Integrated GIS-AHP based assessment of earthquake vulnerability and risk for urban residential buildings in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.

This study presents a cutting-edge framework for assessing earthquake vulnerability and risk in residential areas of Al-Seeb, Muscat Governorate (Sultanate of Oman). Drawing upon a rich dataset encompassing seismic, geotechnical, structural, environmental, and socioeconomic parameters, thematic vulnerability maps were developed using a GIS-based analytic hierarchy process (GIS-AHP). These were systematically integrated to produce comprehensive risk matrices.

Baicalin Improves Skeletal Muscle Atrophy by Attenuating DRP-1-Mediated Mitochondrial Fission in Aged Mice.

Baicalin is a natural flavonoid that has anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects. It shows some beneficial effects on muscle atrophy. However, its effects on age-related muscle atrophy are poorly understood.

Diagnostic Accuracy of AdvanSure and PowerChek Real-Time PCR Assays for the Detection of and Nontuberculous Mycobacteria.

Accurate differentiation between (MTB) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment. This study compares the diagnostic performance of two commercial real-time PCR kits, AdvanSure TB/NTM and Kogene PowerChek MTB/NTM, for detecting MTB, NTM, and negative (no growth, NG) clinical specimens. A total of 390 clinical residual specimens were collected from patients between December 2022 and June 2023.

Current practices in peripheral blood stem cell processing and cryopreservation: a nationwide survey of Korean transplant centers.

Purpose: Processing methods for hematopoietic stem cells vary significantly across institutions, with no standardized guidelines currently in place. This lack of standardization presents challenges in ensuring consistent quality and outcomes of stem cell transplantation procedures. This study investigated current practices in peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) processing and storage among transplant centers in Korea to establish a foundation for the development of standardized guidelines.

Identifying Key Hematological and Biochemical Indicators of Disease Severity in COVID-19 and Non-COVID-19 Patients.

This study investigated hematological and biochemical parameters, including cell population data (CPD), to evaluate their association with severity in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. Identifying these parameters could aid in disease monitoring and clinical decision-making. : A retrospective analysis of 8401 patients, including 603 COVID-19 cases and 7546 non-COVID-19 cases, were conducted.

Fuzzy synthetic approach for seismic risk assessment of bridges with insights from the 2023 Kahramanmaras Earthquake in Turkiye.

This paper leverages data from February 6, 2023, Kahramanmaras (Turkiye) Earthquake (M 7.8) to evaluate seismic risk and assess bridge damage through a fuzzy synthetic approach (FSA). A novel hierarchical damage classification framework is introduced, integrating critical factors such as ground conditions, structural characteristics, and seismic intensity.

A perspective on the potential use of aptamer-based field-effect transistor sensors as biosensors for ovarian cancer biomarkers CA125 and HE4.

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most fatal gynaecological malignancies, primarily because of its typically asymptomatic early stages, which complicates early detection. Therefore, developing sensitive and appropriate biomarkers for efficient diagnosis of OC is urgently needed. Aptamers, short sequences of single-stranded DNA or RNA molecules, have become crucial in tumor diagnosis because of their high affinity for specific molecules produced by tumors.

Evaluation of D-dimer and prothrombin time in alcohol related liver cirrhosis with comparison of machine learning analyses.

Objectives: Liver cirrhosis (LC) can be caused by obesity, alcohol consumption, viral infection, and autoimmune disease. Early diagnosis and management of LC is important for patient quality of life. Non-invasive diagnostic methods are useful for predicting the current status and mortality risk of LC.

Nutrient-sensing growth hormone secretagogue receptor in macrophage programming and meta-inflammation.

Objective: Obesity-associated chronic inflammation, aka meta-inflammation, is a key pathogenic driver for obesity-associated comorbidity. Growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) is known to mediate the effects of nutrient-sensing hormone ghrelin in food intake and fat deposition. We previously reported that global Ghsr ablation protects against diet-induced inflammation and insulin resistance, but the site(s) of action and mechanism are unknown.

Performance Comparison of Procalcitonin, Delta Neutrophil Index, C-Reactive Protein, and Serum Amyloid A Levels in Patients with Hematologic Diseases.

(1) Background: We compared the diagnostic and prognostic performance of serum amyloid A (SAA), procalcitonin (PCT), delta neutrophil index (DNI), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with hematologic diseases; (2) Methods: We retrospectively collected the remaining serum samples from patients with hematologic diseases, analyzed their clinical data, and measured the levels of PCT, DNI, CRP, and SAA. Performances for infection diagnosis were evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, and 90-day mortality was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier estimation; (3) Results: The levels of all markers were significantly higher in the infected group ( = 27) than those in the uninfected group ( = 100) ( < 0.0001 for all markers).

Roles and correlations of TIM-3 and LAG-3 with cytokines and chemokines in alcoholic liver disease.

Background: Dysregulation of immune checkpoint regulators has been reported in alcoholic liver disease (ALD). This study was designed to assess the serum levels of cytokines and chemokines associated with ALD and uncover the possible disease correlations with the soluble TIM-3 and LAG-3.

Methods: The soluble TIM-3 and LAG-3 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay, and 14 cytokines and chemokines were measured using Luminex-based multiplex assay in 111 male ALD patients and 45 healthy controls (HCs).

Bavachin and Corylifol A Improve Muscle Atrophy by Enhancing Mitochondria Quality Control in Type 2 Diabetic Mice.

Type 2 diabetes reduces muscle mass and function. Chronic inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction play critical roles in muscle atrophy pathogenesis. Here, we investigated the effects of bavachin and corylifol A from L.

Gomisin G improves muscle strength by enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis and function in disuse muscle atrophic mice.

Disuse muscle atrophy is characterized by a decrease in muscle mass and strength and an increase in glycolytic muscle fiber type. Although Schisandra chinensis extract has beneficial effects on muscle atrophy induced by various conditions (e.g.

Attention-Setting and Human Mental Function.

This article provides an introduction to experimental research on top-down human attention in complex scenes, written for cognitive scientists in general. We emphasize the major effects of goals and intention on mental function, measured with behavioral experiments. We describe top-down attention as an open category of mental actions that initiates particular task sets, which are assembled from a wide range of mental processes.

Mechanistic Investigation of GHS-R Mediated Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion in Pancreatic Islets.

Ghrelin receptor, a growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R), is expressed in the pancreas. Emerging evidence indicates that GHS-R is involved in the regulation of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), but the mechanism by which GHS-R regulates GSIS in the pancreas is unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of GHS-R on GSIS in detail using global mice (in vivo) and -ablated pancreatic islets (ex vivo).

Neuronal GHS-R Differentially Modulates Feeding Patterns under Normal and Obesogenic Conditions.

The orexigenic hormone ghrelin increases food intake and promotes obesity through its receptor, growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R). We previously reported two neuron-specific GHS-R knockout mouse lines, namely pan-neuronal deletion by Syn1-cre and hypothalamic deletion by AgRP-cre, exhibiting differential diet-dependent effects on body weight. GHS-R deficiency in neurons elicited less pronounced metabolic effects under regular diet (RD) than high fat diet (HFD).

Potential therapeutic effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists on COVID-19-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious diseases caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Now, it is pandemic over the world. SARS-CoV-2 often causes a "cytokine storm" in people with COVID-19, causing inflammatory lung damage and pneumonia, which eventually leads to death.

Metabolic and inflammatory functions of cannabinoid receptor type 1 are differentially modulated by adiponectin.

Background: Antagonists of cannabinoid type 1 receptor () have been shown to promote body weight loss and improve insulin sensitivity. Cannabinoids decrease adiponectin, and blocker increase adiponectin. However, the mediators of actions are not well defined.

Characteristics of immune checkpoint regulators and potential role of soluble TIM-3 and LAG-3 in male patients with alcohol-associated liver disease.

The involvement of immune checkpoint regulators (ICs) in alcohol-associated liver diseases (ALDs) is still largely unknown. Here, we analyzed the levels of 16 soluble ICs (sICs) in male patients with ALD to determine their clinical significance. The 16 sICs were measured using a luminex-based multiplex assay in 115 patients with ALD and 47 healthy controls (HCs).

Dulaglutide improves muscle function by attenuating inflammation through OPA-1-TLR-9 signaling in aged mice.

Dulaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist, is widely used to treat diabetes. However, its effects on muscle wasting due to aging are poorly understood. In the current study, we investigated the therapeutic potential and underlying mechanism of dulaglutide in muscle wasting in aged mice.

Current laboratory tests for diagnosis of hepatitis B virus infection.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has a long history in human infectious diseases. HBV infection can progress chronically, leading to cancer. After introduction of a vaccine, the overall incidence rate of HBV infection has decreased, although it remains a health problem in many countries.

A Brief Review of the Mechanisms of β-Cell Dedifferentiation in Type 2 Diabetes.

Diabetes is a metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia. Over 90% of patients with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Pancreatic β-cells are endocrine cells that produce and secrete insulin, an essential endocrine hormone that regulates blood glucose levels.