Ingestion of a lipid-rich meat matrix blunts the post-exercise increase of myofibrillar protein synthesis rates in healthy adults: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: There is considerable variation in the anabolic action of ingesting protein-dense foods on the stimulation of postprandial myofibrillar protein synthesis rates (MPS) despite ingesting similar amounts of protein and essential amino acids (EAA) OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of consuming high-fat pork (HFP), low-fat pork (LFP), or a carbohydrate control (CHO) on the MPS response METHODS: In a semi-crossover design, sixteen physically active adults (25 ± 5 y; 25.0 ± 2.3 kg·m; 12M, 4F) received primed-constant infusions of L-[ring-C]phenylalanine and performed an acute bout of resistance exercise.

Monitoring Molecular Uptake and Cancer Cells' Response by Development of Quantitative Drug Derivative Probes for Chemical Imaging.

Infrared (IR) spectroscopic imaging combines the molecular specificity of vibrational spectroscopy with imaging capabilities of microscopy, potentially allowing for simultaneous quantitative observations of drugs and cellular response. However, accurately quantifying drug concentration within changing cells is complicated by the overlap between exogenous molecules' and native cellular spectra. Here, we address this challenge by developing a derivative of the widely used chemotherapeutic doxorubicin as a spectral bioprobe (DOX-IR) using a strongly absorbing metal-carbonyl moiety [(Cp)Fe(CO)].

Ubiquitous Chiral Symmetry Breaking of Conjugated Polymers via Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation.

Spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking remains a fascination in chemistry, biology, materials science, and even astronomy. Chiral symmetry breaking usually requires intrinsic molecular chirality or extrinsic chiral sources but remains rare in nonchiral systems. Here, we reveal a ubiquitous, entropy-driven chiral symmetry breaking mechanism observed in 22 out of 35 conjugated polymers in the absence of any chiral source─a phenomenon overlooked for decades.

Visualizing energy transfer between redox-active colloids.

Redox-active colloids (RACs) represent a novel class of energy carriers that exchange electrical energy upon contact. Understanding contact-mediated electron transfer dynamics in RACs offers insights into physical contact events in colloidal suspensions and enables quantification of electrical energy transport in nonconjugated polymers. Redox-based electron transport was directly observed in monolayers of micron-sized RACs containing ethyl-viologen side groups via fluorescence microscopy through an unexpected nonlinear electrofluorochromism that is quantitatively coupled to the redox state of the colloid.

COVID-19 Pandemic Exposure and Toddler Behavioral Health in the ECHO Program.

Importance: Studies suggest developmental concerns for infants born during the COVID-19 pandemic, but evidence on its impact on toddler behavioral and emotional well-being remains limited.

Objective: To assess whether birth timing relative to the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with toddler internalizing and externalizing problems.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective cohort study utilized Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) cohort data collected between September 27, 2009, and July 21, 2023.

Experimental Evaluation of Maximum-Likelihood-Based Data Preconditioning for DE-SPECT: A Clinical SPECT System Constructed With CZT Imaging Detectors.

This study introduces a novel maximum-likelihood-based data preconditioning method for a 3-D position sensitive cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) detector used in the dynamic extremity-single photon emission computed tomography imaging system, an organ-dedicated Single-Photon Emission computed tomography system optimized for imaging peripheral vascular diseases in lower extremities. The 3-D CZT detectors offer subpixel resolution of ~0.5 mm FWHM in directions and an ultrahigh energy resolution of 3 keV at 200 keV, 4.

Visualizing Cell Structures with Minecraft.

Many microscopic images and simulations of cells give results in different kinds of formats, making it difficult for people lacking computational skills to visualize and interact with them. Minecraft-known for its three-dimensional, open-world, voxel-based environment-offers a unique solution by allowing the direct insertion of voxel-based cellular structures from light microscopy and simulations into its worlds without modification. This integration enables Minecraft players to explore the ultrastructure of cells in a highly immersive and interactive environment.

Active learning-guided optimization of cell-free biosensors for lead testing in drinking water.

Point-of-use diagnostics based on allosteric transcription factors (aTFs) are promising tools for environmental monitoring and human health. However, biosensors relying on natural aTFs rarely exhibit the sensitivity and selectivity needed for real-world applications, and traditional directed evolution struggles to optimize multiple biosensor properties at once. To overcome these challenges, we develop a multi-objective, machine learning (ML)-guided cell-free gene expression workflow for engineering aTF-based biosensors.

Zero-Shot Dynamic MRI Reconstruction With Global-to-Local Diffusion Model.

Diffusion models have emerged as promising tools for tackle the challenges of MRI reconstruction, demonstrating superior performance in sample generation compared to traditional methods. However, their application in dynamic MRI reconstruction remains relatively underexplored, primarily owing to the substantial demand for fully sampled training data, which is challenging to obtain because of the spatiotemporal complexity and high acquisition costs associated with dynamic MRI. To address this challenge, this paper proposes a zero-shot learning framework for accurate dynamic MR image reconstruction from undersampled k-space data directly.

Self-Healing 3D-Printed Polyurethane Nanocomposites Based on Graphene.

This study explores the self-healing properties of polyurethane nanocomposites enhanced by multiple hydrogen bonds from ureido-pyrimidinone and the incorporation of 1-3 wt.% graphene nanoparticles, based on polyol α,ω-dihydroxy[oligo(butylene-ethylene adipate)]diol, which, according to our knowledge, has not been previously used in such systems. These new materials were synthesized via a two-step process and characterized by their thermal, mechanical, chemical, and self-healing properties.

Allosteric modulation of M1 or M4 muscarinic receptors restores eNOS expression and L-arginine metabolism in dementia models and synergizes with NO releasers.

Background: Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of muscarinic receptors (M) have been shown to effectively prevent cognitive dysfunctions associated with dementias, but little is known about their impact on NO֗-dependent pathways, in particular eNOS expression, L-arginine metabolism and its derivatives (ADMA/SDMA/NMMA) production.

Methods: Biochemical studies were performed in frontal cortices, hippocampi and plasma samples from mice that were administered with MK-801 (schizophrenia-related dementa) or scopolamine (Alzheimer's disease model) for 14 days alone or together with muscarinic receptors modulators: VU0357017 (M) and VU0152100 (M). Western blot was used to measure eNOS, DDAH1 and PRMT5, while mass spectrometry was used to measure the levels of L-arginine derivatives.

Physics of unravelling and micromechanics of hagfish threads.

Hagfish slime is a unique biological material composed of mucus and protein threads that rapidly deploy into a cohesive network when deployed in seawater. The forces involved in thread deployment and interactions among mucus and threads are key to understanding how hagfish slime rapidly assembles into a cohesive, functional network. Despite extensive interest in its biophysical properties, the mechanical forces governing thread deployment and interaction remain poorly quantified.

Neuropeptide Characterization Workflow from Sampling to Data-Independent Acquisition Mass Spectrometry.

Endogenous neuropeptides are key modulators of brain function, playing critical roles in behavior, stress, pain, and homeostatic regulation, yet their analysis remains difficult. Biologically, they are low in abundance, rapidly degraded, and processed variably from precursor proteins, with expression limited to small, localized cell populations. Technically, their detection is complicated by a wide dynamic range, diverse post-translational modifications, and sparse signals in mass spectrometry datasets.

Body Composition, Fitness, and Mental Health in Preadolescent Children.

Importance: There is an increasing prevalence of poor fitness, concurrent with rising obesity, anxiety, and depression among children in the US. However, the association of fitness, adiposity, and lean tissue with anxiety and depression in preadolescent children is understudied.

Objective: To estimate differences in the association between specific tissues (adipose and lean tissue) and cardiorespiratory fitness with anxiety and depression symptoms among children.

Donepezil and Memantine Derivatives for Dual-Function and Prodrug Applications in Alzheimer's Disease.

The treatment of Alzheimer's disease by acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and -methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) inhibitors is limited by the narrow therapeutic window and adverse side effects of the drugs. This study aims to increase the efficacy and limit the side effects of donepezil, an AChE inhibitor, and memantine, an NMDAR inhibitor, through the addition of amyloid-β (Aβ)-targeting fragments to create dual-function compounds. The incorporation of the amyloid-targeting fragments successfully produced compounds with affinity for Aβ fibrils, and that can stain amyloid plaques in the brains of 5xFAD mice.

Environmental phenol mixture during pregnancy and child sleep quality in the ECHO cohort.

Introduction: Poor sleep quality in childhood can predict sleep quality throughout the lifecourse and other health outcomes. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals can affect adults' sleep quality, and prenatal phenol exposure impacts fetal development.

Objective: To assess associations between prenatal phenol concentrations and child sleep outcomes.

Wireless, passive inductor-capacitor sensors for biomedical applications.

In contemporary medical technologies, the necessity for efficient, precise, and real-time health monitoring and management is becoming increasingly critical with the prevalence of chronic diseases and the aging population. Traditional wired sensors and active wireless sensors continue to present numerous problems in practical applications, including complex structures, substantial size, frequent battery replacements, and an elevated risk of infection. Passive and wireless inductor-capacitor (LC) sensors are emerging as significant candidates to address these challenges.

Prefrontal cortex astrocytes modulate distinct neuronal populations to control anxiety-like behavior.

Accumulating evidence has supported diverse regulatory functions of astrocytes in different neural circuits as well as various aspects of complex behaviors. However, little is known about how astrocytes regulate different neuronal subpopulations that are linked to specific behavioral aspects within a single brain region. Here, we show that astrocytes in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) encode anxiogenic environmental cues in freely behaving mice.

Theta-paced stimulation of the thalamic nucleus reuniens entrains mPFC-HPC oscillations and facilitates the acquisition of extinction memories.

Background: The nucleus reuniens (RE) is a midline thalamic nucleus interconnecting the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the hippocampus (HPC), structures known to be involved in aversive memory processes. Recent work indicates that the RE plays a critical role in the acquisition and retrieval of fear extinction memories. Functional inactivation of the RE impairs both mPFC-HPC coherence and extinction memory.

Ca Stoichiometry Controls the Binding Mode of the PKCα C2 Domain to Anionic Membranes.

The activation of the cell signaling enzyme protein kinase Cα (PKCα) requires the association of its N-terminal regulatory region to cell membranes containing signaling lipids such as diacylglycerol, phosphatidylserine (PS), and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). The C2 domain, one of the N-terminal regulatory domains, targets and binds to PS/PIP2-containing membranes in a Ca-dependent manner via its Ca-binding loops and lysine-rich cluster. Here, we utilized multiple replicas of highly mobile membrane mimetic (HMMM) simulations to investigate how the Ca-binding stoichiometry of PKCα controls membrane binding of the C2 domain.

Multimaterial 3D Printing in Activating Bath Enables In Situ Polymerization of Thermosets with Intricate Geometries and Diverse Elastic Behaviors.

Polydicyclopentadiene, p(DCPD), is a high-performance thermoset valued for its exceptional toughness, strength, and stiffness. When copolymerized with 1,5-cyclooctadiene (COD), its mechanical properties can be tuned from glassy to rubbery at room temperature. While frontal polymerization enables a rapid and energy-efficient route to 3D print DCPD-based materials, challenges such as ink shelf life and gravitational distortion, especially in direct ink writing of soft COD-rich formulations, must be considered.

Blood nulling versus tissue suppression: Enhancing integrated VASO and perfusion (VAPER) contrast for laminar fMRI.

Cerebral blood volume (CBV) and cerebral blood flow (CBF)-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have proven to be more laminar-specific than blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) contrast fMRI, but they suffer from relatively low sensitivity. In previous work, we integrated CBV and CBF into one contrast using DANTE (Delay Alternating with Nutation for Tailored Excitation) pulse trains combined with 3D echo-planar imaging (EPI) to create an integrated blood volume and perfusion (VAPER)-weighted contrast (Chai et al., 2020).

Revealing layer-specific cortical activity in human M1 using high-resolution line-scanning fMRI.

In recent years, ultra-high field functional MRI has allowed researchers to study cortical activity at high spatiotemporal resolution. Advancements in technology have made it possible to perform fMRI of cortical laminae, which is crucial for understanding and mapping of local circuits and overall brain function. Unlike invasive electrophysiology, fMRI provides a non-invasive approach to studying human and animal brain function.

Consistency of resting-state correlations between fMRI networks and EEG band power.

Several simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG)-functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have aimed to identify the relationship between EEG band power and fMRI resting-state networks (RSNs) to elucidate their neurobiological significance. Although common patterns have emerged, inconsistent results have also been reported. This study aims to explore the consistency of these correlations across subjects and to understand how factors such as the hemodynamic response delay and the use of different EEG data spaces (source/scalp) influence them.

Improving laminar fMRI specificity by reducing macrovascular bias revealed by respiration effects.

Functional MRI (fMRI) time series are inherently susceptible to the influence of respiratory variations. While many studies treat respiration as a source of noise in fMRI, this study employs natural respiratory variations during high resolution (0.8 mm) fMRI at 7T to formulate a respiration effect related map and then use this map to reduce macrovascular bias for a more laminar-specific fMRI measurement.