Browse Articles

Toxic metal contamination and health risk assessment of packaged fruit juices for children in Gondar city, Ethiopia

Comprehensive analysis of aberrant alternative splicing and RNA binding proteins associated with age-related sensorineural hearing loss

Abstract The prevalence of RNA binding proteins (RBPs) in regulating alternative splicing (AS) in age-related sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is unclear. To address this question, we comprehensively analyzing RNA-seq data from a mouse model to identify deregulated AS events (RASEs) and differentially expressed RNA binding proteins (DERBPs) associated with age-related SNHL, and constructed the networks between these two levels of changes. We have identified 198 and 187 RASEs related to severe and mild symptoms, respectively. Genes harboring these RASEs are significantly enriched in positive regulation of GTPase activity and cytoskeleton organization. We further identified 25 and 14 DERBPs related to severe and mild symptoms, respectively, and constructed the regulatory network between DERBPs and RASEs. Among these DERBPs, the significantly increased expression of Isg15 and Myom1, the decreased expression of Acan, as well as some of their regulated RASEs including two in Uap1 also demonstrated in cochlear transcriptomes obtained from the age-related SNHL mouse model constructed in this study. Analysis of human pluripotent stem cell-derived macrophages containing ISG15 knockout samples revealed that ISG15 is a key splicing regulator, and can directly regulate the alternative splicing of UAP1 in human cells. These findings prove insights into the involvement of a large number of alternative splicing events driven by RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) in the pathogenesis of age-related SNHL, and suggest their potentials as therapeutic targets and disease markers.

Association between serum fatty acids and microcirculation in kidney transplant recipients

Depth-Resolved Probing of Native Solid Electrolyte Interphase Formation and Dynamics in Li Metal Batteries by Cryogenic X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy

Structural mechanism of the agonist binding on human TRPC3 channel

Impact of global short-term landscape fire sourced PM2.5 exposure on child cause-specific morbidity: a study in multiple countries and territories

Abstract Children are particularly vulnerable to landscape fire sourced fine particulate matter (LFS PM 2.5 ), yet evidence on its health effects remains limited. Here we show that short-term exposure to LFS PM 2.5 is associated with increased hospital admissions for multiple diseases in children and adolescents. We analysed daily hospital admission data from 1012 communities in seven countries/territories, linked to a high-resolution LFS PM 2.5 dataset. Each 10 μg/m 3 increase in LFS PM 2.5 was associated with elevated risks for all-cause (1.1%), respiratory (1.9%), infectious (1.5%), cardiovascular (2.9%), neurological (2.8%), diabetes (3.7%), cancer (1.5%), and digestive (0.8%) hospital admissions. Risks for respiratory, infectious, and neurological conditions increased even at low exposure, while others rose only above 15-20 μg/m 3 . Children aged 5-9 years and those in lower socioeconomic areas were especially affected. These findings highlight the health burden of LFS PM 2.5 in young people and the urgent need to reduce exposure and protect vulnerable populations.

Dynamic activation catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation

Abstract In typical heterogeneous catalytic reactions, catalysts, whether fixed or flowing, maintained their bulk and surface structures as stable as possible. We report here dynamic activation catalysts having continuously generate highly active sites in working, which enables a usually low active Cu/Al 2 O 3 catalyst for CO 2 hydrogenation, showing extraordinary catalytic performances. Using reaction streams in unusually high linear speed to blow and carry the Cu/Al 2 O 3 particulates to collide cyclically with a rigid target, the CO 2 conversion rate is more than three times enhanced at methanol selectivity promoted to 95% from less than 40% and the methanol space-time-yield is six times increased. By experimental and theoretical investigation, the dynamic activation of Cu/Al 2 O 3 is defined as a discrete condensed state with a distorted and elongated lattice, reduced coordination, and abnormal catalytic properties. We envision that continuous research on the dynamical activation catalysts will advance novel methods for promoting catalytic performance and discovering new catalytic reactions.

Red palm olein biscuit supplementation modulates gut microbiota in vitamin A deficient rural Malaysian schoolchildren: a randomised controlled trial

Author Correction: Self-supervised predictive learning accounts for cortical layer-specificity

Structural characterization of an extracellular contractile injection system from Photorhabdus luminescens in extended and contracted states

Bacterial warfare is associated with virulence and antimicrobial resistance

Abstract Bacteria have evolved a diverse array of mechanisms to inhibit and kill competitors. However, why some bacteria carry such weapons while others do not remains poorly understood. Here we explore this question using the genomics of the bacteriocins of E. coli as a model system, which have large well-annotated bioinformatic resources. While bacteriocins occur widely, we find that carriage is particularly associated with pathogenic extra-intestinal (ExPEC) strains. These pathogens commonly carry large plasmids encoding bacteriocins alongside virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance mechanisms. Across all strains, we find many orphan immunity proteins, which protect against bacteriocins and suggest that these bacterial weapons are important in nature. We also present evidence that bacteriocin toxins readily move between strains via plasmid transfer and even between plasmids via transposons. Finally, we show that several E. coli bacteriocins are widely shared with the pathogen Salmonella enterica , further cementing the link to virulence. Our work suggests that the bacteriocins of E. coli are important antibacterial weapons for dangerous antimicrobial-resistant strains.

Compounding future escalation of emissions- and irrigation-induced increases in humid-heat stress

Abstract Irrigation has been investigated as an important historical climate forcing, but there is no study exploring its future climatic impacts considering possible changes in both extent and efficiency. Here, we address these issues via developing irrigation efficiency scenarios in line with the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs), implementing these in the Community Earth System Model, and applying them to generate projections over the period 2015–2074. We project that annual irrigation water withdrawal decreases under SSP1-2.6 (from  ~2100 to  ~1700 km 3  yr −1 ) but increases under SSP3-7.0 (to  ~2400 km 3  yr −1 ), with some new irrigation hot spots emerging, especially in Africa. Irrigation is projected to reduce the occurrence of dry-heat stress under both scenarios, but cannot reverse the warming trend due to greenhouse gas emission (e.g., increasing from  ~90 to around 600 and 1200 hours yr −1 in intensely irrigated areas, under two scenarios). Moreover, moist-heat extreme event frequency increases more substantially (by ≥1600 hours yr −1 under SSP3-7.0 in tropical regions), and irrigation further amplifies the hours of exposure (for example, by ≥100 hours yr −1 in South Asia), thereby raising the risk of moist-heat-related illnesses and mortality for exposed communities. Our results underscore the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, limiting irrigation expansion and improving irrigation efficiency to preserve water resources and decelerate escalating exposure to dry- and moist-heat stress.

Climate change is predicted to reduce global belowground ecosystem multifunctionality

Sky and wire: A UAV-BPL synchronization algorithm for information exchange in herding operations

Herding operations in rural areas often lack reliable wireless connectivity, hindering real-time monitoring of livestock, environmental conditions, and operational status. Existing solutions like satellite or cellular networks are costly or impractical, while short-range wireless technologies struggle with large farm coverage. This paper presents a UAV-BPL synchronization algorithm that uses the farm’s existing electrical grid via Broadband over Power Line (BPL) communication to enable cost-effective, scalable data collection. The algorithm integrates Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with BPL relay points to optimize information exchange in herding operations. Two operational scenarios are proposed in the paper: the Coverage-Driven scenario that maximizes data collection from all sources, achieving 99.2% coverage and critical data redundancy, and the Priority-Driven scenario that focuses on high-urgency data, covering 100% of priority sources with ~12% energy consumption. The paper evaluates performance indicators such as coverage, energy usage, frequency of relay visits, and response timeliness using MATLAB simulations. Results demonstrate that the Coverage-Driven scenario excels in comprehensive monitoring, while the Priority-Driven scenario ensures energy-efficient, rapid responses to critical events. By combining BPL’s robust connectivity with UAV mobility, the proposed method enhances farm management, scalability, and adaptability, offering a practical solution for rural dairy herding operations to improve productivity and sustainability.

Modulating physicochemical interfaces enables li-rich oxides based ceramic solid-state li batteries under ambient conditions

A robust color image encryption algorithm based on 2D-SQSM hyperchaotic map and cyclic shift scrambling

This paper proposes a structurally simplified 2D quadratic sine map (2D-SQSM). This map effectively addresses the insufficient chaos performance of traditional chaotic maps while avoiding the overly complex structures of emerging chaotic maps. Evaluated using multiple chaos performance metrics, the 2D-SQSM demonstrates high Lyapunov exponents, and sample entropy, with chaotic characteristics superior to some advanced chaotic maps proposed in recent years. Based on the 2D-SQSM, this paper further designs a highly robust color image encryption algorithm. First, by introducing different hash functions multiple times, the correlation between the key and plaintext is enhanced, significantly improving resistance against brute-force attacks; second, cyclic shifting and segmentation-recombination operations are applied separately to the three RGB channels to effectively disrupt pixel distribution and significantly reduce spatial correlation between pixels; finally, the chaotic sequence generated by the 2D-SQSM is utilized for XOR diffusion, further enhancing the randomness and diffusion capability of the ciphertext. A large number of simulation results demonstrate that this algorithm can significantly enhance the image information entropy, and can effectively reduce pixel correlation, possessing good statistical properties. Furthermore, it is robust against differential attacks, noise attacks, cropping attacks, chosen plaintext attacks, etc., and is suitable for secure image transmission.

Elevated virus infection of honey bee queens reduces methyl oleate production and destabilizes colony-level social structure

Pathogenic threats to reproductive individuals pose a profound challenge to the stability of insect societies. In honey bees ( Apis mellifera L.), severe virus infections in queens can trigger worker-initiated supersedure, a socially coordinated replacement of the queen that, while risky, is essential when her reproductive competence is compromised. How viruses impact the physiology of queen hosts, who bear unique reproductive burdens within their colonies, and how this perturbs colony social order remains poorly understood. We hypothesized that the supersedure response is mediated by pathogen-induced, intensity-dependent changes in queen pheromonal signaling. Laboratory infection experiments revealed that queens challenged with deformed wing virus B and black queen cell virus infections demonstrated a reduction in methyl oleate, a key component of the queen retinue pheromone, and field data corroborated this association. Lipidomics analysis demonstrated that infection coincides with a systemic lipid deficiency, especially in triacylglycerides (major energy reserves), providing a physiological link among viral stress, ovarian atrophy, and altered pheromone output. Notably, artificial suppression of ovary investment via restricted laying also caused methyl oleate production to decline; therefore, high virus infection likely indirectly suppresses methyl oleate production by reducing ovary mass. In field trials, we further show that synthetic pheromone blends containing methyl oleate significantly suppressed queen cell rearing compared to no-pheromone controls, whereas blends lacking this compound yielded an intermediate effect. These results demonstrate that virus-induced reproductive decline disrupts pheromone signaling, revealing a plausible mechanistic pathway by which pathogens can erode social cohesion.

Estimation of heterosis and combining ability under low soil phosphorus condition in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract Exploiting yield heterosis under low soil phosphorus (P) inputs is a possible strategy for enhancing rice productivity and resource use efficiency in the changing climate scenario. In the present study, Line (L) × Tester (T) analysis was conducted with five restorers, three maintainer lines and 15 derived hybrids. The hybrids and parents were evaluated for two wet seasons ( Kharif - 2017 and 2019) across the graded levels of applied P (low—P20 kg ha −1 ; Moderate—P40 kg ha −1 ; Normal—P60 kgha −1 ). Pooled analysis across years revealed highly significant variances in the interaction of the General Combining Ability (GCA) of parents and the Specific Combining Ability (SCA) of hybrids with a predominance of non-additive genetic variance. Testers contributed higher variation for the key traits under graded P conditions. Among the parental lines, CRMS32B showed strong GCA effects for single plant yield (SPY) and number of productive tillers per plant (NPTP), while IR79156B was promising for spikelet fertility percentage (SFP). Among testers, ATR305 and TCP795 exhibited significant GCA effects for SPY, SFP and NPTP and early flowering. The Hybrids, H14 (CRMS32A × ATR226) showed the highest SCA effects for NPTP, SPY and SFP, while H10 (IR79156A × TCP795) exhibited significant SCA effect for earliness. Compared to standard check variety Kasalath, the hybrids demonstrated a 120 to 200% heterosis gain across the graded P levels for the key traits. AMMI analysis identified hybrids, H3 (APMS6A × ATR305), H13 (CRMS32A × ATR305) and H11 (CRMS32A × AYT21) as highly stable performers across graded P levels, while H14 (CRMS32A × ATR226) with moderate stability. The present findings highlight the breeding rice hybrids suited for low P conditions to improve phosphorus use efficiency and ensure yield stability under resource-constrained environments.

Dynamic control of NMDA receptor Ca ²⁺ permeability by endogenous and synthetic modulators

NMDA receptors are principal sources of postsynaptic Ca 2+ in central neurons. It is widely assumed that the content of Ca 2+ in the glutamate-elicited ionic flux is determined by the molecular composition of the NMDA receptors, whose expression varies developmentally and across brain regions and can change on a scale of minutes to hours. Here, we report that rather than being a fixed property of a given receptor assembly, the amount of Ca 2+ in the NMDA receptor current can fluctuate in real time over a wide dynamic range in response to endogenous and synthetic allosteric modulators. We identify the extracellular N-terminal domain of the receptor as a structural modulator of its Ca 2+ permeability and demonstrate that the mechanism involves changes in the receptor’s unitary Ca 2+ conductance. These results reveal an unsuspected lever controlling the NMDA receptor–mediated Ca 2+ transients and, implicitly, the many physiological and pathological processes influenced by these currents.

Effect of plastic packaging on lyophilized goulash and eggbarley with different types of meat