Multi-Trait Index-Based Selection of Drought Tolerant Wheat: Physiological and Biochemical Profiling.

Drought is a detrimental abiotic stress that severely limits wheat growth and productivity worldwide by altering several physiological processes. Thus, understanding the mechanisms of drought tolerance is essential for the selection of drought-resilient features and drought-tolerant cultivars for wheat breeding programs. This exploratory study evaluated 14 wheat genotypes (13 relatively tolerant, one susceptible) for drought endurance based on flag leaf physiological and biochemical traits during the critical grain-filling stage in the field conditions.

Transplantation of a genetically modified porcine heart into a live human.

Following our previous experience with cardiac xenotransplantation of a genetically modified porcine heart into a live human, we sought to achieve improved results by selecting a healthier recipient and through more sensitive donor screening for potential zoonotic pathogens. Here we transplanted a 10-gene-edited pig heart into a 58-year-old man with progressive, debilitating inotrope-dependent heart failure due to ischemic cardiomyopathy who was not a candidate for standard advanced heart failure therapies. He was maintained on a costimulation (anti-CD40L, Tegoprubart) blockade-based immunomodulatory regimen.

Genetically engineered pig heart transplantation in non-human primates.

Background: Improvement in gene modifications of donor pigs has led to the prevention of early cardiac xenograft rejection and significantly prolonged cardiac xenograft survival in both heterotopic and orthotopic preclinical non-human primate (NHP) models. This progress formed the basis for FDA approval for compassionate use transplants in two patients.

Methods: Based on our earlier report of 9-month survival of seven gene-edited (7-GE) hearts transplanted (life-supporting orthotopic) in baboons, we transplanted 10 gene-edited pig hearts into baboons (n = 4) using non-ischemic continuous perfusion preservation (NICP) and immunosuppression regimen based on co-stimulation blockade by anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody.

Exploring the Molecular Link Between Diabetes and Erectile Dysfunction Through Single-Cell Transcriptome Analysis.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a pathophysiological condition in which the patients cannot achieve an erection during sexual activity, and it is often overlooked yet prevalent among diabetic men, globally affecting approximately 35-75% of diabetic individuals. The precise mechanisms through which diabetes contributes to ED remain elusive, but the existing literature suggests the potential involvement of nerve and vascular damage that affects the penile supply. In the present review, we reanalyze the existing human single-cell transcriptomic data from patients having diabetes mellitus-associated ED with normal erections.

Mucin5AC promotes breast cancer brain metastasis through cMET/CD44v6.

Purpose: Breast cancer (BC) brain metastasis (BrM) remains a significant clinical problem. Mucins have been implicated in metastasis; however, if they are also involved in BCBrM remains unknown. We queried BrM patient databases and found Mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) to be upregulated and therefore sought to define the role of MUC5AC in BCBrM.

Immunomodulatory Roles of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-derived Extracellular Vesicles: A Promising Therapeutic Approach for Autoimmune Diseases.

Autoimmune diseases pose a significant challenge due to their complex pathogenesis and rising prevalence. Traditional therapies are often limited by systemic side effects, immunosuppression, and lack of long-term efficacy. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have demonstrated immunomodulatory properties, primarily through the secretion of extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are now recognized as potent mediators of immune regulation.

Deepfake detection using deep feature stacking and meta-learning.

Deepfake is a type of face manipulation technique using deep learning that allows for the replacement of faces in videos in a very realistic way. While this technology has many practical uses, if used maliciously, it can have a significant number of bad impacts on society, such as spreading fake news or cyberbullying. Therefore, the ability to detect deepfake has become a pressing need.

repeat expansion creates the unstable folate-sensitive fragile site FRA9A.

The hyper-unstable Chr9p21 locus, harbouring the interferon gene cluster, oncogenes and , is linked to multiple diseases. (GGGGCC)n expansions (Exp) are associated with incompletely penetrant amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia and autoimmune disorders. Exp patients display hyperactive cGAS-STING-linked interferon immune and DNA damage responses, but the source of immunostimulatory or damaged DNA is unknown.

Ciprofloxacin hydrochloride-loaded ocular silk fibroin liposomes: Formulation, characterisation, cytotoxicity, and antimicrobial activity.

Ocular drugs have low absorption because of the unique environment in the eye, making ocular drugs one of the most challenging pharmaceutical initiatives. Liposomes have shown to be a promising ocular drug delivery system over the years because of enhanced drug absorption, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Utilising a mucoadhesive material alongside liposomes could be a promising strategy to increase the therapeutic efficacy of ocular drugs.

Does Trauma Center Volume Matter? An Analysis of Trauma Center Volume on Outcome Using the TQIP/NTDB Database.

Increasing trauma center admission volume is said to decrease mortality. Evidence supporting this position is dependent upon patient groups and the time period studied, and gaps remain. We evaluated the effect of annual volume of critically injured patients on hospital mortality, comparing two time periods.

expansion creates the unstable folate-sensitive fragile site FRA9A.

The hyper-unstable Chr9p21 locus, harbouring the interferon gene cluster, oncogenes and is linked to multiple diseases. (GGGGCC)n expansions ( Exp) are associated with incompletely penetrant amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia and autoimmune disorders. Exp patients display hyperactive cGAS-STING-linked interferon immune and DNA damage responses, but the source of immuno-stimulatory or damaged DNA is unknown.

Treatment of cerebral radiation necrosis using hyperbaric oxygen therapy in a child: illustrative case.

Background: Cerebral radiation necrosis (RN) is an uncommon sequela that occurs in up to 25% of irradiated patients. This can occur 6 months to several years after therapy and create symptoms of headaches, focal neurological deficits, seizures, or behavioral changes. Management can involve corticosteroids, antiplatelet drugs, surgery, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).

Uncovering bacterial-mammalian cell interactions via single-cell tracking.

Background: The interactions between bacterial pathogens and host cells are characterized by a multitude of complexities, leading to a wide range of heterogeneous outcomes. Despite extensive research, we still have a limited understanding of how bacterial motility in complex environments impacts their ability to tolerate antibiotics and adhere to mammalian cell surfaces. The challenge lies in unraveling the complexity of these interactions and developing quantitative microscopy approaches to predict the behavior of bacterial populations.

A conjugated oligoelectrolyte for the recognition of uranyl ion in aqueous and soil samples via RGB method.

The development of selective and practically applicable sensors for monitoring trace uranyl ions (UO) in an aqueous medium is the biggest challenge. This study presents the development of a conjugated oligoelectrolyte-based probe (COE) for the selective detection of UO ions in water bodies. The COE is a water-soluble probe having an organic backbone with two ionic pendants at the terminal points.

Insights from qualitative and bifurcation analysis of COVID-19 vaccination model in Bangladesh.

The unprecedented global impact of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has necessitated a comprehensive understanding of its transmission dynamics and control measures. In this study, we present a detailed analysis of a COVID-19 vaccination model tailored to the context of Bangladesh, incorporating dual-dose vaccination strategies. By employing qualitative and bifurcation analysis techniques, we investigate the equilibrium points, effective reproduction number (R0), and critical thresholds that influence the prevalence and control of COVID-19 in the region.

Metarhizium anisopliae (MetA1) seed priming improves photosynthesis, growth, plant defense and yield of wheat under drought stress.

Drought stress mitigation by endophytic microorganisms has the potential to enhance crop resilience. This research investigated the effects of M. anisopliae isolate MetA1 (MA) on drought tolerance in wheat plants by evaluating physiological, morphological, biochemical, and yield characteristics of two wheat genotypes, one being drought-susceptible (BR20) and another having drought withstanding capacities (BR28) in a pot experiment under moderate and severe drought conditions.

Overcoming the Challenges of Hyperpolarizing Substrates with Parahydrogen-Induced Polarization in an MRI System.

Hyperpolarization of C nuclei in biomolecules and their administration as imaging agents enables in-vivo monitoring of metabolism. This approach has demonstrated potential for deriving imaging biomarkers for cancer detection, differentiation, and therapy efficacy assessment. The in situ generation of polarized substrates using a permanent addition of parahydrogen to an unsaturated precursor inside the bore of an MRI system used for subsequent imaging circumvents the need for a dedicated external polarizer.

The Radiosurgery Society Working Groups on GRID, LATTICE, Microbeam, and FLASH Radiotherapies: 2022 - 2023 Advancements Symposium and Subsequent Progress Made.

Purpose: Since the inaugural workshop "Understanding High-Dose, Ultra-High Dose Rate and Spatially Fractionated Radiotherapy." hosted by the NCI and sponsored by the Radiosurgery Society (RSS), growing collaborations and investigations have ensued among experts, practitioners, and researchers. The RSS GRID, Lattice, Microbeam & FLASH (GLMF) Working Groups were formed as a framework for these efforts and have focused on advancing the understanding of the biology, technical/physical parameters, trial design, and clinical practice of these new radiation therapy modalities.

Rapid in situ carbon-13 hyperpolarization and imaging of acetate and pyruvate esters without external polarizer.

Hyperpolarized C MRI visualizes real-time metabolic processes in vivo. In this study, we achieved high C polarization in situ in the bore of an MRI system for precursor molecules of most widely employed hyperpolarized agents: [1-C]acetate and [1-C]pyruvate ethyl esters in their perdeuterated forms, enhancing hyperpolarization lifetimes, hyperpolarized to P ≈ 28% at 80 mM concentration and P ≈ 19% at 10 mM concentration, respectively. Using vinyl esters as unsaturated Parahydrogen-Induced Polarization via Side-Arm Hydrogenation (PHIP-SAH) precursors and our novel polarization setup, we achieved these hyperpolarization levels by fast side-arm hydrogenation in acetone-d at elevated temperatures (up to 90°C) and hydrogenation pressures (up to 32 bar).

Heat stress tolerance in wheat seedling: Clustering genotypes and identifying key traits using multivariate analysis.

Elevated atmospheric heat is considered as one of the bottlenecks for global wheat production. Screening potential wheat genotypes against heat stress and selecting some suitable indicators to assist in understanding thermotolerance could be crucial for sustaining wheat cultivation. Accordingly, 80 diverse bread wheat genotypes were evaluated in controlled lab condition by imposing a week-long heat stress (35/25 C D/N) at the seedling stage.

FerroEnrich: An Interactive web tool for computing Ferroptosis index and gene enrichment.

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of controlled cell death and is characterized by the formation of lipid peroxides. Understanding gene expressions associated with ferroptosis is critical for determining its function in illnesses and potential therapeutic approaches. Despite its significance, no computational model is currently available to accurately quantify the ferroptosis incident.

Sex-dependent association study of complement C4 gene with treatment-resistant schizophrenia and hospitalization frequency.

The complement component 4 (C4) gene, codes for two isotypes, C4A and C4B, and can exist in long or short forms (C4L and C4S). The C4AL variant has been associated with elevated schizophrenia (SCZ) risk. Here, we investigated the relationship between C4 variation and clinical outcomes in SCZ.