Browse Articles

Empirical aesthetics of bridges

Bridges are works of public infrastructure designed to perform a practical function. They are unique among works of engineering in that they also have a significant aesthetic dimension. At their best, they inspire awe and wonder. At their worst, they are eyesores. Little is known about what shapes the aesthetic appeal of bridges. Here we explore how visible features originating primarily from practical considerations relate to aesthetic judgements of bridges. Our dataset comprises of images of 318 bridges from around the world, rated by 254 participants for aesthetic pleasure, interest, complexity, and safety. Civil engineers annotated each bridge’s type, depth, visible material, age, and aesthetic premium. Using Factorial Analysis of Mixed Data, we found two significant dimensions. The first dimension, “aesthetics”, shows strong correlations among aesthetic, complexity, and interest ratings and is related to bridge type. The second dimension, “perceived safety”, relates subjective ratings of safety to bridge age and material. Analyses of visual features, using the Mid-Level Vision Toolbox, shows that contour length and angularity are predictors of the “aesthetics” dimension. For example, cable-stayed bridges are represented by many short and angular contours and are generally rated as more complex, interesting, and aesthetically pleasing. Conversely, slab bridges are often represented by a few long contours and are rated as uninteresting and not aesthetically pleasing. Our study offers the first systematic attempt to collect and analyze subjective ratings of bridge aesthetics, paving the way for empirically supported decisions for the design of bridges and, potentially, other works of public infrastructure.

Chronic NK cell activation results in a dysfunctional, tissue resident–like state mediated by KLF2 deficiency

Abstract Adoptive transfer of natural killer (NK) cells can induce complete remissions in 30% to 50% of patients with refractory acute myeloid leukemia and lymphoma. Although blood chimerism occurs, attaining functional homing to the site of tumor without exhaustion has been elusive. During chronic infections and tumorigenesis, exposure to activating stimuli weakens the effector activity of NK cells. Despite this knowledge, there is little known about the mechanisms that govern this dysregulation and whether these disparate activating stimuli use distinct pathways to downregulate effector immunity. In this study, we reveal that chronic NK cell activation receptor (NKAR) stimulation and chronic interleukin-15 exposure impart distinct modes of dysregulation, with NKAR stimulation inducing a tissue resident–like state that resembles that of tumor-infiltrating NK cells in patients with cancer. Using loss- and gain-of-function studies, we identify the transcription factor KLF2 as a master regulator of the NK cell response to chronic activation and provide evidence that KLF2 overexpression promotes NK cell cytotoxicity, cytokine production, and chemotaxis and inhibits the development of dysfunctional, tissue resident–like features. Using KLF2 reporter mice, we show that in certain tissues, tissue resident NK cells are predominantly KLF2–, whereas circulating NK cells in these tissues are overwhelmingly KLF2+. Lastly, using mixed bone marrow chimeras, we demonstrate that conditional KLF2 deficiency in NK cells leads to altered homing and the acquisition of tissue resident–like features in vivo. Together, these findings highlight the profound changes NK cells undergo during prolonged activation and advance our understanding of how some NK cell therapies fail during malignant relapse.

3D nanolithography with metalens arrays and spatially adaptive illumination

NMR- and MS-based multiplex approach for comparative metabolome profiling of Curcuma caesia versus curcuma longa rhizomes and in relation to in vitro biological effects

Abstract The study presents the first integrated comparative metabolomics approach of Curcuma caesia known as blue curcuma, that is relatively less explored, compared with the well-known yellow curcuma Curcuma longa using a multiplex analytical approach viz., UV, NMR, UPLC/MS/MS, GC/MS and SPME/GC/MS. The study targeted fingerprinting and chemical characterization of their primary and secondary metabolites as well as annotation of volatiles affecting their aroma and culinary uses. Datasets were further modelled using multivariate data analyses (PCA and OPLS) for samples’ classification and discrimination. The study revealed several newly reported metabolites in blue curcuma and assigned discriminating biomarkers for each species i.e. sesquiterpenes in blue curcuma vs. curcuminoids in yellow curcuma. Bioactivity assays, including antioxidant and antidiabetic activities, showed moderate activity for C. caesia relative to C. longa , while both species were inactive as anti-obesity agents.

Editorial Note: Risk factors for vaginal mesh erosion after sacrocolpopexy in Korean women

CEBPA repression by MECOM blocks differentiation to drive aggressive leukemias

Abstract Acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs) have an overall poor prognosis with many high-risk cases co-opting stem cell gene regulatory programs, but the mechanisms through which these programs are propogated remain poorly understood. The increased expression of the stem cell transcription factor, MECOM, underlies a key driver mechanism in largely incurable AMLs. However, how MECOM results in such aggressive AML phenotypes remains unknown. To address existing experimental limitations, we engineered and applied targeted protein degradation with functional genomic readouts to demonstrate that MECOM promotes malignant stem cell–like states by directly repressing prodifferentiation gene regulatory programs. Remarkably and unexpectedly, a single node in this network, a MECOM-bound cis-regulatory element located 42 kilobase (kb) downstream of the myeloid differentiation regulator CEBPA is both necessary and sufficient for maintaining MECOM-driven leukemias. Importantly, the targeted activation of this regulatory element promotes differentiation of these aggressive AMLs and reduces leukemia burden in vivo. These findings suggest a broadly applicable approach for functionally dissecting oncogenic gene regulatory networks to inform improved therapeutic strategies.

Visualizing interaction-driven restructuring of quantum Hall edge states

Effects of processing on the polyphenolic content of Armagh Bramley apple products and pomace

Abstract The content of health promoting (poly)phenols, ascorbic acid and antioxidants is currently unknown in products produced from the Armagh Bramley apple. Four industrially processed products (diced apple, puree, canned sliced apple and apple sauce), one artisan product (apple butter) and two newly developed products (apple sauce and apple butter) were compared against raw material, with waste pomace also assessed. (Poly)phenol and ascorbic acid content were quantified by LC-UV-DAD. (Poly)phenol content of apple products ranged from 726 to 1919 mg kg –1 FW. Significant differences were observed between (poly)phenol content of products, demonstrating that (poly)phenolic profile and content is impacted by processing method. The highest mean (poly)phenol content was observed in industrially produced apple sauce and the lowest in an artisan apple butter product which also had the highest antioxidant capacity. Ascorbic acid was reduced by up to 97% by processing. (Poly)phenolic compounds were present at significant levels worthy of valorisation in waste after processing for all products ranging from 1974 to 5588 mg kg –1 FW. The data clearly shows that processing affects the (poly)phenol content and profile of Armagh Bramley apple products and consequently optimisation of processing technique has the potential to preserve greater bioactive content.

Single-cell RNA-seq data normalization: A benchmarking study

This study examines the noise and biases introduced by technical factors in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data, presenting a thorough benchmarking analysis of six widely utilized normalization methods. The evaluation of these methods is conducted from three perspectives: cell clustering, differential expression analysis, and computational resource requirements, utilizing seven real datasets alongside four simulated datasets. The findings indicate that Dino excels in clustering 10 × datasets and those with a substantial number of cells, while scTransform demonstrates strong performance with datasets produced through full-length library preparation protocols. Additionally, SCnorm is identified as suitable for small-scale datasets. This research serves as a significant reference for scholars in selecting appropriate normalization tools, thereby enhancing the accuracy and reliability of subsequent analyses of scRNA-seq data.

Premaintenance PET in patients with myeloma

Genomic alterations linked to recurrence risk in high-grade serous ovarian cancer revealed by deep targeted sequencing

Randomized controlled trial comparing low pressure (8 mmHg) versus high pressure (14 mmHg) CO2 insufflation on postoperative pain in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Protocol

Background Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the gold standard for treating symptomatic gallstone disease. Pneumoperitoneum is essential for adequate visualization during the procedure and is typically maintained at a standard pressure of 12–14 mmHg. However, high insufflation pressure may contribute to increased postoperative pain. This study aims to assess whether low-pressure pneumoperitoneum (8 mmHg) reduces postoperative pain compared to standard pressure (14 mmHg), without compromising operative safety or efficacy. We hypothesize that low pressure pneumoperitoneum at 8 mmHg reduces postoperative pain, without increasing operation time or postoperative morbidity. Methods This is a single-center, randomized, controlled, double-blind trial. Consecutive Adult patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either low-pressure (8 mmHg) or standard-pressure (14 mmHg) pneumoperitoneum. The primary outcome is postoperative abdominal pain assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at 6 hours after surgery. Secondary outcomes include VAS pain scores at 12 and 24 hours, postoperative nausea and/or vomiting, postoperative hospital stay and postoperative 30-day morbidity. The enrollment of patients will be done between November 12, 2024 to December 31, 2025. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06685250 Conclusion If proven effective, low-pressure pneumoperitoneum may represent a simple strategy to improve postoperative comfort in laparoscopic cholecystectomy without compromising surgical outcomes.

Leukemic phase of hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma

Detection of cortical arousals in sleep using multimodal wearable sensors and machine learning

Uncovering the mechanism linking education expectation and suicide ideation among students in tertiary education: The mediating role of academic burnout, psychache, and hopelessness

High educational expectations are known risk factors for poor psychological well-being and suicide risk among tertiary students. However, the underlying mechanism linking high educational expectations to suicide risk is unclear. Additionally, it is also uncertain if suicide risk due to high expectations is universal or culture specific. The current study proposes a model examining the mediating role of academic burnout, psychache, and hopelessness in explaining the link between educational expectations and suicide ideation. The study also examined the model across samples from Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia to examine cultural variances. The study involved 641 tertiary students from Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia who completed self-report measures on perceived educational expectation, psychache, hopelessness, academic burnout, and suicidal ideation. The model was analysed using path analysis on AMOS 28. Results revealed that academic burnout was not a significant simple mediator, and the mediating roles of psychache and hopelessness across sources of expectations and samples were mixed. Results revealed a significant mediating effect of academic burnout through psychache and hopelessness on suicide ideation for models with self-expectation and parental expectation in all samples. Overall, our study highlights the complex mechanisms underlying the connection between different sources of educational expectations onto suicide ideation among students in higher education.

MFA-YOLO: a multi-feature aggregation approach for small-object detection method in drone imagery

The use of social media as an influence on vaccination rates: A systematic review protocol

Vaccine hesitancy has emerged as one of the major challenges to global public health, exacerbated by the phenomenon of the infodemic—a surge of misinformation amplified through social media platforms. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this dynamic significantly undermined public trust in vaccines. In this context, the present study protocol outlines a systematic review aimed at identifying and synthesizing evidence regarding the influence of infodemia on social media networks and its impact on vaccination coverage. The review will be conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Manual for Evidence Synthesis and guided by the PRISMA-P (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols) statement. The protocol has been registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42024581283). The research question was formulated using the PECO framework, where the population of interest is the general public; the intervention is the use of social media; the comparator is non-use of social media or use of other media channels; and the primary outcome is vaccination rates. Both qualitative and quantitative studies with primary or secondary data, published in English, Portuguese, or Spanish, will be included. Searches will be performed across major databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, Medline, and Lilacs, as well as gray literature through Google Scholar and OpenGrey. Two independent reviewers will conduct study screening and data extraction using EndNote and Rayyan software. Methodological quality will be assessed using tools such as ROBINS-I and COREQ. This systematic review is expected to contribute evidence to guide health communication strategies, strengthen immunization campaigns, and inform public policies aimed at combating digital misinformation.

METTL3-mediated m6A modification of TACSTD2 mRNA inhibits papillary thyroid cancer progression by activating the TNF signaling and blocking epithelial–mesenchymal transition

Diagnostic accuracy and risk stratification of the score for trauma triage in the geriatric and middle-aged among older adults with fall-related injuries

Background Despite fall-related injuries accounting for over two-thirds of older adult trauma injuries, fall-related injuries are more likely to be under-triaged. The Score for Trauma Triage in the Geriatric and Middle-Aged (STTGMA) is an injury risk-triage tool. This study aims to validate STTGMA’s accuracy in predicting fall-related mortality among older adult trauma patients and compare its predictive accuracy with the Geriatric Trauma Outcome Score (GTOS) and the Revised Trauma Score (RTS). Methods Using a retrospective cohort design, we selected 6,458 older adult trauma patients (aged 65 years and older) from a single institutional trauma database (2017–2023). The primary outcome variable was in-hospital death, measured as a binary variable. The primary predictor variable was the STTGMA score, measured as a continuous variable and a four-level categorical variable. The secondary predictor variables were the GTOS and the RTS. We compared the predictive accuracy (95% confidence interval (CI)) of the STTGMA, GTOS, and RTS. We further assessed the relationships between the STTGMA risk categories and time-to-death and hospital length of stay using multivariable time-varying Cox proportional hazard analysis and multivariable quantile regression analysis, respectively. Results A total of 130 patients (2.0%) died during admission, and the median hospital length of stay was 2 days. STTGMA exhibited 84% (95% CI: 77.3–89.8) accuracy in predicting in-hospital fall-related mortality, while the GTOS and RTS both exhibited 71% diagnostic accuracies. Compared to the minimal risk category, older adult trauma patients classified as low, moderate, and high risks each had significantly longer hospital stays and adjusted mortality risks, in a dose-response pattern. Conclusion STTGMA can accurately predict in-hospital mortality and risk-stratify the length of stay and the time to death among older adult trauma patients with fall-related injuries.

Electrical properties of PVA/PANI/LiI composite membranes

Abstract This study centers on polyvinyl alcohol and polyaniline films infused with lithium iodide as polymer electrolyte membranes that conduct ions for various electrochemical applications. Electrolyte membranes made from a 90:10 weight percent blend of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyaniline (PANI) were synthesized with varying amounts of LiI (from 5 to 25% by weight) via solution casting. The samples were analyzed through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), mechanical properties testing, AC impedance spectroscopy, and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). X-ray diffraction results show that the amorphous nature of PVA enhances with more additives, and LiI incorporation leads to improved mechanical properties in composite samples. FTIR analysis highlighted interactions between PVA and electrolyte components. Notably, the composites’ elongation at break surpassed that of the undoped PVA film, reaching 108 ± 7.1% with increased LiI content. The membrane containing 20 wt% LiI salt showed the highest ionic conductivity of 4.45 × 10 –3 S cm −1 . This top-performing membrane displayed an ionic transference number of 0.991 and demonstrated electrochemical stability at 2.21 V. All composite membranes displayed peaks in the dielectric loss spectra. The dielectric properties of the composites indicate a significant connection between the fluctuations in conductivity and the changes in the mobility and concentration of charge carriers. The composite materials exhibited non-Debye characteristics regarding their dielectric properties.