Virulence factors and outcomes in bacteremia caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing uropathogenic Escherichia coli ST131-H30Rx in a Swedish county.

Background: Escherichia coli ST131 and clade H30Rx are the most prevalent extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing E. coli (ESBL-EC) causing bacteremia and urinary tract infections globally and in Sweden. Previous studies have linked ST131-H30Rx with septic shock and mortality, as well as prolonged carriage.

Computational pathology annotation enhances the resolution and interpretation of breast cancer spatial transcriptomics data.

Breast cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease with diverse outcomes, and intra-tumoral heterogeneity plays a significant role in both diagnosis and treatment. Despite its importance, the spatial distribution of intra-tumoral heterogeneity is not fully elucidated. Spatial transcriptomics has emerged as a promising tool to study the molecular mechanisms behind many diseases.

Flexible and robust cell-type annotation for highly multiplexed tissue images.

Identifying cell types in highly multiplexed images is essential for understanding tissue spatial organization. Current cell-type annotation methods often rely on extensive reference images and manual adjustments. In this work, we present a tool, the Robust Image-Based Cell Annotator (RIBCA), that enables accurate, automated, unbiased, and fine-grained cell-type annotation for images with a wide range of antibody panels without requiring additional model training or human intervention.

Structure of Organoboron Dyes and Multiphoton Absorption: Insights from Theory.

Computer simulations play an essential role in the interpretation of experimental multiphoton absorption spectra. In addition, models derived from theory allow for the establishment of "structure-property" relationships. This work contributes to these efforts and presents the results of an analysis of two- and three-photon absorptions for a set comprising 450 conjugated molecules performed at the CAM-B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ level.

Recombinant spider silk functionalized with a CD40 agonist shows improved capability to activate human B cells in vitro - A novel module for cancer immunotherapy.

This paper presents the generation and evaluation of a novel potential drug delivery platform for biologics, based on recombinant spider silk. Targeting CD40 for activation of antigen presenting cells, in order to overcome tumor induced T cell tolerance, have shown promising results in cell and animal models. However, further trials have gained limited results due to severe side reactions.

Lignin-Based Functional Materials.

Lignin, traditionally considered a low-value byproduct of the pulp and paper industry, has gained significant attention in recent years as a sustainable precursor for the development of functional materials. This paradigm shift is driven by recent studies exploring the structure-property-performance relationships of lignin-based functional materials, which have provided valuable insights for selective chemical functionalization or pretreatment of lignin. Furthermore, the use of complementary analytical techniques has helped to shed light into lignin's complex and heterogeneous structure, opening new avenues for chemical modification.

Covariant spatio-temporal receptive fields for spiking neural networks.

Biological nervous systems constitute important sources of inspiration towards computers that are faster, cheaper, and more energy efficient. Neuromorphic disciplines view the brain as a coevolved system, simultaneously optimizing the hardware and the algorithms running on it. There are clear efficiency gains when bringing the computations into a physical substrate, but we presently lack theories to guide efficient implementations.

Concentration-dependent blood binding: assessing implications through physiologically based Pharmacokinetic modeling of tacrolimus as a case example.

Concentration-dependent binding to red blood cells is a characteristic of several drugs, complicating the understanding of how pathophysiological factors influence drug behavior. This study utilized user-friendly, physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models to compare concentration-dependent and independent blood-to-plasma drug concentration ratios (B/P), using tacrolimus as a case study. Two models were developed and validated for tacrolimus using clinical data from healthy volunteers; Model 1 accounted for saturable blood binding, and Model 2 used a constant B/P level.

Confining thrombus morphospace through targeted inhibition of platelet mechanosensory signaling.

Background: While current antiplatelets protect against thrombosis, their clinical utility is limited by an elevated risk of bleeding.

Objectives: To understand how structure-function relations in the hemostatic system may be leveraged into improved risk/benefit ratios for antiplatelet therapies.

Methods: We developed a deep learning-based framework to track the activities of large numbers of platelets in vivo, enabling a detailed comparative assessment of the effects of therapeutic interventions on the evolving structural hierarchy of the hemostatic response.

Unveiling the X-ray-Induced Rabi Dynamics in Resonant Auger Fragment Spectra.

Vibrationally resolved resonant Auger spectroscopy (RAS) on bound-continuum transitions enables highly sensitive probing of ultrafast dissociation in molecular core-excited states, where a distinct fragment band arises from Auger decay in dissociation fragments. Here, we theoretically investigate fragment band formation driven by ultrashort X-ray pulses. Unlike conventional molecular bands, fragment RAS peaks exhibit an insensitivity to strong X-ray Rabi oscillations.

A lanthanum bromide detector of runaway electrons for TCV.

The safe control and dissipation of Runaway Electrons (REs) generated in tokamak plasmas is vital for the operation of future fusion reactors. Measuring the evolution of RE energy in tokamaks is important for understanding their generation, transport, and termination. A new gamma ray spectrometer using a 2″ × 2″ cylindrical, cerium doped lanthanum bromide (LaBr3:Ce) scintillator coupled to a fast photomultiplier tube was developed for studying runaway electrons on the Tokamak à Configuration Variable (TCV).

From Recruitment to Retirement: Research Infrastructure Staff Views on the Diversification of Scientific Career Paths at Universities in Sweden in 2024.

Background: There is an ongoing need to develop diverse career paths that support the vital contributions of staff scientists, research engineers, scientific officers, and other knowledge professionals in scientific discovery. Research infrastructures and core facilities have a particular need to support sustainable and diverse careers, as they either employ - if being a legal entity - or daily manage research professionals in a broad variety of roles to enable resources, services, and innovation.

Methods: In 2019, a survey of the facility staff at SciLifeLab, a large national research infrastructure in Sweden, led to a recommendation for universities to develop career paths for their staff scientists.

Genetic Adaptation to Brackish Water and Spawning Season in European Cisco.

How species adapt to diverse environmental conditions is essential for understanding evolution and the maintenance of biodiversity. The European cisco (Coregonus albula) is a salmonid that occurs in both fresh and brackish water, and this together with the presence of sympatric spring- and autumn-spawning lacustrine populations provides an opportunity for studying the genetics of adaptation in relation to salinity and timing of reproduction. Here, we present a high-quality reference genome of the European cisco based on PacBio HiFi long read sequencing and HiC-directed scaffolding.

Simulating and correcting the pileup effect in deep-silicon photon-counting CT.

Background: Photon-counting computed tomography (CT) bears promise to substantially improve spectral and spatial resolution. One reason for the relatively slow evolution of photon-counting detectors in CT-the technology has been used in nuclear medicine and planar radiology for decades-is pulse pileup, that is, the random staggering of pulses, resulting in count loss and spectral distortion, which in turn cause image bias and reduced contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). The deterministic effects of pileup can be mitigated with a pileup-correction algorithm, but the loss of CNR cannot be recovered, and must be minimized by hardware design.

Homogeneous FACsPbI Films via Sequential Deposition for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells.

Despite significant advancements in the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of FAPbI-based perovskite solar cells (PSCs), their commercialization remains hindered by stability issues. These challenges arise primarily from the phase transition of the α-phase to the δ-phase under operation. Alloying FAPbI with Cs to form FA-Cs perovskite (FACsPbI) emerged as a promising approach to enhance phase and thermal stability.

A data-driven two-microphone method for in situ sound absorption measurements of porous materialsa).

This work presents a data-driven approach to estimating the sound absorption coefficient of an infinite porous slab using a neural network and a two-microphone measurement on a finite porous sample. A one-dimensional-convolutional network predicts the sound absorption coefficient from the complex-valued transfer function between the sound pressure measured at the two microphone positions. The network is trained and validated with numerical data generated by a boundary element model using the Delany-Bazley-Miki model, demonstrating accurate predictions for various numerical samples.

Effects of Oligolysine-Polyethylene Glycol Coating on the Biodistribution of Wireframe DNA Origami Nanosheets in Zebrafish Embryos.

DNA origami-based nanotechnology is a versatile tool for exploring fundamental biological questions and holds significant promise for future biomedical applications. Here, we leverage the optical transparency of the embryonic zebrafish to analyze live embryos injected intravenously with fluorescently labeled wireframe DNA origami nanosheets. Our approach integrated long-term, high-resolution imaging of transgenic live zebrafish embryos with single-cell RNA sequencing to elucidate the effects of oligolysine-polyethylene glycol copolymer (K-PEG) coating on the biodistribution of fluorescence signal in embryos injected with wireframe DNA origami nanosheets.

Controllable properties and versatile dynamics of meron topological magnetism in van der Waals multiferroic CuCrPS.

The ability to efficiently control topological magnetism is crucial for advancing technological applications and deepening our understanding of magnetic systems. Although emerging van der Waals (vdW) multiferroics present a promising frontier for energy-efficient spin manipulation, the control of topological magnetism remains challenging due to its scarcity in multiferroics. Here, we demonstrate that highly tunable merons and antimerons emerge in monolayer multiferroic (CCPS).

Flow Dynamics and Pressure Modulation in a Patient-Specific Upper Airway using a Pulsating Nasal Jet.

Pulsating airflow jets delivered via nasal cannula offer a promising, comfortable, non-invasive alternative to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, the fluid dynamic mechanisms by which pulsatile flow influences upper airway pressure remain poorly understood in anatomically realistic geometries. This study used large eddy simulations (LES) to examine pressure and flow characteristics of pulsating nasal jets within a patient-specific upper airway model.

Functionalized Silk Fibroin and Mucin Hybrid Material for Targeted EGF and Papain Delivery in Wound Healing.

Silk fibroin (SF) and mucin are extensively recognized as promising biomaterials for wound dressings due to their outstanding biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ability to support cell growth and tissue regeneration. In this study, we developed a hybrid SF/mucin wound dressing (HYB) using tetrazine and norbornene click chemistry to enhance its structural and functional properties. The robust assembly resulted in a dual-phase material with a dense SF membrane and a porous mucin hydrogel (MH).

Intersectional analysis of visual generative AI: the case of stable diffusion.

Since 2022, Visual Generative AI (vGenAI) tools have experienced rapid adoption and garnered widespread acclaim for their ability to produce high-quality images with convincing photorealistic representations. These technologies mirror society's prevailing visual politics in a mediated form, and actively contribute to the perpetuation of deeply ingrained assumptions, categories, values, and aesthetic representations. In this paper, we critically analyze Stable Diffusion (SD), a widely used open-source vGenAI tool, through visual and intersectional analysis.

Development of a microneedle patch for delivery of mRNA-lipid nanoparticles.

mRNA delivered by microneedle patch (MNP) can enable painless delivery, reduced need for healthcare expertise, and improved thermostability. In this study, we investigated formulation and manufacturing approaches for developing MNPs that deliver mRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) encoding luciferase as a reporter protein during MNP fabrication and storage, including mRNA-LNP concentration, formulation, pH, excipients, and backing material. MNPs were assessed for mRNA-LNP size, encapsulation efficiency, and protein expression in vitro and in vivo.

Plug-and-Play Centrifuge-Only Device for Rapid Sepsis Diagnosis.

Sepsis is a time-critical condition causing over 13 million deaths annually, with each hour of treatment delay in patients with septic shock increasing mortality by 8%. Rapid pathogen identification is crucial, yet current workflows depend on multiple culture steps that delay pathogen identification and targeted treatment by days. A plug-and-play, fully automated centrifuge tube is presented that isolates and concentrates bacteria directly from blood or blood culture using only conventional lab centrifuges.

U-FISH: a fluorescent spot detector for imaging-based spatial-omics analysis and AI-assisted FISH diagnosis.

Imaging-based spatial-omics advances biomedical discoveries with subcellular resolution and high sensitivity, but accurately identifying signal spots from diverse images remains challenging. We develop U-FISH, a deep learning method that enhances images for consistent spot detection across various spatial-omics data. We establish a comprehensive FISH image dataset from seven spatial-omics methods.