Abstract: The fracture behaviour of Si-C-N coatings was investigated through Vickers’s micro-indentation focusing on the distortion of the geometric indentation. A transition from ductile pile-up dominated petal like morphology to mixed-mode ductile-brittle fracture and finally to brittle chipping and delamination was examined. Phenomenon like radial crack initiation, crack joining and shear band assisted plastic flow were correlated with three and four petal distortion geometries. Fracture toughness and mixed-mode energy release rates were quantified using effective rack length and Griffith based criteria. Novel distortion corrected parameters like distortion corrected fracture index (DCFI), plastic fracture composition parameter (Π_pf), indentation geometry instability factor (IGIF), petal to chip transitions parameter (PCTP), shear band assisted fracture parameter (SBFP) and mixed mode indentation fracture severity index (IF_mm) were introduced to capture the interplay between plastically flow crack growth and indentation geometry. Drucker-Prager pressure sensitive plasticity showed hydrostatic stress assisted toughening beneath the indenter, rationalizing the observed asymmetric damage zones and delayed crack propagation. The heterogeneities in the nanocrystaline growth distribution were again correlated to the pop-in events occurring in nanoindentation and overall toughness of the coatings. The results provide a framework for the design of damage tolerant SiCN coatings and it can be found that Si-C-N which can be framed as a structurally disordered, amorphous- nanocrystalline ceramic, the damage tolerance arises from configurational and structural disorder rather than crystallographic failure bringing in a wider aspect of physics related to entropy driven disordered matter.

Abstract: The long-term biological fate of nanoparticles (NPs), which are increasingly identified in human blood and tissues, is still uncertain. Although toxicity remains the primary focus of current study, the human body also exhibits internal resilience mechanisms that alter the impact and transformation of NPs over time. Specifically, we establish forth a framework at the systems level that explains three pillars of resilience: (1) the formation of protein corona, which promotes biological adaptation and expanded circulation; (2) the capacity for fragmentation, which is stimulated by repeated exposure to gastrointestinal tract (GI) motility, shear forces, bile, and enzymatic activity; and (3) vascular to GI recirculation, which carries particles toward the GI, the only physiological compartment that can mechanically process and reduce NPs due to material breakdown. Most of them persist in this dynamic loop, undergoing cycles of cellular release, tissue absorption, recirculation, and GI reentry, which eventually allow for progressive disintegration. Conversely, after macrophage infiltration of the vascular intima, a fraction of particles gets permanently immobilized in the interstice of several organs or in the atherosclerotic plaques; along with privileged immunological or vascular compartments such as the brain parenchymal interstitium, represent important sites where the dynamic resilience loop may be disrupted due to localized macrophage entrapment and restricted lymphatic clearance. Procambarus clarkii chitosan (PCC) administered orally increases faecal elimination and considerably reduces blood levels of NPs. The PCC could potentially have a positive effect on the resilience process.

Abstract: Whether the plasticity of silicon at high temperatures originates from dislocation slip or solid-state phase transition remains difficult to investigate directly through experimental observation due to its microscopic nature. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we investigated the deformation behavior of silicon crystals along four typical crystallographic directions at a reduced temperature of T/Tm = 0.88. The results indicate that prior to yielding, compressive stress induces uniform amorphization throughout the crystal. Once the critical stress is exceeded, Shockley partial dislocations nucleate on the {111} crystal planes, initiating plastic flow, while the amorphous phase undergoes recrystallization during the stress relaxation. These findings demonstrate that at high temperatures, the plasticity of silicon involves both stress-assisted amorphization and dislocation-mediated plasticity, which occur sequentially rather than competing with one another. This study provides atomic-scale guidance for suppressing dislocation defects in the directional solidification growth of polycrystalline silicon.

Abstract: Global genomic surveillance has transformed pathogen detection, but most diagnostic assays and reference databases remain optimized for known targets. Divergent, low-abundance, and uncharacterized viruses can therefore remain undetected or biologically unresolved. This limitation is particularly relevant in Africa, where complex ecosystems and rapidly changing human–animal interfaces coexist with historically uneven sampling and reference-data coverage. Here, we define African Viral Dark Matter as viral diversity that remains undetected, unresolved, or biologically uninterpretable within current surveillance systems. We distinguish three epistemic states evidence, Plausibility, and Unknowns (EPU) to separate demonstrated viral signals from ecological inferences and unresolved biological questions. We then propose an African Viral Dark Matter Atlas (AVDMA) that links viral genomes to hosts, environments, geography, and time, together with a five-dimensional Viral Relevance and Priority Score (VRPS) integrating novelty, evidentiary strength, host connectivity, geographical trajectory, and public-health relevance. The framework shifts surveillance from static viral cataloguing towards longitudinal, context-rich viral intelligence. Its objective is not to predict the next pandemic virus, but to reduce uncertainty, identify changing viral systems, and support earlier, evidence-based surveillance decisions. Successful implementation will require African leadership in sampling, sequencing, analytics, data governance, and interpretation.

Abstract: PURPOSE Microsatellite-stable (MSS) cancers comprise 70–85% of patients but lack prognostic biomarkers to guide clinical decision-making. Current metrics—tumor mutational burden (TMB), copy number variation (CNV), and microsatellite instability (MSI)—measure the quantity of genomic instability but discard sequence-context information that encodes repair pathway activity. We developed TMScal, a clinical decision support tool implementing the Trinucleotide Mutation Spectrum (TMS) framework, and validated its prognostic utility across three independent cohorts totaling 4,913 MSS patients.METHODS TMScal is an R package that computes TMS scores from sequencing data by analyzing the proportional distribution of somatic mutations across 192 complete trinucleotide-by-base-change pathways. The tool features automatic format detection, Elastic Net Cox regression with automated hyperparameter optimization, and single-patient prediction with comprehensive clinical reporting. We validated TMScal using a 70:30 split strategy across three cohorts: SYSUCC-COADREAD (discovery, WES, N=662), TCGA-UCEC (validation, WES, N=400), and MSK-IMPACT COADREAD (clinical validation, targeted panel, N=3,851). One hundred repeated splits were performed to assess robustness.RESULTS TMScal stratified MSS patients into three distinct risk groups in independent validation sets: SYSUCC-COADREAD (HR=2.54, 95% CI: 1.16–5.57, P=0.0203, C-index=0.604); TCGA-UCEC (HR=2.93, 95% CI: 0.90–9.54, P=0.0739, C-index=0.637, showing a trend toward significance); and MSK-IMPACT COADREAD (HR=1.34, 95% CI: 1.06–1.70, P=0.0155, C-index=0.555). One hundred repeated splits confirmed result stability, with mean HRs of 2.09±0.81 (SYSUCC), 2.42±1.06 (UCEC), and 1.28±0.13 (MSK). TMScal generates clinical reports in under five minutes, requiring no additional tissue or sequencing beyond routine clinical testing.CONCLUSION TMScal is an immediately deployable, clinical decision support tool that provides robust prognostic stratification for MSS cancer patients using routine clinical sequencing data. The tool is freely available at https://github.com/cxue/TMScal under Apache License 2.0.HOW TO ACCESS/USE TMScal is implemented in R (≥ 4.2.0). The package includes comprehensive documentation, vignettes, pre-trained models for multiple cancer types (colorectal and endometrial), and example datasets for testing. Installation and usage instructions are provided in the package README and vignettes.

Abstract: Private forest land-use designations can contribute to climate mitigation; however, their carbon benefits are difficult to estimate because protected and less strictly regulated forest lands often differ in site and environmental conditions. Evidence on whether designation-associated carbon differences vary with forest structure is also limited. This study evaluated carbon stock differentials between protected areas in private forests (PA) and matched semi-conservation mountainous districts (SCA) in South Korea using the InVEST Carbon Storage and Sequestration model. Propensity score matching was used to improve comparability, followed by average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) estimation and regression analysis of the matched sample. Alternative matching and regression specifications were examined as robustness checks. The mean carbon stock was 4.97 Mg C ha⁻¹ higher in PAs than in comparable SCAs (95% CI: 4.45–5.49, p < 0.001). The PA-SCA difference varied by forest structure: it was greater in broad-leaved forests than in coniferous forests, showed a nonlinear pattern across canopy density classes, and declined with increasing age class. These findings indicate that carbon stock differences associated with private forest land-use designation are structurally heterogeneous. While they should be interpreted as cross-sectional associations, they provide evidence for differentiated land-management, compensation, and conservation prioritization strategies.

Abstract: For \( q \geq 1 \) and \(gcd(a,q) = 1\) we study the restricted weighted Goldbach sum\[R_{a,q}(N): = \sum_{\substack{p_{1} + p_{2} = N \\ p_{1} \equiv a\,(q)}}^{}(\log p_{1})(logp_{2})\]for even \(N\). We prove an elementary local-obstruction theorem: if \(q\) has an odd prime factor \(\mathcal{l}\), then \(R_{a,q}(N) = O_{q}(logN)\) on a positive-density set of even \(N\), so no asymptotic of size \(\asymp N/\varphi(q)\) can hold uniformly; the restriction \(q = 2^{k}\) used throughout the rest of the paper is therefore forced by the truth of the statement, not by convenience. For \(q = 2^{k}\) we identify the correct main term \(M_{a,q}(N) = 2C_{2}\varphi(q)^{- 1}S(N)N\), prove a qualitative almost-all theorem by a complete major/minor-arc argument, and give a fully self-contained, elementary derivation of an explicit pointwise minor-arc bound (via Vaughan's identity with the balanced parameters \(U = V = X^{2/5}\)) from which an effective almost-all theorem follows, with a threshold that grows like \( (logX)^{(5 + A)/2} \); we further prove that this growth is necessary, in the sense that no threshold constant independent of \(X\) can achieve the same exceptional-set bound once the underlying second moment is genuinely of order \(X^{3}/logX\). We give a sub-exponential exceptional-set bound via the explicit formula and McCurley's zero-free region, a gap theorem for the exceptional set, an additive-energy decay statement, a fully unconditional restricted Chen-type theorem via the Selberg--Chen sieve and the classical Bombieri--Vinogradov theorem, a ternary transfer via prime anchoring, and positivity of the restricted quaternary singular series through explicit local densities. We then prove that the odd part $S(N)$ of the singular series, evaluated along the shifted-prime sequence \(N = p + h\) for a fixed nonzero even \(h\), converges in distribution to an explicit random Euler product \(Y_{h}\) with independent Bernoulli local factors, with every integer moment given by a certified constant, an entire Mellin transform, a non-atomic law of unbounded support, and a superpolynomial upper tail, strictly amplified relative to the analogous statistic on generic even integers; this identifies the amplitude of the restricted Goldbach main term along shifted primes as a rigorously known heavy-tailed statistic rather than an approximately fixed quantity. Every numerical constant used is independently certified in this paper by direct computation with a rigorous tail bound; a previously circulated numerical optimisation purporting to convert the effective almost-all theorem into one with a threshold constant independent of \(X\) is shown, by direct computation of the relevant Chebyshev inequality, to be unachievable, and is not asserted here. We explain, as honestly labelled remarks rather than theorems, why several heuristic routes to unconditional finiteness of the exceptional set do not currently constitute proofs. Every result in this paper is unconditional; no Generalized Riemann Hypothesis, density hypothesis, or other unproved conjecture is used anywhere.

Abstract: Background: Cancer patients experience elevated rates of depression and anxiety compared with the general population. Training cancer care staff to assess distress and deliver brief psychological interventions is effective, but the long-term impact is unclear. This is particularly relevant to the emerging method of deliberate practice in psychological support skills training that focuses on iterative rehearsal of skills with reduced didactic teaching. This study evaluated the long-term impact of brief, deliberate practice-based psychological support skills training and subsequent skills-focused supervision on cancer care staff’s assessment and intervention skills, mental wellbeing, work engagement, and burnout. Methods: A non-randomised, prospective, longitudinal design was applied across six UK National Health Service organisations. Cancer care staff who attended a two-day training and were invited to attend ongoing supervision completed follow-up measures up to four years post-training (n = 307). Multilevel linear mixed models examined change over time. Results: Large improvements in core skills were maintained at long-term follow-up (d = 1.34-1.96). Advanced skills showed initial large gains (d = 1.39) with partial attenuation over time (d = 0.79). Work engagement, burnout, and well-being were stable over time (ds between ≤0.18–0.26). Group supervision attendance was associated with greater improvement in core skills and stronger maintenance of advanced skills. Conclusions: Deliberate practice-based training is associated with durable improvements in psychological support skills up to four years post-training. Ongoing group supervision may enhance long-term skill consolidation. Such training may strengthen psychological support in cancer care.

Abstract: Increasing reliance on groundwater, declining water tables and saltwater intrusion have intensified water stress along the coastal regions. This study evaluates the availability of source water for Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) in the Tiwi coastal aquifer, Kenya. Runoff, as a key potential source for artificial recharge, was quantified for the Pemba–Shimbo and Kongo/Mwachema watersheds using the Soil Conservation Service Curve Number (SCS-CN) method within a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment. Ten years (2015–2024) of rainfall data from three meteorological stations were spatially distributed using the Thiessen polygon method, while land use and soil characteristics informed curve number estimation under varying antecedent moisture conditions. Results indicate that excess runoff and thus potential recharge water is highly seasonal, occurring mainly during the long and short rainy seasons (March–May and October–December). The Pemba–Shimbo watershed exhibited significantly higher recharge potential, with runoff volumes ranging from 0.1 to 77.7 million cubic meters (MCM), compared to 0.1 to 5.5 MCM in Kongo/Mwachema. On average, approximately 13 MCM and 0.7 MCM of water were available annually for recharge in Pemba–Shimbo and Kongo/Mwachema, respectively. The findings demonstrate substantial, yet underutilized, opportunities for MAR, particularly in larger catchments. Strategic planning, including real-time flow monitoring and integration of weather forecasts, is recommended to optimize recharge interventions and enhance groundwater sustainability under changing climatic conditions.

Abstract: To address the limited detection accuracy, narrow operating bandwidth, and complex structure of the charge readout circuits for photodiode arrays in an X-ray imaging system, a multi-channel charge-sensitive readout interface (ROIC) is proposed. By employing switched-capacitor circuits together with digital clock control technology, the ROIC samples the injected charges from 32 photodiodes and transfers them to a single voltage output sequentially. This design realizes multi-channel acquisition and single-channel output. The wide input range is achieved by tuning the gain of the charge-sensitive amplifier. This is accomplished by adjusting the integration feedback capacitor, which ranges from 0.5pF to 32pF. Meanwhile, to extend the gain-bandwidth product (GBW) of the core amplifier, the conventional Miller-capacitor compensation technique is replaced by three separate compensation capacitors, which further improves the overall stability. Simulation results show that the open-loop gain of the CSA amplifier is above 124dB. The GBW is larger than 2.6MHz. The channel non-linearity is 0.1% and the maximum gain error is 0.45%. Measurement results demonstrate the feasibility of the chip. The detector injunction capacitance can reach up to 60pF. It can drive a maximum load of 200pF. The chip power consumption is 43mW with a 5V supply.

Abstract: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a potentially curative treatment for hematological malignancies but is associated with severe neurological complications. Although cerebrovascular events are relatively uncommon after allo-HSCT, with reported rates of 2–8%, they are difficult to manage and may substantially increase mortality. Their epidemiology, timing, risk factors, and influence on transplantation outcomes remain insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to assess the impact of post-transplant stroke on transplantation outcomes in patients with hematological malignancies.

Abstract: We propose the Lucron Model, a pre-geometric framework in which spacetime emerges from a network of identical fundamental units (Lucrons), each carrying one bit of information capacity. Rather than treating Lucrons as geometric atoms with intrinsic shape, we conceptualize them as pre-geometric units of informational and interactional capacity, whose collective behavior gives rise to emergent geometry, time, and mass. We establish a dictionary mapping the network's primitive parameters (interaction weight \( w_L \), causal delay \( \tau_L \), and interaction range \( \ell_L \)) to macroscopic observables (\( \hbar, G, \Lambda \)). Within this calibrated framework, we demonstrate that the Planck length, Bekenstein--Hawking entropy, and Hawking temperature emerge as exact algebraic identities or consistency requirements of the discrete ontology. We explore qualitative mechanisms for fundamental physics: particles as Gaussian conformations, the Schrödinger equation via discrete diffusion, gravity as network deformation (yielding the geometric identity \( \delta \times \lambda = \ell_P^2 \)), and a topological classification of the Standard Model. We explicitly address three ontological tensions: (1) the emergence of Lorentz invariance from a discrete substrate, (2) the conservation of information during cosmological phase transitions, and (3) the compatibility of irreversible diffusion with unitary quantum mechanics. The framework yields two independent, falsifiable predictions: a strict lower bound for black-hole masses (\( M_{\min} \approx 3 \times 10^{22} \) kg) and a bounded cosmological drift of the fine-structure constant (\( |\dot{\alpha}/\alpha| \sim 10^{-18} yr^{-1} \)). We explicitly delineate the boundary between postulates, algebraic identities, qualitative mechanisms, and genuine predictions, offering the model as a structured research programme for quantum gravity.

Abstract: Large language model agents increasingly act through terminals, yet existing surveys disperse terminal-mediated behavior across software engineering, tool use, and computer-use research. We regard terminal agents as systems whose dominant progress-bearing action--observation loop is mediated by terminal command execution, textual feedback, and stateful environment interaction. Using terminal-mediated execution as an organizing lens, this survey establishes workload-level boundaries and connects system architecture, competence acquisition, and evaluation through a seven-dimensional terminal competence profile. Our synthesis shows that realized behavior is jointly shaped by the model, interface, harness, runtime, and environment. Executable trajectories ground learning in action consequences, verification, and recovery, whereas prevailing evaluations emphasize final outcomes and expose process quality, recovery, and governance unevenly. Bounded fixed-condition diagnostics illustrate two implications: benchmark families expose different process signals, and matched system comparisons reveal benchmark-dependent performance and limits of component attribution. These findings motivate explicit reporting of system and runtime conditions, supported by replayable traces and process-level evidence. The framework provides a unified basis for studying terminal-mediated agency across software engineering and emerging application domains.

Abstract: Aiming at the lack of public dataset of satellite Specific Emitter Identification (SEI) and the problem of insufficient data under the condition of multiple receivers, this paper constructs a multi-receiver one-dimensional I/Q dataset for Iridium downlink signal through six software radio receivers with the same parameter configuration. The dataset contains 367,658 valid samples from 66 Iridium satellites. Each sample contains metadata such as SNR, acquisition timestamp, location information, and environmental information. At the same time, the validity of the dataset was evaluated by three experiments under seven deep learning models, different input lengths and different signal-to-noise ratios. The experimental results show that the dataset can effectively support the training and testing of different deep learning models, and can reflect the influence of signal length and signal quality on the performance of satellite individual identification. It provides data basis for satellite radio-frequency fingerprinting identification, low signal-to-noise ratio identification and model performance evaluation under the condition of multiple receivers.

Abstract: Orchestrating and evaluating a multi-agent systems is now common problem in production. Their behavior is stochastic and multi-step and static, single-turn benchmarks measure which model is better, not whether a given pipeline has regressed and in which component. I present a reusable, layered evaluation framework for such systems which balance between cost and reliably. It orders its checks by cost—deterministic validators and computation metrics run first and for free, and a model-graded LLM-as-a-judge layer runs only where holistic judgement is needed. To test the framework, I applied it to a real document-processing agent built on two LangGraph pipelines: ingestion, which extracts text from PDFs, and chat, which retrieves passages and answers with citations. Gating the expensive judge layer behind the cheap ones cut judge spend by about 63% at no cost to coverage. A layered, stage-attributed framework therefore gives a live multi-agent pipeline a continuous, reproducible regression signal, localized to the component at fault. It also give real explainability and debuggability of such a complex system.

Abstract: Ageing well in place requires a living environment that meets the evolving needs of older adults. While the role of safety in healthy ageing is widely recognised, the contribution of a stimulating environment has received less attention. This study aims to develop an expert-weighted system quantifying how living environments provide physical and cognitive stimulation, as well as safety for older adults. Following an iterative process, multidisciplinary experts in ageing and housing weighted the importance of items for assessing an older adult’s level of physical and cognitive stimulation, and safety. They then judged sub-items for their influence (increase, decrease, or neutral) within each domain. Each sub-item was also assessed as beneficial, harmful, or person-dependent. Final weights were computed by multiplying importance and influence values. Agreement was assessed using the Median Absolute Deviation for importance (MAD < 2.5) and a ≥75% threshold for influence. For importance, 76% of stimulation-related items and 85% of safety items reached consensus, with remaining outliers explored through qualitative analyses. For influence, ≥75% agreement was achieved for 50% of physical-stimulation sub-items, 33% of cognitive-stimulation sub-items, and 59% of safety sub-items. Most sub-items were considered beneficial across domains. This weighting system allows an older adult’s living environment to be evaluated in terms of physical and cognitive stimulation, as well as safety. However, as some items and sub-items did not reach the predefined agreement thresholds, these weightings should be used with caution. These weightings enables benchmarking, environmental audits and targeted design interventions to support ageing well in place.

Abstract: Background: Injectable contraceptives are the most commonly used modern contraceptive method in sub-Saharan Africa, including Zambia, where they account for 47% of modern contraceptive use among married women. Despite their popularity, discontinuation rates remain high, with over 30% of users discontinuing within 12 months. Understanding the factors associated with injectable contraceptive discontinuation and missed reinjections is essential for improving reproductive health outcomes. This study assessed factors associated with injectable contraceptive discontinuation, missed reinjections, and overall utilization among women at Chipokota-Mayamba Clinic in Ndola, Zambia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 132 women of reproductive age (15-49 years) who were current or former users of injectable contraceptives attending Chipokota-Mayamba Clinic. Systematic random sampling was employed, achieving a 91.7% response rate. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire assessing sociodemographic characteristics, utilization patterns, medication-related factors, and healthcare system factors. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used for analysis. Results: The majority of respondents were aged 25-34 years (41.8%), married (61.0%), had secondary education (46.6%), and were unemployed (41.8%). A substantial proportion (43.2%) had discontinued injectable use, and 51.5% had delayed or missed a scheduled reinjection. Side effects were experienced by 71.2% of users, with irregular bleeding (71.3%) and weight gain (61.7%) being most common. Healthcare system factors including stockouts (25.8%), inadequate counseling on side effects (18.9% received no explanation), and privacy concerns (26.5%) were prevalent. Factors significantly associated with current use included partner support (p<0.001), knowledge of return schedule (p<0.001), provider-client communication (p=0.002), privacy (p=0.010), educational attainment (p=0.022), household income (p=0.031), and stockouts (p=0.038). Among those who discontinued, side effects (54.4%) and fear of infertility (36.8%) were the main reasons for discontinuation. Conclusion: Injectable contraceptive discontinuation and missed reinjection rates at Chipokota-Mayamba Clinic are associated with multifaceted factors including sociodemographic characteristics, medication-related concerns, and healthcare system challenges. Targeted interventions addressing side effect management, male involvement, health education, and service delivery improvements are urgently needed to enhance contraceptive continuity.

Abstract: Semaglutide and tirzepatide are increasingly used for obesity and diabetes, producing substantial changes in appetite, dietary intake, body weight, glycemic control, and gastrointestinal physiology that could plausibly influence oral health. Reports of xerostomia and dental complications have emerged, but population-scale risk of new-onset oral disease remains unclear. Using de-identified electronic health records from a federated system of 29 million patients, we evaluated 15 oral and dental conditions over a 12-month follow-up period in 184,582 semaglutide or tirzepatide users after excluding patients with substantial pre-existing oral-health burden. GLP-1 receptor agonist users were propensity-score matched to patients initiating other anti-diabetic therapies (42,093 pairs) and undergoing bariatric surgery (15,793 pairs) and comparisons were performed based on structured diagnosis codes and natural language processing-derived phenotypes from clinical notes. During follow-up, 8.69% of GLP-1 users developed at least one newly documented oral-health condition, with dry mouth most frequent (5.29%). Compared with matched users of other anti-diabetic therapies, GLP-1 users had lower incidence of any oral-health condition (RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.71–0.77), dental caries (RR 0.47, 0.40–0.56), and periodontitis (RR 0.50, 0.40–0.61). Dental plaque/calculus was the only condition with higher incidence (RR 1.27, 1.02–1.56). Similar trends were observed versus bariatric surgery (any oral-health condition: RR 0.80, 0.75–0.86). Dry-mouth incidence increased with greater treatment-associated weight loss (P<0.001). Overall, semaglutide or tirzepatide initiation was not associated with broadly increased oral-health risk, although dry mouth may represent a weight-loss-associated phenotype warranting further study.

Abstract: Selective fetal growth restriction (sFGR) remains a leading cause of perinatal morbidity in multiple pregnancies; however, its pathogenesis is not yet fully elucidated. Investigating amino acid metabolism in weight-discordant twins may uncover critical metabolic pathways involved in this condition, given the essential roles of amino acids in fetal growth and energy supply. The use of dried blood spots (DBS) enables the non-invasive, retrospective evaluation of neonatal metabolic profiles, providing a unique opportunity to identify sFGR biomarkers and clarify differences between monochorionic (MC) and dichorionic (DC) placentation. In the present study, we profiled 23 amino acids in DBS from 23 twin pairs (11 discordant and 12 concordant), stratified by chorionicity, to identify specific metabolic signatures associated with sFGR and to evaluate their temporal dynamics and clinical significance. Our findings demonstrate that chorionicity determines the amino acid signature of discordance. In MC twins, the larger co-twin displayed significantly elevated glycine, α- and γ-aminobutyric acids, serine, asparagine, and citrulline, alongside reduced proline and tryptophan. In DC twins, the larger co-twin exhibited higher α-aminobutyric acid, valine, leucine, arginine, and citrulline, whereas glycine was elevated in the smaller co-twin. Pathway enrichment analysis further revealed the enrichment of amino acid transport and protein synthesis pathways in MC discordance, and nitric oxide (NO)-dependent signaling in DC discordance. Longitudinal follow-up demonstrated a statistically significant attenuation of intrapair differences for several amino acids by the second time point.

Abstract: The paper presents the results of monoaural and binaural acoustic measurements and speech intelligibility tests conducted in two classrooms representative of typical school buildings in Italy. The sample of two classrooms was selected based on a statistical analysis of reverberation time measurements taken in more than one hundred Italian schools. In the two sample classrooms, measurements were taken both when the room was empty and when it was occupied by pupils. The binaural measurements were conducted on two students who were fitted with special headphones equipped with binaural microphones, with sound sources placed in various positions within the classroom, both in the acoustically untreated classroom (with a long reverberation time) and in the acoustically treated classroom (with a short reverberation time). The results of the speech intelligibility tests conducted on 25 elementary school students confirmed that speech intelligibility improves significantly in the acoustically treated classroom.