Organometallic-Polypeptide Block Copolymers: Synthesis and Crystallization-Driven Self-Assembly in Aqueous Solutions to Rod-like and Plate-like Micelles with Polypeptide Coronas.

The synthesis of polyferrocenyldimethylsilane-b-poly(L-glutamic acid) block copolymers was systematically explored. Rod-like and plate-like micelles were prepared from self-assembly of the block copolymers in aqueous solution with two different approaches. In a dissolution-dialysis approach, micelles were prepared by dissolving a block copolymer sample in excess aqueous base followed by the dialysis of the solution against water.

Crystal Structure and Photoluminescence Properties of Ca(PO):Eu Phosphors With High Emission Efficiency.

The influence of Eu concentration on the crystal structure and photoluminescence (PL) properties of Ca(PO):xEu (0.06 ≤ x ≤ 0.10) phosphors is systematically investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) Rietveld refinement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, and PL spectroscopy.

Effect of antipsychotics on the focal adhesion pathway.

Unlabelled: Focal adhesions and their dynamic nature are essential for various physiological processes, including the formation of neurites, synaptic function and plasticity. Alterations in these processes have been associated with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the impact of pharmacological treatments used for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia on the expression of genes involved in the focal adhesion pathway, addressing a gap in understanding the interaction between medication effects and disease pathophysiology.

Interest in Injectable and Oral PrEP for HIV Prevention Among Women and Men Who Inject Drugs.

Background: People who inject drugs (PWID) are at increased risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Women who inject are a particularly vulnerable group. Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is effective, but access and uptake has been limited.

Chemical structure-biological activity of 1,4-naphthoquinone analogs as potential Aedes aegypti larvicides.

Background: 1,4-Naphthoquinone compounds have shown pesticidal activity against Aedes aegypti larvae, a key vector of diseases such as dengue and Zika. However, limited knowledge of their structure-activity relationships has hindered their optimization for pesticide development. This study investigates the structure-activity relationships of 1,4-naphthoquinone, particularly 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone and its derivatives.

Senolytic Targeting of Anti-Apoptotic Bcl Family Increases Cell Death in UV-Irradiated Senescent Melanocytes: Search for Senolytics.

Senescent melanocytes have been suggested to play a role in the development of ageing-associated pigmentary changes and skin ageing. Here, we assessed the senolytic capacity of recognised senolytic chemicals and natural compounds in UV-irradiated senescent melanocytes. Among the tested agents, only ABT-737 and ABT-263 showed a significant reduction in the number of SA-β-Gal-positive senescent melanocytes and in the expressions of p16 and p21.

Reproductive and Hormonal Factors and Thyroid Cancer Risk: Pooled Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies in the Asia Cohort Consortium.

Given the female predominance of thyroid cancer (TC), particularly in the reproductive age range, female sex hormones have been proposed as an aetiology; however, previous epidemiological studies have shown conflicting results. We conducted a pooled analysis using individual data from 9 prospective cohorts in the Asia Cohort Consortium, to explore the association between 10 female reproductive and hormonal factors and TC risk. Using Cox proportional hazards models, cohort-specific hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated and then pooled using a random-effects model.

Adhesive and Conductive Fibrous Hydrogel Bandages for Effective Peripheral Nerve Regeneration.

Peripheral nerve injury is a common disease resulting in reversible and irreversible impairments of motor and sensory functions. In addition to conventional surgical interventions such as nerve grafting and neurorrhaphy, nerve guidance conduits are used to effectively support axonal growth without unexpected neuroma formation. However, there are still challenges to secure tissue-mimetic mechanical and electrophysiological properties of the conduit materials.

Deciphering the toxic effects of polystyrene nanoparticles on erythropoiesis at single-cell resolution.

Polystyrene nanoparticles pose significant toxicological risks to aquatic ecosystems, yet their impact on zebrafish ( ) embryonic development, particularly erythropoiesis, remains underexplored. This study used single-cell RNA sequencing to comprehensively evaluate the effects of polystyrene nanoparticle exposure on erythropoiesis in zebrafish embryos. validation experiments corroborated the transcriptomic findings, revealing that polystyrene nanoparticle exposure disrupted erythrocyte differentiation, as evidenced by the decrease in mature erythrocytes and concomitant increase in immature erythrocytes.

Angular hypertrophied epiphysis of the thumb distal phalanx in radial polydactyly.

In a series of 271 consecutive duplicated thumbs, an angular, hypertrophied epiphysis was detected in 13 thumbs. We propose a revised version of the radial polydactyly classification that includes this pattern as a separate type from triphalangeal thumb.

A Pilot Study of the Gut Microbiota in Spine Fusion Surgery Patients.

Background: The microbiome has been identified as a contributor to bone quality. As skeletal health is critical to success of orthopedic surgery, the gut microbiome may be a modifiable factor associated with postoperative outcomes. For spine fusion surgery in particular, bone formation and sufficient bone mineral density are essential for successful outcomes.

Hematologic and clinical chemistry reference intervals for six species of wild birds frequently rescued in the Republic of Korea.

Objective: Reference intervals for hematologic and clinical chemistry values are useful when diagnosing a pathologic condition in animals. This study establishes relevant reference intervals for six species of wild birds that are frequently rescued at wildlife rescue centers in the Republic of Korea.

Methods: Forty-two Eurasian eagle owls (), 34 Oriental turtle doves (), 73 domestic pigeons (), 27 brown hawk-owls (), 76 common kestrels (), and 25 Eurasian magpies () were included in this study.

Transformer-based model for predicting length of stay in intensive care unit in sepsis patients.

Introduction: Sepsis, a life-threatening condition with a high mortality rate, requires intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The increasing hospitalization rate for patients with sepsis has escalated medical costs due to the strain on ICU resources. Efficient management of ICU resources is critical to addressing this challenge.

A Cross-sectional Survey of Physicians to Understand Biomarker Testing and Treatment Patterns in Patients with Prostate Cancer in the USA, EU5, Japan, and China.

Background And Objective: Treatment landscape in advanced prostate cancer (PC) is evolving. There is limited understanding of the factors influencing decision-making for genetic/genomic testing and the barriers to recommending testing and treatment in international real-world clinical practice following the approval of poly-adenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) for metastatic castration-resistant PC (mCRPC). This work aims to assess genetic/genomic testing patterns and methods, including for homologous recombination repair mutation (HRRm), and treatment decisions among physicians caring for patients with PC across the USA, Europe, and Asia.

Effectiveness of mobile mindfulness training on stress, burnout, and work engagement of office workers: protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Work stress has a detrimental impact on individual health and corporate efficiency and productivity. Mindfulness reduces workers' stress and burnout and increases work engagement and performance. Smartphone-based interventions could be an alternative to provide customized training without geographical or economic constraints.

is Expressed on the Left Side of the Brain Vesicle in the Ascidian Larva.

The ascidian larvae, which display a chordate ground body plan, are left-right asymmetric in several structures, including the brain vesicle. In ascidian larvae, the ocellus and otolith pigment cells, which are thought to detect light and gravity respectively, are located on the right side of the brain vesicle, while the coronet cells, which are presumed to be dopaminergic, are located on the left side. To study how left-right asymmetry of the brain vesicle in the ascidian larva is determined, I attempted to isolate a gene that is expressed in the brain vesicle.

Zebrafish PEX1 Is Required for the Generation of GABAergic Neuron in p3 Domain.

Maintenance of neural progenitors requires Notch signaling in vertebrate development. Previous study has shown that Jagged2-mediated Notch signaling maintains proliferating neural progenitors in the ventral spinal cord. However, components for Jagged-mediated signaling remain poorly defined during late neurogenesis.

Effect of Different Regional Characteristics of Spawning and Growing Sites on Growth and Taste of Pacific Oyster, .

While Pacific oysters are important commercial aquaculture species worldwide, the effect of hormonal regulation and environmental conditions on growth and taste profile have not been fully known. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) systems are known to play a major role in regulating neuroendocrine functions across various physiological processes and are particularly involved in growth. IGFs expression also is directly related to the nutritional status of vertebrates, however, full mechanism has not been clearly identified in bivalves.

A new species of the genus Heylaerts, 1885 (Lepidoptera, Psychidae) from Korea with its natural parasitoid enemy.

Roh & Lee, is described as new to science. The morphology of male adult, including genitalia, is described, and DNA barcodes for precise identification of the species are provided. A parasitoid, Townsend, 1916 (Diptera, Tachinidae) of is also reported for the first time in Korea, together with its DNA barcode sequence.

Subtilases: a major prospect to the genome editing in horticultural crops.

Plant peptides, synthesized from larger precursor proteins, often undergo proteolytic cleavage and post-translational modifications to form active peptide hormones. This process involves several proteolytic enzymes (proteases). Among these, SBTs (serine proteases) are a major class of proteolytic enzymes in plants and play key roles in various regulatory mechanisms, including plant immune response, fruit development and ripening, modulating root growth, seed development and germination, and organ abscission.

Minimizing Surgical Margins in Basal Cell Carcinoma: A Single Institution's Experience with Excision and Reconstruction Methods.

 Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the predominant nonmelanocytic skin cancer, with preservation of both function and aesthetics being essential during tumor removal. Existing surgical margin guidelines primarily target ill-defined BCCs prevalent in Western countries. Therefore, this study aims to demonstrate the efficacy of surgical removal, propose modified guidelines for wide excision tailored to Asian patients, and share experiences with various reconstruction methods.

Germline predisposition in multiple myeloma.

We present a study of rare germline predisposition variants in 954 unrelated individuals with multiple myeloma (MM) and 82 MM families. Using a candidate gene approach, we identified such variants across all age groups in 9.1% of sporadic and 18% of familial cases.

Variation in approach for midsize (4-6cm) ventral hernias across a statewide quality improvement collaborative.

Introduction: Repair of midsize (4-6 cm) ventral hernias is challenging given lack of guidelines. Within this context, we sought to characterize surgical approach among patients undergoing repair of midsize ventral hernias within the only population-level, clinically-nuanced hernia registry in the US.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing ventral hernia repair in the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative Core Optimization Hernia Registry (MSQC-COHR).