Browse Articles

Brucella abortus interferes with the inflammatory response and tissue repair in mice

Integrating advanced neural network architectures with privacy enhanced encryption for secure and intelligent healthcare analytics

Optimizing mobile cognitive assessment reduces administration time while maintaining screening accuracy in older adults

Passivation effect of modified biochar on cadmium in mining contaminated soil

Graph neural network-based drug-drug interaction prediction

Comparative assessment of healthy tissue oxygenation using near-infrared imaging, transcutaneous oxygen measurement, and plethysmography

Biological traits and population dynamics of Chelon auratus in the Southeastern Black Sea with a perspective on sustainable fisheries management

Extraction-free RT-RPA assay for detection of HPV16, HPV18, and HPV45 mRNA expression

Ras and Rab interactor 3 as a prognostic biomarker and its impact on immune cell infiltration in cancer

Analyzing the vulnerabilities in Split Federated Learning: assessing the robustness against data poisoning attacks

Abstract Distributed Collaborative Machine Learning (DCML) offers a promising alternative to address privacy concerns in centralized machine learning. Split learning (SL) and Federated Learning (FL) are two effective learning approaches within DCML. Recently, there has been growing interest in Split Federated Learning (SFL), which combines elements of both FL and SL. This research provides a comprehensive study, analysis, and presentation of the impact of data poisoning attacks on Split Federated Learning (SFL). We propose three attack strategies: untargeted attacks, targeted attacks, and distance-based attacks. All these strategies aim to degrade the performance of the DCML classifier. We evaluate the proposed attack strategies using two case studies: Electrocardiogram Signal Classification and Automatic Handwritten Digit Recognition (MNIST dataset). We conducted a series of attack experiments, varying the percentage of malicious clients and the model split layer between the clients and the server. A comprehensive analysis of the attack strategies reveals that distance-based and untargeted poisoning attacks have a greater impact on evading classifier outcomes compared to targeted attacks in SFL.

Corneal changes in estrogen-dependent breast cancer after hormonal treatment

Abstract Aromatase inhibitors (AI) therapy is the treatment of choice for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer (BC). While AIs effectively suppress tumor growth, estrogen deprivation may have negative impacts on the eyes. This work evaluated the anterior segment changes in estrogen-dependent BC after hormonal treatment. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 40 female patients aged ≥ 18 who received treatment for BC. Patients were allocated to two groups: Group A served as the control group and did not receive AIs, while Group B received one of the AIs for BC treatment. Before treatment, there was no significant difference in tear break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer test (ST) score, and hexagonality. However, post-treatment TBUT and ST values were lower in Patients who received treatment. Corneal thickness, CCT, or back and front elevations were comparable before or after treatment. AI therapy in estrogen-dependent BC patients is associated with significant corneal changes, including potential corneal stress evidenced by impaired tear film function and reduced endothelial hexagonality, while corneal thickness and front and back elevation remain stable.

The edge-averaging process on graphs with random initial opinions

In several settings (e.g., sensor networks and social networks), nodes of a graph are equipped with initial opinions, and the goal is to estimate the average of these opinions using local operations. A natural algorithm to achieve this is the edge-averaging process, where edges are repeatedly selected at random (according to independent Poisson clocks) and the opinions on the nodes of each selected edge are replaced by their average. The effectiveness of this algorithm is determined by its convergence rate. It is known that on a finite graph of n nodes, the opinions reach approximate consensus in polynomial time. We prove that the convergence is much faster when the initial opinions are disordered (independent identically distributed): The time to reach approximate consensus is O ( log 2 n ) , and this bound is sharp. For infinite graphs, we show that for every p ≥ 1 , if the initial opinions are in L p , then the opinion at each vertex converges to the mean in L p , and if p > 4 , then almost sure convergence holds as well.

Jahn-Teller effect for controlling quantum correlations in hexanuclear Fe$$^{3+}$$ magnets

Scalable high-voltage Zn||MnO ₂ batteries achieved by mild amphiphilic hydrogel electrolytes

The practical applications of aqueous Zn||MnO 2 batteries are limited by their small areal capacity, low discharging plateau, and clumsy packing device. Currently, the high potential MnO 2 /Mn 2+ redox conversion can only be well activated in electrolytes with a very low pH value, which is not friendly to the Zn metal anode. To overcome these limitations, we have designed mild amphiphilic hydrogel electrolytes (AHEs) with a wide electrochemical stability window (ESW) and high ionic activity. The design is based on the mechanism that trace amounts of hydrophobic moieties enhance the hydrogen bonding between hydrophilic groups and water molecules in the hydrogel electrolytes. The developed AHE possesses an ESW up to ~3.0 V even at a high water content of ~76 wt%. The assembled Zn||MnO 2 pouch cells using the hydrogel electrolytes demonstrated a large areal capacity of ~5 mAh cm −2 at 1 mA cm −2 and a high-voltage and flat discharging plateau of ~1.9 V. Furthermore, a pouch cell with an area of 40 cm 2 was fabricated, exhibiting a capacity of ~125 mAh at 2 mA cm −2 . Two pouch cells (25 cm 2 ) in series were used to drive a 3.7 V-powerable electric fan. This work highlights the rational design of wide-ESW AHEs with high ionic activity as a promising approach to achieving portable and scalable applications of aqueous high-voltage Zn||MnO 2 batteries.

Optimal time and volume of fluid resuscitation in patients with sepsis: a nationwide multicenter cohort study

TRIM24 as a therapeutic target in endocrine treatment–resistant breast cancer

While Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)+ breast cancer treatment is considered effective, resistance to endocrine therapy is common. Since ERα is still the main driver in most therapy-resistant tumors, alternative therapeutic strategies are needed to disrupt ERα transcriptional activity. In this work, we position TRIM24 as a therapeutic target in endocrine resistance, given its role as a key component of the ERα transcriptional complex. TRIM24 interacts with ERα and other well-known ERα cofactors to facilitate ERα chromatin interactions and allows for maintenance of active histone marks including H3K23ac and H3K27ac. Consequently, genetic perturbation of TRIM24 abrogates ERα-driven transcriptional programs and reduces tumor cell proliferation capacity. Using a recently developed degrader targeting TRIM24, ERα-driven transcriptional output and growth were blocked, effectively treating not only endocrine-responsive cell lines but also drug-resistant derivatives thereof as well as cell line models bearing activating ESR1 point mutations. Finally, using human tumor-derived organoid models, we could show the efficacy of TRIM24 degrader in the endocrine-responsive and -resistant setting. Overall, our study positions TRIM24 as a central component for the integrity and activity of the ERα transcriptional complex, with degradation-mediated perturbation of TRIM24 as a promising therapeutic avenue in the treatment of primary and endocrine resistance breast cancer.

Optimization of emergency logistics for urban flooding with consideration of rainfall effects

Structural basis and affinity improvement for an ATP-binding DNA aptamer

DNA aptamers that bind small molecules with high affinity have revolutionized the fields of biosensing and bioimaging. Recently, a DNA aptamer named 1301b has been identified as the most potent DNA aptamer for the binding of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) with a dissociation constant ( K D ) of ~2.7 µM. However, the structural basis and recognition mechanism remain unclear, hindering further development of this DNA aptamer. In this study, we first design a shortened DNA aptamer namely 1301b_v1 that retains a good affinity for ATP and then determine the tertiary structure of 1:1 1301b_v1-ATP binding complex using solution NMR spectroscopy. The overall complex structure shows an “L” shape architecture with the binding pocket formed by two internal loops. The ATP intercalates into the binding pocket through forming hydrogen bond with G14 and stacking with T8·A28 and G9. We also reveal an adaptive binding mechanism where the DNA aptamer switches from a semifolded state to a stable tertiary structure upon ATP binding. Based on the structure–function relationship, we introduce 2′-O-methyl modification to residues in the central junction and obtain a DNA aptamer named 9/10/16 OMe with a K D of ~0.7 µM for the binding of ATP. These results underscore the ability of DNA molecules to form intricate three-dimensional folds with sophisticated functionality, opening up avenues for designing novel DNA-based molecular tools.

Radial artery calcification is a predictor of aortic stenosis development and progression after initiation of hemodialysis

A 65-kb deletion survey identifies a distal <i>cis-</i> regulatory region for red-light induction of <i>Ghd7</i> , a key rice floral repressor

The Ghd7 ( Grain number, plant height, and heading date 7 ) gene integrates red light signals and circadian rhythms to control floral repression under long-day conditions in rice. CRISPR/Cas9 systems were employed to create a series of deletion mutant lines in the upstream regions of Ghd7 , covering a 65-kb genomic region from its transcription start site (TSS). These deletions ranged from 2 to 25 kb in size. Three deletion lines, those from 0 to −3 kb (0/−3 K), −20 to −40 kb (−20/−40 K), and −26 to −30 kb (−26/−30 K) from the TSS, resulted in early flowering, similar to Ghd7 knockout lines. The −20/−40 and −26/−30 K lines exhibited a loss of acute Ghd7 morning induction. Night-break experiments consistently supported these findings, suggesting that the key cis- regulatory region for red light responses was located within the 3.7-kb region in −26/−30 K. In seedlings of the 0/−3 K deletion line, which retains the −29 to −86 bp region, Ghd7 showed a diurnal pattern similar to wild type. This suggests that the deleted region in 0/−3 K is dispensable for both circadian rhythms and red-light responses. Further analyses of two deletion lines within the −26/−30 K region allowed us to narrow down the core cis- regulatory elements, responsive to morning-light signals, within a 228-bp segment located at 28-kb upstream of the TSS in Ghd7 .