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Incremental diagnostic yield of bone scintigraphy after standard radiologic imaging in patients with fall trauma at a Level I trauma center
Objective This study aimed to evaluate the incremental diagnostic yield of bone scintigraphy (BS) performed after standard radiologic imaging (SRI) modalities, including radiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, in patients with fall trauma presenting to a Level I trauma center. Methods Three hundred eight patients with fall trauma who underwent BS after SRI were retrospectively enrolled. The presence and number of bone injuries across six skeletal regions were evaluated using both SRI and BS. Bone injuries were evaluated according to three imaging-based categories: SRI alone, SRI − /BS + , and SRI + BS. Imaging-derived bone parameters included the total number of regions with bone injuries, the total number of injured bones, and the Imaging Bone Index (IBI) score. Correlations between these imaging-derived bone parameters and four trauma scores were analyzed, and differences in imaging-derived bone parameters were examined according to the cutoff values of each trauma score. Results The imaging-derived bone parameters in the SRI + BS category were significantly higher than those in the SRI alone category. Imaging-derived bone parameters in both the SRI alone and SRI + BS categories showed significant correlations with all trauma scores, with significantly stronger correlations for the total number of injured bones and IBI scores in the SRI + BS category. Patients with severe trauma exhibited significantly higher imaging-derived bone parameters in the SRI − /BS+ category. Conclusions Performing BS after SRI provided incremental diagnostic yield by detecting additional bone injuries not identified on preceding SRI and yielded quantitative imaging-derived bone parameters associated with trauma severity in this Level I trauma center cohort of patients with fall trauma.
Multivariate influenza forecasting using time-series foundation models: a comparative study with classical statistical models using 11 years of surveillance data in Hong Kong
65 TOPS optoelectronic multi-core computing unlocking multi-feature fusion enhancement
Microbial communities in the rhizosphere of three Mentha species: Links to soil properties and essential oil profiles
Mentha species are widely cultivated aromatic plants valued for their essential oils and antimicrobial properties. However, despite their agricultural and pharmacological significance, limited information is available on how different Mentha species influence rhizosphere microbial communities and their relationships with soil physicochemical parameters and essential oil composition. In this study, we examined the rhizosphere microbiota of three closely related taxa – Mentha × villosa B10, M. spicata B17, and M. suaveolens J17 – cultivated under uniform field conditions. Rhizosphere and bulk soils were analyzed for physicochemical properties, microbial composition (16S rRNA, ITS sequencing), essential oils (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry), and arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization. Bacterial communities were dominated by the phyla Actinomycetota, Pseudomonadota, Acidobacteriota, Bacillota, and Chloroflexota, while fungal communities were primarily composed of Ascomycota, Mortierellomycota, Basidiomycota, and Rozellomycota. Rhizosphere soils exhibited higher fungal diversity than bulk soils, with Glomeromycota detected exclusively in rhizosphere. Microbial community composition differed significantly among Mentha taxa: M. spicata B17 displayed the lowest bacterial diversity, the most distinct microbial assemblages, and the highest arbuscular mycorrhiza colonization. Soil properties – particularly humus content, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium – were strongly correlated with bacterial diversity, while fungal communities showed weaker associations. Integration of essential oil data revealed genotype-dependent chemical profiles: Mentha × villosa B10 and M. spicata B17 were characterized by high proportions of L-carvone and limonene, whereas M. suaveolens J17 was dominated by cis-piperitone epoxide and piperitenone oxide. Together, these findings demonstrate that even closely related Mentha cultivars can harbor distinct rhizosphere microbiota, associated with both plant chemical traits and soil characteristics. This study highlights the complex interactions between aromatic plants, soil chemistry, and microbial communities, offering novel insights into plant-soil-microbe interactions in medicinal and aromatic crop systems.
Acoustic iso-propagation vortices for robust underwater communications
Foraging models explain human exploration in uncertain tasks
Abstract Different fields have fundamentally different models of how decisions are made. Psychology and neuroscience tend to assume that decisions are made by calculating and comparing the values of all options. In ethology, conversely, decisions tend to be binary regardless of the number of options: Decision-makers calculate the value of continuing to exploit some option and explore only when this value drops below a threshold. Because these fields use incompatible methods, it remains unclear which view better describes human decision-making. We find that humans use compare-to-threshold computations even in classic compare-alternative tasks. Because the reinforcement-learning models typically used in the cognitive and brain sciences depend on compare-alternative computations, we also develop a compare-to-threshold foraging model. Compared to previous models, the foraging model better fits participant behavior, predicts the tendency to repeat choices, and predicts held-out participants that were almost impossible under traditional compare-alternative models. These results suggest that humans use compare-to-threshold computations in more environments than were previously known.
Response of PIP aquaporins to long-term cold stress in two citrus rootstocks
Cold is one of the most impactful abiotic stresses causing significant crop losses. Additionally, it is a major limiting factor, reducing cultivation areas, especially for tropical and subtropical species such as citrus. In this study, we conducted a physiological assessment of water balance, photosynthesis, fluorescence, and transcriptomic data, to further understand the response of aquaporins in the Valencia Delta Seedless variety grafted onto two rootstocks: Citrus macrophylla and Carrizo citrange, considered sensitive and tolerant rootstocks, respectively. After 6 weeks of exposure to 1°C with a photoperiod of 16 hours of light and 8 hours of darkness, measurements were taken of CO 2 assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, substomatal CO 2 concentration, transpiration rate, and photosynthetic apparatus damage (Fv/Fm). In addition, plant water balance was quantified by measuring water potential (Ψw), osmotic potential (Ψπ), and relative water content (RWC%). Finally, gene quantification was performed for three previously selected aquaporins ( PIP1–2, PIP2–2, and PIP2–5 ), which our laboratory has formerly associated with cold acclimation and, consequently, with tolerance. Cold temperatures lead to stomatal closure, reduced transpiration, and a significantly decreased osmotic potential (Ψπ), like what occurs under conditions of extreme drought, as the plant seeks to prevent water loss through transpiration. However, the stem water potential (Ψw) and relative water content (RWC) often remain at levels typical of actively growing plants under adequate irrigation conditions. Gene expression and physiological results suggests that plants grafted onto Carrizo citrange rootstock exhibit a better cold response and increased acclimation, leading to the overexpression of aquaporins PIP1–2 , PIP2–2 , and PIP2–5 .
Effect of SMA prestressing and MRF damping ratio on the seismic collapse capacity of steel moment frames equipped with hybrid SMA-MRF damper
Structures of EHD2 filaments on curved membranes provide a model for caveolar neck stabilization
Abstract Caveolae are flask-shaped invaginations of the plasma membrane serving critical functions in mechano-protection and signal transduction. Caveolar dynamics, such as caveolar movement within the plasma membrane or endocytosis, relies on precise shaping of the highly curved caveolar necks. The dynamin-like EHD2 ATPase is proposed to oligomerize around the caveolar neck, but its detailed molecular action is poorly understood. Here, we employ cryo-electron tomography to elucidate structures of ring-like EHD2 filaments on tubulated liposomes. EHD2 forms highly curved membrane scaffolds which stabilize a tubular membrane geometry with undulations along the tube’s axis, resembling caveolar neck architecture. An amino-terminal sequence facilitates this geometry by acting as a spacer between adjacent filaments. Moreover, in endothelial cells lacking EHD2, caveolar necks become narrower and more elongated. Our structural work provides the molecular framework for understanding EHD2 scaffold formation and its cellular function in caveolar dynamics.
The prognostic significance of stress hyperglycemic ratio in critically Ill patients with hypertension: A study using the MIMIC-IV database
Background Traditional ABG is susceptible to interference from acute stress and daily fluctuations, making it difficult to accurately assess true acute blood glucose surges. To bridge this gap, we adopted the Stress Hyperglycemia Ratio (SHR), which reflects true acute hyperglycemia by controlling for baseline glucose status. SHR is associated with critical illness and has been shown to associated with in-hospital mortality. However, there is a lack of studies investigating SHR and its prognostic significance in patients with hypertension. Methods This study utilized the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV database (MIMIC-IV) to extract patient information. All subjects were divided into four groups based on the quartiles of SHR. Kaplan-Meier (KM) curves were utilized to assess the relationship between SHR and all-cause mortality at 30, 90, 180, and 365 days. The relationship between the SHR index and prognosis was evaluated using restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression and Cox proportional hazards regression. At the same time, subgroup analyses were performed for gender, age, diabetes, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, and paraplegia. Results A total of 2,140 participants with essential hypertension were included in the study. The KM curve analysis revealed that elevated levels of the SHR index were significantly associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality at 30, 90, 180, and 365 days (log-rank P < 0.05). Moreover, multivariate analysis revealed that the SHR index remained significantly associated with mortality risk ( P < 0.001 ) . RCS analysis revealed a nonlinear, inverse U-shaped association between SHR and all-cause mortality ( P < 0.05). Subgroup analysis showed statistically significant differences in all-cause mortality across gender, age, diabetes, myocardial infarction, heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, and paraplegia. Conclusions In critically ill patients with hypertension, a high level of SHR index is associated with all-cause mortality. The SHR index may be a potential prognostic indicator for assessing illness severity in ICU patients with hypertension.
A hybrid deep learning and quantum computing framework enhances cybersecurity threat detection and analysis
Integrated single-cell multi-omics characterization reveals lipid-associated macrophage-mediated immunosuppression in neoadjuvant immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma
Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a cancer with high incidence and mortality rate. Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) improved survival outcomes for HCC patients, limited objective response rate highlights the urgency of investigating determinants of immunotherapy. Here, we explore HCC resistance mechanisms following neoadjuvant αPD-1 immunotherapy by constructing a comprehensive multi-modal single-cell transcriptomic atlas consisting of 14 HCC patients treated with αPD-1 from our cohort (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06571396) and 60 external HCC cases with heterogeneous treatment backgrounds. Supervised by clinical outcomes of our cohort, we identify positive and negative regulators of immunotherapy within the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), especially lipid-associated macrophages (LAM) with increased lipid metabolic state in non-responders and characterized by C1QA , FABP1 , and APOA1 expression. We further show the presence, exogenous inducements and immunosuppressive functions of LAM, along with regulation strategies of its lipid-associated condition, including lycopene and chiglitazar. Furthermore, we construct interaction networks of immune regulators across responders and non-responders, showing distinct ligand-receptor landscapes with intervention targets. We reveal the TIME components including immunosuppressive LAMs that influence immunotherapy outcomes, thus providing evidence and insights for exploring immune landscape and therapeutic strategies for HCC immunotherapy. ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06571396
Psychometric properties of the Thai version of the Illness-Specific Social Support Scale Short Version-8 (ISSS-8) among hematological malignancy patients in the Northeastern region of Thailand: A multicenter study
Social support, which is an essential aspect influencing health, has resulted in the development of several approaches for assessment in cancer patients. The Illness-Specific Social Support Scale Short Version-8 (ISSS-8) effectively evaluates social support among diverse patient demographics; however, its psychometric validity has yet to be established in Asian cultural contexts. The objectives of this study were to translate and culturally adapt the ISSS-8 for the Thai setting and to assess its psychometric properties in patients with hematological malignancies (HMs). This study employed a convenience sampling method to select patients with HMs undergoing hospitalization at three tertiary institutions in Northeastern Thailand. Psychometric testing was conducted following the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the ISSS-8 into Thai. A total of 350 patients were recruited. Participants were randomly divided into two groups for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) (n = 200) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) (n = 150). The EFA of the eight items yielded a loading from a two-factor model comprising Positive Support and Detrimental Interactions, which explained 82.44% of the variance. Cronbach’s alpha (0.80) and item–total correlations (rho = 0.33–0.65) demonstrated acceptable reliability of the ISSS-8, while test–retest reliability was high (ICC = 0.924-–0.934). The average variance extracted (AVE) demonstrated convergent validity for all ISSS-8 subscales, with AVEs ranging from 0.76 to 0.80. Moreover, the total ISSS-8 scale demonstrated a statistically significant but weak positive correlation with the Stanford Inventory of Cancer Patient Adjustment (r = 0.244, p < 0.001), while the Detrimental Interactions subscale was significantly and weak negatively correlated with it (r = 0.237, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that the ISSS-8 captures distinct psychosocial and illness-specific relational constructs that differ from coping self-efficacy and psychological adjustment measured by the SICPA. The ISSS-8 is a short, accurate, and valid instrument for measuring social support in Thai patients with HMs. As a result, healthcare professionals can use the ISSS-8 to assess social support in both research and clinical settings. The findings emphasize the necessity of integrating social support evaluation into cancer management and family-centered care, thereby supporting comprehensive and adaptive healthcare delivery in Thailand.
Nonlinear dynamic transitions and equilibrium topology of a beam under sequential moving masses
Abstract The nonlinear dynamic behavior and stability characteristics of a supported Euler–Bernoulli beam—representative of material-based structures such as composite bridges and nano-engineered beams—subjected to a sequence of moving masses are investigated. The nonlinear response is based on the geometrical aspects of large transverse deflections of the beam, which contribute to changes in stability under traveling loads. Beam-moving mass systems arise in many realistic engineering problems and provide simplified models of flexible structural systems driven by time-varying excitation. The analysis is based on an accepted formulation that preserves the fundamental inertial effects of the moving mass. The paper focuses on the equilibrium topology and nonlinear response behavior near several equilibrium points. The modulation equations are obtained using the method of multiple scales (a two-variable expansion technique) to analyze the effects of system parameters and initial conditions on the dynamic response. The findings reveal clear equilibrium structures comprising nodal and saddle points, the evolution of which governs the transition between quasi-unstable and double-periodic responses. Phase-plane analysis and Poincaré maps show the presence of multiple attractors, leading to sensitivity of the long-term response to initial conditions. Damping is also analyzed, including the progressive collapse of heteroclinic and homoclinic structures into stable equilibria. The results highlight the importance of equilibrium-dependent nonlinear analysis for reliable stability evaluation and design of beam-moving-mass systems under time-varying loads.
Catalyst-free single-molecule cascade photoreactions for spatiotemporally programmed encryption
Surveillance of Escherichia coli clones and their antimicrobial resistance profiles in wastewater and drinking water treatment plants of Barcelona, Spain
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health threat, and environmental reservoirs such as wastewater (WWTPs) and drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) may facilitate its persistence and spread despite reducing bacterial loads. We investigated 152 antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli strains collected across treatment stages from two WWTPs and one DWTP in Barcelona, Spain. Strains were characterized through antimicrobial susceptibility testing, whole-genome sequencing, multilocus sequence typing, biofilm assays, and screening of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), virulence factors (VFGs), biocide and heavy-metal tolerance genes (HMTGs). Although E. coli bacterial loads decreased along treatment, AMR remained highly prevalent: 85.5% of strains were multidrug-resistant (MDR), 5.3% extensively drug-resistant, and 11.2% carbapenemase-producers. Strains harboring integrase genes were 2.4 to 11.8 times more likely to harbor ARGs for sulfonamide, aminoglycoside, phenicol, trimethoprim, mercury and quaternary-ammonium compounds. Strains carrying bla CTX-M genes were 3.0 to 20.3 times more likely to carry VFGs, while high-risk clones were 3.2 to 7.0 times more associated with VFGs. Some MDR and high-risk E. coli clones persisted in reclaimed water, and one MDR strain was detected at the DWTP inlet. These findings highlight environmental AMR reservoirs as a public health concern and support a One Health approach integrating antibiotic stewardship and environmental monitoring.
A scalable system architecture for multimodal learning behavior data acquisition and analysis in virtual reality educational environments
Antibiotic development and a path to access in India
A multiplex dual-probe RT-LAMP assay for rapid subtype-specific detection of respiratory syncytial virus A and B
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute respiratory tract infections, particularly in infants, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals. RSV is classified into two major subtypes, RSV A and RSV B, which co-circulate seasonally and exhibit genetic variability, highlighting the need for rapid and subtype-specific diagnostic methods. Although reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) is the reference standard for RSV detection, its reliance on complex instrumentation limits its applicability in decentralized testing settings. In this study, we developed and evaluated a probe-based reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay for rapid detection and differentiation of RSV A and RSV B. The assay incorporates a dual-probe strategy, employing an assimilating probe for RSV A detection to ensure robust signal generation under multiplex conditions, and hybridization-based TaqMan-style probes (HyTaq probes) for RSV B detection and for an internal control targeting the human ACTB gene to ensure reaction validity. Analytical performance was assessed using serially diluted RSV positive clinical specimens and plasmid standards. Clinical performance was evaluated using 91 RSV A positive specimens, 97 RSV B positive specimens, and 120 RSV negative specimens, as defined by the reference diagnosis. The RSV A and RSV B RT-LAMP assays demonstrated sensitivities of 92.31% and 98.97%, respectively, with a specificity of 100% for both targets. No cross-reactivity was observed with a panel of common respiratory viruses. These results indicate that the proposed dual-probe RT-LAMP assay provides a rapid and specific approach for subtype-specific RSV detection, with potential applicability in decentralized diagnostic settings pending further validation.