Parenthood and Couples' Division of Paid Labor: The Role of Prebirth Breadwinner Couple Type in European Cross-National Perspective.

Although it is well established that parenthood affects employment decisions within households, less is known about how this effect varies across couple types in different countries. Using difference-in-differences analysis with propensity score matching and multilevel modeling with cross-level interactions, this study explores heterogeneity in the effect of parenthood on couples' division of paid labor by prebirth relative earning power in different European contexts. The results show that the decline in the female share of couples' paid working hours after parenthood is stronger in male main-earner couples than in equal-earner or female main-earner couples.

Validation of the C-X-C chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3) as a target for PET imaging of T cell activation.

Purpose: CXCR3 is expressed on activated T cells and plays a crucial role in T-cell recruitment to the tumor microenvironment (TME) during cell-based and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) immunotherapy. This study utilized a Cu-labeled NOTA-α-CXCR3 antibody to assess CXCR3 expression in the TME and validate it as a potential T cell activation biomarker in vivo.

Procedures: CXCR3 cells infiltrating MC38 tumors (B57BL/6 mice, untreated and treated with αPD-1/αCTLA-4 ICI) were quantified using fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry.

Site-selective template-directed synthesis of antibody Fc conjugates with concomitant ligand release.

Template-directed methods are emerging as some of the most effective means to conjugate payloads at selective sites of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). We have previously reported a method based on an engineered Fc-III reactive peptide to conjugate a radionuclide chelator to K317 of antibodies with the concomitant release of the Fc-III peptide ligand. Here, our method was redesigned to target two lysines proximal to the Fc-III binding site, K248 and K439.

Visual stimulation in the neonatal intensive care unit: A systematic literature review.

We aimed to systematically categorize evidence on the types of early visual stimulation applied to preterm infants (PTIs) admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), aiming to improve visual function parameters. This study was conducted according to PRISMA and registered in PROSPERO with CRD42022333753. Last search was conducted on March 15, 2023, in four different databases.

Single-cell deconvolution reveals high lineage- and location-dependent heterogeneity in mesenchymal multivisceral stage 4 colorectal cancer.

Metastasized colorectal cancer (CRC) is associated with a poor prognosis and rapid disease progression. Besides hepatic metastasis, peritoneal carcinomatosis is the major cause of death in Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) stage IV CRC patients. Insights into differential site-specific reconstitution of tumor cells and the corresponding tumor microenvironment are still missing.

Impact of the first COVID-19 lockdown in Austria on laboratory and mental parameters in diabetic patients: a retrospective analysis highlighting the importance of regular medical consultations in a patient cohort.

Background: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the first lockdown was implemented in Austria for almost 7 weeks. In contrast to many other countries, medical consultations were permitted, either by telemedicine or at doctors' offices. Nevertheless, restrictions related to this lockdown could possibly cause an increased risk of deterioration in health, especially in diabetes.

The impact of the PCSK-9/VLDL-Receptor axis on inflammatory cell polarization.

Background: Studies have shown that lipoproteins, such as LDL and VLDL, as well as its major protein component ApoE2 impact on macrophage polarization important in atherosclerosis. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) is a key regulator of lipoprotein receptor expression. The present study investigated the effect of the VLDL/VLDL-receptor (VLDL-R) axis on mononuclear cell polarization, as well as the role of PCSK9 and PCSK9 inhibitors (PCSK9i) within this network.

Magainin 2 and PGLa in bacterial membrane mimics IV: Membrane curvature and partitioning.

We previously reported that the synergistically enhanced antimicrobial activity of magainin 2 (MG2a) and PGLa is related to membrane adhesion and fusion. Here, we demonstrate that equimolar mixtures of MG2a and L18W-PGLa induce positive monolayer curvature stress and sense, at the same time, positive mean and Gaussian bilayer curvatures already at low amounts of bound peptide. The combination of both abilities-membrane curvature sensing and inducing-is most likely the base for the synergistically enhanced peptide activity.

Lactoferricins impair the cytosolic membrane of within a few seconds and accumulate inside the cell.

We report the real-time response of to lactoferricin-derived antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) on length scales bridging microscopic cell sizes to nanoscopic lipid packing using millisecond time-resolved synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering. Coupling a multiscale scattering data analysis to biophysical assays for peptide partitioning revealed that the AMPs rapidly permeabilize the cytosolic membrane within less than 3 s-much faster than previously considered. Final intracellular AMP concentrations of ∼80-100 mM suggest an efficient obstruction of physiologically important processes as the primary cause of bacterial killing.

Robust and efficient fixed-point algorithm for the inverse elastostatic problem to identify myocardial passive material parameters and the unloaded reference configuration.

Image-based computational models of the heart represent a powerful tool to shed new light on the mechanisms underlying physiological and pathological conditions in cardiac function and to improve diagnosis and therapy planning. However, in order to enable the clinical translation of such models, it is crucial to develop personalized models that are able to reproduce the physiological reality of a given patient. There have been numerous contributions in experimental and computational biomechanics to characterize the passive behavior of the myocardium.

Template directed synthesis of antibody Fc conjugates with concomitant ligand release.

Antibodies are an attractive therapeutic modality for cancer treatment as they allow the increase of the treatment response rate and avoid the severe side effects of chemotherapy. Notwithstanding the strong benefit of antibodies, the efficacy of anti-cancer antibodies can dramatically vary among patients and ultimately result in no response to the treatment. Here, we have developed a novel means to regioselectively label the Fc domain of any therapeutic antibody with a radionuclide chelator in a single step chemistry, with the aim to study by SPECT/CT imaging if the radiolabeled antibody is capable of targeting cancer cells .

Bridging the Antimicrobial Activity of Two Lactoferricin Derivatives in and Lipid-Only Membranes.

We coupled the antimicrobial activity of two well-studied lactoferricin derivatives, LF11-215 and LF11-324, in and different lipid-only mimics of its cytoplasmic membrane using a common thermodynamic framework for peptide partitioning. In particular, we combined an improved analysis of microdilution assays with ζ-potential measurements, which allowed us to discriminate between the maximum number of surface-adsorbed peptides and peptides fully partitioned into the bacteria. At the same time, we measured the partitioning of the peptides into vesicles composed of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylgylcerol (PG), and cardiolipin (CL) mixtures using tryptophan fluorescence and determined their membrane activity using a dye leakage assay and small-angle X-ray scattering.

To sell public or private goods.

Traditional analysis takes the public or private nature of goods as given. However, technological advances, particularly related to digital goods such as non-fungible tokens, increasingly make rivalry a choice variable of the designer. This paper addresses the question of when a profit-maximizing seller prefers to provide an asset as a private good or as a public good.

KMT9 Controls Stemness and Growth of Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal cancer is among the leading causes of cancer-associated deaths worldwide. Treatment failure and tumor recurrence due to survival of therapy-resistant cancer stem/initiating cells represent major clinical issues to overcome. In this study, we identified lysine methyltransferase 9 (KMT9), an obligate heterodimer composed of KMT9α and KMT9β that monomethylates histone H4 at lysine 12 (H4K12me1), as an important regulator in colorectal tumorigenesis.

Neutral sphingomyelinase mediates the co-morbidity trias of alcohol abuse, major depression and bone defects.

Mental disorders are highly comorbid and occur together with physical diseases, which are often considered to arise from separate pathogenic pathways. We observed in alcohol-dependent patients increased serum activity of neutral sphingomyelinase. A genetic association analysis in 456,693 volunteers found associations of haplotypes of SMPD3 coding for NSM-2 (NSM) with alcohol consumption, but also with affective state, and bone mineralisation.

Antimicrobial peptide activity in asymmetric bacterial membrane mimics.

We report on the response of asymmetric lipid membranes composed of palmitoyl oleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine and palmitoyl oleoyl phosphatidylglycerol, to interactions with the frog peptides L18W-PGLa and magainin 2 (MG2a), as well as the lactoferricin derivative LF11-215. In particular we determined the peptide-induced lipid flip-flop, as well as membrane partitioning of L18W-PGLa and LF11-215, and vesicle dye-leakage induced by L18W-PGLa. The ability of L18W-PGLa and MG2a to translocate through the membrane appears to correlate with the observed lipid flip-flop, which occurred at the fastest rate for L18W-PGLa.

Does grandpa care, too? - Discriminative grandparental investment is associated with phenotypic resemblance and sociodemographic parameters in an Austrian sample.

Typical patterns of discriminative grandparental investment i.e. high investment provided by the maternal grandmother and low investment provided by the paternal grandfather, are mainly interpreted based on the "paternity uncertainty hypothesis".

mRNA Expression of Encoding Acid Sphingomyelinase Decreases upon Antidepressant Treatment.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a severe psychiatric condition with key symptoms of low mood and lack of motivation, joy, and pleasure. Recently, the acid sphingomyelinase (ASM)/ceramide system has been implicated in the pathogenesis of MDD. ASM is a lysosomal glycoprotein that catalyzes the hydrolysis of sphingomyelin, an abundant component of membranes, into the bioactive sphingolipid ceramide, which impacts signaling pathways.

Evolution of the analytical scattering model of live .

A previously reported multi-scale model for (ultra-)small-angle X-ray (USAXS/SAXS) and (very) small-angle neutron scattering (VSANS/SANS) of live was revised on the basis of compositional/metabolomic and ultrastructural constraints. The cellular body is modeled, as previously described, by an ellipsoid with multiple shells. However, scattering originating from flagella was replaced by a term accounting for the oligosaccharide cores of the lipopolysaccharide leaflet of the outer membrane including its cross-term with the cellular body.

Bariatric surgery in patients with previous COVID-19 infection.

Background: The process of reintroducing bariatric surgery to our communities in a COVID-19 environment was particular to each country. Furthermore, no clear recommendation was made for patients with a previous COVID-19 infection and a favorable outcome who were seeking bariatric surgery.

Objectives: To analyze the risks of specific complications for patients with previous COVID-19 infection who were admitted for bariatric surgery.

Personalization of electro-mechanical models of the pressure-overloaded left ventricle: fitting of Windkessel-type afterload models.

Computer models of left ventricular (LV) electro-mechanics (EM) show promise as a tool for assessing the impact of increased afterload upon LV performance. However, the identification of unique afterload model parameters and the personalization of EM LV models remains challenging due to significant clinical input uncertainties. Here, we personalized a virtual cohort of  = 17 EM LV models under pressure overload conditions.