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A Benchmark for Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis in Mammogram Visual Question Answering
Intergenerational and horizontal transmission of wheat endophytic fungi
Self-sensing capabilities in steel fiber-reinforced concrete for shrinkage resistance and structural health monitoring
‘Tiny’ AI model beats massive LLMs at logic test
Tolerance of Plasmodium falciparum mefloquine-resistant clinical isolates to mefloquine-piperaquine with implications for triple artemisinin-based combination therapies
Abstract Triple artemisinin-based combination therapies (TACTs) have been proposed to delay the emergence of multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum by combining two partner drugs with an artemisinin derivative. Among these, mefloquine–piperaquine (MQ–PPQ) is a leading candidate, based on the assumption that simultaneous resistance to both partner drugs would be difficult to develop. Here, we assess the efficacy and resistance potential of MQ–PPQ using Cambodian clinical isolates with distinct resistance profiles. We find that MQ resistance confers significant cross-tolerance to the MQ–PPQ combination, whereas PPQ-resistant and -sensitive strains remain susceptible. Under repeated MQ–PPQ pressure for four months, parasites rapidly acquire MQ–PPQ tolerance, driven by pfmdr1 amplification. Mechanistic investigations reveal that MQ inhibits PPQ accumulation in a dose-dependent manner, providing a functional explanation for the compromised efficacy of the combination. These findings demonstrate that MQ resistance alone can undermine MQ–PPQ TACT efficacy, calling into question the strategic rationale of this combination and underscoring the need for alternative regimens with a lower risk of resistance selection.
A smart assistive system for visually challenged people through efficient object detection using deep learning with tunicate swarm algorithm
Unique response of polysulfide in serum albumin to oxidative stress
Convergent evolution of viral-like Borg archaeal extrachromosomal elements and giant eukaryotic viruses
Abstract Borgs are huge extrachromosomal elements of anaerobic methane-oxidizing archaea. They exist in exceedingly complex microbiomes, lack cultivated hosts and have few protein functional annotations, precluding their classification as plasmids, viruses or other. Here, we use in silico structure prediction methods to investigate potential roles for ~10,000 Borg proteins. Prioritizing analysis of multicopy genes that could signal importance for Borg lifestyles, we uncover highly represented de-ubiquitination-like Zn-metalloproteases that may counter host targeting of Borg proteins for proteolysis. Also prevalent are clusters of multicopy genes for production of diverse glycoconjugates that could contribute to decoration of the host cell surface, or of putative capsid proteins that we predict multimerize into pentagonal and hexagonal arrays. Features including megabase-scale linear genomes with inverted terminal repeats, genomic repertoires for energy metabolism, central carbon compound transformations and translation, and pervasive direct repeat regions are shared with giant viruses of eukaryotes, although analyses suggest that these parallels arose via convergent evolution. If Borgs are giant archaeal viruses they would fill the gap in the tri(um)virate of giant viruses of all three domains of life.
The anti-aging potential of VA’S new derivatives through metabolomic profiling
Abstract Skin aging is a complex process influenced by intrinsic and extrinsic factors, leading to structural and functional changes such as reduced elasticity and increased wrinkles. This study aims to evaluate the potential biological functions of Magic vitamin A (MVA) in skin health management and skin aging through metabolomics analysis. We performed untargeted metabolomics analysis using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) to explore the changes in metabolites and related metabolic pathways induced by MVA in HaCaT cells. This suggests that MVA treatment substantially alters the cellular metabolic state. The boxplot analysis indicates that MVA altered the levels of several metabolites, including 18-beta-Glycyrrhetinic acid, Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), 17-AAG, l -arginine, and Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), all of which exhibit significant biological effects in anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Additionally, key metabolic pathways, such as Arginine and proline metabolism, Purine metabolism, and Arachidonic acid metabolism, also highlighted potential anti-aging pathways of MVA. Our findings suggest that MVA may improve skin health through multiple metabolic mechanisms, supporting its potential as an anti-aging agent.
Improving damping capabilities in low-rise frames using reinforced rubberized concrete: A comprehensive study
Microbially-mediated halogenation and dehalogenation cycling of organohalides in the ocean
Computer vision syndrome with academic burnout among college students in majors of medical and health-related fields and the moderating effect of gender
Abstract College students in majors of medical and health-related fields in the academic environment are at high risk of experiencing academic burnout (AB) and computer vision syndrome (CVS). This study explored the direct relationship between CVS and AB among these students. In addition, the study grounded in Job Demand-resources (JD-R) Theory and Social Role Theory constructed a moderated mediation model to examine the mediating role of academic stress (AS) and the moderating role of gender. A total of 859 college students in majors of medical and health-related fields participated in this cross-sectional study. The results demonstrated that CVS had a significant positive prediction on both AS and AB among these students, AS significantly and positively predicted AB, AS played a significant mediating role in the relationship between CVS and AB. Additionally, gender significantly moderated the prediction of CVS on AB, no significant gender difference in CVS was observed, a significant gender difference in AB was found, with males reporting significantly higher AB than females, once again confirmed in the academic environments that gender is key to understanding burnout. These findings improve our understanding of how CVS contributes to AB and the emergence of gender difference of these students’ AB. Furthermore, to promote gender equality in medical and health-related fields in academic environments, this study provides actionable insights for medical education institutions to mitigate both AB and CVS according to gender differences and the relationship between CVS and AB.
Non-destructive detection of coating delamination using reflected time-domain terahertz waveforms
How ancient humans bred and traded the first domestic dogs
The luminal domain region of Seipin/Fld1 is dispensable for establishing functional ER sites for lipid droplet biogenesis
Investigating the potential of dietary iron supplementation to enhance long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis in Hediste diversicolor
Abstract Fatty acyl desaturases are nutritionally regulated and depend on iron (Fe) for optimal activity. We hypothesised that dietary Fe supplementation, under conditions promoting desaturase upregulation, can enhance desaturase activity and improve n-3 LC-PUFA biosynthesis in invertebrates. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary Fe supplementation on LC-PUFA biosynthesis in H. diversicolor , a commercially important polychaete, using both In vitro and in vivo approaches. The in vitro assays revealed that Fe supplementation, from both inorganic (FeSO 4 ) and organic (ProPath ® Fe) sources, has potential to increase desaturase activity, particularly on the H. diversicolor methyl-end desaturase ωx2, under high-expression conditions simulated in yeast. In contrast, in vivo feeding trial showed no significant differences in LC-PUFA composition of H. diversicolor fed Fe-supplemented diets compared to controls. This apparent discrepancy may be due to the LC-PUFA-free diet not sufficiently upregulating fatty acyl desaturases, leading to no increased Fe demand for enzyme activity. Alternatively, although the LC-PUFA-free diet may have triggered desaturase upregulation, the expected effects of Fe supplementation on desaturase activity and LC-PUFA content were not observed. This suggests Fe was not a limiting factor, even in the control group.
Green urban environments enhance brain-to-brain synchrony
Global variation in plant-beneficial bacteria in soil under pesticide stress
Abstract The presence of plant-beneficial bacteria (PBB) in soil significantly affects crop production. Excessive agrochemical use in intensive agriculture causes substantial soil residue accumulation, compromising soil health, crop quality, and human health. Understanding changes in beneficial bacteria under pesticide pollution is crucial for guiding sustainable agricultural practices and promoting soil health. We analyze metagenomic data from 1919 soil samples to identify 364 PBBs. We find higher PBB diversity in agricultural soils than in non-agricultural soils; however, pesticide pollution negatively affects the abundance of PBB, particularly those with plant growth-promoting traits. Pesticides not only reduce PBB diversity as individual factors, but they also exert synergistic negative effects with other anthropogenic factors, as determined by Hedges’ d effect size and 95% confidence intervals, further accelerating the decline in PBB diversity. Increased pesticide risk also leads to a loss of functional gene diversity in PBB about carbon and nitrogen cycling within essential nutrient cycles, and a reduction in specific amino acid and vitamin synthesis. Artificial application of specific amino acids and vitamins could be an effective strategy to restore PBB in high-pesticide-risk soils. This study provides guidance for regulating pesticide use to mitigate their negative effects on soil PBB and suggests potential remedial measures.