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Enhanced brain tumour segmentation using a hybrid dual encoder–decoder model in federated learning
Persistent neuromuscular disorders associated with changes in tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius lateralis muscle architecture in long-covid: an observational longitudinal study
Gum Arabic modulates the microbiota-gut-brain axis and affects general fitness in zebrafish
Abstract Gum Arabic (GA) (Acacia senegal var. senegal) is an edible tree exudate and dietary fibre shown to improve health in humans and animals. We tested the ramifications of GAon organismal health across the microbiota-gut-brain axis by supplementing female and male zebrafish (Danio rerio) with two concentrations(6% or 60%) of GA (Acacia senegal var. senegal) for two weeks. We assessed the effects on the gut microbiome composition, intestinal and brain metabolic profiles, reproductive fitness, locomotion, and brain gene expression. GA supplementation induced a relative decrease in Proteobacteria and a relative increase in Fusobacteria, with a rise in the beneficial genus Cetobacterium. In the GA-supplemented fish, we detected increased intestinal glucose metabolism, evidenced by reduced glucose retention levels. Additionally, high levels of acetate were detected in the brain. Interestingly, the gene cart1, involved in appetite and hunger control, was significantly downregulated in female brains only. Consistently, we detected increased locomotion in GA-supplemented fish compared to Control fish. Interestingly, GA supplementation had a negative effect on female reproductive fitness and a positive effect on male reproductive fitness. .Our results emphasise the significance of evaluating the impact of dietary fibre at a systemic level to develop relevant nutritional guidelines that consider the different nutritional requirements of each sex.
Signal amplification in a solid-state sensor through asymmetric many-body echo
Bitwise XOR linear space creation through permutation and the ease to enable XOR-free processes
Abstract The speed of operation execution is receiving more emphasis in contemporary computing settings. Because the time-consuming unit operations may be processed more quickly through the right modifications on the same, which would be a more attractive feature for applications like data transfer and cryptography. Hence, a new software-oriented technique is suggested in this study for usage in contexts where faster executions are necessary. The XOR logical operation are accelerated by the suggested way. This work first describes how to efficiently build the XOR linear space via permutation of values. In the present article, the method of designing the XOR linear space is elaborated to assist XOR-free processes/operations. The regular key stream generating scheme SNOW 3G and SNOW 5G is used in conjunction with the proposed bitwise XOR-free procedure/operations for the empirical evidence. The average speed-up gained using the projected XOR-Free process/operations for SNOW 3G is 1.38× and for SNOW 5G is 1.0193×. Similarly, the throughput attained is 459.82 Kbps and $$23.659\text{ Mbps}$$ for SNOW 5G and SNOW 3G, respectively.
Kirigami-inspired parachutes with programmable reconfiguration
An exploration of mediating mechanisms influencing willingness to pay for corporate social responsibility
Abstract Corporate social responsibility is known a significant factor in shaping consumer behavior, particularly in socially conscious and developing economies. However, limited research has observed the psychological mechanisms through which CSR affects consumers’ willingness to pay. The objective of the study is to examine how CSR influences WTP through the mediating roles of consumer happiness, retention and emotional attachment, while also exploring the complementary role of service quality in strengthening these relationships. Drawing on cognitive consistency, stakeholder and perceived value theories, a conceptual framework was developed and tested using data from 350 consumers in Pakistan. The results reveal that CSR indirectly influences WTP through the mediators, but does not exert a significant direct influence. In contrast, service quality shows a significant direct and indirect influence on WTP. The findings propose that emotional and relational factors mediate the relationship of corporate social responsibility and willingness to pay and highlight the importance of integrating corporate social responsibility with high service quality to improve consumer satisfaction and price tolerance. The study offers theoretical and managerial implications for using corporate social responsibility and service quality to foster long-lasting consumer relationships and improve pricing strategies in developing economies.
Publisher Correction: Experimental determination of partial charges with electron diffraction
Consistency between self-reported and log data to understand students’ experience of learning in flipped classrooms
Fixing the imbalance in cancer rates between Black and white women
A survey of knowledge and perceptions of ADHD and autism spectrum disorder in the workplace at a large corporation
Abstract Neurodevelopmental conditions, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), affect millions globally and are often misunderstood in professional environments. Embracing neurodiversity is essential for inclusivity and leveraging the unique strengths of these individuals. This study evaluated employees’ knowledge and perceptions of neurodiversity, focusing on ADHD and autism in large corporations, to identify knowledge gaps and propose strategies to create more inclusive workplaces. Cross-sectional survey of 880 employees from AstraZeneca and Alexion in Spain was conducted in July 2024. It assessed knowledge of ADHD and autism, perceptions of working with neurodivergent individuals, and preferences for educational interventions. Data were collected via self-administered questionnaire and analyzed descriptively and analyzed using descriptive statistics to summarize frequencies, proportions, and central tendency measures. Awareness of ADHD (98.9%) and autism (98.1%) was high, but misconceptions persisted, with ~ 20% misidentifying intellectual disability as a symptom of autism, and restricted interests as a sign of ADHD. Comfort with potentially working with neurodivergent colleagues was rated 7.4/10, yet 60.6% felt that workplaces were inadequately adapted. Preferred educational approaches included school talks (87.5%) and social media (67.6%). Despite positive attitudes, knowledge gaps regarding neurodevelopmental disorders persist. Targeted interventions are essential to emphasize the strengths of neurodivergent individuals and foster adaptable, supportive workplaces that promote inclusivity and innovation.
Biomod2 modeling for predicting the potential ecological distribution of Lilium Davidii var. Willmottiae (E. H. Wilson) Raffill
Systemic enzyme therapy for postoperative inflammation and wound healing after orthopedic surgery: a randomized, placebo and active controlled clinical study
Parachutes inspired by the Japanese art of kirigami
A Geospatial atlas of honey bee forage plants and their distribution patterns in Africa and beyond
Doughnut of social and planetary boundaries monitors a world out of balance
Abstract The doughnut-shaped framework of social and planetary boundaries (the ‘Doughnut’) provides a concise visual assessment of progress towards the goal of meeting the needs of all people within the means of the living planet1–3. Here we present a renewed Doughnut framework with a revised set of 35 indicators that monitor trends in social deprivation and ecological overshoot over the 2000–2022 period. Although global gross domestic product (GDP) has more than doubled, our median results show a modest achievement in reducing human deprivation that would have to accelerate fivefold to meet the needs of all people by 2030. Meanwhile, the increase in ecological overshoot would have to stop immediately and accelerate nearly two times faster towards planetary boundaries to safeguard Earth-system stability by 2050. Disaggregating these global findings shows that the richest 20% of nations, with 15% of the global population, contribute more than 40% of annual ecological overshoot, whereas the poorest 40% of countries, with 42% of the global population, experience more than 60% of the social shortfall. These trends and inequalities reaffirm the case for overcoming the dependence of nations on perpetual GDP growth4,5 and reorienting towards regenerative and distributive economic activity—within and between nations—that assigns priority to human needs and planetary integrity.