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Electrochemiluminescence microscopy for real-time, single-cell imaging of surface charge in electroactive bacteria
Vegetation-based slope protection using bermuda grass: Effects on the dynamic elastic modulus of weakly expansive soil
Weakly expansive soil is utilized in subgrades and slope engineering. vegetation is commonly adopted for ecological reinforcement, and its effects on the dynamic mechanical behaviors of weakly expansive soil remain to be further studied. Effects of vegetation, dynamic stress amplitude, confining pressure, and loading frequency on the dynamic strain and dynamic elastic modulus of weakly expansive soil were analyzed in this study. Specifically, different planting densities of Bermuda grass were investigated, including 25 g/m², 40 g/m², 50 g/m², which are denoted as P25, P40 and P50 respectively. Test Results showed that 1) Bermuda grass effectively mitigated the cumulative dynamic strain. Specifically, at f = 1 Hz and σ d = 20 kPa, the cumulative dynamic strain of the P25, P40, and P50 groups decreased by 9.5%, 17.0%, and 19.7% compared with bare soil. 2) Bermuda grass weakened the effect of confining pressure on the dynamic elastic modulus of soil. when σ 3 increased from 50 kPa to 100 kPa, the dynamic elastic modulus of bare soil rose by 16.4%, while the increment of the P50 group was only 1.7%. 3) Bermuda grass also enhanced dynamic stiffness of weakly expansive soil, and the reinforcing effects presented a positive correlation with planting density. Under sinusoidal cyclic loading ( f = 1 Hz, σ d = 40 kPa), the dynamic elastic modulus of P25, P40 and P50 were 6.4%,12.8% and 26.16% higher than that those of soil, respectively. Overall, Bermuda grass substantially improves the dynamic deformation resistance and stiffness of weakly expansive soils, which indicates its strong potential for enhancing shear strength and structural stability in expansive soil engineering under dynamic loading.
Potentially toxic elements source apportionment and risk assessment in soil around a gold mine in Northeast China
Comments on misuse of iron-57 transmission Mössbauer spectroscopy for surface characterization in Nature Communications 16, 5989 (2025)
Editorial Note: Why are they eco-friendly? Attributing eco-friendly descriptive norms to intrinsic motivation increases pro-environmental purchase intention
Assessing future water shortages at Boryeong dam, South Korea, under CMIP6 climate scenarios using the SWAT model
Signatures of nonthermal carriers in nonlinear photoluminescence
Loss of Fmr1 reorganizes the multi-elemental composition across tissues in Fragile X Syndrome mice
Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) results from a genetic mutation which silences the expression of Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein (FMRP). FMRP serves various roles regulating cellular protein synthesis including mRNAs that code for proteins regulating ion flux. However, there are few studies measuring the elemental balance between FXS genotypes and tissues. Here, we measured the multivariate balance of 10 elements in tissues of wild-type and Fmr1-knockout mice to compare elemental composition of brain and somatic tissues within and across genotypes. Using a Bayesian mixed model approach, we found that the main differences between groups were between tissues, with significant effects of genotype and interaction of tissue on genotype. Wild-type feces were significantly higher in magnesium and sodium than knockout. Fur was significantly higher in potassium in wild-type, which was supported by the interaction effect of genotype with tissue. These results align with previous work showing FXS pathologies alter electrolytic and metal ion regulation, neuronal excitability, and gastrointestinal function. Future work should additionally test how elemental differences relate to function at the cellular level, as well as patterns of individual intake, digestion, assimilation, and/or excretion.
Effect of gamma irradiation on optical, magnetic and structural properties of AgMnFe2O4 nanoparticles
Origin of crack propagation in lithium cobalt oxide positive electrode for lithium-ion batteries
Could molecular variations be predictive in right and left colon cancer in different gender and age groups?
Background Left-sided colon-cancer (LCC) and right-sided colon cancer (RCC) harbor different clinical entities and different therapy protocols. Our study aimed to demonstrate genomic expression differences and clarify the clinical differences between LCC and RCC by using in-silico methods. Methods Our study compares mRNA expression levels between clinical groups to describe variations in molecular characteristics between right-left-sided colon cancer (216 right-141 left) using the TCGA-COAD database. We identified differentially expressed genes and analyzed survival profiles for RCC and LCC. We applied a gene set enrichment analysis and merged the results by group to highlight common and different pathways. Results The results reveal that TG, INSL5, EREG and AIRE were found as age-related genes, and TG, INSL5, EREG, AIRE, HOXB8 and FLT3 were found as gender-related genes for RCC and LCC. We found that high expression of the AIRE gene was linked with poor survival in patients with RCC in males and under 65 age groups. High expression of LEP was correlated with poor survival in patients with RCC, regardless of gender. In addition, low expression of the EREG gene was linked with poor survival in women with RCC. Conclusions Three genes (AIRE, LEP, EREG), which are effective on the EGFR pathway, would have great predictive and prognostic importance in the context of anti-EGFR therapies.
Domain-specific perceptual grouping of human dyads: evidence from autistic trait profiles
Abstract A longstanding debate in social cognition centres on distinguishing between cognitive processes that are specialised for social content and those that function across multiple domains. Recent research shows that the visual processing of human figures in apparent social interactions is marked by early perceptual grouping. However, whether perceptual grouping of social scenes occurs through a social-specific or domain-general mechanism remains unclear. We examined this question by investigating the relationship between individual differences in social aptitude and perceptual grouping in geometric and social domains. Participants ( n = 172) completed selective and integrative attention tasks featuring visual displays of geometric and human dyads. Their accuracy and reaction times were measured, and individual social traits were assessed using Autism Quotient Questionnaire subscales. Both geometric and social stimuli showed significant perceptual grouping effects, characterised by faster processing under integrative attention and slower processing under selective attention. Notably, individuals with higher social autistic traits tended to show selective difficulties in social perceptual grouping while maintaining intact geometric grouping, a pattern consistent with domain-specific processes in social scene processing. These findings suggest that even fundamental visual processes may be specifically tuned for social perception, with potential implications for understanding individual differences in social cognition.
Enhancing the strain limit of stretchable organic transistors by Schottky barrier-dominated transport mode
Barriers and facilitators to hepatitis C patient engagement: Interview study with general practitioner champions in England
There are people living with a previously diagnosed chronic hepatitis C infection who have been lost to follow up, and people who may have undiagnosed hepatitis C. General Practitioners (GPs) could help to support these patients into care, via offering testing, referring to secondary care, and facilitating prescribing. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 14 GPs, most of whom work with local Operational Delivery Networks (ODNs) with funding from the NHS England Viral Hepatitis Programme as hepatitis C GP Champions. A thematic analysis with a multi-level model (system, provider-levels) and the COM-B (capability, opportunity, motivation: behaviour) framework were used to identify barriers and facilitators to patient identification and (re)engagement. System-level barriers included a lack of hepatitis C incentives for GPs, pressures facing primary care, challenges searching patient records, and a perception that better processes are needed to re-engage patients lost to follow up. GP Champions expressed challenges coordinating regional patient (re)engagement strategies, but also reported successful collaborations with ODNs, other services, and outreach/community partners. Provider-level barriers for all GPs included lack of knowledge of hepatitis C and difficulty managing patient conversations (capability); and lack of GP capacity and difficulty contacting patients (opportunity). Provider-level facilitators included that primary care is holistic and accessible to patients (opportunity), and GP Champions reported how their roles have granted workload capacity and the support of other GPs/healthcare professionals (opportunity) and increased their feelings of personal reward (motivation). Interviewees’ reflections on shared care and their suggestions for the future of hepatitis C care are also presented. This study demonstrates numerous benefits to employing GP Champions to find and offer testing to patients, however system-level barriers are notably persistent. Interviewees said there is further need to address patients holistically, and joint efforts between services/sectors were suggested as means to overcome system and provider level barriers.
Forecasting USD PKR exchange rates using Urdu social media sentiment
Photosystem I-independent oxygenic photosynthesis in cyanobacteria
Abstract Oxygenic photosynthesis generates ATP and NADPH via linear electron flow from water to NADP + , a process thought to require photosystem I (PSI) for reductant formation. Here we demonstrate that oxygenic photosynthesis can operate without PSI in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Using genetic engineering and adaptive laboratory evolution, we obtained PSI-deficient lineages capable of photoautotrophic growth, inorganic carbon fixation, and light-driven oxygen evolution. PSI-independent photoautotrophy arose from co-mutations in at least two proteins, including the translation elongation factor G (FusA), and required a functional NDH-1 complex. We propose that the light-driven electron transport in the evolved strains is reorganised in two branches: one involving terminal oxidases to generate proton motive force, and a second in which reverse NDH-1 activity exploits this gradient to produce reductant. These findings uncover unexpected plasticity in the thylakoid electron transport network and prompt a reassessment of the canonical requirement for PSI in oxygenic photosynthesis.
Heptapharmacological activity of Quercetin-3-O-phosphate against lung cancer pathways
Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths globally, with smoking being the primary risk factor, though environmental exposures and genetic mutations also play significant roles. Lung cancer arises when abnormal lung cells grow uncontrollably, leading to over 2 million new cases and nearly 1.8 million deaths globally. Drug resistance, especially to targeted therapies, is a key challenge, as tumours often adapt and become unresponsive. Multitargeted drug design, which targets multiple pathways involved in tumour growth, offers a promising solution to overcome resistance and improve treatment efficacy. In this study, we identified several lung cancer–associated proteins: CK2, Ran–Importin β complex, HNGF, Human Survivin, CRK-II adaptor protein, AKR1B10, and tRNA dihydrouridine synthase 2, with respective PDB IDs 1JWH, 1IBR, 1SG1, 1XOX, 2DVJ, 4XZL, and 4XP7. We conducted molecular docking using DrugBank’s library, employing HTVS, SP, and XP, followed by pose processing with MM/GBSA. Our multitarget docking analysis identified Quercetin-3-O-Phosphate as the top compound, a quercetin derivative found in fruits and vegetables such as onions, apples, berries, broccoli, and citrus. The compound showed docking and MM/GBSA scores ranging from −5.835 to −11.627 Kcal/mol and −14.28 to −47.07 Kcal/mol, respectively, and the key interacting residues with their counts include 10ASP, 9LEU, 9LYS, 7ALA, 7ARG, 7TYR, 6GLN, 5ASN, 5GLU, 5ILE, and 5VAL. We also performed and analysed DFT and pharmacokinetics in detail, which supported its further evaluation as it met all the required criteria. We conducted a 5 ns WaterMap simulation, which confirmed the interactions and highlighted key hydration sites that support the complex’s stability. A 100 ns MD simulation using the TIP3P water model showed minimal deviation and fluctuations, indicating stable interactions and the trajectories used for MM/GBSA calculations, assessing binding free, which reinforced the stability of the complexes and helped rank the best candidates. All results indicate that Quercetin-3-O-Phosphate holds strong potential for lung cancer treatment, though experimental validation is needed for clinical confirmation.
Sociodemographic and health determinants of handgrip strength in adults living in rural Ecuador
Resting-state electroretinography reveals pathological retinal oscillations in retinitis pigmentosa mice and patients
Abstract Retinal remodeling occurs in both retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration. However, it is still unknown whether spared retinal circuits are also functionally altered. Functional changes have been observed in animal models of retinitis pigmentosa, including the emergence of bursting oscillatory activity in retinal ganglion cells. Yet, comparable oscillatory activity, or other functional alterations, has not been demonstrated in patients. To address this gap, here we report a non-invasive corneal neurotechnology measuring in-vivo resting-state electroretinography and analyzing its frequency content and temporal characteristics to identify biomarkers of functional remodeling. We document that retinal remodeling induces bursting oscillatory activity in-vivo in retinitis pigmentosa mouse models and translate these results to patients. Moreover, we showed in mice that bursting oscillatory activity can be pharmacologically modulated in-vivo. Furthermore, reducing this oscillatory activity increases retinal excitability to electrical stimulation. These results are crucial for a better understanding of retinal degeneration and contribute to sight restoration efforts.