Browse Articles

Correction for Zhang et al., TaHSP18.6 and TaSRT1 interact to confer resistance to <i>Fusarium</i> crown rot by regulating the auxin content in common wheat

State-correlated reaction dynamics unveiled in full from a single product-image measurement

The prognostic value and functional role of CPSF3 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Retraction: Asymmetric effects of foreign direct investment and globalization on ecological footprint in Indonesia

A tripartite protein complex promotes DNA transport during natural transformation in Firmicutes

Natural genetic transformation is a conserved mechanism of bacterial horizontal gene transfer, which is directed entirely by the recipient cell and facilitates the acquisition of new genetic traits such as antibiotic resistance. Transformation proceeds via the capture of exogenous DNA, its internalization in single strand form (ssDNA) and its integration into the recipient chromosome by homologous recombination. While the proteins involved in these steps have mainly been identified, the specific mechanisms at play remain poorly characterized. This study takes advantage of recent advances in structural modeling to explore the uptake of ssDNA during transformation. Using the monoderm human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae , we model a tripartite protein complex composed of the transmembrane channel ComEC, and two cytoplasmic ssDNA-binding proteins ComFA and ComFC. Using targeted mutation and transformation assays, we propose that pneumococcal ComEC features a narrow channel for ssDNA passage, and we show this channel is conserved in the diderm Helicobacter pylori . We identify key residues involved in protein–protein and protein–ssDNA interactions in the pneumococcal tripartite complex model and we show them to be crucial for transformation efficiency. Structural modeling reveals that this tripartite protein complex and its interaction with ssDNA are conserved in Firmicutes. Overall, this study validates a tripartite complex required for the internalization of ssDNA during transformation in Firmicutes, providing insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in this horizontal gene transfer mechanism central to bacterial adaptation. It also demonstrates the power of recent structural modeling techniques such as AlphaFold3 as hypothesis generators and guides for designing experiments.

Whole-body CD8+ T-cell PET imaging in patients with large B-cell lymphoma before and during CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapy: a phase 2 study

Advanced luminescence dating of the Karapürçek formation reveals middle pleistocene tectonic reorganization of the North Anatolian Fault Zone

Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of the Spanish version of the SBAR-LA rubric for structured communication in nursing simulation

Background Although the SBAR framework is widely used in clinical and educational settings, there is a lack of validated Spanish-language tools that objectively assess its use by students in simulation. The adaptation and validation of the SBAR-LA rubric address this gap and provide a resource for training and evaluating structured communication. Objective To conduct the cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of the SBAR-LA rubric in Spanish for assessing structured communication skills in undergraduate nursing students during clinical simulation. Methods A two-phase cross-sectional psychometric validation study was conducted. Phase one involved cross-cultural adaptation, including forward and backward translation, expert panel review, and cognitive debriefing with nursing students. Phase two assessed inter-rater reliability using Krippendorff’s alpha based on 97 performance evaluations obtained in different simulation scenarios. The SBAR-LA-Sp rubric contains 10 dichotomous items across the four SBAR dimensions. Results The Spanish version of the SBAR-LA rubric demonstrated excellent inter-rater reliability, with a Krippendorff’s alpha of 0.933 (95% CI: 0.905–0.956). Internal consistency and agreement between raters were also high, confirming the instrument’s robustness. Conclusions The Spanish version of the SBAR-LA rubric provides an objective measure of structured communication in nursing simulation. The findings support its use in academic training. Further research is needed to examine its effect on learning outcomes.

A periplasmic zinc capture protein enhances the resistance of <i>Neisseria gonorrhoeae</i> to nutritional immunity

During microbial infection, mammalian hosts reduce the availability of free metals such as zinc in a process known as nutritional immunity. Pathogens counteract nutritional immunity by expressing gene products that enhance growth in metal-limited conditions. One of the most transcriptionally induced genes in zinc-limited Neisseria gonorrhoeae , ngo1049, encodes a DUF4198 family protein we have named Zcp. This family of proteins is widely distributed in Gram-negative bacteria. Here, we provide the first structural, biochemical, and functional characterization of a DUF4198 protein. Zcp is a periplasmic, homodimeric substrate-binding protein (SBP), which binds one zinc ion per subunit with submicromolar affinity. We identified a zinc binding pocket in each subunit, composed of three histidine residues. Zcp enables maximal growth of N. gonorrhoeae in zinc-limited conditions but is dispensable for zinc uptake, in contrast to the cluster A-I SBP ZnuA, which is required for zinc import. The growth defect of zcp mutant N. gonorrhoeae is rescued by zinc supplementation. Zcp associates with proteins with roles in maintaining cell envelope integrity, and N. gonorrhoeae lacking zcp is more sensitive to envelope-targeting antimicrobials. Zcp enables infectivity of human epithelial cells and neutrophils by zinc-limited N. gonorrhoeae . We conclude that N. gonorrhoeae produces Zcp to buffer periplasmic zinc, which enables ZnuA to balance import of different metals and ensures the bioavailability of zinc for extracytoplasmic zinc-requiring proteins, as part of the coordinated response to host-imposed nutritional immunity.

A de novo missense variant in MIDEAS results in increased deacetylase activity of the MiDAC HDAC complex causing a neurodevelopmental syndrome

Abstract MIDEAS is a scaffold protein that, together with DNTTIP1, mediates assembly of the MiDAC histone deacetylase complex. Mice lacking MiDAC die before birth suggesting a key developmental function. Here, we report two unrelated individuals, with a multisystem disorder characterised by delayed speech development, joint contractures, dysmorphic features and dysmotility of the gut. Both individuals have the same de novo heterozygous missense variant in MIDEAS (p.Tyr654Ser). A cryoEM structure of the MiDAC complex reveals that this amino acid is located in a conserved auto-inhibitory loop that covers the active site of the deacetylase enzyme. We suggest that the variant results in loop displacement leading to elevated deacetylase activity. In support, we observe reciprocal gene expression changes in patient fibroblasts compared with a cell line following rapid MiDAC degradation. Our results establish MIDEAS as a dominant monogenic disease gene and that hyperactivity of the MiDAC complex results in a characteristic multisystem disorder.

Unveiling the multitarget mechanism of Liuwei Dihuang decoction in autism spectrum disorder via network pharmacology and molecular docking

Abstract Liuwei Dihuang decoction (LW) is used for paediatric autism spectrum disorders (ASD) treatment, but its mechanism of action is unclear. This study aims to provide clinical evidence for LW in treating ASD in children and investigate its mechanism through network pharmacology, microarray analysis, and molecular docking. A retrospective review of 80 clinical cases of children with ASD and the therapeutic effect of LW was conducted. Drug-disease co-expressed genes were used to construct PPI network maps. The active ingredients of LW were obtained from the TCMSP, CNKI, and PubMed, with screening criteria of OB ≥ 30% and DL ≥ 0.18. Disease targets were sourced from the GeneCards, OMIM, and DisGeNET databases. Core targets were further analyzed using GO and KEGG. Microarray data were employed to analyze the expression levels of the core targets. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations were performed on protein–ligand complexes. MD simulations were performed using GROMACS 2022 for 100 ns, and the stability of the complex was evaluated by analyzing key parameters including RMSD, RMSF, and hydrogen bond occupancy. LW showed promising therapeutic effects on ASD, with efficacy decreasing with age. Quercetin, Tetrahydroalstonine, Diosgenin and Kaempferol were identified as active compounds. PTGS2 and MMP9 were upregulated and identified as key genes in ASD treatment. The binding energies of the key complexes PTGS2-Quercetin, PTGS2-Tetrahydroalstonine, MMP9-Diosgenin, and MMP9-Kaempferol were determined to be − 9.5 kJ/mol, − 9.4 kJ/mol, − 8.1 kJ/mol, and − 7.2 kJ/mol, respectively. Molecular simulations showed favorable binding between key genes and active compounds. This study provides clinical evidence for the treatment of ASD with LW, and predicts its main active ingredients, potential pathways, and core targets, providing a reliable basis for the clinical treatment and drug screening of ASD.

Research on data transmission system based on expert library reinforcement learning in integrated network

With the continuous advancement of network transmission technology, more and more applications are being applied in wireless network environments, especially in places that require high coverage, such as oceans and mountainous areas. However, wireless data transmission has the disadvantages of unstable transmission and easy interruption using traditional methods. Based on this, we propose a data transmission system that uses a micro-electron-mechanical system (MEMS) sensor to obtain the wireless network status and applies expert library reinforcement learning that does not rely on reward functions to achieve retrieval enhancement of data transmission. Experimental verification shows that the proposed expert library reinforcement learning has strong generalizability and fast convergence. Expert library reinforcement learning, wireless network, MEMS, integrated network.

Heating rate gradient drives mesostructural dynamics in solid propellant under nonequilibrium conditions

Rapid, nonequilibrium heating drives mesoscale structural evolution in heterogeneous composite materials under extreme thermal conditions, critically influencing performance in aerospace propulsion and advanced structural applications. However, existing experimental techniques lack the capability to directly observe heterogeneous structural evolution and intercomponent interactions under controlled conditions that closely mimic realistic nonequilibrium thermal fronts. Consequently, theoretical models, which assume equilibrium conditions or neglect dynamic structural evolution, remain insufficiently validated and cannot accurately predict these critical transformation pathways. Here, we developed a gradiated fast-heating system (&gt;20 °C/s) enabling precise control of heating rate gradients within submillimeter transition regions in a single specimen, seamlessly integrated with sequential synchrotron X-ray tomography and radiography to directly visualize internal structural evolution. This approach allowed capture of diverse structural transformation pathways spanning microsecond-to-millisecond timescales under distinct nonequilibrium thermal conditions, revealing the complete sequence from initial pyrolysis through ignition to final burnout. We found that local heating rates, rather than bulk temperatures, dictate void formation dynamics and fragmentation pathways. In regions with high local heating rates, rapid void nucleation within the binder phase created reticulated porous networks, evolving four times faster than curved interfacial voids observed in adjacent regions experiencing lower heating rates. Furthermore, a cascade of heterogeneous component interactions subsequently fragmented the metallic network into isolated clusters, seeding critical ignition hotspots that governed combustion initiation and propagation mechanisms. These findings indicate that kinetic processes, influenced notably by heating rate, play an important role in mesostructural evolution under nonequilibrium conditions.

Intravaginal delivery of mRNA-encoded antibodies with enhanced breadth and potency for SHIV/HIV protection

Archived multi-objective simulated annealing transient electromagnetic inversion

Genome-wide analysis of Udai21: Unraveling the genetic basis of superior eating quality in rice

Rice ( Oryza sativa L.) is a staple for more than half of the world’s population, and grain quality strongly influences consumer preference and market value. Udai21, also referred to as Ohkome21, and previously designated as Yudai21, is a Japanese japonica cultivar noted for excellent eating quality and storage performance, yet its breeding origin and genomic basis remain unclear. Here, we aimed to resolve the genomic composition and likely parental origins of Udai21, and to identify candidate genes related to its distinctive quality traits. We generated a chromosome-scale assembly using PacBio HiFi long reads and assessed within-cultivar uniformity by sampling two breeder-maintained lines. We then profiled population structure using double digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing together with representative accessions and conducted whole-genome resequencing and organelle genome analysis to trace ancestry, map polymorphisms, and annotate predicted impacts. Udai21 was predominantly japonica but carried introgressed aus-derived segments on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 10. Organelle single-nucleotide polymorphisms placed Udai21 with the aus cluster, consistent with an aus maternal origin and a japonica (Koshihikari) paternal contribution. The two maintenance lines showed high genetic uniformity. Among 37,522 predicted genes, we identified 1,017 non-redundant genes harboring high- or moderate-impact variants relative to Koshihikari, including loci previously implicated in grain quality and starch metabolism. These results support a hybrid origin for Udai21 (aus × Koshihikari) and provide a curated genome resource and candidate loci that can enable marker-assisted selection and informed crossing to combine superior eating quality with postharvest stability.

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase homologs as bifunctional gatekeepers of metabolic segregation in <i> <i>Pseudomonas</i> putida </i>

Metabolically versatile Pseudomonas species can assimilate various glycolytic and gluconeogenic substrates. Simultaneous assimilation is known to segregate carbons from each substrate type into different metabolic pathways. However, the mechanisms of this metabolic segregation remain unresolved. Here, we investigate Pseudomonas putida KT2440 during processing of the sugar glucose through glycolysis versus the phenolic acid ferulate through gluconeogenesis. Metabolome profiling reveals up to twofold less tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolites but up to 10-fold higher metabolites of upper glycolysis, pentose-phosphate, and Entner–Doudoroff pathways in glucose-grown cells compared to ferulate-grown cells. After 13 C-substrate switching, kinetic isotopic profiling captures rapid assimilation of new substrate carbons into initial catabolic pathways, but incorporation into downstream pathways is absent or incomplete. Proteomics identifies a 22-fold higher abundance of one homolog of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH, GapA) in cells fed on glucose relative to ferulate, while abundance of another homolog (GapB) remains unchanged. Growth phenotypes and quantitative metabolomics for single and double knockout mutants of these GAPDH homologs indicate only GapA involvement in glycolytic flux, which can be compensated by the Entner–Doudoroff pathway, and distinct preference of GapB with minimal role of GapA for gluconeogenic flux. Accordingly, growth of triple knockout mutant with deletion of gapA , gapB , and edd is possible only when glycolytic and gluconeogenic substrates are provided together to meet metabolic demands in a segregated fashion, but metabolic tradeoffs lead to slow growth. A mathematical, experimentally constrained, model of the GAPDH node shows that tuning of GapA and GapB concentrations enables transition between flux regimes for nutritional adaptability.

Ecoresorbable chipless temperature-responsive tag made from biodegradable materials for sustainable IoT

Abstract Temperature monitoring within the cold chain, essential for safety of perishable products, typically employs devices such as battery-powered data loggers and radio-frequency identification tags. Such devices include non-eco-friendly components, posing challenges for their safe disposal and recycling. This study demonstrates the fabrication of a fully ecoresorbable, chipless, and wireless temperature-responsive tag, designed to irreversibly track temperature changes through a permanent shift in resonance frequency. The tag is printed on a customized moisture-resistant poly(β-hydroxybutyrate)-cellulose composite substrate. An RLC circuit made of printed zinc metallic traces, encapsulated with beeswax to prevent oxidation, enables seamless wireless operation. The tag utilizes bio-based phase-changing materials such as frozen olive, jojoba, and coconut oils to induce irreversible resonance frequency shifts of more than 30 MHz at respective melting points of 8 °C, 15 °C, and 25 °C. A cellulose capillary element efficiently absorbs the melted oil, enabling reliable operation at inclinations from 0° to 90°. At the end of its service life, the device can undergo disintegration in a compost environment within 9 weeks. This work demonstrates a sustainable chipless technology from material selection and manufacturing processes to end-of-life disposal as an advanced thermal indicator solution for cold chain temperature-excursion detection.

Bee venom and thymoquinone combination inhibits cancer cells by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis

Discrete elemental analysis on the effect of particle morphology and size on interparticle contact force

Particle morphology and size are fundamental characteristics that significantly influence the mechanical behavior of granular materials. This study introduces key parameters—aspect ratio (Ω), sphericity (S), and equivalent diameter (Dₑ)—into a modified Hertz-based contact model to conduct a multiscale study using contact mechanics theory and the discrete element method (DEM). A series of two-particle tests and triaxial compression simulations were performed. The results show strong agreement between numerical simulations and theoretical predictions at the particle scale, validating the modified contact model. At the sample scale, the peak deviatoric stress increased by approximately 15–40% as aspect ratio decreased from 1.00 to 0.33 and sphericity decreased from 1.00 to 0.11. Similarly, increasing the equivalent diameter from 3.78 mm to 8.82 mm led to a 20–35% rise in peak stress. At the particle scale, both normal and tangential contact forces increased with larger equivalent diameters but exhibited complex dependencies on morphology due to varied contact patterns. These findings enhance the understanding of how particle-scale characteristics influence macroscopic mechanical properties.