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Trump has big AI and quantum ambitions: this scientist’s job is to make them reality
Automatic preprocessing pipeline for individual-plant level (IPL) soybean growth monitoring through UAV multisource imagery
How AI can crack open the ‘hidden curriculum’ for neurodivergent students
A domain-agnostic explainable framework for network attack detection across diverse traffic datasets
Integration of molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and free energy calculations identifies a novel flavonoid glycoside as a PCSK9 inhibitor for hypercholesterolemia
Extrafollicular B cell peripheral subpopulations in Sjögren’s disease: expansion of DN2 and aNAV B cells
Abstract Sjögren’s disease (SjD) is an autoimmune condition marked by exocrine gland damage, lymphocytic infiltration, and autoantibody production. Recently, extrafollicular B cells have been implicated in autoimmune diseases, yet their specific role and characteristics within SjD remain largely unknown. Therefore, we aim to evaluate the distribution of atypical memory B cells (aMBCs) in patients with SjD and correlate them with clinical features. Forty SjD patients and 34 healthy subjects (HS) were included. Identification of aMBCs (CXCR5 − CD11c + ) subsets was performed, then expression of CD21 and CD38 were assessed in aMBCs subpopulations. SjD patients exhibited a systemic expansion of extrafollicular B cells, including aNAV, DP NAV, and DN2, DN3, and DN4 populations ( P < 0.001). ANCOVA revealed that DN2 expansion is uniquely independent of chronological aging ( P = 0.006). Analyzed CD19 + B cells using high-dimensional t-SNE and biaxial gating showed that aMBCs displayed heightened CD38 expression, signaling an activated phenotype primed for plasma cell differentiation. Furthermore, inverse correlations between DP NAV and USM frequencies and clinical scores (clinESSDAI, SSDDI) suggest possible sequestration within salivary glands or functional exhaustion. This pathogenic signature, manifesting as early as the naïve stage, underscores the aNAV-DN2 axis as a central hallmark of B-cell dysregulation in SjD.
Carbon storage by Neltuma juliflora on Santiago Island and its potential role in climate change mitigation in Cabo Verde
Multi-component exercise intervention methods for intelligent assisted diagnosis of sarcopenia in the elderly based on deep learning
Effect of forest type and age on the reduction of road traffic noise
Abstract Road traffic noise is a major environmental issue, and forests are often used as natural sound barriers. Their effectiveness, however, depends on stand characteristics. We examined how forest type (coniferous vs. deciduous), stand age (younger vs. older), and distance from the road (0, 25, 50, 100 m) influence traffic-noise attenuation. Sound measurements were taken from April to September on four forest plots and one open site. Using a Laserliner SoundTest-Master meter, 10-minute sessions recorded minimum and maximum dBA values; road traffic intensity was also monitored. Analyses focused on maximum noise levels. Minimum sound levels were unrelated to distance, reflecting transient acoustic variation. Maximum noise levels decreased with distance but non-linearly, with the strongest drop within the first 25 m. A logarithmic model best described this pattern. Pine forests reduced noise more effectively than beech forests, regardless of age. Older stands attenuated noise better than younger ones, although age effects in beech forests were small. Open terrain showed greater attenuation than beech stands beyond 50 m. Forest acoustic performance depends on species composition and stand age. These factors should guide the design of roadside green belts for effective noise protection.