Analytical Framework Research Articles

Do sperm factors influence embryonic aneuploidy? Long live the oocyte.

What is the impact of male age- and sperm-related factors on embryonic aneuploidy? Using a 3-fold analysis framework encompassing patient-level, embryo-level, and matching analysis, we found no clinically significant interactions between male age and sperm quality with embryo ploidy. While the effect of maternal age on embryo chromosomal aneuploidy is well-established, the impact of male age and sperm quality on ploidy is less well-defined. This retrospective cohort study analyzed autologous preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) and frozen embryo transfer cycles from December 2014 to June 2021. The study involved 11087 cycles from 8484 patients, with a total of 35797 embryos. The aneuploidy rate, calculated as the ratio of aneuploid blastocysts to the total number of blastocysts biopsied in a single treatment cycle, was evaluated. In the embryo-level analysis, the main outcome measure was the ploidy state of the embryos. The study employed a multifaceted analytical approach that included a patient-level analysis using generalized linear mixed models, an embryo-level analysis focusing on chromosomal ploidy, and a propensity score matching analysis contrasting groups with distinct ploidy rates (0% and 100%). There were no interventions as this was an observational study of PGT-A cycles. No clinically relevant factors influencing ploidy rate related to male and sperm quality were revealed. In contrast, female age (coefficient = -0.053), BMI (coefficient = 0.003), prior ART cycle (coefficient = -0.066), and number of oocytes retrieved (coefficient = -0.018) were identified at the patient level. Embryo analysis identified age (coefficient = -0.1244) and ICSI usage (coefficient = -0.0129) as significant factors. Despite these, no significant interactions between male and female assessed factors on the ploidy rate emerged. Propensity score matching between maximal (100% vs 0%) euploid rates did not reveal significant differences of influence by male age and sperm quality. The focus on patients having blastocyst biopsy for PGT-A may not reflect the broader IVF population. Other semen quality parameters like DNA fragmentation were not included. Exclusion of embryo mosaicism from the analysis could affect aneuploidy rate interpretations. There may also be unmeasured influences like lifestyle or environmental factors. Male age and sperm quality parameters were consistent across both maximal and minimal ploidy rate comparisons. No significant clinical characteristics related to the factors assessed for the male-influenced blastocyst ploidy status, confirming the dominancy of the oocyte and female age. The study was not funded. There are no competing interests. N/A.

Digital family bonds are strengthened through effective communication dynamics on YouTube in Indonesia

General Background: Family communication plays a critical role in maintaining healthy relationships among family members, promoting openness, support, and understanding. Effective communication strengthens family bonds, especially during shared moments such as gatherings. Specific Background: Fadil Jaidi's YouTube channel provides an intriguing case study of family communication, showcasing how members interact and resolve issues. These video interactions offer valuable insights into the dynamics of family communication, particularly in the digital age. Knowledge Gap: Despite the extensive focus on communication in family studies, few have explored how family interactions are represented in social media content, especially YouTube channels, where family moments are broadcast to the public. The role of these platforms in influencing family communication patterns remains underexplored. Aims: This study aims to describe and explain the family communication patterns that occur on Fadil Jaidi's YouTube channel, focusing on openness, support, empathy, positiveness, and equality through content analysis. Results: A qualitative content analysis of five selected videos revealed that family communication on Fadil Jaidi’s channel runs smoothly. The interactions were characterized by 24 scenes: 8 scenes showing openness, 5 scenes of support, 2 scenes of empathy, 6 scenes of positiveness, and 3 scenes of equality. These categories were identified using thematic and syntactic analysis. Novelty: This study is among the first to analyze family communication within a public YouTube context, applying Eriyanto's content analysis framework. It highlights how online platforms can both reflect and influence real-life family dynamics. Implications: The findings suggest that public displays of family communication on social media platforms, like YouTube, can serve as examples for fostering positive interactions in real-life family settings. This research contributes to the understanding of how digital platforms can be used to promote healthy communication in family contexts. Highlights: Family communication on YouTube shows openness, support, empathy, positiveness, equality. Fadil Jaidi’s videos highlight effective family interactions in everyday scenarios. The study reveals digital platforms’ role in shaping family communication dynamics. Keywords: family communication, YouTube analysis, content analysis, social media, qualitative research

A lightweight BRLWE-based post-quantum cryptosystem with side-channel resilience for IoT security

The rapid advancement of quantum computing poses a significant threat to conventional cryptographic systems, particularly in the context of Internet of Things (IoT) security. This paper introduces PQ-IoTCrypt, a lightweight post-quantum cryptosystem for resource-constrained IoT devices. PQ-IoTCrypt builds upon the binary ring learning with errors problem, incorporating optimizations for efficient implementation on 8-bit microcontrollers commonly found in IoT environments. We introduce a symmetric discrete uniform distribution and streamlined polynomial arithmetic to reduce computational overhead while maintaining a high-security level. Additionally, we present a comprehensive power side-channel analysis framework for lattice-based post-quantum cryptography, demonstrating PQ-IoTCrypt's resilience against various side-channel attacks, including advanced ciphertext selection criteria, IoT-optimized template creation, and a hierarchical chosen-ciphertext attack methodology tailored for IoT deployments. Experimental results show that PQ-IoTCrypt achieves a 9.9% reduction in total encryption time compared to the next best baseline at the 256-bit security level while requiring significantly fewer ciphertexts for successful attacks. PQ-IoTCrypt demonstrates superior performance in key generation, encryption, and decryption processes, with times reduced by 12.7 %, 9.1 %, and 9.2 %, respectively, compared to the closest competitor. This work contributes to the standardization efforts of post-quantum IoT security and offers valuable insights for real-world deployment of quantum-resistant cryptography in resource-limited settings.

The evolution of urban ecological resilience: An evaluation framework based on vulnerability, sensitivity and self-organization

Ecological resilience assessment has become a key link in urban sustainable governance. This study introduces a new evaluation framework to inform policy-making and practical applications. Based on the structural and functional dimensions of landscape patterns, it integrates the vulnerability, sensitivity and self-organization of resilience to point to desirable directions of ecological resilience. A composite ecological resilience index is compiled based on six indices of landscape diversity, landscape disturbance, source-sink patch distance, habitat quality, minimum cumulative resistance, and landscape restoration. The framework is particularly applicable to cities located in ecologically sensitive areas. Hence, Nanchang City, China was selected as a case study. Using 1km2 hexagonal grids, the framework is applied to map spatiotemporal changes and to analyze various natural and anthropogenic driving forces of ecological resilience in Nanchang from 2000 to 2020. Research findings confirm the feasibility and value of the urban ecological resilience analysis framework. They also highlight the advantages of the framework in revealing spatially dynamic processes and ecological resilience contributing factors, making it a valuable and practical tool for sustainable urban planning and refined management decision-making.

Incorporating Model Uncertainty into Policy Analysis Frameworks: A Bayesian Averaging Approach Combining Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) Model with Metamodelling Techniques

Future sustainable economic development depends heavily on public policy at regional, national, and global levels. Therefore, it is essential to conduct a thorough policy analysis that ensures consistent and effective policy guidance. However, a major challenge in traditional policy analysis is the uncertainty inherent in the models used. Both policymakers and analysts face fundamental uncertainty regarding which model accurately represents the natural, economic, or social phenomena being analyzed. In this paper, we present a comprehensive framework that explicitly incorporates model uncertainty into the policy decision-making process. Addressing this uncertainty typically requires significant computational resources. We utilize metamodeling techniques to reduce computational demands. We illustrate the impact of various metamodel types by applying a simplified model to the CAADP policy in Nigeria. Our findings highlight that neglecting model uncertainty can lead to inefficient policy decisions and substantial waste of public funds.Copyright© 2024 The Author(s). This article is distributed under the terms of the license CC-BY 4.0., which permits any further distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Artificially Intelligent Vehicle-to-Grid Energy Management: A Semantic-Aware Framework Balancing Grid Demands and User Autonomy

As the adoption of electric vehicles increases, the challenge of managing bidirectional energy flow while ensuring grid stability and respecting user preferences becomes increasingly critical. This paper aims to develop an intelligent framework for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) energy management that balances grid demands with user autonomy. The research presents VESTA (vehicle energy sharing through artificial intelligence), featuring the semantic-aware vehicle access control (SEVAC) model for efficient and intelligent energy sharing. The methodology involves developing a comparative analysis framework, designing the SEVAC model, and implementing a proof-of-concept simulation. VESTA integrates advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, blockchain, and edge computing, to provide a comprehensive solution for V2G management. SEVAC employs semantic awareness to prioritise critical vehicles, such as those used by emergency services, without compromising user autonomy. The proof-of-concept simulation demonstrates VESTA’s capability to handle complex V2G scenarios, showing a 15% improvement in energy distribution efficiency and a 20% reduction in response time compared to traditional systems under high grid demand conditions. The results highlight VESTA’s ability to balance grid demands with vehicle availability and user preferences, maintaining transparency and security through blockchain technology. Future work will focus on large-scale pilot studies, improving AI reliability, and developing robust privacy-preserving techniques.

Workforce development in the transport sector amidst environmental change: A conceptual review

This study embarks on an exploratory journey to elucidate the complex interplay between workforce development and environmental sustainability within the transport sector. It underscores the critical importance of nurturing a skilled workforce capable of propelling the sector towards sustainable practices, thereby addressing pressing environmental challenges. To achieve a comprehensive understanding, this review synthesizes a wide array of data sources, adopting a strategic framework for literature search and analysis. The methodology hinges on stringent criteria for literature selection, ensuring the relevance and quality of the information reviewed. Central to the study is the development of a theoretical framework that situates workforce development within the paradigm of sustainable transport. This includes an examination of the architectural underpinnings of sustainable transport systems, the potential for modal shifts to lessen environmental impacts, and the pivotal role of technological and methodological advancements. Moreover, the review highlights innovative practices in workforce training and development that are crucial for meeting future demands. The in-depth analysis sheds light on the multifaceted impacts of workforce development initiatives on achieving sustainable transport objectives, emphasizing the economic, social, and environmental dimensions. It identifies existing gaps in workforce competencies and outlines strategies for skill enhancement. Additionally, the study emphasizes the indispensable role of policy, standards, and stakeholder collaboration in fostering sustainable transport. Conclusively, the study presents strategic recommendations for policymakers, educators, and industry leaders, charting a course for a resilient and sustainable transport workforce. It posits that an integrative approach, marrying workforce development with environmental sustainability, is essential for navigating the future challenges and opportunities within the transport sector.

Discourse analysis of Chinese vocational universities based on multimodal framework of social semiotics

Due to the development of higher-education marketization, colleges and universities in China's provinces, cities, and regions are facing fierce competition and significant challenges, and vocational universities are no exception. In order to further enhance their visibility and social recognition, vocational universities have adopted various publicity strategies, especially utilizing social media platforms such as WeChat, Weibo, TikTok, and XiaoHongShu. Using the framework of visual grammar analysis, this paper investigates the identity construction in the discourse of vocational universities on social media by analyzing images posted on social media platforms by 33 vocational universities in China. The research findings show that vocational universities use visual content on social media to construct their identities as being skilled, service-oriented, regional, international, employment practice-oriented higher-education institutions that are equal to those in general higher education. This reflects the value of vocational education in today's Chinese society and the realistic difficulties and development challenges faced by higher-vocational colleges and universities.

A Mixed-Effect Kernel Machine Regression Model for Integrative Analysis of Alpha Diversity in Microbiome Studies.

Increasing evidence suggests that human microbiota plays a crucial role in many diseases. Alpha diversity, a commonly used summary statistic that captures the richness and/or evenness of the microbial community, has been associated with many clinical conditions. However, individual studies that assess the association between alpha diversity and clinical conditions often provide inconsistent results due to insufficient sample size, heterogeneous study populations and technical variability. In practice, meta-analysis tools have been applied to integrate data from multiple studies. However, these methods do not consider the heterogeneity caused by sequencing protocols, and the contribution of each study to the final model depends mainly on its sample size (or variance estimate). To combine studies with distinct sequencing protocols, a robust statistical framework for integrative analysis of microbiome datasets is needed. Here, we propose a mixed-effect kernel machine regression model to assess the association of alpha diversity with a phenotype of interest. Our approach readily incorporates the study-specific characteristics (including sequencing protocols) to allow for flexible modeling of microbiome effect via a kernel similarity matrix. Within the proposed framework, we provide three hypothesis testing approaches to answer different questions that are of interest to researchers. We evaluate the model performance through extensive simulations based on two distinct data generation mechanisms. We also apply our framework to data from HIV reanalysis consortium to investigate gut dysbiosis in HIV infection.

Comparative analysis of Bootstrap and Foundation CSS frameworks

The article presents a comparative analysis of the CSS frameworks Bootstrap and Foundation, determining which technology is the most effective for creating responsive websites. For the purposes of conducting research experiments, two analogous websites were created using the aforementioned technologies. Both technologies were subjected to comparative evaluation based on criteria such as: compatibility with mobile and desktop devices, website loading time, file size and number of code lines, browser compatibility, available components, and support.

Угрозы продовольственной безопасности России и инструментарий импортозамещения

The issues of food security of national states have become particularly relevant in the modern era of global turbulence, when geopolitical threats have generated sanctions pressure, breaking production chains, including in the agricultural sector. In this regard, the issues of food sovereignty require the search for new instruments of state policy for its preservation. The article presents conceptual approaches to the study of food security, which made it possible to identify the basic factors of ensuring it, as well as the main categories of threats. Conducted analysis of the legal framework of the concept of food security and the main conditions for ensuring it in Russia made it possible to specify 4 main groups of threats and determine options for their prevention. The results obtained became the basis for proposing directions for increasing food security in Russia.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF REGULATORY ACTS OF THE EU COUNTRIES ON THE PROTECTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has fundamentally challenged traditional intellectual property (IP) frameworks, particularly in the European Union (EU), where regulatory efforts are aimed at balancing innovation with legal protections. AI’s ability to autonomously create, modify, and use IP raises complex questions about authorship, inventorship, ownership, and enforcement, which existing laws were not designed to handle. As EU countries attempt to adapt their legal systems to address these challenges, a comparative analysis of their regulatory acts is essential to understand how different member states are responding to the intersection of AI and IP protection. The aim of this article is to provide a comparative analysis of the regulatory frameworks governing IP protection in the context of AI across selected EU countries. By examining national legislation and harmonization efforts, the study seeks to identify common challenges, highlight divergent approaches, and offer insights into the evolving legal landscape of IP protection in the age of AI. The article employs a qualitative, comparative research methodology. It focuses on six EU countries—Germany, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Greece, and Romania—analyzing their IP laws concerning AI-related issues. The study reviews national regulations, EU directives, and case law to evaluate how each country addresses AI-generated IP in terms of ownership, authorship, patentability, trademark issues, and enforcement mechanisms. A thematic coding approach is used to identify key trends and divergences between member states. The analysis reveals that all EU countries maintain the requirement for human authorship and inventorship, which limits the legal recognition of fully autonomous AI-generated content. While countries like Germany, France, and the Netherlands have initiated discussions on potential legal reforms, others, such as Poland, Greece, and Romania, rely more heavily on existing frameworks and await further EU guidance. Additionally, enforcement mechanisms vary significantly, with more technologically advanced countries adopting AI-driven tools to monitor and enforce IP rights. As AI continues to evolve and play a larger role in creative and technical industries, the legal frameworks governing IP in the EU must adapt accordingly. Future regulatory efforts should focus on creating new categories for AI-generated works, investing in AI-powered enforcement tools, and ensuring greater harmonization across member states. By addressing these challenges proactively, the EU can strike a balance between fostering AI innovation and maintaining robust IP protections, positioning itself as a global leader in both technology and intellectual property rights.

Application of Guarantee contracts in Islamic Financial Transaction: Analysis of BNM and AAIOFI

A guarantee (Kafalah) is considered an effective Islamic finance contract aimed at providing assurance and security by having a third party; the guarantor, commit to fulfilling the financial obligations of the debtor in case of default. However, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) policy document considered guarantee as the term (kafālah) while the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAIOFI) considered it as the term Damān. The term guarantee falls within the category of non-compensatory contract in classical Islamic financial contracts whereby there are no returns or compensation available for contracts like benevolence loans (Qard), gifts (Tabarru/Hibah), guarantee (Kafalah), and assignment of debt (Hawalah). In the modern financial setting, this might not fulfill one of the objectives of Islamic financial institutions to offer services for profit. This study explores the application of Guarantee (Kafalah) as a non-compensatory and noncommutative contract, falling under the category of Uqud Ghair Mua’wadha in Islamic Financial Institutions. Contracts such as benevolence loans (Qard), gifts (Tabarru/Hibah), guarantees (Kafalah), and assignment of debt (Hawalah) are characterized by the absence of return or compensation. This study uses the doctrinal approach of the qualitative method in exploring juristic meaning, justification, and implications of the shariah terms. It analyses the sustainable implication of its application in contemporary Islamic finance institutions between BNM and AAIOFI. This study found that despite the classical implication of guarantee as a non-compensatory contract guarantee contracts cannot yield a direct profit; yet can generate income through, Wakālah (agency fee), such as issuing LCs guarantees. These may be charged based on expenses incurred, potentially in amount-based (possibly slabs) but not time-based structures. The finding shows that the comparative analysis of regulatory frameworks by BNM and AAIOFI underscores the challenges of harmonizing global standards with local contexts, highlighting the necessity for ongoing dialogue and collaboration to ensure coherence and adaptability in Islamic finance regulation.

Uncovering individualised treatment effects for educational trials.

Large-scale Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) are widely regarded as "the gold standard" for testing the causal effects of school-based interventions. RCTs typically present the statistical significance of the average treatment effect (ATE), which captures the effect an intervention has had on average for a given population. However, key decisions in child health and education are often about individuals who may be very different from those averages. One way to identify heterogeneous treatment effects across different individuals, not captured by the ATE, is to conduct subgroup analyses. For example, free school meal (FSM) pupils as required for projects funded by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) in England. These subgroup analyses, as we demonstrate in 48 EEF-funded RCTs involving over 200,000 students, are usually not standardised across studies and offer flexible degrees of freedom to researchers, potentially leading to mixed, if not misleading, results. Here, we develop and deploy an alternative to ATE and subgroup analysis, a machine-learning and regression-based framework to predict individualised treatment effects (ITEs). ITEs could show where an intervention worked, for which individuals, and to what extent. Our findings have implications for decision-makers in fields like education, healthcare, law, and clinical practices concerning children and adolescents.

Resistance to Being Listed Industrial Heritage? The Conflicts and Dilemma of Heritage-Making During Land Banking in Guangzhou

Amid rapid urban regeneration over the past decade, industrial heritage conservation in China has garnered increasing attention, focusing more on the reuse of listed buildings than on conflicts in the inscription process. This article examines the conflicts and dilemmas between urban redevelopment and industrial heritage conservation during the inscription process in China, through five case studies in Guangzhou. It aims to provide both an understanding of conflicts and institutional challenges posed by land banking, and insights into stakeholder dynamics, the role of media and NGOs, and the implementation of cultural heritage assessments. Grounded in the Institutional Analysis and Development framework, the empirical studies reveal that institutional conflicts, particularly resistance from land development centers and former factory owners, often stem from financial motivations. This resistance can lead to the premature demolition of potential heritage sites but also drive institutional innovations. Guangzhou’s introduction of the Wenping assessment system integrates industrial heritage identification with land banking and urban regeneration planning, aiming to protect heritage from hasty demolitions. Media coverage and NGO advocacy have been instrumental in heritage-making and prompting policy responses. The adaptive reuse of industrial heritage sites into creative industrial parks faces challenges from their temporary nature and land banking pressures, underscoring the need for policies ensuring stable and enduring reuse. Ambiguous responsibilities and fragmented management systems further impede effective heritage conservation.

The Fair Value Accounting Controversy in the 2008 Financial Crisis: A Structured Literature Review

This research aims to explore the controversy surrounding fair value accounting (FVA) during the 2008 financial crisis. Using a structured literature review approach, this research collected 20 relevant articles on Scopus that were most cited and published in high-quality journals after 2008, and developed a suitable framework for analysis. The results of this research show that the controversy in current research is first manifested in whether FVA exacerbated the 2008 financial crisis. Secondly, this research also analyzed the controversy within different views. In addition, this research found that the controversy over FVA is most intense in the North America, while Australia and Europe show highly consistent results. Finally, this research points out that the controversy over FVA is most intense in studies using empirical research methods, while other research methods show strong consistency.

"I Had No Idea This Happened": Electronic Feedback on Clinical Reasoning for Hospitalists.

Feedback on the diagnostic process has been proposed as a method of improving clinical reasoning and reducing diagnostic errors. Barriers to the delivery and receipt of feedback include time constraints and negative reactions. Given the shift toward asynchronous, digital communication, it is possible that electronic feedback ("e-feedback") could overcome these barriers. We developed an e-feedback system for hospitalists around episodes of care escalation (transfers to ICU and rapid responses). The intervention was evaluated by measuring hospitalists' satisfaction with e-feedback and commitment to change. A qualitative survey study conducted at one academic medical center from February to June 2023. Hospitalists - physicians and advanced practice providers. Two hospitalists, one internal medicine resident, and a nurse reviewed escalations of care on the hospitalist service each week using the Revised Safer Dx framework. Confidential feedback was emailed to the hospitalists involved in the patient's care. Hospitalists were asked to rate and explain their satisfaction with the e-feedback and whether they might modify their clinical practice based on the e-feedback. The open-ended text comments from the hospitalists were analyzed using a thematic analysis framework. Forty-nine out of fifty-eight hospitalists agreed to participate. One hundred five out of one hundred twenty-four (85%) e-feedback surveys that were sent were returned by the hospitalists. Hospitalists were highly satisfied with 67% (n = 70) of the e-feedback reports, moderately satisfied with 23% (n = 24), and not satisfied with 10% (n = 11). Six themes were identified based on analysis of the comments. Themes related to satisfaction with the intervention included appreciation for learning about patient outcomes, general appreciation of feedback on clinical care, and importance of detailed and specific feedback. Themes related to changing clinical practice included reflection on clinical decision-making, value of new insights, and anticipated future behavior change. E-feedback was well received by hospitalists. Their perspectives offer useful insights for enhancing electronic feedback interventions.

Deep learning-aided inverse analysis framework to accelerate the exploration of DP steel microstructures

Materials development requires numerous numbers of trial and error experiments. To reduce the experimental cost, numerical simulations which predict material microstructures and mechanical properties have a great potential to estimate the microstructures that should be produced for obtaining materials with the desired properties. There is a need to develop dual-phase (DP) steel with higher strength and ductility because DP steel is widely used due to its significant mechanical properties. DP steel consists of a soft phase (ferrite) and a hard phase (martensite), and the mechanical properties depend on the ratio of the two phases. The mechanical properties of DP steels are affected by the spatial distribution of martensite and ferrite, which requires a comprehensive consideration of a variety of microstructures. The problem is how to estimate microstructures of DP steel with the desired mechanical property because a comprehensive investigation of microstructures makes computational cost significantly expensive. For the purpose of reduction of the computational costs, we aim to develop a framework with low computational cost. The developed framework finds the optimal microstructure of DP steel by repeated random searches for a model that combines a generative adversarial network (GAN), which generates microstructures, and a convolutional neural network (CNN), which predicts the maximum stress and working limit strain from microstructures. Due to a low-dimensional search space provided by a latent variable of GAN, the proposed framework enables an efficient search for microstructures possible. To explore the desired microstructures under complex deformation modes, the multiple deformation modes are considered in this study. This framework is applicable not only for the microstructure of DP steel but also any other material microstructures. We are exhaustively able to explore the microstructure with desired properties of metallic or other composite materials in low-dimensional space thanks to this framework and contributes to accelerating materials development.

Brain imaging traits and epilepsy: Unraveling causal links via mendelian randomization.

Epilepsy, a complex neurological disorder, is closely linked with structural and functional irregularities in the brain. However, the causal relationship between brain imaging-derived phenotypes (IDPs) and epilepsy remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate this relationship by employing a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. The analysis involved 3935 cerebral IDPs from the UK Biobank and all documented cases of epilepsy (all epilepsies) cohorts from the International League Against Epilepsy, with further validation through replication and meta-analyses using epilepsy Genome-Wide Association Studies datasets from the FinnGen database. Additionally, a multivariate MR analysis framework was utilized to assess the direct impact of IDPs on all epilepsies. Furthermore, we performed a bidirectional MR analysis to investigate the relationship between the IDPs identified in all epilepsies and the 15 specific subtypes of epilepsy. The study identified significant causal links between four IDPs and epilepsy risk. Decreased fractional anisotropy in the left inferior longitudinal fasciculus was associated with a higher risk of epilepsy (odds ratio [OR]: 0.89, p=3.31×10-5). Conversely, increased mean L1 in the left posterior thalamic radiation (PTR) was independently associated with a heightened epilepsy risk (OR: 1.14, p=4.72×10-5). Elevated L3 in the left cingulate gyrus was also linked to an increased risk (OR: 1.09, p=.03), while decreased intracellular volume fraction in the corpus callosum was correlated with higher epilepsy risk (OR: 0.94, p=1.15×10-4). Subtype analysis revealed that three of these IDPs are primarily associated with focal epilepsy (FE). Notably, increased L1 in the left PTR was linked to an elevated risk of hippocampal sclerosis (HS) and lesion-negative FE, whereas elevated L3 in the left cingulate gyrus was associated with HS-related FE. Our research offers genetic evidence for a causal link between brain IDPs and epilepsy. These results enhance our understanding of the structural brain changes associated with the onset and progression of epilepsy.

Cultural rituality and heritage revitalization values of ancestral temple architecture painting art from the perspective of relational sociology theory

Recent research has primarily focused on the genealogical relationship between ancestral temple painting and its spatial carriers, highlighting a shift in perspective from artistry to symbolism to kinship. While some scholars have noted the influence of ritual culture on architectural painting, few have explored its kinship relationship with architectural carriers. By incorporating relational sociology theory, this study chronologically reviews events influencing the formation of ancestral temple ritual culture, constructs a developmental model, and conducts case studies on the ethicality of architectural painting art, thus establishing a relational sociology analysis framework. Findings: (1) Ancestral temple architectural painting exhibits the ethicality and educational value inherent in Confucian concepts; (2) Themes such as immortal life, literati and scholars, and common folk simplicity highlight the spiritual and material kinship of ancestral temple painting. The vocabulary used in titles such as "He (rapprochement-和)", "He (reunification-合)", "wealth (财)", "happiness (乐)", "blessing (福)", and "longevity (寿)" reveals a positive transmission of Confucian values; (3) The five main artistic expressions of ancestral temple painting are metaphor through objects (借物喻意), the personification of events (以人喻事), using the past to illuminate the present (借古喻今), expressing aspirations through objects (托物喻志), and pun-based symbolism (谐音寓意); (4) The decorative elements of ancestral temples correspond to the forms of their painting art, with the former extending the space of the tomb sacrificial system and the latter representing artistic inheritance. The development of ancestral temple architecture has formed dual developmental contexts centered on ritual culture and supplemented by academic dissemination, fluctuating with the status of Confucianism. The relational sociology model shows that the political aspects of ancestral temples form a sub-lineage of their ritual culture, closely linked to reforms in the educational system and transformations in building functions, further influencing architectural form and decorative art.