Quantum life science: biological nano quantum sensors, quantum technology-based hyperpolarized MRI/NMR, quantum biology, and quantum biotechnology.

The emerging field of quantum life science combines principles from quantum physics and biology to study fundamental life processes at the molecular level. Quantum mechanics, which describes the properties of small particles, can help explain how quantum phenomena such as tunnelling, superposition, and entanglement may play a role in biological systems. However, capturing these effects in living systems is a formidable challenge, as it involves dealing with dissipation and decoherence caused by the surrounding environment.

Morphological and DNA analysis of pollen grains on butterfly individuals reveal their flower visitation history.

Many butterfly species are conspicuous flower visitors. However, understanding their flower visitation patterns in natural habitats remains challenging due to the difficulty of tracking individual butterflies. Therefore, we aimed at establishing a protocol to solve the problem using the Common five-ring butterfly, Ypthima argus (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae).

Genetic diversity and virulence of group isolates from bloodstream infections.

catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) are an increasing concern in Japanese hospitals. Although their clinical characteristics have been explored, the genetic relationships and virulence profiles of isolates from CRBSIs remain understudied. Here, using advanced genomic techniques, we investigated the genetic diversity, phylogenetic relationships, and virulence profiles of isolates from patients with bloodstream infections.

Urban sensing in the era of large language models.

Urban sensing has become increasingly important as cities evolve into the centers of human activities. Large language models (LLMs) offer new opportunities for urban sensing based on commonsense and worldview that emerged through their language-centric framework. This paper illustrates the transformative impact of LLMs, particularly in the potential of advancing next-generation urban sensing for exploring urban mechanisms.

Productive biosensing techniques empowered by all-dielectric metasurfaces.

Artificially designed, functional nanostructured surfaces, called metasurfaces, are an emerging platform for biosensing. Two major types of metasurface biosensors have been reported: one is based on resonant-wavelength shift and the other is specialized for fluorescence (FL) detection. The all-dielectric metasurfaces that composed of periodic arrays of silicon nanocolumns have a series of optical magnetic-mode resonances, some of which were found to significantly enhance capability for FL detection of diverse target biomolecules, ranging from nucleic acid to antigens and antibodies.

Effects of aging-related muscle degeneration on dynamic stability during walking: a musculoskeletal computer simulation study.

Introduction: Aging-related deficits in the physiological properties of skeletal muscles limit the control of dynamic stability during walking. However, the specific causal relationships between these factors remain unclear. This study evaluated the effects of aging-related deficits in muscle properties on dynamic stability during walking.

Cdc42 is crucial for the early regulation of hepatic stellate cell activation.

The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) from a quiescent state is a cause of liver fibrosis and a therapeutic target. HSCs are resident mesenchymal cells located in the space of Disse, exhibiting specialized morphological characteristics such as a stellate shape, large lipid droplets, and direct adhesions to hepatocytes via microprojections called HSC spines. Morphological alterations in HSCs play a crucial role in initiating their activation.

Real-world assessment to estimate multiple attributes related to treatment cost driver for mantle cell lymphoma in Japan by econometric modeling.

This study was conducted using a nationwide health care database of Japan between 1 April 2008 and 30 September 2022 to evaluate the economic burden on patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Structural equation modeling (SEM) is an advanced multivariate analysis framework used to assess the relationships between observed and latent variables within predefined causal models. In this study, SEM was employed to identify cost drivers and estimate variables related to MCL treatment cost.

HIFU induces reprogramming of the tumor immune microenvironment in a pancreatic cancer mouse model.

This study evaluates the effects of different high-intensity focused ultrasound irradiation (HIFU) methods on local tumor suppression and systemic antitumor effects, including the abscopal effect, in a mouse model of pancreatic cancer. To ascertain the efficacy of the treatment, pancreatic cancer cells were injected into the thighs of mice and HIFU was applied on one side using continuous waves or trigger pulse waves. Then, tumor volume, tissue changes, and immune marker levels were analyzed.

A detoxified TLR4 agonist inhibits tumour growth and lung metastasis of osteosarcoma by promoting CD8+ cytotoxic lymphocyte infiltration.

Background: Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant bone tumour with limited treatment options and poor outcomes in advanced metastatic cases. Current immunotherapies show limited efficacy, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic approaches. Systemic immune activation by Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) immunostimulants has shown great promise; however, current TLR4 agonists' toxicity hinders this systemic approach in patients with osteosarcoma.

Relationship between functional structures and horizontal connections in macaque inferior temporal cortex.

Horizontal connections in anterior inferior temporal cortex (ITC) are thought to play an important role in object recognition by integrating information across spatially separated functional columns, but their functional organization remains unclear. Using a combination of optical imaging, electrophysiological recording, and anatomical tracing, we investigated the relationship between stimulus-response maps and patterns of horizontal axon terminals in the macaque ITC. In contrast to the "like-to-like" connectivity observed in the early visual cortex, we found that horizontal axons in ITC do not preferentially connect sites with similar object selectivity.

PCMMD: A Novel Dataset of Plasma Cells to Support the Diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma.

Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a cytogenetically heterogeneous clonal plasma cell proliferative disease whose diagnosis is supported by analyses on histological slides of bone marrow aspirate. In summary, experts use a labor-intensive methodology to compute the ratio between plasma cells and non-plasma cells. Therefore, the key aspect of the methodology is identifying these cells, which relies on the experts' attention and experience.

Capacitance enhancement by ion-laminated borophene-like layered materials.

Atomically flat two-dimensional networks of boron are attracting attention as post-graphene materials. An introduction of cations between the boron atomic layers can exhibit unique electronic functions that are not achieved by neutral graphene or its derivatives. In the present study, we propose a synthesis strategy for ion-laminated boron layered materials in a solution phase, which enables the preparation of analogs by changing the alkali-metal species.

Restoration of G to A mutated transcripts using the MS2-ADAR1 system.

Site-directed RNA editing (SDRE) holds significant promise for treating genetic disorders resulting from point mutations. Gene therapy, for common genetic illnesses is becoming more popular and, although viable treatments for genetic disorders are scarce, stop codon mutation-related conditions may benefit from gene editing. Effective SDRE generally depends on introducing many guideRNA molecules relative to the target gene; however, large ratios cannot be achieved in the context of gene therapy applications.

Original article: Efficacy and safety of single-dose suraxavir marboxil tablet in the treatment of acute uncomplicated influenza in adults: a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 clinical trial.

Objectives: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of suraxavir marboxil (GP681, abbreviated as suraxavir) in adults with uncomplicated influenza.

Methods: We conducted a multi-center randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial in 18 Chinese centers. Participants had to be aged 18-65 years with positive influenza test, presenting with at least one influenza systemic and respiratory symptoms in at least moderate severity within 48 hours of onset.

Ethanol fermentation of tapioca wastewater in anaerobic baffled reactor: Performance evaluation and microbial community analysis.

Anaerobic treatment of tapioca wastewater has a long processing time. This study aims to evaluate ethanol fermentation as an effective treatment of tapioca wastewater. Simulated tapioca wastewater with an average chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 6900 mg L was treated in a four-column anaerobic baffled reactor for 300 d.

Quantification of micro- and nano-plastics in atmospheric fine particles by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with chromatographic peak reconstruction.

The effects of micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs) on human health are of global concern because MNPs are ubiquitous, persistent, and potentially toxic, particularly when bound to atmospheric fine particles (PM). Traditional quantitative analysis of MNPs by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) is often inaccurate because of false positive signals caused by similar polymers and organic compounds. In this study, a reliable analytical strategy combining HNO digestion and chromatographic peak reconstruction was developed to improve the precision of pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of multiple MNPs bound to PM.

Enhanced silk production and pupal weight in Bombyx mori through CRISPR/Cas9-mediated circadian Clock gene disruption.

The domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori, is crucial for global silk production, which is a significant economic activity supporting millions of livelihoods worldwide. Beyond traditional silk production, the growing demand for insect larvae in cosmetics, biomedical products, and animal feed underscores the need to enhance B. mori productivity.

Strength and size relationships of toe flexor muscles in three different functional force production tasks.

: Toe flexor strength (TFS) has been determined to evaluate the toe flexor muscle function. However, it is unclear how strength and size relationships of toe flexor muscles vary depending on the toes intended for force production. We aimed to clarify this by examining the relationship between TFS and toe flexor muscle size, and hypothesized TFS produced by all toes (TFS-All), the great toe (TFS-Great) and lesser toes (TFS-Lesser) would be specifically associated with the size of the muscles specialized in each corresponding toe flexion.

HIV-1 and BLV are insensitive to SERINC5 restriction under the cell-cell infection.

ine orporator 5 (INC5, SER5) suppresses viral cell-free infection. However, its antiviral potency under viral cell-cell infection is not examined yet. Here, we established the cell-cell infection systems to assess SER5's antiviral activity on HIV-1 and bovine leukemia virus (BLV).

Erector Spinae Muscle to Epicardial Visceral Fat Ratio on Chest CT Predicts the Severity of Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Background: Chest computed tomography (CT) is a valuable tool for diagnosing and predicting the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and assessing extrapulmonary organs. Reduced muscle mass and visceral fat accumulation are important features of a body composition phenotype in which obesity and muscle loss coexist, but their relationship with COVID-19 outcomes remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between the erector spinae muscle (ESM) to epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) ratio (ESM/EAT) on chest CT and disease severity in patients with COVID-19.

Ultrastructure of Olkasia polycarbonata (Euglenozoa, Euglenida) demonstrates cytoskeletal innovations associated with the feeding and flagellar apparatuses.

Euglenids are flagellates with diverse modes of nutrition, including the photosynthetic Euglenophyceae, which acquired plastids via secondary endosymbiosis with green algae, and a diverse assemblage of predators of bacteria and other microeukaryotes. Most heterotrophic euglenids have never been cultivated, so their morphology remains poorly characterized and limited to only a few studies. "Ploeotids" are a paraphyletic group representing much of the diversity of heterotrophic euglenids and are characterized by their feeding apparatus and a rigid pellicle of 10-12 longitudinally arranged strips.

Methyl-dependent auto-regulation of the DNA N6-adenine methyltransferase AMT1 in the unicellular eukaryote Tetrahymena thermophila.

DNA N6-methyladenine (6mA) is a potential epigenetic mark involved in gene transcription in eukaryotes, yet the regulatory mechanism governing its methyltransferase (MTase) activity remains obscure. Here, we exploited the 6mA MTase AMT1 to elucidate its auto-regulation in the unicellular eukaryote Tetrahymena thermophila. The detailed endogenous localization of AMT1 in vegetative and sexual stages revealed a correlation between the 6mA reestablishment in the new MAC and the occurrence of zygotically expressed AMT1.