Journals
2026 EN
Asiimwe Innocent G. · You Tao · Carr Daniel F.
+3 more
Multiple imputation is well‐established for handling missing data, yet its use in high‐dimensional genetic datasets remains limited. Using pharmacokinetic tuberculosis simulations and SNP data (1000 Genomes Project), we compared machine learning (ML) and traditional approaches (e.g., mean imputation and complete‐case analysis) for imputation and covariate selection. We developed a multiple imputation framework incorporating genotype probabilities, imputation uncertainty (INFO score), and missingness percentages. Dimensionality reduction enabled scalable random forest and penalized regression for covariate selection. In simulations, only multiple imputation achieved adequate coverage (percentage of 95% confidence intervals containing the true value) exceeding a 90% nominal threshold. For example, on the imputation server, coverage improved from 0% with single imputation to up to 94% under 10% missingness. Applied to clinical warfarin datasets (War‐PATH, n = 548; IWPC, n = 316) and the UK Biobank ( n = 500, 1000), multiple imputation recovered known pharmacogenomic associations ( CYP2C9 *8/*9/* 11; VKORC1 ‐1639G>A ), reduced false‐positives, and detected signals missed by single imputation (e.g., genome‐wide significant rs4697699, SLC2A9 locus). Computational costs were modest, adding only ~1.25 minutes for 10 imputations to the 22.7 minutes required by single imputation on the Michigan Imputation Server. For SNP selection, penalized regression performed best in the high‐effect scenario (F1 = 0.897 ± 0.091), while GWAS followed by random forest performed best in the low‐effect scenario (F1 = 0.657 ± 0.110). These findings show that multiple imputation improves reliability and discovery in high‐dimensional pharmacogenomics, with ML offering promising but inconsistent benefits during SNP selection. However, generalizability beyond the studied datasets and computational scalability to larger biobank‐scale analyses remain important limitations that warrant further investigation.
Journals
2026 EN
Hodges Dawn Z.
The year 2026 is a very special year in the history of the United States of America. The U.S. is still a relatively young country; it will be 250 years old on July 4. That's the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. From those who fought the Revolutionary War to those who have fought every war since, we have been blessed with many leaders. And, we’ve had capable leaders in so many areas of building and developing a free nation. Listed here are just a few of our nation's leaders:
Journals
2026 EN
James Noel P. · Pufahl Peir K.
Abstract Although admired and examined since antiquity, carbonate sediment and rock research really began with Charles Darwin who, during a discovery phase , studied, documented and interpreted their nature in the mid‐19th century. The modern discipline, however, really began after World War II and evolved in two distinct phases. Breakthroughs during an advancement phase came about via the numerous studies by many researchers globally on both modern and ancient carbonates that were eventually merged into carbonate sedimentology as a whole in the 1970s. Formulation of the factory concept and integration of recurring facies into facies models solidified the discipline and allowed integration to move ahead. Stromatolites were discovered growing in modern environments and it was realised that the spectrum of diverse fossil structures called reefs also existed in the modern world. Internal reef structure was largely interpreted as ecological. At the same time, development of radiogenic and stable isotopes allowed Pleistocene carbonate stratigraphy and processes to be accurately dated, and precipitates related specific formation waters. Cementation, long postulated as mostly meteoric, was also realised to be a common synsedimentary phenomenon. Breakthroughs during the more recent refinement phase were likewise synthesised into books, but incrementally as the science progressed. Research on the genesis of critical components such as ooids, stromatolites and carbonate muds was at last convincing. The whole new realm of cool‐water carbonates was revealed with resulting different interpretations of rock record facies and the critical role of aragonite in diagenesis. Reconciling the relationship between sea water nutrient levels, factory type and taphonomy was a major advancement to interpreting the stratigraphic record. Sequence stratigraphy, coupled with shallow drilling and isotopes, led to progressively more dynamic interpretations, especially of reefs. Use of stable isotopes became more sophisticated, and development of clumped isotopes held out possibilities of even more precise interpretations. Finally, although prediction of a future phase is futile, much more needs to be done on mixed carbonate‐siliciclastic systems, and the implications of mixed carbonate ironstone and chert in Precambrian accumulations, especially using new geochemical techniques. Perhaps, philosophically, it is time to use attributes of the exquisite carbonate rock record to tell us about the future of our rapidly changing world.
Journals
2026 EN
Burmistr Iana · Zaslansky Ruth · Dmytriiev Dmytro
+1 more
ABSTRACT Background Chronic pain is common and can burden individuals, families and society. This exploratory study conducted in response to the full‐scale war in Ukraine from February 2022 aimed to assess the impact of war‐related distress on civilians living with chronic pain. Methods Participants were asked to fill in an online questionnaire evaluating pain diagnoses, pain characteristics, analgesic use, screening for anxiety and depression. Results The cohort comprised individuals receiving care in five chronic pain centres in Ukraine before February 2022. Between December 2022 and March 2023, 952 participants accessed the survey, with data from 833 qualifying for analysis. Men represented 64% ( n = 533) of the cohort; 55% of the cohort ( n = 455) were aged 21–40 years; 61% reported indirect exposure to the war. The majority (80%) had received some form of psychological support before February 2022. For most (72%), economic status worsened since the onset of the war. Alcohol consumption increased in 44% of the cohort. At the time of the survey, 40% reported pain intensity scores of 0–3/10, 26% scored intensities of 4–6/10 and 34% scored intensities of ≥ 7/10; 41% described their pain as ‘distressing’ or ‘horrible’. Most participants met criteria for clinically relevant anxiety (71%) and depression (82%). Conclusions In this cohort, pain severity before the war is unknown; however, 70% reported moderate to severe pain at evaluation. Combined with high rates of anxiety and depression, these findings highlight significant distress among Ukrainians with chronic pain and the need for sustained, individualised pain and psychological support. Significance Statement We assessed the impact of war on civilians with chronic pain in Ukraine. An online survey completed by 833 patients from five clinics explored bio‐psycho‐social pain aspects. Most were men aged 21–40 with indirect war exposure. Economic hardship was common, and half reported increased alcohol use. Moderate to severe pain affected 59%; 41% found it distressing or horrible. Anxiety and depression were prevalent. Findings highlight major gaps in care, stressing the need for personalised pain management and integrated psychological support.
Journals
2026 EN
Nawata Kengo
ABSTRACT National identity is widely assumed to be an important basis for individuals’ willingness to fight for their country; yet, most previous research has focused on individual‐level identity, with limited attention to collective‐level processes. Building on a conception of collective identity, this study distinguishes national identity at the individual level from national identity as a collective property of societies. Secondary analyses of data from Waves 5 (2005–2009) and 6 (2010–2014) of the World Values Survey involved multilevel modelling to estimate both individual‐ and collective‐level associations between national identity and willingness to fight. National identity predicted willingness to fight at both levels in the multilevel models. Collective‐level national identity remained a significant predictor of willingness to fight after controlling for secular and emancipative cultural values. The analysis of contextual effects further revealed that the relationship is stronger at the collective level than at the individual level. The findings suggest that collective‐level national identity is a core element of the macro‐level process through which the likelihood of war and conflict increases.
Journals
2026 EN
Alasali Feras · ElNaily Naser · Salem Mohamed
+4 more
ABSTRACT This study introduces an advanced adaptive protection approach for AC power systems, designed to address key limitations in current clustering‐based relay coordination methods. Using K‐means, hierarchical, and spectral clustering techniques, the proposed scheme classifies grid operating conditions more effectively, ensuring that relay settings adapt to different network scenarios. A key feature of this study is a practical method for identifying the optimal number of clusters and selecting the fine‐tuning relay settings using the Genetic and Tug of War Optimisation algorithms, which improves the speed of fault detection and isolation over twenty different network topologies. The proposed scheme supports standard and non‐standard Overcurrent Relay (OCR) characteristics, in which the IEC inverse‐time curve is expanded beyond its conventional pickup‐current limit to capture higher fault‐current levels in renewable‐integrated networks, ensuring faster and more selective relay operation. In Clustering 1 (Topology 1), the total tripping time was reduced to 23.15 s, while Clustering 2 (Topology 16), involving more relays, recorded 29.77 s. The total tripping time for Clustering 3 (Topology 2) was 29.34 s. Hardware‐in‐the‐Loop (HIL) testing verified the real‐time performance of the proposed scheme, showing high performance with simulation results and less than 2% deviation in relay tripping times. These outcomes demonstrate the scheme's ability to deliver reliable and responsive protection across various grid environments.
Journals
2026 EN
Akadiri Seyi Saint · Özkan Oktay
ABSTRACT The ever‐evolving energy landscape and rising geopolitical tensions are reshaping global trade like never before. Trade stability faces significant threats, with crude oil, coal, and natural gas prices fluctuating wildly alongside growing geopolitical uncertainties. This study examines the intricate relationship between energy market swings and geopolitical risks, captured through geopolitical risk acts and threats, to uncover their quantile‐specific impact on global trade dynamics. Using daily data from December 30, 2016, to January 13, 2025, we apply Multivariate Quantile‐on‐Quantile Regression and Quantile Regression to dissect how these forces influence trade across different levels. Our findings reveal that crude oil remains the dominant driver of global trade, with its influence intensifying at higher trade quantiles. Meanwhile, coal and natural gas exhibit varying impacts and geopolitical risk acts unexpectedly boost trade in high‐quantile scenarios, whereas geopolitical risk threats consistently dampen trade flows. These insights shed light on the dual nature of energy markets and geopolitical risks as catalysts and disruptors of global trade. To navigate these turbulent waters, we advocate for energy diversification, proactive geopolitical risk management, and integrating green energy policies to stabilise trade flows and bolster economic resilience amid growing uncertainties.
Journals
2026 EN
Ahmadi Marzaleh Milad · Jalali Katayoun · Peyravi Mahmoudreza
+3 more
ABSTRACT Introduction Studies on the responses of older people who have experienced disasters are contradictory, suggesting two opposing theoretical approaches: the vulnerability and resilience approaches. Therefore, this qualitative study examines the impact of the media on Iranian elderly people during the Gaza war in 2024. Methods This qualitative study employed purposive sampling to select 12 elderly participants aged 65 years and older. Data collection was done from September to December 2024 through semi‐structured interviews. The interviews were transcribed, and the data analysis was conducted following the steps outlined by Graneheim and Lundman. Results Results revealed three major themes: emotional exhaustion, physical stress responses, and resilience through social connection. Participants reported symptoms such as sleep disturbances, elevated blood pressure, and persistent anxiety after prolonged exposure to war‐related media. Despite these challenges, some individuals demonstrated adaptive coping strategies, including limiting media intake and engaging in community support programs. These findings highlight the dual impact of media exposure—both distressing and mobilizing—among elderly populations. Conclusion It is necessary to strengthen the elderly's resilience to reduce the psychological and physical stress effects of war news on them. This can be achieved by practicing stress control and management, emphasizing social connections, developing a proper understanding of the media environment, and, most importantly, monitoring the contents broadcast by the media. Implementing a violent content label to give the audience the right to choose can help prevent media‐related risks. These measures are crucial for this purpose.
Journals
2026 EN
Duut Francis Yennube · Kolog Samuel Gana · Ayimavor Francis Kwame
+7 more
ABSTRACT Background and Aim Blood transfusion is a vital and life‐saving procedure, saving millions of lives across the world every year. However, it also presents a significant risk of spreading transfusion‐transmissible infections (TTIs) such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and syphilis ( Treponema pallidum ). This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and temporal trends of TTIs among blood donors at a primary healthcare hospital in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Methods A retrospective analysis of blood donation screening records from War Memorial Hospital, Navrongo, was conducted for the period January 2018 to December 2024. Data on HBV, HCV, HIV‐1/2, and syphilis were extracted and analysed using descriptive statistics to determine seroprevalence and temporal trends across demographic groups. Results A total of 5741 blood donation records were analysed, with males 98.1% of donors. The overall seroprevalence of TTIs was 18.2%. Individual seroprevalence rates for HBV, HCV, syphilis , and HIV‐1/2 infections were 10.1%, 6.5%, 2.1%, and 0.5%, respectively. A decline in both donor numbers and TTIs seroprevalence was observed during the peak COVID‐19 period (2020–2021), followed by a gradual recovery in donor numbers in 2022–2023. HBV seroprevalence decreased from 15.8% in 2018 to 7.1% in 2021. HCV seroprevalence was highest in 2023 (8.1%) and lowest in 2020 (5.1%). Syphilis seroprevalence showed a general downward trend with a temporal increase in 2022. Conclusion TTIs remain a public health concern for blood donations in the area, particularly HBV and HCV. Although declining trends were observed, the fluctuations highlight the need to strengthen screening protocols and improved criteria for donor selection. The low seroprevalence of HIV and syphilis is comforting but requires continued preventive efforts to maintain the progress.
Journals
2026 EN
Kim Huong Trang · Nguyen Quang
ABSTRACT We conducted a lab‐in‐the‐field experiment with 623 top managers from textile and garment firms in Vietnam to investigate the nexus of top managers' risk preferences and firm investment. We find that firms led by managers with higher levels of loss aversion tend to have lower investments. The heterogeneity in managers' loss aversion also affects different investment levels of small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) vis‐à‐vis large firms. Interestingly, our findings reveal that managers' loss aversion has a strong link to investment behaviours of firms led by war‐exposed managers, who born and grew up during the American war in Vietnam. However, this pattern does not hold for firms led by their counterparts. This result shows that personal early‐life war exposure may influence managers' investment decisions during their adulthood.