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Designing novel adenine clamp-CD73 mutants delineating surface expression and enzyme activity through in silico and in vitro engineering
Abstract NT5E, a 5′ Ectonucleotidase, is an emerging hotspot for cancer immunotherapies. However, available enzymatic inhibitors have shown limited promise, indicating activity-independent roles. Delineating activity-dependent and independent roles of this protein with precision requisites identification of critical residues impacting activity without hampering surface expression/stability. Conserved Phenylalanine (F) at 417 and 500 positions, which form a π stack with substrate-AMP, was chosen as the region of interest for in silico mutagenesis. F417 and F500 were mutated to Valine (V) individually using Missense3D to obviate broad structural damage. CD73-F417V/F500V dual mutant was then subjected to Molecular Dynamics simulations for prediction of stability and structural variations in the protein over time in comparison to wild-type crystal structure. Gibbs Free energy indicated a significant decrease in ligand binding affinity of CD73-F417V/F500V. RMSD and RMSF analysis of MD trajectories indicated increased mobility, suggesting weaker ligand binding affinity within the catalytic site of the mutant potentially impacting functional dynamics and protein-ligand contacts. Overexpression of CD73-F417V/F500V mutant in CD73 null-HEKs indicated stable surface expression but complete loss of Ecto-nucleotidase activity, thus providing a tool to dissect activity-dependent and independent functions of NT5E.
Beyond lithium: how sodium-ion batteries could change the world
Associated factors of myopia in a Portuguese sample of adolescents: Parental history and school-related lifestyle
Purpose This study aimed to investigate the interaction between parental myopia and school-related lifestyle patterns, and myopia in a sample of Portuguese adolescents. Based on previously reported data, we examined whether environmental and behavioural correlates traditionally associated with myopia, such as outdoor time, physical activity practice, screen time, and academic load, maintain their significance in a non-metropolitan European context. Methods This analysis involved a sample of 874 adolescents (10−18 years). Myopia was measured using non-cycloplegic open-field autorefraction and defined as a spherical equivalent ≤ −0.50D in the worse eye. Potential factors correlated with myopia were collected through supervised questionnaires completed by students and parents. Data were analysed using univariate and multivariable logistic regression to identify independent associations adjusting for demographic and behavioural covariates. Results The prevalence rate of myopia was 22.5%. The multivariable model identified family history of myopia as the strongest association (OR up to 3.75; CI:2.03–6.95; p < 0.001). Attending a higher school level (OR=2.20; CI:1.07–4.52; p = 0.032) and schools in urban locations (OR=1.59; CI:1.00–2.50; p = 0.048) showed a significant association. Regarding lifestyle, regular physical activity (≥ 2 times per week) was associated with odds of myopia (OR=0.47; CI:0.29–0.77; p = 0.003) even after adjustment for parental history of myopia. Although included in the fully adjusted model, factors such as smartphone use and breastfeeding did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05). Conclusions Despite the low population-density environment in this region, myopia prevalence was comparable to that reported in other European studies. The identified associations suggest that both parental history and school-related lifestyle factors should be considered when interpreting myopia patterns in adolescence. These findings may help inform school-based strategies aimed at promoting healthier visual and behavioural habits.
Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound alleviates exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative skeletal muscle damage through GsMTx4-sensitive mechanosensitive channel-associated Nrf2/HO-1 signaling
Aptamer-functionalized stiff hydrogel for enhanced BMSC enrichment and osteogenesis
To address the need to both enrich stem cells and direct their osteogenic fate in bone tissue engineering and bone regeneration, we developed a stiffness-gradient hydrogel (~4.5– 33 kPa) functionalized with a cell-enriching aptamer (Apt19s). This design forms a combined “enrich-and-differentiate” system: Apt19s actively enriches endogenous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) at the scaffold site, while the osteoinductive high-stiffness niche (~ 33 kPa) directs their differentiation. Crucially, the combined cues produced an enhanced osteogenic outcome—evidenced by significantly greater alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity (>2-fold increase), upregulated RUNX2/osteocalcin (OCN) gene expression (186.5% relative to control), and enhanced mineralization—that surpassed the additive effects of either cue presented independently. This integrated platform provides a practical strategy for developing cell-free osteogenic materials that actively tackle the dual challenges of endogenous cell sourcing and lineage-specific induction.
Water remediation using sustainable kaolin-derived zeolite and machine learning-guided prediction of adsorption performance
Abstract A chemistry-informed machine learning (CIML) model was developed for the prediction of equilibrium concentration (Ce) and adsorption capacity (Qe) of synthesized sustainable and cost-effective zeolite 4 A from kaolin clay. In this framework, the chemistry-informed integrates fundamental adsorption principles, including mass balance, kinetic descriptors (mass transfer dynamics), equilibrium relationship (saturation behaviour), stoichiometry consistency and dimensionless loading, into a learning architecture. The materials are thoroughly characterized using FT-IR, FE-SEM, XRD, and BET. In the experimental study, 1 g of zeolite was utilized to treat 10 L of dye effluent through column adsorption demonstrating the material’s practical applicability for large volume wastewater treatment. The breakthrough curve exhibited sigmoidal profile, with Thomas model yielding an adsorption capacity of 56.6 mg/g. Extensive experimental data of 200 points under varying conditions supported machine learning simulations. Bayesian optimization identified the Gaussian process as the optimal model. The proposed CIML framework integrates the GP prediction (R 2 = 0.9979 for Ce and 0.9993 for Qe) with mass balance formulation, error propagation, residual correction stage and uncertainty quantification. To further access generalizability, external validation is performed using 63 independent data points under varying conditions. CIML performance is benchmarked against, conventional mass balance model, predicting Qe directly from Ce using mass balance equation and a two stage GP model lacking physical constraints. The results show that the proposed CIML framework achieves R 2 = 0.9993 and RMSE = 0.0493, outperforming both the mass balance model (R 2 = 0.9974 and RMSE = 0.0973) and the two stage GP model (R 2 = 0.9973, RMSE = 0.0938) corresponding to an approximate 47% reduction in Qe prediction error. Multi-layer validation confirmed robustness, while uncertainty quantification showed 96.8% coverage. Interpretability analysis identified the key influential variables. The results demonstrates that the CIML enhances accuracy, generalizability, and reliability for wastewater treatment applications.
Retraction: Automated brain tumor diagnostics: Empowering neuro-oncology with deep learning-based MRI image analysis
An intelligent expert system for logistics disruption prediction and mitigation in global supply chains: Integrating graph-based risk inference with ensemble forecasting
Passive heart-rate monitoring during smartphone use in everyday life
Postbiotic effects of Enterococcus faecium JB00008 on gut health and IBD vaccination in broiler chickens
Feeding various probiotic lactic acid bacteria, including Enterococcus faecium , can alleviate intestinal inflammation and improve gut health in animals. Recently, postbiotics—non-living preparations derived from microbial cells or their metabolites—have gained attention. However, studies on the effects of these postbiotics on immune markers and changes in the gut microbiota of chickens are limited. In this study, we evaluated the effects of the probiotic strain E. faecium JB00008 on the chicken intestinal tract and characterized immune markers and gut microbiota following viral vaccination. Chicks were divided into three groups (Control, DH5α, and JB00008) and administered the respective supernatants in drinking water from days 1–12 at a 3:7 ratio. Samples were collected on days 13 and 28 for microbiota and gene expression analyses. To immunize against infectious bursal disease (IBD), the chicks received an oral vaccine on day 13. Growth, immune, and gut parameters were measured. Body weights did not differ among groups ( p = 0.380). Several intestinal immune markers—mucin 2 ( MUC2 , p = 0.001), occludin ( OCLN , p < 0.001), and interleukin-10 ( IL-10 , p < 0.001)—were significantly higher in the JB00008 group. Annexin A5 ( ANXA5 , p = 0.005) and interleukin-6 ( IL-6 , p < 0.001) also differed among groups. After IBD vaccination, IBD-specific immunoglobulin A (IgA, p = 0.200) and IgG ( p = 0.065) responses were comparable; however, the alpha ( p < 0.001) and beta diversities ( p = 0.001) were significantly different among the groups. The JB00008 group showed higher Enterococcus and Bifidobacterium , with enrichment of pathways associated with iron complex transport systems ( p < 0.050). These findings suggest that JB00008 postbiotics may enhance intestinal barrier function and microbiota health without affecting growth, thereby supporting gut stability after vaccination. Furthermore, these results highlight the potential use of E. faecium JB00008 as a feed additive and vaccine adjuvant.
Exploring the non-linear impacts of environmental and anthropogenic factors on land surface temperature in southwestern Bangladesh using explainable AI
Detection of critical transition states in complex diseases based on distance correlation coefficient
During the development of many complex diseases, biological systems may pass through an unstable critical transition state before disease onset or further deterioration. Timely detection of this state is important for identifying early warning signals and for supporting intervention before marked disease progression. This study proposes a model-free single-sample method based on the distance correlation coefficient, namely dCor-LNWD, for assessing disease-associated perturbations of individual diseased samples. This method uses distance correlation to evaluate both linear and nonlinear associations between gene-expression levels. This study applied dCor-LNWD to four stage-stratified cancer datasets (ESCA, KIRC, KIRP, and LUAD) from the TCGA database and the GSE13268 dataset from the GEO database, and successfully identified critical transition states in five complex disease datasets, including stage-wise critical states during cancer progression.
Aerodynamic effectiveness of positioning methods for conventional positive pressure ventilators operating in variable configurations
Universal gates from braiding and fusing anyons on quantum hardware
Characterization of a novel lncRNA RP3-340N1.2 and its association with a miR-4650-5p/SHC1-related regulatory network in lung adenocarcinoma
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are increasingly recognized as regulators of cancer-related biological processes. However, the functional significance of many lncRNAs in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains incompletely understood. In this study, we identified RP3-340N1.2 as an upregulated lncRNA in LUAD through analyses of public transcriptomic datasets, which was further confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR in LUAD cell lines. Functional assays demonstrated that knockdown of RP3-340N1.2 was associated with reduced proliferation, migration, invasion, and clonogenic growth of LUAD cells in vitro. In addition, suppression of RP3-340N1.2 attenuated tumor growth in a xenograft model. Bioinformatic analysis using the LncBase Experimental v3 database identified hsa-miR-4650-5p as a potential interacting microRNA of RP3-340N1.2. This interaction was further examined by dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. Functional experiments additionally showed that miR-4650-5p overexpression was associated with reduced proliferative and migratory capacities in LUAD cells. Among the predicted downstream targets of miR-4650-5p, SHC1 was selected for further investigation. Alterations in RP3-340N1.2 or miR-4650-5p expression were accompanied by corresponding changes in SHC1 expression and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Furthermore, rescue experiments demonstrated that SHC1 knockdown largely reversed RP3-340N1.2-associated cellular phenotypes, supporting the functional involvement of SHC1 within this regulatory framework. Collectively, these findings indicate that RP3-340N1.2 is aberrantly expressed in LUAD and may participate in tumor-associated cellular behaviors through a miR-4650-5p/SHC1-related regulatory mechanism. This study provides preliminary evidence supporting the potential relevance of RP3-340N1.2 in LUAD and offers additional insight into lncRNA-associated regulatory networks in this disease.
Sensing information-assisted superimposed pilot-based channel estimation for UAV communication systems
Antimicrobial resistance patterns of Escherichia coli isolated from raw cow milk and, from clinical specimens in a tertiary institution, Uganda – A cross sectional study
Background Inappropriate antibiotic use in animal husbandry contributes to the emergence of resistant bacteria, which may enter the human population through the food chain. Objective To compare antimicrobial resistance (AMR) patterns of Escherichia coli isolated from raw cow milk in Kawempe Division, Kampala, with those from clinical specimens processed at Makerere University Laboratory, Kampala, Uganda. Methodology A cross-sectional study from January to June 2024 on 40 E. coli isolates from 124 raw cow milk samples, alongside 40 clinical E. coli isolates was conducted. Antibiotic susceptibility was tested using the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method against 11 antibiotics. Differences in resistance between milk and clinical isolates were assessed using chi-square analysis. Results Of the 124 milk samples (77 from cans, 47 from packs), E. coli was isolated from 40/124 (32.26%), with most 39/124 (31.45%) from cans and only 1/124 (0.81%) from a pack. Antibiotic resistance profiles of E. coli isolates (n = 40) from milk samples showed the highest resistance to ampicillin (32.5%), followed by cotrimoxazole (22.5%), ceftriaxone (5%), Cefotaxime; (5%) and, cefuroxime (5%). Multidrug resistance (MDR) and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production were detected in 5% milk isolates. Clinical isolates; n = 40; exhibited higher resistance to cotrimoxazole (95%), ampicillin (87.5%), cefuroxime (72.5%), ceftriaxone (70%), ceftazidime (57.5%), ciprofloxacin (55%), and cefotaxime (52.5%), with lower resistance to amoxicillin–clavulanate (27.5%), chloramphenicol (25%), and gentamicin (22.5%). Emerging resistance to imipenem was observed (20%). MDR and ESBL prevalence among clinical isolates were 85% and 70%, respectively. Resistance was significantly higher in clinical isolates than in milk isolates (p < 0.001). Conclusion This study shows a much higher burden of resistance, MDR, and ESBL production in clinical than milk-derived Escherichia coli . At the same time, the similar resistance patterns observed for commonly used antibiotics such as ampicillin and cotrimoxazole suggest a possible overlap between human and animal reservoirs. These findings highlight the need for context-specific antimicrobial stewardship strategies in both the health and diary sector.
Impact of changes in sarcopenia status on incident cardiovascular disease and mortality in older adults
Prevalence, practices, and maternal perceptions of traditional uvulectomy among sudanese children and adolescents: A community-based cross-sectional study
Background Traditional uvulectomy (TU) is the removal of the uvula, either partially or totally, by the traditional healer. It is prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, driven by cultural beliefs and perceived therapeutic benefits, despite the risks of complications such as bleeding, infections, and death, and limited data exist. Our study aimed to assess the prevalence and practice of traditional uvulectomy among Sudanese children and adolescents, along with maternal perceptions, and identify associated risk factors. Method A descriptive community-based cross-sectional study was conducted between January and April 2025 across more than ten states on mothers of children and adolescents (≤18 years). Data were collected via face-to-face interviews using a validated structured questionnaire to assess the socio-demographics, TU perception regarding TU, practice pattern, and reported complications. A convenience sampling technique was used. Statistical analyses were performed using R software, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results A total of 1,135 mothers of children and adolescents (≤18 years) were interviewed face-to-face. The overall prevalence of TU was 15%, with higher rates among children <6 years (16%) and adolescents aged 12–18 years (17%). Maternal belief in TU varied significantly by child age (p < 0.001). Commonly cited reasons included breastfeeding difficulties (18%), cultural tradition (16%), and failure to thrive (13%). Mothers (45%) and grandmothers (41%) were the primary decision-makers, while traditional healers performed 55% of procedures, frequently using unsterilized instruments. Reported complications included fever (35%), feeding difficulties (21%), and bleeding (13%). TU practice was significantly associated with younger maternal age, lower educational attainment, higher parity, and strong adherence to tribal traditions (all p < 0.001). Conclusion Traditional uvulectomy remains prevalent in Sudan due to deeply rooted cultural beliefs, intergenerational influence, and gaps in healthcare access. Targeted, culturally sensitive interventions engaging tribal leaders, grandmothers, and traditional healers, alongside improved health education and service accessibility, are essential to reduce associated child health risks.