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Daily briefing: Who are Trump’s science advisers
Analysing the effect of physical exercise on social anxiety in college students using a chained mediation model
Calcium carbonate sediment corrosion and formation investigation in drinking water distribution network in Sough City, Iran
Performance and emissions of diesel engine combustion lubricated with Jatropha bio-lubricant and MWCNT additive
Abstract Vegetable oil-based lubricants, modified through transesterification and epoxidation, present a sustainable alternative to mineral lubricants for transport and industrial use. This study evaluates epoxidized jatropha oil (EJA) enhanced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) as a bio-lubricant for compression ignition engines. MWCNT, dispersed in EJA using an ultrasonic probe sonicator with Triton X-100 as a surfactant, was tested at nanoparticle concentrations from 0.5 to 2 wt%. Engine performance and emission characteristics were assessed using SAE 20W40, EJA, and EJA-MWCNT in a four-stroke diesel engine. Results showed that EJA with 2 wt% MWCNT reduced friction power by 39.13% compared to SAE 20W40 and decreased brake specific energy consumption by 6.11%, while lowering emissions of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and smoke. These findings highlight EJA-MWCNT as a promising lubricant for diesel engines, enhancing efficiency and reducing pollutants, making it a viable eco-friendly substitute for diminishing petroleum resources.
Subliminal visual stimulation produces behavioural oscillations in multiple frequencies in a visual integration task
Abstract We perceive our surrounding as a continuous stream of information. Yet, it is under debate, whether our brain processes the incoming information continuously or rather in a discontinuous way. In recent years, the idea of rhythmic perception has regained popularity, assuming that parieto-occipital alpha oscillations are the neural mechanism defining the rhythmicity of visual perception. Consequently, behavioural response should also fluctuate in the rhythm of alpha oscillations (i.e., at ~ 10 Hz). To test this hypothesis, we employed a visual integration task. Crucially we investigated if a subliminal stimulus preceding the target stimulus modulates behaviour. Our results show that behaviour fluctuates as a function of delay between subliminal and target stimuli. These fluctuations were found in the range of theta, alpha and beta oscillations. Our results further support the idea, that alpha oscillations are a functional rhythm for visual perception, leading to rhythmic fluctuations of perception and behaviour. In addition, other frequencies seem to play a role for temporal perception.
Lactate to albumin ratio has limited prognostic value for complications in children under five with burn injuries
Land use and landscape pattern changes in the Fenhe River Basin, China
Source apportionment, ecological and health risks of potentially toxic elements in street dusts across different land uses in city of Kermanshah, Iran
A study on the compressive strength of three-dimensional direct printing aligner material for specific designing of clear aligners
Enhanced effect of the immunosuppressive soluble HLA-G2 homodimer by site-specific PEGylation
Pioneering genome editing in parthenogenetic stick insects: CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene knockout in Medauroidea extradentata
Abstract The parthenogenetic life cycle of the stick insect Medauroidea extradentata offers unique advantages for the generation of genome-edited strains, as an isogenic and stable mutant line can in principle be achieved already in the first generation (G0). However, genetic tools for the manipulation of their genes had not been developed until now. Here, we successfully implement CRISPR/Cas9 as a technique to modify the genome of the stick insect M. extradentata . As proof-of-concept we targeted two genes involved in the ommochrome pathway of eye pigmentation ( cinnabar and white , second and first exon, respectively), to generate knockout (KO) mutants. Microinjections were performed within 24 h after oviposition, to focus on the mononuclear (and haploid) stage of development. The KOs generated resulted in distinct eye and cuticle colour phenotypes for cinnabar and white . Homozygous cinnabar mutants showed pale pigmentation of eyes and cuticle. They develop into adults capable of producing viable eggs. Homozygous white KO resulted in a completely unpigmented phenotype in developing embryos that were unable to hatch. In conclusion, we show that CRISPR/Cas9 can be successfully applied to the genome of M. extradentata by creating phenotypically different and viable insects. This powerful gene editing technique can now be employed to create stable genetically modified lines using a parthenogenetic non-model organism.
Investigating canonical size phenomenon in drawing from memory task in different perceptual conditions among children
Robust fault detection and classification in power transmission lines via ensemble machine learning models
Long-term outcomes and lymph node metastasis following endoscopic resection with additional surgery or primary surgery for T1 colorectal cancer
Proteomic analysis reveals the roles of silicon in mitigating glyphosate-induced toxicity in Brassica napus L.
Abstract Glyphosate (Gly) is a widely used herbicide for weed control in agriculture, but it can also adversely affect crops by impairing growth, reducing yield, and disrupting nutrient uptake, while inducing toxicity. Therefore, adopting integrated eco-friendly approaches and understanding the mechanisms of glyphosate tolerance in plants is crucial, as these areas remain underexplored. This study provides proteome insights into Si-mediated improvement of Gly-toxicity tolerance in Brassica napus. The proteome analysis identified a total of 4,407 proteins, of which 594 were differentially abundant, including 208 up-regulated and 386 down-regulated proteins. These proteins are associated with diverse biological processes in B. napus, including energy metabolism, antioxidant activity, signal transduction, photosynthesis, sulfur assimilation, cell wall functions, herbicide tolerance, and plant development. Protein-protein interactome analyses confirmed the involvement of six key proteins, including L-ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutaredoxin-C2, peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase (GPX) 2, and peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase A3 which involved in antioxidant activity, sulfur assimilation, and herbicide tolerance, contributing to the resilience of B. napus against Gly toxicity. The proteomics insights into Si-mediated Gly-toxicity mitigation is an eco-friendly approach, and alteration of key molecular processes opens a new perspective of multi-omics-assisted B. napus breeding for enhancing herbicide resistant oilseed crop production.
Investigation of Scutellaria Barbata’s immunological mechanism against thyroid cancer using network pharmacology and experimental validation
Kindlin-1 promotes gastric cancer cell motility through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway
The impact of parameter variation in the quantification of forensic genetic evidence
Abstract Technological advancements have allowed the detection of increasingly complex forensic genetics samples, as minimum amounts of DNA can now be detected in crime scenes or other settings of interest. The weight of the evidence depends on several parameters regarding the population and sample-related analytical factors, the latter in a greater number when the DNA amount is considered. This led to the development of probabilistic genotyping software (PGS), able to deal with the associated complexities. This study aims to evaluate the impact on the evidence’s weighing, when different analytical threshold values are used, and when different models and/or estimates for analytical artifacts, such as stutters or drop-in parameters, are considered. To reach this goal, three PGS, based on different statistical models, were used to analyze real casework pairs of samples composed of a mixture with either two or three estimated contributors, and a single-source sample associated. The obtained results show that the estimation of these parameters must not be overlooked, as they may considerably impact the outcome. This underlines the importance of proper parametrization in the analysis of forensic genetics identification problems when using complex samples, and the understanding by practitioners of how probabilistic genotyping informatics tools work to use them accurately.
Central projections of nociceptive input originating from the low back and limb muscle in rats
Abstract Since clinical features of chronic muscle pain originating from the low back and limbs are different (higher prevalence and broader/duller sensation of low back muscle pain than limb muscle pain), spinal and/or supraspinal projection of nociceptive information could differ between the two muscles. We tested this hypothesis using c-Fos immunohistochemistry combined with retrograde-labeling of dorsal horn (DH) neurons projecting to ventrolateral periaqueductal grey (vlPAG) or ventral posterolateral nucleus of the thalamus (VPL) by fluorogold (FG) injections into the vlPAG or VPL. C-Fos expression in the DH was induced by injecting 5% formalin into the multifidus (MF, low back) or gastrocnemius-soleus (GS, limb) muscle. A double-labeled DH neuron showing both c-Fos-immunoreactive nucleus and retrogradely transported FG in the cytoplasm was considered as a nociceptive projection neuron. Consistent with DH somatotopy for proximal vs. distal cutaneous inputs, DH neurons with MF input were located in the most lateral area of laminae I − II (segments Th12 − L5), while those with GS input were located in the middle area of laminae I − II (L3 − L5). DH neurons projecting to the vlPAG were located in superficial DH, while those projecting to VPL were located in deep DH. Supraspinal projection derived from more spinal segments for MF input than for GS input. These data suggest that nociceptive input from low back muscles is integrated more in craniocaudal direction than for limb muscles, and that these signals are then forwarded to both PAG and thalamus and contribute to the different nature of muscle pain arising from the low back and limbs.