Search Results (512)

Long- or post-COVID-19 syndrome, which is also designated by WHO as Post COVID-19 Condition (PCC), is characterized by the persistent symptoms that remain after recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection. A worldwide consortium of Long COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative (Long COVID-19 HGI) identified an SNP rs9367106 (G>C; chr6:41,515,652, GRCh38, p = 1.76 × 10⁻¹⁰, OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.40–1.89) that is associated with PCC. Unraveling the functional significance of this SNP is of prime importance to understanding the development of the PCC phenotypes and their therapy. Here, in Silico, I explored how the risk allele of this SNP alters the functional mechanisms and molecular pathways leading to the development of PCC phenotypes. Bioinformatic methods include physical interactions using HI-C and Chia-PET analysis, Transcription Factors (TFs) binding ability, RNA structure modeling, epigenetic, and pathway analysis. This SNP resides within two long RNA genes, LINC01276 and FOXP4-AS1, and is located at ~31 kb upstream of a transcription factor FOXP4. This DNA region, including this SNP, physically interacts with FOXP4-AS1 and FOXP4, implying that this regulatory SNP could alter the normal cellular function of FOXP4-AS1 and FOXP4. Furthermore, rs9367106 is in eQTL with the FOXP4 gene in lung tissue. rs9367106 carrying DNA sequences act as distant enhancers and bind with several transcription factors (TFs) including YY1, PPAR-α, IK-1, GR-α, and AP2αA. The G>C transition extensively modifies the RNA structure that may affect the TF bindings and enhancer functions to alter the interactions and functions of these RNA molecules. This SNP also includes an ALU/SINE sequence and alteration of which by the G>C transition may prevent IFIH1/MDA5 activation, leading to suppression of host innate immune responses. LINC01276 targets the MED20 gene that expresses mostly in brain tissues, associated with sleep disorders and basal ganglia abnormalities similar to some of the symptoms of PCC phenotypes. Taken together, G>C transition of rs9367601 may likely alter the function of all three genes to explain the molecular basis of developing the long-term symptomatic abnormalities in the lungs and brain observed after COVID-19 recovery. Full article

Air stability caused by the H₂O/CO₂ reaction at the layered oxide NaTMO₂ surface is one of the main obstacles to commercializing sodium-ion batteries (SIBS). The H₂O and CO₂ adsorption properties on the (100) surface of sodium layered transition metal oxide NaTMO₂ (TM = Co, Ni, Mo, Nd) are calculated using the DFT method to study the surface air stability. This study showed that the material bulk phase (symmetry), surface site, element type, and surface termination are all (though not the only) important factors that affect the adsorption strength. Contrary to previous studies, the P phase is not always more air-stable than the O phase; our calculations showed that the NaNiO₂ O phase is more stable than the P phase. The calculated band center and occupation showed a direct relationship with the adsorption energy. The Na site adsorption for CO₂ and H₂O showed the same V-shape trend. However, the TM adsorption for CO₂ and H₂O showed a different trend. With an increased t₂g band center, CO₂ adsorption strength increases. There is no clear trend for H₂O adsorption. Our calculations showed that the electronic structure of the surface atomic of adsorption site plays a decisive role in CO₂ and H₂O adsorption strength. This study demonstrated an effective method for obtaining a stability parameter regarding the electronic structure, which can be used to screen the air-stable layered oxide sodium cathode in the future. Full article

This work presents a novel approach to investigating epitaxial GaAsN layers and GaAsN-based p-i-n solar cell structures using light-assisted scanning capacitance microscopy (SCM) and spectroscopy. Due to the technological challenges in growing high-quality GaAsN with controlled nitrogen incorporation, the epitaxial layers often exhibit inhomogeneity in their opto-electrical properties. By combining localized cross-section SCM measurements with wavelength-tunable optical excitation (800–1600 nm), we resolved carrier concentration profiles, internal electric fields, and deep-level transitions across the device structure at a nanoscale resolution. A comparative analysis between electrochemical capacitance–voltage (EC-V) profiling and photoluminescence spectroscopy confirmed multiple localized transitions, attributed to compositional fluctuations and nitrogen-induced defects within GaAsN. The SCM method revealed spatial variations in energy states, including discrete nitrogen-rich regions and gradual variations in the nitrogen content throughout the layer depth, which are not recognizable using standard characterization methods. Our results demonstrate the unique capability of the photo-scanning capacitance microscopy and spectroscopy technique to provide spatially resolved insights into complex dilute nitride structures, offering a universal and accessible tool for semiconductor structures and optoelectronic devices evaluation. Full article

LK-99, with chemical formula Pb_10−xCu_x(PO₄)₆O, was recently reported to be a room-temperature superconductor. While this claim has met with little support in a flurry of ensuing work, a variety of calculations (mostly based on density-functional theory) have demonstrated that the system possesses some unusual characteristics in the electronic structure, in particular flat bands. We have established previously that within DFT, the system is insulating with many characteristics resembling the classic cuprates, provided the structure is not constrained to the P3(143) symmetry nominally assigned to it. Here we describe the basic electronic structure of LK-99 within self-consistent many-body perturbative approach, quasiparticle self-consistent GW (QSGW) approximation and their diagrammatic extensions. QSGW predicts that pristine LK-99 is indeed a Mott/charge transfer insulator, with a bandgap gap in excess of 3 eV, whether or not constrained to the P3(143) symmetry. When Pb₉Cu(PO₄)₆O is hole-doped, the valence bands modify only slightly, and a hole pocket appears. However, two solutions emerge: a high-moment solution with the Cu local moment aligned parallel to neighbors, and a low-moment solution with Cu aligned antiparallel to its environment. In the electron-doped case the conduction band structure changes significantly: states of mostly Pb character merge with the formerly dispersionless Cu d state, and high-spin and low spin solutions once again appear. Thus we conclude that with suitable doping, the ground state of the system is not adequately described by a band picture, and that strong correlations are likely. Irrespective of whether this system class hosts superconductivity or not, the transition of Pb₁₀(PO₄)₆O from being a band insulator to Pb₉Cu(PO₄)₆O, a Mott insulator, and multi-determinantal nature of doped Mott physics make this an extremely interesting case-study for strongly correlated many-body physics. Full article

Background: Osteotomies around the knee aim to correct varus or valgus malalignment and improve biomechanics. However, little is known about their effect on knee phenotypes, as defined by the Coronal-Plane-Alignment-of-the-Knee (CPAK) and Hirschmann’s functional classification. This study evaluated pre- and postoperative phenotypes in patients undergoing high-tibial-osteotomy (HTO) or distal-femoral-osteotomy (DFO). Methods: We retrospectively analysed 214 osteotomies around the knee (HTO: 145; DFO: 69) of 188 patients from our institutional registry. Radiographic parameters were measured using a validated artificial intelligence software, with phenotypes classified by CPAK and Hirschmann classification. Preoperative osteotomy planning was compared to postoperative alignment. Regression was used to assess the influence of demographic and radiographic factors. Results: CPAK types changed in 95.3% of cases. Medial opening HTOs most frequently shifted from CPAK type I (73.8%) to VI (42.3%), while medial closing DFOs transitioned from type III (81.5%) to V (24.1%). Concordance between planned and achieved CPAK types was highest for types III, IV, and V. Postoperative angles were generally smaller than planned for joint-line-obliquity (JLO), lateral-distal-femur-angle, and medial-proximal-tibial-angle (p < 0.001). Neutral JLO was restored in only 48.1%. Preoperative phenotypes NEUmLDFA0° (40.1%) and VARmMPTA3° (32.3%) were most common, while postoperative phenotypes included VALmLDFA3° (52.4%) and VALmMPTA3° (37.7%). Age, sex, and BMI significantly influenced alignment outcomes. Conclusions: Postoperative CPAK classifications shifted significantly across all osteotomy types, with minimal retention of preoperative types. Although most procedures achieved correction within the target HKA range, restoration of a neutral JLO was observed in only half of the cases, emphasizing the importance of phenotype-specific planning and highlight potential limitations of CPAK classification. Full article

To address mass transport limitations in carbon nanofiber membrane electrodes for overall water splitting, a self-supporting nitrogen-doped hollow carbon nanofiber membrane embedded with Co/Co₂P heterojunctions (Co/Co₂P-NCNFs-H) was fabricated via continuous coaxial electrospinning. The architecture features uniform hollow channels (200–250 nm diameter, 30–50 nm wall thickness) and a high specific surface area (254 m² g⁻¹), as confirmed by SEM, TEM, and BET analysis. The Co/Co₂P heterojunction was uniformly dispersed on nitrogen-doped hollow carbon nanofibers through electrospinning, leverages interfacial electronic synergy to accelerate charge transfer and optimize the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Electrochemical tests demonstrated exceptional catalytic activity, achieving current densities of 100 mA cm⁻² at ultralow overpotentials of 405.6 mV (OER) and 247.9 mV (HER) in 1.0 M KOH—surpassing most reported transition metal catalysts for both half-reactions. Moreover, the electrode exhibited robust long-term stability, maintaining performance for nearly 20 h at 0.6 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) (OER) and over 250 h at −1.5 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) (HER), attributed to the mechanical integrity of the hollow architecture and strong metal–carbon interactions. This work demonstrates that integrating hollow nanostructures (enhanced mass transport) and heterojunction engineering (optimized electronic configurations) creates a scalable strategy for designing efficient bifunctional catalysts, offering significant promise for sustainable hydrogen production via water electrolysis. Full article

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a malignancy that affects the oral mucosa and is characterized by indurated oral lesions. The RNAseq of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples is readily available in clinical settings. Such samples have long-term preservation and can provide highly accurate transcriptomic information regarding gene fusions, isoforms, and allele-specific expression. We determined differentially expressed genes using the transcriptomic profiles of oral potentially malignant disorder (OPMD) FFPE oral lesion samples of patients who developed OSCC over years. A technical comparison was completed comparing breast cancer (BC) FFPE publicly available data in this proof-of-concept pilot study. OSCC FFPE samples were collected from patients (N = 3) who developed OSCC 3 to 5 years following OPMD diagnosis (n = 3) and were analyzed using RNAseq. RNAseq sequences from the FFPE OSCC samples and publicly available FFPE samples of BC patients (n = 6) (Gene Expression Omnibus Database, GSE58135) aligned to human reference (GRCh38.p13). Genes were counted using the Spliced Transcripts Alignment to a Reference (STARv2.7.9a) software. Differential expression was determined in R using DESeq2v1.40.2 comparing OSCC to BC samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) plots were completed. Differential Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were determined via the Pathviewv.1.40.0 program. STRING v12.0 was used to determine protein–protein interactions between genes represented in more than one KEGG pathway. STARv2.7.9a identified 27,237 and 30,343 genes among the OSCC and BC groups, respectively. DESeq2v1.40.2 determined 9194 differentially expressed genes (DEPs), 4466 being upregulated (OSCC > BC) and 4728 being downregulated (BC > OSCC) (padj < 0.05). Most significant genes included KRT6B, SERPINB5, and DSC3 (5- to 10-fold change range; padj < 10 × 10−100). PCA showed that BC and OSCC samples clustered as separate groups. Pathviewv.1.40.0 identified 17 downregulated KEGG pathways in OSCC compared to the BC group. No upregulated KEGG pathways were identified. STRINGv12.0 determined Gene Ontology Biological Process enrichments for leukocytes and apoptosis in upregulated KEGG genes including multiple PIK3 genes and NIK/NF-kappaB signaling and metabolic responses from lipopolysaccharides in downregulated KEGG genes including CHUK and NFKB1. Using FFPE samples, we determined DEPs characteristic of OSCC and distinct from BC. KRT-family genes and lipopolysaccharide producing periodontal pathogens may be further investigated for their involvement in the OPMD to OSCC transition. Full article

Developing efficient and durable electrocatalysts for the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is crucial for sustainable hydrogen production. Herein, we report a novel RuP₂/Mn₂P₂O₇ heterojunction anchored on a three-dimensional nitrogen and phosphorus co-doped porous carbon (RuP₂/Mn₂P₂O₇/NPC) framework as a high-performance HER catalyst, synthesized via a controlled pyrolysis–phosphidation strategy. The heterostructure achieves uniform dispersion of ultrafine RuP₂/Mn₂P₂O₇ heterojunctions with well-defined interfaces. Furthermore, phosphorus doping restructures the electronic configuration of Mn and Ru species at the RuP₂/Mn₂P₂O₇ heterointerface, enabling enhanced catalytic activity through the accelerated electron transfer and kinetics of the HER. This RuP₂/Mn₂P₂O₇/NPC catalyst exhibits exceptional HER activity with 1 M KOH, requiring only 69 mV of overpotential to deliver 10 mA·cm⁻² and displaying a small Tafel slope of 69 mV·dec⁻¹, rivaling commercial 20% Pt/C. Stability tests reveal negligible activity loss over 48 h, underscoring the robustness of the heterostructure. The RuP₂/Mn₂P₂O₇ heterojunction demonstrates markedly reduced overpotentials for the electrochemical HER process, highlighting its enhanced catalytic efficiency and improved cost-effectiveness compared to the conventional catalytic systems. This work establishes a strategy for designing a transition metal phosphide heterostructure through interfacial electronic modulation, offering broad implications for energy conversion technologies. Full article

This study performed a phylogenomic analysis of the C2H2 gene family across 30 Basidiomycota species, identifying 1032 genes distributed across six evolutionary clades (Groups I–VI). Functional diversification and lineage-specific expansions were observed: Group II (37.1%) formed a conserved core, while wood decayers (e.g., Schizophyllum commune) and edible fungi (e.g., Pleurotus ostreatus) exhibited clade-specific expansions in Groups III and V, respectively. Physicochemical profiling revealed an acidic bias in Agaricomycotina proteins (pI 4.3–5.8) compared to alkaline trends in pathogens (Ustilaginomycotina/Pucciniomycotina; pI 8.3–8.6). Comparative genomics indicated that saprotrophs retained long genes (12.4 kb) with abundant introns (mean = 6.2/gene), whereas pathogens exhibited genomic streamlining (introns ≤ 2). Synteny network analysis revealed high ancestral conservation in core clusters (Cluster_1–2: 58% homologs) under strong purifying selection (Ka/Ks = 0.18–0.22), while peripheral clusters (Cluster_Mini) approached neutral evolution (Ka/Ks = 0.73). This study reveals stage-specific expression dynamics of 17 C2H2 zinc finger genes in Sarcomyxa edulis, highlighting their roles in coordinating developmental transitions (e.g., SeC2H2_1 in low-temperature adaptation, SeC2H2_7/12 in primordia initiation, and SeC2H2_8/9/13 in fruiting body maturation) through temporally partitioned regulatory programs, providing insights into fungal morphogenesis and stress-responsive adaptation. These findings underscore the dual role of C2H2 genes in sustaining conserved regulatory networks and facilitating ecological adaptation, providing new insights into fungal genome evolution. Full article

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxin is a well-characterized microbe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP) that forms the outer membrane of both pathogenic and commensal Gram-negative bacteria. It plays a crucial role in triggering inflammatory disorders such as mastitis, acidosis, and septicemia. In heifers, an LPS challenge induces a dynamic stress response, marked by elevated cortisol levels, increased body temperature, and altered immune function. Research indicates that LPS administration leads to a significant rise in cortisol post-challenge. Building on this understanding, the present study aimed to estimate genetic parameters for serum cortisol response to LPS challenge in Holstein heifers and its linear associations with production, health, reproduction, and conformation traits. Additionally, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted to identify genetic regions associated with cortisol response. A total of 252 animals were evaluated for cortisol response, with correlations estimated between cortisol levels and 55 genomic breeding values for key traits. Genetic parameters and heritability for cortisol response were estimated using Residual Maximum Likelihood (REML) in the Blupf90+ v 2.57 software. Single-Step GWAS (ssGWAS) employing a 10-SNP window approach and 42,123 SNP markers was performed to identify genomic regions that explained at least 0.5% of additive genetic variance. Finally, candidate genes and QTLs located 50 kb up and downstream of those windows were identified. The cortisol response showed significant but weak linear associations with cystic ovaries, body maintenance requirements, lactation persistency, milk yield, and protein yield (p-value ≤ 0.05) and showed suggestive weak linear associations with udder texture, clinical ketosis, heel horn erosion, and milking speed (p-value ≤ 0.15). Cortisol response showed significant additive genetic variance, along with moderate heritability of 0.26 (±0.19). A total of 34 windows explained at least 0.5% of additive genetic variance, and 75 QTLs and 11 candidate genes, comprising the genes CCL20, DAW1, CSMD2, HMGB4, B3GAT2, PARD3, bta-mir-2285aw, CFH, CDH2, ENSBTAG00000052242, and ENSBTAG00000050498, were identified. The functional enrichment analysis allowed us to infer two instances where these gene products could interfere with cortisol production: the first instance is related to the complement system, and the second one is related to the EMT (Epithelium–Mesenchymal Transition) and pituitary gland formation. Among the QTLs, 13 were enriched in the dataset, corresponding to traits related to milk (potassium content), the exterior (udder traits, teat placement, foot angle, rear leg placement, and feet and leg conformation), production (length of productive life, net merit, and type), and reproduction (stillbirth and calving ease). In summary, the cortisol response to LPS challenge in Holstein heifers seems to be moderately heritable and has weak but significant linear associations with important production and health traits. Several candidate genes identified could perform important roles, in at least two ways, for cortisol production, and QTLs were identified close to regions of the genome that explained a significant amount of additive genetic variance for cortisol response. Therefore, further investigations are warranted to validate these findings with a larger dataset. Full article

The transition toward sustainable and decentralized energy solutions necessitates the development of innovative bioelectronic systems capable of harvesting and converting renewable energy. Here, we present a novel photo-bioelectrochemical fuel cell architecture based on a biohybrid anode integrating laser-induced graphene (LIG), poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), and isolated thylakoid membranes. LIG provided a porous, conductive scaffold, while PEDOT enhanced electrode compatibility, electrical conductivity, and operational stability. Compared to MXene-based systems that involve complex, multi-step synthesis, PEDOT offers a cost-effective and scalable alternative for bioelectrode fabrication. Thylakoid membranes were immobilized onto the PEDOT-modified LIG surface to enable light-driven electron generation. Electrochemical characterization revealed enhanced redox activity following PEDOT modification and stable photocurrent generation under light illumination, achieving a photocurrent density of approximately 18 µA cm⁻². The assembled photo-bioelectrochemical fuel cell employing a gas diffusion platinum cathode demonstrated an open-circuit voltage of 0.57 V and a peak power density of 36 µW cm⁻² in 0.1 M citrate buffer (pH 5.5) under light conditions. Furthermore, the integration of a charge pump circuit successfully boosted the harvested voltage to drive a low-power light-emitting diode, showcasing the practical viability of the system. This work highlights the potential of combining biological photosystems with conductive nanomaterials for the development of self-powered, light-driven bioelectronic devices. Full article

This paper introduces a high-efficiency buck converter designed for a wide load range, targeting low-power applications in medical devices, smart homes, wearables, IoT, and technology utilizing WiFi and Bluetooth. To achieve high efficiency across varying loads, the proposed converter employs a low-power adaptive on-time (AOT) controller that ensures output voltage stability and seamless mode transitions. An adaptive comparator (ACP) with variable output impedance is introduced, offering a variable DC gain and bandwidth to be suitable for different load conditions. A negative-level shifter (NLS) circuit, with its swing ranging from −0.5 V to the battery voltage (V_BAT), is proposed to control the smaller power p-MOS transistors. By using an NLS, the chip area, which is mostly occupied by power CMOS transistors, is reduced while the power efficiency is improved, particularly under a heavy load. A status time detector (STD) block which provides control signals to the ACP and NLS for optimized power consumption is added to identify load conditions (heavy, light, ultra-light). By employing a 180 nm CMOS technology, the active chip area occupies about 0.31 mm². With an input voltage range of 2.8–3.3 V, the controller’s current consumption ranges from 1.2 μA to 16 μA, corresponding to the output load current varying from 12 μA to 120 mA. Although the output load can vary, the output voltage is regulated at 1.2 V with a ripple between 3 and 12 mV. The proposed design achieves a peak efficiency of 96.2% under a heavy load with a switching frequency of 1.3 MHz. Full article

The exponential growth in the number of devices connected via the internet has led to the need to achieve granular programmability for increased performance, resilience, reduced latency, and jitter. Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Programming Protocol independent Packet Processing (P4) are designed to introduce programmability into the control and data plane of networks, respectively. Despite their individual potential and capabilities, the performance of combining SDN and P4 remains underexplored. This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of SDN with data plane programmability using P4 (SDN+P4) against traditional SDN with Open vSwitch (SDN+OvS), aimed at answering the hypothesis that combining SDN and P4 strengthens the control and data plane programmability and offers improved management and adaptability, which would provide a platform with faster packet processing with reduced jitter, loss, and processing overhead. Mininet was employed to emulate three distinct topologies: multi-path, grid, and transit-stub. Various traffic types were transmitted to assess performance metrics across the three topologies. Our results demonstrate that SDN+P4 outperform SDN+OvS significantly due to parallel processing, flexible parsing, and reduced overhead. The evaluation demonstrates the potential of SDN+P4 to provide a more resilient and stringent service with improved network performance for the future internet and its heterogeneity of applications. Full article

Zygotic genome activation (ZGA) marks the critical transition from reliance on maternal transcripts to the initiation of embryonic transcription early in development. Despite extensive characterization in model species, the regulatory framework of ZGA in sheep remains poorly defined. Here, we applied single-cell RNA sequencing (Smart-seq2) to in vivo- and in vitro-derived sheep embryos at the 8-, 16-, and 32-cell stages. Differential expression analysis revealed 114, 1628, and 1465 genes altered in the 8- vs. 16-, 16- vs. 32-, and 8- vs. 32-cell transitions, respectively, with the core pluripotency factors SOX2, NANOG, POU5F1, and KLF4 upregulated during major ZGA. To uncover coordinated regulatory modules, we constructed a weighted gene co-expression network using WGCNA, identifying the MEred module as most tightly correlated with developmental progression (r = 0.48, p = 8.6 × 10⁻¹⁴). The integration of MERed genes into the STRING v11 protein–protein interaction network furnished a high-confidence scaffold for community detection. Louvain partitioning delineated two discrete communities: Community 0 was enriched in ER–Golgi vesicle-mediated transport, transmembrane transport, and cytoskeletal dynamics, suggesting roles in membrane protein processing, secretion, and early signaling; Community 1 was enriched in G2/M cell-cycle transition and RNA splicing/processing, indicating a coordinated network for accurate post-ZGA cell division and transcript maturation. Together, these integrated analyses reveal a modular regulatory architecture underlying sheep ZGA and provide a framework for dissecting early embryonic development in this species. Full article

In recent years, transition metal-based catalytic materials have garnered considerable attention, particularly those exhibiting high catalytic efficiency toward both the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). In this work, a self-supporting ternary transition metal phosphide (CoFeNi_0.2P) with a hierarchical structure was synthesized using the Prussian blue analogue (PBA)/zeolitic imidazolate framework-L (ZIF-L) template. Benefiting from the hierarchical structure of the PBA/ZIF-L precursor and the electronic structure modulation induced by Ni doping, the resulting CoFeNi_0.2P demonstrates impressive bifunctional electrocatalytic activity. Specifically, in 1 M KOH electrolyte, the CoFeNi_0.2P catalyst requires an overpotential of only 88 mV to deliver 10 mA cm⁻² for the HER and 248 mV to achieve 50 mA cm⁻² for the OER. Moreover, it demonstrates satisfactory stability toward both the HER and OER. When integrated into a two-electrode electrolyzer, CoFeNi_0.2P enables a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² at a cell voltage of 1.59 V, maintaining robust performance for over 25 h. This study provides a feasible strategy for the rational design of hierarchical electrocatalysts for efficient overall water splitting. Full article