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New hope in the fight against cachexia — cancer’s deadly co-conspirator
Expression of Concern: First molecular report of Moniezia expansa in small ruminants of Pakistan with epidemiological insight
DFT insights into indole detection and removal using aluminum and zinc doped coronene
Abstract The detection of Indole (IND) is crucial due to its biological and environmental significance. This study employs density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations to investigate the adsorption behavior, electronic structure modifications, and sensing performance of pristine coronene (CRN) versus aluminum-doped (Al-CRN) and zinc-doped (Zn-CRN) coronene toward IND. All calculations were performed using ωB97XD and M06-2X functionals with the 6-311G(d) basis set, incorporating CPCM solvation (water) and gas-phase models for comparative analysis. Metal doping significantly reduced the HOMO-LUMO gap from 7.34 eV (CRN) to 6.00 eV (Al–CRN) and 4.95 eV (Zn-CRN), enhanced electron-accepting capability, and increased chemical softness. The adsorption energies followed the following order: CRN@IND (– 11.47 kcal/mol) < Al-CRN@IND (– 42.10 kcal/mol) < Zn-CRN@IND (– 82.51 kcal/mol), where Zn-CRN showed a stronger interaction. QTAIM analysis revealed increased electron density at metal-N bond critical points (ρ = 0.049 a.u. for Al-N; ρ = 0.080 a.u. for Zn-N) compared to weak CRN-IND interactions (ρ ≈ 0.006–0.007 a.u.). NCI/RDG, ELF, and LOL analyses confirmed the transition from weak van der Waals forces in CRN@IND to strong dative coordination interactions in doped systems. TD-DFT analysis showed that Al-CRN, after absorbing IND, produces a significant color change from the UV region (307 nm) to the visible region (415 nm), which can allow detection with the naked eye. Electrical conductivity analysis showed that Zn-CRN exhibits significant electronic disorder after IND binding, which can be considered for further investigation as an electrochemical sensor in the future. The calculated recovery times indicate effectively irreversible adsorption on doped surfaces, positioning these materials as promising candidates for single-use sensing, irreversible capture, and analyte removal applications rather than reusable sensors. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the synthesis of CRN-based nanomaterials for IND detection and environmental remediation.
A comparative analysis of ACE Inhibitors and ARBs as cancer risk factors
Importance Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are widely prescribed antihypertensive agents. Although their cardiovascular and renal benefits are well established, uncertainty remains regarding their long-term associations with cancer risk. Objective To compare cancer incidence among patients treated exclusively with ACEIs or ARBs in a large population-based cohort with long-term follow-up. Design, setting, and participants Retrospective cohort study using electronic health records from Clalit Health Services, Israel’s largest healthcare organization. The source population included hypertensive adults aged 40 years or older who were free of cancer on January 1, 2000 (n = 1,048,575). After applying eligibility criteria and excluding patients who switched between treatment groups or were non-compliant with therapy, the final analytic cohort included 346,405 exclusive ACEI users and 77,018 exclusive ARB users. Exposure Exclusive treatment with either ACEIs or ARBs. Cancer incidence analyses were conducted during an active follow-up period from 2002 through 2024, allowing for a two-year exposure window. Main outcomes and measures The primary outcome was diagnosis of any cancer. Secondary outcomes included the ten most prevalent cancer types diagnosed during follow-up. Cancer incidence rates, odds ratios (ORs), age at diagnosis, and time from treatment initiation to cancer diagnosis were compared between treatment groups after adjustment for age, sex, and exposure duration. Results During follow-up, overall cancer incidence differed between treatment groups. ACEI therapy was associated with lower overall odds of cancer than ARB therapy. Associations varied across specific cancer types, with lower odds observed among ACEI users for several common malignancies, whereas no meaningful difference was observed for leukemia. Differences in age at diagnosis and time to diagnosis were also observed between treatment groups. Conclusions and relevance In this large population-based cohort, long-term cancer risk differed between patients treated exclusively with ACEIs and those treated exclusively with ARBs. While the observational design precludes causal inference, the findings contribute to the ongoing evaluation of the long-term oncologic safety profiles of RAAS-modulating therapies. Further prospective and mechanistic studies are needed to clarify the biological basis and clinical significance of these associations.
EAGF: a four-pillar ethical AI governance framework for trustworthy cybersecurity in 5G renewable energy IoT systems
Small-scale irrigators’ intentions to adapt water use behaviour to climate variability in South Africa
This study aimed to determine the impacts of climate variability on smallholder maize producers’ water use behaviour and the factors that influence their decision-making in the Vhembe District Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa. This study utilized a survey from 366 smallholder maize irrigators, Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The TPB posits that behavioural intentions can influence actual behaviour of individuals and groups, and it consists of three behavioural factors, namely attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control. Findings indicated that most of the farmers (96%) in the study area were dependent on farming as their primary occupation and livelihood. Most of the farmers were senior citizens with the mean age being between 51–60 and above 61 years of age, majority of the respondents (71%) had secondary education level and majority of the farmers (40%) had less than 10 years of farming experience and 35% had between 11–20 years of farming experience. In addition, the findings revealed that attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control significantly influence the small-scale farmers’ intentions to adapt to climate variability. The results suggest that as farmers’ attitudes become positive, their intentions to adapt enhance, and the perceptions of adaptation behaviours have a significant impact on individual farmers’ willingness to adapt. In addition, attitude and subjective norms have a substantial influence on the intentions of behavioural changes of farmers’ adaptation. However, perceived behavioural control does influence Intention but has a minor impact compared to attitudes and norms. Therefore, socio-psychological issues should be taken into consideration to improve smallholder farmers’ adoption of sustainable water use practices. This could raise smallholders’ livelihoods and agricultural productivity.
Quantum-classical hybrid learning framework for Parkinson’s disease prediction using acoustic and clinical features
Don’t let AI steal all the joy: what scientists won’t give up to chatbots
Multi-district molecular surveillance of dengue virus in Pakistan reveals serotype cycling and recurrent DENV-2 dominance, 2021–2025
Dengue virus (DENV) remains a major public health concern in Pakistan, with recurrent seasonal outbreaks and shifting serotype patterns. Understanding temporal and geographic trends in circulating serotypes is essential for improving surveillance and outbreak preparedness. This study aimed to characterize the spatio-temporal distribution and serotype dynamics of DENV detected through molecular surveillance in Pakistan between 2021 and 2025. NS1-positive dengue cases were tested at the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) for serotyping. Demographic, temporal, and geographic data were analyzed to assess the distribution of DENV infections and circulating serotypes over the study period. Among 1,644 NS1-positive dengue cases tested, 1,162 were confirmed by qRT-PCR. DENV-2 was the predominant serotype overall, accounting for 78.4% of confirmed infections, followed by DENV-1 (21.4%) and DENV-3 (0.09%). Temporal analysis showed that DENV-2 predominated during 2021 and 2022, was temporarily replaced by DENV-1 in 2023, and re-emerged as the dominant serotype in 2024 and 2025. Dengue transmission demonstrated strong seasonal patterns, with most cases occurring during the post-monsoon months of September and October. Gender-Age distribution showed majority of cases in males (66%), particularly those aged 21–40 years. Geographically, most confirmed cases were reported from Rawalpindi and Islamabad, reflecting the primary referral catchment of the surveillance system, while additional cases were detected from several other districts, including Peshawar, Nowshera, Mansehra, and Karachi. These findings highlight dynamic shifts in DENV serotype circulation in Pakistan and emphasize the need for sustained molecular surveillance to guide public health responses.
Comparative machine learning analysis of energy and exergy performance in evacuated tube solar air heater with pierced twisted tape
Non-invasive biomarkers of perioperative stress in ophthalmic surgeons: Heart rate variability, cortisol and salivary copeptin in a feasibility study
Surgeons are exposed to acute perioperative stress that may compromise performance and patient safety. Objective, non-invasive biomarkers are essential to quantify and manage this stress. This prospective, quasi-experimental feasibility study aimed to describe the acute dynamics of heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), salivary cortisol, and salivary copeptin in ophthalmic surgeons during routine cataract surgery, while assessing the feasibility of measuring copeptin in human saliva for the first time. Fifteen ophthalmologists from three public hospitals were assessed on a resting day (baseline) and on a surgical day involving routine cataract procedures. HR and HRV (SDNN, RMSSD, pNN50, LF/HF) were recorded with a Polar H9 chest strap and a validated mobile application, and saliva samples were collected for cortisol and copeptin (a neurohormone released by the posterior pituitary gland) at four perioperative time points (arrival at hospital, pre-scrub, immediately post-surgery, and 30 min post-surgery). Repeated-measures analyses and correlation tests were performed. At rest, participants showed a mean HR 72.5 ± 15 beats·min ⁻ ¹ and salivary cortisol 0.41 ± 0.29 µg·dl ⁻ ¹, and detectable salivary copeptin levels (2.3 ± 0.7 pmol·l ⁻ ¹). On the surgical day, HR (66.6 ± 8.8 beats·min ⁻ ¹) and cortisol (0.21 ± 0.10 µg·dl ⁻ ¹) decreased significantly at 30 min post-surgery compared with pre-intervention values (74.0 ± 11.3 beats·min ⁻ ¹ and 0.47 ± 0.30 µg·dl ⁻ ¹, respectively), consistent with stress relief, while HRV indices displayed inverse patterns. Although a slight elevation in copeptin levels was observed during the surgical day (from 2.07 ± 0.42 at baseline to 2.50 ± 0.67 2.3 ± 0.7 pmol·l ⁻ ¹ immediately before surgery), this change did not reach statistical significance. In conclusion, the performance of routine cataract surgery triggers specific neuroendocrine responses in ophthalmologists. These findings support the use of multi-modal biomarkers to monitor perioperative strain and its potential impact on surgical performance.
BDL-Net: A blended deep learning approach for pest detection in agriculture using IoT-enabled sound analysis
Maternal levels of care and association with severe maternal morbidity during birth hospitalizations
Background Maternal level of care guidelines were published to facilitate risk-appropriate care and improve outcomes, yet evidence of benefit is lacking. All birth hospitals should be equipped to provide routine childbirth care and be prepared to manage common, treatable childbirth complications. Thus, our objective was to examine the association of maternal level of care with severe maternal morbidity (SMM) without transfusion among 1) all obstetric patients and 2) obstetric patients with common, treatable childbirth complications (e.g., hemorrhage and infection). Methods Using a retrospective observational cohort of hospital-based births, we analyzed linked vital statistic and hospital administrative data from Michigan (2010–2020), Oregon (2010–2020), Pennsylvania (2010–2018), and South Carolina (2010–2020). Maternal level of care (I [basic], II [specialty], III [subspecialty], and IV [regional perinatal health centers]) were empirically assigned using administrative data based on the care provided to patients who gave birth in each hospital annually. The primary outcome was SMM without blood product transfusion. We used modified Poisson regression to estimate adjusted risk ratios (aRRs), accounting for covariates present prior to admission for childbirth and associated with SMM. Results Among 3,296,520 births, the SMM rate rose with increasing level (I: 0.47%, II: 0.56%, III: 0.74%, IV: 0.94%). Compared to level IV care, the SMM aRR was lower in hospitals with level I care (aRR 0.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.76–0.999). Whereas, among 245,604 patients with common, treatable childbirth complications the SMM aRR was higher in hospitals with level III care (aRR 1.21, 95% CI 1.04–1.40, reference level IV). Conclusion We found differential associations between maternal levels of care and SMM among all obstetric patients and those with common, treatable complications that arise during childbirth. While unmeasured differences in patient triage, referral, and transfer patterns may influence associations, these findings suggest differences in how hospitals of varying levels of care assess patient risk, manage complications, and perceive their capabilities, illustrating the ongoing need to improve risk-appropriate obstetric care and optimize patient outcomes.
DATZ-TM: Zero-Trust intrusion detection for VANETs with temporal graph neural networks
Validation of markerless human pose estimation methods for clinical assessment of elbow range of motion
Clinicians rely on the assessment of joint range of motion to determine the necessity of clinical interventions and to track rehabilitation progress. They often perform visual assessments of these joint angles due to limited time for longer but more accurate methods. Markerless monocular human pose estimation methods could help reduce the workload of physicians in clinical practice, allow patients to conduct regular assessments remotely, and be used to provide reliable assessments in the absence of expert raters, but they have not been validated extensively on clinical populations. We measured the elbow flexion and extension ranges of motion of 46 patients with shoulder and elbow pathologies. These values were assessed by RTMW and HSMR, two different monocular pose estimation methods, and an experienced physician who performed visual assessments. A state-of-the-art passive-marker optical motion capture system was used as the reference system. For elbow flexion, HSMR outperformed visual assessment. HSMR had a higher concordance correlation coefficient of 0.92 and a lower minimal detectable change of 6.74° as determined by a concordance analysis and a linear mixed-effects model. Conversely, for elbow extension, visual assessment outperformed both markerless methods. RTMW was the best-performing markerless method with a concordance correlation coefficient of 0.83 and a minimal detectable change of 7.93°. Thus, HSMR represented a viable alternative to visual assessment for measuring elbow flexion range of motion in a clinical population, but neither RTMW nor HSMR offered an improvement over visual assessment for measuring elbow extension range of motion.
Mediation effect of TyG-BMI, LDL-C, and CRP on physical activity-stroke risk relationship
Abstract While physical activity (PA) is known to reduce stroke risk, the unified biological mechanisms involving metabolic, lipid, and inflammatory pathways remain unclear. This study quantified the mediating roles of TyG-BMI, LDL-C, and CRP in the PA-stroke association using nationwide longitudinal data, and explored subgroup differences. Data from 6269 participants in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study were analyzed. PA was assessed via IPAQ. Triglycerides, blood glucose, CRP, and LDL-C were measured enzymatically; TyG-BMI was calculated as log[triglycerides × fasting glucose/2] × BMI. Chi-square tests, generalized structural equation modeling (GSEM), and interaction tests were used for analyses. A total of 307 incident strokes occurred. In the crude comprehensive mediation model, the PA-stroke association was mediated by TyG-BMI (7.00%), LDL-C (2.21%), and CRP (1.32%). After full adjustment, only the TyG-BMI pathway remained statistically significant, accounting for 10.64% of the total association (OR 0.985, 95% CI 0.976–0.995), whereas the LDL-C and CRP pathways were attenuated and no longer significant. The direct effect accounted for 89.36% of the association in the fully adjusted comprehensive model. Subgroup analysis revealed more pronounced TyG-BMI mediation in adults ≥ 60 years and hypertensive patients, but not in diabetic patients. Greater PA was associated with a lower risk of incident stroke, partly mediated by TyG-BMI. LDL-C and CRP did not show significant mediation after multivariable adjustment. Personalized PA interventions for those at high metabolic risk are crucial for stroke prevention. Future research should elucidate the uncharacterized direct-effect pathways.
Detailed maps of European wetlands reveal overlooked patches of ecosystems
Increased medial meniscus extrusion on ultrasonography in highly competitive rugby players: A cross-sectional study
Medial meniscal extrusion (MME) has been shown to be associated with the onset and progression of knee osteoarthritis (KOA); however, evidence focusing on young athletes without a history of knee injury remains limited. This study aimed to determine whether MME is already increased in young competitive rugby players compared with controls. The participants comprised 94 male collegiate rugby players without a history of knee trauma or surgery (165 knees) and 42 male university students serving as controls (81 knees). MME was assessed bilaterally using ultrasonography (US) in three knee positions: supine, figure-4, and single-leg standing. Between-group comparisons were performed using linear mixed-effects models with group and side as fixed effects, body mass index as a covariate, and participant ID as a random effect. Estimated marginal means and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were derived from the models. p -values for the group effect were adjusted across knee positions using the Benjamini–Hochberg procedure. The rugby group exhibited significantly greater MME than the control group across all knee positions (all p < 0.001). Greater MME was observed in young rugby players even in the absence of clinically apparent knee injury. These findings suggest an association between participation in high-intensity rugby and increased MME, which may reflect early changes related to KOA. Early identification of these alterations provides an opportunity for timely intervention aimed at preserving long-term joint health in contact sport athletes. However, because this study was cross-sectional, causality cannot be inferred. US represents a practical method for evaluating meniscal behavior under weight-bearing conditions that reflect sport-specific loading characteristics, and future longitudinal and interventional studies are warranted to establish practical MME assessment approaches and effective KOA prevention strategies in rugby players.