Advancing Open Science

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is increasingly valued not only for its fibers and seeds but also for essential oils derived from floral by-products. This study investigates the extraction of essential oils from three hemp floral varieties, Sour Space Candy, Suver Haze 3N, and Pinewalker 3N using hydrodistillation, a widely accepted and efficient method for isolating volatile compounds. The chemical composition and quantification of key volatiles, including α-pinene, β-myrcene, α-humulene, and α-terpineol, were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). In addition to oil extraction, the residual spent biomass was repurposed into pulp fibers using the soda pulping process. Fiber properties such as freeness, viscosity, kappa number, and fiber length were evaluated for papermaking applications. The essential oil yield ranged from 1.24% to 1.86% (w/w), and the spent fiber yield ranged from 37.07% to 55.23%. Handsheets prepared from blends of spent fibers and hemp hurd fibers exhibited tensile indices ranging from 21.87 to 34.98 N·m/g. This dual-valorization approach enhances the economic and environmental value of hemp cultivation, supports sustainable material development, and contributes to the broader adoption of bio-based alternatives.

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a major contributor to perinatal morbidity and mortality, most commonly arising from placental dysfunction, with increasing evidence implicating aberrant DNA methylation in its pathogenesis. To identify robust epigenetic alterations associated with FGR, we analyzed placental chorionic villi from an in-house early-onset FGR cohort and compared them with a publicly available dataset (GSE100197). DNA methylation profiling was performed using Illumina EPIC (in-house) and 450K (public) arrays, processed with identical normalization and quality-control pipelines, including adjustment for gestational age and estimation of placental cell-type composition. Differentially methylated positions (DMPs) were identified using linear regression models, revealing 10,427 DMPs in the in-house cohort and 7467 in the public dataset, with 108 shared DMPs showing consistent direction of change across both cohorts. Promoter-associated DMPs were mapped to genes involved in angiogenesis, morphogenesis, immune regulation, and transcriptional control, including EPHA1, ANGPTL6, ITGAX, BCL11B, and CYP19A1, while additional novel candidates such as SLC39A12, YEATS4, and MIR515 family members were also identified. Functional annotation suggests that these methylation changes may influence pathways essential for placental vascular development and structural organization. Overall, this cross-cohort comparison highlights reproducible epigenetic signatures of FGR and underscores the need for standardized approaches to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying placental insufficiency.

Electronic and spin structures of open-shell molecules and clusters were investigated as possible building blocks for the construction of one- and two-dimensional quantum spin alignment systems which exhibited several characteristic quantum properties of strongly correlated electron systems: high-T_c superconductivity, quantum spin coherence, entanglement, etc. Ab initio calculations were performed to elucidate effective exchange integrals (J) for 3d transition metal oxides, providing the J-model for high-T_c superconductivity. Theoretical investigations such as Monte Carlo simulation, molecular mechanics and quantum mechanical calculations were performed to elucidate effective chemical procedures for through-bond alignments of open-shell transition metal ions by organometallic conjugation and through-space confinements of molecular spins such as molecular oxygen by molecular confinement materials. Theoretical simulations have elucidated the importance of appropriate confinement materials for alignments of molecular spins desired for quantum coherence and quantum sensing. Equivalent transformations among coherent states of superconductors, trapped ion, neutral atom, molecular spin, molecular exciton, etc., are also discussed on theoretical and conceptual grounds such as quantum entanglement and decoherence.

Obtaining enzymes through bioconversion depends on a complex relationship between the microorganisms and the biomass used. Here, we evaluate xylanase production by diverse actinobacterial species, cultivated using xylan as the sole carbon source and complex media containing sorghum as the substrate. Fifty-three actinobacteria were tested for xylanase production in a solid medium. Seventeen strains produced xylanase and were tested for their ability to produce xylanase, total cellulases (filter paper activity, FPase), and endoglycanase in submerged culture using a defined liquid medium. The best xylanase-producing species was Streptomyces capoamus, yielding 24 IU·mL⁻¹. For FPase, Streptomyces sp. showed the highest yield (1.12 IU·mL⁻¹); for endoglycanase, the best producer was Streptomyces ossamyceticus (0.99 IU·mL⁻¹). When sweet sorghum was used alone, S. curacoi, S. ossamyceticus, and S. capoamus showed xylanase activities of 4.5 IU·mL⁻¹, 4.4 IU·mL⁻¹, and 0.8 IU·mL⁻¹, respectively. However, FPase activity was not detected under the assay conditions. The results showed that there is an intraspecific difference in xylanase, endoglucanase, and FPase production by actinobacteria, with the species S. curacoi, S. ossamyceticus, and S. capoamus able to use sorghum as a carbon source, demonstrating biotechnological potential.

Background: Responsive caregiving supports infant and toddler wellbeing. Yet, based on nursing observational data, a significant number of one institution’s inpatient infant and toddler patients with cancer—who are uniquely vulnerable due to the developmental risks associated with their illness and treatment—were not spoken to or held by their caregiver at any time when nursing was present over the course of day shifts. Objective: This clinical quality improvement project aimed to increase caregiver engagement in responsive interactions during inpatient stays. Methods: The Model for Improvement framework was used. Implementation, evaluation, and reporting followed the SQUIRE 2.0 framework. Root causes were analyzed with fishbone and key driver diagrams. Outcomes were tracked with control charts and percentage of nursing shifts during which responsive care was not observed. Statistical process control was used to study interventions. Results: Two intervention cycles were completed and resulted in significant and meaningful (>1 sigma) reductions in nursing shifts during which infants and toddlers were not spoken to or held. Conclusions: Caregiver psychoeducation interventions increased responsive care of infants and toddlers in our oncology inpatient setting. This low-cost intervention may be adaptable across inpatient settings.

Background/Objectives: PDZ-binding kinase (PBK) regulates mitosis, but its clinical significance and cellular localization in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain unclear. We evaluated PBK expression in CRC tissues and examined its association with clinicopathological features, immune contexture, and outcomes. Methods: PBK expression was assessed by RNA in situ hybridization in tumors from 246 CRC patients. Associations with TNM stage, vascular invasion, MMR status (dMMR/pMMR), immune cell infiltration, and stromal programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) were analyzed. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were evaluated using Kaplan–Meier and Cox models. Public single-cell RNA sequencing datasets were analyzed to identify PBK-expressing cell populations. Results: Among 246 cases, 75 (30.5%) showed high PBK expression. High PBK expression was associated with lower TNM stage, absence of vascular invasion, and dMMR status. High-PBK tumors showed an immune-activated microenvironment, including increased CD4⁺, CD8⁺, and FOXP3⁺ T-cell infiltration, higher stromal PD-L1 expression, and higher tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte scores. Single-cell analysis indicated that PBK expression was enriched mainly in proliferative tumor epithelial cell populations. High PBK expression was associated with longer OS and RFS and remained an independent favorable prognostic factor in multivariate analysis. Conclusions: PBK expression in CRC is linked to proliferative tumor epithelial states, an immune-activated microenvironment, and favorable outcomes, supporting its utility as a prognostic biomarker.

Globally, sea turtles face significant threats from human activities, yet detailed information on their habitat use and specific anthropogenic impacts remains limited, particularly in key marine protected areas like Kenya’s Diani-Chale National Marine Reserve (DCNMR). This study utilized drone-based (UAV—unmanned aerial vehicle) monitoring and geospatial analysis to assess sea turtle distribution and habitat use, integrating data from the Allen Coral Atlas. Most sea turtle sightings occurred in reef zones (61.86%), while the reef slope was the most utilized geomorphic feature (26.7% of sightings). The study identified a significant sea turtle hotspot in the northern DCNMR, a region characterized by lower anthropogenic pressure and unique geomorphic features. Between February and July 2024, we conducted monthly UAV surveys (6–10 survey days per month) in the DDCNMR using a DJI Mavic 3 drone, completing multiple standardized 25-min flights per day that each covered ~1 km² via non-overlapping transects at 30–40 m altitude under optimal sea state and visibility conditions, resulting in 233 sea turtle sightings. UAV survey data were summarized descriptively, with sea turtle sightings mapped against geomorphological features as well as benthic habitats from an open source, high-resolution, satellite-based map and monitoring system for shallow-water coral reefs (ACA—Allen Coral Atlas). Allen Coral Atlas data and drone observations indicate that a widened reef slope and estuarine nutrient inputs provide a critical habitat gradient, offering turtles tidal-independent access to shallow foraging flats. Based on these findings, we recommend designating the northern reef slope as a priority no-take zone and conducting seagrass health assessments to guide potential restoration. This research demonstrates the utility of integrating drone surveys with open access geospatial tools to provide the actionable spatial data necessary for targeted sea turtle conservation and informed marine spatial planning.

This study compares Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression and Random Forest models to analyze particulate matter (PM₁, PM_2.5, and PM₁₀) concentrations based on meteorological and traffic data collected on major arterials in Karachi, Pakistan. OLS regression highlights temperature and humidity as significant contributors to PM levels, while wind speed shows an inverse relationship, especially with PM₁. Random Forest regression demonstrates superior performance with higher R² values and a lower RMSE, effectively capturing complex, non-linear relationships among variables. Wind speed thresholds for PM dispersion are identified, providing critical benchmarks for air quality management. This comparative analysis underscores the effectiveness of machine learning methods for accurate environmental modeling.