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Correction: Who gets what, where: To what extent are inequalities in distribution of Norwegian child welfare service measures related to spatial and temporal variation

Bulk superconductivity up to 96 K in pressurized nickelate single crystals

‌CT image-derived radiomics predicts molecular subtypes in bladder urothelial carcinoma: validation of a non-invasive classification strategy

Retraction: Mitostatin is down-regulated in human prostate cancer and suppresses the invasive phenotype of prostate cancer cells

Direct method for Ra-226 analysis in water samples using ICP-QQQ-MS

Abstract The paper describes a method of determination of Ra-226 in natural water using ICP-QQQ-MS, Agilent 8900, that enables an efficient direct determination of Ra-226 with high sensitivity without using any reaction gas and separation procedures for interference removal. The matrix effect, together with the instability of the sensitivity are controlled by spiking the sample with Ra-226. The method is simple and fast with a detection limit around of 0.1 fg g -1 (3.6 mBq kg -1 ), which is tenfold lower than required by the EU Directive for water consumption (40 mBq kg -1 ) and five times better than results obtained from alternative direct method for routine analysis described in the literature. The method can easily be implemented for routine analysis Ra-226 which was demonstrated by direct determination of Ra-226 in IAEA proficiency test water sample. This is the first time that the accuracy (trueness and precision) of a mass spectrometry method for the direct determination of Ra-226 has been tested and confirmed in an independent proficiency test.

Multiple causal pathways of high-quality development for semiconductor enterprises in China

As China’s economy undergoes transformation, enhancing the high-quality development of semiconductor enterprises has profound implications for overall economic growth. This study constructs a multi-factor configurational model influencing the high-quality development of semiconductor enterprises based on the Technology-Organization-Environment framework and conducts configurational analysis using the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis method. The results indicate that high-quality development is a systematic process where no single factor is a necessary condition for the high-quality development of semiconductor enterprises. Five paths lead to high-quality development, which can be categorized into three types: innovation capability and enterprise size-dominated type, innovation capability and human capital level-driven type, and multi-factor linkage type. The study investigates the mechanisms of high-quality development from a structural perspective, providing insights into the synergistic effects of various factors and revealing the complex relationships underlying high-quality development.

Machine learning-enabled prediction of hemorrhagic transformation post-thrombectomy using quantitative DSA

The sustainability of recreational sports in Chinese cities based on cognitive entropy

With progress of science and development of economy, increasing numbers of urban residents take part in recreational sports (RS) due to their more leisure time and increased income. The RS is defined as a kind of physical activities engaged by people during their leisure time for obtaining experience of physical and mental pleasure. The sustainability of the RS plays a critical role in sustainable urban development. As major Chinese cities, such as Hangzhou, Shanghai and Chengdu, are faced with how to maintain sustainable development of their RS systems, which are selected as case cities for empirical analysis. The RS system and its evaluation indicators are constructed by using the conceptual composition method. The RS system is made up of five subsystems including the industrial subsystem, space subsystem, experience subsystem and formal subsystem. The indicator system for assessment of RS system is included 28 indicators. The validity of the RS system questionnaire is tested by employing confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling software. The result indicates good fit of the questionnaire factors. The inquiry was carried out in the three cities where 1080 residents were approached and 1028 questionnaires were collected. The cognitive entropies and weight matrix for the RS system of each sample cities are calculated based on entropy theory. The sustainable development levels of each subsystem of the RS system are obtained by using TOPSIS Method. Then, suggestions of urban planning for three cities have been derived by the results of analysis based on their historical background, regional characteristic and development level.

Pressure enhanced dual-solid-surface ultra-rapid cooling improves post-thaw recovery in hepatocytes and precision cut liver slices

Determinants of outpatient service use among Orang Asli in Malaysia using Andersen’s Behavioural Model

Background Indigenous populations, including the Orang Asli in Malaysia, experience persistent health disparities due to historical, socioeconomic, geographic, and cultural barriers. Despite government initiatives to improve access, significant gaps remain, and limited nationwide data hinder policy development. This study examines the prevalence and determinants of outpatient healthcare utilisation among the Orang Asli. Methods This study utilised data from the Orang Asli Health Survey, a nationwide cross-sectional survey of Orang Asli communities in Peninsular Malaysia, with 89.8% response rate. Andersen’s Behavioural Model was applied in the analysis to assess the predisposing, enabling, and health need factors influencing outpatient healthcare use among the adult (aged 18 and over) population. Weighted descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to examine outpatient healthcare utilisation and its determinants. Analyses were performed in STATA 18. Results The overall prevalence of outpatient service utilisation in the past 12 months was 17.9%. Higher utilisation was observed among females, urban residents, and the Senoi and Negrito tribes. Determinants of outpatient use included female (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.31–2.06), urban locality (aOR: 2.39, 95% CI: 1.15–4.96), Senoi (aOR 2.66; 95% CI: 1.52–4.64) and Negrito (aOR: 3.91, 95% CI: 2.01–7.60) tribes, unemployment (aOR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.11–1.46), recent acute health problems (aOR: 2.17, 95% CI: 1.68–2.81), fair to very poor self-rated health (aOR: 2.30, 95% CI: 1.39–3.79), and presence of one (aOR: 2.90, 95% CI: 2.00–4.21) or two or more non-communicable diseases (NCD) (aOR: 4.63, 95% CI: 2.89–7.41). Interaction effects indicated lower outpatient use among Senoi and Negrito adults with poor self-rated health compared to other groups. Conclusion Outpatient healthcare utilisation among Orang Asli adults was driven by gender, tribe, health needs, and NCDs. Improved access requires needs-based sensitive interventions and existing services optimisation. Follow-up studies are warranted to explore the underlying cultural behavioural aspects.

Effects of instrument assisted and functional soft tissue mobilization on hamstring flexibility and skinfold thickness in sedentary adults

Explainable depth-wise and channel-wise fusion models for multi-class skin lesion classification

The clinical adoption of deep learning in dermatology requires models that are not only highly accurate but also transparent and trustworthy. To address this dual challenge, this study presents a systematic investigation into deep feature fusion, exploring how to effectively combine complementary representations from diverse neural network architectures. We design and rigorously evaluate six distinct fusion models, first investigating depth-wise and channel-wise strategies for integrating features from powerful Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) backbones, and subsequently incorporating the global contextual awareness of Vision Transformers (ViTs). Evaluated on the challenging 7-class HAM10000 dataset, our optimized architecture achieves a weighted average Precision, Recall, and F1 score of 90%, demonstrating superior diagnostic performance. Crucially, our comprehensive explainable AI (XAI) analysis using Grad-CAM and SHAP reveals that the fusion strategy directly dictates the model’s clinical interpretability; our most effective models learn to base their predictions on salient dermatological features, such as border irregularity and color variegation, in a manner that aligns with expert reasoning. This work provides a robust framework and valuable architectural insights for developing the next generation of high-performing, clinically reliable, and transparent AI-powered diagnostic tools.

Unveiling drought-tolerant mungbean genotypes through integrated multi-trait selection

Impact of coexisting diabetes on the development of cardiovascular disease and death in patients with cancer

Diabetes is a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, its effects on the incidence of CVD and survival in patients with cancer without CVD at the time of cancer diagnosis remain unclear. Population-based information was obtained from the Osaka Cancer Registry linked to administrative data, and the impact of diabetes at cancer diagnosis on overall survival and the development of CVD in patients without CVD at cancer diagnosis was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models. A total of 121,997 patients diagnosed with cancer but without CVD in Osaka Prefecture, Japan, between 2010 and 2015 were included in the analysis. Of these, 4,317 patients had diabetes at the time of cancer diagnosis. The presence of coexisting diabetes was associated with increased risks of all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.40 [95% confidence interval: 1.33–1.48]) and development of CVD (1.37 [1.28–1.46]), compared with the absence of coexisting diabetes. For 21,292 patients with a record of hospitalization within 2 months prior to death, the estimated cause of death was tabulated. In all, 899 (4.6%) and 111 (6.9%) patients in the no-coexistent diabetes and coexistent diabetes groups, respectively, died from circulatory disease. In patients with cancer without CVD at cancer diagnosis, coexisting diabetes may increase the risk of developing CVD and affect survival.

Mucosal DNA methylation reveals immune-related methylation profile and correlates with crohn’s disease status

The effects of iTBS to cerebellar vermis on balance function in frail older people: A protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background With the gradual deepening of the aging of the population, the closely related problem of frailty in older people is becoming increasingly prominent. Frailty can increase the risk of bodily damage and adverse health outcomes such as falls, disabilities, hospitalizations, institutionalization, and death. Intermittent theta burst stimulation is a special stimulation mode of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, which can enhance synaptic transmission by mimicking cortical theta rhythms. Some previous studies have suggested that intermittent theta burst stimulation is effective in improving balance function and motor function. However, few studies have explored the effects of intermittent theta burst stimulation to cerebellar vermis on balance function in frail older people. Objective To introduce a randomized controlled trial protocol, which will be used to evaluate the efficacy of intermittent theta burst stimulation to cerebellar vermis on balance function in frail older people. Methods This trial is a double-blind, two-arm randomized controlled trial. Frail older people with balance dysfunction will be recruited. All participants will be randomly assigned to experimental group who will receive intermittent theta burst stimulation to cerebellar vermis and control group who will receive false stimulation in a 1:1 ratio. All participants will also receive motor training once a day for 30–60 minutes each time, for a total of 20 sessions. The primary outcome will be balance function and the secondary outcomes will include frailty, walking ability, sensory organisation test, limits of stability, and rhythmic weight shift. All outcomes will be collected at baseline and in the week immediately post-intervention. Discussion This study will be the first randomized controlled trial on the effects of iTBS to cerebellar vermis on balance function in frail older people. It is expected that this study, if proven effective in improving the balance function in frail older people, will provide evidence-based rehabilitation strategies for rehabilitation therapist. Trial status Screening of participants will begin in September 2025.

A novel approach for dynamic task scheduling for IOT in fog-cloud environment

Impact of COVID-19 on new pharmacotherapy for insomnia: A matched cohort study using the national insurance claims database in Japan

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected impacted both physical and mental well-being. This matched cohort study investigated the effects of COVID-19 on pharmacological treatments for insomnia, using Japan’s National Insurance Claims Database. Methods Data were matched by age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score, and enrollment month. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) and incidence rate differences (IRD) were calculated and compared for insomnia medication initiation, and subgroups based on age and sex categories. Sensitivity analyses were conducted for segmented intervals of 0–4, 5–12, and after 12 months. Results The study included approximately 2 million pairs, predominantly women (59.4%), with a median follow-up of 7 months (Interquartile range, 4–12). Initiation of any insomnia medications occurred 77626 and 43142 times in the COVID-19 and control groups, respectively. IRR for new prescriptions was 1.7 times higher in the COVID-19 group (IRR: 1.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.69–1.73), with an IRD of 1,634 events per 1,000,000 person-months (95%CI: 1599–1669). Non-Benzodiazepines and short-acting Benzodiazepines had the highest excess burdens among secondary endpoints. The risk was observed in all age categories, even in under 20 years (younger individuals: IRR: 1.46 95%CI 1.39–1.53, IRD: 380, 95%CI 333–427). Sensitivity analysis confirmed an increased risk over time, even after 12 months (IRD: 752, 95%CI 662–842). Conclusion COVID-19 significantly associates with an elevated risk of insomnia medication initiation, emphasizing the necessity for mental health support in post-COVID-19 care. This study offers insights into the pandemic’s influence on pharmacological treatment practices.

Origin of the high coercivity in FeNi inspired magnets

Nicotinamide mononucleotide improves spermatogenesis in aluminium-exposed mice by inhibiting NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis

This study investigates the protective effects of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) against aluminum-induced testicular dysfunction in mice. While previous research has demonstrated the general protective role of NMN in testicular function and highlighted the interaction between aluminum and the NLRP3 inflammasome, the precise mechanisms through which NMN mitigates aluminum-induced reproductive toxicity remain unclear. Our findings show that NMN protects Sertoli cells by inhibiting NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis, which subsequently improves spermatogenesis and testosterone synthesis. We also identify WT1 and GATA4 as key regulators involved in maintaining Sertoli cell integrity and function under aluminum-induced stress. This work provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of aluminum-induced male infertility and underscores NMN’s potential as a therapeutic strategy for preventing reproductive dysfunction caused by environmental toxicants, such as aluminum. Aluminum exposure disrupts spermatogenesis, yet no effective pharmacological interventions exist to treat aluminum-induced male infertility. In this study, we established an aluminum toxicity model in C57BL/6J mice through intragastric administration of AlCl 3 . We assessed the therapeutic effects of NMN by evaluating testicular histopathology, sperm quality, and serum reproductive hormone levels. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining revealed significant damage, including reduced seminiferous tubule diameter, disorganized germ cell layers, and a decreased number of germ cells and sperm. Sperm motility was significantly reduced, while the proportion of abnormal sperm increased. However, NMN treatment partially reversed these impairments. Transcriptomic analysis revealed significant upregulation of genes involved in the NLRP3 inflammasome and apoptosis pathways (e.g., NLRP3, GSDMD, caspase-1, and IL-1β) in the AlCl 3 -exposed group. NMN treatment mitigated testicular damage, suppressed NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis in Sertoli cells, and restored serum testosterone levels. Additionally, NMN treatment preserved the expression of key testicular proteins, including WT-1 GATA4, and vimentin. In summary, our study uncovers a novel mechanism by which aluminum exposure impairs spermatogenesis via NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis in testicular cells. We also demonstrate for the first time that NMN can ameliorate aluminum-induced reproductive dysfunction by inhibiting this pathway, offering a potential therapeutic strategy for aluminum-associated male infertility.