Browse Articles

Research advances in key genes and regulatory mechanisms of posttranslational modifications in Parkinson’s disease

Background The genesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD), a common central neurodegenerative disorder, involves dysregulation of protein posttranslational modifications (PTM). The primary objective of this study was to screen key PTM-associated genes (PTMGs) serving as diagnostic indicators and potential therapeutic targets in PD. Methods Peripheral blood transcriptomic data for PD cohorts and healthy controls were retrieved from publicly accessible repositories. Candidate genes were identified by overlapping differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with established PTMGs via differential expression profiling. Machine learning-based screening approaches were used for the selection of feature genes. Key genes were validated via receiver operating characteristic curve assessment combined with verification of expression levels. Subsequently, enrichment analysis, immune infiltration assessment, chromosome mapping, prediction of ribonucleic acid (RNA) modification sites, and compound screening were further explored. Results A total of 404 DEGs were identified, 19 of which overalpped with PTMGs and were thus selected as candidate genes. ML-based analysis narrowed these to eight feature genes, among which those coding for beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase 3 ( B4GALT3 ), ring finger and FYVE-like domain-containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase ( RFFL ), and GABA type A receptor-associated protein ( GABARAP ) were validated as key genes based on their diagnostic performance and consistent downregulation in the PD group ( p  < 0.05). Gene set enrichment analysis demonstrated significant enrichment within immune signaling cascades. Analysis of immune cell infiltration revealed diminished populations of activated B lymphocytes, activated CD4-positive T cells, and natural killer T cell subsets in the PD group, which exhibited predominantly positive associations with the identified key genes ( p  < 0.05). Chromosome mapping localized B4GALT3 to chromosome 1 and RFFL / GABARAP to chromosome 17. High-confidence m 6 A methylation sites were predicted for B4GALT3 and RFFL . Compound screening identified 34 potential compounds targeting these genes, including valproic acid and phenobarbital. Conclusion This study identified B4GALT3 , RFFL , and GABARAP as key PTMGs in PD, highlighting their roles in PD genesis and potential as diagnostic biomarkers.

A data-driven remote sensing approach for VMS mineralization mapping: Integrating Sentinel-2 imagery with geology data in the Asmara Belt, Eritrea

Mineral resources play a critical role in the sustainable economic development of countries. In Eritrea, conventional mineral exploration and geological mapping methods are expensive, time-consuming, and in some inaccessible areas, difficult to implement. Advances in remote sensing and data-driven analytical techniques now provide efficient alternatives for mineral exploration. This research applies a remote sensing and data-driven approach, combining multispectral Sentinel-2 imagery with field geological data, to identify volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits and map lithology in the arid Asmara mineralized belt of Eritrea. Image processing techniques, including band ratios and Feature Oriented Principal Components Selection (FPCS), were combined with supervised classification algorithms such as Maximum Likelihood, Minimum Distance, and Spectral Angle Mapper to derive geological classes. Field data, including rock samples and GPS locations of known VMS gossans, were integrated for model training, thin-section validation, and performance assessment. The results demonstrate that hydrothermal alteration zones associated with VMS deposits, expressed as oxidized gossans, were effectively distinguished from widespread but unmineralized hematitic laterites using the Chica-Olma ratio method and supervised classification algorithms. The derived lithological and alteration maps show strong agreement with existing geological maps, and the locations of known VMS deposits, underscoring the potential of combining Sentinel-2 imagery and geological field data for mineral exploration in the Arabian–Nubian Shield.

Linguistic realizations of personality and emotional polarity in Tan Twan Eng’s The Garden of Evening Mists: A systemic functional discourse analysis

This study examines how personality and emotion are linguistically realized in Tan Twan Eng’s The Garden of Evening Mists , drawing on the Big Five Model of Personality (BFM) and Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) to construct an integrated theoretical-qualitative framework for the analysis of character language in literary narrative. Emotional polarity is understood as the systematic orientation of affective meaning, positive, neutral, or negative, realized through lexicogrammatical choices at the interpersonal, ideational, and textual levels of language. Through close discourse analysis of selected passages, the study traces how patterns of modality, process type, and cohesion correspond to shifts in emotional polarity across three narrative phases: trauma recollection, apprenticeship in Yugiri, and reflective closure. The findings indicate that emotional polarity in the novel can be read as a form of psychological adaptation rather than static sentiment: negative polarity, realized through obligation modals and syntactic compression, reflects a high-Conscientiousness, high-Neuroticism configuration associated with trauma-related self-regulation; neutral polarity, marked by evaluative balance and descriptive cohesion, signals stabilized Conscientiousness and emerging Openness; positive polarity, expressed through relational processes and permissive modality, corresponds to increased Openness and diminished Neuroticism. The interpersonal dimensions of Agreeableness and Extraversion are realized at lower density but trace parallel arcs across the three phases, with Agreeableness providing the linguistic site at which the novel’s central thematic question of inherited hatred is settled. By integrating Big Five personality theory with systemic-functional analysis, the study offers a theoretically grounded and interpretively transparent framework for investigating how emotional language encodes personality transformation in narrative discourse. The findings contribute to ongoing dialogues between personality psychology, functional linguistics, and literary stylistics and illustrate how this framework can be applied to postcolonial narrative fiction.

Forecasting user engagement and competing cascades in social media diffusion: A Hawkes-Transformer approach

Social media has evolved into a socio-technical infrastructure that shapes public attention, social interaction, and information governance. Understanding how user engagement behaviors, such as retweets, comments, and likes, collectively influence information diffusion is important for forecasting digital dynamics. Using large-scale data from Sina Weibo, this study develops a hybrid Hawkes–Transformer framework that combines the interpretability of self-exciting point processes with the predictive capacity of deep learning. The model captures both interactions within a post and competition across parallel posts within the same trending topic. Empirical results show that retweets strongly amplify diffusion through self-excitation, while comments can suppress diffusion by diverting user attention. In addition, parallel cascades tend to fragment rather than reinforce information flow. By incorporating Hawkes-estimated parameters as structured inputs into a Transformer model, the proposed approach improves predictive performance while retaining interpretability. These findings provide insights into how attention is distributed and competed for in social media environments, with implications for understanding algorithmic visibility and managing information diffusion.

White House rolls out AI funding — and signals a new era for US science

Cohort profile: Walking for harm reduction through street engagement (WHiSE 2.0)

Indigenous people using substances experience health disparities that are compounded by systemic inequities shaped by colonialism. The WHiSE 2.0 study aims to describe substance use patterns and harm reduction approaches among Indigenous people who use drugs in Thunder Bay, Sudbury, and Sault Ste Marie. A community-based research approach was used and guided by Indigenous leadership. Eligible study participants self-identified as Indigenous, lived in the study regions, and used substances within the last 3 months. Participants completed an interviewer-administered 1-hour questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were conducted to summarize participant demographic and cultural characteristics, impacts of colonization, substance use and health behaviours, and harm reduction knowledge, stratified by city. A total of 356 participants were enrolled: 173 in Thunder Bay, 101 in Sault Ste. Marie, and 82 in Sudbury. Most identified as First Nations with 93.1% in Thunder Bay, 76.8% in Sudbury, and 75.2% in Sault Ste. Marie. The percentage of participants across all sites with precarious sleeping situations was high, with 39.0% sleeping on the street, 28.3% staying in a shelter, and 23.3% couch surfing as well as 41.9% staying at a family or friend’s home. Across all sites, 43.3% of participants injected drugs, 31.5% ingested drugs, 92.1% smoked drugs, and 38.5% snorted or inhaled drugs. Importantly across all sites, 84.0% knew what harm reduction was, and 82.3% of respondents had ever had HIV screening test and 84.3% hepatitis C testing. Also, 71.3% of all participants engaged in ceremonies and 22.2% reported that cultural teachings affected their harm reduction practices. WHiSE 2.0 is the first prospective cohort study examining the harm reduction needs of Indigenous people using substances in northern Ontario. Through a culturally grounded, community-led study, urgent service gaps are highlighted and the importance of locally tailored harm reduction strategies rooted in Indigenous knowledge and leadership.

Personalized gene therapy relieves severe epilepsy in two boys

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the acute effects of self-selected rest intervals on exercise performance maintenance, lactate levels, and heart rate

Background Rest interval duration is a key variable in exercise prescription, influencing both performance and physiological responses. Traditional training typically employs fixed rest intervals; however, this approach may not adequately reflect individual variability in recovery needs. Recently, self-selected rest intervals—based on individual perception—have gained attention as a potential strategy for more precise load regulation. Nevertheless, current evidence regarding their effects on exercise performance, heart rate, and blood lactate remains inconsistent. Methods This study followed PRISMA guidelines and conducted a systematic search of Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase from database inception to March 20, 2026. Acute experimental studies comparing self-selected and fixed rest intervals were included. A three-level random-effects meta-analysis was performed to account for dependency among multiple effect sizes. Subgroup analyses, meta-regression, and sensitivity analyses were conducted to explore potential moderators and assess robustness. Results Sixteen studies (k = 16) involving 281 participants were included. No significant overall difference was observed between self-selected and fixed rest intervals for exercise performance (g = 0.27, 95% CI [−0.14, 0.69], p = 0.29), with substantial between-study heterogeneity. After removing outliers, a small but significant effect favoring self-selected rest intervals was identified (g = 0.20, 95% CI [0.08, 0.33], p < 0.01). No significant differences were observed for heart rate (g = 0.002, p = 0.98) or blood lactate (g = −0.20, p = 0.36). Conclusion Self-selected and fixed rest intervals produce comparable effects on exercise performance and physiological responses. However, self-selected rest intervals may confer a small advantage in maintaining performance under specific conditions. These findings should be interpreted with caution due to sensitivity to outliers and study heterogeneity.

Author Correction: Feature-specific threat coding in lateral septum guides defensive action

Dynamic analysis of weak prisoner’s dilemma game considering conservative and aggressive cooperative strategy

The balancing of benefits is a critical pathway for maintaining cooperative relationships among selfish individuals within a group. Relevant research has confirmed that the ultimate outcomes of altruistic actions essentially revert to the level of self-interest. This study posits that individuals exhibit heterogeneous cooperative behaviors in social interactions due to differences in cognitive abilities and personality traits; accordingly, conservative cooperative strategy and aggressive cooperative strategy are introduced. Conservative cooperators are characterized by incurring additional identification costs when interacting strategically with other individuals, whereas aggressive cooperators demonstrate a higher level of resource investment to promote the emergence of cooperation. The results indicate that, in infinite well-mixed populations, reducing identification cost and increasing cooperative benefit can, to some extent, promote cooperation. In structured populations, especially under the random neighbor unconditional imitation rule, the relative advantages of the three strategies increase or decrease in a stage-dependent manner as the identification cost and aggressive cooperation cost vary. The research findings confirm that the presence of differentiated cooperative strategies effectively sustains group cooperation, providing new theoretical insights and model support for analyzing the mechanisms of cooperation evolution in real-world scenarios.

Briefing Chat: Baby T. rex were killers from birth, suggest new fossils

Effect of midwifery students’ continuity of care program on women’s experiences of maternity care: A randomised controlled trial

Background Midwifery continuity of care (CoC) benefits women and families. Engaging midwifery students may help extend such care and improve access to quality maternity services. This study evaluated the impact of a student-led CoC on women’s maternity care experiences during childbirth in a middle-income country. No trials to date have assessed these effects. Methods We conducted a randomized controlled trial with low-risk pregnant women at 26–29 weeks of gestation, intending vaginal delivery. Participants were randomized to intervention (n = 45) or control (n = 48) groups through stratified block randomization with central allocation concealment. The intervention group received continuous care from final-year midwifery students, while both groups received usual care. Childbirth experiences were assessed 40−50 days postpartum using the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ-2), while secondary outcomes were measured with the Experience of Maternity Care and Maternal Satisfaction scales. Results All recruited women were followed up, and baseline characteristics were comparable. In the intervention group, 12 women (27%) had caesarean sections compared to 18 women (38%) in the control group. Among women with experience of labour pain at the hospital (37 intervention, 35 control), the intervention group reported higher mean childbirth experience scores (3.3 vs. 2.3; adjusted mean difference [AMD] 1.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.8 to 1.3). The intervention group scored higher in maternity care experiences during pregnancy (AMD 15.7; 95% CI 13.3 to 18.2), labour and birth (35.6 vs. 23.0; AMD 12.6, 95% CI 7.9 to 17.4), and postnatal care (45.1 vs. 28.2, AMD 17.1; 95% CI 14.0 to 20.2). Maternal satisfaction was greater for normal (187 vs. 130; AMD 56, 95% CI 45–68) and caesarean (162 vs. 130, AMD 30, 95% CI 11–50) births among women in the intervention group. Conclusions Undergraduate midwifery students were able to provide CoC that improved women’s experiences of maternity care. These findings are promising for further research and practical implementation. Trial registration Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT20100414003706N41, registered prospectively on 30 April 2022, https://trialsearch.who.int/Trial2.aspx?TrialID=IRCT20100414003706N4 1; https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/trial/62761 .

Bizarre CRISPR enzyme kills cancer cells by shredding their DNA

Awareness, perceptions, and clinical use of deep margin elevation in subgingival restorative cases: A cross-sectional multicentric study

Background Deep margin elevation (DME) has been introduced as a restorative approach to manage subgingival margins and facilitate adhesive procedures. Despite its clinical description in the literature, limited information is available regarding dentists’ awareness of the technique and their willingness to incorporate it into practice. Objective To assess awareness, perceptions and clinical use of DME for subgingival restorative cases among practicing dentists from selected regions. Methodology A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among dentists working in academic institutions, private practices, or combined settings across centers in the Middle East, the United States, Asia (India), Europe (UK) and practicing dentists in the fellows of the Academy of Dentistry International, stated as other regions. A 20-item closed-ended, self-administered questionnaire assessed awareness and clinical acceptance of DME. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test using SAS (SAS Institute, Cary, NC), with significance set at 0.05. Results Of 450 invited dentists, 349 completed the survey (response rate: 77.6%). Participants practiced in academic institutions (23%), private settings (39%), or combined academic–private environments (38%). Most respondents (77%) were familiar with DME, and 66% considered adhesive bonding to cervical or root dentin in deep margin situations to be predictable. However, when favorable clinical conditions were present, 75% reported preferring surgical crown lengthening. Reported routine use of DME for extensive subgingival proximal lesions in posterior teeth was limited. Conclusion Most respondents were aware of deep marginal elevation (DME) as a successful approach for improving tooth longevity and restoration success when managing deep subgingival margins, provided proper isolation is maintained during the procedure. Few clinicians had concerns regarding cervical marginal adaptation and restoration failure. However, the routine clinical use of DME varied among practitioners across different regions and practice settings. These findings indicate variability in clinicians’ perceptions and application of DME in restorative practice.

Pharmacokinetic model selection for infliximab based on inflammatory bowel disease phenotype and severity: Toward model-informed precision dosing

Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) differ in intestinal location and depth of involvement. Patients with UC who have or experienced a flare-up according to Truelove–Witts criteria (ACUS), as well as those with fistulizing Crohn’s disease (FIST), may represent difficult-to-treat populations. This study investigates the phenotype- and severity-driven selection of infliximab (IFX) population pharmacokinetic models to optimize predictive performance and support precision dosing in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care. A retrospective analysis was conducted at University Hospital Medical Centre “Zvezdara”. Twenty published IFX models were evaluated across five datasets (overall, ASUC, CD, FIST, UC), primarily using trough concentrations obtained via routine therapeutic drug monitoring. Predictive accuracy was assessed using median prediction error (MDPE) and median absolute prediction error (MAPE). Bayesian forecasts were evaluated using median individual prediction error (MDIPE) and its absolute value (MAIPE). Normalized prediction distribution errors (NPDE) and visual predictive check (VPC) were used for simulation-based diagnostics. Moreover, probability of probability of target-attainment (PTA%) per model and subgroup was calculated. No model met all predefined prediction-based performance criteria. In a priori analysis, the Matsuoka model showed the satisfactory overall performance, while the Xu model was most suitable for CD patients. In a posteriori analysis, the Ternant 2008 model had the well overall accuracy, with other models (Dreesen 2021 for ASUC, Matsuoka for CD, Brandse 2016 for UC) performing satisfactory in respective subgroups. Simulation NPDE diagnostics identified the Aubourg model as suitable for the overall dataset, while VPC results mainly supported the a priori analysis conclusions. These findings highlight the relevance of disease phenotype and severity in selecting IFX pharmacokinetic models. Rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach, tailoring model choice to patient subgroups enhances predictive performance. This supports a more individualized, model-informed precision dosing (MIPD) strategy for optimizing IFX dosing in IBD.

Multi-AGV task scheduling and dynamic map path planning based on task pre-allocation

Multi-AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) systems operating in complex warehouse environments equipped with movable containers encounter several challenges, including high system no-load rate, low task response efficiency, and imbalanced path utilization. To address these issues, we propose an integrated optimization approach for task scheduling and path planning. First, a task segmentation strategy is introduced to decompose complex tasks into long-distance transport and precision in-racking sub-tasks which are then allocated to heterogeneous AGV types for execution. Second, a task pre-allocation algorithm is designed to enable AGVs to participate in the subsequent task assignment prior to the completion of their current tasks, thereby reducing the system no-load rate. Third, a dynamic map path planning mechanism is developed, which incorporates a temporary path traffic control module and a localized Floyd update algorithm to achieve real-time path adjustment and effective path utilization optimization. Comparative experiments were conducted in a multi-zone warehouse simulation environment. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach can reduce the system no-load rate, mitigate path congestion, and enhance overall operational performance.

It takes a village: Community science informs tick encounter, pathogen, and exposure risk in North Carolina, USA

As tick-borne disease cases continue to increase over time, there is a growing need to understand the ecological and epidemiological factors that contribute to disease risk. North Carolina is currently experiencing a rise in cases, yet tick-borne research in the state remains limited. In this study, we developed a framework for a community science program in collaboration with 22 county public health agencies to recruit participants to submit incidentally encountered ticks. As part of kit submissions, participants also completed a form describing where and when they encountered the tick, as well as the behaviors that led to the encounters. Submitted ticks were tested for several putative bacterial pathogens, including Borrelia burgdorferi , Ehrlichia spp., and Rickettsia amblyommatis . We additionally assessed how advertising methodology and frequency by county health agencies influenced tick kit submissions and evaluated correlations between agency perceptions of project performance and submission rates. Over two years, we received 444 ticks across 319 unique submissions. While species distributions were largely consistent with prior observations, we report the first published instance of Amblyomma americanum within the mountainous region of NC, indicating a potential range expansion into cooler, higher-altitude areas. Relative risk modeling identified recreational activities as consistently associated with higher likelihood of tick kit submissions. Multiple advertising types appeared to influence the number of kits submitted; however, these results should be interpreted cautiously due to small sample sizes. Overall, our study demonstrates a successful collaboration with state and county health agencies to engage the community in tick-borne disease research. Future studies should build on this framework to further optimize participation.

Sleep satisfaction and problematic smartphone use among adolescents in the Republic of Korea: The mediating roles of anxiety and loneliness

Problematic smartphone use (PSU) has become a growing public health concern among adolescents, with global prevalence estimates ranging from 10% to 30%. Sleep dissatisfaction has been identified as a potential risk factor for PSU. However, the psychological mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. This study examined the relationship between sleep satisfaction and PSU among Korean adolescents, and investigated the mediating roles of anxiety and loneliness. Data were collected from 48,829 adolescents who were categorized into three groups: general users (72.1%), potential-risk users (24.8%), and high-risk users (3.1%). Group differences were examined using chi-square tests and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the factors associated with PSU risk. Mediation analyses were conducted using a counterfactual framework to estimate the total, natural direct, and natural indirect effects of sleep satisfaction on PSU risk through anxiety and loneliness. Increased PSU risk was significantly associated with being female, high smartphone usage time (≥4 hours/day), and reporting poor perceived health. High-risk users reported markedly longer daily smartphone use (7.01 ± 0.12 hours) and significantly higher anxiety and loneliness scores compared to other groups ( p  < .001). Poor sleep satisfaction and insufficient physical activity were also significantly associated with higher PSU risk. Mediation analyses indicated significant natural indirect effects through anxiety and loneliness, with proportions mediated of 30.0% and 15.2%, respectively. Sleep dissatisfaction is significantly associated with problematic smartphone use among adolescents, and this relationship is partly explained by heightened anxiety and loneliness. Interventions aimed at improving sleep satisfaction and addressing emotional vulnerability may be effective strategies for reducing the PSU risk in this population.

Unspoken cycles: A qualitative study exploring the lived experiences of women’s menstruation in the urban informal settlements of Bangladesh

Background Menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) is a critical component of public health and gender equity. However, limited research has explored the everyday experiences of women and adolescent girls managing menstruation within the constrained environment of urban informal settlements. This study explores the lived experiences of menstruation among women and girls in the Khulna Railway Slum in Bangladesh. Methods Guided by a Feminist Political Ecology framework, this qualitative study employed a combined inductive and deductive thematic approach. Data were collected between September and October 2025 through in-depth interviews with 18 women and adolescent girls aged 15–45 years living in urban informal settlements in Khulna. Five key informant interviews were also conducted with relevant stakeholders. Data were analyzed thematically using both pre-defined conceptual domains and emergent codes. Findings Findings revealed that menstrual experiences are shaped by three interrelated conceptual domains: structural-environmental constraints, socio-cultural stigma, and gendered inequities in access to resources. Inadequate WASH facilities, poor waste management, and lack of affordable menstrual products hinder safe and dignified menstrual practices. Stigma and taboos reinforced shame, exclusion, and silence, while gendered inequalities limited autonomy and resource access, especially among adolescents. Conclusion The study highlights menstruation as a socially and structurally shaped experience influenced by infrastructural constraints, cultural norms, and gendered inequalities. It contributes to scholarship on menstrual health by emphasizing the need to address menstrual inequities as part of broader efforts to improve gender equity and WASH services in urban informal settlement.

Pattern of family dynamics and treatment-seeking behaviour of caregivers of under-five children with uncomplicated malaria in a tertiary hospital in Ilesa, southwestern Nigeria

Background The morbidity and possible consequent mortality resulting from malaria in children are either due to delayed treatment-seeking or preceded by an inappropriate treatment-seeking process. This study aimed to assess the relationship between the pattern of family dynamics and treatment-seeking behaviour of caregivers of under-five children with uncomplicated malaria. Methods This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study that recruited 350 child-caregiver pairs. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for data collection, and it was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 25. A p-value of < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results The family dynamics of the caregivers revealed that 82.3% of them had strong family support, four-fifths (80.3%) had functional families, and a little over half of them (58.3%) had monthly family incomes that fell below the defined household poverty line. Only 41.7% of the caregivers had appropriate treatment-seeking behaviour. Caregivers from lower-income families had 2.5 times higher odds of exhibiting inappropriate treatment-seeking behaviour compared to those from higher-income families (OR, 2.494; 95% CI, 1.486–4.184; p = 0.001). Caregivers with dysfunctional families were about four times more likely to have inappropriate treatment-seeking behaviour compared to their counterparts with functional families (OR, 3.766; 95% CI, 1.445–9.813, p = 0.007). Conclusion Significant inappropriate treatment-seeking behaviour existed among caregivers of under-five children with uncomplicated malaria. Family factors related to inappropriate treatment-seeking behaviour were family income and family functioning. Strengthening the family and counselling on appropriate treatment-seeking is crucial to reducing malaria morbidity and mortality among under-five children.