PLoS ONE最新文献

A promising approach for scalable Gaussian processes (GPs) is the Karhunen-Loève (KL) decomposition, in which the GP kernel is represented by a set of basis functions which are the eigenfunctions of the kernel operator. Such decomposed kernels have the potential to be very fast, and do not depend on the selection of a reduced set of inducing points. However KL decompositions lead to high dimensionality, and variable selection thus becomes paramount. This paper reports a new method of forward variable selection, enabled by the ordered nature of the basis functions in the KL expansion of the Bayesian Smoothing Spline ANOVA kernel (BSS-ANOVA), coupled with fast Gibbs sampling in a fully Bayesian approach. It quickly and effectively limits the number of terms, yielding a method with competitive accuracies, training and inference times for tabular datasets of low feature set dimensionality. Theoretical computational complexities are [Formula: see text] in training and [Formula: see text] per point in inference, where N is the number of instances and P the number of expansion terms. The inference speed and accuracy makes the method especially useful for dynamic systems identification, by modeling the dynamics in the tangent space as a static problem, then integrating the learned dynamics using a high-order scheme. The methods are demonstrated on two dynamic datasets: a 'Susceptible, Infected, Recovered' (SIR) toy problem, along with the experimental 'Cascaded Tanks' benchmark dataset. Comparisons on the static prediction of time derivatives are made with a random forest (RF), a residual neural network (ResNet), and the Orthogonal Additive Kernel (OAK) inducing points scalable GP, while for the timeseries prediction comparisons are made with LSTM and GRU recurrent neural networks (RNNs) along with the SINDy package.

Background: Toddler physical activity is critical for child health, but little is known about its applications in early childhood education (ECE) centers. The aims of this study were 1) to determine if pragmatic and nature-based modifications to an ECE center's outdoor setting were feasible and acceptable, and 2) to identify barriers and facilitators of toddler physical activity at ECE centers.

Methods: A multiphase mixed-methods study (QUANT+QUAL) was conducted. In the QUANT study, a stepped, sequential modification of the outdoor setting, using pragmatic and cost-effective nature-based elements, was conducted with a delayed control group over 10-weeks, with follow-up assessments 3-months later (week-20). Five elements (tree cookies, garden, teacher training, playground stencils, and nature table) were introduced individually. Feasibility was assessed using teacher surveys. Acceptability and engagement were assessed by direct observation of toddler use of outdoor elements. Accelerometers were used to assess toddlers' physical activity during outdoor sessions. The QUAL study included semi-structured interviews from ECE center directors (n = 27, 55.6% African American, 92.5% female) that were analyzed using content analysis for themes related to 1) toddler physical activity, 2) barriers and facilitators to toddler outdoor environment changes, 3) perspectives on nature-based elements, and 4) provider training. Member check focus groups (n = 2, 7-10/group) were conducted for additional interpretation. All three sources were reviewed for integration.

Results: Toddlers engaged in physical activity for most of the outdoor sessions (>85%). This limited the effect of the intervention, but aligned with directors' and members' sentiments that toddlers were already quite active. Across directors, reported barriers to toddler outdoor environment changes were teacher turnover and finances. All nature-based elements, except the stencils, were feasible and acceptable, even at week-20. Directors and members identified additional age-appropriate elements, and desired pragmatic training with technical assistance and funding to implement these changes. Directors and members also desired a curriculum that could be used outdoors.

Conclusions: Nature-based elements were feasible and acceptable to toddlers. Directors were enthusiastic about nature-based elements, but barriers exist in linking directors with these elements. Opportunities to combine toddler-age curricula and pragmatic options for outdoor play may improve ECE centers' outdoor settings and ultimately toddler health.

Acetochlor is frequently applied to various food crops in agriculture sector, and long-term exposure can cause significant endocrine-disrupting effects in exposed animals including impacts on human health. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of acetochlor on the growth, hematology, serum biochemistry, and histopathological alterations in Japanese quail. Eighty male quail were obtained and divided into four groups (A-D) and given acetochlor orally for the period of 45 days. Group A was served as the control, while groups B, C, and D received 20mg/kg, 30mg/kg, and 40mg/kg acetochlor, respectively. The study found that Japanese quail administered higher doses of acetochlor exhibited reduced frequency of crowing and foam production. The results showed that increased concentrations of acetochlor led to adverse effects on the growth parameters of Japanese quail. Hematology analysis indicated that birds exposed to higher concentrations of acetochlor experienced a significant decrease in red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), along with a significant increase in white blood cell count compared to the control group. Additionally, higher concentrations of acetochlor led to a significant increase in various serological indices including urea, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), while the values of total proteins, albumin, and plasma proteins declined. The histopathology results of treated Japanese quail exposed to higher concentrations of acetochlor showed a range of pathological lesions in the testes, heart, and brain. The study concluded that even low concentrations of acetochlor can cause slight to significant changes in Japanese quail, affecting their physical, hematological, histopathological and serum biochemical parameters.

Smoking is associated with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. However, the accuracies of the Friedewald, Sampson, and Martin LDL-C-estimating equations based on smoking status are unclear. We analyzed the accuracy of LDL-C levels estimated using these three equations based on tobacco and electronic cigarette smoking status. Data on LDL-C and other lipid components were obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from January 2009 to December 2021. Direct LDL-C (dLDL-C) levels and smoking data of 12,325 participants were evaluated. Current smokers had higher triglyceride levels than never smokers. Electronic cigarette smokers had higher triglyceride and dLDL-C levels than never smokers. The Martin equation yielded more accurate mean absolute deviations than the other equations for the group with triglyceride levels <400 mg/dL as well as more accurate median absolute deviation values, except for the group with dLDL-C levels <40 mg/dL. Similar estimates were derived from the equations when the triglyceride levels were <150 mg/dL. However, the Martin equation may lead to the overestimation of LDL-C levels. In conclusion, the Martin equation is suitable for triglyceride levels <400 mg/dL regardless of the electronic cigarette/tobacco smoking status; if the triglyceride level is <150 mg, the Friedewald equation could also be considered, regardless of the electronic cigarette/tobacco smoking status.

In recent years, breeding initiatives have been made to reduce the fecundity of invasive plants leading to sterile cultivars. The wildtype form of heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica Thunb. (Berberidaceae) and seven cultivars were evaluated for landscape performance, fruit production and seed viability at three sites in Florida located in southwest, northcentral, and north Florida. For heavenly bamboo cultivars in north Florida, 'Emerald Sea', 'Greray' (Sunray®), 'Lemon-Lime', 'Murasaki' (Flirt™), 'SEIKA' (Obsession™), and 'Twilight' performed well throughout much of the study with average visual quality ratings between 3.54 and 4.60 (scale of 1 to 5). In northcentral Florida heavenly bamboo cultivars are 'Emerald Sea', 'Greray', 'Lemon-Lime', 'Murasaki', 'SEIKA', and 'Twilight' performed well throughout much of the study with average quality ratings between 4.49 and 4.94. In southwest Florida, 'Emerald Sea', 'Greray', 'Lemon-Lime', 'Murasaki', and 'SEIKA' performed well with average quality ratings between 3.40 and 4.83. At all three sites, 'Emerald Sea' and the wildtype were similar in size, having the greatest growth indices compared to medium-sized cultivars ('Greray', 'Lemon-Lime', 'Twilight' and 'SEIKA') and dwarf-sized cultivars ('Chime' and 'Murasaki'). For three consecutive fall-winter seasons of the study, 'Chime', 'Greray', and 'Lemon-Lime' heavenly bamboo did not fruit at any of the study sites. Among the three sites, 'Murasaki' had 97.7% to 99.9% fruit reduction, 'SEIKA' had 97.7% to 100% fruit reduction, and 'Twilight' had 95.9% to 100% fruit reduction compared to the wildtype at respective sites. Seeds collected from low fruiting cultivars ('Murasaki', 'SEIKA', and 'Twilight') had 33.3% to 66.7% viability, as determined by tetrazolium tests. In comparison, 'Emerald Sea' produced as much, if not more, fruit as the wildtype, especially in northern Florida, with seed viability ranging from 6.7% to 29.0% among sites. Nuclear DNA content of cultivars were comparable to the wildtype, suggesting they are diploids. These findings identified four low to no fruiting heavenly bamboo cultivars recommended for landscape use ('Lemon-Lime', 'SEIKA', 'Murasaki', and 'Greray').

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by a lack of obvious clinical features in the early stages and is likely to progress to advanced HCC. Advanced HCC is a highly malignant tumor. However, there are few treatment options for advanced HCC. Therefore, screening for new drugs that target HCC will provide a new approach to the treatment of HCC. The CCK8 assay was performed to screen compounds inhibiting HCC cell proliferation and to evaluate the IC50 (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) of compounds on cell lines. Colony formation assay was used to determine HCC cell proliferation. The effect of compounds on HCC cell migration and invasion were analyzed using wound healing and transwell assays, respectively. Tumor growth and metastasis were assessed in vivo in a xenograft mouse model. Flow cytometry was carried out to measure apoptotic cells. Reverse transcription and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT‒qPCR) and Western blot were performed to examine the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)- and apoptosis-related genes. Through large-scale screening, we have discovered the anti-tumor activity of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) against HCC cells. CPC inhibited the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of HCC cells. Cancer cells are more sensitive to CPC than normal cells. CPC suppressed HCC tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, CPC promoted apoptosis of HCC cells by affecting the expression of apoptosis-related genes, and inhibited HCC invasion and metastasis by suppressing EMT and expression of EMT markers. Our investigation showed that CPC significantly inhibited HCC cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis in vivo and in vitro, by inducing the expression of apoptosis-related genes and inhibiting expression of EMT markers, suggesting that CPC is a potential agent for HCC treatment.

Background: Snakebite statistics in Sudan are lacking despite the high estimated burden of the problem. One study in Sudan reported the presence of 17 medically significant snakes belonging to three major families: Burrowing asps, Elapidae, and Viperidae. These snakes usually become abundant during and after the rainy season, and most snakebite victims are farm workers. This study was set out based on the observed snakebite management, poor outcomes and lack of information on the healthcare provider's knowledge of this serious, deadly medical and health condition in snakebite-endemic regions of Sudan.

Materials and methods: In August 2022, a descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 394 medical and healthcare providers in snakebite-endemic regions of Sudan (Gaddarif, Sinnar, Khartoum, and Kassala). A validated questionnaire was used. It consisted of seven sections addressing the study population demographic characteristics, knowledge of snakes, snakebites, and their management. Data analysis used various statistical tests using Microsoft Excel and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 (IBM SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL) was done.

Results: Among the 394 participants (44.7% males, 53.3% females), 58.1% demonstrated adequate knowledge of snakes, and 45.3% exhibited adequate knowledge of snakebites. A mere 25.9% received training in snakebite management, with 60.4% possessing adequate knowledge in this domain. Only 14% expressed high confidence in managing snakebites, and 40.9% reported having protocols for snakebite management at their health facilities.

Conclusion: The study highlighted the inadequacy of healthcare providers' knowledge in snakebite-endemic areas in Sudan regarding snakes, snakebites and snakebites management. Urgent interventions, such as intensive continuing professional education and training, are essential to address this neglected medical and health problem.

Introduction: Despite an evolving e-cigarette environment, few studies have looked at adolescent exposure to e-cigarette advertising over time and its associations with curiosity about and susceptibility to using e-cigarettes. We examined e-cigarette advertising exposure and its associations with curiosity and susceptibility across multiple years among adolescents who have never used e-cigarettes.

Methods: We obtained data from the National Youth Tobacco Surveys (NYTSs), 2014-2020 (N = 97,496). The NYTS identified e-cigarette advertising exposure from four channels: Internet, newspapers and magazines, convenience stores, and TV. Logistic regressions explored e-cigarette advertising exposure over time and the associations between exposure from the four channels and both curiosity and susceptibility to using e-cigarettes.

Results: Youth exposure to e-cigarette advertising on the Internet and in convenience stores formed an increase-decrease-increase pattern from 2014 to 2020, whereas exposure in newspapers and magazines and on TV generally decreased over this period. Exposure on the Internet and in convenience stores was consistently associated with curiosity and susceptibility; but exposure in newspapers and magazines and on TV was sporadically associated with the outcomes.

Conclusions: Despite a changing e-cigarette marketplace, youth were consistently exposed to e-cigarette advertising, especially on the Internet and in convenience stores. This pattern is worrisome, as it may increase youth curiosity and susceptibility to using e-cigarettes. Comprehensive tobacco prevention efforts to prevent e-cigarette use in adolescents should continue to restrict e-cigarette advertising and marketing, thereby reducing exposure and discouraging e-cigarette use. Regular efforts should also be made to educate adolescents about the risks of using e-cigarettes to counteract the impact of high e-cigarette advertising exposure.

Considering the peculiar socio-cultural background and developmental obstacles encountered by rural youth in China, the study examines the necessity of adopting an integrated strategy that brings together social work, psychology, and education to promote positive youth development. This research intends to fill the gap by explaining the impact of these factors on community engagement and youth development in China. Targeted programs were also suggested according to the needs of rural youth in China. The respondents of the study comprised 350 young people, whose age ranged from 15 to 24 years, living in different rural areas of the country. The structured questionnaire was designed to collect the data using a convenience sampling technique. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was applied as the analysis tool using IBM SPSS AMOS software. The results show that social work and education have a significant impact on community engagement and positive youth development. The findings also reveal that psychology positively influences community engagement. Community engagement was seen to mediate the relationships between social work, psychology, education, and positive youth development. The policymakers and practitioners can fully use the interrelationships between social work, psychology, and education to create a more comprehensive approach that considers the specific characteristics of rural youth in China. Additionally, highlighting community engagement as a mediator also explores the opportunity for bottom-up initiatives and community efforts to instigate favorable youth outcomes in the countryside.

Introduction: Anorectal malformations (ARMs) are birth defects that affect the rectum, anus, and surrounding structures. While genetic and environmental factors may contribute to the risk of developing ARMs, the exact causes are largely unknown. Notably, there is a lack of research investigating predisposing factors for ARMs within the Ethiopian population, despite the burden of this condition in the country.

Objective: The research study aimed at to examine the maternal risk factors linked to the occurrence of anorectal abnormalities in children receiving treatment at designated public hospitals located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods: An unmatched case-control study was conducted at selected hospitals on mothers and their children between August 2022 and January 2023. The sample consisted of pediatric patients admitted to pediatric surgical units. Cases were diagnosed with ARMs, while controls had no congenital anomalies. Data was collected from the mothers of both cases and controls. The data was validated and then exported to SPSS version 26 for analysis. The analysis employed descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. In a multivariable model, an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) together with a 95% confidence interval and p-value < 0.05 was used to determine significance.

Result: This study included 68 ARM cases and 136 controls. Multivariable analysis found that a family history of birth defects (AOR = 6.15, 95% CI: 1.24-30.58), maternal alcohol use (AOR = 4.71, 95% CI: 1.71-12.00), first-trimester medication use (AOR = 4.86, 95% CI: 1.29-18.32), advanced maternal age (AOR = 4.22, 95% CI: 1.21-14.69), and unplanned pregnancy (AOR = 3.701, 95% CI: 1.551-8.828) were significant risk factors for ARM.

Conclusion: The study found that key risk factors for ARM include family history of birth defects, maternal alcohol use, first-trimester medication use, advanced maternal age, and unplanned pregnancy. These findings underscore the importance of tailored prevention strategies and screening programs to address the genetic, maternal lifestyle, and maternal health factors that contribute to this congenital disorder.