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Comprehensive analysis of the RBP regulome reveals functional modules and drug candidates in liver cancer
Abstract RNA binding proteins (RBPs) are essential components of the transcriptomic regulome. Understanding the RBP regulome in cancer cells is crucial for uncovering carcinogenesis mechanisms and identifying novel therapeutic targets. In this study, we aimed to reveal the regulome of liver cancer upon specific perturbations. To achieve this, we applied a consensus Gene Regulatory Network (GRN) approach using knockdown data focusing on the liver cancer cell line HepG2. By integrating multiple GRNs inferred from diverse computational methods, we constructed a comprehensive regulatory network. To validate our findings, we evaluated the consensus GRN by focusing on characterizing key regulatory interactions in liver cancer. We used eCLIP-seq and RAP-seq data to verify RBP interactions and binding sites. In addition, we performed an enrichment analysis of network modules and in silico drug repurposing based on the inferred GRN. Taken together, our findings highlight the critical role of RBP-mediated regulation in liver cancer, which can be used to improve treatment strategies and develop further research.
Integrating 3D phenotyping and functional-structural plant models for crop ideotype breeding
Framing the world: Strategic narratives of foreign states in China’s mainstream media (1950–2019)
This study investigates how mainstream Chinese media have portrayed foreign states over the past seven decades. While scholars have extensively studied foreign media portrayals of China, little systematic or longitudinal evidence exists on how China’s official party press frames the world across different countries and time periods. Using word embedding techniques, this study traces media representations of major foreign countries (N = 94) on People’s Daily (1950–2019). Results show that media favorability trends in the People’s Daily closely mirror major turning points in Chinese foreign policy. Regression analyses reveal that a country’s economic development, industrialization, and military capacity are major predictors of its media image, while the influence of economic factors shifted significantly over time. These patterns reflect broader geopolitical transformations and China’s evolving global orientation. The findings illuminate how computational approaches can recover the structural and strategic logics of state media framing, with implications for ongoing debates on narrative power, cultural influence, and China’s evolving role in the global information order.
Nano-emulsion of garlic oil extracts: development, characterization and nematicidal efficacy against Meloidogyne incognita on tomato
Abstract The root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita , causes serious economic losses in agricultural production worldwide. Although traditional nematicides have proven effective, their utility is becoming increasingly restricted by regulations due to risks to ecosystems and public health. Consequently, plant-based extracts are gaining popularity as an eco-friendly alternative for nematode control. However, the limitations of using plant extracts necessitate the development of novel formulations. Therefore, garlic oil was extracted with ethanol or ethyl acetate and analyzed for composition by GC-MS. It was developed as a nanoemulsion, characterized and then tested for use as an alternative strategy to manage M. incognita infecting tomato plants. The results showed that garlic oil extracted with ethanol contained a high concentration of bis-(2-diethyl aminoethyl) trisulfide (23.74%), methyl propyl tetrasulfide (18.85%), and isopropyl tert-butyl disulfide (10.93%). 1,3-dipentyltrisulfane (74.18%) and 2,4-dimethylphenyl 2-naphthyl sulfone (15.52%) were the main constituents in garlic oil extracted with ethyl acetate. The resulting six nanoemulsion formulations were prepared using the high-energy emulsification method and were characterized by tiny droplets (≤ 138 nm), the polydispersity index (PDI) (≤ 0.65), zeta potential values in the range of 10.2–20.3 mV, and spherical morphology. These formulations maintained stable for 16 weeks when stored at 25 °C. Meanwhile, soil drenching with the nanoemulsions effectively managed M. incognita by reducing the formation of root galls and 2nd juveniles in the soil and promoting tomato growth, particularly the Tween 20 and Tween 80 formulations, both of which were ethanol-based and demonstrated superior nematicidal effects compared to ethyl acetate extract as well as the tested nematicides; cadusafos and oxamyl. Overall, the garlic oil nanoemulsion formulations developed in our study appear to be promising candidates for the development of novel and green nematicide formulations for managing M. incognita associated with tomatoes in sustainable agriculture.
Activating bulk S/Se/Te positive electrodes by acidic binder-induced Cu corrosion for wide-temperature Na-Chalcogen batteries
Acute effects of intermittent hypoxia–hyperoxia exposure on cardiovascular autonomic function and blood pressure in sedentary older adults: A pilot randomized controlled trial
Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of a single session of intermittent hypoxia–hyperoxia exposure on cardiovascular autonomic regulation, blood pressure, and arterial oxygen saturation in sedentary older adults. Methods A double-blind randomized controlled trial with pre- and post-intervention assessment was conducted in a residential care physiotherapy setting. Sixteen sedentary older adults were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 8) or a control group (n = 8). The experimental group received one session of intermittent hypoxia–hyperoxia exposure consisting of six cycles of hypoxia (FiO₂ 10–14% for 5 minutes) followed by hyperoxia (FiO₂ 30–40% for 3 minutes), administered via a hypoxic generator. The control group received a sham intervention consisting of normoxic breathing (FiO₂ 21%). Heart rate variability (SDNN, RMSSD, LF/HF), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and arterial oxygen saturation were measured at baseline and immediately after the intervention. Results Compared with the control group, the experimental group showed significant increases in SDNN and RMSSD and a significant reduction in the LF/HF ratio (p < 0.01), indicating improved autonomic regulation. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate decreased significantly in the experimental group compared with controls (p < 0.01). Arterial oxygen saturation showed a small but significant increase in the experimental group (p < 0.01). No adverse events or withdrawals were reported. Conclusions In this pilot randomized controlled trial, a single session of intermittent hypoxia–hyperoxia exposure was associated with acute changes in heart rate variability indices and blood pressure in sedentary older adults. These preliminary findings should be interpreted cautiously and require confirmation in larger, adequately powered trials.
Nectin-4 expression in clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Probing nuclear interactions à la Rutherford: insights on 4He from α scattering
Abstract Nuclear interactions play a key role for the stability of atomic nuclei and stellar environments. Successful parametrization and models of these interactions, developed in the last decades, accurately reproduce all the proton and neutron scattering data, besides the properties of few-body nuclear systems. However, recent electron scattering results focusing on the first excited resonant state of 4 He nucleus, reveal a puzzling situation suggesting potential gaps in our understanding of the nuclear phenomenology. Here, we report a study of such 4 He resonance by 4 He + 4 He scattering featuring data of unprecedented sensitivity and state-of-art analyses of the spectral line shape together with a phenomenological reaction modeling that incorporates the same nuclear densities employed in electron-scattering studies. Our analysis of the full set of experimental observables yields a reasonable description within the framework of current nuclear-interaction physics, thereby highlighting the need for further advancing the modeling of few-body open quantum systems.
Emergency department visits and disease patterns during and after the COVID-19 lockdown
Background The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruptions in healthcare systems worldwide, particularly in emergency department (ED) utilization. While much research has focused on pre-pandemic and lockdown periods, most published evidence comes from high-income settings, with fewer studies from LMICs examining the post-lockdown ED trends and diagnostic patterns. Aim This study analyzed variations in patient volumes and shifts in disease patterns among both adult and pediatric patients presenting to the ED during and after the COVID-19 lockdown at a tertiary care center in Lebanon. Methods A retrospective observational study was conducted using administrative data from the ED of a tertiary care medical center in Beirut, Lebanon. The study focused on adult and pediatric patients admitted between February 29, 2020, and April 14, 2022, and included a total of 69,870 patients, of whom 21.2% were pediatric cases. Results The average age of patients decreased significantly post-lockdown (41.7 ± 24.9 vs. 37.7 ± 25.7 years, p-value <0.001), driven by a rise in pediatric visits (from 17.4% to 23.9%, p-value <0.001) demonstrating a catch-up effect. Adult volumes recovered more slowly throughout the post-lockdown period. Pediatric visits for respiratory tracts infections, COVID-19, and ear diseases surged post-lockdown (increases ranging from 303% to 355%). Adult patients showed decreases in COVID-19 and pregnancy-related visits and significant increases in injury, poisoning, digestive system diseases, and other viral infections. Post-lockdown, ED visits shifted toward lower acuity, with reduced admission rates and a slight decrease in length of stay. Conclusion After the COVID-19 containment period, ED visits significantly increased, especially in the pediatric age group, while adult volumes recovered more slowly with distinct diagnostic shifts. These patterns in ED visits during the pandemic highlight the need for continuous ED surveillance and flexible, adaptive healthcare strategies that can rapidly scale services and adjust staffing to meet the evolving demands of both pediatric and adult populations during and after public health emergencies.
Atlantic multidecadal oscillation modulates the impact of precipitation extremes on crop yields in Africa
Saccharomyces cerevisiae reduces vulvovaginal candidiasis severity through modulation of fungal pathogenicity and inflammatory responses
Determinants of dropout from lifestyle interventions for overweight polycystic ovary syndrome: An exploratory analysis of randomized controlled trial
Objective This exploratory analysis of a randomized controlled trial aimed to identify baseline predictors of dropout in overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) participating in a lifestyle intervention program. Methods An exploratory analysis was conducted using data from a randomized controlled trial involving overweight or insulin-resistant women with PCOS aged 18–45. All participants received cyclic progestin, metformin, and a structured lifestyle intervention. Dropout was defined as proactive withdrawal, missing two consecutive visits, or loss of contact for more than six months. Univariate and adjusted multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with dropout. Results Among the participants, 61.06% (n = 69) dropped out within one year. No significant differences were observed in baseline demographic, clinical, biochemical, psychological, or dietary characteristics between completers and dropouts. However, baseline physical activity level (PAL), objectively measured using an accelerometer, was identified as the strongest predictor of dropout. Each 0.3-unit increase in PAL was associated with a 29.6% reduction in the likelihood of dropout. Conclusion Baseline PAL is strongly associated with the risk of dropout. Screening for PAL in women with PCOS is recommended, and those with lower PAL should receive personalized support in addition to lifestyle interventions to improve adherence and promote weight loss.
Actin derangement and increased Piezo1 activity in Ras-transformed cells promote cyclic stretch-induced cell detachment and apoptosis
Tunable microwave frequency synthesis with optically-derived spectral purity
Integrated NEK7-inflammasome and platelet transcriptomic signature generates mechanistic hypotheses in heart failure
Background The relationship between NEK7-NLRP3 inflammasome activation and elevated platelet activity in the progression of heart failure (HF) is not well understood. Additionally, a comprehensive gene network linking these processes to cardiac fibrosis has not been established. Our study aimed to explore the transcriptomic associations between NEK7-inflammasome, platelet activation and cardiac fibrosis in heart failure (HF), and to generate pathogenic hypotheses. Methods We integrated bulk RNA-Seq (GSE116250, GSE57338) and scRNA-Seq (GSE183852) data from human HF samples. Through differential expression analysis, WGCNA, and machine learning techniques (LASSO and SVM-RFE), we identified key genes. A candidate diagnostic nomogram was subsequently developed and internally validated. We also conducted functional enrichment and immune infiltration analyses, and molecular docking studies. Key findings were explored in an angiotensin II-induced murine HF model using quantitative PCR. Results We identified a novel four-gene signature, TIMP2 , COL16A1 , MDK , and ISLR , that shows co-expression patterns with NEK7 and platelet‑activation‑related gene sets. These genes were significantly upregulated in human HF tissues and showed similar expression trends in murine hearts, although ISLR exhibited a non-significant increase. A preliminary discrimination model based on these genes showed preliminary discriminatory efficacy in the training cohort (AUC = 0.993), however, this model requires further validation in prospective, multi-center cohorts before any clinical application can be considered. Functional enrichment analysis indicated their synergistic involvement in the TGF-β signaling pathway. Immune profiling underscored a correlation with CD56dim natural killer cell infiltration, identifying fibroblasts as the primary expressors of these genes. Pseudotime trajectory analysis illustrated dynamic expression patterns during fibroblast activation, and potential therapeutic compounds, such as β-Heparin and WZ4002, were predicted via molecular docking. Conclusion This study introduces a novel fibro-inflammatory gene module linked to NEK7-mediated inflammation, platelet activation, and TGF-β signaling in HF. These findings generate integrated mechanistic hypotheses for HF pathogenesis and provide a foundation for subsequent diagnostic and mechanistic explorations.
Gastric ultrasound reveals no association between prolonged fasting duration and gastric residual volume in pediatric patients
Abstract Prolonged preoperative fasting is common in pediatric anesthesia, yet its effect on gastric residual volume (GRV) remains inadequately explored. We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study to examine the association between prolonged fasting duration and GRV measured using point-of-care gastric ultrasonography. A total of 491 children aged 1–12 years scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia after fasting more than 8 h were included. GRV was measured using point-of-care gastric ultrasonography and calculated using a validated formula, then normalized to body weight. The primary endpoint was the association between fasting duration and weight-adjusted GRV (GRV/WT). Among the participants (median age 89 months; 308 boys), fifteen patients (3.05%) had a stomach at risk of aspiration (GRV/WT > 1.25 mL kg −1 ) and 29 (5.91%) showed high-risk gastric antrum morphology. Spearman correlation analysis demonstrated no significant association between prolonged fasting duration and GRV/WT (ρ = 0.037, 95% CI: − 0.054 to 0.128, p = 0.41). GRV/WT correlated positively with age and negatively with body mass index. These findings suggest that prolonged preoperative fasting does not independently associate with GRV in pediatric patients.
Spatial transcriptomics identifies immune-stromal niches associated with cancer in adult dermatomyositis
Comparative performance of invasive, semi-invasive, and non-invasive insulin resistance-related indices across prediabetes and normoglycemia
Insulin resistance, a defining abnormality in the development of type 2 diabetes, often emerges silently during prediabetes. This study evaluated the comparative performance of multiple insulin resistance-related indices across adults with prediabetes and normoglycemia. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted among 100 adults aged 25–55 years, equally divided between the two glycemic groups. Twenty-five candidate indices were examined, spanning blood-based indices, lipid–anthropometry combinations, and non-invasive anthropometric and body-composition measures, including several newly derived indices. Correlation analysis was performed to assess the relationship between candidate indices and the Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance, followed by logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve evaluation for indices showing significant correlations. Individuals with prediabetes demonstrated significantly higher adiposity and differences in metabolic parameters compared to individuals with normoglycemia (p < 0.05 for most variables). Seventeen of the twenty-five candidate indices showed significant correlations with the Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance. Among laboratory-based indices, the triglyceride–glucose index and the homeostasis model assessment showed good discriminative performance. Within lipid–anthropometry combinations, the triglyceride–glucose waist-to-height ratio and triglyceride–glucose waist circumference provided the best performance, each yielding an area under the curve of approximately 0.79. Several non-invasive indices also demonstrated good comparative performance. The bioimpedance-based somatotype adiposity index showed the highest overall performance among individual indices, with an area under the curve of 0.82, sensitivity of 78 percent, specificity of 80 percent, and an adjusted odds ratio of 14.9. These findings suggest that selected non-invasive anthropometric and body-composition indices may provide a practical and low-cost approach for assessing metabolic alterations associated with insulin resistance across glycemic groups, although further validation is required.