Earticle

Anthraquinones are secondary metabolites of plants and are widely distributed in vari-ous species. They are known to exhibit a wide range of biological activities, including anticancer, anti-inflammation, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-damage, and anti-osteoporosis. Anthraquinones are generally lipophilic, which results in relatively low solubility and bioavailability. These limita-tions can be addressed through enzymatic reactions such as glycosylation and hydroxylation. In this study, we attempted the glycosylation of two anthraquinone compounds, anthraflavic acid and xanthopurpurin, using microbial UDP-glycosyltransferase UGT-1. UGT-1 could catalyze the O-glu-cosylation of anthraquinones to form glucoside-type products, which were confirmed by HPLC and high-resolution LC-MS analyses. This study demonstrates that glycosyltransferase UGT-1 could be a good candidate for producing modified anthraquinones with poogical activtential biolities

This study proposes a methodology to interpret cylindrically propagating elastic waves as analogous to waves propagating in Cartesian coordinates. By employing coordinate transfor-mations and leveraging the symmetry of wave propagation, the approach simplifies the complexi-ties inherent in cylindrical coordinate systems. This framework enables the application of existing Cartesian-based analytical techniques to cylindrical wave problems, providing enhanced computa-tional efficiency. The proposed method holds potential for various engineering applications, includ-ing elastic wave-based nondestructive testing and structural optimization, particularly in complex media and structures.

Aluminum alloys are extensively used in civil aircraft due to their lightweight, high strength, and excellent formability. However, their susceptibility to corrosion and corrosion fatigue poses a significant maintenance challenge in aviation environments. This study explores the effec-tiveness of ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification (UNSM) technology in enhancing the corro-sion fatigue strength of Al7075-T6 alloy. Specimens were subjected to controlled corrosion condi-tions and treated with UNSM either before or after corrosion exposure. Corrosion fatigue tests re-vealed that UNSM treatment significantly increased fatigue life—by over 140 times compared to untreated corroded specimens—by inducing deep compressive residual stress, increasing surface hardness, and refining surface structure. These results highlight UNSM's potential to delay crack initiation and propagation in corrosive environments, offering a promising surface enhancement strategy for aircraft aluminum alloys.

Dermoscopy and clinical imaging are vital for diagnosing skin conditions, as they pro-vide complementary perspectives that enhance diagnostic insight. However, while clinical images are easy to acquire, dermoscopic imaging often faces limitations due to equipment costs, expertise requirements, and data scarcity. This imbalance restricts the development of robust deep learning models in dermatology. To overcome this challenge, we propose a CycleGAN-based bidirectional image translation framework capable of generating realistic synthetic dermoscopic and clinical im-ages from their respective counterparts. The model effectively preserves key pathological structures while bridging the modality gap between the two imaging domains. Quantitative evaluation demonstrates promising results, with FID scores of 153.93 (clinical) and 117.03 (dermoscopic), and mean LPIPS scores of 0.6368 (clinical) and 0.6421 (dermoscopic), confirming the visual realism and structural consistency of the generated images. By reducing dependence on costly data acquisition and improving dataset diversity, this approach establishes a foundation for integrating synthetic data into dermatological deep learning, ultimately enhancing diagnostic accuracy and clinical ap-plicability.

X-ray thermonuclear bursts (Type I X-ray bursts) are among the most informative and intense transient phenomena associated with accreting neutron stars in low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs). These bursts occur due to unstable thermonuclear burning of accreted hydrogen and he-lium on the neutron star surface, and occasionally heavier fuels, producing bright, short-lived X-ray outbursts. The observed burst properties carry crucial information about nuclear synthesis pro-cesses under extreme conditions, the physics of neutron star envelopes and crusts, and the accretion environment. Over the past five decades, the field of burst research has undergone significant ad-vancements thanks to the evolution of observational facilities—from the first detectors aboard SAS-3 and ANS satellites to extensive RXTE catalogs and modern high-precision instruments such as NICER, NuSTAR, Swift, and INTEGRAL. Simultaneously, theoretical models describing ignition, flame propagation, and nuclear reaction chains, including the rp-process and carbon ignition re-sponsible for superbursts, have progressed substantially. Despite these achievements, key open questions remain regarding detailed nuclear reaction pathways, the influence of burst oscillations on surface modes and neutron star rotation, mechanisms of rare phenomena such as type II bursts and superbursts, and systematic uncertainties in using Photospheric Radius Expansion (PRE) bursts to constrain neutron star mass and radius. This review integrates the historical development, cur-rent observational data, theoretical modeling, and future prospects of X-ray burst studies. It sum-marizes major milestones, including the compilation of burst catalogs and statistical population studies, discovery and interpretation of oscillations and PRE bursts, development of multi-zone nu-merical models of thermonuclear ignition and flame spreading, as well as identification and inves-tigation of superbursts. Particular attention is given to how bursts enable constraints on nuclear physics and the equation of state of ultra-dense matter, and experimental and observational ap-proaches are proposed to address outstanding issues. The goal of this review is to provide a com-prehensive reference for researchers entering the field and to outline a roadmap for future interdis-ciplinary projects connecting high-energy astrophysics, nuclear experiments, advanced computa-tional techniques, and multi-messenger observations.

Although systemic therapies for bone loss are well established, localized bone augmen-tation approaches remain less mature overall. This unmet need is driving a shift toward localized, minimally invasive strategies. In receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) reverse signaling—a distinct, osteoanabolic pathway compared with the canonical receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK)–RANKL–osteoprotegerin (OPG) resorptive axis—RANKL, normally a ligand, acts as a receptor on osteoblast-lineage cells, where membrane accumulation and clustering trigger pro-osteogenic sig-naling. Peptide activators of this pathway (OP3-4, W9) are effective, but their performance depends on scaffold properties that sustain local release and provide multivalent presentation to drive RANKL membrane accumulation and clustering. This review synthesizes recent advances in scaf-fold platforms engineered to enable and amplify RANKL reverse signaling, with emphasis on gel-atin hydrogels, cholesteryl-bearing pullulan (CHP) nanogels, and injectable microparticle systems. We articulate design principles—release kinetics, porosity/architecture, and chemical modifica-tion—that govern local bioavailability and effective ligand valency, and we outline how these prin-ciples extend to RANK-bearing extracellular vesicles. Finally, we outline practical criteria for pair-ing RANKL-binding peptides with scaffolds compatible with non-surgical injectable delivery and discuss translational considerations for future clinical use.

Environmental inflammatory skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis (AD) and contact dermatitis (CD) are common skin disorders in both industrialized and developing countries. They are characterized by a defect of the skin barrier and increased inflammatory response. Worldwide, the prevalence of environmental and occupational dermatitis has increased exponentially during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the elevated utilization of disinfectants and personal protective equipment (PPE). Steroids have long been used as the first-line treatment for dermatitis; but consid ering their side effects and contraindications, there is a need of effective treatments with better safety profile. This mini-review and case report highlights the skin health benefits of African plant V. amyg-dalina leaf extracts (AMXs). Our research team was the first to explore the beneficial health effects of AMXs in animal models of atopic (AD) and contact dermatitis (CD). It was observed that the water (AMX1) and ethanolic (AMX2) leaf extracts were as effective as topical steroid preparation in preventing and alleviating AD and CD, as well as in relieving itch, skin erosion and excoriation. Another study (immuno-fluorescence assay) showed that AMX and AMX-contained Vernodalin both have significantly increased the production of filaggrin (FLG) in mouse skin and reduced plasma TNF-alpha (vs. steroid). In our clinical investigation in patients with moderate to severe AD and CD, AMX1 and AMX2 were as effective as steroid preparation; but relatively more effective in relieving itch and healing wounded skin. Four clinical cases of African and Japanese CD patients successfully treated with AMX2 are also presented. Research findings and observations from recent CD cases suggest that AMXs are effective and could be used as therapeutic alternative to steroids, with a better safety profile, in the management of inflammatory skin diseases, particularly AD and CD.