Search Results (387)

Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) predominantly inhabit the epipelagic layer, yet dives to at least 1928 m have been reported. Even so, current understanding of the species’ true maximum dive depth is constrained by the technological limitations of depth sensors of commercially available satellite tags, which are generally rated to a maximum depth of 2000 m. Here, we report a new maximum depth range of 1978–2527 m inferred from a Wildlife Computers custom-calibrated SPLASH10-346C finmount tag (2500 m capability), deployed on a 7 m juvenile male whale shark in the Coral Sea, Australia. This extends the currently accepted depth limit by 50–599 m. Full article

Background: Biological sex contributes to variability in drug metabolism, receptor sensitivity, and susceptibility to adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Despite this, dosing recommendations for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) are still largely sex-neutral. This systematic review examines sex-related differences in pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and safety outcomes, with the aim of clarifying their potential implications for personalized psychopharmacology. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed was conducted for studies published between January 2010 and March 2026. The strategy combined MeSH terms and free-text keywords related to SSRIs, SGAs, sex differences, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and ADRs. Two independent reviewers performed study selection and data extraction. Studies reporting sex-stratified PK, PD, or safety outcomes in humans were included. Owing to methodological heterogeneity, results were synthesized narratively. Results: Twenty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, the evidence indicates clinically meaningful sex-related differences in psychotropic drug exposure and response. Women more frequently exhibited higher dose-adjusted serum concentrations, particularly for risperidone and some SSRIs, with age-related increases more evident in females. Pharmacodynamic findings suggest that women may reach comparable dopamine D2 receptor occupancy at lower olanzapine doses. Pharmacovigilance analyses revealed sex-specific adverse event patterns, including greater reporting of endocrine-related effects and QT prolongation in women. Conclusions: Sex influences psychotropic drug exposure, pharmacodynamic sensitivity, and safety profiles in ways that may be clinically relevant. Integrating sex-aware considerations into dosing strategies could improve therapeutic precision and reduce adverse outcomes, reinforcing the importance of sex as a key variable in personalized psychiatric care. Full article

The modulation of plant responses to abscisic acid (ABA) and/or abiotic stresses can be manipulated by the expression of ABA-responsive genes, which is affected by phytohormone ABA. While some ABA-responsive genes have been shown to regulate plant responses to ABA and/or abiotic stresses, the functions of numerous ABA-responsive genes remain unknown. Therefore, characterizing these unstudied genes would provide a practical way to identify novel regulators of plant adaptations to ABA and/or abiotic stresses. Here, we characterized four closely related unstudied ABA-responsive genes in Arabidopsis thaliana, named Arabidopsis thaliana ABA-up regulated genes (AtAUGs). We found that ABA treatment induces AtAUGs expression level, and our results in transfected protoplasts show that AtAUGs exhibit nucleus localization and downregulate the co-transfected reporter expression level. The results of ABA sensitivity assays, including seed germination, cotyledon greening, and root extension assay show that transgenic plants overexpressing AtAUGs had increased sensitivity, but ataugs mutants generated by isolating T-DNA insertion lines or through CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing of AtAUGs had decreased sensitivity; in addition, the greatest decrease in ABA sensitivity was observed in the ataug1 ataug2 ataug3 ataug4 (ataug1234) quadruple mutants. The qRT-PCR results show that the expression levels of several Type 2C Protein Phosphatase (PP2C) genes, the key negative regulator genes of ABA signaling including PP2CA, Hypersensitive to ABA 1 (HAB1), HAB2, Highly ABA-Induced PP2C protein 3 (HAI3), ABA-Hypersensitive Germination 1 (AHG1), and ABA Insensitive 2 (ABI2) decreased in 35S:AtAUGs transgenic plants, but increased in the ataug1234 quadruple mutants. Taken together, these results suggest that AtAUGs are ABA-responsive genes, and AtAUGs positively regulate ABA responses in a redundant manner, by downregulating the expression of crucial negative regulator genes in ABA signaling. Full article

Background/Objectives: Social intelligence refers to a person’s ability to understand and navigate social situations effectively. Teenagers who possess strong social intelligence are better equipped to build positive relationships, resolve conflicts, and make healthy decisions. Despite the importance of social intelligence, there are limited ways to measure this skill, especially during the teenage years. Thus, the aim of the present study was to develop and validate a scale that focuses on the following two aspects: social awareness and social perception. Methods: The reliability and validity of the Social Intelligence Test for Teenagers (SITT) was tested in teenagers aged between 14 and 18 years. Convergent validity was determined by the relationship between the SITT and the Tromsø Social Intelligence Scale (TSIS). Criterion validity was established by looking at the predictive relationship between the SITT and measures of social connectedness, empathy, and friendship. Results: The 19-item scale showed good internal reliability as measured by Cronbach’s alpha. The SITT mean score was significantly related to the TSIS Information Processing mean and the SITT Facial Expressions was significantly related to the TSIS Social Skills, even with age partialled out. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the SITT is a psychometrically sound tool to measure social intelligence in teenagers. Full article

Carbon fluxes from the atmosphere to the ocean and from the ocean surface to the deep ocean are a key pathway in the long-term sequestration of anthropogenic CO₂. Particulate Organic Carbon (POC), which comprises living plankton, detritus and other microscopic organisms, is a very dynamic carbon pool in surface waters, so an ability to assess POC reliably from satellites and autonomous profilers is fundamental to the quantification of the reservoirs and fluxes of carbon within the ocean, and to assess their response to climate change. In situ records from sample filtration during dedicated hydrographic surveys are limited both in terms of spatial coverage and time, so reliable algorithms are required that make use of readily available autonomously collected data that provide much better spatial and temporal coverage. In this paper, algorithms that use ocean colour data from satellites to estimate POC are re-assessed, and then the satellite-derived products are compared with near-surface in situ observations from biogeochemical (BGC) Argo profilers. The satellites and in situ BGC-Argo records match each other to within 30%, but a regional bias persists that may be related to the BGC-Argo fluorometers overestimating the chlorophyll concentration in the Southern Ocean. A simple coarse-resolution regional correction to the observed chlorophyll-a concentration and backscatter coefficient, plus the removal of clear outliers, improves the agreement to approximately 15%. The association of POC with the surface chlorophyll value is so strong that an algorithm based on chlorophyll-a alone provides an almost equally good estimate of POC compared with more complex algorithms that incorporate additional bio-optical variables such as the backscattering coefficient. Full article

Background and Objectives: Accurate anterior segment measurements are central to intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation and toric planning, yet different optical platforms may yield non-interchangeable values. This study compared keratometry, astigmatism metrics, and ocular biometry obtained with a swept-source OCT biometer (Argos), an optical low-coherence interferometry biometer (Aladdin), and a combined Scheimpflug–Placido topographer (Schwind Sirius). Methods: This is a retrospective observational study (January 2022–June 2024) including eyes undergoing uncomplicated cataract surgery. All eyes were measured in a single session by one examiner. Outcomes included K1, K2, cylinder, astigmatism axis (degrees; device-reported corneal cylinder axis, labeled “Powerful Angle” in the Sirius export), vector components (J0 and J45), and—where available—lens thickness (LT), axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), white-to-white (WTW) distance, and central corneal thickness (CCT). Friedman tests assessed 3-device differences, and pairwise comparisons were evaluated using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests (paired data). Results: A total of 170 eyes (102 patients) were analyzed (mean age: 69.12 ± 10.26 years). Significant inter-device differences were detected for K1 (Argos: 43.45 ± 1.64 D; Aladdin: 43.41 ± 1.70 D; overall: p < 0.001; Argos vs. Aladdin: p = 0.019), K2 (Argos: 44.45 ± 1.67 D; Aladdin: 44.34 ± 1.71 D; overall and pairwise: p < 0.001), and cylinder (Argos: −0.83 ± 0.74 D, Aladdin: −0.77 ± 0.76 D; Sirius: −0.68 ± 0.75 D; overall: p < 0.001). “Powerful Angle” differed across devices (p = 0.003) but not between Argos and Aladdin (p = 0.512). J0 (p = 0.277) and J45 (p = 0.084) did not differ significantly. Argos reported higher ACD (3.19 ± 0.42 vs. 3.13 ± 0.41 mm, p < 0.001) and WTW (11.95 ± 0.42 vs. 11.65 ± 0.39 mm, p < 0.001) values than Aladdin. CCT was similar between Aladdin and Sirius (540.27 ± 33.44 vs. 540.47 ± 33.78 µm, p = 0.169). Conclusions: Several keratometric and biometric parameters differed significantly by device, indicating limited interchangeability—particularly relevant for toric and premium IOL planning—while vector astigmatism components and CCT showed better agreement. Full article

This study proposes a method for retrieving ocean sea surface salinity (SSS) using C/X-band ocean emissivities in coastal regions, aiming to verify the performance of these unconventional frequencies for SSS retrieval in warm, high-salinity-variation coastal oceans. Since C/X-band brightness temperatures are less sensitive to sea surface salinity than L-band brightness temperatures, it becomes particularly important to develop a sophisticated and effective method for extracting salinity-related signals from C/X-band brightness temperatures. To this end, a wind effect correction process is developed to remove rough sea surface emissivity contributions from total emissivity and derive calm sea emissivity from WindSat’s brightness temperatures. The wind-induced effects are modeled with a third-order polynomial. Then, based on emissivity analysis, a weighted combination of C/X-band calm sea emissivities (with parameter λ) is introduced to reduce SST sensitivity. This λ-based combination is used to retrieve SSS in the Bay of Bengal. Based on the triple-match method and buoy data, the salinity retrieval results are verified and compared with the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) SSS and Argo in situ SSS. The results show that the use of parameter λ reduces the RMS error of SSS by 0.1–0.2 psu. The RMSE of SSS retrieval is about 0.64 psu, which is comparable to the error of SMAP data. Simultaneously, the SSS retrieval accuracy is significantly influenced by offshore distance. At an offshore distance of 100 km, the salinity retrieval error exceeds 1 psu, while when the offshore distance exceeds 500 km, the salinity retrieval error is better than 0.6 psu. Full article

Background/Objectives: PAX6 haploinsufficiency-related congenital aniridia is a panocular disease affecting multiple ocular structures. The aim of this study was to determine the biometric properties of eyes affected by PAX6 haploinsufficiency-related classical congenital aniridia using a non-contact device. Methods: Fifty-nine eyes from 31 aniridia patients (48.39% male; mean age 27.0 ± 17.65 years, range 7–56) and 99 eyes from 50 healthy controls (44.00% male; mean age 28.56 ± 21.73 years, range 4–81) were examined using the Movu biometer (Argos Inc.). Axial length (AL), corneal diameter (CD), central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), pupil size (PS), and mean keratometric value (K-mean) were measured. Results: Linear mixed-effects models showed significant effects of diagnosis on CCT (β = 182.39, p < 0.001), CD (β = −0.55, p = 0.02), and K-mean (β = −1.10, p = 0.03), while axial length was associated with gender (β = −0.90, p = 0.03). Mann–Whitney testing showed no interocular asymmetry (all p ≥ 0.07; η² ≤ 0.04) overall. Conclusions: PAX6-related congenital aniridia eyes are associated with increased CCT and reduced CD, and K-mean, while AL appears to be mainly influenced by gender. The absence of marked interocular asymmetry suggests relatively symmetrical bilateral involvement. These differences should be considered in corneal and lens surgery planning. Full article

This study presents a comprehensive life cycle assessment of the production of biofuels from microalgae by hydrothermal liquefaction, focusing on the valorization of CO₂ emitted by the cement industry, which represents about 8% of global anthropogenic emissions. The results demonstrate that hydrothermal liquefaction is a promising option for producing biofuels and highlight the importance of understanding its environmental impact in order to ensure its sustainability. OpenLCA 2.6 software was used to analyze the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the process, and it was found that it can capture 3.91 kg of CO₂ per kg of biofuel produced compared to 0.286 kg of CO₂ per kg of fuel emitted by petrochemical diesel. This article also discusses the financial potential of the technology through the reduction in capital costs due to the elimination of taxes and tariffs under the current policies in Colombia, including the benefits of carbon credits, and finds that the classification of these processes as environmental facilitates their implementation at the industrial level. In conclusion, the capital investment can be reduced by about 15% with an estimated MUSD 165, and the project would be profitable, producing around 850 barrels/day of biofuel under a medium scenario with a carbon bond price of 5 USD/ton CO₂, capturing an estimated 20% of the CO₂ emitted at the Cementos Argos plant in Cartagena, Colombia. Full article

Epichloë sinensis engages in mutualistic symbiosis with Festuca sinensis on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. The influence of variation within the Epichloë genus on morphology in this context is poorly understood, as is the influence of environmental factors (e.g., temperature, precipitation, and altitude). Accordingly, a total of 122 fungal endophyte strains were isolated from 270 F. sinensis seeds collected from different locations on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, and their morphological characteristics were observed. The colonies were white on the front, dark brown in the center on the back, and light brown or yellow around the PDA medium, exhibiting typical characteristics of E. sinensis. Morphological diversity was categorized into (1) colony features (six types based on texture, shape, and cracks), (2) growth rates (51 strains that produce spores: 0.23–0.78 mm/d; 71 strains that do not produce spores: 0.11–0.93 mm/d), and (3) hyphal width (51 strains that produce spores: 0.60–2.57 μm; 71 strains that do not produce spores: 0.95–2.10 μm). Correlation analyses revealed that temperature and altitude had significant effects on these traits. Phylogenetic relationships showed that 17 strains probably were E. sinensis, and only 4 strains probably were the endophyte E. poae. One strain was haploid and may have originated from E. festucae. All 22 tested strains lacked genes associated with toxic alkaloid biosynthesis (ergot alkaloid) but harbored regulatory genes for the insect-resistant alkaloid peramine, demonstrating potential for use in developing new germplasm in Festuca species. Full article

Sea surface temperature (SST) is widely used to characterize marine productivity, environmental pollution, and climate variability, and is commonly derived from thermal infrared measurements obtained by optical satellite sensors. However, accurately retrieving large-scale SSTs remains challenging due to the complexity of air–sea coupling processes and the difficulty of accurately obtaining key intermediate parameters. This study proposes a day–night-differentiated SST retrieval method with emissivity correction rather than treating it as a fixed value. Specifically, radiance characteristics from the mid-infrared band are integrated alongside those from thermal infrared bands. The retrieved SSTs are then validated against the MODIS SST product and in situ measurements. The results demonstrate strong consistency between the retrieved SST and the MODIS SST product, with overall root mean square errors (RMSEs) of 0.66 K and 0.82 K for daytime and nighttime, respectively. In winter the RMSEs improve to 0.37 K (day) and 0.42 K (night). In situ validation against Argo measurements in 2019 shows that the RMSEs of the retrieved SSTs are approximately 0.26 K for both day and night. This confirms the efficacy of the proposed SST retrieval approach, providing a feasible solution for high-precision SST retrieval in high-latitude regions with large view zenith angles. Full article

Due to the limited number of deep sound speed profile (SSP) samples, the existing wide-area SSP inversion methods cannot estimate the full-depth SSP. In this paper, the full-depth SSP inversion is achieved by adding physical mechanism constraints to the neural network inversion algorithm. A dimensionality reduction approach for SSP perturbation, based on the hydrodynamic mechanism of seawater, is proposed. Constrained by the characteristics of ocean stratification, a self-organizing map is employed to invert the depth of the sound channel axis and reconstruct the SSP from the sea surface to the sound channel axis. The SSP from the sound channel axis to the seabed is reconstructed by integrating the characteristics of the sound channel axis and the sound speed gradient characteristics of the deep sea isothermal layer. The efficacy of the method was validated by the Argo data from the South China Sea. The average root mean square error of the reconstructed full-depth SSP is 2.85 m/s. Additionally, the average error of transmission loss prediction within 50 km is 2.50 dB. The proposed method is capable of furnishing effective full-depth SSP information without the necessity of any in situ measurements, thereby meeting the requirements of certain underwater acoustic applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: Gunshot wounds in living patients present significant challenges from both a clinical and a forensic perspective. Understanding the exact trajectory of a bullet is crucial not only for guiding treatment but also for providing reliable documentation in legal settings. This work introduces a practical diagnostic workflow that combines OsiriX (V. 14.1.1), a DICOM viewer with advanced 3D tools, with Autodesk Maya, a modeling platform used to recreate the external shooting scene. Methods: CT scans obtained with multidetector systems were analyzed in OsiriX using a structured, seven-step process that included multiplanar reconstructions, 3D renderings, and region-of-interest tracking. The reconstructed trajectories were then exported to Maya, where they were integrated into a virtual model of the shooting scene to correlate internal findings with the incident’s external dynamics. Results: The workflow allowed precise identification of entry and exit points, reliable reconstruction of bullet paths, and effective 3D visualization. While OsiriX provided detailed information for clinical and radiological purposes, the use of Maya enabled simulation of the external scene, improving forensic interpretation and courtroom presentation. The procedure proved reproducible across cases and compatible with emergency timelines. Conclusions: The combined use of OsiriX and Maya offers a reproducible and informative method for analyzing gunshot wounds in living patients. This approach not only supports surgical and diagnostic decisions but also enhances the forensic value of radiological data by linking internal trajectories to external shooting dynamics. Its integration into trauma imaging protocols and forensic workflows could represent a significant step toward standardized ballistic documentation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Brain metastases (BM) are a major challenge in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), particularly among patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase rearrangements (ALK+ NSCLC), where incidence can reach up to 60% during the course of the disease. This study used in silico systems biology and artificial intelligence-based modeling to investigate the mechanistic effects of brigatinib, a second-generation ALK inhibitor, on metastatic processes in both primary tumors (PT) and established BM. Methods: We applied the Therapeutic Performance Mapping System (TPMS) technology, which integrates systems biology and artificial intelligence, to simulate the impact of brigatinib on metastasis-associated pathways in PT and BM of ALK+ NSCLC patients. Results: In these simulations, brigatinib was predicted to modulate a broad set of proteins implicated in metastasis in both PT and BM, acting mainly through IGF1R, EGFR, FLT3, and ROS1, in addition to its known target ALK. Conclusions: These results suggest brigatinib’s potential to impact key pathways involved in metastatic progression and intracranial disease control. Overall, this study provides insights into brigatinib’s multifaceted role in targeting metastatic processes in ALK+ NSCLC, underscoring its potential benefits in both PT and BM. Nonetheless, further experimental and clinical studies would confirm our results and the potential of in silico models reported here. Full article

In this work, we propose a fully decentralized, self-organizing control framework for a swarm of autonomous ground mobile robots. The system integrates potential field-based mechanisms for simultaneous trajectory tracking, formation control, and obstacle avoidance, all based on local sensing and neighbor interactions without centralized coordination. Each robot autonomously computes attractive, repulsive, and formation forces to navigate toward target positions while maintaining inter-robot spacing and avoiding both static and dynamic obstacles. Inspired by biological swarm behavior, the controller emphasizes robustness, scalability, and flexibility. The proposed method has been successfully validated in the ARGoS simulator, which provides realistic physics, sensor modeling, and a robust environment that closely approximates real-world conditions. The system was tested with up to 15 robots and is designed to scale to larger swarms (e.g., 100 robots), demonstrating stable performance across a range of scenarios. Results obtained using ARGoS confirm the swarm’s ability to maintain formation, avoid collisions, and reach a predefined goal area within a configurable 1 m radius. This zone serves as a spatial convergence region suitable for multi-robot formation, even in the presence of unknown fixed obstacles and movable agents. The framework can seamlessly handle the addition or removal of swarm members without reconfiguration. Full article