Browse Articles

Comparative evaluation of antimicrobial, antibiofilm, antioxidant, antiviral, and antidiabetic activities of copper oxide nanoparticles biofabricated via Opuntia ficus indica

Abstract The eco-friendly methods of synthesizing nanoparticles using plant extracts have garnered heightened attention. In recent years, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs), have found utility in a variety of applications. This work reports the fabrication of CuO-NPs using watery extract of Opuntia ficus indica leaves as a stabilizing component. Different analyses were performed to characterize the produced CuO-NPs. The CuO-NPs produced were very stable, spherical, and about 65 nm in size. The antimicrobial potency of produced CuO-NPs was assessed against four Gram-positive and four Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria, as well as uniـcellular fungi, revealing inhibition-zones ranging from 18 to 24 mm and a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) between 62.5 and 500 µg/mL. The DPPH was utilised to investigate the free-radical scavenging ability of CuO-NPs at various concentrations, revealing a notable antioxidant capacity with an IC50 of 165.5 µg/ml. Moreover, CuO-NPs exhibited various antibiofilm activity versus S. aureus (MRSA) and P. aeruginosa inhibiting up to 59.3% and 89.4% at 200 µg/mL respectively. A molecular docking simulation revealed that CuO-NPs’ activity against bacterial strains may be due to beta-1,3-glucanase, with hydrophobic interactions with amino-acid residues in the active site. Moreover, CuO-NPs at a concentration of 125 µg/mL had a significant antiviral effect versus HAV and COXB4, with antiviral efficacy of 28.6% and 40.9%, respectively. Furthermore, the CuO-NPs at 1000 µg/mL exhibited 91.5% inhibition of α-amylase and 82.3% inhibition of α-glucosidase, therefore affirming their antidiabetic properties. Consequently, CuO-NPs have significant promise as an anti-inflammatory drug.

Neonatal state and degree of necessity for parental care in Maiasaura based on inferred neonatal metabolic rates

Analysis of Arc discharge during the entry and exit of an equi-potential state by a live-line maintenance robot for 500 kv overhead transmission lines

Microstructure of porous network CoFe2O4@Co3O4/CNT based on zeolitic imidazolate framework as electrode materials for supercapacitors application

Mixed plastics turned into valuable chemicals

Lightweight machine learning framework for efficient DDoS attack detection in IoT networks

Knowledge attitude and practice of pregnant women on postnatal depression in Henan Province China

Ku limits RNA-induced innate immunity to allow Alu expansion in primates

Attentional and electrophysiological associations with executive function ability in young autistic children

Design of a fully autonomous oil sampling collection robot system for substation oil-filled equipment

Spin-qubit control with a milli-kelvin CMOS chip

Abstract A key virtue of spin qubits is their sub-micron footprint, enabling a single silicon chip to host the millions of qubits required to execute useful quantum algorithms with error correction1–3. However, with each physical qubit needing multiple control lines, a fundamental barrier to scale is the extreme density of connections that bridge quantum devices to their external control and readout hardware4–6. A promising solution is to co-locate the control system proximal to the qubit platform at milli-kelvin temperatures, wired up by miniaturized interconnects7–10. Even so, heat and crosstalk from closely integrated control have the potential to degrade qubit performance, particularly for two-qubit entangling gates based on exchange coupling that are sensitive to electrical noise11,12. Here we benchmark silicon metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS)-style electron spin qubits controlled by heterogeneously integrated cryo-complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (cryo-CMOS) circuits with a power density sufficiently low to enable scale-up. Demonstrating that cryo-CMOS can efficiently perform universal logic operations for spin qubits, we go on to show that milli-kelvin control has little impact on the performance of single- and two-qubit gates. Given the complexity of our sub-kelvin CMOS platform, with about 100,000 transistors, these results open the prospect of scalable control based on the tight packaging of spin qubits with a ‘chiplet-style’ control architecture.

Exploration and validation of the prognostic value of mitophagy and mitochondrial dynamics-related genes in cervical cancer

Water abundance in the lunar farside mantle

Deep knowledge tracing and cognitive load estimation for personalized learning path generation using neural network architecture

Abstract This paper presents a novel approach for personalized learning path generation by integrating deep knowledge tracing and cognitive load estimation within a unified framework. We propose a dual-stream neural network architecture that simultaneously models students’ knowledge states and cognitive load levels to optimize learning trajectories. The knowledge state tracking module employs a bidirectional Transformer with graph attention mechanisms to capture complex relationships between knowledge components, while the cognitive load estimation module utilizes multimodal data analysis to dynamically assess mental effort during learning activities. A dual-objective optimization algorithm balances knowledge acquisition with cognitive load management to generate paths that maintain optimal challenge levels. Experimental evaluations across multiple educational domains demonstrate that our approach outperforms existing methods in prediction accuracy (87.5%), path quality (4.4/5), and learning efficiency (24.6% improvement). The implemented system supports real-time adaptation based on performance and cognitive state, resulting in reduced frustration, higher engagement, and improved knowledge retention. This research contributes to both theoretical understanding of learning processes and practical implementation of next-generation adaptive educational technologies.

Study on the diffusion mechanism of gangue slurry within the rough connected voids in the caving zone

Local and global sensitivity analysis for a prediction model of nitrogen loss in Southern China’s paddy fields via HYDRUS-1D

Silicon reduces nitrogen stress and improves growth and yield of forage grass under excessive fertilization in tropical soils

Analysis of the in-hospital mortality in the tertiary referral department of neonatology and neonatal intensive care

Author Correction: Application of effective microorganisms for Littoral zone restoration in eutrophic reservoirs

The presence and relative abundance of salivary Fusobacterium nucleatum are not associated with colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Early detection through non-invasive methods is critical for improving patient outcomes. This study investigates the association between the presence and relative abundance of Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) in saliva and CRC, evaluating its potential as a non-invasive biomarker. A systematic search was performed in MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, and Scopus databases on November 25, 2023. Studies analyzing Fn in salivary samples from adults with CRC, colorectal polyps (CRP), or healthy individuals were included. Statistical analyses were performed using random-effects models to calculate pooled odds ratios (OR) and mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The risk of bias was assessed using the Quality in Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool. Of the 14,200 studies identified, twelve were included in our systematic review. Of these, eight were analyzed by meta-analysis. The results indicated no significant difference in the presence (OR 1.40; 95% CI [0.77; 2.54]; I 2 = 0% [0; 71%], p = 0.215) or relative abundance (MD -0.01; 95% CI [-0.13; 0.11]; I 2 = 25% [0; 69%], p = 0.851) of salivary Fn among CRC patients, compared to a combined group of CRP and healthy controls. Our findings suggest that the presence and relative abundance of salivary Fn are not associated with CRC.