Browse Articles

Liquid or solid? Oobleck droplets are both

Linking satellite-derived vegetation health parameters to arborist ground observations in urban environment

Transport and inhibition mechanisms of human glycine transporter 2

Enhancing EFL reading proficiency through mediated learning: Impacts on cognitive and metacognitive strategies

This study explored the impact of teacher educators’ mediation on the development of cognitive and metacognitive strategies to foster autonomous learning in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) reading skills among freshman pre-service teacher trainees. Additionally, it investigated how these strategies influenced reading performance. A mixed-methods quasi-experimental design was conducted at Kotebe University of Education, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with 80 first-year social science students randomly assigned to experimental (n = 40) and control (n = 40) groups. The experimental group received targeted mediation from an experienced English instructor, while the control group underwent traditional instruction. Data were gathered via reading proficiency tests, questionnaires, and classroom observations, analyzed using descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, percentages), inferential statistics (t-tests), and thematic analysis for qualitative insights. Findings revealed that mediation significantly enhanced the experimental group’s use of cognitive and metacognitive strategies, promoting self-regulation and independent learning in EFL reading. The experimental group outperformed the control group in reading proficiency tests, with Cohen’s d indicating a large effect size. The study underscores the efficacy of mediated teaching in developing cognitive and metacognitive skills, fostering learner autonomy, and boosting academic success. It recommends that EFL instructors adopt mediation strategies to enhance students’ learning strategies and reading performance.

Reviving CD2 signaling to boost CAR T-cell therapy

Long-term adaptation pathways for Venice and its lagoon under sea-level rise

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and infection elicit cross-neutralizing responses against clade 3 and 4 sarbecoviruses

Abstract Two sarbecoviruses, SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 that engage ACE2 through their receptor-binding domains, have caused major human outbreaks. The pandemic potential of sarbecoviruses has prompted the discovery and classification of bat and other zoonotic sarbecoviruses that are also able to use human ACE2 or ACE2 ortholog receptors for infection. However, the current human immunological landscape reactive to these SARS-CoV-2-related viruses is not well profiled. Using a panel of pseudotyped lentiviruses expressing only spike proteins, we assess serum neutralization activity against clade 3 and 4 (also designated as clade 1c) receptor binding domain classified sarbecoviruses in a cohort who received a primary series of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines as well as individuals before and after infection with BA.5 or XBB.1.5 variants. Detectable neutralizing responses against clade 3 and 4 sarbecoviruses are observed in both vaccinees and convalescents and are comparable in magnitude to titers against SARS-CoV-2 variants. Infection with XBB.1.5 increases neutralization titers against SARS-CoV-2 variants as well as against clade 3 and 4 sarbecoviruses. Collectively, our findings suggest that the current immunologic landscape of vaccination and infection may confer some level of immunity against a variety of clade 3 and 4 sarbecoviruses, which should inform future pandemic response and pan-sarbecovirus countermeasure efforts.

Optimization problem of bike-sharing system rebalancing based on dynamic pricing

Bike-Sharing Systems (BSS) help address first- and last-mile travel challenges. As a limited public resource, the current pricing mechanism fails to fully exploit the service potential of bike-sharing or adequately capture heterogeneous user price sensitivity. We propose a Dynamic pricing-based Stochastic Demand-Response Optimization (DSDRO) method to address this gap. The method balances service fairness under varying demand stickiness while maximizing enterprise resource utilization. The DSDRO framework leverages spatiotemporal patterns in bike-sharing demand data and introduces a dynamic pricing model that differentiates user demand stickiness. This model is embedded in a two-stage allocation-rebalancing formulation. An improved Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm enhanced with Large-scale Neighborhood Search (PSO-LNS) is designed to solve the model, yielding the optimal bike allocation and dispatch routes at each node. Numerical experiments based on real operational data validate the proposed approach. Compared to a traditional genetic algorithm baseline, DSDRO increases expected revenue by 15.51% and net profit by 24.18% under identical resource conditions. An ablation study shows that dynamic pricing alone increases revenue by over 300% relative to fixed pricing, while the LNS component reduces rebalancing cost by 76.21% relative to pure PSO. Algorithm stability is confirmed through 10 independent runs, with all performance metrics exhibiting a coefficient of variation below 5%. These results suggest that DSDRO shows promise in improving the utilization of bike-sharing resources, though further validation across diverse operational contexts is needed before broader conclusions can be drawn.

Chronic ITP prediction model

Decoding the therapeutic promise of Solanum trilobatum in oral submucous fibrosis: a network pharmacology, docking, and bioactivity study

The olivine-ringwoodite transformation triggers deep slab seismicity and rheological weakening

Abstract The subducting cold oceanic plates (slabs) exhibit two paradoxical deformation behaviors: deep seismicity and rheological weakening within the mantle transition zone (MTZ, ~400–700 km depths). Although the transformation of metastable olivine wedge (MOW) 1,2 in cold slabs has been proposed as a possible trigger for both behaviors 3–10 , direct experimental evidence remains limited to understand the processes linking them. Here we report experimental results on the transformation-deformation coupling at MTZ pressures (~20 GPa). Ringwoodite is produced as nano-polycrystalline lamellae (NPL) under uniaxial stress. Thin NPL trigger unstable slips with coseismic stress drops by grain-size sensitive creep coupled with thermal instability at ~760–860 °C. Thickening of NPL at ~950–1,330 °C stabilizes the deformation with enhancing the transformation utilizing their incoherent nature. Thus, the formation of NPL and their grain-size sensitive creep play key roles in temperature-dependent transformation-deformation coupling, which explains both deep seismicity near the MOW and rheological weakening outside the MOW.

Retraction: Community’s perceived high risk of coronavirus infections during early phase of epidemics are significantly influenced by socio-demographic background, in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia: A cross-sectional -study

The singularity of IGHV4-34 links infection, autoimmunity, and B-cell tumors

Abstract B cells expressing the IGHV4-34 gene sit at the center of a web of B-cell functions, ranging from natural antibodies induced by infection to autoimmunity and tumors. Tracking via the 9G4 monoclonal antibody (MoAb) specifically directed against the unique flag sequences in the first framework region 1 (FR1) of IGHV4-34, allows insight into the evolving nature and multiple functions of B cells expressing a single IGHV gene. IGHV4-34+ B cells are found early in development, and the expansion indicative of a superantigenic drive occurs with increasing age. IGHV4-34+ B cells secrete immunoglobulin M (IgM) in various hematologic conditions, including the mandatory association with cold agglutinins, and the transient expansions of usage (not always overt agglutination) are observed in Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and other infections. Perhaps connected to that, certain autoimmune conditions, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, show increases in IGHV4-34 expression, which correlate with disease flares. Intriguingly, there is preferential usage of IGHV4-34 in a wide range of lymphomas and in the IgG variant of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, suggestive of an autoantigenic drive. Structurally, both the interaction of the 9G4 MoAb and the ability of the IGHV4-34–encoded protein to bind to N-acetyl lactosamine–containing sequences, rely on hydrophobic amino acids located in 2 positions of the looped FR1 sequence of the variable domain. This offers a focused site for blockade. IGHV4-34 is a paradigm of the plasticity of B cells, of interaction with potential autoantigens, and of their subversion in tumors.

Contribution of the anterior lateral motor cortex to predictive postural control in rats

High-strength liquid metal composite–hydrogel interfaces enable robust stretchable electronics

Effect of a 3-week program of cane training and use on gait of individuals with Parkinson’s disease: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Introduction Although studies examining the immediate effects of cane use in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) have reported negative outcomes, the efficacy and safety of structured training programs for assistive device use remain to be investigated. Furthermore, the limited evidence regarding patient-reported outcomes hinders the implementation of patient-centered, evidence-based practices in prescribing assistive devices for this population. Objective To investigate the effect of cane training and use on gait speed (primary outcome), gait confidence, cadence, step length, functional mobility, freezing of gait, fear of falls, and satisfaction with the use of a cane (secondary outcomes) in individuals with PD. Materials and methods A double-blind, randomized controlled trial will be carried out. A total of 26 individuals with PD will be randomly divided into two groups: (1) cane training and use (experimental group) or (2) global stretches and health education (time and attention controlled group). The intervention will be provided in four sessions lasting 40 minutes each, spaced over 15 to 22 days. Individuals will be instructed to use a cane (experimental group) or perform stretching exercises (time and attention-controlled group) daily, starting from the first day of training. Assessments will be conducted at the beginning of the study (week 0), post-intervention (week 3, post-intervention), and one month after the cessation of the intervention (week 8, follow-up). The primary outcome is gait speed. Secondary outcomes include gait confidence, cadence and step length, freezing of gait, functional mobility, fear of falls, and satisfaction with the use of cane. Between-group differences will be measured using a two-way repeated measures ANOVA, following intention-to-treat and per-protocol approaches (α=0.05), Discussion The results of this study may improve the prescription of canes for individuals with PD. If effective, the cane could serve as a simple, low-cost, evidence-based intervention, and the training protocol could be replicated in clinical practice. Clinical trial registration Effect of Training and Use of Cane on Gait in Individuals With Parkinson’s Disease - NCT06950255.

Sympatho-vagal balance and intrinsic sinoatrial node activity in larval zebrafish quantified by heart rate variability

Violation of detailed balance in non-equilibrium magnons observed by inelastic neutron scattering

Abstract Traditional inelastic neutron scattering (INS) characterizes excitations—such as phonons and magnons—in condensed matter systems at thermodynamic equilibrium. However, the most intriguing and puzzling many-body effects in open quantum systems often emerge from dissipative dynamics that are inherently out of equilibrium. Here, we use a combination of laser pumping and INS to experimentally observe long-lived nonequilibrium magnons in a two-dimensional (2D) square-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet. These nonequilibrium magnons manifest themselves as a violation of detailed balance in the dynamic structure factor and reach steady states under periodic driving, analogous to nonequilibrium steady states in driven dissipative systems. Furthermore, we show that the violation of detailed balance reflects the quantum-mechanical nature of the underlying dynamical system, where out-of-time-ordered correlations of creation and annihilation operators do not satisfy commutation relations. The in operando INS technique developed here provides a new approach to studying nonequilibrium magnons in prototypical 2D quantum magnets and can be extended to other systems, including one-dimensional spin chains and topological many-body spin systems, where nonequilibrium effects are widespread and rich in discovery potential.

School bullying and its association with psychological wellbeing: Findings of the Fujian Adolescent Mental Wellness Study (FAMWeS)

Background School bullying is becoming a prevalent phenomenon in China, posing a growing threat to the psychological well-being of children and adolescents. This study aims to examine bullying victimization and bullying behavior using data from FAMWeS (the Fujian Adolescent Mental Wellness Study), and how they impact emotional state and psychological distress. Method The study conducted in entire Fujian Province, China, involved a cross-sectional questionnaire survey on adolescent students from secondary and high schools, employing multi-stage stratified cluster sampling methods from May to July 2023. Primary outcome measures were bullying victimization and bullying behavior. Emotional state was evaluated using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale for Youth (DASS-Y), and psychological distress was assessed using the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12). Results Analysis of 53,157 valid responses revealed that 19.4% of respondents reported being victims of bullying, 9.9% reported engaging in bullying behavior, and 8.2% reported experiencing both bullying victimization and engaging in bullying themselves. A minority were found to have depressive (19.1%), anxiety (22.0%), and stress (9.2%) symptoms. The presence of psychological distress was observed in 54.4% of the participants (GHQ score of 3−12). Significant associations were found between bullying victimization and the DASS-Y subscales of depression, anxiety, and stress. Odds ratios indicated a 1.73 times higher likelihood for depression (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.521.96), 2.24 times higher for anxiety (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.96–2.55), and 1.59 times higher for stress (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.38–1.84). Similarly, psychological distress measured by the GHQ was significantly associated with bullying victimization (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.68–1.86). Bullying behavior also showed significant associations with all DASS-Y subscales and psychological distress. Geographic disparities revealed varying rates across districts, while factors such as age, academic performance, and parental education emerged as significant influences on bullying victimization and behavior. Conclusion The findings underscore a concerning prevalence of bullying victimization and behavior, highlighting the critical need for comprehensive anti-bullying strategies that address both victimization and perpetration dynamics. There is also a clear need for interventions targeting socio-economic disparities across various geographic regions.

Selective Digestive Decontamination — Finding the Way Forward