Browse Articles

AI-integrated bionic fingertip E-Skin for precision slippage detection in wet environments

Abstract Electronic artificial skin (E-skin) replicates human tactile sensations with exceptional sensitivity and accuracy, enabling the detection of physical properties, including the shape, material, and texture of objects. Current technologies effectively detect slippage on dry surfaces but not on oil- or water-coated wet surfaces. This paper presents a wearable slip sensor featuring a micropatterned structure inspired by human fingerprints, capable of detecting slippage under all surface wetness conditions. The proposed sensor incorporates a randomly patterned fingerprint design, laser-etched onto the topmost layer of a multilayer film. It effectively detects surface slippage, even on oil film-coated low-friction surfaces. Additionally, the sensor captures intricate geometric features of microtextures, including microvibrations and ultrafast signal changes. Its applicability in soft robotic hands is demonstrated by its high-speed detection of the sliding motion of various objects. The findings will aid in advancing digital-on-demand technologies by enabling the precise reconstruction of digital tactile data within cyber-physical systems.

Assessment of natural radioactivity in urban soil samples from Dhaka city and its associated health hazard

Humans are constantly exposed to radiation from their natural environment including soil and gamma radiation has harmful effects on them, so determination of radioactivity concentration in soil are very important. The present study aims to measure the activity concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K in urban soil samples collected from thirty different areas of Dhaka city. The analyzed was performed using a High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray spectrometer. The results showed that the mean activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K were found 24.2 ± 1.0 Bqkg -1 , 52.0 ± 2.0 Bqkg -1 , and 352 ± 11 Bqkg -1 , respectively. The average concentrations of 226 Ra and 40 K fall below the internationally recommended safety limits of 35 Bqkg -1 and 400 Bqkg -1 , respectively, while 232 Th value exceeded the recommended limit of 30 Bqkg -1 by approximately 1.7 times. The mean value of radium equivalent activity (Ra eq ) was calculated as 125.7 Bqkg -1 , which was far below the global safety threshold of 370 Bqkg -1 . The estimated outdoor effective dose rates were 0.070 mSvy -1 and below the worldwide recommended limit of 1 mSvy -1 . Additionally, excess life time cancer risk (ELCR) was below than the internationally accepted limit of 0.29 × 10 −3 . All things considered, the study is the first comprehensive dataset of urban soil in the area and revealed that there are no immediate health dangers due to the low radioactive hazard indices.

Effect of molecular weight, temperature, and pH on antioxidant activity of whey protein isolate hydrolysate and its application in pasta fortification

Correction: Optimized real-time path planning for micro UAVs in dynamic environments aided by reciprocal velocity obstacle algorithm

Effectiveness of using different sources of zinc on the productive performance of laying hens

Abstract Heat stress is a major challenge in the poultry industry, adversely affecting birds’ physiological activity, appetite, growth rate, egg production, and egg quality. This study aimed to mitigate the negative effects of high temperatures on laying hen productivity, egg quality, egg zinc content, specific blood parameters, and nutrient utilization during the summer. The experiment involved feeding different zinc sources to laying hens aged 40 to 54 weeks. Eighty Bovans Brown laying hens were randomly assigned to four groups; each had 10 replicates with two hens per replicate. The treatments included a control group (Con), zinc oxide at 500 mg/kg feed (ZnO), zinc carbonate at 500 mg/kg feed (ZnC), and nano-zinc oxide at 50 mg/kg feed (NZn). The zinc experimental treatments resulted in higher egg yield ( P  < 0.05), egg mass, egg weight, serum zinc levels ( P  < 0.01), and feed conversion ratio ( P  < 0.05) compared to the control. When compared to other treatments, nano-zinc oxide produced the lowest AST levels, while zinc carbonate produced the greatest reduction in ALT levels. The zinc oxide group exhibited the greatest serum calcium level. However, no significant impacts were observed in terms of feed intake, nutrient digestibility, egg zinc content, total protein, albumin, globulin, triglycerides, or malondialdehyde. The findings revealed that including zinc carbonate, zinc oxide, and nano-zinc oxide in laying hens’ diets throughout the summer season boosted egg output and egg weight while improving the feed efficiency without compromising the hens’ well-being.

Comparing undesirable behaviours between ‘designer’ Poodle-cross dogs and their purebred progenitor breeds

Designer-crossbreed dogs (deliberate cross-breeding between two or more pure breeds) are exploding in popularity, often driven by beliefs that they commonly exhibit desirable behaviours such as being easy to train or being good with children, despite minimal supporting evidence. This study aimed to fill this gap by comparing Canine Behavioural Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) scores between the three most common designer-crossbreeds in the UK and their relevant progenitor breeds. C-BARQ behaviour data for all 12 sub-scales were collected in March 2023 via an online questionnaire of owners of Cockapoo, Labradoodle, Cavapoo, Cocker Spaniel, Labrador Retriever, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Poodle dogs acquired aged ≤16 weeks from 1 st January 2019. C-BARQ scores were analysed using multivariable linear modelling. Valid responses were received representing 9,402 dogs. From 72 behavioural comparisons overall (3 designer-crossbreeds x 2 progenitors x 12 C-BARQ scales), designer-crossbreeds overall exhibited more undesirable behaviours than a progenitor breed in 44.4% comparisons and fewer undesirable behaviours in 9.7% comparisons, with no differences detected for the remaining 45.8%. Cockapoos displayed the most undesirable behaviours of the three designer crossbreeds, and differed from Cocker Spaniels and Poodles in 16/24 comparisons, scoring worse for all 16. Cavapoos differed from Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Poodles in 12/24 comparisons, scoring worse in 11. In contrast, Labradoodles differed from Labrador Retrievers and Poodles in 11/24 comparisons, scoring worse than their progenitors in five behaviours, but better in six. These findings suggest notable behavioural differences between designer-crossbreeds versus their progenitor breeds, with Cockapoos and Cavapoos in particular scoring worse. Wider awareness by prospective owners of these potential issues around undesirable behavioural traits could avoid misbelief-driven acquisitions (e.g., designer-crossbreeds require minimal training, or are particularly suited to households with children) that risk public health (e.g., elevated dog bite risks) and relinquishment due to unmet expectations.

Prediction of heat stress response in dairy cows using milk mid-infrared spectra

Abstract Measuring individual cows’ response to heat stress at large-scale is challenging because physiological traits are not recorded routinely, and production traits are unspecific and require environmental data for interpretation. Milk mid-infrared (MIR) spectra, already recorded in routine, offer a potential alternative, as heat stress affects milk composition and is therefore expected to be reflected in MIR spectra. This study thus aimed to develop a MIR prediction equation for individual heat stress response. Surface temperature and milk traits from 399 cows were recorded to develop a combined heat stress response phenotype. This phenotype resulted from two equations: one predicting surface body temperature (R 2  = 0.67; RMSE = 0.64 °C) and one classifying records into three heat stress response classes based on surface temperature and milk composition (accuracy = 61%). The final prediction was applied to historical milk recording data associated with weather information to assess external validity. A mixed model was also fitted to identify cow characteristics associated with stronger predicted heat stress responses. As reported in the literature, multiparous cows, in early lactation, with the highest 24 h milk yield tended to be more affected. Overall, the prediction developed in this study shows strong potential for routine heat stress detection.

A second-order dynamical system for solving inverse quasi-variational inequalities and its application

In this paper, we focus on a second-order dynamical system designed to solve inverse quasi-variational inequalities (IQVIs) in Hilbert spaces, focusing on strongly monotone operators under Lipschitz continuity assumptions. This study establishes the existence and uniqueness of strong global solutions under standard conditions, ensuring the robustness of the proposed system. Furthermore, we derive a discrete-time formulation of the dynamical system, which leads to a relaxed inertial projection algorithm that achieves linear convergence under suitable parameter conditions. Beyond theoretical analysis, stability is verified using a Lyapunov function. Finally, numerical experiments confirm the theoretical results and provide deeper insight into inverse quasi-variational inequality problems within the framework of dynamical systems.

Strategic dam site selection and hazard mapping using remote sensing: insights from Wadi Araba, Egypt

Abstract Flash floods represent one of the most recurrent and devastating geohazards affecting Egypt’s northern area of the Red Sea coast, particularly in hyper-arid catchments such as Wadi Araba. This study develops a geospatial decision-support framework to identify flash-flood-prone areas and determine optimal dam locations for flood mitigation and groundwater recharge. The analysis incorporates eight thematic layers: slope, LULC, rainfall, DEM, drainage density, lineament density, distance to main streams and roads. The data used for thematic layers was derived from satellite imagery and ancillary datasets, processed using remote sensing and GIS tools. A multi-criteria decision analysis (AHP) generated a weighted overlay model of flood susceptibility. The resulting map classified Wadi Araba into high-risk (0.53 km²), moderate-risk (2354.8 km²), and low-risk (1671.34 km²) zones, with the highest risk concentrated in the southern Galala Plateau, moderate-risk zones occurring in lowland and downstream basins, and low-risk zones mainly located in the northern Galala Plateau and western Wadi Araba. The RS–GIS/AHP framework identified top-ranked dam sites with favourable storage geometry; validation returned medium AUC for susceptibility of flash flooding (≈ 0.6–0.7) and good AUC for dam suitability (≈ 0.7–0.8).

Retraction: An improved DBSCAN algorithm based on cell-like P systems with promoters and inhibitors

Misalignment between residential segregation of non-EU migrants and urban barriers varies across Western European cities

Unearthing the global, regional, and national epidemiological landscapes of high BMI-driven ischemic heart disease burden in youth: Trends, determinants, and future trajectories

Background Cardiovascular diseases, including ischemic heart disease (IHD), are leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. High body mass index (BMI) is a major contributing factor. This study aimed to comprehensively analyze the geographic distribution, socioeconomic trends, and age-period-cohort effects of the IHD burden attributable to high BMI to inform targeted interventions. Methods Researchers utilized data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (GBD 2021) to examine the mortality, incidence, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of IHD related to high BMI among 20–49 year-olds across 204 countries and territories. Joinpoint regression, age-period-cohort modeling, and decomposition analyses were employed to assess the heterogeneous epidemiological patterns across sociodemographic contexts. Results The findings revealed stark geographical disparities, with Central America, the Caribbean, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East and Southeast Asia experiencing the most pronounced IHD burden. Across socioeconomic levels, low sociodemographic index (SDI) countries exhibited persistent increases, while high-middle and high SDI nations showed signs of stabilization or decline. The age-period-cohort analysis uncovered heterogeneous patterns, with the epidemiological transition progressing more rapidly in lower-SDI settings. Decomposition analysis indicated that epidemiological changes and population growth were the dominant drivers of the rising burden in less developed regions. Conclusions This comprehensive analysis elucidates the geographic distribution and socioeconomic differences in the IHD burden attributable to high BMI, providing crucial evidence to guide the development of tailored public health interventions. Context-specific strategies are needed to address the persistent upward trends in resource-limited settings while consolidating the gains made in more developed countries to achieve equitable and sustainable cardiovascular health improvements.

China pledges billion-dollar spending boost for science

Environmental food allergen levels in the homes of 3–4-month-old infants: findings from the second phase Chiba study of mother and child health (2nd C-MACH)

Therapeutic efficacy of nimodipine and topiramate on migraine and vestibular migraine; A prospective multicenter open-label study

Background Although new preventive treatments for migraine have emerged, it remains essential to validate the efficacy of established drugs to ensure broader therapeutic options for migraine and, in particular, for vestibular migraine where clinical evidence is more limited. This study aimed to assess the therapeutic effectiveness of nimodipine, an L-type calcium channel blocker, in patients with migraine and vestibular migraine, with reference to outcomes observed with topiramate. Methods Using a prospective open-label study involving nine referral-based university hospitals in South Korea, we recruited 850 patients (81% women, mean age ± SD = 41 ± 12) with migraine, including 255 with vestibular migraine. The primary outcome was the change in headache days over three months. The secondary outcomes included changes in pain rating scale, Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS) and Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6). The outcomes of vestibular migraine included dizziness days and intensity, Dizziness Handicap Inventory, and UCLA-Dizziness Questionnaire. Results Of the 850 patients, 465 (55%) completed three months of evaluation (205 in the nimodipine group, 160 in the topiramate group, and 100 in the combination group). All groups showed a significant reduction in the headache days (1.2–2 days/week, p  < 0.001) without inter-group differences ( p  = 0.865). The topiramate group showed greater improvements in MIDAS and HIT-6 scores than the nimodipine ( p  = 0.004) and combination groups ( p  = 0.040). For vestibular migraine (n = 131), all groups improved in headache and dizziness outcomes ( p  < 0.001) without inter-group differences. Adverse events leading to study discontinuation were observed only in 14 (2%) patients without a difference among the groups. Conclusion Nimodipine was associated with improvements in headache-related outcomes in migraine and in both headache- and dizziness-related outcomes in vestibular migraine. Given the observed improvements and favorable tolerability, nimodipine may be a valuable treatment option for migraine and vestibular migrain. Trial registration cris.nih.go.kr (KCT0010555).

Microfluidic investigation of synergistic mechanisms of microsphere-microbial compound system for enhanced oil recovery

Abstract Field tests have shown that microsphere-microbial compound flooding improves the oil recovery factor. The compound system consists of surfactant-modified polyacrylamide nanospheres (initial diameter is 150 nm) and an enriched indigenous microbial consortium. However, the detailed mechanisms remain unclear. To address this gap, this study employs microscopic visualization and particle image velocimetry (PIV) to compare the compound system with single-component microsphere and microbial flooding. Results indicate that the compound system achieves recovery factors 7.26% and 4.54% higher than microbial and microsphere flooding, respectively, confirming a synergistic effect. Its displacement efficiency and sweep effectiveness are also superior. Mechanistic analysis reveals a stage-dependent advantage. During injection, surfactants released from microspheres alter wettability. In the shut-in stage, microbial metabolites further enhance displacement, producing dual benefits. Under dynamic conditions, blocking performance was quantified. PIV results demonstrate that the compound system significantly reduces velocity heterogeneity of the flow field. Single‑channel velocimetry reveals smaller velocity fluctuations (< 15%), indicating stronger shear stability and improved plugging performance relative to either agent alone. Microscopic observations further reveal aggregate structures in which the microsphere skeleton supports microbial adhesion. This enables stable spatial distribution under high shear and effective blockage of dominant channels. By integrating quantitative evidence from visualization and velocimetry, this study provides a useful approach for evaluating compound flooding performance aimed at improving oil recovery for mid-low permeability reservoirs.

Genomic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 delta variants pre- and post-omicron emergence using alignment-free machine learning models

The SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant (B.1.617.2), initially classified as a variant of concern due to its enhanced transmissibility and vaccine-escape mutations, underwent further genomic changes following the emergence of the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529). This study investigates the genomic differences in Delta variant spike gene sequences collected before and after the emergence of Omicron. A total of 190 sequences were analyzed using an alignment-free approach incorporating k-mer-based feature extraction and machine learning models, including convolutional neural networks (CNN), K-means clustering, and random forest classification. The random forest model achieved 93% accuracy, with significant F1 scores, effectively distinguishing the two Delta variant groups. Comparative analysis revealed 157 persistent mutations and four vanished mutations in the post-Omicron group. Cluster analysis showed notable shifts, indicating stable yet evolving genomic patterns over time. The study demonstrates the advantage of alignment-free methods in detecting subtle sequence variations that alignment-based approaches may overlook. These findings enhance our understanding of SARS-CoV-2 evolution and provide a framework for identifying key genomic signatures relevant to public health. The methodology and insights gained offer potential applications in variant surveillance, vaccine design, and viral evolutionary studies, supporting preparedness for future SARS-CoV-2 variant emergence.

Scientists revive activity in frozen mouse brains for the first time

Design of a global population-covering multi-epitope mRNA vaccine against Lassa virus using immunoinformatics

Combined repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and functional electrical stimulation cycling to improve lower extremity function following incomplete spinal cord injury: Protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial

Background Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a neurological condition that affects thousands of individuals globally each year. Among its many consequences, lower extremity impairments, including reduced walking function, balance deficits, and muscle weakness, significantly impact mobility and quality of life. Various rehabilitation approaches aim to restore function, including neuromodulation strategies, such as functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycling and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). While both interventions have shown effectiveness in improving lower extremity function following SCI, they have yet to be performed together to determine the combined effectiveness. This pilot trial will evaluate the feasibility and safety of combining rTMS and FES cycling in people with motor incomplete SCI (iSCI) and provide information to determine a sample size for a full randomized controlled trial. Secondary outcomes will explore the effectiveness of the combined intervention on lower extremity function. Methods This is a pilot randomized controlled trial with assessor and participant blinding. Fourteen participants will be randomized to receive either active or sham rTMS prior to FES cycling for a total of 12 sessions over six weeks. Functional outcomes, including gait parameters, muscle strength, and balance tests, will be assessed at baseline, midpoint, post-intervention, and two weeks following treatment cessation and will be assessed both within and between groups to explore trends in efficacy. Feasibility and safety data will be analyzed descriptively. Implications This study aims to establish a protocol and sample size for running a full randomized controlled trial on the effectiveness of combining rTMS and FES cycling for lower extremity rehabilitation in iSCI. The protocol is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT05975606 ).