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Author Correction: Natural selection and genetic diversity maintenance in a parasitic wasp during continuous biological control application
Early start of hemoadsorption is associated with improved kidney recovery in ICU patients with ischemic/reperfusion cause of rhabdomyolysis
Background Hemoadsorption is considered currently as an adjunct therapy for the treatment of rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury (AKI) although the exact timing is not yet determined. We hypothesised that earlier start of hemoadsorption in patients with ischemia/reperfusion caused rhabdomyolysis and AKI leads to a better clinical improvement and recovery of kidney function. Materials and methods We conducted a single-center, retrospective cohort study. Treatment was defined as the use of hemoadsorption with CytoSorb® in combination with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) compared to patients who were treated only with CRRT. Patients were divided in early and late initiation of hemoadsorption subgroups by less or more than 12 hours after developing acute kidney injury. Myoglobin and creatine kinase plasma levels were measured shortly before, 12 hours after the start of treatment, and 24, 48, and 72 hours after initiation. The follow-up lasted until the last enrolled patient reached 60 days after first hemoadsorption procedure. Results Overall, 30 patients were included in the treatment arm and 25 patients in the control group. Significant decrease of myoglobin levels was observed in the hemoadsorption treated group in all time points when compared with the control group. Logistical regression analysis found the association of hemoadsorption use and shorter duration of AKI (OR 3.46) and less acute kidney disease (AKD) (OR 2.85). Earlier start of hemoadsorption was associated with a statistically significant shorter duration of AKI (OR 3.22) and less AKD (OR 3.10). Patients treated early with hemoadsorption survived significantly longer than patients treated late (49.2 vs 15.3 days; p < 0.001). Conclusions Early start of combined CRRT and hemoadsorption therapy with CytoSorb was safe and associated with improved kidney recovery and survival in patients with ischemic/reperfusion rhabdomyolysis and AKI. Early start of hemoadsorption might prevent renal failure and acute kidney disease and shorten the CRRT dependency in patients who develop AKI.
Research on the decision-making of high-tech manufacturing enterprises for energy conservation and emission reduction driven by industrial green microgrids under the green credit regulatory system
Video-rate gigapixel ptychography via space-time neural field representations
Platform workers not by chance: Exploring the digital labour markets in Italy with machine learning and explainable AI
Digital labour platforms are reshaping the world of work across a wide range of sectors, offering greater flexibility and accessibility than traditional labour markets. However, existing research suggests that platform work is often associated with low-quality working conditions and may exacerbate inequalities. This study examines the economic and social dimensions of digital platform labour in Italy—a country characterised by labour market fragmentation and the widespread use of non-standard employment—using official survey data collected in 2018 and 2021. Applying advanced machine learning (ML) and explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) techniques, the analysis explores the demographic, occupational, and economic factors that predict participation in platform work and drive segmentation within the platform workforce. The findings reveal that platform work in Italy is a heterogeneous and stratified phenomenon, deeply embedded in longstanding labour market fragmentation and regional disparities. Economic vulnerability is concentrated not among the youngest workers, as often suggested in the literature, but among older or more established individuals facing job instability, underemployment, or declining income from traditional occupations. Moreover, the analysis reveals that platform work is associated with structural vulnerabilities typical of non-standard employment, including unstable contracts, gender inequalities, and economic insecurity, and it primarily functions as a compensatory mechanism to supplement insufficient earnings from precarious jobs. Among jobseekers, engagement with platforms is more likely among younger individuals experiencing moderate—rather than severe—financial strain, suggesting that platform work is not generally perceived as a last-resort strategy but rather as a temporary or adaptive response to limited labour market opportunities. The COVID-19 pandemic further intensified these dynamics, acting as a catalyst for workers experiencing economic and social stress. During this period, platform work expanded as a fallback option for the unemployed, providing an informal buffer amid declining employment opportunities and persistent income insecurity.
Comparison of two analytical platforms for quantification of neuroglial biomarkers in blood samples: a single molecule array and an electrochemiluminescence assay
Abstract Advances in ultrasensitive immunoassays have enabled reliable quantification of neuroglial biomarkers in blood, providing valuable insights into neurological disorders. However, cross-platform evaluations are necessary to ensure comparability and standardization. This study aimed to compare the analytical performance of a Single Molecule Array (Simoa) and an ultrasensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) assay for quantifying neurofilament light chain (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in human serum. Baseline serum samples from 174 participants in the RIFUND trial were analyzed in parallel on both platforms. Concentrations of NfL and GFAP were compared using Spearman correlation, Bland–Altman analyses, reproducibility assessments, dilution linearity, and cross-platform recovery. All samples were quantifiable on both platforms. NfL concentrations correlated strongly between methods (Spearman correlation r = 0.88, p < 0.0001), whereas GFAP correlated moderately ( r = 0.77, p < 0.0001). Inter- and intra-assay coefficients of variation were comparable between platforms for both analytes. The relationship between the two assays could be described with the following equations: NfL ECL = 7.63 × NfL SIMOA + 1.71 and GFAP ECL = 0.332 × GFAP SIMOA + 4.22. Dilution linearity was excellent on both platforms (R 2 > 0.99), although cross-platform recovery varied systematically across the analytical range. Both Simoa and ECL demonstrated strong analytical performance for neuroglial biomarker quantification in serum. Despite systematic differences in absolute concentrations, relative agreement was high, particularly for NfL. These findings highlight the need for platform harmonization and provide empirically derived conversion factors to support analytical comparability in research and clinical applications.
Engineering Rhodotorula toruloides as a platform organism for de novo synthesis of fatty-acid esters
Characterization of Antibiofilm Molecules from Bovine Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci
Bacterial biofilms are structured communities of bacterial cells enclosed in a self-produced polymeric matrix, which can adhere to biotic or abiotic surfaces. This mode of existence permits these bacteria to endure in adverse conditions, including the presence of antibiotics Bacteria within biofilms are responsible for numerous infections in humans and animals, including bovine mastitis. It is therefore important to develop new therapeutic strategies to control and treat biofilm-associated infections. The results obtained by our group during the study of mixed bacterial biofilm communities showed that four isolates of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS; two Staphylococcus chromogenes and two Staphylococcus simulans ) that produce only a small amount of biofilm can significantly reduce biofilm formation in approximatively 80% of pathogenic staphylococci associated with bovine mastitis. Furthermore, supernatants of S. chromogenes reduced secondary intramammary colonization by S. aureus in a murine model of mastitis. However, information regarding the mechanism and the effector molecule(s) involved is lacking. The objective of this study was therefore to investigate and characterize the antibiofilm molecule(s) produced by these four CNS isolates. In this context, we prepared culture supernatants from two isolates of S. chromogenes (C and E) and two isolates of S. simulans (F and H) to evaluate their effect on biofilm production of pathogenic bacterial species involved in bovine mastitis. Using a standard biofilm microtiter plate assay, we demonstrated that the four CNS supernatants not only have a significant impact on biofilms of pathogenic staphylococci (68% of tested isolates) but also on those of other important mastitis pathogens such as Streptococcus spp., Trueperella pyogenes , Klebsiella spp. and Escherichia coli (61.3% of tested isolates) . The isolation and characterization of the antibiofilm molecule(s) contained in the supernatants were then conducted using a filtration process with membranes of different porosities, as well as through physicochemical and enzymatic treatments. We were then able to confirm that antibiofilm activity against staphylococci was present in the < 3kDa fractions of CNS culture supernatants and that this activity was heat-stable and protease-resistant, but sensitive to RNase A, suggesting that the antibiofilm activity might be due, at least in part, to an RNA molecule. Preliminary results showed that the antibiofilm activity was maintained with RNA extracts from fractioned supernatants (<3kDa). In conclusion, these results confirmed that some CNS have an antibiofilm activity, which represents a promising new avenue in the fight against biofilm-associated infections, particularly bovine mastitis.
Preclinical development of an extended half-life anti-myostatin monoclonal antibody
Probe-based identification of metal-binding sites using deep learning representations
Mycoelectronics: Bioprinted living fungal bioelectronics for artificial sensation
The intelligence of the human biological system is enabled by the highly distributed sensing receptors on soft skin that can distinguish various stimulations or environmental cues, thus establishing the fundamental logic of sensing and physiological regulation or response. To replicate biological perception, biohybrid systems integrating living organisms with electronics have been developed to sense environmental cues. However, current eukaryote-based biohybrids face slow growth, strict culture needs, and short lifespans, limiting real-world use. Here, we introduce fungi-based printable “ Mycoelectronics ” which are created by additive bioprinting of living fungal mycelium networks onto stretchable electronics, as a practical living thermoresponsive sensory platform. This mycoelectronics approach leverages fung‘s capabilities for rapid biological responsiveness, cultivability with exponential growth, stability and self-healing in ambient conditions, bioprintability for scalable manufacturing, and mechanical flexibility for seamless integration with soft electronics. We show that the thermal responsiveness of the fungal network arises from intrinsic cellular processes—specifically, heat-induced vacuole remodeling and fusion, which modulate ionic transport and thus the electrical conductivity of the mycelial cells and networks, enabling a rapid response. By bridging the gap between cell biology and soft electronics, the mycoelectronics device, with a living mycelial network, functions as a thermal sensation system with rapid response and intrinsic self-healing properties, autonomously restoring sensing capabilities after damage and establishing sensing pathways in hard-to-reach locations. Application demonstrations in environmental and agricultural monitoring and wearable sensing systems for humans and robots highlight the versatility of this living fungal sensor platform, suggesting promising opportunities in healthcare and the environment.
From a shared origin to divergent frames: A computational analysis of media representations of Kampo Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine in Asahi Shimbun
Based on a corpus of news articles published in Asahi Shimbun over four decades (1984–2025), this study examines how Kampo medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), two medical traditions sharing a common historical origin, are discursively represented in Japanese mainstream media. Using topic modeling and word embedding analysis, it analyzes long-term patterns at two levels: thematic structures identified through topic modeling and semantic associations derived from word embeddings. The results show that Asahi Shimbun consistently differentiates Kampo medicine and TCM through sustained thematic and semantic organization. At the thematic level, coverage is structured across six domains, within which Kampo medicine is more stably integrated into core public concerns related to health practices and material supply, while TCM is more often situated in culturally oriented, comparative, or externally referenced contexts. Diachronically, these distinctions persist while adjusting to changing social demands and policy priorities. At the semantic level, Kampo medicine and TCM form distinct and relatively stable semantic neighborhoods. Kampo medicine is closely associated with concrete therapeutic entities, while TCM is framed within abstract classificatory, institutional, and system-oriented concepts. Together, thematic differentiation and semantic stabilization reinforce a clear discursive boundary between the two traditions. These findings reveal how Japanese mainstream media differentially position homologous medical knowledge over the long term, highlighting their role in shaping meaning within the modern nation-state context. The study applies recontextualization to long-term media analysis and shows how agenda-setting and framing contribute to the localization and othering of homologous knowledge. By linking macro-level thematic structures with micro-level semantic patterns, it further clarifies how media discourse shapes knowledge boundaries and cultural identity, extending the application of recontextualization theory in health and cross-cultural communication research.
Electrocapillary bridge formation from emulsions
Abstract Liquid bridges formed under electric fields are well known in polar liquids such as water, whereas their formation in nonpolar oils is generally challenging. In this work, we show that electric-field-induced liquid bridges can readily form from oil-in-oil emulsions. Silicone–castor oil emulsions confined in a film–air–film geometry between parallel ITO electrodes generate multiple bridges under DC electric fields that are lower than those required for the corresponding pure oils. Bridge formation depends strongly on both electric field strength and emulsion mixing ratio. The number of bridges generally increases with increasing castor-oil fraction, while the threshold electric field exhibits a non-monotonic dependence on emulsion mixing ratio and reaches its lowest values at intermediate mixing ratios. For all bridge-forming mixing ratios, the induction time decreases rapidly with increasing electric field. Primary bridges form as coaxial core–shell structures composed of two oil phases. These findings suggest that dispersed droplets can strongly modify electrocapillary instabilities and facilitate electrically induced connectivity in low-polarity liquids that do not form bridges in their homogeneous state.
Rethinking solvent regeneration pathways for maritime carbon capture
Abstract Maritime transport is difficult to decarbonize, and onboard carbon capture has emerged as a promising option. However, adapting land-based capture systems may not suit the space, energy, and weight constraints of ships. Here we show that shifting solvent regeneration from ship to shore can improve the practicality and cost-effectiveness of maritime carbon capture. We compare onboard and onshore regeneration across 16 shipping routes using four capture solvents under different onboard load limits. The results show that adopting practical load limits (~20%), rather than fixed capture rates, provides a more reasonable basis for system design. Solvents with low regeneration energy are favored for onboard regeneration, whereas solvents with high carbon dioxide absorption capacity are preferred for onshore regeneration. With carbon tax included, onshore regeneration is generally more cost-effective in 2030 and 2050, and an extended analysis of 357 routes indicates it becomes economically viable by 2040 and broadly applicable by 2050.
Study on the influence of cementation sequence on the mechanical properties and microstructure of MICP-modified ili loess
The loess widely distributed in the Ili River Valley in north-western China is prone to soil erosion and geological hazards due to its high collapsibility, high soluble salt content and loose structure. This study investigates the effectiveness of Microbial-Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) technology in improving the mechanical properties of Ili loess, focusing on a comparison of the macroscopic and microscopic properties under three different treatment sequences: bacterial suspension followed by cementation solution, cementation solution followed by bacterial suspension, and simultaneous application of both solutions. The results indicate that the treatment sequence significantly influences the MICP improvement effect, with the simultaneous application method performing best. Its unconfined compressive strength (115.83 kPa) increased by approximately 59.77% compared to untreated samples, and cohesion increased by approximately 55.06%, whilst the change in internal friction angle was minimal (<0.92%). Microscopic analysis indicated that the simultaneous application method formed a continuous, dense cementation network, effectively filling voids and bridging particles; in contrast, stepwise treatment tended to result in uneven distribution of the cementation material. It should be noted that this study constitutes a preliminary exploration under laboratory conditions; before the proposed method for optimising the cementation sequence can be applied to actual engineering projects, further research is required into durability (dry-wet/freeze-thaw cycles), scale effects and field validation. This study provides a potential environmentally friendly technical approach for the improvement of Ili loess.
Registration-based 3D Light Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy and 2D histology image fusion tool for pathological specimen
Abstract Histological analysis traditionally relies on thin tissue sections, providing inherently two-dimensional (2D) information. However, this approach captures only a fraction of the entire sample and lacks the spatial context necessary for comprehensive tissue assessment. Recent advancements in multimodal imaging have introduced the fusion of histological data with three-dimensional (3D) imaging techniques, such as Light Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy (LSFM), to enhance tissue analysis by integrating complementary spatial information. A key challenge in this fusion process is the accurate alignment of corresponding structures across modalities, which is complicated by differences in resolution, sectioning-induced deformations, and varying imaging orientations. This is further complicating in the case of 2D-to-3D registration where the initial alignment of the image inside the volume is unknown and registration processes are computationally expensive due to six degrees of freedom in the placement. Here, existing solutions often require manual selection of image pairs, fiducial markers or technical expertise, limiting accessibility to non-specialist users. To address these limitations, we introduce LitSHi (Light Sheet meets Histology), a novel registration tool that enables the automated and precise alignment of LSFM and histological images. LitSHi allows multimodal image fusion to be performed fully automatically, which significantly reduces the need for manual intervention. Using testicular tumor and pancreatic specimens, we evaluated LitSHi and demonstrated its ability to enhance structural correspondence between LSFM and histological images. The automated registration process markedly improved both efficiency and alignment accuracy compared with conventional manual or semi-automated approaches. Overall, LitSHi holds significant potential to advance digital pathology by enabling optimized multimodal tissue analysis and supporting future developments in computational pathology and AI-driven diagnostics.
Antagonistic histone H2A variants and autonomous heterochromatin formation shape epigenomic patterns in Arabidopsis
Performance patterns and records in the world aquatics masters championships: Where do the most frequently represented nations among the top-ten masters swimmers come from?
Background Masters Swimming is a rapidly expanding sector of competitive aquatic sport and provides structured opportunities for adults to maintain long-term engagement in high-level swimming. Despite extensive global participation, limited evidence exists regarding the national origins of the most frequent Masters swimmers among the top-ten performers across all strokes, distances, and age groups. Previous research has focused primarily on isolated disciplines or open-water events. This study aimed to investigate participation and performance patterns of Masters swimmers competing at the World Masters and World Aquatics Championships from 1986 to 2024, with a specific focus on national patterns among top performers. Methods A total of 204,005 long-course (50 m) swimming performance entries (94,312 women and 109,693 men) from 1986 to 2024 were extracted from the official World Aquatics archive and analyzed. The unit of analysis was the annual top-ten entries for each stroke, distance, sex, and age group, with each result treated as an independent performance record. Statistical differences between nationalities were assessed using Kruskal-Wallis tests with Bonferroni post-hoc adjustments. Descriptive data were presented using mean, standard deviation, and confidence intervals. Success was operationally defined as the frequency of a nation’s appearances in the annual top-ten fastest times for each stroke, distance, and sex. For descriptive purposes, nationalities were grouped into six categories: the top-five nationalities with the most appearances in the top-ten fastest times regarding the different swimming strokes and sex separately by distances and for each competition year, as well as one group of all other nationalities. Results Among women, German swimmers were the most numerous in the top-ten for breaststroke, butterfly, and 50 m backstroke. Among men, however, U.S. swimmers were the most frequently represented across almost all distances and strokes, except for the successes of Brazilian athletes in the 50 m backstroke and Russian swimmers in the 50 m breaststroke. Across all years and disciplines, the most recurrent top-ten Masters swimmers came from the USA, Germany, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, and Brazil (“Big Six”). Performance differences between nationalities were significant across multiple events, with notable strengths among Russian swimmers in breaststroke and freestyle sprint events. Conclusions The United States demonstrated the broadest and most consistent numerical superiority in Masters swimming performance over the 38-year period, by fielding the most frequent athletes among the top-ten performers, particularly among men. German women displayed exceptional success in breaststroke and butterfly, accounting for the majority of the athletes in the top-ten. These findings highlight persistent geographic patterns in Masters swimming excellence and may guide future research on environmental, sociocultural, training, and demographic factors contributing to national performance patterns.