Recent studies in the Middle East have highlighted challenges related to children's physical activity (PA) and active play due to environmental factors and sociocultural barriers. However, no study has yet explored the perspectives of young children. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the socio-cultural and personal barriers to PA and active play from children's perspectives in Abu Dhabi Emirate (AD), United Arab Emirates (UAE).

A high-resolution spectroscopic system was installed on the Tokamak à Configuration Variable (TCV), whose toroidal lines-of-sight (LOS) cross the divertor region. This system simultaneously measures the Doppler broadening and Doppler shift of several spectral transitions to infer their associated ion temperatures (Ti) and the toroidal component of their flow velocities (Vi). Herein, TCV's Tangential Divertor Spectroscopy System (TDSS) is described, along with its data analysis procedure and the first simultaneous measurements of temperature and flow velocity of C2+, He+, and N+ ions. The TDSS can be configured with a range of LOS that can be tailored to different divertor magnetic configurations. To obtain high sensitivity and accuracy in the kinetic ion parameters, each LOS is complemented by a tangentially opposed LOS to achieve a velocity sensitivity of 2.5 km/s/pixel that implicitly annuls any spectroscopic first-order drifts. A spectral resolution of 0.2 Å allows for reliable temperature determination down to ∼1 eV for He ions and ∼3 eV for the heavier C and N ions. These abilities, together with TCV's plasma shaping and positioning flexibility, were used to obtain the poloidal distributions of Ti and Vi for several impurity ions across the divertor. These measurements, together with the TS measurements of Te and ne, can be used to study the convective vs conductive partitions of energy transport across the scrape-off-layer plasma, which is crucial to the physics of energy transport in the divertor.

Lead halide perovskite nanocrystals have emerged as promising candidates for classical light-emitting devices and single-photon sources, owing to their high photoluminescence quantum yield, narrow emission line width and tunable emission. Judicious choice of ligands to passivate nanocrystal surfaces has proven to be critical to the structural stability and optoelectronic performance of such nanocrystals. While many ligands have been deployed, the resulting quality of the nanocrystal surface can be difficult to assess directly. Here, we demonstrate ultralow frequency Raman spectroscopy as a powerful tool to resolve surface-sensitive changes in size and ligand choice in perovskite nanocrystals. By investigating a size series of CsPbBr nanocrystals from the strong (5 nm) to the weak (28 nm) confinement range, we show that the line width of Raman-active modes provides a highly selective metric for surface disorder and quality. We further examine a series of 28 nm diameter nanocrystals with four different zwitterionic ligands, unravelling clear links between varying steric effects and surface quality evident from Raman analysis. Photoluminescence and THz photoconductivity probes reveal an evident correlation of charge-carrier dynamics and radiative emission yields with ligand chemistry and surface quality inferred from phonon broadening. We further show that surface defects preferentially trap hot charge carriers, which affects exciton stability and radiative emission yields. Overall, our approach offers powerful insights into optimizing nanocrystal-ligand boundaries to enhance the performance of nanoscale quantum light sources and optoelectronic devices.

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are integral to assessing patient function, quality of life, and pain both before and after knee arthroplasty (KA). Given the frequently excellent outcomes associated with KA, meaningful comparisons between patient cohorts or interventions require validated, precise PROMs that reliably reflect patient priorities and satisfaction. However, patients undergoing KA today have different demographic characteristics, different expectations, and different outcomes from those for whom these metrics were originally designed. Given changing lifestyles, many items in legacy PROMs may no longer represent priorities for patients in their postoperative recovery, and current evidence suggests that many are not associated with patient satisfaction. The frequent ceiling effects observed in PROMs for some subgroups following KA limit their reliability and utility in assessing outcomes for high-functioning patients. Whilst combining multiple PROM tools can provide a better, more holistic overview of patient outcome, it carries with it a significant burden and feasibility restriction. Item response theory and computerised adaptive testing present opportunities to collect PROMs from patients in a convenient manner and minimise question burden. Contemporary PROM collection requires both these innovative collection tools and analytic techniques, and questions that reliably reflect the priorities of the modern-day patient undergoing KA.

Post-endoscopy gastric cancer (PEGC) is a gastric cancer (GC) diagnosed within 3 years after an esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (EGD) negative for cancer. Post-endoscopy gastric cancer has a prevalence of 9%-11% in the western population and is potentially reducible through adequate surveillance and high-quality endoscopy. However, Post-Endoscopy Gastric Cancer features are not well defined.

The influence of high potentials on amorphous nitrogen-free and nitrogen-doped hydrogenated carbon thin film electrodes with thicknesses of 9 to 30 nm is probed toward the vanadium(IV/V) redox reaction by scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM), which mimics the reaction of the positive side of the all-vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB). Besides the evaluation of the peak separation (E) from cyclic voltammograms (CV), the localized probing is adapted in a way that the influence of high overpotentials on the stability of the carbon materials, as well as competitive electrochemical processes, can be analyzed. The sulfate anion insertion process is found to be the predominant process in all samples, with its onset appearing in parallel to the vanadium(IV/V) reaction. The presence of pyridine/pyrrole groups can stabilize the insertion compound, which inhibits the vanadium(IV/V) reaction much more strongly. In all cases, the electrochemical redox features of the vanadium(IV/V) reaction, as well as the initial Raman spectra of the carbon thin films, are fully reconstructed by applying reductive potentials in a suitable time frame, even after polarizing to drastically high potentials (2.5 V vs. RHE). Overall, this competing insertion reaction must be given greater consideration when discussing electrochemical data of the vanadium(IV/V) redox reaction.

Academic global health informatics (GHI) projects are impactful collaborations between institutions in high-income and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and play a crucial role in enhancing health care services and access in LMICs using eHealth practices. Researchers across all involved organizations bring unique expertise to these collaborations. However, these projects often face significant obstacles, including cultural and linguistic barriers, resource limitations, and sustainability issues. The lack of representation from LMIC researchers in knowledge generation and the high costs of open-access publications further complicate efforts to ensure inclusive, accessible, and collaborative scholarship. This viewpoint describes present gaps in the literature on academic GHI collaborations and describes a path forward for future research directions and successful research community development. Key recommendations include centering community-based participatory research, developing post-growth solutions, and creating sustainable funding models. Addressing these challenges is essential for fostering effective, scalable, and equitable GHI interventions that improve global health outcomes.

Anthropogenic changes to the environment significantly impact wildlife infectious diseases by modifying food resources and impacting host-parasite interactions through changes in host demography, behaviour and immune defences. Supplemental resource provisioning has been found to both enhance and mitigate parasite transmission; however, the role of co-infecting parasites in mediating these effects remains understudied. We developed a mathematical model to explore these dynamics, motivated by the empirical system of wood mice () infected with the nematode , which suppresses co-infections by the apicomplexan microparasite . Our model shows that the effects of resource provisioning on parasite epidemiology can be mediated, and potentially reversed, by within-host co-infection interactions, through effects on host-parasite contact rates and host susceptibility. Provisioning may elevate microparasite prevalence by reducing nematode burdens, thereby releasing the microparasite from the negative effects of co-infection. However, if provisioning increases host contact rates with parasite infective stages in the environment, the associated increase in nematode burdens can result in concomitant reductions in the microparasite, owing to the negative within-host co-infection interaction. Our study highlights the need for experimental designs that decouple the complex factors of provisioning on co-infecting parasite dynamics and provides a framework for interpreting outcomes in multi-parasite systems.

The challenges faced during COVID-19 for the public health were unprecedent in the last 100 years. The necessity to adapt lifestyles during this period highlighted inequalities in health-related behaviors, quality of life and mental health of the population, especially in unequal countries like Brazil.

Gastric cancer (GC) remains a leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. While most cases are sporadic, approximately 10% show familial clustering with only a minority explained by known hereditary syndromes. The remaining, termed familial non-hereditary gastric cancer (FNHGC), lack a defined high-penetrance germline mutation. This review aims to summarize current knowledge regarding the diagnosis, risk factors, molecular characteristics and management of FNHGC.

Only 10% of US children participate in active commuting (walking and bicycling) to school (ACS). Parental concerns related to traffic are a primary barrier to ACS, yet no studies have assessed these concerns together with neighborhood traffic safety-related features. This study examined the associations between traffic safety-related features in neighborhoods and ACS among school-age children in Austin, Texas.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a critical driver of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) progression to steatohepatitis (MASH), yet the mechanisms governing mitochondrial quality control in hepatocytes remain poorly defined. Here, we identify TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) as an essential regulator of hepatic mitophagy and lysosomal activity. Using TBK1-deficient hepatocytes and liver-specific TBK1 knockout (LTKO) mice, we show that TBK1 loss leads to the accumulation of depolarized, ROS-producing mitochondria due to impaired mitophagy flux, including defective lysosomal degradation. Mechanistically, TBK1 is required for p62 phosphorylation at Ser403 and partially modulates mTOR signaling to preserve lysosomal acidification. Therapeutic restoration of TBK1 expression via AAV8 delivery enhanced mitophagy, reduced mitochondrial burden, and ameliorated liver fibrosis. Notably, both human samples and murine steatohepatitis models exhibited a significant decline in TBK1 kinase activity. Collectively, these findings establish TBK1 as a critical guardian of mitochondrial and lysosomal homeostasis in MASH.

The TRPA1 channel has recently emerged as a critical target for pain relief since its antagonists target the beginning of the pain transduction pathway and, thus, are devoid of side effects such as sedation, dizziness, somnolence, or cognitive impairment. Despite this clinical significance, currently, no TRPA1 inhibitors suitable for therapeutic usage exist to target these channels. Since ancient times, natural products have been known to be a rich source of new drugs, useful therapeutic agents, as well as pharmacological tools. To discover novel natural TRPA1 antagonists, we screened a diverse range of natural products belonging to medicinal plants and endophytic microbes. Using a fluorescence-based calcium-influx assay, we identified that an unsaturated fatty acid known as Phialomustin B (PHL-B) exhibited potent TRPA1 inhibitory activity (IC50 = 1.35 ± 0.3 μM). In subsequent whole-cell/cell-attached patch clamp recordings, PHL-B displayed a reversible and voltage-dependent block of the TRPA1 ion channel at submicromolar concentrations. Our off-target profiling data indicated that PHL-B selectively inhibited TRPA1 channels without any considerable effect on other thermo-TRPs such as TRPV1, TRPV4, and TRPM8 channels. Docking of PHL-B on the TRPA1 channel structure revealed a binding pocket in a hotspot region for a gain-of-function mutation, N855S, that results in pain syndromes. Mutagenesis data demonstrated that I860 and K868 residues of the TRPA1 channel participate in PHL-B interactions, and when mutated, the potency of PHL-B is significantly mitigated. Collectively, our data indicate that PHL-B could function as a novel natural antinociceptive agent targeting TRPA1-related diseases with a TRPA1-mediated adverse component.

Tin-halide perovskites currently offer the best photovoltaic performance of lead-free metal-halide semiconductors. However, their transport properties are mostly dominated by holes, owing to ubiquitous self-doping. Here we demonstrate a noncontact, optical spectroscopic method to determine the effective mass of the dominant hole species in FASnI, by investigating a series of thin films with hole densities finely tuned through either SnF additive concentration or controlled exposure to air. We accurately determine the plasma frequency from mid-infrared reflectance spectra by modeling changes in the vibrational response of the FA cation as the plasma edge shifts through the molecular resonance. Our approach yields a hole effective mass of 0.28 for FASnI and demonstrates parabolicity within ∼100 meV of the valence band edge. An absence of Fano contributions further highlights insignificant coupling between the hole plasma and FA cation. Overall, this approach enables noncontact screening of thin-film materials for optimized charge-carrier transport properties.

: Cytokines play a fundamental role in the tumor microenvironment, influencing breast cancer progression, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the prognostic impact and therapeutic relevance of key cytokines in breast cancer, based on human studies published between 2015 and 2025. : We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus for eligible studies reporting on cytokine expression and clinical outcomes in breast cancer. Inclusion criteria were based on the PRISMA framework, focusing on human cohorts and excluding in vitro or animal models. Data were extracted on cytokine types, measurement methods, patient population, and outcomes. Meta-analyses were performed using random-effects models for cytokines with sufficient data, notably IL-6 and TNF-α. : Twenty-three studies were included. Elevated IL-6 was consistently associated with poor overall survival (pooled HR = 2.25, 95% CI 1.83-2.76), while high TNF-α levels showed a trend toward worse outcomes but without statistical significance. IL-1β, IL-8, and IL-10 were also linked to increased metastasis and reduced response to therapy. Immunosuppressive cytokines such as IL-10 and TGF-β facilitated tumor immune evasion, while IL-17 promoted inflammation and angiogenesis. Cytokines such as IL-12 and IFN-γ were associated with improved immune responses and a favorable prognosis. : Cytokines are central mediators of breast cancer progression and immune regulation. Elevated levels of pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive cytokines correlate with poor outcomes and may serve as prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Their integration into personalized treatment strategies holds significant clinical potential but requires further prospective validation and biomarker standardization.

The ancestry of domestic species from their closest wild relatives is one of the most debated and intriguing topics in evolutionary genetics. This review synthesizes current scientific understanding of the phylogenetic relationships between wild mouflon populations and domestic sheep (). It delves into the complex ancestry, tracing the primary role of the Asiatic mouflon () as the progenitor, while also addressing the debated contributions of other wild species. The report explores the insights gained from diverse genetic markers, including mitochondrial DNA haplogroups and comprehensive whole-genome sequencing, highlighting their strengths, limitations, and the resolution of phylogenetic discrepancies. The multi-faceted taming process is examined, discussing proposed evolutionary mechanisms such as the domestication syndrome and thyroid hormone hypotheses, alongside human-mediated selection for key phenotypic traits like horn morphology, coat type, and tail characteristics. Furthermore, the pervasive role of hybridization and introgression between wild and domestic populations is analyzed, detailing its impact on genetic distinctiveness, adaptive potential, and the critical implications for conservation strategies. Finally, the review addresses ongoing scientific debates, particularly concerning the taxonomic classification of European mouflon, and identifies crucial avenues for future research to further unravel the intricate evolutionary tapestry of species. To ensure taxonomic consistency and promote conservation, nomenclature should be updated across all public repositories. Following the widely accepted classification that recognizes its lineage from the Asian mouflon, the Corsican and Sardinian mouflon should be designated as .

Liquid-liquid phase transitions govern a wide range of protein-protein and protein-RNA interactions. Although the importance of multivalency and protein disorder in driving these transitions is clear, there is limited knowledge concerning the structural basis of phase transitions or the conformational changes that accompany this process. In this work, we found that a small human protein, SERF2, is important for the formation of stress granules. We determined the solution NMR structure ensemble of SERF2. We show that SERF2 specifically interacts with non-canonical tetrahelical RNA structures called G-quadruplexes, structures linked to stress granule formation. The biophysical amenability of both SERF2 and RNA G4 quadruplexes have allowed us to characterize the multivalent protein-RNA interactions involved in liquid-liquid phase transitions, the role that protein disorder plays in these transitions, identify the specific contacts involved, and describe how these interactions impact the structural dynamics of the components enabling a detailed understanding of the structural transitions involved in early stages of ribonucleoprotein condensate formation.

Complex nasal reconstructions traditionally use staged flaps, with skin grafts reserved for smaller defects.

Coinciding with the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, malaria cases and malaria-related deaths increased globally between 2020 and 2022. However, evidence linking the pandemic to increased malaria burden remains ambiguous. We assessed the extent to which an observed malaria resurgence in Lambaréné, Gabon, can be associated with pandemic-related disruptions in malaria control programmes.

Robotic thoracic surgery has potential benefits, but the cost is still considered a limiting factor for its wide dissemination in most countries.

In 2022, the Tanzanian government launched a comprehensive multicomponent reform aimed at revolutionizing the national oral health care system. This initiative is part of a broader commitment to align with global health standards and address the significant oral health challenges faced by the population. Prior to the reforms, Tanzania's oral health infrastructure was marked by outdated practices and high prevalence rates of oral diseases, including dental caries and periodontal disease. We employed a qualitative case study design, guided by Walt and Gilson's Policy Triangle and Kingdon's Multiple Streams Framework, to analyze the planning, implementation, and early outcomes of the reform. Data were sourced from national surveys, District Health Information System-2 (DHIS2), official policy documents, procurement and training reports, and triangulated across multiple systems. Analysis focused on reform milestones, service utilization trends, and contextual drivers. The reform resulted in significant system-wide changes, including the procurement of 340 modern dental chairs, installation of 306 digital radiography units, and national phase-out of dental amalgam. An Oral Health Scorecard was deployed to monitor restorative treatment trends, contributing to a reduction in the extraction-to-restoration ratio from 2.8:1 in 2022 to 1.3:1 in 2025. The introduction of a pregnancy-focused oral health program and expanded training for dental therapists further enhanced service equity and quality. Reform implementation was enabled by strong political will, professional consolidation, and integration within existing national health strategies. Tanzania's rapid and multicomponent oral health reform represents a pioneering model for low- and middle-income countries. By aligning with the WHO Global Oral Health Action Plan and embedding oral health into primary and maternal healthcare, the country has laid the foundation for sustainable and equitable dental care. Continued investments in digital innovation, public-private partnerships, and health education will be critical for scaling impact.