Research works

The Matricellular Protein CCN1 Induces Corneal Stromal Cells Senescence and Inflammation to Trigger Extracellular Matrix Remodeling in Keratoconus

Purpose: Keratoconus (KC) is a multifactorial corneal degenerative disorder characterized by reduced extracellular matrix (ECM) and cellular content. This study investigates the role and mechanism of cellular communication network factor 1 (CCN1) in KC progression. Methods: The e...

Associations between maths ability mindset, maths task preference and physiological responses to feedback during an arithmetic task across two primary school years

BACKGROUND: Students' mindsets, reactions to feedback and learning-related behaviour are important for academic success, yet little is known about how these factors and their interconnections develop during primary school. AIMS: To explore longitudinal associations between studen...

An in-depth comparison: first wave of mpox in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Lisbon, Portugal

Abstract Background The 2022 mpox outbreak spread rapidly beyond endemic regions, affecting multiple countries with broadly similar transmission patterns but different public health responses and surveillance systems. We compared laboratory-confirmed mpox infections reported duri...

Surgical Morbidity and Short-Term Oncologic Status after Prophylactic-Intent Thyroidectomy in a Cohort of Children with MEN2 from the Multicenter GTE ENDOCAN-RENATEN Study

BACKGROUND: Children carrying germline RET mutations associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) are at high risk of developing medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Prophylactic-intent thyroidectomy is recommended during childhood to prevent progression to advanced d...

A novel fluorine-free water-based passive daytime radiative cooling paint for building roof applications

Passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) represents a passive cooling solution for buildings, enabling heat dissipation to outer space through the atmospheric window. For the widespread implementation of PDRC technologies in buildings, scalable and environment-friendly PDRC paint...

An update on biofilms in acute and chronic wounds: Incidence, clinical evidence, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment

Pathogenic biofilms are a critical barrier to wound healing, driving infection persistence, delayed tissue repair, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and tolerance. This recognition has driven a paradigm shift from a traditional planktonic model of infection to a biofilm-mediated...

An Empirical Express Method for Clay Slope Stability Assessment Based on Slip Surface Geometry and Factor of Safety Prediction

Clay slopes are particularly sensitive to variations in soil strength, groundwater conditions, and slope geometry, making their rapid and reliable assessment essential for geotechnical design, landslide prevention, and infrastructure risk management. This study develops and evalu...

Coupled Epigenetic, Mechanical, Network, and Intestinal Attractors as a Threshold Mechanism for Chronicity in Gut-Driven Axial Spondyloarthritis: A Hypothesis

* Chronic gut-driven axial spondyloarthritis is hypothesized to persist through a coupled four-node systems architecture rather than a single dominant inflammatory pathway. * Four interacting persistence nodes are proposed: epigenetic memory (N1), extracellular matrix stiffening...

How Government Environmental Targets Shape Firms' Environmental Disclosure Strategy: Evidence From LLM ‐Based Textual Analysis

ABSTRACT High‐quality environmental disclosure is becoming a global baseline as jurisdictions align with International Sustainability Standards Board standards. Prior literature provides mixed evidence on whether regulatory pressure promotes environmental transparency or induces...

Exploring the Short-Term Effect of an Additional Carbon Source in the Denitrification Coupled to Methane Oxidation Process

Abstract This study explores the impact of glucose as a second source of organic carbon on the denitrification coupled to methane oxidation (DOM) process under anoxic conditions. For this purpose, batch tests were conducted varying the C:N ratios to <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://ww...

Alternation and Approximation: Notes on the Foundations of Consciousness

This is a collection of unpublished reflections on the structural conditions underlying consciousness, agency, and perception. Central is the concept of infinitesimality structure, a theoretical framework that aims to reconcile determinacy and indeterminacy in decision-making pro...

Digitalization, Digital Maturity and Information Security of Processes: Standard ISO 15189, ISO 17025, and EUROLAB Guide

Testing and medical laboratories have been undergoing a process of progressive, unstoppable digitalization. The digitalization of laboratories carries risks for information security. There are differences between medical laboratories according to International Organization for St...

Growth Differentiation Factor-15 in Acute Coronary Syndromes: Prognostic Value and Barriers to Clinical Implementation

High-sensitivity cardiac troponin has made the diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI) faster and more precise, but it does not measure the broader biological vulnerability that often determines the outcome after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Growth differentiation factor-15...

What You're Holding: The Case for Nervous System-Informed Object Design

This working paper proposes a novel framework for designing everyday physical objects to support autonomic nervous system regulation. Drawing on affective neuroscience, somatic psychology, embodied cognition, and Stephen Porges' Polyvagal Theory, the author argues that all object...

KEMIT: Knowledge Extraction and Model Injection Transfer

KEMIT (Knowledge Extraction and Model Injection Transfer) is a framework for cross-architecture knowledge transfer between language models. The framework uses three phases: prototype knowledge extraction from a teacher model, linear transcoding between teacher and student represe...

Long-term peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in untreated retinopathy of prematurity with spontaneous regression at or beyond 45 weeks’ postmenstrual age

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) may be associated with persistent retinal structural differences despite spontaneous clinical regression. This study evaluated long-term peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in preterm children with untreated ROP that regressed...

Single-vesicle heterogeneity and uptake of extracellular vesicles affected by oncogenic KRAS and BRAF revealed by proteomics and nano-flow cytometry

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) facilitate intercellular communication through the transfer of bioactive molecules that modulate tumor behavior. In this study, we demonstrate that oncogenic KRAS- and BRAF-mutations alter EV composition, modify surface properties, and impact intracel...

Multilevel structural equation modelling of walkability in a motorcycle-dominated city: A case study of Da Nang, Vietnam

In Southeast Asian cities, rapid urbanisation, characterised by a motorcycle-dominated landscape, has eroded pedestrian infrastructure and compromised walkability. Conventional frameworks, primarily rooted in temperate, car-centric contexts, inadequately capture micro-scale, clim...

Implant-Supported and Conventional Dentures: A Meta-Analysis in Older Adults

Statement of problem Edentulism is highly prevalent among older adults, with approximately 30% of adults aged ≥60 years affected by complete tooth loss in at least one dental arch. Conventional complete dentures (CCDs) often provide suboptimal retention and stability, negatively...

Phi-Modulated E8 Topological Qubit Stabilization via 132Hz Harmonic Coupling — E8 Intelligence Research

We introduce a quantum stabilization mechanism where each of the 240 E8 root vectors encodes a phi‑coupled Weyl node that resonates at the 132 Hz harmonic. Driving lattice vibrations at this frequency triggers a phi‑phase winding that links the icosahedral symmetry of the golden‑...