Abstract: We study the local recovery of magnetic invariants in smooth n-dimensional manifolds equipped with general non-reversible Finsler metrics. We prove that the exterior derivative dβ is the unique second-order antisymmetric local invariant of the length functional, independently of higher-order Finsler perturbations. This generalizes previous 2-dimensional results to higher dimensions and establishes a rigorous, practically stable procedure for isolating magnetic invariants locally.

Abstract: Seed wings are well-documented as morphological adaptations for seed dispersal and environmental persistence in angiosperms, but their functional significance in gymnosperms, which dominate temperate and subalpine forest ecosystems, remains poorly understood. This study examines the germination ecology of Smith fir (Abies georgei var. smithii), a species whose seeds possess membranous, translucent wings. We tested the germination responses of three seed treatments—intact, mixed (de-winged seeds mixed with the detached wings), and de-winged seeds under two light conditions (12 hours light/12 hours dark and continuous darkness) and three temperature regimes (5/1°C, 15/2°C, and 25/5°C) to assess the interactive effects of light, temperature, and seed-wing conditions on germination. Smith fir seeds showed optimal germination between 15 and 25°C, with light exposure significantly enhancing germination under cooler conditions (< 5 ℃). De-winged seeds germinated significantly better than intact seeds (P < 0.001), confirming that seed wings inhibit germination. The germination percentages of intact and mixed seed were comparably low and significantly lower than those of de-winged seeds, suggesting that the inhibitory effect is more likely attributable to chemical inhibitors associated with the wings rather than to mechanical restriction. Smith fir seeds, dispersed in October, exhibit conditional physiological dormancy, with wing-derived inhibitors delaying germination until favorable spring conditions. These findings provide insights into the adaptive strategies of gymnosperms in regulating germination timing in responses to seasonal environmental cues in temperate mountain ecosystems.

Abstract: Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common hemoglobin disorder in the world. Africa has the highest burden of SCD, accounting for up to 75% of the 300,000 annual births of individuals with SCD worldwide. In Tanzania, 11,000 – 14,000 babies are born with SCD each year. Despite treatment advancement, pain is still an attributable cause of admissions among patients with SCD. However, data is still lacking regarding the adequacy of pain control in patients with SCD in Tanzania. Objective: This study aimed to determine factors affecting pain control among patients with SCD presenting with painful events at Mwananyamala Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) and Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at MRRH and MNH which are tertiary referral hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Patients with SCD aged 8 years and above who presented at the hospitals with painful events (from August 2022 to February 2023) were enrolled into the study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on participants' socio-demographic characteristics and clinical parameters. The adequacy of pain control was assessed using the WHO Pain Management Index. Multivariable binary logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with pain control. Differences were considered statistically significant when the p-value was < 0.05. Results: A total of 390 patients with SCD were analysed with mean age (± SD) of 15 (± 6) years. Most patients were recruited from outpatient clinics (88.2%). The male-to-female ratio was 1:1, the majority of patients had less than three pain episodes per year (77.9%), and most patients presented to the hospital with mild pain (64.6%) and were on Hydroxyurea (62.3%). Furthermore, one-third of patients had inadequate pain control. Factors associated with inadequate pain control included receiving initial pain management in other health facilities (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] and 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.5 (1.5- 4.5), p=0.001), presenting to the hospital with moderate pain (aOR = 2.2, 95% CI [1.3-3.8], p=0.006), and presenting to the hospital with a fever (aOR = 3.8, 95% CI [1.1 – 13.9], p=0.04). Having severe pain and receiving initial treatment at MRRH or MNH seemed to be protective factors (aOR = 0.33, 95% CI [0.11- 0.97], p=0.04, and aOR = 0.29, 95% CI [0.14 -0.61], p=0.001, respectively). Conclusion: A considerable proportion of patients with SCD receive sub-optimal pain control. Receiving initial pain management from other healthcare facilities, presenting to the hospital with moderate pain, and having a fever were associated with inadequate pain control. Further research is warranted to elucidate ways of optimising the management of pain in patients with SCD in Tanzania.

Abstract: Background: Perceptual decision-making under noisy conditions requires transforming sensory inputs into goal-directed actions under uncertainty. Neural oscillations in the theta band (3–7 Hz), particularly within frontal regions, have been implicated in cognitive control and decision confidence. However, whether changes in theta oscillations reflects greater effort during ambiguous decisions or more efficient control during clear conditions remains debated, and theta's relationship to stimulus clarity is incompletely understood. Purpose: To examine how task difficulty modulates theta activity and how theta dynamics evolve across the decision-making process using two complementary analytical approaches. Methods: Electroencephalography (EEG) data were acquired from 26 healthy adults performing a face/house categorization task with images containing three levels of scrambed phase and Gaussian noise: clear (0%), moderate (40%), and high (55%). Theta activity dynamics were assessed from current source density (CSD) time courses of event-related potentials (ERPs) and single-trials. Results: Frontal theta power was greater for clear than noisy stimuli (corrected p < 0.001), suggesting that theta activity reflects cognitive control effectiveness and decision confidence rather than processing difficulty. ERP-based imaginary coherence showed stimulus-dependent modulation between frontal and parietal regions (corrected p = 0.0133), whereas single-trial analysis revealed stable connectivity patterns unaffected by clarity (corrected p > 0.05). Conclusions: Theta oscillations support perceptual decision-making through dual communication mechanisms—flexible task-evoked synchronization and stable intrinsic connectivity. These findings underscore the importance of methodological choices in EEG-based connectivity research and suggest a link between frontal theta and decision confidence.

Abstract: This study examines cyber vulnerabilities affecting critical infrastructure along NATO’s 2 eastern flank, with a focus on industrial control systems and operational technology. It 3 addresses how hybrid threats exploit legacy protocols and interoperability gaps across 4 mixed-generation IIoT environments, increasing the likelihood of disruptive events. We 5 propose an AI-enabled framework that links cyber resilience engineering to European 6 regulatory and operational requirements through two components: a Unified Compli- 7 ance Framework that maps legal obligations to implementable technical controls, and 8 an AI-enabled Cyber Resilience Index that consolidates detection, operational continuity, 9 governance, and supply-chain risk into a single scoring model. The methodology combines 10 regulatory-control mapping, OT-specific gap analysis, and engineering validation of real- 11 time constraints, supported by a digital-twin testing environment used to evaluate resilience 12 under representative adversarial scenarios. Results from the simulation-based evaluation 13 show consistent improvements in detection and response stability across tested scenar- 14 ios and provide an auditable evidence model for continuous assurance. The framework 15 supports risk-informed governance and investment decisions by translating compliance 16 objectives into measurable service-level targets and operational resilience indicators, while 17 promoting time-deterministic architectures, federated learning, and explainable AI for 18 accountable deployment in industrial settings

Abstract: Multidrug resistance (MDR), frequently mediated by over-expression of the P-glycoprotein (P-gp/ABCB1) efflux transporter, remains a major challenge in the treatment of leukemia by limiting intracellular accumulation of chemotherapeutic agents such as daunorubicin (DNR). This study evaluates the applicability of a microfluidic-based single-cell biochip to investigate the reversal effects of microgram-level ginsenosides on daunorubicin uptake in multidrug-resistant leukemia cells. Pure ginsenosides are difficult to obtain in bulk and are typically available only in milligram quantities, which restricts their evaluation using conventional MDR assays such as flow cytometry that require large cell populations and substantial amounts of compound. To address this limitation, a microfluidic single-cell biochip (SCB) requiring microgram quantities of ginsenosides (< 100 µg) and fewer than ten cells was employed. Intracellular DNR accumulation was measured in the CEM/VLB1000 leukemia cell line following treatment with DNR alone or in combination with ginsenoside Rg3-R, ginsenoside Rg3-S, 20(S)-protopanaxatriol (PPT), and 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD), in order to compare their relative efficacy in enhancing drug accumulation. Although Rg3-R and Rg3-S share highly similar chemical structures and are glycosylated derivatives of the PPD aglycone, Rg3-S exhibited greater potency in increasing intracellular daunorubicin accumulation than Rg3-R, and both were more effective than PPD. These findings underscore the importance of ginsenoside stereochemistry modulating P-gp associated drug resistance and demonstrate the utility of the SCB platform for quantifying daunorubicin accumulation in multidrug resistant leukemia cells at single cell resolution.

Abstract: Tropical Andean forests are biodiversity hotspots that have been transformed by anthropogenic activities, making ecosystem regeneration and restoration essential for their recovery. This study evaluated floristic composition, forest structure, and diversity in three land cover types within tropical Andean ecosystems: riparian forest (RF), natural regeneration (RN), and ecological restoration areas (RE). Vegetation was inventoried using standardized plots, recording species composition, diameter, and height. Basal area, size class distribution, and vertical structure were estimated. The Shan-non-Wiener and Simpson indices were evaluated. RF exhibited greater structural com-plexity, a larger basal area, and defined vertical stratification, indicating advanced suc-cessional stages and functional stability. NR showed the highest diversity values and a predominance of individuals in lower diameter and height classes, reflecting active re-cruitment and intermediate successional stages. Segment E exhibited lower diversity and intermediate structural development, consistent with shorter recovery periods and limitations in restoration design. Overall, the integration of floristic, structural, and diversity attributes indicates distinct successional trajectories, conditioned by land-use history, disturbance intensity, and environmental heterogeneity. These findings high-light the great potential for natural regeneration under reduced anthropogenic pressure and emphasize the need to integrate passive and active restoration strategies to enhance biodiversity and resilience in Andean tropical forests.

Abstract:

Coal and gas outbursts constitute a major hazard for mining safety, which is critical for the sustainable development of China’s energy industry. Rapid, accurate and reliable prediction is pivotal for preventing and controlling outburst incidents. Nevertheless, the mechanisms driving coal and gas outbursts involve highly complex influencing factors. By examining the attributes of these factors and their association to outburst intensity, four major geological and environmental indicators were identified. This study developed a machine learning-based prediction model for outburst risk. Five algorithms were evaluated: K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Back Propagation Neural Network (BPNN), Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost). Model optimization was performed via Bayesian hyperparameter (BO) tuning. Model performance was assessed by the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve; the optimized XGBoost model demonstrated strong predictive performance. To enhance model transparency and interpretability, the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method was implemented. The SHAP analysis identified geological structure was the most important predictive feature, providing a practical decision-support tool for mine executives to prevent and control outburst incidents.

Abstract:

In this study, three distinct hydrolysates which designated Dur-I, Dur-II, and Dur-III, were generated from extrusion-pretreated Durvillaea antarctica biomass by applying viscozyme, cellulase, and α-amylase, respectively. Dur-III had a higher proportion of low-molecular-weight polysaccharides as compared to Dur-I and Dur-II. Chemical composition determination and FTIR analyses revealed that Dur-I, Dur-II, and Dur-III contained fucose-containing sulfated polysaccharides. To investigate neuroprotective properties of Dur-I, Dur-II, and Dur-III, rotenone (Rot) was added to SH-SY5Y cells that had been pretreated with Dur-I/II/III. Here, flow cytometry was employed to assess changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), Bcl-2 expression, cytochrome c release, caspase-9, -8, and -3 activation, as well as DNA fragmentation. The protective effect of Dur-I/II/III pretreatment of SH-SY5Y cells on the Rot-induced death process was further investigated using cell cycle and annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) / PI (propidium iodide) double staining analyses. The results reveal that the Rot-induced apoptotic factors were all recovered by the pretreatment of Dur-I/II/III. Moreover, cell cycle and annexin V-FITC/PI double staining analyses also indicated that Dur-I/II/III were capable of protecting SH-SY5Y cells from Rot-induced cytotoxicity. Therefore, these Dur extracts are considered as good candidates for the prevention and treatment of neurodegeneration induced by oxidative stress.

Abstract:

Galeopsis tetrahit L. (Lamiaceae) is a traditional European medicinal species rich in phenolic compounds, among which verbascoside is a key bioactive marker with strong antioxidant potential. This study reports the standardization of a G. tetrahit leaf extract in verbascoside using a fully validated UHPLC–PDA method developed according to ICH Q2(R2) requirements. Leaves of wild-grown G. tetrahit collected from southwest Romania flora were extracted with 70% ethanol, yielding 17.28% dry extract. Chromatographic identification of verbascoside was confirmed by retention time, UV–PDA spectra, and QDa mass spectrometry (m/z 623.3 [M–H]^–). The method showed excellent performance, including high specificity, linearity over 1.875–60 μg/mL (r = 0.999955), low LOD and LOQ (0.2649 and 0.8028 μg/mL, respectively), and robust precision and accuracy. Dry extract contained 345.8 ± 28.3 mg verbascoside per g (34.6%, w/w), corresponding to approximately 59.8 mg/g in dried leaves. Antioxidant assays (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP), TPC and TFC confirmed notable radical scavenging and reducing activity, with pure verbascoside showing markedly stronger effects, supporting its major contribution to the extract’s antioxidant potential. These results demonstrate a reliable analytical approach and establish a verbascoside-based standardization framework for G. tetrahit extracts of documented Romanian origin.

Abstract:

Cadherin-5 (CDH5), also known as vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin), plays essential roles in endothelial cell adhesion, vascular barrier function, and signaling. CDH5 coordinates endothelial cell–cell junction during vascular remodeling, which is indispensable for both vascular homeostasis and adaptive responses to pathological stimuli. Although anti-CDH5 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) can be used for individual applications including flow cytometry, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry (IHC), highly sensitive and versatile anti-CDH5 mAbs for all applications remain limited. Here, novel anti-human CDH5 mAbs, designated Ca₅Mabs, were developed using a flow cytometry-based high-throughput screening. Among them, a clone Ca₅Mab-8 (IgG_2a, κ) recognized CDH5-overexpressed Chinese hamster ovary-K1 (CHO/CDH5) cells in flow cytometry. Furthermore, Ca₅Mab-8 also recognized endogenous CDH5-expressing human endothelial cell lines (HUVEC/TERT2 and HDMVEC/TERT164-B) and a cervical cancer cell line (Hela). These reactivities were superior to a commercially available anti-CDH5 mAb (clone BV9). The dissociation constant value of Ca₅Mab-8 for CHO/CDH5 was determined as 6.1 × 10⁻⁹ M. Ca₅Mab-8 can detect endogenous CDH5 in Western blotting. Moreover, Ca₅Mab-8, but not BV9, is available for IHC to detect endothelial cells in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues. These results indicate that Ca₅Mab-8 is versatile for research and are expected to contribute to clinical applications, such as tumor diagnosis and therapy.

Abstract: We present a consolidated, test-driven account of geometric electric dipole moments (EDMs) and CP violation within the MMA-DMF framework, compiled from the December 2025 audit archive and its Gold/Platinum/Diamond validation artifacts. The central claim is operational: CP violation is dynamically active during the electroweak window (ϕ˙≠0\dot{\phi} \neq 0ϕ˙​=0) but becomes effectively static and screened at late times (ϕ˙→0\dot{\phi} \to 0ϕ˙​→0), so present-day EDM searches must target transient spectra rather than only DC offsets. Crucially, the operational kernel is rigid and degree-of-freedom-free: the analysis is executed with a fixed “Golden” parameter set (no tunable degrees of freedom in the pipeline), and all detection statements are framed as falsifiable pass/fail criteria. We show how the density–time scaling law τ(ρenv)\tau(\rho_{\mathrm{env}})τ(ρenv​) induces a mandatory downward-chirp “Sad Trombone” transient, and we specify a matched-filter protocol with density-aware templates. We also provide a laboratory handoff for the T-Environment density-swap experiment, including hardware requirements, timing constraints, logging schema, and acceptance criteria needed for an independent replication campaign.

Abstract: This extensive review provides a thorough examination of first-order ordinary differential equations (ODEs), covering fundamental theoretical concepts, diverse analytical solution techniques, stability analysis methods, numerical approximation algorithms, and interdisciplinary applications. The paper systematically explores classical models including exponential growth, logistic dynamics, and cooling laws, while extending to advanced topics such as bifurcation analysis, stochastic exten- sions, and modern computational approaches. Special attention is given to the in- terplay between analytical and numerical methods, with practical examples drawn from ecology, physics, engineering, and biomedical sciences. The work serves as both an educational resource for students and a reference for researchers and prac- titioners working with dynamical systems across scientific domains.

Abstract: Cryptococcal meningitis diagnosis at 62% is the leading cause of meningitis among adults with advanced HIV disease in areas with a high burden of infection. Despite attempts to improve treatment, in-hospital mortality remains unprecedentedly high. Disease complications associated with unmasking symptoms and relapse of fungal infections, delay in treatment increase the risk of individuals succumbing to cryptococcal meningitis. In this narrative review, we highlight published clinical trials evaluating the treatment of HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis with survival as the primary endpoint. Aggregated clinical trial data show a significant decrease in survival from diagnosis to 88.5% at 2 weeks of treatment to 74% at 10 weeks of observation (p=0.001). The WHO standard of care was used as the control arm. Survival rates were similar between the control and trial arms. High in-hospital mortality remains a challenge for new survival-modifying treatments for cryptococcal meningitis. We provide evidence-based updates on cryptococcal meningitis treatment to inform new antifungal formulations or research approaches for improved outcomes. The consistency and generalizability of fungal clearance in the cerebrospinal fluid and the efficacy of antifungal drugs to clear fungi in the brain parenchyma remain unclear.

Abstract: We propose a reproducible data-science workflow to diagnose partner–sector dependencies in the Kyrgyz Republic’s goods trade (2019–2024). HS-based flows are mapped into macro-sectors and transformed into partner indicators (turnover, net trade, import coverage, and role labels). Visual diagnostics and tables reveal a structural duality: (i) a China-centered import-deficit pole in manufactured goods and (ii) a narrow gold-driven export-surplus pole concentrated in the United Kingdom and Switzerland. We interpret the latter as surplus donors (donors of foreign-exchange inflows via trade) that partially offset the deficit pole. The pipeline is designed for repeatable monitoring of concentration risk and partner dependence.

Abstract:

Background/Objectives: This study aims to fill certain knowledge gaps by assessing the clinical effectiveness of PDT in a large group of women with HPV-related cervical lesions and examining how different patient factors affect treatment results. Methods: 811 women aged from 19 to 76 were retrospectively analyzed who were treated by PDT of HPV infection with atypical squamous cells and HPV-related cervical lesions. PDT was performed using chlorin e6–based systemic photosensitizers. Irradiation was carried out at 662 nm. The endocervical dose was 334 J/cm² and the ectocervical dose was 291 J/cm². Results: Overall HPV clearance was 91.1%, lesion remission 95.3%, and complete response 88.3%, with the highest complete response observed in the HSIL group compared with HPV-positive ASC. Multivariable models showed that multiple HPV infection (especially >3 genotypes) and pregnancy history were associated with lower odds of complete response, while younger age (18–25 years) and TZ2 were associated with higher odds of complete response. Conclusions: PDT using chlorin e6–based photosensitizers demonstrated high clinical and virological effectiveness across HPV-related cervical abnormalities, including HSIL, supporting its role as an organ-preserving treatment option. Multiple HPV genotypes and pregnancy history may identify patients at increased risk of incomplete response and warrant closer follow-up or tailored treatment strategies.

Abstract: The Discrete Extramental Clock Law proposes that objective time in chaotic systems emerges discretely from statistically significant ordinal conjunctions across multiple trajectories, modulated by a universal gating function g(τs)g(τs​) rooted in Kendall's rank correlation and Feigenbaum universality. This study provides numerical evidence for the ontological hierarchy: high local chaotic activity (e.g., positive Lyapunov exponents) does not advance objective time; only global ordinal coherence (high ∣τs∣∣τs​∣) generates effective temporal ticks. Using coupled logistic maps, the Lorenz attractor, fractional-order extensions, and empirical \textit{Aedes aegypti} population data, we demonstrate negative correlation between local variance/Lyapunov activity and the rate of emergent time advance, fractal inheritance in tntn​ (Dtn≈1.98Dtn​​≈1.98), and robust noise tolerance. These results challenge the universality of Newtonian time in chaotic regimes, supporting emergent discreteness even in classical chaos.

Abstract: Existing experimental results are sometimes difficult to guide the design of a water mist fire extinguishing system ascribing to many factors that affect the fire extinguishing per-formance of water mist. This paper sums up the factors and combs the logical relation-ships between them based on fire extinguishing mechanism of water mist and existing literature. Direct influence factors on fire extinguishing performance are analyzed em-phatically by the model of movement, heat transfer and mass transfer of water mist in the flame zone. The results show that the velocity and diameter of water mist entering the flame zone can be determined according to the temperature difference and the height of flame without considering the action of the flame plume. The water mist will enter the flame zone from the top and the periphery of the flame when the plume effect cannot be ignored. And the maximum heat absorption power of the water mist entering through the two ways should be obtained when determining the velocity and diameter of the water mist. This research can serve as a theoretical basis for the design of a water mist fire ex-tinguishing system.

Abstract: Background: Schizophrenia is a highly heritable disorder with a polygenic architecture, and growing evidence points to glutamatergic dysfunction—particularly involving NMDA receptor hypofunction and impaired synaptic plasticity—as a key mechanistic contributor. The latest Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC3) genome-wide association study reinforced synaptic biology as a major locus of common variant risk.Methods: Using MAGMA gene-set analysis, we examined polygenic enrichment in the PGC3 European-ancestry schizophrenia GWAS summary statistics (53,386 cases, 77,258 controls). Two hypothesis-driven glutamatergic/synaptic plasticity gene sets were tested: a narrow core set (23 genes) focused on ionotropic receptors and direct modulators, and an expanded set (130 genes) that additionally included transporters, metabolic enzymes, scaffolding proteins, and downstream plasticity cascades (BDNF-TrkB, mTOR, CREB, immediate-early genes). Monoaminergic (104 genes) and housekeeping (184 genes) sets served as negative controls. Competitive gene-set testing was performed with Bonferroni correction and false-discovery rate estimation.Results: The expanded glutamate/plasticity set showed significant enrichment for schizophrenia polygenic signal (p = 0.0033; Bonferroni-corrected p = 0.0134; FDR ≈ 0.013), with a higher mean association strength than the genome-wide average. The narrower core set displayed only a trend (p = 0.092). Neither control set was enriched (monoaminergic p = 0.186; housekeeping p = 0.152). Post-hoc exploration highlighted contributions from intracellular regulators, including mTOR pathway components, CREB targets, and immediate-early genes.Conclusions: Common risk variants in schizophrenia converge preferentially on broad glutamatergic signalling and downstream synaptic plasticity mechanisms rather than solely on surface receptors or monoaminergic pathways. These findings support the development of therapeutic strategies targeting synaptic plasticity to address persistent cognitive deficits in the disorder.

Abstract: Preterm birth is associated with perinatal morbidity and mortality, and cervical cerclage is an effective intervention for preventing cervical insufficiency. This retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the effects of maternal, obstetric, and perioperative variables on the prolongation of gestational duration and neonatal outcomes in pregnancies where cerclage was performed. To this end, the medical records of 93 singleton pregnancies in which cervical cerclage was performed were evaluated. The findings showed that gestational age was significantly longer and delivery occurred later in the history-based cerclage, ultrasonographic short cervix, and emergency cerclage groups. Cervical funneling and early removal of the cerclage strongly influenced shorter gestational age and reduced live birth-discharge rates. While obstetric complications contributed to adverse neonatal outcomes, progesterone use and maternal comorbidities were not associated with gestational age at delivery. In conclusion, the success of cerclage is multidimensional; indications and the perioperative process play a decisive role.