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Mapping the relationship of reef structure and surfer spatial patterns at Cloudbreak, Fiji
Abstract This study examines how three-dimensional reef structure relates to surfer activity at KuruKuru Mailani, Fiji (Cloudbreak). We combined GPS surfer track data with structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry to map surfer behavior on high resolution, orthorectified reef models. Surfer track density and cumulative track length differed significantly among three zones, with the highest activity in the Middle zone. Live coral cover did not differ among zones and showed no association with surfing activity. In contrast, three-dimensional structure varied by zone: VRM was higher in the Left than the Right, slope was smaller in the Left than in the Middle and Right, and surface complexity was higher in the Middle than the Left. A multivariate matching approach identified a combination of surface ruggedness, curvature, planform curvature, and surface complexity that best aligned with surfer activity. A PCA of these variables explained 39.8% and 24.7% of variance on the first two axes and showed that the Middle zone spanned the widest range of 3D values and the highest amount of surfer activity. Boosted regression trees indicated that surfer activity increases most within specific ranges of surface complexity and slope, with additional contributions from curvature and ruggedness. The partial dependence plots showed threshold-like responses rather than simple linear trends. Collectively, these results indicate that specific aspects and ranges of reef structure are most closely associated with the spatial concentration of surfer activity at Cloudbreak. The workflow presented here provides a consistent approach that can be applied at other surf breaks, and the findings offer clear directions for future studies to link structural features with wave processes and to inform management of recreational reef environments.
Introducing the j-metric: a true measure of what matters in academia
Robust and compact reversible logic gate for low-power and high-performance computing
Evaluation of a new motorized endoscope versus conventional endoscopy: a single-center, single-blind, randomized controlled trial
Prophylactic infusion of donor derived CMV specific T cells for the prevention of CMV reactivation following allogeneic HSCT
Abstract Cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation remains a common and serious complication following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), often leading to significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised recipients. Adoptive transfer of CMV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CMV-CTLs) has emerged as a promising immunotherapeutic approach to restore antiviral immunity and prevent CMV-related complications. This interim analysis of a randomized phase I–II clinical trial evaluates the safety and preliminary efficacy of prophylactic infusion of donor-derived CMV-CTLs administered early after allo-HSCT. Twenty adult allo-HSCT recipients were randomized 1:1 to receive either standard care (control group) or a single intravenous infusion of 10 million donor-derived CMV-CTLs per m 2 of body surface area (intervention group) between days + 14 to + 21 post-transplant. The primary endpoint was safety, defined by infusion-related adverse events and incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD). Secondary endpoints included incidence and kinetics of CMV reactivation, measured by serial quantitative RT-PCR during the first 90 days post-transplant. Baseline characteristics were balanced between the two groups. No grade 3–5 adverse events were observed following CMV-CTL infusion. aGvHD grade II occurred in 30% of the intervention group versus 40% in controls. The incidence of CMV reactivation at 90 days was lower in the intervention group (52.00%) compared to controls (77.78%), although not statistically significant (P = 0.580). However, CMV viral loads were significantly lower over time in the intervention group (P = 0.028), suggesting a favorable antiviral effect of CMV-CTLs. Prophylactic infusion of donor-derived CMV-CTLs early after allo-HSCT appears safe and may reduce CMV reactivation and viral burden. These findings support the potential of CMV-CTLs as a novel immunotherapeutic strategy for CMV management in high-risk transplant recipients. Further validation in larger, multicenter trials is warranted.
LIMD2 is associated with an exhausted CD8⁺ T cell state linked to ICI response in clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Fall-prevention clinical trial in rural China shows promising results
Research on the resilience of ecological networks from the perspective of ecological security pattern: a case study of Wuhan metropolitan area
Abstract Ecological network resilience—the fundamental capacity of ecosystems to maintain functional stability under external disturbances—has emerged as a focal topic in regional ecological security research. This study focuses on the Wuhan Metropolitan Area, employing multi-temporal datasets spanning 2000–2020. First, we developed an ecological security pattern evaluation framework integrating water resources, soil and water conservation, and ecosystem quality to identify ecological source areas. Next, we established a three-dimensional evaluation index system encompassing natural environment, human activities, and physical barriers to generate resistance surfaces. The MCR model was applied to extract ecological corridors and construct the source–corridor pattern. The gravity model was employed to construct ecological networks and analyze their topological structures. Finally, ecological network resilience was assessed through simulated disturbance scenarios. The results indicate that: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the number of ecological source areas was 55, 65, and 54, respectively, exhibiting a “rise–then–decline” trend. Spatially, these areas shifted from scattered to concentrated and contiguous. The network’s core nodes evolved from a decentralized to a highly centralized control structure, increasingly influencing overall network resilience. (2) Over the same period, the number of ecological corridors was 1,485, 2,580, and 1,431, respectively, with primary corridors numbering 41, 89, and 139. These corridors exhibited a spatial pattern of “dense in the south and sparse in the north, dense in the periphery and sparse in the center.” Despite the overall decrease, interaction strength increased, species circulation efficiency improved, and a stable ecological corridor ring gradually formed. (3) The ecological network evolved from incremental expansion to quality- and efficiency-oriented enhancement, ultimately forming an efficient and stable structure. Based on these findings, we identified 8 core nodes, 36 secondary nodes, 29 general nodes, and 86 key ecological corridors in the Wuhan Metropolitan Area, leading to the construction of a composite ecological security pattern characterized as “one screen, three cores, three axes, and multiple networks.” Targeted optimization strategies were proposed to inform the sustainable development of composite ecosystem regions and guide the construction of ecological security patterns.
ReHA-Net: a ReVIN–hybrid attention network with multiscale convolution for robust EEG artifact removal in brain–computer interfaces
A level set-based process planning method for the additive and subtractive hybrid manufacturing of a flow channel with an inner cavity
Glial cells are involved in day–night protein dysregulation in the hippocampus of a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease
Abstract The hippocampus regulates memory and cognition, both of which are influenced by circadian rhythms. These rhythms also drive time-dependent gene expression in neurons and glial cells, affecting hippocampal function. In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), alterations in these rhythms, contributing to cognitive decline, is little understood. This study examined hippocampal proteomes from 7-month-old wild-type (WT) and 3xTgAD mice at two time points (Zeitgeber 2, ZT2 and ZT14) to detect early pathological changes. In WT mice, 199 proteins (8%) showed diurnal variation, particularly those linked to energy metabolism and neuronal/glial functions. In 3xTgAD mice, this rhythmic variation dropped by half (3.6%), with only five proteins shared across genotypes. Moreover, significant differences in protein expression emerged between WT and 3xTgAD at both time points, notably involving mitochondrial function, oxidative phosphorylation, and ATP production. Functional clustering revealed disrupted bioenergetic pathways, especially affecting complex I of the electron transport chain and astrocytic metabolism. These early alterations suggest a breakdown in daily control of hippocampal energy regulation in AD. The results highlight the critical role of sampling time in research and suggest that circadian disruption in astrocytic and neuronal metabolism may play a central role in AD progression and could inform future chronotherapeutic approaches.
P4HA1 facilitates SPP1+ tumor-associated macrophages by activating the hypoxia pathway in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Digital twin-driven deep learning prediction and adaptive control for coal mine ventilation systems
Abstract Coal mine ventilation systems face critical challenges in real-time monitoring and dynamic control due to complex underground environments, time-varying operational conditions, and unpredictable disturbances. This study proposes an integrated framework combining digital twin technology, deep learning prediction models, and adaptive control strategies to achieve intelligent ventilation management. A five-dimensional digital twin architecture was constructed to establish bidirectional synchronization between physical ventilation networks and virtual models. An LSTM-Attention hybrid neural network was developed to capture temporal dependencies and predict ventilation parameters with mean absolute percentage error of 2.87% and coefficient of determination of 0.9612. An adaptive model predictive control strategy was designed to dynamically optimize fan operations and regulator positions based on predictive insights. Field validation at an operational coal mine over eight months demonstrated superior performance compared to conventional methods, achieving 97.3% control accuracy, 27% energy consumption reduction, and 66.4% faster system response. The proposed framework successfully addresses limitations of traditional ventilation control approaches and provides a practical solution for enhancing safety, efficiency, and sustainability in underground mining operations. This research contributes to advancing cyber-physical integration in mining engineering and demonstrates the viability of artificial intelligence technologies for complex industrial systems with safety-critical constraints.
Targeted knock-in of human immune-regulatory genes into the porcine GGTA1 exon 4 reveals divergent expression on red blood cell membranes
Abstract The decline in blood donations has become a global challenge, emphasizing the urgent need for alternatives to meet the growing demand. One potential solution is the development of transgenic pigs whose blood can overcome immune rejection and can therefore be used in xenotransfusion. In the present study, we generated two types of transgenic pigs, one expressing human CD46 ( hCD46 ) and human thrombomodulin ( hTBM ) and the other expressing human CD59 ( hCD59 ) and human CD47 ( hCD47 ). These genes were inserted into exon 4 of glycoprotein alpha-galactosyltransferase 1 ( GGTA 1 ) locus to eliminate galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-gal), while simultaneously enabling the expression of human immune-regulatory genes. Among these, hCD59 and hCD47 were detected on the membranes of porcine red blood cells (pRBCs) of the transgenic pigs, whereas hCD46 and hTBM were not. However, all four inserted genes were expressed in other tissues. Notably, although hCD46 and hTBM mRNA were transcribed in erythroid cells, their proteins were absent from the pRBC membrane, revealing that they were either not translated or degraded during erythropoiesis. This study shows that expression patterns of transgenes may be unique for different proteins in RBCs, and a greater understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying erythropoiesis is required to enable better expression of human immune-regulatory genes.
Structural and functional modifications in CeO2-doped borosilicate glasses: insights into dielectric behavior and gamma radiation attenuation
Unveiling plant protein astringency perception through neural and cellular responses
Abstract While consumption of plant proteins providing nutritional, social and climate solutions to feed a growing population in a healthy and sustainable manner is unquestionable, astringency remains a persistent yet underestimated organoleptic challenge. This longstanding issue, contributing to a sensation of dryness, serves as a major bottleneck in the development of plant-based foods with broad consumer acceptance. Here, we investigate experimentally the origin of astringency in plant proteins probing sensory, neural, and cellular responses. Strikingly, by combining sensory profiling with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and saliva and mucin-coated oral epithelium-mimicking cell lines, we identify that plant protein astringency demonstrates a distinct prefrontal cortex neural response and is associated with salivary mucin-binding, drawing parallels to tannin-like responses. Our mechanistic dissection fuelled by in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo experimental studies pinpoints direct quantitative evidence uncovering previously uncharacterised astringency of plant proteins, paving the way for solving the sensorial challenges in the era of transitioning towards eco-friendly plant protein-based foods.
Activation of TP53 target genes in the primary response of triple-negative breast cancer cells to doxorubicin treatment
Abstract Among the DNA-damaging agents commonly used in clinical settings doxorubicin has emerged as one of the most effective treatments for Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Our limited understanding about the molecular mechanisms underlying the short- and long-term responses of TNBC cells to DNA damage induced by drugs like doxorubicin is a hurdle to improve the efficacy of the treatment or overcome the drug resistance. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the immediate response of the TNBC cells to doxorubicin and compare these responses with those of doxorubicin-resistant cells through transcriptome analysis. Transcriptome analysis revealed that doxorubicin significantly upregulates the expression of TP53 target genes, including CDKN1A , TIGAR , TP53INP1 , PPM1D , and ACER2 . Notably, doxorubicin-resistant TNBC cells failed to increase the expression of these genes, except for CDKN1A , upon doxorubicin treatment. Moreover, treatment with etoposide as another DNA-damaging drug increased the expression of CDKN1A , TP53INP1 , and ACER2 in a TP53-independent manner. Collectively, this study highlights the critical role of TP53 target genes in the immediate response of TNBC cells to DNA-damaging agents like doxorubicin and etoposide. It also reveals distinct molecular mechanisms regulating their expression in resistant versus sensitive cells, offering potential therapeutic targets to improve treatment strategies for TNBC.