Browse Articles
Discover research articles across all indexed journals
Stability analysis of a tunnel face reinforced with bolts considering the intermediate principal stress component
A pilot study of remote cognitive assessment in children using the NIH toolbox participant/examiner app
Abstract The demand for remote assessment tools has increased, yet there is a lack of standardized adaptations for remote administration. This pilot study investigates the equivalency of in-person and remote cognitive assessments using the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery (NIHTB-CB) among children aged 7 to 17 years. Forty-seven children (51.1% female; M age = 12.26, SD age = 3.23) were assessed in two formats: in-person at a study site and remotely from home, with the order of assessments counterbalanced. The NIHTB-CB was used for in-person evaluations, while a newly developed version, the NIH Toolbox Participant/Examiner (NIHTB-P/E) App, was used for remote assessments through built-in teleconferencing features. The results showed considerable consistency between in-person and remote scores across all NIHTB-CB tests. Certain differences were noted, including longer test durations for remote assessments and potential practice effects on some measures. Overall, preliminary findings from this pilot study support thefeasibility of administering the NIHTB-CB remotely using the NIHTB-P/E App, providing a viable option to traditional in-person cognitive assessments in pediatric populations.
Modelling of immune infiltration in prostate cancer treated with HDR-brachytherapy using Raman spectroscopy and machine learning
Validity and reliability of GAITWell portable modular system for gait analysis
Structural damage detection using voting ensemble of fine-tuned convolutional neural networks and time-frequency images
Impact performance of rhombic honeycomb structures with non-uniform wall thickness
Regenerative agriculture practices and multidimensional poverty in eastern rural India
Isolated endophytic bacteria promoted growth, essential oil content, and antioxidant activity in Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)
Biophysical and transcriptomic characterization of LL-37-derived antimicrobial peptide targeting multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli and ESKAPE pathogens
Abstract The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens is an alarming global health threat that demands new therapeutic strategies beyond conventional antibiotics. Here, we present a rationally designed antimicrobial peptide (AMP) derived from mammalian cathelicidins and defensins that selectively targets bacterial membranes with low cytotoxicity toward mammalian cells. Circular dichroism spectroscopy revealed that the peptide adopts an α-helical conformation upon membrane interaction, a key feature of its mechanism. Surface plasmon resonance and isothermal titration calorimetry demonstrated high-affinity and selective binding to bacterial lipid membranes. Functionally, the peptide was strongly bactericidal against clinical MDR Escherichia coli (E. coli) and clinically important ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.). Compared with the parent peptide LL-37, our AMP exhibited lower minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and faster bactericidal kinetics across both Gram-negative and Gram-positive strains. Calcein leakage assays, showing effective membrane disruption. Importantly, cytotoxicity experiments with human epithelial (Caco-2) and immune (THP-1) cells indicated low cytotoxicity at concentrations exceeding bactericidal levels, supporting a favorable therapeutic window. ELISA quantifications of cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α) further suggested immunomodulatory effects at bactericidal concentrations. Transcriptomic profiling of E. coli treated with sub-lethal concentrations of the peptide exhibited upregulation of bacterial stress response pathways and downregulation of vital metabolic processes, reflecting the complex antimicrobial action of the peptide. Collectively, these findings highlight this LL-37-derived AMP as a promising candidate for treating MDR bacterial infections caused by E. coli and ESKAPE pathogens and for guiding the development of next-generation antimicrobial agents.
Correction: Sleep patterns, sociodemographic correlates, and their association with economic preferences among Indian smallholder farmers
Long-distance remote epitaxy
LASER ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry enables the recognition of new patterns in metal-related diseases
Morphometric similarity network-based graph convolutional networks for schizophrenia classification
Influence of types of railway traffic on ground borne vibration towards vibration threshold limit
Zinc-based agronomic bio-fortification strategies for soybean in the North Eastern Himalayas of India
Effect of covalent functionalisation with isocyanates on the electrochemical properties of exfoliated black phosphorus electrodes
Abstract This study investigates the covalent functionalisation of few-layer black phosphorus (FLBP) using isocyanates to overcome its inherent susceptibility to oxidation, which limits its application in electrochemical devices. Key synthesis parameters affecting protection efficacy include reactant concentration, ultrasonic irradiation parameters, and solvent selection. While higher reactant concentrations enhance surface coverage, excessive functionalisation impedes interfacial charge transfer. Ultrasonic treatment facilitates optimal reactant-surface interactions, significantly improving electrochemical stability. Comparative solvent analysis indicates acetonitrile outperforms N, N-dimethylformamide in preserving electrochemical performance while enhancing protection against degradation. The research demonstrates that selected isocyanate reactants can effectively passivate the highly nucleophilic three-coordinated phosphorus atoms on FLBP surfaces through the formation of RNHC(O)-P < and RNHC(O)O-P < moieties at reactive surface sites. Electrochemical characterisation reveals that 2xIP(O)(ch)₂_DMF modification provides protection against phosphorus oxidation while maintaining redox functionality. This modification reveals enhanced charge transfer kinetics relative to pristine FLBP or glassy carbon electrodes. The proposed approach widens the electrochemical potential window by eliminating phosphorus oxidation typically observed at 0.65 V while improving charge exchange at the electrode/electrolyte interface. These findings establish a systematic approach for FLBP stabilisation via isocyanate functionalisation, expanding potential applications in energy storage systems, electrocatalysis, and electrochemical sensing technologies.