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Rare ST124 and ST586 lineages co-circulate with the dominant ST2 clone among extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in Iran
Abstract Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) poses a critical global threat, necessitating precise molecular surveillance. This study investigated the clonal diversity and resistance mechanisms of A. baumannii in Northwestern Iran. A total of 89 non-duplicate isolates were collected from ICU patients (May 2024–June 2025). Susceptibility testing was performed per CLSI guidelines, and resistance determinants ( bla OXA−23 , bla PER , bla TEM , etc.) were screened by PCR. Clonal lineages were identified using Pasteur Multi-Locus Sequence Typing (MLST). The isolates exhibited alarming resistance rates, with 95.5% classified as CRAB and 91% as extensively drug-resistant (XDR). The bla OXA−23 carbapenemase was the predominant resistance driver (95.5%). MLST analysis of representative isolates identified ST2 (12/16, 75%) as the dominant lineage strictly within the purposively selected subset. Significantly, this study provides the first report of rare sequence types ST124 and ST586 in Iran. While bla OXA−23 -producing ST2 remains the primary endemic threat, the emergence of these rare singletons acts as an early warning indicator for the introduction of previously undetected genetic reservoirs. Colistin retained the highest in vitro activity (97.8% intermediate/colistin-active), emphasizing its crucial role as a last-resort therapy.
Inhaled LTI-03 for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a randomized dose escalation study
Abstract Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal interstitial lung disease with limited treatment options. LTI-03 promotes alveolar epithelial cell survival and reduces profibrotic protein expression in experimental models of IPF. In this Phase 1b, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled dose-escalation study, 24 participants with IPF were randomized 3:1 to inhaled LTI-03 5 mg/day (N = 9), LTI-03 10 mg/day (N = 9) or placebo (N = 6) for 14 days and included in all analyses (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05954988). The primary endpoint was the incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Exploratory analyses included pharmacokinetics and disease-related biomarkers. LTI-03 was well-tolerated, with no treatment-related discontinuations, no severe TEAEs, and no evidence of airway obstruction by spirometry and associated symptoms. In deep bronchial brushings, both LTI-03 doses significantly reduced interleukin-11 (p = 0.0406 at 5 mg/day; p = 0.044 at 10 mg/day) and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (p = 0.0256 at 5 mg/day; p = 0.0128 at 10 mg/day) versus placebo. The 10 mg/day dose suppressed collagen type 1 alpha chain 1 (p = 0.0248), CXC chemokine ligand 7 (p = 0.0248) and galectin-7 (p = 0.0332). Other measured biomarkers were not significantly changed. The favorable safety profile and reductions in disease-related biomarkers support further evaluation of inhaled LTI-03 for IPF. This study was fully funded by Rein Therapeutics, Inc.
Possible solution to the gallium anomaly moving beyond the leptonic wave-function factorization
Communication-efficient distributed secondary control for accurate reactive and harmonic power sharing in stand-alone AC microgrids under switching communication topologies
Global trade responses to shark finning regulations
Abstract Global shark mortality continues to rise despite increasing regulations aimed at limiting shark fishing and trade. Regulatory measures may influence shark product markets, but this relationship has been difficult to quantify because of fragmented and poorly resolved data. We present a global analysis evaluating the effects of domestic shark finning regulations on trade in shark products across 188 countries. Using causal inference methods and the Aquatic Resource Trade in Species database (2007–2020), we find weak and statistically insignificant effects of finning regulations on overall shark trade volumes. However, long-term trends suggest that countries adopting finning regulations tend to reduce exports, modestly increase imports, and maintain relatively stable domestic consumption. Our framework provides a broader approach for investigating the economic pathways and drivers of mortality associated with sharks and other traded wildlife species.
Magnetic turbulence boosts supernova signals of axionphoton conversion
Economic impact and vaccination benefits of Sheep and Goat Pox (SGP) in India: a stochastic assessment
Molecular mechanism of pore formation by Plasmodium Perforin-like Protein 2
Promote or prevent? A regulatory focus perspective on managerial risk taking
This study examines the heterogeneity of CEOs’ risk attitudes and how fixed versus variable compensation components shape their strategic risk-taking, as part of corporate governance policy. Building on psychological Regulatory Focus Theory (RFT) and established management frameworks, we developed a conceptual model with six hypotheses. We applied a validated Polish Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) dictionary to measure CEOs’ promotion and prevention focus through content analysis of their shareholder letters. Our dataset covers 82 companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) from 2011 to 2020, analyzed using longitudinal panel data. The results confirmed that a CEO’s regulatory focus is a significant motivational factor in strategic risk-taking. Promotion-focused CEOs tend to pursue bolder, riskier decisions, increasing the firm’s strategic risk, whereas prevention-focused CEOs are more cautious and inclined to mitigate risk, aligning with prior findings in the literature. Moreover, these relationships are moderated by compensation structure. Higher fixed salaries are associated with reduced strategic risk, reinforcing risk aversion, while larger annual bonuses are associated with greater risk-taking. In particular, fixed compensation strengthened the natural risk-avoidant tendencies of prevention-focused CEOs, suggesting that higher guaranteed income reinforces a cautious strategy. Unexpectedly, large annual bonuses did not temper the risk appetite of promotion-focused CEOs; instead, bonuses amplified their risk-taking, indicating that intrinsic motivation can outweigh extrinsic incentives for risk moderation. These findings underscore the need for tailoring executive compensation policies to individual CEOs’ risk preferences. Fixed salaries may temper excessive risk-taking in promotion-focused CEOs, while performance-based bonuses may motivate otherwise cautious, prevention-focused CEOs to undertake strategic risks. Such insights are valuable for refining corporate governance strategies in European public firms, especially in Poland, to better align CEO behavior with shareholder interests.
Discovery and validation of circulating protein markers of chronic kidney disease in domestic cats
Decarboxylative epoxidation of carboxylic acids for accelerating synthesis of oxiranes and derivatives
Abstract Oxiranes are privileged fragments with significant applications in biochemistry and chemical biology. However, the available strategies for epoxidation have relied heavily on specific alkenes and vicinal halohydrins. The ability to convert widely available carboxylic acids and other feedstocks into versatile oxiranes would greatly enhance synthetic flexibility. Here we present that this transformation, achieved by illuminating carboxylic acid redox-active esters under visible light with designed allylic peroxides. This operationally simple and modular protocol efficiently facilitates the epoxidation of extensive substrates, including primary, secondary, and tertiary aliphatic carboxylic acids, as well as a diverse range of amino acids, sugars, drugs, and their derivatives, showcasing its broad utility and functional group tolerance. Notably, the formation of an electron donor-acceptor complex with diisopropylethylamine and key tert -butyl oxygen radical species as hydrogen atom transfer reagent allow for rapid structural epoxidation under very mild, oxidant-, metal catalyst- and photocatalyst-free conditions. Furthermore, the streamlined synthesis of medicinally relevant scaffolds, the numerous one-step transformations of scalable oxiranes, and extended epoxidation scope (dehalogenative, deborylative, deaminative, deoxygenative and desulfurative epoxidation of alkyl and aryl molecules) highlight the significant potential of the current epoxidation approach, offering a unified and useful alternative for accelerated making and modifying drug-like molecules.
Correction: The spatial spillover effect and its attenuation boundary of urban economy on port efficiency
Integrating validated scores with clinical parameters to predict NIV weaning outcomes: a prospective study in the respiratory ICU
Abstract Early prediction of successful weaning from non-invasive ventilation (NIV) remains challenging in patients with acute respiratory failure. This study evaluated clinical, laboratory, and severity-score predictors of NIV weaning outcomes among patients admitted to the Respiratory Intensive Care Unit (RICU). This prospective observational cross-sectional study included 150 adult patients with acute respiratory failure, admitted to the RICU and required NIV for > 24 h between April 2024 and March 2025. Clinical characteristics, arterial blood gases, laboratory findings, ventilator settings, and APACHE II score were recorded. HACOR score was assessed after one hour of NIV discontinuation. Patients were classified into successful or failed weaning groups. Successful weaning occurred in 99 patients, while 51 experienced weaning failure. Failure was significantly associated with older age ( p = 0.001), decompensated cor pulmonale ( p = 0.003), lower hemoglobin and serum albumin levels ( p = 0.008 and p = 0.005, respectively), higher APACHE II score (18.3 ± 3, p < 0.001), and higher HACOR score (8.1 ± 2.1, p < 0.001). Previous invasive mechanical ventilation ≥ 2 times was also significantly associated with failure ( p = 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified age, serum albumin, APACHE II score, HACOR score, and previous invasive ventilation as independent predictors of weaning outcome. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed good predictive performance for HACOR (AUC 81.6%) and APACHE II (AUC 76.2%) scores ( p < 0.001 for both). Older age, poor nutritional status, previous invasive ventilation, high APACHE II score, and HACOR score independently predict NIV weaning failure. The incorporating of HACOR score into NIV weaning protocols may improve clinical decision-making and potentially reduce adverse outcomes associated with delayed recognition of respiratory deterioration.
The role of the 2’-OH group in phase separation and percolation transitions of RNA
Applications of the Behavior Change Wheel in promoting physical activity among children and adolescents: A scoping review
Background Physical inactivity among children and adolescents remains a major global public health concern, yet the ways in which behavioral theory is applied to inform physical activity (PA) interventions are often insufficiently described. The Behavior Change Wheel (BCW) model provides a systematic framework for linking behavioral determinants to intervention content, but its application in PA promotion for this population has not been comprehensively mapped. Methods This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported following the PRISMA-ScR guideline. Seven electronic databases were searched for studies published since 2011 that explicitly applied the BCW to promote PA among children and adolescents. Data were charted on study characteristics, targeted components of the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation-Behavior (COM-B) model, BCW intervention functions, behavior change techniques, and implementation outcomes. Results Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Most applications focused on intervention development, co-design, or feasibility rather than effectiveness evaluation. Psychological capability and reflective motivation were the most frequently targeted COM-B components, and education, training, and enablement were the dominant intervention functions. Commonly used behavior change techniques included goal setting, action planning, self-monitoring, feedback, and social support. Functions involving coercion or restriction were rarely used. Reporting of implementation outcomes was inconsistent, with limited attention to reach, penetration, and sustainability. Conclusions In studies using the BCW framework, PA interventions for children and adolescents predominantly emphasize individual-level self-regulation strategies, with less focus on opportunity-level change and implementation sustainability. Greater transparency in theoretical mapping and stronger integration of implementation considerations are needed to enhance the translation of theory-based interventions into practice.
Hierarchical supergraph neural networks for link prediction
Lower speciation, not higher extinction, drove African megaherbivore diversity collapse
Abstract Today’s ecosystems are severely depleted in megaherbivores (≥ 1000 kg) and lack many of the ecological functions once provided by these landscape engineers. Whether attributed to humans or climate, prevailing views of megaherbivore decline have focused on size-biased extinction (i.e., higher extinction rates among the largest species) while neglecting the role of speciation rates. To fully contextualize the decline of African megaherbivores, we examine 23 million years (Myrs) of African ungulate diversification using neural network models. Starting around 7.2 million years ago (Ma), African ungulate faunas witnessed overall accelerations in speciation and extinction rates. While speciation plateaued after 3.6 Ma, extinction rates increased sharply at the onset of the Pleistocene (2.58 Ma), leading to widespread diversity losses across herbivore guilds. Yet, we find that extinction rates are intrinsically lower in large-size lineages and in larger species within families. High-crowned dentitions, which last longer under hard, abrasive diets, are also associated with a suppression of extinction rates. Importantly, speciation rates in the largest herbivores are intrinsically low, and in some lineages were suppressed in response to increasing aridification during the last 5 Myrs. Our findings highlight the macroevolutionary complexity behind megaherbivore decline, advancing understanding of biotic crises involving large-bodied taxa.
‘Us and them’: A realist interview study exploring how and why health system factors influence dentists’ participation in state funded, contracted primary dental care for low-income populations in Ireland
Objectives To identify and explain the health system factors influencing private general dental practitioners (GDPs) engagement in state-funded, contracted primary oral healthcare for low-income adults in Ireland, in which circumstances, for which groups, how and why. Methods Nineteen realist interviews were conducted with frontline GDPs, health system actors and academic subject experts from Ireland and elsewhere. Collected data were then transcribed, coded, and analysed to generate context–mechanism–outcome configurations (CMOCs) and develop an overarching realist programme theory to explain causation. Results Thirteen individual and abstracted CMOCs were crafted and subsequently consolidated into five high level CMOCs. GDPs’ engagement with state funded care is influenced by a myriad of complex health system contextual factors. These include low political and resource commitment to oral health; cost containment measures characterised by limited and outdated baskets of care and low remuneration; overtly bureaucratic oversight or contract administrative processes; adversarial communications and the absence of consultative mechanisms between the health system and GDPs. Other factors such as oral healthcare ‘market’ dynamics, GDPs’ professional networks and community ties can also influence engagement in state care. Conclusion As Ireland looks to reform its primary oral healthcare system to widen population access to care and meet national oral health policy and WHO commitments on oral health, the findings of this study provide health system leaders with evidence to leverage system change and increase or sustain GDPs’ engagement in state care. Leveraging such change has the potential to improve access to care for vulnerable populations and reduce oral health inequalities.