Browse Articles

Red listing the flora of the Green Islands reveals high extinction risk in the Azores

Higher odd-order nonlinear Hall effect in magnetic topological insulator Mn(Bi1-xSbx)2Te4

Unsaturated ZrO _<i>x</i> Sites Boost C–C Coupling for Selective CO ₂ Hydrogenation to Olefins

Spacing effects of discrete bed roughness on sequent depth, jump length, and energy loss in hydraulic jumps

Hepatic SNHG9 links gut microbiota to liver protection in drug-induced liver injury

Oxygen–Oxygen Bond-Forming Reactions for the Synthesis of Cyclic Peroxides

Patterns of psychotropic drug dispensation in Portugal amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond

Abstract The increasing prevalence of mental health disorders has been matched with growing psychotropic drug consumption rates around the world. Assessing psychopharmacoepidemiological trends and their determinants is essential to guide medical care delivery and public health policies. However, nation-wide studies on up-to-date consumption patterns are scarce and generally disregard relevant pharmacological, medical, socio-demographic, and economic covariates. Previous studies on the Portuguese case, known for critically high consumption rates of benzodiazepines and antidepressants, are limited to the COVID-19 pre-pandemic period. This study uses the full (electronic) dispensation registry of antidepressants, benzodiazepines and zolpidem, antipsychotics and mood stabilisers in Portugal during the years of 2019 to 2022 to model relevant prescription and consumption patterns prior to, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The data reveal an accelerated growth trend in antidepressant consumption since 2020, with a 7.41% annual increase in dispensed defined daily doses and a growing user base (1.7M users, 16.1% of the population), overtaking benzodiazepines and zolpidem as the class with most active users. The total annual expenditure has increased 14M€ between 2020 and 2022 (nearly 2M€ in public copayment), notwithstanding price drops in diverse antipsychotic drugs.

Western diet-induced MASH in PWK/PhJ mice identifies disruptions in amino acid and sphingolipid metabolism contributing to cardiac dysfunction

Abstract Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) are liver disorders strongly associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The PWK/PhJ mouse strain is an emerging model for severe MASH, highly susceptible to Western diet (WD) and closely mimicking the clinical and molecular profile of human MASH. Here, we demonstrate that male and female PWK/PhJ mice develop hepatic fibrosis and cardiac dysfunction after 17 weeks of WD challenge. Elevated cholesterol levels and altered transcript profiles associated with translation and lipid metabolism characterize the early metabolic changes induced by WD. Chronic exposure to WD exacerbates hepatic lipid accumulation, inflammation, and fibrosis, while disrupting amino acid and mitochondrial metabolism. These alterations increase hepatic synthesis of ceramides and deoxy-ceramides, contributing to elevated sphingolipid levels in plasma and heart tissue. Collectively, these metabolic changes drive the development of MASH and significantly increase CVD risk. Our findings establish the PWK/PhJ strain as a robust model to study cardio-metabolic cross talk and identifying therapeutic targets for cardio-metabolic disorders.

Experimental Quantification of Spin–Phonon Coupling in Molecular Qubits Using Inelastic Neutron Scattering

A new mayfly species of Ecdyonurus Eaton, 1868 from Eocene Baltic Amber and insights into the extant molecular diversity of the genus

microRNA-25 drives immune checkpoint therapy resistance by repressing innate and humoral immunity via Syndecan-3

Abstract Immune checkpoint therapy (ICT) can induce durable tumor control but is limited by primary and acquired resistance. The mechanisms underlying immune-resistant tumor microenvironments (TMEs) remain incompletely understood. Here we show that deletion of microRNA-25 (miR-25) sensitizes tumors to ICT across multiple syngeneic mouse models. Single-cell transcriptomics reveals that miR-25 deficiency activates innate and humoral immunity by increasing major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) expression in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and enhancing classical complement signaling in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Complement activation shifts CAFs toward an inflammatory (iCAF) state, reduces suppressive crosstalk with TAMs, and promotes a pro-inflammatory TME. Mechanistically, miR-25 represses Syndecan-3 (SDC3) in response to interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Editing the miR-25 binding site in Sdc3 restores SDC3 expression and overcomes resistance. These findings identify miR-25–mediated SDC3 repression as a driver of immune resistance and suggest strategies to convert immune-cold tumors into ICT-responsive hot tumors, offering avenues to enhance ICT.

Biodegradability of Acrylate-Lipoic Acid Copolymers

Highly sensitive voltammetric determination of Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ ions using a carbon paste electrode modified with Mn₀.₅Zn₀.₅Fe₂O₄ spinel ferrite nanoparticles

Abstract A novel electrochemical sensing platform based on a Mn 0.5 Zn 0.5 Fe 2 O 4 nanoparticles-modified carbon paste electrode (MnZnFe NPs/CPE) was developed for the simultaneous voltammetric determination of trace Cd² + and Pb² + ions. MnZnFe NPs were synthesized via co-precipitation method and characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM&amp;EDX, and TEM analyses, confirming the formation of a well-crystallized spinel ferrite structure with nanoscale morphology. The incorporation of MnZnFe NPs significantly enhanced the electrocatalytic activity of the carbon paste matrix, providing improved adsorption capacity and electron-transfer kinetics for metal ions. Adsorptive stripping differential pulse voltammetry (ASDPV) was employed for analytical measurements under optimized conditions (pH 5, deposition potential − 1.2 V, deposition time 120 s). The modified electrode exhibited well-defined and separated oxidation peaks for both Cd² + and Pb² + , achieving low detection limits 0.21 nM and 0.03 nM for Cd² + and Pb² + respectively, wide linear ranges 0.80 nM – 28.0 µM and 0.12 nM– 30.0 µM for Cd² + and Pb² + respectively, and excellent reproducibility (RSDs of 0.42% (Cd² + ) and 1.39% (Pb² + )). The sensor also demonstrated high selectivity toward Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺, with negligible interference from common coexisting ions, and showed good stability over repeated use. The developed MnZnFe NPs/CPE provides a simple, low-cost, and efficient approach for monitoring toxic heavy metals in environmental water samples.

Solvent reverse osmosis beyond size exclusion in two-dimensional nanochannel membranes

A neustonic hydrozoan Porpita porpita drifts for over a year

Dual platform spatial transcriptomics reveals parvalbumin interneuron subtype vulnerability in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease

Reactive Ions in Aqueous Electrospray Microdroplet Experiments Originate from Electrical Discharge

Evaluation of the antiparasitic efficacy of praziquantel against Prohemistomum vivax (Cyathocotylidae) metacercariae in naturally infected African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Abstract Prohemistomum vivax (Cyathocotylidae) is a significant parasitic threat in Egyptian African catfish ( Clarias gariepinus ) aquaculture, causing tissue damage, high prevalence, and economic losses. This study evaluated the dose-dependent efficacy of praziquantel against naturally occurring P. vivax encysted metacercariae (EMC) under controlled laboratory conditions and explored its potential mode of action via molecular docking. A total of 105 naturally infected catfish (150–250 g) were randomly assigned to seven groups. Each treatment consisted of three independent replicate tanks (experimental units), with five fish per tank (n = 15 fish per treatment) . Treatments included a control group (0 mg/L) and six praziquantel groups administered as single doses (0.5, 2, or 3 mg/L for 24 h) or double doses repeated after 7 days. Parasitological, histopathological, and pro-inflammatory gene expression analyses (TNF-α, IL-1β) were performed. The highest efficacy was achieved with double-dose 3 mg/L, resulting in 9 4.2 ± 2.1% parasite reduction ( p  &lt; 0.001), with clear dose-dependent trends (single-dose: 28.8–67.9%; double-dose: 43.7–94.2%). Histopathological analysis showed reduced cyst burden and tissue lesions, while inflammatory markers were significantly downregulated in treated groups. To investigate praziquantel’s mechanism of action, in silico docking targeted P. vivax cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), a key mitochondrial enzyme. Praziquantel exhibited strong binding affinity (–6.1 kcal/mol; RMSD = 0.0 Å), forming stable hydrophobic interactions with conserved residues (Val55A, Ala58A, Leu88A, Phe91A, Trp142A). The localization of Trp142A within the active site suggests potential enzyme inhibition, supporting a mitochondrial mechanism of action. These findings confirm praziquantel’s effectiveness against P. vivax EMC and identify COI as a potential molecular target. Given its critical role in human medicine, further research into resistance risks, environmental safety, and regulatory frameworks in aquaculture is recommended.

Universal topology of exceptional points in nonlinear non-Hermitian systems

Abstract Exceptional points are non-Hermitian degeneracies where eigenvalues and eigenvectors coalesce, giving rise to unusual physical effects across scientific disciplines. The concept of exceptional points has recently been extended to nonlinear physical systems. We theoretically demonstrate a universal topology in the nonlinear parameter space for a large class of physical systems that support second-order exceptional points in the linear regime. Knowledge of this topology (called elliptic umbilic singularity in bifurcation theory) deepens our understanding of second-order linear exceptional points, which here emerge as coalescence of four nonlinear eigenvectors. This helps guide future experimental discovery of nonlinear exceptional points and their classification, establish rigorous bounds of sensitivity enhancement of exceptional points in nonlinear systems, and helps envision and optimize technological applications of nonlinear exceptional points. Our theoretical approach is general and can be extended to nonlinear perturbations of third-order and higher-order exceptional points.

Catalyst-, Potential-, and pH-Dependent Product Selectivity of NO Electroreduction on Transition Metals Studied by Coupled Differential Electrochemical Mass Spectrometry and Surface-Enhanced Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy