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Article
Biology and Life Sciences
Biology and Biotechnology

Guennadi A. Kouzaev

Abstract: In this paper, 32 complete genomic sequences of human-origin Nipah viruses registered in GenBank® from 1999 to 2025 are analyzed by tracking distributions of ATG triplets using a recently developed search method by us. The trajectories of these triplets are constructed, and their divergence parameter is calculated, revealing an increased value typical of highly mutated viruses that can form separate families with distinct properties. This conclusion aligns with the large deviation observed in the fractal dimension parameters of the distribution of inter-ATG-triplet distances in genomic sequences. The simulation results are compared with earlier data obtained for SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, dengue, and Ebola viruses.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Remote Sensing

Emmanouil Psomiadis

,

Antonia Oikonomou

,

Marilou Avramidou

,

Antonis Kavvadias

Abstract: Accurate estimation of crop yield from remote sensing remains challenging due to the crop-specific nature of yield drivers and the difficulty of interpreting spectral indicators across agronomic systems. While many studies prioritise predictive accuracy through complex models, fewer explicitly examine the stability and physiological relevance of in-dividual spectral and phenological indicators under controlled analytical conditions. This study investigates yield–spectral relationships in wheat and cotton using a harmonised Sentinel-2 indicator framework applied across multiple growing seasons in a Mediterra-nean agricultural environment. A consistent set of spectral and thermal indicators was derived from two phenologically targeted Sentinel-2 acquisitions per season and analysed using correlation analysis, univariate regression, constrained multivariate modelling, and recurrence analysis within an identical workflow for both crops. Distinct crop-specific patterns were observed. Wheat yield was most strongly associated with water-sensitive and canopy-related indicators, with NDWI-based metrics reaching Pearson correlations up to r = 0.85 and multivariate models explaining a substantial proportion of yield varia-bility (up to R² ≈ 0.82) under controlled analytical conditions. In contrast, cotton yield var-iability was dominated by thermal accumulation, with growing degree day indicators showing correlations up to |r| = 0.59 and multivariate performance reaching R² = 0.76. Recurrence analysis confirmed the stability of these indicator families across analytical stages. Overall, the results indicate that parsimonious, physiologically interpretable indi-cator combinations can account for a substantial proportion of yield variability without reliance on black-box modelling, supporting crop-aware indicator selection for precision agriculture applications.

Review
Medicine and Pharmacology
Dietetics and Nutrition

Viorel Ispas

,

Hibo Said Hassan

,

Asya Ilayda Sayilgan

,

Faadumaqamar Mahamed Hassan

,

Sorina Ispas

Abstract: Oxidative stress is an important component of cancer biology with an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defense systems. Excess ROS can cause molecular damage and genomic instability. At the same time, ROS signaling remains necessary for normal cellular function. Redox homeostasis is of particular importance in this balance. The role of dietary antioxidants in cancer prevention is complex, depending on the biological context. This narrative review used preclinical and clinical studies to synthetize the current literature. We performed an extensive literature search of Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed. We focused on articles published between 2021 and 2026. Dietary antioxidants influence redox biology in cancer. It focuses on major redox-sensitive pathways, including Nrf2-Keap1-ARE signaling, AMPK-mTOR regulation, NF-κB-mediated inflammation, mitochondrial quality control (autophagy and mitophagy), and inflammasome activation. These pathways involved in tumor initiation and progression link oxidative stress to metabolic and inflammatory processes. Current evidence suggests that dietary antioxidants act primarly by supporting endogenous defense systems. This may help explain the “antioxidant paradox,” in which antioxidant-rich dietary patterns are associated with a lower risk of cancer. In some studies, high-dose supplementation with isolated antioxidants has produced inconsistent or sometimes adverse results. These effects depend on dose, chemical form, metabolic context, and initial redox state. The gut microbiota is also an important mediator of antioxidant bioactivity. The gut microbiota modulates systemic redox balance by converting dietary polyphenols into bioactive metabolites, not acting only as simple scavengers. This contributes to inter-individual variability. Dietary antioxidants act as modulators of redox signaling. Personalized redox modulation may guide future cancer prevention strategies, emphasizing whole-diet approaches and biomarkers.

Concept Paper
Biology and Life Sciences
Other

Shriya Das

,

Ranjeet Mudholkar

Abstract: Biological regulation is inherently recursive. Genes give rise to proteins that circle back to shape transcription, stress responses activate programs that later dampen the same response, and chromosomal dosage changes ripple through development until they settle into recognizable disease states. This paper repositions Reflexive Category Theory (RCT) as a biology-centered descriptive framework for that kind of recurrent causality. Rather than presenting RCT as a mathematical structure applied from the outside, we treat it as a disciplined way to represent how molecular systems repeatedly act on the conditions that produced them. The concept is developed through three disease-relevant settings: the p53-MDM2-BRCA1 damage-response network, the MYC-TERT telomerase reactivation axis, and the dosage-rewired hematopoietic landscape of trisomy 21. Across these examples, the central claim is that reflexive modeling is valuable not because it replaces experiment, but because it preserves mechanistic continuity across multi-step, feedback-rich biology. In that sense, RCT is proposed here as a conceptual bridge between molecular evidence and system-level interpretation in oncology and genetic disease.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Sustainable Science and Technology

S. M. Redwan Kabir

,

Mizanur Rahman

,

Farhana Kabir Zisha

,

Lei Meng

Abstract: Heatwaves are intensifying across the southern United States, particularly in Texas, placing unprecedented stress on electric distribution networks and increasing power outage risk. Yet the relationship between heatwave characteristics and observed outages remains poorly quantified at multi-year, statewide scales. This study develops an event-based, spatiotemporal framework to quantify heatwave-induced outage risk across 254 Texas counties from 2014–2021 by integrating county-level EAGLE-I outage records with reanalysis-derived heat index measurements. An adaptive percentile-based threshold identifies heatwave days and constructs multi-day events, from which event-level metrics duration, mean heat index, and maximum customers affected are derived. Across 3,048 identified heatwave events, 51% involved at least one outage, revealing widespread heat-related reliability challenges. Spatial indicators show substantial heterogeneity: some counties experience frequent minor outages, while major population exposure is concentrated in large urban load centers. Outage severity and duration exhibit heavy-tailed distributions, with a small number of extreme events disproportionately affecting customers. Logistic regression models under three severity definitions (P90, P95, and ≥500 customers) demonstrate that heat intensity is a significant probabilistic driver of major outages, with each +1 °F increase in mean event heat index raising the odds by approximately 43–52%. These findings offer a scalable methodology for climate-related reliability assessment, supporting grid hardening, resource planning, and public-health preparedness.

Article
Biology and Life Sciences
Insect Science

Li-Fang Cheng

,

Yu-Liang Xiao

,

Cheng Zhang

,

Jia-Ke Zhang

,

Yu-Xin Li

,

Tong-Yin Xie

,

Qing Zhao

Abstract: Invasive alien species threaten agricultural and natural ecosystems security. Aethina tumida Murray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), a globally recognized quarantine pest of honeybees, poses severe threats to colony health and apicultural sustainability. Whereas Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser, 1955), an entomopathogenic nematode, exhibits biocontrol potential agent of this pest. This study used MaxEnt and CLIMEX models to predict the global potential distribution under different climate change scenarios. Result indicate that temperature and precipitation are the core environmental factors that constrain their distribution. Under current climatic conditions, both models demonstrate that suitable habitats for A. tumida is primarily located in South America, southern Africa, and South Asia, whereas S. carpocapsae exhibits a broader, spread almost globally. Notably, CLIMEX predicts a more extensive suitable range than the MaxEnt model for two species. MaxEnt predict result indicate suitable habitat of A. tumida expansion into North America, Europe and central Australia, while S. carpocapsae is expected to expand to Asia, North America, and Africa. Under both the A1B and A2 climate scenarios, the highly suitable habitat for both pests decreases significantly, whereas moderately and marginally increases markedly. Collectively, the results provide key scientific basis and decision-making support for the precise prevention and control of invasive pests.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Environmental Science

Alejandra Fregoso

,

Alejandro Velázquez

,

Fernando Gopar-Merino

,

Clarita Rodriguez

,

Valerio Castro-López

,

Aurora Martinez-Ponce

,

María Raziel Hernandez-Azotea

,

Diana Bell

Abstract: In this research we analyzed land cover/use processes and their impact on biodiversity in the Megalopolis of Mexico City. We used land cover/use databases from 1976 and 2018, both validated, improved and adapted for conducting landscape dynamic analysis. We also included records of 159 threatened species of fungi, vascular plants and vertebrates to construct spatially explicit biodiversity richness models based upon niche ecological algorithms. The results showed that human settlement encroachment was the main factor driving land cover/use changes, significantly affecting rural and natural landscapes. The extent and location of the dramatic shrinking of agricultural lands was clearly demonstrated. Afforestation was the second most important land cover/use process occurring mainly on native grasslands and shrublands. Biodiversity richness was depleted substantially, affecting about 35 % of the most important biodiversity hot spots and rendering the remainder more vulnerable due to extensive fragmentation of native ecosystems. The results are discussed in the light of the implications of the value of interdisciplinary methodological approaches, potential water recharge, governance of territorial disputes, loss of cultural heritage and poorly implemented environmental policies. Furthermore, the study highlights the urgent need to generate an innovative model for development which gives equal importance to the conservation of natural and rural landscapes as a fundamental form of subsistence for human settlements. Protecting biocultural heritage is of paramount importance. The region's genetic resources and cultural diversity are unique and have played a fundamental role in providing various benefits from nature to urban and rural inhabitants. These findings can serve as a guide for other similar megacities around the world.

Article
Computer Science and Mathematics
Computer Vision and Graphics

Nizamuddin Maitlo

,

Nooruddin Noonari

,

Fayaz Ahmed

,

Afifa Hussain

Abstract: We present Color-in-Context, a dataset of 12,086 photographs annotated along two complementary dimensions: color (Black, Blue, Gray, Orange, Pink, Purple, Skyblue, White, Yellow) and illumination (fluorescentLight, indoor, indoorNight, sunLight). The dataset is organized into 36 joint categories (9 colors × 4 illumination conditions) using a consistent folder hierarchy and normalized labels. We provide summary counts across colors, illuminations, and selected joint buckets, and an optional manifest file to support deterministic indexing and integrity checking. This Data Descriptor documents dataset construction, label normalization, duplicate screening, and file-integrity checks, and provides usage guidance for split generation and reporting under varied illumination.

Technical Note
Engineering
Control and Systems Engineering

Francisco F. C. Rego

Abstract: This paper studies a quantized implementation of a Gramian-based distributed observer for discrete-time systems observed by a network of sensor nodes. The starting point is a distributed observer based on local information matrices obtained from a distributed constructibility Gramian recursion. In order to account for limited communication, the information matrices and information vectors exchanged among neighboring nodes are quantized by means of a uniform quantizer with saturation. The resulting algorithm preserves the original distributed structure and requires only one communication round per sampling instant. A simple perturbation argument shows that the estimation error induced by quantization depends on the perturbation of the local information matrix and information vector, and therefore on the quantization resolution. Numerical results illustrate a sharp practical threshold on the number of communication bits: in the considered example the estimator remains stable for 25 bits, while 23 bits already lead to divergence.

Article
Computer Science and Mathematics
Software

Ajaykrishnan S

Abstract: The contemporary education landscape is often marred by escalating costs and centralized pedagogical structures, which collectively create significant barriers to entry for millions of potential learners worldwide. This paper presents \textbf{Skill Link}, a sophisticated decentralized platform designed to democratize skill acquisition through a specialized credit-based barter system. Unlike conventional e-learning platforms that rely on traditional currency transactions, Skill Link enables a frictionless exchange of knowledge by utilizing a virtual credit economy where participants earn and spend "learning credits." To address the critical issue of credential fraud in decentralized environments, the platform integrates Ethereum-based blockchain technology to ensure the absolute immutability and verifiable authenticity of all earned certificates. Key innovations include a multi-tiered course classification system, an automated mock assessment framework with negative marking capabilities, an intelligent context-aware AI assistant powered by advanced language models, and a rigorous verification mechanism for professional social links (LinkedIn, GitHub, Indeed). Developed using the robust Django framework, Python-based Web3 utilities, and a secure PostgreSQL/SQLite back-end, Skill Link provides a highly secure, transparent, and scalable ecosystem for peer-to-peer knowledge sharing, ultimately fostering a global community of experts and lifelong learners. The system's architecture emphasizes data integrity through atomic transactions and cryptographic verification, ensuring a trustless environment for global skill exchange.

Article
Medicine and Pharmacology
Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

Bünyamin Ari

,

Melih Canlidi̇nç

,

Nafiz Yaşar

Abstract: Background: Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) disruption alters posterior pelvic ring stability and may result in abnormal sacral stress redistribution. The biomechanical effects of different fixation strategies on sacral load transfer remain controversial. This study aimed to compare sacral stress patterns under unilateral and bilateral SIJ instability using three fixation techniques in a three-dimensional finite element model. Methods: A three-dimensional lumbosacral–pelvic finite element model was reconstructed from computed tomography data of a healthy adult and validated against previously published pelvic biomechanical data. SIJ instability was simulated by reducing the friction coefficient to represent ligamentous failure. Three fixation constructs were analyzed: anterior plate with posterior screw fixation, spinopelvic fixation, and hybrid fixation. A 750 N axial compressive load was applied to simulate static standing conditions; dynamic loading scenarios such as walking or sitting were not included. Peak sacral von Mises stress and stress amplification factors were calculated and compared with the intact model. Results: Anterior plate combined with posterior screw fixation produced the highest sacral stress amplification (SAF = 3.46 under unilateral instability; peak stress 265.40 MPa), exceeding three times the intact value, particularly under unilateral left instability (SAF = 3.46). Spinopelvic fixation significantly reduced peak sacral stress (125.66 MPa under bilateral instability; SAF = 1.64) but remained above physiological levels. Hybrid fixation demonstrated sacral stress values closest to the intact condition (81.64 MPa; SAF = 1.06), with minimal amplification and near-symmetrical load distribution. Conclusions: Fixation strategy significantly influences sacral load redistribution following SIJ disruption. Hybrid fixation most effectively restored near-physiological sacral stress patterns, whereas anterior plate with posterior screw fixation resulted in excessive stress concentration. Hybrid stabilization may provide a biomechanically balanced approach for unstable posterior pelvic injuries.

Article
Arts and Humanities
History

Mairena Hirschberg

Abstract: From the mid-nineteenth to the early twentieth century, both Great Britain and the United States implemented large-scale child-emigration schemes aimed at relocating so-called «surplus» children—impoverished but considered «of good stock»—from major urban centres to rural households overseas or in the American interior. These programmes emerged from a shared diagnosis: industrial and agricultural economies in metropolitan areas were allegedly unable to absorb growing populations of poor children, who were framed as both a social burden and a latent threat to urban order. Emigration was thus promoted as a form of social reform—an intervention that would simultaneously relieve urban poverty and overcrowding while promising the children a healthier, morally improving environment on the farm.Central to this policy logic was the belief that agricultural labour and rural domesticity would function as vehicles of knowledge acquisition, moral rehabilitation, and civic formation. By learning farm work and rural norms, the children were expected to develop the dispositions necessary for productive adulthood and responsible citizenship, thereby securing redemption from an otherwise bleak urban future. Yet the historical record complicates this narrative of benevolent rescue. Although some children undoubtedly escaped severe deprivation, many migrant youths struggled to adapt to rural life, faced abuse, exploitation or isolation, and carried the consequences of these ruptures into adulthood. Rather than straightforward instruments of uplift, these schemes often reproduced existing inequalities under the guise of paternalistic reform.

Hypothesis
Medicine and Pharmacology
Psychiatry and Mental Health

Diego Cancio Villalba

Abstract: Substance use disorders (SUD) arising during neurobiologically sensitive developmental windows may constitute a structurally distinct diagnostic category, fundamentally different from SUD with adult onset. This concept paper proposes the term Complex Addiction-Developmental Disorder (CADD) to name and frame this clinical entity. The argument draws an analogy with the distinction between PTSD and Complex PTSD (C-PTSD): just as repeated developmental trauma does not produce the same disorder as adult trauma, repeated substance use during childhood or adolescence does not produce the same disorder as adult addiction. What it produces instead is a structurally different psychopathology — one with its own risk profiles, longitudinal characteristics, and treatment logic. The core of CADD is the constitution of substance-bound self- and identity-components through repeated pharmacological exposure during active neuroplastic phases of personality development. This gives rise to three defining clinical features: a relationship to the substance that functions like attachment rather than hedonic craving; an abstinence phenomenology resembling identity rupture rather than withdrawal; and a therapeutic priority of identity integration over detoxification. The concept has not yet been empirically validated and is offered here as a hypothesis for scientific discussion.

Review
Medicine and Pharmacology
Emergency Medicine

Darja Smirnova

,

Mara Klibus

,

Olegs Sabelnikovs

Abstract: Background: Microcirculatory dysfunction is a key feature of septic shock and contributes to organ failure despite the apparent normalization of systemic hemodynamic parameters. Extracorporeal blood purification (EBP) therapies aim to modulate the dysregulated inflammatory response through removal of endotoxins and cytokines; however, their impact on tissue-level perfusion remains unclear. Direct bedside assessment of microcirculation may provide mechanistic insight into the effects of EBP beyond macrohemodynamic stabilization. Methods: This structured narrative review summarizes current evidence on direct microcirculatory assessment during EBP therapy in sepsis. A literature search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus was performed using combinations of the terms “microcirculation” and “blood purification” or “hemoadsorption.” Studies published between 2015 and 2026 evaluating direct sublingual microcirculation using sidestream dark field (SDF) or incident dark field (IDF) videomicroscopy during EBP were included. Both experimental and clinical studies were considered. Results: Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Selective endotoxin adsorption with polymyxin B hemoperfusion (PMX-HP) demonstrated improvements in perfused vessel density and small vessel density in both animal and clinical settings. Non-selective cytokine adsorption devices (CytoSorb and HA380) were associated with increases in microvascular flow index (MFI), perfused vessel density (PVD), and proportion of perfused vessels (PPV), although most data derive from small observational studies. Across studies, improvements in microcirculatory parameters were observed during or following hemoadsorption therapy; however, heterogeneity in design, timing, and concomitant treatments limits definitive interpretation. Conclusions: Current evidence suggests that EBP may positively influence microvascular perfusion in septic shock when assessed using direct videomicroscopy. Nevertheless, data remain limited and predominantly observational. Larger randomized controlled trials incorporating predefined microcirculatory endpoints are required to determine whether mediator removal translates into sustained restoration of tissue perfusion and improved clinical outcomes.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Atmospheric Science and Meteorology

Yevgenii Rastigejev

,

Sergey A. Suslov

,

Wenbin Dong

Abstract: This study investigates the mechanical and thermodynamic effects of the evaporating ocean spray on the structure and dynamics of a hurricane marine atmospheric boundary layer using Eulerian multifluid and mixture model approaches coupled with the E−ϵ turbulence closure. The multifluid framework treats air and spray as interpenetrating phases, enabling a physically consistent representation of air–droplet interactions governing momentum transfer, enthalpy exchange, and turbulence modulation. The mixture approach is based on a simplified description that captures only part of the underlying physics, yet offers an advantage in its ability to yield analytical insight. Mechanically, spray produces competing effects: on one hand, droplet inertia causes wind deceleration, on the other, the spray-induced turbulence attenuation, primarily resulting from the air–droplet friction, leads to strengthening the wind. Analytical and numerical results show that the latter effect prevails for typical spray droplet sizes leading to wind acceleration and drag reduction at hurricane wind speeds. Thermodynamically, evaporating droplets redistribute total heat flux in favor of its latent component, with effects strongly dependent on the droplet size. Small droplets suppress turbulence and reduce the total enthalpy flux, whereas large ones enhance it. Furthermore, spray significantly increases the total enthalpy-to-drag coefficient ratio with wind speed, which agrees with field observations.

Review
Medicine and Pharmacology
Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Izabela de Castro Santiago

,

Janaina de Alcântara Lemos

,

Ivan Maulaz Silva

,

Anna Eliza Maciel de Faria Mota Oliveira

,

Diego dos Santos Ferreira

Abstract: Background/Objectives: Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its progressive inflammatory/fibrotic form, metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH), represent a growing global health burden. This progression is driven by complex mechanisms involving metabolic dysregulation, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and progressive fibrosis. To date, effective pharmacological therapies remain limited. Pentacyclic triterpenes have attracted increasing attention due to their broad biological activities and ability to modulate multiple molecular pathways implicated in chronic liver disease. This review aims to provide a mechanistic overview of the potential role of pentacyclic triterpenes in MASLD and MASH. Methods: A review of the literature was conducted using major scientific databases (PubMed, and Web of Science) to identify experimental studies investigating pentacyclic triterpenes in metabolic liver diseases. Selected studies were analyzed according to triterpene structural classification, reported bioactivities, molecular targets, and experimental evidence from in vitro and in vivo models of MASLD/MASH or related pathogenic processes. Results: Pentacyclic triterpenes, especially ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, and glycyrrhizin, exhibit hepatoprotective effects including regulation of lipid metabolism, attenuation of oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress, suppression of pro-inflammatory signaling, inhibition of inflammasome activation, and reduction of hepatic stellate cell activation and extracellular matrix deposition. These effects involve modulation of signaling pathways such as AMPK, NF-κB, NLRP3, TGF-β, FXR, and MAPK. Preclinical evidence demonstrates improvements in steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis in experimental models. Conclusions: Pentacyclic triterpenes emerge as multitarget modulators of MASH pathophysiology. However, translation from preclinical evidence to well-designed clinical trials is necessary to validate their safety and efficacy in humans.

Article
Medicine and Pharmacology
Other

Tommasa Catania

,

Grazia Morabito

,

Simone Barbera

,

Massimo Venturini

,

Federico Fontana

,

Eduardo Maccarrone

,

Grazia Maria Arillotta

,

Velio Ascenti

,

Silvio Mazziotti

,

Thomas J Vogl

+3 authors

Abstract: Background: Differentiating adrenal adenomas from non-adenomatous lesions remains a critical challenge in the management of adrenal incidentalomas. Conventional unenhanced CT relies on attenuation thresholds of 10 HU and 20 HU, which present trade-offs between sensitivity and specificity. Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of unenhanced Spectral CT using the attenuation difference between 40 keV and 140 keV virtual monoenergetic images for differentiating adrenal adenomas from non-adenomatous lesions. Methods: In this retrospective single-center study, 60 patients with adrenal lesions who underwent unenhanced dual-energy CT were included. Mean attenuation values were measured on conventional images and on virtual monoenergetic images at 40 keV and 140 keV. The spectral attenuation difference (Δ40–140 keV) was calculated. ROC analysis was performed to determine optimal thresholds and diagnostic performance. Results: Forty-nine lesions were adenomas and eleven were non-adenomatous. The optimal threshold for Δ40–140 keV was −17 HU. Diagnostic performance was as follows: HU ≤10 (AUC 0.816, diagnostic accuracy 0.70), HU ≤20 (AUC 0.883, diagnostic accuracy 0.87), and Δ40–140 keV ≤ −17 HU (AUC 0.940, diagnostic accuracy 0.90). The spectral attenuation difference demonstrated the highest overall diagnostic accuracy. Conclusions: Unenhanced Spectral CT using Δ40–140 keV improves discrimination between adrenal adenomas and non-adenomatous lesions compared with conventional attenuation thresholds. This technique may reduce indeterminate findings and limit the need for additional imaging.

Article
Medicine and Pharmacology
Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

Huanhuan Dong

,

Niuniu Dong

,

Jinteng Feng

,

Wenyu Peng

,

Zhiying Wang

,

Yihan Lin

,

Zixuan Zhao

,

Xiaopeng Ma

,

Rongxuan Jiang

,

Yanpeng Zhang

+2 authors

Abstract: Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a primary driver of graft dysfunction following lung transplantation, yet effective therapeutic strategies remain limited. Through integrated multi-omics analysis, target prediction, and experimental validation, this study identifies barbaloin as a potent dual-target agent that alleviates lung IRI by simultaneously inhibiting interleukin-6 (IL-6) and purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP). Mechanistically, barbaloin reduces intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) accumulation by suppressing both IL-6 and PNP, thereby abrogating the ROS-dependent NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling cascade and subsequent immune-inflammatory responses. These findings highlight the pivotal role of the IL-6/PNP axis in mediating barbaloin’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Furthermore, barbaloin’s favorable ADMET profile supports its potential as a novel therapeutic candidate for lung transplantation and other oxidative stress-driven inflammatory disorders.

Article
Computer Science and Mathematics
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Ankit Parag Shah

,

Minghao Liu

,

Jinrui Huang

,

Bhavya Pranav Tandra

,

Yu Wang

,

Sakshi Agarwal

,

Paul Wu

,

Aishik Konwer

,

Rhett Rozga

,

Selli P. Kondamuri

+3 authors

Abstract: For decades, artificial intelligence transformed digital domains while the physical world, with its unforgiving dynamics and infinite variability, remained largely beyond reach. That boundary is now dissolving: humanoid robots work full shifts on assembly lines, autonomous vehicles make millions of safety-critical decisions daily, and robotic surgical platforms have performed over twenty million procedures worldwide. The convergence of foundation models, high-fidelity simulation, and embodied control is producing Physical AI, machines that perceive, reason, and act reliably in open environments. However, existing surveys treat individual components of this stack in isolation, covering vision-language-action architectures, world models, or sim-to-real transfer separately, and none traces the full pipeline from sensor to deployment or grounds analysis in commercial outcomes. Here we synthesise the end-to-end Physical AI technology stack: multimodal sensing and fusion; edge hardware and accelerators; world modeling and simulation; vision-language-action models; learning paradigms from reinforcement to imitation; and deployment infrastructure spanning safety assurance, fleet learning, and governance. Our analysis reveals three cross-cutting findings. First, foundation-model generalisation, not task-specific engineering, is the economic lever that separates scalable deployments from those that stall at pilot stage. Second, digital twins have become prerequisites rather than accelerants: no deployment at fleet scale proceeds without high-fidelity virtual rehearsal. Third, regulatory and assurance barriers, not algorithmic limitations, now gate the transition from pilot to production across every domain. We document these patterns through commercial case studies in manufacturing, logistics, autonomous mobility, agriculture, and healthcare, and propose a four-phase maturity taxonomy characterising adoption from research prototype to fleet-scale operation. We conclude with six coupled research challenges and a roadmap anchored to regulatory milestones through 2030, offering researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers a practical map for scaling embodied intelligence from controlled environments to the complexity of the real world.

Article
Biology and Life Sciences
Food Science and Technology

Iván Benito-Vázquez

,

Pablo Méndez-Albiñana

,

Aaron Fernández-Quintero

,

María Inés Morán-Valero

,

Francisco Javier Moreno

,

Marina Díez-Municio

,

Nuria Fernández

,

Luis Monge

,

Jose Antonio Uranga-Ocio

,

Javier Blanco-Rivero

Abstract: Protein utilization efficiency is a key determinant of metabolic health, body composition, and muscle function, particularly under high-protein dietary conditions and when using plant-based protein sources with lower digestibility. However, the extent to which en-hancing early gastric proteolysis translates into improved whole-body protein utilization remains unclear. The present in vivo study investigated whether supplementation with an actinidin-enriched kiwifruit concentrate (Kwd+®) modulates protein utilization efficiency and physiological outcomes under normoproteic and hyperproteic dietary conditions us-ing casein or pea protein as dietary sources. Rats were fed normoproteic casein (NP), high-protein casein (CHP), or high-protein pea (PHP) diets with or without Kwd+® sup-plementation for 8 weeks. Gastric protein hydrolysis patterns were evaluated by SDS–PAGE, while metabolic outcomes were assessed through body composition, plasma amino acid profiling, skeletal muscle morphology, and contractile function. Kwd+® supplemen-tation enhanced gastric proteolysis in a protein source-dependent manner. Despite the absence of significant changes in circulating amino acid concentrations after multiple comparison correction, Kwd+® improved markers of protein utilization efficiency de-pending on dietary protein source. In animals fed a high-protein pea diet, supplementa-tion significantly reduced fat mass relative to accumulated protein intake, indicating im-proved nutrient partitioning. In contrast, in animals fed a high-protein casein diet, Kwd+® increased muscle mass relative to protein intake, suggesting enhanced anabolic efficiency. Under normoproteic conditions, Kwd+® supplementation was associated with increased muscle fiber cross-sectional area and improved fatigue resistance without alterations in fiber type composition or contractile protein abundance. These findings demonstrate that modulation of early gastric proteolysis through actinidin produces protein source-dependent effects on protein utilization efficiency, nutrient partitioning, and mus-cle function. This work highlights a novel nutritional strategy to improve metabolic out-comes and muscle performance, particularly in the context of high-protein and plant-based diets.

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