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Editorial Note: Machine learning driven optimization of compressive strength of 3D printed bio polymer composite material

Block identification and stability analysis of underground stope with multi-working face

The stability analysis of multi-working face stopes presents significant challenges due to complex concave geometries that limit conventional block theory applications. This study proposes a novel methodology in which rock mass models are constructed through the combination of convex sub-regions, enabling the application of traditional cutting algorithms. Block identification is achieved through discontinuity contraction and sub-region merging, effectively accounting for finite discontinuity sizes. The proposed method was implemented into the software GeoSMA-3D and applied to a shallow-buried metal mine stope. The analysis successfully identified all independent blocks, including key blocks critical for stability. The results demonstrate that excavation disturbances lead to an increase in discontinuity persistence, subsequently causing a notable rise in the number of key blocks. The integration of random discontinuities with deterministic features revealed a total of 205 key blocks, 60% of which involved the deterministic discontinuities. These key blocks have a maximum volume of 5.37 m³ and are predominantly distributed along the deterministic discontinuities. The results demonstrate the precision and efficacy of the proposed method for analyzing complex, multi-face excavations. This work provides a robust technical framework for the stability assessment of surrounding rock in mining stopes.

Sex and gender influences on problematic cannabis use and cannabis use disorder: A scoping review protocol

Introduction Cannabis use and cannabis use disorder (CUD) are more prevalent among men and boys than among women and girls. However, this sex/gender gap has been narrowing in recent decades, likely due to an increase in cannabis use among women and girls, who have been historically under-represented in cannabis research. The lack of sex- and gender-based approaches within cannabis research has been highlighted in previous reviews, some of which have synthesized existing literature of associations between sex, gender, and cannabis use. What is missing is a clinically-relevant synthesis of evidence for sex and gender influences on problematic cannabis use, including treatment-related outcomes that could be used to influence care. The objective of this scoping review is to identify and synthesize published evidence about the influence of sex and gender on correlates and outcomes of treatment among people with problematic cannabis use (including CUD). Furthermore, we will examine to what extent this published literature has considered how sex and gender intersect with other social categories such as race and sexuality. Methods and analysis This scoping review will follow the most commonly used methodology, the 2005 Arksey and O’Malley scoping study framework (including the optional consultation exercise to solicit feedback from relevant stakeholders) and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Extension for Scoping Reviews reporting guidelines. The protocol has been registered on Open Science Framework (OSF) Registries (Registration DOI: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/KC76M ). We will search MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science for articles published between 2010 and the present (inclusive). Included studies must be conducted in human participants with problematic cannabis use (e.g., diagnosis or screening for CUD) and include an analysis of sex- and/or gender-related factors. Using Covidence software, two independent reviewers will screen each record at the title/abstract and full text phases. Two independent reviewers will then use a data charting form developed by the study team to extract data. Data charting and both phases of article screening will begin with a pilot process completed by all article reviewers to ensure consistency. Article data will be exported into a spreadsheet to facilitate summary and basic descriptive statistics. Studies will be grouped together first by content area (e.g., treatment correlates, treatment effectiveness), then by study design, and which sex- or gender-related factors are considered in the analysis. Dissemination We will disseminate findings using two main strategies. First, we will engage in traditional knowledge translation, including publication in peer-reviewed journals and presentation at both medical and scientific conferences. Second, we will engage in knowledge translation strategies that will reach a wider audience (e.g., presentations to non-researcher audiences, dissemination of findings through social media networks, and development of brochures, infographics, and short videos to summarize our findings for a lay audience). We aim to ultimately engage relevant stakeholders (including clinicians) to determine how the identified evidence can best support care of problematic cannabis use.

Health service access for ethnically underrepresented communities: A scoping review of complex interventions

Background The aim of this scoping review is to systematically map the existing evidence of complex interventions used to improve access and/or engagement of ethnically underrepresented communities with healthcare services in the UK, and explore equity factors of the evidence. Methods The review was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews Checklist. Six databases were searched. Analysis was completed using reflexive and thematic content analysis. Interventions were mapped against the five domains of the Patient-centred access framework and the PROGRESS-Plus equity framework. Results A total of 35 studies met the inclusion criteria. Of these studies 63% were completed in primary care, 31% in mental health, 3% in maternity services and 3% in dental care. Several communities were represented, including Gypsy, Roma and Travellers, African Caribbeans, Jewish communities, as well as broader groups such as South Asians, migrants and Muslims. Complex interventions were spread across the five domains of the patient centred access framework and included strategies such as outreach workers, using community settings such as places of worship, cultural adaptations and cultural training for healthcare staff. Effectiveness of interventions was assessed in a third of studies. PROGRESS-Plus analysis identified exclusion criteria including age groups (e.g., below 18 years), ethnic groups (e.g., not first-generation migrants), disabilities (e.g., severe mental health problems) and plus (e.g., language proficiency). Conclusions All domains of the patient centred access framework were represented with approachability and acceptability being the most common. Effectiveness assessment was not included in two thirds of studies however, complex interventions show promise to improve equity in ethnically underrepresented communities. Future research should endeavour to assess effectiveness and the translation of interventions in healthcare contexts outside of primary care and mental health. Future policy and research should consider how to increase transparency of power and build strong collaborations with underrepresented communities.

Association between body image satisfaction and depressive symptoms among young women in the UAE with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Non-PCOS: A comparative quantitative cross-sectional study

Background Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common conditions affecting women of reproductive age, significantly impacting both physical and psychological well-being, often leading to depressive symptoms and lower body image satisfaction. The prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome among women in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is increasing. However, the psychological effects of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome on women in the UAE remain underexplored due to cultural sensitivities surrounding reproductive health. This cross-sectional study examines the association between depressive symptoms and body image satisfaction among young women in the UAE, comparing those with and without Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. The study surveyed 221 women aged 18–30, with 94 having Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and 127 without. Data were collected using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Body Image Concern Inventory (BICI), and Body Areas Satisfaction (BAS) subscales, and analyzed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Results Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome reported significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms and body image concerns, along with lower body satisfaction, compared to those without Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. While a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) correlated with lower body satisfaction, no significant association was found between Body Mass Index and depressive symptoms. Conclusion These findings highlight the psychological impact of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome on young women in the UAE, emphasizing the need for targeted mental health interventions and increased awareness.

Impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on mortality in elderly patients with hip fracture: A retrospective cohort study

Objective Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is thought to increase mortality risk in elderly patients with hip fracture, but its independent effect remains unclear. This study aimed to determine whether COPD is an independent predictor of mortality in this population. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted on elderly patients with hip fractures. Through propensity score matching, confounding factors between patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and those without COPD were balanced. LASSO and Cox regression methods were used to identify predictors of mortality. The performance of the model was evaluated via ROC curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis. Restrictive cubic spline analysis and subgroup analysis were also performed to assess nonlinear effects and interactions. Results A total of 151 (11.08%) of the 1362 participants who were enrolled in the trial had COPD. After PSM, 537 data points were analysed. The COPD group presented a significantly greater incidence of postoperative respiratory failure (6.04%) and delirium (12.08%) and significantly greater 1-year mortality (22.82% vs. 5.93%). COPD was identified as a strong independent predictor of mortality (HR 7.291, 95% CI: 3.619 ~ 14.691). Other independent risk factors included age (HR 1.066, 95% CI: 1.016 ~ 1.118), HCT (HR 0.922, 95% CI: 0.872 ~ 0.975), CAR (HR 1.476, 95% CI: 1.209 ~ 1.801), and BNP (HR 1.001, 95% CI: 1.000 ~ 1.001). The prediction model showed good predictive efficiency, achieving an AUC of 0.834 (95% CI: 0.766, 0.902) in the training set and 0.892 (95% CI: 0.819, 0.965) in the validation set. Restricted cubic splines confirmed linear relationships between continuous predictors and mortality risk (all P values for nonlinearity > 0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed a significant interaction effect between sex and COPD (p = 0.028). Conclusions COPD is a strong independent risk factor for 1-year mortality in elderly hip fracture patients. The developed prediction model can help clinicians identify high-risk patients early and implement personalized management strategies.

Incorporation of seasonal land cover to develop seasonally integrated land cover map for change detection in Dhaka mega City

Comparison of treatment modalities for distal radius fractures in terms of functional outcomes pain management and grip strength

An efficient feature pyramid network with adaptive LSTM for pest detection and classification in IoT

Abstract Crop pests are a major cause of economic loss and environmental damage globally. Timely detection of pests is crucial for protecting crops and maintaining the global food supply. However, existing diagnostic methods are especially manual, demanding significant time and expert knowledge. Incorrect pest identification can result in the misuse of pesticides, affecting both crop yields and the surrounding ecosystem. Therefore, there is a need for an automated solution that offers more precise pest identification and classification. So, in this research work, a new Internet of Things (IoT)-based pest detection and classification technique is implemented. In the initial phase, essential images are collected from a standard database that includes the IoT sensor-based pest images. Next, the IoT sensor-based images are offered as the input to the Joint pest detection and classification phase. In this phase, a new framework named Feature Pyramid Network with Multi-Attention Fusion Vision Transformer-based Adaptive Long Short Term Memory (FPN-MAFViT-ALSTM) is employed to execute the pest detection and classification procedure. Moreover, parameters in FPN-MAFViT-ALSTM are tuned using Enhanced and Intelligent Gooseneck Barnacle Optimization with Randomized Exploration (EIGBO-RE), which helps in improving pest detection and classification. At last, pest detection and classified outcomes are obtained from FPN-MAFViT-ALSTM, and then various experiments are carried out to verify its efficiency under varying conditions.

A comparative study of the structural-mechanical and porosity characteristics of multi-structure vascular scaffolds

Abstract The geometry of vascular scaffolds is a critical determinant of their clinical performance. However, the decoupled control over structural parameters (e.g., pore size, pore shape, and metal coverage) by different manufacturing processes (e.g., knitting, weaving, and stamping) and their systematic effects on mechanical properties remain unclear. This study aims to systematically compare multi-structured scaffolds fabricated by three distinct processes within a unified testing framework, revealing the intrinsic “process-structure-property” relationship. We designed and fabricated three series, totaling eight types, of tubular scaffolds from 316 L stainless steel: the S1 series (weft-knitted integrally formed), the S2 series (woven and rolled, with four mesh gradients: 30, 60, 90, and 120 mesh), and the S3 series (stamped and rolled, with three stamping-stretching ratios). Image analysis was employed to quantitatively characterize the pore area, pore shape (aspect ratio, circularity), and metal coverage of all scaffolds. Subsequently, their axial compression, axial tension, and radial support properties were systematically evaluated using an electronic universal testing machine. The results demonstrate that the different manufacturing processes successfully created a scaffold library with highly diverse structural parameters. he pore area spanned a wide range (from 0.22 mm² to 5.10 mm²). The S3 series (stamped structures) exhibited significantly anisotropic rhombic pores (aspect ratio 1.47–1.69), whereas the S1/S2 series featured near-isotropic elliptical/square pores (aspect ratio < 1.1). A core finding was the lack of a direct correlation between pore size and metal coverage across the series, confirming that structural parameters can be decoupled through different processes. Mechanical testing revealed that the S3 series exhibited the highest radial support force (peak force > 130 N), axial tensile strength (peak force up to 2447.75 N), and Apparent Compressive Stiffness (up to 135.36 N/mm). Conversely, the S1 (weft-knitted structure) showed the lowest stiffness and highest compliance (Apparent Compressive Stiffness 1.91 N/mm). The mechanical properties of the S2 (woven structures) were intermediate and varied systematically with increasing mesh count.

Design of 9H-fluoren-9-imine based organic superbases stabilized by proton–π interactions

The mediating role of cognitive function in the association between physical activity and frailty risk

Allogeneic acellular dermal matrix versus connective tissue graft for multiple RT2 gingival recessions: a randomized controlled trial

Multimodal graph, surface, and language-based model for protein protein interaction prediction

Smoke water and smoke-derived karrikinolide, KAR1, improved germination in some medicinal and aromatic plants

Temporal patterns of bruxism behaviors: multiple day recording with portable electromyography

Study of the energy efficiency of various drive systems of an innovative implantable left ventricular assist device

Geomagnetic navigation metaheuristic algorithm for engineering optimization

An investigation on Pythagorean fuzzy $$\mathfrak {F_{p}^*}$$ fraction dense space using Pythagorean fuzzy frames

Abstract The concept of frame is a generalisation of the concept of category of topological space open subsets. As a result, each frame acts as an open set in this context and the Pythagorean fuzzy sets is defined as a frame. The primary goal of this research unit is to investigate the behaviour of Pythagorean fuzzy frames. Pythagorean fuzzy $$\mathfrak {F_{p}^*}$$ structure space is defined using Pythagorean fuzzy frames. Pythagorean fuzzy $$\mathcal {G^*}$$ closed sets, Pythagorean fuzzy dense set, Pythagorean fuzzy nowhere dense set, Pythagorean fuzzy somewhere dense set is established in order to investigate the Pythagorean fuzzy frames defined in Pythagorean fuzzy $$\mathfrak {F_{p}^*}$$ structure space. Further, Pythagorean fuzzy $$\mathfrak {F_{p}^*}$$ continuous function is explored in this manuscript. Separation axioms of the Pythagorean fuzzy $$\mathfrak {F_{p}^*}$$ structure space is established in order to comprehend the Pythagorean fuzzy frame. Additionally Pythagorean fuzzy $$\mathfrak {F_{p}^*}$$ fraction dense space and Pythagorean fuzzy $$\mathcal {P^*}$$ space is defined and explored to examine the behaviour of defined Pythagorean fuzzy frames.

Synthesis, docking, SAR and ADMET evaluation of novel pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrazole-4,6-dione derivatives