Browse Articles

Amniotic membrane transplantation promotes retinal hole closure in a rabbit model

Synergistic effects of proteinaceous pheromone and nitrogen starvation on male gametogenesis in the anisogamous volvocine alga Eudorina

In volvocine algae, gametogenesis is triggered by different cues depending on the species and their sexual systems. In isogamous unicellular organisms such as Chlamydomonas reinhardtii , which produce gametes of equal size and morphology, nitrogen depletion induces gametogenesis. In contrast, in oogamous multicellular species of the genus Volvox , which produce large, immobile eggs and small motile sperm, male gametogenesis is induced by a sex pheromone secreted by sperm packets (SPs), i.e., bundles of male gametes. Eudorina , an anisogamous multicellular volvocine alga that produces motile gametes of different sizes, is known to form SPs under nitrogen-depleted conditions. Intriguingly, a pheromone-like factor, present in male conditioned medium (CM), has also been implicated in SP formation. To clarify the relative contributions of nitrogen starvation and pheromone signaling, we conducted semi-quantitative analyses of SP induction using synchronously cultured male colonies of Eudorina . When CM was added to male cultures during an early maturation stage, most colonies formed SPs regardless of nitrogen availability. However, when the CM was diluted 100- to 100,000-fold, SP formation was significantly more efficient under nitrogen-depleted conditions than under nitrogen-replete conditions. Notably, SPs never formed without the addition of CM, even in a nitrogen-depleted medium. The SP-inducing activity of the CM was found to markedly decrease with protease treatment. These findings suggest that spermatogenesis in Eudorina is induced by a proteinaceous sex pheromone secreted by male colonies, and that nitrogen depletion, while not essential, enhances this pheromone activity.

Healthcare utilization and costs after cranial epilepsy surgery and vagus nerve stimulation in pediatric drug-resistant epilepsy: a nationwide cohort study

Proinflammatory markers in women with type 1 diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome

Fundamental motor skills, executive functions, and academic achievement of Chinese schoolchildren: Testing a mediating model

Background Researchers have observed the relationship between children’s fundamental motor skills (FMS) and their academic achievement. However, the inner workings of this correlation remain underexplored, especially in the context of China. This study addresses this gap by investigating the associations among FMS, such as locomotor, object control, and stability skills, executive function (EF), such as inhibition control and working memory, and academic achievement among Chinese schoolchildren. Furthermore, this research determines how EF mediates the relationship between FMS and academic achievement and whether gender and age moderate the mediating process. Method This research involved 733 primary schoolchildren aged 6–12 years from China. First, the Test of Gross Motor Development-Third Edition and the Körperkoordinationstest Für Kinder were used to measure FMS. Then, the Childhood Executive Functioning Inventory was employed to evaluate EF, while standardized written examinations in Chinese and mathematics subjects were used to determine academic achievement. Results Regression analyses were conducted. Results revealed that the children’s performance in Chinese was negatively correlated with their working memory ( β  = −0.129, p  = 0.005) and inhibition control ( β  = −0.191, p  < 0.001) but positively linked to object control ( β  = 0.198, p  < 0.001). Meanwhile, children’s performance in mathematics had a negative relationship with inhibition ( β  = −0.246, p  < 0.001) but positive relationships with object control ( β  = 0.095, p  = 0.009) and stability skills ( β  = 0.096, p  = 0.010). In addition, a mediation analysis was conducted. Results revealed that EF had a partially mediating effect on the relationship between FMS and academic achievement in Chinese ( β  = 0.110, 95% CI [0.051, 0.175]) and mathematics ( β  = 0.134, 95% CI [0.070, 0.189]). In the mathematics model, it is only found that age significantly and negatively moderates the path between EF and mathematics ( β  = −0.627, 95% CI [−0.698, −0.332], p  < 0.001). Conclusions This study highlights the critical role of FMS and EF in Chinese schoolchildren’s academic achievement. The outcomes of this work suggest that educators can bolster FMS and EF through well-crafted, engaging, and encouraging interventions or programs. In turn, these designs can support the academic achievement of schoolchildren. Strategies aimed at improving object control can foster children’s performance in Chinese and mathematics. Meanwhile, programs focused on developing stability skills can be implemented to enhance performance in mathematics, especially for younger primary schoolchildren.

​​Classified modeling and day-ahead optimal scheduling of multi-type adjustable industrial loads in industrial microgrid using improved approximate dynamic programming

Textual emotion recognition to improve real-time communication of disabled people in sustainable environments using an ensemble deep learning approach

Abstract Social media platforms are prevalently used to express and share opinions on a wide range of topics, which has amplified interest in textual emotion detection. However, accurately detecting emotions in individuals, especially those with communication challenges, remains a complex task. Emotion analysis serves as a significant tool for assessing, monitoring, and interpreting a user’s sentiments toward services or products. The emergence of deep learning (DL) has significantly advanced this field, allowing the development of more accurate and robust models. DL techniques, particularly neural networks, have demonstrated superior performance in recognizing emotions from text, presenting enhanced capabilities for real-time sentiment understanding and user experience improvement. This manuscript presents an Optimised Ensemble Model for Precise Textual Emotion Recognition Using an Improved Sand Cat Swarm Optimization (OEMPTER-ISCSO) method. The primary objective of the OEMPTER-ISCSO method is to accurately recognize emotions in text, facilitating enhanced communication with individuals with disabilities. Initially, the text pre-processing stage involves multiple levels to normalize and clean the input text. Furthermore, the FastText method is employed for the word embedding process, transforming words into numerical vector representations. For textual emotion detection, an ensemble of three classifiers, such as the enhanced deep belief network (EDBN), Elman neural network (ELNN), and an improved temporal convolutional network (ITCN) method, is employed. Finally, the enhanced sand cat swarm optimization (ISCO) method-based hyperparameter selection procedure is executed to optimize the detection outcomes of the ensemble models. The OEMPTER-ISCSO technique achieved a superior accuracy of 95.84% in a comparative analysis on a text-based emotion detection dataset, demonstrating its efficiency over existing models.

Clinical impact of prophylactic antibiotics in kidney transplantation: A retrospective observational cohort study with historical comparison

Purpose Optimal perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in kidney transplantation remains undefined despite routine antibiotic administration to prevent infections. In this retrospective observational cohort study with historical comparison, we compared the clinical efficacy of 6 days of ampicillin/sulbactam vs. a single dose of cefazolin. Materials and methods We retrospectively analyzed 2322 kidney transplantation recipients at a single center, with the evaluation period spanning from 2015 through 2021. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the perioperative antibiotic regimen received: 971 patients received ampicillin/sulbactam, and 1351 received cefazolin. This study focused on evaluating the impact of these regimens on postoperative infection incidence and the 6-month acute rejection (AR) rates. Results The cefazolin group exhibited a tendency toward higher urinary tract infection rates within 1 month after transplantation (3.4% vs. 2.2%, p= = 0.078). There were no significant differences in surgical site infections between the groups. The 6-month AR rates were significantly lower in the cefazolin group than in the ampicillin/sulbactam group (5.1% vs. 7.9%, p= = 0.009). Cefazolin was also confirmed to be significantly associated with reduced 6-month AR rates in the multivariable logistic regression analysis (odds ratio 0.63, 95% confidence interval [0.45-0.89], p= = 0.009). Conclusion In this study, we observed that a single dose of cefazolin as perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis may lead to higher rates of postoperative urinary tract infections, but it could potentially lower the incidence of acute rejection within six months.

A SWI/SNF complex-related genes signature predicts prognosis and immune infiltration in ccRCC with KCNK5 as a novel biomarker

Cyber physical solutions for aquatic monitoring using YOLO with BCP loss for intelligent underwater camouflaged object detection

Utilization of tetanus and diphtheria serology tests in Alberta, Canada: Patterns and implications

Background Tetanus and diphtheria (Td) antibody titers can be measured to assess for seroprotection from immunization, though this is not routinely indicated. There are limited population level data on the utilization of these tests and their results. Methods This is a population level retrospective study based on laboratory data collected from patients who underwent Td antibody testing. Td IgG titer requests from May 1, 2023, to December 31, 2024, were extracted from the provincial health information system of Alberta, Canada. Td anti-toxin test requests, geometric mean titers, and vaccination status of patients who underwent testing were analyzed. Individuals with multiple tests were assessed for changes in antibody levels, and the proportion of tested individuals who were vaccinated within the past 10 years was calculated. Geometric mean titers were interpreted in relation to established thresholds for long-term protective immunity. Results A total of 2,550 patients underwent testing for tetanus (n = 2,349) and diphtheria (n = 2,093) anti-toxin antibody levels. Geometric mean titers varied widely across physician specialties, with pediatrics and Immunology showing higher proportions of recent vaccinations and higher geometric mean titers, while general practice and nephrology had lower values. Nearly 40% of diphtheria test orders in patients immunized within the past 10 years were requested by general practice (n = 336). In contrast, less than 20% of tests were ordered by nephrology (n = 153), pediatrics (n = 95), and pharmacy (n = 12). Conclusion Over half the tests were requested by general practice. Our study highlighted variability in vaccination patterns and immune responses across specialties. While antibody testing is useful for assessing protection, a considerable number of tests were performed in individuals likely to be protected by recent vaccination, pointing to inefficiencies and unnecessary healthcare spending. These findings underscore the importance of aligning test ordering practices with immunization history to optimize resource use, avoid redundant testing, support diagnostic stewardship, and inform more cost-effective public health strategies.

Electronic structure calculations on gallium-vacancy defects in Si1-xGex

Abstract Silicon germanium (Si 1 − x Ge x ) has emerged as a mainstream nanoelectronic material and as such its defect processes and energetics are technologically important. In semiconductor alloys the interaction of intrinsic point defects such as vacancies with dopant atoms are critical for the physical properties of the material and impact nanoelectronic device performance. Gallium (Ga) is a p -type dopant in elemental and alloys group IV semiconductors and its interaction with vacancies can impact its diffusion and electronic properties. The gallium-vacancy (Ga V ) defect pairs are not thoroughly investigated in Si 1 − x Ge x random semiconductor alloys. Here we employ hybrid density functional theory (DFT) to study the electronic properties and binding energies in seven compositions of Si 1 − x Ge x . The prediction of the prevalent Ga V pair in each composition is hindered by the large number of local environments that impact in turn the energetics of the defect pairs. To overcome this, we applied the special quasirandom structures (SQS) method and considered the lowest binding energy Ga V pairs to the favourable one for every respective composition.

Unprecedented social-ecological impacts of the 2023 extreme drought in the central Amazon

Perceived safety and mental health among Asian American women: Exploring the moderating role of loneliness and resilience

Asian American women are an understudied population facing a substantial mental health burden, largely driven by the increasing rates of gender- and race-based violence and discrimination. Perceived safety, a key factor influencing mental health, has been underexplored. This study aimed to 1) examine the relationship between perceived safety with mental health outcomes (i.e., depression and anxiety); 2) examine the link between safety-related behavioral modifications and mental health outcomes; and 3) explore the moderating effects of loneliness and resilience on these relationships, drawing from a community sample of n = 345 Asian American women. Perceived safety was defined as feeling safe in public spaces, transportation and neighborhoods. In our study, 28.7%, 56.2% and 20.6% of women reported feeling unsafe in public spaces, transportation and neighborhoods, respectively. Feeling unsafe in public spaces was associated with higher odds of depression (aOR=2.37, 95%CI: 1.40, 4.02) and anxiety (aOR=2.61, 95%CI: 1.56, 4.37). Avoiding public spaces, leaving home or transportation were linked to increased odds of depression (aOR=2.05, 95%CI: 1.23, 3.40; aOR=2.26, 95%CI: 1.37, 3.74; aOR=2.03, 95%CI: 1.16, 3.57, respectively) while only avoiding leaving home was associated with anxiety (aOR=2.04, 95%CI: 1.24, 3.36). Loneliness moderated the association between avoiding public spaces and anxiety: avoiding public spaces was significantly associated with greater odds of anxiety among women who were not lonely (aOR = 4.77, 95% CI: 1.24–18.34), but not among those who were lonely (aOR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.53–1.64). Resilience did not moderate these relationships (all p  > .050). Our findings highlight the mental health impacts associated with reduced perceptions of safety and safety-related behavioral modifications in this group, highlighting the pervasive fear experienced by Asian American women in their day-to-day lives, and emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to address the unique safety challenges faced by Asian American women.

Vonoprazan attenuates proteinuria in diabetic kidney disease through potential direct renal mechanism

Abstract Our study investigates the effect of vonoprazan on albuminuria in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) patients compared to lansoprazole through a randomized controlled trial. Participants were randomized to receive either lansoprazole 30 mg or vonoprazan 20 mg. Specifically, 100 patients were included for H. pylori eradication, and 40 patients for other indications. The albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were measured at baseline and three months later. Both vonoprazan and lansoprazole significantly reduced ACR from baseline levels after 3 months ( p  < 0.05). However, the reduction in albuminuria was significantly greater in the vonoprazan group compared to the lansoprazole group, regardless of H. pylori diagnosis or eradication success ( p  < 0.05). Treatment type was a significant predictor, with a standardized beta of 0.555. Patients receiving vonoprazan experienced a 19.2-unit increase in the percentage change of ACR compared to those receiving lansoprazole (β = 19.219, 95% CI [13.62-24.817]). Additionally, vonoprazan-treated patients showed significant improvement in eGFR after 3 months compared to baseline levels ( p  < 0.05), with this improvement being superior to that observed with lansoprazole ( p  < 0.05). Vonoprazan may have a direct renal effect, warranting further research to elucidate its mechanism in reducing albuminuria.

Surface based real time monitoring in horizontal smart wells eliminates downhole sensors

Development of flipped classroom module fcm for music theory instruction: An innovative approach to music education

Conventional lecture-based instruction in music theory often falls short in fostering deep engagement, critical thinking, and applied musicianship—particularly in educational contexts shaped by teacher-centered traditions. This study presents the design, implementation, and empirical evaluation of a Flipped Classroom Module (FCM) tailored to undergraduate music theory instruction in Chinese higher education. Grounded in a tripartite theoretical framework integrating Self-Directed Learning, Course Development Theory, and Collaborative Learning Theory. The module employs a three-phase instructional sequence—pre-class preparation, in-class collaboration, and post-class reflection—delivered through a customized learning management system. A quasi-experimental design (N = 60) compared the FCM group with a traditional instruction control group across both cognitive and practical learning domains. Validated pre- and post-tests assessed music-theoretical knowledge and applied skills, and statistical analyses (independent and paired-sample t-tests) revealed significant learning gains in the FCM group (p < .05). Beyond confirming the pedagogical efficacy of the flipped approach, the study demonstrates how culturally responsive instructional design can enhance accessibility, learner autonomy, and instructional coherence within constrained curricular environments. The findings contribute to ongoing international discourse on digital transformation in higher music education and offer a replicable framework for theory-informed, discipline-specific flipped pedagogy.

Quality of life after laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair with fibrin glue versus tack mesh fixation

Abstract Mechanical methods are hypothesized to have postoperative pain and more seroma formation than non-mechanical methods due to tissue trauma. Therefore, the current prospective cohort study aimed to assess postoperative pain and quality-of-life (QoL) after fibrin glue versus tack mesh fixation. From July 2022 to December 2023, 80 patients sought TEP at the Suez Canal University Hospitals outpatient clinic. Participants were divided into two groups based on mesh fixation: the Fibrin glue group (FG) and the Tack group (TG). The purpose of this study was to compare the rate of post-operative complications, post-operative pain, length of hospital stays, and wound complications. In the meantime, the two groups QoL were compared using the SF-36 scoring questionnaire and the Caroline Comfort score (CCS). The patients in TG had higher operative time (84.5 ± 5.5 min) compared to patients in FG (78.3 ± 6.4); without statistical significance ( p  = 0.21). The FG had a statistically significant shorter length of hospital stay compared to TG ( p  = 0.02) although the duration till initiation of weight bearing did not have statistical difference between both groups ( p  = 0.09). With a 30-day postoperative follow-up period, overall, there was no difference between both groups regarding the development of postoperative urine retention, seroma or wound infection ( p  = 0.09, 0.32, 0.3; respectively). Furthermore, after 6 months, FG had a higher overall QoL score using both CCS and SF-36 questionnaire ( P  = 0.001 and 0.02; respectively). Glue fixation may have a better quality of life and less postoperative pain; however further clinical trials are still needed.

Research on the emerging technological intervention models in design education from a strategic perspective of global design education institutions

Bilateral valvular involvement in infective endocarditis: A clinically distinct entity? A multicenter retrospective study

Background Infective endocarditis (IE), an infection of the cardiac endothelium, is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. IE cases vary substantially based on their valvular involvement, both in terms of risk factors and severity. This study describes patient characteristics and outcomes associated with valvular involvement in IE. Methods Data for this multicenter, retrospective study were obtained from electronic medical chart review of adult patients hospitalized for their index admission for IE between January 2014- January 2018 in the Appalachian region, USA. Descriptive summary statistics are presented by valvular involvement: (1) Left-sided Infective Endocarditis (LSIE): aortic/mitral valve; (2) Right-sided Infective Endocarditis (RSIE): tricuspid/pulmonary valve; and (3) Bilateral Infective Endocarditis (BLIE): right and left-sided. Multivariable logistic regression analysis examined the association of valvular involvement with intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Results Overall, 726 patients with IE were included in this retrospective study that provides a novel analysis of IE valvular involvement, highlighting how patient characteristics, comorbidities, substance use behaviors, and clinical outcomes differ across LSIE, RSIE, and BLIE presentations. Drug use, the presence of one or two comorbidities, and bilateral or left-sided valve involvement were independently associated with increased odds of ICU admission. Notably, patients with BLIE experienced a greater clinical burden, requiring more frequent specialist consultations, increased use of pain management services, higher mortality, and a higher rate of surgical interventions. Conclusion BLIE represents a clinically distinct IE subgroup characterized by dual vulnerabilities: high-risk substance use behaviors associated with RSIE, and medical complexity typically seen in LSIE. Our findings underscore the importance of including BLIE as a distinct category in future epidemiological and clinical investigations of endocarditis valvular involvement.