Browse Articles

Triglyceride-glucose index as a potential biomarker for predicting retinal vein occlusion

Correction for Foley et al., Single-nuclei sequencing of uterine serous carcinoma reveals racial differences in immune signaling

A chemical analysis of 20th century traditional medicines curated at the Ditsong museum of culture History, Pretoria, South Africa

Photoemission electron microscopy for connectomics

Photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM) offers a potential third modality for large-volume connectomics alongside transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We image osmium stained, ultrathin brain sections on gold coated silicon at synaptic resolution using commercial PEEMs. At coarser resolution, we demonstrate that ultraviolet laser illumination enables gigavoxel-per-second acquisition rates without thermal damage. PEEM combines TEM-like parallel detection with SEM-compatible solid supports into a potentially scalable and cost-effective approach for large-volume connectomes.

Effects of a 12-week table tennis training on physical fitness and serum antioxidant parameters for older adults

Multipotent progenitors with distinct origins, clonal lineage fates, transcriptomes, and surface markers yield two hematopoietic trees

Multipotent progenitors (MPP) are the quantitative source of native hematopoiesis that have been thought to be replenished slowly by hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). However, recent fate mapping studies have revealed two developmentally distinct populations of MPP, HSC-derived MPP (hMPP), and HSC-independent, embryonic MPP (eMPP). These data raise fundamental questions on the distinctions and functions of these progenitors. Here, we mapped the clonal dynamics of the two independent MPP systems, using in situ barcoding, and barcode linkage (hMPP), or disconnect (eMPP), with HSC. The cumulative output of eMPP to hematopoiesis was 35%, and their output was enriched for lymphoid fates. Conversely, hMPP output was enriched for myeloid-restricted fates. Distinguishing HSC from eMPP outputs revealed that only ~15% of adult HSC clones underwent multilineage differentiation (lymphoid, myeloid, and erythroid). To prospectively identify eMPP, we developed PolySMART for joint profiling of PolyloxExpress RNA barcodes, surface markers, and transcriptomes, and we found that the plasma cell marker CD138 enriches for eMPP. CD138 + MPP are primed for self-renewal and toward lymphoid fate, and become largely but not completely replaced by CD138 − MPP over time, which may contribute to the loss of lymphoid output with age. Taken together, adult hematopoiesis consists of two distinct lineage trees. The source of the “eMPP tree” substantially contributes to hematopoiesis before it declines, while the HSC-hMPP tree supplies hematopoiesis life-long. Our molecular determinants distinguishing the two MPP systems may open avenues to further explore these unexpected layers of hematopoiesis.

Exploring entry pathways of microorganisms into an anatomical dissection course

Abstract Anatomical dissection courses are central to medical education. Despite advances in fixation techniques, cadavers remain vulnerable to microbial contamination. Thus, we aimed to assess microbial entry pathways and discuss mitigation strategies in a dissection course setting. Microbial load assessments were performed using sedimentation and contact plate sampling at various points, including doorknobs, gown sleeves, and air inside the dissection hall. Airborne microbial loads were significantly lower under laminar airflow systems compared to areas without controlled air supply, particularly near sinks and entryways (median 17.0 vs. 51.0 CFUs/4 h). The airborne microbial load was significantly lower during unoccupied times compared to dissection hours (median 2.5 vs. 44.0 CFUs/4 h). The dissection hall doorknob showed increased microbial counts after use on 4 of 6 days, though levels remained below critical thresholds. Gown sleeves had a variable but overall low microbial load. Our study suggests that controlled air supply is a key factor for reduced microbial loads. In contrast, the risk of microbial transmission via the doorknobs is negligible. The microbial load on gown sleeves was comparable to that of clean hospital laundry. Future studies should monitor microbial loads on cadaver surfaces to clarify contamination dynamics and refine hygiene protocols.

Skyrmions with multiple topological charges as orbital angular momentum encoders

Magnons carrying intrinsic orbital angular momentum (OAM) hold great potential for orbitronics, optics, and communications, but the generation of such magnons poses great challenges. In this work, we propose that magnons with intrinsic OAM can be induced by antiferromagnetic (AFM) skyrmions with multiple topological charges ( Q ). The proposal is demonstrated in a tetragonal lattice frustrated AFM film, where magnetic anisotropy governs the formation of multiple- Q skyrmions. Out-of-plane polarized current induces ultrafast skyrmion helicity oscillation, which enables excitation of multipolar spin waves, with OAM quantum number identical to Q . The Q , and thus OAM, can be modulated by tuning magnetic anisotropy and temperature. In addition, we reveal an unexpected AFM skyrmion Hall effect driven by in-plane polarized current, and a nonlinear correction term in skyrmion dynamics induced by spin–orbit torque fluctuation. Our results reveal unique behaviors of AFM multiple- Q skyrmions and could extend their applications in information encoding and transmission.

In silico evaluation of Ocimum sanctum phytochemicals for diabetic foot ulcer therapy through docking, ADMET, DFT, and molecular dynamics

A 120-y time series of genomes reveals the consequences of closed breeding in German Shepherd Dogs

Many contemporary breed dogs display reduced genomic health compared to mixed-breed dogs, including reduced heterozygosity and increased genetic load, likely due to strong directed breeding. Lack of historical genomes, however, has made it difficult to disentangle the timing and drivers of these declines given complex and breed-specific demographic histories, artificial selection, and crossbreeding. Here, we sequenced genomes of nine 20th-century museum specimens (1906–1993) of pedigree German Shepherd Dogs (GSDs) to directly assess the consequences of contemporary breeding practices on genomic diversity and health over time. The GSD breed offers an excellent case study, given the breed’s fluctuations in global popularity, differing selective regimes, and the GSD’s use in the establishment of other breeds, including wolfdogs. Genome-wide heterozygosity showed significant reductions after the Second World War (WWII), coincident with an increase in both the frequency of runs of homozygosity and load. We also detected repeated population bottlenecks linked to the use of popular sires throughout the 20th century. Finally, although hybridization with wolves has led to genome-wide increases in heterozygosity in wolfdog breeds derived from the GSD, nonadmixed ancestry blocks (dog or wolf) were severely depleted in diversity due to the limited number of founders involved in their establishment. Combined, our results indicate that declines in the genomic health of GSDs and related breeds occurred not at the onset of breed formation but throughout the last century, as a result of population bottlenecks associated with WWII and the repeated use of popular sires.

Effect of temperature on structural properties and antibacterial performance of Fe–Co–Al@BTC MOF: A molecular docking and computational perspective

Abstract In this study, the impact of temperature on metal-organic framework (Fe-Co-Al @BTC) structural properties and antibacterial activity was investigated. It was synthesized by both hydrothermal method and at room temperature. It exhibited remarkable differences in crystallinity, porosity, morphology, and antibacterial activity. Fe-Co-Al@BTC prepared at room temperature exhibited higher crystallinity, larger average particle size, distinct morphology, and enhanced antibacterial activity compared to the hydrothermally synthesized sample. The estimated optical band gap was found to be ~ 2.48 eV and 2.25 eV for MOF synthesized at room temperature and hydrothermal conditions, respectively which was confirmed by PL results. Antibacterial performance, evaluated using optical density measurements and the cut plug method, demonstrated 100% bacterial growth inhibition at 600 mg/L for the room temperature sample, whereas the hydrothermal sample showed 50% inhibition at the same concentration. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations with the LANL2DZ basis set revealed the MOF’s electronic and photocatalytic properties, indicating stability, moderate reactivity, and potential for photocatalytic applications through analysis of the HOMO–LUMO gap and metal-to-ligand charge transfer. Thermodynamic analysis indicated that room temperature synthesis is more favorable despite slower crystallization, while hydrothermal synthesis is faster but energetically more demanding. Both syntheses were exothermic; however, higher temperature reduces spontaneity due to entropic penalties, with Gibbs free energy confirming room-temperature synthesis as the preferred approach.

Simulation study of a 386.4 MW mountain photovoltaic power plant: a case study

Dimeric gold nanoparticles enable multiplexed labeling in cryoelectron tomography

Cryoelectron tomography (cryo-ET) enables three-dimensional visualization of molecular structures within tissue and intact cells, providing a powerful tool for studying the spatial organization of biological components at nanometer resolution. Realizing this potential, particularly for submegadalton complexes, is facilitated by fiducial-based labeling. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have emerged as powerful electron-dense labels for cryo-ET, but multiplexing using only conventional monomeric AuNPs is challenging, limiting their application in multitarget studies. Here, we describe functionalized dimeric AuNPs with a precisely defined size range applied to bioimaging, enabling multiplexed labeling by allowing reliable discrimination between monomeric and dimeric AuNPs, thereby supporting identification of distinct molecular targets within the same cryotomogram. Each dimer consists of two covalently linked gold particles of approximately 2.6 nm diameter separated by a defined spacing of about 1.4 nm, with high structural homogeneity validated by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and electron microscopy. The anti-GluN1 Fab, which targets the N -methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), was site specifically conjugated to a dimeric AuNP. A deep learning classifier enabled reliable discrimination between monomeric and dimeric AuNPs in tomograms. We confirmed that the dimeric AuNP–Fab conjugates bind robustly to recombinant GluN1/GluN2A receptors, validating their use for structural labeling. In situ cryo-ET of brain tissue further confirms that the dimeric labels reach NMDARs within the glutamatergic synaptic cleft. Combined with monomeric AuNPs, this dimeric AuNP platform establishes a generalizable approach for distinguishable labels optimized for cryo-ET. The compact size and structural uniformity of monomeric and dimeric AuNPs make them ideally suited for nanoscale molecular mapping in crowded cellular environments.

Enhancement of wheat bread quality using xylanase cellulase from gamma radiated Trichoderma afroharzianum mutant

Retraction for Kelly et al., Monolayer purification: A rapid method for isolating protein complexes for single-particle electron microscopy

Clickbait detection in news headlines using RoBERTa-Large language model and deep embeddings

Combinatorial asymmetric acoustic metamaterials with real-time programmability

Metamaterials can stretch the envelope of attainable material properties giving rise to negative effective dynamical parameters. Metamaterials usually achieve such superior functionality through hard-coded geometry, symmetry, and periodicity that cannot be altered postfabrication. While a great deal of research is dedicated to tunable metamaterials, the ability to tune metamaterials on-the-fly in a scalable manner remains an open challenge. Here, we introduce a real-time programmable, combinatorial metamaterial framework composed of asymmetric pillars that can manipulate acoustic waves based on the pillars’ angular orientation. First, we demonstrate the utility of our metamaterials with all pillars oriented in the same direction, exhibiting wave attenuation, localization, and topological insulation. Subsequently, we expand the unit-cells into multiple domains and supercells where the number of possible designs enlarges to exceed 10 100 . Our metamaterials offer real-time programmability at both the unit-cell level using individual motors for high versatility, and at a functional domain level using gears for simplicity. We also present a hybrid approach combining motors and gears in clusters providing a balance between versatility and simplicity. We expect our scalable, combinatorial approach with on-demand reprogrammability of acoustic properties to facilitate the development of advanced forms of acoustic devices.

Study on rock fragmentation and vibration response characteristics in hard rock formations using high-pressure gas expansion method

The impact of simulated cataract on face learning

The molecular-level diagenetic clock of sinking marine organic matter

The marine biological carbon pump is driven by sinking particulate organic matter (POM). Sinking speed and remineralization rate determine flux attenuation in the mesopelagic. Since the fate of all marine organic matter is either complete remineralization or transformation to more stable products, diagenetic modifications impact carbon dioxide sequestration time from the atmosphere. To investigate particle transformation at the molecular level, we characterize the water-extractable organic matter (WEOM) fraction of sinking particles from dominant biogeochemical environments using ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry. We find distinct, inverse associations in molecular-level nitrogen content and degree of transformation (i.e., “stability”) of organic matter across a productivity gradient from coastal upwelling to oligotrophic conditions. Nitrogen enrichment and low stability were observed at the coastal upwelling site and persisted to depths >400 m. Further, carbon flux is strongly correlated with the relative abundance of stable WEOM (“Island of Stability” molecular formulae) across productivity regimes and depth. This suggests emergent patterns in epi- and mesopelagic diagenesis, highlighting that the molecular composition of sinking organic matter exiting the euphotic zone varies more across regions than as a function of depth. This is attributed to highly variable sinking rates and the microbial diagenetic histories within the euphotic zone. The stability–flux relationship is considered a “diagenetic clock” relative to organic matter formation where the relative abundance of Island of Stability molecular formulae describes the degree of departure from the organic matter molecular-level composition at formation. This ubiquitous trajectory of the diagenetic clock further underpins a global ocean molecular signature of sinking POM.