Browse Articles

Retraction Note: A randomized clinical trial of erector spinae plane block and chronic pain after posterior lumbar surgery

Equilibrium and stability of coupled nonlinear energy-storing components

Coupled systems of nonlinear components occur across physics and engineering and can display rich behaviors such as multistability, snap-through, and memory. These phenomena play a key role in physical intelligence, where functional behavior emerges from structure rather than algorithmic control. Yet, predicting the equilibrium states and stability of these systems is challenging due to intricate energy landscapes and the presence of multiple, often disconnected, equilibria. Here, we introduce a general static framework based on a parametric space in which each point represents an element-level equilibrium. In this space, system-level equilibria appear as a one-dimensional manifold, enabling their visualization without the ambiguities that appear in conventional displacement maps. By combining this formulation with a continuation strategy and a local stability assessment, the method traces both stable and unstable equilibria, including isolated isolas inaccessible by standard loading paths. We validate the method experimentally in the mechanical domain using coupled nonlinear-spring and inflatable systems, achieving quantitative agreement between predictions and measurements. This unifying approach offers a powerful tool for the design and analysis of nonlinear coupled systems, enabling systematic exploration of their equilibrium landscapes across disciplines.

Stability of grain and fodder yields in extra-early cowpea genotypes in Southeastern Niger

Cowpea [ Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] is a vital food and fodder crop in Niger, but its productivity is constrained by drought, poor soils, striga and pest pressures. Developing extra-early dual-purpose varieties is essential for strengthening food and feed security in these fragile production zones. This study evaluated the effects of genotype, environment, and their interaction on the stability of grain and fodder yields in 21 cowpea genotypes tested across six environments using an alpha-lattice design with three replications. Stability was assessed through Shukla’s stability variance, the cultivar superiority index, Wricke’s ecovalence, GGE biplot, and the multi-trait genotype–ideotype distance index (MGIDI). Results revealed significant differences among genotypes, environments, and genotype × environment interactions for all traits; environmental effects had the highest mean squares for all traits (p < 0.001). Broad-sense heritability ranged from 0.77 (fodder yield) to 0.88 (days to 50% flowering), and genetic advance as percentage of mean was high for yield traits (GAM = 78.67% for pod yield, 81.80% for grain yield, 99.59% for fodder yield), indicating strong selection potential. Mean grain yield across all genotypes and environments was 1,394.32 kg ha ⁻ ¹, and the coefficient of variation ranged from 26.59% (GY) to 40.63% (FY). Notably, ten extra-early lines—BM22, BP02, BP15, MM142, 65B5080, BP18, BM21, BM13, MM141, and BM12—were identified as combining early maturity with high and stable grain and fodder yields. These lines should be further evaluated across diverse agroecological zones to confirm their adaptability and alignment with farmer preferences, prior to deployment as released varieties or as parents in cowpea improvement programs targeting climate-resilient, dual-purpose productivity in the Sahel.

Retraction Note: Gamma-H2AX upregulation caused by Wip1 deficiency increases depression-related cellular senescence in hippocampus

The multilayered cuticle underlying structural coloration in red algae shares features with the metazoan extracellular matrix

Structural coloration, a physical phenomenon observed in many living organisms, may arise from the interference of light with highly organized surface nanostructures. In some seaweeds, these nanostructures consist of cuticular lamellae in the outer part of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the epidermis. However, the chemical composition of seaweed cuticles is poorly understood and the molecular components of lamellae remain unidentified. Here, we use integrated genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic approaches together with analytical profiling of carbohydrates to determine the composition of the multilayered cuticle in the red alga Chondrus crispus and assess its evolutionary conservation. The structural assembly reveals common features with the ECM of animals. The carbohydrate fraction includes a complex mixture of carrageenans and glycosaminoglycan-like compositions. A major von Willebrand factor A domain protein, Lamellae Cohesive Protein, plays a critical role in protein–protein interactions and binding to sulfated polysaccharides. We have further identified the major proteins of the algal cuticle, providing a framework for addressing the evolutionary origins of the cuticle and raising important questions regarding its role, particularly across the red algal life cycle marked by major structural differences in its ECM.

Correction: The relationship between N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic and coronary artery lesions in Kawasaki disease: A meta-analysis

Quantitative metrics to characterize radiologists’ search patterns during multiparametric MRI assessment for prostate cancer

TBC1D9 and TBC1D9B are ARL8 effectors that modulate exosome secretion through a RAB11A–exocyst pathway

Multivesicular endosomes (MVEs) are endolysosomal compartments containing intraluminal vesicles (ILVs) that follow two alternative pathways: fusion with lysosomes, leading to ILV degradation, or fusion with the plasma membrane, resulting in ILV secretion as exosomes. The mechanisms governing this fate decision have only recently begun to be elucidated. Previous work showed that the Biogenesis of lysosome related organelles complex-one-related complex (BORC) and the small guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) ARL8 promote MVE–lysosome fusion through the ARL8 effector homotypic fusion and protein sorting complex (HOPS), thereby diverting MVEs from exosome secretion. Here, we identify TBC1D9 and TBC1D9B as ARL8 effectors that further suppress exosome release. Acting as GTPase-activating proteins, these proteins drive RAB11A inactivation and dissociation from endolysosomes. This reduces recruitment of the RAB11A effector exocyst complex, preventing MVE fusion with the plasma membrane. These findings thus define a BORC–ARL8–TBC1D9/TBC1D9B axis that further attenuates exosome secretion by blocking MVE–plasma membrane fusion.

Correction: Burnout among anesthesia personnel in Thailand: A national survey of workload, personality traits, and resilience

Cooking and sensory properties of different varieties of rice from various agro-climatic areas of Nigeria

Oncogenic Kras targeting with MRTX1133 or Daraxonrasib specifically synergize with anti-CTLA4 to promote anti-tumor immunity in pancreatic cancer

Macrophage adenylyl cyclase 7 protects against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in male mice

Competitive resource allocation drives asynchronous and rapid nuclear multiplication in the malaria parasite

Abstract The unicellular malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum proliferates within red blood cells of its human host, where it generates approximately 20 new parasites within a two-day developmental cycle. Before cellularization and release of the daughter cells, the nuclei multiply in a shared cytoplasm. In stark contrast to highly synchronized nuclear division cycles seen in other developing eukaryotes, Plasmodium nuclear cycles desynchronize rapidly. Combining live-cell imaging with biophysical modeling, we elucidate the mechanism of desynchronization and study its impact on parasite proliferation. We find that standard models of autonomous nuclear cycles cannot account for the experimental data, and therefore desynchronization requires nuclear coupling. Competition for a limiting pool of proteins needed for DNA replication explains the data, provided that they are allocated sequentially to individual nuclei. Sequential allocation can be achieved by reversible but stable association of the resources with DNA. Remarkably, the resultant asynchronous nuclear cycles accelerate parasite proliferation by minimizing idling times of the resource. This mechanism may be a general strategy to maximize proliferation in suboptimal growth conditions. Together, our findings identify nuclear cycle asynchrony as a resource-efficient means to achieve rapid proliferation.

Analysis of physical and physiological training demands in women’s basketball

Purpose The primary aim of the present study was to analyze the physical and physiological demands associated with different training tasks in women’s basketball. Methods Fourteen basketball players were continuously monitored for 22 weeks using WIMU PRO ® ™ local positioning system and GARMIN ® heart rate monitors. The variables examined included: distance (DIST in m), number of accelerations (>2 m·s -2 , HACC) and decelerations (<−2 m·s -2 , HDEC); high speed running (>18 km·h -1 , HSR in m), number of jumps (JUMPS), player load (PL in arbitrary units) and heart rate zones (>80% of maximum heart rate, HRZ in seconds). Training tasks were classified into three orientations: directed-oriented (DIR, drills without opposition), special-oriented (SPE, small-sided games), and competitive-oriented (COM, 4-on-4 and 5-on-5 formats); and further grouped by three levels of court space. The Shapiro–Wilk test was used to verify data normality. Linear mixed-effects models were used to analyze all variables. Skewed variables were log-transformed to meet model assumptions. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Results The SPE tasks showed higher values than COM tasks (p < 0.001) in all variables except for HRZ. Also, SPE tasks reported greater values than DIR in the following variables: HRZ and HSR (both p < 0.001) and PL (p = 0.008). Finally, DIR tasks showed higher values than COM tasks in DIST, HACC, HDEC and JUMPS (all p < 0.001), whereas COM tasks exhibited higher values than DIR tasks in HRZ (p < 0.001). Considering the court space in which the tasks were performed, differences were found in all the variables analyzed, with larger spaces generally resulting in greater demands in most variables. Conclusions The results describe that task orientation and court space influence the load demands in women’s basketball. DIR and SPE tasks elicited greater intensities than COM tasks, suggesting that training design should be strategically adapted according to the desired physical and physiological stimuli.

Artificial intelligence for early detection of diabetic retinopathy: A vision transformer-based approach

Background Early identification of diabetic retinopathy (DR), which is a primary cause of vision impairment globally, is a crucial phasis for effective intervention and treatment. Traditional screening workflows rely on manual diagnosis by ophthalmologists, which remains the gold standard but can be time-consuming and subject to variability due to human factors. To support and enhance the screening process, artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools have shown promise in automating DR detection, particularly with recent advances in deep learning. However, medical images with long-range dependencies and spatial linkages can be challenging for CNN-based algorithms to handle. Methods This paper proposes a Vision Transformer (ViT)-based model, specifically using a Compact Convolutional Transformer (CCT), for early automated detection of DR. The model uses self-attention techniques to improve feature extraction and classification performance; combining three main stages: the CCT tokenizer, transformer encoder, and sequence pooling. The proposed approach was trained on public datasets (EyePACS and APTOS 2019) and evaluated against state-of-the-art deep learning architectures. Results Our experimental findings demonstrate that ViT performs among the best in the current state of the art with an overall accuracy of 97% and F1-scores above 0.95 across all DR severity levels. Our system is primarily designed for the pre-screening stage of diabetic retinopathy workflows, enabling rapid and reliable identification of potential DR cases for further clinical evaluation. Conclusion These results highlight the potential of transformer-based designs in medical picture analysis, as well as the implications for telemedicine and e-health solutions in real-time, especially in cases of low-resource settings.

Persistence of viable opportunistic pathogens in a multi-stage natural wastewater treatment system

Nature-based wastewater treatment systems are increasingly implemented to support water reuse in arid regions, yet their effectiveness in removing viable culturable opportunistic pathogens remains insufficiently characterized. In this exploratory, culture-based study, we assessed bacterial population dynamics across a five-stage natural wastewater treatment system (Wadi Hanifa, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), tracking culturable bacteria from secondary-treated influent to sand-filtered effluent. Water samples were collected at five sequential treatment stages and analyzed for physicochemical parameters, total culturable bacterial abundance, bacterial diversity, taxonomic composition, and antimicrobial susceptibility of persistent isolates. Total culturable bacterial counts decreased by approximately 1.1 log 10 CFU mL ‒1 across the system, accompanied by an approximately 50% reduction in observed isolate richness. The fecal indicator Escherichia coli was detected only in upstream and intermediate stages (sampling locations L3.1-L3.3) and was absent from downstream samples. In contrast, the opportunistic pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae was recovered across all five treatment stages and accounted for 44.4% (8/18) of all morphologically distinct isolates grown on the selected culture media. Turbidity declined by 71% along the treatment train and showed a strong positive correlation with bacterial richness (Kendall’s τ = 0.84, p = 0.038), although this exploratory correlation should be interpreted with caution given the small sample size (n = 5 stages). Phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed multidrug resistance (MDR) in 62.5% (5/8) of K. pneumoniae isolates, although all remained susceptible to amikacin and meropenem. Under the conditions examined, multi-stage natural wastewater treatment substantially reduced overall bacterial abundance and diversity but did not eliminate viable, multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae . The discordance between fecal-indicator removal and opportunistic pathogen recovery highlights system-specific limitations of indicator-based monitoring for assessing microbial safety in wastewater reuse systems. Given the limited isolate number (n = 8 K. pneumoniae ) and the absence of molecular resistance-gene characterization, broader claims about wastewater as a dissemination pathway for antimicrobial resistance cannot be drawn from these data. These findings are based on a single cross-sectional sampling event and should be considered hypothesis-generating rather than confirmatory.

Dual regulatory effects of medical bovine collagen sponge on macrophages in vitro

Medical bovine collagen sponges (MBCS) are extensively utilized in clinical settings for hemostasis and tissue augmentation owing to their superior biocompatibility, biodegradability and hemostatic properties. Nevertheless, their immunomodulatory influence on macrophage function remains largely unexplored. In this study, we systematically evaluated the effects of MBCS on RAW264.7 macrophages through comprehensive in vitro assays, including proliferation analysis, phagocytosis assessment, cytokine expression and angiogenesis evaluation. Our results demonstrate that MBCS significantly enhances macrophage proliferation and phagocytic capacity while potently stimulating VEGF secretion. Furthermore, MBCS-conditioned macrophage supernatants markedly promote endothelial tubule formation in vitro. Notably, MBCS moderately promotes inflammatory responses in resting macrophages, whereas pretreatment with MBCS effectively inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pro-inflammatory reactions, as reflected by reduced production of TNF‑α, nitric oxide and CD86. These findings reveal the effects of MBCS on macrophages at the cellular level, providing experimental evidence and mechanistic support for its tissue-repairing functions.

The effect of squat training with different eccentric contraction tempos on lower limb muscle strength

Objective This study aims to investigate the impact of 8-week squat training with different eccentric contraction tempos on maximal squat strength, jump height, and sprint performance among university students majoring in sports training. Methods Thirty participants were randomly assigned to either the 4/0/X/0 group, the 2/0/X/0, or the self-selected eccentric, isometric and inter-repetition tempo group (V/V/X/V), performing tempo-specific loaded squat training twice weekly for 8 weeks. Maximal squat strength, 30-meter sprint performance, countermovement jump (CMJ), and squat jump (SJ) heights were assessed before and after the intervention. A two-way repeated-measures ANOVA and effect size analysis were used to evaluate the training outcomes. Results 1) For maximal squat strength, no statistically significant inter-group difference was detected (P > 0.05). All three groups exhibited significant within-group improvements relative to baseline (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01). Descriptive effect size analysis showed the magnitude of improvement ranked as follows: 2/0/X/0 group (ES = 1.45)> V/V/X/V group (ES = 0.85)> 4/0/X/0 group (ES = 0.64). 2) For CMJ height, both the 2/0/X/0 and V/V/X/V groups showed significant improvement compared to pre-intervention (P < 0.05), while the 4/0/X/0 group exhibited a significant decrease (P < 0.01). ES magnitudes followed the order: 2/0/X/0 group (ES = 1.07) > V/V/X/V group (ES = 0.30) > 4/0/X/0 group (ES = −0.90). 3) SJ height results mirrored CMJ trends, with ES values ranking:2/0/X/0 group (ES = 1.09) > V/V/X/V group (ES = 0.34) > 4/0/X/0 group (ES = −0.83). 4) In 30-meter sprint performance, the 2/0/X/0 group demonstrated significant improvement (P < 0.05), the 4/0/X/0 group showed significant decline (P < 0.01), and the V/V/X/V group exhibited no significant change. Effect sizes indicated significant improvement in the 2/0/X/0 group (ES = −0.76), no meaningful change in the V/V/X/V group (ES = −0.10), and a significant decline in the 4/0/X/0 group (ES = 0.63). Notably, despite significant gains in maximal strength, the 4/0/X/0 group displayed concurrent decrements in stretch-shortening cycle-based explosive performances. Conclusion Compared with the 4/0/X/0 and V/V/X/V tempos, the 2/0/X/0 tempo showed the most favorable improvement trend in lower-limb maximal strength, and induced significantly greater enhancements in explosive power performance.

Public parks utilization and citizen satisfaction in Bangkok Metropolitan: An integrated theoretical model for tropical urban health

Background Tropical megacities face escalating non-communicable disease burdens requiring innovative urban health solutions. Despite public parks’ critical role as health infrastructure, limited research exists on utilization patterns and satisfaction in tropical urban contexts, where extreme heat and humidity create unique challenges. The equitable distribution of park benefits across socioeconomic groups remains underexplored in Southeast Asian contexts, a gap this study directly addresses. Objective This study developed and validated an integrated theoretical model of public park utilization and citizen satisfaction in tropical environments, identifying key determinants and providing evidence-based recommendations for health-promoting urban design, with attention to socioeconomic and gender equity dimensions. Methods We conducted a sequential explanatory mixed-methods study combining the Social Ecological Model, Expectation-Disconfirmation Theory, and Place Attachment Theory. Data were collected from 1,200 park users across 30 Bangkok parks using four-stage stratified random sampling, supplemented by 30 in-depth interviews. Analysis included hierarchical regression, thematic analysis, and comprehensive validity assessment. Results Participants (58.3% female, mean age 35.9 years) visited parks 3.3 times weekly for 1.8 hours per session. Park quality emerged as the strongest satisfaction predictor (β  =  0.401–0.607, all p  <  0.001), followed by usage patterns and accessibility. The integrated model explained 61.7–68.5% of satisfaction variance, a relatively high figure that partly reflects the common-method effects inherent in self-report designs (see Limitations). All nine hypotheses were confirmed with strong correlations (r  =  0.554–0.796). Climate-specific challenges included inadequate shade coverage (M  =  2.96/5.0) and insufficient evening lighting (M  =  2.98/5.0). Qualitative analysis revealed parks function as urban oases, social ‘third places,’ and community-building spaces, with heat protection identified as the primary accessibility barrier. Significant socioeconomic gradients were observed, with lower-income users reporting systematically lower satisfaction across all domains. Conclusions This study provides a comprehensive integrated theoretical model for tropical urban park utilization, indicating that strategic quality improvements are more strongly associated with satisfaction than quantity expansion. Climate-adaptive features—particularly heat protection and extended evening access—represent essential design requirements differing fundamentally from temperate guidelines. The findings indicate that park benefits are not equitably distributed, with implications for Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) policies including the 15-minute city park initiative.

A simulation model to predict the most efficient way to utilise operational resources when vaccinating badgers against bTB

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a disease carried by badgers that seriously impacts the health and productivity of cattle in the United Kingdom (UK). The UK government’s aim is to be officially TB-free in cattle by 2038 in England and badger vaccination is one approach that can be used to achieve this. We use a simulation model to compare the relative performance of different vaccination strategies (treatment every year, every second year and every third year) under different field conditions and assumptions about vaccine efficacy. Population density, disease prevalence and duration of vaccine-induced immunity substantially affected the outcome of vaccination. A vaccine strategy with lower frequency treatment was effective and offers operational efficiency as multiple areas can be treated near concurrently by a single vaccination team, potentially halving the cost per unit area. The information presented here may be used to guide operational managers and decision makers towards a more efficient strategy in a particular area and may provide an estimation of the likely success of the chosen strategy.