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Nicotiana benthamiana has emerged as a premier plant biofactory for recombinant protein and metabolite production due to its high metabolic versatility, ease of cultivation and permissiveness to transient expression vectors. However, challenges such as transgene silencing, low yields and metabolic toxicity limit its scalability. Synthetic gene circuits offer transformative solutions by enabling precise transgene expression control, dynamic signal processing and metabolic pathway optimization. Recent advancements include novel sensor systems responsive to chemical and electromagnetic signals, synthetic promoters integrated with programmable transcription factors and virus‐derived replicons for transcriptional signal amplification. Recombinase‐based processors further enhance conditional gene expression and cellular memory capabilities. Innovative platforms like plant cell packs and self‐sustained bioluminescence systems facilitate rapid prototyping of gene circuits, enabling high‐throughput screening and optimization. Future strategies focus on stable genomic integration, positional effect mitigation and accelerated transgenic line generation using morphogenic regulators and CRISPR systems. By addressing these challenges, synthetic biology can unlock the full potential of N. benthamiana as a scalable and sustainable biofactory for molecular farming, biosensing and advanced bioproduction applications.

There is a growing interest in determining which variables contribute to students’ academic performance, since this performance is associated with their wellbeing and with the progress of the nation. This study analyzed whether different variables (executive functions and physical activity levels, gender and academic year) of 177 Spanish Compulsory Secondary School students contributed to their academic performance. The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function 2 (BRIEF-2), Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A) and an ad hoc questionnaire were used to determine the students’ executive functioning, physical activity level, gender and academic year, respectively. Students’ grades were considered to be indicators of their academic achievement. Seven multiple linear regression models were constructed using the R computing language to examine the association between academic achievement (considered in each of the 5 subjects: Language, Mathematics, Geography and History, English and Physical Education; the mean of the instrumental subjects—Language and Mathematics—and the mean of all the subjects) and the independent variables. The results indicated that executive functions, physical activity and gender contributed to academic performance, but academic year did not. This suggests that students with good executive functions, who perform physical activity and are female, would have better academic achievement. This information should be considered when designing interventions to improve student academic achievement.

The applications of nanoscale zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIF‐8) for antimicrobial drug delivery depend on the aqueous suspension stability of the ZIF‐8 which is influenced by their crystallinity, size, shape, aggregation, and surface chemistry. This study evaluated the stability of ZIF‐8 nanoparticles in terms of their aggregation and sedimentation characteristics. ZIF‐8 nanocomposites were synthesized with methanol via sonication at 30°C for 1 h. The effect of drying methods (oven drying at 80°C, and vacuum drying at 35°C), number of washing steps (0 = no wash, 1, 2, 3), and washing medium (washing with water and ethanol instead of methanol, and redispersion in water and ethanol) on the suspension stability was evaluated. The impact of added xanthan gum (XG) and poly‐L‐lysine (PL) as suspension media was also evaluated. ZIF‐8 nanoparticles were also synthesized using ethanol and suspended in PL. % transmittance and zeta potential were measured for freshly prepared ZIF‐8 suspensions in PL and after freeze‐drying and resuspending in water. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and x‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis were utilized for the assessment of the crystallinity, structure, and morphology of the samples. Antibacterial activity was evaluated by disc diffusion test against Escherichia coli. Dried methanol‐synthesized ZIF‐8 nanoparticles did not suspend in water; only the ZIF‐8 nanoparticles synthesized with reduced washing times and no drying treatment were resuspended in the water, XG and PL solutions. Instead, the ethanol‐synthesized ZIF‐8 nanoparticles were resuspended in water even after being washed three times and dried in a vacuum oven. SEM and TEM images and XRD patterns showed that alcohol can form well‐defined ZIF‐8 nanoparticles. FTIR spectra showed that ZIF‐8 had typical peaks of ZIF‐8 reported by others. Although particle size increased, the PL coating provided a 32.22% increase in zeta potential of ZIF‐8 nanoparticles from 36.25 to 47.93 mV (p < 0.05) and prevented aggregation and sedimentation of the nanoparticles without changing their morphology. All the tested ZIF‐8 nanoparticles showed antibacterial activity with the PL‐coated ZIF‐8 having the highest effect followed by the ZIF‐8 nanoparticles synthesized in ethanol. Scanning Electron Microscope images of ZIF‐8 nanoparticles synthesized with (a) methanol, (b) ethanol and (c) ZIF‐8 coated with Poly‐l‐lysine. Images taken at a magnification of 37000x.

Summary The growing demand for sustainable platforms for biomolecule manufacturing has fuelled the development of plant‐based production systems. Agroinfiltration, the current industry standard, offers several advantages but faces limitations for large‐scale production due to high operational costs and batch‐to‐batch variability. Alternatively, here, we describe the CuBe system, a novel bean yellow dwarf virus (BeYDV)‐derived conditional replicative expression platform stably transformed in Nicotiana benthamiana and activated by copper sulphate (CuSO4), an inexpensive and widely used agricultural input. The CuBe system utilizes a synthetic circuit of four genetic modules integrated into the plant genome: (i) a replicative vector harbouring the gene of interest (GOI) flanked by cis‐acting elements for geminiviral replication and novelly arranged to enable transgene transcription exclusively upon formation of the circular replicon, (ii) copper‐inducible Rep/RepA proteins essential for replicon formation, (iii) the yeast‐derived CUP2‐Gal4 copper‐responsive transcriptional activator for Rep/RepA expression, and (iv) a copper‐inducible Flp recombinase to minimize basal Rep/RepA expression. CuSO4 application triggers the activation of the system, leading to the formation of extrachromosomal replicons, expression of the GOI, and accumulation of the desired recombinant protein. We demonstrate the functionality of the CuBe system in N. benthamiana plants expressing high levels of eGFP and an anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 antibody upon copper treatment. Notably, the system is functional in post‐harvest applications, a strategy with high potential impact for large‐scale biomanufacturing. This work presents the CuBe system as a promising alternative to agroinfiltration for cost‐effective and scalable production of recombinant proteins in plants.

Background In recent years, medical education has increasingly embraced gamification as a method for teaching clinical skills. In Peru, social isolation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic forced universities and academic institutions to restructure their teaching methods, while there are no reports about the impact of this strategies in Peruvian students. In this study we evaluated the feasibility and patterns of use of a novel video game based didactic activity in undergraduate students from a School of Medicine in Peru. Method We conducted a retrospective pilot study in medical students who used the Full Code Medical Simulation platform. We retrieved scoring data obtained from this platform for selected cases of clinical courses with an appropriate number of users [clinical medicine (CM) I (7 cases), CM II (17 cases), surgery I (6 cases) and surgery II (6 cases)]. cases)]. We also evaluated patterns of use and the association between academic performance and the Full Code scores. Results A total of 590 students were included in the study. We found a direct correlation between the student’s course grade and Full Code score in all courses (CM I: p  < 0.001, CM II: p  < 0.05, Surgery I: p  < 0.05 and Surgery II: p  < 0.05). CM II course students who dedicated more time to completing cases received better grades ( p  < 0.05). The pattern of use of Full code were similar in students regardless their academic performance. In addition, students with higher academic performance were more likely to have higher scores in the platform ( p  < 0.001). Conclusion The use of gamification in clinical simulation was highly feasible in students of medicine regardless their academic performance. Prospective and interventional studies are needed to assess if the Full Code platform directly affect the learning outcomes.

Flow characterization of ground materials based on standard physical properties is not always accurate and must be complemented with other properties that help characterize their flowability. The flow properties of yellow cornmeal as a function of moisture content (10.0%, 13.5% 17.0%, and 20.0% wet basis) and concentrations of added conditioner (calcium stearate, a caking agent classified at GRAS, at 0.50%, 0.75%, and 1.00% wt/wt) were measured. The optimum flow behavior characteristics of the cornmeal were achieved at 0.50% wt/wt calcium stearate and 10.0% (w.b.) moisture content based on the flow function test. Overall, the material's flowability decreased with increased moisture content based on very high values for Hausner's ratio, Carr's Index, and angle of repose. The flow index (ffc) obtained by the flow function test decreased from 6.47 to 3.82 as moisture increased, indicating increased cohesivity. Calcium stearate increased the flowability of the material at 0.50% wt/wt, beyond which the flowability was not affected (p > .05). Samples were very hygroscopic and classified as Class IV. The Hausner's ratio, Carr's Index, and angle of repose showed a strong linear relationship with the flow index with correlation values of 0.91, 0.88, and 0.88, respectively. Isotherms together with physical properties should be used to determine the flow characteristics of granulated materials such as yellow cornmeal to establish the best storage and processing conditions. Study on engineering and physical properties of yellow cornmeal that affect flowability and storage stability. Isotherms together with physical properties may be used to determine the flow characteristics of granulated materials such as yellow cornmeal to establish the best storage and processing conditions.

We describe an unusual outbreak of respiratory infections caused by human metapneumovirus in children during the sixth wave of COVID-19 in Spain, associated with the Omicron variant. Patients in this outbreak were older than usual and showed more hypoxia and pneumonia, longer length of stay, and greater need for intensive care.

Background Spatial transcriptomics (ST) technologies are reshaping our understanding of tissue organization and cellular context in health and disease. However, technical benchmarking across platforms remains limited, particularly in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) clinical samples, which represent the most common tissue format in oncology. Results Here, we systematically benchmark five commercial ST platforms (Visium v1, Visium v2/CytAssist, Visium HD, Xenium, and CosMx) using matched FFPE human tumor sections from six cancer types. Uniquely, our study includes both sequencing-based and imaging-based platforms profiled on the same samples, enabling direct technical comparisons across spatial capture modalities. We evaluate platform performance across multiple dimensions, including transcript and UMI detection, gene–histology concordance, cell type recovery, and integration with a targeted protein panel (Visium v2, 30 proteins), enabling spatial multi-omics. We also quantify the impact of sampling strategies and area coverage on cell type estimation, revealing trade-offs in spatial resolution versus tissue context. Notably, we present the first same-sample comparison of Xenium Multi-Tissue (377 genes) and Xenium Prime (5,000 genes), highlighting key differences in transcript recovery and spatial signal despite shared chemistry and imaging infrastructure. Finally, we integrate Visium targeted protein data with matched RNA profiles, uncovering widespread RNA–protein decoupling and spatial heterogeneity in concordance. Conclusions Collectively, this work provides a harmonized dataset and technical reference for the spatial transcriptomics community, offering insight into the relative strengths, limitations, and design considerations associated with high-throughput spatial profiling of FFPE tumors.

Strengthening of early schooling enhances Equal and Inclusive Education (Sustainable Development Goal 4). Early education protects infant development and learning, especially for children suffering from pathologies and risk factors, such as twin birth weight discordance (BWD). These children—particularly the lighter twin—frequently show disadvantages in their cognitive skills. However, research about this issue is particularly scarce. The aims of this study were to (1) analyze the development of cognitive skills in each type of birth weight discordant twins (heavier and lighter ones) at 18, 21, and 24 months; and (2) discover whether there were differences between the two groups of twins in their cognitive skills. A nomothetic, follow-up, and multidimensional observational design was used. The cognitive skills of 32 birth weight discordant twins were observed while they played at 18, 21, and 24 months. The T-pattern analysis was performed using Thème software (Reykjavík, Iceland) to detect the sequential and temporal structure of infant behavior; indicative of cognitive skills. Results showed: (1) longitudinal intra-group differences in both groups of twins; and (2) some inter-group differences, mainly favoring the heavier twins. These results must be considered for designing early educational practices that allow all twins to be prepared for successful future learning.

Introduction Gender inequalities exist in work life, but little is known about their presence in relation to factors examined in occupation health settings. The aim of this study was to identify and summarize the working and employment conditions described as determinants of gender inequalities in occupational health in studies related to occupational health published between 1999 and 2010. Methods A systematic literature review was undertaken of studies available in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Sociological Abstracts, LILACS, EconLit and CINAHL between 1999 and 2010. Epidemiologic studies were selected by applying a set of inclusion criteria to the title, abstract, and complete text. The quality of the studies was also assessed. Selected studies were qualitatively analysed, resulting in a compilation of all differences between women and men in the prevalence of exposure to working and employment conditions and work-related health problems as outcomes. Results Most of the 30 studies included were conducted in Europe (n=19) and had a cross-sectional design (n=24). The most common topic analysed was related to the exposure to work-related psychosocial hazards (n=8). Employed women had more job insecurity, lower control, worse contractual working conditions and poorer self-perceived physical and mental health than men did. Conversely, employed men had a higher degree of physically demanding work, lower support, higher levels of effort-reward imbalance, higher job status, were more exposed to noise and worked longer hours than women did. Conclusions This systematic review has identified a set of working and employment conditions as determinants of gender inequalities in occupational health from the occupational health literature. These results may be useful to policy makers seeking to reduce gender inequalities in occupational health, and to researchers wishing to analyse these determinants in greater depth.