Dopamine D1 receptor activation in the striatum is sufficient to drive reinforcement of anteceding cortical patterns.

Timed dopamine signals underlie reinforcement learning, favoring neural activity patterns that drive behaviors with positive outcomes. In the striatum, dopamine activates five dopamine receptors (D1R-D5R), which are differentially expressed in striatal neurons. However, the role of specific dopamine receptors in reinforcement is poorly understood.

Rapid and comprehensive detection of viral antibodies and nucleic acids via an acoustofluidic integrated molecular diagnostics chip: AIMDx.

Precise and rapid disease detection is critical for controlling infectious diseases like COVID-19. Current technologies struggle to simultaneously identify viral RNAs and host immune antibodies due to limited integration of sample preparation and detection. Here, we present acoustofluidic integrated molecular diagnostics (AIMDx) on a chip, a platform enabling high-speed, sensitive detection of viral immunoglobulins [immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgG, and IgM] and nucleic acids.

A tunable metamaterial microwave absorber inspired by chameleon's color-changing mechanism.

A metamaterial absorber capable of swiftly altering its electromagnetic response in the microwave range offers adaptability to changing environments, such as tunable stealth capabilities. Inspired by the chameleon's ability to change color through the structural transformation of photonic lattice crystals, which shift the bandgaps of reflection and transmission of visible light, we designed a crisscross structure that transforms from an expanded to a collapsed form. This transformation enables a switch between broadband absorption and peak transmission in the microwave range (4 to 18 gigahertz).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Partially observable Markov models inferred using statistical tests reveal context-dependent syllable transitions in Bengalese finch songs.

Generative models have diverse applications, including language processing and birdsong analysis. In this study, we demonstrate how a statistical test, designed to prevent overgeneralization in sequence generation, can be used to infer minimal models for the syllable sequences in Bengalese finch songs. We focus on the partially observable Markov model (POMM), which consists of states and the probabilistic transitions between them.

Boosting the Performance of Alkaline Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer with Vanadium-Doped NiFeO.

Developing efficient, economical, and stable catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction is pivotal for producing large-scale green hydrogen in the future. Herein, a vanadium-doped nickel-iron oxide supported on nickel foam (V-NiFeO/NF) is introduced, and synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method as a highly efficient electrocatalyst for water electrolysis. X-ray photoelectron and absorption spectroscopies reveal a synergistic interaction between the vanadium dopant and nickel/iron in the host material, which tunes the electronic structure of NiFeO to increase the number of electrochemically active sites.

Identification of a gene controlling levels of the copper response regulator 1 transcription factor in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Oxygen prevents hydrogen production in Chlamydomonas (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii), in part by inhibiting the transcription of hydrogenase genes. We developed a screen for mutants showing constitutive accumulation of iron hydrogenase 1 (HYDA1) transcripts in normoxia. A reporter gene required for ciliary motility placed under the control of the HYDA1 promoter conferred motility only in hypoxia.

Hidden domain boundary dynamics toward crystalline perfection.

A central paradigm of nonequilibrium physics concerns the dynamics of heterogeneity and disorder, impacting processes ranging from the behavior of glasses to the emergent functionality of active matter. Understanding these complex mesoscopic systems requires probing the microscopic trajectories associated with irreversible processes, the role of fluctuations and entropy growth, and the timescales on which nonequilibrium responses are ultimately maintained. Approaches that illuminate these processes in model systems may enable a more general understanding of other heterogeneous nonequilibrium phenomena, and potentially define ultimate speed and energy cost limits for information processing technologies.