Alnus glutinosa L. (black alder) is a promising phytoremediation candidate due to its N fixation, high biomass, and adaptability, yet responses to As, Cd, and Pb remain poorly understood. Three alder genotypes were exposed to increasing metal(loid) concentrations under controlled conditions hydroponically, evaluating growth, metal(loid) and elemental accumulation, antioxidant enzymes and secondary metabolites. Generalized Linear Model and Principal Component analyses revealed substantial genotype- and metal-dependent effects, with Cd causing the strongest inhibition and oxidative stress, while low-dose As and Pb induced hormetic responses (~ 20% shoot height, ~ 10% chlorophyll increases). Cd showed root accumulation with low shoot translocation; Pb was almost exclusively root sequestered. Notably, S levels declined universally. Cumulative results suggest that S depletion forms part of a broader stress-response pattern in which metal-specific uptake and tissue partitioning are followed by genotype-specific antioxidant impairments, potentially through putative effects on the ascorbate-glutathione cycle. Random Forest analysis identified glutathione-S-transferase and chlorophyll as strong metal-type predictors, while lipid peroxidation and ascorbate peroxidase best distinguished genotypes. Results support a hierarchical response pattern in which metal-specific accumulation and nutrient disruption are followed by downstream oxidative stress and growth inhibition, although the underlying sulfur-related mechanisms are inferred and require further validation. These findings highlight the potential importance of S metabolism's critical role in A. glutinosa metal(loid) tolerance and inform future phytoremediation breeding strategies.

This study investigates the temperature- and concentration-dependent linear and third-order nonlinear optical properties of SnO2-doped nematic liquid crystal E7. Refractive index measurements confirm that nanoparticle incorporation modifies both ordinary and extraordinary indices while preserving positive birefringence throughout the nematic phase. Kerr-effect analysis shows a pronounced enhancement of nonlinear response at 0.1 wt% SnO2, where the Kerr constant increases from 2.73 × 10-10 m V-2 (pure E7) to 6.94 × 10-10 m V-2, corresponding to an enhancement of approximately 154%. The third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility reaches its maximum value of 7.62 × 10-18 m2 V-2 at the same concentration near the nematic-isotropic transition temperature. At higher nanoparticle loadings, both the Kerr constant and χ(3) decrease, which may be attributed to nanoparticle aggregation and partial disruption of molecular ordering. Inverse Kerr analysis indicates a shift in pre-transition temperature from 332.2 to 332.7K (ΔT⁓0.5K), suggesting subtle modifications in the critical behavior near the phase transition. Therefore, these results demonstrate the potential of SnO2-E7 nanocomposites in nonlinear optical applications.

The surf zone is a dynamic coastal area characterising the physical environment of sandy beaches. However, direct, non-disturbing field observations of the highly variable sedimentary history of surf zones have been almost impossible in the past. The lack of on-site observations has limited our understanding of the morphological behaviour and inherent dynamics. In contrast, surf-zone stratigraphy was uplifted onto land on a time scale of seconds at the Kaiso Coast, Japan, by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake on 1 January 2024. The structure of unsolidified sediments covering the bar-trough zone to the foreshore (hereafter referred to as the surf zone) has been instantaneously preserved as it was without post-event interference except for the top layer. This extraordinary natural experiment enables us to explore the present-day sedimentary architecture formed beneath the surf zone under high-wave conditions. Here, we show the results of a large-scale trenching survey of the uplifted stratigraphy that covers the surf zone, including the breaker zone. A high-resolution photogrammetric digital archive of the sedimentary structure of the ephemerally preserved stratigraphy that was instantaneously uplifted by the earthquake was constructed, which provides an ideal basis for interpreting the spatiotemporal evolutionary history of bedforms within the surf zone. The spatially continuous orthoimages, covering a total of over 500m, identified the development and transition of various sedimentary structures that were previously estimated but not fully evidenced in the real field. The combination of multiple trench surveys, aligned in both cross-shore and alongshore directions, allows for quasi-three-dimensional observations. This pioneering archive provides a unique opportunity for anyone to freely observe in detail the recent sedimentary structures as if they were there. Together with the wave and tidal observation records prior to the uplift, the comprehensive archive provides vital information to gain essential physical insights into the evolutionary sequences.

Color fundus photographs (CFPs) are widely used for diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening due to accessibility. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides complementary depth-resolved retinal structure information but is less practical for large-scale screening, especially due to its cost. This study presents a deep learning framework based on a foundation model (FM) to estimate OCT-derived total retinal thickness (TRT) maps directly from CFPs, without preprocessing steps such as region registration. RETFound was used as the backbone FM, and the AI-READI dataset with paired CFPs and OCT scans from two devices (Topcon Maestro2 and Triton) was used for training and evaluation. Additional training data came from OCTA-500 and EyePACS. Three decoder training strategies for TRT estimation were compared: Individual, Combination, and Random Selection. Device-derived OCT TRT maps showed a significant inter-device thickness difference, with Maestro2 measuring on average more than 30µm thicker than Triton. Individual and Combination models achieved low bias (relative difference about 5%) against device-specific references. The Random Selection model converged toward the average TRT distribution between Maestro2 and Triton, demonstrating robustness to device variability. The proposed FM-based framework bridges CFP and OCT by estimating retinal thickness from CFPs without OCT.

Leaf-cutting ant queens of the genus Atta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) leave mature nests during nuptial flights to establish new colonies, but the factors influencing patterns of colony foundation remain poorly understood. This study describes foundation and evaluates early colony survival of Atta sexdens rubropilosa under contrasting environmental conditions. The research was conducted in Botucatu, São Paulo state, Brazil, in two 700m² areas: (A) an open, sun-exposed, urban site with bare soil, and (B) a shaded area near a river, with riparian vegetation and native trees. Nine hundred and six queens were recorded founding nests, 556 (61.4%) in the open area and 350 (38.6%) in the shaded area, during the nuptial flight in November 2024, resulting in 0.794 and 0.500 queens/m², respectively. After four months, the survival of 300 marked nests in each area was evaluated. Thirty and 135 nests remained active in the open (0.043 nests/m²) and shaded (0.193 nests/m²) sites, respectively (p < 0.001). These results indicate that colony foundations were not evenly distributed between the two environments and that early survival differed markedly between them. Because the study is observational and based on two non-replicated sites, the findings should be interpreted as descriptive evidence of habitat-associated differences rather than definitive proof of active habitat selection.

Technological innovation plays a critical role in driving the progress of linear megaprojects, despite being characterized by uncertainty and longtime spans between demand generation and application. To effectively incorporate the expectations of technological innovation time (ET) into construction management, a multi-objective scheduling optimization model is proposed. This model treats duration, cost, and robustness as multi-objectives, using the Linear Scheduling Method (LSM), which is more suitable for linear projects. It incorporates ET as scattered buffers, predicted by the Graphic Evaluation and Review Technique (GERT) network planning method. An improved Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm III (I-NSGA3) heuristic algorithm is employed to obtain the solution. Furthermore, the advantages of the model are examined through algorithm comparison, and sensitivity analysis is conducted to investigate the impact of ET on multiple objectives, as well as to determine the ET threshold for ensuring an optimal scheduling plan. Finally, case studies are presented to illustrate the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed model. The study concludes that when the expected time for technological innovation is less than one-eighth of the duration limit, an optimal schedule that balances cost, time, and robustness can be achieved. However, when the expected time exceeds half of the duration limit, significant schedule delays occur with minimal cost changes.

The technique of Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) is significant in the field of non-destructive forensic crime scene investigation, as it allows for the identification of minor spectral changes over a broad range of wavelengths. In the present study, the spectral characteristics of nine beverage stains, such as Papaya, Coffee, Pomegranate, Orange, Tea, Wine, Whisky, Rum, and Brandy, were studied by simulating a controlled environment for a mock crime scene. The hyperspectral images were collected by an HSI system with 204 spectral bands in the visible and near-infrared (VNIR) range. To eliminate spectral redundancy, the ANOVA-based feature selection technique was implemented, which selected 162 spectral bands. These spectral characteristics were employed to train four architectures of deep learning for the classification of the beverage stains, which were implemented as Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), one-dimensional Convolutional Neural Network (1D-CNN), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), and CNN-LSTM. The training process was carried out using standardized spectral data with adaptive learning rates and early stopping for stable convergence. The strength of the models was evaluated through five-fold cross-validation on stratified data. The experimental results demonstrate that the MLP model attained the greatest classification accuracy of 95.58%. The results show that there is great potential for combining hyperspectral imaging with deep learning for non-destructive stain identification in forensics.

Postoperative urinary retention (POUR) is a frequent and clinically significant complication following stapled hemorrhoidopexy, often resulting in catheterization, prolonged hospitalization, and patient discomfort. Strategies to reduce POUR remain limited. Intrasphincteric botulinum toxin (BTX) injection may decrease internal anal sphincter tone and indirectly reduce urinary dysfunction. To evaluate the effect of intrasphincteric BTX type A injection on the incidence of POUR following stapled hemorrhoidopexy in a secondary analysis of a prospective randomized controlled trial originally designed to assess postoperative pain outcomes. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 68 adult patients with grade III-IV hemorrhoids undergoing stapled hemorrhoidopexy at two tertiary hospitals were randomized (1:1) to receive either 50 units of BTX A or placebo injected into the internal anal sphincter intraoperatively. The primary outcome was POUR, defined as failure to void within six hours postoperatively with a bladder volume > 400 mL on ultrasound requiring catheterization. Secondary outcomes included postoperative pain, gas incontinence, bleeding, and anal stenosis. POUR occurred in 30 patients (44.1%). The incidence was significantly lower in the BTX group compared with placebo (20.6% vs. 67.6%, P < 0.001). In multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age and sex, placebo treatment was independently associated with higher odds of POUR (adjusted OR 8.87, 95% CI 2.82-27.95; P < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in postoperative bleeding or gas incontinence. Intrasphincteric BTX injection significantly reduces postoperative urinary retention following stapled hemorrhoidopexy and may represent an effective perioperative strategy to improve surgical.Registration: IRCT20130826014483N12; Registered 25 June 2025 (Retrospectively registered).

Circadian syndrome (CircS) involves the integration of systemic circadian disruption with cardiometabolic risk factors, but its longitudinal effect on incident chronic lung disease (CLD) remains unknown. This prospective dual-cohort study analyzed data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS, n = 7,553) and the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA, n = 4,957). CircS was defined by the clustering of at least 4 out of 7 circadian-metabolic components. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for incident CLD over a seven-year follow-up. In the discovery cohort (CHARLS), CircS was independently associated with an increased risk of incident CLD (HR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.01-1.33). This was robustly confirmed in the validation cohort (ELSA) with a stronger effect size (HR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.20-1.95). Furthermore, subgroup analyses revealed that this risk was significantly amplified by alcohol consumption in the British population (P < 0.05), suggesting an interactive effect between circadian misalignment and lifestyle stressors. In conclusion, CircS serves as a robust, independent predictor of respiratory decline. Evaluating circadian integrity offers a reliable indicator of respiratory vulnerability, and holistic chronomedicine approaches targeting sleep hygiene and moderate alcohol consumption may help mitigate the global CLD burden.

Our study aims to assess the effect of narrative medicine education on academic performance and humanistic communication. We performed a PRISMA guideline-based systematic review and meta-analysis. The literature was searched in PubMed, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP database and Wanfang database up to January 26, 2026. Two independent reviewers performed the study selection, data extraction and quality assessment. We included 20 studies with 1,364 residents. Meta-analyses showed that compared with lecture-based learning (LBL), the application of narrative medicine was associated with significantly improved procedural skill (SMD = 0.98, 95% CI 0.42 to 1.53), humanistic care ability (SMD = 2.62, 95% CI 0.26 to 4.99), empathy ability (SMD = 1.51, 95% CI 0.76 to 2.26), and doctor-patient communication (SMD = 2.19, 95% CI 0.21 to 4.17). Our study also showed that residents were more satisfied with the narrative medicine education than LBL (OR = 6.67, 95% CI 1.74 to 25.51). In conclusion, this is the first meta-analysis to show that narrative medicine may potentially improve the procedural skills and humanistic communication compared with LBL. However, given the substantial heterogeneity and low-certainty evidence, our findings are insufficient for strong practice recommendations. Further high-quality studies are needed to validate these findings. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261323721.