Triple click chemistry for crosslinking, stiffening, and annealing of gelatin-based microgels.

Microgels are spherical hydrogels with physicochemical properties ideal for many biomedical applications. For example, microgels can be used as individual carriers for suspension cell culture or jammed/annealed into granular hydrogels with micron-scale pores highly permissive to molecular transport and cell proliferation/migration. Conventionally, laborious optimization processes are often needed to create microgels with different moduli, sizes, and compositions.

Treatment of carbon electrodes with TiCT MXene coating and thermal method for vanadium redox flow batteries: a comparative study.

One of the significant challenges of vanadium redox flow batteries is connected to the negative electrode where the main reaction of V(ii)/V(iii) and the side reaction of hydrogen evolution compete. To address this issue, we used titanium carbide (TiCT) MXene coating drop-casting to introduce oxygen functional groups and metals on the carbon electrode surface. Characterization through scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the even distribution of TiCT MXene on the electrodes and the presence of titanium and termination groups (-O, -Cl, and -F).

Anticancer peptides from induced tumor-suppressing cells for inhibiting osteosarcoma cells.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most frequent primary bone cancer, which is mainly suffered by children and young adults. While the current surgical treatment combined with chemotherapy is effective for the early stage of OS, advanced OS preferentially metastasizes to the lung and is difficult to treat. Here, we examined the efficacy of ten anti-OS peptide candidates from a trypsin-digested conditioned medium that was derived from the secretome of induced tumor-suppressing cells (iTSCs).

Machine learning based implicit solvent model for aqueous-solution alanine dipeptide molecular dynamics simulations.

Inspired by the recent work from Noé and coworkers on the development of machine learning based implicit solvent model for the simulation of solvated peptides [Chen , , 2021, , 084101], here we report another investigation of the possibility of using machine learning (ML) techniques to "derive" an implicit solvent model directly from explicit solvent molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. For alanine dipeptide, a machine learning potential (MLP) based on the DeepPot-SE representation of the molecule was trained to capture its interactions with its average solvent environment configuration (ASEC). The predicted forces on the solute deviated only by an RMSD of 0.

Acute High Dietary Phosphorus Following Low-Phosphorus Diet Acclimation Does Not Enhance Intestinal Fractional Phosphorus Absorption in Nephrectomized Male Rats.

Dietary phosphorus restriction and phosphorus binders are commonly prescribed for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, occurrences of non-adherence to these interventions are common. As low-phosphorus (LP) diets have been consistently experimentally shown in vitro to increase intestinal phosphorus absorption efficiency, a bout of non-adherence to diet or binders may cause an unintended consequence of enhanced intestinal phosphorus absorption.

Initiation of Dialysis Is Associated With Impaired Cardiovascular Functional Capacity.

Background The transition to dialysis period carries a substantial increased cardiovascular risk in patients with chronic kidney disease. Despite this, alterations in cardiovascular functional capacity during this transition are largely unknown. The present study therefore sought to assess ventilatory exercise response measures in patients within 1 year of initiating dialysis.

Using Community Science to Better Understand Lead Exposure Risks.

Lead (Pb) is a neurotoxicant that particularly harms young children. Urban environments are often plagued with elevated Pb in soils and dusts, posing a health exposure risk from inhalation and ingestion of these contaminated media. Thus, a better understanding of where to prioritize risk screening and intervention is paramount from a public health perspective.

Addressing the Need for Just GeoHealth Engagement: Evolving Models for Actionable Research That Transform Communities.

GeoHealth as a research paradigm offers the opportunity to re-evaluate common research engagement models and science training practices. GeoHealth challenges are often wicked problems that require both transdisciplinary approaches and the establishment of intimate and long-term partnerships with a range of community members. We examine four common modes of community engagement and explore how research projects are launched, who has the power in these relationships, and how projects evolve to become truly transformative for everyone involved.

Synthesis of Imide and Amine Derivatives via Deoxyamination of Alcohols Using -Haloimides and Triphenylphosphine.

A deoxyamination methodology of activated and unactivated alcohols is presented. The reaction is mediated by phosphonium intermediates generated from -haloimides and triphenylphosphine. The protocol allows for the synthesis of phthalimide and amine derivatives in moderate to good yields at room temperature.

Interligand communication in a metal mediated LL'CT system - a case study.

A series of oxo-Mo(iv) complexes, [MoO(Dt)(Dt)] (where Dt = benzene-1,2-dithiol (bdt), toluene-3,4-dithiol (tdt), quinoxaline-2,3-dithiol (qdt), or 3,6-dichloro-benzene-1,2-dithiol (bdtCl); Dt = ,'-dimethylpiperazine-2,3-dithione (MeDt) or ,'-diisopropylpiperazine-2,3-dithione ( PrDt)), possessing a fully oxidized and a fully reduced dithiolene ligand have been synthesized and characterized. The assigned oxidation states of coordinated dithiolene ligands are supported with spectral and crystallographic data. The molecular structure of [MoO(tdt)( PrDt)] () demonstrates a large ligand fold angle of 62.

Gang-related crime in Los Angeles remained stable following COVID-19 social distancing orders.

Research Summary: The onset of extreme social distancing measures is expected to have a dramatic impact on crime. Here, we examine the impact of mandated, city-wide social distancing orders aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19 on gang-related crime in Los Angeles. We hypothesize that the unique subcultural processes surrounding gangs may supersede calls to shelter in place and allow gang-related crime to persist.

COVID-19 as a nonprofit workplace crisis: Seeking insights from the nonprofit workers' perspective.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, nonprofit organizations face increased demands for services alongside decreased revenues and must make tough choices on how to weather these stressors. Alongside these organizational changes, COVID-19 impacts nonprofit workers and could be a career shock for these individuals, potentially altering how they think of their work and career intentions, even jeopardizing their commitment to the sector. Therefore, this paper outlines a research agenda to understand how the pandemic impacts nonprofit workers and their commitment to working in the sector.

Urinary Volatile Terpenes Analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry to Monitor Breast Cancer Treatment Efficacy in Mice.

Urinary volatile terpene (VT) levels are significantly altered with induced models of breast cancer in mice. The question arises whether VTs can detect the efficacy of antitumor treatments. BALB/c mice were injected with 4T1.

Outcomes of an RCT of videoconference vs. in-person or in-clinic nutrition and exercise in midlife adults with obesity.

Objective: New communication technologies have shown some promise in lifestyle weight loss interventions but may be most effective when leveraging face-to-face communications. The study reported here sought to test whether weight loss programme attendance and outcomes are greater when offered in-person at community sites or remotely via videoconference vs. in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).

Effect of the pharmacist-managed cardiovascular risk reduction services on diabetic retinopathy outcome measures.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a progressive, sight-threatening long-term complication of diabetes. Diabetes disease management reduces the risk of developing or progression to a severe form of DR. However, there are no reports of the potential role of pharmacists in DR progression.

Coming in Warm: Qualitative Study and Concept Map to Cultivate Patient-centered Empathy in Emergency Care.

Background: Increased empathy may improve patient perceptions and outcomes. No training tool has been derived to teach empathy to emergency care providers. Accordingly, we engaged patients to assist in creating a concept map to teach empathy to emergency care providers.

Association Between Residential Greenness and Cardiovascular Disease Risk.

Background Exposure to green vegetation has been linked to positive health, but the pathophysiological processes affected by exposure to vegetation remain unclear. To study the relationship between greenness and cardiovascular disease, we examined the association between residential greenness and biomarkers of cardiovascular injury and disease risk in susceptible individuals. Methods and Results In this cross-sectional study of 408 individuals recruited from a preventive cardiology clinic, we measured biomarkers of cardiovascular injury and risk in participant blood and urine.

The VidaSana Study: Recruitment Strategies for Longitudinal Assessment of Egocentric Hispanic Immigrant Networks.

We disseminate the recruitment strategies used in the five-year VidaSana study (started in 2017) in the Midwest region of the United States, targeting recently arrived Hispanic immigrants. VidaSana aims to follow immigrants within six months of arrival for 24 months to (1) characterize features of networks (personal and community) that improve or undermine dental health; and (2) further refine methods to quantify the evolution of egocentric networks, using social network methodology. We implemented several strategies to promote and recruit potential participants into the study.

Fog and Dew as Potable Water Resources: Maximizing Harvesting Potential and Water Quality Concerns.

Fog and dew are often viewed as economic nuisances causing significant financial losses in the transportation industry and agricultural sector. However, they are also critical components of the hydrological cycle, especially in water scarce environments. Water scarcity is one of the major threats to mankind in the 21st century, and this can be due to development pressures, pollution, and/or expanding populations.

Exploring the Paradox of Increased Global Health and Degraded Global Environment: How Much Borrowed Time Is Humanity Living on?

Ample documentation of the global environmental degradation of air, land, and water paints a grim picture for the future of humanity. And yet by all measures global human health and well-being have been improving significantly over the past several decades, including significant improvements in middle- and low-income countries as well. The causes and consequences of this apparent paradox have not received the attention that they deserve, largely because they are measured and studied by different fields of inquiry.

Addressing Pollution-Related Global Environmental Health Burdens.

New analyses are revealing the scale of pollution on global health, with a disproportionate share of the impact borne by lower-income nations, minority and marginalized individuals. Common themes emerge on the drivers of this pollution impact, including a lack of regulation and its enforcement, research and expertise development, and innovative funding mechanisms for mitigation. Creative approaches need to be developed and applied to address and overcome these obstacles.

Insights into the Activity Change of Spore Photoproduct Lyase Induced by Mutations at a Peripheral Glycine Residue.

UV radiation triggers the formation of 5-thyminyl-5,6-dihydrothymine, i.e., the spore photoproduct (SP), in the genomic DNA of bacterial endospores.

Microbial Sulfate Reduction Potential in Coal-Bearing Sediments Down to ~2.5 km below the Seafloor off Shimokita Peninsula, Japan.

Sulfate reduction is the predominant anaerobic microbial process of organic matter mineralization in marine sediments, with recent studies revealing that sulfate reduction not only occurs in sulfate-rich sediments, but even extends to deeper, methanogenic sediments at very low background concentrations of sulfate. Using samples retrieved off the Shimokita Peninsula, Japan, during the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 337, we measured potential sulfate reduction rates by slurry incubations with S-labeled sulfate in deep methanogenic sediments between 1276.75 and 2456.

Criticality Maximizes Complexity in Neural Tissue.

The analysis of neural systems leverages tools from many different fields. Drawing on techniques from the study of critical phenomena in statistical mechanics, several studies have reported signatures of criticality in neural systems, including power-law distributions, shape collapses, and optimized quantities under tuning. Independently, neural complexity-an information theoretic measure-has been introduced in an effort to quantify the strength of correlations across multiple scales in a neural system.