Search Results (66)

Background/Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the association between diabetes mellitus (DM) during pregnancy and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants younger than 32 gestational weeks or infants with low birthweight (<1500 g). Methods: We conducted a retrospective nested case–control study of all premature infants who were born alive and survived the post-delivery hospitalization period in Soroka Medical Center, with either gestational age younger than 32 weeks or birthweight less than 1500 g, during the years 2013–2021. The infants were divided into two groups according to ROP status. Multivariable Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) were used to analyze the association between ROP and DM, adjusting for potential confounders, including maternal age, diabetes type (GDM vs. pre-gestational DM), gestational age, birthweight (<1250 g), duration of oxygen supplementation, antenatal corticosteroid courses, and birth plurality. Results: During the study period, there were 881 pairs of women and newborns who met the inclusion criteria. The ROP group included 345 infants (39.1%). Twenty-two (6.4%) of the mothers in the ROP group were diagnosed with DM during pregnancy compared with 52 of 536 (9.7%) in the control group (p = 0.082). ROP was associated with oxygen treatment (OR 1.05; 95% CI, 1.03–1.08; p < 0.001), birthweight < 1250 g (OR 2.70; 95% CI, 1.93–3.78; p < 0.001) and advanced maternal age (OR 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01–1.06; p = 0.006). Prenatal steroid treatment was identified as a significant protective factor against ROP (OR 0.73; 95% CI, 0.60–0.89; p = 0.002). No statistically significant association was observed between maternal DM and ROP (OR 0.62; 95% CI 0.34–1.13; p = 0.12). These findings should be interpreted cautiously given the retrospective design and the limited availability of glycemic control data. Conclusions: Maternal diabetes mellitus was not significantly associated with the risk of ROP in this cohort. Full article

In the modern fauna, click beetle larvae are important ecosystem components, fulfilling different ecological functions. The fossil record of click beetle larvae is still scarce. Even in the very diverse fauna of the Kachin amber forest (Myanmar, Cretaceous, ca. 100 million years old), only three morphotypes of click beetle larvae have been reported so far. Here, we add a fourth morphotype, characterised by very long setae. The mouthparts indicate a predatory lifestyle. The long and quite stiff-appearing setae might have protected the larvae, for example, when hunting in termite nests, which is a strategy that some extant click beetle larvae apply. This would also imply a closer association with wood and thus a greater likelihood of preservation in amber. Here, we present twelve larvae of this new morphotype, representing two or three possible species, including an ontogenetic series for one of these. Full article

Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CIAKI) is a common complication after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The protective role of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) against CIAKI remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the effects of SGLT2i using nationwide database analysis and experimental models. A nationwide nested case–control study using Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database assessed the association between SGLT2i use and risk of post-PCI dialysis. Parallel in vitro experiments examined dapagliflozin in iopamidol-treated HK-2 cells, and in vivo studies tested dapagliflozin in diabetic rats exposed to iopamidol. Clinically, SGLT2i use significantly reduced the risk of post-PCI dialysis (adjusted OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.14–0.76; p = 0.0094). In vitro, dapagliflozin attenuated iopamidol-induced cytotoxicity and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in HK-2 cells. In diabetic rats, dapagliflozin improved renal function, reduced tubular injury, and suppressed inflammasome-driven inflammation. In conclusion, SGLT2i protect against CIAKI by mitigating tubular injury and inflammasome activation. These findings highlight their potential as a preventive strategy for CIAKI in T2DM patients undergoing PCI. Full article

Industry 5.0 challenges higher education to adopt human-centred and sustainable uses of artificial intelligence, yet many current deployments still treat generative AI as a stand-alone tool, neurophysiological sensing as largely laboratory-bound, and governance as an external add-on rather than a design constraint. This article introduces Nested Learning as a neuro-adaptive ecosystem design in which generative-AI agents, IoT infrastructures and multimodal deep learning orchestrate instructional support while preserving student agency and a “pedagogy of hope”. We report an exploratory two-phase mixed-methods study as an initial empirical illustration. First, a neuro-experimental calibration with 18 undergraduate students used mobile EEG while they interacted with ChatGPT in problem-solving tasks structured as challenge–support–reflection micro-cycles. Second, a field implementation at a university in Madrid involved 380 participants (300 students and 80 lecturers), embedding the Nested Learning ecosystem into regular courses. Data sources included EEG (P300) signals, interaction logs, self-report measures of engagement, self-regulated learning and cognitive safety (with strong internal consistency; $\alpha /\omega \ge 0.82$), and open-ended responses capturing emotional experience and ethical concerns. In Phase 1, P300 dynamics aligned with key instructional micro-events, providing feasibility evidence that low-cost neuro-adaptive pipelines can be sensitive to pedagogical flow in ecologically relevant tasks. In Phase 2, participants reported high levels of perceived nested support and cognitive safety, and observed associations between perceived Nested Learning, perceived neuro-adaptive adjustments, engagement and self-regulation were moderate to strong ($r=0.41$–$0.63$, $p<0.001$). Qualitative data converged on themes of clarity, adaptive support and non-punitive error culture, alongside recurring concerns about privacy and cognitive sovereignty. We argue that, under robust ethical, data-protection and sustainability-by-design constraints, Nested Learning can strengthen academic resilience, learner autonomy and human-centred uses of AI in higher education. Full article

Background: Bullying in university settings is a significant yet understudied contributor to psychological distress. Differentiating the sources of victimization, may reveal distinct risk profiles associated with mental health and substance use outcomes. Objective: To evaluate the frequency and risk factors associated with bullying victimization among medical students, and to identify associations with mental disorders and substance use. Methods: A nested case–control cohort study was conducted with 124 medical students. Participants completed nine validated psychometric instruments evaluating neurobehavioral traits, emotional distress, substance use, and scholar bullying. Bivariate and multivariate regression models were used to estimate coefficients and odds ratios for key outcomes. Results: 42.7% of the students reported victimization, with teacher harassment (37.1%) more frequent than peer harassment (27.4%); 22.6% experienced both. Teacher harassment was primarily characterized by intentional harm (78%); peer harassment involved abuse of authority (63%). ADHD, severe stress, and substance use were associated with teacher-related victimization, while peer victimization was linked to ADHD, stress, impulsivity, and suicide risk. Childhood abuse, high stress levels, and non-heterosexual orientation as predictors of teacher harassment (p < 0.05). Notably, students with a non-heterosexual orientation were over six times more likely to report teacher harassment, highlighting the disproportionate vulnerability of sexual minorities within academic power dynamics. Conclusions: Teacher- and peer-related harassment are prevalent and often co-occur, with teacher-perpetrated bullying emerging as both more frequent and more strongly associated with mental health and identity-based vulnerabilities. Students with ADHD, high stress levels, and non-heterosexual orientation are at significantly greater risk. These findings emphasize the need for institutional accountability, inclusive academic policies, and targeted mental health support to protect vulnerable students and prevent harm within educational environments. Full article

Previous studies have evaluated the association between different blood groups and human infection with Toxoplasma gondii. No similar studies exist in cats. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of some risk or protective factors, including the AB blood type system phenotypes, in T. gondii infection in cats. Feline sera and surplus EDTA anticoagulated blood samples, for which AB blood group system phenotypes had been determined, were analyzed for T. gondii antibodies (ELISA, cut-off S/P% ≥ 50% and IFAT, cut-off ≥ 1:64) and DNA (nested and real-time PCR). T. gondii status and the characteristics of signalment (gender, breed, and age), lifestyle (stray, shelter, privately-owned), origin (Northern or Southern Italy), and retroviral infection serostatus of the population were evaluated using the Chi-square test, with calculation of the Odds Ratio (OR) in cases of statistically significant association (p < 0.05). A total of 199 samples were analyzed, of which 178 were phenotype A, 15 were phenotype B, and 6 were phenotype AB. Of these, 57/199 (28.6%) were positive for T. gondii: 5 were positive at PCR, 33 at ELISA, and 19 at IFAT. Of the 57 positive cats, 52/57 were phenotype A, 3/57 phenotype B, and 2/57 phenotype AB, with no significant association with T. gondii infection. FIV seropositive cats had a higher risk (OR = 3.1, p = 0.0043) of testing T. gondii positive. This study did not find an association between T. gondii infection and the feline blood types investigated; therefore, based on our results, AB blood group system phenotypes do not seem to play a role in Toxoplasma gondii infection in cats. These findings contribute to our knowledge of the role of blood types in disease susceptibility in cats. Full article

[Objective] Currently, there are limitations in the understanding of rural cultural landscape: they are often perceived as material spatial entities, with a lack of exploration of their intangible elements and neglect of the isomorphism between the material and intangible elements of cultural landscapes. In the context of rural cultural revitalization, it is necessary to explore the regional protection elements of rural cultural landscapes from the perspective of isomorphism. [Methods/Process] This study employs relevant linguistic theories to extract and construct a framework for a language system with regional characteristics for rural cultural landscapes from an isomorphous perspective. By deconstructing the rural cultural landscape pattern of Jiufangou in Dawu County, it summarizes the relationships and isomorphous nature between the constituent elements of this language system. [Results/Conclusions] The study identifies eight core landscape terms. These lexical units form landscape sentences based on four typical scenarios. The study then analyzed the landscape grammatical structures of different scenarios from four dimensions and explored the deep semantic meanings and contextual rules of Jiufanggou Village’s cultural landscape. Finally, this study utilizes a schematic diagram of the “vocabulary–grammar–sentence” nested structure of the Jiufanggou cultural landscape to visually illustrate the interconnections and patterns of cultural landscape elements in Jiufanggou Village across different contexts. Building on this, the study explores the structural equivalence between the material and immaterial elements of rural cultural landscapes. Overall, the construction of a nested linguistic system for rural cultural landscapes is not only about analyzing spatial forms but more importantly about exploring the underlying logical order and traditional wisdom behind spatial creation, thereby achieving the goals of associative protection, the inheritance of diverse cultures, and the continuation of the vitality of rural cultural landscapes. Full article

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections in children, particularly severe during infancy. Maternal RSV-specific neutralizing antibodies (nAbs), transferred via the placenta, may provide protection in early infancy, but the extent and duration of protection remain uncertain. Objective: We investigated the association between cord blood RSV-A nAb levels and the risk of hospitalization due to RSV-associated acute respiratory infection (RSV-ARI) by 24 months of age. Methods: We conducted a case–cohort study nested within a birth cohort in Nha Trang, Vietnam. From the full cohort (n = 1977), a random subcohort of 392 infants and all 66 infants hospitalized for RSV-ARI by age 24 months were included for RSV-A nAb testing. RSV-A nAb titers at birth were categorized into three groups in the subcohort (low: lowest quartile; middle; interquartile; high: highest quartile). Weighted Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for RSV-ARI hospitalization. Results: The incidence of RSV-ARI hospitalization was 17.92 per 1000 person-years by 24 months, and 25.40 per 1000 person-years among infants aged <12 months. Among infants aged <6 months, those in the low nAb group had a significantly higher risk of hospitalization compared to the middle nAb group (adjusted HR: 4.05; 95% CI: 1.51–10.89). Maternal anemia was consistently associated with increased risk. Conclusions: Lower RSV-nAb titers at birth were associated with an increased risk of RSV-ARI hospitalization during early infancy. These findings support the importance of maternal immunization strategies to enhance infant protection against RSV. Full article

Federated Clustering (FL clustering) aims to discover latent knowledge in multi-source distributed data through clustering algorithms while preserving data privacy. Federated learning is categorized into horizontal and vertical federated learning based on data partitioning scenarios. Horizontal federated learning is applicable to scenarios with overlapping feature spaces but different sample IDs across parties. Vertical federated learning facilitates cross-institutional feature complementarity, which is particularly suited for scenarios with highly overlapping sample IDs yet significantly divergent features. As a classic clustering algorithm, k-means has seen extensive improvements and applications in horizontal federated learning. However, its application in vertical federated learning remains insufficiently explored, with room for enhancement in privacy protection and communication efficiency. Simultaneously, client feature imbalance may lead to biased clustering results. To improve communication efficiency, this paper introduces Product Quantization (PQ) to compress high-dimensional data into low-dimensional codes by generating local codebooks. Leveraging the inherent k-means algorithm within PQ, local training preserves data structures while overcoming privacy risks associated with traditional PQ methods that require server-side data reconstruction (which may leak data distributions). To enhance privacy without compromising performance, Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) maps codebook cluster centers into distance-preserving indices. Only these indices are uploaded to the server, eliminating the need for data reconstruction. The server executes k-means on the indices to minimize intra-group similarity and maximize inter-group divergence. This scheme retains original codebooks locally for strict privacy protection.The nested application of PQ and MDS significantly reduces communication volume and frequency while effectively alleviating clustering bias caused by client feature dimension imbalance. Validation on the MNIST dataset confirms that the approach maintains k-means clustering performance while meeting federated learning requirements for privacy and efficiency. Full article

Background: The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine generates high antibody titers against targeted HPV types. This study investigated vaccine-induced anti-HPV18 immunoglobulin (IgG) antibody titers and subsequent HPV18/45 infections. Methods: We performed a nested matched case-control study leveraging a prospective longitudinal cohort of adolescent and young adult women (AYW) vaccinated with the quadrivalent HPV vaccine (4vHPV) attending the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center (MSAHC) in Manhattan, NY. The case individuals included AYW who had an incident detection of cervical HPV18 (n = 3) or HPV45 (n = 34) DNA after vaccination and were compared to two vaccinated control individuals (HPV18/45-negative); one random control (RC, n = 37) and one high-risk control (HRC, n = 37) selected from the upper quartile of a sexual risk behavior score. Serological titers against HPV18 were measured by end-point dilution and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serum collected before the incident detection of HPV. Matching was performed based on age at first dose, follow-up time, and sexual risk behavior score. Conditional logistic regression was used to assess the association between case-control status and anti-HPV antibody titers, consistent with the matched-pair design. Results: Antibody titers for HPV18 were most different between AYW who developed an HPV18/45 infection compared to high-risk controls OR = 1.66, 95% CI: 0.96–2.85 (p = 0.1629). Analyses of pooled data from vaccinated recipients including who developed HPV16/31 or HPV18/45 infections demonstrated that the odds of a one-log unit increase in anti-HPV16 or 18 antibody titers, respectively, were 40% higher in the combined control groups (RC + HRC, n = 160) (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.09–1.79, p = 0.0135) and 73% higher in the HRC (n = 80) (OR 1.73, 95% CI: 1.34, 2.52, p = 0.0117) compared to HPV16/18/31/45 cases (n = 80). Conclusions: Overall, these findings suggest that higher IgG antibodies to HPV16/18 after vaccination represent an increased likelihood of protection from homologous and cross-reactive HPV types (HPV16/18/31/45). These results show that differences in antibody titers are associated with breakthrough infection after vaccination, suggesting that further study of long-term antibody titers and infection should be pursued. Full article

The Galápagos Petrel (Pterodroma phaeopygia) is a long-lived Critically Endangered seabird endemic to the Galápagos Islands and faces severe threats from invasive species, particularly rodents. Until now, evidence of rat predation on Galápagos Petrel nestlings has been largely indirect, inferred from indirect evidence and predator control outcomes. Here, we present the first photographic documentation of a presumed black rat (Rattus rattus) preying on a Galápagos Petrel nestling, captured by a camera trap on private farmland on Santa Cruz Island. The predation event occurred during a period of parental absence, when the nestling was left unattended while adults foraged at sea. Notably, the parent Petrels continued returning to the nest for 91 days following nestling loss, suggesting strong nest fidelity and highlighting potential energetic costs associated with breeding failure. Our findings reveal critical vulnerabilities during the nestling-rearing phase and emphasize the urgent need to enhance rodent control efforts and protect nesting areas, particularly on farmland outside the Galápagos National Park boundaries. We conclude by providing targeted conservation recommendations to mitigate invasive predator impacts and improve breeding success for this emblematic and imperiled seabird. Full article

Background: Oral bisphosphonates (BPs) are the standard therapy for osteoporosis and skeletal metastases, and exhibit anti-tumor properties in preclinical models. Observational studies assessing their impact on colorectal cancer (CRC) risk have yielded inconsistent results. We aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze the association between oral bisphosphonate use and CRC risk, applying a unified exposure definition. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus (January 1966–April 2025) to identify cohort, nested case–control, or population-based case–control studies reporting adjusted estimates of relative risk, odds ratios (ORs), or hazard ratios (HRs) for CRC among oral bisphosphonate users. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed quality using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Random-effects meta-analyses pooled risk estimates for “any use” of bisphosphonates, with subgroup analyses by duration of use (<1, 1–3, >3 years). We assessed publication bias through Egger’s test and the trim-and-fill method. Results: A total of eight studies published between 2010 and 2020, including 29,169 CRC cases, fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Any bisphosphonate use was not significantly associated with CRC risk (pooled OR 0.97; 95% C.I., 0.90–1.03). However, 1–3 years of use conferred a protective effect (OR 0.86; 95% C.I., 0.73–0.99), as did >3 years (OR 0.91; 95% C.I., 0.85–0.97). Heterogeneity was moderate, and no significant publication bias was detected. Conclusions: While overall oral bisphosphonate exposure is not significantly linked to CRC risk, prolonged use (≥1 year) appears to reduce risk. Prospective studies and randomized trials are needed to confirm these chemo-preventive effects and guide clinical recommendations. Full article

Red wood ants (RWA), belonging to the Formica rufa species group, play a crucial and fascinating role in Central Europe’s forest ecosystems. They have a high variety of effects, which they exert around their nests. Their generalist feeding on prey in the canopies of trees lowers the frequency of defoliator outbreaks, as well as increases local biodiversity. Nearly half of their diverse diet is insects, including species considered harmful by foresters. They also have a mutualistic relation with honeydew-producing aphids and planthoppers, which connection has unclear effects on the forests. The habit of RWAs building nests could also positively influence soil composition, due to its structure and high amount of organic matter, which could potentially benefit tree growth. RWAs are also known to enhance the species richness of forests by supporting various myrmecophilous species associated with them. In this study, we review the role of RWAs in forest protection, drawing on the literature focusing on Hungary and Central Europe. Full article

Backround: The aim is to analyze whether sex and gender are associated with missed acute ischemic stroke (M-AIS). Methods: We performed a nested case-control study, using data collected from March 2003 to December 2020 from ASTRAL (Acute STroke Registry and Analysis of Lausanne). M-AIS were compared with a randomly selected control sample of acute ischmemic stroke (AIS). We extracted six gender-related socioeconomic variables. A gendered socioeconomic position (SEP) score was constructed reflecting the level of correspondence with feminine characteristics. Associations between M-AIS and the gender-related socioeconomic variables and the gendered SEP score were investigated using logistic regression. Results: Of the 6007 AIS, 182 (3%) were M-AIS. 80 (44%) were women. No association between administrative sex and M-AIS was found (OR 1.25, 95% CI 0.78–2.00). Differences were found for gender-related socioeconomic variables, women in the middle professional category had higher odds of an M-AIS compared to women in the lower professional category (OR 3.93, 95% CI 1.19–13.03). Men with higher education had lower odds of an M-AIS compared to men with lower education (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.10–0.92). For women, a 20-unit increase in the gendered SEP score was associated with lower odds of an M-AIS (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.46–0.94). For men, the same increase in the score tended to higher the odds of an M-AIS (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.00–2.32). Conclusions: The interaction of administrative sex with gender-related socioeconomic variables revealed different associations with M-AIS for women and men. Correspondence to expected gender norms may have a protective effect against M-AIS. Full article

HIV remains a major public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, with South Africa bearing the highest burden. This study confirms that KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is a hotspot, with a high HIV prevalence of 47.4% (95% CI: 45.7–49.1) among females aged 15–34. We investigated the spatial distribution and key socio-demographic, behavioural, and economic factors associated with HIV prevalence in this group using a Bayesian spatial logistic regression model. Secondary data from 3324 females in the HIV Incidence Provincial Surveillance System (HIPSS) (2014–2015) in uMgungundlovu District, KZN, were analysed. Bayesian spatial models fitted using the Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA) identified key predictors and spatial clusters of HIV prevalence. The results showed that age, education, marital status, income, alcohol use, condom use, and number of sexual partners significantly influenced HIV prevalence. Older age groups (20–34 years), alcohol use, multiple partners, and STI/TB diagnosis increased HIV risk, while tertiary education and condom use were protective. Two HIV hotspots were identified, with one near Greater Edendale being statistically significant. The findings highlight the need for targeted, context-specific interventions to reduce HIV transmission among young females in KZN. Full article