Computational Psychotherapy System for Mental Health Prediction and Behavior Change with a Conversational Agent.

Background: The importance of computational psychotherapy is increasing due to the record high prevalence of mental health issues worldwide. Despite advancements, current computational psychotherapy systems lack advanced prediction and behavior change mechanisms using conversational agents.

Purpose: This work presents a computational psychotherapy system for mental health prediction and behavior change using a conversational agent.

Magnetic Performance and Anticorrosion Coating Stability of Thermally Demagnetized Nd-Fe-B Permanent Magnets for Reuse Applications.

Nd-Fe-B-type permanent magnets, containing approximately 30% critical rare-earth elements by weight, are essential components in renewable energy systems (e.g., wind turbines, hydroelectric generators) and electric vehicles.

Predictive models for health-related quality of life built on two telemonitoring datasets.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is an incurable disease where a key objective of the treatment is to maintain the patient's quality of life (QoL) as much as possible. A model that predicts health-related QoL (HRQoL) based on physiological and ambient parameters can be used to monitor these parameters for the patient's benefit. Since it is difficult to predict how CHF progresses, in this study we tried to predict HRQoL for a particular patient as an individual, using two different datasets, collected while telemonitoring CHF patients.

Effects of Thermal Demagnetization in Air on the Microstructure and Organic Contamination of NdFeB Magnets.

Demagnetization is an essential step for the demounting and safe handling of end-of-life NdFeB. Thermal demagnetization in air is a straightforward option to demount adhesive-fixed or segmented magnets. However, this process is suspected to increase the uptake of contaminants like O, C and Zn from coatings and adhesives, potentially degrading the recyclate quality.

Explainable machine learning for predicting diarrhetic shellfish poisoning events in the Adriatic Sea using long-term monitoring data.

In this study, explainable machine learning techniques are applied to predict the toxicity of mussels in the Gulf of Trieste (Adriatic Sea) caused by harmful algal blooms. By analysing a newly created 28-year dataset containing records of toxic phytoplankton in mussel farming areas and diarrhetic shellfish toxins in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis), we train and evaluate the performance of machine learning (ML) models to accurately predict diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) events. Based on the F1 score, the random forest model provided the best prediction of toxicity results at which the harvesting of mussels is stopped according to EU regulations.

Copper and zinc status in cord blood and breast milk and child's neurodevelopment at 18 months: Results of the Italian PHIME cohort.

Background: Trace elements, including zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu), although toxic at higher concentrations are known to play important roles in the maintenance of human health and neurodevelopment. Few epidemiological studies have investigated the association between prenatal or early postnatal Cu and Zn levels and child neurodevelopment. The aim of this research is to assess the association between child neurodevelopment at 18 months of age and cord blood and breast milk concentrations of Cu and Zn in Italian mother-child pairs enrolled in the Italian Northern Adriatic Cohort II (NAC-II), a part of the "Public health impact of long-term, low-level, mixed element exposure in susceptible population strata" project PHIME.

Biocompatibility and antibacterial properties of medical stainless steel and titanium modified by alumina and hafnia films prepared by atomic layer deposition.

New methods for producing surfaces with suitable biocompatible properties are desirable due to increasing demands for biomedical devices. Stainless steel 316 L and cp- titanium specimens were coated with thin films of alumina and hafnia deposited using the atomic layer deposition method at two temperatures, 180 and 260 °C. The morphology of the films was analysed using scanning electron microscopy, and their surface energies were determined based on drop contact angle measurements.

Leveraging Environmental Contact and Sensor Feedback for Precision in Robotic Manipulation.

This paper investigates methods that leverage physical contact between a robot's structure and its environment to enhance task performance, with a primary emphasis on improving precision. Two main approaches are examined: solving the inverse kinematics problem and employing quadratic programming, which offers computational efficiency by utilizing forward kinematics. Additionally, geometrical methods are explored to simplify robot assembly and reduce the complexity of control calculations.

Effects of Hydrogen Dissociation During Gas Flooding on Formation of Metal Hydride Cluster Ions in Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry.

The application of hydrogen flooding was recently shown to be a simple and effective approach for improved layer differentiation and interface determination during secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) depth profiling of thin films, as well as an approach with potential in the field of quantitative SIMS analyses. To study the effects of hydrogen further, flooding of H molecules was compared to reactions with atomic H on samples of pure metals and their alloys. H was introduced into the analytical chamber via a capillary, which was heated to approximately 2200 K to achieve dissociation.

Uranium (VI) reduction by an iron-reducing Desulfitobacterium species as single cells and in artificial multispecies bio-aggregates.

Microbial U(VI) reduction plays a major role in new bioremediation strategies for radionuclide-contaminated environments and can potentially affect the safe disposal of high-level radioactive waste in a deep geological repository. Desulfitobacterium sp. G1-2, isolated from a bentonite sample, was used to investigate its potential to reduce U(VI) in different background electrolytes: bicarbonate buffer, where a uranyl(VI)‑carbonate complex predominates, and synthetic Opalinus Clay pore water, where a uranyl(VI)-lactate complex occurs, as confirmed by time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopic measurements.

Cardiac electrical and functional activity following an outdoor cold-water swimming event.

Aims: Participation in outdoor cold-water swimming (OCWS) events combines endurance exercise and cold exposure. Concerns have emerged about the potential risk of acute adverse cardiac events during OCWS, particularly during endurance events. We analysed the effect of prolonged OCWS on cardiac function in trained athletes.

Associations between APOE genotypes, urine 8-isoprostane and blood trace elements in middle-aged mothers (CROME study).

Background: There is almost no data on the combined associations between apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) genotypes, trace elements (TEs), and lipid peroxidation in vivo. The aim of our study was to evaluate the association between APOE genotypes and TE levels in blood (B-TEs) and erythrocytes (E-TEs), and 8-isoprostane in urine (U-8-isoprostane) in women with low exposure to potentially toxic TEs and with adequate supply of essential TEs.

Methods: B-TEs, E-TEs and U-8-isoprostane were determined in 172 healthy women of childbearing age (30.

Mechanochemical Synthesis and Magnetic Properties of the Mixed-Valent Binary Silver(I,II) Fluorides, AgAgF and AgAgF.

Fluoridoargentates(II) represent a fascinating class of silver(II) compounds with structural and magnetic similarities to cuprate superconductors. However, their synthesis is challenging, leaving their properties largely underexplored and hindering the discovery of new phases. This study introduces mechanochemistry as a novel approach for the synthesis of fluoridoargentates(II), avoiding the use of anhydrous HF or elemental fluorine and employing readily available equipment.

Higher-Magnesium-Doping Effects on the Singlet Ground State of the Shastry-Sutherland SrCu(BO).

Doping of quantum antiferromagnets is an established approach to investigate the robustness of their ground state against the competing phases. Predictions of doping effects on the ground state of the Shastry-Sutherland dimer model are here verified experimentally on Mg-doped SrCu(BO). A partial incorporation of Mg on the Cu site in the SrCu(BO) structure leads to a subtle but systematic lattice expansion with the increasing Mg-doping concentration, which is accompanied by a slight decrease in the spin gap, the Curie-Weiss temperature, and the peak temperature of the susceptibility.

Diet of Three Cryptobenthic Clingfish Species and the Factors Influencing It.

Cryptobenthic fish are small benthic fish species that normally live in various hiding places. Due to their large numbers, they are very important for energy transfer to higher trophic levels. However, due to their small size and hidden lifestyle, knowledge about them and their ecology, including their diet, is still limited.

Reactive Noble-Gas Compounds Explored by 3D Electron Diffraction: XeF-MnF Adducts and a Facile Sample Handling Procedure.

Recent advances in 3D electron diffraction (3D ED) have succeeded in matching the capabilities of single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD), while requiring only submicron crystals for successful structural investigations. One of the many diverse areas to benefit from the 3D ED structural analysis is main-group chemistry, where compounds are often poorly crystalline or single-crystal growth is challenging. A facile method for loading and transferring highly air-sensitive and strongly oxidizing samples at low temperatures to a transmission electron microscope (TEM) for 3D ED analysis was successfully developed and tested on xenon(II) compounds from the XeF-MnF system.

Lysosomal Proteases and Their Inhibitors.

The discovery of the lysosome, a major cytoplasmic organelle, represents a breakthrough in the understanding of intracellular protein degradation processes-proteolysis [...

Conservation of molecular responses upon viral infection in the non-vascular plant Marchantia polymorpha.

After plants transitioned from water to land around 450 million years ago, they faced novel pathogenic microbes. Their colonization of diverse habitats was driven by anatomical innovations like roots, stomata, and vascular tissue, which became central to plant-microbe interactions. However, the impact of these innovations on plant immunity and pathogen infection strategies remains poorly understood.

Zero-shot evaluation of ChatGPT for food named-entity recognition and linking.

Introduction: Recognizing and extracting key information from textual data plays an important role in intelligent systems by maintaining up-to-date knowledge, reinforcing informed decision-making, question-answering, and more. It is especially apparent in the food domain, where critical information guides the decisions of nutritionists and clinicians. The information extraction process involves two natural language processing tasks named entity recognition-NER and named entity linking-NEL.

Geochemical fingerprinting of Norway spruce from the Eastern Carpathians: Sr isotopic and multi-elemental signatures.

Ensuring efficient wood traceability within procurement chains is essential for establishing sustainable forest management and minimizing environmental damage in countries that produce and export timber. While some progress has been made with key legislative reforms to tackle this issue, the effectiveness of law enforcement still relies on the availability of appropriate analytical tools to determine the provenance of wood. This study documents the Sr isotopic and multi-elemental signatures of Norway spruce trees in the Eastern Carpathians, Romania - an area known for intensive forest logging.

Efficient siRNA delivery to murine melanoma cells a novel genipin-based nano-polymer.

Small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are therapeutic nucleic acids, often delivered cationic polymers, liposomes, or extracellular vesicles, each method with its limitations. Genipin, a natural crosslinker for primary amines, was explored for siRNA delivery scaffolds. Spermine/genipin-based GS5 polymers were synthesized, showing slightly positive potential at neutral pH and intrinsic fluorescence.

Patient-derived tumor organoids mimic treatment-induced DNA damage response in glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma (GB) is the most common primary malignant brain tumor, characterized by resistance to therapy. Despite aggressive treatment options, GB remains an incurable disease. Invasiveness and heterogeneity are key GB features that cannot be studied in preclinical models.

Cysteine cathepsins: From diagnosis to targeted therapy of cancer.

Cysteine cathepsins are a fascinating group of proteolytic enzymes that play diverse and crucial roles in numerous biological processes, both in health and disease. Understanding these proteases is essential for uncovering novel insights into the underlying mechanisms of a wide range of disorders, such as cancer. Cysteine cathepsins influence cancer biology by participating in processes such as extracellular matrix degradation, angiogenesis, immune evasion, and apoptosis.

Valorization of tomato processing by-products: Predictive modeling and optimization for ultrasound-assisted lycopene extraction.

Lycopene is a carotenoid highly valuable to the food, pharmaceutical, dye, and cosmetic industries, present in ripe tomatoes and other fruits with a distinctive red color. The main source of lycopene is tomato crops. This bioactive component can be successfully isolated from tomato processing waste, commonly called tomato pomace, mostly made from tomato skins, seeds, and some residual tomato tissue.

In-Depth Comparison of Adeno-Associated Virus Containing Fractions after CsCl Ultracentrifugation Gradient Separation.

Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAVs) play a pivotal role in the treatment of genetic diseases. However, current production and purification processes yield AAV-based preparations that often contain unwanted empty, partially filled or damaged viral particles and impurities, including residual host cell DNA and proteins, plasmid DNA, and viral aggregates. To precisely understand the composition of AAV preparations, we systematically compared four different single-stranded AAV (ssAAV) and self-complementary (scAAV) fractions extracted from the CsCl ultracentrifugation gradient using established methods (transduction efficiency, analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC), quantitative and digital droplet PCR (qPCR and ddPCR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)) alongside newer techniques (multiplex ddPCR, multi-angle light-scattering coupled to size-exclusion chromatography (SEC-MALS), multi-angle dynamic light scattering (MADLS), and high-throughput sequencing (HTS)).