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Respiratory viral infections cause morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite the success of vaccines, vaccination efficacy is weakened by the rapid emergence of viral variants with immunoevasive properties. The development of an off-the-shelf, effective, and safe therapy against respiratory viral infections is thus desirable. Here, we develop NanoSTING, a nanoparticle formulation of the endogenous STING agonist, 2′−3′ cGAMP, to function as an immune activator and demonstrate its safety in mice and rats. A single intranasal dose of NanoSTING protects against pathogenic strains of SARS-CoV-2 (alpha and delta VOC) in hamsters. In transmission experiments, NanoSTING reduces the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron VOC to naïve hamsters. NanoSTING also protects against oseltamivir-sensitive and oseltamivir-resistant strains of influenza in mice. Mechanistically, NanoSTING upregulates locoregional interferon-dependent and interferon-independent pathways in mice, hamsters, as well as non-human primates. Our results thus implicate NanoSTING as a broad-spectrum immune activator for controlling respiratory virus infection. Respiratory viral infection causes fast onset of pathology, and is often compounded by vaccination-resistant variants. Here, the authors show that a STING agonist nanoparticle, termed NanoSTING, helps protect against SARS-CoV-2 in hamsters and influenza in mice, thereby implicating NanoSTING as a broad-spectrum treatment for respiratory viral infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In this study, we focus on a static spherically symmetric f(R) black hole spacetime characterized by a linear dark matter-related parameter. Our investigation delves into understanding the influence of different assumed values of this parameter on the observable characteristics of the black hole. To fulfill this task, we investigate the light deflection angles, which are inferred from direct analytical calculations of null geodesics. To examine the black hole's properties further, we assume an optically thin accretion disk and explore various emission profiles. Additionally, we investigate the shadow cast by the illuminated black hole when affected by the disk. Furthermore, we simulate the brightness of an infalling spherical accretion in the context of silhouette imaging for the black hole. Our findings indicate that, except for some specific cases, the observed brightness of the accretion disk predominantly arises from direct emission, rather than lensing and photon rings. Moreover, we reveal that the linear dark parameter of the black hole significantly influences the shadow size and brightness. Our discussion covers both analytical and numerical approaches, and we utilize ray-tracing methods to produce accurate visualizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the metabolic and biochemical abnormalities in children with nephrocalcinosis to identify its important risk factors and better understand the disease pathophysiology. Data were collected from the medical records of 163 children diagnosed with nephrocalcinosis. Their clinical and laboratory characteristics at admission were recorded, and a 24-hour urinalysis was performed to measure parameters such as calcium, oxalate, citrate, uric acid, magnesium, and cystine. Family history of kidney stones and parental consanguinity were present in 58.8% and 58.2% of patients, respectively. The most common underlying conditions were hyperparathyroidism (24%), distal renal tubular acidosis (16.6%), and medullary sponge kidney (12.9%). The main abnormalities included hypocitraturia (65.2%), hypercalciuria (51.9%), hypomagnesuria (44.6%), hyperoxaluria (39.1%), hyperuricosuria (31.5%), vitamin D deficiency (30.06%), and metabolic acidosis (27%). Patients with kidney stones and failure to thrive had higher rates of hypercalciuria. Metabolic acidosis was more common in those with parental consanguinity and vitamin D deficiency. Renal failure at final follow-up was more evident in older patients, those with parental consanguinity, hypokalemia, acidosis, and hyperparathyroidism. End-stage renal disease was more frequent in patients with consanguineous parentage, hyperparathyroidism, hypokalemia, and acidosis. Parental consanguinity, family history of kidney stones, and urinary metabolic disorders are important risk factors for pediatric nephrocalcinosis. This highlights the need for genetic counseling, screening, and monitoring of biochemical abnormalities. Early diagnosis and timely treatment are crucial to maintain glomerular function and prevent kidney failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photovoltaic systems, such as dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), are one of the useful tools for generating renewable and green energy. To develop this technology, obstacles such as cost and the use of expensive compounds must be overcome. Here, we employed a new MoS2/graphene hybrid or composite instead of platinum in the DSSCs. Furthermore, the correctness of the preparation of the MoS2/graphene hybrid or composite was evaluated by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), and the results showed that the desired compound was synthesized correctly. Inexpensive organic dyes were used to prepare the DSSCs, and their chemical structure was investigated by density functional theory (DFT) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Finally, the DSSCs were fabricated using MoS2/graphene composite or hybrid, and to compare the results, the DSSCs were also prepared using platinum. Under the same conditions, the DSSCs with MoS2/graphene composite illustrated better efficiency than MoS2/graphene hybrid or/and graphene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a rotating de Rham–Gabadadze–Tolley black hole with a positive cosmological constant under massive gravity, achieved by applying a modified Newman–Janis algorithm. The black hole exhibited stable orbits of constant radii, prompting a numerical study of the behavior of the solutions to a nonic equation governing the radii of planar orbits around the black hole. Additionally, we investigated the stability of orbits near the event horizon and provide a comprehensive analytical examination of the solutions to the angular equations of motion. This was followed by a simulation of some spherical particle orbits around the black hole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, an analytical study of radial and circular orbits for null and time-like geodesics that propagate in the spacetime produced by a Schwarzschild black hole associated with cloud of strings, in a universe filled by quintessence, has been done in Mustafa and Hussain (Eur Phys J C 81:419, 2021). In this paper, we complete the aforementioned study by investigating possible analytical solutions to the equations of motion for other types of bound orbits, beside taking into account the cases of unbound orbits. This requires an extensive study of the corresponding effective potentials that categorize the test particle motion. We follow the standard Lagrangian dynamics to parametrize the radial and angular geodesics and the resultant (hyper-)elliptic integrals of motion are treated accordingly. We also simulate the orbits which correspond to different levels of energy in the effective potentials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We calculate the exact solutions to the equations of motion that govern the light ray trajectories as they travel in a Kerr black hole's exterior that is considered to be filled with an inhomogeneous and anisotropic plasmic medium. This is approached by characterizing the plasma through conceiving a radial and an angular structure function, which are let to be constant. The description of the motion is carried out by using the Hamilton–Jacobi method, that allows defining two effective potentials, characterizing the evolution of the polar coordinates. The elliptic integrals of motion are then solved analytically, and the evolution of coordinates is expressed in terms of the Mino time. This way, the three-dimensional demonstrations of the light ray trajectories are given respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we concern about applying general relativistic tests on the spacetime produced by a static black hole associated with cloud of strings, in a universe filled with quintessence. The four tests we apply are precession of the perihelion in the planetary orbits, gravitational redshift, deflection of light, and the Shapiro time delay. Through this process, we constrain the spacetime's parameters in the context of the observational data, which results in about ∼ 10 - 9 for the cloud of strings parameter, and ∼ 10 - 20 m - 1 for that of quintessence. The response of the black hole to the gravitational perturbations is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we analyze some interesting features of the thermodynamics of the rotating BTZ black hole from the Carathéodory axiomatic postulate, for which, we exploit the appropriate Pfaffian form. The allowed adiabatic transformations are then obtained by solving the corresponding Cauchy problem, and are studied accordingly. Furthermore, we discuss the implications of our approach, regarding the second and third laws of black hole thermodynamics. In particular, the merging of two extremal black holes is studied in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering electrically charged test particles, we continue our study of the exterior dynamics of a charged Weyl black hole which has been previously investigated regarding the motion of mass-less and (neutral) massive particles. In this paper, the deflecting trajectories of charged particles are designated as being gravitationally Rutherford-scattered and detailed discussion of angular and radial particle motions is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The protein p53 is a crucial tumor suppressor, often called "the guardian of the genome"; however, mutations transform p53 into a powerful cancer promoter. The oncogenic capacity of mutant p53 has been ascribed to enhanced propensity to fibrillize and recruit other cancer fighting proteins in the fibrils, yet the pathways of fibril nucleation and growth remain obscure. Here, we combine immunofluorescence three-dimensional confocal microscopy of human breast cancer cells with light scattering and transmission electron microscopy of solutions of the purified protein and molecular simulations to illuminate the mechanisms of phase transformations across multiple length scales, from cellular to molecular. We report that the p53 mutant R248Q (R, arginine; Q, glutamine) forms, both in cancer cells and in solutions, a condensate with unique properties, mesoscopic protein-rich clusters. The clusters dramatically diverge from other protein condensates. The cluster sizes are decoupled from the total cluster population volume and independent of the p53 concentration and the solution concentration at equilibrium with the clusters varies. We demonstrate that the clusters carry out a crucial biological function: they host and facilitate the nucleation of amyloid fibrils. We demonstrate that the p53 clusters are driven by structural destabilization of the core domain and not by interactions of its extensive unstructured region, in contradistinction to the dense liquids typical of disordered and partially disordered proteins. Two-step nucleation of mutant p53 amyloids suggests means to control fibrillization and the associated pathologies through modifying the cluster characteristics. Our findings exemplify interactions between distinct protein phases that activate complex physicochemical mechanisms operating in biological systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advanced state of cosmological observations constantly tests the alternative theories of gravity that originate from Einstein's theory. However, this is not restricted to modifications to general relativity. In this sense, we work in the context of Weyl's theory, more specifically, on a particular black hole solution for a charged massive source, which is confronted with the classical test of the geodetic precession, to obtain information about the parameters associated with this theory. To fully assess this spacetime, the complete geodesic structure for massive test particles is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we apply the classical test of general relativity on a charged Weyl black hole, the exterior geometry of which is defined by altering the spherically symmetric solutions of the Weyl conformal theory of gravity. The tests are basically founded on scrutinizing the angular geodesics of light rays propagating in the gravitating system caused by the black hole. In this investigation, we bring detailed discussions about the bending of light, together with two other relativistic effects, known as the Shapiro and the Sagnac effects. We show that the results are in good conformity with the general relativistic effects, in addition to giving long-distance corrections caused by the cosmological nature of the background geometry under study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The kinematical characteristics of distinct infalling homothetic fields are discussed by specifying the transverse subspace of their generated congruences to the energy–momentum deposit of the chosen gravitational system. This is pursued through the inclusion of the base manifold's cotangent bundle in a generalized Raychaudhuri equation and its kinematical expressions. Exploiting an electromagnetic energy–momentum tensor as the source of non-gravitational effects, I investigate the evolution of the mentioned homothetic congruences, as they fall onto a Reissner–Nordström black hole. The results show remarkable differences to the common expectations from infalling congruences of massive particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The management of pain and inflammation related problem is a real challenge that people face daily. Although several drugs are available for these conditions, medicinal plants are believed to be an important source of new chemical substances with potential therapeutic effects. The objective of current study was to investigate the anti-nociceptive effect of Tanacetum Fisherae which has been traditionally used for treatment of pain. Methods: In this experimental study, formalin test was performed with drug (Tanacetum Fisherae) or DMSO pretreatment 30 min prior to formalin injection in 40 male Wistar rats. Fifty microliters of 2.5% formalin was injected into the plantar surface of the right hind paw. Immediately after injection, licking and flinching number and paw-shaking responses were observed at 5-min intervals for 1 h. Animals were divided into five experimental groups. There were 8 animals in each group. Each group received vehicle (7% DMSO) or Tanacetum Fisherae essential oil (25, 50 or 100 μg) or morphine (5 mg/kg). Two-way and one-way ANOVA were used for data analysis. Differences were considered significant at the level of P<0.05 (with 95% confidence interval). Results: Results showed that Tanacetum Fisherae essential oil dose dependently reduced licking and flinching number and also pain score in the late (15-35 min) and recovery phase (35-60 min) of formalin test (p<0.05, p<0.01, and p<0.001). It had no anti-nociceptive effect (p>0.05) in early (0-5 min) phase and interphase (5-15 min). Conclusion: Results demonstrate the effectiveness of Tanacetum Fisherae to mitigate the inflammatory pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking a quantum corrected form of Raychaudhuri equation in a geometric background described by a Lorentz-violating massive theory of gravity, we go through investigating a time-like congruence of massive gravitons affected by a Bohmian quantum potential. We find some definite conditions upon which these gravitons are confined to diverging Bohmian trajectories. The respective behaviour of those quantum potentials are also derived and discussed. Additionally, and through a relativistic quantum treatment of a typical wave function, we demonstrate schematic conditions on the associated frequency to the gravitons, in order to satisfy the necessity of divergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the evolution of time-like congruences in the vacuum solutions of Weyl conformal theory of gravity. Using the Raycaudhuri equation, we show that for positive values of the coefficient of the linear term in the solution and in the absence of the cosmological constant, the incoming rays converge. The evolution of the congruence for negative values is investigated for different values of the parameters. The behavior of the congruence under conformal transformations is also studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the conditions on the additional constant in the so-called theory of gravity, due to existence of different kinds of space-like surfaces in both weak field and strong field limits, and their possible correspondence to black hole event horizons. Adopting a Schwarzschild limit, we probe the behavior of in different contexts of radial and radial-rotational congruence of null geodesics. We show that these cases serve as correspondents to black hole horizons in some peculiar cases of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this letter, the temporal evolution of a superfluid is discussed in the context of standard model cosmology and the vacuum domination epoch. Our approach includes covariant statistical mechanical and thermodynamical formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we go through the famous f( R) theories of gravity, but keeping a peculiar one, namely R modification. Moreover, instead of a coordinate free cosmological parameter, we take it to be a function of time. Having all these stuff, we investigate the notions of standard cosmology model, in the context of R modification to general relativity, and in various regimes, we study the dynamical cosmological constant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermodynamics of spherically symmetric region of a general relativistic superfluid is discussed in the context of (Anti-)de Sitter geometry. Also the covariant energy tensor is obtained through a covariant statistic mechanical approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) is a chronic mucocutaneous disease with an immunological etiology. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of cedar honey in the treatment of erosive-atrophic OLP. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients with a confirmed clinical and histopathologic diagnosis of OLP participated in this randomized clinical trial in Mashhad Dental School. Patients were randomly allocated into one of two groups. Both groups received standard OLP treatment (dexamethasone mouthwash 0.5 mg three times daily and fluconazole capsule 100 mg daily). The intervention group received cedar honey (20 ml three times daily, via a swish and swallow technique) in addition to standard treatment. The patients were followed for 4 weeks. The pain and severity of the lesions were recorded at the initial visit and follow ups. All recorded data were analyzed using the chi-square test, T-test, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS version 11.5. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Both groups had a marked reduction in pain, size of erosive area, and atrophic lesions, particularly in the first follow-up period, but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). Honey was effective in the healing of ulcerative lesions (average recovery in the experimental group was 69% while the average relief of ulcerative lesion in the control group was 50%), but the difference was not significant (P=0.896). Conclusion: No significant difference was found in the treatment of atrophic and erosive lesions of OLP through use of honey as an alternative treatment. However, this approach may be effective in managing ulcerative lesions of OLP; although more research with a larger sample size is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this letter, we shall use a different f( R) action, coupled to two scalar fields, in order to obtain a new f( R) model of gravity. Then, within this model, we shall derive the standard cosmological quantities, related to the agegraphic dark energy model, and compare them to the straight results, coming from the dynamical implications of our model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce a new f( R) gravity model, containing both curvature components and scalar fields. Afterwards, specifying a peculiar definition for the curvature functions, we derive the field equations for our new f( R) gravity model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The observational data indicate that about 70 % of the total energy density of the current state universe has been occupied by Dark Energy. This is said to be the cause of the accelerated expansion of universe. In this letter we shall use a curvature constant as a scalar field in the quintessence Dark Energy model, for an isotropic universe. Connected to the so-called model, we will specify a definite dynamical field equation from the initial action of the theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this letter, we firstly discuss the geometric consequences of the resultant field equations in a specified f( R) theory of gravity. Afterwards, keeping the so called field equations separated, we investigate the analytical behavior of the effective energy, corresponding to our peculiar modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this letter, we first consider the famous non-vacuum solution of general relativity for a static spherically symmetric charged object, i.e. the Reissner-Nordström solution. Afterwards, by adopting an isotropic coordinate system, we derive the equivalent form of this solution in the so-called geometry. Then we discuss the gravitational redshift in the consequent spacetime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we derive a Gaussian flux integral for a metric in the weak field limit. We shall prove that the energy integral for an approximately linear metric due to a scalar field, will possess a same form for the Newtonian mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article we assume a universe in a vacuum domination era, possessing a constant equation of state and a constant positive curvature, elaborated by an isotropic FLRW metric. We investigate the correlations between the scale factor of this expanding universe, and the coordinate time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symmetry is an important concept in modern physics which can be understood via studying the transformations in a physical system. Among the various types of transformations, conformal transformation and conformal symmetry (also referred to as conformal invariance), are of great importance. In this work, we first review the Kaluza-Klein theory through discussing the conformal invariance of the five-dimensional action. Then, by eliminating the extra dimensions of the consequent wave equations, four-dimensional equations are derived, to describe the graviton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study evaluated serum levels of zinc in patient with CD compare to healthy subjects. Background: Celiac disease (CD) is characterized by small intestinal malabsorption of nutrients as a consequence of ingestion of wheat gluten. Zinc is an essential trace element that it has vital biological functions. Patients and methods: Sera of 30 celiac cases and 30 healthy normal cohorts as control group were obtained. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer was employed for estimating serum zinc level. Results: Zinc concentrations in patients diagnosed with CD were significantly lower than healthy subjects (75.97±12 compared with 92.83±18, P-value < 0.0001). Conclusion: The result of this study shows that serum zinc concentration is decreased in celiac patients compare to healthy controls. Serum zinc may thus be a marker of CD in adults presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, by adding a constant to Einstein-Hilbert action, we derive field equations for a non-vacuum space. Also we derive a general solution for these field equations, considering a de Sitter like initial geometric constraint. It is shown that how this additional constant can affect usual gravitational field equations, which are derived from general relativity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, continuing the work done in the previous paper (Fathi et al. in Int. J. Theor. Phys. 51:1938-1945, ), we apply a Lagrangian formalism to demonstrate the shape of the geodesic motions for a massive charged particle which is falling freely in a de Sitter spacetime. We will show that a spiral shape of the trajectory is available, due to the logarithmic behavior of time, with respect to the proper time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Firstly we derive peculiar spherical Weyl solutions, using a general spherically symmetric metric due to a massive charged object with definite mass and radius. Afterwards, we present new analytical solutions for relevant cosmological terms, which appear in the metrics. Connecting the metrics to a new geometric definition of a charged Black Hole, we numerically investigate the effective potentials of the total dynamical system, considering massive and massless test particles, moving on such Black Holes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the cosmological "constant" and the Hubble parameter are considered in the Weyl theory of gravity, by taking them as functions of r and t, respectively. Based on this theory and in the linear approximation, we obtain the values of H0 and Λ0 which are in good agreement with the known values of the parameters for the current state of the universe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a pivotal mechanism for long-distance intercellular communication and facilitate the stable transport of biological information. Conventional methods for profiling EVs are focused on the biological cargo obtained from large populations of cells and cannot map the secretion of specific subsets of EVs onto their cell of origin. We developed a high-throughput single-cell cloning method that can identify the kinetics of secretion of specific subsets of EVs. With the aid of this methodology, we illustrate that secretion of specific subsets of EVs can be an inheritable property of cancer cells. Our single-cell methodology enables the direct integration of EV secretion with multiple cellular functions and can enable new insights into cell and disease biology. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) mediate communication in health and disease. Conventional assays are limited in profiling EVs secreted from large populations of cells and cannot map EV secretion onto individual cells and their functional profiles. We developed a high-throughput single-cell technique that enabled the mapping of dynamics of EV secretion. By utilizing breast cancer cell lines, we established that EV secretion is heterogeneous at the single-cell level and that non-metastatic cancer cells can secrete specific subsets of EVs. Single-cell RNA sequencing confirmed that pathways related to EV secretion were enriched in the non-metastatic cells compared with metastatic cells. We established isogenic clonal cell lines from non-metastatic cells with differing propensities for CD81+CD63+EV secretion and showed for the first time that specificity in EV secretion is an inheritable property preserved during cell division. Combined in vitro and animal studies with these cell lines suggested that CD81+CD63+EV secretion can impede tumor formation. In human non-metastatic breast tumors, tumors enriched in signatures of CD81+CD63+EV have a better prognosis, higher immune cytolytic activity, and enrichment of pro-inflammatory macrophages compared with tumors with low CD81+CD63+EVs signatures. Our single-cell methodology enables the direct integration of EV secretion with multiple cellular functions and enables new insights into cell/disease biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we explore the photon region and the shadow of the rotating counterpart of a static charged Weyl black hole, which has been previously discussed according to null and time-like geodesics. The rotating black hole shows strong sensitivity to the electric charge and the spin parameter, and its shadow changes from being oblate to being sharp by increasing in the spin parameter. Comparing the calculated vertical angular diameter of the shadow with that of M87*, we found that the latter may possess about 10 36 protons as its source of electric charge, if it is a rotating charged Weyl black hole. A complete derivation of the ergosphere and the static limit is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]