Abstract: Why do the laws represented by the Standard Model and general relativity have their observed forms, why do their particular symmetry groups govern physical interactions, and why do particular constants and ratios enter them? The reconstruction program proposes that these laws, symmetries, and numerical parameters originate in a premetric selection layer logically prior to dynamical evolution in time. Earlier applications showed that invariant reconstruction structures can produce quantitative predictions for constants and particle ratios. This article develops the complementary laws side of the program. Reconstruction is not proposed as a replacement for the Standard Model or general relativity. Its role is to select persistent physical identities and a shared read-out platform—a structured, non-empty vacuum support equipped with the causal geometry, phase-comparison structure, and internal-comparison data on which those effective theories operate. The Indefinite Reconstruction Stability Principle ("IRSP") requires protected identities and readable relations to survive every admissible continuation and requires physical conclusions to be independent of arbitrary unread choices. A single neutral parent, understood as a common premetric archetype rather than an additional particle, organizes the resulting read-out channels. For a localized identity to qualify as physically existent, IRSP requires it to remain readable from its complement through a primitive closed detector; together with the primitive-loop and smooth-holonomy bridges, this existence condition selects codimension-two loop-readable structure and a local U(1) connection. The central geometric result is then the conditional selection of a (3 + 1)-dimensional Lorentzian read-out platform. Continuum IRSP and full-dimensional reciprocal response select Lorentzian signature and one temporal direction, while the resulting curvature two-form and conformal descent independently fix the total spacetime dimension to four. On the selected platform, gauge invariance and nativeness yield a source-free Abelian Maxwell law, while readable metric scale yields Einstein–Hilbert dynamics at leading order. A separate conditional internal 3 + 2 read-out selects the global Standard Model gauge group SU(3) × SU(2) × U(1) with its maximal Z6 quotient. Laws and constants thereby become complementary outputs of one prior architecture, while the Standard Model and general relativity remain the indispensable effective theories after read-out.

Abstract: Recurrent nonmelanoma skin cancer is a chronic, mutilating disease with great potential to leave cosmetic, functional, and emotional consequences. Aims: To examine the correlation between psychological symptoms, quality of life and resilience in people with recurrent nonmelanoma skin cancer. Methods: A clinical retrospective study was conducted at the Clinic for Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery of the University Hospital Mostar in the period from February 2025 to April 2026. The study sample consisted of 160 patients who underwent surgery for nonmelanoma facial skin carcinoma. Data were collected with a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R), the Connor Davidson Resilience scale 25 (CD-RISC-25) and World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHQOL-BREF). Results: Correlation analysis showed significant associations between psychological symptoms, quality of life and resilience. All dimensions of psychological symptoms were statistically significantly negatively related to quality of life. Resilience measured by the CD-RISC scale showed a weak but statistically significant negative correlation with non-specific psychological symptoms. Patients with reccurent NMSC had significantly more psychological symptoms (F = 21.961, p < 0.001), lower quality of life (F = 12.788, p < 0.001), and lower levels of resilience (F = 4.174, p = 0.043). Conclusions: Psychological factors play an important role in patients with nonmelanoma skin cancer. An integrated biopsychosocial approach, which includes the assessment of psychological symptoms and resilience, may contribute to a better understanding of patients' needs and improve the quality of treatment.

Abstract: The high-speed steel (HSS) substrate was coated with CrC, NbC, TiC, and VC layers using the thermo-reactive diffusion (TRD) process at 900 and 1100 °C for 2 and 4 hours. The experimental design was implemented according to the Taguchi L8 orthogonal array. The coating morphology was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), while the phase composition was identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The effects of coating type, temperature, and time on coating thickness, microhardness, coefficient of friction, and specific wear rate were evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA). SEM and EDS analyses showed that coatings produced at lower temperatures and shorter times exhibited non-uniform layer thickness, localized porosity, and irregular carbide formation, whereas coatings applied at higher temperatures and longer times resulted in uniform layers, homogeneous elemental distribution, and improved surface morphology. XRD analyses confirmed that the coatings consisted of high-intensity carbide phases and that the chemical composition of the substrate influenced the resulting coating phases. Phase composition analysis revealed the presence of residual phases such as Cr₇C₃ and Cr₂₃C₆ in the coatings. Coating thickness and hardness increased with increasing temperature and time. Analysis of variance revealed that coating type (45.13%) and temperature (42.34%) were the dominant factors affecting coating thickness, whereas temperature (39.92%) and coating type (37.77%) had the greatest contributions to hardness. The friction coefficient was predominantly influenced by coating type (87.98%), whereas the specific wear rate was mainly affected by temperature (34.99%) and coating type (33.37%). NbC coatings exhibited the lowest performance among the investigated coatings across all evaluated properties.

Abstract: Background: Psychological factors influence rehabilitation and return to sport following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, yet evidence in futsal players remains limited. Methods: A qualitative multiple-case study was conducted with eight federated futsal players (five women and three men) with confirmed ACL injuries and five physiotherapists experienced in ACL rehabilitation. Semi-structured interviews explored athletes’ experiences across injury, rehabilitation, and return to sport, while physiotherapist interviews provided a clinical and temporal framework. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and cross-case comparison. Results: Seven themes were identified: (1) emotional impact at the time of injury, (2) psychological challenges during early rehabilitation, (3) psychological adaptation throughout rehabilitation, (4) factors influencing rehabilitation adaptation, (5) return to sport and psychological readiness, (6) role of physiotherapists and social support, and (7) perceived psychological needs during rehabilitation. Fear of reinjury, uncertainty, frustration, loss of independence, motivational fluctuations, and reduced confidence were prominent challenges. Progressive goal achievement, individualized rehabilitation, previous injury experience, and support from physiotherapists, family, and teammates facilitated recovery. Seven athletes considered structured psychological support potentially beneficial. Conclusions: ACL rehabilitation in futsal should be understood as an individualized, dynamic biopsychosocial process. Repeated psychological monitoring, progressive sport-specific exposure, and access to specialist support may promote a safer and more sustainable return to sport.

Abstract: The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a coordinated multicellular interface in which intercellular communication shapes responses to injury and metabolic stress. However, the contributions of individual cell types to collective stress adaptation remain poorly understood. Here, we examined molecular and metabolic responses of 2D BBB models comprising endothelial cells, astrocytes, and pericytes exposed to hypoxia or sublethal HgCl₂ toxicity. An integrated platform combining gene and protein expression profiling, label-free vibrational spectroscopic imaging, and machine-learning-based analysis was used to assess stress-induced changes in cell-cycle regulation and metabolism across monoculture and co-culture configurations. Hypoxia broadly suppressed G1/S and G2/M regulators, inducing cell-cycle arrest with limited cell death, consistent with an adaptive response. HgCl₂ caused heterogeneous, model-dependent changes in viability and proliferative capacity. Spectroscopic phenotyping showed that co-cultured cells acquired molecular profiles characteristic of pericytes, indicating a dominant pericyte-driven influence on the cellular community. Fluorescence imaging further revealed intercellular mitochondrial transfer at cell–cell contact sites. These findings identify pericytes as key contributors to stress resistance and BBB cell survival. The developed spectroscopic–molecular platform provides a label-free framework for monitoring cellular communication and stress responses in multicellular BBB models.

Abstract: Objectives: The aim of this case report is to demonstrate that the Invisalign® clear aligner system is an effective and optimal therapeutic option for the treatment of Class II Subdi-vision malocclusion in adolescent patients. Methods: Z.E., a 13.3-year-old Caucasian female adolescent, presented with permanent dentition, Class II Subdivision malocclusion characterized by a Class II molar and canine relationship on the right side and a Class I molar and canine relationship on the left side, increased overjet and overbite, improper inclination of the upper incisors with diastemas, diastemas also present in the lower arch, and non-coincident midlines. The Invisalign® Comprehensive package was selected, and three sets of clear aligners were planned. The patient was instructed to wear the aligners full-time and to change every 7 days. At each follow-up appointment, scheduled every 4 weeks, a single operator assessed aligner fit, attachment positioning, and patient com-pliance. The treatment plan included expansion and restoration to achieve optimal upper and lower arch form, sequential distalization at 50% in the upper right quadrant, Class II elastics, and a “frog-staging” pattern for upper anterior retraction to achieve appropriate vestibular inclination (torque) of the upper incisors during the final phase. Results: Functional occlusion with Class I molar and canine relationships was achieved on both sides. Proper inclination of the upper and lower incisors was obtained. Good inter-cuspation and coincident midlines were observed at the end of treatment. Conclusions: In this case of Class II Subdivision malocclusion, effective esthetic and stable results were achieved using the Invisalign® clear aligner system.

Abstract: The rapid transition toward electrified mobility and climate neutrality has prioritized the structural and environmental optimization of battery electric vehicle (BEV) subsystems. While vehicle lightweighting enhances operational efficiency, the production phase of structural enclosures and battery cells frequently introduces severe environmental and economic impacts and supply chain vulnerabilities. This study presents a comprehensive cradle-to-gate environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Life Cycle Costing (LCC), and semi-quantitative social assessment of alternative battery housing materials and battery cell architectures. To achieve a functionally accurate comparison, alternative materials, including a novel recyclable thermoplastic acrylic sheet molding compound (SMC), commercial thermoset SMCs, aluminum (AlMg3), and stainless steel, are evaluated using an analytical stiffness- and strength-equivalent methodology across three real-world geometric demonstrators. Simultaneously, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) liquid electrolyte prismatic cells and solid-state polymer pouch cells are assessed. Material-level results indicate that while aluminum minimizes structural mass, primary aluminum manufacturing exhibits the highest global warming potential and processing costs. Conversely, Polytec SMC and Elium SMC achieve the lowest environmental impacts alongside with competitive total production costs. At the cell level, prismatic LFP architectures display superior environmental performance compared to solid-state pouch cells, which suffer from the energy-intensive processing and lower volumetric capacity normalization. Demonstrator-level aggregation reveals that the electrochemical cells heavily dominate the environmental and economic footprint of the complete assembly, with the housing accounting for less than 5% of total global warming potential (GWP) and 1% of total costs. The social assessment reveals moderate and comparable performance across all systems, with slight advantages for thermoplastic composite-based configurations in terms of circularity potential and innovation perception. Overall, the study highlights the critical importance of cell architecture and manufacturing processes in determining battery system sustainability, while demonstrating the relevance of lightweight composite housings for reducing structural mass with minimal environmental penalty.

Abstract: The use of outdated fuel consumption standards reduces the economic efficiency and environmental sustainability of modern agricultural production. This study aimed to refine fuel consumption standards and evaluate the energy performance of tractor–machine combinations during major agricultural operations using telemetry-based monitoring. Field experiments were conducted under real production conditions using DFM electronic fuel flow meters integrated with the CAN bus and BLE wireless data transmission. Comparative analyses of conventional and minimum tillage systems were performed using real-time telemetry data collected during plowing, harrowing, seeding, spraying, cultivation, harvesting, and transportation operations. Statistical and regression analyses revealed significant relationships between operating speed, fuel consumption, and specific energy consumption. Minimum tillage reduced useful specific energy consumption by 5.7% (543.5 kWh/ha) and total specific energy consumption by 17.1% (1078.3 kWh/ha) compared with conventional tillage. A strong non-linear relationship R² = 0.985 was identified between operating speed and process energy consumption. The proposed telemetry-based methodology improves the accuracy of fuel consumption assessment and provides a practical basis for developing adaptive fuel consumption standards under actual operating conditions. Furthermore, the transition to minimum tillage and telemetry-based monitoring enables significant carbon footprint reduction, mitigating CO₂ emissions by over 560 tonnes per 10,000 ha annually, thereby supporting the decarbonization of mechanized agricultural operations.

Abstract: Recent advances in Digital Twin technology focus on visualization, operator training, and real-time machine simulation, aligning with the Industry 4.0 paradigm. However, the transition toward Industry 5.0 demands human-centric approaches that integrate workers not merely as observers but as active, monitorable parts of the system. Despite growing research interest, mature end-to-end methodologies for creating and deploying reliable Human Digital Twins in industrial environments are still lacking. This paper introduces Industrial Meta-Human (IMHU), an end-to-end human-centered Digital Twin methodology designed to bridge this gap. By spanning the entire lifecycle, from human modeling to production deployment, IMHU leverages Unreal Engine simulation to generate accurate human models and synthetic data, allowing safe replication of hazardous scenarios without disrupting ongoing operations. The methodology integrates Artificial Intelligence to enable real-time monitoring and support data-driven decision-making. Deployed on a fully operational production line, IMHU includes a system integration layer based on a Service-Oriented Architecture, enabling seamless interoperability with legacy Industry 4.0 infrastructures. Experimental results demonstrate the feasibility and confirm the effectiveness of real-time human-state tracking, and underscore its potential to advance scalable, human-centered Digital Twin systems for Industry 5.0. The dataset will be available for research purposes upon acceptance. An overview of the proposed framework is available in the accompanying video demonstration: https://youtu.be/qPHSl0Wp7nY.

Abstract: Hedera helix L. leaf extracts are regulated expectorants for productive cough, yet their evidence is dispersed across pharmaceutical quality, nonclinical pharmacology, disposition, toxicology, clinical pharmacology, efficacy, safety, and regulatory assessment. This review integrates those domains in a single study-level account and explicitly distinguishes isolated constituents, incompletely specified extracts, defined monograph preparations, proprietary extracts, and combination products. Hederacoside C is the pharmacopoeial marker, while α-hederin is the constituent most extensively examined in β2-adrenergic receptor models. Cell studies documented reduced agonist-induced receptor internalization, greater ligand binding and cAMP responsiveness, and altered GRK2/β-arrestin signaling. Isolated-tissue and animal studies reported antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antitussive, and tracheobronchial secretory effects. Rat studies showed low, matrix-dependent oral exposure to hederacoside C and α-hederin. Small exploratory human studies detected no or only trace α-hederin and did not permit conventional pharmacokinetic analysis. Clinical evidence includes placebo-controlled adult trials, active-comparator studies, pediatric investigations, postmarketing cohorts, systematic reviews, and pharmacovigilance reports. Controlled adult trials of EA 575 reported greater short-term improvement in cough or Bronchitis Severity Score than placebo; pediatric efficacy evidence is dominated by observational studies and small airway-function trials. Short-term tolerability was generally favorable, with gastrointestinal and hypersensitivity reactions as the principal recognized adverse effects. The European Union monograph recognizes specified extracts for productive cough, contraindicates use below two years, and does not recommend use during pregnancy or lactation. The distinctive contribution of this review is the complete quality-to-clinic evidence map, including dose, model, endpoint, study design, extract identity, and unresolved evidence domain for each major dataset.

Abstract: Automatic modulation recognition (AMR) is a key enabling technique for intelligent spectrum sensing, non-cooperative wireless signal analysis, and communication monitoring. However, its reliability degrades significantly under low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions, where noise weakens local I/Q waveform patterns, blurs time-frequency structures, and limits the robustness of single-domain representations. Although multimodal AMR methods have improved recognition by combining I/Q and time-frequency representations, many of them still use fixed fusion rules, which may not reflect the changing reliability of different modalities across SNR levels. In addition, most existing backbones model signal sequences in a Euclidean manner and lack an explicit mechanism to capture adaptive relational structures among signal tokens under strong noise. To address these limitations, this paper proposes MPCG-Net, a modulation-prior-enhanced cross-modal graph learning framework for low-SNR AMR. MPCG-Net first performs modulation-prior-enhanced cross-modal encoding, where learnable multi-resolution spectro-temporal representation learning enhances the input representation and training-stage SNR-aware cross-modal consistency alignment improves the complementary interaction between I/Q and spectro-temporal tokens. A modulation context memory module then refines the fused tokens before graph construction. In the graph-based relational learning stage, a temporal similarity graph with self-loops, local temporal-chain edges, and top-k feature-similarity edges is built to learn more discriminative graph-level signal representations. Experiments on RadioML2016.10A, RadioML2016.10B, and RML22 validate the effectiveness of the proposed design. Compared with representative baseline models, MPCG-Net improves the average accuracy by 1.66–11.01 percentage points in the -20 to 0 dB low-SNR range while maintaining a lightweight model scale, demonstrating robust recognition performance without relying on excessive network capacity

Abstract: Nonlinear superposition of solitons provide almost linear branches as well as “quantum jumps" to stable particle-like cores. Can the quest for possible nonlinearity of quantum mechanics and the “collapse paradox" of the wave function in (non-)linear quantum mechanics be resolved by transitions between different quasi-linear branches of the corresponding Whitney surface? (In memoriam of Carl Brans 1935 -2026)

Abstract: Infective endocarditis (IE) is associated with an in-hospital mortality rate of 15–30%. Standard treatment requires 2 to 6 weeks of intrave-nous (IV) antibiotic therapy, resulting in prolonged hospitalization with its attendant risks, including catheter-related complications, in-creased length of stay, and cost.This review summarizes the current evidence, eligibility criteria, antibiotic regimen selection, and practical aspects of partial oral ibiotic therapy (POAT) for IE. Oral treatment is already recommended for right-sided Staphylococcus aureus IE and IE caused by atypical pathogens. The landmark POET trial (2019) demonstrated the non-inferiority of POAT — initiated after at least 10 days of IV therapy — versus continued IV treatment for left-sided IE caused by streptococci, Enterococcus faecalis, S. aureus, or coagu-lase-negative staphylococci. Long-term follow-up at 5.4 years demon-strated lower all-cause mortality in the POAT group. The 2023 ESC Guidelines now formally endorse POAT for selected patients fulfilling strict criteria. Despite robust evidence, POAT is currently implemented in fewer than half of eligible patients. These findings have since been corroborated by the WikiGuidelines Group consensus statement and the French SPILF-AEPEI position statement, and extended by re-al-world evidence (the ENDO-ORAL study) suggesting that carefully selected patients falling outside strict trial-based eligibility criteria may also benefit from oral step-down therapy. POAT represents a safe, effective, and resource-efficient alternative to prolonged IV therapy in carefully selected patients. Strict adherence to eligibility criteria, ap-propriate antibiotic selection based on pathogen susceptibility, and close clinical follow-up are essential to optimize outcomes.

Abstract: After-school tutoring has become a prominent form of personalized learning in higher education worldwide. It not only makes up for the insufficiency of classroom learning but also provides an important channel for the cultivation of college students' academic literacy and the improvement of their vocational skills. Given the scarcity of high-quality after-school tutoring and the resulting tutoring costs, this paper starts from the perspective of the cost-benefit trade-off of rational college students accepting after-school tutoring, rationalizes after-school tutoring as a control factor in the growth system of college students, and proposes an optimal control model to analyze the impact of after-school tutoring on college students' professional literacy under the comprehensive consideration of costs and benefits. Our model simulation shows that college students' acceptance of after-school tutoring can significantly improve their professional quality, and the earlier they accept it, the better. In addition, the benefit of after-school tutoring under cost-benefit trade-off is only slightly lower than that of full-time complete after-school tutoring, with extremely high cost-effectiveness. The conclusions of this paper not only are consistent with existing research but also deepen and expand related viewpoints.

Abstract: (1) Objective: This study aims to evaluate the pre-admission pharmacist for high-risk obstetric patients’ admissions on medication management processes, workflow efficiency, and staff satisfaction. (2) Methods: Data collected over a 12-month period, from March 2025 to February 2026, were analysed. Data collected included clinic type, patient attendance, mode of pharmacist review, and follow-up requirements. Multidisciplinary healthcare professionals were invited to complete a satisfaction survey to identify themes relating to service value, workflow impact, and opportunities for improvement. (3) Results: A total of 1039 interviews with obstetric patients equating to an average of 19.98 interviews per week. A total of 999 patients were involved in the 1039 interviews held, 40/999 (4%) patients required additional follow-up telephone interview and 14 patients (14/999, 1.4%) requiring in-person interview for interpreter services, detailed discussion or hearing impairment. Thirty-two staff responded to a survey and demonstrated a consistent trend across anaesthetists, nursing and midwifery staff and pharmacists. All respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that PAC pharmacist in obstetric setting was valuable and beneficial to clinical workflow and medication management processes, and that they were satisfied with the PAC pharmacy service. (4) Conclusion: The PAC pharmacist demonstrated a positive impact on medication management for obstetric patients within the pre-admission setting.

Abstract: We study closed timelike curves (CTCs) in a cylindrically symmetric, stationary, axisymmetric spacetime within the Arnowitt--Deser--Misner (ADM) \( 3{+}1 \) decomposition, coupled to Einstein--Dirac--Maxwell (EDM) fields. The central observation of this work is that CTC formation is \emph{not} automatically incompatible with positive ADM energy. Beginning from the ADM Hamiltonian constraint, we prove rigorously that the ADM energy \( E \geq 0 \)for hyperbolic shift vectors of the form \( N_i = \partial_i \gamma \), yielding \( N_i = \partial_i \gamma \). The cylindrical metric admits CTCs when the coefficient \( R(r) < 0 \), a condition we translate into an explicit inequality on the determinant of the \( (t,\varphi) \) block of the metric. For the Einstein--Dirac--Maxwell system we compute the conserved Noether charge \( \QN \) and derive the critical ADM energy\( \Ecrit(\alpha, \QN) \) above which CTCs form in a tubular neighborhood of the Tipler cylinder. The quantum backreaction on the metric, encoded in the renormalized stress tensor \( \Tren \), produces a vacuum polarization (VP) distortion \[ \omega g^{\mathrm{VP}}_{\mu\nu} \;\sim\; \frac{\lPl^2}{D\,\Delta t}\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\!\left(\frac{\delta}{2D}\right)^{\!n-1}, \] which converges absolutely for \( \delta < 2D \) to the closed-form value \( \lPl^2/(D\,\Delta t) \cdot 2D/(2D-\delta) \). We show this backreaction is consistent with, but does not by itself prove, Hawking's chronology protection conjecture. The Weak Energy Condition is satisfied globally by the ADM energy bound; local WEC violation is nevertheless required in a neighborhood of any Cauchy horizon where CTCs first form, in agreement with the Average Null Energy Condition analysis of Tipler-type spacetimes.

Abstract: Objectives: To determine whether Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) health zones with the same operational-priority score required different effective ring reach to achieve the same simulated benefit, and how surveillance reconstruction and modelling assumptions affected estimates. Effective ring reach was the proportion of eligible contacts and contacts of contacts identified, reached, accepting vaccination and vaccinated in time. Design: Health-zone-stratified preparedness modelling using routine aggregate outbreak data. Current transmission (Rt) was estimated from reconstructed reporting intervals, and paired branching-process simulations compared hypothetical ring vaccination with no vaccination. Setting: Five affected DRC provinces; data lock 24 July 2026. Units of analysis: Forty-nine affected health zones identified from 64 official situation reports. Interventions: Scenarios varied vaccine efficacy across five levels, operational timing across three scenarios, additional transmission reduction from non-vaccine measures across four levels, and effective ring reach from 5% to 100%. Main outcome measures: Current Rt; C*25, the lowest effective ring reach producing at least a 25% mean case reduction over 42 days; and C*50, defined similarly for a 50% reduction. Results: Twenty-one health zones met minimum data requirements and 13 had a usable current Rt, producing 18 simulated states because five zones required two plausible reconstructions. Among health zones with priority scoring 14/16, C*25 was 64% in Bunia, 71%-74% in Mongbwalu and 83% in Rwampara. Among zones scoring 11/16, it was 55%-56% in Nizi, 57% in Bambu, 60% in Katwa and 62% in Butembo. Nyankunde did not achieve the 25% target at 100% reach, and no state achieved 50%. Using WHO infection-timing assumptions did not usually change whether transmission was increasing or decreasing, but it made the vaccination target harder to achieve. The model’s short-term predictions were also less reliable than expected. Conclusions: Operational priority and modelled vaccination opportunity differed across health zones. Even zones with the same priority score could require different levels of effective ring reach to achieve the same simulated benefit. These findings are most useful for comparing preparedness demands across zones and scenarios when interpreted alongside recent transmission, surveillance quality and field constraints. They should not be used as forecasts, allocation rules or vaccination-coverage targets.

Abstract: Integrated nested microring resonators (NMRRs) with multiple split resonances are theoretically investigated for advanced spectral engineering. First, the spectral response of NMRRs of different orders is systematically analyzed, revealing the evolution of extinction ratio (ER), quality (Q) factor, and mode-splitting degree with device structural parameters. Next, the split resonances of NMRRs are engineered to realize different filter functions with outstanding performance, including dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) and Fano filtering. The former enables reduced channel spacing by a factor of ~18 without increasing the device footprint, whereas the latter achieves high slope rates (SRs) of up to ~1337 and ~1616 dB/nm while maintaining low insertion losses (ILs) of 3 and 5 dB, respectively. Finally, fabrication tolerances and practical limitations are analyzed to guide the design and optimization of NMRRs, together with discussion on their potential for other applications. These results highlight the strong potential of NMRRs as highly versatile integrated photonic filters with flexible spectral engineering capabilities.

Abstract: Contemporary photosynthesis relies on the dissipation of visible solar photon energy through chlorophyll. Chlorophyll biosynthesis in modern organisms is a complex pathway involving more than 14 enzymatic steps. Near the origin of life, however, complex enzymes could not have existed, so primordial photosynthesis must have been a simpler, more direct process, but still based on photon dissipation. We have argued that life began around the early Archean through the molecular dissipative structuring of UV-C chromophores (now known as the fundamental molecules of life) under the thermodynamic imperative of dissipating Earth’s surface solar UV-C photons into heat. Here, employing the Granick hypothesis (linking biosynthetic order to evolutionary history), we chart a plausible non-enzymatic route for the UV-C dissipative structuring of chlorophyll. Starting from a likely common Archean precursor, glutamic acid, we show how dissipative structuring under UV-C light could have led to molecules en route to chlorophyll with ever-greater photon absorption cross sections and bandwidths, moving towards the absorption of visible wavelengths of higher photon intensities. Such a process demonstrates all the hallmarks of molecular dissipative structuring and may have been at the foundations of the complex biosynthetic pathway of visible photosynthesis appearing around 3.7 Ga.

Abstract: Introduction: Pediatric uroflowmetry is volume dependent, and low-volume voids can yield recordings that require repetition or cannot be interpreted confidently. Objective: To evaluate the association between documented bladder scan-guided test timing and first-attempt uroflowmetry adequacy in children. Study design: This single-center retrospective workflow cohort included 110 toilet-trained children aged 5-12 years who underwent uroflowmetry for suspected non-neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction. The exposure was defined from contemporaneous pre-test documentation as bladder scan-guided timing (n=55) or standard urge-based timing (n=55). Expected bladder capacity (EBC) was calculated as (age + 1) × 30 mL. The primary outcome was first-attempt voided volume ≥50% EBC. Key secondary outcomes were repetition because of inadequate volume and workflow time. Analyses were observational and effect estimates were interpreted as associations. Results: Adequate first-attempt voided volume was documented in 50/55 children (90.9%) in the scan-guided cohort and 39/55 (70.9%) in the standard cohort (unadjusted risk ratio 1.28, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-1.55; risk difference 20.0 percentage points, 95% CI 5.8-34.2). Repetition because of inadequate volume, the direct workflow consequence of primary-outcome failure, occurred in 9.1% versus 29.1%. Scan-guided timing was also associated with a higher voided volume/EBC ratio (mean difference 15.1 percentage points, 95% CI 7.2-23.0), shorter total completion time (-8.8 min, 95% CI -14.9 to -2.7), and shorter documented active staff time (-3.8 min, 95% CI -5.6 to -2.0). Discussion: Objective bladder-volume information was associated with greater first-attempt volume adequacy and shorter workflow times. However, the retrospective exposure definition, uncertain workflow-selection mechanism, unadjusted primary analysis, and reliance on routine documentation prevent causal interpretation. Conclusion: Documented bladder scan-guided timing was associated with greater first-attempt pediatric uroflowmetry adequacy than standard urge-based preparation. The findings should be considered hypothesis-generating pending adjusted patient-level analyses and prospective validation.