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Exploring the attraction of AI companions: how perceived anthropomorphism, empathy, and system curiosity shape young Chinese users’ behavioral intention within an extended TAM framework

A comparison between bacterial cultivation and 16S rRNA next generation sequencing approaches for analysis of bacteria in urine and cerebrospinal fluid samples

Accurate identification of bacterial pathogens is essential for effective clinical management; however, bacterial diagnosis remains challenging in routine microbiology laboratories, particularly in emergency settings and outbreak situations. Bacterial meningitis is a life-threatening condition associated with high morbidity and mortality, underscoring the need for sensitive and specific diagnostic approaches. Conventional culture-based methods often fail to identify causative agents, especially in samples with low bacterial load or fastidious organisms. This study aimed to evaluate next-generation sequencing (NGS) as a diagnostic tool compared with classical cultivation methods for bacterial detection in urine and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples. A total of 50 urine samples (30 positive, 15 insignificant, and 5 negative by culture) and 14 CSF samples (4 positive and 10 negative) were collected from the microbiology laboratory at Al-Makassed Hospital in Jerusalem, Palestine. Bacterial identification was performed using both conventional methods and NGS targeting the 16S rRNA gene. Classical culture methods identified common uropathogens, including Escherichia coli , Klebsiella spp., Enterococcus spp., Lactobacillus spp., Group B Streptococcus , Acinetobacter spp., and Proteus mirabilis in urine samples, while CSF cultures detected coagulase-negative Staphylococcus , Enterobacter spp., and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In comparison, NGS provided broader bacterial profiling at genus and species levels. In urine samples with significant growth, NGS identified Escherichia coli as the most prevalent species and Enterococcus as the most abundant genus. Importantly, NGS detected multiple bacterial taxa in samples classified as culture-negative or insignificant-growth, including Escherichia , Enterococcus , Pseudomonas , Staphylococcus , and Klebsiella . In CSF samples, NGS additionally identified Pseudomonas , Enterobacter , Escherichia , Staphylococcus , and Rickettsia in culture-negative specimens. Overall, NGS demonstrated substantially higher sensitivity than classical culture methods and provided more comprehensive bacterial identification, highlighting its diagnostic value for detecting slow-growing, fastidious, and low-abundance bacteria missed by conventional techniques.

A Pragmatic Trial of a 6-Month Strategy for Rifampicin-Resistant Tuberculosis

Plasma CXCL13 and fibrosis biomarkers in COVID-19 compared with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Abstract COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted global health, particularly evident in the detection of lung lesions via chest computed tomography scans. This study investigates the role of biomarkers in lung injury among COVID-19 patients and patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). This single-center prospective study included 154 hospitalized and 10 outpatient COVID-19 patients, 62 IPF patients, and 40 healthy volunteers, and evaluated biomarkers of alveolar epithelial cell dysfunction, extracellular matrix (ECM) and fibroblast dysfunction, and macrophage/monocyte activation (Galectin-3, CXCL13). Findings were further validated in an independant confirmation cohort (DisCoVeRy trial). COVID-19 patients had higher levels of biomarkers compared to healthy controls, except for SP-D. Compared to IPF patients, COVID-19 patients had significantly higher plasma levels of OPN, Galectin-3 and CXCL13 at admission. Elevated CXCL13 and Galectin-3 levels in COVID-19 were associated with greater lung injury. Multivariate logistic regression and Kaplan Meier analysis confirmed the role of CXCL13 in predicting severe lung injury (odd ratio 3.17, 95% CI 1.03–9.76) and in-hospital mortality (p = 0.04), with consistent results observed in the confirmation cohort. COVID-19 is characterized by increased ECM and macrophage activation biomarkers compared with IPF. CXCL13 may serve as a relevant biomarker for assessing lung injury and improving risk stratification at hospital admission.

Broad-spectrum antifungal activity and genome-guided characterization of Paenibacillus polymyxa CACC1094 isolated from the bovine rumen

While Paenibacillus polymyxa is widely recognized for its biocontrol capabilities, most characterized strains originate from soil or rhizosphere environments, leaving animal-associated populations largely unexplored. In this study, we report the isolation of P. polymyxa strain CACC1094 from the bovine rumen and its genome-guided characterization to investigate its biosynthetic potential and antifungal activity. Whole-genome sequencing yielded a complete circular chromosome of 5.55 Mb with a GC content of 45.36%, comprising 5,099 coding sequences, 39 rRNA genes, and 111 tRNA genes. Comparative phylogenomic analysis placed CACC1094 within the P. polymyxa species complex, clustering most closely with the rumen-associated strain ND24 (ANI: 98.31%) and strain 188 (ANI: 96.92%), while forming a distinct branch within the species. Genome mining identified 13 biosynthetic gene clusters, including those associated with fusaricidin and tridecaptin biosynthesis, a paenicidin-like lanthipeptide cluster, and a hybrid NRPS–PKS cluster. In dual-culture assays, CACC1094 showed broad in vitro antifungal activity against multiple plant-pathogenic fungi and oomycetes, as well as selected fungal and yeast pathogens of clinical and veterinary relevance. LC-QTOF/MS analysis of culture supernatants confirmed the production of fusaricidin A and fusaricidin B, providing direct experimental validation of genome-derived predictions. Additionally, genome annotation revealed a complete CRISPR-Cas adaptive immune system, suggesting an integrated ecological strategy that combines antimicrobial biosynthesis with defense against mobile genetic elements. Together, these findings identify CACC1094 as a rumen-associated P. polymyxa strain with broad-spectrum antifungal activity and experimentally validated fusaricidin production, highlighting its potential as a source of antifungal metabolites for agricultural and veterinary applications.

Phase 3 Results of Bepirovirsen Treatment for Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection

Functional interaction between miR-505-3p and miR-21 contributes to GBM suppression

Retraction: ISL1 protein transduction promotes cardiomyocyte differentiation from human embryonic stem cells

A Major Step toward a Cure for Hepatitis B Infection

Thermally modulated resonant quantum transport in asymmetric nanoscale junctions for optimal bias and power generation analysis

Abstract A phenomenological effective transport model inspired by Landauer-type resonant transport concepts is presented to investigate thermally modulated transport behavior in an asymmetric nanoscale junction under combined electrical and thermal driving. The proposed framework incorporates resonance alignment, thermal resonance modulation, finite-bias activation, damping effects, and structural asymmetry within a computationally efficient formulation. The transport response is systematically analyzed as functions of bias voltage, asymmetry strength, temperature, and resonance energy. The results show that increasing structural asymmetry reduces the magnitudes of the heat-current proxy, charge-current magnitude, and electrical power magnitude due to weaker effective transport coupling. However, the optimal bias voltage associated with the maximum electrical power magnitude remains only weakly affected within the investigated parameter range because the asymmetry factor primarily scales the transport amplitude while weakly modifying the resonance-alignment condition. The simulations further demonstrate that the maximum electrical power magnitude increases with temperature, whereas the thermal sensitivity gradually decreases at elevated temperatures. In addition, the optimal operating bias increases with resonance energy according to the resonance-alignment condition included in the model. A two-dimensional operating map identifies a stable high-performance transport region near 4–4.5 mV. All numerical parameters used in the simulations are explicitly reported to support reproducibility. The proposed framework provides a simplified and physically interpretable platform for analyzing resonance-dominated transport trends in asymmetric nanoscale systems and may serve as a useful basis for future microscopic or experimentally calibrated studies.

Why science needs the humanities more than ever

Correction: Bayesian hierarchical modeling of joint spatiotemporal risk patterns for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Tuberculosis (TB) in Kenya

Immediate or Deferred Nonculprit-Lesion PCI in Myocardial Infarction

Federated deep reinforcement learning enabled hierarchical Edge–Fog–Cloud architecture for intelligent task offloading in 6G networks

Patient quality of life determinants in decision-making regarding amputation

Background Psychological adjustment to amputation begins well before surgery and is pivotal in determining both functional and emotional outcomes. For patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), understanding their emotional and psychological challenges during the perioperative period is essential for healthcare teams to provide effective support. Addressing these challenges can enhance surgical outcomes and facilitate long-term rehabilitation. As patients approach amputation, their psychological adjustment significantly influences postoperative recovery and quality of life. Surgeons and healthcare teams should integrate psychological considerations into care planning to optimize outcomes and support holistic healing. This study explores the psychological challenges faced by patients with PAD undergoing amputation, providing insights relevant to surgeons in enhancing preoperative care. Methods We conducted a qualitative study with patients who underwent primary elective amputations as part of a vascular surgery inpatient service. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, which were conducted between five and ten days post-amputation. The interviews were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) guidelines for thematic analysis, which allowed for the identification of key patterns and themes related to the psychological adjustment process. Findings Three key themes emerged: Breaking Point , diminished quality of life threshold when patients reached a threshold of suffering from PAD; Meaning Attributed to Amputation , highlighting varied perceptions of the procedure’s impact on quality of life; and Trust in the Healthcare Team , emphasizing the role of effective communication and trust in the patient-provider relationship. Conclusion These findings underscore the importance of addressing emotional and psychological needs of patients in the preoperative period to improve surgical outcomes. By fostering trust, and providing tailored preoperative support, surgeons along with the healthcare team can help better prepare patients to enhance post-operative recovery and reduce anxiety, and negative cognitions. Future research should explore practical effective ways to integrate psychological care into surgical practice, with a focus on improving both emotional and functional outcomes.

The Before and The After

Intelligent industrial design assessment for product development using the picture fuzzy CURLI MCDM approach

The role of community capacity building (CCB) in promoting local development: Analyzing leadership in the Hyderabad cantonment community

With leadership positioned as a key tenet, this study investigates the function of Community Capacity Building (CCB) in fostering local development. It combines quantitative survey data from Hyderabad Cantonment, Pakistan, with qualitative interview data using a mixed-methods design. The results show notable deficiencies in women’s leadership participation, resource mobilization, and participatory governance. The study suggests specific tactics to improve leadership for sustainable and inclusive development. The study creates an empirically supported, situation-specific, yet broadly applicable model for grassroots development. Creating localized policy recommendations that address governance deficiencies and integrating leadership roles using both qualitative narratives and quantitative insights are two important contributions. For academics and decision-makers looking to promote participatory governance in urban and semi-urban settings, the results offer useful evidence. It is important to note that findings reflect community perceptions of leadership effectiveness rather than objective performance indicators, and therefore should be interpreted as perception-based evidence rather than causal measurement.

Catheter Ablation for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

Pilates Method as a complementary activity reduces myofascial stiffness and pain in women with breast cancer undergoing aromatase inhibitor therapy: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Evidence supporting the effectiveness of non-pharmacological exercise interventions to mitigate the side effects of aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy among breast cancer (BC) patients remains limited. Given that AI-related adverse effects are associated with reduced quality of life, there is a clear need to address these symptoms. Thus, this study investigated the effects of the Pilates Method (PM) intervention on thoracic spine extensor myofascial stiffness (M-FS), pain sensation, and quality of life (QoL). A randomized, two-arm, parallel-group supportive care trial with blinded outcome assessment compared an exercise intervention group (experimental group; EG) and a usual-care group (U-CG) pre- and post-intervention (per-protocol analysis). Eligible BC patients receiving AI therapy were randomized to either group. The EG completed a 12-week Pilates mat intervention (two supervised group sessions per week, 60 min each). Primary outcomes included measurement M-FS of thoracic spine extensor muscles (MyotonPro®) at Th3, Th7, and Th12 spine levels, alongside assessments of pain sensation (The Brief Pain Inventory), and QoL (EORTC QLQ-C30, EORTC QLQ-BR23). Between-group and within-group differences were analyzed using a two-way repeated-measures ANOVA, followed by Bonferroni post hoc tests. 42 BC women were randomized to the EG (n = 28) and the U-CG (n = 14); 22 and 14 participants, respectively, were included in the final analysis. Significant time × group interaction effects for M-FS were observed at the Th3 (F = 17.04, η p 2  = 0.33, p < 0.001), Th7 (F = 20.13, η p 2  = 0.37, p < 0.001), whereas the interaction at Th12 was not statistically significant (F = 1.15, η p 2  = 0.03, p > 0.01). Significant time × group interaction effects with large effect sizes were found for pain severity, physical interference, and affective interference (all p < 0.001), whereas pain indicators increased in the U-CG. QoL improved in the EG, reflected by higher global health status (GHS) (F = 18.69, η p 2  = 0.36, p < 0.001), with significant improvements in systemic therapy side effects, arm symptoms (both p < 0.001). Clinically meaningful changes were observed in GHS and BC-specific symptom scales in the EG. No serious adverse events were observed. A supervised PM-based intervention may improve selected treatment-related musculoskeletal outcomes in BC women receiving AI. The observed reductions in thoracic extensor M-FS (Th3, Th7), accompanied by enhancements in quality of life, substantiate the potential clinical significance of Pilates-based physiotherapy as an adjunctive rehabilitation approach within this population. Given its observed analgesic effects, the PM may represent a complementary supportive strategy alongside guideline-recommended aerobic and resistance training interventions in oncology rehabilitation. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov (No: NCT06419023; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06419023 ). May 20, 2024. Retrospectively registered.