Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterized by symptoms such as inattention and difficulties with short-term memory, which can significantly hinder academic performance. Traditional study spaces, often designed without attention to sensory needs, can inadvertently exacerbate these difficulties. Emerging research highlights the potential benefits of biophilic sounds—an approach that integrates sounds of nature into built environments—to enhance attention and improve short-term memory. This study examines the impact of biophilic sounds, such as flowing water, birdsong, and rustling leaves, on mitigating inattention and improving short-term memory retention in students with ADHD symptoms. The findings aim to inform the development of an Ambient Retreat For Concentration (ARC) optimized for these needs. Correlated to this, it used a quasi-experimental method with 16 participants selected through the ADHD self-report scale. To identify the participants, the researchers utilized a purposive sampling method where participants are chosen based on the set criteria. These participants were divided into two groups: experimental and control. Both groups completed two tests, the Digit Span Test and Picture Span Test, during the pre-test and post-test phases. To analyze the data, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the pre-test and post-test scores within each group. The Mann-Whitney U test was utilized to identify significant differences in post-test scores between the experimental and control groups. The control group showed no differences in attention in both pretest and posttest. While the pretest showed no significant change in memory, the posttest revealed a slight improvement after exposure to biophilic sounds. Overall, the sounds had a minimal effect on short-term memory, with no notable influence on attention. Findings suggest that nature sounds may improve short-term memory by reducing environmental distractions, but do not significantly enhance attention. The results are utilized to design an Ambient Retreat for Concentration (ARC) to help students improve their short-term memory while studying. Keywords: students with ADHD symptoms, biophilic sounds, short-term memory, attention, Philippines

Sleep is a fundamental aspect of physiological and psychological functioning, and the beneficial effect of exercise on sleep quality and quantity, depending on training modality, remains underexplored. This study compared the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) versus a moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) regime on sleep quality. Twenty-five participants (sixteen men, nine women) were randomly assigned to 8-week HIIT or MICT programs. Anthropometric data, blood pressure, and maximal exercise tests (VO2max, lactate, heart rate) were conducted one week before and after training. Sleep quality was evaluated daily through self-reported perception and duration and via the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at baseline, one week, and two weeks post-intervention. Data were analyzed in SPSS version 29 using repeated-measures ANOVA. PSQI scores improved significantly over time (p = 0.013), regardless of modality, with no significant group or interaction effects. Cardiorespiratory fitness improved for all participants, with significant gains in VO2max (p = 0.009), maximal aerobic speed (p < 0.001), and reduced maximal heart rate (HIIT: p = 0.003; MICT: p = 0.021). Sleep perception showed no significant change during training (p = 0.063), with a slight improvement trend. In conclusion, exercise training improves sleep quality regardless of modality. Running three sessions per week for eight weeks enhances both aerobic and cardiorespiratory fitness, along with sleep quality. Physical activity is therefore an effective non-pharmacological strategy to improve sleep.

Fucoidans are natural compounds that exhibit bioactivity against age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of central vision loss in industrialized nations. Pathological factors like oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation play vital roles in AMD pathogenesis. Lipid-induced alterations in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) contribute to AMD development. In this study, a commercial fucoidan from Fucus vesiculosus (FVs) was tested for its activity regarding lipid-peroxidation-related effects. The human RPE cell line ARPE-19, primary porcine RPE, and RPE/choroid explants were stimulated with erastin, acting as an inducer of lipid peroxidation, and treated with fucoidan. Effects on cell viability (tetrazolium bromide (MTT) or calcein staining), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin 8 (IL8) secretion (ELISA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), protein expression (glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), CD59, and retinoid isomerohydrolase (RPE65), analyzed via Western blot), and gene expression (RT-qPCR) were investigated. FVs showed protective effects against erastin-induced reduction in viability (with a 12.7% increase in viability compared to erastin), RPE65 expression (with a 4.2-fold increase compared to erastin), and GPX4 expression (with a 2.3-fold increase compared to erastin) in primary RPE. Erastin-induced VEGF secretion was attenuated by FVs in ARPE-19 and primary RPE (with an up to 1.7-fold reduction compared to erastin). Elevated IL8 levels were reduced by FV treatment in primary RPE (with a 9.1-fold reduction compared to erastin). Induced VEGF in RPE/choroid explants was reduced by FVs (with an up to 2.9-fold reduction compared to erastin), and this reduction was correlated with slight improvements in viability. In conclusion, FVs exerted protective effects against lipid-induced stress. This study reveals further effects of fucoidans against AMD-related pathologies.

Short-term follow-up of arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using quadrupled hamstring autograft with suture tape reinforcement as an internal brace.

Abstract Cloud phase partition among liquid, mixed, and ice phases was investigated using in-situ and satellite observations. A large in-situ observation dataset was compiled from 11 flight campaigns covering a near global extent (87°N–75°S, 128°E–37°W). Random Forest ensemble models were used to quantify the effects of key controlling factors on cloud phase partition, including temperature (T), relative humidity with respect to ice (RHi), vertical velocity (w), and aerosol number concentrations (Na) for larger and smaller particles. Our results show that using RHi or T as a single predictor significantly enhanced the prediction accuracy of total cloud occurrences and cloud phase partition, respectively. The inclusion of Na predictors provided a slight but consistent improvement in the F1 score. Feature importance analysis revealed that Na predictors were used by the model nodes at a frequency comparable to that of w. The models successfully captured key physical features, such as the increase in ice phase frequency with decreasing temperature and the peak in-cloud frequency near ice saturation. They also reproduced the main biases in satellite products, such as the overestimation of mixed phase and ice phase by CloudSat and DARDAR, respectively. These results demonstrate the utility of machine learning for quantifying the contributions of complex factors governing cloud phase partition and for diagnosing systematic biases in observation datasets.

Abstract The impact of model biases on subseasonal forecast skill has been evaluated in the European Centre for Medium‐range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) subseasonal forecasting system using a relaxation experiment where the nudging was performed towards bias‐corrected integrations of the same model. The relaxation was performed regionally or globally but only for the very large scale. As expected, this methodology significantly reduces model biases over the areas where the nudging was applied. Remarkably, the experiments also display significantly improved forecast skill in predicting the anomalies at a lead time of three to four weeks, particularly over the northern extratropics, where subseasonal forecast skill has been stagnant at this time range over the past 20 years in the ECMWF operational subseasonal forecasting system. An analysis of a North‐Pole relaxation experiment shows that the polar relaxation impacts biases outside the region of nudging, such as the representation of the subtropical jet stream in the ECMWF model, reducing midlatitude geopotential height bias and leading to a slight improvement in Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) teleconnections over the northern extratropics. These results set a lower threshold for predictability at the subseasonal time‐scales and indicate that there is a large potential for improving dynamical subseasonal forecasting skill in weeks 3 and 4 in extratropical regions by improved treatment of model error.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the periodontal and microbiological alterations in oral flora associated with using removable appliances and fixed orthodontic treatments.MethodsThe study materials consist of subgingival-supragingival plaque samples and periodontal measurements from 48 patients. The groups include fixed appliance users, removable appliance users, and a nontreatment control group. Periodontal measurements, including gingival index, plaque index, bleeding on probing, mobility, furcation, probing depth, and attachment level, were recorded at baseline (before treatment) and 6 months after treatment initiation. Plaque samples were collected at T0 and T1. Dental plaque samples were cultured on selective media for qualitative and quantitative microbial analysis, followed by qualitative evaluation using the VITEK 2 (Biomerieux) system. Data were analyzed using one-way one-way analysis of variance one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), paired sample-T test, and Duncan’s multiple range test to identify and compare statistically significant differences within and between groups, while intraobserver reliability was assessed using the Kappa statistic.ResultsMobility or furcation involvement was not detected in any of the groups at either time point. At the T1 stage, a slight improvement in attachment level was observed in both the fixed and removable appliance groups compared with baseline measurements. However, during the same period, a significant increase in mean probing depth was detected only in the fixed appliance group (p = 0.003). Plaque index levels increased in both the removable appliance group (p = 0.019) and the fixed appliance group (p = 0.023). Furthermore, the bleeding on probing index also showed an increase in both groups, with p = 0.020 in the removable appliance group and p = 0.012 in the fixed appliance group. At the T1 stage, an increase in yeast counts was observed in the removable appliance group (p = 0.008), whereas decreases were detected in Lactobacillus (p = 0.004) and mutans streptococci (p = 0.026) levels. In contrast, the fixed appliance group demonstrated significant increases in Lactococcus (p = 0.042) and mutans streptococci (p = 0.037) counts. The identified microorganisms included a diverse range of bacterial species, such as Actinomyces spp., Fusobacterium spp., Lactobacillus spp., Streptococcus spp., Veillonella spp., and other clinically significant genera.ConclusionsIt may be inferred that fixed orthodontic treatments create a biological environment that is more susceptible to adverse periodontal alterations and increased colonization by specific microbial species. Conversely, the potential suppressive effects of removable appliances on certain microbial groups emphasize the need to consider patients’ oral hygiene compliance, periodontal risk profile, and microbial sensitivity during treatment planning.

BackgroundDevelopmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a common pediatric orthopedic disease, and health education is vital to disease management and rehabilitation. The emergence of large language models (LLMs) has provided new opportunities for health education. However, the effectiveness and applicability of LLMs in education with DDH have not been systematically evaluated.ObjectiveThis study conducted an integrated 2-phase evaluation to assess the quality and educational effectiveness of LLM-generated educational materials.MethodsThis study comprised 2 phases. Based on Bloom’s taxonomy, a 16-item DDH question bank was created through literature analysis and collaboration. Four LLMs (ChatGPT-4 [OpenAI], DeepSeek-V3, Gemini 2.0 Flash [Google], and Copilot [Microsoft Corp]) were questioned using standardized prompts. All responses were independently evaluated by 5 pediatric orthopedic experts using 5-point Likert measures of accuracy, fluency, and richness, the scales of Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Printable Materials, and DISCERN. The readability was measured by a formula. The data were examined using Kruskal-Wallis tests, ANOVA, and post hoc comparisons. In phase 2, an assessor-blinded, 2-arm pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted. A total of 127 caregivers were randomized into an LLM-assisted education group or a web search control group. The intervention included structured LLM training, supervised practice, and 2 weeks of reinforcement training. Measured at baseline, postintervention, and 2 weeks following, the outcomes were eHealth literacy (primary), DDH knowledge, health risk perception, perceived usefulness, information self-efficacy, and health information-seeking behavior. Cohen d effect sizes and linear mixed-effects models were used in an intention-to-treat manner.ResultsThere were significant differences between the 4 LLMs concerning accuracy, richness, fluency, Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Printable Materials Understandability, and DISCERN (P<.05). ChatGPT-4 (median 63.67, IQR 63.67-64.67) and DeepSeek-V3 (median 63.67, IQR 63.33-64.67) generate more accurate text than Copilot (median 59.00, IQR 58.67-59.67). DeepSeek-V3 (median 64.00, IQR 64.00-64.00) was language richer than Copilot (median 52.33, IQR 51.33-52.67). Gemini 2.0 Flash (median 72.67, IQR 72.33-73.00) was more fluent than Copilot (median 65.67, IQR 63.33-65.67). In phase 2, the intervention group showed higher eHealth literacy at T1 (33.62, 95% CI 32.76-34.49; d=0.20, 95% CI 0.13-0.56) and T2 (33.27, 95% CI 32.38-34.17; d=0.36, 95% CI 0.01-0.80), greater DDH knowledge at T1 (7.87, 95% CI 7.48-8.25, d=0.71, 95% CI 0.33-1.11) and T2 (7.12, 95% CI 6.72-7.51; d=0.54, 95% CI 0.17-0.96), and slight improvements in health risk prediction and perceived usefulness.ConclusionsMainstream LLMs demonstrate varying capacities in generating educational content for DDH. They generated DDH caregiver education materials that were associated with modest improvements in eHealth literacy and knowledge. Although LLMs can address general informational needs, they cannot completely substitute clinical evaluation. Future research should focus on optimizing plain language, refining dialogue design, and enhancing audience personalization to improve the quality of LLMs’ materials.Trial RegistrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2500108410; https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=271987

Abstract Multi-axis CNC milling is widely used in the manufacturing of components with complex surfaces and is particularly valued in demanding sectors such as the aerospace industry. In this context, aluminium alloys play a prominent role due to their strength-to-weight ratio and high machinability. This work aims to assess how milling strategies and cutting tools affect surface quality and process efficiency when machining complex surfaces in AW-7075 aluminium alloy, by testing different finishing strategies, tool tip radius ( $$\:{r}_{tip}$$ ), and radial depth of cut ( $$\:{a}_{e}$$ ). Findings show that the machining strategy is the most influential factor on both surface quality and cutting time. A reduction in $$\:{a}_{e}$$ contributed to a slight improvement in surface quality, while an increase in $$\:{r}_{tip}$$ proved beneficial only for certain strategies. Regarding process efficiency, increasing $$\:{a}_{e}$$ and $$\:{r}_{tip}$$ significantly reduces machining time. Given aerospace industry demands, the Flow strategy with a 4 mm $$\:{r}_{tip}\:$$ and 0.05 mm $$\:{a}_{e}$$ proved to be the most balanced solution, achieving low cutting times and Ra within specifications (0.25–0.40 μm). It was concluded that the appropriate combination of cutting parameters, machining strategies, and tool geometry, enables compliance with strict quality standards while enhancing overall process efficiency.

ABSTRACTWith habitat fragmentation causing the isolation of species populations, the construction of ecological security pattern (ESP) has become a vital approach to safeguarding biodiversity. While identifying ecological sources is considered a key step in ESP construction, existing studies often lack an integrated assessment of ecological sources and overlook the influence of vertical zonation on mountainous ESP. Therefore, this study aims to construct three types of ecological security patterns in the Funiu Mountain region: one based on connectivity, one based on ecological importance, and a third that integrates these with niche suitability, in order to examine how vertical zonation influences their spatial configuration and network performance. The results showed that the spatial distribution of ecological sources, corridors and nodes in ESP3 was superior to that in ESP1 and ESP2. ESP3 contained 13 ecological sources (5932 km2), 53 corridors (3308 km) and 48 nodes. The area of ecological sources and the length of ecological corridors in EPS3 were distributed in unimodal peaks at 800–1200 m, with optimal network connectivity (α = 0.6977, β = 2.2083, γ = 0.8030) and a slight improvement in cost ratio (0.9838). The findings provided a scientific basis for enhancing the conservation and sustainable development of mountain ecosystems from a vertical zonation perspective.

The CoCrMo alloys are progressively utilized as biomaterials. This research is dedicated to studying the consequence of (1, 3, and 5) wt% nano-TiO2 addition on the porosity, microstructure, microhardness, and wear behavior of pre-alloyed CoCrMo powder produced by powder metallurgy (PM). Microstructural features were examined using SEM, SEM mapping, and XRD. Wear behavior was assessed through pin-on-disk tests performed under dry sliding conditions at varying loads and durations. Porosity increased with the addition of nano-TiO2, from 15.26 at 0 wt% reaching 25.12% at 5 wt%, while density decreased from 7.16 to 6.33 g/cm3. Microhardness exhibited a slight improvement, attaining 348 HV at 5 wt%. SEM and XRD analyses confirmed partial particle separation after sintering and identified the TiO2 reinforcement as rutile. Wear tests revealed that adding 1 wt% nano-TiO2 enhanced wear resistance, whereas extended sliding durations resulted in increased wear rates. Adhesive wear was the predominant mechanism, accompanied by limited abrasive wear, oxidation, and plastic deformation.

The research aims to study the dynamics of reproductive system pathologies in mares of Kazakh and Mugalzhar horse breeds and their impact on the reproductive traits of the breeding stock. The object of the research was horses of the Kazakh and Mugalzhar breeds. The formation of experimental groups was carried out using the pair-analog method. It was found that the frequency of detection of infertile mares is 13.8-25.0%. Subinvolution of the uterus from the total number of infertile mares is 8.3-10.7%, endometritis - 16.6-23.3%, atony and hypotonia of the uterus - 8.3-13.3%, ovarian diseases - 19.6-43.4%, other diseases - 10.0-39.4%. The pregnancy rate of mares of the Kazakh and Mugalzhar breeds was 78.8%. The frequency of abortions, weakly born, and stillborn foals was 2.8%. Successful foaling was 76.0%. It was established that successful foaling in mares under 5 years old is 65.6%, 6-9 years old - 79.5%, and 10 years and older - 74.6%. Pregnancy rates are lowest in mares under 5 years of age (74.4%), compared to 6-9 years of age (88.0%) and 10 years of age and older (82.0%). Milk productivity analysis of first-lactation mares revealed significantly higher yields on farms specializing in mare's milk production, accompanied by slight improvements in fat and protein content. The findings highlight the strong influence of management practices, nutritional status, and timely reproductive monitoring on the reproductive success of local horse breeds.

Sex differences in the metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects of exercise have been reported, but whether males and females exhibit a differential response to exercise in a setting of cardiometabolic disease is unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the glucose handling, adipose and cardiac effects of voluntary exercise in male and female mice in a cardiometabolic disease setting induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). The extent of exercise tolerance improvement was similar between HFD male and HFD female mice with running wheel access, despite greater daily running distances in female HFD mice. Exercise attenuated HFD-induced increased body and fat mass in females but had no effect in males. A slight improvement in insulin tolerance was observed in HFD males only. The anti-inflammatory effects of exercise were evident in both HFD males and HFD females, but the inflammatory cell types and tissue depots involved were sex-specific. Cardiac diastolic function was improved with exercise in HFD females but not HFD males. Surprisingly, cardiomyocyte dimensions increased with exercise in HFD females and decreased with exercise in HFD males. This study provides the first evidence that the cardiometabolic effects of exercise are differentially elicited in males and females in a metabolic disease setting.

Single-cell vibration analysis for potential diagnostic applications.

Exercise intervention programs enhance physical fitness, cognition, neuroimaging measures, and alter the structure of the gut microbiome in individuals without HIV. However, interventional studies exploring the effects of exercise in persons with HIV (PWH) have not included neuroimaging or gut microbiome analyses. A randomized controlled trial conducted at Washington University in St. Louis, MO, USA. 65 PWH (aged ≥40 years, self-reported sedentary lifestyle) were randomly assigned to a 6-month cardiorespiratory and resistance training (EXS) or stretching control (SIS) intervention in a 2 : 1 ratio. Longitudinal change in cognition, cerebral blood flow (CBF), physical and cardiorespiratory fitness, and gut microbiome diversity and composition were examined among participants ( n = 62) who completed any portion of the intervention (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02663934). Better fitness and better cognitive performance were associated with greater phylogenetic diversity in gut microbiome composition at baseline. Longitudinal findings indicated slight but significant improvements in psychomotor speed and executive function, reductions in body mass index, improvements in physical fitness, and increased gut microbiome diversity. These changes were observed regardless of assigned intervention group. There were no observed changes in CBF for either group. These findings highlight physical fitness as a modifiable factor in PWH that may improve cognitive performance and change gut microbiome composition. Both interventions were beneficial, suggesting light stretching exercise or study participation alone could have been sufficient to introduce positive cognitive shifts in previously sedentary PWH. Longer interventions with more participants are needed to identify changes in neuroimaging metrics related to brain integrity.

Facile synthesis of Silicalite-1 with tunable porous architectures via desilication-recrystallization: Enhanced Doxorubicin delivery and inhibited growth against colorectal cancer.

High-dose subacute and acute thymoquinone treatments alleviate LPS-induced depressive-like behavior in mice by reducing inflammation via the IDO/KYN pathway.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by reproductive and metabolic dysfunction that may also impact bone metabolism and its structural integrity. This study aims to assess the progressive impact of PCOS on bone health over time. It focuses on how the duration of the condition influences hormonal profiles, bone metabolism, and bone's microstructural and mechanical properties in the PCOS-induced mice model. Female BALB/c mice were separated into three groups, each further subdivided into PCOS-induced and age-matched control groups. PCOS was induced by letrozole (6 mg/kg b.w.) administered continuously for 21 days; among them, group II underwent a one-month observation period, while group III was observed for two months. Bone quality markers were assessed through hormonal profiling, serum bone turnover markers, micro-CT, three-point bending test, nanoindentation, and FTIR. Hormonal profiling revealed persistent hyperandrogenism, elevated luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio, reduced estrogen levels, and insulin resistance collectively affected bone health. Micro-CT analysis showed a decline in trabecular quality in the femur and tibia of the PCOS group. Three-point bending test pointed toward increased susceptibility to micro-damage and fracture. Nanoindentation indices, elasticity, and hardness were also decreased. FTIR analysis indicates alterations in bone material properties. These indices showed a slight improvement in the third month but deviated significantly from control. Our results suggest that PCOS has an adverse impact on bone's structural, mechanical, and compositional properties, and the negative impact of PCOS on skeletal integrity is not fully reversible in the short term. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of evaluating and monitoring bone health in PCOS individuals.

The performance of medium density fiberboard (MDF) with styrene-based copolymers and glutaraldehyde was evaluated. Styrene/n-butyl acrylate (SBA), styrene maleic anhydride (SMA), and glutaraldehyde (GA) were tested at 1%, 2.5%, and 5% levels. Surface roughness parameters, mechanical and physical properties, and formaldehyde emission values were evaluated. Two different methods were used for panel preparation: surface application and mixing with UF resin. Different trends were observed depending on chemical types, chemical concentrations, and application methods. The surface roughness parameters (Ra, Rq, Rz) decreased with the application methods and chemicals used. The smoothest surfaces were obtained from groups with the chemicals compared to control groups. The surface application method yielded the most favorable results. The thickness swelling (TS) and water absorption (WA) values generally showed slight improvements, and better results were obtained with the UF-mixing method. Mechanical properties such as internal bond strength (IB), modulus of rupture (MOR), and modulus of elasticity (MOE) showed variations depending on the experimental parameters. In general, higher values were obtained for both application methods compared to control values. Free formaldehyde emission values were notably reduced with the UF-mixing method. In general, the use of SBA, SMA, and GA chemicals contributed to lower formaldehyde emission values.

In this investigation, we explore the impact of silane coupling agents on the characteristics of composites comprising bis-(3-triethoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulfide (TESPT), 3-octanoyl-thiopropyl-triethoxy (NXT), and triethoxy (vinyl) (VTEO) with carbon black and lignin. The study delves into the role of these silane coupling agents, specifically focusing on their influence on the properties of the NR/BR composites filled with carbon black and lignin. TESPT, NXT, and VTEO were employed to enhance compatibility between an incompatible polar filler and non-polar rubber, forming a bridge between the filler and the rubber matrix during the mixing and vulcanization processes, thereby contributing to the improved performance of bio-filler-filled rubber compounds. The amounts of silane coupling agents added were in the range of 2-10 wt.% based on the lignin content to assess the optimum amount for interfacial bonding, rheological, and mechanical performance. A slight improvement has been observed in curing behavior, resulting in a shorter optimum cure time with the incorporation of TESPT and enhanced scorch safety with the inclusion of NXT in CB/lignin-filled NR/BR composites. Meanwhile, hardness values of the compounds with TESPT display higher values and thus higher crosslink density than NXT and VTEO compounds. The findings demonstrated the benefits of utilizing TESPT, NXT, and VTEO as effective silane coupling agents between CB/lignin fillers and rubber.