Scientific Reports[JOURNAL]
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200 papers
Association of anti-catecholaminergic antiarrhythmic drugs with survival in sepsis-associated new-onset atrial fibrillation.
Huang X, Zheng M, Zhu Z … +2 more , Zhang Y, Chen KY
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42402640 · Full text
Sepsis-induced new-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) is a potentially life-threatening arrhythmogenic complication, partially driven by catecholamine-mediated atrial remodeling. While β-adrenergic receptor blockers may mi...
Sepsis-induced new-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) is a potentially life-threatening arrhythmogenic complication, partially driven by catecholamine-mediated atrial remodeling. While β-adrenergic receptor blockers may mitigate this pathophysiology through sympatholytic and rate-controlling mechanisms, their association with patient survival remains incompletely characterized due to heterogeneous evidence. To elucidate the association between the administration of anti-catecholaminergic antiarrhythmic drugs and all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with sepsis-induced NOAF.This retrospective cohort study utilized data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV database. We included adult patients admitted to a tertiary academic medical center between 2008 and 2019 who fulfilled the Sepsis-3 criteria and developed NOAF during their ICU stays.Based on the initial antiarrhythmic drug administration within 24 h following time-zero, patients were categorized into either β-blocker group or alternative antiarrhythmic drug group. The matched cohort comprised 560 patients (mean age 74.1 [SD 11.5] years; 64.6% male), among whom 280 were assigned to the β-blocker group and 280 to the alternative antiarrhythmic drug group. The β-blocker group demonstrated significantly lower 28-day mortality (36.1 vs. 51.1%; adjusted HR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.41-0.67; P < .001) and 1-year mortality (50.7 vs. 63.6%; adjusted HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.55-0.85; P = .001). ICU mortality was also reduced in the β-blocker group (22.1 vs. 42.5%; P < .001). Furthermore, this group had more vasopressor-free days (median [IQR], 24.0 [18.0-26.0] vs. 16.0 [0.0-23.0]) and ventilator-free days (24.0 [18.0-26.0] vs. 17.0 [0.0-24.0]) (both P < .001). Safety outcomes included less bradycardia (12.5 vs. 20.0%; P = .016) but more hypotension (26.4 vs. 18.6%; P = .039). Subgroup and mediation analyses suggested greater benefit in high-risk patients, partially mediated (15.92%) by reduced vasopressor requirements. In critically ill patients with sepsis-induced NOAF, early β-blocker therapy was associated with markedly lower 28-day and 1-year mortality, along with decreased organ-support burden, warranting prospective trials are warranted to confirm these survival benefits.
Reliable estimation of the confined compressive strength of FRP-confined circular concrete columns using an ANFIS-based model.
Tawfik TA, Akbulut ZF, Arvas MA … +4 more , Osmanoglu F, Ghalla M, Mahmoodzadeh A, Guler S
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42402639 · Full text
Reliable estimation of the confined compressive strength of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP)-wrapped concrete is essential for the safe design and assessment of strengthened structural members. This study proposes an adapt...
Reliable estimation of the confined compressive strength of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP)-wrapped concrete is essential for the safe design and assessment of strengthened structural members. This study proposes an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) model to predict the confined compressive strength of FRP-confined circular concrete cylinders. The model is trained using the Levenberg-Marquardt backpropagation algorithm, combined with an early-stopping strategy, to enhance generalization and prevent overfitting. Four physically meaningful parameters-unconfined compressive strength, cylinder diameter, FRP thickness, and FRP elastic modulus-are employed as input variables, while the confined compressive strength is taken as the output. A comprehensive database of 812 experimental results from the literature was compiled and used for model training, validation, and testing. The predictive capability of the proposed ANFIS framework was evaluated against five widely used analytical confinement models using statistical performance indicators. The developed model demonstrated superior predictive consistency and reduced scatter relative to existing confinement equations, indicating improved reliability across a broad range of strengths. The results confirm that the proposed ANFIS approach provides a stable and practical tool for estimating the confined compressive strength of FRP-wrapped concrete, supporting preliminary structural assessment and strengthening design applications.
Perceived COVID-19 risk and fear among visiting workers: a cross-sectional study on the mediating role of stress and moderating role of education.
Baek EM, Jo H, Jung HS
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42402638 · Full text
The implementation of social distancing policies due to COVID-19 has placed home visit workers under mental stress, as they are often perceived as potential sources of infection. This is particularly evident among door-t...
The implementation of social distancing policies due to COVID-19 has placed home visit workers under mental stress, as they are often perceived as potential sources of infection. This is particularly evident among door-to-door rental equipment examiners and gas inspectors, who face significant discrimination while performing their duties amidst the pandemic. The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between risk perception and stress, and COVID-19 fear, and to investigate the mediating role of perceived stress and the moderating role of education in this relationship. Data was collected through labor unions from 1,643 home visiting workers, including those examining rental home appliance equipment and those inspecting gas. An online survey assessed COVID-19 risk perception, fear, perceived stress, and demographic characteristics. The data was analyzed using SPSS and PROCESS Macro. The results indicated that risk perception and perceived stress are positively correlated with COVID-19 fear. Furthermore, perceived stress significantly mediates the effects of risk perception on COVID-19 fear, and education significantly moderates the impact of risk perception on COVID-19 fear. These findings suggest that to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 risk perception on fear, it is crucial to develop appropriate educational programs aimed at stress reduction for home visit workers. Policymakers are encouraged to develop online or mobile infectious disease education programs focusing on COVID-19 risk at work and to establish policies that incorporate legal education.
Sub-basin sea level budget analysis in the North Indian Ocean (2003-2024).
Pillai UM, Ghomsi FEK, Kochuparampil AJ … +2 more , Raj RP, Johannessen OM
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42402637 · Full text
This study investigates sea level trends in the North Indian Ocean (NIO) from 2003 to 2024, quantifying the contributions of thermosteric, halosteric, and ocean mass components using satellite altimetry, observation-base...
This study investigates sea level trends in the North Indian Ocean (NIO) from 2003 to 2024, quantifying the contributions of thermosteric, halosteric, and ocean mass components using satellite altimetry, observation-based gridded products, and GRACE gravimetry datasets. The NIO Sea level is rising at 4.83 ± 0.22 mm/yr, driven primarily by thermosteric sea level (2.21 ± 0.16 mm/yr) followed by ocean mass component (1.69 ± 0.09 mm/yr). Sub-basinal analysis reveals strong spatial heterogeneity, with the highest rates of sea level rise in the Western Bay of Bengal (5.19 ± 0.41 mm/yr) and the lowest in the Western Arabian Sea (4.29 ± 0.27 mm/yr). A distinct halosteric contrast exists, where freshening accelerates rise in the Bay of Bengal (up to 0.65 ± 0.08 mm/yr in the Eastern Bay), and increasing salinity suppresses it in the Arabian Sea (down to -1.12 ± 0.12 mm/yr in the western Arabian Sea). Furthermore, while western sub-basins are predominantly steric-driven, eastern sub-basins of Bay of Bengal and Equatorial Indian Ocean exhibit anomalously high GRACE-derived mass contributions (> 3 mm/yr), likely influenced by post-seismic crustal adjustments from the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake. Interannual variability closely tracks steric changes modulated by ENSO and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), triggering basin-specific responses via wind anomalies and long-period waves. Further analysis of tropical SST indices reveals that the Western Tropical Indian Ocean SST index closely mirrors the spatial correlation structures of the Dipole Mode Index, and may serve as a useful indicator of regional sea level variability, particularly over the Equatorial Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal. Ultimately, unlike the predominantly mass-driven global trends where both mass and steric contributions are of comparable magnitude, the NIO remains uniquely steric-dominated and the sea level budget leaves a residual of 0.98 mm/yr (~ 20% of the total trend), which, while comparable to uncertainties in individual components, highlights remaining challenges in fully closing the regional sea level budget.
Antiviral therapy and interleukin-6 blockade associated with lower thrombotic risk in hospitalized COVID-19: a target trial emulation.
Padilla S, Andreo M, Ledesma C … +10 more , Fernández-González M, Telenti G, López-Escudero J, Bello-Pérez M, Mascarell P, Botella Á, García-Abellán J, Espinosa M, Masiá M, Gutiérrez F
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42402635 · Full text
Thrombotic complications substantially contribute to morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, but the effect of antiviral and immune-targeted therapies on thrombotic risk remains uncertain. We cond...
Thrombotic complications substantially contribute to morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, but the effect of antiviral and immune-targeted therapies on thrombotic risk remains uncertain. We conducted an observational cohort study embedded in a prospectively implemented hospital COVID-19 care protocol, including 2,524 patients hospitalized with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 between March 2020 and July 2022, with systematic ascertainment of thrombotic events within 28 days after admission under standardized thromboprophylaxis. Treatment effects of remdesivir, tocilizumab, and glucocorticoids were evaluated in a nested propensity score-matched cohort using time-varying Cox models and target trial emulation estimating intention-to-treat and per-protocol effects. In time-varying Cox models, tocilizumab and remdesivir were associated with lower thrombotic risk (average HR 0.40, 95% CI 0.25-0.65, and 0.44, 95% CI 0.24-0.78, respectively), whereas glucocorticoids showed no protective association. These effects were driven by a marked early benefit on day 3, with HRs of 0.23 (95% CI 0.12-0.42) for tocilizumab and 0.23 (95% CI 0.11-0.51) for remdesivir, which progressively attenuated over follow-up. In the target trial emulation, intention-to-treat analyses also showed lower thrombotic risk with tocilizumab (OR 0.39; 95% CI 0.17-0.87) and remdesivir (OR 0.44; 95% CI 0.21-0.93), with directionally consistent per-protocol estimates. These findings suggest a thrombotic benefit of antiviral therapy and interleukin-6 blockade beyond standard anticoagulation in selected high-risk patients.
Integrated continuous berth allocation with time-invariant specific quay crane assignment using a mixed-integer model and greedy genetic algorithm.
Zhou Y, Cheng X, Cao Y
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42402634 · Full text
Efficient coordination of berth and quay crane resources is essential for improving the operational performance of container terminals under increasing vessel traffic and limited shoreline capacity. This paper studies an...
Efficient coordination of berth and quay crane resources is essential for improving the operational performance of container terminals under increasing vessel traffic and limited shoreline capacity. This paper studies an integrated optimization problem that combines continuous berth allocation with time-invariant specific quay crane assignment. Unlike studies that determine only the number of quay cranes assigned to each vessel, this work explicitly determines the identities of assigned quay cranes while considering practical operational constraints, including continuous berth positions, vessel-specific crane quantity limits, contiguous crane assignment, vessel non-overlap, crane capacity, and crane non-crossing requirements. A mixed-integer programming model is formulated to minimize the total time that vessels spend in port. To solve medium- and large-scale instances efficiently, a greedy genetic algorithm is developed by combining greedy initialization, evolutionary search, decoding-based feasibility checking, and repair operations for infeasible offspring. The algorithm is designed to preserve useful inherited information while restoring feasibility with respect to berth-space and crane-resource constraints. Computational experiments are conducted using real operational data from a container port in Liaoning, China, together with synthetic instances of different scales. The results show that the proposed method can obtain high-quality feasible schedules within practical computation times. Additional ablation experiments demonstrate that both greedy initialization and repair contribute to performance improvement, with the repair mechanism providing the most evident gain in average solution quality and stability. These findings indicate that the proposed approach is suitable for integrated seaside scheduling problems requiring explicit crane identity decisions and fast feasible-schedule generation.
Centrifugal pump analysis and prediction in cavitation using RapidMiner tool and machine learning algorithms.
Potharaju S, Dekka S, Villagómez-Galindo M … +2 more , Malipatil AS, Krishna DS
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42402633 · Full text
Being a reliable and efficient pump, Centrifugal Pumps (CP) are widely used today in many mechanical and industrial applications. But cavitation is a serious problem that impacts pump performance, as it involves the vapo...
Being a reliable and efficient pump, Centrifugal Pumps (CP) are widely used today in many mechanical and industrial applications. But cavitation is a serious problem that impacts pump performance, as it involves the vaporisation of the liquid at the suction end as a result of the pressure drop. The study is aimed at predicting and analysing cavitation in CP using a Cavitation Measuring Technique (CMT) based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Machine Learning (ML) approach. The CMT is based on the Net Positive Suction Head Available (NPSHa) and Net Positive Suction Head Required (NPSHr) ratio calculated from the results of the CFD simulation at various rotational speeds of 700 to 2900 RPM. The critical ratio is the main input feature for a machine learning approach to cavitation onset classification. CFD simulations were performed to simulate both functional and non-functional pump conditions and results were analyzed on RapidMiner platform with different machine learning algorithms. Experimental results show that the Fine Tree algorithm gave an accuracy of 96.1% and Naive Bayes 95.5% in predicting the cavitation status. In addition, the maximum vapour volume fraction of 0.9477 was observed at the water-moving part of the impeller during CFD analysis. The proposed framework illustrates the ability of CFD and ML approaches to accurately predict cavitation in centrifugal pumps and to assess centrifugal pump performance.
MT-MRI for detection of renal interstitial fibrosis in renovascular disease.
Liu Y, Abdurakhimova DA, Saeedi MA … +9 more , Zhu X, Tang H, Xue A, Frimpong RG, Misra S, Schwartz GL, Lerman A, Kukla A, Lerman LO
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42402669 · Full text
We evaluated kidney fibrosis in renovascular disease (RVD) using quantitative (q) and semi-quantitative magnetization-transfer (MT) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Ten RVD patients and 22 healthy volunteers (HVs) were...
We evaluated kidney fibrosis in renovascular disease (RVD) using quantitative (q) and semi-quantitative magnetization-transfer (MT) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Ten RVD patients and 22 healthy volunteers (HVs) were prospectively enrolled. Of HVs, 10 (HV-1) underwent imaging studies whereas plasma samples were collected from 12 others (HV-2). The qMT-derived bound-pool fraction (f) was compared to MRI-based MT imaging (MTI)-derived MT ratio (MTR), blood oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) R2*, and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). MTR was assessed at offset frequencies of 600 Hz and 1000 Hz, and RVD qMT and MTI on both 1.5T and 3.0T MRI. Additionally, we measured plasma and urinary levels of fibrogenic cytokines and micro-RNAs, and stenotic kidney (STK) perfusion and volume with multidetector computed-tomography (MDCT). At 3.0T-MRI, STK cortex and medulla qMT-f were higher in RVD vs. HV-1 (p = 0.01, p = 0.05, respectively), as was MTR-600 Hz, whereas BOLD-R2* and the DWI ADC were not different. MTR and f measured at 1.5T were comparable to those obtained at 3.0T. STK blood flow was decreased vs. the contralateral kidney (CLK) (p = 0.033) but plasma and urinary fibrogenic indices were unchanged in RVD vs. HV-2. Both f and MTI at 3.0T-MRI may be useful for noninvasive assessment of STK fibrosis, independent of magnetic-field strength. MTI is potentially more sensitive than fibrogenic cytokine levels for detecting mild RVD-related fibrosis changes.
Topological approaches to quantum tensor train compression via ZX-calculus and SVD.
Ayala Bertel LG, Ganguly S
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42402663 · Full text
The rapid advancement of quantum-inspired classical algorithms, particularly Quantics Tensor Trains (QTT), has demonstrated that exponentially large vectors can be manipulated efficiently via Matrix Product States (MPS)....
The rapid advancement of quantum-inspired classical algorithms, particularly Quantics Tensor Trains (QTT), has demonstrated that exponentially large vectors can be manipulated efficiently via Matrix Product States (MPS). Conventionally, the compression of these tensor networks relies exclusively on Singular Value Decomposition (SVD)-based truncation. While SVD is optimal for minimizing the Frobenius norm error, it remains structurally blind to exact algebraic correlations, such as reversible logic gates or Clifford symmetries, that do not require numerical approximation to factor out. In this work, we propose a hybrid compression protocol that integrates the topological rigor of ZX-Calculus with the numerical power of SVD. We construct an explicit isomorphism between Rank-3 MPS tensors and ZX-diagrams, allowing us to subject QTT representations to formal diagrammatic rewriting rules prior to numerical truncation. We establish that this Topological Preconditioning can algebraically collapse the effective bond dimension (χ) and T-count of the underlying tensor network without information loss. By benchmarking the algorithmic implementation against hardware-accelerated SVD on discretized functions and stabilizer states, we demonstrate that ZX-driven algebraic erasure fundamentally bypasses standard [Formula: see text] bottlenecks, yielding up to a computational speedup. Finally, we formalize this advantage by defining the structural complexity class [Formula: see text], proving that for systems characterized by algebraic symmetry, this work reflects our ongoing effort to deepen understanding of Categorical Quantum Mechanics, aiming to contribute to the optimization of high-dimensional linear algebra.
Appropriateness of β-thalassemia trait screening in patients with hypochromic microcytic anemia and predictors of potentially low-yield testing.
Al Abideen Z, Khurram S, Khan A … +4 more , Shaikh KH, Omair M, Minhas S, Khurshid S
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42402661 · Full text
Β-thalassemia trait (β-TT) is a common hemoglobin disorder that is frequently confused with iron deficiency anemia (IDA), leading potentially low-yield confirmatory hemoglobin fraction analysis and increased use of healt...
Β-thalassemia trait (β-TT) is a common hemoglobin disorder that is frequently confused with iron deficiency anemia (IDA), leading potentially low-yield confirmatory hemoglobin fraction analysis and increased use of healthcare resources. To assess the appropriateness of β-TT screening in patients with microcytic hypochromic anemia and to detect laboratory and clinical predictors of potentially low yield testing. A total of 12,622 patients with microcytic hypochromic anemia who underwent hemoglobin fraction analysis by HPLC between February 2023 to July 2025 were included in this retrospective cross-sectional study. Data on complete blood counts, Pathologist remarks, and HPLC results were collected. Red cell indices (Mentzer Index) , HbA₂ levels, and recorded clinical context were used to operationally classify testing appropriateness. Multivariable multinomial logistic regression was used to identify predictors of test appropriateness. Among the 12,622 patients, 3932 (31.2%) had confirmed β-TT, 8312 (65.9%) had non-β-TT microcytic anemia, and 378 (3.0%) had borderline HbA₂ values. Testing was categorized as appropriate in 2544 cases (20.2%), potentially low-yield in 5678 cases (45.0%), and unclear in 4400 cases (34.9%) based on red cell indices, HbA levels, and clinical context. While suspected β-TT significantly predicted appropriate testing, suspected IDA (OR 4.00, p < 0.001), female sex (OR 1.50, p < 0.001), and post-transfusion samples (OR 4.27, p < 0.001) were independently associated with potentially low-yield testing. The possible masking effect of iron deficiency on β-TT detection was reflected by the fact that 490 patients (3.9%) were recommended to undergo a repeat HPLC after iron supplementation to rule out iron deficiency-mediated suppression of HbA₂ as a potential masking factor for β-TT. A significant portion of β-TT screening my be potentially low-yield, which may affect clinical results and available resources. Test utilization may be optimized and diagnostic accuracy may be improved by evaluating iron status, repeating testing after iron correction when indicated and interpreting red cell indices in appropriate clinical setting.
Assessment of the therapeutic efficacy of Holothuria polii extract during the muscular phase of Trichinella spiralis infection in albino mice.
El-Saidy SA, Sabry A, El-Khodary GM … +3 more , Hassan AAA, Elgendy DI, Gawaan YM
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42402659 · Full text
Marine invertebrates are an important source of bioactive natural products with potential therapeutic applications, owing to their chemically diverse defense mechanisms. Trichinellosis is a widespread food-borne zoonosis...
Marine invertebrates are an important source of bioactive natural products with potential therapeutic applications, owing to their chemically diverse defense mechanisms. Trichinellosis is a widespread food-borne zoonosis caused by Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis). Albendazole (ABZ) is the main treatment, but its efficacy against encysted and newborn larvae is limited. This limitation, together with emerging resistance, has prompted the search for safer alternative antiparasitic agents, particularly natural compounds. Holothuria polii (H. polii) is a bioactive-rich sea cucumber with promising therapeutic applications. The current study was designed to assess the anti-T. spiralis effectiveness of H. polii extract (HPE), for the first time, against the muscular phase of experimental trichinellosis, either alone or in combination with ABZ, and to explore its prospective application as an adjunct to ABZ therapy to enhance treatment outcomes and tissue recovery. To fulfill this aim, mice were distributed at random into five experimental groups, as follows: a control group and four T. spiralis-infected groups: untreated, ABZ-treated, HPE-treated, and combined therapy-treated. The treatment with HPE, alone or combined with ABZ, reduced larval burden and improved host muscular tissue health by reducing oxidative stress, enhancing antioxidant defenses, and restoring serum liver and muscular enzyme activities to their normal values. Histopathological examination of the treated groups revealed preservation of the skeletal and diaphragmatic muscular architecture, reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, and degeneration of larval capsules, particularly with combined therapy. These findings were accompanied by downregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) immune expressions in both skeletal and diaphragmatic muscles compared with the untreated and ABZ-treated groups, indicating reduced inflammation and angiogenesis. The present study concluded that HPE exhibits diverse and efficacious activity against trichinellosis and may be regarded as a promising adjuvant treatment alongside ABZ for T. spiralis infection. However, further studies are required to validate its potential efficacy in clinical applications.
Uncovering movement synergies during reaching and grasping of common objects for the upper limb.
Zheng C, Price NSC, Wong YT
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42402653 · Full text
Understanding how the upper limb is coordinated during everyday activities is essential for developing strategies to restore motor function in individuals with impaired upper limbs. One prominent theory is that upper lim...
Understanding how the upper limb is coordinated during everyday activities is essential for developing strategies to restore motor function in individuals with impaired upper limbs. One prominent theory is that upper limb movements are controlled through synergies, which are coordinated patterns of joint movements. While many studies have supported the existence of synergies, there exist gaps where only a narrow range of tasks were examined, data capture relied on restrictive tracking tools, or analysis focused solely on the hand, limiting naturalistic movements and generalizability, leaving key gaps in understanding how hand and arm movements jointly contribute to upper-limb synergies. To address these gaps, we collected full upper-limb kinematics from 20 participants performing 80 common reach and grasp activities using markerless motion tracking. We identified a set of four upper limb postural synergies that were able to accurately reconstruct grasp postures on an unseen participant's data, suggesting that a small set of global movement patterns underlie most common actions. These results demonstrate that upper-limb kinematics can be effectively described within a compact, low-dimensional synergy space that is generalized across different participants and activities, with potential applications in assistive technologies and rehabilitation.
A data-driven framework for long-term risk stratification of advanced Parkinson's disease using PPMI.
Gabilondo I, Sáenz A, Seijo S … +10 more , Ochoa A, Zalabarria U, Cuenca I, Tijero B, Fernández-Valle T, Ruiz M, Acera M, Sousa I, Gómez-Esteban JC, Del Pino R
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42402641 · Full text
Advanced Parkinson disease has prognostic and therapeutic implications, yet staging tools are qualitative and difficult to operationalize for longitudinal modelling and cross-cohort comparison. We developed a reproducibl...
Advanced Parkinson disease has prognostic and therapeutic implications, yet staging tools are qualitative and difficult to operationalize for longitudinal modelling and cross-cohort comparison. We developed a reproducible operationalization that translates the 13-item Diagnostic Criteria for Advanced Parkinson Disease questionnaire into structured variables and generates longitudinal labels capturing certainty of advanced disease. In the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative near-diagnosis cohort (n = 1,302; up to 13 years), we applied this pipeline to characterize label trajectories and face validity over time. As a proof of utility, we used baseline clinical and genetic features to forecast advanced disease at years 7-11, explicitly separating forecasting from contemporaneous staging. Using a binary long-horizon endpoint, the best year-9 model showed an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.89 (95% CI 0.81-0.97). In an independent real-world cohort with ≥ 11 years follow-up (n = 35), discrimination attenuated (0.55-0.61), consistent with dataset shift and limited event counts.
Automated enhancement of post-infectious lung CT images using multi-technique noise detection and denoising with quantitative evaluation.
Revathy S, Maria Kalavathy G
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42402636 · Full text
Infectious lung diseases pose a serious public health risk; can cause long-term conditions like fibrosis, loss of lung function and chronic lung diseases like COVID-19, pneumonia and tuberculosis. Persistent lung abnorma...
Infectious lung diseases pose a serious public health risk; can cause long-term conditions like fibrosis, loss of lung function and chronic lung diseases like COVID-19, pneumonia and tuberculosis. Persistent lung abnormalities can result from these complications and need to be accurately detected and analysed. The deep ensemble learning technique was utilized to extract high-quality images from raw computed tomography (CT) scan images by incorporating noise detection and reduction techniques. In this study, BM3D denoising technique has been used for noise reduction in the post-infectious CT scan image to improve its quality by using the automated detection of noise. The main objective of this research is to improve the image quality in the pre-processing stage using various noise detection methods such as Blur Laplacian, Noise Entropy, Noise Power Spectrum Density and Wavelet Transform. Each noise detection technique produces the amount of noise detected in terms of numeric variance. Based on the highest numeric variance, the noise type is detected automatically. Then, the BM3D denoising technique was applied to yield an effective image for further processing. The proposed system validates noise reduction in terms of PSNR, SSIM, and edge preservation index. Thus, the results provide a significant enhancement in image clarity and structural clarity to support downstream diagnostic tasks, supporting its potential utility as a pre-processing step for clinical and research applications.
A tri-axis optomechanical accelerometer with plasmonic MIM waveguide and structural direction-dependent optical signatures.
Farrokhi H, Sedaghat SB
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42401749 · Full text
This paper presents a proposed tri-axis optomechanical accelerometer integrating a monolithic single-proof-mass MEMS suspension with an engineered metal-insulator-metal (MIM) plasmonic platform. The device utilizes a mod...
This paper presents a proposed tri-axis optomechanical accelerometer integrating a monolithic single-proof-mass MEMS suspension with an engineered metal-insulator-metal (MIM) plasmonic platform. The device utilizes a modified frog-arm spring system, optimized via finite element simulations to provide near-identical peak displacements ([Formula: see text]) and mechanical sensitivities ([Formula: see text]) within a [Formula: see text] range, operating across a bandwidth of [Formula: see text]. Structural stability is verified through pre-stressed analysis, showing negligible warpage ([Formula: see text]) and a substantial safety factor ([Formula: see text]), while maintaining minimal axis interference with cross-axis coupling [Formula: see text]. The optical transduction, analyzed through finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) methods, employs a Hybrid Plasmonic Waveguide (HPW) configuration to induce a pronounced Fano-type resonance with an insertion loss of [Formula: see text] across the visible-to-near-infrared spectrum ([Formula: see text]). By adopting an asymmetric structural architecture, the sensor generates direction-sensitive signatures characterized through a Bidirectional Optical Sensitivity Matrix, which maps nanoscale displacements to simultaneous wavelength and intensity modulation. This framework facilitates the discrimination of acceleration polarities (± X, ±Y, ±Z) and yields a balanced tri-axis Full Scale Normalized Optical Sensitivity (FS-NOS) of [Formula: see text]. Systematic noise analysis reveals a NEA of [Formula: see text], supporting sub-µg resolution, while the minimum optical resolution for the Y-axis is calculated as [Formula: see text]. Furthermore, a sequential hierarchical decoupling approach is proposed to reconstruct 3D acceleration vectors from superimposed optical outputs. This work establishes a versatile framework for developing high-resolution, all-optical, EMI-immune plasmonic MOEMS tailored for precision inertial sensing.
Holographic leaky-wave antennas with independently controlled multiple counter-rotating vortex beams.
Amini A, Nayyeri V
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42401740 · Full text
A holographic leaky-wave antenna based on modulated anisotropic metasurfaces is proposed for the synthesis of multiple counter-rotating vortex beams. The design employs a generalized aperture field estimation method tail...
A holographic leaky-wave antenna based on modulated anisotropic metasurfaces is proposed for the synthesis of multiple counter-rotating vortex beams. The design employs a generalized aperture field estimation method tailored for anisotropic impedance surfaces, enabling independent control over beam orientation, orbital angular momentum mode, power distribution, and polarization. The proposed approach provides a systematic framework for generating multiple beams with a customizable number of petals and tailored, potentially non-uniform, power distributions. By appropriately adjusting the modulation index, the rate of power leakage along the antenna can be precisely controlled, thereby enabling accurate tuning of the antenna gain. Additionally, the use of anisotropic impedance surfaces in hologram synthesis enables polarization control for each individual beam. To experimentally validate the accuracy of the results, a dual polarized, dual-beam prototype is designed, fabricated and measured. The first beam is directed toward the spherical angle of ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) with right-hand circular polarization , and its OAM content is synthesized as a superposition of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], resulting in a six-lobed, counter-rotating vortex beam. The second beam is pencil type with left-hand circular polarization tilted toward ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]). The proposed multi-beam configuration enables the simultaneous radiation of distinct beam types, each carrying independent spin and orbital angular momentum states.
Differential associations of longitudinal hearing and vision trajectories with dementia and mild cognitive impairment in older adults.
Shin J, Kim SE, Kim J … +2 more , Kim SY, Sung JE
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42401732 · Full text
Hearing and vision impairments are modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline, yet their longitudinal contributions to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia remain unclear. This study examined differential asso...
Hearing and vision impairments are modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline, yet their longitudinal contributions to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia remain unclear. This study examined differential associations of baseline sensory function and longitudinal sensory trajectories with cognitive status at Wave 9. Nine waves of data (2006-2022) from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging were analyzed, including 11,146 participants aged 45 years and older. Parallel process latent growth modeling was used to examine associations between baseline hearing and vision, their rates of change over time, and cognitive status at the final wave (cognitively normal, MCI, dementia). More rapid hearing decline was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of being classified in the dementia group. Poorer baseline vision was associated with a higher likelihood of being classified in the MCI group. In contrast, baseline hearing and longitudinal vision decline were not significantly associated with MCI or dementia classification, respectively. These findings indicate that longitudinal hearing decline shows a stronger association with dementia classification than visual impairment, whereas poorer baseline visual function may be more strongly associated with earlier-stage cognitive status.
Abdominal obesity and leisure-time sedentary behavior in relation to gastroesophageal reflux disease risk: a prospective cohort study from the UK Biobank.
Sun L, Zhang S, Zhou Y … +9 more , Lv Y, Zheng Y, Shao L, Liang W, Jin X, Zhao H, Li C, Ye W, Song J
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42401731 · Full text
This study aimed to assess the associations of abdominal obesity and leisure-time sedentary behavior with the risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and to explore their combined effects and potential interactio...
This study aimed to assess the associations of abdominal obesity and leisure-time sedentary behavior with the risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and to explore their combined effects and potential interactions. A total of 405,531 participants without GERD at baseline were included from the UK Biobank. Abdominal obesity was defined using sex-specific waist circumference thresholds. Self-reported sedentary time was dichotomized based on a 4.5-hour-per-day threshold identified using restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models (Model 2) were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Joint exposure analyses and additive interaction measures were conducted. Over a median follow-up of 12.4 years, 26,089 new GERD cases were identified. In multivariable-adjusted models (Model 2), abdominal obesity was significantly associated with a higher risk of GERD (per 5 cm increase in waist circumference: HR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.05-1.06). Each additional hour of daily self-reported sedentary time was associated with a 4% higher risk of GERD (HR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.04-1.05). These associations remained consistent after further adjustment for potential mediators (Model 3). RCS analyses showed non-linear associations between both exposures and GERD risk. Participants with both abdominal obesity and sedentary time ≥ 4.5 h/day had the highest risk (HR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.36-1.48). Additive interaction analysis did not provide evidence of a synergistic effect between the two exposures. Subgroup analyses suggested that the association between abdominal obesity and GERD was stronger in women, individuals under 60 years, and those with normal BMI. Abdominal obesity and self-reported sedentary behavior were independently associated with increased GERD risk. Although their co-occurrence was associated with the highest risk, no clear evidence of a synergistic interaction was observed. Interventions targeting either factor may help reduce GERD risk.
Effect of nitrogen-rich COF incorporation on the structure and separation performance of polyamide nanofiltration membranes.
Aubakirov Y, Ryskaliyeva R, Piskunov S … +1 more , Aldongarov A
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42401730 · Full text
The development of nanofiltration (NF) membranes combining high water permeability with precise ion selectivity remains limited by the permeability-selectivity trade-off of conventional polyamide (PA) thin-film composite...
The development of nanofiltration (NF) membranes combining high water permeability with precise ion selectivity remains limited by the permeability-selectivity trade-off of conventional polyamide (PA) thin-film composite membranes. Herein, a nitrogen-rich imine-linked covalent organic framework (COF) was incorporated into the PA selective layer via interfacial polymerization to regulate membrane structure and ion transport. Structural characterization confirmed COF formation and its integration into the PA layer. COF incorporation enhanced membrane hydrophilicity, decreasing the water contact angle from ~ 62° to ~ 30°, which is attributed to COF-derived polar nitrogen-containing groups and AFM-confirmed surface roughening. Pure water flux also increased from ~ 43 to 50 L m⁻ h⁻. The COF-modified membranes exhibited improved desalination performance with a rejection order of MgSO > NaSO > MgCl > NaCl. At the highest COF loading, MgSO and NaSO rejection reached ~ 99% and ~ 98%, respectively, while MgCl and NaCl rejection increased to ~ 50% and ~ 43%. Although zeta potential became less negative after COF incorporation, rejection improved, indicating combined contributions from hydrated ion size exclusion, PA-layer modification, enhanced wettability, and ion-framework interactions. Density functional theory calculations revealed stronger electronic perturbation and preferential interaction for sulfate-containing systems than chloride-containing systems, consistent with the experimental ion-selectivity trend.
Withanolide A inhibits hIAPP aggregation: An In silico, biophysical, and drosophila-based In vivo validation.
Panda SM, Dash K, Behera DP … +3 more , Mishra M, Sahoo H, Tripathy U
Sci Rep · 2026 Jul · PMID 42401729 · Full text
The aberrant aggregation of human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) or Amylin into toxic oligomers and fibrils leads to pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and progressive cell death, which is a key pathological feature of Typ...
The aberrant aggregation of human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) or Amylin into toxic oligomers and fibrils leads to pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and progressive cell death, which is a key pathological feature of Type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this study, we adopted a hybrid approach combining virtual screening and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, with experimental validation, to identify inhibitors of hIAPP aggregation. Herein, we screened 2000 phytoconstituents from natural products using molecular docking, followed by in silico ADMET predictions. Withaferin A and Withanolide A (phytoconstituents of Ashwagandha) were found to be lead molecules with suitable drug-like properties. Next, we performed MD simulation to assess the stability and interaction dynamics of hIAPP-ligand complexes, and the effect of ligands on hIAPP fibrils. Building on the computational screening, we further carried out a comprehensive experimental analysis to validate the inhibitory effects of lead molecules. The collective experimental results from the Thioflavin T (ThT) assays, FTIR experiment, combined with Confocal and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), suggest that the ligands (preferably Withanolide A) have a potent inhibitory effect against hIAPP aggregation by increasing the lag phase, reducing β-sheet content, and inhibiting fibril formation of hIAPP. For in vivo validation using Drosophila model, Withanolide A was found to mitigate hIAPP oligomer-induced toxicity by reducing apoptosis, necrosis, and oxidative stress in the Drosophila gut, as confirmed by multiple cell death staining assays and reactive oxygen species (ROS) analysis. Besides, in diabetic flies, Withanolide A lowered glucose levels, demonstrating anti-diabetic activity. Thus, this work, for the first time, suggests that Withanolide A may be a potential candidate for inhibiting hIAPP aggregation and as a T2DM drug.
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