Browse Articles

Brain modes of resonance estimated by a biophysical multi-compartment finite elements model

Abstract Neuroimaging studies reveal correlated brain activity across distant regions, suggesting underlying mechanisms that constrain brain function beyond the complex interactions between neurons. Despite these findings, the origins of these patterns and their alterations in neurological disorders remain unclear. Current literature suggests that these patterns could be explained by standing waves resonating within the brain, similar to the vibrational modes observed in musical instruments. Studies have successfully reconstructed brain activity by superimposing resonance modes predicted from the brain’s surface mesh or network structure. However, the role of the brain’s mechanical properties beyond mere geometry and connectivity-such as tissue rigidity and viscosity-, remains largely unexplored. This work aims to fill that gap by demonstrating that the shape of brain modes is also influenced by the physical properties of brain materials, providing a possible mechanistic explanation for alterations observed across cognitive states and mental conditions, when brain shape and connectivity remain unchanged. The brain’s eigenmodes and corresponding eigenfrequencies were analyzed through finite element simulations in Abaqus, incorporating distinct mechanical properties for various brain structures. This study confirms that the brain’s resonance modes are influenced by these properties and highlights similarities between the simulated eigenmodes and fMRI patterns observed in human brains.

Calmodulin binding is required for calcium mediated TRPA1 desensitization

Mapping human fatalities from megafauna to inform coexistence strategies

Abstract Human fatalities from human–wildlife conflict (HWC) represent a critical dimension of conservation, often triggering retaliatory actions and post-traumatic stress in affected communities. However, most studies focus on the economic implications of HWC, neglecting human fatalities which may have far-reaching long-term implications. This study investigates the spatial and temporal patterns of human fatalities caused by megafaunal species in Zimbabwe, using data collected from 2016 to 2022. Through spatial and statistical analyses based on the Getis-Ord Gi* hotspot analysis and Mann–Kendall trend test, we assess fatalities caused by six megafaunal species: Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus), African elephant (Loxodonta africana), hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), African lion (Panthera leo) and spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta). The results of the study showed that crocodiles and elephants account for over 80% of human fatalities in Zimbabwe. These fatalities also significantly increased over the study period (p < 0.03). In contrast, fatalities involving lions, hyenas, hippos, and buffaloes showed no significant increase, indicating more stable but still concerning risks. Fatality hotspots were concentrated in Kariba, Binga and Hwange districts in northern and western Zimbabwe, highlighting areas needing urgent interventions. These insights have broader implications for HWC management across Africa, where megafaunal species frequently interact with human populations. By adopting data-driven, species-specific strategies, other countries facing similar conflicts can foster human–wildlife coexistence and improve conservation outcomes.

Developing an optimized parameterization scheme for deriving a lightning threat product from a global model for all seasons over India

Best practices and tools in R and Python for statistical processing and visualization of lipidomics and metabolomics data

OGT-mediated O-GlcNAc of FOXO1 promotes the progression of neonatal heart failure via regulating pyroptosis

Identification of stochastic optical solitons in a generalized NLSE characterized by fourth order dispersion and weak nonlocality

Action painting under spectroscopic light: Excited-state exchange interactions behind the vibrant blue in Jackson Pollock’s <i>Number 1A, 1948</i>

Number 1A, 1948 by Jackson Pollock is a quintessential example of his action painting technique where ropes of color, drips of black, and pools of white coalesce into the layered dynamism that defines his style. While past work has identified the red and yellow pigments that form part of his core palette, the vibrant blue in the painting has remained unassigned. In this study resonance Raman spectroscopy is used to assign the blue in the painting as manganese blue. This assignment offers critical context for the conservation of his works. Importantly, assignment of this pigment enables spectroscopic investigation of the electronic structure origin of the pure hue of manganese blue and the chemical phenomena that produce its color. To probe these phenomena, resonance Raman data are coupled to magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations to assign and analyze the two electronic transitions that create the blue color. This study reveals these bands are split by excited-state exchange interactions; the gap between them contains the reflected light that gives manganese blue its appearance. This sheds light on distinct advantages of molecular inorganic pigments: their ability to leverage ligand field effects in charge transfer states to create multiple intense visible absorption features and the ability to fine-tune pigment color through host lattice electrostatics.

Ancient DNA reveals the population interactions and a Neolithic patrilineal community in Northern Yangtze Region

Zinc tin oxide/polyvinyl alcohol nanocomposites enable sensitive pH-dependent arsenic detection by quartz crystal microbalance

Abstract This study presents the synthesis, comprehensive characterization, and application of zinc tin oxide/polyvinyl alcohol (ZTO/PVA) nanocomposites as sensitive platforms for arsenic detection using quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensors. ZTO nanoparticles were synthesized via an optimized hydrothermal method and incorporated into PVA matrices at 5, 8, and 10 wt%. Structural and optical properties were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV–Vis spectroscopy. XRD confirmed the formation of cubic-phase ZTO with a preferred (311) orientation, while Raman analysis verified the retention of the inverse spinel structure. SEM images revealed increased surface roughness and nanoparticle agglomeration with rising ZTO-NPs content. Optical measurements showed bandgap tunability, with the main bandgap decreasing from 5.28 eV (pure PVA) to 3.81 eV (10% ZTO/PVA), indicating strong electronic interaction between the polymer matrix and nanofiller. The presence of dual-bandgap features suggests concurrent polymer- and filler-dominated transitions. QCM sensors modified with ZTO/PVA exhibited high sensitivity toward arsenic ions in aqueous media, with optimal performance at pH 3, showing a sensitivity of 70.64 Hz/ppm and a response time of ~ 10 s. A non-linear, concentration-dependent response was observed, with enhanced sensitivity at higher arsenic concentrations, reaching 113 Hz/ppm at 10 ppm. These findings underscore the potential of ZTO/PVA nanocomposites as effective, real-time sensing materials for environmental monitoring of arsenic contamination in water systems.

Production, characterization and yield optimization of biodiesel from waste neem Melia azadirachta seeds available in Bangladesh

Temporal nutrition analysis associates dietary regularity and quality with gut microbiome diversity: insights from the Food &amp; You digital cohort

Abstract The gut microbiota is profoundly influenced by dietary choices, with emerging evidence linking it to various health outcomes. Here, we investigate diet-microbiota associations using detailed temporal nutrition intake data captured through real-time food logging via a smartphone app and gut microbiota profiles from 16S rDNA sequencing in ~ 1,000 participants from a digital cohort on personalized nutrition (“Food &amp; You” - clinicaltrials.gov NCT03848299). The primary outcome of the parental trial was to investigate post-meal glucose response variations between individuals in function of their individual factors such as diet, microbiome composition and lifestyle. Our analysis reaffirms that high-quality diets rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, micronutrients, and favorable dietary indices like HEI (calculated both as standard HEI and daily HEI to capture day-to-day diet quality regularity) correlate with increased microbial diversity and improved stool quality, while fast food-rich diets show opposite effects. Regular consumption of beneficial food groups emerges as a key factor, with regularity in both food intake and diet quality sometimes showing stronger associations than average intake quantities. Machine learning analyses reveal strong bidirectional predictability between gut microbiota composition and dietary factors (ROC AUC up to ~ 0.85-0.9). These findings highlight the critical role of both diet quality and regularity in shaping gut microbiota, the importance of temporal nutrition tracking in offering insights for targeted nutritional strategies, and suggest that the gut microbiota can be used to estimate dietary indices.

The impact of Gd on structural, morphology, dielectric behavior of BaTiO3

Integrating trade-offs and supply-demand into ecosystem service zoning management to provide more targeted management strategies from the water-food-ecosystem nexus perspective

Regulation of NSL by TAF4A is critical for genome stability and quiescence of muscle stem cells

Abstract Acetylation of lamin A/C by the non-specific lethal complex, containing MOF and KANSL2, is instrumental for maintaining nuclear architecture and genome stability, but the mechanisms controlling expression of its components in different cell types are poorly characterized. Here, we show that TAF4A, primarily known as a subunit of TFIID, forms a complex with the heterotrimeric transcription factor NF-Y and is critical for cell type-specific regulation of Kansl2 in muscle stem cells. Inactivation of Taf4a reduces expression of Kansl2 and alters post-translational modification of lamin A/C, thereby decreasing nuclear stiffness, which disrupts the nuclear architecture and results in severe genomic instability. Reduced expression of Kansl2 in Taf4a-mutant muscle stem cells changes expression of numerous genes involved in chromatin regulation. The subsequent loss of heterochromatin, in combination with pronounced genomic instability, activates muscle stem cells but impairs their proliferation, which depletes the stem cell pool and abolishes skeletal muscle regeneration. We conclude that TAF4A-NF-Y-dependent transcription regulation safeguards heterochromatin and genome stability of muscle stem cells via the non-specific lethal complex.

Criteria maximization for water as well as fertilizer management system using neural network and hybrid PID control

An advanced adaptive detector for oriented objects in remote sensing imagery

HSP90 differentially stabilizes plant ABCB-type auxin transporters on the plasma membrane

Abstract Closely related FKBP orthologs, FKBP42/TWISTED DWARF1 (TWD1) and FKBP38, have been shown to control the biogenesis of plant and mammalian ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, respectively. However, the mechanistic role of the described FKBP-ABCB interaction is widely unknown. Here, we verify cytosolic HEAT-SHOCK PROTEIN90 (HSP90) isoforms as valid interactors of TWD1 and map HSP90 binding to an amphiphilic alpha-helix preceding its TPR domain. We provide pharmacological and genetic evidence that a subset of TWD1-interacting ABCBs, in contrast to mammalian ABCBs, are constitutive HSP90 clients in plants. This effect and its specificity are presumably provided by TWD1. Our data strongly correlate the impact of HSP90 inhibition on ABCB-mediated development and ABCB plasma membrane stability on the one hand and ABCB cycling rate on the other. In summary, we uncover a dynamic mechanism of HSP90 for differential stabilization of the plasma membrane ABCB isoforms to regulate polar auxin transport and to confer developmental plasticity.

Corporate social responsibility and consumer purchase intentions with environmental benefit perception as mediator and multilevel moderating effect

Potential framework for fully resourced of peach pits by multi-recycling approaches

Abstract The yield of peaches worldwide is approximately 21 million tons annually, with peach pits representing 10% of the waste generated, and the disposal of this quantity of biowaste into landfill or combustion is a common practice that has the potential to cause a number of adverse environmental impacts. To explore the utilization of peach pit as a biomass source, nano-catalysis and high-efficiency extraction were used for efficient recycling management. The findings of DSC-TG and Py-GC-MS indicate that the though nano catalyst exerts a minimal impact on the weight loss rate throughout the pyrolysis process, it is potentially able to influence the composition of the pyrolysis product. UPLC/Q-TOF MS results suggest that peach pits were rich in bioactive components, which have potential applications in biomedicines, food additives and bioenergy industries. Concurrently, the peach pits could be efficiently pyrolyzed into high quality biochar (approximately 39% recovery) at 400 °C. Moreover, the produced biochar exhibits a higher capacity for adsorption of the heavy metal Cd when compared with As and Pb. Therefore, suggesting a potential circular economic model for peach production industry.