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Resilience, meaning in life, and perceived social support mediate the relationship between fear of happiness and psychological distress
Characterization of Mycobacterium antarcticum sp. nov., a psychrotolerant member of the genus Mycobacterium isolated from Antarctic soil
Low-Intensity ultrasound for controlled excitation and suppression in rat sciatic nerve
In-depth characterization of virulence traits, pathogenicity, antibiogram, and antibiotic resistance genes of MDR Vibrio parahaemolyticus retrieved from shrimp
Targeted LC-MS profiling reveals dysregulated glycolytic flux and TCA cycle stalling in POAG plasma
Novel peptides from the edible bivalve Ruditapes decussatus target apoptosis, autophagy, and FGF19-FGFR4 signaling in human cancer cell lines
Abstract Bioactive peptides have recently emerged as promising candidates for cancer treatment due to their selective cytotoxicity toward cancer cells. The bivalve mollusk Ruditapes decussatus contains bioactive compounds that have not been thoroughly investigated for their potential anticancer properties. In this study, isolation and purification of peptide mixtures from R. decussatus were performed using FPLC chromatography followed by de novo sequence analysis. Using de novo peptide sequencing, a total of 135 peptides (ranging from 2681.6 to 5925.12 Da) were identified, of which 57 peptides (42%) were predicted to exhibit anticancer potential upon analysis with AntiCP 2.0, highlighting their possible therapeutic utility (Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD067801). Additionally, fractions were tested against liver (HepG2) and colorectal (HT-29) cancer cell lines, as well as normal human hepatocytes and VERO (obtained from kidney) cells, to evaluate their cytotoxic effects. Fractions 2 and 3 showed significant anticancer activity against both cancer cell lines, while exhibiting minimal cytotoxicity toward normal cells. These fractions induced apoptosis, as evidenced by the downregulation of Bcl-2 and upregulation of caspase-3, and also activated autophagy, marked by increased Beclin-1 expression. Flow cytometry analysis revealed enhanced apoptotic cell death and G1/S phase cell cycle arrest in the treated cancer cells. Morphological analysis further confirmed the presence of apoptotic changes. Overall, the peptides derived from R. decussatus demonstrated the ability to induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in cancer cells, with a highly selective effect on colorectal carcinoma, suggesting their potential as anticancer agents for further investigation.
Efficient oxidative degradation of Azo dyes by cobalt(II) porphyrin complex supported on modified bentonite and chitosan: structural characterization and mechanistic insight
Abstract Cobalt(II) complex of 5, 10, 15, 20 tetrakis [4-(hydroxy)phenyl] porphyrin [Co(II) TP-OHPP] 1, [Co(II) TP-OHPP]/CPTES−Bentonite Clay 2 composite, [Co(II)TP-OHPP]/CPTES−Bentonite Clay/ Chitosan 3 composite, has been used to study the catalytic degradation of a group of azo dyes (e.g., Methyl Orange, Methyl Red, and Orange II) by hydrogen peroxide in an aqueous solution. 1HNMR, FT-IR, SEM, XRD, TGA, DLS and UV-Vis were used to characterize the structures and characteristics of the soluble and supported catalyst. The UV-Vis spectra of the reaction mixture were recorded at λmax = 464, 505, and 485 nm for M.O, M.R, and O II dyes, respectively, in order to track the oxidation reaction. [Co(II)TP-OHPP]/CPTES−Bent/Cs 3 composite, shows the highest supported catalyst in the degradation process of the three anionic dyes with superior catalytic efficiency, underscoring its enhanced degrading capabilities. A comprehensive study was conducted using advanced techniques to evaluate its performance. Total organic carbon analysis (TOC) showed oxidation of M.O, M.R, and O II dyes revealing the elimination of 69%, 85%, and 66% mineralization under mild reaction conditions. The composite stability and reusability were evaluated. GC-MS analyses were used to identify any remaining organic components in the reaction mixture. There has been discussion about the oxidation reaction’s mechanism.
An integrated framework for reducing construction carbon emissions using real-time monitoring and econometrics
Midlife and old-age cardiovascular risk factors, educational attainment, and cognition at 90-years – population-based study with 48-years of follow-up
We examined the associations of midlife and old-age cardiovascular risk factors, education, and midlife dementia risk scores with cognition at 90 + years, using data from a population-based study with 48 years of follow-up. Participants were 96 individuals aged 90–97 from the older Finnish Twin Cohort study. Individual cardiovascular risk factors assessed via questionnaires in 1975, 1981, 1990, and 2021–2023 included blood pressure, body mass index, physical activity, and cholesterol, and self-reported educational attainment. The Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Dementia (CAIDE) score and an educational-occupational attainment score were used as midlife dementia risk scores. Cognitive assessments included semantic fluency, immediate and delayed recall from a 10-word list learning task, and a composite cognitive score. Regression analyses were conducted with dementia risk factors predicting cognition at 90 + years, adjusting for age, sex, education, follow-up time, and apolipoprotein E genotype (ε4-carrier vs non-carriers). Results showed that higher education and higher educational-occupational score were associated with better cognitive performance in all cognitive measures. Those with high midlife blood pressure scored significantly higher in all cognitive tests than those with normal blood pressure. Conversely, those with high old-age blood pressure scored lower in semantic fluency and composite cognitive score, but not in immediate or delayed recall. Other cardiovascular risk factors and the CAIDE score did not show consistent associations with cognition. Education appears to have a long-lasting protective effect in cognitive aging, whereas midlife and old-age cardiovascular risk factors were not significantly associated with cognition at 90 + years.
Race, rates, and energy insecurity: exploring racial disparities in electricity costs and consumption in U.S. utility service areas
The impact of wildfires on the diet of Podarcis lusitanicus revealed by DNA metabarcoding
Fire has long been recognized as an important ecological and evolutionary force in plant communities, but its influence on vertebrate community ecology, particularly regarding predator-prey interactions, remains understudied. This study reveals the impact of wildfires on the diet of Podarcis lusitanicus, a lizard species inhabiting a fire-prone region in the Iberian Peninsula. In order to explore diet variability associated with different local burn histories, we evaluated P. lusitanicus diet across three types of sites in Northern Portugal: those had not burned since 2016, those burned in 2016, and those more recently burned in 2022. Podarcis lusitanicus is a generalist arthropod predator with dietary flexibility. Given the turnover of arthropod species after fire, it is expected to find variations in diet caused by different fire histories, especially between unburned and recently burned sites. From DNA metabarcoding of faecal samples, our study revealed that while prey richness remained unaffected by wildfire regime, significant shifts occurred in diet composition between more recently burned and unburned areas. Specifically, we found that differences in diet composition between these two fire regimes were due to the presence of Tapinoma ants and jumping spiders (Salticus scenicus). These prey were present in the diets of lizards occupying unburned areas, while these were absent in areas burned in 2022. Interestingly, diets in unburned areas and areas burned in 2016 showed no significant differences, highlighting the lizards’ ecological flexibility and the habitat’s resilience over time. The ant species T. topitotum was found in dominance in both burned areas, suggesting that this species may be fire tolerant. In addition, families such as Cicadellidae and Noctuidae were found to be more associated with more recently burned areas. The use of DNA metabarcoding in this study was essential to provide a more detailed and accurate view of predator-prey interactions in ecosystems susceptible to fire, and therefore a better understanding of changes in prey consumption in this fire-adapted ecosystem.
Data-driven uncertainty-aware forecasting of sea ice conditions in the gulf of Ob based on satellite radar imagery
Withdrawal: Astragaloside IV combined with quercetin attenuates silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis by promoting autophagy and suppressing pyroptosis
A data efficient framework for analyzing structural transformation in low and middle income economies
A new program for systematically enhancing cognitive reserve in healthy adults: A pilot randomized active-controlled clinical trial
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of the Mental Training Tech 24.5 (MTT24.5) cognitive stimulation program, designed to enhance cognitive performance and neuroplasticity in healthy adults. Background Cognitive decline is a significant concern in aging populations, with research suggesting that neuroplasticity and cognitive reserve can be enhanced through targeted cognitive training. The MTT24.5 program aims to stimulate brain function through a combination of new knowledge acquisition (DATA) and learning techniques (TECHS), organized into a systematic algorithm. This approach may offer a novel way to prevent or mitigate age-related cognitive decline. Design Pilot clinical study, active-controlled, open randomization. Setting Adults from the general population with no clinical cognitive deterioration, recruited from three sites within the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires and its metropolitan area. Participants 120 volunteers were enrolled, of which 76 participants (56 in the intervention group, 20 in the control group) met the study requirements and selected a site closest to their residence. Methods The MTT24.5 program consists of 12 weekly in-person sessions (totaling 24.5 hours), during which participants learned 40 knowledge units (DATA) and 100 learning techniques (TECHS). These were organized into binomials, where each unit of DATA was paired with 3–4 TECHS. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included medical history, lifestyle factors, cognitive reserve scale, Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R), and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Results The mean age was 59 years for both groups. Baseline ACE-R scores were comparable (91.3). The global cognitive score increased by 4.6 points (5%) in the intervention group compared to a decrease of 0.5 points in the control group (p < 0.001). The most significant improvement was observed in the memory domain (2.4 points, 11.4% increase) versus a 0.3-point increase in the control group (p < 0.007), with secondary improvements in verbal fluency, language, and visuospatial skills. Notably, participants with baseline ACE-R scores below 85 showed greater improvements (p < 0.003). The effects were consistent across various phenotypic factors, such as age, sex, chronic disease distribution, and lifestyle. Conclusions The MTT24.5 program, based on a systematic algorithm for acquiring new knowledge and skills, significantly enhances cognitive reserve and overall cognitive performance, particularly in individuals with lower baseline cognitive scores. These findings suggest that structured cognitive stimulation could play a critical role in preventing cognitive decline and promoting cognitive health in healthy adults. Given the promising results, future studies involving larger populations and long-term follow-up are essential to validate these effects and explore the potential for mitigating age-related cognitive decline and enhancing quality of life. Registration The study was registered in accordance with local regulations at the National Council for Scientific and Technological Research (CONICET) – Institute of Biomedical Research (BIOMED), and also in the National Ethics Committee, and at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT06549517).
Advances in IoT networks using privacy-preserving techniques with optimized multi-head self-attention model for intelligent threat detection based on plant rhizome growth optimization
The decision uncertainty toolkit: Risk measures and visual outputs to support decision making during public health crises
Background During public health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, decision-makers relied on infectious disease models to evaluate policy options. Often, there is a high degree of uncertainty in the evidence base underpinning these models. When there is increased uncertainty, the risk of selecting a policy option that does not align with the intended policy objective also increases; we term this decision risk. Even when models adequately capture uncertainty, the tools used to communicate their outcomes, underlying uncertainty, and associated decision risk have often been insufficient. Our aim is to support infectious disease modellers and decision-makers in interpreting and communicating decision risk when evaluating multiple policy options. Methods We developed the Decision Uncertainty Toolkit by adapting methods from health economics and infectious disease modelling to improve the interpretation and communication of uncertainty. Specifically, we developed a quantitative measure of decision risk as well as a suite of risk visualizations. We refined the toolkit contents based on feedback from early dissemination through conferences and workshops. Results The Decision Uncertainty Toolkit: (i) adapts and extends existing health economics methods for characterization, estimation, and communication of uncertainty to infectious disease modelling, (ii) introduces a novel risk measure that quantitatively captures the downside risk of policy alternatives, (iii) provides visual outputs for dissemination and communication of uncertainty and decision risk, and (iv) includes instructions on how to use the toolkit, standard text descriptions and examples for each component. The use of the toolkit is demonstrated through a hypothetical example. Conclusion The Decision Uncertainty Toolkit improves existing methods for communicating infectious disease model results by providing additional information regarding uncertainty and decision risk associated with policy alternatives. This empowers decision-makers to consider and evaluate decision risk more effectively when making policy decisions. Improved understanding of decision risk can improve outcomes in future public health crises.
Computational design of an mRNA vaccine targeting antifungal-resistant Lomentospora prolificans
The rise in the contribution of denitrification is the primary reason for the increase of N2O emissions in the Anthropocene
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is the fastest growing category of greenhouse gases in the recent decades. This study systematically summarized the causes of increased N2O emissions and proposed targeted mitigation strategies based on isotopic analysis. The increase in annual N2O emissions is mainly derived from microbial processes in agricultural soils and eutrophic waters, where denitrifiers are responsible for the anthropogenic emissions. In natural soil and water, minor N2O emissions are accompanied by a significant contribution of nitrification. Since the industrialization and urbanization, the extensive utilization and leaching of fertilizers, and the sewage discharge, have significantly facilitated the denitrification activity. For example, the contribution of denitrification to N2O emissions in the grassland and forest soils increased from approximately 50% to 80% after fertilization, similar phenomena have also been observed in eutrophic waters. Human disturbances enhanced N2O emissions by increasing the contribution of denitrification to N2O production. Therefore, the targeted mitigation strategies lie in the effective control of fertilizer and organic pollutant, the improvement of aeration, as well as the microbial control in fertilized soils and eutrophic waters. This study is of great significance in improving our understanding of N2O emission increase and provides a foundation for the development of effective mitigation strategies.