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Emerging evidence of abrupt changes in the Antarctic environment
Racial and socioeconomic disparities in long term survival after surgery and radiation for spinal cord hemangioblastoma
Abstract Spinal cord hemangioblastomas are rare, benign, intradural tumors that, despite their nonmalignant histopathology, can lead to substantial neurological morbidity. While disparities in outcomes based on race and socioeconomic status have been well-documented in other spinal tumor populations, their role in spinal cord hemangioblastoma remains poorly understood. In this study, we utilize the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to evaluate the influence of race, socioeconomic factors, and healthcare access on survival outcomes in patients with spinal cord hemangioblastoma. Additionally, we explore the utility of machine learning–based survival models to improve individualized risk prediction and to identify key clinical and sociodemographic determinants of long-term survival. Patients diagnosed with spinal cord hemangioblastoma were identified from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) using ICD-O-3 histology and topography codes. Demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical variables were compared across racial groups (White, Black and Asian). Long-term overall survival (OS) was defined as survival beyond 10 years. Kaplan–Meier and multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate survival outcomes and identify independent predictors of mortality. Tumor size was stratified using the cohort-wide mean (62.2 mm) for interpretability. Temporal trends in racial distribution and surgical technique (open vs. MIS) were assessed using Mann–Kendall trend testing. Gradient Boosting Survival, Cox proportional hazards, and Random Survival Forest models were developed and validated for mortality prediction. The best-performing model was interpreted using SHAP analysis. A total of 716 adult patients with spinal cord hemangioblastoma were analyzed, with the majority being White (83.7%), followed by Black (12.3%) and Asian (4%). Significant differences were observed across racial groups in age, insurance status, income quartiles, and comorbidity scores, though sex distribution and facility type utilization were comparable. Most patients were treated at academic centers, and surgery alone was the predominant treatment modality, with no racial disparities in extent of resection or use of radiation. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed significantly higher 10-year and long-term mortality in White patients; however, race was not an independent predictor in multivariable Cox regression, where increased age, higher CDCC scores, urban residence, and treatment at comprehensive community cancer centers were associated with worse survival. Surgery, with or without radiation, was protective compared to radiation alone. Temporal analysis showed stable racial distribution and minimal uptake of minimally invasive surgery from 2010 to 2017. The Gradient Boosting Survival model achieved the highest predictive performance (AUC = 0.8214; C-index = 0.7817), with age, facility type, and comorbidity burden identified as the strongest predictors of mortality in SHAP analysis. A publicly available web-based calculator was developed based on this model to provide individualized survival estimates. Racial and socioeconomic disparities were associated with differences in clinical outcomes on univariate analysis. However, race and insurance status were not independent predictors of mortality in multivariable-adjusted models. This suggests that the observed survival differences may be explained by confounding factors, such as comorbidity burden, treatment modality, or access to specialized care. Notably, poorer survival was independently associated with treatment at Comprehensive Community Cancer Programs and with higher comorbidity scores, underscoring the importance of ensuring equitable access to high-volume, specialized centers. Lastly, the Gradient Boosting Survival model enhanced mortality risk prediction by incorporating both clinical and socioeconomic variables, supporting its potential utility in guiding targeted interventions to improve long-term outcomes.
Utilizing time series analysis to forecast the growth of mobile payment users and its implications for the digital economy
Mobile payment systems have experienced rapid growth, but accurate forecasting remains challenging due to market dynamics and complex adoption factors. This paper proposes a Hybrid ARIMA-LSTM-Transformer model that combines time series forecasting, sequential learning, and attention mechanisms to address these challenges. Experimental results across five datasets demonstrate our model’s superior performance with MAE of 0.075, RMSE of 0.121, and R2 score of 0.948, outperforming traditional approaches. The model’s high accuracy and adaptability make it valuable for real-world applications in digital economy planning and mobile payment market analysis.
Is there anybody out there? Ultrafast Rydberg–valence interactions in the photodissociation of trimethylamine
Trimethylamine (TMA) is a tertiary aliphatic amine that stands as a potential marker for life beyond Earth due to only being naturally produced via biotic means. However, its propensity to undergo photodissociation in the gas phase when excited by a deep ultraviolet photon means that its amine daughter product could serve as an additional biomarker and confirmational spectral signature of TMA in exoplanetary atmospheres. The photochemistry of TMA is dominated by strong Rydberg–valence state interactions. To understand how these interactions lead to its amine photoproduct, we employ time-resolved extreme ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy where TMA is pumped by a 200 nm femtosecond laser pulse and analyze the results with the help of electronic structure calculations of the excited state potential energy surface relevant to the process. Our combined experimental and theoretical study indicates that from the decay of the initially prepared 3pz state (time-constant 400 fs), internal conversion through the remaining 3p manifold (4.4 ps) and the 3s state (67 ps) states competes with ultrafast photodissociation, forming ground state dimethyl amidogen (DMA) and CH3 (ν2 = 4) radical products. Decay of the 3s state reveals the formation of a second product pair, forming DMA in a low-lying excited state, DMA (Ã2A1), and vibrationally cold CH3. We suggest that the rapid dissociation channel arises from a near-planar geometry accessed in the 3pz state and the longer time channel arises from the excited state population, accessing a pyramidal geometry in the 3s state.
Clinical and laboratory predictors of mortality in Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia
Quantifying the influence of vocational education and training with text embedding and similarity-based networks
Assessing the potential influence of Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses on creating job opportunities and nurturing work skills has been considered challenging due to the ambiguity in defining their complex relationships and connections with the local economy. Here, we quantify the potential influence of VET courses and explain it with future economy and specialization by constructing a network of more than 17,000 courses, jobs, and skills in Singapore’s SkillsFuture data based on their text similarities captured by a text embedding technique, Sentence Transformer. We find that VET courses associated with Singapore’s 4th Industrial Revolution economy demonstrate higher influence than those related to other future economies. The course influence varies greatly across different sectors, attributed to the level of specificity of the skills covered. Lastly, we show a notable concentration of VET supply in certain occupation sectors requiring general skills, underscoring a disproportionate distribution of education supply for the labor market.
Weight loss alters adipose tissue beyond just reducing fat
Calculation of thermodynamic properties using path integral Monte Carlo simulations in the canonical ensemble
The method of Lustig [J. Chem. Phys. 100, 3048–3059 (1994)] is applied to the path integral formulation of the quantum-mechanical canonical ensemble to derive equations for the calculation of all common thermodynamic properties in a rigorous and systematic way. Using these equations, thermodynamic properties such as the pressure, the isochoric and isobaric heat capacity, the speed of sound, or the Joule–Thomson coefficient can be calculated in path integral Monte Carlo simulations, fully incorporating quantum effects without uncontrolled approximations. The equations are derived for primitive and virial estimators. For the virial estimators, we generalize the finite-difference approach of Yamamoto [J. Chem. Phys. 123, 104101 (2005)] to arbitrary thermodynamic properties. We verify the derived equations by Monte Carlo simulations of supercritical helium-4 above the vapor–liquid critical point at selected state points on the 80 K isotherm using recent, highly accurate ab initio pair and nonadditive three-body potentials. The results of these simulations agree with our previous simulation results in the isobaric-isothermal ensemble, a virial equation of state of metrological quality, and the most accurate experimental data for the speed of sound in helium within their mutual uncertainties. We suppose that our results for the density are more accurate than the available experimental data in this region of the phase diagram.
Subthreshold depression is associated with altered facial expression and impression formation via subjective ratings and action unit analysis
The influence of pneumococcal positivity on clinical outcomes among patients hospitalized with COVID-19: A retrospective cohort study
Background Bacterial co-infection has been associated with adverse outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia and may contribute to poor clinical outcomes when co-detected in COVID-19 patients. This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of pneumococcal positivity in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at two tertiary care centers. Pneumococcal positivity was defined by either a positive urinary antigen test or multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction. Disease severity of COVID-19 pneumonia was assessed using the pneumonia severity index and CURB-65 scoring systems. Propensity score matching and multivariable logistic regression were used to adjust for confounders and identify independent risk factors for mortality. Results Among 280 patients, 65 pneumococcus-positive patients were matched with 65 pneumococcus-negative patients after propensity score matching. In the overall matched cohort, pneumococcal positivity was not significantly associated with in-hospital mortality. However, in patients with severe disease (n = 156), defined as pneumonia severity index >130 or CURB-65 ≥ 3, mortality was significantly higher in pneumococcus-positive patients (n = 39) than in pneumococcus-negative patients (53.8% vs. 29.1%, p = 0.009). In the multivariable analysis of this subgroup, pneumococcal positivity (odds ratio, 4.050; 95% confidence interval, 1.285–12.765; p = 0.017) and high-flow oxygen therapy (odds ratio, 6.510; 95% confidence interval, 1.847–22.944; p = 0.004) were independently associated with mortality. Conclusion Detection of S. pneumoniae by urinary antigen test or multiplex polymerase chain reaction was associated with increased mortality in patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19.
Extremely stripped supernova reveals a silicon and sulfur formation site
Detection of the tunneling-rotation transitions of malonaldehyde in the submillimeter-wave region and proton tunneling dynamics
The tunneling-rotation transitions of malonaldehyde, consisting of more than 200 a-type Q-branch lines along with 50 R- and P-branch lines, were observed in the submillimeter-wave region of 590–760 GHz. The proton tunneling splitting in the ground state, ΔE0 = 647 046.1640(40) MHz [21.583 208 818(133) cm−1], and the tunneling-rotation interaction constant, F0 = 45.8004(24) MHz, were determined. In addition, the rotational and centrifugal distortion constants were determined for both the 0+ and 0− tunneling sublevels. The proton tunneling dynamics of malonaldehyde were studied using a linear trajectory model to explain the observed molecular constants, and the potential barrier height hb was determined to be 2196 cm−1.
Serviceability and ductility behaviour of hybrid reinforced concrete beams partially composed of engineered cementitious composite (ECC)
Abstract GFRP bars can be used partially or fully instead of steel bars in RC-beams to eliminate corrosion problems, especially in harsh environments. Also, the implementation of the combined use of engineered cementitious composite (ECC) and the hybrid (steel-GFRP) reinforcement in concrete beams can enhance strength and serviceability. In this paper, seven beams; one as a control beam cast with traditional concrete, and six partial ECC RC-beams with GFRP bars only or RC-hybrid (steel-GFRP) bars were designed to investigate both deflection and ductility behaviour of such beam type. This research explored reinforcement types and two ECC configurations: (a) a bottom layer of varying thickness, (b) a U-shaped formwork. All specimens underwent four-point bending testing to examine cracks distribution, moment-strain, and moment-curvature relation, in addition to the evaluation of deflection equations and assessment of ductility of the composite beams. The experimental findings revealed that thicker ECC in the tension zone led to changes in the distribution of vertical cracks, stiffness, and energy absorption. The use of U-shaped ECC configuration generally leads to an increase in the ductility index. A specific construction technique with a corrugated surface was implemented, which created a roughened surface, improved the interface shear transfer, and eliminated bond failure at the interface. The deflection values calculated using ACI 318 -19 and CSA S806-12 equations showed good correlation with the experimentally measured deflections. In contrast, the ACI 440.1R-15 equations did not accurately capture the deflection behavior across all tested specimens.
Psychometric properties of the Hebrew version of brief mindful self-care scale: A translation and validation study
Background Mindful self-care (MSC) integrates mindfulness into daily routines to enhance physical, mental, and emotional well-being. MSC is vital for nurses due to the high-stress nature of their work, which often leads to burnout and compassion fatigue. The Brief Mindful Self-Care Scale (BMSCS) was developed to measure MSC across six domains. However, there is limited research on MSC in Israeli nurses, and no Hebrew version of the BMSCS has been validated. Objectives This study aimed to translate and validate the Hebrew version of the BMSCS and assess its psychometric properties among Israeli nurses. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 845 nurses recruited via a convenience sample. The BMSCS was translated into Hebrew using forward and backward translation. Psychometric analyses included exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA), item discrimination, and internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha). Data were analysed using R software. Results EFA using maximum likelihood estimation with Promax rotation revealed a six-factor solution accounting for 49% of the total variance. CFA results confirmed the model fit after excluding two low-loading items (PC2 and PC6), with goodness-of-fit indices meeting predefined criteria (e.g., RMSEA = 0.049, CFI = 0.949). The Cronbach’s alpha for the total scale was 0.87, with subscale reliability ranging from 0.70 to 0.89. Subscale correlations supported the internal structure. Conclusions The Hebrew BMSCS demonstrated strong psychometric properties, providing a reliable and structurally sound tool for assessing MSC in Israeli nurses. This instrument can guide interventions to enhance nurses’ well-being and inform future research in high-stress healthcare settings.
Hydrogen storage in novel Zn(II) and Cd(II) MRT MOFs: A study using grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations
The development of advanced hydrogen storage materials is essential for the adoption of hydrogen-powered vehicles as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as promising candidates for meeting the Department Of Energy (DOE) storage targets. This study employs grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations to evaluate the usable gravimetric and volumetric storage capacities of hydrogen in newly synthesized Zn- or Cd-based MRT (Moldova Research Team) MOFs. These results are systematically compared to those of carefully selected MOFs that share either similar metal compositions or analogous pore structures and densities. Among the four MRT MOFs examined, MRT2 and MRT4 stand out as the most promising, exhibiting remarkable hydrogen storage capacities at ambient and low temperature and moderate pressures (25–35 MPa). In particular, the total volumetric and gravimetric storage capacities of MRT2 and MRT4 exceed the DOE targets at 77 K and ∼5 MPa. Their hydrogen storage performance at room temperature proves highly competitive when assessed against MOFs with comparable metal compositions or porosity-density characteristics. The autonomy range of a hydrogen vehicle using MRT2 or MRT4 has been assessed, revealing that it can match that of a compressed hydrogen system while operating at lower pressures, but requiring a larger tank volume.
Two-year results of switching to intravitreal administration of faricimab in patients with aflibercept-refractory neovascular age-related macular degeneration
Nonlinear association between stress hyperglycemia ratio and severe consciousness disorder in acute ischemic stroke: A MIMIC retrospective analysis
Background The stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) has been extensively studied; however, its association with severe consciousness disorder (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] ≤ 8) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the association between SHR and GCS ≤ 8 in AIS as well as its relationship with long-term mortality. Methods This retrospective cohort study based on the MIMIC database. The primary outcome was GCS ≤ 8, and the secondary outcome was long-term mortality. The Cox proportional risk model was used to evaluate the relationship between SHR and outcome, and the restricted cubic spline (RCS) method was used to explore the potential nonlinear relationship between SHR and outcome. In addition, Kaplan-Meier curves were used to assess the differences between SHR levels and the incidence of each outcome. Results In this study, the overall incidence of GCS ≤ 8 and long-term mortality were 8.10% and 28.75%, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that SHR was associated with GCS ≤ 8 (HR = 1.52, 95%CI: 1.09–2.14, P = 0.015) and long-term mortality (HR = 1.32, 95%CI: 1.07–1.61, P < 0.0001), and RCS analysis showed a significant non-linear relationship between SHR and GCS ≤ 8 (P for non-linear <0.001), and an approximately linear relationship with long-term mortality (P for non-linear = 0.149). The Kaplan-Meier curve further confirmed that the incidence of GCS ≤ 8 and long-term mortality were significantly higher in patients with high SHR than in those with medium and low SHR (log-rank P < 0.001). Conclusions Elevated SHR was associated with GCS ≤ 8 and long-term mortality in patients with AIS, with a nonlinear relationship for GCS ≤ 8. Further studies are required to confirm these results.
Securing climate justice in the courtroom
A semiclassical nonequilibrium Green’s function approach to electron transport in systems exhibiting electron–phonon couplings
We formulate a semiclassical theory for electron transport in open quantum systems with electron–phonon interactions adequate for situations when the system’s phonon dynamics is comparable with the electron transport timescale. Starting from the Keldysh non-equilibrium Green’s function formalism, we obtain equations of motion for the retarded and lesser electronic Green’s functions, including contributions due to the phonon dynamics up to second order in the electron–phonon coupling strength. The resulting equations assume that the system’s phonons follow classical time-local dynamics with delta-correlated noise. We apply our method to the study of the charging/discharging of a periodically driven quantum dot, and a three-level model for a single-electron pump, analyzing the signatures in the transient current, electron population, and process performance of the phonon dynamics. For these systems, we adopt the fluctuation–dissipation theorem and consider external harmonic driving of the phonon at frequencies comparable with the electron modulation, and different scenarios, varying electron–phonon coupling strength, coupling to the electron part of the system, and in-phase and anti-phase driving. Our results illustrate that our method provides an efficient protocol to describe the effects of nuclear motion in ultrafast transient phenomena.