Global Scale Research Articles

Linking psychological capital to job embeddedness among nurses: evidence from Egyptian public healthcare setting

Abstract Background Psychological capital, encompassing hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism, is increasingly recognized as a critical resource in enhancing workplace engagement and retention. In high-stress professions such as nursing, psychological capital may serve as a buffer against job demands. However, limited research exists in Egypt exploring how psychological capital influences job embeddedness, a construct reflecting an employee’s attachment to their job and organization. Objective This study aimed to examine the relationship between psychological capital and job embeddedness among nurses working in governmental hospitals in Egypt. Design A cross-sectional, descriptive correlational design was employed, adhering to the STROBE guidelines. Methods Data were collected from 431 registered nurses working across two public hospitals over three months. Standardized tools were used, including the 24-item Psychological Capital Questionnaire and the Global Job Embeddedness Scale. Results Psychological capital showed a significant positive correlation with job embeddedness (r = 0.356, p < 0.001). Regression analysis confirmed PsyCap as a significant predictor of JE (B = 0.317, p < 0.001), accounting for 19.8% of the variance (R² = 0.198). Among PsyCap dimensions, optimism had the strongest individual correlation with JE (r = 0.406, p < 0.001). Conversely, patient load per shift was negatively associated with JE (B = − 0.269, p < 0.001). Conclusion Psychological capital is a significant linked to job embeddedness among Egyptian nurses. Nurses with higher psychological capital levels are more likely to feel anchored in their roles, whereas high patient loads erode this attachment. Nursing implications Healthcare institutions should implement programs to develop nurses’ psychological capital particularly resilience, optimism, and self-efficacy. In parallel, managing nurse workloads is essential to enhancing retention, improving work satisfaction, and ensuring sustained quality care in challenging healthcare environments. Clinical trial number Not applicable.

MO-SAM: Testing the reliability and limits of mine feature delineation using Segment Anything Model to democratize mine observation and research

The purpose of this paper is to leverage the growth of AI-enabled tools to support the democratization of mine observation (MO) research. Mining is essential to meet projected demand for renewable energy technologies crucial to global climate mitigation objectives, but all mining activities pose local and regional challenges to environmental sustainability. Such challenges can be mitigated by good governance, but unequal access among stakeholders to accurately interpreted satellite imagery can weaken good governance. Using readily available software—QGIS, and Segment Anything Model (SAM)—this paper develops and tests the reliability of MO-SAM, a new method to identify and delineate features within the spatially-explicit mine extent at a high level of detail. It focuses on dry tailings, waste dumps, and stockpiles in above-ground mining areas. While we intend for MO-SAM to be used generally, this study tested it on mining areas for energy-critical materials: lithium (Li), cobalt (Co), rare earth elements (REE), and platinum group elements (PGE), selected for their importance to the global transition to renewable energy. MO-SAM demonstrates generalizability through prompt engineering, but performance limitations were observed in imagery with complex mining landscape scenarios, including spatial variations in image morphology and boundary sharpness. Our analysis provides data-driven insights to support advances in the use of MO-SAM for analyzing and monitoring large-scale mining activities with greater speed than methods that rely on manual delineation, and with greater precision than practices that focus primarily on changes in the spatially-explicit mine extent. It also provides insights into the importance of multidisciplinary human expertise in designing processes for and assessing the accuracy of AI-assisted remote sensing image segmentation as well as in evaluating the significance of the land use and land cover changes identified. This has widespread potential to advance the multidisciplinary application of AI for scientific and public interest, particularly in research on global scale human-environment interactions such as industrial mining activities. This is methodologically significant because the potential and limitations of using large pre-trained image segmentation models such as SAM for analyzing remote sensing data is an emergent and underexplored issue. The results can help advance the utilization of large pre-trained segmentation models for remote sensing imagery analysis to support sustainability research and policy.

Changing Burden, Risk Factors, and Projections of Low Back Pain in Adolescents and Young Adults: Insights from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

Ecological study. To illustrate the spatiotemporal trends, attributable risk factors, and the projected burden of LBP among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) aged 15-39 years. Low back pain (LBP) poses a considerable challenge to individuals and society, and current epidemiological trends in AYAs experiencing LBP remain to be explored. Data extracted from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study were utilized to examine the LBP burden among AYAs on global, regional, and national scales between 1990 and 2021. This ecological study also investigated global age-sex differences and the percentage of the burden linked to risk elements, while employing the Bayesian age-period-cohort model to project worldwide trends until 2036. Between 1990 and 2021, the worldwide counts of incident, prevalent, and years lived with disability (YLDs) cases of LBP in AYAs rose. The calculated estimated annual percentage changes and relevant 95% confidence intervals indicated decreasing trends in age-standardized incidence rate, age-standardized prevalence rate, and age-standardized YLDs rate throughout the study period. The highest counts of prevalent, incident, and YLDs cases were found in regions with middle SDI in 2021, whereas high SDI areas experienced the maximum age-standardized rates. Females carried a heavier burden compared with males on a global scale. Occupational ergonomic factors contributed to the most significant percentage of YLDs globally in 2021, accounting for 26.93%. Predictions for the period 2022-2036 suggested a decline in the age-standardized rates of females worldwide, while the burden of females was predicted to remain higher than that of males. To tackle the current and possibly rising burden of LBP among AYAs, comprehensive and suitable interventions should be tailored to meet regional and sex disparities.

Intercultural Spectacle in Asian Shakespeare Intercultural Archive (A|S|I|A)

ABSTRACT At the turn of the 21st century, the advent of instantaneous transmission and hyperlinking within hyperspace and cyberspace facilitated the proliferation of digital archives. Meanwhile, the surge of Asian intercultural Shakespeare adaptations necessitated the establishment of corresponding digital archives to collect and conserve these Asian-related Shakespeare performances. However, most existing archives are monolingual, with English being the only language used for disseminating knowledge and conducting academic research on Asian Shakespeare performances, which further reinforces the dominance of English as the lingua franca of the Internet. Besides, they have been criticized for being preoccupied with the documents over events and being habitual to Western culture by following the West-identified (arguably white-culture) logic. In line with the prevailing argument, the Asian Shakespeare Intercultural Archive (A|S|I|A) established in 2008 attempts to offer Asian perspectives and resources for both scholarly study and audience engagement with Shakespeare. Hence, this article takes the digitization and contextualization of Mak Yong Titis Sakti (Mak Yong’s Magical Drops) and Lear Dreaming as specific cases to explore the interculturality inherent in A|S|I|A. Furthermore, a review of research related to A|S|I|A reaffirms its intercultural essence and credibility in academic research, highlighting its capacity to foster an interdisciplinary perspective within Shakespeare studies. To add, this article also underscores the challenges confronting A|S|I|A, particularly the complexities associated with representing interculturality to global audiences. In short, beyond validating A|S|I|A as a tool in academic research, the article offers insights into the future development of digital archives for intercultural theater on a global scale.

Comparing drug policies: An assessment of the validity and reliability of the global drug policy index.

Comparing drug policies: An assessment of the validity and reliability of the global drug policy index.

Assessment of asbestos exposure in Kyrgyzstan through analysis of raw and processed materials, air samples and human lung tissue

Asbestos still represents a major public health problem on a global scale. In Central Asia chrysotile is still mined and used, claiming that it is safer with respect to amphibole asbestos within certain concentrations. However, the problem of asbestos exposure in Central Asia and its consequences on human health have been poorly investigated. We analysed, for the first time, samples of raw and wrought material coming from one of the two asbestos-cement industries, currently active, located near the city of Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, as well as air samples collected on different sites of Bishkek and Kant and lung tissues taken from the general population during clinical autopsies. Air samples have been analyzed using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Heavy air asbestos pollution was detected in Kant (30.2 ff/L), while Bishkek had lower levels. Lung tissue analysis in the general population, carried out using both SEM and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with EDS, revealed the presence of both chrysotile and amphibole asbestos. Such findings underline that, even in countries where the use of asbestos is allowed based on the presumed pureness of chrysotile used and the lower carcinogenic potential of chrysotile compared to amphibole asbestos, the general population could be exposed also to amphibole asbestos.

European, multicentre, prospective observational phase IV clinical study to assess the impact of lebrikizumab on health-related well-being and control of skin manifestations in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (ADTrust): study protocol.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing, heterogeneous skin disease affecting 2%-7% of adults, with roughly 30% having moderate-to-severe disease. AD symptoms, like intense itching and skin pain, carry a substantial disease burden that negatively impacts patients' quality of life (QoL) and psychosocial well-being. Lebrikizumab is a novel, high-affinity monoclonal antibody that selectively binds to and neutralises interleukin-13 with high potency. Three clinical trials with lebrikizumab (ADvocate 1 and 2; ADhere) demonstrated significant clinical benefit in patients with AD, while the 3-year long-term extension study of lebrikizumab (ADjoin) further demonstrated long-term efficacy and safety in patients with AD. The ADTrust study will evaluate patient well-being, their relationship with their skin, long-term effectiveness, and safety of lebrikizumab, treatment satisfaction, and long-term effect of lebrikizumab treatment on different aspects of patients' lives, including itch, pain, sleep, fatigue, work impairment and overall QoL among adult patients with moderate-to-severe AD in a real-world setting. This non-interventional, prospective, observational, real-world evidence study will involve approximately 150 sites across Europe and approximately 1200 adults with moderate-to-severe AD treated with lebrikizumab for 2 years. The primary endpoint is patient well-being assessed by the 5-item WHO Well-Being Index (WHO-5) questionnaire. Key secondary endpoints include clinical effectiveness (Eczema Area and Severity Index and Investigator's Global Assessment Scale), disease symptomatology and control (Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure, 24-hour peak pruritus, skin pain, fatigue and sleep quality Numerical Rating Scale, and safety and tolerability. Other validated endpoints will evaluate physician-reported and patient-reported QoL and treatment satisfaction (Dermatology Life Quality Index, Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire-9), patients' work productivity and impairment (Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI)-AD) and disease control (AD Control Tool). Novel experimental endpoints will also be evaluated with the aim to assess patients' relationship with their skin (SkinLove questionnaire), disease control (intensity and frequency of flares) and an Effectiveness Diary+© (a brief monthly survey on a voluntary basis with the aim to assess the long-term impact of lebrikizumab on three fundamental aspects of the patients' life: the well-being (WHO-5), the itch intensity (24 hours peak pruritus) and the frequency and intensity of flares). Statistical analyses will be descriptive and explorative and based on observed cases. Missing data imputation may be used to handle missing data for primary endpoints and secondary effectiveness endpoints. This study will be conducted according to the protocol, which has ethics committee approval (Hamburg Ethic Committee in Germany: 2024-101358-BO-ff), and all applicable laws and regulatory requirements for each participating country. The results will be disseminated through scientific publications and congress presentations. NCT06815380 (Pre-results).

The quality and reliability of short videos about hypertension on TikTok: a cross-sectional study

Hypertension is a major global health risk, and social media platforms like TikTok play an increasing role in public health communication. This study evaluates the quality of hypertension-related videos on TikTok and examines the relationship between content quality and user engagement. A systematic keyword search identified hypertension-related videos published before February 25, 2025. After applying exclusion criteria, 139 videos were analyzed. Video quality was assessed using the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria, the Global Quality Scale (GQS), and the modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) instrument. Engagement metrics (likes, comments, shares, and collections) were recorded, and Spearman’s correlation and linear regression analyses explored associations between quality and engagement. These videos accumulated 7190634 likes, 3608023 collections, 247602 comments, and 3252697 shares. Most (85.6%, n = 119) were uploaded by health professionals. The most common JAMA score was 2 (74.8%), while the mean GQS score was 3, with 36.7% of videos receiving this rating. The mDISCERN score was most frequently 2 (71.2%). Video duration correlated with JAMA (β = 0.235, p < 0.05), mDISCERN (β = 0.190, p < 0.05), and GQS scores (β = 0.410, p < 0.001). Likes also correlated with JAMA (β = 0.661, p < 0.001), mDISCERN (β = 0.500, p < 0.05), and GQS scores (β = 0.815, p < 0.001). Comments negatively affected GQS scores (β = -0.574, p < 0.05). TikTok is a valuable platform for hypertension education, but content quality is moderate. Extending video duration, improving rigor, and enhancing review mechanisms may improve hypertension-related health communication.

Sustainable development of agro-industrial production: approaches, principles, goals and indicators

In the context of increasing external shocks and resource constraints, it remains urgent to clarify theoretical and methodological ideas about the mechanisms of sustainable adaptation of subjects of the agrarian economy to the emerging realities. Despite the significant number of publications on this issue in solving general planetary problems, it is necessary to move from studying issues of sustainable development on a global scale to considering them in a territorial and sectoral aspect. Therefore, the aim of the work was to substantiate methodological approaches to the study of sustainability in the development of agroindustrial production at the regional level, taking into account relevant UN documents, and partially test selected indicators and indicators in relation to the conditions of the Northwest. Based on the analysis of domestic and foreign works, it is concluded that there is a lack of unity of scientific views on the concept of "sustainable development", and that there are studies of agricultural problems without linking them to sustainable development goals, according to UN concepts. The author's definition of sustainable development of agro-industrial production is formulated and it is shown that of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, rural areas and agro-industrial production contribute to six of them. A set of principles aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the dynamics of processes in regional agro-industrial production is proposed. The sustainable development goals for regional agro-industrial production and relevant indicators of their implementation, coordinated with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, are considered. The theoretical and methodological provisions were tested on the materials of the North-West. Using Spearman's rank correlation coefficients, the indicators of the stability of the dynamics of the physical volume of GVA, the growth rate of agricultural production and the region's self-sufficiency in basic foodstuffs were determined. The positive and negative trends in the dynamics of sustainable development of agro-industrial production have been identified.

Global marine modeling of CO2 hydrate stability

Hydrates have recently come to the forefront because of their importance for the environmental impact and subsurface exploration. However, the conditions that affect their stability, particularly in the marine environment, are not yet fully understood. This study presents a static model on a global scale to assess CO2 hydrate stability. This analysis allowed evaluating the effects of salinity, sea water depth and geothermal gradient changes on CO2 hydrate stability also taking into account the thickness of the porous media. The results indicate that shallow water depth and low geothermal gradient favour the formation of CO2 hydrates. Furthermore, this modelling suggests that the actual salinity values rather than assuming constant values significantly improves the accuracy of stability predictions. A focus analysis was performed in the polar regions, where environmental conditions are most favourable for CO2 hydrate formation. The results provide a comprehensive global understanding of CO2 hydrate formation and optimal conditions, facilitating future local-scale applications.

The 2022 Fusarium head blight outbreak in Ethiopia: Emerging pathogens, mixed mycotoxins, and interspecies interactions.

As Ethiopia pushes towards self-sufficiency in wheat production, it has escaped large outbreaks of Fusarium head blight (FHB), a disease that threatens wheat production globally. However, in 2022, FHB incidences in Ethiopia rose to 80%, with some areas experiencing 100% disease severity. Here we provide insights into the etiology of this disease outbreak and point towards future directions to mitigate the emerging threat of FHB on a global scale. While most wheat samples from 2022 exhibited low trichothecene levels, 26% exceeded recommended thresholds and several contained multiple trichothecene variants. We obtained 64 isolates from the outbreak and identified diverse members of the Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC) and many Epicoccum species. The FGSC species contributing to the outbreak are rare on a global scale. Genomic analyses reveal that Fusarium aethiopicum has persisted in Ethiopia for decades and shares ancient ancestry with a newly emerged novel species in the FGSC that we formally described as Fusarium kistleri. SNP-based analyses suggest high clonal fraction among FGSC isolates in Ethiopia, raising questions about a recent population expansion. Our findings reveal that while Epicoccum alone causes minimal disease on wheat, its presence can have a small but synergistic impact on disease symptoms when F. graminearum has already infected. The unique diversity and species composition of the 2022 Ethiopian outbreak underscores the importance of addressing emerging threats in a globalized agricultural economy to secure food safety, food security, and global food equity.

Response of vegetation resilience to drought across river basins on a global scale

ABSTRACT Drought poses a critical threat to terrestrial vegetation. However, the differential vulnerability and resilience of various vegetation types under varying drought severities remain underexplored. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate global vegetation resilience to meteorological drought from 2000 to 2023 and 2024 to 2099 under different climate change scenarios (i.e. shared socioeconomic pathways [SSPs]; SSP245 and SSP585). Using changes in the leaf area index (LAI) as a proxy, we quantified the influence of environmental factors and irrigation using a linear regression framework. The results reveal that major river basins had limited precipitation contributions, rendering them highly exposed to drought stress. However, irrigation was mitigated during and before drought, with contribution rates ranging between 20% and 47%. Short-term drought predictions under SSP245 via random forest regression indicate a strong impact of drought on evergreen and deciduous needleleaf forests. Wetlands and grasslands emerged as susceptible ecosystems, demonstrating increased vulnerability to water scarcity and short-term drought. This study provides important insights into the responses of different vegetation types to drought, highlighting the role of irrigation in enhancing drought resilience and underscoring the variability in elasticity across ecosystems.

In-depth exploration of programmed cell death-related subtypes and development of a prognostic signature model in lung adenocarcinoma

Lung cancer ranks as the primary contributor to cancer-related fatalities on a global scale, hallmarked by a poor prognosis. Programmed cell death (PCD) is critically involved in regulating the onset, progression, and treatment of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Existing prognostic models concerning PCD focus solely on individual mechanisms and fail to account for the intricate interaction among multiple regulatory mechanisms. In this study, the LUAD samples were sorted into low immune cell invasion subtype (C1) and high immune cell invasion subtype (C2) by clustering analysis. A PCD prognostic signature model was developed by LASSO Cox regression analysis. Tumors in the high-risk group were categorized as “cold” and characterized by immunosuppression, which was linked to an unfavorable prognosis and sensitivity to drug therapy. However, the opposite was true for the low-risk group, which was associated with a favorable prognosis and sensitivity to immunotherapy. Single-cell analysis found that the PCD signature model could activate several immune cells, thereby affecting the tumor microenvironment (TME) of LUAD. Furthermore, ENO1, could be used as a target for LUAD prognosis and immunotherapy. This study aims to comprehensively explore the functional mechanisms of various PCD regulatory patterns in LUAD to provide accurate prognosis and personalized treatment plans.

Exploring the multifaceted roles of GLP-1 receptor agonists; a comprehensive review

Traditionally, Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), a pivotal class of drug, mimics the actions of endogenous Glucagon-like peptide-1, which have been found to be remarkable in the treatment of type 2 diabetes alongside other comorbidities. GLP-1 receptors being widely available in the different organs and tissues such as the brain, lung, pancreas, stomach, heart, and endometrium has explained the broader therapeutic application of GLP-1RA. The recent studies have explored the physiological effects of GLP-1RA on body organs, establishing them as a potential therapeutic option for a wide range of diseases. Activation of GLP-1 receptors contribute to regulation of blood glucose levels, weight management, cardiovascular health, and potential neuroprotection, while also having a positive influence on musculoskeletal health. This review has emphasized the expanded role of GLP-1RA by highlighting the most significant and notable studies. While GLP-1RA has proven clinical efficacy, the need for more comprehensive studies, to ensure their long-term safety, is essential to optimize their therapeutic role and improve patient outcomes on a global scale. Addressing the significant gap for research on cost effectiveness of these drugs is also crucial for their accessibility in comparison to other drugs. Nevertheless, the limited data available calls for a platform for future research to carry out the expanded therapeutic effects of GLP-1RA.

Tools/instruments for assessing YouTube videos on surgical procedures for patient/consumer health education: a systematic review

BackgroundYouTube is becoming an increasingly popular platform for health education; however, its reliability for surgical patient education remains largely unexplored. Given the global prevalence of preoperative anxiety, it becomes essential to ensure accurate information online.ObjectivesThe objective is to assess tools/instruments used to evaluate YouTube videos on surgical procedures created to educate patients or health consumers.MethodsIn June 2023, a comprehensive literature search was conducted on PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Scopus. Primary studies with empirical data that evaluate English YouTube videos to educate patients about surgical procedures in all specialties were included. Two reviewers independently completed title/abstract and full text screening, and data extraction in duplicate. The data extracted includes the number of videos evaluated, assessment tools, outcomes of significance, specific objectives, and features examined.ResultsA total of 41 studies were included in the review. The most commonly used evaluation tools were DISCERN (21 studies), the Global Quality Scale (11 studies), and the JAMA benchmark criteria (11 studies). Notably, 23 studies used a unique assessment instrument, and several studies employed more than one tool concurrently. Of the total studies included, 88% of the articles determined that patients were not adequately educated by YouTube videos per the ratings of the assessment tools, and 19 out of 41 articles mentioned that videos from professional sources were most useful.ConclusionsThis systematic review suggests that the educational qualities in YouTube videos are substandard. Patients should be cautious when relying solely on YouTube videos for medical guidance. Surgeons and medical institutions are encouraged to direct patients to high-quality patient education sources and create accessible medical content. As there is variability in the quality assessment tools used for evaluation, a standardized approach to creating and assessing online medical videos would improve patient education.

Investigating impacts of renovated exteriors in historic districts on visitor vitality through space syntax reflection

Historic districts in developing countries undergo regeneration to preserve heritage and revitalize economies. Renovated building exteriors, as highly visible spatial elements, enhance vitality and sustain historical identity. Given that few studies have quantitatively examined exteriors’ impacts on regional vitality distribution, this study, reflected on Space Syntax, proposes a framework to assess exterior-renovation strategies at both local street and global network scales, involving: 1) identifying visitor-preferred exteriors and quantifying them as entropy to measure streets’ local attractiveness; 2) weighting streets by entropy to compute graph centralities for evaluating local attractions’ global impacts; and 3) employing the local, global, and Space Syntax metrics for regression analysis to reveal key contributors of visitor vitality. Taking the Chaozong historic district as a case, results reveal that current exterior strategies may constrain vitality to limited spaces, obscure visitor-perceived historical identity, and underscore the need to assess local attractions’ global impacts in relevant studies.

Artificial Intelligence Performance in Pediatric Asthma

ABSTRACT Objective Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood, characterized by symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing. With the advancement of technology, artificial intelligence applications are increasingly being used in various fields, among which ChatGPT is one of the most widely utilized. The aim of this study is to evaluate the reliability, quality, and readability of the answers provided by the ChatGPT-4o application to questions related to pediatric asthma. Methods The ChatGPT-4o application was used to record answers to 25 of the most frequently asked questions about asthma in children. To determine the reliability of the answers, we used the Global Quality Scale and modified DISCERN tool. We tested readability using seven indices: Automated Readability Index, Flesch Reading Ease Score, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Gunning Fog Readability Index, Simple Measure of Gobbledygook, Coleman-Liau Readability Index, and Linsear Write Formula. Results The answers provided by the ChatGPT-4o application to questions about childhood asthma were found to have good reliability (88% by the first evaluator and 84% by the second evaluator) and high quality (88% by both evaluators). The application scored 10.77 ± 1.58 on the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level scale, and in conjunction with the other indices, the results indicated that the answers required a high level of reading proficiency. Conclusions Artificial intelligence can be a reliable tool for parents in providing information about pediatric asthma. However, these findings suggest that readability issues may hinder the clinical application of artificial intelligence-generated content in asthma diagnosis and treatment.

A Novel Paclitaxel Eluting Bioresorbable Vascular Stent with a Super Flexible Stent Structure and Round Cross Section Struts Fabricated Using 3D Printing Technology with a Rotating Platform

Abstract Bioresorbable stents (BRS) have emerged as a groundbreaking development in the field of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) as they address the long-standing concerns of metallic stents. Nevertheless, the observed higher thrombosis rates in the first generation BRS, ie ABSORB®, might be attributed to their thicker struts, slower degradation rate and structural dismantling of partially endothelialized stents. In this study, measures have been taken to overcome these limitations include reducing strut thickness, modifying the structural design to maintain radial strength with thinner round cross section struts, and using a new material poly(L-lactide-co-ɛ-caprolactone) (PLCL 95/5) that is tougher and degrade faster than poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA).Given the excellent biocompatibility of PLCL materials, the US FDA has approved their use in clinical applications. PLCL stents can be used to treat diseases such as tracheal stenosis and tracheoesophageal fistula, and can also be applied in the construction of other tissue engineering stents, such as nerve conduitsand fat filling stents. Our company’s peripheral paclitaxel degradable stent is also made of PLCL material. The clinical trial has completed one-year follow-up, but it has not yet been used in coronary arteries. The newly designed coronary stents were fabricated using a 3D printing technology with a rotating platform, coated with a paclitaxel coating And comprehensive in vitro research was conducted, with innovations on a global scale. It was the first to undergo tests in animals. Results showed the novel paclitaxel eluting PLCL stents had super-flexible structure, thinner round cross-sectional struts, a faster degradation profile, and satisfactory hemocompatibility. With a paclitaxel dose of 0.57 μg/mm2, the drug eluting stents showed very low degree of stenosis within 6 months of implantation in a porcine model. Overall, the results showed that the novel 3D printed PLCL drug eluting stent is a very promising candidate for next generation bioresorbable coronary stent.

The division of food space among mammalian species on biomes

Understanding how species' ecological partitioning functions across biomes is fundamental to macroecology and conservation biology. Here, we examine the global distribution of dietary strategies in terrestrial mammals, focusing on how biome specialization modulates trophic diversity and structure at a broad geographical scale. Using species‐level data from over 3600 terrestrial mammal species, we constructed a multivariate dietary space and quantified the area, redundancy, dispersion, uniqueness, and turnover of trophic strategies across ten major biomes. Species were classified as biome specialists, moderate generalists, or extreme generalists based on their biome breadth. By analysing biome specialists and generalists separately, we show that biome specialists tend to exhibit more constrained and compositionally distinct dietary niches in less productive biomes, while generalists, particularly moderate generalists, dominate functional space occupancy in all biomes, even the harsher ones such as tundra and taiga. This highlights how environmental constraints and ecological roles shape trophic strategies at a global scale. Notably, extreme generalists tended to exhibit more carnivorous or insectivorous diets, suggesting a strategy based on mobile predation or opportunism rather than a highly diversified omnivory. Despite these general patterns, highly productive biomes supported the greatest diversity of dietary strategies, with higher functional redundancy and niche packing. Nestedness and turnover analyses revealed that biome specialists diets are often subsets of generalists diets, but with significant compositional shifts across biomes. These findings underscore the dual role of biome generalists as both functional stabilizers and potential limiters of ecological diversity, and highlight the vulnerability of specialist species to global change. Our study offers a mechanistic framework for understanding how dietary strategies interact with environmental filtering, and for identifying functional risks in changing ecosystems.

SMRFR: A global multilayer soil moisture dataset generated using Random Forest from multi-source data

Accurate and continuous monitoring of soil moisture (SM) is crucial for a wide range of applications in agriculture, hydrology, and climate modelling. In this study, we present a novel machine learning (ML) based framework for generating a continuously updated, multilayer global SM dataset: SMRFR (Soil Moisture via Random Forest Regression). Leveraging publicly available reanalysis and remote sensing data, SMRFR provides daily SM estimates at five soil layers (0–5, 5–10, 10–30, 30–50 and 50–100 cm) with a spatial resolution of 9 km, covering the period from 2000 to 2023. Evaluation results demonstrate that SMRFR effectively captures both spatial and temporal SM variability. It also exhibits strong generalization capacity, successfully transferring knowledge across continents and accurately capturing transient and seasonal SM dynamics following rainfall events. SMRFR achieved an unbiased root mean square error of 0.0339 m3/m3 on the validation set. Our novel SM dataset offers a basis and valuable reference for agricultural, hydrological, and ecological research, enabling improved analysis and modelling of SM dynamics at regional to global scales.