Browse Articles

Image processing pipeline for AI-driven nanoparticle megalibrary characterization

Engineering a cytochrome P450 enzyme as a peroxygenase for selective hydroxylation of steroids

Analysis of interception problems in donning and doffing personal protective equipment in a large cabin hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic: a real world study

Abstract Although proper donning and doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE) is critical for infection prevention, detailed characterization of problems encountered during these processes in real-world settings during large-scale infectious disease outbreaks remains insufficient. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics and distribution of interception problems in the process of donning and doffing process in a large cabin hospital during the 2022 COVID-19 pandemic in Shanghai. A prospective, real-world study was designed to collect and analyze data on irregularities observed during personal protective equipment (PPE) donning procedures in cabin hospital operations. The proportion of problems encountered during donning PPE was 5.29% (246/4,652), while during doffing PPE, it was 8.44% (382/4,525) ( P  < 0.001). The primary problem during donning PPE was related to problems with protective clothing, followed by problems with respirators. There was no significant difference in problem distribution among different posts ( P  = 0.459). The problems related to protective clothing mainly focused on loose fitting around the head and neck, making them prone to exposure during donning (56.25%, 99/176) and contamination of the inner surface of protective clothing during doffing (46.43%, 91/196). Respirator-related problems included failure of the seal test during donning PPE (61.54%, 24/39) and shifting or loosening of the respirator during PPE doffing (73.68%, 14/19). These findings identify critical gaps in PPE procedures and highlight the need for targeted training to address these issues, thereby reducing the risk of infection among healthcare personnel in mobile cabin hospitals.

Cooperative anion activation at a cobalt center through ion pairing and ligand design

Increased atherosclerosis and expression of inflammarafts in macrophage foam cells in AIBP-deficient mice.

Abstract Atherosclerotic lesions comprise different populations of macrophages, including lipid-laden macrophage foam cells and non-foamy, inflammatory macrophages, which play distinct roles in disease progression. Non-foamy macrophages express higher levels of inflammarafts – enlarged, cholesterol-rich lipid rafts hosting assemblies of inflammatory receptors – compared to foam cells in atherosclerotic lesions of Ldlr −/− mice. Apolipoprotein A-I binding protein (AIBP) has been shown to control lipid raft dynamics. This study investigated the effect of systemic AIBP deficiency on inflammaraft expression in foam cells and non-foamy macrophages in atherosclerotic lesions of hypercholesterolemic mice. A larger number of foam cells, with increased neutral lipid accumulation, populated atherosclerotic lesions in Apoa1bp −/− Ldlr −/− mice compared to Ldlr −/− mice. Importantly, AIBP-deficient foam cells expressed higher levels of TLR4 dimers and lipid rafts (markers of inflammarafts) than control mice, accompanied by larger atherosclerotic lesions and larger necrotic cores compared to Ldlr −/− mice. In a model of foam cells, Apoa1bp −/− bone marrow-derived macrophages incubated with oxidized LDL had increased expression of inflammation and atherosclerosis related genes. These results indicate that AIBP deficiency results in a phenotype shift in foam cells, characterized by increased lipid accumulation and increased expression of inflammarafts, and it correlates with the development of advanced atherosclerotic plaques.

In situ-formed C-N anchors embedded into Sn-based negative electrodes for long-life Na-ion batteries

Nanomagnetic picolylamine- based complex of palladium as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for selective reduction of nitroarenes in water

Bee pollen-derived peptide with dual DPP-IV Inhibition and glucose transport modulation

H19 enhances pancreatic cancer proliferation and invasion by reducing miR-29c-5p’s inhibitory effects on ATF2/ECM1

Yeast community associated with winter wheat leaves and its sensitivity to fungicides

Investigation into the mechanism of damage removal in the compaction zone using dynamic negative pressure perforation

Antibiotic therapy failure and clinical outcomes in scrub typhus patients from Guangzhou city, southern China

Nanoscale symmetry protection of the reciprocal acoustoelectric effect

Abstract Neumann’s principle states that all physical properties of a material are bound by its symmetry. While bulk crystals conform to well-defined point and space groups, phenomena at a substrate’s surface could have less apparent symmetry origins. Here we experimentally explore both reciprocal and non-reciprocal types of acoustoelectric effects driven by surface acoustic waves (SAW). The non-reciprocal acoustoelectric voltage is connected to the natural single-phase unidirectional transducer from device engineering. On the other hand, reciprocal acoustoelectric effect exists in certain SAW configurations that are of different symmetry origins. Half of the configurations have a valid reciprocity-preserving symmetry element of either a mirror plane or a two-fold rotational axis that is perpendicular to the substrate surface. The other half of the configurations do not possess a reciprocity-preserving symmetry element of the half-space but relate to the first scenario through an interchange of SAW propagation and the surface normal directions. Here, it is the symmetric construction in the equation of motion, which holds at nanoscale distances, to be responsible for the correspondence between two scenarios and extends the cases of reciprocal SAW states. This correspondence traces its physical origin to the SAW composition of compression and shear waves along two orthogonal directions respectively.

To explore the performance of ultrasound elastography in staging diabetic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract To assess the diagnostic performance of different quantitative ultrasound elastography (USE) parameters in differentiating five stages of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) from each other as well as from healthy participants and type 2 diabetic patients without nephropathy. The protocol was pre-registered at https://osf.io/dfu8b/ . Using PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library, we found studies up to October 10, 2023. Risk of bias was assessed using Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2). The USE parameter of cortical stiffness was compared in an inter-stage manner based on mean differences, standardized mean differences, and ratios of means. In addition, cortical stiffness was evaluated for its diagnostic accuracy in staging DKD. Sensitivity and publication bias analyses were also conducted. Certainty of evidence was assessed using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). Eighteen studies were included with 2814 participants. The mean stiffness value consistently increased with the progression of the disease. Differentiation of five stages of DKD from two non-DKD groups, respectively, showed sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio, and area under curve of 79%, 83%, 4.70, 0.25, 18.68, and 0.88. These values for differentiation of stages 3 to 5 of DKD from the other four milder groups were 80%, 79%, 3.85, 0.25, 15.53, and 0.87, respectively. USE shows promise as a noninvasive, simple, and quantitative diagnostic tool for staging DKD, especially in its early stages. With standardized protocols, its application could benefit patient management by enhancing the accuracy of DKD staging.

Whole-genome sequencing analysis of anthropometric traits in 672,976 individuals reveals convergence between rare and common genetic associations

Abstract GWAS have generally focused on common variants from genotyping arrays or rare protein-coding variants from exome sequencing. Here, we use whole-genome sequencing data to evaluate the contribution to and architecture of rare non-coding variants for three commonly studied anthropometric traits: height, BMI and waist-hip ratio adjusted for BMI. Analysing 447,461 individuals in the UK Biobank for discovery and 225,515 individuals in All of Us for replication, we identify 90 rare and low-frequency single variant associations, including two independent rare variants upstream of IGF2BP2 that substantially reduce waist-hip ratio adjusted for BMI, but have distinct effects on other adiposity traits. We further identify 135 coding variant aggregates. For example, UBR3 protein-truncating variants are associated with a 2.7 kg/m2 increase in BMI. We additionally identify 51 non-coding variant aggregate associations, including one in the 5’UTR of FGF18 associated with up to 6 cm effects on height. We show that 97% of rare variant associations occur near GWAS-identified loci, demonstrating convergence of rare and common variant associations. Finally, we show that ultra rare variants explain a small fraction of heritability compared to common variants for these traits, that heritability is largely shared across ancestries, and that it concentrates around common variant loci.

Exploring teacher-student interaction through multimodal large language models: an empirical investigation

Coherence transfer from optically induced THz magnons to charges

Abstract The digital economy, society and politics are increasingly shaped by cloud-based data. The advancement of transformative technologies, such as artificial intelligence, is placing unprecedented demands on data centres. This has driven an intense pursuit of a concept for data storage, manipulation and transfer able to operate even at THz rates while minimizing energy dissipation. Collective spin excitations, namely magnons, have been proposed as energy-efficient information carriers. A critical challenge concerns the integration of this approach with the ubiquitous CMOS technology. This step requires a mechanism to convert THz coherent magnons into a charge signal. Here we demonstrate the coherence transfer from optically driven THz magnons to charges in terms of an optical response. We identify the conditions necessary for this effect and formulate a microscopic model reproducing the experimental results without any fine-tuning of the parameters. These findings offer a pathway toward an energy-efficient, high-speed information technology.

Dynamics of soliton propagation: bifurcation, chaos, and quantitative insights into the modified Camassa–Holm equation

Abstract The modified Camassa–Holm (MCH) equation is a significant mathematical model for describing nonlinear wave phenomena, especially in shallow water dynamics and related physical systems. Although various analytical techniques have been applied to such nonlinear equations, many difficulties have arisen in producing a wide variety of exact and structurally rich solutions. This study addresses this gap by employing the modified (G′/G)-expansion (MG′/GE) method to construct an extensive range of exact traveling wave solutions for the MCH framework, such as trigonometric, hyperbolic, and rational solutions. Numerous waveforms, including single singular, double singular, multiple bright, multiple dark, multiple singular, and singular solitons, have been found to have solutions for the MCH framework. These waveforms have numerous applications in applied sciences and engineering. The structural properties and propagation dynamics of the resulting solutions are successfully depicted by graphics such as 3D, contour, density, 2D time-evolution, and 3D revolving plots. Compared to other existing approaches, such as the sine–cosine method and the tanh method, the MG’/GE approach is substantially more accurate and adaptable. The MG’/GE technique’s durability and computing efficiency allow it to generate precise findings straightforwardly. Its broad variety of applications in nonlinear system analysis is further highlighted by its expansion to fractional-order equations. In addition to laying the foundation for future research on traveling wave phenomena in many scientific domains, the current study presents an analytical scheme for both classical and fractional nonlinear evolution equations (NLEEs).

Realistic atomic model for charge storage and charging dynamics of amorphous porous carbons

The potential effect of albumin replacement on immune modulation and sphingosine 1-phosphate dynamics

Abstract Hypoalbuminemia is common in critically ill patients, yet albumin replacement remains controversial. Beyond volume regulation, albumin transports sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), a key modulator of immunity and endothelial stability. This study investigates how human albumin (HA) affects S1P distribution between high-density lipoprotein (HDL-cholesterol, HDL) and serum albumin (SA) and its impact on lymphocyte migration and vascular integrity ex vivo. Between March 2022 and February 2023, a prospective observational cohort study (AlbuS1P Study) was conducted in an intensive care unit (ICU). A total of 47 patients were enrolled and stratified based on baseline SA levels: Group A (normal SA, untreated control), Group B (low SA, untreated control) and Group C (low SA, treated with 180 g HA over three days). Blood samples were collected at multiple time points for laboratory analyses, including S1P quantification, immune cell assessments, ApoM ELISA and flow-induced dispersion analysis (FIDA) to determine S1P binding to SA or HDL. In this cohort study of 42 ICU patients with hypoalbuminemia, HA administration increased SA-levels (+ 0.7 g/dL, + 40%) but had no effect on free plasma S1P levels. HA treatment tended to shift S1P binding from HDL to SA in vivo and coincided with lower CD4⁺ T cell and CD19⁺ B cell counts, a finding that could be consistent with, but does not prove, reduced S1P-driven immune cell migration. In contrast, ex vivo assays showed no significant effects of HA-treated plasma on endothelial barrier function or S1P-mediated lymphocyte chemotaxis. These findings are consistent with the notion that HA treatment may modulate S1P distribution in vivo in patients, potentially influencing immune cell dynamics without evidence of impaired vascular stability. HA redistributed S1P from HDL to SA without altering total plasma S1P levels. This shift may correlate with immune modulation and had no negative effect on endothelial stability or cell migration ex vivo. Future studies should identify patient endotypes and subgroups, such as those with low HDL or hyperinflammation, who may benefit from HA’s immunomodulatory effects.