Browse Articles

The mediating role of brand equity in corporate social responsibility and customer purchase intention based on text-CNN model

Correction: Variations in anxiety and emotional support among first-year college students across different learning modes (distance and face-to-face) during COVID-19

Acoustic-based fault diagnosis of electric motors using Mel spectrograms and convolutional neural networks

Adaptation and evaluation of a digital dialectical behaviour therapy for youth at clinical high risk for psychosis: A protocol for a feasibility randomized controlled trial

Background Youth at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis often experience emotional dysregulation, psychiatric symptoms, substance use, suicidality, and functional impairment. Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based intervention that improves emotion regulation, clinical outcomes, and functioning across psychiatric populations. Digital adaptations (d-DBT) may enhance accessibility and engagement for CHR youth, but acceptability and potential benefits in this group are unknown. Objective To adapt d-DBT for CHR youth and evaluate the acceptability of delivering it to this population, as well as the feasibility of a larger-scale clinical trial. Methods This mixed-methods clinical trial has two phases. In Phase 1, d-DBT will be adapted for CHR youth in collaboration with a lived-experience youth advisory group. In Phase 2, an assessor-masked randomized controlled trial will compare d-DBT (n = 30) with treatment as usual (n = 30). The intervention consists of eight weekly modules, with primary outcomes assessing acceptability, usability, and trial feasibility. Secondary outcomes include changes in emotional dysregulation, psychiatric symptoms, substance use, suicidality, and functioning. Conclusions We anticipate that d-DBT will be acceptable to CHR youth and that conducting a larger trial will be feasible. Preliminary findings may demonstrate improvements in emotion regulation, psychiatric symptoms, suicidality, and functioning. Results will guide further refinement of the intervention and inform the design of a confirmatory clinical trial. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT06928935

Forecasting the rheological properties of alkali-activated concrete utilizing gene expression programming

A near-continuous archaeological record of Pleistocene human occupation at Leang Bulu Bettue, Sulawesi, Indonesia

Prior research has indicated that the Indonesian island of Sulawesi was host to archaic hominins of unknown taxonomic affinity from at least 1.04 million years ago (Ma), while members of our own species ( Homo sapiens ) were probably established on this Wallacean landmass from at least 51.2 thousand years ago (ka), and possibly as early as 65 ka. Despite this, the paucity of well-dated Pleistocene archaeological sites from Sulawesi means that very little has been known about the pattern and timing of early human occupation of the island, including whether there is any evidence for overlap between archaic hominins and modern humans, and when and how the former went extinct. Here, we report the results of multiple seasons of deep-trench excavations at Leang Bulu Bettue, a limestone cave rock-shelter complex in the Maros-Pangkep karst region of South Sulawesi. Leang Bulu Bettue is the only site presently known on the island with an archaeological record ranging in age from the Middle to Late Pleistocene to late Holocene periods. Investigations at this site since 2013 have revealed an extensive sequence of stratified deposits down to a depth of about 8 m below the surface. Notably, there is evidence for animal butchery and stone artefact production including a stone ‘pick’ at around 132.3–208.4 ka followed by a major shift in human cultural activity during the Late Pleistocene. By around 40 ka, an earlier occupation phase (Phase I) characterised by a straightforward cobble-based core and flake technology and faunal assemblages dominated by extant dwarf bovids ( Bubalus sp., anoas), but including now-extinct proboscideans, had been replaced by an entirely new occupation phase (Phase II) with a markedly distinct archaeological signature, including the first evidence for artistic expression and symbolic culture. We consider the implications of this behavioural disconformity for our understanding of the history of humans on Sulawesi, including the possibility it reflects the replacement of archaic hominins by modern humans.

Identifying toxicological effects of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances exposure on osteoarthritis

Core training elicits greater improvements than flexibility training in jumping lotus kick performance and physical attributes of Tai Chi athletes: A randomized controlled trial

Tai Chi’s intricate, balance-intensive techniques, such as the Jumping Lotus Kick (JL Kick), demand both core stability and flexibility. Despite their importance, direct empirical comparisons of these training effects on Tai Chi performance remain limited. This study aimed to compare the impacts of an eight-week core stability regimen versus flexibility training on JL Kick proficiency and related physical attributes in Tai Chi athletes. In this randomized controlled trial, thirty-nine male athletes (ages 17–21) were allocated into core stability (n = 13), flexibility (n = 13), and control groups (n = 13). Performance metrics were assessed at baseline, midpoint, post-intervention, and at 12-week follow-up to capture both immediate and sustained effects. Core stability training yielded notable improvements in JL Kick rotation (ES = 1.2), core strength (Hanging Leg Raises, ES = 1.39), and dynamic balance (Y Balance Left, ES = 1.32), surpassing flexibility training, which primarily enhanced range of motion (Sit and Reach, ES = 1.44) without significant impact on JL Kick performance. Positive correlations between core strength, dynamic balance, and JL Kick performance (r = 0.45–0.68, p < 0.01) highlight core stability’s essential role in Tai Chi proficiency. These findings support core stability training as a superior approach to flexibility training for advancing complex Tai Chi movements, with direct implications for optimizing athletic conditioning in Tai Chi and similar martial arts disciplines. These findings advocate for the inclusion of core stability-focused regimens to enhance performance outcomes in dynamic, balance-dependent techniques.

NEDD4 suppresses ferroptosis in lung ischemia-reperfusion injury by ubiquitinating and degrading SLC1A5

Evaluation of the insulin-dependent and -independent hypoglycemic effects and understanding their breakdown in the progression of obesity using mice

Temporal changes in blood glucose levels are useful in assessing glucose tolerance. While blood glucose levels are known to be tightly regulated by insulin-dependent and -independent (glucose effectiveness) hypoglycemic effects, their temporal changes and the organs involved have not been sufficiently explored. This study showed how the relative strengths of these effects change over time during the glucose clamp test, using biological experiments and a mathematical model. We found that the glucose effectiveness exhibited a transient effect within 60 min, whereas the insulin-dependent effect showed a sustained effect intensified after 60 min. Additionally, we found that the liver and muscles were responsible for glucose effectiveness and insulin-dependent hypoglycemic effects, respectively. We applied this model to obese mice and found that both hypoglycemic effects decreased as obesity progressed. These results provide insights into hypoglycemic effects and have important implications for the assessment and interpretation of glucose tolerance in mice.

Applications of Sombor topological indices and entropy measures for QSPR modeling of anticancer drugs: a Python-based methodology

Is glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency associated with COVID-19 infection, severity, and death? A cohort study from the Brazilian Amazon

Background Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PDd) is a common genetic disorder that impairs the cellular antioxidant response and has been hypothesized as a potential risk factor for severe outcomes in viral infections, including COVID-19. However, clinical evidence remains limited, especially in regions with high G6PDd prevalence. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study using secondary data from four health information systems from health facilities in the Brazilian Amazon (E-SUS Notifica, SIVEP-Gripe, SIM, and a G6PD enzyme activity database). The study population consisted of 3,955 male participants, including 206 with confirmed G6PDd. We used logistic regression to assess associations between G6PDd and COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and death. Cox proportional hazards models and Kaplan-Meier curves were applied to evaluate time-to-event outcomes. Results No statistically significant association was found between G6PDd and SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR = 1.15; 95% CI: 0.70–1.79; p = 0.6), hospitalization (OR = 1.13; 95% CI: 0.27–3.20; p = 0.8), or death (OR = 0.00; p > 0.9). Age was a significant risk factor for all outcomes, and individuals identified as Asian had a higher likelihood of infection (OR = 2.87; 95% CI: 1.57–5.29; p < 0.001). Conclusion In this cohort from the Brazilian Amazon, G6PD deficiency was not associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 infection or severe outcomes. These findings emphasize the importance of considering ethnic and genetic diversity in epidemiological analyses and health policy planning, particularly in regions with high G6PDd prevalence.

Effect of temperature on the wetting performance of coal powder by different surfactant solutions: experimental and molecular dynamics simulation study

Correction: The Dino Study: Rationale and Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial of the Incredible Years Dinosaur Program with Daily Assessments

Altered head size at birth is associated with maternal 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) exposure in Vietnamese infants

Correction: All You Can Eat: High Performance Capacity and Plasticity in the Common Big-Eared Bat, Micronycteris microtis (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

Correction: Behavior of turnout sleepers in a large-scale ballast box test

Parameter sensitivity analysis and structural optimization of PLC construction method pile cofferdam based on RSM

To explore the influence patterns of various structural parameters of the PLC construction method pile cofferdam on its mechanical properties, and to optimize the structural design for enhancing engineering safety and economy, this study relied on the PLC construction method pile cofferdam of the Luoxizhou Super Bridge. Multiple sensitivity analysis methods were employed to identify sensitive parameters. Subsequently, a multi-objective optimization study was conducted based on the identified sensitive parameters. Additionally, the entropy weight TOPSIS decision-making approach was introduced to quantify the advantages and disadvantages of each optimized scheme and the initial design scheme. The results indicate that: (1) Sensitivity rankings derived from the single parameter method and the response surface methodology are consistent across parameters, but the response surface methodology provides more accurate sensitivity quantification. (2) The thicknesses of the steel sheet pile wall, steel pipe pile wall, and bottom-sealing concrete significantly affect the maximum displacement and maximum stress of the cofferdam. (3) The entropy-weighted TOPSIS decision-making can effectively evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the Pareto solution set optimized by the NSGA-II algorithm. (4) Economic cost and structural performance exhibit a nonlinear synergy: As cost increases, the maximum displacement of the cofferdam decreases markedly, whereas the maximum stress of the bottom-sealing concrete decreases at a slower rate.

Impact of lean body mass index on short-term outcomes in patients with ischemic stroke: an observational cohort study

Noise reduction characteristics of broadband seismometer enclosures

Broadband seismometers, distinguished by their large dynamic range and wide bandwidth, have seen increasingly widespread application in earthquake early warning systems and seismological research in recent years. A quantitative investigation into the discrepancies in background noise Power Spectral Density (PSD) recorded by co-located broadband seismometers, operating with and without protective enclosures, is of substantial importance for enhancing the data quality and improving the utilization efficiency of these instruments. This paper utilizes co-located observational data from seismographic instruments (equipped with enclosures) and early warning sensors (without enclosures), installed at earthquake early warning reference stations in the Inner Mongolia region, to quantitatively investigate the noise reduction characteristics of seismometer enclosures across various frequency points, under different spatio-temporal conditions, for different components, and in diverse observational settings. The results demonstrate that subsequent to the installation of seismometer enclosures: Within the low-frequency band of 0.02–0.05 Hz, the enclosures effectively mitigate temperature fluctuations and airflow disturbances, thereby suppressing background noise. The efficacy of this suppression exhibits dependencies on both component orientation and frequency; specifically, the suppression of horizontal noise components exceeds that of the vertical component, with this noise-reducing effect becoming increasingly prominent at longer periods. The mean difference for the East-West component is 3.5 dB (median: 1 dB), while the mean difference for the vertical component is 2.2 dB. This characteristic is consistently corroborated by amplitude-squared coherence analyses performed on teleseismic event data (with the difference between the two components being approximately 0.2). Furthermore, surface-based installations benefit more significantly from such noise reduction than those situated in vaults or caves, a difference potentially attributable to the inherently greater thermal stability of subterranean environments. In the primary microseism band (0.05–0.1 Hz), the enclosures provide a discernible noise reduction effect, suggesting that the sources of primary microseisms are not solely oceanic in origin but are also modulated to some extent by the local environment proximal to the seismometer. Conversely, in the secondary microseism band (0.1–0.5 Hz) and the high-frequency band (0.5–40 Hz), the enclosures offer essentially no discernible noise reduction.