Browse Articles

Single cell profiling of circulating autoreactive CD4 T cells from patients with autoimmune liver diseases suggests tissue imprinting

Abstract Autoimmune liver diseases (AILD) involve dysregulated CD4 T cell responses against liver self-antigens, but how these autoreactive T cells relate to liver tissue pathology remains unclear. Here we perform single-cell transcriptomic and T cell receptor analyses of circulating, self-antigen-specific CD4 T cells from patients with AILD and identify a subset of liver-autoreactive CD4 T cells with a distinct B-helper transcriptional profile characterized by PD-1, TIGIT and HLA-DR expression. These cells share clonal relationships with expanded intrahepatic T cells and exhibit transcriptional signatures overlapping with tissue-resident T cells in chronically inflamed environments. Using a mouse model, we demonstrate that, following antigen recognition in the liver, CD4 T cells acquire an exhausted phenotype, play a crucial role in liver damage, and are controlled by immune checkpoint pathways. Our findings thus suggest that circulating autoreactive CD4 T cells in AILD are imprinted by chronic antigen exposure to promote liver inflammation, thereby serving as a potential target for developing biomarkers and therapies for AILD.

Rural-urban disparity in uptaking skilled antenatal care visits by pregnant women in Bangladesh: Zero and One Inflated Poisson regression model

Background Utilization of maternal health care services, specifically, antenatal care services from skilled health providers have been given utmost priority in low- and middle-income countries over years with a view of mitigating complications during pregnancy as well as safeguarding the health and survival of both mother and newborn. However, there is a general tendency of pregnant mothers in Bangladesh of receiving skilled antenatal care (SANC) service once, or even never which refrains us to ensure World Health Organization (WHO) recommended eight plus SANC visits, additionally, to meet Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number three. Objectives The study aims at assessing how the average number of SANC visits taken by the reproductive women in Bangladesh changes over the time in rural and urban areas together with finding out the potential demographic and socio-economic factors associated with SANC visits by addressing possible accumulation of zero and one counts in SANC visits. Methods In this study, data have been retrieved from last four waves of Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys ranging from 2011 to 2022 and later combined together to form a pooled dataset. Non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test has been performed for exploring unadjusted association of covariates with the response and Mann-Whitney U test has been conducted for multiple comparison in case of significant association for a covariate having more than two categories. For checking the existence of concurrent inflation at zero and one in the pooled dataset, partial score test has been performed. Based on the results of score test, Zero and One Inflated Poisson regression model has been fitted to the pooled dataset, where an interaction term between area of residence and survey year has been considered for trend analysis. Results The study highlights that the rate of mean SANC visits is rapidly rising with time among pregnant women not only from the urban areas but also from the rural areas of Bangladesh. However, the rate of change in uptaking the SANC visits is higher in rural area compared to urban area. It was observed that for a given survey year, the rate of mean SANC visits was higher among women from urban areas compared to that among women from rural areas of Bangladesh. This study provides the evidence of 17.2% extra zero counts and 1.1% extra one counts in the pooled dataset. Conclusion The study results depict that inequity in SANC services based on area of residence prevails in Bangladesh. However, the gap in the rate of mean SANC visits in rural areas compared to urban areas has gradually reduced over time. Based on the results, the study comes up with some recommendations to facilitate the policy makers in improvising strategies and ensuring sustainable rise in SANC counts as well as WHO recommended positive pregnancy experience in the country to meet SDGs.

Halofuginone prevents inflammation and proliferation of high-altitude pulmonary hypertension by inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway

Diffusion-driven transient hydrogenation in metal superhydrides at extreme conditions

Evaluation of anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties of Tinospora cordifolia extract

Tinospora cordifolia extract exhibits diverse benefits—anti-arthritis, anti-malarial, anti-allergic, anti-diabetic, antihepatotoxic, and antipyretic effects. Its specific anti-inflammatory and healing capacities remain unexplored, prompting a study utilizing a mouse skin wound model and direct T. cordifolia extraction. UV-Vis spectroscopy depicted an absorption range of 200–400 nm, while FTIR analysis identified alcohols, phenols, amines, amides, aldehydes, ketones, alkanes, and alkenes. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of components: 5methyl-5-Hexen-2-Ol, n-hexadecenoic acid, cholesta-4,6-dien-3beta-ol, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, stearate which are present in the extract. Histopathological examination confirmed accelerated wound healing, showcasing reduced inflammation, restored blood vessels, collagen fibers, and swift epidermal closure. T. cordifolia extract exhibits promise in enhancing wound healing through its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory properties.

The study of mechanical properties and fracture evolution of coal-rock masses under hard roof-soft floor conditions

Genetically-encoded targeted protein degradation technology to remove endogenous condensation-prone proteins and improve crop performance

Personal, environmental and behavioral predictors associated with online fraud victimization among adults

Background Online malicious attempts such as scamming continue to proliferate across the globe, aided by the ubiquitous nature of technology that makes it increasingly easy to dupe individuals. This study aimed to identify the predictors for online fraud victimization focusing on Personal, Environment and Behavior (PEB). Methods Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) was used as a guide in developing the PEB framework. Specifically, three factors were identified—Self-awareness (Personal), Attitude (Personal and Environment) and Safe Practice (Behavior) as the potential predictors for online fraud victimization. A self-reporting questionnaire was developed based on the PEB framework and used to collect data targeting Malaysian adults. The study reports result from two separate datasets collected across two separate timelines. Study I involved data collection in January 2023 (n = 820) whereas Study II was conducted with a modified questionnaire from November 2023 –January 2024 (n = 629). Study I identified the online fraud victimization predictors through an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and a hierarchical binary logistic regression. The dataset from Study II was used to validate the online fraud victimization model derived from Study I by executing another round of hierarchical binary logistic regression. Results Results from both the samples show that most of the respondents are aware of digital privacy. EFA from Study I yielded a five-factor solution with a total variance of 60.6%, namely, Self-awareness, Safe Practice, Bank Trust, Overconfidence and Social Influence. Hierarchical binary logistic regression results from both the studies were found to be consistent. Specifically, Overconfidence (β = 0.374; OR = 1.453; 95% CI [1.119, 1.887]; p = 0.005) and Social Influence (β = 0.332; OR = 1.225; 95% CI [1.077, 1.512]; p = 0.006) were found to significantly predict online fraud victimization as well as gender (β = 0.364; OR = 1.440; 95% CI [1.008, 2.016]; p = 0.045) with females exhibiting higher risks to victimization. Implications The emergence of Overconfidence and Social Influence as significant predictors can guide the development of targeted online fraud awareness campaigns and/or tools emphasizing critical thinking and skepticism. Policymakers can leverage this knowledge to implement regulations that reduce deceptive practices online, promote digital literacy programs, and mandate clearer consumer protections to mitigate the impact of social manipulation and overconfidence on fraud victimization. Conclusion This study identifies online fraud victimization predictors, hence improving our understanding of the factors behind this phenomenon—allowing for the development of effective preventive measures and policies to safeguard individuals and improve digital security. For instance, gender- specific educational campaigns can be developed to enhance awareness and equip women with strategies to detect and avoid scams. Additionally, addressing systemic factors like social norms and digital literacy gaps is crucial for creating equitable and effective solutions to reduce online fraud victimization.

Mechanical properties and piecewise constitutive model of fine sandstone in mining area of western China

Author Correction: MADS-box encoding gene Tunicate1 positively controls maize yield by increasing leaf number above the ear

Modes of embodiment for an immersed experience in museums: The Royal Tank Museum

This study examines how exhibits at the Royal Tank Museum (RTM) engage visitors through bodily experiences. The goal is to understand RTM’s visitor interaction and engagement. This research fills a gap in the literature on Jordanian museums by documenting some experiential characteristics of museum exhibits and establishing a framework for evaluating embodied museum encounters. A detailed RTM episode analysis, online survey, visitor behavior observations, structured interviews, and a comprehensive questionnaire are used. Al-Karameh Hall offers embodied experiences using sensory and physical tools, while Jerusalem Hall and the Battle of Al-Latrun fall short due to fractured narratives and inadequate sensory engagement. According to the study, boosting the clarity of narratives, adding personal belongings, and strengthening the spatial connection between exhibitions and their surrounds can greatly enhance visitors’ embodied experiences.

Exploring the Association Between Overactive Bladder (OAB) and Cognitive decline: mediation by depression in elderly adults,   a NHANES weighted analysis

Oligoclonality of TRBC1 and TRBC2 in T cell lymphomas as mechanism of primary resistance to TRBC-directed CAR T cell therapies

Neonatal outcomes and resuscitation practices following the addition of heart rate-guidance to basic resuscitation

Aim To evaluate the impact of heart rate-guided basic resuscitation compared to Helping Babies Breathe on neonatal outcomes and resuscitation practices in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Methods We conducted a pre-post clinical trial comparing heart rate-guided basic resuscitation to Helping Babies Breathe in three facilities, enrolling in-born neonates ≥28 weeks gestation. We collected observational data during a convenience sample of resuscitations and extracted clinical data from the medical record for all participants. We evaluated our primary outcome of effective breathing at three minutes after birth among newborns not breathing well at 30 seconds after birth employing generalized linear models using maximum likelihood estimation. Results Among 1,284 newborns with observational data, there was no difference in the proportion effectively breathing at three minutes (adjusted relative risk 1.08 [95% CI 0.81, 1.45]). Among 145 receiving bag mask ventilation, time to bag mask ventilation decreased 64.3 seconds during heart rate-guided resuscitation (p<0.001). Among 10,906 enrolled in the trial, perinatal mortality was unchanged (adjusted relative risk 1.19 [95% CI 0.96, 1.48]) and death before discharge increased (adjusted relative risk 1.43 [95% CI 1.03, 1.99]). Expert review of stillborn cases demonstrated a stillbirth misclassification rate of 33.3% during Helping Babies Breathe versus 5.9% in heart rate-guided resuscitation. Conclusion During heart rate-guided basic resuscitation, time to bag mask ventilation was reduced by greater than one minute. The increase in death before discharge and unchanged perinatal mortality may be due to resuscitation of newborns with a higher risk of mortality who were previously presumed stillborn. A cluster-randomized trial of heart rate-guided basic resuscitation is needed to evaluate its impact on neonatal mortality in low-resource settings.

Enhanced hybrid attention deep learning for avocado ripeness classification on resource constrained devices

A reagent to access methyl sulfones

One-minute sit-to-stand test: Reference values for the Chilean population

Introduction The one-minute sit to stand test (1min-STST) is a field test used to assess functional capacity. It is easily implementable and of significant clinical utility; however, no reference values are currently available for the Chilean population. The objective of this study was to establish reference values for the 1min-STST in a healthy Chilean population. Methods A multicenter cross-sectional study involving data collection from six locations in Chile was conducted. Healthy adults between 18 and 80 years of age were recruited. The anthropometric variables, levels of physical activity, smoking status, Borg scale ratings, and number of repetitions during the 1min-STST were recorded. Reference values were determined according to sex and age range. Results Four hundred ninety-nine healthy subjects (57.5% women, n = 287; median height, 1.63 (0.14) m; weight, 72.8 (20) kg; average BMI, 27.3 ± 4.1 kg/m2) were included in the study. The median (and the lower limit of normality (LLN) values) for the 1min-STST in men ranged from 18–29 years, with 38 (LLN 27) repetitions and 23 (LLN 15) repetitions for 70–80 years. For women aged 18–29 years, 38 (LLN 28) repetitions were performed, and for women aged 70–80 years, 24 (LLN 17) repetitions were performed. Conclusions This study established reference values for the healthy adult Chilean population.

Evaluation of bond durability of different self-adhesive bioactive restorative systems to dentin

Abstract This study aimed to compare the bonding efficacy three bioactive self-adhesive restorative systems to dentin. A total of 80 permanent human molars were utilized in this study. The occlusal enamel was removed to exposed mid-coronal dentin; 40 molars were used for microshear bond strength testing, while the remaining molars were used for micromorphological analysis of restoration/dentin interface. Accordingly, 4 groups were assigned according to the used restorative materials; (G1) self-adhesive hybrid composite (surefil one), (G2) Alkasite-based material (Cention forte) without pretreatment primer, (G3) Alkasite-based material (Cention forte) with pretreatment primer (Cention primer), and (G4) resin-modified glass ionomer (fuji II LC). Then each group was divided into 2 sub-group according to testing time (n = 5); immediate (after 24 h) and delayed (after 6 months of storage in artificial saliva). Microshear bond strength testing employed a universal testing machine to quantify the force required for material fracture at the interface, followed by failure mode analysis. Interfacial micromorphology was assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In µSBS, the outcome of Two-way ANOVA showed that, there is a statistically significant difference in “type of the restorative material” and “storage time” (p˂0.05. The output of Tukey post-hoc test revealed highest µSBS values were recorded in both immediate and delayed was recorded for Cention Forte with it’s pretreatment primer (p < 0.05). Whereas Surefil one & Cention Forte (without primer) showed the lowest µSBS results among its immediate and delayed groups (p < 0.05). Regarding the micromorphological patterns of restoration/dentin interface using SEM, there was a difference among the tested groups. This study revealed that using of primers prior to application of alkasite-based restorative material is highly recommended as this techniques seems to be the most effective in obtaining superior bond strength with dentin. Accordingly, this outcome of this study highlighting the importance of using primer in enhancing bonding to dentin, which might slightly countered the initial manufacturer’s recommendations and categorization of this type of restorations as a self-adhesive.

Quantifying the shift of public export finance from fossil fuels to renewable energy

Abstract By providing guarantees and direct lending, public export credit agencies (ECAs) de-risk and thus enable energy projects worldwide. Despite their importance for global greenhouse gas emission pathways, a systematic assessment of ECAs’ role and financing patterns in the low-carbon energy transition is still needed. Using commercial transaction data, here we analyze 921 energy deals backed by ECAs from 31 OECD and non-OECD countries (excluding Canada) between 2013 and 2023. We find that while the share of renewables in global ECA energy commitments rose substantially between 2013 and 2023, ECAs remain heavily involved in the fossil fuel sector, with support varying substantially across technologies, value chain stages, and countries. Portfolio ‘greening’ is primarily driven by members of the E3F climate club, impacting deal financing structures and shifting finance flows towards high-income countries. Our results call for reconsidering ECA mandates and strengthening international climate-related cooperation in export finance.

“They never appear on TV and if they have, I might have missed that moment.” How publics in South Africa and Germany view visible scientists

Academic interest in scientists who regularly appear in the media dates back to Rae Goodell’s seminal book “The visible scientists”, in which she lists distinct characteristics of visible scientists, including being controversial, articulate, colorful, and reputable as a scientist. Visible scientists thus share relevant media-related characteristics that stand out in their portrayal as a group and are reminiscent of other celebrities’ characteristics. However, questions arise: what is special about the celebrity being a scientist? How many and what types of scientists fall into this category? What are the peers’ and the public’s expectations towards the social role of the visible scientist? To date, work on visible scientists has focused on theorizing them in the context of the relationship between science and its publics and empirical studies have mainly sought to characterize visible scientists and focused on single countries. This paper fills research gaps on the public perception of and expectations towards visible scientists as well as comparative studies by surveying publics in Germany and South Africa. Our data shows that Goodell’s criteria also apply to how respondents see and expect visible scientists to be. Interestingly though, a majority of non-responses to the request to name up to three visible scientists currently living in the respective country demonstrates that, overall, scientists are rather invisible to the public. Visible scientists remain a rare phenomenon despite changing media environments and a recent pandemic. In conclusion, we suggest that “visibility” (rather than “celebrity”) is the more appropriate term to refer to the temporary phenomenon of scientists who become visible in the public sphere.