Browse Articles

The WeDDa framework for preventing smishing and vishing using protocol agnostic cryptographic trust

Abstract The global telecommunications infrastructure remains vulnerable to caller identity spoofing, fueling multi-billion dollar smishing and vishing epidemics due to an architectural absence of cryptographic verification. Current detection-based paradigms are inherently reactive, allowing attacks to reach end-users. This paper presents WeDDa: A unified protocol-agnostic Cryptographic Trust Framework for Preventing Smishing and Vishing Attacks Through Verified Identity Attestation, which implements a unified cryptographic trust approach integrating existing attestation mechanisms into a protocol-agnostic, mandatory enforcement layer. By implementing gateway-level cryptographic attestation, our framework creates a verified namespace that systematically reduces identity spoofing at its source, under defined deployment assumptions. Its protocol-agnostic design suggests universal applicability, providing a scalable blueprint deployable across current and next-generation (e.g., 5G, 6G) national infrastructures. Our large-scale laboratory simulations, modeled on Egypt’s telecommunications infrastructure, demonstrate proof-of-concept effectiveness. Under controlled conditions, it blocked all simulated spoofing-based attacks without misclassifying legitimate calls with negligible latency. These laboratory simulations results indicate feasibility for preventing identity spoofing; however, real-world validation through pilot deployments is required. Critically, the framework is inherently integrable, requiring no end-user device modifications and imposing minimal additional cost for adoption into existing core networks (SS7, VoIP), emerging standards (5G), and future frameworks (6G). This paper presents a unified protocol-agnostic framework validated through simulation to telecommunications identity spoofing prevention and a foundational trust layer for secure digital ecosystems, establishing a blueprint for networks intrinsically secure against protocol-level impersonation attacks.

Pt size-dependent reverse oxygen spillover on Sn-doped Pt/TiO2 for CO oxidation

Abstract Interfacial oxygen migration from support to noble metal active sites, termed reverse oxygen spillover, represents a critical metal-support interaction influencing the performance of Pt/TiO 2 catalysts. In this study, we uncover a size effect of Pt particles on reverse oxygen spillover in Pt/Sn 0.2 Ti 0.8 O 2 catalysts via a combination of in situ characterizations with ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. Among single-atom Pt, nanocluster Pt, and nanocrystal Pt, nanocluster Pt exhibits the most pronounced reverse oxygen spillover and thus achieves the highest turnover frequency in CO oxidation. The most pronounced reverse oxygen spillover is mainly due to the strongest electron transfer to the interfacial lattice oxygen triggered by CO adsorption with moderate adsorption energy. In contrast, CO adsorption on single-atom Pt is too strong to initiate reverse oxygen spillover, while on nanocrystal Pt, it leads to a weakening of the interaction between Pt sites and the support, thus hinders the reverse oxygen spillover. This study clarifies the relationship between Pt particle size and reverse oxygen spillover effects, furnishing a theoretical basis for designing noble metal catalysts with excellent activity.

Correction: Children’s outdoor play at early learning and child care centres: Examining the impact of environmental play features on children’s play behaviour

Quantitative ex vivo assessment of target temperature and ablation duration for protocol optimization of microwave ablation procedures with mr thermometry

Abstract To quantitatively assess the influence of target temperature and ablation duration on the quality of proton resonance frequency shift (PRFS)-based MR thermometry during microwave ablation (MWA) in a controlled ex vivo model, and to identify parameter ranges associated with improved thermometry performance. Thirty-two MWAs were performed in 10 ex vivo bovine livers in a 1.5-tesla MRI system with multi-slice volumetric real-time thermometry yielding temperature and thermal dose maps. The experiments were conducted twice using all combinations of four target temperatures (60; 80; 100; 120 °C) and four ablation times (5:00; 7:30; 10:00; 15:00 min). Thermometry quality was rated on a 5‑point Likert scale. Ablation areas were compared with histopathology (hematoxylin and eosin, H&E; and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, NADH‑diaphorase) and correlated using Spearman coefficients. Likert scores were compared across temperatures using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. All evaluations were performed independently by two readers. Lesion areas varied from 2.6 to 12.9 cm², increasing primarily with target temperature. Ablation areas from temperature and thermal dose maps correlated strongly with macroscopically visual necrosis ( p  < 0.01). Likert scores differed significantly across temperatures ( p  < 0.05). The highest image quality was achieved at 60 °C for 7:30 min, showing comparable scores as at 80° for 15:00 min, but significantly differing from 100 °C to 120 °C. In this controlled ex vivo setting, lower target temperatures were associated with improved MRI thermometry quality, providing more reliable visualization of ablation zones; however, ablation volumes decreased at lower temperatures. Furthermore, these empirical ex vivo observations suggest that a staged two-level approach may support a clinical workflow strategy aimed at balancing thermometry image quality and ablation volume. Given the absence of perfusion and motion effects, these findings require further validation before clinical translation.

TIGAR regulates intestinal mucus barrier integrity by inhibiting lactylation of G6PD/6PGD in ulcerative colitis

Protocol for the establishment of the Pediatric Registry for Stroke as a Multidisciplinary Approach to healthcare research (PRiSMA) study

Background Childhood stroke is a rare but potentially life-threatening event that can occur at any age. It requires prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment, and, in view of the frequent neurological and neurocognitive sequelae, long-term care in a multidisciplinary and multiprofessional setting. The management of stroke in children, which differs in many aspects from stroke in adults, often relies on local expert opinions and retrospectively collected data rather than high-quality evidence from prospective randomized controlled clinical trials, especially in the acute phase. Aims The Pediatric Registry for Stroke as a Multidisciplinary Approach to healthcare research (PRiSMA) study aims to systematically collect longitudinal prospective observational data across the acute and long-term phases to optimise diagnosis, personalised acute therapy, neurorehabilitation, and prevention of recurrent stroke. The data will inform development of further hypothesis-driven studies of childhood stroke in national and international networks. Furthermore, PRiSMA will facilitate case-specific collaboration within the registry network, allowing treating clinicians to consult experienced colleagues on complex cases. Methods In PRiSMA all children and adolescents (>28 days of life, ≤ 18years) with arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) or hemorrhagic stroke (HS) are eligible for recruitment. The nationwide multicenter, systematic data collection is performed in the acute and chronic phases, extracted from patient medical records supplemented by direct registry-specific medical history provided by caregivers. In addition, a questionnaire-based data on quality of life and behaviour will be collected. International collaborations are established across Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. Status Currently, 16 centres in Germany and 1 centre in Austria have commenced recruitment. 30 patients are currently (17 Nov 25) enrolled after arterial ischaemic stroke and 1 after haemorrhagic stroke.

Assessment of Lasso and Ridge models for soil swelling potential prediction

Intrinsic gradient oxygen-driven second-order memristors for continual reinforcement learning

The problem of the mechanical surface tension of active Brownian particle interfaces

Socioeconomic priorities and stunting in rural indonesia: A mixed-method study

As part of the plan to lower the stunting rate by up to 14% in Indonesia in 2024, a nutritional intervention program for stunted children was implemented in 2023. The program, which ran for four months, involved the daily administration of high-protein supplementary food to 4.9 million stunted children. However, it failed to reduce their number in some districts, including Sukodono, resulting in a high stunting rate of 20.89% (357 toddlers). The aim of this research is therefore to evaluate the major factors related to Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) inefficiencies in Sukodono by examining the socioeconomic status and lifestyle of the community, and their knowledge of healthy food. A descriptive-exploratory approach with the simple random sampling method was employed. Data were collected through structured interviews with caregivers, observations of community lifestyles, and assessments of caregiver knowledge of healthy food. As demonstrated in the results, out of the 189 participants, 7.4% earned less than IDR 1,000,000.00, implying the necessity for frugal living, especially in the spending of household income. They possessed an adequate understanding of the importance of nutritious food for child growth. 51% were male, and 24% of the parents of stunted children used no form of contraception. Additionally, the parents were relatively young: 50% of the fathers and 46% of the mothers were aged 31–40, while 46% and 49% of the fathers and the mothers respectively were senior high school graduates. Few had continued to tertiary levels, with only 7% of the mothers holding a bachelor’s degree. Efforts by the government are considered necessary to alter community behavior and lifestyles and to highlight the urgency of formal education, as caregivers’ education levels affect children’s health. The study recommendations made include educating caregivers about the significance of fulfilling children’s nutritional needs, promoting healthy feeding practices for toddlers, and better planning of the birthing process.

Construction and initial validation of key gene network for progesterone resistance in endometrial cancer based on genome-wide CRISPR screening

Global economic exposure to climate change amplified by spatially compounding climate extremes

Abstract Despite growing evidence that climate extreme events can significantly affect local economies, the implications of cross-regional and planetary-scale dependencies in climate extremes remain inadequately understood. We demonstrate a crucial link between the projected increase in spatially compounding hot, wet, and dry extremes and the amplification of global economic exposure. Based on Earth System Model projections from the 6th phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, we analyze how planetary-scale and cross-regional dependencies can exacerbate regional disparities in economic exposure. Our findings reveal that regions with lower present-day economic wealth are more likely to face extreme events simultaneously with other areas, amplifying the potential threats to their economic stability. This study highlights the necessity of considering economic exposure to climate extremes beyond local scales, emphasizing the need for assessing cross-regional exposures and understanding the connections between localized exposures and global economic dynamics.

Person-centered practice in the Portuguese healthcare system: A documentary study

Background Person-centered practice has increasingly become a key structural component of health systems, driving the progressive reformulation of public health policies internationally. Despite broad consensus regarding its importance, its integration into clinical practice continues to face significant challenges. The Person-Centred Practice Framework identifies the macro context as a critical domain for sustainable implementation, as it encompasses the structural and strategic factors that shape healthcare delivery. Objective To characterize the person-centered practice framing within the macro context of the Portuguese healthcare system. Methodology Qualitative, descriptive, and retrospective documentary study. A systematic literature search was conducted on the websites of entities responsible for defining, guiding, and regulating healthcare in Portugal. Using predefined eligibility criteria, 40 documents were selected. Textual analysis was performed using IRAMUTEQ® software and guided by the constructs of the macro context domain of the Person-Centred Practice Framework. Results The lexicometric analysis identified five classes, grouped into two thematic fields: i) Structural and organizational determinants of person-centered practice , comprising the classes Systemic vision and integrated response , Organizational culture and participation , Digital transformation and information management , and Political vision and governance structures ; and ii) Operationalization of person-centered practice , represented solely by the class Care approach , reflecting its thematic specificity. Factorial analysis revealed distinct and poorly connected discursive patterns associated with different action levels within the healthcare system. Similarity analysis highlighted a discourse centered on the health-care-person nucleus, showing relations with service organization, care integration, and person participation, albeit with word dispersion suggesting misalignment between organizational and practice levels. Conclusion The macrocontextual framing of person-centered practice in the Portuguese healthcare system demonstrates significant political and strategic advances, as seen in the emphasis on humanized care, investment in health literacy and digitalization, and the introduction of Integrated Care Pathways. However, implementation remains limited due to the absence of clear formative guidelines, biomedical paradigm persistence, and lack of evaluation mechanisms sensitive to care experience.

Impact of contact parameters on lesion dimensions during circular Pulsed-Field ablation in ex vivo and in vivo models

Post-hospital physical rehabilitation for physical function recovery among community-dwelling survivors of critical illness: A systematic review protocol

Introduction Many survivors of critical illness experience lasting physical disability. Post-hospital rehabilitation has the potential to reduce this physical disability; however, primary studies have reported inconsistent results. We aimed to answer the following question: Among community-dwelling adults who survived critical illness, does participation in post-hospital physical rehabilitation, compared with no rehabilitation or alternative non-physical interventions, improve physical functioning 12 months after discharge from acute care? Materials and methods This is a systematic review protocol that was registered with PROSPERO (CRD 420251174065). It will be conducted with Cochrane methods and reported according to the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement. To optimize the impact of this review, our study team includes a patient partner to guide our methods and interpretation. To be eligible, peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials must have enrolled community-dwelling adults (≥ 18 years) previously admitted to the ICU (≥24 hours) to a post-hospital physical rehabilitation program compared to any control. Outcomes of interest include physical function, return to work, and health care utilization. We will search five databases from their inception. Study screening, selection and extraction will be conducted independently and in duplicate using Covidence. Disagreements will be resolved through discussion or with a third reviewer. We will assess risk of bias using version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2). Where appropriate, we will conduct meta-analyses using random-effects modeling. Certainty of evidence will be assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). Conclusion A recent international multiprofessional expert panel highlighted the importance of understanding how follow-up care models can optimize long-term recovery after critical illness. Our review will provide a comprehensive synthesis of the impact of post-hospital rehabilitation on long-term recovery of survivors of critical illness.

Evaluating the relationship between heat waves and urban heat islands in tropical cities: a case study of Kuala Lumpur and George Town

Exploratory study on the impact of Ganoderma australe extract on gut microbiota and immune gene expression in honey bees exposed to Vairimorpha ceranae

The microsporidium Vairimorpha ( Nosema ) ceranae is an emerging threat to honey bees ( Apis mellifera ), known to disrupt gut microbiota and suppress immune responses, potentially contributing to colony losses. Fungal extracts have recently gained interest as sources of bioactive compounds with antimicrobial and immunomodulatory potential. In this study, we explored the effects of different dietary supplements—sugar syrup, HiveAlive™, and a novel Ganoderma australe extract (GanoBee)—on gut bacterial composition and immune-related gene expression in honey bees subjected to experimental exposure to V. ceranae 1 x 10 4 spores per bee. The GanoBee diet altered the gut microbiota, notably reducing the relative abundance of Rhizobiaceae ( Bartonella apis ) and increasing Frischella compared to other treatments. While alpha diversity was not significantly affected by diet or exposure to V. ceranae , beta diversity differed significantly in bees fed with GanoBee. Additionally, the expression of the antimicrobial peptide genes abaecin and hymenoptaecin was elevated in both exposed and unexposed bees fed with GanoBee, depending on the sampling day. However, the establishment of V. ceranae infection appeared limited, likely due to low spore viability, and mortality in control bees was higher than expected. The low Vairimorpha ceranae infection levels observed in this study are likely attributable to reduced spore viability caused by storage conditions and/or suboptimal environmental conditions within the laboratory cages. Post hoc analyses indicated that the high viscosity of GanoBee-supplemented diets likely contributed to the elevated bee mortality observed, underscoring a critical limitation of the experimental design related to diet formulation and delivery method. These physical factors complicate the interpretation of treatment efficacy and highlight the importance of optimizing feeding protocols to avoid confounding effects. Despite these constraints, GanoBee demonstrated promising potential as a modulator of gut microbiota composition and immune-related gene expression, supporting the need for further research under improved and carefully controlled experimental conditions.

Workforce restoration time analysis for a two grade manpower system under heavy tail distribution and dual regime decisions latency

“The system is a bit broken…” a qualitative exploration of barriers in the pathway for diagnosing Developmental Coordination Disorder

Background Approximately 5% of children are affected by a neurodevelopmental disorder of their sensorimotor skills. DSM-V and ICD-10, the two most widely used diagnostic systems, define this diagnostically as ‘Developmental Coordination Disorder’ (DCD) or ‘Specific Developmental Disorder of Motor Function’ (SDDMF), respectively. A diagnosis of DCD has been found to have a detrimental impact on a range of outcomes (e.g., health and education). It is therefore crucial that these children receive timely intervention. This is reliant, however, on effective assessment and support pathways. Research has shown there is great parental dissatisfaction, but there has been limited research exploring a clinical and education perspective. This study therefore aimed to understand barriers and facilitators for clinical and education practitioners in the pathway in a diverse district in the UK (Bradford). Methods Semi-structured interviews were completed with stakeholders across the pathway to identify barriers and facilitators to assessing, diagnosing, and supporting children with sensorimotor skill difficulties. Theoretical thematic analysis aligned to the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation model of Behaviour change (COM-B) was used to analyse the qualitative data. Results Interviews revealed many barriers in the DCD pathway related to capability (confusing terminology, inconsistent knowledge, inappropriate referrals), opportunity (resource constraints, DCD being considered low priority, and disconnected services), and motivation (overlapping job roles, a desire to consider those with difficulties not eligible for a diagnosis). No facilitators were consistently identified across interviews. Conclusion Families face multiple barriers to obtaining a diagnosis for their child through existing clinical pathways for assessment and support. These findings are unlikely to be unique to Bradford, due to international research highlighting these issues via parental interviews. These findings therefore may reflect challenges both nationally and internationally within DCD pathways. There is an urgent need for: (i) clear communication across different services (with consistency in terminology), and (ii) a more collaborative and integrated approach to assessment, diagnosis, and support in order to help these children thrive.

Center-of-gravity shift and inequality of human water use in China over the last half century

Abstract Understanding the spatial dynamics and inequality of human water use is essential for achieving sustainable water management. Although previous studies have examined the spatial evolution of regional water use, comprehensive assessments that couple sectoral decomposition with long-term (> 50 years) national-scale dynamics remain limited. To address this gap, we compiled multi-sectoral water use data from 1970 to 2020 and analyzed spatial trends and inequalities in China’s water use using the center-of-gravity approach and Gini coefficients. Our results reveal distinct directional shifts among sectors: irrigation and industrial water use moved northeastward and southwestward, respectively, while total water use exhibited minimal spatial displacement. Water-use inequality declined from high to moderate levels before 2000 and has since stabilized. Irrigation water use dominated both the spatial redistribution and inequality of total water use, driven primarily by changes in irrigated area and industrial scale. Inter-provincial disparities accounted for the largest share of overall water-use inequality. These findings offer new insights into the spatial evolution of China’s water use and provide an empirical basis for promoting more equitable and sustainable water allocation policies.