Browse Articles

Environmental DNA reveals hidden eukaryotic diversity and fine-scale community patterns across seascape areas in the Northern Red Sea

High throughput screen reveals four compounds with novel antifungal activity, including a metal-responsive candidate with in vivo efficacy against Candida albicans

Patient characteristics modify the effects of education plus exercise on patellofemoral joint loading: a secondary effect-modifier analysis of a randomized controlled trial

Branched-chain amino acid catabolism is potentially deficient in pancreatic cancer with high-neural invasion

Abstract Elevated plasma branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) levels are observed in some metabolic disorders, such as obesity and diabetes, due to impaired hepatic BCAA catabolism. In pancreatic cancer, elevated plasma BCAA levels are observed years before diagnosis, possibly due to increased protein degradation. However, the status of BCAA catabolism in pancreatic cancer remains unclear. Here, we hypothesized that defective hepatic BCAA utilization contributes to this elevation in pancreatic cancer, similar to observations in obesity and diabetes. Consistent with our hypothesis, increased phosphorylation of the hepatic BCAA catabolic enzyme, branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase (BCKDH), was observed in a murine nerve invasion model with human pancreatic cancer cells, indicative of an inactive state. Notably, this was associated with reduced whole-body BCAA flux, increased skeletal muscle degradation, and elevated plasma BCAA levels. Patients with stage III pancreatic cancer with severe neural invasion exhibited high plasma BCAA and reduced muscle mass. In addition, patients with stage IV pancreatic cancer showed hepatic BCKDH phosphorylation, which correlated with poor prognosis. Overall, these results suggest the potential existence of impaired BCAA catabolism via hepatic BCKDH downregulation in pancreatic cancer.

Construction and validation of a nomogram model for the differential diagnosis of primary testicular benign and malignant tumors

Abstract Testicular tumors often pose a significant threat to the health of young adult males, and inappropriate radical orchiectomy imposes a heavy physical and psychological burden on many patients.In order to accurately distinguish testicular benign and malignant tumors prior to treatment, we retrospectively enrolled 298 patients with testicular tumors treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between June 2016 and June 2024, all of whom met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Using a random number method, the patients were divided into a training set (209 cases, 70%) and an internal validation set (89 cases, 30%). Additionally, 55 patients from two different medical centers, treated between January 2019 and January 2024 and meeting the same criter-ia, were included as an external validation set. Tumor size (OR = 2.70, 95% CI: 1.80–4.05, P  < 0.001), boundary (OR = 3.99, 95% CI: 1.34–11.86, P  = 0.013), AFP (OR = 7.49, 95% CI: 1.92–29.25, P  = 0.004), hCG (OR = 5.21, 95% CI: 1.30–20.95, P  = 0.020), and CDFI (Grade II: OR = 4.23, 95% CI: 1.35–13.26, P  = 0.014; Grade III: OR = 16.26, 95% CI: 3.68–71.83, P  < 0.001) were identified as five independent discriminative factors for distinguishing benign from malignant testicular tumors. A nomogram model incorporating these factors was constructed and demonstrated favorable performance. The model was deployed online as a dynamic nomogram ( https://nomogram98.shinyapps.io/dynnomapp/ ).

Experimental verification of DAS vibration response characteristics of equal strength beam under sinusoidal excitation

Explainable Quantile CNN-LSTM model for uncertainty-aware multi-layer soil moisture prediction in tropical cocoa plantations

Advancing target discovery through disease-specific integration of multi-modal target identification models and comprehensive benchmarking system

Ostrich egg shell as an accurate retrospective dosimeter using electron paramagnetic resonance technique

Abstract This study investigates the dosimetric features of Ostrich egg shell (Oesh) using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to evaluate its potential as an accurate retrospective dosimeter. Key dosimetric characteristics, including sensitivity, dose-response, UV light effect, and temporal and thermal stability, were systematically evaluated. The EPR spectra of γ-irradiated samples revealed six radiation-induced signals (S₁–S₆) corresponding to biocarbonate radicals (CO₃⁻, CO₃³⁻, and CO₂⁻), with the dosimetric peak centered at g = 2.0040 ± 0.0016. The material exhibits a highly linear dose-response relationship in the range of 0.3 Gy to 1 kGy ( R  > 0.999). With a detection limit of 0.21 Gy, Oesh demonstrates significantly higher sensitivity than other egg shell dosimeters. The EPR signal remained stable after seven days of storage at ambient temperature with less than 18% fading depending on modulation amplitude value. Crucially, exposure to UVA and UVC light did not affect the γ-induced radicals, confirming the robustness of the dosimetric centers. The ratio of the dosimetric peaks S 4 to (S 4  + S 5 ) exhibits a time-dependent decay that can be modeled to determine the elapsed time since irradiation. Furthermore, the measured energy dependence factor for Cs-137 (662 keV) is 1.01 relative to Co-60 (1250 keV), confirming the material’s reliability across relevant photon energies greater than 100 keV. These results establish Ostrich egg shell as a promising, highly sensitive, and stable material for both retrospective dosimetry and general radiation monitoring applications.

Strain release of substoichiometric (Zr,Y)O$$_{2-x}$$ phases formed by electrochemical reduction in single crystalline YSZ

Abstract The formation of substoichiometric mixed zirconium-yttrium oxides by electroreduction of cubic 9.5YSZ is investigated. A strongly oxygen depleted phase with the stoichiometry (Zr,Y) $$_{8.6}$$ O is observed, forming belt-shaped features below the sample surface in the heavily reduced region close to the cathode. It is embedded in another oxygen depleted phase with the stoichiometry (Zr,Y) $$_2$$ O. The electroreduction is performed by drawing a DC current through a single crystal with circular platinum electrodes. The new phases, which are possibly metastable and not yet reported in literature, are identified by STEM investigations and EDX, which is used to measure the composition. The found composition indicates Zr and Y with an oxidation state of +I, respectively, between +I and 0. The (Zr,Y) $$_{8.6}$$ O phase has a significant distortion of the original cubic symmetry. The (Zr,Y) $$_2$$ O phase exhibits a slight, the (Zr,Y) $$_{8.6}$$ O phase a strong decrease of the molar volume compared to unreduced YSZ. A chequerboard-like structure on the surface of the single crystal can be most probably explained by strain relaxation due to dislocation gliding. Misfit dislocations can be found in the interface between the substoichiometric phases. The induced strain due to the volume contraction may also be responsible for the known deterioration of the mechanical properties after reduction.

The intrinsically disordered protein SPE-56 is required for acrosomal-like exocytosis and fertility in Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract In sexually reproducing organisms, activation of fertilization-competent sperm requires acrosomal vesicle exocytosis. We characterized the C. elegans gene spe-56 , which encodes a single-pass transmembrane protein containing a C-terminal intrinsically disordered region (IDR). SPE-56 localizes to acrosomal-like membranous organelles (MOs) in the sperm, and loss of spe-56 causes sterility due to defective MO–plasma membrane fusion during sperm activation. Genetic epistasis places SPE-56 downstream of the canonical SPE-8/SPE-6 sperm activation pathway, which comprises a membrane receptor and a kinase. Strains with partial deletions of the IDR are fertile at low temperatures but sterile at elevated temperatures. Larger deletions of the IDR are infertile at low and high temperatures. These data indicate that SPE-56 promotes acrosomal-like exocytosis and that its IDR contributes to the thermal robustness of sperm activation. Overall, IDR-mediated structural flexibility may represent a conserved mechanism for maintaining sperm function across variable temperatures.

Phylogeography of Heteropriacanthus, a circumtropical reef fish with very little morphological variation

Abstract Only six species of fishes found on reefs are known to have a circumtropical distribution. Until recently Heteropriacanthus cruentatus was one of the six, recognized as a single species in a monotypic genus present in all tropical and subtropical seas. Based on sequences of cytochrome oxidase I and on morphology, a previous study split the genus into three species, H. carolinus in the Indo-Pacific, H. cruentatus in most of the tropical Atlantic, and H. fulgens in the northeast Atlantic. We sampled two mitochondrial and three nuclear genes (a total of 3618 bases) from 21 locations in three oceans to determine the phylogeography and genetic structure of the genus. We found three clades, corresponding to H. cruentatus , H. fulgens , and H. carolinus . H. fulgens extends, not just to the northeastern Atlantic as previously known, but also to the southeast, the central and (possibly) the southwest Atlantic, whereas H. cruentatus is restricted to the Greater Caribbean. H. carolinus spreads in the entire Indo-Pacific. We found no evidence that the three species are sympatric anywhere in their range. H. cruentatus is genetically homogeneous over its small range, but H. fulgens shows evidence of gene flow restrictions between the northeast and the southeast Atlantic and between the east and the central Atlantic. Genetic exchange in H. carolinus is restricted by the large expanse of open water between the eastern and the central Pacific (the 4000 km wide Eastern Pacific Barrier), and by either distance or historical separation between the Pacific and the Indian Oceans. There is evidence of isolation by distance in H. carolinus , but not in H. fulgens or H. cruentatus . A coalescent Bayesian Analysis also supported a stepping stone model in H. carolinus and indicated that gene flow through the Eastern Pacific Barrier was mostly eastwards, whereas it was westwards between the central and western Pacific. Genetic exchange was high and symmetrical between the western Pacific and the Indian Ocean. Thus, despite the remarkably low morphological variation of Heteropriacanthus , its phylogeography shows that gene flow is restricted by some of the major barriers to dispersal for marine organisms. Nevertheless, the observed degree of connectivity across the width of the Indo-Pacific is remarkable for a reef fish.

Yixinyuan Gaofang ameliorates myocardial infarction in rats by inhibiting the TNF/NF-κB pathway

Graphic design style transfer and aesthetic optimization algorithm based on a generative adversarial network

Evaluating patent assignee influence in artificial intelligence: a heterogeneous innovation network perspective

Nuclear energy green growth and green innovation effects on ecological footprint in the top fifteen nuclear energy using countries

Deep learning detection of retinitis pigmentosa inheritance forms through synthetic data expansion of a rare disease dataset

Abstract Classification of inheritance patterns is important for clinical characterization and genetic counseling in inherited retinal diseases (IRDs). In practice, inheritance assessment integrates pedigree information, clinical evaluation, and genetic testing. However, a definitive molecular diagnosis is not achievable in a subset of patients, even with contemporary sequencing approaches, and family history may be incomplete or ambiguous. These limitations motivate investigation of complementary phenotype-based approaches that may provide additional contextual information, while not replacing molecular diagnosis when available. Deep learning (DL) applied to fundus imaging presents a promising approach for automated inference of inheritance modes, as recent advances in oculomics have demonstrated applications of DL in uncovering subtle phenotypic patterns associated with retinal conditions. However, development has been hindered by the low prevalence of IRDs and the scarcity of annotated datasets in individual clinical settings. In this study, we focus on retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a highly heterogeneous disorder in both clinical presentation and genetic etiology. We present a first-in-class deep learning approach that leverages Vision Transformer (ViT) models to distinguish autosomal from X-linked RP using color fundus photography. To overcome challenges posed by limited data, we introduce an innovative variational autoencoder–based data expansion strategy, which improves inheritance pattern classification based on color fundus photos from 0.67 AUC to 0.79 AUC. Our findings demonstrate the potential of deep learning to uncover subtle phenotypic differences linked to genetic inheritance, complementing existing genetic testing approaches, and introduce a novel training data augmentation method to render deep learning accessible to rare diseases.

Research on strength prediction model of manufactured sand‌ concrete during steam curing stage based on equivalent age

Abstract To determine the optimal steam curing duration for precast manufactured sand‌ concrete components and the corresponding strength prediction model at this stage, this paper investigates the strength development law of manufactured sand‌ concrete with age under steam curing temperatures of 40 ℃, 50 ℃ and 60 ℃, and discusses the compressive strength prediction model of manufactured sand concrete at the steam curing stage based on the theory of maturity at the equivalent age of Arrhenius. The results show that steam curing can significantly shorten the time required for manufactured sand‌ concrete to reach the design strength, but the temperature effect of steam curing is limited and the curing duration should not be excessively long. Specifically, the steam curing duration at 60 ℃ should not exceed 12 h, at 50 ℃ should not exceed 24 h, and at 40 ℃ should not exceed 48 h. Among the prediction models based on equivalent age, the hyperbolic function prediction model has the highest accuracy, while the accuracy of the exponential function prediction model is the lowest. For the strength prediction of manufactured sand‌ concrete at steam curing temperatures of 50 ℃ or below, it is suitable to choose the hyperbolic function calculation model.

Fertile field emission response in scrambled SmNiO3 nanopins

Abstract This present work focuses on the synthesis of scrambled SmNiO 3 nanopins by the hydrothermal route, structural and morphological characterizations, and observing their potential electric field emission response with density functional theory (DFT) study. The Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman characterization study reveals an orthorhombic phase (space group Pnma , No. 62) of SmNiO 3 , along with Raman-active NiO 6 octahedral vibrational modes and Sm-O lattice motion. The high-resolution scanning and tunneling electron microscopy images exhibit monodispersed hierarchically self-assembled pin-like surface morphology with a crystal lattice spacing of 3.16 Å for 110 planes, which offers exceptional field emission response. The chemical states of Sm, Ni, and O were interpreted by X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopy in +3 oxidation states (4f 5 configuration), mixed Ni 3 ⁺/Ni 2 ⁺ valence states, and -2 lattice and defect states, respectively. The current density (J) vs. electric field (E) plots demonstrate a maximum field emission current density ~ 30 µA/cm 2 @ 8.4 V/µm, and very enduring field emission current stability was observed over a long period of time, 3 h 20 min, with bright field emission fringes. Very low turn-on (E turn-on ) and threshold (E threshold ) were discerned ~ 5.1 V/µm @1 µA/cm 2 and ~ 7.64 V/µm @10 µA/cm 2 from J-E curves. The local work function (φ) was calculated to be ~5.13 eV by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and the field enhancement factor (β) was measured to be ~3343. The noteworthy electric field emission response, low turn-on field, and long-term stable field emission enable SmNiO 3 nanopins to be a high-efficiency electron source for field-emitting display (FED), X-ray source, vacuum transistor device, etc.

Petrography and physical-mechanical evaluation of mafic-ultramafic rocks from Atud-Um Khasila, Egypt for dimension stone

Abstract This study investigates the petrography, physical, and mechanical properties of mafic-ultramafic rocks from the Atud–Um Khasila region in Egypt’s Central Eastern Desert for dimension-stone applications. Eighteen representative samples of metagabbro, olivine gabbro, and serpentinite were analyzed using integrated petrographic and geotechnical methods. Standard ASTM and EN procedures were utilized to determine bulk density, water absorption, apparent porosity, and uniaxial compressive strength (UCS). Additionally, serpentinite samples were evaluated for durability against salt crystallization and thermal shock. Petrographic analysis reveals that gabbroic rocks (metagabbro and olivine gabbro) comprise plagioclase, amphibole, pyroxene, and olivine, forming interlocking textures that may contribute to their strength. Metagabbro demonstrated high strength (74.6 MPa), low porosity (0.24%), and minimal water absorption (0.08%). Olivine gabbro also performed well, with a strength (76.8 MPa), a porosity (0.29%), and water absorption (0.11%). In contrast, serpentinites, mostly made up of antigorite, talc, and carbonate veins, showed lower strength (67.3 MPa) due to alteration but had weight losses below 1% during testing. Overall, gabbroic rocks are appropriate for dimension stone applications, while serpentinite does not meet ASTM standards. This study demonstrates that the mineralogy and texture strongly influence rock performance, emphasizing the importance of combined petrographic and geotechnical assessments in evaluating stone resources.