Browse Articles

Evaluation of disposal techniques for electronic circuit board waste based on fuzzy multi-criteria decision analysis

AI-powered models for overcrowding prediction at TUMS hospitals

Genetic diversity and agromorphological characterization of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) germplasm provides insight for breeding and crop improvement

Power quality enhancement using fractional order type-2 fuzzy SHAF optimized with hPSOFA algorithm

Influence of grain size and spatial volume fraction variation in ZnO based functionally graded thermoelectric devices

Optimal channel selection of electroencephalography based on functional network via global graph measurements: application for epilepsy

Effects of 10-week modified badminton curriculum on physical fitness and sustained attention in elementary school children

Synergizing building-integrated photovoltaic with ground-air and water-air heat exchangers for solar-powered gym cooling

$$\beta$$-Fractional $$(n+1)$$-dimensional generalized KP model: nonlinear dynamical behaviors, analytical wave structures, bifurcation, and sensitivity analysis

Mechanical analysis and application of floor failure mechanism under repeated mining in close-distance coal seams

Regulatory alignment in FDA expedited pathways for infectious diseases: a decadal review with predictive modeling insights

Children and adults can suspend core principles about objects and agents given a small amount of counterevidence on screen

Abstract Human children and adults learn from statistical evidence and acquire new knowledge across many domains. Under some circumstances, human adults and nonhuman animals can suspend perceptual and cognitive priors given counterevidence. Can human learners also suspend core principles that guide our reasoning about objects and agents starting in infancy (e.g., objects are solid and cannot pass through each other; agents take the most efficient path to accomplish their goal)? In 12 experiments, we found that adults (N = 209 for physical principles; N = 189 for psychological principles) and 4- to 6-year-old children (N = 96 for physical principles; N = 96 for psychological principles) suspended these core principles on a screen when provided with as few as 3 to 6 pieces of counterevidence of each principle. Participants more readily accepted the counterevidence and were more likely to generalize counterintuitive principles for psychological than physical principles. These findings are consistent with two different conclusions: The first challenges the core knowledge view and demonstrates the power and flexibility of human learning, and the second suggests humans apply sophisticated reasoning to on-screen events. This study paves the way for future studies to test whether humans can suspend core principles in real-world contexts.

Investigation of image-guided in vivo irradiation on voiding patterns and bladder contractility in female mice

Abstract Radiotherapy for pelvic malignancies impacts the bladder causing urinary symptoms in many patients. Preclinical models using image-guided irradiation enable investigation of the physiology underlying radiation-response in the bladder. We aimed to characterise voiding patterns and bladder contractility following image-guided irradiation of the mouse bladder. Bladders of adult, female mice were irradiated (IRR) with a single fraction (20 Gy) under cone beam computed tomography. Pre- and post-IRR, void spot assays of urination patterns were performed. Contractility of bladder strips was quantified with myography. At 2-weeks, 1-month and 2-months post-IRR, around 50% of mice exhibited increased void locations. At 2-weeks, 50% had increased void spot counts; moreover, the majority exhibited smaller mean and smaller maximum void spot volumes. In bladder strips, neurogenic-contractions were smaller at 2-weeks, independent of their voiding patterns. Some recovery of contraction-amplitude was noted up to 8-months. At 2-weeks, depolarization-contractions and carbachol-contractions were similar in non-IRR and IRR strips; however, ATP-contractions were smaller. Neurogenic-contractions, carbachol-contractions and ATP-contractions had similar sensitivity to the SK channel blocker, apamin. Neurogenic contractions had similar sensitivity to paxilline (BK) and TEA (pan-K + ) in non-IRR and IRR tissue. Targeted bladder irradiation resulted in altered urination patterns in the acute post-IRR phase, coincident with reduced neurogenic-contractions which might limit voiding. The ability of the bladder to contract per se and the contribution of K + -channels to contractility was minimally impacted by irradiation. Whilst the underlying mechanisms of the observations require further investigation, the study demonstrates the application of image-guided irradiation for quantifying radiation-induced changes in mouse bladder.

Dual-sided EEG electrode signals have varying correlations that depend on movement characteristics

Abstract Mobile Electroencephalography (EEG) measures human brain activity during locomotion, extending brain dynamics research into real-world scenarios. However, EEG is highly susceptible to artifacts, and more reliable approaches are needed to attenuate motion artifacts in mobile EEG recordings. Dual-layer EEG, which records scalp EEG simultaneously with isolated motion artifact signals, presents a novel and promising approach. This method assumes that noise-biased EEG data captures the common noise as the isolated motion artifact data. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between signals from both sides of the electrode and their relationship to movement. We developed a benchtop test platform where the top and bottom sides of a dual-sided electrode interfaced with conductive fabric. Using a robotic arm, we moved the dual-sided electrode with different directions, magnitudes, frequencies, and randomness. We quantified correlations between signals from the top and bottom sides to understand the relationship of the dual-sided signals. We also quantified correlations between movement and signals from both the top and bottom sides to examine the extent to which the signals are related to movement . Movement direction affected the correlation signs, and all correlation metrics scaled with movement magnitude rather than frequency. Increased movement randomness reduced top and bottom signal correlation. These findings contribute new insights into signal correlations of the dual-sided EEG electrode and could inform the development of improved dual-layer EEG algorithms and hardware innovations for real-world applications.

Effects of personalized strength training on isokinetic muscle strength and balance ability among fencers with chronic ankle instability

Empathy as risk and protective factor in the development of adolescent aggression; the role of autism unraveled

Electro-assisted integration of nanodiamonds into conducting polypyrrole for functional coatings

Abstract This work presents a novel method for electrically integrating functionalized nanodiamonds (NDs) into smart conducting polymer polypyrrole (PPy) coatings on highly active FeMnC alloy surfaces for stent applications. The optimized electrodeposition process produces stable PPy-ND coatings with tunable compositions using passivating sodium salicylate and chemically functionalized NDs. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses confirm the successful integration of NDs into the polymer matrix. Concurrently, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals distinct morphological features influenced by deposition parameters. The coatings exhibit tunable corrosion properties in preliminary studies, highlighting their relevance for degradable metallic implant applications. This innovative method facilitates the development of multifunctional coatings, providing a versatile platform for advanced bio-interfaces in medical implants. The study shows the feasibility of combining conducting polymers with nanomaterials to enhance surface functionality and tackle critical challenges in implantable device technologies.

Biofabrication, statistical optimization, and characterization of collagen nanoparticles synthesized via Streptomyces cell-free system for cancer therapy

Abstract Collagen nanoparticles (CollNPs) exhibit low antigenicity, high surface area, non-toxicity, and excellent biocompatibility, making them promising for diverse biomedical applications. This study reports, for the first time, an eco-friendly, sustainable microbial-mediated biosynthesis of CollNPs using the cell-free system of Streptomyces viridochromogenes . UV–Vis spectroscopy showed a distinct absorption peak at 240 nm. A synergistic modeling approach combining Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) were used to optimize biosynthesis parameters. The ANN identified the predicted optimal conditions at pH 7, collagen concentration 20 mg/mL, incubation time 115 h, and temperature 32 °C, with a theoretical maximum yield of 19.87 mg/mL. Experimental validation confirmed the model’s accuracy, yielding 19.1 mg/mL Sv-CollNPs, closely matched the theoretical prediction ANN exhibited higher predictive accuracy than CCRD, confirming its robustness for process optimization. TEM revealed hollow, spherical Sv-CollNPs with an average diameter of 30.41 nm. FTIR analysis identified NH, CH, C = O, and OH functional groups contributing to nanoparticles formation and stabilization. The ζ-potential was − 19.4 mV, indicating good colloidal stability. The Sv-CollNPs displayed strong antioxidant and anti-hemolytic activities, alongside notable anticancer activity . The IC 50 values were 7.94 ± 0.6 µg/mL (MCF-7), 13.89 ± 1.0 µg/mL (HepG2), and 22.06 ± 1.6 µg/mL (HCT116). In vivo experiments were conducted on six groups ( n  = 8 per group). Treatment with native collagen, Sv-CollNPs, and DOX reduced EAC tumor growth by  65.66%, 83.84%, and 85.86%, respectively. The combined treatment of Sv-CollNPs and DOX achieved the highest tumor inhibition (97.98%), exceeding the effects of the individual treatments. In conclusion, this study introduces S. viridochromogenes as a novel microbial source for collagen nanoparticles biosynthesis and demonstrates the superior predictive performance of ANN-based modeling. The findings reveal that biosynthesized Sv-CollNPs, especially when combined with DOX, exhibit strong therapeutic potential and represent an eco-friendly, innovative strategy for anticancer nanomedicine development.

Advanced study of wavy dynamical behavior of suspended living organisms in generalized nanomaterials with magnetic and buoyancy effects

Developing 400 MPa grade biodegradable Zn alloys with superior osteogenic and antibacterial performance

Abstract Biodegradable zinc (Zn) has emerged as a promising orthopedic implant material, capable of supporting bone repair while gradually resorbing in the body. Yet, its relatively low strength has restricted its use in high load-bearing scenarios. The addition of lithium (Li) improves mechanical strengths of Zn alloys, of which are comparable to that of pure Ti. Here, we present a Zn-0.8Li alloy system enhanced through alloying and equal channel angular pressing (ECAP). By tuning the processing temperature, the alloys attained superior mechanical performance, with tensile strength reaching 434 MPa and elongation of 65% at 200 °C. The dominant strengthening mechanisms were identified as grain boundary strengthening and dislocation strengthening. Corrosion assessment revealed a stable degradation rate of ~ 5.5 μm/year after 30 days of immersion, with localized attack at second phases and grain boundary corrosion in ultrafine-grained microstructures (T-150 and T-200 samples), whereas a fine-grained microstructure (T-300 sample) exhibited suppressed boundary corrosion. In vitro studies confirmed excellent cytocompatibility and osteogenic potential of the ECAP-treated Zn-0.8Li alloys compared with bioinert Ti. Furthermore, antibacterial tests demonstrated inhibition rates exceeding 90% against E. coli colonies.