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Simulation control analysis of a magnetic levitation flywheel rotor system based on a fuzzy PID control algorithm

Qualitative study of walking football participation and wellbeing among caregivers of people living with dementia

Abstract Walking Football (WF) is a modified version of football played at walking pace that was developed to increase physical activity levels in people who do not engage in traditional forms of physical activity. The focus on walking football was initially on people aged 50 and over with conditions such as diabetes, but more recently WF has been studied in people living with dementia. However, research in this area is still limited, particularly when the benefits of WF are explored from the perspective of the caregivers of people living with dementia (PLWD). This study aims to explore the perceptions and experiences of caregivers in terms of the influence of WF in relieving the caregivers’ burden and the quality of life (QOL). The study uses a qualitative approach, with semi-structured interviews held with caregivers of PLWD who participate in WF. Thematic analysis identified five themes relating to caregivers’ experiences: caregiver burden, social interaction, emotional and mental wellbeing, embodied activity and functional engagement, and quality of life. Three themes were identified for people living with dementia: memory recollection, physical activity, and community belonging and peer support. The study highlights that participation in WF sessions may reduce perceived caregiving strain, improve social support, and contribute to caregivers’ overall wellbeing and QOL. The findings suggest that WF may function as a shared psychosocial activity, offering caregivers opportunities for respite, social interaction, and physical activity while supporting the wellbeing of people living with dementia.

XGBoost and SHAP based lymph node ratio thresholds for predicting overall survival in stage I to IIIA NSCLC

Antiviral activity of the aqueous extract of twelve monthly-collections of propolis from Barra do Corda

Coherent quantum noise cancellation for torque sensing using auxiliary coupled Laguerre-Gaussian optorotational cavity

An investigation into rail corrugation evaluation based on fractal theory and explicit finite element method

Failure mechanisms and energy evolution of jointed rock-like materials under triaxial compression: experimental and numerical simulation study

PFL-YOLO: a robust framework for lightweight product damage detection with multi-scale semantic enhancement in unmanned vending systems

Identification of TMEM115 as a tumor suppressor gene and clinical prognostic factor that influences TERT expression in pancreatic cancer

X-ray tomography of damage dynamics in advanced materials using a laser wakefield accelerator

Peptide-enriched hydrogel formulation for sensitive and damaged skin: from design to application testing

Abstract Various factors such as infections, wounds, and comorbidities can disrupt the skin’s physiological function. Moreover, skin lesions can result from radiation therapy. We aimed to create a new cosmetic formulation with pro-regenerative properties that is specifically designed for patients with sustained skin damage, such as those who have undergone radiation therapy. In the first stage, NE1 and IM2 peptides were synthesized, and hydrogels were prepared. IM2 is a derivative of the IM peptide, while NE1 contains the bioactive GHK sequence. In the next stage physicochemical analyses were conducted, including the evaluation of peptide stability and the developed composition’s microbial purity and packaging compatibility. In addition, in vitro safety and activity assessments were implemented on human skin cells. In the final step, dermatological tests were conducted on the participants. The results indicate that the cosmetic composition is stable, possesses preservative properties, and is safe in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Peptide release studies show that within the first hours, approximately 75–80% of each peptide is released, ensuring a rapid onset of action. Analysis of cell migration indicate that both p407 and the designed composition stimulate migration of HaCaT keratinocytes in vitro. Dermatological tests did not show any irritant and sensitizing properties. Application analyses revealed that the designed composition effectively moisturizes and takes care of sensitive skin, alleviates redness and the effects of rough skin, eliminates the sensation of itching and the effects of skin tension, and soothes irritation. This formulation can be used for the daily care of sensitive, allergic, or irritated skin.

Voronoi tessellation as a complement or replacement for confidence ellipses in the visualization of data projection and clustering results

Visualizing two-dimensional data projections with group-wise coloring and confidence ellipses is a standard approach in biomedical data analysis. However, this method can obscure subtle group overlaps or atypical cases. Voronoi tessellation, which is widely used in crystallography to analyze local structure, offers a parameter-free geometric alternative that can improve the evaluation of group structure in raw or projected data. We implemented Voronoi tessellation as a plot type for two-dimensional biomedical data and compared it with confidence ellipses on three artificial datasets and three biomedical datasets. For datasets with well-separated classes, both visualization techniques effectively delineated groups. Voronoi tessellation more clearly highlighted cases with points overlapping the opposite group, revealed internal group heterogeneity, and enabled quantification of structural discordance via a Voronoi island count as a visualization-intrinsic metric with no equivalent in confidence ellipse approaches. In datasets with moderate or absent group separation, Voronoi tessellation more effectively exposed the lack of meaningful structure, whereas confidence ellipses more clearly indicated distant outliers. Voronoi tessellation also facilitated the identification of clustering failures. Thus, Voronoi tessellation enhances the detection of deviations from expected group patterns and provides geometric insights that complement statistical summaries from confidence ellipses. Therefore, integrating Voronoi tessellation into standard data analysis workflows is a valuable addition for visualizing biomedical data and supports hypothesis validation and exploratory analyses in both raw data visualization and dimensionality reduction or clustering. An R library “VoronoiBiomedPlot” is available at the Comprehensive R Archive Network (CRAN) at https://cran.r-project.org/package=VoronoiBiomedPlot .

Escape behaviors are transiently modulated after acutely induced epileptic seizures in larval zebrafish

Robust finite-time anti-swing control for quadrotor slung-load system based on compensation function observer

In this work, a robust finite-time anti-swing controller is proposed for the quadrotor slung-load system subject to external disturbances. To stabilize the swing angles of the payload, an energy function incorporating both kinetic energy and potential energy is constructed such that the swing angles gradually converge to zero. Since the swing angle information is integrated into the energy function, the global convergence of the quadrotor slung-load system is improved. Meanwhile, a novel compensation function observer is designed to suppress unknown disturbances, thereby enhancing the robustness of the closed-loop system. Compared with the traditional extended state observer method, the developed compensation function observer achieves a faster convergence rate and higher observation accuracy with a smaller observer gain. To further improve the fast convergence performance of the entire closed-loop system, the finite-time control technique is adopted to design the robust anti-swing flight control scheme based on the Lyapunov stability theory and backstepping approach. This control scheme guarantees that all error signals of the quadrotor slung-load system are uniformly ultimately bounded. Finally, simulation verification is performed and comparison results are provided to illustrate the superior effectiveness of the presented control algorithm.

Factors associated with adherence to gluten-free diet among celiac patients in Palestine: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disease. Since the only treatment is a lifelong strict gluten-free diet (GFD), good adherence is the cornerstone. No research has examined the degree of GFD adherence among CD patients in Palestine and how it impacts the disease activity and prognosis. Therefore, this study aims to determine the level of adherence to GFD among adult patients with (CD) in Palestine, and its association with disease activity, mental health, patients’ awareness, attitude, barriers, lifestyle, and sociodemographic variables. The study involved 137 patients with celiac disease using a cross-sectional design. Participants were recruited from private and governmental clinics, as well as community-based lists and associations. Disease activity was measured using the Celiac Symptom Index (CSI), mental health was measured using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), and knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and barriers were assessed using a structured questionnaire developed by the research team. Adherence level was measured through the participants’ practices section of the questionnaire. A multivariate logistic regression was performed. The mean age of participants was 37.7 ± 13.1 years, and the majority were female (71%). Overall, 36.5% of participants demonstrated high adherence, 61.3% moderate adherence, and 2.2% low adherence. Bivariate analysis showed that symptom burden (CSI), psychosocial distress (GHQ-12), subjective knowledge, attitudes, and barriers related to meal preparation and social situations were significantly associated with adherence ( P  < 0.05). However, multivariate analysis identified a more positive attitude toward a gluten-free diet as the most consistent independent predictor of higher adherence, while the association with male sex was weaker and less stable across sensitivity analyses. A more positive attitude toward a gluten-free diet was the most consistent independent correlate of higher adherence, while the association with male sex was weaker and less stable across sensitivity analyses. These findings underscore the central role of attitudinal factors in shaping adherence and support the development of targeted, culturally sensitive interventions to optimize outcomes in patients with celiac disease.

Correction: Formative research for a pre-operative psychosocial screening program for cardiac surgical patients: The EMBRACE study, a mixed methods knowledge to action protocol

Health-related quality of life among injured farmers in rural Vietnam: an analysis using EQ-5D-5 L

Social capital and its influence on sustainable economic development and natural resource management among ethnic minorities in Phu Tho province, Vietnam

This study investigates the role of social capital in promoting sustainable economic development and natural resource management among ethnic minority communities in Tan Son and Thanh Son districts, Phu Tho province, Vietnam. Located near Xuan Son National Park, these communities depend on natural resources and are increasingly involved in ecotourism. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 355 households through surveys, interviews, and focus groups. Results show high levels of mutual trust (80.6%) and close interpersonal relationships (71%), which facilitate collective action and information sharing. Participation in social organizations – particularly the Farmers’ and Women’s Unions – plays a crucial role in mobilizing community efforts and enhancing environmental awareness. However, information exchange remains mostly within family and ethnic lines, reflecting limited bridging capital. A linear regression model confirms that trust, social ties, and organizational involvement are significantly associated with household participation in forest management. While bonding capital is positively related to internal cohesion, weak external linkages may hinder broader collaboration and innovation. The study found that enhancing social capital, especially bridging and linking forms, is statistically linked to advancements in inclusive and sustainable development in buffer zones of protected areas.

Calcium-molybdenum-cobalt-2-methylimidazole trimetallic organic framework as a saturable absorber for passive mode-locked thulium–holmium doped fiber lasers

A prospective observational study evaluating the short-term effectiveness of residential care for adolescents as “service as usual”: A study protocol

Previous research indicates worse outcomes for children and young people in out-of-home care compared to their peers. To improve the quality of current residential care, research is needed to deepen our understanding of the key factors and mechanisms that explain the effectiveness of residential care on child level. The aim of this study is to evaluate the short-term (i.e., during care) effectiveness of residential care as a child welfare intervention by different service providers. The study includes two pre-specified primary child-level outcomes 1) psychosocial functioning, assessed through the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires (SDQ) including both total difficulties scores and subscales and 2) attainment of individual goals of the child. Secondary outcome measures include improved experiences of emotional warmth and safety (CEWSS-A). Further associations between key characteristics of the residential care unit, the child and outcomes are assessed. The data consist of longitudinal survey data collected from 12–17-year-old children and staff in a total sample of public and private residential care units offering specialized care in three wellbeing services countries in Finland. The baseline (T0) data is collected between 1.4.2025–31.8.2026 with a follow up of 6 and 12 months for each child (T1 and T2). The data is primarily analysed with linear mixed models. Findings explore the short-term effectiveness and change mechanisms of residential care as “service as usual” to understand how it should be organised and produced to improve its ability to meet aims during care. The study design embraces the complexity and changeability on different levels of the residential care setting.