Improving propulsive efficiency using bio-inspired intermittent locomotion.

Many swimmers, especially small- to medium-sized animals, use intermittent locomotion that differs from continuous swimming of large species. This type of locomotion, called burst and coast, is often associated with an energetic advantage. In this work, we investigate the intermittent locomotion inspired by fish locomotion but applied to a propeller.

Effects of maturity status, training background and stereopsis on perceptual-cognitive skills from childhood into adolescence.

Perceptual-cognitive skills are determinant for sports performance in young athletes. The present study aimed to clarify how maturity status influences perceptual-cognitive skills with consideration of training background and stereopsis. One hundred and sixty-six 10- to 16-year-old male participants were divided into eight groups based on their training background (moderately-trained: 1-2 weekly sessions; well-trained: 4-5 weekly sessions) and maturity status (Pre-Pubertal ≤ -2 years from APHV, Pre-Pubertal = -2 to -0.

Excipients in drug delivery systems: A comprehensive review of approved inactive ingredients for human ophthalmic formulations.

Pharmaceutical excipients, commonly known as inactive ingredients, encompass any substance aside from the active ingredient that fulfills a distinct and vital role in a formulation. Their purpose is to enhance specific characteristics, whether associated with the performance of the formulation or aspects related to patient comfort, safety, and acceptability. Because of the limited toxicity studies provided, and the several allergic and toxic side effects that have been reported throughout the years, it is not trivial for the regulatory agencies to approve inactive ingredients for human use.

Cost-minimization analysis of the GORTEC 2014-04 randomized phase II study of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) or chemotherapy-SABR in oligometastatic head and neck cancer.

Purpose: The randomized phase II GORTEC 2014-04 and French Head and Neck Intergroup study showed deeper deterioration of the quality of life (HRQoL) and dramatically higher severe toxicity rates with similar overall survival rates using chemo-SABR compared to SABR alone in oligometastatic head and neck cancer (HNSCC) patients. We evaluated the costs associated with SABR-alone versus chemo-SABR and their associated costs (transportation, hospitalizations, etc).

Materials And Methods: 69 HNSCC patients with 1-3 oligometastases and a controlled primary were randomized from September 2015 to October 2022.

DTPA and anti-inflammatory drug associations to alleviate Pu-induced response of macrophages in vitro.

Internal contamination by inhalation of plutonium poorly soluble compounds leads to their long time retention in alveolar macrophages inducing delayed pathology development. As previous studies highlighted co-localization of retained Pu and inflammatory lesions, this study was designed to assess the combined effect of the reference treatment (DTPA) and anti-inflammatory drugs on Pu-induced early response of macrophages in vitro. Pu colloids, mimicking poorly soluble Pu, were characterized using filtration and solid-state nuclear track detectors CR39.

An atlas of transcription initiation reveals regulatory principles of gene and transposable element expression in early mammalian development.

Transcriptional activation of the embryonic genome (EGA) is a major developmental landmark enabling the embryo to become independent from maternal control. The magnitude and control of transcriptional reprogramming during this event across mammals remains poorly understood. Here, we developed Smart-seq+5' for high sensitivity, full-length transcript coverage and simultaneous capture of 5' transcript information from single cells and single embryos.

Unravelling the cleavage-rate relationship from both the experimental and theoretical standpoint: The instance of fluorite dissolution.

The phenomenon of solid dissolution into a solution constitutes a fundamental aspect in both natural and industrial contexts. Nevertheless, its intricate nature at the microscale poses a significant challenge for precise quantitative characterization at a foundational level. In this work, the influence across three specific cleavage planes, namely (100), (111), and (110) on the dissolution kinetics of fluorite in aqueous environments was examined from both experimental and theoretical standpoints.

Temperate grassland conversion to conifer forest destabilises mineral soil carbon stocks.

Tree-planting is increasingly presented as a cost-effective strategy to maximise ecosystem carbon (C) storage and thus mitigate climate change. Its success largely depends on the associated response of soil C stocks, where most terrestrial C is stored. Yet, we lack a precise understanding of how soil C stocks develop following tree planting, and particularly how it affects the form in which soil C is stored and its associated stability and resistance to climate change.

Effects of a supercritical CO process on the mechanical properties and microarchitecture of trabecular bone using compression testing and microcomputed tomography.

Surgeons frequently use allograft bone due to its osteoconductive, osteoinductive, and osteogenic properties. Preservation processes are employed to clean the allograft, improve its conservation, and ensure its sterilization. Many current processes use the properties of supercritical CO to remove bone marrow.

The 2025 Motile Active Matter Roadmap.

Activity and autonomous motion are fundamental aspects of many living and engineering systems. Here, the scale of biological agents covers a wide range, from nanomotors, cytoskeleton, and cells, to insects, fish, birds, and people. Inspired by biological active systems, various types of autonomous synthetic nano- and micromachines have been designed, which provide the basis for multifunctional, highly responsive, intelligent active materials.

In vivo vessel connection of pre-vascularised 3D-bioprinted gingival connective tissue substitutes.

Producing oral soft tissues using tissue engineering could compensate for the disadvantages of autologous grafts (limited availability and increased patient morbidity) and currently available substitutes (shrinkage). However, there is a lack of in vitro-engineered oral tissues due to the difficulty of obtaining stable pre-vessels that connect to the host and enable graft success. The main objective was to assess the connection of pre-vascularised 3D-bioprinted gingival substitutes to the host vasculature when subcutaneously implanted in immunodeficient mice.

Sensitivity of Lamb waves in viscoelastic polymer plates to surface contamination.

Detecting surface contamination on thin thermoformed polymer plates is a critical issue for various industrial applications. Lamb waves offer a promising solution, though their effectiveness is challenged by the strong attenuation and anisotropy of the polymer plates. This issue is addressed in the context of a calcium carbonate (CaCO) layer deposited on a polypropylene (PP) plate.

Insights into Calcium Phosphate Formation Induced by the Dissolution of 45S5 Bioactive Glass.

Although models have been proposed to explain the mechanisms of bioglass (BG) dissolution and subsequent calcium phosphate (CaP) mineralization, open questions remain. The processes in which phase transition occurs in aqueous solutions and their dynamics remain underexplored partly because traditional instruments/techniques do not allow for direct observations at the adequate time and length scales at which such phase transformations occur. For instance, given the crucial role of the silica gel in CaP formation during BG dissolution, uncertainty exists about how such a silica gel forms on the BG surface.

De-Escalation Strategies With Immune Checkpoint Blockers in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Do We Already Have Enough Evidence?

Immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) have revolutionized the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Currently, one-dose-fits-all maximalist regimens have been considered the standard of care, with ICBs administered at flat doses regardless of patients' weight. Treatment duration with ICBs is often arbitrary across stages, ranging from a fixed time point to until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Photophysical and Chiroptical Properties of Pyrazino-Phenanthroline-Helicene Derivative and its Rhenium(I) Complex.

A novel coordination motif comprising [4]helicene fused with pyrazino-phenanthroline (H4PP) has been synthesized and reacted with ReCl(CO)5 to yield its rhenium(I) complex (Re-H4PP). Absorption and emission spectroscopic analysis conducted in dichloromethane and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran reveals that combining pyrazino-phenanthroline with helicene visibly affects the photophysical attributes of both the resulting ligand and its Re(I) complex as compared to their non-helicene analogues, and even more importantly leads to relatively high photoluminescence quantum yield values, especially in the case of H4PP (29%). Chiroptical studies through electronic circular dichroism and circularly polarized luminescence performed on enantiomerically enriched samples of Re-H4PP show the chiral nature of low-energy excited states affording notable glum values that amplify at cryogenic temperatures.

Effects of Three Different Distance/Elevation-Gain Ultra-Trail Races on Red Blood Cell Oxidative Stress and Senescence, and Blood Rheology.

Purpose: Red blood cells (RBCs) senescence and blood rheology during ultra-endurance running events appear to be impacted differently depending on the race distance. The physiological mechanisms underlying these differences are poorly understood.

Methods: We investigated the effects of three different ultra-trail running races performed in La Reunion Island (Mascareignes, "the 70 km", 70 km/4,000 m D+; Trail Du Bourbon, "the 100 km", 100 km/6,090 m D+; Diagonale des Fous, "the 170 km", 170 km/10,500 m D+) on RBC oxidative stress, RBC senescence and blood rheology in 66 finishers (18 "70 km", 24 "100 km", 24 "170 km").

Two-Photon-Driven Photoprotection Mechanism in Echinenone-Functionalized Orange Carotenoid Protein.

Orange carotenoid protein (OCP) is a photoactive protein that mediates photoprotection in cyanobacteria. OCP binds different ketocarotenoid chromophores such as echinenone (ECN), 3'- hydroxyechinenone (hECN), and canthaxanthin (CAN). In the dark, OCP is in an inactive orange form known as OCP; upon illumination, a red active state is formed, referred to as OCP, that can interact with the phycobilisome.

Estimating the impact of school closures on the COVID-19 dynamics in 74 countries: A modelling analysis.

Background: School closures have been a prominent component of the global Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) response. However, their effect on viral transmission, COVID-19 mortality and health care system pressure remains incompletely understood, as traditional observational studies fall short in assessing such population-level impacts.

Methods And Findings: We used a mathematical model to simulate the COVID-19 epidemics of 74 countries, incorporating observed data from 2020 to 2022 and historical school closure timelines.

Evaluative Research on Psychodynamic Therapy: Foundations and Recent Advances.

Psychodynamic therapy (PDT), a technical adaptation of psychoanalysis, is one of the most widely practiced forms of psychotherapy, making evaluative research on it essential. Although research on PDT has been ongoing for several decades, theoretical and practical challenges initially hindered the adoption of evidence-based medicine standards in such research, a shift that has largely taken place over the past 20 years. This article reviews the evolution of evaluative research on PDT for mental disorders in adults, with a focus on those with complex conditions.

Persistently increased post-stress activity of paraventricular thalamic neurons is essential for the emergence of stress-induced alterations in behaviour.

A single exposure to a stressful event can result in enduring changes in behaviour. Long-term modifications in neuronal networks induced by stress are well explored but the initial steps leading to these alterations remain incompletely understood. In this study, we found that acute stress exposure triggers an immediate increase in the firing activity of calretinin-positive neurons in the paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PVT/CR+) that persists for several days in mice.

Viral and immune dynamics of genital human papillomavirus infections in young women with high temporal resolution.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections drive one in 20 new cancer cases, exerting a particularly high burden on women. Most anogenital HPV infections are cleared in less than two years, but the underlying mechanisms that favour persistence in around 10% of women remain largely unknown. Notwithstanding, it is precisely this information that is crucial for improving treatment, screening, and vaccination strategies.

Development of an G Protein-Coupled Receptor Fragment Molecule Screening Approach with High-Resolution Magic Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance.

Small molecules are essential for investigating the pharmacology of membrane proteins and remain the most common approach for therapeutically targeting them. However, most experimental small molecule screening methods require ligands containing radiolabels or fluorescent labels and often involve isolating proteins from their cellular environment. Additionally, most conventional screening methods are suited for identifying compounds with moderate to higher affinities ( < 1 μM) and are less effective at detecting lower affinity compounds, such as weakly binding molecular fragments.

ℤ-Classified Topological Phases and Bound States in the Continuum Induced by Multiple Orbitals.

ℤ-classified higher-order topological insulators (HOTIs) with chiral-symmetric higher-order topological phases protected by multipole chiral numbers (MCNs) have attracted extensive interest recently. However, how to design artificial ℤ-classified HOTIs with multiple topological phases remains an unresolved issue. Here, multiorbital degrees of freedom are introduced to acoustic crystals and the various methods of topological phase transitions are achieved for the orbital ℤ-classified HOTIs.

Cardiac acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase have distinct localization and function.

Cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitors are under consideration to be used in the treatment of cardiovascular pathologies. A prerequisite to advancing ChE inhibitors into the clinic is their thorough characterization in the heart. The aim here was to provide a detailed analysis of cardiac ChE to understand their molecular composition, localization, and physiological functions.