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Psychological-physical synergy of athletes based on artificial intelligence and deep learning

Are there racial/ethnic differences in antibiotic treatment of community acquired pneumonia in the inpatient setting?

Background Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) is the most common reason for antibiotic treatment in hospitalized adults. Some prior studies have found treatment differences by race/ethnicity, but research on the topic is limited, results are mixed, and it is unclear if clinical outcomes are affected. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of hospitalized patients >=18 years of age with a diagnosis of CAP from 2018–2021 across 457 US hospitals in the Vizient Inc. Clinical Data Base. We examined guideline concordant antibiotic treatment differences for inpatient CAP by patient race/ethnicity and hospital level factors and secondarily assessed whether treatment differences affect patient clinical outcomes. Results There were 1,277,770 admissions. Over half of all patients received concordant antibiotic therapy. Non-Hispanic Black patients had an increased odds of receiving guideline concordant antibiotic care (OR 1.22 95% CI 1.21–1.23) compared to non-Hispanic White patients. As the number of hospital beds increased, the odds of receiving concordant therapy decreased, with the greatest reduced odds between hospitals with >500 beds vs < 75 beds (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.66–0.70). As case mix index increased concordant care decreased with the lowest odds observed at hospitals with a case mix index >2 (OR 0.71 95% CI 0.7–0.72). Patients at hospitals in the South (OR 0.8 95% CI 0.79–0.81) and Northeast (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.7–0.72) were less likely than those in the West to receive concordant care. There was no significant association between the interaction of race/ethnicity and receipt of guideline concordant therapy and clinical outcomes. Conclusion Non-Hispanic Black patients were more likely to received guideline-concordant care for CAP however significant differences in concordant therapy were seen at the hospital level. Understanding the interplay of race/ethnicity and concordant CAP therapy at the individual and population level is important for future research in the examination of disparities in care.

A lightweight and cross-scale attention network for geological hazard detection in rescue robotics

A hemorheological perspective on coronary microvascular dysfunction: Association of erythrocyte parameters with angiography-derived coronary microcirculatory resistance

Background Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) contributes to myocardial ischemia in patients both without obstructive coronary artery disease (e.g., MINOCA/INOCA) and in those with co-existing epicardial stenosis. While its etiology includes structural and functional causes. hematologic parameters have been linked to cardiovascular outcomes. However, the relationship between red blood cell (RBC) markers and microvascular resistance remains poorly characterized. We aim to evaluate whether RBC parameters are correlated with the angiography-derived index of microcirculatory resistance (angio-IMR). Methods This retrospective study evaluated the association between red blood cell (RBC) parameters and angio-IMR in patients with intermediate coronary artery disease (30%−70% stenosis). Data were analyzed from 604 patients, comprising 733 lesions; red blood cell parameters were obtained during hospitalization prior to angiography. Coronary microcirculatory resistance was derived using the AngioPlus mQFR system. Multivariable linear regression models adjusted for confounders. Subgroup analyses assessed effect modification by diabetes status, and sensitivity analyses excluded hematocrit outliers, and analyses stratified by vessel (left anterior descending (LAD), left circumflex (LCx), right coronary artery (RCA)). Results Higher RBC, Hct and Hgb were independently associated with elevated angio-IMR after full adjustment (RBC: β = 0.182, P  < 0.001; Hct: β = 0.019, P  < 0.001; Hgb: β = 0.006, P  < 0.001). Results remained robust after excluding Hct outliers (β = 0.020, P  < 0.001) and consistent across diabetic ( P  = 0.007) and non-diabetic subgroups ( P  = 0.012). The association was significant in non-LAD vessels (Hct: β = 0.022, P < 0.001) but not in LAD lesions (Hct: β = 0.008, P = 0.357). Conclusion Elevated RBC parameters are independently associated with increased microcirculatory resistance, particularly in non-LAD vessels. These findings suggest that RBC parameters may serve as clinically relevant markers of microvascular dysfunction, warranting further investigation into their prognostic and therapeutic implications.

Text-to-video generation with multi-loss sequential generative adversarial network

Habitat use of Bechstein´s bats (Myotis bechsteinii) within wind parks in forests

Wind parks are increasingly installed at forest sites, which are a sensitive habitat for bats. As a consequence forest habitats are disturbed and altered by logging, edge effects and turbine operation noises. The Bechstein´s bat ( Myotis bechsteinii ) is highly dependent on forest habitats for roosting and foraging. We analysed the habitat use of breeding colonies of Bechstein’s bats in two wind parks. Over four years, we radio-tracked 31 individuals and identified their maternity roosts and foraging areas. We analysed the influence of the turbines on their habitat use, and the effect of wind speed and rotor blade rotation on the distance of the bats to the turbines. The colonies occupied tree roosts, a few hundred meters from the wind turbines. Foraging habitats close to the turbines were used preferably, when bats were close to the maternity roosts. The vegetation in these areas comprised of large trees and little shrub and herb layer coverage, indicating a high quality foraging habitat. The distance of the foraging bats to the turbines increased with increasing rotor blade rotation at high wind speeds. The results show that Bechstein´s bats become more selective in their habitat use, the closer they are to the wind turbines. Close to their maternity roosts, the advantages of a high quality habitat outweighed the disturbance effects and bats still used roosts and surrounding foraging habitats, despite turbine presence nearby. However, when further away from their roosts they avoided foraging close to wind turbines. With careful site planning, which excludes sensitive forest habitats, combined with restricted turbine operation times in summer, the negative effects of disturbances from wind turbines could be mitigated or avoided for maternity colonies of Bechstein’s bats.

Clinical prediction of the mortality for acute kidney injury in decompensated cirrhosis

Habitat context affects sediment nitrogen burial by restored Eastern Oyster reefs

Oysters perform essential functions in estuarine environments. Reef restoration has recently become the subject of significant attention to reestablish populations after historic losses and to restore valuable ecosystem functions and services, including nitrogen removal. Nitrogen burial in oyster reef sediments may be an important nitrogen sink, but direct measurements are lacking. We assayed sediments from 11- to 14-year-old restored oyster reefs in three representative habitat contexts in a temperate estuary on the US Atlantic Coast. Elemental analysis of deep core sediments revealed that nitrogen burial rates ranged between 1.02 and 14.7 g N m -2 y -1 and generally scaled positively with reef relief and density. Intertidal flat reefs exhibited the greatest relief values, densities, and nitrogen burial rates. Subtidal flat reefs produced the lowest relief values and burial rates. Intertidal fringing reefs exhibited the lowest mean carbon:nitrogen ratio, 15.5 ± 1.3—burying proportionally more nitrogen than reefs in other habitat contexts. Using avoided cost methods, the value of nitrogen burial by oyster reefs in all habitat contexts ranged from $270 to $3,900 US dollars (USD) per hectare per year with an average of $1,700 USD per hectare per year. Integrating this figure into current estimates of nitrogen removal ecosystem services would increase the value 25–42%. Our findings suggest that specific site selection for restored and protected reefs can maximize nitrogen removal through multiple mechanisms, including burial. Providing empirical measurements of ecosystem function and estimates of economic value can inform site selection and design of restored oyster reefs to maintain water quality.

Isokinetic knee strength profiles, conventional hamstring-to-quadriceps ratio, and performance decrement in weightlifting and wrestling athletes: a cross-sectional study

Ultrasound-derived tibia-fascia angle for noninvasive assessment of intracompartmental pressure in tibial plateau fractures

Background Current noninvasive diagnostics for acute compartment syndrome (ACS) lack clinical practicality and reliability. This study aimed to evaluate ultrasound-derived tibia-fascia angle (TFA) as a novel morphometric surrogate for intracompartmental pressure (ICP) assessment. Methods In this observational study, 105 patients with closed tibial plateau fractures were enrolled at a tertiary trauma center. TFA was bilaterally measured using B-mode ultrasound by blinded operators. Invasive ICP served as the reference standard. Correlations were analyzed via Spearman correlation analysis and multivariable linear regression, and diagnostic performance for high compartment pressure (HCP, ICP > 30 mmHg) was assessed using ROC analysis. Results ΔTFA showed a significant linear correlation with ICP after adjustment for confounders ( β  = 1.74 mmHg/°, 95% CI: 1.07–2.41, P adj < 0.001) and a moderate monotonic association ( ρ  = 0.545, 95%CI: 0.395–0.667, P <  0.001). For detecting HCP, ΔTFA achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.716 (95% CI: 0.621–0.812), with 86.5% sensitivity and 52.9% specificity at the optimal cutoff (ΔTFA ≥ 4.9°). Conclusion ΔTFA provides a rapid, operator-friendly method for noninvasive ICP estimation, demonstrating moderate diagnostic accuracy as a screening tool for HCP in tibial plateau fractures. Its integration into trauma workflows could enhance early risk stratification, particularly for high-energy fractures, though specificity limitations warrant complementary confirmatory tests.

Multi-phase retreat of the Laurentide Ice Sheet and associated freshwater release from Hudson Bay during the last deglaciation

Abstract During the final retreat of the Laurentide Ice Sheet, large volumes of meltwater from the Hudson Bay region entered the North Atlantic leading to one of the strongest freshwater perturbations of the Holocene. The resulting 8.2 ka cold event is a key benchmark for understanding ice-sheet–ocean interactions, yet the timing, structure, and mechanisms of this freshwater release from Hudson Bay remain debated. New sediment records from Hudson Strait document a sequence of ice–ocean reorganisations and associated freshwater regimes between ~ 9.0 and 8.0 ka. They include (1) background deglacial meltwater and limited iceberg export prior to ~ 8.8 ka; (2) a short-lived episode of marine intrusion, ice-shelf formation, and subsequent ice-shelf breakup accompanied by transient iceberg discharge; and (3) a prolonged, multi-phase freshwater release between ~ 8.2 and 8.0 ka linked to the final collapse of the Hudson Bay ice saddle and drainage of glacial Lake Agassiz–Ojibway. Notably, the duration of this final freshwater phase is coeval, within uncertainty, with the 8.2 ka climate anomaly recorded in Greenland ice cores, consistent with a causal connection. This refined stratigraphic framework demonstrates that freshwater forcing from Hudson Bay was temporally structured and temporally sustained, highlighting the importance of ice-margin geometry and meltwater routing in modulating early Holocene climate perturbations.

STR analysis of human DNA recovered from bathwater and other water samples for forensic identification

Human DNA is widely distributed in the environment and can be released into water through skin cells, sweat, and other biological materials. In forensic investigations involving drowning or suspected immersion events, bathwater represents an underexplored but potentially informative source of DNA evidence. This study evaluated the feasibility of recovering and analyzing human DNA from bathwater for short tandem repeat (STR) profiling. Bathwater samples were collected from 11 volunteers after 1, 2, 5, and 10 minutes of immersion, as well as from 12 forensic autopsy cases. DNA was concentrated using a filtration-based method and analyzed for DNA quantity, degradation, and STR profiling success. Both DNA yield and integrity generally increased with immersion duration, and most samples yielded complete STR profiles after 10 minutes. Considerable interindividual variation in DNA shedding was observed, and residual DNA from prior bath users frequently contributed to mixed profiles. Allele drop-ins were common in low-template or mixed samples but decreased as DNA quantity increased. STR profiles were successfully recovered from indoor samples (e.g., bathtubs), whereas no interpretable profiles were obtained in the limited number of outdoor cases examined in this study. These findings demonstrate that bathwater may serve as a useful supplementary source of human DNA in forensic investigations, particularly in indoor drowning cases. Although mixed profiles necessitate cautious interpretation, DNA recovered even after brief immersion may support victim identification or contribute to assessments of potential co-presence in conjunction with other evidence. Overall, this study suggests that bathwater represents a supplementary and context-dependent source of human DNA for forensic analysis in aquatic settings.

Temporal dynamics and analysis of pollutant parameters in the water quality entering a reservoir dam

Abstract Assessing water quality changes across water bodies is essential for resource management and environmental protection, as variations influenced by natural and human factors help predict trends and control pollution. This study evaluates temporal trends in key physical, chemical, and biological water quality parameters from 2014 to 2024, entering the Sardasht Reservoir Dam, located in the mountainous region, in order to assess the effects of pollution, natural changes, and human activities on water quality. The data includes physical parameters (temperature, EC, TDS), chemical parameters (BOD, COD, nitrates, heavy metals like Mn and Pb), and biological parameters (total coliforms). The research applied statistical methods, including the Mann-Kendall test and Sen’s slope, to determine trends in these parameters over time. In addition to trend analysis, the study utilized box plots, violin plots, and probability density functions (PDFs) to understand the distribution and variability of water quality values. The results reveal several important trends in water quality at Sardasht Dam. COD showed a significant increasing trend (Tau = 0.224, p  = 0.033), indicating rising organic pollution. Several parameters, including TDS and pH, exhibited decreasing trends, though not statistically significant. Mn levels and Temp showed increasing trends, possibly linked to environmental changes like industrial activities or climate change. Significant fluctuations in COD, NO3, and Pb suggest episodic pollution events, potentially from urban or agricultural runoff. DO, pH, and TDS displayed more consistent trends, showing stable water quality in these aspects. These results indicate the rising COD and temperature posing potential threats to water usability and ecosystem health. Elevated manganese levels may lead to sediment accumulation and water treatment challenges. The study recommends closer monitoring and management of inflows to the reservoir, particularly addressing organic pollution, temperature increases, and metal contamination to maintain water quality standards. The results emphasiz the need for strategic pollution control measures, further emphasizing the importance of long-term monitoring in this key water resource. The results show the urgent need for integrated pollution control and sustainable water management strategies to maintain water quality and support long-term reservoir operation.

M5 positive allosteric modulation alleviates parkinsonian motor deficits

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative movement disorder which is characterized by cardinal motor symptoms of tremor at rest, rigidity, bradykineasia, and postural instability. Underlying these cardinal motor symptoms is thought to be death and dysfunction of nigrostriatal dopamine neurons, and the gold-standard treatment of Parkinson’s disease is dopamine replacement therapy with the dopamine precursor L-DOPA. While efficacious, L-DOPA does not treat all motor symptoms and can have serious treatment-related side effects called L-DOPA induced dyskinesias, indicating an immense need for new targets to modulate dopaminergic function for anti-parkinsonian efficacy. One such potential target is the M 5 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor, which has a unique expression profile where it is selectively expressed in midbrain dopaminergic neurons and their terminals in the striatum, and previous studies have indicated that M 5 can modulate dopamine release and patterning of firing of dopamine neurons. Given this unique expression profile and function of M 5 , this receptor has an untested potential to modulate parkinsonian motor phenotypes. To test the potential for M 5 to modulate Parkinsonian-like motor deficits and dyskinesia, we employed the unilateral 6-OHDA lesioned mouse model to create a hemi-parkinsonian state. Using multiple behavioral assays, including the cylinder test, forepaw adjusting steps assay, and in the Erasmus ladder, in conjunction with prototypical M 5 pharmacological tool compounds, we investigated the ability of M 5 to modulate parkinsonian motor deficits. Additionally, we tested the ability of M 5 to modulate established L-DOPA induced dyskinesia or cause dyskinesia on its own. Overall, we found that M 5 PAM alleviates forepaw asymmetry, bradykinesia, and spatial aspects of gait in the Erasmus ladder. Excitingly, M 5 PAM does not cause robust dyskinesia, does not affect already established L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia, and does not affect L-DOPA motor efficacy. Taken together with previous findings, the current study suggests that M 5 receptors are an exciting novel therapeutic strategy for ameliorating parkinsonian motor deficits even in late-stage models of severe PD without lessening L-DOPA’s motor benefit and without affecting existing symptoms of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia.

Waste citrus pseudolimon peels derived biochar assisted magnetic Zn + Al (LDH) nanocomposites for As (III) adsorption

Impact of blast exposure on visual pathway: Mechanism exploration and novel diagnostic perspectives

Blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI), frequently observed in modern warfare, often presents without overt clinical symptoms initially, yet can involve visual impairment. However, the underlying mechanisms and long-term outcomes of visual dysfunction following blast exposure (BE) remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the potential delayed effects of BE on visual function. A bTBI mouse model was established using a biological shock tube. Neurological deficits were assessed via the modified neurological severity score, while visual function was evaluated at multiple time points using flash visual evoked potentials (F-VEP) and a light-dark shuttle box. Ultrastructural evidence of damage was obtained through transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Inflammatory and pyroptosis markers were localized and quantified via immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting. Neuronal damage was detected by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining combined with neuron-specific nuclear protein (NeuN) immunofluorescence labeling. To assess therapeutic potential, MCC950 was administered to bTBI mice, and visual function was re-evaluated. The results demonstrated that visual dysfunction emerged at 24 hours post BE, followed by a transient recovery, and reappeared at 28 days post BE. Early demyelination of the optic nerve and later pyroptosis of neurons in the visual cortex were identified as key pathological features. MCC950 treatment effectively mitigated neuroinflammation and neuronal pyroptosis, thereby ameliorating late-phase visual dysfunction. These findings collectively suggest that BE leads to biphasic visual dysfunction, driven by distinct mechanisms at different stages. Early intervention targeting nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation may represent a promising therapeutic strategy to prevent late-phase visual impairment. Moreover, non-invasive F-VEP provides a sensitive and practical approach for assessing visual injury in bTBI.

Predicting the degree of trait emotional empathy from cortical features using surface-based morphometry

Abstract The link between neuroanatomy and empathy was a primary aim of many studies in the past. However, these studies are often limited by partial volume effects inherent to Voxel-Based Morphometry (VBM), which hinder the accurate assessment of cortical features. To overcome these limitations, we used Surface-Based Morphometry (SBM) to investigate the relationship between cortical features such as sulcal depth and trait emotional empathy for the first time. We also tested several hypotheses based on previous research. Our study sample consisted of 62 adults. Trait empathy was measured by the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire. We used methods from machine learning (e.g., Leave-one-out cross-validation – LOO-CV – in conjunction with Sparse Partially Least Squares regression - SPLSR) to evaluate whether cortical features (i.e., gyrification, sulcal depth, and cortical thickness) could accurately predict the degree of trait emotional empathy. We tested the hypotheses of the present study using Linear Mixed Effects models. The Regions of Interest (ROI) tested within these hypotheses included bilateral insula and dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex (dACC). A significant negative association was found between the cortical thickness of the left insula and trait emotional empathy score (B = -4.72; 95% CI [-8.52, -0.92]; p  = 0.019). In addition, there was a negative association between cortical thickness in the left dACC and trait emotional empathy (B = -5.47; 95% CI [-9.48, -1.46]; p  = 0.008). The SPLSR models showed moderate training fit ( $${R^2}$$ ≈ 60% in gyrification) but failed to generalize to unseen data, with negative cross-validated $${Q^2}$$ values across all 3 cortical features. While ROI analyses revealed significant negative associations between cortical thickness and trait emotional empathy, machine learning models failed to achieve reliable out-of-sample prediction, likely due to the high-dimensional feature space relative to sample size. The predictive findings should therefore be considered exploratory. Future studies should use larger samples and explore how differences in white matter structure can explain individual differences in empathy.

Bacteriological profiles, antimicrobial resistance patterns, and predictors of culture-confirmed neonatal Sepsis at Asella Teaching Hospital, Southeast Ethiopia

Background Neonatal sepsis remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries. Empirical antibiotic therapy is commonly initiated before culture results are available, in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations; however, its effectiveness depends on local pathogen distribution and antimicrobial resistance patterns, which vary across healthcare settings. This study aimed to determine the bacteriological profile, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, and predictors of culture-confirmed neonatal sepsis at Asella Teaching Hospital in Southeast Ethiopia. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 392 neonates with clinically suspected sepsis who were admitted to the NICU between January 2021 and December 2023. Participants were selected using systematic random sampling from medical registry records. Blood cultures and bacterial identification were performed using standard microbiological procedures. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method in accordance with CLSI 2021 guidelines. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of culture-confirmed sepsis, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results Culture-confirmed sepsis was identified in 246 neonates (62.8%; 95% CI: 57.9–67.1), with early-onset sepsis accounting for 71.9% of cases. Gram-positive (50.8%) and Gram-negative (49.2%) organisms were nearly equally distributed. Among Gram-positive isolates, coagulase-negative staphylococci (35%) and Staphylococcus aureus (8.1%) were predominant, whereas Klebsiella pneumoniae (22.4%) and Acinetobacter spp. (8.5%) were the leading Gram-negative pathogens. Gram-positive isolates showed the highest susceptibility to vancomycin (91.9%), followed by trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole (76.3%) and amikacin (72.9%), while high resistance was observed to ampicillin (91.9%) and ciprofloxacin (80.5%). Gram-negative isolates were most susceptible to amikacin (85.8%) and carbapenems (75.8%), but demonstrated substantial resistance to ampicillin (92.5%) and third-generation cephalosporins (65.8–93.3%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified several independent predictors of culture-confirmed neonatal sepsis, including preterm birth (AOR = 2.20; 95% CI: 1.07–4.98), tachypnea at admission (AOR = 4.79; 95% CI: 2.73–8.41), hypothermia (AOR = 2.35; 95% CI: 1.12–4.92), prolonged hospitalization (AOR = 2.51; 95% CI: 1.52–4.16), maternal chorioamnionitis (AOR = 4.49; 95% CI: 2.35–8.80), and a low fifth-minute Apgar score (AOR = 3.95; 95% CI: 1.87–8.34). Conclusion Culture-confirmed neonatal sepsis was highly prevalent, with a substantial burden of multidrug-resistant pathogens. Most bacterial isolates exhibited high resistance to commonly used first-line antibiotics, whereas amikacin and carbapenems remained relatively effective. The high prevalence of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteremia is particularly concerning and underscores the need for routine antimicrobial resistance surveillance, locally guided empirical antibiotic therapy, strengthened infection prevention and control measures, and robust antimicrobial stewardship programs to reduce the emergence of antimicrobial resistance and improve neonatal outcomes in this setting.

Spatial–temporal graph neural network with autoencoder pretraining for intrusion detection in healthcare IoT ecosystems

Assessment of weight bias among students and health professionals in medical radiation science. A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Weight bias is pervasive in health care, contributing to adverse physical and psychological outcomes for affected individuals. While weight bias has been studied in various healthcare contexts, its presence and impact within medical radiation science remain underexplored. This systematic review aims to synthesise the existing literature on the assessment of weight bias in medical radiation science. This protocol is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024506662). Comprehensive searches will be conducted across multiple electronic databases using predefined search strategies. Retrieved records will be imported into Covidence for title and abstract screening, followed by full-text review. Two independent reviewers will assess study eligibility and extract data. Methodological quality will be evaluated using a multi-tool appraisal approach tailored to the design of each study. Risk-of-bias will be assessed, and meta-biases will be explored through the inclusion of grey literature. Confidence in the cumulative evidence will be evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system. This systematic review protocol will provide a comprehensive synthesis of the quantitative assessment of weight bias among professionals and students in medical radiation science. By mapping how weight bias is measured, the findings may support awareness-raising efforts and inform development of strategies to reduce weight bias in education and clinical practice. Once complete, the review will be shared internationally via presentations or posters at conferences. It will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.