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Alkaline loading of extracellular vesicles produced from human neural stem cell-derived neurospheres enables CNS drug delivery
First steps towards distinguishing Mediterranean vegetation root marks on bones: An experimental approach
Root-bone interactions are common in buried skeletal remains, yet their diagnostic value remains largely unexplored because few controlled studies have linked root marks to specific plant types. Consequently, the potential of these marks to provide information about burial environments in archaeological, paleontological, and forensic contexts has been largely overlooked. Here, we present a long-term experimental study documenting root-induced bone modifications under natural field conditions in central Spain. Deer ribs were buried at various depths and for different lengths of time among three widespread Mediterranean trees and shrubs: holm oak ( Quercus ilex ), olive ( Olea europaea ), and grapevine ( Vitis vinifera ). Using optical and scanning electron microscopy, we identified distinct patterns of root engraving on cortical bone surfaces that varied by plant type. Holm oak roots produced sinuous, dendritic grooves; olive roots generated shallow, rectilinear markings; and grapevine roots formed linear-to-circular engravings, which were often associated with localized cracking. Mark intensity increased with burial depth and duration. These findings underscore the diagnostic value of root marks in identifying plant-specific signatures and offer a novel approach to recognizing plant activity in burial environments. This information improves taphonomic interpretations in various fields, including fossil reworking processes and forensic secondary burials.
Correction: Cold microwave plasma jets for wound healing: antimicrobial efficacy, mechanisms and changes in microbial cells
Effectiveness and implementation of a primary healthcare intervention for multimorbidity and frailty among urban older adults in India: Protocol for the Multi-FrAME cluster randomized trial
The worldwide impact of multimorbidity and frailty is accelerating among older adults, particularly in India, where healthcare systems face resource constraints. Multimorbidity defined as the coexistence of two or more chronic health conditions, and frailty—a state of heightened vulnerability—jointly result in functional disability, decreased quality of life, and increased healthcare use. Despite this, primary healthcare frameworks in India lack integrated geriatric care models. The study addresses this gap by evaluating a culturally appropriate, multicomponent intervention to improve quality of life related to health status and wellbeing among older adults in urban Odisha. The Multimorbidity-Frailty among elderly (Multi-FrAME) study is a phase 3, two-arm, cluster-randomized, observer-blinded trial that will be conducted across 10 urban Primary Healthcare Centres (UPHCs) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Eligible participants will be enrolled and randomized at the cluster level. The intervention group will receive a structured, monthly multicomponent package delivered through UPHCs whereas the control group will be given standard care. The primary outcome will include change in EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) quality of life score at 6 and 12 months, and secondary outcomes will be a change in frailty, function, healthcare use, medication adherence and mortality. Data will be collected by trained, blinded assessors using validated tools and analyzed using mixed-effects regression models. Institutional ethical clearance was obtained for the study. The Multi-FrAME trial addresses a critical gap in geriatric care by evaluating a scalable, multicomponent intervention for frailty and multimorbidity within India’s primary healthcare system. Leveraging existing infrastructure and non-specialist staff, it integrates medical, nutritional, physical, and psychosocial support. Findings will inform policy and offer a replicable model for integrated elder care in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs). Trial Registration was done in Clinical Trial Registry of India (linked to WHO registry of trials) with registration no CTRI/2024/09/073487 on 5 th September,2024.
Electrospun poly(lactic acid) biopolymer fibers functionalized with Y-sperm-specific scFv enable immunoaffinity-driven bovine sperm sexing
PTPRE promotes gastric cancer cell resistance to 5-fluorouracil by inhibiting ferroptosis via the Src/FAK/TRIB3 axis
Acquired drug resistance is a major cause of failure in gastric cancer treatment. The protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type E (PTPRE) plays an oncogenic role in certain tumours; however, its function in chemotherapy-resistant gastric cancer remains unclear. Therefore, we analysed PTPRE expression in gastric cancer using The Cancer Genome Atlas. In vitro experiments were then conducted to investigate the effects of PTPRE on the resistance of cancer cells to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and its potential mechanisms. The results were further validated in vitro using xenograft studies. We found that PTPRE is upregulated in gastric cancer tissues and participates in the induction of 5-FU resistance. Mechanistic studies revealed that PTPRE suppressed ferroptosis in gastric cancer cells and promoted 5-FU resistance by activating the Src/FAK pathway to upregulate TRIB3 expression. In summary, PTPRE suppresses ferroptosis in gastric cancer cells via the Src/FAK/TRIB3 signalling pathway, thereby inducing 5-FU resistance. Intervention with PTPRE and its downstream targets may represent a potential approach for the clinical treatment of 5-FU-resistant gastric cancer.
Investigation into the effects of pregabalin on motor nerves and their underlying mechanisms
What a royal bedchamber provides the queen bee
An improved grey wolf optimization algorithm for 3-D UWB indoor positioning
Traditional Ultra-wideband (UWB) positioning algorithms cannot achieve ideal positioning results when facing multipath effects and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) factors. In order to improve the accuracy of UWB indoor positioning, this paper proposes an improved grey wolf optimization (GWO) algorithm for 3-D UWB indoor positioning in the NLOS environment. First, the Chan algorithm is used for initial tag positioning. Then, the search area of the GWO algorithm is constructed with the initial positioning result as the center. Next, the GWO algorithm’s optimization accuracy and convergence speed are improved through the improvement of Tent chaotic mapping, nonlinear convergence factor based on cosine function, and dynamic inertia weight factor. Finally, the optimized position of the tag is determined using the improved GWO algorithm. Experimental results show that this algorithm can converge to the global optimal solution faster and achieve higher positioning accuracy in complex experimental environments. Compared with the Chan, ChanTaylor, particle swarm optimization (PSO), GWO, and enhanced grey wolf optimization (AGWO) algorithms, the average positioning accuracy of the proposed algorithm is improved by 62.92%, 66.43%, 45.71%, 40.91%, and 37.76% respectively, demonstrating its high practical value.
Intravenous Artesunate in Artemisinin-Resistant Severe Malaria in Uganda
Towards trustworthy brain stroke diagnosis using a lightweight explainable deep learning framework for CT imaging
Assessment of water quality of the Halda River using multiple WQI approaches: Implications for Riverine Ecosystem and Sustainable Management
The Halda River-Bangladesh’s only natural breeding ground for major carps and a vital freshwater resource is undergoing alarming deterioration in water quality. This study assessed its ecological condition by applying seven Water Quality Indices (WQIs): Weighted Arithmetic, British Columbia, Canadian, Malaysian, Oregon, Assigned, and the recently developed Method of the Removal Effects of Criteria (MEREC-WQI). To record the seasonal and regional changes, surface water samples were collected during both dry and wet seasons. It has been observed that the respective values of several important parameters like turbidity, ammonia, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), and dissolved oxygen (DO), often exceeded national reference limits or guidelines. The deduced water quality index (WQI) scores ranged from 25 to 45, which categorized the river water as ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’. The water quality shows more deterioration during the dry season, which might be related to the reduction of water flow, industrial discharges, etc. Overall, the uses of various WQI techniques help to obtain a comprehensive and comparative assessment of river health. This study indicates a non-negligible man made stress on the Halda River ecosystem, and it recommends to implement a comprehensive pollution control strategies and viable watershed management to protect the River’s ecological balance.
Patient-Driven Care in Psychedelic Therapy
A 40 Gbps low-power inverter-based CNTFET optical receiver
The use of immersive technologies in learning about postpartum hemorrhage: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Postpartum hemorrhage is one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide, and its proper management requires both technical and non-technical skills. This study describes the protocol for a systematic review evaluating the effectiveness of immersive technologies in training healthcare professionals in the management of this obstetric emergency. This protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) database (CRD420250614446). The search will be performed in the following databases: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, LILACS, Enfispo and CUIDEN. Intervention studies (clinical trials ‐ randomized or non-randomized) and quasi-experimental studies will be included. The risk of bias will be assessed using appropriate tools according to study design: the Risk of Bias 2 (ROB 2) tool for randomized controlled trials and the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool for non-randomized and quasi-experimental studies. Two independent researchers will conduct all assessments, and any disagreements will be consulted with a third reviewer. The data analysis and synthesis will be performed using Review Manager software version 5.4. We will conduct the study in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines. The review will summarize the current evidence on the use of virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality in education and training for postpartum hemorrhage management. The planned systematic review will identify and synthesize the available evidence on how immersive technologies may improve learning about postpartum hemorrhage.
Immunosuppression-Associated Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma
LINC00222 regulates FOXO3 to interfere with β-catenin signaling pathway and suppresses prostate cancer progression
Quantifying and modeling fabric surface roughness discrepancy: Consistency between physical and digital textures in online shopping
In digital textile commerce, the absence of tactile interaction limits consumers’ ability to perceive fabric properties, often leading to mismatched expectations and product dissatisfaction. This study aimed to quantify the perceptual discrepancy in surface roughness (RDP) between physical fabrics and their digital representations and to identify structural parameters that influence this discrepancy. Plain- and twill-woven fabric specimens were prepared with varying densities, weights, and thicknesses. Surface roughness of physical fabrics was measured using atomic force microscopy (AFM), while digital roughness values were extracted from scanned images using ImageJ. Statistical analyses, including correlation and regression modeling, were applied to identify key predictors of RDP. Results showed that in plain-woven fabrics, lower weft density and higher warp density under fixed fabric weight conditions yielded the lowest RDP values, whereas in twill-woven fabrics, the perceptual gap was minimized at higher fabric weights and lower weft densities. These findings provide practical insights for improving visual–tactile alignment in virtual textile presentation and can inform fabric structural design for enhanced accuracy in online representation. Future research may explore nonlinear modeling and multisensory feedback systems to further reduce perceptual discrepancies.