Search Results (3,221)

This paper proposes a novel forecasting model termed U-Client, which integrates parallel cross-temporal and cross-variable attention branches with an adaptive gated fusion mechanism for ultra-short-term photovoltaic (PV) power forecasting. First, meteorological features are screened using the Pearson correlation coefficient to reduce input dimensionality. Second, parallel cross-temporal and cross-variable attention branches are designed to extract long-range temporal trends and nonlinear interaction features among meteorological variables, respectively. Third, a gating mechanism is introduced to adaptively fuse the two types of features based on input conditions. Finally, a linear module is combined to generate the final forecasting results. Experiments based on measured datasets from a photovoltaic station in Ningxia, China, demonstrate that the proposed U-Client model outperforms classical models such as Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and Informer across all evaluation metrics for 1–4 step forecasting tasks. Ablation studies and statistical significance tests further verify the effectiveness of each component. The proposed model provides reliable support for ultra-short-term power dispatching in new-type power systems. Full article

Background/Objectives: Anemia in early childhood remains a key global health issue due to its impact on growth and development. While biological determinants of anemia have been extensively studied, parenting styles remain unexplored. This study aimed to examine the association between parenting styles, anemia, and developmental outcomes among under-five children. Methods: From February to March 2026, a cross-sectional study was carried out in Bandung, Indonesia, involving children aged 6–59 months who visited the Pasirkaliki Primary Health Centre. Anemia was confirmed by laboratory testing, defined as a hemoglobin level ≤ 11 g/dL. The Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire was used to assess parenting styles, while the Pre-Screening Developmental Questionnaire was used to examine child development. Statistical analyses were performed using the Mann–Whitney U test, Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test, and logistic regression analysis. Results: One hundred and ninety-three subjects were included in the analysis, among which 20.2% were anemic, with a significantly higher proportion among children aged below 24 months (p < 0.001). Permissive parenting was significantly more common among children with anemia and was associated with higher odds of anemia (aOR = 10.31; 95% CI: 3.92–27.10). Children with anemia had significantly higher odds of developmental delay (aOR = 19.49; 95% CI: 6.46–58.84), after adjustment for child age, maternal education, and family income. Conclusions: Permissive parenting was associated with anemia, while anemia was associated with increased odds of developmental delay in under-five children, highlighting the importance of considering not only biological but also psychosocial factors in early child health interventions. Full article

Buildings in Lagos require mechanical cooling year-round, with air conditioning accounting for up to 80% of residential electricity consumption. Despite this, the Nigerian Building Code (NB 485:2017) still references 1990s thermal design data, creating a growing mismatch between design assumptions and actual thermal conditions. Compounding background warming and an intensifying urban heat island have widened this gap considerably, yet no study has linked long-term cooling demand trends to quantified engineering design shortfalls for any Nigerian city. This study presents a 35-year cooling degree day (CDD) trend analysis for Lagos (1990–2024), derived from 12,784 daily temperature records at four engineering base temperatures (22 °C, 23.3 °C, 26 °C, and 28 °C) respectively. Trends are detected using the Mann–Kendall test with Trend-Free Pre-Whitening and Sen’s slope as the magnitude estimator. Significantly increasing CDD trends are confirmed at three base temperatures, with a Sen’s slope of +4.55 °C·days yr⁻¹ at the primary design reference of 23.3 °C (p < 0.01). Structural break analysis identifies 2015 as the transition into a persistently above-baseline thermal regime, with mean CDD in the most recent sub-period exceeding the 1990–2001 design baseline by up to 50% at higher base temperatures. The detected trends are translated into three engineering gap analyses: required envelope U-value trajectories, an HVAC capacity undersizing index, and annual thermal cycling frequency as a structural fatigue proxy. Results show that the dominant uninsulated sandcrete typology fails ASHRAE 90.1-2019 Zone 1A prescriptive limits throughout the study horizon, installed HVAC systems are already operating in the engineering caution zone, and façade fatigue loading has intensified markedly since 2015. To the author’s knowledge, this study is the first to couple a statistically robust long-period CDD record for Lagos with code-referenced design gap figures, providing a replicable framework for climate-adaptive building code revision across similar hot–humid climates in sub-Saharan Africa. Full article

Background/Objectives: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare hereditary connective tissue disorder characterized by bone fragility, recurrent fractures, and variable extra-skeletal manifestations. There are scarce epidemiological and clinical data from Eastern Europe, including Romania. This study aimed to characterize the phenotypic spectrum and diagnostic features of pediatric OI in a Romanian multicenter cohort. Methods: A retrospective, multicenter observational study was conducted over a 10-year period (January 2014–December 2024) in three tertiary pediatric referral centers in Bucharest, Romania. Children with a diagnosis of OI based on clinical, radiological, and, where available, molecular criteria were included. Clinical, phenotypic, genetic, and therapeutic data were extracted from medical records. Statistical analyses included the Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal–Wallis test with Bonferroni correction, Fisher’s exact test, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, and Spearman correlation. Results: Forty-seven patients were included (53.2% female; median age at diagnosis 36 months, IQR 5–87). OI type I was the most frequent subtype (42.6%), followed by type III (29.8%) and type IV (21.3%). Molecular genetic testing was performed in 40.4% of patients; among genetically tested patients, COL1A1 variants represented the most common finding (52.6%). The median number of documented fractures was 5 (IQR 3–9), with a significantly higher annual fracture rate in type III compared to type I (0.99 vs. 0.34 fractures/year, p = 0.019). Short stature was the most frequent skeletal manifestation (66%), with significantly more severe growth impairment in type III compared to type I (−4.38 ± 1.67 vs. −1.56 ± 1.03 SD, p < 0.001). Blue sclerae was present in 87.2% of patients and dentinogenesis imperfecta in 68.1%. Cryptorchidism was identified in 50% of male patients. Developmental motor milestones were significantly delayed in type III OI patients, with 10.6% failing to achieve independent walking by last follow-up. A strong positive correlation was observed between age at first fracture and age at diagnosis (Spearman R = 0.764, p < 0.001), with type I patients diagnosed significantly later than type III (median 71.5 vs. 6.5 months, p = 0.006). Conclusions: This study provides the most comprehensive phenotypic characterization of pediatric OI reported from Romania to date. Our findings confirm established genotype–phenotype correlations and underscore the diagnostic challenge of milder OI forms. The high prevalence of cryptorchidism in male patients represents a clinically relevant finding needing prospective validation. The data highlight the need for expanded molecular diagnostic capacity, increased disease awareness among frontline clinicians, and the development of a national OI registry to support longitudinal research and integration with European rare bone disease networks. Full article

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) remains one of the most aggressive primary brain tumors with poor prognosis despite multimodal therapy. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using indocyanine green (ICG) is an emerging adjuvant approach aimed at eliminating residual tumor cells after resection. While ICG-PDT exerts cytotoxic effects, its impact on molecular pathways regulating programmed cell death in glioma cells is not fully understood. In this study, T98G and U-118MG glioblastoma cells were divided into four groups: untreated control, light-only (10 min broadband irradiation), ICG-only (15 min incubation), and ICG-PDT (15 min ICG + 10 min broadband irradiation). Relative mRNA expression of apoptosis-related genes (BAX, BCL2, CASP3, FAS) and ferroptosis-related genes (GPX4, ACSL4, SLC7A11, GCH1) was quantified 24 h post-treatment by RT-qPCR using the 2^−ΔΔCt method. ICG-PDT significantly reduced cell viability to 67.79% ± 3.39% (vs. 86.66% ± 4.33% in control), confirming effective phototoxicity. No statistically significant differences in mRNA levels were observed for any of the investigated genes across the groups (one-way ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis, all p > 0.05). The largest non-significant deviation was a mild decrease in GPX4 (fold change 0.87) in the ICG-PDT group. Fluctuations in GCH1 were accompanied by high variance, likely reflecting technical noise rather than a true biological trend. The mRNA BAX/BCL2 ratio remained stable (~30) across all conditions. In contrast, the U-118MG line showed greater transcriptional sensitivity, with statistically significant decreases in CASP3 (p = 0.012) and ACSL4 (p = 0.031) expression, along with downward trends in BCL2 and GPX4 following ICG-PDT. ICG-PDT does not induce significant transcriptional changes in the analyzed genes T98G at the 24 h time point under the applied experimental conditions. In U-118MG cells, moderate transcriptional engagement of both apoptotic and ferroptotic routes was observed. Further studies at the protein and functional levels, across multiple time points and models, are warranted to fully elucidate the mechanisms of ICG-PDT in glioblastoma. Full article

Based on the mindset × context framework, the interplay between individual mindsets and social context factors should be considered together while analyzing mindset’s effects on developmental outcomes. This study focuses on how stress mindsets might interact with social support to predict two positive behaviors (personal growth initiative and strengths use) in adolescents using a moderation model and whether a such mechanism differs across sex via a moderated moderation model. Participants were 620 high school students aged 14 to 19 years (M = 17.51, SD = 1.23), from diverse U.S. regions, who completed an online self-report survey in spring 2022. Statistical analyses were conducted using the PROCESS macro in SPSS. The results showed that the moderation effect in the single moderation model was not significant, while all interaction terms were statistically significant in the moderated moderation model. Specifically, the magnitude of the positive relation between stress mindset and strengths use was weaker at higher levels of social support among males; however, this relation was stronger when the social support level was high for females, showing the opposite trend. Overall, the results support the mindset × context framework and highlight the different mechanisms by which mindsets and social support work together between males and females. Full article

Background/Objectives: Chronic kidney disease and hemodialysis have a significant impact on patients’ lives. Social and clinical factors may influence perceived disease burden and the availability of social support, both of which are relevant for adherence and well-being. This study aimed to determine the relationship between perceived disease burden and social support among adults on hemodialysis in northern Colombia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 183 patients receiving hemodialysis in northern Colombia. Disease burden was assessed using the GCPC-UN instrument and perceived social support using the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, nonparametric tests (Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis), Spearman’s correlation, and a multivariate linear regression model with HC3 robust errors. Results: The mean age was 52.2 years (SD: 12.1), and 63.4% of participants were male. The overall disease burden score was 45.72 (SD: 16.47) out of a theoretical maximum of 144, with physical distress being the factor that contributed most to it (mean: 20.03; SD: 6.83). Functional social support was moderate (median: 72; IQR: 63–80). A significant inverse correlation was found between social support and disease burden (Spearman’s rho = −0.160; p = 0.03). In the multivariate model, time on hemodialysis was associated with a higher burden (a 0.628-point increase per 12 months; 95% CI: 0.022–1.234; p = 0.04), while age showed a non-significant inverse trend. Conclusions: When assessing the burden of disease, patients on hemodialysis primarily experience physical distress and perceive a moderate level of social support. A longer duration of dialysis is associated with an increase in the perceived burden, while social support showed a weak inverse correlation with the burden of disease in the unadjusted analysis; however, this association was not confirmed as statistically significant in the multivariable model. Full article

Urban public spaces contribute to sustainable urban development by supporting social interaction, cultural identity, pedestrian experience, environmental comfort and commercial vitality. However, limited comparative evidence explains how user satisfaction differs between public spaces shaped by contrasting spatial identities. This study compares Melaka Jonker Street (MJS), a heritage-oriented commercial public space, and Bukit Bintang Kuala Lumpur (BBKL), a contemporary commercial public space, to examine how selected urban space attributes shape user satisfaction and sustainability interpretation. A quantitative comparative survey involving 542 respondents was analysed using descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s alpha, the Mann–Whitney U test, the Relative Importance Index (RII), comparative gap analysis, the User Satisfaction Balance Score (USBS) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The findings show that, within the shared attributes examined, MJS recorded stronger satisfaction patterns than BBKL, with the largest satisfaction gaps observed in accessibility, light sculpture, waterscape lighting and green elements. Satisfaction in MJS was mainly shaped by heritage identity, historical buildings, street art walls, water elements and accessibility, reflecting a cultural–environmental sustainability pattern. In contrast, satisfaction in BBKL was more closely associated with activity intensity, media architecture and contemporary visual experience, reflecting a socio-economic-commercial sustainability pattern. These results provide context-specific evidence that sustainable public space performance is shaped by the relationship between urban space attributes, spatial identity and everyday user experience. The findings contribute to urban design and public space research by integrating user satisfaction with sustainability interpretation and by providing context-sensitive planning and design implications for heritage-oriented and contemporary commercial public spaces in Malaysia. Full article

Oblivious Transfer (OT) extension, in particular, the construction of Ishai, Kilian, Nissim, and Petrank (CRYPTO 2003) requires a hash function H that is correlation-robust(CR). All practical instantiations model H as a random oracle or an ideal cipher, leaving CR with no quantifiable reduction to a structural property of the deployed hash. It is natural to ask whether the most nonlinear balanced Boolean functions available on an odd number of variables, the near-bent functions of the Maiorana–McFarland (MM) class, furnish an algebraic, standard-model CR candidate. We prove that they do not, and we identify precisely why. First, we keep a correct spectral fact: a balanced $H:{\{0,1\}}^n\to \{0,1\}$ is $\epsilon$-CR if and only if ${\max }_{\Delta \ne 0}\left|{\mathcal{A}}_f(\Delta )\right|\le 4\epsilon ·2^n$, reducing CR to an autocorrelation bound. Against this criterion we establish three obstructions: (i) The MM-doubling family ${\mathcal{NB}}_k$ on $n=2k+1$ variables has autocorrelation supported only on the directions $(a,0,1)$, where it equals $2^{k+1}{W}_a$ with ${\sum }_{a\ne 0}{W}_a^2=2^{2k}$; hence $\epsilon \ge \frac{1}{4}{(2^k-1)}^{-1/2}$, a factor $\ge 2^{k/2}$ above the value one would need, and an exhaustive search over all balanced members for $k\le 2$ returns the maximal $\epsilon =\frac{1}{4}$ in every case. (ii) Near-bentness controls the Walsh maximum (nonlinearity), not autocorrelation: every near-bent function satisfies ${\sum }_{\Delta \ne 0}{\mathcal{A}}_f{(\Delta )}^2=2^{2n}$, so ${\max }_{\Delta \ne 0}\left|{\mathcal{A}}_f(\Delta )\right|\ge 2^n{(2^n-1)}^{-1/2}$ and no near-bent function is even approximately CR. (iii) A deterministic $\mathbf{H}:{\{0,1\}}^{\kappa }\to {\{0,1\}}^{\mathcal{\ell }}$ admits the support bound $\mathbf{SD}\left((\mathbf{H}\left(x\right),\mathbf{H}(x\oplus \Delta )),(U_{\mathcal{\ell }},U_{\mathcal{\ell }})\right)\ge 1-2^{\kappa -2\mathcal{\ell }}$, so statistical multi-output CR is impossible for $\mathcal{\ell }>\kappa /2$ and in particular at the IKNP regime $\mathcal{\ell }\approx \kappa$. Together, these results close the near-bent route to standard-model CR and clarify which design objective (low absolute indicator, not high nonlinearity) and which parameter regime ($\mathcal{\ell }\le \kappa /2$) a viable algebraic candidate would have to target. Full article

Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) remains the gold standard irrigant in endodontics due to its proteolytic and antimicrobial properties, whereas hydrogen peroxide (HP) is widely used for internal bleaching because of its oxidative capacity. Both agents have been associated with chemical and structural alterations in dentin; however, the impact of their sequential application on the organic–mineral balance has not been fully elucidated. Objective: To evaluate whether the isolated and sequential application of 5.25% NaOCl and 37.5% HP induces chemical alterations in dentin by analyzing changes in the organic matrix and mineral phase using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Methods: Twenty-four independent dentin sections (n = 6 per group) from six human third molars were distributed using a tooth-balanced allocation into four groups: Control, NaOCl (5.25%, 15 min), HP (37.5%, 30 min), and sequential NaOCl+HP. FTIR assessed organic (amide I, II, III, CH₂) and inorganic (phosphate, carbonate) components through baseline-corrected integrated areas, Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM), and molecular ratios. Surface elemental composition and the calculated Ca/P atomic ratio were determined by EDX. Multiple sub-measurements per specimen were averaged before statistical analysis. Data were analyzed using Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests with Bonferroni correction (p < 0.05). Results: FTIR revealed treatment-dependent modifications. NaOCl reduced absorbance in organic-associated bands, indicating collagen degradation, whereas HP altered the mineral phase. The NaOCl+HP group exhibited increased numerical values for integrated band areas, with differences detected in carbonate, phosphate, and amide III bands (p < 0.05), reflecting structural disorganization and modified spectral signal rather than tissue preservation. No differences were detected across the calculated infrared ratios (p > 0.05). EDX showed decreased absolute atomic percentages of Ca, P, and O in the NaOCl+HP group (p < 0.05), indicating structural demineralization, while its stoichiometric Ca/P ratio remained at 1.56. Isolated HP shifted the mineral stoichiometry to the highest numerical Ca/P ratio (1.69; range 1.58–1.80). Fluorine decreased across all treated groups (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Sequential NaOCl and HP application triggers distinct chemical alterations compared to individual treatments, inducing severe structural disorganization of the organic network and absolute mineral depletion of Ca and P. This multi-agent sequence alters dentin stoichiometry, which may compromise the biomechanical integrity of the tissue. Full article

Background and Objectives: Elderly patients with head and neck tumours frequently present with multiple comorbidities and a potentially difficult airway, making general anaesthesia high-risk. Dexmedetomidine, a selective alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist, provides conscious sedation without clinically significant respiratory depression, offering a compelling locoregional alternative. This study evaluated the haemodynamic profile, sedation kinetics, and satisfaction outcomes of a standardised dexmedetomidine-based protocol for head and neck surgery under local infiltration anaesthesia. Materials and Methods: A prospective, single-centre observational study was conducted at the University Hospital Centre Zagreb. Twenty-three consecutive adult patients received a continuous dexmedetomidine infusion at 0.5 μg/kg/h, initiated preoperatively in the post-anaesthesia care unit without a loading dose. Haemodynamic parameters, sedation-to-incision interval, cumulative dose, and postoperative patient and surgeon satisfaction (NRS 1–10) were recorded. Spearman rank-order correlation and the Mann–Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. Results: The primary outcome of haemodynamic stability—defined as the absence of vasoactive or inotropic rescue—was achieved in all 23 patients (100%). The median cumulative dexmedetomidine dose was 52 μg (IQR 44–68 μg). Controlled hypotension was achieved in all patients, with a median nadir systolic blood pressure of 98 mmHg. Supplemental oxygen was required in only 2 of 23 patients (8.7%). Patient and surgeon satisfaction reached a median NRS score of 10 in both groups. The sedation-to-incision interval correlated with total drug dose (ρ = 0.74, p < 0.001), consistent with fixed-rate infusion pharmacokinetics. Hypertensive patients exhibited a greater reduction in systolic blood pressure (median 45 vs. 28 mmHg; p = 0.015). Conclusions: A fixed-rate dexmedetomidine infusion initiated in the post-anaesthesia care unit provides a feasible and potentially effective conscious sedation strategy for head and neck surgery under local infiltration anaesthesia in selected elderly and comorbid patients. In this pilot series, the protocol was associated with haemodynamic stability in all cases, low supplemental oxygen requirements, and high procedural satisfaction among both patients and surgeons. These findings are preliminary and require confirmation in larger, controlled studies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Y chromosome microdeletions in the azoospermia factor (AZF) regions are a major genetic cause of severe male infertility, yet their relationship with hormonal profiles in azoospermic men remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate AZF microdeletions and associated hormonal parameters in azoospermic patients. Methods: Azoospermic patients were screened for AZFa, AZFb, and AZFc microdeletions using multiplex real-time PCR targeting sequence-tagged site (STS) markers (sY84, sY127, and sY254). Patients were categorized into AZF-negative and AZF-positive groups, with the latter further stratified according to their deletion subtype. Serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, and inhibin B levels were measured. Hormonal parameters were compared between groups using the Mann–Whitney U test, and a logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate associations between hormonal variables and AZF deletion status. Results: AZF microdeletions were detected in 18.7% (17/91) of patients. Patients without AZF deletions showed a median FSH level of 17.40 (7.12–31.27) IU/L. In contrast, AZFc deletion carriers exhibited an intermediate median FSH level of 21.10 (16.11–26.10) IU/L and lower median inhibin B concentrations (25.50 [25.25–26.00] pg/mL) compared with AZF-negative patients (56.00 [33.50–106.50] pg/mL). Median testosterone levels in AZFc patients (3.61 [2.87–4.35] ng/mL) remained within the expected physiological range. However, no statistically significant differences were observed between the AZF subgroups for age (p = 0.262), FSH (p = 0.506), testosterone (p = 0.615), or inhibin B (p = 0.524). The logistic regression analysis also showed no significant association between hormonal parameters and AZF deletion status. Conclusions: Hormonal parameters alone are insufficient to predict the presence of AZF microdeletions in azoospermic men. These findings highlight the importance of routine genetic screening for accurate diagnosis, clinical management, and reproductive counseling in male infertility. Full article

Background: Early and accurate risk stratification of patients suspected of serious infection is essential for improving outcomes, but existing diagnostic and predictive tools have limited accuracy. The objective was to compare the performance of an FDA-authorized AI diagnostic test, the Sepsis ImmunoScore, against widely available biomarkers and clinical tools for diagnosis of sepsis and prediction of in-hospital mortality and intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Methods: This multicenter observational study included 6027 adult patients suspected of infection across 7 U.S. hospital sites. The Sepsis ImmunoScore’s predictive performance was compared to the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) score, National Early Warning Score (NEWS), and quick SOFA (qSOFA). Primary outcomes included sepsis as defined by Sepsis-3 criteria, in-hospital mortality, and ICU admission. Predictive accuracy was assessed using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), and 95% confidence intervals were generated and hypothesis testing conducted using the bootstrap method. Results: The Sepsis ImmunoScore demonstrated statistically significant superior performance across all outcomes. For sepsis prediction, the Sepsis ImmunoScore achieved an AUC of 0.82, compared to SOFA (0.72), procalcitonin (PCT) (0.70), C-reactive protein (CRP) (0.61), SIRS (0.59), NEWS (0.69), and qSOFA (0.67). For in-hospital mortality prediction, the Sepsis ImmunoScore achieved an AUC of 0.80, outperforming SOFA (0.72), PCT (0.67), CRP (0.58), SIRS (0.60), NEWS (0.72), and qSOFA (0.69). For ICU admission, the Sepsis ImmunoScore reached an AUC of 0.74, superior to SOFA (0.63), PCT (0.64), CRP (0.54), SIRS (0.60), NEWS (0.70), and qSOFA (0.65). All differences between the Sepsis ImmunoScore and comparators were statistically significant. Conclusions: The Sepsis ImmunoScore significantly improved predictive accuracy for sepsis, in-hospital mortality, and ICU admission compared to six conventional clinical scores and biomarkers. This AI-based tool may enhance risk stratification and clinical decision-making, potentially leading to more timely sepsis interventions and improved outcomes. Full article

Background: Male infertility affects millions of couples, accounting for 50 percent of cases. Despite such a major contribution of the male factor, it is not properly evaluated and is often overlooked in infertility assessments. Semen analysis, which is routinely performed to assess infertility status, is unable to assess the defects at the molecular level which are important to assess the fertilizing capacity of the sperm. This study aims to determine the utility of sperm function tests as biomarkers for male infertility in addition to standard semen analysis. Methods: Thirty-five men (aged 25–45 years) were recruited and divided into two groups: those with at least one altered semen parameter (infertile group) and those with normal semen parameters but unable to conceive after more than one year of unprotected intercourse (unexplained male infertility group). The DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI), Nuclear Chromatin Decondensation Test (NCDT) and Hypoosmotic Swelling Test (HOS) were used in diagnosing sperm dysfunction in both groups. The Mann–Whitney U testand Spearman’s rank correlation were used for analyzing the parameters of the groups. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: While motility and vitality were nearly identical in both groups, the infertile group showed more morphological abnormalities. The DFI was higher in the unexplained male infertility group (UMI) (82%) than in the infertile group (36%). Poor decondensation capacity was present in 27% of the unexplained male infertility group and 60% of the infertile group. Both groups’ hypoosmotic swelling values fell within the usual range. Spearman correlation analysis revealed that the NCDT showed significant positive correlations with sperm vitality (r = 0.36; p = 0.02) and morphology (r = 0.53; p = 0.001). The DFI demonstrated significant negative correlations with vitality (r = −0.45; p = 0.006) and motility (r = −0.39; p = 0.01). HOS was significantly positively correlated with motility (r = 0.56; p = 0.0004) and vitality (r = 0.57; p = 0.0003). Additionally, the NCDT and DFI showed a significant inverse correlation (r = −0.33; p = 0.04). Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential of sperm function tests as valuable diagnostic tools alongside conventional semen analysis for a more comprehensive assessment of male fertility. Full article

Background and Objectives: Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is an orthopedic condition in the pediatric population, affecting between 0.1% and 3% of infants. Chile has one of the highest incidences in South America, reaching 1 per 500 live births. Given the potential of adverse consequences of DDH on infant health, preliminary studies are needed to determine its prevalence in the population and assess its association with relevant risk factors. Materials and Methods: The study is single-center, conducted in a Chilean population. The sample size calculation determined the use of 100 pelvic radiographs, considering a 95% confidence level and a proportion of 0.5. The infants were between 90 and 150 days old. Information was collected on possible DDH-related risk factors. For the analysis, normality tests, Chi-square tests, independent samples t-tests, Mann–Whitney U tests, and multivariate analyses were applied. Results: The prevalence of DDH was determined to be 12%, affecting the left hip to a greater extent. Female infants had a higher frequency of DDH. A statistically significant association was found between the prevalence of DDH and the presence of asymmetry in the abduction of the hip joint (p = 0.023), acetabular roof obliquity (p = 0.003), left hip involvement (p = 0.002), and height at two months of age (p = 0.016). Conclusions: The prevalence of DDH in infants was higher than that reported in the literature. However, with regard to sex, the data coincide with those previously reported by other authors. Full article