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Investigation on dynamic characteristics of herringbone planetary gear transmission system with staggered tooth phase
Vibration and noise are critical indicators that directly affect the transmission characteristics of planetary gearboxes. Consequently, the suppression of vibration and noise has emerged as a major research focus in this field. This paper investigates the meshing mechanism of herringbone planetary gear systems with staggered tooth phase (STP), and derives the analytical formulation for calculating the time-varying mesh stiffness (TVMS) of such gear configurations. In addition, it examines the correlation between the staggered tooth phase angle (STPA) and the system vibration response, as well as the dynamic effects induced by variations in rotational speed and different types of tooth profile errors. The results demonstrate that the implementation of STP could substantially enhance the vibration characteristics of herringbone planetary gear systems. Furthermore, among various tooth profile errors, the single tooth tangential error (STTE) is identified as the dominant factor governing vibration.
Multivariate analysis of Quercus castaneifolia C.A. Mey based on morphological characterizations
Response duration tracks confidence
The timing of behavioral responses is among the most robust signatures of cognitive processing—with easier, more accurate, and more confident judgments typically made more quickly. But which aspects of response timing carry these signals? Whereas the time taken to initiate a response (e.g., the interval between stimulus onset and keypress) is one of the most popular and informative measures in experimental psychology, another aspect of response timing is its duration (e.g., how long the key is held down before being released). Here, across three preregistered experiments spanning perceptual and higher-cognitive tasks, we demonstrate that response duration reliably predicts subjective confidence, over and above response initiation time. When detecting faces (Experiment 1), judging motion coherence (Experiment 2), and answering trivia questions (Experiment 3), subjects held down a response key longer during trials in which they subsequently reported lower confidence in their judgments, as if making these judgments in a tentative fashion. In all cases, response duration accounted for variance in confidence that was not predicted by response initiation time. Our results suggest that response duration itself carries independent information about cognitive processing, advancing a useful and ubiquitously available tool to complement traditional response time measures in the study of cognition.
Cholesteatoma disease recidivism after canal wall up tympanomastoidectomy with or without obliteration (CLEAR-EAR): A protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Background and rationale Cholesteatoma treatment relies on surgery with disease removal as the primary goal. While canal wall down (CWD) and canal wall up (CWU) tympanomastoidectomy remain standard approaches, mastoid obliteration has gained popularity. Canal wall up preserves ear canal anatomy and adding the obliteration technique suggests lower recurrence and residual rates. However, controversy persists and surgical consensus is lacking. Current decision-making relies on personal experience and patient-related factors rather than high-quality evidence. This study therefore investigates whether CWU with obliteration reduces cholesteatoma recurrence and residual disease compared to CWU without obliteration, by comparing recidivism rates for both interventions. Additionally, complications, hearing outcomes, quality of life and economic evaluation will be assessed. This study will assess long-term outcomes with a follow up of 5 years. Methods This multicentre single-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) will include 178 adults undergoing CWU tympanomastoidectomy for cholesteatoma removal, randomized in a 1:1 ratio to CWU with obliteration or without obliteration. Recurrent or residual disease is assessed by micro-otoscopy at 6–18 weeks and by micro-otoscopy and DW-MRI at one, three, and five years postoperatively. Suspected disease is confirmed during revision surgery when indicated. Secondary outcomes include hearing, complications, quality of life, and economic evaluation. Discussion This is the first prospective RCT comparing CWU with and without obliteration. By establishing the follow-up period at five years, we aim to assess the true rates of recidivism, as literature indicates that most recurrent diseases are detected several years after surgery, with incidence appearing to rise approximately three years postoperatively. Key strengths include comparative hearing outcome assessment, quality of life evaluation, and economic evaluation. This multicentre trial aims to provide high-quality evidence to inform clinical guidelines and support evidence-based decision-making in cholesteatoma treatment. Trial registration Netherlands Trial Register (CCMO): NL86362.041.24. Registered on 13 March 2025.
Loss of TGR5-activating bile acids is associated with disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease
Abstract The gut microbiota communicates extensively with its host through small metabolites, such as bile acids. Primary bile acids are synthesized by the host and secreted into the intestine, where they are actively converted by the microbiota into secondary bile acids. Depending on the resulting bile acid composition, the host’s bile acid receptor, Takeda G protein–coupled receptor 5 (TGR5), is activated and mediates immune tolerance. It has been suggested that a disturbed bile acid profile in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) might lead to inflammation via reduced activation of TGR5. Our study is the first to investigate whether bile acid-induced TGR5 activation differs between healthy individuals and patients with IBD. Bile acid profiles in stool and plasma were quantified by mass spectrometry, and TGR5 bioactivity was assessed from these profiles. In parallel, metagenomic sequencing was performed on fecal samples. We demonstrate that reduced alpha diversity in IBD is associated with a loss of microbial capacity for bile acid transformation, resulting in a significantly decreased secondary-to-primary bile acid ratio (sBA/pBA) in both stool and circulation. TGR5 bioactivity induced by bile acid profiles was substantially reduced in IBD patients, and a lower TGR5 bioactivity correlated with increased inflammatory activity.
Polarons are probes of the dynamic nanoscale environments found in electrochemically doped π-conjugated polymers
Charge carriers (i.e., polarons) in electrochemically doped organic (semi)conductors are proposed to be regulated by several physicochemical features, including the chemical compositions and structures of the π-conjugated frameworks of the semiconductor building blocks, the chemistry of the electrolyte (considering both the salt and solvent), multiscale and time-dependent morphology variations across the material as a function of electrochemical processes, and assorted permutations of these and other factors. To address these hypotheses, we investigate the energetic, optoelectronic, chemical, and local structural properties of negative polarons (radical anions) as a function of electrochemical doping in the donor–acceptor, π-conjugated redox copolymer P(NDI2OD-T2), also referred to as N2200. A critical finding is that there is not just “one type” of polaron in electrochemically doped P(NDI2OD-T2). Rather, an ensemble of polarons exists, with the polarons having optoelectronic signatures that are defined by their nanoscale environments. Importantly, the polaron optical signatures serve as local probes for how the operando electrochemical environments are dynamically working in concert to facilitate charge transport. Collectively, the distinctive and extensive integration of theory and measurement science presented here establishes a baseline for the roles that semiconductor and electrolyte chemistries and dynamic structural features have on polarons in electrochemically doped organic semiconductors and how these factors influence the energetics and rates of polaron transport.
Penalization method to convert Bayesian optimization methods into batch multi-objective Bayesian optimization methods
Bayesian optimization is a surrogate-based global optimization method that is increasingly being used for engineering design. However, most methods are designed to be sequential, and in optimization problems where the functional evaluation can be easily parallelized, batch methods are more effective at reducing real-time computation. While existing batch multi-objective Bayesian optimization (B-MOBO) methods achieve strong performance, they are typically purpose-built from scratch, limiting ability to leverage the extensive library of proven sequential acquisition functions for parallel settings. In this paper, a generalizable transformation methodology is developed that converts compatible single- or multi-objective sequential Bayesian optimization methods into B-MOBO methods. The key innovation is a Euclidean distance-based composite acquisition function with multi-objective penalization averaging, which combines multiple sequential acquisition functions while incorporating objective-wise penalization information from all objectives and preventing redundant sampling in batch selection. To demonstrate the schema, this methodology is applied to two representative sequential acquisition strategies, the expected improvement method (single-objective) and the quality metrics method (multi-objective), to develop two new B-MOBO variants. These new methods are then compared against their sequential counterparts and established B-MOBO methods using both computation time and real-time analysis. Results show that the new B-MOBO methods are as effective as existing methods at solving optimization problems in terms of solution quality and show improvements when real-time is considered.
Early postural dynamics reveal the rapid processing of fake social cues for deceptive actions in sports
Abstract Deceptive actions such as head fakes are a hallmark of interactive sports, yet it is not well understood how decisions and whole-body responses to head fakes unfold over time. In the present study, participants viewed video sequences of a basketball player passing to the left or right, either with or without a head fake. In the buzzer task, participants moved laterally to press a response button as if to intercept the pass. In the vocal task, they verbally indicated pass direction. Reaction times (RTs), movement times (MTs), and medio-lateral center-of-pressure (CoP) displacements were recorded to investigate whether motor output is rapid and stimulus-driven or rather requires continuous integration of fake and pass cues. Further, we investigated whether the mere observation of a basketball player leads to overt micromovements even if no response movement is intended. The data analysis shows that head fakes increased RTs in both the buzzer and vocal tasks. In the buzzer task, head fakes induced an initial, small erroneous CoP shift, which was then rapidly corrected. When CoP trajectories were aligned by head orientation, fake and non-fake trajectories diverged shortly after movement onset. In the present dynamic sport-related context, this pattern is more compatible with the early integration of head and pass information than with a strictly sequential prime-target account, although the paradigm differs from classic Rapid Chase Theory designs with discrete primes and target events. In the vocal task, participants were not instructed to move, yet CoP traces showed tiny but systematically lateralized micromovements with a temporal structure resembling that in the buzzer task, albeit without an initial erroneous shift for head fakes. These postural fluctuations are consistent with action-observation-related motor activation, although they do not uniquely identify motor resonance and may also reflect attentional or generalized embodied response tendencies. A clear deceptive response conflict at the postural level emerged only when a lateralized action was prepared.
Correction for Sudhakar et al., Human tumstatin and human endostatin exhibit distinct antiangiogenic activities mediated by αvβ3 and α5β1 integrins
The future of births via medically assisted reproduction in Italy:Scenarios to 2050
Delayed childbearing is increasingly common in high-income societies, contributing to rising demand for medically assisted reproduction (MAR). This paper presents nine possible scenarios of the future share of MAR births on the total number of births in Italy, a country internationally known for its latest-late mean age at childbearing. We combined the latest (2023) official data and three hypotheses on the evolution of maternal mean age at childbirth (no change, slow ageing, rapid ageing) with three hypotheses on the age-specific MAR-related fertility rates (no change, moderate increase, rapid increase). Our projections indicate that changes in the age structure of women of reproductive age will likely have a negligible effect on future MAR prevalence. In contrast, delayed childbearing and continued expansion of MAR use could raise the share of MAR births from 4.3% in 2023 to 11–12% by mid-century, with a plausible upper bound exceeding 15% under sustained trends. These results underscore the growing demographic, social and economic significance of MAR in Italy and highlight important implications for public health planning, resource allocation, and policies aimed at supporting earlier childbearing.
Employees show greater willingness to voice toward algorithmic than human leaders in cognitive tasks through fairness perception and psychological safety
Active thermodynamics of inertial chiral active gases: Equation of state and edge currents
One of the most fundamental quests in the physics of active matter concerns the existence of a comprehensive theory for its macroscopic properties, i.e. an “active thermodynamics.” Recently, despite progress in developing this field, crucial questions, such as the influence of chirality on the thermodynamics of active matter, remain open—even in the simplest and most generic case of the ideal active gas. Here, we derive and experimentally verify key elements of the active thermodynamics of ideal chiral active gases, unveiling edge currents and odd diffusivity as their peculiar features. Our main results are the derivation of an equation of state relating density and pressure via a chirality-dependent effective temperature, the derivation of Fick’s law, including the full diffusion matrix predicting odd diffusion, and the exact prediction of edge currents at container walls that nonmonotonically depend on chirality. Our results serve as a crucial step toward a comprehensive understanding of how chirality influences and allows us to control the macroscopic properties of active matter.
Hamstring strength assessment methods in sport: A systematic review and meta-analysis of post-activity strength decrements, asymmetry benchmarks, and measurement reliability
Hamstring strain injuries (HSI) represent one of the most prevalent and recurrent injuries in sport, making reliable strength assessment essential for neuromuscular monitoring in athletic populations. Despite the breadth of available testing modalities, no comprehensive synthesis of assessment methods, their reliability, post-activity strength responses, or normative asymmetry values has been undertaken. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the reliability of hamstring strength assessment methods, quantify the time-course of strength decrements following competition, establish normative inter-limb asymmetry benchmarks, and identify gaps to guide future assessment practices. PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science were searched from inception to November 1, 2025 following PRISMA guidelines. Methodological quality was assessed using a modified version of the Downs and Black checklist. A total of 161 studies were included in qualitative synthesis and 106 in quantitative analysis. Isokinetic dynamometry was the most frequently used modality, followed by force platform assessments and Nordic hamstring-based devices, with a clear upward trend in field-based testing observed after 2010. Multiple modalities demonstrate good reliability, sensitivity to post-activity fatigue, and comparable patterns to detect inter-limb asymmetries, supporting their use across varied applied settings. Hamstring strength deficits persisted for 24–72 hours following on-field activity, identifying a critical vulnerability window during congested schedules. Minor inter-limb asymmetries of approximately 3–4% appear normative and should not be considered clinically meaningful in isolation. Practitioners should establish individualized baselines and integrate routine monitoring with evidence-based recovery strategies to mitigate HSI risk throughout competitive seasons.
Evaluating the reliability of structured light entoptic tasks
Abstract Human perception of polarised light, known as Haidinger’s brushes, is linked to macular health but is typically too faint for reliable clinical use. Structured light can enhance these entoptic patterns, but the test-retest reliability of this approach requires validation. Here, we evaluated the reliability of a structured light-based psychophysical task in twenty-five participants (fifty eyes) across two sessions separated by one to fourteen days. Participants viewed structured light stimuli that produced rotating entoptic patterns and identified the rotation direction in a two-alternative forced-choice paradigm while a central obstruction varied in size to determine retinal eccentricity thresholds. Intraclass correlation coefficients demonstrated good to excellent reliability, with values of 0.83 for right eyes and 0.93 for left eyes. Bland-Altman analysis revealed non-significant mean differences of -0.32 degrees and − 0.12 degrees for right and left eyes, respectively, with limits of agreement spanning approximately 6° and 4° around mean thresholds of ~ 6.1° and ~ 6.5°, confirming an absence of systematic bias. These findings indicate that structured light-based psychophysical tasks can yield repeatable measurements of entoptic pattern extent in healthy individuals. Further validation in clinical populations and older age groups is required before the method can be recommended for clinical screening.
The accuracy of electrostatic interactions captured by AI protein structure prediction models
A variant of the U1A protein containing four substitutions to ionizable residues was generated serendipitously due to a miscommunication. Biophysical measurements reveal this variant has twice the helical structure of wild-type U1A and is trimeric, unlike the monomeric wild type. In sharp contrast, structures predicted by deep-learning (AlphaFold2, RoseTTAFold2) and transformer-based tools (OmegaFold, ESMFold) are nearly identical to the wild-type (backbone RMSD < 1 Å). Surprisingly, these models predict ionizable residues buried within the nonpolar core, contradicting established physico-chemical principles. To explore this effect further, we generated sequences containing up to all twelve residues that make up the nonpolar core of U1A. Across thousands of sequences, and depending on the AI model used, the majority of predicted structures contained fully buried ionizable residues while still maintaining the overall U1A fold. We then examined two additional proteins of comparable size, acylphosphatase and the de novo designed TOP7 fold, and observed the same phenomenon: AI models frequently predicted structures with buried ionizable residues that nevertheless retained the parent fold. However, short (50 ns) molecular dynamics simulations with physics-based force fields (CHARMM/AMBER) rapidly relaxed these structures, exposing the ionizable residues. We conclude that while AI-based tools perform exceptionally on natural sequences, they do not reliably encode the physico-chemical principles governing ionizable residue placement. We propose including brief molecular dynamics simulations as a vital validation step for AI-generated structures.
Development of long short-term memory models using rainfall and soil moisture to predict soil moisture dynamics
Long short-term memory (LSTM) models were developed using rainfall and soil moisture data to predict soil moisture at various depths in an Asian pear orchard. Two types of rainfall inputs were tested: hourly rainfall data treated as individual values and event-based rainfall data, where cumulative rainfall was calculated by applying the minimum inter-event time threshold (12 h). Soil moisture was measured at depths of 20, 40, and 60 cm from the soil surface during 2023 and 2024 using frequency domain reflectometry. The models were trained to predict soil moisture at time horizons of ‘t + 1’, ‘t + 3, ‘t + 6’, and ‘t + 12’ when ‘t’ is present time. Short-term predictions more accurately followed the observed soil moisture trends than long-term predictions. During the collection period, rainfall varied from 0.5 mm to 48.5 mm per hour. Soil moisture contents increased immediately following the onset of rainfall. These results are consistent with existing knowledge. As soil depth increased, soil moisture contents tended to increase and respond more gradually to rainfall. During rainfall, in the topsoil (20 cm depth) moisture content fluctuated significantly, while the subsoil (60 cm depth) remained relatively stable for several hours after rainfall ended. The model performance was evaluated using mean absolute error, root mean square error (RMSE), and normalized RMSE values. In both models using hourly and event-based rainfall inputs, errors in soil moisture prediction tended to increase with longer forecast time horizons. However, these errors were significantly lower when using event-based rainfall data. These findings indicate that event-based rainfall is a more effective input for LSTM models in predicting soil moisture in an Asian pear orchard, and such models can support precision irrigation systems that optimize water use by delivering the right amount of water at the right time.
Preparation and evaluation of high-performance modified poly(ester-amide), and study its biological activity after its formulated as a vehicle for protective coating
Abstract Poly(ester-amide) (PEA) resins are widely used in coating applications because of their excellent mechanical strength, chemical resistance, and durability; however, the development of PEA coatings with enhanced antimicrobial performance remains a significant challenge. In this study, a novel modified PEA resin was synthesized using 3- N -bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-7-hydroxy coumarin carboxamide (HEHCCA) as a reactive modifier. To the best of our knowledge, the incorporation of HEHCCA into PEA coating systems has not been previously reported. The modified resins were prepared by partially replacing hydroxyethyl linseed oil fatty acid amide (HELA) with HEHCCA, while phthalic anhydride was used as the polyacid component. The prepared resins were formulated into coating systems and characterized according to standard ASTM methods to evaluate their physicochemical, mechanical, chemical, and antimicrobial properties. The results showed that increasing HEHCCA content increased the reaction time, viscosity, color intensity, and drying time of the coatings. Mechanical properties such as gloss, impact resistance, scratch hardness, and adhesion improved noticeably, whereas flexibility remained nearly unchanged. The coatings also exhibited good chemical resistance except under alkaline conditions. In addition, the modified PEA resins demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity, particularly against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae , with inhibition zones reaching 24.15 ± 0.30 mm. These findings suggest that HEHCCA-modified PEA resins are promising candidates for advanced protective and antimicrobial coating applications.
Relative Thom conjectures, symplectic and beyond
We establish a criterion that ensures a bounded almost complex curve in a bounded almost complex 4-manifold minimizes genus among all smooth surfaces that share its homology class and the transverse link on its boundary. An immediate corollary affirms the relative symplectic Thom conjecture and, moreover, yields obstructions coming from knot Floer homology to a link bounding a symplectic surface in a symplectic filling. Our results are applicable to knots in manifolds equipped with plane fields that admit no symplectic fillings; for instance, we show that symplectic surfaces in a thickening of any contact 3-manifold with nonzero Ozsváth-Szabó invariant minimize slice genus for their boundary. We conjecture that this phenomenon occurs precisely when the contact structure is tight, which would imply that tightness can be viewed as a symplecto-geometric notion.
Psychological distress and psychosocial care in adults with glaucoma in Africa: A systematic review protocol
A diagnosis of glaucoma often carries a substantial psychological burden. The chronic nature of the disease, the prospect of lifelong treatment, the possibility of surgery, and concerns about progressive vision loss can contribute to significant psychological distress. Despite growing recognition of these emotional challenges, there has been no systematic synthesis of the burden of psychological distress among adults with glaucoma in Africa or of the psychological support services available within glaucoma care. This protocol, registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO: CRD420261338962), outlines a systematic review designed to address this gap. The review will comprehensively assess the prevalence and determinants of psychological distress among adults with glaucoma and identify interventions or support services integrated into glaucoma care across African settings. Searches will be conducted in PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Google Scholar, and African Journals Online without language or date restrictions. Retrieved records will be managed in EndNote and screened in Covidence by two independent reviewers, with disagreements resolved through consensus or consultation with a senior reviewer. Risk of bias and methodological quality will be evaluated using established critical appraisal tools. Where sufficient data are available, findings will be synthesized through meta-analysis; otherwise, a structured narrative synthesis following synthesis-without-meta-analysis principles will be undertaken. By consolidating the available evidence, this review aims to inform the integration of psychological care into glaucoma management and support more holistic approaches to preserving both visual and mental well-being.