Microbiota-Dependent Fiber Responses: A Proof-of-Concept Study on Short-chain Fatty Acid Production in Prevotella- and Bacteroides-Dominated Healthy Individuals.

Background: Dietary fiber supports metabolic health via microbial fermentation, producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). However, metabolic responses to fiber vary between individuals, potentially due to differences in gut microbiota composition. The Prevotella-to-Bacteroides (P/B) ratio has emerged as a potential biomarker for fiber responsiveness.

Expanding the Family of Heterostructured CdSe/CdS Core/Crown Nanoplatelets: Six- and Seven-Monolayers-Thick Species.

The growth of atomically flat CdSe nanoplatelets (NPLs) thicker than 5 monolayers (ML) remains a major challenge in colloidal semiconductor synthesis, particularly for core/crown heterostructures. Here we report the successful synthesis of zinc-blende CdSe NPLs with unprecedented thicknesses of 6 and 7 ML, exhibiting sharp photoluminescence at 579 and 596 nm, respectively. We demonstrate that these thick NPLs can serve as cores for CdSe/CdS core/crown heterostructures, confirmed by lateral size expansion and the emergence of characteristic CdS absorption features.

Microplastic impacts archaeal abundance, microbial communities and their network connectivity in a Sub Saharan soil environment.

Unmanaged plastic waste in Sub-Saharan Africa pollutes large areas and degrades into microplastics. Surfaces of microplastic are colonized by bacteria and fungi, resulting in the plastisphere. Plastispheres from high population hotspots on the African continent enrich pathogenic fungi, posing a potential threat to human health.

Different management and movement in the agricultural nutrient balances of Korea and the Netherlands: Highest nutrient surplus countries among OECD members.

Korea and the Netherlands historically developed highly fertilized cropping systems, resulting in the highest nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) surpluses among Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. However, their nutrient balances changed differently over the past three decades. The Netherlands reduced its N and P balances dramatically, from 328 to 166 kg ha and 35 to 4 kg ha, respectively, while Korea's balances remained unchanged with the highest levels in 2019 (230 kg N ha and 46 kg P ha).

3D printing of dexamethasone-loaded polycaprolactone-enhanced alginate hydrogels for individualized implants in inner ear therapy.

The anatomical and structural complexity and variability of the hearing organ pose significant challenges for efficient drug delivery to treat inner ear disorders. To address this issue, we developed a local drug delivery implant (LDDI) fabricated with 3D printing technology. The implant is personalized based on the individual patient's anatomy of the round window niche from where drugs can diffuse into the inner ear.

Efficient Photo-Driven Electron Transfer from Amino Group-Decorated Adamantane to Water.

Nanodiamonds in water can generate solvated electrons under ultraviolet (UV) excitation, but UV light constitutes only a small portion of solar energy. To harvest solar energy in the visible range, we investigate band gap reduction via surface amino functionalization and examine its impact on photo-excited charge transfer to water. Adamantane, the smallest nanodiamond, is used as a model due to its electron emission properties.

Label-free distinction of implant infection-associated bacterial biofilms by Mueller matrix polarimetry.

Significance: Bacterial biofilm agglomerates are the cause of hard-to-treat implant-associated infections but currently can only be distinguished using sophisticated microbiological or molecular biological methods. Optical methods can potentially provide a label-free, noncontact approach to detect the presence of bacterial species associated with implant infections that could aid in the early diagnosis of implant-associated diseases.

Aim: Our aim is to measure the polarization signal from implant-associated bacteria biofilms using Mueller matrix polarimetry.

Deep learning prediction of noise-driven nonlinear instabilities in fibre optics.

Machine learning is bringing revolutionary approaches into many fields of physics. Among those, photonics enables fast and scalable information processing. Photonics platforms further possess rich nonlinear dynamics that drive fundamental interest but also prove powerful for applications in computation, imaging, frequency conversion, source development and advanced signal processing.

Synthesis and Evaluation of DNA Cross-linkers by Click Chemistry-Mediated Heterodimerization of Nor-Tomaymycins.

The covalent cross-linking of DNA duplex strands by small molecule drugs is a validated mechanism in anticancer therapy. The pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepines (PBDs) have been established as potent DNA binders that can achieve inter- and intrastrand DNA cross-links when dimerized, and have been used as cytotoxic payloads in multiple antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). In this study, we explore the potential of click chemistry to obtain PBD heterodimers.

Effects of sandblasting and acid etching on the surface properties of additively manufactured and machined titanium and their consequences for osteoblast adhesion under different storage conditions.

Introduction: Additive manufacturing (AM) enables the production of complex, patient-specific titanium implants. However, the as-built surfaces of AM parts often require postprocessing to enhance surface properties for optimal osseointegration.

Methods: This study investigates the effects of varying sandblasting pressures (2 bar vs.

Esophageal Atresia Repair in Germany: Utilization Patterns, Hospital Characteristics and Costs.

Thoracoscopic esophageal atresia (EA) repair is a demanding procedure. It provides long-term benefits for patients including better cosmesis and less musculoskeletal sequelae compared with open surgery. Besides technical challenges, there is concern that thoracoscopy increases treatment costs.

Considerations for delivery of live-remote exercise for people with cancer in research and practice.

Exercise is safe and beneficial for people diagnosed with cancer. The use of live-remote exercise approaches, where exercise trainers deliver exercise programs via a videoconferencing platform, has increased rapidly, greatly expanding the reach of exercise programs. This method retains key elements of supervised exercise, which provide greater benefits than unsupervised programs.

Finite element analysis of stem migration after total hip replacement.

After total hip replacement, the primary and secondary implant stability is critical to ensure long-term success. Excessive migration of the femoral stem can cause implant loosening. In this work, a novel approach for the simulation of the femoral stem migration using the finite element method is presented.

Habitat Use of Birds on a High-Mounted Agrivoltaic Trial Plot.

Agrivoltaic is the dual use of land for agriculture and solar energy generation and can therefore be an opportunity to prevent land-use conflicts with food production in the context of renewable energy expansion. At the same time, agrivoltaic could have an impact on biodiversity, especially on farmland birds. We investigated the habitat use of birds on a high-mounted agrivoltaic trial plot with chive culture () in northern Germany.

Efficacy of Various Complexing Agents for Displacing Biologically Important Ligands from Eu(III) and Cm(III) Complexes in Artificial Body Fluids-An In Vitro Decorporation Study.

Incorporation of lanthanide (Ln) and actinide (An) ions into the human body poses significant chemotoxic and radiotoxic risks, necessitating effective decorporation strategies. This study investigates the displacement of biologically relevant ligands from trivalent ions of europium, Eu(III), and curium, Cm(III), in artificial biofluids by various complexing agents, i.e.

Transient colonization by Priestia megaterium B1L5 alters the structure of the rhizosphere microbiome towards potential plant beneficial bacterial groups in apple plantlets.

Background: Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) can beneficially modulate rhizosphere microbial communities, potentially improving plant health and reducing disease incidence. Limited research exists on the influence of PGPB inoculation on the rhizosphere microbial communities of apple plants, particularly in soils affected by apple replant disease (ARD). Here, we evaluated the capacity of GFP-labelled B1 (designated as B1L5) to colonize the roots of apple plantlets grown in two soils: ARD-affected soil and ARD-unaffected grass soil.

Discovery of corynanthe synthases in Camptotheca acuminata: medium-chain dehydrogenase/reductase-based gateway to corynanthe-type compound diversification.

We combined bioinformatic analysis with in vitro biochemical assays to identify and characterize six medium-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (MDR) enzymes involved in corynanthe alkaloid biosynthesis in Camptotheca acuminata. Camptotheca acuminata, commonly known as the happy tree, is a medicinal plant from the monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIAs)-rich Nyssaceae family. In this study, we combined bioinformatic analysis and biochemical investigations to identify new enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of corynanthe alkaloids, an MIA subgroup, in C.

Mechanism of actions of probiotics on type 2 diabetes: Development and complications.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a multifactorial metabolic disorder described by chronic hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, as well as low-grade inflammation. Recent research highlights the vital role of the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis and progression of T2DM. Dysbiosis can impair intestinal barrier integrity, promote systemic inflammation, and contribute to insulin resistance and glucose metabolism dysfunction.

Exploring Sulfate as an Alternative Electron Acceptor: A Potential Strategy to Mitigate NO Emissions in Upland Arable Soils.

Agricultural activities are a significant source of nitrous oxide (NO), accounting for approximately 60% of global emissions, highlighting the urgent need for innovative strategies to mitigate NO emissions. Microbes conserve nearly as much energy with nitrate (NO ) as oxygen (O) respiration under limited O availability. Thus, microorganisms prioritize NO , limiting exploration of alternative electron acceptors (EAs) to inhibit NO emissions through NO respiration in upland arable soils.

Biocompatible liquid-infused titanium minimizes oral biofilm adhesion in flow chamber and 3D implant-tissue-biofilm models.

Biomedical implants are susceptible to bacterial colonization, which can lead to challenging implant-associated infections. In particular, dental implant abutments - which are continuously exposed to bacteria within the oral cavity - stand to greatly benefit from strategies which inhibit the development of bacterial biofilms. Liquid-infused titanium surfaces have demonstrated excellent biofilm repellency, but to date have not been analyzed with substances suitable for medical device approval in terms of biocompatibility under conditions mimicking the environment of dental implant abutments.

Modulation instability control via evolutionarily optimized optical seeding.

Controlling nonlinear pulse propagation in optical fibers is paramount for applications spanning spectroscopy and optical communication networks. However, the inherent complexity of laser pulse evolution in matter, shaped by the interplay of nonlinearity and dispersion, poses significant challenges in experimental situations. Modulation instability, a fundamental process in nonlinear fiber optics, illustrates such experimental issues due to its noise-driven nature, leading to unpredictable dynamics and thus requiring advanced control strategies.

In-situ training in programmable photonic frequency circuits.

Optical artificial neural networks (OANNs) leverage the advantages of photonic technologies including high processing speeds, low energy consumption, and mass production to establish a competitive and scalable platform for machine learning applications. While recent advancements have focused on harnessing spatial or temporal modes of light, the frequency domain attracts a lot of attention, with current implementations including spectral multiplexing, neural networks in nonlinear optical systems and extreme learning machines. Here, we present an experimental realization of a programmable photonic frequency circuit, realized with fiber-optical components, and implement the training with optical weight control of an OANN operating in the frequency domain.

All-optical nonlinear activation function based on stimulated Brillouin scattering.

Optical neural networks have demonstrated their potential to overcome the computational bottleneck of modern digital electronics. However, their development towards high-performing computing alternatives is hindered by one of the optical neural networks' key components: the activation function. Most of the reported activation functions rely on opto-electronic conversion, sacrificing the unique advantages of photonics, such as resource-efficient coherent and frequency-multiplexed information encoding.

Nonastreda multimodal dataset for efficient tool wear state monitoring.

With advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), there is a growing need to bridge the gap between multimodal learning capabilities and the availability of high-quality datasets for tool wear estimation. Industrial scenarios frequently require domain-specific knowledge, specialized datasets, and efficient deployment on resource-constrained edge devices that demand minimal memory, low latency, and optimized computational performance. While there has been a shift from unimodal sensor-based approaches to multisensory, multimodal strategies, this transition remains in its early stages.