Search Results (334)

In recent decades, summer extreme high-temperature (EHT) events in the Sichuan–Chongqing (SC) region of southwestern China have become increasingly frequent under global warming. Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is considered a key strategy for achieving the temperature targets of the Paris Agreement; however, the response of regional EHT events to CDR remains poorly understood. Based on CN05.1 observations and idealized CO₂ ramp-up and ramp-down experiments from the CMIP6 Carbon Dioxide Removal Model Intercomparison Project (CDRMIP), this study investigates the historical characteristics of summer EHT events over eastern SC and their responses to CDR. The results show that historical EHT events have become more frequent, longer-lasting, and more intense, indicating an overall intensification of regional high-temperature risk. Under idealized CO₂ pathways, regional mean temperature and EHT frequency exhibit pronounced asymmetric and hysteretic responses, with positive anomalies persisting even after CO₂ returns to its initial level. This asymmetric response is closely associated with the enhanced slow oceanic response during the ramp-down period. Stronger El Niño-like and Indian Ocean Dipole-like SST warming intensifies the South Asian High and western Pacific subtropical high, favoring elevated summer temperatures and increased EHT events over eastern SC. Soil moisture also heats the atmosphere by altering the surface latent heat flux in the southwestern part of the study region during ramp-down period. These findings not only improve the understanding of regional extreme event responses in the SC region under carbon neutrality, but also confirm the positive effect of carbon neutrality targets on mitigating regional extreme climate change, thereby highlighting the urgent need to control CO₂ emissions. Full article

Background: Vitamin D (25(OH)D) deficiency affects over one billion people globally and is associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiometabolic diseases. However, causal relationships remain unclear, as vitamin D supplementation has shown limited benefit in reducing the risk of T2D. Genetic studies have identified variants that influence circulating 25(OH)D levels, but whether genetically determined vitamin D status predicts cardiometabolic outcomes remains uncertain. Methods and Results: Using multi-ethnic populations from the UK Biobank (471,861) and the Asian Indian Diabetic Heart Study (3486), we performed genome-wide univariate and polygenic risk score (PRS)-based bidirectional MR analyses to determine the causal association between vitamin D and T2D. A polygenic score of vitamin D–raising alleles did not affect the risk of T2D or cardiovascular disease. In contrast, a higher T2D PRS was strongly associated with an increased risk for 25(OH)D deficiency. Genetically instrumented per SD increase in T2D PRS was predicted to significantly (p = 9.5 × 10⁻³¹) reduce circulating 25(OH)D (β = −9.1 nmol/L; 95% CI: −8.9 to −9.3). The ancestry-specific univariate MR and sensitivity analyses confirmed that vitamin D levels reduced significantly with increasing T2D risk across all ancestries. Conclusions: Our findings suggest low circulating vitamin D levels are unlikely to causally predict T2D risk but may serve as a marker for secondary prevention in endocrine and cardiovascular health. Instead, genetic susceptibility to T2D appears to contribute to vitamin D insufficiency, which may lead to cardiovascular complications. Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms underlying vitamin D deficiency in diabetes. Full article

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains a major public health challenge, particularly in South Asian populations where environmental exposures such as tobacco and areca nut consumption contribute significantly to disease burden. Although genomic studies have improved understanding of oral cancer biology, population-specific genomic data from high-risk Indian populations remain limited. This study aimed to characterize the genomic landscape of OSCC using whole-exome sequencing (WES) of fresh biopsy specimens obtained from patients residing along the southwest coast of Karnataka, India. Methods: Paired tumor and adjacent normal tissues from ten OSCC samples (total n = 20 samples) were subjected to WES to identify somatic and germline-associated variants. Matched tumor–normal comparative analysis, variant annotation, and population frequency assessment using established genomic databases, including gnomAD, were performed to characterize the mutational profile. The findings were further compared with a previously analyzed regional cohort comprising 66 OSCC patients to evaluate recurrence patterns and population relevance. Results: The analysis identified a broad background of recurrent germline-associated variants alongside a comparatively limited number of tumor-specific somatic mutations, consistent with the expected predominance of constitutional genetic variation relative to acquired coding alterations in tumor samples. Recurrent variants were observed in genes associated with DNA repair, immune signaling, inflammatory responses, and pharmacogenomic pathways, including XRCC1, ITPKB, ABCB1, and OPRM1, whereas somatic alterations were primarily detected in established cancer-associated genes such as TP53, CDKN2A, and TERT. Conclusions: Several recurrent variants demonstrated high frequencies in South Asian populations, suggesting that they may represent recurrent population-associated variants of potential biological or pharmacogenomic relevance that require validation in larger cohorts. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis identified pathways related to cancer, chemical carcinogenesis, metabolic regulation, and xenobiotic response. Overall, these findings provide preliminary insights into the population-specific genomic characteristics of OSCC in this regional cohort and highlight the need for larger validation studies to determine the biological significance and reproducibility of these findings. Full article

Perceptions of group typicality can shape how resources, such as scholarships, are distributed among group members. Across two studies, we predicted that East Asian applicants (e.g., Chinese) would be perceived as more typical of Asian Americans and thus more likely to be seen as worthy of an Asian American scholarship than their South Asian (e.g., Indian) and Southeast Asian (e.g., Filipino) counterparts. In Study 1, Chinese applicants were rated as more worthy of an Asian American scholarship than both Indian and Filipino applicants. Moreover, perceptions of Asian typicality predicted greater scholarship worthiness. In Study 2, we added a general scholarship condition that did not specify ethnicity to test whether Asian typicality influenced scholarship worthiness when the award was not designated for Asian Americans. However, we did not find the expected interaction between applicant ethnicity and scholarship type. Instead, we found only that the Chinese applicant was rated as more worthy of scholarships, regardless of scholarship type. Overall, perceptions of Asian typicality may guide judgements of scholarship worthiness in contexts where Asian identity is relevant. Full article

While the “model minority” stereotype has been extensively studied in relation to Asian Americans, there is limited research that distinguishes these experiences by specific national origins. This paper explores the stereotypes faced by India-born scientists and engineers in the United States. They represent a significant segment of the foreign-born workforce in the U.S., accounting for one-third of this population and comprising the largest group of H-1B visa holders. Through qualitative data gathered from 40 India-born scientists and engineers employed in U.S. high-tech firms, this study examines how these individuals perceive and navigate the cultural stereotypes that shape their professional and personal lives. The paper delves into the intersections of ethnicity, nationality, and gender in shaping their experiences, challenging the characterization of Indians as “model immigrants”. Full article

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common in individuals with obesity, largely due to increased soft tissue causing upper airway narrowing. However, mechanisms of OSA improvement following weight loss are incompletely understood, particularly in Asian population, where craniofacial and soft tissue characteristics differ. This study aimed to evaluate changes in upper airway anatomy before and six months after bariatric surgery. Methods: We prospectively evaluated Indian obese patients with OSA undergoing bariatric surgery. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and polysomnography were performed at baseline and six months post-surgery to assess volumetric changes in upper airway structures and the apnea–hypopnoea index (AHI), respectively. Correlations between MRI-derived structural changes, weight loss, and AHI were also analyzed. Results: Ten obese patients with OSA were included. Bariatric surgery resulted in significant reductions in body weight, body mass index (BMI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale score, and AHI (p < 0.05). MRI demonstrated a significant reduction in overall pharyngeal soft tissue volume, soft palate, pterygoid and parapharyngeal fat pad volume and tongue fat fraction. However, no significant changes were observed in total upper airway volume, retroglossal and retropalatal airway volume. Furthermore, no significant correlation was noted between changes in upper airway anatomy and post-operative changes in AHI or body weight. Conclusions: Bariatric surgery was associated with significant weight loss and improvement in OSA severity, accompanied by reduction in soft tissue volumes without significant increase in airway volume in this pilot study. These findings suggest a possible role of factors other than structural airway changes in the observed improvement in OSA following bariatric surgery. Full article

Background: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a major cause of mortality, and survival depends heavily on rapid defibrillation. Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) can significantly improve outcomes when used before emergency medical services (EMS) arrive, yet access to and use of these devices remain uneven across communities. This study investigates racial and geographic disparities in AED use during EMS encounters in the United States, evaluating differences across racial groups, geographic settings, cardiac arrest status, and patient acuity, irrespective of whether a bystander or EMS personnel applied the device. Methods: This descriptive study used aggregated data from the National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS) Public Release Data Cube to compare AED use across racial, geographic, cardiac arrest, and acuity categories. AED use was defined as any documented application during the EMS encounter. Results: The dataset included 106,246 EMS encounters across six racial and ethnic groups. AEDs were applied in 16,688 encounters (15.7%), with substantial variation across demographic and geographic categories. Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Black or African American patients had the highest rates of AED use, while White patients had the lowest rate despite representing the largest share of encounters. Urban areas accounted for most AED deployments, whereas suburban and frontier regions showed markedly lower use, while rural AED use was similar to urban rates. AED application was strongly associated with cardiac arrest and high patient acuity, yet racial differences persisted even within these clinically severe categories. Conclusions: AED use generally aligns with clinical indicators such as cardiac arrest and critical acuity, but meaningful racial and geographic differences were observed, reflecting descriptive patterns rather than confirmed disparities. These patterns should be interpreted cautiously, as the aggregated nature of the dataset limits the ability to determine whether differences reflect inequities, incident characteristics, or EMS system factors. These findings highlight the need for targeted strategies to expand AED access, improve device placement, and strengthen community readiness in underserved areas. Integrating AED availability into broader EMS planning and community outreach may help reduce inequities and create conditions that support improved survival outcomes. Further research using individual-level data and geospatial methods is needed to clarify the drivers of these observed differences and inform equitable prehospital care policies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cystatin C-based and combined creatinine–cystatin C estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equations improve early chronic kidney disease (CKD) detection and prediction of adverse outcomes compared to creatinine alone. However, their role in predicting microvascular complications such as diabetic retinopathy (DR) is less clear. We examined the association between diabetic kidney disease (DKD), defined using creatinine-, cystatin C-, and combined eGFR measures, as well as albuminuria, and the risk of incident DR among Asian adults in Singapore. Methods: We analysed 1135 Chinese and Indian adults with diabetes aged ≥40 years from a population-based cohort study with baseline (2007–2011) and 6-year follow-up (2013–2017) data. DR was graded from retinal photographs, and incident DR was defined as new-onset at follow-up. DKD was defined as eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m² using eGFRcr, eGFRcys, combined eGFRcr-cys, and albuminuria (UACR ≥ 30 mg/g), assessed individually and jointly. Modified Poisson regression models adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, diabetes duration, HbA1c, and systolic blood pressure were used to estimate relative risks (RRs). Results: Overall, incident DR occurred in 13.0% of participants. Among those with DKD, incidence was 18.2% (eGFRcr), 16.7% (eGFRcys), 23.7% (eGFRcr-cys), and 18.3% (albuminuria). eGFRcr-DKD (RR = 2.18, 95% CI 1.33–3.58), eGFRcys-DKD (2.38 [1.51–3.78]), and eGFRcr-cys-DKD (3.15 [1.94–5.12]) were independently associated with incident DR, whereas albuminuria alone was not. Risk increased with increasing number of markers,2.00 (1.02–3.92) by dual and 4.91 (2.50–9.65) by triple markers. Conclusions: DKD defined using multiple kidney markers, particularly combined creatinine–cystatin C, was strongly associated with incident DR. These findings support the use of multiple kidney function markers to improve risk stratification for developing DR. Full article

Background: Prostate cancer remains a major cause of cancer morbidity and mortality among men in the United States. Differences in diagnosis and survival across racial and socioeconomic groups continue to raise concern in clinical and public health research. Population-based datasets provide an opportunity to examine patterns of advanced disease and survival outcomes across diverse demographic groups. Objective: This study evaluated racial and socioeconomic disparities in cancer-specific survival among patients with metastatic prostate cancer using a national population-based dataset. Methods: A retrospective population-based study was conducted using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. Patients diagnosed with malignant prostate cancer between 2004 and 2020 with distant stage disease were included. The final analytic sample consisted of 54,062 patients. Variables included race and ethnicity, age group, metastatic sites at diagnosis, treatment variables, and median household income. Descriptive analyses compared characteristics by cancer-specific death using chi-square tests for categorical variables and t tests for continuous variables. Survival patterns were examined using Kaplan–Meier methods and log-rank tests. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios for factors associated with cancer-specific mortality. Results: Cancer-specific mortality differed across racial and socioeconomic groups. Higher mortality was observed among non-Hispanic Black patients (aHR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.31, p = 0.046) and non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native patients (aHR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.20, p < 0.001) compared with non-Hispanic White patients, while Hispanic and non-Hispanic Asian or Pacific Islander patients showed lower mortality risk. Older age groups demonstrated higher mortality. Liver, lung, and brain metastases were associated with increased risk of prostate cancer death. Patients in higher income groups showed lower mortality compared with patients in lower income groups (aHR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.80 to 0.87, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study highlights persistent racial and socioeconomic differences in cancer-specific survival among patients with advanced prostate cancer in the United States. These findings support continued efforts to address disparities in early detection, access to care, and treatment pathways. Future research should further explore clinical and structural factors that influence survival differences across population groups. Full article

Existing research on factors associated with self-esteem and the subsequent risk of mental health disorders among immigrant Indian university students has largely focused on the US immigrant population. To address this gap, the present study surveyed immigrant university students in the UAE. While previous studies have independently linked ethnic identity, perceived social support, and maladaptive perfectionism to self-esteem, this study is the first to examine these associations within a new geographical context. The study hypothesized that (i) ethnic identity would predict self-esteem, (ii) perceived social support would positively predict self-esteem, and (iii) maladaptive perfectionism would negatively predict self-esteem. The final regression model explained 35% of the variance in self-esteem, and the findings were in line with the hypotheses. These findings can help highlight the potential relevance of ethnic identity, social support, and maladaptive perfectionism in understanding variations in self-esteem among immigrant Indian university students. However, the study has limitations, including its cross-sectional and correlational nature. Further studies may reveal culturally embedded patterns warranting investigation through longitudinal or experimental research. Full article

The Tibetan Plateau (TP) atmospheric heat source crucially modulates East Asian summer monsoon precipitation, yet its synergy with upstream oceanic signals remains elusive. Using observations (1971–2020) and CMIP6 simulations, we investigate mechanisms coupling the summer TP heating and precipitation over the Middle and Lower Yangtze River (MLYR). SVD analysis reveals a robust positive coupling between them. Mechanistically, TP heating triggers a quasi-stationary Rossby wave train, inducing a “saddle-like” circulation that drives intense MLYR moisture convergence (contributing >90% to precipitation changes). Crucially, we re-examine the upstream oceanic precursor to propose a “dual-pathway superposition” framework. Contrary to the assumed linear causal chain, four-quadrant analysis reveals the spring Indian Ocean Basin Warming (IOBW) and summer TP heating are largely independent drivers (R = 0.24). While IOBW thermodynamically excites an Anomalous Anticyclone supplying abundant MLYR moisture, it lacks robust control over TP heating, which is dominated by internal atmospheric dynamics. However, our findings reveal a critical non-linear synergy: extreme MLYR rainfall strictly requires the coincidental phase overlap of these independent pathways (strong dynamic lifting coupled with oceanic moisture). CMIP6 simulations corroborate this independence, further emphasizing that extreme MLYR rainfall results from phase superposition rather than a single causal chain. Full article

Despite recent advances in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) research on the Tibetan Plateau (TP), studies investigating the transport potential and accumulation dynamics of these contaminants in the Hengduan Mountains, especially in forest soils which are important sinks for atmospheric PAHs, remain scarce. In the present study, soil and lichen samples (partially located under the forest canopy) were concurrently collected from 62 sampling sites across the Hengduan Mountains to characterize the occurrence, spatial distribution patterns, and underlying controlling factors of PAHs. The total concentrations of the 16 US EPA priority PAHs (∑₁₆PAHs) in soils and lichens ranged from 59.8 to 1163 ng/g and 174 to 3362 ng/g, respectively—values consistently higher than those reported in corresponding matrices from the northern and northwestern TP. Further, concentrations of PAHs in both soil and lichen under the forest canopy are significantly higher than those on the leeward slope without forest. Compositional fractionation of PAHs along the longitudinal and latitudinal gradients of sampling locations indicates significant modulation of PAH distribution by both the Indian monsoon and East Asian monsoon, a pattern further corroborated by air mass backward trajectory analysis. Our results confirm that PAHs can be transported to the southeastern TP slope via long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT). Notably, the combined effects of mountain cold-trapping and forest filtering jointly govern the deposition and spatial distribution of PAHs in this region. Full article

An extreme rainfall event that occurred from 16 to 18 December 2021 along the coastal regions of Peninsular Malaysia (PM) caused widespread flooding and substantial socioeconomic impacts. This study investigates the mechanisms leading to this event, focusing on the roles of climatic phenomena and local terrains. Two atmospheric interactions play key roles in triggering the event. Firstly, a strong cold surge (CS) associated with the East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM) interacted with the easterly surge over the southern South China Sea, leading to the formation of Borneo vortex. Secondly, a strong northeasterly and CS largely contributed to enhancing and transporting the vortex towards the PM and across the Titiwangsa mountain ranges. The phase change of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) facilitated the eastward propagation of the vortex. Sumatra and PM terrains significantly modulated vortex evolution and moisture convergence over the Strait of Malacca. These findings are analyzed to shed light on interactions between large-scale climate drivers and localized terrain in generating extreme rainfall, emphasizing the necessity of multi-scale analysis for model accuracy. Full article

The guinea fowl (Numida meleagris), a thermo-tolerant and disease-resilient poultry species, holds great potential for sustainable poultry production in climate-vulnerable regions. The genomic aspects of this species remain largely understudied. The present study aims to delineate the patterns of domestication and understand the evolutionary dynamics of guinea fowl populations (wild and domestic) across three continents, utilizing whole-genome sequencing data from 122 genomes. The population structure analyses (ADMIXTURE, PCA, phylogeny, F_ST, LD, and MAF) revealed that Indian guinea fowl (CARI) shared close ancestry with Iranian (IRAD) and Chinese (CHID) domesticated populations while remaining distinct from wild lineages. The runs of homozygosity (ROH) identified 49,088 segments, with short fragments (ROHs) preponderant in Indian and domestic populations, reflecting historical inbreeding and effects of domestication cum selection. Copy number variation (CNV) analysis revealed 105,178 CNVs concatenated into 40,067 CNV regions (CNVRs) across 11 populations, establishing the first CNV atlas for guinea fowl at the global level. Gene annotation of overlapping ROH and CNVRs revealed 1080 common candidates across Asian guinea fowl populations, i.e., the Indian guinea fowl (CARI), IRAD, and CHID, including FOS, EPAS1, CD74, and CSF1R. These genes have earlier been associated with immune regulation, stress response, and thermal adaptation. Selection signature scans, integrating intra-population (iHS) and inter-population (XP-EHH) approaches, uncovered genes under positive selection linked to immune response (like BCL11B, IL18, and GPC3), thermo-tolerance (like TRPV4 and BAG3), lipid metabolism (like AACS and ELOVL4), and pigmentation (BCO2). These signatures highlight the molecular basis of resilience in guinea fowl and their potential to withstand climate-induced stresses. This study presents the first global CNV atlas for guinea fowl and provides the first comprehensive genomic characterization of the Indian domestic population, integrating ROH, CNV, and selection signature analyses. It offers a comprehensive assessment of guinea fowl genomes (wild and domesticated) across three continents, offering insights into domestication, evolutionary dynamics, and the genetic basis of their adaptation and resilience. Full article

Background: Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a severe complication of liver cirrhosis, marked by rapid renal function decline and poor prognosis. Although clinical predictors of HRS outcomes have been extensively studied, less is known about how demographic factors influence mortality patterns. Methods: This analysis utilized CDC WONDER data to assess U.S. mortality trends for hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) in adults aged ≥25 years from 1999 to 2024. We calculated crude mortality rates (CMR) and age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) per 100,000 and analyzed temporal trends using Joinpoint regression to determine the annual percentage change (APC) and average annual percentage change (AAPC). Results: From 1999 to 2024, 118,894 HRS-associated deaths were recorded. The overall AAMR decreased significantly from 2.43 in 1999 to 2.12 in 2024, with an AAPC of (AAPC −0.69% [95% CI: −0.90% to −0.51%]). Males consistently exhibited higher AAMRs than females (Males: 2.62 vs. Females: 1.63 in 2024). When stratified by race, the highest AAMR in 2024 was observed among non-Hispanic (NH) American Indian or Alaska Native populations (11.02), followed by Hispanic or Latino (2.58), NH White (2.23), NH Black or African American (1.30), and NH Asian or Pacific Islander populations (0.72). Regionally, the highest mortality was observed in the West, followed by the Midwest, South, and Northeast (2.88, 2.00, 1.92, and 1.53, respectively, in 2024). Rural areas (2.44) consistently exhibited higher AAMRs than urban areas (1.91) throughout the study period. Conclusions: HRS-related mortality has decreased modestly in the U.S over the last 26 years, yet significant inequities remain across population subgroups and regions. Mortality is disproportionately higher among males, NH American Indian or Alaska Native individuals, and residents of rural and western areas, highlighting the continued necessity for focused public health strategies. Full article