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A method for lung cancer detection by means of explainable convolutional neural networks
Solvent‐Anchored Electrolyte Enables Stable Operation of 600 Wh Kg <sup>−1</sup> Lithium Metal Pouch Cells Under High‐Voltage
ABSTRACT Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) are regarded as promising candidates for next‐generation high‐energy‐density storage systems. However, their practical application is severely hindered by rapid performance degradation under high‐voltage and lean‐electrolyte conditions. Constructing an anion‐enriched solvation structure to generate an inorganic‐rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is critical for ensuring the stable operation of lithium metal batteries. Herein, a novel anion‐enrichment strategy is proposed by introducing a rigid cationic species (F‐TEDA + ) as a molecular anchoring additive to design a solvent‐anchored electrolyte (SAE). F‐TEDA + anchors solvent molecules via strong ion–dipole interactions, enabling the formation of an anion‐enriched solvation structure comparable to that of high‐concentration electrolytes, even at an ultralow additive dosage and conventional salt concentration. Notably, the rigid molecular framework of F‐TEDA + endows it with excellent electrochemical stability, allowing persistent regulation of the solvation structure during long‐term cycling. As a result, a 14.2 Ah Li‖Ni95 pouch cell reaches 615.3 Wh kg −1 and retains 91.4% capacity after 70 cycles at 4.5 V. This work proposes a nonconsumable solvation regulation strategy, providing a new avenue for the development of high‐voltage, high‐energy‐density lithium metal batteries.
Study on the mechanical properties and consolidation mechanism of dispersive soil modified with nano-clay
Boosting Artificial Olfaction: Visual Cues‐Enhanced Gas Classification by a Bimodal Neuromorphic Device
ABSTRACT Artificial olfactory sensors have garnered significant attention in various applications, including micro‐robotics, implantable medical devices, and consumer electronics. However, they still face challenges in trade‐offs among high recognition accuracy, compact size, and low power consumption. Existing strategies can rely on large‐scale sensor arrays (up to 10 4 elements) to enhance gas recognition accuracy, but this substantially increases system size and power consumption. Inspired by biological multisensory synergy, we propose a visual–olfactory bimodal neuromorphic device to overcome these limitations. It emulates biological perceptual fusion, including bimodal perceptual weighting and enhancement. With a small active area of 148 µm 2 , a static power consumption of only 3.4 µW, and a low operating voltage of 1 V, the device exhibits ppb‐level sensing performance and is capable of both classifying gas types and identifying concentrations for multiple target gases. The proposed bimodal perception strategy achieves a gas classification accuracy of 98.27%, far exceeding that of the olfactory unimodal mode (52.24%), and, importantly, enables precise discrimination of mixed gases with highly overlapping sensing signatures. Our strategy not only provides a unit architecture for constructing miniaturized, low‐power, and highly accurate artificial olfactory systems but also paves the way for next‐generation bio‐inspired multimodal neuromorphic sensing.
Genotype-by-environment interaction analysis for flowering, maturity time and yield in fonio across traditional and prospective production areas in Northern Benin
Emerging Multimodal Artificial Sensory Fusion Paradigms Toward Advanced Embodied Intelligence
ABSTRACT In the endeavor of embodied intelligence to connect the digital world and physical reality, artificial multimodal sensory fusion has emerged as a cornerstone for endowing agents with robust perception and natural interaction capabilities. Specifically, multisensory fusion constructs a biomimetic sensing framework capable of parallel acquisition and processing of multi‐source information. Such architectures augment information perception and ensure higher decision‐making reliability within complex environments. However, a systematic review of this rapidly evolving field is noticeably absent. This review bridges this gap by providing a comprehensive analysis of various multimodal sensory fusion approaches. We introduce the configurations of multimodal sensory fusion, as well as the operating mechanisms of sensors and artificial synapses. In particular, various biomimetic multimodal fusion paradigms are critically analyzed, such as visual‐tactile and visual‐olfactory fusion, with detailed discussions of their device structure and fusion mechanisms. These multisensory fusion systems show great potential in various application fields. Finally, the emerging opportunities are discussed and outlined. By highlighting the critical potential of multimodal sensing fusion, this review aims to inspire further research on fusion strategies and practical applications, facilitating the evolution of embodied intelligence toward more human level.
Solanum incanum L. ethanolic extract: phytochemical profile, multiple target bioactivities and in silico properties
Unilateral Striatal Deep Brain Stimulation Improves Cognitive Control
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the ventral capsule/ventral striatum (VCVS) can treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and other psychiatric conditions. Yet, optimizing its clinical efficacy is a major challenge, often hindered by incomplete knowledge of how stimulation parameters and targets affect neural activity and behavior. VCVS DBS is thought to work in part by improving cognitive control, an important decision-making component that is impaired in OCD and other illnesses. The magnitude of this cognitive control enhancement was shown to be lateralized, with right-unilateral stimulation being the most effective. Prior work developed a preclinical model of VCVS DBS by leveraging the cognitive control construct, which can be measured in humans and rodents and is modulated by analogous brain circuits. However, this work did not address laterality effects observed in humans or examine left/right stimulation differences. These effects may be critical for maximizing therapeutic benefit while avoiding aversive outcomes. This study aimed to investigate lateralization in the rodent model, where bilateral stimulation of the mid-striatum was previously shown to improve cognitive control. Right- and left-unilateral stimulation reduced response times without changing accuracy, replicating the cognitive control improvement from bilateral stimulation. With computational modeling, we show that bilateral and unilateral stimulation modifies the same decision-making variables to drive this behavior change. We also establish that females have the same cognitive control improvement from stimulation as males. These findings increase our understanding of cognitive control circuits and strengthen the validity of the rodent model as a translational platform to study VCVS DBS's therapeutic mechanisms.
AKR1B15 promotes hepatocarcinogenesis by activating the p53-PI3K-AKT-mTOR-E2F1 signaling pathway
Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, with limited biomarkers available for early diagnosis and targeted therapy. AKR1B15, a lesser-studied member of the aldo-keto reductase family, shares high sequence similarity with AKR1B10, but its role in HCC remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the biological function of AKR1B15 in HCC and its involvement in oncogenic signaling pathways. Bioinformatic analysis of gene expression datasets and patient tissue samples was used to evaluate AKR1B15 expression and prognostic relevance. Functional assays were conducted following AKR1B15 knockdown, including CCK-8, colony formation, transwell, wound healing, flow cytometry, and xenograft models. Western blotting and immunofluorescence were employed to assess phosphorylation of key signaling molecules. AKR1B15 expression was significantly elevated in HCC tissues and associated with higher pathologic T stage and worse disease-specific survival ( P < 0.05). AKR1B15 knockdown inhibited HCC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration ( P < 0.01), and promoted apoptosis ( P < 0.001). In vivo, AKR1B15 depletion suppressed tumor growth and reduced Ki-67 expression. Mechanistically, silencing AKR1B15 decreased phosphorylation of p53 (Ser15), PI3K (Tyr458/199), AKT (Ser473), mTOR (Ser2448), and E2F1 (S364), indicating inhibition of the p53-PI3K-AKT-mTOR-E2F1 axis. AKR1B15 promotes HCC progression and is associated with activation of the p53-PI3K-AKT-mTOR-E2F1 signaling pathway. It may serve as a novel diagnostic marker and therapeutic target in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Temperature influence on the mechanical properties of CFRP laminates evaluated by DIC
Abstract Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites are widely used in aerospace, marine and automotive structures, where components may experience variable thermal conditions that affect stiffness, strength and load-bearing capacity. This study evaluates the influence of temperature on the mechanical properties of CFRP laminates manufactured from Gurit EP137 prepreg and tested using a universal testing machine supported by full-field Digital Image Correlation (ARAMIS/DIC). The complete set of tensile, compressive and shear properties was determined for 20–80 °C, whereas at − 20 °C only the in-plane shear modulus G₁₂ and shear strength FSU₄₅° were obtained because frosting/icing of the chamber window and specimen surface prevented reliable DIC image registration during selected tests. Between 20 °C and 80 °C, E₁ showed an apparent increase of approximately 8.2%, while E₂ and G₁₂ decreased by approximately 34.6% and 58.5%, respectively. The tensile strength FTU₀° decreased by 28.1%, the shear strength FSU₄₅° by 41.3%, and the compressive strengths FCU₀° and FCU₉₀° by 49.4% and 43.5%, respectively. The results confirm that matrix-dominated properties are particularly sensitive to elevated temperature and provide temperature-dependent material input for subsequent numerical modelling and stability analyses of thin-walled CFRP structures.
Estimates of dolphin group structure and behaviour differ between drone and boat observations
Fabrication of a polydopamine/blue TiO₂ nanotube thin-film nanocomposite membrane for visible-light photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue
A robust multi-step predictor-corrector method for solving fractional order biological models
Disaggregating between- and within- person effects of ovarian hormones on the association between worry and error-related brain activity in a female sample
Expression of Concern: MiR-125b Reduces Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Replication by Negatively Regulating the NF-κB Pathway
Exploring agro-morphological diversity and superior genotypes in Beta vulgaris var. bengalensis L.: a two-year comprehensive study of an underutilized traditional green leafy vegetable of Northern India
In vivo rectal dosimeter with MRI marker
Background Hypofractionated external beam radiotherapy for prostate cancer necessitates precise rectal dose evaluation. We fabricated a radiochromic polyurethane-based in vivo rectal dosimeter with a custom MRI marker and a patient-specific applicator for in vivo dose verification (IDV) during gated MR-image guided radiotherapy (MR-IGRT). Methods The dosimeter featured a radiochromic polyurethane active layer, incorporating leucomalachite green (LMG) and tartrazine. To accommodate anatomical variations, a detachable PMMA applicator was designed in five sizes. For localization, four elastomeric materials, including two polyurethane-based and two silicone-based materials, were evaluated as candidate MRI markers. Post-irradiation fading was assessed over time to evaluate measurement stability. A dose-response calibration was performed to establish a linear relationship between net optical density (OD) and absorbed dose. Furthermore, dose uncertainty was analyzed based on the law of error propagation. For verification, in vivo measurements were conducted for two patients and compared with TPS-calculated doses. Results Vyta Flex 20 was selected as the optimal MRI marker due to its high signal intensity and ease of fabrication. Post-irradiation net OD showed a dose-dependent temporal response, and the readout time was standardized to 2 h. The dosimeter’s sensitivity was 0.00253 cGy -1 . Dose uncertainties were determined to be 2.1%, 2.0%, and 1.6% at 100, 200, and 300 cGy, respectively. In vivo verification showed mean dose differences of 3.7 ± 1.4% (95% CI, 0.1–7.3%) for patient #1 and 5.9 ± 2.1% (95% CI, 0.8–11.1%) for patient #2. Measured doses were consistently higher than TPS-calculated doses, suggesting possible contributions from localization uncertainty in high-dose-gradient regions and the material-dependent response of the radiochromic active layer. Conclusion The fabricated radiochromic dosimeter with a custom MRI marker and adjustable applicator demonstrated preliminary feasibility as a proof-of-concept system for in vivo rectal dose verification during MR-IGRT. Further studies with larger patient cohorts and more treatment fractions are required to validate its reproducibility, statistical robustness, and clinical utility. Further refinement in positioning is also needed, particularly in dose-gradient regions.
Discriminative performance of serum homocysteine in drug-naïve depression: a case-control study with ROC and regression analysis
Abstract Depression is a multifactorial disorder involving neurochemical, metabolic, and inflammatory dysregulation. Elevated homocysteine, a marker of impaired one-carbon metabolism, has been implicated in neurotoxicity and oxidative stress pathways associated with depressive pathology. This study evaluated serum homocysteine levels and their association with body mass index (BMI) in patients with incident drug naiive depression compared to healthy controls. This case-control study enrolled 200 participants: 100 patients with newly diagnosed depressive disorder (DSM-5 criteria) and 100 age- and sex-matched healthy controls recruited from a tertiary psychiatry centre in South India. Serum homocysteine was measured using standard enzymatic assay and BMI was calculated from standardised anthropometric measurements. Independent samples t-test, Pearson’s correlation, ROC analysis and Binomial logistic regression analyses were performed. Serum homocysteine was significantly higher in depressed patients than controls (35.8 ± 7.04 µmol/L vs. 13.6 ± 2.48 µmol/L; p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 4.193; 95% CI for difference: 20.66–23.58 µmol/L). BMI was also significantly elevated in the depression group (25.67 ± 4.97 kg/m 2 vs. 21.92 ± 2.96 kg/m 2 . p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 0.912). A positive homocysteine—BMI correlation was observed in depression( r = 0.42, p < 0.001) but not in controls ( r = 0.04, p = 0.71). ROC analysis yielded an AUC of 1.000 (optimal cutoff: 20.065 µmol/L, sensitivity: 100%, specificity: 100%), reflecting complete distributional separation in this clinical sample. Binary logistic regression analysis showed homocysteine to be a significant predictor of depression(omnibus χ 2 = 277.26, df = 1, p < 0.001; 100% classification accuracy; Nagelkerke R 2 = 1.00), though standard odds ratio estimation was precluded by complete separation. Elevated homocysteine and a group-specific BMI—homocysteine correlation were identified in depressed patients. The AUC of 1.000 reflects complete distributional separation in a tightly controlled institutional sample and requires external validation before clinical application. As folate, vitamin B12, and lifestyle confounders were unmeasured, findings are hypothesis-generating and warrant prospective multicentre validation.
Evaluation of analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the root extract of Grewia schweinfurthii Burret and its major chemical constituents
Despite the widespread use of conventional analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs, their clinical utility is often limited by adverse effects, necessitating the search for safer alternatives from medicinal plants. This study investigated the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the 80% methanolic root extract of Grewia schweinfurthii Burret and an isolated bioactive compound using established rodent models. Air-dried roots were extracted by maceration with 80% methanol, and acute oral toxicity was evaluated following OECD guidelines. Analgesic activity was assessed using the acetic acid–induced writhing and hot plate models in mice, while anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats. A bioactive compound, 4 (2ʺ-(4′-isopropylphenyl) propan-2ʺ-yl)-2,3-dihydrofuran, was isolated via column chromatography and tested for anti-inflammatory activity. In the writhing test, the extract produced significant (p < 0.001) dose-dependent inhibition of abdominal constrictions, with 13.90%, 56.81%, and 75.48% inhibition at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, respectively, compared to 80.77% inhibition by aspirin (150 mg/kg). In the hot plate model, the 400 mg/kg dose significantly prolonged latency time from a baseline of 5.67 ± 0.33 s to 9.17 ± 1.01 s at 120 min (p < 0.05), indicating central analgesic activity. In the carrageenan-induced paw edema model, the extract demonstrated marked anti-inflammatory effects, with 93% inhibition at 400 mg/kg at the 5th hour, comparable to indomethacin (95% inhibition). The isolated compound exhibited significant dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity, achieving 75% inhibition at 40 mg/kg at 5 hours (p < 0.001). Overall, the findings demonstrate that G. schweinfurthii root extract and its isolated compound possess significant peripheral and central analgesic as well as potent anti-inflammatory activities, supporting the plant’s traditional use; however, further mechanistic, toxicological, and pharmacokinetic studies are required before clinical relevance can be established.