Search Results (4,954)

Along with the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), some in the medical publication industry have observed an “infodemic”, which is more pandemic than the virus. Given the lack of sufficient pandemic preparedness measures in many countries, people started posting millions of posts on social media without questioning their veracity or accuracy, particularly within Arabic-speaking communities. This study investigates an unsupervised model for detecting fake news in Arabic to fight the infodemic. While there has been much research on fake news detection (FND) in English, this subject in Arabic has yet to be investigated enough in the literature. We examine the use of distribution-based clustering techniques for Arabic FND and show their performance compared to each other. Moreover, we conduct a comprehensive linguistic analysis, identifying significant differences in textual features between real and fake posts, which can improve fake news detection. Our research shows the potential of online learning techniques to enhance model performance, leading to high accuracy, reaching up to 92%. By addressing the unique challenges posed by Arabic-language posts, our research offers practical implications for developing effective strategies for reducing infodemics and their social consequences and for strategic planning to control the current and future infodemics. Full article

Produced at a point of significant change in literary representations of what was called “the black experience,” the comic book series Panther’s Rage and The Black Panther Takes on the Klan each represent an ambitious collaboration between Don McGregor, the white writer of the series, and Billy Graham, the black series artist. As a revision of “black experience” novels published by Holloway House during the early 1970s, this comic book series significantly alters the ways in which mourning, memory, and mental fortitude are represented in a world of almost entirely black characters. Fighting villains who create phantasmic illusions that evoke self-doubt, The Black Panther, one of three black superheroes introduced by Marvel comics during the 1960s and 1970s, brings to light and then revises traumatic historical memories. The hero’s journey around the provinces of Wakanda, a black kingdom in Western Africa, requires the Panther to defeat a variety of villains and their proxies and to posit an alternative to revolutionary self-hatred. We learn from this journey that tradition and modernity can coexist and that traumatic memories need not repeat themselves endlessly. Instead, they can be revised and incorporated into narratives that celebrate the power of the disciplined imagination to imagine a better future. Full article

Pig behavior statistics can reflect their health status. Conventional approaches depend on manual observation to derive behavioral information from video recordings, a process that demands substantial time and human effort. To overcome these limitations in indoor intensive farming environments, this study introduces an effective approach for recognizing pig behaviors, employing an enhanced YOLOv8n architecture. The approach utilizes advanced object detection algorithms to automatically identify pig behaviors, including stand, lie, eat, fight, and tail-bite, from overhead video footage of the enclosure. First, images of daily pig behaviors are collected using cameras to build a pig behavior dataset. To boost detection accuracy, the SE attention mechanism is embedded within the feature extraction backbone of the YOLOv8n network to enhance its representational capacity, strengthening the model’s capacity to grasp overarching contextual information and improve the expressiveness of extracted features. The GIoU loss function is employed during training to reduce computational cost and accelerate model convergence. Moreover, integrating Ghost convolution into the backbone significantly reduces both computational complexity and the total number of parameters. The experimental findings reveal that the optimized YOLOv8n model contains just 1.71 million parameters, marking a 42.93% reduction relative to the baseline model. Its floating-point operations total 5.0 billion, indicating a 38.27% decrease, while the mean average precision (mAP@50) reaches 96.8%, surpassing the original by 2.6 percentage points. Compared with other widely used YOLO-based object detection frameworks, the proposed approach achieves notably higher accuracy while requiring significantly lower computational resources and model complexity. Full article

Background/Objectives: Ulcerative colitis (UC) involves inflammatory response, oxidative stress, changes in metabolites, and the gut microbiota. Jingangteng capsule (JGTC) has been utilized clinically for the treatment of inflammatory diseases for many years. However, the efficacy of JGTC in ameliorating UC remains unclear, and the underlying mechanisms have not yet been elucidated. This study aims to investigate the effect and mechanism of JGTC on UC. Methods: The chemical compositions of JGTC were examined using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-fight mass spectrometry. The anti-UC effect of JGTC was evaluated by assessing the disease activity index (DAI), colon length, intestinal barrier recovery, and inflammatory factors in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model. Mechanisms were investigated through fecal 16S rDNA sequencing, metabolomics analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blotting, and network pharmacology analysis. Results: JGTC significantly reduced the DAI scores in UC mice, increased their body weight and colon length (p < 0.001), repairing damaged intestinal tissue. It decreased the levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and LPS (p < 0.01, p < 0.001), alleviating intestinal inflammation. It also raised the expression of tight junction proteins ZO-1, Claudin-1, and Occludin (p < 0.05, p < 0.001), thereby enhancing intestinal barrier function. Fecal metabolomic analysis revealed that the favorable alterations in amino acid and lipid metabolites were more pronounced. Heat maps showed strong correlations between pharmacological indicators and gut microbiota, as well as between the main differential metabolites and gut microbial communities. UPLC-QTOF-MS detection yielded 33 components of JGTC, and network pharmacology analysis based on these components predicted pathways of action of JGTC in UC. Functional pathways closely associated with significantly differential metabolites and metabolic pathways were also investigated. The PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway was one of them, which is consistent with the conclusions drawn from network pharmacology. JGTC significantly modulated key factors in this pathway, inhibiting the expression of PI3K, Akt, PDK1, and mTOR, while augmenting the expression of PTEN (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.001). It also mitigated the levels of related oxidative stress factors MDA, MPO, and D-LA, and raised SOD levels (p < 0.01, p < 0.001). Conclusions: JGTC improved the excessive inflammatory response in UC by regulating intestinal flora and metabolic disorders, affecting the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway, restoring intestinal tissue damage and intestinal barrier, and inhibiting inflammatory and oxidative stress factors. Full article

Over the past five years, the number of new United States laws banning gender-affirming care, restricting public access to services and spaces for transgender and gender-diverse persons, and forcibly outing transgender youth in schools has increased dramatically. Much of the focus in the media and research has been on the domestic political and social causes of these anti-transgender and anti-gender-affirming care laws and their devastating effects on vulnerable transgender and gender-diverse communities. This article argues that the current wave of anti-transgender and anti-gender-affirming care laws violates civil and human rights in the context of international human rights resolutions and principles on healthcare and displacement. I explore the implications of using international human rights to challenge anti-transgender and anti-gender-affirming care legislation and what coalitional possibilities exist when expanding the fight against these laws transnationally. Full article

As robotics prehension systems and virtual reality applications are in constant evolution, the need for high-fidelity haptic interaction increases. This helps ensure and enhance user immersion and handling precision. While commercial haptic interfaces offer high performance, their prohibitive cost limits their widespread adoption in general-purpose robotics. Furthermore, many low-cost solutions suffer from limited transparency, where the operator constantly fights the friction of the actuator even during free motion. This article presents the design and development of an innovative, cost-effective master–slave robotic system aimed at democratizing efficient haptic feedback devices. The solution is intended for remote manipulation of objects with a maximum mass of 1 kg, while limiting the gripping force to 50 N, thus ensuring the integrity of objects being manipulated. The device includes a master haptic module in the form of a clamp that reproduces the thumb–index–middle finger gripping motion performed by the user. The system relies on a custom haptic interface measuring the angular position of the master gripper, which is transmitted in real time to the slave gripper, so as to adjust the position of the clamp accordingly, thus optimizing the grasping control loop. As soon as an object is detected, using a force sensor integrated into the slave gripper, the master motor renders a resistive force, preventing the user from closing the haptic module. The other part of the system is the slave mechanical gripper with three fingers, each with three phalanges based on human anatomy, allowing the clamp to mechanically conform to irregular object geometries with a single actuator. The last but not least innovative aspect lies in the implementation of a current sensor, which provides the haptic feedback. The force applied by the user is reproduced by the slave gripper using current sensors, eliminating the need for expensive force-torque sensors while maintaining a responsive feedback loop. Full article

The use of cytostatic drugs for cancer treatment is currently the main weapon in the fight against cancer; however, prolonged exposure of healthcare personnel can cause adverse toxic effects. Objective: To determine the genotoxicity caused by exposure to cytostatic drugs, using the comet assay, in workers in the oncology department of a tertiary hospital in northern Peru. Methodology: Descriptive, quantitative, correlational, and cross-sectional study. The population consisted of two groups of workers: exposed (n = 40) and unexposed (n = 40). The alkaline lysis comet DNA technique was used on peripheral blood cells; tailing moment and tailing percentage indicators were evaluated. Results: Using nonparametric tests, the percentage and tail moment showed no significant differences, with p values of 0.8928 and 0.4675, respectively. The distribution observed in the group exposed to cytostatic drugs (pharmacists and pharmacy technicians) compared to the control group showed a normal distribution, with a tail moment of 8.29 vs. 3.03 and a percentage of tail of 37.12 vs. 23.24, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that the tail moment variable was 11.56% greater in the group of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians (p = 0.0119) compared to the other participants. Conclusions: Although no significant difference was found, a trend toward a higher percentage and tail moment was observed in the group exposed to cytostatic drugs. Furthermore, the group of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, compared to the other professions, showed significantly greater damage. Full article

Background: Breast cancer poses not only a physical health threat but also significant emotional and identity challenges for women, particularly regarding femininity and body image. Understanding how patients adapt psychologically can guide effective psychosocial interventions. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate psychological adaptation, coping strategies, illness acceptance, and body image in women with breast cancer and identify factors associated with better adjustment. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 30 women aged 22–66 undergoing treatment at the Wielkopolskie Centrum Onkologii, Poland. Standardized tools included the Mini-MAC scale (coping strategies), Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), and Body Image Scale (BIS). Descriptive statistics and correlations were analyzed. Results: Most participants exhibited a constructive coping style, with positive redefinition and fighting spirit being predominant. Some women simultaneously showed elements of a destructive coping style, including helplessness and hopelessness, indicating complex emotional reactions. Overall, participants demonstrated high illness acceptance, despite notable body image-related discomfort, particularly shame, reduced perceived attractiveness, and appearance-related anxiety. While age did not correlate significantly with coping or body image, a significant negative association was found between age and illness acceptance, with younger women showing better adjustment. Conclusions: Psychological adaptation to breast cancer is multidimensional and individualized, dependent on personality traits, internal resources, and social support. Findings highlight the need for holistic, patient-centered psychosocial care, addressing both emotional adaptation and body image-related distress, including support for intimacy and prosthetic interventions. Individualized strategies can improve quality of life and functional outcomes during and after cancer treatment. Full article

Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) is a significant zoonotic pathogen responsible for listeriosis, a foodborne infection with high mortality. The inflammasome, an innate immune complex, plays a critical role in controlling pathogenic infections through its rapid inflammatory output. During L. monocytogenes infection, pore-forming toxins such as listeriolysin-O and flagellin are quickly recognized by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), triggering inflammatory responses and activating the host’s anti-infection immunity. However, excessive or chronic inflammasome activation and subsequent interleukin-1β (IL-1β) release are implicated in the pathogenesis of L. monocytogenes. Although inflammasome activation is an effective defense against L. monocytogenes, the bacterium has evolved multiple mechanisms to inhibit this immune pathway. Hence, research on inflammasomes activation is crucial for better understanding the pathogenic mechanism of L. monocytogenes. In this review, we highlight recent advances in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of inflammasome activation by L. monocytogenes infection. We then discuss advances in the role of the inflammasome pathway in the pathogenesis of L. monocytogenes, along with an overview of the applications of inflammasome inhibitors. Extensive studies into the mechanisms by which L. monocytogenes activates the inflammasome could lead to the discovery of novel therapeutic targets and strategies to fight L. monocytogenes infections. Full article

Cancer is an alarming health concern and economic burden in both developed and developing countries. Recently, there has been a growing demand for new alternative medications with more effectiveness and fewer harmful effects. During the past decades, a set of chemotherapeutic agents has been developed to fight against a large spectrum of cancer types. Unfortunately, their use is associated with a high level of toxicity; they are expensive, also, and their deployment is restricted by the emergence of cellular resistance. Plant-based components are garnering attention due to their low toxicity, selectivity, efficiency, and ease of accessibility. Alkaloids are one of these targeted compounds. Indeed, they are a highly diverse group with basic heterocyclic nitrogen-containing alkaloids that exhibit potent anticancer effects against a large panel of solid and liquid tumors, such as lung, breast, leukemia, liver, and colon cancer. The main molecular mechanisms involved in alkaloids’ anticancer effect are the induction of apoptosis via the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways, DNA damage, and the inhibition of cell cycle progression. Amazingly, these auspicious compounds exhibited strenuous inhibitory effects against a whole range of key enzymes involved in cancer progression and metastasis, such as Cytochrome P450 (CYP450), Cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2), Lysine-Specific Demethylase 1 (LSD1), Poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase (PARP), and topoisomerase, mainly through two action modes, namely irreversible and reversible inhibition. Furthermore, several conventional extraction methods have been developed to extract bioactive compounds from natural matrices, such as Soxhlet and hot water extraction. However, these techniques have many drawbacks, as they require a large amount of organic solvents, which not only affect human health but also generate severe environmental issues. To overcome these limitations, multiple eco-extraction techniques have emerged as potential alternatives to traditional extraction methods such as ultrasonic extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, and supercritical fluid extraction. In fact, they are considered eco-friendly and efficient technologies with less time and solvent consumption. Overall, this review aims to provide an updated overview of the most prominent anticancer alkaloids that have not been well reviewed already, as well as the main green extraction techniques relevant to the extraction of antineoplastic alkaloids. Full article

Background: Chinese immigrant families of autistic children in the United States face intersecting barriers related to language, culture, immigration, and fragmented service systems. Yet little is known about how Chinese immigrant parents engage in advocacy or how such efforts relate to disability and human rights. Methods: This qualitative study draws on in-depth interviews with fourteen Chinese immigrant parents of autistic children across multiple U.S. regions. Data were triangulated with analyses of publicly recorded advocacy events and parent-produced textual materials. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to examine motivations for advocacy, advocacy practices, and structural, linguistic, and cultural constraints. Results: Advocacy rarely emerged as an intentional or identity-driven pursuit. Instead, parents were compelled into advocacy through institutional exclusion, service denial, and unmet care needs. Parents engaged in diverse forms of advocacy, including migration, negotiation within institutions, information translation, community-building, and grassroots organizational leadership. Cultural norms shaped advocacy strategies, producing quiet, relational, and collective forms of action often overlooked in dominant rights-based models. Conclusions: Interpreted through a disability justice lens, parental advocacy functions as burdened and unequally distributed labor compensating for systemic failures. Findings underscore the need for institutional reforms that reduce reliance on families’ capacity to fight for access, dignity, and care. Full article

Carbon capture and storage technologies are widely adopted, primarily in conventional power plants. Maritime transport must align with the 2050 targets and sharply reduce its environmental footprint. Onboard Carbon Capture and Storage (OCCS) appear to be an immediately feasible solution until alternative fuels are adopted and fully implemented. This study presents a regulatory compliance assessment and a techno-economic analysis of the implementation of OCCS. An LNG tanker was selected as a case study due to the inherent compatibility between LNG storage systems and CO₂ storage on board. The examined regulation includes the calculation of the corresponding penalties arising from the enforcement of the EU ETS, FuelEU Maritime, and the IMO NZF framework. The cost of installing the OCCS is also considered when evaluating the proposal’s sustainability. The results demonstrate that OCCS shows real promise in the fight against maritime transport emissions, but at present, it is not economically viable. Its viability depends mainly on clear regulatory guidelines and effective incentives that encourage its adoption, while offsetting investment and operating costs. Finally, the current study also seeks to resolve an ambiguity in the existing legislation that renders the OCCS a viable option. Full article

The rapid spread of misinformation on social media has emerged as a major societal issue. Over 40% of British social media news-sharers admitted they had shared inaccurate or fake news. The extensive distribution of false information causes public trust deterioration while modifying public opinions and potentially destabilizing social and political systems. There are profound challenges due to this hard-to-detect, hard-to-stop reality and the financials and societal implications are remarkable. As an attempt to limit the challenges created from misinformation this paper introduces some preliminary work on detection of fake news and verification of their reliability based on online content. Large language models (LLMs) are being used along with natural language processing (NLP) techniques to evaluate news articles through their linguistic and contextual characteristics. Several models are compared on how they can typically identify typical indicators of misinformation through the analysis of extensive verified datasets to develop an ability to classify content as authentic or fabricated. This work has been through thorough testing to determine its operational effectiveness and dependability after completion. We present a relatively easy-to-use tool which enables a wide range of people also for those without a background in computer science to easily verify news accuracy before sharing or trusting it. This work could help to stop false information from spreading while promoting fact-based discussions and improving digital literacy skills. The research demonstrates how technology fights the fake news crisis to create an informed digital environment which supports public conversation protection and information integrity in the modern digital age. Full article

Background: The skin microbiome plays a crucial role in maintaining barrier function and preventing inflammaging. Heat-treated probiotics offer stability advantages for topical formulations while potentially maintaining bioactive properties. Objective: To evaluate the safety, molecular mechanisms, and clinical efficacy of heat-treated Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Skinbac™ SB01 and Bifidobacterium animalis spp. lactis Skinbac™ SB05 in reducing visible signs of skin aging. Methods: In vitro studies assessed cytotoxicity (MTT/LDH assays), Aquaporin-3 (AQP3) expression, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in Normal Human Epidermal Keratinocytes (NHEK). A 30-day open-label clinical study (n = 20 females, 18–70 years) evaluated three formulations (face cream, serum, and eye contour) using instrumental measurements of hydration, elasticity, density, and roughness parameters. Results: In vitro testing showed a significant increase in AQP3 expression (+22% ± 3%, p = 0.03) and a non-significant reduction in ROS levels (−33% ± 9%, p = 0.06) at 10⁷ TFU/well, with no cytotoxicity observed. Clinical evaluation demonstrated statistically significant improvements: eye contour formulation achieved +10.5% deep skin hydration (p < 0.0001) and −11% average roughness (p < 0.0001); serum showed +28.7% immediate hydration (p < 0.0001); and face cream improved gross skin elasticity by +6.3% (p < 0.01). No adverse events were reported. An independent and methodologically distinct placebo-controlled study was included for contextual support and was not directly compared with the present trial; this study evaluated a related 1% postbiotic formulation and reported statistically significant improvements over placebo in roughness, wrinkle depth, hydration, and biomechanical parameters. Conclusions: This pilot study provides preliminary evidence that heat-treated L. plantarum SB01 and B. animalis spp. lactis SB05 formulations could safely improve skin hydration and reduce roughness parameters. While in vitro results show a significant increase in AQP3 expression and an exploratory (non-significant) reduction in ROS levels, larger controlled trials are warranted to confirm clinical efficacy. Full article

The Democratic Republic of the Congo faces a high tuberculosis (TB) burden. In 2022, 61% of an estimated 402,000 TB cases were reported (World Health Organization Global tuberculosis report). To enhance case detection, the national TB program (NTP) introduced a program quality and efficiency approach (PQE), integrating systematic TB screening into outpatient departments (OPDs). Observational data of the PQE on the TB care cascade (from screening to treatment) across 70 sites in Kinshasa that initiated PQE during the first quarter of 2023 are presented. Data were collected monthly and validated during supervision visits, and disaggregated by sex, healthcare facility type (public, private, or faith-based), facility level (primary or secondary), and OPD within each facility. In 2024, 639,464 individuals were consulted in various OPDs in the participating facilities, 57% of which were female. The median number needed to screen (NNS) was 22.1, with an interquartile range of [9.5–104.3]. There was a significantly lower NNS observed in general practice and human immunodeficiency virus departments. Throughout the TB care cascade, women were less likely than men to be screened, tested, or treated. These findings, to be interpreted within the context of Kinshasa pilot facilities, provide insights to the NTP for developing PQE implementation research aimed at understanding the reasons for these discrepancies and informing NTP scale-up at the national level. Full article