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Impact of the sequence of system-environment interactions on the functionality and efficiency of quantum thermal machines
Abstract In this work, we investigate effects of the sequence of system-environment interactions on the functionality and performance of quantum thermal machines (QTMs). The working substance of our setup consists of two subsystems, each independently coupled to its local thermal reservoir and further interconnected with a common reservoir in a cascaded manner. We demonstrate the impact of the sequential interactions between the subsystems and the common reservoir by exchanging the temperatures of the two local reservoirs. Our findings reveal that, when the two subsystems are in resonance, such an exchange alters the efficiency of QTMs without changing their functional types. Conversely, when the two subsystems are detuned, this exchange not only changes the efficiency but also the types of QTMs. Our results indicate that the manners of system-reservoir interactions offer significant potential for designing QTMs with tailored functionalities and enhanced performance.
Artificial intelligence in digital pathology — time for a reality check
Cytoplasmic Mg <sup>2+</sup> supersedes carbon source preference to dictate <i>Salmonella</i> metabolism
Glucose is the preferred carbon source of most studied microorganisms. However, we now report that glucose loses preferred status when the intracellular pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium experiences cytoplasmic magnesium (Mg 2+ ) starvation. We establish that this infection-relevant stress drastically reduces synthesis of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), the allosteric activator of the cAMP receptor protein (CRP), master regulator of carbon utilization. The resulting reduction in cAMP concentration, which is independent of carbon source, decreases transcription of CRP-cAMP-activated carbon utilization genes, hinders carbon source uptake, and restricts metabolism, rendering wild-type bacteria phenotypically CRP − . A cAMP-independent allele of CRP overcame the transcriptional, uptake, and metabolic restrictions caused by cytoplasmic Mg 2+ starvation and significantly increased transcription of the glucose uptake gene when S. Typhimurium was inside murine macrophages. The reduced preference for glucose exhibited by S. Typhimurium inside macrophages reflects that transcription of the glucose uptake gene requires higher amounts of active CRP-cAMP than transcription of uptake genes for preferred carbon sources, such as gluconate and glycerol. By reducing CRP-cAMP activity, low cytoplasmic Mg 2+ alters carbon source preference, adjusting metabolism and growth.
Optimism/pessimism and associations with life event perceptions
Optimism is the generalized sense that good things will happen in the future, and people higher in optimism typically experience a host of positive personal and relational outcomes. However, when ostensibly important life events happen to optimists and pessimists, they rarely change their perspective about the future. One potential reason optimists are resilient to life circumstances is that they might vary in how they perceive those circumstances. Another source of confusion is whether these perceptions are driven by optimistic thinking per se or the lack of pessimistic thinking. In the current study, we examined how optimists and pessimists differ in their perceptions of life events in a large sample (N = 929) of college students answering questions about hypothetical life events. The pessimism scale largely drove perceptions that life events are unlikely to change someone’s personality, such that the four findings from the composite scale were found for the pessimism subscale but only two were found for the optimism subscale. Nevertheless, pessimists tended to think that life events were unlikely to change their worldview, were more externally controlled, were less emotionally significant, and were more likely to negatively affect their social standing. Aside from these aggregate findings, optimism and pessimism were not systematically and consistently related to the perceptions of particular life events. These findings provide additional context for individual differences in life event perceptions and provide some future directions for why life events either do or do not motivate changes in optimism and pessimism.
Expression of miRNA-338-3p/miRNA-1250-5p/miRNA-3065-5p clusters in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of ischemic stroke
AI accurately identifies targetable alterations in lung cancer histological images
Correction for Ganguli et al., A culture-free biphasic approach for sensitive and rapid detection of pathogens in dried whole-blood matrix
Exploring the prevalence of chronic diseases and health status among international Hajj pilgrims
Background and aims Pilgrims with pre-existing Chronic Diseases are at high risk of physical stress that can lead to unexpected health outcomes, including multiple visits to the hospital, organ failure, or even death. In addition, the risk of mortality related to Chronic Diseases increases during mass gatherings due to these same reasons. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the Prevalence of Chronic Diseases and clinical symptoms among pilgrims during Hajj 2024 in Saudi Arabia. Methods During the 2024 Hajj rituals, cross-sectional questionnaires were administered to pilgrims at the Jeddah International Airport. The questionnaire contained questions on sociodemographic information, the presence of Chronic Diseases, types of Chronic Diseases, and clinical symptoms. Results A total of 1920 pilgrims were included in the study, with a mean age of 52.03 ± 13.43 and a median of 53 years. Among those, 49.4% were males. The prevalence of Chronic Diseases (CDs) was 36.3% (n = 697). Among those, 16% (n = 308) of them reported hypertension, followed by diabetes 11.6% (n = 222), asthma (4%, n = 76), and cardiovascular diseases (3.4% n = 65). The most common symptoms associated with Chronic Diseases were cough (36.5%, n = 700), followed by fever (21.8%, n = 419), and sore throat (21.2%, n = 407). The presence of diabetes was significantly associated with gender (p = 0.019), while hypertension was more common among male pilgrims (n = 829) compared to female pilgrims (n = 783) (p = 001). Furthermore, the presence of coughing was significantly associated with the age and educational level of the pilgrims (p = 0.001). On the other hand, headaches were more common among females compared to male pilgrims (p = 0.001). Conclusion A considerable number of pilgrims suffer from Chronic Diseases, with hypertension being most common. Further interventions, such as education and management before Hajj, are recommended.
An examination of the effectiveness of mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy on depression, anxiety, stress and sleep quality in Iranian women with breast cancer: a randomized controlled trial
Rolling vesicles: From confined rotational flows to surface-enabled motion
Friction forces are essential for cell movement, yet they also trigger numerous active cellular responses, complicating their measurement in vivo. Here, we introduce a synthetic model designed to measure friction forces between biomimetic membranes and substrates. The model consists of a vesicle with precisely controlled properties, fabricated via microfluidics, encapsulating a single ferromagnetic particle that is magnetically driven to rotate. The rotation of the particle generates a confined rotational flow, setting the vesicle membrane into motion. By adjusting the magnetic field frequency and vesicle size, the rotation frequency of the vesicle can be finely controlled, resulting in a rolling vesicle that functions as an effective tribological tool across a wide frequency range. At low frequencies, molecular contact between the membrane and substrate dominates frictional interactions, which enables determination of the contact friction coefficient. At higher frequencies, lubrication becomes predominant, causing the vesicles to slip rather than roll. Adjusting membrane fluidity and incorporating specific ligand–receptor interactions within this model will enable detailed studies of frictional forces in more complex biomimetic systems, providing key insights into the mechanisms of cell movement and mechanotransduction.
The incidence and predictors of peripheral arterial disease among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients at Felege Hiwot Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, 2023: A retrospective follow-up study
Background Peripheral arterial disease is a blockage or narrowing of arteries transporting blood from the heart to the legs and feet. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the second most common risk factor for peripheral arterial disease. This condition is associated with patient mortality and morbidity. However, there is limited evidence on the time to develop peripheral arterial disease, its incidence, and its predictors in the Amhara region, Ethiopia. Objective To assess the incidence and predictors of peripheral arterial disease among adult type 2 diabetes mellitus patients at Felege Hiwot Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, 2023. Methods A retrospective follow-up study was conducted using data from 552 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients, selected by simple random sampling from January 2006 to December 2021. Data from patient charts and follow-up forms were extracted using a standardized tool, entered into Epi-Data version 3.1, and analyzed in STATA version 14. Kaplan-Meier curves, life table, and Cox regression model were used to assess survival times, survival probabilities, and identify independent predictors of peripheral arterial disease, respectively. Results The final analysis included 552 records. The median time for peripheral arterial disease was 13.5 years (95% CI: 11, 14.5). Being female (Adjusted Hazard Ratio (AHR) = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.36, 3.51), age above 65 years (AHR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.06, 2.61), and fasting blood sugar of over 140 mg/dl (AHR = 3.34, 95% CI: 1.62, 6.90) were predictors for time to peripheral arterial disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. We observed an incidence rate of 29 cases of peripheral arterial disease per 1000 person-years of observation (95% CI: 24–36). Conclusion and Recommendation Most peripheral arterial disease occurs after 10 years of diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The incidence rate of peripheral arterial disease was high. Female sex, older age, and elevated baseline fasting blood sugar predicted the time until peripheral arterial disease developed. Therefore, clinicians and other stakeholders shall emphasize those types of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients who are female, older age, and with raised fasting blood sugar.
Developing advanced datadriven framework to predict the bearing capacity of piles on rock
Cadonilimab is efficacious in HER2-negative advanced-stage G/GEJ adenocarcinomas
Structure of ATP synthase from an early photosynthetic bacterium <i>Chloroflexus aurantiacus</i>
F-type ATP synthase (F 1 F O ) catalyzes proton motive force-driven ATP synthesis in mitochondria, chloroplasts, and bacteria. Different from the mitochondrial and bacterial enzymes, F 1 F O from photosynthetic organisms have evolved diverse structural and mechanistic details to adapt to the light-dependent reactions. Although complete structure of chloroplast F 1 F O has been reported, no high-resolution structure of an F 1 F O from photosynthetic bacteria has been available. Here, we report cryo-EM structures of an intact and functionally competent F 1 F O from Chloroflexus aurantiacus ( Ca F 1 F O ), a filamentous anoxygenic phototrophic bacterium from the earliest branch of photosynthetic organisms. The structures of Ca F 1 F O in its ADP-free and ADP-bound forms for three rotational states reveal a previously unrecognized architecture of ATP synthases. A pair of peripheral stalks connect to the Ca F 1 head through a dimer of δ-subunits, and associate with two membrane-embedded a-subunits that are asymmetrically positioned outside and clamp Ca F O ’s c 10 -ring. The two a-subunits constitute two proton inlets on the periplasmic side and two proton outlets on the cytoplasmic side, endowing Ca F 1 F O with unique proton translocation pathways that allow more protons being translocated relative to single a-subunit F 1 F O . Our findings deepen understanding of the architecture and proton translocation mechanisms of F 1 F O synthases and suggest innovative strategies for modulating their activities by altering the number of a-subunit.
Correction: Cultural framing of giftedness in recent US fictional texts
Improved gated recurrent unit-based osteosarcoma prediction on histology images: a meta-heuristic-oriented optimization concept
Transanal TME noninferior to the laparoscopic approach
Matrix degradation enhances stress relaxation, regulating cell adhesion and spreading
In native extracellular matrices (ECM), cells utilize matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) to degrade and remodel their microenvironment. Accordingly, synthetic matrices have been engineered to permit MMP-mediated cleavage, facilitating cell spreading, migration, and interactions. However, the interplay between matrix degradability and mechanical properties remains underexplored. We hypothesized that MMP activity induces immediate mechanical alterations in the ECM, which are subsequently detected by cells. We observed that both fibrillar collagen and synthetic degradable matrices exhibit enhanced stress relaxation following MMP exposure. Cells responded to these variations in relaxation by modulating their spreading and focal adhesions. Furthermore, we demonstrated that stress relaxation and cell spreading can be precisely controlled through the rational design of matrix degradability. These findings establish a fundamental link between matrix degradability and stress relaxation, with potential implications for a broad spectrum of biological applications.
African Youth in Mind – Protocol of a Pilot feasibility trial of a brief psychological Intervention for older adolescents with depression delivered through senior high schools in Navrongo, Ghana
In Ghana, one in three adolescents are at risk of experiencing depression. However, access to treatment is limited due to the poor integration of mental health services into primary healthcare systems. Evidence-based interventions, especially psychological therapies and antidepressant medication, can restore health and functioning for depressed youth. Ghana currently runs a policy of free Senior High Secondary Education and aims to implement a national adolescent health policy. However, the mental health component is poorly developed. Our formative research informed the adaptation of a 6-session psychological intervention for depression, suitable for school-going youth aged 15-18 in Ghana. The aim of this study is to conduct a pilot trial of this ‘African Youth in Mind’ (Y-MIND) intervention, to answer questions of feasibility and acceptability before evaluating the intervention in a larger definitive trial. The Y-MIND intervention blends evidence-based problem-solving therapy with behavioural activation and psychoeducation. The intervention will be delivered by trained and supervised guidance and counselling coordinators. The study is a parallel arm cluster randomised controlled pilot trial. Six senior high schools will each be randomly allocated 2:1 to either the intervention condition or enhanced usual care (EUC). 60 adolescents aged 15 to 18 years in senior high schools who have scored have scored 10 or more on the locally validated Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) will be randomised. The feasibility, acceptability and appropriateness of the intervention will be assessed using short quantitative measures, and qualitative interviews with adolescents and guidance and counselling coordinators. Symptoms of depression will be measured at 5 months post baseline assessment. Outcomes for anxiety, fidelity to the intervention, and cost effectiveness evaluation will also be collected. This will be the first feasibility trial of a task-shifted psychological treatment (Y-MIND) for adolescents with depression delivered by Guidance and Counselling Coordinators in high schools in any African country. Clinicaltrials.gov NCT06740084.