Read Length Dominates Phylogenetic Placement Accuracy of Ancient DNA Reads.

A common problem when analyzing ancient DNA (aDNA) data is to identify the species which corresponds to the recovered aDNA sequence(s). The standard approach is to deploy sequence similarity based tools, such as BLAST. However, as aDNA reads may frequently stem from unsampled taxa due to extinction, it is likely that there is no exact match in any database.

Bioactive silicon-based dental gel associated with a calcium booster for dentin hypersensitivity treatment: A randomized clinical study.

Background: Dentin hypersensitivity affects a significant portion of the world's population, causing pain and negatively impacting oral health and quality of life This clinical study investigated the effectiveness of a desensitizing fluoride silicon-rich dental gel associated with a calcium booster.

Material And Methods: In this single-blind, randomized, parallel-group clinical trial, forty-eight volunteers diagnosed with dentin hypersensitivity and qualified to participate were randomized into 2 groups: (1) fluoride silicon-rich dental gel (REFX Technology)/calcium booster (Si/Ca protocol); (2) Pumice stone diluted in saline. A draw was carried out between the right and left sides of the patients so that either a prophylaxis with the dental gel associated with calcium or with fine pumice stone diluted in saline was carried out.

From Gut to Brain: The Impact of Short-Chain Fatty Acids on Brain Cancer.

The primary source of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), now recognized as critical mediators of host health, particularly in the context of neurobiology and cancer development, is the gut microbiota's fermentation of dietary fibers. Recent research highlights the complex influence of SCFAs, such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate, on brain cancer progression. These SCFAs impact immune modulation and the tumor microenvironment, particularly in brain tumors like glioma.

Single-atom nanozymes with intelligent response to pathological microenvironments for bacterially infected wound healing.

Wound healing is a complex and dynamic process often accompanied by bacterial infection, inflammation, and excessive oxidative stress. Single-atom nanozymes with multi-enzymatic activities show significant potential for promoting the healing of infected wounds by modulating their antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties in response to the wound's physiological environment. In this study, we synthesized MN single-atom nanozymes with multi-enzymatic activities that intelligently respond to pH value changes in the wound healing process.

Calorie (energy) labelling for changing selection and consumption of food or alcohol.

Background: Overconsumption of food and consumption of any amount of alcohol increases the risk of non-communicable diseases. Calorie (energy) labelling is advocated as a means to reduce energy intake from food and alcoholic drinks. However, there is continued uncertainty about these potential impacts, with a 2018 Cochrane review identifying only a small body of low-certainty evidence.

Inflammasome activation in melanoma progression: the latest update concerning pathological role and therapeutic value.

The progression of melanoma is a complex process influenced by both internal and external cues which encourage the transition of tumour cells, uncontrolled growth, migration, and metastasis. Additionally, inflammation allows tumours to evade the immune system, contributing to cancer development. The inflammasome, a complex of many proteins, is crucial in enhancing immune responses to external and internal triggers.

Spontaneous heat current and ultra-high thermal rectification in asymmetric graphene: a molecular dynamics simulation.

Non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations reveal the existence of a spontaneous heat current (SHC) in the absence of a temperature gradient and demonstrate ultra-high thermal rectification in asymmetric trapezoid-shaped graphene. These unique properties have potential applications in power generation and thermal circuits, functioning as thermal diodes. Our findings also show the presence of negative and zero thermal conductivity in this system.

Patterns and trends in burden of asthma and its attributable risk factors from 1990 to 2021 among south Asian countries: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

Objective: Asthma poses a significant health burden in South Asia, with increasing incidence and mortality despite a global decline in age-standardized prevalence rates. This study aims to analyze asthma trends from 1990 to 2021, focusing on prevalence, incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) across South Asia. The study also assesses the impact of risk factors like high body mass index (BMI), smoking, and occupational exposures on asthma outcomes.

Praziquantel resistance in schistosomes: a brief report.

Schistosomiasis is a group of both acute and chronic parasitic trematode infections of the genus . Research into schistosomiasis has been minimal, leading to its classification as a neglected tropical disease, yet more than 140 million people are infected with schistosomes globally. There are no treatments available for early-stage infections, schistosomal dermatitis, or Katayama syndrome, other than symptomatic control with steroids and antihistamines, as the maturing organisms seem to be mostly resistant to typical antiparasitics.

From laboratory to clinical practice: an update of the immunological and molecular tools for neurocysticercosis diagnosis.

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is caused by the invasion of larvae in the central nervous system (CNS) and stands as the predominant cause of epilepsy and other neurological disorders in many developing nations. NCC diagnosis is challenging because it relies on brain imaging exams (CT or MRI), which are poorly available in endemic rural or resource-limited areas. Moreover, some NCC cases cannot be easily detected by imaging, leading to inconclusive results.

Mechanisms of Alignment in Feeding Aphids on the Plant Stem.

Aphids are observed on various plant species, with most aphids feeding downward on stems. In this study, I studied the variations in feeding postures of aphids and their mechanisms. My field observations revealed that the majority of individuals from most species fed facing downward, or more precisely, towards the roots.

Cancer-associated fibroblast-derived exosomes in cancer progression: A focus on hepatocellular carcinoma.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) has drawn much interest recently in the search for innovative cancer therapeutics, especially in light of the growing body of evidence supporting the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). The TME comprises various cell types within the extracellular matrix (ECM), such as immune cells, endothelial cells, and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Throughout the malignancy, these cells interact with cancerous cells and with one another.

Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Potential of Endophytic Aspergillus versicolor Isolate from the Medicinal Plant Plectranthus amboinicus.

Endophytic fungi are non-pathogenic organisms that colonise healthy plant tissues asymptomatically. Endophytes derived from medicinal plants are sources for identifying natural products and bioactive compounds with potential uses for industry, medicine, agriculture, and related sectors. In the present study, ethyl acetate crude extracts of four endophytic fungal isolates (CALF1, CALF4, and CASF1) from the medicinal plant Plectranthus amboinicus showed potent antimicrobial activity against the test pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus subtilis using disc diffusion assays.

Predictors of drooling severity in people with Parkinson's disease.

Background: Drooling, defined as the unintentional loss of saliva from the anterior oral cavity, remains poorly understood in terms of the underlying clinical factors in people with Parkinson's disease (PwP). This study aims to clarify these factors by analyzing predictors and secondarily the correlates with the severity of drooling in PwP.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 42 PwP with drooling and 59 without drooling.

The Role of Sustainable Social Work in Pro-Environmental Behaviors: A Mediation and Moderation Model.

Purpose: This study seeks to investigate the effectiveness of psychological interventions in promoting pro-environmental behaviors by fostering resilience and self-efficacy in Iranian youth. Additionally, based on social cognitive theory, the research examines the role of sustainable youth social work in moderating these relationships.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed to collect data via a survey from 384 Iranian participants, using validated scales.

Enhanced electrochemical performance of a polyaniline-based supercapacitor by a bicontinuous microemulsion nanoreactor approach.

Polyaniline (PANI)-based supercapacitors suffer from environmental and mechanical instabilities. In this work, a novel bicontinuous microemulsion approach was developed to fabricate a unique nanofibre structure of polyaniline and its 3D-crosslinked network using crosslinking chemistry, which improved both the mechanical and electrochemical performance of a PANI-based supercapacitor. The polyaniline nanofibers and its 3D-crosslinked networks produced by bicontinuous nanoreactors were investigated using experimental tools, such as SEM, FTIR, BET, TGA and DSC.

Recent advances in nanoporous organic polymers (NPOPs) for hydrogen storage applications.

Nanoporous organic polymers (NPOPs) have emerged as versatile materials with robust thermal stability, large surface area (up to 2500 m g), and customizable porosity, making them ideal candidates for advanced hydrogen (H) storage applications. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of various NPOPs, including covalent organic frameworks (COFs), hypercrosslinked polymers (HCLPs), conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs), and porous aromatic frameworks (POAFs). Notably, these materials demonstrate superior H storage capacities, achieving up to 10 wt% at cryogenic temperatures, which is essential for applying H as a clean energy carrier.

In Silico design and molecular dynamics analysis of imidazole derivatives as selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a key enzyme in the inflammatory pathway, is the target for various nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and selective inhibitors known as coxibs. This study focuses on the development of novel imidazole derivatives as COX-2 inhibitors, utilizing a Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) approach to enhance binding affinity and selectivity. Molecular docking was performed using Autodock Vina, revealing binding energies of -6.

Single-atom nanozyme-based catalytic ROS clearance for efficiently alleviating eczema.

Single-atom nanozymes (SAzymes) with excellent biological catalytic activity have emerged as promising candidates for advancing biomedical applications. Herein, we synthesized a RuN-SAzyme by thermal decomposition. In experiments, the RuN-SAzyme demonstrated exceptional catalytic efficiency in mimicking the activity of peroxidase, with a Michaelis-Menten constant () for 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine reaching 0.

BCN monolayers with high theoretical capacity as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries: first-principles calculations.

The search for new anode materials with high lithium-ion battery (LIB) capacity has attracted considerable attention due to the increasing need for electrical power. Here, we utilized first-principles calculations to develop a honeycomb-structured BCN monolayer, which exhibits an ultra-high Li-ion storage capacity of 2244 mA h g as an anode material for LIBs. Furthermore, the calculations show that the BCN monolayer has a comparatively small diffusion barrier of 0.

Spontaneous heat current and ultra-high thermal rectification in asymmetric graphene: a molecular dynamics simulation.

Non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations reveal the existence of a spontaneous heat current (SHC) in the absence of a temperature gradient and demonstrate ultra-high thermal rectification in asymmetric trapezoid-shaped graphene. These unique properties have potential applications in power generation and thermal circuits, functioning as thermal diodes. Our findings also show the presence of negative and zero thermal conductivity in this system.

Liver GPBAR1 Associates With Immune Dysfunction in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis and Its Activation Attenuates Cholestasis in Abcb4-/- Mice.

Background And Aims: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease characterised by progressive biliary inflammation and fibrosis, leading to liver cirrhosis and cholangiocarcinoma. GPBAR1 (TGR5) is a G protein-coupled receptor for secondary bile acids. In this study, we have examined the therapeutic potential of BAR501, a selective GPBAR1 agonist in a PSC model.

Burden of diabetes in correctional facilities: A global systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Diabetes mellitus presents significant public health challenges worldwide. While its prevalence and management in the general population have been extensively studied, comprehensive research on diabetes among incarcerated individuals is lacking. This study aims to conduct a systematic review and -analysis to determine the prevalence of diabetes within the prison population.

Development of an accurate simplified approach for data processing in AFM indentation experiments.

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) nanoindentation is the most effective method for determining the mechanical properties of soft biological materials and biomaterials at the nanoscale, with significant applications in many areas, including cancer diagnosis. However, a major drawback of this method is the complexity of the experimental procedure and data processing, which requires several calibration steps.To avoid this complexity, the AFM tip is usually approximated as a perfect cone.

Small molecules that targeting p53 Y220C protein: mechanisms, structures, and clinical advances in anti-tumor therapy.

The p53 protein is regarded as the "Guardian of the Genome," but its mutation is tumor progression and present in more than half of malignant tumors. The pro-metastatic property of mutant p53 makes a strong argument for targeting mutant p53 with new therapeutic strategies. However, mutant p53 was considered as a challenging target for drug discovery due to the lack of small molecular binding pockets.