Nevin Manimala

Sci Rep. 2025 Jan 27;15(1):3426. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-87927-3.

ABSTRACT

Assessment of the quality of orthodontic care in a UAE-based orthodontic postgraduate training institution was conducted using multiple indices, including the Peer Assessment Rating (PAR), American Board of Orthodontics Objective Grading System (ABO-OGS), and Index of Complexity Outcome and Need (ICON). Retrospective evaluation of pre- and post-treatment records of patients (n = 201) treated with fixed orthodontic appliances was performed by two examiners Statistical analysis assessed the influence of gender, type of malocclusion, need for extraction, missed appointments and number of treating residents on treatment duration. The average numerical reduction of the PAR and ICON scores at the start and end of the treatment were 17.2 and 30.3, respectively, while the ABO-OGS post-treatment score was 14.8. The average PAR score reduction (84.5%) showed that the majority of the patients showed significant improvement at the end of treatment. Treatment duration correlated positively with ICON case complexity (p = 0.003), number of treating residents (r = 0.572, p < 0.001), and missed appointments (r = 0.671, p < 0.001) and negatively with age at treatment initiation (r = – 0.165, p = 0.019). The study findings indicated favorable outcomes for the quality of orthodontic care delivered by residents in a postgraduate training institution, though there were areas needing improvement. Optimizing the number of treating residents and minimizing missed appointments could further enhance clinical care.

PMID:39870924 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-87927-3

NPJ Digit Med. 2025 Jan 27;8(1):59. doi: 10.1038/s41746-024-01414-z.

ABSTRACT

Predictive model performance may deteriorate when applied to data sources that were not used for training, thus, external validation is a key step in successful model deployment. As access to patient-level external data sources is typically limited, we recently proposed a method that estimates external model performance using only external summary statistics. Here, we benchmark the proposed method on multiple tasks using five large heterogeneous US data sources, where each, in turn, plays the role of an internal source and the remaining-external. Results showed accurate estimations for all metrics: 95th error percentiles for the area under the receiver operating characteristics (discrimination), calibration-in-the-large (calibration), Brier and scaled Brier scores (overall accuracy) of 0.03, 0.08, 0.0002, and 0.07, respectively. These results demonstrate the feasibility of estimating the transportability of prediction models using an internal cohort and external statistics. It may become an important accelerator of model deployment.

PMID:39870920 | DOI:10.1038/s41746-024-01414-z

Int J Impot Res. 2025 Jan 27. doi: 10.1038/s41443-025-01022-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The ejaculatory reflex consists of emission and expulsion, with the latter involving rhythmic muscular contractions that propel seminal fluid. Botulinum toxin, through its inhibitory effects, has been hypothesized to improve premature ejaculation (PE). This study evaluates high-quality evidence on botulinum toxin-A injections into the bulbospongiosal muscle as a treatment for PE. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised-controlled trials (RCTs) following PRISMA guidelines. Outcomes included intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT), Premature Ejaculation Profile (PEP) scores, and complications. Data were analysed using Microsoft Excel and R. ROB-2, Eggers test, and GRADE assessed risk of bias, publication bias, and certainty of evidence (CoE). Three RCTs were eligible, and covered data from 228 patients with (1:1) randomisation into intervention and control arms (100 units of botulinum toxin-A in 10 mLs versus 10 mLs of 0.9% NaCl). IELT increases were noted with averages of 39.6, 11.5, and 2.4 s at 1, 3, and 6 months of follow up, respectively. Likewise, PEP scores demonstrated improvements of 1.54, 1.08, and 0.36 units at the same follow up intervals. however, statistical significance was not achieved in both outcomes of interest. Post-procedural complications were recorded in 11 patients (9.6%) with 10 in the intervention group. The majority of patients had voiding difficulties (n = 5) & mild erectile dysfunction (n = 4), however, all adverse events (AEs) were self-resolving and did not require active treatment. Given our findings, current high-quality evidence does not support using Botulinum Toxin-A in the management of PE. Larger scale & standardised RCTs are recommended to conclusively outline its clinical benefits.

PMID:39870913 | DOI:10.1038/s41443-025-01022-9

Lasers Med Sci. 2025 Jan 28;40(1):50. doi: 10.1007/s10103-025-04311-3.

ABSTRACT

Photothermal therapy, in which a laser is an effective tool, is a promising method for cancer treatment. Laser parameters, including power, irradiation time, type of laser radiation (continuous or chopped), and the concentration of the photothermal agent, can affect the efficiency of this method. Therefore, this study investigated and compared the effects of different laser parameters on the efficiency of photothermal treatment for cervical cancer, which is the fourth most prevalent cancer in women. In addition, we investigated the properties of graphene oxide (GO) synthesized as a photothermal agent under laser radiation, and its effectiveness in achieving the desired therapeutic temperature. This study examined and compared the effects of temperature, nanoparticle concentration, irradiation time, and laser power to understand their impact on heat transfer. The toxicity of graphene oxide at different concentrations in HeLa cancer cells was also evaluated. These results demonstrated low toxicity, particularly after 24 h, with approximately 10% toxicity. The study explored mortality under laser irradiation at various powers and time intervals using continuous and chopped beam irradiation. In addition, a model for temperature prediction using a regression tree was presented. Finally, the combined photothermal effects of graphene oxide and laser irradiation were investigated. The MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) test results reveal significant effects, with a mortality rate of 90% in continuous radiation with a concentration of 0.3 mg/ml and 75% in chopped beam irradiation with concentrations of 0.3 and 0.4 mg/ml. A regression tree model was developed to predict temperature changes based on the GO concentration, laser power, and irradiation time, providing valuable insights for optimizing photothermal therapy parameters. Statistical analysis showed that the combined effect of graphene oxide with continuous laser irradiation was more effective than chopped-beam laser irradiation. However, the chopped-beam irradiation method is expected to cause less damage to surrounding tissues. These findings indicate that photothermal therapy with graphene oxide, chopped, and continuous laser irradiation can potently treat HeLa cancer cells and pave the way for further exploration of targeted cancer treatments.

PMID:39870908 | DOI:10.1007/s10103-025-04311-3

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2025 Dec;21(1):2440206. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2024.2440206. Epub 2025 Jan 27.

ABSTRACT

Influenza accounts for 30% of the total morbidity and mortality in the European Union. However, the specific burden in different European countries is largely unknown, and more research is needed to ascertain the reality of this disease. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the burdens of hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and in-hospital mortality in Spain over five seasons (2015-2020) via publicly available Minimum Basic Datasets (MDBS). The data revealed that influenza had a major impact in Spain, with approximately 29,000 hospitalizations, 2,200 ICU admissions, and 1,600 deaths each season. In this period, approximately 7.8% of those hospitalized required ICU admission, and 5.7% died in the hospital due to influenza, with wide differences in these parameters depending on the season due to the virological characteristics of the major circulating viruses. More than 60% of those hospitalized were over 65 years of age, and approximately 82% of those who died were elderly, demonstrating that the greatest burden of hospitalization and mortality is centered on this age group. The annual direct cost of influenza was approximately €128 million per season, with more than 80% of this cost centered on people over 45 years of age.

PMID:39869931 | DOI:10.1080/21645515.2024.2440206

Chaos. 2025 Jan 1;35(1):013155. doi: 10.1063/5.0240447.

ABSTRACT

The differential equations involving two discrete delays are helpful in modeling two different processes in one model. We provide the stability and bifurcation analysis in the fractional order delay differential equation Dαx(t)=ax(t)+bx(t-τ)-bx(t-2τ) in the ab-plane. Various regions of stability include stable, unstable, single stable region (SSR), and stability switch (SS). In the stable region, the system is stable for all the delay values. The region SSR has a critical value of delay that bifurcates the stable and unstable behavior. Switching of stable and unstable behaviors is observed in the SS region.

PMID:39869928 | DOI:10.1063/5.0240447

Chaos. 2025 Jan 1;35(1):013152. doi: 10.1063/5.0231457.

ABSTRACT

Synaptic plasticity plays a fundamental role in neuronal dynamics, governing how connections between neurons evolve in response to experience. In this study, we extend a network model of θ-neuron oscillators to include a realistic form of adaptive plasticity. In place of the less tractable spike-timing-dependent plasticity, we employ recently validated phase-difference-dependent plasticity rules, which adjust coupling strengths based on the relative phases of θ-neuron oscillators. We explore two distinct implementations of this plasticity: pairwise updates to individual coupling strengths and global updates applied to the mean coupling strength. We derive a mean-field approximation and assess its accuracy by comparing it to θ-neuron simulations across various stability regimes. The synchrony of the system is quantified using the Kuramoto order parameter. Through bifurcation analysis and the calculation of maximal Lyapunov exponents, we uncover interesting phenomena such as bistability and chaotic dynamics via period-doubling and boundary crisis bifurcations. These behaviors emerge as a direct result of adaptive coupling and are absent in systems without such plasticity.

PMID:39869927 | DOI:10.1063/5.0231457

Chaos. 2025 Jan 1;35(1):013156. doi: 10.1063/5.0250482.

ABSTRACT

Investment in resources is essential for facilitating information dissemination in real-world contexts, and comprehending the influence of resource allocation on information dissemination is, thus, crucial for the efficacy of collaborative networks. Nonetheless, current studies on information dissemination frequently fail to clarify the complex interplay between information distribution and resources in network contexts. In this work, we establish a resource-based information dissemination model to identify the complex interplay by examining the propagation threshold and equilibriums. We assess the model’s efficacy by juxtaposing the mean-field method with Monte Carlo simulations across three author collaboration networks. In addition, we define the function of resources in information dissemination and evaluate the model’s applicability using propagating threshold, time evolution, and parametric analyses. Our findings indicate that an increase in available resources accelerates and expands the distribution of information. Notably, we identify abrupt transition phenomena concerning available resources and demonstrate that the information self-learning rate and the information review rate hasten this transition, while information decline and re-diffusion rates decelerate it.

PMID:39869926 | DOI:10.1063/5.0250482

Chaos. 2025 Jan 1;35(1):013153. doi: 10.1063/5.0248723.

ABSTRACT

Generosity through donation plays a crucial role in reducing inequality and influencing human behavior. However, previous research on donation has overlooked individuals’ acceptance of the extent of inequality, which acts as a trigger for donation. To address this gap, this paper systematically explores the impact of donation based on inequality tolerance on the evolution of cooperation in spatial public goods game. Specifically, donation occurs only when an individual’s payoff advantage exceeds her inequality tolerance. The results show that donation patterns are crucial for the emergence and stability of cooperation. In the enduring period, the defector-to-cooperator donation pattern helps to form cooperative clusters. In the expanding period, cooperator-to-cooperator, defector-to-defector, and defector-to-cooperator donation patterns create a stable three-layer structure through self-organization, providing a payoff advantage to boundary cooperators. As donation ratio increases, the three-layer structure provides a greater payoff advantage to boundary cooperators, leading to an increase in cooperation. As inequality tolerance increases, changes in donation patterns weaken the three-layer structure, causing cooperation to decrease or disappear through discontinuous phase transitions. Subsequently, all critical points of discontinuous phase transitions are identified by specific spatial configurations. In addition, the influence of donation patterns on the evolution of cooperation is robust, even in heterogeneous small-world networks. This paper offers valuable insights into the dynamics of cooperation evolution and the role of donation in shaping behavior.

PMID:39869925 | DOI:10.1063/5.0248723

Chaos. 2025 Jan 1;35(1):013149. doi: 10.1063/5.0241236.

ABSTRACT

Experimental observations and field data demonstrated that predators adapt their hunting strategies in response to prey abundance. While previous studies explored the impact of predation risk on predator-prey interactions, the impact of symbiotic relationships between fear-affected prey and non-prey species on system dynamics remains unexplored. This study uses a mathematical approach to investigate how different symbiotic relationships govern system dynamics when predators adapt to prey availability. Our study illustrates that the mutualistic relationship between prey and partners extends predator survivability. However, the fear-affected symbiotic system may undergo regime shifts, which can be catastrophic or non-catastrophic, depending on symbiotic interaction patterns. The study demonstrates a hump-shaped relationship between the predator’s optimal search rate and biomass and identifies an intermediate range of search rates where the system exhibits a “bubbling”phenomenon. Overall, our findings provide new insights into symbiotic relationships in community ecology, highlighting the complex interplay among predators, prey, and non-prey species.

PMID:39869923 | DOI:10.1063/5.0241236