Search Results (280)

In this experimental inquiry, I welcome readers into an unfolding undisciplined platform, expanding upon my earlier theorizing of philly soul musicking through insurgent listening to Archie Shepp’s Attica Blues in all of its radical, beautiful, and tragic public memory work of the 1971 Attica Uprising. Philly soul musicking gives regional texture to a transgenerational Black diasporic performance practice that serves to archive the complexity of Black lived experiences and articulate felt collective visions of liberated Black futures. Through these introductory comments, I improvise what I reckon to be essential to the secretive sonic histories of the album, giving shape to a fire music organizing praxis meant to call us into being-with the anticolonial worldmaking project that the men of Attica advanced with their hearts, minds, and bodies on the line. This prelude foreshadows a wider overall project speculating upon how Attica Blues and other related avenues of Black compositional practice attune us to assembling active solidarities with militants/rebels on the frontlines inventing rhythmic zones of autonomy, freedom, and liberation. I ask of the music’s fugitive archive, to draw on the words of James Baldwin, what are the contemporary use(s) of the Attica Blues? Full article

The ongoing evolution of Industry 4.0 technologies necessitates novel and effective modes of human–machine interaction within production environments. This work presents a modular approach to the design and implementation of graphical user interfaces (GUI) in mixed reality, leveraging the Asset Administration Shell (AAS) standard. The proposed method enables the dynamic rendering of GUI elements in a Mixed Reality setting based on structured data retrieved from an AAS server. Developed for the Microsoft HoloLens 2 using the Unity engine and the Microsoft Reality Toolkit 3 (MRTK3), the system allows for the spatial placement of interface components either at predefined coordinates or in relation to specific elements of a production line model. Additionally, it incorporates a real-time distributed architecture utilizing OPC UA PubSub and MQTT protocols for processing and visualising live data. The prototype demonstrates the viability of using AAS as a flexible framework for defining and generating GUI components in immersive environments and lays the groundwork for further research into standardised, easily deployable user interface solutions for industrial applications. Full article

The Chinese bahaba (Bahaba taipingensis), an endangered marine fish, is highly vulnerable to infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV). In this work, we developed a gill filament-derived cell line, designated BTG, to investigate how these cells respond to ISKNV over time, specifically from 3 to 24 h post-infection (hpi). BTG cells grew steadily, displayed a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 48, demonstrated high transfection efficiency, and were highly susceptible to viral infection. Characteristic cytopathic effects (CPEs) became noticeable as early as 6 hpi at 27 °C. RNA-seq profiling showed that the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) steadily increased with time. Standard enrichment analysis at individual time points (3, 6, 12, and 24 hpi) highlighted pathways mainly involved in DNA replication, cell cycle control, ribosome assembly, transcription and translation, mismatch repair, and cell adhesion. Temporal clustering analysis, however, revealed hidden patterns in immune gene expression. Genes that were consistently downregulated were enriched in immune-related pathways, including ECM–receptor interaction, cytokine–receptor signaling, PI3K–AKT, and Wnt signaling, indicating prolonged suppression of host defense mechanisms. In contrast, clusters of genes transiently upregulated during the first 6 h post-infection were associated with antiviral and innate immune pathways, such as NF-κB, JNK, IRF3, IRF7, caspases, JAK, MHC I, and lysosome-related functions, suggesting a rapid but short-lived antiviral response. Genes that were continuously upregulated were primarily involved in nucleic acid replication and protein synthesis, reflecting a gradual host cell reprogramming to support viral replication. Taken together, these findings reveal a temporal shift in BTG cells from an initial burst of immune activity to immune suppression, accompanied by enhanced viral replication. The BTG cell line thus represents a valuable in vitro model for dissecting ISKNV–host interactions and offers new perspectives on the molecular strategies employed by megalocytiviruses in B. taipingensis. Full article

Multimedia protocol implementations are susceptible to security vulnerabilities, yet the existing fuzzing methods fail to generate seed corpora covering all supported resource types due to the resource type sensitivity characteristic, resulting in limited code coverage. We propose LLMSGen, a method leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs) to generate diverse seeds for multimedia protocol fuzzing. Through prompt chaining, LLMs analyze the source code of the target program to identify supported resource types and extract URI construction rules. Diverse request seeds are then generated by replacing URI fields in captured traffic, and the corresponding resource files are placed in the server’s working directory to ensure valid responses during fuzzing. Evaluated on three RTSP-based open-source programs (Live555, RTSPServer, Gstreamer), LLMSGen increased resource type coverage by an average of approximately 98.4% and improved code line coverage by approximately 36.8% compared to AFLNet’s original seed corpus. Full article

For Entamoeba histolytica to establish an infection, it must employ several mechanisms of pathogenicity to produce and secrete virulence factors that allow the parasite to adhere to and finally colonize and invade the host. However, in the intestinal epithelium, trophozoites (amoebae) encounter lactoferrin (Lf), a glycoprotein of the first line of defense, together with immunoglobulins and other molecules. We previously reported that iron-free bovine Lf (bLf) could kill amoebae both in vitro and in animal models of intestinal and hepatic amoebiasis. In this work, selected pathogenic mechanisms were evaluated in trophozoites by exposing cultures to sublethal concentrations of bLf to determine which amoebic functions could be altered. At a sublethal bLf concentration, this glycoprotein was removed from the trophozoite. In the presence of erythrocytes, bLf colocalized with erythrocytes at the capping site; this was observed by confocal microscopy of living cells. In addition, the erythrophagocytosis rate, proteolytic activity, adhesion, and cytotoxic properties towards Caco2 colonic cancer cells were reduced in the presence of bLf. Lactoferrin could be a particularly important protein that naturally protects colonic epithelial cells from E. histolytica infection. Full article

In this work, the development and validation of an AI- and sensor-based inline quality monitoring system for the analysis of particle size distributions (PSDs) of comminuted construction and demolition waste (CDW) material flows are described. In this, a custom-developed multitask CNN (CDW-MT-CNN) was developed using manually sieve analyzed particles. This model is able to rapidly and simultaneously predict the particle class and weight, essential for the determination of the PSD. The single particle data are then aggregated per raw image, usually consisting of around 1000 particles for full-scale experiments, to acquire a per-image PSD. The inline mounted RGB line scan sensor records high-resolution images in subsecond frequencies. With an inference time of around 54 ms for a single image, this model would be able to provide a PSD every minute in a full-scale plant. For the purpose of inline monitoring of CDW material flows in a comminution process, such intervals are sufficient according to experts and solve existing gaps regarding the upscaling of laboratory-developed systems. Together with the high predictive performance of the model, especially in terms of classification (82% accuracy), it is shown that this technology has potential for monitoring in full-scale plants, for instance by offering operators new insights to improve operation efficiency. Further research should focus on increasing the precision for weight prediction, for instance by increasing the labeled data set with a larger number of unique particles and on methods to verify the performance of the model on pilot or full-scale plants during live operation. Full article

Metabolic heterogeneity within the cell microenvironment is a key driver of cancer progression and resistance to therapy. However, current approaches lack the spatial and temporal resolution required to capture its dynamics in living systems. While recent advances in 3D cell culture models and metabolomic profiling have improved our understanding of the tumor niche, their integration with real-time optical sensing remains underdeveloped. Here, we present an integrated platform combining a 3D-printed microreactor culture chamber with Raman spectroscopy to enable non-invasive, spatially resolved metabolic monitoring of living cell cultures. Our microreactor platform generates controlled oxygen and nutrient cues while simultaneously acquiring label-free Raman spectra, revealing extracellular metabolic fingerprints linked to cell catabolism (e.g., glucose and lactate shifts) and acidification. Analysis across four cell lines uncovered temporal evolution as the dominant source of metabolic variance, while spatial heterogeneity along oxygen gradients is a secondary factor. In particular, diffusion-limited regions exhibited localized acidification and accumulation of stress biomarkers—such as the release of nucleotides—features that cannot be detected using conventional bulk assays. By providing a versatile platform for real-time mapping, this work enables the mechanistic dissection of cell adaptation to microenvironmental stress and supports the prediction of metabolic signatures underlying drug response and treatment outcomes. Full article

Background/Objectives: Classism, or discrimination based on social class, is associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety symptoms. However, limited research has examined the psychological processes that may help explain these associations. The present study tested whether perceived stress statistically mediated the associations between experienced and anticipated classism and mental health symptoms. Methods: A U.S. census-matched sample on age, gender, race/ethnicity, income, and census region (n = 1993) was analyzed. Missing data were addressed using Bayesian multiple imputation, and mediation models estimated total, direct, and indirect effects. Results: Results indicated that perceived stress statistically accounted for the associations between both experienced and anticipated classism and higher depression and anxiety symptoms, even after adjusting for income and education. In exploratory analyses, individuals living at or below the federal poverty line reported a higher likelihood of experiencing classism, and perceived stress significantly mediated the association between experienced classism and mental health symptoms within this population. Conclusions: These findings provide preliminary evidence that perceived stress is a statistical mediator of the association between classism and mental health symptoms. Future prospective and experimental work is required to establish potential causal relationships between the constructs. Full article

Organoselenium chemistry has undergone remarkable development over the past five decades, evolving from its initial association with high toxicity into a field with pivotal contributions to materials science, organic synthesis, catalysis, and Medicinal Chemistry. Among the diverse biological activities displayed by organoselenium compounds, their redox behaviour is particularly compelling, as many of these molecules act as efficient mimetics of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GPx). In this work, we investigated the GPx-like activity of a series of N,N′-diaryl selenoureas toward the depletion of H₂O₂ and cumene hydroperoxide (CumOOH) as model ROS. Their reactivity was correlated with the electronic nature of the aryl substituents using a Hammett-type analysis, revealing a strong dependence of the reaction rate on remote electronic perturbations within the aromatic ring. Combined UV and NMR studies provided mechanistic evidence supporting a catalytic cycle in which selenoureas, operating at sub-stoichiometric loadings (1 mol%) and using a thiol as a cofactor-like molecule, can be used to efficiently scavenge ROS with half-lives of only a few minutes (~10–60 min). Furthermore, these selenoureas exhibited potent antiproliferative activity across several human solid tumour cell lines. Overall, these results offer mechanistic insight into the ROS-eliminating pathways of selenoureas and highlight their potential as chemopreventive or anticancer agents. Full article

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) amplifies Raman scattering by placing molecules in the near-field of plasmonic nanostructures, enabling label-free molecular fingerprinting. While attractive for living cell phenotyping, many cellular SERS works rely on internalized colloidal nanoparticles, leading to variable uptake/localization, aggregation-driven hotspot fluctuations, and potential cellular perturbation. Here, we report a chip-like Au/SiO₂ nanolaminate SERS substrate that supports direct culture and label-free measurements of living cells on spatially defined hotspots without nanoparticle uptake. The periodic nanolaminate forms dense nanogaps and is engineered for 785 nm excitation, providing uniform enhancement over a large, culture-compatible area with high hotspot uniformity. By engineering the cell–substrate nano–bio interface, the platform enables reproducible acquisition of intrinsic cellular vibrational fingerprints under physiological conditions without Raman tags. Using MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, we collected hundreds of spectra per line, and MDA-MB-231 exhibited broader spectral variations, indicating greater heterogeneity. Principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis achieved 99% classification accuracy for MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, and bright-field imaging confirmed preserved adhesion and canonical morphologies. This chip-based, label-free living cell SERS platform enables scalable, nonperturbative phenotyping and may support rapid malignancy classification and treatment response screening across subtle cancer states. Full article

Depression is notable for high rates of disability. The medical model typically characterizes depression as a physiological dysfunction or psychological disorder. However, both views fail to appreciate the phenomenology of depressed experience. Drawing on the existential phenomenology of Merleau-Ponty, this article contends that the lived experience of chronic depression is marked by a disturbance between the body-subject and the world. More specifically, the experience of depression is characterized by alienation from the world, self and others. While anti-depressants have long been the first line of treatment of depression, many governments subsidize cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as an adjunct treatment. CBT is said to be the gold standard psychotherapeutic treatment given that it is evidence-based, cost-effective, and short in duration. However, not only are these justifications questionable, but the theoretical underpinnings of CBT have ideological significance. Rather than approaching depressed persons as body-subjects, CBT casts service users as neo-liberal subjects, insofar as depression is characterized as disordered thinking that is independent of a person’s situated life. The emphasis on quickly returning people to work to reduce strain on welfare systems, while a valid economic concern, is not a valid therapeutic concern. The limited choice of subsidized psychotherapeutic options fails to recognize that depression is a heterogenous phenomenon, meaning that the CBT model of disordered thinking is not necessarily representative of the way in which depression manifests. Full article

There is a need to enhance the behavioral health (BH) workforce. Paraprofessionals and peers are often on the “front lines” working with families affected by substance misuse. While they possess valuable lived experience, they often lack the requisite education to be most effective, resulting in high burnout and turnover. This study describes a novel training program for paraprofessionals working in family BH that included three online, 8-week courses (Level I) and a 12-month supervised apprenticeship (Level II). This study measured program satisfaction and effectiveness (knowledge, confidence, and perceived competence) and explored effects on career intention. A sample of paraprofessionals in the BH workforce provided data at baseline, after Level I, and after Level II. After Level II, 87% of participants rated their satisfaction with the program as high. Statistically significant improvements were found for knowledge, confidence, and competence across all domains. Almost all participants reported increased confidence after each level (93% and 94%, respectively). The majority (69%) reported increased interest in continuing their BH career and education. Overall, results suggest that the program was well-received by participants and was associated with improvements. Results provide preliminary support for apprenticeship-based training to enhance the BH workforce and address workforce challenges. Full article

Malaria remains a major global health challenge, driven in part by widespread antimalarial drug resistance in Plasmodium parasites. Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) are currently the first-line treatment; however, resistance has also emerged. Artemisinin damages parasite proteins, promoting their ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation. Because inhibitors of the Plasmodium 26S proteasome synergize with artemisinin, the proteasome has emerged as a promising drug target, yet tools to monitor its function in live parasites remain limited. Here, we generated a P. falciparum line expressing green fluorescent protein fused to a destabilization domain (GFP-DD) to assess proteasome activity and combined it with MitoTracker^TM staining. In the absence of the stabilizing ligand Shield-1, the GFP-DD reporter is rapidly degraded by the proteasome. Using fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry, we show that GFP-DD fluorescence provides a quantitative, inverse readout of proteasomal activity, increasing upon ligand-mediated stabilization or pharmacological inhibition with MG132. Shield-1 titration identified an optimal stabilization range, and MG132 induced a dose-dependent fluorescence increase. This work establishes a practical live-cell platform to probe ubiquitin–proteasome system function, with potential applications in future phenotypic screening and antimalarial resistance studies. Full article

Background: Electrical injuries occur when an electric current comes into contact with or passes through the body. Electrical injuries can result from contact with faulty electrical appliances and machinery or from contact with open household wiring or electrical power lines. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychosocial difficulties experienced by individuals who suffered electrical burns due to work accidents, using a phenomenological approach. Study Design: This phenomenological study was conducted with semi-structured in-depth interviews with 15 electrical burn survivors living in different regions of Turkey via the WhatsApp mobile application. The snowball sampling method was used to reach the sample group. Interviews continued until data saturation was achieved. All interviews were audio recorded and then transcribed. The data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological analysis method. The study was conducted and reported according to the COREQ checklist. Results: In the analysis of the data, two categories and five themes were identified: the effects of electrical burn at the time of occurrence and during the hospital process (psychological, social and physical), and adaptation to life after electrical burn treatment (emotions experienced, difficulties experienced and coping). Conclusions: This study revealed the life experiences, psychosocial difficulties and coping experiences of individuals with electrical burns. According to the results of the research, it is understood that individuals experienced negative emotions such as depression, helplessness and hopelessness as a result of electrical burns, could not cope with the psychosocial difficulties experienced and received psychological support. It was determined that social appearance anxiety due to deterioration in body image was very important in individuals. Full article

Background/Objectives: The PEER beamline at the ANSTO Australian Synchrotron has been developed to enable VHEE FLASH radiotherapy studies, both dosimetric and biological. Featuring a 100 MeV electron linac, it delivers single or multi-pulse irradiations consisting of 100 ps bunches with a 2 ns spacing, resulting in average dose-rates and instantaneous dose-rates as high as ${10}^8$ Gy/s and ${10}^9$ Gy/s, respectively. Much work has been conducted to realise a stable accelerator facility, complete with the tooling and diagnostics required to undertake such studies. However, to truly confirm its suitability required a successful biological benchmarking. Methods: Three cell lines were irradiated utilising real-time dosimetry to compare linear quadratic cell survival curves with other facilities. Also, mouse cadavers were transported and irradiated, mimicking live animals, to assess the feasibility and logistics of small animal experiments. Results: By comparing the trends of the linear quadratic model, evident in the $\alpha$ and $\beta$ parameters, the PEER cell survival results were shown to be in agreement with VHEE results from the ARES beamline at DESY, Hamburg, Germany. Evident in the survival trends, VHEE produced more cell sparing in all cell lines compared to 2 Gy/s X-rays delivered on the IMBL, another beamline at the Australian Synchrotron. The results of the mouse cadaver irradiations showed that PEER can safely and efficiently irradiate small animals. Conclusions: The PEER beamline is shown to possess suitable capabilities, including real-time dosimetry, repeatable alignment, and linac diagnostics, rendering it suitable for future in vivo VHEE UHDR FLASH radiotherapy investigations. Full article