Browse publications by year: 2025

Fulltext Gamma activity concentration from building materials: Estimation of gamma absorption and indoor radon concentration in Katsina State, Nigeria

Gambo N, Ramli RM, Noor Azman NZ

PLoS One, 2025;20(3):e0318497.
PMID: 40073067 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0318497

In this research, nineteen (19) samples were collected and analyzed with the following objectives: to evaluate the activity concentration of radionuclides, assess gamma absorption, determine indoor radon concentration, and evaluate the public health impact of building materials used in Katsina State, Nigeria. The study aimed to provide critical data that would inform safe construction practices and regulatory compliance. Samples were sourced locally from various quarry sites, while materials such as cement, paint, tiles, and ceiling materials were purchased from local markets. The methodology involved measuring radionuclide activity concentrations using gamma-ray spectroscopy with a Thallium-doped Sodium Iodide (NaI (Tl)) detector, a highly sensitive method suitable for detecting gamma emissions from radionuclides. Radon gas was identified as the primary radiation source. Results revealed varying activity concentrations of radionuclides across different building materials. Most samples, except for Gravel, Brown Clay (Zone A and C), Kaolin, and Fired Clay Bricks, were below the recommended limits for radionuclide. Similarly, for , except for Cement and Thatch, samples were generally below the average value of 35 Bq/kg. However, several samples including Gravel, Paint, Brown Clay (Zones A, B, C), Thatch, Mud Clay, Laterite, Neem tree, Limestone, Fired Clay Bricks, and Gypsum exceeded the average value of 30 Bq/kg for . The overall average activity concentrations across samples were : 232.421, : 11.791, and : 51.1858 all in Bq/kg. The average Radium equivalent and Gamma index was 113.8 Bq/kg and 0.22, respectively, with an alpha index of 0.11. The external and internal hazard indexes averaged 0.2292 and 0.3102, indicating that these materials pose no significant radiological health risk when used in construction, as all values are below international guidelines of 370 Bq/kg and 1 mSv/y. This study concludes with a recommendation for public awareness on the effects of radiation and the need for continued monitoring and regulation of radiation exposure. The significance of this study lies in its contribution to public health and safety, supporting regulatory compliance and helping to prevent potential health risks associated with construction materials.

MeSH terms: Air Pollutants, Radioactive/analysis; Gamma Rays*; Humans; Nigeria; Spectrometry, Gamma
Silicon/Silica Colloidal Waste in the Semiconductor Industry: Challenges in Recovery and Potential Use

Mah H, Chew Y, Low S, Wan T, Lim J

Langmuir, 2025 Mar 25;41(11):7151-7159.
PMID: 40073333 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c03490

The backgrinding of silicon (Si) wafers has resulted in a loss of ∼70% of valuable Si materials. Consequently, an effluent known as diluted backgrinding wastewater (DBGW) is generated, containing nanosized silicon/silica colloids. Here, we discussed the challenges associated with the effective separation of Si-based waste from the DBGW based upon two perspectives, namely, a nanosized effect and a colloidal stability effect. Then, we revealed the limitation with the currently used coagulation-flocculation approach, which introduces impurities into the highly pure Si. Membrane-based filtration techniques have been adopted, but the serious fouling problem associated with colloidal Si/SiO2 renders them almost impractical. Apart from that, the potential use of highly pure Si waste generated in the semiconductor industry in lithium ion batteries (LIBs) has been discussed. This Perspective aims to provide insights into the challenges associated with the Si recovery from DBGW and suggests its potential use in LIBs.
A review of scenario cases for autonomous transportation system: Insights from CAV safety testing and scenario generation

Zhang Y, Shi X, Shao Y, Shiwakoti N, Zhang J, Pu Z, et al.

Accid Anal Prev, 2025 Jun;215:107994.
PMID: 40073462 DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2025.107994

Ensuring the reliability and trustworthiness of connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technologies is crucial before their widespread implementation. Instead of focusing solely on the automation levels of individual vehicles, it is essential to consider the autonomous operations of the entire autonomous transportation system (ATS) to achieve automated traffic. However, designing and generating scenarios that unify the diverse properties of CAV testing and establish mutual trust among stakeholders pose significant challenges. Previous studies have predominantly focused on the automation levels of CAVs when characterizing scenarios, neglecting the autonomous level of the entire scenario from an ATS perspective. Moreover, there remains research potential in evaluating whether the testing scenario libraries can be effectively integrated into the CAV testing process. In this paper, we propose a grading framework for traffic scenarios based on autonomous levels in the ATS. We also classify and summarize the traffic scenarios used in CAV safety testing. Through a comprehensive literature review, we identify prevailing issues and patterns in scenario design and provide insights and directions for future research in this field.

MeSH terms: Automation*; Automobile Driving; Automobiles*; Humans; Safety*; Transportation*
Greening road transport: Comparison of technologies in conventional, hybrid, and electric vehicles

Karlilar Pata S, Erdogan S, Pata UK, Meo MS

J Environ Manage, 2025 Mar 11;380:124908.
PMID: 40073481 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124908

The transportation sector is the primary catalyst for environmental deterioration on a global level. Growing concerns about environmental issues caused by the overuse of fossil fuels in this industry have prompted countries to prioritize eco-friendly and energy-efficient vehicles. Electric and hybrid vehicles offer a potential solution to the global challenge of meeting carbon neutrality objectives, especially in the transportation sector. In this context, this study focuses on the comparative impact of technological development in conventional, hybrid, and electric vehicles on the load capacity factor (LCF) and carbon emissions (CO2) in the G7 countries over the period 2000-2021. For this purpose, the regularized common correlated effects (rCCE) approach is applied. The empirical outcomes indicate that (i) developments in conventional vehicles are detrimental to the environment; (ii) technological advancements in hybrid vehicles are ineffective in responding to carbon neutrality efforts; (iii) developments in electric vehicles contribute to environmental sustainability.
Fulltext Genomic insights into racing camels: inbreeding levels and positive selection linked to athletic traits

Bahbahani H, Mohammad Z, Alfoudari A, Al Abri M

Animal, 2025 Feb 17;19(4):101467.
PMID: 40073590 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2025.101467

Racing dromedary camels are widely distributed across the Arabian Peninsula, predominantly concentrating in its northern and southeastern regions. Phenotypically, they are differentiated from other dromedary types, characterised by their smaller body size, longer limbs, reduced hump size, and thinner chest girth. In this study, the whole genome sequences of 34 racing camels were analysed to assess their genetic relationship with non-racing populations, estimate levels of inbreeding, calculate Wier and Cockerham's fixation index (Fst), assess effective population size (Ne), and identify candidate regions with signatures of positive selection. Both racing and non-racing camels exhibited comparable levels of genomic inbreeding (FROH = 0.21), with no significant genetic differentiation detected between them. The estimated Fst value between the two camel groups also revealed minimal genetic differentiation. A declining trend was observed in Ne estimations of both groups over the past 5 000 years, with slightly lower recent Ne in racing camels compared to their non-racing counterparts. Signatures of positive selection in the genomes of racing camels were identified through the application of two haplotype-based statistics, namely the integrated haplotype homozygosity score (iHS) and extended haplotype homozygosity between-populations (Rsb), along with runs of homozygosity (ROH) analysis. A total of 33 regions under selection were detected via iHS, 19 via Rsb, and 24 through ROH. Candidate regions under selection were found to overlap with genes involved in diverse biological pathways potentially linked to athletic performance, e.g., musculoskeletal development, lipid metabolism, stress response, bone integrity, as well as endurance and power. These findings provide a foundation for further exploration of the racing dromedary genome, with the goal of defining variants and haplotypes that might be associated with athletic traits. Such insights could assist the development of genetically informed breeding programmes aimed at developing specialised racing dromedary lines, contributing to the broader understanding and preservation of animal athletic performance and selection in domesticated species worldwide.
Glutaraldehyde cross-linking for improving the techno-functional properties of biopolymeric food packaging films; a comprehensive review

Tavassoli M, Abedi-Firoozjah R, Bahramian B, Hashemi M, Noori SMA, Oladzadabbasabadi N, et al.

Food Chem, 2025 Jun 30;478:143740.
PMID: 40073600 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.143740

Biodegradable and/or edible films made from polysaccharides and proteins have gained attention for their potential to replace some traditional packaging materials in the food industry due to their abundance, biodegradability, and nutritional value. Glutaraldehyde (GLA), rapidly reacts with free deprotonated ε-amino groups in proteins, leading to crosslinking (CL) reactions. This review delves into the chemistry of GLA and explores the various biopolymeric food packaging materials crosslinked by GLA. Furthermore, it summarizes recent applications of active and intelligent food packaging based on GLA-CL of biopolymers for food preservation. The comprehensive enhancement of biopolymeric films through GLACL is evident, with the impact on their properties depending on the concentration of GLA and reaction state. GLACL with biopolymer molecules enhances the cohesion of the polymer network, with physical and chemical covalent CL being the primary phenomena. Notably, biopolymeric food packaging films/coatings fabricated by GLACL have proven highly effectiveness in preserving fresh foods.

MeSH terms: Biopolymers/chemistry
Effect of long-term storage on the quality of cryopreserved sperm of the Pangasius nasutus (Bleeker, 1863)

Idris N, Torsabo D, Abduh MY, Abol-Munafi AB, Noordin NM, Chu Koh IC

Cryobiology, 2025 Mar 11;119:105219.
PMID: 40073656 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2025.105219

In the present study, we investigated the effects of storage for 3, 6, 9 and 12 months on cryopreserved sperm of P. nasutus, in 10 % MeOH as a cryoprotectant with 90 % 0.9 % NaCl as an extender. Sperm quality on motility, fertilization, hatching, and deformity rates were investigated using 9-months cryopreserved sperm. Determination on the effects of different sperm to egg ratios also was evaluated using 1-year cryopreserved sperm. Post-thaw motility (PTM) of cryopreserved sperm within storage period was significantly lower compared to the initial motility of fresh sperm (51.67 ± 2.4 %). However, there was no significant change of PTM during 12 months of storage (3 months, 33.3 ± 2.33 %; 6 months, 32.0 ± 2.52; 9 months, 32.67 ± 1.76; 12 months, 33.33 ± 1.67). In addition, the motility duration was unaffected by storage as there was no significant difference compared to fresh samples. Besides that, there were no significant differences in motility, fertilization and deformity rates for fresh and 9-months cryopreserved sperm except for hatching rate. Samples stored for 1 year resulted in high fertilization across all sperm to egg ratios, showing no difference compared to fresh sperm. Cryopreserved sperm exhibited a significant higher hatching rate (9.24 ± 4.68 %) at the sperm to egg ratio of 300,000:1 compared to 150,000:1 (3.44 ± 1.7 %). However, no significant difference in deformity rates for fresh and cryopreserved at sperm to egg ratio of 300,000:1. The newly developed cryopreservation protocol using methanol successfully preserved sperm quality, maintaining fertilization rates comparable to fresh sperm. This highlights its potential application in sustainable aquaculture and conservation strategies for Pangasius nasutus.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of tube feeding among older adults with advanced dementia in Japan: A net benefit regression approach

Liu N, Babazono A, Hayashida K, Jamal A, Ishihara R, Yamao R, et al.

Arch Gerontol Geriatr, 2025 Jun;133:105812.
PMID: 40073797 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2025.105812

BACKGROUND: This study aims to assess the cost-effectiveness of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) and nasogastric tube (NGT) in older adults with advanced dementia, compared with non-artificial nutrition.
METHODS: Retrospective cohort study. Medical claims data and long-term care claims data from Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, were used. We identified 3,882 older adults (≥75 years) with advanced dementia who were hospitalized between April 2016 and March 2019 due to dysphagia, malnutrition, or aspiration pneumonia. Using propensity score matching, we matched 192 patients in the PEG group with 192 in the non-artificial nutrition group, and 490 patients in the NGT group with 490 in the non-artificial nutrition group. We examined the survival years and total costs of each patient from the date of admission to March 31, 2020, and thereby estimated the cost-effectiveness of PEG and NGT, respectively, versus non-artificial nutrition. The net benefit regression model was employed to estimate the incremental net benefits (INB) with varying values of willingness-to-pay (WTP) for PEG and NGT. Furthermore, cost-effectiveness acceptability curve was used to present the probability of the cost-effectiveness of each intervention.
RESULTS: As WTP increased from JPY 7,747,909 (equivalent to US$51,546) to JPY 28,163,651 (equivalent to US$187,371), the probability of PEG being cost-effective increased from 50 % to nearly100 %. The NGT group had negative INB estimates.
CONCLUSIONS: Both PEG and NGT are less likely to provide economic values for patients with advanced dementia. However, this conclusion should be further refined through detailed cost-effectiveness analysis from multiple perspectives.

MeSH terms: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cost-Benefit Analysis*; Deglutition Disorders/economics; Deglutition Disorders/therapy; Female; Humans; Japan/epidemiology; Male; Retrospective Studies; Malnutrition/therapy
Electrospun-modified xanthan gum nanofibers enhanced with nisin for food packaging applications

Al-Hammood O, Oladzadabbasabadi N, Mohammed AH, Al-Musawi MH, PourvatanDoust S, Ghorbani M

Int J Biol Macromol, 2025 Mar 10;307(Pt 3):141961.
PMID: 40074136 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.141961

This study investigates developing and characterizing electrospun nanofibers composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and oxidized xanthan gum (OXG), with nisin as a bioactive agent, for innovative food packaging applications. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed successful crosslinking between PVA and OXG, along with uniform nisin dispersion within the fibers. The inclusion of OXG increased moisture content (MC) and water solubility (WS) while reducing porosity and water vapor permeability (WVP), demonstrating its role as a crosslinker. Conversely, nisin reduced MC to 25.13 ± 0.93 %, WS to 43.45 ± 4.32 %, and increased porosity to 61.5 ± 4.25 % and WVP to 1.75 ± 0.08 × 103 g/h·m2·Pa. Tensile strength significantly improved with higher nisin concentrations, rising from 10.8 ± 2.35 MPa to 20.31 ± 2.94 MPa, attributed to Schiff base crosslinking. Additionally, nisin-containing nanofibers exhibited enhanced antioxidant properties, increasing radical scavenging activity by 65 %. These findings highlight the potential of PVA/OXG/nisin-based nanofibers to address gaps in food packaging by offering robust mechanical strength, superior barrier properties, and bioactive functionality, paving the way for next-generation packaging solutions that extend shelf life and reduce environmental impact.
Powerful actors who undermine physical activity policy must be challenged

Milton K, Buse K, Bull F

BMJ, 2025 Mar 12;388:r487.
PMID: 40074230 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.r487
KEIO knockout collection reveals metabolomic crosstalk in Chlorella spp.-Escherichia coli co-cultures

Tong CY, Tomita H, Miyazaki K, Derek CJC, Honda K

J Phycol, 2025 Mar 12.
PMID: 40074247 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.70001

The interdependence between microalgae and bacteria has sparked scientific interest over years, primarily driven by the practical applications of microalgal-bacteria consortia in wastewater treatment and algal biofuel production. Although adequate studies have focused on the broad interactions and general behavior between the two entities, there remains a scarcity of study on the metabolic role of symbiotic bacteria in promoting microalgal growth. Here, we use the KEIO Knockout Collection, an Escherichia coli gene knockout mutant library, to systematically screen for genes involved in the interdependence of Chlorella sorokiniana and E. coli. By co-cultivating C. sorokiniana and E. coli knockout mutants in 96-well microplates (200 μL medium per well) under white light at 25°C, 31 potential algal growth-promoting and 56 growth-inhibiting genes out of 3985 genes were identified that enhanced (≥1.25-fold) and diminished (≤0.8-fold) the production of algal chlorophyll-a content, respectively. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) mapping of these growth-regulating genes suggested a metabolic symbiosis involving bacteria-derived cobalamin (cobU, cobC), biotin (bioB, bioF, bioC, bioD, fabF, fabH), riboflavin (fbp, guaB, gnd, guaA, zwf, purA), and 2,3-butanediol (fumB, adhE, mdh, frdB, pta, sdhC). The effects of these metabolites were further validated by supplementing the agents into the axenic algal cultures; Dose-dependent trends were observed for each metabolite, with a maximum four-fold increase in algal biomass productivity over the control. The specific growth rate of algae was increased by ≥1.27-fold and doubling time was shortened by ≥22.5%. The present results, obtained through genome-wide analyses of interdependence between microalgae and bacteria, reveals multiple interactions between organisms via metabolites.
Fulltext Computational and molecular insights on non-synonymous SNPs associated with human RAAS genes: Consequences for Hypertension vulnerability

Sankar J, Briget Kuriakose B, Hamad Alhazmi A, Shing Wong L, Muthusamy K

J Genet Eng Biotechnol, 2025 Mar;23(1):100476.
PMID: 40074423 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgeb.2025.100476

Hypertension is the foremost modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular and renal diseases, and overall mortality on a global scale. Genetic variants have the potential to alter an individual's drug responses. In the present study, we employed a comprehensive computational analysis to evaluate the structural and functional implications of deleterious missense variants to examine the influence of RAAS genes such as AT1R, AT2R, and MasR on susceptibility to hypertension. The objective of this research was to identify potentially deleterious missense variants within these target genes. A total of 13 in silico tools were used to identify deleterious missense SNPs. Protein stability, evolutionary conservation, and 3D structural modeling were assessed using tools like I-Mutant 3.0, MUpro, DynaMut2, ConSurf, and Project HOPE, while protein-protein interactions were analyzed via STRING. Our findings revealed three deleterious missense variants (rs397514687, rs886058071, rs368951368) in AT1R; two deleterious missense variants (rs3729979 and rs372930194) in AT2R; and three deleterious missense variants (rs768037685, rs149100513, and rs377679974) in MasR, all of which exhibited significant damaging effects as determined by the 13 Computational tools employed. All these deleterious missense variants adversely affected protein stability and were found to be highly conserved. Notably, these variants altered the charge, size, and hydrophobicity of the amino acids, with a predominant occurrence in alpha helix regions, with the exception of rs377679974 in MasR. The computational analysis and structural comparisons conducted in this study indicate that these deleterious missense variants have a discernible impact on the structure and function of the target proteins. However, it is essential to conduct experimental validation to verify the detrimental effects of the missense variants identified through this computational analysis. Therefore, we may conduct future experimental analyses to validate these findings. This research will aid in the identification of candidate deleterious markers that may serve as potential targets for therapeutic strategies and disease diagnosis.
Fulltext A comparative study on antioxidant properties, total phenolics, total flavonoid contents, and cytotoxic properties of marine green microalgae and diatoms

Ferdous UT, Nurdin A, Ismail S, Shaari K, Norhana Balia Yusof Z

J Genet Eng Biotechnol, 2025 Mar;23(1):100456.
PMID: 40074430 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgeb.2024.100456

Despite having valuable and novel metabolites, the marine microalgae species are still not thoroughly investigated for their pharmaceutical and nutraceutical importance. Therefore, this study was focused on investigating the crude extracts of marine green microalgae species, Tetraselmis sp., Nannochloropsis sp., and diatoms Chaetoceros sp., and Thalassiosira sp., isolated from the Malaysian coastal region in terms of their antioxidant activity, total phenolics, total flavonoid contents and cytotoxicity against human breast cancer cells, MCF-7. Among twenty-eight crude extracts, Tetraselmis ethanol and ethyl acetate extract showed the highest amount of total phenolic (19.87 mg GAE/g), and total flavonoid content (38.58 mg QE/g of extract), respectively. From the antioxidant assays, methanol and ethyl acetate extract of Tetraselmis sp. exhibited significantly higher (p
Morpho-molecular identification of Colletotrichum scovillei causing anthracnose disease of banana in Pakistan

Abbas MF, Batool S, Junaid MB, Bukhari NA, Hatamleh AA

Plant Dis, 2025 Mar 12.
PMID: 40074554 DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-09-24-1808-PDN

Banana (Musa spp.) is widely cultivated as the major fruit in Pakistan. Anthracnose fruit rot caused by various Colletotrichum spp. is a serious disease. Sample of 23 banana fruits were obtained from 4 commercial orchards (43% incidence) in Uthal, Balochistan, Pakistan. One or more small light-brown to reddish-brown spots were observed on all fruits during early stage of infection and later became sunken lesion. The pieces of diseased tissues were cut from margins, surface sterilized with sodium hypochlorite (0.3%), rinsed in sterile distilled water, dried on sterile filter papers and shifted on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Colony morphology of all isolates (n=21) on PDA were white fungal colonies which became dark gray after 7 days. Smooth, aseptate, cylindrical and hyaline conidia (n=20 per isolate) were recorded and measured 10.2 to 16.1 (avg. 12.3) × 3.7 to 4.5 (avg. 3.8) µm. Genomic DNA was extracted from a representative isolate LUAWMS and sequences from the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), β-tubulin (TUB2), calmodulin (CAL), glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), actin (ACT) and chitin synthase 1 (CHS-1) genes were amplified through polymerase chain reaction with the primer pairs ITS1/ITS4, BT1/BT2, CAL1/CAL2, GAPDH1/DAPDH2, ACTN1/ACTN2 and CHS1/CHS2, respectively. The sequences were exhibiting 100% genetic similarity with previously reported isolates SPTD26 (ITS, accession no PQ780054), PHL6, (TUB2, accession no KY475555), HNCS015 (CAL, accession no KX673577), Cer015 (GAPDH, accession no MK473911), QJ2_1 (ACT, accession no OQ613619) and CAUA43 (CHS-1, accession no KP145299) of Colletotrichum scovillei. ITS, TUB2, CAL, GAPDH, ACT and CHS-1 multi-locus sequences were deposited in GenBank under the accession numbers OK493385, OK493386, OK493387, OR449357, OR449358 and OR449359, respectively. For the confirmation of Koch's postulates, banana fruits (n=3) were surface sterilized with 70% ethanol, washed with sterile distilled water and wounded with the help of sterile needle. The spore suspension (1 × 106 conidia/mL) from LUAWMS were pipetted (10 µL) on wound fruit and incubated at 28°C with 12 h dark and light cycle. Moist paper towels was placed on bottom of a sealed crisper box and artificially inoculated fruits were shifted to a humid chamber. Three replicate boxes each contained one banana per treatment. Sterile distilled water was used as a negative control and the experiment was repeated once. After 7 days, small light-brown to reddish-brown spots (length averaged 14.9 mm, std. dev. = 4.0 mm) by 11.3 mm (std. dev. = 1.9 mm) were recorded on artificially inoculated fruits but not on control. Same pathogen was re-isolated from artificially inoculated fruit on PDA and morphological examination and molecular identified was used for the confirmation as previously described. Morphological characterization, molecular identification, multi-locus sequence analysis and Koch postulates confirmed LUAWMS as C. scovillei belongs to C. acutatum species complex (Damm et al., 2012). Previously, C. scovillei was recorded as causal organism of anthracnose disease of banana in China (Zhou et al., 2017), Watermelon in Malaysia (Goh et al., 2022) and pepper in Ontario, Canada (Ellouze, 2024) but to our knowledge, this is the first report of C. scovillei causing anthracnose of banana in Balochistan, Pakistan. The new host-pathogen association could lead to reduced banana yields, higher management costs, and potential trade disruptions due to disease spread and export restrictions.
Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Polycaprolactone Nanofiber Enriched with Lichenysin against Multidrug-Resistance Bacterial Infection in Wound Healing: In Vitro Studies and In Vivo Evaluation in Wistar Rats

Yadav S, Arya DK, Kanaujiya S, Kumar S, Kushwaha D, Kumar A, et al.

ACS Appl Bio Mater, 2025 Mar 12.
PMID: 40074674 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.4c01532

Multidrug resistance (MDR) infectious wounds are a major concern due to drug resistance, leading to increased patient morbidity. Lichenysin (LCN), a lipopeptide and biosurfactant obtained from certain strains of Bacillus licheniformis, has demonstrated an excellent antimicrobial property. The present study focuses on the fabrication and comprehensive evaluation of LCN-incorporated poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/polycaprolactone (PCL)-based nanofiber scaffolds using an electrospinning technique as a potential wound healing biomaterial for the treatment of MDR infectious wounds in diabetic rats. The LCN-loaded PVA-PCL nanofiber scaffolds were characterized for their physicochemical, antimicrobial, in vitro cell line on L-929, hemocompatibility, flow cytometry, in vivo infectious wound healing, and enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA). Morphological analysis via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images confirmed smooth and porous nanofibers with diameters in the range 200-300 nm. Fourier transform infrared and X-ray diffraction (XRD) results demonstrated the structural integrity, chemical compatibility, and amorphous nature of developed scaffolds. The scaffolds loaded with LCN demonstrated excellent water retention, moderate biodegradability, and sustained release of LCN for up to 72 h. Mechanical characterization demonstrated a robust tensile strength conducive to wound healing applications. Antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) showed substantial antibacterial and antibiofilm activity. In vitro cell line studies showed enhanced cell adhesion, proliferation, migration, and viability, signifying the cytocompatibility of these scaffolds. In vivo studies demonstrated exceptional infectious wound healing potential in diabetic rats. These findings indicate that LCN-enriched PVA-PCL scaffolds hold significant potential as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of MDR infectious wounds in diabetic rats through a multifaceted approach.
Disease detection on exterior surfaces of buildings using deep learning in China

Chen Y, Li D

Sci Rep, 2025 Mar 12;15(1):8564.
PMID: 40074790 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-92112-7

Urban infrastructure, particularly in ageing cities, faces significant challenges in maintaining building aesthetics and structural integrity. Traditional methods for detecting diseases on building exteriors, such as manual inspections, are often inefficient, costly, and prone to errors, leading to incomplete assessments and delayed maintenance actions. This study explores the application of advanced deep learning techniques to accurately detect diseases on the exterior surfaces of buildings in urban environments, aiming to enhance detection efficiency and accuracy while providing a real-time monitoring solution that can be widely implemented in infrastructure health management. The research implemented a deep learning model that improves feature extraction and accuracy by integrating DenseNet blocks and Swin-Transformer prediction heads, trained and validated using a dataset of 289 high-resolution images collected from diverse urban environments in China. Data augmentation techniques improved the model's robustness against varying conditions. The proposed model achieved a high accuracy rate of 84.42%, a recall of 77.83%, and an F1 score of 0.81, with a detection speed of 55 frames per second. These metrics demonstrate the model's effectiveness in accurately identifying complex damage patterns, such as minute cracks, even within noisy urban environments, significantly outperforming traditional methods. This study highlights the potential of deep learning to transform urban maintenance strategies by offering a practical solution for the real-time detection of diseases on building exteriors, ultimately enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of urban infrastructure monitoring and contributing to improved maintenance practices and timely interventions.

MeSH terms: China; Cities; Humans
Osteopontin as a prognostic biomarker in head and neck cancer- a systematic review and meta-analysis

Piyarathne N, Hettiarachchi K, Yuwanati M, Sivaramakrishnan G, Ramanathan A, Jayasinghe R, et al.

Evid Based Dent, 2025 Mar 12.
PMID: 40074805 DOI: 10.1038/s41432-025-01133-8

BACKGROUND: Osteopontin (OPN) is linked to cancer progression, metastasis, and treatment resistance in head and neck cancer (HNC). This meta-analysis evaluated OPN as a prognostic biomarker in HNC.
METHOD: A comprehensive search was conducted for studies published up to December 2023, including English papers on HNC analyzing OPN expression. Data extraction, quality assessment, and quantitative analysis were performed using fixed and random effect models with 95% CI. Heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed with I2 and Egger's regression test.
RESULTS: Fifty-one studies were included. OPN expression was significantly elevated in tissue and plasma in HNC compared to control (SMD 0.98; 95% CI 0.47-1.49; I2 = 13%; p 0.05). Elevated plasma OPN correlated with smoking, poorly differentiated neoplasms, larger tumors, advanced stage, and lymph node metastasis. Positive tissue OPN was associated with nodal involvement, advanced stage, male gender, and smoking.
CONCLUSION: OPN is a robust prognostic biomarker in HNC, indicating tumor aggressiveness and poor prognostic outcomes. Standardized measurement protocols and further validation in prospective studies are necessary.
Fulltext The impact of artificial intelligence-driven ESG performance on sustainable development of central state-owned enterprises listed companies

Xiao Y, Xiao L

Sci Rep, 2025 Mar 12;15(1):8548.
PMID: 40074861 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-93694-y

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) technology has rapidly advanced and found widespread application in corporate management. Leveraging AI to enhance Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance and promote sustainable development has become a focal point for both academia and industry. This study aims to explore the impact of AI-driven ESG practices on the sustainable development performance of central state-owned enterprises in China. It analyzes the specific effects of AI technology in corporate governance, environmental protection, and social responsibility, and evaluates its contribution to the overall sustainable development of enterprises. The study employs a survey method, targeting 200 managers and employees from Central state-owned enterprises. The questionnaire comprises 15 questions covering three dimensions: corporate governance, environmental protection, and social responsibility. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis are used to conduct an in-depth analysis of the collected data. The results indicate that respondents positively assess central state-owned enterprises in terms of corporate governance, environmental protection, and social responsibility, with particularly strong performance in social responsibility. Additionally, a regression analysis model is constructed. The results demonstrate that AI technology can enhance the practices and foster the sustainable development of central state-owned enterprises. Furthermore, ESG serves as a mediating factor between AI adoption and improvements in sustainable development performance. The findings provide practical insights for improving corporate management efficiency, enhancing environmental performance transparency, and boosting social image and brand value.
Retraction Note: Accuracy of endometrial sampling compared to conventional dilatation and curettage in women with abnormal uterine bleeding

Abdelazim IA, Abdelrazak KM, Elbiaa AAM, Al-Kadi M, Yehia AH

Arch Gynecol Obstet, 2025 Mar 12.
PMID: 40074947 DOI: 10.1007/s00404-025-07998-5
Impact of plasticiser exposure on oyster Crassostrea (Magallana) saidii: assessing oxidative stress and biomarker responses

Ishak SA, Aris AZ, Law MC, Looi LJ, Abd Karim MM

Ecotoxicology, 2025 Mar 12.
PMID: 40074971 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-025-02866-z

Plasticisers are prevalent chemical contaminants that leach from plastics into aquatic ecosystems, posing potential risks to marine life. This study investigated the effects of alternative plasticisers [epoxidised methyl oleate (EMO), di-(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA), and diisononyl phthalate (DINP)] at 100 µg/L in oysters Crassostrea (Magallana) saidii over 21 days under controlled laboratory conditions. This study focused on changes in body weight, antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), non-enzymatic antioxidant reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde (MDA) levels) after plasticisers exposure for 7, 14 and 21 days. The results indicated a decline in body weight in DINP-exposed oysters, indicating metabolic alterations. DEHA and DINP showed a pronounced increase in SOD activity at the end of the experiment, indicating elevated oxidative stress. CAT activity increased with EMO exposure, but decreased in oysters treated with DEHA and DINP. GSH levels were inversely proportional to CAT activity. Oysters exposed to DEHA and DINP exhibited higher MDA levels, indicating oxidative lipid damage associated with these plasticisers. Multi-biomarker data were integrated using the Integrated Biomarker Response (IBR) index, which ranked the plasticisers' oxidative stress potential as DEHA > DINP > EMO. The IBR analysis also suggested distinct modes of action among the plasticisers and provided insights into their toxicity mechanisms. Notably, EMO exhibited lower toxicity compared to DEHA and DINP, supporting its potential as a more friendly alternative to conventional plasticisers, albeit not exempt from toxic effects. These insights underscore the importance of environmental risk assessments in the future development of safer chemical alternatives.

External Links