Evaluating the effect of denoising submillimeter auditory fMRI data with NORDIC.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has emerged as an essential tool for exploring human brain function. Submillimeter fMRI, in particular, has emerged as a tool to study mesoscopic computations. The inherently low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at submillimeter resolutions warrants the use of denoising approaches tailored at reducing thermal noise-the dominant contributing noise component in high-resolution fMRI.

Second-Generation Antipsychotics Induce Metabolic Disruption in Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Through an aPKC-Dependent Pathway.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities, including visceral obesity, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. In this regard, visceral white adipose tissue (vWAT) plays a critical role, influencing energy metabolism, immunomodulation, and oxidative stress. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are key players in these processes within vWAT.

Comparative analysis of virulence factors produced by strains isolated from chronic wounds or bloodstream infections.

is an important pathogen associated with both chronic wounds and bloodstream infections. Virulence factors required for the establishment of acute and chronic infections differ substantially. Since bacteremia can be a severe outcome of wound colonization, we performed a comparative analysis of virulence between strains isolated from the bloodstream and chronic wounds.

Mixed Ionic and Electronic Conductivity in a Tetrathiafulvalene-Phosphonate Metal-Organic Framework.

Mixed ionic-electronic conductors have great potential as materials for energy storage applications. However, despite their promising properties, only a handful of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) provide efficient pathways for both ion and electron transport. This work reports a proton-electron dual-conductive MOF based on tetrathiafulvalene(TTF)-phosphonate linkers and lanthanum ions.

Visceral adipose tissue measured by DXA predicts metabolic syndrome in low-income community-dwelling elderly: Insights from the São Paulo Aging & Health (SPAH) study.

While visceral fat measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is accurate in identifying middle-aged people at increased cardiometabolic risk, consistent data for the elderly are still lacking. We aimed to investigate the association between DXA-derived visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and to establish optimal cutoffs for VAT to predict MetS in a low-income elderly Brazilian cohort. A total of 449 women and 258 men (≥65 years) from the community were enrolled in this study.

The long-read assembly of Apareiodon sp., a neotropical fish with a ZZ/ZW sex chromosome system.

Neotropical fishes emerge as an extremely diverse group of vertebrates where genomic strategies to evaluate structural and functional features are still beginning. Here, we present a second draft genome of Apareiodon sp. (2n=54, ZZ/ZW), adding PacBio technology whole genome sequencing, and assembling by combining two technologies (long and short reads).

Shaping the future of kidney genetics in Australia: proceedings from the KidGen policy implementation workshop 2023.

The KidGen Collaborative's Policy Implementation Workshop 2023 celebrated the 10th anniversary of Australia's first kidney genetics clinic in Brisbane. This event marked the establishment of a national network now comprising 19 kidney genetics clinics across Australia, all dedicated to providing equitable access to genomic testing for families affected by genetic kidney diseases. The workshop reflected on past progress and outlined future objectives for kidney genetics in Australia, recognising the collaborative efforts of clinical teams, researchers, and patients.

Experience of the first adult-focussed undiagnosed disease program in Australia (AHA-UDP): solving rare and puzzling genetic disorders is ageless.

Background: Significant recent efforts have facilitated increased access to clinical genetics assessment and genomic sequencing for children with rare diseases in many centres, but there remains a service gap for adults. The Austin Health Adult Undiagnosed Disease Program (AHA-UDP) was designed to complement existing UDP programs that focus on paediatric rare diseases and address an area of unmet diagnostic need for adults with undiagnosed rare conditions in Victoria, Australia. It was conducted at a large Victorian hospital to demonstrate the benefits of bringing genomic techniques currently used predominantly in a research setting into hospital clinical practice, and identify the benefits of enrolling adults with undiagnosed rare diseases into a UDP program.

Enhancing Working Memory and Reducing Anxiety in University Students: A Neurofeedback Approach.

(1) Background: Neurofeedback training (NFT) has emerged as a promising approach for enhancing cognitive functions and reducing anxiety, yet its specific impact on university student populations requires further investigation. This study aims to examine the effects of NFT on working memory improvement and anxiety reduction within this demographic. (2) Methods: A total of forty healthy university student volunteers were randomized into two groups: an experimental group that received NFT and a control group.

The joint action of yeast eisosomes and membraneless organelles in response to ethanol stress.

Elevated ethanol concentrations in yeast affect the plasma membrane. The plasma membrane in yeast has many lipid-protein complexes, such as Pma1 (MCP), Can1 (MCC), and the eisosome complex. We investigated the response of eisosomes, MCPs, and membraneless structures to ethanol stress.

Saliva as a Biological Fluid in SARS-CoV-2 Detection.

Background: The polymerase chain reaction of upper respiratory tract swab samples was established as the gold standard procedure for diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID pandemic. However, saliva collection has attracted attention as an alternative diagnostic collection method. The goal of this study was to compare the use of saliva and nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) samples for the detection of SARS-CoV-2.

Potential global cis and trans regulation of lncRNAs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae subjected to ethanol stress.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are regulatory RNAs. Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains transcribe hundreds of lncRNAs. LncRNAs can regulate the expression of adjacent genes (cis-regulation) or distant genes from lncRNAs (trans-regulation).

GLI1+ Cells Contribute to Vascular Remodeling in Pulmonary Hypertension.

Background: The precise origin of newly formed ACTA2+ (alpha smooth muscle actin-positive) cells appearing in nonmuscularized vessels in the context of pulmonary hypertension is still debatable although it is believed that they predominantly derive from preexisting vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).

Methods: mice were used to lineage trace GLI1+ (glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1-positive) cells in the context of pulmonary hypertension using 2 independent models of vascular remodeling and reverse remodeling: hypoxia and cigarette smoke exposure. Hemodynamic measurements, right ventricular hypertrophy assessment, flow cytometry, and histological analysis of thick lung sections followed by state-of-the-art 3-dimensional reconstruction and quantification using Imaris software were used to investigate the contribution of GLI1+ cells to neomuscularization of the pulmonary vasculature.

Predicting early recurrence after resection of initially unresectable colorectal liver metastases: the role of baseline and pre-surgery clinical, radiological and molecular factors in a real-life multicentre experience.

Background: Advances in surgical techniques and systemic treatments have increased the likelihood of achieving radical surgery and long-term survival in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients with initially unresectable colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs). Nonetheless, roughly half of the patients resected after an upfront systemic therapy experience disease relapse within 6 months from surgery, thus leading to the question whether surgery is actually beneficial for these patients.

Materials And Methods: A real-world dataset of mCRC patients with initially unresectable liver-limited disease treated with conversion chemotherapy followed by radical resection of CRLMs at three high-volume Italian institutions was retrospectively assessed with the aim of investigating the association of baseline and pre-surgical clinical, radiological and molecular factors with the risk of relapse within 6 or 12 months from surgery.

Transcribing the enigma: the B chromosome as a territory of uncharted RNAs.

B chromosomes are supernumerary elements found in several groups of eukaryotes, including fungi, plants, and animals. Typically, these chromosomes either originate from their hosts through errors in meiosis or interspecifically through horizontal transfer. While many B chromosomes are primarily heterochromatic and possess a low number of coding genes, these additional elements are still capable of transcribing sequences and exerting influence on the expression of host genes.

Focus on Codon 61 Mutations in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis.

mutations involving codon 61 are rare in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), accounting for only 1-4%, but they have recently been identified with high frequency in the circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) of patients with secondary resistance to anti-EGFRs. This retrospective monocentric study aimed to investigate the clinical phenotype and prognostic performance of codon 61 -mutated mCRC. Fifty patients with codon 61 -mutated mCRC treated at our institution between January 2013 and December 2021 were enrolled.

Transcriptomics of temperature-sensitive R gene-mediated resistance identifies a WAKL10 protein interaction network.

Understanding temperature-sensitivity of R gene-mediated resistance against apoplastic pathogens is important for sustainable food production in the face of global warming. Here, we show that resistance of Brassica napus cotyledons against Leptosphaeria maculans was temperature-sensitive in introgression line Topas-Rlm7 but temperature-resilient in Topas-Rlm4. A set of 1,646 host genes was differentially expressed in Topas-Rlm4 and Topas-Rlm7 in response to temperature.

Bronchial Progenitor Cells in Obstructive and Neoplastic Lung Disease: A Pilot Study.

The alteration of progenitor/stem cells present in the airway epithelium has been observed in patients with COPD. Smoking exposure induces remodeling patterns in bronchial progenitor cells (BPCs), encompassing squamous metaplasia, hyperplasia of basal and of mucus-secreting cells, and the depletion of ciliated and non-mucous secretory cells. Our aim was to assess the expression of p63 and vimentin as potential markers of airway remodeling and the regulation of stem cell populations in obstructive and neoplastic lung disease patients.