Browse Articles

Integrated DNA methylome and transcriptome analysis reveals the epigenetic regulatory mechanisms underlying maize response to copper stress

DNA methylation plays a crucial role in plants’ adaptation to environmental stresses. However, the precise role of DNA methylation in regulating the response of maize (Zea mays L.) to copper stress remains incompletely understood. In this study, an integrated analysis of DNA methylome and transcriptome of the hybrid variety “Zhengdan 958” exposed to 1mM Cu stress at seedling stage was conducted using whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) and RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq). In the comparison between the control and copper stress sample, 3364 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected (1637 upregulated and 1727 downregulated). The WGBS analysis revealed a genome-wide decrease in methylation levels across all cytosine contexts (CG, CHG, and CHH) under copper stress, with 1545 gene body hypomethylated differentially methylated genes (DMGs) and 1806 promoter hypomethylated DMGs. By integrating the analysis of DEGs and hypomethylated DMGs, we identified two predominant patterns of epigenetic regulation: (1) gene body CHG/CHH hypomethylation associated with transcriptional activation of metabolic and stress-response genes, and (2) promoter CHH hypomethylation linked to repression of developmental regulators and signaling components. This study provides valuable data for the epigenetic regulation of copper stress responses and identifies potential targets for developing stress-tolerant maize varieties through epigenetic breeding approaches.

A new design of wind power prediction method based on multi-interaction optimization informer model

The accurate prediction of wind power is imperative for maintaining grid stability. In order to address the limitations of traditional neural network algorithms, the Informer model is employed for wind power prediction, delivering higher accuracy. However, due to insufficient exploration of dynamic coupling among multi-source features and inadequate data health status perception, both prediction accuracy and computational efficiency deteriorate under complex working conditions.This study proposes a prediction framework for the Informer model based on multi-source feature interaction optimization (MFIO-Informer). Integrating physical feature collaborative analysis with data health status perception has been shown to enhance prediction accuracy and reduce computation time. First, the Lasso algorithm and Pearson correlation coefficient method are applied to screen key multi-source features from wind turbine operation and maintenance data, quantifying their dynamic correlations with power output. Secondly, a fully-connected neural network (FNN) is employed to establish a hidden coupling model of wind speed, blade deflection angle, and power for extracting the Dynamic Synergistic Coefficient (DSC), which characterizes equipment performance. Subsequently, a health assessment of wind turbine data is conducted, leveraging historical power data and DSC. This assessment yields a health matrix, which is instrumental in optimizing the encoding, decoding, and embedding vector prediction processes of the Informer model. Finally, power prediction experiments are conducted on two public wind power datasets using the proposed MFIO-Informer model.The experimental results demonstrate that, in comparison with the traditional Informer model, the MFIO-Informer model attains approximately 20% higher prediction accuracy and 54.85% faster prediction speed.

Study on deformation law of coal pore mechanism characteristics under peak cluster landform

In order to reveal the change rule of coal pore structure under the peak cluster landform, coal samples were taken from nine different mountain heights based on the vertical variability of the landform, and the pore structure of the coal samples was tested using a combination of high-pressure mercuric pressure method and low-temperature nitrogen adsorption experiments. The results show that compared with the traditional coal reservoir, the pore structure of coal under the peak cluster landform, such as pore content, specific surface area and pore volume, changes with the change of vertical principal stress in a multi-peak state. The variations in the maximum and minimum values of vertical principal stress at each peak level are 1.04, 1.04, and 1.05 times, respectively. In terms of the adsorption pore volume, the differences between the maximum and minimum values are 2.30, 1.60, and 1.53 times, respectively. Notably, the degree of change between the peaks decreases as the peaks progress. Furthermore, with the increase in vertical principal stress, the degree of change in the specific surface area and pore volume of the corresponding adsorption pore between peaks also diminishes. It shows that the role of peak cluster landform conditions on coal pore structure is significant, and the extent of the role decreases with the increase of vertical principal stresses. Additionally, the vertical principal stress predominantly influences the fractal dimension D1, which is represented as pore surface roughness. The capacity of coal samples for gas adsorption is mainly influenced by the roughness of the pore surfaces and the volume of the adsorption pores. In summary, the degree of microcrack formation in the pores of coal samples is influenced to some extent by the vertical elevation difference characteristics of the peak cluster landform, which not only controls the characteristics of the pore structure, but also affects the gas adsorption capacity of the coal samples. These results highlight the influence of vertical principal stress on coal pore closure and structural changes under the peak cluster landform. The results of the study can provide a reference for further research on further gas storage and enrichment laws, and the mine can judge the risk of protrusion for the gas accumulation capacity of coal under the peaked cluster landform, so as to formulate effective gas prevention and control measures in advance.

Novel cervical pedicle screw design to enhance the safety insertion without compromising biomechanical strength

Background Lateral mass screw (LMS) is a more widely adopted method for posterior cervical spine fixation than the cervical pedicle screw (CPS). Despite its lower pullout strength, the insertions of LMS are more reproducible and have a lower risk. CPS insertion is a technically demanding procedure due to the small pedicle channel. Thus, CPS insertion has a high risk of pedicle wall perforation, resulting in neurovascular injury. For these reasons, surgeons may avoid CPS insertion despite its benefit of greater biomechanical strength. Therefore, an improvement in the CPS design is needed to avoid this catastrophic complication. Objectives To develop a new design of CPS, aiming to decrease pedicle wall perforation, while maintaining the biomechanical properties comparable to those of standard CPS. Materials & methods To reduce the risk of pedicle wall perforation, a novel CPS design should be configured in tapered shape, with a tapering screw pitch and thread diameter with a self-tapping thread. A bilayer bone finite element model representing the cortical and cancellous bone of the cervical spine pedicle was used for pullout strength test. According to our CT-based study of cervical pedicle anatomy in a normal population, the final CPS was created according to the parameters that yielded the best biomechanical strength according to finite element studies. The safety of CPS insertion, in terms of pedicle wall penetration, was assessed in 3D-printed cervical spine models of C3-C7. The pullout test was subsequently performed in a tri-layer sawbones foam model to compare the novel CPS, convention CPS, and lateral mass screw. Results The final screw design was a taper configuration with core diameter from 2.5 to 2.0 mm, thread diameter from 4.0 to 2.5 mm and pitch length from 1.0 to 1.25 mm. A total of 60 screws (30 conventional CPS screw and 30 Novel CPS screw) were tested in 6 3D cervical spine models. No case of pedicle wall perforation were found in the novel-design CPS group. In the conventional CPS group, 8 pedicle wall perforations were encountered, which was a statistically significant difference (p = 0.002). The novel CPS screw design and conventional CPS screw yielded pullout strengths of 449.7 N and 495.0 N, respectively, which showed no statistical difference. The LMS screw yielded a pullout strength of 168.3 N, showing statistically less strength compared with the 2 types of CPS screws. Conclusions The proposed novel CPS could decrease pedicle wall perforation and enhance the safety of screw insertion. Its pullout strength is comparable to that of a 3.5-mm standard CPS and superior to that of a 3.5-mm lateral mass screw.

Identification of potent antibacterial inhibitors targeting methyltransferase Mtr1/TrmD in Haemophilus influenzae via molecular dynamics simulations

Bacterial influenza is a significant global health and economic concern, and the effectiveness of current therapies is declining as bacterial resistance increases. This case emphasizes the need for novel therapeutic approaches. A target-based method was used in this study to investigate the RNA 2’-O-methyltransferase MTr1/TrmD, an important enzyme involved in the pathogenic bacteria’s cap-snatching mechanism. This post-translational modification is critical for bacterial pathogenicity, providing opportunities for the development of novel inhibitor compounds. Computational screening revealed numerous interesting small-molecule inhibitors that could efficiently limit MTr1 activity, resulting in antibacterial effects. Notably, Sinefungin, a recognized inhibitor, had a binding affinity of −7.2 kcal/mol, which was lower than the top three inhibitors tested: Molecule 45 (−8.7 kcal/mol), Molecule 55 (−8.5 kcal/mol), and Molecule 56 (−8.5 kcal/mol). Additional confirmation using molecular dynamics simulations indicated significant structural changes in the control-MTr1 complex, particularly at the transitions from loop to helix and helix to loop. The leading inhibitors, on the other hand, maintained stable connections with the active site residues throughout a 120 ns simulation. Binding free energy estimates (MM/PBSA and MM/GBSA), as well as water swap investigations, revealed that Molecule 56 had the highest binding affinity of the inhibitors studied. This is followed by waterswap analysis where the compound 56 remains the prominent one in terms of higher binding affinities. Hence, it has been found from computational studies that our inhibitors remain more static which will ease a way for experimentalists towards in vitro and in vivo studies. These findings indicate that the discovered compounds, particularly Molecule 56, have the potential for future in vitro and in vivo validation, paving the door for the development of novel antibacterial therapeutics against Haemophilus influenzae.

The relationship between management practices and health facility performance: Evidence from low-resource, community-based facilities providing HIV services to key populations

Management practices are deemed especially critical to performance in resource-constrained settings. However, empirical evidence is limited for community-based organizations (CBOs) that provide health services. We studied the association between management domains and performance among organizations delivering HIV services to key populations. We assessed organizational performance using cost efficiency, service volume, and outreach service quality. We collected data on 67 management practices from 45 CBOs in Kenya and Malawi and classified them into six domains—community engagement, financial management, operations management, people management, performance monitoring, and target setting. We calculated the scores for each domain, adjusting them for contextual characteristics to control for observed differences across organizations. Using ordinary least squares and quantile regression models, we explored the relationship between management and performance. We also estimated the relative contribution of each management domain to the explained variation of all performance indicators via a Shapley decomposition approach. Better management was associated with lower unit costs for antiretroviral therapy (ART) ($-1,124 pval<0.05), HIV testing services (HTS) ($-45 pval<0.05), and sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening, ($-30 pval<0.01). Higher management scores correlated positively with HTS volume (2,806, pval<0.001) and outreach quality (258, pval<0.05). Financial management was the most important domain, explaining 13–49% of performance indicator variation, performance monitoring explained 31% of outreach quality variation, and target setting explained 23–34% of service volume variation. These findings suggest that targeted capacity building in management practices, especially financial management, performance monitoring, and target setting, could improve the provision of HIV health services to key populations by CBOs.

A diverse and distinct microbiome inside living trees

Effects of previous cyclic loading history on subsequent cyclic hehaviour of sand

Sand widely employed as subgrade materials, experience varying traffic-induced cyclic loads during service. This study investigates how prior loading history alters their subsequent cyclic deformation characteristics through multistage drained cyclic triaxial tests. Specimens underwent two-phase loading with controlled stress amplitude variations (increase, decrease, or maintenance) in the second stage. Key findings reveal: 1) Stress history critically governs deformation patterns—increased second-stage amplitude reactivates strain accumulation, while hysteresis loop reopening depends on the cumulative plastic strain from first-stage loading; Hysteresis loop reopening in subsequent loading is governed by whether prior deformation exceeds the first-cycle strain threshold observed in virgin sand under equivalent stress amplitude; A novel deformation model incorporating strain accumulation rates and equivalent cycle numbers quantitatively predicts stress-history effects. The proposed framework advances the mechanistic understanding of sand’s memory-dependent cyclic behavior, providing practical tools for infrastructure design under multistage traffic loading conditions.

Study protocol of a pilot randomized controlled trial of transcranial direct current stimulation paired with reappraisal training for treatment of cannabis use disorder

Introduction As legalization of cannabis products continues, cannabis use becomes more prevalent, and concerns regarding cannabis use disorder (CUD) rise, improving CUD treatment has become increasingly important. Techniques used to regulate emotions, such as cognitive reappraisal, may help manage cravings for cannabis in individuals with CUD. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a noninvasive brain stimulation technique, may improve regulation of emotions and reduce substance use. This study aims to determine whether the addition of tDCS to training in cognitive reappraisal leads to greater reductions in cravings and cannabis use than cognitive reappraisal without active stimulation. Methods and analysis This longitudinal between-subjects study will recruit 60 participants who will each be randomly assigned to receive either active or sham tDCS. Participants will undergo 5 sessions, each spaced approximately one week apart. In session, they will receive 20 minutes of (active/sham) 1.5mA anodal stimulation over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex while receiving training in cognitive reappraisal. Primary outcomes include changes in cannabis use during the study, changes in electroencephalogram brain activity when viewing cannabis cues, and changes in cannabis craving intensity. Discussion The results of this study will inform a full-scale randomized controlled trial designed to assess the effectiveness of this intervention. More broadly, these results will add to the literature on the role of tDCS in enhancing CUD treatment. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06369311

Effectiveness of first line therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection in children and adolescents: A multicenter study in the United Arab Emirates

Globally, gastric infection with Helicobacter pylori has a high prevalence. Bacterial eradication is crucial to prevent long-term complications such as gastric cancer. There is a standard recommended first-line therapy with a desirable eradication goal of 90%, but this is non-achievable in most trials in children. Thus, it is recommended to evaluate first-line therapy at national centres, especially in areas where antimicrobial susceptibility testing is limited. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of first-line regimen in eradicating H. pylori infection in the pediatric population in the United Arab Emirates. This retrospective study was conducted in 2017–2023, involving patients aged 1–16 years. Patients diagnosed with and treated for H. pylori infection were included, specifically those who completed 2-week treatment with documented adequate compliance. Confirmation of H. pylori eradication was done 4 weeks after the completion of antimicrobial therapy. H. pylori was detected among 447 patients, while 413 patients underwent complete treatment. Only 345 patients (77%) were evaluated for confirmed eradication via stool H. pylori antigen test (44%) or urea breath test (39%) which were the most used diagnostic modalities. Most patients (285/345; 83%) were treated with Proton Pump Inhibitor/Amoxicillin/Clarithromycin (PAC). Eradication was successful in 226 patients (65%), mostly in patients treated with the PAC regimen (193/285; 68%), compared to 20–55% eradication rates for patients treated with other regimens including metronidazole. Antibiotic regimen was the only significant predictor of eradication success (p < 0.001), with non-significant correlation with other factors as age and gender. The overall eradication rate for the first-line therapy for H. pylori falls below the recommended primary success rate for eradication (>90%). Factors influencing treatment success and adherence should be carefully considered to optimize the management of H. pylori infection in pediatric patients. Further prospective studies are warranted to validate these findings and explore additional strategies for improving treatment outcomes.

Correction: Clinical efficacy of different methods for treatment of granulomatous lobular mastitis: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Will the latest skin substitutes revolutionize the treatment of burns and other wounds?

Optical control of resonances in temporally symmetry-broken metasurfaces

Abstract Tunability in active metasurfaces has mainly relied on shifting the resonance wavelength1,2 or increasing material losses3,4 to spectrally detune or quench resonant modes, respectively. However, both methods face fundamental limitations, such as a limited Q factor and near-field enhancement control and the inability to achieve resonance on–off switching by completely coupling and decoupling the mode from the far field. Here we demonstrate temporal symmetry breaking in metasurfaces through ultrafast optical pumping, providing an experimental realization of radiative-loss-driven resonance tuning, allowing resonance creation, annihilation, broadening and sharpening. To enable this temporal control, we introduce restored symmetry-protected bound states in the continuum. Even though their unit cells are geometrically asymmetric, coupling to the radiation continuum remains fully suppressed, which, in this work, is achieved by two equally strong antisymmetric dipoles. By using selective Mie-resonant pumping in parts of these unit cells, we can modify their dipole balance to create or annihilate resonances as well as tune the linewidth, amplitude and near-field enhancement, leading to potential applications in optical and quantum communications, time crystals and photonic circuits.

Extending the model of children’s conduct problems: A cross-sectional study of the interaction of maternal temperament and character, maternal parenting practices, and their child’s effortful control

Introduction Children’s externalizing problems in kindergarten are risk-factors that can explain psychopathology at adolescence and adulthood. Hence, it is important to study the complex and multiple-layer processes that might explain and reduce their occurrence. Among the most important moderating factors are parental caregiving practices, especially maternal sensitivity, which may depend on the parent’s temperament and character. We hypothesized that maternal effortful control (a temperament trait) and cooperativeness (a character trait) interact to facilitate maternal sensitivity and their children’s self-regulation and conduct. Method One hundred and sixty-three mothers and their children participated in a cross-sectional study. The mothers completed self-report measures of effortful control (ATQ), cooperativeness (TCI), expressive encouragement (CCNES), and their children’s effortful control (CBQ) and conduct problems (SDQ). They also performed the Etch-A-Sketch task with their children, which was coded offline for behavioral indicators of mothers’ cooperativeness. A composite factor of cooperativeness was derived from the behavioral and self-report measures. Hayes’s mediation cascade model (Model 6) was used to test our primary hypothesis. Results The model explained 22.5% of the child’s conduct problems. Within the mediation model, the mother’s cooperativeness moderated the relation between her effortful control and expressive encouragement of her child’s emotions (β=.16, t(152)=2.62,p=.010). Her expressive encouragement contributed to the child’s effortful control (β=.27, t(151)=2.55,p=.012) and fewer conduct problems (β=−.21, t(150)=−2.67,p=.008). The full mediation path was found to be significant (B=−.01, 95% Bootstrap CI [−.025, −.001]). Discussion The findings suggest that maternal temperament and character trait interact in their effects on the mothers’ behaviors, and, through them, on their children’s behaviors.

A contested skin condition triggered by medicines

Sensing minimal self in sentences involving the speaker

The role of language in the narrative self is well-known, but does it also affect the minimal self? We investigated whether variations in sentence structure affect the speaker’s sense of the minimal self. Previous research has examined how third-person subject expressions influence interpretations of agency, particularly in causal contexts. We examined whether expressing the first-person subject’s involvement in causation or perception events influences the speaker’s sense of agency and ownership, key components of the minimal self. Participants completed an online experiment using psychological rating scales to evaluate Japanese sentences with varying degrees of speaker involvement, as if they had uttered them. Each sentence varied in whether and how it encoded causation or perception. We analyzed Japanese data since, in addition to perceiver-prominent sentences (e.g., [watashi ga] hoshi o mita , “I saw a star”), Japanese has perceiver-stimulus-prominent sentences (e.g., [watashi ni] hoshi ga mieta , “A star was visible to me”/ “I could see a star”), which also foreground the first-person perceiver in a double subject construction. We found that the speaker’s sense of agency was significantly lower in sentences where either causation or perception was absent (e.g., hoshi ga deteita , “A star was out”) compared to sentences where either was present. Agency was also significantly higher for perceiver-prominent sentences than for perceiver-stimulus-prominent sentences. Regarding ownership, it was also significantly higher for perceiver-prominent sentences. Whether ownership was significantly higher for perceiver-stimulus-prominent sentences than for those lacking causation or perception varied with the perceived stimulus. These results suggest that variations in linguistic structure can distinctly impact the senses of agency and ownership. In cognitive linguistics, certain sentence structures are analyzed to reflect how subjectively the speaker is construed. Our findings suggest that differences in agency and ownership provide an empirical basis for this argument, grounded in embodied experience.

Connecting shear thinning and dynamic heterogeneity in supercooled liquids by localized elasticity

Supercooled liquids exhibit complicated dynamical behaviors: At the microscopic level, the dynamics is heterogeneous spatially, known as dynamic heterogeneity. At the macroscopic level, the shear viscosity decreases as the shear rate increases with a power law, known as shear thinning. The relation between these two universal dynamical phenomena remains elusive. With simulations of several model liquids in two and three dimensions, we show that they are quantitatively bridged by localized elasticity embodied as transient clusters that elastically respond to shear. Prominent dynamic heterogeneity emerges right after the massive yielding of these clusters, which is initiated by shear transformation zones and facilitated by elasticity-mediated interaction. With this picture, a scaling law relating shear thinning to the characteristic length of dynamic heterogeneity is found.

Life experiences vs digital inclusion: Factors influencing sense of security and their evolutions in China

Background Digital technology is reshaping and enrich the types of social risks, making the lack of sense of security a widespread phenomenon. The predictors and enhancement strategies for the sense of security have drawn academic attention. However, there is still a debate on the relative effects of objective life experience and media construction on sense of security and how these influences evolve over time. Therefore, this study empirically examines the impact of digital media use and real-life experiences and their evolving mechanisms. Methods This study based on data from CSS in 2013, 2017, and 2021, explored the impact and evolution of life experiences and digital inclusion on sense of security from the perspectives of experiential shaping and media construction. Results Results indicate that negative life experiences have a significant negative impact on sense of security, which first decreases but then increases over time. Digital inclusion also has a significant negative impact on sense of security, and this trend diminishes over time. Moreover, the results of relative importance show that despite digital inclusion’s growing explanatory power, life experiences remain dominant, which means the current level of digital inclusion still cannot shake the decisive role of personal experiences. The educational differences in the impact of digital inclusion on sense of security suggest that education and digital literacy can mitigate the negative effects of digital inclusion, potentially turning them into positive influences. Conclusion The findings indicate that in the process of digital society risk governance, it is also necessary to closely monitor the real-life domains of the public in order to achieve risk governance in both online and offline spaces.

The protein craze: scientists talk supplements — and who should take them

Exact factorization ansatz of the ground state many-body wave function: A case study of quartic potential problem

We propose an explicit factorized formula for the ground state many-body wave function of a model quartic potential problem in two and three dimensions, using our recently developed method for solving Schrödinger equations. Our novel formula has a clear real-space structure: it is exactly factorized into three parts, including a non-integer pre-exponential power factor, dominant decaying terms on the exponent, and a modulator function, which is of minor importance. This result is a generalization of our previously obtained exact formula for the 1-body wave function. As in the 1-body case, here we show that for many-body ground wave functions that cannot achieve variable separation, our method is still far more efficient than the conventional basis expansion method both in representing the wave function and in calculating the energy. The exact factorization ansatz proposed in the present case study shall provide important insight into the general structure of many-body wave functions.