Artiles
Open Access
Review
22 May 2026Spontaneous Cell Fusion as the Mechanism of Cancer Progression and Metastasis
The mechanism of prostate cancer (PCa) progression and metastasis remains unclear. Spontaneous cancer cell fusion is one theory of etiology. This essay takes a reductionist approach to highlight spontaneous cancer cell fusion as the primary mechanism of PCa progression and metastasis. PCa cells can fuse with adjacent cancer cells or various bystander cells in the tumor microenvironment. The fate of the fusion hybrids is determined by the similarity of cell cycle timing between the fusing cancer cell and the cell being fused. A tumor cell with high proliferative activity, when fused with a non-proliferating neighbor, results in growth arrest. However, fusion with a proliferative cell may lead to abnormal hybrid cell division, causing the hybrid genome to undergo random recombination. This creates a hybrid derivative clone with a genotype and phenotype distinct from those of both the parental cancer cell and the cell being fused. The progression of tumor cell heterogeneity is dynamic, as the hybrid derivative clone can inherit the ability to fuse. Their fusion with various proliferative cells in the tumor microenvironment generates additional hybrid clones, each with a new genomic makeup and altered phenotype. The spontaneity of PCa cell fusogenicity enables an ever-changing tumor cell heterogeneity, which is the root cause of the pathological behavior of PCa progression and metastasis.
Open Access
Article
22 May 2026Are Marine Areas a Protection of Biodiversity or Are They Only Determined Areas for Economic Purposes? The Case of Isla Cozumel
A common issue in defining marine protected areas is the often-vague boundaries, despite widespread GPS use. Identifying conservation zones varies but generally involves assessing species diversity, with choices based on ecological or economic value—usually at the manager’s discretion. This study suggests prioritizing areas with maximum diversity, focusing on six reef groups: hard and soft corals, macroalgae, sponges, hydrozoans, and anemones. Data from photo-transects and species collections at 18 sites in Cozumel’s marine park were analysed using geostatistical Kriging to delineate zones. The results highlight the southern part of the island as the most diverse and in need of protection.
Open Access
Review
22 May 2026Driving Factors of Copper Surface Restructuring During Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Copper (Cu) is a uniquely versatile catalyst whose performance in reactions, such as the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) is intimately linked to the dynamic evolution of its surface under operating conditions. Rather than remaining structurally static, Cu undergoes continuous surface restructuring, forming new morphologies, facets, and defect structures that differ significantly from the as-prepared material. These transformations strongly influence catalytic activity and selectivity, yet the mechanisms governing them remain poorly understood. As a result, Cu surface restructuring has emerged as a “black box” phenomenon in electrocatalysis, marked by contradictory interpretations and a lack of predictive control. In this review, we examine six major factors proposed to drive Cu surface restructuring: (i) adsorbed hydroxyl species, (ii) applied potential, (iii) adsorbed CO intermediates, (iv) surface oxidation, (v) electrolyte composition, and (vi) current density. We discuss how each factor can modify surface energetics, atomic mobility, and local reaction environments, while emphasizing that these influences rarely act independently.
Open Access
Article
21 May 2026Stand Still and Die: Integrating Multi-Stakeholder Communication to Bring Fairness Back to the Autonomous Vehicle Trolley Problem
While rare, it is widely accepted that autonomous vehicles (AVs) will find themselves in dilemma scenarios involving vulnerable road users (VRUs). The ethics of these dilemma situations have been debated extensively in the context of trolley-problem-like scenarios. What has not been noted is the inherent unfairness implicit in many of these discussions, in which VRUs are seen as passive bystanders with no say in what befalls them. Rather than simply remaining still in a collision scenario, VRUs can (and often do) take action that needs to be accounted for. If we are to increase fairness on public roads, it is important that AVs communicate with VRUs. This paper presents a highly theoretical discussion on the possibility of using communication tools (such as the V2X system) and techniques (derived from the science of human-machine interaction) to support protective, risk-reducing responses from VRUs during inevitable AV collisions. The paper begins with a brief ethical exploration of fairness in the context of current debates surrounding AV collisions. We proceed to discuss possible technical solutions to AV-VRU communication, as well as the types of audio, visual, and tactile communication strategies necessary in critical scenarios.
Open Access
Communication
20 May 2026Morphological and Genome Characterization of Alternaria alternata Causing Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) Leaf Spot in Peru
Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.), valued for their nutritional benefits and economic significance, have become Peru’s leading agro-export crop. However, intensive cultivation can lead to phytosanitary problems if not addressed promptly, posing a serious threat to blueberry production. This study aimed to isolate and identify the causal agent of leaf spot symptoms initially observed in blueberries cultivated in Peru, marking the first formal documentation of its presence in the country. In 2022, leaf spot symptoms were recorded on V. corymbosum cv. Biloxi, in the north of Lima, Peru. Field observations revealed necrotic, sunken spots on leaves and fruits, with 4.84% of leaves diseased and 1.28% of fruits affected. Pathogen isolation and microscopic studies identified Alternaria alternata as the primary causal agent, which was confirmed by genome sequencing using Oxford Nanopore Technology. Pathogenicity tests demonstrated the fungus’ ability to reproduce symptoms identical to those observed in the field, fulfilling Koch’s postulates. Under experimental conditions, disease severity increased over time, with the affected leaf area ranging from 9.35% to 25.61% between 7 and 14 days post-inoculation. This study establishes A. alternata as a pathogen of blueberries in Peru and provides essential insights for future research and strategies to mitigate its impact on the industry.
Open Access
Article
19 May 2026Effects of Drying Time, Ultrasonic Vibration Intensity, and Target Powder Bed Temperature on Subsystem-Level Energy Consumption in Binder Jetting Additive Manufacturing
Reported studies regarding binder jetting additive manufacturing have investigated the effects of process parameters (e.g., drying time and ultrasonic vibration intensity) on a range of response variables. However, the effects of these process parameters on the energy consumption of binder jetting printers remain largely unexplored. This study investigates the energy consumption of a binder jetting printer experimentally, focusing on three parameters: drying time, ultrasonic vibration intensity, and target powder bed temperature. Experiments were conducted under controlled conditions designed to isolate subsystem contributions to power consumption, including drying tests without powder and ultrasonic vibration tests without powder dispensing or hopper traversal. Energy consumption was calculated based on the real-time measurements of the electric current drawn by the binder jetting printer during experiments at different drying times (1, 15, 30, 45, and 60 s), ultrasonic vibration intensities (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%), and target powder bed temperatures (40, 60, and 80 °C). Results showed that longer drying times and higher target powder bed temperatures significantly increased energy consumption, while ultrasonic vibration intensity had a negligible effect on energy consumption. These results provide a basis for understanding energy consumption at the subsystem level, supporting future studies on subsystem-level energy optimization.
Open Access
Review
18 May 2026Emerging Technologies Empowering the Biosynthesis of Paclitaxel
Paclitaxel (Taxol) is a clinically important diterpenoid anticancer drug whose industrial production remains constrained by limited Taxus resources and semi-synthetic routes. Driven by the rapid advancement of genome mining and synthetic biology technologies, the past two years have witnessed substantial breakthroughs in elucidating the biosynthetic pathway of paclitaxel. The pathway constitutes an exceptionally complex biosynthetic network comprising approximately 20 enzymatic steps, predominantly catalyzed by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases (ODDs), and acyltransferases. Nevertheless, microbial production of paclitaxel remains highly obstructed, largely due to inefficient catalytic abilities, enzyme promiscuities, and complex metabolic fluxes. This review summarizes recent progress in elucidating the evolutionary origins and catalytic mechanistic basis of the paclitaxel biosynthetic pathway, with particular emphasis on the emerging technologies and catalytic mechanism studies. Furthermore, current challenges and perspectives for constructing efficient artificial biosynthetic pathways are discussed, providing insights into the future biotechnological production of paclitaxel.
Open Access
Article
18 May 2026Transition from Dispersed RTP to Aggregated TADF in Single-Chromophore Polymers
Room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) and organic thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials have merited enormous application prospects in organic optoelectronics. In spite of this, TADF and RTP dual emissions based on single-chromophore polymers still face a great challenge. In this work, we develop a monomer (CzBT) with twisted electron donating carbazole and electron withdrawing benzothiadiazole (D-A) structure and then copolymerize it with N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) in different ratios to adjust TADF and RTP emission. The polymers exhibit TADF emission from aggregated chromophores, RTP emission with a lifetime of 240 ms from dispersed chromophores, and a high absolute photoluminescence quantum efficiency (20%). Theoretical calculations confirm that the introduction of twisted D-A structure and heteroatoms can not only promote spin orbital coupling to facilitate the accumulation of triplet excitons for RTP emission, but also help RISC to emit TADF in the aggregated state. When applied to solution-processable organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) devices, excellent current efficiency of 62.7 cd/A and maximum external quantum efficiency of 19.9% were achieved attributing to the dominant TADF emission. This class of polymers paves the way for high-efficiency optoelectronic devices.
Open Access
Article
18 May 2026Solar−Driven Antibiotic Ciprofloxacin Elimination by Bi4Ti3O12 and Biotoxicity Evaluation of Degradation Process on Aquatic Organisms and Bean Seedling
Photocatalytic degradation of antibiotic molecules has great significance in environmental pollution control. Bi4Ti3O12 with a layered structure is one of the emerging visible−light−responsive photocatalysts. However, the environmental effects of antibiotic degradation have not received sufficient attention. This study employed plate−like Bi4Ti3O12 derived from Na2Ti3O7 nanowires for ciprofloxacin (CIP) degradation, and investigated the biotoxicity of degradation products on aquatic organisms and plant seedlings. It was found that an appropriate hydrothermal treatment time with ethylene glycol could slightly enhance the photocatalytic performance of Bi4Ti3O12, and this might be attributed to the increased density of active sites resulting from the regulation of microstructure. Concurrently, the degradation products of CIP were detected and predicted for biotoxicity; the effects of the CIP degradation residual solution on the growth of peas, wheat, and zebrafish larvae were also investigated. Under the present experimental conditions, the Bi4Ti3O12−24h photocatalyst−involved CIP degradation process could reduce the biotoxicity of the CIP solution (40 mg/L) and exhibit low toxicity to several individual organisms, including some actual plants and animals.
Open Access
Perspective
15 May 2026From Skills to Wellbeing: How Culinary Nutrition Education Supports Mental Health Across the Lifespan
Culinary nutrition education (CNE) involves structured, experiential learning that combines cooking skills with nutrition knowledge. While traditionally evaluated for physical health and dietary outcomes, emerging evidence suggests that CNE may also confer psychosocial benefits, such as improvements in self-efficacy, social connectedness, mood, and quality of life. This perspective (1) discusses the latest evidence for the psychosocial impact of CNE across developmental stages, (2) articulates plausible psychosocial mechanisms, (3) highlights limitations in current research, and (4) proposes directions for future research, intervention design, and implementation. Overall, evidence points to potential psychosocial benefits across the lifespan, although current research quality is variable. This perspective suggests that CNE, as an experiential learning approach, may support mental health by fostering self-efficacy building, promoting autonomous decision-making, enhancing social connection, and contributing to social identity formation across the lifespan. Integrating CNE into schools, communities, and other settings has the potential to deliver scalable, equitable psychosocial benefits. Future research should further examine effects over time, dose-response relationships, and the underlying psychosocial mechanisms. CNE interventions should be evidence-based, systematically co-designed with consumers, and tailored to participants’ developmental stage and needs to maximise their psychosocial benefits.
