Levetiracetam prevents Aβ production through SV2a-dependent modulation of App processing in Alzheimer's disease models.

In Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides are produced by proteolytic cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), which can occur during synaptic vesicle (SV) cycling at presynapses. Precisely how amyloidogenic APP processing may impair presynaptic proteostasis and how to therapeutically target this process remains poorly understood. Using knock-in mouse models of early Aβ pathology, we found proteins with hampered degradation accumulate at presynaptic sites.

Photoswitching alters fluorescence readout of jGCaMP8 Ca indicators tethered to Orai1 channels.

We used electrophysiology and Ca channel tethering to evaluate the performance of jGCaMP8 genetically encoded Ca indicators (GECIs). Orai1 Ca channel-jGCaMP8 fusions were transfected into HEK 293A cells and jGCaMP8 fluorescence responses recorded by simultaneous total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy and whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology. Noninactivating currents from the Orai1 Y80E mutant provided a steady flux of Ca controlled on a millisecond time scale by step changes in membrane potential.

Atomically Dispersed Fe-Co Bimetallic Catalysts for the Promoted Electroreduction of Carbon Dioxide.

The electroreduction reaction of CO (ECORR) requires high-performance catalysts to convert CO into useful chemicals. Transition metal-based atomically dispersed catalysts are promising for the high selectivity and activity in ECORR. This work presents a series of atomically dispersed Co, Fe bimetallic catalysts by carbonizing the Fe-introduced Co-zeolitic-imidazolate-framework (C-Fe-Co-ZIF) for the syngas generation from ECORR.

Protein-biomolecule interactions play a major role in shaping corona proteome: studies on milk interacted dietary particles.

Despite the significance of surface absorbed proteins in determining the biological identity of nanoparticles (NPs) entering the human body, little is known about the surface corona and factors that shape their formation on dietary particles used as food additives. In this study, food grade NPs of silica and titania and their food additive counterparts (E551 and E171) were interacted with milk proteins or with skimmed milk and the levels of protein adsorption were quantified. Characteristics of proteins correlating with their level of adsorption to NPs were determined using partial least squares regression analysis.

Piezo1 channels restrain regulatory T cells but are dispensable for effector CD4 T cell responses.

T lymphocytes encounter complex mechanical cues during an immune response. The mechanosensitive ion channel, Piezo1, drives inflammatory responses to bacterial infections, wound healing, and cancer; however, its role in helper T cell function remains unclear. In an animal model for multiple sclerosis, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), we found that mice with genetic deletion of Piezo1 in T cells showed diminished disease severity.

Relative proportions of organic carbon functional groups in biochars as influenced by spectral data collection and processing.

Solid-state C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and synchrotron-based X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Structure (XANES) have applications for determining the relative proportions of organic C functional groups in materials. Spectral data obtained by NMR is typically processed using integration (INTEG) whereas XANES spectral data is typically processed using deconvolution (DECONV). The objective of this study was to examine the impact of spectral data collection and processing on the estimated relative proportions of organic C functional groups in biochars.

Role of secondary minerals in the acid generating potential of weathered mine tailings: Crystal-chemistry characterization and closed mine site management involvement.

Mine tailings exposed to water and oxygen generate acid mine drainage (AMD) when the neutralizing minerals are insufficient to buffer the acid produced by sulfide oxidation. Mineral reactivity, such as sulfide oxidation and carbonate dissolution, leads to several changes within mine tailings in terms of their physical, mineralogical, and geochemical properties, which may lead to the release of metal(oid)s (e.g.

Calcium Dynamics in Astrocytes During Cell Injury.

The changes in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca]) following laser-induced cell injury in nearby cells were studied in primary mouse astrocytes selectively expressing the Ca sensitive GFAP-Cre Salsa6f fluorescent tandem protein, in an Ast1 astrocyte cell line, and in primary mouse astrocytes loaded with Fluo4. Astrocytes in these three systems exhibit distinct changes in [Ca] following induced death of nearby cells. Changes in [Ca] appear to result from release of Ca from intracellular organelles, as opposed to influx from the external medium.

Regulatory T cells suppress Th17 cell Ca signaling in the spinal cord during murine autoimmune neuroinflammation.

T lymphocyte motility and interaction dynamics with other immune cells are vital determinants of immune responses. Regulatory T (Treg) cells prevent autoimmune disorders by suppressing excessive lymphocyte activity, but how interstitial motility patterns of Treg cells limit neuroinflammation is not well understood. We used two-photon microscopy to elucidate the spatial organization, motility characteristics, and interactions of endogenous Treg and Th17 cells together with antigen-presenting cells (APCs) within the spinal cord leptomeninges in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis.

Cell-wide mapping of Orai1 channel activity reveals functional heterogeneity in STIM1-Orai1 puncta.

Upon Ca2+ store depletion, Orai1 channels cluster and open at endoplasmic reticulum-plasma membrane (ER-PM) junctions in signaling complexes called puncta. Little is known about whether and how Orai1 channel activity may vary between individual puncta. Previously, we developed and validated optical recording of Orai channel activity, using genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators fused to Orai1 or Orai3 N or C termini.

Sequential Ammonia and Carbon Dioxide Adsorption on Pyrolyzed Biomass to Recover Waste Stream Nutrients.

The amine-rich surfaces of pyrolyzed human solid waste (py-HSW) can be "primed" or "regenerated" with carbon dioxide (CO) to enhance their adsorption of ammonia (NH) for use as a soil amendment. To better understand the mechanism by which CO exposure facilitates NH adsorption to py-HSW, we artificially enriched a model sorbent, pyrolyzed, oxidized wood (py-ox wood) with amine functional groups through exposure to NH. We then exposed these N-enriched materials to CO and then resorbed NH.

Nitrogen speciation and transformations in fire-derived organic matter.

Vegetation fires are known to have broad geochemical effects on carbon (C) cycles in the Earth system, yet limited information is available for nitrogen (N). In this study, we evaluated how charring organic matter (OM) to pyrogenic OM (PyOM) altered the N molecular structure and affected subsequent C and N mineralization. Nitrogen near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) of uncharred OM, PyOM, PyOM toluene extract, and PyOM after toluene extraction were used to predict PyOM-C and -N mineralization potentials.

Metatranscriptomic Insights Into the Response of River Biofilm Communities to Ionic and Nano-Zinc Oxide Exposures.

Manufactured Zn oxide nanoparticle (ZnO-NP) are extensively used world-wide in personal care and industrial products and are important contaminants of aquatic environments. To understand the overall impact of ZnO-NP contamination on aquatic ecosystems, investigation of their toxicity on aquatic biofilms is of particular consequence, given biofilms are known sinks for NP contaminants. In order to assess alterations in the functional activity of river microbial biofilm communities as a result of environmentally-relevant ZnO-NP exposure, biofilms were exposed to ionic zinc salt or ZnOPs that were uncoated (hydrophilic), coated with silane (hydrophobic) or stearic acid (lipophilic), at a total concentration of 188 μg l Zn.

Sodium adsorption by reusable zeolite adsorbents: integrated adsorption cycles for salinised groundwater treatment.

Using Canadian (CMZ), Bear River (BRZ), and St. Cloud (SCZ) zeolites, this study investigates the application of natural and pre-treated zeolites for Na removal from salinised groundwater. Natural BRZ achieved better Na removal for initial concentrations of 250-10,000 mg Na/L and had the highest maximum adsorption capacity (14.

Examining a synchrotron-based approach for in situ analyses of Al speciation in plant roots.

Aluminium (Al) K- and L-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) has been used to examine Al speciation in minerals but it remains unclear whether it is suitable for in situ analyses of Al speciation within plants. The XANES analyses for nine standard compounds and root tissues from soybean (Glycine max), buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum), and Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) were conducted in situ. It was found that K-edge XANES is suitable for differentiating between tetrahedral coordination (peak of 1566 eV) and octahedral coordination (peak of 1568 to 1571 eV) Al, but not suitable for separating Al binding to some of the common physiologically relevant compounds in plant tissues.

Microscale and molecular analyses of river biofilm communities treated with microgram levels of cerium oxide nanoparticles indicate limited but significant effects.

Cerium oxide (CeO) nanoparticles are used as in-fuel catalysts and in manufacturing processes, creating a potential for release to aquatic environments. Exposures at 1 and 10 μg/L CeO-nanoparticles were made to assess effects during the development of river biofilm communities. Scanning transmission x-ray microscopy (STXM) indicated extensive sorption of nanoparticles to the community and co-localization with lipid moieties.

Integumentary structure and composition in an exceptionally well-preserved hadrosaur (Dinosauria: Ornithischia).

Preserved labile tissues (e.g., skin, muscle) in the fossil record of terrestrial vertebrates are increasingly becoming recognized as an important source of biological and taphonomic information.

Porous metal-metalloporphyrin gel as catalytic binding pocket for highly efficient synergistic catalysis.

Synergistic catalysis occurring in an enzyme pocket shows enhanced performance through supramolecular recognition and flexibility. This study presents an aerogel capable of similar function by fabricating a gel catalyst with hierarchical porosity. Here, the as-prepared Co-MMPG, a Co(II) metal-metalloporphyrin gel, maintains enough conformational flexibility and features a binding pocket formed from the co-facial arrangement of the porphyrin rings, as elucidated through the combined studies of solid-state NMR and X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES).

Fire-derived organic matter retains ammonia through covalent bond formation.

Fire-derived organic matter, often referred to as pyrogenic organic matter (PyOM), is present in the Earth's soil, sediment, atmosphere, and water. We investigated interactions of PyOM with ammonia (NH) gas, which makes up much of the Earth's reactive nitrogen (N) pool. Here we show that PyOM's NH retention capacity under ambient conditions can exceed 180 mg N g PyOM-carbon, resulting in a material with a higher N content than any unprocessed plant material and most animal manures.

Sub-micron level investigation reveals the inaccessibility of stabilized carbon in soil microaggregates.

Direct evidence-based approaches are vital to evaluating newly proposed theories on the persistence of soil organic carbon and establishing the contributions of abiotic and biotic controls. Our primary goal was to directly identify the mechanisms of organic carbon stabilization in native-state, free soil microaggregates without disrupting the aggregate microstructure using scanning transmission x-ray microscopy coupled with near edge x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (STXM-NEXAFS). The influence of soil management practices on microaggregate associated-carbon was also assessed.

Patterning-effect mitigating intensity modulator for secure decoy-state quantum key distribution.

Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a technology that allows two users to exchange cryptographic keys securely. The decoy state technique enhances the technology, ensuring keys can be shared at high bit rates over long distances with information theoretic security. However, imperfections in the implementation, known as side-channels, threaten the perfect security of practical QKD protocols.

Testing the photon-number statistics of a quantum key distribution light source.

A commonly held tenet is that lasers well above threshold emit photons in a coherent state, which follow Poissonian statistics when measured in photon number. This feature is often exploited to build quantum-based random number generators or to derive the secure key rate of quantum key distribution systems. Hence the photon number distribution of the light source can directly impact the randomness and the security distilled from such devices.

A recyclable adsorbent for salinized groundwater: Dual-adsorbent desalination and potassium-exchanged zeolite production.

This study focused on advancing the dual-adsorbent desalination technique that sequentially combines calcined layered double hydroxide (CLDH) and acid-treated zeolites (H-form zeolite) using groundwater spiked with potash mining effluent (brine). In sequential batch experiments, the CLDH adsorbent first reduced the high Cl concentration (4600 mg/L) of saline groundwater by 96%, the Ca by 90%, and the Mg by 92%, while transiently raising the pH to 12.80.