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Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and soil substrate on invasive plant Alternanthera philoxeroides
Corneal epithelium is altered in keratoconus and forme fruste keratoconus
Stability and practical feasibility of the 3D nonlinear guidance law
CytoBead ANA 2 assay - a novel method for the detection of antinuclear antibodies
In vitro activity of phages against periprosthetic joint infection-associated staphylococcal biofilms
Abstract Lytic phages are potential therapeutic options, based on their ability to lyse bacteria in vitro. Although many infection-types for which phage therapy is being considered involve biofilms, in vitro anti-biofilm activity of phage is poorly defined, in part due to a lack of standardized methods for assessment. Here, phages SaMD07phi1 and SaRBI05030phi5 were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus SaMD07 and SaRBI05030, respectively, in biofilms formed in 96-well plates and on glass beads, and planktonically, in TSB and PBS, with endpoints including by CFUs and Biolog Omnilog hold times. The bead biofilm assay in TSB using the Omnilog (BBTO) was employed to test eight staphylococcal phages against S. aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Staphylococcus lugdunensis from periprosthetic joint infection. Biofilms on beads in TSB showed better eradication than in microtiter wells, with no significant changes with PBS in either format. CFU counts and Omnilog units correlated linearly through 8 h of testing. In the bead assay, CFU counts showed that phage SaMD07phi1 eliminated growth at 4 h, while SaRBI05030phi5 achieved a ~ 3-log reduction at 8 h; with Omnilog hold times of 37 and 28 h, respectively. Diverse activity and good reproducibility of the BBTO was observed among 8 phages, with SaMD07phi1 showing the highest activity. In conclusion the BBTO is a promising potential method for biofilm susceptibility testing.
Leveraging federated learning and edge computing for pandemic-resilient healthcare
Optimized placement and sizing of solar photovoltaic distributed generation using jellyfish search algorithm for enhanced power system performance
Abstract The strategic integration of distributed generation (DG) units into distribution power networks (DPNs) is pivotal for augmenting system efficiency and stability. This study introduces an advanced metaheuristic optimization framework leveraging the Jellyfish Search Algorithm (JSA) for the optimal placement and sizing of solar photovoltaic (PV) DG units. The formulated multi-objective function incorporates real power loss (RPL) minimization, voltage deviation index (VDI) reduction, and voltage stability index (VSI) enhancement, employing a weighted sum approach (WSA) to ensure computational rigor. The efficacy of the proposed methodology is rigorously validated on the IEEE 33-bus radial DPN under single and multiple PV system deployment scenarios. For single PV system optimized inclusion, RPL of the DPN is cut down from 210.98 kW to 102.89 kW, total VDI is reduced from 1.8047 p.u to 0.5331 p.u, and minimum VSI is increased from 0.6671 to 0.7559. For two PV DG units inclusion, RPL is reduced to 82.99 kW, total VDI is reduced to 0.6518 p.u with a least VSI improved to 0.8848. However, better result is obtained with three units of DG placement with RPL reduced to 69.59 kW, total VDI decreased to 0.3293 p.u with a least VSI of the test system increased to 0.8916. Comparative analyses against state-of-the-art metaheuristic algorithms underscore the superior convergence efficiency and optimality of JSA in addressing nonlinearity and high-dimensionality constraints. Empirical results substantiate substantial RPL reduction, bus voltage enhancement, and system stability reinforcement, establishing JSA as an avant-garde paradigm in DG optimization.
Phylogenetic analysis of the Critically Endangered Aquilaria khasiana (Thymelaeaceae) using barcode markers and chloroplast genome, with updated conservation status
Self-Contrastive Forward-Forward algorithm
Multiplexed self-adaptable Janus hydrogels rescue epithelial malfunction to promote complete trachea repair
AI.zymes: A Modular Platform for Evolutionary Enzyme Design
Abstract The ability to create new‐to‐nature enzymes would substantially advance bioengineering, medicine, and the chemical industry. Despite recent breakthroughs in protein design and structure prediction, designing novel biocatalysts remains challenging. Here, we present AI.zymes, a modular platform integrating cutting‐edge protein engineering algorithms within an evolutionary framework ( https://github.com/bunzela/AIzymes ). By combining bioengineering tools such as Rosetta, ESMFold, ProteinMPNN, and FieldTools in iterative rounds of design and selection, AI.zymes can optimize a broad range of catalytically relevant properties. In addition to enhancing transition state affinity and protein stability, AI.zymes can also improve properties that are not targeted by the employed design algorithms. For instance, AI.zymes can enhance electrostatic catalysis by iteratively selecting variants with stronger catalytic electric fields. Benchmarking AI.zymes on the promiscuous Kemp eliminase activity of ketosteroid isomerase led to a 7.7‐fold activity increase after experimentally testing just 7 variants. Due to its modularity, AI.zymes can readily incorporate emerging design algorithms, paving the way for a unifying framework for enzyme design.
Lewis Acid Catalyzed Divergent Reaction of Bicyclo[1.1.0]Butanes With Quinones for the Synthesis of Diverse Polycyclic Molecules
Abstract Bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes (BCBs) are highly strained hydrocarbons with unique structural properties and intrinsic reactivity, making them valuable building blocks for constructing complex molecular architectures. Herein, we report the Lewis acid‐catalyzed divergent reactions of BCBs with quinones, yielding a diverse array of polycyclic molecules. Using Sc(OTf)₃ as a catalyst, pyrazole‐substituted BCBs efficiently undergo formal (3 + 2) cycloaddition reactions with quinones, producing highly substituted bicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes featuring a caged framework. Monosubstituted BCB ketones undergo a sequential cascade involving Alder‐ene reaction, 4π electrocyclic ring‐opening, and [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction, yielding fused benzoxepines efficiently. Disubstituted BCB esters, ketones, and amides undergo a tandem isomerization and (3 + 2) cycloaddition process, stereoselectively yielding tetrahydrocyclobuta[b]benzofuran products. Notably, strong Lewis acids such as SnCl₄ and BiBr₃ directly participate in the ring‐opening reactions of monosubstituted BCB ketones, generating halogenated cyclobutane derivatives. Additionally, the synthetic potential of these approaches has been further highlighted through scale‐up experiments and a range of transformations. This study demonstrates the tunability of reaction pathways based on the diverse substitution patterns of BCBs, providing efficient methods for the synthesis of a range of polycyclic compounds.
Analyzing mental stress in Indian students through advanced machine learning and wearable technologies
Optimization of teaching quality of college physical education by using decision making technique under complex interval valued fermatean fuzzy model
Impact of proton-beam irradiation on the electrical reliability and performance of LTPS and a-IGZO thin-film transistors
Abstract We investigate the impact of 5 MeV proton beam irradiation on the electrical reliability of low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) and amorphous In–Ga–Zn–O (a-IGZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs). After irradiation, the threshold voltage (V th) of a-IGZO TFTs shifted from 0.31 to − 7.87 V, while field-effect mobility (μ FE) increased from 8.4 to 11.7 cm2/V∙s due to oxygen vacancy (Vo) formation, enhancing channel conductivity. In contrast, LTPS TFTs exhibited severe degradation, with V th shifting from − 3.18 to − 33.51 V and μ FE dropping from 78.9 to 0.01 cm2/V s. Bias temperature instability tests showed significant deterioration in irradiated LTPS TFTs, whereas a-IGZO TFTs remained stable. This is attributed to the metastable a-IGZO lattice, which suppresses radiation-induced defect formation, whereas the LTPS lattice undergoes amorphization. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and density of states (DOS) confirmed these mechanisms. Finally, we confirmed electrical performance recovery of irradiated TFTs through rapid thermal annealing (RTA) process. These findings provide insights into TFT degradation under radiation exposure and highlight the potential of a-IGZO and LTPS TFTs for radiation-hardened applications in radiography, military, aviation, and aerospace industries.
BSCL2 and CDK5 are two genes associated with circadian rhythm disturbance in Parkinson’s disease
Ensemble learning for prediction of inorganic scale formation: A case study in Oman
Deep crustal magnetotelluric imaging of continental accretion and intracontinental deformation in central Australia
Abstract Central Australia preserves a record of micro-continent and craton accretion during assembly of the Paleoproterozoic Nuna supercontinent 2500 − 1600 Ma, followed by Mesoproterozoic magmatic and orogenic events that formed the Musgrave Province. The Petermann Orogeny (630 − 520 Ma) and Alice Springs Orogeny (450 − 300 Ma) resulted in north-south crustal shortening and Moho offsets up to 20 km that yield gravity variations of ~ 160 mGals. Three-dimensional inversion of 614 long-period (10–10000 s) AusLAMP MT and 36 geomagnetic depth sounding (GDS) sites spaced ~ 55 km produced resistivity estimates to 250 km depth, covering 1500 km west-east, 1300 km north-south. From 0 to 5 km, resistivity maps the extent and thickness of Neoproterozoic Officer, Amadeus, Ngalia and Georgina Basins, and Mesozoic Eromanga basin. At all crustal depths the Arunta Province and northern Musgrave Province are resistive (> 10000 Ω.m), bounded by lower crustal conductive zones (< 10 Ω.m) to the north, east and south that align with suture zones associated with Paleoproterozoic accretion of ribbon continents. Lithospheric scale faults active in the Petermann Orogen (Woodroffe Thrust) and Alice Springs Orogen (Redbank Shear Zone) align with these low-resistivity zones, and we argue that graphite from carbon burial in Paleoproterozoic sediments reduces frictional strength and enable compressive deformation to localise strain.