Search Results (730)

Background/Objectives: Cannabinoid use is rising among patients undergoing spinal fusion, yet its influence on bone healing is poorly defined. The endocannabinoid system (ECS)—through cannabinoid receptors 1 (CB1) and 2 (CB2)—modulates skeletal metabolism. We reviewed preclinical, mechanistic and clinical evidence to clarify how individual cannabinoids affect fracture repair and spinal arthrodesis. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus were searched from inception to 31 May 2025 with the terms “cannabinoid”, “CB1”, “CB2”, “spinal fusion”, “fracture”, “osteoblast” and “osteoclast”. Animal studies, in vitro experiments and clinical reports that reported bone outcomes were eligible. Results: CB2 signaling was uniformly osteogenic. CB2-knockout mice developed high-turnover osteoporosis, whereas CB2 agonists (HU-308, JWH-133, HU-433, JWH-015) restored trabecular volume, enhanced osteoblast activity and strengthened fracture callus. Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid with CB2 bias, accelerated early posterolateral fusion in rats and reduced the RANKL/OPG ratio without compromising final union. In contrast, sustained or high-dose Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) activation of CB1 slowed chondrocyte hypertrophy, decreased mesenchymal-stromal-cell mineralization and correlated clinically with 6–10% lower bone-mineral density and a 1.8–3.6-fold higher pseudarthrosis or revision risk. Short-course or low-dose THC appeared skeletal neutral. Responses varied with sex, age and genetic background; no prospective trials defined safe perioperative dosing thresholds. Conclusions: CB2 activation and CBD consistently favor bone repair, whereas chronic high-THC exposure poses a modifiable risk for nonunion in spine surgery. Prospective, receptor-specific trials stratified by THC/CBD ratio, patient sex and ECS genotype are needed to establish evidence-based cannabinoid use in spinal fusion. Full article

Augustine of Hippo (354–430), one of the most influential theologians of Late Antiquity, spent nearly a decade in the Manichaean sect before becoming a central figure in the shaping of Western “orthodox” Christianity. While his major works such as the Confessiones and De civitate Dei have been extensively studied for their treatment of Manichaeism, the vast collection of his ca. 300 preserved letters (Epistulae) remains an understudied source for understanding this aspect of his intellectual and theological development. This article addresses that gap by proposing a methodology to identify both anti- and crypto-Manichaean themes in his letters. Drawing on phenomenological openness, hermeneutical perspective, and close reading, the study also incorporates genuine Manichaean sources and anti-Manichaean polemics to contextualise Augustine’s rhetorical strategies. The Epistulae, unpolished and situated in specific communicative contexts, offer a unique view of Augustine’s doctrinal positioning after his conversion. Traces of his Manichaean past re-emerge in vocabulary, argumentation, and theological emphasis. This is exemplified in Epistula 137 to Volusianus (411–412), which, without naming the sect, covertly critiques key Manichaean doctrines such as Docetism and materialism. These critiques align with extant Manichaean sources and may reflect Augustine’s awareness of latent Manichaean influence in Christian communities. By bringing the Epistulae into the broader discussion of Augustine’s anti-Manichaean engagement, this study highlights their value as a window into his theological evolution and pastoral strategy in a religiously contested environment. Full article

Background/Objectives: The objective of this study was to validate a new parent-reported scale for tracking Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS). PANS is a condition characterized by a sudden and severe onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms. To meet diagnostic criteria, an individual must present with either obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) or severely restricted food intake, accompanied by at least two additional cognitive, behavioral, or emotional symptoms. These may include anxiety, emotional instability, depression, irritability, aggression, oppositional behaviors, developmental or behavioral regression, a decline in academic skills such as handwriting or math, sensory abnormalities, frequent urination, and enuresis. The onset of symptoms is usually triggered by an infection or an abnormal immune/inflammatory response. Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) is a subtype of PANS specifically linked to strep infections. Methods: We developed a 101-item PANS/PANDAS and Related Inflammatory Brain Disorders Treatment Evaluation Checklist (PTEC) designed to assess changes to a patient’s symptoms over time along 10 subscales: Behavior/Mood, OCD, Anxiety, Food intake, Tics, Cognitive/Developmental, Sensory, Other, Sleep, and Health. The psychometric quality of PTEC was tested with 225 participants. Results: The internal reliability of the PTEC was excellent (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.96). PTEC exhibited adequate test–retest reliability (r = 0.6) and excellent construct validity, supported by a strong correlation with the Health subscale of the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (r = 0.8). Conclusions: We hope that PTEC will assist parents and clinicians in the monitoring and treatment of PANS. The PTEC questionnaire is freely available at neuroimmune.org/PTEC. Full article

Self-forgiveness is identified as a contributor to psychological wellbeing and may serve as a mechanism through which religiosity supports mental health. There is a dearth of research on wellbeing and the role of self-forgiveness in the English-speaking Caribbean. This preliminary study explored the relationship between religiosity, self-forgiveness, and wellbeing among persons with serious mental illness (SMI), a population largely overlooked in this context. A convenience sample of 362 out-patients receiving care in Trinidad and Tobago completed self-reported measures of self-forgiveness, the Religious Commitment Inventory, and Havard’s Flourishing Measure. Inferential statistics examined group differences in religiosity and wellbeing, and predictive relationships among key variables. Among persons with SMI, higher religiosity was significantly associated with greater wellbeing (p < 0.0001). Additionally, there was greater wellbeing among those who reported a propensity to self-forgive compared to those who did not (p < 0.0001). Self-forgiveness explained a significant part of the relationship between religiosity and wellbeing. Furthermore, among the non-highly religious, self-forgiveness was also significantly associated with greater wellbeing (p < 0.001). Our findings suggest that self-forgiveness may mediate the link between religiosity and wellbeing, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic coping mechanism for individuals with serious mental illness. This study adds to the growing literature on religious coping in mental health and underscores the need for further research to clarify the mediating role of self-forgiveness. Full article

Millimeter-wave frequencies are crucial for meeting the high-capacity, low-latency demands of 5G communication systems, thereby driving the need for compact, high-gain antenna arrays capable of efficient beamforming. This paper presents the design, simulation, fabrication, and experimental validation of a compact, high-efficiency 1 × 6 linear series-fed microstrip patch antenna array for 5G millimeter-wave communication operating at 28 GHz. The proposed antenna is fabricated on a low-loss Rogers RO3003 substrate and incorporates an integrated symmetric two-way microstrip power divider to ensure balanced feeding and phase uniformity across elements. The antenna achieves a simulated peak gain of 11.5 dBi and a broad simulated impedance bandwidth of 30.21%, with measured results confirming strong impedance matching and a return loss better than −20 dB. The far-field radiation patterns demonstrate a narrow, highly directive beam in the E-plane, and the H-plane results reveal beam tilting behavior, validating the antenna’s capability for passive beam steering through feedline geometry and element spacing (~0.5λ). Surface current distribution analysis confirms uniform excitation and efficient radiation, further validating the design’s stability. The fabricated prototype shows excellent agreement with the simulation, with minor discrepancies attributed to fabrication tolerances. These results establish the proposed antenna as a promising candidate for applications requiring compact, high-gain, and beam-steerable solutions, such as 5G mm-wave wireless communication systems, point-to-point wireless backhaul, and automotive radar sensing. Full article

Federated learning (FL) struggles under non-IID client data when local models drift toward conflicting optima, impairing global convergence and performance. We introduce entropy-regularized federated optimization (ERFO), a lightweight client-side modification that augments each local objective with a Shannon entropy penalty on the per-parameter update distribution. ERFO requires no additional communication, adds a single-scalar hyperparameter $\lambda$, and integrates seamlessly into any FedAvg-style training loop. We derive a closed-form gradient for the entropy regularizer and provide convergence guarantees: under $\mu$-strong convexity and L-smoothness, ERFO achieves the same $O(1/T)$ (or linear) rates as FedAvg (with only $O\left(\lambda \right)$ bias for fixed $\lambda$ and exact convergence when ${\lambda }_t\to 0$); in the non-convex case, we prove stationary-point convergence at $O(1/T)$. Empirically, on five-client non-IID splits of the UNSW-NB15 intrusion-detection dataset, ERFO yields a +1.6 pp gain in accuracy and +0.008 in macro-F1 over FedAvg with markedly smoother dynamics. On a three-of-five split of PneumoniaMNIST, a fixed $\lambda$ matches or exceeds FedAvg, FedProx, and SCAFFOLD—achieving 90.3% accuracy and 0.878 macro-F1—while preserving rapid, stable learning. ERFO’s gradient-only design is model-agnostic, making it broadly applicable across tasks. Full article

This article explores the themes of repentance and conversion in Augustine’s Notes on Job. Despite its fragmentary and often improvisational character, Augustine’s theological vision in the Notes presents Job as an exemplum of ongoing conversion. Though not portrayed as a sinner, Job undergoes spiritual transformation, embodying the human need for continual repentance and deeper understanding of God. This treatment aligns with Augustine’s depiction of other biblical figures, such as St. Paul and the Prodigal Son, whose stories serve as models of conversion. By closely examining the rhetorical and theological function of Job in the Notes, the article suggests that Augustine’s portrayal was meant to guide readers on the path toward salvation. In doing so, it contributes to a broader understanding of how Augustine constructs conversion narratives within his biblical commentaries. Full article

The white snook (Centropomus viridis) is an emerging aquaculture species with high market acceptance, exhibiting catadromous and protandric hermaphroditic characteristics in adulthood. This study aimed to preliminarily characterize certain hematological and biochemical parameters, as well as blood cell morphology, for identifying possible variations between sexes maintained under aquaculture recirculating system (RAS) conditions. The white snook broodstock was anesthetized with clove oil, and biometric values, as well as sex classification, were measured. Then, blood samples were collected from 14 females (7132 ± 1610 g) and 20 males (2200 ± 0.963 g) via caudal vessel puncture to analyze selected hematological parameters, blood biochemistry, and cellular morphology. Fulton’s condition factor (K) showed no differences between sexes, indicating a healthy fish status. Females showed significantly higher serum cholesterol, glucose, and triglyceride levels than males. Also, hematocrit (HCT) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) were elevated in females. No sex-related differences were observed in red or white cell counts or in blood cell dimensions. Morphological characterization identified erythrocytes, thrombocytes, and three types of leukocytes: lymphocytes (small and large lymphocytes), neutrophils, and monocytes, with no eosinophils or basophils detected in either sex. These findings provide fundamental reference values for the hematological and biochemical profiles of C. viridis broodstock in captivity and highlight sex-specific differences relevant for reproductive and health monitoring. However, it should be considered that the sample size used to establish reference ranges for the species is small, so it is recommended to implement a monitoring plan for this and other broodstocks of this emerging species. Full article

This article examines Wittgenstein’s wartime private notebooks (MS 101–103), shifting attention from his philosophical reflections on religion and prayer to the abundance of written addresses to God found within the coded sections. Wittgenstein’s well-known assertion that “to pray means to think about the meaning of life” is juxtaposed with direct invocations of God and the Spirit, including the Pater Noster and prayers for courage and submission to the divine will. These invocations, accompanied by strokes or varied long em dashes framed by dots or exclamation marks which Martin Pilch has hypothesized to be symbolic representations of prayers—invite further reflection. Wittgenstein’s religious utterances are not merely outpourings of anguish, but manifestations of a sustained effort to align both life and work with the will of God, and to offer them for His glory. A compelling illustration of this spiritual orientation appears in M. O’C. Drury’s recollection of Wittgenstein’s declaration that his only wish was for his work to conform to the divine will. The interplay between philosophical inquiry and prayer evokes the Confessions of Saint Augustine, a spirit present throughout Wittgenstein’s work. Augustine’s integration of prayer and confession has similarly inspired 20th-century thinkers such as Jacques Derrida and Jean-François Lyotard. These Augustinian traces challenge conventional understandings of language and its limits, as well as the role of written language and punctuation, demanding a profound hermeneutics of the philosopher’s prayer. Full article

This article is divided into three parts. First, a brief exposition of the ontological foundations of ancient determinism is provided to explain the worldview held by such a philosophical position. The second part sets out the argument used by Chrysippus to make causal determinism compatible with moral responsibility, and points out the tensions that such a position entails. In the third part, the notion of freedom of ancient Stoicism is contrasted with the philosophy of Augustine in order to determine the novelty that Christianity represented in this matter. Full article

The increasing integration of digital technologies in healthcare has expanded the attack surface for privacy violations in critical systems such as electronic health records (EHRs), telehealth platforms, and medical device software. However, current vulnerability detection datasets lack domain-specific privacy annotations essential for compliance with healthcare regulations like HIPAA and GDPR. This study presents C3-VULMAP, a novel and large-scale dataset explicitly designed for privacy-aware vulnerability detection in healthcare software. The dataset comprises over 30,000 vulnerable and 7.8 million non-vulnerable C/C++ functions, annotated with CWE categories and systematically mapped to LINDDUN privacy threat types. The objective is to support the development of automated, privacy-focused detection systems that can identify fine-grained software vulnerabilities in healthcare environments. To achieve this, we developed a hybrid construction methodology combining manual threat modeling, LLM-assisted synthetic generation, and multi-source aggregation. We then conducted comprehensive evaluations using traditional machine learning algorithms (Support Vector Machines, XGBoost), graph neural networks (Devign, Reveal), and transformer-based models (CodeBERT, RoBERTa, CodeT5). The results demonstrate that transformer models, such as RoBERTa, achieve high detection performance (F1 = 0.987), while Reveal leads GNN-based methods (F1 = 0.993), with different models excelling across specific privacy threat categories. These findings validate C3-VULMAP as a powerful benchmarking resource and show its potential to guide the development of privacy-preserving, secure-by-design software in embedded and electronic healthcare systems. The dataset fills a critical gap in privacy threat modeling and vulnerability detection and is positioned to support future research in cybersecurity and intelligent electronic systems for healthcare. Full article

The increasing demand for sustainable and renewable energy solutions has made radio frequency energy harvesting (RFEH) a promising technique for powering low-power electronic devices. RFEH captures ambient RF signals from wireless communication systems, such as mobile networks, Wi-Fi, and broadcasting stations, and converts them into usable electrical energy. This approach offers a viable alternative for battery-dependent and hard-to-recharge applications, including streetlights, outdoor night/security lighting, wireless sensor networks, and biomedical body sensor networks. This article provides a comprehensive review of the RFEH techniques, including state-of-the-art rectenna designs, energy conversion efficiency improvements, and multi-band harvesting systems. We present a detailed analysis of recent advancements in RFEH circuits, impedance matching techniques, and integration with emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), 5G, and wireless power transfer (WPT). Additionally, this review identifies existing challenges, including low conversion efficiency, unpredictable energy availability, and design limitations for small-scale and embedded systems. A critical assessment of current research gaps is provided, highlighting areas where further development is required to enhance performance and scalability. Finally, constructive recommendations for future opportunities in RFEH are discussed, focusing on advanced materials, AI-driven adaptive harvesting systems, hybrid energy-harvesting techniques, and novel antenna–rectifier architectures. The insights from this study will serve as a valuable resource for researchers and engineers working towards the realization of self-sustaining, battery-free electronic systems. Full article

The ability to effectively engineer robots with appropriate social behaviors that conform to acceptable social norms and with the potential to influence human behavior remains a challenging area in robotics. Given this, we sought to provide insights into “what can be considered a socially appropriate and effective behavior for robots charged with enforcing social compliance of various magnitudes”. To this end, we investigate how social robots can be equipped with context-inspired persuasive behaviors for human–robot interaction. For this, we conducted three separate studies. In the first, we explored how the android robot “ERICA” can be furnished with negative persuasive behaviors using a video-based within-subjects design with N = 50 participants. Through a video-based experiment employing a mixed-subjects design with N = 98 participants, we investigated how the context of norm violation and individual user traits affected perceptions of the robot’s persuasive behaviors in the second study. Lastly, we investigated the effect of the robot’s appearance on the perception of its persuasive behaviors, considering two humanoids (ERICA and CommU) through a within-subjects design with N = 100 participants. Findings from these studies generally revealed that the robot could be equipped with appropriate and effective context-sensitive persuasive behaviors for human–robot interaction. Specifically, the more assertive behaviors (displeasure and anger) of the agent were found to be effective (p < 0.01) as a response to a situation of repeated violation after an initial positive persuasion. Additionally, the appropriateness of these behaviors was found to be influenced by the severity of the violation. Specifically, negative behaviors were preferred for persuasion in situations where the violation affects other people (p < 0.01), as in the COVID-19 adherence and smoking prohibition scenarios. Our results also revealed that the preference for the negative behaviors of the robots varied with users’ traits, specifically compliance awareness (CA), agreeableness (AG), and the robot’s embodiment. The current findings provide insights into how social agents can be equipped with appropriate and effective context-aware persuasive behaviors. It also suggests the relevance of a cognitive-based approach in designing social agents, particularly those deployed in sensitive social contexts. Full article

This scoping review investigates the digital transition of critical energy infrastructure (CEI) in maritime ports, which are increasingly vital as energy hubs amid global decarbonisation efforts. Recognising the growing role of ports in integrating offshore renewables, hydrogen, and LNG systems, the study examines how digital technologies (such as automation, IoT, and AI) support the resilience, efficiency, and sustainability of port-based CEI. A multifaceted search strategy was implemented to identify relevant academic and grey literature. The search was performed between January 2025 and 30 April 2025. The strategy focused on databases such as Scopus. Due to limitations encountered in retrieving sufficient, directly relevant academic papers from databases alone, the search strategy was systematically expanded to include grey literature such as reports, policy documents, and technical papers from authoritative industry, governmental, and international organisations. Employing Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and PRISMA-ScR (scoping review) guidelines, the review synthesises insights from 62 academic and grey literature sources to address five core research questions relating to the current state, challenges, importance, and future directions of digital CEI in ports. Literature distribution of articles varies across continents, with Europe contributing the highest number of publications (53%), Asia (24%) and North America (11%), while Africa and Oceania account for only 3% of the publications. Findings reveal significant regional disparities in digital maturity, fragmented governance structures, and underutilisation of digital systems. While smart port technologies offer operational gains and support predictive maintenance, their effectiveness is constrained by siloed strategies, resistance to collaboration, and skill gaps. The study highlights a need for holistic digital transformation frameworks, cross-border cooperation, and tailored approaches to address these challenges. The review provides a foundation for future empirical work and policy development aimed at securing and optimising maritime port energy infrastructure in line with global sustainability targets. Full article

Potatoes are highly sensitive to drought, particularly during tuber initiation. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of film-forming (Vapor Gard [VG]) and metabolic (abscisic acid [ABA]) antitranspirants in mitigating drought stress and reducing tuber physiological disorders in four potato varieties. Two experiments examined the effects of VG and ABA antitranspirants on drought-stressed potato plants of four varieties (Challenger, Markies, Nectar, and Russet Burbank) grown in pots in a polytunnel (semi-controlled environment). Experiment 1 imposed severe drought by withholding irrigation until 70% of the available water content was depleted (reaching 15–17% volumetric water content within ~15 days), while Experiment 2 featured gradual drought stress from tuber initiation, with the soil volumetric water content declining to <10% over 30 days. Antitranspirants were applied at the start of the tuber initiation and two weeks later to assess their impact on the soil volumetric water content, stomatal conductance, relative water content, yield, and tuber physiological disorders. Drought significantly reduced the soil and plant water status, tuber yield, and quality across both experiments, with more severe effects observed in Experiment 1. VG and ABA had repeatable effects in both experiments and in all varieties, reducing water stress by preventing a large reduction in the relative water content during the tuber initiation and bulking stages. Both antitranspirants improved the tuber appearance by reducing the tuber skin disorder of russeting in the susceptible Challenger variety in both experiments, with VG being more effective than ABA. Beneficial reductions in the effects of drought from antitranspirants were also recorded in the volumetric water content, stomatal conductance, yield, and jelly end rot but not consistently in all varieties and in both experiments. The results show that antitranspirants have the potential to minimise water stress in droughted potatoes and subsequently reduce the physiological disorder of russeting and improve the tuber appearance of the Challenger variety. Full article