Search Results (54)

Background: Intuitive inquiry meditation (Can-Hua-Tou) is a unique mental practice which differs from relaxation-based practices by continuously demanding intuitive inquiry. It emphasizes the doubt-driven self-interrogation, also referred to as Chan/Zen meditation. Nonetheless, its electrophysiological signature remains poorly characterized. Methods: We recorded 128-channel EEG from 20 male Buddhist monks (5–28 years Can-Hua-Tou experience) and 18 male novice lay practitioners (<0.5 year) during three counter-balanced eyes-closed blocks: Zen inquiry meditation (ZEN), a phonological control task silently murmuring “A-B-C-D” (ABCD), and passive resting state (REST). Power spectral density was computed for alpha (8–12 Hz), beta (12–30 Hz) and gamma (30–45 Hz) bands and mapped across the scalp. Mixed-design ANOVAs and electrode-wise tests were corrected with false discovery rate (p < 0.05). Results: Alpha power increased globally with eyes closed, but condition- or group-specific effects did not survive FDR correction, indicating comparable relaxation in both cohorts. In contrast, monks displayed a robust beta augmentation, showing significantly higher beta over parietal-occipital leads than novices across all conditions. The most pronounced difference lay in the gamma band: monks exhibited trait-like fronto-parietal gamma elevations in all three conditions, with additional, though sub-threshold, increases during ZEN. Novices showed negligible beta or gamma modulation across tasks. No significant group × condition interaction emerged after correction, yet only experts expressed concurrent beta/gamma amplification during meditative inquiry. Conclusions: Long-term Can-Hua-Tou practice is associated with frequency-specific neural adaptations—stable high-frequency synchrony and state-dependent beta enhancement—consistent with Buddhist constructs of citta-ekāgratā (one-pointed concentration) and vigilance during self-inquiry. Unlike mindfulness styles that accentuate alpha/theta, Chan inquiry manifests an oscillatory profile dominated by beta–gamma dynamics, underscoring that different contemplative strategies sculpt distinct neurophysiological phenotypes. These findings advance contemplative neuroscience by linking intensive cognitive meditation to enduring high-frequency cortical synchrony. Future research integrating cross-frequency coupling analyses, source localization, and behavioral correlates of insight will further fully delineate the mechanisms underpinning this advanced contemplative expertise. Full article

Background/Objectives: Despite advances in minimally invasive procedures, anastomotic leakages (ALs) after esophageal resections mark the most feared complication. Its early detection can lead to quick interventional treatment with improved survival. Nonetheless, early detection remains challenging, and scores are imprecise and complex. Methods: In our study we analyzed mediastinal drainage fluid to find parameters suggesting AL even before it became clinically evident and correlated them to routine biomarkers. All patients with AL after robotically assisted esophageal resections were included and matched 1:1 with uneventful controls. Additionally, transhiatal distal esophageal resections operated during this period were included. Drainage fluid was collected on postoperative days (PODs) 1–4 with consecutive blood gas analysis. Test quality was determined by the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Results: In total, 40 patients were included, with 17 developing AL. There were no significant differences in gender, age, BMI or oncological treatment. The 30-day morbidity rate was 65.0%. The study was restricted to events in the first 12 days. While lactate value in drainage fluid differed significantly from POD 3 onwards in the two groups, serum CRP remained without significant differences. We developed the LacCRP score (CRP/30 + lactate/2). The AUC on POD 3 was 0.96, with a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 75%, respectively. An estimator of 1.08 was found in multivariate analysis: one-point increase in the LacCRP score increases AL probability by 8%. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that postoperative lactate determinations in drainage fluid can predict AL after esophageal resection, and its combination with serum CRP results in a reliable LacCRP score. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study investigated how doctor visit(s), body image discrepancy, and perceived health status are associated with receiving a medical weight problem diagnosis. Methods: The sample included 458 Hispanic adults (366 women, 92 men) who completed a health survey at health fairs. Results: Descriptive analyses indicated that 51.4% of women and 54.3% of men were classified as overweight or obese, yet only 30% received a medical weight problem diagnosis. Most participants selected an ideal body shape that was thinner than their perceived body shape. Separate logistic regression analyses were conducted by gender to assess associations between body image discrepancy, perceived health status, and receiving a medical weight problem diagnosis, controlling for age. Findings revealed that women who had visited a doctor in the past year had 5.02 times the odds (95% CI:1.98–12.73) of receiving a medical weight problem diagnosis compared to those who had not. Each one-point increase in body image discrepancy was associated with a 1.88-fold increase in the odds of receiving a diagnosis (95% CI:1.49–2.37). Conversely, a one-point increase in perceived health status was associated with 1.59 times the odds (95% CI: 0.47–0.83) of not receiving a diagnosis. For men, those who had visited the doctor in the past year had 14.17 times the odds (95% CI:1.53–131.17) of receiving a medical weight problem diagnosis. Each one-point increase in body image discrepancy was associated with 1.60 times the odds of receiving a diagnosis (95% CI:1.01–2.54). However, perceived health status was not a significant predictor of diagnosis among men. Conclusions: Addressing healthcare access barriers and considering the roles of body image and perceived health status could improve obesity diagnosis and treatment in Hispanic populations. Full article

Background/Objectives: The decrease in estrogen levels during menopause is associated with an increase in visceral fat accumulation, which can contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS). While some studies have suggested a link between the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and the reduced incidence of MetS and its components in the general population, these findings have not been confirmed among postmenopausal women. Therefore, this study investigated the association between the adherence to the MedDiet and the odds of having MetS, and established the food groups responsible for this effect in postmenopausal women. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 312 postmenopausal women who underwent anthropometric measurements and blood parameter assessment. Adherence to the MedDiet was assessed using the Alternate Mediterranean Diet score (the aMED score), and MetS was defined based on the updated 2022 criteria. Results: After adjusting for potential confounders, adherence to the MedDiet was inversely associated with central obesity and hypertension. For each one-point increase in the aMED score (indicating a better adherence to the MedDet), the odds of central obesity and hypertension were significantly reduced by 33% (OR = 0.669, 95% CI: 0.518; 0.866, p = 0.002) and by 18% (OR = 0.817, 95% CI: 0.689; 0.969, p = 0.020), respectively. A greater consumption of nuts and fish was associated with lower odds of central obesity (OR = 0.972, 95% CI: 0.950; 0.995; p = 0.016) and (OR = 0.989, 95%CI: 0.979; 1.000; p = 0.043), respectively, whereas high processed red meat consumption was associated with hypertension (OR = 1.004, 95% CI: 1.000; 1.008, p = 0.048). Conclusions: A greater adherence to the MedDiet was associated with lower odds of central obesity and hypertension among postmenopausal women; however, it did not translate to a reduced likelihood of having MetS. A higher consumption of nuts and fish was associated with lower odds of central obesity, whereas a higher consumption of red, processed meats was associated with higher odds of hypertension. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine the causality of these relationships. Full article

Background/Objectives: To assess quantitatively the correlation between the lung ultrasound severity scores (LUSSs) and chest CT severity scores (CTSSs) derived from low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) for evaluating pulmonary inflammation in COVID-19 patients. Methods: In this prospective observational study, from an initial cohort of 1000 patients, 555 adults (≥18 years) with confirmed COVID-19 were enrolled based on inclusion criteria. All underwent LDCT imaging, scored by the CTSS (0–25 points), quantifying involvement across five lung lobes. Lung ultrasound examinations using standardized semi-quantitative scales for the B-line (LUSS B) and consolidation (LUSS C) were performed in a subgroup of 170 patients; 110 had follow-up imaging after one week. Correlation analyses included Spearman’s and Pearson’s coefficients. Results: Significant positive correlations were found between the CTSS and both the LUSS B (r = 0.32; p < 0.001) and LUSS C (r = 0.24; p = 0.006), with the LUSS B showing a slightly stronger relationship. Each incremental increase in the LUSS B corresponded to an average increase of 0.18 CTSS points, whereas a one-point increase in the LUSS C corresponded to a 0.27-point CTSS increase. The mean influence of the LUSS on CTSS was 8.0%. Neither ultrasound score significantly predicted ICU admission or mortality (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Standardized lung ultrasound severity scores show a significant correlation with low-dose CT in assessing pulmonary involvement in COVID-19, particularly for the B-line artifacts. Lung ultrasound represents a valuable bedside tool, complementing—but not substituting—CT in predicting clinical severity. Integrating both imaging modalities may enable the acquisition of complementary bedside information and facilitate dynamic monitoring of disease progression. Full article

Water quality should be tested to ensure it is acceptable for the healthy growth of plants and animals, and water hardness is one of the important testing indexes. Herein, a novel approach was proposed to achieve high accuracy and rapid quantitative analyses of water hardness by combining one-point calibration laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (OPC–LIBS) and aerosolization. First, the water samples are aerosolized via the aerosol generation device and the LIBS spectra of aerosols are obtained. Then, a modified OPC–LIBS model is used to determine the elemental contents of the aerosols via LIBS spectra, in which the plasma temperature is calculated using the Multi-Element Saha–Boltzmann (ME–SB) plot. One suitable standard liquid sample (the concentrations of Ca, Mg, and Sr were 50 mg/L, 50 mg/L, and 500 mg/L, respectively) was selected to evaluate the quantitative performance of the modified OPC–LIBS. Then, the Ca and Mg concentrations in the three real water samples (from the Yangtze River, reservoir, and underground) were detected and quantified by the proposed method, and the quantitative results of three LIBS calibration methods were compared with that of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP–OES). The average relative error of Ca and Mg found in the OPC–LIBS results was lower by 22.23% than the internal standard method and 14.50% lower than the external standard method. The method combining modified OPC–LIBS and aerosolization can achieve high-precision rapid quantification of water hardness detection, which provides a new path for rapid detection of water hardness and is expected to make online detection a reality in the water quality testing field. Full article

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the anticoagulation and risk factors in atrial fibrillation (ATRIA) score and initial stroke severity in patients with acute ischemic stroke of varying etiologies, including atrial fibrillation (AF), large-artery atherosclerosis, and undetermined origin. Methods: In this prospective observational study, 416 patients admitted with acute ischemic stroke between June 2022 and December 2024 were analyzed. Stroke severity was assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and patients were categorized into two groups: mild-to-moderate (NIHSS ≤ 15) and moderate-to-severe/severe (NIHSS > 15). Pre-admission ATRIA scores were calculated based on demographic and clinical parameters. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the association between ATRIA scores and stroke severity. Results: Patients with more severe strokes had significantly higher ATRIA scores (median 8.5 vs. 5.0, p < 0.001). AF was more frequent in the severe group (44.8% vs. 31.3%, p = 0.037). In multivariable analysis, each one-point increase in the ATRIA score was independently associated with a 1.82-fold increase in the odds of severe stroke (OR 1.823, 95% CI 1.568–2.119, p < 0.001). High ATRIA scores (>6) were associated with an 11.7-fold increased risk of severe stroke (OR 11.692, 95% CI 5.636–24.255, p < 0.001), independent of stroke etiology, ejection fraction, and inflammatory markers. Conclusions: The ATRIA score is independently associated with initial stroke severity across diverse ischemic stroke etiologies. It may serve as a simple, practical tool for early risk stratification in the acute setting, regardless of AF status. Further studies are warranted to confirm its utility in guiding early management and prognosis. Full article

Background: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a major vascular condition often overlooked in prevention strategies. We aimed to evaluate the association between cardiovascular health, measured by Life’s Simple 7 (LS7), and the risk of PAD in a high-risk Mediterranean population. Methods: This prospective analysis included 7122 participants from the PREDIMED study (Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea) at high cardiovascular risk but free of cardiovascular disease at baseline. LS7 scores (0–14 points) were calculated using seven metrics: smoking status, body mass index, physical activity, blood pressure, total cholesterol, glucose metabolism, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Participants were categorized into inadequate (0–5), average (6–8), and optimal (9–14) cardiovascular health. Multivariable Cox regression models and Nelson–Aalen curves assessed the association between LS7 and PAD incidence over a median 4.8-year follow-up. A meta-analysis combining these results with three prior studies was also performed. Results: A total of 87 incident PAD cases were identified. Compared to participants with inadequate cardiovascular health, those with average and optimal LS7 scores exhibited significantly lower PAD risk (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.37; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.22–0.61, and HR 0.25; 95% CI: 0.10–0.65, respectively). Each one-point increase in the LS7 score (range 0 to 14) was associated with an 22% lower PAD risk (HR 0.78; 95% CI: 0.68–0.90). The meta-analysis yielded a pooled HR of 0.81 (95% CI: 0.76–0.87), confirming consistent inverse associations across populations. Conclusions: Greater adherence to LS7 metrics is associated with a significantly reduced risk of PAD in high-risk Mediterranean individuals. Promoting LS7 adherence may represent an effective strategy for preventing both cardiovascular disease and PAD. Full article

Background/Objectives: University students are at a critical life stage in terms of establishing lifelong dietary habits, yet little is known about the sustainability of their diets, especially in Croatia. This study aimed to assess the sustainability and environmental impacts of university students’ dietary patterns at the University of Rijeka using the Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI) and to explore the associations with demographic, lifestyle, nutritional, and environmental variables. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2023 to March 2024 among 224 students (54% male, mean age 22.7 ± 2.2 years). Data collection included sociodemographic information, physical activity, and dietary intake (semi-quantitative FFQ). Diet quality was assessed using the PHDI, Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS), and Dietary Inflammatory Index. Environmental impact indicators (carbon, water, and ecological footprints) were calculated using energy-adjusted intake data and standardized life cycle assessment data. Results: Students exhibited moderate adherence to the Planetary Health Diet (mean PHDI: 55.5). Higher PHDI scores were significantly associated with vigorous physical activity, higher MDS, and anti-inflammatory dietary patterns (all p < 0.001). Despite male students showing slightly higher PHDI scores, their diets had significantly greater environmental impacts. A one-point increase in the PHDI correlated with smaller environmental footprints (carbon: β = −7.94; water: β = −13.88; ecological: β = −3.15; all p < 0.001), with a significant decrease observed particularly in the lowest- and highest-adherence groups, while no consistent or significant effects were found in the intermediate groups. The nutrient and food group analysis supported the health-promoting profile of diets aligned with the PHDI. Conclusions: This study highlights the moderate sustainability of students’ diets, with significant associations between diet quality and environmental impacts. University settings present key opportunities for the promotion of sustainable, health-oriented eating behaviors among young adults. Full article

The maximum k-coverage problem (MKCP) is a problem of finding a solution that includes the maximum number of covered rows by selecting k columns from an m $\times$n matrix of 0s and 1s. This is an NP-hard problem that is difficult to solve in a realistic time; therefore, it cannot be solved with a general deterministic algorithm. In this study, genetic algorithms (GAs), an evolutionary arithmetic technique, were used to solve the MKCP. Genetic algorithms (GAs) are meta-heuristic algorithms that create an initial solution group, select two parent solutions from the solution group, apply crossover and repair operations, and replace the generated offspring with the previous parent solution to move to the next generation. Here, to solve the MKCP with binary and integer encoding, genetic algorithms were designed with various crossover and repair operators, and the results of the proposed algorithms were demonstrated using benchmark data from the OR-library. The performances of the GAs with various crossover and repair operators were also compared for each encoding type through experiments. In binary encoding, the combination of uniform crossover and random repair improved the average objective value by up to 3.24% compared to one-point crossover and random repair across the tested instances. The conservative repair method was not suitable for binary encoding compared to the random repair method. In contrast, in integer encoding, the combination of uniform crossover and conservative repair achieved up to 4.47% better average performance than one-point crossover and conservative repair. The conservative repair method was less suitable with one-point crossover operators than the random repair method, but, with uniform crossover, was better. Full article

Mead is described as a traditional alcoholic drink produced by fermentation from a solution of honey and water. It has been produced as a refreshing drink. However, in the past, it was more expensive than wine, which led to a decrease in demand. Due to the simple method of production, the mead industry is growing again. The quality and physicochemical properties of mead depend on the type of honey used. The goal of this study is to produce mead from two kinds of honey of different floral origins, chestnut and sunflower, in order to determine the differences using sensory and physicochemical analyses. The fermentation process was monitored until the extract values were consecutively the same. The results obtained in this research indicate that chestnut honey mead took a longer time to ferment, 2 months, while sunflower honey mead took 1.5 months to ferment. The alcohol content in chestnut honey mead was 7.2% v/v, and sunflower honey mead contained 8.6% v/v. Sensory-wise, the chestnut mead was more acceptable to consumers due to a more pronounced color and thus received a one-point higher score (15) than sunflower honey mead (14). Full article

Background: The Mediterranean diet (MD) has been shown to have cardioprotective effects, as demonstrated in adults, but data on hyperlipidemic children are scanty. This study assessed the impact of MD adherence, evaluated with the updated KIDMED score, on the lipid profiles of pediatric patients affected by primary hyperlipidemias. Methods: This retrospective study included data on 157 children (mean age: 10.01 ± 3.54 years) dating from 2016 to 2020. Dietary adherence and lipid levels were assessed at baseline (T₀) and after 6 months (T₁) of dietary counseling. Adherence was categorized using the KIDMED score: ≥8 (optimal), 4–7 (improvement needed), and ≤3 (very low). Results: KIDMED scores improved for 65% of patients, with adherence classes increasing for 33.8%. Significant reductions in LDL-C and non-HDL-C (p < 0.0001) levels were associated with even a one-point score increase, beyond which no additional benefits were observed. Conclusions: MD adherence, as measured using the updated KIDMED score, significantly improved the lipid profiles of children with dyslipidemia. These findings will support the performance of early dietary interventions to reduce cardiovascular risk factors. Full article

Background/Objectives: Food prices are a crucial factor in food choices, especially for more vulnerable populations. To estimate the association between diet cost and quality, as measured by the EAT-Lancet score, across demographic groups in Brazil. Methods: Data from the 2017/18 Household Budget Survey were used to calculate the EAT-Lancet score, comprising 14 components. Scores ranged from 0 (low adherence) to 42 (high adherence), with emphasized components (e.g., vegetables, fruits, legumes) and limited components (e.g., red meat, sugar, eggs). Results were stratified by per capita income, geographic region, and area of residence and compared using linear regression adjusted for high and low costs. In addition, the association between the EAT-Lancet score (and its emphasized and limited components) and diet cost (continuous) was analyzed for the total population and for income tertiles. Results: The mean EAT-Lancet score was 18.65 points (range: 7 to 25) and the mean diet cost was BRL$0.65/100 kcal. Total scores showed no significant difference between low- and high-cost diets. However, limited intake was more pronounced in low-cost diets, while high-cost diets featured emphasized foods such as fruits, vegetables, and seafood. High-cost diets also included sugars and red meat, while unsaturated fats scored higher in low-cost diets. Each one-point increase in the EAT-Lancet score was associated with a BRL$0.38 reduction in cost, driven by lower costs in the Limited component, especially among the lowest-income strata (reductions of BRL$1.58 and BRL$1.55 in the lowest income and middle income tertiles, respectively). However, higher scores for emphasized foods increased costs (BRL$0.89) in the lowest tertile. Conclusions: Higher EAT-Lancet scores were associated with reduced diet costs, likely influenced by the lower Limited component costs in low-income groups. Emphasized foods, however, tended to increase costs, particularly among the lowest-income group. These findings suggest that the role of diet composition plays a significant role in cost differences and underscore the challenges that low-income groups face in accessing affordable, healthy diets. Full article

Aiming at some shortcomings of the genetic algorithm to solve the path planning in a global static environment, such as a low efficiency of population initialization, slow convergence speed, and easy-to-fall-into the local optimum, an improved genetic algorithm is proposed to solve the path planning problem. Firstly, the environment model is established by using the grid method; secondly, in order to overcome the difficulty of a low efficiency of population initialization, a population initialization method with directional guidance is proposed; finally, in order to balance the global and local optimization searching and to speed up the solution speed, the proposed non-common point crossover operator, range mutation operator, and simplification operator are used in combination with the one-point crossover operator and one-point mutation operator in the traditional genetic algorithm to obtain an improved genetic algorithm. In the simulation experiment, Experiment 1 verifies the effectiveness of the population initialization method proposed in this paper. The success rates in Map 1, Map 2, Map 3, and Map 4 were 56.3854%, 55.851%, 34.1%, and 24.1514%, respectively, which were higher than the two initialization methods compared. Experiment 2 verifies the effectiveness of the genetic algorithm (IGA) improved in this paper for path planning. In four maps, the path planning is compared with the five algorithms and the shortest distance is achieved in all of them. The two experiments show that the improved genetic algorithm in this paper has advantages in path planning. Full article

Objectives: Pregnancy is an inherently delicate process characterized by physiological and psychological changes, even in the absence of any health complications. This study compares the levels of anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and guilt in women diagnosed with high-risk pregnancies to those in a control group consisting of women with healthy pregnancies. Methods: A total of 172 women participated in the study, 108 of whom had high-risk pregnancies, and 64 had healthy pregnancies. All participants were administered a semi-structured Sociodemographic Data Form, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Scale (BAI), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and Guilt Inventory (GI). The findings were statistically analyzed and compared. Results: Women with high-risk pregnancies had significantly higher scores on the BAI (p = 0.002), BDI (p = 0.035), and GI (p = 0.001) compared to the control group. In the logistic regression analysis for calculating the risk of high-risk pregnancy, the multivariate analysis revealed that living in rural areas posed 3.5 times higher risk for high-risk pregnancy compared to urban living (OR = 3.500, 95% CI = 1.484–8.254). Additionally, for every one-point increase in the GI score, the risk of high-risk pregnancy increased by 1.064 times (OR = 1.064, 95% CI = 1.017–1.114). In the patient group, significant positive correlations were found between the BAI score and BDI, RSES, and GI scores, while a significant negative correlation was observed between BAI and parity. There were also significant positive correlations between the BDI and RSES as well as the GI scores. Additionally, a positive significant correlation was found between the RSES and GI scores. Conclusions: Our findings may help in identifying the psychological states of women with high-risk pregnancies and Full article