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Identification of a major QTL and candidate gene for flowering time in industrial hemp via BSA-seq and fine mapping
ViBioChain: a blockchain-enabled architecture for privacy-preserving, ethically governed, and explainable personalized gene editing
Unveiling GSPT1 as a crucial prognostic biomarker and therapeutic vulnerability in breast cancer
Abstract Breast cancer (BRCA) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, necessitating the identification of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets to overcome challenges such as treatment resistance and metastasis. In this study, we systematically characterized the multi-omic landscape of G1 to S phase transition protein 1 (GSPT1) in BRCA. Integrative bioinformatic analysis of public datasets revealed that GSPT1 mRNA and protein levels are significantly upregulated in BRCA across all clinical stages and molecular subtypes. To validate these findings, we performed immunohistochemical (IHC) staining on representative patient-derived tissue samples, which, complemented by transcriptomic analysis of diverse cell lines, confirmed this upregulation. High GSPT1 expression and its prevalent genomic alterations identified in public cohorts—particularly gene amplification observed in approximately 14% of cases—were strongly correlated with poor clinical outcomes, including diminished overall survival (OS), relapse-free survival (RFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS). Functional enrichment analyses indicated that GSPT1 expression is strongly associated with pathways critical for tumorigenesis, such as the cell cycle, DNA replication, and mitotic spindle organization. Furthermore, dependency analysis via the DepMap database and our experimental validation demonstrated that BRCA cells are highly dependent on GSPT1 for survival. Collectively, our findings further substantiate GSPT1 as a robust prognostic biomarker and provide translational evidence supporting its feasibility as a molecular glue-targetable vulnerability for precision oncology in BRCA.
Learning-driven MIMO channel estimation using a residual U-Net–BiLSTM–attention hybrid model
Digital twin for scenario-based design evaluation of manufacturing robotic fleets and factory layouts
Assessing unprofessional behaviors of dental students through multi-source feedback: A mixed methods analysis of engagement and influencing factors
Background Unprofessional behaviors have been identified as a hindrance to the professional identity formation of dental students. This study aimed to investigate dental students’ engagement with unprofessional behavior in a clinical setting and to explore their experiences regarding the factors influencing this behavior in dental school. Methods The sequential mixed-methods study conducted at Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences. A total of 140 dental students participated, selected through a census method. The quantitative phase focused on evaluating unprofessional behaviors among students using Multi-Source Feedback (MSF), which included assessments from clinical teachers, nurses, and self-evaluations by the students. In the qualitative phase, participants were chosen through purposeful sampling, and their experiences were explored through semi-structured interviews. Results Responses from all three groups of clinical teachers, nurses, and students showed that the highest students’ engagement with unprofessional behaviors was related to aspects of responsibility and respect. The highest engagement of unprofessional behavior was reported among junior learners (P = 0.0001) and male students (P = 0.0001). The students’ experiences were classified into a theme “disturbance of individual and systemic factors in the development of professional behaviors,” with two categories of “individualism” and “challenges of the overt and covert curriculum in professional development”. Conclusion The disruption of both individual and systemic factors has led to unprofessional behaviors at the dental school. On an individual level, issues such as a focus on profit and a reluctance to meet professional responsibilities have hindered adherence to principles of professionalism. At the systemic level, negative role models and inadequate educational requirements and training processes have also contributed to the prevalence of unprofessional behaviors among participants. Given generalizability limited to culturally similar educational contexts, other institutions may adopt MSF and targeted interventions on clinical role models and early responsibility training.
The collective turing test: large language models can generate realistic multi-user discussions
Abstract Large Language Models (LLMs) offer new avenues to simulate online communities and social media. Potential applications range from testing the design of content recommendation algorithms to estimating the effects of content policies and interventions. However, the validity of using LLMs to simulate conversations between various users remains largely untested. We evaluated whether LLMs can convincingly mimic human group conversations on social media. We collected authentic human conversations from Reddit and generated artificial conversations on the same topic with two LLMs: Llama 3 70B and GPT-4o. When presented side-by-side to study participants, LLM-generated conversations were mistaken for human-created content 39% of the time. In particular, when evaluating conversations generated by Llama 3, participants correctly identified them as AI-generated only 56% of the time, barely better than random chance. Our study demonstrates that LLMs can generate social media conversations sufficiently realistic to deceive humans when reading them, highlighting both a promising potential for social simulation and a warning message about the potential misuse of LLMs to generate new inauthentic social media content.
Thermal management of prismatic lithium-ion battery using mist cooling with single and multiple injections: a numerical study
Abstract Thermal management of high-discharge prismatic lithium-ion battery packs remains challenging due to their large planar heat-transfer surfaces, strong streamwise thermal gradients, and stringent temperature uniformity requirements. This study numerically investigates mist-assisted air cooling as an enhancement to conventional forced air cooling for a high-discharge (5 C) prismatic LiFePO₄ battery pack. A transient three-dimensional CFD framework that incorporates detailed spray dynamics, droplet breakup, evaporation, and two-way phase coupling is employed to compare pure air cooling with single- and multiple-mist injection configurations. Results indicate that pure air-cooling leads to a peak cell temperature of approximately 62 °C, accompanied by significant thermal nonuniformity. Single mist injection reduces the maximum temperature by 2–3 °C but exhibits limited downstream effectiveness due to vapour accumulation. In contrast, multiple mist injection achieves a peak temperature reduction of nearly 10 °C with reduced non-uniformity in temperature. Vapour mass-fraction contours reveal that distributed injection sustains evaporation along the entire flow path, mitigates boundary-layer redevelopment, and ensures uniform latent heat absorption. Transient analysis further demonstrates improved thermal stability under sustained discharge. The findings establish multiple mist injection as a lightweight, energy-efficient, and effective cooling strategy for high-rate prismatic battery thermal management.
Postural reeducation and oral device interaction in rhythmic gymnasts: effects of byte use on stiffness-related performance and low back pain perception
A Rho GTPase-related gene signature predicts prognosis and reveals an immunosuppressive microenvironment in lung adenocarcinoma: an integrated analysis of bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing data
Directional permeability anisotropy of 1 mm3 sandstone digital sub-samples under fixed micro-CT field of view and its relationship with tortuosity anisotropy
The Japanese Palaeolithic deserves more attention in Western narratives about human expansion across Asia
Enhanced insecticidal efficacy of nanoencapsulated bergamot essential oil against stored-product pest Tribolium castaneum (Herbst)
Abstract In this study, bergamot essential oil (BEO) was encapsulated within β-cyclodextrin/gum Arabic (BEO–βCD/GA) to enhance its physicochemical properties and its toxicity against Tribolium castaneum , a major stored-product pest. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry detected D-limonene (59.38%) as the predominant component of BEO. The optimized BEO–βCD/GA exhibited a particle size of 194.26 ± 2.45 nm, a low polydispersity index (0.04 ± 0.003), zeta potential of − 31.23 mV, and a high encapsulation efficiency of 88.12%, indicating a homogeneous system. BEO–βCD/GA showed greater toxicity than BEO, producing lower LC values and higher T. castaneum mortality across concentrations and exposure periods. The carrier substances showed no toxicity to T. castaneum , confirming that the observed effects were due to BEO or BEO–βCD/GA. The LC 50 and LC 90 values of BEO–βCD/GA were consistently lower than those of BEO across all exposure periods (1–7 days). At 7 days, BEO–βCD/GA recorded markedly lower LC 50 (106.85 ppm; 3.15–173.54) and LC 90 (319.49 ppm; 200.18–4468.97) compared with BEO (LC 50 : 437.72 ppm: 359.29–596.06; LC 90 : 3195.87 ppm: 1710.83–10801.66). The BEO–βCD/GA achieved near-complete inhibition of progeny emergence (97–100%) at higher concentrations, compared to 61–79% for BEO. In addition, BEO–βCD/GA significantly reduced grain weight loss and exhibited strong antifeedant activity. Neither treatment adversely affected wheat germination nor seedling vigor. These physicochemical characteristics, together with the formulation’s enhanced insecticidal performance, suggest improved stability and bioavailability of BEO within the βCD/GA system, making it a promising, eco-friendly alternative for sustainable stored-product pest management.
Unraveling daily dynamics of supraglacial lakes in response to hydrological pulses and anomalous climate signals
Abstract Mass loss from debris-covered glaciers in High Mountain Asia drives the expansion of small supraglacial lakes (SGLs) and changes the occurrence patterns of hazardous processes including glacial lake outburst floods. Here, we analyse surface area changes of small SGLs ( > 0.045×10 4 m 2 ) in the Sagarmatha region, Eastern Himalaya, integrating data with daily resolution from 2016 to 2024. The results show SGLs expanded at a mean rate of 5.90 ± 1.49×10 4 m 2 ·yr⁻¹. Starting from October 2022, SGLs in the study area have exhibited anomalous expansion, with the total lake area reached its maximum during this period, 67.35% higher than during the second peak (2020). The seasonal fluctuations of SGLs are synchronous with short-term variations in global temperature. By mid-century, SGL expansion in High Mountain Asia is expected to continue. Given their rapid response to climate change, small SGLs could support the development of early-warning frameworks for hydrological pulses and extreme climate events.
Individualized HIFU in women over 60: ultrasound assessment of layer-specific facial soft-tissue thickness changes
Abstract High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is widely used for facial rejuvenation, but standardized depth settings may not adequately account for age-related variation in facial soft tissue architecture in women aged 60 years and older. In this exploratory pilot study, 20 women underwent three HIFU sessions at 4-week intervals (Weeks 0, 4, and 8) and were evaluated at Week 16 (8 weeks after the final session). Participants received either a conventional protocol or an anatomy-guided protocol individualized using high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) measurements. HFUS assessed superficial fat thickness, deep fat thickness, and skin-to-SMAS distance at baseline and Week 16. Both protocols produced reductions in lower-face and submental tissue thicknesses. Across all HFUS endpoints, the anatomy-guided protocol showed larger mean reductions than the conventional protocol. In this exploratory analysis, nominal, unadjusted between-group differences were observed for lower-face skin-to-SMAS distance (difference in change, − 0.19 mm; 95% CI, − 0.38 to − 0.02; p = 0.035), submental superficial fat thickness (− 0.20 mm; 95% CI, − 0.39 to − 0.02; p = 0.032), and submental skin-to-SMAS distance (− 0.19 mm; 95% CI, − 0.38 to − 0.02; p = 0.035). These differences were small in absolute magnitude and should be interpreted cautiously in relation to ultrasound measurement precision. Investigator-rated improvement of “much improved” or better occurred in 40% of the conventional group and 60% of the anatomy-guided group. These preliminary findings suggest that anatomy-informed HIFU may be associated with small, layer-specific ultrasound-measured soft-tissue thickness changes in older women; however, the submillimeter magnitude of the differences, small sample size, parallel-group design, and short follow-up warrant cautious interpretation.
Quasi-solitons in Rydberg atom chains
Abstract Solitons—localized wave packets that travel without spreading—play a central role in understanding transport and properties of nonlinear systems. In quantum many-body systems, however, such robust excitations are typically destroyed by thermalization. Here, we theoretically demonstrate the existence of solitonic excitations in high-energy states of Rydberg atom chains in the regime of strong nearest-neighbor Rydberg blockade. These localized wave packets propagate directionally atop a special class of reviving initial states related to quantum many-body scars and are capable of carrying energy. Exhibiting long coherence times, these states constitute a form of non-ergodic quantum dynamics and can be efficiently implemented on Rydberg atom simulators. In this work, in addition to a phenomenological description of solitons, we identify their counterpart in a classical nonlinear dynamical system, demonstrate their potential use in quantum information transfer, and conjecture their relevance for anomalous energy transport reported in numerical studies of Rydberg atom arrays.
Secondary traumatic stress among healthcare workers in Egypt and the mediating role of workplace protective factors
Abstract Healthcare workers are occupationally exposed to traumatic events, placing them at risk of secondary traumatic stress (STS) a condition characterized by intrusion, avoidance, and arousal symptoms. To determine the prevalence of STS among healthcare workers, identify early warning signs, evaluate the effectiveness of workplace preventive measures, and identify factors associated with STS. A cross-sectional study was conducted from October to December 2025 among 783 healthcare workers in critical care units at Tanta University Hospitals, Egypt. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire including the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS), an early warning signs scale, and a preventive measures scale. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify associated factors with STS. The frequency of STS was 64.5%, with a total mean score of 58.16 ± 11.18. The most frequent early warning signs were chronic exhaustion (3.43 ± 1.126), increased anxiety about safety (3.18 ± 1.156), and difficulty maintaining work-life boundaries (3.17 ± 1.206). A strong positive correlation was observed between STS score and warning signs score ( r = 0.76, p < 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression identified physicians (AOR = 2.14), working > 40 h/week (AOR = 2.07), > 8-night shifts/month (AOR = 2.56), absence of preventive measures (AOR = 2.87), and sick leave history (AOR = 1.89) as significant associated factors of severe STS. Mediation analysis revealed that social support mediated the relationship between occupational stressors and secondary traumatic stress, with a significant indirect effect (0.105, 95% CI: 0.062–0.148) accounting for 23.4% of the total effect. STS is highly prevalent among Egyptian healthcare workers and is significantly associated with modifiable workplace factors. The absence of essential organizational interventions highlights critical gaps in occupational health protection. Routine surveillance, mandatory debriefing, and enhanced organizational support are urgently needed.
β-arrestin recruitment facilitates a direct association with G proteins
Abstract G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are targets for almost a third of all FDA-approved drugs. GPCRs are known to signal through both heterotrimeric G proteins and β-arrestins. Traditionally these pathways were viewed as largely separable, with G proteins primarily initiating downstream signaling while β-arrestins modulate receptor trafficking and desensitization in addition to regulating their own signaling events. Recent studies suggest an integrated role of G proteins and β-arrestins in GPCR signaling, however the cellular and biochemical requirements for G protein:β-arrestin interactions remain unclear. Here, we show that G proteins and β-arrestins can directly interact. Through utilization of β-arrestin-biased receptors and artificially enforced β-arrestin relocalization, we demonstrate that recruitment of β-arrestin to the plasma membrane is sufficient to interact with the G protein Gαi. Using purified proteins, we show that Gαi directly interacts with β-arrestin. In addition, we find that Gαi family members differ in their degree of association with β-arrestin, and that a large degree of this selectivity resides within the alpha helical domain of Gαi. These findings delineate the cellular and biochemical conditions that drive direct interactions between G proteins and β-arrestins and illuminate the molecular basis for how they interact.