Scientific Reports[JOURNAL]
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200 papers
A hybrid underwater crack image enhancement method.
Ding D, Fan X, Shi P … +1 more , Chen L
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42399472 · Full text
This study proposes a hybrid underwater crack image processing method. The first half of the algorithm is based on traditional image processing, which analyzes and judges the color of an image, establishes the image chro...
This study proposes a hybrid underwater crack image processing method. The first half of the algorithm is based on traditional image processing, which analyzes and judges the color of an image, establishes the image chromaticity factor K, and performs color correction when K is greater than a threshold value. A quadtree analysis method is used to estimate the background light of the image. The latter half of the algorithm is based on deep learning (DL), using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to learn image features, adopting an edge feature extraction network to extract edge feature information based on the characteristics of underwater crack images, and finally the image features are fused with the edge feature. Depthwise separable convolution and pixel attention mechanisms were used in CNNs to improve feature extraction ability while reducing computational complexity. Ultimately, crack image restoration relies on the underwater image model to achieve enhanced clarity. This hybrid algorithm combined the interpretability of traditional algorithms with the generality of DL algorithms. Compared with various traditional image enhancement and DL algorithms, the proposed algorithm achieved good performance in terms of parameters such as peak signal-to-noise ratio, structural similarity, underwater image quality measure and pixel-based contrast quality Index.
Prevalence and clinical-radiological features of hand osteoarthritis in individuals with knee osteoarthritis.
Aggarwal V, Eapen C, Prabhakar AJ … +4 more , Hegde AS, Rai S, Mane PP, Raghupal P
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42399470 · Full text
Hand osteoarthritis (HOA) frequently coexists with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), yet its clinical and radiographic burden in ageing adults with KOA remains under-recognised. To determine the prevalence and joint-specific di...
Hand osteoarthritis (HOA) frequently coexists with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), yet its clinical and radiographic burden in ageing adults with KOA remains under-recognised. To determine the prevalence and joint-specific distribution of clinical, radiographic, and symptomatic HOA in individuals with KOA; to describe associated functional characteristics; and to assess whether HOA severity is related to KOA severity. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among adults ≥ 40 years with tibiofemoral KOA (KL grades 1-4). HOA was evaluated using American College of Rheumatology criteria, hand radiographs (KL ≥ 2), and symptom-based definitions. Assessments included VAS pain, WOMAC, DASH, AUSCAN, grip strength, and pinch strength. Statistical analyses used Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, and χ² tests (α = 0.05). Among 108 participants (mean age 62.1 ± 11.0 years; 71.3% female), 16.7% reported hand symptoms. The prevalence of clinical, radiographic, and symptomatic HOA was 9.3%, 13.0%, and 8.3%, respectively. PIP and DIP joints were most frequently affected, with no MCP involvement. Knee KL grades clustered at grades 3-4 and were associated with significantly worse WOMAC, DASH, and AUSCAN scores. Symptomatic HOA was associated with reduced grip strength, while pinch strength remained unaffected. No significant association was observed between knee and hand KL grades. HOA is a common but under-recognised comorbidity in individuals with KOA, demonstrating predominant PIP/DIP involvement and measurable functional impact. The absence of structural correlation between knee and hand OA highlights OA as a multisite, heterogeneous degenerative condition of ageing. Routine hand assessment in KOA clinics may support earlier identification and targeted management of HOA.
Depressive symptom trajectories and the risk of cardiometabolic multimorbidity in Chinese middle-aged older adults.
Song Z, Cheng S, Yang X … +6 more , Luo Y, Quan Q, Wei L, Li X, Song J, Liu J
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42399462 · Full text
Cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) and depression are major public health concerns, especially among aging populations. While their bidirectional association is recognized, little is known about how long-term depressiv...
Cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) and depression are major public health concerns, especially among aging populations. While their bidirectional association is recognized, little is known about how long-term depressive symptom trajectories influence the risk of incident CMM. This 10-year longitudinal study used data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS, 2011-2020). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the CES-D-10 scale, and group-based trajectory modeling identified distinct symptom trajectories. Cox and logistic regression models examined associations between depressive trajectories and new-onset CMM, adjusting for sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical covariates. Three depressive trajectories were identified: Low-Stable (27.7%), Moderate-Stable (46.3%), and High-Stable (25.9%). Compared to the Low-Stable group, the Moderate-Stable and High-Stable trajectories were associated with significantly increased risks of CMM (adjusted HR = 1.76 and 4.08, respectively). A dose-response relationship was observed between higher CES-D-10 scores and CMM risk. Results remained consistent across subgroups and in sensitivity analyses. Long-term depressive symptom trajectories are independently associated with incident CMM in Chinese middle-aged and older adults. Monitoring depressive symptom dynamics, rather than single assessments, may improve early identification of high-risk individuals and inform integrated prevention strategies targeting both mental and cardiometabolic health.
Integrative network pharmacology and in vitro/in vivo validation reveal the protective effects of sotetsuflavone against osteoarthritis associated with PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling.
Chen L, Pan Y, Cao X … +4 more , Peng W, Zhu C, Ye J, Xie Z
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42399461 · Full text
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent whole-joint disease characterized by progressive cartilage degeneration, extracellular matrix (ECM) breakdown, synovial inflammation, and pathological changes in multiple joint tissues....
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent whole-joint disease characterized by progressive cartilage degeneration, extracellular matrix (ECM) breakdown, synovial inflammation, and pathological changes in multiple joint tissues. Inflammatory signaling plays a central role in chondrocyte catabolic activation and cartilage matrix degradation. Sotetsuflavone (SF), a naturally occurring biflavonoid isolated from Cycas species and other medicinal plants, has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties; however, its protective effects and related molecular mechanisms in OA remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether SF attenuates OA-associated inflammatory and catabolic responses and to explore the functional involvement of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/nuclear factor-κB (PI3K/Akt/NF-κB) signaling in its protective effects. An integrated strategy combining network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation was used. Potential SF-related targets and OA-associated genes were collected from public databases, and overlapping targets were analyzed by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction and functional enrichment analyses. Molecular docking was performed to evaluate the predicted binding modes between SF and selected pathway-related proteins. Primary mouse chondrocytes stimulated with interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were used to assess the effects of SF on inflammatory mediator production, ECM metabolism, and PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling. To further evaluate pathway involvement, a rescue experiment was performed using 740Y-P, a PI3K/Akt pathway activator. A destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM)-induced mouse model was established to evaluate the protective effects of SF against OA-related structural and inflammatory changes in vivo. Network pharmacology analysis identified 68 overlapping targets between SF and OA-associated genes, with enrichment mainly involving inflammation-related and kinase-dependent pathways, including PI3K/Akt and NF-κB signaling. Molecular docking revealed favorable binding affinities of SF toward key targets. In vitro, SF reduced the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and decreased the production of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). SF also alleviated IL-1β-induced ECM catabolism, as shown by reduced matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-5 (ADAMTS-5) levels and partial preservation of type II collagen (Col II) and aggrecan. Mechanistically, SF decreased PI3K/Akt phosphorylation, restored Inhibitor of nuclear factor-κB alpha (IκBα) expression, and reduced nuclear accumulation of NF-κB p65. Importantly, activation of PI3K/Akt signaling by 740Y-P partially reversed the inhibitory effects of SF on NF-κB activation and inflammatory mediator production, supporting the functional involvement of the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB axis. In vivo, SF administration alleviated cartilage destruction, reduced Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) scores, decreased MMP-13 expression, restored Col II expression, and lowered the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in joint tissues. These findings suggest that SF attenuates OA-associated inflammatory activation and cartilage matrix degradation in experimental models. The protective effects of SF are at least partly associated with suppression of the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling axis. Further studies are warranted to clarify direct target engagement, pharmacokinetics, long-term safety, optimized delivery strategies, and therapeutic efficacy in more comprehensive OA models.
Planar neural organoids as an advanced in vitro model to study patient-derived melanoma metastasis.
Majumder J, Torr EE, Favreau PF … +5 more , Ramamurthy A, Müller U, Sabat G, Lebakken CS, Murphy WL
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42399448 · Full text
Metastasis, which occurs when cancer cells spread from their original site in the body to other organs - is the leading cause of death in cancer patients. Conventional two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures along with orthot...
Metastasis, which occurs when cancer cells spread from their original site in the body to other organs - is the leading cause of death in cancer patients. Conventional two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures along with orthotopic animal models are widely used to study and develop therapeutics for metastatic cancers. However, 2D cell cultures do not accurately reflect the physiology of real tissues, and the results obtained from the orthotopic animal models cannot always be applied to humans due to the interspecies differences. The recent emergence of human organoid models provides unique opportunities to study the complex cellular interactions in a near-physiological 3D environment. In this study, we have engineered an in vitro melanoma metastasis model using patient-derived melanoma cells and human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)-derived planar neural organoids (PNOs). We investigated metastatic cancer processes such as the growth of melanoma cells, and evaluated the effects of anti-cancer drug treatment on it. Our results demonstrated that the 3D PNO system served as a more effective in vitro model than conventional 2D cultures to study melanoma brain metastases, and this PNO system can also be used to model other types of poorly understood metastatic cancers under physiological environments.
Effects of different land use types on grassland soil and vegetation in the agropastoral transition zone of northern China.
Wang C, Shang J, Duan E … +3 more , Yang G, Liu J, Liu X
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42399445 · Full text
As terrestrial ecosystems of the world, grassland ecosystems play a vital role in maintaining climate stability. However, the effects of different land use types on grassland health are currently unclear. To investigate...
As terrestrial ecosystems of the world, grassland ecosystems play a vital role in maintaining climate stability. However, the effects of different land use types on grassland health are currently unclear. To investigate the effects of various land use types on grassland health, the Xilamuren grassland (with an area of approximately 1000 km) in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China, which features multiple land use types, was chosen as the research subject. Response of soil physicochemical properties and vegetation characteristics under four land use types, including enclosure, grazing, reclamation, and tourism, has been examined. Moreover, grassland health and individual soil fertility components were evaluated. The main results are as follows: In terms of vegetation properties, the enclosure land use type exhibited the highest above- and belowground biomass values of 248.50 g⋅m and 143.56 g⋅m, respectively. In contrast, the above- and belowground biomass values were lowest for the tourism land use type, at 20.78 g⋅m and 23.33 g⋅m, respectively. In terms of soil properties, the soil organic matter content (12.90 g·kg), total soil nitrogen content (0.73 g·kg), and saturated soil moisture content (30.93%) were relatively high under the enclosure land use type, while the bulk density was lowest (1.25 g·cm). The reclamation land use type demonstrated relatively high total phosphorus (0.53 g·kg) and total potassium (15.48 g·kg) contents. Among vegetation traits, both the enclosure and reclamation land use types revealed an aboveground biomass that was higher than the belowground biomass, whereas the tourism and grazing land use types exhibited the opposite pattern. In terms of soil properties, the values of chemical characteristics (organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total potassium contents) decreased with increasing soil depth. However, the variations in soil physical properties differed across land use types. With increasing depth, the soil saturated water content decreased, whereas the soil bulk density increased under the enclosure and reclamation land use types. Conversely, under the grazing and tourism land use types, these parameters indicated opposite trends. Grassland health decreased in the order of enclosure, reclamation, grazing, and tourism land use types. Under the tourism land use type, the organic matter and total nitrogen contents in the 0-10 cm soil profile had already reached Category V deficiency levels, indicating severe degradation. The findings of this study provide valuable reference data for grassland development and utilization.
Study on the rolling contact fatigue damage mechanism of welded rail joints in high-speed railways: based on a multiaxial fatigue damage model.
Zhao Z, Gao Z, Gao W … +2 more , Ni Z, Zhou Q
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42399443 · Full text
The material heterogeneity and structural discontinuity of welded rail joints in high-speed railways make them vulnerable to fatigue damage under wheel-rail rolling contact. In this study, a three-dimensional finite elem...
The material heterogeneity and structural discontinuity of welded rail joints in high-speed railways make them vulnerable to fatigue damage under wheel-rail rolling contact. In this study, a three-dimensional finite element model of a 1380 MPa carbide-free bainitic rail welded joint was developed, and the fatigue damage behavior was assessed using the Findley critical-plane multiaxial fatigue criterion. The results show that the welded joint causes pronounced stress concentration, with the peak contact stress increasing from approximately 1000 MPa in the base metal to about 1120 MPa near the weld center. Fatigue damage is mainly concentrated in the weld zone and gradually decreases along the longitudinal direction toward both sides. The maximum fatigue damage occurs in the subsurface region approximately 2-3 mm beneath the rail surface. As the wheel load increases from 80 kN to 120 kN, the fatigue damage in the weld zone increases markedly. A clear coupling effect between wheel load and friction coefficient is also observed, indicating that higher wheel loads and friction coefficients accelerate fatigue damage accumulation. These findings identify the weld zone as the most fatigue-critical region under rolling contact loading and indicate that the subsurface layer at a depth of 2-3 mm is the preferential site for fatigue crack initiation. The results provide a useful reference for life assessment and maintenance management of welded rail joints in high-speed railways.
Identifying strategies to reduce the COVID-19 burden in Iran: insights for future preparedness.
Daneshi S, Atashbahar O, Mashayekhi M … +1 more , Yusefi AR
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42399442 · Full text
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical gaps in healthcare systems and underscored the need for effective strategies to mitigate its burden. Understanding lessons learned from local experiences can inform future pandemic...
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical gaps in healthcare systems and underscored the need for effective strategies to mitigate its burden. Understanding lessons learned from local experiences can inform future pandemic preparedness. This study aimed to explore context-specific strategies implemented in Iran to reduce the impact of COVID-19 and provide insights applicable to future health emergencies. A qualitative study was conducted between July 2023 and February 2024 in five major Iranian cities (Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, Mashhad, and Kerman). Data were collected through 28 semi-structured interviews with healthcare managers, hospital administrators, frontline workers, policymakers, and infectious disease specialists, recruited using purposive sampling with maximum variation. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using conventional content analysis based on Graneheim and Lundman. MAXQDA 2022 software supported data management and coding. Trustworthiness was ensured through credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability criteria. Analysis revealed eight main themes and 38 subthemes encompassing a broad range of pandemic mitigation strategies. These included preparedness planning (e.g., early risk assessment, vaccination readiness), organizational coordination (e.g., interdepartmental collaboration, crisis task forces), resource management (e.g., ICU optimization, supply chain efficiency), communication strategies (e.g., transparent reporting, public awareness campaigns), workforce support (e.g., mental health interventions, recognition programs), community engagement (e.g., volunteer mobilization, home care support), policy adaptation (e.g., flexible regulations, cross-sector collaboration), and innovation (e.g., telemedicine, mobile testing, digital health tools). Illustrative participant quotes highlighted both successes and challenges in implementation. Findings demonstrate that a multifaceted, coordinated approach, integrating preparedness, effective communication, community participation, and innovation, is essential to mitigate pandemic burden. Insights from this study can inform evidence-based policy, strengthen health system resilience, and guide strategic planning for future public health emergencies.
Analysis of sparse vector data using tessellation based on root volume-optimal cycles.
Ichinomiya T
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42399439 · Full text
This study proposes a novel approach to investigate sparse vector datasets. The key feature of our method is the tessellation of space using volume-optimal cycles, a useful tool in persistent homology. Using this tessell...
This study proposes a novel approach to investigate sparse vector datasets. The key feature of our method is the tessellation of space using volume-optimal cycles, a useful tool in persistent homology. Using this tessellation, we divide the space into polygons with short edges, which enables the evaluation of the vorticity or circulation of the vector field. The proposed method is applied to both artificial and real datasets, and the results show that our approach effectively visualizes and quantifies the rotational component of a vector field.
Combined nectar nonsugar compounds enhance bumblebee cognition.
Pellettieri J, Farina WM
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42399435 · Full text
Floral nectar contains diverse non-sugar secondary metabolites that can modulate pollinator behavior and physiology. Although individual compounds such as caffeine enhance memory in honey bees, pollinators naturally enco...
Floral nectar contains diverse non-sugar secondary metabolites that can modulate pollinator behavior and physiology. Although individual compounds such as caffeine enhance memory in honey bees, pollinators naturally encounter multi-compound chemical environments whose combined effects remain unclear. Here, we tested whether two nectar constituents commonly present at trace concentrations-caffeine and arginine-modulate associative learning, long-term memory retention and short-term survival in the South American bumblebee Bombus pauloensis. Using a classical olfactory conditioning paradigm, each compound was administered alone or in combination at two ecologically realistic concentrations. Individually, both compounds enhanced acquisition and long-term memory only at the highest concentrations. In contrast, combined treatments improved long-term memory even at lower concentrations, revealing consistent multi-compound effects. Bumblebees exposed to caffeine and arginine reduced 24-hour mortality under laboratory conditions. These results identify nectar chemistry as an integrative ecological interface capable of shaping pollinator cognitive performance and survival.
Hypertension and incidence of kidney stones: a prospective study based on the data of the Rafsanjan cohort study.
Vazirinejad R, Ahmadinia H, Heydari Khoormizi SM … +6 more , Jamshidi M, Khanamani Falahati-Pour S, Mohammadi-Shahrokhi V, Safarian Neamatabad M, Mohammadi Nematabad V, Abbasi-Dokht-Rafsanjani M
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42399433 · Full text
Few prospective, population-based studies investigated the effect of hypertension on kidney stones. This prospective study was conducted to assess the effect of hypertension on the incidence of kidney stones in an Irania...
Few prospective, population-based studies investigated the effect of hypertension on kidney stones. This prospective study was conducted to assess the effect of hypertension on the incidence of kidney stones in an Iranian population, using follow-up data from the Rafsanjan Cohort Study (RCS). Data from the Rafsanjan Cohort Study (RCS), which is part of the larger Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in Iran (PERSIAN), were utilized. In the baseline phase of this study, 10,000 adults, 35 to 70 years old, were invited using the cluster sampling method. Of these, 7,453 individuals who did not report a history of kidney stone as well as related diseases at the baseline and also had a complete medical questionnaire, were included in our study. All participants were interviewed by expert interviewers and previously validated questionnaires were completed. Data were analyzed in SPSS (ver 21) and appropriate statistical tests were used to compare groups. The mean age of the participants was 49.50 ± 9.36 years, and the majority of them were female (55.8%). 23.1% of the participants had a history of hypertension. In the group of people with the history of higher mean diastolic pressure, the incidence of kidney stone disease was statistically higher than that among the other group. Furthermore, the incidence of kidney stones was highest among untreated hypertensive individuals (6.9%), followed by treated hypertensive individuals (4.2%), and lowest in non-hypertensive individuals (3.5%). The results showed that untreated hypertensive respondents had a 1.985 times higher risk of kidney stones compared to respondents with normal blood pressure. We concluded that hypertension could significantly increases the odds of kidney stone formation.
Cytokine and profibrotic gene expression during tracheal stenosis development in an experimental model.
Silva-Martínez M, Olmos-Zuñiga JR, López-González JS … +6 more , Galicia-Velasco M, Gaxiola-Gaxiola M, Morales-Salinas E, Aguilar-Cazares D, de Rosenzweig PGS, Aguirre-Pérez T
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42399427 · Full text
Understanding the molecular changes that occur during the development of tracheal stenosis (TS) may enable the establishment of pharmacological treatments based on its pathophysiology. This study evaluated the expression...
Understanding the molecular changes that occur during the development of tracheal stenosis (TS) may enable the establishment of pharmacological treatments based on its pathophysiology. This study evaluated the expression of TNFα, IL-4, IL-10, TGF-β1, and type I collagen (Coll-I) during each phase of wound healing in an experimental model of TS. Twenty rabbits were divided into three groups: Group I (control), Group II (Sham), and Group III (TS). Tracheoscopy was performed weekly for 30 days, and tracheal biopsies were obtained for histological evaluation and analysis of mRNA and protein expression of IL-4, TNFα, IL-10, TGF-β1, and Coll-I during TS development. Group II not develop TS or molecular alterations. Group III developed TS, inflammation and fibrosis at both the macroscopic and microscopic compared with Groups I and II (p < 0.001, Friedman test). Gene and protein expression of TNFα, TGF-β1, and IL-10 increased from day 2 to day 30, while Coll-I expression increased from day 14 onward (p < 0.001, RM-ANOVA). IL-4 expression was not detected during TS development. We conclude that development of TS is associated with increased gene and protein expression of TNFα, TGF-β1, and IL-10 from the inflammatory phase, promoting Coll-I expression from the proliferative phase through to TS formation.
Metabolomic dynamics of flavor compound synthesis in Pu'er green tea produced from Camellia sinensis var. assamica under seasonal variation.
Wang Y, Zhu L, Liu S … +3 more , Ye L, Li D, Gong F
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42399422 · Full text
Camellia sinensis var. assamica (CSA), a premium tea cultivar native to Yunnan, China, produces high-quality aged tea trees with unique flavor characteristics. Although previous studies have revealed the basic flavor com...
Camellia sinensis var. assamica (CSA), a premium tea cultivar native to Yunnan, China, produces high-quality aged tea trees with unique flavor characteristics. Although previous studies have revealed the basic flavor composition of Pu'er green tea, the regulatory effects of seasonal variation on flavor compound biosynthesis in CSA aged tea leaves remain unclear. This study therefore aimed to clarify how seasonal changes (spring/summer/autumn) and spring-harvested aged tea tree leaves (165-year-old) jointly regulate the formation of flavor compounds in CSA green tea processed by standardized roasting. Metabolomic profiling via UPLC-ESI-MS/MS and GC-MS identified 1462 non-volatile and 703 volatile metabolites. We found that flavor compounds were strongly regulated by sugars, lipids, and amino acids, with roasting critically shaping their final profiles. Leaves of spring-harvested aged tea trees exhibit the highest levels of sugars, lipids, and volatile compounds, yet contain lower amounts of amino acids, which accounts for their distinctive sweet-aroma sensory profiles. These results decode seasonal flavor variations and the quality formation mechanism of spring-harvested aged tea tree leaves at the molecular level, offering novel foundational insights for quality improvement of Pu'er green tea.
Risk factors for acquisition of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant among a prospective cohort of French Healthcare Workers: impact of hybrid immunity.
Lebeaux D, Lu E, Parfait B … +81 more , Vilfaillot A, Bourgeois C, Lachatre M, Demory N, Semeraro M, Sawicki B, Sene D, Louët M, Pinna B, Védié B, Geromin D, Alyanakian MA, Tubiana S, Manivet P, Lacorte JM, Friedlander G, Péré H, Duval X, Jouany P, Djadi-Prat J, Kernéis S, Courbebaisse M, Sene D, Champion K, Lopes A, Monnet M, Berton L, Liem L, Linda B, Grange P, Maurisse AD, Jung YJ, Puymoyen P, Favreau M, Meziane F, Fall M, Jolaine V, Demory-Guinet N, Janot L, Louet M, Ecobichon JL, Gabarra E, Abel L, Bensefa-Colas L, Calvez V, Kassis-Chikhani N, Kerneis S, Veyer D, Launay O, Prie D, Tartour E, Granier C, Quintana-Murcy L, Pernin C, Parfait B, Girard B, Marah A, Montegnies A, Lesein M, Vedie B, Lacorte JM, Clavier F, Padilla T, Kafif O, Sakonda C, Rozenberg F, Meritet JF, Marcelin AG, Rollando P, Villefaillot A, Gauthier S, Khouider S, Saldmann A, Pinset C, Alhenc-Gelas F, Isnard-Bagnis C, Houillier P, Boutouyrie P, Darnige L, Cohen R, Davis P
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42399411 · Full text
Healthcare workers (HCW) have been at the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic, with an increased risk of infection, particularly due to the emergence of the omicron variant. This study aims to assess risk factors for...
Healthcare workers (HCW) have been at the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic, with an increased risk of infection, particularly due to the emergence of the omicron variant. This study aims to assess risk factors for omicron acquisition among vaccinated HCW, comparing hybrid immunity (previous infection and vaccination) to vaccine-induced immunity alone. We took advantage of the COVID-HOP prospective cohort, which includes vaccinated HCW followed over several months, collecting detailed data on demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and professional and personal exposures to COVID-19. We analyzed factors associated with omicron acquisition after January 2022, with a focus on immunization scheme (hybrid or vaccine-induced immunity). Out of 698 HCW analyzed, 298 acquired the omicron variant. In the multivariable analysis (taking into account comorbidities, professional/personal exposure and lifestyle), the two independent factors associated with an increased risk of infection were: younger age (P = 0.005) and immunization scheme (OR associated with vaccine-induced immunity alone: 2.43 [95% Confidence Interval: 1.64-3.60]) with hybrid immunity as reference). HCW with hybrid immunity have a reduced risk of acquiring omicron compared to those with vaccine-induced immunity alone. These findings emphasize the importance of a combined vaccination strategy to better protect HCW against emerging variants, and to vaccine HCW who experienced previous COVID-19 episodes.
Induction of mucosal immune responses against SARS-CoV-2: a heterologous intramuscular mRNA-LNP prime/pulmonary recombinant subunit pull vaccination strategy.
Ongun M, Kola NS, Patel D … +8 more , da Costa Rodrigues T, Schmidt ST, Lokras AG, Franzyk H, Paludan SR, Rades T, Thakur A, Foged C
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42399410 · Full text
Approved mRNA vaccines administered intramuscularly (i.m.) induce strong systemic immune responses, but provide limited protection at the respiratory mucosa, where many infections are initiated. Designing safe and effica...
Approved mRNA vaccines administered intramuscularly (i.m.) induce strong systemic immune responses, but provide limited protection at the respiratory mucosa, where many infections are initiated. Designing safe and efficacious mucosal vaccines is challenging because it requires vaccine administration at the mucosa that is equipped with protective barriers and characterized by tolerogenic predominance. Here we show that i.m. prime immunization of mice with lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) loaded with mRNA encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, followed by pulmonary pull immunization with either mRNA-LNPs or spike protein adjuvanted with cationic adjuvant formulation (CAF)01 induce high systemic immune responses and virus-neutralizing spike-specific antibody responses in the lungs. However, only pulmonary pull immunization with CAF01-adjuvanted spike protein induces spike-specific mucosal antibody and lung-resident T-cell responses in the respiratory tract. This suggests that i.m. priming of strong immune responses with mRNA-LNPs combined with mucosal pull immunization with a subunit vaccine can re-direct the immune response to the respiratory mucosa.
Enabling extended tool manipulation through redundancy-driven contact exploitation.
Šifrer J, Petrič T
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42399408 · Full text
Extended tool manipulation poses significant challenges for torque-limited robotic manipulators, as interaction forces acting at a distance amplify joint torques through the lever-arm effect and can compromise dynamic fe...
Extended tool manipulation poses significant challenges for torque-limited robotic manipulators, as interaction forces acting at a distance amplify joint torques through the lever-arm effect and can compromise dynamic feasibility even when tasks are kinematically admissible. This paper presents a control methodology that enables extended-tool tasks by systematically inducing environmental support contact through redundancy resolution. The proposed framework integrates motion and force control in task space with secondary objectives in the null space that promote support contact without explicitly modeling the environment. Rather than predefining contact, the manipulator adapts its configuration under force feedback to establish and maintain support that counteracts lever-arm-induced loading. The methodological contribution lies in formalizing redundancy-driven support contact as a mechanism for extending torque feasibility in extended-tool manipulation. The approach is validated through a comparative experimental study of three null-space formulations on a seven-degree-of-freedom robotic manipulator performing a moderate-force wall-painting task with a 1.4 m tool. The results show how different null-space strategies influence contact consistency, load redistribution, and coupled motion-force interaction during sustained support. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of redundancy-driven support exploitation in moderate-force extended-tool manipulation and motivate future extensions toward higher operational loads and more complex contact conditions.
A hypofunctional PREX1 variant (p.Y191C) leads to neurodevelopmental abnormalities and epilepsy by attenuating RAC1 signaling.
Nishikawa M, Uchiyama Y, Nakamura K … +16 more , Kato M, Yamada K, Torii S, Kanda T, Yamashita T, Horigane SI, Takemoto-Kimura S, Takeuchi R, Osakada F, Kodama T, Hiroaki H, Ito H, Ueda H, Nagata KI, Matsumoto N, Kinoshita M
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42399407 · Full text
The RAC subfamily of Rho family small GTPases plays a crucial role in neurodevelopment by regulating cellular signaling pathways and the actin cytoskeleton. The activity of RAC is controlled by guanine nucleotide exchang...
The RAC subfamily of Rho family small GTPases plays a crucial role in neurodevelopment by regulating cellular signaling pathways and the actin cytoskeleton. The activity of RAC is controlled by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), which facilitate the transition from an inactive GDP-bound form to an active GTP-bound form. A novel de novo variant, NM_020820.4:c.572 A > G p.(Y191C), was identified in PREX1, which encodes a RAC-specific GEF, by whole-exome sequencing of a patient with epilepsy. Biochemical analysis using recombinant proteins demonstrated that the p.Y191C variant reduced the GDP/GTP exchange activity of PREX1 toward RAC1 and attenuated RAC1-PAK1 signaling compared with wild-type PREX1, suggesting that the p.Y191C variant is hypofunctional. To explore its neurodevelopmental consequences in vivo, we performed in utero electroporation-mediated RNA interference targeting PREX1 in cerebrocortical progenitor cells in mice at embryonic day 14 (E14). While no significant effects on radial migration or morphological development were observed at E17, PREX1-knockdown neurons were located more apically within layer II/III than controls at postnatal day 0 (P0). By P7, these neurons showed aberrant dendritic arborization with a significant increase in apical dendritic branching. Likewise, dendritic overgrowth was observed in granule cells of the hippocampal dentate gyrus following PREX1 knockdown at P0, with minimal effects on dendritic spine morphology. Functionally, PREX1 knockdown enhanced spontaneous Ca²⁺ activity in cultured hippocampal neurons and depolarization-evoked Ca²⁺ responses in layer II/III cortical neurons in acute brain slices. These findings indicate that reduced PREX1-RAC1 signaling leads to mislocalization, dendritic overgrowth, and neuronal hyperexcitability, which may underlie epilepsy in the human case.
Gender moderation in the association between academic stress, sleep quality, and adolescent mental health.
Zhang W, Zhang J
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42399402 · Full text
Adolescent mental health has become a growing concern in China, with academic stress identified as a prominent risk factor. This cross-sectional study examined the associations among academic stress, sleep quality, and m...
Adolescent mental health has become a growing concern in China, with academic stress identified as a prominent risk factor. This cross-sectional study examined the associations among academic stress, sleep quality, and mental health in county-level areas of Liaoning Province, with particular attention to the mediating role of sleep quality and the stage-specific moderating effect of gender. A total of 2150 junior and senior middle school students completed standardized questionnaires measuring academic stress, sleep quality, and mental health. The findings revealed that academic stress was significantly associated with poorer mental health across both educational stages. However, the mediating role of sleep quality differed by stage. Sleep quality significantly mediated the association between academic stress and mental health among senior middle school students, but not among junior middle school students. Gender demonstrated stage-specific moderating patterns. Among senior middle school students, gender moderated the association between academic stress and sleep quality, with girls showing stronger stress-related sleep disruptions. Among junior middle school students, gender moderated the association between sleep quality and mental health, with girls being more vulnerable to the psychological effects of poor sleep.
Global burden of environmental heat and cold exposure 1990-2021 projected to 2035 reveals temporal trends and socio-demographic inequalities.
Jin X, Wang R, Pan D … +5 more , Wu R, Wang N, Xia J, Wang S, Sun G
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42399401 · Full text
Using the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 framework, this study analyzed global trends in environmental heat and cold exposure (EHCE) from 1990 to 2021, evaluated SDI-related inequalities, and projected baseline epid...
Using the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 framework, this study analyzed global trends in environmental heat and cold exposure (EHCE) from 1990 to 2021, evaluated SDI-related inequalities, and projected baseline epidemiological trends to 2035. Data were derived from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2021, covering incidence, prevalence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) across 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021. The slope index of inequality (SII) and concentration index of inequality (CII) were used to quantify absolute and relative SDI-related inequalities in EHCE burden, respectively. The Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model was used to generate baseline projections to 2035. Compared with 1990, the age-standardized incidence, prevalence, death, and DALY rates of EHCE all declined in 2021. In 2021, EHCE accounted for more than 3.42 million incident cases, 36,023.55 deaths, and 1,683,247.50 DALYs globally. Children, adolescents, older adults, and males experienced a disproportionate burden. SDI-related patterns showed persistent inequalities: incidence and prevalence remained concentrated in higher-SDI settings, whereas death and DALY burdens increasingly shifted toward lower-SDI settings. Based on the BAPC projection curves, by 2035 the ASIR, ASPR, ASDR, and age-standardized DALY rate were estimated to decline to approximately 37.50, 133.00, 0.29, and 14.20 per 100,000 population, respectively. These projections should be interpreted as baseline estimates rather than climate-scenario-based forecasts. Although the age-standardized EHCE burden has declined, EHCE remains a substantial health burden with marked age, sex, and SDI-related inequalities. The findings support targeted climate-health adaptation, especially for children, older adults, males, and populations in lower-SDI settings.
Lung ultrasound score for predicting surfactant therapy in preterm neonates with respiratory distress syndrome a systematic review and meta analysis.
Nayak PN, Kulal P, Vennila J … +5 more , Chaudhuri S, Kumar S, Bhat R, Lewis LES, Todur P
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42399400 · Full text
Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is the common cause of respiratory morbidity in preterm neonates due to the primary surfactant deficiency. Early surfactant delivery improves outcomes, whereas oxygen-based criteria ma...
Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is the common cause of respiratory morbidity in preterm neonates due to the primary surfactant deficiency. Early surfactant delivery improves outcomes, whereas oxygen-based criteria may not quickly recognize the surfactant requirement. Lung ultrasound (LUS), a radiation-free bedside tool, help in guiding surfactant therapy using scoring systems. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of LUS score in predicting surfactant requirement in preterm neonates (< 37 weeks' gestational age [GA]) with RDS. Eighteen studies including 997 neonates were analyzed using a bivariate random-effects model. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of overall studies were 0.85 (95% CI: 0.83-0.87) and 0.80 (95% CI: 0.77-0.82). A diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) was 32.12 (95% CI: 18.99-54.33), indicating strong overall discriminatory ability. The area under sROC curve was 0.682. Subgroup analysis ≤ 6 had higher sensitivity but lower specificity which is more useful for early screening, cutoff between 7 and 8 had balanced diagnostic value and ≥ 9 cutoff had higher specificity which showed stronger confirmation for surfactant requirement. Overall, LUS can support timely clinical decision making and early surfactant administration in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) when used alongside clinical assessment.
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