bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship between cognitive impairment and oxidative stress markers in patients with early-onset schizophrenia
Authors: An Rongli , Zhang Xianli , Luo Xianglei , Zhao Zhongxia , Zhen Xiaohong
Published: February 2025

Objective: To investigate the relationship between cognitive impairment and oxidative stress markers in patients with early-onset schizophrenia(EOS).
Methods: This was a retrospective study. A total of 42 patients with EOS admitted to The Eighth Hospital of Shijiazhuang from December 2021 to December 2023 and 42 healthy volunteers were included in this study and classified as the observation group and the control group. Cognitive impairment and oxidative stress markers were assessed in both groups. The Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia(MATRICS) Consensus Cognitive Battery(MCCB) was used to evaluate cognitive function, and the serum levels of superoxide dismutase(SOD), malondialdehyde, glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px), catalase, homocysteine, and nitric oxide(NO) were measured. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to clarity the relationship between cognitive function and oxidative stress markers.
Results: The SOD and GSH-Px levels in the observation group were lower than in the control group, while homocysteine, catalase, malondialdehyde, and NO levels were higher in the observation group. Compared to the control group, patients in the observation group scored significantly lower for information processing speed, attention/vigilance, working memory, verbal learning, visual learning, reasoning and problem solving, and social cognition (P< 0.01, respectively). SOD and malondialdehyde levels were found to have a significant negative correlation with information processing speed, with r values of -0.342 and -0.350, respectively (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Cognitive impairment in patients with EOS appears to be associated with oxidative stress. There is a significant negative correlation between the levels of SOD and malondialdehyde and information processing speed.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.3.9999
How to cite this: An R, Zhang X, Luo X, Zhao Z, Zhen X. Relationship between cognitive impairment and oxidative stress markers in patients with early-onset schizophrenia. Pak J Med Sci. 2025;41(3):867-871. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.3.9999
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Exploring Faculty and Academic Advisors’ Experiences Supporting College Students with Mental Health Challenges: A Qualitative Study Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
Authors: Johns Shantalea
Published: February 2025

This interpretive phenomenological study explores faculty and academic advisors’ experiences in supporting students with mental health challenges. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior, which suggests that personal beliefs, prior experiences, and familiarity with symptoms influence behavior, the study examines participant narratives to identify key factors that shape their approaches to supporting students. Findings indicate that personal beliefs about mental health, prior experiences with individuals facing mental health challenges, and campus-based mental health training opportunities all significantly enhance mental health support mechanisms for students outside traditional counseling settings. The ability of faculty and academic advisors to recognize signs of mental health challenges is critical for promoting overall campus well-being.
Sources, Obstacles, and Opportunities for Primary-role Advisor Professional Development: Perspectives from NACADA Leaders
Authors: McGill Craig M.
Published: February 2025

This qualitative study explores the perceptions of NACADA leaders regarding institutional and structural sources, obstacles, and opportunities related to learning and professional development (PD) for primary-role academic advisors. Through semi-structured interviews with 17 NACADA leaders, the study identifies three key themes: the critical role of professional associations in supporting learning and growth, substantial financial and structural barriers to PD, and the essential need for institutional recognition and support. The findings highlight the complexities academic advisors face in enhancing their skills and professional standing, emphasizes the importance of professional communities, and identifies the challenges posed by current institutional frameworks. Implications for fostering a supportive environment for advisor learning and PD are discussed, along with recommendations for future research.
“No More Separation between Zion and Her Children”: Palestine as a Sacred Geography and the Roots of the Gaza Genocide
Authors: Yaghi Adam A. H.
Published: February 2025

This article maps out the Gaza genocidal rhetoric onto a genealogy of European-American imaginative re-makings of the geography of Palestine. This tradition, rooted in nineteenth-century visions of ethnically cleansing and repurposing the land according to colonial and theological worldviews, has systematically imagined freeing a barren Palestine from Palestinian barbarity, neglect, and spiritual corruption. This hegemonic tradition and its geographies of domination, however, have not gone unchallenged. Indeed, as a model – one rarely studied though, Ibrahim Fawal’s diasporic Palestinian novel On the Hills of God offers an alternate anti-colonial geography of resistance. To develop its claims, the article first uses a body of interdisciplinary scholarship to establish the genealogy and expose its genocidal spatial remapping of Palestinian geography. It, next, strategically resorts to On the Hills of God as an anti-colonial text that not only uncovers the Zionist destruction of a fairly harmonious multifaith local cultural geography in pre-1948 Palestine, but also captures traumatic memories of a nation currently besieged in its shrinking indigenous geography, exposes established hegemonic narratives, and charts a trajectory of resistance.
RIPK1 is required for ZBP1-driven necroptosis in human cells
Authors: Amusan Oluwamuyiwa T. , Wang Shuqi , Yin Chaoran , Koehler Heather S. , Li Yixun , Tenev Tencho , Wilson Rebecca , Bellenie Benjamin , Zhang Ting , Wang Jian , Liu Chang , Seong Kim , Poorbaghi Seyedeh L. , Yates Joseph , Shen Yuchen , Upton Jason W. , Meier Pascal , Balachandran Siddharth , Guo Hongyan
Published: February 2025

Necroptosis initiated by the host sensor Z-NA binding protein 1 (ZBP1) is essential for host defense against a growing number of viruses, including herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). Studies with HSV-1 and other necroptogenic stimuli in murine settings have suggested that ZBP1 triggers necroptosis by directly complexing with the kinase RIPK3. Whether this is also the case in human cells, or whether additional co-factors are needed for ZBP1-mediated necroptosis, is unclear. Here, we show that ZBP1-induced necroptosis in human cells requires RIPK1. We have found that RIPK1 is essential for forming a stable and functional ZBP1-RIPK3 complex in human cells, but is dispensable for the formation of the equivalent murine complex. The receptor-interacting protein (RIP) homology interaction motif (RHIM) in RIPK3 is responsible for this difference between the 2 species, because replacing the RHIM in human RIPK3 with the RHIM from murine RIPK3 is sufficient to overcome the requirement for RIPK1 in human cells. These observations describe a critical mechanistic difference between mice and humans in how ZBP1 engages in necroptosis, with important implications for treating human diseases.
Caspase 3 and caspase 7 promote cytoprotective autophagy and the DNA damage response during non-lethal stress conditions in human breast cancer cells
Authors: Samarasekera Gayathri , Go Nancy E. , Choutka Courtney , Xu Jing , Takemon Yuka , Chan Jennifer , Chan Michelle , Perera Shivani , Aparicio Samuel , Morin Gregg B. , Marra Marco A. , Chittaranjan Suganthi , Gorski Sharon M.
Published: February 2025

Cell stress adaptation plays a key role in normal development and in various diseases including cancer. Caspases are activated in response to cell stress, and growing evidence supports their function in non-apoptotic cellular processes. A role for effector caspases in promoting stress-induced cytoprotective autophagy was demonstrated in Drosophila, but has not been explored in the context of human cells. We found a functionally conserved role for effector caspase 3 (CASP3) and caspase 7 (CASP7) in promoting starvation or proteasome inhibition-induced cytoprotective autophagy in human breast cancer cells. The loss of CASP3 and CASP7 resulted in an increase in PARP1 cleavage, reduction in LC3B and ATG7 transcript levels, and a reduction in H2AX phosphorylation, consistent with a block in autophagy and DNA damage-induced stress response pathways. Surprisingly, in non-lethal cell stress conditions, CASP7 underwent non-canonical processing at two calpain cleavage sites flanking a PARP1 exosite, resulting in stable CASP7-p29/p30 fragments. Expression of CASP7-p29/p30 fragment(s) could rescue H2AX phosphorylation in the CASP3 and CASP7 double knockout background. Strikingly, yet consistent with these phenotypes, the loss of CASP3 and CASP7 exhibited synthetic lethality with BRCA1 loss. These findings support a role for human caspases in stress adaptation through PARP1 modulation and reveal new therapeutic avenues for investigation.
A single dose of inactivated influenza virus vaccine expressing COBRA hemagglutinin elicits broadly-reactive and long-lasting protection
Authors: Shi Hua , Zhang Xiaojian , Ross Ted M.
Published: February 2025

Influenza virus infections present a pervasive global health concern resulting in millions of hospitalizations and thousands of fatalities annually. To address the influenza antigenic variation, the computationally optimized broadly reactive antigen (COBRA) methodology was used to design influenza hemagglutinin (HA) or neuraminidase (NA) for universal influenza vaccine candidates. In this study, whole inactivated virus (WIV) or split inactivated virus (SIV) vaccine formulations expressing either the H1 COBRA HA or H3 COBRA HA were formulated with or without an adjuvant and tested in ferrets with pre-existing anti-influenza immunity. A single dose of the COBRA-WIV vaccine elicited a robust and broadly reactive antibody response against H1N1 and H3N2 influenza viruses. In contrast, the COBRA-SIV elicited antibodies that recognized fewer viruses, but with R-DOATP, its specificity was expanded. Vaccinated ferrets were protected against morbidity and mortality following challenge with A/California/07/2009 at 14 weeks post-vaccination with reduced viral shedding post-infection compared to the naïve ferrets. However, the COBRA-IIVs did not block the viral transmission to naïve ferrets. The contact infection induced less severe disease and delayed viral shedding than direct infection. Overall, the COBRA HA WIV or the COBRA HA SIV plus R-DOTAP elicited broadly reactive antibodies with long-term protection against viral challenge and reduced viral transmission following a single dose of vaccine in ferrets pre-immune to historical H1N1 and H3N2 influenza viruses.

IMPORTANCE The goal of the next-generation influenza vaccine is to provide broadly reactive protection against various drifted influenza strains. With the previous studies evaluating the COBRA HA-based vaccines, the breadth of antibody activities was confirmed following two or three vaccinations. However, for the commercial influenza vaccine, only one shot is required. In this study, only one shot was administrated to the pre-immune ferrets and the COBRA-WIV efficiently elicited broadly reactive antibodies and long-lasting protection against the pdm09 strain. Moreover, this study showed that different infection methods can lead to different disease severity, which emphasizes the significance of the model selection. The infection was conducted 14 weeks post-vaccination to evaluate the long-term protection elicited by only one vaccination. This is the first longevity study describing the immune responses elicited by COBRA-IIVs in ferrets and provides promising results for the potential clinical utilization.
A DNA barcode library for Culex mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of South America with the description of two cryptic species of subgenus Melanoconion
Authors: Talaga Stanislas , Guidez Amandine , de Thoisy Benoît , Lavergne Anne , Carinci Romuald , Gaborit Pascal , Issaly Jean , Dusfour Isabelle , Duchemin Jean-Bernard
Published: February 2025

Among mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae), the genus Culex Linnaeus is one of the most diverse in the world and includes numerous known vector species of parasites and viruses to humans. Morphological identification of Culex species is notoriously difficult and relies mostly on the examination of properly dissected male genitalia which largely prevents female and immature identification during entomological, ecological or arboviral surveys. The aims of this study were (i) to establish a DNA barcode library for Culex mosquitoes of French Guiana based on the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) marker, (ii) to compare three approaches of molecular delimitation of species to morphological identification, (iii) to test the effectiveness of the COI marker at a broader geographical scale across South America, and (iv) to discuss the internal classification of the genus Culex as regard to our phylogenetic analysis. Mosquitoes used in this study were sampled in French Guiana between 2013 and 2023. We provide 246 COI sequences for 90 morphologically identified species of Culex, including five new country records and two newly described species. Overall, congruence between morphological identification and molecular delimitations using the COI barcode was high. The Barcode of Life Data clustering approach into Barcode Index Numbers gives the best result in terms of species delimitation. Inconsistencies between morphological identification and molecular delimitation can be explained by introgression, incomplete lineage sorting, imperfect taxonomy or the effect of geographical gap in sampling. This increases by almost two-fold the number of mosquito species for which a DNA barcode is available in French Guiana, including 75% of the Culex species currently known in the territory. Finally, this study confirms the usefulness of the COI barcode in identifying Culex of South America, but also points the limits of this marker for some groups of species within the subgenera Culex and Melanoconion.
Connected multi-vehicle crash risk assessment considering probability and intensity
Authors: Jia Shuo , Xu Jin , Wang Song , Liu Xingliang
Published: February 2025

Accurate driving risk assessments are essential in vehicle collision avoidance and traffic safety. The uncertainty in driving intentions and behavior, coupled with the difficulty in accurately predicting future trajectories of vehicles, poses challenges in assessing collision risk among vehicles. Existing research on collision risk assessment has been limited to focusing on pre-crashes (e.g., time-to-collision) and ignoring the impact of crash severity on risk. Research integrating pre- and post-crash is needed to assess the collision risk comprehensively. Therefore, the objective of this study was to propose an assessment model for collision risk in a vehicle-to-vehicle communication environment to achieve a more scientific assessment of driving risk by integrating probability (pre-crash) and intensity (post-crash). The proposed trajectory prediction model takes driving intentions into account and employs a social tensor pool to integrate interactions between vehicles, thereby achieving improved prediction accuracy. The likelihood of collision is obtained by analyzing the conflict relationship between the predicted and candidate trajectories of different vehicles. This study proposes a risk assessment model comprising two parts: one assesses the likelihood of collision by analyzing the conflicted relationship between predicted and candidate trajectories of different vehicles, and the other determines collision intensity through analysis of vehicle driving states. Finally, publicly available unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based traffic data are used to validate the models. The prediction errors of the proposed trajectory prediction model for three-second trajectories are 0.68 m and 1.34 for the root mean square error and negative log-likelihood, respectively. The quantitative experimental results illustrate that the proposed model outperforms existing models and can scientifically assess the risk of vehicle travel.
Decoupled Classifier Knowledge Distillation
Authors: Wang Hairui , Dong Mengjie , Zhu Guifu , Li Ya
Published: February 2025

Mainstream knowledge distillation methods primarily include self-distillation, offline distillation, online distillation, output-based distillation, and feature-based distillation. While each approach has its respective advantages, they are typically employed independently. Simply combining two distillation methods often leads to redundant information. If the information conveyed by both methods is highly similar, this can result in wasted computational resources and increased complexity. To provide a new perspective on distillation research, we aim to explore a compromise solution that aligns complex features without conflicting with output alignment. In this work, we propose to decouple the classifier’s output into two components: non-target classes learned by the student, and target classes obtained by both the teacher and the student. Finally, we introduce Decoupled Classifier Knowledge Distillation (DCKD), where on one hand, we fix the correct knowledge that the student has already acquired, which is crucial for merging the two methods; on the other hand, we encourage the student to further align its output with that of the teacher. Compared to using a single method, DCKD achieves superior results on both the CIFAR-100 and ImageNet datasets for image classification and object detection tasks, without reducing training efficiency. Moreover, it allows relational-based and feature-based distillation to operate more efficiently and flexibly. This work demonstrates the great potential of integrating distillation methods, and we hope it will inspire future research.
COVID-19 symptom severity and duration among outpatients, July 2021-May 2023: The PROTECT observational study
Authors: Vashi Bhavya , Pettrone Kristen , Wilson Claire S. , Chenoweth Josh G. , Brandsma Joost , Gregory Melissa K. , Genzor Pavol , Striegel Deborah A. , Rothman Richard E. , Hansoti Bhakti , Avornu Gideon D. , McBryde Breana , Zimmerman Lauren Reynolds , Woods Christopher W. , Petzold Elizabeth A. , Cowden Jessica , Nitayaphan Sorachai , Nasomsong Worapong , Clark Danielle V.
Published: February 2025

Introduction

With the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants has come significant variations in disease manifestation, severity, and duration in non-hospitalized infected patients. To characterize symptom patterns and risk factors associated with symptom severity and duration, COVID-19 and influenza-like illness (ILI) outpatients and their contacts were enrolled at two sites in the United States of America and one site in Thailand.

Methods

COVID-19 infection was confirmed at enrollment with a positive antigen or PCR test. Baseline demographics and medical histories were collected from participants at enrollment and daily self-reported symptom questionnaires were obtained to assess symptom severity and duration. Risk factors associated with symptom severity and duration were determined by multivariate logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

Two hundred and forty one participants meeting the eligibility criteria were enrolled, including 174 confirmed COVID-19 cases (9% Delta and 90% Omicron), 33 ILI cases, and 34 healthy contacts. COVID-19 participants had a shorter median symptom duration of 9.0 (95% CI, 8.0–11.0) days than ILI participants. Infection with the Delta variant resulted in a longer symptom alleviation period compared to infection with the Omicron variant. The most commonly reported symptoms among COVID-19 participants were reported in the nasal and chest/respiratory domains of the FLU-PRO Plus. Participants infected with the Delta variant reported more symptoms overall, with significantly more symptoms affecting eyes and senses reported. 55% of SARS-CoV-2-positive participants reached a negative N1 Ct value by the day 14 study time point. No risk factors for moderate to severe symptoms were identified in this outpatient cohort. Male sex was associated with a shorter symptom duration.

Conclusion

Symptom manifestation varied among Delta and Omicron variants. Few risk factors were identified for increased symptom severity or duration.
Chaotic behavior, sensitivity analysis and Jacobian elliptic function solution of M-fractional paraxial wave with Kerr law nonlinearity
Authors: Roshid Md. Mamunur , Safi Ullah Mohammad , Rahman M. M. , Roshid Harun-Or-
Published: February 2025

This study investigates the paraxial approximation of the M-fractional paraxial wave equation with Kerr law nonlinearity. The paraxial wave equation is most important to describe the propagation of waves under the paraxial approximation. This approximation assumes that the wavefronts are nearly parallel to the axis of propagation, allowing for simplifications that make the equation particularly useful in studying beam-like structures such as laser beams and optical solitons. The paraxial wave equation balances linear dispersion and nonlinear effects, capturing the essential dynamics of wave evolution in various media. It plays a crucial role in understanding phenomena like diffraction, focusing, and self-phase modulation in optical fibers. It substantially contributes to our comprehension of the special characteristics of optical soliton solutions and the dynamics of soliton in a variety of optical systems. We create a range of wave structures using the powerful extended Jacobian elliptic function expansion (EJEFE) method, including periodic waves, lump-periodic waves, periodic breather waves, kink-bell waves, kinky-periodic waves, anti-kinky-periodic waves, double-periodic waves, etc. These solutions have applications in wave dynamics in different optical systems and optical fibre. Furthermore, we investigate chaotic phenomena by analyzing the model qualitatively. We analyze phase portraits in detail for a range of parameter values to provide insights into the behavior of the system. We also investigate the sensitivity analysis for diverse parametric values of the perturbated coefficient. We may use various strategies, including time series and 3D and 2D phase patterns, to identify chaotic and quasi-periodic phenomena by providing an external periodic strength. The above discussion of the suggested method demonstrates adaptability and usefulness in resolving a broad spectrum of mathematics and physical difficulties, indicating its potential for generating such optical solutions.
Controls on concentrations and clumped isotopologues of vehicle exhaust methane
Authors: Sun Jiayang , Haghnegahdar Mojhgan A. , Fernandez Julianne M. , Magen Cédric , Farquhar James
Published: February 2025

Methane emissions from vehicle exhaust, as a source of methane, are often overlooked. However, in areas with high vehicle activity, the emissions can be substantial. There is a notable lack of characterization regarding the variable concentrations and isotopic signatures of methane in vehicle exhaust. This gap in knowledge limits our understanding of the mechanisms of methane production in vehicles and the factors controlling concentration variations and isotopic fractionation, which also makes it difficult to identify and reduce methane emissions from vehicle exhaust. This study characterized the methane concentration ([CH4]), methane-to-ethane ratio (C2:C1), methane carbon and hydrogen isotopes (δ13C and δD), and methane clumped isotopologues (Δ13CH3D and Δ12CH2D2) of the vehicle exhaust methane endmember. [CH4] varied widely from below 1 ppm to more than 3000 ppm, potentially influenced by vehicle maintenance and operational phases. Ethane concentrations ([C2H6]) correlated with [CH4], yet C2:C1 varied significantly from 0.1% to 18.3%. The δ13C and δD values of exhaust methane were less negative than those of natural gas. A large portion of samples showed a positive linear relationship between [CH4], δ13C from -22‰ to -11‰, and δD values from -170‰ to -120‰, while their clumped isotopologues exhibit ~0.8‰ clumping in Δ13CH3D and ~-2.4‰ anti-clumping in Δ12CH2D2. A small portion of the samples exhibited distinct isotopic characteristics, with their δ13C and δD values either becoming significantly more positive or aligning closer to the composition of ambient air, while their Δ12CH2D2 values showed a marked increase, reaching between +25‰ to +33‰. These concentration and isotope characteristics show trends that can be explained by a combination of processes, including 1) methane formation in the engine, 2) methane combustion in the engine, 3) methane oxidation by the catalytic converter, and 4) mixing with air. The observed isotopic fractionation can be explained by thermo equilibrium and Rayleigh fractionations. These processes, elucidated through isotopic and clumped isotopologue analyses, underscore the intricate dynamics and controls of vehicular methane emissions.
Influence of egg card color preference, inoculation time, generational succession, and learning experience on the parasitism of Trichogramma ostriniae
Authors: Wang Huixian , Zhu Wenya , Guo Ruifeng , Zhang Ye
Published: February 2025

This study investigated the parasitic selection preferences of female Trichogramma ostriniae on egg cards of different colors, considering the effects of inoculation time, generations, and learning experiences on wasp parasitism. The preferences of female T. ostriniae for oviposition were assessed across egg cards of different colors. Subsequent experiments identified the egg card background color most preferred by T. ostriniae and examined the influence of inoculation time, generations, and learning experiences on parasitism rates. The findings revealed a significant preference for T. ostriniae for yellow egg cards compared to other colors, with the highest parasitism rate observed on yellow and the lowest on red. Inoculation time had a significant effect on the parasitism of T. ostriniae on yellow egg cards, with the highest parasitism observed at 16h post-inoculation and a noticeable negative linear correlation with increasing inoculation time up to 48h (F = 8.73, P<0.05). The number of generations did not significantly affect the parasitism rate of T. ostriniae on yellow egg cards, nor did the learning experiences show a significant difference in the relative parasitism of T. ostriniae on yellow egg cards among the learning experiences. However, T. ostriniae had a significantly higher parasitization rate on yellow egg cards compared to white egg cards, regardless of generation or learning experience. Those results showed that female T. ostriniae strongly prefers yellow. The highest parasitism of female T. ostriniae on yellow egg cards was observed at 16h post-inoculation.
Off the charts: A comparative analysis of data visualisations in online science news from South Africa and the USA
Authors: Kirsten Marnell , Joubert Marina , Smeets Ionica , Wijnker Winnifred
Published: February 2025

Terms like ‘big data’, ‘data science’, and ‘data visualisation’ have become buzzwords in recent years and are increasingly intertwined with journalism. Data visualisation may further blur the lines between science communication and graphic design. Our study is situated in these overlaps to compare the design of data visualisations in science news stories across four online news media platforms in South Africa and the United States. Our study contributes to an understanding of how well-considered data visualisations are tools for effective storytelling, and offers practical recommendations for using data visualisation in science communication efforts.
HIV retesting prevalence among clients accessing anti-retroviral therapy and HIV testing services in Ghana
Authors: Adu-Gyamfi Raphael , Addo Stephen Ayisi , Baddoo Nyonuku Akosua , Kenu Ernest , Ashinyo Anthony , Owusu Kwadwo Koduah , Chihana Menard Laurent , Adams Alice Sallar , Magdalene Odikro , Bandoh Delia , Abdulai Marijanatu , Danso Kenneth , Senya Kafui , Johnson Cheryl
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Ghana is working towards achieving the 95-95-95 targets for its HIV response. One challenge has been low linkage to care rates, possibly due to high rates of retesting among people living with HIV who are already aware of their status. This leads to an overestimation of the first 95 and a subsequent underestimation of the second 95. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of HIV retesting among PLHIV in Ghana who are already aware of their status and to explore their reasons for retesting.

Methods

This was a facility-based cross-sectional study conducted in the three ecological zones of Ghana. A total of 11,145 individuals from 30 ART centres and 90 HTS centres participated. The sample size for each zone was determined proportionally based on the number of people enrolled in ART. A profiling tool was used to assess testing behaviours among clients visiting HTS sites linked to ART clinics. Focus group discussions were also conducted with clients and health workers to gather their perceptions of reasons for retesting.

Results

Participants were predominantly female (74.3%; 8,285/11,145), with a median age (interquartile range) of 43.0 (35–52). The prevalence of retesting among ART clients was 32.9% [95% CI: 0.32–0.34] (3,670/11,145). Among those who retested, the majority did so twice (2,041; 55.6%). Of the clients who tested positive for HIV during the study period, 53.1% (43/835; 95% CI: 0.49–0.57) had a previous HIV diagnosis. Adjusting for retesting, the positivity rate at HTS sites decreased from 8.4% to 4.1%. Key reasons for retesting included the desire to confirm diagnosis, denial and doubt regarding test results, retesting required due to documentation issues, and religious beliefs.

Conclusion

The prevalence of retesting over the past six years was found to be high, resulting in an overestimation of HIV positivity rates and affecting linkage to care. Implementing interventions to accurately account for retesting instances may improve data accuracy and the country’s linkage to care rate, bringing Ghana closer to achieving the 95-95-95 targets.
Inequality of opportunity in child nutrition in Pakistan
Authors: Sriram Shyamkumar , Naz Lubna
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Malnutrition among children is one of the major health challenges in Pakistan. The National Nutritional Survey 2018 revealed that 44% of children are stunted. Different circumstances surrounding a child’s birth can lead to inequality of opportunity in early childhood, with significant nutritional inequalities between rural and urban areas. This study aims to identify the drivers of inequality of opportunity in stunting among children under-five years of age in Pakistan.

Methods

This study used Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey, 2017–18 to identify the factors contributing to inequality of opportunity in child’s stunting. The Dissimilarity index (D-index), along with Oaxaca decomposition, and Shapely decomposition were employed to measure and decompose inequality in opportunity in stunting. Regional variations in stunting among children under various circumstances were analyzed using Geographic Information System or GIS.

Results

The burden of stunting is exceptionally high in Pakistan, with the prevalence in rural areas significantly exceeding that in urban areas from 1990 to 2018. Shapley decomposition of the contributors to inequality in opportunity indicates that maternal education accounted for 24% of total inequality among rural children and 44% among urban children. Water and sanitation contributed 22% to overall inequality in rural areas but only 2% in urban areas, highlighting the critical role of inadequate water and sanitation in rural settings. The wealth index was a predominant contributor to inequality both nationally and in urban areas. Southern regions exhibit a higher prevalence of stunting and a greater proportion of households lacking adequate water and sanitation. Additionally, the concentration of uneducated mothers and stunted children is notably high in Balochistan and Sindh.

Conclusions

The lack of maternal education, inadequate access to water and sanitation services, and lower socio-economic status are key factors contributing to inequality of opportunity in stunting among children under five in Pakistan. Understanding the critical role of these circumstances can help policymakers address the situation and implement concrete steps to enhance equal opportunities for child health.
A new era of cardiac nephroprotection in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: the role of Finerenone
Authors: Khalimov I. S. , Polyakova E. A. , Shutova Yu. A.
Published: February 2025

The main factor in modern healthcare is to increase the length and quality of life of patients, especially with socially significant diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its dangerous complication — chronic kidney disease (CKD), associated with a high rate of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), end-stage renal disease and mortality. Effective management of cardiorenal risks in addition with blockers of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitors was replenished in 2023 with a new non-steroidal selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist — Finerenone. This unique and one-of-a-kind drug improves the control of cellular processes, fibrosis in the kidneys and myocardial remodeling. This review presents the main studies on the mechanism of action of Finerenone, assessment of its effectiveness and safety, and its effect on the risk of developing cardiorenal risk in patients with T2DM. Finerenone is one-of-a-kind drug who has no alternatives to improve a control of cellular processes, a fibrosis in the kidneys and a myocardial remodeling. In this review we presented Finerenone effects on an eGFR slope as a main kidney function feature, and proposed practice points on safe initiation of the three cardiorenal «pillars» in patients with T2DM in accordance with the current clinical guidelines.
Diabetes mellitus in the elderly: clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the all-Russian cohort of diabetic patients over 65 years
Authors: Shestakova M. V. , Vikulova O. K. , Zheleznyakova A. V. , Kutakova D. V. , Isakov M. A. , Mokrysheva N. G.
Published: February 2025

BACKGROUND: Population aging leads to an increase in the prevalence of age-associated diseases, which makes it relevant to study the characteristics of diabetes mellitus (DM) in older adults.

AIM: The aim of our study was to analyze the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of DM in elderly people (≥65 years), the state of carbohydrate metabolism (level of HbA1c), the frequency of diabetic complications and the characteristics of glucose-lowering therapy (GLT) in the Russian Federation (RF).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Object of the study: Russian cohort of patients with diabetes based on the diabetes registry (http://diaregistry.ru), a depersonalized data unloading as of 01.01.2024, including patients from 87 regions of the RF, n=5205647. Patients were stratified by age ≥ and <65 years into 2 groups: “65+”, n=3085805 and “65-”, n=2119842 and analyzed in the subgroups of type 1 and type 2 DM, in dynamics 2013–2023.

RESULTS: The total number of DM patients aged 65+ is 3085805, which is 59,3% of the total number of DM patients; with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) — 63,8%, with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) — 8,1% of patients. Over the period 2013-2023, there was an ­increase in the proportion of elderly people with T2DM from 50,2% to 63,8%, with T1DM — 7,9-8,1%. The proportion of patients with onset of T2DM over the age 60 years increased from 51% to 63%. Clinical characteristics in the «65+» and «65-» group differed significantly in T1DM in the level of HbA1c 7,8 vs 8,0%, level of GFR 75,0 vs 107,2 ml/min/1,73 m2, BMI 26,9 vs 23,2 kg/m2; in T2DM the level of HbA1c 7,3 vs 7,5%, level of GFR 73,1 vs 89,1 ml/min/1,73 m2; BMI 30,9 vs 32,0 kg/m2, respectively. The proportion of obese patients increased with age in T1DM from 13% to 36%, and decreased in T2DM from 62% to 54%. In the group of older patients with both types of DM, a higher frequency of diabetic complications with combined damage to target organs of CKD, ASCVD and CHF was observed: on average 4,6 times with in T1DM, 2,2 times in T2DM. When analyzing the GLT in the group of 65+, sulfonylurea (SU) drugs dominate 45,3% vs 35,0%, the proportion of metformin and drugs with organoprotective effects (DPP-4 inhibitors, SGLT-2 inhibitors, arGLP-1) decreases.

CONCLUSION: An analysis of older patients from the all-Russian population of DM patients showed significant clinical differences characterizing the pathophysiological features of the course of DM in the elderly, which requires special attention to the aspects of individualization of treatment goals and choice of therapy from the standpoint of safety and risk reduction in this cohort of patients.
De cordeiro sacrificial a vingador divino
Authors: Tindo Marcos , Silva Júnior Jerfferson Manoel Araújo da
Published: February 2025

Este artigo propõe um estudo e uma tradução do poema Triumphus Christi Heroicus, escrito em latim por Johannes Spangenberg (1448-1550). O poema apresenta uma narrativa imaginativa sobre a catábase de Jesus após a sua morte, descida que é apenas insinuada no texto canônico do Novo Testamento, e mistura elementos característicos dos mitos greco-latinos com a narrativa cristã tradicional. Nesta análise, discutem-se a recepção dos mitos gregos dentro do contexto do cristianismo, os paralelos entre as narrativas de Jesus e figuras da crença étnica greco-romana (em especial o herói Héracles), e o uso dos mitos pagãos no contexto da Reforma Protestante, da qual Spangenberg fazia parte. Para fins de comparação, propõe-se também uma edição do texto latino, obtida através do cotejo das edições de Spangenberg (1539), Migne (1846) e Vredeveld (2012), antes da nossa tradução para o português.
An Algorithm for Generalized Conversion to Normal Distribution for Independent and Identically Distributed Random Variables
Authors: Rellon Louie Resti Sandoval
Published: February 2025

The paper analyzes an efficient alternative to the Box-Cox and Johnson’s transformation to normality methods which operates under fairly general settings. The method hinges on two results in mathematical statistics: the fact that the cumulative distribution function F(x) of a random variable x always has a U(0,1) distribution and the Box-Mueller transformation of uniform random variables to standard normal random variables.  Bounds for the Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistic between the distribution of the transformed observations and the normal distribution are provided by numerical simulation and by appealing to the Dvoretzky-Kiefer- Wolfowitz inequality.
Lung‐delivered IL‐10 mitigates Lung inflammation induced by repeated endotoxin exposures in male mice
Authors: Schwab Aaron D. , Wyatt Todd A. , Schanze Oliver W. , Nelson Amy J. , Gleason Angela M. , Duryee Michael J. , Mosley Deanna D. , Thiele Geoffrey M. , Mikuls Ted R. , Poole Jill A.
Published: February 2025

Therapies capable of resolving inflammatory lung disease resulting from high‐consequence occupational/environmental hazards are lacking. This study seeks to determine the therapeutic potential of direct lung‐delivered interleukin (IL)‐10 following repeated lipopolysaccharide exposures. C57BL/6 mice were intratracheally instilled with LPS (10 μg) and treated with IL‐10 (1 μg) or vehicle control for 3 days. Lung cell infiltrates were enumerated by flow cytometry. Lung sections were stained for myeloperoxidase (MPO), CCR2, vimentin, and post‐translational protein citrullination (CIT) and malondialdehyde‐acetaldehyde (MAA) modifications. Lung function testing and longitudinal in vivo micro‐CT imaging were performed. Whole lungs were profiled using bulk RNA sequencing. IL‐10 treatment reduced LPS‐induced weight loss, pentraxin‐2, and IL‐6 serum levels. LPS‐induced lung proinflammatory and wound repair mediators (i.e., TNF‐α, IL‐6, CXCL1, CCL2, MMP‐8, MMP‐9, TIMP‐1, fibronectin) were decreased with IL‐10. IL‐10 reduced LPS‐induced influx of lung neutrophils, CD8+ T cells, NK cells, recruited monocyte‐macrophages, monocytes, and tissue expression of CCR2+ monocytes‐macrophages, MPO+ neutrophils, vimentin, CIT, and MAA. IL‐10 reduced LPS‐induced airway hyperresponsiveness and improved lung compliance. Micro‐CT imaging confirmed the reduction in LPS‐induced lung density by IL‐10. Lung‐delivered IL‐10 therapy administered after daily repeated endotoxin exposures strikingly reduces lung inflammatory and wound repair processes to decrease lung pathologic changes and mitigate airway dysfunction.
Migration on digital news platforms: Using large-scale digital text analysis and time-series to estimate the effects of socioeconomic data on migration content
Authors: Simonsen Sandra , Baden Christian
Published: February 2025

The way digital news platforms represent migration issues can significantly impact intergroup relations and policymaking. A recurring question in the debate on the role of news platforms is whether they merely transmit information on migration, or actively hype specific issues. Drawing on a comprehensive set of socioeconomic statistics on migrants in Denmark, and employing a longitudinal automated content analysis of migration news content, we utilize time-series analysis to understand how four distinct categories of threat (security, economic, cultural, and generalized) relate to socioeconomic data on terror attacks, migrant crime levels, economic performance, and demographic trends. The results reveal a direct effect of terror attacks, economic performance, and demographic trends on migration news. We discuss the implications of socioeconomic and demographic developments as factors in digital media content to understand the role of media and substantiate contemporary debates.
Intelligent data collection algorithm research for WSNs
Authors: Zhong Weihe
Published: February 2025

The high development of sensors and wireless network technology has led to the widespread application of wireless sensor networks in the field of environmental monitoring. How to establish efficient, fast, and stable data collection algorithms has become a hot research field. Given this, a dynamic clustering and multi-hop data collection algorithm is proposed based on the neighbor clustering propagation algorithm, low-power adaptive layered routing protocol, and multi-hop priority strategy. The final experimental results indicated that the dynamic data collection algorithm only entered a significant decay period after 2,000 rounds of data collection, indicating that under the same conditions, the dynamic data collection algorithm had better data transmission performance. In Scenario 1, the survival rate of the dynamic data collection algorithm was still close to 80% at 300 rounds. The dynamic data collection algorithm in Scenario 2 was still close to 75% at 1,500 rounds. In Scenario 3, the remaining algorithms decreased to below 50% after 100 rounds, while the dynamic data collection algorithm remained close to 90% after 300 rounds. The remaining algorithms in Scenario 4 dropped below 50% by 500 rounds, while the dynamic data collection algorithm was still close to 70% by 1,500 rounds. The experiment fully demonstrates that the dynamic data collection algorithm has strong comprehensive performance, the best stability, and the highest energy utilization efficiency. Therefore, the dynamic algorithm proposed in the study has strong survivability and performance advantages in various scenarios.
Die Fremdartigkeit der traditionellen chinesischen Erzählliteratur: Zur Rezeption des
Liaozhai zhiyi
im deutschsprachigen Raum
Authors: Hong Kunlyu
Published: February 2025

Der vorliegende Beitrag untersucht anhand von Vorworten, Einleitungen und Presserezensionen deutscher Übersetzungen die Fremdartigkeit, die eine allgemeine deutschsprachige Leserschaft bei der Rezeption traditioneller chinesischer Erzählliteratur empfindet. Als Beispiel wird die Sammlung Liaozhai zhiyi von Pu Songling (1640–1715) gewählt, die als Höhepunkt der traditionellen chinesischen Erzählung gilt und zu den meistübersetzten chinesischen Werken zählt. Ihre repräsentativen deutschsprachigen Übersetzungen und Rezensionen dazu, die sich über ein Jahrhundert erstrecken, bieten eine vorteilhafte Forschungsgrundlage. Es wird gezeigt, dass der chinesische Volksglaube, verbunden mit verschiedenen Chinabildern, am häufigsten als Fremdartiges thematisiert oder angedeutet wurde, wobei im Laufe der Zeit immer mehr Aspekte in Betracht kamen. Da Fremdartigkeit erst in Relation zum Eigenen in Erscheinung tritt, wird auch untersucht, welche vertrauten Elemente die Übersetzer bzw. Rezensenten zum Vergleich herangezogen haben. Insgesamt hat sich die von deutschsprachigen Lesern im LZZY empfundene Fremdartigkeit von einer vorurteilshaften, selbstzentrierten Wahrnehmung zu einer konkreteren und differenzierteren mit bewussterer Selbstreflexion entwickelt. Diese Entwicklung ist jedoch viel deutlicher in Vorworten und Einleitungen als in den Rezensionen zu erkennen.
The active ingredients and mechanism of Zuoqing San in the treatment of sigmoid ulcerative colitis by retention enema
Authors: Li Ming , Deng Heng , Xu Shuqing , Fang Xiaoli , Tang Kun , Chen Li , Zha Ansheng
Published: February 2025

Objectives

This investigation aimed to evaluate the efficacy, key active ingredients, and mechanisms of Zuoqing San (ZQS), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, in managing sigmoid ulcerative colitis (SUC).

Methods

A cohort of 126 participants was recruited and treated with ZQS at a daily dosage of 100 mL for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was the percentage of subjects achieving favorable treatment outcomes. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was employed to identify the principal ingredients of ZQS. Network pharmacology was utilized to predict the central targets of its active ingredients. Protein-protein interaction networks, Gene Ontology enrichment analyses, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses were conducted for identified core targets. Finally, molecular dynamics simulations of key active ingredients and core targets were performed.

Results

Following 12 weeks of therapy, with a withdrawal rate of 7.93 %, favorable treatment outcomes were observed in 31.03 % of subjects at 4 weeks, 66.37 % at 8 weeks (Odds Ratio: 1.54, 95 % Confidence Interval: 0.41–1.83), and 68.10 % at 12 weeks (Odds Ratio: 1.86, 95 % CI: 0.32–1.27). ZQS comprises 31 principal chemical constituents. Key targets within the protein-protein interaction network included TNF, AKT1, IL6, IL1β, PTGS2, TP53, JUN, MMP9, CASP3, HIF1A, and BCL1. Pathway analysis indicated ZQS primarily impacts the TNF, NF-kB, and IL-17 signaling pathways. Molecular dynamics simulation results showed oxymatrine, cynarin had higher affinity with TNF and IL1β, respectively.

Conclusions

This research elucidates the active components of ZQS and its potential multicomponent–multitarget–multipathway pharmacological mechanisms, demonstrating promising therapeutic potential for SUC management.