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Sleep duration phenotypes in generalized anxiety disorder based on objective sleep monitoring and heart rate variability

White House rolls out AI funding — and signals a new era for US science

Cohort profile: Walking for harm reduction through street engagement (WHiSE 2.0)

Indigenous people using substances experience health disparities that are compounded by systemic inequities shaped by colonialism. The WHiSE 2.0 study aims to describe substance use patterns and harm reduction approaches among Indigenous people who use drugs in Thunder Bay, Sudbury, and Sault Ste Marie. A community-based research approach was used and guided by Indigenous leadership. Eligible study participants self-identified as Indigenous, lived in the study regions, and used substances within the last 3 months. Participants completed an interviewer-administered 1-hour questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were conducted to summarize participant demographic and cultural characteristics, impacts of colonization, substance use and health behaviours, and harm reduction knowledge, stratified by city. A total of 356 participants were enrolled: 173 in Thunder Bay, 101 in Sault Ste. Marie, and 82 in Sudbury. Most identified as First Nations with 93.1% in Thunder Bay, 76.8% in Sudbury, and 75.2% in Sault Ste. Marie. The percentage of participants across all sites with precarious sleeping situations was high, with 39.0% sleeping on the street, 28.3% staying in a shelter, and 23.3% couch surfing as well as 41.9% staying at a family or friend’s home. Across all sites, 43.3% of participants injected drugs, 31.5% ingested drugs, 92.1% smoked drugs, and 38.5% snorted or inhaled drugs. Importantly across all sites, 84.0% knew what harm reduction was, and 82.3% of respondents had ever had HIV screening test and 84.3% hepatitis C testing. Also, 71.3% of all participants engaged in ceremonies and 22.2% reported that cultural teachings affected their harm reduction practices. WHiSE 2.0 is the first prospective cohort study examining the harm reduction needs of Indigenous people using substances in northern Ontario. Through a culturally grounded, community-led study, urgent service gaps are highlighted and the importance of locally tailored harm reduction strategies rooted in Indigenous knowledge and leadership.

Association of cytomegalovirus infection with miR-155 and miR-31 and TGFBR2 expression in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Personalized gene therapy relieves severe epilepsy in two boys

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the acute effects of self-selected rest intervals on exercise performance maintenance, lactate levels, and heart rate

Background Rest interval duration is a key variable in exercise prescription, influencing both performance and physiological responses. Traditional training typically employs fixed rest intervals; however, this approach may not adequately reflect individual variability in recovery needs. Recently, self-selected rest intervals—based on individual perception—have gained attention as a potential strategy for more precise load regulation. Nevertheless, current evidence regarding their effects on exercise performance, heart rate, and blood lactate remains inconsistent. Methods This study followed PRISMA guidelines and conducted a systematic search of Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase from database inception to March 20, 2026. Acute experimental studies comparing self-selected and fixed rest intervals were included. A three-level random-effects meta-analysis was performed to account for dependency among multiple effect sizes. Subgroup analyses, meta-regression, and sensitivity analyses were conducted to explore potential moderators and assess robustness. Results Sixteen studies (k = 16) involving 281 participants were included. No significant overall difference was observed between self-selected and fixed rest intervals for exercise performance (g = 0.27, 95% CI [−0.14, 0.69], p = 0.29), with substantial between-study heterogeneity. After removing outliers, a small but significant effect favoring self-selected rest intervals was identified (g = 0.20, 95% CI [0.08, 0.33], p < 0.01). No significant differences were observed for heart rate (g = 0.002, p = 0.98) or blood lactate (g = −0.20, p = 0.36). Conclusion Self-selected and fixed rest intervals produce comparable effects on exercise performance and physiological responses. However, self-selected rest intervals may confer a small advantage in maintaining performance under specific conditions. These findings should be interpreted with caution due to sensitivity to outliers and study heterogeneity.

Energy efficient hybrid beamforming for millimeter wave massive MIMO wireless communication system

Author Correction: Feature-specific threat coding in lateral septum guides defensive action

A Functional‐Group Atlas for Decoupling Interfacial Behaviors in Thermal Energy Storage

ABSTRACT Composite phase‐change materials offer a scalable route for thermal energy storage, yet breaking the inherent trade‐off between energy and power densities is constrained by fundamental mismatches at the skeleton–storage–medium interface. Conventional interface engineering remains trapped in empirical trial‐and‐error, struggling to distinguish the typically entangled variables of interfacial wettability and heat‐transport behavior. Here, we present a machine learning‐assisted design paradigm based on functional group deconstruction. By resolving surface functional groups into independent elemental and structural dimensions, we achieve programmable control over skeleton–molten salt interfacial behaviors. We reveal an intrinsic property decoupling: interfacial wettability is governed by bonding interactions derived from elemental composition, whereas heat transport is dictated by low‐frequency phonon spectral matching rooted in geometric topology. Guided by this predictive atlas, we synthesized targeted carbon–molten salt composites. Compared to unmodified baselines, the engineered composite achieves 1.6‐fold higher mass loading and 3.6‐fold enhanced thermal conductivity. Crucially, after 350 thermal cycles, it retains ∼90% mass and ∼80% conductivity, decisively suppressing the degradation of pristine hosts (∼60% and ∼25% retention). Device‐level finite‐difference method simulations indicate this dual‐property optimization effectively overcomes the inherent energy–power trade‐off—sustaining triple the energy density of unmodified baselines under extreme 10C constant‐power loads.

Dynamic analysis of weak prisoner’s dilemma game considering conservative and aggressive cooperative strategy

The balancing of benefits is a critical pathway for maintaining cooperative relationships among selfish individuals within a group. Relevant research has confirmed that the ultimate outcomes of altruistic actions essentially revert to the level of self-interest. This study posits that individuals exhibit heterogeneous cooperative behaviors in social interactions due to differences in cognitive abilities and personality traits; accordingly, conservative cooperative strategy and aggressive cooperative strategy are introduced. Conservative cooperators are characterized by incurring additional identification costs when interacting strategically with other individuals, whereas aggressive cooperators demonstrate a higher level of resource investment to promote the emergence of cooperation. The results indicate that, in infinite well-mixed populations, reducing identification cost and increasing cooperative benefit can, to some extent, promote cooperation. In structured populations, especially under the random neighbor unconditional imitation rule, the relative advantages of the three strategies increase or decrease in a stage-dependent manner as the identification cost and aggressive cooperation cost vary. The research findings confirm that the presence of differentiated cooperative strategies effectively sustains group cooperation, providing new theoretical insights and model support for analyzing the mechanisms of cooperation evolution in real-world scenarios.

Optimized IoT clustering and assignment in semi-synchronous federated learning

Briefing Chat: Baby T. rex were killers from birth, suggest new fossils

Spray‐Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator With Ultra‐High Current for Hydrogen Generation

ABSTRACT Solid–liquid triboelectric nanogenerators (SL‑TENGs) have achieved notable progress in blue energy harvesting; however, their practical deployment is still limited by generally low and discontinuous current output. Here, we report a spray‑based TENG (S‑TENG) that introduces a dedicated spark discharge device (SDD) for active charge accumulation and controlled release. This design shifts the discharge process from the conventional passive and stochastic breakdown to an active, periodic spark‑discharge regime. Consequently, the S‑TENG delivers a breakthrough instantaneous short‑circuit current of 665 mA and an open‑circuit voltage of 900 V, operating continuously at 122 Hz, representing an improvement of over two orders of magnitude in both current amplitude and frequency compared to typical SL‑TENGs. Based on this high‑power output, the S‑TENG can directly illuminate a 110 W incandescent lamp or simultaneously drive 4000 commercial LEDs. When integrated with a power‑management circuit, it further enables water electrolysis for hydrogen production with an efficiency of 55.8%. This work not only pushes the current output of SL‑TENGs into the milliampere range but also provides a new strategy—through structural decoupling and active discharge regulation—to enhance the power density of TENGs, paving the way for their application in marine energy harvesting and electrochemical synthesis.

Effect of midwifery students’ continuity of care program on women’s experiences of maternity care: A randomised controlled trial

Background Midwifery continuity of care (CoC) benefits women and families. Engaging midwifery students may help extend such care and improve access to quality maternity services. This study evaluated the impact of a student-led CoC on women’s maternity care experiences during childbirth in a middle-income country. No trials to date have assessed these effects. Methods We conducted a randomized controlled trial with low-risk pregnant women at 26–29 weeks of gestation, intending vaginal delivery. Participants were randomized to intervention (n = 45) or control (n = 48) groups through stratified block randomization with central allocation concealment. The intervention group received continuous care from final-year midwifery students, while both groups received usual care. Childbirth experiences were assessed 40−50 days postpartum using the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ-2), while secondary outcomes were measured with the Experience of Maternity Care and Maternal Satisfaction scales. Results All recruited women were followed up, and baseline characteristics were comparable. In the intervention group, 12 women (27%) had caesarean sections compared to 18 women (38%) in the control group. Among women with experience of labour pain at the hospital (37 intervention, 35 control), the intervention group reported higher mean childbirth experience scores (3.3 vs. 2.3; adjusted mean difference [AMD] 1.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.8 to 1.3). The intervention group scored higher in maternity care experiences during pregnancy (AMD 15.7; 95% CI 13.3 to 18.2), labour and birth (35.6 vs. 23.0; AMD 12.6, 95% CI 7.9 to 17.4), and postnatal care (45.1 vs. 28.2, AMD 17.1; 95% CI 14.0 to 20.2). Maternal satisfaction was greater for normal (187 vs. 130; AMD 56, 95% CI 45–68) and caesarean (162 vs. 130, AMD 30, 95% CI 11–50) births among women in the intervention group. Conclusions Undergraduate midwifery students were able to provide CoC that improved women’s experiences of maternity care. These findings are promising for further research and practical implementation. Trial registration Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT20100414003706N41, registered prospectively on 30 April 2022, https://trialsearch.who.int/Trial2.aspx?TrialID=IRCT20100414003706N4 1; https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/trial/62761 .

Development and external validation of machine learning models for predicting mortality in patients with lung cancer: a multicenter retrospective cohort study

Bizarre CRISPR enzyme kills cancer cells by shredding their DNA

In Situ Coenzyme‐Based Transformable Polymers Powder With Instant‐Tough‐Adhesive Properties for Emergency Hemostasis, Antibiosis, and Wound Repair

ABSTRACT Current tissue adhesives are challenged by uncontrolled post‐traumatic hemorrhage and infection due to inadequate wet adhesion, prolonged setting time, potential cytotoxicity, and insufficient integration of key biological functionalities—specifically antimicrobial and pro‐healing capabilities—for effective wound management. Herein, this work proposes a self‐stabilizing, water‐responsive coacervate powder composed of coenzyme‐based polymers (α‐lipoic acid/sodium α‐lipoate, PLA/Na), tannic acid (TA), and ε‐polylysine (PLys), abbreviated as PLA/Na@TA/PLys, to provide a one‐stop solution for rapid tissue sealing under challenging environments (e.g., wet, contaminated, intraoperative, or irregular wounds), and for improved healthcare outcomes. Upon hydration, the powder undergoes ultra‐rapid self‐gelation (<10 s), conformally adhering to irregular wet tissues with exceptional performance (adhesion strength: 69.55 kPa; burst pressure: 216.23 mmHg). It achieves rapid hemostasis (<20 s) in arterial, tail transection, and non‐compressible visceral bleeding models (liver, spleen, heart) with no rebleeding, outperforming commercial hemostats. Additionally, the powder exhibits broad‐spectrum antibacterial/anti‐biofilm activity and promotes vascular endothelial cell viability, migration, and angiogenesis. In full‐thickness skin defects, it accelerates wound healing by mitigating inflammation and stimulating regeneration. With its facile storage, convenient application, and high biosafety, PLA/Na@TA/PLys represents a versatile bioadhesive with significant translational potential for emergency hemostasis, infection prevention, and tissue repair in clinical settings.

Awareness, perceptions, and clinical use of deep margin elevation in subgingival restorative cases: A cross-sectional multicentric study

Background Deep margin elevation (DME) has been introduced as a restorative approach to manage subgingival margins and facilitate adhesive procedures. Despite its clinical description in the literature, limited information is available regarding dentists’ awareness of the technique and their willingness to incorporate it into practice. Objective To assess awareness, perceptions and clinical use of DME for subgingival restorative cases among practicing dentists from selected regions. Methodology A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among dentists working in academic institutions, private practices, or combined settings across centers in the Middle East, the United States, Asia (India), Europe (UK) and practicing dentists in the fellows of the Academy of Dentistry International, stated as other regions. A 20-item closed-ended, self-administered questionnaire assessed awareness and clinical acceptance of DME. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test using SAS (SAS Institute, Cary, NC), with significance set at 0.05. Results Of 450 invited dentists, 349 completed the survey (response rate: 77.6%). Participants practiced in academic institutions (23%), private settings (39%), or combined academic–private environments (38%). Most respondents (77%) were familiar with DME, and 66% considered adhesive bonding to cervical or root dentin in deep margin situations to be predictable. However, when favorable clinical conditions were present, 75% reported preferring surgical crown lengthening. Reported routine use of DME for extensive subgingival proximal lesions in posterior teeth was limited. Conclusion Most respondents were aware of deep marginal elevation (DME) as a successful approach for improving tooth longevity and restoration success when managing deep subgingival margins, provided proper isolation is maintained during the procedure. Few clinicians had concerns regarding cervical marginal adaptation and restoration failure. However, the routine clinical use of DME varied among practitioners across different regions and practice settings. These findings indicate variability in clinicians’ perceptions and application of DME in restorative practice.

Temperature drives microbial community shifts and methanogenic pathways in a carbon fiber fixed-bed reactor for anaerobic digestion

From Transient Fluctuations to Programmable Dynamics: Operando‐Reversible Reconstruction of Single‐Atom Sites

ABSTRACT The dynamic nature of single‐atom catalysts, manifested as transient coordination fluctuations during individual molecular turnovers, has provided crucial mechanistic insights. However, the practical exploitation of such molecular‐level dynamics remains fundamentally challenging due to their experimental elusiveness and poor controllability. Here, we report a paradigm shift from these stochastic fluctuations to programmable coordination switching, enabled by the operando‐reversible reconstruction of single‐atom Cu sites in a Pt/bpy‐UiO‐CuX 2 model catalyst. Triggered by a reductive environment during hydrogenation, a metastable N 2 ‐Cu‐H configuration is generated under reducing conditions and remains the dominant Cu state during catalysis, before reversibly converting to an oxidized Cu‐(OH) 2 form after depletion of reducing species and air exposure. Meanwhile, the coordination anions can be reprogrammed through external acid/anion environments, enabling interconversion among Cl − , OH − , and sulfate‐containing Cu coordination states. Multimodal operando spectroscopy combined with theoretical calculations demonstrates that the N 2 ‐Cu‐H intermediate modulates the electronic state of the active Pt center, thereby boosting phenylacetylene‐to‐styrene selectivity by simultaneously lowering styrene desorption energy by 0.68 eV while raising the barrier for styrene hydrogenation by 0.66 eV. This work elevates dynamic single‐atom sites from stochastic structural fluctuations to programmable coordination switching, establishing a new paradigm for enzyme‐mimetic catalysts with adaptive responsiveness to redox and acid–base environments.