Browse Articles

Health information anxiety in social media users during public health emergencies: A qualitative comparative analysis using attribution theory

This article investigates the mechanisms influencing health information anxiety among social media users during sudden public health emergencies, aiming to provide insights for managing social media users’ negative emotions in such contexts. By employing literature analysis and case studies and integrating Three-Dimensional Attribution Theory, the factors contributing to health information anxiety are classified into individual, informational, and situational dimensions. Questionnaire data were gathered via scenario simulation, and a Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) method was used to validate causal configurations leading to health information anxiety among social media users. The findings indicate that, within the context of sudden public health emergencies, the emergence of health information anxiety is the result of the interplay among individual, situational, and informational dimensions. Specifically, six key factors, including event severity, involvement, textual sentiment, collective emotions, information overload, and information asymmetry, are identified as playing a critical role in the development of severe health information anxiety. Notably, the situational dimension is found to exert a crucial and decisive influence on the generation of health information anxiety among social media users.

The mosaic memory of large language models

Abstract As Large Language Models (LLMs) become widely adopted, understanding how they learn from, and memorize, training data becomes crucial. Memorization in LLMs is widely assumed to only occur as a result of sequences being repeated in the training data. Instead, we show that LLMs memorize by assembling information from similar sequences, a phenomenon we call mosaic memory. We show major LLMs to exhibit mosaic memory, with fuzzy duplicates contributing to memorization as much as 0.8 of an exact duplicate and even heavily modified sequences contributing substantially to memorization. Despite models displaying significant reasoning capabilities, we somewhat surprisingly show memorization to be predominantly syntactic rather than semantic. We finally show fuzzy duplicates to be ubiquitous in real-world data, untouched by deduplication techniques. In this work, we show memorization to be a complex, mosaic process, with real-world implications for privacy, confidentiality, model utility and evaluation.

Resilience-oriented optimization of hospital microgrids with critical load support using ESS and PV under grid outage conditions

Abstract This study develops a resilience-oriented optimization framework for hospital microgrids that integrates photovoltaic (PV) generation, multi-node battery energy storage systems (BESS), and medical load prioritization under grid outage conditions. A mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model is formulated to jointly optimize ESS scheduling, critical-load support, and renewable utilization across a set of Monte Carlo outage scenarios. The framework introduces a multi-tier hospital load hierarchy (ICU, OR, imaging, pharmacy) based on Value of Lost Load (VOLL), and employs a composite resilience index combining ENS, LOLP, and critical-load survivability. The model is evaluated on modified IEEE 13-, 33-, and 69-bus systems. Results show that coordinated multi-node ESS placement improves resilience significantly, reducing Energy Not Supplied (ENS) by 55–63% compared with baseline configurations, while maintaining ≥ 95% supply to life-critical loads across most stochastic outage realizations. The proposed strategy also ensures stable Resilience Index (RI) values with a variance below 10%, highlighting robustness against PV variability and outage timing uncertainty. Sensitivity analysis demonstrates that ESS capacity, PV penetration, and outage duration are the dominant factors influencing resilience. Overall, the framework provides a practical and quantitatively validated tool for hospital energy planners seeking enhanced survivability and operational security during grid disruptions.

Surveillance and molecular characterization of banana viruses associated with Musa germplasm in Malawi

Malawi has diverse local banana germplasms that are preferred by its population. However, the epidemics of banana bunchy top disease (BBTD), caused by the banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) is wiping out the preferred germplasms and limiting their cultivation. A survey was conducted to characterize banana germplasm and evaluate the presence, incidence and prevalence of banana viruses. PCR products from infected germplasm were sequenced and aligned for each detected virus to construct a phylogenetic tree. BBTV, banana mild mosaic virus (BanMMV) and six banana streak virus (BSV) species were detected in Malawi. Malawi’s BBTV isolates belonged to the Pacific Indian Ocean group, and BanMMV isolates clustered to three sub-branches. The six BSV species detected in Malawi belonged to clade 1. Among the genetic groups of Musa , the characterized banana germplasms belonged to AA, AAA, AAB, and ABB groups with some germplasms being unique compared to those already genotyped. The ABB group was dominant in Malawi and was significantly more often infected by BSV species (possibly originating from endogenous viral sequences), while BBTV and BanMMV infected the AAA and AAB group more frequently, respectively. The primary source of banana planting materials was banana propagule exchange among relatives which posed a higher risk of spreading virus diseases. The survey underlined the importance of establishing a banana seed industry and implementing policies that promote farmers’ access to virus-tested planting materials, ultimately helping to prevent future virus epidemics.

Olutasidenib in recurrent/relapsed locally advanced or metastatic IDH1-mutated chondrosarcoma: phase 1b/2 trial

Design and performance analysis of a vertically stacked gate-all-around nanosheet FET with embedded nanocavity for biosensing applications

Abstract In this article, we designed and analyzed a Vertically Stacked Gate All Around Dielectric Modulated Nano Sheet Field Effect Transistor (DM-NSFET) based biosensor through TCAD simulations. The DM-NSFET is designed for detection of Cancer biomolecules like SW 620, HEK293, and other biomolecules like DNA, gelatin. This functionality comes out through the modulation of its electrical properties by incorporating cavity all around at two sides of dielectric material (HfO 2 ) under the gate electrode to allow biomolecules. The proposed device contains gate all around to increase the sensitivity of device. The sensitivity variation of biosensors is analyzed in terms of subthreshold swing (SS), Selectivity and response time (τ). Further, the effect of filling positions on sensitivity is examined under different cases, this biosensor sensitivity mainly depends on number of biomolecules filling rather than the specific filling position. The obtained results indicates that the proposed device is reaches its current sensitivity of 3.1 × 10 3 , subthreshold swing (SS) of 27.72 mV/dec. The proposed device exhibits significantly enhanced sensitivity compared to existing biosensors and therefore, this biosensor is highly suitable for diagnosis of Cancer Biomolecule.

PFKFB3 exacerbates myocardial injury by accelerating CXCR4hi neutrophil mobilization after acute myocardial infarction

Background CXCR4 hi neutrophil mobilization is a key cause of myocardial damage after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). 6-Phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3), a key glycolytic enzyme, plays a crucial role in regulating neutrophil function. However, researchers have not clearly determined whether PFKFB3 is involved in AMI-induced CXCR4 hi neutrophil mobilization. Methods First, the circulating CXCR4 hi neutrophil percentage and neutrophil Pfkfb3 mRNA expression were measured in AMI patients and left anterior descending coronary artery (LADCA)-ligated mice. Next, we explored the relationship between PFKFB3 and CXCR4 expression in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cell models. Neu-PFKFB3 –/– mice were used to investigate the effect of conditional knockout of the Pfkfb3 gene in neutrophils on AMI-induced myocardial inflammatory injury. Results In AMI patients, the expression level of Pfkfb 3 gene was markedly regulated in AMI-induced neutrophils and was positively related to the content of plasma inflammatory factors in AMI patients. Further study revealed that PFKFB3 promotes CXCR4 hi neutrophil mobilization by reprogramming glycolytic metabolism and subsequently exacerbates inflammatory injury in the myocardial tissues of AMI model mice. However, specific knockout of Pfkfb3 gene in neutrophils protects mice from AMI-induced myocardial inflammatory injury by inhibiting the mobilization of CXCR4 hi neutrophils. Conclusions PFKFB3 exacerbates AMI-induced myocardial inflammatory injury by accelerating CXCR4 hi neutrophil mobilization. The mechanism involves PFKFB3-mediated reprogramming of glycolytic metabolism.

Net widening of Southern California beaches

Abstract Human impacts from dams reduce river sediment fluxes and are primary causes of coastal erosion worldwide. Here we provide new satellite-derived shoreline observation techniques to examine beach area trends across the diverse coastal settings of California. Contrary to global trends, these data reveal that the most heavily urbanized and dammed region of southern California experienced net beach growth of over 2 million m 2 during 1984-2024. While several beaches experienced severe erosion, overall widening is explained by sufficient sediment supply and concentrated widening from longshore transport captured at coastal structures and in littoral convergence zones. These results indicate that adequate sediment sources exist in this human-modified landscape to mitigate coastal erosion, but that this sediment is not effectively distributed to vulnerable beaches. This highlights the critical role that longshore sediment transport plays in long-term beach trends and illuminates management opportunities for coastal sustainability at the regional scale.

African swine fever outbreaks in German pig holdings – experiences, epidemiological considerations and genome sequences

Abstract Until December 2025, 18 African swine fever outbreaks have occurred in domestic pig holdings in Germany. However, nine of them emerged in western Germany in 2024, representing a separate spatial and temporal cluster. Thus, the current study is limited to the remaining nine outbreaks. We aimed to illustrate the epidemiological background of each of the nine outbreaks. The assessments included the results of the outbreak investigations and of the genome sequencing. This is the first study to provide a detailed overview of these outbreaks and, in particular, to publish the genome sequences involved. In several outbreaks, a connection to the neighboring affected wild boar population was considered likely. The hypotheses were supported by genome sequencing; thus, the study has underscored the benefit of including results of genome sequencing in the evaluation of disease epidemiology. However, outbreaks also occurred on farms without reported cases in wild boar in the vicinity. Similarly, outbreaks were observed in farms with low biosecurity standards but also in farms with very high biosecurity, emphasizing the difficulty to identify a pattern in the outbreaks. Still, it has to be acknowledged that a consistent and sustained compliance with biosecurity measures represents the most important factor in preventing virus introduction.

Population pharmacokinetics model of pyrazinamide to optimize tuberculosis treatment: An interethnic cohort study of diabetes mellitus effect on drug exposure

Diabetes mellitus (DM), a common comorbidity in tuberculosis (TB) patients, can alter the pharmacokinetics (PK) of TB drugs. Additionally, clinical and demographic differences may contribute to interethnic PK variability. However, current WHO-recommended doses for pyrazinamide (PZA) do not account for those factors. We aimed to evaluate factors related to interindividual variability (IIV) and interethnic differences in the PK of PZA between Korean and Indonesian patients with TB. Demographics, clinical characteristics, and PZA concentrations obtained from hospitals in both countries were used for model establishment. Population PK models were developed using the nonlinear mixed-effect method. A Monte Carlo simulation was performed sequentially to evaluate optimal PZA dosing strategies. A one-compartment model with allometric scaling adequately described the PK of PZA. Internal validation of the model showed good performance. No significant interethnic differences in PK parameters were observed. There were 23% and 26% increases in apparent clearance (CL/F) of Indonesian patients with DM (CL/F 3.18 L/h) and Korean patients aged > 60 years with DM (CL/F 3.5). PZA doses of 1000–1250 mg for patients of bodyweight < 40 kg and 1250 mg for older patients with DM in this weight band had a 90% probability of attaining the target AUC 0–24  ≥ 363 mg·h/L These findings indicate that DM strongly influenced IIV, particularly in older patients. We recommend higher PZA doses for patients <40 kg and older patients with DM in this weight band. Our model provides a basis for implementing model-informed precision dosing-based therapeutic drug monitoring in both ethnicities.

A benchmark of expert-level academic questions to assess AI capabilities

AACRNL evolved from virulence factor to epigenetic parasite driving genome expansion in free-living eukaryotes

Optimal operation of multi-carrier energy systems integrated with renewable energy sources and hydrogen storage systems

Outside versus inside the home: Tensions between fathers’ work and parenting responsibilities in Tanzania

Globally, mothers are disproportionately responsible for childcare, while fathers are predominantly viewed as breadwinners. Although recent studies reveal that fathers are becoming more engaged in parenting, little is known about the broader contexts surrounding how fathers allocate their time between parenting, income-generating work, and other daily activities. The objective of this study was to characterize the typical daily schedules from morning to evening among fathers with young children under aged 2 years. Additionally, we aimed to identify the perceived barriers and facilitators influencing fathers’ time spent on parenting. We conducted 60 in-depth interviews (29 fathers and 23 mothers and 8 community stakeholders) and 9 focus group discussions (3 with fathers only, 2 with mothers only, and 4 mixed parent groups) across 4 purposively sampled, peri-urban communities in Mwanza, Tanzania. Among a subsample of 14 fathers, we revisited and conducted follow up in-depth interviews to further obtain retrospective hourly accounts of fathers’ daily time use. Data were analyzed using both deductive and inductive approaches. Overall, fathers spent most daytime hours out of the home engaging in work-related activities, and evenings were often a time when some fathers socialized with peers. Approximately half of fathers reported some involvement in parenting, childcare, or household chores. However, these activities were generally brief and concentrated at specific times of day, such as early mornings before fathers left for work, during lunchtime when men returned home, or on weekends when men spent more time at home. Key barriers to fathers’ time allocation to parenting included patriarchal gender norms that frame childcare as primarily women’s responsibility, poverty, and work-related stress. Facilitators of fathers’ time towards parenting included greater autonomy over work schedules and positive attitudes valuing fathers’ nurturing care roles. These findings provide important insights into fathers’ daily routines in this context and the social, cultural, and structural factors that enable or constrain their engagement in parenting. By illuminating men’s time use patterns, this study offers evidence to inform the design of parenting programs that are more responsive to fathers’ schedules and constraints and ultimately promote greater father engagement in childcare.

Plant diversity within communities, not among them, stabilizes grassland productivity across spatial scales

Heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension: new genetic findings and environmental triggers

Abstract Our goal was to identify new environmental or genetic causes in heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension (HPAH) families outside the 18 known diagnostics PAH genes. PAH gene panel sequencing was performed for 47 HPAH families which revealed pathogenic variants in 39 families. Five of the remaining families agreed to whole exome sequencing and to fill in a drug and toxin exposure questionnaire. In Family 1 and 2, mother and daughter with HPAH carried a likely pathogenic variant in the CYBA gene and a variant of uncertain significance in the FKBP1A gene, respectively, following ACMG guidelines. In Family 3, we detected a likely pathogenic variant in the PTGR2 gene. These genes could play part in PAH pathogenesis but further functional analyses are required to corroborate these findings. In the remaining two families, we could not identify any plausible genetic cause. However, a father and son with PAH reported exposure to trichloroethylene, asbestos and tramadol in Family 4. In Family 5, two brothers with pulmonary veno-occlusive disease showed occupational toxin exposure. Thus, our findings indicate that not only a genetic predisposition but also environmental triggers should be investigated for HPAH patients.

Discovery and computational characterization of ZIKV envelope-targeted peptides from a subtractive phage display library

The Zika virus (ZIKV) poses a significant public health threat, and developing highly specific diagnostic and therapeutic agents that can distinguish it from other flaviviruses remains a critical challenge. To address this, we utilized a phage display library with a strategic subtractive panning approach against the ZIKV envelope protein (ZIKV-pE). This method identified eight linear peptides with high binding ability for ZIKV-pE. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) confirmed that these peptides recognized ZIKV-pE with statistical significance compared to a bovine serum albumin (BSA) control. To elucidate the binding mechanisms, we performed molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Computational analysis identified peptides R3Z15, R3Z09, R2Z05, and R3Z02 as the top candidates based on binding free energy calculations. The simulations revealed that these peptides bind specifically to the DIII domain of ZIKV-pE primarily via electrostatic interactions and form stable complexes over 300 ns of MD simulation. Our work identifies specific, high-affinity peptide binders to ZIKV-pE. It provides a structural basis for their selectivity, positioning them as promising candidates for the development of precise ZIKV diagnostics and targeted therapeutics.

Hydrocyclone-enhanced scalable photocatalytic hydrogen generation, from macroscale turbulence to nanoscale reaction dynamics

Influence of structural parameters on the workspace of delta parallel robots and path adaptability optimization for tea fresh leaf sorting applications

Modeling the beating degree of wheat straw biochemical mechanical pulp using multifactorial equations

In traditional pulp beating processes, the “produce-test-adjust” cycle is commonly employed, often resulting in unnecessary consumption of energy and chemicals. To address this issue, this study integrated single-factor experiments with a Plackett-Burman (PB) design to identify three key parameters—refiner gap, KOH dosage, and enzyme dosage—that significantly influence the beating degree of wheat straw biochemical mechanical pulp, selected from ten potential factors. On this basis, the Box-Behnken Design (BBD) response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to establish a quadratic polynomial predictive model between the beating degree and the aforementioned three factors. For this quadratic polynomial predictive model, the coefficient of determination (R²) is 0.9899, the adjusted R² is 0.9768, and the predicted R² is 0.8723. The adjusted R² is close to R², and the predicted R² is close to the adjusted R² with both values being relatively high, indicating the reliability and practicality of the model. The standard deviation is 0.44, the coefficient of variation is 1.13%, and the signal-to-noise ratio of the model reaches 29.2395, suggesting its strong predictive ability and excellent robustness. Methodologically, this study innovatively applied BBD to the prediction of beating degree. Compared with the traditional Central Composite Design (CCD) model, the proposed model does not require extreme operating conditions, and all 17 experimental points fall within a safe operation range. The establishment of this model provides a predictable and controllable optimization tool for the wheat straw bio-pulping process.