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Exploring the antidepressant-like effect of stigmasterol using network pharmacology with molecular docking and in vivo experimental validation
Engineering filamentous potato virus X as a platform nanotechnology for nucleic acid gene delivery
Abstract Nucleic acid therapeutics and gene delivery platforms have the potential to change the way we treat disease, enabling precision medicine. Advances in biotechnology have allowed for production of virtually any functional protein or peptide in the human body through the introduction of various classes of RNA, including regulatory and coding RNAs (e.g., mRNA) in the form of linear or circular RNA (circRNA). To be effective, nucleic acid therapeutics require safe, stable, and efficient delivery vehicles that protect the otherwise labile cargo from degradation, promote cellular uptake, and facilitate payload release. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have enjoyed recent clinical success for the delivery of mRNA to combat disease – especially against coronavirus 2019 (SARS CoV-2) and, more recently, against high-grade ductal breast carcinoma (clinical trial) – marking significant milestones for RNA nanomedicines. As an alternative to LNPs and mammalian viral vectors, we report the use of nucleoprotein components from a filamentous plant virus, potato virus X (PVX) as an RNA platform delivery technology. Designer nucleoprotein complexes of filamentous and halo-shaped nanoparticles were obtained through self-assembled templating on custom mRNAs and circRNAs. The flexuous nature of the PVX platform enabled the packing of circRNA yielding a unique nanoparticle platform. We explored assembly from coat protein (CP) obtained from PVX particles produced in planta but also extended the design space by producing recombinant CP by bacterial expression. Controlled mixed assemblies were achieved allowing the programming of mosaic particles with integrated functionality; length control was also demonstrated, resulting in bespoke nucleic acid delivery vehicles for tunable pharmacology. Using reporter genes, we demonstrate successful transfection of eukaryotic cells and target protein expression.
Tetracycline removal from an aqueous solution using bimetallic-impregnated activated carbon synthesized via one-step dry-pyrolysis of hawthorn kernels
Measuring transparency in intelligent robots
Abstract As robots become increasingly integrated into our daily lives, the need to make them transparent has never been more critical. Yet, despite its importance in human-robot interaction, a standardized measure of robot transparency has been missing until now. This paper addresses this gap by presenting the first comprehensive scale to measure perceived transparency in robotic systems, available in English, German, and Italian languages. Our approach conceptualizes transparency as a multidimensional construct, encompassing explainability, legibility, predictability, and meta-understanding. The proposed scale was a product of a rigorous three-stage process involving 1223 participants. Firstly, we generated the items, secondly, we conducted an exploratory factor analysis, and thirdly, a confirmatory factor analysis served to validate the factor structure of the newly developed TOROS scale. The final scale encompasses 26 items and comprises three factors: Illegibility , Explainability , and Predictability . TOROS demonstrates high cross-linguistic reliability, inter-factor correlation, model fit, internal consistency, and convergent validity across the three cross-national samples. This empirically validated tool enables the assessment of robot transparency and contributes to the theoretical understanding of this complex construct. By offering a standardized measure, we facilitate consistent and comparable research in human-robot interaction in which TOROS can serve as a benchmark.
Soliton solutions with bifurcation, sensitivity, chaotic and stability analysis of the (2+1)-dimensional Zoomeron equation using generalized Riccati equation mapping method
Development of a non-invasive diagnostic model for severe Retinopathy of Prematurity integrating clinical and platelet data
A semi-randomised control trial assessing psychophysiological effects of breathwork and cold immersion
Design parameters justification of the plough bottom’s landside
Aeolian sand migration induced land degradation and desertification hotspots identification in the semi-arid rain shadow regions of Anantapur, India
SwinCLNet: a robust framework for brain tumor segmentation via shifted window attention and cross-scale fusion
Immunity to six vaccine pathogens in HIV positive and HIV negative children in Equatorial Guinea
Validation of a novel 3D-printed anthropomorphic pediatric abdomen phantom using photon-counting CT
Abstract This study compares objective and subjective image quality (IQ) between a pediatric patient’s CT scan and a subsequently 3D-printed anthropomorphic abdomen CT phantom on a photon-counting CT (PCCT). We used a dedicated 3D-printed CT phantom based on DICOM data obtained from a PCCT scan of a 5-year-old boy (70 kV, 458 mAs). We performed two scans on the phantom (1: 70 kV, 461 mAs and 2: 90 kV, 148 mAs), reconstructing them with three kernels. We measured the objective IQ based on mean CT values and image noise within eight target structures. Three radiology experts assessed the subjective IQ on a 5-point Likert scale. The CT values of organs and vessels in phantom scan 1 (Br40) were equivalent to those in the patient ( p = 0.019). The phantom demonstrated higher mean CT values for fat and lower CT values for bone. The image noise was equivalent between both scans ( p = 0.027). The phantom showed high subjective IQ but a significantly lower rating than the patient (median 4 vs. 5, p < 0.001). In conclusion, this study demonstrates comparable IQ between the phantom and the patient scan at comparable dose parameters. In the future, it may be possible to anticipate radiation exposure in dose reduction studies.
Smart weather aware drone sink SWADS for reliable and energy efficient agricultural wireless sensor networks
Galantamine-loaded PLGA nanoparticles reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in a rat model of spinal cord injury
Indirect experiential grounding: semantic similarity of abstract scientific concepts is reflected in activity patterns in visual and motor cortex
Abstract Grounded cognition theories propose that interactions with situations establish experiential memory traces that constitute conceptual meaning. However, as abstract scientific concepts are frequently learned through language, a proposed indirect grounding mechanism postulates that modal representations are extrapolated from distributional language-based representations, which are themselves mapped onto existing modal representations. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging ( n = 51), we tested the mapping of distributed language representations on modal representations by asking whether semantic similarity of distributional language representations of scientific concepts corresponds to the similarity of neural activation patterns in modal brain systems. Semantic similarity based on both distributed language representations and experiential features was reflected in the multi-voxel activity pattern within occipital and fronto-parietal cortex, overlapping with activation induced by real visual perception and hand action, in addition to multimodal areas outside the brain regions sensitive to perception or action. Although its functional relevance for extrapolating modal representations remains to be determined, this mapping between language and the visuo-motor system is a fundamental element of the indirect grounding mechanism. This mechanism provides sensory-motor experience for the unseen and enriches knowledge for concepts learned exclusively from language.
Quality evaluation of stroke-related information on TikTok: a cross-sectional study
Exploring the periodontal phenotype of Uygur adults in Xinjiang, China
Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward esophageal cancer screening and early diagnosis and treatment among family members of esophageal cancer patients: A cross-sectional study
Reducing attention bias toward negative emotional stimuli with transcranial random noise stimulation: a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, crossover study
Abstract Excessive attention bias interferes with daily life and contributes to various psychiatric conditions. Previous studies have demonstrated that anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) can enhance attentional control and reduce negative emotional bias. However, little is known about the effects of transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) on attention bias. This study aimed to investigate whether tRNS reduces attention bias toward negative emotional stimuli compared to tDCS, for which functional evidence has been established. This randomized, double-blind, crossover, sham-controlled study enrolled 32 healthy right-handed men. The emotional Stroop task was used to assess attention bias. The participants experienced all three stimulation conditions: tRNS, tDCS, or sham, with each condition separated by a 7-day washout interval and administered in a random order. tRNS to the left DLPFC significantly reduced attention bias toward negative stimuli compared with sham (corrected p = 0.047, Cohen’s d = 0.72), whereas no significant difference was observed between tRNS and tDCS. Positive correlations were observed between the effects of each stimulation condition and attention bias in the sham condition in the tRNS and tDCS groups; however, these associations did not exceed the empirical null distribution determined by permutation testing. Thus, the modulatory effects of tRNS on attentional control may not strictly depend on baseline bias magnitude, suggesting its potential applicability in both healthy and clinical populations characterized by excessive attention bias. Clinical Trial Registration : This study was registered in the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trial Registry in Japan (UMIN000052202) on 09/13/2023; https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_his_list.cgi?recptno=R000059574 .