Life Detection on Icy Moons Using Flow Cytometry and Intrinsically Fluorescent Biomolecules.

In a previous experiment, we demonstrated the capability of flow cytometry as a potential life detection technology for icy moons using exogenous fluorescent stains (Wallace et al., 2023). In this companion experiment, we demonstrated the capability of flow cytometry to detect life using intrinsically fluorescent biomolecules in addition to exogenous stains.

Identification of Early Stage Liver Fibrosis by Modifications in the Interstitial Space Diffusive Microenvironment Using Fluorescent Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes.

During liver fibrosis, recurrent hepatic injuries lead to the accumulation of collagen and other extracellular matrix components in the interstitial space, ultimately disrupting liver functions. Early stages of liver fibrosis may be reversible, but opportunities for diagnosis at these stages are currently limited. Here, we show that the alterations of the interstitial space associated with fibrosis can be probed by tracking individual fluorescent single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) diffusing in that space.

Tracing the origin of SARS-CoV-2 omicron-like spike sequences detected in an urban sewershed: a targeted, longitudinal surveillance study of a cryptic wastewater lineage.

Background: The origin of novel SARS-CoV-2 spike sequences found in wastewater, without corresponding detection in clinical specimens, remains unclear. We sought to determine the origin of one such cryptic wastewater lineage by tracking and characterising its persistence and genomic evolution over time.

Methods: We first detected a cryptic lineage, WI-CL-001, in municipal wastewater in Wisconsin, USA, in January, 2022.

ReaLigands: A Ligand Library Cultivated from Experiment and Intended for Molecular Computational Catalyst Design.

Computational catalyst design requires identification of a metal and ligand that together result in the desired reaction reactivity and/or selectivity. A major impediment to translating computational designs to experiments is evaluating ligands that are likely to be synthesized. Here, we provide a solution to this impediment with our ReaLigands library that contains >30,000 monodentate, bidentate (didentate), tridentate, and larger ligands cultivated by dismantling experimentally reported crystal structures.

Calcium handling dysfunction and cardiac damage following acute ventricular preload challenge in the dystrophin-deficient mouse heart.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common muscular dystrophy and is caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. Dystrophin deficiency is associated with structural and functional changes of the muscle cell sarcolemma and/or stretch-induced ion channel activation. In this investigation, we use mice with transgenic cardiomyocyte-specific expression of the GCaMP6f Ca indicator to test the hypothesis that dystrophin deficiency leads to cardiomyocyte Ca handling abnormalities following preload challenge.

Greater male variability in daily energy expenditure develops through puberty.

There is considerably greater variation in metabolic rates between men than between women, in terms of basal, activity and total (daily) energy expenditure (EE). One possible explanation is that EE is associated with male sexual characteristics (which are known to vary more than other traits) such as musculature and athletic capacity. Such traits might be predicted to be most prominent during periods of adolescence and young adulthood, when sexual behaviour develops and peaks.

Optimizing Arsenic Therapy by Selectively Targeting Leukemia Cells.

Arsenic, in the simple form of arsenic trioxide, is currently marketed for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia. Due to the multifaceted mechanisms of action of arsenic, it has also shown promise in other types of leukemias but is hindered by its toxic effects toward normal cells. This research has aimed to determine whether tumor-homing peptide complexes of arsenic can be designed and developed to strategically target specific cancers.

Bioluminescent Genetically Encoded Glutamate Indicators for Molecular Imaging of Neuronal Activity.

Genetically encoded optical sensors and advancements in microscopy instrumentation and techniques have revolutionized the scientific toolbox available for probing complex biological processes such as release of specific neurotransmitters. Most genetically encoded optical sensors currently used are based on fluorescence and have been highly successful tools for single-cell imaging in superficial brain regions. However, there remains a need to develop new tools for reporting neuronal activity within deeper structures without the need for hardware such as lenses or fibers to be implanted within the brain.

PrEP Echo: A National Interdisciplinary Telementoring Program for HIV Prevention Through Practice Transformation.

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective, but PrEP use has been suboptimal. We describe a telementoring program for clinics in high-HIV burden areas, focusing on systems-level practice transformation and care for populations disproportionately affected by HIV. We developed and delivered a telementoring program for U.

Comparison of a national commercial pharmacy naloxone data source to state and city pharmacy naloxone data sources-Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New York City, 2013-2019.

Objective: Accurate naloxone distribution data are critical for planning and prevention purposes, yet sources of naloxone dispensing data vary by location, and completeness of local datasets is unknown. We sought to compare available datasets in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York City (NYC) to a commercially available pharmacy national claims dataset (Symphony Health Solutions).

Data Sources And Study Setting: We utilized retail pharmacy naloxone dispensing data from NYC (2018-2019), Rhode Island (2013-2019), and Massachusetts (2014-2018), and pharmaceutical claims data from Symphony Health Solutions (2013-2019).

Passive Sampling-Based versus Conventional-Based Metrics for Evaluating Remediation Efficacy at Contaminated Sediment Sites: A Review.

Passive sampling devices (PSDs) are increasingly used at contaminated sites to improve the characterization of contaminant transport and assessment of ecological and human health risk at sediment sites and to evaluate the effectiveness of remedial actions. The use of PSDs after full-scale remediation remains limited, however, in favor of evaluation based on conventional metrics, such as bulk sediment concentrations or bioaccumulation. This review has three overall aims: (1) identify sites where PSDs have been used to support cleanup efforts, (2) assess how PSD-derived remedial end points compare to conventional metrics, and (3) perform broad semiquantitative and selective quantitative concurrence analyses to evaluate the magnitude of agreement between metrics.

Juneteenth in STEMM and the barriers to equitable science.

We are 52 Black scientists. Here, we establish the context of Juneteenth in STEMM and discuss the barriers Black scientists face, the struggles they endure, and the lack of recognition they receive. We review racism's history in science and provide institutional-level solutions to reduce the burdens on Black scientists.

First report of Colletotrichum fioriniae infections in brown marmorated stink bugs, Halyomorpha halys.

An epizootic caused by fungal pathogens occurred among Halyomorpha halys, brown marmorated stink bugs, while they were overwintering, with infections also occurring after overwintering. We report that one of the two pathogens responsible was Colletotrichum fioriniae (Marcelino & Gouli) Pennycook; a species well known as a plant pathogen and endophyte and which has only previously been reported naturally infecting elongate hemlock scales, Fiorinia externa. To prove pathogenicity, H.

Screening for drinking water contaminants of concern using an automated exposure-focused workflow.

Background: The number of chemicals present in the environment exceeds the capacity of government bodies to characterize risk. Therefore, data-informed and reproducible processes are needed for identifying chemicals for further assessment. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), under its Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC) initiative, uses a standardized process to screen potential drinking water contaminants based on toxicity and exposure potential.

Virus taxonomy and the role of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV).

The taxonomy of viruses is developed and overseen by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), which scrutinizes, approves and ratifies taxonomic proposals, and maintains a list of virus taxa with approved names (https://ictv.global). The ICTV has approximately 180 members who vote by simple majority.

Four principles to establish a universal virus taxonomy.

A universal taxonomy of viruses is essential for a comprehensive view of the virus world and for communicating the complicated evolutionary relationships among viruses. However, there are major differences in the conceptualisation and approaches to virus classification and nomenclature among virologists, clinicians, agronomists, and other interested parties. Here, we provide recommendations to guide the construction of a coherent and comprehensive virus taxonomy, based on expert scientific consensus.

Polarity of the CRISPR roadblock to transcription.

CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) utility relies on a stable Cas effector complex binding to its target site. However, a Cas complex bound to DNA may be removed by motor proteins carrying out host processes and the mechanism governing this removal remains unclear. Intriguingly, during CRISPR interference, RNA polymerase (RNAP) progression is only fully blocked by a bound endonuclease-deficient Cas (dCas) from the protospacer adjacent motif (PAM)-proximal side.

Reduction of therapeutic antibody self-association using yeast-display selections and machine learning.

Self-association governs the viscosity and solubility of therapeutic antibodies in high-concentration formulations used for subcutaneous delivery, yet it is difficult to reliably identify candidates with low self-association during antibody discovery and early-stage optimization. Here, we report a high-throughput protein engineering method for rapidly identifying antibody candidates with both low self-association and high affinity. We find that conjugating quantum dots to IgGs that strongly self-associate (pH 7.

Variation in human water turnover associated with environmental and lifestyle factors.

Water is essential for survival, but one in three individuals worldwide (2.2 billion people) lacks access to safe drinking water. Water intake requirements largely reflect water turnover (WT), the water used by the body each day.

The contribution of intraocular lens calculation accuracy to the refractive error predicted at 10 years in the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study.

Purpose: To determine the relative contribution of intraocular lens (IOL) calculation accuracy and ocular growth variability to the long-term refractive error predicted following pediatric cataract surgery.

Methods: Pseudophakic eyes of children enrolled in the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study (IATS) were included in this study. Initial absolute prediction error (APE) and 10-year APE were calculated using the initial biometry, IOL parameters, postoperative refractions, and mean rate of refractive growth.