Movement is costly, and animals are under strong selective pressure to move efficiently; however, in patchy, dynamic landscapes, decision-making is inherently uncertain. We quantify the energy savings achieved by using up-to-date information presented within social cues to reduce movement costs. We use an agent-based model, which is founded on realistic aeronautical rules and is parametrized on the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus), to study movement in patchy landscapes. By explicitly considering altitude, flight results in a sequence of soaring and gliding in three-dimensional space. We investigate how the cost of movement to an overall goal varies when birds use social information from others that are either fixed in space or moving collectively to the common goal, and under different risk-taking speed strategies, from slow and cautious to fast and risky. The value of social information is operationalized as energy savings in units of the basal metabolic rate (BMR). Under low predictability, agents with intermediate risk and high social-information use exhibit lowest movement costs, with up to 41% energy savings over asocial movement. By extending classical aeronautical theory to social and variable environments, we demonstrate the adaptive value of social information for efficient movement in patchy, unpredictable landscapes.
Spontaneous movement analysis provides valuable information about the maturation of the central nervous system and the emergence of motor control strategies in very young babies. Nonlinear measures capture dynamic aspects of movement that cannot be represented by linear methods. However, their implementation in clinical practice faces challenges, including the lack of standardized protocols and accessible tools for routine use. This scoping review aimed to map and characterize the nonlinear measures used to analyze spontaneous infant movement, including assessment context, instruments, data collection protocols, and main variables. The review followed JBI methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Searches were conducted in PubMed®, Web of Science™, IEEE Xplore®, ScienceDirect®, and Google Scholar for studies published from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2025. Of 1166 records identified, 18 met the inclusion criteria. The nonlinear measures were grouped into five main methodological families: entropy-based measures (n = 10), state-space and dynamical systems measures (n = 4), recurrence-based analysis (n = 3), symbolic and discrete-state approaches (n = 3), and variance and frequency-based nonlinear descriptors (n = 1). Studies were conducted in laboratory settings (n = 6) and in hospital and/or home environments (n = 10). Two studies did not clearly specify the assessment context. Kinematic assessment was mainly performed using video-based systems (n = 7), accelerometers (n = 4), and wearable sensors (n = 2), with most studies focusing on the upper and lower limbs. Several investigations extended beyond single-joint analyses to examine inter-limb relationships and whole-body configurations, capturing spatial coordination patterns across multiple body segments. Kinetic assessment was conducted using pressure mats (n = 4) and force platforms (n = 1), with the center of pressure displacement as the primary outcome. Future research should prioritise methodological harmonisation and theoretical clarity. Consensus is needed regarding minimal data requirements, parameter selection, and reporting standards for commonly used nonlinear measures. Studies should also move beyond single-metric approaches and adopt multivariate frameworks that integrate complementary nonlinear metrics. The absence of standardised acquisition and analytical protocols currently limits cross-study comparability and hinders the clinical translation of nonlinear movement metrics as objective tools for early neurodevelopmental assessment.
Engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in early childhood can have both immediate and long-term health benefits. Strategies for consistently supporting this are currently unknown, largely due to the vast number of potentially interrelated and dynamic contributing factors that may also be heterogenous across children. We developed an agent-based model (ABM) that represents children ages 3-9 who can engage in MVPA in a variety of settings in which they spend time. Our model incorporates key theoretical constructs identified in the literature and is grounded in high-quality empirical evidence, primarily participant data from a cohort-based randomized controlled trial with extensive longitudinal accelerometry measurement. We assess the ABM's ability to reproduce patterns of MVPA observed in the cohort. We uncovered a specific model representation of key pathways and settings involved in MVPA for this age group that can closely reproduce real-world MVPA across multiple a priori assessment metrics. This specification provides new insights into modeled contributors to MVPA. Within our model, the most important within-model pathway driving MVPA for girls is the quality of the built environment, while, for boys, it is the social environment; given the relative availability of the two, this might explain observed differences in MVPA in real-world settings. In addition to immediate insights, this article provides proof of principle for a powerful tool that can further explore the etiology of childhood MVPA and inform practices and policies to positively affect early childhood PA, setting the stage for lifelong health.
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First mobilization plays a critical role in reducing and preventing common postoperative complications such as atelectasis, deep vein thrombosis, and constipation following arthroplasty. However, many patients experience substantial fear and anxiety related to their first postoperative mobilization. Kinesiophobia associated with fear of movement may negatively affect patients' quality of life and delay the mobilization process. Consequently, avoidance of mobilization can lead to decreased physical activity and functional independence, resulting in increased dependency on others. In this context, nurses play a crucial role in alleviating patients' fears, ensuring a safe mobilization process, and enhancing motivation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a first mobilization protocol developed for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. This was a single-center, parallel-group, single-blind randomized controlled trial. The study sample consisted of 78 patients (control: 39, intervention: 39). The study was conducted at the Orthopedics and Traumatology Clinic of one of the University Health Research and Application Centers (blinded for peer review). Data were collected via the Patient Information Form, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale, and First Mobilization-Related Symptoms Assessment Form. Additionally, the first mobilization protocol was applied to the intervention group. The data obtained from the participants were analyzed via SPSS 26.0 software. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. The degree of feeling ready for first standing was greater in the intervention group than in the control group. Participants in the intervention group completed both the first and last mobilization in a shorter time and had lower levels of anxiety, stress, fear of falling, and fear of being unable to walk or move, with statistically significant differences observed between the groups. The first mobilization protocol applied to patients who underwent knee arthroplasty was effective in terms of their ability to feel ready, mobilization time, anxiety, stress, fear of falling, and fear of not being able to walk/move. The application of the first mobilization protocol developed by orthopedics and trauma nurses to patients undergoing knee arthroplasty should be expanded. This study was retrospectively registered at Clinicaltrials.gov on 12.03.2024 (Clinical Trials ID: NCT06268899).
Music plays a central role in identity, emotion regulation, and everyday functioning, yet in the context of substance use disorders, it may also become conditioned through repeated pairing with intoxication and later function as a cue for craving, urges to use, or emotional destabilization. Existing literature has recognized both the risks and therapeutic potential of music in recovery but has offered limited stage-sensitive guidance for clinical decision-making. This article introduces the Musical Reassociation Model (MRM), a stage-based conceptual framework that maps how the relationship between music and substance use evolves across addiction and recovery. The model describes five distinct phases: (1) the synergy phase, characterized by mutual enhancement between music and substance use; (2) acoustic erasure, marking the collapse or distortion of music's aesthetic and self-regulatory function; (3) stabilization through avoidance or substitution; (4) active tolerance through graded exposure, musical agency, and reassociation; and finally (5) integration, in which music is reclaimed as a recovery resource. Across these stages, the MRM reframes music not only as a trigger to be managed but as a dynamic domain of identity, self-regulation, and agency. The model highlights a key clinical distinction between short-term stabilization strategies based on environmental control and later-stage interventions aimed at building durable agency in the presence of problematic music cues. It also introduces the construct of Aesthetic Recovery Capital to describe the musical, social, and interpretive resources that support reintegration in the aesthetic domain. By integrating cue reactivity, identity reconstruction, recovery-oriented theory, and recovery capital, the MRM provides a theoretically grounded account of how music shifts from a substance-linked vulnerability to an integrated recovery resource. The article concludes by discussing clinical implications and illustrative vignettes, while outlining directions for future research, such as validating stage boundaries, examining digital listening environments, and developing stage-matched therapeutic interventions. Music is a powerful part of our daily lives, often helping us manage our emotions and connect with our identity. However, for people struggling with substance use disorders, music can sometimes become a “trigger”. Because certain songs or styles of music were often present during periods of substance use, hearing them later can cause intense cravings or emotional distress. We developed the Musical Reassociation Model (MRM) to help clinicians navigate this challenge. Currently, many people in recovery avoid music that reminds them of their past use, or they switch to a different style of music. While this helps in the short term, it can also lead to a sense of loss, disconnection, or difficulty using music as a positive resource in recovery. Our model provides a five-stage roadmap to move beyond mere avoidance. The process begins by stabilizing the individual’s environment and then gradually helping them rebuild their relationship with music. We describe how a person can move from feeling overwhelmed by musical triggers to regaining “musical agency”, which is the ability to choose, regulate, and reinterpret musical experiences, whether through listening, music-making, or other forms of musical participation. By using this model, therapists can help people in recovery transform music from a source of risk into a lasting tool for resilience and self-expression, identity, and social connection. This approach ensures that individuals do not have to give up the art form they love, but can instead learn to use it safely to support their long-term recovery and personal growth.
Background/Objectives: Hospital-wide bed pooling is widely used in bed-management reform to reduce ward-level mismatch and improve the use of scarce inpatient capacity. However, formally pooled beds are not automatically usable beds. Cross-ward reassignment may require coordination, placement judgment, and timely execution, especially when several wards are under pressure. This study examines hospital bed governance as a healthcare management problem of where to draw the boundary between local protection and centralized pooling. Methods: We develop an α-based governance framework that places full decentralization, bounded centralization, and full centralization within a common design space. The parameter α determines how much ward-level capacity is pooled and how much remains locally protected. The analysis first establishes a frictionless pooling benchmark, and then introduces coordination friction, stress-state pooled-allocation imperfection, and the protective value of local capacity. Scenario-based computational experiments examine the mechanism across operating conditions, alternative friction specifications, and multi-ward extensions. Results: In the frictionless benchmark, full centralization weakly dominates because it has the broadest feasible allocation set. When pooled allocation remains fully effective, full centralization is not substantively outperformed. Coordination friction can move the raw maximizing boundary inward, but this movement does not necessarily imply a meaningful improvement over full centralization. When reassignment becomes less reliable in high-pressure states, however, an interior governance boundary can become substantively attractive by preserving some locally accessible capacity. Conclusions: The findings do not reject centralized pooling. They suggest that bed reform should evaluate both the formal scope of pooling and the operational usability of pooled capacity under pressure.
Animals move through their environments using remarkably diverse locomotor behaviors, which are critical for their survival and success. All movement, including locomotion, requires the coordinated function of three components: the central nervous system (CNS), the peripheral nervous system (PNS), and the musculature. Although evolutionary change in any one of these components can alter locomotion, how these changes arise and combine to generate behavioral diversity remains poorly understood. Larval insects are an exceptional system for addressing this question: they combine extensive behavioral and morphological diversity with relatively simple, stereotyped anatomy, enabling cell-level homology inferences and quantitative cross-tissue comparisons. We first review anatomical evidence for the long-standing peripheral change hypothesis, which posits that locomotor diversity is primarily driven by modifications to peripheral structures, such as muscles, while central circuits remain conserved. We then propose an alternative hypothesis, the motor neuron bottleneck hypothesis, which draws on comparative neurodevelopmental data to suggest that motor neurons are disproportionately conserved relative to both upstream sensory neurons and interneurons and downstream muscles. Finally, we consider how connections are maintained between the CNS, PNS, and musculature when these components change in number. Throughout, we assess relative rates of evolutionary change in cell number across nested phylogenetic scales, from the Drosophila genus to the Diptera order to the Holometabola supraorder. By integrating anatomical, developmental, and functional perspectives, larval insects emerge as a powerful comparative model for uncovering general evolutionary principles.
Three-dimensional (3D) crop phenotyping is increasingly used to capture crop structure, but its value for crop protection is conditional rather than automatic. 3D approaches are operationally justified only when reconstructed geometry adds decision-relevant information beyond simpler 2D, spectral, scalar, or conventional baselines. This review examines 3D crop phenotyping through a reconstruction-trait-task-maturity framework for crop protection and synthesizes evidence across disease assessment, pest and stress interpretation, pesticide dose adjustment, spray deposition, weed-target perception, protection-oriented breeding, and digital-twin development. The literature is organized through four connected lenses: reconstruction routes that generate crop geometry, 3D traits that may alter protection reasoning, decision pathways that link traits to intervention variables, and maturity levels that distinguish static 3D models, validated phenotypic traits, process-coupled systems, protection outputs, and outcome-updated decision twins. The strongest decision-facing evidence currently comes from canopy-based dose adjustment, deposition prediction, drift reduction, and related spraying applications in which 3D traits are linked to intervention variables and field-facing comparators. Disease, stress, and architecture-aware modelling provide important but more heterogeneous evidence, while many point-cloud datasets, segmentation pipelines, neural reconstruction methods, and agricultural digital-twin frameworks remain upstream of practical crop-protection decisions because they do not yet connect 3D measurements to validated protection labels, comparator baselines, decision thresholds, intervention outputs, or outcome updating. A central conclusion is that high-fidelity 3D representation should not be conflated with decision-twin maturity. Protection-oriented digital twins require explicit coupling among synchronized crop geometry, functional or epidemiological models, decision rules, and recorded field outcomes. This review therefore identifies the evidence and reporting priorities needed to move 3D crop phenotyping toward validated, deployment-oriented, and feedback-aware crop-protection support.
To explore the physician-patient relationship among individuals with type 1 diabetes engaged in extreme endurance sports, highlighting dynamics of recognition, autonomy, and negotiation in care. Qualitative study based on thirteen semi-structured interviews with French-speaking runners living with type 1 diabetes. Analysis followed a constructivist grounded theory approach, with inductive coding and triangulation. The findings reveal a complex relational dynamic structured by gaps in medical expertise, the emergence of experiential autonomy, evolving forms of collaboration, and persistent structural constraints. These dynamics reflect a tension between standardized biomedical knowledge and situated, experience-based practices. Recognition of patient expertise appears conditional, often depending on the ability to maintain acceptable glycemic outcomes. This study identifies an implicit model, termed glycemic meritocracy, in which patient autonomy and legitimacy are shaped by conformity to biomedical norms. These findings highlight the need to move beyond performance-based evaluations of care and to more fully integrate experiential knowledge into clinical practice, particularly in complex or atypical contexts.
Moiré superlattices provide a versatile means of modifying electronic bands through periodic potentials generated by lattice mismatch or rotational misalignment. Over the past decade, this concept has reshaped the study of low-dimensional quantum materials, enabling the observation of flat bands, correlated insulating behavior, unconventional superconductivity, excitonic states, and topological responses. More recently, moiré physics has begun to move beyond the conventional limit of atomically thin two-dimensional heterostructures. Experimental studies have shown that a moiré potential formed at a two-dimensional interface can propagate into adjacent three-dimensional materials and reconstruct their bulk electronic states, giving rise to mixed-dimensional moiré systems. This review summarizes recent progress in moiré effects from two-dimensional platforms to mixed-dimensional architectures. We first present the fundamental physical definition of moiré patterns and trace their historical development. We then review graphene-based moiré systems with different layer numbers, where twist-angle control modifies band dispersion, enhances electronic correlations, and leads to superconductivity near magic angles. The discussion is extended to transition metal dichalcogenide moiré heterostructures, with emphasis on excitonic physics, interlayer hybridization, correlation effects, and nontrivial band topology. We then focus on 2D-3D mixed-dimensional heterostructures, where interfacial moiré modulation penetrates into bulk materials and produces electronic reconstruction beyond the interface. Finally, we discuss future directions involving broader material choices, improved control over stacking and twist geometry, advanced probes of buried moiré potentials, and the search for unexplored correlated and topological phases.
Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is characterized by focal and quantitatively limited spermatogenesis, making preoperative prediction of sperm retrieval difficult. Seminal plasma is a biologically plausible liquid-biopsy compartment because it contains testicular, epididymal and accessory-gland secretions enriched with extracellular vesicles, cell-free nucleic acids, proteins and metabolites. This narrative molecular review examines the mechanisms by which germ-cell-derived molecular cargo reaches the ejaculate and organizes seminal-plasma biomarkers by cargo class and spermatogenic stage. Particular attention is given to extracellular-vesicle non-coding RNAs, cell-free seminal mRNAs, germ-cell-enriched proteins including TEX101 and ECM1, and metabolomic and lipidomic signatures. Although several markers show promising discrimination, most remain discovery-stage, single-center and insufficiently validated. The central argument is that the field should move from isolated biomarker nomination toward locked, stage-mapped multi-analyte panels integrated with clinical and genetic predictors under modern prediction-model standards. Seminal plasma is best viewed not as a ready clinical test, but as a biologically coherent platform for future calibrated, externally validated and artificial-intelligence (AI)-ready sperm-retrieval decision support.
Remote Sampling Systems (RSS) represent a technological innovation to traditional anti-doping testing, yet successful implementation depends on stakeholder acceptance. To move RSS beyond emergency use, system design must account for user acceptance. Drawing on a contextualized Extended Valence Framework (EVF), this study examines how athletes and Doping Control Officers (DCOs) evaluate RSS legitimacy and how benefit, risk, and trust perceptions shape their attitudes toward RSS introduction. A cross-sectional online survey with 132 athletes and 107 DCOs compared both groups on transparency, trust, perceived benefits, three risk dimensions (performance, privacy, psychological), perceived legitimacy, and attitude toward RSS. Group-specific PLS-SEM tested the hypothetical structural model, and multi-group analysis (MGA) identified significant between-group differences. DCOs reported higher performance risk. Athletes showed higher legitimacy perceptions and more favorable attitudes. PLS-SEM explained substantial variance in legitimacy (63.8% athletes, 56.6% DCOs) and attitude (74.2% athletes, 56.1% DCOs). Transparency was positively associated with trust, which related positively to perceived benefits and reduced all risk dimensions. Perceived benefits, performance risk, and psychological risk shaped legitimacy, which was strongly associated with attitudes. MGA showed that transparency was more strongly associated with trust among DCOs, while performance risk and legitimacy showed stronger associations among athletes. Perceived legitimacy emerges as the central mechanism linking benefit-risk evaluations to attitudes in a mandatory anti-doping technology context. Both groups converge on many RSS evaluations but diverge on performance risk and legitimacy. DCOs prioritize functional robustness; athletes are more receptive but sensitive to fairness. Findings highlight the need to address DCOs' performance concerns and build legitimacy through transparent procedures, user-centered design, and communication that emphasizes fairness and effectiveness.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) progresses along a continuum from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, current clinical and research frameworks rely primarily on static, histology-defined stages that fail to capture the continuous nature of disease progression. Here, we present a data-driven framework that reconstructs MASLD progression as a continuous molecular trajectory from cross-sectional liver transcriptomic profiles. By positioning patients along this trajectory, we move beyond conventional stage-based classifications and resolve the ordered activation of regulatory programmes, signalling pathways and cellular remodelling processes underlying disease progression. To enable non-invasive patient stratification, we integrate the inferred molecular trajectory with paired liver-plasma proteomics data and identify a 57-gene plasma-accessible biomarker panel that accurately predicts advanced fibrosis and continuously positions patients along the disease trajectory across independent cohorts, outperforming established non-invasive clinical scores. Together, this work establishes a generalizable trajectory-based framework for understanding MASLD pathophysiology and provides a foundation for mechanistically informed biomarker discovery, precision staging and stage-aware therapeutic prioritization.
Nonylphenol (NP) is a globally concerned endocrine disruptor, yet its ecological risks in soil are often evaluated solely by residual concentrations or degradation rate, overlooking the more subtle functional and structural disturbances to soil microbiomes. Here, we conducted a 90-day concentration-gradient microcosm experiment to integrate NP degradation dynamics with extracellular enzyme stoichiometry, vector-based microbial nutrient limitation, community succession, and co-occurrence network reorganization. We found that NP was efficiently degraded (>75% even at 120 mg kg⁻¹ within 90 days), but rapid degradation did not prevent profound functional shifts. Medium-to-high NP concentrations (≥30 mg kg⁻¹) significantly suppressed β-glucosidase (max inhibition 68.4%) and, more importantly, altered enzyme stoichiometric ratios (Carbon (C): nitrogen (N) and C: phosphorus (P) decreased linearly with NP concentration). Vector analysis revealed a critical transition: Medium-to-high NP exposure shifted microbial metabolic indicators from C-P co-limitation toward stronger P limitation. Concurrently, NP exerted strong selective pressure, reducing α-diversity but enriching NP-tolerant and putative degradative taxa (Proteobacteria, Lysobacter, Pseudomonas). This compositional restructuring drove microbial co-occurrence networks toward a more connected yet topologically reorganized "NP-adapted" configuration, with keystone taxa shifting from conventional nutrient cyclers (Massilia, Nitrospira) to stress-tolerant degrader genera (Truepera, Pseudonocardia). Collectively, we demonstrate that NP's ecotoxicological fingerprint lies not in its persistence but in its ability to decouple C-N-P acquisition strategies and force a network‑level adaptive reorganization - even under substantial degradation. Thus, risk assessment for NP‑contaminated soils must move beyond degradation data alone to include enzymatic stoichiometric imbalances, microbial P‑limitation status, and co‑occurrence network topology.
The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) is highly sensitive to global climate change, and the stability of its grassland ecosystems is critical for regional ecological security and livestock development. Therefore, investigating future spatial distribution changes of dominant species on the QTP is of great importance for grassland management. In this study, an ensemble model was used to simulate and analyze the potential distribution and centroid migration directions of dominant species in alpine meadow, alpine grassland, desert grassland, and temperate grassland under current and future climate scenarios (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5). The results show that the ensemble model achieved excellent predictive accuracy for all species (AUC > 0.9, TSS > 0.7, Kappa > 0.6). Elevation is the key factor governing species distribution, while climate drivers differ significantly among species. The distribution of dominant species in alpine meadow and alpine grassland is primarily co-driven by the mean monthly temperature range (MTR), isothermality (ISO), and annual precipitation (AP); desert grassland dominants are mainly influenced by AP and the mean temperature of the driest quarter (MTDQ); and temperate grassland dominants are driven by the precipitation of the coldest quarter (PCQ) and AP. The suitable habitats of dominant species in the future will generally expand towards high-altitude, high-latitude regions in the north and northwest, with centroid migration directions varying markedly among species. Specifically, the centroids of desert grassland dominants and S. bungeana in temperate grassland will migrate northwest under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5, while N. splendens and S. krylovii in temperate grassland will migrate southwest. For alpine meadow and alpine grassland dominants, the centroids will generally move northwest under SSP2-4.5 but diverge under SSP5-8.5-E. nutans and S. purpurea in alpine grassland will continue to migrate northwest, whereas alpine meadow dominants and P. annua in alpine grassland will migrate east or northeast. This study provides a theoretical basis for grassland conservation, biodiversity conservation, and livestock production in response to climate change on the QTP.
Migrants comprise over 17% of Norway's population and are at increased risk of limited health literacy, a key determinant of health. Health literacy is shaped by language, culture, social norms, discrimination, and health system responsiveness. Inflammatory rheumatic diseases are complex, chronic conditions requiring long-term, specialised care. Patients with these diseases and a migrant background, particularly those with limited proficiency in the dominant language, face additional barriers and poorer outcomes, yet their health literacy experiences remain underexplored. This study explored the experiences of patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases, a migrant background, and limited language proficiency in accessing, understanding, appraising, and using health information and rheumatology services in Norway. Nineteen semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with patients with a migrant background, and who used interpreters during consultations with health professionals. Participants were recruited from rheumatology departments at two Norwegian hospitals. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Two patient research partners were involved throughout the study. Three main themes were generated. First, barriers to accessing and using health information and services were shaped by the interplay between language proficiency, digital literacy, and social support, which often compensated for system gaps. Health systems implicitly assumed a minimum level of linguistic and digital competence, creating mismatches between system demands and patients' abilities. Second, trust was foundational, shaping engagement and acceptance of treatment. Trust developed over time; length of residency did not necessarily equate to confidence in using services, and trust in health professionals often preceded trust in the wider system. Third, employment was an important factor shaping health literacy and disease management: while colleagues supported service navigation, physically demanding and precariat working conditions constrained access to care and self-management. Managing these conditions among migrants with limited language proficiency is shaped by interrelated individual, relational, and structural factors. Health literacy is co-constructed through social networks, trust, and contexts such as employment, while system assumptions about language and digital competence create fragmented access. Interventions should move beyond communication barriers to foster trust, support shared understanding, and address broader social and structural conditions influencing engagement with health services.
Chiral helical nanoparticle assemblies are promising for photonics and biosensing, but self-assembly defects compromise reliability. Conventional defect detection typically relies on invasive electron microscopy, which falls short of the requirements for rapid, non-destructive quality control. In this work, we establish a generalized-Mie-theory-based quantitative framework that links point defect geometry to far-field polarization responses via scattering polarimetry. For a 15-particle SiO2 helical chain containing two representative defect prototypes-vacancy (Type A) and relaxed vacancy (Type B)-we find that local symmetry breaking selectively perturbs the collective eigenmodes, yielding pronounced and position-dependent scattering signatures. The backscattering cross section (BCS) reveals that a defect at the chain center induces exceptionally strong resonance peaks at specific incident angles (30°, 70°, and 90°), distinctly different from those of end-located defects or the perfect structure. Multipole decomposition reveals order-selective relative changes in scattering power, confirming that defects induce mode redistribution rather than uniform attenuation. The Mueller matrix element M14 in the forward scattering region (0°-30°) offers discriminative fingerprints via oscillation amplitudes, extrema, and waveform topologies (V, S, M, N, C, and L). Under particle-size polydispersity of ±5%, center-defect fingerprints remain clearly distinguishable and most robust. Our findings move beyond viewing defects as mere imperfections, establish a direct link from defect configuration to polarization response, and provide a theoretical foundation for non-invasive inspection of self-assembled photonic devices.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental condition affecting approximately 7% to 8% of children and adolescents, characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Adolescence represents a period of heightened vulnerability, during which pharmacological treatments are frequently limited by adverse effects, suboptimal adherence, and partial response. Physical exercise, particularly high-intensity interval training (HIIT), has demonstrated superior effects on inhibitory control and inattention compared with moderate-intensity continuous exercise. However, the repetitive nature and high perceived exertion of traditional HIIT protocols result in poor adherence, especially in individuals with ADHD. Virtual reality (VR)-based exergames have been proposed as a strategy to sustain vigorous physiological demands while maintaining intrinsic motivation. Despite this potential, the existing literature is predominantly limited by passive control conditions, which prevent adequate control for the effects of VR immersion and cognitive engagement, limiting causal inference regarding the specific contribution of physiological exertion. This paper presents the protocol for a randomized clinical trial designed to evaluate whether an HIIT-based VR exergame produces greater improvements in inhibitory control and inattention symptoms compared with an active, nonexercise VR control condition in adolescents with ADHD. This multisite, parallel-group, single-blind randomized clinical trial will recruit 98 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years with a confirmed diagnosis of ADHD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, from 2 outpatient centers in Brazil. Participants will be allocated 1:1 to an HIIT-based VR exergame intervention (Move Sapiens) or an active control condition using the same VR platform without vigorous physical exertion. The intervention comprises 20 sessions over 4 weeks delivered in a home-based format following supervised laboratory familiarization. Primary outcomes are Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham Rating Scale version IV inattention subscale scores and go/no-go commission errors. Secondary outcomes include working memory, cognitive flexibility, processing speed, impulsivity, sleep quality, and anxiety symptoms. Analyses will follow an intention-to-treat approach using linear mixed-effects models. The trial is ongoing. Funding was granted in October 2024. As of April 2026, 58 participants have been enrolled across 2 sites, of whom 46 (79.3%) have completed the full intervention protocol. Data collection is expected to be completed by October 2026, with results anticipated by December 2026. This trial will provide controlled evidence on the efficacy of an HIIT-based VR exergame for adolescents with ADHD using an active control condition matched for technological immersion. The design will enable examination of whether vigorous physical exertion beyond VR immersion and digital engagement constitutes an essential active component for improvements in inhibitory control and inattention in this population. If effective, the intervention may offer an engaging, home-based adjunctive treatment option for adolescents with ADHD. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06632249; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06632249. DERR1-10.2196/94797.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health crisis shaped by complex ecological and evolutionary processes that often occur in polymicrobial communities. Metagenomics enables culture-independent profiling of microbial DNA directly from clinical or environmental samples, providing an unparalleled view of community composition, resistome content, and the mobile genetic elements that drive horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Yet, a recurring challenge is that metagenomic detection of antibiotic-resistance genes does not automatically translate into a mechanistic understanding of resistance phenotypes, nor does it replace culture-based functional validation. Here, we synthesize how modern metagenomics supports AMR research across three linked questions: (i) what resistance determinants are present and how do they change across time and space, (ii) which hosts and mobile genetic elements carry these determinants, and how gene flow can be inferred, and (iii) what evidence is required to move from "resistance potential" to robust mechanistic claims. We emphasize practical design principles (sampling, controls, and contamination management), analytical choices (database and parameter effects), and recent advances, including long-read sequencing for resolving antibiotic-resistance genes context, and rapid clinical metagenomic sequencing for time-sensitive decision support. We propose an evidence ladder for mechanistic inference that integrates metagenomics with targeted assays and culture-dependent experiments. Beyond synthesizing recent advances, this review provides operational tools for critical appraisal and study design: an evidence ladder for mechanistic inference, a decision-gated workflow that ties metagenomic outputs to allowable claim language, a minimum reporting checklist aligned to evidence strength, and a "pitfall → consequence → fix" guide to reduce over-interpretation. To support a more comprehensive, forward-looking view, we also summarize emerging directions that are rapidly reshaping AMR metagenomics-multi-omics integration, single-cell, and epigenetic linkage strategies, CRISPR-enabled enrichment/depletion, and AI-assisted discovery/mining-and clarify where these advances strengthen (or do not strengthen) mechanistic claims within the same evidence ladder.