Mechanically robust surface-degradable implant from fiber silk composites demonstrates regenerative potential.

Through millions of years of evolution, bones have developed a complex and elegant hierarchical structure, utilizing tropocollagen and hydroxyapatite to attain an intricate balance between modulus, strength, and toughness. In this study, continuous fiber silk composites (CFSCs) of large size are prepared to mimic the hierarchical structure of natural bones, through the inheritance of the hierarchical structure of fiber silk and the integration with a polyester matrix. Due to the robust interface between the matrix and fiber silk, CFSCs show maintained stable long-term mechanical performance under wet conditions.

Development of a TSR-based method for understanding structural relationships of cofactors and local environments in photosystem I.

Background: All chemical forms of energy and oxygen on Earth are generated via photosynthesis where light energy is converted into redox energy by two photosystems (PS I and PS II). There is an increasing number of PS I 3D structures deposited in the Protein Data Bank (PDB). The Triangular Spatial Relationship (TSR)-based algorithm converts 3D structures into integers (TSR keys).

Addressing genome scale design tradeoffs in Pseudomonas putida for bioconversion of an aromatic carbon source.

Genome-scale metabolic models (GSMM) are commonly used to identify gene deletion sets that result in growth coupling and pairing product formation with substrate utilization and can improve strain performance beyond levels typically accessible using traditional strain engineering approaches. However, sustainable feedstocks pose a challenge due to incomplete high-resolution metabolic data for non-canonical carbon sources required to curate GSMM and identify implementable designs. Here we address a four-gene deletion design in the Pseudomonas putida KT2440 strain for the lignin-derived non-sugar carbon source, p-coumarate (p-CA), that proved challenging to implement.

The chromatin remodeler ADNP regulates neurodevelopmental disorder risk genes and neocortical neurogenesis.

Although chromatin remodelers are among the most important risk genes associated with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), the roles of these complexes during brain development are in many cases unclear. Here, we focused on the recently discovered ChAHP chromatin remodeling complex. The zinc finger and homeodomain transcription factor ADNP is a core subunit of this complex, and de novo mutations lead to intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder.

NADH-bound AIF activates the mitochondrial CHCHD4/MIA40 chaperone by a substrate-mimicry mechanism.

Mitochondrial metabolism requires the chaperoned import of disulfide-stabilized proteins via CHCHD4/MIA40 and its enigmatic interaction with oxidoreductase Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). By crystallizing human CHCHD4's AIF-interaction domain with an activated AIF dimer, we uncover how NADH allosterically configures AIF to anchor CHCHD4's β-hairpin and histidine-helix motifs to the inner mitochondrial membrane. The structure further reveals a similarity between the AIF-interaction domain and recognition sequences of CHCHD4 substrates.

Codon bias, nucleotide selection, and genome size predict in situ bacterial growth rate and transcription in rewetted soil.

In soils, the first rain after a prolonged dry period represents a major pulse event impacting soil microbial community function, yet we lack a full understanding of the genomic traits associated with the microbial response to rewetting. Genomic traits such as codon usage bias and genome size have been linked to bacterial growth in soils-however, often through measurements in culture. Here, we used metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) with O-water stable isotope probing and metatranscriptomics to track genomic traits associated with growth and transcription of soil microorganisms over one week following rewetting of a grassland soil.

In-Plane Anisotropy in van der Waals NiTeSe Ternary Alloy.

The anisotropic properties of materials profoundly influence their electronic, magnetic, optical, and mechanical behaviors and are critical for a wide range of applications. In this study, the anisotropic characteristics of Ni-based van der Waals materials, specifically NiTe and its alloy NiTeSe, utilizing a combination of comprehensive scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, are explored. Unlike 1T-NiTe, which exhibits trigonal in-plane symmetry, the substitution of Te with Se in NiTe (resulting in the NiTeSe alloy) induces a pronounced in-plane anisotropy.

COVID-19 Impact On Black and Latina Women: Pregnancy and Parenting.

The coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic presented unique challenges for pregnant women and birthing individuals, particularly those from Black and Latino communities. Understanding the impact of the pandemic on their experiences is crucial for providing adequate support and care during vulnerable times. This research delves into the specific effects of COVID-19 on maternal stress and resilience.

Associations of prenatal maternal psychosocial stress and depression with neurodevelopmental outcomes in 7.5-month-old infants in the ECHO.CA.IL prospective birth cohorts.

Background: Exposure to maternal stress and depression during pregnancy can have a marked impact on birth outcomes and child development, escalating the likelihood of preterm birth, lower birth weight, and various domains of physical and neurodevelopment.

Methods: The joint ECHO.CA.

Towards measurements of absolute membrane potential in Bacillus subtilis using fluorescence lifetime.

Membrane potential (MP) changes can provide a simple readout of bacterial functional and metabolic state or stress levels. While several optical methods exist for measuring fast changes in MP in excitable cells, there is a dearth of such methods for absolute and precise measurements of steady-state membrane potentials (MPs) in bacterial cells. Conventional electrode-based methods for the measurement of MP are not suitable for calibrating optical methods in small bacterial cells.

Distinct Transmission of Left- and Right-Handed Magnon Modes in Compensated Ferrimagnet/Antiferromagnet Structures.

The chirality of magnons, exhibiting left- and right-handed polarizations analogous to the counterparts of spin-up and spin-down, has emerged as a promising paradigm for information processing. However, the potential of this paradigm is constrained by the controllable excitation and transmission of chiral magnons. Here, the magnon transmission is explored in the GdFeO/NiO/Pt structures.

Functional optimality underpins the repeated evolution of the extreme "saber-tooth" morphology.

"Saber teeth"-elongate, blade-like canines-are a classic example of convergence, having evolved repeatedly throughout mammalian history. Within canine teeth, there is a trade-off between the aspects of shape that improve food fracture and those that increase tooth strength. Optimal morphologies strike a balance between these antagonistic functional criteria.

Synapse-specific catecholaminergic modulation of neuronal glutamate release.

Norepinephrine in vertebrates and its invertebrate analog, octopamine, regulate the activity of neural circuits. We find that, when hungry, larvae switch activity in type II octopaminergic motor neurons (MNs) to high-frequency bursts, which coincide with locomotion-driving bursts in type I glutamatergic MNs that converge on the same muscles. Optical quantal analysis across hundreds of synapses simultaneously reveals that octopamine potentiates glutamate release by tonic type Ib MNs, but not phasic type Is MNs, and occurs via the G-coupled octopamine receptor (OAMB).

Electron transfer in polysaccharide monooxygenase catalysis.

Polysaccharide monooxygenase (PMO) catalysis involves the chemically difficult hydroxylation of unactivated C-H bonds in carbohydrates. The reaction requires reducing equivalents and will utilize either oxygen or hydrogen peroxide as a cosubstrate. Two key mechanistic questions are addressed here: 1) How does the enzyme regulate the timely and tightly controlled electron delivery to the mononuclear copper active site, especially when bound substrate occludes the active site? and 2) How does this electron delivery differ when utilizing oxygen or hydrogen peroxide as a cosubstrate? Using a computational approach, potential paths of electron transfer (ET) to the active site copper ion were identified in a representative AA9 family PMO from (PMO9E).

Mechanism-guided engineering of a minimal biological particle for genome editing.

The widespread application of genome editing to treat and cure disease requires the delivery of genome editors into the nucleus of target cells. Enveloped delivery vehicles (EDVs) are engineered virally derived particles capable of packaging and delivering CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoproteins (RNPs). However, the presence of lentiviral genome encapsulation and replication proteins in EDVs has obscured the underlying delivery mechanism and precluded particle optimization.

Large enhancement of ferroelectric properties of perovskite oxides via nitrogen incorporation.

Perovskite oxides have a wide variety of physical properties that make them promising candidates for versatile technological applications including nonvolatile memory and logic devices. Chemical tuning of those properties has been achieved, to the greatest extent, by cation-site substitution, while anion substitution is much less explored due to the difficulty in synthesizing high-quality, mixed-anion compounds. Here, nitrogen-incorporated BaTiO thin films have been synthesized by reactive pulsed-laser deposition in a nitrogen growth atmosphere.

Strong adsorption of guanidinium cations to the air-water interface.

Combining Deep-UV second harmonic generation spectroscopy with molecular simulations, we confirm and quantify the specific adsorption of guanidinium cations to the air-water interface. Using a Langmuir analysis of measurements at multiple concentrations, we extract the Gibbs free energy of adsorption, finding it larger than typical thermal energies. Molecular simulations clarify the role of polarizability in tuning the thermodynamics of adsorption, and establish the preferential parallel alignment of guanidinium at the air-water interface.

Wireless power-up and readout from a label-free biosensor.

Wearable and implantable biosensors have rapidly entered the fields of health and biomedicine to diagnose diseases and physiological monitoring. The use of wired medical devices causes surgical complications, which can occur when wires break, become infected, generate electrical noise, and are incompatible with implantable applications. In contrast, wireless power transfer is ideal for biosensing applications since it does not necessitate direct connections between measurement tools and sensing systems, enabling remote use of the biosensors.

Phylogenomic insights into the taxonomy, ecology, and mating systems of the lorchel family Discinaceae (Pezizales, Ascomycota).

Lorchels, also known as false morels (Gyromitra sensu lato), are iconic due to their brain-shaped mushrooms and production of gyromitrin, a deadly mycotoxin. Molecular phylogenetic studies have hitherto failed to resolve deep-branching relationships in the lorchel family, Discinaceae, hampering our ability to settle longstanding taxonomic debates and to reconstruct the evolution of toxin production. We generated 75 draft genomes from cultures and ascomata (some collected as early as 1960), conducted phylogenomic analyses using 1542 single-copy orthologs to infer the early evolutionary history of lorchels, and identified genomic signatures of trophic mode and mating-type loci to better understand lorchel ecology and reproductive biology.

JMJD8 regulates adipocyte hypertrophy through the interaction with Perilipin 2.

Adipocyte hypertrophy significantly contributes to insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction. Our previous research established JMJD8 as a mediator of insulin resistance, noting its role in promoting adipocyte hypertrophy within an autonomous adipocyte context. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remained elusive.

Adaptation in the Alleyways: Candidate genes under potential selection in urban coyotes.

In the context of evolutionary time, cities are an extremely recent development. Although our understanding of how urbanization alters ecosystems is well-developed, empirical work examining the consequences of urbanization on adaptive evolution remains limited. To facilitate future work, we offer candidate genes for one of the most prominent urban carnivores across North America.

Whole-genome automated assembly pipeline for strains from reference, and clinical samples using the integrated CtGAP pipeline.

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) is pivotal for the molecular characterization of ()-the leading bacterial cause of sexually transmitted infections and infectious blindness worldwide. WGS can inform epidemiologic, public health and outbreak investigations of these human-restricted pathogens. However, challenges persist in generating high-quality genomes for downstream analyses given its obligate intracellular nature and difficulty with propagation.

Draft genomes and assemblies of the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycetes hr and jo associated with chestnut trees.

The earthball , an ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete belonging to the Sclerodermataceae family, serves as a significant mutualistic tree symbiont globally. Originally, two genetically sequenced strains of this genus were obtained from fruiting bodies collected under chestnut trees (). These strains were utilized to establish ectomycorrhizal roots of chestnut seedlings.