Browse Articles

Distribution and efficacy of ingested dsRNA targeting tissue-specific genes in the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile

With the increasing availability of genomic and transcriptomic information within Formicidae, the investigation of gene function has become possible within ants. However, eusocial life history renders the generation of mutagenic strains of ants difficult outside of specific ant lineages that can induce reproductive behavior in workers. RNA interference (RNAi) remains a practical option to investigate gene function within their genomic context in ant lineages that do not exhibit reproductive behavior in workers. This method can be leveraged to investigate the large odorant receptor (OR) gene families present in ant clades. However, ORs tend to be expressed in a tissue-specific fashion, and the capability of dsRNA to achieve knockdown of genes exhibiting localized expression remains uncertain. In this study, we use fluorescently labelled dsRNA to track the spread of dsRNA through the worker body, qPCR to verify that dsRNA can knockdown gene expression in the antennae, and behavioral trials to verify that knockdown of ORs affects nestmate recognition. Our results show ingested dsRNA is able to reach the antennae and knock down odorant coreceptor ( orco ) expression in the antennae. We determined that orally-administered dsRNA is capable of being spread systemically and knocking down tissue-specific genes. These findings show that RNAi may be useful in investigating the influence of ORs in eusocial insect nestmate recognition.

Redox stability, antioxidant capacity, and biological responses in an iron-fortified synbiotic Spondias dulcis L. beverage

A computational alloy design framework for the promotion of amorphous grain boundary complexions

Amorphous grain boundary complexions have been shown to be radiation tolerant interfaces that can also reduce grain boundary embrittlement, marking them as favorable microstructural features. However, the incorporation of these features into new alloy systems is often a slow and arduous process based on trial and error. Here, a computational framework for alloy design is presented, which enables the selection of dopants that promote the formation of amorphous grain boundary complexions. This framework is primarily built on density functional theory calculations and is demonstrated for W-rich binary and ternary alloys, which represent a promising target for fusion energy materials. Our framework first evaluates the grain boundary segregation tendency of dopants and then the energy penalty for amorphization alongside targeted interfacial energy comparison, with the end goal of identifying the best dopants. For a W base, Y and some transition metals such as Co and Ni are found to significantly lower these energetic barriers. Electronic structure analysis, local lattice distortion, and charge density distributions are calculated and used to provide mechanistic explanations for these dopant selections. Finally, the framework is validated by comparing with experimental literature for W alloys and a refractory complex concentrated alloy, showing a strong correlation between our dopant selections and low sintering onset temperatures that have been attributed to activated sintering. As a whole, this work establishes a transferable pipeline for designing alloys with grain boundary complexions across diverse alloy systems.

Correction for Fassl et al., Regulation of the immune CD155–CD226–TIGIT axis by cyclin D-CDK4/6

An exploratory nomogram using nutritional and clinical predictors was temporally evaluated for surgical site infection after proximal humerus fracture surgery

The influence of matrix and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) components on the response of four UHMWPE composites to shock load

The dynamic responses of four varieties of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) composites to mechanical shock perturbation are probed through plate-impact experimentation. The four composites—Dyneema® HB212, Dyneema® HB210, Tensylon®, and Tensylon® HSBD 30A—are chosen to allow a general comparison of the separate influences of matrix and UHMWPE fiber component properties on the dynamic response. Measurements of the Hugoniot reveal a combined influence of the matrix stiffness as well as the character of the UHMWPE fiber components. Hugoniot elastic limit and spall strength are not captured due to the low strength of the material. X-ray computed tomography scans of shock-recovered materials indicate delamination from release after shock load, resulting in a complete loss of spall strength. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements in Dyneema-based composites reveal an influence of the matrix stiffness on the crystallinity of the as-processed fibers likely resulting from differences in the ability of the matrix to confine fibers during consolidation. Greater fiber confinement is purported to result in a reduced degree of crystalline order within the fibers, which contributes to enhanced compressibility upon shock loading.

A dual self-regulatory platform for programmable biosynthesis of L-lysine-derived alkaloids

L-lysine-derived alkaloids represent a structurally diverse and pharmacologically significant class of nitrogen-containing natural products with broad utility as pharmaceutical agents and industrial platform chemicals. However, their microbial biosynthesis has been persistently hindered by precursor imbalance and the rigid regulatory architecture of native metabolic pathways. Here, we report a programmable biosynthetic platform for the de novo production of L-lysine-derived alkaloids directly from glucose in Corynebacterium glutamicum . Through systematic metabolic rewiring, we developed a high-flux cadaverine-producing chassis that achieves robust accumulation of the central nitrogenous precursor required for downstream alkaloid assembly. Leveraging this chassis, we designed a dual metabolite-responsive regulatory circuit that autonomously orchestrates malonate assimilation, malonyl-CoA supply, and alkaloid formation without external inducers. This self-regulating strategy enabled the production of pelletierine at 6.11 ± 0.06 g/L in fed-batch fermentation, representing the highest reported microbial titer to date. Extending this platform through selective short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase catalysis, we further achieved the stereoselective conversion of 1-piperideine and pelletierine into piperidine (8.60 ± 0.16 g/L) and sedridine (3.71 ± 0.19 g/L), respectively—constituting a heterologous microbial production of either compound. Collectively, this work establishes a versatile, programmable, and industrially tractable platform for L-lysine-derived alkaloid biosynthesis, providing a compelling foundation for the sustainable microbial production of diverse alkaloid intermediates and drug leads.

Associations between estimated pulse wave velocity trajectories and all-cause mortality in participants with cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome stages 0–3

Miniaturized broadband computational spectrometer based on graphene microelectromechanical system

Miniaturized spectrometers open new avenues for on-chip and portable optical sensing, with broad applications in fundamental research, biomedical analysis, and consumer electronics. Herein, we propose a miniaturized computational spectrometer framework based on a graphene microelectromechanical system (MEMS) Fabry–Pérot (FP) metal-cavity filter. By dynamically tuning the resonant peak wavelength of the FP cavity via the applied driving voltage, the spectral response of the graphene photodetector is calibrated for spectral encoding. Combined with an adaptive regularization algorithm, the proposed framework enables accurate spectral reconstruction. The computational reconstruction-based architecture broadens the operating bandwidth and enhances spectral resolution via its diverse multi-order spectral coding. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the miniaturized spectrometer features a micrometer-scale footprint, achieves a spectral resolution of 3.0 nm, and provides an operating bandwidth of 1.5 μm. Benefiting from the ultrahigh resonant frequency of the graphene-MEMS structure, the photocurrent sampling period of the photodetector is only 100 μs, endowing the spectrometer with submillisecond temporal resolution. This compact, high-performance scheme offers a feasible route toward integrable miniaturized spectrometers for next-generation industrial applications.

Continuity and change in US legal tradition: Evidence from judicial citation communities

Legal doctrine is often described as evolving case by case while preserving coherent legal traditions. We introduce a method for identifying and tracing such traditions by applying the Louvain community-detection algorithm to the complete U.S. federal judicial citation graph (1790–2024; 760,000 opinions linked by 8.3 million citations). The resulting citation communities are unsupervised, blind to court labels and topical taxonomies, yet they form meaningful empirical groupings: In validation exercises, they recover known institutional structure and capture coherent substantive and procedural approaches to law. Using these communities as empirical units, we study how legal traditions evolve and respond to legislative change. We show that the introduction of pivotal federal statutes shifts citation patterns toward newer precedent, indicating that legislation can disrupt established traditions and redirect the development of case law.

Development of sustainable green geopolymer concrete incorporating sugarcane bagasse ash

Abstract Sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) is increasingly being considered as an alternative aluminosilicate source for geopolymer binders. however, limited studies have comprehensively evaluated the combined effects of high SCBA replacement levels, alkaline activator molarity, thermal performance, microstructural characteristics, and economic feasibility. Therefore, this study investigates the use of SCBA as a partial and near-complete replacement of the total binder in geopolymer concrete. Fifteen mixtures were prepared with SCBA replacement levels of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 95% at NaOH molarities of 12, 14, and 16 M. Fresh, mechanical, durability, thermal, and microstructural properties, along with cost analysis, were comprehensively evaluated. The mixture containing 25% SCBA and activated with 14 M NaOH showed the best overall performance, with a compressive strength of 30.13 MPa, a splitting tensile strength of 3.02 MPa, and a sorptivity of 2.449 × 10⁻³ g/cm·s⁰·⁵ at 28 days. After exposure to 200 °C, its compressive strength increased by 39.30%, before declining at higher temperatures. Mixtures with higher SCBA contents showed slower strength loss, suggesting improved thermal stability. SEM–EDX observations were consistent with these results, as the optimum mixture showed a dense geopolymeric matrix, while higher SCBA contents and elevated temperatures led to increased porosity and microcracking. The cost analysis also showed that production cost decreased considerably as the SCBA content increased. Overall, the results indicate that moderate SCBA replacement can provide a practical balance between mechanical performance, durability, thermal resistance, and cost, supporting the use of SCBA as a sustainable binder component in geopolymer concrete.

Nonlinear loss of runway friction under water contamination with altitude from SPH-FEM simulations and field tests

The mechanism underlying the deterioration of the aircraft tire–runway friction coefficient under conditions of water accumulation and runway contamination at high-altitude airports remains unclear. Existing research has primarily focused on low-altitude, normal-pressure environments, making it difficult to explain how changes in the tire–water film–runway contact state under low-pressure conditions affect friction performance. Based on field tests and smoothed particle hydrodynamics-finite element method fluid–structure interaction numerical simulations, this paper establishes a friction coefficient analysis model for water-contaminated runways in high-altitude, low-pressure environments, extending the simulation altitude range of 0–5000 m. The model's predicted friction coefficients showed 96.42% agreement with field test results, validating the model's reliability for evaluating macroscopic friction performance. The results show that as altitude increases, the corrected tire pressure rises from 1.2500 to 1.2973 MPa, while the runway friction coefficient decreases from 0.382 to 0.238, representing a total decrease of approximately 37.7%. The friction coefficient’s deterioration exhibits a distinct inflection point near 2438 m: below this altitude, it decays slowly in a nearly linear manner; above it, the deterioration transitions to a nonlinear, accelerated decline. This transition primarily stems from the coupled changes in tire contact deformation, effective contact area, and dynamic water separation effects at the interface under low-pressure conditions. Based on the above results, this paper establishes an empirical model of the friction coefficient for water-contaminated runways, with elevation as the core variable, providing a quantitative basis for evaluating runway friction performance and making operational safety decisions at high-altitude airports.

When children shape their families: Evocative effects analysis of 40,000 trios from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study

Family demographic behavior is often studied as a response to structural conditions or parental characteristics, yet children may themselves shape key family trajectories through evocative gene–environment correlations. This study is based on the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). By analyzing ~ 40,000 genotyped mother–father–child trios, we test whether children’s polygenic indices (PGIs) predict parents’ subsequent fertility, partnership dissolution, and transition to marriage. Accounting for parental PGIs, we found limited evidence for evocative effects across most traits. The exception was that higher child ADHD PGI predicted increased parental partnership dissolution (7% [CI = 2.9 to 11.8%] per SD), especially in families with daughters (11% [CI = 4.9 to 18%] per SD), higher socioeconomic status (15% [CI = 7.7 to 23.2%] per SD), and older maternal age at first birth (10% [CI = 3 to 17%] per SD). The main source of variation is the socioeconomic dimension where child-driven effects are stronger in higher-SES families. The study provides evidence for evocative gene–environment correlations in family demography, demonstrating the importance of child-to-parent effects in shaping family trajectories.

A pilot study on the assessment of fetal lung and liver elasticity by two-dimensional shear wave elastography in congenital heart disease

First-principles study of incorporation and migration of Sn in GaN

We present a first-principles (density functional theory) study of the thermodynamic stability and migration of Sn-related defects in GaN. Formation energies of SnGa, VGa, and the SnGa–VGa complex were calculated under Ga-rich conditions using both generalized gradient approximation and Heyd–Scuseria–Ernzerhof exchange–correlation functionals. Vacancy-mediated migration was analyzed using the climbing-image nudged elastic band method. While diffusion along the c axis proceeds via a simple pathway with a single energy barrier, migration along the a direction follows a more complex pathway involving a local energy minimum corresponding to a metastable VGa–Sni–VGa configuration. Notably, the calculated barriers are lower than those previously reported for other group-IV donors in GaN, indicating higher diffusivity of Sn. Temperature dependence of the effective barrier was determined based on phonon calculations. Along the c direction, the energy barrier decreases with increasing temperature, whereas along the a direction, it increases. Furthermore, the effective energy of the Sn–divacancy complex decreases with temperature, allowing it to act as a weak trapping site. These findings provide microscopic insight into the anisotropic diffusion mechanism of Sn in GaN.

A phosphorylation cascade involving ZmSnRK2.10–ZmRIPK2–ZmWRKY38 attenuates drought response by derepressing <i>ZmSUS2</i> in maize

Drought stress severely limits crop productivity, with transcription factors (TFs) playing pivotal roles in plant adaptation. Here, we identify the maize TF ZmWRKY38 as a positive regulator of drought tolerance. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of ZmWRKY38 increased plant sensitivity to drought compared with the wild type. We demonstrate that ZmWRKY38 binds to the promoter of the sucrose synthase gene ZmSUS2 and represses its transcription. Conversely, ZmSUS2 functions as a negative regulator of drought tolerance, as zmsus2 mutants displayed enhanced drought resistance. Moreover, we identified ZmRIPK2 (RPM1-induced protein kinase 2), a plasma membrane-localized receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase that also negatively regulates drought responses. Under abscisic acid (ABA) or drought stress, ZmSnRK2.10 phosphorylates and activates ZmRIPK2, triggering its partial translocation into the nucleus. Within the nucleus, ZmRIPK2 interacts with and phosphorylates ZmWRKY38, impairing its DNA-binding capacity and thereby alleviating transcriptional repression of ZmSUS2 . Together, our results reveal a negative feedback loop in which ZmRIPK2-mediated phosphorylation of ZmWRKY38 fine-tunes the drought stress response through modulation of ZmSUS2 expression. This mechanism illustrates how ABA signaling attenuates drought responses to balance stress adaptation with normal growth.

Erythroblast-derived lipid mediators program neutrophil development and function

Granulopoiesis is a tightly regulated process encompassing the production, maturation, and release of neutrophils in the bone marrow, ensuring their optimal physiological contribution to host defence. The mechanisms that maintain a balanced regulation of neutrophil effector functions during this process remain incompletely understood. Here, we identify bone marrow-resident erythroblasts as a key source of specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) and show that they imprint neutrophil development and function. Terminally differentiating erythroblasts highly express the key SPM biosynthetic enzyme 12/15-lipoxygenase (Alox15) and accordingly generate several SPMs, including n-3 docosapentaenoic acid-derived Resolvin D5 (RvD5n-3 DPA). Conditional erythroblast-specific depletion of Alox15 decreased bone marrow SPM levels and caused altered neutrophil phenotypes, including augmented release of reactive oxygen species and neutrophil extracellular traps, as well as increased migration to chemotactic stimuli. This was accompanied by increased neutrophil sequestration in peripheral organs and concomitant neutropenia. Mice with erythroblast-specific Alox15 depletion displayed impaired bacterial clearance in experimental peritonitis and increased severity in DSS-colitis. Aberrant neutrophil phenotypes were rectified by the reconstitution of RvD5n-3 DPA and were largely recapitulated by the specific depletion of the SPM receptor Gpr101 in bone marrow macrophages, but not in neutrophil precursors, suggesting involvement of the macrophage niche in mediating the SPM effects on granulopoiesis. Our findings establish a central role for erythroblasts and their SPM production in instructing granulopoiesis for balanced functional neutrophil responses.

A novel method for predicting gallstones based on ensemble feature selection method

Abstract Gallstone disease is a major health problem worldwide, affecting millions of people. Although conventional diagnostic methods such as magnetic resonance imaging and endoscopic ultrasound are still in use, they are expensive as well as require significant expertise, and can produce variable results. In this study, we introduce an artifial intelligence based approach to predict gallstone disease using bioimpedance measurements and laboratory biomarkers as an alternative to imaging techniques. The dataset comprises 38 parameters, including demographic information, biochemical indicators such as glucose, lipid profiles, triglycerides, and bioimpedance data. We introduce a novel ensemble feature selection framework that combines four statistical methods of minimum redundancy maximum relevance, chi-square test, analysis of variance, and Kruskal–Wallis with four metaheuristic algorithms of grey wolf optimization, whale optimization algorithm, Harris hawk optimization, and particle swarm optimization for the purpose of enhancing predictive performance. The study findings denote that the features retained commonly by seven of the eight methods are deemed the most discriminative. Next, we evaluate the selected features using several classifiers, including logistic regression, Naive Bayes, support vector machine, decision tree, k-nearest neighbor, gradient boosting, Adaboost, random forest, and multilayer perceptron. Experimental results show that eliminating redundant features significantly improves model accuracy, where the random forest classifier achieved the highest accuracy rate of 90.62% using only 11 features instead of 38. The proposed ensemble method reduces computational complexity, enhances classification accuracy, and provides systematic evidence of how feature selection impacts different classifiers. Its superiority is also demonstrated through comparisons with state-of-the-art approaches for gallstone prediction.

Optical transparency of LiF (100) shock compressed to ∼360 GPa

High-purity [100] lithium fluoride (LiF) is the most widely used optical window in dynamic compression experiments due to its wide bandgap and well-characterized mechanical response. Recent plate-impact experiments established the [100] LiF Hugoniot to ∼230 GPa and demonstrated shock-induced melting onset at 182 GPa with complete melting by 195 GPa; theoretical models predict LiF optical transparency to nearly 900 GPa. To experimentally examine the optical transparency of [100] LiF at higher pressures and in the liquid state, laser-driven shock experiments were performed at peak stresses ranging from 223 to 363 GPa. Optical response was examined by measuring the particle velocity histories at the Kapton/LiF interface using laser interferometry at 532 and 1550 nm wavelengths; in-material particle velocities were obtained using established refractive-index corrections. Continuous photonic Doppler velocimetry fringes were observed across the entire stress range, demonstrating that LiF remains transparent to 1550 nm light throughout the multi-megabar regime investigated. At 532 nm, fringe visibility depended on the reflector coating: aluminum mirrors provided signals to ∼235 GPa, while gold mirrors extended this limit to 270.5 GPa, indicating that the shorter-wavelength response is likely sensitive to experimental configuration rather than to the loss of LiF transparency. Continued optical transparency to at least 360 GPa indicates that shock-melted LiF does not display bandgap closure over the stress range explored. These results provide direct experimental constraints on the high-pressure optical response and establish LiF (100) as a robust optical window material for laser-driven dynamic compression experiments approaching 400 GPa.

Magnetotaxis in an anaerobic ciliate via tripartite syntrophy

Magnetotaxis has evolved independently numerous times in bacteria, whereby genetically controlled biomineralization of nano-crystalline magnets results in swimming along Earth’s magnetic field lines. Compared to magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), evolutionary mechanisms of magnetotaxis as a trait in eukaryotes remain poorly understood. Here, we report a magnetotactic ciliate, Tropidoatractus magnetotacticus sp. nov., that acquires magnetotaxis via syntrophy. T. magnetotacticus exhibits magnetotaxis due to the magnetic moment of internal ferrimagnetic magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ) nanoparticles forming ellipsoidal “necklace-shaped” parallel chains. Electron microscopy revealed T. magnetotacticus hosts numerous internal rod-shaped bacteria containing these magnetosome chains. Consistent with this, a genomic population of MTB (Thermodesulfobacteriota) in magnetically sorted T. magnetotacticus cells was found that encoded and expressed a magnetosome gene cluster responsible for magnetosome Fe 3 O 4 biomineralization closely related to that of the ectosymbiont “ Candidatus Desulfarcum epimagneticum.” T. magnetotacticus also housed a second genomic population affiliated with the endosymbiotic methanogen Methanoregula . Metatranscriptomes of sorted T. magnetotacticus cells show eukaryotic hydrogenosomal Fe-hydrogenase gene expression, and expression of genes encoding proteins in an electron transport chain indicative of H 2 -producing mitochondria-related organelles. Active gene expression of energy metabolism pathways indicates a tripartite syntrophic network whereby anaerobic fermentation products from T. magnetotacticus are consumed by two syntrophic partners: MTB producing the magnetosome chains and hydrogenotrophic methanogens. Our findings show how magnetotaxis can emerge as a trait in eukaryotes via syntrophic cooperation.