Browse Articles

Machine learning-based identification of m6A-regulated lncRNA AC022509.1 as a key modulator of EMT in breast cancer

Abstract N6-methyladenosine (m6A), a key RNA epigenetic modification, plays a crucial role in regulating tumor malignancy. The mechanisms by which m6A regulates long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in the malignant phenotype of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) require further exploration. This study combines bioinformatics analysis and cell experiments to investigate the role of m6A-regulated lncRNA in EMT. Bioinformatics data from The Cancer Genome Atlas database were analyzed. In vitro experiments established a stable overexpression cell line to investigate AC022509.1’s regulatory effect on the invasive and migratory phenotype of breast cancer. We employed RT-qPCR and western blot to investigate the regulatory impact of IGF2BP2 knockdown and overexpression on AC022509.1. We identified 481 lncRNAs that were co-expressed with m6A modifiers and EMT-related genes. Subsequent survival analysis identified 15 lncRNAs with prognostic significance. Utilizing the random forest method, AC022509.1 was determined to have the highest prognostic value among the identified lncRNAs. Analysis of transcriptomic and clinical data from patients with breast cancer reveals that AC022509.1 is under-expressed in breast cancer tissues, with higher expression levels associated with a favorable prognosis. A negative correlation was observed between lymph node metastases and AC022509.1 expression levels, which was further validated by clinical samples. Bioinformatics analyses indicate that AC022509.1 is linked to multiple tumor-related signaling pathways and negatively correlates with EMT scores. Experimental studies reveal that AC022509.1 overexpression reduces the invasiveness and migratory capabilities of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. Furthermore, differential and correlation analyses reveal a significant association between AC022509.1 and the m6A regulatory factor IGF2BP2. Cell-based experiments show that IGF2BP2 regulates the expression level of AC022509.1. AC022509.1 functions as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer and is valuable as a prognostic marker and diagnostic target. Downregulation diminishes the invasive and migratory capabilities of breast cancer cells, with expression regulated by the m6A factor IGF2BP2.

Remarkable disposal of Rhodamine 6G dye from aqueous media employing easily fabricated novel nanocomposites

The impacts of beta globin gene mutations and Xmn IGγ polymorphism (HBG2 c. -211 C > T) on the clinical features of Hb Eβ-thalassemia patients in Bangladesh

Abstract Haemoglobin E β-thalassemia (Hb Eβ-thal), characterized by the presence of codon 26 (G > A), HBB :c.79G > A mutation with another pathogenic variant is a common blood disorder in South-Asia, especially in Bangladesh. The disorder can range from mild and asymptomatic anemia to life-threatening forms. Here, we performed molecular analysis to understand how mutations in the HBB gene and the XmnI polymorphism influence the severity and transfusion requirements in patients with Hb Eβ-thalassemia. This study found that individuals with the codon 16 (-C), HBB :c.51delC mutation required regular blood transfusions, whereas those with the codon 30 (G > C), HBB :c.92G > C mutation had the lowest transfusion dependency, at only 6.7%. Patients with codon 30 (G > C), HBB :c.92G > C mutation had the highest response to hydroxyurea therapy (76.7% ( n  = 23)), while patients with codon 16 (-C), HBB :c.51delC mutations had the lowest response (0% ( n  = 14)). The codon 16 (-C), HBB :c.51delC mutation was associated with the lowest mean HbF level (24.8%, SD = 7.7), whereas the codon 30 (G > C), HBB :c.92G > C mutation was associated with the highest mean HbF level (41.9%, SD = 16.10). Regarding XmnI polymorphism, codon 16 (-C), HBB :c.51delC mutation was associated with the highest wild type (-/-) ( n  = 11) genotype, while codon 30 (G > C), HBB :c.92G > C mutation was associated with the highest homozygous mutated (+/+) ( n  = 11) and the least wild type (-/-) ( n  = 4) of XmnI polymorphism genotype. This study provides clinically relevant insights into treatment strategies involving HU therapy and the management of Hb Eβ-thalassemia patients with codon 30 (G > C), HBB :c.92G > C and codon 16 (-C), HBB :c.51delC mutations.

Civilian threat reduces distance perceptions and officer punishment in police use-of-force encounters

Leveraging inertial sensors and dynamic time warping to identify biomarkers for gait impairment in hereditary spastic paraplegia: an exploratory study

Abstract Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive spasticity and weakness of the lower limbs, associated with gait impairment. While inertial measurement units (IMUs) have shown promise in monitoring mobility, objective biomechanical biomarkers of gait dysfunction remain underdeveloped. This study aimed to evaluate whether normalized root mean square error (nRMSE), calculated after Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) alignment of gyroscopic gait cycle profiles, could serve as a candidate biomarker for gait impairment in HSP. We conducted a cross-sectional pilot study involving six individuals with clinically diagnosed HSP and six broadly comparable healthy controls. Participants walked along a nine-meter walkway under standardized conditions, wearing two IMUs on the shanks. Sagittal plane angular velocity was extracted from each gait cycle. Gait parameters were computed, and each participant’s mean gait cycle was aligned to the control mean using DTW. Deviations were quantified using nRMSE. Clinical assessments included the SPATAX-EUROSPA Disability Score and observable items from the Spastic Paraplegia Rating Scale (SPRS). HSP participants showed longer stance times, slower speeds, and higher nRMSE scores. nRMSE was strongly correlated with SPATAX ( R = 0.967) and SPRS ( R = 0.982) in linear regression models. These findings support the potential utility of nRMSE as an objective, sensor-derived marker of gait impairment in HSP, warranting further validation in larger and longitudinal cohorts.

Economic optimization and stability enhancement of a network integrating renewable DG sources with UPFC controller

Tri-level stochastic optimization for optimal switch placement in distribution systems under distributed generation uncertainty and electric vehicle charging demand

Admissible-state reasoning across public operational and physical systems: regime-conditioned feasibility and the pooling artefact index

Mapping the transition: the interplay of technology and natural disasters on sustainable energy in G20 nations

Synthesis, multifunctional properties, and photocatalysis of cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄) nanoparticles

Abstract This study focuses on synthesizing cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄) nanoparticles via a sol-gel method using ethylene glycol (EG) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as capping and stabilizing agents, and examines their effects on structural, optical, magnetic, dielectric, and photocatalytic properties. Various characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), were used to investigate the incorporation of CoFe₂O₄ and the stabilizers. Both EG- and PEG-capped nanoparticles exhibited a cubic spinel structure. PEG enhanced crystallinity and dispersion, whereas EG facilitated nucleation, yielding smaller, more agglomerated particles. Magnetic measurements revealed that PEG-capped nanoparticles had a higher saturation magnetization (70.1 emu·g⁻¹), whereas the EG-capped nanoparticles demonstrated greater coercivity (about 550 G). Dielectric studies indicated that PEG-derived samples exhibited higher permittivity and alternating current (AC) conductivity. In the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B under UV light, EG-derived nanoparticles achieved 95.8% degradation in 115 min, while PEG-derived nanoparticles reached 96.2% degradation in 150 min. This study provides a clear comparative understanding of how the molecular weight and chain length of polyol stabilizers (EG and PEG) influence the structure-property relationships in CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles.

Comparative fluorimetric strategies for determination of landiolol hydrochloride using native fluorescence and green synthesized silver nanoparticles

Abstract This study introduces the first reported stepwise fluorimetric strategy for the sensitive and rapid determination of the ultra-short-acting β₁-blocker, landiolol hydrochloride. Initially, an environmentally benign method was developed by exploiting the drug’s native fluorescence in water (λ ex /λ em  = 217/298 nm). While this cost-effective approach successfully utilized water as a green solvent, it demonstrated limited LOD of 32.57 ng/mL. To enhance fluorescence performance, various organic solvents were investigated, with acetonitrile providing the highest signal at λ ex /λ em  = 222/300 nm and improving the LOD to 16.31 ng/mL. To enable ultra-trace clinical monitoring, a third “turn-on” method was developed using silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). By measuring fluorescence enhancement at λ ex /λ em  = 260/524.6 nm upon interaction with landiolol, this platform amplifies the signal, achieving an outstanding LOD of 3.10 ng/mL. AgNPs were prepared using a green synthesis approach employing Aloe vera extract as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent in an aqueous medium avoiding using hazardous chemicals. Water was used throughout both nanoparticle preparation and the AgNP-enhanced determination, reinforcing the eco-friendly profile of the method. Unlike native fluorescence, the AgNP-assisted method enhances sensitivity through nanoparticle-mediated surface passivation, with a possible auxiliary contribution from resonance energy transfer (RET)-like processes. Selectivity is improved through preferential adsorption of landiolol on the AgNP surface and a large Stokes shift that minimizes interference from UV-absorbing matrix components. The resulting enhanced sensitivity and reduced matrix interference make this method a powerful tool for ultra-trace, selective, and sustainable determination of landiolol in pharmaceutical formulations and human plasma, demonstrating its suitability for routine quality control and bioanalytical applications.

Australians recognise the effects of climate change but not its consequences for health system resilience and workforce capacity

Evaluating the regulatory effects of Icariin and Puerarin combination from shenge bushen capsules on renal-gonadal axis in beagle dogs

Test-retest reliability and concurrent validity of gait variability and trunk stability dual task effect in people with chronic stroke

Improved β-carotene synthesis in fas-knockout Mucor circinelloides strains

Leveraging G$$\times$$E interaction to optimize multi-trait selection in lima bean

Adaptive learning path generation in virtual reality music education via deep reinforcement learning

Subsistence input rates limit farming systems’ potential in a longterm on-farm trial in Central Kenya

Efficient privacy preserving cloud data sharing with blockchain-assisted access control and periodic integrity checking

Abstract Cloud-assisted data sharing has become the preferred approach for data exchange. Despite its popularity, the loss of physical control over outsourced data has intensified data owners’ concerns regarding data privacy and security. Existing attribute-based encryption schemes achieve fine-grained access control, but face an efficiency-security trade-off in policy updates, key privacy leakage risks, and a lack of proactive periodic integrity verification, limiting their practical application. To address these issues, this paper proposes EPPCDS, an efficient privacy-preserving cloud data sharing scheme with blockchain-assisted access control and periodic integrity checking. EPPCDS implements key-level fine-grained access control via multi-keyword searchable encryption for low-overhead secure policy updates, and adopts a double-layer digital envelope mechanism combined with certificateless cryptography and identity randomization to protect decryption tokens and user identity privacy. It also integrates provable data possession with a deposit-based reward-penalty mechanism to realize proactive periodic integrity verification. We conduct a thorough security analysis confirming EPPCDS satisfies diverse security demands in cloud data sharing. Extensive experiments on a Hyperledger Fabric prototype demonstrate that EPPCDS incurs low runtime overhead for all participating parties and outperforms representative existing schemes in terms of policy creation, policy update, and data access efficiency.

Multi-decadal remote sensing assessment of Urban heat Island intensification and biophysical transformation in Al Taif, Saudi Arabia

Abstract Urban environments in arid regions face escalating environmental pressures from rapid development and climate change, making systematic monitoring of their thermal and biophysical dynamics essential for sustainable planning. This study quantifies two decades of land-surface transformation in Al Taif City, Saudi Arabia, using multi-epoch analysis of Landsat imagery (2003, 2010, 2017, 2023) processed in Google Earth Engine, with Random Forest classification achieving accuracies of 92.1 to 97.1%. Built-up areas expanded by 597% (62.1 to 433.0 km²), accompanied by reductions in water bodies (66%), vegetation cover (49%), and mountainous terrain (7%). The thermal analysis reveals a characteristic UHI-intensification signature that would have been concealed by any single statistic: scene-mean land-surface temperature changed by only − 1.6 °C (50.0 to 48.4 °C, within measurement uncertainty), whereas maximum LST rose by 3.1 °C (61.9 to 65.0 °C) and the overall thermal range widened by 9.4 °C, indicating that heat is concentrating in specific urban zones rather than warming the city uniformly. Together, correlation and principal component analyses identify vegetation- and water-related biophysical indicators as accounting for 61.9% of the thermal variance, with NDVI showing the strongest cooling association ( r  = − 0.6), while built-up and bare-soil indicators show the strongest warming associations. These findings support a zone-specific planning framework calibrated to hot-arid, water-scarce contexts: the central urban core requires cool-material and shading interventions; transitional peripheries require compact growth management and passive, water-sensitive urban design; and existing natural thermal refugia require formal preservation. The methodological framework presented here offers a transferable approach for characterizing UHI intensification in rapidly expanding hot-arid cities across the Middle East, North Africa, and comparable regions, where hydrologically realistic mitigation strategies, including drought-tolerant greening, treated-wastewater irrigation, and cool-material interventions, are more feasible than generic citywide greening prescriptions.