Browse Articles

Evaluation of forage yield and nutritive value of lesser burnet genotypes

Holdup Multiplex Assay for High-Throughput Measurement of Protein–Ligand Affinity Constants Using a Mass Spectrometry Readout

Hybrid deep learning model for density and growth rate estimation on weed image dataset

Evaluation and refinement of zinc management options for field-specific nutrient management in eastern India

Expression of Human β3GalT5–1 in Insect Cells as Active Glycoforms for the Efficient Synthesis of Cancer-Associated Globo-Series Glycans

Detection and isolation of viable cancer cells mediated by spytag and spycatcher using conditionally replicative adenovirus and magnetic microbeads

Perioperative and oncological outcomes of single position retroperitoneoscopic radical nephroureterectomy for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma

Intriguing features of the interface between water and oil droplets uncovered

Structure-Based Mechanism and Specificity of Human Galactosyltransferase β3GalT5

Metformin alleviates inflammatory response and severity rate of COVID-19 infection in elderly individuals

Abstract To evaluate the relationship between metformin and the outcome of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. The study included 413 patients with type 2 diabetes among the 5217 patients enrolled in a COVID-19 study, and analyzed whether receiving metformin therapy prior to infection was associated with risk of ICU admission, development of pneumonia and length of hospital stay. The study also examined the correlation between metformin treatment and levels of IL-6, CRP, serum ferritin (SF), lymphocyte, CD4 at admission, as well as the increase in open reading frame 1ab gene cycle threshold (ORF1abCT) after one week of hospitalization. There were no differences in age, sex, BMI, comorbidities, number of vaccine doses or eGFR between patients receiving and not receiving metformin therapy. In the ICU group, the proportion of patients not receiving metformin was 92.5%, significantly higher than the 69.2% of patients not admitted to ICU (p = 0.010). In the pneumonia group, the proportion of patients not receiving metformin was 78.6%, significantly higher than the 67.2% in the non-pneumonia group (p = 0.020). Compared with patients receiving no treatment, those receiving metformin had a shorter hospital stay (12.1 ± 5.9 days vs. 14.5 ± 8.2 days, p = 0.001). In the patients ≥ 60 years old, those receiving treatment had significantly lower levels of IL-6 (median, 12.3 pg/ml vs. 4.0 pg/ml, p = 0.026) and significantly higher levels of Lymphocyte (median, 1.2 × 109/L vs. 1.4 × 109/L, p = 0.015) compared with those not receiving treatment. However, for the patients under 60, there were no significant differences observed in IL-6 and Lymphocyte levels between those receiving treatment and those not. Metformin can reduce the severity of COVID-19 infection and attenuate the inflammatory response associated with COVID-19 infection.

The neurons that mediate a psychedelic’s long-term antidepressive effects

In Situ Identification of Zinc Sites as Potential-Dependent Selectivity Switch over Dual-Atom Catalysts for H₂O₂ Electrosynthesis

Establishment of a genotyping criteria for Bandavirus dabieense and confirmation of new genotypes

Synergistic π-Tunnel Clamps in β-Sheets for Long-Range Dry-State Conduction: Toward Neural Restoration

Association of the ADRB2 rs1042714 variant with retinopathy of prematurity highlights the importance of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system

Abstract Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) remains a leading cause of childhood blindness globally. The clinical progression of ROP exhibits notable similarities to infantile hemangioma (IH), suggesting shared risk factors and underlying mechanisms. This study aimed to investigate the influence of variants in genes postulated for IH—specifically, anthrax toxin receptor 1 ( ANTXR1 ), beta-2-adrenergic receptor ( ADRB2 ), Fms-related tyrosine kinase 4 receptor ( FLT4 ), kinase insert domain receptor ( KDR ), and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor ( IGF1R )—on the development and severity of ROP. In our analysis of 210 infants born at a gestational age of less than 33 weeks, we identified the ADRB2 rs1042714G variant allele as a significant risk factor for ROP, particularly its proliferative form. This risk was exacerbated by interactions with factors associated with neonatal respiratory failure, such as surfactant therapy, postnatal resuscitation, and mechanical ventilation, as well as the angiotensin II type 1 receptor variant ( AGTR1 rs5186A > C), previously linked to ROP risk in meta-analyses. Moreover, STRING protein-protein interaction analysis revealed that the ADRB2 protein interacts directly with a component of the vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathway. These findings highlight potential pharmacological targets for ROP interventions, emphasizing the importance of understanding genetic contributions to this complex condition.

Unicorn slippers in space

Assessing geometric microliths as cultural markers through an analysis of shape variation and projectile performance

Abstract European geometric microlith shape variation is often used as a marker of cultural differences between groups of Mesolithic hunter gatherers and/or Neolithic farmers. Indeed, the 2D plan-view shape of these lithics is known to vary in spatially and temporally systematic ways between archaeological sites. Such differences are well evidenced in the Iberian Peninsula between the 9th and 8th millennia BP. Here we test an alternative hypothesis for the structured variation observed in geometric microliths: whether their plan-view shape significantly impacts the force, energy and displacement experienced when they are used as projectile tips. If functional differences between groups help to explain the shape variation observed in the archaeological record, then any role for cultural (non-functional social) explanations is potentially reduced. We undertook controlled static penetration tests using an Instron materials tester and an assemblage of replicated Iberian geometric microliths hafted to standardised wooden shafts. Results indicate that the maximum force required, energy used, and displacement at maximum force experienced by these hafted geometric microliths when used as projectile armatures is not significantly influenced by their 2D plan-view shape. Rather, gross form attributes such as maximum thickness, distance from the tip of the microlith to the start of the shaft, and the maximum width of the hafting substrate/adhesive are the greatest determinants of penetration ease, along with the positioning of the microlith when hafted. Our data therefore supports past research that proposes a cultural role for geometric microlithic shape variation in the European Mesolithic and Early Neolithic. Moreover, it highlights the functional importance of maintaining relatively thin microblades during microlith production, along with taking care to minimise the size of hafting components and the necessity to haft them in the most efficient way.

Hierarchical reinforcement learning with central pattern generator for enabling a quadruped robot simulator to walk on a variety of terrains

Synthesis of Amorphous Graphene and Graphene Oxide Analogues

Pathways from eudaimonic and hedonic motives to life satisfaction via response style