Browse Articles

Enhanced spatiotemporal skeleton modeling: integrating part-joint attention with dynamic graph convolution

Abstract Human motion prediction and action recognition are critical tasks in computer vision and human-computer interaction, supporting applications in surveillance, robotics, and behavioral analysis. However, effectively capturing the fine-grained semantics and dynamic spatiotemporal dependencies of human skeleton movements remains challenging due to the complexity of coordinated joint and part-level interactions over time. To address these issues, we propose a spatiotemporal skeleton modeling framework that integrates a Part-Joint Attention (PJA) mechanism with a Dynamic Graph Convolutional Network (Dynamic GCN). The proposed framework first employs a multi-granularity sequence encoding module to extract joint-level motion details and part-level semantics, enabling rich feature representations. The PJA module adaptively highlights critical joints and body parts across temporal sequences, enhancing the model’s focus on salient regions while maintaining temporal coherence. Additionally, the Dynamic GCN dynamically constructs and updates inter-joint spatial relationships based on temporal feature similarities, facilitating effective spatiotemporal reasoning. Extensive experiments on the Human3.6M dataset demonstrate that our method consistently outperforms strong baselines across various prediction horizons. Specifically, it achieves a Mean Per Joint Position Error (MPJPE) of 10.2 mm at 80 ms and 57.5 mm at 400 ms, outperforming the best baseline by 9–12 percentage relative improvement across diverse actions. These results indicate the proposed method’s ability to accurately capture both subtle and large-scale human motions while maintaining temporal stability. This work advances the development of interpretable and precise skeleton-based motion modeling and can benefit broader domains such as real-time human-robot interaction, intelligent surveillance, and behavior recognition in practical environments.

On the exploration of periodic wave soliton solutions to the nonlinear integrable Akbota equation by using a generalized extended analytical method

Daily briefing: Nobel Prize for discovery of ‘brake’ on immune system

Continuous glucose monitoring reveals periodontitis-induced glucose variability, insulin resistance, and gut microbiota dysbiosis in mice

Optical Force Monitoring in Polymeric Materials with a Coumarin‐Based Mechanophore

AbstractOptical mechanophores offer a powerful platform for the real‐time, nondestructive detection of mechanically induced damage in polymers. However, the exploitation of mechanophores for fundamental investigations of deformation processes and the prediction of failure in technologically critical applications has been constrained by their responsivity to other stimuli, laborious synthesis, and limited control of their photophysical and mechanical properties. Here, we report a cyclobutane‐based mechanophore that activates a fluorescent coumarin dye through the application of mechanical stress in solution and in the solid state. We demonstrate the preparation of the mechanophore in two synthetic steps, its incorporation into linear and crosslinked polymers, and its thermal and photochemical stability, establishing the basis for a new class of mechanophores with tunable spectral and mechanical characteristics.

Probing Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen and Oxygen Evolution at Individual Al:SrTiO₃/Rh_2–yCr_yO₃ Photocatalyst Particles

AbstractParticle‐based photocatalysts for overall water splitting convert solar energy into hydrogen fuel without the use of any photovoltaic devices. As such they have the potential to revolutionize renewable energy production on Earth. While proven efficiencies have reached 1.1%, further improvements of photocatalyst technology depend on a better understanding of energy loss mechanisms on the individual particle level. Here, we conduct the first in operando photoelectrochemical measurements on individual micrometer‐sized Al‐doped SrTiO3/Rh2–yCryO3 photocatalyst particles. We find that the photocatalyst particles behave mainly as water oxidation photoanodes reaching up to 0.5 mA cm−2 at 0.8 V versus RHE and a photovoltage of ∼1.00 V under 4.7 mW cm−2 ultraviolet illumination. This proves that charge separation in the unbiased Al:SrTiO3/Rh2–yCryO3 catalyst is driven by a junction at the n‐semiconductor‐liquid contact. While O2 is detected symmetrically around photocatalyst particles, uneven H2 evolution profiles reflect an irregular Rh2–yCryO3 cocatalyst distribution. Additionally, the H2 evolution activity varies significantly between different photocatalyst particles. This suggests that performance gains are possible by better controlling catalyst composition on the microscale.

Mechanochemical Degradation of Polystyrene Into Benzene for Recycling and Upcycling

AbstractSynthetic plastics sourced from petroleum have gained widespread use since the 1950s. Polystyrene (PS) is one of the most extensively used plastics, as it is colorless, has high mechanical strength, and exhibits excellent chemical and thermal stability; however, it is also one of the least recycled plastics because of the high cost and low profit in recycling. Herein, we demonstrate a mechanochemical recycling approach that allows PS to be efficiently degraded into benzene when it is ground in a ball mill with AlCl3. For example, when 165 kDa PS pellets are milled with AlCl3, the extent of degradation reaches 90% at 15 min. Isotope labeling experiments indicate that both ambient water and the polymer backbone can be proton sources for the formation of benzene. The benzene generated in the mechanochemical degradation can be used to synthesize styrene, which can be repolymerized to produce polystyrene, allowing for the closed‐loop recycling of PS. In addition, a mechanochemical Friedel–Crafts acylation between the generated benzene and the subsequently added benzoic anhydride produces benzophenone in 40%–50% yield. The mechanochemical degradation process demonstrated here is solvent‐free, cost‐effective, and energy‐efficient, providing a promising route for the chemical recycling and upcycling of PS.

Near‐Full‐Spectrum Emission Control in Copper(I) Iodides via Inorganic Structural Engineering Within a Single‐Cation Host

AbstractHybrid copper(I) halides have emerged as a new class of optoelectronic materials due to their tunable structure and photophysical properties. However, systematically correlating inorganic polyhedra configurations with emission characteristics remains challenging. Herein, we address this by synthesizing a homologous series of copper(I) iodides templated solely by the [C13H24N]+ cation. Precise control reaction conditions yielded distinct inorganic polyhedral configurations, monomeric [CuI3]2− (1), dimeric [Cu2I4]2− (2), trimeric [Cu3I6]3− (3), and tetrameric [Cu4I6]2− (4). We establish a direct correlation where increasing inorganic aggregation systematically reduces the bandgap and dictates the luminescence color across a near‐full visible spectrum, from blue (1) to cyan (2), red (3), and yellow (4). Detailed spectroscopic and theoretical analyses reveal the self‐trapped excitons emission mechanism dependent on the Cu‐I configuration, in which the closed [Cu4I6]2− configuration is more resistant to excited lattice deformation, thereby resulting in a lowest Stokes shift energy. Furthermore, stimuli‐responsive sequential phase transitions between these well‐defined structures were demonstrated, offering insights into their structural dynamics. This work provides critical fundamental understanding of how inorganic framework engineering within a fixed organic host precisely controls both electronic structure and excited‐state relaxation pathways in hybrid copper(I) halides, paving the way for rational design of materials with tailored optical properties.

Molecular Afterglow of Lophine‐Based Luminophore and Its Imaging Applications

AbstractLophine, the first chemiluminescent compound discovered in history, has rarely been applied for in vivo imaging since its discovery in 1877. In this report, we demonstrate that lophine's chemiluminescence emission could be significantly enhanced by caging the imidazole moiety via molecular afterglow mechanism. Notably, our study revealed a rare superoxide anion‐mediated luminescence. Our novel probes JIMI‐11 and JIMI‐12 could be used for in vivo mouse imaging. Compared to its uncaged form JIMI‐6, JIMI‐11 exhibited a significant enhancement (126‐fold) in vitro and a 190‐fold higher emission signal in vivo. JIMI‐11 selectively accumulates in white adipose tissues (WAT) and can be used to monitor changes in WAT mass in a mouse model of type‐1 diabetes. Additionally, it can assess the therapeutic effects of Semaglutide in a mouse model of diet‐induced obesity. Lastly, we designed JIMI‐12 with a reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) responsive moiety as the caging group and demonstrated its utility for in vivo imaging of ROS in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced inflammatory mouse model. Our studies suggest that re‐designing lophine‐based probes could unlock their potential for both in vitro and in vivo applications. The ability to switch from chemiluminescence to molecular afterglow introduces a novel approach to designing imaging probes.

Drone-based medication delivery for rural, flood-prone coastal communities

Access to healthcare remains a critical challenge for rural populations, particularly in flood-prone coastal communities where transportation barriers limit access to essential medical services. This study evaluates the effectiveness of drone-based medication delivery in improving healthcare accessibility for vulnerable populations on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Compared to traditional personal vehicle travel, drone delivery reduced trip times from up to 50 minutes to under 10 minutes for more than 80% of the population, including elderly patients. Using publicly available datasets, we developed two transportation vulnerability indices that incorporate age, travel time, and flood risk to prioritize patients for drone-based pharmaceutical delivery. These indices were examined using Getis-Ord Gi* spatial analysis, which identified statistically significant clusters of high-need patients, particularly around the northernmost drone station. The results reveal that elderly residents in remote, low-lying areas are especially vulnerable to missed prescriptions due to both transportation barriers and flooding. Our approach demonstrates how drone delivery can reduce healthcare access disparities while offering a scalable and resilient framework for other medically underserved regions, especially under time or resource constraints.

Bidirectional Hydrogen Spillover Enables High Activity Catalysts for Rechargeable Hydrogen Batteries

AbstractRechargeable hydrogen batteries exhibit superior electrochemical activity for hydrogen evolution and oxidation reactions (HER/HOR) in acidic media compared to alkaline counterparts, making them promising for large‐scale energy storage. However, the development of efficient electrocatalysts for both HER and HOR in acidic media remains challenging, as conventional platinum‐based catalysts face intrinsic limitations in simultaneously achieving high activity and long‐term stability under harsh operating conditions. Herein, we introduce a bidirectional hydrogen spillover strategy to enable synergistic bifunctional HER/HOR catalysts for hydrogen batteries. We demonstrate a Ru–WO3 catalyst grown on Cu foam (Ru–WO3@CF), where the interaction between Ru and WO3 enables dynamic shuttling of adsorbed hydrogen species under alternating potentials. The Ru–WO3@CF electrode demonstrates exceptional HER/HOR bifunctionality in acidic media (0.5 M H2SO4), achieving an ultralow HER overpotential of 17 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and an HOR current density of 21.5 mA cm−2 at 50 mV — both significantly outperforming commercial Pt/C benchmarks. The hydrogen battery fabricated with Ru–WO3@CF demonstrates exceptional performance across a wide range of temperatures. This work aims to explore the feasibility of bidirectional hydrogen spillover in enhancing the bifunctional catalytic activities toward HER/HOR, providing new insights for high‐performance hydrogen batteries.

Maternity waiting homes utilization and associated factors among women who gave birth in the last one year in rural settings of Basona Worena District, Ethiopia: A cross sectional study

Background Maternal waiting home is a residence near to health centers or hospitals that can be used as a temporary house for pregnant women for several days, while waiting for delivery reached, and a few days after labor. Most of the scholars focused on assessing the intention and knowledge of mothers to utilize maternal waiting homes for their recent delivery even though ignorance of utilization. In Ethiopia, the utilization of maternal waiting homes and its associated factors among women who gave birth in rural setting were not clearly described. Objectives The overall objectives of this study were to assess maternity waiting home utilization and associated factors among women who gave birth in the last one year in the rural settings of Basona Worena District, Ethiopia, in 2024. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Basona worena district. Multi-stage sampling techniques were used to select 460 study participants. Structured and pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect data. Data were entered to Epi-data version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 25 software for cleaning and statistical analysis. Bivariable and multi-variable logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the association between dependent and independent variables and strength of association was measured based AOR with 95% confidence interval. Statistical significance was declared at p-value less than 0.05. Result The overall magnitude of maternity waiting home utilization was 56.7% (95% Cl: 52.4, 61.3). In this study, family size (AOR = 2.76, 95%, CI: 1.27,5.99), government-employed women(AOR = 0.12,95%,CI:0.03,0.44),maternal age (26–30years) (AOR = 0.22,95% CI:0.08,0.65), primary level maternal education (AOR = 3.20,95%,CI:1.40,7.32), birth preparedness plan (AOR = 10.23,95%,CI:9.8,29.3), and MWH utilization plan (AOR = 6.82,95%,CI: 2.7,17.3) were significantly associated with maternity waiting home utilization. Conclusion The overall maternity waiting home utilization was 56.7%, which is relatively low compared to previous studies. Therefore, more attention is needed to improve maternal education, strengthen the birth preparedness plan, and MWH utilization plan, as well as focus high-parity women on their birth complications readiness, which accelerates maternity waiting home utilization.

Boosting Nitrate‐to‐Ammonia Conversion over Copper‐Based Electrocatalysts by Facilitating Hydrogenation and Product Desorption

AbstractElectrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NitRR) in neutral condition offers a sustainable route for ammonia (NH3) production and water purification. For the most extensively investigated Cu‐based electrocatalysts that favor NO3− adsorption, insufficient hydrogenation capability and sluggish NH3 desorption hinder the ultimate performance. Herein, we report Ca‐doped Cu2O co‐modified by oxalate (Ca─Cu2O─OA) as a novel and high‐performance NitRR electrocatalyst. Experimental and theoretical results demonstrate that the Ca dopant with strong hydration effect facilitates the hydrogenation steps of adsorbed NO3− on the adjacent Cu active sites. The hydrogen‐bonding interaction between OA and adsorbed NH3 promotes the product desorption. Together with the strong NO3− adsorption capability and inhibited hydrogen evolution as a side reaction, excellent NitRR performance with a high Faraday efficiency (FE) of 97.49% and a high NH3 yield of 15.02 mg h−1 cm−2 is achieved in neutral condition, outperforming most reported electrocatalysts. This work has provided new insights into the rational design of advanced NitRR electrocatalysts.

Early childhood risk and protective factors and their association with adolescent sexual behaviors: A Latent Class Analysis

Background Prior research examined associations between social-ecological risk and protective factors and adolescents’ sexual behaviors. However, scarce research explored how factors in early childhood impact adolescents’ sexual behavior. Methods In this study, we used a socioeconomically and racially diverse sample from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N = 3,281; 51.3% male; 21.76% White, 50.1% Black, 24.61% Latinx) to uncover latent classes of early childhood social-ecological risk and protective factors, examine the demographic characteristics of each latent class, and examine how these classes are associated with adolescents’ sexual behaviors. Results Four latent classes were identified: Multidimensional Protective (21.5%), Socioeconomic Status Risk (59.2%), Neighborhood Risk (7.3%), and Low Father Education (12%). Compared to the Multidimensional Protective class, adolescents in the Socioeconomic Status Risk class had a higher prevalence of sexual initiation, early sexual initiation, sex without a condom at first intercourse, and multiple sexual partners. Adolescents in the Socioeconomic Status Risk class had a higher prevalence of having sex without a condom at first intercourse than those in the Neighborhood Risk class. Adolescents in the Low Father Education class had a higher prevalence of having multiple sexual partners than those in the Multidimensional Protective class. Conclusion These findings suggest the need for early, targeted interventions, such as parenting support programs, father engagement initiatives, and community-based efforts to strengthen neighborhood cohesion, to promote long-term sexual health during adolescence.

Hypervitaminosis A in type 2 diabetes and its relation with renal function and cardiovascular complications

Vitamin A is a fundamental micronutrient in the diet. In recent years, hypervitaminosis A has been described in subjects, mainly children, with renal dysfunction. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of hypervitaminosis A in adult patients affected by type 2 diabetes and to evaluate the associated factors. This cross-sectional observational study included 200 ambulatory patients affected by type 2 diabetes regularly attending the Diabetes Clinic of Verona (Italy). Eligible patients were consecutively enrolled. Vitamin A was measured by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. The normal range of values for vitamin A concentrations was 1.04–2.79 μmol/L. All other laboratory parameters were measured by standard methods. A multivariate logistic regression model was applied to study the factors independently associated with the hypervitaminosis A. Hypervitaminosis A was detected in 29% of our cohort of patients. Its prevalence was significantly higher in patients with cardiovascular complications (CVD). Nevertheless, when patients with CVD were stratified according to renal function, the latter emerged as the main factor associated with hypervitaminosis A. The multivariate analysis confirmed that estimated glomerular filtration rate was an independent predictor of hypervitaminosis A (0.97 CI 95% 0.96–0.99, p = 0.008).The main alteration of vitamin A in ambulatory patients affected by type 2 diabetes is hypervitaminosis. Renal function is strongly associated with hypervitaminosis A.

Talking-associated cognitive loads degrade the quality of gaze behavior

Talking-associated cognitive distractions have been known to significantly impact physical reactions in response to visual information, leading to an increased crash risk while driving. The visuomotor processes required for driving include gaze behavior, cognitive processes, and responsive physical actions. However, how talking-associated cognitive loads affect the quality of gaze behavior remains unclear. Healthy participants performed center-out eye movements toward a peripheral visual target as quickly and accurately as possible under three different conditions: while verbally communicating (talking), listening to audio clips, or performing nothing other than the eye movement task. We found delays in the time needed to react to, move to, and fixate on a peripherally presented visual target in the talking condition compared with the other two conditions. Our results demonstrate that talking-associated cognitive loads are likely to have a strong enough impact to interfere with neural processes for initiating and controlling eye movement. These findings suggest that delayed physical responses and/or impairments in driving performance under cognitively demanding situations may partly result from delayed visual responses to surrounding events, followed by less accurate eye movement control when directing to and maintaining fixation on those stimuli.

Correction: The Turkish validity and reliability of the Reward-Based Eating Drive (RED-13) Scale

Perinatal outcome of vaginal breech delivery in Orotta National Referral Teaching Hospital, Eritrea, 2024; a case control study

Introduction Delivery of fetus in breech presentation is a controversial topic in obstetrics and it had been the subject of debate since 1980s. As experts with abilities and know-how to perform vaginal breech delivery have decreased, and medico legal concerns increased, some physicians endorse cesarean section for breech presentation at term. The aim of this study was to identify the perinatal outcome in vaginal breech deliveries. Methodology This study was a retrospective case control study of mothers delivered vaginally between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2023 in Orotta National Referral Teaching Hospital. Mothers who gave vaginal breech delivery (VBD) were enrolled as cases and two successive vertex vaginal deliveries (VVD) as controls. Results A total of 1919 patient records were analyzed, of which 641(33.6%) were cases and 1278 (66.4%) controls. The mean age and parity of the mothers was 28.98 (SD = 5.56) and 2.18 (SD = 1.96) respectively. History of previous stillbirth was documented in 0.4% and multiple pregnancies found in 10.2% of the study participants. The prevalence of stillbirth was 5% (1% in controls and 4% in cases). In multivariate analysis address from other zobas (AOR: 3.63, 95% CI: 2.17–6.09, p < 0.011), high gravidity (AOR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.18–2.22, p < 0.001), low birth weight (AOR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.42–2.90, p < 0.001), and multiple fetus (AOR: 4.83, 95% CI: 3.28–7.11, p < 0.001, were associated with risk of having vaginal breech delivery. Primiparity (AOR: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.18–0.36 p < 0.001) and birth weight >3.4 kg (AOR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.47–0.79, p < 0.001) were protective against having vaginal breech delivery. Vaginal breech deliveries was found to be associated low first minute Apgar (AOR: 14.95, 95% CI: 9.36–23.26, p < 0.001). Conclusion Vaginal breech delivery was associated with low first minute Apgar. Address from others zobas, high gravidity, low birth weight, and multiple fetuses increases the risk of having Breech presentation, Vaginal breech delivery, Perinatal morbidity, Nulliparous vaginal breech delivery while primiparity and increasing birth weight were protective.

Lattice‐Engineered Lanthanide Nanocrystals with Tunable Near‐Infrared‐IIb Lifetime

AbstractLattice engineering in lanthanide nanocrystals (LnNCs) is fundamental for tailoring their versatile optical properties, yet it remains underexplored in manipulating the downconversion characteristics. Here, we engineer the lattices from distorted to strain‐graded in LnNCs by CaF2 deposition on vacancy‐controlled β‐NaxGdF3+x:Yb,A (A = Tm/Er, x = 0.5, 0.75, 1) NCs. We demonstrate that strain‐graded lattices with high phonon energy enhance the multi‐phonon orbit‐lattice relaxation (MPR) in the downconversion process more effectively than distorted lattices, which helps to extend the near‐infrared‐IIb (NIR‐IIb, 1500–1700 nm) lifetime of Er3+/Tm3+ by 2∼4 times. Subsequent epitaxial CaF2 growth further attenuates surface phonon coupling, enabling exponential tunability of NIR‐IIb lifetime (Tm3+: 0.74∼6.28 ms; Er3+: 0.055∼9.2 ms). Finally, we showcase the potential of these LnNCs in time‐resolved multiplexed bioimaging.

Burden, and trends of breast cancer along with attributable risk factors in Gulf Cooperation Council countries from 1990 to 2019 and its projections

Introduction Breast cancer (BC) is a growing global public health concern, affecting millions of women worldwide. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are no exception to this trend. Mortality rates in GCC nations are still high despite improvements in BC treatment. This article examines the changing picture of BC incidence, prevalence, and mortality in the GCC region from 1990 to 2019 and predictions up to 2030. Material and method Using data from the Global Burden of Disease study, we analyzed BC incidence, prevalence, and mortality rates per 100,000 individuals across different age groups and countries. Results The study reveals a significant rise in Age-Standardized Incidence Rates (ASIR) for breast cancer among females in Saudi Arabia from 1990 to 2019, with Oman experiencing the highest increase and Kuwait the highest decrease. Bahrain also saw a significant increase in male Age-standardized death rate (ASDR), despite all other countries experiencing a decrease. Also, the data demonstrated a statistically significant positive correlation between ASIR and Human Development Index (HDI), evident across all countries. Metabolic risk and tobacco use were identified as primary contributors. A ten-year BC prediction predicts a significant increase in female cases, with Saudi Arabia expected to experience the highest rise. Conclusion This study underscores the urgent need for improved BC awareness, early detection through screening programs, enhanced access to quality healthcare services, and the addressing of sociocultural barriers in the GCC countries.