Data-driven modeling of background radiation structure utilizing matrix profile in nuclear security.

The inherently stochastic nature of radiation emissions makes modeling background radiation structure a particularly challenging research area. In source identification scenarios, which are critical to nuclear security, the complexity of background radiation modeling is intensified by dynamically changing factors that influence radiation measurements. Consequently, accurately modeling and estimating background radiation can significantly improve our nuclear security capabilities by enhancing the detection of anomalies within radiation data.

Improved constructs for bait RNA display in a bacterial three-hybrid assay.

We have previously developed a transcription-based bacterial three-hybrid (B3H) assay as a genetic approach to probe RNA-protein interactions inside of E. coli cells. This system offers a straightforward path to identify and assess the consequences of mutations in RBPs with molecular phenotypes of interest.

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor 3 localized to primary endothelial cilia regulates blood pressure and cognition.

We previously demonstrated that the inability of primary endothelial cilia to sense fluid shear stress can lead to nitric oxide (NO) deficiency and cause hypertension (HTN). Decreased biosynthesis of NO contributes to cerebral amyloid angiopathy in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients through increased deposition of amyloid beta (Aβ). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of HTN and AD are incompletely understood.

Non-targeted metabolomics reveals fatty acid and associated pathways driving resistance to whitefly and tomato leafminer in wild tomato accessions.

Wild tomato species exhibit natural insect resistance, yet the specific secondary metabolites and underlying mechanisms governing the resistance remain unclear. Moreover, defense expression dynamically adapts to insect herbivory, causing significant metabolic changes and species-specific secondary metabolite accumulation. The present study aims to identify the resistance-related metabolites in wild tomato accessions that influence the defense mechanism against whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Asia II 7) and leafminer (Phthorimaea absoluta).

An optimized ensemble grey wolf-based pipeline for monkeypox diagnosis.

As the world recovered from the coronavirus, the emergence of the monkeypox virus signaled a potential new pandemic, highlighting the need for faster and more efficient diagnostic methods. This study introduces a hybrid architecture for automatic monkeypox diagnosis by leveraging a modified grey wolf optimization model for effective feature selection and weighting. Additionally, the system uses an ensemble of classifiers, incorporating confusion based voting scheme to combine salient data features.

Neonatal intermittent hypoxemia events are associated with later systemic hypertension.

Background: Approximately 5% of very premature infants delivered at less than 30 weeks' gestation have systemic hypertension. In adult human and animal models, intermittent hypoxemia events are associated with systemic hypertension. In neonates, intermittent hypoxemia events are associated with adverse outcomes, but it is unknown if they are a risk factor for hypertension.

Parallel median consensus clustering in complex networks.

We develop an algorithm that finds the consensus among many different clustering solutions of a graph. We formulate the problem as a median set partitioning problem and propose a greedy optimization technique. Unlike other approaches that find median set partitions, our algorithm takes graph structure into account and finds a comparable quality solution much faster than the other approaches.

Digital twin driven electrode optimization for wearable bladder monitoring via bioimpedance.

Monitoring fluid intake and output for congestive heart failure (CHF) patients is an essential tool to prevent fluid overload, a principal cause of hospital admissions. Addressing this, bladder volume measurement systems utilizing bioimpedance and electrical impedance tomography have been proposed, with limited exploration of continuous monitoring within a wearable design. Advancing this format, we developed a conductivity digital twin from radiological data, where we performed exhaustive simulations to optimize electrode sensitivity on an individual basis.

Essential oils modulate virulence phenotypes in a multidrug-resistant pyomelanogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolate.

Pyomelanogenic P. aeruginosa, frequently isolated from patients with urinary tract infections and cystic fibrosis, possesses the ability to withstand oxidative stress, contributing to virulence and resulting in persistent infections. Whole genome sequence analysis of U804, a pyomelanogenic, multidrug-resistant, clinical isolate, demonstrates the mechanism underlying pyomelanin overproduction.

Advancing ex vivo functional whole-organ prostate gland model for regeneration and drug screening.

Model organisms are vital for biomedical research and drug testing but face high costs, complexity, and ethical issues. While newer techniques like organoids and assembloids have shown improvements, they still remain inadequate in addressing all research needs. In this study, we present a new method for maintaining the prostate gland of the earthworm, Eudrilus eugeniae ex vivo and examine its potential for regeneration and drug screening.

Mitochondrial KMT9 methylates DLAT to control pyruvate dehydrogenase activity and prostate cancer growth.

Prostate cancer (PCa) growth depends on de novo lipogenesis controlled by the mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC). In this study, we identify lysine methyltransferase (KMT)9 as a regulator of PDC activity. KMT9 is localized in mitochondria of PCa cells, but not in mitochondria of other tumor cell types.

Proteomic insights into dual-species biofilm formation of E. coli and E. faecalis on urinary catheters.

Infections associated with urinary catheters are often caused by biofilms composed of various bacterial species that form on the catheters' surfaces. In this study, we investigated the intricate interplay between Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis during biofilm formation on urinary catheter segments using a dual-species culture model. We analyzed biofilm formation and global proteomic profiles to understand how these bacteria interact and adapt within a shared environment.

Deep mutational scanning of the Trypanosoma brucei developmental regulator RBP6 reveals an essential disordered region influenced by positive residues.

To regain infectivity, Trypanosoma brucei, the pathogen causing Human and Animal African trypanosomiasis, undergoes a complex developmental program within the tsetse fly known as metacyclogenesis. RNA-binding protein 6 (RBP6) is a potent orchestrator of this process, however, an understanding of its functionally important domains and their mutational constraints is lacking. Here, we perform deep mutational scanning of the entire RBP6 primary structure.

Chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is defined by persistent abnormalities of kidney function or structure that have consequences for the health. A progressive decline of excretory kidney function has effects on body homeostasis. CKD is tightly associated with accelerated cardiovascular disease and severe infections, and with premature death.

Rising infrastructure inequalities accompany urbanization and economic development.

Impending global urban population growth is expected to occur with considerable infrastructure expansion. However, our understanding of attendant infrastructure inequalities is limited, highlighting a critical knowledge gap in the sustainable development implications of urbanization. Using satellite data from 2000 to 2019, we examine country-level population-adjusted biases in infrastructure distribution within and between regions of varying urbanization levels and derive four key findings.

Understanding metastasis mixed-treatment responses through genomic analyses.

Early-stage and metastatic breast cancers (MBC) can exhibit genomic heterogeneity, even within the same individual. Response to therapy in metastatic breast cancer patients with multiple metastases can also be heterogeneous, with different degrees of responsiveness to the same drug(s) across metastatic sites, termed "mixed response," within the same patient. Whether this treatment response variability is influenced by factors such as intrinsic tumor characteristics of metastatic lesions and/or the microenvironment is unknown.

Valley charge-transfer insulator in twisted double bilayer WSe.

In flat-band systems, emergent physics can be substantially modified by the presence of another nearby electronic band. For example, a Mott˘Hubbard insulator can turn into a charge transfer insulator if other electronic states enter between the upper and lower Hubbard bands. Here, we introduce twisted double bilayer (TDB) WSe, with twist angles near 60°, as a controllable platform in which the K-valley band can be tuned to close vicinity of the Γ-valley moiré flat band.

Condensate droplet roaming on nanostructured superhydrophobic surfaces.

Jumping of coalescing condensate droplets from superhydrophobic surfaces is an interesting phenomenon which yields marked heat transfer enhancement over the more explored gravity-driven droplet removal mode in surface condensation, a phase change process of central interest to applications ranging from energy to water harvesting. However, when condensate microdroplets coalesce, they can also spontaneously propel themselves omnidirectionally on the surface independent of gravity and grow by feeding from droplets they sweep along the way. Here we observe and explain the physics behind this phenomenon of roaming of coalescing condensate microdroplets on solely nanostructured superhydrophobic surfaces, where the microdroplets are orders of magnitude larger than the underlaying surface nanotexture.

Prevalence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and chronic hypertension increased throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in South Carolina (2015-2021).

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and chronic hypertension (CHTN) are related to maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. We aimed to assess HDP and CHTN prevalence changes before (January 2015-February 2020) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020-December 2021) in South Carolina (SC). SC live births (2015-2021) were included (194,841 non-Hispanic White [NHW]); 108,195 non-Hispanic Black [NHB]; 25,560 Hispanic; 16,346 other race/ethnicity).

Machine learning photodynamics decode multiple singlet fission channels in pentacene crystal.

Crystalline pentacene is a model solid-state light-harvesting material because its quantum efficiencies exceed 100% via ultrafast singlet fission. The singlet fission mechanism in pentacene crystals is disputed due to insufficient electronic information in time-resolved experiments and intractable quantum mechanical calculations for simulating realistic crystal dynamics. Here we combine a multiscale multiconfigurational approach and machine learning photodynamics to understand competing singlet fission mechanisms in crystalline pentacene.

Global water gaps under future warming levels.

Understanding the impacts of climate change on water resources is crucial for developing effective adaptation strategies. We quantify "water gaps", or unsustainable water use - the shortfall where water demand exceeds supply, resulting in scarcity. We quantify baseline and future water gaps using a multi-model analysis that incorporates two plausible future warming scenarios.

Stress landscape of folding brain serves as a map for axonal pathfinding.

Understanding the mechanics linking cortical folding and brain connectivity is crucial for both healthy and abnormal brain development. Despite the importance of this relationship, existing models fail to explain how growing axon bundles navigate the stress field within a folding brain or how this bidirectional and dynamic interaction shapes the resulting surface morphologies and connectivity patterns. Here, we propose the concept of "axon reorientation" and formulate a mechanical model to uncover the dynamic multiscale mechanics of the linkages between cortical folding and connectivity development.

Rhesus Cytomegalovirus-encoded Fcγ-binding glycoproteins facilitate viral evasion from IgG-mediated humoral immunity.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) encodes four viral Fc-gamma receptors (vFcγRs) that counteract antibody-mediated activation in vitro, but their role in infection and pathogenesis is unknown. To examine their in vivo function in an animal model evolutionarily closely related to humans, we identified and characterized Rh05, Rh152/151 and Rh173 as the complete set of vFcγRs encoded by rhesus CMV (RhCMV). Each one of these proteins displays functional similarities to their prospective HCMV orthologs with respect to antagonizing host FcγR activation in vitro.

Advancing the genetic engineering toolbox by combining AsCas12a knock-in mice with ultra-compact screening.

Cas12a is a next-generation gene editing tool that enables multiplexed gene targeting. Here, we present a mouse model that constitutively expresses enhanced Acidaminococcus sp. Cas12a (enAsCas12a) linked to an mCherry fluorescent reporter.