Browse Articles

Immune-mediated protection and enhancement of dengue drives patterns of infant cases in Brazil

Self-aligning ball bearing fault classification using selective kernel modules in resnext architecture

Atomic faulting drives exceptional toughness in low thermal expansion chromium alloys

Abstract Endowing functional properties with mechanical responses in traditional metals has been a frontier topic, akin to transforming base metal into gold. Chromium and its alloys, with their functional deficiencies and limited ductility, serve as typical examples. Herein, we report a Cr 96 Fe 4 Ge 1.3 B 1 alloy that unifies low thermal expansion (LTE, α l  = 1.79 × 10 -6  K -1 , 200 − 315 K) with exceptional toughness (240.2 J·cm -3 ). The enhancement in mechanical responses is primarily attributed to layered Cr 2 B intermetallic precipitates, which ameliorate interfacial cohesion and simultaneously refine the grain structure. The weakened interlayer interactions within the Cr-B layers facilitate the nucleation and movement of numerous tiny stacking faults in precipitates, efficiently alleviating strain energy and resulting in marked work-hardening ability. Additionally, antiferromagnetic fluctuations in the BCC matrix contribute to the unique LTE behavior. This paves the way for the design of high-performance alloys featuring layered-symmetry precipitates.

Research on intelligent recognition method of mechanical parts with high feature similarity in industrial field environment

Counting cells can accurately predict small-molecule bioactivity benchmarks

Abstract Accurately predicting the activity of a chemical in each bioactivity assay based on its already known properties is extremely useful in drug development. Unfortunately, we discovered that many assays in widely used assay-activity benchmark datasets directly relate to cell health and cytotoxicity. Many other assays intend to capture a more specific phenotype, but their active compounds impact cell count, while inactives do not. In both cases, counting cells achieves unexpectedly high performance in these benchmarks, making them less useful for discerning whether additional properties, such as phenotypic profiles (mRNA or Cell Painting), provide additional useful information on bioactivity. To accomplish this goal, we recommend filtering benchmarks to exclude such assays and including a cell-count baseline. Using a benchmark with 24 protein-target assays, we confirm that models leveraging Cell Painting image-based profiles outperformed the baseline cell count model. We propose several other practical recommendations for benchmarking machine learning models for predicting bioactivity and assessing the added value of mRNA, protein, or image-based profiles.

Hybrid microlens-polymer dispersed liquid crystal substrate for synergistic light extraction from flexible OLEDs

Phyllosilicate adsorption limited phosphorus bioavailability in early ferruginous oceans

Numerical robustness of COVID-19 model with Lyapunov stability analysis

Tough transparent glass ceramics for multi-mode programmable dynamic tunable persistent luminescence via phase engineering

Changes in postural control in older adults: a five-year longitudinal study

Abstract At an advanced age, alterations in postural control are common however there is lack information related to high-functioning older adults. This study aimed to compare postural control in a bipedal stance in healthy, high-functioning older adults after 5 years. Twenty-three older adults aged 65.7 ± 4.0 years were evaluated at baseline and after 5 years using the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC), the Tinetti balance assessment tool (TBAT) and posturography. Postural control in the bipedal stance was assessed for 30 s using two force platforms in firm surface with eyes open (EO) and closed (EC), and similarly in foam surface (FEO; FEC). During the 5-year follow-up, the ABC score significantly increased ( P  = 0.030), suggesting higher confidence in maintaining balance. The mean center-of-pressure velocity increased in both mediolateral (ML) and anteroposterior (AP) directions in the EO ( P  < 0.05) and FEO ( P  < 0.001). There were some significant changes in entropy measures for various procedures and directions. All these significant changes increased during five years period. Our results suggest that in high-functioning older adults the process of represents rather the adaptation, not an inevitable journey to “frailty” and the human body systems organize solutions with different levels of complexity.

Observation of mechanical kink control and generation via acoustic waves

Abstract Kinks are localized transitions between topologically distinct ground states and play a central role in systems from condensed matter to cosmology. While acoustic wave packets (here defined as small-amplitude mechanical waves, sometimes referred to as phonons) have been predicted to drive kink motion deterministically, experimental evidence has been elusive, with only stochastic motion from thermal phonons or quasi-static loading observed. This is largely due to the discrete nature of real materials, where the Peierls-Nabarro (PN) barrier hinders controlled phonon-kink interactions. Here, we report experimental observation of acoustic-wave–mediated control and generation of mechanical kinks in a topological metamaterial, which eliminates the PN barrier by supporting a zero-energy kink. We also computationally reveal the dynamics of acoustic wave packet interplay with highly discrete kinks, including long-duration motion and a continuous family of internal modes—features absent in conventional discrete nonlinear systems. Our results enable remote kink control, with potential applications in material stiffness tuning, shape morphing, locomotion, and robust signal transmission.

A multimodal Bayesian network for symptom-level depression and anxiety prediction from voice and speech data

Zebrafish macrophages convert physical wound signals into rapid vascular permeabilization

Abstract Blood vessels near injury sites rapidly dilate, become permeable, and release serum and leukocytes into the wounded tissue to support healing and regeneration. How the vasculature senses distant homeostatic tissue perturbations within seconds-to-minutes remains incompletely understood. Using high-speed imaging of live zebrafish larvae, we monitor two hallmark vascular responses to injury: vessel dilation and serum exudation. By genetic, pharmacologic, and osmotic perturbation along with leukocyte depletion, we show that the cPla 2 nuclear membrane mechanotransduction pathway converts a ~ 50 μm/s osmotic wound signal into rapid vessel-permeabilization via perivascular macrophages, 5-lipoxygenase (Alox5a), and leukotriene A4 hydrolase (Lta4h). By revealing a previously undescribed physiological function of nuclear membrane mechanotransduction, we provide real-time insights into the long-range communication of wounds and blood vessels in intact tissue.

Hydrothermal synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles from recycled ZnO obtained from electric arc furnace dust: morphology control and applications

A montmorillonite-based oral fermentation system enables long-lasting in-situ biosynthesis to restore intestinal homeostasis

Spatiotemporal variation and decomposition of early neonatal mortality in Ethiopia using demographic health survey data

Abstract Early neonatal mortality is a serious public health issue in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to map the regional disparities and identify factors contributing to early neonatal mortality in Ethiopia over time. Ethiopian demographic and health survey (2000–2019) dataset were utilized. A total of 80,286 early neonates was included in this study. Logit based decomposition analysis was employed to understand the contributing factors for the change in early neonatal mortality over time. Getis Ord GI* statistic was performed to identify the cold and hot spots of the early neonatal mortality in Ethiopia. In addition, kriging interpolation was used to predict the burden of early neonatal mortality in the unsampled areas of the country based on the observed data. Early neonatal mortality trends in Ethiopia has been decline from 43 in 2000 to 33 in 2019 per 1000 live births. It was spatially clustered, with significant hotspots in the Benishangul Gumuz and some areas of Oromia, Tigray, Amhara and Somali regions. In the logit multivariable decomposition analysis babies born in rural (B − 0.0002, 95% CI − 0.002 to − 0.001), Women had partner (B − 0.0005, 95% CI − 0.0007 to − 0.0003), preceding birth interval ≥ 2 years (B − 0.008, 95% CI − 0.005 to − 0.001), Health facility delivery (B − 0.001, 95% CI − 0.003 to − 0.001), had ANC visits (B − 0.02, 95% CI − 0.03 to − 0.01), early initiations of breastfeeding (B − 0.002, 95% CI − 0.003 to − 0.001), multiple pregnancies (B − 0.002, 95% CI − 0.003 to − 0.001), and mothers education higher (B − 0.004, 95% CI − 0.006 to − 0.002) were a substantial factors that contribute to the change in the decline in early neonatal mortality in Ethiopia over time. Strengthen maternal and newborn care, expand skilled birth attendance, enhance antenatal and postnatal services, and utilize spatial evidence to inform targeted policy and resource allocation.

Atypical protein kinase C activation drives intestinal glucose excretion in diabetes mellitus

Examining speakers’ subjective and bio-behavioral responses to audience-induced social-evaluative threat via immersive VR

Abstract Success in public speaking hinges on engaging an audience, which involves a high-stakes social interaction process that remains a significant source of anxiety and stress for many. Using a virtual-reality (VR)-based experimental paradigm, we tested how speakers delivering scientific talks perceive and respond to supportive vs. unsupportive audiences. We collected behavioral (gaze, paralinguistics, motion expressiveness/openness), physiological (heart rate, electroencephalography, breathing rate, pupil dilation), and self-report measures to assess audience effects. The unsupportive audience elicited greater negative affect, arousal, and anxiety, and higher perceived cognitive and social effort. Physiologically and behaviorally, speaking to the unsupportive audience decreased the speaking rate. Acoustic analyses further indicated greater emotional arousal and vocal dominance in the unsupportive condition. These findings highlight VR combined with physiological measurement as a powerful approach for investigating audience effects and social-communication processes, with clear implications for augmenting social intelligence and communication skills.

Ocean heat forced West Antarctic Ice Sheet retreat after the Last Glacial Maximum

Abstract The West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) is thinning at an accelerating rate, driven by melting at its margins by warm Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW). However, this understanding is largely based on observations from recent decades, leaving the long-term influence of ocean temperature on WAIS stability uncertain. Here we reconstruct bottom water temperatures and water mass properties over the past 18 kyr using benthic foraminiferal Mg/Ca and δ¹³C records from sediment cores in the Amundsen Sea. Our data indicate that warm CDW occupied the continental shelf between ~ 18.0 and 10.1 kyr BP, coincident with major WAIS retreat from the shelf break to near its present-day grounding-line position along the Marie Byrd Land coast. Bottom waters cooled after ~ 10.1 kyr BP and remained relatively stable thereafter, with no evidence for substantial grounding-line migration. Continued atmospheric warming across West Antarctica until a mid-Holocene thermal maximum (~6–3 kyr BP) without further retreat indicates that ocean heat was the primary driver of WAIS variability since the Last Glacial Maximum.

Unveiling the metabolic profile and anti-inflammatory potential of apple of Sodom (Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T.) by UPLC–MS/MS chemometric analysis

Abstract Calotropis procera , commonly referred to as the apple of Sodom, is a perennial shrub, notable for its ecological role and extensive use in traditional medicine. This study aims to explore the phytochemical variability among different organs’ extracts of C. procera , specifically stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds, using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) and multivariate statistical techniques. A comprehensive analysis identified 112 distinct phytoconstituents, with unique profiles observed across the various organs’ extracts. The study further assessed the anti-inflammatory potential of these extracts by examining their effects on the gene expression of key pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and INF-γ) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human white blood cells. Results indicate that the extracts from flowers and fruits significantly downregulated IL-1β expression to levels lower than those exhibited by piroxicam, indicating their proficient inflammation inhibitory efficacy. Orthogonal Projection to Latent Structures (OPLS) coefficient plots unraveled that methyldimethoxycinnamate, vinyloxybutanol, butanediol dibenzoate, pyroterebic acid and ursenone are the key biomarkers accountable for this efficacy. This research underscores C. procera 's pharmacological significance, providing a scientific foundation for its traditional medicinal applications. The findings highlight the necessity for further investigations into the mechanistic pathways of its bioactive compounds and their implications for developing novel anti-inflammatory therapies.