min independently confirmed antibiotic-induced cell-wall thickening and structural disruption in susceptible strains but not in resistant strains. Together, these results establish a proof of concept that early cell-wall stress signatures captured by ATR-FTIR, combined with lightweight and interpretable machine-learning models, can deliver rapid and accurate phenotypic discrimination between MRSA and MSSA.