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Cecal microbiota of broilers responds similarly to black soldier fly larvae fat and conventional dietary fat sources

This study aimed to compare the effects of black soldier fly ( Hermetia illucens ) larvae (BSFL) fat with those of dietary fats commonly used in broiler chicken nutrition on gut pH and cecal microbiome. A total of 800 one-day-old male Ross 308 chicks were randomly assigned to eight dietary groups, with each group consisting of 10 replicate pens of 10 birds each fed for 35 days. The study design was as follows: the basal diet was enriched with various dietary fats as the sole source of fat, including BSFL fat (as the reference group), soybean oil (SO), rapeseed oil (RO), palm oil (PO), palm kernel fatty acid distillate (PKFD), poultry fat (PF), pig lard (PL), and beef tallow (BT). At the end of the experiment (35 days), the digesta from the crop, gizzard, jejunum, and ceca were sampled for further analyses, including pH determination and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Compared with PKFD, PF, and BT, BSFL significantly reduced the crop pH (P = 0.005). Additionally, BSFL increased the gizzard pH (P = 0.006) relative to PKFD. No differences in alpha diversity were detected among the diets; however, beta diversity differed significantly between the BSFL and PKFD groups (P = 0.034). BSFL fat was associated with a significant reduction in the abundances of Proteobacteria (P = 0.011), Enterobacteriaceae (P = 0.009), and Escherichia-Shigella (P = 0.009) compared with PKFD fat. LEfSe analysis revealed the following microbial markers responsive to BSFL treatment: total bacteria (P < 0.001), Rikenellaceae (P = 0.025), Peptococcaceae [uncultured genus] (P = 0.003), Rhodospirillales (P = 0.048), Alistipes (P = 0.025), the Eubacterium coprostanoligenes group (P = 0.018), the Clostridia vadin BB60 group (P = 0.032), and Alistipes sp. (P = 0.023). These findings suggest that BSFL positively affects the pH in the upper part of a bird’s gut compared with selected animal fats. Furthermore, BSFL enriched beneficial bacteria while inhibiting opportunistic pathogens in the cecal environment of broiler chickens.

Deep learning reveals how cells pull, buckle, and navigate fibrous environments

Cells in tissues navigate fibrous environments fundamentally differently than they do on flat substrates, but the establishment of cell forces in physiological fibrous settings remains poorly understood. Although factors such as the stiffness of the extracellular matrix (ECM) are known to drive behaviors, including cell motility on flat nonfibrous substrates, the interplay between fiber architecture and stiffness in fibrous ECM is not known. Here, we find that in fibrous environments, the directionality of mechanical forces overrides ECM stiffness as the primary regulator of contractility in migrating cells. Using an approach combining phase microscopy with deep learning to map forces in real time, termed deep learning-enabled live-cell fiber-force microscopy (DLFM), we reveal that when cells transition between anisotropic and isotropic stress fields, their contractility significantly drops despite encountering stiffer ECM, contrary to the behavior of cells on flat nonfibrous substrates. Unlike the peripheral adhesions observed on flat nonfibrous substrates, cells in fibrous matrices form force-generating adhesions throughout their body, stabilized by out-of-plane mechanical components unique to fiber geometry. Cells exhibit distinct force signatures during migration, division, and differentiation, with temporal signatures that predict stem cell fate. These findings, enabled by combining deep learning and the mechanics of cells and fibers, explain long-standing paradoxical behavior of cells navigating deformable fibrous environments, how they can pull and tug at them, and identify tension anisotropy as a master regulator of cell behavior, with implications for cancer invasion, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.

Silencing PCSK9 reshapes the spatiotemporal activation of STING for safe and effective cancer immunotherapy

Evaluation of silica nanoparticles coated by imprinted polymer for enzymatic determination of hypoxanthine using ferroin as freshness sensor in fish samples

Multi-UAV forest area inspection path planning based on concave polygon region decomposition

A study on young male drivers’ performance and cognitive shifts under time-reduction-goal tasks

Drivers often engage in aggressive behaviors during time-reduction-goal tasks without fully understanding the actual time saved. This study investigated how such goals influence driving behavior and perception. A total of 99 young male drivers initially completed a survey assessing their beliefs about time-saving performance. Of these, 32 were randomly selected to participate in real driving experiments under both time-reduction and control conditions. Heart rate (HR), skin conductance response (SCR), and driving data were collected. Afterward, the experimental results were shared with all 99 drivers who completed the initial survey, including the 32 experimental participants and 67 non-participants. All drivers then provided cognitive feedback. The findings indicated that: (1) 78% of drivers believed that aggressive driving reduced both traffic light-affected time (TLT) and non-traffic light-affected time (NTLT); (2) Time-reduction goals led to more frequent acceleration and deceleration, reducing total travel time primarily in NTLT segments, while TLT remained stable. HR and SCR showed no significant increase in anxiety; (3) After receiving feedback, 72.7% of drivers, including 85.2% of participants and 69.4% of non-participants, agreed that aggressive driving had limited impact on TLT and expressed a willingness to modify their behavior. This study revealed actual behavioral outcomes under time pressure, assessed the potential of cognitive feedback, and provided insights for promoting safer and more efficient driving.

Artificial cells with liquid–liquid phase separation–regulated cell-free protein synthesis

The rapid advancement of synthetic biology has enabled the construction of artificial cells that closely mimic the morphology and functionality of their natural counterparts. However, significant limitations remain in engineering artificial cells capable of regulated protein expression. Here, we demonstrate that engineered polymers containing multivalent association motifs can reversibly regulate translational activity through liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS)–induced protein aggregation, enabling precise temporal control of cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) activity. This aggregation mechanism exerts a broad inhibitory effect on various enzymes and facilitates the construction of artificial cells with controllable reaction processes. Leveraging this phenomenon, we have developed a microfluidic platform to fabricate giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) that encapsulate CFPS systems, thereby constructing artificial cells with finely tunable protein expression. By incorporating targeted DNA templates, these artificial cells can selectively express specific proteins in response to pH adjustments. Furthermore, in vivo studies using a bile duct ligation mouse model with liver injury further confirmed significant differences in protein expression under alkaline conditions compared to neutral conditions. Our findings highlight the potential of leveraging aggregate dynamics for precise, in situ modulation of protein synthesis within artificial cells, thereby opening avenues for their advanced biomedical applications.

Unified electronic-geometric descriptor deciphers peroxymonosulfate activation using Fe-based dual-atom catalysts

Electrochemical detection of atrazine using a zinc methylimidazolate framework with molecular docking insights

Study of the mechanism of enhanced gas extraction by pressure relief and permeability enhancement in protective mining in a coal seam group

Knowledge, attitudes, and barriers to HIV testing among youth in Kumba, Cameroon: A cross-sectional qualitative community-based focus group study

Background Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a major public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa. In Cameroon, young people are disproportionately affected but underrepresented in HIV testing statistics. Objective To explore knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours related to HIV testing among youth in Kumba, Cameroon, and to identify barriers to inform community-based interventions. Methods A cross-sectional qualitative study was conducted using nine focus group discussions (FGDs) with 75 youth (52 females and 23 males) aged 18 - 35 years across four quarters in the Kumba II municipality. Participants were purposively sampled to reflect diverse educational and occupational backgrounds. Data were thematically analysed using Braun and Clarke’s framework with NVivo Version 14. Results Participants demonstrated high awareness of HIV testing services (90.7%) and transmission via sexual contact (96.0%), though knowledge gaps remained regarding non-sexual transmission and testing procedures. While 93.3% had previously undergone HIV testing, 57.3% reported stigma and 46.7% raised confidentiality concerns as ongoing barriers. Female participants feared being labelled as promiscuous, while males cited social norms that discourage help-seeking. Most participants supported school-based or youth-centred community testing, emphasising the need for privacy and youth-friendly environments. Key motivators for testing included the desire to know one’s status (82.7%), symptom appearance (28.0%), and unprotected sex (17.3%). Conclusions Despite strong awareness and high testing uptake, stigma and confidentiality concerns persist among youth in Kumba. To enhance HIV testing rates, community-based strategies should prioritise mobile clinics, peer outreach, and confidential youth-centred services. Strengthening education about HIV transmission and demystifying the testing process may further reduce barriers.

Emergence of bulk-like structural features and 2D-to-3D transition in boron nanoclusters

As an electron-deficient element, boron possesses fascinating three-dimensional structures and unconventional chemical bonds. Nanoclusters of boron have also been found to exhibit intriguing structural properties, observed to have predominantly planar structures, in stark contrast to bulk boron allotropes, which are composed of the ubiquitous B 12 icosahedral building blocks. Here, we report observation of the 2D-to-3D transition and bulk-like structural features in the size-selected boron clusters, as revealed by photoelectron spectroscopy, chemisorption experiments, and first-principles calculations. In the small to medium cluster size range, planar boron cluster anions are found to be unreactive and only B 46 – and B 56 – are observed to chemisorb C 2 H 4 and CO under ambient conditions, suggesting major structural transitions at these cluster sizes. Notably, B 56 – is also found to be able to chemisorb and activate CO 2 . The global minimum of B 46 – is found to adopt a core-shell structure (B 2 @B 44 – ), consisting of a B 2 core within a B 44 shell, reminiscent of the interstitial B 2 dumbbells in the high-pressure γ -B 28 form of bulk boron. More remarkably, both the global minimum and the second most stable isomer of B 56 – exhibit nest-like configurations, featuring the iconic B 12 icosahedral core surrounded by a B 44 half-shell (B 12 @ h- B 44 – ), signifying the onset of bulk-like structural characteristics in boron nanoclusters.

Picosecond-scale heterogeneous melting of metals at extreme non-equilibrium states

Abstract Extreme electron-ion non-equilibrium states, generated by ultrafast laser excitation, lead to melting processes that are fundamentally different from those under conventional thermal equilibrium and remain not fully understood. Through neural network-enhanced multiscale simulations of tungsten and gold nanofilms, we identify electronic pressure relaxation as critical to heterogeneous phase transformations. This nonthermal expansion generates a density decrease that enable surface-initiated melting far below equilibrium melting temperatures, creating electronic pressure-driven solid-liquid interface propagation at a high speed of 2500 ms −1 —tenfold faster than that of thermal heterogeneous melting mechanisms. Simulated time-resolved X-ray diffraction signatures distinguish this nonthermal expansion from thermal expansion dynamics driven by thermoelastic stress. These results establish hot-electron-mediated lattice destabilization as a universal pathway for laser-induced structural transformations, providing new insights for interpreting time-resolved experiments and controlling laser-matter interactions.

Robust and imperceptible image watermarking using chaotic map-integrated quantum-inspired multi-objective cuckoo search optimization

Utilizing telemedicine to enhance access to Gender Expression Care for transgender and gender diverse individuals

Editorial Note: How institutional quality, and energy production sources, affect the environmental sustainability of bri countries: A comparison of different income groups

Pharmacogenomics and chronotherapy of drug-induced cardioprotection in acute myocardial infarction

Assessment of cholesterol-HDL-glucose index in anticipating risk of cardiometabolic diseases: a comparative study with triglyceride-glucose index

Brain age gap is associated with cognitive abilities in captive chimpanzees

Validation and evaluation of a tablet-based dietary record app for adults aged 70 and above

Objective This study aimed at validating the dietary recording functionality of the NuMob-e-App, developed for adults aged 70 and above, against the 24-hour dietary recall reference standard. Methods 104 independently living adults (mean age 75.8 ± 4.1 years; 58% female) from northwest Germany participated. They recorded their dietary intake on three consecutive days using the App. In parallel, we conducted a structured 24-hour dietary recall via telephone. Nutritional intake was analysed for energy, macronutrients, and food groups defined by the German Nutrition Society. Data were analysed for equivalence using Two One-Sided Tests (TOST), agreement using Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC), and systematic differences using Bland-Altman plots. Results Equivalence could be shown in 20 of the 44 compared variables, ICC variated between 0.677 to 0.951 for the four macronutrients and between 0.714 and 0.968 for the seven food groups. The Bland-Altman plots showed tendency to underestimation by the app in most variables and relatively narrow limits of agreement. Conclusions The NuMob-e-App demonstrated good relative validity for assessing energy, carbohydrate, and protein intake, as well as selected food groups in older adults. While equivalence was not achieved across all 44 variables, agreement was particularly strong for protein and beverages. A general tendency toward intake underestimation by the app was observed. These findings support the app’s potential for use in preventive dietary self-monitoring among seniors.