Perspective on equal and cross-frequency neural coupling: Integration and segregation of the function of brain networks.

We introduce a perspective that has not appeared before in the field of equal and multifrequency coupling derived from considering neuronal synchrony as a possible equivalence relation. The experimental results agree with the theoretical prediction that cross-frequency coupling results in a partition of the brain synchrony state space. We place these results in the framework of the integration and segregation of information in the processing of sensorimotor transformations by the brain cell circuits and propose that equal-frequency (1:1) connectivity favors integration of information in the brain whereas cross-frequency coupling (n:m) favors segregation.

Socioeconomic trends in anxiolytic, hypnotic, and sedative use among secondary school students in Spain from 2010 to 2021: a repeated cross-sectional design.

Background: The increasing use of anxiolytics, hypnotics, and sedatives (AHS) among adolescents is a growing public health concern. Social determinants such as gender or socioeconomic status have a significant influence on consumption levels. However, whether trends in adolescent AHS use show socioeconomic and gender disparities is unknown.

Cullin-RING ligase BioE3 reveals molecular-glue-induced neosubstrates and rewiring of the endogenous Cereblon ubiquitome.

Background: The specificity of the ubiquitination process is mediated by the E3 ligases. Discriminating genuine substrates of E3s from mere interacting proteins is one of the major challenges in the field. We previously developed BioE3, a biotin-based approach that uses BirA-E3 fusions together with ubiquitin fused to a low-affinity AviTag to obtain a site-specific and proximity-dependent biotinylation of the substrates.

Pasta Consumption and Cardiometabolic Risks in Older Adults with Overweight/Obesity: A Longitudinal Analysis.

Objective: Low Glycemic Index (GI) diets improve cardiometabolic risk (CMR) specifically in those with insulin resistance. However, the prospective association between pasta (a low GI staple) consumption and CMR is unclear. We evaluated the longitudinal association of pasta consumption with CMR (after 2 y: body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), blood pressure (BP); after 1 y: fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides) in ∼6000 older adults (50% women) at high CMR.

Understanding Sulfate Stability on Mars: A Thermo-Raman Spectroscopy Study.

This work examines the impact of high temperatures from celestial shock events on the stability of sulfates found on Mars (gypsum) and those expected to be present (syngenite and görgeyite). Raman spectroscopy, a cutting-edge technique in space exploration, was used to track their stability. Specifically, a Renishaw inVia micro-Raman confocal spectrometer was coupled with an external Linkam THMS600/HF600 temperature-controlled stage to monitor the sample temperature while measuring the main Raman band positions of the sulfates and those of water molecules in these salts across temperatures ranging from 313 to 673 K.

Unveiling herbaceous plant responses to future triple interaction of drought and elevated temperature and [CO]: systematic review and meta-analysis.

During the last decades, the breeding of major crops is growing at a slower rate than desirable to meet future food demands in many agro-environments. Moreover, extreme climatic conditions, and particularly, drought impairments associated with climate change, are limiting the genetic gains of crops in temperate areas, especially in the Mediterranean basin. Drought events and atmospheric air temperatures and CO concentrations are increasing at an accelerating pace.

Prediction on a Missing Ferroelectric Butterfly Phosphorus Allotrope and Its Energy-Favorable Low-Dimensional Forms.

Elemental phosphorus exhibits a remarkable diversity of allotropes, including black, white, and violet phosphorus, each with unique structural and electronic properties. Recently, phosphorus has experienced a renaissance in scientific interest for its potential applications across various fields. Among these, the red phosphorus (RP) possesses a considerable variety of stacking configurations.

A longitudinal Analysis of the Association between Socioeconomic Position and Multimorbidity in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition Study.

The association between socioeconomic position (SEP) and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is well established, but its role in driving multimorbidity remains unclear. Multimorbidity, defined as the co-occurrence of more than one chronic condition, is linked to higher mortality and reduced quality of life. This study investigates the association between SEP and multimorbidity using data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC).

International Consensus Definition of 'Sport & Exercise' in Toddlers and Young Children, Children, and Adolescents.

Aim: The study aim was to develop an age-appropriate definition of sport and exercise in children and adolescents for use in concussion research and management.

Methods: A modified Delphi methodology, with three rounds and consensus defined a priori as ≥ 80% agreement.

Results: Thirty-one participants (13 male, 18 female) from 13 countries, including clinical psychologists, epidemiologists, implementation scientists, neurologists, neuropsychologists, neurosurgeons, paediatric emergency physicians, paediatricians, physiotherapists, rehabilitation physicians, speech-language pathologists, and sports medicine physicians came to a consensus that sport-related paediatric concussion extends beyond the sporting arena, and includes the school yard, playground, park, street, recreational site, and home; excludes non-accidental violence, assault, and passenger vehicle road trauma; may include falls; and age-group terminology includes Toddlers and Young Children (1-4 years), Children (5-12 years), and Adolescents (13 to < 18 years).

Repression of apelin Furin cleavage sites provides antimetastatic strategy in colorectal cancer.

The adipokine apelin has been directly implicated in various physiological processes during embryogenesis and human cancers. Nevertheless, the importance of the conversion of its precursor proapelin to mature apelin in tumorigenesis remains unknown. In this study, we identify Furin as the cellular proprotein convertase responsible for proapelin cleavage.

Quality of life instruments for patients with peripherally inserted vascular access devices: A scoping review.

Objective: To identify studies that assess the quality of life of people with a peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC), a midline catheter (MC) and a peripheral insertion central catheter (PICC).

Method: Using a scoping review design we included studies that reported the quality of life of adult patients with the aforementioned vascular access devices. With a specific keyword search strategy performed in December 2023 we searched, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus and ProQuest databases.

Amygdala Neurodegeneration: A Key Driver of Visual Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease.

Objective: Visual disability in Parkinson's disease (PD) is not fully explained by retinal neurodegeneration. We aimed to delineate the brain substrate of visual dysfunction in PD and its association with retinal thickness.

Methods: Forty-two PD patients and 29 controls underwent 3-Tesla MRI, retinal spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, and visual testing across four domains.

In Vivo Assessment of Cortical Astrocyte Network Dysfunction During Autoimmune Demyelination: Correlation With Disease Severity.

Cortical damage and dysfunction is a pathological hallmark of multiple sclerosis (MS) that correlates with the severity of physical and cognitive disability. Astrocytes participate in MS pathobiology through a variety of mechanisms, and abnormal astrocytic calcium signaling has been pointed as a pathogenic mechanism of cortical dysfunction in MS. However, in vivo evidence supporting deregulation of astrocyte calcium-dependent mechanisms in cortical MS is still limited.

Contrasting recovery of metagenome‑assembled genomes and derived bacterial communities and functional profiles from lizard fecal and cloacal samples.

Genome-resolved metagenomics, based on shotgun sequencing, has become a powerful strategy for investigating animal-associated bacterial communities, due its heightened capability for delivering detailed taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional insights compared to amplicon sequencing-based approaches. While genome-resolved metagenomics holds promise across various non-lethal sample types, their effectiveness in yielding high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes remains largely unexplored. Our investigation of fecal and cloacal microbiota of the mesquite lizards (Sceloporus grammicus) using genome-resolved metagenomics revealed that fecal samples contributed 97% of the 127 reconstructed bacterial genomes, whereas only 3% were recovered from cloacal swabs, which were largely enriched with host DNA.

Distinct toxicity profiles of conventional and biodegradable fishing nets' leachates after artificial aging.

Fishing nets (FNs) represent a significant source of plastic waste, but their contribution to pollution by micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) and associated additives is poorly understood. We studied the degradation of a high-performance-polyethylene-polypropylene (HPPE-PP) trawl net and two trammel nets made of polyamide 6 (PA6) or biodegradable polybutylene-succinate-polybutyrate-adipate-terephthalate (PBS-PBAT). Accelerated artificial ageing (AA) was performed using UV irradiation under environmental or extreme conditions followed by abrasion in water with glass microbeads.

Resveratrol and grape pomace extract incorporated in modified phospholipid vesicles: A potential strategy to mitigate cigarette smoke-induced oxidative stress.

In this study, the extraction process of grape pomace from the Lebanese autochthonous cultivar Asswad Karech was enhanced through the selection of specific parameters, yielding an antioxidant extract (20 mg/mL) that was co-loaded with resveratrol (5 mg/mL) into phospholipid vesicles containing penetration enhancers (PEVs). Propylene glycol (PG) was incorporated as a penetration enhancer at concentrations of 10, 20, and 30 % to obtain 10 PG-PEVs, 20 PG-PEVs, and 30 PG-PEVs. Vesicle preparation was achieved through direct sonication, yielding unilamellar and bilamellar vesicles with an average size of ∼205; 234 nm, a monodisperse distribution (polydispersity index <0.

Gastroenterology Training and Career in Women: Challenges and Opportunities.

This review highlights gender gaps in training, career, and work-life balance in gastroenterology. Stereotypes and biases toward women's abilities and commitment to their careers can influence evaluations, advancement in gastroenterology training, and career progression. The findings indicate that lack of or limited access to mentorship and sponsorship, as well as support networks, can hinder the professional development of women.

Molecular elucidation of cement hydration inhibition by silane coupling agents.

Silane coupling agents are widely recognized to retard early hydration when incorporated into fresh cement paste, yet the atomic-level mechanisms underlying their effects on clinker dissolution, such as adsorption of silane monomer onto reactive surface sites and modification of ion detachment pathways, remain unexplored. Here we show dissolution behavior of tricalcium silicate (CaSiO) under 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane impact using ab initio metadynamics, with experimental validation of the retardation effects in silane-treated pastes. The shielding effect of silane induces shifts in free energy changes of stepwise calcium dissolution from negative to positive and alters the most stable Ca coordination state during dissolution, resulting in the transition of dissolution from spontaneous to non-spontaneous.

Novel FKBP prolyl isomerase 1A (FKBP12) ligand promotes functional improvement in SOD1 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) mice.

Background And Purpose: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease with limited treatment options. ALS pathogenesis involves intricate processes within motor neurons, characterized by dysregulated Ca influx and buffering in early ALS-affected motor neurones. This study proposes the modulation of ryanodine receptors (RyRs), key mediators of intracellular Ca, as a therapeutic target.

What It Takes to Win: Examining Predicted Versus Actual Swimming Performances at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and What Comes Next.

Unlabelled: Predictions of performances should be evaluated to confirm their accuracy. Work by this group has resulted in 3 sets of predictions being generated for swimming events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, using the same statistical approach for each set.

Purpose: To examine the accuracy of swimming predictions for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and generate updated predictions for both the Singapore 2025 World Aquatics Championships and Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Association Between Reactive Strength Index and Metabolic Cost of Running in Male Master Athletes.

Purpose: To examine the association between reactive strength index (RSI) and metabolic cost of running (MCr) in master athletes. We hypothesized that individuals with a higher RSI would exhibit a lower MCr, that both variables would be associated, and that age would moderate this relationship.

Methods: Forty-five male master athletes participated to this study.

Marine litter in the south-east of the Bay of Biscay: A review of current methods, standards, databases and challenges.

Marine litter represents a significant global environmental challenge, in which plastics are considered the most concerning components. The widespread use of plastics, which exceeded 410 million tons in 2023, has led to a significant plastic litter accumulation in the oceans. The Bay of Biscay, characterized by its unique physical oceanography and intense human activities has been identified as a marine litter accumulation zone with litter densities in the same range of enclosed seas as the Mediterranean Sea.

The reliability and validity of the Chinese version of premenstrual dysphoric disorder questionnaire for DSM-5.

Objective: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) seriously affects women's work and life, and early screening and diagnosis of PMDD can improve the quality of life of potential PMDD patients. The Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Questionnaire for DSM-5 (CTDP-DSM-5) is a validated screening tool for PMDD based on the DSM-5. This study intends to conduct reliability testing and validity evaluation of the scale after translation and revision in Chinese women.

Developmental origins and evolution of pallial cell types and structures in birds.

Innovations in the pallium likely facilitated the evolution of advanced cognitive abilities in birds. We therefore scrutinized its cellular composition and evolution using cell type atlases from chicken, mouse, and nonavian reptiles. We found that the avian pallium shares most inhibitory neuron types with other amniotes.