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Correctional workers (CWs) endure several operational stressors (e.g., exposures to potentially psychologically traumatic events) and organisational stressors (e.g., shift work, staff shortages), which are associated with positive screens for mental disorders and self-reports of suicidal behaviours and thus urgently warrant further inquiry. The Canadian Provincial and Territorial Correctional Worker Mental Health and Well-Being Study (CWMH) used an online survey to collect data from Canadian correctional service organisations across all 13 provinces and territories. This national Canadian study investigates suicidal behaviours among CWs across diverse occupational roles and provincial and territorial jurisdictions (n = 3740, 50.1% female). The results estimated prevalence proportions for self-reported past-year and lifetime suicidal thoughts, planning, and attempts across the 13 Canadian provincial and territorial correctional systems, with the exceptions of past-year suicidal planning in Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, and Yukon where jurisdictional considerations and requests precluded the inclusion of select questions. Substantial proportions of participants reported past-year or lifetime suicidal ideation (i.e., 9.1%, 29.2%, respectively), planning (i.e., 4.1%, 14.7%, respectively), or attempts (i.e., 0.8%, 7.2%, respectively). Sociodemographic variables (i.e., sex, age, marital status, total years of service, occupational category) were associated with past-year and lifetime suicidal behaviours. Findings provide opportunities for future research and can inform tailored efforts by clinicians, service providers, and organisational leaders to support proactive interventions and treatments, including supporting the partners and families of CWs, fostering social support networks, and improving access to timely mental health treatment.

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Background: Appropriate use of antimicrobials is essential to enhance therapeutic safety and efficacy. Clinical pharmacists play a crucial role in optimizing antimicrobial use; however, the contribution of pharmacy interns in antimicrobial use has not been studied. The objective of this study was to ascertain the quantity and nature of interventions related to antimicrobials documented by pharmacy interns, along with the rates at which physicians accepted these interventions. Methods: From August 2017 to March 2022, this study retrospectively evaluated antimicrobial-related interventions recorded by pharmacy interns during their rotations at King Khalid University. The categories of interventions included medication selection, addition of antimicrobials, dose or frequency adjustments, medication discontinuation, de-escalation, therapeutic drug monitoring, and others. Statistical analysis was conducted to identify patterns and correlations. Results: This study evaluated 1295 antimicrobial-related interventions, with high physician acceptance rates of 91.6% and 4.0% accepted with modifications. The most frequent interventions were dose/frequency adjustments (36.3%) and medication discontinuation (23%). Vancomycin, colistin, and meropenem were the most frequently intervened antimicrobials. Documented clinical outcomes included enhancing treatment efficacy (37.3%), reducing treatment toxicity (26.81%), and avoiding unnecessary antimicrobial exposure (21.8%). Significant correlations were observed between hospital units and intervention types, indicating unit-specific intervention patterns. Conclusions: Theses findings highlight the vital role of pharmacy interns in optimizing antimicrobial therapy. Future research should focus on evaluating the long-term clinical and economic benefits of their involvement.

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This study explores the bulk crystal growth, structural characterization, and physical property measurements of the cubic double perovskite Ba2CoWO6(BCWO). In BCWO, Co2+ions form a face-centred cubic lattice with non-distorted cobalt octahedra. The compound exhibits long-range antiferromagnetic order belowTN= 14 K. Magnetization data indicated a slight anisotropy along with a spin-flop transition at 10 kOe, a saturation field of 310 kOe and an ordered moment of 2.17µB atT= 1.6 K. Heat capacity measurements indicate an effectivej= 1/2 ground state configuration, resulting from the combined effects of the crystal electric field and spin-orbit interaction. Surface photovoltage analysis reveals two optical gaps in the UV-Visible region, suggesting potential applications in photocatalysis and photovoltaics. The magnetic and optical properties highlight the significant role of orbital contributions within BCWO, indicating various other potential applications.

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BACKGROUND: One of the approaches to distal sigmoid colon cancer surgical treatment is segmental colonic resection with vascular preservation of left colic artery (LCA). D3 lymph node dissection may technically vary according to different vascular anatomy. This study aims to show the approaches to D3 lymph node dissection with LCA preservation for distal sigmoid colon cancer according to different patterns of inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) branching. METHODS: CT angiography with 3D reconstruction was routinely performed to identify the IMA branching pattern. Laparoscopic distal sigmoid colon resection with D3 lymph node dissection and left colic artery preservation in standardized fashion was performed in all cases. Data, including clinical, intraoperative, and short-term surgical outcomes, is presented as median numbers (Me) and interquartile range (IQR). RESULTS: Twenty-six patients with distal sigmoid colon cancer were treated with laparoscopic distal sigmoid colon resection. The approach to D3 lymph node dissection varied according to different anatomical variations. There was one conversion (3.8%) and one anastomotic leakage (3.8%) in patients with high BMI. At the same time, there was a high apical lymph node count (Me 3 (IQR 2-5), min-max 0-10) due to the skeletonization of the IMA. CONCLUSIONS: The technical aspects of D3 lymph node dissection with left colic artery preservation may vary in different types of LCA and sigmoid artery branching patterns regardless of the standardized anatomical landmarks. The anatomical features should be considered when performing vascular-sparing lymph node dissection.

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The Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) is a very prevalent viral pathogen that can induce reproductive failure in infected sows. PRRSV infection can result in smaller litters, foetal death, late-term abortions and retarded growth of infected piglets. Not all sows respond equally to the infection partly due to genetic factors. In this study, we aimed to characterise the genetic variability of pig resilience to PRRSV infection by using a stability reproductive performance (SRP) index as a proxy of resilience. By comparing reproductive data from 183 sows, we selected 48 sows with extreme SRP values, measured as the difference in piglets lost at farrowings before and during a PRRSV outbreak. Short-read DNA fragments were sequenced from selected sows using an Illumina platform. The analysis of whole-genome sequencing information identified 16 genome regions associated with the SRP classification (cut-off P-value < 10-6). Functional evaluation of the positional candidates by gene-ontology identifiers and their participation in biological pathways were used to identify genes involved in virus entry and replication (vimentin, RAC1 and OAZ2) but also in immune responses from the host (IRF1, and IL4, IL5 and IL13). Importantly, genes related to chemokines, extracellular proteins and cell-to-cell junction integrity might contribute to placental microseparations, facilitating the trafficking of viral particles from sow to foetus that takes place during the pathogenesis of transplacental PRRSV infection. However, given the small number of animals in the study, these results shall need to be validated in larger populations.

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The estimation of the global burden of animal diseases requires the integration of multidisciplinary models: economic, statistical, mathematical and conceptual. The output of one model often serves as input for another; therefore, consistency of the model components is critical. The Global Burden of Animal Diseases (GBADs) Informatics team aims to strengthen the scientific foundations of modelling by creating tools that address challenges related to reproducibility, as well as model, data and metadata interoperability. Aligning with these aims, several tools are under development: a) GBADs'Trusted Animal Information Portal (TAIL) is a data acquisition platform that enhances the discoverability of data and literature and improves the user experience of acquiring data. TAIL leverages advanced semantic enrichment techniques (natural language processing and ontologies) and graph databases to provide users with a comprehensive repository of livestock data and literature resources. b) The interoperability of GBADs'models is being improved through the development of an R-based modelling package and standardisation of parameter formats. This initiative aims to foster reproducibility, facilitate data sharing and enable seamless collaboration among stakeholders. c) The GBADs Knowledge Engine is being built to foster an inclusive and dynamic user community by offering data in multiple formats and providing user-friendly mechanisms to garner feedback from the community. These initiatives are critical in addressing complex challenges in animal health and underscore the importance of combining scientific rigour with user-friendly interfaces to empower global efforts in safeguarding animal populations and public health.

L'estimation de l'impact mondial des maladies animales nécessite l'utilisation intégrée de modèles issus de diverses disciplines : économiques, statistiques, mathématiques et conceptuels. Les données de sortie d'un modèle constituent souvent celles d'entrée d'un autre modèle ; la cohérence des composantes des différents modèles est donc primordiale. L'équipe informatique du programme " Impact mondial des maladies animales " (GBADs) s'efforce de consolider les bases scientifiques de l'utilisation des modèles en mettant au point des outils permettant de résoudre les problèmes de reproductibilité et d'améliorer l'interopérabilité entre les différents modèles, données et métadonnées. En phase avec ces objectifs, plusieurs outils sont en cours de développement : a) le Portail du GBADs " Trusted Animal Information Portal " (TAIL) est une plateforme d'acquisition de données qui facilite l'accès aux données et à la littérature, tout en améliorant l'expérience utilisateur lors de l'acquisition des données. Le portail TAIL s'appuie sur des techniques avancées d'enrichissement sémantique (traitement du langage naturel et ontologies) et sur des bases de données graphiques pour apporter aux utilisateurs un référentiel complet des données et des ressources documentaires relatives aux animaux d'élevage ; b) l'interopérabilité des modèles du GBADs est en voie d'amélioration grâce à la mise au point d'un progiciel de modélisation fondé sur R et à la normalisation des formats de paramètres. Cette initiative vise à favoriser la reproductibilité, à faciliter le partage de données et à permettre une collaboration transparente entre les parties prenantes ; c) le moteur de connaissances du GBADs, en cours de construction, vise à encourager une communauté d'utilisateurs inclusive et dynamique en proposant des données dans une multiplicité de formats ainsi que des mécanismes conviviaux pour recueillir les commentaires de la communauté. Ces initiatives se révéleront indispensables pour relever les défis complexes de la santé animale et soulignent l'importance d'associer une grande rigueur scientifique à la convivialité des interfaces, afin de donner encore plus d'élan aux efforts déployés dans le monde pour protéger les populations animales et la santé publique.

La estimación del impacto global de las enfermedades animales requiere la integración de modelos multidisciplinarios: económicos, estadísticos, matemáticos y conceptuales. El resultado de un modelo a menudo sirve de entrada para otro; por lo tanto, la coherencia entre los distintos componentes es fundamental. El equipo de informática del programa sobre el Impacto Global de las Enfermedades Animales (GBADs) tiene como objetivo fortalecer los fundamentos científicos de la modelización mediante la creación de herramientas que aborden los retos relacionados con la reproducibilidad, así como con la interoperabilidad de los modelos, datos y metadatos. En consonancia con estos objetivos, se están desarrollando varias herramientas: a) El Portal del GBADs "Trusted Animal Information Portal" (TAIL) es una plataforma de adquisición de datos que mejora tanto la descubribilidad de datos y bibliografía como la experiencia del usuario a la hora de obtener datos. El portal TAIL utiliza técnicas avanzadas de enriquecimiento semántico (procesamiento del lenguaje natural y ontologías), así como bases de datos de grafos, para ofrecer a los usuarios un repositorio completo de datos sobre ganadería y recursos bibliográficos. b) Se está mejorando la interoperabilidad de los modelos del GBADs mediante el desarrollo de un paquete de modelización en R y la normalización de los formatos de los parámetros. Esta iniciativa pretende fomentar la reproducibilidad, facilitar el intercambio de datos y permitir una colaboración fluida entre las partes interesadas. c) El Motor de Conocimiento del GBADs se está construyendo con el objetivo de fomentar una comunidad de usuarios inclusiva y dinámica, ofreciendo datos en diferentes formatos y proporcionando mecanismos fáciles de usar para recopilar comentarios de la comunidad. Estas iniciativas son fundamentales para hacer frente a los complejos retos en el ámbito de la sanidad animal y subrayan la importancia de combinar el rigor científico con interfaces fáciles de usar para potenciar los esfuerzos mundiales encaminados a proteger a las poblaciones animales y la salud pública.

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Purpose: Perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI; magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) has been shown to provide valuable biological tumor information in uveal melanoma (UM). Clinically used semiquantitative methods do not account for tumor pigmentation and eye movement. We hypothesize that a quantitative PWI method that incorporates these, provides a more accurate description of tumor perfusion than the current clinical method. The aim of this study was to test this in patients with UM before and after radiotherapy. Methods: Perfusion-weighted 3T MRIs were retrospectively analyzed in 47 patients with UM before and after radiotherapy. Tofts pharmacokinetic modeling was performed to determine vascular permeability (Ktrans), extracellular extravascular space (ve), and reflux rate (kep). These were compared with semiquantitative clinical parameters including peak intensity and outflow percentage. Results: The effect of tumor pigmentation on peak intensity and outflow percentage was statistically significant (P < 0.01) and relative peak intensity was significantly different between melanotic and amelanotic tumors (1.5 vs. 1.9, P < 0.01). Before radiotherapy, median tumor Ktrans was 0.63 min-1 (range = 0.06-1.42 min-1), median ve was 0.23 (range = 0.09-0.63), and median kep was 2.3 min-1 (range = 0.6-5.0 min-1). After radiotherapy, 85% showed a decrease in Ktrans and kep (P < 0.01). Changes in tumor pigmentation before and after radiotherapy were small and not significant (median increase in T1 of 33 ms, P = 0.55). Conclusions: Quantitative PWI parameters decreased significantly after radiotherapy and can therefore can serve as an early biomarker for treatment response assessment. However, due to the nonsignificant changes in tumor pigmentation before and after radiotherapy, the current semiquantitative method appears to be sufficiently sensitive for detection of changes in tumor perfusion.

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Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of discriminative application of Chinese patent medicines in female patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) due to acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: The study population was from the Chinese Patent Medicine (CPM) trial. CPM trial was a multicenter prospective cohort study, which enrolled patients from 40 centers in mainland China between February 2012 and December 2015, with the discriminative use of Chinese patent medicines as the exposure factor. Female patients with ACS after PCI who completed 36-month follow-up were included in this analysis, and were divided into a conventional treatment group (using conventional western medicine recommended by the guidelines) and a group with the discriminative use of proprietary Chinese medicines (on the basis of conventional western medicine treatment, discriminative use of Qishen Yiqi dropping pills for Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome, Guanxin Danshen dropping pills for blood stasis syndrome, and Danlou tablets for phlegm and blood stasis syndrome combined with the conventional western medicine). The primary endpoint event was a composite endpoint event including cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and emergency revascularization surgery. Secondary endpoint events were composite endpoint events including readmission for ACS, heart failure, stroke, and other thrombotic events. Adverse events were collected. Cox proportional risk model was used to assess the effect of discriminatory application of Chinese patent medicine on endpoint events, and sensitivity analysis was performed by comparing the results with propensity score matching analysis. Results: A total of 748 female ACS post-PCI patients were included in the analysis, aged (63.2±8.3) years. There were 370 patients in the group of discriminative application of Chinese patent medicines and 378 patients in the conventional treatment group. There were 37 cases (10.0%) and 58 cases (15.3%) of primary endpoint events in the discriminatory application of Chinese patent medicines group and the conventional treatment group, respectively. Cox analysis showed that the risk of primary endpoint in the discriminatory application of Chinese patent medicines group was lower than that in the conventional treatment group after adjusting for confounding factors (adjusted HR=0.62, 95%CI 0.40-0.96, P=0.031). There were 38 (10.3%) and 57 (15.1%) cases of secondary endpoint events in the two groups, respectively. Cox regression analysis showed that the risk of secondary endpoint events in the discriminatory application of Chinese patent medicine group was lower than that in the conventional treatment group after adjusting for confounders (adjusted HR=0.56, 95%CI 0.37-0.87, P=0.001). The results of propensity score matching analysis also showed that Chinese patent medicines based on discriminatory application could reduce the risk of primary endpoint (HR=0.62,95%CI 0.40-0.97,P=0.033) and second endpoint (HR=0.56, 95%CI 0.37-0.87,P=0.009) significantly. There was no significant difference in adverse events between the two groups (12.4% (46/370) vs. 10.3% (39/378), P=0.362). Conclusion: On the basis of conventional western medicine treatment, discriminatory application of Chinese patent medicines can reduce the risk of endpoints in female patients after PCI due to ACS without significant adverse effects.

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We predict a rich excitation spectrum of a binary dipolar supersolid in a linear crystal geometry, where the ground state consists of two partially immiscible components with alternating, interlocking domains. We identify three Goldstone branches, each with first-sound, second-sound, or spin-sound character. In analogy with a diatomic crystal, the resulting lattice has a two-domain primitive basis and we find that the crystal (first-sound-like) branch is split into optical and acoustic phonons. We also find a spin-Higgs branch that is associated with the supersolid modulation amplitude.

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In an era marked by growing global population and climate variability, ensuring food security has become a paramount concern. Rice, being a staple crop for billions of people, requires accurate and timely yield prediction to ensure global food security. This study was undertaken across two rice crop seasons in the Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand state to predict rice yield at 45, 60 and 90 days after transplanting (DAT) through machine learning (ML) models, utilizing a combination of optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data in conjunction with crop biophysical parameters. Results revealed that the ML models were able to provide relatively accurate early yield estimates. For summer rice, eXtreme gradient boosting (XGB) was the best-performing model at all three stages (45, 60, and 90 DAT), while for kharif rice, the best-performing models at 45, 60, and 90 DAT were XGB, Neural network (NNET), and Cubist, respectively. The combined ranking of ML models showed that prediction accuracy improved as the prediction date approaches harvest, and the best prediction of yield was observed at 90 DAT for both summer and kharif rice. Overall rankings indicate that for summer rice, the top three models were XGB, NNET, and Support vector regression, while for kharif rice, these were Cubist, NNET, and Random Forest, respectively. The findings of this study offer valuable insights into the potential of the combined use of remote sensing and biophysical parameters using ML models, which enhances food security planning and resource management by enabling more informed decision-making by stakeholders such as farmers, policy planners as well as researchers.

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Protein arginine N-methyltransferases (PRMT) are a family of S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM)-dependent enzymes that transfer methyl-groups to the ω-N of arginyl residues in proteins. PRMTs are involved in regulating gene expression, RNA splicing, and other activities. PRMT1 is responsible for most cellular arginine methylation, and its dysregulation is involved in many cancers. Accordingly, many groups have targeted PRMT1 using small molecules and peptide inhibitors. In this Perspective, we discuss the structure and function of selected peptide and small molecule inhibitors of PRMT1. We examine inhibitors that target the substrate arginyl peptide, SAM, or both binding sites, and the type of inhibition that results. Small molecules, and peptides that are bisubstrate, and/or PRMT transition state mimic inhibitors as well as inhibitors that alkylate PRMTs will be discussed. We define a structure-activity relationship for the aromatic/heteroaromatic N-methylethylenediamine inhibitors of PRMT1 and review current progress of PRMT1 inhibitors in clinical trials.

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The review describes the hypothesis that the drivers of epigenetic regulation in memory formation are transposable elements that influence the expression of specific genes in the brain. The hypothesis is confirmed by research into transposon activation in neuronal stem cells during neuronal differentiation. These changes occur in the hippocampus dentate gyrus, where a pronounced activity of transposons and their insertion near neuron-specific genes have been detected. In experiments on changing the activity of histone acetyltransferase and inhibition of DNA methyltransferase and reverse transcriptase, the involvement of epigenetic factors and retroelements in the mechanisms of memory formation has been shown. Also, a number of studies on different animals have revealed the preservation of long-term memory without the participation of synaptic plasticity. The data obtained suggest that transposons, which are genome sensors highly sensitive to various environmental and internal influences, form memory at the nuclear coding level. Therefore, long-term memory is preserved after elimination of synaptic connections. This is confirmed by the fact that the proteins involved in memory formation, including the transfer of genetic information through synapses between neurons (Arc protein), originate from transposons. Long non-coding RNAs and microRNAs also originate from transposons; their role in memory consolidation has been described. Pathological activation of transposable elements is a likely cause of neurodegenerative diseases with memory impairment. Analysis of the scientific literature allowed us to identify changes in the expression of 40 microRNAs derived from transposons in Alzheimer's disease. For 24 of these microRNAs, the mechanisms of regulation of genes involved in the functioning of the brain have been described. It has been suggested that the microRNAs we identified could become potential tools for regulating transposon activity in the brain in order to improve memory.

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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the combined administration of propylthiouracil (PTU) and levothyroxine (LT4) in managing MCT8 deficiency and identify optimal therapeutic dosages. METHODS: This multi-center case series involved 12 male patients with MCT8 deficiency whose parents/guardians consented to PTU and LT4 treatment. Data were collected from January 2008 to June 24, 2024. The study focused on treatment safety and outcomes, analyzing baseline and last encounter biochemical, metabolic, and anthropometric parameters. Statistical analyses included Wilcoxon Signed Ranks tests and Generalized Estimated Equations to assess effects on thyroid and metabolic markers, and Receiver Operating Characteristics curves to predict optimal dose. RESULTS: Patients showed a significant reduction in serum total T3 (TT3) concentration and TT3/TT4 ratio, with increased serum TT4 and FT4 concentrations. The use of PTU effectively reduced TT3 concentration by 25% at an average dose of 6.8 mg/Kg/day, while LT4 increased FT4 concentration by 40% from baseline at an average dose of 4.3 µg/Kg/day. TSH concentration was undetectable on treatment. No statistical differences were observed in metabolic and physical parameters between baseline and last encounter overall for the group but 6 of 8 patients for whom this data was available had an increase in weight (z score). There were no adverse effects on liver function or granulocyte numbers noted throughout the period of observation. CONCLUSION: Combined treatment with PTU and LT4 normalized serum T3, FT4, TT4 in patients with MCT8 deficiency. Individualized dose adjustments were crucial for achieving therapeutic goals, indicating the need for personalized treatment plans.

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INTRODUCTION: The FLAME trial demonstrated that the dose to the gross tumor volume (GTV) is associated with tumour control in prostate cancer patients. This raises the question if dose de-escalation to the remaining prostate gland can be considered. Therefore, we investigated if intraprostatic recurrences occur at the location of the GTV and which dose was delivered at that location. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For FLAME trial patients with an intra-prostatic recurrence, we collected pre-treatment images, GTV delineations, dose distributions and post-recurrence images. Pre-treatment images were registered to the post-recurrence images (PSMA-PET CT). An overlap between GTV and PSMA-PET activity was considered an intra-prostatic recurrence at the location of the primary tumor. RESULTS: Twenty eight out of 535 patients in the FLAME trial had an intra-prostatic recurrence. Its location could be determined for 24 patients. One patient recurred in the prostate gland outside the GTV. The median D98% to the GTV was 76.5 Gy (range: 73.3-86.5 Gy). Only one patient with a recurrence in the GTV received a substantial focal boost of 86.5 Gy. The D98% of all remaining patients was < 81 Gy. CONCLUSION: Intra-prostatic recurrences of intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer patients treated with radiotherapy appeared predominantly at the location of the primary tumor. All but one patient did not receive a high dose to the GTV. Intra-prostatic failure is likely a consequence of the undertreatment of the primary tumor rather than the undertreatment of the remaining prostate gland.

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Systematic reviews suggest that stand-alone hypnotic suggestions may improve pain outcomes compared with no treatment, waitlist, or usual care. However, in clinical practice, hypnosis is often provided adjunctively with other interventions, which might have different effects than those reported in previous reviews. This systematic review aimed to summarize the analgesic effects of adjunctive hypnosis in adults with clinical pain. Seven databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Emcare, SCOPUS, CENTRAL, Cochrane) were searched up to January 2024. Randomised controlled trials comparing the analgesic effects of adjunctive hypnosis (hypnosis + primary intervention) with those of the primary intervention alone were included. Meta-analyses (random-effects model) calculated mean differences (MD, [95% confidence intervals]) for pain intensity (0-100). Seventy studies were pooled in meta-analyses (n = 6078). Hypnosis adjunctive to usual care had a small additional analgesic effect (chronic pain: -8.2 [-11.8, -1.9]; medical procedures/surgical pain: -6.9 [-10.4, -3.3]; burn wound care: -8.8 [-13.8, -3.9]). Hypnosis adjunctive to education had a medium additional analgesic effect for chronic pain (-11.5 [-19.7, 3.3]) but not postsurgery pain (-2.0 [-7.8, 3.7]). When paired with psychological interventions, hypnosis slightly increased analgesia in chronic pain only at the three-month follow-up (-2 [-3.7, -0.3]). Hypnosis adjunctive to medicines had a medium additional analgesic effect for chronic pain (-13.2, [-22.5, -3.8]). The overall evidence certainty is very low; therefore, there is still uncertainty about the analgesic effects of adjunctive hypnosis. However, hypnosis adjunct to education may reduce pain intensity for chronic pain. Clarification of proposed therapeutic targets of adjunctive hypnosis to evaluate underlying mechanisms is warranted.

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AIM: Orthopedic trauma results in the injury of bone joints and tendons of the body. A radiologist reviews and monitors large numbers of radiographs daily, which can lead to the diagnostic error. Therefore, there is a need to automate the detection of bone fractures in X-ray images, particularly humerus bone fractures. In this paper, we have proposed an ensemble model that can detect the fracture in an x-ray image. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this paper, we proposed an ensemble model designed for fracture detection in X-ray images. An ensemble model combines multiple diverse models to improve predictive accuracy and robustness by aggregating their individual predictions. The model leverages MobileNetV2, Vgg16, InceptionV3, and ResNet50, using histogram equalization for preprocessing and a Global Average Pooling layer for feature extraction. The entire humerus from the public Mura-v1.1 dataset is utilized for analysis, utilizing a single training-validation split. The dataset is divided into a ratio of 80:20 for experiments for the training and validation datasets. RESULTS: The proposed model outperformed the modified deep-learning models and achieved 92.96%, 91.62%, and 92.14% accuracy, recall, and F1 scores, respectively. CONCLUSION: The ensemble model presented effectively automates bone fracture detection in X-ray images of the humerus, demonstrating superior performance compared to modified deep-learning models. A comparison has been made between a novel ensemble model and state-of-the-art models, bench-marking their performance. These findings underscore its potential for enhancing diagnostic accuracy and efficiency in orthopedic radiology.

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BACKGROUND: A predictive assay for late radiation toxicity would allow more personalized treatment planning, reducing the burden of toxicity for the more sensitive minority, and improving the therapeutic index for the majority. In a previous study in prostate cancer patients, the γ-H2AX foci decay ratio (γ-FDR) was the strongest predictor of late radiation toxicity. The current study aimed to validate this finding in a more varied group of patients with pelvic cancer. Additionally, the potential correlation between the γ-FDR and patient-reported outcomes was investigated. METHODS: Prostate and gynecological cancer patients with ≥ 24 months of follow-up were included in the current analysis. Toxicity was evaluated by physician (CTCAE version 4) and patient (EORTC questionnaires). γ-FDRs were determined in ex vivo irradiated lymphocytes. Correlation between γ-FDR and toxicity was assessed using both linear and logistic regression analyses. The highest toxicity grade recorded during follow-up was used. The association between global quality of life and γ-FDR was tested by comparing the change in quality of life over time in patients with γ-FDR < or ≥ 3.41, a previously established threshold. RESULTS: Eighty-eight patients were included. Physician-assessed and patient-reported cumulative grade ≥ 2 toxicity was 25% and 29%, respectively; which is much lower than in the previous cohort (i.e., 51% CTCAE grade ≥ 2). Patients with toxicity exhibited less favorable dose-volume parameters. In men, these parameters showed significant improvement compared to the previous cohort. The proportion of patients with a low γ-FDR increased with severity of toxicity, but this trend was not statistically significant. In addition, a γ-FDR < 3.41 was not correlated with the development of moderate to severe toxicity. Post-treatment decline in global quality of life was minimal, and similar for patients with γ-FDR < or ≥ 3.41. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, the γ-H2AX foci decay ratio could not be validated as a predictor of late radiation toxicity in patients with pelvic cancer. Improved radiotherapy techniques with smaller irradiated bladder and bowel volumes have probably resulted in less toxicities. Future studies on genetic markers of toxicity should be powered on these lower incidences. We further recommend taking persistency, next to severity, into consideration.

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The management of an alien Rugose spiraling whitefly (RSW) on oil palm using a native entomopathogenic fungus, Isaria fumosorosea pfu5 necessitated community approach for pest management. Moreover, coverage of huge leaf biomass warrants massive multiplication of biocontrol agent. In this communication, a two-step strategy, first including pure culture production and the second including ready-to-use culture production of the biocontrol agent is disclosed. The production costs and success of this technology in RSW management of oil palm are also discussed.

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BACKGROUND: Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a progressive chronic spinal cord injury estimated to affect 1 in 50 adults. Without standardised guidance, clinical research studies have selected outcomes at their discretion, often underrepresenting the disease and limiting comparability between studies. Utilising a standard minimum data set formed via multi-stakeholder consensus can address these issues. This combines processes to define a core outcome set (COS)-a list of key outcomes-and core data elements (CDEs), a list of key sampling characteristics required to interpret the outcomes. Further "how" these outcomes should be measured and/or reported is then defined in a core measurement set (CMS). This can include a recommendation of a standardised time point at which outcome data should be reported. This study defines a COS, CDE, and CMS for DCM research. METHODS AND FINDINGS: A minimum data set was developed using a series of modified Delphi processes. Phase 1 involved the setup of an international DCM stakeholder group. Phase 2 involved the development of a longlist of outcomes, data elements, and formation into domains. Phase 3 prioritised the outcomes and CDEs using a two-stage Delphi process. Phase 4 determined the final DCM minimal data set using a consensus meeting. Using the COS, Phase 5 finalised definitions of the measurement construct for each outcome. In Phase 6, a systematic review of the literature was performed, to scope and define the psychometric properties of measurement tools. Phase 7 used a modified Delphi process to inform the short-listing of candidate measurement tools. The final measurement set was then formed through a consensus meeting (Phase 8). To support implementation, the data set was then integrated into template clinical research forms (CRFs) for use in future clinical trials (Phase 9). In total, 28 outcomes and 6 domains (Pain, Neurological Function, Life Impact, Radiology, Economic Impact, and Adverse Events) were entered into the final COS. Thirty two outcomes and 4 domains (Individual, Disease, Investigation, and Intervention) were entered into the final CDE. Finally, 4 outcome instruments (mJOA, NDI, SF-36v2, and SAVES2) were identified for the CMS, with a recommendation for trials evaluating outcomes after surgery, to include baseline measurement and at 6 months from surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The AO Spine RECODE-DCM has produced a minimum data set for use in DCM clinical trials today. These are available at https://myelopathy.org/minimum-dataset/. While it is anticipated the CDE and COS have strong and durable relevance, it is acknowledged that new measurement tools, alongside an increasing transition to study patients not undergoing surgery, may necessitate updates and adaptation, particularly with respect to the CMS.

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This interdisciplinary study critically analyzes current research, establishing a profound connection between sea water, sea ice, sea temperature, and surface temperature through a 4D hyperchaotic Caputo fractional differential equation. Emphasizing the collective impact on climate, focusing on challenges from anthropogenic global warming, the study scrutinizes theoretical aspects, including existence and uniqueness. Two sliding mode controllers manage chaos in this 4D fractional system, assessed amid uncertainties and disruptions. The global stability of these controlled systems is also confirmed, considering both commensurate and non-commensurate 4D fractional order. To demonstrate the intricate chaotic motion within the system, we employ the Lyapunov exponent and Poincare sections. Numerical simulations are conducted by using the predictor-corrector method. The effects of surface temperature on chaotic dynamics are discussed. The crucial role of sea ice reflection in climate stability is highlighted in two scenarios. Correlation graphs, comparing model and observational data using the predictor-corrector method, enhance the proposed 4D hyperchaotic model's credibility. Subsequently, numerical simulations validate theoretical assertions about the controllers' influence. These controllers indicate which variable significantly contributes to controlling the chaos.