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Biochar structure development during slow pyrolysis of pellets from barley straw and bran
Rhizosheath inhabiting Massilia are linked to heterosis in roots of maize
Abstract Heterosis, or hybrid vigor, describes the superior performance of F 1 hybrids compared to parental inbreds. While soil microbiomes are proposed to influence heterosis, it remains unclear how heterotic plants shape their microbiomes and how interactions relate to stress responses. Here, we investigate the role of rhizosheath formation—the soil tightly adhering to roots—in maize heterosis under nitrogen deprivation. Across sterilization, inoculation, and transplantation experiments, hybrids develop larger rhizosheaths than inbreds, and rhizosheath size associates with biomass heterosis. Rhizosheath-enriched genus Massilia correlates with lateral root density, rhizosheath size, and growth. Untargeted metabolomics and flavone-deficient mutants reveal links between Massilia and flavonoid pathways, while growth promotion by Massilia can also occur independently of host flavones. Metagenomic analysis shows that larger rhizosheaths recruit microbial functions related to nutrient cycling and stress adaptation. These findings identify rhizosheath formation as an integrative trait associated with heterosis and a promising target for breeding resilient crops.
How sports event scenarios shape urban image and influence audience conative tendency
A gel polymer electrolyte with multiple hydrogen bonding for pressure-free Ah silicon-based pouch cells
Monsoon differences in South Asia and East Asia during the penultimate deglaciation revealed by speleothem oxygen isotopes
Resolving interface structure and local internal mechanics of mitotic chromosomes
Evaluation of dynamic properties in ABS and PLA thermoplastics across frequency ranges
A 0.18 cubic centimeter 3D meta-holographic zoom micro-projector
RAGE contributes to persistent sepsis-induced muscle and mitochondrial alterations
Abstract A majority of patients surviving sepsis develop muscle weakness. However, the underlying cellular and molecular pathways remain largely unexplored. To determine whether sepsis leads to long-term persistent muscular consequences and to identify the underlying mechanisms, we used a murine model of reanimated sepsis induced by intraperitoneal injection of a heterologous stool slurry. Muscles were analyzed 3 months later. The oxidative muscle exhibited reduced fatigue resistance and decreased mitochondrial respiration, without a corresponding reduction in mitochondrial OXPHOS proteins. Glycolytic and mixed muscle fibres were atrophied. Markers of oxidative and mitochondrial stress, as well as genes involved in mitochondrial fission, remained present 3 months after sepsis. Low-grade, but significant, muscular inflammation was also measured. Specifically, both the NLRP3 inflammasome and the receptor of Advanced Glycation End-products (RAGE) axis were upregulated. Interestingly, long-term sepsis-induced muscular consequences were not observed in RAGE knockout mice. Overall, we describe for the first time in mice that sepsis causes long-lasting muscle dysfunction after recovery, including mitochondrial alterations and low-grade inflammation, and that RAGE may represent a promising target to mitigate long-term muscle alterations induced by sepsis.
Generalized causality constraint based on duality symmetry reveals untapped potential of sound absorption
Production of microencapsulated cinnamon extract using spray drying and evaluation of its effects on bread quality
Abstract Natural antioxidants can improve the oxidative and sensory properties of bread, but their instability limits their functionality. Encapsulation effectively addresses this issue. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of spray drying on the physicochemical properties of cinnamon extracts encapsulated with different wall materials, including maltodextrin (MD), gum arabic (GA), and their combination. In addition, the effects of different levels (1, 2.5, and 5%) of the best microcapsule formulation, as well as the use of 1 and 10 mL concentrations of aqueous cinnamon extract (EX), were investigated on selected quality attributes of bread. Results indicated that MD samples exhibited higher process efficiency (39.20%), bulk density (0.49 g/cm 3 ), solubility (96.98%), encapsulation efficiency (76.32%), total phenolic content (40.25 mg/100 g), and DPPH free radical scavenging ability (56.78%) compared to GA samples. Additionally, MD samples had lower moisture content (2.41%) and hygroscopicity (10.21%). Microscopic images of the spray-dried powders revealed larger particle size for GA samples. Based on the measured characteristics, the sample coated with MD was selected as the best microcapsule. The bread containing 5% microcapsule extract displayed the highest total phenol content (7.45 mg/100 g) and DPPH free radical scavenging ability (20.63%). Considering other results, particularly overall sensory acceptance, it can be inferred that enhancing the bread with up to 2.5% of microencapsulated cinnamon extract enhances its antioxidant properties without greatly impacting sensory quality.
Sub-ångström bond length tuning enhances photoluminescence quantum yield in copper nanoclusters
Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare workers on preventing postoperative deep vein thrombosis
Long term decline of the planktonic biomass in a hotspot of nitrogen fixation
Exploring community-based reporting of livestock abortions for rift valley fever and brucellosis surveillance in Uganda: a pilot study
Abstract Rift Valley fever (RVF) and brucellosis are serious zoonotic diseases with significant public health and economic consequences. In livestock, both diseases are associated with abortions that are not routinely reported as part of disease surveillance. We piloted a community-driven call centre initiative in Isingiro District, Uganda, from March to June 2023, aimed at facilitating the reporting of livestock abortions. The community call centre was promoted through stakeholder engagements, social media campaigns, and targeted sensitisation materials. Over three months, we received 53 alerts reporting 423 livestock abortions. We investigated 78% of these alerts and collected 200 serum samples. Of these, 184 samples were tested via ELISA for RVF virus antibodies (IgG and IgM), while all 200 were screened for anti-Brucella (IgG) antibodies using validated commercial kits. The proportion of aborting livestock testing positive for IgG antibodies to Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) was 38% [95% CI 29–47] in cattle, 33% [95% CI 14–61] in sheep, and 20% [95% CI 12–31] in goats. For IgM, sheep showed the highest proportion at 8% [95% CI 1–35], followed by cattle at 2% [95% CI 1–6]. Further analysis showed that cattle had a 2.9-fold elevated odds of RVF IgG seropositivity relative to sheep and goats (OR = 2.9, 95% CI 1.27–7.07, P = 0.014). The proportion of aborting livestock testing positive for IgG antibodies to brucellosis was 36% [95% CI 25–49] in goats and 16% [95% CI 11–23] in cattle, with no evidence of antibodies found in the sampled sheep. Our pilot study revealed high seropositivity to RVFV and brucellosis in cattle, sheep, and goats that had recently experienced abortions. This study demonstrates that early reporting of abortions by communities, followed by immediate collection of samples for diagnosis, could facilitate early detection and response to outbreaks. Furthermore, the response registered at the call centre by livestock owners has the potential for collaborative efforts to establish disease reporting and surveillance, thereby enabling more timely interventions.
Measuring global human accessibility to essential daily necessities and services
Abstract Equitable access to daily necessities and services is crucial for enhancing human quality of life and achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. However, knowledge about global access to these essential resources remains limited and fragmented, due to the absence of a comprehensive infrastructure inventory and scalable accessibility measures. Here we compile a global database of points of interest to represent six essential infrastructure categories—living, healthcare, education, entertainment, public transit, and working. We use refined 30-meter resolution friction surface data to map travel time to these critical infrastructures as a proxy for accessibility across the urban-rural continuum and assess disparities across geographic, urbanization, and socio-economic contexts. Our results reveal uneven access in infrastructure availability, per capita distribution, and travel time. Globally, 62.8% (3.08 billion) and 82.5 % (4.04 billion) of urban residents live within a 15- and 30-minute walk of essential resources, respectively. These results highlight the need to optimize strategies for planning, allocation, and management of critical infrastructure to promote inclusive and sustainable development.
A scalable automated framework for multiply-accumulate unit design in high-performance computing applications
Abstract Multiply–Accumulate (MAC) units are essential components in real-time Digital Signal Processing (DSP) applications such as image filtering, audio processing, and neural networks, where speed and energy efficiency are critical. This work presents a scalable and automated Hardware Description Language (HDL) generation framework for efficient MAC unit design, enabling faster integration into System-on-Chip (SoC) architectures. A Python automation script is developed to generate synthesizable Verilog code supporting user-defined bit-widths and computation cycles. The framework integrates a Grouping and Decomposition (GD) multiplier with a carry-skip adder, enhancing computational speed and minimizing energy consumption through parallelized data processing. The generated Verilog code is functionally verified using Cadence ® Nclaunch, while synthesis and physical implementation are performed using Cadence ® Genus and Innovus tools across multiple technology nodes. Experimental evaluation shows that the 8-bit GD-based MAC implemented in 180 nm technology achieves 14.96times lower power, 9.86times improvement in Power Delay Product (PDP) and Energy per Operation (EOP), and 6.52times improvement in Energy Delay Product (EDP) compared to existing designs. Likewise, the 16-bit MAC in 90 nm technology achieves a 70.08% reduction in delay and a 91.2% improvement in EDP. Overall, the proposed framework delivers a scalable, energy-efficient, and automation-driven solution for high-performance MAC design.
Induced endosymbiosis between a fungus and bacterium reveals a shift from antagonism to commensalism
Abstract Endosymbioses represent dynamic relationships between organisms that may involve antagonistic phases during their emergence. Here, we induced cell-in-cell interactions between the free-living bacterium Ralstonia pickettii and an endosymbiont-free strain of the fungus Rhizopus microsporus using fluidic force microscopy to investigate the early phase of endosymbiosis formation. Following the implantation of bacteria into the cytosol, the rapid proliferation of R. pickettii compromised host fitness, as evidenced by reduced fungal viability, and triggered immune responses characterized by upregulated expression of stress-related defense genes. Vertical transmission of bacteria across fungal generations enabled repeated rounds of selective passaging, ultimately resulting in transcriptional relaxation of the fungal defense response. High-throughput-imaging revealed that the propagated system accommodated higher bacterial loads within viable spores, with a corresponding reduction in fungal growth. The observed physiological changes and comparative fungal transcriptomic profiles indicated adaptive resilience and a shift from antagonism to commensalism. This transition was characterized by attenuated expression of genes involved in cell wall remodeling and reactive oxygen metabolism. Our experimental system provides insights into the early processes of endosymbiosis, supporting the hypothesis that facultative intracellular pathogens can serve as intermediates toward stable endosymbiotic relationships.