Browse Articles

Correction: Aromatic residue-rich amino-terminal segments of temporin L self-assemble into collagen-mimetic peptides with cell-adhesion properties

DNA hypomethylation enables the transcriptional repressor SlSPL-CNR to control fruit flavor ester biosynthesis

Abstract Reduction of DNA methylation has traditionally been associated with gene activation. Here, we show that DNA hypomethylation permits the binding of a transcriptional repressor, leading to gene silencing. In tomato, the SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE TF SlSPL-CNR exhibits methylation-sensitive DNA binding and preferentially occupies unmethylated GTACGG motifs. During fruit ripening, DEMETER-LIKE 2 (SlDML2)-mediated DNA demethylation at the alcohol acyltransferase 1 ( SlAAT1 ) promoter allows SlSPL-CNR binding, which in turn represses SlAAT1 expression and thereby modulates the biosynthesis of ester metabolites—key components of fruit flavor. Structural analysis reveals that cytosine methylation introduces a steric clash with Gln94 in the SBP domain of SlSPL-CNR, explaining its methylation sensitivity. CRISPR knockout of SlSPL-CNR de-represses SlAAT1 and increases ester accumulation, confirming its inhibitory role. Importantly, this methylation-sensitive binding is conserved across SBP domain proteins from rice, maize, and tomato. Our findings reveal a mechanism in which DNA hypomethylation facilitates repressor recruitment, establishing a regulatory logic linking epigenetic dynamics to metabolic control in plants.

Harnessing Multiple Roles of CO for Asymmetric Carbonylative Synthesis of Long-Range Axially Chiral Cycloalkylidenes and Amino Acids

Magnitude and predictors of anemia among adult solid cancer patients in Hawassa, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

Introduction Anemia is a common and debilitating complication in cancer patients, affecting prognosis, quality of life, and treatment response. The burden of anemia may be higher in resource-limited settings due to nutritional deficiencies and limited healthcare access. However, data on anemia among newly diagnosed cancer patients in Ethiopia remain scarce. This study was aimed to determine the magnitude and predictors of anemia in newly diagnosed adult solid cancer patients in Hawassa, Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 405 newly diagnosed adult solid cancer patients at selected public health facilities in Hawassa City, Ethiopia, from June 2021 to October 2021. Data were collected using structured face-to-face interviews and from medical records. Data were entered into EpiData version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 26 for analysis. Descriptive statistics were computed for all variables. Binary logistic regression was performed to determine the independent effects of potential explanatory variables on the presence of anemia. Adjusted Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Statistical significance was set at p-value < 0.05. Result The prevalence of anemia was 26.4% (95% CI: 22.1–30.7%), with normocytic anemia (56.1%) being the most common morphological type. Multivariable analysis identified a history of bleeding (AOR = 3.46, 95% CI: 1.94–6.16), advanced cancer stage (AOR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.20–3.34), and underweight BMI (AOR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.28–3.55) were significantly associated with anemia. Conversely, higher educational attainment (diploma and above) was protective (AOR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.13–0.93). Conclusion Anemia affects over one-quarter of newly diagnosed solid cancer patients in Hawassa, with advanced-stage disease, bleeding history, and decreasing body mass index as significant risk factors. These findings highlight the need for routine anemia screening at diagnosis, nutritional interventions, and early bleeding management in oncology settings.

Perceived physical activity barriers in university students: associations with fatigue and eating behaviours

TIP60 acts as a wound-induced factor essential for efficient regeneration in planaria

Author Correction: Geographics and bacterial networks differently shape the acquired and latent global sewage resistomes

Cycloalkyl Ligand-Engineered Zirconium–Oxo Clusters for Sub-9 nm Electron Beam Lithography with Ultralow Line Edge Roughness

Pretreatment out-of-pocket costs for people with drug-resistant tuberculosis in Bandung, Indonesia

Background People with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) experience multiple visits to healthcare providers before DR-TB diagnosis and treatment. Our study aimed to quantify pretreatment direct costs and factors associated with higher costs among people with DR-TB. Methods Our cross-sectional study aimed to recruit 300 adults with pulmonary DR-TB from three DR-TB referral centers in Bandung, Indonesia, between February 2023 and February 2024. Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire regarding their demographic characteristics and out-of-pocket costs for the following categories: administration, chest radiography, laboratory tests, medication, travel, food, and other non-medical costs. Pretreatment out-of-pocket costs were analyzed descriptively, and factors influencing higher costs were examined using quantile regression. Costs were presented in U.S. dollars (USD, $) and reported as medians and interquartile ranges (IQRs). Results Among 258 eligible participants, 57.4% were male; median age was 38 years (IQR 27–47.7). A higher proportion of patients resided in rural areas (68.6%) and had initial visits to community health center (CHC) for TB-related symptoms (53.1%). The median pretreatment direct costs (excluding hospitalization) per person were estimated at $44.6 (IQR 18.8–92.7). The major contributors of pretreatment costs per person included hospitalization ($67.3), travel expenses ($13.7), chest radiography ($11.2), and medication ($10.8). Factors associated with greater pretreatment costs were residing in a rural area [β = 17.9, (95% CI: 1.07, 34.93)], had ≥ 7 visits to a healthcare provider [β = 19.9, (95% CI: 3.12, 36.74)], and their first TB symptom-related visit was to a private hospital [β = 38.7, (95% CI: 8.20, 69.30)], public hospital [β = 35.7, (95% CI: 8.60, 62.77)] and private primary care [β = 37.9, (95% CI: 19.36, 56.54)], compared to a community health center. Conclusions People with DR-TB in Indonesia incurred incremental direct costs during the pretreatment phase. Strengthening TB diagnostic infrastructure and sample referral networks between public and private providers in rural areas is critical to reducing the extra visits and financial burden for DR-TB patients.

Dietary Chlorella, Spirulina, and acidifier modulate jejunal cytokine-related gene expression in broiler chickens

Noncatalytic surface electrostatic networks tune thermolability in uracil-DNA glycosylase

Developmental timing distinguishes pediatric and adult cancers through retention and rewiring mechanisms

Abstract Oncogenic mutations can have fundamentally different consequences depending on the developmental state of the tissue in which they arise. We propose a unifying model in which early-life oncogenic events promote retention, stabilization of transient embryo-fetal transcriptional and epigenetic programs, whereas later-life mutations more often require rewiring, reactivating suppressed oncofetal states through stepwise transcriptional and chromatin remodeling. This temporal dimension helps explain why childhood and adult cancers can follow distinct lineage trajectories, behaviors, and therapeutic responses, even when initiated by the same genetic lesion. Incorporating developmental timing into cancer modeling and risk stratification may improve prognostic resolution and reveal stage-specific vulnerabilities.

Crystallographic Capture of a Free Triplet Borylnitrene

Genetic regulatory axis between AGR2 and ESR1 promotes breast cancer progression

Anterior gradient protein 2 (AGR2), a member of the protein disulfide isomerase family, plays a critical role in endoplasmic reticulum proteostasis and has been implicated in breast cancer progression. However, the downstream regulatory programs and signaling pathways governed by AGR2 remain incompletely defined. Here, we employed CRISPR–Cas9-mediated knockout of AGR2 in breast cancer cells to systematically investigate the functional and transcriptional consequences of AGR2 loss. AGR2 depletion resulted in significant suppression of cell migration, invasion, and chemoresistance. Unbiased transcriptomic profiling by RNA sequencing revealed extensive differential gene expression, implicating AGR2 in receptor-mediated signaling, oxidative stress responses, and cell adhesion pathways. Protein–protein interaction network analysis identified several highly connected hub genes within the AGR2-regulated transcriptome, including estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1/ERα), cadherin 1 (CDH1), androgen receptor (AR), lymphocyte cell-specific protein-tyrosine kinase (LCK), S100 calcium binding protein P (S100P), parkin RBR E3 ubiquitin ligase (PRKN), and decay-accelerating factor (CD55). Notably, ERα emerged as a prominent node within this network, consistent with prior reports linking ERα and AGR2 biology. Integration with publicly available epigenomic datasets further supports a potential regulatory connection between ERα-associated chromatin landscapes and AGR2 expression. Together, these findings define AGR2-dependent transcriptional networks in breast cancer and identify ESR1-associated signaling as a key pathway perturbed upon AGR2 loss, providing a foundation for future mechanistic studies targeting this regulatory interaction.

Correction: Investigation of metformin analogues in targeting signaling molecules of head and neck cancer pathways by computational approaches

The pentose phosphate pathway contributes to excess lactate production in radiation-induced fibroblast to myofibroblast transdifferentiation

Designing and mapping cascade catalysis pathway for balanced polysulfide conversion in Li-S batteries

Abstract Lithium–sulfur batteries are fundamentally constrained by the sluggish 16-electron sulfur reduction reaction. Electrocatalytic sulfur reduction reaction is inherently complex, involving multiple lithium polysulfide intermediates (Li 2 S n , n  = 2–8), each with distinct adsorption and activation requirements, leading to unbalanced polysulfide conversion and severe shuttle effect. Although cascade catalysis has been proposed as a potential solution, the precise pathway and its mechanistic role in regulating polysulfide conversion remain elusive. Here we elucidate and experimentally validate the complete cascade pathway of sulfur reduction on Fe,N,S-codoped holey graphene as a model catalyst. Density functional theory reveals that Fe sites preferentially bind and activate long-chain polysulfides, while N,S-C sites accelerate the conversion of Li 2 S 4 to Li 2 S 2 /Li 2 S. Such site-specific synergy balances sulfur reduction kinetics and suppresses polysulfide accumulation. Combined kinetic analysis and operando Raman spectroscopy directly reveal how synergistic cascade catalysis governs the reaction pathway, modulates key intermediates, and enables balanced polysulfide conversion. Together, these results establish cascade catalysis as a mechanism-driven design strategy for lithium–sulfur battery electrodes, where regulation of the reaction pathway suppresses polysulfide shuttling and enables enhanced cycling stability.

Operando Nanocavity-Confined Raman Spectroscopy Uncovers a Drilling-Shearing Mechanism in Nanoplastic Photodegradation

Do more birds mean more bird-aircraft collisions? A meta-analysis testing a key wildlife management tenet

Bird-aircraft collisions (bird strikes) pose threats to aviation safety and avian life. One of the tenets of airport-based management strategies to prevent bird strikes is the reduction of bird density within established separation distances from air operations areas. The rationale is that higher local bird densities could increase the spatial and temporal overlap in the use of airspace by both birds and aircraft, leading to a higher frequency of bird strikes. However, the strength and direction of this relationship have not been evaluated across published studies. This is an important gap, given how entrenched this assumed relationship has become to allocate limited resources to airport wildlife management. In this study, we assessed the strength of the relationship between avian abundance and bird strikes across studies using a meta-analytic approach. Through a reproducible literature search and screening criteria, we identified 20 outcomes (i.e., effect sizes) from 13 studies. We conducted a multilevel meta-analysis and found a positive correlation (Pearson’s r  = 0.520, 95% confidence intervals: 0.308–0.683), supporting the positive relationship between bird abundance and bird strike frequency. We additionally found evidence that the existing literature has high levels of between-study heterogeneity and publication bias, low statistical power, and multiple methodological concerns. These issues suggest that our effect size estimation should be interpreted with care. Given the limitations of the published literature testing this relationship, we provide a set of methodological recommendations for improving future experiments. We call for prioritizing the empirical testing of the abundance-bird strike relationship on and near airports across the world, and the standardization of bird survey approaches. These future tests are key to aligning management efforts to local airport needs.

Effect of flushing on productive and reproductive performance of Abergelle goats under semi-arid conditions

Abstract This study evaluated the effects of flushing before and after conception on the productive and reproductive performance of the Abergelle goat to determine an appropriate supplementation level of concentrates for breeding does. Twenty-four does were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: T1 (free grazing, control), T2 (supplemented with 200 g wheat bran and 350 g cowpea hay), and T3 (supplemented with 200 g wheat bran and 200 g noug seed cake). Six adult bucks (two per treatment) were used for mating over 30 days. The average weight gain (Kg) of Does differed significantly among treatments (P < 0.01), with the highest value observed in T2, which showed the highest weight gain (1.14 kg), followed by T3 (0.77 kg), and the lowest in T1 (-0.37 kg). Average daily weight gain during pregnancy was negative in T1, whereas supplemented groups (T2 and T3) maintained positive gains. Kid Birth weight differed significantly(P<0.05) among treatments ,with T2 producing heavier kids (2.25 kg) compared to T1 (1.77 kg) and T3 (1.66 kg). Twinning rate was highest in T3 (85%), likely due to increased ovulation rate despite lower feed intake, while no twinning was recorded in T1 and T2. However, conception rate did not differ significantly (P>0.05) among treatments . In conclusion, supplementation with 200 g wheat bran and 350 g cowpea hay during the dry season significantly (P < 0.05) improved body weight gain and kid birth weight, indicating its potential to enhance reproductive performance in low-input smallholder systems. However, the lack of significant differences in conception rate suggests that responses to flushing may depend on initial body condition and other management factors.