Tag: pubmed

Small. 2026 Jul 10:e74516. doi: 10.1002/smll.74516. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Two-dimensional (2D) materials offer an attractive platform for optoelectronic reservoir computing (RC) and neuromorphic hardware, promising energy-efficient in-sensor processing for edge intelligence. However, scaling such systems to practical large-scale arrays is hindered by substantial device-to-device variability due to the stochastic distribution of intrinsic defects in these materials. Here, we demonstrate a scalable and highly uniform reservoir array based on vertical p-GaN/n-MoS₂ heterojunctions via an interface engineering strategy. A controlled thermal pretreatment process produces a uniform GaO_X interlayer with a high density of statistically homogeneous defects, which serve as reproducible carrier trapping centers to generate reliable memory effects. This approach ensures highly consistent nodal responses across the array, overcoming a key bottleneck in 2D material-based neuromorphic hardware. The system exhibits robust spatiotemporal processing capabilities, experimentally realizing dynamic trajectory reconstruction, an 87.24% accuracy in static digit classification, and a normalized mean squared error of 7.01 × 10^-5 in predicting second-order nonlinear dynamics. These results establish interface engineering as a decisive route to overcoming the uniformity bottlenecks of 2D materials, advancing the practical implementation toward wafer-scale optoelectronic neuromorphic hardware.

PMID:42429063 | DOI:10.1002/smll.74516

Int J Oncol. 2026 Sep;69(3):98. doi: 10.3892/ijo.2026.5911. Epub 2026 Jul 10.

ABSTRACT

Kv10.1, also known as Eag1 or KCNH1, is a voltage‑gated potassium ion channel, which exists in cell membrane and is closely associated with cancer and multiple precancerous lesions. Emerging experimental evidence shows that Kv10.1 is essential for the occurrence, growth, metastasis, proliferation and death of various malignant tumors. The pathogenesis of Kv10.1 and the signal pathways involved in its regulation are different in different cancers. The present review explored the origin, structure, distribution in normal and tumor cells, physiological and pathological characteristics, roles in cancer and tumor regulation mechanisms of Kv10.1. Finally, Kv10.1 related signaling pathways and its current use as a pharmacological modulator are summarized, aiming to provide new insights into the pharmacological research of Kv10.1 in cancer.

PMID:42429056 | DOI:10.3892/ijo.2026.5911

Int J Ment Health Nurs. 2026 Aug;35(4):e70306. doi: 10.1111/inm.70306.

ABSTRACT

Workaholism has been widely examined among employees across occupational groups, but limited empirical evidence is available on its association with work-related quality of life (WRQoL) among nursing educators. This study examined whether mindfulness statistically mediated the association between workaholism and WRQoL among nursing educators. A multisite observational study using a cross-sectional and correlational design was conducted among nursing educators from four nursing colleges in Saudi Arabia using consecutive and snowball sampling. Between February and July 2025, data were collected using three validated self-report scales. Structural equation modelling, mediation analysis, and path analysis were used to examine the hypothesised associations among the study variables. Workaholism was negatively associated with WRQoL (β_D = -0.46, 95% CI = -0.63 to -0.29, p = 0.004) and mindfulness (β_D = -0.41, 95% CI = -0.56 to -0.21, p = 0.004). Mindfulness was positively associated with WRQoL (β_D = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.16 to 0.52, p = 0.004). A statistically significant indirect association was observed between workaholism and WRQoL through mindfulness, consistent with statistical mediation (β_I = -0.15, 95% CI = -0.24 to -0.05, p = 0.004). In the final model, workaholism accounted for 17.10% of the variance in mindfulness, whereas workaholism and mindfulness together accounted for 46.60% of the variance in WRQoL. These findings suggest that higher workaholism is associated with lower mindfulness and WRQoL, while higher mindfulness is associated with better WRQoL among nursing educators. Although causal conclusions cannot be drawn and generalisability is limited by the non-probability sample, the results may inform institutional strategies in similar nursing education settings that address workaholic tendencies and support mindfulness-informed approaches to educator well-being.

PMID:42429037 | DOI:10.1111/inm.70306

Mon Not R Astron Soc. 2026 Jun 26;550(2):stag1219. doi: 10.1093/mnras/stag1219. eCollection 2026 Aug.

ABSTRACT

Integrated-light star cluster catalogues in external galaxies are subject to complex, often poorly characterized selection effects that can bias inferred cluster demographics and introduce significant uncertainties, limiting the physical parameter space accessible to analysis. To mitigate this problem, here we introduce the Cluster Completeness Correction Calculator (c-4): a new software tool to quantify and predict these effects in both physical and photometric parameter spaces. c-4 adds artificial star clusters to observed galaxy images, processes these images through the same detection and filtering steps used to construct the original cluster catalogue, and then trains multilayer perceptron neural networks to learn the resulting selection function. The trained neural networks provide continuous, differentiable completeness functions that can be used for direct completeness corrections or incorporated into forward models. We present a pilot application of c-4 to NGC 628, demonstrating that the learned selection operator is highly accurate and successfully captures the strongly non-separable dependence of completeness on mass, age, and extinction. Applying the completeness correction to NGC 628 extends the range of cluster demographic analyses by roughly an order of magnitude in both mass and age, and removes artificial flattening in the observed cluster mass and age distributions. These results establish neural-network-based completeness modelling as a powerful and general approach for recovering intrinsic cluster populations, and provide a scalable framework for modelling high-dimensional selection functions in resolved stellar population studies.

PMID:42428985 | PMC:PMC13347084 | DOI:10.1093/mnras/stag1219

Eur J Midwifery. 2026 Jul 3;10. doi: 10.18332/ejm/223604. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Early labor care is complex because of women’s individual needs. To consider varying experiences and distinguish between parturients who are well at home and those who require increased support, the GebStart-tool was developed. It intends to advise primiparous women during early labor, enhance the quality of care, and improve perinatal outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the potential benefits and risks of applying the GebStart-tool.

METHODS: Applying the preliminary version of the GebStart-tool, we compared labor and birth data from n=303 study participants with spontaneous onset of labor with baseline data of n=1635 births that occurred in the six months preceding the study across six centers. Descriptive statistics and odds ratios were calculated.

RESULTS: GebStart-study participants had significantly lower odds for labor augmentation with oxytocin (OR=0.65; 95% CI: 0.51-0.84, p<0.001), epidural analgesia (OR=0.56; 95% CI: 0.43-0.72, p<0.001), and cesarean section (OR=0.52; 95% CI: 0.36-0.76, p<0.001) compared to baseline data. In contrast, the odds for opioid administration (OR=1.37; 95% CI: 1.02-1.83, p=0.028) and a spontaneous vaginal birth (OR=1.33; 95% CI: 1.02-1.72, p=0.028) were significantly higher. Apgar scores at one minute and arterial umbilical cord pH did not differ substantially between groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Compared to baseline data, GebStart-study participants had a higher chance of fewer intrapartal interventions and a spontaneous vaginal birth. Therefore, using the GebStart-tool seems promising for improving labor and birth outcomes. In a future larger study, the effectiveness of applying the final version of the GebStart-tool should be investigated.CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered in the Swiss National Clinical Trials Portal and the German Clinical Trial Register.IDENTIFIERS: SNCTP000004555 and DRKS00025572.

PMID:42428975 | PMC:PMC13347223 | DOI:10.18332/ejm/223604

Front Hum Neurosci. 2026 Jun 25;20:1794651. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2026.1794651. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the advantages of 5T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) analysis for brain imaging and explore whether standardized perfusion parameters show similar distributions between 3T and 5T cohorts.

METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 52 adults undergoing 3T/5T MRI (July 2022-February 2025) with T1-weighted and DSC-MRI sequences. Perfusion parameters [cerebral blood volume (CBV), cerebral blood flow (CBF), and mean transit time (MTT)] and gray matter-to-white matter (GM/WM) ratios were quantified using MItalytics software. Signal-to-noise (SNR) and contrast ratios (CR) were compared, with Wilcoxon rank-sum tests.

RESULTS: Fifty-two patients (male/female: 24/28; age range: 24-74 years) were divided into 3T (n = 23) and 5T (n = 29) cohorts. In T1-weighted imaging, 3T demonstrated significantly higher SNR (p < 0.001), while 5T exhibited superior CR. For DSC-MRI, 5T achieved SNR comparable to 3T despite shorter repetition time (TR) and echo time (TE). No significant differences in perfusion parameters (CBV, CBF, MTT) were observed between field strengths. GM/WM ratios showed strong concordance: CBV ratios were 2.060 ± 0.223 (3T) vs. 2.062 ± 0.176 (5T), and CBF ratios were 1.985 ± 0.236 (3T) vs. 1.996 ± 0.173 (5T).

CONCLUSION: In this retrospective analysis, 5T MRI showed higher T1-weighted contrast and similar DSC-MRI SNR relative to 3T under the tested protocols. DSC perfusion parameters, quantified using the MItalytics platform, showed no statistically significant between-cohort differences.

PMID:42428963 | PMC:PMC13346085 | DOI:10.3389/fnhum.2026.1794651

Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2026 Jun 25;14:1861366. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2026.1861366. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries frequently necessitate anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), yet balance deficits persist during preoperative and postoperative periods. However, comprehensive longitudinal comparative studies remain scarce. This study utilized a high-resolution plantar pressure system to thoroughly assess these balance characteristics, aiming to optimize clinical rehabilitation.

METHODS: Fifty participants [25 in the ACLR group, 25 in the normal control (NC) group] were assessed using the SMARTX-MFS plantar pressure system. The ACLR group was assessed preoperatively, 2 months postoperatively, and 6 months postoperatively. The static parameters included the pressure proportion of the affected side (P_A), the center of pressure (COP) 95% confidence ellipse area (S_COP) and the COP trajectory length (L_COP). The dynamic parameters included COP medial-lateral offset length (L_COP-ML), COP anterior-posterior offset length (L_COP-AP), gait line length (L_G), single-leg support line length (L_S), maximum moving speed of COP (V_MAX), proportion of swing period (P_SW), support period (P_S), weight-bearing response period (P_WB), single-leg support period (P_SL), pre-swing period (P_SP), and the maximum pressure in the forefoot (P_MAX-F), arch (P_MAX-A) and heel (P_MAX-H). Inter-group and intra-group comparisons were conducted.

RESULTS: Preoperatively: The ACLR group exhibited impairments in both static and dynamic balance, alongside profound bilateral asymmetry. Two Months Postoperatively: Only L_COP-AP showed significant improvement (P > 0.05). Six Months Postoperatively: Static balance and most dynamic parameters showed no statistically significant differences compared to the NC group, except for increased L_COP-ML (P < 0.05) and decreased L_G and L_S of the affected side (P < 0.05). Within the ACLR group, the affected side still exhibited extremely significant decreased L_G, L_S, and P_MAX-F (P < 0.001), while P_MAX-A and P_MAX-H decreased significantly (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The ACLR group showed significant balance deficits at pre-operation. Only the L_COP-AP showed significant improvement at 2 months post-operation. The deficits basically recovered at 6 months post-operation. However, the asymmetry of COP trajectory and plantar pressure still existed. The study provided a basis for clinical rehabilitation assessment.

PMID:42428942 | PMC:PMC13346059 | DOI:10.3389/fbioe.2026.1861366

Front Public Health. 2026 Jun 25;14:1781727. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1781727. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Village Health Volunteers (VHVs) constitute a crucial community health workforce in communicable disease prevention and control. Despite generally strong performance, persistent gaps in digital literacy, data management, and risk communication indicate a need for a structured competency development model.

METHODS: A mixed-methods Multiphase Research design was employed from March 2022 to July 2024, integrating quantitative surveys with qualitative focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. Phase 1 comprised quantitative (n = 416) and qualitative (n = 100) data collection using multi-stage stratified random sampling and purposive sampling, respectively. Phase 2 (n = 34) employed the Plan-Act-Observe-Reflect cycle to develop the competency model. Phase 3 (n = 33) evaluated the intervention.

RESULTS: Baseline assessment indicated that most VHVs were female (80.53%), aged 51-60 years (43.03%), and had 11-20 years of experience (45.19%). Overall self-reported competency was at a high level (mean = 3.71, SD = 0.46), with strong performance in practices (mean = 4.34, SD = 0.42), moderate-to-high skills (mean = 3.60, SD = 0.45), and the lowest scores in knowledge (mean = 3.59, SD = 0.49). Qualitative findings identified substantive competency gaps in epidemiological reasoning, digital literacy, systematic data recording, risk communication, and leadership. The SMART VHV Plus Model, comprising five components (communicable disease control, management, technology, leadership and teamwork, and community health planning), was subsequently developed and delivered through five structured training programmes. Post-intervention assessment demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in overall competency scores: from a pre-intervention mean of 86.14% (SD = 7.65, classified as moderate) to a post-intervention mean of 98.16% (SD = 1.95, classified as high), representing a mean difference of 12.02 percentage points (95% CI: 9.84-14.20, p < 0.05).

DISCUSSION: The SMART VHV Plus Model was associated with meaningful improvements in VHV competencies in communicable disease prevention and control. Its participatory design and integration of digital literacy, leadership, and community health planning provide a potentially sustainable framework for strengthening community health workforce capacity.

PMID:42428931 | PMC:PMC13346076 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2026.1781727

Front Public Health. 2026 Jun 25;14:1857921. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1857921. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed malignancies among men worldwide, with higher reported incidence in many high-income countries. Environmental factors are receiving increasing attention as potential contributors to cancer development. Microplastics, which are found in air, water, food, and personal care items, are one possible risk factor.

METHODOLOGY: Data from 22 nations were investigated to examine whether an association exists between exposure to microplastics and the rate of prostate cancer. Data on exposure were combined from several sources, such as stool particles, breathed air, drinking water, seafood intake, and personal care products. Statistical and machine learning methods, such as K-means clustering, principal component analysis, and random forest modeling, were applied to find the most important exposure variables linked to cancer risk.

RESULTS: Stool microplastic concentrations and heavy metal burden showed the strongest model-based associations with prostate cancer incidence. Countries with higher external exposure indicators did not consistently show higher reported prostate cancer incidence. This pattern suggests that external exposure metrics alone may be insufficient to explain country-level variation. Internal retention and tissue-response pathways remain plausible hypotheses, but they require direct validation using individual-level and tissue-based data.

DISCUSSION: The findings support the need to integrate exposure pathways, biomonitoring indicators, and biological-response markers when studying microplastic-related cancer risk. However, this study was limited by its ecological design, cross-sectional structure, and small sample size of 22 countries. Therefore, the results should be interpreted as exploratory and hypothesis-generating rather than causal. Further longitudinal and individual-level studies are required to validate these associations.

PMID:42428925 | PMC:PMC13347956 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2026.1857921

Front Public Health. 2026 Jun 25;14:1867281. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1867281. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: With the acceleration of global population aging, low physical activity levels have become a primary threat to the health of older adults. Consequently, digital health interventions (DHIs) based on objective monitoring tools (e.g., accelerometers, wearable devices) are progressively emerging as a novel means to promote active health in older adults.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to quantitatively evaluate the actual effects of DHIs based on objective monitoring data on the physical activity levels of older adults through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and CINAHL were searched up to April 12, 2026. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that utilized objective instruments, such as accelerometers or smart sensors, to record DHIs promoting physical activity in older adults were included. A random-effects model was used for the meta-analysis, with mean differences (MD) applied to evaluate effect sizes. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (RoB 2.0). Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were performed to explore sources of heterogeneity, and a trim-and-fill method was implemented for stress testing. The certainty of the evidence was evaluated using the GRADE system.

RESULTS: Ultimately, 21 RCTs involving 2,962 participants were included. Meta-analysis results demonstrated that DHIs significantly increased daily steps in older adults [MD = 381.58, 95% CI (237.58, 525.58), p < 0.00001], and Egger’s test detected no significant publication bias (p = 0.062). In contrast, while the original pooled effect for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) duration was significant [MD = 34.78, p < 0.00001], si gnificant publication bias was present (p = 0.033). After adjusting and filling 6 studies using the trim-and-fill method, the effect size decreased to 19.70 and lost statistical significance (p = 0.059). Exploratory subgroup analysis indicated that wearable devices and remote human feedback exhibited a trend toward better effect sizes for daily steps, and the interventions tended to yield superior MVPA improvements in populations with specific health risks compared to generally healthy older adults; however, these findings possess only hypothesis-generating value. The GRADE evaluation revealed that the certainty of evidence was at a “Low” level for weekly MVPA duration and at a “Very Low” level for daily steps.

CONCLUSION: Limited low-certainty evidence suggests that DHIs may have potential promotive benefits in increasing the total amount of daily activity in older adults, but their robustness in driving MVPA remains insufficient. Digital interventions exhibit relatively better behavioral promotive benefits when targeting populations with specific health risks, but they should not be considered a standalone means to improve exercise intensity in clinical promotion. Future research and development should explore transitioning from simple data recording to intelligent closed-loop systems that incorporate intensity regulation and multidimensional feedback, thereby enhancing the robustness of intervention effects.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261366882, CRD420261366882.

PMID:42428916 | PMC:PMC13345852 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2026.1867281