University of Liverpool

Predicting high-dimensional dynamical systems with irregular time steps presents significant challenges for current data-driven algorithms. These irregularities arise from missing data, sparse observations, or adaptive computational techniques, reducing prediction accuracy. To address these limitations, we propose a novel method: a Physics-Spatiotemporal Masked Autoencoder. This method integrates convolutional autoencoders for spatial feature extraction with masked autoencoders optimised for irregular time series, leveraging attention mechanisms to reconstruct the entire physical sequence in a single prediction pass. The model avoids the need for data imputation while preserving the physical integrity of the system. Here, ’physics’ refers to high-dimensional fields generated by underlying dynamical systems, rather than the enforcement of explicit physical constraints or PDE residuals. We evaluate this approach on multiple simulated datasets and real-world ocean temperature data. The results demonstrate that our method achieves significant improvements in prediction accuracy, robustness to nonlinearities, and computational efficiency over traditional convolutional and recurrent network methods. The model shows potential for capturing complex spatiotemporal patterns without requiring domain-specific knowledge, with applications in climate modelling, fluid dynamics, ocean forecasting, environmental monitoring, and scientific computing.

Unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) is a prevalent reproductive issue but its etiology remains obscure. Male exposure to environmental chemicals is suggested to elevate URSA risk in female partners. Herein, a case-control design set out to investigate associations between metal levels in human seminal plasma with URSA risk, plus to determine evidence of mediating effects by oxidative stress. Levels of 15 metal elements and oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde (MDA) in seminal plasma were measured in 125 male spouses of URSA cases compared to 108 male partners of women with successful pregnancy outcomes. The associations of single or mixed metals on URSA risk were analyzed using logistic regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR), respectively. BKMR analyses reveal a joint effect of metal co-exposures on URSA risk. Through multiple statistical approaches, titanium (Ti), cadmium (Cd) or magnesium (Mg) were major contributors to metal mixtures elevating URSA risk. MDA was significantly and positively associated with URSA risk. Mediation analysis shows that the associations of Ti, Cd or Mg with URSA risk appear to be mediated by MDA at rates of 23.30%, 16.26% or 34.48%, respectively. In vitro experiments confirmed the seminal plasma relevant dose Ti, Cd or Mg exposure induced male mouse spermatocyte-derived GC-2 cells oxidative stress. Metal mixtures in seminal plasma are associated with increased URSA risk in female spouses, with Ti, Cd or Mg being significant contributors, potentially via oxidative stress, providing further insights into URSA etiology.

• We offer an evaluation of technical experts' and community members’ knowledge and perception on the use of nature-based solutions for coastal protection across multiple European countries. • For technical experts, a good level of knowledge correlated with a higher level of consciousness regarding nature-based solutions employment. • Compared to technical experts, community members showed a more limited knowledge on nature-based solutions but overall support for their implementation with desire for sustainable and eco-friendly management practices. • Results offer initial insights for coastal planners, guide larger-scale studies, inform community-scale research, and highlight opportunities to improve knowledge exchange. The use of nature-based solutions (NBSs) in coastal management strategies is gaining popularity, with broad consensus on the critical role of public engagement in assessing the benefits of sustainable practices. However, the number of existing studies that tackle public knowledge and perception of NBSs in coastal management is still low and most studies only target specific communities. As a result, it is challenging to determine whether these findings reflect general trends or are influenced by unique circumstances in the studied communities. To clarify this, it is essential to assess the broader public perspective on the use of NBSs in coastal management. Here we assess the results of a pilot study conducted across Europe to evaluate technical experts’ and community members’ knowledge and perception on the use of NBSs for coastal protection. The evaluation was conducted by collecting responses provided to a survey distributed via social media. The study focuses on three countries: United Kingdom, Netherlands and Italy. The survey revealed common trends across the three countries. There is general support for the application of these solutions in coastal management amongst both groups, which correlates positively with concern for flooding and erosion. While technical experts have a solid understanding of the topic, which corresponds to a considerable degree of awareness and a higher level of consciousness regarding NBSs implementation, the community members’ support is accompanied by an overall more limited knowledge of what NBSs entail (higher amongst residents of coastal areas) but also a considerable desire for more sustainable and eco-friendly management practices. While offering an initial insight into public perceptions of NBSs for coastal planners, these results can also guide larger-scale perception studies, provide a framework for interpreting community-scale research, and highlight opportunities to improve knowledge exchange between technical experts and community members.

Multiple products are typically formed during CO 2 hydrogenation over oxide-supported metal catalysts, making the regulation of product selectivity both practically and fundamentally important. In this work, a silver-promoted In 2 O 3 catalyst (Ag/In 2 O 3 ) was synthesized using a deposition-precipitation method and employed as a model system to elucidate the pressure-dependent reactivity of the catalyst in CO 2 hydrogenation. A strong electronic metal-support interaction (EMSI) between Ag and defective In 2 O 3 (In 2 O 3-x ) is identified, which promotes the formation of catalytically active Ag-In 2 O 3-x interfacial sites. The Ag/In 2 O 3 catalyst exhibits a 100% CO selectivity at 0.1 MPa, while achieving high methanol selectivity at 5 MPa within the temperature range investigated. Kinetic analysis reveals that CO formation and methanol synthesis share the same active sites. Combined in situ catalyst characterization and theoretical calculations demonstrate that elevated pressure enhances CO adsorption and stabilizes surface CO*, thereby promoting the further hydrogenation of CO* to CH 3 O* and ultimately leading to high methanol selectivity. This work provides mechanistic insights into pressure-controlled selectivity in catalytic CO 2 hydrogenation and offers a promising strategy for tuning product distribution via the change in the pressure. • Ag/In 2 O 3 is active for the RWGS reaction at atmospheric pressure. • 100% CO selectivity is achieved at atmospheric pressure. • An electronic metal-support interaction (EMSI) exists in Ag/In 2 O 3 . • EMSI induces partially positively charged Ag species. • Ag/In 2 O 3 shows pressure-dependent reactivity in CO 2 hydrogenation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in older people, with an increasing prevalence of various geriatric conditions, such as multimorbidity, and frailty. A contemporary integrated approach is effective in reducing the risk of clinical adverse events, particularly when streamlined through the application of the Atrial Fibrillation Better Care (ABC) pathway, as proven in 2 non-European trials. The atrial fibrillation integrated approach in frail, multimorbid and polymedicated older people (AFFIRMO) trial, a European multicenter, open-label, cluster-randomized study, will examine whether a mobile-health integrated care approach based on the ABC pathway combined with a multidimensional Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) can reduce the 12-month risk of unplanned all-cause hospitalizations in patients with AF ≥65 years with ≥1 concomitant chronic condition(s). The AFFIRMO trial enrolled 1,260 patients with AF (mean age 74 [SD 6] years; 44.4% female) across 6 European countries (Bulgaria, Denmark, Italy, Romania, Serbia, and Spain). At baseline, the median (IQR) CHA2DS2-VASc score was 4 (3-5), and the median (IQR) HAS-BLED score was 1 (1-2). Hypertension was reported in 992 (78.7%) patients, and diabetes mellitus in 369 (29.3%) patients. Among the enrolled patients, 507 (40.5%) were prefrail, and 171 (13.7%) were frail. Oral anticoagulants (OACs) were prescribed for 1,225 (97.2%) patients, with 1,149 (91.2%) patients receiving non-VKAs oral anticoagulants (NOACs). Follow-up is ongoing and planned to be completed in January 2026. The AFFIRMO trial will provide evidence on the efficacy of the ABC pathway in conjunction with the CGA approach in reducing the risk of unplanned all-cause hospitalizations and other clinical adverse events in older, multimorbid patients with AF. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06775028.

Follow-up of radiologically suspicious lung nodules from screening programs remains complex and unstandardized. This study analyses distribution and characteristics of solid and part-solid non-calcified nodules ≥100mm3 and non-solid nodules ≥8mm detected at baseline in the UK Lung cancer Screening (UKLS) trial, with insights into their relationship to screen-detected lung cancers. UKLS participants with baseline indeterminate and positive lung nodules were included. Nodule location was categorized by lobe and by attachment: intraparenchymal, juxta pleural or pleural-based. Solid and part-solid were classified based on semi-automated volume: 100-300mm3 and ≥300mm3, and non-solid nodules based on diameter ≥8mm. This measurement approach aligns with UKLS protocol and the British Thoracic Society (BTS) guideline. Their relationship to screen-detected lung cancer was based on histological outcomes after a 2-year follow-up period. 279 UKLS participants with 373 solid or part-solid lung nodules ≥100mm3 and 57 participants with 62 nonsolid nodules ≥8mm were included. Among solid and part-solid nodules, 233 were 100-300mm3, with 39.5% in upper lobes and 72.5% intraparenchymal; 140 nodules were ≥300mm3, with 51.4% in upper lobes and 53.6% intraparenchymal. Nodules ≥300mm3 group were more likely to be in the upper lobes (OR 1.97 [95% CI 1.12-3.48]). Within 2years, 34 solid or part-solid nodules were diagnosed as lung cancer, yielding a 2-year cancer probability of 9.1% (95% CI 6.6-12.5). The 2-year lung cancer probability was higher in nodules ≥300mm3 (RR 18.1, 95% CI 5.6-58.4; p<0.001) and in upper lobe nodules (RR 2.7, 95% CI 1.3-5.5; p=0.009). Solid and part-solid nodules with volume ≥300mm3 were more often found in the upper lobes and were associated with a higher probability of lung cancer within a two-year follow-up period.