Thousands of small Open Reading Frames (smORFs) with the potential to encode small peptides of fewer than 100 amino acids exist in our genomes. However, the number of smORFs actually translated, and ...their molecular and functional roles are still unclear. In this study, we present a genome-wide assessment of smORF translation by ribosomal profiling of polysomal fractions in Drosophila. We detect two types of smORFs bound by multiple ribosomes and thus undergoing productive translation. The 'longer' smORFs of around 80 amino acids resemble canonical proteins in translational metrics and conservation, and display a propensity to contain transmembrane motifs. The 'dwarf' smORFs are in general shorter (around 20 amino-acid long), are mostly found in 5'-UTRs and non-coding RNAs, are less well conserved, and have no bioinformatic indicators of peptide function. Our findings indicate that thousands of smORFs are translated in metazoan genomes, reinforcing the idea that smORFs are an abundant and fundamental genome component.
This empirical study examines the endogenous relationship between carbon emissions (CO
2
), financial development, renewable energy, globalization, and institutional quality in 64 belt and road ...initiative countries (BRI) using a two-step system generalized method of moments (GMM) approach with panel data over the period 2003 to 2018. Furthermore, this study used (Dumitrescu & Hurlin,
2012
) causality test to estimate the variables’ causal relationship. The results indicate that financial development significantly increases CO
2
emissions and causes environmental degradation in BRI countries. However, renewable energy and globalization mitigate CO
2
emissions and improve the quality of the environment. Institutional quality was positive in correlation with CO
2
emission and indicates bad governance, corruption, weak bureaucracy, and improper implementation of environmental laws cause environmental degradation. Further, the study also reports a bidirectional relationship of financial development, renewable energy, and institutional quality with CO
2
emissions and a unidirectional causality running from globalization to CO
2
emissions in BRI countries. This study offers policymakers insight into restructuring the financial system, energy consumption pattern, and global integration and improving institutions’ quality for a sustainable environment and the economy at the national and regional levels.
Hybrid supercapacitor or supercapattery devices have gained significant attention for their impressive power (Pd) and energy densities (Ed), as well as their exceptional cyclic stability compared to ...traditional storage devices. In this study, manganese niobium sulfide (MnNbS) is synthesized using a hydrothermal method. To enhance the electrochemical performance of MnNbS, polyaniline (PANI) is blended at varying mass ratios. Initially, the electrochemical properties of MnNbS/PANI are evaluated using a three‐electrode configuration, consisting of working, counter, and reference electrodes. At a current density of 2 A g−1, MnNbS/PANI exhibits an improved specific capacity ((Cs)$\left(\right. C_{s} \left.\right)$) of 1366 C g−1. Subsequently, to develop a supercapattery energy storage device, a two‐electrode system is constructed. This setup offers enhanced performance and flexibility, making it an ideal choice for high‐performance supercapacitors. Activated carbon (AC) and MnNbS/PANI are employed as the negative and positive electrodes, respectively, in the two‐electrode system. Notably, the device demonstrates outstanding energy density (Ed) of 26.2 Wh kg−1, power density (Pd) of 2072 W kg−1, and specific capacity of 118 C g−1. Furthermore, durability tests involving 1000 charge–discharge cycles reveal a capacity retention of 79%. This study suggests that MnNbS/PANI (at a weight ratio of 80/20%) holds promise as an electrode material for supercapattery applications.
MnNbS@PANI@AC composite‐based hybrid supercapacitor is designed. A remarkable value of specific capacity of 1366 C g−1 is obtained at the current density of 2 A g−1. Outstanding energy density of 26.2 Wh kg−1 and power density of 2072 W kg−1 are conceived.
Social exchange theory (SET) is one of the most influential theories in social sciences, which has implications across various fields. Despite its usefulness being a typical social transaction, there ...is a need to look at it from the lens of psychological transactions to further its evolution and to identify future directions. After generally reviewing 3,649 articles from the Social Science Citation Index and Scopus, a total of 46 articles were selected for final review using a comprehensive systematic review approach. We have highlighted the need for further research in psychological transactions, reciprocity principles, exchange relations, and the impact of various factors on the exchange process. Among other exchange rules (social, economic, and psychological) and transactions (social, economic, and psychological), this research provides an elevation platform for the less explored exchange rules in psychological transactions. Among other theories in the social sciences, social exchange theory is a theory that shadows many other theories under its umbrella.
The potential of bacteria‐based immunotherapy lies in its ability to inherently enhance immune responses. However, the “liveness” of bacteria poses risks of bacterial escape, nonspecific ...immuno‐stimulation, and ethical concerns, limiting their acceptability in immunotherapy. In this scenario, nonliving empty bacterial‐cell envelopes, named bacterial ghosts (BGs), have emerged as immuno‐stimulants with the potential to side‐step the limitations of live bacterial therapies. This study demonstrates the capability of BGs in modulating the functionality of NK‐92 cells and Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), as well as perform as cytokine‐therapy adjuvants. BGs were obtained through a pH‐driven culture method, and were validated for their structural and chemical integrity via electron microscopy and spectroscopy. In NK‐92 cells, BGs have shown significant immuno‐stimulation by boosting the gene‐expression of perforin, granzyme‐B, Fas‐L, and interferon‐gamma by factors of 3.5‐, 1.5‐, 12.5‐, and 8.6‐folds, respectively. Combined BG and IL‐12 treatment yielded a notable 10.2‐fold increase in interferon‐gamma protein expression in 24 h. The BGs also significantly influenced the innate immune response in C. elegans through the upregulation of lysozyme genes viz., ilys‐3 (8.8‐fold) and lys‐2 (3.1‐fold). Our investigation into the impact of BGs on natural killer cells and C. elegans highlights its potential as a valid alternative approach for new‐age immunotherapy and cytokine augmentation.
Bacterial ghosts (BGs) from Staphylococcus aureus cells were derived through a simple pH‐driven culture protocol. In NK‐92 cells, the BGs exhibited significant activity as immuno‐stimulants and as IL‐12 adjuvant, influencing the gene expression of perforin, granzyme‐B, Fas‐L, and interferon‐gamma, signifying heightened NK cell functionality. indicative of enhanced NK cell functionality. Innate response markers viz., lys‐2 and ilys‐3 were found to be upregulated in Caenorhabditis elegans following the ingestion of BGs, supporting their immuno‐modulatory potential in this model organism.
Repellents are effective personal protective means against outdoor biting mosquitoes. Repellent formulations composed of EOs are finding increased popularity among consumers. In this study, after an ...initial screening of 11 essential oils (EOs) at the concentration of 33 μg/cm
, five of the most repellent EOs,
,
(fruit peels),
(leaves),
, and
were further investigated for repellent activity against
mosquitoes in time span bioassays. When tested at the concentrations of 33 μg/cm
, 165 μg/cm
and 330 μg/cm
, the EO of
showed the longest repellent effect up to 75, 90 and 135 min, respectively, which was followed by
(peels) for 60, 90 and 120 min,
for 45, 60 and 90 min, and
(leaves) for 30, 45 and 75 min. Notably, the EO of
tested at the dose of 330 μg/cm
showed complete protection for 60 min which was similar to the commercial mosquito repellent DEET. Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analyses of the EOs revealed camphor (19.7%), limonene (92.7%), sabinene (24.9%), carvone (82.6%), and
-ascaridole (38.8%) as the major constituents of
,
(peels),
(leaves),
, and
, respectively. The results of the present study could help develop plant-based commercial repellents to protect humans from dengue mosquitoes.
Butea monosperma is one of the extensively used plants in traditional system of medicines for many therapeutic purposes. In this study, the antioxidant activity, α-glucosidase and α-amylase ...inhibition properties of freeze drying assisted ultrasonicated leaf extracts (hydro-ethanolic) of B. monosperma have been investigated. The findings revealed that 60% ethanolic fraction exhibited high phenolic contents, total flavonoid contents, highest antioxidant activity, and promising α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitions. The UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS analysis indicated the presence of notable metabolites of significant medicinal potential including apigenin, apigenin C-hexoside C-pentoside, apigenin C-hexoside C-hexoside, apigenin-6,8-di-C-pentoside and genistin etc., in B. monosperma leave extract. Docking studies were carried out to determine the possible role of each phytochemical present in leaf extract. Binding affinity data and interaction pattern of all the possible phytochemicals in leaf extract of B. monosperma revealed that they can inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase synergistically to prevent hyperglycemia.
Energy storage devices have attained a lot of interest because of the large demand for energy in the present era. Carbon nanotubes have attained huge interest in energy applications because of their ...extraordinary conductivity, sensitivity, and storage capability. In this work, the zinc niobium sulfide (ZnNbS) is synthesized using the hydrothermal method. A remarkable value of the specific capacity (
C
s
) of 1054.21 Cg
−1
is obtained, which is comparatively better than the reference sample. Besides, the CNTs-doped ZnNbS and activated carbon (ZnNbS/CNT//AC) are utilised to design the hybrid supercapacitor. The hybrid device showed a high value of
C
s
of 196.1 Cg
−1
at 2 Ag
−1
. Further, the hybrid supercapacitor exhibited an improved value of energy density (39.4 WhKg
−1
) and power density (2400 WKg
−1
), which is much improved compared to the previously reported values. To check the stability of the device, it is measured up to 5000 charging/discharging cycles. The device showed 95% of capacity retention. Our findings provide a new platform for designing high-performance supercapattery-type energy storage devices. The doping of CNT in sulfide-based materials opens new possibilities to design high performance energy storage devices.
Next generation sequencing (NGS) has enabled an in-depth look into genes, transcripts and their translation at the genomic scale. The application of NGS sequencing of ribosome footprints (Ribo-Seq) ...reveals translation with single nucleotide (nt) resolution, through the deep sequencing of ribosome-bound fragments (RBFs). Some results of Ribo-Seq challenge our understanding of the protein-coding potential of the genome. Earlier bioinformatic approaches had shown the presence of hundreds of thousands of putative small ORFs (smORFs) in eukaryotic genomes, but they had been largely ignored due to their large numbers and difficulty in determining their translation and function. Ribo-Seq has revealed that hundreds of putative smORFs within previously assumed long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and UTRs of canonical mRNAs are associated with ribosomes, appearing to be translated. Here we review some of the approaches used to define translation within Ribo-Seq experiments and the challenges in defining translation of these novel smORFs in lncRNAs and UTRs. We also look at some of the bioinformatic and biochemical approaches used to independently corroborate these exciting new findings and elucidate real translation events.
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