Browse Articles

Comparative analysis of deep learning algorithms for rolling element bearing fault classification under variable loads and speeds

Interactions across hemispheres in prefrontal cortex reflect global cognitive processing

Development and validation of a prediction model for the risk of relapse in psoriasis

Intrinsic topological Weyl phase transition induced by a magnetostructural transformation in a kagome magnet

Abstract Topological phase transitions provide a unique window into the interplay between structure, magnetism, and Weyl physics in magnetic Weyl semimetals. However, realizing an intrinsic Weyl phase transition between two distinct Weyl states near room temperature remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate that a magnetostructural transition effectively induces such a transition in the kagome magnet Mn 3 Ga. High-resolution neutron diffraction, magnetization characterizations and first-principles calculations reveal that Mn 3 Ga undergoes a chiral antiferromagnetic transition below 485 K, followed by a magnetostructural transition to a monoclinic structure with highly canted antiferromagnetic order near room temperature. These cooperative changes in lattice and magnetic symmetries reorganize Weyl nodes, driving a transition from a primary type-II Weyl state to a distinct Weyl state, accompanied by dramatic variations in the anomalous Hall effect and appearance of topological Hall effect. Our findings open a new pathway for discovering novel topological Weyl states and advancing potential spintronic applications.

A hybrid LSTM-transformer model for short-term urban electricity load forecasting: a two-city case study

Sex distorter male drive for resistance-resilient population control of the human malaria vector Anopheles gambiae

Abstract Progress in malaria control has plateaued, prompting the exploration of additional tools. Here, we characterise two germline-specific promoters, spo11 and vasa1 , in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae . These promoters display distinct temporal and spatial expression patterns, making them well-suited for potential applications in CRISPR-based gene drives and sex ratio distortion systems. Leveraging these unique promoter features, we developed a Sex Distorter Male Drive (SDMD) technology that generates a highly male-biased progeny while spreading through super-Mendelian inheritance. This approach greatly simplifies previous genetic construct designs, potentially improving genetic stability and resilience against the development of target site resistance, a major challenge for the efficacy of genetic strategies. Our findings position SDMD as a promising and potentially resistance-resilient tool for the population suppression of Anopheles mosquitoes in malaria-endemic regions.

Photophysical investigation of green vitamin C adducts as synthetic pH indicators: solvatochromism, halochromism, and DFT calculations integrating optical band gap and electronic transition analysis

Abstract The chemistry of vitamin C adducts was revisited to investigate their pH sensitivity, photophysical properties, optical behavior, and assess their potential as eco-friendly pH indicators. In this study, a series of ascorbic acid adducts were synthesized through a straightforward, high-yield method. Their acid–base responsiveness is driven by a reversible protonation–deprotonation process between the hydrazineyl and azo groups, causing observable color changes. Analysis of substituent effects demonstrated that strong electron-withdrawing groups like nitro (–NO₂) significantly impact the electronic structure, particularly when located at the ortho or para positions of the aromatic ring. Solvatochromic studies revealed that the ortho -nitro adduct 3(b) and para -nitro adduct 3(d) exhibited positive solvatochromism, with their absorption wavelengths increasing in more polar solvents. Notably, 3(b) displayed a consistent yellow color with λ max around 396 nm across solvents, indicating its structural stability and solvent-independent optical behavior, making it a robust and versatile pH indicator. Halochromic studies in aqueous media revealed pronounced bathochromic shifts for both 3(b) and 3(d) under alkaline conditions. The 3(b) exhibited a color change from yellow to dark purple (λ max  = 534 nm), while the 3(d) transitioned from colorless (λ max  = 361 nm) to dark rosewood (λ max  = 472 nm). Spectrographic analysis determined that 3(b) had a pKa of 8.99 and 3(d) a pKa of 10.68. The band gap analyses conducted under both alkaline and acidic conditions provide detailed insights into the optical properties and electronic transitions of the most promising adducts, 3(b) and 3(d) . The optical band gap energies obtained from UV–Vis spectroscopy, E g(optical) and E g(Tauc) , showed strong agreement with the electrochemically measured band gap, E g(electronic) . These findings were further corroborated by computational results from DFT (B3LYP/6–311 + G(d,p)), where the theoretically calculated band gaps, E g(DFT) , validated the experimentally derived values and provided additional information through frontier molecular orbital (FMO) analysis, indicating the presence of an efficient push–pull electronic system throughout the adduct structures. Correlation of DFT outputs with Tauc-plot analyses clarified the nature of the electronic transitions, including π → π*, n → π*, and intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) processes, and determined whether these transitions were direct or indirect, and whether they were symmetry-allowed or forbidden. Biochemical assays further supported the proposed neutral proton-transfer mechanisms operating under both acidic and basic conditions for the promising adducts. Thermal analysis divulged thermal stability up to 210 °C. Acid-based titration tests showed that 3(b) and 3(d) produced sharp and accurate endpoints comparable to the standard methyl red indicator, while 3(c) did not exhibit a reliable color transition. Given their green origin, tunable structures, and visual responsiveness, these ascorbic pH indicators hold promising candidates for sustainable applications in food coloration, cosmetics, and medical diagnostics.

A synthetic angiotensin II/ACE2-based hormone shunt controlling experimental hypertension

Abstract Arterial hypertension is the leading preventable cause of various life-threatening medical conditions and comorbidities that affect over 1.3 billion adults, causing over 7.5 million annual deaths worldwide. Capitalizing on a synthetic biology-inspired engineering approach, we design a fully human, antihypertensive gene circuit called ARCH (autonomous regulator of chronic hypertension), which precisely monitors and efficiently controls angiotensin-dependent, renin-angiotensin system (RAS)-driven hypertension, in which angiotensin II (Ang-II) is persistently elevated, in a reversible, self-sufficient, and closed-loop manner. We utilize the ectopically expressed native type-1 angiotensin receptor (AT 1 R) to monitor the blood level of the hypertension biomarker Ang-II. We then rewire the AT 1 R activation during hypertension to a synthetic promoter to coordinate the expression of clinically licensed, secretion-engineered, soluble therapeutic angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (stACE2), which degrades Ang-II and restores normotension. Implantation of microencapsulated ARCH-transgenic human cells into male hypertensive mice restores and maintains normal blood pressure.

Enhancing Hindi OCR robustness with CRNN-ResNet50: a data augmentation approach on the devanagari dataset

PDK4 drives abdominal aortic aneurysm by promoting smooth muscle cell metabolic reprogramming and NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis

Abstract Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a progressive dilation of the abdominal aorta that can rupture and cause catastrophic internal bleeding, yet the mechanisms driving AAA remain poorly understood. Here we show that pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4), a key metabolic regulator, is upregulated in human and mouse AAA tissues. Deletion of Pdk4 in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) significantly reduces AAA formation in male mice. Mechanistically, PDK4 promotes metabolic reprogramming in VSMCs, disrupts mitochondrial respiration, and activates the NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis, thereby exacerbating vascular inflammation and AAA progression. Genetic deletion of Pdk4 in VSMCs or pharmacological inhibition of NLRP3 attenuates AAA development in mice. These findings identify PDK4 as a driver of AAA and suggest that targeting PDK4 may represent a therapeutic strategy for this life-threatening disease.

Diagnostic performance of antigen test for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 among patients presenting with COVID-19 symptoms at Bugando Medical Centre

LaMGen: LLM-based 3D molecular generation for multi-target drug design

Post-maceration storage temperature affects sperm quality and fertilization in sex-reversed rainbow trout

Abstract Optimizing sperm quality is essential in aquaculture, especially for producing all-female Oncorhynchus mykiss populations using sex-reversed males. Because sex-reversed males lack sperm ducts, semen is collected by gonadal maceration, a step that may expose spermatozoa to thermal and mechanical stress. We evaluated how post-maceration storage temperature (2, 4, 12 °C for 24 h) is associated with sperm performance in a within-male design, using an immediate post-extraction control (T0, 0 h) as a descriptive baseline for comparison. Sperm kinematics were quantified by computer-assisted sperm analysis, and cellular readouts were assessed by flow cytometry for viability (% SYTOX-negative), mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm/% JC-1 red), superoxide anion production (DHE/% DHE-high), and DNA fragmentation (% TUNEL-positive). After 24 h, the warmer condition (12 °C) was associated with lower total and progressive motility, lower mitochondrial membrane potential and viability, and higher superoxide levels, relative to cold conditions (2–4 °C). Fertilization was analyzed as binomial data (k/n); proportions were lower at 12 °C, but should be interpreted with caution given the small number of eggs assessed per replicate. Correlations between cellular biomarkers and motility/fertilization were generally weak, although a moderate negative association was observed between mitochondrial status and superoxide anion production. Overall, these results suggest that sperm from sex-reversed males is sensitive to post-maceration handling temperature, supporting the practical approach of maintaining tissues, tools and homogenates at ~ 0–4 °C throughout the collection and storage workflow.

Inboard advance of arc magmatism regulates mountain building in the Andes

Abstract Debate continues over the mechanisms that govern the tempo and style of arc magmatism and retroarc deformation along ocean-continent plate boundaries. Here we integrate detrital and bedrock geo/thermochronological and geochemical records of Cenozoic arc magmatism with results on the spatiotemporal evolution of retroarc shortening and flexural subsidence to explore the interactions and feedbacks among subduction, magmatism, and crustal deformation in the southern Central Andes. A synthesis of igneous compositions, magmatic activity, thrust belt shortening, and sediment accumulation reveals recurring phases of increased arc magmatism, retroarc underthrusting, and foreland basin development over short ( < 10 Myr) timescales. Episodic advance of deformation was focused within discrete Andean tectonic provinces (of contrasting pre-Andean inheritance) that were sequentially activated toward the foreland along newly formed middle/upper-crustal décollements. Inboard migration of arc magmatism consistently preceded deformation advance, suggesting that fluid-assisted weakening above the subducting slab facilitated enhanced shortening and orogenic growth toward the cratonic interior.

Correlation analysis of serum 25(OH)D levels with white matter hyperintensities and gait disorders in patients with cerebral small vessel disease

Cryo-ET of IgG bivalent binding on SARS-CoV-2 provides structural basis for antibody avidity

Operational Markov matrix formulation for structures in continuum plasma models

Abstract Physical systems supporting stationary-structures allow translation of their mathematical formulations in to stochastic models. This paper presents the application of Markovian nonuniform generation formulation to achieve, for the first time, the analytically inaccessible flow configurations by letting the continuum fluid model to translate into a stochastic model of the Markovian class. The developed procedure achieves solutions in the infinitely large number limit of realizations, however completely free-from any computational realizations of the random variables. Fundamental properties of elements underlying this translation are developed by treating the representative, yet highly application relevant, case of plasma transport equilibria which solve the continuum fluid model of the target-bound plasma flow in the open magnetic field line region of fusion devices. Operational Subcomponent Markov Matrices (SMM), generating stationary structures of plasma flow, are constructed for the first time and quantitatively verified against the properties of SMMs systematically defined under the Markov-Chain Monte-Carlo (MCMC) formulation. The equivalent stochastic solutions simulated by a direct Markovian Monte-Carlo Simulation code MMSIM are validated against the corresponding structures produced by the developed SMMs in a procedure free-from numerical realizations of random variables. Benchmark of standard cases with the analytical solutions is presented followed by more general analytically inaccessible structures relevant to SOL configurations of fusion devices, demonstrating the capacity of SMM-MCMC based formulation to validate the general transport equilibria obtained from the associated stochastic simulations.

Equatorward upper-ocean heat transport from the Southern Ocean boosted interglacial warming

Optimization of protein extraction from skin tape strips for biomarker assessment

Abstract Stratum corneum tape-stripping is a non-invasive alternative to biopsies for biomarker analysis in inflammatory skin diseases, but low-abundance protein detection is challenging. High extraction yield is therefore crucial, yet extraction protocols vary. Because total protein collected on the tapes is commonly used for biomarker normalization, factors influencing its measurement can impact data interpretation. We sought to investigate how extraction conditions such as buffer type, volume, and sonication time affect both total protein and cytokine biomarker yield. Sequential tape strips were collected from lesional skin of 19 patients with chronic hand eczema and matched skin sites in 13 healthy controls. Tapes were cut for equal allocation across experimental conditions. Total protein was measured by the Micro BCA assay and biomarkers by the ELISA and MSD immunoassays, with blank tapes and buffers as controls. T-PER buffer with protease inhibitor CAA yielded higher cytokine levels than PBS or PBS-Tween ± CAA, but also increased BCA assay background levels. Longer sonication and smaller extraction volumes exacerbated background without improving cytokine yield. Hence, normalization of biomarker levels may be confounded by these methodological factors. Considering the buffer, its volume, sonication time, and the inclusion of negative controls is therefore instrumental when designing studies.

Broadband comb spectroscopy through spectral envelope shaping