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Energy costs of Hannibal’s alpine crossing
Hannibal crossed the Alps with a large army containing 37 war elephants in 218 BC. Details of his route have scholars regularly debate historical reports in the light of logistical and topographical considerations. Among the possible alpine passes, the route crossing at the Col du Clapier was considered the most likely candidate. Recent philological and geomorphological analyses suggest instead a route via the Col de la Traversette. Here, we examined these options focusing on the energy costs of the crossing with an emphasis on the war elephants. Our analysis favors the route of the Traversette while also providing possible insights into Hannibal’s thinking concerning both the logistics and psychology of elephant warfare.
TEKAN: a temporally enhanced Kolmogorov-Arnold network for high-fidelity intrusion detection in industrial control systems
Invariant nonequilibrium dynamics in gene regulation optimize information flow
Eukaryotic gene regulation relies on stochastic yet controlled promoter switching, in which genes transition between transcriptionally active and inactive states. Despite the molecular complexity of this process, recent studies have revealed a surprising invariance of the “switching correlation time” ( T C )—the characteristic decay time of the autocorrelation function of promoter activity fluctuations—across gene expression levels in multiple genes and organisms. A biophysically plausible explanation for this invariance has so far been lacking. Here, we show that this empirical constraint imposes stringent requirements on minimal yet realistic models of transcriptional regulation. Specifically, reproducing T C –invariance requires regulatory architectures with at least four internal states and nonequilibrium dynamics that break detailed balance. Using Bayesian inference on Drosophila gap gene expression data, we demonstrate that such models i) quantitatively reproduce the observed T C –invariance, ii) remain robust to parameter perturbations, and iii) maximize information transmission from transcription factor concentration to gene expression. Remarkably, the T C -invariant modulation strategy we identify as optimal closely parallels contemporary control-theoretic results on the modulation of stochastic switching systems. Taken together, our results suggest that eukaryotic transcriptional regulation operates in a nonequilibrium regime to balance precision, reaction-rate limitations, and energy dissipation, thereby achieving near-optimal information transmission under fundamental physical constraints.
Undiagnosed possible sarcopenia, poor oral health and cognitive impairment among community-dwelling pre-frail older adults
Retraction for Shaked and Frenkel, Curiouser and curiouser: Meningeal lymphoid structures in the aging brain
An information entropy enhanced CNN-LSTM analysis framework for electromagnetic leakage detection of display device
Evidence from formal logical reasoning reveals that the language of thought is not natural language
Humans are endowed with a powerful capacity for inductive and deductive logical thought: we easily form generalizations based on a few examples and draw conclusions from known premises. Humans also arguably have the most sophisticated communication system in the animal kingdom: natural language allows us to express complex and structured meanings. Some have therefore argued for a tight relationship between complex thought and language, postulating that reasoning, including logical reasoning, relies on linguistic representations. We systematically investigated the relationship between logical reasoning and language using two complementary approaches. First, we used noninvasive brain imaging (fMRI) to examine neural activity as healthy adults engaged in logical reasoning tasks. And second, we behaviorally evaluated logical abilities in individuals with extensive lesions to the language brain areas and consequent severe linguistic impairment. Our findings reveal that the language brain network is not engaged during logical reasoning, and patients with severe aphasia exhibit intact performance on logic tasks. Instead, inductive reasoning recruits the domain-general multiple demand network implicated broadly in goal-directed behaviors, whereas deductive reasoning draws on brain regions that are distinct from both the language and the multiple demand networks. Together, these results indicate that linguistic representations are neither utilized nor required for inductive or deductive logical reasoning.
Predation vulnerability of small invertebrates varies among and within major prey groups in eelgrass beds
The association of combined metabolic score for insulin resistance and frailty index with incident cardiometabolic multimorbidity
Correction for Brodeur et al., AI-assisted teams outperform AI-led teams but not human-only teams in assessing research reproducibility in quantitative social science
Antemortem diagnosis of rabbit haemorrhagic disease: a minimally invasive model for fulminant viral hepatitis
Abstract Reliable antemortem diagnosis of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) infection remains challenging, as confirmatory diagnosis still frequently relies on postmortem tissues. This observational proof-of-concept study evaluated a minimally invasive diagnostic workflow for in vivo hepatic sampling in rabbits clinically suspected of rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD). The approach integrates ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), needle rinse cell block (NRCB) processing into paraffin-embedded cell tube blocks (CTBs), and immunohistochemical (IHC) detection of viral antigens. The procedure was performed under short inhalational anaesthesia with clinical monitoring. CTB sections displayed excellent cytological preservation and hepatic architecture, comparable to conventional postmortem liver sections. IHC revealed distinct and widespread cytoplasmic immunolabelling for RHDV antigens within CTBs, closely mirroring postmortem findings in all infected animals. No procedure-related complications were observed in control rabbits. These findings support FNAC-derived CTB/IHC as a feasible antemortem diagnostic approach for RHDV infection. Beyond its direct veterinary relevance, this approach may have One Health relevance within the framework of comparative hepatology and translational diagnostic method development, as naturally occurring animal diseases can provide useful models for evaluating diagnostic strategies in severe acute hepatopathies across species.
Selective and direct hydrogen generation from mixed plastic waste via alkaline thermal treatment with inherent carbon storage
The global accumulation of plastic waste has spurred extensive research into chemical recycling methods to mitigate environmental issues and convert waste into valuable resources. A major challenge in plastic recycling is the requirement for presorting, which complicates processing and increases costs. Here, we demonstrate alkaline thermal treatment (ATT) as a highly efficient strategy for directly converting mixed plastic waste, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP), into clean hydrogen energy at low temperatures and atmospheric pressure. Unlike conventional gasification, NaOH-assisted ATT enables plastic decomposition at significantly lower temperatures while producing high-purity hydrogen and minimizing carbon emissions. A key advancement in this work is the oxidation pretreatment of PP and PE, which enhances their reactivity in ATT and allows efficient hydrogen generation even from typically resistant polyolefins. Through systematic optimization of the NaOH-to-plastic ratio and thermal oxidation conditions, hydrogen yields of 43.7, 51.9, and 30.2 mmol/g plastic were achieved for PET, PE, and PP, respectively. Furthermore, ATT efficiently converts both individual and mixed plastic waste without requiring extensive separation, demonstrating its commercial potential and scalability with real-world waste compositions. Overall, this study establishes ATT as a promising and sustainable solution for plastic waste management and clean energy production, providing an economically viable low-carbon pathway for hydrogen generation.
Radiofrequency electrical conductivity reveals a distinct dimension of early human brain development
Abstract Quantitative MRI has characterised early human brain development primarily through measures of water mobility, leaving other biophysical properties of maturing tissue unexplored. Here we show that radiofrequency electrical conductivity, reflecting ionic composition, membrane density and extracellular geometry in addition to water content, can be extracted retrospectively and at scale from the phase of conventional MRI acquisitions, revealing a distinct dimension of early brain tissue maturation and state. Applying electrical property tomography to 888 neonatal MRI sessions (784 subjects, 26–45 weeks post-menstrual age) alongside infant and childhood data, we find that whole-brain conductivity declines steeply during the perinatal period and remains independently associated with age after adjustment for mean diffusivity and ventricular volume, confirming that it represents a distinct developmental signal that is not reducible to tissue water content alone. Preterm birth was associated with elevated conductivity at term-equivalent age, particularly in deep grey matter. In neonates with hypoxic–ischaemic encephalopathy ( n = 25), conductivity was elevated while mean diffusivity was reduced within the same tissue compartments, a dissociation indicating that these measures capture mechanistically distinct aspects of the tissue response to injury. These findings establish radiofrequency electrical properties as a new biophysical window on perinatal brain maturation and its perturbation by injury, extending quantitative MRI beyond measures of water mobility.
Interleukin-6 is critical in the development of pulmonary vascular disease in <i>Gcn2-</i> deficient mice
Biallelic mutations in EIF2AK4, encoding Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 2α kinase 4 or General Control Nonderepressible 2 (GCN2), cause pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD), a fatal form of pulmonary hypertension. The mechanisms linking GCN2 deficiency with pulmonary vascular pathology are poorly understood. To investigate this, we developed two mouse models: genetic ablation of Gcn2 , to mirror GCN2 -mutation positive PVOD, and a pharmacological model using mitomycin C, a drug which can cause PVOD as an idiosyncratic drug reaction. Both models were phenotyped, and lungs from wild-type and Gcn2 -deficient mice were analyzed using single-cell RNA sequencing. We show that homozygous loss of Gcn2 is sufficient to induce mild pulmonary hypertension in mice. Single-cell transcriptomic profiling identified adventitial fibroblasts as the cell population exhibiting the most Gcn2 -dependent transcriptional changes. Pathway analysis revealed upregulation of inflammatory signaling in Gcn2 −/− adventitial fibroblasts. Consistent with this, we demonstrate a proinflammatory phenotype in Gcn2 −/− mouse fibroblasts and in Gcn2 −/− mice. Using a mitomycin C–induced murine model, genetic deletion of interleukin-6 ( Il6 ) rescued the pulmonary vascular phenotype. Furthermore, chronic lipopolysaccharide exposure exaggerated pulmonary hypertension in Gcn2 −/− mice, and Il6 ablation rescued both baseline and lipopolysaccharide-exacerbated disease. Pharmacological inhibition or genetic ablation of the Integrated Stress Response, which can be driven by GCN2-activation, phenocopies Gcn2 deficiency. Therefore, we establish a regulatory effect of an intact GCN2-Integrated Stress Response on IL-6 signaling. Together, we show that interleukin-6 is a critical mediator of both Gcn2 deficiency–associated and mitomycin C–triggered pulmonary vascular disease in mice and highlight IL-6-dependent pathways as potential therapeutic targets.
Resolving an exception: the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Gigaspora rosea and Gigaspora margarita host culturable and functionally diverse endobacteria
Stealthy watermarking for medical AI models via spatial patch trigger and two-stage training
Integrated ERT, petrophysics and borehole logging for geotechnical zonation and sustainable coastal development in Ras El-Hekma, Egypt
Abstract Rapid urban expansion along Egypt’s northwestern Mediterranean coast requires reliable subsurface characterization capable of supporting both geotechnical safety and sustainable groundwater management. This study integrates 87 Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) profiles with borehole logging data, including gamma ray (GR), spontaneous potential (SP), and granulometric analyses, to establish a high-resolution geotechnical and hydro-stratigraphic framework for the Ras El-Hekma coastal zone in Egypt. The integrated dataset resolved four principal subsurface units with distinct resistivity signatures, lithological compositions, and engineering characteristics, calibrated through co-located borehole logs and laboratory granulometric analyses. Statistical analyses revealed strong inverse relationships between resistivity and both porosity ( r ≈ − 0.52; r ≈ − 0.85 for thickness-corrected values) and clay content ( r ≈ − 0.78; 95% CI (− 0.85, − 0.69)), while GR values showed a strong positive correlation with clay percentage ( r ≈ 0.95; p < 0.001). The third geoelectrical layer, dominated by clay-rich Pliocene shale, represents the most problematic geotechnical unit, characterized by resistivity values below 12 Ω·m, clay content exceeding 34%, and thicknesses ranging from approximately 1.5 to 3.5 m. Spatial analysis demonstrates marked NE–SW heterogeneity associated with buried oolitic ridges, sabkha environments, and localized saline intrusion. Based on integrated petrophysical signatures, the study area was classified into four competency zones (A–D), each linked to specific foundation and ground-improvement recommendations. The proposed workflow provides a transferable, cost-effective framework for coastal arid regions by combining geophysical imaging, borehole calibration, and statistical interpretation to support sustainable urban planning, infrastructure development, and subsurface risk assessment.