Browse Articles
Discover research articles across all indexed journals
Author Correction: Mid-infrared chirality and chiral thermal emission from twisted α-MoO3
Histopathological examination of the effects of two different laser types on the osteochondral defect created in the rabbit temporomandibular joint
Electrochemical and photocatalytic generation of cis-olefin-bridged carbodication for umpolung [4+1] cycloaddition
The effect of substrate and product transfer between polydisperse microdroplets on biological high-throughput screens
Abstract Microdroplet encapsulation of cells is a powerful tool for high-throughput biological testing. The technique is widely used in mutant selection and strain engineering, where strict compartmentalization is often required to prevent transfer of cells or molecules between droplets. While molecular transfer has been reported for fluorophores, the potential transfer of common small substrates and products, and its impact on biological outcomes, has not been elucidated. Here, using a biosensor system, we demonstrate that biologically relevant molecules such as small alcohols (e.g. ethanol) and weak acids can transfer between droplets. The transfer can alter carbon availability and pH in neighboring droplets. Ethanol, a common product in biological systems, partitions directly into the oil phase, leading to unintended cell growth in adjacent droplets. Weak acids also transfer, decreasing the pH in neighboring droplets. Our results show that the transfer of small, hydrophobic molecules, commonly found in biological systems, can significantly alter experimental outcome. These findings highlight the need for validating droplet compartmentalization in assays involving small, amphiphilic molecules and careful selection of substrates that are not likely to transfer among droplets.
van der Waals grain boundaries with inert electrical behaviors in inorganic molecular dielectric film
IL-37 alleviates inflammatory effects and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in LPS-induced preterm birth
Author Correction: Bridging the gap between subduction dynamics and the long-term strength of the Sunda megathrust
Validation of a patient-based strategy for ambulatory monitoring of oncological pain by a mobile application
Abstract The purpose of this study is to assess clinical feasibility and patient adherence to recording pain, symptoms, and medication through the mobile application Accompain. Secondary outcomes included pain evolution, quality of life, pain interference, symptom progression, medication changes, and pain alerts. In this prospective clinical validation study, adult patients with cancer-related pain used a mobile device to log pain intensity, symptoms, and daily rescue medication. The system alerted clinicians to patients with elevated pain or a high number of rescue medications. Eighty-seven patients with different tumors were recruited (60.92% women; median age 63 years; range 27–94). Data recording adherence was 73.56%. Compared to baseline (5.49 ± 1.86), patients reported decreased pain 30 days (3.79 ± 2.48, p < .0001), 45 days (4.18 ± 2.42, p < .0001), and 60 days (3.82 ± 2.37, p < .0001) after starting treatment. Patients with localized tumors reported poorer health and quality of life than those with metastasis ( p < .0001). Asthenia was the most frequent symptom. Daily rescue medication reporting increased at 46–60 days after inclusion ( p < .01). Physicians received a mean of 2.53 ± 3.89 alerts per week during the study. Ambulatory pain monitoring is feasible and allows remote assessment of patients’ clinical status, which could improve pain management and overall care quality. In our study, gender and metastatic stage are the factors that most influence treatment adherence.
Engineering plasmids with synthetic origins of replication
Bioefficacy of a microemulsified mangosteen peel extract formulation against fruit rot fungi
AI-based multiomics profiling reveals complementary omics contributions to personalized prediction of cardiovascular disease
Kernel mean matching enhances risk estimation under spatial distribution shifts
Abstract Accurate risk estimation under distribution shifts is critical for deploying machine learning models in real-world spatial applications, from ecological forecasting to medical image analysis. Conventional methods such as No Weighting (NW) and Importance Weighting (IW) fail in spatially structured data due to two challenges: (1) density ratio estimation in high-dimensional clustered distributions and (2) non-stationarity from environmental gradients or sampling biases. Classifier-based approaches offer partial improvements but often yield miscalibrated risk estimates by prioritizing discriminative accuracy over distribution alignment. We conduct a systematic evaluation of four risk estimation methods —NW, IW, Kernel Mean Matching (KMM), and classifier-based reweighting—across synthetic benchmarks (with controlled spatial clustering) and real-world datasets (species distributions and immune cell layouts). Results show that KMM achieves superior robustness, reducing Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) by 12.3–86.5% compared to alternatives in high-dimensional settings. This advantage stems from KMM’s direct minimization of distributional divergence via kernel embeddings, bypassing error-prone density ratio estimation. Our findings demonstrate that KMM is a principled solution for spatial risk estimation, particularly when source and target distributions exhibit complex clustering or sampling artifacts. Its consistency across ecological and biomedical domains suggests broad applicability for reliable model deployment in spatially heterogeneous environments.
Author Correction: The human ciliopathy protein RSG1 links the CPLANE complex to transition zone architecture
Inhalable herbal nanotherapeutics targeting lung carcinoma
Abstract Targeted cancer therapy promises high local drug exposure, superior efficacy and minimal hazards. Myricetin (MYR) flavonoid exhibits distinct apoptotic and antiproliferative effects on lung carcinoma. However, limited solubility and bioavailability restricted its biomedical application. Attempt for dual targeting relies on the development of receptor-mediated solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and inhalation therapy. Inhalable powder was compared to non-targeted IV-administered nanocarriers. SLNs loaded with myricetin-phospholipid-complex (MYR-PH-CPX) were anchored with lactoferrin (Lf). The physicochemical properties, antitumor activity and cellular uptake were investigated. Inhalable SLN-embedded microparticles (MPs) were spray-dried, and the aerosolization parameters were determined. In-vivo deposition and biodistribution of targeted and non-targeted coumarin-labelled SLNs (Cou-SLNs ± Lf) were studied in mice. Lf-MYR-CPX-SLNs (< 100 nm) allowed extended MYR release > 24 h. Superior antitumor activity of Lf-MYR-CPX-SLNs was revealed by ~ 2- and 3.5-fold reduction in IC 50 relative to MYR-CPX-SLNs and MYR-PH-CPX, respectively. Confocal imaging showed higher rate and extent of uptake of Lf-Cou-SLNs in A549-cells. MYR-SLN-embedded MPs were suited for bronchial deposition (MMAD 2.81 µm, FPF 80.5%), while Lf-Cou-SLNs-MPs ensured 1.5-fold in-vivo pulmonary deposition and limited migration to other body organs relative to IV-administered counterparts. The developed targeted inhalation therapy achieved efficient anti-tumor effect, targetability, preferential pulmonary deposition and low off-target biodistribution, which augmented the safety threshold.
The Lolal-dpp axis mediates the regulation of host reproduction by gut symbionts in insects
Abstract Gut commensal microbiota can play an integral role in shaping insect reproduction, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. Here, we report that gut bacteria promote host reproduction in the oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis by inducing ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS)-mediated degradation of the key transcription factor Longitudinals lacking-like (Lolal). Antibiotic-induced gut bacterial depletion impairs ovarian development and fertility. These reproductive defects can be reversed by nicotinic acid (NA) supplementation or recolonization with a potent NA provider, Enterobacter hormaechei . Gut bacteria-derived NA enhances coenzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) biosynthesis and mitochondrial energy production, thereby activating the UPS. Ubiquitinome analysis reveals that gut bacteria enhance Lolal ubiquitination and promote its degradation. Lolal overabundance in gut bacteria-depleted females leads to decapentaplegic ( dpp ) overexpression and impaired reproduction. Conversely, Lolal knockdown suppresses dpp expression, resulting in disrupted mature egg formation. Our results reveal a link between gut bacteria-derived metabolites and host protein homeostasis which determines host reproductive success.
Nicorandil ameliorates neuropathic and inflammatory pain via TNF-α, IL6/MAPKERK1/2 and NO/cGMP signaling
Abstract Recently, nicorandil exerted antinociception via TRPV1/opioid signaling. Herein, the entanglement of downstream signals and NO-cGMP-K ATP pathway of nicorandil mediated antinociception was investigated against neuropathic pain induced by chronic constriction injury of sciatic nerve (CCI) and formalin evoked inflammatory pain. Nicorandil (150 mg/kg, twice, 2 h apart, PO) reversed mechanical and cold allodynia induced by CCI, reduced the licking time and number of flinches in formalin test. L-arginine (500 mg/kg, I.P), N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 10 mg/kg, I.P), methylene blue (10 mg/kg, I.P), sildenafil (2.5 mg/kg, I.P) and glibenclamide (5 mg/kg, I.P) were tested 30 min before nicorandil. The inhibitory effect of nicorandil on mechanical and cold allodynia was partially attenuated by L-arginine, methylene blue and sildenafil. L-NAME but not glibenclamide, potentiated the antinociceptive action of nicorandil on cold allodynia. In formalin test, nicorandil reduced flinches; an effect that was partially reversed by L-arginine and sildenafil but not by L-NAME, methylene blue or glibenclamide. Nicorandil reduced serum levels of the oxidative marker (MDA) and the inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-6 and COX-2). Immunohistochemical studies revealed that nicorandil blunted the elevation of MAPK ERK1/2 protein expressions in DRG whereas naloxone reversed that suppression. L-arginine and sildenafil reversed nicorandil mediated improvements of histopathological milieu of sciatic nerves and DRG. Taken together, these data demonstrate that nicorandil has an antiallodynic effect on neuropathic and inflammatory pain via inhibition of NO/cGMP pathways and reduction of oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokines targeting ROS/TNF-α, IL6 /MAPK ERK1/2 signaling pathways. These findings highlight nicorandil’s potential as a promising multitarget therapeutic option for pain management through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.