Room-Temperature Formate Ester Transfer Hydrogenation Enables an Electrochemical/Thermal Organometallic Cascade for Methanol Synthesis from CO.

The reduction of CO to synthetic fuels is a valuable strategy for energy storage. However, the formation of energy-dense liquid fuels such as methanol remains rare, particularly under low-temperature and low-pressure conditions that can be coupled to renewable electricity sources via electrochemistry. Here, a multicatalyst system pairing an electrocatalyst with a thermal organometallic catalyst is introduced, which enables the reduction of CO to methanol at ambient temperature and pressure.

M. mazei glutamine synthetase and glutamine synthetase-GlnK1 structures reveal enzyme regulation by oligomer modulation.

Glutamine synthetases (GS) play central roles in cellular nitrogen assimilation. Although GS active-site formation requires the oligomerization of just two GS subunits, all GS form large, multi-oligomeric machines. Here we describe a structural dissection of the archaeal Methanosarcina mazei (Mm) GS and its regulation.

Exploring the evidence of Middle Amazonian aquifer sedimentary outburst residues in a Martian chaotic terrain.

The quest for past Martian life hinges on locating surface formations linked to ancient habitability. While Mars' surface is considered to have become cryogenic ~3.7 Ga, stable subsurface aquifers persisted long after this transition.

Clinical use of uncovered balloon-expandable metallic biliary stents for treatment of extrahepatic biliary tract obstructions in cats and dogs: 11 cases (2012-2022).

Objective: To describe the application of uncovered balloon-expandable metallic biliary stents for treatment of extrahepatic biliary obstructions (EHBOs) and the outcomes for dogs and cats treated for EHBO with this technique.

Study Design: Retrospective single institutional study.

Animals: Eight dogs and three cats treated at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego for EHBO between January 2012 and February 2022.

Advances in extracellular vesicle isolation methods: a path towards cell-type specific EV isolation.

Extracellular vesicles are small, heterogenous, phospholipid-rich vesicles that are secreted by all cells into the extracellular space. They play a key role in intercellular communication because they can transport a variety of biomolecules such as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids between cells. As categorized by the International Society of Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV), the term EV encompasses different sub-types, including exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies, which differ in their size, origin, and cargo.

Molecular Analysis of pSK1 par: A Novel Plasmid Partitioning System Encoded by Staphylococcal Multiresistance Plasmids.

The segregation of prokaryotic plasmids typically requires a centromere-like site and two proteins, a centromere-binding protein (CBP) and an NTPase. By contrast, a single 245 residue Par protein mediates partition of the prototypical staphylococcal multiresistance plasmid pSK1 in the absence of an identifiable NTPase component. To gain insight into centromere binding by pSK1 Par and its segregation function we performed structural, biochemical and in vivo studies.

Significance of chlorine-dioxide-based oral rinses in preventing SARS-CoV-2 cell entry.

Objective: This work aims to determine the efficacy of preprocedural oral rinsing with chlorine dioxide solutions to minimize the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission during high-risk dental procedures.

Methods: The antiviral activity of chlorine-dioxide-based oral rinse (OR) solutions was tested by pre-incubating with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pseudovirus in a dosage-dependent manner before transducing to human embryonic kidney epithelial (HEK293T-ACE2) cells, which stably expresses ACE-2 receptor. Viral entry was determined by measuring luciferase activity using a luminescence microplate reader.

Molecular dissection of the glutamine synthetase-GlnR nitrogen regulatory circuitry in Gram-positive bacteria.

How bacteria sense and respond to nitrogen levels are central questions in microbial physiology. In Gram-positive bacteria, nitrogen homeostasis is controlled by an operon encoding glutamine synthetase (GS), a dodecameric machine that assimilates ammonium into glutamine, and the GlnR repressor. GlnR detects nitrogen excess indirectly by binding glutamine-feedback-inhibited-GS (FBI-GS), which activates its transcription-repression function.

Diverse molecular mechanisms of transcription regulation by the bacterial alarmone ppGpp.

Bacteria must rapidly detect and respond to stressful environmental conditions. Guanosine tetraphosphate (ppGpp) is a universal stress signal that, in most bacteria, drives the reprograming of transcription at a global level. However, recent studies have revealed that the molecular mechanisms utilized by ppGpp to rewire bacterial transcriptomes are unexpectedly diverse.

Refractory and Super-Refractory Status Epilepticus in Nerve Agent-Poisoned Rats Following Application of Standard Clinical Treatment Guidelines.

Nerve agents (NAs) induce a severe cholinergic crisis that can lead to status epilepticus (SE). Current guidelines for treatment of NA-induced SE only include prehospital benzodiazepines, which may not fully resolve this life-threatening condition. This study examined the efficacy of general clinical protocols for treatment of SE in the specific context of NA poisoning in adult male rats.

Iron polypyridyl complex adsorbed on carbon surfaces for hydrogen generation.

A series of homogeneous Fe(iii) complexes were recently reported that are active for electrocatalytic hydrogen generation. Herein we report a naphthalene-terminated Fe(iii) complex for use in the functionalization of glassy carbon surfaces for electrocatalytic hydrogen generation with retention of catalytic activity.

Novel diagnostic tests for the putative agent of bacterial gill disease in Pacific razor clams (Siliqua patula).

Nuclear inclusion X (NIX) is a gamma proteobacteria that infects the nuclei of gill epithelial cells in Pacific razor clams. NIX has been associated with clam die-offs in coastal Washington. A quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay was developed to detect NIX in Pacific razor clams, and assay specificity was confirmed by chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH).

Structural Basis for Virulence Activation of Francisella tularensis.

The bacterium Francisella tularensis (Ft) is one of the most infectious agents known. Ft virulence is controlled by a unique combination of transcription regulators: the MglA-SspA heterodimer, PigR, and the stress signal, ppGpp. MglA-SspA assembles with the σ-associated RNAP holoenzyme (RNAPσ), forming a virulence-specialized polymerase.

Care Coordination for Patients on Chronic Opioid Therapy Following Surgery: A Cohort Study.

Objective: To describe if patients with chronic opioid use with a consistent usual prescriber (UP) prior to surgery and if early return to that UP (<30 d) would be associated with fewer high risk prescribing events in the postoperative period.

Summary Background Data: Over 10 million people each year are prescribed opioids for chronic pain. There is little evidence regarding coordination of opioid management and best practices for patients on long-term opioid therapy patients following surgery.

Patient-Reported Outcomes: Understanding Surgical Efficacy and Quality from the Patient's Perspective.

In surgery, quality assessment encourages improved care delivery, better outcomes, and helps determine surgical efficacy. Quality is important from a patient, provider, payer, and policy maker standpoint. However, given the growth of outpatient procedures, expansion of surgical indications to enhance function, and the decline of perioperative morbidity and mortality, many traditional quality metrics, such as mortality, readmissions, and complications, may not fully capture quality.

Sustained interleukin-10 delivery reduces inflammation and improves motor function after spinal cord injury.

Background: The anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) has been explored previously as a treatment method for spinal cord injury (SCI) due to its ability to attenuate pro-inflammatory cytokines and reduce apoptosis. Primary limitations when using systemic injections of IL-10 are that it is rapidly cleared from the injury site and that it does not cross the blood-spinal cord barrier.

Objective: Here, mineral-coated microparticles (MCMs) were used to obtain a local sustained delivery of IL-10 directly into the injury site after SCI.

The 1997 Mars Pathfinder Spacecraft Landing Site: Spillover Deposits from an Early Mars Inland Sea.

The Martian outflow channels comprise some of the largest known channels in the Solar System. Remote-sensing investigations indicate that cataclysmic floods likely excavated the channels ~3.4 Ga.

A Hendecad Motif Is Preferred for Heterochiral Coiled-Coil Formation.

The structural principles that govern interactions between l- and d-peptides are not well understood. Among natural proteins, coiled-coil assemblies formed between or among α-helices are the most regular feature of tertiary and quaternary structures. We recently reported the first high-resolution structures for heterochiral coiled-coil dimers, which represent a starting point for understanding associations of l- and d-polypeptides.

The RRM of the kRNA-editing protein TbRGG2 uses multiple surfaces to bind and remodel RNA.

Kinetoplastid RNA (kRNA) editing takes place in the mitochondria of kinetoplastid protists and creates translatable mRNAs by uridine insertion/deletion. Extensively edited (pan-edited) transcripts contain quadruplex forming guanine stretches, which must be remodeled to promote uridine insertion/deletion. Here we show that the RRM domain of the essential kRNA-editing factor TbRGG2 binds poly(G) and poly(U) RNA and can unfold both.

Differences in neuroplasticity after spinal cord injury in varying animal models and humans.

Rats have been the primary model to study the process and underlying mechanisms of recovery after spinal cord injury. Two weeks after a severe spinal cord contusion, rats can regain weight-bearing abilities without therapeutic interventions, as assessed by the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan locomotor scale. However, many human patients suffer from permanent loss of motor function following spinal cord injury.

The MerR-like protein BldC binds DNA direct repeats as cooperative multimers to regulate Streptomyces development.

Streptomycetes are notable for their complex life cycle and production of most clinically important antibiotics. A key factor that controls entry into development and the onset of antibiotic production is the 68-residue protein, BldC. BldC is a putative DNA-binding protein related to MerR regulators, but lacks coiled-coil dimerization and effector-binding domains characteristic of classical MerR proteins.

A quilting subcutaneous suture pattern to reduce seroma formation and pain 24 hours after midline celiotomy in dogs: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To determine the influence of a quilting suture pattern tacking the subcutaneous tissues to the deep fascia on complications after midline celiotomy in dogs.

Study Design: Single-center, randomized, blinded, controlled trial conducted in a veterinary teaching hospital.

Animals: Four hundred thirty-two dogs undergoing midline celiotomy for ovariohysterectomy (n = 249) or other abdominal procedures (n = 183).

Dodecyl-β-melibioside Detergent Micelles as a Medium for Membrane Proteins.

There remains a need for new non-ionic detergents that are suitable for use in biochemical and biophysical studies of membrane proteins. Here we explore the properties of n-dodecyl-β-melibioside (β-DDMB) micelles as a medium for membrane proteins. Melibiose is d-galactose-α(1→6)-d-glucose.

Giant convecting mud balls of the early solar system.

Carbonaceous asteroids may have been the precursors to the terrestrial planets, yet despite their importance, numerous attempts to model their early solar system geological history have not converged on a solution. The assumption has been that hydrothermal alteration was occurring in rocky asteroids with material properties similar to meteorites. However, these bodies would have accreted as a high-porosity aggregate of igneous clasts (chondrules) and fine-grained primordial dust, with ice filling much of the pore space.