Search Results (2,786)

The prediction of real estate values is vital for taxation, transactions, mortgages, and urban policy development. Values can be predicted more accurately by statistical or advanced methods together when the size of the data is huge. In metropolitan cities like İstanbul, where size of the real estate data is vast and complex, mass appraisal methods supported by Machine Learning offer a scalable and consistent alternative. This study employs six algorithms: Artificial Neural Network, Extreme Gradient Boosting, K-Nearest Neighbors, Support Vector Regression, Random Forest, and Semi-Log Regression, to estimate the values of real estate on both the Asian and European continent parts of İstanbul. In total, 168,099 residential properties were utilized along with 30 of their features from both sides of the Bosphorus. The results show that RF yielded the best performance in Beşiktaş, while XGBoost performed best in Üsküdar. ANN also produced competitive results, although slightly less accurate than those of XGBoost and RF. In contrast, traditional SVR and SLR models underperformed, especially in terms of R² and RMSE values. With its large-scale dataset, focusing on one of the greatest metropolitan areas, Istanbul, and the usage of multiple ML algorithms, this study stands as a comprehensive and practical contribution to the field of automated real estate valuation. Full article

Background: Neurogenic bladder (NB) in children may lead to recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), renal deterioration, and a reduced quality of life. Clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) is the standard of care, but in some patients, CIC may be unfeasible due to anatomical, sensory, or compliance issues. Button cystostomy (BC) has emerged as a minimally invasive, bladder-preserving alternative. This study aimed to assess the feasibility, safety, and outcomes in the long-term of BC in pediatric NB patients. Methods: Retrospective analysis was conducted on children with NB who underwent endoscopic BC placement between January 2020 and December 2024 in a tertiary pediatric center. Demographic data, operative time, complications, and follow-up outcomes were collected. All procedures used an endoscopic approach with cystoscopic guidance for safe device placement. Results: Thirty-three patients (25 males; median age 7.96 years) underwent BC placement. Most had spinal dysraphism (63.6%). The mean operative time was 48.5 ± 6 min. During a mean follow-up of 2.1 ± 1.4 years, five patients (15.2%) had febrile UTIs and two had minor leakage. No major complications occurred. Four buttons were removed due to clinical improvement (N = 1), the fashioning of a continent derivation (N = 1) and implantation of a sacral neuromodulator (N = 2); two patients accepted CIC. Satisfaction was reported by 93.9% of families. Conclusions: BC is an effective, minimally invasive alternative for urinary drainage in children with NB, even when compared to continent diversion techniques such as the Mitrofanoff, due to its lower invasiveness, greater feasibility, and lower complication rate. Broader adoption may be warranted, but prospective studies are needed to confirm long-term outcomes. Full article

Background and Objective: Adverse pathology to high-risk prostate cancer (PCa) after radical prostatectomy (upgrading) poses a threat to risk stratification and treatment planning. The impact on sexual function, urinary continence, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) remains unclear. Methods: From 2004 to 2024, 4189 patients with preop low-/intermediate-risk PCa (Gleason score 6 or 7a, PSA ≤ 20 ng/mL) underwent radical prostatectomy at our department and were analyzed. Primary endpoint was HRQOL, erectile function, and urinary continence. Secondary endpoint was rate of salvage therapies and biochemical-free survival. Propensity score matching was performed using “operative time”, “robot-assisted surgery”, “blood loss”, “nerve-sparing surgery”, “age”, and “BMI” to represent comparable surgical approach. Median follow-up was 39 months (Interquartile-range (IQR) 15–60). Key Findings and Limitations: Patients who were upgraded to high-risk PCa showed a higher rate of postoperative radiotherapy and androgen-deprivation therapy compared to patients who were not upgraded (21% vs. 7%, p < 0.001; 9% vs. 3%, p = 0.002). Five-year biochemical recurrence-free survival was 68% in the upgrading group vs. 84% in the no-upgrading group (p < 0.001). We saw no difference in patient-reported HRQOL, urinary continence, or erectile function. Multivariable analysis showed that postoperative upgrading was a significant risk for not achieving good overall HRQOL (OR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.61–0.97, p = 0.028) during the follow-up. Conclusions and Clinical Implications: Although postoperative upgrading to high-risk PCa leads to worse oncologic outcomes and higher salvage therapy rates, this study indicates that its impact on health-related quality of life is minimal and should not deter a cautious approach to radical prostatectomy. Full article

Although it is the wettest continent, droughts are a regular occurrence in South America. As the effects of anthropogenic influences, including climate change, become more pronounced, droughts are expected to increase in frequency and severity. The purpose of this study is to assess the relative drought vulnerability of the countries in South America. Each country is evaluated for drought exposure, sensitivity, adaptive capacity, and overall vulnerability. Sixteen drought-related indicators were used to measure the relative vulnerability of each country and to measure separate scores for exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity to identify what factor(s) contributed to a country’s vulnerability. The results indicate that Ecuador, a country with a high population and limited water resources, is the most vulnerable to drought in South America, followed by Colombia and Uruguay. Conversely, the country least vulnerable to drought is Guyana, followed by Suriname and Chile. Our analysis suggests that there are both geographic and as well as economic factors influencing the relative drought vulnerability of countries in South America. Full article

Many vertebrates have evolved resistance to snake venom as a result of coevolutionary chemical arms races. In Australian skinks (family Scincidae), who often encounter venomous elapid snakes, the frequency, diversity, and molecular basis of venom resistance have been unexplored. This study investigated the evolution of neurotoxin resistance in Australian skinks, focusing on mutations in the muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) α1 subunit’s orthosteric site that prevent pathophysiological binding by α-neurotoxins. We sampled a broad taxonomic range of Australian skinks and sequenced the nAChR α1 subunit gene. Key resistance-conferring mutations at the toxin-binding site (N-glycosylation motifs, proline substitutions, arginine insertions, changes in the electrochemical state of the receptor, and novel cysteines) were identified and mapped onto the skink organismal phylogeny. Comparisons with other venom-resistant taxa (amphibians, mammals, and reptiles) were performed, and structural modelling and binding assays were used to evaluate the impact of these mutations. Multiple independent origins of α-neurotoxin resistance were found across diverse skink lineages. Thirteen lineages evolved at least one resistance motif and twelve additional motifs evolved within these lineages, for a total of twenty-five times of α-neurotoxic venoms resistance. These changes sterically or electrostatically inhibit neurotoxin binding. Convergent mutations at the orthosteric site include the introduction of N-linked glycosylation sites previously known from animals as diverse as cobras and mongooses. However, an arginine (R) substitution at position 187 was also shown to have evolved on multiple occasions in Australian skinks, a modification previously shown to be responsible for the Honey Badger’s iconic resistance to cobra venom. Functional testing confirmed this mode of resistance in skinks. Our findings reveal that venom resistance has evolved extensively and convergently in Australian skinks through repeated molecular adaptations of the nAChR in response to the enormous selection pressure exerted by elapid snakes subsequent to their arrival and continent-wide dispersal in Australia. These toxicological findings highlight a remarkable example of convergent evolution across vertebrates and provide insight into the adaptive significance of toxin resistance in snake–lizard ecological interactions. Full article

Cystic echinococcosis is a zoonosis caused by the cestode Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto. Population genetic studies and phylogeographic patterns are essential to understanding the transmission dynamics of this parasite under varying environmental conditions. In this study, the genetic diversity of E. granulosus s.s. was evaluated using 46 hydatid cyst samples obtained from sheep, goats, cattle, and humans across three regions of Chile: Coquimbo, La Araucanía, and Magallanes. Mitochondrial cox1 gene sequences were analyzed and compared with reference sequences reported from South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. In Chile, the EG01 haplotype was the predominant haplotype. A total of four haplotypes were identified, with low haplotype diversity (Hd = 0.461 ± 0.00637) and low nucleotide diversity (π = 0.00181 ± 0.00036). The haplotype network displayed a star-like configuration, with the EG01 genotype at the center, suggesting a potentially ancestral or widely distributed lineage. In Coquimbo (Tajima’s D = −0.93302, p = 0.061; Fu’s Fs = −0.003, p = 0.502) and Magallanes (Tajima’s D = −0.17406, p = 0.386; Fu’s Fs = −0.121, p = 0.414), both neutrality tests were non-significant, indicating no strong evidence for recent population expansion or selection. Star-like haplotype network patterns were also observed in populations from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, with the EG01 genotype occupying the central position. The population genetic structure of Echinococcus granulosus s.s. in Chile demonstrates considerable complexity, with EG01 as the predominant haplotype. Further comprehensive studies are required to assess the intraspecific genetic variability of E. granulosus s.s. throughout Chile and to determine whether this variability influences the key biological traits of the parasite. This structure may prove even more complex when longer fragments are analyzed, which could allow for the detection of finer-scale microdiversity among isolates from different hosts. We recommended that future cystic echinococcosis control programs take into account the genetic variability of E. granulosus s.s. strains circulating in each endemic region, to better understand their epidemiological, immunological, and possibly pathological differences. Full article

With the increasing detection of artemisinin resistance to front-line antimalarials in Africa and notwithstanding the planned roll-out of RTS’S and R21 in Africa, the search for new vaccines with high efficacy remains an imperative. Towards this endeavour, we performed in silico screening to identify Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte stage genes that could be targets of protection or diagnosis. Through the analysis we identified a gene, Pf3D7_1105800, coding for a Plasmodium falciparum subtilisin-like domain-containing protein (PfSDP) and thus dubbed the gene Pfsdp. Genetic diversity assessment revealed the Pfsdp gene to be relatively conserved across continents with signs of directional selection. Using RT qPCR and Western blots, we observed that Pfsdp is expressed in all developmental stages of the parasite both at the transcript and protein level. Immunofluorescence assays found PfSDP protein co-localizing with PfMSP-1 and partially with Pfs48/45 at the asexual and sexual stages, respectively. Further, we demonstrated that anti-PfSDP peptide-specific antibodies inhibited erythrocyte invasion by 20–60% in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that PfSDP protein might play a role in merozoite invasion. We also discovered that PfSDP protein is immunogenic in children from different endemic areas with antibody levels increasing from acute infection to day 7 post-treatment, followed by a gradual decay. The limited effect of antibodies on erythrocyte invasion could imply that it might be more involved in other processes in the development of the parasite. Full article

The article addresses the question of the relative importance of human population size and growth in relation to the environmental problems of planetary heating and biodiversity loss in the current, Anthropocene era. To what extent could policies to encourage lower fertility be justified, while observing that this subject is an inherently contested one. It is proposed that a helpful distinction can be made between specific threats to habitats and biodiversity, as opposed to those related to global energy use and warming. Pressures of over-population can be important in relation to the former. But with regard to the latter—rising per capita energy usage—reduced fertility has historically been positively, not negatively correlated. A case can be made that the high-fertility nations of sub-Saharan Africa could benefit from culturally respectful fertility reduction policies. However, where planetary heating is concerned, it is the hydrocarbon-based, per capita energy-consumption patterns of already low-fertility populations on the other five inhabited continents that is rather more critical. While it will be helpful to stabilise global human population, this cannot be viewed as a solution to the climate crisis problem of this century. That requires relentless focus on reducing hydrocarbon use and confronting the rising inequality since c.1980 that has been exacerbating competitive materialist consumerism. This involves the ideological negotiation of values to promote a culture change that understands and politically embraces a new economics of both human and planetary balance, equity, and distribution. Students of populations can contribute by re-assessing what can be the appropriate demographic units and measures for policies engaging with the challenges of the Anthropocene. Full article

The Hida Belt in central Japan is a key geological unit for understanding the crustal growth of the Eurasian continent in the Mesozoic. However, while previous studies have focused primarily on geochronology, the geochemical characteristics of its rocks and minerals remain largely unexplored. This study investigates the geochemical characteristics and magmatic processes of the Hida granitoids, including adakitic rocks, distributed in the Unazuki and Katakaigawa areas. Whole-rock major oxides and trace elements, as well as Rb-Sr isotopes, were analyzed. Based on Rb–Sr isotopic compositions, the Hida granitoids are classified into two types. The younger and older granitoids in the Unazuki area, categorized as Type I, exhibit a narrow range of isotopic ratios, whereas the older granitoids in the Katakaigawa area, classified as Type II, display significantly higher values than those of Type I. The geochemical data suggest that the adakitic rocks in the older granitoids originated from interaction with alkali-rich melts or fluids, while those in the younger granitoids were derived from hydrous felsic magmas sourced from subducted oceanic crust. These findings provide new insights into the formation and evolution of granitic magmatism in the Hida Belt. Full article

Bird migration routes across North America, which are often speculated upon at the microscale, are now subject to scrutiny using the ‘eBird’ database, the world’s largest data repository for the North American continent. This database has steadily accumulated data on resident and migratory birds, with annual data on both potentially revealing regional trends. Through analysis of eBird data accumulated since 1980, we identified regional trends indicating bird migration patterns across North America, delineating three primary regions within the North American flyway: the western, central and eastern flyways, with the latter further subdivided into three regions. These findings refine previous categorisations of the four major flyways, deepening our understanding of bird migration dynamics in North America. Full article

Background: Probiotics can modulate the microbiota and decrease uric acid levels. Objectives: This meta-analysis aimed to assess the effects of probiotics on uric acid levels. Methods: The keywords “probiotics”, “uric acid”, “gout”, “hyperuricemia” were searched in PubMed Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The search was limited to the English, French, Italian, and Spanish languages, and to the period between 1 January 2000 to 30 August 2024. We included RCTs and observational studies comparing probiotics to placebo. We excluded studies reporting (1) prebiotics, symbiotics, or postbiotics, (2) animal studies, and (3) case reports, commentaries, or reviews. Two independent reviewers performed quality assessment and data extraction. This meta-analysis was performed according to the PRISMA 2020 and AMSTAR 2 guidelines. The main outcome measure was uric acid levels “after–before” probiotic versus placebo interventions. Forest plots summarized the data using a random model. Results: Nine studies included 394 patients, of whom 201 were treated with probiotics and 193 with placebo. There was a statistically significant difference in favor of the probiotic group compared with the control group regarding the main outcome measure. However, substantial heterogeneity was noted, explained (after applying subgroup analysis and meta-regression) by the following moderators: continent, diseased/healthy, male sex, and monostrain probiotics. Conclusions: This meta-analysis demonstrates that probiotics reduced uric acid levels in Asian males who had disease and were treated with monostrain probiotics. Full article

A mass abatement scalable system through managed aquifer recharge (MAR-MASS) improves mass extraction from groundwater with a variable-density flow. This method is superior to conventional injection systems because it promotes uniform mass displacement, reduces density gradients, and increases mass extraction efficiency over time. Simulations of various scenarios involving hydrogeologic variables, including hydraulic conductivity, vertical anisotropy, specific yield, mechanical dispersion, molecular diffusion, and mass concentration in aquifers, have identified critical variables and parameters influencing mass transport interactions to optimize the system. MAR-MASS is adaptable across hydrogeologic conditions in aquifers that are 25–75 m thick, comprising unconsolidated materials with hydraulic conductivities between 5 and 100 m/d. It is effective in scenarios near coastal areas or in aquifers with variable-density flows within the continent, with mass concentrations of salts or solutes ranging from 3.5 to 35 kg/m³. This system employs a modular approach that offers scalable and adaptable solutions for mass extraction at specific locations. The integration of programming tools, such as Python 3.13.2, along with technological strategies utilizing parallelization techniques and high-performance computing, has facilitated the development and validation of MAR-MASS in mass extraction with remarkable efficiency. This study confirmed the utility of these tools for performing calculations, analyzing information, and managing databases in hydrogeologic models. Combining these technologies is critical for achieving precise and efficient results that would not be achievable without them, emphasizing the importance of an advanced technological approach in high-level hydrogeologic research. By enhancing groundwater quality within a comparatively short time frame, expanding freshwater availability, and supporting sustainable aquifer recharge practices, MAR-MASS is essential for improving water resource management. Full article

During a prolonged domestication and environmental selection, Brassica rapa has formed diverse morphological types during a cultivation process of up to 8000 years, such as root-type turnips (Brassica rapa var. rapa), leaf-type Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa var. pekinensis), oil-type rapeseed (Brassica rapa L.), and other rich types. China is one of the origins of Brassica rapa L., which is spread all over the east, west, south, and north of China. Studying its origin and evolution holds significant importance for unraveling the cultivation history of Chinese oilseed crops, intraspecific evolutionary relationships, and the utilization value of genetic resources. This article summarizes the cultivation history, evolution, classification research progress, and germplasm resource diversity of Brassica rapa var. oleifera in China. Combining karyotype analysis, genomic information, and wild relatives of Brassica rapa var. oleifera discovered on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, it is proposed that Brassica rapa var. oleifera has the characteristic of polycentric origin, and Gansu Province in China is one of the earliest regions for its cultivation. Brassica rapa var. oleifera, originating from the Mediterranean region, was diffused to the East Asian continent through two independent transmission paths (one via the Turkish Plateau and the other via Central Asia and Siberia). Analyzing the genetic diversity characteristics and evolutionary trajectories of these two transmission paths lays a foundation for clarifying the origin and evolutionary process of Brassica rapa var. oleifera and accelerating the breeding of Brassica rapa var. oleifera in China. Despite existing research on the origin of Brassica rapa L., the domestication process of this species remains unresolved. Future studies will employ whole-genome resequencing to address this fundamental question. Full article

Diptera comprises more than 154,000 described species, representing approximately 10–12% of insects. Members have successfully colonized all continents and a wide range of habitats. However, higher-level phylogenetic relationships within Diptera have remained ambiguous. Mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) have been used as valuable molecular markers for resolving phylogenetic issues. To explore the effect of such markers in solving the higher-level phylogenetic relationship of Diptera, we sequenced and annotated the mitogenomes of 25 species, combined with 180 mitogenomes from 33 superfamilies of dipteran insects to conduct a phylogenetic analysis based on the PCGsrRNA and PCGs12rRNA datasets using IQ-TREE under the partition model. The phylogenetic analysis failed to recover the monophyly of the two suborders Nematocera and Brachycera. Two of six infraorders within the Nematocera—Tipulomorpha and Ptychopteromorpha—were monophyletic. The ancestral Deuterophlebiidae were a strongly supported sister group of all remaining Diptera, but Anisopodidae, as the closest relative of Brachycera, received only weak support. Three of four infraorders within Branchycera—Tabanomorpha, Xylophagomorpha, and Stratiomyomorpha—were, respectively, supported as a monophyletic clade, except Muscomorpha due to the strong long-branch attraction between Cecidomyiidae and Nycteribiidae. The inferred infraordinal relationships followed the topology Tabanomorpha + (Xylophagomorpha + (Stratiomyomorpha + Muscomorpha)). However, the proposed topology lacks strong statistical support, suggesting alternative relationships remain plausible. Based on mitogenome data alone, we infer that Diptera originated earlier than the Late Triassic at 223.43 Mya (95% highest posterior density [HPD] 166.60–272.02 Mya) and the earliest brachyeran Diptera originated in the mid-Jurassic (171.61 Mya). Full article

The spoilage of dairy products and foodborne diseases caused by Bacillus spp. are important public concerns. The objective of this study was to estimate the global prevalence of Bacillus spp. in a range of milk and dairy products by using a meta-analysis of literature data published between 2001 and 2023. A total of 3624 publications were collected from Web of Science and PubMed databases. Following the principles of systematic review, 417 sets of prevalence data were extracted from 142 eligible publications. Estimated by the random-effects model, the overall prevalence of Bacillus spp. in milk and dairy products was 11.8% (95% CI: 10.1–13.7%), with highly severe heterogeneity (94.8%). Subgroup analyses revealed substantial heterogeneity in Bacillus spp. prevalence according to geographical continents, sources of sampling, types of dairy products, microbial species, and detection methods. The prevalence of Bacillus spp. was highest in Asia (15.4%, 95% CI: 12.3–19.1%), lowest in Oceania (3.5%, 95% CI: 3.3–3.7%) and generally higher in developing versus developed countries. The prevalence of Bacillus spp. isolated from retail markets (16.1%, 95% CI: 13.0–19.7%) was higher than from farms (10.3%, 95% CI: 6.9–15.0%) or dairy plants (9.2%, 95% CI: 7.1–12.0%). This finding is likely attributable to its inherent characteristic of the resistant endospores and ubiquitous presence in the environment—Bacillus spp. can potentially cyclically contaminate farms, dairy products and human markets. Regarding the species distribution, Bacillus cereus presented a cosmopolitan distribution across all continents. The epidemic patterns of different Bacillus species vary depending on the sample sources. In addition, the detection method utilized also affected the reported prevalence of Bacillus spp. It is recommended to use molecular-based rapid detection methods to obtain a more accurate prevalence of Bacillus contamination. Therefore, a better understanding of variations in Bacillus spp. prevalence across different factors will enable competent authorities, industries, and other relevant stakeholders to tailor their interventions for effectively controlling Bacillus spp. in milk and dairy products. Full article