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Coupled chemical–mechanical stabilization of expansive subgrade soil using cement kiln dust and polypropylene fibers for flexible pavement performance
Tree community resource economics control soil food web multifunctionality
Abstract Plants affect terrestrial ecosystem functioning by shaping microenvironments 1 and by providing the primary production that fuels energy flow into food webs 2 . However, how plant community properties affect ecosystem functioning via energy fluxes in food webs has been little studied 3,4 , especially for the soil food webs that channel most plant-derived energy 2,5 . Applying a food web energetics approach 6,7 , we show that the resource economics of dominant tree species control soil food web multifunctionality across European forests. Tree communities dominated by resource-acquisitive species promoted faster rates of multiple soil trophic functions than did communities dominated by resource-conservative species. These effects were primarily driven by higher-quality litter and warmer forest microclimates, leading to increased metabolic activity of soil organisms 8 . Accordingly, tree species composition explained a large portion of variation in soil food web multifunctionality, comparable to that explained by biogeographic differences among locations. By contrast, mixtures of three tree species had weakly negative effects relative to single-species stands, mostly due to shifts in energy channelling from living fine roots to litter and a cooling effect on forest microclimate. This occurred despite an overyielding effect in aboveground tree biomass production, suggesting contrasting diversity effects above- and belowground. Our findings emphasize the importance of plant functional traits related to resource economics as drivers of soil food web functioning 5,9 and demonstrate how climate-driven shifts in tree community composition may alter forest soil functioning.
Comparative effects of bioelectric and manual toothbrushing on acrylic denture teeth: Surface integrity and wear analysis
Bioelectric toothbrushes deliver a low-level microcurrent intended to disrupt biofilm with reduced mechanical force, yet their effects on denture-tooth wear remain unclear. This in vitro study compared surface roughness and material loss of acrylic denture teeth brushed with a bioelectric toothbrush versus a soft-bristle manual toothbrush. Thirty-six heat-cured polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) maxillary central incisors were randomly allocated to three groups (n = 12): manual brushing, bioelectric brushing without current (“OFF”), and bioelectric brushing with current (“ON”). Specimens underwent 20,000 brushing strokes (≈2 years of home cleaning) under a 200 g load using a brushing simulator in a 1:1 dentifrice/water slurry. Surface roughness (Ra, µm) and specimen weight (g) were recorded before and after brushing, and surface topography was qualitatively assessed by digital microscopy. Baseline roughness did not differ among groups (p > 0.05). After brushing, Ra increased significantly in the manual group (1.538 ± 0.219 to 2.233 ± 0.370 µm) and the bioelectric-OFF group (1.481 ± 0.199 to 2.157 ± 0.403 µm), whereas the bioelectric-ON group showed a smaller, non-significant change (1.547 ± 0.252 to 1.838 ± 0.197 µm); the bioelectric-ON condition resulted in significantly lower final roughness than the other groups (p < 0.05). No significant weight loss was detected in any group (p = 0.71). Microscopy corroborated profilometry, showing fewer and shallower scratches on specimens brushed with the bioelectric toothbrush in the ON mode. Within the limitations of this in vitro model, bioelectric activation was associated with reduced surface roughening of PMMA denture teeth without measurable material loss; however, clinical studies are needed to confirm its relevance under real-world oral conditions.
International expert Delphi consensus on thromboprophylaxis in metabolic and bariatric surgery
Author Correction: Plasticity and language in the anaesthetized human hippocampus
Study on the influence of compaction energy and moisture content on the permeability and compression characteristics of granite-weathered soil
The feasibility of reusing granular weathered (GW) soil as foundation fill is closely related to the strength and stability. Initial moisture content and compaction energy were identified as the main factors affecting the strength and deformation behavior of GW soil. GW soil samples were prepared with different initial moisture contents ranging from 7 ~ 15% and compacted under varying compaction energies ranging from 50 ~ 125%, respectively. The results indicate that the permeability coefficient decreases sharply with increasing compaction energy and then gradually stabilizes at higher compaction energy levels, suggesting that compaction energy is the dominant factor governing soil permeability. Higher initial moisture content leads to larger strains due to the presence of thicker adsorbed water films, whereas higher compaction energy enhances interparticle bonding, reduces the void ratio, and increases soil stiffness. In particular, the void ratio is affected by both initial moisture content and compaction energy, highlighting the necessity of incorporating compaction energy into predictive permeability models. Furthermore, a compaction-energy-based permeability prediction model was developed, with the predicted results showing strong agreement with the experimental data. These findings provide practical guidance for optimizing the compaction of GW soil to enhance foundation stability and reduce the risks associated with rainfall infiltration, and seepage failure.
The role of MAPK/mTOR pathway in regulating ULK1 mediated autophagy in hyperammonemia induced liver injury
The role of estimated muscle power from a sit-to-stand test in determining frailty in community-dwelling older adults
Introduction This study explored the usefulness of estimated lower-limb muscle power, derived from the 5-times sit-to-stand (5xSTS) test, for identifying frailty among community-dwelling older adults in Ireland. Methods Data from Wave 3 of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) were analysed, focusing on adults aged 50 years and older. Muscle power was estimated using a standardised equation from the five-time sit-to-stand (5xSTS) test, incorporating body height, mass, and chair height. Frailty status was classified using an Index, according to established criteria. Logistic regression models assessed the predictive capacity of muscle power relative to 5xSTS. Thresholds for frailty risk were explored through Receiver Operating Curves and Locally Weighted Scatterplot Smoothing. Results Findings reveal a decline in muscle power with advancing age, more pronounced in females and frail individuals. Muscle power estimates showed moderate agreement with frailty status, with sensitivity and specificity comparable to those of the 5xSTS. Muscle power less than 2.5 Watt·kg - ¹ in males and 2.08 Watt·kg - ¹ in females was associated with increased frailty risk, consistent with other studies. Overall power estimation showed a predictive performance similar to that of traditional assessments such as Timed Up and Go, supporting its utility in clinical and community settings. Conclusion Estimated muscle power derived from the 5xSTS test is a practical, reliable tool for early identification of frailty among older adults. Its accessibility and predictive validity suggest it could complement existing clinical assessments but not replace them.
Investigation on the water-conducting zone evolution in weak overburden due to repeated mining of thick coal seams
Abstract Based on the II 2-1 and II 3 coal seams in China’s Lingdong Coal Mine, the activation mechanism of water-conducting fractures in weak overburden under repeated mining of thick coal seams are studied by theoretical analysis, numerical simulation and field measurement in this paper. The main findings include that the key stratum theory and the critical fracturing span of the overlying rock layers were combined to determine the theoretical height of the water-conducting fracture zone in the II 3 coal seam under repeated mining disturbance as 83 m. UDEC numerical simulations revealed that as the working face advanced, fractures in the overburden above the II 2-1 and II 3 coal seams initially propagated upward following roof fracturing; after advancing a specific distance, fractures in the collapsed strata at the center of the goaf began closing and compacting; with continued mining operations, the working face gradually attained sufficient mining conditions while these mining-induced fractures entered a stable compaction stage, ultimately resulting in the water-conducting fracture zone exhibiting a characteristic distribution pattern where fractures prominently developed above the open-off cut and stopping line yet remained closed within the central goaf area, with its height stabilizing at approximately 78 m. Field measurements indicated that the actual height of the water-conducting fractures in the II 3 coal seam overburden ranged from 74.5 m to 77.1 m, averaging 75.8 m. Comprehensive results demonstrate that the height of water-conducting fracture zones in weak overburden is significantly lower than the failure height observed in conventional sandstone formations. These findings provide theoretical references for safe coal mining under water bodies.
Hybrid RSM–NSGA-II based multi-objective optimization of electrical discharge machining of AISI D2 steel
In this study, electrical discharge machining (EDM) of AISI D2 die steel was performed by varying three different process parameters: peak current (Ip), pulse-on time (Ton), and duty cycle (c). Enhancing both surface quality and machining performance is very important for die steel applications; therefore, a hybrid approach for multi-objective optimization was employed. A Box–Behnken design of response surface methodology (RSM) was utilized to conduct the experiments, while analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to examine the influence of process parameters on the responses. Mathematical models were developed using RSM, which were finally utilized as fitness functions for the Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) to get solutions of multi-objective optimization. The algorithm generated a set of non-dominated solutions forming the Pareto frontier. To identify the most desirable solution, the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) was used. The optimal results obtained through TOPSIS analysis were a surface roughness of 5.22 µm and a material removal rate (MRR) of 0.250 g/min, corresponding to the process parameters: peak current (Ip) = 10.03 A, pulse-on time (Ton) = 30.70 µs, and duty cycle (c) = 14.94%.
Early detection of a severe autism spectrum disorder group in young children using eye-tracking measures
Abstract Delays in diagnostic confirmation remain common in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These delays are particularly concerning for children with severe symptoms and elevated support needs, for whom early identification is especially important. There is therefore a need for objective and feasible approaches to assist early identification prior to specialist evaluation. Eye-tracking is a non-invasive method for quantifying gaze-fixation patterns associated with ASD. The present study examined whether gaze-fixation indices derived from the Gazefinder eye-tracking system can identify a clinically defined severe ASD subgroup within a real-world clinical population. The analysis included 442 children aged 2–6 years referred to a child psychiatry outpatient clinic who underwent Gazefinder assessment. Based on Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) scores, children were classified into a Severe ASD group ( n = 42) and an Other group (Non-ASD and Mild-to-moderate ASD; n = 400). Gaze fixation rates on predefined regions of interest were compared, and discriminative performance was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic analyses. Children in the Severe ASD group exhibited reduced fixation on the mouth region in dynamic facial stimuli and reduced fixation on people relative to geometry. A composite criterion derived from four gaze-fixation indices yielded a sensitivity of 85.7% and a specificity of 55.3% for discriminating Severe ASD. These findings suggest that Gazefinder-based measures may provide adjunctive information to support screening and referral-related decision-making for clinically defined severe ASD in young children.
Analysis of strength degradation of coal and rock masses and stability of mined areas under long term immersion environment
To address the stability challenges of suspended roof goaf and engineering disasters in coal mine goafs under long-term water immersion, coal rock mass was selected as the research object. Triaxial compression tests under seepage-stress coupling were conducted to analyze the strength degradation and permeability evolution of coal rock mass. Based on the bearing characteristics of coal pillars in suspended roof goaf, a critical criterion for instability of room pillar suspended roof goaf was established, then the numerical simulation studies were conducted using UDEC 7.0 to investigate the influence of different mining parameters and occurrence conditions on the stability of goaf. The research results show that: (1) When the seepage pressure is constant, as the confining pressure increases, the peak stress of the coal samples increases gradually, while the permeability coefficient gradually decreases; when the confining pressure is constant, as the seepage pressure increases, the peak stress gradually decreases, while the permeability coefficient increases gradually. (2) When the stability safety factor of the coal pillar is lower than 1.5, the coal pillar will not be able to maintain long-term stability and corresponding reinforcement measures need to be taken. (3) The increase of occurrence depth will lead to the increase of coal pillar deformation, but as long as the ratio of mining and remaining is moderate, the coal pillar can support the overlying strata and maintain stability; (4) The increase in ratio of mining and remaining strengthens the supporting effect of coal pillars, which helps to improve the stability of the roof, reduce the subsidence of the rock strata above the goaf, and lower the risk of roof collapse. The research results can provide technical references for the prevention and control of hanging roof disasters in mines with similar coal mining processes.
Orthodontic bracket failure with and without primer during six months of fixed appliance treatment
Abstract To compare orthodontic bracket failure rates with and without primer in patients undergoing fixed appliances treatment. This split-mouth randomized controlled trial was conducted on 42 participants. Diagonal quadrants were randomly assigned to either the primer (control) or non-primer (experimental) group. Allocation was concealed in opaque envelopes and revealed at the time of intervention. Both genders, aged 12–30 years, and visiting for the management of malocclusion were included. Patients with dental anomalies, caries, or restorations were excluded. The direct bonding technique was used for the placement of conventional metallic brackets. Participants were followed up for six months, with monthly visits, and bracket failure within each group was recorded. Generalized estimating equation logistic regression was used to account for clustering of multiple attachments within participants and to estimate odds ratios. A total of 42 participants contributing 840 orthodontic attachments were analyzed over six months. Mean age was 17.81 ± 4.09 years, and 52.4% were female. Monthly attachment failure rates were low in both groups, ranging from 3.8% to 4.3% in the primer group and 3.6% to 6.0% in the non-primer group, with no significant unadjusted differences at any month. In multivariable generalized estimating equation analysis, bonding method was not significantly associated with attachment failure (non-primer vs primer: OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 0.72–2.13; p = 0.435). Male participants (OR = 2.31, 95% CI = 1.28–4.18; p = 0.005) and those aged ≤ 17 years (OR = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.22–3.91; p = 0.008) had significantly higher odds of failure. Failure risk declined modestly over time (OR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.92–0.99; p = 0.028). No significant interaction effects were observed. Over a six-month follow-up period, omission of primer did not significantly increase orthodontic bracket failure rates. Male participants and younger patients showed a higher risk of bracket failure, irrespective of bonding method.
Association of baseline HBcAg and HBV DNA with persistent detectability of HBV RNA during NA therapy
Objective Even after long-term nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) therapy achieves hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA suppression in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), serum HBV RNA may remain detectable. HBV RNA reflects intrahepatic viral transcriptional activity. This study identified baseline traits and predictors of persistent HBV RNA positivity during NA therapy after sustained HBV DNA suppression. Methods This retrospective study included 155 CHB patients who underwent liver biopsy before initiating NA therapy, subsequently achieved sustained HBV DNA suppression on continuous NA therapy. Patients were classified into two groups according to HBV RNA status during therapy. Baseline clinical, virological and histological variables were assessed by multivariate logistic regression. Correlations between HBV RNA and serological markers were also assessed. The diagnostic performance of the model was analyzed using area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC) and boostrap internal validation. Results Overall, 47.7% achieved undetectable serum HBV RNA. Higher baseline HBV DNA and absence of intrahepatic hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) independently predicted persistent HBV RNA positivity (both P < 0.001). The combined assessment of HBcAg with HBV DNA improved predictive accuracy (AUC = 0.780), outperforming either marker alone. The AUC value of bootstrap internal validation was 0.756. Across the cohort, HBV RNA showed moderate correlation with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and hepatitis B e antibody (HBeAb). Correlations were minimal in HBeAg-negative patients and most evident in HBeAg-positive patients. Conclusion Incorporating HBcAg histology with baseline HBV DNA may enable more individualized treatment strategies during antiviral therapy. Correlations between HBV RNA and traditional markers are primarily observed in HBeAg-positive patients.
Continuous extracorporeal hyperoxygenation therapy reduces carbon monoxide half-life time in a carbon monoxide-poisoned pig model: a feasibility study
Abstract Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is a leading cause of toxic exposure-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases CO elimination, its clinical use is limited by accessibility, side effects, and inconclusive long-term efficacy. We developed a cEHT system - a device for continuous extracorporeal hyperoxygenation therapy that enhances CO removal from blood without exposing patients to systemic hyperbaric conditions. The system was tested in vitro and in vivo in a porcine CO poisoning model. Carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) half-life, hemodynamics, hemolysis, and tissue hypoxia were evaluated. In vivo, the cEHT system significantly reduced COHb half-life by 53% compared to ventilation with 100% oxygen alone (27.0 ± 0.3 min vs. 57.6 ± 12.5 min; p = 0.01). Hemodynamic parameters, pulmonary artery pressure, and plasma-free Hb remained stable during treatment. Histological analyses showed reduced ischemic injury in heart and brain tissues in the cEHT group in contrast to the control group. The cEHT system enables effective and hemodynamically stable extracorporeal CO elimination. It may offer a promising therapy for CO poisoning when a pressure chamber is not promptly available. Further studies are needed to optimize system performance and assess clinical translation.
Deep learning four decades of human migration
Abstract Human migration is a fundamental driver of global demographic change, shaping population structure, labour markets and social policy across countries 1–3 . Although long-term migration patterns are often linked to economic development 4 , they can shift rapidly in response to shocks such as conflict, environmental crises and political change 5 . Despite its importance, migration remains difficult to measure consistently: existing data are sparse, concentrated in high-income settings and are fragmented across incompatible definitions, temporal resolutions and data types 6–8 . Past efforts have relied on partial datasets, including flow records, stock estimates and model-based reconstructions with limited coverage 9–14 . A central challenge is therefore to construct a globally consistent, high-resolution account of migration flows over time. Here we present a new dataset of annual origin-destination migration across 230 countries and regions from 1990 to the present, integrating diverse data sources into a unified modelling framework. By combining official statistics, census-based stocks, net migration estimates and past flow reconstructions, our approach produces temporally detailed and spatially comprehensive estimates that substantially extend existing resources. Using an ensemble of deep recurrent neural networks informed by geographic, economic, cultural and political covariates, we capture both persistent trends and short-term responses to changing conditions—all while propagating uncertainty to generate confidence bounds. Our results outperform existing five-year flow estimates on held-out data and provide finer temporal resolution, revealing previously obscured dynamics in global migration patterns. This framework highlights regions in which uncertainty remains high and data collection is most urgently needed. By releasing all data, code and trained models, we provide a transparent and reproducible foundation for future work. These advances enable a more timely and detailed understanding of human mobility, with implications for research and policy in an increasingly dynamic global system.
Fascia iliaca compartment block for surgical analgesia in children with osteogenesis imperfecta: A retrospective cohort study
Background Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare genetic bone disorder. Children with OI have a higher risk of intraoperative pain. The fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) can reduce pain, improve intraoperative hemodynamic stability, and facilitate postoperative recovery. This study explores the feasibility and potential role of FICB in multimodal analgesia by describing its application experience in children with OI. Method This study involved children with OI who underwent surgery for femoral shaft fractures. The FICB group received ultrasound-guided FICB combined with general anesthesia, whereas the control group received general anesthesia alone. Hemodynamic parameters, serum inflammatory markers, intraoperative opioid consumption, recovery time, postoperative pain scores, and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) were recorded. Results A total of 126 children were enrolled. A significant time × group interaction was observed for changes in MAP and HR during surgery ( F 3,372 = 21.86 and F 3,372 = 16.34, both P < 0.001). At all intraoperative time points, MAP and HR were lower in the FICB group than in the Control group (all P < 0.001). A significant time × group interaction was found for postoperative VAS scores ( F 2,248 = 3.18, P = 0.04); and they were lower in the FICB group at 2, 4, and 12 hours postoperatively (all P < 0.001). CRP levels also showed a significant time × group interaction ( F 1,124 = 290.3, P < 0.001); both groups exhibited elevated postoperative CRP versus baseline ( P < 0.001), but the FICB group had lower levels. The FICB group had a shorter recovery time ( P < 0.001), lower intraoperative fentanyl and remifentanil use (both P < 0.001), and a lower incidence of PONV ( P = 0.026) compared to the Control group. Conclusion In pediatric patients with OI undergoing femoral shaft fracture surgery, ultrasound-guided FICB has the potential to enhance intraoperative hemodynamic stability, alleviate postoperative pain, and decrease the incidence of adverse reactions, thereby facilitating the implementation of optimized multimodal analgesia.
Hallmarks of social action in the vocal turn-taking of wild common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)
Abstract Conversational turn-taking, the orderly exchange of signals between individuals, is considered an important component of human communication and language. Comparative studies of vocal turn-taking have often been biased toward a limited number of model species and have usually examined only single call types, restricted features of human conversational turn-taking, or captive animals, thereby limiting broader understanding of turn-taking complexity and its evolutionary trajectory. Here we show that wild common marmosets engage in structured vocal exchanges that share several basic features with human conversational turn-taking. We analyzed 1,245 natural vocal interactions and found that individuals can produce multi-turn exchanges with matched call types. Marmosets used different vocalizations when interacting with group members compared to neighboring groups. These interactions were characterized by flexible turn organization, recurring call sequences, relatively short gaps between turns (approximately 1,300 ms), and structured participation involving specific individuals. Altogether, our findings highlight the complexity of vocal interaction in wild common marmosets, providing a broader view of coordination across the whole vocal repertoire and suggesting that elements of human conversational turn-taking may be present in this species and may be shared, at least in part, with other primates.
Optimising Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing: Pressure-driven enhancement of mechanical performance in copper deposits
Cold spray additive manufacturing (CSAM) is a solid-state process capable of producing dense metallic components without melting, making it highly attractive for copper applications requiring both electrical conductivity and mechanical integrity. In this study, the influence of spray pressure at 30 bar, 40 bar, 50 bar and 60 bar on particle velocity, microstructure, and properties of cold-sprayed copper was systematically investigated using a LightSPEE3D system. The cold spray deposits were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), hardness testing, eddy current conductivity, tensile evaluation, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results reveal that increasing spray pressure enhances particle velocities beyond the critical threshold for copper, leading to improved inter-particle bonding and microstructural refinement consistent with severe plastic deformation and possible continuous dynamic recrystallisation (cDRX)-assisted mechanisms. XRD analysis suggested progressive crystallite refinement and increased dislocation density with pressure, which directly correlated with improved ductility. While hardness decreased due to recovery and recrystallisation, electrical conductivity increased, likely due to improved inter-particle continuity and reduced interfacial discontinuities. Tensile testing showed a clear strength–ductility transition, with deposits at higher pressures exhibiting substantially improved ductility approaching bulk copper behaviour and fully ductile fracture morphologies. Overall, the findings identify an optimum processing window at higher spray pressures, where copper cold spray deposits achieve a balanced combination of conductivity, ductility, and strength. This study highlights the critical role of spray pressure in controlling the interplay between particle velocity, dynamic recrystallisation, and multifunctional performance in CSAM copper components. This study establishes a process–structure–property relationship linking particle velocity, XRD-derived microstructural evolution, conductivity, and tensile behaviour within a LightSPEE3D CSAM system.