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A novel cuproptosis-related genes nomogram on the prognosis and immune microenvironment of breast invasive carcinoma
Author Correction: Clinical significance and effect of lncRNA HOXA11-AS in NSCLC: a study based on bioinformatics, in vitro and in vivo verification
Exploring the nucleus accumbens circuit and oxytocin therapy in a Sapap3 knockout mouse model of trichotillomania
Innovative approach to IOL-bag complex fixation with Siepser’s scleral sliding knots in pseudoexfoliation syndrome
Federated learning with enhanced cryptographic security for vehicular cyber-physical systems
A novel blockchain technology-based supply chain coordination considering classified after-sales services of electronic products
Correction: Predictors of fatigue improvement in multimodal, multimodal-aerobic and aerobic exercise intervention studies in breast cancer survivors with cancer-related fatigue
Room-temperature ethylene glycol sensor based on cuprous oxide/MXene films
Abstract This study demonstrates a high-performance room-temperature ethylene glycol (EG) gas sensor using Cu2O/MXene bilayer films on quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) substrates, addressing critical needs for industrial safety and environmental monitoring. The fabricated sensors were systematically characterized by XRD, FTIR, and FESEM, revealing that the Cu2O/MXene bilayer configuration achieved exceptional performance with an ultra-low detection limit of 381 ppb, high sensitivity of 22.8 Hz/ppm, and excellent selectivity compared to individual Cu2O, MXene, or their mixture films. The enhanced sensing capability originates from synergistic effects between p-type Cu2O and conductive MXene, forming a Schottky junction that facilitates charge transfer and promotes EG adsorption through combined physisorption mechanisms involving hydrogen bonding with MXene’s functional groups (OH, O, F) and interactions with oxygen species on Cu2O nanoparticles. At 72 ppm EG concentration, the bilayer sensor exhibited 12.6-fold, 3.6-fold, and 2.34-fold higher response than pure Cu2O, MXene alone, and their mixture film, respectively. While humidity tests showed a moderate ~ 15% response reduction at 60% RH, the Cu2O/MXene bilayer maintained robust performance, establishing it as a cost-effective and reliable room-temperature sensing platform suitable for next-generation gas detection applications in challenging environments.
Rapid and reliable species-level identification from clinical samples using 16S rRNA gene nanopore sequencing analysis
L-shaped association of the non-high-density lipoprotein to high-density lipoprotein ratio with low bone mass disorders
The impact of the war in Ukraine on the well-being of German medical students: a mixed-methods study
Abstract The ongoing aggression war by Russia in Ukraine underscores the need to explore the impact of geopolitical crises on students’ well-being within the system university. Previous studies have raised concern regarding rising mental health issues among students, exacerbated by war-related stressors. The effects extend to non-war-involved countries on several levels, with heightened anxiety and fear reported for students. In this study, the affectedness of well-being, perceived stress and work engagement among German medicine students is surveyed in a cross-sectional multi-methods study before and after the initial war occurrences in Ukraine were reported. Results show lessened well-being and increase perceived stress, but non significantly affected work engagement. The students report several demands and resources to cope with stressors and maintain ongoing study motivation and capability. By understanding the personal repercussions of systemic crises, this study seeks to identify longitudinal support needs for medical students navigating uncertain times.
Left ventricular septal convexity in differentiating hypertrophic cardiomyopathy from hypertensive heart disease – a cardiac magnetic resonance study
Association of type 2 diabetes mellitus with histopathological features of Non-metastatic breast cancer in Chinese women: a retrospective Cross-sectional study
Abstract Breast cancer and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are prevalent global health concerns, often sharing overlapping pathophysiological mechanisms. This study aimed to characterize the association of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with the histopathological features of non-metastatic breast cancer in Chinese women and evaluate whether glycemic control, diabetes duration, and treatment were involved. A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 924 patients with stage I–III ductal breast cancer, equally divided into diabetic (n = 462) and nondiabetic (n = 462) groups. Patients were stratified by fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, use of metformin and insulin, and diabetes duration. The expression of hormone receptors estrogen and progesterone (ER, PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), Ki-67, histological grade, lymph node metastasis, and pathological tumor node metastasis (pTNM) staging were analyzed. Diabetic patients exhibited a higher incidence of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and a lower incidence of HER2-positive breast cancer compared to nondiabetic patients. Poor glycemic control (FBG ≥ 10 mmol/L) was associated with a higher risk of TNBC, histological grade III disease, and lower ER-positive rates compared to those with FBG < 6.1 mmol/L. Patients taking metformin had an increased likelihood of TNBC and decreased ER-positive rates. Insulin-treated patients demonstrated a lower prevalence of pTNM stage I cancers but a nearly fivefold increase in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Those receiving combination treatment of metformin and insulin were also more likely to present with DCIS. Patients with a longer diabetes duration (≥ 7 years) had significantly lower risks of TNBC and HER2-positive breast cancer but were more likely to have ER- and PR-positive subtypes and histological grade I tumors. These findings highlight the impact of T2DM, glycemic control, and diabetes management on the molecular and histopathological features of non-metastatic breast cancer. While associations were identified, causality could not be determined due to the cross-sectional design. Understanding these associations could guide tailored treatment strategies for diabetic breast cancer patients.
Quantum ghost imaging of transparent birefringent patterns with phase singularities
Functional divergence of conserved developmental plasticity genes between two distantly related nematodes
Abstract Genes diverge in form and function in multiple ways over time; they can be conserved, acquire new roles, or eventually be lost. However, the way genes diverge at the functional level is little understood, particularly in plastic systems. We investigated this process using two distantly related nematode species, Allodiplogaster sudhausi and Pristionchus pacificus . Both these nematodes display environmentally-influenced developmental plasticity of mouth-form feeding structures. This phenotype can be manipulated by growth on particular diets, making them ideal traits to investigate functional divergence of developmental plasticity genes between organisms. Using CRISPR-engineered mutations in A. sudhausi mouth-form genes, we demonstrate examples of the various ways ancestral genes regulate developmental plasticity and how these roles can progressively diverge. We examined four ancestral genes, revealing distinct differences in their conservation and divergence in regulating mouth phenotype in both species. Loss of certain genes results in similar developmental disruptions in both species, while for others they are distinct. Additionally, two ancestral genes retain their functions as switch genes, which completely prevent a phenotype, and the other two display quantitative effects, with knock-outs in these genes displaying intermediate phenotypes. Remarkably, despite the evolutionary distance, all genes examined were involved in mouth-form regulation. Finally, key sulfatase-encoding genes act downstream of the other genes, suggesting they play a major role in mouth-form plasticity. Together, this study represents the first mutant-based functional analysis of the evolution of developmental plasticity between two highly diverged species, offering new insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying phenotypic evolution.
Research on the impact of the urban park built environment on physical activity
Abstract Urban parks provide important places for the public to engage in physical activities. However, certain aspects of the built environment may affect residents’ physical activities in these parks, and these aspects may vary depending on the city context. Studies have not yet fully explored the factors affecting physical activities in urban parks in Chengdu, China. Furthermore, an in-depth analysis and exploration of the causes behind how the park environment affects physical activity is lacking. This study focused on five urban parks in Chengdu City. Specifically, logistic regression was applied to questionnaire data to study how the built environment of the urban parks affects the duration and frequency of residents’ physical activities. The results indicated that the built environment of the five parks has a significant effect on both duration and frequency. Specifically, the primary factors affecting the duration of physical activities include sanitation maintenance, plant landscape, the presence of a playground, site facilities, lighting facilities, and public toilet facilities. The frequency of physical activities is significantly impacted by pathway maintenance, the playground, pathway width, pathway length, site facilities, and water quality management. The study also explored the causes of how the built environment affects physical activity, proposing several design strategies. These strategies include improving the quantity and quality of the park site and facilities, designing suitable roads, maintaining the environment, and providing an attractive landscape.
Role of metabolomic changes in diagnosis and assessment of treatment response in acute myeloid leukemia
Joints with angle dependent damping can help to reduce impact forces in robots
Abstract This paper investigates how a new angle-dependent damper design can help a robot to reduce collision forces. We designed a fluid-viscous angle-dependent damper by smoothly changing the clearance between the stationary and moving parts. Analytical and numerical simulation-based predictions were experimentally tested. Analytical modelling shows that angle-dependent damping has a $$48\%$$ reduction in peak forces when compared to constant damping. Numerical simulations show that variable-gap dampers can change damping by $$134 \times$$ during a $$10 \times$$ gap change. The experimental findings confirm the analytical predictions by reducing collision force by up to $$10\%$$ . These findings suggest that the angle-dependent variable damping solution could be used for robots that experience collisions such as industrial robotic manipulators, legged robots, perching robots, or robots that catch moving objects.
Rescue of male infertility by human PRSS55 in transgenic mice establishes a contraceptive research model
Abstract The development of non-hormonal male contraceptives requires validated preclinical models. This study investigated whether human orthologs of two mouse testis-specific serine proteases, PRSS55 and TMPRSS12, both essential for male fertility in mice, could functionally rescue the infertility phenotypes of their respective knockout mouse lines. We generated transgenic mouse lines expressing human PRSS55 with either an extracellularly or intracellularly positioned C-terminal 3xFLAG tag (RES GPI or RES TM), and a line expressing human TMPRSS12 with a C-terminal 3xFLAG tag (T12 RES), all on their respective mouse null backgrounds. Fertility was assessed through continuous mating trials, and sperm parameters were evaluated. Both hPRSS55 rescue lines sired offspring; RES GPI males exhibited partially restored fertility with significantly fewer pups per litter compared to controls, while RES TM males demonstrated fertility comparable to controls. In contrast, T12 RES males remained infertile, exhibiting severe defects in sperm motility and other parameters, despite confirmed transgene mRNA expression. These findings indicate that human PRSS55, particularly when tagged intracellularly, can functionally replace its mouse counterpart, validating the RES TM line as a promising model for testing human PRSS55-targeted contraceptives. The inability of hTMPRSS12 to rescue fertility highlights challenges potentially due to sequence divergence or unconfirmed protein expression levels.