Advancing Open Science

Introduction: Bronchiectasis is a chronic, heterogeneous airway disease characterised by irreversible bronchial dilatation, recurrent infections, and persistent inflammation, leading to progressive lung damage, frequent exacerbations, and impaired quality of life. Neutrophil-driven inflammation, largely mediated by excessive activity of neutrophil serine proteases such as neutrophil elastase, represents a central pathogenic mechanism and an important therapeutic target. Methods: Brensocatib, a first-in-class, selective, and reversible inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase-1 (DPP-1), prevents the activation of neutrophil serine proteases during neutrophil maturation in the bone marrow. By reducing downstream protease activity, brensocatib modulates aberrant neutrophilic inflammation without broadly suppressing immune function. Results: Clinical studies, including the Phase-2 WILLOW trial and the Phase-3 ASPEN trial, have demonstrated that brensocatib significantly reduces exacerbation frequency, prolongs time to first exacerbation, and lowers sputum neutrophil protease activity, with a favourable safety profile. Importantly, these benefits were observed across multiple patient subgroups and in addition to standard-of-care therapies. Conclusions: As the first FDA-approved (12 August 2025) mechanism-based therapy for non–cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, brensocatib represents a paradigm shift toward targeted, precision treatment of neutrophil-mediated airway disease. Its clinical efficacy, biomarker-driven rationale, and potential to reduce antibiotic dependence highlight brensocatib as a cornerstone therapy in bronchiectasis management and a promising strategy for other neutrophil-driven inflammatory conditions.

The western Kuqa Foreland Basin exhibits complex hydrocarbon distribution with unclear accumulation processes. This study integrated seismic data, microscopic observations, crude oil properties, and basin modelling to establish a dynamic hydrocarbon migration model for the study area. The results indicated two distinct accumulation phases. During the early phase (16–5 Ma), hydrocarbons migrated eastward along a single unconformity and accumulated in the buried-hill reservoir of well E937 in the southern part of the Baicheng hydrocarbon-generating depression. In contrast, the southwestern region failed to accumulate hydrocarbons because of its distance from the Triassic source rock hydrocarbon generation centre and complex migration pathways. During the late phase (5–0 Ma), the Jurassic hydrocarbon generation centre shifted westward, and hydrocarbons migrated through a composite conduit system comprising faults, weathered crust, and sandstone structural ridges. This process promoted the expansion of the eastern E937 well trap, whereas well WEN54 and other southwestern wells exhibited hydrocarbon accumulation potential. The simulation results predicted that hydrocarbon reservoirs in the eastern region were mainly concentrated in the Qiulitage structural belt east of well E938. This study provides a theoretical basis and predictive guidance for hydrocarbon exploration in this area.

Pearl millet, an African-origin crop with exceptional heat tolerance, maintains normal flowering and seed production even under extremely high temperatures. The MADS-box transcription factor family plays a central role not only in floral organs, but also in abiotic stress responses. However, its specific function in pearl millet’s heat stress response remains unclear. In this study, a total of 63 MADS-box genes were identified. These genes were classified into five subfamilies and distributed across seven chromosomes, with chromosome 6 containing the highest number (12 genes). Additionally, expression analysis revealed that 53 MADS-box genes exhibited increased expression levels following heat stress under high-temperature conditions. Differential expression analysis identified five key MADS-box genes responding to heat stress. Further analysis of their expression trends using qRT-PCR revealed that the expression levels of these genes first increased and then decreased after heat stress treatment, with differences in the timing of peak expression among different genes. PMA1G07218.1 was selected for further functional characterization, which exhibited a significant response to heat stress treatment and reached a peak at 6 h. Subcellular localization analysis confirmed that the encoded protein is exclusively nuclear-localized. Through the yeast one-hybrid method (Y1H), we found that PMA1G07218.1 interacts by binding to the AG cis-acting element of F-box gene PMA1G04890.1. These findings provide valuable insight into the role of MADS-box genes in the high-temperature stress response of pearl millet, highlighting PMA1G07218.1 as a promising candidate for enhancing thermotolerance in this species.

This cross-sectional study explores the connections between resilience, work engagement, proactive strategies and personal resources among Italian kindergarten and primary school teachers. It specifically seeks to determine if and how personal resources can foster teachers’ work engagement, resilience, and proactive strategies at work. The study was conducted using a sample of 183 full-time, in-service kindergarten and primary teachers at public schools in Italy. Data were collected through self-report questionnaires, including the Brief Resilience Scale, the Ultra-Short Measure for Work Engagement, the Proactive Strategy scale, the Self-Compassion Scale, the Life Orientation Test-Revised, the Experienced compassion at work scale. Data were analyzed using a path analysis model. Results indicated that teachers’ self-compassion was positively associated with the use of proactive strategies and perceived received compassion was strongly related to work engagement. Moreover, higher levels of self-compassion were linked to greater work engagement. Teachers’ optimism and self-compassion were both positively associated with resilience, whereas self-criticism showed a significant negative association. Our research supports the need for educational policymakers and school leaders to focus on personal resources and work-related well-being.

Understanding the chronic thermal acclimation capacity of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) is essential for predicting species resilience and developing mitigation strategies under ocean warming. We investigated the upper limit of chronic thermal acclimation and its underlying molecular mechanisms in chum salmon smolts exposed to four constant temperatures (10, 14, 18, and 22 °C) for 6 weeks. Transcriptional responses of genes related to cellular stress protection, endocrine feedback regulation, antioxidant defense, metabolic regulation (AMPKα and mTOR), and protein degradation were quantified in the liver, skeletal muscle, and brain. Chronic exposure to elevated temperature elicited tissue-specific molecular responses, with the most pronounced effects observed at 22 °C. At this temperature, all tissues showed marked induction of heat shock proteins and ubiquitin, accompanied by suppression of antioxidant defenses, glucocorticoid receptor signaling, and AMPKα–mTOR-mediated metabolic regulation, particularly in the liver and muscle. These responses were consistent with previously reported impairments in growth performance, lipid reserves, and hematological indices from the same growth trial. In contrast, smolts maintained at 18 °C exhibited molecular signatures indicative of effective physiological compensation without severe cellular stress. Collectively, these results indicate that chum salmon smolts can acclimate to chronic warming up to 18 °C, whereas exposure to 22 °C exceeds their acclimation capacity and induces a tertiary stress response.

The recycling of organic waste is a key element of the circular economy, particularly in response to the increasing generation of biodegradable residues. Composting provides a sustainable solution that supports waste management while improving soil fertility; however, its agronomic value depends on the feedstock origin, composting method, and maturity. This study compares three compost types, two home-produced (C1, C2) and one industrial (C3), to assess their suitability for agricultural application. The chemical characterization included macronutrients and micronutrients, heavy metals, and the humus content, while biological performance was evaluated through seed germination and root growth tests. C1 was nutrient-poor, especially in nitrogen and calcium, indicating the need for supplementation. C2 exhibited high potassium and moisture levels but elevated sodium concentrations, suggesting potential salinity issues. C3 showed high calcium and magnesium contents, moderate nitrogen, and low sodium, making it suitable for calcium-demanding crops. Overall, the home-produced composts demonstrated superior humus quality and more positive effects on plant development than the industrial compost, highlighting their potential as sustainable soil amendments.

One thermodynamic parameter that is crucial to heat transport within the fluidized bed inside the rotary kiln, during clinker production, is the specific heat capacity. The particular parameter is often considered constant in the open literature, while, in reality, it strongly depends on the fluidized bed’s temperature and composition, considering that the temperature inside the kiln ranges from approx. 800 K up to 2000 K. For the current study, a mixing rule reported in the literature was applied in order to calculate the C_p of the fluidized bed, utilizing temperature and composition profiles available in the literature. An in-house code was developed for the comparison of the literature-reported C_ps and those resulting from the mixing rule. It was discovered that the C_p of the fluidized bed had a proportional increase with the increase in the temperature along the length of the kiln. The deviation between the two values (calculated and literature) is relatively small in some cases, whereas, in others, it is quite significant, ranging from 1.56% to 52.49%, thus making the adoption of the temperature-dependence of C_p necessary. Establishing a more accurate relation for the specific heat capacity leads to a better energy balance inside the kiln, which, along with other improvements, can lead to a decrease in the energy consumed and a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Background: Outcomes after critical illness vary markedly despite similar diagnoses and severity scores, underscoring the limitations of chronological age and conventional Intensive Care Unit (ICU) prognostic tools. Personalization of critical care is increasingly essential to improve not only short-term survival but also long-term post-discharge outcomes. Biological aging clocks provide a quantitative framework to capture physiological reserve, immune competence, and vulnerability to stress. Methods: We conducted a scoping review of original human studies published between January 2015 and October 2025 that evaluated biological aging biomarkers in adult ICU populations. PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase were searched, with backward citation screening. Results: Across epigenetic, telomere-based, cfDNA, proteomic, metabolomic, and phenotypic aging measures, accelerated biological aging was consistently associated with increased mortality, organ dysfunction, and post-ICU vulnerability. Despite substantial methodological heterogeneity, a convergent signal emerged linking inflammation-weighted and stress-responsive deep biological clocks to clinically meaningful outcomes in critically ill patients. Conclusions: Biological aging biomarkers represent a mechanistically grounded approach to personalized prognostication in critical care. From a translational perspective, deep biological clocks hold promise for personalized risk stratification, prognostication, and the identification of high-risk recovery phenotypes, although prospective validation and implementation studies are required.