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LA-ICP-MS Zircon U-Pb Ages, geochemical characteristics, and geological significance of the early cretaceous volcanic rocks in Haitangwan Town, Southern Hainan Island, China

The Lumuwang Formation in Hainan Island is a key stratum for analyzing Mesozoic tectonic evolution. However, its depositional age relies only on sporopollen evidence, lacks high-precision dating, and its age attribution remains controversial. Additionally, the origin, tectonic setting of its volcanic interlayers and their connection to regional magmatic activities are unclear, which greatly restricts the systematic understanding of Hainan Island’s Mesozoic paleogeography and geotectonic evolution. Targeting a newly discovered set of volcanic rocks hosted in the terrigenous clastic rocks of the Lumuwan Formation in Haitangwan Town, Sanya City, this study systematically conducted zircon U-Pb dating and geochemical analysis. The results show that the minimum age is 121 Ma, thereby accurately constraining the depositional age of the clastic rocks of the Lumuwan Formation to the Early Cretaceous. Geochemical characteristics indicate that the volcanic rocks belong to the high-K calc-alkaline to shoshonitic series. Their low Mg # values and high MF and DI values indicate that the magma underwent highly differentiated evolution. The rare earth element (REE: La-Lu) distribution shows significant enrichment of light rare earth elements (LREE: La-Eu) and strong fractionation between LREE and heavy rare earth elements (HREE: Gd-Lu). Trace elements are characterized by enrichment of large ion lithophile elements (LILE: Rb, Ba, and K) and depletion of high field strength elements (HFSE: Nb, Ta, and Ti), highlighting typical island arc magma attributes. The above geochemical characteristics of the volcanic rocks reveal that the study area was in a transitional tectonic environment from an island arc to back-arc extension during the Early Cretaceous. This provides key empirical evidence for the dynamic process of the transition from a continental margin arc to intracontinental extension around 121 Ma in the South China continental margin, further deepening the scientific understanding of Mesozoic crust-mantle interaction and basin-mountain coupling processes in Hainan Island.

Interplay of traumatic birth experiences and postnatal depression in Pakistani women

Capsule-based federated reinforcement learning adaptive sliding mode for anomaly detection and control of floating wind turbines

Floating wind turbines (FWTs) are now recognized as one of the most effective and affordable renewable energy sources. However, their performance is strongly influenced by dynamic environmental conditions, particularly sea waves under significant oscillatory conditions. Ocean wave and wind disturbance affect turbine positioning, underscoring the critical essential for adaptive and robust control mechanisms to manage the unpredictable external inputs. In this context, we present an innovative method based on federated deep learning for training capsule networks to detect disturbances and enable adaptive robust control of FWTs among the environmental uncertainty. Through the proposed technique, a unique mixture of sliding mode control and deep reinforcement learning (DRL) yields in the extraction of wide features and modeling of spatial relationships between sensor data in the capsule networks framework. Furthermore, by employing federated learning, the capsule-net model is trained in a distributed manner across multiple wind turbines. Therefore, enhanced accuracy and effectiveness of disturbance detection are guaranteed. Simulation results reveal effective identification of disturbances which in turn improves the performance and stability of FWTs under the coarse environmental situation. The global Lyapunov stability analysis proves the FWTs’ closed-loop stability. Performance of the superior DRL is evaluated in comparison with a radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) estimation. The innovative DRL method represents a significant advancement in the control of FWTs as a high potential of development for intelligent management of similar systems. As a final aim, this research work finds out the reliability and efficiency of FWTs in variable weather conditions (short-term) and erratic ocean environments (long-term). Moreover, the control system makes a substantial impact on the sustainable development of the wind and renewable energy sector.

What happened at COP30? 4 science take-homes from the climate summit

Hierarchical habitat selection by a predatory fish in a patchy seascape

Multi-scale dynamic graph neural network for PM2.5 concentration prediction in regional station cluster

Accurate prediction of PM2.5 concentrations is crucial for public health and environmental management. However, effectively capturing complex spatiotemporal dependencies across multiple time scales remains a persistent challenge for existing methods, particularly in regions with sparse monitoring stations. This study proposes a Multi-Scale Dynamic Graph Neural Network (MSDGNN) for PM2.5 forecasting in station clusters. The model incorporates multi-scale temporal modeling (hourly, daily, weekly) to capture both short- and long-term dependencies. A learnable mapping matrix dynamically groups stations to strengthen spatial correlation learning. Furthermore, MSDGNN employs multi-head attention and spatiotemporal graph attention mechanisms to construct dynamic graphs, utilizing adaptive adjacency matrices and Chebyshev graph convolutions for effective feature propagation. We evaluated MSDGNN on 22 air quality monitoring stations in the Chang-Zhu-Tan region. Results demonstrated that our model reduces MAE by 6.77% and RMSE by 8.67% compared to the best baseline, validating its capability to learn complex dependencies and deliver accurate predictions under diverse spatiotemporal conditions.

Sustainable professional growth through digital mentorship: evidence from language teachers in low-resource settings

Establishment and culture of mouse oviductal organoids and isolation and characterization of their secreted extracellular vesicles

Oviductal (fallopian tube) cell cultures are widely used to improve understanding of oviductal pathophysiology and to improve sperm and embryo quality via co-culture. One type of oviductal cell culture is organoids, a three-dimensional cell culture that can mimic the oviduct in vitro long-term (months). Because organoids maintain their structure and function similar to in vivo , their secretions tend to be more similar to in vivo cellular products. One of these organoid secretions includes extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are bioactive nanoparticles secreted by cells for intercellular communication. Here we report a protocol for isolation of mouse oviducts, establishment and long-term culture of mouse oviductal organoids, and isolation and characterization of the EVs secreted by mouse oviductal organoids. This lab protocol can be used for research of oviductal physiology and pathology and improvement of assisted reproductive technologies.

AMPK affects the development of early-stage NAFLD by activating autophagy and fatty acid oxidation

Seasonal climatic niche-switching migration in the Nearctic-Neotropical Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)

Migratory birds inhabit diverse geographic regions during their reproductive and wintering periods; however, information regarding the climatic conditions that enable migratory birds, particularly hummingbirds, to thrive in these regions is limited. This study aimed to characterize the geographic distribution and seasonal climatic niche of the Nearctic–Neotropical Rufous Hummingbird ( Selasphorus rufus )—classified as near threatened—across its reproductive and wintering areas in North America. We obtained monthly occurrence records for the Rufous Hummingbird during its reproductive (May to June) and wintering (November to January) periods. We generated seasonal ecological niche models to reconstruct the climatic space occupied by the Rufous Hummingbird during these periods and evaluated climatic differences through niche similarity analysis. Our results indicate that the Rufous Hummingbird is a longitudinally migratory species that engages in niche-switching, occupying distinct climatic conditions in its reproductive and wintering areas across Mexico and the eastern United States. Changes in the climatic niche of the Rufous Hummingbird may be linked to its adaptive plasticity in response to varying climatic conditions, competition for resources, and recent climate change. These findings have biogeographic, evolutionary, and conservation implications for the Rufous Hummingbird and other migratory birds with similar movement patterns.

Adaptive fuzzy fault-tolerant control for coordinated driving of a six-wheel lunar rover with tracking error reduction

Personal identification via matching of curved multiplanar computed tomography reconstructions and panoramic radiographs

Computer vision (CV)-based personal identification enables automated matching of recent radiological images with clinical databases to identify unknown individuals. This study aimed to assess whether a panoramic radiograph (PR)-like image reconstructed from computed tomography (CT) data using curved multiplanar reconstruction could enable CV-based personal identification using a PR database. A method was developed to automatically generate PR-like images with adjustable parameters, based on 50 CT examinations including the jaw region (38.64 ± 16.72 years; 17 females, 33 males), allowing for variations such as tooth rotations. Systematic modification of parameters enabled the generation of different representations to determine optimal settings for a large number of individuals. Multiple PR-like images per identity were tested against a PR database containing 82,036 PRs from 43,379 individuals. Utilizing the most effective individual parameter settings, 72% (36/50) of individuals were correctly identified at rank 1, 82% (41/50) at rank 10, and 96% (48/50) at rank 100 – out of 43,379 possible individuals. The rank describes the position of the matched image in a list sorted after a descending similarity score. When the optimal parameters were applied to a larger number of individuals, the identification rates were 50% (25/50) at rank 1, 64% (32/50) at rank 10, and 78% (39/50) at rank 100. In conclusion, CV demonstrates potential for personal identification by comparing automatically generated PR-like images with a large PR database.

High-performance hexagonal cavity-based plasmonic MIM waveguide biosensor for sensitive and label-free detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)

Risk of cardiovascular disease and death in patients with breast cancer receiving anthracycline-based therapy: A retrospective cohort study

Background With the increasing survival rate and overall lifespan of patients with breast cancer, increased mortality due to cardiovascular causes is a notable concern. Anthracyclines, which are commonly used and effective chemotherapeutic agents for breast cancer, are known for their cardiotoxicity. Existing studies vary in their findings owing to heterogeneous factors such as study population and design, underscoring the need for high-quality evidence to comprehensively examine the risk factors for anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. This study compared the incidence of cardiovascular disease, all-cause mortality, and their associated risk factors following adjuvant anthracycline therapy as the initial anticancer treatment, utilizing National Health Insurance claims data for a nationwide cohort of patients with breast cancer. Methods The study cohort comprised patients initially diagnosed with breast cancer between 2011 and 2013 who underwent mastectomy within 6 months of diagnosis and received anticancer therapy within 6 months of surgery. The primary outcomes were composite cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality during a follow-up period of up to 5 years. Secondary outcomes encompassed specific types of cardiovascular events such as congestive heart failure, heart failure and cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease and cardiac arrest, and stroke. Incidence rates for these outcomes were presented as incidence rate ratios (IRR), and hazard ratios (HR) for individual risk factors were derived using the Cox proportional hazards model. Results The study cohort comprised 9,439 patients with breast cancer in both the anthracycline and non-anthracycline groups. There was no significant association between adjuvant anthracycline therapy and the composite cardiovascular events (adjusted HR 0.911 [95% CI 0.823–1.008]). In contrast, all-cause mortality was higher in the anthracycline group (IRR 2.155 [95% CI 1.892–2.455]; adjusted HR 2.160 [95% CI 1.882–2.480]). Adjuvant trastuzumab was significantly associated with an increased risk of the composite cardiovascular event (adjusted HR 1.256 [1.093–1.443]), although no trend was identified concerning adjuvant trastuzumab status in the subgroup analysis. Advanced age and hypertensive comorbidities were risk factors for all outcomes. Conclusion To prevent cardiovascular event onset in patients with breast cancer undergoing anthracycline-based chemotherapy, thorough monitoring is essential, especially in patients of advanced age, those with comorbid hypertension, and those undergoing trastuzumab treatment.

A qualitative descriptive study of stigma and psychological burden among Japanese healthcare workers following COVID-19 infection or close contact

Perspectives of racially minoritized youth with disabilities on addressing ableism and other forms of discrimination

Background Racially minoritized youth with disabilities often encounter more extensive forms of discrimination. However, little is known about youth perspectives for addressing disability-related and other forms of discrimination, which is important for enhancing the participation and inclusion of youth with disabilities. This study explored the recommendations of youth with disabilities for addressing barriers and multiple forms of discrimination. Methods This study involved in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of 20 youth with disabilities. We applied an inductive thematic analysis to the transcripts. Results Our findings highlighted the following key themes: (1) addressing barriers in healthcare, education, employment and the legal system; (2) community, social supports and resources; (3) advocacy; and (4) inclusive policies and youth involvement. Conclusions There is a critical need for more inclusive services and support for youth with disabilities, especially those with multiple minoritized identities, to foster safe environments and quality of life.

Revealing neural resonance in neuronal ensembles through frequency response tests

Autophagy regulates MK-2206-induced LDL receptor expression and cholesterol efflux pathways

Background Hypercholesterolemia remains a key risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). The clearance of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles from plasma, primarily mediated by LDL receptor (LDLR) activity, is an established target of lipid-lowering therapies. Enhancing reverse cholesterol transport via high-density lipoprotein and modulating cholesterol efflux from macrophages further complements atherogenic risk reduction. Enhancing LDLR expression and supporting effective cholesterol efflux via ATP binding cassette subfamily A member 1 (ABCA1) are therefore essential therapeutic targets for CVD prevention. Recent studies implicate autophagy in lipid and cholesterol metabolism. This study examines the influence of autophagy on LDLR and ABCA1 expression in hepatocytes after treatment with the AKT inhibitors MK-2206 and triciribine. Methods Autophagy was disrupted pharmacologically using SBI-0206965 and genetically via short-interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting autophagy-related genes ATG5 and ATG7 in HepG2. Stable knockout (KO) HAP1 cell lines for ATG5 and ATG7 were generated by CRISPR to ensure complete abrogation of autophagy. The possible effect of SREBP2 silencing on MK-2206-induced LDLR expression was assessed in HepG2 cells. Quantitative analyses included measurement of ABCA1, LDLR and MAP1LC3B (LC3B) expression at protein and mRNA levels, in addition to ULK1 and SQSTM1 ( p62 ) mRNA levels. Results MK-2206 administration increased hepatic LDLR and the autophagy marker LC3B. Triciribine did not show evidence of autophagy induction, and neither AKT inhibitors modified ABCA1 expression. Inhibition of autophagy, either by SBI-0206965 or by siRNA targeting ATG5 and ATG7, reduced the MK-2206-mediated LDLR upregulation by approximately 50% in HepG2. In KO-ATG5/ATG7 HAP1 cells, the MK-2206-induced LDLR expression decreased by 70% compared to wild-type cells, and ABCA1 expression was abolished. Conclusion Both pharmacological and genetic impairment of autophagy attenuate the LDLR-inducing effects of MK-2206, supporting a role for autophagy in the regulation of cholesterol metabolism. The substantial reduction of ABCA1 expression in autophagy-deficient cells further indicates that autophagy is involved in cholesterol efflux regulation.

An integrated analysis of naval platform survivability for mission resilience

Abstract Mission resilience is a primary consideration for naval platforms operating in contested maritime environments. It is a concept that encapsulates a platform’s ability to endure, and to survive threats that affect the achievement of mission objectives. Historically, platform survivability analysis was constrained by “stove piping” the analysis within individual survivability domains (susceptibility, vulnerability and recoverability). However, the trade-space combining susceptibility, vulnerability and recoverability in a temporal framework enables holistic survivability analysis. This is referred to as “Integrated Survivability”. To demonstrate the utility of Integrated Survivability analysis, and its contribution to mission resilience, a naval platform survivability case study was developed. The case study examined the achievement of a mission objective for four platform configurations exposed to a detonating weapon threat. There were three primary outcomes. Firstly, the case study demonstrated a platform general arrangement configuration change to improve crew access, instead of a technological solution, provided the best outcome for achieving the mission objective. Secondly, the case study demonstrated the use of a warship computer model specifically designed for naval platform survivability analysis. This warship model is an unclassified, generalised naval platform representation designed to foster collaboration and for documenting research in the open literature. Finally, the case study enabled the development of a workflow to facilitate Integrated Survivability analysis for the enhancement of the fleet-in-being and assessment of future naval platform acquisitions.

Development and validation of the healthcare provider and family bidirectional digital communication scale

Introduction Effective communication between healthcare providers and families is critical in ICUs, yet existing assessment scales predominantly focus on unidirectional, face-to-face interactions. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated adoption of digital communication modalities that have persisted in contemporary practice. This study developed and validated the Healthcare Provider and Family Bidirectional Digital Communication Scale (HF-BDCS) to address these gaps. Materials and Methods The HF-BDCS was developed through literature review and qualitative interviews with 15 stakeholders (healthcare providers and family members). Content validity was assessed by 5 experts. Psychometric evaluation with 300 participants (100 physicians, 100 nurses, 100 family members) included exploratory factor analysis and internal consistency assessment using Cronbach’s alpha. Results Expert review yielded 14 items with excellent content validity (S-CVI/Ave: relevance=1.00, importance=1.00, clarity=0.98). Exploratory factor analysis produced a 13-item scale with three factors explaining 64.53% of variance: Digital Communication Efficiency and Quality (6 items, 25.87%), Digital Communication Perceptions (5 items, 25.12%), and Digital Communication Regulations (2 items, 13.54%). Internal consistency was good (Cronbach’s alpha=0.80-0.86) across all factors and participant subgroups. Discussion The HF-BDCS is the first validated bidirectional instrument for assessing digital communication in ICUs, demonstrating strong psychometric properties. By capturing both healthcare provider and family perspectives, the scale enables identification of perception discrepancies and supports improvements in digital communication practices, ultimately enhancing patient- and family-centered care in contemporary ICUs.