Evaluating the feasibility, sensitivity, and specificity of next-generation molecular methods for pleural infection diagnosis.

Pleural infections are common and associated with substantial healthcare costs, morbidity, and mortality. Accurate diagnosis remains challenging due to low culture positivity rates, frequent polymicrobial involvement, and non-specific diagnostic biomarkers. Here, we undertook a prospective study examining the feasibility and performance of molecular methods for diagnosing suspected pleural infection.

Different faces of autism: Patients with mutations in and genes.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is among the most common neurodevelopmental conditions in humans. While public awareness of the challenges faced by individuals with autism is steadily increasing, the underlying causes of abnormalities observed in ASD remains incompletely understood. The autism spectrum is notably broad, with symptoms that can manifest in various forms and degrees of severity.

Topologically Engineered High- Quasi-BIC Metasurfaces for Enhanced Near-Infrared Emission in PbS Quantum Dots.

Enhancing photoluminescence (PL) efficiency in colloidal quantum dots is pivotal for next-generation near-infrared photodetectors, imaging systems, and photonic devices. Conventional methods, especially metal-based plasmonic structures, suffer from large optical losses, which limits their practical use. Here, we introduce a quasi-bound state in the continuum (quasi-BIC) metasurface on a silicon-on-insulator platform, tailored to provide high-quality factor resonances with minimized losses.

Dual Ratiometric Fluorescence Sensors Based on Chiral Carbon Dots for the Sensitive and Specific Detection of Arginine.

Arginine (Arg) is involved in tissue metabolism and regulates the immune function; thereby, achieving the detection of Arg is crucial for early diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Herein, dual ratiometric fluorescence sensors were prepared with the blue emission of levorotatory/dextrorotatory carbon dots (CDs) and the red emission of porphyrin (L/D-CDs-PP) for the sensitive and portable detection of Arg. Interestingly, L-CDs-PP and D-CDs-PP displayed not only the dual emission peaks at 493 and 650 nm but also different response modes to Arg; thus, they could serve as dual ratiometric fluorescence sensors to achieve the accurate and reliable detection of Arg, with the detection limit of 23.

Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of 1,4-(Hetero) Dicarbonyl Compounds through α-Carbonyl Umpolung.

The enantioselective synthesis of 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds continues to pose a significant challenge in organic synthesis, and a catalytic process which generates two adjacent stereogenic centers with full stereochemical control is lacking until now. The 1,4-relationship of the functional groups requires an Umpolung strategy as one of the α-carbonyl positions has to be inverted into an electrophilic center to react with a normal enolate. We report herein the highly enantio- and diastereoselective addition of silyl ketene acetals toward electrophilic 1-azaallyl cations to furnish chiral 4-hydrazonoesters, which are masked 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds.

Overcoming Energy-Scaling Barriers: Efficient Ammonia Electrosynthesis on High-Entropy Alloy Catalysts.

Electrochemically converting nitrate (NO ) to value-added ammonia (NH) is a complex process involving an eight-electron transfer and numerous intermediates, presenting a significant challenge for optimization. A multi-elemental synergy strategy to regulate the local electronic structure at the atomic level is proposed, creating a broad adsorption energy landscape in high-entropy alloy (HEA) catalysts. This approach enables optimal adsorption and desorption of various intermediates, effectively overcoming energy-scaling limitations for efficient NH electrosynthesis.

Leveraging Optical Anisotropy of the Morpho Butterfly Wing for Quantitative, Stain-Free, and Contact-Free Assessment of Biological Tissue Microstructures.

Changes in the density and organization of fibrous biological tissues often accompany the progression of serious diseases ranging from fibrosis to neurodegenerative diseases, heart disease and cancer. However, challenges in cost, complexity, or precision faced by existing imaging methodologies and materials pose barriers to elucidating the role of tissue microstructure in disease. Here, we leverage the intrinsic optical anisotropy of the Morpho butterfly wing and introduce Morpho-Enhanced Polarized Light Microscopy (MorE-PoL), a stain- and contact-free imaging platform that enhances and quantifies the birefringent material properties of fibrous biological tissues.

A Menu for Microbes: Unraveling Appetite Regulation and Weight Dynamics Through the Microbiota-Brain Connection Across the Lifespan.

Appetite, as the internal drive for food intake, is often dysregulated in a broad spectrum of conditions associated with over- and under-nutrition across the lifespan. Appetite regulation is a complex, integrative process comprising psychological and behavioral events, peripheral and metabolic inputs, and central neurotransmitter and metabolic interactions. The microbiota-gut-brain axis has emerged as a critical mediator of multiple physiological processes, including energy metabolism, brain function, and behavior.

Precision medicine and patient outcomes in intensive care unit: Culture sensitivity, antibiotics, and APACHE score IV.

Background: In the intensive care unit (ICU), complex medical conditions require specialized care; the threat of antibiotic resistance is significant due to frequent antibiotic use. This study investigates the pivotal role of culture sensitivity testing in shaping antibiotic prescription practices and patient outcomes in ICUs.

Materials And Methods: By using a prospective observational-analytical design, medical data from 640 patients at a Karachi hospital for one year in 2022 were utilized.

Enhancing detection of previously missed non-palpable breast carcinomas through artificial intelligence.

Purpose: To investigate the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) reading digital mammograms in increasing the chance of detecting missed breast cancer, by studying the AI- flagged early morphology indictors, overlooked by the radiologist, and correlating them with the missed cancer pathology types.

Methods And Materials: Mammograms done in 2020-2023, presenting breast carcinomas (n = 1998), were analyzed in concordance with the prior one year's result (2019-2022) assumed negative or benign. Present mammograms reviewed for the descriptors: asymmetry, distortion, mass, and microcalcifications.

Development of a latency model for HIV-1 subtype C and the impact of long terminal repeat element genetic variation on latency reversal.

Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for almost 70 % of people living with HIV (PLWH) worldwide, with the greatest numbers centred in South Africa where 98 % of infections are caused by subtype C (HIV-1C). However, HIV-1 subtype B (HIV-1B), prevalent in Europe and North America, has been the focus of most cure research and testing despite making up only 12 % of HIV-1 infections globally. Development of latency models for non-subtype B viruses is a necessary step to address this disproportionate focus.

AzSLD: Azerbaijani sign language dataset for fingerspelling, word, and sentence translation with baseline software.

Advancements in sign language processing technology hinge on the availability of extensive, reliable datasets, comprehensive instructions, and adherence to ethical guidelines. To facilitate progress in gesture recognition and translation systems and to support the Azerbaijani sign language community we present the Azerbaijani Sign Language Dataset (AzSLD). This comprehensive dataset was collected from a diverse group of sign language users, encompassing a range of linguistic parameters.

Stem cell therapy for bladder regeneration: A comprehensive systematic review.

Tissue engineering has been considered a potential choice for urinary system reconstruction. Here, we aim to a broad spectrum of employed stem cells in bladder regeneration by performing a comprehensive systematic review. In January 2024, we searched Scopus, PubMed, and Embase databases for studies that tried bladder regeneration by tissue engineering using stem cells.

How to Integrate Neuroethics into a Neuroscience Course - And Drive Student Engagement with Core Concepts.

Students are thinking about ethical, moral, and societal implications of science-as individuals and communities- regardless of whether these topics are part of formal curricula. Ethical questions can arise from broad neuroscientific questions (What is consciousness?), emerging topics (e.g.

Parameter Pool-Assisted Centrifugation Sorter for Multiscale Higher-Order DNA Nanomaterials.

Higher-order DNA nanomaterials have emerged as programmable tools for probing biological processes, constructing metamaterials, and manipulating mechanically active nanodevices with the multifunctionality and high-performance attributes. However, their utility is limited by intricate mixtures formed during hierarchical multistage assembly, as standard techniques like gel electrophoresis lack the resolution and applicability needed for precise characterization and enrichment. Thus, it is urgent to develop a sorter that provides high separation resolution, broad scope, and bioactive functionality.

Synergistic effects of temperature and light on photoprotection in the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum.

Diatoms dominate phytoplankton communities in turbulent waters, where light fluctuations can be frequent and intense. Due to this complex environment, these heterokont microalgae display remarkable photoprotection strategies, including a fast Non-Photochemical Quenching (NPQ). However, in nature, several abiotic parameters (such as temperature) can influence the response of photosynthetic organisms to light stress in a synergistic or antagonistic manner.

An exploratory qualitative assessment of patient and clinician perspectives on patient-reported outcome measures and disease-modifying therapies in adults with spinal muscular atrophy.

Objective: To understand patient, caregiver, and clinician perspectives on patient-reported outcome measures, critical functional domains, and disease-modifying therapies in adult spinal muscular atrophy.

Design: An exploratory qualitative single-site study.

Patients: Ten adults with spinal muscular atrophy and two clinicians participated in semi-structured interviews.

Enhanced ALD Nucleation on Polymeric Separator for Improved Li-S Batteries.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries, with their superior energy densities, are emerging as promising successors to conventional lithium-ion batteries. However, their widespread adoption is hindered by challenges such as the shuttle effect of polysulfides, which affects discharge capacity and cycling stability. This study explores the transformative potential of atomic layer deposition (ALD) of AlO on commercial PP/PE/PP separators (Celgard), combined with the use of UV ozone exposure to enhance ALD nucleation on the separator surface, to address these challenges.

Towards repeated clear-cutting of boreal forests - a tipping point for biodiversity?

Boreal forests are important carbon sinks and host a diverse array of species that provide important ecosystem functions. Boreal forests have a long history of intensive forestry, in which even-aged management with clear-cutting has been the dominant harvesting practice for the past 50-80 years. As a second cycle of clear-cutting is emerging, there is an urgent need to examine the effects of repeated clear-cutting events on biodiversity.

AmelOBP4: an antenna-specific odor-binding protein gene required for olfactory behavior in the honey bee (Apis mellifera).

Background: Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) initiate the process of odorant perception. Numerous investigations have demonstrated that OBPs bind a broad variety of chemicals and are more likely to carry pheromones or odor molecules with high binding affinities. However, few studies have investigated its effects on insect behavior.

In vivo base editing extends lifespan of a humanized mouse model of prion disease.

Prion disease is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by the misfolding of prion protein (PrP) encoded by the PRNP gene. While there is currently no cure for the disease, depleting PrP in the brain is an established strategy to prevent or stall templated misfolding of PrP. Here we developed in vivo cytosine and adenine base strategies delivered by adeno-associated viruses to permanently modify the PRNP locus to achieve PrP knockdown in the mouse brain.

Linking heartbeats with the cortical network dynamics involved in self-social touch distinction.

Research on interoception has revealed the role of heartbeats in shaping our perceptual awareness and embodying a first-person perspective. These heartbeat dynamics exhibit distinct responses to various types of touch. We advanced that those dynamics are directly associated to the brain activity that allows self-other distinction.

Vialess heterogeneous skin patch for multimodal monitoring and stimulation.

System-level wearable electronics require to be flexible to ensure conformal contact with the skin, but they also need to integrate rigid and bulky functional components to achieve system-level functionality. As one of integration methods, folding integration offers simplified processing and enhanced functionality through rigid-soft region separation, but so far, it has mainly been applied to modality of electrical sensing and stimulation. This paper introduces a vialess heterogeneous skin patch with multi modalities that separates the soft region and strain-robust region through folded structure.

Where do we go from here? The personal impact of adverse events and complications in surgeons: Results from a cross-sectional study.

Objective: Medical error is an inevitable part of modern healthcare, with a potential harmful impact for the patient and the surgeon. The phenomenon of negative personal responses for healthcare workers in the aftermath of adverse events is described as the "second casualty" and can involve significant physical and psychological distress. We present results from a cross-sectional survey of surgeons and their experience in the aftermath of adverse events or complications.