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Protein kinase Cη–MARCKS axis associations with epithelial barrier disturbance and inflammatory readouts in ulcerative colitis
Sexual harassment at work: Targets’ perspectives on prevention and response
Harassment, including sexual harassment, in the workplace poses a significant threat to workers’ wellbeing and contributes to social inequities. Organizations play a pivotal role in both enabling and preventing workplace harassment. We use a grounded theory approach to understand how workers experience workplace sexual harassment. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with thirty U.S. workers, most from the service industry in the San Francisco Bay Area, who have experienced sexual harassment at work, we describe organizational practices that workers believe effectively prevent and respond to harassment. Findings demonstrate that workplaces may better support workers by (1) setting clear expectations that harassment will not be tolerated and (2) responding effectively to incidents of harassment by establishing an independent entity to whom victims can report incidents, providing verbal support, and taking appropriate actions to support and protect victims.
Detection of early-stage Parkinson’s disease using wearable sensors at multiple body locations and convolutional neural networks
Adaptive geometric-attention network for two-stage lung nodule segmentation and malignancy classification in federated healthcare IoT edge environments
Accurate segmentation and classification of lung nodules in computed tomography (CT) scans remains a critical challenge in early lung cancer detection within distributed healthcare Internet of Things (IoT) environments. This paper presents a novel two-stage framework called Adaptive Geometric-Attention Network (AGA-Net) that integrates geometric constraints with multi-scale attention mechanisms for precise nodule segmentation followed by uncertainty-aware malignancy classification in federated learning scenarios. Unlike existing approaches that rely on traditional convolutional architectures, our method introduces a Geometric-Constrained Attention Module (GCAM) that leverages the spherical nature of lung nodules and a Multi-Scale Uncertainty Quantification Network (MUQ-Net) for robust classification under privacy-preserving constraints. The proposed framework demonstrates superior performance across three benchmark datasets: LUNA16, LIDC-IDRI, and NSCLC-Radiomics, achieving a Dice coefficient of 0.927 for segmentation and AUC of 0.951 for malignancy classification while maintaining computational efficiency validated on IoT-class edge hardware including the NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin and Jetson Orin Nano. The integration of geometric priors with attention mechanisms, uncertainty quantification, and federated learning capabilities provides both high accuracy and clinical interpretability, making it suitable for next-generation computer-aided diagnosis systems deployable on healthcare IoT edge devices.
A robust, high-content NAM for repeatable and predictive developmental and reproductive toxicity assessment in C. elegans
Abstract Developmental and reproductive toxicity (DART) assessment is essential for product safety evaluation but relies heavily on vertebrate models that are costly, time consuming, and resource intensive. Although Caenorhabditis elegans has emerged as a promising new approach methodology (NAM) for rapid, cost-effective, whole-organism toxicology, broader adoption has been limited by the lack of high-resolution, rapid imaging approaches, limited endpoints, and insufficient evidence supporting assay robustness. To overcome these limitations, we developed vivoDART, a multiparametric imaging-based DART assay designed to be accurate, efficient, robust, and sensitive. Building on our machine learning-accelerated developmental toxicity platform, vivoDART uses microfluidic-assisted, high-resolution brightfield imaging to quantify six developmental and reproductive endpoints for comprehensive DART analysis. Developmental endpoints are derived from automated body-dimension analysis, whereas reproductive endpoints are obtained by quantifying total in utero embryo number and classifying embryos as early- or late-stage relative to the twofold stage. The assay directly assesses sublethal DART phenotypes while minimizing reliance on non-specific apical endpoints such as lethality. vivoDART demonstrated high repeatability, with mean coefficients of variation of 1–5% for developmental endpoints and 6–17% for reproductive endpoints, supporting high statistical power. Assay validation performed using DMSO, methylmercury, and propiconazole involved phenotyping ~ 400,000 embryos across ~ 9,200 worms. Densely sampled concentration–response curves enabled EC x prediction with narrow confidence intervals and captured subtle to strong effects across a broad dynamic range of 1.0–237 µM. Notably, late-stage embryo number was the most sensitive endpoint among the chemicals tested, preceding changes in total embryo number, body size, or viability. These findings indicate that the observed responses reflected DART-specific effects rather than non-specific lethality. These results establish vivoDART as a sensitive, repeatable, and scalable whole-organism platform for rapid, cost-effective chemical prioritization and comparative hazard assessment.
Simulation of emulsion evolution in shear flow field under the control of bidirectional pulsed electric field
Electrostatic demulsification is a widely used technique for treating high-water-cut emulsions (O/W type). However, in high-water-cut emulsions, continuous electric fields often lead to short-circuiting and chain formation. Meanwhile, pure shear fields rely on random collisions, which is inefficient for fine droplets. To address these limitations, this article established a lattice Boltzmann model coupled with electric and shear field. It explored the impact of the combined action of bidirectional pulsed electric field (BPEF) and shear field on the demulsification process. Simulation results reveal that: Under the action of pure shear field, increasing the shear effect will lead oil droplets to move around the flow field center, and forming a stable state eventually. However, after applying bidirectional pulsed electric field on both sides of the flow field, the electric field force breaks this stable state and promotes further aggregation of oil droplets. Analysis of streamline diagrams indicates that: Bidirectional pulsed electric field periodically changes the direction of the electric field force. It leads to induce an unbalanced velocity distribution in the flow field. And this phenomenon can accelerate or decelerate the aggregation of oil droplets. Quantitative analysis indicates that the synergistic coupling of BPEF and shear field significantly outperforms single-field methods. Under the optimal electric potential of V = 300 and shear rate of γ = 0.001 , the composite morpho-dynamic index ( D r ) reached 11.5. This represents a 4.7-fold increase compared to the pure shear field ( D r ≈ 2.0 ) and a 109% improvement compared to the low-voltage condition (V = 100), indicating a highly aggregated and moderately deformed stable state. These simulation results are significant important for understand the synergistic demulsification effects of electric and shear fields.
Sustainable UHPC incorporating water hyacinth ash and magnetized water with enhanced mechanical and durability performance
Tear-film imaging measurements of the lipid and muco-aqueous layers and their association with dry eye disease signs and symptoms in adults: A pilot, prospective, cross-sectional study at a tertiary eye care center
The purpose of this study was to assess tear film (TF) parameters in subjects with signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED) using a novel nanometer resolution tear film imager (TFI, AdOM, Israel). In this prospective, cross-sectional observational study, TF parameters, including muco-aqueous layer thickness (MALT) and lipid-layer thickness (LLT), were assessed in 134 eyes of 79 subjects. All participants underwent an anterior segment examination to assess for clinical signs of DED. Subjects completed the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire to assess symptoms of DED. Following exclusions, the final analysis included 60 eyes from 34 subjects. A Mann-Whitney test was used for statistical comparisons, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Participants with clinical signs of DED demonstrated significantly lower mean LLT values (42.1nm + / − 13.6) compared to eyes without clinical signs of DED (64.1nm + / − 25.2), p < 0.001. Participants with symptoms of mild, moderate or severe DED had significantly lower mean MALT values (2,858nm + / − 911) compared to eyes without symptoms of DED (3,699nm + / − 1,184), p < 0.05. Our analysis of the human TF indicated that eyes presenting with signs of DED were associated with a thinner LLT, while symptomatic eyes were associated with a thinner MALT.
Nutritional assessment, multi-platform phytochemical profiling, and biological activities of Centaurea calcitrapa L. based on GC–MS and HPLC analysis
Abstract The rise of antibiotic resistance and metabolic disorders has led to increased interest in plant-derived bioactive compounds Centaurea calcitrapa L., a medicinal plant rich in phenols and flavonoids, has been traditionally used in folk medicine; however, data regarding the nutritional composition and biological activities of its aerial flowering parts remain limited. This study evaluated the phytochemical profile, nutritional composition, and biological properties of the aerial flowering parts of C. calcitrapa . Proximate analysis indicated a nutritional value of 145.45 ± 10.03 kcal/100 g, with a high content of organic matter (87.8 ± 1.13%) and moisture (63.27 ± 3.05%). The plant contained crude fiber (25.47 ± 1.94%), carbohydrates (17.61 ± 0.95 g/100 g), proteins (13.05 ± 1.94 g/100 g), fats (2.53 ± 0.2%), and free amino acids (5.29 ± 0.23 g/100 g). Ash analysis showed total ash (12.2 ± 1.13%), with notable water-soluble (10.12 ± 0.97%) and acid-soluble ash (9.85 ± 0.84%). Phytochemical screening indicated the presence of flavonoids, phenols, saponins, and moderate tannins, while quantitative analysis demonstrated high levels of total flavonoids (178.42 ± 19.81 mg QE/g) and phenolic content (112.85 ± 6.56 mg GAE/g), indicating strong phytochemical richness. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to analyze petroleum ether extract and identify 50 plant constituents, mostly fatty acids and hydrocarbons, with oleic acid (48.426%) and palmitic acid (15.834%) as the main constituents. HPLC analysis of the methanolic extract revealed 15 phenolic compounds, including rutin, apigenin, quercetin, kaempferol, epicatechin gallate, and protocatechuic acid. The methanolic extract exhibited strong antioxidant activity, with DPPH scavenging activity reaching 90.16 ± 1.13% at 1000 µg/mL and an IC 50 of 24.01 ± 0.73 µg/mL, compared with 12.71 ± 0.7 µg/mL for ascorbic acid. The total antioxidant capacity showed an IC 50 of 37.58 ± 1.21 µg/mL. The methanolic extract revealed moderate antibacterial activity against six human pathogenic bacteria, with inhibition zones ranging from 16.89 ± 0.95 to 20.98 ± 1.52 mm. MIC values ranged from 62.5 to 125 mg/mL, while MBC values ranged from 125 to 250 mg/mL. In addition, the methanolic extract exhibited in vitro inhibitory activity against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, with IC 50 values of 37.26 ± 0.91 µg/mL and 20.19 ± 1.54 µg/mL, respectively. These results suggest the presence of bioactive compounds in the aerial flowering parts of C. calcitrapa . Overall, the methanolic extract demonstrated antioxidant and antibacterial activities, in addition to in vitro carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzyme inhibitory activity. These findings indicate that C. calcitrapa may represent a promising source of bioactive constituents with potential applications in medicinal and nutritional fields.
Comparative analysis of the mucosal and shell microbiota of Trachemys scripta elegans across multiple urban freshwater habitats
Turtles harbor diverse microbial communities that influence their health, ecology, and interactions with the environment. While sea turtle microbiomes have received growing attention, the microbial communities associated with freshwater turtles, particularly the widely distributed and invasive red-eared slider ( Trachemys scripta elegans ), remain understudied. Here, we used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to characterize the microbiomes of 42 red-eared sliders across four urban aquatic habitats in Austin, Texas, USA, sampling five body locations: carapace, plastron, skin, oral cavity, and cloaca. A total of 142 samples yielded 20,160 Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs), with community composition most strongly structured by body location, but also by geographic habitat. External surfaces (carapace, plastron, skin) were dominated by Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Deinococcota, while oral and cloacal samples exhibited higher proportions of Bacteroidota and site-specific variation. Alpha diversity differed significantly across habitats of origins but not across body locations, while beta diversity analyses revealed distinct microbial profiles among body regions. Notably, we report the first characterization of the oral microbiome in red-eared sliders, which was dominated by Proteobacteria and Deinococcota—patterns consistent with other reptiles. These findings shed light on microbial communities in invasive freshwater turtles and emphasize the need for broader microbial surveillance in urban aquatic ecosystems where wildlife and humans frequently interact.
SLIC-Former: a superpixel-guided transformer framework for automatic liver segmentation in CT images
Abstract Accurate and efficient liver segmentation from computed tomography (CT) images remains a critical challenging task due to the organ’s irregular shape, variable intensity, and lies close to surrounding organs with similar appearance. In this study, we propose SLIC-Former, a superpixel-guided transformer framework for automatic liver segmentation in abdominal CT scans. The method replaces fixed square image patches with adaptive superpixels generated by the Simple Linear Iterative Clustering (SLIC) algorithm, so that each token follows anatomical boundaries and reduces redundant computation. Quantitative evaluation on the Liver Tumor Segmentation (LiTS) dataset demonstrated strong segmentation performance, achieving a Dice coefficient of 0.93, an IoU of 0.87, and a VOE of 13.5%, indicating high overlap with expert annotations. Qualitative results confirm that the model produces smooth and coherent liver masks. Overall, SLIC-Former offers an accurate and computationally efficient tool for automatic liver segmentation and provides a promising basis for future extensions to more organs, larger datasets, and clinical decision-support systems.
Evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of home-based isometric exercise and behaviour change for the management of hypertension: The HOME-FIT study protocol
This protocol describes a pilot randomised controlled trial that aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a 24-week remotely delivered home-based isometric exercise and behaviour change intervention for adults with arterial hypertension (AH) characterised as ≥140/90 mmHg by European and UK guidelines. The study will also explore the potential effects of the intervention on office and ambulatory blood pressure (BP). Seventy participants diagnosed with AH and receiving pharmacological treatment will be recruited from Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. Participants will be randomised with minimisation for sex and mean office systolic BP (≤140 mm Hg vs > 140 mm Hg) to the intervention (n = 35) or control group (n = 35). The intervention group will undergo 12 weeks of remotely supervised isometric wall squat exercises, three times per week, and will receive advice based on a leaflet that follows UK recommendations for behaviour change, including weight management, diet, physical activity, salt intake, alcohol reduction, and smoking cessation. After that, they will be followed for an additional 12 weeks and will continue to receive further guidance to maintain the wall squat exercise and behaviour changes. The control group will receive similar advice to that of the intervention group, reinforcing the standard care recommendation. Primary outcomes for feasibility will be determined by screening, eligibility, recruitment, and retention rates at 12 and 24 weeks. Exercise adherence will be measured by the proportion of sessions completed. Behaviour change adherence will be self-reported via a questionnaire and assessed at 12 and 24 weeks. Participant acceptability will be determined through semi-structured interviews. Secondary outcomes include office and ambulatory BP measurements at baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks. Findings will guide the development of a future large-scale trial to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of non-pharmacological hypertension management, addressing key gaps and supporting scalable, patient-centred care. ClinicalTrials.gov Registration Number: NCT07213479
Embedded and surface ultrasonic pulse velocity for in situ strength assessment of cast reinforced concrete during curing using IoT sensing
Psychological distress in hypertension: Prevalence and links to self-care in Gonabad, Iran
Introduction A critical component in the hypertension management and the prevention of its life-threatening complications, is self-care. Psychological factors such as stress, anxiety and depression may significantly influence self-care behaviors in people with hypertension. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of anxiety, depression and stress and their association with self-care levels among hypertensive patients. Methods This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024−2025 in Gonabad, Iran, among a population of 509 hypertensive patients. Participants were selected through cluster random sampling, with inclusion criteria consisting of: A confirmed diagnosis of hypertension by a physician, Willingness to provide informed consent, Absence of cognitive impairment, and At least one year of residency in Gonabad. Data were gathered by three self-administered questionnaires: a demographic questionnaire, the DASS-21 (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale), and the Self-Care of Hypertension Inventory (SC-HI V 3 ). The collected data were analyzed using SPSS v25, with statistical tests including independent t-tests, ANOVA, Multiple Linear Regression and Pearson’s correlation. Results The majority of participants in this study were female and older persons (age > 60 years). Marital status showed a significant association with levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Additionally, variables such as age group, marital status, education level, and occupation were significantly correlated with hypertension self-care levels and all three of its subscales. Furthermore, 62.5%, 75.2%, and 59.3% of hypertensive patients exhibited depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed a significant negative association between: Depression and self-care (r = −0.314, p < 0.001), Anxiety and self-care (r = −0.330, p < 0.001). A significant negative correlation was also observed between depression/anxiety and the age at hypertension onset. Variables of Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Age, Education and Income could predict 15% of self-care of hypertension variance. Conclusion The prevalence of psychological disorders—particularly stress, depression, and anxiety—among hypertensive patients is alarmingly high. Moreover, significant negative correlations exist between these mental health conditions and hypertension self-care levels. These findings underscore the critical need for: Preventive interventions and Mental health promotion programs tailored to this population. Policymakers, healthcare providers, and researchers must prioritize integrating psychological support into hypertension management strategies to mitigate these adverse effects and improve patient outcomes.
Multi-stage feature purification for robust object detection in haze-degraded aerial images
Measuring airway compliance of pulmonary fibrosis by endobronchial optical coherence elastography
Background Optical coherence elastography derived from optical coherence tomography for measuring soft tissue and organ compliance, holds promise in respirology but remains largely exploratory. Methods The airway lumen area (Ai) was measured by endobronchial optical coherence tomography in control subjects (n = 4), and pulmonary fibrosis (n = 8) while airway pressure (Paw) increased from 0–20 cm H 2 O. Airway compliance (AC) and airway specific compliance (ASC) were derived from the Paw vs. Ai curves. Evaluate correlations among Ai, AC, ASC, and lung function parameters. Results Endobronchial optical coherence elastography (EB-OCE) was constructed by ASC, which could detect AC and ASC among 3 rd to 7 th generations of bronchi. Pulmonary fibrosis tended to exhibit lower ASC in 5 th to 7 th generations of bronchi compared to controls. The ASC-7 appeared to be positively correlated with FEV₁, FVC, TLC, VC, and DLCO. Conclusions EB-OCE provides a novel approach to measure AC and extends the analysis to small airway. Pulmonary fibrosis appeared to show a heterogeneous reduction in AC across different bronchial generations compared to controls. A decline in ASC-7 was possibly associated with reduced lung function.
CFD analysis of thermal plume behavior under diagonal heat source orientation
In the belly of the beast: How dietary changes and preexisting invasive prey may have promoted the success of a novel invasive amphibian
Biological invasions provide unique opportunities to examine how populations cope with rapid ecological change, as well as the influence of human activity on our natural world. The island of Newfoundland, Canada, has no native amphibians; however, five species have established non-native populations, including one caudatan, the Eastern Red-backed Salamander ( Plethodon cinereus ). We posit that this salamander’s successful colonisation may have been mediated by dietary shifts that allowed them to capitalize on a greater variety of prey, as well as by exploiting pre-existing invasive prey communities – both these mechanisms could limit the likelihood of competitive exclusion and promote establishment in a novel environment. To examine this, we identified stomach contents of Newfoundland Eastern Red-backed salamanders, characterised the prey as native or invasive, and compared the dietary composition of the invasive population to that of conspecifics in the native range through a systematic literature review. As predicted, the invasive salamander population’s diet is more generalised (i.e., a broader dietary niche) than the native salamanders, and invasive invertebrates comprised two thirds of the volume of prey eaten by invasive salamanders. Our research provides insight into the Niche Breadth Invasion Hypothesis as well as the Invasional Meltdown Hypothesis, which are mechanisms that may have allowed this species to establish a population in an island ecosystem. Furthermore, our research suggests that prior invasions of a diverse invertebrate community to Newfoundland may have bolstered the invasive potential of this novel, non-native salamander.