Natural language prompts often suffer from intent transmission loss: the gap between what users actually need and what they communicate to AI systems. We evaluate PPS (Prompt Protocol Specification), a 5W3H-based framework for structured intent representation in human-AI interaction. In a controlled three-condition study across 60 tasks in three domains (business, technical, and travel), three large language models (DeepSeek-V3, Qwen-Max, and Kimi), and three prompt conditions - (A) simple prompts, (B) raw PPS JSON, and (C) natural-language-rendered PPS - we collect 540 AI-generated outputs evaluated by an LLM judge. We introduce goal_alignment, a user-intent-centered evaluation dimension, and find that rendered PPS outperforms both simple prompts and raw JSON on this metric. PPS gains are task-dependent: gains are large in high-ambiguity business analysis tasks but reverse in low-ambiguity travel planning. We also identify a measurement asymmetry in standard LLM evaluation, where unconstrained prompts can inflate constraint adherence scores and mask the practical value of structured prompting. A preliminary retrospective survey (N = 20) further suggests a 66.1% reduction in follow-up prompts required, from 3.33 to 1.13 rounds. These findings suggest that structured intent representations can improve alignment and usability in human-AI interaction, especially in tasks where user intent is inherently ambiguous.
Annika Uelwer, Mamitha Sivakumar, Khojimurod Umirdinov
et al.
The hippocampal formation is crucial for episodic learning and memory. In addition to neurons, astrocytes have also received increasing attention in recent years as essential components of brain networks by regulating the blood-brain barrier, eliminating waste products via the glymphatic system, supporting neuronal activity by providing energy supply and metabolic substrates, and regulating extracellular neurotransmitter levels. Astrocytes are heterogeneous and highly dynamic cells that respond to neuronal activity and dysfunction via morphological and functional changes. Astrocytic connexins (Cx) 30 and 43 form the molecular basis for gap junctions and hemichannels and are, thus, central to coupling, intercellular communication and network integration of astrocytes in the brain. However, little is known about the spatial heterogeneity of astrocyte density, morphology and Cx expression in the subregions and layers of the hippocampus. Therefore, in this study, we used immunohistochemistry to analyze the density and detailed morphological features of astrocytes and the spatial distribution of Cx30 and Cx43 in the layers of CA1, CA3 and dentate gyrus (DG). Astrocyte density correlated positively with the intensity of Cx30- and Cx43-immunoreaction (Ir). The stratum lacunosum moleculare (SLM) of CA1 and CA3 and the subgranular zone (SGZ) of DG showed the highest density of GFAP-positive (+) astrocytes and the strongest Cx30- and Cx43-Ir. The GFAP+ astrocytic processes had the largest radial extent in the pyramidal layer of CA1 and CA3 and in the granular layer of the DG. Our study provides a comprehensive anatomical and comparative mapping of astrocytic density, morphology and Cx distribution in the mouse hippocampus and provides an important basis for further studies on the dynamics of neuron-glial interaction under different physiological and pathological conditions.
Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry, Human anatomy
Temitope Adefarati, Gulshan Sharma, Pitshou N. Bokoro
et al.
The increasing demand for sustainable energy in residential buildings and public concerns on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has driven the integration of smart homes with hybrid renewable energy systems (HRESs). This research proposes an optimal scheduling strategy for home energy consumption in a grid-connected HRES that comprises a grid, wind turbines, photovoltaics and battery storage systems. The objective of the study is to reduce the net energy cost, scheduling inconvenience cost (SIC), GHG cost and battery degradation cost. An ant colony optimization algorithm is utilized in the MATLAB environment, with load profiles and meteorological data of Upington, South Africa, obtained from NASA and a residential consumption dataset to accomplish the objectives of the study. The outcomes of the study show that case study 3 is the most feasible configuration based on a net energy revenue cost of $9.8382, GHG cost of $0.0627, battery degradation cost of $0.461 and SIC of $0.66. Simulation results demonstrate that energy purchased from the grid has been reduced by 98% and 48% relative to case studies 1 and 2. The results of the study can assist households to improve the sustainability and resilience of the power system in residential environments where the grid supply is unstable and electricity costs are high.
Delong Du, Sara Gilda Amirhajlou, Akwasi Gyabaah
et al.
Good human relationships are important for us to have a happy life and maintain our well-being. Otherwise, we will be at risk of experiencing loneliness or depression. In human-computer interaction (HCI) and computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW), robotic systems offer nuanced approaches to foster human connection, providing interaction beyond the traditional mediums that smartphones and computers offer. However, many existing studies primarily focus on the humanrobot relationships that older adults form directly with robotic pets rather than exploring how these robotic pets can enhance human-human relationships. Our ethnographic study investigates how robotic pets can be designed to facilitate human relationships. Through semi-structured interviews with six older adults and thematic analysis, our empirical findings provide insights into how robotic pets can be designed as telerobots to connect with others remotely, thus contributing to advance future development of robotic systems for mental health.
Monocular 3D human pose estimation remains a challenging and ill-posed problem, particularly in real-time settings and unconstrained environments. While direct imageto-3D approaches require large annotated datasets and heavy models, 2D-to-3D lifting offers a more lightweight and flexible alternative-especially when enhanced with prior knowledge. In this work, we propose a framework that combines real-time 2D keypoint detection with geometry-aware 2D-to-3D lifting, explicitly leveraging known camera intrinsics and subject-specific anatomical priors. Our approach builds on recent advances in self-calibration and biomechanically-constrained inverse kinematics to generate large-scale, plausible 2D-3D training pairs from MoCap and synthetic datasets. We discuss how these ingredients can enable fast, personalized, and accurate 3D pose estimation from monocular images without requiring specialized hardware. This proposal aims to foster discussion on bridging data-driven learning and model-based priors to improve accuracy, interpretability, and deployability of 3D human motion capture on edge devices in the wild.
We seek measurable properties of AI agents that make them better or worse teammates from the subjective perspective of human collaborators. Our experiments use the cooperative card game Hanabi -- a common benchmark for AI-teaming research. We first evaluate AI agents on a set of objective metrics based on task performance, information theory, and game theory, which are measurable without human interaction. Next, we evaluate subjective human preferences toward AI teammates in a large-scale (N=241) human-AI teaming experiment. Finally, we correlate the AI-only objective metrics with the human subjective preferences. Our results refute common assumptions from prior literature on reinforcement learning, revealing new correlations between AI behaviors and human preferences. We find that the final game score a human-AI team achieves is less predictive of human preferences than esoteric measures of AI action diversity, strategic dominance, and ability to team with other AI. In the future, these correlations may help shape reward functions for training human-collaborative AI.
M. Praveen Shenoy, Mangala M. Pai, B.V. Murlimanju
et al.
Background: The facial condensation of deep fascia form retinacula, Superior and Inferior, with a primary function to hold the extensor tendons of the foot in position. The morphology of inferior extensor retinaculum (IER) is clinically important in the tendon rupture repair and foot drop surgeries. The anatomy of ankle and foot IER is not much investigated and this prompted us to conceptualize this study to investigate the morphology and morphological variants of IER. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional institutional based study included 50 dorsa of feet from the 25 embalmed adult cadavers. Results: The present study observed that, the anatomy of IER is complex wherein multiple septa of varied thickness arise from its undersurface from both the stem and limbs, defining its compartments. Five well defined compartments existed, which lodged the extensor tendons. The third compartment was deep and overlapped by the extensor digitorum longus tendons. Fourth compartment was well defined and lodged the extensor digitorum longus and peroneus tertius tendons, separated by an ill-defined septum. However, in 6 specimens (12 %), the peroneus tertius traversed the fifth compartment, which otherwise did not have any contents. Some morphological variants of the tendons were also noted as they passed beneath the IER. Conclusion: Our study is novel in determining the compartment format, deeper connections of IER, and relations with deeper structures along with the anatomical variations, which are clinically important in ankle arthroscopy, tendinoscopy, tendon repairs and foot drop stabilization surgeries.
Abdullah M. Al Alawi, Mariya Al Abdali, Al Zahraa Ahmed Al Mezeini
et al.
<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Hospital readmissions within 30 days are a major challenge in general internal medicine (GIM), impacting patient outcomes and healthcare costs. This study aimed to develop and evaluate machine learning (ML) models for predicting 30-day readmissions in patients admitted under a GIM unit and to identify key predictors to guide targeted interventions. <b>Methods:</b> A prospective study was conducted on 443 patients admitted to the Unit of General Internal Medicine at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital between May and September 2023. Sixty-two variables were collected, including demographics, comorbidities, laboratory markers, vital signs, and medication data. Data preprocessing included handling missing values, standardizing continuous variables, and applying one-hot encoding to categorical variables. Four ML models—logistic regression, random forest, gradient boosting, and support vector machine (SVM)—were trained and evaluated. An ensemble model combining soft voting and weighted voting was developed to enhance performance, particularly recall. <b>Results:</b> The overall 30-day readmission rate was 14.2%. Among all models, logistic regression had the highest clinical relevance due to its balanced recall (70.6%) and area under the curve (AUC = 0.735). While random forest and SVM models showed higher precision, they had lower recall compared to logistic regression. The ensemble model improved recall to 70.6% through adjusted thresholds and model weighting, though precision declined. The most significant predictors of readmission included length of hospital stay, weight, age, number of medications, and abnormalities in liver enzymes. <b>Conclusions:</b> ML models, particularly ensemble approaches, can effectively predict 30-day readmissions in GIM patients. Tailored interventions using key predictors may help reduce readmission rates, although model calibration is essential to optimize performance trade-offs.
AbstractThe human penile and clitoral development begins from a morphologically indifferent genital tubercle. Under the influence of androgen, the genital tubercle forms the penis by forming a tubular urethra within the penile shaft. Without the effect of the androgen, the genital tubercle differentiates into the clitoris, and a lack of formation of the urethra within the clitoris is observed. Even though there are similarities during the development of the glans penis and glans clitoris, the complex canalization occurring along the penile shaft eventually leads to a morphological difference between the penis and clitoris. Based on the morphological differences, the main goal of this study was to define the vascular and neuronal anatomy of the developing penis and clitoris between 8 and 12 weeks of gestation using laser scanning confocal microscopy. Our results demonstrated there is a co‐expression of CD31, which is an endothelial cell marker, and PGP9.5, which is a neuronal marker in the penis where the fusion is actively occurring at the ventral shaft. We also identified a unique anatomical structure for the first time, the clitoral ridge, which is a fetal structure running along the clitoral shaft in the vestibular groove. Contrary to previous anatomical findings which indicate that the neurovascular distribution in the developing penis and clitoris is similar, in this study, laser scanning confocal microscopy enabled us to demonstrate finer differences in the neurovascular anatomy between the penis and clitoris.
Jill Emmerzaal, Benjamin Filtjens, Nieke Vets
et al.
Abstract To gain insights into the impact of upper limb (UL) dysfunctions after breast cancer treatment, this study aimed to develop a temporal convolutional neural network (TCN) to detect functional daily UL use in breast cancer survivors using data from a wrist-worn accelerometer. A pre-existing dataset of 10 breast cancer survivors was used that contained raw 3-axis acceleration data and simultaneously recorded video data, captured during four daily life activities. The input of our TCN consists of a 3-axis acceleration sequence with a receptive field of 243 samples. The 4 ResNet TCN blocks perform dilated temporal convolutions with a kernel of size 3 and a dilation rate that increases by a factor of 3 after each iteration. Outcomes of interest were functional UL use (minutes) and percentage UL use. We found strong agreement between the video and predicted data for functional UL use (ICC = 0.975) and moderately strong agreement for %UL use (ICC = 0.794). The TCN model overestimated the functional UL use by 0.71 min and 3.06%. Model performance showed good accuracy, f1, and AUPRC scores (0.875, 0.909, 0.954, respectively). In conclusion, using wrist-worn accelerometer data, the TCN model effectively identified functional UL use in daily life among breast cancer survivors.
Erin M. Lloyd, Rachael C. Crew, Vanessa R. Haynes
et al.
Abstract Background Dysferlinopathies are a clinically heterogeneous group of muscular dystrophies caused by gene mutations resulting in deficiency of the membrane-associated protein dysferlin. They manifest post-growth and are characterised by muscle wasting (primarily in the limb and limb-gridle muscles), inflammation, and replacement of myofibres with adipose tissue. The precise pathomechanism for dysferlinopathy is currently unclear; as such there are no treatments currently available. Glucocorticoids (GCs) are widely used to reduce inflammation and treat muscular dystrophies, but when administered to patients with dysferlinopathy, they have unexpected adverse effects, with accelerated loss of muscle strength. Methods To investigate the mechanistic basis for the adverse effects of GCs in dysferlinopathy, the potent GC dexamethasone (Dex) was administered for 4–5 weeks (0.5–0.75 µg/mL in drinking water) to dysferlin-deficient BLA/J and normal wild-type (WT) male mice, sampled at 5 (Study 1) or 10 months (Study 2) of age. A wide range of analyses were conducted. Metabolism- and immune-related gene expression was assessed in psoas muscles at both ages and in quadriceps at 10 months of age. For the 10-month-old mice, quadriceps and psoas muscle histology was assessed. Additionally, we investigated the impact of Dex on the predominantly slow and fast-twitch soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles (respectively) in terms of contractile function, myofibre-type composition, and levels of proteins related to contractile function and metabolism, plus glycogen. Results At both ages, many complement-related genes were highly expressed in BLA/J muscles, and WT mice were generally more responsive to Dex than BLA/J. The effects of Dex on BLA/J mice included (i) increased expression of inflammasome-related genes in muscles (at 5 months) and (ii) exacerbated histopathology of quadriceps and psoas muscles at 10 months. A novel observation was pronounced staining for glycogen in many myofibres of the damaged quadriceps muscles, with large pale vacuolated myofibres, suggesting possible myofibre death by oncosis. Conclusion These pilot studies provide a new focus for further investigation into the adverse effects of GCs on dysferlinopathic muscles.
Martyna Dziedzic, Patryk Ostrowski, Sanjib Kumar Ghosh
et al.
Analyzing the structures of living specimens has always been an interest for human beings. Anatomy is one of the most important pillars of medicine, and its name comes from the Greek word anatomē which means to cut. The extended and rich history of anatomy is a reminder for modern generations about the value of the work of all the previous physicians, philosophers, and researchers and appreciation of the impact they have made in this field. Considering the importance and the role of anatomy as a pillar of medicine, every small step into establishing knowledge about the anatomical structures and their variations is crucial in developing science. Nowadays, the pace of both general scientific development and anatomical research itself is greater than ever before. Researchers, in their daily practices, mostly focus on three main types of articles published in the field of anatomy: (1) Case Reports, (2) Original Studies, and (3) Synthesis Studies. In the present article, the authors provide the brief history of human anatomy, and emphasize about the significance of this scientific discipline. The possible future shape of anatomical research and education is also discussed.
A new analysis is presented of the retrograde tracer measurements of connections between anatomical areas of the marmoset cortex. The original normalisation of raw data yields the fractional link weight measure, FLNe. That is re-examined to consider other possible measures that reveal the underlying in link weights. Predictions arising from both are used to examine network modules and hubs. With inclusion of the in weights the InfoMap algorithm identifies eight structural modules in marmoset cortex. In and out hubs and major connector nodes are identified using module assignment and participation coefficients. Time evolving network tracing around the major hubs reveals medium sized clusters in pFC, temporal, auditory and visual areas; the most tightly coupled and significant of which is in the pFC. A complementary viewpoint is provided by examining the highest traffic links in the cortical network, and reveals parallel sensory flows to pFC and via association areas to frontal areas.
Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry, Human anatomy
Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate neural patterns within the gluteus maximus (Gmax) muscle to identify optimal EMG placement and injection sites for botulinum toxin and other injectable agents. Methods: This study used 10 fixed and 1 non-fixed adult Korean cadavers. Intramuscular arborization patterns were confirmed in the cranial, middle, and caudal segments of 20 Gmax muscles using Sihler staining. Ultrasound images were obtained from one cadaver, and blue dye was injected using ultrasound guidance to confirm the results. Results: The intramuscular innervation pattern of the Gmax was mostly in the middle part of this muscle. The nerve endings of the Gmax are mainly located in the 40–70% range in the cranial segment, the 30–60% range in the middle segment, and the 40–70% range in the caudal segment. Discussion: Addressing the spasticity of the gluteus maximus requires precise, site-specific botulinum toxin injections. The use of EMG and other injection therapies should be guided by the findings of this study. We propose that these specific sites, which correspond to areas with the densest nerve branches, are the safest and most efficient locations for both botulinum toxin injections and EMG procedures.
Whenever humans use tools human performance is enhanced. Cognitive systems are a new kind of tool continually increasing in cognitive capability and are now performing high level cognitive tasks previously thought to be explicitly human. Usage of such tools, known as cogs, are expected to result in ever increasing levels of human cognitive augmentation. In a human cog ensemble, a cooperative, peer to peer, and collaborative dialog between a human and a cognitive system, human cognitive capability is augmented as a result of the interaction. The human cog ensemble is therefore able to achieve more than just the human or the cog working alone. This article presents results from two studies designed to measure the effect information supplied by a cog has on cognitive accuracy, the ability to produce the correct result, and cognitive precision, the propensity to produce only the correct result. Both cognitive accuracy and cognitive precision are shown to be increased by information of different types (policies and rules, examples, and suggestions) and with different kinds of problems (inventive problem solving and puzzles). Similar effects shown in other studies are compared.
Junwon Heo, Albino G. Schifino, Jennifer McFaline‐Figueroa
et al.
Abstract Background This study was designed to develop an understanding of the pathophysiology of traumatic muscle injury in the context of Western diet (WD; high fat and high sugar) and obesity. The objective was to interrogate the combination of WD and injury on skeletal muscle mass and contractile and metabolic function. Methods Male and female C57BL/6J mice were randomized into four groups based on a two‐factor study design: (1) injury (uninjured vs. volumetric muscle loss [VML]) and (2) diet (WD vs. normal chow [NC]). Electrophysiology was used to test muscle strength and metabolic function in cohorts of uninjured + NC, uninjured + WD, VML + NC and VML + WD at 8 weeks of intervention. Results VML‐injured male and female mice both exhibited decrements in muscle mass (−17%, P < 0.001) and muscle strength (−28%, P < 0.001); however, VML + WD females had a 28% greater muscle mass compared to VML + NC females (P = 0.034), a compensatory response not detected in males. VML‐injured male and female mice both had lower carbohydrate‐ and fat‐supported muscle mitochondrial respiration (JO2) and less electron conductance through the electron transport system (ETS); however, male VML–WD had 48% lower carbohydrate‐supported JO2 (P = 0.014) and 47% less carbohydrate‐supported electron conductance (P = 0.026) compared to male VML + NC, and this diet–injury phenotype was not present in females. ETS electron conductance starts with complex I and complex II dehydrogenase enzymes at the inner mitochondrial membrane, and male VML + WD had 31% less complex I activity (P = 0.004) and 43% less complex II activity (P = 0.005) compared to male VML + NC. This was a diet–injury phenotype not present in females. Pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), β‐hydroxyacyl‐CoA dehydrogenase, citrate synthase, α‐ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase metabolic enzyme activities were evaluated as potential drivers of impaired JO2 in the context of diet and injury. There were notable male and female differential effects in the enzyme activity and post‐translational regulation of PDH. PDH enzyme activity was 24% less in VML‐injured males, independent of diet (P < 0.001), but PDH enzyme activity was not influenced by injury in females. PDH enzyme activity is inhibited by phosphorylation at serine‐293 by PDH kinase 4 (PDK4). In males, there was greater total PDH, phospho‐PDHser293 and phospho‐PDH‐to‐total PDH ratio in WD mice compared to NC, independent of injury (P ≤ 0.041). In females, PDK4 was 51% greater in WD compared to NC, independent of injury (P = 0.025), and was complemented by greater phospho‐PDHser293 (P = 0.001). Conclusions Males are more susceptible to muscle metabolic dysfunction in the context of combined WD and traumatic injury compared to females, and this may be due to impaired metabolic enzyme functions.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system, Human anatomy
Karthikeya Patil, C J Sanjay, Mahima V Guledgud
et al.
Background: Variations in pneumatization. of the sphenoid sinus can affect suprasellar, parasellar, and middle cranial fossa procedures. A 3-D imaging modality, like cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), overcomes superimpositions and magnification to provide an efficient evaluation of anatomical components across multiple planes. Objective: The purpose of this study is to conduct an epidemiological assessment inspired by the classifications provided by Gibelli et al. and Bilgir et al. on the morphological variants of the sphenoid sinus pneumatization using CBCT in a South Indian population. Materials and Methods: Around 154 CBCT images of sphenoid sinuses devoid of pathologies were examined. Descriptive analysis and Pearson Chi-square test were evaluated using SPSS 22.0 software. Results: Patients had a prevalence of 5.84% presellar, 27.2% sellar, and 51.9% postsellar posteroanterior pneumatization but no conchal pneumatization. About 14.2% showed aberrant pneumatization involving the pterygoid, anterior clinoid, and dorsum sellae. Conclusion: A thorough understanding of surgical anatomy and its variances is necessary to perform surgery with minimal possibility of human error and morbidity. To achieve this, a comprehensive classification of sphenoid sinus pneumatization is required as there is a disparity among the various study results presented in the previous literature.
Dentistry, Medical physics. Medical radiology. Nuclear medicine
Hallur Reynisson, Hallur Reynisson, Michael Kalloniatis
et al.
IntroductionA hallmark of photoreceptor degenerations is progressive, aberrant remodeling of the surviving retinal neurons and glia following photoreceptor loss. The exact relationship between neurons and glia remodeling in this late stage of retinal degeneration, however, is unclear. This study assessed this by examining Müller cell dysfunction via glutamine synthetase immunoreactivity and its spatial association with retinal neuron subpopulations through various cell markers.MethodsAged Rd1 mice retinae (P150 – P536, n = minimum 5 per age) and control heterozygous rd1 mice retinae (P536, n = 5) were isolated, fixed and cryosectioned. Fluorescent immunolabeling of glutamine synthetase was performed and retinal areas quantified as having low glutamine synthetase immunoreactivity if proportion of labeled pixels in an area was less than two standard deviations of the mean of the total retina. Other Müller cell markers such as Sox9 and Glial fibrillary acidic protein along with neuronal cell markers Calbindin, Calretinin, recoverin, Protein kinase C-α, Glutamic acid decarboxylase 67, and Islet-1 were then quantified within areas of low and normal synthetase immunoreactivity.ResultsGlutamine synthetase immunoreactivity was lost as a function of age in the rd1 mouse retina (P150 – P536). Immunoreactivity of other Müller cell markers, however, were unaffected suggesting Müller cells were still present in these low glutamine synthetase immunoreactive regions. Glutamine synthetase immunoreactivity loss affected specific neuronal populations: Type 2, Type 8 cone, and rod bipolar cells, as well as AII amacrine cells based on reduced recoverin, protein kinase Ca and parvalbumin immunoreactivity, respectively. The number of cell nuclei within regions of low glutamine synthetase immunoreactivity was also reduced suggesting possible neuronal loss rather than reduced cell marker immunoreactivity.ConclusionThese findings further support a strong interplay between glia-neuronal alterations in late-stage degeneration and highlight a need for future studies and consideration in intervention development.
Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry, Human anatomy