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Estimating covariate-balanced survival curve in distributed data environment using data collaboration quasi-experiment
Disaster causing mechanism and monitoring of dynamic and static load coupling of deep multi layer hard roof
A qualitative study exploring Malaysian women’s preferences for authority or emotional appeals in public health messages promoting breast cancer screening
Abstract Persuasive health communication is key to promoting breast cancer screening. Due to existing gaps over how public health messages should be framed, a study was conducted to explore the preferences and perceptions of Malaysian women towards messages that incorporate different types of appeals to promote breast cancer screening. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted among Malaysian women aged 40 and above with no previous history of breast cancer or other cancers. They were exposed to messages that promoted breast cancer screening using seven different appeals; authority, hope, social, humour, fear, sadness, and shame-guilt. Qualitative expressions for preferences and perceptions were analysed using interpretive thematic analysis. 41 Malaysian women were interviewed. The majority preferred messages that incorporated hope, authority, or fear appeals. Messages with an authority appeal were favoured for their personalised and authoritative effect. Messages using hope and fear appeals elicited emotional reactions and cognitive appraisals that contributed to their favourability. In contrast, humour, sadness, and shame-guilt were the most disliked appeals. The humour appeal was generally disliked because it caused interpretations that weakened the persuasive impact of the advocated behaviour in the message. Messages incorporating sadness and shame-guilt appeals were disliked primarily due to their negative framing. In conclusion, public health messages incorporating hope, authority, or fear appeals show promising potential to motivate breast cancer screening among Malaysian women, and their effectiveness in influencing actual behaviour change should be further explored.
What are the limits to biomedical research acceleration through general-purpose AI?
Abstract Although general-purpose artificial intelligence (GPAI) is widely expected to accelerate scientific discovery, its practical limits in biomedicine remain unclear. We assess this potential by developing a framework of GPAI capabilities across the biomedical research lifecycle. Our scoping literature review indicates that current GPAI could deliver a speed increase of around 2x, whereas future GPAI could facilitate strong acceleration of up to 25x for physical tasks and 100x for cognitive tasks. However, achieving these gains may be severely limited by factors such as irreducible biological constraints, research infrastructure, data access, and the need for human oversight. Our expert elicitation with eight senior biomedical researchers revealed skepticism regarding the strong acceleration of tasks such as experiment design and execution. In contrast, strong acceleration of manuscript preparation, review and publication processes was deemed plausible. Notably, all experts identified the assimilation of new tools by the scientific community as a critical bottleneck. Realising the potential of GPAI will therefore require more than technological progress; it demands targeted investment in shared automation infrastructure and systemic reforms to research and publication practices.
Evaluation of DeepSeek-R1 and ChatGPT-4o on the Chinese national medical licensing examination: a multi-year comparative study
Modeling and optimization of sustainable ternary concrete incorporating rice husk ash and extracted micro silica
Abstract Concrete production accounts for a significant share of global CO 2 emissions, underscoring the need for sustainable supplementary cementitious materials. This study evaluates a ternary cementitious system incorporating extracted micro-silica (EMS) and rice husk ash (RHA) as partial cement replacements to enhance compressive strength and reduce cement dependency. An experimental program was conducted on mixtures with varying EMS and RHA dosages, followed by predictive modelling and optimization using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). Optimal mixtures containing 10–15% EMS and 15–25% RHA achieved higher compressive strength than the control mix, whereas higher replacement levels reduced strength due to particle agglomeration and weak hydration products. SEM analysis confirmed the improved microstructure in the optimized mixture, characterized by refined C-S-H networks and reduced porosity. The RSM model achieved strong predictive accuracy (R² = 0.95, RMSE = 2.7 MPa), while the ANN model achieved R² = 0.98 and RMSE = 1.9 MPa. These findings provide valuable insights for designing high-performance, sustainable concrete that relies less on traditional cementitious materials. Future work should focus on evaluating the long-term durability and environmental impact of the optimized mixtures in real-world applications.
Intratumoral microbiome signatures in a North Central Indian colorectal cancer cohort: identification of novel prognostic biomarkers and functional pathways
Mechanism of Babao Dan on fluorouracil-induced bone marrow suppression and T cell immune disorder through MAPK pathway
Abstract Babao Dan (BBD), a traditional Chinese herbal compound, has demonstrated significant antitumor effects and is clinically used as an adjunctive therapy for various gastrointestinal malignancies. However, its underlying mechanisms of action remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of BBD on 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced myelosuppression and T-lymphocyte subpopulation alterations, and to explore its mechanism in ameliorating cellular immune dysfunction caused by myelosuppression via the MAPK signaling pathway. The major constituents of BBD are fatty acids, triterpenoids, flavonoids, and alkaloids, along with other compounds. BBD significantly improved survival, reduced body weight loss, and mitigated the decline in splenic index in mice following 5-FU-induced chemotherapy. Additionally, it alleviated the reduction of peripheral blood cells, including leukocytes, neutrophils, and reticulocytes, and attenuated 5-FU-induced bone marrow hematopoiesis suppression. Furthermore, BBD restored the imbalance in the proportions of Th1 and Th2 cells within the spleens of 5-FU-induced mice. It also reversed the inhibition of CD25 + and CD69 + expression, the reduction in lymphocyte division generation, and the decreased expression of Ki67 and PCNA, thereby enhancing T-cell activation and proliferation in splenic cells. Moreover, BBD alleviated the G1 phase blockage in the bone marrow cell cycle and upregulated the expression of key proteins, including CDK2, CDK4, CDK6, Cyclin D1, Cyclin E1, p-Rb, p-c-Fos, p-c-Jun, p-ERK, p-NF-κB p65, and p-p38, in bone marrow cells. BBD may promote the expression of G1/S checkpoint-related proteins in myeloid cells by regulating the MAPK signaling pathway, thereby upregulating the phosphorylation level of Rb and facilitating the transition from the G1 phase to the S phase. This orderly cell cycle progression enhances cell proliferation and improves the hematopoietic function of myeloid cells after 5-FU chemotherapy. Consequently, BBD restores the ratio of peripheral T-cell subsets, corrects the imbalance of Th-cell subsets, and enhances the activation and proliferation functions of CD4 + T cells and CD8 + T cells, ultimately rectifying the dysregulated immune homeostasis of the organism.
A self-regulating fhan tracking differentiator algorithm of active disturbance rejection control
The effects of LINC00324 on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via autophagy in melanoma
Influence of very high temperatures on properties of medium grained lightweight aggregate mortars containing perlite and various cement types
Abstract This article examines the effects of very high temperatures (300–1000 °C) on the physical, mechanical, and thermal behaviour of medium-grained lightweight mortars incorporating expanded perlite (EP) and three cement types: Ordinary Portland (OPC), Calcium Sulphoaluminate (CSAC), and Calcium Aluminate (CAC). Mortars with 0–100% EP replacement were tested for compressive strength, density, absorbability, thermal conductivity, and microstructure. Increasing EP content reduced density and strength but enhanced thermal insulation and dimensional stability. Above 650 °C, OPC and CSAC underwent dehydration, ettringite loss, and microcracking, while CAC developed stable phases that preserved cohesion and colour. Strong correlations were found between thermal conductivity and compressive strength, allowing predictive modelling across temperatures. Polynomial correlations best described the strength–temperature relationship for OPC and CAC, while logarithmic models were optimal for CSAC. Overall, CAC-EP mortars demonstrated superior thermal stability, mechanical retention, and durability, highlighting their suitability for refractory and energy-efficient construction applications.
Potent LeuBAT inhibitors designed in silico as next-generation duloxetine analogs for enhanced major depressive disorder treatment
Neonatal hyperoxia exposure causes cerebellar lesions and behavioral abnormalities in rats
Abstract In humans, fetal cerebellar development peaks during the final stages of pregnancy. Preterm infants experience hyperoxia (excessive oxygen) outside the uterus. Hyperoxia exposure causes neurological deficits in preterm infants. However, detailed mechanisms underlying hyperoxia-induced neurological deficits remain unclear. Previous studies on neurological deficits have focused on cerebral lesions. However, recently, cerebellar lesions have been observed on brain magnetic resonance imaging in preterm infants. We herein aimed to investigate behavioral and cerebellar tissue–level changes in Sprague–Dawley rat neonates exposed to 83% hyperoxia from within 24 h of birth to 14 days of age. In rats, cerebellar development peaks in the first postnatal week. We elucidated the mechanism by which hyperoxia exposure causes neurological deficits in these rats. We found that prolonged hyperoxia exposure, starting within 24 h of birth, induces behavioral impairments (such as motor, cognitive and memory, and social interaction deficits) in rats. At the tissue level, delayed granule cell migration and abnormal Purkinje cell dendritic development combined with impaired myelination were observed in the acute and chronic hyperoxia exposure phases, respectively. Thus, hyperoxia exposure may cause abnormalities in cerebellar morphology and function, resulting in neurological deficits in preterm infants.
Customized batch fabrication of highly sensitive thin capacitive soft sensors based on high dielectric constant composite polymers
Abstract Soft capacitive sensors are essential for emerging technologies in soft robotics, wearable electronics, and human-machine interfaces. However, scalable, customizable, and cost-effective fabrication methods remain a challenge. In this work, we present a novel batch fabrication approach for producing thin, highly sensitive soft capacitive sensors using high-dielectric-constant composite elastomers. Our method enables the rapid production of large-area sensor sheets that can be precisely patterned into arbitrary geometries using laser cutting, eliminating the need for complex microstructuring or lithography. These sensors are composed entirely of soft layers, including carbon nanofiber-based electrodes and dielectric layers enhanced with barium titanate (BTO) or titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ). We demonstrate a gauge factor of 2.83 and a sensitivity of 0.55 kPa⁻¹, with low hysteresis and broad pressure range. Furthermore, we present the integration of these sensors into a tactile array for wearable pressure sensing, highlighting their potential in soft robotics and health monitoring systems. This work offers a scalable and versatile platform for next-generation soft sensing technologies.
Effects of physical activity program on psychomotor and psycho-social characteristics of autistic children
Use of dental photography in pediatric dentistry practice
Feasibility study of a newly developed solid gel pad containing tamarind seed gum for diagnostic ultrasonography in human subjects
Abstract Ultrasonography-based diagnosis is increasingly used owing to its reliability. However, the conventional ultrasound gel has limitations of patient discomfort and cost. This study evaluated the clinical utility of a newly developed gel pad for ultrasound diagnosis composed of tamarind seed gum (0.1–5.0 wt%), polyhydric alcohol (25.0–70.0 wt%), and water (30.0–70.0 wt%). Ultrasound imaging was performed in four healthy volunteers using our new solid gel and the conventional liquid gel. Linear, convex, and sector probes were used for imaging of the common carotid artery and thyroid gland, liver, and parasternal four-chamber view, respectively. Image quality and volunteers’ satisfaction were assessed using the 5-point Likert scale. For all sites, no significant differences in the image quality parameters were observed between our solid and the conventional liquid gels. The mean satisfaction score was significantly higher for all sites when our solid gel was used. Image quality remained unchanged for all sites after the application of our solid gel. The quality of images acquired using the new gel was comparable to that of those acquired using the conventional gel. This preliminary evidence supports the use of our new solid gel for ultrasonography with all probes for various tissue types and depths.
Isolation and phylogenomic characterization of two novel, dissimilar orthoreoviruses from Northern Alaskan Sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni)
Abstract Sea otters are a keystone species with cultural significance to Indigenous populations. The increased mortality of Northern sea otters ( E. lutris kenyoni ) near Kachemak Bay, Alaska, led to a surveillance study to determine the cause of the increased deaths. Samples EL1562 and EL1411 were obtained from two dead-stranded sea otters. Whole genomes of two different orthoreoviruses with all ten segments were obtained. All EL1562 genome segments show the highest similarity to Phocid orthoreovirus 1 , a new species isolated from harbor seals. However, the σ1 protein exhibits high divergence (34% amino acid identity) that warrants re-evaluation of the species demarcation criteria. Cell culture and microscopy are consistent with EL1562 being similar to Phocid orthoreovirus 1 . Based on binomial naming conventions, we suggest the species name Orthoreovirus marinarum , which encompasses both EL1562 and PhRV1. Characterization of EL1411 sequences shows that it belongs to the species Orthoreovirus mammalis , which includes members from terrestrial mammals. This study represents the first orthoreovirus cultured and genome sequenced from sea otters, and is only the second report of a mammalian orthoreovirus in marine mammals. This study provides new insights into the genetic diversity of orthoreovirus in marine mammals and the evolutionary linkage between terrestrial and marine orthoreoviruses.
COVID-19 outcomes in individuals with severe alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency in Sweden
Abstract We have previously found using questionnaire/interview data on COVID-19 outcomes, that most subjects with severe alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) exhibit mild COVID-19 infection and those who additionally have COPD are at increased risk of severe COVID-19. We used objective information on COVID-19 outcomes in severe AATD (PiZZ) from the Swedish population and compared the risk of severe COVID-19 in severe AATD to the risk of severe COVID-19 in the general population. We cross-linked the Swedish National AATD Registry with the Swedish National Patient Register to identify subjects with severe AATD that required COVID-19-related hospitalization between March 2020 until June 2023. Standardised incidence ratio (SIR) was calculated using observed COVID-19 hospitalisations in severe AATD and expected COVID-19 hospitalisations from the general population. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds of moderate or severe COVID-19 in severe AATD in relation to pre-existing comorbidities. In 1228 subjects with severe AATD, there were 61 cases of COVID-19-related hospitalisations (severe COVID-19) and 32 moderate COVID-19 during follow-up. The observed hospitalizations for COVID-19 in subjects with severe AATD exceeded that expected in the general population by over threefold (SIR = 3.4). Odds of COVID-19 was elevated in subjects with severe AATD with COPD or CVD (OR 2.70 (1.52–4.80) and 3.51 (2.04–6.06), respectively. The majority of subjects with severe AAT deficiency had mild COVID-19 during the pandemic. Of subjects that did have severe COVID-19, pre-existing co-morbidities were common, potentially explaining the higher rate of COVID-19 hospitalisations in severe AATD relative to the general population.