Browse Articles
Discover research articles across all indexed journals
Inhibitive effect of Urginea epigea methanolic extract and silver/zinc oxide nanoparticles on Aspergillus and aflatoxin production
Food crops contaminated with Aspergillus flavus due to aflatoxins can be hazardous for both humans and animals, hence endeavours are being explored to find natural antifungals to combat the contamination and mycotoxin issue. The current study used the agar dilution method to assess the effect of Urginea epigea methanolic extract and biosynthesized silver-zinc oxide nanoparticles on the toxigenic strain of Aspergillus. In the experiment, an aflatoxin-producing strain was used, and potato dextrose agar was diluted with methanolic extract from U. epigea and silver/zinc oxide nanoparticles at concentrations of 0, 6.5, 12, 25, and 50 mg/mL, respectively. Mycelia growth diameters were measured to test inhibitory activity. A significant decrease in fungal growth was observed at different concentrations (P < 0,05) when compared to the control. At 50 mg/mL, the extract of U. epigea significantly reduced the growth of A. flavus by 100%. PCR data shows that the expression of aflD and aflR was significantly downregulated (P < 0.005) by the treatments, with U. epigea having a 50fold decrease when compared to Ag/ZnO nanoparticles. Compared to the controls, Ag/ZnO nanoparticles down-regulated the expression of aflD and aflR in A. flavus by more than 30-fold. However, there was less expression by nanoparticles, as evidenced by the sequence alignment. A. flavus growth and aflatoxin B1 production were both considerably suppressed by U. epigea methanolic extract, through the presence of phytochemicals thus has the potential to be employed as an alternative antifungal agent to control aflatoxigenic fungus. The study recommends investigating and extracting the active compound present in the U. epigea bulb.
Elevator fault precursor prediction based on improved LSTM-AE algorithm and TSO-VMD denoising technique
This study proposes an advanced elevator fault precursor prediction method integrating Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD), Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BILSTM), and an Autoencoder with an Attention Mechanism (AEAM), collectively referred to as the VMD-BILSTM-AEAM algorithm. This model addresses the challenges of feature redundancy and noise interference in elevator operation data, improving the stability and accuracy of fault predictions. Using a dataset of elevator operation parameters, including current, voltage, and running speed, the model utilizes the Attribute Correlation Density Ranking (ACDR) method for feature selection and the TSO-optimized VMD for denoising, enhancing data quality. Cross-validation and statistical analyses, including confidence interval calculations, were employed to validate the robustness of the model. The results demonstrate that the VMD-BILSTM-AEAM algorithm achieves a mean True Positive Rate (TPR) of 0.919 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.915 to 0.924, a mean False Positive Rate (FPR) of 0.090 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.087 to 0.092, and a mean Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.919 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.915 to 0.923. These performance metrics indicate a significant improvement over traditional and other deep learning models, confirming the model’s superiority in predictive maintenance of elevators. The robust capability of the VMD-BILSTM-AEAM algorithm to accurately process and analyze time-series data, even in the presence of noise, highlights its potential for broader applications in predictive maintenance and fault detection across various domains.
Allostatic load and its determinants in a German sample—Results from the Carla cohort
Background Allostatic load (AL) is a surrogate of the physiological response to stress and reflects the ‘wear and tear’ on the body. Previous studies indicated that socioeconomic and behavioral determinants influence AL, which in turn is associated with health outcomes. Therefore, AL is increasingly used to operationalize the relationship between social inequality, stress, and health outcomes. This study aimed to investigate associated factors and patterns of AL in the population over a 20-year period using data from the CARLA cohort. Methods The analysis included 473 participants from the CARLA study (Cardiovascular Disease, Living and Ageing in Halle), aged 45–80 years at baseline. From recruitment in 2002 in Halle (Saale), three follow-up examinations took place until 2022. We calculated AL scores as the sum of standardized z-scores for metabolic, immune, cardiovascular, and anthropometric components. Descriptive statistics of AL scores were stratified by sex and age categories. Multiple regression analyses were conducted for the first and third follow-up to assess if there were changes in associations between sociodemographic factors and AL. Results Average AL scores of men decreased, while women’s AL scores returned to baseline levels after an initial decrease observed at the first follow−up. Stratified analyses of AL scores revealed that women in the younger age cohorts had lower mean AL scores at baseline than men (women: −3.47, 95% CI [−4.24; −2.71] vs. men: −1.13, 95% CI [−1.84; −0.42] at age <55). At the same time, women showed higher mean AL scores than men in older age cohorts (women: −0.32, 95% CI [−1.58; 0.95] vs. men: −0.93, 95% CI [−1.99; 0.14] at age 65−<70). Results of multiple regression models indicated lower AL scores for women (β: −1.21, 95% CI [−1.93, −0.49]). Professional status was associated with lower AL scores for men but not for women (β: −1.06, 95% CI [−2.02, −0.11] for men). Further, physical activity was negatively associated with AL scores for the total study sample and for women (β: −0.54, 95% CI [−0.82, −0.26]) for total sample and β: −0.74, 95% CI [−1.17, −0.32] for women). Conclusion Our results highlight the importance of health awareness and physical activity for overall health, assessed by AL. Distinct AL score changes and sex-specific socioeconomic influences offer insights into sex-related patterns of aging. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms of socioeconomic influences on stress-related aging processes between sexes.
Capacity configuration optimization of electricity heat hydrogen regional integrated energy system considering supply-demand uncertainties
Rationally configuring the capacity of the electricity heat hydrogen regional integrated energy system is conducive to improving its economy and energy utilization efficiency. In view of the dual effects of the uncertainties of energy supply and demand in system configuration on power supply reliability and wind power consumption, a min-max-min two-stage robust optimization configuration model aiming at the minimum sum of system investment and operating cost is established for achieving an optimal capacity configuration of multi-vector technologies involved in it. On the basis of typical scenarios, a box-type uncertainty set independent of a probability distribution is used to describe the uncertainty of wind power and demand and the robustness constraint is formed. An innovative parameter, named the uncertainty adjustment parameter, is introduced into the box-type uncertainty set to avoid sacrificing economic benefits caused by too conservative configuration scheme. In this paper, the column and constraint generation algorithm and strong duality theory are used to decompose the original problem into the linearized master problem and subproblem, which can improve the solving speed. Finally, an integrated energy system in the north of China is taken as a case study. The results demonstrate that the proposed model effectively addresses the uncertainty problems of wind power and demand, leading to improved reliability and wind power integration performance. By changing the uncertainty adjustment parameter, the conservativeness of the configuration scheme can be flexibly adjusted. The effectiveness and applicability of the proposed model and solution algorithm are verified.
Exploring the antimicrobial and antibiofilm potency of four essential oils against selected human pathogens using in vitro and in silico approaches
Multi-drug-resistant (MDR) pathogens pose a significant global health challenge, underscoring the urgent need for novel antimicrobial agents with minimal toxicity to humans. This study investigated the in vitro and in silico antimicrobial and antibiofilm potentials of four essential oils (EOs): clove bud oil (CBO; Syzygium aromaticum L.), black seed oil (BSO; Nigella sativa L.), cinnamon bark oil (CNBO; Cinnamomum zeylanicum), and citronella oil (CTLO; Cymbopogon nardus L.), against 19 selected human pathogens, including MDR strains. Among the tested EOs, CBO, BSO, and CNBO exhibited the highest antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis, with the mean zone of inhibition diameters (ZIDs) of 20.0 ± 0.2 mm, 46.0 ± 0.3 mm, and 32.0 ± 0.1 mm, respectively, at a concentration of 10 µL/disc, while CTLO displayed no antibacterial activity. CNBO demonstrated superior antifungal activity, with the mean ZIDs of 49.0 ± 0.3 mm and 36.0 ± 0.3 mm for Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger, respectively. Molecular docking analyses revealed robust interactions of key bioactive compounds—eugenol (EU) from CBO, thymoquinone (TQ) from BSO, cinnamaldehyde (CN) from CNBO, citronellal (CIT) and linalool (LIN) from CTLO—with microbial target proteins, substantiating their antimicrobial and antibiofilm potential. Notably, CTLO, despite limited in vitro activity, exhibited unique binding interactions in silico, suggesting potential niche applications. These findings underscore the translational potential of EOs as alternative antimicrobial therapies against MDR infections, particularly biofilm-associated infections, and highlight the need for further in vivo studies to validate their efficacy and safety.
Recurrent humid phases in Arabia over the past 8 million years
Abstract The Saharo-Arabian Desert is one of the largest biogeographical barriers on Earth, impeding dispersals between Africa and Eurasia, including movements of past hominins. Recent research suggests that this barrier has been in place since at least 11 million years ago1. In contrast, fossil evidence from the late Miocene epoch and the Pleistocene epoch suggests the episodic presence within the Saharo-Arabian Desert interior of water-dependent fauna (for example, crocodiles, equids, hippopotamids and proboscideans)2–6, sustained by rivers and lakes7,8 that are largely absent from today’s arid landscape. Although numerous humid phases occurred in southern Arabia during the past 1.1 million years9, little is known about Arabia’s palaeoclimate before this time. Here, based on a climatic record from desert speleothems, we show recurrent humid intervals in the central Arabian interior over the past 8 million years. Precipitation during humid intervals decreased and became more variable over time, as the monsoon’s influence weakened, coinciding with enhanced Northern Hemisphere polar ice cover during the Pleistocene. Wetter conditions likely facilitated mammalian dispersals between Africa and Eurasia, with Arabia acting as a key crossroads for continental-scale biogeographic exchanges.
Timing and trajectory of BCR::ABL1-driven chronic myeloid leukaemia
Abstract Mutation of some genes drives uncontrolled cell proliferation and cancer. The Philadelphia chromosome in chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) provided the very first such genetic link to cancer1,2. However, little is known about the trajectory to CML, the rate of BCR::ABL1 clonal expansion and how this affects disease. Using whole-genome sequencing of 1,013 haematopoietic colonies from nine patients with CML aged 22 to 81 years, we reconstruct phylogenetic trees of haematopoiesis. Intronic breaks in BCR and ABL1 were not always observed, and out-of-frame exonic breakpoints in BCR, requiring exon skipping to derive BCR::ABL1, were also noted. Apart from ASXL1 and RUNX1 mutations, extra myeloid gene mutations were mostly present in wild-type cells. We inferred explosive growth attributed to BCR::ABL1 commencing 3–14 years (confidence interval 2–16 years) before diagnosis, with annual growth rates exceeding 70,000% per year. Mutation accumulation was higher in BCR::ABL1 cells with shorter telomere lengths, reflecting their excessive cell divisions. Clonal expansion rates inversely correlated with the time to diagnosis. BCR::ABL1 in the general population mirrored CML incidence, and advanced and/or blast phase CML was characterized by subsequent genomic evolution. These data highlight the oncogenic potency of BCR::ABL1 fusion and contrast with the slow and sequential clonal trajectories of most cancers.
Evidence of star cluster migration and merger in dwarf galaxies
Abstract Nuclear star clusters (NSCs) are the densest stellar systems in the Universe. These clusters can be found at the centre of all galaxy types but tend to favour galaxies of intermediate stellar mass around 109 M ⊙ (refs. 1,2). At present, two main processes are under debate to explain their formation: in situ star formation from gas infall3 and migration and merging of globular clusters (GCs) caused by dynamical friction4. Studies5–9 of NSC stellar populations suggest that the former predominates in massive galaxies, whereas the latter prevails in dwarf galaxies, and both contribute equally at intermediate mass. However, until now, no ongoing merger of GCs has been observed to confirm this scenario. Here we report the serendipitous discovery of five dwarf galaxies with complex nuclear regions, characterized by multiple nuclei and tidal tails, using high-resolution images from the Hubble Space Telescope. These structures have been reproduced in complementary N-body simulations, supporting the interpretation that they result from migrating and merging of star clusters. The small detection rate and short simulated timescales (below 100 Myr) of this process may explain why this has not been observed previously. This study highlights the need for large surveys with high resolution to fully map the migration scenario steps.
Efficacy of Baloxavir Treatment in Preventing Transmission of Influenza
EPSDT — Medicaid’s Mandate for Children and Adolescents
Phase 3 Trial of the DPP-1 Inhibitor Brensocatib in Bronchiectasis
An HIV Vaccine in the Era of Twice-Yearly Lenacapavir for PrEP — Essential or Irrelevant?
MR perfusion source mapping depicts venous territories and reveals perfusion modulation during neural activation
Abstract The cerebral venous system plays a crucial role in neurological and vascular conditions, yet its hemodynamics remain underexplored due to its complexity and variability across individuals. To address this, we develop a venous perfusion source mapping method using Displacement Spectrum MRI, a non-contrast technique that leverages blood water as an endogenous tracer. Our technique encodes spatial information into the magnetization of blood water spins during tagging and detects it once the tagged blood reaches the brain’s surface, where the signal-to-noise ratio is 3–4 times higher. We resolve the sources of blood entering the imaging slice across short (10 ms) to long (3 s) evolution times, effectively capturing perfusion sources in reverse. This approach enables the measurement of slow venous blood flow, including potential contributions from capillary beds and surrounding tissue. We demonstrate perfusion source mapping in the superior cerebral veins, verify its sensitivity to global perfusion modulation induced by caffeine, and establish its specificity by showing repeatable local perfusion modulation during neural activation. From all blood within the imaging slice, our method localizes the portion originating from an activated region upstream.
Performance of Dialysis Facilities after Health-Equity Scoring Incentive
Structural basis for saxitoxin congener binding and neutralization by anuran saxiphilins
Abstract Dinoflagellates and cyanobacteria produce saxitoxin (STX) and ~50 congeners that disrupt bioelectrical signals by blocking voltage-gated sodium channels (Na V s). Consuming seafood carrying these toxins causes paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). Although Na V s and anuran STX binding proteins (saxiphilins, Sxphs) use convergent STX binding modes, the structural basis for STX congener recognition is unknown. Here, we show that American bullfrog ( Rana catesbeiana ) Rc Sxph and High Himalaya frog ( Nanorana parkeri ) Np Sxph sequester STX congeners using a ‘lock and key’ mode shared with STX. Importantly, functional studies demonstrate that Sxph ‘toxin sponges’ reverse Na V block by multiple STX congeners and detect these toxins in a radioligand binding assay (RBA) used for environmental testing. Together, our study establishes how Sxphs sequester select neurotoxins and uncover STX congener-specific interactions distinct from Na V s. These findings expand understanding of toxin sponge action and provide a foundation for strategies to monitor and mitigate the harmful effects of STX congeners.
Tirzepatide for Heart Failure and Obesity
Giant electrocaloric effect in high-polar-entropy perovskite oxides
Hierarchical motion perception as causal inference
Abstract Motion can only be defined relative to a reference frame; yet it remains unclear which reference frame guides perception. A century of psychophysical studies has produced conflicting evidence: retinotopic, egocentric, world-centric, or even object-centric. We introduce a hierarchical Bayesian model mapping retinal velocities to perceived velocities. Our model mirrors the structure in the world, in which visual elements move within causally connected reference frames. Friction renders velocities in these reference frames mostly stationary, formalized by an additional delta component (at zero) in the prior. Inverting this model automatically segments visual inputs into groups, groups into supergroups, progressively inferring structured reference frames and “perceives" motion in the appropriate reference frame. Critical model predictions are supported by two experiments, and fitting our model to the data allows us to infer the subjective set of reference frames used by individual observers. Our model provides a quantitative normative justification for key Gestalt principles providing inspiration for building better models of visual processing in general.