Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a cognitive state frequently observed in older adults, characterized by significant alterations in memory, thinking, and reasoning abilities that extend beyond typical cognitive decline. It is worth noting that around 10–15% of individuals with MCI are projected to develop Alzheimer’s disease, effectively positioning MCI as an early stage of Alzheimer’s. In this study, a novel approach is presented involving the utilization of eXtreme Gradient Boosting to predict the onset of Alzheimer’s disease during the MCI stage. The methodology entails utilizing data from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). Through the analysis of longitudinal data, spanning from the baseline visit to the 12-month follow-up, a predictive model was constructed. The proposed model calculates, over a 36-month period, the likelihood of progression from MCI to Alzheimer’s disease, achieving an accuracy rate of 85%. To further enhance the precision of the model, this study implements feature selection using the Recursive Feature Elimination technique. Additionally, the Shapley method is employed to provide insights into the model’s decision-making process, thereby augmenting the transparency and interpretability of the predictions. Full article

Hybrid breeding is an effective approach to generate better varieties and prevent variety degradation. The present study investigated the metabolic changes underlying growth superiority in the novel Gymnocypris hybrid (GH), Gymnocypris przewalskii ♀ (GP) × G. eckloni ♂ (GE). The ranking of survival rate was GH > GE > GP, whereas the ranking of growth rate was GE > GH > GP. A proteomic analysis of G. hybrid and its parents was conducted to elucidate the metabolic changes underlying growth superiority. Identified pathways were primarily associated with amino acid, carbohydrate, energy, lipid, and nucleotide metabolism. These metabolic pathways, which are closely associated with growth, are controlled through regulation of the expression of numerous proteins, including adenosylhomocysteinase, hydroxypyruvate reductase, glutamate-cysteine ligase, L-lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, GDP-L-fucose synthase, pyruvate kinase, fructose-bisphosphate aldolase, carbonic anhydrase, phosphopyruvate hydratase, phosphoglycerate kinase, S-(hydroxymethyl) glutathione dehydrogenase, and AMP deaminase. Real-time PCR assays showed that the level of mRNA expression of differentially expressed genes was positively correlated with growth. Proteins that were differentially expressed in GH exhibited fewer differences from GP and more differences from GE. These data are the first to reveal the molecular mechanism whereby growth is regulated in G. hybrid and its parents at the protein level. The study thus provides important information for genetic breeding and improvement of G. hybrid for aquaculture production. Full article

Real-time bidding has become a major means for online advertisement exchange. The goal of a real-time bidding strategy is to maximize the benefits for stakeholders, e.g., click-through rates or conversion rates. However, in practise, the optimal bidding strategy for real-time bidding is constrained by at least three aspects: cost-effectiveness, the dynamic nature of market prices, and the issue of missing bidding values. To address these challenges, we propose Imagine and Imitate Bidding (IIBidder), which includes Strategy Imitation and Imagination modules, to generate cost-effective bidding strategies under partially observable price landscapes. Experimental results on the iPinYou and YOYI datasets demonstrate that IIBidder reduces investment costs, optimizes bidding strategies, and improves future market price predictions. Full article

Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDCP) has recently attracted increasing interest owing to its unfavorable prognoses. To effectively identify the IDCP-specific gene expression profile, we took a novel approach of characterizing a typical IDCP case using spatial gene expression analysis. A formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sample was subjected to Visium CytAssist Spatial Gene Expression analysis. IDCP within invasive prostate cancer sites was recognized as a distinct cluster separate from other invasive cancer clusters. Highly expressed genes defining the IDCP cluster, such as MUC6, MYO16, NPY, and KLK12, reflected the aggressive nature of high-grade prostate cancer. IDCP sites also showed increased hypoxia markers HIF1A, BNIP3L, PDK1, and POGLUT1; decreased fibroblast markers COL1A2, DCN, and LUM; and decreased immune cell markers CCR5 and FCGR3A. Overall, these findings indicate that the hypoxic tumor microenvironment and reduced recruitment of fibroblasts and immune cells, which reflect morphological features of IDCP, may influence the aggressiveness of high-grade prostate cancer. Full article

Household food insecurity (HFI) and poorer prenatal diet quality are both associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. However, research assessing the relationship between HFI and diet quality in pregnancy is limited. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted to examine the relationship between HFI and diet quality among 1540 pregnant women in Australia. Multiple linear regression models were used to examine the associations between HFI severity (marginal, low, and very low food security compared to high food security) and diet quality and variety, adjusting for age, education, equivalised household income, and relationship status. Logistic regression models were used to assess the associations between HFI and the odds of meeting fruit and vegetable recommendations, adjusting for education. Marginal, low, and very low food security were associated with poorer prenatal diet quality (adj β = −1.9, −3.6, and −5.3, respectively; p < 0.05), and very low food security was associated with a lower dietary variety (adj β = −0.5, p < 0.001). An association was also observed between HFI and lower odds of meeting fruit (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.49–0.76, p < 0.001) and vegetable (AOR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.19–0.84, p = 0.016) recommendations. Future research should seek to understand what policy and service system changes are required to reduce diet-related disparities in pregnancy. Full article

This paper presents a dual-band 8-port multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna specifically designed for fifth-generation (5G) smartphones, featuring two open-slot metal frames. To enhance impedance matching and improve isolation between adjacent antenna elements, each antenna element employed a coupling feed. All simulation results in this paper come from Ansys HFSS. The operational frequency bands of the proposed antenna spanned 3.36–4.2 GHz for the lower band and 4.37–5.95 GHz for the higher band, covering 5G New Radio (NR) bands N78 (3.4–3.6 GHz) and N79 (4.4–4.9 GHz), as well as WiFi 5 (5.15–5.85 GHz). Notably, the antenna demonstrated outstanding isolation exceeding 16.5 dB within the specified operating bands. The exceptional performance positions the proposed antenna as a promising candidate for integration into 5G metal-frame smartphones. Full article

For the significant distortion problem caused by the special projection method of equi-rectangular projection (ERP) images, this paper proposes an omnidirectional image super-resolution algorithm model based on position information transformation, taking SwinIR as the base. By introducing a space position transformation module that supports deformable convolution, the image preprocessing process is optimized to reduce the distortion effects in the polar regions of the ERP image. Meanwhile, by introducing deformable convolution in the deep feature extraction process, the model’s adaptability to local deformations of images is enhanced. Experimental results on publicly available datasets have shown that our method outperforms SwinIR, with an average improvement of over 0.2 dB in WS-PSNR and over 0.030 in WS-SSIM for ×4 pixel upscaling. Full article

People often cling to their beliefs even in the face of counterevidence. The current study explored metacognitive reflection as a potential driver for belief updating. In a randomized controlled experiment (n = 155), participants rated their degree of agreement with a statement regarding genetic modification in humans. Following this, participants were presented with a passage containing an argument counter to their indicated belief. Participants in the metacognition condition were asked to deeply reflect on the ways in which the passage was similar to or different from their current beliefs. Participants in the control condition were asked to engage in more shallow reflection on the composition of the passage. After reflecting on the counterevidence, participants were asked to again rate their agreement with the statement regarding human gene modification. Both groups updated their initial beliefs to be more consistent with the presented counterevidence. Although greater belief updating was observed in those who metacognitively reflected on the passage, this effect did not reach significance (p = .055). These findings suggest that reflecting on counterevidence has the potential to encourage belief updating, regardless of whether that reflection is metacognitive in nature, and provide promise for future work investigating the role of metacognition in belief updating. Full article

It was in the 1800s when the first public publications about the infection and treatment of gonorrhoea were released. However, the first prevention programmes were only published a hundred years later. In the 1940s, the concept of vaccination was introduced into clinical prevention programmes to address early sulphonamide resistance. Since then, tons of publications on Neisseria gonorrhoeae are undisputed, around 30,000 publications today. Currently, the situation seems to be just as it was in the last century, nothing has changed or improved. So, what are we doing wrong? And more importantly, what might we do? The review presented here aims to review the current situation regarding the resistance mechanisms, prevention programmes, treatments, and vaccines, with the challenge of better understanding this special pathogen. The authors have reviewed the last five years of advancements, knowledge, and perspectives for addressing the Neisseria gonorrhoeae issue, focusing on new therapeutic alternatives. Full article

This bibliographic study addresses key aspects related to fishing, product safety, and climate change in the Adriatic Sea region. The examination of product safety focuses on the assessment of contaminants originating from human activities such as industry, mining, agriculture, and household waste disposal. The contamination of the aquatic environment has emerged as a pressing global concern, extending to the Adriatic basin. Aquatic organisms, including fish, are prone to accumulating pollutants directly from polluted water sources and indirectly through the food web. The bio-accumulation of potentially hazardous substances, particularly heavy metals, pesticides, PCBs, PAHs, and antibiotic resistance in aquatic organisms, poses a significant threat to human health. Climate change effects will deplete our seafood supply in terms of quantity and safety owing to negative consequences such as higher levels of pollution, parasites, viruses, infections, acidification, and toxicities such as shellfish poisoning. Global food safety strategies should be developed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote environmentally friendly technology, which indirectly affects seafood quality and microbiological safety, especially for the Adriatic Sea, which is part of the Mediterranean Sea, characterized by the most polluted waters in the world. Full article

In this study, we introduced the chaos game optimization-artificial neural network (CGO-ANN) model as a novel approach for predicting peak particle velocity (PPV) induced by mine blasting. The CGO-ANN model is compared with other established methods, including the particle swarm optimization-artificial neural network (PSO-ANN), the genetic algorithm-artificial neural network (GA-ANN), single ANN, and the USBM empirical model. The aim is to demonstrate the superiority of the CGO-ANN model for PPV prediction. Utilizing a dataset comprising 180 blasting events from the Tonglushan Copper Mine in China, we investigated the performance of each model. The results showed that the CGO-ANN model outperforms other models in terms of prediction accuracy and robustness. This study highlights the effectiveness of the CGO-ANN model as a promising tool for PPV prediction in mining operations, contributing to safer and more efficient blasting practices. Full article

In this paper, we constructed a new and robust fixed point iterative scheme called the UO iterative scheme for the approximation of a contraction mapping. The scheme converges strongly to the fixed point of a contraction mapping. A rate of convergence result is shown with an example, and our scheme, when compared, converges faster than some existing iterative schemes in the literature. Furthermore, the stability and data dependence results are shown. Our new scheme is applied in the approximation of the solution to the oxygen diffusion model. Finally, our results are applied in the approximation of the solution to the boundary value problems using Green’s functions with an example. Full article

The aim of this study was to determine the associations between the front and back squat, countermovement jump (CMJ) and deep squat jump (DSJ) force–time metrics, and weightlifting performance in top-level weightlifters. Thirteen top-level weightlifters who classified for the World Championship 2023 participated. The heaviest successful snatch and clean and jerk were recorded within a preparation session as performance indicators. The front and back squat one-repetition maximums (1RMs) were evaluated in separate training sessions. The average of three maximum CMJs and DSJs were recorded using a force plate, and jump height, propulsive net impulse, and peak power were calculated for further analysis. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were used to determine the associations between variables. Statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. The front and back squat 1RMs were significant and nearly perfectly associated with weightlifting performance (p < 0.001, r = 0.98–0.99). CMJ and DSJ propulsive net impulse displayed nearly perfect associations with weightlifting performance (p < 0.001, r = 0.96–0.99), while jump height is a less promising metric to assess the weightlifters’ ballistic capabilities. This study reinforces that lower body maximum strength and ballistic capabilities are closely associated with top-level weightlifters’ performance and are of practical importance to monitor their neuromuscular function. Full article

We review the role of the spectral condition as a characteristic of Minkowski, de Sitter, and anti-de Sitter quantum field theories. We also discuss the role of plane waves that are compatible with the relevant analyticity domains linked to the spectral condition(s) and discuss harmonic analysis in terms of them. Full article

The high levels of musculoskeletal pain, in conjunction with the low levels of functional capacity, may negatively affect workers’ health, efficiency, and productivity. This randomized controlled study investigated the efficacy of a 6-month comprehensive workplace exercise program on musculoskeletal pain and functional capacity in office workers. Seventy male and female office workers with musculoskeletal pain in any body area were randomly assigned to either an intervention (IG; n = 35) or a control group (CG; n = 35). The IG participated every working day (during working hours) in a 6-month supervised combined (flexibility, strength, and balance) exercise program (120 training sessions; five times/week) for the total body. The CG did not participate in any intervention. Musculoskeletal pains in nine body areas and functional capacity (flexibility, balance, and strength) of the lower and upper body were measured before and following the intervention. The IG significantly reduced duration and intensity of pain (43.1–70%; p = 0.000) as well as days of work absenteeism (84.6%; p = 0.000), while improving work capacity (87.1%; p = 0.000). Furthermore, the IG significantly increased cervical, handgrip, back, and leg maximal strength (10.3–27.1%; p = 0.000) and flexibility and balance (12.3–73.7%; p = 0.000). In CG, all musculoskeletal pain and functional capacity indices remained unchanged. In conclusion, this program may be effectively used to reduce musculoskeletal pain and improve functional capacity. Full article

The article discusses the importance of accurately distinguishing HER2-low from HER2-negative breast cancer, as novel ADCs have demonstrated activity in a large population of patients with HER2-low-expressing BC. While current guidelines recommend a dichotomous classification of HER2 as either positive or negative, the emergence of the HER2-low concept calls for standardization of HER2 testing in breast cancer, using currently available assays to better discriminate HER2 levels. This review covers the evolution and latest updates of the ASCO/CAP guidelines relevant to this important biomarker in breast cancer, including still-evolving concepts such as HER2 low, HER2 heterogeneity, and HER2 evolution. Our group presents the latest Mexican recommendations for HER2 status evaluation in breast cancer, considering the ASCO/CAP guidelines and introducing the HER2-low concept. In the era of personalized medicine, accurate HER2 status assessment remains one of the most important biomarkers in breast cancer, and the commitment of Mexican pathologists to theragnostic biomarker quality is crucial for providing the most efficient care in oncology. Full article

Microplastics (MPs) are now ubiquitous environmental contaminants that lead to unavoidable human exposure; they have received increasing attention in recent years and have become an emerging area of research. The greatest concern is the negative impacts of MPs on marine, fresh-water, and terrestrial ecosystems, as well as human health, to the extent that the World Health Organization (WHO) calls for increased research and standardized methods to assess exposure to MPs. Many countries and international organizations are implementing or proposing legislation in this regard. This review aims to summarize the current state of legislation, indoor and outdoor contamination, and potential human health risk due to exposure to airborne MPs, considering that occupational exposure to MPs is also becoming a growing area of concern. Even though research regarding MPs has continuously increased in the last twenty years, the effects of MPs on human health have been scarcely investigated, and toxicity studies are still limited and not directly comparable, due to the lack of standardized studies in this field. Full article

This study proposes a new computational framework for the multi-objective topology optimization of conjugate heat transfer systems using a continuous adjoint approach. It relies on a monolithic solver for the coupled steady-state Navier–Stokes and heat equations, which combines finite elements stabilized by the variational multi-scale method, level set representations of the fluid–solid interfaces and immersed modeling of heterogeneous materials (fluid–solid) to ensure that the proper amount of heat is exchanged to the ambient fluid by solid objects in arbitrary geometry. At each optimization iteration, anisotropic mesh adaptation is applied in near-wall regions automatically captured by the level set. This considerably cuts the computational effort associated with calling the finite element solver, in comparison to traditional topology optimization algorithms operating on isotropic grids with a comparable refinement level. Given that we operate within the constraint of a specified number of nodes in the mesh, this allows not only to improve the accuracy of interface representation and motion but also to retain the high fidelity of the numerical solutions at the grid points just adjacent to the interface. Finally, the remeshing and resolution steps both run within a highly parallel environment, which makes it possible for the proposed algorithm to tackle large-scale problems in three dimensions with several tens of millions of state degrees of freedom. The developed solver is validated first by minimizing dissipation in a flow splitter device, for which the method delivers relevant optimal designs over a wide range of volume constraints and flow rate distributions over the multiple outlet orifices but yields better accuracy compared to reference data from literature obtained using uniform meshes (in the sense that the layouts are more smooth, and the solutions are better resolved). The scheme is then applied to a two-dimensional heat transfer problem, using bi-objective cost functionals combining flow resistance and thermal recoverable power. A comprehensive parametric study reveals a complex arrangement of optimal solutions on the Pareto front, with multiple branches of symmetric and asymmetric designs, some of them previously unreported. Finally, the algorithmic developments are substantiated with several three-dimensional numerical examples tackled under fixed weights for heat transfer and flow resistance, for which we show that the optimal layouts computed at low Reynolds number, that are intrinsically relevant to a broad range of microfluidic application, can also serve as smooth solutions to high-Reynolds-number engineering problems of practical interest. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the gradient properties of bamboo at the microscopic level and provide a basis for improving the utilization rate of bamboo. Using moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis (Carrière) J. Houz.) as a research subject, the variation of vascular bundle area percentage, chemical content, relative crystallinity (CR), mechanical properties of different bamboo slivers, and correlation between those parameters were analyzed. From the bamboo green layer (BGL) to the bamboo yellow layer (BYL), the distribution of vascular bundles changed from dense to sparse. Cellulose and lignin mass content decreased gently, and hemicellulose mass content showed gradual increases. The CR showed an order of bamboo middle layer (BML) > BGL > BYL. The tensile modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, bending modulus of elasticity, and bending strength decreased from BGL to BYL. The order of influence degree on mechanical properties of moso bamboo was vascular bundle area, hemicellulose content, lignin mass content, density, and CR, and these factors correlated with mechanical properties at a significant level (p < 0.05). Vascular bundle area had a decisive effect on the mechanical properties of bamboo. The vascular bundle area and density were linearly correlated with mechanical properties, while the lignin mass content and CR were curve-linearly correlated with mechanical properties. Full article

Background and Objectives: Leukemia, characterized by abnormal leukocyte production, exhibits clonal origin from somatic mutations. Globally, it ranked 15th in cancer incidence in 2020, with higher prevalence in developing countries. In Mexico, it was the ninth most frequent cancer. Regional registries are vital for understanding its epidemiology. This study aims to analyze the prevalence and age-standardized incidence rates of leukemias in a tertiary care hospital in the Mexican Bajio region. Materials and Methods: Leukemia cases from 2008–2018 were analyzed, and 535 medical records were included in this study. The prevalence, distribution, and age-specific incidence rate of different types and subtypes of leukemia were determined according to sex and age groups. Results: Overall, 65.79% consisted of lymphocytic leukemia, 33.64% of myeloid leukemia, and 0.56% of monocytic leukemia. No significant sex-based differences were found, but age-specific patterns were observed. Leukemia distribution by age revealed significant associations. Lymphocytic leukemia dominated in the pediatric population, particularly acute lymphocytic leukemia, while myeloid leukemia shifted towards adulthood. Age-specific incidence patterns showed, first, that lymphocytic leukemia is the most common leukemia in pediatric ages, and second, there is a shift from acute lymphocytic leukemia dominance in pediatric ages to myeloid leukemia incidence in late adulthood, emphasizing nuanced epidemiological dynamics. Conclusions: Acute leukemia cases occurred with high prevalence in our study population, with a high incidence in pediatric and adulthood populations, especially for acute lymphocytic leukemia, showing a (<18 years) 153.8 age-standardized incidence rate in the pediatric group, while in the adult population, the age-standardized rate was 59.84. In the age-specific analysis, we found that the childhood group (5–9 years) were the most affected by acute lymphocytic leukemia in the pediatric population, while in the adult population, the early-adulthood group (15–29 years) were the most affected age group. In contrast, chronic myeloid leukemia affected both adults and the pediatric populations, while chronic lymphocytic leukemia and monocytic leukemia were exclusive to adults. The study underscores the need for tailored diagnostic, treatment, and preventive strategies based on age, contributing valuable insights into the leukemia epidemiology of the Bajio region. Full article

Female genital tract infections (FGTIs) include vaginal infections (e.g., bacterial vaginosis [BV]), endometritis, pelvic inflammatory disease [PID], and chorioamnionitis [amniotic fluid infection]. They commonly occur in women of reproductive age and are strongly associated with multiple adverse health outcomes including increased risk of HIV/sexually transmitted infection acquisition and transmission, infertility, and adverse birth outcomes such as preterm birth. These FGTIs are characterized by a disruption of the cervicovaginal microbiota which largely affects host immunity through the loss of protective, lactic acid-producing Lactobacillus spp. and the overgrowth of facultative and strict anaerobic bacteria. Prevotella species (spp.), anaerobic Gram-negative rods, are implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple bacterial FGTIs. Specifically, P. bivia, P. amnii, and P. timonensis have unique virulence factors in this setting, including resistance to antibiotics commonly used in treatment. Additionally, evidence suggests that the presence of Prevotella spp. in untreated BV cases can lead to infections of the upper female genital tract by ascension into the uterus. This narrative review aims to explore the most common Prevotella spp. in FGTIs, highlight their important role in the pathogenesis of FGTIs, and propose future research in this area. Full article

The gas-liquid flow and oxygen content in a pressurized leaching stirred tank significantly influence the chemical reaction rates, while the specific dynamics of gas-liquid flow in the sulfuric acid system remain largely unexplored. In this study, a mathematical model of gas-liquid flow within a stirred tank is developed using the Euler-Euler approach, with the turbulence and drag force models being validated against experimental data. Utilizing this validated and reliable model, this study investigates the impacts of the sulfuric acid concentration, baffles, air inlet velocity, and bubble diameter on the flow field and gas holdup in a two-phase system consisting of a sulfuric acid solution and oxygen. The findings indicate that introducing a specific concentration of sulfuric acid decreases the solution velocity and increases the gas holdup within the tank. However, once the sulfuric acid concentration reaches a certain threshold, further increases have a diminished effect on the gas-liquid phases. The installation of baffles enhances the turbulent kinetic energy and increases the gas holdup while only resulting in a minimal 1.2% increase in power consumption. Additionally, the inlet velocity and bubble diameter have a relatively minor impact on the tank’s flow field. However, increasing the inlet velocity significantly boosts the gas holdup, whereas an increase in the bubble diameter marginally reduces it. Furthermore, introducing a sulfuric acid solution into the tank can enhance the gas holdup when the gas inlet velocity is low. Conversely, when the gas inlet velocity is high, the addition of sulfuric acid results in a decrease in the gas holdup. The conclusions from this study contribute to enhancing the mixing effectiveness and oxygen content within the tank, providing a substantial theoretical basis for optimizing the design and operating conditions of pressurized leaching stirred tanks. Full article