Category: Statistics

Waste Manag. 2025 Jul 8;205:114982. doi: 10.1016/j.wasman.2025.114982. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the combined effect of blast furnace slag (BFS) and rice husk ash (RHA) as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) for oil well cementing applications across a wide temperature range. A simplex-centroid mixture design was used to formulate slurries with 0-50 % BFS and RHA replacement by weight of cement. Mechanical and microstructural properties were evaluated after curing at 47 °C (low-temperature) and 300 °C (high-temperature). At 47 °C, BFS-rich formulations showed superior performance, with the 50 % BFS slurry achieving a compressive strength of 48.89 MPa, significantly higher than the 39.64 MPa of the control slurry. Conversely, at 300 °C, RHA was crucial for mitigating strength retrogression. The 50 % RHA formulation reached 16.79 MPa, while the control sample’s strength dropped to 4.65 MPa. Formulations combining both wastes, such as 10 %BFS-40 %RHA, also demonstrated robust performance (11.87 MPa), exceeding the industry benchmark for high-temperature wells. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) confirmed the statistical significance of these effects, and response surface models quantified the distinct contributions of each SCM. The novel contribution of this work is the systematic evaluation of the synergistic interaction between industrial (BFS) and agricultural (RHA) waste streams to create a versatile cement system. This study demonstrates the potential to develop a single, waste-derived cement formulation viable for both low and high-temperature well conditions, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional practices. While results are based on laboratory conditions, they provide a strong basis for future field-scale validation.

PMID:40633131 | DOI:10.1016/j.wasman.2025.114982

Bioconjug Chem. 2025 Jul 9. doi: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.5c00073. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The development of nucleic acid therapies has enabled access to treatments for several diseases previously thought untreatable, yet effective and safe delivery remains a hurdle. The benefit of synthetic vehicles lies in their modularity in optimizing performance and safety. Herein, we present a novel biodegradable polycarbonate alternative to the nondegradable synthetic and viral vectors often utilized in commercial gene therapies. This PC system leverages ring-opening polymerization of a cyclic carbonate to produce polymers (∼20 kDa) with pendant allyl groups compatible with thiol-ene click post-polymerization modification. The derivatization of the parent polymer enables a direct comparison of the pendant groups without molecular weight and dispersity variables. These pendants include 2-(dimethylamino)ethanethiol hydrochloride (DMA) as the cation and one of three hydrophilic modifiers: mercaptopropanol (OH), thioglycolic acid (COOH), and methoxy polyethylene glycol thiol (PEG), which modulate cellular membrane interaction, charge density, and sheathing properties. This family of vehicles forms stable polymer-mRNA complexes (polyplexes), confirmed via dynamic light scattering and gel electrophoresis. In vitro screening assays showed minimal cytotoxic effects with HEK293T (human embryonic kidney) and A549 (human lung cancer) cells, resulting in a statistically significant viability improvement over the polymer control, JetPEI. Coupling the viability with expression values of EGFP-encoded (enhanced green fluorescent protein) mRNA, in vitro delivery efficiency shows the polycarbonate performance on par with JetPEI in nearly all cases while offering degradation via hydrolysis. Overall, this modular polycarbonate scaffold improves cell viability and maintains performance similar to that of positive controls while featuring modularity and degradability.

PMID:40633113 | DOI:10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.5c00073

Pol Merkur Lekarski. 2025;53(3):395-402. doi: 10.36740/Merkur202503115.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To study the trends in the prevalence of hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection during 2020-2024 in the rear region of Ukraine, in the city of Volodymyr, and assess the impact of internal displacement on the spread of infectious diseases.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis in Volodymyr Hospital (Volodymyr, Ukraine) was conducted using data from the official clinical registry and ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) for 2020-2024. Comparative literature and statistical data from infection prevention programmes were also analyzed.

RESULTS: Results: The decline in officially reported new HIV infections (from 29 in 2020 to 7 in 2024) contrasted with a marked increase in the number of ELISA-tested cases of hepatitis B and C (7,974 and 6,705 in 2024, respectively). Internally displaced persons (IDPs) accounted for a significant proportion of new diagnoses after 2022, including 22 HBV and 17 HCV cases in 2022. The discrepancy between laboratory results and official reporting suggests underdiagnosis. Additionally, Poisson regression analysis demonstrated that IDP status was a significant factor for increased risk of blood-borne infections.

CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Military conflict and population displacement significantly exacerbate the problem of blood-borne infections. Countries with successful infection control systems, such as Canada and the Netherlands, have implemented universal HBV vaccination, national HCV elimination strategies, and mobile care for vulnerable populations. These examples highlight the need to replicate such models in conflict-affected regions. National plans should be based on international recommendations, such as the WHO Global Health Strategy 2022 and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s viral hepatitis elimination roadmap.

PMID:40633082 | DOI:10.36740/Merkur202503115

Pol Merkur Lekarski. 2025;53(3):361-366. doi: 10.36740/Merkur202503110.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To study the complexing ability of pectins obtained from various vegetable and fruit raw materials with metal ions.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: The content of metals was determined by the atomic emission method (SHIMADZU ICPE-9820 spectrometer); heavy metal measurement methods used were MІ.С3.7.2.01-017 and MІ.С3.7.2.01-018. Statistical analysis of the obtained data was performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics version 29.0.0.0 program; correlation analysis was conducted using the Kendall Tau-b method.

RESULTS: Results: It was found that the highest complexing ability towards the mixture of Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+ ions was demonstrated by low-esterified sugar beet pectin (r=0,600; p<0.01). Citrus (r=0,312; p<0.01), quince (r=0,292; p<0.01), and apple (r=0,271; p<0.01) pectins also exhibited high complexing rates, while pumpkin (r=0,214; p<0.01) and carrot (r=0,156; p<0.01) pectins had slightly lower rates. In addition, pectin is found in smaller quantities in carrots and pumpkins than in sugar beet, citrus fruits, quince, and apples. To improve nutritional characteristics, reduce allergenicity, and maintain high complexing ability of the final product, the authors proposed a combination of raw materials from sugar beet and pumpkin, enriched with apple pectin and/or pectincontaining products and juices of pumpkin and apples.

CONCLUSION: Conclusions: It was established that the highest complexing ability in relation to a mixture of lead, cadmium, mercury, zinc, and copper ions is possessed by low-esterified sugar beet pectin. The addition of this pectin to apple pectin and/or pectin-containing apple products and juices increases the potential nonspecific detoxification properties of the final food product.

PMID:40633077 | DOI:10.36740/Merkur202503110

Pol Merkur Lekarski. 2025;53(3):336-339.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To investigate the rate of clinical significant and insignificant Prostate Cancer (PC) in patients with initial high grade and low grade Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia (PIN).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: The study included 286 patients with PIN, 152 patients with HGPIN and 134 patients with LGPIN. During 3 year follow-up prostate rebiopsies with 6 months interval were performed. Each PC case was assessed in relation to its clinical significance according to such Epstein criteria as PSA density < 0,15, Gleason score < 7, number of cores positive for tumour < 3, no more than 50% involvement by tumour in every single core.

RESULTS: Results: During 3-year follow-up in 75 (26,2%) of 286 patients with PIN was detected PC (64 (42,1%) patients with HGPIN and in 11 (8,2%) patients with LGPIN). General estimation of clinical insignificant PC cases that were detected in patients with prior PIN amounted 12 (16%) patients. The majority of patients, namely 63 (84%) had clinical significant PC. Among 11 PC cases in patients with LGPIN 4 (36,4%) cases were insignificant. The rate of insignificant PC in HGPIN was 8 (12,5%). Statistically valid difference between HGPIN and LGPIN in rate of insignificant PC, that was 23,9% was determined.

CONCLUSION: Conclusions: PIN is a cancer precursor that progresses into PC in 26,2% of cases during 3-year follow-up. The rate of clinically insignificant PC in patients with PIN was in 23,9% more in patients witn LGPIN than in patients with HGPIN.

PMID:40633073

Pol Merkur Lekarski. 2025;53(3):321-327.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Aim: Assessment of the risk of soil and groundwater contamination by triazine herbicides to reduce anthropogenic environment pollution and decrease the potential negative impact on public health in Ukraine and the EU.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: 14 preparations containing 5 active substances of the triazine class and its environmental fate in soil and water considering Ukraine and EU climatic conditions. Methods of in-field hygienic experiment, gas-liquid chromatography, analytical and statistical methods, hygienic modelling using Experimental Leaching Index (ELI), (GUS), (RLPI), (LIX), (DT50) and (KOC), SCI-GROW, LEACHmod.

RESULTS: Results: Analysis of the physicochemical properties of studied substances showed that they were classified as mobile or moderately mobile by migration ability. Calculated T50 for studied substances allowed us to determine the hazard classes for them. Substances pertain to 2-3 classes (promethrin and terbuthylazine – class 2, moderately persistent (30-100 days), tribenuron-methyl, thifensulfuron-methyl and metribuzin – class 3, weak persistency (less than 30 days)). The determination coefficient (R2) values ranged from 0.704 to 0.995.

CONCLUSION: Conclusions: According to the GUS, most of the studied substances have a moderate possibility of leaching into groundwater, except for thifensulfuron-methyl. While in EU soils the index for promethrin is very low, tribenuron-methyl is low, terbuthylazine and metribuzin are moderate, and thifensulfuron-methyl is high. The SCI-GROW assessment showed that most of them have significantly lower values in Ukraine than international values (except for promethrin), which can be explained by significant dissimilarities in maximum application rates, number of treatments, and in some cases – different resistance of substances in Ukrainian and EU soils.

PMID:40633071

Pol Merkur Lekarski. 2025;53(3):312-320. doi: 10.36740/Merkur202503103.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To compare indicators of the level of stress and the tendency to be exposed to stressogenic factors in internally displaced persons who moved from regions of active hostilities in the first three months after the full-scale Russian invasion.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: The following diagnostic tools were used in the study: 1. “Test for determining the level of stress” (according to V. Shcherbatykh, adapted by H. Kharko ), the essence of which is to determine the level of stress of a person. The test contains several sections that are responsible for a certain sign of stress – intellectual, behavioral signs, emotional and physiological symptoms. 2. “Questionnaire for self-diagnosis of the type of behavior in a stressful situation” (according to V. Boyko), which allows you to identify reactions to stress and the tendency to be influenced by stressogenic factors depending on the type of behavior in a stressful situation. Analysis, synthesis, generalization, concretization, systematization, comparison, forecasting, and mathematical statistics were used to process, compare, evaluate, and interpret the obtained research results. Data processing was carried out using Jamovi 2.2.5 and RStudio 2024.04.1.

RESULTS: Results: The relevance of the topic deals with the importance of the need to preserve, develop and strengthen the health of the individual, in particular in the conditions of war, which appears as a serious stress factor that tests a person. A special category that requires research on the level of stress and the tendency to be influenced by stress factors are internally displaced persons who have moved from regions of active hostilities and have a whole set of problems related to the lack of housing, work, adaptation in a new place, establishing communication, finding new resources of existence, etc. Long-term stress has a negative effect on the human body, in particular on intellectual, behavioral, emotional, and physiological manifestations. Among 134 respondents, 92 women, 29 men and 13 respondents did not indicate their gender participated in the study. The average age of the respondents was: Me=36, Q 1=32, Q 3=44 (N =118); 16 respondents did not indicate their age. The distribution of respondents’ age indicators was not subject to a normal distribution according to the Gaussian curve.

CONCLUSION: Conclusions: During the study of groups of internally displaced persons (hereinafter IDPs), which were formed according to time, gender and age criteria, moderate direct correlations were found between indicators of the level of stress and indicators of the tendency to be influenced by stressogenic factors, depending on the type of behavior in a stressful situation. Correlation is observed both for general indicators and component blocks of stress manifestations (intellectual, behavioral, emotional and physiological), which confirms the relationship between psychophysiological indicators of stress and the type of stress behavior. Our study among internally displaced persons aged 18-81 years who moved from regions of active hostilities proved the absence of a difference between women and men in the level of stress, and differences in the manifestations of intellectual, behavioral signs, emotional and physiological symptoms.

PMID:40633070 | DOI:10.36740/Merkur202503103

J Am Coll Health. 2025 Jul 9:1-9. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2025.2519375. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Explore student experience of campus green space, examining its connections to race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, welcomeness and housing type.

PARTICIPANTS: Undergraduate students at a state university who completed an online survey (n = 387) and focus groups (n = 9) in Fall 2022.

METHODS: Mixed methods approach, using SPSS for quantitative analysis and thematic analysis of long-response survey questions and focus groups for qualitative data.

RESULTS: Quantitative tests revealed a significant relationship between feeling welcome and use as well as type of housing and use. Although there are no statistically significant trends based on race, ethnicity and sexual orientation, qualitative data revealed their hesitance to use campus greenspace.

DISCUSSION: Campus green space can be used to evaluate levels of wellbeing and belonging on campus. Given the proven positive effects of greenspace, findings can inform discourse on wellbeing, belonging, and adapting greenspace so that students are encouraged to engage in it more.

PMID:40633050 | DOI:10.1080/07448481.2025.2519375

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2025 Dec;21(1):2515760. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2025.2515760. Epub 2025 Jul 9.

ABSTRACT

Pneumococcal disease (PD) is associated with high morbidity and mortality, specifically among individuals ≥65 years of age and those with underlying medical conditions (UMCs). This retrospective cohort study estimated the clinical burden of PD in adults ≥18 years of age with or without UMCs in France. Data were obtained from the French National Health Data System for four yearly cohorts (1 January 2015-31 December 2018). Characteristics of patients with UMCs, with or without PD (UMC population), and the incidence rate and lethality rate of PD leading to hospitalization (in-patient PD population), stratified by age and risk status, were described. In the UMC population (n = 7,947,622; mean age: 65 years), the incidence rate of in-patient PD episodes was 121.98 per 100,000 person-years and was highest among individuals ≥65 years of age (138.52) and in those considered medium-risk (102.45) or high-risk (165.77). In the in-patient PD population (n = 41,885), 59.6% were ≥65 years of age; 1-year all-cause mortality following the initial in-patient PD episode was 26.5%. Individuals ≥65 years of age (regardless of risk status) had a higher risk of PD leading to hospitalization than individuals 18-64 years of age. This study shows a high burden of PD in France due to in-patient PD among adults with UMCs, particularly in those ≥65 years of age, despite their eligibility for pneumococcal vaccination. This highlights the need for higher vaccination coverage, supported by the recent extension of vaccination to all people ≥65 years of age, regardless of their health risk status.

PMID:40633023 | DOI:10.1080/21645515.2025.2515760

Am J Public Health. 2025 Aug;115(8):1222-1225. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2025.308125.

ABSTRACT

Unconditional cash interventions, such as guaranteed income, are a proposed solution for mediating the adverse health outcomes associated with financial scarcity. To test this, the City of Los Angeles, California, conducted a mixed-methods, randomized controlled trial in which they gave 3202 people $1000 with no strings attached for 12 months in 2022. Although the quantitative findings demonstrated mixed health effects, the qualitative findings highlighted how recipients viewed their well-being as an insurance policy against scarcity and reallocated time to preventive health behaviors when receiving a guaranteed income. (Am J Public Health. 2025;115(8):1222-1225. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2025.308125).

PMID:40633007 | DOI:10.2105/AJPH.2025.308125