Abstract: “Tertulias” (Spanish for “conversational gatherings”) was a study to test a novel peer support group intervention with the purpose of reducing depression and social isolation, and increasing empowerment and resilience, for participants who were women immigrants from Mexico. Tertulias integrated group shared reading (SR) and arts-based research (ABR) activities as novel components of the peer support model being tested. Tertulias was a large, randomized control trial involving 252 participants followed over 12 months, which fills a key gap in SR and ABR research. Results demonstrate that these two practices resulted in unique outcomes that would not have been obtained using traditional health promotion approaches and they revealed novel insights that would not have been able to be discerned using standard research techniques, including using standard community-engaged research techniques. Here, we describe SR and ABR in the outcomes of the study and what we learned about them as novel community practices. The experience of Tertulias with using and integrating SR and ABR demonstrates the valuable potential of these two approaches, used alone or together, for enhancing social connectedness among participants, deepening our understanding of the process and outcomes, and for strengthening community practice in the context of Community-Engaged Research.

Abstract: Diabetes mellitus affects over 537 million adults worldwide, yet the impact of hyperglycemia on absorbable suture degradation remains poorly understood. This study evaluated the in vitro degradation of polyglycolic acid (PGA) and PGLA 910 copolymer sutures under glucose concentrations of 0, 300, and 600 mg/dL over 28 days. A total of 120 sutures (60 per material) were incubated at 37°C in phosphate-buffered saline with different glucose concentrations. Mechanical properties were assessed at baseline and at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days via tensile testing. Medium pH was monitored weekly, and surface morphology was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. PGLA 910 demonstrated higher baseline strength than PGA (14.56 ± 1.11 N vs. 13.37 ± 1.00 N; p < 0.001). Both materials maintained strength during the first 7 days (p = 0.080), but progressive loss occurred from day 14 onward. At day 28, PGA retained only 1.12 N (8.4% of initial strength), while PGLA 910 retained 3.81 N (26.2%; p < 0.001). Glucose concentration did not significantly affect degradation (p = 0.153). Medium pH correlated strongly with residual strength (ρ = 0.86–0.89; p < 0.001). SEM revealed more severe surface degradation in PGA than in PGLA 910. We conclude that PGLA 910 offers superior resistance to hydrolytic degradation, making it a more suitable choice for diabetic patients when extended mechanical integrity is required. However, both materials degrade extensively within 4 weeks and are unsuitable for applications requiring support beyond 3 weeks. The strong pH–strength correlation confirms the autocatalytic nature of the degradation mechanism.

Abstract: Mitochondrial distress signaling provides a mechanistic link between local organelle dysfunction and systemic cardio-hepatic remodeling. In metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and heart failure (HF), hepatic nutrient overload and cardiac energy-demand mismatch generate distinct but convergent disturbances in oxidative metabolism, mitochondrial dynamics, mitophagy, and redox control. These changes alter the production, localization, and release of mitochondria-linked metabolites, mitochondrial damage-associated molecular patterns, and extracellular vesicle-associated mitochondrial cargo, enabling stressed tissues to influence distant organs. This review examines how stage-dependent bioenergetic remodeling and defective mitochondrial quality control shape distress-signal generation in MASLD and HF. We further discuss the context-dependent roles of succinate, β-hydroxybutyrate, mitochondrial DNA-dependent innate immune signaling, and extracellular vesicle-mediated cargo transport in heart–liver communication. Finally, we summarize established cardiometabolic therapies and emerging mitochondria-centered strategies that reduce substrate overload, restore organelle resilience, or limit inflammatory signal propagation. Integrating these mechanisms positions mitochondrial distress signaling as a unifying framework for understanding the bidirectional relationship between MASLD and HF and for identifying biomarkers and therapeutic targets at the heart-liver interface.

Abstract: Smartphone addiction has become a growing behavioral concern, particularly among adolescents and young adults, due to the widespread use of mobile devices and digital platforms. Excessive smartphone usage has been associated with negative outcomes such as reduced academic performance, sleep disturbances, and psychological stress. Therefore, accurate identification of smartphone addiction patterns is essential for developing effective intervention and prevention strategies. This study proposes a machine learning framework for smartphone addiction classification using behavioral data and ensemble learning techniques. Several baseline machine learning algorithms, including LR, SVM, RF, and ANN, were implemented and compared with advanced gradient boosting algorithms. The proposed approach integrates XGBoost and LightGBM within an ensemble framework to improve predictive performance and model robustness. The dataset was preprocessed using feature encoding, normalization, and feature selection techniques prior to model training. Model performance was evaluated using multiple classification metrics, including accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, AUC, and training and testing error rates. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed ensemble model achieved the best overall performance with a training accuracy of 0.970 and testing accuracy of 0.948, significantly outperforming baseline models. In comparison, Logistic Regression achieved 0.860 training accuracy and 0.842 testing accuracy, while Random Forest and ANN achieved testing accuracies of 0.892 and 0.901, respectively. The ensemble model also produced the lowest training error (0.030) and testing error (0.052) among all evaluated models, indicating improved generalization capability and reduced prediction variance. Furthermore, SHAP analysis was applied to interpret model predictions and identify key behavioral factors influencing smartphone addiction. The results indicate that social media usage, academic stress, night-time smartphone activity, and sleep duration are the most influential predictors. Overall, the findings demonstrate that ensemble gradient boosting models, combined with interpretable AI techniques, provide an effective and reliable approach to smartphone addiction detection and behavioral analysis.

Abstract: Sixth-generation (6G) networks will be AI-native: machine-learning models will decide how radio resources are allocated, where functions are placed, which control loops run, and how traffic is routed. Recent orchestration frameworks show that sharing common AI functions and xApps across services yields large resource and revenue gains, yet these gains are computed as if security were free. In reality, every shared function must also satisfy authentication, trust, confidentiality, attestation, and auditability requirements—and adding these requirements changes the structure of the underlying placement and sharing optimisation problems. This article presents a cross-layer framework for making AI-native 6G radio access networks secure, privacy-preserving, and revenue-aware at the same time. The framework is built from nine interlocking pillars organised in three layers: (i) an O-RAN orchestration substrate covering functional-split-aware placement, conflict-aware RIC control-loop scheduling, and joint radio–compute slicing; (ii) a confidential intelligence layer covering trust-weighted robust federated learning, attested confidential edge inference with hybrid post-quantum sessions, and security-aware xApp sharing; and (iii) network-wide assurance covering security-aware revenue-optimal orchestration, cross-domain zero-trust slice access, and an end-to-end resilience and formal-verification capstone. Each pillar is presented with a research question, a precise problem formulation with objective and constraints, a candidate solution strategy expressed as pseudocode, and evaluation methodology. We further show how the nine pillars interlock through four vertical threads—placement–sharing, trust, post-quantum protection, and audit—so that, taken together, they answer a single central question: can security constraints be made first-class terms of revenue-optimal 6G orchestration while the resulting system remains scalable, provable, and practical?

Abstract: The incorporation of recycled coarse aggregates (RCA) derived from dispersed waste concrete into lining concrete for underground engineering presents a potential strategy to reduce primary resource depletion. However, the actual environmental benefits of this approach are highly contingent upon logistical factors, such as transport distances, and the mix design adjustments necessary to compensate for RCA quality variations. In this study, a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted for C30/37 underground lining concrete to evaluate the combined effects of RCA replacement ratio, waste concrete transport distance, and cement-compensation assumptions. Literature-based RCA properties-including density, water absorption, and mechanical performance indicators-were employed to support four cement-compensation scenarios (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%) at a fixed 30% RCA replacement rate. The results reveal that cement production accounts for over 80% of the total global warming potential (GWP). Under an equal cement content scenario, each 10% substitution of natural coarse aggregate with RCA reduces aggregate-related GWP by approximately 0.233 kg CO2 eq/m³. However, the total GWP of the CC0 scenario is only 0.18% lower than that of conventional concrete. In contrast, cement-compensation levels of 5%, 10%, and 15% increase the GWP to 455.3, 474.7, and 494.1kg CO2eq/m3, which are 4.26%, 8.72%, and 13.17% higher than conventional concrete, respectively. The previously identified critical transport distance of 26.04 km is therefore specifically applicable only to the equal-cement CC0 aggregate-substitution scenario. These findings demonstrate that the environmental feasibility of RCA-based lining concrete is jointly governed by the quality of the recycled material, the additional cement demand, and regional transport conditions. The outcomes provide a quantitative foundation for decision-making in the production and environmental performance evaluation of underground lining concrete, particularly in the context of extreme environments, where material reliability and resource security are of paramount importance.

Abstract: Preliminary evidence suggests that patients with Enterococcus faecalis bacteremia and infective endocarditis, particularly those without an identifiable source, may have an increased prevalence of colorectal neoplasia. Whether systematic colonoscopy should be recommended in this population remains unresolved. EnteroColonus is a multicenter, prospective, observational matched cohort study that will recruit adults aged 50 years or older with E. faecalis bacteremia and/or infective endocarditis from 22 Spanish centers, together with asymptomatic controls undergoing colorectal cancer screening. Cases will be stratified into E. faecalis bacteremia/endocarditis of unknown origin (EFBEUO) and with suspected source (EFBESS). Planned sample size is 414 participants: 276 cases and 138 matched controls. Core procedures include colonoscopy, histopathology, clinical and microbiological phenotyping, fecal microbiome profiling by shotgun metagenomics, detection of E. faecalis genetic material in colorectal biopsy specimens using 16S sequencing and species-specific qPCR, and whole-genome, SNP, and phylogenetic analyses of clinical isolates. The primary endpoint is the detection of colorectal neoplasia by colonoscopy/histopathology in EFBEUO compared with EFBESS and matched screening controls. Secondary endpoints include microbiome profiles, biopsy positivity for E. faecalis, genomic traits of bloodstream isolates, mortality, relapse/recurrence, and development of a colorectal neoplasia risk score. This protocol is designed to clarify which patients with E. faecalis bloodstream infection might benefit from systematic colonoscopy evaluation and to explore host-microbe mechanisms underlying the observed association with colorectal neoplasia.

Abstract: Background: The Adiposity Volume Index (AVI) is a modern geometric tool for tracking central body fat. However, how it interacts with prenatal markers (2D:4D ratio), advanced anthropometric indexes, and psychological factors across different academic disciplines remains largely unexplored. This study evaluates the sex-specific predictive power and screening capacity of these parameters in healthy university students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 445 students (199 men and 246 women) from Biomedical Sciences (BS), Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), and Social Sciences and Physiotherapy (SSP) academic programs. Anthropometric indicators (Body Mass Index - BMI, Body Surface Area - BSA, Weight-adjusted Waist Index - WWI, Sagittal Abdominal Diameter-to-Waist circumference Ratio - SAD-to-Waist Ratio), the right-hand digital 2D:4D ratio (R-2D:4D), and Perceived Stress Questionnaire scores (PSQ) were assessed. Data were analyzed using multi-layered linear regression and ROC curve analysis. Results: In male students, BMI, BSA and WWI consistently predicted AVI across all academic programs (R² > .978, p < .001). In contrast, a major psychosomatic interaction emerged in female students. Among stressed BS students, the predictive model collapsed (R² = .313, lost significance), and the prenatal R-2D:4D ratio became a strong negative predictor (B = -87.780, p = .019). ROC analysis revealed that optimal BMI cut-offs for elevated AVI fell below the traditional overweight threshold for both men (22.93 kg/m², AUC = .942) and women (23.64 kg/m², AUC = .971). Notably, perceived stress was a significant diagnostic marker only for female students (AUC = .631, p = .001, cut-off = 66.50). Conclusions: Academic stress alters body fat distribution pattern exclusively in female biomedical students, unmasking latent prenatal endocrine programming. Furthermore, AVI-driven screening demonstrates that metabolic risk in young adults accumulates well within the conventional normal-weight BMI range, emphasizing the need for sex-tailored clinical assessments.

Abstract: The maintenance of future fusion power plants requires transporting heavy, radioactive components between the reactor building and the maintenance facility in areas where human access is prohibited. A modular architecture based on a cooperative fleet of multiple small transporters emerges as a promising alternative to a single large transporter vehicle, offering greater flexibility, redundancy, and manoeuvrability while distributing the load across the fleet. A market assessment of commercial trolley-like systems shows they are not yet adapted to the payload, radiation, and cooperative-operation demands of the fusion environment. This paper presents the mechatronic design and structural validation of an intelligent, omnidirectional trolley designed to operate as part of a cooperative fleet, with each unit distributing loads of the order of 20 tons. The concept is developed from operational requirements through its main subsystems. The Mecanum-wheel motion system, the lifting mechanism, on-board sensing, and a dedicated trolley-to-trolley interface for rescue operations in inaccessible areas. Finite Element Method analyses under worst-case loading confirm structural feasibility and provide a quantitative basis for capability estimation. The result is a coherent, manufacturable trolley concept, grounded in structural evidence, that can be built on existing industrial technology to meet the specific needs of nuclear fusion Remote Handling operations.

Abstract: Objective: To determine whether a high concentration of oxygen and hyaluronic acid applied vaginally in the two weeks preceding embryo transfer may increase implantation rates in human IVF. Design: Oxygen was applied vaginally in 3 x 15 minute sessions in the two weeks prior to embryo transfer at a pressure of 1bar at a flow of 2 litres /minute containing 0.2% of sodium hyaluronate. Subjects: 377 women (average age in the control group 38.0yrs and 37.5 yrs in the treated group) with a history of infertility or previous IVF failure undergoing frozen blastocyst transfer. Main Outcome Measures: Implantation rates after homologous and heterologous frozen blastocyst transfer. Results: The treated patients (n = 161) showed a significant increase in implantation rate compared to the control group (n = 216), with the highest significance in the heterologous population. Conclusions: Pre-treating IVF patients with high concentrations of O₂ and hyaluronic acid delivered vaginally in the two weeks preceding transfer statistically improved implantation rates in human IVF following frozen-thawed single blastocyst transfer.

Abstract: Background/Objectives: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly introduced into clinical trial operations, but operational usefulness does not imply regulatory or site-level readiness. This review synthesizes evidence on AI applications across clinical trial operations and proposes a site-level governance model for responsible implementation in healthcare organizations. Methods: We conducted a structured narrative review with evidence mapping of peer-reviewed literature, regulatory documents and contextual sources (2020–2026). AI use cases were mapped by trial lifecycle stage, evidence maturity, autonomy level, trial impact and governance implications using a transparent 0–8 evidence-maturity score. Results: The strongest evidence concerns patient–trial matching and eligibility assessment, which nonetheless reached only moderate maturity because the systems were evaluated retrospectively or in simulated screening rather than inside a live trial; no use case reached the highest band. Other applications remain less mature or context-dependent. Recurrent risks include hallucination, automation bias, weak local validation, limited auditability, model drift and unclear accountability. We propose a site-level readiness and deployment-decision model linking evidence maturity, AI autonomy, trial impact and site implementation capacity. Conclusions: AI readiness in clinical trial operations should be assessed at the level of the AI-enabled workflow rather than the model alone. Safe adoption requires context-specific validation, human accountability, auditability, lifecycle monitoring and alignment with Good Clinical Practice.

Abstract: The intestinal barrier (IB) is a critical interface that maintains internal homeostasis, and its functional compromise—termed intestinal hyperpermeability—permits luminal antigens such as lipopolysaccharide to enter the circulation, triggering metabolic endotoxemia and systemic low-grade inflammation that underpin both intestinal and extra-intestinal diseases. Exercise has emerged as a promising non‑pharmacological strategy to modulate IB function. This review systematically examines the molecular pathways through which exercise exerts its effects, focusing on: (i) the regulation of tight junction proteins, including zonula occludens-1, occludin, and claudins; (ii) the suppression of TLR4/NF-κB-driven inflammation and activation of Nrf2-mediated antioxidant defenses; and (iii) the beneficial remodeling of gut microbiota composition and short-chain fatty acid production. We also explore the peripheral–gut crosstalk mediated by myokines (irisin, IL-6, BDNF) and autonomic signals, and compare the differential impacts of exercise modalities—moderate‑intensity continuous training, resistance training, and high‑intensity interval training—on barrier function. A J‑shaped dose–response relationship is proposed, wherein moderate exercise confers protection while excessive endurance exercise may precipitate transient hyperpermeability. Finally, we discuss the therapeutic potential of exercise in intestinal disorders, identify current challenges including the translational gap and lack of large‑scale trials, and outline future directions in precision exercise medicine and multi‑omics integration to support IB‑targeted exercise prescriptions.

Abstract: Facial surface temperature can provide useful non-contact information for dairy-cow health, welfare, heat-stress, and reproductive-status monitoring. Infrared thermography can capture thermal information from facial regions such as the eyes, muzzle, nostrils, and ears, but infrared images alone often lack clear texture and anatomical boundaries, making reliable cow-head localisation difficult during mobile robotic inspection. Visible-light images provide richer structural cues but no temperature information. This study proposes YOLO11-AFE, a lightweight visible–thermal cow-head detection and heterogeneous-camera association framework for quadruped inspection robots. ADown was introduced for lightweight downsampling, C3k2_FE for adaptive feature enhancement, and SPPF_ECA for channel-aware multi-scale representation. An improved Hungarian matching algorithm was then used to establish one-to-one cow-head correspondence between synchronized visible-light and infrared pseudo-colour detections. YOLO11-AFE achieved Precision, mAP@0.5, and mAP@0.5:0.95 values of 97.51%, 96.26%, and 70.64% on the visible-light test subset, and 95.92%, 99.07%, and 91.41% on the infrared subset. Compared with YOLO11n, parameters and FLOPs were reduced by 17.37% and 18.17%. TensorRT deployment on Jetson Orin NX reached 36.71 FPS for the complete core pipeline. All 187 cow-head pairs were correctly associated, indicating that the framework provides an edge-deployable front end for future non-contact facial temperature monitoring.

Abstract: In the United States, urban schools in low-resource communities face numerous challenges that make sustained improvement difficult (e.g., frequent staff turnover and relatively inexperienced teachers). Officials charged with addressing this matter must determine which interventions merit investment, considering factors such as external pressures to deliver quick, positive results; the intervention's cost; available space to support an initiative; and its impact on existing resources, including personnel who may be tasked with new responsibilities. Given that public urban schools in the United States operate primarily under local rather than federal control, a one-size-fits-all, top-down solution is unlikely. Instead, unique local initiatives involving available, recurring resources may be the best viable options. This paper reports an initiative involving an elementary urban community school-university partnership aimed at improving the school's academic performance while simultaneously addressing interconnected challenges (e.g., increasing enrollment in teacher preparation programs) that may lead to sustained urban school improvement if appropriately resolved.

Abstract: The Z-source inverter (ZSI) has emerged as an effective single-stage power conversion topology for renewable energy applications owing to its inherent capability to perform both voltage buck and boost operations. However, the shoot-through states required to achieve voltage boosting introduce additional harmonic distortion that can degrade output power quality and increase the dependence on passive filtering. This paper presents a comparative performance analysis of conventional and strategic PWM shoot-through placement within the Maximum Boost Control (MBC) framework for three-phase Z-source inverters. A strategic shoot-through placement approach, referred to as Modified Maximum Boost Control (MMBC), is proposed to redistribute shoot-through intervals without compromising the voltage boost capability. Both control strategies were modelled and evaluated in MATLAB/Simulink under identical operating conditions. Their performance was assessed using Voltage Total Harmonic Distortion (THDV), voltage gain, and boost factor as the primary evaluation metrics. The simulation results indicate that the proposed MMBC achieved a minimum THDV of approximately 1.69%, compared with 4.05% obtained using conventional MBC. The improved harmonic performance was accompanied by a reduction in the output voltage magnitude, highlighting the trade-off between power quality enhancement and voltage utilisation. These findings demonstrate that strategic PWM shoot-through placement can substantially enhance the power quality of Z-source inverters and reduce harmonic filtering requirements, making the proposed approach suitable for renewable energy conversion applications.

Abstract: In this study, Mo/β-Ga₂O₃ vertical Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) were fabricated using a sputtering process, and the electrical characteristics were evaluated as a function of post-annealing temperature. β-Ga₂O₃ is an ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor (UWBG) with a bandgap of about 4.8 eV and a critical breakdown field of 8 MV/cm, a promising material for high-voltage power switching applications. Mo (molybdenum) has a higher work function (~4.95 eV) than the electron affinity (~4.0 eV) of β-Ga₂O₃, its melting point (2623°C) is higher than Pt (1768°C) and Ni (1455°C), so it has excellent thermal stability, and it is selected as Schottky metal. The device is a structure in which a Si-doped β-Ga₂O ₃ epitaxial layer (10μm, Nd–Na = 2.2 × 1016cm ⁻³) is grown on an Sn-doped β-Ga₂O ₃ substrate (415μm, Nd–Na = 4.5 × 10¹⁸ cm ⁻³). The Ti/Au (10/40 nm) was used for back ohmic junction and Mo (300 nm) was used for front Schottky junction. Post-annealing treatment was performed at 400, 500, and 550°C using a rapid-thermal annealing process (RTA) in an Ar gas atmosphere, and in this process, Schottky junction and ohmic junction were formed simultaneously. Electrical characteristics including current-voltage(I-V), capacitance-voltage(C-V), Schottky barrier height (SBH), ideality factor (n), turn-on voltage (Von), on-resistance (Ron), on/off ratio, and breakdown voltage (BV) were evaluated. No obvious Schottky characteristics were observed before post-annealing treatment, which means that As-deposited Mo does not form a rectifying junction on the β-Ga₂O₃ without post-annealing treatment. After post-annealing treatment, the I–V curve of the Schottky rectification characteristics could be confirmed under all three conditions. Among the three conditions, the device annealed at 500°C exhibits best performance, with SBH of 0.96 eV, n of 1.01, Von of 0.72 V, Ron of 13.8 mΩ·cm², an on/off ratio of 10⁹, a breakdown voltage of -474 V, and a PFOM of 16.3MW/cm2. As a result of temperature-dependent I–V measurement, as chuck temperature increased, the reverse leakage current increased and SBH decreased in all devices, which is consistent with the thermally activated carrier transport. These results demonstrate that the Mo/β-Ga₂O₃ SBDs are a thermally stable contact for power device applications.

Abstract: Exercise-induced molecular signaling is transient, resolving within hours, whereas the structural and functional adaptations to repeated training develop over weeks to months. The processes that convert signaling into durable adaptation, the conditions that best support this conversion, and the sources of interindividual variability in training outcomes have largely been studied separately. This review proposes a conceptual framework for integrating these approaches. Adaptive Consolidation is introduced as an organizing concept for this intermediate transition, synthesized as a multi-filter cascade spanning post-translational modification, transcription, protein turnover, chromatin remodeling, immune-cell reprogramming, and autonomic remodeling. Sleep-Gated Adaptation (SGA) is proposed as a physiological gate for this transition; evidence indicates that sleep-dependence is domain-conditional rather than uniform, strongest for protein-synthetic and motor-memory domains, and detectable in immune and autonomic domains only under specific combinations of exercise damage, sleep-loss severity, and readout timing. Adaptive Consolidation Efficiency (ACE) is proposed as an organizing label for individual-specific determinants—genetic, epigenetic, baseline-biological, environmental, and prescription-related—that jointly explain variability in training response. Neither the SGA nor the ACE is proposed as an established mechanism, validated biomarker, or quantitative index; both are conceptual constructs integrating heterogeneous but convergent evidence. The framework was translated into seven falsifiable predictions, a biomarker panel of validated readouts, and minimum design requirements, including falsification criteria, for future testing.

Abstract: Hematopoietic malignancies are commonly associated with oncogenic chromosomal translocations involving histone methylases. Also, the phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) mediate growth factor signaling and are implicated in cancer as drivers of cellular transformation and as targets for anticancer agents. While histone methylation and growth factor signals interact at gene promoters, the interaction mechanisms are not well understood. Pan-specific and paralog-selective class I PI3K inhibitors were tested for the ability to inhibit the proliferation of the leukemia cells lines THP-1 and U937. Further, the transcriptional effects in U937 cells were studied with RNA-seq. Differential cytotoxicity was observed with taselisib being the most cytotoxic compound followed by idelalisib and wortmannin. Alpelisib and seralisib had lower levels of cytotoxicity in both cell lines. Morphological studies showed cell shrinkage and nuclear fragmentation in wortmannin and taselisib treated U937 cells. The transcriptional effects of idelalisib, taselisib, and wortmannin were studied in U937 cells. Consistent with a myeloid lineage, PI3Kδ was most abundant PI3K followed by PI3Kγ at 2-fold lower, and PI3Kβ at 4-fold lower. PI3Kα and class III PI3Ks were detected at much lower levels. Histone lysine methyltransferases and related proteins also displayed marked differences in expression levels. Taselisib caused the most changes in gene expression patterns with the dominant pathways being RNA processing, cell cycle and inflammatory pathways. The results identify genes in the PI3K/AKT pathway as well and histone modification enzymes that correlate with treatment with specific PI3K inhibitors and that could provide insights into the mechanisms of blockage of cell proliferation by the inhibitors.

Abstract: Background: Arrhythmia recurrence after cryoballoon ablation remains a clinically relevant problem in atrial fibrillation (AF). However, factors associated with documented recurrence in low-risk patients without major comorbidities are not well defined. This study aimed to evaluate factors associated with documented arrhythmia recurrence after cryoballoon ablation in a highly selected low-risk AF population. Methods: This retrospective study included 153 eligible patients selected from an institutional cryoablation database after application of predefined exclusion criteria. Only patients with a CHA₂DS₂-VA score ≤1 and without major comorbidities, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, cerebrovascular disease, and heart failure, were included. Recurrence was defined as electrocardiographically documented AF or atrial tachyarrhythmia lasting ≥30 seconds after the 3-month blanking period during 1-year follow-up. Results: The study population included 70 women (45.8%) and 83 men (54.2%). Paroxysmal AF was present in 125 patients (81.7%), whereas 28 patients (18.3%) had persistent AF. Documented arrhythmia recurrence occurred in 40 patients (26.1%). Female sex was more frequent in the recurrence group than in the no-recurrence group (62.5% vs. 39.8%, p = 0.013). In the primary multivariable logistic regression model including sex, age, AF type, and left atrial diameter, female sex was associated with documented arrhythmia recurrence (OR 2.69, 95% CI 1.14–6.37; p = 0.024). Left atrial diameter showed a borderline association, and persistent AF showed numerically higher odds of recurrence; however, these variables did not reach conventional statistical significance in the primary model. Conclusion: In this selected low-risk cohort undergoing second-generation cryoballoon ablation, female sex was associated with documented arrhythmia recurrence during 1-year follow-up. This finding should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating and requires confirmation in larger prospective studies using standardized rhythm monitoring.

Abstract: This paper establishes a formal, information-theoretical derivation of gravitational acceleration as an emergent phenomenon driven by the spatial gradient of the Semantic Geometric Entropy. Operating within an n-dimensional Euclidean space, we evaluate the system at the exact conformal scaling limit where the smooth boundaries of the functional domain transition through a critical embedding threshold. At this specific boundary, the fractional Sobolev space marks the analytical phase transition where localized, heavy-tailed geometric fluctuations stabilize into continuous, bounded spatial distributions. We demonstrate that a naive application of standard field gradients under the fractional scaling exponent yields an incorrect, hyper-localized force drop-off due to strict chain-rule differentiation. To resolve this dimensional conflict, I define a specialized radially symmetric gradient profile that accounts for the internal geometry of the fractional exponent, which uniquely recovers the classical macroscopic inverse-square law. The topological integrity and stability of this coordinate manifold are verified via numerical optimization paths executed along curved matrix search spaces under strict orthogonality constraints. The resulting trajectories demonstrate that while unconstrained updates induce absolute structural collapse into a geometric singularity at a topological saturation limit, implementing a dimensionally mandated reset parameter successfully eliminates parallel transport truncation errors. This analytical and numerical alignment proves that pseudo-Riemannian spacetime is an autonomous, self-stabilizing metric configuration required to maintain global tracking coherence across the informational domain.