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Weighing up the wild-meat harvest in Amazonia
Structural snapshots capture nucleotide release at the μ-opioid receptor
Prefrontal gamma oscillations and fear extinction learning require early postnatal interneuron-oligodendroglia communication
Abstract Emerging evidence links oligodendrocyte (OL) lineage cells and myelin to cognitive processes, yet the role of myelination in shaping neuronal networks critical for cognitive tasks remains unknown. We demonstrate in mice that early postnatal GABAergic signaling between interneurons and oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) is crucial for myelination of parvalbumin (PV) interneurons, which facilitates in vivo low-gamma oscillations in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and supports fear extinction learning. Disruption of this signaling results in PV interneuron dysmyelination, decreases low-gamma power, and impairs tone fear extinction. These deficits are specific to PV interneuron dysmyelination, as mPFC myelination, high-gamma oscillations and contextual fear extinction are not significantly altered. Increasing PV interneuron activity or enhancing myelination do not reverse the deficits, indicating the long-term consequences of these early myelination impairments. Our findings reveal the role of OPC GABAergic signaling in PV interneuron myelination and mPFC circuit maturation, with lasting impacts on gamma rhythms and cognition.
An attention-based transfer learning model for diagnosing subluxation in temporomandibular joint panoramic radiographs
The role of lifestyle in mitigating cognitive decline in older adults with cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM): A protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis
Background Cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM), the coexistence of two or more cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs), is increasingly recognized as a key risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia in older adults. Healthy lifestyle behaviors may mitigate these effects, but this remains poorly understood. Given the rising prevalence of CMM worldwide and the urgent need for effective dementia prevention strategies, a systematic review and meta-analysis are warranted to investigate whether and to what extent a healthier lifestyle can mitigate this risk. Methods A comprehensive search of Embase, Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Scopus will be conducted to identify longitudinal observational studies reporting incident adverse cognitive outcomes in older adults with CMM, while also exploring the influence of lifestyle factors on such outcomes. Grey literature will be included, and no language or date restrictions will be applied. Retrieved records will be managed in Covidence, with two independent reviewers conducting all review processes. Data will be extracted using a predesigned extraction form. The ROBINS-E tool will be used to assess the risk of bias, and the GRADE approach will evaluate the certainty of evidence. If sufficient homogeneous data are available, a meta-analysis will be conducted; otherwise, findings will be narratively synthesized. Discussion This systematic review and meta-analysis will provide comprehensive insights into the extent to which a healthier lifestyle may mitigate cognitive decline associated with CMM. The findings may inform future intervention designs to promote healthy aging and reduce the risk of cognitive impairment among individuals with CMM. Prospero registration Prospero registration ID: CRD420251000046. Registered on 26 th February 2025.
Genomic landscape of IgM-MGUS and patients with stable or progressive asymptomatic Waldenström macroglobulinemia
Abstract Immunoglobulin M (IgM) monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (IgM-MGUS) and asymptomatic Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM; aWM) are precursor conditions of symptomatic WM with an annual 1.5% to 12% risk of progression. Although clinical prognostic models exist for risk stratification, it remains challenging to distinguish asymptomatic patients who will eventually progress from those who will not. Hence, the characterization of genomic features that shape disease progressors could potentially improve risk stratification. We performed whole-exome sequencing on 229 samples from 139 patients, including 9 patients with sequential samples. We observed an increasing mutation burden through the stages of disease evolution. Genes such as CD79B, ARID1A, and CREBBP were more often mutated in the aWM progressed (aWMpr) compared with the stable aWM (aWMst) group, whereas MYD88L265 variant allele frequency was significantly higher in patients with aWMpr than those with aWMst. In addition, patients with IgM-MGUS with MYD88WT genotype showed a distinct genomic profile compared with the MYD88MUT patients. Furthermore, the presence of more aneuploidies showed a significant association with a higher risk of progression to the symptomatic disease. Overall, our study shows that genomic profiling of patients’ tumor at the time of aWM diagnosis might represent an improved strategy for identifying patients at high risk to progression who could benefit from earlier intervention.
Mapping electric fields and observation of ferroelectric domain switching in hafnia-zirconia devices by electron holography
Abstract Ferroelectric devices such as capacitors, tunnel junctions and field-effect transistors rely on the reversible switching of polarisation under an electric field, which strongly depends on the screening charges at the interfaces. Despite the crucial role of charge trapping and detrapping on the performance of ferroelectric devices, current understanding relies heavily on electrical measurements of the whole device and/or local analysis of the atomic polarisation and structure. Here, we show how the internal electric fields can be measured within a ferroelectric Hf 0.5 Zr 0.5 O 2 /Al 2 O 3 tunnel junction using in situ electrical biasing electron holography. The charge densities at internal interfaces are quantitatively determined. Moreover, the polarisation switching of the ferroelectric film is mapped as the voltage gradually increases to the coercive voltage, revealing that switching occurs via both the nucleation and lateral growth of domains. This approach, complementary to existing techniques, opens new avenues for engineering the interfaces in ferroelectric devices.
Poly(acrylamide/styrenesulfonic acid) hydrogels for effective removal of Cr(III) ions
Abstract Techniques for chromium ion removal have been researched more and more because of the significant harm to human health posed by this hazardous contamination in water. The present work represents the preparation of poly[acrylamide(Acr)/styrenesulfonicacid sodium salt (Sty)] hydrogels by free radical cross-linking polymerization applying various Acr and Sty monomer molar ratios. To produce Cr-poly(Acr/Sty) chelates, the produced hydrogels were examined for adsorption and desorption tests towards Cr(III) ions. The resulting hydrogels displayed a significant capacity for Cr(III) ion adsorption. Notably, the amount of Sty monomer in the hydrogel has a substantial effect on the Cr(III) ion capturing capacity. Cr-poly(Acr/Sty) and poly(Acr/Sty) hydrogels were characterized by modern analytical techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Furrier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Research on the impacts of time and starting concentration of Cr(III) ions showed that hydrogels had the highest adsorption capacity for Cr(III) ions, at 346.48 mg g-1 dry gel. Hydrogels exhibited an exceptionally high swelling ratio, with a maximum value of 10490.46%. According to their adsorption kinetics, the findings are aligned with the pseudo second-order approach, and their adsorption performance coincides with the Freundlich isotherm. Their potential for reuse in environmental applications is demonstrated by the high desorption recovery percentage (almost 100 weight%), which could be used for the treatment of wastewater. Adsorption using Cr(III) from tanning industrial wastewater was conducted on the prepared hydrogels with efficient capturing capacity.
Clinical features and pulmonary infections of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage in rheumatic disease patients
Introduction Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening pulmonary complication in patients with rheumatic diseases (RD). Immunosuppression, endothelial injury, and systemic inflammation may increase the risk of pulmonary infections, further complicating clinical management and worsening outcomes. Objective To describe the prevalence and factors associated with pulmonary infections in patients with DAH and RD. Methods We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional study including patients diagnosed with DAH and underlying RD at a tertiary care center in Mexico between 2003 and 2023. A logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with infection. Results Seventy-three patients with DAH were included; 31.5% had concurrent pulmonary infection. Systemic lupus erythematosus (68.5%) and ANCA-associated vasculitis (29%) were the most common underlying diseases. Evidence of hemorrhage in bronchoalveolar lavage was significantly more frequent in the infection group (76% vs. 48%; p = 0.02). Bacterial infection was the most common, occurring in 62% of cases, followed by fungal infection at 21%. The 30-day mortality rate was 10%, and infection was not an independent predictor of death. A multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that male sex (OR 9.8; 95% CI: 2.7–35.3; p < 0.01) and IMV requirement (OR 8.8; 95% CI: 1.7–46.9; p = 0.01) were significantly associated with pulmonary infection. Conclusion Pulmonary infections are common in patients with DAH and RD. A relatively low short-term mortality rate was observed in this cohort. Male sex and IMV requirement were associated with infections. Early microbiological assessment and targeted therapy are crucial to optimizing outcomes in this vulnerable population.
Exhaustion is getting complicated
Thermomechanical pressing and immediate quenching: enhanced piezoelectricity and transparency in piezoelectric nanofibers
Mental health monitoring in 5G Edge-Enabled Cognitive IoT with Temporal Shift Transformer and integrated Stackelberg Game Theory and Nomadic People Optimizer
Abstract This research proposes an innovative framework for mental health monitoring in 5G Edge-Enabled Cognitive internet of things (IoT) environments, integrating Stackelberg Game Theory and the Nomadic People Optimizer (NPO) algorithm. The temporal shift transformer is introduced as a key component for effective prediction of mental health. The Stackelberg Game Theory ensures strategic decision-making between the central authority and decentralized agents, optimizing resource allocation and enhancing the overall system’s performance. The Nomadic People Optimizer algorithm contributes to the efficiency of the decision-making process, providing an adaptive and dynamic solution for personalized mental health monitoring. The framework aims to address the challenges associated with nomadic lifestyles, leveraging 5G edge capabilities for real-time data processing and analysis. Personalized recommendations are provisioned based on the insights derived from cognitive processing, offering tailored interventions during critical mental health situations. According to experimental data, the suggested framework outperforms baseline models like CNN, GRU, and ResNet-50 + LSTM by achieving 96.38% accuracy, 96.2% F1 score, and 97.2% specificity. Additionally, real-time alert creation with an end-to-end latency of less than 46 ms is made possible by the integration of 5G edge computing, guaranteeing prompt mental health treatments. The proposed approach demonstrates promising results in terms of accuracy, adaptability, and scalability, showcasing its potential to revolutionize mental health care for nomadic populations within the evolving landscape of cognitive IoT and 5G technologies.
Burden of liver cancer resulting from different etiologies in China from 1990 to 2021 and prediction to 2031
Liver cancer (LC) imposes a considerable disease burden in China, with diverse causes contributing to varying proportions of LC cases. Adjusting future public health strategies for the allocation of resources to interventions aimed at different causes of LC is a subject that demands resolution in order to maximize health benefits. Employing the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021, we analyzed the burden of LC in China attributed to different causes. Utilize joinpoint to evaluate the trend of the disease burden of LC. The Bayesian model for age-period-cohort (BAPC) was adopted to forecast the burden. The overall trend of the age-standardized rates of incidence, mortality, and disability-standardized life years (ASIR, ASMR, and ASDR) of LC were descend in China from 1990 to 2021. HBV, HCV, alcohol and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) constitute the four principal causes of the LC burden. The ASIR, ASMR, and ASDR of LC caused by HBV and HCV showed a downward trend. The ASIR of LC caused by alcohol and NASH were associated with an increased. It was anticipated that the burden of ASIR and ASMR for male, female, and the entire population in China will persistently decline until 2031. In conclusion, the burden of LC has displayed a downward trend in China from 1990 to 2021; HBV, HCV, alcohol, and NASH were the main causes of LC; the burden of LC is expected to further decline by 2031.
Outnumbered: T-cell dominance breaks BCMA-TCE resistance
Anti-progestin therapy targets hallmarks of breast cancer risk
Abstract Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in women worldwide 1 . Here, in the Breast Cancer-Anti-Progestin Prevention Study 1 (BC-APPS1; NCT02408770 ), we assessed whether progesterone receptor antagonism with ulipristal acetate for 12 weeks reduces surrogate markers of breast cancer risk in 24 premenopausal women. We used multilayered OMICs and live-cell approaches as readouts for molecular features alongside clinical imaging and tissue micromechanics correlates. Ulipristal acetate reduced epithelial proliferation (Ki67) and the proportion, proliferation and colony formation capacity of luminal progenitor cells, the putative cell of origin of aggressive breast cancers 2 . MRI scans showed reduction in fibroglandular volume with treatment, whereas single-cell RNA sequencing, proteomics, histology and atomic force microscopy identified extracellular matrix remodelling with reduced collagen organization and tissue stiffness. Collagen VI was the most significantly downregulated protein after ulipristal acetate treatment, and we uncovered an unanticipated spatial association between collagen VI and SOX9 high luminal progenitor cell localization, establishing a link between collagen organization and luminal progenitor activity. Culture of primary human breast epithelial cells in a stiff environment increased luminal progenitor activity, which was antagonized by anti-progestin therapy, strengthening this mechanistic link. This study offers a template for biologically informed early-phase therapeutic cancer prevention trials and demonstrates the potential for premenopausal breast cancer prevention with progesterone receptor antagonists through stromal remodelling and luminal progenitor suppression.
Structural insights into cationic amino acid transport and viral receptor engagement by CAT1
Development a practical method for calculation of the block volume and block surface in a fractured rock mass
Phenotypic stratification predicts the pace, but not the outcome, of continence recovery after radical prostatectomy
Background Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common complication following radical prostatectomy (RP), with heterogeneous response to pelvic floor rehabilitation. Identifying patient subgroups with distinct recovery patterns may improve treatment planning. Methods We prospectively enrolled 182 men (mean age 66.1 ± 6.5 years) undergoing RP for localized prostate cancer. All participated in a standardized rehabilitation program. K-means clustering was applied to 11 baseline clinical variables, including urinary incontinence severity, pelvic floor function measures, and oncological risk characteristics, to identify distinct patient phenotypes. Continence was defined as pad test result ≤2 g and assessed at three time points. Statistical analyses included non-parametric tests, clustering validation (internal indices, bootstrap, consensus), and multiple testing correction using the Benjamini–Hochberg procedure. Results Three phenotypic clusters were identified (Cluster 0: n = 97; Cluster 1: n = 65; Cluster 2: n = 20), differing significantly in oncological severity and UI burden. At the second rehabilitation visit, continence was achieved in 69.2% of Cluster 1 patients, 55.0% in Cluster 0, and 35.0% in Cluster 2 ( p = 0.034). By the third rehabilitation assessment (conducted after completing phase III of the rehabilitation program), continence rates increased to 88.4%, 77.5%, and 60.0% across the three clusters. Patients with earlier recovery were more likely to have received preoperative rehabilitation (87% vs. 70%, p = 0.054). Internal validation supported the three-cluster structure, with lower stability for the smallest subgroup. Multiple testing correction confirmed significant differences across clusters and recovery patterns. Predictive models showed low accuracy (AUC < 0.65). Conclusions Phenotypic clustering revealed clinically distinct subgroups with differing recovery trajectories. This approach may support personalized post-prostatectomy rehabilitation strategies.