Tag: pubmed

Sci Rep. 2023 Sep 23;13(1):15888. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-43268-7.

ABSTRACT

Compression stockings/socks are one of the most essential materials to treat vascular disorders in veins. However, the comfort of wearing such stockings over prolonged period of time is a major problem. There is limited research in the area of comfort optimization while retaining the compressional performance. The current work is carried out with an aim to determine the optimum level of the input factors e.g., knitting structure, plaiting yarn linear density and main yarn linear density for achieving desired stretch recovery percentage and thermo-physiological comfort properties of compression socks used in treatment of vascular disorders. Their optimum combination was determined by using Taguchi based techniques for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution i.e., TOPIS. In this study, thickness, areal density, air permeability, thermal resistance, over all moisture management capacity (OMMC), stretch and recovery % were optimized simultaneously by using Taguchi-TOPSIS method. The results showed that linear density of plaiting and main yarn has significant influence on all the comfort related properties for compression stockings/socks. The optimum sample had linear density 20 denier for Lycra covered by 70 denier of nylon 66 in the plaiting yarn. It also suggested 120 denier nylon 66 in the main yarn knitted into a plain single jersey structure. The percentage contribution of the factors i.e., structure, plaiting yarn linear density and main yarn linear density was obtained by using ANOVA which are 7%, 31% and 42% respectively. It is worth mentioning that in case of compression stockings, the main yarn linear density has more significant effect on comfort properties as compared to other independent parameters. The results were verified by experiment, and the accuracy was relatively high (maximum error 8.533%). This study helped to select suitable knit structure with the change of linear densities of plaiting yarn and main yarn for comfortable compression stocking/sock and will fulfill the potential requirement for treatment of venous/vascular disorders. The novel methodology involving TOPSIS method helped in analyzing the cumulative contribution of the input parameters to achieve optimum compression as well as comfort performance. This modern approach is based on contemporary scientific principles and statistical approximations. This study may provide benchmark solutions to complex problems involving multiple interdependent criteria.

PMID:37741942 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-43268-7

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2023 Sep 23. doi: 10.1007/s00253-023-12786-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

As lipogenic yeasts are becoming increasingly harnessed as biofactories of oleochemicals, the availability of efficient protocols for the determination and optimization of lipid titers in these organisms is necessary. In this study, we optimized a quick, reliable, and high-throughput Nile red-based lipid fluorometry protocol adapted for oleaginous yeasts and validated it using different approaches, the most important of which is using gas chromatography coupled to flame ionization detection and mass spectrometry. This protocol was applied in the optimization of the concentrations of ammonium chloride and glycerol for attaining highest lipid titers in Rhodotorula toruloides NRRL Y-6987 and Yarrowia lipolytica W29 using response surface central composite design (CCD). Results of this optimization showed that the optimal concentration of ammonium chloride and glycerol is 4 and 123 g/L achieving a C/N ratio of 57 for R. toruloides, whereas for Y. lipolytica, concentrations are 4 and 139 g/L with a C/N ratio of 61 for Y. lipolytica. Outside the C/N of 33 to 74 and 45 to 75, respectively, for R. toruloides and Y. lipolytica, lipid productions decrease by more than 10%. The developed regression models and response surface plots show the importance of the careful selection of C/N ratio to attain maximal lipid production. KEY POINTS: • Nile red (NR)-based lipid fluorometry is efficient, rapid, cheap, high-throughput. • NR-based lipid fluorometry can be well used for large-scale experiments like DoE. • Optimal molar C/N ratio for maximum lipid production in lipogenic yeasts is ~60.

PMID:37741936 | DOI:10.1007/s00253-023-12786-9

Sci Rep. 2023 Sep 23;13(1):15932. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-42911-7.

ABSTRACT

The development of a post-abortion family plan is an integral part of comprehensive abortion care. In spite of this, it received insufficient attention as a means of breaking the cycle of repeated abortions, unintended pregnancies, and maternal deaths resulting from abortion. Therefore, this study examined post abortion modern contraceptive utilization among Ethiopian women as well as associated factors. The study was based on secondary data analysis of the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey 2016 data. A total weighted sample of 1236 reproductive age women was included. A multilevel mixed-effect binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify the significant associated factors of post abortion contraceptive use. Statistical significance was determined using Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval. Overall prevalence of post abortion contraceptive use was observed to be 25.6% (95% CI: 23.24, 28.12). Women’s age 15-24 (AOR = 2.34; 95% CI: 1.11, 4.93), and 25-34 (AOR = 1.94; 95% CI: 1.27, 2.98), married women (AOR = 2.6; 95% CI: 1.43, 4.96), women who had 1-4 (AOR = 4.13; 95% CI: 1.79, 9.57) and ≥ 5 number of children (AOR = 8.80; 95% CI: 3.30, 13.49), Being in metropolitan region (AOR = 9.14; 95% CI: 1.79, 12.48), women being in urban area (AOR = 1.85; 95% CI: 1.32, 2.24), and community media exposure (AOR = 1.75; 95% CI: 1.11, 3.56) were associated with post abortion modern contraceptive use. Post abortion modern contraceptive use in this study was low. Women age, current marital status, number of living children, residency, community media exposure, and region were significantly associated with post abortion modern contraceptive utilization. Therefore, it is better to provide ongoing health information about post-abortion family planning and its benefits, especially for people who live in rural and small peripheral regions, and public health policymakers should take both individual and community level factors into account when designing family planning programmes.

PMID:37741903 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-42911-7

Sci Rep. 2023 Sep 23;13(1):15902. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-42806-7.

ABSTRACT

Anemia is a common condition, but its causes are often unclear, especially in elderly adults. Erythropoietin (EPO) levels are known to be elevated in myelodysplastic syndrome and hematologic malignancies, but decreased in chronic benign anemia. This study aimed to investigate whether EPO levels could be used to identify underlying bone marrow diseases including malignancies, among elderly anemic patients with unclear etiology. This single centered retrospective study included patients presented with isolated anemia and had their EPO levels measured at their first visit. Patients were divided into two groups: bone marrow disease and benign etiologic anemia, based on observation and bone marrow test results. Out of 1180 patients reviewed, 81 patients with anemia of unclear etiology were identified, including 67 with benign anemia and 14 with bone marrow disease. Statistically significant difference in EPO levels between these two groups (P < 0.001) were observed. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that an EPO cut-off value of 36.4 mU/mL had a sensitivity and specificity of 92.8% and 94.0% for detecting underlying bone marrow disease, respectively. We suggest measuring serum EPO levels can aid in the early detection of benign anemia from bone marrow disease, including malignancies, with high sensitivity and specificity.

PMID:37741889 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-42806-7

Sci Rep. 2023 Sep 23;13(1):15882. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-43012-1.

ABSTRACT

The study was conducted to determine thecorrelation between the selected measures of aerobic physical efficiency and changes in the temple surface temperature in response to light and heavy exercise. 25 physically active men aged 19-25 were recruited for the study. They performed a graded exercise test on a cycle ergometer to measure maximum power (Pmax) and a test verifying the value of maximum oxygen uptake (VO₂max). Then, two 3-min submaximal efforts with constant-intensity of 2.2 W·kgLBM^-1 and 5 W·kgLBM^-1, respectively were performed. During the constant-intensity efforts, the temperature of the temple surface was measured. Then, the difference between the temperature of the temple measured at the end of the exercise and the temperature measured at the beginning of the exercise was calculated (ΔT1-2.2, ΔT1-5, respectively). It was shown that ΔT1-2.2 correlated statistically significantly with VO₂max (ml·min^-1·kg^-1) (r = 0.49; p = 0.01) and Pmax (W·kg^-1) (r = 0.41, p = 0.04). Moreover, ΔT1-5 correlated statistically significantly with VO₂max (l·min^-1) (r = – 0.41; p = 0.04). Changes in body surface temperature in response to light exercise positively correlate with measurements of aerobic physical efficiency, such as VO₂max and Pmax. When the exercise intensity is high (5 W·kgLBM^-1), the correlation between exercise body temperature changes and VO₂max becomes negative.

PMID:37741888 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-43012-1

Sci Rep. 2023 Sep 23;13(1):15909. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-42969-3.

ABSTRACT

The primary objective of this study is to delve into the application and validation of the Resistance Capacitance Optimization Algorithm (RCOA)-a new, physics-inspired metaheuristic optimization algorithm. The RCOA, intriguingly inspired by the time response of a resistance-capacitance circuit to a sudden voltage fluctuation, has been earmarked for solving complex numerical and engineering design optimization problems. Uniquely, the RCOA operates without any control/tunable parameters. In the first phase of this study, we evaluated the RCOA’s credibility and functionality by deploying it on a set of 23 benchmark test functions. This was followed by thoroughly examining its application in eight distinct constrained engineering design optimization scenarios. This methodical approach was undertaken to dissect and understand the algorithm’s exploration and exploitation phases, leveraging standard benchmark functions as the yardstick. The principal findings underline the significant effectiveness of the RCOA, especially when contrasted against various state-of-the-art algorithms in the field. Beyond its apparent superiority, the RCOA was put through rigorous statistical non-parametric testing, further endorsing its reliability as an innovative tool for handling complex engineering design problems. The conclusion of this research underscores the RCOA’s strong performance in terms of reliability and precision, particularly in tackling constrained engineering design optimization challenges. This statement, derived from the systematic study, strengthens RCOA’s position as a potentially transformative tool in the mathematical optimization landscape. It also paves the way for further exploration and adaptation of physics-inspired algorithms in the broader realm of optimization problems.

PMID:37741875 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-42969-3

Sci Rep. 2023 Sep 23;13(1):15894. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-42780-0.

ABSTRACT

Understanding cancer staging in order to predict its progression is vital to determine its severity and to plan the most appropriate therapies. This task has attracted interest from different fields of science and engineering. We propose a computational model that predicts the evolution of cancer in terms of the intimate structure of the tissue, considering that this is a self-organised structure that undergoes transformations governed by non-equilibrium thermodynamics laws. Based on experimental data on the dependence of tissue configurations on their elasticity and porosity, we relate the cancerous tissue stages with the energy dissipated, showing quantitatively that tissues in more advanced stages dissipate more energy. The knowledge of this energy allows us to know the probability of observing the tissue in its different stages and the probability of transition from one stage to another. We validate our results with experimental data and statistics from the World Health Organisation. Our quantitative approach provides insights into the evolution of cancer through its different stages, important as a starting point for new and integrative research to defeat cancer.

PMID:37741864 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-42780-0

Sci Rep. 2023 Sep 23;13(1):15878. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-39616-2.

ABSTRACT

The majority of soccer analysis studies investigates specific scenarios through the implementation of computational techniques, which involve the examination of either spatiotemporal position data (movement of players and the ball on the pitch) or event data (relating to significant situations during a match). Yet, only a few applications perform a joint analysis of both data sources despite the various involved advantages emerging from such an approach. One possible reason for this is a non-systematic error in the event data, causing a temporal misalignment of the two data sources. To address this problem, we propose a solution that combines the SwiftEvent online algorithm (Gensler and Sick in Pattern Anal Appl 21:543-562, 2018) with a subsequent refinement step that corrects pass timestamps by exploiting the statistical properties of passes in the position data. We evaluate our proposed algorithm on ground-truth pass labels of four top-flight soccer matches from the 2014/15 season. Results show that the percentage of passes within half a second to ground truth increases from 14 to 70%, while our algorithm also detects localization errors (noise) in the position data. A comparison with other models shows that our algorithm is superior to baseline models and comparable to a deep learning pass detection method (while requiring significantly less data). Hence, our proposed lightweight framework offers a viable solution that enables groups facing limited access to (recent) data sources to effectively synchronize passes in the event and position data.

PMID:37741829 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-39616-2

Nat Commun. 2023 Sep 23;14(1):5935. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-41649-0.

ABSTRACT

Single-molecule Real-time Isoform Sequencing (Iso-seq) of transcriptomes by PacBio can generate very long and accurate reads, thus providing an ideal platform for full-length transcriptome analysis. We present an integrated computational toolkit named TAGET for Iso-seq full-length transcript data analyses, including transcript alignment, annotation, gene fusion detection, and quantification analyses such as differential expression gene analysis and differential isoform usage analysis. We evaluate the performance of TAGET using a public Iso-seq dataset and newly sequenced Iso-seq datasets from tumor patients. TAGET gives significantly more precise novel splice site prediction and enables more accurate novel isoform and gene fusion discoveries, as validated by experimental validations and comparisons with RNA-seq data. We identify and experimentally validate a differential isoform usage gene ECM1, and further show that its isoform ECM1b may be a tumor-suppressor in laryngocarcinoma. Our results demonstrate that TAGET provides a valuable computational toolkit and can be applied to many full-length transcriptome studies.

PMID:37741817 | DOI:10.1038/s41467-023-41649-0

Insights Imaging. 2023 Sep 23;14(1):155. doi: 10.1186/s13244-023-01515-5.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Colon cancer is a particularly prevalent malignancy that produces postoperative complications (POCs). However, limited imaging modality exists on the accurate diagnosis of POCs. The purpose of this study was therefore to construct a model combining tumor spectral CT parameters and clinical features to predict POCs before surgery in colon cancer.

METHODS: This retrospective study included 85 patients who had preoperative abdominal spectral CT scans and underwent radical colon cancer resection at our institution. The patients were divided into two groups based on the absence (no complication/grade I) or presence (grades II-V) of POCs according to the Clavien-Dindo grading system. The visceral fat areas (VFA) of patients were semi-automatically outlined and calculated on L3-level CT images using ImageJ software. Clinical features and tumor spectral CT parameters were statistically compared between the two groups. A combined model of spectral CT parameters and clinical features was established by stepwise regression to predict POCs in colon cancer. The diagnostic performance of the model was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, including area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity.

RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients with POCs and 58 patients without POCs were included in this study. MonoE_40keV-VP and VFA were independent predictors of POCs. The combined model based on predictors yielded an AUC of 0.84 (95% CI: 0.74-0.91), with a sensitivity of 77.8% and specificity of 87.9%.

CONCLUSIONS: The model combining MonoE_40keV-VP and VFA can predict POCs before surgery in colon cancer and provide a basis for individualized management plans.

CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: The model combining MonoE40keV-VP and visceral fat area can predict postoperative complications before surgery in colon cancer and provide a basis for individualized management plans.

KEY POINTS: • Visceral fat area and MonoE40keV-VP were independent predictors of postoperative complications in colon cancer. • The combined model yielded a high AUC, sensitivity, and specificity in predicting postoperative complications. • The combined model was superior to the single visceral fat area or MonoE40keV-VP in predicting postoperative complications.

PMID:37741813 | DOI:10.1186/s13244-023-01515-5