Refined kinetic analyses of micropollutant degradation by UV-AOPs incorporating dynamic oxidant decay.

Plasma fibrinogen: A novel biomarker for preoperative prediction and quantification of peritoneal adhesions in emergency abdominal surgery.

Displacement in the body: A mixed-methods study of the syndemic interaction of mental distress and musculoskeletal disorders among Afghan immigrants.

Siemens Healthineers cross-platform verification: Analytical and clinical analysis of HIV Antigen/Antibody Combo assay across ADVIA Centaur and Atellica analyzers

Postural control in type 2 diabetes mellitus: the role of diabetic neuropathy.

The study is experimental research on the performance, combustion, and emission characteristics of a compression ignition (CI) engine run with waste plastic oil (WPO)-diesel blends supplemented with aluminum oxide ( Al 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles. The tested fuel consisted of neat diesel (D100) and WPO-diesel blends (DWPO10, DWPO20, DWPO30, and DWPO40). Furthermore, 25, 50, and 100 ppm of Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles were suspended in DWPO20. The results indicate that of all the fuels that have been tested, DWPO20 25 ppm Al 2 O 3 had the brake thermal efficiency (BTE) (32.36%), which was higher than DWPO20 without nanoparticles (31.68%), while also reducing the brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC). When the WPO proportion was raised, the peak cylinder pressure did decrease slightly, but DWPO20 maintained the same combustion behavior as D100. The emission levels of nitrogen oxides NO x were also increased with the growing CR, but the levels of CO and HC were reduced with the inclusion of the nanoparticles because of improved oxidation kinetics. Artificial neural network (ANN) and general regression neural network (GRNN) models were developed to predict engine performance and emissions. The models reported excellent predictive performance ( R 2 =0.85–0.96) and they were able to reproduce physically consistent trends of combustion and emission with varying operating conditions. • Experiment on a four-stroke, single-cylinder, and direct-injection diesel engine. • AI models to enhance the efficiency of engines using WPO-diesel blend with Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles. • Effectively replacing diesel with green ternary fuel blends. • Addition of Al 2 O 3 to diesel-WPO fuel increased NO x emissions.

To solve the problem of poor planting quality caused by soil adhesion on the surface of planter when working in wet yellow clay environment, inspired by the morphological structure of dung beetle head surface, a bionic convex hull planter (BCHP) was designed, and its anti-adhesion and desorption characteristics were studied to further explore the mechanism of the bionic convex hull anti-adhesion and desorption. Firstly, the dung beetle in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan, China Province was taken as the bionic object, and the characteristic parameters of microscopic convex structure were extracted using a Bruker white light interferometer and Vision64 software, and the bionic parameter design of planter was completed. Secondly, three-dimensional models of 13 bionic planters were established by Solidworks2023, and Hertz-Mindlin with JKR model was selected as the contact model of yellow clay. Based on EDEM2019, the simulation of soil adhesion during planting was carried out. Aiming at the minimum amount of soil adhesion, the optimal values of height, diameter and area ratio of bionic convex hull were 0.67mm, 2.26mm and 43.45% respectively through Box-Behnken test and regression analysis. The anti-adhesion mechanism of the bionic convex hull was explored, and the anti-adhesion theory of the non-smooth surface was further improved based on the DEM simulation. Finally, three kinds of BCHP were processed and installed on a self-made small transplanting platform for soil tank test. The verification and comparison test results showed that the anti-adhesion and desorption effects were BCHP5, BCHP13 and BCHP4 in descending order. The test results were highly consistent with the simulation results of EDEM, which verified the reliability of the simulation model. Among them, BCHP5 had the best anti-adhesion and desorption effect, and when the moisture content was 22.72%, 27.13% and 31.94%, the average soil adhesion was reduced by 34.62%, 14.10% and 7.58% respectively compared with the prototype planter. The research results provided a feasible research method for the study of anti-adhesion and desorption mechanism of bionic convex hull and the optimal design of structural improvement of soil-engaging components.

Formal social support from healthcare professionals is critical in facilitating the transition to parenthood and may contribute to parental self-efficacy. However, its association with parent-infant bonding remains unclear, and evidence to guide clinical practice is scarce, especially during the postpartum hospital stay. This study aimed to (a) explore associations between formal social support during the postpartum stay, parenting self-efficacy, and parent-infant bonding; and (b) investigate the role of depressive symptoms and other confounding factors. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from April 2023 to August 2024 in five hospitals in French-speaking Switzerland. 420 first-time parents (298 mothers and 122 partners). First-time mothers and co-parents completed a cross-sectional survey. Variables were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised, the FOCUS-Postpartum Scale, the Perinatal Infant Care Social Support Scale, the Parenting Expectations Survey, and the Mother-Infant Bonding Scale. Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and regression analyses were performed. A total of 298 mothers and 122 partners answered the survey. Parents reported low satisfaction with the information received during the postpartum hospital stay. In bivariate analyses, formal social support was positively associated with maternal self-efficacy (rho = 0.18, p = 0.004) but not with partners' self-efficacy (rho= -0.07, p = 0.45) or parent-infant bonding. After adjustment for confounding factors, the association between formal social support and maternal self-efficacy was no longer significant. In the maternal regression model, satisfaction with informal general support was significantly associated with maternal self-efficacy (β = 0.62, p = 0.002). Non-exclusive breastfeeding was associated with higher maternal bonding difficulties (β = 0.34, p = 0.008). Partners with a secondary education level reported lower parenting self-efficacy (β = -35.49, p = 0.005) and lower bonding quality (β = 0.7, p = 0.019) than those with an apprenticeship education. Depressive symptoms were negatively associated with parental self-efficacy (mothers β = -2.44, p = 0.015; partners β = -4.57, p < 0.001) and bonding (mothers β = 0.08, p < 0.001; partners β = 0.07, p = 0.002). Higher satisfaction with informal support was linked to maternal self-efficacy, while depressive symptoms consistently undermined both parental self-efficacy and bonding for both parents. Together with parents' low satisfaction with information received, these findings underscore the need for tailored support and the importance of clear and consistent communication from healthcare professionals for both mothers and partners.

Swine may act as 'epidemiological bridges' and reservoirs for the emergence of novel zoonotic influenza viruses with pandemic potential. While bidirectional exchange of influenza A viruses at the swine-human interface is well recognised, data on the extent of interspecies transmission are limited. We analysed the post-seasonal geometric mean titre (GMT) of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 antibodies in humans and the seasonal prevalence of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 antibodies in unvaccinated swine from 2009/2010-2022/2023 per county in Norway to search for evidence of interspecies transmission. We explored correlations at the national and individual county level and investigated possible associations by running a negative binomial regression model. Additionally, we distributed an influenza vaccination questionnaire to veterinarians and farmers working with swine to assess vaccination uptake and calculated total response rates per county and overall. The time series of H1N1pdm09 antibodies from humans and swine show significant positive correlations both across (0.8 Pearson correlation coefficient) and within certain individual counties, with especially high correlations in Innlandet (0.9), Vestland (0.8) and Rogaland (0.7) Counties. Our regression analysis revealed a significant positive association between the annual GMT of H1N1pdm09 antibodies in humans, the annual seroprevalence of H1N1pdm09 antibodies in swine, and the density of swine farms in counties. Vaccination uptake was 39% and 50% in farmers and veterinarians, respectively. Our findings indicate a temporal relationship between the disease in humans and swine; suggesting spillover, environmental factors facilitating disease spread, and/or indirect relationships driven by unknown factors. The time series of H1N1pdm09 antibodies in humans and swine shows significant correlations. Regression analysis links GMT of H1N1pdm09 antibodies in humans to seroprevalence of H1N1pdm09 in swine and density of swine farms. This indicates a temporal relationship possibly due to spillover, shared risk factors or indirect relationships driven by unknown factors. The influenza vaccination survey showed a 39% uptake among farmers and 50% among swine veterinarians.

Shaping the future: A pilot study on how AI-powered chatbots shape patient perceptions of pharmacist roles.

Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications in patients requiring palliative care in hospitals and nursing homes: Evidence from a Ligurian point-prevalence multicenter study.

Polygenic risk for depression is associated with post-stroke depression and stroke.

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is an important legume crop cultivated predominantly under dryland conditions where water deficit stress frequently limits yield. Understanding key yield-related and physiological traits that influence grain production under drought is essential for developing effective mitigation strategies. This study aimed to identify these traits and to evaluate the potential of growth regulators and bacterial inoculation to alleviate the effects of water stress in lentils. Field studies were conducted as a factorial experiment over two consecutive years using combinations of Pseudomonas fluorescens seed inoculation and foliar application of spermidine (0, 0.5, and 1 mM) and melatonin (0, 50, and 100 μM). Analysis of variance revealed significant effects for all treatments and their interactions on agronomic traits, yield components, and physiological parameters. Stepwise regression analysis showed that 100-seed weight, number of seeds per plant, and stem dry weight had the greatest direct positive effects on seed yield, whereas leaf dry weight had a negative effect. Among physiological traits, soluble sugars, photosynthetic pigments, and antioxidant enzyme activity were positively associated with yield, whereas total phenols, flavonoids, and malondialdehyde were major negative contributors. The combined application of 100 μM melatonin and 1 mM spermidine significantly improved sugar accumulation, photosynthetic pigment content, and antioxidant enzyme activity while reducing oxidative damage indicators. The integration of biochemical and statistical analyses effectively identified key traits driving lentil yield under drought stress. Foliar application of melatonin and spermidine also shows promise as an agronomic practice to improve lentil tolerance and productivity in water-limited environments. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Little is known about how or when language and visuospatial processing lateralise in the brain, and if individual differences in lateralisation are related to early language or visuospatial abilities. We explored if patterns of language and visuospatial lateralisation are related to cognitive skills in young children. A large sample of 3-year-olds (n=136) attempted two functional transcranial Doppler ultrasound (fTCD) tasks to estimate language and visuospatial lateralisation. At the group level, language was lateralised to the left hemisphere, but visuospatial processing was weakly lateralised to the right hemisphere. The relationship between patterns of lateralisation and cognitive skills was investigated using regression analyses with novel calculations of how typical a child's lateralisation pattern was, the degree of crowding of both functions to one hemisphere, or how strongly both functions were lateralised. Language and visuospatial abilities were not predicted by any of these measures. Degree of visuospatial lateralisation, and not language lateralisation, was associated with higher language ability. Future research should investigate if patterns of lateralisation are related to cognitive skills in older children, when lateralisation is more established.

The impact of inaccurate supply-demand types for emergency supplies on the psychological pain of victims: Data from flood disasters in China

Laissez-faire leadership is considered a negative form of leadership, potentially harming employee health, well-being, work environment, and performance. However, research on boundary conditions explaining its negative effects remains limited. Drawing on conservation of resources theory, this study examines the relationship between laissez-faire leadership and employee performance, and the buffering effect of self-compassion, defined as being supportive towards oneself when facing suffering or pain. Data were collected from 220 full-time employees across various industries in Norway. To assess discriminant validity and address common method bias, confirmatory factor analysis was conducted before regression analyses. Consistent with hypotheses, laissez-faire leadership was negatively associated with employee performance. Moreover, self-compassion moderated this relationship, with no decline in performance among employees demonstrating moderate to high levels of self-compassion. Our study contributes to the laissez-faire leadership literature by testing whether a coping strategy identified for active destructive leadership also applies to passive forms. Furthermore, we contribute to the self-compassion literature by responding to calls for research on its link to organizational outcomes and the level needed to buffer negative effects, while addressing generalizability beyond the healthcare sector. Implications for future research, leadership development, and employee training are discussed.

COVID-19 has been associated with cognitive sequelae, particularly in executive functions (EFs). However, the relationship between subjective executive difficulties, objective cognitive performance, and psychological factors remains unclear. 174 COVID-19 patients (ICU-, WARD-, or home-treated) and 51 non-COVID controls were assessed at 3 and 6months post-infection. Executive function was measured with the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adults (BRIEF-A) self- and informant-report versions. Objective cognition was assessed across attention, memory, and executive domains. Psychological symptoms (depression [PHQ-9], anxiety [GAD-7], PTSD symptoms [IES-6]) and fatigue (MFI-20) were also evaluated. Group differences, self-informant agreement, and associations between measures were analyzed using linear mixed models, correlations, and regression analyses. Self-reported EF difficulties in COVID-19 patients were generally within the normal range and were not associated with objective cognition. In contrast, controls showed some correspondence between subjective and objective cognition. Self-reported EFs in patients were strongly associated with psychological symptoms and fatigue, with similar but weaker patterns in informant reports. In regression models, depressive symptoms emerged as a significant predictor of higher self-reported EF difficulties in COVID-19 patients. Self-informant agreement was highest in ICU-treated patients. Self-reported executive functioning difficulties after COVID-19 were more strongly associated with psychological factors than with objective cognitive deficits. These findings highlight the importance of considering psychological well-being when evaluating executive functioning after COVID-19.

Surgical treatment of occipital headaches involves the decompression of the peripheral occipital nerves. While the literature extensively describes the longitudinal midline incision approach, our group initially used the longitudinal approach and switched to the transverse approach. The aesthetic outcomes of both incision techniques remain unexplored. Patients undergoing surgical decompression for occipital headaches were instructed to provide images of their exposed occipital scalp scar. Evaluation was conducted using the Stony Brook Scar Evaluation Scale (SBSES) and the Scar Cosmesis Assessment and Rating (SCAR) scale by 3 independent plastic surgeons. SBSES scores range from 0 to 5 (higher indicating better outcomes), while SCAR scores range from 0 to 15 (higher indicating worse outcomes). Comparisons were made between transverse and longitudinal scars, with factors influencing scores identified. Forty patients (average age: 47; 73% female) participated, with 28% having longitudinal midline scars and 72% having transverse scars. Patients with transverse scars exhibited higher SBSES scores (4.2 vs. 3.6; P = 0.044) and lower SCAR scores (3.0 vs. 4.6; P = 0.016). Longitudinal scar patients displayed more suture marks (SBSES: P =0.018; SCAR P = 0.003) and wider scar spread (SBSES: P = 0.013; SCAR: P = 0.038) compared with transverse scar patients. On regression analysis, higher BMI was associated with worse SCAR scores ( P =0.015), and a transverse scar was associated with improved SCAR scores ( P =0.008). Our study reveals superior aesthetic outcomes with the transverse incision approach for occipital nerve decompression surgery compared with the longitudinal midline technique. Transverse scars exhibited higher SBSES scores and lower SCAR scores, indicating better cosmesis. Notably, longitudinal scars were associated with more prominent suture marks and wider scar spread.

Altered EEG microstate transition patterns and visual hallucinations in Parkinson's Disease.

Learning is a multifaceted process that continues across the lifespan, with variation in how different types of knowledge are acquired and retained. One distinction exists between the cognitive skills learned through memory-based associations and those learned through rule-based (strategy) execution. While both forms are central to arithmetic acquisition, little is known about their dynamics in adulthood and their cognitive underpinnings. Addressing this gap is essential for developing effective re-education programs, especially in arithmetic, where learning difficulties can impact personal, academic, and socio-economic outcomes. Here, healthy adults with varying ages and cognitive profiles learned to solve a limited set of novel arithmetic problems using either associative (memory-based) or procedural (strategy-based) methods. Group-level analyses revealed that both learning conditions reached comparable performance. Individual learning trajectories, modeled using a composite efficiency index (inverse efficiency score), revealed similar efficiency gain but distinct dynamics: associative learning showed a steep, abrupt gain, whereas procedural learning progressed gradually along a smoother trajectory. Regression analyses indicated that verbal long-term memory predicted associative learning, while arithmetic abilities specifically predicted procedural learning. Notably, efficiency gains in one condition did not predict gains in the other, further supporting that, notwithstanding their similarities, the two learning trajectories are different in nature. Error analysis further revealed that performance in the procedural condition shifted from calculation-based to retrieval-based processes with practice. These findings demonstrate that associative and procedural arithmetic learning are initially supported by distinct cognitive mechanisms but converge over time, underscoring the importance of considering individual cognitive profiles when designing tailored educational/rehabilitation interventions.