Browse Articles

Pangenome-based design of strain-specific primers enables precise monitoring of bacteria in human microbiome intervention trials

Hydromechanical behavior of dredged slurry modified with industrial waste composite curing agents

Computational analysis of a spatiotemporal model of cancer-immune-chemotherapy dynamics with nonlinear diffusive interactions using spectral technique

Efficacy and safety of tepotinib in MET‑altered non‑small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis

A transformer–XGBoost based model to fault diagnosis for CPR1000

Melanoma cell inoculation improves cognitive impairment in the 5xFAD mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease

A lightweight convolutional neural network for real-time monitoring of smart mango orchard systems

Mitochondrial density and cell area changes in the ciliate Paramecium bursaria under constant darkness: effects of symbiotic Chlorella variabilis and nutrient availability

Abstract Paramecium bursaria and its symbiotic association with Chlorella variabilis influence host organelles. Previous studies have reported reduced mitochondria and trichocysts in algae-bearing P. bursaria cells, suggesting that the digestion of symbiotic algae may provide nutrients for trichocyst synthesis. However, the response of host mitochondria to symbiont loss under prolonged darkness remains unclear. Here, we examined the mitochondrial dynamics and cell morphology in algae-bearing and alga-free P. bursaria under constant darkness combined with feeding or starvation. Algal reduction was quantified using differential interference contrast image intensity, and host mitochondria were visualized using MitoBright LT Green. Under dark conditions with starvation, symbiotic algae and cell area decreased markedly, whereas mitochondrial fluorescence remained largely unchanged in algae-bearing cells. Gradual loss of algae despite feeding preserved both cell area and mitochondrial density. In alga-free cells, starvation caused early mitochondrial decline, followed by partial recovery, whereas feeding supported maintenance or enhancement. These findings indicate that mitochondrial density does not increase as algae decrease; instead, nutrient availability is critical for sustaining mitochondria in prolonged darkness. Our results provide insights into organelle-level responses to symbiont loss and the mechanisms underlying endosymbiotic resilience under environmental stress, with implications for mutualistic stability in changing ecosystems.

Interspecific interactions modulate bioturbation efficiency and nutrient dynamics in freshwater benthic communities

Enhanced urine glucose sensing using two-dimensional TMDCs-based SPR biosensor

Low-temperature characteristics of asphalt mixtures with sewage sludge ash under varying pH moisture conditions

Postpartum depression childbirth related PTSD maternal bonding sexual functioning and partner support among mothers

Abstract This study examined psychosocial factors associated with postpartum mental health, focusing on depression, childbirth-related PTSD (CB-PTSD), maternal-infant bonding, sexual functioning, and perceived partner support. Data from a large Hungarian sample ( N  = 675), assessed between 1 and 24 months postpartum indicated that 29.6% of mothers reported clinically significant depressive symptoms, 32.1% experienced sexual dysfunction, and 4.6% met diagnostic criteria for CB-PTSD, with substantial comorbidity observed between depression and PTSD. Bonding difficulties were consistently associated with higher depressive symptoms, lower perceived social support, and reduced maternal self-efficacy across all PBQ subscales, underscoring the central role of these factors in postpartum psychological adjustment. Sexual dysfunction was also associated with multiple domains of bonding difficulties, including impaired bonding, caregiving anxiety, and rejection-related distress, extending current understanding of postpartum relational dynamics. Regression analyses identified perceived partner care and relationship satisfaction as key correlates of maternal well-being, while emotional and instrumental forms of support were negatively associated with relationship satisfaction. Sociodemographic and obstetric factors, including emergency caesarean delivery and high-risk pregnancy, were further associated with increased psychological distress, highlighting their contextual relevance. These findings underscore the multidimensional nature of postpartum adjustment and suggest the relevance of integrated, trauma-informed, couple-focused approaches in perinatal mental health care.

Privacy-aware deep vein thrombosis segmentation using a multi-model federated learning framework with the federated averaging algorithm

Synergistic effects of compost amendment and foliar nano-micronutrients on yield and quality of sugar beet grown in calcareous soil

Abstract Calcareous soils, characterized by high pH and low nutrient availability, pose significant challenges to sustainable sugar beet production. Combining organic soil amendments with advanced nano-fertilizers may offer a synergistic strategy to enhance crop productivity and quality in such marginal environments. A 2-year field study (2022/2023 and 2023/2024) was conducted using a split-plot design to evaluate the effects of three compost rates (0, 3, and 6 tons acre −1 ) and five foliar nano-micronutrient combinations (control, Fe + Mn, Fe + B, Mn + B, Fe + Mn+B applied at 100 mg L −1 each). Growth, physiological, yield, and technological quality parameters of sugar beet were analyzed. The integrated application of 6 tons compost acre −1 and the nano Fe + Mn+B mixture resulted in powerful synergistic effects, consistently outperforming all other treatments. This optimal combination maximized photosynthetic pigments (e.g., increased chlorophyll a by 27%), boosted antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase by 29%, peroxidase by 42%), and enhanced growth parameters, leading to a 55% greater leaf area index. Consequently, it achieved the highest sucrose content (up to 19.85%), extracted sugar percentage (17.25%), root yield (27.12 tons acre −1 ), and sugar yield (4.68 tons acre −1 ), representing yield increases of 28–32% and 63–69%, respectively, over the compost-only control. For optimal sugar beet productivity in calcareous soils, an integrated management approach is recommended, consisting of soil amendment with 6 tons of compost per acre supplemented by foliar application of a combined nano-iron, manganese, and boron mixture. This strategy effectively enhances soil health, plant physiological performance, and ultimately, sugar yield and quality, providing a sustainable pathway for cultivation in nutrient-deficient calcareous environments.

Intonation and timing in singing early music is unrelated to respiration synchronization

Abstract Musical ensemble performance offers a unique context for investigating complex interpersonal coordination. Hyperscanning research revealed the synchronization of physiological processes during coordinated musical interaction. In a previous study, we showed that physical touch enhanced respiratory coupling between professional singers performing together. We expand on this research by investigating whether this respiration coupling affects performance quality in terms of timing and intonation. Eight singers (two for each voice part) performed Renaissance works multiple times, both with and without physical touch. We annotated the recorded vocal tracks with precise onset times and pitch information, resulting in 64,214 tone events. We analyzed timing as mean onset deviation and intonation as mean absolute pitch deviation, both within voice groups. In contrast to the findings on respiration coupling, physical contact had no effect on timing and intonation, indicating that there is no relation between respiration coupling and singing quality. When tested directly with linear mixed effect models, respiration coupling did not predict intonation or timing in five of six models. One model showed a negative effect: higher respiration coupling decreased intonation accuracy. We conclude, in a professionally trained vocal ensemble, increased respiration coupling does not enhance singing quality.

Reliability and agreement study of three-dimensional measurement for femoral head displacement indicators after femoral neck fractures

Abstract The outcomes of femoral neck fractures (FNFs) are influenced by the displacements of femoral head preoperatively and the reduction quality of surgery. CT-based three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction and measurement techniques have been widely employed in numerous studies to evaluate femoral head displacements both preoperatively and postoperatively. This study aims to measure specific indicators of displacement and residual displacement of femoral head after FNFs, and to assess the reliability and agreement of the measurement methods. Pre- and post-operative CT data of FNF patients treated with cannulated screws (2015–2020) were measured and analyzed. Bilateral proximal femurs were reconstructed using Mimics 22.0. Key measurements included: displacement of fovea of femoral head (d1), displacement of center of femoral head (d2), and 3D angle (α). The measurements were carried out by three experienced observers independently. Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and Concordance Correlation Coefficient (CCC) were used to evaluate reliability and agreement. The standard error of measurement (SEM), Bland-Altman plots and 95% limits of agreement (LoA) were used to evaluate agreement. This study analyzed 200 CT scans from 100 patients (63.5 ± 4.9 years; 56 F/44 M). All measurement parameters (d1, d2, α) showed significant changes ( P  < 0.001) after fixation. Inter-observer reliability and agreement were great (ICCs: 0.894–0.982; CCCs: 0.737–0.946) for preoperative indicators and good-to-moderate (ICCs: 0.605–0.846; CCCs: 0.336–0.644) for postoperative indicators. Bland-Altman plots revealed acceptable agreement for all comparisons between two observers pre- and postoperatively with ≥ 92% data points falling within 95% LoAs. The SEMs for most measurement indicators were low both preoperatively and postoperatively (range: 0.857–3.565), except for angles measured in the transverse and sagittal planes. This study confirms that CT-based 3D reconstruction is valid for preoperative femoral neck fracture assessment (ICC > 0.894). While postoperative measurements show moderate agreement and greater measurement error, particularly in the sagittal plane, it should be noted that ICC/CCC values can be influenced by variability among samples. In future research, it is essential to focus on the standardized registration of models across all three anatomical planes during 3D reconstruction to further enhance measurement accuracy and stability.

Fracture behavior of rod-in-tube layered configurations under three-point bending: an experimental investigation

Quantum-augmented graph differential geometry enhances accuracy in protein-protein interaction prediction

Abstract Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) constitute the fundamental building blocks of cellular machinery, orchestrating complex biological processes from signal transduction to metabolic regulation. Despite significant advances in computational biology, existing methods face critical limitations in capturing the quantum mechanical nature of molecular interactions and the intricate dynamics of protein networks. This work introduces a groundbreaking Quantum-based Graph Differential Model (QGDM) that synergistically combines quantum superposition principles with differential geometry to model PPI networks with unprecedented accuracy. Our innovative framework incorporates quantum state representations of protein conformations, quantum entanglement effects in binding sites, and novel differential operators on protein interaction graphs to capture temporal dynamics. Through comprehensive evaluation on five major datasets (STRING, BioGRID, IntAct, HIPPIE, and DIP), QGDM achieves exceptional performance with 96.7% accuracy, 95.8% precision, and 94.3% recall, representing improvements of 15.2%, 13.9%, and 16.1% respectively over state-of-the-art methods. Our model successfully identified 1247 novel PPIs in the human interactome, with experimental validation confirming 91.8% accuracy through yeast two-hybrid screening and co-immunoprecipitation assays. The quantum differential framework provides revolutionary insights into the probabilistic nature of protein interactions and establishes a theoretical foundation for understanding cellular network dynamics through quantum mechanical principles. This work opens new frontiers in computational biology, offering transformative capabilities for drug discovery, disease mechanism elucidation, and personalized medicine applications.

Application of simultaneous multi-slice accelerated readout-segmented echo planar diffusion-weighted imaging in assessing tumor response to neoadjuvant therapy in locally advanced rectal cancer

Abstract To explore the role of simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) accelerated readout-segmented echo planar (RESOLVE) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in assessing tumor response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). 42 clinically diagnosed LARC patients, who received nCRT were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent pre-operative rectal MRI, including both RESOLVE and SMS-RESOLVE DWIs with respective scan time of 3min50s and 1min47s. Regions of interest covering the three largest slices of residual lesions were drawn independently by two radiologists to calculate mean ADC values. Two radiologists also independently determined T stage (ymrT) and tumor regression grade (mrTRG) using a 5-point grading system on T2WI with and without SMS-RESOLVE DWI on pre-operative MRI. According to the pathological data, patients were grouped into pathological complete response (pCR) and non-pCR, good response and poor response, low T stage and high T stage groups. The diagnostic performance of SMS-RESOLVE DWI was analyzed and compared with RESOLVE DWI and T2WI. The interobserver agreement was both excellent for ADC value measurements in RESOLVE (ICC = 0.908) and SMS-RESOLVE (ICC = 0.894) DWIs between two readers. Patients who achieved pCR or good response showed significantly higher ADC values than non-pCR (1.459 ± 0.173 vs. 1.205 ± 0.107*10 − 3 mm 2 /s and 1.368 ± 0.106 vs. 1.177 ± 0.127*10 − 3 mm 2 /s, respectively, both P < 0.001) or poor responders (1.411 ± 0.164 vs. 1.186 ± 0.115*10 − 3 mm 2 /s and 1.333 ± 0.115 vs. 1.161 ± 0.125*10 − 3 mm 2 /s, respectively, both P < 0.001) in both RESOLVE and SMS-RESOLVE DWIs. Low T stage group after nCRT also demonstrated higher ADC values than high T stage group (1.403 ± 0.211 vs. 1.205 ± 0.107*10 − 3 mm 2 /s, p < 0.001 in RESOLVE, and 1.341 vs. 1.201*10 − 3 mm 2 /s, p = 0.002 in SMS-RESOLVE DWI). Mean ADC values from SMS-RESOLVE DWI showed comparable good diagnostic power to RESOLVE DWI in identifying pCR (AUCs of 0.884 vs. 0.919, P = 0.344), good responders (AUCs of 0.84 vs. 0.9, P = 0.216), and low T stage patients (AUCs of 0.798 vs. 0.846, P = 0.231). Besides, SMS-RESOLVE DWI improved the interobserver agreement for evaluation of both ymrT stage (weighted kappa value of 0.693 vs. 0.528) and mrTRG (weighted kappa value of 0.644 vs. 0.53) on pre-operative MRI. Combining SMS-RESOLVE DWI and T2WI showed higher sensitivities (60% vs. 30%, 80% vs. 53.3%, and 81.8% vs. 50%) and negative predictive values (87.1% vs. 80%, 85% vs. 73.1%, and 71.4% vs. 57.7%) in selecting pCR, good responders and low T stage than T2WI alone. SMS-RESOLVE DWI demonstrated diagnostic performance comparable to conventional RESOLVE for quantitatively assessing T stage and tumor regression grade after nCRT in LARC. When added to T2WI, it showed potential to improve inter-reader consistency in qualitative restaging evaluation.

Long-term exposure to particulate matter from road traffic and residential heating and mortality: a multi-cohort study in Sweden

Abstract Exposure to particulate air pollution increases total natural and cardiovascular mortality. However, it is less clear which types and sources of particles are the most harmful. We analyzed associations between long-term exposure to source-specific locally emitted particles and total natural and cardiovascular mortality in Swedish cohorts. Using high-resolution dispersion models of particles from different sources, and address registries, we assigned annual individual residential mean concentrations to population-based cohorts in Gothenburg, Stockholm and Umeå 1990–2011. Time and cause of death were assigned from registries. Associations between long-term mean lagged exposures and mortality were estimated using Cox regression models adjusted for possible confounders, and meta-analyzed. 7344 natural deaths, including 2755 cardiovascular deaths, occurred among the 68,679 participants. Exposure levels were moderate but generally above the WHO 2021 guidelines. We observed positive associations with natural mortality for the last five years of exposure to road traffic exhaust particles (HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.04, per IQR, and 1.10, 95% CI 1.00-1.22, per 1 µg/m 3 ), and road wear particles (HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.04, per IQR, and HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.03, per 1 µg/m 3 ), but not for particles from residential heating. Adjustment for road traffic noise, or particles from residential heating, did not substantially affect the results for traffic-related particles. For cardiovascular mortality, associations with particles from both sources were positive but not statistically significant. Natural mortality was associated with local emissions of traffic-related particles in a multi-cohort study at moderate exposure-levels, lending some support for further efforts to reduce traffic emissions.