The mitochondrial protease PARL is required for spermatogenesis.

Mitochondrial function plays an important role in the maintenance of male fertility. However, the mechanisms underlying mitochondrial defect-related infertility remain mostly unclear. Here we show that a deficiency of PARL (Parl), a mitochondrial protease, causes complete arrest of spermatogenesis during meiosis I.

Enzyme-Assisted Extraction of Ulvan from the Green Macroalgae .

Ulvan is a sulfated polysaccharide extracted from green macroalgae with unique structural and compositional properties. Due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and film-forming properties, as well as high stability, ulvan has shown promising potential as an ingredient of biopolymer films such as sustainable and readily biodegradable biomaterials that could replace petroleum-based plastics in diverse applications such as packaging. This work investigates the potential of as a source of ulvan.

Towards Sustainable Recycling of Epoxy-Based Polymers: Approaches and Challenges of Epoxy Biodegradation.

Epoxy resins are highly valued for their remarkable mechanical and chemical properties and are extensively used in various applications such as coatings, adhesives, and fiber-reinforced composites in lightweight construction. Composites are especially important for the development and implementation of sustainable technologies such as wind power, energy-efficient aircrafts, and electric cars. Despite their advantages, their non-biodegradability raises challenges for the recycling of polymer and composites in particular.

Morphology engineering for novel antibiotics: Effect of glass microparticles and soy lecithin on rebeccamycin production and cellular morphology of filamentous actinomycete .

, as an actinomycete, is a natural producer of the antibiotic and antitumoral drug rebeccamycin. Due to the filamentous cellular morphology handling in cultivations is challenging; therefore, morphology engineering techniques are mandatory to enhance productivity. One promising approach described in the literature is the addition of mineral particles in the micrometer range to precisely adjust cellular morphology and the corresponding product synthesis (microparticle-enhanced cultivation, MPEC).

Microbially promoted calcite precipitation in the pelagic redoxcline: Elucidating the formation of the turbid layer.

Large bell-shaped calcite formations called "Hells Bells" were discovered underwater in the stratified cenote El Zapote on the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. Together with these extraordinary speleothems, divers found a white, cloudy turbid layer into which some Hells Bells partially extend. Here, we address the central question if the formation of the turbid layer could be based on microbial activity, more specifically, on microbially induced calcite precipitation.

Functional connectivity alterations in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection: A multimodal MRI study.

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with fatigue and depression. Cognitive impairments are also reported in a smaller number of HCV-positive patients. Recent studies linked HCV to low-grade inflammation in brain.

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: applications of health records for understanding etiology. The Pittsburgh IDDM Registry Group.

The estimation of incidence (or risk) of disease depends on accurate and complete reporting of new cases and precise estimation of the population at risk. Therefore, incidence studies are often based on population-based incidence registries. A critical problem in diabetes research, however, has been the lack of adequate population-based data.

[Hereditary sclerodactyly and syndactyly].

A 61-year-old man is described with sclerodactyly of the hands and syndactyly of the second and third toes. Hereditary sclerodactyly is a rare condition, beginning in early youth with flexion contracture of the fingers. In this patient the skin of the fingers was sclerotic and thickened, and the dorsal skin of the hands was atrophic and dry.