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Cationic starch styrene acrylic antibacterial emulsion based on subject object recognition of β-cyclodextrin for paper surface modification

Developing appropriate environmental enrichment strategies for broiler breeders

Abstract There is a recognised need for environmental enrichment strategies to be developed for broiler parent stock. We evaluated the use and tested preferences for three forms of enrichment in commercial broiler breeder housing: (1) perches (platform perches, round metal perches, round rubber-coated metal perches), (2) pecking enrichments (silver reflective gazing balls, multi-coloured reflective gazing balls, non-reflective gazing balls), and (3) dust baths (oat hulls, sawdust, 50:50 mix). Observations from video footage were conducted during early, peak and late lay of a 44 week production phase on one farm. There was a clear preference for platform perches over both round perches, and for rubber-coated perches over metal perches until late lay. Perching was highest at night but reduced over the cycle. We found a drop off in perching once 23 cm of linear space per bird had been reached, suggesting this represented comfortable maximum capacity. All pecking enrichments attracted interest, with no difference between the three types, although pecking rate reduced across the cycle. House litter was well maintained and dustbathing was widely observed throughout the house, making additional dustbathing areas largely superfluous on this farm. We suggest platform perches and suspended gazing balls to be suitable environmental enrichments for commercial breeder housing.

Efficiency of genome editing using modified single-stranded oligodeoxyribonucleotides in human cells

Design rules for low-insertion-loss magnonic transducers

Abstract We present a computational framework for the design of magnonic transducers, where waveguide antennas generate and pick up spin-wave signals. Our method relies on the combination of circuit-level models with micromagnetic simulations and allows simulation of complex geometries in the magnonic domain. We validated our model with experimental measurements, which showed good agreement with the predicted scattering parameters of the system. Using our model, we identified scaling rules of the antenna radiation resistance and we show strategies to maximize transduction efficiency between the electric and magnetic domains. We designed a transducer pair on YIG with 5 dB insertion loss in a 100 MHz band, an unusually low value for micron-scale spin-wave devices. This demonstrates that magnonic devices can be very efficient and competitive in RF applications.

Extracorporeal shock waves effectively suppress colorectal cancer proliferation and growth

Micronutrients and polycystic ovary syndrome in the IEU OpenGWAS project: a two-Sample unidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis

Involvement of tdTomato-Tagged RPE cells in a mouse PVR model with enzymatically compromised retina

Machine learning allows robust classification of lung neoplasm tissue using an electronic biopsy through minimally-invasive electrical impedance spectroscopy

Genome wide interaction study of genetic variants associated with lung function decline

Prevalence and distribution of Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistant 1 D1246Y allele among children in Ibadan Southwest, Nigeria

Bone tumor recognition strategy based on object region and context representation in medical decision-making system

Association of handgrip strength weakness and asymmetry with cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms in older Chinese adults

Abstract This study investigated the association between handgrip strength (HGS) asymmetry and weakness with cognitive function and depressive symptoms among 920 community-dwelling adults aged above 60 years in suburban Shanghai. Participants were selected using a multistage cluster-stratified sampling approach. Assessments included HGS measured with a dynamometer, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) for cognition, and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) for depressive symptoms. Restricted cubic splines revealed a positive association between dominant HGS and MoCA scores, indicating better cognitive performance, and a negative association with GDS scores, suggesting fewer depressive symptoms. The association between the HGS ratio and MoCA scores and the HGS ratio and GDS scores varied by sex. Women with HGS weakness alone (odds ratio (OR) = 2.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.17–3.37), asymmetry alone (OR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.14–3.29), or weakness and asymmetry together (OR = 2.57, 95% CI = 1.48–4.46) had a significantly increased risk of cognitive impairment. However, no such associations observed in men. These findings suggest that HGS weakness and asymmetrical HGS may be associated with a higher risk of cognitive decline and depressive symptoms, particularly in women. This study emphasizes the need for sex-specific assessments and prevention strategies to address cognitive and mental health issues among older adults.

Enhancing prehension strength and dexterity through cross-education effects in the elderly

Potential application of Staphylococcus devriesei MS as a biosorbent agent for manganase, chromium, and cadmium heavy metals in contaminated water

Abstract This study identified one bacterial isolate as Staphylococcus devriesei, which is resistant to cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn), and chromium (Cr) using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Following that, the strain sequence was submitted to GenBank under accession number PQ013181. In this investigation, the biosorption potential of Staphylococcus devriesei was evaluated for the biosorption of chrmoium, cadmium, and manganese ions. The effects of pH, contact time, and initial concentration were examined in a batch-mode study. According to our findings, after 6 h at the ideal pH, Staphylococcus devriesei’s maximal biosorption capabilities of Cr and Cd were 98 and 81.2%, respectively. The maximum biosorption of Mn was 95.6% after 24 h at pH 6. SEM micrographs showed that, Staphylococcus devriesei were irregular and cracked with wrinkles on the surface after absorbing the studied Cr metal ions. It was observed that the alterations in cell size occurred when the bacterium was exposed to a dose of Mn and the aggregation of cells was seen. Bacterial cells treated with Cd exhibited irregularities, featuring depressions on their surfaces, and surface wrinkles. FTIR analysis showed obvious alterations in peak positions and intensities before and after the biosorption process. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis showed extra metal depositions on the treated cell surface compared to the control. At the ultrastructural level, TEM imaging demonstrates the involvement of extracellular and intracellular precipitates and accumulated metals on the cell walls. Thus, the results of this study indicated that Staphylococcus devriesei can effectively aid in the remediation of contaminated water with moderate to light levels of Cd, Cr, and Mn.

Artificial intelligence system for predicting hand-foot skin reaction induced by vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitors

Abstract Hand-foot skin reaction (HFSR) is a common adverse effect of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) inhibitors that significantly impacts patients’ quality of life. Prevention and management of HFSR require individualized approaches, but risk factors remain unclear. This study aimed to develop artificial intelligence (AI) models to predict grade ≥ 2 HFSR using clinical data and foot sole images from 93 instances of VEGFR inhibitor administration in 76 patients. Image-based, clinical information-based, and ensemble AI models achieved areas under the curve of 0.550, 0.693, and 0.699, respectively. At a high-specificity cutoff, the ensemble AI had a positive predictive value of 0.824, suggesting potential clinical utility for identifying high-risk patients. Feature importance analysis revealed heavier weight, good performance status, lack of prior VEGFR inhibitor exposure, and baseline skin toxicity as risk factors. These findings represent the first AI-based HFSR prediction models and provide insights for preventive interventions, but further accuracy improvements are needed.

‘Boggles the mind’: US defence department slashes research on emerging threats

Effect of dietary Dendrobium nobile Lindl. On production performance, immune function and caecal microbiota of Chishui black-bone hens

‘All this is in crisis’: US universities curtail staff and spending as Trump cuts take hold

Dynamic failure mechanisms and hazard evaluation of rock collapse induced by extreme rainfall in Changbai County highways

Evaluation of early warning signals for soil erosion using remote sensing indices in northeastern Iran

Abstract Soil erosion represents a major challenge to natural resource conservation, causing land degradation, biodiversity loss, and diminished soil quality. This study explored the use of satellite imagery to evaluate the spatiotemporal risk of soil erosion in northeastern Iran. The ICONA model was applied to identify areas at severe erosion risk, while remote sensing indices (NDVI, NDSI, and TGSI) were employed to analyze erosion trends. NDVI is used to monitor vegetation health, NDSI detects soil salinity levels, and TGSI assesses topsoil grain size distribution, collectively providing critical insights into soil erosion risk in the study area. These indices, derived from the Google Earth Engine with a 30-meter spatial resolution and monthly temporal intervals (2003–2022), were assessed at 100 points, equally divided between eroded and non-eroded regions. Field data, including vegetation plots and soil profiles, were used to validate the remote sensing outputs. Early warning signals were analyzed through three statistical indices—autocorrelation coefficient, skewness, and standard deviation—using Kendall’s tau. Results revealed that 39.7% of the area falls under low erosion risk, 58.4% under medium risk, and 1.9% under severe risk. Significant breakpoints in NDSI and NDVI were identified in 2013, while TGSI showed no detectable change. Major shifts occurred near the Alagol, Almagol, and Ajigol wetlands and northern drylands. This study underscores the importance of integrating satellite data with field validation to improve soil management, protect biodiversity, and guide sustainable erosion mitigation strategies.