12703036 research outputs found
Sort by
Accuracy of robot-assisted anterior transpedicular screws in the subaxial cervical spine: an experimental study on human specimens
No full textStudy DesignProspective study.ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and safety of robot-assisted anterior transpedicular screw (ATPS) fixation in human cervical spine specimens.MethodsA spine robotic system was used to implant thirty-six 1.2 mm Kirschner wires (K-wires) into the cervical pedicles (C4–C7) of five human specimens. Accuracy was assessed by comparing the planned trajectories with the actual K-wire positions. The Gertzbein-Robbins classification system (GRS), adapted for cervical pedicles, was used to evaluate accuracy; Grades A and B (<2 mm pedicle breach) were considered clinically acceptable. Secondary metrics included entry point and angle offsets.ResultsOf the 36 K-wires implanted, nine were placed in C4 and C6, 10 in C5, and eight in C7. According to the adapted GRS, 25 placements (69.4%) were Grade A, 10 (27.8%) were Grade B, and one was Grade C, resulting in a 97.2% clinically acceptable placement rate. The mean target offset was 2.29 ± 1.72 mm, the entry offset was 2.47 ± 1.57 mm, and the angle offset was 5.67° ± 3.72°. No significant differences were observed between the left and right sides (p > 0.05).ConclusionRobot-assisted ATPS fixation in cervical specimens achieved high accuracy with 97.2% of placements rated clinically acceptable, indicating its technical feasibility and potential utility in anterior cervical procedures
Current methodologies to the analysis of morphine and its metabolites in biological matrices
No full textMorphine (MOR) is a commonly utilized opioid analgesic in the field of pain management. However, its potential for abuse presents substantial public health concerns. This suggests the necessity for developing an accurate and sensitive analytical method for the determination of MOR and its metabolites in biological specimens. In this review, various analytical techniques, including HPLC, LC-MS, UHPLC-MS and electrochemical sensors, have been applied for the measurement of MOR and its metabolites in biological samples. LC-MS is the gold standard due to its high sensitivity and specificity. In addition, electrochemical methods are also highlighted as a primary analytical approach in this research
Implementing positive psychology interventions to promote students’ English speaking performance at Thanh Dong University
No full textSpeaking skills are crucial in second language acquisition (SLA) as they enable learners to communicate effectively, express ideas, and engage in meaningful interactions. Positive psychology (PP) plays a vital role in enhancing speaking performance by fostering a supportive, motivating environment that reduces anxiety and boosts confidence. Integrating PP strategies, such as those grounded in the PERMA (Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment) model, promotes student engagement, motivation, and emotional well-being, all of which are essential for sustained improvement in language proficiency. This quasi-experimental study explores the impact of integrating PP strategies, based on Seligman’s (2011) PERMA model, on the students’ English-speaking performance at Thanh Dong University. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research compares an experimental class (EC) exposed to PP interventions with a control class (CC) under conventional teaching methods. The findings revealed a significant post-intervention improvement in the EC’s speaking scores—particularly in vocabulary, fluency, and discourse management—emphasizing the implementation of PP strategies. The study also highlights the creation of a supportive learning environment, enriched through diverse thematic discussions, fostering motivation and engagement. Despite challenges, such as diverse student preferences, the study emphasizes the effectiveness of PP strategies, contributing to innovative language pedagogy
Melatonin and agomelatine alleviate ivermectin-induced mouse spermatogonia apoptosis via suppression of oxidative stress and calcium overload
No full textIntroductionDrug toxicity poses a significant threat to male fertility, and its mechanism is often associated with redox imbalance and mitochondrial dysfunction. Ivermectin (IVM), an anthelmintic increasingly explored for new therapeutic applications, induces apoptosis and impairs proliferation in spermatogonia via mitochondria-associated cellular injury at high concentrations in vitro. This study evaluated the protective effects of melatonin, agomelatine, and pinoline, as mitochondria-directed cytoprotectants.MethodsCultured type B spermatogonia were pretreated with 1 μM melatonin, agomelatine, or pinoline for 24 h under low-serum conditions, followed by exposure to 16 μM IVM. Cell proliferation was assessed by cell counting and Ki67 immunocytochemistry. Mechanistic analyses included fluorescence imaging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) using 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate, cytosolic Ca2+ using Fluo-4, AM, and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) using tetramethyl rhodamine ethyl ester. Mitochondrial function was evaluated using Seahorse assays, and apoptosis was evaluated by caspase cleavage, the BAX/BCL-2 ratio, and Cytochrome c levels by Western blotting.ResultsUnlike pinoline, melatonin and agomelatine effectively suppressed IVM-induced oxidative stress and Ca2+ overload, while restoring mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), mitochondrial mass, and oxidative phosphorylation. These protective effects led to reduced apoptosis and enhanced cell proliferation. Structural differences among the three compounds indicate that the methoxy group and N-acetyl side chain are critical determinants of mitochondrial protection under redox stress.ConclusionMelatonin and agomelatine protect the male reproductive system from drug-induced toxicity by restoring redox homeostasis and mitochondrial function. These findings provide mechanistic insight into melatonin-based therapeutic strategies and the development of fertility preserving agents targeting mitochondria-mediated cellular injury
Sustainable management of Alternaria leaf blight in isabgol (Plantago ovata) using chitosan, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, and salicylic acid
No full textIntroductionAlternaria leaf blight, caused by Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler, is one of the most destructive diseases of isabgol (Plantago ovata Forsk). Conventional fungicide-based control raises environmental concerns and threatens long-term sustainability. Therefore, eco-friendly plant defense activators offer potential alternatives for sustainable disease management and food security.MethodsThis study assessed the efficacy of chitosan, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and salicylic acid (SA) under both laboratory and field conditions. In vitro assays were carried out to evaluate mycelial inhibition, while field trials were performed during two consecutive Rabi seasons (2022–2023 and 2023–2024) under a randomized block design (RBD) at Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner, India. Treatments involved seed priming and foliar application at various concentrations.ResultsIn vitro, salicylic acid (200 ppm) and chitosan (150 ppm) exhibited the highest pathogen inhibition (67.14 and 62.60%, respectively), followed by MWCNTs (45.45% at 150 ppm). Field evaluations revealed that chitosan (100 ppm, seed treatment + foliar spray) significantly reduced disease severity (51.30%) and improved yield (805.29 kg/ha). Salicylic acid at 200 ppm provided the greatest overall benefit, with 55.60% disease control and the highest yield (837.06 kg/ha). The least effective treatment reduced disease by only 10.87% with a yield of 665.69 kg/ha.ConclusionThis study supports sustainable agriculture by integrating eco-friendly defense activators that reduce chemical fungicide dependence. Considering the Asia-Pacific context, such low-input, resource-efficient approaches can enhance smallholder resilience in arid and semi-arid ecosystems
From conflict to cohesion: the role of sports in transforming perceptions of cattle keepers in South Sudan
No full textWe investigate how a sports event has shifted inter-ethnic relations and attitudes towards cattle keepers in post-conflict South Sudan. The country has faced post-independence ethnic tensions caused by political and resource-based frictions. The National Unity Day (NUD), a sports event inaugurated in 2016, was organised to promote peace and unity through sharing moments with young athletes from different backgrounds. Drawing on interviews and survey data from the NUD 5 and NUD 6 events, the article considers stereotypes of pastoralist wrestlers and how these stereotypes have changed among participants of NUD. The results indicate that large-scale sports are a vital space to challenge disinformation and further understanding and trust among long-separated ethnic groups. Statistical examination also shows apparent differences in social interaction, trust, and community values between wrestling and other sports members, and sport performs the function of connecting separated layers of society of the nation. While sports events such as NUD have been successful in peacebuilding, this study acknowledges the methodological limitations and calls for further studies to enhance our understanding of sport as a medium for social cohesion in South Sudan’s intricate socio-political environment. The findings suggest that government-sponsored culturally specific sporting initiatives can contribute to conflict transformation by fostering dialogue, empathy building and cooperation toward a more united South Sudan
The relationship between Braden Skin Score (BSS) and the risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome in elderly sepsis patients: An analysis based on the MIMIC-IV database.
No full textObjectiveThe Braden Skin Score (BSS) is a validated tool for assessing pressure injury risk. This study aimed to investigate whether BSS can also predict the risk of developing Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) in elderly sepsis patients in the intensive care unit (ICU).BackgroundARDS is a common and serious complication in ICU patients with sepsis, associated with prolonged hospitalization, metabolic disorders, and increased mortality. Elderly sepsis patients are particularly vulnerable to pressure injuries due to prolonged bed rest. Nevertheless, the relationship between BSS and the risk of developing ARDS in this population has not been extensively studied.MethodsElderly sepsis patients from the MIMIC-IV database were chosen and partitioned into quartiles of BSS values. Although the incidence of ARDS was the primary endpoint, hospital mortality in the ARDS subgroup was the secondary endpoint. The correlation between low BSS and risk of ARDS and in-hospital mortality in elderly sepsis patients was assessed using logistic regression models.ResultsMultivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a lower BSS at ICU admission was significantly associated with an increased risk of ARDS and higher in-hospital mortality among elderly sepsis patients.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that a low BSS at ICU admission is associated with a greater risk of ARDS and higher in-hospital mortality in elderly sepsis patients
Interpretable nonconvex submodule clustering algorithm using ℓr-induced tensor nuclear norm and ℓ2,p column sparse norm with global convergence guarantees.
No full textTensor-based subspace clustering algorithms have garnered significant attention for their high efficiency in clustering high-dimensional data. However, when dealing with 2D image data, traditional vectorization operations in most algorithms tend to undermine the correlations of higher-order tensor terms. To tackle this limitation, this paper proposes a non-convex submodule clustering approach (2D-NLRSC) that leverages sparse and low-rank representations for 2D image data. An [Formula: see text]-induced tensor nuclear norm is introduced to approximate the tensor rank precisely. Instead of vectorizing each 2D image, the framework arranges samples as lateral slices of a third-order tensor. It employs the t-product operation to generate an optimal representation tensor with low-rank constraint. The proposed method combines [Formula: see text]-norm induced clustering awareness with laplacian regularization to obtain a representation tensor with a diagonal structure. Additionally, 2D-NLRSC incorporates the [Formula: see text]-norm as a regularization term, taking advantage of its excellent invariance, continuity, and differentiability. Experimental results on real image datasets validate the superior performance of the 2D-NLRSC model
GLA-3 mediates the heat shock response in Caenorhabditis elegans germ cells: A key role for the tristetraprolin (TTP) family.
No full textTristetraprolin or TTP is an RNA-binding protein that possesses two CCCH-like zinc-finger domains that bind AU-rich elements to promote their degradation. One of its targets is the mRNA of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). When TTP is absent, the TNF-α factor accumulates causing severe, generalized inflammation in knockout mice. TTP is also considered a tumor suppressor protein because it regulates the expression of several mRNAs that encode for proteins involved in cell cycle regulation and it is downregulated in various types of human cancers. Under stress, TTP associates with stress granules (SGs), dynamic cytoplasmic condensates formed by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) that protect mRNAs from harmful conditions. Despite TTP's important role in mRNA turnover, much remains to be explored about its participation in stress resistance in living animals. For this reason, we investigated the role of GLA-3, one of TTP's homologs, in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans during the heat shock response. Previously, it has been shown that nematodes lacking gla-3/TTP exhibit phenotypes such as progressive loss of motility, reduced brood size, and increased embryonic lethality. As well as defects in meiotic progression, and increased germ-cell apoptosis. Here, we show that a GFP::GLA-3 reporter is primarily expressed in the C. elegans germline. During heat shock, GLA-3 localizes to condensates that contain both processing bodies, sites of mRNA storage and decay, and stress granules. We demonstrate that, in the C. elegans gonad under heat shock conditions, the canonical P body marker CGH, the DDX6 homolog, associates with GLA-3, as well as with the canonic stress markers TIAR-1/TIA1 and GTBP-1/G3BP. These data show that in C. elegans, P bodies and stress granules colocalize during heat shock. Similarly, in yeast, P bodies and stress granules fuse during stress, suggesting that C. elegans induces condensates that resemble those observe in yeast. Additionally, we demonstrate that GLA-3 is important for the formation of both P bodies and stress granules. Finally, we show that oogenic germ cells of GLA-3 mutant animals that were exposed to heat shock resulted in embryos that did not survive, showing that GLA-3 plays an important role in protecting germ cells from this condition. Our results demonstrate that the role of GLA-3 is conserved in C. elegans, and this model can be very useful for further investigating the role of this protein in the future
Research on the impact of population mobility on green total factor productivity: A perspective from sustainable development.
No full textThe optimal allocation of the labor force through population mobility is a critical determinant of the synergistic economy, society, and environment, with substantial implications for Green Total Factor Productivity (GTFP). This study employs panel data from 2011 to 2020 encompassing 30 Chinese provinces, to measure the GTFP using the SBM-DDF model. We then investigated the network association characteristics of GTFP across provinces through social network analysis. Furthermore, fixed- and moderating-effects models are applied to empirically examine the impact of population mobility on GTFP, as well as the moderating roles of technological progress, financial development, and digital inclusive finance. These results indicate that China's GTFP exhibits spatial clustering and regional disparities, with western and eastern regions being the primary sources and destinations of green resource flows, respectively. Population mobility enhances national GTFP, a finding that remains robust across several endogeneity and robustness tests. However, this effect is heterogeneous; it is significant in destination regions, eastern and western regions, and the post-industrialization stage, but negligible elsewhere. Furthermore, the moderating effect analysis shows that technological progress amplifies this relationship both nationally and in destination areas. Additionally, financial development strengthens the effect in destination regions, whereas digital inclusive finance strengthens the effect in origin regions. Recognizing population mobility as a globally pervasive phenomenon, this study highlights its functional role and advances our understanding of its relationship with sustainable development
Data sources:
Access Repository Dashboard
Do you manage Directory of Open Access Journals? Access insider analytics, issue reports and manage access to outputs from your repository in the CORE Repository Dashboard!