Research works

Thalamocortical connectivity and nucleus-specific thalamic dysfunction in temporal lobe epilepsy: an integrative review

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is increasingly recognized as a distributed network disorder extending beyond mesial temporal structures. Among the brain regions implicated in epileptic network organization, the thalamus has emerged as a key hub due to its extensive structural and f...

OLCA: A Consequence–Substrate Architecture for Grounded Affect and Emergent Ethical Autonomy in Language-Model Agents

OLCA (Organic-Like Cognitive Architecture) is a specification for a "consequence substrate" beneath a language-model agent: a homeostatic internal state, written only by a blind evaluator's verdicts and by reality-grounded outcome signals, that reaches the model as opaque modulat...

The Invisible Web: Linking Diet and Gut Microbiota Across Time and Space in Odonates

Abstract The complex relationship between insects and their gut microbiota has become a central theme in host–microbe ecology, revealing profound effects on host fitness and interactions. Yet, how gut microbial communities—and their primary determinant, diet—vary across space and...

OpenThread as a tool for localization of devices and patients in healthcare systems

PURPOSE: Efficient patient flow management is a key factor for optimizing workflows in cost-intensive hospital units such as operating rooms. While existing prediction models can accurately estimate surgical durations, uncertainties in patient transport and availability of resour...

Layer-aware deep feature optimization for privacy-preserving face biometrics with revocable key binding

Abstract Biometric cryptosystems designed with revocability and session-level renewability must preserve template privacy and maintain reliable authentication despite the inherent variability of biometric data. A key unresolved issue in deep biometric protection is how the embedd...

Ameliorative effects of date palm ( Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruit extract on sperm quality, DNA integrity, and oxidative stress in a busulfan-induced model in rats

Objective: This study examined the potential protective role of date palm fruit extract (DPFE) and its underlying mechanisms against busulfan-induced sperm damage and infertility. Methods: Sixty male Wistar rats were allocated to control, busulfan alone (10 mg/kg), DPFE alone (4...

Association of ovarian inflammation and hormonal dysregulation: a candidate mechanism underlying polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder characterized by female infertility, menstrual irregularities, and hormonal imbalance, leading to impaired reproductive health. Hyperandrogenemia is considered a central endocrine feature and a ke...

Virtual reality mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for reducing psychological distress in people with depression and/or anxiety symptoms: two uncontrolled feasibility studies

Abstract Background Group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is recommended for the treatment of subthreshold-to-mild depressive symptoms. Timely access to MBCT, however, is limited by accessibility issues. Self-help MBCT can overcome these issues, but is associated with...

“She cannot use these methods before she has at least one child”: a qualitative study on family planning attitudes, knowledge, and experiences among adolescent girls and young women living with HIV in Moshi, Tanzania

Abstract Background Each year, about half of pregnancies in adolescents (15–19 years of age) are unintended, and the rate of adolescent pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa is twice the global rate. Adolescent pregnancies have similar social determinants as those of HIV acquisition, r...

Risk factors for scaphoid nonunion in acute fractures treated with cast immobilization

Aims: There is a lack of published evidence relating to the risk factors for nonunion seen in acute scaphoid fractures. We aimed to describe the risk factors for nonunion in adult patients (aged ≥ 16 years) treated with cast immobilization for acute scaphoid fractures. Methods: W...

Reading Joys, Then and Now

Abstract A meditation on how the author’s reading practices have changed over time. Questioning the conflation of “voluntary reading” with “reading for pleasure,” the author suggests that being obliged to read and reading for pleasure can be productively thought in relation.

Phacoemulsification surgery: stepping into the mixed reality era

PURPOSE: To test the applicability of a mixed reality headset in cataract surgery. METHODS: Patients scheduled for phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation surgery were enrolled in our prospective interventional study. All patients underwent complete baseline ophthal...

When Joyful Reading Hangsaman

Abstract Contemporary readers’ interest in gothic fiction signals one opportunity for understanding what aligns pleasure reading with professional reading. Drawing on the example of Shirley Jackson’s psychological horror, this article proposes attending to the formal developments...

A harm-reduction framework for responsible AI in public health research

Abstract Artificial intelligence is reshaping population medicine and public health, yet the same systems that generate insight can amplify misleading content and blur where evidence ends and AI fabrication begins. This perspective offers a four-level harm-reduction framework, co...

Word Play

Abstract This article reminds us that reading is not in every instance a solitary experience and that reading aloud can playfully enliven any tale, from the simple to the complex.

The Universe as a Projection: Additional Consequences in Light of the Grand Unified Theory (GUT)

In previous works, the author proposed a holographic projection model, a Generalized Holographic Principle, a Grand Unified Theory (GUT), and a "Seven Forms of Matter" (7FM) model. This article demonstrates that the integration of these approaches creates a closed ontological sys...

AI-Driven Smart Agriculture: An Integrated Approach for Soil Analysis, Irrigation and Crop-Fertilizer Recommendation

The proposed system is an IoT-based smart agriculture monitoring and automation system designed to improve crop productivity, optimize water usage, and enable real-time decision-making. Traditional farming methods rely on manual monitoring and fixed irrigation schedules, leading...

PATIENT-PERCEIVED DIMENSIONS OF TOTAL QUALITY SERVICE IN HEALTHCARE

This assessment paper intends to perceive estimations of patient-saw full scale quality organization (TQS) in the restorative administrations division. Further, the impact of the estimations of patient-saw TQS on calm satisfaction is investigated. A study has been made considerin...

Limitations of interaction techniques in modern radial chart implementations

Abstract Radial visualization has gained prominence as a versatile approach to exploring complex, multivariate data in information visualization research and practice. However, the interactive potential of radial visualizations remains under-synthesized across existing high-level...

Healthy Personality Patterns Predict Higher Well-Being but Limited Stability and Change

Abstract Healthy personality, characterised by higher extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness alongside lower neuroticism, has been associated with adaptive functioning and well-being. However, it remains unclear whether these associations reflect similarity...