Rethinking the use of redox probes for the detection of electroactive proteins with electrochemical sensors modified with molecularly imprinted polymers.

This study aims to demonstrate that redox couples, regardless of their electrical charges, are unnecessary for detecting and quantifying electroactive proteins using an electrochemical sensor functionalized with a molecularly imprinted polymer. Our approach involved designing a polydopamine imprinted biosensor for detecting bovine serum albumin as the model protein. Electrochemical measurements were conducted in a phosphate-buffered solution (PBS) and solutions containing the negatively charged hexacyanoferrate, the neutral ferrocene, or the positively charged hexaammineruthenium (III) probes.

Toxicity assessment of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on microorganisms through topological data analysis of high dimensional single-cell nanomechanical data.

There is a growing interest in the development of methods for the detection of nanoparticle (NP) toxicity to living organisms based on the analysis of relevant multidimensional data sets. In particular the detection of preliminary signs of NPs toxicity effects would benefit from the selection of data featuring NPs-induced alterations of biological barriers. Accordingly, we present an original Topological Data Analysis (TDA) of the nanomechanical properties of Escherichia coli cell surface, evaluated by multiparametric Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) after exposure of the cells to increasing concentrations of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiONPs).

High-Affinity Lectin Ligands Enable the Detection of Pathogenic Biofilms: Implications for Diagnostics and Therapy.

is a critical priority pathogen and causes life-threatening acute and biofilm-associated chronic infections. The choice of suitable treatment for complicated infections requires lengthy culturing for species identification from swabs or an invasive biopsy. To date, no fast, pathogen-specific diagnostic tools for infections are available.

Multifunctional Supramolecular Gels with Strong Mechanical Properties Formed by Self-Assembly of Polyoxometalate-Based Coordination Polymers.

Metallogels built in a bottom-up approach by metal coordination and supramolecular interactions have important potential for the elaboration of smart materials. In this context, we present here the formation of supramolecular coordination polymers driven by the complexation of cobalt(II) or zinc(II) ions with polyoxometalate-based hybrids displaying two terpyridine ligands in a linear arrangement. Thanks to the electrostatic interactions between the polyoxometalate cores and metal nodes, the polymer chains self-assemble into fibers that physically cross-link to form gels above a critical concentration.

Advancing Regulatory Genomics With Machine Learning.

In recent years, several machine learning (ML) approaches have been proposed to predict gene expression signal and chromatin features from the DNA sequence alone. These models are often used to deduce and, to some extent, assess putative new biological insights about gene regulation, and they have led to very interesting advances in regulatory genomics. This article reviews a selection of these methods, ranging from linear models to random forests, kernel methods, and more advanced deep learning models.

Whole-genome sequencing revealed a novel structural variant in causing autosomal dominant Alport syndrome: A case report.

Next-generation sequencing has substantially transformed the genomic diagnosis of individuals affected by inherited renal disorders. Indeed, accurate and rapid diagnostic for patients with suspected genetic kidney diseases is not only important for prognosis and patient management but also for family counseling. Alport syndrome, a genetic disease primarily affecting the basement membrane, is characterized by hematuria, progressive kidney failure, hearing impairment, as well as ocular abnormalities and stems from mutations in genes encoding type IV collagen.

Neural mass modeling for the masses: Democratizing access to whole-brain biophysical modeling with FastDMF.

Different whole-brain computational models have been recently developed to investigate hypotheses related to brain mechanisms. Among these, the Dynamic Mean Field (DMF) model is particularly attractive, combining a biophysically realistic model that is scaled up via a mean-field approach and multimodal imaging data. However, an important barrier to the widespread usage of the DMF model is that current implementations are computationally expensive, supporting only simulations on brain parcellations that consider less than 100 brain regions.

Isolation of Viral Biofilms From HTLV-1 Chronically Infected T Cells and Integrity Analysis.

The human T-lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) is an oncogenic retrovirus that predominantly spreads through cell-to-cell contact due to the limited infectivity of cell-free viruses. Among various modes of intercellular transmission, HTLV-1 biofilms emerge as adhesive structures, polarized at the cell surface, which encapsulate virions within a protective matrix. This biofilm is supposed to facilitate simultaneous virion delivery during infection.

Interest of neurofeedback training for cognitive performance and risk of brain disorders in the military context.

Operational environments are characterized by a range of psycho-physiological constraints that can degrade combatants' performance and impact on their long-term health. Neurofeedback training (NFT), a non-invasive, safe and effective means of regulating brain activity, has been shown to be effective for mental disorders, as well as for cognitive and motor capacities and aiding sports performance in healthy individuals. Its value in helping soldiers in operational condition or suffering from post-traumatic stress (PTSD) is undeniable, but relatively unexplored.

Fluid flow and amyloid transport and aggregation in the brain interstitial space.

The driving mechanisms at the base of the clearance of biological wastes in the brain interstitial space (ISS) are still poorly understood and an actively debated subject. A complete comprehension of the processes that lead to the aggregation of amyloid proteins in such environment, hallmark of the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease, is of crucial relevance. Here we employ combined computational fluid dynamics and molecular dynamics techniques to uncover the role of fluid flow and proteins transport in the brain ISS.

Observational Assessment of Changes in Earth's Energy Imbalance Since 2000.

Satellite observations from the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System show that Earth's energy imbalance has doubled from 0.5 ± 0.2 Wm during the first 10 years of this century to 1.

North Atlantic Heat Transport Convergence Derived from a Regional Energy Budget Using Different Ocean Heat Content Estimates.

This study uses an oceanic energy budget to estimate the ocean heat transport convergence in the North Atlantic during 2005-2018. The horizontal convergence of the ocean heat transport is estimated using ocean heat content tendency primarily derived from satellite altimetry combined with space gravimetry. The net surface energy fluxes are inferred from mass-corrected divergence of atmospheric energy transport and tendency of the ECMWF ERA5 reanalysis combined with top-of-the-atmosphere radiative fluxes from the clouds and the Earth's radiant energy system project.

Enhanced antimicrobial and biofilm disruption efficacy of the encapsulated Thymus pallidus and Lavandula stoechas essential oils and their mixture: A synergistic approach.

The antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties of plant essential oils (EOs) have aroused significant interest for their potential as effective alternatives or supplements in combating microbial infections and biofilm-associated challenges. For these applications, EOs must be encapsulated to overcome some key technical limitations, including high volatility, poor stability, and low solubility. This study aimed to develop microencapsulated EOs derived from two valuable Moroccan medicinal plants, Lavandula stoechas L.

Tatton-Brown-Rahman syndrome: a new multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome with intellectual disability?

We describe for the first time the case of a woman presenting with Tatton-Brown-Rahman syndrome (TBRS) and multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN). She developed primary hyperparathyroidism at age 13, a pituitary cyst at age 14, adrenal tumor at age 21, and metastatic insulinoma at age 34. In addition, she showed intellectual disability, obesity, multiple lipomas, facial dysmorphia, hemihypertrophy and kyphoscoliosis.

Comments on the Hox timer and related issues.

2024 not only marked the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the organizer by Hilde Pröscholdt-Mangold and Hans Spemann, but also the 40th anniversary of the discovery of the homeobox, a DNA region encoding a DNA binding peptide present in several transcription factors of critical importance for the gastrulating embryo. In particular, this sequence is found in the 39 members of the amniote Hox gene family, a series of genes activated in mid-gastrulation and involved in organizing morphologies along the extending anterior to posterior (AP) body axis. Over the past 30 years, the study of their coordinated regulation in various contexts has progressively revealed their surprising regulatory strategies, based on mechanisms acting in-cis, which can translate a linear distribution of series of genes along the chromatin fiber into the proper sequences of morphologies observed along our various body axes.

Vibrio harveyi uses both type III secretion system and quorum sensing for the colonization of the European abalone.

The vibriosis of the European abalone, Haliotis tuberculata, is characterized by the rapidity of the infection by the pathogen Vibrio harveyi ORM4, leading to death of animals only after two days. The lethality of the pathogen is linked to the production of the type III secretion system (T3SS) and to genes regulated by quorum sensing (QS). The aim of this study was to investigate the colonization of the European abalone by both virulent and avirulent V.

An insight into recent PM aerosol light scattering properties and particle number concentration variabilities at the suburban site ATOLL in Northern France.

Aerosol particles in the PM fraction considerably influence the climate-related effects of aerosols and impact human health despite representing very variable fractions of the total aerosol mass concentration. Aerosol optical measurement techniques (aerosol light scattering) may not be sufficiently effective for detecting all particles in the PM fraction, particularly regarding number concentration. The present study investigates temporal variations of aerosol light scattering properties and particle number concentration (PNC) at different size modes in the PM fraction at the atmospheric site ATOLL (The Atmospheric Observations in Lille), Northern France from January 2018 to February 2023.

- a large-scale dataset of 3D medical shapes for computer vision.

Objectives: The shape is commonly used to describe the objects. State-of-the-art algorithms in medical imaging are predominantly diverging from computer vision, where voxel grids, meshes, point clouds, and implicit surface models are used. This is seen from the growing popularity of ShapeNet (51,300 models) and Princeton ModelNet (127,915 models).

Occurrence and ecological risks of antibiotics and antiparasitics in surface water in urban lakes in Hanoi city, Vietnam.

The presence of antibiotics in the environment is of significant concern due to their adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems. This study provides an assessment of potential ecological risks (RQ) associated with the concentrations of eight antibiotics and antiparasitics (amoxicillin-AMO, azithromycin-AZI, ciprofloxacine-CIP, ofloxacine-OFL, oxfendazole-OXF, lincomycin-LIN, sulfacetamide-SCE and sulfamethoxazole-SME) in the surface water of 13 urban lakes in Hanoi city, Vietnam during the period 2021-2023. The findings revealed considerable variations in the total concentrations of these 8 substances (T), ranging from below the method detection limit (< MDL) to 2240 ng L with an average of 330.

A stable combination of non-stable genes outperforms standard reference genes for RT-qPCR data normalization.

Gene expression profiling is of key importance in all domains of life sciences, as medicine, environment, and plants, for both basic and applied research. Despite the emergence of microarrays and high-throughput sequencing, qPCR remains a standard method for gene expression analyses, with its data normalization step being crucial for ensuring accuracy. Currently, the most widely used normalization method is based on the use of reference genes, assumed to be stably expressed across all experimental conditions.

Size-Dependent Wetting Contact Angles at the Nanoscale Defined by Equimolar Surfaces and Surfaces of Tension.

The wetting characteristics of fluids play a crucial role in various fields of interface and surface science. Contact angle serves as a fundamental indicator of wetting behavior. However, accurate quantification of wetting phenomena even at the macroscale often poses challenges, particularly due to the hysteresis between receding and advancing contact angles.

A quantitative benchmark of neural network feature selection methods for detecting nonlinear signals.

Classification and regression problems can be challenging when the relevant input features are diluted in noisy datasets, in particular when the sample size is limited. Traditional Feature Selection (FS) methods address this issue by relying on some assumptions such as the linear or additive relationship between features. Recently, a proliferation of Deep Learning (DL) models has emerged to tackle both FS and prediction at the same time, allowing non-linear modeling of the selected features.

Effects of minipuberty disruption on the expression of sexual behavior in female mice.

Sex steroids influence early organization of neural structures involved in expression of sexual behavior. A critical perinatal period during which testosterone surges occur has been identified in male rodents. Data are lacking for females, whose ovarian activity starts later in the postnatal period.

Salivary extracellular vesicles isolation methods impact the robustness of downstream biomarkers detection.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), crucial mediators in cell-to-cell communication, are implicated in both homeostatic and pathological processes. Their detectability in easily accessible peripheral fluids like saliva positions them as promising candidates for non-invasive biomarker discovery. However, the lack of standardized methods for salivary EVs isolation greatly limits our ability to study them.

Gas transport mechanisms during high-frequency ventilation.

By virtue of applying small tidal volumes, high-frequency ventilation is advocated as a method of minimizing ventilator-induced lung injury. Lung protective benefits are established in infants, but not in other patient cohorts. Efforts to improve and extend the lung protection potential should consider how fundamental modes of gas transport can be exploited to minimize harmful tidal volumes while maintaining or improving ventilation.