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Safety of median nerve electrical stimulation in disorders of consciousness: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background Median nerve electrical stimulation (MNS) is a noninvasive treatment technique that can improve the brain functional activity of patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC) and promote their awakening. However, there is no research on whether MNS increases the incidence and severity of DoC complications. In this study, we evaluated the safety of MNS for the treatment of DoC. Methods We searched relevant studies in PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science (Medline), and Chinese databases, including CNKI, VIP, and WanFang Databases. For dichotomous outcomes, the pooled risk ratio (RR) with its 95% confidence interval (CI) was used as the effect estimate. We applied a fixed-effects or random-effects model to test the robustness of the forecast. A funnel plot was used to test for publication bias. Heterogeneity was evaluated using I². Subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis were also performed. The quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. This study protocol has been registered in PROSPERO. Results The results of the meta-analysis showed that MNS may not increase the incidence of complications and adverse events such as seizures, increased sympathetic activity, arrhythmia, nausea and vomiting, lethargy, pulmonary infection, intracranial hemorrhage or hematoma, and gastrointestinal bleeding in DoC patients. However, the methodological quality of most studies was poor, and accurate conclusions could not be drawn. Conclusion MNS does not increase the incidence of DoC complications and adverse events, however, the quality of evidence for it’s safety is low and high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to further confirm this conclusion.

Unusual fossil skin appendage is not a feather

AI-Driven fetal distress monitoring SDN-IoMT networks

The healthcare industry is transforming with the integration of the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) with AI-powered networks for improved clinical connectivity and advanced monitoring capabilities. However, IoMT devices struggle with traditional network infrastructure due to complexity and eterogeneous. Software-defined networking (SDN) is a powerful solution for efficiently managing and controlling IoMT. Additionally, the integration of artificial intelligence such as Deep Learning (DL) algorithms brings intelligence and decision-making capabilities to SDN-IoMT systems. This study focuses on solving the serious problem of information imbalance in cardiotocography (CTG) characteristics with clinical data of pregnant women, especially fetal heart rate (FHR) and deceleration. To improve the performance of prenatal monitoring, this study proposes a framework using Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN), an advanced DL technique, with an auto-encoder model. FHR and deceleration are important markers in CTG monitoring, which are important for assessing fetal health and preventing complications or death. The proposed framework solves the data imbalance problem using reconstruction error and Wasserstein distance-based GANs. The performance of the model is assessed through simulations performed using Mininet, according to criteria such as accuracy, recall, precision and F1 score. The proposed framework outperforms both the basic and advanced DL models and achieves an effective accuracy of 94.2% and an F1 score of 21.1% in very small classes. Validation using the CTU-UHB dataset confirms the significance compared to state-of-the-art solutions for handling unbalanced CTG data. These findings highlight the potential of AI and SDN-based IoMT to improve prenatal outcomes.

Decoding corporate communication strategies: Analysing mandatory published information under Pillar 3 across turbulent periods with unsupervised machine learning

This study explores the communication patterns of Slovak banks with stakeholders through mandatory disclosures mandated by Basel III’s Pillar 3 framework and annual reports in 2007−2022. Our primary objective is to identify key topics communicated by banks and analysing the sentiment of this communication during turbulent periods (i.e., alternating periods of stability and crisis) in 2007−2022. Textual data was collected from Pillar 3 disclosures, annual reports, and additional regulatory reports. A hybrid model was developed to extract the most important keywords from each collected document chapter. This hybrid model (model combining multiple approaches) combines elements of statistical approaches to keyword extraction, (keyword frequency dictionary), linguistic approaches (pair-of-speech tagging in order to select noun-phrases), and machine-learning based approaches (BERT) to extract meaningful keywords. Subsequently, a sentiment analysis was performed on the extracted keywords using a Loughran-McDonald lexicon (list of words labelled with sentiment) specially designed for financial texts. Based on the adjusted univariate results, we can reject the global null hypothesis of independence of the sentiment category of keywords from time for negative sentiment at p = 0.0000 for positive sentiment at p = 0.0005, and for neutral sentiment at p = 0.0000 significant level. The multilevel comparison revealed that negative sentiment was most frequent during the global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, likely impacting stakeholder confidence and trust. Conversely, positive sentiment dominated during periods of financial stability, potentially enhancing stakeholder satisfaction and investment decisions. This research points out that the sentiment of the selected commercial bank documents changes depending on the years. A commercial bank can use this knowledge and include sentiment information as predictors when modelling financial distress. For bank management of selected commercial bank the examined documents are an important communication tool, the wording of which can have a significant impact on stakeholder behaviour towards the bank, their styling is very important.

Protect the integrity of the US National Institutes of Health

CSCA-YOLOv8: A lightweight network model for evaluating drought resistance in mung bean

Drought is one of the main factors affecting mung bean production in China. Screening drought-resistant germplasm resources and cultivating drought-resistant varieties are of great significance to the development of the mung bean industry in China. Combined with chlorophyll fluorescence imaging technology, this paper proposes a lightweight mung bean drought resistance identification network model based on YOLOv8, referred to as CSCA-YOLOv8. The model uses StarNet to replace the backbone network of YOLOv8 to reduce the size of the model. The C2f_Star module is introduced in the neck structure instead of the original C2f module. Then, in order to enhance the network’s attention to the key regions in the feature map, the Context Anchor Attention Mechanism (CAA) module is also introduced into the fourth C2f_Star module. Then, a CGBD module is proposed in the neck structure to reconstruct the ordinary convolution to improve the feature extraction ability of the model for small targets. Finally, the SIoU loss function is used to replace CIoU to accelerate the convergence of the model. In the actual data analysis, we used the collected 4808 chlorophyll fluorescence images of the natural mung bean population under drought stress to make the Mungbean Drought Datatset(MDD) and made classification labels for each image according to different drought resistance levels, which were 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. We also verified the excellent performance and generalization performance of the model using the collected MDD dataset. The final experimental results show that compared with the YOLOv8s baseline model, the number of parameters of our proposed algorithm is reduced by 24%, the floating point number is reduced by 35%, and the accuracy is improved by 2.52%, which supports the deployment on embedded edge devices with limited computing power. Therefore, our proposed algorithm has great potential in the field of drought resistance identification and germplasm selection of mung bean.

Academic language has become a proxy for European culture wars

Increasing proportion of mildly aged population in rural mitigates farmland abandonment in the farming-pastoral ecotone of northern China

Rural population aging has emerged as a widespread phenomenon, which can lead to farmland abandonment and pose unprecedented challenges to agricultural production and ecological sustainability in the farming-pastoral ecotone of northern China (FPENC). The dynamic changes in farmland abandonment from 2000 to 2020 were systematically explored using a trajectory-based land use change detection approach. Binary logit regression models were employed to analyze the driving mechanism of the current farmland abandonment based on 1,195 questionnaires, and then random forest models were used to predict future farmland abandonment trends under various scenarios. The results showed that (1) rural population aging had emerged as a significant challenge for Ulanqab, with the proportion of people aged 60 and above increasing from 12.3% in 2000 to 44.9% in 2020. Members of mildly aged households (60–69) were identified as the main agricultural labor force, accounting for 46.6%; (2) an overall downward trend of farmland abandonment was observed, decreasing from 295 km2 in 2000 to 273 km2 in 2020. However, the abandonment rate increased slightly from 3.03% to 3.66%, with higher abandonment rates concentrated in northern Ulanqab; (3) an increase in the proportion of the mildly aged population mitigated farmland abandonment, while an increase in the proportion of the severely aged population (≥70) exacerbated it. When other conditions remained unchanged, a 5% and 10% increase in the proportion of the mildly aged population corresponded to a decrease in farmland abandonment rates to 11.4% and 10.5%, respectively; (4) the mechanisms underlying abandonment behavior differed between young and elderly households. For each additional year of age for elderly households, the probability of farmland abandonment increased by 4.1%. Elderly households with higher levels of education, fewer farm laborers, smaller per capita farmland area, a higher proportion of dryland, larger quantities of farmland, and non-contracted farmland were more likely to abandon farmland; (5) under three Shared Socioeconomic Pathway scenarios (SSP1, SSP2, and SSP5), the proportion of abandoned farmland by farmers was projected to rise to 58.8%, 20.1%, and 58.8%, respectively. These findings provided new insights into the issue of abandoned farmland, particularly from a demographic perspective.

Mechanical underwater adhesive devices for soft substrates

Abstract Achieving long-term underwater adhesion to dynamic, regenerating soft substrates that undergo extreme fluctuations in pH and moisture remains a major unresolved challenge, with far-reaching implications for healthcare, manufacturing, robotics and marine applications1–16. Here, inspired by remoras—fish equipped with specialized adhesive discs—we developed the Mechanical Underwater Soft Adhesion System (MUSAS). Through detailed anatomical, behavioural, physical and biomimetic investigations of remora adhesion on soft substrates, we uncovered the key physical principles and evolutionary adaptations underlying their robust attachment. These insights guided the design of MUSAS, which shows extraordinary versatility, adhering securely to a wide range of soft substrates with varying roughness, stiffness and structural integrity. MUSAS achieves an adhesion-force-to-weight ratio of up to 1,391-fold and maintains performance under extreme pH and moisture conditions. We demonstrate its utility across highly translational models, including in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo settings, enabling applications such as ultraminiaturized aquatic kinetic temperature sensors, non-invasive gastroesophageal reflux monitoring, long-acting antiretroviral drug delivery and messenger RNA administration via the gastrointestinal tract.

Psychological distress and compliance with sanitary measures during the Covid-19 pandemic

Background This study aims to understand the relationship between the experience of psychological distress and compliance with COVID-19 sanitary measures. We testeed whether this relationship was modified by individuals’ gender and socioeconomic status (i.e., educational level and employment). Methods Data from four European cohort studies (n = 13,635), were analysed using an Individual Participant Data (IPD) meta-analytic approach. Mixed effect models were employed to examine associations between mental health difficulties and compliance with sanitary measures, as well as effect modification by socioeconomic status. Statistical models were stratified by gender. Results We found a statistically significant association between mental health difficulties and increased compliance with sanitary measures in women, while amongst men the statistically significant association observed was opposite. Moreover, there was a statistically significant interaction between participants’ educational level and mental health difficulties amongst men only, indicating especially low compliance levels with COVID-19 sanitary measures amongst individuals with only primary schooling and who reported psychological distress. Conclusion The association between psychological distress and compliance with sanitary measures is complex–positive in women, negative in men. Men experiencing mental health difficulties, especially those with lower educational attainment, exhibit low levels of compliance with sanitary measures. These results suggest that psychological distress and its possible consequences should be considered when designing measures addressing infectious disease spread.

Independent association of weight-adjusted waist index with asthma in U.S. adolescents: Mediating roles of eosinophil percentage, total cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol

Background Obesity is a risk factor for asthma in adolescents. “Although body mass index (BMI) is the most widely used metric for assessing obesity, it has several limitations. The weight-adjusted waist index (WWI) is a novel central obesity indicator and accurately reflects body composition. We aimed to explore the association of WWI with asthma in adolescents using NHANES 1999–2020 data. Methods WWI was calculated based on waist circumference (cm) divided by the square root of weight (kg). Current asthma status in adolescents was determined based on participants’ self-reports. Multivariate logistic regression analysis, restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis, mediation analysis, and stratified analysis were used to comprehensively explore this association. Results A total of 15,796 adolescents were included. In the fully adjusted model, WWI was positively associated with current asthma in adolescents (odds ratio 1.252, 95% confidence interval 1.125–1.392, p = 0.0001). Participants in the highest WWI quartile (Q4) showed a 54.5% higher prevalence of asthma compared to Q1 (p for trend = 0.0007).. RCS modeling indicated that the association was linear. Mediation analyses indicated that blood eosinophil percentage (EOS%), total cholesterol (TC), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) partially mediated this association by 9.89% (p < 0.0001), 7.47% (p = 0.048), and 8.24% (p = 0.044), respectively. This association was independent of BMI, and BMI also did not significantly interact with this association (p for interaction = 0.682). Conclusions WWI was linearly and positively associated with the prevalence of current asthma among U.S. adolescents, independently of BMI. EOS%, TC, and HDL-C partially mediated this association.

Methodological establishment and diagnostic value of a multiplex fluorescent PCR assay for the detection of three fastidious respiratory pathogens

Background Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis are common fastidious bacteria responsible for respiratory tract infections, particularly in children and immunocompromised individuals. Due to their demanding growth requirements, traditional culture methods often yield low sensitivity and delayed results, posing challenges for early and accurate diagnosis. Objective To establish a TaqMan probe-based multiplex fluorescent PCR method for the simultaneous rapid detection and identification of three important respiratory fastidious pathogens: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis. Methods By designing and optimizing TaqMan probes and primers targeting Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis, the sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility of the TaqMan probe-based multiplex fluorescent PCR assay were examined. A total of 173 clinical samples which are sputum and alveolar lavage fluid were tested simultaneously using traditional culture methods and multiplex fluorescent PCR assays, and the results were compared for consistency. For samples with inconsistent detection results, targeted high-throughput sequencing (tNGS) was used for confirmation. Results The limit of detection of the TaqMan probe-based multiplex fluorescent PCR method was 100 Copies/ml for Streptococcus pneumoniae, 20 Copies/ml for Haemophilus influenzae, and 50 Copies/ml for Moraxella catarrhalis. The detection rate of the multiplex fluorescent PCR method was in high concordance with traditional culture methods and tNGS in the 173 clinical samples (Kappa = 0.819). The multiplex fluorescent PCR method demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity, detecting more cases of mixed infections. Conclusion The multiplex fluorescent PCR method established in this study provides a powerful tool for rapid and accurate clinical detection of fastidious respiratory pathogens, with significant clinical application value and promotion prospects. This method offers substantial advantages over traditional culture methods in terms of detection speed and sensitivity, particularly in detecting mixed infections, and has significant potential for clinical application and widespread adoption.

Researchers in dismay as US exits world science body UNESCO … again

Accuracy assessment of digital impressions with varied scanning paths in partially edentulous ridges with mobile abutment teeth: An in vitro comparative study

Background Periodontal prosthesis or removable partial dentures are essential treatments for partially edentulous dentition with periodontal issues. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of digital impressions obtained through an intra-oral scanner, employing different scanning paths versus conventional impressions in partially edentulous ridges with mobile abutment teeth. Methods Eight lower Kennedy class I and class III models were employed as test models. The abutment teeth in these models were subjected to various mobility grades, according to the Miller classification. Reference data was generated by scanning the test models using an extra-oral laboratory scanner. An intra-oral scanner (TRIOS 4; V21; 3Shape A/S) was used to obtain ten digital impressions following two different scanning paths (Scan path A and Scan path B). For conventional impressions, two impression materials (Monophase polyether and Polyvinyl siloxane) were used to create ten impressions with a one-step technique. Working stone casts were produced and converted to digital data. Accuracy was assessed by analyzing the deviation between test data (digital and conventional data) and the reference data using 3D software (Geomagic Control X). The data was analysis using sequential tests, including two-way and one-way ANOVA, and paired t-tests (p < 0.05). Results Digital impressions obtained through an intra-oral scanner exhibited significantly higher accuracy. Within the digital impression category, those recommended by the manufacturer obtained using scan path A showed lower deviations than those acquired through scan path B. Considering the degree of tooth mobility, models with GII and GIII mobile RPD abutment teeth displayed significantly higher deviations (p < 0.001) than those with G0, GI across all impression techniques. The accuracy of conventional impressions with GII and GIII mobility was clinically unacceptable (deviation >200µm). Conclusion For partially edentulous cases with mobile abutment teeth, digital impressions exhibited superior accuracy for G0, GI. Following the manufacturer-recommended scanning protocol in scan path A can improve the accuracy of impressions. Furthermore, if there is persistent mobility, particularly in GII and GIII, the use of final conventional impressions is forbidden.

Methodology of community-based venous blood specimen collection for the harmonized diagnostic assessment of dementia for the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI-DAD): Wave 2

The prevalence of dementia is on the rise, with 60% of dementia cases existing in low- and middle-income countries. In India, the prevalence was reported to be 7.4%. Since the pathophysiology of dementia is multifactorial, the Harmonized Longitudinal Aging Study in India for the Diagnostic Assessment of Dementia (LASI-DAD) collected data to capture multiple domains, including venous blood specimens (VBS). VBS collection and assays help ascertain the overall health status of an individual, understand disease pathogenesis, and diagnose diseases. In community settings, blood assays also help identify disease trends. However, community VBS collections can often be challenging. Sample quality can be impaired due to individual, environmental, geographical, and pre-analytical processing factors. Therefore, standardization of the process is imperative to ensure biomarker data of high accuracy. LASI-DAD developed a systematic sample collection, shipment, processing, and storage protocol. Multiple checkpoints were in place to monitor sample quality in real time. A phlebotomist was trained from each participating state for specimen collection. All samples were centrally tested for analytes. The overall response rate for blood collection was 71.5%. We collected 17 mL of VBS from 3,252 respondents, who consented to participate. Blood samples were tested for routine analytes, and those specific to Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD). Data was reviewed fortnightly. The median cold chain temperature was 6.2°C and hemolysis was seen in 6.7% of the samples. LASI-DAD standardized and implemented VBS collection while overcoming the challenges faced due to India’s diverse socio-demographic, geographical, and environmental conditions. This methodology can serve as a robust tool for VBS handling and ensuring high sample quality for future community-based studies.

Association between transfer for surgery and mortality and disability among neonates in high income countries—A systematic review with meta-analysis

Birthing in a hospital with on-site surgical facilities (co-located care) is considered preferable for neonates with surgical conditions. However, it may not always be feasible. Whether transfer of surgical neonates from birth hospital to a surgical facility affects the outcomes of this cohort is unclear. We conducted a systematic review to investigate the association of birth location/transfer with all-cause mortality and disability among neonates with congenital/acquired surgical conditions. Data Sources from PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science were searched till December 2024. Studies from high-income countries (HICs) comparing infants transferred to a surgical center for surgery versus infants born and operated in a co-located care facility were included. Random effects model was used for meta-analysis. The quality of studies and certainty of evidence were assessed using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the GRADE framework respectively. The primary outcomes of interest were all-cause mortality and neurodevelopmental impairment at latest follow up. A total of 61 studies from 20 HICs were included. Compared to co-located care, transfer for surgery did not increase the odds of risk-adjusted and crude mortality in neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia [adjusted odds ratio (aOR):0.86 (0.49 to 1.49), 5 studies, 8366 infants; crude OR:0.68 (0.51 to 0.91, i.e., decreased mortality), 22 studies, 12970 infants], critical congenital heart disease [aOR:0.79 (0.42 to 1.48), 3 studies, 13485 infants; OR:1.04 (0.66 to 1.64), 10 studies, 14447 infants], surgical necrotizing enterocolitis [aOR:0.99 (0.61 to 1.61), 4 studies, 5891 infants; OR:1.03 (0.64 to 1.65), 5 studies, 5915 infants], gastroschisis [aOR:1.07 (0.68 to 1.68), 2 studies, 5294 infants; OR:0.80 (0.48 to 1.35), 11 studies, 8708 infants], tracheo-oesophageal fistula [aOR:0.97 (0.39 to 2.39), 1 study, 937 infants; OR:0.62 (0.37 to 1.04), 4 studies, 4050 infants], congenital or perinatal intestinal conditions [OR:2.69 (0.26 to 28.34), 4 studies, 1799 infants]. Neurodevelopmental outcomes between the groups were comparable in the three studies that reported this outcome. Whilst many included studies were of good quality, certainty of evidence was very low due to their observational design and heterogeneity. In conclusion, transfer of neonates from the birth hospital to another facility for surgical intervention was not associated with increased risk of mortality or disability. The evidence from this comprehensive meta-analysis would be useful for clinicians, parents and health policy makers. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD 42024565651.

Comparative analysis of Egypt’s malaria elimination strategies and implementation science: Pathways to achieve malaria-free status for other African countries

Background Malaria elimination is a critical public health goal, particularly in Africa, where the disease disproportionately affects vulnerable populations. Egypt’s success in achieving World Health Organization (WHO) malaria-free certification on October 20, 2024, through an evidence-based malaria elimination program, offers a valuable model for replication. Our study is identified as an implementation study, evaluating the evidence-based interventions deployed, the implementation strategy tested, and its outcomes to provide insights for scaling similar programs across Africa. A RE-AIM-informed lens was applied to better articulate how contextual factors, intervention reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance influenced observed outcomes. Methods We adopted a retrospective implementation science approach to analyze Egypt’s malaria elimination program. The implementation strategy focused on high-priority malaria-endemic regions, targeting vulnerable groups such as children under five and pregnant women. Interventions included vector control measures, such as insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), indoor residual spraying (IRS), antimalarial treatment protocols, and public health education campaigns. Key implementation strategies included workforce training, multilevel stakeholder engagement, integrated data-driven decision-making, and community mobilization. Our study evaluated key implementation outcomes, including fidelity, feasibility, acceptability (measured using a custom-designed tool assessing stakeholder and community perceptions of the interventions), and adaptability alongside health outcomes such as incidence reduction, treatment coverage, and community awareness. Economic evaluations and process analyses provided additional insights into cost-effectiveness and operational efficiency. Results The implementation strategy targeted malaria-endemic regions, achieving a 92% recruitment rate, focusing on vulnerable groups such as children under five (37%) and pregnant women (12%). 78% of the recipient population adhered to preventive measures like insecticide-treated nets (ITNs). The program reduced malaria incidence by 96% over 15 years and achieved a 94% reduction in Anopheles mosquito density. Active surveillance led to the detection of 98% of cases within 48 hours of symptom onset, while treatment coverage reached 91%. Community awareness of malaria prevention increased to 84% by the program’s conclusion. Economic evaluations revealed a cost per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted of $24, with an estimated $1.5 billion saved in healthcare costs and productivity losses over 15 years. Sub-group analyses highlighted higher adherence rates in urban areas (89%) compared to rural areas (73%) and significant reductions in malaria-related complications among pregnant women (78%). Implementation outcomes included high fidelity (93%) to planned strategies, high feasibility across urban and rural contexts, and successful adaptability to emerging challenges such as insecticide resistance and funding fluctuations. Routine monitoring systems, continuous feedback loops, and responsive adaptation mechanisms were central to achieving these outcomes. Acceptability scores averaged 87% across stakeholders, reflecting strong alignment with community values, trust in health authorities, and perceived relevance of interventions. Conclusion Egypt’s malaria elimination strategies exemplify the effective integration of implementation science into public health programs. Key success factors included community engagement, robust surveillance systems, and cost-effective resource allocation. The intentional use of implementation strategies and documented outcomes demonstrate alignment with the RE-AIM framework, reinforcing the program’s relevance for broader application. Future efforts should emphasize tailored interventions, capacity building, transparent assessment of acceptability, and sustainable funding mechanisms to replicate Egypt’s success.

Crystal structure of the fungal mannosyltransferase Och1 reveals active site primed for N-glycan binding

The outermost layer of a fungi’s cell wall serves as the organism’s point of first contact with its environment, or host. Heavily glycosylated glycoproteins anchor a complex meshwork of branching mannose chains, forming the outer cell wall layer in most yeast and mold species. Outer mannan chains are composed of large polymannose branching glycans attached to the universal eukaryotic N-glycan GlcNAc2Man8 core. Synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum, the core N-glycan is transferred to the Golgi apparatus, where the first fungi-specific reaction takes place. In the cis-Golgi, Och1 (Outer chain elongation 1) plays a central role in initiating outer mannan cell wall synthesis by transferring a single α-1,6-mannose residue to the N-GlcNAc2Man8 core. Playing a vital role in fungal biology, fungal cell wall synthesis proteins have long since been thought as attractive options in the search for a fungi-specific drug target. Saccharomyces cerevisiae Δ52-Och1 was expressed in Pichia pastoris. Here, the first X-ray crystal structure of a fungal Och1 protein is reported, determined to 2.0 Å. Molecular modeling of ligand binding and sequence analysis has revealed a highly conserved substrate binding site, rationalizing Och1 target specificity for the N-GlcNAc2Man8 glycan.

Triassic diapsid shows early diversification of skin appendages in reptiles

Psychometric properties of the smartphone addiction scale-short version (SAS-SV) in Honduran university students

Problematic smartphone use (PSU) is a global issue associated with numerous adverse outcomes, especially among young people. One of the most widely used instruments to evaluate PSU is the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV). This study examined the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the SAS-SV, including factorial validity, convergent validity, divergent validity, and reliability. The final sample comprised 530 students from a university in Honduras. Confirmatory factor analysis provided evidence supporting the validity of the instrument’s internal structure. Reliability was estimated using McDonald’s omega and Cronbach’s alpha coefficients. Convergent validity was assessed through correlations with problematic Internet use, depression, anxiety, and stress. Measurement invariance tests were conducted across sex and age categories. The results indicated that the SAS-SV adequately fits a one-dimensional, reliable model and demonstrated measurement equivalence across groups of sex and age. Finally, the SAS-SV demonstrated a strong correlation with problematic Internet use, depression, anxiety, and stress. These findings support the SAS-SV as a valid and reliable instrument for examining PSU among university students in Honduras.