Advanced Hydrogels: Enhancing Tissue Bioengineering with RGD Peptides and Carbon Nanomaterials.

The advancement of tissue engineering (TE) is driven by the development of scaffolds that mimic the mechanical, spatial, and biological environment of the extracellular matrix (ECM), crucial for regulating cell behavior and tissue repair. Hydrogels, 3D networks of polymer chains, are particularly suited for TE due to their high biocompatibility, ability to mimic tissue water content, facilitate cell migration, sustain growth factor release, and offer controllable physical properties. However, hydrogels mimicking the ECM often face challenges related to cell adhesion due to the absence of specific receptors.

An Insight into the Molecular Electronic Structure of Graphene Oxides and Their Interactions with Molecules of Different Polarities Using Quantum Chemical and COSMO-RS Calculations.

A systematic theoretical study on the molecular electronic structure of graphene and its oxides, including their interactions with molecular species of different polarity, was carried out. The influence of the O/C atomic ratio in the graphene oxides was also evaluated. Quantum chemical and COSMO-based statistical-thermodynamic calculations were performed.

Nestling sex and behaviour determine the host preference of insect vectors in avian nests.

Sexual differences in pathogen prevalence in wildlife often arise from varying susceptibility influenced by factors such as sex hormones and exposure to pathogens. In the case of vector-borne pathogens, host selection by insect vectors determines the exposure of hosts to infections, largely affecting the transmission of these infectious diseases. We identify the blood-feeding patterns of insect vectors in Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) nestlings in a 3-year study.

Targeting plasmid-encoded proteins that contain immunoglobulin-like domains to combat antimicrobial resistance.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to human health. Although vaccines have been developed to combat AMR, it has proven challenging to associate specific vaccine antigens with AMR. Bacterial plasmids play a crucial role in the transmission of AMR.

Do sexual differences in life strategies make male lizards more susceptible to parasite infection?

Female and male hosts may maximise their fitness by evolving different strategies to compensate for the costs of parasite infections. The resulting sexual dimorphism might be apparent in differential relationships between parasite load and body condition, potentially reflecting differences in energy allocation to anti-parasitic defences. For example, male lacertids with high body condition may produce many offspring while being intensely parasitised.