Search Results (664)

Hyperspectral reconstruction (SR) refers to the computational process of generating high-dimensional hyperspectral images (HSI) from low-dimensional observations. However, the superior performance of most supervised learning-based reconstruction algorithms is predicated on the availability of fully labeled three-dimensional data. In practice, this requirement demands complex optical paths with dual high-precision registrations and stringent calibration. To address this gap, we extend the fully supervised paradigm to a semi-supervised setting and propose SSHSR, a semi-supervised SR method for scenarios with limited spectral annotations. The core idea is to leverage spectrally aware mini-patches (SA-MP) as guidance and form region-level supervision from averaged spectra, so it can learn high-quality reconstruction without dense pixel-wise labels over the entire image. To improve reconstruction accuracy, we replace the conventional fixed-form Tikhonov physical layer with an optimizable version, which is then jointly trained with the deep network in an end-to-end manner. This enables the collaborative optimization of physical constraints and data-driven learning, thereby explicitly introducing learnable physical priors into the network. We also adopt a reconstruction network that combines spectral attention with spatial attention to strengthen spectral–spatial feature fusion and recover fine spectral details. Experimental results demonstrate that SSHSR outperforms existing state-of-the-art (SOTA) methods on several publicly available benchmark datasets, as well as on remote sensing and real-world scene data. On the GDFC remote sensing dataset, our method yields a 6.8% gain in PSNR and a 22.1% reduction in SAM. Furthermore, on our self-collected real-world scene dataset, our SSHSR achieves a 6.0% improvement in PSNR and a 11.9% decrease in SAM, confirming its effectiveness under practical conditions. Additionally, the model has only 1.59 M parameters, which makes it more lightweight than MST++ (1.62 M). This reduction in parameters lowers the deployment threshold while maintaining performance advantages, demonstrating its feasibility and practical value for real-world applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are rare, histologically heterogeneous neoplasms lacking robust molecular biomarkers. Hippo pathway dysregulation—driving YAP/TEAD-dependent transcription—has been implicated across cancers, but transcript-level data in TETs are limited. Methods: We profiled 26 (23 TETs and three normal thymus) formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimens by SYBR real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) across World Health Organization (WHO) subtypes, focusing on core Hippo components YAP1, TEAD4, MST1, SAV1, LATS1, and MOB1A. Expression was normalized to the geometric mean of HPRT1 and TBP and reported as log₂ fold change (log₂FC) using the 2^−ΔΔCq method relative to the pooled normal. Group differences were compared using non-parametric tests. Results: Median log₂FC values showed subtype-dependent upregulation of YAP1/TEAD4, notably in type A (YAP1 ≈ +3.43) and B3 (YAP1 ≈ +2.78) thymomas, with TEAD4 strongly increased in thymic carcinoma (TC; ≈ +3.49) and elevated in type A/B3. Upstream kinases tended to be subtype-specifically reduced, particularly in TC (MST1 ≈ −1.38; LATS1 ≈ −1.34), and modestly in B1. SAV1 was elevated in type A (≈+2.25) and B3 (≈+2.01), while MOB1A remained near baseline. Differential expression among WHO subtypes (Kruskal–Wallis) was significant for YAP1 (p = 0.003), TEAD4 (p = 0.015), SAV1 (p = 0.004), MST1 (p = 0.012), and LATS1 (p = 0.036), but not for MOB1A (p = 0.09). Conclusions: TETs seem to exhibit subtype-dependent expression patterns of core Hippo pathway components, characterized by enhanced YAP1–TEAD4 transcriptional output in selected subtypes and marked reduction of the MST1/LATS1 kinase module, most pronounced in TC. These exploratory patterns nominate candidate markers for subtype stratification and clinical validation. Full article

This paper develops a comprehensive macro stress-testing (MST) framework to evaluate the resilience of Saudi Arabia’s financial sector against systemic risk over the period 2010–2025. The approach integrates macro financial linkages, credit risk modeling, and scenario analysis to simulate the impact of severe but plausible shocks on capital adequacy ratios (CAR) and capital shortfalls. Using Saudi macroeconomic data, the study demonstrates that GDP growth and oil price fluctuations are dominant drivers of systemic risk, while inflation and unemployment exert significant but secondary effects. Under severe adverse conditions, the banking sector’s aggregate CAR declines to 9.6%, requiring an estimated capital injection of 3.7% of GDP. The findings underscore the strength of Saudi Arabia’s financial buffers, while emphasizing the importance of dynamic capital buffer calibration, sectoral diversification, and cross-border macroprudential coordination within the GCC. Policy recommendations are provided to enhance stress-testing governance and fiscal and financial alignment. The findings highlight the importance of dynamic counter-cyclical capital buffers, sectoral diversification, liquidity resilience, and enhanced fiscal–financial coordination. Policy recommendations are provided to guide SAMA and the Financial Stability Council in capital planning, stress-test governance, and macroprudential policy design. Full article

Background: Achieving adequate margins in pelvic bone tumor resection remains difficult, as conventional navigation provides no direct three-dimensional margin feedback. We proposed an innovative dangerous region generation method based on 3D image resampling and anisotropic distance transform, integrated with computer-assisted navigation, to enhance surgical margin accuracy. This study aimed to evaluate its oncological safety, functional outcomes, and perioperative efficacy in pelvic tumor surgery. Methods: The study was conducted on 19 patients (8 males, 11 females) with primary pelvic bone tumors between May 2018 and June 2024. The age range was 19 to 66 years (mean age: 62.67 years). Histological diagnoses included chondrosarcoma (n = 6), giant cell tumor (n = 4), osteosarcoma (n = 1), chordoma (n = 2), Ewing sarcoma (n = 3), spindle cell sarcoma (n = 1), chondromyxoid fibroma (n = 1), and peripheral nerve sheath tumor (n = 1). The feasibility of the dangerous region generation method for computer-assisted pelvic tumor resection surgery was assessed by general results, oncological and functional results. Results: All patients successfully underwent surgery with a mean operative time of 252 min and average intraoperative blood loss of 1358 mL. The mean hospital stay was 22 days, and all patients completed follow-up (mean, 37 months). Two patients developed postoperative wound complications, which resolved after debridement. Adequate surgical margins were achieved in all cases. The 5-year overall survival rate was 75.6%, increasing to 80.0% among patients with wide-margin resections. At the final follow-up, the mean MSTS score among 16 limb-salvage patients was 26.6, corresponding to an average functional recovery of 88.5%. Most patients exhibited a normal gait and were able to ambulate without assistive devices. Conclusions: This dangerous region generation method, when combined with computer-assisted techniques for pelvic bone tumor resection, is feasible and can achieve favorable clinical outcomes. Full article

The spatial resolution of spectral imaging systems is fundamentally constrained by hardware trade-offs, and the availability of large-scale annotated spectral datasets remains limited. This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of super-resolution (SR) methods across interpolation-based, CNN-based, GAN-based, and diffusion-based approaches. Using a synthetic 30-band spectral representation reconstructed from RGB with the MST++ model as a proxy ground truth, we arrange non-adjacent triplets as three-channel PNG inputs to ensure compatibility with existing SR architectures. A unified pipeline enables reproducible evaluation at ×2, ×4, and ×8 scales on 50 unseen images, with performance assessed using PSNR, SSIM, and SAM. Results confirm that bicubic interpolation remains a spectrally reliable baseline; shallow CNNs (SRCNN, FSRCNN) generalize well without fine-tuning; and ESRGAN improves spatial detail at the expense of spectral accuracy. Diffusion models (SR3, ResShift, SinSR), evaluated in a zero-shot setting without spectral-domain adaptation, exhibit unstable performance and require spectrum-aware training to preserve spectral structure effectively. The findings underscore a persistent trade-off between perceptual sharpness and spectral fidelity, highlighting the importance of domain-aware objectives when applying generative SR models to spectral data. This work provides reproducible baselines and a flexible evaluation framework to support future research in spectral image restoration. Full article

In industrial and logistics settings, the use of soft and rigid spinal exoskeletons has been increasing. However, under a unified assistance level and comparable work scenarios, systematic comparisons of their effects on users’ thermophysiological responses and subjective thermal perceptions remain limited. Twenty male participants performed manual handling tasks under three load conditions (5, 10, and 15 kg) in three experimental conditions: without the exoskeleton (WEXO), a rigid exoskeleton (REXO), and a soft exoskeleton (SEXO). Metabolic rate, mean skin temperature (MST), thermal comfort vote (TCV), and thermal sensation vote (TSV) were measured. The key findings are as follows: Compared with WEXO, both exoskeletons significantly reduced metabolic rate. Across all loads, SEXO yielded a lower metabolic rate than REXO and showed a more gradual linear increase as the load increased, whereas REXO exhibited a larger rise at 15 kg. Overall, MST was higher in REXO than in SEXO. Wearing an exoskeleton was often associated with increased skin temperature at 5–10 kg, yet MST decreased for both exoskeletons at 15 kg. Subjective ratings further indicated better TCV and TSV with SEXO than with REXO, with the difference more pronounced under higher loads. Taken together, under the conditions of this study, the soft exoskeleton appears to better balance assistive benefits and thermal comfort. Nevertheless, its heat transfer and heat dissipation performance should be further optimized in future designs. Full article

This study investigates how master’s student teachers (MSTs) conceptualize and integrate programming and computational thinking within mathematics education. Grounded in the Anthropological Theory of the Didactic, and specifically its notion of praxeology, the study analyses 39 written reflections produced by MSTs who completed a compulsory programming-based mathematics task. The analysis identifies both mathematical and didactic praxeologies, revealing how MSTs’ engagement with programming reflects their development both as learners and as future teachers. The findings demonstrate that MSTs’ personal learning strategies, such as exploration, iteration, and productive struggle, closely parallel their envisioned classroom practices. The findings also show that many participants framed programming itself as the central learning object, highlighting a need to develop confidence and competence before applying programming as a tool for mathematical inquiry. The study argues that programming tasks provide a productive arena for bridging theory and practice in teacher education by fostering an interplay between praxis (know-how) and logos (know-why). Finally, the results indicate that MSTs require institutional support specifically aimed at developing basic programming fluency (e.g., handling syntax, debugging, and programming environments), so that computational thinking can be mobilized for mathematical exploration rather than being overshadowed by technical challenges. Full article

This paper presents a high-level system architecture that integrates the Software Defined Networking (SDN) paradigm in 5G/6G networks with the aim of supporting the requirements expected for Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) devices and services. To this purpose, we include multiple Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RISs) systems and provide for them an abstract representation consistent with the OpenFlow interface and messaging framework. The main contribution of this is firstly focused on designing a comprehensive framework that specifies the modules, components, interfaces, protocols, and message exchanges across the typical three layers SDN architecture. In addition, we characterize the Network Discovery (ND) and Host Discovery (HD) protocols that enable the SDN Controller to achieve a global and updated view of the network. Then, the RIS Placement and Selection Problem (RPSP) is formulated by using two graph-theory approaches, i.e., Set Covering (SC) and Minimum Spanning Tree (MST). Finally, we conduct an extensive simulation campaign that evaluates the performance of the discovery phases and the RIS placement/selection algorithms in realistic industrial environments. The results highlight the advantages achieved in terms of coverage and complexity. Full article

Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is responsible for a wide range of infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the clonal diversity of S. pneumoniae in thirteen Arab countries. Multi-Locus Sequence Typing (MLST) data were extracted from PubMLST database. Genetic analysis was performed using DnaSP software version 6.0. A Minimum Spanning Tree (MST) analysis was conducted to evaluate the population structure of S. pneumoniae strains. Genetic data from 1008 Arab S. pneumoniae strains, collected over 22 years (1996–2018), were analyzed. MLST analysis identified a highly diverse population comprising 600 sequence types grouped into 87 clonal complexes and 295 singletons. Both internationally disseminated clones (e.g., ST156) and country-specific lineages (e.g., ST2307, Saudi Arabia) were observed, indicating substantial geographic structuring. Significant associations were detected between sequence types and geographical origin, decade of isolation, patient age, disease type, and serotype (p < 0.05). Although recombination events were presented, the population retained a predominantly clonal structure over time (I^S_A = 0.0715, p < 0.001). Overall, these findings demonstrated extensive genetic heterogeneity and spatiotemporal structuring of S. pneumoniae in the Arab region, providing valuable insights for regional surveillance and vaccine-related strategies. Full article

Background: The time from mastication to swallowing is used as an indicator of masticatory and swallowing functions. However, there have been no reports on reasonable eating times associated with eating satisfaction. Clarifying the reasonable time for eating and drinking to achieve eating satisfaction will indicate the level of mastication and swallowing functions that contributes to maintaining an individual’s quality of life. Objective: This study aimed to determine the time from food intake to the end of swallowing that is associated with eating satisfaction. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 437 community-dwelling older people was conducted. Mastication and swallowing times (SST-MST) were measured using the Saku-Saku Test with a 2 g rice cracker. Food intake difficulty and eating satisfaction were evaluated using a questionnaire. The association between the SST-MST and the difficulty in eating food or eating satisfaction was assessed by sensitivity, specificity, Youden index, sensitivity–specificity ratio, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, odds ratio, and 95% confidence interval. Results: Most indices indicated that a cutoff point of 25 s on the SST-MST was associated with not having difficulty in eating food items. Moreover, when the SST-MST cutoff was set to 25 s, all indices showed a favorable association with eating satisfaction. Conclusions: In community-dwelling older people in their 70s and 80s, an SST-MST of about 25 s for 2 g of rice crackers was modestly associated with eating satisfaction. Full article

In the context of carbon neutrality, the large-scale integration of renewable energy sources has led to frequent load changes in coal-fired boilers. These fluctuations cause key operational parameters to deviate significantly from their design values, undermining combustion stability and reducing operational efficiency. To address this issue, we introduce a novel predictive control method to enhance the control precision of key parameters under complex variable-load conditions, which integrates a coupled predictive model and real-time optimization. The predictive model is based on a coupled Transformer-gated recurrent unit (GRU) architecture, which demonstrates strong adaptability to load fluctuations and achieves high prediction accuracy, with a mean absolute error of 0.095% and a coefficient of determination of 0.966 for oxygen content (OC); 0.0163 kPa and 0.987 for bed pressure (BP); and 0.300 °C and 0.927 for main steam temperature (MST). These results represent substantial improvements over lone implementations of GRU, LSTM, and Transformer models. Based on these multi-step predictions, a WOA-based real-time optimization strategy determines coordinated adjustments of secondary fan frequency, slag discharger frequency, and desuperheating water valves before deviations occur. Field validation on a 300 t/h boiler over a representative 24 h load cycle shows that the method reduces fluctuations in OC, BP, and MST by 62.07%, 50.95%, and 40.43%, respectively, relative to the original control method. By suppressing parameter variability and maintaining key parameters near operational targets, the method enhances boiler thermal efficiency and steam quality. Based on the performance gain measured during the typical operating day, the corresponding annual gain is estimated at ~1.77%, with an associated CO₂ reduction exceeding 6846 t. Full article

Background: Atherosclerosis (AS) serves as the primary pathological basis for cardiovascular disease-related deaths worldwide, posing a severe threat to public health security. Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) plays a crucial regulatory role in the pathological progression of AS, emerging as a potential target for anti-atherosclerosis drug development in recent years. Calenduloside E (CE) is a pentacyclic triterpenoid saponin isolated from Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem. Previous studies have confirmed its anti-atherosclerotic activity, but its weak efficacy and narrow therapeutic index limit its clinical application. In this study, the CE scaffold was hybridized with a ticagrelor-derived fragment to enhance anti-atherosclerotic activity. In this study, the CE scaffold was hybridized with a ticagrelor fragment to achieve improved activity. Methods: Based on the principle of molecular hybridization, CE was linked to the active fragment of ticagrelor via a PEG chain. Ten CE derivatives were synthesized by modifying the sugar substituents. In vitro experiments were conducted to detect cytotoxicity and protective activity against ox-LDL-induced HUVECs injury. Molecular docking and Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) assays were used to evaluate the interaction between CE derivatives and the known target HSP90β. Combined with Microscale Thermophoresis (MST), SwissTargetPrediction, and molecular docking, other potential targets of CE derivatives were identified. Results: In the ox-LDL-induced HUVECs injury model, all compounds except C2 and C9 exhibited protective activity. Among these compounds, compound C5 exhibited the optimal protective effect, with an EC₅₀ value of 1.44 μM. Molecular docking results revealed that both C5 and CE could bind to HSP90β by forming hydrogen bonds with the key amino acid Asp93. Additionally, SPR results indicated that C5 and CE had similar binding affinities to HSP90β, with dissociation constants (K_D) of 1.73 μM and 1.72 μM, respectively. MST demonstrated that C5 binds to HSP90β with an affinity 111 times higher than that of ticagrelor. SwissTargetPrediction and molecular docking identified P2Y12 as another potential target of derivative C5. Conclusions: Compound C5 exerts protective effect against ox-LDL-induced HUVECs injury by targeting HSP90β. Its effective concentration is significantly improved compared with that of the parent CE, which provides a possibility for reducing clinical dosage and toxic side effects in subsequent studies. Furthermore, C5 may exert its effects by targeting another potential target, P2Y12, offering references for the rational design of novel anti-atherosclerotic drugs. Full article

Drone swarms are increasingly used in critical civil applications like agriculture, machine maintenance and search-and-rescue, where maintaining network connectivity is essential for effective coordination. However, harsh environmental conditions can lead to drone failures, risking network fragmentation. To improve resilience, designing k-connected networks, where up to $k-1$ drone failures can be tolerated without losing connectivity, offers a practical solution by providing multiple independent communication paths between drones. The k-connectivity restoration problem is repositioning drones to achieve k-connectivity with minimal movement. In this study, we address this NP-Hard problem and propose novel solutions. Unlike existing k-connectivity restoration algorithms that constrain drones to predefined points, our model allows free repositioning within the mission area, increasing flexibility but also expanding the solution space and complexity. To address this problem, we propose three center-based algorithms that guide drones toward different central points computed from the network layout: in the first algorithm (ORIGIN), the center point is the geometric origin of the mission area; in the second algorithm (CENTROID), nodes move toward the centroid of all drone positions; and in the third algorithm, the center position is defined as the CENTer of the FARthest nodes (CENTFAR). We also introduce a Minimum Spanning Tree-based (MST) algorithm that moves drones along a minimum spanning tree to achieve and theoretically guarantee k-connectivity. Besides checking k-connectivity after each individual move, we also develop group-based variants where all drones move simultaneously and k-connectivity is checked afterward. We conduct comprehensive simulations under varying drone counts, network sizes, k values, and transmission ranges to evaluate the effectiveness and scalability of the proposed algorithms. CENTFAR provides the best movement efficiency among the center-based algorithms, slightly outperforming CENTROID and ORIGIN and achieving up to 21% lower total and 29% lower maximum movement than MST in smaller areas and higher k values. MST, however, performs best under low k and high transmission ranges, offering up to 57% lower total movement and 20% lower execution time than CENTFAR. Group-based variants accelerate convergence (up to a tenfold speedup) at the cost of a slight increase in movement. Our findings reveal that MST is ideal for low-k settings, while CENTFAR is better suited for high-connectivity deployments. Full article

Macrocyclic drugs are promising for targeting undruggable proteins, including those in cancer. Our prior work identified BE-43547A₂ (BE) as a selective inhibitor of pancreatic cancer stem cells in PANC-1 cultures, but its high lipophilicity limits clinical application. To address this, we designed derivatives retaining BE’s backbone while modifying tail groups to improve its properties. A concise total synthesis enabled a versatile late-stage intermediate (compound 17), serving as a platform for efficient diversification of BE analogs via modular click chemistry. This approach introduced a central triazole ring connected by flexible alkyl spacers. Key properties, including lipophilicity, solubility, and Caco-2 permeability, were experimentally determined. These derivatives exhibited reduced lipophilicity and improved solubility but unexpectedly lost cellular activity. Direct target engagement studies using MicroScale Thermophoresis (MST) revealed compound-dependent deactivation mechanisms: certain derivatives retained binding to eEF1A1 with only modestly reduced affinity (e.g., compound 29), while others showed no detectable binding (e.g., compound 31). Microsecond-scale molecular dynamics simulations and free-energy calculations showed that, for derivatives retaining target affinity, tail modifications disrupted the delicate balance of drug–membrane and drug–solvent interactions, resulting in substantially higher transmembrane free-energy penalties (>5 kcal/mol) compared to active compounds (<2 kcal/mol). These insights emphasize the need to simultaneously preserve both target engagement and optimal permeability when modifying side chains in cell-permeable macrocyclic peptides, positioning compound 17 as a robust scaffold for future lead optimization. This work furnishes a blueprint for balancing drug-like properties with therapeutic potency in macrocyclic therapeutics. Full article

Background: Reconstruction of the thigh extensor mechanism following wide excision of a soft-tissue sarcoma is difficult. The aim of this study was to describe the outcomes following complete quadriceps resection for large high-grade soft-tissue sarcomas. Methods: Ten patients with AJCC grade IIIB soft-tissue sarcomas of the anterior thigh were treated with total wide margin quadricectomy, with a mean follow-up of 4 years (range: 51–163 months) in the five surviving patients with conservative surgical procedures. The minimum follow-up period for four of these patients was 8 years. The extensor mechanism was reconstructed with local muscle transfers (eight cases) or a neurotized free flap of the contralateral vastus lateralis (two cases). Results: Four patients died, two due to non-tumor related causes and two due to metastatic disease at 50 months and 43 months. The remaining six were alive and disease-free at the final follow-up. All patients received surgical revision due to wound necrosis. Another patient required an external hemipelvectomy due to early local recurrence of the disease. Functional results of the five patients who remained alive and retained their limb were good or excellent in two cases, acceptable in one, and poor in two, according to their MSTS scores. Average knee flexion was 80° (range: 10–150°). Passive extension was complete in all cases, though no patients achieved it actively. Extensor strength was 2/5 in four patients and 4/5 in the other. Conclusion: Total quadricectomy for high-grade soft-tissue sarcomas of the anterior thigh compartment ensures wide resection margins and local disease control, although local wound complications are common, particularly in older patients. Resection appears to be technically easier if performed distally to proximally in the thigh. Local muscle transfers are more suited for low-demand patients, while neurotized free muscle flaps are mainly an option for young, motivated patients. Full article