Hyperpolarized NMR Combined with Quantum Mechanical Simulations Reveal Atomistic Structures of Calcium Phosphate Prenucleation Clusters.

The discovery of solute precursors of crystalline materials, such as biominerals, recently challenged the classical nucleation theory (CNT). One emerging method for investigating these early-stage intermediates in solution is dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (dDNP)-enhanced nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Recent applications of dDNP to calcium carbonate (CaC) and calcium phosphate (CaP) mineralization have demonstrated the feasibility of identifying and tracing very early-stage prenucleation clusters (PNCs).

Encapsidic production and isolation of degradation-prone polypeptides.

Degradation during production and delivery is a significant bottleneck in developing biomolecular therapies. Protein cages, formed by engineered variants of lumazine synthase, present an effective strategy for the microbial production and isolation of labile biomolecular therapies. Genetic fusion of the target polypeptide to a cage component protomer ensures its efficient encapsulation within the cage during production in host bacterial cells, thereby protecting it from degradation.

A phylogenomic study of African Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) using nuclear and chloroplast sequences.

Background And Aims: The large genus, Impatiens, is well known to vary excessively, presenting extensive modifications in floral structure among its 1100+ species. Phylogenetic relationships in the genus have historically been difficult to intuit based on morphology, given numerous occurrences of convergent evolution, but they are also difficult to determine based on molecular characters. In this study we focus on resolving the phylogentic relationships within the genus Impatiens, with an emphasis on continental African taxa.

Alternating Magnetic Fields Remove Biofilms but Damage Cells on Implant Models Also with Negligible Bulk Heating.

Implant-associated infections caused by bacterial biofilms remain a major clinical challenge, with high morbidity, often necessitating prolonged antibiotic therapy or implant revision surgery. To address the need for noninvasive alternatives, we investigated the use of alternating magnetic fields (AMFs) as a localized treatment modality for eradicating biofilms on titanium implant model surfaces. We demonstrate that AMF exposure effectively removes biofilms and kills bacteria at moderately elevated temperatures on the implant.

Circularly Polarized Luminescence from an Inverted Singlet-Triplet Chiral Dye.

Molecules with an inverted singlet-triplet gap (Δ = - < 0) hold potential for optoelectronic applications as OLEDs and photocatalysis. Despite growing interest, no single-molecule emission from a chiral dye with an inverted gap has been reported, and only one case has shown such emission from supramolecular aggregates. Here, we present the first circularly polarized light emission (CPL) from a chiral molecule exhibiting an inverted singlet-triplet gap.

Students' relationship quality in class: Exploring latent profiles, latent transitions and links to student motivation.

Background: Early secondary school students' perceptions of their social relationships in class are closely linked to their levels of motivation. However, person-centred research examining patterns of social relationships with both peers and teachers remains limited.

Aims: This study explored the existence, stability and transitions of latent profiles of students' social relationships over time, as well as their interconnectedness with students' motivation, gender, immigration background and educational track.

Tiredness/fatigue and sexuality in everyday life: Findings from an ecological momentary assessment.

Tiredness may be associated with increased or decreased sexual experience and behavior while fatigue seems to have a predominantly negative effect, although evidence is scarce. This ecological momentary assessment study is the first to examine associations between tiredness or fatigue and concurrent / subsequent sexual desire or sexual arousal and previous / subsequent sexual activity in daily life, including event-based measurements and considering gender differences. Healthy heterosexual individuals (n = 63), aged between 19 and 32 years and in a relationship, indicated their tiredness, general fatigue, physical fatigue, sexual desire, and sexual arousal on an iPod seven times daily over 14 days, and any event-based occurrences of sexual activity.

Systematic attribution of heatwaves to the emissions of carbon majors.

Extreme event attribution assesses how climate change affected climate extremes, but typically focuses on single events. Furthermore, these attributions rarely quantify the extent to which anthropogenic actors have contributed to these events. Here we show that climate change made 213 historical heatwaves reported over 2000-2023 more likely and more intense, to which each of the 180 carbon majors (fossil fuel and cement producers) substantially contributed.

Redox-driven mineral and organic associations in Jezero Crater, Mars.

The Perseverance rover has explored and sampled igneous and sedimentary rocks within Jezero Crater to characterize early Martian geological processes and habitability and search for potential biosignatures. Upon entering Neretva Vallis, on Jezero Crater's western edge, Perseverance investigated distinctive mudstone and conglomerate outcrops of the Bright Angel formation. Here we report a detailed geological, petrographic and geochemical survey of these rocks and show that organic-carbon-bearing mudstones in the Bright Angel formation contain submillimetre-scale nodules and millimetre-scale reaction fronts enriched in ferrous iron phosphate and sulfide minerals, likely vivianite and greigite, respectively.

Low-grade non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: molecular landscape, treatment strategies and emerging therapies.

Low-grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer is a specific category of bladder cancer with a favourable prognosis; however, its management presents several challenges. The risk of stage progression is very low, but approximately half of patients will experience recurrence within the first 5 years after diagnosis. This high propensity for recurrence, coupled with the threat of progression, mandates ongoing surveillance.

Immune-related actinopathies at the cross-road of immunodeficiency, autoimmunity and autoinflammation.

Actin cytoskeleton remodelling drives the migration of immune cells and their engagement in dynamic cell-cell contacts. The importance of actin cytoskeleton dynamics in immune cell function is highlighted by the discovery of inborn errors of immunity (IEIs) that are caused by defects in individual actin-regulatory proteins, resulting in immune-related actinopathies. In addition to susceptibility to infection, these often present with a vast array of autoimmune and autoinflammatory manifestations.

Association of intraoperative end-tidal CO levels with postoperative outcomes: a patient-level analysis of two randomised clinical trials.

Background: The relationship between intraoperative end-tidal CO (etCO) levels and postoperative outcomes remains unclear. We conducted a post hoc analysis of two randomised trials in adults undergoing major surgery under general anaesthesia.

Methods: We re-analysed individual participant data comparing high or low positive end-expiratory pressure with low tidal volume intraoperative ventilation using a merged database derived from two randomised trials in non-obese (PROVHILO: ISRCTN70332574) and obese (PROBESE: NCT02148692) patients.

Validating the PECARN rule to identify febrile infants at low risk of serious bacterial infections: an international validation study.

Objective: To externally validate the Paediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) rule for identifying febrile infants aged <60 days at low risk of serious bacterial infections (SBIs) and assess the utility of the rule with C reactive protein (CRP) instead of procalcitonin (PCT).

Methods: Secondary analysis of data from the Management and Outcomes of Fever in Children in Europe (MOFICHE) study (12 paediatric emergency departments in eight European countries, January 2017 to April 2018) and a Swedish study (four paediatric emergency departments, January 2014 to December 2020). Previously healthy febrile infants aged ≤60 days were included.

Are we closing the gender gap in academic oncology? An observational study of gender disparities in participant engagement at the ASCO 2024 annual meeting.

Objective: Despite global efforts, gender disparities in oncology may persist. Understanding these disparities within the context of major conferences can inform strategies to promote gender inclusiveness in the field. This study evaluates the participation of women and men at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2024 congress, focusing on chairs, speakers and audience questioners.

Autophosphorylation of conserved yeast and human casein kinase 1 isozymes regulates Elongator-dependent tRNA modifications.

Casein kinase 1 (CK1) family members are crucial for ER-Golgi trafficking, calcium signalling, DNA repair, transfer RNA (tRNA) modifications, and circadian rhythmicity. Whether and how substrate interactions and kinase autophosphorylation contribute to CK1 plasticity remains largely unknown. Here, we undertake a comprehensive phylogenetic, cellular, and molecular characterization of budding yeast CK1 Hrr25 and identify human CK1 epsilon (CK1ϵ) as its ortholog.

Daptomycin membrane activity is modulated by the localized interplay between calcium ions and phospholipids in monolayers and bilayers containing a lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol analogue.

Using the stable synthetic analogue 3-aza-dehydroxylysyl-phosphatidylglycerol (3adLPG), the putative role of native staphylococcal LPG in inhibiting the antibiotic daptomycin from binding to its target phosphatidylglycerol (PG), was investigated with respect to interfacial interactions between these lipids, daptomycin, and calcium ions. The influence of lipid monolayer/bilayer composition and interfacial ion concentrations upon the structure and integrity of model membranes were probed after daptomycin challenge using a combination of surface x-ray scattering techniques and fluorescence assays. In models representing the membrane composition of the daptomycin susceptible phenotype consisting of PG/3adLPG in a 7:3 M ratio, calcium ions drive the formation of two separate phases; Ca cross-linked PG/PG pairs and PG/3adLPG ion pairs.

Axonal degeneration in hemorrhagic stroke: a systematic review.

Hemorrhagic stroke occurs due to a rupture of a blood vessel in the brain. This leads to initial mechanical damage at the site of injury and secondary injuries including axonal degeneration (AxD). Since axons are critical for all brain functions, we systematically reviewed studies that focused on axonal degeneration in two major types of hemorrhagic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage, to understand how and to what extent AxD develops and to interrogate underlying mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.

Real-world use of terlipressin in cirrhosis and acute kidney injury: frequent use beyond hepatorenal syndrome.

Background & Aims: Terlipressin is indicated to treat hepatorenal syndrome (HRS)-acute kidney injury (AKI), but is likely used outside this primary indication in clinical practice. We aimed to investigate real-world practice patterns on the use of terlipressin in AKI in cirrhosis.

Methods: International prospective study including patients hospitalized for decompensated cirrhosis.

Incidence of Tick-Borne Encephalitis in Unvaccinated Populations Across Europe (2020-2023).

Background: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a vaccine-preventable disease. While many European countries conduct TBE surveillance, resulting incidence estimates do not distinguish between vaccinated and unvaccinated populations. To understand TBE risk to unvaccinated individuals, we assessed incidence among unvaccinated populations in Europe.

Trio fatale: Neutrophils, NETs, and necrosis.

In a recent issue of Nature, Adrover et al. report a neutrophil subset that induces pleomorphic tumor necrosis through neutrophil extracellular trap (NET)-mediated vascular occlusion. This process drives epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis of perinecrotic cancer cells, reframing necrosis as an active process and uncovering targetable mechanisms to combat cancer dissemination.

Global forest carbon leakage and substitution effect potentials: The case of the Swedish forest sector.

The forest sector's climate change mitigation depends on forest carbon sequestration, storing carbon in wood products, and avoidance of fossil greenhouse gas emissions by replacing more emission intensive products or energy sources, i.e., the substitution effect.

Performance evaluation of a p-type co-axial HPGe detector: Long-term analysis of key parameters for gamma spectroscopy.

Accurate determination of the parameters of each high purity germanium, HPGe detectors ensure the precision of quantitative results obtained from spectrum analysis. This study presents a comprehensive performance evaluation and long-term quality control assessment of a high-purity germanium (HPGe) gamma spectrometry system that has been operational for over 15 years. Key spectrometric measures were recorded, including energy resolution, peak shape ratios, asymmetry, peak-to-Compton ratio, relative efficiency, electronic noise, minimum detectable activity (MDA), and repeatability and reproducibility of the system.

The PROtective VEntilation (PROVE) Network - advancing research and collaboration in mechanical ventilation.

The PROtective VEntilation (PROVE) Network is a globally-recognized collaborative research group dedicated to advancing research, education, and collaboration in the field of mechanical ventilation. Established to address critical questions in intraoperative and intensive care ventilation, the network focuses on improving outcomes for patients undergoing mechanical ventilation in diverse settings, including operating rooms, intensive care units, burn units, and resource-limited environments in low- and middle-income countries. The PROVE Network is committed to generating high-quality evidence through a comprehensive portfolio of investigations, including randomized clinical trials, observational research, and meta-analyses.