A systematic assessment of the stability of SLA® vs. SLActive® implant surfaces over 12 weeks.

Objective: This study aims to assess the impact of two implant surfaces, SLA and SLActive, on implant stability, measured by ISQ levels over a 12-week period.

Methods: A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Dentistry and Oral Sciences databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) up to February 2023 was conducted. The inclusion criteria were studies involving adult patients treated with SLA and SLActive implants, with assessment of implant stability through ISQ levels up to 12 weeks post-placement.

Ironing out complexities in karst chronology: (U-Th)/He ferricrete ages reveal wet MIS 5c.

Karst landforms provide insights into landscape evolution and paleoclimate but are inherently challenging to date. An ancient interval of particularly intense weathering of Western Australian Pleistocene aeolianites is recorded in a spectacular pinnacle karst landscape with associated ferricrete nodules. (U-Th)/He dating of the ferricrete nodules revealed an age of 102.

Energy landscapes for proteins described by the UNRES coarse-grained potential.

The self-assembly of proteins is encoded in the underlying potential energy surface (PES), from which we can predict structure, dynamics, and thermodynamic properties. However, the corresponding analysis becomes increasingly challenging with larger protein sizes, due to the computational time required, which grows significantly with the number of atoms. Coarse-grained models offer an attractive approach to reduce the computational cost.

A global synthesis of high-resolution stable isotope data from benthic foraminifera of the last deglaciation.

We present the first version of the Ocean Circulation and Carbon Cycling (OC3) working group database, of oxygen and carbon stable isotope ratios from benthic foraminifera in deep ocean sediment cores from the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, 23-19 ky) to the Holocene (<10 ky) with a particular focus on the early last deglaciation (19-15 ky BP). It includes 287 globally distributed coring sites, with metadata, isotopic and chronostratigraphic information, and age models. A quality check was performed for all data and age models, and sites with at least millennial resolution were preferred.

Six years of demography data for 11 reef coral species.

Scleractinian corals are colonial animals with a range of life-history strategies, making up diverse species assemblages that define coral reefs. We tagged and tracked ~30 colonies from each of 11 species during seven trips spanning 6 years (2009-2015) to measure their vital rates and competitive interactions on the reef crest at Trimodal Reef, Lizard Island, Australia. Pairs of species were chosen from five growth forms in which one species of the pair was locally rare (R) and the other common (C).

Why link diverse citizen science surveys? Widespread arboreal habits of a terrestrial amphibian revealed by mammalian tree surveys in Britain.

Terrestrial anurans, with their typically short limbs, heavy-set bodies and absent claws or toe pads are incongruous tree climbers, but even occasional arboreal locomotion could offer substantial advantages for evading predators or accessing new shelter or food resources. Despite recent interest, arboreal behaviour remains rarely and unsystematically described for terrestrial amphibians in Europe, likely due to fundamental differences in survey methods and therefore a lack of field data. However, other taxa surveys specifically target trees and tree cavities.

Label-free prediction of cell painting from brightfield images.

Cell Painting is a high-content image-based assay applied in drug discovery to predict bioactivity, assess toxicity and understand mechanisms of action of chemical and genetic perturbations. We investigate label-free Cell Painting by predicting the five fluorescent Cell Painting channels from brightfield input. We train and validate two deep learning models with a dataset representing 17 batches, and we evaluate on batches treated with compounds from a phenotypic set.

Capture of decline in spring phytoplankton biomass derived from COVID-19 lockdown effect in the Yellow Sea offshore waters.

The Yellow Sea, characterized as a high-productivity ecosystem, is considered to be significantly attributable to high nutrient supply via atmospheric deposition. We observed a significant decline in phytoplankton biomass (~30%) over the Yellow Sea during February-May 2020 (period of COVID-19 lockdown effect) compared to the same period in 2015-2019 (period of no effect of COVID-19 lockdown). Several possible factors, such as variations in irradiance, vertical mixing, and river discharges, were not major contributors.

Therapeutic use of specific tumour necrosis factor inhibitors in inflammatory diseases including COVID-19.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused significant devastation globally. Despite the development of several vaccines, with uncertainty around global uptake and vaccine efficacy, the need for effective therapeutic agents remains. Increased levels of cytokines including tumour necrosis factor are significant in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and associated with poor outcomes including ventilator requirement and mortality.

Random Structure Searching with Orbital-Free Density Functional Theory.

The properties of a material depend on how its atoms are arranged, and predicting these arrangements from first principles is a longstanding challenge. Orbital-free density functional theory provides a quantum-mechanical model based solely on the electron density, not individual wave functions. The resulting speedups make it attractive for random structure searching, whereby random configurations of atoms are relaxed to local minima in the energy landscape.

Adapting the 14-day rule for embryo research to encompass evolving technologies.

We consider the scientific evidence that research on in-vitro development of embryos beyond 14 days is necessary. We then examine potential new developments in the use of stem cells to make embryoids or synthetic human entities with embryo-like features, and consider whether they also require legal control. Next, we consider the arguments advanced against extending the 14-day period during which research on human embryos is currently permitted, and find none of them to be convincing.

Novelty in science should not come at the cost of reproducibility.

The pressures of a scientific career can end up incentivising an all-or-nothing approach to cross the finish line first. While competition can be healthy and drives innovation, the current system fails to encourage scientists to work reproducibility. This sometimes leaves those individuals who come second to correct mistakes in published research without being rewarded.

Spectroscopic characterisation of centropolyindanes.

A highly promising class of three-dimensional polyaromatic hydrocarbons comprises the centropolyindanes. The characteristic feature of these compounds is the mutual fusion of several molecules of indane along the saturated C-C bonds of their cyclopentane rings. Among the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, the centropolyindanes are special because of the saturated core of sp3-hybridised carbon atoms embedded in a three-dimensional environment of aromatic building blocks.

Structure and vibrational spectroscopy of methanesulfonic acid.

In this work, we have used a combination of vibrational spectroscopy (infrared, Raman and inelastic neutron scattering) and periodic density functional theory to investigate the structure of methanesulfonic acid (MSA) in the liquid and solid states. The spectra clearly show that the hydrogen bonding is much stronger in the solid than the liquid state. The structure of MSA is not known; however, mineral acids typically adopt a chain structure in condensed phases.

Hippocampal GABA enables inhibitory control over unwanted thoughts.

Intrusive memories, images, and hallucinations are hallmark symptoms of psychiatric disorders. Although often attributed to deficient inhibitory control by the prefrontal cortex, difficulty in controlling intrusive thoughts is also associated with hippocampal hyperactivity, arising from dysfunctional GABAergic interneurons. How hippocampal GABA contributes to stopping unwanted thoughts is unknown.

Exploring the prescribing behaviours and the mind of antibiotic prescribers is critical for a successful antibiotic stewardship programme: Results of a survey from Eastern India.

Quantitative and qualitative analysis were used to ascertain practices, perceptions and barriers about antibiotic stewardship program (ASP) in an oncology hospital in eastern India. In 2014 and 2017, 62% and 69.1% of the patients audited were found to be on anti infective medications respectively.

Phospholipid oxidation and carotenoid supplementation in Alzheimer's disease patients.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease, characterised by decline of memory, cognitive function and changes in behaviour. Generic markers of lipid peroxidation are increased in AD and reactive oxygen species have been suggested to be involved in the aetiology of cognitive decline. Carotenoids are depleted in AD serum, therefore we have compared serum lipid oxidation between AD and age-matched control subjects before and after carotenoid supplementation.

Nanoscale mapping of newly-synthesised phospholipid molecules in a biological cell using tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

Nanoscale chemical mapping of newly-synthesised phospholipid molecules inside a mammalian cell is demonstrated using tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) for the first time using mouse pre-adipocyte cells as a model system. Newly-synthesised membrane phospholipid distribution within a pre-adipocyte cell is mapped with <20 nm spatial resolution, overcoming the diffraction limit of confocal Raman spectroscopy via plasmonic enhancement of Raman signals at a TERS tip-apex.

Lutein and atherosclerosis: Belfast versus Toulouse revisited.

In 1995 we reported that mean plasma lutein concentrations in salaried men and women from Toulouse in Southern France were double those in subjects recruited from general practitioner lists in Belfast, Northern Ireland. At the time incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in Southern France was among the lowest in Europe and was much higher in Northern Ireland. Plasma lutein is a biomarker of vegetable and fruit intake and evidence suggests that high concentrations are generally associated with better cardiometabolic health.

TFBSbank: a platform to dissect the big data of protein-DNA interaction in human and model species.

Genome-wide transcription factors (TFs) binding data has been extensively generated in the past few years, which poses a great challenge to data interpretation. Therefore, comprehensive and dedicated functional annotation databases for TF-DNA interaction are in great demands to manage, explore and utilize those invaluable data resources. Here, we constructed a platform 'TFBSbank' which houses the annotation of 1870 chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) datasets of 585 TFs in five species (human, mouse, fly, worm and yeast).

Quantification of zeaxanthin stereoisomers and lutein in trout flesh using chiral high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection.

In our previous work we identified the presence of -zeaxanthin [(3R,3'S)-zeaxanthin] in trout flesh and skin (Nolan et al., 2014), but were not able to quantify this carotenoid with the method used at that time. In the present study, we developed a protocol that allows for the quantification of lutein and the three stereoisomers of zeaxanthin [(3R,3'R)-zeaxanthin, -zeaxanthin and (3S,3'S)-zeaxanthin] in fish flesh.

Assessment of lutein, zeaxanthin and -zeaxanthin concentrations in dietary supplements by chiral high-performance liquid chromatography.

We investigated the concordance between actual and declared content of the three macular carotenoids in commercially available supplements aimed at eye health. Three batches of nine products were tested for content of lutein (L), zeaxanthin (Z) and -zeaxanthin (MZ) by chiral HPLC-DAD. In every product tested, actual L concentration was close to target, but Z concentration varied greatly (47-248 % of declared concentration), and the L:Z ratio within some supplements was adversely affected in consequence.