Browse Articles

Clinical performance evaluation of the Wantai chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay for Treponema pallidum antibody screening in blood donors

A multi-layered privacy-preserving framework for secure healthcare data sharing with high utility retention

Artificial intelligence adoption future ready skills and graduate employability in higher education

Song decorrelates cortico–basal ganglia ensembles in zebra finches

Multi-task deep learning and interpretable non-linear neural interaction modeling for personalized skin concern prediction

Correction: Elastic wave interaction with a stressed half-space containing voids

Geometry controls momentum flux in the sprinkler problem

Hydro- and aero-mechanical devices convert fluid flows into useful motions, force, and power. The operating principles can involve subtle and poorly understood physics, as epitomized by open questions about systems that aspirate flows through curving tubular arms. Since its introduction by Mach and popularization by Feynman, the so-called reverse sprinkler problem has evoked many competing theories and fluid mechanical effects that have not to date been distinguished by experiments. Here we conduct a series of experiments that directly report on the motions, torques, and flows for devices whose geometries are tailored to disambiguate the leading hypotheses. Our observations run counter to several ideas, such as those based on the total angular momentum of the fluid and others focusing on the flow and pressure distributions at the outer portions of the arms. The measurements instead reveal strong correlations between the sense of torque/rotation and the fluid momentum fluxing into the device. These results suggest an operating principle for the reverse sprinkler involving isotropic input of fluid from the far field and swirl-up in the arms that generates angular momentum, a residual portion of which is injected inside and drives rotation. The mass-to-momentum flux conversion is governed by the geometry of the curving arms. The physics learned here is fundamental to flow–structure interaction problems and may inform applications for harvesting and transforming flow energy.

Marshland soil quality assessment in a developing country: a preliminary study

Prescribed-time convergent PD-type adaptive fault-tolerant iterative learning control for nonlinearly parameterized systems with actuator faults

Instrument-dependent variability affects both microplastic polymer identification and quantification: an inter-laboratory comparison using polymer standards

Abstract Microplastic analysis is a critical tool for environmental risk assessments and policy development, aligning with several UN Sustainability Goals, however the extent to which analytical outcomes depend on instrument type and spectral reference libraries remains poorly quantified. Here, we present an inter-laboratory comparison study across seven countries evaluating both infrared polymer identification and fluorescent microscopy quantification, using pristine individual polymer standards, mixed polymer standards, and controlled recovery experiments. Participants used standardised protocols and reference materials, differing only in instrument manufacturer, type, reference library, and observer. Our results demonstrate substantial inter-laboratory variability in spectra match quality, polymer identification accuracy, polymer composition in mixed samples, and recovery rates from standardised matrices. Our findings highlight strong instrument- and library-dependent effects on data output despite the implementation of standardised protocols. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that protocol standardisation alone is insufficient to ensure inter-laboratory comparability and that substantial uncertainty persists in reported microplastic composition and abundance. We therefore propose a collaborative approach between researchers and instrument manufacturers encompassing library harmonisation, instrument calibration, and transparent reporting. Without such measures, reported microplastic composition and abundance may continue to reflect laboratory-specific artefacts rather than true environmental variability, ultimately limiting the confidence and policy impact of the reported results.

Adaptive spatiotemporal feature fusion attention-enhanced ConvLSTM for smart meter lifespan assessment

SE-HG-GNN: a novel explainable deep learning approach for financial distress prediction using optimized graph neural networks

A data-driven machine learning model for effective diabetes diagnosis

SGLT2i attenuates biventricular remodeling and preserves connexin 43 in experimental volume-overload heart failure

Abstract Heart failure (HF) caused by chronic volume overload is associated with progressive structural, electrical, and metabolic remodeling, leading to ventricular dysfunction and increased arrhythmogenic risk. Although sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) provide significant cardioprotection, their glucose-independent mechanisms remain incompletely understood. This study examined the effects of the SGLT2i empagliflozin on biventricular myocardial remodeling in a rat model of volume-overload HF induced by aortocaval fistula (ACF), with emphasis on extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and gap-junctional communication. Volume overload resulted in pronounced cardiac hypertrophy, ventricular dilation, fibrosis, oxidative stress, and cellular injury, accompanied by reduced and mislocalized connexin 43 (Cx43) and increased connexin 45 (Cx45) expression. These changes were associated with elevated pro-fibrotic and stress markers (GDF15, Galectin-3, FGF21) and altered protein kinase C (PKC) signaling. SGLT2i treatment significantly attenuated hypertrophy, reduced collagen deposition, oxidative stress, and tissue damage, and partially improved systolic function. Importantly, SGLT2i preserved Cx43 expression and Ser368 phosphorylation, prevented maladaptive Cx45 upregulation, and improved ECM remodeling. Modulation of PKCε and PKCδ suggests activation of protective intracellular pathways. In conclusion, SGLT2i exerts multifaceted cardioprotective effects in volume-overload HF independent of glycemic control, improving structural and electrical myocardial integrity and potentially reducing arrhythmogenic risk.

A comparative study of the growth, yield, and physiological responses of arbosana, arbequina, coratina, and maraqi olive cultivars

Abstract Expanding olive cultivation into newly reclaimed sandy soils faces challenges from salinity, low fertility, and limited water-holding capacity. Success depends critically on cultivar selection, yet comparative information remains limited. This study evaluated four olive cultivars (‘Arbosana’, ‘Arbequina’, ‘Coratina’, ‘Maraqi’) in Egypt’s Wadi Al-Natrun region over two seasons (2024–2025) using a randomized complete block design with four replications. Measurements included vegetative growth, physiological stress indicators (SPAD, RWC, proline), reproductive traits, yield components, fruit properties, and oil content. Significant genotypic variation ( p  < 0.001) revealed three distinct performance profiles. ‘Coratina’ showed the most vigorous growth (canopy volume: 8.2–8.5 m³) and highest yield (21.2–22.5 kg tree⁻¹) and oil content (51.0–52.0%), but exhibited lowest RWC (68.8–75.4%), highest proline (12.5–14.2 µmol g⁻¹ FW), and lowest fruit set (0.9–1.2%). ‘Arbequina’ and ‘Arbosana’ showed constrained growth (3.1–3.6 m³) but maintained high RWC (78.9–87.2%), low proline (3.1–6.5 µmol g⁻¹ FW), superior fruit set (3.3–4.2%), and highest yield efficiency (3.6–3.8 kg m⁻³). ‘Maraqi’ displayed intermediate growth (5.6 m³) with highest RWC (86.2–88.5%) and lowest proline (2.8–3.0 µmol g⁻¹ FW), but yield efficiency was low (2.8 kg m⁻³) and fruit set declined 21.4% in the second season. Significant Cultivar × Year interactions indicated differential environmental sensitivity. No single cultivar is universally superior; optimal selection depends on matching performance profiles to production goals, orchard design, and resource availability.

A multi-modal agent attention model for alzheimer’s disease diagnosis with structural MRI and clinical data

Cigarette smoke drives polystyrene nanoparticles-associated airway epithelial damage and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-like features

Hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI using dissolution dNP on a commercial polarizer: from solid-state optimization to in vivo lung imaging

Abstract Hyperpolarized ¹²⁹Xe gas is a powerful diagnostic tool in pulmonary MRI, uniquely enabling imaging of ventilation and gas exchange through its dissolved-phase signal. While xenon is conventionally hyperpolarized using spin-exchange optical pumping (SEOP), an alternative approach based on dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) followed by sublimation has emerged. However, xenon DNP has so far been restricted to custom-built hardware and primarily explored for solid-state physics applications. In this work, we establish optimized conditions for solid-state polarization of xenon using a commercial DNP polarizer. The resulting robust and reproducible protocol enables in vivo imaging in porcine lungs, providing sufficient signal to extract biologically relevant information comparable to that obtained with SEOP. This work bridges a critical gap in xenon DNP, advancing it from proof-of-principle demonstrations on specialized systems to implementation on standardized instrumentation suitable for in vivo applications.

Molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/carboxylated biochar for ceftiofur estimation in milk

Comparison of volar plating and headless compression screw for fixation of scaphoid nonunion: a meta-analysis of comparative studies

Abstract This study compared the clinical and radiological outcomes of volar plating versus headless compression screw fixation for scaphoid nonunion using a meta-analysis. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases was conducted to identify comparative studies evaluating volar plating versus headless compression screw fixation for scaphoid nonunion. Pooled analyses assessed union rate, time to union, range of motion, grip strength, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score, and hardware-related complications. Seven studies (two prospective and five retrospective studies) involving 226 participants were analyzed. Pooled analysis showed comparable high union rates between volar plating and headless compression screws. Plate fixation was associated with a significantly shorter time to union. The rate of implant removal owing to symptoms or implant-related complications was higher in the plate fixation group. Extension range of motion was decreased in patients treated with plate fixation, whereas grip strength and DASH scores were similar between the groups. Overall, both fixation methods showed comparable union rates and functional outcomes, while volar plating was associated with a shorter time to union but higher implant removal rates.