Tailed molecular beacon probes: an approach for the detection of structured DNA and RNA analytes.

Molecular beacon (MB) probes have been extensively used for nucleic acid analysis. However, MB probes fail to hybridize with folded DNA or RNA. Here, we demonstrate that MB probes equipped with extra sequences complementary to the analyte, named 'tail', can increase the signal-to-background ratio by ∼40-fold and hybridization rates by ∼800-fold compared to conventional MB probes.

L-type Calcium Channel Blockade Worsens Glucose Tolerance and β-Cell Function in C57BL6/J Mice Exposed to Intermittent Hypoxia.

Intermittent hypoxemia (IH), a pathophysiologic consequence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), adversely affects insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion, and glucose tolerance. Nifedipine, an L-type calcium channel blocker frequently used for treatment of hypertension, can also impair insulin sensitivity and secretion. However, the cumulative and interactive repercussions of IH and nifedipine on glucose homeostasis have not been previously investigated.

Increased Lag-Screw Slide and All-Cause Revision in a New-Generation Cephalomedullary Nail after Treatment of Geriatric Intertrochanteric Femoral Fractures.

Objectives: To compare lag-screw slide and revision surgery rate between two generations of the Stryker Gamma cephalomedullary nail (Stryker, Kalamazoo, MI).

Methods: Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: Single academic, Level-1 Trauma Center.

Genomic re-sequencing reveals mutational divergence across genetically engineered strains of model archaea.

Unlabelled: Archaeal molecular biology has been a topic of intense research in recent decades as their role in global ecosystems, nutrient cycles, and eukaryotic evolution comes to light. The hypersaline-adapted archaeal species and serve as important model organisms for understanding archaeal genomics, genetics, and biochemistry, in part because efficient tools enable genetic manipulation. As a result, the number of strains in circulation among the haloarchaeal research community has increased in recent decades.

Charting a new vision: lessons on from a network of biology educators.

The 2011 report outlined several recommendations for transforming undergraduate biology education, sparking multiple pedagogical reform efforts. Among these was the Promoting Active Learning and Mentoring (PALM) network, an NSF-funded program that provided mentorship and training to instructors on implementing active learning in the classroom. Here, we provide a perspective on how members of the biology education community in PALM view the recommendations of , drawing upon our experiences both as members of PALM and as leaders of an associated project funded by another NSF grant that hosted PALM alumni at various conferences.

Resistance to complement-mediated lysis of parainfluenza virus 5-infected cells is acquired after transition from acute to persistent infection.

Unlabelled: Persistent viral infections can be an important medical problem, with persistently infected (PI) cells extending viral shedding, maintaining inflammation, and providing potential sources for new viral variants. Given that PI cells can acquire resistance to some innate immune pathways, we tested the hypothesis that complement (C')-mediated lysis of parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5)-infected cells would differ between acute-infected and PI cells. Biochemical and real-time cell viability assays showed effective C'-mediated lysis of A549 lung cells acutely infected with PIV5, through pathways that depended on C3 and C5, but largely independent of C6.

Advances in Stem Cell Therapy for Huntington's Disease: A Comprehensive Literature Review.

Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disease characterized by uncontrolled movements, emotional disturbances, and progressive cognitive impairment. It is estimated to affect 4.3 to 10.

Controlled Nutrient Delivery to Pancreatic Islets Using Polydopamine-Coated Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles.

In this study, we designed a nanoscale platform for sustained amino acid delivery to support transplanted pancreatic islets. The platform features mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) loaded with glutamine (G), an essential amino acid required for islet survival and function, and coated with polydopamine (PD). We investigated various PD concentrations (0.

Prevalence of Depression Among People Living with HIV on Antiretroviral Therapy in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: HIV is a global health issue, with the highest number of infected individuals found in sub-Saharan Africa. The coexistence of HIV with depression is a huge challenge. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of depression in people living with HIV (PLWHIV) who are on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Africa.

Neuropsychological test performance in mild cognitive impairment with Lewy bodies: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: We sought to characterize the cognitive profile among individuals with mild cognitive impairment with Lewy bodies (MCI-LB) to help guide future clinical criteria.

Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis included MCI-LB studies with cognitive data from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and PsycINFO (January 1990 to March 2023). MCI-LB scores were compared to controls, MCI due to Alzheimer's disease (MCI-AD), and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) groups with random-effects models.

Preservation of the azygos vein versus ligation of the azygos vein during primary surgical repair of congenital esophageal atresia.

Background: Esophageal atresia is one of the most common life-threatening congenital malformations and is defined as an interruption in the continuity of the esophagus with or without fistula to the trachea or bronchi. Definitive treatment is surgical ligation of the fistula if present and esophageal end-to-end anastomosis of the two pouches, thereby reconstructing the continuity of the esophagus. During this procedure, the surgeon may choose to either ligate or preserve the azygos vein, a major draining vein for the esophagus and surrounding structures, but no definitive consensus on the matter exists.

"Due to These Restrictions, Girls Think of Themselves as Nothing": A Qualitative and Quantitative Description of Menstrual Restrictions and Stigma Among Adolescent Girls Across Religious and Other Sociocultural Contexts.

Introduction: Girls in Tanzania often experience menstrual restrictions (i.e., expectations about behaviors prohibited during menstruation) and menstrual stigma (i.

Late corneal guttae recurrence in bilateral penetrating keratoplasty grafts.

Background: To describe a case of guttae recurrence in bilateral corneal grafts in a patient with a known diagnosis of Fuchs endothelial dystrophy, more than three decades following penetrating keratoplasty.

Methods: Case Report.

Results: A 79-year-old White woman presented with declining vision, right eye worse than the left.

Characterizing astrocyte-mediated neurovascular coupling by combining optogenetics and biophysical modeling.

Vasoactive signaling from astrocytes is an important contributor to the neurovascular coupling (NVC), which aims at providing energy to neurons during brain activation by increasing blood perfusion in the surrounding vasculature. Pharmacological manipulations have been previously combined with experimental techniques (e.g.

Distinct morphological drivers of jumping and maneuvering performance in gerbils.

Theoretically, animals with longer hindlimbs are better jumpers, while those with shorter hindlimbs are better maneuverers. Yet experimental evidence of this relationship in mammals is lacking. We compared jump force and maneuverability in a lab population of Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus).

Intramedullary Nail Failure in a Subtrochanteric Fracture in a 62-Year-Old Woman.

Subtrochanteric fractures in older patients are typically due to low-energy falls. The standard of care is intramedullary nailing. The Smith & Nephew Trigen Intertan (Memphis, TN, US) is an intramedullary nail with a novel design that incorporates two integrated compression screws.

Differentiating Cystic Lesions in the Sellar Region of the Brain Using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Early Diagnosis: A Prospective Review of the Novel Diagnostic Modalities.

This paper investigates the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to enhance the differentiation of cystic lesions in the sellar region, such as pituitary adenomas, Rathke cleft cysts (RCCs) and craniopharyngiomas (CP), through the use of advanced neuroimaging techniques, particularly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The goal is to explore how AI-driven models, including convolutional neural networks (CNNs), deep learning, and ensemble methods, can overcome the limitations of traditional diagnostic approaches, providing more accurate and early differentiation of these lesions. The review incorporates findings from critical studies, such as using the Open Access Series of Imaging Studies (OASIS) dataset (Kaggle, San Francisco, USA) for MRI-based brain research, highlighting the significance of statistical rigor and automated segmentation in developing reliable AI models.

Spectroscopic and calorimetric study of the interaction between Nile blue and double-stranded RNA.

Nile blue has been widely used in histological staining, fluorescence labeling, and DNA probing, with its intercalation behavior into the DNA helix being well documented. Here, we present a comprehensive investigation to address a current knowledge gap regarding the binding properties of Nile blue to two types of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA): poly(A·U) and poly(I·C), using various biophysical techniques. Absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic studies suggest a significant binding interaction between Nile blue and the two designated dsRNAs, specifically indicating an intercalation binding mode with poly(A·U) and demonstrating a noticeably higher binding affinity compared to poly(I·C).

LiAlClS: a low-cost and high-performance solid electrolyte for solid-state batteries.

Solid electrolytes (SEs) are crucial for advancing next-generation rechargeable battery technologies, but their commercial viability is partially limited by expensive precursors, unscalable synthesis, or low ionic conductivity. Lithium tetrahaloaluminates offer an economical option but exhibit low Li conductivities with high activation energy barriers. This study reports the synthesis of lithium aluminum chalcohalide (LiAlClS) using inexpensive precursors one-step mechanochemical milling.

Correction to: On the Use and Benefits of Electronic Data Collection Systems: A Tutorial on Countee.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s40617-024-00964-8.].

On the Use and Benefits of Electronic Data Collection Systems: A Tutorial on Countee.

Objectivity in behavior measurement is a defining feature of behavior analysis. With the increased accessibility of technology, there has been an increase in electronic data collection methods, which carry several advantages, such as ease of data transformation and transfer from electronic outputs (e.g.

Development of the Values-Centered Assessment Tool (VCAT) to Inform Culturally Responsive Behavioral Services.

Unlabelled: Taking an individualized approach to cultural responsiveness is essential when collaborating with families to deliver behavior-analytic services. One way behavior analysts can start this process is by asking caregivers and other relevant individuals informed and targeted questions that would allow behavior analysts to make cultural adaptations to services that are provided. However, there is a lack of well-developed resources that are specific to behavior-analytic practice and designed to assist behavior analysts in facilitating conversations regarding values and cultures of clients and their families.

The Brilliant Embodiment of Creativity.

Description When someone is given the opportunity to utilize creative liberty, they have access to an infinitely diverse palette of colors, mediums, patterns, and shapes to form a unique amalgamation of artistic styles that conveys different ideas and stories. This painting has been created using watercolor paint, permanent markers, acrylic paint, and multicolored glitter to portray a dream-like, tropical bird in flight. The background of the painting is not as detailed as the prominent, avian figure in question, and that is to leave some ambiguity as to the exact whereabouts of this majestic creature, which is to be determined solely by the observer.