Search Results (65,569)

Emotional (mental) pain can precipitate a suicidal intention in humans. In contemporary society characterized by an increase in international migrations, the potential impact of immigration remains among the controversial and even quite complex topics in the sociology of suicidal behavior. In other respects, our understanding of the potential impact of immigration status on emotional pain in adults with a dual diagnosis of schizophrenic and comorbid substance use disorders remains unclear. This cross-sectional survey aimed to examine the potential impact of immigration status on the experience of emotional pain. All study participants (N = 93) gave written and signed consent before beginning to complete this individual survey. The analysis revealed significant main effects of both immigration and gender on emotional pain intensity, with the native-born and females reporting a higher intensity of emotional pain. However, no significant effects were found for immigration or gender concerning general self-efficacy. Additionally, significant interactions were found between immigration and gender for both emotional pain intensity and general self-efficacy, with native-born females exhibiting higher emotional pain intensity and general self-efficacy compared to non-native-born females. Regarding the unique contribution of general self-efficacy, the analysis showed that it (but not the lifetime patterns of psychoactive substance use) solely and significantly explained participants’ emotional pain intensity, with higher general self-efficacy associated with lower emotional pain. A mediation analysis revealed that general self-efficacy significantly mediated the relationship between immigration and emotional pain among females, but not males, suggesting that general self-efficacy played a key role in explaining how immigration influenced emotional pain for females with a dual diagnosis of schizophrenic and comorbid substance use disorders. This is the first evidence of the potential impact of immigration status on the experience emotional pain among adults with a dual diagnosis. The general self-efficacy played a key role in explaining how immigration status influenced current emotional pain for females, and not for males, with a dual diagnosis of schizophrenic and comorbid substance use disorders. Full article

LRRC8 channels are volume-regulated anion channels (VRACs) activated by cellular swelling, which mediate regulatory volume decrease in many cell types. Recently, it has been shown that these channels contribute to the release of glutamate from astrocytes. Since enhanced extracellular glutamate concentrations produce hyperexcitability, and microdialysis revealed elevated levels of the transmitter in the brains of epileptic patients, we asked whether astroglial glutamate release through LRRC8/VRACs might contribute to the initiation of experimental temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Patch clamp, pharmacological, and single-cell transcript analyses were performed in the hippocampus of controls and mice with inducible deletion of LRRC8a in astrocytes. In addition, these mice were exposed to our unilateral intracortical kainate model of TLE. Tonic currents were recorded from CA1 pyramidal neurons as a measure of glutamate release. Our data show that neither expression of LRRC8a nor the amplitude of tonic currents was altered 4 h after status epilepticus-induced TLE. These findings do not suggest that increased astroglial glutamate release through LRRC8 channels contributes to the initiation of experimental TLE. Full article

Background/Objectives: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) outcomes remain poor and vary widely across communities with socioeconomic deprivation. This study examines whether delays in emergency medical services (EMS) activation, the earliest link in the Chain of Survival, mediate the association between regional deprivation and OHCA outcomes, and whether this effect is modified by bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) status. Methods: We analyzed adult patients (aged 18–80 years) with witnessed, EMS-treated OHCA of presumed cardiac etiology from the Korean nationwide OHCA registry (2015–2022). Regional deprivation was defined by the Regional Deprivation Index and dichotomized into deprived (top 20%) vs. non-deprived areas. Timely EMS activation, defined as collapse to EMS activation, was measured as an awareness time interval (ATI) <5 min. Outcomes were good neurological recovery (CPC 1–2) and survival to discharge. Causal mediation analysis within the counterfactual framework quantified the proportion of the association mediated by timely EMS activation, with stratification by bystander CPR status. Results: Among 43,032 patients, 6.1% resided in deprived areas. Deprived areas had lower bystander CPR (22.6% vs. 36.3%) and timely EMS activation (67.8% vs. 75.6%) (p < 0.05 for all). Regional deprivation was associated with poorer outcomes (good neurological prognosis: aOR 0.46, 95% CI 0.39–0.55; survival: aOR 0.65, 95% CI 0.57–0.73). Mediation analysis showed that ATI <5 min accounted for 3.7% of the total deprivation effect on good neurological outcome and 7.9% on survival, with stronger mediation among patients receiving bystander CPR (7.9% and 14.7%, respectively). Conclusions: Regional deprivation is significantly associated with poorer OHCA outcomes, partly mediated by delays in EMS activation, particularly among patients who received bystander CPR. Interventions to enhance early recognition, rapid EMS activation, and bystander CPR in deprived communities are critical to improving survival equity after OHCA. Full article

The content and career cluster of agriculture, food, and natural resources (AFNR) provides opportunities for K-12 teachers to engage students to solve complex authentic problems that blend science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), yet limited research has been conducted on how to effectively leverage teaching and learning to integrate STEM using the context of AFNR through the school-based agricultural education program. This conceptual paper was developed through a collaborative sensemaking process focused on systems thinking as a way of knowing to integrate STEM within the contexts of AFNR, utilizing the SBAE program in the United States. A comprehensive career and technical education (CTE) program model of SBAE develops secondary education students’ career readiness skills through classroom and laboratory instruction, leadership development, and supervised agricultural experiences. The literature was reviewed to describe the current status of integrated STEM in SBAE, including learning by doing, solving real-world problems, application of content knowledge in out-of-school and community-based settings, learner-centered pedagogies, and development of career readiness skills for the workforce. By employing systems thinking as the theoretical framework and integrated STEM as a conceptual framework, the authors engaged in collaborative sensemaking of their professional and scholarly experiences and proposed findings and discussion of a three-model framework (i.e., teacher, program, and learning approach) to support integrated STEM education through AFNR and SBAE. Limitations of the framework are also discussed. The AFNR career cluster was used as the context to discuss how the three-model framework (i.e., teacher, program, and learning approach) of integrated STEM through AFNR could be operationalized for SBAE. Discussion and implications of the three-model framework for other career clusters in career and technical education (CTE) and non-formal education in community settings are presented. Conclusions and recommendations are provided for advancing STEM integration in SBAE for teacher development, program development, and research. Full article

Objective: To assess the relationship between adherence to various plant-based diets, as measured by overall, healthy, and unhealthy plant-based diet indices (PDI, hPDI, uPDI), and ovarian cancer risk. Methods: We obtained data on 1031 cases of ovarian cancer and 2411 controls from a case-control study conducted in Italy. PDI, hPDI, and uPDI were calculated using data from a validated food frequency questionnaire. We used logistic regression to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of ovarian cancer for PDI, hPDI, and uPDI, adjusting for several possible confounders. Results: PDI and hPDI were inversely related to ovarian cancer risk (OR = 0.70 for the fourth compared to the first quartile, 95% CI: 0.55–0.89, and OR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.53–0.84, respectively). On the other hand, a higher uPDI was related to a higher risk of ovarian cancer (OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.40–2.28). The estimates for a 5-point increment in the indices were 0.88 (95% CI: 0.81–0.95) for PDI, 0.90 (95% CI: 0.83–0.96) for hPDI, and 1.15 (95% CI: 1.07–1.23) for uPDI. Consistent associations for the three indices were observed across strata of age, family history of breast/ovarian cancer, educational level, parity, oral contraceptives use, and menopausal status. Conclusions: Plant-based diets favorably influence ovarian cancer risk; plant-based diets characterized by a high intake of unhealthy plant foods are linked to an increased risk. Promoting diets rich in healthy plant foods could support the reduction of ovarian cancer risk. Full article

Chestnut shells are widely recognized as a source of bioactive compounds, including polyphenols and other antioxidant molecules. The industrial chestnut food chain generates large amounts of this by-product, which represents both a waste disposal challenge and a potential source of promising biomolecules. Thermal treatments occurring during industrial processing, however, may affect both chemical composition and bioactivity. Characterization of the chemical composition and biological activity of chestnut shells can contribute to the valorisation of this industrial by-product. Understanding which molecular alterations are caused by the processing is essential to assess the real potential of chestnut shell biomass. This study provides a comparative analysis of Castanea sativa shells, both raw and industrially processed. Evaluation was performed at different levels, exploiting mass spectrometry–based metabolite profiling, Total Phenolic Index analysis, antioxidant capacity, and inhibitory activity against AKR1B and AKR1B10, two reductases involved in key physiopathologic pathways. A comparison between extraction solvents (water and ethanol) and processing status (raw versus industrially processed) was performed. Overall, our results support the view that chestnut shell residues represent a valuable source of bioactive extracts. In a circular economy framework, such extracts could be developed to act on AKR1B1/AKR1B10 activity and oxidative stress, thereby contributing to the valorisation of chestnut processing by-products. Full article

In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), altered DNA methylation patterns could be associated with pro-inflammatory, immune, and metabolic risk profiles. Notably, DNA methylation is dynamically regulated by the interplay of multiple factors, including diet, cardiometabolic status, and aging. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the associations between global leukocyte DNA methylation, dietary methyl-donor intake, and cardiometabolic risk in RA and control subjects (CS). A cross-sectional study was conducted with 123 female RA patients classified by the 2010 ACR-EULAR criteria, and 130 female CS. Leukocyte DNA methylation status was assessed with the 5-mC DNA ELISA Kit. RA patients exhibited significantly lower global DNA methylation levels than those with CS. RA status was independently associated with lower DNA methylation levels after adjustment for age and body mass index. Similarly, in both study groups methionine intake showed an independent inverse association with global DNA methylation across adjusted models and lower methylation levels were consistently associated with an unfavorable cardiometabolic profile, characterized by increased adverse adiposity- and lipid-related indexes. In conclusion, RA patients exhibited lower global leukocyte DNA methylation levels compared with CS. In both study groups, lower DNA methylation levels were associated with low methionine intake and an unfavorable cardiometabolic profile. Full article

Birds of the Anthropocene have to adapt to changing and often very unfavourable conditions, among them habitat fragmentation or outright habitat loss. Many organisations worldwide are deeply committed to stemming the tide of extinctions of native species and maintaining biodiversity. The question is how far scientists and practitioners are willing to go to achieve conservation goals in situations that are not entirely resolved, are contradictory, or involve dubious claims about alleged causative agents. The noisy miner, Manorina melanocephala, has been painted as such a causative agent in the decline of small woodland birds. The noisy miner is a highly successful, flexible, and socially complex small native Australian honeyeater (woodland bird). As will be shown in a new data analysis, the noisy miner also ranks highly in cognitive abilities. Despite its status as a native species, a protracted campaign against the species has led to government policies permitting its culling in New South Wales due to its alleged ‘overabundance’ and ‘harmful’ impact on small woodland birds. As a consequence, noisy miners can now be shot legally and have been culled in their thousands in the last decade. Allegedly, these actions have been taken for conservation purposes. This paper raises significant doubts about the claims against this species, and the methods and ethics of how a native species can become the sole bearer of the ills of the Anthropocene. This paper exposes bias or misinterpreted evidence and shows how myth-making is possible in modern science and how language can purposefully mislead the public via characterisations of avian behaviour. In essence, this paper is a case study of ethical issues in science: about the degree and type of intervention, and how far we are willing to go in the name of conservation, particularly when based on spurious or contradictory evidence and at the cost of native animals. Full article

Hemotropic mycoplasmosis is an emerging vector-borne infection in goats caused by hemotropic mycoplasmas, which leads to anemia, poor growth, abortion, and reduced productivity. In Northeastern Thailand, smallholder meat goat systems expose animals to blood-feeding vectors and gastrointestinal parasites; however, epidemiological data on these issues are limited. This study examined the prevalence of hemotropic mycoplasmosis, its co-infection with gastrointestinal parasites, and the associated risk factors in anemic goats. PCR and sequence analyses confirmed the presence of Mycoplasma ovis, Candidatus Mycoplasma haematobovis and Candidatus Mycoplasma haematovis, with herd-level and individual-level prevalences of all hemotropic mycoplasmas (HMs) at 93.3% (14/15; 95%CI: 68.1–99.8%) and 59.8% (52/87; 95%CI: 48.7–70.1%), respectively. Ca. M. haematobovis was identified as the predominant species. Multivariable analysis indicated that age ≥ 1 year is a significant risk factor for HM infection (adjusted OR: 9.88; 95% CI: 1.73–56.48; p = 0.01). Co-infection between HM and gastrointestinal nematodes was found to be associated with age (p < 0.05). Effective management requires targeted selective treatment, post-treatment monitoring of infection status, vector control, and farmer education on zoonotic risks. These findings provide critical insights for designing evidence-based surveillance, control, and prevention strategies to improve goat health and productivity in smallholder tropical systems. Full article

Background and Objectives: Borderline ovarian tumours (BOTs) predominantly affect women of reproductive age. Following concerns about minimally invasive surgery (MIS) in cervical cancer, the oncological safety of the surgical approach in BOTs requires evaluation, particularly in fertility-sparing procedures where clinical implications are greatest. This study aimed to assess whether MIS is associated with increased recurrence risk in BOTs, with stratified analysis by fertility-sparing status based on a pre-specified hypothesis of differential effects. Materials and Methods: Single-centre cohort study of 91 BOT patients treated at Nottingham City Hospital Cancer Centre between 2014–2023. The primary outcome was progression-free survival comparing MIS versus open surgical approaches. Results: Minimally invasive surgery was associated with higher observed recurrence compared to open surgery (5/25 [20.0%, 95% CI: 6.8–40.7%] vs. 3/66 [4.5%, 95% CI: 0.9–12.7%], absolute risk difference 15.5% [95% CI: 2.1–28.9%]; unadjusted HR 5.29, 95% CI: 1.26–22.17; p = 0.022). Conclusions: This study identifies an association between minimally invasive surgery and higher recurrence in borderline ovarian tumours, particularly in fertility-sparing procedures. While based on small numbers necessitating cautious interpretation, the consistency across analytical approaches, substantial magnitude of observed differences, and biological plausibility warrant validation in larger cohorts to inform surgical counselling. Full article

Background/Objectives: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is increasingly used by athletes, yet sport-performance-enhancement findings are mixed and often small, with outcomes depending on stimulation target, timing, and task demands. Aim: This scoping review mapped and synthesized the soccer-specific trial evidence to identify (i) which tDCS targets and application schedules have been tested in soccer players, (ii) which soccer-relevant outcomes show the most consistent immediate (minutes–hours) or training-mediated benefits, and (iii) where evidence gaps persist. Methods: We conducted a scoping review of clinical trials in footballers, following review best-practice guidance (PRISMA-informed) and a preregistered protocol. Searches (August 2025) spanned PubMed/MEDLINE, ResearchGate, Google Scholar, and Cochrane, using combinations of “football/soccer” and “tDCS/transcranial direct current stimulation,” with inclusion restricted to trials from 2008–2025. Dual independent screening was applied. Of 47 records identified, 21 studies met the criteria. Across these, the total N was 593 (predominantly male adolescents/young adults; wide range of levels). Results: Prefrontal protocols—most commonly left-dominant dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) (+F3/−F4, ~2 mA, ~20 min)—most consistently improved post-match recovery status/well-being (e.g., fatigue, sleep quality, muscle soreness, stress, mood), and when repeated and/or paired with practice, shortened decision times and promoted more efficient visual search. Effects on classic executive tests were inconsistent, and bilateral anodal DLPFC under fatigue increased risk-tolerant choices. Motor-cortex targeting (C3/C4/Cz) rarely changed rapid force–power performance after a single session—e.g., multiple well-controlled trials found no immediate CMJ gains—but when paired with multi-week training (core/lumbar stability, plyometrics, HIIT, sling), it augmented strength, jump height, sprint/agility, aerobic capacity, and task-relevant EMG. Autonomic markers (exercise HR, early HR recovery) showed time-dependent normalization without specific tDCS effects in single-session, randomized designs. In contrast, a season-long applied program that added prefrontal stimulation to standard recovery reported significantly reduced creatine kinase. Across studies, protocols and masking were athlete-friendly and rigorous (~2 mA for ~20 min; robust sham/blinding), with only mild, transient sensations reported and no serious adverse events. Conclusions: In soccer players, tDCS shows a qualified pattern of benefits that follows a specificity model: prefrontal stimulation can support post-match recovery status/well-being and decision efficiency, while M1-centered stimulation is most effective when coupled with structured training to bias neuromuscular adaptation. Effects are generally modest and heterogeneous; practitioners should treat tDCS as an adjunct, not a stand-alone enhancer, and align montage × task × timing while monitoring individual responses. Full article

Background/Objective: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major global health concern associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and healthcare burden. This study aimed to develop an explainable machine learning framework that integrates lifestyle, sociodemographic, and biochemical factors for early CKD risk prediction among middle-aged men using public health survey data. Methods: Data from 968 male participants were preprocessed by removing missing values, deriving eGFR and ACR, and labeling CKD status. Five machine learning algorithms, (i.e., Random Forest, AdaBoost, Naïve Bayes, SVM, and XGBoost) were trained and evaluated using accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score. Model interpretability was assessed using SHAP, LIME, Boruta, and Pearson’s correlation analyses. Results: AdaBoost yielded the best performance (accuracy = 0.7258, F1 = 0.6457, recall = 0.6923), with robust generalization confirmed by the precision–recall curve (AP = 0.715). SHAP and LIME revealed that serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, urinary creatinine, and age were major predictors, whereas lifestyle and metabolic indicators such as BMI, sodium and sugar intake, and sleep duration emerged as secondary factors for CKD. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of an explainable machine learning model that integrates lifestyle, sociodemographic and biochemical data for early CKD prediction among middle-aged men. The AdaBoost-based framework shows strong potential for implementation as a clinical decision-support tool within EHR systems and may contribute to personalized and preventive interventions. It emphasizes the growing importance of modifiable behaviors in kidney disease development and supports future work involving multiple cohorts and temporal model expansion to improve risk stratification for individuals at risk of kidney disease. Full article

Ghost nets are the result of fishing nets ending up at sea by fishing vessels during operations, repairs, accidental loss, and from aquaculture activities. This is a major threat to the marine environment due to the entrapment of marine species, which often leads to the mortality of important species, the alteration of the marine benthic habitat, and the release of microplastics. In the current study, the authors conducted underwater clean-up activities in the marine protected area of Sounio in Greece (NATURA2000) to identify, evaluate whether they can be removed, and remove ghost nets. A total of 1200 Kg of ghost nets was removed within one year, with 68 different species reported to have colonized the nets. The reported groups were Mollusca, Porifera, Chordata, Arthropoda, Echinodermata, Bryozoa, Ochrophyta, Tracheophyta, Rhodophyta, Cnidaria, Chlorophyta, and Annelida. The species were not listed as threatened by the IUCN conservation status, while 86% were native, and 14% were invasive in the Mediterranean Sea. The current work presents the need to expand research efforts in the field of underwater plastic pollution, implement monitoring campaigns to a greater extent in the study area, and perform an assessment before the removal of ghost nets. Full article

The Middle Meningeal Artery (MMA) occupies a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of migraine, functioning as a vascular and neuroimmune interface that precipitates the characteristic pulsatile pain. The inhibition of this pathophysiological cascade has been investigated as a therapeutic strategy. However, fewer than a dozen centers globally have disseminated procedural or mechanistic data. Given the nascency of this field and the imperative for standardization, the present review synthesizes mechanistic and clinical evidence underpinning intra-arterial pharmacological modulation of the MMA for migraine management. Methods: A focused narrative review was undertaken, drawing upon select but influential studies from pioneering research groups investigating intra-arterial interventions targeting the MMA. The extant literature was thematically categorized and organized according to the loci of cascade interruption and their corresponding clinical outcomes. Results: Since 2009, intra-arterial therapies for severe headache syndromes have evolved, initially utilizing nimodipine for vasospasm-related headaches, progressing to verapamil for reversible cerebral vasoconstriction, and more recently, lidocaine for refractory or status migrainosus, occasionally in conjunction with MMA embolization. Contemporary research uses language that conceptualizes migraine as an immunologically mediated neurovascular disorder, as opposed to a purely vascular or neuronal entity. Recent investigations have identified interleukins such as Interleukin-1β, Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, and Interleukin-6 as critical amplifiers of trigeminovascular activation. Purinergic signaling through the P2X3 receptor and the P2Y13 receptor, in conjunction with pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide and vasoactive intestinal peptide pathways, has been implicated in the modulation of MMA excitability and neuropeptide release. The development of novel calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonists, such as zavegepant, further substantiates the artery’s significance as a pharmacological target. Conclusions: These findings support a shift toward immune-modulating intra-arterial therapeutic strategies, with migraine interventions targeting cytokine and neuroimmune signaling within the MMA, rather than relying exclusively on vasodilatory mechanisms. Full article

Shiqian Taicha (Camellia sinensis) is a local tea cultivar originating from Shiqian County and Guizhou (China) that is suitable for both green and black tea. The year-on-year manufacturing conditions, which affect chemical quality, were elucidated through the analysis of 78 green tea and 38 black tea commercial batches manufactured in 2021–2023. The batches were manufactured by the same process, but these naturally varied in raw-leaf status and factory parameters. The moisture content, water-soluble extract, free amino acids, tea polyphenols, caffeine, gallic acid, total ash, total catechins and individual catechins were predicted using a calibrated near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy model and membership function evaluation, which integrated multiple indices to produce an overall quality score for each year and tea type. The amino acids of green tea peaked in the year 2022, (with 4.55%) whereas the polyphenols (which refers to carbon-based molecules) was in the year 2021, (with 24.22%), and the total catechins was in the year 2021, (with 16.71%); due to these observations, the ratio of phenol-to-amino was high in the year 2021, with (10.09); while the year 2022 had a lower ratio with (3.41). Although there were fewer differences from region to region with black tea, 2022 was better in terms of moisture control, amino acids retention and composite score with a value of 0.585. The assessment of the membership function indicated that 2022 was the most ideal tea production year for green tea (0.506) as well as black tea (0.477), with 2021 tea (0.486) and 2023 tea (0.488) following next based on type. The data presents quantitatively stable fixation and moisture/fermentation management targets to improve Shiqian Taicha value and consistency. Full article