Search Results (127)

The present study examined how creative intrinsic motivation (CIM), creative extrinsic motivation (CEM), and creative self-efficacy (CSE) moderate differences in individual creativity in one-on-one interactive situations. A total of 262 adults completed the Alternative Uses Task and Chinese Radical Remote Associates Test in single- and paired-player modes on an online interactive creativity task platform, followed by measures of CIM, CEM, and CSE. Participants were classified as relatively higher- versus lower-performing members within each dyad on the basis of their single-player performance. The results showed that CIM and CSE significantly moderated the fluency and originality advantages of higher divergent-thinking performers in the paired-player mode, whereas CEM did not significantly moderate performance. No significant moderating effects were found for CRRAT performance. These findings suggest that individual differences in creative motivation and creative self-efficacy are especially relevant when open-ended creative performance unfolds in interactive settings. They also imply that educators and facilitators seeking to improve collaborative creativity should attend to baseline creative ability, as well as learners’ intrinsic motivation and confidence in their creative capabilities. Full article

To explore the mechanism of action of CBS-derived H₂S in inducing cerebral vasodilation and activating BK_Ca channels. Sprague–Dawley (SD) rat middle cerebral arteries (MCA) were isolated from rat brains, and a pressure myography system was used to measure the effects of different concentrations of L-cysteine (L-Cys, 1 × 10^−5.5 to 1 × 10^−3.5 mol/L), a substrate for cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS)—a hydrogen sulfide (H₂S)-producing enzyme. Additionally, the effects of pretreatment with the CBS inhibitor amino-oxoacetate (AOAA, 1 mmol/L), the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 inhibitor semaxanib (SU5416, 10 μmol/L), and the large-conductance calcium-activated potassium (BK_Ca) channel blocker iberiotoxin (IBTX, 100 nmol/L) were investigated to determine their impacts on CBS-derived H₂S-induced vasodilation. Acute digestion of rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) was performed, and whole-cell patch-clamp techniques were used to measure current changes in neurons or astrocytes (ASTs), as well as acutely digested VSMCs, in the presence of L-Cys, AOAA (1 mmol/L), SU5416 (10 μmol/L), and IBTX (100 nmol/L). Additionally, neurons or ASTs were co-cultured with VSMCs to determine CBS-derived H₂S levels. Neurons or ASTs co-incubated with blood vessels and then treated with L-Cys produced H₂S, which exhibited a concentration-dependent dilatory effect on middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCA) pre-contracted with 100 nmol/L U46619 (p < 0.01). However, the addition of AOAA significantly attenuated this dilatory effect (p < 0.01). SU5416 and IBTX significantly inhibited cerebral vascular dilation (p < 0.01). H₂S produced by adding L-Cys after co-incubation of neurons or ASTs with VSMCs significantly increased BK_Ca channel current (p < 0.01). However, this effect was significantly attenuated after adding AOAA (p < 0.01). SU5416 and IBTX significantly inhibited the activation of BK_Ca channels (p < 0.01). Wild-type rat neurons or astrocytes (ASTs) were co-cultured with CSE(Cystathionine γ-lyase)-knockout vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs-CSE KO); the addition of L-Cys significantly increased hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) levels in the co-culture system (p < 0.01), while the addition of AOAA reduced H₂S production (p < 0.01). However, the addition of SU5416 had no statistical significance. Neurogenic H₂S, the H₂S produced by neurons and ASTs, could induce cerebral vasodilation in rats via VEGFR₂(Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2)-mediated activation of BK_Ca channels in the smooth muscle cells. Full article

An important use case of speech bandwidth extension (BWE) is generating high-frequency components from band-limited speech processed by a speech codec. Recent works on BWE have demonstrated remarkable capabilities in generating high-quality, high-band components using deep learning techniques. Among them, Streaming SEANet (StrmSEANet) has also been shown to be effective for BWE with reduced delay and computational complexity, making it suitable for real-time speech processing. However, the effect of the coding artifact in the lower band of the input signal has not been sufficiently considered in many deep learning-based BWE methods. In this work, we propose Parallel Enhancement and Bandwidth Extension of coded speech (PEBE), where two lightweight networks, referred to as Compact Streaming SEANet (CompSEANet), for coded speech enhancement (CSE) and BWE are configured in parallel. The CSE and BWE models are separately trained with the task-specific training settings, thereby effectively improving the reconstruction quality of the band-limited speech signals degraded by coding artifacts. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed PEBE significantly outperforms the baseline AP-BWE, StrmSEANet, and standalone CompSEANet in reconstructing wideband (WB) and fullband speech from Opus-coded narrowband and WB signals. The proposed method achieves the highest scores in the subjective MUSHRA test while providing the fastest inference among all compared methods, with real-time factors (RTF) of 33.95× and 18.38× measured on a Samsung SM-F711 mobile device under single-thread execution. Full article

The main challenge of resource-poor languages—namely, the lack of sufficiently large and linguistically informed datasets for training neural models—is addressed in this paper by developing a dataset generation technology based on a Complete Set of Endings (CSE) morphological model for Turkic languages. Building on this technology, we propose a CSE-Guided Framework for morphology-aware statistical tokenization and neural model segmentation, with Kazakh as a case study. Applying the proposed CSE-guided approach to adapt well-known tokenizers for Kazakh leads to measurable reductions in neural model training time (up to approximately 33%) in our experimental setting, primarily due to shorter tokenized sentence lengths. In addition, we extend the SOTA FEMSeg-CRF architecture by incorporating Kazakh vowel–consonant harmony rules at the embedding generation stage. Within the proposed framework, training on a corpus of CSE-generated wordforms results in the FEMSeg_kaz_v2 model, which is evaluated using intrinsic segmentation metrics. Training on a CSE-segmented sentence corpus yields FEMSeg_kaz_v3, which is further assessed using intrinsic, extrinsic, and external evaluation on a manually prepared gold-standard dataset. The paper presents a CSE-guided framework for morphology-aware tokenization and segmentation for Turkic languages, supported by corpus construction, model extensions, and multi-level evaluation. The proposed CSE-Guided Framework can potentially be adapted for other Turkic languages. Full article

Background: Repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rPMS) delivers magnetic pulses to peripheral nerves and muscles, producing afferent input that can modulate corticospinal excitability (CSE). While the effects of rPMS on upper-limb muscles have been explored, its short-term effects on lower-limb CSE remain less understood. This study aimed to investigate the short-term effects of rPMS on CSE in the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle among healthy individuals. Methods: Twenty participants completed a repeated- measure, pre-post study. rPMS was applied to the non-dominant TA muscle at 10% above motor threshold for 15 min. CSE was assessed using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), with measurements of motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude, latency, and duration recorded at baseline, immediately after, 30 min, and 60 min post-stimulation. All analyses were conducted on clean datasets following removal of artifact-related outliers. Results: MEP amplitude showed a significant main effect of Side (p = 0.005), with greater values on the stimulated compared to the non-stimulated side. No significant main effects were found for Time (p = 0.351) or for the Side × Time interaction (p = 0.900). Descriptively, the largest increase in amplitude on the stimulated side was observed at 30 min post-stimulation (12% above baseline). MEP latency and duration showed no significant main or interaction effects. Conclusions: In conclusion, a single rPMS session applied to the TA produced a modest, side-specific increase in CSE lasting up to 60 min, as reflected in MEP amplitude. However, the absence of a significant time effect and perhaps non-optimized stimulation parameters limit the interpretation of sustained neuromodulatory effects. Future studies should examine optimal stimulation parameters and explore underlying mechanisms using measures such as the cortical silent period and interhemispheric inhibition. Full article

The accurate simulation of sub-GeV particle detectors is essential for interpreting experimental data and optimizing detector design. This work identifies and addresses several critical aspects in modeling such detectors, taking as a case study the High-Energy Particle Detector (HEPD-02), a space-borne instrument developed within the CSES-02 mission to measure electrons in the ∼3–100 MeV range, protons and light nuclei in the ∼30–200 MeV/n. The HEPD-02 instrument consists of a silicon tracker, plastic and LYSO scintillator calorimeters, and anticoincidence systems, making it a representative example of a complex low-energy particle detector operating in Low Earth Orbit. Key challenges arise from replicating intricate detector geometries derived from CAD models, selecting appropriate hadronic physics lists for low-energy interactions, and accurately describing the detector response—particularly quenching effects in scintillators and digitization in solid-state tracking planes. Particular attention is given to three critical aspects: the precise CAD-level geometry implementation, the impact of hadronic physics models on the detector response, and the parameterization of scintillation quenching. In this study, we present original solutions to these challenges and provide data–MC comparisons using data from HEPD-02 beam tests. Full article

Biopolymers such as chitosan and gelatin are emerging as leading alternatives to traditional plastic packaging due to their enhanced capabilities and biodegradability. Blends of chitosan and gelatin combine chitosan’s antimicrobial and film-forming properties with gelatin’s biocompatibility and flexibility. These biomaterials possess tunable mechanical, biological, and physicochemical properties, making them suitable for biomedical, pharmaceutical, food packaging, environmental, and agricultural applications. This study investigates the preparation and characterization of composite biopolymer films based on chitosan and gelatin, incorporating coffee silverskin extract (SSE) as a natural bioactive additive. Coffee silverskin, a by-product of coffee roasting, is rich in phenolic compounds and demonstrates notable antioxidant potential. The objective of this work was to enhance the antioxidant, mechanical, and physicochemical properties of chitosan–gelatin films through the integration of SSE. The biocomposite materials were prepared using solvent casting, followed by extensive characterization techniques, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and UV–Vis spectroscopy. Additionally, color measurements, mechanical properties, and physicochemical properties were assessed. The transmission rates of oxygen and water vapor were also examined, along with the antioxidant activity of the films. The inclusion of coffee silverskin extract facilitated intermolecular interactions between the polymer chains, resulting in improved structural integrity. Furthermore, films containing CSE exhibited enhanced antioxidant activity (up to 28.43% DPPH radical scavenging activity), as well as improved water vapor barrier properties and mechanical strength compared to the pure chitosan–gelatin. The films showed a yellowish appearance. There was a noticeable reduction in the rate of oxygen transmission through the films as well. These results highlight the potential of coffee silverskin as a sustainable source of functional compounds for the development of bioactive materials suited for biodegradable packaging and biomedical applications. Full article

Background: Breast cancer mortality and long-term survival are influenced by the unpredictability of recurrences, which cause significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for oncology teams. The risk of local and distant recurrence is higher in advanced stages and in the first two years following initial treatment. Accurate staging and continuous monitoring of recurrence are crucial for effective therapy planning. Indicators of recurrence, such as luminal subtype, disease stage, age, and treatment choice, can provide new knowledge and improve patient disease-free and overall survival rates. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with stage I-III invasive breast cancer at a regional-based institution. The study population consisted of 98 patients with distant and locoregional recurrences from a large cohort of 744 patients diagnosed and treated at our institution between 2007 and 2024. Data on previous treatment for breast cancer, disease stage, molecular subtype, initial size and location of the tumor in the breast, lymph node status, living environment, and type of recurrence were recorded retrospectively. Results: The recurrence patterns in 98 patients included local recurrence in 25 (25.5%), distant recurrence in 70 (71.4%), and both local and distant recurrence in three (3.1%). Our study showed that patients diagnosed with stage II (40.8%) or stage III (55.1%) breast cancer, as well as those with the luminal B subtype (43.87%), were more likely to experience recurrence. The majority of patients affected by recurrent disease were postmenopausal women aged between 51 and 70 years (32 cases aged 51–60 years and 34 cases aged 61–70 years). Tumors measuring between 2 and 5 cm were more likely to produce distant single-organ recurrence (26 cases). More cases were associated with urban areas (77 cases). Conclusions: In menopausal women, most causes of local breast cancer recurrence are related to advanced stage at diagnosis and luminal B subtype. Patient age, primary tumor location in the CSE, and previous adjuvant treatment with aromatase inhibitors may affect the risk of recurrence. Comprehensive studies on recurrence in postmenopausal women can provide a more precise understanding of the extent of disease in such patients. Full article

Biofilms are involved in both acute and chronic respiratory infections. While cigarette smoke extract (CSE) has been shown to increase biofilm formation by certain respiratory pathogens, the impact of emerging heated tobacco products (HTPs) remains unclear. We compared the effects of CSE with two HTP aerosol extracts on biofilm biomass and metabolic activity of common respiratory pathogens. Reference strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi), known respiratory pathogens, were grown as 24 h biofilms in 96-well plates (48 h for S. aureus and P. aeruginosa). These were exposed to CSE and HTP extracts from iQOS™ (Terea™ Turquoise, ILUMA™ device) and glo™ (neo™ Azure, HyperPro™ device), prepared in liquid culture media. Biofilm density was quantified by the crystal violet assay. Metabolic activity (planktonic and biofilm) was assessed by MTT reduction to formazan. At 24 h, CSE markedly reduced H. influenzae biomass versus iQOS™, glo™, and control, while K. pneumoniae, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa showed no significant biomass differences. At 48 h, CSE significantly increased biomass in P. aeruginosa and S. aureus versus other exposures. Biofilm MTT assay measured metabolic activity increased in CSE exposure for K. pneumoniae versus iQOS™ and control, and for S. aureus versus control. Overall, HTP extracts showed limited, inconsistent effects compared with CSE, indicating combustion-derived constituents more strongly promote biofilm maturation in this model. Full article

Background: Research on the impact of 5G mobile phone electromagnetic exposure on corticospinal excitability and intracortical mechanisms is still poorly understood. Objective: This randomized controlled pilot study explored the effects of 5G mobile phone exposure at 3.6 GHz (power density: 0.0030 W/m²) on corticospinal excitability and intracortical mechanisms in healthy adults. Methods: Nineteen healthy participants (mean age: 36.5 years) were exposed to 5G mobile phone exposure for 5 and 20 min, approximating the typical duration of a phone call. Corticospinal excitability, intracortical facilitation, short intracortical inhibition, and long intracortical inhibition using single- and paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation assessed before and immediately after exposure were performed. Results: A two-way repeated-measures ANOVA revealed no significant interactions between exposure condition (5 min, 20 min, sham) and time (pre vs. post) for CSE, ICF, SICI, or LICI (all p > 0.15). Bayesian analyses yielded Bayes factors close to 1, indicating inconclusive evidence for both the null and alternative hypotheses. Conclusion: Short-term exposure to 5G mobile phone electromagnetic fields did not produce detectable changes in corticospinal or intracortical excitability. Bayesian evidence was similarly inconclusive (Bayes factors ≈ 1), suggesting that the data provide limited support for either the presence or absence of a detectable effect. Any potential influence of 5G exposure on neural function is therefore likely to be subtle with the present methods. As a pilot study, these findings should be interpreted cautiously and underscore the need for further research using more sensitive outcome measures, extended exposure durations, and vulnerable populations. Full article

The China Seismo Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES) mission provides in situ measurements of the electromagnetic field, plasma, and charged particles in the topside ionosphere. Each CSES spacecraft carries several different scientific payloads delivering a wealth of information about the ionospheric plasma dynamics and properties, as well as measurement about energetic particles precipitating in the ionosphere. In this work, we introduce CSESpy, a Python package designed to provide an interface to CSES data products, with the aim of easing the pathway for scientists to carry out analyses of CSES data. Beyond simply being an interface to the data, CSESpy aims to provide higher-level analysis and visualization tools, as well as methods for combining concurrent measurements from different instruments, so as to allow multipayload studies in a unified framework. Moreover, CSESpy is designed to be highly flexible as such, it can be extended to interface with datasets from other sources and can be embedded in wider software ecosystems. We highlight some applications, also demonstrating that CSESpy is a powerful visualization tool for investigating complex events involving variations across multiple physical observables. Full article

‘Hainan Qingyou’ (Citrus maxima) Pomelo is one of the predominant local cultivars cultivated in Hainan Province, renowned for its high economic value and strong market competitiveness. However, during cultivation, it was observed that the fruit quality of ‘Hainan Qingyou’ grafted onto a ‘Sanhong’ interstock deteriorated, predominantly manifesting as vesicle granulation. This study was therefore conducted to investigate this phenomenon using ‘Sanhong’ Honey Pomelo as the interstock. Fruit quality indicators were measured, and pulp transcriptomic analysis was performed during the expansion and maturation stages. The results indicated that fruits grafted onto ‘Sanhong’ interstock (SHZ) exhibited increased peel thickness, yellower peel, reduced edible rate, higher pulp firmness, decreased total soluble solids (TSS), increased total acid content, and reduced total antioxidant capacity at maturity, all contributing to diminished fruit quality. Additionally, SHZ fruit accumulated higher lignin content in the pulp, leading to vesicle granulation, which severely compromised marketability. Transcriptomic analysis identified 42 structural genes involved in lignin biosynthesis in ‘Hainan Qingyou’ pulp, including 5 PAL, 2 C4H, 2 4CL, 6 CAD, 15 PER, 2 HCT, 1 C3′H, 1 CCoAOMT, 1 CCR, 1 COMT, 2 CSE, and 1 F5H genes. Most of these genes were highly expressed in SHZ fruit at maturity, with expression levels significantly higher than those in fruit grafted onto ‘Hainan Qingyou’ interstock (QYZ). The interstock also affected hormone signaling pathways. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified transcription factors such as MYB, MIKC, ERF, and bZIP as key regulators involved in pulp lignin biosynthesis. This study provides insights into the effects of rootstocks on citrus fruit quality and offers valuable information for cultivar improvement in pomelo orchards. Full article

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects not only patients but also their informal caregivers. Enhancing caregiver resilience may improve both caregiver well-being and patient outcomes. This study aimed to assess resilience levels in caregivers of individuals with IBD and identify key psychological and contextual predictors, including caregiver contributions to self-care, self-efficacy, and perceived care load. A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted across nine IBD outpatient clinics in Italy. Caregiver resilience was measured using the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC 25). Additional tools included the Caregiver Contribution to Self-Care of Chronic Illness Inventory (CC-SC-CII) and Caregiver Self-Efficacy in Contributing to Patient Self-Care Scale (CSE-CSC). Robust regression models identified predictors of total resilience and its subdomains. Among 275 caregivers (median age 53; 58.2% female) CD-RISC-25 levels were moderately high (median = 74 [IQR = 65–84]), with no significant differences between those caring for patients with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. SEM analyses showed that self-efficacy significantly predicted contributions to disease monitoring and management, but not maintenance. In turn, the management dimension was significantly associated with higher levels of resilience across four of five domains (trust, control, acceptance of change, and spirituality), while maintenance was uniquely associated with personal competence. Predictors including education and employment status showed no significant direct or indirect effects on CC-SC-CII. In conclusion, caregiver resilience in IBD is positively associated with self-efficacy and active engagement in disease management. Targeted support strategies may strengthen caregiver resources and promote sustainable care. Full article

We present three dimensional particle-in-cell simulations of current-voltage characteristics of the hemispherical Langmuir probe (LAP), onboard the China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES). Using realistic plasma parameters and background magnetic fields obtained from the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) and International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF) models, we simulate probe–plasma interactions at three locations: the equatorial region and two magnetically conjugate mid-latitude sites: Millstone Hill (Northern Hemisphere) and Rothera (Southern Hemisphere). The simulations, performed using the PTetra PIC code, incorporate realistic LAP geometry and spacecraft motion in the ionospheric plasma. Simulated current voltage characteristics or I–V curves are compared against in-situ LAP measurements from CSES Orbit-026610, with Pearson’s correlation coefficients used to assess agreement. Our findings indicate how plasma temperature, density, and magnetization affect sheath structure and probe floating potential. The study highlights the significance of kinetic modeling in enhancing diagnostic accuracy, particularly in variable sheath regimes where classic analytical models such as the Orbital-Motion-Limited (OML) theory may be inadequate. Full article

Identifying and ranking influential nodes is central to tasks such as targeted immunization, misinformation containment, and resilient design. Structural entropy (SE) offers a principled, community-aware scoring rule, yet the one-shot (static) use of SE may become suboptimal after each intervention, as the residual topology and its modular structure change. We introduce iterative structural entropy (ISE), a simple yet powerful modification that recomputes SE on the residual graph before every removal, thus turning node targeting into a sequential, feedback-driven policy. We evaluate SE and ISE on seven benchmark networks using (i) cumulative structural entropy (CSE), (ii) cumulative sum of largest connected component sizes (LCCs), and (iii) dynamic panels that track average shortest-path length and diameter within the residual LCC together with a near-threshold percolation proxy (expected outbreak size). Across datasets, ISE consistently fragments earlier and more decisively than SE; on the Netscience network, ISE reduces the cumulative LCC size by $43\%$ (RLCCs $=0.567$). In parallel, ISE achieves perfect discriminability (monotonicity $M=1.0$) among positively scored nodes on all benchmarks, while SE and degree-based baselines display method-dependent ties. These results support ISE as a practical, adaptive alternative to static SE when sequential decisions matter, delivering sharper rankings and faster structural degradation under identical measurement protocols. Full article