Browse Articles

Ecofriendly remediation of cadmium, lead, and zinc using dead cells of Microcystis aeruginosa

Abstract The utilization of cyanobacteria toxin-producing blooms for metal ions adsorption has garnered significant attention over the last decade. This study investigates the efficacy of dead cells from Microcystis aeruginosa blooms, collected from agricultural drainage water reservoir, in removing of cadmium, lead, and zinc ions from aqueous solutions, and simultaneously addressing the mitigation of toxin-producing M. aeruginosa bloom. Some physical characterization of the dead biomass was performed, including scanning electron microscope (SEM) which revealed that, the cells form a dense, amorphous cluster, energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy confirmed that carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen are the predominant elements in the biomass, Fourier transformation infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy identified several active function groups, including hydroxyl, aliphatic C–H amide I and amide II bands, carboxylate and carbonyl (C=O). Key factors influencing the adsorption process were examined. Under optimal conditions—pH 6, a biosorbent dose of 0.3 g, contact time of 90 min, primary metal level of 100 mg/L and temperature of 35 °C (313K)—a maximum removal efficiency exceeding 90% was achieved. Isothermal analysis revealed that the adsorption of Cd(II), Pb(II), and Zn(II) followed the Langmuir isotherm model (R2 = 0.96, q max > 67 mg/g). Kinetic studies indicated that the pseudo-second-order model best described the adsorption process (R2 > 0.94 and q e  > 81.3 mg/g.), suggesting a dominant chemisorption mechanism. Thermodynamic analysis indicated that the adsorption process is spontaneous and endothermic. The findings highlight the potential of M. aeruginosa dead cells as a low-cost, sustainable biosorbent for the removal of heavy metal in wastewater treatment applications.

scATAC-seq generates more accurate and complete regulatory maps than bulk ATAC-seq

Abstract Bulk ATAC-seq assays have been used to map and profile the chromatin accessibility of regulatory elements such as enhancers, promoters, and insulators. This has provided great insight into the regulation of gene expression in many cell types in a variety of organisms. To date, ATAC-seq has most often been used to provide an average evaluation of chromatin accessibility in populations of cells. The development of a single cell approach (scATAC-seq) assay enables researchers to evaluate chromatin accessibility in individual cells and identify sub-groups in mixed populations of cells. To investigate the full potential of single-cell epigenomic data, we have comprehensively compared the information derived from bulk ATAC-seq and scATAC-seq in populations of cells. We found that the chromatin architecture signal is the same using bulk ATAC-seq and scATAC-seq to analyse aliquots of the same cell population. However, scATAC-seq provides substantially higher data quality compared to bulk ATAC-seq improving the sensitivity to detect relatively weak, but functionally important ATAC-seq signals. Furthermore, we found that scATAC-seq identified differences in what was previously assumed to be a homogenous population of cells. Finally, we determined the number of cells required to generate aggregated open chromatin profiles from single cells and to identify biologically meaningful clusters after pseudo-bulking of data. This study illustrates the added value of using scATAC-seq rather than bulk ATAC-seq in evaluating both homogeneous and heterogeneous populations of cells. This paper provides a comprehensive guide on the benefits of using scATAC-seq data to study gene regulation.

A fluid flow model for the software defined wide area networks analysis

Author Correction: Household Salt consumption and urinary iodine levels in Schoolchildren aged 8–10 in Darab City, Iran: 2022

The enlarged perivascular spaces in the hippocampus is associated with memory function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Changes in physical characteristics of extreme rainfall events during the Indian summer monsoon based on downscaled and bias-corrected CMIP6 models

An evaluation of surgical excision versus steroid injection for the management of ganglion cysts

Development and validation of a prognostic model for critically ill type 2 diabetes patients in ICU based on composite inflammatory indicators

Evaluation of anterior fixed appliances on maxillary arch growth in preschool children

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate a new modified fixed appliance for rehabilitation of premature loss of anterior teeth in preschool children versus a modified Nance appliance on maxillary arch growth with parental satisfaction. The study was conducted as a clinical trial and it was carried out at Pediatric Dentistry Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Tanta University. Forty preschool children from both genders aged from 3–5 years were included in the study. The selected children were divided into two groups; Group I: Twenty children received a modified fixed bridge. Group II: Twenty received a modified Nance appliance. Evaluation of both appliances on maxillary growth was carried out at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Finally, parental satisfaction was also recorded. It was revealed that, there was continuous maxillary growth in both groups at different follow up periods with no sexual dimorphism, and parental satisfaction was significantly higher in group I than group II. A modified fixed bridge was better than Nance appliance regarding parental satisfaction and it doesn’t interfere with maxillary growth.

Association of oxidative balance score with the risk of all-cause and CVD mortality in younger US adults with diabetes

Study of the mechanical compression properties of Rosa sterilis S.D. Shi based on FEM

Spatiotemporal glacier retreat on the Tibetan Plateau since the LGMG to early holocene based on compilation of moraine boulder ages

Increased FGF-19 levels following explantation in women with breast implant illness

Modulation of biological activities in adipose derived stem cells by histone deacetylation

Abstract Difficult-to-heal wounds management accounts for about 4% of healthcare costs, highlighting the need for innovative solutions. Extracellular signals drive cell proliferation during tissue regeneration, while epigenetic mechanisms regulate stem cell homeostasis, differentiation, and skin repair. Exploring epigenetic regulation in adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) holds promise for improving skin injury treatments. We investigated the effects of histone deacetylase inhibitor (SAHA) on ADSCs to better understand its cellular and molecular impacts. ADSCs were treated with SAHA for 72 h, showing no change in cell viability at the studied concentrations. However, the expression of histone deacetylase decreased at 1000 nM, while the cell proliferation marker Ki-67 increased after SAHA treatment, as confirmed by immunofluorescence. CCND1 gene expression increased, whereas protein expression of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) decreased. Cell cycle analysis showed an increase in G2 phase in SAHA-treated cells. Microarray analysis revealed 74 upregulated and 40 downregulated differentially expressed genes, including upregulation of P53 targets, CDKN1A and MDM2. Proteomic analysis identified 631 upregulated and 823 downregulated proteins compared to the vehicle. Pathway enrichment analysis showed cell cycle, ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling and DNA processes were among the affected pathways. This study suggests SAHA modulates ADSCs’ biological processes, highlighting its potential for skin regeneration.

Adapting a style based generative adversarial network to create images depicting cleft lip deformity

Fabrication of heteroatom-doped graphene-porous organic polymer hybrid materials via femtosecond laser writing and their application in VOCs sensing

2D wrinkle assisted zigzag plasmonic chains for isotropic SERS enhancement

Abstract Template-assisted colloidal self-assembly has gained significant attention due to its flexibility and versatility. By precisely controlling the shape of the template, it is possible to achieve custom-designed nanoparticle assemblies. However, a major challenge remains in fabricating these templates over large areas at a low cost. Recently, one-dimensional (1D) nano-wrinkle structures have been effectively used for the linear assembly of single-chain or multi-chain nanoparticles, which feature abundant interparticle nanogaps that facilitate efficient plasmonic coupling. To further enhance these assemblies by incorporating diffraction modes, we develop two-dimensional (2D) zigzag wrinkle structures that successfully assemble nanoparticles into plasmonic zigzag chains. Micro spectral measurements and FDTD simulations reveal that zigzag assemblies of plasmonic nanoparticle chains offer isotropic behavior and exhibit stronger plasmonic coupling compared to 1D assemblies, which could be highly beneficial for sensing applications. Due to the responsive PANI shell encapsulating the gold nanoparticles, this 2D zigzag assembly enables flexible tuning of plasmonic resonance under pH regulation.

The shifting of buffer crop repertoires in pre-industrial north-eastern Europe

Abstract This study explores how major climatic shifts, together with socioeconomic factors over the past two millennia, influenced buffer crop selection, focusing on five crops: rye, millet, buckwheat, oat, and hemp. For this study, we analyzed archaeobotanical data from 135 archaeological contexts and historical data from 242 manor inventories across the northeastern Baltic region, spanning the period from 100 to 1800 AD. Our findings revealed that rye remained a main staple crop throughout the studied periods reflecting environmental adaptation to northern latitudes. The drought-tolerant and thermophilic millet crop exhibited resilience during the adverse dry climatic conditions of the Medieval Climatic Anomaly while showing a significant decline during the Little Ice Age. During the period of post-1500 AD, a significant shift towards cold-resilient summer crops such as buckwheat and hemp is recorded. This study enhances our understanding of how historical agricultural systems responded to both socioeconomic factors and climatic change in northern latitudes, offering notable potential solutions for modern agricultural practices in the face of future climate variability trends.

Randomized studies in China show that studying and promoting civic honesty needs to consider local norms

Abstract Civic honesty is a crucial behavior that policymakers and business leaders strive to promote among citizens and employees. We conducted online and field experiments in China adapting the setting of a recent research which employed an innovative design to study civic honesty behavior around the globe. Results show that the psychological mechanism underlying lost-wallet reporting behavior in China is somewhat different from what has been suggested in the literature. Chinese participants indicated they are significantly more likely to put WeChat than email as contact information on their lost items, corroborating a local norm in China that email is infrequently used by ordinary Chinese citizens. Moreover, we tested multiple behavioral interventions in the field. Aiding a lost-property finder to connect to an owner using WeChat led to a reporting rate of 59.3% (vs. 7% as shown in a recent research that used email as the communication means; note that due to differences in experimental designs, no direct comparison of these reporting rates should be made however). Our research suggests that interacting with citizens from a targeted population to formulate locally informed research questions and design may be crucial for understanding and promoting civic honesty behavior.

Polydopamine grafting polyether ether ketone to stabilize growth factor for efficient osteonecrosis repair

Abstract This study examines the biocompatibility, osteogenic potential, and effectiveness of polyether ether ketone (PEEK) composites for treating osteonecrosis, seeking to establish a theoretical basis for clinical application. A range of PEEK composite materials, including sulfonated polyether ether ketone (SPEEK), polydopamine-sulfonated polyether ether ketone (SPEEK-PDA), bone-forming peptide-poly-dopamine-sulfonated polyether ether ketone (SPEEK-PDA-BFP), and vascular endothelial growth factor-poly-dopamine-sulfonated polyether ether ketone (SPEEK-PDA-VEGF), were constructed by concentrated sulfuric acid sulfonation, polydopamine modification and grafting of bioactive factors. The experiments involved adult male New Zealand rabbits aged 24–28 weeks and weighing 2.6–4 kg. The SPEEK-PDA-BFP possesses the smallest water contact angle, indicating the highest hydrophilicity, with its surface characterized by a rich density of clustered BFP particles. The SPEEK-PDA-BFP exhibits superior adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation capabilities, along with pronounced bacteriostatic effects, which are attributed to its dense particle clusters. The SPEEK-PDA-BFP facilitates the formation of regular and dense bone trabeculae. Comparative study on treating osteonecrosis with SPEEK-PDA-VEGF and SPEEK-PDA-BFP highlighted the superior formation of mature bone trabeculae and angiogenic protein CD31 around SPEEK-PDA-VEGF. The PEEK composite materials have good biocompatibility, osteogenic activity and bone repair activity. In particular, SPEEK-PDA-VEGF composite materials have the best effect on bone repair.