102 research outputs found
Ruthenium and recurrent pregnancy loss: insights into oxidative and genotoxic effects
No full textAbstract Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) remains a complex reproductive challenge, often linked to oxidative stress (OS) and DNA damage. Emerging evidence indicates that rare earth elements, including ruthenium (Ru), may disrupt cellular redox balance and impair genomic stability, thereby posing a potential reproductive risk. This study aimed to investigate whether elevated serum Ru levels are associated with OS and DNA damage in individuals experiencing RPL. A case–control study was conducted involving women with a history of RPL (n = 30) and healthy pregnant controls (n = 30). OS was assessed by quantifying malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH), while DNA damage was evaluated using 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels. Serum Ru was quantified by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer. The association between Ru and oxidative/DNA damage markers in both groups was evaluated by Pearson correlation analysis. Serum MDA levels were higher in the RPL group (6.08 ± 0.52 nmol/ml) relative to controls (3.36 ± 0.43 nmol/ml, P < 0.001), while GSH levels were reduced (7.43 ± 0.97 mg/ml as opposed to 8.84 ± 0.61 mg/ml, P < 0.001). Similarly, 8-OHdG concentrations were elevated in RPL (23.90 ± 8.64 ng/ml) versus controls (10.12 ± 3.53 ng/ml, P < 0.001). Serum Ru levels were also significantly increased in RPL women (0.002 ± 0.0001 ppb) as against controls (0.001 ± 0.0001 ppb, P < 0.001). Correlation analysis revealed that in the RPL group, Ru was positively associated with MDA (r = 0.47, P < 0.01) and 8-OHdG (r = 0.47, P < 0.01) and negatively with GSH (r = − 0.8, P < 0.001). In contrast, no significant correlations were observed in controls (MDA: r = 0.17, P = 0.35; GSH: r = 0.05, P = 0.75; 8-OHdG: r = 0.32, P = 0.07). Scatter plots further demonstrated positive trends of Ru with MDA and 8-OHdG, and an inverse association with GSH in RPL women. After adjusting for age, BMI, and parity, serum Ru remained a significant independent predictor of OS and DNA damage in women with RPL. Ru was positively associated with MDA (β = +0.18, 95% CI: 0.10–0.26, P < 0.001) and 8-OHdG (β = +0.72, 95% CI: 0.41–1.03, P < 0.001), and inversely with GSH (β = − 0.60, 95% CI: − 0.62 − 0.90, P < 0.001), explaining 38–63% of the variance. This study demonstrates that women with RPL exhibit elevated serum ruthenium levels, which are strongly associated with enhanced OS, reduced antioxidant defense, and increased DNA damage. The positive correlations of Ru with MDA and 8-OHdG, alongside its inverse association with GSH, underscore its potential role as a contributing factor in RPL pathophysiology. These findings highlight Ru as an independent predictor of oxidative imbalance and genomic instability in RPL, suggesting that monitoring environmental or therapeutic Ru exposure may be critical for reproductive health. Further large-scale studies are warranted to confirm these associations and clarify underlying mechanisms
Molecular Genetic Basis of Recessively Inherited Retinal Dystrophies in the Saudi Population
No full textInherited retinal dystrophies (IRD) are a remarkably genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous group of inherited eye diseases, with over 190 causative genes identified to date. In the highly consanguineous Saudi population, autosomal recessive forms of IRD are thought to account for the overwhelming majority of cases. Consanguinity is known to increase the frequency of recessive disorders since it increases the coefficient of inbreeding, which is a measure of the percentage of the genome that is identical by descent. Homozygosity mapping, targeted candidate gene analysis and whole exome sequencing were used to identify the causes of IRD in the Saudi population. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the most common form of IRD, and mutations in the RP1 gene cause both recessive and dominant RP. Mutations in RP1 were found to be a common cause of recessive RP in the Saudi population. Novel and previously identified homozygous mutations in the KCNV2 gene were identified in a cohort of patients with a distinct recessive retinal disorder, ‘cone dystrophy with supranormal rod response,’ demonstrating phenotype/genotype correlation. In addition, a founder homozygous CABP4 mutation was identified in four consanguineous Saudi families with clinical features including congenital nystagmus, stable low vision, photophobia and a normal or near-normal fundus appearance, and no symptom of night blindness. Causative homozygous mutations were also found in the IRD genes RBP3, RDH12, CRB1, BBS4, CNGA3, CNGB1, EYS, RLBP1, ABCA4 and PCDH12 in Saudi patients. Four novel candidate genes for retinal degeneration were identified in this study. Potentially pathogenic homozygous variants were identified in EMC1 (c.G430A, p.A144T), KIAA1549 (c.2399_2400insAA, p.T800fs809X), GPR125 (c.C2504G, p.S835C) and DHX29 (c.C2738T, p.A913V). In the majority of cases (31 families) the genetic cause of IRD was identified, demonstrating the power of homozygosity mapping and whole exome sequencing. In four families (3 multiplex and 1 simplex case), however, no potentially pathogenic homozygous variants were identified, indicating that other novel loci and genes may be implicated as causing IRD in the Saudi population
Determinants of load capacity factor in an emerging economy: The role of green energy consumption and technological innovation
No full textBrazil’s ability to provide safe and dependable resources that can assist the nation achieve its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2060 will have a significant impact on the nation’s sustainable development. Therefore, this study performs ARDL and frequency domain causality tests to evaluate the effect of disintegrated energy, technological innovation and economic growth on load capacity factor in South Africa between 1990 and 2018. The ARDL bounds test affirms a long-run interrelationship between the selected indicators in South Africa. The long-run elasticities show that economic expansion and nonrenewable energy deteriorate ecological quality, while green energy and technological innovation significantly boost ecological quality. The results of the frequency causality show that in the long-term, renewable energy, economic growth, technological innovation and nonrenewable energy Granger cause load capacity factor suggesting that the regressors can forecast the environmental quality in South Africa. Overall, these results demonstrate the significance of renewable energy in the fight against ecological deterioration. According to the aforementioned findings, South Africa’s environmental damage may be greatly reduced by renewable energy. Copyright © 2022 Liu, Olanrewaju, Agyekum, El-Naggar, Alrashed and Kamel.Ministry of Education in Saudi ArabiaPrince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, PSAU, (IF-PSAU-2021/01/18921)Funding text 1: This research is funded by Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, grant number IF- PSAU-2021/01/18921.Funding text 2: The authors extend their appreciation to the Deputyship for Research & Innovation, Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia, for funding this research work through the project number (IF-PSAU-2021/01/18921)
Comparison of Pain Location and Extent Between Adults with Ankylosing Spondylitis-related Inflammatory versus Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain
No full textIntroduction: Pain among adults with ankylosing spondylitis-related inflammatory low back pain (AS-ILBP) is not well-characterized, and individuals with AS-ILBP are frequently misdiagnosed with chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP). This study digitally quantifies and compares the location and extent of pain between adults with AS-ILBP and those with CNSLBP and examines the relationship between the pain extent and functional, psychological, and condition-specific factors in those with AS-ILBP.
Methodology: The location and extent of pain in adults with AS-ILBP (n = 27) or CNSLBP (n = 22) was quantified using a digital pain drawing analysis. Relationships between pain extent and perceived pain intensity and disability, pain-related cognitive factors (back beliefs, fear of movement, pain catastrophizing, pain coping, and self-efficacy), psychological distress, and AS-specific features were examined in those with AS-ILBP.
Result: Pain extent in the dorsal region of the body was greater in those with AS-ILBP than in CNSLBP (P 0.05). The AS-ILBP group more frequently reported pain in the thoracic (70.4%) and cervical (51.8%) regions (P < 0.05). In the AS-ILBP group, larger pain extent was moderately associated with negative back beliefs (rs = –0.44 to –0.41, P < 0.05) and lower self-efficacy (rs = –0.58 to –0.42, P < 0.05), but not with any of functional outcomes. Larger pain extent was associated with higher disease activity (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Adults with AS-ILBP perceive larger pain extent in spinal regions and the degree of pain extent is associated with negative back beliefs, lower self-efficacy, and higher disease activity. Pain drawings may assist in the differential diagnosis of CNSLBP and AS-ILBP. Further, they may aid psychological screening in adults with AS-ILBP
THE PRODUCTION AND PERCEPTION OF EMPHASIS IN QASSIMI ARABIC
No full textThis work is embargoed by the author and will not be publicly available until December 2025.This dissertation explores emphasis effects (EE) in Qassimi Arabic (QA), examining whether EE functions as a phonetic or phonological process. EE is a well-documented phenomenon in Arabic linguistics, involving the influence of emphatic consonants on neighboring segments (Ghazali, 1977; Card, 1983; Davis, 1995; among others). The study also investigates emphasis perception in QA, specifically whether EE cues assist native QA listeners in identifying preceding or following consonants as emphatic or plain.As prior research exploring EE in various Arabic varieties has revealed variation among them, and limited research exists on emphasis perception by native Arabic listeners, this dissertation addresses these gaps by examining EE production and emphasis perception in the understudied variety of QA. In the production experiment, dynamic aspects of leftward and rightward EE on QA vowels were examined by analyzing second formants (F2) at 11 temporal points. Results indicate that leftward EE had a categorical effect on non-high vowels [a] and [aː], as well as the high front vowel [i], impacting them throughout their duration, providing evidence for it being a phonological process in QA. In contrast, rightward EE primarily affected the vowel onset, suggesting it as a gradual phonetic process rather than a categorical phonological one. In the perception experiments, the perceptual correlates of emphasis in QA were investigated using the gating paradigm (Grosjean, 1980). Native QA listeners accurately identified the following consonant using leftward EE cues, even within the shortest gate containing one-third of the vowel, indicating proficiency in using leftward EE cues throughout the vowel. However, for rightward EE cues, accuracy in identifying the preceding consonant as emphatic or plain improved significantly only when the entire vowel duration was audible. These findings align with the production experiment, confirming leftward EE as a phonological process and rightward EE as a phonetic process. The dissertation’s results have implications for understanding EE and emphasis perception in QA, emphasizing the importance of considering both phonological and phonetic processes when investigating EE and highlighting the significance of coarticulatory information in rightward emphasis perception. This nuanced understanding advances research into emphasis across Arabic varieties and Semitic languages.2025-12-1
The Elephant in the Room (Clinical Image)
No full textPackaging is an important part of transfer medicine. Appropriate packaging in a “layered” manner is widely accepted as a safer way to move patients who may have various cables or tubes attached.In our practise we use modified ventilator airway tubing, approximately 0.5 metres in length with a slit down the longitudinal axis to contain these cables and/or tubes. This tubing has become colloquially known as “Elephant tubing”This tubing is typically used to contain ECG wires and medication giving sets. The Oxygen saturation probe wires and one intravenous access is typically left out during the transfer process in order to be able to access same.
Age and gender detection by face segmentation and modefied CNN algorithm
No full textThe fundamental purpose of the field of research known as "biometrics" is to explore the
development of reliable approaches for identifying individuals using their observable traits.
Examples of biometric identification include both physical and mental traits of an
individual. As a kind of physical identification, fingerprints and facial features may be
compared and analyzed. Human gait has been researched because it has the potential to be
used as a behavioral identifier in computer vision Using a Convolutional Neural Network
(CNN) and a Support Vector Machine, the capacity to estimate a person's gender based on
their stride was explored and investigated (SVM). Throughout our examination of CNN's
potential uses for gait-based gender identification, we will strive for both a high degree of
accuracy and a cheap computational cost. We analyzed and experimented with a variety of
CNN architectures and hyperparameters in this setting
The relationship between actions and significance of email
No full textThesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2019Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (pages 51-53).Email remains a critical channel for communicating information in both personal and work accounts. The number of emails people receive every day can be overwhelming, which in turn creates challenges for efficient information management and consumption. Having a good estimate of the significance of emails forms the foundation for many downstream tasks (e.g. email prioritization); but determining significance at scale is expensive and challenging. In this thesis, we hypothesize that the cumulative set of actions on any individual email can be considered as a proxy for the perceived significance of that email. We propose two approaches to summarize observed actions on emails, which we then evaluate against the perceived significance. The first approach is a fixed-form utility function parameterized on a set of weights, and we study the impact of different weight assignment strategies. In the second approach, we build machine learning models to capture users' significance directly based on the observed actions. For evaluation, we collect human judgments on email significance for both personal and work emails. Our analysis suggests that there is a positive correlation between actions and significance of emails and that actions performed on personal and work emails are different. We also find that the degree of correlation varies across people, which may reflect the individualized nature of email activity patterns or significance. Subsequently, we develop an example of real-time email significance prediction by using action summaries as implicit feedback at scale. Evaluation results suggest that the resulting significance predictions have positive agreement with human assessments, albeit not at statistically strong levels. We speculate that we may require personalized significance prediction to improve agreement levels.by Tarfah Alrashed.S.M.S.M. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Scienc
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