Cascading expression of ApiAP2 transcription factors controls daughter cell assembly in Toxoplasma gondii.

Pathogenesis of Toxoplasma gondii in the intermediate host is based on the tachyzoite ability to divide rapidly to produce significant amount of daughter cells in a reduce time frame. The regulation of the cell-cycle specific expression program is therefore key to their proliferation. Transcriptional regulation has a crucial role in establishing this expression program and transcription factors regulates many aspects of tachyzoite cell cycle.

Ultrathin BIC Metasurfaces Based on Ultra-Low-Loss SbSe Phase-Change Material.

Ultrathin and low-loss phase-change materials (PCMs) are highly valued for their fast and effective phase transitions and applications in reconfigurable photonic chips, metasurfaces, optical modulators, sensors, photonic memories, and neuromorphic computing. However, conventional PCMs mostly suffer from high intrinsic losses in the near-infrared (NIR) region, limiting their potential for high quality factor (-factor) resonant metasurfaces. Here we present the design and fabrication of tunable bound states in the continuum (BIC) metasurfaces using the ultra-low-loss PCM SbSe.

PP1 phosphatase controls both daughter cell formation and amylopectin levels in Toxoplasma gondii.

Virulence of apicomplexan parasites is based on their ability to divide rapidly to produce significant biomass. The regulation of their cell cycle is therefore key to their pathogenesis. Phosphorylation is a crucial posttranslational modification that regulates many aspects of the eukaryotic cell cycle.

Epidemiology, molecular prevalence and prevention on canine parvovirus in India: A review.

Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a highly contagious and lethal virus that causes severe gastroenteritis and myocarditis in young dogs. In 1978, CPV has rapidly spread worldwide, resulting in outbreaks and high morbidity rates among dog populations. Over a decade, CPV has undergone genetic changes, leading to the emergence of different genotypes (CPV-2a, CPV-2b, and CPV-2c), which have expanded its host range to include cats and tissue culture cells.

Versatile conductometric biosensors for rapid and selective detection of inflammatory and cardiac biomarkers in saliva.

Biosensors have become promising alternatives to the conventional methods in early identification of diseases. However, translation of biosensors from lab to commercial products have challenges such as complex sensor fabrications and complicated detection, and inadequate sensitivity and selectivity. Here, we introduce simple and low-cost fabricated conductometric sensors based on high resistivity silicon wafers (HR-Si) which can be adopted to functionalise with both natural and synthetic antibodies in detecting five biomarkers including interleukin-6, C reactive protein, cardiac troponin I, brain natriuretic peptide, and N terminal-probrain natriuretic peptide.

Conquering chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer: Exploring novel drug therapies and delivery approaches amidst desmoplasia and hypoxia.

Pancreatic cancer poses a significant challenge within the field of oncology due to its aggressive behaviour, limited treatment choices, and unfavourable outlook. With a mere 10% survival rate at the 5-year mark, finding effective interventions becomes even more pressing. The intricate relationship between desmoplasia and hypoxia in the tumor microenvironment further complicates matters by promoting resistance to chemotherapy and impeding treatment efficacy.

Protective effects of fecal microbiota transplantation against ischemic stroke and other neurological disorders: an update.

The bidirectional communication between the gut and brain or gut-brain axis is regulated by several gut microbes and microbial derived metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids, trimethylamine N-oxide, and lipopolysaccharides. The Gut microbiota (GM) produce neuroactives, specifically neurotransmitters that modulates local and central neuronal brain functions. An imbalance between intestinal commensals and pathobionts leads to a disruption in the gut microbiota or dysbiosis, which affects intestinal barrier integrity and gut-immune and neuroimmune systems.

Sleep apnoea, gut dysbiosis and cognitive dysfunction.

Sleep disorders are becoming increasingly common, and their distinct effects on physical and mental health require elaborate investigation. Gut dysbiosis (GD) has been reported in sleep-related disorders, but sleep apnoea is of particular significance because of its higher prevalence and chronicity. Cumulative evidence has suggested a link between sleep apnoea and GD.

PDGFRα monoclonal antibody: Assessment of toxicity in juvenile mice administered a murine surrogate antibody of olaratumab.

Background: Olaratumab (Lartruvo™) is a recombinant human IgG1 monoclonal antibody that specifically binds PDGFRα. In order to support use of Lartruvo in pediatric patients, a definitive juvenile animal study in neonatal mice was conducted with a human anti-mouse PDGFRα antibody analog of olaratumab (LSN3338786).

Methods: A pilot study was used to set doses for the definitive juvenile mouse study.

Rapid Conductometric Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Proteins and Its Variants Using Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Nanoparticles.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) biosensors have captured more attention than the conventional methodologies for SARS-CoV-2 detection due to having cost-effective platforms and fast detection. However, these reported SARS-CoV-2 biosensors suffer from drawbacks including issues in detection sensitivity, degradation of biomaterials on the sensor's surface, and incapability to reuse the biosensors. To overcome these shortcomings, molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (nanoMIPs) incorporated conductometric biosensor for highly accurate, rapid, and selective detection of two model SARS-CoV-2 proteins: (i) receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike () glycoprotein and (ii) full length trimeric spike protein are introduced.

Effect of platelet-rich fibrin membrane on gingival crevicular fluid alkaline phosphatase levels in patients undergoing periodontally accelerated osteogenic orthodontics.

Background: The present study is aimed to compare the osteoblastic activity in periodontally accelerated osteogenic orthodontics (PAOO) with and without the platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) membrane by evaluating the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), alkaline phosphate (ALP) levels and also to explore the efficiency of PRF membrane in terms of healing.

Methods: A split-mouth randomized controlled trial, which comprised 16 sites, was randomly treated with PAOO + PRF membrane and PAOO alone. The primary outcome was to analyze the GCF ALP levels at baseline, 3rd week, 5th week (2 weeks after surgery, 1 h before and after activation), 7th week (4 weeks after surgery), and 9th week (6 weeks after surgery).

Metal-Air Field Emission Devices - Nano Electrode Geometries Comparison of Performance and Stability.

Air-channel devices have a special advantage due to the promise of vacuum-like ballistic transport in air, radiation insensitivity, and nanoscale size. Here, achieving high current at low voltage along with considerable mechanical stability is a primary issue. The comparative analysis of four planar and metallic electrode-pair geometries at 10 nm channel length is presented.

Principles of Virtual Crossmatch Testing for Kidney Transplantation.

Human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) are the primary determinants of alloimmunity. A crossmatch test is a test that determines the immunologic risk of a recipient with a potential donor by ensuring that there are no transplant-relevant circulating antibodies in the recipient directed against donor antigens. Physical crossmatch (PXM) tests, such as complement-dependent cytotoxicity crossmatch (CDCXM) and flow cytometry crossmatch (FCXM), require mixing of patient serum and donor cells, are labor intensive, and are logistically challenging.

The effect of race coefficients on preemptive listing for kidney transplantation.

Background: Race coefficients of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) formulas may be partially responsible for racial inequality in preemptive listing for kidney transplantation.

Methods: We used the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients database to evaluate differences in racial distribution of preemptive listing before and after application of the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) and the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) race coefficients to all preemptively listed non-Black kidney transplant candidates (eGFR modulation). Odds of preemptive listing were calculated by race, with Black as the reference before and after eGFR modulation.

Spontaneous Findings in the Reproductive System of Sexually Mature Male Cynomolgus Macaques.

Sexually mature nonhuman primates are often used in nonclinical safety testing when evaluating biopharmaceuticals; however, there is limited information in historical control databases or in the published literature on the spontaneous findings in the male reproductive system. This review evaluated digital slides from the male reproductive tract (testes, epididymides, prostate, and seminal vesicles) in sexually mature cynomolgus macaques (; n = 255) from vehicle control groups in nonclinical toxicology studies and compared the observations with body weight, organ weight, and geographical origin. The most common microscopic findings were hypospermatogenesis and tubular dilatation in the testes; inflammatory cell infiltrate, cellular debris, and decreased sperm in the epididymides; inflammatory cell infiltrate and acinar dilatation in the prostate; and corpora amylacea and atrophy in the seminal vesicles.

Nicotine Sensors for Wearable Battery-Free Monitoring of Vaping.

Nicotine, an addictive substance in tobacco products and electronic cigarettes (e-cigs), is recognized for increasing the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory disorders. Careful real-time monitoring of nicotine exposure is critical in alleviating the potential health impacts of not just smokers but also those exposed to second-hand and third-hand smoke. Monitoring of nicotine requires suitable sensing material to detect nicotine selectively and testing under free-living conditions in the standard environment.

Terahertz transmissive half-wave metasurface with enhanced bandwidth: publisher's note.

This publisher's note contains corrections to Opt. Lett.46, 4164 (2021)OPLEDP0146-959210.

Terahertz transmissive half-wave metasurface with enhanced bandwidth.

Polarization conversion is useful for studies of chiral structures in biology and chemistry, and for polarization diversity in communications. It is conventionally realized with wave plates, which, however, present challenges due to limited material availability, as well as narrow bandwidth and low efficiency at terahertz frequencies. To enhance bandwidth and efficiency, the concept of the Huygens' metasurface is adopted here for a transmissive half-wave plate.

UV Photochromism in Transition Metal Oxides and Hybrid Materials.

Limited levels of UV exposure can be beneficial to the human body. However, the UV radiation present in the atmosphere can be damaging if levels of exposure exceed safe limits which depend on the individual the skin color. Hence, UV photochromic materials that respond to UV light by changing their color are powerful tools to sense radiation safety limits.

Active Control of Nanodielectric-Induced THz Quasi-BIC in Flexible Metasurfaces: A Platform for Modulation and Sensing.

A bound state in the continuum (BIC) is a nonradiating state of light embedded in the continuum of propagating modes providing drastic enhancement of the electromagnetic field and its localization at micro-nanoscale. However, access to such modes in the far-field requires symmetry breaking. Here, it is demonstrated that a nanometric dielectric or semiconductor layer, 1000 times thinner than the resonant wavelength (λ/1000), induces a dynamically controllable quasi-bound state in the continuum (QBIC) with ultrahigh quality factor in a symmetric metallic metasurface at terahertz frequencies.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver and chronic kidney disease: Retrospect, introspect, and prospect.

With the growing prevalence of obesity and diabetes in the United States and across the world, a rise in the overall incidence and prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is expected. The risk factors for NAFLD are also associated with the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). We review the epidemiology, risk factors, genetics, implications of gut dysbiosis, and specific pathogenic mechanisms linking NAFLD to CKD.

COVID-19 in an Asymptomatic Renal Transplant Recipient Employed in the Health Care Setting: A Case Report.

During the ongoing pandemic, there have been varying presentations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, with the concern that patients who are immunosuppressed (due to underlying medical conditions and/or therapies) are at higher risk of severe disease. We report the case of an elderly renal transplant recipient working in a long-term health care facility who was being monitored by weekly surveillance testing and tested positive for COVID-19 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, despite having no clinical symptoms. He recovered with supportive care, despite being on multiple long-term immunosuppressant drugs and having multiple comorbidities.

Scientific and Regulatory Policy Committee Best Practices: Documentation of Sexual Maturity by Microscopic Evaluation in Nonclinical Safety Studies.

The sexual maturity status of animals in nonclinical safety studies can have a significant impact on the microscopic assessment of the reproductive system, the interpretation of potential test article-related findings, and ultimately the assessment of potential risk to humans. However, the assessment and documentation of sexual maturity for animals in nonclinical safety studies is not conducted in a consistent manner across the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. The Scientific and Regulatory Policy Committee of the Society of Toxicologic Pathology convened an international working group of pathologists and nonclinical safety scientists with expertise in the reproductive system, pathology nomenclature, and Standard for Exchange of Nonclinical Data requirements.

Analytical method development, validation and forced degradation studies for rutin, quercetin, curcumin, and piperine by RP-UFLC method.

Significance: Curcumin, rutin, and quercetin are well-known flavonoids and piperine is an alkaloid, commonly used as spices and traditionally used to treat a variety of conditions. In the current scenario, the stability problems of phytoconstituents are a major problem for regulators and because of the complex nature of the components of plant extracts.

Objective: A simple, fast, and sensitive ultra-force reverse phase liquid chromatography (RP-UFLC) has been developed, validated, and studied for degradation studies.