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Adsorption of doripenem and meropenem antibiotics on activated carbon derived from snake fruit seeds: single-compound and binary mechanism via experiments and modelling

Abstract The increasing presence of pharmaceutical contaminants in aquatic environments raises serious concerns regarding water quality and public health. In this study, activated carbon derived from snake fruit seeds was developed and applied for the adsorption of two β-lactam antibiotics, doripenem (DOR) and meropenem (MER), in both single and binary aqueous systems. The adsorbent was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms. The results confirmed the development of a rough and porous surface morphology, and a mesoporous network with high surface area (1260.61 m 2 /g), which are favorable for adsorption. Based on single experimental data, the maximum adsorption capacities are193 mg/g for DOR and 171 mg/g for MER. These performances were reduced when a second adsorbate (MER or DOR) is present in solution, reflecting a competition on the same adsorbent site. The model for binary solutions contains number of molecules per site (n 1 , n 2 ) explaining the antagonist effect between both adsorbates when interacting for the same activated carbon receptor sites (ACRS). Comparatively, it was demonstrated that our adsorbent is an efficient material for various pharmaceuticals removal. In summary, the activated carbon indicated promising performance to remove various pharmaceuticals including MER and DOR.

Structural dynamics and immunogenicity of the recombinant and outer membrane vesicle-embedded Meningococcal antigen NadA

Knockdown of RNA editing proteins reshapes the HepaRG transcriptome and pharmacogene expression

Highly ordered mesoporous TiO2 nanomeshes with tunable pore periodicity via self-limiting modular monolayer assembly of monomicelles

The association between anthropometric indices with non-alcoholic fatty liver in the Azar cohort population

Scalable and stretchable 1D multifunctional fibers for multimodal sensing and stimulation

Transparent AI for mathematics: transformer-based large language models for mathematical entity relationship extraction with XAI

Multi-modal characterization of nitrate reduction nano-catalysts with periodic strain distribution

Facilitating the spread prediction of public health emergencies based on spatio-temporal neural network

NCX1 reverse mode promotes calcium-dependent Neutrophil Extracellular Trap formation and lung damage in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract Neutrophil-driven inflammation is central to the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Emerging evidence suggests that Ca²⁺ signaling is critical in regulating neutrophil activation, recruitment and tissue residency. In this study, we investigated the function of Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger 1 (NCX1), a Ca²⁺/cation membrane transporter, in neutrophils during COPD pathogenesis. Analysis of human specimens show that NCX1 is primarily upregulated in neutrophils from patients with mixed chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Cigarette smoke exposure induces NCX1 upregulation and promotes its reverse-mode transport activity, leading to elevated intracellular Ca²⁺ levels and enhanced NETs formation. Neutrophil-specific genetic deletion of Slc8a1 or pharmacological inhibition of NCX1 reverse transport effectively suppresses Ca²⁺ influx, NETs release, and neutrophil accumulation and retention, thereby ameliorating chronic bronchitis and emphysematous changes. Collectively, our findings identify NCX1 as a regulator of Ca²⁺-dependent NETs release in neutrophils. Targeting NCX1-mediated Ca²⁺ influx or NETs formation represents a potential therapeutic strategy for neutrophilic inflammation in COPD.

Chemical profiling and enhanced antifungal activity of the origanum hybrid (Origanum majorana × O. syriacum var. bevanii) essential oil against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Pathway selection between click and acyl transfer reactions driven by aminoacyl phosphates

Abstract Covalent transformations in biology follow defined temporal sequences that regulate processes such as acylation and phosphorylation, yet achieving comparable temporal control in synthetic systems remains challenging. Here, we report an abiotic aqueous reaction network in which aminoacyl phosphate esters bearing alkyne groups undergo a programmed sequence of covalent transformations governed by peptide-based nucleophiles. Phenolic nucleophiles promote rapid copper-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), whereas cysteine-containing peptides transiently coordinate copper via their thiol groups, delaying CuAAC and favoring thioester formation. Kinetic analysis reveals that thiol–copper coordination controls early pathway selection, while self-assembly prolongs intermediate lifetimes and enables subsequent transformations. Combining both nucleophiles within a single peptide yields a three-step cascade comprising thioester formation, diester generation, and CuAAC. Variation of the azide structure further tunes product selectivity beyond acyl transfer. Together, these results demonstrate how the interplay of reactivity and supramolecular organization can encode intrinsic temporal order into chemically driven reaction networks.

Investigation into the radioactivity of various natural and anthropogenic radionuclides in marine sediments from the Sudanese coastline of the Red Sea

Integrated small and long RNA sequencing reveals piRNA mediated transposon repression during human oogenesis

Design of a tube lens with a focus tunable lens for optical inspection systems

Abstract Optical inspection systems use large numerical apertures (NAs) to achieve high resolution. However, as the NA increases, the depth of field decreases significantly, causing images to blur easily with slight object shifts. Conventional methods maintain focus by mechanically moving the entire lens or specific lens groups. However, these methods increase the system volume, require high-performance motors, and necessitate precise inertial control when the lens group mass is substantial. In this study, we propose a novel tube lens design that integrates a focus tunable lens (FTL), which electronically adjusts its curvature without requiring mechanical movement. We precisely calculated the required curvature radius of the FTL for various object distances and performed optical simulations to verify the system performance before fabrication. The developed tube lens has a focal length of 300 mm and is combined with objective lenses featuring focal lengths of 30 and 60 mm. This enables magnifications of 10X and 5X, respectively. Simulation results confirmed stable image positions for object shifts of ± 50 μm and ± 0.36 mm at 10X and 5X magnifications, respectively, while maintaining diffraction-limited resolution and near-zero distortion aberration. These findings demonstrate that FTL-based focus control is highly suitable for high-precision inspection and imaging applications.

Water-generated dangling linkers in a metal-organic framework

Abstract Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have attracted widespread attention for their applications in water-related contexts. A comprehensive understanding of the molecular-level interactions between water and MOFs is crucial for guiding molecular design and optimizing water-related applications. Water can act as a passive guest, interacting weakly with open metal sites or polar linkers without altering the framework, or as a reactive species that cleaves the dative bonds between inorganic clusters and organic linkers, leading to irreversible degradation. In this work, we uncover a significant impact of water on the metal-linker linkage in UiO-66, a prototype MOFs which is considered highly stable with water. The adsorption of water molecules in UiO-66 results in the displacement of firmly attached carboxylate groups of the linker, thereby transforming them into dangling carboxylate groups. These dangling groups are stabilized by water molecules and μ 3 -OH through hydrogen bonding. Remarkably, this structural transformation is reversible upon water removal. These findings were elucidated through the integration of multidimensional solid-state NMR, cutting-edge dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) techniques, and computational calculations. By challenging conventional wisdom, our research has introduced a reversible molecular structure evolution scenario, redefining the understanding of water-MOF interactions.

Predominance of multidrug-resistant bacteria with high resistance to empiric antibiotics in diabetic foot ulcers: a cross-sectional study

Optical imaging of the intrinsic adsorption kinetics in single zeolite nanoparticles

Abstract The confinement effect is increasingly recognized as a critical factor influencing guest–framework interactions in molecular sieves, yet its impact on adsorption kinetics remains largely unexplored. Conventional ensemble measurements on milligram-scale particle assemblies yield apparent adsorption kinetics that conflate dynamic molecular interactions with macroscopic mass transport. Here, we present an optical imaging approach that quantitatively monitors interaction-dominated adsorption by reducing the sample size to the single-nanoparticle level (sub-picogram scale). The results enable the determination of intrinsic rate constants and activation energy barriers for elementary adsorption and desorption steps. A confinement-induced reversal of adsorption kinetics, relative to proton affinities, is observed among homologous light olefins on the same ZSM-5 nanoparticle. This finding reveals that confinement—rather than interaction strength—primarily governs adsorption kinetics at the single-nanoparticle level and provides a general platform for probing and rationally designing molecular sieves for diverse applications.

Frequency super-resolution with quantum environment engineering in a weakly coupled three-nuclear-spin system

Lifestyle change accelerates epigenetic ageing in King penguins

Abstract A growing body of evidence supports the role of nutrient sensing and metabolism pathways in regulating ageing rate and healthspan, but the diversity of human lifestyles challenges our ability to identify the mechanisms of this age acceleration. Here, we examine how the transition of wild King penguins to zoo husbandry can closely mimic the shift to a Western lifestyle in humans, and shed light on conserved epigenetic changes in responses to sedentary conditions. We show that, just like modern humans, zoo-housed male King penguins experience an extended lifespan, but this comes at the cost of accelerated epigenetic ageing throughout life. This accelerated ageing is associated with differential methylation in key growth and maintenance pathways, including the mTOR and PI3K/Akt networks. Our results demonstrate the conserved link between lifestyle and age acceleration. Such evolutionary evidence may help us to improve risk detection and, ultimately, therapeutics for lifestyle-induced age acceleration in humans.