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Schlieren texture and topography induced confinement in an organic exciton-polariton laser
Abstract Non-linearities in organic exciton-polariton microcavities represent an attractive platform for quantum devices. However, progress in this area hinges on the development of material platforms for high-performance polariton lasing, scalable and sustainable fabrication, and ultimately strategies for electrical pumping. Here, we show how introducing Schlieren texturing and a rough intra-cavity topography in a liquid crystalline conjugated polymer enables strong in-plane confinement of polaritons and drastic enhancement of the lasing properties. In high-Q distributed Bragg reflector microcavities, polariton lasing was observed at unprecedented thresholds of 136 fJ per pulse. Morphology tuning also permitted polariton lasing in more lossy metallic microcavities while maintaining a competitive lasing threshold. The facile fabrication of these cavities will drastically reduce the complexity of integrating polariton lasers with other structures and the high conductivity of metallic mirrors may provide a route to electrical pumping.
A machine learning framework for short-term prediction of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations using personal air quality monitors and lifestyle data
Design of antiferroelectric polarization configuration for ultrahigh capacitive energy storage via increasing entropy
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Camellia sinensis L. extract as a potential therapeutic for atopic dermatitis through NF-κB pathway inhibition
Abstract Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by immune dysregulation and excessive cytokine production. This study aimed to explore the potential of Camellia sinensis L. water extract (CSE) as a treatment for AD by the impact of CSE on inflammatory responses in keratinocytes, particularly concerning the production of inflammatory cytokines and the modulation of signaling pathways relevant to AD pathogenesis. CSE was obtained via hot water extraction from Camellia sinensis L. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) analyzed catechin and caffeine content. Cell viability was assessed with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), polyphenol and flavonoid content were determined. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay measured antioxidant activity. Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), western blotting, and Immunofluorescence (IF) assays examined cytokines, pathways, and protein localization, respectively. Molecular docking assessed compound binding with inflammation-related proteins. UPLC identified six CSE components including epigallocatechin (EGC) epicatechin (EC), caffeine (CF), catechin (C), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and epicatechin gallate (ECG). CSE demonstrated a significant reduction in the production of inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-6 in TNF-α/IFN-γ activated keratinocytes. Treatment with CSE inhibited the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, which resulted in decreased phosphorylation of p38, Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Exposure of TNF-α/IFN-γ- stimulated human keratinocytes (HaCaT) cells to CSE resulted in a 200 µg/mL dependent inhibition of p65 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT-1) translocation from the cytosol to the nucleus, as confirmed through immunofluorescence (IF) staining. Molecular docking simulations provided insights into the underlying mechanisms of CSE action, which supported its potential as a therapeutic agent for AD. CSE might be a potential candidate for its therapeutic efficacy for inflammatory skin conditions like AD. Thus, based on this evidence, the authors suggest that CSE should be studied further for its anti-inflammatory activities and topical application in the treatment of AD.
A high-performance GRAB sensor reveals differences in the dynamics and molecular regulation between neuropeptide and neurotransmitter release
Proteomic analysis of spinal dorsal horn in prior exercise protection against neuropathic pain
Enantioselective construction of silicon-stereogenic vinylsilanes from simple alkenes
Advanced IoT-integrated parking systems with automated license plate recognition and payment management
Abstract Urban parking management is a growing challenge with increasing vehicle numbers and limited parking space. Traditional methods often fail during peak hours, leading to inefficiencies, unauthorized usage, and revenue losses. For instance, a parking lot designed for 300 vehicles often exceeds 90% occupancy during peak times, creating congestion and billing inaccuracies. This research proposes an automated system integrating sensors, image processing, and database management to address these issues. A single camera monitors multiple parking slots, with predefined coordinates linked to IR sensors for dual verification. Image processing algorithms, including Optical Character Recognition (OCR), enable accurate license plate recognition. Testing under real-world conditions showed 95% accuracy in daylight, 90% in low light, and 93% for plates at 45-degree angles. Detection accuracy reached 88% at distances of 1.5–3 m, ensuring reliable operation even at the camera’s range limits. Occupancy tracking achieved less than a 5% error margin compared to manual methods, while the fare calculation module reduced billing errors by 90%, enhancing efficiency and revenue. The system’s scalable design supports applications in parking management, toll collection, and traffic monitoring. By improving vehicle detection, occupancy tracking, and billing accuracy, this solution addresses critical challenges in urban parking and contributes to smarter city infrastructure.
Electro-driven direct lithium extraction from geothermal brines to generate battery-grade lithium hydroxide
Association between herpes simplex virus infection and Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers: analysis within the MAPT trial
Abstract In vitro and animal studies have suggested that inoculation with herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) can lead to amyloid deposits, hyperphosphorylation of tau, and/or neuronal loss. Here, we studied the association between HSV-1 and Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers in humans. Our sample included 182 participants at risk of cognitive decline from the Multidomain Alzheimer Preventive Trial who had HSV-1 plasma serology and an amyloid PET scan. Plasma Aβ42/40 ratio, neurofilament light chain and p-tau181 were also available for a sub-sample of participants. Multivariate linear regressions were performed and stratified by APOE4 genotype. The median age was 74.0 years, 85.2% were infected with HSV-1. Infected participants tended to have a lower cortical amyloid load than uninfected participants (β = -0.08, p = 0.06), especially those suspected of reactivating HSV-1 most frequently (i.e. with a high anti-HSV-1 IgG level; n = 58, β = -0.09 p = 0.04). After stratification, the association was only significant in APOE4 carriers (n = 43, β = -0.21 p = 0.01). No association was found with the plasma biomarkers. The trend toward lower cortical amyloid load in HSV-1-infected participants was unexpected given the pre-existing literature and may be explained either by a modified immune response in HSV-1 infected subjects which could favour the clearance of amyloid deposits or by a selection bias.
The clinical-stage drug BTZ-043 accumulates in murine tuberculosis lesions and efficiently acts against Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Abstract The development of granulomas with central necrosis harboring Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is the hallmark of human tuberculosis (TB). New anti-TB therapies need to effectively penetrate the cellular and necrotic compartments of these lesions and reach sufficient concentrations to eliminate Mtb. BTZ-043 is a novel antibiotic showing good bactericidal activity in humans in a phase IIa trial. Here, we report on lesional BTZ-043 concentrations severalfold above the minimal-inhibitory-concentration and the substantial local efficacy of BTZ-043 in interleukin-13-overexpressing mice, which mimic human TB pathology of granuloma necrosis. High-resolution MALDI imaging further reveals that BTZ-043 diffuses and accumulates in the cellular compartment, and fully penetrates the necrotic center. This is the first study that visualizes an efficient penetration and accumulation of a clinical-stage TB drug in human-like centrally necrotizing granulomas and that also determines its lesional activity. Our results most likely predict a substantial bactericidal effect of BTZ-043 at these hard-to-reach sites in TB patients.
A modelling technique to determine the high frequency transformer leakage inductance using the winding structure
Syngap1 promotes cognitive function through regulation of cortical sensorimotor dynamics
A slab window in the south rim of the Parece-Vela Basin
Abstract Slab windows represent regions within the mantle that are largely devoid of slab material, facilitating direct communication between the mantle above and below the subducting slab. This unprecedented interaction disrupts the conventional material-energy exchange mechanisms between the subducted slab and mantle wedge, giving rise to anomalous heat flow, distinct magmatism, metamorphism, and geophysical features. Geochemical analyses of samples collected from the southern margin of the Parece-Vela Basin have illuminated the magmatic processes associated with a slab window. C20-3 is indicative of a hot and dry mantle upwelling that occurs through the slab window. On the other hand, C20-1 signifies an adakitic rock, which originates from the melting of oceanic crust at the periphery of the slab window. Slightly east of the slab window, C21-1 reveals evidence of a heated depleted mantle, influenced by the hot and dry mantle upwelling through the slab window. Additionally, a common Island Arc Basalt (IAB), denoted as C21-2, was also observed in the island arc region. Topographical data highlights the irregular distribution of numerous seamounts between the West Mariana Ridge and the Parece-Vela Basin spreading center. Seismological records reveal a preponderance of strike-slip earthquakes in the southern seamount region, alongside exceptionally high heat flow measurements at the northwest extremity of this area. The shape of the slab window can be roughly modeled by analyzing the distribution of earthquakes. Collectively, these observations lead us to postulate the existence of a slab window beneath the southern rim of the Parece-Vela Basin, likely attributed to the tearing of the subducting Pacific Plate along the strike-slip fault situated between the Ulithi and Fais Atolls.
Optical signatures of lattice strain in chemically doped colloidal quantum wells
Steroid hormone receptors, exome sequencing and treatment responsiveness of breast cancer patient-derived xenografts originated in a South American country
Decoding the m6A epitranscriptomic landscape for biotechnological applications using a direct RNA sequencing approach
Abstract Epitranscriptomic modifications, particularly N6-methyladenosine (m6A), are crucial regulators of gene expression, influencing processes such as RNA stability, splicing, and translation. Traditional computational methods for detecting m6A from Nanopore direct RNA sequencing (DRS) data are constrained by their reliance on experimentally validated labels, often resulting in the underestimation of modification sites. Here, we introduce pum6a, an innovative attention-based framework that integrates positive and unlabeled multi-instance learning (MIL) to address the challenges of incomplete labeling and missing read-level annotations. By combining electrical signal features with base alignment data and employing a weighted Noisy-OR probability mechanism, pum6a achieves enhanced sensitivity and accuracy in m6A detection, particularly in low-coverage loci. Pum6a outperforms existing methods in identifying m6A sites across various cell lines and species, without requiring extensive parameter tuning. We further apply pum6a to study the dynamic regulation of m6A demethylases in gastric cancer under hypoxia, revealing distinct roles for FTO and ALKBH5 in modulating m6A modifications and uncovering key insights into m6A -mediated transcript stability. Our findings highlight the potential of pum6a as a powerful tool for advancing the understanding of epitranscriptomic regulation in health and disease, paving the way for biotechnological and therapeutic applications.
Formulation and characterization of surfactants with antibacterial and corrosion-inhibiting properties for enhancing shale gas drainage and production
Mass wasting reveals ongoing asymmetric retreat of the martian north polar ice cap
Abstract Ongoing mass wasting through ice block falls is intensive at the north polar ice cap of Mars. We monitored how this activity is currently shaping the marginal steep scarps of the ice cap, which holds a record of the planet’s climate history. With AI-driven change detection between multi-temporal high-resolution satellite images, we created a comprehensive map of mass wasting across the entire North Polar Layered Deposits (NPLD). Our results show a more active erosion process than previously thought, with scarps retreating by up to ~3 m every kiloyear. The distribution of the active scarps indicates an ongoing asymmetric retreat of the already subcircular ice cap. The active scarps and the interior dune fields correlate strongly with exposures of the underlying, sandier Basal Unit (BU), providing evidence that erosion of the BU undermines the base of the NPLD. Moreover, ice block fall activity suggests potential areas where gypsum is released, given that the interior gypsum-bearing dune fields are located adjacent to these active scarps. Here, our study reveals the rates of present-day topographic change of the north polar ice cap, providing a valuable constraint for study of its past evolution.