Fault ruptures pose a major threat to structures, yet conventional numerical models often oversimplify foundation behavior by assuming linear elasticity. This study presents a rigorous 2D plane-strain finite element analysis of shallow foundations subjected to reverse fault rupture, emphasizing the critical role of concrete constitutive modeling. The model incorporates a strain-softening Mohr-Coulomb soil and the Concrete Damage Plasticity (CDP) model for reinforced concrete foundations. A parametric study evaluates the effects of superstructure load, fault dip angle, and foundation-fault distance on angular distortion. Results show that the CDP model, which accounts for cracking and stiffness degradation, leads to more realistic predictions of angular distortion compared to linear elastic models, particularly when the foundation enters the plastic regime. The analysis suggests a hierarchy of controlling factors, with foundation-fault proximity as the dominant parameter, followed by foundation stiffness and superstructure load, while the fault dip angle acts as a secondary modifier. These findings demonstrate that, within the parameter space examined, accurate assessment often requires the CDP model-particularly in near-fault or low-stiffness configurations-because neglecting material nonlinearity can substantially underestimate angular distortion. This reinforces the necessity of advanced constitutive modeling for resilient design of surface foundations in active fault zones.
Generative AI is now embedded in scholarly workflows, yet publishing policy has often jumped to permission or prohibition without first defining what is being governed. The central risk is not tool use itself, but loss of provenance: readers, reviewers, and editors must be able to trace how claims, citations, analyses, and interpretations were produced and verified. Harm is already measurable, including fabricated references, distorted summaries, hollow reviews, and disclosure policies that are widely ignored. This commentary proposes a practical framework centered on human accountability: separate capability from responsibility, prioritize provenance over polish, avoid unverifiable bans, and pair disclosure with explicit verification. Because AI now enters every stage of review, the unit of governance is not the static manuscript but the feedback loop around it, and the same obligations bind authors, reviewers, and editors alike. Journals should govern outcomes and professional standards rather than tool lists, building a culture of transparent use instead of surveillance.
Pulmonary fibrosis encompasses a spectrum of chronic lung diseases characterized by progressive scarring of lung tissue, ultimately leading to respiratory failure. Emerging clinical evidence indicates that pulmonary fibrosis patients frequently experience comorbid neuropsychiatric disorders, including cognitive impairment, anxiety, and depression. These complications significantly impact patients' quality of life and treatment outcomes. However, the mechanisms underlying this comorbidity remain incompletely understood, and there is a lack of effective interventions. This review summarizes the latest clinical evidence linking pulmonary fibrosis to neuropsychiatric complications and contributes to the understanding of the underlying mechanisms through the lung-brain axis theory. Studies indicate that various pulmonary fibrosis subtypes, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and pneumoconiosis, exhibit high prevalence of neuropsychiatric disorders and abnormal brain networks, indicating a close pathophysiological connection between pulmonary fibrosis and neuropsychiatric complications. At the mechanistic level, accumulating experimental evidence suggests that pulmonary fibrosis may induce central nervous system damage through three interrelated pathways: (1) Systemic dissemination of pulmonary inflammation leads to blood-brain barrier disruption and microglial activation; (2) Chronic hypoxia exacerbates neuroinflammation and synaptic dysfunction; (3) The inhaled particulate matter enters the brain from the olfactory mucosa through the olfactory bulb or crosses the damaged alveolar capillary barrier, enters the circulation, and then passes through the already damaged blood-brain barrier, inducing local neurotoxicity. Furthermore, we advocate for actively exploring a comprehensive treatment model that shifts from "lung-focused therapy" to "lung-brain co-therapy". This approach employs multiple interventions-including medication, pulmonary rehabilitation training, and cognitive training-to prevent or delay systemic complications, including neuropsychiatric damage, in pulmonary fibrosis patients. Elucidating the lung-brain axis in pulmonary fibrosis may open new avenues for a more comprehensive understanding, early intervention, and holistic management of this devastating disease.
Icosahedral viruses organize and compact their genomes within volumetrically constrained capsids. Double-stranded (ds) DNA viral genomes form ordered spool-like structures when packaged into preformed capsids. By contrast, single-stranded (ss) RNA viral coat proteins recognize genomic sequences or structures, nucleating assembly around folded genomes. A similar mechanism may occur in some ssDNA systems; however, in parvo- and microviruses, the ss genome is concurrently synthesized and packaged into a preformed shell. In the øX174 X-ray virion structure, only ~12% of the genome is ordered. Consequently, the mechanism by which the genome is accommodated within the constrained capsid remains obscure. Sequence motifs within the øX174 genome produce a periodic segmentation pattern consistent with T = 1 icosahedral symmetry. To determine the function of these motifs, a subset within the first five packaged segments was altered. No regulatory elements or encoded amino acids were changed. The resulting mutant, øXDO5, displayed a phenotype consistent with those of previously characterized packaging mutants. To further understand this phenomenon, the DNA replication-packaging pathway was characterized in cells co-infected with wild-type and øXDO5. Each genome could both be separately tracked and distinguished throughout the pathway. Early, pre-packaging øXDO5 genome replication was comparable to the wild-type. However, øXDO5 genomes were severely diminished within virions, suggesting a defect in the transition from packaging intermediates to mature virions.IMPORTANCEConcurrent genome biosynthesis and packaging are specific to some families of single-stranded (ss) DNA icosahedral viruses. This evolutionary strategy combines elements found in both dsDNA and ssRNA systems. Like dsDNA viruses, the genome is packaged into a preformed capsid. Like ssRNA viruses, there are numerous capsid-genome associations. However, in microviruses, such as øX174, these interactions do not facilitate capsid assembly around the genome. They occur after the ss genome enters the preformed procapsid. Sequence motifs within the øX174 genome produce a periodic segmentation pattern consistent with T = 1 icosahedral symmetry. The data provided herein demonstrate that altering these periodic motifs can lead to packaging defects, suggesting an additional level of selective pressure acting on ssDNA genomes.
Desmosine exerts a vital role as a cross-linking molecule integrate into a three-dimensional elastin network. After degradation of mature elastin, desmosine is released and enters into the circulatory system. The purpose was to estimate the association between serum desmosine level and Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. All 333 COVID-19 patients were enrolled and regarded as the training cohort, and 150 cases were used for completely independent validation cohort. Serum specimens were collected on the day of admission. The level of serum desmosine was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum desmosine level on the day of admission gradually increased with elevating severity scores among COVID-19 patients. Spearman correlation analysis unveiled the close relationships between serum desmosine level and clinical parameters, such as liver function, renal function, myocardial enzymes, and inflammatory cytokines. The training cohort and external validation cohort revealed that serum desmosine level was positively associated with severity scores by multivariable linear regression analyses. Multivariable logistic regression models found that higher serum desmosine concentration on admission elevated the risks of mechanical ventilation, vasoactive agent use, ICU admission, and death during hospitalization. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated the excellent discrimination for the poor prognosis of serum desmosine concentration by the training set and validation set. Baseline serum desmosine level was positively associated with disease severity scores and worse clinical outcomes among COVID-19 patients during hospitalization, substantializing that serum desmosine might serve as a biomarker for discriminating the severity and prognosis in COVID-19 patients.
Aquatic contaminants are of growing concern due to their widespread presence and potential impacts on aquatic organisms. Caffeine, a commonly detected emerging contaminant, enters water bodies largely through widespread consumption and by insufficient wastewater treatment. Although previous studies have examined caffeine's effects on aquatic species, most have focused on short-term exposures that may not reflect chronic, low-level environmental conditions. Here, we investigate the physiological and transcriptomic impacts of both acute and chronic caffeine exposure in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Acute exposure to high concentrations (100-1000 mg/L) induced pronounced, often non-linear, bradycardia and mortality, revealing a complex dose-time-response relationship. In contrast, chronic exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations (0.1 and 10 µg/L) elicited tissue-specific gene expression changes. RNA-seq analysis of gut tissue revealed a threshold effect, with the higher dose causing extensive dysregulation of genes related to retinol metabolism, lysosomal function, and immune processes. RT-qPCR across tissues indicated systemic disruption of key pathways, including downregulation of the dopamine receptor drd2a in brain and muscle, compensatory downregulation of the adenosine receptor adora1 in the brain, and in the liver, upregulation of keap1 suggesting potential suppression of the antioxidant response pathway. Overall, our results show that caffeine, across a wide concentration range, can induce significant cardiac toxicity and systemic molecular reprogramming, highlighting its capacity to disrupt metabolic, neurological, and oxidative stress pathways in aquatic organisms.
Antitumor agents that rely solely on apoptosis often fail to disrupt the complementary cell survival cascades. In this study, we developed a redox-responsive integrated therapeutic system (QSH) that exploited ferroptosis and pyroptosis to enhance tumor therapy. QSH consisted of a dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH in mitochondria) inhibitor (Q, a ferroptosis inducer) and a photosensitiser (IHcy, a pyroptosis trigger) linked by a disulphide bond. Upon entering cancer cells, QSH could effectively target mitochondria by leveraging the mitochondrial membrane potential. Within the highly redox-stressed tumor microenvironment, the disulfide bonds were cleaved by glutathione (GSH), leading to the release of Q and IHcy, which promoted glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4)-mediated ferroptosis (the first pathway). The released Q inhibited DHODH activity within mitochondria, thereby disrupting the DHODH-mediated mitochondrial antioxidant system and also promoting ferroptosis (the second pathway). Under light irradiation, the photodynamic effect of IHcy triggered gasdermin D (GSDMD)-mediated pyroptosis (the third pathway), thereby promoting the release of damage-associated molecular patterns. Significantly, QSH completely suppressed tumor growth in 4T1 breast cancer models due to the synchronous activation of ferroptosis and pyroptosis in tumors. This redox-triggered triple-pathway strategy effectively elevated the level of lipid peroxidation within cells, induced immunogenic cell death, and enhanced tumor sensitivity to treatments.
Staphylococcus aureus is a major opportunistic pathogen associated with dairy production systems, where it contributes to intramammary infections and may enter the food chain through contaminated milk. The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant strains underscores the need for alternative biocontrol strategies. Here, we report the isolation and comprehensive characterization of a novel lytic bacteriophage, vB_SauP-INT105, obtained from wastewater in Extremadura, Spain. Plaque morphology revealed a distinctive three-zone halo pattern suggestive of phage-encoded exopolysaccharide depolymerase activity, confirmed by bioinformatic prediction of two candidate depolymerase-encoding ORFs. Electron microscopy showed a bacteriophage with an icosahedral head and a short non-contractile tail. The phage exhibited lytic activity against 86.5% of 37 dairy-associated S. aureus isolates tested. One-step growth analysis revealed a latency period of ~40 minutes and a burst size of ~23 PFU/cell. The phage showed robust stability across a wide range of temperatures and pH values relevant to dairy-processing conditions, retaining viability over 20 months at 4 °C. Genome sequencing revealed a 17.45 kb dsDNA genome encoding 20 ORFs, with no detectable genes associated with virulence, lysogeny, or antibiotic resistance. Phylogenetic analysis placed INT105 as a novel species within the Rosenblumvirus genus. Antibiofilm assays demonstrated significant reductions in viable cell counts in two S. aureus strains with contrasting biofilm phenotypes. These results establish INT105 as a genomically safe, environmentally robust and functionally effective phage with strong potential for biocontrol applications in dairy-production environments and broader food-safety and clinical contexts.
Anemia is a common and debilitating complication in cancer patients, affecting prognosis, quality of life, and treatment response. The burden of anemia may be higher in resource-limited settings due to nutritional deficiencies and limited healthcare access. However, data on anemia among newly diagnosed cancer patients in Ethiopia remain scarce. This study was aimed to determine the magnitude and predictors of anemia in newly diagnosed adult solid cancer patients in Hawassa, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 405 newly diagnosed adult solid cancer patients at selected public health facilities in Hawassa City, Ethiopia, from June 2021 to October 2021. Data were collected using structured face-to-face interviews and from medical records. Data were entered into EpiData version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 26 for analysis. Descriptive statistics were computed for all variables. Binary logistic regression was performed to determine the independent effects of potential explanatory variables on the presence of anemia. Adjusted Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Statistical significance was set at p-value < 0.05. The prevalence of anemia was 26.4% (95% CI: 22.1-30.7%), with normocytic anemia (56.1%) being the most common morphological type. Multivariable analysis identified a history of bleeding (AOR = 3.46, 95% CI: 1.94-6.16), advanced cancer stage (AOR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.20-3.34), and underweight BMI (AOR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.28-3.55) were significantly associated with anemia. Conversely, higher educational attainment (diploma and above) was protective (AOR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.13-0.93). Anemia affects over one-quarter of newly diagnosed solid cancer patients in Hawassa, with advanced-stage disease, bleeding history, and decreasing body mass index as significant risk factors. These findings highlight the need for routine anemia screening at diagnosis, nutritional interventions, and early bleeding management in oncology settings.
The mature rat adrenal medulla is characterized by a pronounced asymmetry in the 3D organization of chromaffin tissue as a whole and by oppositely directed gradients in the distribution of adrenaline-storing (A-) and noradrenaline-storing (NA-) cells. The aim of this study was to characterize the 3D organization of the rat maturing adrenal medulla. Adrenal glands from 1- to 2-week-old Wistar rats were processed using a highly specific chromaffin reaction according to Honoré, which allows differentiation between A- and NA-cells. A 3D reconstruction of the adrenal medulla was obtained from complete sets of serial sections after A- and NA-cells, blood vessels, nerve fibres, neurons and stroma had been marked on each section. By the time of final differentiation of A- and NA-cells (end of the first postnatal week), the two-level asymmetry of chromaffin tissue characteristic of the mature adrenal medulla and its close association with bundles of nerve fibres was already clearly evident. At the craniomedial margin, where the main nerve bundles enter the medulla, chromaffin tissue formed cones and cords composed almost exclusively of A-cells, whereas towards the caudolateral margin A-cell density decreased and NA-cell density increased. Integrating these data with published information on embryonic migration of sympathoadrenal precursors and on the development of adrenal medullary innervation and vascularization, we propose the 'access points' hypothesis. It proposes that opposite A- and NA-cell gradients result from asynchronous arrest of migrating groups of A- and NA-cell precursors (chromaffinoblasts) as they reach discrete microdomains that provide access to nerve terminals and microvasculature ('access points'), with earlier-settling A-blasts accumulating near the nerve entry zone and later-settling NA-blasts occupying remaining access points.
Odontogenic maxillofacial space infections are life-threatening conditions that result from untreated dental problems, in which bacteria infect the facial fascial spaces from the affected teeth and supporting tissues. Despite their clinical severity, epidemiological data from sub-Saharan Africa and Ethiopia remain limited. Understanding their prevalence and associated factors is essential for effective management and prevention. To determine the prevalence and associated factors of odontogenic maxillofacial space infection among adult patients (aged > 18 years) admitted to the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital over 3 years (2023-2025). A retrospective cross-sectional study using patients' medical records was conducted among patients admitted to the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery between January 2023 and December 2025. Of these cases, 419 were deemed eligible according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and data were systematically extracted from the records. For a case to be included, there was a need to have clinical or radiographic evidence that the subject was infected and had pus drainage upon incision and drainage. Data were entered into Epi-Data 4.6, and data analysis was carried out using SPSS Version 26.0 (Windows 10). Descriptive statistics, such as frequencies and percentages, and logistic regression analysis were done. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. This study included 419 patient charts; 50 patients had confirmed odontogenic maxillofacial space infection. The prevalence of odontogenic maxillofacial space infection was 12.0% (95% CI: 9.0%-15.0%) among admitted patients. On multivariate analysis, rural residence (AOR = 2.70, 95% CI: 1.35-5.40), hypertension (AOR = 2.40; 95% CI: 1.15-5.00), diabetes mellitus (AOR = 3.10, 95% CI: 1.45-6.60), and delay in healthcare seeking (AOR = 4.00, 95% CI: 1.95-8.20) were independently associated. The prevalence of odontogenic maxillofacial space infections was relatively high among admitted patients in this tertiary hospital. Rural residence, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and delay in healthcare seeking are associated with the infection. Strengthening early diagnosis and treatment of dental infections, improving access to oral health services, and encouraging timely healthcare-seeking behaviour helps reduce the burden of odontogenic maxillofacial space infections.
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare autoimmune disease characterised by fluctuating and fatigable muscle weakness. In the randomised, double-blind phase III MycarinG study, one 6-week rozanolixizumab cycle significantly improved MG-specific outcomes versus placebo and was generally well tolerated in patients with generalised MG (gMG). To assess the efficacy and safety of cyclic rozanolixizumab treatment. A pooled analysis of the MycarinG, MG0004 and MG0007 studies. Following MycarinG, eligible patients could enrol in the open-label extension studies MG0004 or MG0007 to receive rozanolixizumab 7 or 10 mg/kg. In MG0004, patients received chronic weekly treatment for ⩽52 weeks. In MG0007, after an initial 6-week treatment cycle, subsequent cycles were based on symptom worsening (investigator's discretion). Final efficacy data were pooled across MycarinG, MG0004 (first 6 weeks) and MG0007 for patients receiving ⩾2 symptom-driven cycles. Efficacy endpoints included change from baseline (CFB) in MG Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL), MG Composite (MGC) and Quantitative MG (QMG) scores. Safety outcomes were assessed in patients who received ⩾1 cycle with a ⩽8-week follow-up period across MycarinG and MG0007. Overall, 188 patients received ⩾1 cycle and 129 received ⩾2 symptom-driven cycles. Across Cycles 1-13, mean (standard deviation) CFB to Day 43 in MG-ADL score ranged from -3.2 (3.3 (n = 113; Cycle 3)) to -6.0 (3.9 (n = 24; Cycle 12)). Consistent improvements in MGC and QMG scores were also observed across repeated cycles. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were experienced by 175/188 (93.1%) patients; most mild or moderate. Incidence remained stable with repeated cyclic treatment among patients who remained in the study at each cycle. The most common TEAE was headache (n = 94/188 (50.0%)). Repeated rozanolixizumab treatment cycles demonstrated consistent, clinically meaningful improvements in MG-specific outcomes as early as 1 week after the first infusion. Rozanolixizumab was generally well tolerated with an acceptable safety profile, supporting its long-term use as a treatment option for adults with gMG. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03971422; NCT04124965; NCT04650854. Long-term treatment with cycles of rozanolixizumab improved symptoms in patients with generalised myasthenia gravis in a combined analysis of final data from the MycarinG study and its two extension studies Generalised myasthenia gravis (gMG) is an autoimmune disease that damages the connections between nerves and muscles, causing muscle weakness. In the MycarinG study, treatment with rozanolixizumab once a week for 6 weeks was better at improving gMG symptoms than placebo in adults with gMG. After MycarinG, patients could enter the extension studies MG0004 and MG0007. These studies assessed the side effects of long-term rozanolixizumab treatment and measured patients’ symptoms to see whether rozanolixizumab remained effective. In MG0004, patients received rozanolixizumab once a week for up to 52 weeks. In MG0007, patients received rozanolixizumab once a week for 6 weeks, termed a treatment cycle. After the first treatment cycle, patients only received more cycles if their symptoms worsened. We looked at data from patients who received repeated rozanolixizumab treatment cycles across MycarinG, MG0004 (first 6 weeks only) and MG0007. Treatment side effects and gMG symptoms were assessed. Overall, 129 patients received two or more rozanolixizumab cycles due to worsening symptoms. We saw consistent improvements in gMG symptoms across multiple measures; improvements were maintained over repeated treatment cycles. Altogether, we assessed 188 patients for side effects; 175 (93.1%) reported a side effect, most of which were mild or moderate in severity. The most common side effect was headache. The number of reported side effects and how bad they were did not change much across treatment cycles among patients who stayed in the study at each cycle. In the first year of treatment, patients had an average of four treatment cycles. Based on this, rozanolixizumab treatment would be expected to follow a repeated pattern of 6 weeks on treatment and 6–8 weeks off in the first year. Together, these data suggest that repeated rozanolixizumab cycles can be used for long-term treatment in patients with gMG.
Patient satisfaction is a key indicator of the quality of emergency department care, influencing health service utilization and outcomes. Evidence on patient satisfaction and its predictors in Ethiopian emergency settings remains limited. This study aimed to assess patient satisfaction and its predictors among adult patients attending the Emergency Department of Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from August 1 to October 30, 2025, among patients attending the adult Emergency Department of Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. A total of 394 participants were selected using systematic random sampling. Data were collected using an adapted Brief Emergency Department Patient Satisfaction Scale, comprising 20 items on a five-point Likert scale. Data were entered into EpiData 4.7 and analyzed using Stata 17. Ordinal logistic regression was performed to assess associations between independent variables and patient satisfaction. The proportional odds assumption was tested, and a partial proportional odds model was applied to variables that violated it. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported, and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. All 394 participants completed the survey. Overall, patient satisfaction was high, with 54.1% of respondents reporting very satisfied and 31.7% satisfied. In the multivariable analysis, longer waiting time (AOR = 0.97; 95% CI: 0.97-0.98), questionnaire completion with assistance (AOR = 0.41; 95% CI: 0.26-0.65), and evening visits (AOR = 0.39; 95% CI: 0.22-0.69) were associated with reduced odds of satisfaction. In contrast, admission to wards or intensive care units (AOR = 1.64; 95% CI: 1.04-2.58) and a second Emergency Department visit (AOR = 2.09; 95% CI: 1.13-3.86) were associated with increased satisfaction. Patient satisfaction with emergency department services was generally high. Waiting time, time of visit, questionnaire completion method, admission status, and prior Emergency Department visits were significant predictors of satisfaction categories. Interventions aimed at reducing waiting times, optimizing service delivery during peak hours, and enhancing patient engagement are essential for improving the patient experience in emergency care settings.
Interorgan communication is essential for maintaining homeostasis. Numerous mediators, including cytokines and adipokines, have been identified, and their roles in interorgan crosstalk have been clarified. In particular, interactions between peripheral organs and the central nervous system (CNS), such as the liver-brain axis, have become a major focus for identifying therapeutic targets for disease. Among the various secreted mediating factors, such as hepatokines and stellakines, are released from hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells, respectively in response to diverse stimuli, and they contribute to hepatic inflammation, fibrosis, and tissue injury and repair. Under pathological conditions, such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), aberrantly expressed hepatokines and stellakines can enter the bloodstream and the brain parenchyma via disrupted blood-brain barrier (BBB). These factors can lead to BBB impairment or recovery, modulate peripheral immune cell infiltration, and either exacerbate or attenuate neuroinflammation, thereby influencing the development and suppression of neurological diseases. They may also aggravate or alleviate neuropsychiatric symptoms. Accordingly, therapeutic modulation of hepatokines or stellakines can have either detrimental or beneficial effects within the neural microenvironment. Collectively, although research on their roles in the liver-brain axis remains limited, elucidating their mechanisms of action may help identify novel preventive and therapeutic targets for neurological diseases.
Heavy metal pollution poses serious risks to agriculture and ecosystems, particularly in developing regions. Lead (Pb) contamination is persistent, non-biodegradable, and can enter the food chain via plant uptake, posing significant human health concerns. Phytoremediation offers a cost-effective and eco-friendly solution; however, its efficiency is often constrained by reduced plant growth under metal stress and limited metal bioavailability. This study explores phytostabilization using siderophore-producing endophytic bacteria isolated from Bougainvillea spp. leaves collected from Laiyala, Gujarat, India. The isolates were morphologically and biochemically characterized and screened for siderophore production using the Chrome Azurol S (CAS) assay. A potent strain-BH5 was evaluated in association with Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) under Pb-contaminated conditions. Inoculated plants exhibited enhanced growth, increased biomass, and improved Pb stabilization compared to uninoculated controls. Lead accumulation was quantified using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), indicating siderophore-mediated enhancement of metal bioavailability. Molecular identification was performed through 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and structural characterization of siderophores is ongoing using NMR and HRMS. Statistical analysis (ANOVA) revealed significant treatment effects, with BH5 showing superior performance. These findings highlight the potential of siderophore-producing endophytes to enhance Pb phytostabilization and improve plant tolerance under metal stress. This study uniquely demonstrates the role of a Bougainvillea-derived endophytic bacterium (BH5), identified as Acinetobacter johnsonii, in enhancing lead (Pb) phytostabilization in Trigonella foenum-graecum through siderophore-mediated mechanisms. A major novelty is the structural confirmation of the produced siderophore as acinetobactin using NMR and HRMS, linking its mixed-type catecholate–oxazoline features with Pb chelation. The work provides new insight into the dual role of siderophores in regulating metal bioavailability while promoting immobilization, thereby reducing Pb mobility and ecological risk without excessive translocation. This integrative approach combining microbial isolation, genomic analysis, spectroscopic characterization, and statistical validation highlights BH5 as a promising, eco-friendly bioinoculant for sustainable phytostabilization of lead contaminated soils.
Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) capsids are widely used as therapeutic gene delivery vectors. The cellular trafficking pathway utilized by AAVs to transport the therapeutic gene to the nucleus and within the different nuclear compartments is still not clearly defined. This study maps the timeline and spatial trajectory of rAAV2-GFP (capsid packages a transgene that encodes GFP), AAV2-EMPTIES, and AAV2 variants during trafficking, over a 72-h time course using cellular cytoplasmic and nuclear markers by confocal microscopy and image analysis in fixed HeLa cells. This comparative spatiotemporal movement of rAAV2-GFP versus the AAV2-EMPTIES or AAV2 variants was shown to differ in cytoplasmic accumulation, late endosome association, transportation via actin and microtubule filaments, perinuclear accumulation, nuclear penetration, euchromatin, and heterochromatin regions of nucleus. The results demonstrate that rAAV2-GFP capsids were internalized into the cell within 2 hours; they utilized both actin and tubulin for transportation, penetrated the nucleus, and expressed the packaged GFP transgene. This is different from the trafficking profile exhibited by the AAV2-EMPTIES and AAV2 variants that were inhibited from entering the nucleus (except for AAV2-E563A). These data provide detailed insights into the trafficking of AAV both in the cytoplasm and the nucleus where it delivers its packaged transgene.
Monitoring whale vocalization is of scientific importance and has practical value for marine ecology, hydroacoustics, and geophysics. Conventional monitoring approaches, including hydrophone arrays, ocean-bottom seismometers, and satellite tagging, are limited by sparse spatial coverage, potential biological disturbance, and high cost. Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) is an emerging method that uses submarine optical cables as dense acoustic arrays, potentially enabling large-scale, high-resolution monitoring of whale vocalization. We investigated the features of the wavefields of fin whale vocalization by integrating DAS observations with numerical modeling. Three distinct features-insensitive response segments (IRSs), high-frequency component loss, and acoustic notches-were identified in the observed wavefields. DAS response modeling based on ray theory indicates that the length of the IRS is correlated positively with the vertical distance between the source and cable, and the gauge length is responsible for the high-frequency loss in whale calls. Furthermore, wavefield modeling using the spectral-element method demonstrates that the notches represent transitions between transmission zones of waterborne multipath waves entering the seafloor and are sensitive to the seafloor P-wave velocity, water depth, and bathymetry. These findings not only improve our understanding of DAS-observed wavefields but also highlight the potential of DAS for ocean environmental parameter estimation and three-dimensional whale localization.
Glycoinformatics has entered the artificial intelligence era. Stymied by a lack of big data, high sequence complexity, and biosynthetic dependencies, the application of machine learning to glycomics data has largely emerged this decade. In this mini-review, we explore the latest groundbreaking computational approaches applied to glycan sequencing, classifying disease risk from glycan biomarkers, and predicting protein-glycan interactions. We detail advancements in the architectures of these models, concluding that they have matured to the stage of extracting predictive information from glycan sequences. We also discuss their challenges and limitations, and how to fully reap their rewards in the future.
Microplastics (MPs) in sewer systems can be transported extensively before entering wastewater treatment plants. Sewer systems harbor complex microbial communities under low-oxygen, sulfide-rich conditions that drive key biogeochemical cycles. These conditions drive microplastic aging, whereas these particles concurrently perturb sewer microbial ecology and metabolic functions. However, the underlying mechanisms of in-sewer microplastic aging and their subsequent impacts on sewer microbiomes remain unclear. Here we show that hydroxyl radicals preferentially attack ester bonds (C-O) in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) MPs, increasing surface roughness, reducing particle size, promoting surface oxidation, and ultimately inducing polymer chain scission. Exposure to PET and PBAT MPs at 30-500 particles L-1 intensified oxidative stress, disrupted membrane integrity and permeability, impaired microbial activity, and suppressed sulfide production in a dose-dependent manner. These disruptions coincided with weakened microbial co-occurrence networks and a shift from stochastic toward deterministic community assembly. High doses of PET and PBAT MPs reduced hydrolytic/fermentative bacteria and sulfate-reducing bacteria by up to 63.4% and 49.7%, respectively, while enriching hydrogen-producing acetogenic bacteria and methanogenic archaea by 48.4-67.0%, consistent with reduced sulfidogenic potential and enhanced methanogenic potential. Changes in genes related to antioxidant defense, SOS response, quorum sensing (e.g., sodA, katG, lexA, and luxS), and redox signaling suggested potential mechanisms of microbial metabolic perturbations aggravated by PET and PBAT MPs. Our results indicate that sewer systems are not passive conduits but active reactors that promote MP aging, and that MPs reshape microbial functions. Microplastic control may therefore help reduce downstream particle pollution and limit perturbations to urban sewage biogeochemistry.
Two complementary editorials are presented by two IJT editors. The first editorial reflects upon aspects of the relationship between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and telerehabilitation and points out that current AI terminology, in which AI is employed as "an umbrella term" can be imprecise and confusing. The second editorial observes that telerehabilitation is now entering a new stage of development in which digital health, computer science, artificial intelligence, and rehabilitation medicine are becoming increasingly integrated. The future use of Human Digital Twins as dynamic, patient-centered digital representations will enable individualized assessment, rehabilitation planning, monitoring of patient trajectories, and decision support across distributed care environments.