Browse Articles

Perceived social contribution and its associations with political participation

Many people who are eligible to participate in the political process do not, suggesting the interests of a large portion of the electorate are not adequately represented in government. While some past work has found that subjective well-being is related to political engagement, less is known about which specific aspects of well-being might drive this effect. We propose and test the idea that self-perceived social contribution – the belief that one’s life and everyday activities provide something of value to society – is related to multiple forms of political participation, likely because people who believe they provide something of value to society feel more integrated with society and therefore may be more likely to act on its behalf via political participation. Two correlational studies (N = 3,729) with data from distinct points in American politics (1996 and 2024) find that individuals with greater self-perceived social contribution were more likely to intend to vote, be willing to engage in activism, seek rather than avoid election information (Study 1), and donate to and volunteer for political causes (Study 2). Further, Study 2 provides empirical support for the previously theorized components of social contribution, providing evidence that self-efficacy and social responsibility underlie this construct in political contexts. Together, these studies identify a specific dimension of well-being that is related to multiple forms of political participation and suggests that fostering feelings of social contribution may promote democratic engagement.

Microbial consortia-mediated rice residue decompositon for eco-friendly management

Human papilloma virus vaccination uptake and associated factors among adolescent girls in Merab Abaya district, Gamo zone, Southern Ethiopia: Mixed methods

Background Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is a well-established global strategy for the prevention of cervical cancer. However, the uptake of the vaccine varies across regions and countries due to several factors. Although girls are at risk for cervical cancer, there are limited studies measuring vaccination uptake among female adolescents in the study area. Objective To assess human papilloma virus vaccination uptake and associated factors among adolescent girls, in Merab Abaya district, Gamo Zone, southern Ethiopia, 2024. Method A community-based cross-sectional mixed-method study was conducted among 626 adolescent girls selected using a two-stage sampling technique in Merab Abaya District, Gamo Zone, from February 1 to March 30, 2024. For the qualitative component, participants were selected using a purposive sampling technique. Data were entered using EpiData version 4.62 and analyzed using SPSS version 26. Logistic regression was performed to examine the association between the dependent variable and associated factors. Variables with a p-value < 0.05 in the multivariate analysis were considered statistically significant. For qualitative data analysis, OpenCode 4.02 software was used to conduct thematic content analysis. Result A total of 601 adolescent girls participated in this study, yielding a response rate of 96%. Of these, 324 (53.9%; 95% CI: 49.9–57.9%) had received the human papillomavirus vaccine. Vaccine uptake was significantly associated with: Good knowledge about the HPV vaccine (AOR = 3.4; 95% CI: 2.14–5.38), A positive attitude toward the HPV vaccine (AOR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.02–2.78), Recommendation from health workers to get vaccinated (AOR = 3.8; 95% CI: 2.25–6.50), Family support for vaccination (AOR = 7.1; 95% CI: 3.97–12.60). Qualitative findings identified mistrust of the HPV vaccine, irregular vaccine provision, and lack of information provision as major barriers to uptake. Conclusion In this study, nearly fifty-four percent of adolescent girls had received the HPV vaccine. The overall uptake of the HPV vaccine among adolescent girls remains low. Good knowledge about the HPV vaccine, a positive attitude toward it, recommendations from health workers, and family support were significantly associated with vaccine uptake. Therefore, health facilities and schools should strengthen community-based health education aimed at promoting behavioral change regarding the HPV vaccine and focus on creating various training opportunities for health workers and teachers.

Benchmarking feature projection methods in radiomics

Abstract In radiomics, feature selection methods are primarily used to eliminate redundant features and identify relevant ones. Feature projection methods, such as principal component analysis (PCA), are often avoided due to concerns that recombining features may compromise interpretability. However, since most radiomic features lack inherent semantic meaning, prioritizing interpretability over predictive performance may not be justified. This study investigates whether feature projection methods can improve predictive performance compared to feature selection, as measured by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), the area under the precision-recall curve (AUPRC), and the F1, F0.5 and F2 scores. Models were trained on a large collection of 50 binary classification radiomic datasets derived from CT and MRI of various organs and representing different clinical outcomes. Evaluation was performed using nested, stratified 5-fold cross-validation with 10 repeats. Nine feature projection methods, including PCA, Kernel PCA, and Non-Negative Matrix Factorization (NMF), were compared to nine selection methods, such as Minimum Redundancy Maximum Relevance (MRMRe), Extremely Randomized Trees (ET), and LASSO, using four classifiers. The results showed that selection methods, particularly ET, MRMRe, Boruta, and LASSO, achieved the highest overall performance. Importantly, performance varied considerably across datasets, and some projection methods, such as NMF, occasionally outperformed all selection methods on individual datasets, indicating their potential utility. However, the average difference between selection methods and projection methods across all datasets was negligible and statistically insignificant, suggesting that both perform similarly based solely on methodological considerations. These findings support the notion that, in a typical radiomics study, selection methods should remain the primary approach but also emphasize the importance of considering projection methods in order to achieve the highest performance.

Southern European Prospective Investigation Into Childhood Cancer and Nutrition (EPICkids): Study design and protocol

The survival rates for children with cancer have increased appreciably over the last few decades; however, childhood cancer survivors continue to suffer from long-lasting sequelae. Studies have demonstrated that the presence of malnutrition, over- and under-nutrition, at diagnosis or the duration of malnutrition during treatment is associated with increased toxicity, infection, and inferior survival. Dietary habits, along with behavioral and socioeconomic status, are known factors that lead to obesity or undernutrition and can affect the prognosis and quality of life of children with cancer. Unfortunately, the underlying mechanisms responsible for these observations are largely unknown. To address this gap in science, we established the EPICkids cohort study, an initiative of the International Initiative for Pediatrics and Nutrition at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization. Over a 5-year period, children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and brain tumors receiving treatment in Spain, Italy, or Greece will be recruited. Clinical data and biospecimens (blood and stool) will be collected at designated timepoints in therapy. At the same time, several surveys will be administered to collect data on sociodemographics, physical activity, quality of life, food insecurity, and dietary habits. The primary aim of EPICkids is to develop a large informative nutrition biobank and database to investigate the etiologic pathways that connect nutritional status and lifestyle factors with clinical outcomes in children and adolescents with cancer. Secondary aims are to create evidence-based guidelines for European children with cancer in this understudied region and to ultimately improve the quality of life of those children and adolescents. The ClinicalTrials.gov ID for EPICkids study is NCT05375617.

Enhancing cybersecurity in virtual power plants by detecting network based cyber attacks using an unsupervised autoencoder approach

Abstract The increasing adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) in energy systems has brought significant advancements but also heightened cyber security risks. Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), which aggregate distributed renewable energy resources into a single entity for participation in energy markets, are particularly vulnerable to cyber-attacks due to their reliance on modern information and communication technologies. Cyber-attacks targeting devices, networks, or specific goals can compromise system integrity. Common attack types include Denial of Service (DoS), Man-in-the-Middle (MITM), and False Data Injection Attacks (FDIA).Among these threats, FDIA are especially concerning as they manipulate critical operational data, such as bid prices and energy quantities, to disrupt system reliability, market stability, and financial performance. This study proposes an unsupervised Autoencoder (AE) deep learning approach to detect FDIA in VPP systems. The methodology is validated on a 9-bus and IEEE-39 bus test system modeled in MATLAB Simulink, encompassing renewable energy sources, energy storage systems, and variable loads. Time-series data generated over 1,000 days is used for training, validation, and testing the AE model. The results demonstrate the model’s ability to detect anomalies with high accuracy by analyzing reconstruction errors. By identifying false data, the approach ensures system reliability, protects against financial losses, and maintains energy market stability. This work highlights the importance of advanced machine learning techniques in enhancing cyber security for IoT-based energy systems and ensuring secure VPP operations.

Gene expression profiling and pathway analysis in acute myeloid leukaemia-normal karyotype patients

Acute myeloid leukaemia-normal karyotype (AML-NK) exhibits heterogeneity in expression profiles, influencing the treatment response and survival outcome. Transcriptome sequencing allows a comprehensive analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and dysregulated pathways in AML-NK, shedding light on the molecular mechanisms and their implications in patients’ management. DEG analyses utilising transcriptome sequencing were conducted using a customised DESeq2 pipeline on 51 AML-NK patients at diagnosis (DX), 12 AML-NK patients who attained first remission (CR1) and 12 healthy controls. The transcriptomic sequencing of AML-NK compared to healthy controls revealed 5,126 DEGs, comprising 85.8% coding genes and 14.2% non-coding elements across 37 pathway categories. The AML-NK DX versus CR1 identified 5,621 DEGs consisting of 84.7% coding genes and 15.3% non-coding elements affecting 20 categories of pathways. Gene set enrichment analysis in this study revealed consistent upregulation of proliferative pathways, including cell cycle and DNA replication. In contrast, immune-related pathways, such as cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions and MHC antigen presentation pathways, were downregulated. Overexpression of oncogenes (FLT3, MYB, DNMT3B, and MYCN) in DX vs CR1 samples reinforces their usefulness in minimal residual disease monitoring, especially in AML-NK with no genetic aberrations. These findings reiterate the known hallmarks of cancers and validate the transcriptomic dysregulation in the pathogenesis of AML-NK. The robustness of the transcriptome sequencing findings was confirmed by RT-qPCR validation of six genes that were not reported in AML-NK patients. The comprehensive analyses of pathways with dysregulation of a myriad of genes led to an understanding of AML-NK pathogenesis and highlighted the markers for minimal residual disease. In summary, this study performed the first transcriptome-wide analysis of AML-NK in a Malaysian cohort and underscored pathways that are candidates for therapeutic interventions.

Fuzzy controller-driven pattern search optimization for a DC–DC boost converter to enhance photovoltaic MPPT performance

Abstract This article demonstrates maximum power point tracking (MPPT) using a DC-DC boost converter. It introduces an intelligent control technique with fuzzy-based pattern search (PS) optimization for the MPPT controller, enhancing energy conversion efficiency. The fuzzy-PS approach is further refined with PA optimization. A comprehensive performance evaluation compares it with various optimization algorithms. The controller is tested under changes in irradiance and temperature, showing its performance against the Perturb and Observe (P&O) algorithm. The fuzzy controller is optimized to provide the best membership functions (MFs) using PS optimization, particle swarm optimization (PSO), and genetic algorithm (GA), with root mean square error (RMSE) as the objective function. PS optimization outperforms other algorithms. The fuzzy-PS optimization achieves the lowest RMSE of 0.6861 after 100 iterations, while fuzzy-GA and fuzzy-PSO reach RMSEs of 1.257 and 0.9454, respectively. The proposed fuzzy-PS MPPT controller effectively adapts to irradiance and temperature variations, achieving maximum power outputs up to 74.48 kW and Comparative evaluations revealed an average MPPT efficiency of 99.7%, demonstrating superior tracking performance compared to the P&O algorithm.

In Vitro synergy of Farnesyltransferase inhibitors in combination with colistin against ESKAPE bacteria

The emergence of antibiotic resistance continues to pose a significant global challenge. Drug repurposing, wherein existing therapeutics are evaluated for new applications, offers a promising strategy to address this issue. Farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTIs), initially developed for cancer therapy, have demonstrated antimicrobial activity against several gram-positive bacteria. This study investigates their activity in combination with colistin against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. We focus on key ESKAPE (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species) pathogens while incorporating additional bacterial strains to provide a comprehensive understanding of differential responses and potential dose-dependent synergistic effects. Antimicrobial susceptibility was assessed using broth microdilution, while synergy was evaluated through checkerboard, time-kill, and growth kinetics assays. When combined with sub-inhibitory colistin, FTIs inhibited gram-negative bacterial growth. Tipifarnib exhibited more potent antimicrobial activity against gram-negative strains than lonafarnib. Peptidomimetic FTIs, B581 and FTI-277, inhibited gram-negative bacteria in combination with colistin but had no effect on the gram-positive strains tested. In contrast, alpha-hydroxy farnesyl phosphonic acid, an FPP analog, and bempedoic acid, targeting the mevalonate pathway, showed no antibacterial activity. In addition to their known inhibition of gram-positive bacteria, FTIs exhibited efficacy against gram-negative bacteria, including colistin-resistant Enterobacter cloacae subsp. cloacae, when combined with sub-inhibitory colistin. This might be due to a mechanism distinct from their eukaryotic targets, potentially involving the disruption of multiple biosynthetic pathways. Future studies will focus on elucidating these mechanisms of FTIs and exploring the therapeutic potential of FTI/colistin combinations against ESKAPE and other multidrug-resistant pathogens.

Machine learning for the prediction of blood transfusion risk during or after mitral valve surgery: a multicenter retrospective cohort study

Bank complexity and core competence of commercial banks in Vietnam: The buffer role of corporate social responsibility

Based on stakeholder theory, socially responsible practices may help firms gain competitive advantages by lowering operational costs and enhancing their core competencies. From the perspective of the conglomerate hypothesis, we further suggest that CSR can act as a mechanism to reduce hidden risks, as firms, particularly banks, tend to diversify their activities more extensively. Using a sample of 26 commercial banks in Vietnam from 2010 to 2023, we test a set of hypotheses and find that engaging in CSR and diversifying operations are associated with lower risk exposure, greater financial stability, and improved asset quality. Moreover, the positive effects are more evident in large banks. In contrast, smaller banks may incur relatively higher costs when combining CSR efforts with operational complexity, potentially offsetting the benefits. Our study underscores the role of CSR as a foundation for income diversification and core competence enhancement, offering practical implications for policymakers in emerging countries to foster sustainable development in the banking sector.

Vertebral microstructure marks the emergence of pelagic ichthyosaurs soon after the End Permian Mass Extinction

Abstract Ichthyosaurs were the first fully marine tetrapods, and evolved a streamlined body, flippers, live birth, and endothermy-like physiology. However, the transition to these adaptations and how it relates to divergence into ocean environments is ambiguous. Here, we use vertebral bone microstructure to document the first ontogenetic series of two Early Triassic taxa that include the oldest ichthyosaur foetal fossils. One series is from Grippia, an early ichthyopterygian with a small body, and limbs with some plesiomorphic features. The other is a large, contemporaneous ichthyosaur, Cymbospondylus. Together, they phylogenetically bracket the ichthyopterygian-ichthyosaurian transition. Grippia has a unique microstructure with a distinctive compacted outer layer, whereas Cymbospondylus vertebrae are cancellous throughout, indicating a different ecology and swimming style. The dissimilar distribution of woven-parallel complex in the histology between the two taxa indicates that growth progressed at different speeds. We also document birth lines in ichthyosaurs for the first time. Pelagic, tail-propelled, rapid-growing ichthyosaurs were thus present less than five million years after the End Permian mass extinction, alongside more anguilliform ichthyopterygians. These data capture the ecological and evolutionary transition from reptiles with eel-like swimming to whale-like ichthyosaurs, implying a paradigm shift in ecology and physiology that paved the way for ichthyosaur radiation.

Comparison of peripheral venous and arterial blood gas in management of patients with respiratory complaints in the emergency department: A prospective observational cohort study

Introduction Although peripheral venous blood gas (pVBG) analysis is used in the Emergency Department (ED), its effect on clinical decision making is unknown. We assessed whether pVBG analysis combined with pulse oximetry could replace arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis to determine treatment and disposition of ED patients with respiratory complaints. In addition, we assessed agreement between venous and arterial values and pulse oximetry (SpO2). Method We performed a 12-week prospective observational study in ED patients with respiratory complaints. ABG and pVBG samples were drawn as simultaneously as possible, with a maximum of five minutes in between. Physicians initially determined treatment and disposition using pVBG results, after which they were shown the ABG results. Subsequent alterations in treatment and disposition were registered. We calculated pVBG and ABG mean differences (MDs) using Bland-Altman analysis and SaO2 and SpO2 MD and correlation using Passing-Bablok regression analysis and Bland-Altman analysis. Results In 56/154 (36.4%) patients, the ABG results changed the preliminary treatment and disposition. Most (57.5%) changes consisted of a change in supplemental oxygen therapy. The MDs (95% CIs) between pVBG and ABG results were: pH −0.04 (−0.05 to −0.04) pH units, bicarbonate 1.57 (1.20 to 1.93) mmol/l, pCO2 0.85 (0.70 to 0.99) kPa and lactate 0.34 (0.28 to 0.40) mmol/l. We found a good correlation between the SaO2 and SpO2. Conclusion In over one third of patients with respiratory complaints in the ED, ABG results changed treatment and/or disposition based on pVBG results. Most changes could be considered as minor. The arterial pO2 was most frequently mentioned as the reason for the changes.

Dual-self-learning co-evolutionary algorithm for energy-efficient flexible job shop scheduling problem with processing- transportation composite robots

Reversing metabolic dysregulation in farnesoid X receptor knockout mice via gut microbiota modulation

The farnesoid X receptor (FXR), expressed in the liver and in the small intestine, is a key regulator of glucose and lipid metabolism. Its pharmacological modulation is explored as a potential treatment for obesity-related metabolic impairments. To develop effective pharmacological interventions, it is crucial to differentiate the individual contributions of intestinal and hepatic FXR to lipid metabolism. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of intestinal FXR ablation on gut microbiome composition and metabolic potential in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. Additionally, we determined the genotype-specific effects of xanthohumol, a hop-derived ligand of FXR, known to mitigate metabolic dysfunction in HFD-fed mice. Intestinal FXR knockout prevented diet-induced obesity, a phenotype that correlated with a decrease in the predicted functional capacity of the gut microbiome. Intestinal FXR deficiency resulted in increased abundances of bacteria producing secondary bile acids, such as Oscillospira, and a decrease in beneficial bacteria, such as Akkermansia, both of which were mitigated by xanthohumol. Our findings provide insights to understand the contribution of intestinal FXR and gut microbiome to metabolic regulation under HFD conditions. We underscore the ability of xanthohumol to restore homeostasis, highlighting its potential to improve gut health.

Multiscale detection of power quality disturbances and cyber intrusions in smart grids using NSCT and frequency band scalograms

Abstract This paper presents a novel multiscale signal processing framework for power quality disturbance (PQD) and cyber intrusion detection in smart grids, combining Non-Subsampled Contourlet Transform (NSCT), Split Augmented Lagrangian Shrinkage Algorithm (SALSA), and Morphological Component Analysis (MCA). A key innovation lies in an adaptive weighting mechanism within NSCT’s directional sub bands, enabling dynamic energy redistribution and enhanced representation of both low-frequency anomalies (e.g., voltage sags/swells) and high-frequency distortions (e.g., harmonics, transients). SALSA-based sparse optimization achieves an average signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improvement of 12.8 dB, preserving essential transient structures, while MCA isolates fault-relevant morphological components for better interpretability. Extensive simulations on both synthetic signals and the IEEE 14-bus test system demonstrate detection accuracies of 98.6% for PQDs and 97.2% for cyber intrusions, including False Data Injection (FDI), Denial of Service (DoS), and Command Injection attacks. Each intrusion exhibits unique time-frequency scalogram signatures, which are effectively visualized using high-resolution, denoised 2D/3D spectrograms generated via adaptive Q-Factor Wavelet Transform (AQWT) and Short-Time Fourier Transform (STFT). Compared to baseline methods like STFT-only and DWT-SVM pipelines, the proposed NSCT-SALSA-MCA framework improves detection precision by 14–18%, reduces false positives by 22%, and remains robust under 30 dB noise and 20% data loss. Incorporating AI-driven anomaly detection and resilient state estimation further enables early flagging of compromised measurements, securing applications such as Economic Dispatch and Optimal Power Flow (OPF). The resulting scalograms provide interpretable visual insights, marking a significant advancement in smart grid monitoring with potential for real-time deployment at the edge.

Genetic and economic efficiencies of alternative breeding schemes for improvement of local breeds in low-input production systems: The case of the Farta sheep in Northwest Ethiopia

Designing and implementing a sound breeding program is essential for sustainably improving livestock productivity. This study evaluated the efficiencies of three breeding schemes for sustainable genetic improvement of indigenous sheep in low-input production systems. The schemes were one-stage selection at six months (Scheme I) or yearling age (Scheme II) and two-stage selections with the first at six months and the second at the yearling age (Scheme III). Each scheme was assessed with three levels of selection proportions (5%, 10% and 20%) and four flock sizes (600, 1200, 1800 and 2400 breeding ewes). Selection responses were simulated using a deterministic approach employed in the SelAction software. For six-month weight, the annual predicted genetic gains ranged from 0.177 to 0.267 kg (Scheme I) and 0.157 to 0.233 kg (Scheme III). For yearling weight, simulated annual genetic gains were 0.268 to 0.399 kg (Scheme II) and 0.265 to 0.398 kg (Scheme III). The expected annual genetic gains for the number of lambs weaned per ewe bred (NLW) and fertility rate were generally small, but the estimates in Schemes II and III were higher compared to Scheme I. The annual economic responses estimated for Schemes I, II, and III ranged from US$0.393 to 0.591, 0.589 to 0.879 and 0.494 to 0.744, respectively. Notably, Scheme II yielded 34% and 16% higher economic returns than Schemes I and III, respectively. The results also revealed that varying the selection proportion significantly influenced the annual selection response, index accuracy, and inbreeding rate. Increasing the flock size had little effect on the genetic progress but significantly reduced the inbreeding rate. Given its genetic and economic benefits alongside operational feasibility, Scheme II, with a 5% selection proportion and a flock size of 1200 breeding ewes, is appropriate for the genetic improvement of indigenous sheep in low-input systems.

Longitudinal associations between 24-hour movement behaviors and physical fitness in preschoolers: a compositional isotemporal substitution analysis

Genetic data and meteorological conditions suggesting windborne transmission of H5N1 high-pathogenicity avian influenza between commercial poultry outbreaks

Understanding the transmission routes of high-pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) is crucial for developing effective control measures to prevent its spread. In this context, windborne transmission, the idea that the virus could travel through the air over considerable distances, is a contentious concept, and documented cases have been rare. Here, though, we provide genetic evidence supporting the feasibility of windborne transmission. During the 2023−24 HPAI season, molecular surveillance identified identical H5N1 strains among a cluster of unrelated commercial farms about 8 km apart in the Czech Republic. The episode started with the abrupt mortality of fattening ducks on one farm. This was followed by disease outbreaks at two nearby high-biosecurity chicken farms. Using genetic, epizootiological, meteorological and geographical data, we reconstructed a mosaic of events strongly suggesting wind was the most probable mechanism of infection transmission between poultry in at least two independent cases. By aligning the genetic and meteorological data with critical outbreak events, we determined the most likely time window during which the transmission occurred and inferred the sequence of infected houses at the recipient sites. Our results suggest that the contaminated plume emitted from the infected fattening duck farm was the critical medium of HPAI transmission, rather than the dust generated during depopulation. Furthermore, our results also strongly implicate the role of confined mechanically-ventilated buildings with high population densities in facilitating windborne transmission and propagating virus concentrations below the minimum infectious dose at the recipient sites. These findings underscore the importance of considering windborne spread in future outbreak mitigation strategies.

Author Correction: Expression analysis of the apple HSP70 gene family in abiotic stress and phytohormones and expression validation of candidate MdHSP70 genes