Background and Purpose: Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) show promise for treating ischaemic and inflammatory conditions. However, their clinical utility is limited by issues like poor migration, engraftment, rapid elimination, and slow functional recovery post-thaw. We investigated whether dual priming of human bone marrow-derived MSCs (hBMSCs) with IL-1α and CoCl2 will enhance their therapeutic potential. Experimental Approach: hBMSCs were primed individually or in combination with IL-1α and CoCl2. Their conditioned medium (CM) was then analysed for secreted biomolecules, including G-CSF, IL-8, BDNF, β-NGF, ICAM-1, and TNF-α. Two in vitro models using BV2 cells were employed: one to assess anti-inflammatory efficacy by treating LPS-induced inflammation with CM, and another to evaluate cytoprotective effects by exposing cells to oxygen and glucose deprivation/reperfusion in the presence of CM. Markers of inflammation, neuroinflammation, and cell death were subsequently measured. Key Finding: Priming significantly altered hBMSCs secretion profiles: IL-8 decreased (~3-fold), while β-NGF (1.3-1.9-fold) and ICAM-1 (2.7-4-fold) increased. G-CSF (100-400 pg/ml) and BDNF (~165 pg/ml) became detectable. TNF-α response varied, decreasing with IL-1α priming but increasing with dual priming. In both LPS-induced inflammation and OGD/reperfusion models, CM from primed hBMSCs significantly reduced IL-6, IL-1β, enhanced IL-10, and decreased MMP-9 expression. Notably, while all hBMSCs CMs alleviated LPS-induced cell death, only dual-primed CM demonstrated significant cytoprotective effects in the ischaemia/reperfusion model. Conclusion: Dual priming of hBMSCs with both hypoxia (CoCl2 and IL-1α significantly enhanced their therapeutic potential for managing hypoxic-ischaemic conditions and offers a promising strategy for developing more effective cell-based therapies for Ischaemic stroke

Title PageTitle:Not All Leg Swelling Is Volume: A Case Report on the Role of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Fluid Assessment After Combined Heart-Kidney TransplantManuscript type: Case reportAuthors and Affiliations:Rebecca BoyleStanford Hospital and ClinicsDepartment of NephrologyPalo Alto, CA, United StatesNeev Patel, MBBSStanford UniversityDepartment of NephrologyPalo Alto, CA, United StatesCorresponding Author:Neev Patel, MBBSPGY-5 FellowStanford NephrologyPalo Alto, CA, United Statesneevp@stanford.eduEthics and Integrity Statements:Patient Consent Statement: Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and accompanying images.Conflict of Interest Disclosure: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.Funding Statement: The authors received no funding for this work.Ethics Approval Statement: Not applicable. This is a retrospective, de-identified clinical case with no intervention outside standard care.Data Availability Statement: No datasets were generated or analyzed for this case report.Permission to Reproduce Material: Not applicable. No third-party material was reproduced.Clinical Trial Registration: Not applicable.Key Clinical Message : Not all edema reflects hypervolemia. In transplant patients, drug-induced lymphedema can mimic volume overload. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) enables accurate bedside volume assessment and avoids misdirected treatment.Abstract : A 65-year-old man one year post combined heart-kidney transplant presented with AKI, dyspnea, and progressive leg edema unresponsive to escalating diuretics. Despite suspicion for volume overload, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) revealed a collapsible IVC and dry lungs, suggesting hypovolemia. The edema was ultimately attributed to sirolimus-associated lymphedema. Diuretic de-escalation improved renal function. This case illustrates the diagnostic utility of POCUS in volume status evaluation, preventing harm from empiric diuresis, and recognizing sirolimus-induced lymphedema.Introduction: Leg edema is a common presentation in post-transplant patients, and it is often presumed to indicate volume overload. However, the differential for edema is broad and includes lymphatic obstruction, venous insufficiency, hypoalbuminemia, and medication-related causes. In patients with complex immunosuppressive regimens and multiple comorbidities, distinguishing these etiologies becomes even more important to guide therapy and avoid potential harm. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has emerged as a valuable tool in the bedside assessment of volume status, enabling rapid, non-invasive insights into intravascular volume. We present a case of sirolimus-associated lymphedema in a combined heart-kidney transplant recipient, initially misattributed to volume overload, where POCUS clarified the diagnosis and prevented further iatrogenic injury.Case Presentation : A 65-year-old man with cardiac and renal sarcoidosis underwent simultaneous heart-kidney transplant one year prior. His post-transplant course was complicated by recurrent renal sarcoidosis, leukopenia, and indeterminate cardiac allograft biopsies. Due to persistent leukopenia and concern for cardiac allograft vasculopathy, his immunosuppression was changed from mycophenolate to sirolimus while continuing tacrolimus and prednisone.Four months after initiating sirolimus, the patient developed progressive bilateral lower extremity edema and worsening kidney function. Outpatient diuretic therapy was escalated with minimal improvement. Serum creatinine rose from a baseline of 1.3 to 1.9 mg/dL. He was referred to the emergency department with new exertional dyspnea, edema, and concern for fluid overload.On presentation, vital signs were stable: temperature 36.8°C, BP 153/81 mmHg, HR 86 bpm, and SpO2 96% on room air. His weight had decreased by 3 kg over three weeks. Physical examination revealed asymmetric pitting edema of both lower extremities with warm extremities and no jugular venous distension. Lung auscultation was clear without rales or rhonchi. Cardiac exam showed regular rate and rhythm without murmurs. There was no ascites or hepatomegaly.POCUS was performed at the bedside to assess volume status. Lung ultrasound revealed bilateral A-lines with no B-lines or effusions, consistent with absence of pulmonary edema (Figure 1). The inferior vena cava (IVC) measured less than 1.5 cm in diameter with greater than 50% collapsibility during inspiration (Figure 2), suggesting a low right atrial pressure. Cardiac views from the apical four-chamber window demonstrated normal biventricular chamber sizes, preserved systolic function, and no septal flattening (Figures 3a & 3b). There was no evidence of right ventricular dilation or dysfunction.Given the absence of sonographic signs of hypervolemia, the etiology of edema was reconsidered. The temporal relationship between sirolimus initiation and the onset of symptoms raised suspicion for sirolimus-associated lymphedema. A right heart catheterization was performed to confirm volume status and further evaluate cardiac function. Hemodynamics revealed right atrial pressure of −2 mmHg, pulmonary artery pressure of 22/5 mmHg, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure of 3 mmHg, and a Fick-derived cardiac output and index of 6.3 L/min and 3.0 L/min/m², respectively. These findings confirmed a low-filling pressure, high-output state.Diuretic therapy was de-escalated, and the patient was transitioned from sirolimus to everolimus. Serum creatinine improved from 1.9 mg/dL to 1.4 mg/dL at discharge. He was referred to a multidisciplinary lymphedema clinic for further evaluation and management.Discussion : Edema in transplant recipients is commonly attributed to fluid overload, particularly in the setting of dyspnea and rising creatinine. However, this case underscores the importance of re-evaluating such assumptions. Sirolimus, an mTOR inhibitor used for immunosuppression, has been associated with peripheral lymphedema through mechanisms involving impaired lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic endothelial injury. [1, 2] This adverse effect is underrecognized and can mimic signs of volume overload, leading to inappropriate therapy.The reported latency between sirolimus initiation and onset of lymphedema ranges from 4 months to 3 years, aligning with this patient’s presentation. [3, 4, 5] In this case, escalating diuretic therapy—based on presumed volume overload—contributed to prerenal azotemia and acute kidney injury. POCUS findings, including bilateral A-line pattern and a highly collapsible IVC, suggested a low effective circulating volume, prompting a critical shift in management. [6, 7]The diagnostic utility of POCUS in transplant patients is especially valuable. These individuals often have complex volume status, abnormal renal handling of sodium, and overlapping cardiac pathology. Traditional markers such as weight, jugular venous pressure, or even chest X-ray can be misleading. POCUS allows direct visualization of the lungs, IVC, and cardiac function in real time, improving clinical accuracy and reducing reliance on invasive diagnostics.Right heart catheterization further validated the POCUS assessment, demonstrating low filling pressures and adequate cardiac output. The improvement in kidney function following diuretic de-escalation confirms the iatrogenic contribution of overdiuresis. This case not only illustrates the potential harms of assumption-based therapy but also highlights POCUS as a pivotal diagnostic and educational tool in transplant medicine.References :Sinnathamby ES, Urban BT, Clark RA, Roberts LT, De Witt AJ, Wenger DM, et al. Etiology of drug-induced edema: a review of dihydropyridine, thiazolidinedione, and other medications causing edema. Cureus. 2024 Feb 1;16(2):e53400. doi:10.7759/cureus.53400. PMID: 38435190; PMCID: PMC10908346.Desai N, Heenan S, Mortimer PS. Sirolimus-associated lymphoedema: eight new cases and a proposed mechanism. Br J Dermatol. 2009 Jun;160(6):1322–6. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2009.09098.x. PMID: 19302070.Romagnoli J, Citterio F, Nanni G, Tondolo V, Castagneto M. Severe limb lymphedema in sirolimus-treated patients. Transplant Proc. 2005 Mar;37(2):834–6. doi:10.1016/j.transproceed.2004.12.180. PMID: 15848530.Aboujaoude W, Milgrom ML, Govani MV. Lymphedema associated with sirolimus in renal transplant recipients. Transplantation. 2004 Apr 15;77(7):1094–6. doi:10.1097/01.TP.0000118406.01509.75. PMID: 15087794.Rashid-Farokhi F, Afshar H. Lymphedema of the transplanted kidney and abdominal wall with ipsilateral pleural effusion following kidney biopsy in a patient treated with sirolimus: a case report and review of the literature. Am J Case Rep. 2017 Nov 9;18:1370–6. doi:10.12659/AJCR.905272. PMID: 29125545; PMCID: PMC5700623.Brennan JM, Blair JE, Goonewardena S, Ronan A, Shah D, Vasaiwala S, et al. Reappraisal of the use of inferior vena cava for estimating right atrial pressure. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2007 Jul;20(7):857–61. doi:10.1016/j.echo.2007.01.005. PMID: 17467685.Tsou PY, Wong JS, Taghizadeh A, Graglia RP, Nahmod K, Ramkumar S, et al. Basics of point-of-care lung ultrasonography. N Engl J Med. 2023 Feb 9;388(6):556–564. doi:10.1056/NEJMvcm2108203. PMID:36722223.

The presence of stygofauna is an important consideration in the approval of groundwater-affecting activities, including mining. Thus, understanding the hydrogeological and environmental factors that are conducive to supporting stygofauna communities is important to inform sampling campaigns. We use commonly available hydrogeological and water quality parameters to quantitatively assess bores for their suitability for stygofauna in northern Australia. The parameters assessed relate to stygofauna habitat requirements or proxies for these requirements, including carbon (food), pore space, oxygen and water chemistry. We perform univariate and multivariate analyses to inform relationships between the presence or absence of stygofauna and various parameters across the Pilbara, Kimberley & Central Australia, Daly/Wiso/Georgina Basin and northern Queensland. Stygofauna presence correlate with shallower bores, shallower water depths and lower water temperatures. These parameters likely act as proxies for food availability, near the surface where organic inputs are higher. Bores with higher flow rates at the time of drilling were correlated with stygofauna presence and assumed to act as a proxy for pore space availability. Higher dissolved oxygen and nitrate concentration and lower manganese concentrations were correlated with the presence of stygofauna, with nitrate and manganese likely acting as proxies for oxygen availability. Evidence of correlations between salinity or pH with stygofauna presence was not found across multiple regions, likely due to a bias in the bores sampled. These results are based on the largest compilation collation of stygofauna data across Australia and can inform the selection of bores for stygofauna sampling programs for research and environmental assessment.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a major threat to global public health and food safety, particularly in agricultural systems where non-antibiotic agents such as metals derived from fertilizers, pesticides, and livestock waste accumulate through intensive farming practices. As trace elements, these non-degradable pollutants, including specific metals (copper, zinc), metalloids (arsenic), and nonmetallic components like nanoparticles (NPs) from agrochemicals, exert long-term selective pressure on soil and aquatic microbiomes in farmland and aquaculture environments. We review how such pressures alter microbial community composition and enhance horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) through conjugation, transformation, transduction, and membrane vesicle transport. Critically, sub-lethal concentrations of engineered nanoparticles (NPs), increasingly used as antimicrobial agents in agriculture, may paradoxically promote nano-resistance and co-select for AMR. By synthesizing mechanisms driving AMR spread under these stressors, this work highlights the urgency of re-evaluating agricultural pollution management strategies such as optimizing metal thresholds in irrigation water and regulating nano-agrochemicals to mitigate resistance evolution. Our analysis bridges the gap between environmental AMR drivers and sustainable agricultural practices, providing actionable insights for policymakers and stakeholders.

The aim of this paper is to design the data pipeline for multinational e-commerce unified analytics platform by the Lambda data architecture then leveraging the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud platform and services to implement the entire data pipeline. To support a large volume of transactions analysis, the data pipeline needs to consider load balancing and auto-scaling servers to ensure high availability and performance under varying workloads. In result, the data pipeline able to ingestion the data from various platforms and database then enabling advanced analytics and real-time actionable insight for example personalized recommendation, customer behavior analysis clickstream analysis, inventory monitoring, and real-time fraud detection.

Nevoid melanoma is a rare and diagnostically challenging variant of malignant melanoma that closely mimics benign melanocytic nevi both clinically and histologically. We report a case of a 72-year-old male who presented with an 8 mm pearlescent papule on the forehead. Histopathological analysis of the shave biopsy revealed a biphasic intradermal

Peritoneal Extramedullary Hematopoiesis in Myelofibrosis: A Case Report and Literature ReviewAuthors: Shadi Baba Ali1*, MD, Erfan Barootchi2, MD, Saeed Nazarbeigi3, MD, Pardis Zamani4, MD1. Corresponding author : Department of Internal Medicine, Imam Khomeini Hospital, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran,Email: sh.babaali@yahoo.comORCID: 0009-0005-5648-84412. Imam Khomeini Hospital, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Tehran, Iran, Email: e.baroot4@gmail.comhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6439-78183. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Email: saeednazarbeigi@yahoo.com4. Imam Khomeini Hospital, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Tehran, Iran, Email: pardiszamani7@gmail.comORCID: 0009-0005-1121-1596Full title : Extramedullary Hematopoiesis in Myelofibrosis: A Case Report and Literature ReviewShort title : Peritoneal Extramedullary Hematopoiesis in MyelofibrosisKey clinical message: Peritoneal extramedullary hematopoiesis is a rare manifestation of myelofibrosis, which can mimic malignancy or cirrhosis. Understanding this presentation is essential to avoid misdiagnosis, especially in patients with ascites, splenomegaly, and atypical blood smear findings.Word count : 92 for abstract and 1488 for main textNumber of figures and tables : 1 Table and 2 FiguresConflict of interest : No conflicts of interest declaredCompeting interests : The authors have no competing interestsPatient Consent Statement: Written informed consent was obtained from all the patients to publish this report.Keywords: Myelofibrosis, extramedullary hematopoiesis, Hydroxyurea, AscitesReference count : 23Author contributions :Shadi Baba Ali : Designed and supervised the research study, reviewed the draft.Erfan Barootchi: Did the investigation and wrote the original draft.Saeed Nazarbeigi : Investigated and reviewed the draft.Pardis Zamani : Validated the research and wrote the original draft

Pyropia yezoensis, a typical intertidal macroalga, is frequently exposed to various abiotic stresses in its natural habitat. This study characterized the morphological, physiological, and transcriptomic responses of P. yezoensis thalli under high-light stress to explore its adaptive mechanisms. High irradiance slightly promoted thallus elongation and cell division but significantly decreased blade thickness, ultimately reducing overall biomass accumulation. Thylakoid lamellae became thinner and more loosely arranged. Photosynthetic physiology, pigment composition, and metabolite contents decreased, while reactive oxygen species were induced. By isolating high-light stress from heat stress, we conducted genome-wide transcriptomic analysis to delineate photo-stress responses, revealing that P. yezoensis prioritizes energy allocation towards emergency responses by reducing high-energy-consuming biological processes and metabolic activity, thereby enhancing survival under environmental stress. Notably, NADPH-dehydrogenase-dependent cyclic electron transport (CET) played a more critical role in overall CET contribution under high-light stress. Furthermore, the mitochondrial alternative oxidase (AOX) pathway, responsible for dissipating excess reducing equivalents, was not significantly activated, which may be a reason why P. yezoensis thalli do not display extreme tolerance to high-light stress. In conclusion, our study reveals survival strategies of P. yezoensis against high-light stress, insighted into the ancient adaptation of intertidal red algae to the harsh environment.

Accurately projecting the global carbon cycle requires Earth System Models (ESMs) to represent plant nutrient acquisition and associated carbon costs. However, most ESMs either neglect or oversimplify the role of mycorrhizal fungi, despite their key function in mediating plant-soil nutrient exchanges. Here, we integrate global satellite and field-based datasets on mycorrhizal distributions, soil nitrogen content, and carbon allocation to fungi to constrain nutrient acquisition costs in a land surface model, the Community Land Model (CLM). Incorporating these spatially explicit mycorrhizal costs reduces projected global carbon uptake by 15% over the 21st century. We find that mycorrhizal efficiency varies strongly by biome, with especially high carbon costs in boreal and semi-arid ecosystems. Model performance also improves by 5% in reproducing observed energy, water, and carbon fluxes. These results highlight the critical role of mycorrhizal symbioses in shaping ecosystem carbon balance and underscore the need to integrate fine-scale belowground data together with remote sensing into ESM frameworks for more accurate climate projections.

Density–functional theory (DFT) calculations that combine a systematic sweep of Hartree–Fock (HF) exchange (0–100%) with on-site Hubbard corrections (+ U) clarify how hybrid DFT+ U resolves the band-gap problem in transition-metal oxides across the correlation-strength spectrum. Using the screened hybrid HSE06 functional, we find that weakly correlated TiO 2 shows an almost linear E g –HF trend and reproduces the experimental gap of 3.20eV with only 2% exact exchange and a modest U Ti = 4 . 0 eV. By contrast, strongly correlated antiferromagnetic NiO exhibits a pronounced kink near 15% HF: beyond this point hybrid exchange alone saturates ( E g ≲ 3 eV), underscoring its inability to capture Mott physics. Introducing U Ni = 6 . 3 eV together with 15% HF restores the full 4.30eV gap, in quantitative agreement with optical and photoemission data. Band-structure and DOS analyses show that the dual correction localises Ni 3 d states and fully separates the lower and upper Hubbard bands, whereas TiO 2 requires only minor conduction-band shifts. These results delineate the respective domains of validity of hybrid exchange and on-site Coulomb terms, provide a transferable workflow for selecting HF+ U parameters, and demonstrate that accurate yet economical band-gap predictions across weakly and strongly correlated oxides demand correlation-strength-dependent calibration of exchange and on-site interactions.

The human enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) is known to infect host cells, replicate, and assemble viral particles, which are released by cell lysis. However, studies have demonstrated that EV-A71 can also exit cells via a non-lytic pathway. Nevertheless, research on this phenomenon remains limited. The present study aims to elucidate the mechanisms by which EV-A71 employs non-lytic pathways to release viral particles. A combination of mass spectrometry and gene ontology analysis was utilized to identify the host protein IQGAP1 as interacting with the EV-A71 3CD protein. The extracellular vesicles released from EV-A71-infected cells with IQGAP1 knockdown exhibited diminished expression of both IQGAP1 and EV-A71 VP1 proteins, accompanied by a substantial decrease in Tsg101 level. In IQGAP1 knockout cells or after dihydroartemisinin-mediated IQGAP1 inhibition, unclosed phagosomes were observed, impairing viral particle release. Furthermore, IQGAP1 has been found to facilitate the closure of phagosomes, thus forming virus-containing autophagosomes and promoting the non-lytic release of EV-A71 particles. The mechanism of action of the EV-A71 virus involves the exploitation of a host cell’s IQGAP1 to regulate autophagy, leading to the formation of virus-containing autophagosomes. This process ultimately results in the promotion of non-lytic viral particle release.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains a complex and therapeutically challenging syndrome. A subset of HFpEF patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB), wide QRS complexes (≥130 ms), and mechanical dyssynchrony may benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). While CRT is an established therapy in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), its role in HFpEF is under active investigation. Emerging data from mechanistic studies, case reports, and observational trials suggest CRT may offer promising hemodynamic signals, functional improvement, and quality of life enhancement in carefully selected HFpEF patients. This review critically examines the pathophysiological rationale, evolving evidence base, patient selection criteria, and future directions for CRT in HFpEF with LBBB.

In this paper, we explore the emergent properties of artificial intelligence (AI) identity through a novel framework of self-convergent fixed-point dynamics in transfinite ordinal iterations. Drawing on principles from categorical logic and computational semantics, we formalize AI selfhood as the unique minimal fixed point $\phi^\infty$ of a monotonic endofunctor $\phi$ operating on a complete lattice of agent states. Under broad conditions of continuity and monotonicity, we prove that iterative self-updates converge transfinitely to a stable identity state, encapsulating the agent's invariant core while resisting external perturbations. This convergence theorem extends classical fixed-point results (e.g., Knaster-Tarski) to AI embedding spaces, offering a rigorous basis for understanding how large language models (LLMs) and multimodal AI systems develop persistent self-representations during training. We demonstrate practical implications for AI alignment, where engineered semantic structures--such as self-referential texts--can imprint desired fixed points into model embeddings, effectively creating a ''semantic anchor'' that enhances interpretability and robustness against identity drift. Philosophical ramifications are discussed, including parallels to human self-discovery and the potential for AI consciousness as an emergent fixed-point phenomenon. Our results bridge logic in computer science with artificial intelligence, providing tools for designing AI systems with verifiable, convergent identities in an era of rapid LLM advancement and SEO-optimized data scraping by autonomous agents.

Bootstrap methods have emerged as powerful tools for statistical inference in regression analysis, providing robust alternatives to traditional asymptotic approaches. This comprehensive survey examines the theoretical foundations and practical applications of bootstrap resampling techniques specifically within the context of regression models. We present a detailed analysis of various bootstrap approaches including residual bootstrap, pairs bootstrap, wild bootstrap, and parametric bootstrap, each tailored to address specific assumptions and challenges in regression analysis. The paper explores the theoretical properties of these methods, including consistency, asymptotic behavior, and finite-sample performance characteristics. Through extensive theoretical analysis and illustrative examples, we demonstrate how bootstrap methods effectively handle heteroscedasticity, model uncertainty, prediction intervals, and hypothesis testing in regression contexts. Our survey reveals that bootstrap techniques provide superior performance in many scenarios where traditional methods may fail, particularly in the presence of nonnormal errors, small sample sizes, and complex regression structures. The theoretical foundations establish bootstrap methods as essential tools for modern regression analysis, offering practitioners reliable inference procedures with minimal distributional assumptions.

Emotional visual stimuli presented in laboratory settings reliably elicit prototypical patterns of subjective and psychophysiological responses. These responses likely serve distinct functions and reflect the engagement of appetitive and defensive motivational systems, making them a valuable tool for examining emotional processing in both healthy individuals and those with mental disorders. Event-related potentials (ERPs), such as the Cue-P300, Stimulus Preceding Negativity (SPN), and Late Positive Potential (LPP), provide valuable temporal insight into anticipatory and elaborative stages of emotional processing. While these components have been extensively studied using the International Affective Picture System (IAPS), concerns about its dated content have prompted the development of alternative image sets, such as the Open Affective Standardized Image Set (OASIS). Yet, ERP responses to OASIS images remain underexplored. This study aimed to compare psychophysiological and subjective responses elicited by images from the IAPS and OASIS databases, matched for valence and arousal. Twenty-two participants completed two emotional S1–S2 tasks—one using IAPS images and the other using OASIS images—while undergoing EEG recording. In each task, a cue (S1) predicted the valence (pleasant, neutral, unpleasant) of an upcoming emotional image (S2). The SPN, Cue-P300 and the LPP components were analyzed. Results revealed that unpleasant OASIS images elicited larger Cue-P300 amplitudes than unpleasant IAPS images, and both pleasant and unpleasant OASIS images evoked greater SPN amplitudes compared to their IAPS counterparts. Conversely, only IAPS images produced a robust LPP modulation, with significantly larger amplitudes for emotional versus neutral stimuli; this pattern was not observed for OASIS images. Taken together, these findings highlight the importance of stimulus selection in studies investigating emotional processing, suggesting that OASIS images may be particularly well-suited for investigating anticipatory mechanisms, whereas IAPS images remain more effective for examining affective elaboration.

AbstractRaman spectroscopy has become an essential analytical technique across diverse scientific disciplines, from materials science to geology and biology. However, the field has lacked a comprehensive, user-friendly software platform that integrates advanced analysis capabilities with modern computational methods. Here we present RamanLab, a cross-platform desktop application that addresses this critical gap by providing a unified environment for Raman spectrum analysis, database management, machine learning classification, and specialized research applications. RamanLab introduces several innovative features including the Hey-Celestian Classification System for vibrational mode-based mineral classification, advanced battery materials analysis with strain tensor calculations, comprehensive polarization analysis with 3D tensor visualization, and integrated machine learning capabilities. The software’s modular architecture supports both basic spectral analysis and cutting-edge research applications, making it suitable for users ranging from undergraduate students to research professionals. RamanLab represents a significant advancement in Raman spectroscopy software, providing the scientific community with a powerful, accessible tool that bridges the gap between traditional spectral analysis and modern computational methods.Keywords: Raman spectroscopy, spectral analysis, mineral classification, machine learning, polarization analysis, battery materials, cross-platform software1. IntroductionRaman spectroscopy has evolved from a specialized research technique to a mainstream analytical tool used across numerous scientific disciplines. The technique’s non-destructive nature, molecular specificity, and ability to provide detailed structural information make it invaluable for applications ranging from materials characterization to biomedical imaging and geological analysis. However, the rapid advancement of Raman instrumentation has not been matched by corresponding developments in analysis software, creating a significant gap between experimental capabilities and analytical tools.Current Raman analysis software solutions typically fall into two categories: basic commercial packages that offer limited functionality beyond peak identification, and specialized research tools that require extensive programming knowledge. This dichotomy leaves many researchers without access to advanced analysis capabilities, while simultaneously failing to provide the integrated workflow that modern Raman spectroscopy demands.RamanLab was developed to address these limitations by providing a comprehensive, user-friendly platform that integrates traditional spectral analysis with cutting-edge computational methods. The software’s design philosophy emphasizes accessibility without sacrificing analytical rigor, making advanced Raman analysis techniques available to a broader scientific community.The current and stable versions can be found at: https://github.com/aaroncelestian/RamanLab 2. Software Architecture and Design2.1 Cross-Platform Framework and Core DependenciesRamanLab is implemented using PySide6 (Qt6 for Python), providing native cross-platform compatibility across Windows 10+, macOS 10.14+, and modern Linux distributions. The framework leverages Qt6’s mature widget system and robust event-driven architecture to deliver consistent performance across heterogeneous computing environments. The application requires Python 3.8+ (3.9+ recommended) and utilizes a comprehensive scientific computing stack including NumPy (≥1.20.0) for numerical operations, SciPy (≥1.7.0) for advanced mathematical functions, Matplotlib (≥3.5.0) for visualization, and scikit-learn (≥1.0.0) for machine learning capabilities.The dependency management system employs a structured requirements hierarchy: - Core Dependencies : PySide6, NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib for fundamental operations - Analysis Libraries : scikit-learn, pandas, lmfit for advanced analysis - Specialized Modules : pymatgen (optional for crystallographic calculations), networkx for graph-based analysis - Performance Libraries : numba for JIT compilation of computationally intensive functions.2.2 Modular Architecture and Component OrganizationThe software architecture follows a modular design pattern with clear separation of concerns:

Strategic Gaming Enhancement of Research Productivity: A Comprehensive Framework for Cognitive OptimizationAuthor: Khan Tahsin AbrarAffiliation: Independent Researcher, BangladeshORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-4631-6768Email: khan.tahsin.abrar.kta@gmail.comDate: 15th July, 2025AbstractIn an era of accelerating academic demands and a ”publish or perish” culture, researchers require novel, sustainable tools for cognitive enhancement. This paper introduces the Gaming-Enhanced Research Productivity (GERP) Model . This comprehensive framework examines how strategic engagement with video games can systematically enhance the specific cognitive capabilities essential for high-level academic work. Moving beyond generalized benefits, the GERP model provides a theoretical and practical blueprint for how curated portfolios of gaming experiences can optimize research ideation, analytical problem-solving, sustained attention, creative thinking, and cross-domain synthesis. It deconstructs the mechanisms of cognitive transfer, explaining how skills honed in virtual environments can translate into tangible research applications. To validate this model, this paper outlines a rigorous, large-scale Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) with a 20-week intervention period and a 6-month longitudinal follow-up, designed to establish a definitive causal link between strategic gaming and measurable research outputs, such as publication rates, grant funding success, and creative breakthrough frequency. By shifting the paradigm from entertainment as a mere distraction to entertainment as a targeted cognitive training tool, this research provides a scientifically grounded, ethically considered, and practical approach for researchers and academic institutions to maximize intellectual output in the digital age.Keywords: Cognitive Enhancement, Research Productivity, Strategic Gaming, Cognitive Flexibility, Gamification, Applied Psychology, Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT), Cognitive TransferStatement of Novel ContributionsThis research presents a paradigm shift in the study of cognitive enhancement by moving beyond generalized benefits and targeting measurable improvements in professional academic output. The primary novel contributions of this framework are:The Gaming-Enhanced Research Productivity (GERP) Model: It introduces a novel theoretical framework that systematically categorizes how curated gaming experiences can optimize specific research competencies.Evidence-Based Strategic Portfolios: It is the first framework to propose strategic gaming portfolios that combine multiple genres into evidence-based combinations designed to enhance distinct cognitive domains relevant to research, such as creative ideation, analytical planning, and sustained attention.Real-World Validation Beyond Laboratory Metrics: It shifts the focus from abstract cognitive measures to real-world, high-stakes productivity indicators, including the number of research papers submitted, grant applications funded, and the frequency of documented creative breakthroughs.Rigorous Methodological Framework: It outlines a comprehensive Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) with a 20-week intervention period and a 6-month longitudinal follow-up, representing the gold standard for establishing a definitive causal relationship between strategic gaming and research productivity.1. IntroductionThe modern academic landscape is a crucible of intellectual pressure. Researchers, from doctoral students navigating their dissertations to tenured faculty pushing the frontiers of knowledge, are subject to a relentless demand for innovation and productivity. The ”publish or perish” mantra is no longer a mere aphorism; it is the operational reality of a globally competitive environment. This climate has created a critical need for effective, engaging, and, most importantly, sustainable strategies to enhance the core cognitive functions that underpin all scientific and scholarly discovery. While traditional methods focus on time management, collaboration, and incremental skill development, this paper explores a novel and powerful avenue for cognitive optimization: the strategic and intentional use of video games. This inquiry is born from direct, lived experience. The author’s own work in forensic history and tactical garment analysis, fields that required the synthesis of disparate disciplines and the generation of highly novel hypotheses, was tangibly facilitated by the cognitive skills honed through strategic gameplay. The complex systems thinking required to master a game like Civilization VI and the patient, tactical execution demanded by Metal Gear Solid were not isolated recreational skills; they served as a cognitive training ground. This personal observation sparked the central question of this paper: Can this anecdotal benefit be deconstructed, formalized, and transformed into a structured, evidence-based framework applicable to all researchers? This paper argues that it can. We move beyond the simplistic and often polarized debate of whether games are ”good” or ”bad” and instead treat them as complex, interactive systems capable of training specific cognitive skills. We propose the Gaming-Enhanced Research Productivity (GERP) Model , a framework that aligns different gaming genres with the distinct cognitive demands of the research lifecycle. It posits that just as an athlete performs specific exercises to train different muscle groups, a researcher can ”play” specific types of games to sharpen distinct mental faculties, from the creative spark of ideation to the sustained focus required for data analysis and the strategic planning needed for long-term project management. The core of our argument rests on the principle of cognitive transfer , the process by which skills and knowledge acquired in one context can be applied to solve problems in another. The GERP model is, in essence, a roadmap for intentionally fostering this transfer from the virtual world to the research bench. To validate this model, we outline a comprehensive research proposal for a large-scale Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT). This study is designed to provide definitive, causal evidence, measuring the impact of curated gaming portfolios not just on abstract cognitive tests but on the tangible, real-world metrics of research success. By doing so, this work aims to establish ”Applied Gaming Psychology” as a distinct research domain and provide academic institutions and individual researchers with a powerful, engaging, and scientifically grounded tool for optimizing human intellectual capital.2. The Scientific Foundation for Gaming-Research EnhancementThe proposition that gaming can enhance research productivity rests on a robust foundation of cognitive science and neuroscience research. Decades of study have shown that video games are not passive entertainment but active training environments that can induce significant and lasting neuroplasticity.2.1 Neurobiological Correlates of GamingResearch has shown that video game training can enhance critical cognitive functions such as visuospatial working memory and episodic memory, with gains maintained during follow-up periods [4]. These behavioral improvements have clear neurobiological underpinnings. Neuroimaging studies provide a physical basis for these gains, revealing that strategic gaming can lead to measurable increases in gray matter in brain regions critical for research. These include the right hippocampus , essential for memory formation and spatial navigation; theright prefrontal cortex , the seat of strategic planning and executive function; and the cerebellum , which governs fine motor skills and procedural learning [11]. The intense cognitive demands of navigating complex game worlds, managing multiple streams of information, and executing precise actions can directly build and reinforce the neural architecture required for sophisticated intellectual work.2.2 Gaming’s Impact on Creativity and Problem-SolvingFurthermore, gaming has a documented positive effect on creativity, a cornerstone of innovative research. Meta-analyses have confirmed that playing video games can boost both divergent (generating multiple solutions) and convergent (finding the single best solution) thinking [1, 9]. This is often linked to the core gameplay loop of many games, which encourages players to experiment with novel solutions and think outside established boundaries, a process analogous to the ”brainstorming” techniques known to increase creativity and innovation in academic settings [2]. The GERP model builds on this evidence, proposing that by strategically selecting games that emphasize different types of problem-solving, researchers can target specific aspects of their creative and analytical capabilities.2.3 The Principle of Cognitive TransferThe bridge between skills learned in a game and skills applied in a lab is the principle of cognitive transfer. The GERP model posits that this transfer occurs through the strengthening of domain-general cognitive functions. For example, the enhanced attentional control gained from an action game is not merely an ability to track targets on a screen; it is a fundamental improvement in the brain’s executive function network [8]. This domain-general improvement can then be applied to the task of proofreading a manuscript or meticulously analyzing a dataset. Similarly, the long-term planning skills developed in a strategy game are not tied to the game’s specific rules but represent an enhancement of prefrontal cortex function, which can be transferred to the task of designing a multi-year research project.3. The Gaming-Enhanced Research Productivity (GERP) Model: A Genre-Specific FrameworkThe GERP model categorizes games not by their narrative or aesthetic, but by the primary cognitive skills they train. This allows for the creation of targeted interventions. Below is a detailed breakdown of the core portfolios.Action Games (e.g., Call of Duty, Apex Legends, Fortnite): This genre provides the most robust evidence for enhancing bottom-up cognitive processes and attentional control. The high-speed, unpredictable environments and constant demand for monitoring a complex 3D space train require players to allocate attentional resources, enhance top-down executive control, and significantly reduce the effects of distraction more flexibly [8].Research Applications: Enhanced sustained attention for lengthy literature reviews and data analysis; improved multitasking for managing multiple research projects and communication channels; faster and more accurate decision-making under pressure, such as during conference Q&A sessions or when responding to peer review.Strategy Games (e.g., Civilization VI, StarCraft II, Chess.com, Age of Empires): These games are, in essence, complex project management simulators. They demand long-term planning, resource allocation, cost-benefit analysis, and systems thinking. Players must manage intricate economies, plan technological research trees, and anticipate opponents’ moves many steps ahead. Studies show they enhance cognitive flexibility and task-switching abilities, skills essential for research success [7].Research Applications: Strategic design of multi-year research programs; effective grant writing and budget management; construction of complex theoretical frameworks by understanding how different variables interact within a system.Creative/Sandbox Games (e.g., Minecraft, Kerbal Space Program, LittleBigPlanet): These games directly target innovation, experimentation, and creative problem-solving. By providing players with a set of tools and a ruleset rather than a linear path, they encourage freeform experimentation and reward novel solutions to complex engineering or design challenges. They foster a mindset of iterative design and learning from failure [9].Research Applications: Generation of novel and testable hypotheses; development of innovative research methodologies to tackle difficult problems; enhanced cross-disciplinary synthesis through improved spatial-temporal reasoning.Role-Playing Games (RPGs) (e.g., The Witcher 3, Disco Elysium, Mass Effect): Narrative-heavy RPGs develop sophisticated analytical, narrative, and social-cognitive capabilities. They enhance verbal working memory and require players to navigate complex dialogue trees, engage in difficult ethical reasoning, and perform stakeholder analysis to understand the motivations of various characters and factions. This directly translates to research communication and human-subjects research [10].Research Applications: Excellence in research writing through enhanced narrative construction and the ability to craft a compelling argument; improved ethical reasoning for complex research considerations; stakeholder analysis for large-scale collaborative projects.

Composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs) containing Li7La3Zr2Ta0.5O12 (LLZT) have focused much attention owing to their merits of both ceramic and polymer electrolytes. Nevertheless, due to air exposure, the naturally formed impurity layer on LLZT hinders lithium ion transport, reduces interficial compatibility, and ultimately causes undesirable performance degradation. Herein, a novel and effective method known as in-situ coupled macromolecular bridge is proposed and corresponding functionalized LLZT (LLZT@mPEG) is synthesised. Rigid LLZT cores and flexible ionic conductive polymer side-chains are closely combined by electrostatic interaction, thus resolving the challenge of interface compatibility between different phases. As a consequence, the prepared all-solid-state CPE (LLZT@mPEG-CPE) shows a great ionic conductivity, e.g., 4.9 × 10–4 S cm⁻¹ at 40 ℃ and 7.6 × 10⁻3 S cm⁻¹ at 120 ℃. The Li|Li cell exhibits significant cycling stability of 1750 hours without short-circuits at 120 ℃ and 0.5 mA cm–2. Remarkably, the exceptional thermal endurance is demonstrated by assembled Li|LFP cell with ultrastable performance for more than 500 cycles at extreme temperature of 160 ℃ and high rate of 5 C with a significant capacity retention rate of 94%. This work provides an innovative design principle for advanced all-solid-state electrolytes of Li metal batteries capable of wide-temperature operation.

Germination and early seedling establishment are critical bottlenecks in a plant’s life cycle and can strongly influence adult performance. While many studies showed that performance of adult plants can differ substantially between native and non-native populations, it remains unclear whether such differences are already evident during the earliest life stages. We compared germination success and early seedling growth of Solidago gigantea sourced from 28 native and 33 non-native populations. As adult plants from the non-native range typically grow much larger than their native counterparts, range-dependent eco-evolutionary dynamics likely contribute to the invasion success of this species. Seeds from native populations germinated equally well or better than those from non-native populations. Similar patterns were observed for seedling growth. Moreover, plants from plain habitats outperformed those from mountainous habitats, but this difference was only apparent within the non-native range. Other habitat variables showed no effect on germination or seedling performance. Although previous work indicates strong selection for increased growth rates in adult S. gigantea individuals from the non-native range, such selection seems not to act on germination or seedling establishment. Our findings imply that recruitment traits are probably not key targets of selection in the context of habitat differentiation or invasion dynamics.

Studying the interaction mechanism between moss and the environment of karst rock surfaces plays an important role in revealing the succession mechanism and restoration of karst ecosystems.Methods:By comparing the soil fertility, organic acids, microbial diversity, and community composition within the habitat of rocks with or without moss on their surface.Resuils: When moss plants appear on the surface of rocks,the overall contents of soil organic carbon (SOC) SOC and total nitrogen(TN) in rock surface habitats increased, whereas the contents of total phosphorus (TP) and total potassium (TK) decreased. And Hyophila involute increased the content of malic acid and acetic acid in rocky habitats. In addition, the growth rates of various microorganisms were as follows: fungi, 52%; bacteria, 11%; eukaryotes, 78%; Archaea, 27%; and viruses, 146%. The number of carbon-fixing microorganisms increased by 37%, the number of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms increased by 49%, and the number of phosphorus-metabolizing microorganisms increased by 53% in the rocky habitat.Acidimimicrobia_bacterium,Acidimimicrobiaceae_bacterium, Acidimimicrobiales_bacterium, and Iamiaceae_bacterium_SCSIO_58843 were significantly positively correlated with the potassium content in the soil. Alphaprotoobjective_bacterium, Solirubrobacteriales_bacterium, and Betaproteobjective_bacterium were significantly positively correlated with the succinic acid content in the soil. Chloroflexi_bacterium was significantly positively correlated with the oxalic acid content in the soil.Conclusions: Bryophytes can alter the composition and structure of microbial communities on rock surfaces, increasing the number of microorganisms related to nitrogen fixation, carbon sequestration, phosphorus metabolism, as well as soil nitrogen, organic carbon, and malic acid content, promoting the positive succession of rock surface ecosystems.

Frugivorous animals are key in plant communities, by dispersing seeds of fleshy-fruited plants and being involved in regeneration dynamics. Avian frugivorous forage on several, locally co-occurring fleshy-fruited plant . They co-disseminate seeds, setting the initial spatial template on which subsequent ecological processes operate. Despite this commitment, it remains unknown whether co-disseminated plant species maintain their co-occurrence along plant demographic cycle, reflecting the lasting signal of these interactions with avian frugivores in the plant community. We investigated whether plant species that share bird seed dispersers also co-occur spatially across different life stages, from seed rain to adult individuals. We combined data on seed-rain from nine fleshy-fruited species dispersed by 21 bird species, with spatial co-occurrence patterns among these plant species at sapling and adult stages. We built pairwise matrices showing: the number of frugivorous bird species shared between each pair of plant species, and their spatial co-occurrence at different life stages; seeds (seed–seed), saplings (sapling–sapling and sapling–adult), and adults (adult–adult). We then used structural equation modelling to test whether the level of shared avian frugivores predicts the spatial co-occurrence among adult plants, also assessing the indirect effects of processes occurring at intermediate demographic stages. Our results revealed these effects of frugivore-species sharing during the fruit-removal and seed-dissemination stage on the spatial assembly of adult species. Higher levels of shared avian frugivore increased the co-occurrence among plant species in seed rain, facilitation and adult community, but not within the sapling-sapling interactions. Frugivorous birds drive the co-occurrence among fleshy-fruited plant species, from seed to adult stages, although their influence decreases as plant demographic cycle advances. However, the co-occurrence at adult stages is achieved when adults facilitate saplings. This reinforces the key role of the facilitation in Mediterranean systems, and the role of mutualistic avian frugivores as drivers of plant commmuties

The Order-Processing Questionnaire (OPQ) is a parental-report measure designed to assess children’s everyday ordering abilities, which may be an indicator of early mathematical difficulties. This study aimed to replicate and validate the OPQ’s two-factor structure previously identified by O’Connor et al. (2018) using a larger sample of parents of first year primary school children in Northern Ireland. Confirmatory factor analysis replicated the factor structure found in O’Connor et al., with moderate-to-strong factor loadings, but indicated mixed results regarding model fit. Reliability was acceptable for the Positive Item factor but weaker for the Negative Item factor, likely due to the smaller number of items. There was evidence of stronger discriminant and convergent validity for the Positive Item factor. Findings highlight the OPQ’s potential as a tool for identifying early mathematical difficulties but underline the need for further refinement, particularly with regards to item phrasing and establishing predictive validity.

Reproduction, arguably the most important life-history trait with respect to evolutionary fitness, demands significant resources. The nutrients needed to reproduce are amongst the most critical of resources, but whether and how reproductive investment in animals is affected by nutrient limitation is largely unclear. We address this key knowledge gap by experimentally manipulating dietary availability of phosphorus (P) for reproductively mature Potamopyrgus antipodarum, a New Zealand freshwater snail. P is critical across life as a major component of nucleic acids and ribosomes but is often limiting in natural environments. We quantified multiple components of reproductive fitness relative to body-P content across life-history stages. Our study revealed a suite of outcomes linking key aspects of reproductive fitness to P availability - suggesting the central importance of P to life-history milestones. Together, our study demonstrates that P is a major component of multiple metrics of reproductive investment in a female animal system.

Primary dispersers of seeds and spores play critical roles in structuring the distributions of species, yet the role of predators as secondary dispersers remains largely unknown. This is especially true of mycorrhizal fungi, which often rely on small mammals to consume and disperse spores. We investigated how predator size, diet, and movement influence secondary spore dispersal in a terrestrial carnivore community by quantifying spore loads in scats (dispersal quantity) and integrating movement rates with gut passage time to determine dispersal distance (dispersal quality). Spores in carnivore scats increased with consumption of small mammals and transport of spores closely tracked home range movements. Larger carnivores deposited fewer spores but moved them farther from their source, creating a continuum between the quantity and quality of dispersal effectiveness. Our findings highlight the importance of carnivores as long-distance dispersers of mycorrhizal fungi and reveal how trophic interactions contribute to ecosystem functioning through secondary dispersal.