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Monitoring coseismic and post-seismic changes in site response associated with the 2011 Mw 9.0 Tohoku-Oki earthquake
Abstract It is well known that site response exhibits time-varying nonlinearity under the effect of strong ground motion. By applying the spectral ratio to the KiK-net strong-motion data, the coseismic and post-seismic changes in site response are investigated associated with the 2011 Mw 9.0 Tohoku-Oki earthquake in northern Honshu Island of Japan. It is observed that during the strongest shaking, the predominant frequency and the maximum value of the amplification factor decrease by 20–45% and 55–75%, respectively. In the following 12 years from 2011 to 2023, the predominant frequency exhibits a two-stage logarithmic linear recovery, and in this process, the maximum value of the spectral ratios at lower frequencies grows log linearly with time before the predominant frequency recovers. The observation results demonstrate the continuous change process of the site response under the major earthquake, provides a reference for the prediction of the site-response nonlinearity, and offers guidance for the seismic design of the geotechnical engineering.
Study on failure mechanism and non-contact monitoring of CSG dam structural model based on 3D laser scanning
Trajectories of estimated glucose disposal rate and incident cardiovascular disease in a nationwide cohort of adults without diabetes
Coupling-matrix-designed dual-band sensor for high-accuracy water quantification in petroleum mixtures with self-organizing GMDH prediction
XLSTM transformer based quality prediction for tobacco cut rag in intermittent processing
AI-driven fault location in medium-voltage underground cables using wavelet packet transform
An artificial intelligence-driven holistic multi-criteria framework for data asset valuation
Research on precision measurement methods for dynamic multi-objective roller tank lugs dimensions in shaft hoisting systems
Attachment patterns toward the caregiver modulate canine physiological indicators of acute and chronic stress
Three-dimensional analysis of facial soft-tissue movement during mastication in children with lip incompetence
A continuous network physiology analysis of brain–heart interactions in epileptic seizures
Abstract The investigation of brain–heart interplay (BHI) has gained significant momentum in recent years, and has emerged as a pivotal area of neurophysiological research. The applications of BHI span cognitive neuroscience, sleep research, and neurological disorders, where the analysis of cortical and autonomic dynamics can provide a mechanistic overview of functional regulation. Epilepsy is known to have an impact on cardiovascular function and autonomic regulation, and the analysis of BHI offers a valuable framework for understanding the dynamics behind autonomic dysfunction in epilepsy. In this work, we use the framework of network physiology (NP) to derive a time-varying time delay stability (TDS) metric to characterize the continuous evolution of the brain–heart network. We further validated the framework on a publicly available dataset of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) subjects. The results from the analysis revealed that TDS coupling between brain and heart dynamics changed significantly following an epileptic episode, suggesting instability in the brain–heart network that may reflect altered autonomic and cortical communication in that period. The methodology presented in this work may serve as an informative framework to characterize cortical and autonomic interplay, and could be further explored in the study of disorders characterized by cortical and autonomic dysregulation.
Performance level controlled efficiency of graphene nanoplatelets in cementitious composites
Applying prior knowledge of regulatory signaling to investigate macrophage cAMP dynamics during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection
Synthesis, characterization, and biocompatibility evaluation of donepezil-loaded magnetite-PLGA nanoparticles in neuroblastoma cells
Abstract This work explores the potential of magnetite polymeric nanoparticles (MPNs) encapsulating Donepezil (DPZ) to evaluate its delivery potential in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. The MNPs coated with oleic acid (OA) were synthesized via co-precipitation, resulting in oleic acid-coated magnetite NPs (OAMNPs). These were combined with Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and DPZ to create the nanohybrid, OAMNPs-PLGA-DPZ. The nanohybrid has been characterized utilizing Dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Drug loading capacity (LC%) and encapsulation efficiency (EE%) were quantified by Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrophotometry (UV-Vis), and in‑vitro drug release was evaluated at physiological pH 7.4. Finally, the cytotoxicity of OAMNPs-PLGA-DPZ on SH-SY5Y cells was determined using an MTT assay. The crystalline size of OAMNPs-PLGA-DPZ, as revealed by XRD, ranged from 20 to 60 nm, and the wurtzite crystal structure size was 12.95 nm. The FTIR spectra showed that DPZ was successfully encapsulated within the PLGA matrix, and the TEM images revealed the synthesis and production of OAMNP-PLGA-DPZ. Biocompatibility evaluation demonstrated an IC₅₀ of 13.5 ± 2.12 µg/mL as a baseline for the safety profile after 48 h of exposure. Taken together, these findings suggested that OAMNPs‑PLGA‑DPZ represent a foundational drug‑delivery platform with potential applications for neurodegenerative diseases.
Exploratory analysis of biofilm formation and virulence gene expression in Acinetobacter baumannii–Candida albicans co-cultured isolates from urinary tract infections
Abstract Polymicrobial infections with Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) and Candida albicans ( C. albicans ) are increasingly frequent in urinary tract infections (UTIs). However, experimental data describing their interactions in clinical isolates under co-culture conditions remain limited. In this study, three clinical isolates of both A. baumannii and C. albicans were co-isolated from urine samples with UTIs, then mono-cultured and co-cultured at 24, 48, and 72 h for biofilm quantification by crystal violet assay. The expression levels of bacterial ( ompA, bap, abaI ) and fungal ( ALS3, HWP1, ERG11 ) virulence genes were evaluated by RT-qPCR at 24 and 48 h. Co-culture conditions resulted in increased biofilm biomass compared to monoculture for the tested isolates. In A. baumannii, the virulence genes of bap, abaI, and ompA showed statistically significant increase in expression in co-culture compared to mono-culture after 24 h. In C. albicans , HWP1 is the only virulence gene that shows a statistically significant increase in expression in co-culture compared to monoculture after 48 h. Gene expression patterns varied in patient isolates, suggesting strain heterogeneity. This is an exploratory study that provides evidence of changes in biofilm formation and virulence gene expression in co-culture conditions among clinical isolates of A. baumannii and C. albicans . These findings suggest potential for microbial interactions under polymicrobial conditions, which might affect the diagnosis and treatment of patients with UTIs. Future studies with a larger number of isolates and functional assays are required to clarify the mechanistic regulation and biological relevance of these observations in UTIs.
Satisfaction with telepsychiatry and mental health stigma among health sciences students in Egyptian universities
Abstract Health sciences students have a higher incidence of mental health disorders; however, stigma and barriers have complicated help-seeking. Telepsychiatry may be a solution, but acceptance, satisfaction, and stigma in this population, especially in Egypt, remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the levels of satisfaction regarding telepsychiatry, stigma perceived with respect to mental illness, among health sciences students towards mental health services. It also aims to assess sociodemographic factors associated with these outcomes. This was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study conducted among 799 students from various universities in Egypt. It was conducted between August and November 2025, and the questionnaire involved sociodemographic data, the telepsychiatry satisfaction scale (21 items), and the STIG-9 stigma scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square and t-tests, and linear regression, with significance set at p < 0.05. Overall, participants had a mean age of 21.4 years, while 66.8% of participants were female. In total, 24.0% agreed, and 18.4% strongly agreed to being satisfied with telepsychiatry, with a mean total satisfaction score of 67.84/105. The mean STIG‑9 stigma score was 14.44/27. Linear regression identified sociodemographic variables independently associated with satisfaction and stigma; higher stigma was also positively associated with higher satisfaction. In this cohort of Egyptian health sciences students with prior telepsychiatry experience, satisfaction with telepsychiatry was positively associated with perceived stigma. These findings suggest that addressing socio-cultural stigma may support the acceptability of telepsychiatry and improve engagement with digital mental health services in similar student populations.
Glucocorticoid exposure during nutrient deprivation impairs recovery in postmitotic myotubes
Evaluating the copy capacity of polyvinylsiloxane molds in quantitative surface texture analysis of ground stone tools
Abstract Polyvinylsiloxane (PVS) is a molding compound originally developed for dental applications that, over the past 50 years, has also been widely used in archaeology to produce negative surface replicas of artifacts, owing to its excellent detail reproduction and dimensional stability. However, most studies assessing its replication accuracy have focused on bones, teeth, and flint tools, leaving ground stone tools (GSTs) largely unexplored. This study fills this gap by assessing the accuracy of PVS molding on GSTs, whose uneven surfaces and heterogeneous textures present particular challenges for both qualitative and quantitative analyses. We tested the accuracy and precision of PVS copies on a reference collection of GST replicas based on archaeological artifacts from Upper Paleolithic sites, representing four diverse lithologies. Confocal profilometry was used to acquire microtopographic maps of selected areas, enabling in-depth statistical comparisons between original surfaces and corresponding molds, with emphasis on key roughness descriptors. The results show that PVS molds effectively capture fine surface details, making them suitable for rough and irregular surfaces, though minor deviations and parameters overestimation must be considered in quantitative traceological analyses. By evaluating replication accuracy, this study contributes to the refinement of analytical methodologies for GSTs and improves the reliability of functional investigations.
Global distribution of deep-sea natural products shows environmental and phylogenetic undersampling with potential for biodiscovery
Abstract Natural products from marine and terrestrial organisms provide an important resource for medicinal chemistry and drug discovery. Defined as occurring at depths greater than 200 m, most of the ocean, by area and volume, is comprised of deep-sea environments. These contrasting ecosystems exhibit a wide range of temperature, pressure, and environmental chemistry conditions that harbour high phylogenetic diversity. Here we analyse the global distribution of Marine Natural Products (MNPs) from deep-sea organisms, which reveals chronic undersampling of the deep ocean as a reservoir of new and diverse chemical structures and bioactivity. The sources of 2909 compounds and extracts, compiled from published records, show a sampling bias towards benthic and shallower deep-sea habitats, with relatively few from areas beyond national jurisdictions and a concentration of records along geomorphological features that have been the focus of marine scientific interest such as seamounts and hydrothermal vents. The phylogenetic distribution of deep-sea MNPs is dominated by non-metazoan sources (76% of records) and Ascomycota fungi in particular (55%). Polyketides are the most prevalent metabolites in deep-sea MNPs, and cytotoxic and antibacterial properties are the most commonly reported bioactivities. Our analyses highlight a need for systematic sampling and consistent data reporting to explore potential relationships, if any, between, bioactivity, new chemical structures, phylogeny and deep-sea environmental conditions, which could guide targeted biodiscovery in our planet’s largest biome and enable better assessment of the benefits of protecting deep-sea biodiversity from human impacts.