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Sex differences in the development of object imagery abilities across age groups
A convenient method for the accurate identification of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium using image and multi-stream
Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (CRP), the dried peel of citrus fruits, holds notable dietary and medicinal value. Its quality and price largely depend on origin and aging. Lower-grade CRP is often adulterated to imitate premium products, making accurate authentication of region and vintage essential for quality assurance and fair market valuation. Existing methods for vintage classification are limited due to complex equipment and high operational costs, restricting their scalability in practical applications. To address these issues, a convenient method for the accurate identification of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium using image and multi-stream is proposed. The method comprises three main stages. Firstly, an object detection network with bounding box refinement localizes exocarp and albedo regions from whole CRP images. Secondly, a three-stream feature extractor processes the whole images along with exocarp and albedo patches to capture complementary visual details. A channel-level feature interaction module further enhances robustness through cross-region feature integration. Thirdly, a meta-learning module enables rapid adaptation to images captured under varying conditions by different consumer-grade devices. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves an accuracy of 95.5% on iPhone-captured images. In addition, for images captured by different devices, the proposed method achieves a relative accuracy improvement of more than 34% over the direct transfer method, mainly owing to the meta-learning adaptation to different devices.
Genome editing across Dictyostelia species enables comparative functional genetics of social amoebas
Evaluation of the antibacterial activity of the natural product α-mangostin against Clostridioides difficile
Clostridioides difficile is the leading cause of hospital-associated diarrhea and has remained a consistent threat for older patients and those with comorbidities or vulnerabilities. The high rates of treatment failure and recurrence, along with the decreased effectiveness of first-line treatments highlight the urgent need for the development of new anti- C. difficile agents. α-mangostin is a natural compound isolated from the edible mangosteen fruit pericarps that has known antimicrobial activity. α-mangostin is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), which is ideal for treatment of CDI to accumulate at the site of infection at concentrations capable of clearing C. difficile . We found that α-mangostin was as potent as the standard-of-care vancomycin, inhibiting a diverse panel of C. difficile strains at a concentration range of 0.5–2 µg/mL. It exhibited rapid bactericidal activity, completely clearing C. difficile in vitro within 2 hours, surpassing vancomycin and fidaxomicin. Additionally, α-mangostin’s anti- C. difficile activity was not affected by the high C. difficile inoculum. To further understand its mechanism, we investigated α-mangostin’s membrane disruption activity by assessing the leakage of DNA and ATP post-exposure. α-mangostin resulted in a significant leakage of DNA and ATP indicating that its anti- C. difficile activity is mediated by the bacterial cell membrane disruption. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that α-mangostin possesses desirable characteristics for a promising anti- C. difficile which merits further investigation.
Differential effects of attentional focus on drop jump performance with implications for primary level coaches
Identification of elite rice lines with better breeding values using genomic prediction and multi-trait genotype ideotype distance index (MGIDI) for grain yield under irrigation cropping system
For a rice breeding program to produce the desired genotypes, parental selection is the most important factor. To select elite parental materials, this study evaluated 200 International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) developed advanced breeding lines during 2022 Wet Season (WS-T. Aman) and 2023 Dry Season (DS-Boro) along with two sets of check (10 global and 6 different local for each season) using an alpha lattice design with two replications in the research field of Gazipur Agricultural University, Gazipur-1706. Among the breeding lines, significant genetic variation was found and according to heritability and genetic advance analysis, additive gene action controls plant height (PH), panicle length (PL), spikelet fertility (SF), thousand grain weight (TGW), and grain yield (t/ha) (GYTH). Correlation coefficients revealed that in both season yield has a positive relationship with panicle length (0.20**, 0.35***), spikelet fertility (0.19**, 0.23***), days to maturity (DTM) (0.37***, 0.24***), and days to 50% flowering (DFF) (0.34***, 0.29***). In this study, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed 4 & 3 PCs in 2022WS and 2023DS contributing to 66.90% & 61.90% of total variability with eigenvalues>1. The Multi-Trait Genotype–Ideotype Distance Index (MGIDI) analysis results a total genetic gain of 28.51% & 25.86% in 2022WS & 2023DS and identified IR19A8066, IR19A8052, IR19A7440, IR19A9061, and IR19A9054 genotypes as valuable resources for developing recombinant populations, aligning with sustainable and effective crop improvement strategies. For parental selection, IR19A8054, IR19A8052, IR19A7501, IR19A8047, IR19A8066, IR19A7531, IR19A7523, IR19A7541, IR19A7510 with Genomic Estimated Breeding Value (GEBV)>0.50 for yield are preferred. The maximum yield (5.34 t/ha) in 2022WS was generated by check RABI dhan1, while 5.12 t/ha was produced by IR19A7664, and more than 4.50 t/ha was produced by IR19A9054, IR19A7408, and IR19A7440. When compared to check BRRI dhan89 (7.97 t/ha), IR19A7339 delivered the highest in 2023DS (8.67 t/ha), followed by IR19A7510, IR19A7523, IR19A8047, and IR19A8066 (>8 t/ha). With positive GEBVs of 0.19, 0.32, and 0.62, respectively, IR19A9054, IR19A9212, and IR19A8066 demonstrated superior yield in both rice growing seasons.
Machine learning slashes the testing needed to work out battery lifetimes
Four camera-type eyes in the earliest vertebrates from the Cambrian Period
Examining human reliance on artificial intelligence in decision making
Abstract The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to effectively support human decision making depends on whether humans are willing to trust in, and thus rely on, AI. Understanding human reliance on AI is critical given controversial reports of AI inaccuracy and bias. Furthermore, the erroneous belief that using technology removes biases may lead to overreliance on AI. To examine humans’ reliance on AI, human participants ( N = 295, M age = 33.79) judged the authenticity of 80 faces (40 real, 40 AI-synthesized) presented alongside guidance supposedly from humans or from AI. This guidance was correct only half of the time. Participants indicated their confidence in each judgement and completed measures to examine propensity to trust humans and general attitudes towards AI. Participants who received AI guidance and exhibited more positive attitudes towards AI showed poorer discriminability between real and synthetic faces than those with less positive attitudes towards AI. For participants who received human guidance, level of trust in humans did not affect discriminability. Therefore, AI-derived guidance may be uniquely placed to engender biases in humans, leading to less effective decision making. To ensure successful human-AI decision making partnerships, more research is needed to understand precisely how humans use AI guidance in various contexts.
Can systematic skewness factors predict future interest rates: Evidence from China
This study uses the numerical changes of the systematic skewness factors to reflect investors’ preferences for the systematic skewness of stocks. As systematic skewness describes the correlation between individual stock returns and market volatility, stocks with positive systematic skewness can obtain positive returns during periods of market volatility. Thus, investors’ preferences for the systematic skewness of stocks can reflect their hedging demands. By examining the predictive power of systematic skewness factors on future interest rates, we found that systematic skewness factors have a significant predictive power on future interest rates. This indicates that investors’ hedging demands influence adjustments to interest rates by China’s monetary authorities. Moreover, for both short‑term and long‑term interest rates, prediction errors based on systematic skewness factors are consistently lower than those from an AR model and the extended Taylor‑rule model proposed by Ma et al. (2025). Systematic skewness can serve as an asymmetric pricing signal in the market for extreme interest rate risks. Its increase often indicates a rise in investors’ anxiety over liquidity tightening, thereby providing central banks with a forward-looking sentiment monitoring window independent of traditional economic indicators.
Measuring football fever through wearable technology
Abstract Football is the world’s most popular sport, evoking strong physiological and emotional responses among its fans. Yet, the specific reactions to fan involvement have received little attention in the literature. In this paper, we quantify the resulting physiological responses through a unique case study from professional football: the 2025 cup final of the German Football Association (DFB) between first-division club VfB Stuttgart and third-division club Arminia Bielefeld. We collected high-resolution smartwatch data, including heart rate and stress level, from 229 Arminia Bielefeld fans over approximately 12 weeks, complemented by survey responses on identification with the club, match attendance, and personal characteristics from a subset of 37 participants. By combining physiological data with survey information, we analyse variations in emotional arousal across individuals and contexts, measured by physiological reactions to the cup final. This approach provides rare, data-driven insights into the football fever that captivates fans during high-stakes competitions. Furthermore, we compare the vital parameters recorded on the day of the match with baseline levels on non-matchdays throughout the entire observation period. Our findings reveal pronounced physiological responses among fans, beginning hours before the match and peaking at kick-off.
Association of lipoprotein lipase genetic risk score with cardiometabolic risk indicators in a healthy Qatari population using the Qatar Biobank data
Genetic variations within the Lipoprotein Lipase ( LPL) gene have been shown to influence the risk of cardiometabolic diseases. However, their associations with cardiometabolic disease-related markers remain underexplored in Arab Qatari populations. Hence, we examined the association between a genetic risk score (GRS) based on three LPL single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and cardiometabolic indicators in a healthy Qatari population. A cross-sectional genetic association study was conducted using data from the Qatar Biobank population-based cohort, involving a sample of metabolically healthy Qatari adults (n = 6,919). The LPL- GRS was computed as the unweighted sum of risk alleles from three LPL SNPs: rs295 (C/A), rs301 (C/T), and rs320 (G/T). Associations between the GRS and metabolic markers were assessed using a generalized linear model, adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index. Individuals with high GRS (>5 risk alleles) showed a significant association with lower fat-free mass index values (β = −0.064, p = 0.029). In addition, a positive association was observed between GRS and fasting insulin levels (β = 0.035, p = 0.016). In addition, high GRS was significantly associated with lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (β = −0.025, p = 0.001) and higher triacylglycerol concentrations (β = 0.027, p = 0.0003) and systolic blood pressure (β = 0.007, p = 0.002), respectively. Our study shows that the LPL -GRS is associated with key cardiometabolic risk factors in this self-reported healthy Qatari population. These findings highlight the need for additional research to replicate these findings in independent and ethnically diverse cohorts, as well as the use of longitudinal studies to evaluate the predictive value of the GRS for future metabolic outcomes.
Correcting noisy labels via comparative distillation: a domain adaptation approach
Efficacy of a smartphone app to improve mental health among emergency service workers: A randomised controlled trial
Background Emergency service workers (ESWs) are routinely exposed to highly stressful and potentially traumatic events leading to high rates of psychological distress. Early intervention is vital to prevent chronic impairment and/or psychiatric disorders, with digital health innovations (e.g., smartphone apps) offering a potential means of scaling such intervention while overcoming barriers to help-seeking in this population. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of an app designed to reduce psychological distress and related outcomes in ESWs. Methods We conducted a randomised controlled trial with ESWs experiencing psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale; K10) score >15. Participants were assigned to the intervention group, a full version of the Build Back Better app (including mindfulness, behavioural activation, trauma-focused cognitive therapy skills, activity and mood monitoring, and healthy coping strategies) or a mood/activity tracking-only version of the same app. Assessment occurred via online self-report questionnaires at baseline (T0) and at 1- and 3-month post-baseline (T1, T2) timepoints. The primary outcome was the K10 score at T2. Linear mixed model analyses were conducted based on the intention-to-treat principle. Results N = 880 ESWs were randomized to the full (n = 440) or tracking-only (n = 440) condition. There was no Time x Condition effect for K10 scores, with both conditions showing similar improvements from baseline to 1-month (all p s < .001), and 3-month follow-up (all p s < .001). Exploratory analyses of moderators (engagement; baseline severity) found generally no significant differences in K10 score decreases across different levels of engagement in the full-app condition, however, app use was markedly low overall. At higher baseline psychological distress levels, there was a significant decrease in posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms from baseline to 1-month for the full-app group but not the tracking-only group ( p = .002, d = −1.43). Conclusion Despite consistent improvement across both app conditions, the minimal between group differences found here highlight the difficulties in developing effective, scalable resources for ESWs and the limitations of unguided digital programs more broadly. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12622001324707
Evolution of pore structure in coal during underground thermal treatment: an experimental investigation
Propofol provides a significant survival advantage in sepsis-associated encephalopathy: A retrospective cohort study investigating one-year all-cause mortality
Introduction Considering the high incidence, mortality, and long-term effects of sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE), along with the availability of sedation therapy data and the significance of distress management, this study investigated the relationship between sedation therapy and one-year all-cause mortality in patients with SAE. Methods This retrospective cohort study utilized the Medical Information Market for Intensive Care (MIMIC-IV) database. We gathered demographic data, vital signs, laboratory test results, microbial findings, comorbidities, scoring systems, treatments administered within the first 24 hours of patient admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), and follow-up data from 24 hours after ICU admission to one year. Cox regression models were employed to evaluate the relationship between sedation therapy and one-year all-cause mortality among patients with SAE. Propensity score matching (PSM) and subgroup analyses were used to assess the robustness of the findings. Results Four thousand six hundred eighteen patients with SAE were enrolled, including 3,343 in the sedative group and 1,275 in the non-sedative group; additionally, 511 pairs were matched. A protective correlation was observed between propofol monotherapy and one-year all-cause mortality in patients with SAE, with hazard ratios (HRs) of 0.51 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.40–0.65), P < 0.001. Furthermore, the interaction between propofol monotherapy and ventilation support significantly increased one-year all-cause mortality, yielding an HR of 0.70 (95% CI, 0.49–1.00) with P for interaction = 0.041. The results of PSM remained robust. Conclusion Our study indicated that compared to patients with SAE who did not receive sedation, administering propofol alone significantly reduced one-year all-cause mortality among patients with SAE. For patients undergoing ventilation support on the first day of ICU admission, the interaction between sedation therapy and ventilation support significantly influenced the one-year all-cause mortality of patients with SAE.
Rhenium adsorption from an organic impurity–containing solution
Mixed effects of complement in a chronic murine model of inflammatory erosive arthritis and pulmonary vascular disease
Complement’s role in the pathology of rheumatoid arthritis and pulmonary hypertension (PH) is not fully understood. We aimed to determine whether complement deficiency is protective against joint and lung disease using the tumor necrosis factor-transgenic (TNF-Tg) mouse model characterized by chronic inflammatory-erosive arthritis and PH. TNF-Tg synovium and lungs were analyzed with bulk and single-cell RNA-sequencing. TNF-Tg mice were crossed with complement component 3 knockout (C3KO) and factor B knockout (fBKO) mice to quantify disease. Knee histology was scored, CD45 + Ly6C-C5aR1 + cells were quantified by flow cytometry, mid-hindpaw bone volumes were determined with micro-computed tomography, and lung disease was quantified with histology and right heart catheterization. TNF-Tg mice have upregulated complement-related genes, however, C3 and fB knockout did not cause significant changes in pathology. Synovium from C3KO TNF+ mice had a greater C5aR1 + cell population than TNF-Tg mice ( p < 0.0001 ). In early disease, C3KO TNF+ mice exhibited greater bone volumes ( p < 0.05, p < 0.01) than other TNF+ mice. Complement deficiency in a chronic inflammatory model does not ameliorate joint or pulmonary disease. However, C3 deficiency may delay complement-dependent bone erosions. The influence of complement on disease may change with persistent inflammation. Chronic TNF-mediated disease may represent a pathologic endotype that is differentially mediated by complement.