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M$$\vphantom{0}^2$$DGAT: Multi-view multi-scale dynamic graph attention network(GAT) based prediction of Parkinson’s disease(PD) progression using whole-blood RNA sequencing data
Low-voltage U-shaped RF MEMS shunt switch integration for K-band phased array beam steering
Log-transformed variance from individual growth curves as a potential indicator of resilience in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus
Abstract The ability of the animal to cope with environmental changes may be measured by log-transformed variance of deviations from expected weights (LnVar). We calculate LnVar by fitting the expected individual growth curve based on longitudinal weights (LnVar ind ) of Nile tilapia that were grown in either an aerated or a non-aerated freshwater pond. We estimated genetic parameters for LnVar ind in Nile tilapia, the genetic correlation between LnVar ind and growth and the genetic correlation for LnVar ind between aerated and non-aerated pond. The heritability estimate for LnVar ind (0.28) in the non-aerated pond was higher than in aerated pond (0.06). In the aerated pond, genetic correlations of LnVar ind were − 0.44 ± 0.23 with daily growth coefficient (DGC) and − 0.45 ± 0.24 with harvest weight (W 5 ). In the non-aerated pond, genetic correlations with DGC and W 5 were − 0.68 ± 0.12 and − 0.52 ± 0.17, respectively. These values suggest that selection for fish with high growth rate will reduce LnVar ind . However, genetic correlation of LnVar ind between aerated and non-aerated pond was 0.50, suggesting that genetic improvement in the aerated environment will reduce LnVar ind in the non-aerated environment. Therefore, incorporating records from relatives in non-aerated pond is beneficial for breeding programs targeting this environment.
Natural low methoxyl pectin extracted from sunflower heads serves as an efficient biosorbent for lead removal
Molecular weight fractionated extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) impart different aggregation characteristics on polystyrene nanoplastics
Defect mediated pulse terahertz emission from thiocyanate-treated hybrid perovskite nanoparticles: role of the orientation of built-in surface electric field
CSWin-MDKDNet: cross-shaped window network with multi-dimensional fusion and knowledge distillation for medical image segmentation
Gelatin production from red tilapia skin fish using high-pressure processing and its characterisations
Conflict monitoring with VIIRS Nightfire: the war in Ukraine
Abstract Amid rising geopolitical instability, timely, systematic, and independent monitoring of conflict zones is essential. We show how nighttime thermal anomalies from spaceborne sensors can be combined with boundary data, territorial control vector data, and high-resolution damage assessments to generate indicators of conflict at different levels of analysis. Leveraging the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite’s Nightfire product, we extract signals of conflict across Ukraine, tracking the status of heavy industry, delineating the frontline, and detecting urban combat. Although VIIRS data face challenges such as low spatial resolution and susceptibility to atmospheric interference, we find that these can provide valuable insights when paired with supporting geodata. Our results thus support fast, low-cost, and scalable monitoring of conflict zones, enabling timely intelligence in rapidly evolving scenarios.
Empathy for pain in humans and animals differs based on species, psychosocial and cultural factors
Discovery of natural apigenin analogues as lysine-specific demethylase 1 inhibitors against tumoral testicular germ cells
Abstract Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) pose a threat to men’s health, discovery of small molecule compounds with potent antiproliferative activity against testicular germ cells is of great significance. Lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) is overexpressed in tumoral testicular germ cell lines, and it is a promising target for developing agents against TGCT. A series of natural apigenin analogues were evaluated for their inhibitory activity against LSD1, and their structure activity relationships (SARs) were explored. Among them, 8,3’-diprenylapigenin exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity against LSD1 with an IC 50 value of 3.60 µM. 7-hydroxy of 8,3’-diprenylapigenin formed a hydrogen bond with Ala809 of LSD1, demonstrating that 7-hydroxy was a dominant group. In addition, 8,3’-diprenylapigenin reversibly and selectively inhibited LSD1 in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner. It inhibited proliferation against tumoral testicular germ cell lines NCCIT and NTERA-2 with IC 50 values of 9.37 µM and 5.26 µM, respectively. Mechanism studies revealed that 8,3’-diprenylapigenin induced the generation of ROS, inhibited the activity of catalase and decreased the level of ATP in NTERA-2 cells. Meanwhile, it also activated the release of LDH, increased the activity of SOD and enhanced the level of MDA in NTERA-2 cells. These findings indicated that 8,3’-diprenylapigenin is a novel reversible LSD1 inhibitor and deserves further exploration to treat testicular germ cell tumors.
Neuroprotective mechanisms of cobalamin in ischemic stroke insights from network pharmacology and molecular simulations
An integrated physics-guided machine learning approach for predicting asphalt concrete fracture parameters
Abstract Accurate prediction of fracture energy (G f ) in asphalt mixtures is important for durable asphalt pavements designing. Traditional experimental approaches are reliable but need resources, whereas numerical simulations, such as finite element models (FEM), offer flexibility but needs accurate input parameters and calibration. Recent advances in machine learning offer rapid prediction capabilities; however, interpretability and physical relevance remain challenging in this regard. This study presents a hybrid framework that integrates experimental Single Edge Notch Beam (SENB) tests, finite element simulations, and machine learning models to predict fracture parameters for asphalt mixtures. Experimental testing quantified fracture energy, while FEM simulations replicated the fracture response numerically. Machine learning models, including Linear Regression, Gradient Boosting, and AdaBoost, were trained on mixture properties such as stability, flow, air voids, and Stiffness Modulus at 20 °C (ITSM20) to predict surrogate fracture energy. A novel, dimensionally consistent surrogate equation was proposed to link key mixture properties to fracture energy, validated against both experimental and numerical results. The surrogate model demonstrated best accuracy with a mean relative error compared to experimental data. This novel integrated approach, adopted in this study, provides a practical and physics-guided methodology for rapid and reliable prediction of fracture behavior in asphalt mixtures, bridging experimental observations, numerical simulations, and data-driven machine learning modeling, and offering insights for mixture optimization and pavement design.
First molecular confirmations of Anopheles dirus and Anopheles scanloni in Indonesia, with DNA of zoonotic, enzootic and human malarias detected in An. dirus
Abstract Despite Indonesia reporting high numbers of Plasmodium knowlesi malaria cases in North Sumatra Province, the Anopheles mosquito vectors remain unknown. This study identified the Leucosphyrus Group species present in Langkat Regency, North Sumatra, and the Plasmodium species DNA in their heads and thoraces. Mosquitoes collected by human landing catch were morphologically identified and their species identification subsequently confirmed using ITS2 sequencing as well as Dirus Complex (DiCSIP) and Anopheles scanloni -specific PCR. Reverse-transcription real-time and nested PCR assays targeting the 18 S rRNA gene were applied for Plasmodium species detection and identification. Of 597 morphologically identified Leucosphyrus Group mosquitoes, two species of the Dirus Complex were confirmed for the first time in Indonesia: 97.8% of specimens were Anopheles dirus with 2.2% being Anopheles scanloni. Seven An. dirus specimens were Plasmodium -positive, including mixed infections with P. inui , P. knowlesi , and/or P. vivax and one equivocal sample positive for P. coatneyi and P. knowlesi. BLAST analysis indicated possible cross-reactivity of P. fieldi primers with P. inui. This study provides the first molecular confirmation of An. dirus and confirms the presence of An. scanloni , two species of the Dirus Complex in North Sumatra. In addition, it demonstrates the presence of both macaque and human Plasmodium species DNA in An. dirus , suggesting the potential role of this species in zoonotic and human malaria transmission in this Indonesian region.
Author Correction: Machine learning analysis of CO2 and methane adsorption in tight reservoir rocks
Acid‐ and Nucleophile‐Gated Photoisomerization of Phosphaindirubin
Abstract Nature uses protonation and microenvironmental effects to modulate photoisomerization, as seen in rhodopsins and GFP. Inspired by this, we report phosphaindirubin (PI), a visible‐light responsive photoswitch bearing a stereogenic phosphorus center that exhibits reversible Z / E isomerization controlled by light, acid, and nucleophiles. While structurally related to photoinert isoindigo, phosphaindirubin undergoes efficient Z → E isomerization in low‐polarity solvents but remains inert in polar media unless protonated. Acid gating alters the excited‐state landscape, enabling switching under light irradiation in acetonitrile. Strikingly, the thermal back‐isomerization of PI is accelerated by nucleophiles, including pyridine and iodide, offering an underexplored mechanism for catalyzing double bond rotation. This triple‐responsiveness to light, acid, and nucleophile enables reversible, fatigue‐resistant cycling between Z ‐ and E ‐forms. These findings introduce a new design principle for photoswitches based on dynamic, multi‐stimuli gating of excited‐state and ground‐state reactivity.
An integrated approach to unravel the deep-shallow aquifer connectivity in the Eastern Sahara
Abstract The ambitious agricultural development projects in Egypt and the associated horizontal expansion into the core desert lands and desert fringe zones around the Nile Valley primarily depend on water availability. This study investigates the vertical recharge from the deep Nubian Aquifer System (NAS) toward the shallow aquifers, including the Carbonate and Quaternary aquifers in southern Egypt. While this connectivity has been studied locally through case studies, the present study integrates stable isotope data from all previous studies, together with analyses from vastly distributed new groundwater samples, remote sensing, and geophysical methods to better understand groundwater dynamics and aquifer connectivity over a regional domain. Findings show that: (1) the depths to the basement surface range from 350 to 4700 m below the land surface, (2) the major structural trends are E-W, NW–SE, NE-SW, ENE, NNW, and WNW trends, (3) the contribution ratios from the deep NAS to the overlying aquifers range between 10 and 98% as estimated using isotope mass balance calculations, and (4) the intersection of NW, ENE, and NE structural trends, which show similar trends between surface faults and deep faults, indicating vertical continuity, plays a major role in aquifer connectivity along the western desert fringes of the Nile River, particularly south of latitude 26°30′N. These findings indicate that the relatively thin sedimentary cover overlying the NAS south of latitude 26°30′N facilitates the upwelling of the NAS groundwater along with the intersection of the NW, ENE, and NE fault systems. Given the consensus of high hydraulic heads of the NAS compared to the overlying aquifers, the study suggests that a large-scale vertical upwelling at the deduced intersecting structural trends throughout the entire Limestone Plateau is worthy of further investigation. Such vertical upwelling could bring significant groundwater resources to shallow levels, as long as the NAS maintains its higher heads, and thus supports desert greening projects in Egypt. The findings also highlight the necessity of examining similar mechanisms in other desert environments with multiple aquifer systems.