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Infarct‐Related Myocardial Resistance Before Reperfusion in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction to Predict Microvascular Injury and Clinical Outcomes
No full textBackground Microvascular injury (MVI) increases the risk of heart failure and mortality in patients with ST‐elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Therefore, it is important to detect these patients at an early stage for additional (experimental) therapies to improve outcomes. Currently, there are no methods to diagnose MVI in STEMI patients before reperfusion. The objective of this study was to assess the invasively measured infarct‐related absolute myocardial resistance ( R infarction ) to predict MVI before reperfusion. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) characterizes MVI, in the forms of microvascular obstruction (MVO) and intramyocardial hemorrhage (IMH) with IMH being at the “extreme” end of the injury spectrum. Methods In this substudy of the EURO‐ICE trial, R infarction was calculated as the change in distal coronary pressure during saline infusion in the occluded culprit artery, divided by the flow rate of the infused saline. The primary endpoint was to assess the diagnostic performance of R infarction to predict MVO on CMR performed at 2–7 days. The secondary endpoint was a composite of all‐cause mortality or hospitalization for heart failure up to 5 years. Results A total of 82 patients were included. The area under the Receiver‐Operating Characteristic curve of R infarction to predict MVO and IMH was 0.84 and 0.78, respectively. The optimal cut‐off value for both MVO and IMH was 1000 Wood units (WU). The composite endpoint of all‐cause mortality or hospitalization for heart failure occurred in 15.6% and 2.3% in the R infarction ≥ 1000 WU and R infarction < 1000 WU groups, respectively ( p = 0.06). Conclusions R infarction is able to predict MVI in STEMI before reperfusion and may serve as a tool in future trials to select patients that might benefit most from experimental therapies.</p
Hybrid AI-Based dynamic risk assessment framework with explainable AI practices for composite product cybersecurity certification
No full textAbstract
Cybersecurity certification generally relies on risk assessment results to identify suitable controls and assess the completeness of these controls for security requirement satisfaction and overall security assurance. Prioritization of relevant vulnerabilities is essential to support the risk assessment and overall conformity assessment. However, the security context has continuously evolved with variations in attack surfaces, vulnerability exploitation, and the regulatory landscape–factors that significantly impact the conformity assessment process. This research proposes a hybrid AI framework integrating ensemble learning with GPT-3.5 for effective risk management within composite product cybersecurity conformity assessment under the European Cybersecurity Certification Scheme. It operationalizes Explainable AI (XAI) practices using SHAP and LIME methods to identify the most influential features affecting vulnerability predictions, and applies marginal analysis to measure the quantifiable gap closure between required and actual security postures to validate security control adequacy and requirement satisfaction based on calculated risk levels. This facilitates the adoption of XAI in the context of cybersecurity certification, extending its utility beyond general AI-enabled application scenarios. An industrial pilot scenario based on the P-NET 5G/6G Testing and Integration Service infrastructure, along with a dataset-based experiment, was conducted to evaluate the proposed framework. The results indicate that the hybrid model achieved 89% accuracy for vulnerability exploitation score prediction, enabling accurate risk calculation for conformity assessment. Furthermore, the XAI analysis revealed that the identified security controls demonstrate adequate performance in satisfying mapped security functional requirements. Ultimately, the framework provides quantifiable validation of security control effectiveness, enabling auditors to trace the logical connections between vulnerability predictions, risk calculations, and security requirement satisfaction for an informed certification decision.</p
2D kinematic analysis of walk, trot, and canter gaits in Criollo breed horse
No full textThis study described the linear, temporal, and angular kinematic characteristics of thirty-five Criollo horses in walk, trot, and canter using 2D video motion capture and analysis. Retroreflective markers were placed on anatomical landmarks of the fore- and hindlimbs, and kinematic variables assessed with a motion analysis software. In walk, a mean stride length of 1.61 ± 0.14 m, stride duration of 0.90 ± 0.04 s, and mean velocity of 1.79 ± 0.13 m/s were observed. In trot, the mean stride length was 2.30 ± 0.23 m, stride duration was 0.60 ± 0.03 s, and the mean velocity was 3.82 ± 0.43 m/s. In canter, the stride length, stride duration, and velocity values were measured for the lead (2.86 ± 0.29 m, 0.51 ± 0.03 s, and 5.61 ± 0.64 m/s) and trail limbs (2.68 ± 0.25 m, 0.51 ± 0.02 s, and 5.28 ± 0.56 m/s). Regarding the angular variables, during the walk, the Criollo horses reached maximum protraction and retraction angles of the forelimbs of 16.90 ± 2.31º and 22.99 ± 3.47º, respectively. For the hindlimbs, the maximum protraction was 10.86 ± 2.45º, while the retraction was 31.47 ± 2.13º. The joints numerically showed smaller ranges of motion (ROM) during the canter, especially in the shoulder, elbow, and hip joints. The values increased for walk and trot and decreased again for the canter, indicating a relationship between gait velocity and joint ROM. These results provided reference kinematic values for Criollo horses; further studies are needed to evaluate specific training or management applications.</p
Fear motivates and dread stalls: the role of emotions in climate support
No full textAs the negative impacts of rapidly accelerating climate change increase in frequency and severity, widespread climate action in the population becomes increasingly urgent. The need for population-wide climate action and behavior change represents a significant psychological challenge that may be addressed through psychologically informed interventions. The current study investigates whether and how much 10 incidental state emotions (fear, dread, hope, anger, sadness, distress, worry, guilt, shame, and helplessness) contribute to climate change belief, climate policy support, and climate action in participants from the UK (
N
= 418). We report that greater fear and lower dread predict greater climate policy support, with no other state emotions predicting climate policy support. State emotions did not predict climate change belief or climate action. Our findings indicate that feeling fear, but not dread, may be important for climate policy support, yet such emotions may not translate into climate action. We discuss possible explanations for non-significant findings, such as a ceiling effect in climate change belief. Overall, our study uniquely explores the contributions of multiple incidental state emotions to climate action, indicating that nuanced differences in state emotions (e.g., fear vs. dread) may lead to different impacts on climate policy support.</p
Alzheimer disease knowledge among gerontologists in Turkiye
No full textThis study aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge about Alzheimer’s disease (AD) among graduates of gerontology undergraduate programs in Turkiye and to identify factors associated with their knowledge levels. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 100 gerontology graduates recruited via alumni networks and professional platforms. Data were collected using an online survey including a demographic form and the Turkish version of the Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS-TR). Descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to examine differences in AD knowledge scores across participant characteristics, with significance set at p < .05. The overall mean ADKS-TR score was 22.04 ± 3.44 (IQR:11–29), indicating a moderate level of knowledge. Female graduates scored significantly higher than males (p = .007). Employed participants and those who perceived themselves as knowledgeable also had higher scores (p < .001 and p = .017, respectively). No significant differences were observed based on age, time since graduation, prior AD-specific training, or personal/familial exposure to AD. Participants demonstrated the highest knowledge in the “Assessment and Diagnosis,” “Life Impact,” and “Symptoms” domains, while “Caregiving” scored lowest. The most common misconceptions concerned functional impairments, prevention strategies, and decision-making abilities, whereas general disease characteristics were correctly identified by most participants. Gerontology graduates in Turkiye possess moderate AD knowledge, with gender, employment status, and self-perceived competence as key correlates. Persistent gaps in practical caregiving and prevention highlight the need for continuous, practice-oriented, and targeted educational programs to improve professional competence in AD care.</p
The functionality appreciation scale: an examination of its psychometric properties in a French-Canadian adult sample
No full textThe 7-item Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS) is a widely used instrument to assess functionality appreciation, a central facet of positive body image. Here, we examined the psychometric properties of a novel French translation of the FAS. French-speaking Canadian adults were asked to complete the FAS and validated measures of positive body image, psychological well-being, and eating patterns. In a first split-half subsample (n = 385), exploratory factor analysis supported extraction of a unidimensional model with all 7 items. In a second split-half subsample (n = 385), confirmatory factor analytic findings supported the unidimensional model of the FAS. A partial factors-only model indicated that, in both subsamples, the French FAS had differential item functioning based on respondent age and body mass index (BMI), but not on gender identity. In both subsamples, higher respondent age was associated with greater functionality appreciation, whereas higher BMI was associated with lower functionality appreciation. Additional results supported convergent and concurrent validity of the French FAS, with greater functionality appreciation being associated with greater body appreciation and psychological well-being, as well as lower symptoms of maladaptive eating patterns. The present results indicate that the French FAS has strong psychometric properties in French-speaking Canadian adults.</p
Representative secondary PET micro and nanoplastics via ethylene glycol fragmentation (EGF): Physicochemical and immuno-toxicological properties
No full textPolyethylene terephthalate (PET) micro and nanoplastics (MNPs) are widely dispersed pollutants with significant environmental and health implications. Current preparation methods of representative secondary PET MNPs are limited. In this study, we developed a scalable, standardized ethylene glycol fragmentation (EGF)-based method to generate PET MNPs from three distinct plastic sources (commercial pellets, bottle-grade, and film-grade). PET samples were depolymerized using ethylene glycol and sodium carbonate under controlled thermal conditions. Two fractions (Ea and Eb) were collected and analyzed, fraction Ea consisted of covalently fragmented BHET-oligomer-based nanoplastics (∼200–375 nm), while fraction Eb comprised non-covalent BHET-based larger microplastic aggregates (∼1.2–1.9 µm). EGF method turned out to be more efficient than published trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) method giving mainly BHET-oligomer-based nanoplastics with higher yields and improved MNPs size control. MNPs generated by EGF showed a size range between 200 and 375 nm with good colloidal stability. In vitro assays showed that both type (covalent and non-covalent) of PET nanoplastics reduced THP-1 macrophage viability in a dose-dependent manner which was associated with IL-1β release, and triggered an M1-polarizing cytokine profile, thus indicating potential toxicity and proinflammatory activity. Our EGF-based synthesis platform enables controlled production of PET MNPs with source-dependent characteristics and biologically relevant behavior. These standardized MNPs and the THP-1 macrophages biosensor model provide useful tools for environmental toxicology research.</p
Experimental investigation of drive-by frequency identification for a scaled concrete bridge
No full textThis paper experimentally investigates the feasibility of drive-by bridge monitoring for identifying the dynamic properties of a scaled concrete bridge using smartphone-based sensing. A one-fifth-scale laboratory bridge (3.8 m long, ~1300 kg) was instrumented with smartphone accelerometers mounted on both the bridge deck and a moving trolley representing a vehicle. Direct bridge monitoring was first conducted to establish benchmark modal properties, including natural frequencies, mode shapes, and damping ratios. These results were then compared with several drive-by configurations, ranging from partially mobile to fully mobile setups, under different excitation conditions such as hammer impacts and pedestrian loading. Partial drive-by monitoring achieved results comparable to the direct approach, whereas fully drive-by measurements without additional excitation showed limited effectiveness due to weak vibration transmission. The introduction of external excitation enabled successful extraction of bridge frequencies from vehiclemounted sensors. The study also demonstrates that scaled bridge geometry increases the difficulty of modal identification. Overall, the work provides valuable experimental evidence highlighting the roles of excitation energy, vehicle–bridge interaction, and structural complexity in drive-by monitoring performance.</p
Racial discrimination and body appreciation: testing direct and, via coping strategies, indirect links in racialised minority adults from the United Kingdom
No full textRacial discrimination is associated with adverse health outcomes, including negative body image, but less is known about the extent to which racial discrimination is associated with positive body image. The aim of this preregistered study was to test the association between racial discrimination and body appreciation (i.e., a facet of positive body image) and to explore whether different coping strategies mediated any direct relationship. An online sample of racialised minority adults living in the United Kingdom (N = 585) were asked to complete the Everyday Discrimination Scale, Body Appreciation Scale-2, and the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced inventory. Preliminary linear modelling showed that seeking emotional social support, positive reinterpretation and growth, turning to religion, and focusing on and venting of emotions were significantly associated with body appreciation. However, findings from subsequent path analysis indicated that racial discrimination was not directly associated with body appreciation. In men only, the direct relationship between racial discrimination and body appreciation was mediated by focus on and venting of emotions. These findings suggest that experiences of racial discrimination may not be associated with positive body image outcomes, at least in racialised minority adults from the United Kingdom. We discuss possible reasons for this, as well as the generally null mediating effects.</p
Low-stakes, high-interest learning: a hermeneutic phenomenological study of children learning mathematics outdoors
No full textThis hermeneutic phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of primary-aged children engaging in regular outdoor mathematics learning at school. Drawing on van Manen’s interpretive framework, the research illustrates how children experience mathematics in natural environments. Findings reveal that children perceive outdoor mathematics learning as safe, inclusive, peaceful, and liberating, fostering belonging, reducing anxiety, and enabling engagement through creativity, self-direction, and collaboration. Participants highlighted the importance of space, sound, natural materials, and peer relationships in shaping their learning experiences. The study introduces the concept of low-stakes, high-interest mathematics learning where the absence of fear and the presence of curiosity enhance engagement and confidence. These insights offer important implications for educational practice and policy, challenging traditional mathematics pedagogy. By exploring the lived experiences of children learning mathematics outdoors, this research demonstrates how the outdoors provides a transformative space for mathematical engagement.</p
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