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A new insert drawing technique for controlling ore loss and dilution during sublevel caving
Southern Ocean humpback whales are shifting to an earlier return migration
Engineered phages for selective adsorption of rare earth elements
Abstract Biomaterial extraction of rare earth elements (REEs) offers an environmentally friendly and efficient alternative to chemical solvent methods. M13 Phages showing less non-specific REE binding without glycosylated polysaccharides have multiple copies of p8 fusions to display peptides with selective binding for the desired REEs. In this study, we developed two diverse phage display libraries: one displaying 12-mer peptides and another displaying 17-mer circular peptides, each with over 1 × 107 unique peptides. Six fluorescent protein-peptide fusions, CFP-peptide-YFP, were prepared for measuring Kd. Their REE affinity, ranging from 2 to 30 micromolar (µM), were generally weak, but a novel peptide-phage, H11G-p8, a derivative of H11-p8, showed a better affinity toward Eu than others. Recombinant phages displaying H11G and E1 were also assessed for their Ki (phage inhibition) values, ranging 10−11 to 10−12 molar (M) resulting from the combination of specific binding to the REE and non-specific binding from the phage backbone. Both phages were further evaluated for direct REE binding as free phages in solution and as immobilized phages bound to resin. Both phages showed preferential binding toward Tb, with H11G-p8 consistently exhibiting higher specific Tb binding, indicating its greater potential for separating Tb from other REEs.
Sd-021, derivatives of decursin, inhibits tumorigenesis in NSCLC by inhibiting the EGFR/STAT3 signaling pathway
Ongoing multiparameter unrest at the Montagne Pelée volcano on Martinique from 2019 to 2024
Abstract Multiparameter volcanic unrest has been recorded since April 2019 on the Montagne Pelée volcano located on Martinique. There have been only very few periods of seismic unrest since the last magmatic eruption of 1929−1932. This is therefore a rare opportunity to examine its origin. In April 2019 the number of shallow volcano-tectonic (VT) earthquakes increased drastically above the reference monthly rate of 19 VT/month and then exceeded it consistently for several months. Deep (> 10 km) VT events occurred at the onset of the unrest and harmonic tremor was first recorded in November 2020. Continuous Global Navigation Satellite System data reveal that a minor horizontal deformation began around mid-2021. The modeling of these data favors an inflation source located at about 1 km below and slightly SW of the summit, in the area of the hydrothermal system and where most of the shallow VT events are located. Zones of degraded and dead vegetation on the upper flanks of Montagne Pelée were detected with satellite imagery starting in November 2019 and shown to be associated with elevated passive CO2 soil degassing. This protracted unrest most likely reflects the ascent of a limited volume of deep magmatic fluids that reinvigorated the shallow hydrothermal circulation.
A mining reality check on net zero
Enhanced characterization of hydraulic conductivity via standard penetration test for sandy soils and weathered rocks
Mechanical and viscoelastic properties of a temperature-responsive photocurable resin for 3D printed orthodontic clear aligners
Short playful interactions improve executive functions in children
Identification of STAT3 signaling as a shared pathogenic signature in systemic lupus erythematosus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma
The effects of PM2.5 concentrations on traffic violations and accident severity in Guangdong China
Solvent-free thermoplastic foaming for superelastic graphene monoliths
Examining burden among caregivers of community-dwelling older adults in Lebanon
BKCa channel as a novel regulator of cellular DNA damage response in human bronchial epithelial cells in the presence of particulate matter
Abstract While particulate matter (PM) is a well-studied genotoxic environmental agent, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms through which PM triggers its harmful health consequences remains insufficient. The respiratory epithelium serves as the primary site for the deposition of PM, thereby acting as a protective barrier. These epithelial cells are characterized by the presence of notable potassium channels, which are critical for the regulation of the fluid layer. In human bronchial epithelial cells (HBE), the large-conductance Ca2+-regulated potassium (BKCa) channels, localized to the apical site of the plasma membrane, are critical for the maintenance of proper airway surface liquid volume. In this work, we focused on the role of the BKCa channel and its potential role in DNA damage response (DDR) after PM exposure. The mechanisms of DDR have been extensively studied, however, the involvement of ion channels in this phenomenon is not known. Therefore, we used depleted for the BKCa channel HBE cells (HBE Δα BKCa) as a physiological model. We demonstrated that exposure to standardized PM in HBE Δα BKCa cells induced reduced clone formation capabilities, an increase in ROS levels, PARP1-dependent apoptosis, cell cycle changes, and an increase in DNA double-strand breaks. A gene expression assessment by qPCR analysis revealed changes in expression levels of genes encoding proteins, especially from the DNA-single strand breaks repair pathway involved in oxidative DNA damage repair. Our findings imply that the absence of the BKCa channel might weaken the cellular response to DNA damage, potentially making cells more susceptible to PM-induced genomic instability. In conclusion, our research indicates the novel role of the BKCa channel in DDR for the first time.
Deciphering chromate tolerance and reduction ability of an indigenous Bacillus strain isolated from polluted pond sludge for chromium bioremediation
Modeling visual working memory using recurrent on-center off-surround neural network with distance dependent inhibition
Exploring the potential role of GyrA inhibiting quinoline analog: an in silico study
Abstract Fluoroquinolone-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa poses a significant global health concern, particularly in healthcare settings. This opportunistic pathogen has developed resistance against multiple classes of antibiotics, rendering infections challenging to treat. The present study focused on identifying quinoline analogs as potential inhibitors of gyrA in fluoroquinolone-resistant P. aeruginosa. Utilizing structural bioinformatics, molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and MM/PBSA binding energy analyses, the quinoline analog, N-benzylquinoline-8-sulfonamide (M2), emerged as the most promising candidate. Molecular docking revealed M2’s better binding affinity to gyrA wild type as well as frequently observed mutants, demonstrated average binding energy of − 8.14 kcal/mol, significantly better than ciprofloxacin (− 7.13 kcal/mol) and levofloxacin (− 6.57 kcal/mol). M2 exhibited a robust inhibition constant of 1.09 µM, surpassing control antibiotics ciprofloxacin (6.11 µM) and levofloxacin (15.34 µM). MD simulations validated the dynamic stability of M2 and gyrA complexes (wild-type and mutant), whereas MM/PBSA analysis confirmed strong binding energetics. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) further validated the stability of these complexes by identifying the global energy minima across conformational landscapes. M2 exhibited enhanced efficacy and stability against resistance-associated mutations compared to the standard antibiotics ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin. These findings underscore M2’s potential as a potent therapeutic agent against fluoroquinolone-resistant P. aeruginosa. Further experimental validation is necessary to confirm its efficacy and to translate these computational insights into clinical applications.
Functional contrast across the gray-white matter boundary
Abstract Functional magnetic resonance imaging studies have traditionally focused on gray matter, overlooking white matter despite growing evidence that functional blood oxygenation-level dependent effects also occur there. In particular, functional coupling across the gray-white matter boundary, an interface between local and global processing, remains poorly understood. This study introduces two metrics: gray-white matter functional connectivity, which captures temporal synchrony across the boundary, and gray-white blood oxygenation-level dependent power ratio, which reflects differences in signal amplitude. Gray-white matter functional connectivity aligns with patterns of myelination, long-range connectivity, and sensorimotor organization, suggesting efficient signal transmission. In contrast, the power ratio shows an inverse pattern, with higher values in higher-order regions, possibly reflecting increased metabolic demands in white matter. It also increases with age (8 to 21 years), suggesting developmental shifts in energetic demands. Together, these metrics highlight distinct yet complementary roles of signal fidelity and energy modulation at the gray-white matter boundary.