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The role of antennas in wireless communication is critical for enabling efficient signal transmission and reception across various frequency bands, including those associated with IoT (Internet of Things), X-band, S-band, and RFID (radio-frequency identification) systems. This paper presents a small quadruple-band antenna with 25 × 40 × 1.5 mm3 dimensions designed for diverse wireless applications. It is adept at operating in the S-band (2.2 GHz), wireless local area network (WLAN) (5.7 GHz), microwave RFID frequency band (5.8 GHz), and X-band (7.7 GHz and 8.3 GHz). While the majority of existing research focuses on antennas covering two or three bands, our work stands out by achieving quad-band operation in the proposed antenna design. This antenna is constructed on a semiflexible Rogers RT5880 substrate, making it well-suited for wearable applications. Computer Simulation Technology (CST) Microwave studio (2019) simulation package software is chosen for design and analysis. The antenna design features a comb-shaped radiating structure, where each "tooth" is responsible for resonating at a distinct frequency with an appropriate bandwidth. The antenna retains stability in both free space and on-body wearability scenarios. It achieves a low specific absorption rate (SAR), meeting wearable criteria with SAR values below 1.6 W/Kg for all resonating frequencies. The proposed antenna demonstrates suitable radiation efficiency, reaching a maximum of 82.6% and a peak gain of 6.3 dBi. It exhibits a bidirectional pattern in the elevation plane and omnidirectional behavior in the azimuth plane. The antenna finds applications across multiple frequencies and shows close agreement between simulated and measured results, validating its effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioremediation is term define to utilise different living organisms for reducing the toxic impacts of contaminants. There are numerous of contaminants in the environment with their persistence and bioaccumulation abilities. These contaminants involved heavy metals, dye disposals, petroleum wastes, oil spills etc. Enzymes are biocatalysts that are responsible for hydrolysing a particular reaction in a specific cell of living organisms. Enzymes have been serving in various sectors for several years’ industries like pharmaceuticals, food, detergent, leather, paper, fabric, and many more. Despite various applications of biological or microbial enzymes, they are comparatively cheaper, stable, and reusable than chemical catalysts. Therefore enzyme-based reactions are preferable to chemical reactions in almost every industry. Proteases, amylases, and lipases are prioritized in the list of industrial enzymes cellulases. Microbial enzymes are attractive to researchers because of their high yield in comparison to chemical reactions. Enzyme applications are not restricted to industrial benefits but they are more eco-friendly than other chemical biocatalysts for example enzymes can reduce dye contaminants from the environment. Over chemical reactions, enzymes are the most suited replaceable candidate due to their agricultural significance. Hence this study will be involved in the comparison of biological catalysts so Enzymes are better options instead of chemical components. Therefore, in this review we will discuss different approach for the degradation for various contaminants with microbes.

The solar power plant is a rapidly growing renewable energy source that has a potential role in reducing climate change and replacing fossil fuels. Estimation of the power generated by a solar power plant is required to determine the energy supply. Unfortunately, the solar power generated is highly uncertain due to highly dependence to nature, such as solar radiation and weather. This makes the estimation of solar power generation to be very difficult. This study presents a development of machine learning to model a solar power plant for estimating the generated power. The machine learning is developed by implementing the k-NN algorithm. A data set of power generated in a solar power plant is applied to build the machine learning. The development resulted in a machine learning that models the solar power plant. Simulation test result show the machine learning was able to estimate the solar power generated with an accuracy of 69.6%. The developed model is very useful to estimate potential of solar power resource in a region. The developed model is very useful in feasibility studies to estimate the potential of solar power resources in an area.

The production of high-quality noodles relies on using premium-quality wheat flour. There is growing interest in using nonthermal technologies (NTTs), like ultrasound, high hydrostatic pressure (HHP), and plasma techniques, to enhance the nutritional properties of wheat flour starch and protein, specifically its digestibility. This review compiles the impact of these nonthermal technologies on wheat flour characteristics for optimal noodle preparation. Ultrasound applications can modify protein networks and starch granules in wheat flour, resulting in improved consistency and texture of noodles. High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatments have been observed to effectively alter protein specificity, thereby forming desirable textural attributes such as hardness and firmness. Consequently, this process significantly contributes to the overall improvement in the quality of the noodles. Additionally, HHP treatments promote gelatinization within structures, improving noodle digestibility. On the other hand, plasma treatment modifies the structure and properties of gluten, enhancing dough rheology and stability and improving the texture, nutrition, and sensory attributes of noodles. The modifications induced by ultrasound HHP and plasma treatments in gluten structure enzymatic potential, starch granules, and protein functionality collectively enhance noodle characteristics. Furthermore, the modifications efficiently improve digestibility and increase nutrient availability during digestion, thereby increasing the overall nutritional value of noodles., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest There are no conflicts of interest to declare. This article does not contain studies involving human or animal subjects., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Mental health challenges are a pressing concern in Australia, which account for a significant portion of the disease burden and economic costs, yet a substantial number of those affected do not utilise necessary professional support. This study evaluates distance decay effect on adults' community mental health services in North Metropolitan Western Australia and explores factors influencing service use., Methods: Data were extracted from the Mental Health Information Data Collections including the records of consumers receiving face-to-face services from the Community Mental Health Clinics in the North Metro Health Service during March 2022 to March 2023. Additionally, socio-demographic information for each suburb and population data were obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The distance between residential suburbs and clinic locations was calculated. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the characteristics of the study population. A hierarchical linear regression analysis was used to explore whether the distance of suburb to the nearest community clinic was related to service utilisation., Results: A total of 3,453 consumers received direct services across the North Metro Health Service Community Mental Health Clinics. Findings highlighted the impact of proximity to clinics on service utilisation, with suburbs closer to clinics exhibiting higher visit rates (p = 0.004). The data also showed a strong positive correlation between gender (percentage of females in the suburb) and living in socially and economically disadvantaged areas with consumer visits per thousand residents., Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of addressing accessibility barriers and tailoring mental health services to meet the diverse needs of the community., (© 2024. Crown.)

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), the most aggressive subtype, presents a critical challenge due to the absence of approved targeted therapies. Hence, there is an urgent need to identify effective therapeutic targets for this condition. While epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is prominently expressed in TNBC and recognized as a therapeutic target, anti-EGFR therapies have yet to gain approval for breast cancer treatment due to their associated side effects and limited efficacy. Here, we discovered that intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) exhibits elevated expression levels in metastatic breast cancer and serves as a pivotal binding adaptor for EGFR activation, playing a crucial role in malignant progression. The activation of EGFR by tumor-expressed ICAM-1 initiates biased signaling within the JAK1/STAT3 pathway, consequently driving epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and facilitating heightened metastasis without influencing tumor growth. Remarkably, ICAM-1-neutralizing antibody treatment significantly suppressed cancer metastasis in a breast cancer orthotopic xenograft mouse model. In conclusion, our identification of ICAM-1 as a novel tumor intrinsic regulator of EGFR activation offers valuable insights for the development of TNBC-specific anti-EGFR therapies., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The first trimester placenta is very rarely investigated for placental vascular formation in developmental or diseased contexts. Defects in placental formation can cause heart defects in the fetus, and vice versa. Determining the causality is therefore difficult as both organs develop concurrently and express many of the same genes. Here, we performed a systematic review to determine feto-placental and coronary endothelial genes implicated in miscarriages, stillbirth and congenital heart defects (CHD) from human genome wide screening studies. 4 single cell RNAseq datasets from human first/early second trimester cardiac and placental samples were queried to generate a list of 1187 endothelial genes. This broad list was cross-referenced with genes implicated in the pregnancy disorders above. 39 papers reported feto-placental and cardiac coronary endothelial genes, totalling 612 variants. Vascular gene variants were attributed to the incidence of miscarriage (8 %), CHD (4 %) and stillbirth (3 %). The most common genes for CHD (NOTCH, DST, FBN1, JAG1, CHD4), miscarriage (COL1A1, HERC1), and stillbirth (AKAP9, MYLK), were involved in blood vessel and cardiac valve formation, with roles in endothelial differentiation, angiogenesis, extracellular matrix signaling, growth factor binding and cell adhesion. NOTCH1, AKAP12, CHD4, LAMC1 and SOS1 showed greater relative risk ratios with CHD. Many of the vascular genes identified were expressed highly in both placental and heart EC populations. Both feto-placental and cardiac vascular genes are likely to result in poor endothelial cell development and function during human pregnancy that leads to higher risk of miscarriage, congenital heart disease and stillbirth., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no interests to declare., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The effects of low-intensity exercise, heat-induced hypo-hydration and rehydration on maximal strength and the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms are not well understood., Methods: To assess this, 12 participants took part in a randomised crossover study, in a prolonged (3 h) submaximal (60 W) cycling protocol under 3 conditions: (i) in 45 °C (achieving ~ 5% body mass reduction), with post-exercise rehydration in 2 h (RHY2), (ii) with rehydration across 24 h (RHY24), and (iii) a euhydrated trial in 25 °C (CON). Dependent variables included maximal voluntary contractions (MVC), maximum motor unit potential (M MAX ), motor evoked potential (MEP RAW ) amplitude and cortical silent period (cSP) duration. Blood-brain-barrier integrity was also assessed by serum Ubiquitin Carboxyl-terminal Hydrolase (UCH-L1) concentrations. All measures were obtained immediately pre, post, post 2 h and 24 h., Results: During both dehydration trials, MVC (RHY2: p < 0.001, RHY24: p = 0.001) and MEP RAW (RHY2: p = 0.025, RHY24: p = 0.045) decreased from pre- to post-exercise. MEP RAW returned to baseline during RHY2 and CON, but not RHY24 (p = 0.020). MEP/M MAX ratio decreased across time for all trials (p = 0.009) and returned to baseline, except RHY24 (p < 0.026). Increased cSP (p = 0.011) was observed during CON post-exercise, but not during RHY2 and RHY24. Serum UCH-L1 increased across time for all conditions (p < 0.001) but was not significantly different between conditions., Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate an increase in corticospinal inhibition after exercise with fluid ingestion, but a decrease in corticospinal excitability after heat-induced hypo-hydration. In addition, low-intensity exercise increases peripheral markers of blood-brain-barrier permeability.Kindly check and confirm inserted city name correctly identified in affiliation 7This is correct., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The patterns and biological functions of copper homeostasis-related genes (CHRGs) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remain unclear. We explored the patterns and biological functions of CHRGs in AML. Using independent cohorts, including TCGA-GTEx, GSE114868, GSE37642, and clinical samples, we identified 826 common differentially expressed genes. Specifically, 12 cuproptosis-related genes (e.g., ATP7A, ATP7B) were upregulated, while 17 cuproplasia-associated genes (e.g., ATOX1, ATP7A) were downregulated in AML. We used LASSO-Cox, Kaplan-Meier, and Nomogram analyses to establish prognostic risk models, effectively stratifying patients with AML into high- and low-risk groups. Subgroup analysis revealed that high-risk patients exhibited poorer overall survival and involvement in fatty acid metabolism, apoptosis, and glycolysis. Immune infiltration analysis indicated differences in immune cell composition, with notable increases in B cells, cytotoxic T cells, and memory T cells in the low-risk group, and increased monocytes and neutrophils in the high-risk group. Single-cell sequencing analysis corroborated the expression characteristics of critical CHRGs, such as MAPK1 and ATOX1, associated with the function of T, B, and NK cells. Drug sensitivity analysis suggested potential therapeutic agents targeting copper homeostasis, including Bicalutamide and Sorafenib. PCR validation confirmed the differential expression of 4 cuproptosis-related genes (LIPT1, SLC31A1, GCSH, and PDHA1) and 9 cuproplasia-associated genes (ATOX1, CCS, CP, MAPK1, SOD1, COA6, PDK1, DBH, and PDE3B) in AML cell line. Importantly, these genes serve as potential biomarkers for patient stratification and treatment. In conclusion, we shed light on the expression patterns and biological functions of CHRGs in AML. The developed risk models provided prognostic implications for patient survival, offering valuable information on the regulatory characteristics of CHRGs and potential avenues for personalized treatment in AML., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the incidence of peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC)-induced phlebitis and its predictors among adult patients hospitalized at Dow University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan., Methods: A sample of 258 adult patients admitted in the selected wards and planned for peripheral intravenous catheter insertion were recruited through consecutive sampling during March to May 2019. Daily follow-ups were performed to observe signs of phlebitis using a validated tool. The cohort was followed until discharge, removal of peripheral intravenous catheter, or study conclusion., Results: Of 258 patients studied, 139 (53.9%) were females. A significant number of the participants 104 (40.3%) were young adults of age 20-40 years. The incidence of phlebitis was 39.1%. Tuberculosis (TB), peripheral intravenous catheter dwell time before initial assessment, administration of IV fluids, and dissatisfactory nursing care at Day 1 were associated significantly with the development of phlebitis. There was a doseresponse relationship between the catheter dwell time in hours before initial assessment and the development of phlebitis., Conclusion: This study found an increased incidence (39.1%) in three months of PIVC-induced phlebitis among adult patients. In addition to patient-related and PIVC-related risk factors considered in this study, PIVC-induced phlebitis is found to be significantly associated with the level of PIVC care provided by nurses. Continuous nursing education, developing standard care plans for PIVCs, and proper documentation of care are recommended.

The Ziziphus genus, belonging to the Rhamnaceae family, holds significant economic, nutritional, and medicinal value. However, much remains to be discovered about its diversity and physical characteristics. Factors such as growth, resilience to changes, disease resistance, and unique features contribute to the quality of Ziziphus species. This study aims to investigate the genomes of 200 genotypes from five Ziziphus species: Ziziphus jujuba (Zj), Ziziphus nummularia (Zm), Ziziphus oxyphylla (Zx), Ziziphus mauritiana (Zm), and the cultivated variety Ziziphus jujube var. jujube, collected from Pakistan and China. Our goal is to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with eight different traits and understand the genetic diversity within the selected Ziziphus species and their genotypes. Using high-quality SNPs obtained through genotype-by-sequencing (GBS), we conducted population structure, phylogenetic, and principal coordinates analyses, identifying a total of 10,945 clean SNPs. These genotypes were categorized into two groups, A and B. Natural Ziziphus variants in Pakistan, specifically Z. jujuba and Z. nummularia, exhibited high levels of genetic diversity and polymorphic information content (PIC) of 0.46 and 0.41, respectively, compared to other species. Furthermore, we identified 15 influential candidate genes that play crucial roles in regulating agronomic traits, such as fruit width and diameter, leaf width, plant height, and stem diameter within this group. This study provides valuable insights that can be utilized in Ziziphus breeding efforts., (© 2024 Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society.)

This article presents a dataset of activities associated with stress and boredom obtained through wearable sensors. Data was collected from 40 right-handed participants aged 20 to 25, evenly split between males and females. Each individual wore a smart device on their dominant arm's wrists to facilitate the capture of data. This dataset covers five activities associated with stress and boredom, namely, smoking, eating, nail biting, face touching, and staying still. These activities were selected for their potential psychological implications and captured in an uncontrolled environment to mimic real-life scenarios. The data provides a unique resource for developing machine learning models aimed at recognizing these behaviors, which could lead to real-time analysis and interventions for stress. A custom holder was used to hold the device on the wrists in order to ensure that all participants had consistent orientation and placement. This holder was situated just above the wrist joint, a location typically associated with the placement of smartwatches. The dataset provides a unique opportunity for developing machine learning models for stress & boredom associated activities recognition apart from real-time symptomatic analysis of stress and boredom., (© 2024 The Authors.)

A 70-year-old man presented with worsening migraines and was referred to a neurologist by their primary care doctor for further workup. Imaging and lab work were benign. The patient then underwent several trials of various first and second-line medications and anti-migraine devices to no avail. It was not until one session of battlefield acupuncture, where five needles were placed in the patient's ear for a few days, that the patient had a resolution of his symptoms., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Uddin et al.)

Background: Wrist-worn gadgets like smartphones are ideal for unobtrusively gathering user data, in various fields such as health and fitness monitoring, communication, and productivity enhancement. They seamlessly integrate into users' daily lives, providing valuable insights and features without the need for constant attention or disruption. In sensitive domains like mental health, these devices provide user-friendly, privacy-protected means of diagnosis and treatment, offering a secure and cost-effective avenue for seeking help., Objectives: This study addresses the limitations of traditional mental health assessment techniques, such as intrusive sensing and subjective self-reporting, by harnessing the unobtrusive data collection capabilities of smartphones. Equipped with accelerometers and other sensors, these devices offer a novel approach to mental health research. Our objective was to develop methods for real-time detection of stress and boredom behavior markers using smart devices and machine learning algorithms., Methodology: By leveraging data from accelerometers (A), gyroscopes (G), and magnetometers (M), we compiled a dataset indicative of stress-related behaviors and trained various machine-learning models for predictive accuracy. The methodology involved collecting data from motion sensors (A, G, and M) on the dominant arm's wrist-worn smartphone, followed by data preprocessing, transformation from time series format, and training a Deep Neural Network (DNN) model for activity recognition., Findings: Remarkably, the DNN achieved an accuracy of 93.50% on test data, outperforming traditional and ensemble machine learning methods across different window sizes, and demonstrated real-time accuracy of 77.78%, validating its practical application., Conclusion: In conclusion, this research presents a novel dataset for detecting stress and boredom behaviors using smartphones, reducing reliance on costly devices and offering a more objective assessment. It also proposes a DNN-based method for wrist-worn devices to accurately identify complex activities associated with stress and boredom, with benefits in terms of privacy and user convenience. This advancement represents a significant contribution to the field of mental health research, providing a less intrusive and more user-friendly approach to monitoring mental well-being., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The strong demand for biological materials in the food industry places chitosan at the forefront of other biopolymers. The present study aims to evaluate the antifungal properties of chitosan extracted from shrimp shell waste ( Parapenaeus longirostris ) against post-harvest strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa ) spoilage fungi. The physicochemical characteristics (DD, Mw, and solubility) of extracted chitosan were determined. In addition, functional characteristics were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The antifungal effect of chitosan on mycelial growth and spore germination of Aspergillus niger , Botrytis cinerea , Fusarium oxysporum , and Rhizopus stolonifer was evaluated. Yield, degree of deacetylation, molecular weight, and solubility were 21.86%, 83.50%, 180 kDa, and 80.10%, respectively. A degree of deacetylation of 81.27% was calculated from the FTIR spectrum and a crystallinity index of 79.83% was determined from the X-ray diffraction pattern. SEM images of extracted chitosan showed a combination of fibrous and porous structure. At 3% chitosan, mycelial growth inhibition rates of A. niger , B. cinerea , F. oxysporum , and R. stolonifer ranged from 81.37% to 92.70%. At the same chitosan concentration, the percentages of spore germination inhibition of the isolated fungi ranged from 65.47% to 71.48%. The antifungal activity was highly dose-dependent. As a natural polymer, chitosan offers a convincing alternative to synthetic antimicrobials for the post-harvest preservation of strawberries. Its potential lies in its ability to inhibit the growth of spoilage fungi., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Background: Anxiety in pregnancy and after giving birth (the perinatal period) is highly prevalent but under-recognised. Robust methods of assessing perinatal anxiety are essential for services to identify and treat women appropriately., Aims: To determine which assessment measures are most psychometrically robust and effective at identifying women with perinatal anxiety (primary objective) and depression (secondary objective)., Method: We conducted a prospective longitudinal cohort study of 2243 women who completed five measures of anxiety and depression (Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD) two- and seven-item versions; Whooley questions; Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation (CORE-10); and Stirling Antenatal Anxiety Scale (SAAS)) during pregnancy (15 weeks, 22 weeks and 31 weeks) and after birth (6 weeks). To assess diagnostic accuracy a sample of 403 participants completed modules of the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI)., Results: The best diagnostic accuracy for anxiety was shown by the CORE-10 and SAAS. The best diagnostic accuracy for depression was shown by the CORE-10, SAAS and Whooley questions, although the SAAS had lower specificity. The same cut-off scores for each measure were optimal for identifying anxiety or depression (SAAS ≥9; CORE-10 ≥9; Whooley ≥1). All measures were psychometrically robust, with good internal consistency, convergent validity and unidimensional factor structure., Conclusions: This study identified robust and effective methods of assessing perinatal anxiety and depression. We recommend using the CORE-10 or SAAS to assess perinatal anxiety and the CORE-10 or Whooley questions to assess depression. The GAD-2 and GAD-7 did not perform as well as other measures and optimal cut-offs were lower than currently recommended.

Objective: Neonates born with fetal inflammatory response (FIR) are at increased risk for adverse neonatal outcomes. Our objective was to determine whether FIR and its severity is associated with severity of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm infants., Methods: A case-control retrospective study of infants <33 weeks gestational age or <1500 g birthweight, including 260 with stage I-III NEC and 520 controls matched for gestational age. Placental pathology was evaluated, and FIR progression and its severity were defined according to Amsterdam classification., Results: In this study, mild FIR (i.e., stage 1 FIR) was present in 52 controls (10.0%) and 22 infants with stage I-III NEC (8.5%), while moderate to severe FIR (i.e., ≥stage 2 FIR) was present in 16 controls (3.1%) and 47 infants with stage I-III NEC (18.1%). Both stage and grade of FIR were associated with stage of NEC (P < 0.001). On multinomial logistic regression, stage III NEC was associated with stage of FIR (P < 0.001)., Conclusion: This is the first report demonstrating the association between progression and increasing severity of FIR and stage of NEC., Impact: Fetal Inflammatory Response (FIR) and its progression and severity are associated with the stages of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). This is the first study demonstrating the impact of progression and severity of FIR on stage III NEC. These observations provide additional insight into understanding the impact of intrauterine exposure to inflammation on the severity of NEC in preterm infants., (© 2023. This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.)

Helicobacter pylori causes severe stomach disorders and the use of enzyme inhibitors for treatment is one of the possible therapies. The great biological potential of imine analogs as urease inhibitors has been the focus of researchers in past years. In this regard, we have synthesized twenty-one derivatives of dichlorophenyl hydrazide. These compounds were characterized by different spectroscopic techniques i.e. NMR and HREI-MS. Compounds 2 and 10 were found to be the most active in the series. Structure-activity relationship has been established for all compounds based on different substituents attached to the phenyl ring that play a vital role in enzyme inhibition. From the structure-activity relationship, it has been observed that these analogs showed excellent potential for urease and can be an alternate therapy in the future. The molecular docking study was performed to further explore the binding interactions of synthesized analogs with enzyme active sites.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Background: For screening for anxiety during pregnancy and after birth to be efficient and effective it is important to know the optimal time to screen in order to identify women who might benefit from treatment., Aims: To determine the optimal time to screen for perinatal anxiety to identify women with anxiety disorders and those who want treatment. A secondary aim was to examine the stability and course of perinatal anxiety over time., Methods: Prospective longitudinal cohort study of 2243 women who completed five screening questionnaires of anxiety and mental health symptoms in early pregnancy (11 weeks), mid-pregnancy (23 weeks), late pregnancy (32 weeks) and postnatally (8 weeks). Anxiety and mental health questionnaires were the GAD7, GAD2, SAAS, CORE-10 and Whooley questions. To establish presence of anxiety disorders diagnostic interviews were conducted with a subsample of 403 participants., Results: Early pregnancy was the optimal time to screen for anxiety to identify women with anxiety disorders and women wanting treatment at any time during pregnancy or postnatally. These findings were consistent across all five questionnaires of anxiety and mental health. Receiving treatment for perinatal mental health problems was most strongly associated with late pregnancy and/or postnatal assessments. Anxiety symptoms were highest in early pregnancy and decreased over time., Conclusion: Findings show that screening in early pregnancy is optimal for identifying women who have, or develop, anxiety disorders and who want treatment. This has clear implications for practice and policy for anxiety screening during the perinatal period., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Andrea Sinesi, Helen Cheyne and Margaret Maxwell developed and published one of the measures evaluated in the MAP programme, the Stirling Antenatal Anxiety Scale. All other authors have no declaration of interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Lignin and Casparian strips are two essential components of plant cells that play critical roles in plant development regulate nutrients and water across the plants cell. Recent studies have extensively investigated lignin diversity and Casparian strip formation, providing valuable insights into plant physiology. This review presents the established lignin biosynthesis pathway, as well as the developmental patterns of lignin and Casparian strip and transcriptional network associated with Casparian strip formation. It describes the biochemical and genetic mechanisms that regulate lignin biosynthesis and deposition in different plants cell types and tissues. Additionally, the review highlights recent studies that have uncovered novel lignin biosynthesis genes and enzymatic pathways, expanding our understanding of lignin diversity. This review also discusses the developmental patterns of Casparian strip in roots and their role in regulating nutrient and water transport, focusing on recent genetic and molecular studies that have identified regulators of Casparian strip formation. Previous research has shown that lignin biosynthesis genes also play a role in Casparian strip formation, suggesting that these processes are interconnected. In conclusion, this comprehensive overview provides insights into the developmental patterns of lignin diversity and Casparian strip as apoplastic barriers. It also identifies future research directions, including the functional characterization of novel lignin biosynthesis genes and the identification of additional regulators of Casparian strip formation. Overall, this review enhances our understanding of the complex and interconnected processes that drive plant growth, pathogen defense, regulation and development., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging has been used increasingly as an adjunct for ultrasound imaging for placenta accreta spectrum assessment and preoperative surgical planning, but its value has not been established yet. The ultrasound-based placenta accreta index is a well-validated standardized approach for placenta accreta spectrum evaluation. Placenta accreta spectrum-magnetic resonance imaging markers have been outlined in a joint guideline from the Society of Abdominal Radiology and the European Society of Urogenital Radiology., Objective: This study aimed to compare placenta accreta spectrum-magnetic resonance imaging parameters with the ultrasound-based placenta accreta index in pregnancies at high risk for placenta accreta spectrum and to assess the additional diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging for placenta accreta spectrum that requires a cesarean hysterectomy., Study Design: This was a single-center, retrospective study of pregnant patients who underwent magnetic resonance imaging, in addition to ultrasonography, because of suspected placenta accreta spectrum. The ultrasound-based placenta accreta index and placenta accreta spectrum-magnetic resonance imaging parameters were obtained. Student's t test and Fisher's exact test were used to compare the groups in terms of the primary outcome (hysterectomy vs no hysterectomy). The diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance imaging and the ultrasound-based placenta accreta index was assessed using multivariable logistic regressions, receiver operating characteristics curves, the DeLong test, McNemar test, and the relative predictive value test., Results: A total of 82 patients were included in the study, 41 of whom required a hysterectomy. All patients who underwent a hysterectomy met the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics clinical evidence of placenta accreta spectrum at the time of delivery. Multiple parameters of the ultrasound-based placenta accreta index and placenta accreta spectrum-magnetic resonance imaging were able to predict hysterectomy, and the parameter of greatest dimension of invasion by magnetic resonance imaging was the best quantitative predictor. At 96% sensitivity for hysterectomy, the cutoff values were 3.5 for the ultrasound-based placenta accreta index and 2.5 cm for the greatest dimension of invasion by magnetic resonance imaging. Using this sensitivity, the parameter of greatest dimension of invasion measured by magnetic resonance imaging had higher specificity (P=.0016) and a higher positive predictive value (P=.0018) than the ultrasound-based placenta accreta index, indicating an improved diagnostic threshold., Conclusion: In a suspected high-risk group for placenta accreta spectrum, magnetic resonance imaging identified more patients who will not need a hysterectomy than when using the ultrasound-based placenta accrete index only. Magnetic resonance imaging has the potential to aid patient counseling, surgical planning, and delivery timing, including preterm delivery decisions for patients with placenta accreta spectrum requiring hysterectomy., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The interplay between HDL-C and LDL levels are closely intertwined with the cardiovascular system. High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C) is a well-known biomarker traditionally being interpreted as higher the HDL-C levels, minimal the risk of adverse cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes. However, recent research has unveiled a more complex relationship between HDL-C levels and cardiovascular outcomes, including genetic influences and potential risks associated with extremely high HDL-C levels. Intriguingly, extremely high HDL-C levels have been linked to unexpected cardiovascular risks. Up To date research suggests that individuals with genetically linked ultra-high HDL-C levels may depict an increased susceptibility to CVD, challenging the conventional realm that higher HDL-C is always beneficial. The mechanisms underlying this mystery are not fully understood but may involve HDL particle functionality and composition. In a nutshell, the relationship between HDL-C levels and cardiovascular outcomes is multifactorial. While low HDL-C remains a recognized risk factor for CVD, the genetic determinants of HDL-C levels add complexity to this association. Furthermore, extremely high HDL-C levels may not exhibit the expected protective benefits and may even pose unprecedented cardiovascular risks. A comprehensive understanding of these dynamics is essential for advancing our knowledge of CVD risk assessment and developing targeted therapeutic interventions. Further studies are needed to unravel the intricacies of HDL-C's role in cardiovascular health and disease., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Nitrogen (N) is one of the most crucial elements for plant growth. However, a deficiency of N affects plant growth and development. Wedelia trilobata is a notorious invasive plant species that exhibits superior tolerance to adapt to environmental stresses. Yet, research on the growth and antioxidant defensive system of invasive Wedelia under low N stress, which could contribute to understanding invasion mechanisms, is still limited. Therefore, this study aims to investigate and compare the tolerance capability of invasive and native Wedelia under low and normal N conditions. Native and invasive Wedelia species were grown in normal and low-N conditions using a hydroponic nutrient solution for 8 weeks to assess the photosynthetic parameters, antioxidant activity, and localization of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The growth and biomass of W. trilobata were significantly ( p < 0.05) higher than W. chinensis under low N. The leaves of W. trilobata resulted in a significant increase in chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll content by 40.2, 56.2, and 46%, respectively, compared with W. chinensis. W. trilobata significantly enhanced antioxidant defense systems through catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase by 18.6%, 20%, and 36.3%, respectively, providing a positive response to oxidative stress caused by low N. The PCA analysis showed that W. trilobata was 95.3% correlated with physiological traits by Dim1 (79.1%) and Dim2 (16.3%). This study provides positive feedback on W. trilobata with respect to its comprehensive invasion mechanism to improve agricultural systems via eco-friendly approaches in N deficit conditions, thereby contributing to the reclamation of barren land.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) results from proliferative remodeling and narrowing of the pulmonary vasculature. Sotatercept is a first-in-class fusion protein that has recently garnered attention for showing improvements in patients with PAH. This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assesses the overall efficacy of Sotatercept in treating PAH. PubMed, Google Scholar, and Clinicaltrials.gov were searched using relevant keywords and MeSH terms. Studies were included if RCTs compared Sotatercept with placebo in patients with PAH. Our comprehensive literature search yielded 3,127 results, of which two RCTs with 429 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The patients were on background therapy for PAH. Results of the meta-analysis show that when compared with placebo, Sotatercept improved the six-minute walk distance (mean difference [MD] 34.99; 95% confidence interval [CI] 19.02-50.95; P  < 0.0001), the World Health Organization (WHO) functional class (odds ratio [OR] 2.50; 95% CI 1.50-4.15; P  = 0.0004), and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR, MD -253.90; 95% CI -356.05 to -151.75; P  < 0.00001). However, reduction in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP, MD -1563.14; 95% CI -3271.93 to 145.65; P  = 0.07) was not statistically significant in the Sotatercept group versus placebo. In conclusion, Sotatercept improves the six-minute walk distance, WHO functional class, and PVR in patients with PAH receiving background therapy. However, the effect on NT-proBNP levels was not statistically significant. More research is needed to assess the clinical relevance of these findings., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Uddin et al.)