Search Results (23,331)

Hemispheric specialization is a widespread feature of vertebrate nervous systems, but the minimal conditions under which bilateral systems differentiate, acquire polarity, and retain asymmetric states remain unclear. Here, we examined these issues using a minimal evolutionary model with two initially equivalent processing channels. Each channel evolved a spatial integration width while receiving the same input, and fitness rewarded the magnitude of a bilateral mismatch-separation signal rather than explicit anomaly localization. Under exact developmental symmetry, 40 lineages evolved robust left–right differences in integration width without significant directional fixation (median |Δa| = 2.511; 22 right-wider, 18 left-wider). Weak developmental gain asymmetry biased polarity selection in a graded manner, shifting outcomes toward right-wider or left-wider solutions depending on bias direction. Forced-symmetry, shared-parameter, and single-channel controls showed that high performance depended on allowing differentiated bilateral processing. After biased solutions were reseeded under restored symmetry, differentiation was retained and amplified (median |Δa| > 6.6), consistent with history-dependent persistence within the sampled fitness landscape. Structured backgrounds increased differentiation magnitude but imposed greater decision-time costs. These results distinguish differentiation, polarity bias, and persistence as separable components of minimal hemispheric specialization. Full article

A challenge of studying mammalian cardiac embryogenesis is the limited ability to perform experimental manipulations in animal models. The avian embryo is widely accepted as a model for mammalian heart developmental studies. In this study, we establish the methodology and protocols for studying the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) heart at embryonic day 10 (HH38) using the FUJIFILM VisualSonics Vevo 3100 ultrasound system equipped with a MX550D small animal cardiology transducer. These protocols were designed to measure right ventricular wall thickness, pulmonary artery diameter, and the outflow velocities of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) and the pulmonary artery (PA), thereby establishing baseline parameters of the normally developing quail morphology. Quail embryos are an ideal model for cardiovascular research due to their short incubation period (16–17 days), experimental accessibility, and strong similarities to mammalian heart development. These developmental similarities include, but are not limited to, looping, chamber septation, and the development of a true four-chamber heart. High-resolution imaging modalities, including ultrasound and optical coherence tomography, enable noninvasive, real-time visualization of cardiac morphology and function throughout development. Echocardiography allows for quantitative and qualitative assessments of myocardial structure and cardiac hemodynamics. The similarity to the mammalian heart, combined with rapid embryogenesis, makes quail embryos a valuable model for investigating congenital heart defects, genetic modifications, and fundamental cardiac developmental processes. In this study, we describe reproducible incubation protocols and baseline echocardiographic parameters used to evaluate morphological and physiological changes in the developing embryonic quail heart on embryonic day 10. Full article

Co-design is a term commonly used to describe involving people with lived experience in program, policy, and research design and its outcomes. However, the implementation of co-design is inconsistent due to a lack of an agreed-upon definition, framework, and set of principles for application. In this paper, the co-authors, as practising policy advocates and co-designers, aim to develop a set of guiding principles for genuine co-design with children and young people with disability in Australia. The paper first synthesises the existing Australian evidence from youth and disability scholarship, best practice approaches, and case studies of co-design projects recently undertaken where the co-authors are based at Children and Young People with Disability Australia, and then validates this evidence base through collaborative autoethnographic reflections of the co-authors’ collective experience in a co-design team. Drawing together themes and insights from this process, we propose four relationally driven guiding principles for genuine co-design that can be applied in Australian as well as international settings: 1. personalised: building trust and safety over time; 2. holistic: embedding co-design across the project lifespan; 3. reflexive: considering and sharing power; and 4. inclusive: prioritising accessibility and diversity. We end with final critical reflections on addressing power relations and ableist structures in genuine co-design with children and young people with disability. Full article

To address the issue that static strategies, such as frequent closure or fixed-time opening, in emergency lane management on freeways struggle to adapt to dynamic traffic demands, a control method for Dynamic Time-Division Multiplexing of Emergency Lanes (DTMEL) is proposed. Based on real-time changes in the traffic status of social vehicles and emergency vehicles, the method designs a dynamic time slice division strategy to achieve dynamic response in road right allocation and ensure the priority of emergency vehicle. By constructing a dynamic spatial slice model that integrates driver decision-making behavior and different car-truck ratios, it provides a quantitative design basis for lane usage under the heterogeneity of social vehicles. Simulation experimental results show that in different car-truck ratios, the average speed of social vehicles under the DTMEL control method is 8.16–15.02% higher than that under the frequent closure strategy of emergency lanes and 2.15–3.29% higher than that under the fully open strategy control. In addition, compared to the fully opening strategy, the traffic capacity under DTMEL strategy control has increased by about 6.59–8.08%. The proposed method reduced the delay rate of emergency vehicles, verifying its feasibility in improving freeway operation efficiency and ensuring the priority of emergency vehicles. Full article

In recent years, electronic commerce (e-commerce) platforms catering to Saudi users have experienced significant growth. Analyzing the privacy policies of these platforms is crucial to ensure data protection and transparency for Saudi users, especially in light of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. However, existing studies on these platforms are limited in scope and fail to address key dimensions comprehensively. This study investigates the current state of privacy policies across 500 e-commerce websites serving Saudi users. The analysis focuses on policy availability, language, readability, and compliance with Saudi Arabia’s Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL). The findings reveal that 19.40% of websites lack privacy policies, and 2.01% fail to provide an Arabic version. On average, the privacy policies are lengthy, with approximately 981 words and 115 sentences, and are written in complex language that is difficult for users to understand. This study also identifies gaps in compliance with the PDPL, particularly in clarifying how data is collected and processed, and in explaining user rights. This study highlights the need for clearer, more accessible, and legally compliant privacy policies to enhance user trust and data protection. Full article

Background: In patients with left ventricular hypertrophy, resting structural parameters alone may not explain exertional symptoms. Hence, we investigate whether combined Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing- Exercise Stress Echocardiography (CPET-ESE) can provide an integrated functional characterisation of hypertrophic phenotypes. Methods: As a preliminary investigation, this prospective single-centre pilot study enrols 43 patients, categorised into: obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (n = 19), transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (n = 15), or preserved-ejection-fraction hypertrophic phenotypes (n = 9). Patients undergo symptom-limited semi-supine CPET-ESE on an electronically braked cycle ergometer with an individualised ramp protocol. Peak effort is defined by symptom limitation and respiratory exchange ratio criteria ($RER\ge 1.05$), while peak VO₂ is defined as the highest 30 s averaged value. Results: Exercise responses differ across phenotypes. Patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have higher peak VO₂ than the other groups, despite their lower chronotropic reserve. The preserved-ejection-fraction hypertrophic group shows lower peripheral oxygen extraction, whereas transthyretin amyloidosis shows a mixed central and peripheral limitation pattern. Right ventricle–pulmonary artery uncoupling is observed in the latter two groups. Conclusions: The use of CPET-ESE may help describe distinct physiological exercise profiles in hypertrophic phenotypes, but these findings should be considered exploratory. The small, heterogeneous and single-centre cohort precludes definitive mechanistic or predictive conclusions and supports the need for larger validation studies. Full article

Threat modelling is a methodology employed for identifying and analysing threats and applicable mitigations for web applications, mobile applications, infrastructure, and environments including smart home environments. Threat modelling starts with a tabletop exercise to identify threats. It provides extremely important insights into what can go wrong if certain events or a series of events take place. The identification of these events is critical to ensuring the right mitigation strategies are applied. Threat modelling also helps to identify security controls that may be assumed to provide required security, but, in reality, may not be addressing the existing and applicable threat(s). Existing literature, in the public domain and in academia, discusses threat materialisation for smart homes; however, entry points for a threat to materialise and exploit these vulnerabilities are not explored and a dedicated threat model for smart home environments is currently unavailable. Whilst threats can be mitigated by smart home device manufacturers, there are also mitigations that need to be applied by smart home owners who are both technology-aware and technology-unaware. In this paper, we propose a structured, domain-specific threat modelling methodology for smart home environments. The methodology models threats from a smart home owner’s perspective, identifies entry points and the mitigations that need to be implemented by a smart home owner. It also acknowledges that the attack surface expands and contracts and is not constant; which is addressed by applying zero-trust principles. Full article

Face recognition technologies are increasingly deployed in transport infrastructures to improve efficiency and security, but they raise significant privacy and data protection concerns. This study reviews how privacy-preserving face recognition techniques can address these challenges in real-world settings. Using a systematic literature review approach, the paper analyses research across technical, operational, and governance perspectives. The findings show that while advanced methods such as encryption, federated learning, and de-identification can reduce data exposure, they are rarely implemented in operational systems, which tend to prioritize performance and scalability. At the same time, governance-focused studies emphasize issues such as proportionality, accountability, and fundamental rights, often without clear links to technical solutions. Overall, the review highlights a fragmented landscape and a gap between research and practice, underscoring the need for integrated approaches that align privacy-preserving techniques with practical deployment constraints and regulatory requirements. Full article

Australia’s ban on social media for under-16s, introduced in December 2025, made it the first country worldwide to implement a nationwide prohibition on major platforms for adolescents. This narrative literature review compares Australia’s age-based restriction with international approaches to protecting young people from online risks. The review synthesized 26 academic studies and 15 grey literature sources (policy documents, legislation, and official reports published between 2015 and 2025). It employed Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological systems theory to examine effects across family, platform, institutional, and broader socio-legal contexts. Three key themes emerged: (A) Empirical findings on age-threshold policies remain inconclusive and context-dependent. While unregulated use relates to psychological vulnerabilities, structured and intentional engagement can promote social connection, identity exploration, and support access, especially for marginalized youth. (B) Global responses vary, favoring alternatives like parental consent, platform duty-of-care obligations, and screen-time control measures. (C) Balanced, sustainable harm reduction depends on combining parental involvement, platform accountability, and digital literacy education. Overall, while Australia’s precautionary approach addresses legitimate developmental and public health concerns, its effectiveness seems limited by enforcement challenges, risks of digital exclusion, and potential human rights issues. Bronfenbrenner’s framework underscores the need for coordinated governance across interconnected systems to lessen online harm. Full article

Background: An important role in postural control is played by the plantar proprioceptive inputs, as they contribute to the sensorimotor integration of the Tonic Postural System (TPS). Although plantar stimulation is an excellent strategy for improving balance, evidence remains limited. Therefore, the aim of this pilot study was to examine the acute effects of plantar proprioceptive training on dynamic balance performance and ankle range of motion (ROM). Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 26 physically active young adults were divided into an experimental group (EG; n = 13) and a control group (CG; n = 13). The EG performed plantar proprioceptive training including walking on a reflexology mat and balance exercises on a proprioceptive pad. The CG remained lying supine on a couch for the same amount of time as the experimental intervention. The Y-Balance Test (YBT) was used to assess dynamic balance, while the ankle ROM (i.e., dorsiflexion and plantarflexion) was measured using an inertial sensor. All measurements were taken before (T0) and immediately after (T1) the experimental or control condition. Results: Improvements in the YBT were found in the EG from T0 to T1 for both right (p = 0.002; SE = 1.24) and left (p = 0.015) foot, but no changes from T0 to T1 were observed in the CG for both right and left foot (p > 0.05). No changes were observed for ankle ROM in both groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: These preliminary results suggest that plantar proprioceptive training can provide acute improvements in dynamic balance with no significant changes in ankle ROM. The findings support a potential role of plantar stimulation in postural control mechanisms. Full article

Background: Emerging evidence highlights the importance of the MIF–sCD74 axis in health and disease, including its role in regulating cell death. While studies in routine cardiac surgery suggest perioperative relevance, its role in end-stage heart failure (ESFH) patients undergoing left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation remains unexplored. Moreover, although MIF and sCD74 induce necroptosis in neonatal cardiac myofibroblasts, the effects of MIF, its paralog D-DT, and sCD74 on adult cardiac myofibroblasts (CMFs) are unknown. Methods: Plasma concentrations of sCD74, MIF and D-DT were measured perioperatively in a small cohort of patients with ESHF undergoing LVAD implantation (n = 20). As a preclinical model of ESHF, primary adult CMFs were treated with recombinant MIF, D-DT and sCD74 to evaluate their effects on cellular viability and health. Results: In LVAD patients, sCD74 and D-DT levels were significantly increased 24 h postoperatively, whereas MIF levels were reduced compared to baseline. ROC curve analysis demonstrated a good discriminatory power of 24 h post-OP sCD74 (AUC = 0.83), sCD74/MIF ratio (AUC = 0.82), and D-DT levels (AUC = 0.88) for acute kidney injury, composite outcome, and right heart failure (RHF), respectively. In adult CMFs, MIF and sCD74 synergistically reduced viable cell counts (p = 0.0083), whereas D-DT reduced cell counts in an sCD74-independent manner (p = 0.0004). Yet, measures of metabolism, proliferation, apoptosis and necrosis along with inflammatory gene expression remained unchanged. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the balance of MIF, D-DT, and sCD74 during LVAD implantation may be clinically relevant. In particular, an imbalance characterized by elevated sCD74 or D-DT and reduced MIF levels 24 h post-surgery was associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes. Yet, the current findings are exploratory and hypothesis-generating because of a small sample size. Thus, the prognostic value of plasma levels for postoperative complications after LVAD implantation, and the effects of MIF/D-DT/sCD74 imbalance on cardiac myofibroblasts, need to be validated in larger cohorts and in advanced human experimental models. Full article

Climate change and environmental degradation are increasingly recognized as major drivers of human mobility, operating through both sudden-onset disasters and slow-onset processes such as sea-level rise, desertification and resource scarcity. Although estimates vary widely, projections suggest that millions of people may become displaced by 2050 because of climate change, predominantly within their own countries but also across international borders. This article examines the emerging phenomenon of “environmental migration” against the backdrop of international refugee law and broader human rights frameworks. It first maps the diverse environmental scenarios that trigger displacement before analyzing the existing international legal landscape. Particular attention is paid to the contested terminology surrounding “climate refugees”, “environmental migrants” and “environmentally displaced persons” and to the protection gaps that arise from current categorizations. This article argues that, while existing norms on human rights, disaster risk reduction and internal displacement offer partial safeguards, they do not provide coherent legal status or systematic protection for people displaced across borders by climate-related harms. It concludes that climate-related displacement should be addressed through a combination of evolving human rights-based climate litigation, enhanced use of existing instruments and the progressive elaboration of specific normative frameworks. Full article

Background: Oncocytic lipoadenoma is an exceptionally rare benign fat-containing salivary gland tumor that most commonly arises in the parotid gland. Previous case reports have largely focused on histopathology with limited or single-modality imaging documentation; therefore, practical preoperative radiological characterization remains challenging. Case Presentation: A 46-year-old male presented with a 2-year history of a slowly enlarging right-sided parotid mass. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a well-circumscribed fat-containing mass with a discrete medially enhancing solid component, mild diffusion restriction and small cystic foci without aggressive features. Ultrasonography revealed a heterogeneously hypoechoic parotid mass; however, limited acoustic penetration hindered evaluation of the deep portion. A core-needle biopsy was inconclusive, and an atypical lipomatous tumor could not be excluded. Subsequent surgical excision confirmed an oncocytic lipoadenoma, a biphasic tumor comprising mature adipose tissue and cytokeratin 7-positive oncocytic epithelial nests. The patient has remained recurrence-free for 7 years after surgery. Conclusions: Fat-containing parotid tumors can be diagnostically challenging because imaging findings are often nonspecific, and biphasic lipoepithelial entities are rarely encountered. This case highlights that awareness of the pattern of macroscopic fat with a discrete enhancing non-fat component, interpreted alongside histopathological findings, may help narrow the differential diagnosis, guide management, and reduce diagnostic uncertainty. Full article

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common entrapment neuropathy of the upper extremity and results from compression of the median nerve within the fibro-osseous carpal tunnel. Anatomical variants such as a bifid median nerve (BMN) and a persistent median artery (PMA) may increase tunnel occupancy and complicate both diagnosis and treatment. High-resolution musculoskeletal ultrasound enables detailed evaluation of these anatomical variations and facilitates image-guided interventions. Ultrasound-guided hydrodissection has emerged as a minimally invasive technique capable of mechanically releasing perineural adhesions and restoring nerve mobility. Alpha-2 macroglobulin (A2M), an autologous plasma protease inhibitor with anti-inflammatory and cytokine-binding properties, has recently been explored as a biologic adjunct in musculoskeletal conditions. We report the case of a 60-year-old right-handed woman who presented with a one-year history of numbness, paresthesia, and pain within the median nerve distribution of her dominant hand. Ultrasound examination demonstrated a bifid median nerve accompanied by a persistent median artery and perineural edema within the proximal carpal tunnel. The patient underwent three weekly sessions of ultrasound-guided hydrodissection using autologous A2M prepared through the APEX filtration system. The patient reported progressive clinical improvement following treatment. Grip strength increased from 12 kg at baseline to 22 kg at week twelve. Follow-up ultrasound performed ten months after treatment showed restoration of median nerve fascicular architecture and normalization of nerve morphology, findings consistent with interval structural improvement. This case highlights the role of ultrasound in the integrated evaluation and management of CTS with anatomical variants, including diagnosis, procedural guidance, and longitudinal assessment. Ultrasound-guided hydrodissection with A2M may represent a feasible minimally invasive approach in selected patients; however, further prospective studies are required to determine its safety and therapeutic efficacy. Full article

Farmland management rights (FMR) mortgage lending has been advanced as a central instrument of rural credit reform in China, yet the program has consistently failed to sustain itself in the absence of direct government facilitation. Drawing on five national and provincial pilot counties in Henan Province, this study investigates the structural factors underlying this sustainability failure. We employ a sequential mixed-methods design: grounded theory analysis of in-depth interviews, policy documents, and media reports from five focal sites to inductively construct a constraint framework, followed by structural equation modeling (SEM) validation using 1055 survey responses. Our grounded theory analysis identifies three internal constraint categories—property rights insecurity, a thin secondary land market, and subject-level agricultural risk—and one external environmental constraint, which together produce a state of mutual non-recognition: neither financial institutions nor farming households regard FMR as legitimate collateral. Notably, the effect of collateral acceptance on farmer mortgage willingness is statistically insignificant, revealing that demand-side barriers are more deeply entrenched than supply-side institutional improvements alone can resolve. These findings challenge the premise that legal formalization of land rights is sufficient to generate market-driven credit activity, and call attention to the equally important role of institutional ecosystem development—encompassing land markets, appraisal capacity, supervisory infrastructure, and rural credit culture. The insights carry direct relevance for developing economies exploring land-backed agricultural credit as a rural finance strategy. Full article