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AIoT-infused sustainable commerce architecture integrating adaptive green intelligence and autonomous audit pipelines for sustainable operations

Contextualizing research on Latino population health: Commentary on Goldman and Pebley

The feeling of “Urami”: A structural topic modeling approach

“ Urami ” is the negative emotional state that one experiences when treated unfairly by others. While similar to anger, it differs in various ways, such as in its long-term persistence. Empirical studies on urami have suggested that it comprises factors such as feelings of injustice, unforgiveness, and helplessness. However, the generalizability of its factor structure is questionable because most previous studies were based on small sample sizes. In this study, free descriptive responses regarding urami and anger provided by 489 participants (aged 19–72 years) were quantified and analyzed using structural topic modeling, a type of natural language processing algorithm. The results revealed the topics that compose the conceptual structure and the situations in which urami occurs, as well as the relationships between some grouped situations and individual traits, such as narcissism. Furthermore, comparing the conceptual structure and situational occurrences of urami and anger based on quantitative criteria revealed unique elements of urami, such as emotional persistence. These elements are particularly likely to occur when one is victimized by a close other.

Levels of acylated and deacylated ghrelin are elevated in unmedicated patients with major depressive disorder and obesity: a cross-sectional study

A human cardiomyocyte screen identifies optimized lipid nanoparticles for in vivo cardiac gene editing

RNA therapeutics offer promising potential for treating heart disease; however, their clinical application has been limited by insufficient cardiac delivery. Here, we developed a screening platform using human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) to identify human cardiotropic lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). By screening a chemically diverse LNP library, we identified a lead LNP, 18:1 TAP10, with potent human cardiac transfection capability. Using the Ai14 LoxP-Stop-LoxP-tdTomato reporter mouse model, we assessed 18:1 TAP10 LNP delivery of Cre mRNA in vivo via four administration routes (intravenous, intrathoracic, intracoronary, and intramyocardial (IM)) and found that each administration path enabled both the spatial distribution and cellular tropism in the heart to varying degrees. While all routes achieved robust transfection across non-CM populations (up to 40% in endothelial cells), IM injection notably enabled substantial CM transfection (36% at injection site, 13% distally). To demonstrate therapeutic potential, 18:1 TAP10 LNPs were used to deliver adenine base editor (ABE) components to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patient-derived hiPSC-CMs, resulting in 80% on-target gene correction and restoration of dystrophin expression. In a humanized DMD mouse model, we observed dystrophin-positive cardiomyocytes in the injected left ventricle following IM administration of LNP-ABE. This work establishes a human cell-based platform for discovering organ-tropic delivery vehicles and highlights LNPs as a potential modality for therapeutic mRNA delivery and gene editing in the heart.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice on blood donation among undergraduate first-year engineering students in Nepal

Background Blood donation is essential for healthcare, yet maintaining a safe supply remains a challenge in low- and middle-income countries like Nepal. While university students are a key donor demographic, data on engineering students—a group with distinct academic profiles—is limited. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding blood donation and identified the associated factors of these domains among first-year engineering students in Nepal. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between April and June 2022 among 191 students at the Pulchowk Engineering Campus, Tribhuvan University. Data were collected via a structured online questionnaire. Associated factors of knowledge and attitude (continuous scores) were identified using multivariable linear regression, while associated factors of donation practice were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. Results The mean knowledge score was 13.91 (±3.81) out of 23, and the median attitude score was 7.00 (IQR: 1.00). Although attitudes were highly favorable, actual donation practice was low (16.8%). Multivariable linear regression showed that male students had significantly lower knowledge scores than females (B = −1.26, p = 0.048), and knowledge was the sole significant associated factor with positive attitudes (B = 0.04, p = 0.025). Logistic regression revealed that age ≥ 20 years (OR = 2.83, p = 0.030) and being male (OR = 4.20, p = 0.029) were strongly associated factors of donation practice, while civil engineering students were less likely to donate than those in other programs (OR = 0.38, p = 0.024). The primary barriers reported were “no specific reason” and “lack of opportunity.” Conclusion A descriptive “knowledge-practice gap” exists among engineering students. While females are more knowledgeable, males are more likely to donate. Interventions should move beyond general awareness toward structural mobilization, such as regular on-campus donation drives, to convert high ideological support into active practice.

Distinct molecular profile in Sjögren’s syndrome is associated with disease activity and clinical manifestations

Extremism does not stop at borders, and neither should our models

Incidence and factors associated with reoperation after rotator cuff repair in Korea: A nationwide cohort study

Introduction With the growing interest in rotator cuff repair (RCR), substantial evidence on factors associated with reoperation is crucial for decision-making. This retrospective longitudinal cohort study aimed to investigate the rate of rotator cuff reoperation after repair in Korea and identify factors associated with reoperation while considering the medical services implemented in Korea using the Korean National Health Insurance Database from 2011 to 2021. Methods Reoperation rates in patients who underwent RCR during a 3.5-year follow-up period were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier analysis. Pre-, intra-, and post-operative factors were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression model analyses. Results This study included 221,361 patients, among whom 15,089 (6.82%) underwent rotator cuff reoperation during the follow-up period, reflecting mid- to long-term reoperation (6 months to 3.5 years after surgery), rather than overall surgical failure. Sex, age, health insurance type, healthcare institution type, comorbidities, primary RCR type, arthroscopy use, primary diagnosis of primary RCR, and time to the first outpatient visit for Korean medicine healthcare or conventional medical healthcare were associated with rotator cuff reoperation. Conclusion Our results may help perioperative decision-making and postoperative management strategies related to reoperation risk, while considering patient characteristics, and may support counselling regarding the timing of postoperative care.

LC–MS/MS-based metabolomic profiling of Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels identifies key phytochemicals associated with α-amylase inhibition and antioxidant activity

Abstract Indian blackberry ( Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels) possesses immense pharmacological potential. However, understanding the phytochemicals responsible for its biological activities requires detailed characterization of its metabolite composition and associated bioactivities. This study provides a comprehensive LC–MS/MS-based profiling of bioactive compounds and sugars in three contrasting genotypes (PCJ-9, 15, 17) across pulp and seed tissues. We quantified 49 metabolites and identified distinct tissue-specific fingerprints using OPLS-DA (Q 2  = 0.756–0.988). Seeds were enriched with phenolics (rutin, gallic acid), while pulp dominated in anthocyanins and soluble sugars. Correlation analysis revealed that total flavonoid content (TFC), particularly catechin, along with the phenolic acid protocatechuic acid, was strongly associated with antioxidant and α-amylase inhibitory activities ( r  = 0.95–0.97), compared with total phenolic content. The small-seeded PCJ-15 genotype emerged as the most promising genotype based on its phytochemical composition and in vitro antioxidant and α-amylase inhibitory activities. KEGG pathway analysis revealed a metabolic “hub” in flavonoid biosynthesis and identified a significant inverse correlation between primary sugar accumulation and secondary metabolite synthesis ( r  <  − 0.70). These findings suggest that S. cumini may serve as a rich natural source of bioactive phytochemicals with significant antioxidant and α-amylase inhibitory properties. The observed phytochemical and bioactivity profiles highlight its potential for functional food and nutraceutical applications targeting metabolic disorders.

IglF mediates type VI secretion system spike assembly and promotes <i>Francisella</i> virulence

Type VI secretion systems (T6SSs) are widely distributed among Gram-negative bacteria, where they mostly act to promote bacterial warfare. Bacteria from the Francisella genus possess T6SSs that phylogenetically diverge from all other T6SSs and constitute the T6SSii subtype. Francisella tularensis, the agent of tularemia, relies on its T6SS to secrete effectors into host cells. Despite the key role of this nanomachine in Francisella virulence, the structure of T6SSii and the mechanism underlying its assembly are still poorly understood. Here, using Francisella novicida , we focused on understanding the structure and assembly of the spike, the most apical T6SS complex coupling effector delivery and membrane-puncturing activity. We solved the structure of the protein of unknown function, IglF, in complex with the N-terminal domain of IglG, the T6SSii PAAR protein. Interaction between IglF and IglG enabled the assembly of a mature T6SS spike complex both in Francisella and in a heterologous expression system. In contrast, disrupting IglF:IglG interactions prevented assembly of the PAAR protein with the central spike complex and invalidated T6SS assembly, as visualized by monitoring T6SS dynamics or secretion. Accordingly, IglF:IglG interactions were required for F. novicida virulence in vitro and in a mouse model of tularemia. Altogether, our findings shed light on the assembly mechanism of the Francisella T6SSii spike complex and its importance in virulence.

Quantum-inspired pedestrian mobility modeling: Applying probabilistic spatial simulation to urban walkability and thermal comfort in Sri Lanka

Urban pedestrian movement is inherently uncertain, shaped by built form, microclimate, and time-varying crowding. This study develop a quantum-inspired probabilistic framework that models pedestrian presence as a spatial probability field derived from a composite potential integrating static structure (connectivity, crossings, barriers, visibility, points of interest) and dynamic drivers (crowd density, shade/thermal exposure). Applying the method to University Junction, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, the study discretizes the domain to 5 m cells and 15-minute time bins, estimate factor weights via variational minimization, and solve an eigen-problem to obtain probability maps. The model reproduces diurnal reconfiguration of flows, concentrating midday probabilities in shaded, connected corridors and reducing presence on exposed verges. Link-level validation shows strong agreement with observed shares (Pearson’s r ≈ 0.77 evening; ≈ 0.71–0.77 across periods) and realistic spatial autocorrelation. Scenario tests (temporary barriers, event footprints) re-equilibrate the probability field without retraining, revealing predictable re-routing to substitute corridors. Compared with a Boltzmann-type classical model and a space-syntax predictor, the proposed approach achieves higher fit and better spatial realism by explicitly encoding climate comfort and crowding. The framework yields policy-ready maps that support shade investment, crossing consolidation, and operational crowd management, providing an interpretable and transferable tool for assessing, managing, and allocating pedestrian space under uncertainty.

Dynamic analysis of the fractional distributed delay models

Abstract In this paper, we analyze the stability of the fractional distributed delay models. We use the linear chain trick to convert these models into an incommensurate fractional order systems. We get the stability regions by studying the characteristic equation around equilibrium points. We investigate how the fractional order $$\alpha _{1}$$ , $$\rho$$ and a affect the stability of the models. We study the fractional order delay logistic equation and compare the influence of the distributed delay on the stability regions. Numerical simulations are exhibited to confirm the analytical results.

The functional impact of LGI1 autoantibodies on human CA3 pyramidal neurons

Autoantibodies against leucine-rich glioma inactivated 1 protein (LGI1) lead to limbic encephalitis, a rare neurological autoimmune disorder characterized by faciobrachial dystonic seizures and memory deficits. While animal models provide precious insights into the mechanisms of LGI1 autoantibody action, species-specific confirmation is lacking. In this study, we investigated the effects of patient-derived LGI1 monoclonal antibodies (LGI1 mAb) on CA3 pyramidal neurons using cultured ex vivo human hippocampal slices, providing a unique platform to study disease mechanisms in a homologous, clinically relevant context. Under incubation conditions, human CA3 neurons preserved their morphology, were intrinsically excitable and received spontaneous excitatory currents with large amplitudes and frequencies suggestive of “giant” AMPA receptor-mediated currents. In slices exposed to LGI1 mAb, human CA3 pyramidal neurons displayed increased action potential (AP) firing frequency, mirroring the effects observed with the K v 1.1 channel blocker dendrotoxin-K (DTX-K). This increase likely resulted from a decreased K v 1.1 channel activity at the axonal initial segment, as indicated by alterations in AP properties, including spike latency at rheobase and depolarizing ramp slope. Differences between LGI1 mAb and DTX-K effects on some AP properties suggested distinct mechanisms of action and emphasized the need for further exploration of downstream pathways. Our findings underscore the importance of species-specific confirmatory studies of disease mechanisms and give insight into possibilities and limitations of human hippocampal slice cultures as a translational model for the investigation of disease mechanisms beyond epilepsy, including the effects of pharmacological compounds and autoantibodies.

How do recommender systems learn political opinions? A semi-synthetic step-by-step experiment

Recommendations play a crucial role in shaping informational diets on social media, raising concerns regarding potential consequences such as political segregation. We take an algorithm explanability approach, as opposed to a description of recommendations, to show how recommenders inadvertently create geometrical representations of the ideological position of users with minimal and ubiquitous platform data, and how this impacts content diets. In comparison to work showing the existence of ideological structures in machine representations, we provide a step-by-step causal explanation of their formation. To achieve this, we compute synthetic recommendations with a model trained on real-world data from a panel of nearly 40 thousand X users and the contents they shared on the platform. We show that elementary recommendation principles trained on content dissemination data produce a spatial representation of the Left-Right positions of users in our panel in the recommender, which is also independent of other common attributes, such as age and gender. We explore the consequences of our findings by modifying these ideological representations in the recommender and analyzing the trade-off in resulting recommendations in terms of political leaning, diversity, and relevance of offered contents.

Retraction Note: Mathematical modeling and computation of NM-polynomial indices for physicochemical properties prediction

How rising ICE activity influences the childcare workforce

Immigrants play a critical role in the US childcare workforce, yet little is known about how immigration enforcement shapes employment in this essential sector. We study how the sharp escalation in community-based Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity following President Trump’s inauguration in early 2025 affected childcare employment in the United States. Monthly data from the Current Population Survey are linked to compiled state-level ICE arrest records from September 2023 through September 2025, to ask how changes in enforcement intensity influence employment across childcare settings that differ in regulation and visibility. We find that increased ICE activity led to significant declines in employment among foreign-born women, with effects concentrated in center-based settings that are highly regulated and publicly visible. At the same time, employment in private household childcare increased, consistent with a reallocation toward less visible and less formal arrangements rather than a complete exit from the sector. These effects strengthened markedly after early 2025, a period characterized both by a sharp rise in nonprison ICE arrests and heightened public attention to immigration enforcement. Among native-born women, employment responses are limited in magnitude and confined to a limited number of specific care settings, providing little evidence of broad substitution for foreign-born workers. Overall, the results show that immigration enforcement reshapes not only the size but also the structure of the childcare workforce, with important potential implications for childcare access, labor markets, and families.

Large-scale experimental investigation of biotreated sand column using different grouting pipe configurations

Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) has considerable potential for applications such as soil improvement, erosion control, and heavy metal remediation. However, the extent to which grouting pipe configuration affects treatment performance remains unclear. To address this gap, this study investigated the effects of grouting pipe configuration on the reinforcement behaviour of large-scale biotreated sand columns. Large-scale model tests were conducted using conventional vertical pipes and a newly proposed spiral pipe under different grouting procedures. Calcium carbonate content, unconfined compressive strength, penetration resistance, and microscopic characteristics were analysed to evaluate reinforcement range, spatial uniformity, and treatment depth. The results show that pipe configuration plays a key role in controlling calcium carbonate distribution and reinforcement performance. The one-pipe-injection-extraction configuration produced a limited effective reinforcement radius of about 0.09 m, whereas both the three-injection-one-extraction and spiral-injection-one-extraction configurations increased this value to about 0.15 m. Compared with conventional vertical pipes, the spiral configuration produced a more uniform distribution of calcium carbonate content and strength by reducing local enrichment and weakly treated zones. For the 1.5 m-high specimen, relatively uniform reinforcement was mainly achieved within the upper 0.6 m under the present pressure level. This study provides a practical pipe-layout strategy for improving the uniformity of field-scale MICP treatment and offers useful guidance for the design of bio-grouting systems.

Enhanced antimicrobial and anticancer properties of penicillin G–adapted Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG against colorectal cancer cells

Decadal record of continental H ₂ reservoirs reveals potential for subsurface microbial life and natural H ₂ exploration

Interest in the economic potential for hydrogen for decarbonization and the green energy transition is a recent phenomenon. Major questions remain concerning the concentrations, volumes, and sustainability of potential reservoirs, as projections to date are largely theoretical models rather than empirical data. This study integrates previously unpublished long-term data for natural hydrogen production from serpentinization and radiolysis, with research carried out during investigations of the deep subsurface biosphere. The results provide constraints on the volume of natural hydrogen available in the crust and the rates of potential discharge. Discharge rates of &gt;140 tonnes of hydrogen per year from a site in Canada suggest ~4.7 million kwH of energy from hydrogen per year could be available from a single mine location. These data indicate that large discharges of hydrogen may be sustainable in the long-term based on monitoring to date from 1 to &gt;10 y. Calculations from this study site show that the amount of locally generated energy has economic value for both industries and communities located on hydrogen-producing rock. Given that &gt;70% of the continental crust has the potential for hydrogen generation, such local/regional use of this energy source is an unexplored opportunity, in addition expanding our understanding of the habitability of Earth and beyond. We present an alternative vision for the hydrogen economy that can address some of the current challenges arising from the focus to date, that has been largely based on transportation of hydrogen over long distances from source location to markets.