Browse Articles

Author Correction: Tendency to overeat predicts an elevated body mass index trajectory across school-age years

Liver quad culture chip as a model for radiation injury research

Abstract Both cancer patients receiving radiotherapy and civilians in a mass casualty nuclear event may suffer from radiation induced damage to organ systems. Radiation induced liver disease (RILD) can cause acute and long-term organ dysfunction that potentially leads to death. The objective of this study was to ascertain the validity of a liver quad-culture chip, a micro-physiological system comprising primary human hepatocytes and non-parenchymal cells (NPCs), including liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), and Kupffer cells, as a model for RILD. The radiation exposure to the chip model resulted in DNA damage and cellular senescence of hepatocytes and NPCs. We observed metabolic dysfunction, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and HSCs activation. Whole genome sequencing revealed gene alterations in pathways relevant to RILD, as well as the potential efficacy of N-acetylcysteine amide (NACA) against RILD. NACA exhibited the capacity to mitigate DNA damage and cellular senescence and decreased the impact of radiation exposure on other pathophysiological changes. CDKN1A and miR-34a-5p were validated as useful radiation response and treatment efficacy biomarkers. These findings highlight the potential of the liver quad-culture chip as an effective model for investigating the microenvironment in RILD and for evaluating the efficacy of therapeutic countermeasures and biomarkers.

To evaluate the effects of artificial tears on ocular biological parameters in dry eye and non-dry eye patients

Genetically engineered BMSCs promote dopamine secretion and ameliorate motor dysfunction in a Parkinson’s disease rat model

Machine learning-based integration reveals reliable biomarkers and potential mechanisms of NASH progression to fibrosis

Abstract Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects about 25% of adults worldwide. Its advanced form, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is a major cause of liver fibrosis, but there are no non-invasive tests for diagnosing or preventing it. In our study, we analyzed data from multiple sources to find crucial genes linked to NASH fibrosis. We built diagnostic models using 103 machine learning algorithms and validated them with two external datasets. All models performed well, with the best one (RF + Enet[alpha = 0.6]) achieving an average AUC of 0.822. This model used five key genes: LUM, COL1A2, THBS2, COL5A2, and NTS. Our findings show that these genes are important in collagen and extracellular matrix pathways, shedding light on how NASH progresses to liver fibrosis. We also found that certain immune cells, like M1 macrophages, are involved in this process. This study provides a reliable diagnostic tool for assessing fibrosis risk in NASH patients and suggests potential for immunotherapy, laying a foundation for future treatments.

Stellar structure via truncated M-fractional Lane–Emden solutions

Author Correction: KN3014, a piperidine-containing small compound, inhibits auto-secretion of IL-1β from PBMCs in a patient with Muckle–Wells syndrome

Deep learning-based classification of lymphedema and other lower limb edema diseases using clinical images

Development of an automated plaque-counting program for the quantification of the Chikungunya virus

An integrative framework for AI-supported coastal hydrodynamics monitoring and analysis

Laser cladding remanufacturing of propeller ZCuAl8Mn13Fe3Ni2 alloy

Diffuse pulmonary ossification and its association with cicatricial organising pneumonia in idiopathic and secondary forms

Microwave-assisted recycling of tantalum and manganese from end-of-life tantalum capacitors

Abstract Critical elements such as tantalum (Ta) and manganese (Mn) are in high demand and subject to supply chain disruptions, underscoring the importance of effective recycling strategies. Tantalum capacitors (TCs), which can contain up to 50% Ta and 18% Mn, represent a significant source of Ta-bearing electronic scrap (e-scrap). Here, we develop a selective carbothermal reduction method driven by 2.45 GHz microwave heating to recover Ta and Mn from end-of-life TCs. Guided by Ellingham and phase diagrams using the CALPHAD approach, the capacitors underwent a three-stage process at varying temperatures and pressures. XRD and ICP-MS analyses confirmed the formation of stable TaC with 97% purity, while Mn was reduced to lower oxide forms. This scalable, selective, and energy-competitive technique offers a new route for the secondary mining of critical metals from heterogeneous e-scrap.

MiR-204-5p mediates PERK inhibition to suppress growth and induce apoptosis in ovarian cancer through the eIF2α/ATF-4/CHOP pathway

Compared motor learning effects of motor cortical and cerebellar repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation during a serial reaction time task in older adults

Advanced ceramic plasma discharge capillaries for high repetition rate operation

Abstract In view of future applications of plasma-based particle accelerators, within the fields of high-energy physics and new light sources, the capability of plasma sources to operate at high repetition rates is crucial. In particular for gas-filled plasma discharge capillaries, which allow direct control over plasma properties, a key aspect is the longevity of the material, subject to erosion due to the heat flux delivered by high voltage plasma discharges. In this regard, we present an innovative design of discharge capillaries based on the use of different ceramic materials, which can sustain high voltage plasma discharges at high repetition rate and, moreover, be easily machined for the complex geometries required for plasma-based accelerators. Experimental campaigns are carried out at 10–150 Hz, assessing the longevity of ceramic capillaries by means of different diagnostic techniques. In addition, numerical simulations are performed to analyze the heat transfer within the whole plasma source. Results from experimental and numerical analysis highlight the capability of ceramic capillaries to preserve plasma properties and the integrity of the source during long-term plasma discharge operation at high repetition rate. In particular, we demonstrated the suitability of the proposed solution for the operative range of 100–400 Hz, foreseen for EuPRAXIA@SPARC_LAB project.

Revisiting the potential impact of doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis on the selection of doxycycline resistance in Neisseria commensals

Industrial water consumption efficiency and driving factors based on the super-efficient SBM and Tobit approach

Shielding disc backscatter calculations in intraoperative radiotherapy using a Monte Carlo simulation based on the method of energy spectra reconstruction

A proof of concept study on digital interventions for reducing socio-evaluative stress and anxiety in youth

Abstract Youth often struggle with heightened sensitivity to social judgement, increasing their vulnerability to fear in social situations. This study investigates brief digital interventions aimed at regulating cognitive and affective disturbances related to social anxiety, specifically focusing on fear responses in a social-evaluative threat context. One-hundred-twenty healthy youth were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: attention training, detached mindfulness, slow breathing, or an active control condition. To induce social-evaluative threat, participants delivered a public speech after a 12-min video intervention. We assessed subjective anxiety levels, metacognition, heart rate variability (HRV), and subjective and objective performance ratings throughout the experiment. Results indicated that the slow breathing intervention significantly increased HRV immediately after the intervention, during the public speaking task, and during the recovery and reduced state anxiety immediately after the intervention. In contrast, attention training and detached mindfulness did not yield significant effects, although detached mindfulness did increase HRV immediately post-intervention. These preliminary findings suggest that brief digital interventions, especially slow breathing, may effectively alleviate fear responses in youth during social-evaluative contexts, highlighting their potential as accessible support tools.