Abstract: The study is grounded on information as a property of the constituent elements of both material and non-material systems. Through these interactions, a function is performed, or a structure is formed, which in turn performs a function analogous to the behavior of an intelligent agent. Information and self-organization give rise to modules at the molecular, cellular, and individual levels. Species, likewise, can be understood as modules, real and objective units of life, that emerge as cognitive, linguistic, and biological modules. In the framework of the biological module concept, species can be viewed as a temporal chain of living organisms, where each link comprises three successive populations that behave among themselves as intelligent agents. The intelligent agent is zygotic information in sexually reproducing organisms and an affordance of the environment in asexually reproducing organisms. However, a new model has been developed in which the stability of the species is argued, analogous to the stability observed in other biological modules.

Abstract: Graph neural networks have been increasingly explored for network intrusion detection, yet the effect of graph construction strategy on detection performance remains underexamined, particularly for IoMT networks. In this study, we systematically investigate how data representation, graph construction, evaluation protocol, and task formulation shape the effectiveness of graph-based intrusion detection on the CICIoMT2024 benchmark data. We compare three representation strategies: flow-level tabular features, feature-similarity graphs, and PCAP-derived communication-topology graphs constructed from raw packet captures. We further examine the effect of domain-typed edge augmentation, PCAP-level validation protocols, and task decomposition into topology-heavy and protocol-heavy attack categories. Our results show that feature-similarity graphs provide no reliable advantage over Random Forest baselines, whereas PCAP-derived communication topology enables GNNs to become competitive on topology-heavy attacks. Third, domain-aware edge typing improves both performance and stability. Fourth, under proper PCAP-level validation with session-aware splits, previously reported gains diminish substantially, underscoring the importance of evaluation protocol. Fifth, in our experiments on this dataset, GNN effectiveness depends on attack category: topology-heavy attacks (DDoS, DoS, Recon) benefit from graph modeling, while protocol-heavy attacks (MQTT, Spoofing) do not. Across five random seeds, a domain-typed Adaptive Edge-Weighted GAT achieves a macro-F1 of 0.800 ± 0.026 on the topology-heavy subset, compared with 0.784 ± 0.020 for Random Forest. These results suggest that in IoMT intrusion detection, representation of choice and evaluation protocol matter more than architectural complexity.

Abstract: This review traces how our understanding of Low and Intermediate Mass Stars (hereafter LMS and IMS, respectively) evolved in time, in parallel with our knowledge of slow neutron-capture phenomena (the s-process). I shall focus in particular on the main component of this nucleosynthesis phenomenon, occurring in the above mentioned stars close to the end of their lifetimes. At that stage, they ascend the Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB), where both hydrogen and helium shells exist, burning alternatively during the phases most relevant to our discussion (the so-called TP-AGB phases). I shall outline how neutron sources were discovered to be activated there and what observational constraints and nuclear measurements have taught us about the status of our theoretical models in this field of nuclear and stellar physics research.

Abstract: Precipitation variability in the VMD is a critical determinant of agricultural productivity, freshwater availability, and flood and drought dynamics in one of Southeast Asia's most climate-vulnerable regions. Teleconnections between PPTA and three dominant climate modes (Niño 3.4, DMI and PDO) were quantified at ten meteorological stations from 1981 to 2025 using Pearson lag-correlation and WTC. ENSO is identified as the primary interannual driver, exhibiting a peak negative correlation at a lag of two months (r = −0.304, p < 0.001; 9.2% variance explained). The IOD exerts a secondary, delayed influence, peaking at lags of 11 to 12 months (r = 0.186, p < 0.001; 3.5% variance). The PDO functions as a persistent decadal modulator: positive phases suppress annual precipitation by 4.6%, while negative phases enhance it by 14.5% relative to the long-term mean (6.4% variance). WTC analysis reveals non-stationary coherence at 2–5 year (ENSO) and 8–16 year (PDO) periodicities. Compound El Niño and positive PDO events result in the most severe precipitation deficits, with non-linear responses during strong ENSO phases. These results establish a multi-index teleconnection framework that supports seasonal drought early warning and climate-adaptive water resource management in the VMD.

Abstract: The Iulia Felix is a 2nd century AD Roman wreck discovered on the seabed off Grado in 1986. After being recovered, the hull was dismantled and its components were treated with PEG 4000 at high concentrations and temperatures. The treatment and drying pro-cess were completed in 2003. While awaiting exhibition, the wreck elements were stored in a stockroom, where they were preserved for over 20 years. However, this prolonged storage has introduced new variables. In particular, salt efflorescence has appeared on the surfac-es of some elements, raising concerns about potential further degradation. This made in-vestigating this efflorescence and studying how environmental conditions may affect the state of the treated wood particularly pertinent. The efflorescence was analysed using mi-croanalysis performed with a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dis-persive spectroscopy probe (EDS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. To verify the effect of climate on the treated material, some samples were exposed to severe but realistic humidity levels of 35% and 85% for an ex-tended period until equilibrium was reached. Analysis of the efflorescence revealed the presence of iron- and sulphur-based com-pounds, namely hydrated ferrous sulphates, calcium sulphate and hydrated iron oxides. This indicates that the ship’s elements had been affected by a corrosion process typically associated with the degradation of metal components. This process begins in a maritime environment and is completed in a humid, oxidative environment following artefact re-covery. Moreover, the presence of PEG in the efflorescence indicates that the artefact un-derwent unforeseen conditions after treatment that caused PEG to migrate to the surface over time. Environmental tests showed that using PEG 4000 for treatment significantly slowed down hygrometric exchange with the environment. However, exposure to a dry climate resulted in limited deformation due to minimal mass change (less than 1% for both mass and surface area), whereas prolonged exposure to a humid environment caused an 11% mass increase (due to water vapour absorption), resulting in a ca. 5% increase in sur-face area. This phenomenon was accompanied by the onset of minor cracks. In some cases, however, the samples fractured. Overall, this work contributes to the ongoing under-standing of the preservation challenges faced by underwater archaeological finds, partic-ularly with regard to treatment with high molecular weight PEG. It highlights the need for continuous monitoring to address degradation and its impact on the structural integrity of the wrecks, and provides a basis for future conservation strategies in museums.

Abstract: Background: Neurogenic bladder in children is a major cause of progressive upper urinary tract deterioration and chronic kidney disease if not diagnosed and managed early. High intravesical pressure, recurrent urinary tract infections, and vesicoureteral reflux are key contributors to renal damage, particularly in resource-limited settings. This study aims to evaluate the clinical course of pediatric patients with neurogenic bladder in Sana’a city, Yemen. Patients and Methods: This multicentric cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted between January and December 2024 across multiple hospitals and specialized clinics in Sana’a city. Children aged 2–15 years with confirmed neurogenic bladder were included. Data collected comprised demographic characteristics, etiology, neurological and lower urinary tract manifestations, management strategies, history of urinary tract infections, renal function parameters, and imaging findings. Renal function was assessed using serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate, while radiological evaluation was based on ultrasound. Results: A total of 54 children were included, with a mean age of 8.60 ± 3.18 years; 53.7% were females. Myelomeningocele was the most common etiology (57.4%). All patients presented with lower urinary tract symptoms and recurrent urinary tract infections. Hydronephrosis was present in all patients, and vesicoureteral reflux was detected in 92.6%, predominantly bilateral. Renal impairment was universal, with 90% of patients diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and 5.6% requiring regular dialysis. Clean intermittent catheterization was underutilized, while indwelling catheterization and vesicostomy were frequently employed. Conclusion: Pediatric neurogenic bladder in Yemen is associated with a high burden of renal morbidity, largely due to delayed diagnosis and suboptimal early bladder management. Early detection, timely initiation of clean intermittent catheterization, and structured multidisciplinary follow-up are essential to preserve renal function and prevent progression to chronic kidney disease.

Abstract: Hereditary cerebellar ataxias are progressive neurodegenerative disorders for which diseasemodifying treatments are still lacking. Although these conditions have traditionally been studied from a neuron-centered perspective, evidence from several ataxia models indicates that changes in the cerebellar immune microenvironment can arise before overt neuronal loss and may contribute to early circuit dysfunction. This review examines hereditary cerebellar ataxias through the lens of early neuroimmune regulation, with particular attention to the region-specific properties of cerebellar microglia and their roles in synaptic refinement and circuit homeostasis. We also discuss zebrafish as a useful experimental system for this question, because they combine in vivo imaging, genetic manipulation, and scalable functional assays in an intact vertebrate model. In this context, flavonoids—and especially naringenin—are considered not as immediate therapeutic candidates, but as experimental tools to investigate how modulation of inflammatory balance affects disease-relevant phenotypes in vivo. By integrating genetic ataxia models with dynamic neuroimmune readouts, zebrafish-based approaches can help identify early windows in which neuroimmune signalling influences cerebellar vulnerability and can guide subsequent validation in mammalian systems.

Abstract: This study investigated the expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin, Snail1, Slug (Snail2), Twist, ZEB1, ZEB2, and E47 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and assessed their association with clinicopathological parameters and patient survival. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed in OSCC samples, and correlations with clinicopathological variables and survival outcomes were evaluated. E-cadherin expression was detected in 54.5% of cases, vimentin in 39.6%, N-cadherin in 2.5%, Snail in 59.4%, Slug in 82.4%, ZEB1 in 3%, Twist in 94.5%, and E47 in 4.2% of tumors. Loss of E-cadherin was significantly associated with advanced clinical stage. N-cadherin expression was linked to moderate or poor differentiation, while vimentin expression correlated with lymph node metastasis, advanced stage, poor differentiation, recurrence, and disease-related death. Snail1 and Slug were associated with tobacco use, and Slug also with alcohol consumption. Complete epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), defined by loss of E-cadherin and vimentin expression, was associated with poorer survival. Co-expression of vimentin and N-cadherin was linked to worse disease-specific and overall survival. However, only clinical stage remained independently associated with survival in multivariate analysis. In conclusion, vimentin expression is associated with aggressive tumor behavior, and EMT-related transcription factors are linked to tobacco exposure.

Abstract: Magnesium hydroxide is attracting growing interest as a versatile, halogen free flame retardant, and this review surveys its production routes, structure–property relationships and use in polymer systems from commodity polyolefins to advanced bio based materials. Industrial Mg(OH)₂ is still predominantly obtained from mining or hydration of MgO, but increasing attention is being devoted to recovery from seawater and saltwork brines, where precipitation from Mg²⁺ rich streams followed by controlled rehydration or direct precipitation yields fine, high purity powders suitable for flame retardant use and simultaneously valorizes saline wastes. In parallel, hydrothermal synthesis has been extensively explored to tailor particle size and morphology by adjusting precursor, solvent, temperature and time, enabling high surface area Mg(OH)₂ or MgO with narrow size distributions that are attractive for high performance composites also evaluated via ball milling crushing and refining. More recently, process intensification strategies such as microwaves and ultrasounds have been proposed to shorten reaction times, lower temperatures and better control nucleation and growth, opening paths toward energy efficient production of structured Mg(OH)₂ from both conventional and brine derived precursors. The second part of the review analyzes how the intrinsic endothermic decomposition and basic character of Mg(OH)₂ can be utilized across a broad range of polymer matrices and how surface functionalization strategies extend its applicability. In addition to “as received” powders, stearic acid and other fatty acids, metal soaps and various organic coupling agents are widely used to render the surface more hydrophobic, enhance dispersion and interfacial adhesion, and in some cases introduce additional char forming or barrier functionality. On the application side, the review compiles and compares fire and mechanical data for Mg(OH)₂ containing, polyolefins (HDPE, LLDPE, PP and EVA) used in cables and building products expandable polymers and foams, bio polymers such as PLA and PBS and elastomers with emphasis on the balance between loading level, processability, flame performance and mechanical integrity. By integrating advances in sustainable feedstocks, controlled synthesis and surface engineering with the rapidly expanding application space, this review aims to provide a comprehensive framework for designing next generation Mg(OH)₂ based flame retardant systems for both conventional and emerging polymer technologies.

Abstract: Background: Mean arterial pressure (MAP) is widely used to guide hemodynamic management, yet it provides limited insight into the underlying physiological determinants of circulation. Identical MAP values may reflect markedly different states of cardiac output and vascular tone. The arterial pressure waveform contains rich physiological information beyond static pressure values, but this information is rarely quantified in a simple, continuous, and interpretable manner. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between a novel arterial waveform–derived metric, the Pulse Energy Ratio (PER), and reference cardiac output in a large intraoperative dataset. Methods: We performed a retrospective observational analysis using the VitalDB database, including 248 patients with concurrent high-resolution arterial pressure waveforms and cardiac output measurements obtained from an EV1000 volumetric monitoring system. PER was calculated as the area of the arterial waveform above the diastolic baseline normalized to the diastolic pressure–time integral for each cardiac cycle. Beat-level and rolling 10-beat averaged PER values (PERC) were analyzed. Correlations with cardiac output were assessed using aggregated time-segment data to account for repeated measures, with additional sensitivity analyses including first-differenced signals and mixed-effects modeling. Results: PER demonstrated strong positive correlation with cardiac output across a wide range of intraoperative conditions. Beat-level PER correlated with cardiac output at r = 0.781, while PERC showed r = 0.797. Rolling 10-beat averaging further strengthened these relationships (PER r = 0.834; PERC r = 0.822; all p < 0.001). These associations remained consistent across multiple analytic approaches designed to account for temporal dependence and within-subject clustering. Conclusions: The Pulse Energy Ratio is a physiologically grounded, waveform-derived metric that correlates strongly with cardiac output without requiring calibration or additional hardware. By quantifying the pulsatile component of the arterial waveform, PER may provide continuous insight into the interaction between forward flow and vascular tone. This approach has the potential to enhance interpretation of arterial pressure and support more physiologically informed hemodynamic monitoring, warranting prospective validation.

Abstract: Previous studies by the authors and others have shown that ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) is an ideal printing material for 3D concrete printing (3DCP). However, its high carbon emissions may limit its application in 3DCP. As a solution, this study reports the development of a 3D-printed low-carbon UHPC using limestone calcined clay cement (LC3), denoted as 3DP-LC3-UHPC. The fresh and hardened properties of 3DP-LC3-UHPC were evaluated and compared with those of conventional 3D-printed UHPC using Portland cement (3DP-PC-UHPC). Conventionally mold-cast mixtures were also prepared for comparison. Fresh properties included flowability, setting time, rheological properties, extrudability, and buildability. Hardened properties included compressive strength and flexural performance in different directions. The effect of two curing regimes (heat- and ambient temperature-curing) on hardened properties was also investigated. The results showed that 3DP-LC3-UHPC possessed higher dynamic yield stress, plastic viscosity, and thixotropy recovery, and exhibited satisfactory extrudability and buildability. The 3DP-LC3-UHPC achieved compressive strengths of 130.4-169.4 MPa and flexural strengths of 26.9-30.6 MPa, depending on the testing direction. Environmental and cost assessments confirmed that 3DP-LC3-UHPC reduces carbon dioxide emissions, embodied energy, and cost by about 25%, 10%, and 9%, respectively, compared to 3DP-PC-UHPC. Overall, the findings demonstrate that 3DP-LC3-UHPC is a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to conventional 3DP-PC-UHPC.

Abstract: Oculomotor dysfunction is an eye movement disorder frequently experienced in patients with Parkinson’s disease. While this neurodegenerative disorder is often characterised by tremors, rigidity and slow movement, many patients tend to experience visual symptoms during its early stages and this can exacerbate cognitive symptoms when visual tasks become more demanding. This review provides an update on the recent advances in the neurorehabilitation of oculomotor dysfunction, and it uses a sensory-motor integration framework for understanding the vision-related symptoms and the functional challenges imposed on the patient’s activities of daily living. This is categorized in terms of visual sensory, visual motor, visual perceptual, cognitive processing, and psychosocial challenges, and this understanding is vital for accurate diagnosis, monitoring, and implementing effective strategies to improve their visual function and overall quality-of-life. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, healthcare professionals can take proactive steps to address the vision-related challenges faced by patients with Parkinson’s disease and effectively manage the challenges faced by patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Abstract: The Fréchet Inception Distance (FID), the standard metric for evaluating deep generative models, aggregates all data into a single score and thereby masks quality degradation in safety-critical minority conditions and in specific temporal regions of generated time series. We trace this dilution problem to a single cause—the absence of stratification—and propose Stratified Fréchet Distance (SFD), which partitions evaluation data into strata along a chosen axis and computes the Fréchet distance within each stratum. The choice of axis determines the diagnosis: stratifying by operating condition detects minority-condition failures (generalizing the existing Conditional FID), by temporal segment localizes late-cycle quality breakdown, and by their cross-product yields a two-dimensional condition×time quality map. Comparing SFD at different granularities further enables quantitative detection of inter-condition confounding. Experiments on four battery datasets (161 cells) with CVAE models show that SFD detects condition-dependent quality gaps of 1.97× where FID registers only 1.01×, with up to 79× higher sensitivity for minority conditions. Condition×time stratification reveals that the largest gap (8.69×) occurs in the latter half of 35∘C degradation curves—a physically interpretable failure to reproduce accelerated high-temperature degradation. Granularity comparison further detects temperature–C-rate (charge/discharge rate) confounding (T/J = 1.72×), providing actionable guidance on which conditioning variables a generative model should include. These findings are robust across three feature extractors and four datasets.

Abstract: Efficient pretreatment is essential for improving the conversion of lignocellulose into fermentable sugars and bioethanol. In this study, choline chloride–monoethanolamine (ChCl-MEA)-based ternary deep eutectic solvents containing H₂O₂, NaHCO₃, Na₂S, or ethylene glycol were prepared and applied to pretreatment of Dendrocalamus brandisii. Among the tested systems, ChCl-MEA-Na₂S showed the best overall pretreatment performance, achieving 92.8% delignification and 86.1% cellulose retention. It also effectively disrupted lignin–carbohydrate associations, reduced lignin shielding and generated a more accessible cellulose-rich substrate for bioconversion. In the following separation enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation, 92.2% cellulose in substrate was conversed to glucose and 17.49 g/L ethanol was obtained via the fermentation of enzymatic hydrolysate. Taking the bioconversion of substrate into consideration, the ChCl-MEA-H₂O₂ and ChCl-MEA-Na₂S were recovered for full components utilization. Especially, the carbon dots produced from the degradation compounds in ChCl-MEA-H₂O₂ DESs had favorable antioxidation and antibacterial performance due to the oxygen-containing group caused by oxidation of H₂O₂.

Abstract:

COVID-19 has spurred a lot of interest in complementary and alternative agents for therapeutic purposes having antiviral and immunomodulatory effects. In these, natural products and bioactive compounds from plants have been at the center of attention due to their easy access, relatively low risk, and long history of use in traditional medicine. This paper reviews in detail and critically assesses the scientific data that at present the use of certain cannabinoids, cannabimimetic compounds, and Artemisia species in the treatment and prevention of COVID-19. It gives an account of medicinal approaches to cannabinoids like cannabidiol (CBD), Δ 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), alongside other minor cannabinoids and synthetic and naturally-occurring cannabimimetics. The paper discusses the potential of Artemisia annua and other species as treatments, especially focusing on their antiviral, anti-regulatory, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulating properties. It highlights the molecular interactions with SARS-CoV-2 targets as well as cytokine regulation and modulation of oxidative stress pathways, with special emphasis on these areas. The paper raises multiple issues like preclinical and clinical studies, safety aspects, regulatory hurdles, and drawbacks related to the use of these natural compounds. After analyzing all the available data, the article entertains the idea of a cannabinoid Artemisia combination as a supportive or adjunct therapy in COVID-19 treatment. It also points out that the clinical trials are insufficient concerning the establishment of effectiveness, determination of the appropriate dosage and assurance of the long-term safety of the treatment.

Abstract: IEEE 802.11be (Wi-Fi 7) extends wireless network capability through wider channels, higher-order modulation, and tri-band operation; however, realised indoor performance is strongly governed by propagation constraints. This study , therefore, presents a controlled empirical assessment of Wi-Fi 7 behaviour in a multi-storey university building, examining throughput and received signal strength across 2.4-, 5-, and 6 GHz bands using a single-link radio propagation measurement. Six experimental scenarios were designed to isolate dominant indoor impairments, including distance variation, wall penetration, line-of-sight obstruction, floor separation, antenna orientation, and microwave interference. Measured RSS values were evaluated against free-space, two-ray, and log-distance shadowing models using mean absolute error as the comparison metric. Results show that 2.4 GHz retains greater penetration at lesser capacity, 6 GHz offers the maximum short-range throughput under clear line-of-sight but rapidly deteriorates with structural attenuation. Performance in all bands is greatly diminished by multi-wall blockage and line-of-sight loss. A single propagation model cannot adequately capture the divergence introduced by increasing distance and indoor attenuation, while short-range line-of-sight conditions more closely resemble deterministic predictions in terms of measured RSS alignment. Overall, the results highlight the trade-off between Wi-Fi 7’s capacity and coverage, and provide helpful advice for choosing frequencies, positioning access points, and organizing indoor coverage. The research findings provide insights into the practical deployment of next-generation Wi-Fi in the multi-story buildings and residential houses.

Abstract: This study critically reviews 91 peer-reviewed publications assessing the sustainability of Mediterranean tourism destinations through indicator-based frameworks. Using the Scopus database, studies were selected based on defined keywords, geographical scope, and inclusion/exclusion criteria. Data were systematically coded across multiple dimensions including methodological approaches, indicator categories, sustainability dimensions, thematic focus, stakeholder involvement, and data sources. Findings reveal a dominance of quantitative methods, particularly composite indices, multi-criteria decision-making, and GIS-based analysis. Environmental indicators—addressing water management, waste, pollution, and carrying capacity—are most prevalent, followed by economic measures of employment and revenue. Social and governance dimensions remain underrepresented. Research is geographically concentrated in Spain, Greece, and Italy, with limited coverage of North African and Eastern Mediterranean contexts. The review highlights gaps in geographic representation, dimension balance, and indicator standardization. Addressing these will require integrated frameworks, stronger stakeholder engagement, and innovative data collection methods. The findings provide guidance for developing robust, comparable, and context-specific sustainability assessment tools for the Mediterranean region.

Abstract: Background/Objectives: Efficient visual processing plays an important role in children’s academic activities, particularly reading, writing, and sustained attention. Alterations in different visual subsystems may interfere with school performance, although their relative discriminative value remains unclear. This study evaluated the ability of five visual system alterations to identify teacher-reported academic difficulties in schoolchildren using machine learning models. Methods: An observational analytical study was conducted in 581 primary schoolchildren (mean age 8.47 ± 1.74 years; 53.4% girls). Academic performance was rated by teachers using a 1–5 scale and dichotomized as a pragmatic school-based indicator of academic difficulties. Five predictor groups were analyzed: objective oculomotor function assessed with DIVE, clinical oculomotor assessment, accommodative system, vergence system, and abnormal axial length. Five classifiers (support vector machine, k-nearest neighbors, decision tree, random forest, and XGBoost) were trained and tested using a 70/30 data split. Results: The accommodative system showed the highest classification performance (XGBoost: accuracy 1.00; macro-F1 1.00). Oculomotor alterations also demonstrated strong discriminative ability (DIVE: accuracy 0.921; macro-F1 0.878; clinical assessment: accuracy 0.934; macro-F1 0.918). Vergence variables showed low sensitivity despite high specificity, whereas axial length achieved lower overall performance (accuracy 0.678; macro-F1 0.558). Conclusions: Classification performance differed across visual domains, with functional systems directly involved in near vision tasks showing greater relevance than biometric measures. These findings support the inclusion of functional visual assessment in school screening programs and suggest that machine learning models may assist referral prioritization and educational support strategies. Further external validation is required.

Abstract: Hand hygiene is a cornerstone of infection prevention, yet adherence often declines once public health emergencies subside. This study examines post-pandemic hand hygiene practices and knowledge among public health trainees. We conducted a cross-sectional study of students and staff (N = 93) at a U.S. School of Public Health between May and October 2025. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire assessing knowledge, self-reported practices, and demographics, with associations analyzed using chi-square tests. Results indicated that while 65.6% of participants possessed good knowledge (mean score 6.92 ± 1.92), only 23.7% met the criteria for good hand hygiene practice. Knowledge level was not associated with practice (p = 0.631). In contrast, sex was strongly associated with behavior: 34.4% of females reported good practice compared with 3.1% of males (p = 0.0016). Furthermore, adherence in high-risk situations was low, with only 7% reporting handwashing after coughing or sneezing. In conclusion, hand hygiene knowledge did not translate into consistent preventive behavior among these trainees. The observed differences by sex suggest that post-pandemic interventions should prioritize behavioral and social determinants rather than relying on information-based strategies alone.

Abstract: The retina and optic nerve rely on a tightly regulated neurovascular unit that sustains the highly dynamic and metabolically demanding neural tissues required for vision. Adequate oxygen and nutrient delivery are essential for maintaining tissue function and cellular survival. Over the past decades, extensive research within and beyond the field of ophthalmology has sought to elucidate the mechanisms that govern neurovascular regulation in health and disease. Growing evidence indicates that neurovascular dysfunction plays an important role in both the initiation and progression of glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Alterations in vascular architecture and blood flow may compromise the metabolic support required by retinal ganglion cells, increasing their vulnerability to injury and degeneration. While neurons possess limited regenerative capacity, the vascular system retains a remarkable degree of plasticity and is therefore amenable to repair. This vascular plasticity presents an opportunity to develop therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring vascular architecture and improving blood flow, complementing existing approaches focused on intraocular pressure reduction, neuroprotection, axonal regeneration, and/or neuronal transplantation. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of neurovascular function in the healthy eye, discuss mechanisms that contribute to vascular compromise in glaucoma, and highlight emerging avenues for promoting vascular regeneration and blood flow recovery. By identifying key knowledge gaps and future research priorities, we aim to outline promising directions for targeting the ocular neurovasculature to preserve retinal ganglion cell function and slow or stop progressive vision loss.