Zirconium-Modified Medium-Entropy Alloy (TiVNb)85Cr15 for Hydrogen Storage

In this study, we investigate the effect of small amounts of zirconium alloying the medium-entropy alloy (TiVNb)85Cr15, a promising material for hydrogen storage. Alloys with 1, 4, and 7 at.% of Zr were prepared by arc melting and found to be multiphase, comprising at least three phases, indicating that Zr addition does not stabilize a single-phase solid solution. The dominant BCC phase (HEA1) is the primary hydrogen absorber, while the minor phases HEA2 and HEA3 play a crucial role in hydrogen absorption/desorption. Among the studied alloys, Zr4 (TiVNb)81Cr15Zr4 shows the highest hydrogen storage capacity, ease of activation, and reversibly retrievable hydrogen. This alloy can absorb hydrogen at room temperature without additional processing, with a reversible capacity of up to 0.74 wt.%, corresponding to hydrogen-to-metal ratio H/M = 0.46. The study emphasizes the significant role of minor elemental additions in alloy properties, stressing the importance of tailored compositions for hydrogen storage applications. It suggests a direction for further research in metal hydride alloys for effective and safe hydrogen storage.

Proteogenomic Characterization of Pseudomonas veronii SM-20 Growing on Phenanthrene as Only Carbon and Energy Source

In this study, we conducted an extensive investigation of the biodegradation capabilities and stress response of the newly isolated strain Pseudomonas veronii SM-20 in order, to assess its potential for bioremediation of sites contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Initially, phenotype microarray technology demonstrated the strain's proficiency in utilizing various carbon sources and its resistance to certain stressors. Genomic analysis has identified numerous genes involved in aromatic hydrocarbon metabolism. Biodegradation assay analyzed the depletion of phenanthrene (PHE) when it was added as a sole carbon and energy source. We found that P. veronii strain SM-20 degraded approximately 25% of PHE over a 30-day period, starting with an initial concentration of 600 µg/mL, while being utilized for growth. The degradation process involved PHE oxidation to an unstable arene oxide and 9,10-phenanthrenequinone, followed by ring-cleavage. Comparative proteomics provided a comprehensive understanding of how the entire proteome responded to PHE exposure, revealing the strain's adaptation in terms of aromatic metabolism, surface properties, and defense mechanism. In conclusion, our findings shed light on the promising attributes of P. veronii SM-20 and offer valuable insights for the use of P. veronii species in environmental restoration efforts targeting PAH-impacted sites.

Impact of Reducing Statistically Small Population Sampling on Threshold Detection in FBG Optical Sensing

Many techniques have been studied for recovering information from shared media such as optical fiber that carries different types of communication, sensing, and data streaming. This article focuses on a simple method for retrieving the targeted information with the least necessary number of significant samples when using statistical population sampling. Here, the focus is on the statistical denoising and detection of the fiber Bragg grating (FBG) power spectra. The impact of the two-sided and one-sided sliding window technique is investigated. The size of the window is varied up to one-half of the symmetrical FBG power spectra bandwidth. Both, two- and one-sided small population sampling techniques were experimentally investigated. We found that the shorter sliding window delivered less processing latency, which would benefit real-time applications. The calculated detection thresholds were used for in-depth analysis of the data we obtained. It was found that the normality three-sigma rule does not need to be followed when a small population sampling is used. Experimental demonstrations and analyses also showed that novel denoising and statistical threshold detection do not depend on prior knowledge of the probability distribution functions that describe the FBG power spectra peaks and background noise. We have demonstrated that the detection thresholds' adaptability strongly depends on the mean and standard deviation values of the small population sampling.

Adolescents with emotional and behavioural problems are at higher risk to become excessive or addicted Internet users: is this association moderated by gender?

BACKGROUND

The Internet offers many opportunities for adolescents to facilitate their lives. However, its everyday use may lead to excessive behaviour, including addiction. Our aim was to assess the association between emotional and behavioural problems (EBP) and level of internet use, and whether gender moderates this association.

METHODS

We used data from a representative sample of 5,433 Slovak adolescents (mean age: 13.51, 48.8% boys) from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children-study conducted in 2018, collected through online self-report questionnaires. EBP was measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and excessive internet use (EIU) and internet addiction (IA) by the Excessive internet use scale. We analysed using multinomial logistic regression.

RESULTS

More than 25% of the adolescents reported EIU; almost 4% reported being addicted to Internet. EIU was more prevalent in girls, but IA was more prevalent in boys. Adolescents with borderline or increased levels of EBP were more likely to report EIU (odds ratio, OR/95% confidence interval, CI: 1.85/1.60-2.14; 3.16/2.67-3.75, respectively) and IA (OR/95% CI: 2.23/1.57-3.18; 4.89/3.41-7.03, respectively). Adjustment for gender, age or perceived family wealth hardly changed the findings. Moreover, gender did not modify the associations between EBP with EIU.

CONCLUSION

Adolescents with higher levels of EBP are more likely to become excessive Internet users or Internet addicts. This shows a need of early identification of adolescents with EBP as they seem to be relatively vulnerable to develop EIU or IA.

Design of AsLOV2 domain as a carrier of light-induced dissociable FMN photosensitizer

Flavin mononucleotide (FMN) is a highly efficient photosensitizer (PS) yielding singlet oxygen (1 O2 ). However, its 1 O2 production efficiency significantly decreases upon isoalloxazine ring encapsulation into the protein matrix in genetically encoded photosensitizers (GEPS). Reducing isoalloxazine ring interactions with surrounding amino acids by protein engineering may increase 1 O2 production efficiency GEPS, but at the same time weakened native FMN-protein interactions may cause undesirable FMN dissociation. Here, in contrast, we intentionally induce the FMN release by light-triggered sulfur oxidation of strategically placed cysteines (oxidation-prone amino acids) in the isoalloxazine-binding site due to significantly increased volume of the cysteinyl side residue(s). As a proof of concept, in three variants of the LOV2 domain of Avena sativa (AsLOV2), namely V416C, T418C, and V416C/T418C, the effective 1 O2 production strongly correlated with the efficiency of irradiation-induced FMN dissociation (wild type (WT) < V416C < T418C < V416C/T418C). This alternative approach enables us: (i) to overcome the low 1 O2 production efficiency of flavin-based GEPSs without affecting native isoalloxazine ring-protein interactions and (ii) to utilize AsLOV2, due to its inherent binding propensity to FMN, as a PS vehicle, which is released at a target by light irradiation.

The Silk roads: phylogeography of Central Asian dice snakes (Serpentes: Natricidae) shaped by rivers in deserts and mountain valleys

Influenced by rapid changes in climate and landscape features since the Miocene, widely distributed species provide suitable models to study the environmental impact on their evolution and current genetic diversity. The dice snake Natrix tessellata, widely distributed in the Western Palearctic is one such species. We aimed to resolve a detailed phylogeography of N. tessellata with a focus on the Central Asian clade with 4 and the Anatolia clade with 3 mitochondrial lineages, trace their origin, and correlate the environmental changes that affected their distribution through time. The expected time of divergence of both clades began at 3.7 Mya in the Pliocene, reaching lineage differentiation approximately 1 million years later. The genetic diversity in both clades is rich, suggesting different ancestral areas, glacial refugia, demographic changes, and colonization routes. The Caspian lineage is the most widespread lineage in Central Asia, distributed around the Caspian Sea and reaching the foothills of the Hindu Kush Mountains in Afghanistan, and Eastern European lowlands in the west. Its distribution is limited by deserts, mountains, and cold steppe environments. Similarly, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan lineages followed the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya water systems in Central Asia, with ranges delimited by the large Kyzylkum and Karakum deserts. On the western side, there are several lineages within the Anatolia clade that converged in the central part of the peninsula with 2 being endemic to Western Asia. The distribution of both main clades was affected by expansion from their Pleistocene glacial refugia around the Caspian Sea and in the valleys of Central Asia as well as by environmental changes, mostly through aridification.

Social participation of rheumatoid arthritis patients: Does illness perception play a role?

OBJECTIVE

Social participation is an important aspect associated with health-related outcomes in chronic diseases. However, little is known about the factors that may affect participation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We aimed to examine whether pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and illness perception are associated with social participation in patients with RA when controlled for clinical and sociodemographic variables. We also analysed the mediating role of illness perception in the association between physical and psychological variables on social participation.

METHOD

We included 157 RA patients (84.7% females; mean age 56.4 ± 13.9 years) who completed the Participation Scale, Brief Illness Perception Questionaire, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire, 36-item Short Form Health Survey, and the Visual Analogue Scale. Multiple linear regressions and mediation analyses were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

In the final regression models, illness perception (β = .42; p ≤ .001) and functional disability (β = .21; p ≤ .05) were associated with social participation. Income (β = -.18; p ≤ .05) lost its significance when physical variables were added to the model, and pain (β = .24; p ≤ .05) and fatigue (β = -.24; p ≤ .05) when psychological distress was added. No significant role of anxiety, depression, disease activity, or age was identified using regression analyses. Illness perception mediated the association of pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depression with social participation, and the indirect effect varied from 65% to 98%.

CONCLUSIONS

Illness perceptions may significantly diminish the impacts of pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depression on social participation in individual RA patients. Therefore, RA patients could benefit from psychological interventions aimed at tackling negative illness perceptions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Genomic insights into the adaptation of Acinetobacter johnsonii RB2-047 to the heavy metal-contaminated subsurface mine environment

The subsurface mine environments characterized by high levels of toxic metals and low nutrient availability represent an extreme threat to bacterial persistence. In recent study, the genomic analysis of the Acinetobacter johnsonii strain RB2-047 isolated from the Rozália Gold Mine in Slovakia was performed. As expected, the studied isolate showed a high level of heavy metal tolerance (minimum inhibitory concentrations were 500 mg/L for copper and nickel, 1,500 mg/L for lead, and 250 mg/L for zinc). The RB2-047 strain also showed noticeable resistance to several antibiotics (ampicillin, kanamycin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin). The genomic composition analysis demonstrated a low number of antibiotic and metal resistance coding genes, but a high occurrence of efflux transporter genes located on the bacterial chromosome. The experimental inhibition of efflux pumps resulted in decreased tolerance to Zn and Ni (but not to Cu and Pb) and to all antibiotics tested. In addition, the H33342 dye-accumulation assay confirmed the high efflux activity in the RB2-047 isolate. These findings showed the important role of efflux pumps in the adaptation of Acinetobacter johsonii strain RB2-047 to metal polluted mine environment as well as in development of multi-antibiotic resistance.

Medical Relevance, State-of-the-Art and Perspectives of "Sweet Metacode" in Liquid Biopsy Approaches

This review briefly introduces readers to an area where glycomics meets modern oncodiagnostics with a focus on the analysis of sialic acid (Neu5Ac)-terminated structures. We present the biochemical perspective of aberrant sialylation during tumourigenesis and its significance, as well as an analytical perspective on the detection of these structures using different approaches for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. We also provide a comparison to other established liquid biopsy approaches, and we mathematically define an early-stage cancer based on the overall prognosis and effect of these approaches on the patient's quality of life. Finally, some barriers including regulations and quality of clinical validations data are discussed, and a perspective and major challenges in this area are summarised.

High-Efficiency Metamaterial-Engineered Grating Couplers for Silicon Nitride Photonics

Silicon nitride (Si3N4) is an ideal candidate for the development of low-loss photonic integrated circuits. However, efficient light coupling between standard optical fibers and Si3N4 chips remains a significant challenge. For vertical grating couplers, the lower index contrast yields a weak grating strength, which translates to long diffractive structures, limiting the coupling performance. In response to the rise of hybrid photonic platforms, the adoption of multi-layer grating arrangements has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance the performance of Si3N4 couplers. In this work, we present the design of high-efficiency surface grating couplers for the Si3N4 platform with an amorphous silicon (α-Si) overlay. The surface grating, fully formed in an α-Si waveguide layer, utilizes subwavelength grating (SWG)-engineered metamaterials, enabling simple realization through single-step patterning. This not only provides an extra degree of freedom for controlling the fiber-chip coupling but also facilitates portability to existing foundry fabrication processes. Using rigorous three-dimensional (3D) finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations, a metamaterial-engineered grating coupler is designed with a coupling efficiency of -1.7 dB at an operating wavelength of 1.31 µm, with a 1 dB bandwidth of 31 nm. Our proposed design presents a novel approach to developing high-efficiency fiber-chip interfaces for the silicon nitride integration platform for a wide range of applications, including datacom and quantum photonics.

Design and Realization of Ultra-Wideband Differential Amplifiers for M-Sequence Radar Applications

Amplification of wideband high-frequency and microwave signals is a fundamental element within every high-frequency circuit and device. Ultra-wideband (UWB) sensor applications use circuits designed for their specific application. The article presents the analysis, design, and implementation of ultra-wideband differential amplifiers for M-sequence-based UWB applications. The designed differential amplifiers are based on the Cherry-Hooper structure and are implemented in a low-cost 0.35 µm SiGe BiCMOS semiconductor process. The article presents an analysis and realization of several designs focused on different modifications of the Cherry-Hooper amplifier structure. The proposed amplifier modifications are focused on achieving the best result in one main parameter's performance. Amplifier designs modified by capacitive peaking to achieve the largest bandwidth, amplifiers with the lowest possible noise figure, and designs focused on achieving the highest common mode rejection ratio (CMRR) are described. The layout of the differential amplifiers was created and the chip was manufactured and wire-bonded to the QFN package. For evaluation purposes, a high-frequency PCB board was designed. Schematic simulations, post-layout simulations, and measurements of the individual parameters of the designed amplifiers were performed. The designed and fabricated ultra-wideband differential amplifiers have the following parameters: a supply current of 100-160 mA at -3.3 V or 3.3 V, bandwidth from 6 to 12 GHz, gain (at 1 GHz) from 12 to 16 dB, noise figure from 7 to 13 dB, and a common mode rejection ratio of up to 70 dB.

Thermodynamic and Structural Study of Budesonide-Exogenous Lung Surfactant System

The clinical benefits of using exogenous pulmonary surfactant (EPS) as a carrier of budesonide (BUD), a non-halogenated corticosteroid with a broad anti-inflammatory effect, have been established. Using various experimental techniques (differential scanning calorimetry DSC, small- and wide- angle X-ray scattering SAXS/WAXS, small- angle neutron scattering SANS, fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering DLS, and zeta potential), we investigated the effect of BUD on the thermodynamics and structure of the clinically used EPS, Curosurf®. We show that BUD facilitates the Curosurf® phase transition from the gel to the fluid state, resulting in a decrease in the temperature of the main phase transition (Tm) and enthalpy (ΔH). The morphology of the Curosurf® dispersion is maintained for BUD < 10 wt% of the Curosurf® mass; BUD slightly increases the repeat distance d of the fluid lamellar phase in multilamellar vesicles (MLVs) resulting from the thickening of the lipid bilayer. The bilayer thickening (~0.23 nm) was derived from SANS data. The presence of ~2 mmol/L of Ca2+ maintains the effect and structure of the MLVs. The changes in the lateral pressure of the Curosurf® bilayer revealed that the intercalated BUD between the acyl chains of the surfactant's lipid molecules resides deeper in the hydrophobic region when its content exceeds ~6 wt%. Our studies support the concept of a combined therapy utilising budesonide-enriched Curosurf®.

Distribution and Functional Analysis of Isocitrate Dehydrogenases across Kinetoplastids

Isocitrate dehydrogenase is an enzyme converting isocitrate to α-ketoglutarate in the canonical tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. There are three different types of isocitrate dehydrogenase documented in eukaryotes. Our study points out the complex evolutionary history of isocitrate dehydrogenases across kinetoplastids, where the common ancestor of Trypanosomatidae and Bodonidae was equipped with two isoforms of the isocitrate dehydrogenase enzyme: the NADP+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 with possibly dual localization in the cytosol and mitochondrion and NADP+-dependent mitochondrial isocitrate dehydrogenase 2. In the extant trypanosomatids, isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 is present only in a few species suggesting that it was lost upon separation of Trypanosoma spp. and replaced by the mainly NADP+-dependent cytosolic isocitrate dehydrogenase 3 of bacterial origin in all the derived lineages. In this study, we experimentally demonstrate that the omnipresent isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 has a dual localization in both mitochondrion and cytosol in at least four species that possess only this isoform. The apparent lack of the NAD+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase activity in trypanosomatid mitochondrion provides further support to the existence of the noncanonical TCA cycle across trypanosomatids and the bidirectional activity of isocitrate dehydrogenase 3 when operating with NADP+ cofactor instead of NAD+. This observation can be extended to all 17 species analyzed in this study, except for Leishmania mexicana, which showed only low isocitrate dehydrogenase activity in the cytosol. The variability in isocitrate oxidation capacity among species may reflect the distinct metabolic strategies and needs for reduced cofactors in particular environments.

Canine Mammary Tumors: Classification, Biomarkers, Traditional and Personalized Therapies

In recent years, many studies have focused their attention on the dog as a proper animal model for human cancer. In dogs, mammary tumors develop spontaneously, involving a complex interplay between tumor cells and the immune system and revealing several molecular and clinical similarities to human breast cancer. In this review, we summarized the major features of canine mammary tumor, risk factors, and the most important biomarkers used for diagnosis and treatment. Traditional therapy of mammary tumors in dogs includes surgery, which is the first choice, followed by chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or hormonal therapy. However, these therapeutic strategies may not always be sufficient on their own; advancements in understanding cancer mechanisms and the development of innovative treatments offer hope for improved outcomes for oncologic patients. There is still a growing interest in the use of personalized medicine, which should play an irreplaceable role in the research not only in human cancer therapy, but also in veterinary oncology. Moreover, immunotherapy may represent a novel and promising therapeutic option in canine mammary cancers. The study of novel therapeutic approaches is essential for future research in both human and veterinary oncology.

Relationship between the Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinases and Their Tissue Inhibitors in Patients with Brain Tumors

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors (TIMPs) play critical roles in regulating processes associated with malignant behavior. These endopeptidases selectively degrade components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), growth factors, and their receptors, contributing to cancer cell invasiveness and migratory characteristics by disrupting the basal membrane. However, the expression profile and role of various matrix metalloproteinases remain unclear, and only a few studies have focused on differences between diagnoses of brain tumors. Using quantitative real-time PCR analysis, we identified the expression pattern of ECM modulators (n = 10) in biopsies from glioblastoma (GBM; n = 20), astrocytoma (AST; n = 9), and meningioma (MNG; n = 19) patients. We found eight deregulated genes in the glioblastoma group compared to the benign meningioma group, with only MMP9 (FC = 2.55; p = 0.09) and TIMP4 (7.28; p < 0.0001) upregulated in an aggressive form. The most substantial positive change in fold regulation for all tumors was detected in matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MNG = 30.9, AST = 4.28, and GBM = 4.12). Notably, we observed an influence of TIMP1, demonstrating a positive correlation with MMP8, MMP9, and MMP10 in tumor samples. Subsequently, we examined the protein levels of the investigated MMPs (n = 7) and TIMPs (n = 3) via immunodetection. We confirmed elevated levels of MMPs and TIMPs in GBM patients compared to meningiomas and astrocytomas. Even when correlating glioblastomas versus astrocytomas, we showed a significantly increased level of MMP1, MMP3, MMP13, and TIMP1. The identified metalloproteases may play a key role in the process of gliomagenesis and may represent potential targets for personalized therapy. However, as we have not confirmed the relationship between mRNA expression and protein levels in individual samples, it is therefore natural that the regulation of metalloproteases will be subject to several factors.

The Electrical Conductivity, EMI Absorption Shielding Performance, Curing Process, and Mechanical Properties of Rubber Composites

Three types of composites were tested for electromagnetic interference (EMI) absorption shielding effectiveness, the curing process, and their physical-mechanical properties. For the first type of composites, nickel-zinc ferrite, manganese-zinc ferrite, and both fillers in their mutual combinations were incorporated into acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber. The overall content of the filler, or fillers, was kept at 200 phr. Then, carbon black or carbon fibers were incorporated into each rubber formulation at a constant loading of-25 phr, while the content of magnetic fillers was unchanged, at -200 phr. This work focused on the understanding of correlations between the electromagnetic shielding parameters and electrical conductivity of composites in relation to their EMI absorption shielding effectiveness. The absorption shielding abilities of materials were evaluated within a frequency bandwidth from 1 MHz to 6 GHz. This study revealed good correlation among permittivity, conductivity, and EMI absorption effectiveness. Although the absorption shielding efficiency of composites filled only with ferrites seems to be the highest, the absorption maxima of those composites reached over 6 GHz. The application of carbon-based fillers resulted in the higher electrical conductivity and higher permittivity of composites, which was reflected in their lower absorption shielding performance. However, the composites filled with ferrites and carbon-based fillers absorbed electromagnetic radiation within the desired frequency range. The presence of carbon-based fillers caused improvement in the tensile behavior of composites. This study also demonstrated that the higher the ratio of nickel-zinc ferrite in combined magnetic fillers, the better the absorption shielding efficiency.

Recent Analytical Methodologies in Lipid Analysis

Lipids represent a large group of biomolecules that are responsible for various functions in organisms. Diseases such as diabetes, chronic inflammation, neurological disorders, or neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases can be caused by lipid imbalance. Due to the different stereochemical properties and composition of fatty acyl groups of molecules in most lipid classes, quantification of lipids and development of lipidomic analytical techniques are problematic. Identification of different lipid species from complex matrices is difficult, and therefore individual analytical steps, which include extraction, separation, and detection of lipids, must be chosen properly. This review critically documents recent strategies for lipid analysis from sample pretreatment to instrumental analysis and data interpretation published in the last five years (2019 to 2023). The advantages and disadvantages of various extraction methods are covered. The instrumental analysis step comprises methods for lipid identification and quantification. Mass spectrometry (MS) is the most used technique in lipid analysis, which can be performed by direct infusion MS approach or in combination with suitable separation techniques such as liquid chromatography or gas chromatography. Special attention is also given to the correct evaluation and interpretation of the data obtained from the lipid analyses. Only accurate, precise, robust and reliable analytical strategies are able to bring complex and useful lipidomic information, which may contribute to clarification of some diseases at the molecular level, and may be used as putative biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets.

Treatment with Glycyrrhiza glabra Extract Induces Anxiolytic Effects Associated with Reduced Salt Preference and Changes in Barrier Protein Gene Expression

We have previously identified that low responsiveness to antidepressive therapy is associated with higher aldosterone/cortisol ratio, lower systolic blood pressure, and higher salt preference. Glycyrrhiza glabra (GG) contains glycyrrhizin, an inhibitor of 11β-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase type-2 and antagonist of toll-like receptor 4. The primary hypothesis of this study is that food enrichment with GG extract results in decreased anxiety behavior and reduced salt preference under stress and non-stress conditions. The secondary hypothesis is that the mentioned changes are associated with altered gene expression of barrier proteins in the prefrontal cortex. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to chronic mild stress for five weeks. Both stressed and unstressed rats were fed a diet with or without an extract of GG roots for the last two weeks. GG induced anxiolytic effects in animals independent of stress exposure, as measured in elevated plus maze test. Salt preference and intake were significantly reduced by GG under control, but not stress conditions. The gene expression of the barrier protein claudin-11 in the prefrontal cortex was increased in control rats exposed to GG, whereas stress-induced rise was prevented. Exposure to GG-enriched diet resulted in reduced ZO-1 expression irrespective of stress conditions. In conclusion, the observed effects of GG are in line with a reduction in the activity of central mineralocorticoid receptors. The treatment with GG extract or its active components may, therefore, be a useful adjunct therapy for patients with subtypes of depression and anxiety disorders with heightened renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and/or inflammatory activity.

Exonic splicing code and coordination of divalent metals in proteins

Exonic sequences contain both protein-coding and RNA splicing information but the interplay of the protein and splicing code is complex and poorly understood. Here, we have studied traditional and auxiliary splicing codes of human exons that encode residues coordinating two essential divalent metals at the opposite ends of the Irving-Williams series, a universal order of relative stabilities of metal-organic complexes. We show that exons encoding Zn2+-coordinating amino acids are supported much less by the auxiliary splicing motifs than exons coordinating Ca2+. The handicap of the former is compensated by stronger splice sites and uridine-richer polypyrimidine tracts, except for position -3 relative to 3' splice junctions. However, both Ca2+ and Zn2+ exons exhibit close-to-constitutive splicing in multiple tissues, consistent with their critical importance for metalloprotein function and a relatively small fraction of expendable, alternatively spliced exons. These results indicate that constraints imposed by metal coordination spheres on RNA splicing have been efficiently overcome by the plasticity of exon-intron architecture to ensure adequate metalloprotein expression.

Negative Charge-Carrying Glycans Attached to Exosomes as Novel Liquid Biopsy Marker

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer. In this paper, the isolation and properties of exosomes as potential novel liquid biopsy markers for early PCa liquid biopsy diagnosis are investigated using two prostate human cell lines, i.e., benign (control) cell line RWPE1 and carcinoma cell line 22Rv1. Exosomes produced by both cell lines are characterised by various methods including nanoparticle-tracking analysis, dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. In addition, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is used to study three different receptors on the exosomal surface (CD63, CD81 and prostate-specific membrane antigen-PMSA), implementing monoclonal antibodies and identifying the type of glycans present on the surface of exosomes using lectins (glycan-recognising proteins). Electrochemical analysis is used to understand the interfacial properties of exosomes. The results indicate that cancerous exosomes are smaller, are produced at higher concentrations, and exhibit more nega tive zeta potential than the control exosomes. The SPR experiments confirm that negatively charged α-2,3- and α-2,6-sialic acid-containing glycans are found in greater abundance on carcinoma exosomes, whereas bisecting and branched glycans are more abundant in the control exosomes. The SPR results also show that a sandwich antibody/exosomes/lectins configuration could be constructed for effective glycoprofiling of exosomes as a novel liquid biopsy marker.

Different Lengths of Diet Supplementation with 10% Flaxseed Alter the Hormonal Profile and the Follicular Fluid Fatty Acid Content of Fattening Gilts

The effect of 10% dietary flaxseed fed for 3 and 6 weeks on serum hormone levels of fattening gilts, the fatty acid (FA) follicular fluid (FF) composition of small and large antral follicles, and the steroidogenesis and IGF-I secretion by isolated small antral follicles and their response to regulatory hormones (LH, FSH, IGF-I) was studied using immunoassay and gas chromatography analyses. Both supplemental periods increased levels of P4 and IGF-I in blood serum. A shorter period inhibited steroidogenesis (P4, T, E2) and IGF-I secretion by small antral follicles, which was associated with decreased levels of monounsaturated FAs (MUFA) and preferred n-6 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) metabolism. A longer period stimulated hormone secretion at elevated levels of saturated FAs (SFA) at the expense of MUFAs and PUFAs preferring the n-3 PUFA metabolism. Out of ovarian regulators, only LH and IGF-I were able to alter the secretion of steroids and IGF-I by small follicles of fattening pigs fed a basal diet. The effect of flaxseed on the secretion of follicular hormones after both supplemental periods was altered by all regulatory hormones in a dose-dependent manner. The level of SFAs and PUFAs in FF of large follicles increased with the length of flaxseed feeding, suggesting the suppression of ovulation.

Enhancing the Potential of Fused Heterocycle-Based Triarylhydrazone Photoswitches

Triarylhydrazones represent an attractive class of photochromic compounds offering many interesting features including high molar absorptivity, good addressability, and extraordinary thermal stability. In addition, unlike most other hydrazone-based photoswitches, they effectively absorb light above 365 nm. However, previously prepared triaryhydrazones suffer from low quantum yields of the Z→E photoisomerization. Here, we have designed a new subclass of naphthoyl-benzothiazole hydrazones that balance the most beneficial features of previously reported naphthoyl-quinoline and benzoyl-pyridine triarylhydrazones. These preserve the attractive absorption characteristics, exhibit higher thermal stability of the metastable form than the former and enhance the rate of the Z→E photoisomerization compared to the later, as a result of the weakening of the intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the hydrazone hydrogen and the benzothiazole moiety. Introducing the benzothiazole motif extends the tunability of the photochromic behaviour of hydrazone-based switches.

Advances in Respiratory Monitoring: A Comprehensive Review of Wearable and Remote Technologies

This article explores the importance of wearable and remote technologies in healthcare. The focus highlights its potential in continuous monitoring, examines the specificity of the issue, and offers a view of proactive healthcare. Our research describes a wide range of device types and scientific methodologies, starting from traditional chest belts to their modern alternatives and cutting-edge bioamplifiers that distinguish breathing from chest impedance variations. We also investigated innovative technologies such as the monitoring of thorax micromovements based on the principles of seismocardiography, ballistocardiography, remote camera recordings, deployment of integrated optical fibers, or extraction of respiration from cardiovascular variables. Our review is extended to include acoustic methods and breath and blood gas analysis, providing a comprehensive overview of different approaches to respiratory monitoring. The topic of monitoring respiration with wearable and remote electronics is currently the center of attention of researchers, which is also reflected by the growing number of publications. In our manuscript, we offer an overview of the most interesting ones.

Laccases as Effective Tools in the Removal of Pharmaceutical Products from Aquatic Systems

This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the application of bacterial and fungal laccases for the removal of pharmaceuticals from the environment. Laccases were evaluated for their efficacy in degrading pharmaceutical substances across various categories, including analgesics, antibiotics, antiepileptics, antirheumatic drugs, cytostatics, hormones, anxiolytics, and sympatholytics. The capability of laccases to degrade or biotransform these drugs was found to be dependent on their structural characteristics. The formation of di-, oligo- and polymers of the parent compound has been observed using the laccase mediator system (LMS), which is advantageous in terms of their removal via commonly used processes in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Notably, certain pharmaceuticals such as tetracycline antibiotics or estrogen hormones exhibited degradation or even mineralization when subjected to laccase treatment. Employing enzyme pretreatment mitigated the toxic effects of degradation products compared to the parent drug. However, when utilizing the LMS, careful mediator selection is essential to prevent potential increases in environment toxicity. Laccases demonstrate efficiency in pharmaceutical removal within WWTPs, operating efficiently under WWTP conditions without necessitating isolation.