Gustatory cortex neurons perform reliability-dependent integration of multisensory flavor inputs.

Flavor is the quintessential multisensory experience, combining gustatory, retronasal olfactory, and texture qualities to inform food perception and consumption behavior. However, the computations that govern multisensory integration of flavor components and their underlying neural mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we use rats as a model system to test the hypothesis that taste and smell components of flavor are integrated in a reliability-dependent manner to inform hedonic judgments and that this computation is performed by neurons in the primary taste cortex.

Sequential recruitment of F-BAR proteins controls cytoskeletal crosstalk at the yeast bud neck.

In vivo functions of the septin and actin cytoskeletons are closely intertwined, yet the mechanisms underlying septin-actin crosstalk have remained poorly understood. Here, we show that the yeast-bud-neck-associated Fes/CIP4 homology Bar-amphiphysin-Rvs (F-BAR) protein suppressor of yeast profilin 1 (Syp1)/FCHo uses its intrinsically disordered region (IDR) to directly bind and bundle filamentous actin (F-actin) and to physically link septins and F-actin. Interestingly, the only other F-BAR protein found at the neck during bud development, Hof1, has related activities and also potently inhibits the bud-neck-associated formin Bnr1.

Exploring cigarette butts pollution in Vung Tau beaches: A case study in Vietnam.

Cigarette butts (CBs), alongside other plastic items, are widely recognized as a significant source of marine litter in coastal areas worldwide. This research is the first to examine CB pollution, offering valuable insights into its impact across various beaches in Vung Tau, Vietnam. A total of 512 CBs were collected, with an average density of 0.

CRISPR detection of cardiac tumor-associated microRNAs.

As multiple imaging modalities cannot reliably diagnose cardiac tumors, the molecular approach offers alternative ways to detect rare ones. One such molecular approach is CRISPR-based diagnostics (CRISPR-Dx). CRISPR-Dx enables visual readout, portable diagnostics, and rapid and multiplex detection of nucleic acids such as microRNA (miRNA).

Evidence for intrinsic DNA dynamics and deformability in damage sensing by the Rad4/XPC nucleotide excision repair complex.

Altered DNA dynamics at lesion sites are implicated in how DNA repair proteins sense damage within genomic DNA. Using laser temperature-jump (T-jump) spectroscopy combined with cytosine-analog Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) probes that sense local DNA conformations, we measured the intrinsic dynamics of DNA containing 3 base-pair mismatches recognized in vitro by Rad4 (yeast ortholog of XPC). Rad4/XPC recognizes diverse lesions from environmental mutagens and initiates nucleotide excision repair.

A multilevel framework for recruitment and retention in implementation trials: An illustrative example.

Background: Implementation and hybrid effectiveness-implementation trials aspire to speed the translation of science into practice by generating crucial evidence for improving the uptake of effective health interventions. By design, they pose unique recruitment and retention challenges due to their aims, units of analysis, and sampling plans, which typically require many clinical sites (i.e.

Hierarchical Optimization Segmentation and Parameter Extraction of Street Trees Based on Topology Checking and Boundary Analysis from LiDAR Point Clouds.

Roadside tree segmentation and parameter extraction play an essential role in completing the virtual simulation of road scenes. Point cloud data of roadside trees collected by LiDAR provide important data support for achieving assisted autonomous driving. Due to the interference from trees and other ground objects in street scenes caused by mobile laser scanning, there may be a small number of missing points in the roadside tree point cloud, which makes it familiar for under-segmentation and over-segmentation phenomena to occur in the roadside tree segmentation process.

Automatic Optical Path Alignment Method for Optical Biological Microscope.

A high-quality optical path alignment is essential for achieving superior image quality in optical biological microscope (OBM) systems. The traditional automatic alignment methods for OBMs rely heavily on complex masker-detection techniques. This paper introduces an innovative, image-sensor-based optical path alignment approach designed for low-power objective (specifically 4×) automatic OBMs.

Learning from Other Tumors: Pathways for Progress and Overcoming Challenges in Cholangiocarcinoma.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a group of complex and heterogeneous tumors originating from the epithelial cells of bile ducts that can occur in intrahepatic, perihilar, or distal localizations [...

Agreement Between High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Testing in Paired Self-Collected and Clinician-Collected Samples from Cervical Cancer Screening in Spain.

: Implementing self-sampling (SS) in cervical cancer screening requires comparable results to clinician-collected samples (CCS). Agreement measures are essential for evaluating HPV test performance. Previous studies on non-paired samples have reported higher viral cycle threshold (Ct) values in SS compared to CCS, affecting sensitivity for detecting cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse (CIN2+).

Vegetable-Enriched Brownies: A Healthier Twist on a Classic Treat.

Background/objectives: In response to concerns about high-fat and low-fiber diets, this study modified a traditional brownie recipe by replacing butter with plant-based ingredients, including sweet potatoes, red beans, beetroot, zucchini, pumpkin, lentils, and spinach. The goal was to increase vegetable consumption while identifying the best vegetable fat replacer using sensory and instrumental analyses.

Methods: Chemical analyses were conducted to measure dry matter, protein, fat, ash, and dietary fiber, alongside texture, color, and sensory evaluations.

Glutaminase-2 Expression Induces Metabolic Changes and Regulates Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Activity in Glioblastoma Cells.

Glutaminase controls the first step in glutaminolysis, impacting bioenergetics, biosynthesis and oxidative stress. Two isoenzymes exist in humans, GLS and GLS2. GLS is considered prooncogenic and overexpressed in many tumours, while GLS2 may act as prooncogenic or as a tumour suppressor.

Head-to-Head Comparison of Aptamer- and Antibody-Based Proteomic Platforms in Human Cerebrospinal Fluid Samples from a Real-World Memory Clinic Cohort.

High-throughput proteomic platforms are crucial to identify novel Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers and pathways. In this study, we evaluated the reproducibility and reliability of aptamer-based (SomaScan 7k) and antibody-based (Olink Explore 3k) proteomic platforms in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from the Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona real-world cohort. Intra- and inter-platform reproducibility were evaluated through correlations between two independent SomaScan assays analyzing the same samples, and between SomaScan and Olink results.

Human miR-1 Stimulates Metabolic and Thermogenic-Related Genes in Adipocytes.

MicroRNAs play a pivotal role in the regulation of adipose tissue function and have emerged as promising therapeutic candidates for the management of obesity and associated comorbidities. Among them, miR-1 could be a potential biomarker for metabolic diseases and contribute to metabolic homeostasis. However, thorough research is required to fully elucidate the impact of miR-1 on human adipocyte thermogenesis and metabolism.

CircTEC Inhibits the Follicular Atresia in Buffalo () via Targeting miR-144-5p/FZD3 Signaling Axis.

The specific expression profile and function of circular RNA (circRNA) in follicular atresia remain largely unknown. Here, the circRNA expression profiles of granulosa cells derived from healthy follicles (HFs) and antral follicles (AFs) in buffalo were analyzed by RNA-seq, and the mechanism of a differentially expressed circRNA (DEcircRNA) circTEC regulating the granulosa cell function that affects follicular atresia was further explored. RNA-seq results showed that a total of 112 DEcircRNAs were identified.

Direct Vascular Effects of Angiotensin II (A Systematic Short Review).

The octapeptide angiotensin II (Ang II) is a circulating hormone as well as a locally formed agonist synthesized by the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) of endothelial cells. It forms a powerful mechanism to control the amount and pressure of body fluids. All main effects are directed to save body salt and water and ensure blood pressure under basic conditions and in emergencies.

Small Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Cord Blood Plasma and Placental Mesenchymal Stem Cells Attenuate Acute Lung Injury Induced by Lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Sepsis is a risk factor associated with increasing neonatal morbidity and mortality, acute lung injury, and chronic lung disease. While stem cell therapy has shown promise in alleviating acute lung injury, its effects are primarily exerted through paracrine mechanisms rather than local engraftment. Accumulating evidence suggests that these paracrine effects are mediated by mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), which play a critical role in immune system modulation and tissue regeneration.

The Identification and Characterization of the Gene Family in Oliv. Heteromorphic Leaves Provide a Theoretical Basis for the Functional Study of .

Oliv. typically has four kinds of heteromorphic leaves: linear (Li), lanceolate (La), ovate (Ov) and broad ovate (Bo). Heteromorphic leaves help adapt to extreme desert environments and further contribute to protection against land desertification in Northwest China.

Effect of Surface Finishing and Nitriding on the Wetting Properties of Hot Forging Tools.

Lubrication is a critical aspect of the metal forming process and it is strongly influenced by the surface texture of the tool-forming surfaces. This study is focused on determining the effect of surface finish and heat treatment on wettability involving commonly used lubrication agents. Three different finishing states are evaluated (as-ground, as-polished and as-nitrided).

The Overview of Silicon Carbide Technology: Status, Challenges, Key Drivers, and Product Roadmap.

Arguably, SiC technology is the most rapidly expanding IC manufacturing technology driven mostly by the aggressive roadmap for battery electric vehicle penetration and also industrial high-voltage/high-power applications. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the state of the art of SiC technology focusing on the challenges starting from the difficult and lengthy SiC substrate growth all the way to the complex MOSFET assembly processes. We focus on the differentiation from the established Si manufacturing processes and provide a comprehensive list of references as well as a brief description of our own research into the key manufacturing processes in this technology.

Clinical, Radiographic, and Molecular Analysis of Patients with X-Linked Hypophosphatemic Rickets: Looking for Phenotype-Genotype Correlation.

Background/objectives: X-linked hypophosphataemic rickets (XLH) represents the most frequent type of rickets from genetic origin, it is caused by mutations on the gene. The main clinical manifestations are short stature and bone deformities. Phenotype variation is observed at the intrafamily and interfamily level.

Synthesis, Electrical Conductivity, and Wave-Absorption Performances of Bamboo-Based Composites Co-Doped with Graphene Oxide and Polyaniline.

Bamboo was carbonized and further modified via co-doping with graphene oxide (GO) and polyaniline (PANI) to prepare microwave absorption composites (GO/PANI/CB) by in situ polymerization of 1R-(-)-Camphorsulfonic acid (L-CSA). The conductivity of GO/PANI/CB reached 2.17 ± 0.

L. Extract Increases COX-1, COX-2 and TNF-α in the Hippocampus of Rats with Neuropathic Pain.

Inflammation is the critical component of neuropathic pain; therefore, this study aimed to assess the potential anti-inflammatory effects of L. extracts in a vincristine-induced model of neuropathic pain. The effects of different doses (5.

Mechanochemical Functionalization of Oxidized Carbon Black with PLA.

The functionalization of carbon black (CB) represents a promising strategy to enhance its compatibility with polymers while addressing sustainability concerns. In this study, a solvent-free mechanochemical approach (ball milling) is proposed for the functionalization of oxidized carbon black (oCB) with post-consumed polylactic acid (PLA), overcoming the environmental drawbacks of conventional methods that mostly rely on toxic solvents and catalysts. The functionalized carbon black (f-CB) was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), elemental analysis (EA), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to confirm the successful modification.

Advances in Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring.

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is pivotal for optimizing drug dosage regimens in individual patients, particularly for drugs with a narrow therapeutic index. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has shown great potential in TDM due to high sensitivity, non-destructive analysis, specific fingerprint spectrum, low sample consumption, simple operation, and low ongoing costs. Due to the rapid development of SERS for TDM, a review focusing on the analytical method is presented to better understand the trends.