Sort by

Essay
Computer Science and Mathematics
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Yingyong Zou

,

Chunfang Li

,

Yu Zhang

,

Zhiqiang Si

,

Long Li

Abstract:

As a core component of mechanical equipment, the operational status of bearings directly determines equipment safety, making early fault diagnosis critically important. However, bearing vibration signals are susceptible to substantial noise interference and exhibit both nonlinear and non-stationary characteristics, rendering traditional single-mode diagnostic methods ineffective at extracting fault features. Therefore, this paper proposes a three-channel multimodal fault diagnosis network (M-CNNBiAM) integrated with a convolutional autoencoder (CAE). Based on a convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture, this network employs CAE for signal denoising, utilizes continuous wavelet transform (CWT) to construct time-frequency features, and incorporates dual enhancement modules: convolutional attention (CBAM) and window attention (S-W-MSA).On one hand, it extracts complementary features from the raw vibration signal and the wavelet transform frequency domain signal, fusing them at the channel dimension. On the other hand, it embeds Shifted Window Attention (SW-MSA) and Window Self-Attention (W-MSA) between convolutional layers to capture global-local features. Combined with CBAM to enhance fault location attention, it mitigates the vanishing gradient problem through residual connections, enabling the extraction of frequency domain features. To address the characteristics of one-dimensional time-series signals, a bidirectional gated recurrent unit (BiGRU) is introduced to collaborate with CNN for extracting temporal features. Experiments demonstrate that on the West China University public dataset and self-test dataset, M-CNNBiAM achieves an average diagnostic accuracy of 95.84% under -10dB high-noise conditions, outperforming comparative methods and validating its superior performance in complex noise environments.

Article
Social Sciences
Psychology

HyeonJeong Kwak

,

UnKyoung Ahn

Abstract: Background/Objectives: Suicidal ideation and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) represent major public health concerns among adolescents, yet developmentally appropriate, school-based interventions remain limited. This study reports findings from an explora-tory analysis of an early cohort of an ongoing randomized controlled trial evaluating Sandplay Therapy with Suicidal Ideation and Self-Injury–Focused Engagement (SPT-SAFE) compared with Treatment as Usual–Risk Management Counseling (TAU-RMC) in a school-based high-risk intervention setting. Methods: Adolescents aged 12–19 years presenting with suicidal ideation and/or NSSI were randomly assigned to SPT-SAFE (n = 31) or TAU-RMC (n = 30). Outcomes of interest were NSSI frequency, assessed using the Functional Assessment of Self-Mutilation (FASM), and suicidal ideation severity, assessed using the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire–Junior (SIQ-JR). Prespecified baseline-adjusted analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) were conduct-ed as the primary analytic approach. Sensitivity analyses using linear mixed-effects mod-els (LMMs) were performed to examine outcome trajectories over time. Results: In the prespecified baseline-adjusted ANCOVA, suicidal ideation showed a be-tween-group difference favoring SPT-SAFE. For NSSI frequency, the between-group effect also favored SPT-SAFE but was small and did not reach conventional statistical signifi-cance. Sensitivity analyses using LMMs demonstrated directionally consistent patterns, with greater reductions over time observed in the SPT-SAFE group across outcomes. No serious adverse events were reported. Conclusions: Findings from this exploratory early cohort analysis suggest a preliminary and hypothesis-generating signal of benefit associated with SPT-SAFE in a school-based setting, characterized by directionally consistent patterns across complementary analytic approaches. Results should be interpreted as provisional pending completion of recruit-ment, longer-term follow-up, and further evaluation of comparative effectiveness, durabil-ity of treatment effects, and mechanisms of change.

Article
Physical Sciences
Quantum Science and Technology

Gordana Dodig-Crnkovic

Abstract: Quantum mechanics reveals that physical quantities and informational states are not absolute but relational, depending on the context of interaction between systems. While classical physics already contained relational elements—most clearly in Galilean relativity and Einstein’s relational spacetime—the quantum domain extends relationality to physical properties and facts themselves. In this paper, I develop an info-computational perspective on relational quantum mechanics (RQM), conceiving observers as informational agents embedded within physical processes. Quantum states are understood as constraints on possible interactions rather than intrinsic attributes of isolated systems. I review key relational, perspectival, and information-theoretic approaches—including QBism, perspectival quantum realism, reference-frame–dependent observables, categorical quantum mechanics, and graph-based formalisms—and argue that they converge on a view of physics grounded in relations and information flow. Relational objectivity emerges through inter-agent translation rules rather than observer independence, providing a unified framework for understanding quantum measurement, inter-observer agreement, and physical ontology.

Article
Physical Sciences
Theoretical Physics

Mohamed Sacha

Abstract: We present a consolidated, referee-auditable formulation of the Quantum Information Copy Time(QICT) program. A single localized information-theoretic object—relative entropy, equivalently amodular-energy deficit—is shown to (i) control restricted operational distinguishability via dataprocessing and Pinsker-type inequalities and (ii) coincide with the variational functional enteringentanglement-equilibrium gravitational closure through the exact modular identity D = ∆⟨K⟩−∆S. We separate exact information-theoretic statements from regime-dependent field-theoreticassumptions (local modular Hamiltonians in small causal diamonds) and from microscopic proposals.A reproducible microscopic lattice toy model numerically verifies the operational bounds and themodular identity with embedded figures generated by code. Finally, we include a concrete discreteinformation-field model class formulated by a local gauge-invariant action on a causal cell complexand specify nonperturbative decision criteria under which General Relativity may arise as an infrareduniversality class, without claiming that this emergence is established here.

Review
Business, Economics and Management
Business and Management

Darron Rodan John

,

Fang-Ming Hsu

,

Yuh-Jia Chen

Abstract: This paper explores the implementation and strategic development of Electronic Records Management Systems (ERMS) across diverse governmental contexts, with attention to both developed and developing nations. Grounded in ISO 15489:2001, the paper examines the core functions of ERMS, including the creation, maintenance, storage, and disposal of digital records. It outlines key implementation strategies, such as policy development, stakeholder engagement, and data migration and conversion. The findings highlight common challenges, such as inadequate infrastructure, limited Internet access, and shortages of skilled personnel. Conversely, the paper emphasizes the benefits of ERMS, including secure information handling, improved organizational efficiency, and enhanced service delivery. This work contributes to the field of information management by providing a practical and comparative overview of ERMS adoption. It identifies critical success factors and offers guidance for policymakers and practitioners aiming to enhance record management in the digital age.

Article
Arts and Humanities
Philosophy

Gordana Dodig-Crnkovic

Abstract: As intelligent autonomous systems (IAS) continue to assume increas-ingly central roles in safety- and mission-critical domains such as transportation,healthcare, finance, and infrastructure management, humans are becoming una-ble to monitor or intervene in real time. This shift is driven by the speed, data-processing capacity, and adaptivity of IAS. To manage this complexity, a newparadigm is emerging: IAS controlling and monitoring other IAS, a developmentthat introduces at the same time practical efficiency and profound practical andethical challenges.This article explores the multi-layered delegation of responsibilities within IASecosystems, where decisions influencing human lives and well-being are madewith minimal human intervention. One often-overlooked consequence of this del-egation is the capacity of AI systems to shape and create new human habits,whether through personalized persuasion, behavioral feedback loops, or autono-mous decision enforcement. As humans increasingly adapt their behaviors to ma-chine-optimized environments, questions arise about autonomy, agency, and re-sponsibility for resulting behavior changes.Drawing on insights from recent research on responsibility delegation in IAS andon AI-driven habit formation, the article critically examines how responsibilityshould be distributed across human actors, autonomous systems, and institutions.Framed within the principles of Digital Humanism, I argue for a value-sensitivegovernance model that ensures transparency, explainability and human oversighteven in complex IAS-to-IAS control scenarios.I propose a normative framework for responsibility attribution that accounts forboth the technical architecture of IAS networks and the behavioral effects thesesystems have on human users. The article concludes by addressing the ethicalrisks of diminished human agency, manipulation through behavioral design, andthe need for institutional mechanisms that align IAS operations with fundamentalhuman values.

Article
Arts and Humanities
Philosophy

Jae Lee

Abstract: This paper addresses the mind-body problem by highlighting the concept of continuity. Building on philosophical definitions, it introduces an "ontology of continuity" thesis to bridge the mental and the physical. Based on the thesis, the paper introduces a “neuro-subjective interactive (NSI)” model, which incorporates empirical studies from brain science. The model suggests that subjective experiences and neural activities are inter-dependent. Instead of separating between human mentality and its physical base, the paper posits that our mentality is constituted by both physical (neural) and non-physical (subjective) elements. This approach addresses two major challenges in the mind-body problem: causal overdetermination and physical causal closure.

Article
Engineering
Aerospace Engineering

Samarth Kakkar

,

Thomas Streit

,

Arne Seitz

,

Rolf Radespiel

Abstract: Drag reduction forms a key area of focus in aerodynamics with a significant emphasis on delaying the laminar to turbulent transition of boundary layers over the wing of aircraft. There is enough evidence to suggest that achieving such transition delays is particularly challenging for backward swept wings with large leading edge sweep angles, which give rise to crossflow and attachment line instabilities, in addition to the Tollmien-Schlichting waves. The sustenance of extended laminar flow regions at high sweep angles has been demonstrated in recent studies, by designing airfoils with specially curated leading edge profiles, which generate pressure distributions that can suppress crossflow. Such airfoils are called Crossflow Attenuating Natural Laminar Flow (CATNLF) airfoils. However, the design of such airfoils is presently restricted to inverse methodologies due to the inability of the conventional geometry parameterization techniques in representing the specialized leading edge profiles of CATNLF airfoils. The aim of this study is to illustrate that a parametric representation of CATNLF airfoils can be realized using Bezier curves, thereby enabling their forward multi-point design using gradient-free Bayesian optimization. The developed design framework in terms of geometry parameterization and optimization formulation is able to deliver airfoils that can sustain natural laminar flow up to around 50% chord length on the upper surface, with a leading edge sweep angle greater than 27 degrees at a Mach number of 0.78 and a Reynolds number of 20 million within a range of lift coefficients Cl = 0.5 ± 0.1, making them a suitable design choice for a medium-range transport aircraft.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Geography

Cai Jincheng

,

He Ju

Abstract: Rapid economic growth does not necessarily translate into better perceived urban health. Using the 2024 nationwide Urban Physical Examination (UPE) resident survey in China, this study assesses how city economic level relates to perceived urban health, proxied by city-level overall satisfaction. The survey was conducted in April–June 2024 in the main urban districts of 47 cities, yielding 692,800 responses and 499,500 valid questionnaires. We aggregate satisfaction to the city level, match it with GDP and key city characteristics, and estimate the GDP–satisfaction association using restricted cubic splines (RCS) to test for potential non-linearity. Across unadjusted and covariate-adjusted models (accounting for population scale and density, industrial structure, fiscal capacity, and regional effects), results show a robust positive association between economic level and satisfaction, while nested-model tests provide no evidence that spline terms improve fit over a linear specification within the observed GDP range. Substantial dispersion around the fitted curve indicates that GDP is an enabling capacity rather than a sufficient condition, pointing to cross-city differences in how effectively resources are converted into lived urban quality. We propose using GDP-adjusted satisfaction benchmarking within the UPE cycle to identify underperforming cities and prioritize targeted governance and renewal actions.

Article
Public Health and Healthcare
Public, Environmental and Occupational Health

Cleiton Ferreira

,

Marina Guil-Jiménez

,

Paula Latorre

,

Aurora Molina-Muñoz

,

Sergio Castaño-Castaño

,

Francisco Nieto-Escamez

Abstract: This study investigates the psychological and attentional impact of biophilic urban interventions using an immersive virtual reality (VR) framework integrated with real-time eye-tracking. Specifically, it examines whether bio-aesthetic enhancements can mitigate perceptual inequalities across neighborhoods of varying socioeconomic status (SES). Sixteen participants viewed original and digitally enhanced fixed-viewpoint 360° videos of Low-, Medium-, and High-SES environments while a comprehensive suite of oculomotor dynamics and psychometric responses were recorded. Results confirmed a significant Condition × SES interaction across both subjective preference (Liking) and aesthetic evaluation, identifying biophilic design as a "socio-perceptual equalizer": while baseline ratings consistently favored High-SES areas, interventions in Low-SES contexts yielded the highest marginal gains, effectively bridging the gap with privileged environments. Eye-tracking metrics revealed that this convergence is mechanistically driven by active visual engagement ("Nature Gaze"), with enhanced Low-SES scenes eliciting the highest fixation counts and visual coverage. However, a critical dissociation emerged between immediate affective improvement and objective stress reduction. Elevated saccadic velocities observed in high-contrast Low-SES interventions suggest a state of "hard fascination" or novelty-induced arousal. This implies that while biophilia boosts positive affect rapidly, physiological restoration is a dose-dependent process, requiring sufficient exposure duration to transition from curiosity-driven scanning to the "soft fascination" necessary for stress recovery. These findings validate integrated XR analytics as a high-fidelity tool for evidence-based urban design and support the equigenic hypothesis.

Article
Biology and Life Sciences
Life Sciences

Shahna Fathima

,

Paul E. Kilgore

,

Tina Sarkar

,

Navneet Sharma

,

Huan H. Nguyen

Abstract: Background/Objectives: Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) and exercise-induced immune perturbations are common in adults and may adversely affect quality of life, productivity, and physical performance. Immunoglobulin Y (IgY), a food-derived antibody with broad antimicrobial activity, has demonstrated immunomodulatory potential in preclinical and limited clinical studies. This study evaluated the effects of a multi-pathogen-specific IgY supplement (Muno-IgY) on respiratory health, immune and inflammatory markers, exercise-induced physiological stress, and gut microbiome composition in healthy adults. Methods: in this 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 28 healthy adults with a history of URTI were randomly allocated to receive Muno-IgY or placebo. URTI incidence, duration, and severity were recorded daily. Serum immune and inflammatory biomarkers were assessed longitudinally and in response to a standardized exercise challenge. Gut microbiome composition was analyzed using shotgun metagenomic sequencing at baseline and week 12. Safety and tolerability were assessed throughout the study. Results: URTI incidence was numerically lower in the Muno-IgY group compared with placebo (14.3% vs. 35.7%), with shorter average duration and fewer missed workdays (p > 0.05). Following an acute exercise challenge, Muno-IgY supplementation resulted in a significant increase in serum IgA at 24 h post-exercise (p = 0.022) and a significantly greater reduction in lactate dehydrogenase at 1 h post-exercise compared with placebo (p < 0.0001). Exploratory gut microbiome analyses revealed favorable directional shifts in microbial composition. Conclusions: In this exploratory pilot study, Muno-IgY supplementation was safe and associated with significant improvements in selected markers of exercise-induced immune response and muscle damage, alongside favourable trends in respiratory health and gut microbiome composition. These findings support further evaluation of Muno-IgY in larger, adequately powered clinical trials.

Review
Medicine and Pharmacology
Clinical Medicine

Mohammad Kamransarkandi

,

Elena A. Varyushina

,

Andrey N. Gorshkov

,

Marina A. Stukova

Abstract: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and influenza virus are dangerous respiratory pathogens with high pandemic potential. Since 2021, these two viruses have been co-circulating, which implies additional risks of co-infection with both pathogens. According to clinical data, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 cause sim-ilar symptoms, and co-infection can increase disease severity and significantly enhance the risks of pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome progressing with a poor outcome. Therefore, management of such patients requires special consideration. Prophylactic vaccination is widely recognized as the most effective way to prevent COVID-19 and influenza and to reduce the severity of these diseases. A range of influ-enza and COVID-19 vaccines built on different technological platforms is currently available on the market, with proven effectiveness, immunogenicity, and safety. Im-portantly, multiple countries have approved recommendations for simultaneous vac-cination against both viral pathogens. This approach is more convenient for patients and is associated with better response to treatment, while also improving vaccine cov-erage and compliance and offering significant resource savings for healthcare systems. This review analyzes recent data on the simultaneous circulation of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viruses worldwide. We review epidemiological data and the pathogenetic mechanisms of co-infection with these two viruses. Next, we focus on current ap-proaches to simultaneous and combined vaccination against influenza and COVID-19. We outline the types of vaccines and summarize the available findings on the effec-tiveness and safety of co-vaccination.

Article
Computer Science and Mathematics
Mathematical and Computational Biology

A.C. Demidont

Abstract: Antiretroviral agents for HIV prevention are typically evaluated in terms of trial efficacyand programmatic coverage, but rarely in terms of whether they admit a true mathematicalsolution to prevention. Here we introduce the Prevention Theorem, which formalizesprevention for a given exposure e as the condition R0(e) = 0, meaning that the probability of establishing a productive, transmissible infection is exactly zero. Within this framework,post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is not delayed treatment but a time-dependent operatoracting on within-host infection establishment dynamics. Using a mechanistic model of reservoirseeding and proviral integration, we derive the PEP Window Corollary: PEP can enforce R0(e) = 0 only when initiated within a finite biological window prior to irreversible integrationand initial reservoir establishment. Beyond this window, all reachable system statessatisfy R0(e) > 0 and are irreducible by post-exposure intervention. Parameterization usingvirological data indicates that this window extends to approximately 72 hours for mucosalexposures but is compressed to roughly 12–24 hours for parenteral exposures due to bypass ofearly immune bottlenecks. As an applied example, we show that structural access delays inhigh-risk populations—such as people who inject drugs—frequently exceed this compressedparenteral window. Consequently, for such exposures the condition R0(e) = 0 is mathematicallyand biologically unreachable before access is even attempted, rendering the failure ofpost-exposure prevention a consequence of violated biological boundary conditions ratherthan pharmacological efficacy.

Article
Social Sciences
Other

Anika Tasnim

Abstract: Youth unemployment in Bangladesh constitutes a persistent structural challenge that undermines inclusive growth and the effective utilization of the country’s demographic dividend. Although educational attainment has increased over the past decade, labour market absorption has not kept pace, resulting in rising unemployment, underemployment, and high NEET rates among young people. Existing literature attributes these outcomes to skills mismatch, limited diversification of the economy, weak coordination across employment-related institutions, and significant gender-based barriers. This paper conducts a situation analysis grounded in recent empirical studies, labour force data, and policy reports to assess the underlying determinants of the youth job crisis. It further examines the implications of governance constraints, labour market informality, and post-pandemic disruptions. Based on the evidence reviewed, the paper outlines strategic policy directions, emphasizing strengthened TVET systems, improved labour market information frameworks, targeted gender-responsive interventions, and enhanced multi-agency coordination. The findings underscore the need for comprehensive and sustained reform to ensure productive youth engagement in Bangladesh’s labour market.

Article
Public Health and Healthcare
Public Health and Health Services

Lucas Ferreira de Souza Campos

,

Juliana de Alcantara Silva Fonseca

,

Ana Clara de Souza Oliveira

,

Guilherme Moreira

,

Leonardo de Souza Correa

,

Pedro Henrique de Almeida Louza

,

Ana Carolina Dutra Tavares

,

Luana Lopes de Souza

,

Raquel Carvalho Castiglione

,

Hércules Rezende Freitas

+1 authors

Abstract:

Sarcopenia is a complex condition marked by reductions in muscle strength, mass, and overall physical performance, which has significant consequences for functional autonomy and metabolic health in elderly women. This study sought to examine the correlations between lower limb strength, functional capabilities, and metabolic indicators in community-dwelling older women categorized according to the EWGSOP2 criteria. A total of thirty-eight women aged ≥ 60 years underwent assessments, including anthropometric, hemodynamic, and metabolic evaluations, along with functional tests such as handgrip strength, chair-rise test, gait speed, Timed Up-and-Go, and maximal isometric hip extension strength (MIHE). The criteria for probable sarcopenia were established using the handgrip thresholds set by the EWGSOP2. Women identified as having probable sarcopenia displayed markedly lower MIHE, diminished gait speed, inferior performance in chair-rise and Timed Up-and-Go tests, decreased muscle mass, and a lower resting metabolic rate than their non-sarcopenic counterparts. MIHE exhibited robust correlations with muscle mass, resting metabolic rate, and functional performance metrics. These results suggest that assessments of lower limb and trunk strength yield pertinent insights beyond handgrip strength alone. Function-oriented evaluations may improve sarcopenia screening and facilitate the identification of older women at risk of functional and metabolic deficiencies in community-based environments.

Article
Chemistry and Materials Science
Materials Science and Technology

Irum Jamil

,

Faisal Nawaz

,

Muqdssa Rashid

,

V. Geethalakshmi

,

Hsien-Yi Hsu

,

Mohammed-Ibrahim Jamesh

Abstract:

The development of efficient, earth abundant electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is essential for alkaline water electrolysis. In this work, we prepared MnZnFe₂O₄, SrWO₄, and a MnZnFe₂O₄@SrWO₄ ferrite–tungstate heterostructure by simple co-precipitation and hydrothermal routes and evaluated them as OER catalysts in 1 M KOH. The catalysts are characterized by XRD, UV–Vis, FTIR, SEM, and EDX. The catalysts exhibit phase-pure components with intimate contact between the two phases, and a smaller particle size for the composite. The MnZnFe₂O₄@SrWO₄ exhibits modified electronic structure possibly due to the electronic interaction between Fe and W centers. Electrochemical measurements demonstrated an overpotential of 200 mV at 10 mA cm-2, that exhibits a reduced Tafel slope (150 mV dec⁻¹), and displays lower charge-transfer resistance than the single-phase oxides. In addition, the composite retains >94% of its current over 24 h, indicating good durability. These results suggest that ferrite–tungstate coupling can be an effective strategy to non-noble OER catalysts.

Article
Biology and Life Sciences
Immunology and Microbiology

Simiao Cao

,

Guoxuan Bai

,

Qimuge Wuri

,

Jiayin Li

,

Xiaojing Zhang

,

Zhilin Han

,

Hui Wu

,

Jiaxin Wu

,

Chu Wang

,

Xianghui Yu

+1 authors

Abstract: DNA-based cancer vaccines represent a safe and promising immunotherapeutic strategy, but their clinical efficacy is often limited by weak immunogenicity, primarily due to inefficient antigen cross-presentation. To overcome this challenge, the MHC class I trafficking domain (MITD) can be fused to tumor antigens to enhance their intracellular routing in dendritic cells (DCs), thereby promoting the efficiency of cross-presentation. In addition, incorporation of CD4⁺ T cell epitopes, such as PADRE or P2P16, can robustly activate CD4⁺ T cells, further amplifying antitumor immunity. Thus, combining MITD with CD4⁺ epitopes is expected to synergistically improve DNA vaccine potency. Mesothelin (MSLN), a tumor-associated antigen highly expressed in pancreatic cancer, was selected as the target in this study. We designed MSLN-targeted DNA vaccines incorporating MITD together with either PADRE or P2P16. In a Panc02 murine model, the MITD–PADRE construct, a novel design, elicited stronger immune responses and more effective antitumor activity compared to other formulations. To further counteract immunosuppression, we combined the vaccine with gemcitabine, which enhanced therapeutic efficacy. Together, these findings demonstrate that integrating PADRE with MITD in MSLN-targeted DNA vaccines offers a promising combinatorial strategy for advancing pancreatic cancer immunotherapy.

Article
Medicine and Pharmacology
Neuroscience and Neurology

Shahzada Mudasir Rashid

,

Antonisamy William James

,

Faheem Shehjar

,

Shahd Yousuf

,

Zahoor A. Shah

Abstract: Background: Engagement of the NF-κB signaling pathway is crucial for controlling im-mune and inflammatory gene expression within the central nervous system (CNS). Naringenin, a flavonoid derived from citrus fruits, is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects; however, its impact on LPS-induced neuroinflammation in HMC3 (human microglial) and SH-SY5Y (neuronal) cell lines has not been thoroughly studied. Objectives: To ascertain the neuroprotective role of Naringenin on LPS-induced neuroin-flammation in microglia and neuronal cell lines with focus on modulation of NF-κB sig-naling pathway. Methods: LPS treatment was given to HMC3 cells to induce an inflam-matory response and secretome of HMC3 cells to SH-SY5Y cells with the administration of Naringenin. The cell viability assay, ROS levels, Western blotting, immunocytochemis-try were employed to quantify and localize NF-κB and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β). Nuclear and cytosolic fractions of NF-κB were analyzed to screen its activation and translocation. Results: Naringenin treatment led to a dose-dependent de-crease in LPS-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. It significantly reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inhibited NF-κB activation in HMC3 cells. The nuclear translocation of NF-κB was notably diminished after treatment, as demonstrated by both western blot and immunocytochemistry. These results suggest that Naringenin exerts an anti-inflammatory effect by suppressing the NF-κB signaling path-way. Conclusion: The findings suggest the potential therapeutic role of Naringenin using in vitro models in mitigating neuroinflammation through modulation of NF-κB signaling pathway

Review
Medicine and Pharmacology
Hematology

Amparo Santamaria

,

Cristina Antón

,

Nataly Ibarra

,

María Fernández

,

Pedro González

,

Rafael Carrasco

Abstract:

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is independently associated with cognitive impairment and dementia through mechanisms extending far beyond traditional cardioembolic stroke risk. However, the relative contribution of distinct pathophysiological pathways and the efficacy of emerging therapeutic interventions for cognitive protection remain incompletely characterized. Objectives: This comprehensive review synthesizes current evidence on the epidemiology, pathophysiological mechanisms, therapeutic interventions (pharmacological, rhythm-control, and digital health), and research priorities addressing the AF–dementia relationship. Methods: A narrative review integrating evidence from observational studies, mechanistic research, randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses published through January 2026. Literature sources included MEDLINE/PubMed, major cardiology and neurology journals, and expert consensus statements. Searches used combinations of keywords: "atrial fibrillation," "cognitive decline," "dementia," "silent cerebral infarction," "cerebral hypoperfusion," "direct oral anticoagulants," "catheter ablation," and "digital health." Inclusion criteria encompassed studies examining the AF–cognition association, mechanistic pathways, therapeutic interventions with cognitive outcomes, and digital health technologies in AF management. Heterogeneous study designs prevented quantitative meta-analysis; qualitative synthesis focused on effect sizes, strength of evidence, and clinical implications. Results: Strong epidemiological evidence demonstrates that AF increases relative risk of dementia by 1.4–2.2 fold independently of clinical stroke, with silent cerebral infarction present in 25–40% of AF patients. Multiple interacting pathophysiological mechanisms account for AF-associated cognitive decline: cerebral microembolism (meta-analysis: OR 2.30 for silent infarction on MRI), chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (15–20% reduction in total cerebral blood flow in persistent AF), neuroinflammation, cerebral small vessel disease, and structural brain atrophy. Emerging therapeutic strategies offer complementary neuroprotective mechanisms: direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs)—particularly apixaban and rivaroxaban—reduce dementia risk by approximately 30% compared to warfarin (RR 0.69); rhythm control strategies and catheter ablation demonstrate dementia risk reduction (HR 0.52–0.69); and comprehensive digital health platforms implementing the ABC pathway reduce adverse cardiovascular events by 61% while optimizing adherence and enabling early AF detection. However, evidence-specific to cognitive endpoints remains limited, with the landmark BRAIN-AF trial showing no benefit of low-dose rivaroxaban in low-stroke-risk AF patients—suggesting that non-embolic mechanisms predominate in this population. Conclusions: AF represents a multifaceted threat to brain health requiring a paradigm shift from isolated stroke prevention toward comprehensive heart–brain health optimization. Integration of pharmacological neuroprotection (preferring DOACs), hemodynamic optimization (rhythm control in selected patients), cardiovascular risk factor management, and digital health technologies provides unprecedented opportunity for cognitive preservation. However, critical knowledge gaps persist regarding AF burden thresholds, the relative contribution of competing pathophysiological mechanisms, optimal anticoagulation strategies in low-risk populations, and the long-term cognitive benefits of emerging digital technologies. Prospective randomized clinical trials with cognitive impairment as a primary endpoint, serial neuroimaging, and diverse population representation are urgently needed to validate preventive strategies and refine therapeutic decision-making.

Article
Engineering
Telecommunications

Najmeh Khosroshahi

,

Ron Mankarious

,

M. Reza Soleymani

Abstract: This paper presents a hardware-aware field-programmable gate array (FPGA) implementation of a layered 2-dimensional corrected normalized min-sum (2D-CNMS) decoder for quasi-cyclic low-density parity-check (QC-LDPC) codes in very small aperture terminal (VSAT) satellite communication systems. The main focus of this work is leveraging Xilinx Vitis high-level synthesis (HLS) to design and generate an LDPC decoder IP core based on the proposed algorithm, enabling rapid development and portability across FPGA platforms. Unlike conventional NMS and 2D-NMS algorithms, the proposed architecture introduces dyadic, multiplier-free normalization combined with two-level magnitude correction, achieving near-belief propagation (BP) performance with reduced complexity and latency. Implemented entirely in HLS and integrated in Vivado, the design achieves real-time operation on Zynq UltraScale+ multiprocessor system-on-chip (MPSoC) with throughput of 116-164 Mbps at 400 MHz and resource utilization of 8.7K-22.9K LUTs, 2.6K-7.5K FFs, and zero DSP blocks. Bit-error-rate (BER) results show no error floor down to 10−8 across additive white gaussian noise (AWGN) channel model. Fixed scaling factors are optimized to minimize latency and hardware overhead while preserving decoding accuracy. These results demonstrate that the proposed HLS-based 2D-CNMS IP core offers a resource-efficient, high-performance solution for multi-frequency time division multiple access (MF-TDMA) satellite links.

of 5,459

Prerpints.org logo

Preprints.org is a free preprint server supported by MDPI in Basel, Switzerland.

Subscribe

Disclaimer

Terms of Use

Privacy Policy

Privacy Settings

© 2026 MDPI (Basel, Switzerland) unless otherwise stated