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A multi-center clinical trial of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in transfusion-dependent thalassemia
Research and optimization of screening strategy for calcium-activated chloride channel modulators guided by electrophysiological characteristics
Best practices for moving from correlation to causation in ecological research
Favorable research environment is a key determinant of research integrity according to a ten-country survey across Central and Eastern Europe
National analysis of cancer mortality and proximity to nuclear power plants in the United States
Abstract Understanding the potential health implications of living near nuclear power plants is important given the renewed interest in nuclear energy as a low-carbon power source. Here we show that U.S. counties located closer to operational nuclear power plants have higher cancer mortality rates than those farther away. Using nationwide mortality data from 2000-2018, we assess long-term spatial patterns of cancer mortality in relation to proximity to nuclear facilities while accounting for socioeconomic, demographic, behavioral, environmental, and healthcare factors. Cancer mortality is higher across multiple age groups in both males and females, with the strongest associations among older adults, males aged 65–74 and females aged 55–64. While our findings cannot establish causality, they highlight the need for further research into potential exposure pathways, latency effects, and cancer-specific risks, emphasizing the importance of addressing these potentially substantial but overlooked risks to public health.
Identifying the hub genes in macrophage infiltration and verifying of the role of VSIG4 in IgA nephropathy
A protein adaptor mediating Ap4A-dependent control of protein acetylation
Abstract Reversible lysine acetylation is a highly conserved post-translational modification across all domains of life controlling diverse cellular processes such as metabolism and gene expression. However, the regulation of protein acetylation remains poorly understood. Here, we report a regulatory system in Bacillus subtilis that controls the activity of the histone deacetylase (HDAC)-like protein AcuC, which has multiple substrates including acetyl-CoA synthetase and translation elongation factor. We show that AcuC is inhibited via formation of a stable complex with the hitherto uncharacterized protein AcuB. We furthermore demonstrate that the alarmone diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A) binds to the cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) domain of AcuB, thereby stabilizing AcuB and further enhancing the inhibition of AcuC. In summary, this study identifies AcuB as an Ap4A regulated deacetylation inhibitor, revealing a uncharacterized molecular mechanism to control HDAC-like proteins. Thus, the alarmone Ap4A modulates protein (de)acetylation, pointing towards a regulatory network that connects stress response, protein acetylation, and acetyl-CoA biosynthesis.
Correction: Association of olfactory and cognitive function test scores with hippocampal and amygdalar grey matter volume: a cross-sectional study
Master field equations for spherically symmetric gravitational fields beyond general relativity
Abstract According to general relativity, black holes are incomplete, which prevents developing a complete physical description of their dynamical formation and evolution once quantum effects are taken into account. Theories beyond general relativity may provide a more complete description of black hole interiors. In this work, the most general form of the field equations for spherically symmetric gravitational fields, in which the Einstein tensor is deformed into a conserved tensor constructed from up to second-order derivatives of the metric, is described. These equations set up the stage for the study of the dynamics of spherically symmetric spacetimes beyond general relativity, providing tools for the theoretical exploration of a paradigm of black hole physics free of the incompleteness characteristic of Einstein’s theory. A general proof of the Birkhoff–Jebsen theorem for vacuum solutions, and the construction of field equations describing the effective geometrodynamics of regular black holes interacting with matter, are discussed.
Physical fitness changes among school-aged children during the COVID-19 lockdown evaluated within the Hungarian National Student Fitness Test cohort
Abstract This cohort-based analysis aims to compare the health-related physical fitness levels of Hungarian youth before and one year after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also aimed to analyze the impact of the school environment on students’ physical fitness. A cohort study was conducted to evaluate various physical fitness components, including body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BF%), cardiorespiratory fitness, musculoskeletal fitness, and flexibility, measured via the Hungarian National Student Fitness Test (NETFIT ® ). The analysis included 285,465 students across the pre-pandemic (2018/2019) and post-pandemic (2021/2022) academic years. Generalized linear mixed-effects models were used to quantify differences. The findings indicated a decline in BMI, BF%, cardiorespiratory fitness, flexibility, and musculoskeletal fitness measured with push-up and curl-up tests. However, standing broad jump, trunk-lift, and handgrip strength increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, significant variations in students’ physical fitness across schools suggest that school-level factors play a crucial role in shaping students’ physical performance. This study highlights a general decline in adolescents’ physical fitness, likely linked to reduced physical activity due to COVID-19 pandemic related restrictions, which contributed to increased sedentary behavior and fewer outdoor activities. The extent of these changes varied across schools.
Complete defluorination of PFASs via photocatalytic reduction in water
Porous structure analysis of coconut shell–derived activated carbons prepared under different conditions
Abstract This paper presents original results of the analysis of the influence of preparation conditions on the formation of the porous structure of activated carbons derived from coconut shells and doped with nitrogen by combining ammoxidation with potassium hydroxide chemical activation. The clustering-based adsorption analysis process, the quenched solid density functional theory, and the non-local density functional theory methods were used in the analyses. Based on the obtained results, a significant effect of both the activation temperature and the mass ratio of precursor to chemical activator on the formation of the porous structure of the prepared activated carbons was observed. The materials with the best adsorption properties were the activated carbons prepared at 700 °C with mass ratios of raw material to chemical activator of 3 and 4. These materials were characterised not only by the highest development of the microporous structure, as indicated by the V hA values i.e.: 1.563 cm³/g and 1.542 cm³/g, respectively, but also by the lowest degree of surface heterogeneity, as suggested by the surface heterogeneity parameter h = 1.
Mechanochemical feedback between confinement and actin crosslinking drives the shape dynamics of liquid-like droplets
Abstract Several actin-binding proteins form phase-separated condensates that promote actin filament assembly and bundling. However, the mechanism by which crosslinker multivalency, actin growth, and condensate mechanics regulate actin organization and droplet shape is not well understood. Here, using a combination of agent-based simulations and experiments, we show that a dynamically deformable droplet interface enables the emergence of tightly-bundled actin rings and weakly-bundled actin discs. We find that crosslinked bundle thickness and droplet diameter follow a power law, consistent with measurements in condensates formed by vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein. In addition, the dynamics of droplet deformation exhibit a dynamic snapping behavior that depends on droplet surface tension and crosslinker binding kinetics. We assess the generalizability of these predictions in condensates formed by lamellipodin and RGG. Together, these results indicate that mechanochemical feedback between droplet interfacial mechanics and crosslinker multivalency tunes actin organization and controls the dynamics of droplet deformation driven by actin networks.
The Tantawy technique for modeling fractional KdV and mKdV positron-acoustic solitary waves in an electron-positron-ion plasma with regularized $$\kappa -$$ distribution
Transforming disorder in the design of advanced high-entropy oxide electrocatalysts for zinc-air batteries
Quantum linear solvers for scientific computing: a comparison of VQLS, HHL and quantum annealing on time-fractional diffusion problems
Abstract Time-fractional diffusion equations have emerged as powerful models for describing anomalous transport phenomena in physics, biology and engineering. To address the computational challenges arising from their non-local operators, we employ the WEB-spline finite element method, which provides a flexible and accurate discretization framework. The resulting linear system of equations are then explored in the context of quantum computing. Specifically, we investigate three prominent quantum linear solvers: the variational quantum linear solver (VQLS), the Harrow-Hassidim-Lloyd (HHL) algorithm and quantum annealing (QA). VQLS leverages hybrid variational techniques and shallow circuits, making it well-suited for noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices, while HHL offers a theoretically exponential speedup for sparse systems but requires deep fault-tolerant circuits. QA, in contrast, reformulates the problem into a quadratic unconstrained binary optimization (QUBO) instance, enabling approximate solutions through energy minimization on specialized hardware. We present a comparative analysis in terms of circuit depth, noise resilience, scalability and solution extraction, including the role of quantum state tomography in reconstructing classical information. Numerical experiments on a time-fractional diffusion problem highlight the complementary strengths and limitations of each method. This study bridges advanced numerical discretization with emerging quantum algorithms, providing insights into the feasibility and future potential of quantum-enhanced solvers for fractional partial differential equations.
Author Correction: Mechanically reliable and electronically uniform monolayer MoS2 by passivation and defect healing
Plant based synthesised silver nanoparticles delivering enhanced antifungal activity and synergistic environmental remediation
Abstract This study delves into the antifungal capabilities and catalytic dye degradation efficiency of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesised using Enicostemma axillare leaf extract. Highlighting the pressing need for sustainable agriculture and pollution mitigation strategies, our investigation demonstrates the dual utility of phyto-synthesised AgNPs. Antifungal assays revealed substantial inhibition of mycelial growth and spore germination in Alternaria alternata and Fusarium oxysporum , with inhibition rates peaking at 83% and 82.79%, respectively, at a concentration of 120 µg/ml. Additionally, AgNPs showcased remarkable catalytic degradation of hazardous dyes methylene blue, methyl orange, and Congo red, achieving over 90% degradation within minutes, underlying their potential in environmental remediation. The catalytic reduction showcased not only the high efficiency of these nanoparticles in breaking down complex organic molecules but also positioned them as viable candidates for treating industrial effluents. The increased phenolic and proline contents in treated tomato plants suggest an enhanced stress response, potentially contributing to disease resistance. These findings underscore the versatility of phyto-synthesised AgNPs, offering promising avenues for the development of eco-friendly solutions in agriculture and environmental management.