Browse Articles

Advancing ZnO nanostructures through strategic transition metal doping

Abstract The current research paper presents a first-principles study of the effects of doping Zno with transition metals such as Yttrium (Y) and Vanadium (V) on its structural, electronic, thermal stability, and optical characteristics. Replacing these Zn atoms with the dopants results in a significant increase in the dielectric properties and conductivity of the material. Elastic constants are then calculated to determine the mechanical stability of the doped structures, confirming their structural integrity. The NVT ensemble is utilized to prove the thermal stability. Computational modelling is done in Material Studio where the simulations are done in CASTEP which can allow a detailed analysis of the doped ZnO systems. The tests done prior are band structure, X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, thermal stability, and optical properties like conductivity, reflectivity, and the refractive index. The results indicate that Y and V doping have the potential to alter the electronic structure of ZnO greatly, which has bright opportunities to enhance the functioning of ZnO in optoelectronic and dielectric devices. Besides broadening our knowledge about doped ZnO on the atomic scale, these findings can form a powerful basis of experimental validation and developing materials in the future.

Study on dynamic wetting and synergistic effect of surfactants on bituminous coal surface in coal mines

With the continuous advancement of green mining initiatives in China, dust control during coal mining has become a critical issue for occupational health and ecological environmental safety. In response to the issues of coal dust pollution generated during coal mining and the inefficiencies of water spray dust suppression, this study investigates the fundamental mechanism by which multi-component surfactants synergistically form a stable adsorption layer on bituminous coal surfaces. The research employs macro-scale surface tension measurements, dynamic contact angle analysis, XPS spectroscopy, SEM for microstructural morphology, and molecular dynamics simulations. The results identify the optimal formulation as a 1:1 volume ratio mixture of 0.2% SDS and 0.1% CDEA. The synergistic effect of hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions first promotes the formation of a complex between the sulfate group of SDS and the amide group of CDEA. This complex then packs more efficiently, leading to an increased molecular density at the interface. The surface tension of the system is reduced to 35.23 mN/m, while the adhesion work and immersion work of the solution on the bituminous coal surface reach their maximum values. The spreading work is –0.48 mN/m, closest to the threshold of spontaneous spreading. This research offers theoretical support for developing a new generation of high-performance and environmentally friendly dust suppressants.

Editorial Expression of Concern: The X-linked lymphoproliferative-disease gene product SAP regulates signals induced through the co-receptor SLAM

A data privacy protection method for infectious disease prediction models with balanced training speed and accuracy

Hidden risks associated with occupational pesticide exposure in women with breast cancer: High frequency of the Luminal B molecular subtype and occurrence of poor prognostic features

Human pesticide exposure is a common event in countries with strength conventional agriculture, such as Brazil. Despite evidence on the negative impact of pesticides on human health, the country stands out among the top three pesticide consumers globally. The implications of this scenario on rural workers health, particularly women, is completely neglected, resulting in chronic illness such as breast cancer. Objective: In this study, we analyzed the impact of occupational/household chronic exposure to pesticides on the clinicopathological profile of breast cancer in rural women from Paraná southwest, a predominantly rural landscape with large pesticide uses. Methods: A total of 349 women were included in the study. After a structured interview, women were categorized as exposed (n = 208) or unexposed (n = 141) to pesticides. Clinicopathological data were collected from medical records. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used to characterize and compare the sample. The Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test were used to evaluate differences between the molecular subtypes and clinicopathological variables of patients. Results: Exposed patients had a prevalence of the Luminal B subtype (32.83%), while unexposed patients had a prevalence of the Luminal A molecular subtype (37.78%, p <= 0.05). Exposed patients also had higher disease recurrence (10.19%), chemoresistance (21.26%), than unexposed patients (p <= 0.05). Breast cancer patients exposed to pesticides were also more likely to have distant metastases (1.4 times) and lymph node invasion (1.3 times) compared to patients not exposed. Conclusions: These findings indicate that pesticide exposure favors the occurrence of more aggressive breast cancer.

Comparative performance of activated sludge and waste stabilization ponds for the removal of pollutants and pathogens in full-scale wastewater treatment plants in Egypt

Abstract The discharge of inadequately treated wastewater poses serious public health and environmental risks worldwide. In this study, the performance of two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) was evaluated for their ability to remove pathogenic viruses and bacteria, organic and nitrogen compounds, bacteriophages, and bacterial indicators. WWTP-A employs activated sludge treatment technology, whereas WWTP-B utilizes waste stabilization ponds (WSP). The removal rates of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand (BOD) were higher in WWTP-A than in WWTP-B, indicating the limited efficiency of the WSP system in treating heavily contaminated sewage. In WWTP-A, bacterial removal rates ranged between 3.9log 10 for Listeria spp. and 6.2 log 10 for Escherichia coli ( E. coli ), while in WWTP-B, removal ranged from 3.2 log 10 for Pseudomonas aeruginosa to 5.3 log 10 Fecal Streptococci . The viral reduction rate by WWTP-A ranged from 0.9 log 10 for crAssphage to 3 log 10 for human adenovirus (HAdV), whereas in WWTP-B, viral removal ranged between 0.8 log 10 for somatic coliphages (SOMCPH) and 3 log 10 for crAssphage. CrAssphage exhibited significant influent–effluent reduction in both WWTP-A and WWTP-B (Wilcoxon test, p < 0.05). In contrast, significant HAdV reduction was observed only in WWTP-A, SOMCPH only in WWTP-B, while RoV showed no significant reduction in either system. These findings highlight limitations in the ability of conventional treatment processes to consistently remove viral contaminants from treated effluent and underscore the need for improved management strategies to enhance effluent quality.

Determinants of culinary Students’ Entrepreneurial Intentions: The role of social media use within dual-theory frameworks

China’s national “mass entrepreneurship and innovation” strategy has sparked growing attention toward cultivating entrepreneurial competencies among university students. As a vital resource and interactive platform, social media profoundly shapes the entire entrepreneurial process. However, existing research lacks a systematic examination of the mechanisms through which social media influences entrepreneurial intentions (EI)—particularly among culinary students. Grounded in Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study examines the influence of social media use (SMU) on EI among culinary students. Using a snowball sampling method, the researchers surveyed 499 students, collecting self-reported responses across six constructs: SUM, subjective norms (SN), entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE), entrepreneurial attitude (EA), perceived behavioral control (PBC), and EI. A two-stage analytical approach combining Structural Equation Modeling and Artificial Neural Networks was employed to uncover the constructs’ complex, nonlinear, and non-compensatory relationships. The results revealed that SMU does not directly influence EI; instead, it exerts a positive indirect effect through the mediating roles of PBC, ESE, and EA. Moreover, the normalized importance derived from the multilayer perceptron indicated that EA (100%) is the most significant predictor of entrepreneurial intention among culinary arts students. This study offers theoretical and practical insights into how social media can be leveraged to foster entrepreneurship among students in the culinary field.

Repurposing of natural products for spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 using integrated network pharmacology and in silico approaches

Children and adolescents: Respiratory infection and long-term effects longitudinal study (CARE Study): Study protocol

Background The effects of SARS-Cov-2 infection can extend beyond the acute phase of the illness, often described as Long COVID, post-COVID condition (PCC) or Post-acute sequelae of COVID (PASC). Post-acute sequelae (PAS) are also likely to be a problem for a small proportion of children and adolescents following influenza infection. However, there is no comprehensive ongoing data collection in Australian children and adolescents, and global data on both PCC during the SARS-Cov-2 Omicron variant period and PAS following influenza is limited. Aim This study aims to determine the cumulative incidence of PCC in Australian children and adolescents five years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Secondary aims include identifying the cumulative incidence of PAS in children and adolescents following influenza infection. Methods This longitudinal cohort study will recruit children and adolescents aged 0–18 years in South Australia who tested positive for SARS-Cov-2 or influenza in the previous 2 months. Following consent, participants will complete an online baseline survey and then at 3, 6, and 12 months post-infection. The survey has been adapted from the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection Consortium (ISARIC) Paediatric COVID-19 follow-up survey. The survey includes validated assessment tools such as the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), Multidimensional Fatigue Scale, and the Malmö Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) Score questionnaire. PCC following COVID-19 and PAS following influenza infection will be identified according to an adapted World Health Organization definition of PCC in children and adolescents. Discussion This study addresses gaps in understanding PCC and PAS following influenza in children and adolescents during Omicron circulation. Whilst it is no longer feasible to prospectively compare post-acute sequelae in children and adolescents who have never had COVID-19, this design allows a comparison with another common viral infection, influenza, informing clinical management of children post-infection.

Conditional survival after radiofrequency ablation for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma

High-quality histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence on xylene- and formalin-free paraffin-embedded tissues

Pathology is a vital part of modern medicine, playing an essential role in disease diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy choice. The field of pathology depends on traditional tissue embedding techniques, still routinely using toxic and even carcinogenic substances to process tissues for diagnostics. Chronic exposure of humans to xylene and/or formalin, two essential components in the process, may result in severe health problems. Accumulating insights resulted in a ban of formalin in Europe for multiple applications and tight restrictions for almost all other uses since its toxicity levels were upgraded to carcinogen grade 1B and mutagen grade 2. A remarkable exception to these regulations is the use of formalin in the field of pathology, because of the existing lack of formalin-free tissue embedding methods that produce high-quality pathology specimens. Here we show that a novel embedding technique employing supercritical Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), used in a xylene- and formalin-free manner, results in high-quality tissue samples, suitable for the fundamental techniques used in pathology: histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence.

Relatively warm deep-water formation persisted in the Last Glacial Maximum

Abstract The Last Glacial Maximum (19–23 thousand years ago) was characterized by low greenhouse gas concentrations and continental ice sheets that covered large parts of North America and Europe 1 . Glacial climate was therefore very different, with colder global mean temperatures and an increased Equator-to-pole temperature gradient, probably resulting in stronger westerlies 2 . However, the state of the deep North Atlantic Ocean under these glacial climate forcings remains uncertain 3–6 , particularly owing to the rarity of deep-ocean temperature and salinity constraints. Here we show that the temperature of the glacial deep (>1.5 km) Northwest Atlantic was approximately 0–2 °C (only 1.8 ± 0.5 °C (2 s.e.) colder than today), and, after accounting for the whole-ocean change, seawater δ 18 O was 0.3 ± 0.1‰ (2 s.e.) higher and can be traced back to the surface subtropics via the subpolar Northeast Atlantic and Nordic Seas. Together, our hydrographic data reveal the thermal and isotopic structure of the deep Northwest Atlantic and suggest sustained production of relatively warm and probably salty North Atlantic Deep Water during the Last Glacial Maximum. Furthermore, our results provide updated constraints for benchmarking Earth system models used to project future climate change.

Diagnosis of disorders of consciousness using nonlinear feature derived EEG topographic maps via deep learning

Abstract This study explored the value of nonlinear features extracted from EEG signals to facilitate the assessment of patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC) with limited communication capacity. We utilized a dataset comprising 104 participants, 56 with vegetative state (VS)/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS) and 48 in a minimally conscious state (MCS). For each participant, we computed channel-wise approximate entropy (ApEn) from EEG time-series data using a sliding window approach under two experimental paradigms: resting state and preferred music stimulation. These nonlinear measures were then spatially interpolated to generate topographical maps. Both resting state and preferred music stimulation data were processed as 1-second epochs using identical convolutional neural networks (CNN) architectures. The classification performance and validity of the CNN were compared against support vector machine (SVM) and generalized regression neural network (GRNN) models. ApEn in the resting state and under stimulation with preferred music correlated with the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised scores in patients with DOC, showing varied regional responses. Notably, the CNNs resulted in a positive diagnostic performance with an accuracy of 90.00% and an AUC of 0.902. The CNN was better than the SVM and GRNN in differentiating between the VS/UWS and MCS states. This study offers a convenient and accurate method for detecting awareness in patients with VS/UWS and MCS using ApEn features in the resting state and under preferred music stimulation using deep learning.

Retraction: Enhanced E-commerce decision-making through sentiment analysis using machine learning-based approaches and IoT

miR-340 improves the efficiency of p53 gene therapy in metastatic prostate cancer cells through downregulation of MDM2

Evaluating global measures of network centralization: Axiomatic and numerical assessments

Network centralization, driven by hub nodes, impacts communication efficiency, structural integration, and dynamic processes such as diffusion and synchronization. Although numerous centralization measures exist, a major challenge lies in determining measures that are both theoretically sound and empirically reliable across different network contexts. To resolve this challenge, we normalize 11 measures of network centralization and assess them systematically using an axiomatic framework and numerical simulations. Our axiomatic assessment tests each measure against the six postulates of centralization, ensuring consistency with minimal theoretical requirements. In addition, our numerical assessment examines the behavior of normalized centralization measures over different random graphs. Our results indicate major differences among the measures, despite their common aim of quantifying centralization. Together, our assessments point to the relative suitability of three measures: normalized betweenness centralization, normalized closeness centralization, and normalized degree centralization. Applying these three measures to real-world networks from diverse domains reveals meaningful variation in the organization of the networks with respect to hubs. Normalized betweenness centralization highlights path-based dominance; normalized closeness centralization reflects accessibility and efficiency of reach; and normalized degree centralization captures degree-based hub concentration. When used jointly, the three measures demonstrate the required sensitivity to varying levels of centralization and provide complementary aspects of network centralization that no single measure can offer alone. Our dual evaluation framework clarifies conceptual differences among existing measures and offers practical guidance for selecting reliable centralization metrics.

Dual-loop proportional control for high-precision induction brazing of thin-walled aluminum waveguides

Efficacy and safety of Galgeun-tang-ga-cheongung-sinyi for nasal congestion with common cold: A study protocol for randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel, multicenter clinical trial

Background Common cold is a common respiratory disease caused by a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract, leading to various symptoms including cough, sneezing, nasal congestion, and sore throat. As the medications used to treat the common cold may cause adverse effects such as gastrointestinal symptoms, drowsiness, and decreased concentration, it is necessary to explore alternative treatments for patients with the common cold. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness and safety of Galgeun-tang-ga-cheongung-sinyi (GGTCS), an herbal formula used to treat respiratory diseases, as an alternative medicine for nasal congestion with common cold. Methods This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel, multicenter clinical trial. A total of 176 participants will be recruited and randomly allocated to the GGTCS group and control (placebo) group in a 1:1 allocation ratio. GGTCS or placebo will be administered three times per day for 7 days. The participants will be instructed to discontinue the medicine if the symptoms of the common cold disappear within 7 days of the treatment period and return the remaining medicine to the investigators. The primary outcome measures are changes in the total score of the Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey-21-Korean version (WURSS-21-K) (symptom score + quality of life score) on day 7 compared with baseline. Secondary outcome measures include the total, symptom, and quality of life scores of the WURSS-21-K, nasal congestion severity score, nasal and systemic symptom score visual analogue scale (VAS), duration of common cold symptoms, recovery from common cold, global evaluation of efficacy, and 5-level EuroQol 5-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L). The exploratory outcome measure is a questionnaire for common cold pattern identification (QCCPI), and the safety assessment factors include adverse effects, vital signs, electrocardiograms, and clinical laboratory tests. Discussion The goal of this study is to assess the effectiveness and safety of GGTCS for nasal congestion with the common cold and the clinical use of herbal medicine. The results are expected to help researchers design further clinical trials using herbal medicines to treat the common cold. Trial registration This trial was registered on February 28, 2025 at the National Clinical Trial Registry Clinical Research Information Service ( https://cris.nih.go.kr ) with the identifier number KCT0010251.

MoVe: an integrated tool to explore the relationship between human mobility and vector-borne disease

Advanced preclinical testing of a design-optimized ceramic bearing for a cervical total disc replacement

Objective Arthroplasty in the cervical spine is performed using Total Disc Replacement (TDR) implants. This study investigates the safety and tribology of a design-optimized ceramic TDR bearing. Methods Samples of an optimized bearing geometry were manufactured from the bioceramic BIOLOX ® delta (CeramTec GmbH, Germany) and tested in a six degree of freedom universal joint simulator in diluted calf serum at body temperature. The investigated load and motion profiles simulated movements of daily living; three pure rotations under static load and three rotations coupled under sinusoidal load as well as adverse events (three subluxation test conditions). Results Dynamic coefficients of friction during flexion/extension and lateral bending were µ = 0.16 ± 0.011 and µ = 0.16 ± 0.070, respectively. Friction factors during flexion/extension and lateral bending were f = 0.14 ± 0.0092 and f = 0.13 ± 0.063, whereas the friction factor in axial rotation was f = 0.033 ± 0.0028 and for three coupled rotations under sinusoidal load, it was f = 0.13 ± 0.028. The design demonstrated a sufficient resistance against subluxation, with subluxation forces more than 3.5-fold the 20N that are typically required as acceptance criteria in FDA safety and effectiveness data. Conclusion Friction values were found to be comparable to or higher than those typically reported for ceramic-on-ceramic hip replacements. Furthermore, the results indicated that the optimized bearing design is sufficiently resistant to subluxation. Significance: Test protocols to investigate safety and tribology of cervical TDRs are proposed and their results are reported for a design-optimized ceramic TDR bearing.