Intrinsic timing of brood care in shell-dwelling cichlids.

Brood care relies on interactions between parents and offspring. Emergence of nestlings from their nest has been hypothesized to rely on the readout by the parent of the maturational state of the young. Theoretical considerations predict a conflict: parents should push for early emergence, if possible, to reduce care demands and maximize the number of reproductive cycles, whereas offspring should delay leaving to maximize resource allocation and protection by the parents.

Open-label, phase Ia study of STING agonist BI 1703880 plus ezabenlimab for patients with advanced solid tumors.

BI 1703880, a novel STimulator of INterferon Genes (STING) agonist, has demonstrated preclinical antitumor activity. As STING activation can upregulate programmed death ligand 1 and human leukocyte antigen in tumor cells, a combination of BI 1703880 and an anti-programmed cell death protein 1-antibody, such as ezabenlimab, may improve efficacy. This first-in-human phase Ia study (NCT05471856) is evaluating BI 1703880 plus ezabenlimab in patients with advanced solid tumors.

2-Phenylbenzothiazoles featuring heteroaryl sulfonamide end-capping substructures as developable mPGES-1 inhibitors.

The inhibition of human microsomal prostaglandin E (PGE) synthase-1 (mPGES-1) is a promising therapeutic modality for developing next-generation anti-inflammatory medications. In this study, we present novel 2-phenylbenzothiazole derivatives featuring heteroaryl sulfonamide end-capping substructures as inhibitors of human mPGES-1, with IC values in the range of 0.72-3.

Photo-Driven Direct Construction of Imidazolidines from Anilines and Paraformaldehyde and Its Application in Polyoxymethylene Plastics Usage.

Imidazolines play pivotal roles in numerous fields. However, the direct construction of imidazolines from primary amines involves precise C-C and C-N bond formations, rendering this area still underdeveloped to this day. Herein, a photo-driven metal-free catalytic system has been successfully applied to a novel coupling-cyclization reaction between arylamines and formaldehyde, enabling the direct synthesis of various 1,3-diarylimidazolines from primary amines.

Benchmarking the Efficacy of Salvage Systemic Therapies for Recurrent Meningioma: A RANO Group Systematic Review and Meta-analysis to Guide Clinical Trial Design.

Background: Despite advances in our understanding of the molecular underpinnings of meningioma progression and innovations in systemic and local treatments, recurrent meningiomas remain a substantial therapeutic challenge. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to provide a historical baseline, contemporary analysis, and propose a "rate of probable interest" to inform future clinical trial design and development on behalf of the RANO meningioma group.

Methods: PubMed, ClinicalTrials.

Assessment of a novel unidirectional mid-term absorbable barbed suture versus a competitor barbed suture for vaginal cuff closure after gynaecology surgery, study protocol of a randomized controlled trial - BARHYSTER.

Background: Total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) is nowadays the standard to treat benign and malignant disease occurring in the uterus, but the number of robotic-assisted surgeries is increasing worldwide. To facilitate the handling of sutures in a bi- and tri-dimensional plane, a new type of suture material has been developed, named barbed sutures, which are in use in different indications. In comparison to conventional suture materials, the barbs anchor the suture in the tissue, provide tissue approximation and prevent slippage without the need for knot tying.

Gut bacteria Prevotellaceae related lithocholic acid metabolism promotes colonic inflammation.

Background: The conversion of primary bile acids to secondary bile acids by the gut microbiota has been implicated in colonic inflammation. This study investigated the role of gut microbiota related bile acid metabolism in colonic inflammation in both patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and a murine model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis.

Methods: Bile acids in fecal samples from patients with IBD and DSS-induced colitis mice, with and without antibiotic treatment, were analyzed using ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS).

Superconductive Coupling Effects in Selectively Grown Topological Insulator-Based Three-Terminal Junctions.

The combination of an ordinary s-type superconductor with three-dimensional topological insulators creates a promising platform for fault-tolerant topological quantum computing circuits based on Majorana braiding. The backbone of the braiding mechanism are three-terminal Josephson junctions. It is crucial to understand the transport in these devices for further use in quantum computing applications.

Exploring 1-alkene biosynthesis in bacterial antagonists and jeotgalicoccus sp. ATCC 8456.

Terminal olefins are important platform chemicals, drop-in compatible hydrocarbons and also play an important role as biocontrol agents of plant pathogens. Currently, 1-alkenes are derived from petroleum, although microbial biosynthetic routes are known. Jeotgalicoccus sp.

Roles of acyl carrier proteins in ladderane fatty acid producing-organisms.

Ladderanes are highly strained hydrocarbons consisting of two or more linearly concatenated cyclobutane rings. Strikingly, ladderane moieties are part of unique fatty acids and fatty alcohols that are exclusively found in the membrane lipids of anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) bacteria. These bacteria express a distinctive gene cluster (cluster I) that has been suggested to be responsible for ladderane fatty acid (FA) biosynthesis in addition to a cluster likely involved in canonical FA biosynthesis (cluster III).

Room-temperature phosphorescence and static excimer excitation of pyrene-modified () pincer bismuth complexes.

We present the synthesis, characterization, and photophysical properties of two pyrene-modified () pincer bismuth complexes, where the pyrenyl residues are either part of the cyclometalating pincer ligand (1) or bound as monodentate ligands to the Bi ion (2). Both complexes are dually emissive at 77 K. For complex 2, pyrenyl phosphorescence persists at r.

Molecular Order Induced Charge Transfer in a C-Topological Insulator Moiré Heterostructure.

We synthesized and spectroscopically investigated monolayer (ML) C on the topological insulator (TI) BiTe. This C/BiTe heterostructure is characterized by an excellent translational order in a novel (4 × 4) C superstructure on a (9 × 9) cell of BiTe. Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) of C/BiTe reveals that ML C accepts electrons from the TI at room temperature, but no charge transfer occurs at low temperatures.

Selecting repetitive focal and rotational activation patterns with the highest probability of being a source of atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: Repetitive focal and rotational activation patterns are currently used as additional ablation targets for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, there is no evidence that all these detected targets are actual sources of AF. In this paper, we present an approach that detects and ranks AF activation patterns not only based on the degree of pattern repetitiveness but also on the extent to which they are able to entrain their vicinity.

Uncovering the genetic basis of antiviral polyketide limocrocin biosynthesis through heterologous expression.

Background: Streptomyces roseochromogenes NRRL 3504 produces clorobiocin, an aminocoumarin antibiotic that inhibits DNA replication. No other natural products have been isolated from this bacterium so far, despite the presence of a rich repertoire of specialized metabolite biosynthesis gene clusters (smBGCs) within its genome. Heterologous expression of smBGCs in suitable chassis speeds up the discovery of the natural products hidden behind these sets of genes.

Asian Thoracic Oncology Research Group expert consensus statement on the peri-operative management of non-small cell lung cancer.

The peri-operative management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in earlier stage disease has seen significant advances in recent years with the incorporation of immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapy. However, many unanswered questions and challenges remain, including the application of clinical trial data to routine clinical practice. Recognising the unique demographic profile of Asian patients with NSCLC and heterogeneous healthcare systems, the Asian Thoracic Oncology Research Group (ATORG) convened a consensus meeting in Singapore on 26 April 2024 to discuss relevant issues spanning diagnostic testing to post-neoadjuvant treatment considerations and future directions.

A Phase 2b, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous prasinezumab in early-stage Parkinson's disease (PADOVA): Rationale, design, and baseline data.

Introduction: Prasinezumab was shown to potentially delay motor progression in individuals with early-stage Parkinson's disease (PD) who were either treatment-naïve or on monoamine oxidase type B inhibitor (MAO-Bi) therapy in the PASADENA study. We report the rationale, design, and baseline patient characteristics of the PADOVA study, designed to evaluate prasinezumab in an early-stage PD population receiving standard-of-care (SOC) symptomatic medications.

Methods: PADOVA (NCT04777331) is a Phase 2b, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study, in which individuals with early-stage PD on SOC stable symptomatic monotherapy (levodopa or MAO-Bi) receive intravenous prasinezumab 1500 mg every 4 weeks.

Integrative molecular and physiological insights into the phytotoxic impact of liquid crystal monomer exposure and the protective strategy in plants.

Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs), the integral components in the manufacture of digital displays, have engendered environmental concerns due to extensive utilization and intensive emission. Despite their prevalence and ecotoxicity, the LCM impacts on plant growth and agricultural yield remain inadequately understood. In this study, we investigated the specific response mechanisms of tobacco, a pivotal agricultural crop and model plant, to four representative LCMs (2OdF3B, 5CB, 4PiMeOP, 2BzoCP) through integrative molecular and physiological approaches.

Polyproline-Polyornithine Diblock Copolymers with Inherent Mitochondria Tropism.

Mitochondria play critical roles in regulating cell fate, with dysfunction correlating with the development of multiple diseases, emphasizing the need for engineered nanomedicines that cross biological barriers. Said nanomedicines often target fluctuating mitochondrial properties and/or present inefficient/insufficient cytosolic delivery (resulting in poor overall activity), while many require complex synthetic procedures involving targeting residues (hindering clinical translation). The synthesis/characterization of polypeptide-based cell penetrating diblock copolymers of poly-L-ornithine (PLO) and polyproline (PLP) (PLO-PLP, n:m ratio 1:3) are described as mitochondria-targeting nanocarriers.

Genome Deletions and Rewiring of the Transcriptome Underlying High Antimonite Resistance in sp. SMAs-55.

Microbes have been shown to adapt to stressful or even lethal conditions through displaying genome plasticity. However, how bacteria utilize the ability of genomic plasticity to deal with high antimony (Sb) stress has remained unclear. In this study, the spontaneous mutant strain SMAs-55 of sp.

A plug-and-play system for polycyclic tetramate macrolactam production and functionalization.

Background: The biosynthesis of the natural product family of the polycyclic tetramate macrolactams (PoTeMs) employs an uncommon iterative polyketide synthase/non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (iPKS/NRPS). This machinery produces a universal PoTeM biosynthetic precursor that contains a tetramic acid moiety connected to two unsaturated polyene side chains. The enormous structural and hence functional diversity of PoTeMs is enabled by pathway-specific tailoring enzymes, particularly cyclization-catalyzing oxidases that process the polyene chains to form distinct ring systems, and further modifying enzymes.

Immobilization of Paenibacillus polymyxa with biopolymers to enhance the production of 2,3-butanediol.

Background: Paenibacillus polymyxa, is a Gram-positive, plant growth promoting bacterium, known for producing 98% optically pure 2,3-butanediol, an industrially valuable chemical for solvents, plasticizers and resins. Immobilization of Paenibacillus polymyxa has been proposed to improve the cell stability and efficiency of the fermentation process, reduce contamination and provide easy separation of butanediol in the culture broth as compared to conventional bioprocesses. This research aimed to explore the potential of Paenibacillus polymyxa with immobilization technique to produce 2,3-butanediol.

Accelerated High-resolution T1- and T2-weighted Breast MRI with Deep Learning Super-resolution Reconstruction.

Rationale And Objectives: To assess the performance of an industry-developed deep learning (DL) algorithm to reconstruct low-resolution Cartesian T1-weighted dynamic contrast-enhanced (T1w) and T2-weighted turbo-spin-echo (T2w) sequences and compare them to standard sequences.

Materials And Methods: Female patients with indications for breast MRI were included in this prospective study. The study protocol at 1.

Apo structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase DXPS: Dynamics and implications for inhibitor design.

The enzyme 1-deoxy-d-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase (DXPS) catalyses the first step of the MEP pathway, a key process for isoprenoid biosynthesis in bacteria that is absent in humans, making it a promising drug target. We present the structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DXPS in its apo form, obtained through a soaking method that removes thiamine diphosphate (ThDP) and metals from pre-formed crystals. The apo structure had three regions with absence of electron density near the active site that are unique to the apo form of the enzyme.

The return of stagnant slab recorded by intraplate volcanism.

Subducted plates often stagnate in the mantle transition zone (MTZ), and the fate of the stagnant slabs is still debatable. They may sink into the lower mantle, or remain partially trapped in the MTZ, but it is uncertain whether they can return to the upper mantle. We report geochemical evidence of late-Miocene (~6 Ma) basalts from, and upper mantle seismic evidence beneath Shuangyashan, an area above the slab tear of the stagnant Pacific plate in eastern Asia, to show how the slab returns to the upper mantle from the MTZ.