Accuracy of Genomic Predictions Cross Populations with Different Linkage Disequilibrium Patterns.

Background/objectives: There is a considerable global population of beef cattle, with numerous small-scale groups. Establishing separate reference groups for each breed in breeding practices is challenging, severely limiting the genome selection (GS) application. Combining data from multiple populations becomes particularly attractive and practical for small-scale populations, offering increased reference population size, operational ease, and data sharing.

Parkinson's Disease: Biomarkers for Diagnosis and Disease Progression.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disease that causes both motor and nonmotor symptoms. While our understanding of putative mechanisms has advanced significantly, it remains challenging to verify biomarkers with sufficient evidence for regular clinical use. Clinical symptoms are the primary basis for diagnosing the disease, which can be mild in the early stages and overlap with other neurological disorders.

Impact of compositionally diverse cereal flour water extracts on the gas cell size distribution and extensional rheology of model gluten-starch doughs.

The role of water-extractable (WE) cereal flour constituents, and particularly WE proteins, in determining bread dough gas cell stability and bread specific volume (SV) remains ill-understood. We investigated the impact of compositionally diverse cereal flour aqueous extracts on bread SV, dough extensional rheology, and dough gas cell size distribution. To this end, aqueous extracts from wheat, rye, and defatted oat flours were either used as such, or their composition was modified by dialyzing out (i) low molecular mass constituents or (ii) both low molecular mass constituents and enzymatically hydrolyzed carbohydrates.

General and Fast Gas-Solid Synthesis of Functional MXenes and Derivatives on the Scale of Tens of Grams.

The rising of MXenes not only enriches the two-dimensional material family but also brings more opportunities for diverse functional applications. However, the controllable synthesis of MXenes is still unsatisfied via the common liquid-solid etching route, considering the unsolved problems like safety risk, time cost and easy oxidation. Herein, a facile yet efficient gas-solid (G-S) reaction methodology is devised by using hydrogen fluoride gas derived from fluorinated organics as the MAX etchant toward high-efficiency fabrication of multiple MXenes and their derivatives.

Integrated Vocal Deviation Index (IVDI): A Machine Learning Model to Classifier of the General Grade of Vocal Deviation.

Objective: To develop a multiparametric index based on machine learning (ML) to predict and classify the overall degree of vocal deviation (GG).

Method: The sample consisted of 300 dysphonic and non-dysphonic participants of both sexes. Two speech tasks were sustained vowel [a] and connected speech (counting numbers from 1 to 10).

Studying the role of thrombomodulin-plasminogen interaction in spatial and interfacial invasion of melanoma metastatic progression.

Thrombomodulin (TM), a transmembrane glycoprotein, has emerged as a key factor in the metastatic spread of various cancers, including malignant melanoma. Despite its recognized significance, the underlying mechanisms of TM's involvement in enhancing metastasis remain incompletely understood. This study addresses this knowledge gap by utilizing spatial and interfacial invasion models in vitro to investigate the effect of the interaction between TM and plasminogen (Plg) on melanoma invasion.

Seed priming with cold plasma, iron, and manganese nanoparticles modulates salinity stress in hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) by improving germination, growth, and biochemical attributes.

Using cutting-edge technologies such as non-thermal plasma and metallic nanoparticles has shown promise in ameliorating salinity-induced stress in plants. However, there are still knowledge gaps concerning the most effective strategies for mitigating salinity stress in hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) plants.

Relationships Between Burnout and Neuroticism Among Emergency Department Nurses: A Network Analysis.

Aim: Although neuroticism has a negative impact on burnout among healthcare workers, there is little research exploring the specific interactions between different components of burnout and neuroticism. This study aims to investigate this relationship among nurses in Emergency Departments (ED) through network analysis method (NAM).

Design: A cross-sectional investigative survey was conducted.

Roman urdu hate speech detection using hybrid machine learning models and hyperparameter optimization.

With the rapid increase of users over social media, cyberbullying, and hate speech problems have arisen over the past years. Automatic hate speech detection (HSD) from text is an emerging research problem in natural language processing (NLP). Researchers developed various approaches to solve the automatic hate speech detection problem using different corpora in various languages, however, research on the Urdu language is rather scarce.

Accelerated production of human epithelial organoids in a miniaturized spinning bioreactor.

Conventional static culture of organoids necessitates weekly manual passaging and results in nonhomogeneous exposure of organoids to nutrients, oxygen, and toxic metabolites. Here, we developed a miniaturized spinning bioreactor, RPMotion, specifically optimized for accelerated and cost-effective culture of epithelial organoids under homogeneous conditions. We established tissue-specific RPMotion settings and standard operating protocols for the expansion of human epithelial organoids derived from the liver, intestine, and pancreas.

Design towards recyclable micron-sized NaS cathode with self-refinement mechanism.

Sodium sulfide (NaS) as an initial cathode material in room-temperature sodium-sulfur batteries is conducive to get rid of the dependence on Na-metal anode. However, the micron-sized NaS that accords with the practical requirements is obstructed due to poor kinetics and severe shuttle effect. Herein, a subtle strategy is proposed via regulating NaS redeposition behaviours.

The impact of glutamine synthetase PbgsA on the growth, conidiation and mycophenolic acid production of Penicillium brevicompactum.

Glutamine synthetase (GS) is a critical enzyme in nitrogen metabolism regulation and plays an essential role in the metabolic pathways involved in microbial growth and development. Penicillium brevicompactum, known for its rich repertoire of secondary metabolites, including mycophenolic acid (MPA), lacks research on the regulatory mechanisms of GS within this species. This study aimed to investigate the influence of GS on the growth, sporulation, and secondary metabolism of P.

Interaction of human neutrophils with Trichomonas vaginalis protozoan highlights lactoferrin secretion.

Background: Neutrophils are vital constituents of the immune response in the vaginal environment, playing a pivotal role in the defense against trichomoniasis. Earlier studies have shown that Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis) can release leukotriene B4 (LTB4), a molecule that attracts and activates neutrophils.

Dual activation of soybean resistance against Phytophthora sojae by pectin lyase and degraded pectin oligosaccharides.

Phytophthora pathogens secrete numerous apoplastic effectors to manipulate host immunity. Herein, we identified a polysaccharide lyase 1 protein, PsPL1, which acts as an essential virulence factor of P. sojae infection in soybean.

Therapeutic potential and impact of nanoengineered patient-derived mesenchymal stem cells in a murine resection and recurrence model of human glioblastoma.

Confounding results of engineered mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) used as cellular vehicles has plagued technologies whereby success or failure of novel approaches may be dismissed or inaccurately ascribed solely to the biotechnology platform rather than suitability of the human donor. Polymeric materials were screened for non-viral engineering of MSCs from multiple human donors to deliver bone morphogenic protein-4 (BMP4), a protein previously investigated in clinical trials for glioblastoma (GBM) to combat a subpopulation of highly invasive and tumorigenic clones. A "smart technology" that target the migratory and stem-like nature of GBM will require: (1) a cellular vehicle (MSC) which can scavenge and target residual cells left behind after surgical debulking and deliver; (2) anti-glioma cargo (BMP4).

Total Body PET/CT: Future Aspects.

Total-body (TB) positron emission tomography (PET) scanners are classified by their axial field of view (FOV). Long axial field of view (LAFOV) PET scanners can capture images from eyes to thighs in a one-bed position, covering all major organs with an axial FOV of about 100 cm. However, they often miss essential areas like distal lower extremities, limiting their use beyond oncology.

Optimizing Carbon Structures in Laser-Induced Graphene Electrodes Using Design of Experiments for Enhanced Electrochemical Sensing Characteristics.

In this study, we explored the morphological and electrochemical properties of carbon-based electrodes derived from laser-induced graphene (LIG) and compared them to commercially available graphene-sheet screen-printed electrodes (GS-SPEs). By optimizing the laser parameters (average laser power, speed, and focus) using a design of experiments response surface (DoE-RS) approach, binder-free LIG electrodes were achieved in a single-step process. Traditional trial-and-error methods can be time-consuming and may not capture the interactions between all variables effectively.

Boosted reverse water-gas shift activity exsolved Cu and Ni in silicalite-1.

The reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) reaction offers a sustainable approach for CO utilization, yielding CO for vital catalytic processes. This study compares the catalytic performance of exsolved Cu- and Ni-encapsulated silicalite-1 (S-1) catalysts against those prepared by impregnation methods. Exsolved catalysts, characterized by confined metal nanoparticles and distinct surface chemistry, exhibited higher CO selectivity and lower activation energies of CO formation than their impregnated counterparts.

Targeting glutamine synthetase with AS1411-modified exosome-liposome hybrid nanoparticles for inhibition of choroidal neovascularization.

Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is a leading cause of visual impairment in wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD). Recent investigations have validated the potential of reducing glutamine synthetase (GS) to inhibit neovascularization formation, offering prospects for treating various neovascularization-related diseases. In this study, we devised a CRISPR/Cas9 delivery system employing the nucleic acid aptamer AS1411 as a targeting moiety and exosome-liposome hybrid nanoparticles as carriers (CAELN).

Sequence variants associated with BMI affect disease risk through BMI itself.

Mendelian Randomization studies indicate that BMI contributes to various diseases, but it's unclear if this is entirely mediated by BMI itself. This study examines whether disease risk from BMI-associated sequence variants is mediated through BMI or other mechanisms, using data from Iceland and the UK Biobank. The associations of BMI genetic risk score with diseases like fatty liver disease, knee replacement, and glucose intolerance were fully attenuated when conditioned on BMI, and largely for type 2 diabetes, heart failure, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, and hip replacement.