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Exploring potential phytocompounds from black cumin as drug molecules against SARS-CoV-2 infections through bioinformatics analysis

SARS-CoV-2 was identified at the end of 2019 as the key cause of COVID-19, a global pandemic. As remedies, different vaccines as well as synthetic drugs have been recommended. However, the availability of natural drugs against SARS-CoV-2 infection is limited, although natural drugs are considered as less toxic than synthetic drugs, and vaccine efficacy is gradually weakened due to unstable RNA sequence patterns of SARS-CoV-2. Black-cumin is a well-known medicinal plant, but it was not rigorously investigated against SARS-CoV-2 infections. This study attempted to investigate this issue, rigorously. In order to explore effective bioactive phytocompounds from black-cumin (BC) through bioinformatics analysis, we selected top-ranked 11 drug target proteins/receptors of which five receptors were SARS-CoV-2 proteins/proteases (S, N, RdRp, 3CLpro, PLpro) and the other six receptors were host proteins (ACE2, MAPK8, TMPRSS2, IL6, TNF, and NFKBIA) associated with the infection by the systematic literature review. We computed binding affinity scores (BAS) for each phytochemical of BC with each of those 11 receptors. Top-ranked five phytocompounds (Silibinin, Taraxerol, Beta amyrin, Cycloartenol, and Alpha-sitosterol) were selected based on their highest average BAS across our proposed receptor, these phytocompounds also showed better binding capabilities against the other independent receptors. Then we selected top-ranked three complexes (ACE2 vs. silibinin, Spike vs. beta amyrin, and MAPK8 vs. Taraxerol) to investigate their binding stability using dynamic simulation (i.e., RMSD, RMSF, DCCM, PCA, and FEL) and MM-GBSA studies and found their stable performance. The ADMET, Bioactivity, and DFT analysis results supported the drug-likeness properties of the proposed phytocompounds. Therefore, the findings of this article might be useful resources for taking an alternative treatment plan against SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Soil stoichiometric characteristics of protected cultivation systems in Northwest China

Comparing PBMC isolation approaches and assessing epigenetic immune cell quantification as quality control for PBMCs

Ex vivo stability of whole blood is limited. To conserve the mononuclear cell fraction, PBMCs are isolated, stored and serve as substrate for downstream analyses. The quality of PBMCs depends on the purification procedure. Thereby, anti-coagulants, collection tubes, storage temperature and time before isolation, as well as the separation matrix and protocols during purification may impact quality of the resulting PBMC product. However, only a limited number of key quality indicators (KPIs) are currently used to characterize PBMC isolates focusing on viability and overall cell count. Here, the effect of the relevant purification parameters on those KPIs was assessed, and epigenetic immune cell analysis was introduced to provide an additional performance indicator. This method was also compared to flow cytometric analysis, currently the gold standard tool for immune cell quantification. Sample quality differed significantly depending on tube type/anticoagulant, pre-purification temperature and times. The choice of the purification procedure, including the separation matrix, had a minor effect and freshly processed blood yielded good processing results independent of the protocol. Unsurprisingly, the loss of sample integrity that occurred prior to purification cannot be rescued by downstream isolation protocols. The longer the time from blood draw to PBMC purification, the more granulocyte contamination was observed impairing PBMC purity. With given tubes and temperatures, PBMC quality is chiefly dependent on time-to-process, arguably the parameter most difficult to control in sample logistics and clinical trials. The often-used key performance indicators focusing only on cell viability and recovery are of limited value, as they may be falsified by potential granulocyte contamination. Thus, as additional quality parameter, we propose ”true recovery”, i.e., recovery of lymphocytes and monocytes only. These subfractions can be measured easily by qPCR-based epigenetic immune cell counting. Such an approach may provide better comparability across sample analyses in clinical trials.

Development of head-to-head and longitudinal CycleGAN algorithm for MRI harmonization: validation in follow-up MRI evaluation in patients with brain metastasis

Abstract Various harmonization methods have been employed for obtaining MRI from different scanners. However, no study has yet focused on the clinical utility of the CycleGAN technique in reducing MRI interscanner variability for patients with brain metastasis across longitudinal visits. We developed a head-to-head and longitudinal CycleGAN-based deep learning (DL) algorithm for MRI harmonization and validated its utility for follow-up (FU) MRI evaluation in patients with unchanged brain metastasis, who had FU MRI taken using a different MRI scanner. We trained the head-to-head and longitudinal CycleGAN to generate harmonized second postcontrast 3D T1W MR images with similar image impressions as the initial postcontrast 3D T1W MR images. The image similarity scores between the baseline (BL) and harmonized FU images were higher than those between the baseline and original FU images. As compared with baseline, differences in the CNRs of brain subregions were lower for the harmonized FU images than for the original FU images. More cases were read to be unchanged on the harmonized FU images than on the original FU images in terms of border, size, and contrast enhancement at a higher level of diagnostic confidence. The proposed CycleGAN algorithm may potentially decrease false positivity for the diagnosis of progression in FU MRI evaluation of brain metastasis.

Orthorexia nervosa and social media: A mixed-methods scoping review using a systematic methodology

Introduction Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) is defined as a preoccupation with abiding by a self-perceived healthy diet resulting in pathological thought, behavior and emotion. Social media platforms may add to this preoccupation with healthy eating by offering accessible exposure to food and dieting information. Yet, the precise nature of the association between ON and exposure to social media remains underexplored. The aim is to explore the existing literature on the relationship between social media and ON in a scoping search and to synthesize the findings. Methods We searched PubMed, Web of Science, PsycInfo (Ovid), ProQuest, and Embase (Elsevier). As for the grey literature, we searched ProQuest Dissertations and Open Access Theses and Dissertations. The first literature search was conducted on August 7, 2023 then a literature update on September 18, 2024. Results After the identification of studies and data extraction, authors assessed the methodological quality of included studies. The characteristics and findings from the studies were narratively synthesized, with a focus on the platform, duration, and content of social media use. A total of 31 studies were identified between 2017 and 2024, which were predominantly cross-sectional and focused on Westernized populations. The results have shown a bidirectional relationship between ON and social media, influenced by the characteristics of the platform (e.g., image-based), duration of use (e.g., longer use), content themes (e.g., diet and fitness-related), and individual-level factors (e.g., limited health literacy, young adulthood and adolescence, and body dissatisfaction). Conclusion The main research gaps found were the absence of experimental studies, lack of studies in non-Westernized populations, restrictive samples, and lack of investigations about developmental pathways. Longitudinal, experimental and qualitative studies in future research are warranted to advance knowledge. Systematic review registration: Open Science Framework (OSF) Registries (DOI https://osf.io/vrqwt ).

Wnt/β -catenin signalling shapes macrophage behaviour during injury and repair in the mouse submandibular gland

Abstract Xerostomia, the subjective sensation of dry mouth, is a debilitating consequence of head and neck radiotherapy and autoimmune disorders such as Sjögren’s syndrome. It severely impairs oral health and quality of life by promoting mucosal ulceration, infection, malnutrition, and speech difficulties, yet effective regenerative treatments remain limited. Macrophages have recently emerged as critical regulators of salivary gland repair through their roles in coordinating inflammation, fibrosis, and epithelial regeneration; however, the molecular mechanisms governing macrophage activation and function in the injured salivary gland remain poorly defined. The Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway is a key regulator of inflammation and tissue homeostasis across multiple organs, but its role in salivary gland macrophages has not been well characterised. Here, we investigated canonical Wnt/β-catenin signalling following murine submandibular gland injury induced by main excretory duct ligation, with deligation used in selected experiments to model repair. Using Axin2 CreERT2/+ ; R26 mTmG/+ reporter mice, we observed an increase in Axin2⁺ cells and substantial recruitment of F4/80⁺ macrophages exhibiting active Wnt/β-catenin signalling within the injured, ligated gland. qPCR-based gene expression analysis revealed increased expression of Axin2 , F4/80 , and several Wnt genes, including Wnt2 and Wnt2b , at days 3 and 6 post-injury, and identified Wnt2 and Wnt2b as macrophage-secreted ligands. Notably, despite the injury-associated increase in Wnt/β-catenin signalling, Axin2⁺ cells did not give rise to acinar cells following deligation. Finally, conditional depletion of Wntless ( Wls ) using pCAG CreERT2/+ ; Wls fl/ fl. and  Axin2 CreERT2/+ ; Wls fl/fl mice increased the number of CD206⁺ macrophages and reduced fibrosis, indicating a potential association between Wnt signalling, macrophage polarisation, and fibrotic repair. Together, these findings identify Wnt/β-catenin signalling as a regulator of macrophage phenotype and tissue repair in the injured salivary gland, suggesting that targeted modulation of Wnt activity may promote regeneration and enhance functional recovery.

Assessment of the adherence and willingness to participate in colorectal cancer screening programs among people living in prison

This study aimed to assess the adherence and willingness to participate in colorectal cancer screening programs in people living in prison (PLP). This survey was conducted from October 2023 and July 2024. Of the 995 participating, 314 were eligible for colorectal cancer screening. Overall, 25.2% PLP had undergone a fecal occult blood test in a screening program. Those who reported consumption of at least 5 daily portions of fruit and vegetables, that were minimally active and had at least one chronic disease were significantly more likely to have undergone fecal occult blood test, whereas those who had a length of detention of 2–10 years, those who reported correct protein consumption, and those who do not drink alcohol were significantly less likely to have undergone a fecal occult blood test for colorectal cancer screening purposes. The majority (86%) expressed their willingness to undergo fecal occult blood test for screening in prison. Willingness was significantly higher in those involved in working activities in prison (OR = 4.18; 95% CI = 1.18–14.84; p  = 0.027), and who had expressed willingness to receive vaccinations in prison if offered (OR = 4.4; 95% CI = 1.47–13.22; p  = 0.008). Those at their first experience of detention and that had expressed their willingness to participate in interventions to promote healthy lifestyle were significantly less willing to undergo fecal occult blood test for screening purposes if offered in prison. This study highlights the need to promote health literacy on the role of cancer prevention in eligible PLP and the need for the elimination of organizational barriers.

Executive functioning in schizophrenia using a novel virtual reality-simulated workplace: validity, test-retest reliability, and links to competitive employment

RETRACTED: NFIC suppressed the development of Glioma via modulating the balance of SHP2/PI3K and NF-κB/PTEN Signaling

Objective The objective of this study is to elucidate the mechanism by which NFIC exerts its regulatory influence over NF-κB/PTEN, with a view to gaining insight into the processes underlying the proliferation and invasion of glioma cells. Methods The interactions between genes in gliomas were predicted and verified through bioinformatics analysis. The effect of NFIC on glioma development was detected via subcutaneous transplantation in nude mice. Protein expression levels of NFIC, OGN, NF-κB, SHP2, p-SHP2, PI3K, AKT, Cyclin A1, Cyclin D1, MMP-3, and MMP-9 were detected by western blot. The examination of tumour cell proliferation and invasion was conducted using the following assays: CCK-8, colony formation, scratch assay, Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) experiment, Immunohistochemistry (IHC) experiment and Transwell. Results NFIC binds to the promoter regions of OGN and PTEN and regulates their transcription, leading to increased expression of these two genes,while simultaneously limiting the expression of NF-κB, SHP2, p-SHP2, PI3K, AKT, Cyclin A1, Cyclin D1, MMP-3, and MMP-9. NF-κB promotes SHP2 expression, whereas OGN and PTEN inhibit p-SHP2 expression. NFIC inhibits the proliferation and invasion of glioma cells, while NF-κB promotes these processes. Conclusion The overexpression of NFIC has the capacity to inhibit the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway, a process facilitated by the promotion of the expression of OGN and PTEN. This, consequently, results in the inhibition of glioma proliferation and development.

Impact of preserved ratio impaired spirometry on postoperative outcomes of non-small cell lung cancer surgery

The mediating role of positive orientation in the relationship between personality traits and attitudes towards artificial intelligence

This study examines the mediating role of the positive orientation relationship between personality traits (extraversion, neuroticism, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness) and attitudes towards artificial intelligence. The study was conducted in Poland with a sample of N  = 922 adults. The research employed the Artificial Intelligence Attitude Scale (AIAS-4) , the Ten Item Personality Inventory (TIPI) and the Positivity Scale. The mediating effect of positive orientation on the relationship between personality traits and attitudes towards artificial intelligence was partially confirmed. The findings indicate that Big Five personality traits (with the exception of openness to experience) may lead to more positive attitudes towards AI and that this relationship is mediated by positive orientation. This research elucidates the mediating role of positive orientation, thereby contributing to a deeper understanding of the psychological processes driving individuals’ attitudes towards AI. The insights gained can inform policymakers, technologists, and practitioners aiming to promote the widespread acceptance and adoption of AI technologies in society.

Decoding Interfacial Evolution of Aluminum Anode and Constructing Multifunctional Layers toward Ultra-Long Cycle Stability

Neuroinflammatory crosstalk between microglia and astrocytes increases viral replication in an iPSC-derived model of CNS HIV infection

Illness anxiety disorder and somatic symptom disorder: Similarities and differences in health-anxious individuals

Little is known about the features and characteristics of illness anxiety disorder (IAD) and somatic symptom disorder (SSD), and whether the minimal somatic symptom requirement in IAD is valid and useful. This study compares IAD and SSD, and IAD (involving no or mild somatic symptoms) to a modified IAD diagnosis (modified to include moderate-to-severe somatic symptoms) in health anxious individuals. We recruited health anxious individuals drawn from the community and assessed IAD and SSD. We compared the disorders on demographic and clinical characteristics, health care utilization, and assessed the prevalence of IAD subtypes. The validity of the IAD somatic symptom criterion was examined by comparing current IAD with modified IAD. Among 118 participants, 28 met criteria for IAD, 47 for SSD, and 38 for modified IAD. Most with IAD fluctuated between seeking and avoiding medical care (71.4%), while 25% were care-seeking and 3.6% were care-avoidant. Demographic information, illness course, mental health comorbidities, and symptom severity did not differ significantly between IAD and SSD. However, individuals with SSD reported significantly more somatic symptoms, chronic health conditions, reduced quality of life, and more health care visits compared to individuals with IAD. Similar findings were observed between IAD-current and IAD-modified. The minimal differences between IAD and SSD, and between IAD-current and IAD-modified call into question the utility of distinguishing health anxiety presentations based on somatic symptom presence and severity. Further research should compare these disorders on illness course and treatment outcomes.

Multi-scale experimental and computational assessment of heat transfer behavior in compact short fin structures

Abstract The present study presents a comparative analysis of temperature distribution and heat transfer performance of short fins using experimental, simulation and theoretical method. An experimental setup was developed to investigate square, circular, rectangular, trapezoidal, and triangular fins under a constant heat input of 30 W, with specimen lengths of 0–80 mm, temperatures of 77–50 °C, and natural convection conditions (ambient air at 25 °C, velocity 0.2 to 0.5 m/s). Results show that square fins achieved the highest heat transfer rate (5.32 W), efficiency (94.86%), and effectiveness (23.77), while cylindrical fins performed slightly lower. Among materials, mild steel with a rectangular cross-section demonstrated superior thermal performance, with a heat transfer rate of 5.42 W and fin effectiveness of 25.89. Thermal resistances for mild steel, stainless steel, cast iron, and titanium were 10.61, 32.55, 18.21, and 42.83 °C/W, respectively. The study reveals how short-fin geometry and material influence heat transfer, airflow, and turbulence under natural convection. The findings are scalable, providing guidance for designing heat sinks and cooling systems. By integrating experiments and simulations, the research identifies optimal fin configurations and uncovers localized thermal and flow behaviors, offering practical strategies for improved thermal management.

Bifurcations and optimal control in Nipah virus epidemiology

Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic pathogen with a high case fatality rate, posing a significant and ongoing threat to public health in Asia. This study develops a comprehensive mathematical framework to analyze its transmission dynamics and evaluate effective control strategies. We introduce a novel six-compartment model (SEAIHR) that stratifies the population into Susceptible, Exposed, Asymptomatic, Symptomatic Infected, Hospitalized, and Recovered individuals, incorporating key features such as waning immunity. Analytical results determine the basic reproduction number and establish the global stability of both the disease-free and disease equilibria, confirming a forward bifurcation at the epidemic threshold. A sensitivity analysis identifies the recruitment rate and the disease transmission rate as the most influential parameters on outbreak potential. Furthermore, we formulate an optimal control problem to evaluate the impact of three time-dependent intervention measures: public health campaigns to reduce contact, isolation of symptomatic individuals, and improved treatment for hospitalized patients. The optimal strategies derived from Pontryagin’s Maximum Principle demonstrate a significant reduction in the overall infection burden and intervention costs. Numerical simulations validate the model and show that these combined controls can effectively minimize the final epidemic size while increasing the population’s immunity. This work provides a quantitative framework to guide the design of efficient public health policies for managing and mitigating Nipah virus outbreaks.

Analysis of hybrid CNN models optimized with metaheuristic algorithms for melanoma detection

KGRec: A knowledge graph attention-based model for recommender system

Recommender systems have recently gained significant traction as powerful tools for personalized content delivery. While accuracy remains a key focus, users now expect more than precise suggestions. To meet diverse preferences, these systems must also ensure recommendation diversity. They are widely applied in domains such as e-commerce, social media, and online entertainment platforms. Conventional approaches like collaborative filtering mainly emphasize user–item interactions, often overlooking contextual and attribute information, which results in limited performance, especially under sparse data conditions. To address this, we present the KGRec- Knowledge Graph Attention Network Recommendation model, the novel KGRec model integrates knowledge graphs to capture higher-order relationships among users, items, and their associated attributes. KGRec applies multi-layer embedding propagation combined with an attention mechanism to model indirect user–item connections through intermediate attributes, enabling the model to assess the significance of each relation and thus improve recommendation quality. Empirical evaluations on four benchmark datasets— Yelp2018, Last-FM, Amazon-Book and MovieLen-1M—demonstrate the effectiveness of KGRec. The proposed model consistently outperforms all baseline methods across every evaluation metric. These improvements highlight the model’s robustness and its effectiveness in capturing richer semantic representations for recommendation.

A causal multimodal framework for privacy-preserving early-stage cancer detection and adaptive testing

Trends and determinants of prelacteal feeding practice in rural Bangladesh from 2004 to 2019: A multivariate decomposition analysis

Prelacteal feeding (PLF)—giving infants food or liquid other than breastmilk within the first 3 days of life—remains common and hinders optimal breastfeeding in Bangladesh. This study assessed changes in PLF practices in rural Bangladesh from 2004 to 2019 and examined associate household, maternal, and infant factors. We analyzed data from two cluster-randomized trials in rural northwest Bangladesh (n = 16,551; n = 4,401). Trained staff collected sociodemographic and birth data through household visits. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine associations between household, maternal, and infant characteristics and PLF and a non-linear approximation of the Oaxaca-Blinder regression decomposition to understand the factors associated with the changing prevalence of PLF. The prevalence of PLF declined from 89% in 2004 to 24% in 2019. Factors associated with PLF shifted over time, particularly household wealth, infant sex, and birth weight. Institutional delivery (OR=0.27; 95% CI 0.22, 0.32 in 2004; OR=0.78; 95% CI 0.61, 1.00 in 2019) and multigravida status (OR=0.68; 95% CI 0.58, 0.79 in 2004; OR=0.73; 95% CI 0.58, 0.93 in 2019) were consistently associated with reduced odds of PLF across cohorts in the multivariable analysis. The decomposition analysis based on the two trials indicated that changes in prevalence of the covariates explained 15% of the decrease in prevalence of PLF, primarily accounted for by increases in health facility deliveries (86%), increases in infant birth weight (13%), and increasing gravidity (12%). 85% of the change remains unexplained by the measured variables. The prevalence of PLF declined considerably in rural Bangladesh over the 15-year period. There are shifts in factors associated with PLF overtime. Improvements in socio-demographic factors played a modest but meaningful role in reducing PLF. However the majority of the reduction remains unexplained by the measured variables. Further research is needed to identify other potential drivers for changes in the prevalence of PLF.