Abstract:

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) flour is a promising raw material for the development of biodegradable packaging due to its protein and polyphenol content. In this study, thermocompressed chickpea flour sheets were reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) to improve their barrier, mechanical, thermal, and structural properties. Preliminary trials identified 22% moisture as the most suitable condition for consistent sheet formation. CNC was incorporated at 0, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5% (w/w), and the resulting sheets were evaluated for phenolic content, antioxidant activity, water vapor permeability (WVP), optical properties, thermal behavior, morphology, and structural characteristics. Thermocompression reduced the measurable phenolic fractions, although antioxidant activity was not significantly affected. CNC markedly reduced WVP, from 5.16x10^-10 (control) to 5.93x10^-12 g∙m^-1∙s^-1∙Pa^-1 at 7.5% CNC. Tensile strength and Young's modulus increased with CNC loading, while elongation at break was highest at intermediate concentrations. SEM, DSC, XRD, and FTIR analyses indicated matrix reorganization and modified thermo-structural behavior. Overall, CNC improved the barrier and mechanical performance of thermocompressed chickpea flour sheets, supporting their potential for biodegradable packaging applications.

Abstract: The ability to precisely edit genetic characteristics with a CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)/Cas (CRISPR-associated) immunity complex is a revolutionary advance in science. Originally discovered in bacteria as part of a natural defense mechanism against viruses, CRISPR/Cas provides a precise, efficient, and relatively simple method for editing genes in microbes, plants, animals, and humans. The process relies on the Cas protein, an enzyme that cleaves and unwinds DNA at targeted locations. This process is guided by RNA sequences complementary to the DNA or RNA sequence of interest, allowing for changes to the genome through innate non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and homology-directed repair (HDR). The potential applications of CRISPR/Cas are immense and in agriculture, is facilitating crop development with resistance to abiotic, biotic, and agronomic characteristics that improve yield, quality, and food security. Gene editing also facilitates the relatively rapid modification of regulatory and complex pathways that enable studies to advance our understanding of gene function. This review provides an update of the fast-evolving CRISPR/Cas modification of important crops to address emerging global population, environmental and climate challenges.

Abstract: The fabrication of complex architectures remains a central challenge in 3D bioprinting, where low mechanical properties of hydrogels restrict the range of feasible geometries. Four-dimensional (4D) bioprinting can mitigate these limitations by introducing programmed structure shape-morphing in response to external stimuli. However, in most existing approaches, shape-morphing behavior is introduced after hydrogel formation, limiting the complexity of the resulting deformation. Here, a proof-of-concept strategy is presented, in which shape-morphing is directly encoded during fabrication. By modulating light exposure time layer-by-layer in vat photopolymerization, spatial variations in crosslinking density are introduced in situ within GelMA hydrogel constructs. Upon immersion in aqueous media, these variations generate differential swelling, leading to controlled bending of the printed structures. This approach enables the programming of deformation pathways at the printing stage, without requiring additional materials or post-processing steps. The morphing behavior was further supported by finite element simulations, which reproduced the experimentally observed deformation and enabled prediction of the shape change. Overall, this study demonstrates that swelling-driven actuation can be encoded during fabrication. Although demonstrated on simplified geometries, this approach provides a versatile framework for process-driven shape morphing programming and represents a step toward more spatially resolved and potentially volumetric 4D bioprinting strategies.

Abstract: Nanoplastics are produced abiotically and biotically from larger pieces of plastic. Although nanoplastic toxicity has received more attention recently, its biological effects have not been adequately investigated. In this study, the toxicity of nanoplastics (NPs) with an average size of <80 nm was carried out in the larvae of Artemia nauplii, an indicator organism of the aquatic environment, according to the OECD guideline 202 protocol. As a result, depending on exposure durations (24-96 h) and concentrations (50-300 μg/mL), the survival rate of nano-HDPE treated larvae was significantly reduced (p < 0.05). The larvae took up and internalized nano-HDPE at a concentration of 99.74 µg/mL, which is the calculated LC50 value. There was also a significant increase in biochemical markers in larvae at LC50 (p < 0.05). However, it was observed that this caused oxidative stress, cell membrane damage, limb loss and malformation in larvae treated with nano-HDPE.

Abstract:

Background: Pulse measurement and heart rate are one of the most basic medical skills and yet, is the most important skill that has be learned by all medical professionals. The duration of how long that should be measured is variable depending on the learning of individual medical student. Aim: To assess accuracy of pulse calculation done manually to decide the cutoff on how long pulse should be measured. Methodology: An observational study was conducted after due IRB permission where included patients’ pulse was calculated for different time intervals and extrapolated to calculate the beats per minute. At the same time, patient’s pulse was taken by a calibrated pulse oximeter 6 times during that 1 minute. Average of the Oximeter data was compared against the extrapolated data was compared for their averages and standard deviation across all time fields using T-test and statistical significant difference was found. Result: Presence of statistical difference between the extrapolated data and oximeter data represents that calculating pulse for that long actually yields statistically significant deviation. Calculating pulse for 12 seconds and extrapolating it yields p-value of 0.0002 representing a significant difference but calculating higher than 12, i.e., for 15 seconds and then extrapolating yields p-value of 0.0612 which represents a nonsignificant difference compared to average oximeter pulse reading. Conclusion: This research paper although simple has been a way to answer the age old question on how long pulse should be measured. This concludes that any measurements higher than 15 seconds does yield a nonsignificant difference. Hence, the pulse should at least be measured for 15 seconds or higher.

Abstract: The development of supersonic aircraft presents significant challenges in ensuring safety during early design stages, particularly for fuel tank systems exposed to extreme thermal and structural loads. Conventional document-based zonal safety analysis methods are limited in their capacity to identify hazards at the conceptual design phase. This study proposes an integrated framework combining computer-aided design (CAD) and model-based systems engineering (MBSE) to support early-stage zonal hazard analysis. The framework links spatial subsystem modelling with functional system architecture to enable iterative hazard identification and mitigation. Applied to the SA-24 Phoenix conceptual supersonic aircraft, the approach identifies critical risks, including fuel vaporization, over-pressurization, and structural fatigue, and evaluates mitigation strategies such as thermal insulation and redundant venting. Functional hazard analysis and fault tree analysis are used to assess failure scenarios and ensure compliance with EASA CS-25 requirements. Results indicate an estimated 40% reduction in risk priority number values for key thermal hazard pathways and a 25% reduction in conceptual design iteration time compared with conventional approaches. The findings demonstrate that CAD–MBSE integration offers a scalable and efficient methodology for early hazard identification, contributing to safer and more reliable supersonic aircraft design.

Abstract: Tuberculosis (TB) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are among the most significant respiratory diseases, and their significant syndemic interaction in epidemiology during the pandemic period has raised severe global healthcare concerns. Disruption of TB control programs, potential co-infection and common risk factors underscore the need for a systematic assessment of the connection between these diseases. We summarize the current information regarding the relationship between tuberculosis (TB) and COVID-19 during and following the pandemic, including epidemiology; potential pathophysiological connections between SARS-CoV-2 infection and TB; clinical outcomes; and the implications for management. Global estimates of the burden of both diseases are reviewed, along with reported rates of TB–COVID-19 co-infection and associated mortality. The authors discuss mechanistic aspects of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and SARS-CoV-2 immune responses, including how these infections could modulate host immunity, thus impacting susceptibility and outcomes of disease upon co-infection. This review additionally discusses mutually shared risk factors and the broader implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on TB diagnosis, treatment sustainability and public health initiatives. The review also includes current therapeutic approaches and preventive strategies such as vaccination and integrated disease management. Overall, the evidence indicates that the overlap of TB and COVID-19 presents significant diagnostic, clinical and broader public health challenges, especially in settings of high burden. To reduce the combined burden of these infections and restore momentum towards global TB control targets, strengthening surveillance and respiratory disease management, as well as research on immune interactions and long-term outcomes will be the key.

Abstract: This paper draws on survey data from 585 family farms in Jiangsu Province, China, in 2023. It endeavors to examine how farmers' utilization of information and communication technologies (ICT) in agricultural production and management affects their access to agricultural production credit. The results demonstrate that farmers who apply ICT more comprehensively in agricultural production and management are more inclined to obtain agricultural production credit. Intriguingly, these outcomes persist resilient even when taking into account selection bias and endogeneity issues.In terms of transmission mechanisms, agricultural digital transformation can facilitate farmers' access to agricultural production credit. Specifically, it does so by reducing the credit transaction costs related to bank loans and enhancing the efficiency of agricultural resource allocation. Furthermore, the heterogeneity analysis reveals that agricultural digital transformation is more conducive for smallholder farmers to acquire agricultural production credit from large banks. Finally, it is evident that the application of ICT in areas such as agricultural product sales and the management of agricultural digital equipment is more beneficial for farmers in attaining agricultural production credit.

Abstract: The use of microbial inoculants is a promising and sustainable alternative to agrochemicals. However, their field efficacy is inconsistent. This review critically evaluates the scientific basis for using microbial inoculants in modern agriculture, analyzing their complex interactions within agroecosystems. We demonstrate that the effectiveness of inoculants is governed by predictable ecological principles, rather than random processes. The formation of plant microbiomes follows distinct, deterministic patterns, with specific colonization patterns for each compartment and a strong influence from soil type and climate. Furthermore, this review demonstrates that, for plant-beneficial microorganisms used as bioinoculants, their antimicrobial metabolites function not merely as weapons, but as sophisticated ecosystem engineers that selectively reshape microbial communities. Compounds of plant growth-promoting microorganisms like cyclic lipopeptides, macrolactins, 2,4-DAPG, and gliotoxin demonstrate dose-dependent regulatory effects, enhancing specific soil functions while maintaining community stability. The transition from microbial monocultures to synergistic consortia proves essential, though success depends on matching inoculant composition to plant chemical signaling profiles. Practical recommendations include prioritizing native stress-tolerant strains, implementing soil-specific formulations, and developing metabolite-based preparations that function as ecological modulators rather than broad-spectrum suppressants. This ecological framework provides the scientific foundation for the next generation of predictable and effective microbial inoculants.

Abstract: The current use of artificial light during natural dark phase had been acquired contaminant dimensions, which is named “light pollution”. It is well known that the exposure to dim light at night (dLAN) during the postnatal period severely impair the immune system and related organs, but few reports have demonstrated the effect of dim light when exposed during foetal periods. That is why this report ask does dim light at night in two different stages of development (i.e., prenatal vs. postnatal exposure) generate a long-lasting dysregulation of circadian rhythms that modifies the circadian immune organization and responses of the spleen in the early adulthood? To answer this question, we exposed two groups of C57BL/6J male mice to dim night light at gestational and postnatal period and compared to control groups where the mice were exposured to light-dark conditions (12 h each, LD). Parametric and non-parametric activity/rest values were analyzed with circular statistics. Compared to their controls, we found differences in alpha, onset, offset, M10 and L5 startime in dLAN groups. We also assessed the transcript levels of clock genes and genes that mediate inflammation in spleen tissue and found a dampening daily variation in mRNA expression in both experimental groups. Finally, we use an ovalbumin (OVA) allergy challenge to test the B-cell response in the spleen and found a significant higher cell recruitment to the spleen and more anti-OVA IgE. Together, these results clearly show that dLAN, affects the peripheral molecular clocks and responses from the spleen and these effects are independent of period of life exposure of dim light at night.

Abstract: Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) is a cost-effective and scalable technique for producing large metallic components; however, coarse columnar microstructures, strong crystallographic texture, and significant residual stresses limit its widespread adoption. In recent years, hybrid WAAM processes integrating deformation-based techniques have been developed to address these limitations. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of deformation-assisted WAAM, encompassing interlayer rolling, friction stir processing (FSP), hammer peening, laser shock peening, and ultrasonic vibration-assisted approaches. These hybrid techniques introduce additional thermomechanical parameters—strain, strain rate, and applied stress—that significantly influence microstructure evolution. The governing physical metallurgy mechanisms are discussed in detail, including dislocation accumulation, recovery, static and dynamic recrystallization, and severe plastic deformation. Studies from 2022 to 2025 are critically reviewed, highlighting the effectiveness of hybrid WAAM in promoting columnar-to-equiaxed grain transformation, reducing anisotropy, mitigating defects, and improving mechanical properties across aluminum, titanium, steels, and nickel-based alloys. The integration of auxiliary processes such as in-situ machining and heat treatment is also discussed. This review establishes a process-structure-property framework for hybrid WAAM and provides guidance for the development of advanced additive manufacturing systems capable of delivering near-net-shape components with microstructures and properties approaching those of wrought or forged counterparts.

Abstract: By integrating high throughput eQTL and pQTL data generated using different platforms, in this study, the relationship between transcriptome and proteome, as well as, the efficacy of platforms in measuring transcript and protein levels in blood were investigated. eQTL data were obtained from the eQTLGen study that used Microarray and INTERVAL study that relied on RNASeq platform to measure transcripts. pQTL data were obtained from UK Biobank study that used Olink and deCODE study that used SomaScan platform to measure proteins. A total of 1,162 genes that were shared between the four platforms were selected and investigated.The outcome of Mendelian randomization analysis identified 211 genes that their transcript levels significantly (P<5e-8) predicted their protein levels across the panels. Similarly, genetic correlation analysis identified 67 genes that share significant correlation. %12(N=25) of genes identified through Mendelian randomization and 7% of those identified through genetic correlation showed negative associations. Cross-platform analysis revealed in INTERVAL-UKBB panel the effect size of SNPs on eQTLs and pQTLs show the highest correlation; while in eQTLGen-deCODE panel this value was the lowest. Co-localization analysis further confirmed these findings and indicated genes with strong evidence of colocalization in their eQTLs and pQTLs encode intracellular proteins while those with trivial evidence of colocalization encode secretory proteins that undergo glycosylationIntegrating both transcriptome and proteome for biomarker discovery and locus annotation is important, as overall genetics of transcriptome and proteome are not the same. RNASeq and Olink platforms provide more accurate measures of RNA and protein levels.

Abstract: Airborne LiDAR data acquired before and after the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake in Japan were used to estimate three-dimensional (3D) ground-surface displacements based on the Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithm. Digital elevation (terrain) models (DEMs) were generated from pre-earthquake point cloud data acquired by Ishikawa Prefecture and compared with post-earthquake DEMs developed by the Forestry Agency of Japan. Three-dimensional coseismic displacements were derived from the spatial correlation between pre- and post-event DEMs for 50 m × 50 m tiles. The results depend on tile size and are influenced by ground movements within and surrounding each tile. Therefore, moving-average windows of 250 m and 550 m were applied to the 50 m tiles to obtain continuous 3D displacement fields across the ground surface. A comparison between GNSS-measured displacements and the corresponding moving-average estimates for tiles containing triangulation points and continuously operating reference stations (CORSs) showed that the accuracy of the estimated displacements in all three components was within 0.2 m in terms of root mean square error (RMSE).

Abstract: Cryptographic security proofs are the invisible backbone of modern digital systems, yet they remain fragmented across multiple paradigms—game-based proofs, Universal Composability (UC), formal verification, and ad hoc insecurity arguments—each with its own language, assumptions, and limitations. This article introduces the \textbf{Market-Theoretic Security Framework (MTSF)}, a unified paradigm that reinterprets all security proofs as economic markets. In this view, the defender acts as a seller offering \emph{security goods} (such as confidentiality or unforgeability), while the adversary acts as a buyer bidding computational resources to break them. Security emerges naturally as \emph{market equilibrium}, where no efficient adversary can afford to win, while insecurity is characterized as \emph{market collapse}, where attacks succeed at negligible cost. For cryptographers, MTSF provides a rigorous and expressive framework that unifies four major proof paradigms into a single formal language. It introduces key technical innovations such as the \textbf{extended difference lemma} for handling multiple simultaneous failure events, \textbf{bidding-based reductions} that explicitly model adversarial strategies, a \textbf{dual methodology that treats proofs and disproofs symmetrically within the same structure}, and a \textbf{session pinging mechanism} for unbounded session verification. The framework seamlessly extends to classical and post-quantum primitives, real-world protocols (including TLS~1.3 and Signal), and even quantum-adversarial settings, while preserving quantitative security bounds and composability guarantees.MTSF offers an intuitive, accessible, and powerful meta model: security is like a marketplace where attackers try to ``buy'' a break, and defenders ensure the price is prohibitively high. Each proof becomes a sequence of small price adjustments, and each attack corresponds to a failed or successful bid. By combining mathematical rigor with economic intuition, MTSF transforms security proofs from opaque technical artifacts into transparent, auditable, and universally understandable arguments, enabling both experts and practitioners to reason about security with clarity and confidence.

Abstract: This position paper argues that recommender systems should now be designed towards agents. We use recommender systems towards agents (RSTA) to denote systems whose immediate consumer is an acting agent, an orchestration layer, or a multi-agent system; whose ranked objects are actionable interventions rather than human-viewable items; and whose success is measured by downstream trajectory utility under preference, cost, policy, and safety constraints. We advance three falsifiable claims: (1) priority-sensitive ranking can improve trajectory utility even when candidate sets are small, (2) service-side information can create value that local planning alone cannot fully recover, and (3) oversight actions such as verify, ask, defer, and escalate should be treated as recommendables rather than post-hoc filters. We sharpen the exclusion boundary against planning, routing, and human-facing recommendation; recast a WorkArena-style hardware-order task family as a full \RSTA worked example with an explicit candidate inventory, ranked intervention slate, and trajectory-level objective; and outline an agenda spanning candidate-set reconstruction, oversight-aware ranking, service-to-agent interfaces, multi-agent orchestration, interface-robust evaluation, and governance. The goal is not to relabel all agentic decision making. It is to identify a critical layer: when agents face massive action spaces or bounded compute, ranking dictates which trajectories they can reach---and which catastrophic failures they avoid.

Abstract: A broom graph is a linear graph with some pendant vertices attached to one of its ends. Using the formula for the commute time of the random walk between two vertices of the graph, which is given in terms of the effective resistance between the vertices, we find closed-form formulas for the hitting time index of some families of broom graphs, extending results found in the literature.

Abstract: Background: Climate projections for western Canada predict reduced water availability and more frequent heatwaves, underscoring the need to improve water-use efficiency and heat tolerance to sustain crop productivity and grain quality. Materials and Methods: A total of 198 historical and modern Canadian spring wheat cultivars were evaluated under water-deficient and high-temperature conditions. Measurements included whole-plant and leaf-level WUE, carbon isotope discrimination (δ¹³C) in flag leaves, and physiological traits such as leaf water potential, photosynthetically active radiation, and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (F₀, FV/FM, FM, FV, φDo, and ETR) across six growth stages. Results: WUEWP showed a weak relationship with δ¹³C, indicating strong environmental and genetic in-fluences and limiting its reliability as a proxy across conditions. Spring wheat cultivars exhibited low genetic diversity for WUEWP and heat tolerance, suggesting limited adaptive capacity to increasing stress. Multivariate analyses (PCA and clustering) effectively captured trait variation and differentiated cultivars. Chlorophyll fluorescence traits sensitively reflected reductions in photosynthetic efficiency under drought and heat stress. Conclusion: Overall, the results indicate meaningful genotypic variation but limited genetic diversity and weak relationships among WUE, δ¹³C, and related traits, highlighting the need for new germplasm and integrated phenotyping to enhance selection efficiency and develop more climate-resilient spring wheat.

Abstract: Background: Nigeria bears a disproportionate burden of metabolic disease, with diabetes affecting an estimated 6.8-7.5% of adults and obesity prevalence among women reaching 15.7%. Despite the rich ethnobotanical tradition of using indigenous plants to manage these conditions, the molecular mechanisms by which Nigerian plant-derived phytochemicals modulate immunometabolic pathways remain poorly characterised. Objectives: This narrative review synthesises current evidence on the immunometabolic mechanisms of key phytochemicals derived from Nigerian medicinal plants, with specific focus on how these compounds regulate macrophage polarisation, inflammatory cytokine signalling, insulin sensitivity, and metabolic reprogramming in obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: A comprehensive narrative review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and African Journals Online (AJOL). Studies reporting in vitro, in vivo, or in silico evidence for the immunometabolic activity of phytochemicals from Nigerian medicinal plants were included. Key immunometabolic targets - NF-kB, PPARgamma, AMPK, mTOR, HIF-1alpha, and macrophage M1/M2 polarisation markers - were used as mechanistic anchors for evidence synthesis. Results: Multiple phytochemicals abundant in Nigerian plants - including rutin, quercetin, luteolin, chlorogenic acid, vitexin, kolaviron, nimbolide, and 6-gingerol - demonstrate modulatory activity at immunometabolic nodes. These compounds converge on shared targets: suppression of NF-kB-driven M1 macrophage polarisation, activation of AMPK-mediated anti-inflammatory signalling, PPARgamma agonism to promote insulin sensitisation, and attenuation of HIF-1alpha-driven glycolytic reprogramming. Mechanistically, this represents a phytochemical-mediated shift from pro-inflammatory M1 immunometabolism toward an anti-inflammatory, insulin-sensitising M2 phenotype. Conclusions: Nigerian medicinal plants represent an underexplored reservoir of immunometabolic modulators. Their principal phytochemicals act on mechanistic targets directly relevant to the pathophysiology of obesity-linked T2D. Integrating ethnobotanical knowledge with network pharmacology and immunometabolic biology offers a compelling framework for rational drug discovery from Nigerian biodiversity. Future experimental validation using macrophage culture models and high-fat-diet animal systems is warranted.

Abstract: Rapid solidification by melt‑spinning produces aluminum alloys with extremely refined microstructures but also introduces strong structural gradients across the ribbon thickness. In this work, the microstructural evolution of a rapidly solidified Al‑Cu‑Li‑Mg‑Sc‑Zr alloy was investigated during model homogenization using in‑situ STEM heating experiments and correlated with bulk electrical‑resistivity measurements. The as‑cast ribbons exhibit two distinct solidification zones: a near‑contact region consisting of columnar cells containing fine Cu‑rich spherical precipitates, and a central region composed of larger eutectic cells enriched in Al₂Cu and Al₇Cu₂Fe phases. Stepwise in‑situ annealing between 200 °C and 550 °C reveals a sequence of transformations, including matrix depletion due to precipitation of strengthening phases, coarsening and dissolution of primary phases, and the formation of Al₃(Sc,Zr) dispersoids. Above 500 °C, rapid dissolution of primary phases followed by their coagulation into a limited number of stable grain‑boundary particles eliminates the original two‑zone structure and results in a fully homogenized ribbon. Ex‑situ annealing confirms that the resulting microstructure is uniform across the ribbon thickness and enables consistent precipitation strengthening during artificial aging. Microhardness measurements from both ribbon surfaces reveal identical peak‑aged hardness, validating the effectiveness of the short‑time homogenization strategy for rapidly solidified Al‑Cu‑Li‑Mg-based alloys.

Abstract: The demand for sustainable weed management and the limited discovery of new herbicide molecules have led to high interest in plant-derived bioherbicides, such as the water residues (WRs) from the hydrodistillation of aromatic plants, which contain biologically active secondary metabolites. Here, the phytotoxic potential of WRs of four aromatic plant species was investigated. Chemical composition of WRs was determined by SPME–GC–MS, and their effect was assessed on seed germination and seedling growth characteristics of Avena sterilis, Echinochloa crus-galli, and Zea mays. Five concentrations, i.e., 0, 10, 20, 50, and 100, with 100 representing pure WR were tested. Phenolic monoterpenes dominate WRs in oregano and thyme, and oxygenated monoterpenes in laurel and lavender. Germination and growth responses were dose-dependent and species-specific. Oregano and lavender WRs exhibited the strongest phytotoxicity, reducing weed germination by 82% and 79%, respectively. In contrast, laurel extracts showed weaker germination inhibition. Across all tested species, germination delays were observed, making WRs a promising candidate for weed control. The results also showed that WR affected root growth by up to 95% shoot by 70–80%. Maize exhibited greater tolerance than the weed species maintaining higher germination. Overall, WRs represent a promising tool for integrated weed management.