Browse Articles

Comprehensive analysis of mortality risk factors in low-grade B-cell lymphoma

Background Low-grade B-cell lymphomas (LGBCLs) account for approximately 40% of non-Hodgkin lymphomas with low progression. LGBCL is divided into subgroups, which share common complications. Analyzing prognostic factors and mortality causes could improve patient survival; however, currently available models present limitations in discriminating the cause of death. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the prognostic factors and causes of death, such as secondary malignancies (SMs), aggressive histologic transformation (HT), and infectious complications, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), in LGBCLs using a competing risk analysis. Methods This retrospective analysis included 1,047 adults with LGBCLs (follicular lymphoma, 689; marginal zone lymphoma, 312; mantle cell lymphoma [MCL], 46) diagnosed between January 2011 and December 2022 across seven centers. Competing risk models were employed to estimate cumulative incidence rates of lymphoma progression-related and non-lymphoma-related mortality. Results Patients with SMs (3.8%) exhibited poorer overall survival than those without SMs, whereas HT and COVID-19 status did not impact survival outcomes in multivariate analysis. Analysis revealed an association of SMs, age > 60 years, male sex, pleural effusion, and elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels with worse non-lymphoma-related mortality. Moreover, age > 60 years, MCL, nodal MZL, and anemia were linked to poorer outcomes for lymphoma progression-related death. Conclusions The management of non-lymphoma-related risk factors, such as through early SM detection, is crucial for improving the survival of patients with LGBCLs.

Effect of air and fuel injection pressure variation on torque and fuel economy in spark-ignition engines

Abstract Because of decreased air density and altered engine control behaviour, the efficiency of traditional multi-point injection (MPI) spark-ignition engines can degrade at great altitude, therefore increasing CO 2 and fuel consumption. Using a pressure regulator and an Arduino-based MAP-signal conditioning module on a Great Wall Wingle 5 tested in Quito, Ecuador (2,850 m a.s.l.), this study assesses a low-cost outside intervention that changes fuel-rail pressure (3.2–5.0 bar). Real-road tests on urban and highway routes were carried out following an SAE J1321-inspired approach, noting fuel economy, torque response, and injection pulse behaviour across pressure levels. Together with shorter injection pulses, raising pressure to 5.0 bar enhanced fuel economy from 7.18 to 13.45 km/l on the urban route (≈ 87.3%) and from 9.19 to 12.89 km/l on the highway route (≈ 40.3%); low-RPM torque, however, showed tiny fluctuations in heavy traffic. The 4.5 bar setting struck a more stable middle ground without sacrificing most of the efficiency advantage. Results should be regarded as case-specific and require validation under regulated circumstances and a bigger fleet before generalisation as the investigation is founded on a single car and limited paths without long-term durability testing or direct tailpipe readings.

Innate defense mechanisms against Nosema ceranae in hygienic honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies

The honey bee colony ( Apis mellifera ) acts as a superorganism, with a dual immune system that operates at the individual and social level. However, the linkages between immune mechanisms across the two levels remain poorly understood, despite the relevance for developing effective breeding strategies to improve honey bee disease resistance. Hygienic behavior involving the removal of unhealthy brood is a key component of honey bee social immunity and is highly effective at limiting parasites and pathogens in the colony. While this form of hygienic behavior can reduce brood diseases, parasites infecting adult bees primarily, such as Nosema ceranae, are not directly impacted by the behavior. However, when using the Unhealthy Brood Odor (UBeeO) assay to quantify hygienic behavior performance, hygienic colonies have been shown to maintain lower Nosema spp . loads over time and overall compared to non-hygienic colonies. To investigate the mechanisms driving reduced Nosema spp . in hygienic colonies, we conducted a series of field and lab experiments to test the innate immune performance of individual bees. We evaluated several factors across hygienic and non-hygienic bees including (1) differences in N. ceranae infection levels, (2) survival probability, (3) Vitellogenin and Hymenoptaecin gene expression, and (4) amount of N. ceranae inoculant consumed. We found that hygienic bees consumed less of the inoculant, exhibited upregulated Vitellogenin gene expression at peak N. ceranae infection, showed a positive relationship between Hymenoptaecin gene expression and N. ceranae infection levels, and had greater survivability when infected with N. ceranae , compared to non-hygienic bees. Here, we present new findings that link colony hygienic behavior performance to individual-level resistance and tolerance mechanisms in response to N. ceranae , suggesting broader implications for the success of selective breeding programs targeting hygienic traits.

A MOF-Lanthanide Theranostic Agent with Bidirectional Near-Infrared Photon Conversion for Tumor-Responsive Therapy and Real-Time Imaging

Exploring differences between women and men in treatment-seeking patients with compulsive buying-shopping disorder

Abstract Compulsive buying-shopping disorder (CBSD) is associated with emotional distress, reduced daily functioning, and frequent comorbid mental health conditions. In previous research, CBSD has traditionally been conceptualized as a predominantly female disorder, with most existing data derived from primarily female samples. This study examined gender differences in a treatment-seeking sample with CBSD, focusing on sociodemographic factors, mental comorbidities, buying/shopping preferences, symptom severity, and therapy participation. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 141 adults (73.8% women) diagnosed with CBSD at an outpatient clinic for behavioral addictions (2017–2025). Data included sociodemographic variables, ICD-10 comorbidities, buying/shopping environment, preferred consumer products, and group therapy attendance. Psychometric measures (Pathological Buying Screener, PBS; Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale 7, GAD-7; Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ-9) assessed symptoms of CBSD, anxiety, and depression. Group comparisons used Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests. Women more often compulsively purchased clothing, shoes, bags, cosmetics, and jewelry (all p ≤ .004, V = 0.18–0.36); men preferred electronics ( p < .001, V = 0.32). Women showed slightly higher CBSD severity (PBS: Mdn = 56 vs. 52, p = .044, r = .17). Overall, no significant differences between women and men were found in comorbid mental disorders, neither in GAD-7/PHQ-9 scores (all p > .05) nor in clinical diagnoses (all p > .004 after Bonferroni correction). No group differences emerged for age, education, relationship status, or therapy participation (all p > .05). Gender differences in CBSD presentation—particularly regarding product preferences—emphasize the need for gender-sensitive perspectives to enhance treatment outcomes, while also highlighting that men and women differ only in specific aspects.

Structural and phylogenetic insights from complete chloroplast genomes of seven Vicia species

The legume genus Vicia L. (Fabaceae) is of significant ecological and agronomic importance, comprising species widely utilized as forage crops, green manure, and sources of valuable phytochemicals. Despite this, a comprehensive genomic understanding of many species, particularly those endemic to underrepresented regions like Iran, remains limited. To address this, we employed a high-throughput sequencing and comparative genomics approach to elucidate the chloroplast (cp) genome architecture and evolutionary relationships of seven previously uncharacterized Iranian Vicia species including V. hirsuta , V. hybrida , V. lathyroides , V. lutea, V. narbonensis, V. peregrina , and V. villosa . Total genomic DNA was sequenced on an Illumina HiSeq 2000 platform, and the cp genomes were assembled de novo using GetOrganelle, followed by comprehensive annotation with a suite of bioinformatic tools. The analysis revealed considerable size variation, ranging from 118,660–130,223 bp, and a key structural divergence involving the loss of one inverted repeat (IR) region in six species, consolidating their placement within the IR-lacking clade (IRLC), while V. villosa retained the ancestral quadripartite structure. Lineage-specific gene losses were documented, including accD in V. lathyroides and ycf2 in V. narbonensis . Microsatellite analysis identified a predominance of A/T-rich mononucleotide simple sequence repeats (SSRs), with V. hybrida exhibiting the highest SSR density. Nucleotide diversity (Pi) analysis across coding regions identified clpP (Pi = 0.19772) and ycf1 (Pi = 0.16964) as hypervariable loci, while the ribosomal protein genes rps7 and rpl20 were validated as highly effective phylogenetic barcodes. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic reconstruction, based on a concatenated alignment of 86 shared protein-coding genes, resolved the species into well-supported clades, providing a robust evolutionary framework. This study delivers essential genomic resources that deepen the understanding of cp genome evolution in the IRLC and provides powerful molecular tools for future research in Vicia systematics, conservation genetics, and precision breeding.

Design, fabrication and characterization of metamaterial absorber for sensing applications

Abstract A perfect metamaterial absorber (MMA) is suggested, analyzed, and fabricated for sensing applications. The reported design enhances the absorption at the resonance frequency by suppressing the reflectance and transmittance concurrently. A back metallic reflector is used to eliminate the transmission through the proposed design, while the reflection is minimized by the impedance matching between the proposed MMA and that of free space. Moreover, simultaneous electric and magnetic resonances are supported with nearly perfect absorption at the resonance frequency. The reported design has simulated absorptivity of 99.33% at 28.146 GHz which falls within the mm-Wave spectrum, a band of critical importance for next-generation 5G communication and high-frequency biosensing. Further, the fabricated absorber achieves a measured absorption of 96.5% at 28.12 GHz with a narrow absorption bandwidth. In addition, the resonance frequency strongly depends on the surrounding refractive index, which makes the absorber an effective platform for RI sensing. The simulated sensitivity of the proposed RI sensor is 9520 GHz/RIU when the analyte refractive index changes from 1.3 to 1.35 with simulated Q-factor and FoM of 817 and 427 RIU -1 , respectively. A prototype is fabricated and characterized with excellent agreement with the simulation results. High measured sensitivity of 14.44 GHz/RIU is obtained (the analyte layer changed from air to water) from the prototype characterization with a Q-factor of 513 and FoM of 427 RIU -1 . The potential of using the proposed metamaterial absorber as a biosensor for cancer cell detection is also demonstrated for Breast cell, Cervical cell, Jurkat cell, MCF-7 cell, and PC12 cell with an average simulated sensitivity of 9.023 GHz/RIU. Therefore, the reported perfect metamaterial absorber has good potential in sensing applications.

The choice of corporate social responsibility strategies under rivalry: Whether to increase socially responsible product characteristics or enhance relationship with buyers

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) theory emphasizes both CSR characteristics in products and CSR activities to enhance relationships with buyers. However, there are theoretical gaps regarding the factors that influence firms’ CSR strategy choices in a competitive setting. This study develops a biform game model to study the trade-off between product-oriented strategies and relationship-oriented CSR strategies. The model demonstrates that factors such as information asymmetry, product value, market segment size, transaction costs, bargaining power, and other market conditions significantly influence firms’ CSR strategies. It identifies conditions under which strategic heterogeneity, strategic homogeneity, and a parameter space with multiple strategic heterogeneity equilibria can exist. When the value derived from product- and relationship-oriented strategies is significantly high, firms tend to adopt these respective strategies. In a low information asymmetry context, firms with lower bargaining power are more likely to choose a relationship-oriented strategy, whereas in a high information asymmetry context, these firms are inclined to adopt a product-oriented strategy. Regardless of the level of information asymmetry, firms with larger market scales tend to favor a product-oriented strategy. Additionally, the model integrates the synergy between business strategy and CSR strategy, which further shapes the trade-offs firms encounter in their CSR strategy choices. This study offers new insights into CSR strategy choices and the resulting market outcomes in competitive environments.

Predictors of exercise participation among Saudi adults attending primary healthcare centers in Riyadh

The dynamics of educational transformation: Empirical insights into how innovation, collaboration, and professional development influence digital resource usage across 81 countries

This study addresses a critical gap in understanding how teacher innovation drives the utilization of digital resources in education, mediated by teachers’ self-efficacy and collaboration, and moderated by professional development. Using data from 68,054 teachers across 81 countries in the PISA 2022 teacher questionnaire, we retained an analytic sample of 64,852 teachers after applying inclusion criteria and listwise deletion of missing values. We employed Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze these relationships. Results reveal that teacher innovation significantly predicts digital resource usage, with self-efficacy and collaboration serving as key mediators. Professional development amplifies these relationships. This study offers novel insights into the mechanisms linking teacher attributes to digital resource adoption, providing actionable strategies for policymakers to enhance educational digitalization. This study moves beyond the conventional individual-centered perspective of the technology acceptance model, offering a comprehensive and systematic strategy to support the digital transformation of education.

UGT8/GalCer-dependent resistance of breast cancer cells to drug-induced apoptosis is potentially regulated by the LIM/homeobox protein LHX6

Abstract Ceramide galactosyltransferase (UGT8) is overexpressed in basal-like breast cancer (BC) tumors and is associated with an increased risk of lung metastasis. UGT8 synthesizes galactosylceramide (GalCer), an anti-apoptotic molecule that promotes BC cell survival within the tumor microenvironment and enhances resistance to anticancer drugs. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying UGT8 overexpression in BC cells. UGT8 promoter constructs and deletion mutants were generated by PCR. Promoter activity was assessed using a dual-luciferase assay, and key regulatory sequences were identified by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Candidate transcription factors were predicted using the JASPAR database and validated by qPCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. GalCer levels were measured by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) binding assay, and LHX6–DNA interactions were analyzed by surface plasmon resonance. Apoptotic cells were detected using the Thermo Dead Cell Apoptosis Kit. UGT8 promoter activity was significantly higher in UGT8-positive MDA-MB-231 cells than in UGT8-negative T47D and MCF-7 cells, indicating that UGT8 gene expression is regulated at the transcriptional level. Sequential promoter deletions combined with EMSA localized a key regulatory region (− 1132 to − 1618 bp), termed the UGT8 response element (UGT8RE). In silico analysis identified potential transcription factors, among which the LIM/homeobox protein LHX6 was markedly upregulated in MDA-MB-231 cells. Site-directed mutagenesis of two predicted LHX6 binding sites (LHX6BS1 and LHX6BS2) demonstrated that LHX6BS2 is essential for UGT8 promoter activity. RNAi-mediated inhibition of LHX6 reduced UGT8 expression and GalCer synthesis, thereby sensitizing MDA-MB-231 cells to doxorubicin-induced apoptosis. The LIM/homeobox protein LHX6 may regulate the UGT8 expression in BC cells. Targeting LHX6 decreases UGT8 expression and GalCer synthesis, thereby sensitizing MDA-MB-231 cells to doxorubicin. Given UGT8’s role in cell survival and drug resistance, inhibition of LHX6 may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for drug-resistant BC.

Academic integrity across educational levels: Exploring students’ engagement with grey-zone and non-compliant practices in four European countries

To foster academic integrity in students and future scholars, it is essential to understand how their integrity behaviours evolve throughout their educational trajectory and across various academic integrity topics. While much research has examined students’ perception of and engagement in plagiarism and other forms of clear-cut cheating, grey-zone practices have largely been neglected, and comparisons across educational levels are rare. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of European students’ conceptions of and engagement with less clearcut aspects of academic integrity, and the potential effects of academic integrity training. The study draws on a large-scale survey of 3,297 students from Denmark, Ireland, Portugal, and Switzerland, covering three educational levels (upper secondary, Bachelor, and PhD). The survey examined perceptions of and engagement in likely grey-zone and non-compliant practices across three dimensions of academic integrity: i) Plagiarism and citation practice, ii) Collaborative practices, and iii) Data collection and analysis. Responses were analysed using descriptive statistics and regression analyses. Results showed that participants at higher educational levels were better at identifying likely non-compliant practices related to plagiarism and citation, and they were less likely to have engaged in such practices during their current studies. Progress along the educational trajectory was less pronounced regarding collaborative practices and practices related to data collection and analysis. In particular, 14% of the PhD level participants admitted having deleted deviating data “based on a gut feeling that they were inaccurate” and 20% admitted to keeping inaccurate records. All participants had a low level of competence in identifying grey-zone practices, and strikingly, their competences did not improve along their educational trajectory. Academic integrity training was not consistently correlated with any group of participants’ competences regarding likely grey-zone practices, although it was positively correlated with upper secondary and PhD participants’ competences concerning certain likely non-compliant practices. These results call for a different approach to academic integrity training. In particular, they call for more comprehensive approaches that include grey-zone as well as non-compliant practices, and address a broad range of questionable behaviours, not only plagiarism.

Surface integrity and machinability analysis in dry hard turning of X38CrMoV5-1 steel using coated and uncoated ceramic tools

Serum biomarkers for predicting Crohn’s disease activity: The role of bilirubin, uric acid, and the C-reactive protein/albumin ratio

Background Crohn’s disease is a chronic, progressive inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract that requires long-term assessment of disease activity. There is a growing need for convenient serum biomarkers to reduce the need for invasive endoscopic evaluations. Our study aims to explore the predictive value of serum biomarkers, specifically total bilirubin, uric acid, and the C-reactive protein/albumin ratio, for disease activity in Crohn’s disease. Methods We conducted a retrospective study at the Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University (China), consisting of 170 patients with Crohn’s disease and 100 healthy controls. Clinical characteristics and laboratory biomarkers were collected and analyzed. Among the patients, 77 active Crohn’s disease patients who had complete follow-up data were included in a longitudinal analysis to assess biomarker dynamics. Results Compared to healthy controls, Crohn’s disease patients exhibited lower bilirubin and albumin levels, but higher C-reactive protein and C-reactive protein/albumin ratio, trends that intensified with disease progression. Following therapy, albumin, C-reactive protein and C-reactive protein/albumin ratio changed significantly in both remission and active groups, whereas a significant increase in total bilirubin was exclusive to the remission group. Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that C-reactive protein/albumin ratio had the highest discriminatory power for disease activity (area under the curve [AUC]= 0.903), outperforming C-reactive protein alone (AUC = 0.894), albumin (AUC = 0.719) and total bilirubin (AUC = 0.648). Regarding uric acid, no significant associations were identified overall, apart from a single weak correlation in Spearman’s analysis. Conclusion Our findings support a potential serological remission hypothesis for Crohn’s disease, characterized by a post-treatment rise in total bilirubin, together with a decrease in C-reactive protein to approximately 5.3 mg/L and the C-reactive protein/albumin ratio to about 0.136. This hypothesis warrants prospective validation.

Atomic Bromine Layer as a Hole-Doping Decoupling Adlayer for Molecular Spin Modulation

Design and characterization of sustainable mortars incorporating industrial waste–derived materials

Abstract Environmental pressures necessitate finding alternatives to Portland cement using alkali-activated aluminosilicate materials. Mortars containing different types of class F fly ash (Romania and Canada), furnace slag, silica fume and sand, activated with 5.1 M potassium hydroxide solution and 40% sodium silicate solution. Three mixes were tested (Mix 1 – fly ash Romania, Mix 2 - fly ash Canada and Mix 3 – fly ash Canada and slag). The activators were chosen to develop materials with high mechanical strength. The activation process occurred at controlled laboratory conditions (20 ± 2℃ and 65% relative humidity). Mix 3 showed the highest strength values of 43.8 MPa and a flexural strength of 7.4 MPa after 28 days. Mix 2 had a compressive strength of 26.0 MPa, in contrast to 8.3 MPa for Mix 1. The addition of blast furnace slag (Mix 3 vs. Mix 2) nearly doubled the compressive strength values. Proposed mixes are an effective alternative to cement mortar that reduce waste, through valorization of industrial by-products and diminish carbon dioxide emissions by 30%. Microstructural analyses (SEM and XRD) confirmed the formation of reaction products consistent with the observed mechanical strength. The developed mixes show promising mechanical performance and contribute to reducing CO₂ emissions in construction materials.

Combining transcranial direct current stimulation and computerized cognitive training for post-stroke cognitive recovery: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial with optimized temporal intervention sequences

Background Post-stroke cognitive impairment is a common and severe complication of stroke, significantly affecting patients’ daily life and rehabilitation. Although transcranial direct current stimulation combined with computerized cognitive training has shown potential for improvement, current studies still have key limitations. Most have used only simultaneous intervention protocols, without systematically comparing sequential combination strategies, making it difficult to determine the optimal clinical approach. Objectives The core objective of this study will be to address the existing research gap by comparing sequential intervention strategies and to resolve the key issue of identifying the optimal clinical approach. Methods This study will use a single-center, double-blind, randomized controlled trial design. A total of 60 patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment will be randomly assigned in a 1:1:1:1 ratio to four groups: three intervention groups receiving computerized cognitive training combined with transcranial direct current stimulation at different timings (pre-training, concurrent, or post-training), and one sham control group. All interventions will be administered five times a week for two consecutive weeks. Follow-up assessments will be conducted at 4 and 12 weeks post-intervention. Discussion This trial will systematically evaluate the optimal timing strategies for combining tDCS and CCT in PSCI. The hypothesized mechanisms are: (1) synchronous stimulation enhancing cognitive processing efficiency through immediate synaptic changes, (2) pre-training stimulation promoting plasticity via long-term potentiation-like modifications, and (3) post-training stimulation consolidating training effects by modulating neuronal synchrony. High-sensitivity cerebral oxygenation parameters will be used to assess microcirculatory improvements, linking physiological changes to cognitive recovery. However, ceiling effects and test biases will potentially limit the accuracy of long-term results, while sample size and lack of stratification based on brain lesion characteristics may introduce heterogeneity. Future studies will need to incorporate multimodal neuroimaging for stratified analysis and should develop personalized interventions based on lesion severity, disease stage, and timing to address therapeutic challenges and advance precision rehabilitation. Trial registration: ChiCTR2500102565.[Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR), https://www.chictr.org.cn/ ] [Registered on May 16, 2025]

Revealing the Full Potential of Glycolated Mixed Ionic-Electronic Semiconductors – Symmetric Monomer Polymerization to Boost Electrochemical Transistor Performance

Comprehensive analysis of 73 Aconitum chloroplast genomes reveals their structure, codon usage bias, and phylogenetic relationships within family Ranunculaceae

Accuracy of owner-reported diagnoses for dogs enrolled in the Dog Aging Project as compared to veterinary electronic medical records

The objective of this project was to evaluate the accuracy of owner-reported health diagnoses in dogs compared to veterinary electronic medical records (VEMRs) using data from the Dog Aging Project (DAP), a longitudinal study of companion dogs in the United States. We hypothesized that owner-reported diagnoses would align more closely with VEMRs for acute or emergent conditions and less so for benign or self-limiting conditions. A subsample of 350 dogs was selected from the 2020 curated DAP dataset (n = 27,541). Dogs were included if they had VEMRs covering ≥ 85% of their life up to the time of survey completion. Forty-one dogs were excluded due to incomplete VEMRs, resulting in a final sample of 309 dogs included in this observational study comparing owner responses in the Health and Life Experience Survey (HLES) ( https://github.com/dogagingproject/dataRelease/tree/master/SurveyInstruments/HLES ) to VEMR data abstracted by masked reviewers. VEMR reviewers completed a survey mirroring HLES and identified supporting evidence for each diagnosis. Agreement between owner-reported and VEMR-verified diagnoses was assessed across 20 disease categories, with a focus on five target disease categories (TDCs). Agreement between owner and VEMR data was ≥ 90% in 10 of 20 disease categories. Agreement was highest in endocrine, immune, and “other” categories (99%) and lowest in dental/oral (44%). Among TDCs, orthopedic and traumatic conditions had higher agreement (>78%), while dermatologic and dental/oral categories showed the least. Owner-reported dog health data showed substantial concordance with VEMRs for many disease categories, supporting their utility in research. Thus, owner-reported diagnoses might provide a reliable and scalable supplement or alternative to VEMRs in veterinary research and epidemiology.