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Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric properties study of Prolonged Grief Disorder Questionnaire (PG-12-R) for caregivers of terminal cancer patients, Thai version

Objectives To translate, culturally adapt, and validate a Thai version of the Prolonged Grief Disorder Questionnaire (PG-12-R) for application with caregivers of terminal cancer patients. Methods This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted in two phases. The translation and cultural adaptation processes were in accordance with established guidelines, which included forward translation, reconciliation, back translation, expert committee review, pilot testing with 30 caregivers, and finalization. The validation phase comprised 165 caregivers recruited from the palliative care service at Ramathibodi Hospital. Participants completed the Thai PG-12-R, Thai versions of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder–7 (GAD-7), the Patient Health Questionnaire–9 (PHQ-9), and the Short Form Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). The test–retest reliability was assessed over a two-week interval. The psychometric evaluation included Cronbach’s alpha, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), content validity index (CVI), exploratory factor analysis (EFA), simple linear regression coefficient, and Spearman’s correlation coefficients. Results The Thai version of the PG-12-R demonstrated excellent content validity (scale-level CVI = 0.92). Face validity ensured that the scale was culturally adapted to Thai expressions of grief. Structural validity assessment using EFA supported a unidimensional model (excluding Item Q3 due to low factor loading), with the single factor accounting for 67.61% of the total variance (eigenvalue = 4.27). The scale showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.87) and test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.88). Convergent validity was established through significant positive correlations with depression (PHQ-9: Spearman’s ρ = 0.67), anxiety (GAD-7: ρ = 0.59), and caregiver burden (ZBI: ρ = 0.60). Simple linear regression analysis confirmed that scores on the PHQ-9 ( β = 1.11 ), GAD-7 ( β = 1.20 ), and ZBI ( β = 0.54 ) were all significant predictors of grief severity. Conclusions The modified Thai PG-12-R is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing anticipatory grief in caregivers of terminally ill cancer patients. Its conciseness and accessibility enable its application in conventional palliative care for early identification of high-risk caregivers and the development of specific interventions.

Comparison of two response tracking methods for sound localization with concealed sound sources

Abstract Accurate measurement of sound localization depends not only on the acoustic setup but also on the response method used to report the perceived source direction, particularly when visual cues from loudspeaker arrays are minimized. This study compared two response tracking methods specifically designed for concealed horizontal loudspeaker arrays: An egocentric LED-based method and an exocentric tablet-based method. Both methods are compact and require moderate technical effort compared to high-end solutions such as head- or eye-tracking systems. 20 normal-hearing participants completed free-field sound localization tasks using both approaches. The egocentric LED-based method produced a significantly lower localization error (RMSE: 5.4°, 95% CI: 4.77° to 6.10°) than the tablet-based method (7.4°, 95% CI: 6.75° to 8.07°), but required longer trial durations (21% increase). Most of the difference in RMSE was attributable to the discrepancies between the finger position on the tablet surface and the intended target position. Angle-dependent analyses revealed systematic, method-specific effects: Both response methods exhibited a central shift in participants’ responses and reduced precision at lateral source positions. Exploratory analyses of the tablet-based method suggested the effect was superimposed by an additional and constant lateral bias across the source angles. These findings demonstrate that the choice of response method can systematically influence measured localization performance and should therefore be taken into account when designing localization experiments and interpreting their results.

Modelling the impact of mosquito bed net utilization on malaria transmission and evolution of pyrethroid resistance

Long-lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) are central to malaria prevention, but their effectiveness is threatened by the increasing pyrethroid resistance and low bed net utilization in malaria-endemic regions globally. This study formulates a genotype-specific compartmental model accounting for malaria transmission. It incorporates the blocking and insecticidal killing effects of LLINs, and pyrethroid-induced fitness costs, to evaluate the impact of LLIN utilization on malaria and resistance dynamics. Reproductive numbers with and without LLINs were derived, and sensitivity analysis performed. This analysis showed that the utilization of LLINs and their effectiveness against pyrethroid-resistant vectors have the strongest effect in reducing malaria transmission in both Sobol and partial rank correlation coefficient PRCC analyses. The baseline scenario and four LLIN utilization scenarios (standard, three-year, two-year and one-year) were simulated over nine years to track malaria transmission, mosquito population and evolution of resistance. These were assessed, with pyrethroid-only nets deployed in the first two campaigns and pyrethroid piperonyl butoxide (PBO) nets deployed in the third campaign. Results showed that, despite an initial LLIN coverage of 81%, protection against malaria infection by both pyrethroid-only and pyrethroid-PBO nets was not sustained over the campaign period and this worsened with lower utilization levels. Pyrethroid-PBO nets provided greater mosquito suppression and better protection under standard utilization, but their advantage over pyrethroid-only nets declined with lower utilization. The study further demonstrated that repeated pyrethroid-only campaigns accelerate the evolution of pyrethroid resistance, but PBO nets counteract this trend particularly when such resistance carries a higher fitness cost. Although lower utilization levels slowed resistance evolution, these scenarios do not represent an epidemiologically viable malaria control strategy.

MORF4L1, encoding a chromatin remodeler, is mutated in a recognizable dysmorphic neurodevelopmental disorder

C–H···Au ^– Interaction: To Be or Not to Be a Genuine Hydrogen Bond?

Robust light field angular super-resolution via multi-dimensional feature fusion and attention-guided refinement

Angular super-resolution (ASR) is a fundamental task in light field (LF) imaging, aimed at reconstructing a dense LF from sparsely sampled views. Despite significant progress, current methods often struggle to preserve consistency in complex scenarios such as severe occlusions and large-disparity regions. In this paper, we propose a robust attention-guided multi-dimensional feature fusion network (LFAMF) for LF angular reconstruction. The proposed framework comprises two synergistic stages: a multi-dimensional feature fusion stage and an attention-guided refinement stage. Specifically, we design a multi-stream subnetwork (MFNet) to extract intrinsic physical characteristics across the spatial, angular, EPI, and pseudo-video sequence domains. Simultaneously, a geometry-prior-based subnetwork (GSPNet) is incorporated to leverage scene structure for improved texture preservation. To effectively integrate these complementary streams, an attention-guided fusion subnetwork (AFNet) is employed to adaptively merge intermediate results. Extensive experiments on both synthetic and real-world datasets demonstrate that the LFAMF model significantly outperforms state-of-the-art methods, particularly in maintaining structural integrity at occlusion boundaries and highly textured areas while ensuring superior angular consistency.

Predicting premature failure of quantum cascade lasers with different quantum designs using active machine learning

Theory-based predictors of prescribing behaviour for neurodegenerative diseases: A cross-sectional survey with European healthcare professionals

Objectives Explore the likelihood of healthcare professionals (HCPs) prescribing a new, novel or different to usual medication to patients with a newly diagnosed early onset or advanced stage neurodegenerative disease (ND), and identification of the theoretical behavioural determinants that underpin these predictors. Design A quantitative cross-sectional study using a newly developed survey underpinned by the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) was delivered online between September 2023 and March 2024. Setting All levels of healthcare where medication is prescribed for NDs across Austria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the UK. Participants Recruited predominately via a participation panel, HCPs who have prescribed medication for a ND in the past 2 years were eligible to take part, with 279 participants (66% male) completing the study in full. Primary and secondary outcome measures The primary outcome was HCPs’ likelihood of prescribing a new, novel or different to usual medication compared with their routine choice for patients with a newly diagnosed early onset or advanced stage ND. A secondary outcome was to identify factors aligned to the TDF that influenced prescribing and describe them using the Capability, Opportunity and Motivation – Behaviour (COM-B) model. Results HCPs were significantly more likely to consider prescribing outside of routine habit for patients with advanced stage ND compared to patients with new early onset diagnosis (60.8% [95% confidence interval (CI) 57.70, 63.95] vs 51.8% [95% CI 48.61, 55.05], respectively). Logistic regression models revealed a total of four factors that predicted prescribing. In the scenario with newly diagnosed patients, HCP intention (β = 0.324, 95% CI 4.75, 10.69), behavioural regulation (β = 0.191, 95% CI 1.57, 8.92), and social/professional role and identity (β = ‑0.184, 95% CI 1.57, 8.92) were each significant predictors of prescribing. In the scenario with patients with advanced stage ND, HCP intention also predicted prescribing (β  =  0.234, 95% CI 31.02, 65.15), along with HCP belief about consequences (β = −0.145, 95% CI 2.73, 8.11). Thus, the TDF determinants that predicted prescribing indicate that COM-B capability (TDF behavioural regulation) and motivation (TDF intention, social/professional role and identity, and belief about consequences) domains may be relevant targets for changing prescribing habits. Conclusions There is a complex interplay of specific and generic predictors that influence prescribing for patients with a newly diagnosed early onset or advanced stage ND. Appropriate behaviour change frameworks that target HCPs’ capability and motivation should be considered to support changes towards the optimal use of new, novel or different to usual medication in the future.

Colonization of empty shells by cryptic fauna: a global event and important ecological innovation in Ordovician benthic ecosystems

Editorial Note: Multi-objective optimization of dual resource integrated scheduling problem of production equipment and RGVs considering conflict-free routing

Design of high-efficiency ultrathin perovskite solar cells using embedded plasmonic Au nanowires and SiO₂ antireflection nanoparticles

Landscape pattern has greater influence than local vegetation on songbirds along rights-of-way in forest-dominated landscapes

The proliferation of linear energy infrastructure (e.g., pipelines, powerlines) in forested landscapes throughout North America has advanced the need to understand how to manage these areas for improved species conservation. Habitat management implemented to use the unique vegetative characteristics associated with energy corridors may be a promising direction for future conservation. For songbirds, responses to habitat change can vary based on vegetative characteristics at local and landscape scales. Therefore, a better understanding of how vegetative characteristics across spatial scales affect songbird responses to habitat management that is associated with linear energy infrastructure is necessary for developing proactive solutions. We assessed songbird abundance and richness at point count locations within silviculture treatments along energy corridors (pipelines and powerlines) to habitat characteristics at local (within 100 meters surrounding point counts) and landscape (within 500 meters) scales in West Virginia, USA during 2017–2019. Landscape variables had greater influence on songbirds in silviculture treatments compared to local variables. Species- and community-level responses to variables varied depending on habitat guild association, with some within-guild species responding to the same variable in opposing directions. The proportion of young forest habitat and the size of the nearest young forest patch surrounding silviculture treatments had the strongest influences on songbirds of all landscape variables considered. The width of the right-of-way adjacent to silviculture treatments had the strongest influence on songbirds of all local variables considered. These results suggest that consideration of the surrounding landscape is important when planning habitat management in forested areas in association with linear energy infrastructure.

Oregano oil, carvacrol, and thymol as novel ophthalmic antimicrobials: ocular safety, phenolic interactions, and antibacterial efficacy against clinically relevant ocular pathogens

Abstract Bacterial ocular infections are a major cause of vision loss, with antimicrobial resistance limiting treatment efficacy. This study investigated oregano oil and its phenolic components, carvacrol and thymol, as alternative antibacterial agents for ophthalmic use. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis identified 27 volatile compounds, dominated by carvacrol (~ 75%), O- cymene (~ 7%), and thymol (~ 3%). Antibacterial activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae , Staphylococcus aureus , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was assessed using disc diffusion and broth microdilution assays. Minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MICs/MBCs) ranged from 0.003 to 0.1% (v/v) for oregano oil and carvacrol, and from 0.003 to 0.1% (w/v) for thymol. Fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) analysis revealed additive antibacterial interactions (FICI > 0.5–1) between carvacrol and thymol, suggesting these phenolic constituents could serve as adjunct antibacterial agents. Ocular safety was evaluated using the bovine corneal opacity and permeability (BCOP), hen’s egg chorioallantoic membrane (HET-CAM), and red blood cell haemolysis assays. At concentrations exceeding MICs (0.5% v/v oregano oil, 0.1% v/v carvacrol, 0.1% w/v thymol), no corneal irritation occurred in the BCOP model, although mild to moderate irritation appeared in conjunctival and membrane assays. Safety index analysis showed oregano oil had the widest safety margin, supporting its potential as an antibacterial for ocular and wider use.

Historical, taxonomic, and cultural patterns in scientific naming across Animalia

Animal naming is fundamental to biological classification and scientific communication. Beyond their taxonomic function, scientific names may also reflect historical and cultural contexts. Owing to this dual role, species names have recently attracted increasing attention from historical and humanities perspectives for both their informative value and the broader patterns they may encode. To examine large-scale patterns in naming practices, we investigated temporal trends of scientific names across Animalia using automated large-language-model-based classification approaches. Our analyses revealed systematic structure in naming practices. Periods of major global disturbances coincided with marked declines in species descriptions, while advances in biological techniques were associated with shifts in dominant naming categories. Temporal trends also varied among phyla and across eras, indicating systematic differences among taxonomic communities and variation associated with authors’ estimated nationality categories. Although individual naming decisions remain diverse and classification uncertainty persists at the micro level, consistent macro-scale patterns were detectable. Together, these findings suggest that zoological nomenclature contains structured disciplinary signals and may serve as an archive for understanding long-term patterns in taxonomic practice, as well as broader historical dynamics within the biological sciences.

Tegoprazan-based dual therapy versus bismuth-containing quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication: a prospective, multicenter, open-label, non-inferiority, randomized controlled trial

An analytical and experimental study of the energy transition discourse on YouTube

Energy production and management face significant political, economic, and environmental challenges. The rise in information consumption through social media can, under certain conditions, reduce the visibility and uptake of reliable knowledge, particularly in environments characterised by high information overload, algorithmic amplification, and low media literacy. This study examines the ideas discussed in the energy transition content on YouTube, assesses the most effective methods of communicating knowledge and information, and identifies the most engaged audiences. We examine videos related to the subject, analysing the themes discussed, the language used, and the emotions conveyed on YouTube, linking language formality to user engagement. To test the relationship experimentally, original content was uploaded to YouTube through two mirror channels containing the same material but using different levels of language formality. We conducted a systematic statistical analysis of engagement data collected from YouTube and the Google Ads platform. The YouTube engagement suggests that the conversational channel reaches a broader audience, although retention across video segments varies. While user retention was higher in the early segments for the conversational content, a higher retention in the mid to late sections of academic videos was found. Data from the Google Ads platform provided a deeper understanding of engagement across user profiles. Younger individuals and women show greater engagement regardless of language style, although women demonstrate relatively greater interest in the academic content.

Pilot validation of a whole-blood mRNA expression-based diagnostic system for early-stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a single-center case–control diagnostic accuracy study

Surgical timing and outcomes after volar plate fixation of distal radius fractures: A matched cohort study

Background The impact of surgical timing on outcomes in orthopedic trauma surgery remains controversial. While most evidence derives from hip fractures and other major injuries, data on distal radius fractures is limited. This study aimed to assess whether surgical timing influences operative duration, reduction quality, complication rates, and functional outcome after operative treatment of distal radius fractures. Methods This single-center, retrospective study included patients aged ≥ 16 years who underwent surgical treatment for distal radius fractures at our hospital between 01.01.2016 and 31.12.2024. Patients without postoperative radiographic follow-up, those treated conservatively, or those managed by other departments were excluded. Patients were grouped according to surgical timing into regular-hours surgery (08:00–16:00) and out-of-hours service. A 1:1 matched cohort analysis was performed with criteria being AO/OTA fracture classification and propensity scoring for age and sex. Analyses were stratified by AO/OTA fracture type (A, B, and C). Outcomes included operative time, radiographic reduction quality, complication rates, and functional outcome assessed by postoperative range of motion. Results A total of 660 patients were included, of whom 434 underwent surgery during regular hospital hours and 226 during out-of-hours service. From the out-of-hours cohort, matching was performed using an exact match for fracture morphology according to the AO/OTA classification and propensity score matching for age and sex, resulting in two well-balanced 1:1 matched groups comprising 128 patients each. Across both groups, operative duration, reduction quality, complication rates, and functional outcome assessed by postoperative range of motion did not differ between regular-hours and out-of-hours surgery. Conclusion Surgical timing was not associated with differences in operative duration, reduction quality, complication rates, or functional outcome after operative treatment of distal radius fractures. Within this matched cohort, no measurable differences were detected between regular-hours and out-of-hours surgery. As the study was not designed to establish equivalence, these findings indicate the absence of a detectable difference in this specific institutional setting and should not be interpreted as support for routine out-of-hours fixation.

Hydrodynamic effects of underground dams on seawater–freshwater mixing zone in sloping beach coastal aquifers

Abstract Seawater intrusion (SWI) is a continual challenge that threatens the sustainability of coastal groundwater resources. The behaviour of the seawater-freshwater mixing zone plays a critical role in controlling groundwater quality and solute transport; however, the combined impact of underground dams and sloping beach geometries on seawater-freshwater mixing-zone dynamics remains insufficiently understood. This study investigates the hydrodynamic response of SWI in sloping beach coastal aquifers using numerical simulations with beach inclination angles of 0°, 15°, 30°, and 45°, and under various underground dam heights (H d ). The outcomes indicate that the mixing zone initially expands during the transient stage before shrinking after the seawater intrusion wedge reaches the underground dam. Compared with no-dam conditions, underground dams reduced the final steady-state mixing-zone width and area, while only slightly affecting subsurface groundwater discharge and seawater intrusion length. Increasing dam height produced a narrower central mixing zone and lower subsurface groundwater discharge, whereas its effect on the bottom mixing-zone width was limited. In contrast, increasing the beach inclination angle significantly enhanced seawater intrusion and widened the mixing zone, particularly under steep slopes. Inclined beaches also delayed the time required for the seawater intrusion wedge to reach the dam because of the longer seawater intrusion pathway. The findings demonstrate that aquifer geometry and underground dam configuration strongly control the temporal evolution of seawater intrusion. Proper optimisation of underground dam height is therefore essential for reducing salinity expansion and improving groundwater protection in coastal aquifers. The study provides practical guidance for the design of physical barriers and sustainable groundwater management in vulnerable coastal regions.

Mapping factors associated with emotional and behavioral problems among preschool children: A scoping review protocol

Emotional and behavioral problems in preschool children are increasingly regarded as a major public health concern, particularly as early life challenges can lead to long-lasting difficulties in later childhood and adulthood. Although numerous studies have examined the factors associated with EBPs, the evidence remains fragmented across disciplines, study designs, and measurement approaches, limiting a coherent understanding. This scoping review aims to systematically map and synthesize factors associated with emotional and behavioral problems in preschool children. This scoping review will follow the methodological framework proposed by Peters (2020), in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidance, and documented in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. A systematic search will be undertaken in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), the Cochrane Library, Embase, and EBSCOhost (via MEDLINE and CINAHL) for studies published from 2000 onwards. Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies, with no language restrictions, will be included. Study selection and data charting will be independently conducted by at least two reviewers, with disagreements resolved through discussion. Data will be synthesized using a descriptive analytical approach, with factors categorized into genetic, biological, psychological, and environmental domains. Findings will be presented through narrative synthesis and summary tables, with frequency mapping and thematic grouping used to identify patterns, variations in measurement approaches, and evidence gaps. This review will provide a comprehensive overview of how factors associated with EBPs in preschool children have been studied and will inform future research, policy, and early prevention strategies.