We propose a procedure for analyzing and characterizing complex networks. We apply this to the social network as constructed from email communications within a medium sized university with about 1700 employees. Email networks provide an accurate and nonintrusive description of the flow of information within human organizations. Our results reveal the self-organization of the network into a state where the distribution of community sizes is self-similar. This suggests that a universal mechanism, responsible for emergence of scaling in other self-organized complex systems, as, for instance, river networks, could also be the underlying driving force in the formation and evolution of social networks.
Background & Objective: The convergence of human cognition and artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping cognitive identity and challenging traditional understandings of consciousness, agency, and selfhood. This narrative review introduces a conceptual three-stage model of cognitive hybridization, comprising Simulation, Integration, and Co-Evolution, to examine the dynamics of human-AI interaction and its neuroethical implications.
Materials & Methods: Interdisciplinary evidence from cognitive neuroscience, AI research, and neuroethics was synthesized by drawing on studies published between 2000 and 2025 in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The review focused on brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), mechanisms of neural plasticity, and the cognitive capacities of large language models (LLMs).
Results: In the Simulation stage, LLMs replicate selected cognitive operations such as language processing, although they lack any biological substrates, including hippocampal encoding and network-level neural dynamics. The Integration stage involves reciprocal interactions between the brain and AI, where BCIs facilitate emergent forms of shared agency mediated through cortical and basal ganglia pathways. The Co-Evolution stage reflects bidirectional adaptive processes that gradually reshape cognitive functions across both developing and aging brains. Key neuroethical considerations include autonomy, cognitive justice, and the protection of neural data and cognitive privacy.
Conclusion: This model highlights the urgent need for updated theoretical and ethical frameworks that can guide human-AI co-evolution and promote equitable and safe cognitive enhancement. The proposed framework offers a structured foundation for future interdisciplinary inquiry in neuroethics and cognitive augmentation.
Hasliza Abdul Halim, Tarnima Warda Andalib, Noor Hazlina Ahmad
et al.
Creativity and innovation are now being encouraged in businesses because of technopreneurship, especially as the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0) picks up. In addition, the evolution brought by technology has influenced our everyday lives, jobs and communication, making it easier for enterprises to deal with changes. The rapid changes brought about by these inventions have driven young technology entrepreneurs to make quick changes to their business models. This study analyzes how various elements help determine the agility and competitiveness of our young entrepreneurs starting businesses in Malaysia during Industry 4.0. However, these organizational enablers belong to 03 (three) main groups: individual traits (innovativeness, initiative and risk-taking), organizational tools (e.g., innovation, technologies and human resources) and institutional assistance (such as finances and support services). Initially, 18 (eighteen) technopreneurs were invited for semi-structured interviews to provide their experiences and detailed ideas. This research team then administered a survey to 204 (two hundred andfour) technopreneurs and they analyzed the data using the SmartPLS technique. Evidence from the interviews shows that having these enablers enables technopreneurs to remain nimble and compete well, a fact demonstrated by the significant connections found between all the enablers and also agility which is closely linked to competitiveness. All in all, this research provides important info and solid proof that being agile is key for young business owners to succeed under tough conditions.
Abstract. The high failure rates in clinical drug development based on animal models highlight the urgent need for more representative human models in biomedical research. In response to this demand, organoids and organ chips were integrated for greater physiological relevance and dynamic, controlled experimental conditions. This innovative platform—the organoids-on-a-chip technology—shows great promise in disease modeling, drug discovery, and personalized medicine, attracting interest from researchers, clinicians, regulatory authorities, and industry stakeholders. This review traces the evolution from organoids to organoids-on-a-chip, driven by the necessity for advanced biological models. We summarize the applications of organoids-on-a-chip in simulating physiological and pathological phenotypes and therapeutic evaluation of this technology. This section highlights how integrating technologies from organ chips, such as microfluidic systems, mechanical stimulation, and sensor integration, optimizes organoid cell types, spatial structure, and physiological functions, thereby expanding their biomedical applications. We conclude by addressing the current challenges in the development of organoids-on-a-chip and offering insights into the prospects. The advancement of organoids-on-a-chip is poised to enhance fidelity, standardization, and scalability. Furthermore, the integration of cutting-edge technologies and interdisciplinary collaborations will be crucial for the progression of organoids-on-a-chip technology.
Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that colonizes mucosal surfaces of most humans. Only in rare cases, C. albicans isolates are found in the environment. This study investigated whether environmental isolates differ in their virulence potential from clinical strains and how adaptation to a human diet influences key virulence attributes. We examined three C. albicans isolates from oak trees in the United Kingdom, and observed that one exhibited high host cell damage, increased hypha formation, invasion capacity, and candidalysin production, along with an intrinsic resistance to amphotericin B. The other two showed lower virulence which was still similar to most tested clinical isolates. All oak tree isolates showed an increased resistance to fluconazole. To mimic the more recent evolution of C. albicans to a sugar-rich diet, we evolved a low-damaging isolate in sugar-rich medium, which unexpectedly enhanced its metabolic flexibility, epithelial damage potential, and antifungal resistances, including a new resistance to amphotericin B. These findings suggest that C. albicans isolates can develop high virulence potential and antifungal resistance in the environment, and that adaptation of C. albicans to sugar-rich diets, as in westernized countries, can affect fungal pathogenicity and drug resistance.
Our goal is to evaluate the use of ultrasound to detect small regions of increased vascular density and altered blood flow and to quantify small changes in these parameters due to effects of new anti-angiogenic drugs. Regions containing intravascular contrast agents are identified using a new ultrasound strategy that combines subharmonic and phase inversion imaging. The contrast agent is repeatedly destroyed in order to estimate the time required for local replenishment. Parameters are estimated based on this strategy and include measures of the spatial extent of flow, the spatial integral of flow, and the time required for 80% replenishment. In a study of 25 tumors, we first demonstrate that regions of viable tumor as small as 1 mm, as verified by histology, can be detected and show similar morphology to images acquired with computed tomography (CT). The spatial mapping of vessels with ultrasound is superior to contrast enhanced computed tomography due to the intravascular distribution of ultrasound contrast agents. Estimation of the time to 80% replenishment was conducted on kidney and tumor data and is a robust parameter not altered by attenuation. Mean times to 80% replenishment of 1–5 s were estimated for the kidney cortex and mean times of 6–14 s were observed for viable tumor tissue. This broad range of replenishment times is indicative of abnormal tumor vascular density and tortuosity. Changes in flow parameters with anti-angiogenic therapy are significant beginning at 48 hours post-treatment.
Hans J.C.T. Wessels, Purva Kulkarni, Maurice van Dael
et al.
Introduction: The human plasma glycoproteome holds enormous potential to identify personalized biomarkers for diagnostics. Glycoproteomics has matured into a technology for plasma N-glycoproteome analysis but further evolution towards clinical applications depends on the clinical validity and understanding of protein- and site-specific glycosylation changes in disease. Objectives: Here, we exploited the uniqueness of a patient cohort of genetic defects in well-defined glycosylation pathways to assess the clinical applicability of plasma N-glycoproteomics. Methods: Comparative glycoproteomics was performed of blood plasma from 40 controls and 74 patients with 13 different genetic diseases that impact the protein N-glycosylation pathway. Baseline glycosylation in healthy individuals was compared to reference glycome and intact transferrin protein mass spectrometry data. Use of glycoproteomics data for biomarker discovery and sample stratification was evaluated by multivariate chemometrics and supervised machine learning. Clinical relevance of site-specific glycosylation changes were evaluated in the context of genetic defects that lead to distinct accumulation or loss of specific glycans. Integrated analysis of site-specific glycoproteome changes in disease was performed using chord diagrams and correlated with intact transferrin protein mass spectrometry data. Results: Glycoproteomics identified 191 unique glycoforms from 58 unique peptide sequences of 34 plasma glycoproteins that span over 3 magnitudes of abundance in plasma. Chemometrics identified high-specificity biomarker signatures for each of the individual genetic defects with better stratification performance than the current diagnostic standard method. Bioinformatic analyses revealed site-specific glycosylation differences that could be explained by underlying glycobiology and protein-intrinsic factors. Conclusion: Our work illustrates the strong potential of plasma glycoproteomics to significantly increase specificity of glycoprotein biomarkers with direct insights in site-specific glycosylation changes to better understand the glycobiological mechanisms underlying human disease.
Abstract The intensifying energy crisis has made it urgent to develop robust and reliable next‐generation energy systems. Except for conventional large‐scale energy sources, the imperceptible and randomly distributed energy embedded in daily life awaits comprehensive exploration and utilization. Harnessing the latent energy has the potential to facilitate the further evolution of soft energy systems. Compared with rigid energy devices, flexible energy devices are more convenient and suitable for harvesting and storing energy from dynamic and complex structures such as human skin. Stretchable conductors that are capable of withstanding strain (≫1%) while sustaining stable conductive pathways are prerequisites for realizing flexible electronic energy devices. Therefore, understanding the characteristics of these conductors and evaluating the feasibility of their fabrication strategies are particularly critical. In this review, various preparation methods for stretchable conductors are carefully classified and analyzed. Furthermore, recent progress in the application of energy harvesting and storage based on these conductors is discussed in detail. Finally, the challenges and promising opportunities in the development of stretchable conductors and integrated flexible energy devices are highlighted, seeking to inspire their future research directions.
Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials, Environmental engineering