Browse Articles

Lower limb intelligent rehabilitation robot based on human-gait coupling, spatiotemporal gait sensing, and fuzzy PID control

Identifying influential determinants of women’s empowerment in Bangladesh using machine learning algorithms

Background and objectives Women’s empowerment is a vital issue in lower-middle-income developing countries like Bangladesh, where it plays a pivotal role in advancing development across the nation. Thus, this study aimed to identify the influential determinants of women’s empowerment in Bangladesh using machine learning (ML) algorithms. Materials and methods The data for this study were obtained from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2022, which included a nationally representative sample of 18,600 ever-married women aged 15–49 years. The important variables for women’s empowerment were identified using logistic regression and the Boruta feature selection method. Subsequently, eight popular machine learning algorithms - Decision Tree, Random Forest (RF), Naïve Bayes, Artificial Neural Network, Logistic Regression, Extreme Gradient Boosting, Gradient Boosting, and Support Vector Machine - were employed to predict women’s empowerment status. Model performance was assessed using accuracy, F 1 -score, and the area under the curve (AUC). Additionally, the most suitable model with SHAP analysis was used to identify the influential determinants driving women’s empowerment. Results The RF-based model demonstrated the best performance, achieving an accuracy of 71.07%, an F 1 -score of 81.58%, and an AUC of 0.676. The analysis revealed age, division, wealth index, working status, household members, husband’s education, and respondent’s education as the most influential determinants of women’s empowerment. Conclusion This study provides the best predictive model and identifies influential determinants of women’s empowerment in Bangladesh, offering valuable insights for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG-5) by 2030 through targeted actions and policies.

Structural insights into kainate receptor desensitization

From toroids to helical tubules: Kirigami-inspired programmable assembly of two-periodic curved crystals from DNA origami

Biology is teeming with intricate molecular structures whose geometries are inextricably linked to their function. A prototypical example is the helical bacterial flagellum, a complex curved crystalline assembly of proteins that the bacterium uses to swim. Because synthetic analogues of these and other curved crystalline assemblies could be valuable platforms for nanotechnologies, including drug delivery and plasmonics, controllable synthesis of variable-curvature structures of diverse material systems, from fullerenes to supramolecular assemblies, has been a long-standing goal. Here, we develop and implement a design strategy to program the self-assembly of a complex spectrum of two-periodic curved crystals with variable periodicity, spatial dimension, and topology, spanning from toroids to achiral serpentine tubules to both left- and right-handed helical tubules. Notably, our design strategy exploits a kirigami-based mapping of a modular class of 2D planar tilings to 3D curved crystals that preserves the periodicity, twofold rotational symmetries, and subunit dimensions by modulating the arrangement of disclination defects. We survey the modular geometry of these curved crystals and infer the addressable interactions required to assemble them from triangular subunits. To demonstrate this design strategy in practice, we program the self-assembly of toroids, helical, and serpentine tubules from DNA origami subunits, deriving the distinct kirigami foldings of a single two-periodic planar tiling. A simulation model of the assembly pathways reveals physical considerations for programming the geometric specificity of the intersubunit angles in the curved crystal required to avoid defect-mediated misassembly.

Characterising commensal and pathogenic staphylococcal interactions with neonatal and adult blood

Abstract The abundant skin commensal, Staphylococcus epidermidis , is the leading cause of late-onset sepsis (LOS) in preterm infants but rarely causes infections in term infants and adults. Staphylococcal virulence mechanisms and the role of the preterm immune responses in driving these life-threatening infections remain poorly understood. Using an ex vivo sepsis model, we challenged whole blood from very preterm infants (30–32 weeks gestational age, GA; n  = 8), term infants (> 37 weeks GA; n  = 8), and young adults (18–25 years; n  = 8) with either live S. epidermidis or S. aureus (~ 10 7 colony-forming units, CFU/ml) for 90 min. Dual RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed to simultaneously assess host and pathogen gene expression profiles, identifying common and pathogen-specific responses across cohorts. We found shared immune processes induced in all age groups upon bacterial challenge, including cytokine ( IL1A , IL1B , IL6 , IFNB1 ) and chemokine ( CCL20 , CCL3 , CCL7 , CXCL2 ) signalling. Preterm infants also exhibited unique responses, such as increased platelet activation and fibrin clot formation, Wnt signalling, and hypoxia pathways in response to S. epidermidis challenge. Our findings suggest that bacterial gene co-expression, including iron acquisition and heme biosynthesis genes, are also influenced by the hosts developmental age, highlighting the complexity of host-bacterial interactions in the early stages of neonatal sepsis.

Envisioning grassroots science: DIY biology in Canada, Britain, and Germany

This study employs the conceptual lens of sociotechnical imaginaries to examine how DIY biology is envisioned in Canada, Great Britain, and Germany. DIY biology, an extra-institutional movement, aspires to democratize biology by making research infrastructures accessible, fostering open-source knowledge, and challenging the expert-public divide. Based primarily on 23 in-depth interviews with practitioners from three countries, complemented by insights from a global online survey of 152 DIY biologists and additional perspectives from policymakers, this research highlights how country-specific sociopolitical contexts shape the local identities and practices of a global movement. The findings reveal country-specific differences in the ways DIY biology is envisioned and materialized. Canadian DIY biologists often adopt entrepreneurial narratives akin to “garage start-ups,” critiquing the high cost of higher education and the rigidity of traditional research institutions. German practitioners, emphasizing sustainability and responsibility, critique capitalism while aligning their DIY efforts with environmental activism. In Great Britain, DIY biologists often focus on collective benefits, thereby highlighting global equity and collaboration. Despite their differences, DIY biologists across all three countries share aspirations to foster inclusivity, intellectual freedom, and socially relevant research, while dealing with challenges like a lack of funding to conduct their experiments and maintain laboratory spaces. By exploring how grassroots science movements navigate challenges and reimagine scientific practices, this study contributes to scholarship in Science and Technology Studies (STS). It provides an empirically rich, comparative perspective on how a global movement is envisioned within different sociopolitical contexts across countries. This research underscores the potential of DIY biology to democratize science but also calls for critical reflection on its systemic challenges, offering actionable insights for cultivating sustainable, community-driven scientific practices.

The Endo-GeneScreen platform identifies drug-like probes that regulate endogenous protein levels within physiological contexts

Nitric oxide promotes rapid development of motility to accelerate biofilm dispersal in <i> <i>Vibrio cholerae</i> </i>

Bacterial biofilms are resilient multicellular communities that underlie persistent infections and environmental survival. Dispersal from biofilms is a pivotal event for transmission and pathogenesis, yet the host signals and bacterial mechanisms orchestrating this transition remain poorly understood. Here, we show that nitric oxide (NO), a ubiquitous host-derived signaling molecule, acts as a rapid trigger for biofilm dispersal in Vibrio cholerae , a highly motile gram-negative bacterium and the etiologic agent of cholera, by promoting the development of motility. NO exposure induces broad upregulation of flagellar biosynthesis genes, increases flagellin production, and reduces intracellular cyclic-di-GMP levels, thereby priming aflagellated biofilm-associated cells for active swimming and dispersion. Using single-cell imaging in custom microfluidic devices, we directly visualize NO-stimulated biofilm detachment and development of robust swimming motility within minutes. In vivo, biofilm-derived V. cholerae colonize more efficiently in NO-rich environments, and NO produced by epithelial cells enhances bacterial detachment from epithelial surfaces. Our findings reveal a host–pathogen interface in which NO serves as a morphogenetic cue, orchestrating the rapid transition from sessility to motility.

Evaluating corporate high performance work systems via an intelligent model using complex T spherical fuzzy CoCoSo method

RETRACTED: Can artificial intelligence and face recognition using deep learning detect emotions in children with autism?

Dual conversion pathways for efficient electrochemical extraction of uranium

The LFR-SWI/SNF complex: A chromatin wrench safeguarding cellular quiescence in the <i>Arabidopsis</i> root stem cell organizer

The quiescent center (QC) resides in a reversible G 0 state in which cells are not actively dividing and yet retain their proliferation competence upon stimulation. How this quiescent state is molecularly defined and stably maintained is a fascinating question. Here, we uncover a dual role for LEAF AND FLOWER RELATED (LFR), a component of the SWITCH/SUCROSE NONFERMENTABLE (SWI/SNF) chromatin-remodeling complex, in maintaining quiescence of the QC. We demonstrate that LFR is recruited to the chromatin of core transcription factors (TFs) PLETHORA 1 (PLT1), PLT2, SCARECROW (SCR), and WUSCHEL - RELATED HOMEOBOX (WOX5) via physical interactions with them. Moreover, the autoregulatory binding of these TFs reciprocally requires LFR. Functioning as a chromatin wrench, LFR relaxes the chromatin at PLT1 , PLT2 , and SCR loci to sustain their positive autoregulation, thereby contributing to the prevention of QC cell division. Conversely, LFR compacts WOX5 chromatin to enforce negative autoregulation and simultaneously promotes CYCD3;3 expression to counteract WOX5-mediated repression, thus ensuring the proliferation competence of the QC. Furthermore, WOX5 throws a wrench into LFR binding at the CYCD3;3 promoter, establishing a regulatory circuit that precisely modulates CYCD3;3 expression, a D-type cyclin whose appropriate level is critical for QC quiescence. Consequently, the QC is maintained in a proliferation-competent but arrested state. Our findings establish the LFR-containing SWI/SNF complex as a key regulatory node that coordinates TF autoregulation with cell-cycle control to maintain QC quiescence.

Malicious user classification in cognitive 5G networks using novel improved bidirectional encoder representations from transformers model

Chronobiological analysis of sex differences in electrocardiographic parameters in spontaneously breathing Wistar rats under tiletamine-zolazepam anaesthesia

Introduction General anaesthesia is essential in surgical interventions because it reduces stress and restricts the animal’s movement. However, it can interfere with the circadian clock and, consequently, with several physiological functions, including the cardiovascular system. A combination of tiletamine and zolazepam is rarely used in rat studies; therefore, its effect on cardiovascular function in the context of sex and the light/dark cycle remains unknown. Aim This study analysed the effect of sex and the light/dark cycle on electrocardiographic parameters in Wistar rats anaesthetised with tiletamine-zolazepam. Methods Experiments were performed on spontaneously breathing Wistar rats of both sexes following a 4-week adaptation to a light/dark (12h/12h) cycle. After intraperitoneal administration of Zoletil 50 (30 mg/kg; Virbac; France), electrocardiographic parameters were measured in lead II using LabChart 8 (ID Instruments). Results Regarding the effect of the light/dark cycle on electrocardiographic parameters, males showed a higher heart rate and a shorter PR interval during the dark period, whereas females exhibited a longer QRS interval and a higher R wave amplitude in the dark period than in the light period. Sexual dimorphism was present during the light period, with males showing a longer QT interval and females displaying a higher T wave amplitude. In the dark period, sex differences were observed only in the PR interval, which was shorter in males. Conclusion The obtained results indicate a significant effect of sex and light/dark cycle on cardiovascular parameters in rats under tiletamine-zolazepam.

ERBB2 signaling drives immune cell evasion and resistance against immunotherapy in small cell lung cancer

Abstract Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is characterized by its highly aggressive phenotype and dismal outcome. Despite the benefit of adding immune checkpoint blockade to standard chemotherapy, tumors acquire the ability to evade immunosurveillance and develop resistance. To investigate these underlying mechanisms, we perform high-dimensional profiling of human and murine SCLC specimens. In matched primary and metastatic human samples, we observe MHC-I loss in metastases, highlighting its role in immune evasion. Correspondingly, silencing MHC-I in SCLC cells drastically reduces immune infiltration and promotes metastasis in mice. Using mass spectrometry and phospho-tyrosine kinase analyses, we identify ERBB2 signaling as a suppressor of MHC-I and driver of immune-modulatory transcripts. Mechanistically, genetic and pharmacologic blockade of ERBB2 induces MHC-I in a STING-dependent manner and prevents immune evasion in autochthonous murine SCLC. Strikingly, combining ERBB2 inhibition with anti-PD-1 elicits profound synergistic responses in preclinical models, suggesting this combination for future clinical trials in SCLC patients.

Competition between Der1 and ERAD-M substrates controls Hrd1 complex function

Endoplasmic reticulum–associated degradation (ERAD) is a quality control process which removes misfolded proteins from the ER. The central component of the most conserved ERAD system is an integral membrane ubiquitin ligase called Hrd1. The Hrd1 ligase functions within a complex to mediate the recognition and ubiquitination of both soluble, lumenal substrates and integral membrane substrates, all of which are ultimately targeted for degradation by the cytosolic proteasome. Here, we used deep mutational scanning to identify Hrd1 residues exclusively involved in the degradation of integral membrane substrates. We report single residue Hrd1 variants that are broadly deficient in the degradation of all integral membrane substrates tested. Using in vivo assays to characterize Hrd1 variant deficiency, we explain how integral membrane substrates compete with other complex components to control Hrd1 function. This work reveals competition for the retrotranslocon cavity between both lumenal and membrane substrate degradation paths and highlights Hrd1 complex assembly as the primary determinant for tuning ERAD function.

Investigating the effects of employing recycled carpet fibers and micro-silica on the mechanical properties of concrete under elevated temperatures

Optimization of two-passenger ride-pooling orders based on ST-GNN and path optimization

Urban dynamic ride-pooling faces significant challenges in achieving efficient real-time order matching and path planning, primarily due to the complex spatio-temporal coupling of passenger demand and traffic conditions. Traditional algorithms often struggle to dynamically integrate these features and adapt to multi-objective optimization under real-world constraints. To address these limitations, this study proposes a novel dual-optimization framework that synergizes a Spatio-Temporal Graph Neural Network (ST-GNN) with a multi-objective path planning algorithm. Our approach begins by constructing a demand-adaptive urban spatial structure using Voronoi polygons. A spatio-temporal graph is then built upon this structure, where a graph neural network model, incorporating multi-head attention and Transformer mechanisms, is employed to learn node embeddings that capture complex urban dynamics. These embeddings inform the matching of suitable ride-pooling pairs and guide an improved Dijkstra algorithm to generate optimal paths that co-optimize travel distance, passenger detour, and carbon emissions while strictly adhering to passenger time windows. Validated on a large-scale real-world dataset from Chengdu (Didi Chuxing), our method achieves a matching success rate of 86.6%, reduces carbon emissions by 0.34 kg CO 2 per order on average, and maintains a low average detour rate of 0.1202. The results demonstrate that the proposed model enhances spatio-temporal collaboration in complex scenarios and offers a practical and efficient solution for the intelligent upgrade of shared mobility systems, contributing to optimized urban traffic resources and low-carbon travel practices.

Multi-state detection and spatial addressing in a microscope for ultracold molecules

Abstract Precise measurement of the particle number, spatial distribution and internal state is fundamental to all proposed experiments with ultracold molecules both in bulk gases and optical lattices. Here, we demonstrate in-situ detection of individual molecules in a bulk sample of 87 Rb 133 Cs molecules. Extending techniques from atomic quantum gas microscopy, we pin the molecules in a deep two-dimensional optical lattice and, following dissociation, collect fluorescence from the constituent atoms using a high-numerical-aperture objective. This enables detection of individual molecules up to the resolution of the sub-micron lattice spacing. Our approach provides direct access to the density distribution of small samples of molecules, allowing us to obtain precise measurements of density-dependent collisional losses. Further, by mapping two internal states of the molecule to different atomic species, we demonstrate simultaneous detection of the position and rotational state of individual molecules. Finally, we implement local addressing of the sample using a focused beam to induce a spatially-dependent light shift on the rotational transitions of the molecules.

Control of encounter kinetics by chemically active droplets

Biomolecular condensates play a crucial role in the spatial organization of living matter. These membrane-less organelles, resulting from liquid–liquid phase separation, operate far from thermodynamic equilibrium, with their size and stability influenced by nonequilibrium chemical reactions. While condensates are frequently considered optimized nanoreactors that enhance molecular encounters, their actual impact on reaction kinetics remains unclear due to competing effects such as diffusion hindrance, and random trapping in nonspecific condensates. In this study, we develop a microscopic, stochastic model for chemically active droplets, incorporating reaction-driven modulation of protein interactions. Using Brownian dynamics simulations, we investigate how protein interactions and active coupling to a free energy reservoir influence phase separation, molecular transport, and reaction kinetics. We demonstrate that the intensity of the chemical drive governs surface dynamics, generating fluxes that modulate bimolecular reaction rates. Comparing active emulsions to homogeneous systems, we reveal that condensates can either accelerate or decelerate molecular encounters. Our findings provide key insights into the role of biomolecular condensates as potential regulators of intracellular reaction kinetics.