Search Results (583)

Ecosystem services—the benefits humans derive from nature—are foundational to environmental sustainability and economic well-being, with carbon sequestration and storage standing out as critical regulating services in the fight against climate change. This study presents a comprehensive financial valuation of the carbon sequestration, storage and product substitution ecosystem services provided by the Hungarian forest-based sector. Using a multi-scenario framework, four complementary valuation concepts are assessed: total carbon storage (biomass, soil, and harvested wood products), annual net sequestration, emissions avoided through material and energy substitution, and marketable carbon value under voluntary carbon market (VCM) and EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) mechanisms. Data sources include the National Forestry Database, the Hungarian Greenhouse Gas Inventory, and national estimates on substitution effects and soil carbon stocks. The total carbon stock of Hungarian forests is estimated at 1289 million tons of CO₂ eq, corresponding to a theoretical climate liability value of over EUR 64 billion. Annual sequestration is valued at approximately 380 million EUR/year, while avoided emissions contribute an additional 453 million EUR/year in mitigation benefits. A comparative analysis of two mutually exclusive crediting strategies—improved forest management projects (IFMs) avoiding final harvesting versus long-term carbon storage through the use of harvested wood products—reveals that intensified harvesting for durable wood use offers higher revenue potential (up to 90 million EUR/year) than non-harvesting IFM scenarios. These findings highlight the dual role of forests as both carbon sinks and sources of climate-smart materials and call for policy frameworks that integrate substitution benefits and long-term storage opportunities in support of effective climate and bioeconomy strategies. Full article

Background: Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) is characterized by chemoresistance and poor prognosis in advanced or recurrent cases. This study aimed to find specific prognostic markers for OCCC. Methods: We analyzed 169 OCCC patients for clinicopathological features. TERT promoter and PIK3CA mutations were assessed by Sanger sequencing, and immunohistochemistry for ARID1A, HDAC6, Cyclin E1, and p53 was performed on tissue microarrays. Survival analysis was conducted using Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression models. Results: The -124C>T TERT promoter mutation was associated with longer OS and PFS and was an independent predictor of favorable OS. This mutation correlated with lower CA125 levels and higher SNP frequency. p53 mutations indicated advanced disease, bilateral tumors, reduced Cyclin E1, and poor prognosis. Low HDAC6 expression was linked to worse PFS. Mutual exclusivity was observed between PIK3CA exon 20 mutations and SNPs. Conclusions: The -124C>T TERT promoter mutation may serve as a favorable prognostic marker in OCCC, while p53 mutations and reduced HDAC6 expression are associated with poor outcomes. Full article

Background: Among all ambulatory antibiotic prescriptions, about 20% are non-visit-based (ordered outside of an in-person clinical encounter), and about 30% are not associated with an infection-related diagnosis code. Objective/Methods: To identify the rationale for ambulatory antibiotic prescribing, we queried the electronic health record (EHR) of a single, large health system in the Midwest United States to identify all oral antibiotics prescribed from November 2018 to February 2019 and examined visit, procedure, lab, department, and diagnosis codes. For the remaining antibiotic prescriptions—mostly non-visit-based, no-infectious-diagnosis-documented—we randomly selected and manually reviewed the EHR to identify a prescribing rationale and, if none was present, surveyed prescribers for their rationale. Results: During the study period, there were 47,619 antibiotic prescriptions from 1177 clinicians to 41,935 patients, of which 2608 (6%) were eligible non-visit-based, no-infectious-diagnosis-documented. We randomly selected 2298. There was a documented rationale for 2116 (92%) prescriptions. The most common documented reasons—not mutually exclusive—were patient-reported symptoms (71%), persistence of symptoms after initial management (18%), travel (17%), and responding to lab or imaging results (11%). We contacted 160 clinicians who did not document any prescribing rationale in the EHR and received responses from 62 (39%). Clinicians’ stated reasons included upcoming or current patient travel (19%), the antibiotic was for the prescriber’s own family member (19%), or the clinician made a diagnosis but did not document it in the EHR (18%). Conclusions: Non-visit-based, no-infectious-diagnosis-documented antibiotic prescriptions were most often in response to patient-reported symptoms, though they also occur for a variety of other reasons, some problematic, like in the absence of documentation or for a family member. Full article

B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) is classified into more than 20 molecular subtypes, and next-generation sequencing has facilitated the identification of these with high sensitivity. Bulk RNA-seq analysis of bone marrow was realized to identify molecular subtypes in Mexican pediatric patients with B-ALL. High hyperdiploidy (27.3%) was the most frequent molecular subtype, followed by DUX4 (13.6%), TCF3::PBX1 (9.1%), ETV6::RUNX1 (9.1%), Ph-like (9.1%), ETV6::RUNX1-like (9.1%), PAX5alt (4.5%), Ph (4.5%), KMT2A (4.5%), and ZNF384 (4.5%), with one patient presenting both the PAX5alt and low hypodiploidy subtypes (4.5%). The genes TYK2, SEMA6A, FLT3, NRAS, SETD2, JAK2, NT5C2, RAG1, and SPATS2L harbor deleterious missense variants across different B-ALL molecular subtypes. The Ph-like subtype exhibited mutations in STAT2, ADGRF1, TCF3, BCR, JAK2, and NRAS with overexpression of the CRLF2 gene. The DUX4 subtype showed mutually exclusive missense variants in the PDGRFA gene. Here, we have demonstrated the importance of using RNA-seq to facilitate the differential diagnosis of B-ALL with successful detection of gene fusions and mutations. This will aid both patient risk stratification and precision medicine. Full article

Background: Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), a neuroendocrine tumor originating from thyroid parafollicular C-cells, presents therapeutic challenges, particularly in advanced stages. While RET proto-oncogene mutations are known drivers, a comprehensive understanding of the broader somatic mutation landscape is needed to identify novel therapeutic targets and improve prognostication. This study leveraged the extensive AACR Project GENIE dataset to characterize MTC genomics. Methods: A retrospective analysis of MTC samples from GENIE examined recurrent somatic mutations, demographic/survival correlations, and copy number variations using targeted sequencing data (significance: p < 0.05). Results: Among 341 samples, RET mutations predominated (75.7%, mostly M918T), followed by HRAS (10.0%) and KRAS (5.6%), with mutual exclusivity between RET and RAS alterations. Recurrent mutations included KMT2D (5.3%), CDH11 (5.3%), ATM (5.0%), and TP53 (4.1%). NOTCH1 mutations were enriched in metastatic cases (p = 0.023). Preliminary associations included sex-linked mutations (BRAF/BRCA1/KIT in females, p = 0.028), and survival (ATM associated with longer survival, p = 0.016; BARD1/BLM/UBR5/MYH11 with shorter survival, p < 0.05), though limited subgroup sizes warrant caution. Conclusions: This large-scale genomic analysis confirms the centrality of RET and RAS pathway alterations in MTC and their mutual exclusivity. The association of NOTCH1 mutations with metastasis suggests a potential role in disease progression. While findings regarding demographic and survival correlations are preliminary, they generate hypotheses for future validation. This study enhances the genomic foundation for understanding MTC and underscores the need for integrated clinico-genomic datasets to refine therapeutic approaches. Full article

This paper introduces a framework of hypercompositional algebra on fuzzy graphs by defining and analyzing fuzzy path-based hyperoperations. Building on the notion of strongest strong paths (paths that are both strength-optimal and composed exclusively of strong edges, where each edge achieves maximum connection strength between its endpoints), we define two operations: a vertex-based fuzzy path hyperoperation and an edge-based variant. These operations generalize classical graph hyperoperations to the fuzzy setting while maintaining compatibility with the underlying topology. We prove that the vertex fuzzy path hyperoperation is associative, forming a fuzzy hypersemigroup, and establish additional properties such as reflexivity and monotonicity with respect to $\alpha$-cuts. Structural features such as fuzzy strong cut vertices and edges are examined, and a fuzzy distance function is introduced to quantify directional connectivity strength. We define an equivalence relation based on mutual full-strength reachability and construct a quotient fuzzy graph that reflects maximal closed substructures under the vertex fuzzy path hyperoperation. Applications are discussed in domains such as trust networks, biological systems, and uncertainty-aware communications. This work aims to lay the algebraic foundations for further exploration of fuzzy hyperstructures that support modeling, analysis, and decision-making in systems governed by partial and asymmetric relationships. Full article

Pollinating fig wasps (Agaonidae) engage in an obligate mutualism with Ficus species, which is mediated by host-specific chemical cues. However, the role of visual perception in host recognition remains poorly understood, particularly because of a lack of structural studies of their compound eyes. We investigated the ocular morphology of female Ceratosolen gravelyi (exclusive pollinator of F. semicordata) using scanning/transmission electron microscopy. The oval apposition eyes contain 228–263 ommatidia, which are asymmetrically distributed between the left and right eyes. Each ommatidium comprises a biconvex corneal lens overlying a tetrapartite eucone crystalline cone; proximal cone cells reveal an interlaced labyrinth. Pigment cells encapsulate each ommatidium, and numerous pigment granules and mitochondria are present in both pigment and retinular cells. Nine retinular cells comprise a unit, with eight photoreceptors (R1–R8) forming the rhabdom from the cone base to the basal matrix; a ninth cell replaces R8 in the apical third of the rhabdom. Optical metrics, including F-number (1.1°), acceptance angle (10.0°), and ommatidial sensitivity (0.26 µm²/sr), indicate diurnal activity in bright environments. These adaptations suggest that their eyes are critical for processing visual cues during host interactions, which advances our understanding of multimodal sensory integration in fig–wasp mutualism. Full article

Competing risk models are essential in survival analysis for studying systems with multiple mutually exclusive failure events. This study investigates the application of competing risk models in the presence of progressively Type-II censored data for the Dagum distribution, a flexible distribution suited for modeling data with heavy tails and varying skewness and kurtosis. The methodology includes maximum likelihood estimation of the unknown parameters, with a focus on the special case of a common shape parameter, which allows for a closed-form expression of the relative risks. A hypothesis test is developed to assess the validity of this assumption, and both asymptotic and bootstrap confidence intervals are constructed. The performance of the proposed methods is evaluated through Monte Carlo simulations, and their applicability is demonstrated with a real-world example. Full article

Understanding the complex and multidimensional nature of poverty is essential for designing effective and targeted policy interventions in rural Ethiopia. This study examined the determinants of multidimensional poverty in Bilate River Basin in South Ethiopia, employing cross-sectional household survey data collected in 2024. A total of 359 households were selected using a multistage sampling technique, ensuring representation across agro-ecological and socio-economic zones. The analysis applied the Generalized Ordered Logit (GOLOGIT) model to categorize households into four mutually exclusive poverty statuses: non-poor, vulnerable, poor, and extremely poor. The results reveal that age, dependency ratio, education level, livestock and ox ownership, access to information and credit, health status, and grazing land access significantly influence poverty status. Higher dependency ratios and poor health substantially increase the likelihood of extreme poverty, while livestock ownership and access to grazing land reduce it. Notably, credit use and access to information typically considered poverty reducing were associated with increased extreme poverty risks, likely due to poor financial literacy and exposure to misinformation. These findings underscored the multidimensional and dynamic nature of poverty, driven by both structural and behavioral factors. Policy implications point to the importance of integrated interventions that promote education, health, financial literacy, and access to productive assets to ensure sustainable poverty reduction and improved rural livelihoods in Ethiopia. Full article

This study presents a metric selection framework and a normalization method for the quantitative assessment of cyber resilience, with a specific focus on availability as a core dimension. To develop a generalizable evaluation model, service types from 1124 organizations were categorized, and candidate metrics applicable across diverse operational environments were identified. Ten quantitative metrics were derived based on five core selection criteria—objectivity, reproducibility, scalability, practicality, and relevance to resilience—while adhering to the principles of mutual exclusivity and collective exhaustiveness. To validate the framework, two availability-oriented metrics—Transactions per Second (TPS) and Connections per Second (CPS)—were empirically evaluated in a simulated denial-of-service environment using a TCP SYN flood attack scenario. The experiment included three phases: normal operation, attack, and recovery. An Area Under the Curve (AUC)-based Normalized Resilience Index (NRI) was introduced to quantify performance degradation and recovery, using each organization’s Recovery Time Objective (RTO) as a reference baseline. This approach facilitates objective, interpretable comparisons of resilience performance across systems with varying service conditions. The findings demonstrate the practical applicability of the proposed metrics and normalization technique for evaluating cyber resilience and underscore their potential in informing resilience policy development, operational benchmarking, and technical decision-making. Full article

Background: Children, including the estimated 7% with food allergy, spend most of their waking hours in school. Variations in school-based food allergy (FA) practices exist. We aimed to examine differences in FA management practices across schools in Canada and the United States (US). Methods: Parents of children with Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated FA were recruited through social media to complete a survey evaluating the schools’ stock epinephrine, epinephrine storage locations, school type, and location. Data were described, analyzed using logistic and linear regressions, and then reported as odds ratios (ORs) and standardized coefficients (b), respectively, with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) and p < 0.05. This study was approved by the University of Manitoba Health Research Ethics Board. Results: Overall, 177 participants (14% [26/177] Canada, 86% [151/177] US) were included. Children were, on average, 4.92 ± 3.12 years and were commonly but not mutually exclusively allergic to tree nuts (50% Canada; 40% US) and peanuts (33% Canada; 29% US). Compared to US parents, Canadian parents were more likely to report epinephrine self-carriage by their children (OR = 4.58; 95%CI = 1.67–12.59). Parents with children age > 5 years were more likely to report epinephrine self-carriage by their children (OR = 3.70; 95%CI = 1.38–9.93) but less likely to report that their children’s school had an allergen-friendly zone (OR = 0.25; 95%CI = 0.06–0.99). Compared to US parents, Canadian parents were more likely to report their child’s school had anaphylaxis management policies (OR = 8.98; 95%CI = 1.11–72.42). Conclusions: Significant in-school FA management differences exist between countries. These findings stress the need for consistent policies and practices to ensure effective care. Full article

Benthic diatoms are key primary producers in aquatic ecosystems and sensitive bioindicators for water quality monitoring; for example, the Yellow River Basin exhibits high diatom species diversity. However, traditional microscopic identification of such species remains inefficient and inaccurate. To enable automated identification, we established a benthic diatom dataset containing 3157 SEM images of 32 genera/species from the Yellow River Basin and developed a novel identification method. Specifically, the knowledge extraction module distinguishes foreground features from background noise by guiding spatial attention to focus on mutually exclusive regions within the image. This mechanism allows the network to focus more on foreground features that are useful for the classification task while significantly reducing the interference of background noise. Furthermore, a dual knowledge guidance module is designed to enhance the discriminative representation of fine-grained diatom images. This module strengthens multi-region foreground features through grouped channel attention, supplemented with contextual information through convolution-refined background features assigned low weights. Finally, the proposed method integrates multi-granularity learning, knowledge distillation, and multi-scale training strategies, further improving the classification accuracy. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed network outperforms comparative methods on both the self-built diatom dataset and a public diatom dataset. Ablation studies and visualization further validate the efficacy of each module. Full article

Task scheduling for multiple humanoid robot manipulators in industrial and collaborative settings remains a significant challenge due to the complexity of coordination, resource sharing, and real-time decision-making. In this study, we propose a framework for modeling task scheduling for multiple humanoid robot manipulators by using the symbolic discrete controller synthesis technique. We encode the task scheduling problem as discrete events using parallel synchronous dataflow equations and apply our synthesis algorithms to manage the task scheduling of multiple humanoid robots via the resulting controller. The control objectives encompass the fundamental behaviors of the system, strict rules, and mutual exclusions over shared resources, categorized as the safety property, whereas the optimization objectives are directed toward maximizing the throughput of robot-processed products with optimal efficiency. The humanoid robots considered in this study consist of two pairs of six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) robot manipulators, and the inverse kinematics problem of the 6-DOF arms is addressed using metaheuristic approaches inspired by biomimetic principles. Our approach is experimentally validated, and the results demonstrate high accuracy and performance compared to other approaches reported in the literature. Our approach achieved an average efficiency improvement of 40% in 70-robot systems, 20% in 30-robot systems, and 10% in 10-robot systems in terms of production throughput compared to systems without a controller. Full article

Background: Defective DNA repair systems result in the accumulation of mutations, loss of genomic integrity, and eventually cancer. Following initial malignant transformation due to specific DNA damage and defective DNA repair, cancer cells become reliant upon other DNA repair pathways for their survival. The co-occurrence of specific repair deficiencies brings catastrophic outcomes such as cell death for cancer cells and thus holds promise as a potential therapeutic strategy. Exploring the co-occurrence and mutual exclusivity of mutational signatures provides valuable knowledge regarding combinations of defective repair pathways that are cooperative and confer selective advantage to cancer cells and those that are detrimental and cannot be tolerated by them. Methods: Taking advantage of mutational signature profiling, we analyzed whole-genome sequences of 1014 breast cancers to reveal the underlying mutational processes and their interrelationships. Results: We found an inverse relationship between deficiencies of homologous recombination (HRd) and non-homologous end joining (NHEJd) with reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, HRd and NHEJd co-occurred with APOBEC but were mutually exclusive with mismatch repair deficiency (MMRd) and ROS. Our analysis revealed that SBS8 and SBS39 signatures of currently unknown etiology correlate with NHEJd. ID1 and ID2 signatures co-occur with ROS and have mutual exclusivity with HRd, SBS8, SBS39 and NHEJd. The ID4 signature, with currently unknown etiology, has mutual exclusivity with HRd and NHEJd and co-occurred with ROS. On the other hand, the ID15 signature, with currently unknown etiology, co-occurred with SBS8, SBS39, HRd, NHEJd and DBS2, while having an inverse relationship with MMRd and ROS. Comparing the mutational signatures of HRd and non-HRd TNBC genomes reveals the unique presence of ROS signatures in non-HRd tumors and the lack of ROS signature in HRd tumors. Conclusion: Taken together, these analyses indicate the possible application of mutation signatures and their interactions in advancing patient stratification and suggest appropriate therapies targeting the make-up of individual tumors’ mutational processes. Ultimately, this information provides the opportunity to discover promising synthetic lethal candidates targeting DNA repair systems. Full article

Assessing risk in life-cycle cost and benefit estimates of highway investments is recommended by major organizations such as the World Bank and the U.S. Federal Highway Administration. This challenging task needs methodological support. Mutually exclusive investment alternatives can differ in terms of the costs of construction, maintenance, rehabilitation, and end-of-life value. Due to many causal factors and the long life of highway infrastructure, these items cannot be estimated with certainty. To go beyond the study of the sources of uncertainty, a method is needed to check the economic feasibility of acquiring additional information for deeper insight. This paper reports on research on the value of Bayesian pre-posterior information for refining the life-cycle cost analysis of uncertain costs and benefits for evaluating highway investment alternatives. Example applications demonstrate how the Bayesian pre-posterior analysis can be applied to check the feasibility of obtaining new information for enhancing the life-cycle cost analysis of highway investments. The value of Bayesian pre-posterior information is illustrated for reducing risk. Also, depending upon the specifics of uncertain states, a change in the choice of the investment alternative for implementation can be investigated. The product of this research can potentially upgrade highway infrastructure planning and management practices. Full article