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MGMT upregulation mediates Temozolomide resistance conferred USP5 dependency
Printing technologies for monitoring crop health
Abstract Agricultural production requires low-cost sensors capable of delivering reliable, high-resolution data across large areas. Rising food demand, limited arable land, and severe soil degradation have accelerated the adoption of precision agriculture, which relies on real-time monitoring of soil, plant, and environmental conditions. Central to this shift is the development of scalable sensor technologies enabled by advances in materials science. Printing techniques, including inkjet, screen, aerosol jet, 3D printing, and direct laser writing, offer versatile routes to fabricate flexible, large-area, and plant-integrated sensors. This Review surveys recent progress in printable low-dimensional materials for agricultural sensing, examines their physicochemical properties in relation to sensor performance, and discusses key challenges and future opportunities requiring interdisciplinary integration.
Quantitative proteomic analysis of plasma after remote ischemic conditioning in acute ischemic stroke
Click-based determination of accumulation of molecules in Escherichia coli
Abstract Gram-negative bacterial pathogens pose a significant challenge in drug development because their outer membranes hinder the permeation of small molecules. The lack of widely adoptable methods for measuring the cytosolic accumulation of compounds in bacterial cells further hinders drug discovery efforts. To address this challenge, we report the development of the Chloroalkane Azide Membrane Permeability (CHAMP) assay, which we designed specifically to assess molecule accumulation in the cytosol of Gram-negative bacteria. The CHAMP analysis utilizes bioorthogonal epitopes anchored within HaloTag-expressing bacteria and measures the cytosolic arrival of azide-bearing test molecules through strain-promoted azide–alkyne cycloaddition. This workflow enables robust and rapid accumulation measurements of thousands of azide-tagged small molecules. Our approach consistently produces comprehensive accumulation profiles that surpass the scale of previous measurements in Escherichia coli ( E. coli ). We validated the CHAMP assay across various chemical and biological contexts, including hyperporinated cells, membrane-permeabilized cells, and E. coli strains with impaired TolC function, a key component of the efflux pump. The CHAMP platform provides a simple, high-throughput, and accessible method that enables the analysis of over 1000 molecules within hours. This technique addresses a critical gap in antimicrobial research and has the potential to accelerate the development of effective agents against Gram-negative pathogens.
Determination of mechanical properties of ceramic microspheres using an improved flat-plate crushing test and global cohesive zone modeling
iDesignGPT enhances conceptual design via large language model agentic workflows
Enhanced opposition-based American zebra optimization algorithm for global optimization
BiG-SCAPE 2.0 and BiG-SLiCE 2.0: scalable, accurate and interactive sequence clustering of metabolic gene clusters
Abstract Microbial metabolic gene clusters encode the biosynthesis or catabolism of metabolites that facilitate ecological specialization, mediate microbiome interactions and constitute a major source of medicines and crop protection agents. Here, we present BiG-SCAPE and BiG-SLiCE 2.0, next-generation methods that facilitate scalable, accurate and interactive gene cluster analyses. BiG-SCAPE 2.0 updates its classification, alignment methods, and visualizations, enabling more accurate analysis, up to 8x faster runtimes and halved memory requirements. BiG-SLiCE 2.0 updates its distance metric, pHMM database, and classification logic, resulting in increased sensitivity nearing that of BiG-SCAPE. Analysis of 260,630 biosynthetic gene clusters from publicly available genomes reveals that both tools generate concurring estimates of gene cluster diversity, thus providing significantly extended methodological support for recent evidence indicating that the vast majority of natural product diversity remains unexplored. Together, these updates will facilitate global genome mining efforts for natural product discovery and microbiome analyses scalable with current data sizes.
Application of the expanded theory of planned behavior in predicting Iranian students’ intention to use probiotic products
Curvature programmed inkjet printing enables adaptive deposition for Gaussian sintering lasers
Study on the dynamic tensile properties and damage mechanisms of thermally treated granite under acid cooling
Care preferences of older migrants and minority ethnic groups with various care needs: A scoping review
Background Older migrants and people from minority ethnic groups face unique challenges in accessing healthcare. Various factors often lead to lower healthcare utilization and hinder person-centered care. However, little is known about the various care preferences of these people, and no systematic overview of their care preferences has been conducted. Methods We conducted a scoping review in accordance with the description provided by the Joanna Briggs Institute. We searched the MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library databases and extracted data from the included publications. We subsequently identified and analyzed the care preferences of older migrants and minority ethnic groups (people aged 60 years or older with various care needs) via inductive content analysis in an iterative process. Results Initially, 2756 records were identified through our electronic database search. After duplicate removal, 1924 records were screened for relevance. A total of 173 reports remained for full-text screening. A total of 50 studies published from 1985–2024 were included in the review. Our analysis of these articles revealed descriptive themes that were grouped into four main categories: I) care practice; II) professionals; III) living with others; and IV) environment. These main categories were further divided into 16 subcategories that captured the identified preferences. Conclusion Our research yielded two key findings. First, preferences related to care are as heterogeneous as the people receiving care. Second, people with dementia and a history of migration and their preferences in the nursing context, have been underrepresented in healthcare research. To bridge this knowledge gap, future research should prioritize understudied populations. By examining these groups, we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted individual experiences of older migrants and people from minority ethnic groups.
Frailty and disability among older adults residing in Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh
Background Frailty and disability often emerge with ageing and affect quality of life. Older adults residing in Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh are particularly susceptible to frailty and disability due to adverse physical and social environment along with limited health and social care services available in the camp. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with frailty and disability among Rohingya older adults living in Bangladesh. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among older adults aged ≥60 years residing in the Rohingya refugee settlement in Bangladesh. The primary outcomes were frailty and disability, explored using the ‘Frail Non-Disabled (FiND) questionnaire. Data were collected face-to-face during November-December 2021, using a semi-structured questionnaire. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to identify the factors associated with frailty and disability. Results The majority of participants (n = 864) were aged 60–69 years (72.34%), male (56.25%), married (79.05%), and without formal education (89.0%). The study revealed a high prevalence of frailty (36.92%) and disability (55.21%) among the participants. The multinomial regression analysis showed that the likelihood of experiencing disability was significantly higher among participants who were aged 70–79 years (RRR = 2.65, 95% CI: 1.25, 5.66) and ≥80 years (RRR = 8.06, 95% CI: 1.05, 61.80), were female (RRR = 3.93, 95% CI: 1.88, 8.1.9), had no formal education (RRR = 4.34, 95% CI: 2.19, 8.63), were living in a large family (RRR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.05, 3.18) and were suffering from non-communicable diseases (RRR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.32, 4.22) compared to their respective counterparts. The regression analysis also revealed that frailty was significantly higher among participants who were female (RRR = 2.82, 95% CI: 1.34, 5.94), were suffering from non-communicable diseases (RRR = 2.28, 95% CI: 1.27, 4.09), and had feeling of loneliness (RRR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.11, 4.22). Conclusions The findings underscore the need for long-term care and health promotion activities to alleviate the burden of frailty and disability among older adults in humanitarian settings. Efforts should particularly target the most vulnerable groups- older individuals (≥80 years), women, those without formal education, those living in large families, and those with non-communicable diseases.
The child Musicality Index: A child-friendly version of the Goldsmiths Musical Sophistication Index
The Goldsmiths Musical Sophistication Index (Gold-MSI) has contributed significantly to the study of musical sophistication in adolescence and adulthood, however the field lacks an equivalent self-report instrument for childhood. Existing measures focus heavily on instrumental learning and fail to consider social, emotional and motivational factors which are likely to underlie engagement with music. To address this gap, the current research introduces the child Musicality Index (cMI), a new psychometric self-report measure of musicality for 6- to 13-year-olds which captures children’s motivation for and enjoyment of music. In study 1, a large cohort (N = 302) of children (6–13yrs) responded to items adapted from the Gold-MSI to suit a younger age range. Factor analysis (N = 283) was used to select 8 items for the children’s version of the measure, split into two group factors (‘musical drive’ and ‘enjoyment of music making’) and one general factor (‘musicality’). Studies 1b and 1c then investigated whether children’s responses to these 8 items were valid and reliable (N = 250–460). Study 2 provided evidence for the psychometric properties of the final 8-item version of the task in a new sample (N = 56). The new, 8-item cMI provides a short and robust measure which can facilitate investigation of the most critical aspects of musicality during childhood. It has demonstrated good psychometric properties in UK and US samples and is now openly available for use in wider research.
Applying the open-LUCIS framework to identify and characterize human–wildlife conflicts: A case study in Botswana
Human–Wildlife Conflict (HWC) is an increasing challenge in rapidly changing landscapes, where agricultural expansion, settlement growth, and infrastructure development intersect with critical wildlife corridors. Addressing these conflicts requires spatially explicit methods that can evaluate trade-offs among competing land uses. This study demonstrates the application of the open-source Land Use Conflict Identification Strategy (Open-LUCIS), a suitability-based framework that integrates open geospatial data, domain knowledge, and goal-driven land-use modeling. Using Pandamatenga in Botswana’s Chobe District as a case study, we identified areas of potential conflict among agriculture, human settlement, and wildlife conservation. High-conflict zones were concentrated where commercial farms overlap with transboundary wildlife corridors, highlighting the tension between agricultural development and conservation. A sensitivity analysis indicated that existing land use, road accessibility, and development constraints strongly influence conflict dynamics. The application demonstrates a clear pathway for using open-source tools to support HWC studies. By relying on open data and reproducible methods, Open-LUCIS offers a cost-effective and accessible alternative to proprietary software, with direct implications for advancing sustainable land development in regions with limited resources. Given that the dynamics observed in Chobe reflect pressures common across many parts of Africa and beyond, the framework is broadly applicable as a transferable approach for managing land-use conflicts in many rapidly developing, ecologically sensitive frontiers worldwide.
Persistent foot-and-mouth disease virus infection of the bovine nasopharynx is associated with suppression of innate and cellular immunity
Foot-and-mouth disease is a devastating disease of cattle that is caused by foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). After acute infection, FMDV persists in the upper respiratory tract of about 50% of infected cattle. The persistent infection is characterized by very localized viral replication in the absence of clinical signs, but the underlying mechanisms are still not clear. In our study, we investigated tissue samples collected from 20 cattle which had been experimentally infected with FMDV O/FRA/1/2001. In 17 animals, the infection persisted for longer than 28 days. Epithelial tissue from the dorsal nasopharynx and the dorsal soft palate (DSP), the two main locations for persistent infection, was collected at necropsy. Five biological replicates from each animal and location were screened by FMDV specific RT-qPCR, and subsets of the samples were selected for transcriptome sequencing (n = 52) and protein mass spectrometry (n = 18). There was a good correlation between the expression patterns identified by the transcriptomic and proteomic analysis. Higher loads of viral genome were detected in DSP samples. Overexpression of cellular markers for follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) and downregulated genes of epithelial integrity and keratinization correlated with viral genome loads, confirming the microanatomic localization of persistent FMDV infection in follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) in lymphoid tissue of the nasopharynx. An upregulation of genes which negatively influence T-cell responses indicates a T-cell exhaustion, most likely caused by prolonged immune stimulation. Moreover, decreased expression levels of RIG-I and TRAF6 probably resulted in inhibited detection of viral RNA by the innate immune system and ultimately an impeded type I interferon response. These observations are in line with the hypothesis that FMDV actively suppresses the local immunity in FAE to maintain a persistent infection in the bovine nasopharynx.
The role of low-complexity repeats in RNA–RNA interactions and a deep learning framework for duplex prediction
Evaluating microbial community profiles of Chile peppers grown on the International Space Station provides implications for fruiting crops
Study of shear-plastic slip mechanism based on TC4 titanium alloy
The stagnation point and dead metal zone in the cutting process directly or indirectly affect the chip formation and stress distribution, while the stress distribution in the machining process determines the plastic slip direction of the material. Aiming at the current insufficient research on the dead metal zone and stagnation point theory, this paper divides the cutting process into rounded edge contact stage and rounded edge-rake face contact, constructs a slip line field model with dead metal zone based on the stress distribution and pressure distribution of the two stages, calculates the slip line field through the Cauchy problem, and plots the slip line field through the secondary development port in SOLIDWORKS. The dead metal zone model is based on the stress distribution of the obtuse circular contact, and the stagnation point occurs at the critical condition of the elastic-plastic transition of the material, i.e., at the maximum shear stress of the process. The dead metal zone and stagnation point are examined based on simulation, and the slip line field model is verified experimentally. The results show that the dead metal zone model can be predicted more accurately when the tool rake angle is 15° or less, and the greatest influence on the stagnation point is the tool rake angle and the radius of the rounded edge of the tooltip, and the slip line field model containing the dead metal zone can more accurately reflect the plastic slip of the real cutting process. It can be seen that the dead metal zone model, stagnation point model, and slip line field model illustrate the cutting mechanism of the elastic and plastic phases of the cutting process, which lays a research foundation for the subsequent study of tool wear, chip formation, and machining surface quality.