Baseball’s unlimited scoring structure produces blowout games in which competitive tension can disappear early. In the 2023 MLB season, 19.9% of all games ended with a margin of at least six runs, meaning that nearly one in five contests became effectively non-competitive. Motivated by this imbalance, we propose the One Shot Rule, a scoring constraint inspired by lead-limiting ideas in possession-based sports. Under this rule, once a team takes the lead in a half-inning, it is permitted only one additional run-scoring plate appearance; subsequent scoring opportunities in that half-inning are suppressed. To evaluate the rule, we adopt a dual-methodology framework combining retrospective re-analysis of all 2,430 real MLB games from the 2023 season with a 10,000-game Monte Carlo simulation designed to estimate longer-run probabilistic effects. This framework allows us to examine both observed and simulated changes in blowout frequency, comeback potential, and competitive balance. We further analyze how the rule alters managerial incentives and offensive strategy, and we introduce a fan engagement metric to assess whether a closer, more suspenseful game structure may improve spectator experience.

A challenge in Anatomical Endoscopic Enucleation of the Prostate (AEEP) is the application of excessive force from novice urological surgeons during dissection damaging critical structures and lack of realistic surgical training platforms. Moreover, repeated instances of excessive force can also lead to tissue inflammation and scarring, which can compromise the procedural success and prolong recovering. To address these challenges, we developed a novel real-time feedback system integrating conductive force sensors within our simulation phantom to identify regions of the prostate subjected to the greatest force for novice trainees. The integration of force sensors into hydrogel simulation models demonstrated the feasibility of capturing live force data during simulation. Despite set-up limitations, this system has the potential to evolve into a highly valuable training platform for procedure skill acquisition.

Staffing shortages have cost hospitals $24 billion since the COVID-19 pandemic, with the healthcare industry facing a projected 3.2 million worker deficit by 2026. Operating rooms require a full surgical team, and personnel shortages have led to increased delays and cancellations, compromising patient outcomes. These shortages also contribute to clinician burnout, decreased efficiency, and financial strain on hospitals. For patients, especially in under-resourced areas, delays mean longer wait times, worsened prognoses for time-sensitive conditions, and limited access to quality care. For clinicians, fewer surgeries performed translated to reduced revenue and fewer patients served. Addressing this gap is critical to prevent overworking remaining staff, ensure timely care, and support sustainable operations. The Advanced Surgical Tool Retrieval Arm (ASTRA) robot offers a timely solution by optimizing intraoperative workflows and managing surgical instrumentation. ASTRA reduces the need for human hands in repetitive tasks, enabling surgeries to proceed without unnecessary delays and improving overall outcomes.

In 2023, an estimated 220,000 people in Myanmar and Cambodia were confined to compounds and forced to digitally scam others. Online scam trafficking has grown dramatically in the wake of armed conflict and related criminal activity, like deforestation, that comes as a result of weakened institutions. The specific relationship between factors like conflict, deforestation, and the scam compound presence remains unclear. Using large-scale data on conflict reports and deforestation metrics, we identify geospatial trends related to scam trafficking compounds and do a causal analysis of the data. We find that in Myanmar regions with high conflict have lower amounts of forest loss, and areas with high forest loss have lower amounts of conflict. We also find that the presence of trafficking compounds is associated with a slight increase in deforestation. A better understanding of how deforestation, conflict, and scam compounds are related can help policymakers make more informed decisions.