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Development of vibration-based RV reducer diagnostic criteria and factory evaluation standards
Distribution of refractive errors and horizontal concomitant strabismus in Iraqi children
Horizontal concomitant strabismus is a common pediatric ocular disorder influenced by underlying refractive error patterns, yet evidence from Iraq remains limited. This study characterized refractive profiles in esotropia and exotropia and identified refractive predictors of each subtype. In this retrospective multicenter clinic-based case-comparison study, medical records of 2,256 children aged 4–15 years evaluated at three tertiary pediatric ophthalmology centers in Iraq were reviewed; 1,012 met the criteria for horizontal concomitant strabismus (642 esotropia and 370 exotropia), while 1,244 non-strabismic children served as controls. All participants underwent standardized cycloplegic refraction, visual acuity assessment, and ocular alignment testing. Group differences were examined using Chi-square tests, and logistic regression was used to identify refractive predictors. Children with esotropia were younger (mean age 8.24 ± 2.89 years) and exhibited a marked hyperopic profile, with 78% having spherical equivalent hyperopia ≥ +2.00 D; clinically significant anisometropia (≥2.50 D) was present in 33.8% of cases. Exotropia occurred at a slightly older age (8.75 ± 2.89 years) and was associated with higher proportions of myopia (53.5%) and astigmatism ≥1.00 D (55.7%). Across the full cohort, myopic refractive error (SE <−0.50 D) was present in 310 children (13.7%), hyperopic refractive error (SE ≥ +2.00 D) in 1,002 (44.4%), astigmatism ≥1.00 D in 555 (24.6%), and anisometropia ≥0.50 D in 1,489 (66.0%). In multivariable analysis, moderate-to-high hyperopia strongly predicted esotropia, whereas myopia and clinically significant astigmatism independently predicted exotropia. These findings show contrasting refractive profiles in Iraqi children with esotropia and exotropia and support the clinical value of early cycloplegic refraction in children with suspected ocular misalignment.
Exclusive: NSF puts new research grants to top universities on hold
Comparative earthquake sensitivity of straight and triply helical fibers in surface distributed acoustic sensing
Abstract Although distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) using optical fiber cables offers superior spatial and temporal resolution, surface-deployed DAS still faces a significant challenge: straight fiber (SF) cables predominantly record vibrations parallel to cable orientation, limiting the accurate vertical components. Helically wound fiber (HWF) configurations have been proposed to address this limitation of SF and capture multi-directional seismic waves. However, because we cannot perfectly distinguish the seismic signals from the noises in field data, evaluating the comparative sensitivity to large-scale vibrations, such as seismic waves, acquired by SF and HWF is challenging. This study aims to precisely access the sensitivity of HWFs and SFs in surface-deployed DAS measurements for seismic waves excited by earthquake events, which likely propagate vertically. We present a novel approach to analyze the sensitivity of SFs and HWFs by deploying three SFs and triply helically wound fibers, which comprise three HWFs with identical specifications within a single cable. Our results show that the sensitivity ratio of HWF to SF consistently maintains a value of about 0.6 in the conditions of this study. This finding indicates a discrepancy with existing theories on HWF sensitivity that depend on its wrapping angle.
Histological and metagenomic analysis of microbial communities in archaeological human bones
Buried archaeological bones tend to be heavily degraded by microorganisms. This type of biodegradation was already identified in the 19 th century and remains a subject of continuous investigation. However, the underlying processes are still not fully understood, and the organisms responsible for the decay have not been clearly identified. Technological advances in genetic sequencing now allow detailed study of the bone microbiome. And yet, identifying the species causing the observed bioerosion has proven challenging. Relatively few studies have combined the investigation of bone degradation by microscopy, so-called histotaphonomy, with metagenomic analyses. This study aims to bridge this gap. We utilize a large set of human bone samples from medieval cemeteries in south-western Norway. Detailed microscopic analyses have been carried out, showing diverse levels of preservation. The extent of bioerosion is correlated with the results from metagenomic analyses as well as environmental factors. Microbiome diversity is greater and more evenly distributed in well-preserved bones with limited bioerosion, particularly those recovered from burials beneath church floors, contrasting with outdoor cemeteries. Fungal taxa were detected in only a single sample in the metagenomic data despite histological evidence of fungal structures, and their role in bone bioerosion remains unclear. Our findings show that preservation state is strongly associated with microbiome composition. The most prevalent genus found was Streptomyces, supporting previous research suggesting that bacteria within this group could be involved in bone bioerosion.
Adaptive mobility-aware hierarchical task offloading for delay-sensitive applications in fog computing
Early tumour size changes from neoadjuvant chemotherapy as a predictor of pathologic response in breast cancer
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is the standard of care for locally advanced, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive, and triple negative breast cancer. While complete pathologic response is associated with improved outcomes, NAC response varies and is only assessed post-surgery. Identifying response earlier can allow for timely treatment personalization, reducing toxicity and costs as well as improving efficacy. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of using early changes in tumour size, as measured by ultrasound during chemotherapy at 6 times, to predict final pathological response to NAC in breast cancer patients. Eligible participants were ≥18 years with biopsy-proven stage l-lll breast cancer who received standard NAC and underwent ultrasound imaging at weeks 0, 1, 4, 8, 12, and 16 during chemotherapy. A modified response grading system based on post-operative histopathological evaluation was used to classify patients as Complete Responders (CR), Partial Responders (PR), Weak Responders (WR), or Non-Responders (NR). Changes in tumour diameter, area, and volume were evaluated as early predictors of final pathologic response. Statistical analysis was performed to assess changes from baseline to each time point across pairs of groups. A total of 106 patients were included. Post-NAC response rates were assessed for each group. CRs displayed steep reductions in diameter, area, and volume in the early weeks of NAC, while PRs showed more consistent and moderate decreases. WRs demonstrated less pronounced reductions, and NRs remained largely unchanged across all time points. Statistical analysis confirmed differences in tumour size changes between CRs and other groups (p < 0.05), supporting the observed trends in diameter, area, and volume reductions. Overall, early changes in tumour size may provide some predictive value for final pathologic response to NAC but are likely insufficient on their own, underscoring the need for more robust predictive markers.
An intelligent cloud firewall framework for multi-cloud security using lstm anomaly detection and federated learning
Laser-Induced Solution–Liquid–Solid Epitaxial Growth of Vertically Aligned Germanium Nanowires
Mycoplasma penetrans methionyl-tRNA synthetase dimerizes via tandem N-terminal ancillary domains
Diverse aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase gene fusions are now recognized as a common mechanism for enhancing genetic diversity across all domains of life. The metS gene from Mycoplasma penetrans is a striking example of such an evolutionary mechanism because although M. penetrans has a condensed genome, the metS gene is nearly twice the size of a typical bacterial gene encoding methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MetRS). We used cryo-EM to analyze the structure of the metS gene product (MpMetRS) to show that it is the fusion of three distinct enzyme domains: an N-terminal domain of unknown function, a dimeric alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase (AGAT), and a MetRS. Only the first two N-terminal domains show two-fold symmetry and were resolved to 3.27 Å resolution; the MetRS domain is only partially resolved to 3.66 Å resolution. Modelling the full structure shows that a rotation of the MetRS domain relative to the AGAT domain must occur to accommodate a tRNA-bound MetRS. Further rearrangement of the catalytic domains would also be necessary to bring the active sites adjacent to one another if this unique assembly of catalytic domains functions to channel substrates to MetRS.
Inhibition of Return without Preparatory Suppression in Spatial Priority Maps
Visual attention is thought to operate via spatial priority maps that enhance attended locations and suppress distractors. While sustained enhancement is well established, whether priority maps can maintain sustained suppression at ignored locations remains unclear. Inhibition of return (IOR), slower responses to previously cued locations, provides a critical test case, as the inhibited state persists during the anticipatory interval before target onset. However, whether IOR reflects priority map suppression or arises from motor-/response-level mechanisms remains debated. We addressed this by combining a spatial cueing paradigm with inverted encoding models applied to EEG data ( N = 24; 12 females, 12 males) to reconstruct spatially selective channel-tuning functions during the anticipatory interval when IOR is behaviorally expressed. Behaviorally, we confirmed robust IOR following nonpredictive peripheral cues, with slower saccadic responses to previously cued locations. Predictive cues produced faster responses and sustained positive tuning at attended locations throughout the anticipatory interval. Reflexive cues, however, showed initial orienting followed by progressive attenuation of spatial tuning, resulting in significantly weaker anticipatory priority than in the predictive condition during the IOR interval. Critically, individual frequency bands did not reveal below-baseline suppression at cued locations during IOR. Furthermore, although placeholders modulated behavioral IOR magnitude and spatial extent, they did not influence anticipatory spatial tuning. These findings indicate that behavioral IOR arises independently of sustained suppression in cortical spatial priority maps, suggesting inhibition operates via motor-/response-level mechanisms or coding schemes not captured by population-level spatial tuning. Our results challenge that behavioral suppression reflects anticipatory reconfiguration of spatial priority.
A novel three-phase switched capacitor multilevel inverter for PV applications
Abstract This article introduces a new, compact $$\:3-\varnothing\:$$ , 5-level (line-to-line) switched-capacitor multilevel inverter (5 L-SCMLI) design. This design can automatically balance its capacitor voltages and offers a way to increase its voltage gain. There is no extra magnetic circuit or DC-DC boost converter needed to accomplish a voltage gain of two in the proposed topology (PT). The PT is more efficient and cost-effective since it synthesizes 5-levels (line-to-line) using only five switches, two capacitors and one diode. A detailed comparison with current SCMLI structures shows the PT benefits. The extensive simulation and experimental studies have been conducted to validate the PT effectiveness and assess the efficacy of the proposed technique. The PT stands out as the most cost-effective design at only 54.59 USD with an efficiency 97.81%. This work aligns with SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) by proposing a cost-effective, high-efficiency multilevel inverter that enhances energy conversion and supports sustainable power electronics systems.
Coping strategies and perceived burden among caregivers of frail elderly with mental disorders attending teaching hospital: A cross-sectional study
Caregivers of frail elderly with mental illness undergo various practical problems, however, adaptive coping skills help to reduce perceived caregiver burden. This study aimed to identify the coping strategies and perceived burden among caregivers of frail elderly with mental disorders. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 129 conveniently selected caregivers of frail elderly with mental disorders at Patan Hospital. Data were collected using a face-to-face interview technique. The Nepali versions of Brief Cope (28 items) and Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI-22 items) were used to assess coping skills and burden respectively. Descriptive and statistical tests (Chi-square, Pearson’s correlation, and Logistic regression) were used to inferential analysis using SPSS version 16. Caregivers most commonly used problem-focused (29.19 ± 3.09; p = 0.112) and emotion-focused (33.16 ± 4.91; p = 0.057) coping strategies. Nearly half of the caregivers (48.1%) reported little/no burden, while 15.5% reported severe burden in terms of personal strain (35.96 ± 25.96) and role strain (30.13 ± 33.54). Gender (𝑋 2 = 6.630; p = 0.01), type of family (𝑋 2 = 8.420; p = 0.004) and employment status of caregivers (𝑋 2 = 4.069; p = 0.044) were significantly associated with the level of perceived burden. The study found no significant correlation between coping strategies and burden, however, the direction of correlation suggested an inverse correlation between problem-focused coping and burden (r = −0.141; p = 0.112). Effective coping strategies, especially problem-focused coping strategies, can help minimize caregiver burden. However, caregivers living in nuclear families are more likely to experience higher levels of burden. These findings highlights the need for targeted support and counseling services to assist caregivers and reduce their overall burden.
Motor-to-Limbic Design of Direct Synaptic Communication between Dopamine Neurons in the Midbrain
Midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons are diverse with distinct subpopulations being essential for key functions of the brain: nigrostriatal DA neurons for voluntary movement and mesolimbic DA neurons for learning from reward prediction errors. In addition to being primarily associated with distinct senso-motor or limbic cortical-striatal circuits, DA subpopulations also directly communicate with each other via local DA release in the midbrain. While the inhibitory synaptic nature of this dopamine-to-dopamine signaling has been well established, the pre- and postsynaptic identity and logic of connectivity among DA subpopulations are still unresolved. To fill this gap, we combined retrograde tracing with projection-specific optogenetic stimulation of DA neurons and patch-clamp recordings in vitro in the adult mouse of either sex. We functionally identified a unidirectional, motor-to-limbic design of the DA synapse in the midbrain. This motor-to-limbic negative feedback connection in the midbrain was independently confirmed by monosynaptic rabies tracing of projection-defined DA subpopulations. This DA synapse might complement the limbic-to-motor striato-nigro-striatal feedforward architecture of the basal ganglia.
Fractional-order Klein-Gordon nonlocal model for thermo-elasto-diffusion in porous medium
Regional trends and forecasting of under-five child mortality in Bangladesh: A mixed method approach of Functional ANOVA and Bayesian spatiotemporal modeling
Background This study aims to estimate historical under-five mortality rates from 1990 to 2022 across the eight divisions of Bangladesh, analyze regional disparities, and forecast under-five mortality rates trends up to 2030 considering both temporal and spatial dynamics. Methods A cross-sectional study design was employed, utilizing nationally representative data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2022. The study included 64,697 records of children representing births from eligible women with full birth history across the eight divisions of Bangladesh. The dataset spans 33 years, enabling a detailed examination of under-five mortality rates trends at the sub-national level. The analysis included historical under-five mortality rates estimation and Functional ANOVA was conducted to explore regional disparities, while a Bayesian Spatiotemporal model was employed to forecast under-five mortality rates trends up to 2030. The permutation F-test was used to assess the statistical significance of the regional differences. Results The permutation F test conclude that while regional differences in child mortality rates were not globally significant over the entire period from 1990 to 2022, significant disparities did emerge during specific years (early 1990s and late 2010s). Barishal, Rangpur, and Sylhet showed high variability in under-five mortality rates reductions in the early 1990s, while Dhaka and Khulna exhibited more consistent progress. ICAR spatial effects indicate that Sylhet and Rangpur, have slower reductions, highlighting persistent challenges in these areas despite national progress. Additionally, spatiotemporal modeling indicates all divisions in Bangladesh show significant reductions from 1990 to 2022, with Sylhet consistently having the highest rates and Khulna the lowest. Projections indicate a plateauing trend, with most divisions nearing the sustainable development goal target of 25 deaths per 1000 live births by 2030, though Sylhet and Rangpur may require additional interventions. Conclusions Future strategies should focus on reinforcing healthcare infrastructure, enhancing maternal and child health services, and reducing socioeconomic inequalities to achieve faster improvements in high-mortality regions. Targeted interventions in these areas are necessary to achieve the SDG target by 2030, thereby improving child health outcomes nationwide.
Genetically Encoded Constitutive Upregulation of β2 Subunit-Containing Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Is Neuroprotective in Female Parkinsonian Mice
Parkinson's disease is projected to rise to pandemic proportions by 2050, which has resulted in an urgent need for disease-modifying treatments. We previously showed that in a mouse model of parkinsonism with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) injection into the dorsolateral striatum, low doses of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) partial agonist and smoking cessation drug, cytisine, exert neuroprotection in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) dopaminergic (DA) neurons of only female mice by reducing endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and that cytisine-mediated neuroprotection requires 17β-estradiol. Although these data suggest that neuroprotection might occur via cytisine-mediated upregulation of β2 subunit-containing (β2*) nAChRs in SNc DA neurons and upregulation of ER exit sites (ERES), there is no direct evidence to support this idea. Therefore, this study asks the question of whether β2* nAChR upregulation without nicotinic ligands can exert neuroprotection in a preclinical mouse model of 6-OHDA–induced parkinsonism. To address this, we generate a novel β2-upregulated transgenic mouse line with constitutive upregulation of β2* nAChRs, without the need for nicotinic ligands. Surprisingly, only female β2-upregulated mice demonstrate ERES upregulation in SNc DA neurons and showed significant neuroprotection against 6-OHDA–induced parkinsonism using four independent readouts, viz., contralateral apomorphine-induced rotations, preservation of SNc DA neurons, inhibition of the proapoptotic ER stress protein, C/EBP homologous protein, and glial fibrillary acidic protein expression in SNc astrocytes. The novel transgenic β2-upregulated mice characterized in this study will provide a valuable tool for understanding the role of nAChR upregulation in major neurological disorders such as addiction, anxiety, depression, and dementia.
Gene clock predicts time to death in humans — and assesses ‘biological’ age
Shotgun metagenomic mapping of saliva reveals insights into diversity and function of the oral microbiome in pregnancy
Abstract The oral microbiome is a complex and dynamic microecosystem that fluctuates continually throughout the lifespan of a woman. Nevertheless, the function of the oral microbiome in reproductive health is not yet fully understood. Monitoring oral health and providing necessary dental care before and during pregnancy could help maintain a balanced oral microecology and support healthier microbial transfer to newborns. Here, we aimed to compare the salivary microbiome of pregnant and non-pregnant women using shotgun metagenomics to describe their taxonomic and functional composition and assess whether the resulting data is better explained by the reproductive stage. We conducted a comparative cross-sectional study involving pregnant women (n = 71; gestational age 37–42 weeks) and non-pregnant women (n = 143 with regular menstrual cycles; 3 saliva samples per participant across different menstrual phases). Shallow shotgun metagenomic sequencing was used to characterize both taxonomic and functional profiles of the oral microbiome. Socransky’s color complex analysis was performed to assess group differences in key microbial complexes. Quantitative PCR was used to validate the abundance of selected oral bacteria. Participant data, including demographic, behavioral, clinical, and oral health variables (such as dentist visits), were collected and incorporated as covariates to adjust for potential confounding effects. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis was performed by excluding participants with identified behavioral or clinical risk factors. Ten phyla including Actinomycetota, Bacteroidota, Chloroflexota Bacillota, Fusobacteriota, Pseudomonadota, Spirochaetota, Synergistota Candidatus Saccharimonadota and Mycoplasmatota, 102 genera, and 410 species were identified. Pregnant women had lower saliva microbiome diversity, driven by reduced richness but unchanged evenness. The microbial composition varied between the groups, even after adjusting for confounding factors. Differential abundance analysis, adjusted for potential confounders, identified 25 species that significantly differed between groups (q < 0.05), with 13 taxa more than three-fold higher in pregnant women. Notably, red complex species were more abundant in pregnant women (p < 0.05). Functional pathway analysis identified 40 modules that differed by pregnancy status. These results further suggest a connection between pregnancy and changes to the oral microbiome in women. As many of these changes are in a pro-inflammatory direction, further research is warranted to assess its potential impact on pregnant women and their newborns.