The World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research recommend a plant-based diet to cancer survivors, which may reduce chronic inflammation and excess adiposity associated with worse survival. We investigated associations of plant-based dietary patterns with inflammation biomarkers and body composition in the Pathways Study, in which 3659 women with breast cancer provided validated food frequency questionnaires approximately 2 months after diagnosis. We derived three plant-based diet indices: overall plant-based diet index (PDI), healthful plant-based diet index (hPDI) and unhealthful plant-based diet index (uPDI). We assayed circulating inflammation biomarkers related to systemic inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hsCRP]), pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10, IL-13). We estimated areas (cm2) of muscle and visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue (VAT and SAT) from computed tomography scans. Using multivariable linear regression, we calculated the differences in inflammation biomarkers and body composition for each index. Per 10-point increase for each index: hsCRP was significantly lower by 6·9 % (95 % CI 1·6%, 11·8%) for PDI and 9·0 % (95 % CI 4·9%, 12·8%) for hPDI but significantly higher by 5·4 % (95 % CI 0·5%, 10·5%) for uPDI, and VAT was significantly lower by 7·8 cm2 (95 % CI 2·0 cm2, 13·6 cm2) for PDI and 8·6 cm2 (95 % CI 4·1 cm2, 13·2 cm2) for hPDI but significantly higher by 6·2 cm2 (95 % CI 1·3 cm2, 11·1 cm2) for uPDI. No significant associations were observed for other inflammation biomarkers, muscle, or SAT. A plant-based diet, especially a healthful plant-based diet, may be associated with reduced inflammation and visceral adiposity among breast cancer survivors.

Education can be viewed as a control theory problem in which students seek ongoing exogenous input—either through traditional classroom teaching or other alternative training resources—to minimize the discrepancies between their actual and target (reference) performance levels. Using illustrative data from $n=784$\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\usepackage{amsmath}\usepackage{wasysym}\usepackage{amsfonts}\usepackage{amssymb}\usepackage{amsbsy}\usepackage{mathrsfs}\usepackage{upgreek}\setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt}\begin{document}$$n=784$$\end{document} Dutch elementary school students as measured using the Math Garden, a web-based computer adaptive practice and monitoring system, we simulate and evaluate the outcomes of using off-line and finite memory linear quadratic controllers with constraintsto forecast students’ optimal training durations. By integrating population standards with each student’s own latent change information, we demonstrate that adoption of the control theory-guided, person- and time-specific training dosages could yield increased training benefits at reduced costs compared to students’ actual observed training durations, and a fixed-duration training scheme. The control theory approach also outperforms a linear scheme that provides training recommendations based on observed scores under noisy and the presence of missing data. Design-related issues such as ways to determine the penalty cost of input administration and the size of the control horizon window are addressed through a series of illustrative and empirically (Math Garden) motivated simulations.

Highly portable and accessible MRI technology will allow researchers to conduct field-based MRI research in community settings. Previous guidance for researchers working with fixed MRI does not address the novel ethical, legal, and societal issues (ELSI) of portable MRI (pMRI). Our interdisciplinary Working Group (WG) previously identified 15 core ELSI challenges associated with pMRI research and recommended solutions. In this article, we distill those detailed recommendations into a Portable MRI Research ELSI Checklist that offers practical operational guidance for researchers contemplating using this technology.

Yellow and knotroot foxtail are two common weed species infesting turfgrass and pastures in the southeastern region of the United States. Yellow and knotroot foxtail share morphological similarities and are frequently misidentified by weed managers, thus leading to confusion in herbicide selection. Greenhouse research was conducted to evaluate the response of yellow and knotroot foxtail to several turfgrass herbicides: pinoxaden (35 and 70 g ai ha−1), sethoxydim (316 and 520 g ai ha−1), thiencarbazone + dicamba + iodosulfuron (230 g ai ha−1), nicosulfuron + rimsulfuron (562.8 g ai ha−1), metribuzin (395 g ha−1), sulfentrazone (330 g ai ha−1), sulfentrazone + imazethapyr (504 g ai ha−1), and imazaquin (550 g ai ha−1). All treatments controlled yellow foxtail >87% with more than 90% reduction of the biomass. By comparison, only sulfentrazone alone controlled knotroot foxtail 90% and completely reduced aboveground biomass. Sethoxydim (520 g ai ha−1), metribuzin, and imazaquin controlled knotroot foxtail >70% at 28 d after application. In a rate response evaluation, nonlinear regression showed that yellow foxtail was approximately 8 times more susceptible to pinoxaden and 2 times more susceptible to sethoxydim than knotroot foxtail based on log (WR50) values, which were 50% reduction in fresh weight. Our research indicates that knotroot foxtail is more difficult to control across a range of herbicides, making differentiation of these two species important before herbicides are applied.

Background: High grade gliomas (HGGs) shed extracellular vesicles (EVs) into the bloodstream. EV-derived RNA (EV-RNA) can be detected in plasma, making it a potential biomarker for HGG recurrence after treatment. We sought to establish a baseline relationship between EV-RNA in plasma and hypervascular HGG tissue on MRI. Methods: Eight patients with a new diagnosis of HGG had measurements of plasma EV-RNA and contemporaneous dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) MRI. Patient-specific median signal intensity of corpus callosum (mSI-CC) was determined from 10 measurements on the relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) map. Tumour tissue with signal intensity > mSI-CC and > 2x, > 3x, > 4x and > 5x mSI-CC was segmented on the rCBV map. EV-RNA plasma concentration was correlated with tissue volumes. Results: Pearson correlation showed a significant positive relationship between EV-RNA plasma concentration and tissue volume with signal intensity > mSI-CC (r(6) = 0.899, p = 0.002). No significant relationship could be detected for progressively smaller tissue volumes with signal intensity > 2x, > 3x, > 4x and > 5x mSI-CC. Conclusions: EV-RNA plasma concentration correlates strongly with the total volume of hypervascular HGG tissue on DSC MRI at baseline and merits further evaluation as a biomarker of tumour behaviour in longitudinal imaging studies.

Background: High-grade gliomas (HGG) present challenges with short post-surgery survival and high progression rates. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) contribute to a pro-tumorigenic setting. Investigating Transfer RNA fragments (TfRNA) in HGG patient plasma EVs reveals potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets, shedding light on the molecular landscape for enhanced diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. This study examines TfRNA in 10 HGG patients at diagnosis, offering insights into the molecular landscape for improved management strategies. Methods: The study involved the collection of plasma samples from HGG patients and controls. EVs were isolated from these samples and subsequently analyzed for tfRNA. Results: Analysis of plasma EVs highlighted distinct differences in TfRNA fragments between High-Grade Glioma (HGG) and control samples. HGG EVs showed a global reduction in tRNA content, higher 5’ tfRNA proportions, and increased nuclear tfrna compared to controls. A notable biological marker, elevated in HGG, holds potential as a diagnostic indicator. Conclusions: Our study concludes that High-Grade Gliomas (HGG) demonstrate a global reduction in tfRNA content in plasma extracellular vesicles compared to non-cancer controls, echoing findings in other cancers. Despite this, specific tfRNA molecules in HGG show significant differential expression or sorting into EVs, indicating their potential as future biomarkers or therapeutic targets.

Faecal examinations for helminth eggs were performed on 1869 people from two riverside localities, Vientiane Municipality and Saravane Province, along the Mekong River, Laos. To obtain adult flukes, 42 people positive for small trematode eggs (Opisthorchis viverrini, heterophyid, or lecithodendriid eggs) were treated with a 20–30 mg kg−1 single dose of praziquantel and purged. Diarrhoeic stools were then collected from 36 people (18 in each area) and searched for helminth parasites using stereomicroscopes. Faecal examinations revealed positive rates for small trematode eggs of 53.3% and 70.8% (average 65.2%) in Vientiane and Saravane Province, respectively. Infections with O. viverrini and six species of intestinal flukes were found, namely, Haplorchis taichui, H. pumilio, H. yokogawai, Centrocestus caninus, Prosthodendrium molenkampi, and Phaneropsolus bonnei. The total number of flukes collected and the proportion of fluke species recovered were markedly different in the two localities; in Vientiane, 1041 O. viverrini (57.8 per person) and 615 others (34.2 per person), whereas in Saravane, 395 O. viverrini (21.9 per person) and 155207 others (8622.6 per person). Five people from Saravane harboured no O. viverrini but numerous heterophyid and/or lecithodendriid flukes. The results indicate that O. viverrini and several species of heterophyid and lecithodendriid flukes are endemic in these two riverside localities, and suggest that the intensity of infection and the relative proportion of fluke species vary by locality along the Mekong River basin.

Adolescent girls are an important target group for micronutrient interventions particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa where adolescent pregnancy and micronutrient deficiencies are common. When consumed in sufficient amounts and at levels appropriate for the population, fortified foods may be a useful strategy for this group, but little is known about their effectiveness and timing (regarding menarche), particularly in resource-poor environments. We evaluated the effect of consuming multiple micronutrient-fortified biscuits (MMB), sold in the Ghanaian market, 5 d/week for 26 weeks compared with unfortified biscuits (UB) on the micronutrient status of female adolescents. We also explored to what extent the intervention effect varied before or after menarche. Ten2Twenty-Ghana was a 26-week double-blind, randomised controlled trial among adolescent girls aged 10–17 years (n 621) in the Mion District, Ghana. Biomarkers of micronutrient status included concentrations of Hb, plasma ferritin (PF), soluble transferrin receptor (TfR) and retinol-binding protein (RBP), including body-iron stores. Intention-to-treat analysis was supplemented by protocol-specific analysis. We found no effect of the intervention on PF, TfR and RBP. MMB consumption did not affect anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies at the population level. MMB consumption increased the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency by 6·2 % (95 % CI (0·7, 11·6)) among pre-menarche girls when adjusted for baseline micronutrient status, age and height-for-age Z-score, but it decreased the prevalence of deficient/low vitamin A status by −9·6 % (95 % CI (−18·9, −0·3)) among post-menarche girls. Consuming MMB available in the market did not increase iron status in our study, but reduced the prevalence of deficient/low vitamin A status in post-menarcheal girls.

The combined sandwich-ELISA (s-ELISA; VitMin Lab, Germany) and the Quansys Q-Plex™ Human Micronutrient Array (7-Plex) are multiplex serum assays that are used to assess population micronutrient status in low-income countries. We aimed to compare the agreement of five analytes, α-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) as measured by the 7-Plex and the s-ELISA. Serum samples were collected between March 2016 and December 2017. Pregnant women (n 249) were recruited at primary healthcare clinics in Johannesburg, and serum samples were collected between March 2016 and December 2017. Agreement between continuous measurements was assessed by Bland–Altman plots and concordance measures. Agreement in classifications of deficiency or inflammation was assessed by Cohen’s kappa. Strong correlations (r > 0·80) were observed between the 7-Plex and s-ELISA for CRP and ferritin. Except for CRP, the 7-Plex assay gave consistently higher measurements than the s-ELISA. With the exception of CRP (Lin’s ρ = 0·92), there was poor agreement between the two assays, with Lin’s ρ < 0·90. Discrepancies of test results difference between methods increased as the serum concentrations rose. Cohen’s kappa for all the five analytes was < 0·81 and ranged from slight agreement (vitamin A deficiency) to substantial (inflammation and Fe deficiency) agreement. The 7-Plex 1.0 is a research and or surveillance tool with potential for use in low-resource laboratories but cannot be used interchangeably with the s-ELISA. Further optimising and validation is required to establish its interchangeability with other validated methods.

Homeless shelter residents and staff may be at higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, SARS-CoV-2 infection estimates in this population have been reliant on cross-sectional or outbreak investigation data. We conducted routine surveillance and outbreak testing in 23 homeless shelters in King County, Washington, to estimate the occurrence of laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and risk factors during 1 January 2020–31 May 2021. Symptom surveys and nasal swabs were collected for SARS-CoV-2 testing by RT-PCR for residents aged ≥3 months and staff. We collected 12,915 specimens from 2,930 unique participants. We identified 4.74 (95% CI 4.00–5.58) SARS-CoV-2 infections per 100 individuals (residents: 4.96, 95% CI 4.12–5.91; staff: 3.86, 95% CI 2.43–5.79). Most infections were asymptomatic at the time of detection (74%) and detected during routine surveillance (73%). Outbreak testing yielded higher test positivity than routine surveillance (2.7% versus 0.9%). Among those infected, residents were less likely to report symptoms than staff. Participants who were vaccinated against seasonal influenza and were current smokers had lower odds of having an infection detected. Active surveillance that includes SARS-CoV-2 testing of all persons is essential in ascertaining the true burden of SARS-CoV-2 infections among residents and staff of congregate settings.

Model order reduction (MOR) can provide low-dimensional numerical models for fast simulation. Unlike intrusive methods, nonintrusive methods are attractive because they can be applied even without access to full order models (FOMs). Since nonintrusive MOR methods strongly rely on snapshots of the FOMs, constructing good snapshot sets becomes crucial. In this work, we propose a novel active-learning-based approach for use in conjunction with nonintrusive MOR methods. It is based on two crucial novelties. First, our approach uses joint space sampling to prepare a data pool of the training data. The training data are selected from the data pool using a greedy strategy supported by an error estimator based on Gaussian process regression. Second, we introduce a case-independent validation strategy based on probably approximately correct learning. While the methods proposed here can be applied to different MOR methods, we test them here with artificial neural networks and operator inference.

Doyle’s (2013) theoretical survey of discount functions criticizes two parametric families abbreviated as CRDI and CADI families. We show that Doyle’s criticisms are based on a mathematical mistake and are incorrect.