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Abstract (1) Background Brain cancer is the ninth leading cause of cancer death in the US, with approximately 76,000 newly diagnosed cases annually. Studies show that at time of diagnosis, up to six-months post-treatment, 50%–80% of brain cancer survivors (BCS) report cognitive dysfunction. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has gained increasing attention as a persistent disability experienced by up to 75% of all BCS, which affects memory, concentration, executive function, etc. Studies show cognitive training with computerized gaming as improving cognitive function for patients with stroke, dementia, and Parkinson’s. It is of significant clinical interest to develop innovative interventions that reduce MCI. Aim: To improve cognitive performance of BCS suffering with MCI by evaluating the feasibility, acceptability and effect of a Virtual Reality Cognitive Rehabilitation Training (VR-CRT) platform during four weeks of cognitive training (2) Methods We employed a quasi-experimental pretest/posttest non-randomized/non-blinded single-arm design for 4 weeks, with an experimental group (n=6, after attrition) using VR-CRT. Participants were selected based on convenience sampling using the electronic medical record to identify qualified patients, guided by inclusion/exclusion criteria. Feasibility was defined by retention as >80%, with usability testing using the System Usability Scale (SUS) and NASA-TLX surveys. The Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (HVLT), Controlled Oral Word Association (COWA) test, and Trail Making A-B (TM-A/B) test were used to measure cognitive performance, comparing baseline to post week-four. (3) Results The feasibility criteria of >80% was met. All SUS and NASA scores were in the higher index, suggesting a high degree of usability, with low workload demand. For effect, the COWA findings showed a significant improvement (41.38%), with a paired sample T-Test confirming that the participants’ COWA scores improved significantly from pre- to post-intervention ( p = 0.03), indicating enhanced verbal fluency and executive functioning after intervention. HVLT (combined) showed improvements of 18.75% for Form A and 11.32% for Form B, which also showed a significant improvement ( p = .04) in the retention discrimination index from pre- to post-test. The TM-A/B test showed an improvement (25.97%), suggesting that the participants spent less time completing both parts A and B, but was not statistically significant. (4) Conclusion This study fulfilled our aim to demonstrate modest to significant cognitive improvement using VR-CRT with brain cancer patients with MCI. Despite the small sample size, we believe the use of virtual reality will lead to important advances for patients with MCI, particularly the frontal lobe brain region, expressed in executive function.

Gridded multibeam bathymetry of the Saudi Arabian Red Sea collected during the 2022 Red Sea Decade Expedition (funded by the National Center for Wildlife, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). The QPS Qimera software license was provided by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) through baseline funding awarded to Francesca Benzoni (BAS/1/1090-01-01). The dataset includes one 40 m resolution model covering the full deep-water survey area, acquired by the Kongsberg EM 304 aboard the M/V OceanXplorer (OCX), and four 5 m resolution models of shallow-water bathymetry acquired by the Teledyne RESON SeaBat T50-P aboard Metalshark38 (MS), one per expedition Leg (L1 to L4).

A lot has been written on the impact of economic freedom and its components on economic growth. This paper focuses on financial freedom, which is one aspect of economic freedom. Financial freedom measures how deeply the government is involved in a nation’s financial industry and how that industry is open to foreign competition. The aim of this study is to measure the effect of financial freedom and other factors on gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. We estimate a model using panel data of 184 countries from 2012 to 2019. Our empirical estimations show that financial freedom positively affects per capita GDP, while tariff rates, corporate tax rates, unemployment, and inflation negatively affect per capita GDP.

A great deal of work has been done in recent decades examining the impact of emotional intelligence (EQ) and cultural intelligence (CQ) on extra-role job performance. However, little of this research has used both EQ and CQ constructs together in the same analytical model. In addition, the available literature in is virtually silent with regards to the relationships of these constructs in Russia, a country with a significant multicultural environment. This study examines these relationships, using a sample of 189 supervisory and non-supervisory subjects in Russia. The results suggest that motivational CQ may be seen as an antecedent of CQ and EQ, both of which significantly impact extra-role job performance. EQ and CQ factors were also found to mediate the relationship between motivational CQ and extra-role job performance. In addition, necessary condition analysis was completed adding to model insights. These results extend our knowledge to a Russian sample, and not only support the Thomas et al. (2015) approach to CQ, but also suggest significant implications for current EQ-CQ model theories.

Nigeria's oil and gas sector remains central to national revenue generation and economic stability, yet its performance has been persistently undermined by crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, operational inefficiencies, and environmental degradation, particularly in the Niger Delta. These challenges have constrained crude oil production, weakened investor confidence, and limited the sector's contribution to national economic growth. This study examines how integrating aerial and underwater drone technologies with corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives can enhance the security, efficiency, and sustainability of Nigeria's oil and gas operations. Table 1 shows Nigeria's crude oil production from 2020 to 2025. These figures combine crude oil and condensate averages where available, and in some markets (like OPEC reporting) exclude condensate, which can affect comparability. The data show an overall downward trend from 2019 peak levels, but gradual stabilization and partial recovery between 2023 and 2025. Using a qualitative analytical approach based on secondary data from academic literature, policy reports, and industry assessments, the study explores the role of aerial drones in monitoring onshore and nearshore pipeline networks, detecting illegal activities, and providing real-time intelligence, as well as the contribution of underwater drones—such as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs)—in inspecting submerged pipelines, detecting leaks, and reducing undetected production losses. The study further situates these technological interventions within a CSR framework that addresses host-community grievances through employment, livelihood support, environmental remediation, and inclusive stakeholder engagement.

We present results on the production of $π^{\pm}$, $K^{\pm}$, $p$, and $\bar{p}$ in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$ = 54.4~GeV using the STAR detector at RHIC, at midrapidity ($|y| <$ 0.1). Invariant yields of these particles as a function of transverse momentum are shown. We determine bulk properties such as integrated particle yields ($dN/dy$), mean transverse momentum ($\langle p_{T} \rangle$), particle ratios, which provide insight into the particle production mechanisms. Additionally, the kinetic freezeout parameters ($T_\text{kin}$ and $\langle β_{T} \rangle$), which provide information about the dynamics of the system at the time of freezeout, are obtained. The Bjorken energy density ($ε_{\rm{BJ}}$), which gives an estimate of the energy density in the central rapidity region of the collision zone at the formation time $τ$, is calculated and presented as a function of multiplicity for various energies. The results are compared with those from the models such as A Multi-Phase Transport (AMPT) and Heavy Ion Jet INteraction Generator (HIJING) for further insights.

Abstract We present 1066 speckle measurements of M dwarf multiples observed over 2021–2024, all taken with HRCam on the Southern Astrophysical Research 4.1 m telescope. Among these, 900 observations resolve companions in 212 pairs, with separations spanning 17 mas to 3 <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:mover accent="true"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>.</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>″</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> </mml:mover> </mml:math> 4 and brightness differences ranging from 0 to 4.9 mag in the I filter. We have characterized the orbits of 54 of these companions, spanning periods of 0.67–30 yr, by combining our data with literature astrometry, radial velocities, and, in four cases, Hipparcos–Gaia accelerations. Among the orbits presented here are 28 that are the first-ever such characterizations for their systems and 26 that revise previously published orbits, thus providing a significant update to the observed dynamics of M dwarfs in the solar neighborhood. From these orbits, we provide new and updated dynamical total masses for these systems, precise to 0.7%–7% in nearly all cases. Future mass derivations for components in these systems will contribute to efforts in refining the mass–luminosity relation for the smallest stars and will enhance investigations of age, magnetism, and metallicity effects on luminosities at a given mass.

Data from publication in Life Science Alliance