The 2025 Motile Active Matter Roadmap.

Activity and autonomous motion are fundamental aspects of many living and engineering systems. Here, the scale of biological agents covers a wide range, from nanomotors, cytoskeleton, and cells, to insects, fish, birds, and people. Inspired by biological active systems, various types of autonomous synthetic nano- and micromachines have been designed, which provide the basis for multifunctional, highly responsive, intelligent active materials.

Dendritic cells in triple-negative breast cancer: From pathophysiology to therapeutic applications.

Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. It is a highly heterogeneous disease, consisting of multiple subtypes that vary significantly in clinical characteristics and survival outcomes. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a particularly aggressive and challenging subtype of breast cancer.

Incorporating Community Case Management in Risk-Based Surveillance for Malaria Elimination in the Dominican Republic.

As countries strive for malaria elimination, it is crucial to gather sufficient evidence to confirm the absence of transmission. Routine surveillance data often lack the sensitivity to detect community transmission at low levels. In the Dominican Republic, community health workers (CHWs) have been deployed in malaria foci to perform active case detection.

Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 subgenomic RNAs that enhance viral fitness and immune evasion.

Coronaviruses express their structural and accessory genes via a set of subgenomic RNAs, whose synthesis is directed by transcription regulatory sequences (TRSs) in the 5' genomic leader and upstream of each body open reading frame. In SARS-CoV-2, the TRS has the consensus AAACGAAC; upon searching for emergence of this motif in the global SARS-CoV-2 sequences, we find that it evolves frequently, especially in the 3' end of the genome. We show well-supported examples upstream of the Spike gene-within the nsp16 coding region of ORF1b-which is expressed during human infection, and upstream of the canonical Envelope gene TRS, both of which have evolved convergently in multiple lineages.

Data-driven model discovery and model selection for noisy biological systems.

Biological systems exhibit complex dynamics that differential equations can often adeptly represent. Ordinary differential equation models are widespread; until recently their construction has required extensive prior knowledge of the system. Machine learning methods offer alternative means of model construction: differential equation models can be learnt from data via model discovery using sparse identification of nonlinear dynamics (SINDy).

Sex dimorphism in the mouse bone marrow niche regulates hematopoietic engraftment via sex-specific Kdm5c/Cxcl12 signaling.

The bone marrow (BM) niche is critical in regulating hematopoiesis, and sexual dimorphism and its underlying mechanism in BM niche and its impact on hematopoiesis are not well understood. We show that male mice exhibited a higher abundance of leptin-receptor-expressing mesenchymal stromal cells (LepR-MSCs) compared to female mice. Sex-mismatched co-culture and BM transplantation showed that the male BM niche provided superior support for in vitro colony formation and in vivo hematopoietic engraftment.

Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics illuminate bat immunity and barrier tissue evolution.

Bats have adapted to pathogens through diverse mechanisms, including increased resistance - rapid pathogen elimination, and tolerance - limiting tissue damage following infection. In the Egyptian fruit bat (an important model in comparative immunology) several mechanisms conferring disease tolerance were discovered, but mechanisms underpinning resistance remain poorly understood. Previous studies on other species suggested that elevated basal expression of innate immune genes may lead to increased resistance to infection.

Hexagonal Hollow Core PCF-Based Blood Components Sensing: Design and Simulation.

Blood components play a crucial role in maintaining human health and accurately detecting them is essential for medical diagnostics. A cutting-edge sensor utilizing PCF revealed to precisely identify a wide range of blood components with WBCs (white blood cells), RBCs (red blood cells), HB (hemoglobin), platelets, and plasma. A numerical analysis was performed using COMSOL Multiphysics software to assess the capabilities of the sensor.

Short-term exposure of 2.4 GHz electromagnetic radiation on cellular ROS generation and apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cell line and impact on developing chick embryo brain tissue.

Background: Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from wireless technology and mobile phones, operates at various frequencies. The present study analyses the major impact of short-term exposure to 2.4 GHz frequency EMR, using the two model systems chick embryos and SH-SY5Y cell lines.

The PurR family transcriptional regulator promotes butenyl-spinosyn production in Saccharopolyspora pogona.

Butenyl-spinosyn, derived from Saccharopolyspora pogona, is a broad-spectrum and effective bioinsecticide. However, the regulatory mechanism affecting butenyl-spinosyn synthesis has not been fully elucidated, which hindered the improvement of production. Here, a high-production strain S.

A framework for understanding and investigating polyphosphate-protein interactions.

Many prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells store inorganic phosphate in the form of polymers called polyphosphate (polyP). There has been an explosion of interest in polyP over the past decade, in part due to newly suggested roles related to diverse aspects of human health. The physical interaction of polyP chains with specific proteins has been proposed to regulate cellular homeostasis and modulate signaling pathways in response to environmental changes.

Improving sex and gender equity in research protocols: the new SAGER-swissethics recommendations.

No abstract available.

Precision and accuracy of the dynamic endocast method for measuring volume changes in XROMM studies.

The X-ray Reconstruction of Moving Morphology (XROMM) workflow enables precise and accurate measurement of the 3D skeletal kinematics underlying animal behaviors. The dynamic endocast method built upon that workflow to measure the rate of volume change within a bounded region of interest. We measured the precision and accuracy of the dynamic endocast method, using a fish oropharyngeal cavity as a case study.

Design Principles From Natural Olfaction for Electronic Noses.

Natural olfactory systems possess remarkable sensitivity and precision beyond what is currently achievable by engineered gas sensors. Unlike their artificial counterparts, noses are capable of distinguishing scents associated with mixtures of volatile molecules in complex, typically fluctuating environments and can adapt to changes. This perspective examines the multifaceted biological principles that provide olfactory systems their discriminatory prowess, and how these ideas can be ported to the design of electronic noses for substantial improvements in performance across metrics such as sensitivity and ability to speciate chemical mixtures.

Long-term increase in soluble interleukin-6 receptor levels in convalescents after mild COVID-19 infection.

Introduction: Serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) are increased in COVID-19 patients. IL-6 is an effective therapeutic target in inflammatory diseases and tocilizumab, a monoclonal antibody that blocks signaling via the IL-6 receptor (IL-6R), is used to treat patients with severe COVID-19. However, the IL-6R exists in membrane-bound and soluble forms (sIL-6R), and the sIL-6R in combination with soluble glycoprotein 130 (sgp130) forms an IL-6-neutralizing buffer system capable of neutralizing small amounts of IL-6.

Therapeutic effects of platelet-derived extracellular vesicles on viral myocarditis correlate with biomolecular content.

Introduction: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) can potently inhibit inflammation yet there is a lack of understanding about the impact of donor characteristics on the efficacy of EVs. The goal of this study was to determine whether the sex and age of donor platelet-derived EVs (PEV) affected their ability to inhibit viral myocarditis.

Methods: PEV, isolated from men and women of all ages, was compared to PEV obtained from women under 50 years of age, which we termed premenopausal PEV (pmPEV).

Revisiting phosphoregulation of Cdc25C during M-phase induction.

Cdc25C undergoes a sudden and substantial gel mobility shift at M-phase onset, correlating with abrupt activation of both Cdc25C and Cdk1 activities. A positive feedback loop between Cdk1 and Cdc25C has been used to explain this hallmark phenomenon. Here, we demonstrate that the M-phase supershift and robust activation of Cdc25C are due to the site-comprehensive phosphorylation of its long intrinsically disordered regulatory domain without requiring Cdk1 or other major mitotic kinase activities.

An agent-based model facilitating stakeholder engagement in management of estuaries along the Texas Gulf Coast (USA).

We describe an agent-based model purposed for social learning, which was developed by stakeholders, with the technical assistance of professional modelers, to facilitate stakeholder involvement in modeling issues related to the development of an adaptive environmental management plan for the Texas Gulf Coast (USA) estuaries. Stakeholders developed the model during six workshops that spanned a three-year period, and used the model to simulate the population dynamics (recruitment, growth, movement, and mortality) of blue crabs () in the Aransas and Copano Bays in response to various freshwater inflow and harvest scenarios. Results of scenarios representing normal, low, and high harvest levels indicated little effect on blue crab abundances, but harvests increased ≈75 % when harvest level was doubled and decreased ≈50 % harvest level was halved.

Short Report - Birth Weight is Not Associated With Cataracts or Pseudophakia - Results from the Gutenberg Health Study.

This study investigates the association between self-reported birth weight (BW) and the frequency of cataract and pseudophakia in a large population-based cohort in Germany, as part of the Gutenberg Health Study (GHS). Slit lamp examination and Scheimpflug imaging of 8205 participants, aged 35 to 74, were assessed and signs of cataract or pseudophakia analyzed. The research aimed to explore the correlation between fetal growth restriction and/or prematurity indicated by BW and the frequency of cataract and pseudophakia.

Microbial Carbon Use Efficiency and Growth Rates in Soil: Global Patterns and Drivers.

Carbon use efficiency (CUE) of microbial communities in soil quantifies the proportion of organic carbon (C) taken up by microorganisms that is allocated to growing microbial biomass as well as used for reparation of cell components. This C amount in microbial biomass is subsequently involved in microbial turnover, partly leading to microbial necromass formation, which can be further stabilized in soil. To unravel the underlying regulatory factors and spatial patterns of CUE on a large scale and across biomes (forests, grasslands, croplands), we evaluated 670 individual CUE data obtained by three commonly used approaches: (i) tracing of a substrate C by C (or C) incorporation into microbial biomass and respired CO (hereafter C-substrate), (ii) incorporation of O from water into DNA (O-water), and (iii) stoichiometric modelling based on the activities of enzymes responsible for C and nitrogen (N) cycles.

Genetic deficiency or pharmacological inhibition of cGAS-STING signalling suppresses kidney inflammation and fibrosis.

Background And Purpose: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterised by inflammation, which can lead to tubular atrophy and fibrosis. The molecular mechanisms are not well understood. In this study, we investigated the functional role of the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)- stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signalling in renal inflammation and fibrosis.

Dysfunction in mitochondrial electron transport chain drives the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension: insights from a multi-omics investigation.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disorder that can lead to right ventricular failure and severe consequences. Despite extensive efforts, limited progress has been made in preventing the progression of PAH. Mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in the development of PAH, but the key mitochondrial functional alterations in the pathogenesis have yet to be elucidated.

Caregivers' experience of having a child with Down syndrome: a meta-synthesis.

Background: This study aimed to integrate the experiences of caregivers of children with Down syndrome during the care process and understand their feelings and needs.

Methods: We used Page et al.'s (2021) Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-synthesis Statement.

Machine learning-driven identification of critical gene programs and key transcription factors in migraine.

Background: Migraine is a complex neurological disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of severe headaches. Although genetic factors have been implicated, the precise molecular mechanisms, particularly gene expression patterns in migraine-associated brain regions, remain unclear. This study applies machine learning techniques to explore region-specific gene expression profiles and identify critical gene programs and transcription factors linked to migraine pathogenesis.