Enhancing Mucus Flow and Clearance by Grafting Zwitterionic Hydrogel Films to Luminal Surfaces.

Objective: To determine the effects of zwitterionic hydrogel films on mucus contact angles, flow, and stasis with respect to medical polymer surfaces, both flat and tubular.

Methods: A zwitterionic hydrogel thin film was photografted onto medical rubber surfaces and compared against non-zwitterionic hydrogel thin films and untreated surfaces to determine its impact on mucus contact angles, mucus flow on sheets and tubes, and mucus plugging.

Results: Zwitterionic and conventional hydrogel films significantly reduce the mucus contact angles and the tilt required to initiate mucus flow on sheets and in tubular systems.

Direct Observation of Phase Change Accommodating Hydrogen Uptake in Bimetallic Nanoparticles.

Hydrogen holds great promise as a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels, but its efficient and affordable storage remains a significant challenge. Bimetallic systems, such as Pd and Ni, present a promising option for storing hydrogen. In this study, using the combination of different cutting-edge X-ray and electron techniques, we observed the transformations of Pd-Ni nanoparticles, which initially consist of a NiO-rich shell surrounding a Pd-rich core but undergo a major transformation when they interact with hydrogen.

Dual- Vs Single-Chamber Ventricular Pacing in Isolated Congenital Complete Atrioventricular Block in Infancy.

Background: The optimal pacemaker programming strategy for infants with isolated congenital complete atrioventricular block (CCAVB) remains unresolved. Dual-chamber pacing maintains atrioventricular synchrony and physiological heart rate variability but increases the burden of ventricular pacing on a myocardium that may be inherently prone to left ventricular (LV) dysfunction.

Objectives: This study sought to compare clinical outcomes of dual (DDD)- vs single (VVI)- chamber pacing in infants with CCAVB (DAVINCHI).

The COP1 tryptophan residue in the WD40 domain is essential for light- and temperature-mediated hypocotyl growth and flowering in Arabidopsis.

COP1 is the essential protein that integrates various environmental and hormonal cues to control plant growth and development at multiple levels. COP1 is a RING-finger-type E3 ubiquitin ligase that acts as a potent repressor of photomorphogenesis and flowering by targeting numerous substrates for ubiquitination and promoting their proteolysis via the 26S proteasome system. The WD40 repeat domain with conserved amino acid residues was shown to be essential for interacting with its targets.

Stroke severity shapes extracellular vesicle profiles and their impact on the cerebral endothelial cells.

Ischaemic stroke is a leading cause of death and disability. Circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) post-stroke may help brain endothelial cells (BECs) counter ischaemic injury. However data on how EVs from ischaemic stroke patients, considering injury severity, affect these cells are limited.