Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of lower respiratory infections (LRIs), especially in children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. Methods: Using GBD 1990–2021 data, we analyzed global RSV-related LRI deaths and DALYs. Trends were assessed via age-standardized rates and joinpoint regression. We also examined regional and demographic disparities and their association with the Sociodemographic Index (SDI). Results: In 2021, RSV-related LRIs caused 31,525.1 deaths and 2.59 million DALYs globally, marking a 78.9% decrease since 1990. The greatest decline occurred between 2020 and 2021. South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa showed the highest burden. Children under 5 and the elderly (80+) were most affected, particularly males. A negative correlation was observed between SDI and disease burden. Conclusions: RSV burden has declined, but remains high in low-SDI regions. Sustained public health efforts and vaccination are critical to further reduce impact.

In two well-known studies [Mathematics and Computers in Simulation 79(2008) 622-633] and [Mathematics and Computers in Simulation 182(2021) 397-410], some nonstandard finite difference (NSFD) schemes for an SIRC epidemic model of influenza A have been proposed. There have been attempts to prove that these NSFD schemes can preserve the positivity of the solutions, the invariance (conservation law) of the total population, equilibrium points and their asymptotic stability of the continuous-time model, for all finite values of the step size. Nevertheless, although the SIRC model possesses two equilibrium points, a unique disease-free equilibrium (DFE) point and a unique disease-endemic equilibrium (DEE) point, only the local asymptotic stability (LAS) of the DFE point has been established theoretically, whereas the LAS of the DEE point has only been confirmed through numerical simulations using some specific parameter sets. In this work, we construct a new class of NSFD schemes for the SIRC epidemic model. The LAS of the equilibrium points of the constructed NSFD schemes is rigorously established from a theoretical perspective and validated through numerical experiments. These NSFD schemes are constructed based on a weighted approximation for linear terms and the renormalization of the denominator function. Thereafter, we give dynamic consistency thresholds that lead to easily-verified conditions, ensuring the NSFD schemes preserve all the qualitative dynamical properties of the continuous-time model, regardless of the values of the step size. In particular, thanks to the simple structure of the constructed NSFD schemes, their LAS can be easily established by the linearization method. Furthermore, they are capable of providing numerical approximations with higher-order accuracy compared to the existing NSFD schemes. Additionally, Richardson’s extrapolation technique can be conveniently applied to increase the accuracy of the constructed NSFD schemes. Consequently, we obtain a new class of dynamically consistent NSFD schemes, which is not only simple but also efficient for numerical simulation of the SIRC model. Also, the constructed NSFD schemes improve those proposed in the two aforementioned studies in terms of both qualitative analysis and computational efficiency. Lastly, numerical experiments are conducted to support the theoretical findings and demonstrate the advantages of the constructed NSFD schemes.

It is shown in this paper that blow-up does not occur in the following chemotaxis system under homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions in a smooth, open, bounded domain Ω ⊂ R 2 : { u t = ∆ u − χ ∇ · ( u v k ∇ v ) + ru − µ u 2 , in Ω × ( 0 , T max ) , v t = ∆ v − αv + βu , in Ω × ( 0 , T max ) , where k∈(0 ,1), and χ,r,µ,α,β are positive parameters. Known results have already established the same conclusion for the parabolic-elliptic case. Here, we complement these findings by extending the result to the fully parabolic case.

This study introduces and conceptualises brain awareness, a novel, holistic self-regulatory process designed to enhance children’s cognitive, emotional, and behavioural regulation through intentional, goal-directed practices. Rooted in theoretical frameworks such as Developmental Systems Theory, Social Cognitive Theory, and Gestalt Theory, brain awareness integrates fragmented self-regulation components into a cohesive, transferrable process. The study employs a systematic conceptual literature review to disentangle the entangled concept of self-regulation, identifying key heuristics and exploring it in depth. These heuristics are then reorganised into a seven-phase self-regulation process: goal setting, activating mindfulness, goal pursuit, self-awareness and meta-monitoring, alerts and critical evaluation, effortful control, and creative cognitive flexibility. The Brain awareness process enables children to proactively shape their future by modifying thoughts, emotions, and behaviours to achieve personal goals. The process is designed to be child-friendly, making it accessible for early intervention and development. By bridging theoretical insights with practical applications, this study offers a promising pathway to enhance children’s self-regulation skills, supporting their cognitive, emotional, and social development. Future research will focus on empirically validating brain awareness intervention programs, exploring their neurobiological mechanisms, and assessing their effectiveness across diverse populations. This work advances the field of self-regulation in children by providing a comprehensive, integrative process for self-regulation in educational and therapeutic settings with children.

Environmental variability drives adaptive responses, yet how organisms with minimal genetic diversity adapt remains unclear. Using invasive Daphnia pulex (JPN1 lineage), we demonstrate that phenotypic integration—coordinated trait expression—mediates environmental adaptation despite limited genetic divergence. We found that environment-dependent integration drives stress adaptation more strongly than genetic distance, with differential plasticity dynamically reorganizing trait correlations. Notably, digestive enzymes (particularly lipase) and body size showed tightly coordinated responses to resource limitation, revealing how phenotypic networks reorganize under stress. By developing a quantitative framework to track these genotype-environment interactions, we show how integration facilitates adaptation in genetically impoverished populations. These results challenge the paradigm that genetic divergence is essential for phenotypic adaptation and provide mechanistic insights into invasion success. Our approach bridges invasion biology and eco-evolutionary theory, offering predictive tools for understanding rapid adaptation in diverse asexual systems facing environmental change.

A document by * Vysochyna. Click on the document to view its contents.

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is an important crop in Ethiopia, especially in lowland areas where drought stress is a major issue. Despite its tolerance, sorghum is susceptible to water-deficit stress during certain growth stages. To address this problem, a study evaluated 225 sorghum genotypes to identify drought-tolerant varieties and associated traits and assess the variability, heritability, and genetic advance of these traits using a simple lattice design under stress and non-stress conditions. The analysis revealed significant differences in all traits under both conditions. Drought had a notable impact on various aspects of plant growth, including flowering, maturity, grain yield, and physiological characteristics such as chlorophyll content and canopy temperature. The study also found high genetic variability and heritability for certain traits under both conditions, indicating their potential for successful breeding programs aimed at developing drought-tolerant sorghum varieties.

Slow, aseismic fault slip has emerged as a significant contributor to the seismic cycle. However, whether slow and fast slip arise from similar physical processes remains unresolved, due to detection biases affecting noisy surface measurements and the analysis of the source properties of slow slip. Using daily geodetic time series denoised with a deep learning model, we invert for 15 years of slow slip evolution on the Cascadia subduction with unprecedented temporal resolution. Our observations show that an upper bound for slow-slip moment rates exists, and that scaling laws are strongly influenced by the chosen detection threshold and the signal-to-noise ratio. Moment rate functions evolve with magnitude: slow slip nucleates as a two-dimensional expanding crack, propagating laterally when encountering the along-dip limits of the transition zone. Our findings suggest a continuum of slow slip events: collections of sub-events coalesce into larger ones driven by subduction interface geometrical constraints.

Background Pediatric atopic dermatitis (AD) is closely linked to the subsequent development of food allergy, asthma, and rhinitis. It is currently unknown if the association is influenced by birth maturity. Objectives To investigate the occurrence of AD, food allergy, asthma, and rhinitis in term and preterm children from birth to age 4-5 years. Methods A prospective birth cohort of 389 children (261 term, 128 preterm) was followed from birth to 4–5 years. Results The overall prevalence of AD was 29.6% at age 2 years and 33.0% at 4-5 years. Preterm children had a lower prevalence of AD (19.2% vs. 39.8%, p < 0.0001), later AD onset (median 12.0 vs. 7.5 months, p < 0.01), milder disease severity (median EASI 1.4 vs. 4.8, p < 0.01), and less persistent AD (11.5% vs. 19.9%, p < 0.0001) than term children. Among children born preterm and term, the prevalence of food allergy, asthma, and rhinitis at ages 4-5 years was 1.6% vs. 3.1%, 20.0% vs. 13.0%, and 6.2% vs. 4.6%, respectively. No preterm children with AD (n=25) developed food allergies within 4–5 years compared to 6.7% among term born children, whereas asthma prevalence was higher among preterm children with AD (36.0%) compared to term children with AD (17.3%) (p=0.05). Conclusion Prematurely born children have a conspicuously reduced risk of AD, with later onset and a milder and less persistent disease course. Prematurely born children had significantly different epidemiology of food allergy and asthma compared to term born children.

Can an Antibiotic Trigger a Heart Attack? Kounis Syndrome Induced by Intraoperative Amoxicillin Allergy: A case report.Bernaola M1, Gago A2, Umpiérrez A1, López-Soberón E,3 Kounis NG4

The invasion and spread of alien aquatic organisms pose an increasing threat to ecosystem stability with the excerbated climate change. However, existing studies often paid little attention to the compound ecological risks of multi-species invasions driven by the combined effects of climate factors, topography, water quality, vegetation, and other environmental variables under future climate scenarios. To address the knowledge gap, this study focuses on Pomacea canaliculata and Eichhornia crassipes, utilizing the MaxEnt model and ArcGIS tools to analyze the dominant environmental factors influencing their invasion and spread in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China. Additionally, this research predicts their potential suitable habitat distributions under current and future climate scenarios (SSP245 and SSP585) and compares their spatiotemporal response characteristics. The results show that the MaxEnt model performed with high accuracy for E. crassipes (AUC = 0.952) and good accuracy for P. canaliculata (AUC = 0.880). The habitat selection of E. crassipes is primarily influenced by isothermality, elevation, and temperature seasonality, while P. canaliculata is significantly affected by slope, elevation, and the mean temperature of the warmest season. In terms of current habitat distribution, P. canaliculata occupies a larger range than E. crassipes, with P. canaliculata exhibiting a widespread distribution mainly concentrated in the Hanjiang Plain and the Jiangsu-Anhui coastal plains, whereas E. crassipes follows a belt-like distribution pattern, primarily concentrated in Poyang Lake and the Yangtze River Delta. From 2021 to 2100, the suitable habitat of P. canaliculata is projected to expand under both SSP245 and SSP585 scenarios, with a more extensive and rapid expansion under the high-emission scenario (SSP585), where moderate-to-low suitability areas exhibit a pattern of sharp increases and decreases. In contrast, the suitable habitat of E. crassipes follows a trend of initial expansion followed by contraction under both climate scenarios.

Invasive plants have posed a threat to the maintenance of biodiversity. Furthermore, microplastics (MPs) affect the performance and interactions of native and invasive plants. However, the impact of MPs on traits and interspecific relationships for invasive plant communities has been often ignored. Hence, we established a natural germinated invasive plant community using Flavidium bidentis soil seed banks and introduced polyethylene (PE) MPs and polypropylene (PP) MPs into the soil at the three levels (0.1%, 0.5%, and 1%). The results revealed that MPs significantly diminished the biomass and height of F. bidentis and native plants, with a weaker inhibitory effect on F. bidentis compared to native plants, indicating a potential ”Matthew effect” in invasive plant communities. Additionally, MPs decreased the root length (RL), root surface area (RSA), and root volume (RV) of invasive plant communities in most treatments. The results demonstrated a significant decrease in Richness Index in the 0.5% PE-MPs, 1% PE-MPs, and 1% PP-MPs compared to CK treatment, however, the Shannon-Wiener Index, Simpson Index, and Pielou’s Index showed no significant difference in all PE-MPs and PP-MPs treatments. The relative invasiveness index (RII) increased significantly at 0.1% MPs and 0.5% PE-MPs treatments by 50.62%, 51.04%, and 70.54% respectively compared to CK treatment, demonstrating a significant positive correlation with soil pH. PP-MPs and PE-MPs treatments could significantly affect the interspecific relationships of the invasive plant communities. Specifically, the interspecific correlation between F. bidentis and Setaria viridis was negative in CK treatment, which shifted to a significant positive correlation at 0.1% PE-MPs. Our study addresses a critical gap in our understanding of the impact of MPs on invasive plant communities and contributes insights into the management of invasive plants in wetlands.

With the growing demand for robotic solutions in the industrial separation of recyclable waste, the need for advanced grippers has become increasingly critical. This study presents a custom-designed and manufactured gripper that accommodates three different suction cups. It features a software-controlled mechanism that dynamically selects the suction cup to be used for implementing each pick. Additionally, due to the highly deformed shapes of recyclables, RGB-D perception is utilized to identify the area on the recyclable surface that is most suitable for suction gripping. Then, by analyzing the spatial properties of this area, it is possible to select the cup that is expected to accomplish the most feasible and stable suction grip. A set of comparative experimental evaluations conducted with a Cartesian robot demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. By combining contact area identification with optimal cup selection, significant improvements in object picking success are achieved, compared to the conventional practice of using fixed-size suction cups.

Erv14 is a cargo receptor of COPII vesicles, which is necessary for the efficient trafficking of various membrane proteins. In this work, we demonstrate that the deletion of the ERV14 gene impacts various physiological functions of the vacuole. Compared to the wild-type cells, cells lacking the ERV14 gene exhibited higher vacuolar pH and altered vacuolar morphology with increased fragmentation. In addition, erv14Δ cells exhibit thinner cell wall and impaired process of endocytosis. We also found the importance of ERV14 for cells to overcome environmental stresses, such as neutral external pH, increased zinc and calcium concentrations, and high temperature. Furthermore, comparing the gene expression, proteome analysis, and structural modeling revealed new interactions between Erv14 and several vacuolar proteins, including subunits of V-ATPase, and other proteins involved in carbon metabolism.

A document by Rixa Freeze. Click on the document to view its contents.

In response to the inefficiencies of manual incident management in wholesale industries-such as undetected stock shortages, product degradation, and labeling errors-this project introduces AIMonitor, a web-based platform leveraging artificial intelligence (OpenAI's GPT-4) and geolocation (Google Maps API) to automate incident detection, reporting, and resolution. Developed with HTML/CSS, JavaScript, Node.js, and MSSQL, the platform features intuitive interfaces for real-time report generation, AI-driven categorization, and dashboard analytics, while gamification elements (e.g., user rankings) incentivize employee engagement. Preliminary tests demonstrate streamlined communication, reduced errors, and enhanced operational efficiency, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). Future work includes expanding AI training for broader automation, positioning AIMonitor as a scalable solution for modernizing incident management in corporate environments.

In interactive image segmentation, the segmentation process is guided by user inputs. User interaction enables efficient correction of errors of automatic segmentation models, facilitates the segmentation of complex structures beyond current algorithms' capability, and introduces automation to applications with insufficient training data for fully automatic methods. Although deep learning-based techniques have been dominating research in interactive segmentation since 2016, the different building blocks of such models have not been thoroughly reviewed. We introduce key design elements, review techniques used to implement them, and identify directions for future research. A significant observation is the lack of standardization in evaluation techniques, especially in medical interactive image segmentation, which hinders direct comparisons between alternative techniques. Furthermore, studies that do present comparative results often evaluate models using simulated user inputs, a practice that may yield different outcomes compared to evaluations with real user interactions. As such, we call for more studies comparing simulated user inputs to real ones and investigating the impact of any discrepancies on training and evaluation.

The study of micro-morphological characterization, which involves examining the microscopic features of plant parts, is essential for accurate species identification and key preparation, especially in taxonomically complex groups like Murdannia. Given this background, Murdannia species were collected and maintained in a botanical garden for further study. A proper herbarium specimen was identified using a standard reference book and the Flora of Maharashtra (1996). Micro-morphological characterization of 4 different species of Murdannia–viz. Murdannia gigantea (Vahl) G. Bruckn, Murdannia lanuginosa (Wall.) G. Bruckn, Murdannia Nudiflora (L.) Brenan, and Murdannia semiteres (Dalzell) Santapau were done based on different external characters and flower morphology. This study will help the researchers identify the correct species of Murdannia. The proximity matrix shows the difference between the four species.

Background: Probiotic supplementation in infancy is increasingly used to support immune development, particularly through modulation of mucosal immunoglobulin A (IgA) and systemic cytokines. However, the overall immunological impact of probiotics in infants remains uncertain. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) from 2000 to 2025, assessing the effects of oral probiotic supplementation on faecal IgA and cytokine levels in infants. Random-effects models were used to estimate pooled effects. IgA outcomes were analysed using weighted mean differences (WMD), and cytokine outcomes (reported as medians) were pooled using the quantile estimation (QE) method. Results: Forty-two RCTs were included: 24 reporting IgA and 18 reporting cytokine outcomes. Seven IgA and eight cytokine studies were eligible for meta-analysis. The pooled effect of probiotics on faecal IgA was not statistically significant (WMD = 87.54 µg/g; 95% CI: −408.05 to 583.12; I 2 = 89%). However, after removing one outlier, the effect became significant (WMD = 421.36; 95% CI: 161.31-681.41; I 2 = 0%). Cytokine meta-analyses (IL-10, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ) showed no consistent effects, though individual studies indicated increases in IL-10 and reductions in TNF-α and IL-17A. Narrative synthesis highlighted heterogeneity by strain, feeding mode, and measurement timing. Conclusion: Probiotics may modestly enhance mucosal immunity in infancy, as shown by increased faecal IgA in sensitivity analysis. Systemic cytokine responses remain inconsistent. These findings support the immunomodulatory potential of probiotics in early life and underscore the need for standardised outcomes and extended follow-up in future trials.

Monoclonal antibodies during breastfeeding - challenges with relative infant dosePaulina Flis*1, Gro C. Havnen*2, Elisabet Nordmo2, Annika Asplund1, Eva Wikström1*shared first authorship1 Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute and Clinical pharmacology, Medical Diagnostics Karolinska, Karolinska University Hospital2Regional Medicines Information and Pharmacovigilance Centre (RELIS), Oslo/Tromsø, NorwayCorrespondence: paulina.flis@ki.seDisclosure statement : The autors declares no conflicts of interests related to this paper.

Soybean ( Glycine max) growth is severely constrained by the high salt content of saline-alkali soils, leading to substantial declines in yield and quality. Enhancing soybean tolerance to saline-alkali stress has significant economic and ecological implications. However, current investigations into the regulatory mechanisms underlying soybean responses to such stress, particularly those integrating physiological traits with transcriptomic analyses, remain inadequate. In this study, seven physiological indicators exhibited significant variation among soybean cultivars grown under saline-alkali versus normal conditions, with notable correlations observed among their rates of change. The salt tolerance rankings derived through principal component analysis (PCA) combined with the membership function value method were robustly validated using the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS), establishing a reliable evaluation and verification framework. Through the analysis of differentially expressed genes in the transcriptome, a total of 4,582 genes were found to be differentially expressed, among which 39 genes were differentially expressed in all tissues and varieties. Enrichment analysis revealed that different expressed genes were predominantly involved in stress response and metabolic regulation pathways. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) further identified the gene modules closely associated with each physiological trait. By integrating the DEGs with module hub genes, 13 core candidate genes were identified. Functional annotation and promoter analysis of these genes preliminarily revealed potential regulatory pathways conferring salt tolerance. Collectively, these findings provide a comprehensive basis for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of soybean adaptation to saline-alkali conditions.

Currently, polymeric foams are widely utilized in the creation of passive support surfaces such as mattresses, cushions, and seating. However, these materials encounter challenges in prolonged use, including diminished performance, permanent deformation, reduction in thickness, and nonuniform pressure distribution. These issues can lead to pressure concentration in sensitive bodily areas, particularly the gluteal region, thereby increasing the risk of pressure ulcers. Advances in additive manufacturing technology, alongside the capability to design engineered structures with controllable mechanical properties, have directed researchers’ attention toward employing this method as an alternative to traditional foams. Among these, auxetic structures have garnered interest for applications related to skin wound healing due to their unique mechanical characteristics. In this study, re-entrant auxetic structure samples were numerically designed using the finite element method and subsequently fabricated via the fused deposition modeling (FDM[1](#fn-0002)) additive manufacturing process, utilizing thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU[2](#fn-0003)). The mechanical performance of these structures was assessed through compression testing, in accordance with ISO 3386-1, and fatigue testing. These analyses investigated the impact of parameters such as unit cell dimensions and cell angle on the compressive stress and resilience of the structure. The results indicated that the designed auxetic structure, when utilizing TPU with A95 hardness, could achieve a compressive stress between 7 and 8 kPa at 40% compression. Furthermore, fatigue tests demonstrated that the structure’s resilience is dependent on the amount of strain, whereas the loading duration did not significantly affect its rebound behavior. These findings underscore the high potential of auxetic structures in designing support surfaces with customizable mechanical performance, tailored to the biomechanical needs of the body.

Clinical diagnosis of pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1a and identification of a de novo mutation in the GNAS gene: A case report

A document by Rohit Pandit. Click on the document to view its contents.