Network hyperexcitability is a well-documented feature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), although its reported clinical prevalence varies. Antidepressants are known to affect network hyperexcitability, and given their widespread use in AD, might contribute to these discrepancies. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether chronic antidepressant treatment with fluoxetine influences network hyperexcitability in the Tg2576 AD mouse model. Mice underwent 13-days of EEG recording coupled with chronic fluoxetine treatment, delivered via intraperitoneal injections for five days and in drinking water for five additional days. Fluoxetine led to the expected changes in sleep structure. Epileptic seizures emerged by day 3 in Tg2576 mice, with nearly 50% exhibiting seizures by the end of the study. Almost 20% of the Tg2576 mice succumbed to fatal seizures. In contrast, only a few epileptic events, but no seizures, appeared in non-transgenic control animals by the end of the study. Our findings show that chronic fluoxetine treatment exacerbates epileptic activity in an AD mouse model, warranting further investigation into the safety of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) in AD patients.

The rapid photoinduced charge carrier recombination hinders the photocatalytic efficiency of binary zinc sulfide (ZS) photocatalysts. Enhanced charge separation by the electronic and band structure modification via metal cation doping has gained much attentions. Herein, Auminum (Al) doping with Pt single atom (SA) into single crystalline ZnS nanodiscs (Pt-AZS) with shallow defects states is reported. The Rietveld refinement of XRD showed lattice expansion with modulated electronic distribution while the additional electron traps improved the lifetime of charge carriers to enhance its interfacial transport to metal cocatalyst, which is confirmed by in-situ XPS and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy. The 2.5wt.% Pt loading on AZS (200) facet exhibits an enhanced H2 evolution rate of 17.1 mmol g-1 h-1 under AM1.5G irradiation with an apparent quantum yield (AQY) of 34% at 345 nm using a WB40 filter. By implementing UV light irradiation, Pt-AZS showed great H2 generation rate of 38 mmol g-1 h-1 , which is two times more than the bare Pt-ZS. This work elucidates efficacy of Al doping with Pt SA in a single crystalline photocatalyst to facilitate electron transport via suppressed band-bending at Mott-Schottky interface, intended to boost up the photocatalytic H2 production.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical legal and institutional weaknesses in emergency response mechanisms, particularly in decentralized governance systems (WHO, 2020). In Kenya, national legal instruments such as the Public Health Act (Cap. 242), Public Order Act (Cap. 56), and ministerial directives were used to manage the crisis (Government of Kenya, 1921; 1950). However, these frameworks were often misaligned with the devolved governance structure under the 2010 Constitution (Government of Kenya, 2010). This study investigates the implementation of these legal instruments in Kilifi County, analyzing their enforceability, legitimacy, and adaptability. Grounded in stakeholder theory (Freeman, 1984) and contingency theory (Donaldson, 2001), the research draws on qualitative data from 25 key informant interviews and document analysis. Findings reveal that outdated, centralized laws and limited county legislative authority led to jurisdictional confusion, poor compliance, and reduced public trust (Onyango & Wamalwa, 2020; Okech & Lelei, 2021). The study contributes to scholarship on pandemic governance and legal preparedness in Africa by recommending reforms to localize public health legislation, strengthen intergovernmental coordination, and institutionalize participatory legal processes. These legal reforms are vital for building inclusive, adaptable, and trusted frameworks to manage future public health emergencies in Kenya and similar decentralized contexts.

which is expected to contribute to the green and sustainable development of agriculture,

Road traffic accidents present a major public health and economic challenge in Bangladesh, with thousands of lives lost annually due to poor road infrastructure, human error, and lack of effective safety measures. This study proposes a comprehensive machine learning-based framework for predicting accident intensity using real-world road crash data from 2007 to 2024, comprising 46,256 records obtained from four national sources. The dataset was preprocessed through imputation, feature engineering, and label encoding, followed by the application of four parallel modeling pipelines: traditional machine learning, ensemble learning, PyCaret-based automated modeling, and neural networks. Among all models, the Extra Trees classifier achieved the highest performance with 96% accuracy, outperforming existing approaches in both prediction and reliability. To enhance model transparency, explainable AI techniques such as SHAP and LIME were applied, revealing ’Location’, ’Month’, and ’Weather’ as the most influential features. The findings not only offer robust predictive insights but also support data-driven interventions for policymakers to identify high-risk zones and design targeted road safety strategies.

A combinatorial framework based on lattice path enumeration is developed to count P (n). Assuming the conjecture P (n) = A014495(n), this yields an expression for A014495(n).

Forest ecosystem changes under monodominant plant expansion represent one of the most pressing ecological challenges globally, as they are associated with significant shifts in biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem functioning. Despite extensive research, the fundamental knowledge gap regarding microbial taxonomic diversity and its functional linkage persists. Here, we investigated how Moso bamboo ( Phyllostachys edulis) expansion reconfigures soil microbiome functional potential across a forest transition gradient (from non-expanded forest to mixed to bamboo-dominated forests) in the Jinggangshan National Nature Reserve, China. Through shotgun metagenomic analysis, we found that bamboo forests exhibited significant enrichment in diverse metabolic pathways spanning carbon ( glycoside hydrolases, glycosyl transferases, carbohydrate-binding modules), nitrogen ( nitrification, denitrification, dissimilatory nitrate reduction, organic nitrogen processing), and phosphorus ( organic phosphoester hydrolysis, transporters, pentose phosphate pathway, phosphotransferase systems, phosphonate and phosphinate metabolism and pyruvate metabolism) cycling genes compared to non-expanded forests, creating a specialized metabolic infrastructure supporting bamboo’s acquisitive ecological strategy. Notably, co-occurrence network analysis revealed distinct patterns in bamboo-dominated soils, with functional gene networks exhibiting higher connectivity, more dense clustering, and a predominance of positive correlations compared to non-expanded forests. Soil calcium concentration showed the strongest statistical association with functional gene composition, explaining 20-28% of the observed variability in functional gene profiles. Our findings reveal specific functional gene signatures and network properties potentially supporting bamboo’s acquisitive ecological strategy and rapid expansion, suggesting that distinctive plant-soil-microbe functional relationships may play an important role in the success of monodominant vegetation in subtropical forest ecosystems.

：Apocrine carcinoma is a rare malignant sweat gland tumor. We report an exceedingly rare case of low-differentiated apocrine adenosquamous carcinoma with sarcomatoid differentiation presenting on the right face of an 86-year-old female. The tumor was managed with a two-stage surgical approach: first-stage wide local excision followed by second-stage wound reconstruction with skin grafting. Pathological examination confirmed deep adipose invasion with negative margins. This case highlights the clinical challenges, pathological features, and multidisciplinary management of this aggressive cutaneous malignancy.

Objectives: This study aims to review and analyze the most cited patents in the field of rhinology, identifying technological trends and patterns of development. Study Design: Cross-sectional analysis. Setting: National database. Methods Patents were gathered from the Lens database by identifying titles, abstracts, and claims that contain the term “rhinology” and were classified under the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) code A61. After manual curation corrected for duplicate and extraneous patents, the remaining patents were ranked by the number of forward citations. The top 100 patents were put into five subcategories: “Balloon and Catheter-Based Treatment,” “Drug Delivery Systems and Therapeutics,” “Non-Surgical Diagnostic Devices,” “Sinonasal Ablation Techniques,” and “Surgical Instruments and Methods.” Results With the initial search criteria, 1,440 patents were identified, and 521 patents were retained after the manual screening process. Analysis of the top 100 patents revealed that most patents had priority years between 2000-2010. Sixty-four percent of these patents were active at the time of the study. Non-Surgical Diagnostic Devices was the largest subcategory, followed by Balloon and Catheter-Based Treatment, and then Sinonasal Ablation Techniques. Balloon and Catheter-Based Treatments and Sinonasal Ablation Techniques comprised the majority of the first quintile of patents by citation number. Linear regression showed a weak correlation between priority year and patent rank by citation (Pearson’s R = 0.34, R-squared = 0.12). Conclusion This analysis highlights the ongoing evolution in rhinologic technology, particularly in Non-Surgical Diagnostic Devices. Additionally, it serves as a resource for informing future research and development efforts within this field.

Background: Smell and Taste disorders (SATDs) are underreported. There is a wide range of aetiology but recently we have seen growing prevalence related to Covid-19 infection. SATDs have broad implications for people’s lives, including, a significant impact on nutritional intake and eating behaviours which we further explore here. Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study using an online questionnaire to gather data. Questions covered aetiology of SATDs, impact on BMI, social eating habits and enjoyment of food. Results: A total of 794 participants responded of which 75% were female and the majority (46%) 56-70 years. Since the onset of their SATDs: 46% reported no change in weight, 24% weight gain, 15% weight loss, 52% felt it impacted how healthily they ate, 59% dined out less or not at all anymore, 59% no longer enjoy preparing food at home, 58% do not enjoy eating out and 54% do not enjoy eating at the homes of friends/ family/ partners. Conclusion: We have built on existing literature highlighting the impact SATDs have on participant eating behaviour. Although there is clearly an impact on diet and social behaviours around food/ eating it is hard to know the full health and economic impact. Especially when we consider that poor nutritional intake has been linked to cognitive decline in an older age group, it is an important area for further research and it may be beneficial for healthcare providers to offer tailored nutritional advice and discuss possible coping mechanisms upon diagnosis of SATDs.

ABSTRACT Fit notes, issued by General Practitioners (GPs) in the UK, represent a medico-legal mechanism likened to a ”virtuous prescription,” yet they cost the economy £11 billion annually in lost productivity and welfare support. This paper reframes the fit note debate through a Platonic lens, emphasizing justice as harmony, equitable role assignment, and the pursuit of the common good. Critics highlight GPs’ lack of occupational health expertise and the risk of fostering dependency, while legal frameworks, rooted in the National Health Service Act 2006 and Equality Act 2010, uphold fit notes as a state duty. Drawing on clinical experience, legal analysis, and Platonic ethics, we propose reforms to align the system with justice, ensuring harmony between individual well-being and societal flourishing. KEYWORDS : justice, harmony, fit note, General Practitioners, equity, virtue, reform

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown Key clinical message This case reports a rare co-occurrence of pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm with invasive carcinoma and ampullary neuroendocrine tumor. Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy was done. No recurrence/metastasis in 9-month follow-up, though both tumors had lymph node metastasis, warranting attention of timely biopsy.

An angiographically long left main coronary artery: case image

Seasonal variability, understood as intra-annual patterns in the rise and fall of river levels, has implications for ecosystems and the populations that inhabit them. Despite the growing hydropower generation in tropical countries, there is little research on how dams alter these patterns. Most conclusions have been drawn from rivers in other latitudes with different seasonal characteristics (Chong et al., 2021). Recognising that seasonal variability downstream of dams not only responds to seasonal climatic patterns and long-standing socio-natural interactions (Jackson et al., 2022) but also reflects fluctuations in energy market (Krause, 2017), the aim of this paper is to describe the complexity of the new conditions imposed by a hydropower dam on the seasonality of stream flow in a tropical river. To advance in this, we analyzed seasonal patterns of daily, weekly and monthly flows in three Colombian rainfall dominated rivers before and after damming and explored their relationship with the energy market. A composite methodology was used for the statistical analysis of the time series, their entropies and signal frequencies. The results suggest that in tropical rivers, hydropower dams decouple stream flow from precipitation, reduce stream flow harmonics, amplitude and intensity at monthly scale, and increase peaks frequency and number at weekly and daily scales. Dams, also reduce stream flow standard deviation and transition gradualness at sub monthly scales. We show how the use of a single index masks changes in seasonal diversity and tropical river variability and illustrate how the dominant frequencies of the energy market regroup stream flow variability on different time scales.

Treatment of G1 Duodenal Neuroendocrine Tumours with Hepatic Metastasis: A Case ReportYuhui Fang1, Yuquan Chang1, Yilin Qiu1,Feng Tian1,Qijie Luo2,Dongdong Huang2,Ruiqin Huang2,Kun He1*1Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong,China2Department of General Surgery I, Division 1 , Zhongshan City People’s Hospital, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China*Corresponding authors:Kun He1,M.D, Ph. D,1Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China, Tel:+86 0760-89880551, E-mail: hekun80@126.com, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-0818- 9026;

Introduction: Leadless pacemakers implantation relies on a femoral vein approach, which may not always be feasible; additionally, pacing after tricuspid valve surgery presents challenges due to the risk of lead-related complications and in such cases, a completely intracardiac device may be considered. Methods and Results: we describe a case of Micra

Urbanization’s rapid expansion has increasingly challenged maintaining ecological balance within river basins. Scientifically evaluating regional ecological resilience under various scenarios is crucial for mitigating ecological risks. This study focuses on selected urban areas in the upper Yangtze River basin and establishes a multi-scale assessment model (mesh and sub-basin) for watershed ecological resilience based on resistance, adaptability, and recovery metrics. The spatial distribution of ecological resilience in 2020 was analyzed at both scales. The study also simulated land use and watershed ecological resilience in 2030 under different scenarios (natural development, urban development, cultivated land protection, and ecological protection) using the MCCA model. Key findings include: 1.Land Use Comparison: In 2020, land use differed significantly from the four projected scenarios for 2030. Arable land and forests remained predominant in all scenarios. 2.Ecological Resilience in 2020: The basin’s overall ecological resilience was moderate, with low-resilience areas accounting for 24.6% at the mesh scale and 14.5% at the sub-basin scale, mainly in western Chongqing and northern Jingzhou. 3.Future Projections for 2030: By 2030, ecological resilience showed significant local variations under the four scenarios at both scales. The ecological protection scenario had the highest resilience, with high-resilience areas at 41.3% (mesh) and 30.7% (sub-basin); the urban development scenario had the lowest resilience, with low-resilience areas at 14.4% (mesh) and 32.5% (sub-basin). These findings provide evidence for maintaining ecological balance and protecting vulnerable areas in the Yangtze River basin. The methods used can help decision-makers implement effective ecological protection strategies, mitigating future ecological risks.

(250 words) Objective To assess whether the Er:YAG laser is superior to sham in the treatment of women with mild/moderate stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Design A single blinded, multi-centre RCT comparing the Er:YAG laser to sham in women with mild/moderate SUI. Setting Three urogynaecology departments based in United Kingdom, Switzerland and Germany. Population or Sample 79 participants were recruited from urogynaecology clinics with mild/ moderate SUI. Methods Participants were randomised (2 active:1 sham) receiving 3 treatment sessions 1-2 months apart with the sham arm having energy transmission blocked. Participants were assessed at baseline and 6 months post final treatment. Main Outcome Measures Primary outcome measure: success defined as at least 50% reduction in 1hr pad weigh test (PWT) at 6 months compared to baseline (as per FDA guidelines). Secondary outcomes: Change in (ICIQ-UI SF), (PISQ-12), cough test standing and supine and visual analogue score for pain. Results 74 patients completed the study: 51 participants in laser group and 23 in the sham group. There was no difference between groups in for age, BMI, parity, smoking and diabetic status. There was a statistically significant improvement in patients treated with laser in 1hour PWT, ICIQ-UI SF and PISQ-12 at 6 months (3g, p=0.002, 5 points, p<0.001 and 6 points, p<0.001 respectively) which was not seen in the sham group. There was no change in cough test at 6 months except on standing in the sham group. Conclusions This fully powered RCT demonstrates a beneficial effect of Er:YAG laser in women with mild / moderate SUI.

The photorespiratory CO 2 compensation point (Γ*) and the rate of CO 2 release in the light (D L) are critical parameters for understanding the carbon dynamics of C 3 plants. These two parameters can be derived from the widely-used Laisk method as the intercept of linear regression lines fitted to net assimilation rates (A net) versus chloroplast CO 2 partial pressures (C c) obtained at different low-irradiance levels. However, photosynthetic theory indicates curvature in the A net-C c relationship which conflicts with the use of linear relationships for analysis. We, therefore, systematically evaluated the limitations of the use of linear relationships across temperatures from 5 to 40 °C and quantified the sensitivity of errors in Γ* and D L estimates to the selected C c range. We found that wide CO 2 ranges, especially when they exclude the actual Γ*, can introduce substantial biases in parameter estimation with linear regressions, particularly at lower temperatures. It can lead to marked underestimates of Γ*, and biologically unrealistic D L. We propose refining the Laisk method by using a photosynthesis model to analyse data. The model better represents the non-linear A net-C c relationship and yields consistent Γ* and D L estimates, regardless of the CO 2 range used.

The continuity illusion occurs when a sound is perceived as continuous through noise-filled interruptions and has been indexed neurophysiologically as reduced auditory theta band (4-8 Hz) power and phase-locking at the interruption boundaries. Here, we examined the behavioral and neurophysiological differences between musicians (n=16) and non-musicians (n=16) as they listened to trisyllabic words and classical music with noise interruptions. Our aim was to assess two competing hypotheses: (H1) because of their enhanced ability to detect acoustic gaps, musicians are less likely to perceive continuity and will therefore exhibit increased theta power/phase-locking at interruption boundaries compared to non-musicians. Alternatively, (H2) musicians are more likely to perceive continuity through an enhanced ability to utilize contextual cues to fill-in missing information. This top-down influence should be demonstrated by reduced theta power/phase-locking in musicians. On each trial, participants reported whether a noise-interrupted music or speech stimulus sounded continuous or interrupted. Behaviorally, musicians and non-musicians had similar rates of perceived continuity for music and speech, except musicians exhibited significantly greater continuity to speech at the shortest noise duration interruption. The oscillatory results demonstrated that relative to non-musicians, musicians had weaker theta phase-locking to the interruption boundaries in both music and speech, supporting H2. Musicians also exhibited enhanced alpha (8-13 Hz) and beta (14-30 Hz) power for both music and speech relative to non-musicians, reflecting inhibitory processes. We conclude that musicians exhibit enhanced auditory-motor inhibition to noise interruptions in both music and speech and infer this is due to their enhanced ability to utilize contextual cues.

This research paper examines the impact of environmental accounting on the risk-adjusted financial performance of commercial banks in emerging economies. As sustainability concerns grow, financial institutions are increasingly integrating environmental considerations into their accounting practices. This study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative analysis of financial data and qualitative interviews with banking professionals to assess how environmental accounting practices influence risk management and overall financial performance. Findings indicate that banks implementing robust environmental accounting frameworks experience enhanced risk-adjusted returns, driven by improved stakeholder trust, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiencies. Furthermore, the study highlights the role of environmental disclosures in reducing perceived risks among investors, leading to lower capital costs. The paper concludes that adopting environmental accounting not only aligns banks with global sustainability goals but also serves as a strategic tool for enhancing financial stability and competitiveness in emerging markets. Recommendations for policymakers and banking institutions are provided to foster the integration of sustainable practices within the financial sector.

This article develops a method for obtaining an approximate solution for a Ginzburg-Landau type partial differential equation through an application of the generalized method of lines. More specifically, we address the issue of setting a boundary condition on a non-circular domain boundary, in a polar and cartesian coordinates context.

This paper proposes a conceptual and formal expansion of the Vibrational Time Theory (VTT), reinterpreting time as an emergent frequency generated by the interaction between electromagnetic fields and the curvature of space-time. Unlike the original formulation, which used a fixed coupling parameter β, this study introduces

Building upon the foundational study Interactions of Light, Matter and Space: A New Perspective on Dynamics of Time (Benaglia, A.A, 2023), this work advances the theoretical and mathematical formalization of the proposed model, expanding its conceptual framework and scientific testability.