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Not an infection: Endogenous circoviral elements underlie BFDV detections in Old World vultures

Circoviruses (family Circoviridae) are small, single-stranded DNA viruses known to infect a broad range of bird species. The Beak and Feather Disease Virus (BFDV), typically associated with parrots, has occasionally been reported in unrelated avian taxa, raising questions about host range and potential spillover. We investigated BFDV-like sequences in three sympatric vultures breeding in Spain (Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus , cinereous vulture Aegypius monachus , and griffon vulture Gyps fulvus ). PCR screening revealed low and inconsistent prevalence in Egyptian vultures (7.4%, n = 163) and cinereous vultures (2.9%, n = 47), and absent in griffon vultures (n = 35). Phylogenetic analyses identified nine highly divergent haplotypes spanning three distinct clades, with no structure by species, geography, or year, and no evidence of nest- or territory-level transmission. These patterns contradict expectations for an actively circulating virus and instead suggest that the sequences represent endogenous circoviral elements (ECV) integrated into the host genome. The absence of clinical signs, except in one inbred Egyptian vulture nestling (offspring of a brother-sister mating), indicates these elements are non-pathogenic. Our findings demonstrate that BFDV detections in non-psittacine birds often reflect genomic remnants rather than active infections. This reinterpretation underscores the need to combine molecular surveillance and evolutionary genomics to distinguish actual infections from viral relics.

Research on optimization of train routing problem for railway hubs considering passenger demand

The railway hub with multiple stations has been more common with the expansion of the railway network. It is imperative to investigate the utilization of multiple stations to meet the travel demand of urban residents. This paper focuses on railway hubs and abstracts the division of labor among multiple stations as an optimization of train routing problem. A mixed integer linear programming model is constructed to minimize the total cost of trains and passengers, with the number of stops, capacity of railway lines and station tracks, and passenger demand of traffic zones considered as constraints. A case study based on a multi-station railway hub is implemented to evaluate the effectiveness of the optimization model. Compared with the other two scenarios, the total cost of the optimization results is reduced by 0.1% and 2.7%. Meanwhile, the proposed optimization scheme also achieves a more balanced and efficient utilization of railway line and station track capacity. Furthermore, the research also proposes several operationally feasible recommendations for railway department to support making division of labor scheme for railway hubs.

Interdependent relationship between depression and Internet gaming disorder in parent-child dyads: The mediating role of family relationship and gaming time

Background and objective A well-established link exists between depression and Internet gaming disorder (IGD) at the individual level, while it remains unexplored within the family system. This study aims to investigate the interdependent relationship between parent and adolescent depression and IGD, and to identify the potential mechanisms. Methods A cross-sectional dyadic study was conducted with adolescents and their parents (primary caregiver) in Hong Kong. Adolescents completed anonymous surveys in classrooms, and parents completed online surveys via WhatsApp or phone interviews. The Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) and Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model (APIMeM) were utilized to test the interdependence and mediators between depression and IGD in parent-child dyads, respectively. Results A total of 1,277 parent-child dyads were included. Depressive symptoms in parents (β = 0.072) and adolescents (β = 0.273, both p < 0.05) were positively associated with their own IGD symptoms (actor effect). Adolescent depressive symptoms were positively associated with parental IGD symptoms (β = 0.078, p < 0.05). Family relationships and adolescent gaming time mediated the association of adolescent depressive symptoms with adolescent IGD symptoms (indirect effect accounting for 21.5%) and parental IGD symptoms (74.3%). Conclusions Adolescent depressive symptoms were positively associated with their own and parental IGD symptoms, which were mediated by adolescent-reported family relationships and adolescent gaming time. The influence of adolescents’ mental health problems on parents’ problematic behaviors within the family system should not be overlooked.

Exploring how hospital based green spaces support stroke rehabilitation: A mixed methods multiple case study protocol

Background In-patient treatment and rehabilitation after stroke represent an important period for recovery, yet recommended levels of rehabilitation activity are challenging to achieve, and many patients remain inactive and at risk of low mood. Research in other conditions suggests that the use of green spaces can benefit in-patients, providing opportunities for activity and social interaction, and improving mood and wellbeing. However, little is known about the use of green spaces post-stroke. Aim To explore how, for whom, and under what conditions hospital based green spaces influence recovery, wellbeing and engagement with rehabilitation among stroke in-patients. Methods A mixed-method multiple case study will involve three hospital sites with different types of green spaces including those used for therapy, those newly designed for stroke survivors, and long-established spaces. Data collection will include gathering of contextual data (documentary analysis, mapping of the green space, interviews with green space designers and informal survey) to understand the setting, design, rationale, and maintenance; behavioural mapping (10-day period, two seasons per site) to understand usage; and semi-structured interviews with 45 in-patients and their visitors (including those who have and have not used the green space) and 30 multidisciplinary staff, to understand their experiences. Interview data will be analysed using the Framework approach. Mixed methods data will be integrated within and across cases to develop and refine a programme theory explaining how green space could support stroke recovery and wellbeing. Programme theory will be refined by expert groups of stroke survivors, carers and staff in three other locations. Discussion This study will generate a transferable programme theory and context-sensitive recommendations to inform the design, implementation and evaluation of green space in stroke care. We will disseminate findings widely to relevant audiences to influence future policy and practice.

Neuromuscular changes during a four-week individualized in-season strength-training program based on the dynamic strength index in youth basketball players: A quasi-experimental study

The dynamic strength index (DSI) is commonly used as a neuromuscular profiling metric to inform individualized strength-training decisions; however, evidence describing short-term in-season changes in DSI and constituent neuromuscular variables in youth team-sport athletes remains limited. This quasi-experimental applied study quantified neuromuscular changes during a four-week individualized in-season strength-training program in 21 youth basketball players (age: 16.4 ± 1.3 years). Players were stratified into high (>0.57), neutral (0.45–0.57), or low (<0.45) baseline DSI tertiles to prioritize training emphasis (maximal strength, mixed, or ballistic/plyometric, respectively). Participants completed three individualized sessions per week alongside regular basketball training. Pre- and post-intervention measures included countermovement jump (CMJ) height and peak force, isometric squat (ISOBelt) peak force, and estimated one-repetition maximum (1RM) back squat. DSI was subsequently calculated from CMJ and ISOBelt peak force values. The high DSI tertile showed increases in ISOBelt peak force ( p  = 0.004, d  = 2.10) and estimated 1RM back squat ( p  = 0.002, d  = 1.84), accompanied by a reduction in DSI ( p  < 0.001, d  = −1.56), whereas CMJ outcomes showed no statistically significant changes across tertiles (all p  > 0.05). The neutral tertile showed an increase in estimated 1RM back squat ( p  = 0.002, d  = 0.89), although no significant interaction effects were observed. During the competitive season, DSI-based profiling was associated with distinct within-tercile neuromuscular changes over four weeks; findings should be interpreted as observational outcomes within an applied in-season context and may assist practitioners in guiding individualized in-season strength-training prioritization.

Prevalence, outcomes, and predictors of mortality among adult intensive care unit patients with sepsis at a Tertiary Hospital in Tanzania: A prospective cohort study

Background Sepsis continues to pose a significant global health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, which face a disproportionate burden of sepsis and sepsis-related deaths. The estimated prevalence of sepsis and sepsis-related mortality is higher in intensive care units than in hospitals overall. The burden can be higher in tertiary referral centers that receive patients from different regions. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of sepsis, its outcomes, and the factors associated with these outcomes among adult patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in Tanzania. Methodology This prospective cohort study was conducted over a period of six months from May 16 to November 16, 2023, at MNH. A total of 248 patients were admitted during the study period and screened for sepsis on admission or for the development of sepsis during their ICU stay. Sepsis was defined according to the Sepsis-3 criteria as a suspected infection with a Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score ≥2 within 24 h of ICU admission. Proportions were used for descriptive statistics, and modified Poisson regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of mortality at a 95% confidence interval, with P < 0.05 indicating statistical significance. Results The prevalence of sepsis was 41.5%. The respiratory system was the most common source of infection (32%), and 22.3% of patients had more than one infection site. The ICU mortality rate was 55.3%, with 35% of patients developing systemic complications during their ICU stay. Factors independently associated with mortality included multiple comorbidities (aPR 3.35, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20–9.32; p = 0.021) and a higher SOFA score (aPR 7.08, 95% CI 3.48–14.4; p < 0.001). Early initiation of antibiotics was independently associated with improved survival (aPR 0.47, 95% CI 0.27–0.84; p = 0.011). Conclusion This study revealed a high prevalence of sepsis and sepsis-related mortality in the ICU. A high SOFA score and multiple complications were independent predictors of mortality. Early initiation of antibiotic therapy was an independent predictor of survival. This underscores the importance of early treatment, close monitoring, and aggressive management in patients with predictors of poor outcome.

Inefficiency and inequity of the law review submission system

Where a legal scholar works shapes publication outcomes nearly as much as what they write. Law reviews, the primary publication market for legal scholarship in the United States, are run by student editors who face thousands of submissions for a handful of slots and rely heavily on institutional prestige as a proxy for article quality. We build a calibrated agent-based simulation of this market and benchmark it against deferred acceptance, a centralized matching algorithm used in markets like medical residencies. The simulation predicts severe misallocation: more than 60% of top-tier placements differ from what centralized signal-based matching would produce, and the rank correlation between article quality and journal prestige is 0.45 versus 0.79 under centralized matching. Which system produces better placements overall depends on how many authors are competing for how many slots. As competition intensifies, the current system’s disadvantage grows, with the model predicting up to 13.4% loss in match quality. Partial reforms like extending deadlines have negligible effects; in the simulation, the primary source of inefficiency is the decentralized structure of the market itself. The simulation also reveals that credential dependence produces inequity that persists even among articles of comparable quality: authors from prestigious institutions receive markedly better placements regardless of the matching mechanism. Centralized matching fixes the sorting problem but not this equity problem, because prestige bias is embedded in editorial signals and would require changes to how articles are evaluated, not just how they are assigned.

Stability of the two enveloped viruses NDV LaSota and YF-ZIKprM/E to support process development

Building on the established use of enveloped viral vectors, like lentivirus and vesicular stomatitis virus, we investigated the stability of the oncolytic Newcastle disease virus LaSota strain and the chimeric construct of a Zika vaccine candidate YF ZIKprM/E. These vectors are currently being developed for the treatment of solid tumors, such as melanoma and glioblastoma, and for vaccine initiatives, respectively. Virus stability is a critical attribute during cell culture-based virus production and also relevant for downstream processing, storage of the produced material, final vaccine storage and shelf life. Therefore, temperature and pH stability were tested as important parameters during upstream processing and freeze-thaw cycles were tested in context of laboratory-analytics. In this study, both viruses exhibited strong stability of the infectious virus titer when subjected to repeated freeze-thaw cycles. However, exposure to temperatures above 22°C substantially reduced the infectious titers, indicating sensitivity to elevated temperatures. To improve viral stability during storage, we investigated the use of sucrose as a stabilizing excipient. While this did not result in significant improvements for YF-ZIKV, an extended half-life for NDV at room temperature was observed. The observed half-life values of upstream material from NDV of 2.6 h and 2.8 h for YF-ZIKV at 37°C demand consideration of changes to the process design, such as the implementation of a perfusion process to enable continuous, cooled virus harvesting.

A scoping review of force plates in female soccer: The utility, existing practice and identification of knowledge Gaps

Female soccer has grown exponentially with increasing funding, participation and competition. Force plates enable high resolution force-time assessment using isometric and dynamic tasks for acute or longitudinal monitoring, and profiling performance and injury risk. However, more research has been conducted in male soccer players compared to females with the utility of force plates in female soccer yet to be reviewed. The purpose of this scoping review is to review existing research using force plates in female soccer describing the utility of force plates, methods used, reported metrics and to identify gaps in our current understanding. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, Medline, and Cinahl using the following search terms: “girl*” OR “female*” OR “women*” AND “football*” OR “soccer*” AND “force plat*” AND “ jump” OR “isometric” AND (“multi joint*” OR “single joint*” OR “plantar flex*” OR “knee*” OR “hamstring*” OR “knee flex*” OR “hip exten*” OR “posterior chain*” OR “drop*” OR “rebound*” OR “stiffness*” “power*” OR “strength*” OR “counter*movement*” OR “dominant*” OR “non dominant*”). Sixty-three studies were eligible with most studies investigating senior elite players during dynamic tasks. The bilateral countermovement jump was the most common test followed by pre-planned change of direction and the isometric mid-thigh pull. Force plates were mostly used for performance assessment/ sex comparison research designs, followed by acute monitoring. Peak force was the most reported metric across all studies and jump height was most reported in studies investigating jumping. Most researchers used force plates in laboratory settings relating to change of direction and landing tasks with limited research conducted in applied settings and at youth level. Therefore, future researchers should focus on field-based assessments aiming to provide benchmarks and prospectively track players for injury as to support the health and performance of female soccer players at all levels of competition.

Retraction: Enhancing the power quality in radial electrical systems using optimal sizing and selective allocation of distributed generations

Children and adults differ in how primary and secondary incentives modulate valuation, effort, and cognitive control

Rewards have a profound impact on human motivation, cognition, affect, and behaviour. The study of reward processing and incentive effects therefore occupies a central place in psychology and cognitive neuroscience. One common assumption when comparing groups or individuals is that different reward types are valued similarly. Here we examined this assumption in a sample of 51 adults and 39 children (7–12 years) using both primary and secondary rewards. Across three tasks – subjective valuation, willingness to exert cognitive effort, and reward-related modulation of cognitive control – adults showed stronger effects of secondary relative to primary reinforcers, whereas children showed comparatively similar responses across reward types. While we interpret our findings as consistent with age-group differences in the value assigned to secondary reinforcers, larger longitudinal studies using more closely matched incentives will be required to determine how such differences emerge across development. More broadly, our work highlights the importance of carefully considering incentive value when comparing different groups on reward-related processes.

Outside Back Cover: Fused‐Ring Acceptor–π–Acceptor Architecture Enables Near‐Infrared‐Absorbing Mesoporous Covalent Organic Frameworks for Enhanced H ₂ O ₂ Photosynthesis (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 25/2026)

Distance-based Device-To-Device outage reduction for 5G wireless systems

Device-to-Device (D2D) communication constitutes that closely spaced nodes communicate with each other without the use of a centralized base station that carries the communication data. This helps in increasing the data rate, decreasing latency, and expanding the bandwidth and capacity which promotes it to play an important part in next-generation wireless technology. Regardless, the efficient utilization of the available resources is a crucial challenge in D2D systems especially in limited areas; considering that the spectrum is shared across the cell. This paper investigates the spectrum sharing strategies for D2D communication in the context of a single cell by presenting a simulation study of D2D communication performance under different resource allocation scenarios. The first scenario divides the coverage area into inner and outer regions, and the spectrum as well; one for each region, the second scenario assigns resources to nearby users within a range of 10 meters and reuses the resources by other distant users if the separation is more than 50 meters. The variations in the simulation parameters helps to analyze the impact of user location, density, and resource allocation in outdoor urban environments. The simulation results are evaluated in terms of spectrum utilization, and outage probability. These results are analyzed to understand the impact of resource allocation on the performance of the system and thereby show that the second scenario improves the system performance in terms of the outage probability providing useful insights for designing and optimizing D2D communication systems in an outdoor urban environment especially in next-generation-networks.

Chronic absenteeism in Canadian kindergarten classes, pre- and post-COVID-19, and its association with concurrent developmental vulnerability

Students who frequently miss school are at greater risk for academic difficulty. High levels of absenteeism as early as kindergarten have been associated with long-term consequences, such as low reading proficiency in Grade 3 and low academic achievement in Grade 5, both of which have been associated with lower rates of high school graduation and enrollment in post-secondary education. The prevalence of school absenteeism has increased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic and there have been sustained shifts in student attendance rates from kindergarten to Grade 12 since 2020. The goals of this population-level, repeated cross-sectional cohort study were to compare rates of chronic absenteeism, defined as being absent from school at least 10% of the time, in kindergarten in Canada before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and examine the association between children’s chronic absenteeism and their concurrent developmental vulnerability. A total of 513,159 kindergarten children participated in the study, with 284,712 (55.5%) being in the pre-COVID-19 cohort (2017−2020) and 228,447 (44.5%) in the post-COVID-19 cohort (2020−2023). Across Canada, rates of chronic absenteeism increased from pre- to post-COVID-19, from 17.7% to 41.3%, with differences by jurisdiction. The greatest increase was seen in Ontario, while the smallest increase was seen in British Columbia. Children attending kindergarten in the post-COVID-19 cohort were three times more likely to be chronically absent compared to their peers attending kindergarten before the onset of the pandemic. Despite this, chronic absenteeism in the post-COVID-19 period was associated with reduced odds of overall developmental vulnerability, a pattern that is likely attributable to shifts in the composition of chronically absent children. In the post-COVID-19 cohort, a greater percentage of children who were chronically absent resided in higher SES neighbourhoods compared to their chronically absent peers attending school before the onset of the pandemic. While increasing rates of school absenteeism should not be ignored, our results suggest that chronic absenteeism following COVID-19 might be more nuanced than before. The jurisdictional differences in rates of chronic absenteeism observed in this study could be due to the various public health measures put in place by the various provincial and territorial governments. It is also possible that the children from higher SES neighbourhoods missed more school after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic because their parents had the capability to work from home, making it easier to keep their child(ren) home from school. The decreased association between chronic absenteeism and developmental vulnerability post-COVID-19 may be partially related to changes in access to online learning resources, which could have enabled some students to remain academically engaged while at home. However, further research is needed to better understand the underlying reasons for school absence and how the relation between absenteeism and academic achievement may vary across developmental stages to effectively support learning trajectories.

Unlocking precision diagnostics: A multimodal framework integrating metabolomics with advanced machine learning techniques

Integrating multiple omics modalities is a crucial strategy in cancer research, particularly in metabolomics, enabling early detection and detailed exploration of cancer biomarker signatures. This study evaluates five strategies for integrating metabolomics data from liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance. Deep Transfer Learning and Multiple Kernel Learning demonstrated superior performance, significantly improving classification accuracy, sensitivity, and robustness compared to single-modality analyses. Deep Transfer Learning employed a custom autoencoder for feature extraction followed by artificial neural network classification, while Multiple Kernel Learning optimized kernel matrices across different modalities. Feature extraction in the Deep Transfer Learning approach, combined with the selection of important features and subsequent analysis, revealed elevated levels of monounsaturated phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholine 30:1, phosphatidylethanolamine 32:1, and sphingomyelin 32:1 in HER2-positive cases. Additionally, β-alanine, gluconic acid, and N-acetylaspartic acid were increased, whereas 5’-deoxy-5’-methylthioadenosine and nicotinamide were decreased. These methods advance cancer detection, biomarker discovery, and the development of precise diagnostic and therapeutic tools while offering robust and adaptable strategies for multi-omics data integration across diverse biological datasets.

16S rRNA-based metagenomics insights into the microbial diversity and functional attributes of soils from the rhizosphere of selected C4 crops of farms in Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces, South Africa

The rhizosphere serves as a hub for a variety of microorganisms that are highly beneficial to crop production and improvement of soil health. However, intensive farming practices including utilization of agrochemicals can cause a decline in microbial diversity that could severely compromise soil health and crop productivity. Here we investigated the taxonomic abundance and functional diversity of the microbial communities of sorghum and pearl millet rhizosphere soil samples from sixteen farms in Mpumalanga and Limpopo Provinces of South Africa. Soil samples were collected at the rhizosphere of sorghum and pearl millet crops and pooled into 34 samples. The soil samples were used for 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing analysis, soil physicochemical properties, and community-level physiological profiles. The results indicated that carbon utilization was highest in the majority of soil samples from Jane Furse, which also demonstrated greater microbial richness. The 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing analysis provides insight into the relative abundance of soil microbial communities, where at phylum level Planctomycetes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria were the most predominant in all farms, but their relative abundances varied. Our results revealed that physicochemical properties could affect microbial abundance and diversity. The distance-based redundancy analysis (dbRDA) explained 46.8% of the variation in the soil bacterial community structure, with Mn, Fe, NO₃⁻-N, and Ca identified as the key soil physicochemical variables shaping community composition. Thus, this study may contribute to advancing sustainable agricultural practices by providing baseline data that may inform future bioinoculant development.

Reservoir Computing‐Based Glucose Sensing With an Enzymatic Reaction Network

ABSTRACT The survival of living systems relies on their capacity to process physicochemical information from the environment and make distinct decisions. Inspired by this concept, we report a scalable protease‐peptide‐based reservoir sensor for the detection of glucose stimuli. In this system, glucose oxidase (GOx) functions as a ‘sensor module’ that preprocesses glucose into a pH signal that can be further processed by the protease network. The effect of glucose induced pH change on the protease‐peptide network is systematically investigated. GOx mediated pH drop ultimately affect protease activities that lead to an observable response in the reservoir output. Finally, we demonstrate the protease‐based network's capacity to perform diverse information processing tasks by leveraging principles of reservoir computation. The enzymatic reservoir sensor not only functions as a linear glucose sensor but also exhibits binary switch like responses at both high and low glucose concentrations. Furthermore, the sensor can respond to dynamic glucose inputs, such as changes in the periodicity of glucose pulses or variations in both pulse amplitude and periodicity.

Rheological characteristics and modification mechanism of rock asphalt compound modified binder based on grey relational analysis

To address the limitations of conventional asphalt in resisting high-temperature rutting and oxidative aging, a Rock Asphalt Compound additive (RCA) —comprising natural rock asphalt with surface-treated Nano-TiO 2 —was investigated as a sustainable modifier. This study systematically evaluates the rheological performance and modification mechanism of RCA-modified A-90# asphalt binders with dosages ranging from 0% to 31.6%. The viscoelastic behaviors were characterized using Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR), Bending Beam Rheometer (BBR), and Rotational Viscosity (RV) tests, while the chemical interactions were probed via FTIR spectroscopy. Furthermore, Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) was innovatively introduced to quantify the sensitivity of performance indicators to RCA dosage. Results indicate that RCA fundamentally alters the colloidal structure of the binder, acting as a potent stiffening agent. The high-temperature rutting factor ( G */sin δ ) increases exponentially with dosage, and the Penetration Index (PI) improves from −1.392 to −0.354, indicating reduced temperature susceptibility. FTIR analysis confirms the modification is primarily a physical blending process, enhanced by the introduction of polar functional groups (S = O, C = O). Crucially, GRA results quantitatively identify that the dominant function of RCA is the enhancement of aging resistance (R = 4.3430), followed by stiffness (R = 3.7567), surpassing its effect on ductility. However, high dosages negatively impact low-temperature relaxation (m-value). Considering the trade-off between the significant gains in anti-aging/rutting performance and the limitations in thermal cracking, an optimal dosage of 21.8% is recommended. At this dosage, the binder achieves a superior rutting factor of 25.5 kPa (64°C) while maintaining an m-value of 0.311 (−12°C), satisfying Superpave specifications.

Gate-tunable WSe2/Bi2Te2Se van der Waals heterostructure photodetectors for broadband photodetection

Band offset engineering of van der Waals heterostructures is a critical strategy to broaden the response range of optoelectronic devices and realize multifunctional device applications, and the adoption of high-mobility material systems in heterostructure design is essential for optimizing the overall performance of optoelectronic devices. Herein, we design and fabricate a Type-II band alignment van der Waals heterostructure based on n-type Bi2Te2Se and p-type WSe2, with strong interlayer coupling at the heterointerface verified via systematic structural and spectroscopic characterizations. The devices exhibit a prominent photovoltaic effect with clear open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current, enabling stable self-powered photodetection at zero bias without any external power supply. This self-powered photodetection exhibits excellent performance over an ultra-broadband from 254 to 1310 nm, delivering a maximum responsivity of 0.22 A/W and a high specific detectivity of 4.3 × 109 Jones. More importantly, they present a distinct gate-tunable transition from p-type dominated ambipolar transport to n-type dominated unipolar transport, with the responsivity magnified by 3 times via rational gate voltage regulation. Spatially resolved photocurrent mapping directly visualizes the gate-enhanced photocarrier separation at the heterointerface, and the device further enables high-quality broadband photoelectric imaging and convolutional neural network-based image recognition. This work establishes a reliable platform for ternary Bi-based heterostructures, highlighting their potential for low-power, multifunctional optoelectronics and next-generation artificial vision systems.

Perceptions of physical and occupational therapists on the utility of surface electromyography data in spinal cord injury rehabilitation

Purpose Spinal cord injury (SCI) impacts physical, emotional, and social well-being, contributing to decreased quality of life and increased healthcare burden. Surface electromyography (sEMG), a non-invasive tool for measuring muscle activity, has demonstrated potential as a biomarker for recovery in SCI research, yet remains underutilized in clinical practice. Understanding how physical therapists (PTs) and occupational therapists (OTs) perceive the use of sEMG is necessary for integrating sEMG into post-SCI treatment and advancing personalized rehabilitation. Materials and methods A cross-sectional, qualitative descriptive design was employed. Ten participants (9 PTs and 1 OT) were recruited through convenience sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed inductively using a thematic analysis approach. Results Two major themes were identified: 1) Perceived value of the use of electrophysiology and sEMG data in clinical practice. Participants valued sEMG as an adjunct assessment tool for providing objective feedback after incomplete SCI and setting goals during treatment. 2) Barriers and facilitators to implementing sEMG. Key barriers highlighted include the lack of training and standardized protocols. Continued training, resources, and educational support were key facilitators. Conclusion PTs and OTs perceive sEMG as a valuable tool in SCI rehabilitation, but desire education and standardized protocols to support its clinical integration.