FreqTS: Frequency-Aware Token Selection for Accelerating Diffusion Models

Copyright \ua9 2025, Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (www.aaai.org). All rights reserved.In this paper, we propose FreqTS, a novel Frequency-Aware Token Selection approach for accelerating diffusion models without requiring retraining. Diffusion models have gained significant attention in the field of image synthesis due to their impressive generative capabilities. However, these models often suffer from high computational costs, primarily due to the sequential denoising process and large model size. Additionally, diffusion models tend to prioritize low-frequency features, leading to sub-optimal quantitative results. To address these challenges, FreqTS introduces an amplitude-based sorting method that separates Token features in the frequency domain of diffusion models into high-frequency and low-frequency subsets. It then utilizes fast Token Selection to reduce the presence of low-frequency features, effectively reducing the computational overhead. Moreover, FreqTS incorporates a Bayesian hyper-parameter search to dynamically assign different selection strategies for various denoising processes. Extensive experiments conducted on Stable Diffusion series models, PixArt-Alpha, LCM, and other models demonstrate that FreqTS achieves a minimum acceleration of 2.3 7 without the need for retraining. Furthermore, FreqTS showcases its versatility by being applicable to different sampling techniques and compatible with other dimension-specific acceleration algorithms

Informing research design through patient and public involvement; patients and carers with lived experience post-hospital discharge and potential roles for general practice pharmacists

\ua9 2025. The Author(s). BACKGROUND: Medication safety across care transitions remains a significant burden on healthcare systems. Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) is useful at the very early stages of intervention development to inform research priorities. The aim of this PPI was to scope patients\u27 and carers\u27 lived experiences of medicines management post-hospital discharge to inform the design of a research proposal. METHODS: A research planning PPI workshop and additional one-to-one discussions were undertaken with patients and informal carers who had experienced a recent discharge from hospital and were prescribed regular repeat medications. RESULTS: The 12 public contributors identified that the priority for patients was not limited to medication management alone but rather a broader care package. Multiple themes as priorities for research emerged: (1) broader holistic and social aspects of care involving various healthcare professionals, (2) practical aspects such as timeliness of follow-up and co-ordination of medication management, and (3) communication with the patient/carer and information transfer between settings. CONCLUSION: Valuable insights from this PPI helped inform future research design priorities and identify the need for a more holistic approach to care. Future work with multi-stakeholder engagement involving different professionals across sectors is needed to explore safer integrated transitions of care, as well as the use of ongoing PPI and co-design, considering populations that are most vulnerable

Numerical and experimental investigation of the dynamic responses of an integrated semi-submersible floating wind-wave energy converter

\ua9 2025 Elsevier LtdThis paper introduces an integrated floating wind-wave energy conversion system, with a heave-type WEC attached to a semi-submersible braceless wind turbine\u27s central column. Numerical simulations and a 1/80 scale physical model test were used to evaluate its dynamic responses under combined wind and wave conditions. Free decay tests confirmed the numerical model\u27s accuracy in predicting the platform\u27s natural periods for surge, heave, and pitch motions, with errors under 5 %. In regular waves, numerical and experimental results for motion responses and mooring tensions were highly consistent, with maximum errors not exceeding 15 %. Under irregular waves, the maximum errors in motion responses and mooring tensions were within 19 %. In combined wind-wave conditions, except for pitch motion, the maximum errors in other responses were no more than 20 %. In high wind speed combined wind-wave conditions (23.8 m/s), the pitch error reached 40.52 %. The findings confirm the reliability of the proposed integrated system design and underscore the importance of considering the coupled effects of wind and waves on the system\u27s dynamic response, providing valuable insights for the design and optimization of offshore renewable energy systems

Modification and validation of the Bluebelle Wound Healing Questionnaire (WHQ) for assessing surgical site infection in wounds healing by secondary intention

\ua9 2025 The Authors. Background: Surgical wounds healing by secondary intention are common. Healing is often complicated by surgical site infection (SSI). SSI assessment is important to guide treatment but existing methods generally require in-person assessment, making them resource intensive. A validated patient-reported SSI outcome measure may be useful to overcome this limitation. Aim: To modify and validate the Bluebelle Wound Healing Questionnaire (WHQ) for wounds healing by secondary intention. Methods: The 18-item Bluebelle WHQ developed for wounds healing by primary intention was modified to make it applicable to secondary healing wounds. Testing was performed as part of the SWHSI-2 randomised trial assessing negative pressure wound dressings versus standard care. Participants completed the WHQ at five timepoints; in-person (baseline, post-healing) and by post (3, 6, 12 months). A reference SSI assessment was performed by a research nurse at the time of wound healing. Acceptability and criterion validity (ability of the Bluebelle WHQ to discriminate between SSI/no SSI) were explored by examining questionnaire return rates, levels of missing data and total score sensitivity/specificity values (receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC)). Results: Baseline in-person questionnaire return rates were highest (672/686; 98 %), with postal return rates of 428/615 (68.5 %), 274/416 (65.9 %) and 186/296 (62.8 %) at follow up points. Overall, low levels of item-missing data were observed with few problems completing the questionnaire reported. Ability to discriminate between SSI/no SSI was good (Area under ROC = 0.796). Conclusion: The modified Bluebelle WHQ is a valuable tool for post-discharge assessment of wounds healing by secondary intention. It is recommended for use in research and clinical practice

Exploring older people’s end-of-life care preferences over time: A scoping review

\ua9 The Author(s) 2025. Background: Understanding the evolution of end-of-life preferences over time is important for dynamic, person-centred palliative care. This is particularly relevant for older people whose preferences can be incompletely expressed and subject to change. Aim: To summarise the nature of the current evidence about how and why the end-of-life preferences of older people change over time. Design: A scoping review was performed, using a predefined protocol and following the JBI manual for evidence synthesis. Data Sources: Final searches of Medline, Embase, PsycINFO and Web of Science were carried out in October 2023. Reference lists were also reviewed. Eligibility criteria included studies recruiting people over the age of 60 that explored how or why end-of-life preferences developed over time. Results: Screening identified 52 articles, reporting on 40 studies. A majority were longitudinal studies collecting quantitative data about treatment preferences. Other preference categories included euthanasia, balancing quality and length of life, goals of care, preferred place of death, decision-making and spiritual preferences. Studies explored a variety of factors that may influence preference change or stability. There was a lack of research with ethnic minority groups and people aged over 80. Conclusions: Existing research has focused on preferences about specific therapies, at the expense of understanding what matters most to older people. Synthesis of the available evidence about why preferences change will guide reviews of patients’ advance care plans. To inform dynamic, person-centred end-of-life care we need studies prospectively exploring how older people construct a broader range of preferences, and negotiate these over time

Micro-mechanical characterisation of 3D-printed composites via nano-indentation and finite-element homogenization techniques: overcoming challenges in orthotropic property measurement

\ua9 The Author(s) 2025.Mechanical characterisation of 3D-printed composite materials using conventional methods, such as tension and compression tests, faces several challenges, including precise machining of complex geometries, difficulties in testing materials with time-dependent properties, and extensive sample preparation to account for varying build orientations and raster angles. Accurately characterising the mechanical properties of composite constituents is further complicated by their anisotropic nature, visco-plastic behaviour, and phase interactions at the micro-scale. Traditional nano-indentation techniques often suffer from inaccuracies due to pile-up effects and time-dependent deformations in polymer matrices. To overcome these challenges, this study introduces an innovative methodology that integrates nano-indentation and micro-mechanical analysis of a representative volume element (RVE) to determine orthotropic engineering constants. Experimental nano-indentation, coupled with atomic force microscopy, is used to obtain load–displacement curves and residual indentation marks, whilst an inverse finite-element method accounting for neighbouring phase effects and polymer matrix creep properties enhances prediction accuracy. The stiffness properties of composite constituents derived from this method are employed in an RVE-based micro-mechanical model, with effective orthotropic engineering constants validated through experimental tensile and shear tests using the Digital Image Correlation technique. This approach not only enhances micro-mechanical characterisation accuracy but also reduces the need for extensive experimental testing, offering a cost-effective and scalable solution for evaluating 3D-printed composite materials. Additionally, it bridges the gap between microstructural and bulk property measurements, reducing test sample manufacturing costs and minimising the need for repetitive experimental trials

Detection of Targetable Genetic Abnormalities in Neuroblastoma Circulating Tumour DNA

\ua9 2025 by the authors.Neuroblastoma (NB) is an aggressive childhood cancer requiring intensive multimodal therapies in high-risk (HRNB) patients. Currently, invasive surgical biopsies are required to classify NB risk group and assign treatment based on the tumour genetic profile. Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) obtained from blood samples can be used to identify tumour biomarkers. Here we applied targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) using a panel of 42 genes to analyse 32 NB ctDNA samples for the presence of single-nucleotide variants and copy number changes from 28 patients in all NB risk groups. In two additional ctDNA samples, droplet digital PCR was used to detect hotspot ALK variants. Pathogenic mutations with a variant allele frequency (VAF) > 1% were identified in 13/32 (41%) ctDNA samples. ALK and PTPN11 were the most frequent, each being detected in 4/32 (13%) samples, together with oncogene amplifications. Targeted NGS of ctDNA detected actionable variants, including those absent in the diagnostic primary tumour due to spatial and temporal heterogeneity. Our findings confirm the usefulness of ctDNA in detecting genetic abnormalities in NB

Saudi Rainfall (SaRa): hourly 0.1\ub0 gridded rainfall (1979–present) for Saudi Arabia via machine learning fusion of satellite and model data

\ua9 Author(s) 2025.We introduce Saudi Rainfall (SaRa), a gridded historical and near-real-time precipitation (P) product specifically designed for the Arabian Peninsula, one of the most arid, water-stressed, and data-sparse regions on Earth. The product has an hourly 0.1\ub0 resolution spanning 1979 to the present and is continuously updated with a latency of less than 2 h. The algorithm underpinning the product involves 18 machine learning model stacks trained for different combinations of satellite and (re)analysis P products along with several static predictors. As a training target, hourly and daily P observations from gauges in Saudi Arabia (n = 113) and globally (n = 14 256) are used. To evaluate the performance of SaRa, we carried out the most comprehensive evaluation of gridded P products in the region to date, using observations from independent gauges (randomly excluded from training) in Saudi Arabia as a reference (n = 119). Among the 20 evaluated P products, our new product, SaRa, consistently ranked first across all evaluation metrics, including the Kling–Gupta efficiency (KGE), correlation, bias, peak bias, wet-day bias, and critical success index. Notably, SaRa achieved a median KGE – a summary statistic combining correlation, bias, and variability – of 0.36, while widely used non-gauge-based products such as CHIRP, ERA5, GSMaP V8, and IMERG-L V07 achieved values of −0.07, 0.21, −0.13, and −0.39, respectively. SaRa also outperformed four gauge-based products such as CHIRPS V2, CPC Unified, IMERG-F V07, and MSWEP V2.8 which had median KGE values of 0.17, −0.03, 0.29, and 0.20, respectively. Our new P product – available at https://www. gloh2o.org/sara (last access: 24 September 2025) – addresses a crucial need in the Arabian Peninsula, providing a robust and reliable dataset to support hydrological modeling, water resource assessments, flood management, and climate research

A national audit of 1724 post-colonoscopy colorectal cancers: understanding causes and consequences

\ua9 2025 Thieme. All rights reserved.Background Post-colonoscopy colorectal cancer (PCCRC) represents a potential missed opportunity to diagnose or prevent colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to create a standardized, nationwide audit system to determine why PCCRCs occur and to generate evidence to aid prevention. Methods PCCRCs occurring 6 48 months after colonoscopy were identified from English national datasets and uploaded to a secure portal. The portal contained case review forms based on World Endoscopy Organization (WEO) recommendations for PCCRC review. National Health Service colonoscopy providers (n = 126) were asked to review = 25 PCCRCs. The data were analyzed to determine the characteristics of and reasons for PCCRC. Results Of 2859 PCCRCs, 1724 (60.3 %) were reviewed. Colonoscopies were mostly performed for symptoms (59.2 %) or surveillance (26.5 %). PCCRCs were more common at the hepatic and splenic flexures and transverse colon compared with detected CRCs. PCCRC WEO categorizations were: possible missed lesion, examination adequate 68 %; possible missed lesion, examination inadequate 18 %; detected lesion, not resected 9 %; and likely incompletely resected lesion 5%. Overall, 69.0 % of PCCRCs were avoidable and 44.2 % led to harm, including premature death in 8.0 %. Non-procedural reasons contributed to 27.1% of PCCRCs: patient factors 10.2 %; clinical decision making 9.5 %; and administrative factors 7.4 %. Conclusions This is the largest detailed PCCRC review to date. The majority of PCCRCs were avoidable and caused significant harm. This study clarifies the causes of diagnostic delays and highlights high-risk patients and areas of the colon, and suggests what needs to be done to reduce PCCRC in the future

Deconvolution of haematological cancer methylation patterns reveals a predominantly non-disease related proliferation signal and uncovers true disease associated methylation changes

\ua9 The Author(s) 2025.Background: Cancers are associated with extensive reorganisation of epigenetic patterns, making identification of DNA methylation changes responsible for driving cancer development challenging. Here, we present a novel approach, integrative methylation mapping, which overcomes this, enabling identification of functionally relevant methylation-regulated genes in cancer. Methods: Comparison of genome-wide DNA methylation across multiple B-lymphocyte derived malignant/normal samples (total n = 995), enabled delineation of changes related to normal or cancer cell functions. Chromatin structure profiling (SeSAMe) analysis delineated different properties characterising the different categories of methylation change and lentiviral based re-expression enabled functional assessment of identified candidate genes. Results: This analysis determined that only 2–3% of DNA methylation changes in B-cell cancers are disease driven, with the overwhelming majority driven by normal processes, predominantly proliferation. Methylation changes associated with specific cancer or normal cell processes exhibited unique patterns of sequence context, chromatin structure and associated transcription factors. Furthermore, the low level of true disease-specific changes simplifies identification of functionally relevant methylation changes, illustrated here by identification and functional confirmation of SLC22A15 as a tumour suppressor in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Conclusions: This approach leads to a clearer understanding of the role of altered DNA methylation in haematological cancer, facilitates identification of cancer-relevant DNA methylation targeted genes and novel therapeutic targets