The protein MmpL5 is an efflux transporter, a critical pump that helps the pathogen M. tuberculosis grow by scavenging essential iron. Unfortunately, overexpressed MmpL5 can also pump out bedaquiline — the first new turberculosis drug in over 40 years — making the bacteria drug-resistant. Diabling the efflux transporter of M. tuberculosis with an inhibitor would strike a double blow — restore microbial sensitivity to antibiotic bedaquiline and break the cycle that gathers scarce iron. Researchers have now solved the structure of MmpL4, a close homolog of MmpL5 that has the same function.

A new ESPOL study reveals that turning learning into a game can improve grades in STEM subjects, but it doesn't necessarily motivate students more. The research was based on the theory of Gamified Learning and was applied to 175 engineering students. One group was implemented with a weekly leaderboard system (like video game rankings), and the other was not

In a new strategy to combat citrus greening disease, scientists have engineered citrus trees to act as both bait and executioner for the insects that spread the disease.

Scientists have decoded the genetic machinery behind the golden petals of Camellia nitidissima and successfully transferred this trait into tomato plants to enhance their nutritional value. 

Grapevine diseases like white rot pose growing threats to global viticulture, leading to major yield losses and economic setbacks. 

The Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS, President Lee Ho Seong) has developed a detachable acoustic lens that allows for easy adjustment of the focal length in ultrasonic inspection equipment. Much like swapping lenses on a DSLR camera to improve image quality, this technology enables users to optimize the resolution of ultrasonic imaging systems for specific inspection tasks.

Researchers have employed a combination of thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS), neutron depth profiling (NDP), and laser ablation mass spectrometry (LAMS) alongside cluster dynamics modeling to investigate helium retention and migration in tungsten. These findings are critical for understanding the performance of tungsten in fusion reactor environments and predicting the evolution of helium-induced microstructural changes.

Researchers from the University of South China have developed the Two-Potential approach to obtain the key information about the nuclear structure in heavy and superheavy region.  It is found that atomic nuclei with the number of neutrons near N=162 are more stable. Encouraged by this, the half-lives of unknown nuclei around N = 162 are predicted. More importantly, the half-lives of possible new elements are also predicted. These theoretical results can serve provide guidance for the subsequent synthetic experiments.

Researchers at the Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, have pioneered a groundbreaking experimental method to calibrate the sensitivity of non-destructive Schottky detectors. This innovation enables precise counting of highly charged ions in heavy ion storage rings, significantly expanding the capabilities of storage mass spectrometry and advancing the study of rare isotopes.

In the field of nursing, it is crucial to gain a deeper understanding of the patient experience, the role of healthcare professionals, and the cultural and social factors in the healthcare environment. While traditional research methods have limitations in revealing these complex phenomena, autoethnography is emerging as an emerging research method. It skilfully combines personal experiences with cultural analyses, opening up new perspectives for nursing research.