Search Results (228)

The Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) is a high-value seafood. Efficient quality-grading methods are needed to meet rapid increases in demand. The current grading system for crabs primarily relies on manual observations and weights; it is thus inefficient, requires large amounts of labor, is costly, and no longer meets the requirements for the market. Here, we employed computer vision techniques combined with deep learning modeling to efficiently quantify key physiological traits, such as sex identification, carapace dimensions (length and width), and fatness assessment for quality classification. To this end, a YOLOv5-seg integrated with an SE attention model was developed using 2282 RGB images and manual measurements of the physiological traits of 300 crabs. The RGB dataset was further augmented by rotating and resizing. The results revealed that the accuracy of sex recognition was 100%, and the mAP for carapace segmentation was 0.995, which was superior to YOLOv8-seg and other variants. In addition, we proposed an improved conditional factor K to evaluate the fatness of crabs and classify their quality based on fatness. The consistency between the grading method proposed in this article and manual grading was 100%. This study could aid in developing precise and non-destructive grading systems for the aquaculture and food industries. Full article

Gait refers to the walking pattern of an individual and it varies from person to person. Consequently, it can be considered to be a biometric feature, similar to the face, iris, or fingerprints, and can easily be used for human identification purposes. Person identification using gait analysis has direct applications in user authentication, visual surveillance and monitoring, and access control—to name a few. Naturally, gait analysis has attracted many researchers both from academia and industry over the past few decades. Within a small population, the accuracy of person identification could be very high; however, with the growing number of people in a given gait database, identifying a person only from gait becomes a daunting task. Hence, the focus of researchers in this field has exhibited a paradigm shift to a broader problem of sex and age prediction using different biometric parameters—with gait analysis obviously being one of them. Recent works on sex and age prediction using gait pattern obtained from the inertial sensors lacks an analysis of the features being used. In this paper, we propose a number of features inherent to gait data and analyze key features from the time–series data of accelerometer and gyroscopes for the automatic recognition of sex and the prediction of age. We have trained various traditional machine learning models and achieved the highest accuracy of 94% in sex prediction and an $R^2$ score of 0.83 in age estimation. Full article

Background: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder frequently influenced by systemic inflammation, nutritional status, and comorbid conditions, which may worsen seizure outcomes. Given the increasing recognition of these factors in disease progression, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between the Modified Charlson Comorbidity Index (mCCI), inflammatory hematological parameters, and the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) with seizure frequency and clinical prognosis in patients with epilepsy. Methods: A total of 159 participants were enrolled between January 2021 and January 2023, including 53 healthy controls (mean age: 44 ± 14.2 years; female: 21, male: 32), 53 epilepsy patients without comorbidity (mean age: 33 ± 12.5 years; female: 28, male: 25), and 53 epilepsy patients with comorbidities (mean age: 56.2 ± 13.8 years; female: 22, male: 31). The participants were divided into three groups: 53 patients with isolated epilepsy, 53 patients with epilepsy and comorbid conditions, and 53 healthy individuals with no known diseases, matched for age and sex with the patient groups, who presented for routine check-ups. The mCCI was calculated for patients with comorbid epilepsy. Inflammatory hematological parameters and the PNI were assessed in all participants using previously obtained complete blood count data. Results: Inflammatory markers such as white blood cell count, neutrophil count, C-reactive protein (CRP), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and mean platelet distribution width (PDW) were significantly higher in epilepsy patients with comorbidities compared to other groups. Epilepsy patients with comorbidities had a higher seizure frequency compared to those without comorbidities (75.5% vs. 54.7%, p < 0.001). The PNI was lowest in epilepsy patients with comorbidities, showing a significant difference between all groups (p < 0.001). High comorbidity burden increased seizure risk by 4.56 times (95% CI: 1.30–16.01), each unit increase in the SII raised the risk by 1.13 times (95% CI: 1.08–1.19), and each unit decrease in the PNI increased the risk by 1.14 times (OR = 0.88, p < 0.001). Cerebrovascular disease and hemiplegia were also significant risk factors, increasing seizure risk by 4.15 and 4.48 times, respectively. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that inflammatory hematological parameters, particularly SII and MCCI scores, are elevated in epilepsy patients and further increase with comorbidities. These markers are strongly associated with seizure occurrence, highlighting the prognostic significance of systemic inflammation and comorbidity burden in epilepsy. Given the frequent observation of low PNI values in patients with comorbid conditions, which may reflect compromised nutritional status, and given associations suggest a role in poor clinical outcomes, comprehensive management is essential. Monitoring the PNI and SII may help stratify high-risk patients for targeted nutritional and anti-inflammatory interventions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive dementia and brain accumulation of Aβ-peptide-containing plaques, gliosis, neuroimmune changes, and neurofibrillary tangles. Mushroom polysaccharides have been previously reported to have anti-neuroinflammation activity through the gut–brain axis. This study aimed to evaluate whether a dietary intervention with Phallus atrovolvatus, a recently identified edible mushroom in Thailand, could have a benefit on gut health and alleviate AD-related changes. Methods: Male and female 6–8-month-old littermate wild-type control (C57BL/6J) and App^NL−G−F mice were randomly assigned to either a control diet or a diet supplemented with mushroom aqueous extract (MAE) for 8 weeks to quantify changes in body weight, intestine, immune cells, short chain fatty acids, brain cytokines, amyloid-β (Aβ) levels, gliosis, and memory. Results: MAE had no adverse effects on gut leakiness and increased pyruvate levels in serum. Splenocyte immune profiling revealed a significant increase in the frequency of IgM⁺, IA_IE⁺, and CD14⁺ cells in MAE-administered App^NL−G−Ffemale mice compared to their vehicle controls. App^NL−G−Fmale mice that received MAE showed a significant increase in the frequency of cytotoxic CD8 T cells within the cervical lymph nodes compared to their wild-type counterparts. Aβ deposition and gliosis were significantly reduced in the hippocampi of the MAE-supplemented App^NL−G−F groups. However, MAE feeding did not alter spatial recognition memory in either sex or genotype compared to their vehicle groups. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated that the administration of P. atrovolvatus aqueous extract showed neuroprotective potential against AD-related changes in the brain with no adverse impact on gut health and memory. Full article

The novel coronavirus pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, has a variable clinical spectrum, ranging from asymptomatic to critical forms. High mortality and morbidity rates have been associated with risk factors such as comorbidities, age, sex, and virulence factors specific to viral variants. Material and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated imaging characteristics using the Brixia radiological score in relation to favorable or unfavorable outcomes in adult patients. We included COVID-19 cases, admitted between 2020 and 2022, in a specialized pulmonology hospital with no intensive care unit. We analyzed 380 virologically confirmed COVID-19 cases, with a mean age of 52.8 ± 13.02 years. The mean Brixia radiological score at admission was 5.13 ± 3.56, reflecting predominantly mild-to-moderate pulmonary involvement. Multivariate analysis highlighted the utility of this score as a predictive marker for COVID-19 prognosis, with values >5 correlating with other severity biomarkers, NEWS-2 scores, and a lack of vaccination and hospitalization delay of more than 6 days from symptom onset. Summarizing, the Brixia score is itself an effective tool for screening COVID-19 cases at risk of death for early recognition of clinical deterioration and for decisions regarding appropriate care settings. Promoting vaccination can reduce the severity of radiological lesions, thereby decreasing the risk of death. Technologies based on artificial intelligence could optimize diagnosis and management decisions. Full article

Insect odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are promising molecular targets for developing novel pest management strategies by modulating chemoreception-driven behaviors. The tea gray geometrid Ectropis grisescens (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) is a major pest in tea plantations, causing substantial economic losses in China. In this study, we identified 18 OBPs from E. grisescens antennal transcriptome. All of the encoded proteins possessed N-terminal signal peptides and conserved cysteine residues, behaviors which are characteristic of insect OBPs. Phylogenetic analysis categorized these proteins into plus-C, minus-C, and classic OBP subfamilies. MEME motif analysis identified conserved sequence features potentially involved in odor detection. Tissue- and sex-specific expression profiling showed that EgriGOBP1-2, OBP3, OBP8, and OBP13 were highly expressed in the antennae of both sexes, suggesting roles in olfactory communication. Among them, EgriGOBP1-2, OBP3, and OBP13 exhibited similar expression levels between males and females, while other EgriOBPs were predominantly expressed in the legs, wings, or other tissues, indicating additional physiological functions beyond chemoreception. To investigate functional specificity, we selected antenna-enriched EgriGOBP2 for ligand-binding analysis. Fluorescence binding assays demonstrated that EgriGOBP2 exhibited broad binding affinity toward 8 of 12 host volatiles and 11 of 12 plant essential oil-derived volatiles. These combined findings lay the foundation for mechanistic studies of chemical recognition in E. grisescens and provide insights into the development of ecologically friendly pest control alternatives. Full article

Background: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a progressive atherosclerotic condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality. While PAD prevalence is comparable between sexes, women tend to have worse clinical outcomes, higher rates of disability, and are underdiagnosed and undertreated compared to men. This study examines sex differences in PAD presentation, diagnosis, and treatment outcomes using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV v3.1 database. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using electronic health records from the MIMIC-IV v3.1 database, identifying patients diagnosed with PAD between 2008 and 2022. Patient selection was based on International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 and ICD-10 codes. The following two datasets were constructed: an admission-level dataset (6468 admissions, 3913 unique patients) and a patient-level dataset aggregating multiple admissions per individual. Key variables included demographics, hospitalization details, procedure rates, and clinical outcomes. Sex-based comparisons were performed to assess disparities in disease burden, intervention rates, and mortality. Results: The study cohort comprised 3913 PAD patients. Women were significantly older than men at time of admission (mean 70.78 vs. 68.97 years, p < 0.05) and had lower rates of procedural intervention across all categories, including angioplasty (12.85% vs. 15.39%) and bypass grafting (14.74% vs. 16.98%). Despite similar Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission rates (30.56% in females vs. 31.73% in males), women experienced greater delays in PAD diagnosis and treatment initiation. The in-hospital mortality rate was comparable between sexes (6.62% vs. 6.92%). Women presented more frequently with atypical or asymptomatic PAD, leading to delays in diagnosis and specialist referrals. Conclusions: This study highlights significant sex disparities in PAD diagnosis and management. Women with PAD are older at diagnosis, receive fewer procedural interventions, and experience delayed clinical recognition, contributing to a higher cumulative disease burden. These findings underscore the need for sex-specific diagnostic criteria, improved clinical awareness, and equitable treatment strategies to optimize PAD outcomes in women. Full article

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a fatal brain cancer known for its rapid and aggressive growth, with some studies indicating that females may have better survival outcomes compared to males. While sex differences in GBM have been observed, the underlying biological mechanisms remain poorly understood. Feature selection can lead to the identification of discriminative key biomarkers by reducing dimensionality from high-dimensional medical datasets to improve machine learning model performance, explainability, and interpretability. Feature selection can uncover unique sex-specific biomarkers, determinants, and molecular profiles in patients with GBM. We analyzed high-dimensional proteomic and metabolomic profiles from serum biospecimens obtained from 109 patients with pathology-proven glioblastoma (GBM) on NIH IRB-approved protocols with full clinical annotation (local dataset). Serum proteomic analysis was performed using Somalogic aptamer-based technology (measuring 7289 proteins) and serum metabolome analysis using the University of Florida’s SECIM (Southeast Center for Integrated Metabolomics) platform (measuring 6015 metabolites). Machine learning-based feature selection was employed to identify proteins and metabolites associated with male and female labels in high-dimensional datasets. Results were compared to publicly available proteomic and metabolomic datasets (CPTAC and TCGA) using the same methodology and TCGA data previously structured for glioma grading. Employing a machine learning-based and hybrid feature selection approach, utilizing both LASSO and mRMR, in conjunction with a rank-based weighting method (i.e., GLIO-Select), we linked proteomic and metabolomic data to clinical data for the purposes of feature reduction to identify molecular biomarkers associated with biological sex in patients with GBM and used a separate TCGA set to explore possible linkages between biological sex and mutations associated with tumor grading. Serum proteomic and metabolomic data identified several hundred features that were associated with the male/female class label in the GBM datasets. Using the local serum-based dataset of 109 patients, 17 features (100% ACC) and 16 features (92% ACC) were identified for the proteomic and metabolomic datasets, respectively. Using the CPTAC tissue-based dataset (8828 proteomic and 59 metabolomic features), 5 features (99% ACC) and 13 features (80% ACC) were identified for the proteomic and metabolomic datasets, respectively. The proteomic data serum or tissue (CPTAC) achieved the highest accuracy rates (100% and 99%, respectively), followed by serum metabolome and tissue metabolome. The local serum data yielded several clinically known features (PSA, PZP, HCG, and FSH) which were distinct from CPTAC tissue data (RPS4Y1 and DDX3Y), both providing methodological validation, with PZP and defensins (DEFA3 and DEFB4A) representing shared proteomic features between serum and tissue. Metabolomic features shared between serum and tissue were homocysteine and pantothenic acid. Several signals emerged that are known to be associated with glioma or GBM but not previously known to be associated with biological sex, requiring further research, as well as several novel signals that were previously not linked to either biological sex or glioma. EGFR, FAT4, and BCOR were the three features associated with 64% ACC using the TCGA glioma grading set. GLIO-Select shows remarkable results in reducing feature dimensionality when different types of datasets (e.g., serum and tissue-based) were used for our analyses. The proposed approach successfully reduced relevant features to less than twenty biomarkers for each GBM dataset. Serum biospecimens appear to be highly effective for identifying biologically relevant sex differences in GBM. These findings suggest that serum-based noninvasive biospecimen-based analyses may provide more accurate and clinically detailed insights into sex as a biological variable (SABV) as compared to other biospecimens, with several signals linking sex differences and glioma pathology via immune response, amino acid metabolism, and cancer hallmark signals requiring further research. Our results underscore the importance of biospecimen choice and feature selection in enhancing the interpretation of omics data for understanding sex-based differences in GBM. This discovery holds significant potential for enhancing personalized treatment plans and patient outcomes. Full article

Objectives: Shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA), previously observed with influenza vaccines, has gained clinical significance with widespread COVID-19 vaccination. However, few studies correlate vaccine types and demographic factors with the MRI findings of SIRVA. This study aimed to evaluate MRI findings of SIRVA following COVID-19 vaccination and assess associations with vaccine type and patient characteristics. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 35 patients with new-onset shoulder complaints within six weeks of COVID-19 vaccination between May 2021 and May 2022. MRI findings suggestive of SIRVA were reviewed, including subacromial bursitis, rotator cuff tears, and adhesive capsulitis. Demographic data, vaccine type, clinical symptoms, and treatments were collected. Follow-up interviews (1–30 September 2024) assessed symptom persistence and vaccine hesitancy. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were used to explore associations. Results: Of the 35 patients (mean age 53.6 ± 9.0 years; 54.3% female), subacromial bursitis was the most common MRI finding (89.5%), followed by tendonitis (47.4%) and adhesive capsulitis (36.8%). Tendonitis correlated with older age (p = 0.024) and AstraZeneca vaccination (p = 0.033). Subacromial bursitis was linked to female sex (p = 0.013) and higher BMI (p = 0.023). Adhesive capsulitis was associated with receiving the Sinopharm vaccine (p = 0.029). Persistent symptoms (22.9%) were more common in younger patients, women, and those with right-sided injections. Conclusions: SIRVA following COVID-19 vaccination showed different MRI patterns associated with female sex, higher BMI, and vaccine type. Awareness of these patterns may expedite recognition of COVID-19-associated SIRVA in routine practice. Full article

Background: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has gained recognition for its positive impacts on cardiovascular (CV) health, metabolic outcomes, mental health, and quality of life (QoL). This narrative review aims to comprehensively evaluate the efficacy of HIIT in enhancing CV health and preventing CV disease (CVD). Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed identified 257 articles, of which 39 studies met predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria for quality assessment. Key metrics evaluated included blood pressure, vascular function, lipid profiles, body composition, and CRF. Results: HIIT significantly improved vascular function, evidenced by reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and enhanced flow-mediated dilation. Improvements in cardiac function were observed through increased cardiac output and heart rate variability. Additionally, HIIT positively influenced lipid profiles, decreasing low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides while increasing high-density lipoprotein. Significant reductions in body fat and improvements in VO₂peak were noted, contributing to enhanced CRF. HIIT also positively impacted mental health and QoL, reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms. Importantly, HIIT was safely and effectively applied to high-risk populations—individuals with obesity, metabolic syndrome, CVD, and cancer survivors—with a low incidence of adverse effects. Conclusions: This review highlights HIIT as an effective and safe exercise modality for improving CV health, metabolic indicators, mental health, and QoL. Future research should focus on developing tailored HIIT protocols to optimize adherence and efficacy across diverse populations, considering variations in age, sex, health status, and underlying medical conditions. Full article

‘Marriage equality’ has been a widely used slogan and mobilizing concept for LGBTQ+ rights’ movements across the globe striving for formal recognition for ‘same-sex’ or ‘same-gender’ marriages. In this article, we critically interrogate the terminology and political rationality that have given shape to ‘marriage equality’ campaigns. We demonstrate the structural erasure of non-monogamous relations and populations from the changes hoped for and envisioned in these mobilizations. The lack of any genuine and substantial concern with consensual non-monogamies (CNMs) from most of the literature in the field highlights the close entanglement of marriage with monogamy. As a result, ideas are scarce about how meaningful and adequate legal recognition and social policy provisions for a wide range of intimate, sexual, familial, and/or caring bonds or constellations on the CNM continuum could look like. We argue that the critique of the mononormativity inherent to marriage is fundamental to understanding the role of this in the 21st century. We identify the roots of the mononormativity of marriage in its governmental role as a necropolitical and biopolitical technology, evidenced by its ‘civilizing’ function in white settler colonial projects. Because of this, an expansion of the call for equality to include non-monogamous populations does not resolve but rather aggravates the problem. We conclude that any truly queer politics of CNM consequently needs to be anti-marriage. Full article

Background/Objectives: Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by restricted behaviors and impaired social and communication skills. The exact cause of autism remains unknown. One promising animal model for studying autism is the valproic acid rat model. Due to a 1 to 4 bias for males in autism occurrence, most animal model studies investigate only males and neglect females. However, female autism often appears different from that observed in males. Females are said to be less regularly diagnosed because they can “mask” their symptoms. Female autism is as necessary to investigate as male autism. Methods: Fertile adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were impregnated and injected with valproic acid on gestational day 13. Male and female offspring were subjected to behavioral tests to investigate autistic symptoms. Tests included novel object recognition, balance-beam, Y-maze, hole-board, three-chamber, marble burying, olfactory, light/dark and hot plate tests. Results: The tests revealed that VPA-exposed rats had increased anxiety-like behaviors, hyperactivity, and impaired non-verbal communication. However, they did not display repetitive behaviors or cognitive impairments. Notably, male and female rats showed different autism-like traits, with both showing hyperactivity, and males (but not females) additionally showing impaired sociability and increased anxiety. Conclusions: The findings suggest that prenatal exposure to VPA induces autism-like behaviors in both male and female Sprague-Dawley rat offspring. However, males appear more impacted by VPA exposure as evinced by their display of more autism-like symptoms relative to females. This study provides support for including both sexes in all studies modelling autism, as outcomes are seemingly impacted by the sex being observed. Full article

Intrinsic connectivity of the fusiform face area (FFA) was assessed using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to compare adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; n = 17) and age-, sex-, and IQ-matched typically developing controls (TD; n = 22). The FFA seed region was delineated in each participant using a functional localizer task. Whole brain analyses of FFA connectivity revealed increased connectivity between the right FFA and the vermis, sensorimotor cortex, and extended face-processing network in individuals with ASD compared to TD participants; the TD group did not demonstrate increased functional connectivity. No group differences were observed from the left FFA. The relationship between FFA connectivity and the ability to remember faces significantly differed between the groups. Better face memory performance was positively correlated with increased connectivity within general visual processing areas in the ASD participants; whereas for the TD group, better face memory performance was associated with increased connectivity with brain regions related to face encoding, recognition, and retrieval. FFA overconnectivity with face, emotion, and memory processing areas, along with atypical relationships between FFA–occipito-temporal connections and face memory performance highlights a possible mechanism underlying social dysfunction in individuals with ASD. Full article

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is recognized as an intermediate stage between normal aging and dementia. Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases, playing a crucial role. This study aimed to investigate the differences in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with MCI compared to FDA-approved biomarkers, based on age, sex, and education level. Participants aged 55–90 years old were categorized into three groups based on FDA-approved biomarkers, especially the CSF Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio and clinical screening assessments: 30 MCI (A+) patients with abnormal CSF Aβ42/Aβ40 ratios (Group A), 30 MCI (A−) patients with normal CSF Aβ42/Aβ40 ratios (Group B), and 30 healthy (A−) participants with normal CSF Aβ42/Aβ40 ratios (Group C). The measurements of CSF FDA-approved biomarkers were performed using an automated immunochemical method (Fujirebio, Inc.), while MDA determination was performed using a competitive inhibition enzyme immunoassay technique (ELK Biotechnology Co., Ltd.). Our results showed that the mean CSF MDA values were significantly lower in group C than in group A (83 ng/mL vs. 130 ng/mL, p = 0.024) and group B (83 ng/mL vs. 142 ng/mL, p = 0.011), respectively. Differences in serum and CSF MDA levels were presented in the study groups based on sex, age, and education level. These findings suggest that lipid peroxidation, as indicated by CSF MDA, could serve as a potential biomarker for the early recognition of MCI. Full article

As acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is still a significant cause of morbidity globally, new methods of rapid diagnostics are continually being researched and improved. Still, the only definite way to diagnose AIS is radiological imaging. Lately, serum biomarkers glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) have shown their usefulness in AIS as potential complementary tools in early recognition. We aimed to investigate if GFAP and UCH-L1 can correlate with comprehensive diagnostic information provided by computed tomography (CT) and several clinical parameters in AIS severity assessment and subsequently with clinical outcomes. Fifty-two patients with AIS and a potential for mechanical thrombectomy (MT) were included in our study. Thirty-seven patients underwent MT. Results showed no correlation of biomarkers with any analyzed CT parameter (thrombus length, volume, and density, clot burden score, collateral score, AIS core and penumbra volume, differences in perfusion between healthy and affected brain tissue). In addition, none of the clinical parameters, such as sex, symptom onset time, or the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, correlated with biomarkers. However, lower biomarker levels corresponded with a good clinical outcome, and higher levels to a poor outcome following hospital discharge, irrespective of the performed MT (p = 0.005 for GFAP, p = 0.001 for UCH-L1). In patients with successful MT, there were also differences between patients with a good clinical outcome compared with patients with a poor clinical outcome (p = 0.007 for GFAP, p = 0.004 for UCH-L1). In conclusion, these biomarkers cannot replace imaging modalities but can provide complementary diagnostic information in the setting of AIS. Full article