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Evaluation of low level laser therapy and lidocaine versus chlorohexidine for the management of traumatic oral ulcers in children: a randomized controlled study
Abstract This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), lidocaine (LC) gel, and chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwash in the management of traumatic oral ulcers in children, with respect to ulcer size, pain relief and parental satisfaction. Thirty children aged 6–14 years with clinically diagnosed traumatic oral ulcers were randomly allocated into three groups ( n = 10 each): Group I (LLLT), Group II (LC), and Group III (CHX). Ulcer size was measured using a calibrated periodontal probe, pain intensity was assessed with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and parental satisfaction was evaluated using a Likert scale. Ulcer size reduction was greatest in Group I, followed by Group II and Group III, with statistically significant differences observed at day 5 ( p = 0.0001) and day 7 ( p = 0.0072). Group I also recorded the lowest VAS scores immediately, and at 2, 5, and 7 days ( p = 0.0001) compared with the other groups. Parental satisfaction was significantly higher in the LLLT group compared with the LC and CHX groups ( p = 0.006). LLLT demonstrated superior effectiveness in accelerating healing by reducing related size and pain in traumatic oral ulcers compared with LC gel and CHX mouthwash. Despite CHX being the standard approach for oral ulcer management, it showed the lowest efficacy. Parental acceptance of LLLT was high, with minimal discomfort related to treatment visits, supporting its potential as a favourable treatment modality in paediatric dental practice. Trial registration: On August 16, 2025, this study was retrospectively registered on ClinicalTrials.gov under the identification number NCT07138586 with URL; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07138586 .
Conservation should assume realistic adaptive capacities
Conservation actions often assume implicitly that heritabilities are zero and that threatened populations cannot adapt to changing environments. To illustrate, we evaluated the last 10 y of recovery plans for US threatened and endangered species and found that only 4% assessed within-population adaptability. This omission reflects the common assumption that population adaptation is too slow or inconsequential to affect conservation practice in the short term. Yet, the median heritability (h 2 ) and evolvability (I A ) across many studies are not zero as assumed, but 0.3 and 0.4, respectively, based on a compilation of estimated values. This moderate heritability could rescue some populations. By compiling literature on conservation assessments, we detail how considering adaptability can shift conservation priorities, alter management recommendations, and provide additional ways to rescue declining populations and species. Based on these findings, we advocate for including population adaptability into conservation plans and adopting the prior expectation of moderate adaptability (h 2 = 0.3, I A = 0.4) along with its uncertainty, as a starting point when better information is lacking. This moderate adaptability could allow some species to respond naturally to environmental change while directing limited resources toward the species that need it most.
Design and optimization of CIGS-based solar cell with surface dielectric nanostructures arrangement
Abstract This study introduces a novel design of copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) thin-film solar cells by incorporating aluminum arsenide (AlAs) dielectric nano-particles on the front surface. Three nanoparticle geometries-cubic, cylindrical, and spherical—are explored to enable broadband light absorption and enhance overall device efficiency. The optimization of structural parameters is performed using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm in conjunction with the Lumerical finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) solver. Simulation results demonstrate that the cubic nanoparticle design delivers the highest performance, achieving an average absorption of 93.5%, corresponding to 31.7% improvement over the baseline cell. The enhanced performance of cubic AlAs nano-particles arises from their support of broadband, high-order Mie resonances, enabled by sharp edges and flat facets. Considering recombination mechanisms, the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of the proposed cubic-based structures are enhanced to 17.6%, compared to the conventional design of 12.56%. The reported surface-integrated dielectric nanostructure approach demonstrates strong potential for high-efficiency thin-film solar cells (TFSCs) with reduced material usage, lower fabrication complexity, and cost-effectiveness.
A scenario-based framework for spatial assessment of multi-source renewable energy parks: a case study of Makran region in Iran
A neural circuit basis for reward-induced suppression of fear generalization and enhancement of fear extinction
How positive and negative affective stimuli interact in the brain to influence behavioral outcomes remains poorly understood. Here, we show that recall of a positively valenced reward-associated cue (reward-conditioned stimulus, CS Rew +) can prevent or reverse fear generalization in mice. Modification of generalized fear by recall of a CS Rew + is dependent on the midbrain dopamine system and the regulation of discriminatory fear encoding by the central amygdala (CeA). Precisely timed, transient elevations in dopamine are necessary to reverse fear generalization and nondiscriminatory fear encoding in the CeA. Recall of a positive association is also effective at enhancing the extinction of a conditioned fear response in a dopamine-dependent manner. These data demonstrate that recall of a positive experience can be an effective means to suppress generalized fear and show that dopamine projections to the CeA are an important neural substrate for this phenomenon.
Evaluation of nano glass as a partial cement replacement on the fresh mechanical durability thermal and microstructural properties of cement paste
Abstract Using nano materials in the construction sector is one of the new directions as the most effective method for improving the quality of produced materials, especially in concrete and mortar that used as a partial replacement of available material or admixture that is considered. These materials, which are produced in nano size, have been investigated in previous research with micro size may also be with higher size. This study investigates the effects of nano glass powder as a partial replacement for cement on the fresh, mechanical, and durability properties of cement paste. Nano glass was incorporated at varying replacement levels (0–50%) and evaluated through a series of experimental tests, including flowability, compressive and flexural strength, acid resistance, thermal conductivity, fire resistance, water absorption, density, permeable voids, drying shrinkage, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results reveal that increasing nano glass content reduces flow values, indicating decreased workability due to higher water demand. Compressive strength (C.S) improved at early (28-day) and later (56-day) ages, peaking at 10% replacement, while flexural strength peaked at 15%, showing an optimal range for mechanical enhancement. Durability tests showed improved acid resistance and reduced thermal conductivity at moderate replacement levels, confirming enhanced long-term performance. Fire resistance analysis indicated improved strength retention and reduced weight loss with higher nano glass contents, particularly between 20% and 30%. Water absorption and permeable voids decreased significantly at higher replacement levels, indicating denser and more durable microstructures, although density dropped at 40% replacement. Drying shrinkage was minimized at 10%, while XRD and SEM analyses confirmed compositional and microstructural improvements due to pozzolanic reactions and densification. Overall, the study demonstrates that nano glass can be effectively used up to 15–20% replacement to enhance strength, durability, and thermal resistance, though excessive amounts may negatively affect workability and structural integrity.
Beyond species ranges: How functional diversity and integrated life history can inform conservation priorities
Skin lesions associated with chronic exposure to arsenic in drinking water in rural Western Iran
ER membrane receptors engage core autophagy machinery to initiate ER-phagy
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) phagy is the form of selective autophagy that governs ER abundance and integrity by targeting dysfunctional ER fragments for degradation. How the recognition of ER fragments as autophagy substrates is coupled to engagement of the core autophagic machinery is largely unknown. Here, using a combination of in vitro reconstitution systems, structural modeling, and cell biology, we demonstrate that ER membrane receptors directly engage the core autophagy component ATG9A, as well as the PI3P-binding protein WIPI2, to initiate ER-associated autophagosome biogenesis. ER-phagy receptor–ATG9A association nucleates the recruitment of the other key autophagy proteins required to initiate ER-phagy. In parallel, ER-phagy receptor–WIPI2 engagement promotes rapid LC3 lipidation for autophagic membrane expansion. These data show how ER-phagy receptors trigger the cascade of events leading to ER autophagosome formation.
Enhancing cross-modal retrieval via label graph optimization and hybrid loss functions
Dynamic regulation of receptor-modulated endothelial NADPH oxidases
The stable reactive oxygen species (ROS) hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) acts as a key signaling molecule for many vital intracellular pathways. In diverse cell types, surface receptors control intracellular H 2 O 2 levels by modulating the activity of NADPH oxidases (NOX), a family of enzymes responsible for ROS synthesis. Most NOX isoforms are regulated through the reversible assembly of protein subunits to form an active oligomeric complex. The NOX isoforms NOX2 and NOX4 are expressed in endothelial cells and generate H 2 O 2 in response to activation of cell surface receptors. The GPCR agonist histamine activates NOX2 independently of NOX4, but the H 2 O 2 response to activation of the receptor tyrosine kinase agonist vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) involves both NOX2 and NOX4 by unknown mechanisms [M. Waldeck-Weiermair et al. , Redox Biol. 58 , 102539 (2022); M. Waldeck-Weiermair et al. , Redox Biol. 73 , 103214 (2024)]. Here, we show that endothelial NOX4 is localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We define the redox states of various subcellular locales in the vascular endothelium and demonstrate that NOX2 is responsible for cytosolic H 2 O 2 signaling, whereas NOX4 contributes to H 2 O 2 generation in the endoplasmic reticulum. Using biochemical assays and structural modeling, we further identify a previously unrecognized regulatory interaction in which the NOX2 subunit p67 associates with NOX4. VEGF stimulation induces dynamic dissociation of p67 from NOX4, unveiling a “cross talk” between NOX isoforms that coordinates the activation of both NOX2 and NOX4 and thereby produces compartment-specific H 2 O 2 signals. This mechanism underscores the pivotal roles of NOX2 and NOX4 subunit interactions in endothelial redox homeostasis controlling cell survival, proliferation, and migration.
A unified framework for robust 3D watermarking based on feature integration
Reply to Dujmović: The alignment in cost between human and model reasoning is an empirical phenomenon worth explaining
Plasma fatty acid profiles and coronary artery disease burden assessed by coronary CT angiography: an observational study
Human-induced biospheric carbon sink: Impact from the Taklamakan Afforestation Project
The Taklamakan Desert, one of the world’s largest and driest deserts, has traditionally been considered a biological void. Here, we demonstrate that large-scale ecological restoration is transforming this hyperarid environment into a carbon sink. By analyzing satellite and ground-based data, we find strong seasonal dynamics: During the wet season (Jul to Sep), precipitation increases to 16.3 mm/mo, enhancing vegetation coverage and photosynthetic activity and drawing down atmospheric CO 2 by approximately three parts per million (ppm) relative to the dry-season levels. Long-term trends reveal significant increases in vegetation cover (6.8 × 10 −4 /y) and photosynthetic activity (6.1 × 10 −3 W/m 2 /sr/µm/y), accompanied by a strengthening net CO 2 uptake (NEE trend: −5.2 × 10 −12 kg/m 2 /s/y). These changes are spatially concentrated along the desert margins and their timing aligns with implementation of China’s Three-North Shelterbelt Program. Our results provide the direct evidence that human-led intervention can effectively enhance carbon sequestration in even the most extreme arid landscapes, demonstrating the potential to transform a desert into a carbon sink and halt desertification. This underscores the critical role of dryland restoration in global carbon management strategies and highlights the Taklamakan Desert as a model for climate change mitigation through nature-based solutions and ecological engineering.
Multi-class classification of brain tumors using optimized CNN and transfer learning techniques
BORC assemblies integrate BLOC-1 subunits to diversify endosomal trafficking functions
BORC and BLOC-1 are multisubunit complexes that regulate endolysosomal trafficking. Although they are presumed to be distinct, their paralogous origins and shared subunits suggest the potential for higher-order assembly. Here, we reveal the conserved octameric architecture of BORC formed by two intertwined tetramers and present the structure of C. elegans BORC. Through cross-linking mass spectrometry of endogenous complexes, we validate this model for human BORC and demonstrate that the integrity of the complex, which is essential for lysosomal transport, relies on specific interfacial residues. We also clarify the disruptive nature of disease-causing mutations and propose that the formation and function of BORC are likely regulated by specific cues. These cues might include the phosphorylation of Snapin and a pH-sensitive histidine residue in BORCS5. Additionally, we present direct biochemical and structural evidence of BORC–BLOC-1 hybrid complexes. Finally, we link a specific hybrid complex to the regulation of transferrin receptor recycling via interaction with the EARP complex. Our work challenges the paradigm of BORC and BLOC-1 as separate entities, establishing a model of dynamic complex formation wherein modular assembly creates functional specialization to meet diverse cellular demands.