Browse Articles

In-vitro antifungal potential of myco versus bacteria synthesized ZnO NPs against chickpea and apricot pathogen

A tunable human intestinal organoid system achieves controlled balance between self-renewal and differentiation

The relationship between prenatal drought exposure and the diversity and composition of gut microbiome in pregnant women and neonates

Investigating the inflammatory effect of microplastics in cigarette butts on peripheral blood mononuclear cells

DSIF factor Spt5 coordinates transcription, maturation and exoribonucleolysis of RNA polymerase II transcripts

AbstractPrecursor messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) is processed into its functional form during RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription. Although functional coupling between transcription and pre-mRNA processing is established, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. We show that the key transcription termination factor, RNA exonuclease Xrn2 engages with Pol II forming a stable complex. Xrn2 activity is stimulated by Spt5 to ensure efficient degradation of nascent RNA leading to Pol II dislodgement from DNA. Our results support a model where Xrn2 first forms a stable complex with the elongating Pol II to achieve its full activity in degrading nascent RNA revising the current ‘torpedo’ model of termination, which posits that RNA degradation precedes Xrn2 engagement with Pol II. Spt5 is also a key factor that attenuates the expression of non-coding transcripts, coordinates pre-mRNA splicing and 3’-end processing. Our findings indicate that engagement with the transcribing Pol II is an essential regulatory step modulating the activity of RNA enzymes such as Xrn2, thus advancing our understanding of how RNA maturation is controlled during transcription.

Optimism bias, judgment of severity, and behavioral change during two stages of the pandemics in China

Elimination of nickel ions in a packed column using clamshell waste as an adsorbent

Meta-EA: a gene-specific combination of available computational tools for predicting missense variant effects

Geriatric nutritional risk index and newly developed scoring system as prognosis prediction for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with lenvatinib

Nucleotide metabolism-associated drug resistance gene NDUFA4L2 promotes colon cancer progression and 5-FU resistance

Living plastics from plasticizer-assisted thermal molding of silk protein

Subtilisin-like protease 4 regulates cold tolerance through cell wall modification in rice

A genome-wide association study of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in a large Korean population highlights its genetic relationship with cholesterol metabolism

Multiphase superconductivity in PdBi2

AbstractUnconventional superconductivity, where electron pairing does not involve electron-phonon interactions, is often attributed to magnetic correlations in a material. Well known examples include high-Tc cuprates and uranium-based heavy fermion superconductors. Less explored are unconventional superconductors with strong spin-orbit coupling, where interactions between spin-polarised electrons and external magnetic field can result in multiple superconducting phases and field-induced transitions between them, a rare phenomenon in the superconducting state. Here we report a magnetic-field driven phase transition in β-PdBi2, a layered non-magnetic superconductor. Our tunnelling spectroscopy on thin PdBi2 monocrystals incorporated in planar superconductor-insulator-normal metal junctions reveals a marked discontinuity in the superconducting properties with increasing in-plane field, which is consistent with a transition from conventional (s-wave) to nodal pairing. Our theoretical analysis suggests that this phase transition may arise from spin polarisation and spin-momentum locking caused by locally broken inversion symmetry, with p-wave pairing becoming energetically favourable in high fields. Our findings also reconcile earlier predictions of unconventional multigap superconductivity in β-PdBi2 with previous experiments where only a single s-wave gap could be detected.

Implementing sustainable practices to combat root knot nematode infestation in tomato farming from Meghalaya

A novel numerical solution of nonlinear stochastic model for the propagation of malicious codes in Wireless Sensor Networks using a high order spectral collocation technique

Immune correlates of early clearance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis among tuberculosis household contacts in Indonesia

AbstractSome individuals, even when heavily exposed to an infectious tuberculosis patient, do not develop a specific T-cell response as measured by interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA). This could be explained by an IFN-γ-independent adaptive immune response, or an effective innate host response clearing Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) without adaptive immunity. In heavily exposed Indonesian tuberculosis household contacts (n = 1347), a persistently IGRA negative status was associated with presence of a BCG scar, and - especially among those with a BCG scar - with altered innate immune cells dynamics, higher heterologous (Escherichia coli-induced) proinflammatory cytokine production, and higher inflammatory proteins in the IGRA mitogen tube. Neither circulating concentrations of Mtb-specific antibodies nor functional antibody activity associated with IGRA status at baseline or follow-up. In a cohort of adults in a low tuberculosis incidence setting, BCG vaccination induced heterologous innate cytokine production, but only marginally affected Mtb-specific antibody profiles. Our findings suggest that a more efficient host innate immune response, rather than a humoral response, mediates early clearance of Mtb. The protective effect of BCG vaccination against Mtb infection may be linked to innate immune priming, also termed ‘trained immunity’.

Impact of inter-city interactions on disease scaling

A copula-based multivariate flood frequency analysis under climate change effects

Banning new gas boilers as a no-regret mitigation option

Abstract The low uptake of low-carbon heating systems across Europe has prompted authorities to consider more ambitious measures, including a complete ban on the installation of new fossil fuel boilers. In this analysis, we simulate the impacts of introducing this ban in France under 11,664 scenarios covering major uncertainties. We find that the ban induces major changes in the energy system, leading to efficiency gains. Additionally, we find that the ban increases the likelihood of reaching carbon neutrality while reducing total system cost in over 75% of scenarios. Finally, we show that the implementation of the ban, when coupled with the existing subsidy framework, mitigates inequalities among owner-occupied households but generates adverse effects for those in privately rented homes.