Short-term outcomes of robotic versus laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection for rectal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: To compare the short-term outcomes of robotic abdominoperineal resection with laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection in patients with rectal cancer.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane through March 2024 following PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO number: CRD42024520671). Randomized controlled trials and nonrandomized studies comparing short-term outcomes between the 2 approaches were selected.

Teaching experience with immersive virtual reality using the "VR-Triage" tool.

Background: Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) is increasingly used in health sciences education to simulate high-risk, low-frequency scenarios such as mass casualty incidents. While prior research has focused on student outcomes, the perceptions of instructors about available IVR tools remains underexplored.

Objective: To evaluate instructors' perceptions regarding ease of use, educational value, and technical quality of the "VR-Triage" immersive simulation tool in a disaster and mass casualty incident course.

Estuarine health assessed by sediment biotic and geochemical indices: insights into sustainable decision-making in the Sado transitional system (SW Portugal).

Balancing socio-economic development with environmental quality in estuaries requires reliable tools for ecological assessment and informed management. Although various biological and (geo)chemical indices have been formulated to evaluate ecological quality status (EcoQS), transitional systems such as estuaries remain challenging to assess due to steep natural gradients and intense anthropogenic pressures, which can compromise the effectiveness of conventional indices. This study applied a practical, multi-criteria sediment assessment to evaluate benthic EcoQS in the Sado estuary, SW Portugal - a socio-ecological system strongly influenced by human activity.

CCLR-DL: A novel statistics and deep learning hybrid method for feature selection and forecasting healthcare demand.

Background And Objective: Hybrid forecasting methods aim to overcome the limitations of classical statistical approaches and deep learning models. While statistical methods provide interpretability, they often lack predictive power. Conversely, deep learning models achieve high accuracy but act as "black boxes.

Source apportionment of processes contributing to volcanic PM aerosols during the 2021 eruption of Tajogaite.

The 2021-eruption of Tajogaite (La Palma, Canary Islands) was associated with the formation of large amounts of respirable PM aerosols (smaller than 10 μm) that triggered air quality crisis and lockdowns for ∼35,000 persons. This study aims to quantify the contribution of the aerosol formation mechanisms to the volcanic PM concentrations. During the eruption and post-eruption, we monitored trace gases (SO, HF, HCl and NO), and the size distribution and chemical composition of falling-tephra and PM aerosols.

Pharmacokinetics of carprofen in Siamese crocodiles (Crocodylus siamensis).

Carprofen (CAR) is an NSAID commonly used in veterinary medicine that preferentially inhibits cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), thereby mitigating inflammation and pain while minimizing adverse effects linked to cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) inhibition. This study characterizes the pharmacokinetics of CAR in Siamese crocodiles (Crocodylus siamensis) and was conducted at an ambient temperature range of 27-30 °C following single intravenous (IV) or intramuscular (IM) administration at 2 mg/kg, and IM administration at 4 mg/kg. Plasma concentrations were determined using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography method with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV).

Anomalous hydration of glycolipid ohmline revealed by surface-specific vibrational spectroscopy.

Glycolipids are key structural and functional components of biological membranes, yet their interfacial hydration behavior remains poorly understood. Here, we use vibrational heterodyne-detected sum-frequency generation (HD-SFG) spectroscopy to probe the molecular structure of the air-water interface formed by monolayers of ohmline, a glycolipid bearing a lactose headgroup and carrying no formal charge. Upon electrolyte addition, we observe a striking reorientation of interfacial water and a reversal of the HD-SFG signal, indicative of apparent surface charging by an otherwise neutral headgroup.

CIB1 and platelet integrin αIIbβ3: Molecular mechanisms, disruption strategies and antithrombotic opportunities.

Platelet integrin αIIbβ3 is the final common effector of arterial thrombosis: it switches from a low-affinity to a high-affinity state, binds fibrinogen, and initiates the outside-in signals that stabilize a growing clot. Calcium- and integrin-binding protein 1 (CIB1) emerged as the first endogenous partner of the αIIb cytoplasmic tail and is now recognized as a dual-role adaptor. At rest, Ca-free CIB1 tethers the inner membrane clasp and restrains premature integrin activation; after ligand engagement, Ca-bound CIB1 docks onto αIIb, recruits focal-adhesion kinase and amplifies Src-dependent cytoskeletal remodeling.

The PROtective VEntilation (PROVE) Network - advancing research and collaboration in mechanical ventilation.

The PROtective VEntilation (PROVE) Network is a globally-recognized collaborative research group dedicated to advancing research, education, and collaboration in the field of mechanical ventilation. Established to address critical questions in intraoperative and intensive care ventilation, the network focuses on improving outcomes for patients undergoing mechanical ventilation in diverse settings, including operating rooms, intensive care units, burn units, and resource-limited environments in low- and middle-income countries. The PROVE Network is committed to generating high-quality evidence through a comprehensive portfolio of investigations, including randomized clinical trials, observational research, and meta-analyses.

Strong Magnon-Phonon Coupling in the Kagome Antiferromagnets.

Magnon-phonon hybridization in ordered materials is a crucial phenomenon with significant implications for spintronics, magnonics, and quantum materials research. We present direct experimental evidence and theoretical insights into magnon-phonon coupling in Mn_{3}Ge, a kagome antiferromagnet with noncollinear spin order. Using inelastic x-ray scattering and ab initio modeling, we uncover strong hybridization between planar spin fluctuations and transverse optical phonons, resulting in a large hybridization gap of ∼2  meV.

Positive Neutrino Masses with DESI DR2 via Matter Conversion to Dark Energy.

The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) is a massively parallel spectroscopic survey on the Mayall telescope at Kitt Peak, which has released measurements of baryon acoustic oscillations determined from over 14 million extragalactic targets. We combine DESI Data Release 2 with CMB datasets to search for evidence of matter conversion to dark energy (DE), focusing on a scenario mediated by stellar collapse to cosmologically coupled black holes (CCBHs). In this physical model, which has the same number of free parameters as ΛCDM, DE production is determined by the cosmic star formation rate density (SFRD), allowing for distinct early- and late-time cosmologies.

Compact Metaplate with Bound State in the Continuum: From Quasisymmetry to Symmetry.

Building localized states with high quality factors in compact dynamic systems could enhance the performance of wave control devices such as elastic filters and high-precision sensing devices. Here, we report on the theoretical and experimental investigation of symmetry-protected bound states in the continuum (BICs) in a compressed metaplate. The proposed theory establishes a Bessel-zero-directed multipolarization design that enables precise modulation for the frequencies and modes of BICs.

Half-Life and Precision Shape Measurement of the 2νββ Decay of ^{130}Te.

We present a new measurement of the 2νββ half-life of ^{130}Te (T_{1/2}^{2ν}) using the first complete model of the CUORE data, based on 1038 kg yr of collected exposure. Thanks to optimized data selection, we achieve a factor of two improvement in precision, obtaining T_{1/2}^{2ν}=(9.32 _{-0.

Search for an Anomalous Production of Charged-Current ν_{e} Interactions without Visible Pions across Multiple Kinematic Observables in MicroBooNE.

This Letter presents an investigation of low-energy electron-neutrino interactions in the Fermilab Booster Neutrino Beam by the MicroBooNE experiment, motivated by the excess of electron-neutrino-like events observed by the MiniBooNE experiment. This is the first measurement to use data from all five years of operation of the MicroBooNE experiment, corresponding to an exposure of 1.11×10^{21} protons on target, a 70% increase on past results.

Universal Wilson Loop Bound of Quantum Geometry.

We define the absolute Wilson loop winding and prove that it bounds the (integrated) quantum metric from below. This Wilson loop lower bound naturally reproduces the known Chern and Euler bounds of the integrated quantum metric and provides an explicit lower bound of the integrated quantum metric due to the time-reversal protected Z_{2} index, answering a hitherto open question. In general, the Wilson loop lower bound can be applied to any other topological invariants characterized by Wilson loop winding, such as the particle-hole Z_{2} index.

Quantum Delocalization of a Levitated Nanoparticle.

Matter waves have been observed in double-slit experiments with microscopic objects, such as atoms or molecules. The wave function describing the motion of these objects must extend over a distance comparable to the slit separation, much larger than the characteristic size of the objects. Preparing such states for more massive objects, such as mechanical oscillators, remains an outstanding challenge.

Usability and quality evaluation of the World Health Organization SkinNTDs app among frontline health workers in Cameroon: A mixed methods study.

Background: Originally adapted from a paper-based guide for skin-related neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), version 3.0.0 of the World Health Organization (WHO) SkinNTDs app aims to strengthen disease surveillance and frontline health worker capacity in NTD-endemic settings.

Evidence for Similar Collectivity of High Transverse-Momentum Particles in p-Pb and Pb-Pb Collisions.

Charged hadron elliptic anisotropies (v_{2}) are presented over a wide transverse momentum (p_{T}) range for proton-lead (pPb) and lead-lead (PbPb) collisions at nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energies of 8.16 and 5.02 TeV, respectively.

Probing Benchmark Models of Hidden-Sector Dark Matter with DAMIC-M.

We report on a search for sub-GeV dark matter (DM) particles interacting with electrons using the DAMIC-M prototype detector at the Modane Underground Laboratory. The data feature a significantly lower detector single e^{-} rate (factor 50) compared to our previous search, while also accumulating a 10 times larger exposure of ∼1.3  kg-day.

Fatal Toxoplasma gondii COUG strain infections in southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis): New insight on contributing factors and parasite serotyping.

Fatal infections with the rare COUG strain of the zoonotic parasite Toxoplasma gondii were recently detected for the first time in four southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) exhibiting severe protozoal steatitis. The objectives of this study were to describe new COUG strain infections in sea otters, investigate the potential contributory role of a recently discovered parasite-infecting narnavirus (Apocryptovirus odysseus) in these infections, assess the potential contribution of vitamin E deficiency in the development of systemic steatitis, and explore the utility of serotyping for strain-specific diagnosis of T. gondii infections in sea otters.

Effects of site elevation and grazing exclusion on phenolic compound production in Nardus stricta plants in high-elevation grasslands.

Specialized plant metabolism, particularly phenolic compound production, contributes significantly to the functioning and resilience of mountain ecosystems. Livestock grazing can influence phenolic production, with its effects varying depending on microclimatic factors and soil conditions. Despite the ecological significance of this process, the impact of livestock grazing on phenolic production in alpine plants remains insufficiently explored.

ProteinLIPs: a web server for identifying highly polar and poorly packed interfaces in proteins.

Motivation: The stability of protein interfaces influences protein dynamics and unfolding cooperativity. Although in some cases the dynamics of proteins can be deduced from their topology, much of the stability of an interface is related to the complementarity of the interacting parts. It is also important to note that proteins that display non-cooperative unfolding cannot be rationally stabilized unless the regions that unfold first are known.

Preclinical and first-in-human evidence of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid for mitochondrial COQ2 deficiency.

Primary coenzyme Q (CoQ) deficiency is a mitochondrial disorder with variable clinical presentation and limited response to standard CoQ10 supplementation. Recent studies suggest that 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-HBA), a biosynthetic precursor of CoQ, may serve as a substrate enhancement treatment in cases caused by pathogenic variants in COQ2, a gene encoding a key enzyme in CoQ biosynthesis. However, it remains unclear whether 4-HBA is required throughout life to maintain health, whether it offers advantages over CoQ10 treatment, and whether these findings are translatable to humans.

Breaking Barriers in Scientific Dissemination: Preliminary Results of the Interactive Infographic Summaries to Share International Palliative Care Projects.

International research projects, such as Horizon 2020 (H2020) and ERASMUS+, generate numerous scientific and educational outcomes. However, these are often disseminated in fragmented formats, limiting long-term access and impact. Language barriers further complicate the dissemination in professional communities that do not speak English.

Impact of the Mediterranean Diet and Physical Activity on the Severity of Atopic Dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin condition influenced by genetic and environmental factors. The role of lifestyle on AD remains unclear. This study explores the association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), physical activity (PA) levels, and AD severity.