Browse Articles

Dynamic ctDNA tracking stratifies relapse risk for triple negative breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Unravelling critical burnout syndrome in Chinese hospitals a network analysis of the Maslach burnout inventory human services survey

Recapitulation of endochondral ossification by hPSC-derived SOX9+ sclerotomal progenitors

Synthesis, characterization and in silico studies of novel multifunctional imidazole-thiazole hybrids with potent antimicrobial and anticancer properties

Abstract Treating infections remains a significant challenge, driving the ongoing pursuit of novel drug candidates. Heterocyclic compounds, such as those containing imidazole and thiazole rings, are well-known for their diverse therapeutic and pharmaceutical applications. In this study, we designed, synthesized, and characterized a series of six novel compounds incorporating these two five-membered rings. The synthesis involved the reaction of different phenacyl bromides with imidazole-hydrazinecarbothioamide to produce imidazole-thiazole hybrid derivatives, which were confirmed through IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and mass spectrometry analyses. The antimicrobial activities of the derivatives were evaluated against three bacterial strains and one fungal strain using the serial dilution method, with their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) determined. Notably, all the derivatives exhibited moderate antimicrobial activity. Cytotoxicity assessment revealed that derivative 5a was particularly excellent, displaying significant inhibition with an IC50 value of 33.52 μM. Furthermore, molecular docking, ADME, and molecular dynamics simulations were conducted, focusing on the interaction between derivative 5a and the protein (PDB ID: 6LUD) to elucidate the stability of the interaction.

Structural basis for cholesterol sensing of LYCHOS and its interaction with indoxyl sulfate

Utility of Sydney system for reporting the neck lymphadenopathy underwent real-time ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration

Dynamic and asymmetric colloidal molecules

Abstract “Colloidal molecules” represent artificial colloidal clusters replicating the geometries of molecules and exhibiting flexibility and fluctuations similar to macromolecules and proteins. Their dynamic and anisotropic characters make them unique and indispensable building blocks for creating hierarchically organized superstructures. Despite the progress in synthesizing and assembling colloidal molecules, unveiling their dynamic characters is challenging in experiments. Here, we employ real-time three-dimensional imaging and simulations to reveal dynamic colloidal molecule structures in micrometre-sized colloidal-emulsion models with tunable electrostatic interactions. Our findings reveal that colloidal molecules’ dynamic structures are inherently asymmetric, with angular symmetry emerging through continuous ordering from a liquid-like configuration. We further develop an effective method to guide the ordering of colloidal molecules towards a desired structure by dynamically adjusting the ionic strength in the solvent during the ordering process. We validate this method using molecular dynamics simulations and propose a practical protocol for its experimental implementation. Our research contributes to a clearer physical understanding of dynamic colloidal molecules and offers potential solutions to the complexities inherent in their formation process.

Field assessment of a novel sensor for measuring noncondensable gases in steam sterilizers

Local slab penetration into lower mantle controls deep-focus seismicity and Changbaishan volcanism in northeast China

The antioxidant activity of shaddock peel polysaccharides

Publisher Correction: Next-generation rapid phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing

Enhanced medical image watermarking using hybrid DWT-HMD-SVD and Arnold scrambling

Author Correction: A solar-driven atmospheric water extractor for off-grid freshwater generation and irrigation

Influence of structural parameters on the vertical pounding between girder and pier in unequal-span girder bridges under near-fault vertical ground motions

Strategic vacancy engineering advances record-high ductile AgCu(Te, Se, S) thermoelectrics

Research on three-stage hybrid optimization control of the three-level half-bridge LLC resonant converter

Author Correction: Integrative spatial and genomic analysis of tumor heterogeneity with Tumoroscope

Sulfur-mediated transformation, export and mineral complexation of organic and inorganic C, N, P and Si in dryland soils

Climate influence on the early human occupation of South America during the late Pleistocene

Abstract The settlement of South America marks one of the final steps in human expansion. This study examines the impact of climate change on this process, focusing on two millennial-scale climatic phases—the Antarctic Cold Reversal and Younger Dryas. Using Bayesian chronological modelling, a cultural timeline was constructed from approximately 150 archaeological sites and 1700 dates, and compared against paleoclimatic records. Findings suggested that human activity likely began in regions most affected by the Antarctic Cold Reversal, specifically in southernmost and high-altitude areas. Together with estimates indicating that the onset of megafaunal exploitation and bifacial point technology occurred before or during the Antarctic Cold Reversal, results suggested that cold conditions did not likely hinder human settlement. Key factors likely included accumulated cultural adaptation and relatively milder climatic changes in the Southern Hemisphere. More widespread occupation likely occurred during or, more likely, after the Younger Dryas as conditions stabilised. Results highlighted the western Andes as a crucial dispersal route and questioned the role of humans and climatic shifts on megafaunal extinctions. An analysis of the compiled archaeo-chronometric dataset revealed significant underrepresentation and reporting gaps, highlighting the need for expanded research and rigorous documentation to improve the reliability of the cultural timeline.

Comparing the mechanical energetics of walking among individuals with unilateral transfemoral limb loss using socket and osseointegrated prosthetic interfaces

Abstract Osseointegration (OI), or bone-anchoring, of a prosthesis is a transformative procedure for addressing issues of socket fit among individuals with lower limb loss. Mechanically, the removal of the socket interface substantially alters the transmission of load and the flow of energy through the prosthetic limb. Here, we compared the mechanical energetics of walking between socket and OI interfaces using biomechanical data and custom models of 8 service members pre- and ~24-months post-OI. Relative to a socket interface, an OI interface shifted loads toward the intact limb, which increased collision losses, while the net mechanical work of both the prosthetic and intact limbs remained minimal for both interfaces. At the joint level, despite the removal of the socket interface potentially saving ~ 6 J of work per stride, these reduced collision losses were transmitted to the center of mass instead of altering joint work. The principal change in prosthetic limb joint mechanics with an OI interface was a decrease in negative prosthetic limb hip work during late stance, driven by a decreased hip flexion moment and prosthetic limb offloading. Our findings suggest that despite previously reported improvements in walking economy, after OI individuals likely walk with increased mechanical energetic asymmetry.