Browse publications by year: 2025

  1. Acharya M, Deo RC, Barua PD, Devi A, Tao X
    Comput Methods Programs Biomed, 2025 Feb 08;262:108652.
    PMID: 39938252 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2025.108652
    BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Deep learning models have gained widespread adoption in healthcare for accurate diagnosis through the analysis of brain signals. Neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Frontotemporal Dementia (FD) are increasingly prevalent due to age-related brain volume reduction. Despite advances, existing models often lack comprehensive multi-class classification capabilities and are computationally expensive. This study addresses these gaps by proposing EEGConvNeXt, a novel convolutional neural network (CNN) model for detecting AD and FD using electroencephalogram (EEG) signals with high accuracy.

    MATERIALS AND METHOD: In this research, we employ an open-access EEG signal public dataset containing three distinct classes: AD, FD, and control subjects. We then constructed a newly proposed EEGConvNeXt model comprised of a 2-dimensional CNN algorithm that firstly converts the EEG signals into power spectrogram-based images. Secondly, these images were used as input for the proposed EEGConvNeXt model for automated classification of AD, FD, and a control outcome. The proposed EEGConvNeXt model is therefore a lightweight model that contributes to a new image classification CNN structure based on the transformer model with four primary stages: a stem, a main model, downsampling, and an output stem.

    RESULTS: The EEGConvNeXt model achieved a classification accuracy of ∼95.70% for three-class detection (AD, FD, and control), validated using a hold-out strategy. Binary classification cases, such as AD versus FD and FD versus control, achieved accuracies exceeding 98%, demonstrating the model's robustness across scenarios.

    CONCLUSIONS: The proposed EEGConvNeXt model demonstrates high classification performance with a lightweight architecture suitable for deployment in resource-constrained settings. While the study establishes a novel framework for AD and FD detection, limitations include reliance on a relatively small dataset and the need for further validation on diverse populations. Future research should focus on expanding datasets, optimizing architecture, and exploring additional neurological disorders to enhance the model's utility in clinical applications.

  2. Haryati Z, Subramaniam V, Noor ZZ, Loh SK, Aziz AA
    J Environ Manage, 2025 Feb 11;376:124335.
    PMID: 39938301 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124335
    Numerous studies have frequently argued regarding the lack of agreement on the most important impact assessment categories and indicators to be included in social life cycle assessment (S-LCA). As there is a dearth of studies focusing on the interface of S-LCA indicators, this study aims to develop worker subcategory indicators based on S-LCA perspective by employing a fuzzy Delphi method (FDM), prioritising the expert consensus in determining the indicators. Sixteen experts from the field, both industry and academic panels, were selected based on their prior experience in or current employment with the palm oil industry. Eight subcategories of workers with 71 indicators were listed based on national and international laws, and the experts were instructed to rate their level of agreement for each indicator. Of the 71 indicators, only 68 indicators for the respective eight workers subcategories were chosen. The rest were rejected as they failed to meet the 75% expert consensus and threshold value (d ≤ 0.2). The study found that FDM can be used to identify indicators suitable for S-LCA. Ultimately, the findings of this study could be applied to develop appropriate indicators for other stakeholder group subcategories in S-LCA strategies.
  3. Roney M, Uddin MN, Khan AA, Fatima S, Mohd Aluwi MFF, Hamim SMI, et al.
    Comput Biol Chem, 2025 Feb 08;116:108378.
    PMID: 39938415 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2025.108378
    Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) have similar clinical characteristics in the brain and islet, as well as an increased incidence with ageing and familial susceptibility. Therefore, in recent years there has been a great desire for research that elucidates how anti-diabetic drugs affect AD. This work attempts to first elucidate the possible mechanism of action of DPP-IV inhibitors in the treatment of AD by employing techniques from network pharmacology, molecular docking, molecular dynamic simulation, principal component analysis, and MM/PBSA. A total of 463 targets were identified from the SwissTargetPrediction and 784 targets were identified from the SuperPred databases. 79 common targets were screened using the PPI network. The GO and KEGG analyses indicated that the activity of DPP-IV against AD potentially involves the hsa04080 neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction signalling pathway, which contains 17 proteins, including CHRM2, CHRM3, CHRNB1, CHRNB4, CHRM1, PTGER2, CHRM4, CHRM5, TACR2, HTR2C, TACR1, F2, GABRG2, MC4R, HTR7, CHRNG, and DRD3. Molecular docking demonstrated that sitagliptin had the greatest binding affinity of -10.7 kcal/mol and established hydrogen bonds with the Asp103, Ser107, and Asn404 residues in the active site of the CHRM2 protein. Molecular dynamic simulation, PCA, and MM/PBSA were performed for the complex of sitagliptin with the above-mentioned proteins, which revealed a stable complex throughout the simulation. The work identifies the active component and possible molecular mechanism of sitagliptin in the treatment of AD and provides a theoretical foundation for future fundamental research and practical implementation.
  4. Hou J, Omar N, Tiun S, Saad S, He Q
    Neural Netw, 2025 Feb 04;185:107222.
    PMID: 39938440 DOI: 10.1016/j.neunet.2025.107222
    Multimodal Sentiment Analysis (MSA) has gained significant attention due to the limitations of unimodal sentiment recognition in complex real-world applications. Traditional approaches typically focus on using the Transformer for fusion. However, these traditional approaches often fall short because the Transformer can only process two modalities simultaneously, leading to insufficient information exchange and potential loss of emotional data. To address the limitation of traditional Crossmodal Transformer models, which can only process two modalities at a time, we propose a novel Tensor-based Fusion BERT model (TF-BERT). The core of TF-BERT is the Tensor-based Crossmodal Fusion (TCF) module, which seamlessly integrates into the pre-trained BERT language model. By embedding the TCF module into multiple layers of BERT's Transformer, we progressively achieve dynamic complementation between different modalities. Additionally, we designed the Tensor-based Crossmodal Transformer (TCT) module, which introduces a tensor-based Transformer mechanism capable of simultaneously processing three different modalities. This allows for comprehensive information exchange between the target modality and the other two source modalities, thus strengthening the representation of the target modality. The TCT overcomes the limitation of existing the Crossmodal Transformer structures, which can only handle relationships between two modalities. Furthermore, to validate the effectiveness of TF-BERT, we conducted extensive experiments on the CMU-MOSI and CMU-MOSEI datasets. TF-BERT not only achieved the best results across most metrics compared to recent state-of-the-art baselines, but also demonstrated the effectiveness of its two modules through ablation studies. The findings suggest that TF-BERT effectively addresses the limitations of previous models by progressively integrating and simultaneously capturing complex emotional interactions across all modalities.
  5. Ibrahim N, Alziyadi SH, Yaacob NM, AlGhamdi A, Alanazi M, Alfaifi J, et al.
    Transfus Apher Sci, 2025 Feb 04;64(2):104084.
    PMID: 39938453 DOI: 10.1016/j.transci.2025.104084
    OBJECTIVE: Anemia is common in pregnant women and is associated with various maternal and fetal complications. However, the effect of fluctuations in hemoglobin levels during pregnancy on birth outcomes remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the association between maternal hemoglobin levels at different stages of pregnancy and delivery outcomes.

    METHODS: This retrospective study included 215 women who gave birth between 2018 and 2023. Hemoglobin levels were measured at three time points during pregnancy: first trimester (approximately 12 weeks), second trimester (13-27 weeks), and third trimester (28-36 weeks). The primary outcomes were the associations between hemoglobin levels and birth weight, birth weight Z-score, placental ratio, and placental weight. Statistical analyses were conducted to control for maternal and fetal factors and to determine the correlations between hemoglobin levels and delivery outcomes.

    RESULTS: Hemoglobin levels in the first trimester were the best predictors of anemia in the third trimester (area under the curve (AUC), 0.63; sensitivity, 65 %; specificity, 65 %). Hemoglobin levels were inversely associated with birth weight, birth weight Z-score, placental ratio, and placental weight. The overall accuracy of predicting iron-deficiency anemia was high (sensitivity, 71 %; specificity, 76 %; AUC, 0.76). Significant associations were observed at p 

  6. Duong C, Sung B, Wang X, Chong AWC
    Appetite, 2025 Feb 10;207:107895.
    PMID: 39938749 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2025.107895
    Carbon-neutral meat products offer a unique opportunity to reduce anthropogenic emissions. Supporting the growth of carbon-neutral meat is carbon labelling, an initiative to encourage environmentally friendly behaviour via information transparency. However, the efficacy of carbon labels remains questionable because consumers mainly cannot comprehend and connect with the labels. This raises a question of how communication could be leveraged to bridge that information asymmetry. Through five online controlled experiments, the study demonstrates the usefulness of narrative storytelling and message framing in heightening the effectiveness of carbon labels. Using realistic meat packaging designs with high ecological validity, the results show that even a simple and short-form narrative could be effective in enhancing the efficacy of carbon labels. Follow-up studies repeatedly demonstrate that the positive effect of narrative is accentuated by pairing with a gain-framed message. The effect of such a pairing was underpinned by a heightened feeling of certainty regarding the carbon-neutral meat's environmental impact message comprehension. The findings present a simple but often-forgotten notion that consumers seek optimal decisions with minimal cognitive effort. Hence, when given an alternative that is less cognitively demanding (to decode a message), consumers often prefer such a choice as it was reflected by a favourable attitude and heightened intent to purchase.
  7. Chang SH, Jampang AOA, Din ATM
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2025 Feb 10;304(Pt 1):140913.
    PMID: 39938848 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.140913
    This study examined the adsorption isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamics of Au(III) onto chitosan/palm kernel fatty acid distillate/magnetite nanocomposites (CPMNs) to enhance the understanding of adsorption behavior and mechanisms. Adsorption experiments were conducted across various initial Au(III) concentrations, contact times, and temperatures. The experimental data were analyzed using nonlinear isotherm and kinetic models, and thermodynamic parameters were evaluated. The results revealed that the Langmuir model best fits the adsorption equilibrium data, showing a maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 1.102-1.163 mmol/g (217-229 mg/g). The pseudo-first-order model best describes the kinetic data, suggesting first-order kinetics and a physisorption-dominated process. Thermodynamic analysis indicated that the adsorption is spontaneous, endothermic, entropy-driven, and highly favorable, primarily governed by physisorption. This study provides significant insights into the adsorption mechanisms of CPMNs for Au(III), contributing to advancing cost-effective and eco-friendly adsorbents for industrial use, such as wastewater treatment and metal recovery in mining, metallurgy, and electronic waste recycling industries.
  8. Rajasekar A, Omoregie AI, Kui KF
    Lett Appl Microbiol, 2025 Feb 12.
    PMID: 39938921 DOI: 10.1093/lambio/ovaf022
    Heavy metal contamination significantly threatens environmental and public health, necessitating effective and sustainable remediation technologies. This review explores two innovative bioremediation techniques: Microbially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) and Enzyme-Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (EICP). Both techniques show promise for immobilizing heavy metals in laboratory and field settings. MICP utilizes the metabolic activity of ureolytic microorganisms to precipitate calcium carbonate (CaCO3), sequestering heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) as stable metal-carbonate complexes. EICP, on the other hand, employs urease enzymes to catalyze calcium carbonate precipitation, offering greater control over reaction conditions and higher efficiency in environments unfavorable to microbial activity. This mini-review compares the mechanisms of MICP and EICP, focusing on factors influencing their performance, including enzyme or microbial activity, pH, temperature, and nutrient availability. Case studies illustrate their success in sequestering heavy metals, emphasizing their practical applications and environmental benefits. A comparative analysis highlights the strengths and limitations of MICP and EICP regarding cost, scalability, and challenges. This review synthesizes research to support the advancement of MICP and EICP as sustainable solutions for mitigating heavy metal contamination.
  9. Li N, Hoi A, Luo SF, Wu YJ, Louthrenoo W, Golder V, et al.
    Lupus Sci Med, 2025 Feb 12;12(1).
    PMID: 39939124 DOI: 10.1136/lupus-2024-001335
    OBJECTIVE: Disease activity both between and within patients with SLE is highly variable, yet factors driving this variability remain unclear. This study aimed to identify predictors of variability in SLE disease activity over time.

    METHODS: We analysed data from 2930 patients with SLE across 13 countries, collected over 38 754 clinic visits between 2013 and 2020. Clinic visit records were converted to panel data with 1-year intervals. The time-adjusted mean disease activity, termed AMS, was calculated. The yearly change in [Formula: see text], denoted as [Formula: see text], was regressed onto [Formula: see text] and other potential predictors using random-effects models. Some variables were split into a person-mean component to assess between-patient differences and a demeaned component to assess within-patient variability.

    RESULTS: Overall, variability in SLE disease activity exhibited stabilisation over time. A significant inverse relationship emerged between a patient's disease activity in a given year and variability in disease activity in the subsequent year: a 1-point increase in person-mean disease activity was associated with a 0.27-point decrease (95% CI -0.29 to -0.26, p<0.001) in subsequent variability. Additionally, a 1-point increase in within-patient disease activity variability was associated with a 0.56-point decrease (95% CI -0.57 to -0.55, p<0.001) in the subsequent year. Furthermore, each 1-point increase in the annual average time-adjusted mean Physician Global Assessment was associated with a 0.08-point decrease (90% CI -0.13 to -0.03, p=0.002) in disease activity variability for the following year. Prednisolone dose and the duration of activity in specific organ systems exhibited negative and positive associations, respectively, with disease activity variability in the subsequent year. Patients from less affluent countries displayed greater disease activity variability compared with those from wealthier nations.

    CONCLUSION: Disease activity tends to be less variable among patients with higher or more variable disease activity in the previous year. Within-patient variability in disease activity has a stronger impact on subsequent fluctuations than differences between individual patients.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Severity of Illness Index; Time Factors
  10. Choi Y, Leung K, Wu JT, Larson HJ, Lin L
    NPJ Vaccines, 2025 Feb 12;10(1):29.
    PMID: 39939318 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-025-01067-3
    Vaccine hesitancy seriously compromised the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out across the Western Pacific with limited evidence-based recommendations for diverse populations across the region. This study investigates the profile of the vaccine-hesitant populations by using fixed-effect latent class analysis and multi-country survey data collected in 12 countries in 2021 and 2022: Cambodia, Viet Nam, Lao PDR, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Mongolia, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu. The analysis identified 9 latent classes: Stay-at-home mothers, High-school-educated employees, High-school-educated older adults, High-school-educated young adults, University-educated employees, University-educated older adults, University-educated young adults, Unemployed, Non-compliant employees. The probabilities of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and booster uptake were significantly lower in most of these latent classes, compared to University-educated older adults, as the reference group. While each country had unique compositions of latent classes among vaccine-hesitant people, there were also some shared risk groups, such as High-school-educated employees and High-school-educated young adults, across the countries. The study findings demonstrate the benefits of subgroup analysis in unpacking the complex interplay of characteristics within vaccine-hesitant populations, highlighting the need for customised strategies tailored to each country's unique profile of vaccine hesitancy.
  11. Zhou Z, Ma Y, Zhang J, Firdaus M, Roleda MY, Duan D
    Sci Data, 2025 Feb 12;12(1):249.
    PMID: 39939323 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-025-04583-y
    Kappaphycus striatus is one of the carrageenan-producing red algae, and found primarily in tropical and subtropical coastal regions. Its global distribution is mainly in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia, among other locations. Here, through the high-quality chromosome-level genome sequences and assembly with PacBio HiFi and Hi-C sequencing data, we assembled one genome with a total of 211.46 Mb in size, containing a contig N50 length of 5.04 Mb and a scaffold N50 length of 5.39 Mb. After Hi-C assembly and manual adjustment to the heatmap, we deduced that 199.42 Mb of genomic sequences were anchored to 33 presumed chromosomes, which accounting for 94.31% of the entire genome. One total of 14,596 protein-coding genes and 1,673 non-coding RNAs were identified, and the 100.96 Mb of repetitive sequences accounting for 47.73% of the assembled genome. Our chromosome-level genome assembly data provide valuable references for K. striatus future nursery and breeding, and will be useful for the functional genomics interpretations and evolutionary studies of eukaryotes.
    MeSH terms: Genome, Plant; Chromosomes, Plant/genetics; Molecular Sequence Annotation*
  12. Shams S, Mubarak NM, Ismail NAB, Khan MMH, Al-Mamun A, Ahsan A
    Sci Rep, 2025 Feb 12;15(1):5295.
    PMID: 39939332 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-88922-4
    The urban water supply system in tropical countries faces various physical risks, including pipe failures due to aging, material type, soil conditions, flooding, extreme weather events, and traffic loads. This study focuses on urban water supply risks for eight zones of Brunei-Muara district. A risk assessment using a data-driven matrix reveals Zones D2 and D6 as very high-risk areas, experiencing monthly average leaks of 880 and 471, respectively. These zones, characterized by low elevation and susceptibility to flooding during heavy rainfall, pose significant threats to water quality and public health due to the potential contamination of drinking water. Analysis of pipe data highlights that pipes with a diameter of 100 mm are more prone to leaks, with ductile iron pipes being particularly susceptible to failures. Brunei is actively exploring the implementation of digitalization and advanced technologies such as the application of GIS, deploying real-time water quality sensors, and real-time pressure monitoring integrated with SCADA systems to mitigate these risks.
  13. Adamov L, Petrović B, Milić L, Štrbac V, Kojić S, Joseph K, et al.
    Biomed Eng Online, 2025 Feb 12;24(1):17.
    PMID: 39939995 DOI: 10.1186/s12938-025-01350-3
    BACKGROUND: Facial expression muscles serve a fundamental role in the orofacial system, significantly influencing the overall health and well-being of an individual. They are essential for performing basic functions such as speech, chewing, and swallowing. The purpose of this study was to determine whether surface electromyography could be used to evaluate the health, function, or dysfunction of three facial muscles by measuring their electrical activity in healthy people. Additionally, to ascertain whether pattern recognition and artificial intelligence may be used for tasks that differ from one another.

    RESULTS: The study included 24 participants and examined three muscles (m. Orbicularis Oris, m. Zygomaticus Major, and m. Mentalis) during five different facial expressions. Prior to thorough statistical analysis, features were extracted from the acquired electromyographs. Finally, classification was done with the use of logistic regression, random forest classifier and linear discriminant analysis. A statistically significant difference in muscle activity amplitudes was demonstrated between muscles, enabling the tracking of individual muscle activity for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Additionally other time domain and frequency domain features were analyzed, showing statistical significance in differentiation between muscles as well. Examples of pattern recognition showed promising avenues for further research and development.

    CONCLUSION: Surface electromyography is a useful method for assessing the function of facial expression muscles, significantly contributing to the diagnosis and treatment of oral motor function disorders. Results of this study show potential for further research and development in this field of research.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Electromyography*; Facial Expression*; Female; Humans; Male; Pattern Recognition, Automated; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted*; Young Adult
  14. Abdulsalim S, Anaam MS, Farooqui M, Alshammari MS, Alfadly S, Alolayan J, et al.
    Healthcare (Basel), 2025 Jan 31;13(3).
    PMID: 39942484 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare13030295
    BACKGROUND: Social media (SM) use has become an integral aspect of daily life. Overutilization of SM can adversely impact an individual's physical and emotional well-being, especially that of students. This study evaluated the potential impact of SM addiction on anxiety and academic performance among university students.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical ad non-medical students at Qassim University during September 2022-April 2023 after obtaining the Ethics Committee's permission. Raosoft was used for calculating the sample size, and participants were selected through convenience sampling. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze and interpret the results, using SPSS version 25.

    RESULTS: A total of 269 students participated in the study. The majority of them were male (52%), with a mean age of 22.28. The main purpose of SM usage was entertainment, followed by communication. More than 30% of them were using SM for 4-6 h per day, accessing SM 1-10 times in a day, with more than half of them feeling that they had SM addiction and that it was affecting their daily activities and sleep. The majority of them agreed that SM can be used for group discussion (78.1% vs. 71.6%) and knowledge sharing (93.7% vs. 90%). However, a statistically significant difference was observed about anxiety level between the two groups. A negative correlation was found between cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and anxiety level.

    CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that SM has both positive and negative effects on academic performance and social anxiety. Continuous education and motivation about wise use of SM is warranted among students by parents, university authorities, and policymakers.

  15. Zhou W, Lee JC
    Front Psychol, 2025;16:1445362.
    PMID: 39944042 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1445362
    The discussion about how to use instructional humor in class to promote teaching and learning efficiency has always been a concern of researchers in recent decades. The present project summarizes extant studies on instructional humor and provides a detailed review of research findings. First, the definition and classification of instructional humor are overviewed. Then, the study introduces three theoretical frameworks, namely Instructional Humor Processing Theory (IHPT) and other two alternative models, which, respectively, based on Self-Determination Theory (SDT) or from an integrative perspective of cognition and affection, explaining how humor works in education settings. Based on the theoretical clarification of instructional humor, the paper further reviews existing empirical evidence regarding teachers' use of humor in class and its impact on students' learning, with emphasis on explaining inconsistencies in previous conclusions and identifying limitations in extant relevant works. The detailed analysis and comparison of previous results regarding instructional humor offer potential directions for further relevant research. Finally, the study concludes with feasible advice for teachers to maximize the positive benefits of humor in class.
  16. Bian H, Jiang H
    Front Psychol, 2025;16:1479507.
    PMID: 39944052 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1479507
    INTRODUCTION: Occupational stress is a significant issue among junior high school teachers in China, contributing to negative outcomes such as reduced mental health, impaired coping abilities, and decreased job satisfaction.

    METHODS: This quasi-experimental study investigates the impact of mindfulness-based interventions on occupational stress and mental health among junior high school teachers in China. A total of 118 teachers participated in the study, with a randomly assigned experimental group undergoing an 4-week mindfulness training program, while the control group received no intervention. Standardized measures of occupational stress, mental health, coping self-efficacy, and mindfulness were used to assess the outcomes before and after the intervention.

    FINDINGS: The findings revealed that teachers who participated in the mindfulness program experienced significant reductions in occupational stress and improvements in mental health and coping self-efficacy compared to the control group. Additionally mindfulness levels increased significantly among participants who underwent the training.

    DISCUSSION: The results suggest that mindfulness-based interventions can effectively alleviate occupational stress and enhance psychological wellbeing among junior high school teachers in China, highlighting the importance of implementing such programs to support educators in managing stress and maintaining mental health.

  17. Nordin MNB, Jayaraj VJ, Ismail MZH, Omar ED, Seman Z, Yusoff YM, et al.
    Cureus, 2025 Jan;17(1):e77342.
    PMID: 39944445 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.77342
    OBJECTIVE: This study explores machine learning (ML) for automating unstructured textual data translation into structured International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 codes, aiming to identify algorithms that enhance mortality data accuracy and reliability for public health decisions.

    METHODS: This study analyzed death records from January 2017 to June 2022, sourced from Malaysia's Health Informatics Centre, coded into ICD-10. Data anonymization adhered to ethical standards, with 387,650 death registrations included after quality checks. The dataset, limited to three-digit ICD-10 codes, underwent cleaning and an 80:20 training-testing split. Preprocessing involved HTML tag removal and tokenization. ML approaches, including BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers), Gzip+KNN (K-Nearest Neighbors), XGBoost (Extreme Gradient Boosting), TensorFlow, SVM (Support Vector Machine), and Naive Bayes, were evaluated for automated ICD-10 coding. Models were fine-tuned and assessed across accuracy, F1-score, precision, recall, specificity, and precision-recall curves using Amazon SageMaker (Amazon Web Services, Seattle, WA). Sensitivity analysis addressed unbalanced data scenarios, enhancing model robustness.

    RESULTS: In assessing ICD-10 coding with ML, Gzip+KNN had the longest training time at 10 hours, with BERT leading in memory use. BERT performed best for the F1-score (0.71) and accuracy (0.82), closely followed by Gzip+KNN. TensorFlow excelled in recall, whereas SVM had the highest specificity but lower overall performance. XGBoost was notably less effective across metrics. Precision-recall analysis showed Gzip+KNN's superiority. On an unbalanced dataset, BERT and Gzip+KNN demonstrated consistent accuracy.

    CONCLUSION: Our study highlights that BERT and Gzip+KNN optimize ICD-10 coding, balancing efficiency, resource use, and accuracy. BERT excels in precision with higher memory demands, while Gzip+KNN offers robust accuracy and recall. This suggests significant potential for improving healthcare analytics and decision-making through advanced ML models.

  18. Swaminathan K, Shan S, Ss MS, Renugalakshmi A, Ravi R, Haridoss S
    J Dent Anesth Pain Med, 2025 Feb;25(1):1-13.
    PMID: 39944848 DOI: 10.17245/jdapm.2025.25.1.1
    Dental fear and anxiety management in children is considered one of the biggest challenges in pediatric dentistry. Intranasal sedation is a promising technique for managing unco-operative pediatric patients with rapid onset, ease of administration, and minimal invasiveness. We aimed to review the efficacy, onset time, duration, and behavioral success of intranasal sedation agents in pediatric dental procedures and identify the most effective regimens for clinical practice. This systematic review followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing intranasal sedation in children undergoing dental procedures. Primary outcomes were onset time, duration of sedation, and sedation success rates. The inclusion criteria were applied through search in six databases. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool. Meta-analyses were carried out using RevMan software, where pooled odds ratios and weighted mean differences were calculated on efficacy outcomes. Eighteen RCTs fulfilled the inclusion criteria, where intranasal agents such as midazolam, ketamine, dexmedetomidine, and their combinations were used. Meta analyses demonstrated intranasal sedation generally has a faster onset (moderate heterogeneity, I2 = 40%) and is associated with greater success rates for achieving sedation than other methods. A combination of midazolam with ketamine or dexmedetomidine provided better results for both onset and behavioral success. The duration of sedation appears equivalent to oral or intravenous routes. Overall risk of bias was moderate due to blinding and selective reporting concerns. Midazolam, especially when combined with ketamine or dexmedetomidine, yielded promising results in relation to rapid onset and success of sedation. However, further large-scale RCTs are necessary to standardize dosing protocols and ensure that these findings are validated and optimized for clinical applications.
  19. Asare EA, Abdul-Wahab D, Asamoah A, Dampare SB, Kaufmann EE, Wahi R, et al.
    Mar Pollut Bull, 2025 Feb;211:117487.
    PMID: 39721175 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117487
    This study investigates aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments from offshore Ghana, focusing on their distribution, sources, and ecological risk. Samples were collected from 15 sites near Deep Water Tano and West Cape Three Points blocks. GC-FID and GC-MS analyses revealed higher concentrations in West Cape Three Points compared to Deep Water Tano. Bayesian source apportionment indicated microorganisms as the primary contributor to AHs in both areas. For polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pyrogenic sources dominated in Deep Water Tano (63.3 %), while grass/coal/wood combustion was primary in West Cape Three Points (60 %). Probabilistic risk assessment identified benzo[a]pyrene as posing the highest ecological risk. This study demonstrates the utility of Bayesian methods in identifying hydrocarbon sources and highlights the importance of species-specific sensitivities in ecological risk assessments, providing valuable insights for marine environment management.
    MeSH terms: Bayes Theorem*; Environmental Monitoring*; Ghana; Risk Assessment
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