Browse Articles

An embedded deep learning framework for real-time violence detection and alert generation

Vapor-phase (S)-methoprene alters cuticular hydrocarbons in the Argentine ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract The Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Mayr), is one of the world’s most damaging invasive species. Current control strategies for L. humile rely on neurotoxic insecticides; however, their use is increasingly limited due to their environmental impacts and subsequent regulatory restrictions. Juvenile hormone analogues, such as methoprene, may offer an alternative solution due to their low toxicity to non-target organisms and more favorable environmental profiles. While some juvenile hormone analogues have been tested against several myrmicine ants, their effects on other subfamilies, such as Dolichoderinae, remain understudied. Only one peer-reviewed publication has evaluated methoprene’s effect on Argentine ant colonies in the laboratory, reporting increased mortality in adult workers. However, the study did not explore potential physiological mechanisms underlying this observation. Research findings from other insect taxa suggest that juvenile hormone and their synthetic analogues may disrupt adult physiology by altering lipid metabolism and cuticular hydrocarbon profiles, key traits involved in desiccation resistance and chemical communication. The current study investigated the effects of methoprene on the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles in L. humile . To administer methoprene in a controlled manner, small colony fractions housed in sealed enclosures were exposed to methoprene vapor. After 21 days, cuticular hydrocarbons were extracted from adult workers and queens and quantified using gas chromatography. Methoprene exposure significantly reduced the total cuticular hydrocarbon quantity in both castes. Moreover, the effect of methoprene on CHCs was dependent on their class and chain length, with caste-specific patterns. These findings suggest methoprene disrupts the lipid metabolic processes linked to cuticular hydrocarbon biosynthesis. These findings may provide a foundation to further explore the physiological impacts of methoprene and other juvenile hormone analogues on Argentine ants and other pestiferous dolichoderine ants.

Efficient foam-based thermal interface material functionalized with MWCNTs for CPU cooling applications: thermal performance modeling and Experimental studies

Abstract Efficient thermal dissipation remains one of the foremost challenges in modern electronics, as excessive heat can critically damage device performance and reliability. In this work, we introduce a novel thermal interface material (TIM) based on polyvinyl-formaldehyde (PVF) foam functionalized with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for advanced processor cooling. The developed composite exhibits high thermal conductivity, remarkable stability up to 200 °C, and minimal weight loss across a wide temperature range. A TIM with a  $$4\times 4$$  cm 2  cross-section was engineered to interface directly with a CPU chip. The heat dissipation from the CPU was systematically investigated as a function of composition and design parameters to identify the optimal cooling configuration. Thermal characterization and CPU package modeling confirmed the superior heat dissipation capacity of the TIM. Among the tested configurations, the PVF/MWCNT composite with 4 wt% loading, fabricated in a square geometry and 2 mm thickness, demonstrated the most effective performance, achieving a minimum CPU temperature of 66.72°C under an 80 W heat load. The square-shaped TIM outperformed its circular counterpart due to better conformity with the CPU surface, maximizing contact area and minimizing thermal resistance. Experimental validation closely matched the simulation results, confirming the reliability of the adopted model. These results establish PVF/MWCNT composites as a lightweight, thermally stable, and highly efficient TIM, offering strong potential for next-generation electronic devices operating at elevated temperatures.

Comparison of fang replacement rate in Viperidae snakes

Risk factors for suicidal ideation among bereaved adolescents in a psychological support hotline

Determinants of precancerous cervical lesion among HIV positive women on ART in Awi zone public health facilities, Northwest Ethiopia, 2024

A structure-preserving diffusion-based zero-shot learning framework for multimodal magnetic flux leakage signal analysis

Safety precaution compliance and associated factors among pesticide user farmers in Dera district, Northwest Ethiopia, 2024: a health belief model approach

Enhancing MTC device security in LTE networks for the fast and secure BC-based group handover authentication protocol

Auxiliary subunits reshape structural asymmetry and functional plasticity in heterotetrameric GluA1/A2 AMPA receptor core

Abstract AMPA-subtype ionotropic glutamate receptors (AMPARs) mediate the fast component of excitatory neurotransmission. They govern synaptic plasticity that underlies learning and memory, while their dysregulation is implicated in numerous neurological disorders. The functional diversity of AMPARs arises from variations in their subunit composition and also their association with auxiliary subunits. While multiple structures of homomeric AMPARs have been reported, structural information for the heteromeric core – particularly in the absence of auxiliary subunits, which would serve as a functional and structural baseline – has been limited. Here, we report cryo-electron microscopy structures of GluA1/A2, the most abundant AMPAR di-heteromer in the brain, in the closed, open, and desensitized states. Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and cross-correlating structural and functional information, we find that auxiliary subunits increase the diameter of channel pore, which corresponds to larger conductance. Likewise, we find that recovery from desensitization slows with greater disruption of two-fold rotational symmetry of the ligand-binding domain dimer in the desensitized state. Both receptor activation and desensitization vary with the type and number of associated auxiliary proteins. These structures offer a foundation for uncovering how auxiliary subunits reshape structural asymmetry and functional plasticity in heterotetrameric AMPARs.

Electromagnetic imaging reveals insufficient fluids to explain shallow megathrust creep at the Shumagin Gap

Abstract The Shumagin Gap, a creeping segment of the Alaska subduction zone characterized by tsunamigenic structures, experienced a deep rupture during the July 2020 M7.8 earthquake. However, shallow slip behavior and the upper boundary of the rupture remain poorly understood. Here we utilize controlled-source electromagnetic data to image subsurface electrical resistivity, investigating the role of fluids in modulating megathrust locking state within the Shumagin Gap. Results reveal pronounced trench-normal heterogeneity in electrical resistivity both along the shallow plate interface and within the overriding plate, showing fluid presence but low overall porosity at the interface. An observed conductive channel extending into the overriding plate may facilitate upward fluid drainage. Our findings suggest that the volumes of fluids and inferred pore pressures are not sufficient to explain megathrust creep at the Shumagin Gap. Rather, the intricate interplay between heterogeneous structure and fluid distribution contributes to the region’s seismogenic behavior and tsunami hazards, particularly in the shallow portion of the megathrust.

FOXA1 loss drives basal/squamous de-differentiation of prostate cancer and induces an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment

Abstract FOXA1 is a prostate lineage-specifying transcription factor that is frequently dysregulated or mutated in prostate cancer (PCa). While FOXA1 has been reported to exhibit both PCa-promoting and -inhibitory functions, its role within an immune-proficient PCa context remains unclear. Here, we show that prostate-specific deletion of Foxa1 in Pten -deficient mice drives tumor progression by reprogramming luminal PCa cells toward a basal/squamous-like state and promoting an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Histological and transcriptomic analyses reveal aggressive tumors with extensive basal/squamous features, a reactive stroma, and disorganized tissue architecture. Mechanistically, FOXA1 directly represses basal/squamous and inflammatory genes, which become activated upon its depletion. This is accompanied by an accumulation of immunosuppressive myeloid cells, dysfunctional T cells, and immunosuppressive cytokine signaling. Together, these findings demonstrate a tumor-suppressive role for FOXA1 as an enforcer of luminal identity, such that its loss drives basal/squamous de-differentiation, inflammatory response, and immunosuppression.

In-situ growth of biomimetic ion-selective membranes via confined molecular encapsulation for superior fluoride/chloride separation

NEK8 kinase-mediated lactate increase impairs antitumor immunity decreasing radiotherapy sensitivity in colorectal cancer

Accumulation of virtual tokens towards a jackpot reward enhances performance and value encoding in dorsal anterior cingulate cortex

The role of the Helmholtz potential on electrocatalytic activity

Abstract The electrification of the chemical industry is required for a rapid reduction of its carbon footprint and necessitates sustainable and highly active electrocatalysts. New concepts, such as the entropy of the electrolyte at the interface, are emerging as critical descriptors of electrocatalytic activity. However, a theoretical understanding of these properties of the electrochemical interface is still missing. Here, we include the electronic equilibrium at the electrode-electrolyte interface in the Butler-Volmer formalism for metal and metal/semiconductor electrodes. We demonstrate, using experimental data on the hydrogen evolution reaction from the literature, that the electrochemical reaction kinetics are not only governed by the Sabatier principle, but also by the Helmholtz potential at the electrode surface. Based on this concept, we explain why adding a thin semiconductor layer (1 to 10 nm) on a metal electrode can enhance electrocatalytic activity, which may guide the discovery of thin-film catalysts. We also establish that the physical limit for the exchange current density reachable for the hydrogen evolution reaction is 10 A cm -2 for an ideal material.

Dbf4-dependent kinase finetunes Ino80 function at chromosome replication origins

Abstract The highly conserved Dbf4-Dependent Kinase (DDK) plays a pivotal role during S phase. It phosphorylates the replicative helicase (minichromosome maintenance, MCM complex), which leads to the initiation of replication. However, few other targets, besides the MCM complex, are known, leaving DDK an understudied kinase. Here, we determine the nuclear DDK-dependent phosphoproteome by a two-pronged mass spectrometry approach. Among ~ 400 DDK-dependent phosphorylation targets, we find the Arp8 subunit of the INO80 chromatin remodeling complex. Arp8 phosphorylation stabilises INO80’s complex integrity, finetunes its nucleosome spacing at replication origins, stimulates replication and improves the replication stress response. Taken together, we report the regulation of a chromatin remodeler with nucleosome-spacing activity by the cell-cycle machinery. DDK not only regulates the core replication machinery but also regulates a factor that generates replication-conducive chromatin architecture at replication origins.

Generation of marmoset monkeys with a non-mosaic disruption of the OTOF gene as a model of human deafness

Abstract Disabling hearing impairment is a common human sensory deficit. OTOF is a major deafness gene. It codes for the synaptic protein otoferlin and is essential for transmitter release by inner hair cells (IHCs). Upon genetic loss of otoferlin, cochlear structure and function remain intact up to the IHC synapses, which fail to encode sound. Building on preclinical hearing restoration by AAV-mediated cochlear gene transfer in mice, clinical OTOF- gene-therapy trials are now targeting the pediatric population. However, preclinical optimization and characterization remain urgent needs for the development of OTOF- gene-therapy. Here, we report on the generation and characterization of a marmoset KO that models OTOF -related auditory synaptopathy and can thus address these needs. Following ovary stimulation, harvesting, in vitro maturation and fertilization of oocytes, we injected the zygotes with Cas9 and guide RNAs to disrupt OTOF . Mutant embryos were transferred into the uterus of foster mothers. Marmosets with biallelic, non-mosaic OTOF -KO were normally born and raised by their respective foster parents. Auditory brainstem recordings and otoacoustic emissions revealed profound auditory synaptopathy and OTOF -KO was further validated by the lack of otoferlin expression in IHCs. The new non-human primate model of OTOF -related auditory synaptopathy will serve studies of specificity, efficacy, and longevity of novel inner ear therapies.

Modulating nuclear stiffness and envelope barrier facilitates AAV nuclear entry and reduces immunogenicity

Metal-dependent and metal-free mechanisms of peptide condensate catalysts

Abstract Condensates formed via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) provide a chemically versatile environment for catalysis through dynamic molecular interactions. We present designed biomolecular condensates, formed by LLPS of minimalistic histidine-containing peptides, catalyzing ester hydrolysis with two distinct mechanisms. Zn 2+ -dependent condensates activate a coordinating water molecule at the active site, formed by Zn 2+ -histidine coordination, enabling nucleophilic attack. We show that dense-phase basicity, internal mobility, and Zn 2+ accumulation within the condensates collectively govern their catalytic activity. In the absence of Zn 2+ , catalysis is driven by intermolecular low-barrier hydrogen bonds between histidine residues, facilitating nucleophile formation. Combined computational and experimental evidence reveals the molecular basis of these catalytic pathways, demonstrating the functionality of biomolecular condensates in catalysis and nanotechnology. These findings establish a foundation for exploring mechanisms of metal-free emergent catalysis within complex liquid assemblies, expanding the potential of LLPS-based systems in green chemistry and advanced materials.