Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with hepatic metabolic remodeling, but the coordinated changes in N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification and mRNA expression in human T2DM liver remain insufficiently defined. Here, we integrated mRNA expression profiles extracted from Arraystar Human LncRNA Microarray V5.0 with newly generated m6A epitranscriptomic microarray profiles in liver specimens from first-onset T2DM patients and controls. We identified 1923 differentially expressed and 7389 differentially m6A-methylated mRNA transcripts. Integrated analysis identified 898 dual-significant transcripts, predominated by hypermethylated-upregulated transcripts (n = 864), which were mainly enriched in amino acid, lipid, carbon, and energy metabolic pathways. By integrating m6A regulator expression, module-level correlation, and regulator-gene network connectivity, METTL14 was prioritized as a candidate component of the m6A writer complex associated with metabolic pathway remodeling. Ten METTL14-associated candidate genes were further prioritized, and clinical validation confirmed increased expression of METTL14 and most candidate genes in an independent human liver cohort. METTL14 depletion in Huh7 cells using two selected independent siRNAs concordantly reduced EHHADH, ACAT2, ACADS, SDHA, C3, and DLD. Secondary analysis of GSE185109 further showed significant downregulation of eight corresponding mouse orthologs in Mettl14-deficient liver, together with descriptive alterations in m6A peak patterns. These findings identify a functionally supported METTL14-associated m6A-mRNA network linked to hepatic metabolic remodeling in human T2DM, while direct transcript-specific m6A regulation remains to be established.
Optically pumped magnetometers (OPM) are widely used for their exceptional sensitivity in detecting weak magnetic fields, with applications mainly in the biomedical field. However, their spatial resolution is limited by inherent factors such as vapor cell size, stand-off distance and magnetic noise, restricting their ability to spatially resolve small magnetic features. In this work, we investigate the potential of commercially available rod-shaped magnetic flux guides to address this limitation for magnetic fields perpendicular to a sample surface. Through simulations and experiments, we demonstrate that integrating flux guides into OPM systems can significantly enhance spatial resolution while maintaining sensitivity. We combine finite element simulations with measurements on current-driven meander structures of varying pitch and quantify performance via the minimum resolvable pitch and the magnetic flux transfer coefficient K. After applying a tailored demagnetization procedure to minimize residual magnetization and noise, the integrated OPM–flux-guide system reduces the minimum resolvable pitch from a 5 mm without a flux guide to 1 mm with a rod shaped flux guide with a diameter for 1 mm, at a magnetic contrast of 3.43 pT and an SNR of 18 dB. The spatial resolution was found to be constrained by the flux guide diameter and by spatial averaging over the finite OPM cell, consistent across simulations and experiments. These findings emphasize the importance of jointly selecting flux guide dimensions, magnetic state and sensor geometry. The results demonstrate resolution enhancement for controlled local magnetic-field patterns and provide a basis for future investigations of OPM-based magnetic sensing in applications such as non-destructive testing.
Magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) study in the past three decades, resulting in over 25,000 publications while adding 1000 more each year, has become among the most persuasive areas of research. MTJ devices lead the ubiquitous success of spintronics for technological advancement from most aspects of information technology to health sciences, with unprecedented, all-encompassing benefits to the society. We navigate through the evolution of the developing field of MTJs and the related technologies, with continued efforts for improving the tunnel magnetoresistance ratio. The MTJs' excellent ability to convert spin signals to charge signals secures their extensive commercial applications in magnetic data storage and field sensing. More advanced implementation and progress such as with neuromorphic and probabilistic computing entail from here.
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play key roles in the host's defense against pathogenic infection. Aeromonas veronii is a zoonotic pathogen capable of provoking severe inflammatory responses. However, the function of lncRNAs in A. veronii infected mouse abdominal macrophages (MAMs) remains poorly understood. MAMs serve as the primary defense against bacterial infection and play critical roles in the anti-infectious immune response. Here, we profiled lncRNAs from MAMs infected with A. veronii. RNA sequencing identified a total of 1628 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs), comprising 680 up-regulated and 948 down-regulated genes. An integrated analysis of lncRNA-mRNA interaction networks identified 4888 target genes of DElncRNAs (DETGs). Of these, 55 DElncRNAs were found to be involved in the regulation of seven immune pathways by regulating 41 DETGs. Furthermore, GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that DETGs were significantly enriched in clusters or pathways associated with immune regulation. These findings provide the transcriptomic profile of MAMs. A comprehensive analysis of DElncRNAs in MAMs was conducted in response to A. veronii infection. Co-expression analysis indicates that lncRNAs are serving as vital regulators of immune gene activity through their critical influence on MAMs during A. veronii infection.
Improving the performance of packings of magnetic particles, such as bonded permanent magnets, is crucial, especially those consisting of rare-earth free magnets. This can potentially be done by realizing a mix of magnetic particles with different magnetic properties such that their packing has properties beyond the single-particle packings. In this work, we investigate a packed magnet consisting of strontium hexaferrite magnetic particles of two different sizes, where each particle is modeled as a Stoner–Wohlfarth particle with an external magnetic dipole field. We study a mixture of thousands of large but flat hexagonal particles of diameter 200nm, with different aspect ratios with smaller rounder particles with diameter 50nm and a higher coercivity than the large particles. We show that when the coercivity ratio of the two types of particles is below 2.1, the optimal packing contains around 2%wt. of the smaller particles to increase the packing density. For such a packing, the coercivity of the mixture increases by 25% compared to that of a packing composed only of the larger particles. Interestingly, the improvement in the coercivity of the packing does not depend on the coercivity of the small particles.
