Quantifying West Nile virus circulation in the avian host population in Northern Italy.

West Nile virus (WNV) is one of the most threatening mosquito-borne pathogens in Italy where hundreds of human cases were recorded during the last decade. Here, we estimated the WNV incidence in the avian population in the Emilia-Romagna region through a modelling framework which enabled us to eventually assess the fraction of birds that present anti-WNV antibodies at the end of each epidemiological season. We fitted an SIR model to ornithological data, consisting of 18,989 specimens belonging to Corvidae species collected between 2013 and 2022: every year from May to November birds are captured or shot and tested for WNV genome presence.

Magnitude and determinants of intimate partner violence against women in Somalia: evidence from the SDHS survey 2020 dataset.

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive issue across Sub-Saharan Africa and other developing countries, including Somalia. Understanding the prevalence and drivers of IPV against women is crucial for effective prevention and intervention efforts. However, limited research has focused on identifying these determinants specifically in the Somali context.

Prolonged persistence of mutagenic DNA lesions in somatic cells.

DNA is subject to continual damage, leaving each cell with thousands of individual DNA lesions at any given moment. The efficiency of DNA repair means that most known classes of lesion have a half-life of minutes to hours, but the extent to which DNA damage can persist for longer durations remains unknown. Here, using high-resolution phylogenetic trees from 89 donors, we identified mutations arising from 818 DNA lesions that persisted across multiple cell cycles in normal human stem cells from blood, liver and bronchial epithelium.

Competitive displacement of lipoprotein lipase from heparan sulfate is orchestrated by a disordered acidic cluster in GPIHBP1.

Movement of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) from myocytes or adipocytes to the capillary lumen is essential for intravascular lipolysis and plasma triglyceride homeostasis-low LPL activity in the capillary lumen causes hypertriglyceridemia. The trans-endothelial transport of LPL depends on ionic interactions with GPIHBP1's intrinsically disordered N-terminal tail, which harbors two acidic clusters at positions 5-12 and 19-30. This polyanionic tail provides a molecular switch that controls LPL detachment from heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) by competitive displacement.

Hypochlorous Acid-Activatable NIR Fluorescence/Photoacoustic Dual-Modal Probe with High Signal-to-Background Ratios for Imaging of Liver Injury and Plasma Diagnosis of Sepsis.

Hypochlorous acid can be employed as a biomarker for blood infection (such as sepsis) and tissue damage (such as drug-induced liver injury, DILI), and the diagnosis of tissue damage or blood infection can be achieved through the detection of hypochlorous acid in relevant biological samples. Considering the complex environment and the diverse interferences in living organisms and blood plasma, developing new detection methods for HClO with high signal-to-background ratios is particularly important, and it can improve the accuracy of detection and quality of imaging based on a higher contrast, which makes the detection of HClO clearer and more accurate. Here, based on the advantages of the NIR fluorescence/photoacoustic dual-modal probe, we reported a hypochlorous acid-activatable NIR fluorescence/photoacoustic dual-modal probe (NIRF-PA-HClO) based on the spirolactam ring-opening strategy in this paper.

Data Treatment for LC-MS Untargeted Analysis.

Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) untargeted experiments require complex bioinformatic strategies to extract information from the experimental data. Here we discuss the "data preprocessing," the set of procedures performed on the raw data to produce a data matrix which will be the starting point for the subsequent statistical analysis. Data preprocessing is a crucial step on the path to knowledge extraction, which should be carefully controlled and optimized in order to maximize the output of any untargeted metabolomics investigation.

Essential oil and phenolic compounds in different organs and developmental stages of Monarda didyma L., and their biological activity.

Plant development has a greater impact on the chemical composition of inflorescences than of the leaves and stems of Monarda didyma plants. Monarda didyma L. is a well-known ornamental and aromatic plant.

Adaptability Analysis of to Different Hosts and Related Salivary Genes Identification.

is a significant agricultural pest primarily affecting Solanaceae plants, resulting in substantial economic losses in agriculture. Insect saliva is an intermediary between insects and plants, playing a crucial role in modulating host adaptability and plant defense. This study analyzed the adaptive differences of on four plants using the two-sex life table method.

Nonvolatile Memory Device Based on the Ferroelectric Metal/Ferroelectric Semiconductor Junction.

The ferroelectric tunnel junction (FTJ) is a competitive candidate for post-Moore nonvolatile memories due to its low power consumption and nonvolatility, with its performance being strongly dependent on the conditions for contact between the ferroelectric material and the metal electrode. The development of two-dimensional materials in recent years has offered new opportunities such as functional metal layers, which is challenging for traditional FTJ systems. Here, we introduce the newly discovered ferroelectric metal WTe as the electrode to construct WTe/α-InSe/Au ferroelectric semiconductor junctions.

Effective One-for-All Phototheranostic Agent for Hypoxia-Tolerant NIR-II Fluorescent/PA Image-Guided Phototherapy.

Near-infrared (NIR)-triggered type-I photosensitizers are crucial to address the constraints of hypoxic tumor microenvironments in phototherapy; however, significant challenges remain. By selecting an electron-deficient unit, a matched energy gap in the upper-level state is instrumental in boosting the efficiency of intersystem crossing for the type-I electron transfer process. 2-Cyanothiazole, an electron acceptor, is covalently linked with N, N-diphenyl-4-(thiophen-2-yl)aniline to yield a multifunctional photosensitizer (TTNH) that exhibits intrinsic NIR absorbance and compatible T energy levels, facilitating both radiative and nonradiative transitions.

ETV2/ER71 regulates hematovascular lineage generation and vascularization through an H3K9 demethylase, KDM4A.

ETV2/ER71, an ETS (E-twenty six) transcription factor, is critical for hematopoiesis and vascular development. However, research about the molecular mechanisms behind ETV2-mediated gene transcription is limited. Herein, we demonstrate that ETV2 and KDM4A, an H3K9 demethylase, regulate hematopoietic and endothelial genes.

Criticality is Associated with Future Psychotherapy Response in Patients with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder-A Pilot Study.

Background: Trauma-focused psychotherapy is treatment of choice for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, about half of patients do not respond. Recently, there is increased interest in brain criticality, which assesses the phase transition between order and disorder in brain activity.

Rapid, in Situ Neutralization of Nitrogen- and Silicon-Vacancy Centers in Diamond Using Above-Band Gap Optical Excitation.

The charge state of a quantum point defect in a solid-state host strongly determines its optical and spin characteristics. Consequently, techniques for controlling the charge state are required to realize technologies for quantum networking and sensing. In this work, we demonstrate the use of deep-ultraviolet (DUV) radiation to dynamically neutralize nitrogen- (NV) and silicon-vacancy (SiV) centers.

Structural and functional analysis reveals the catalytic mechanism and substrate binding mode of the broad-spectrum endolysin Ply2741.

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has attracted interest in the field of endolysins. Here, we analyzed the diversity of endolysins and identified a new endolysin, Ply2741, that exhibited broad-spectrum bactericidal activity. Our results demonstrated that Ply2741 could effectively eradicate multidrug-resistant gram-positive pathogens and .

DNA barcoding of invasive Gambusia holbrooki Girard, 1859 and Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810 inhabiting Upper Euphrates River Basin, Türkiye.

The main contributor to Türkiye's abundant freshwater fish biodiversity is its geographic location. This fauna consists of endemic, native, and non-native fish species. The introduction of Gambusia holbrooki Girard, 1859 to Lake Amik in the 1920s for the biological control of malaria was the first introduction of nonnative species to Türkiye.

Accelerating the Future of Oncology Drug Development: The Role of Consortia in the Delivery of Precision Oncology Early Phase Clinical Trials.

Purpose: Over the past 15 years, the landscape of early phase clinical trials (EPCTs) has undergone a remarkable expansion in both quantity and intricacy. The proliferation of sites, trials, sponsors, and contract research organizations has surged exponentially, marking a significant shift in research conduct. However, EPCT operations suffer from numerous inefficiencies, such as cumbersome start-up processes, which are particularly critical when drug safety and the recommended phase II dose need to be established in a timely manner.

Liquid Active Surface Growth: Explaining the Symmetry Breaking in Liquid Nanoparticles.

In our previous studies of metal nanoparticle growth, we have come to realize that the dynamic interplay between ligand passivation and metal deposition, as opposed to static facet control, is responsible for focused growth at a few active sites. In this work, we show that the same underlying principle could be applied to a very different system and explain the abnormal growth modes of liquid nanoparticles. In such a liquid active surface growth (LASG), the interplay between droplet expansion and simultaneous silica shell encapsulation gives rise to an active site of growth, which eventually becomes the long necks of nanobottles.

A review on the effects of flavan-3-ols, their metabolites, and their dietary sources on gut barrier integrity.

Impairment of gut barrier integrity is associated with the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, and coeliac disease. While many aspects of diet have been linked to improved barrier function, (poly)phenols, a broad group of bioactive phytochemicals, are of potential interest. The (poly)phenolic sub-class, flavan-3-ols, have been investigated in some detail owing to their abundance in commonly consumed foods, including grapes, tea, apples, cocoa, berries, and nuts.

Accurate Molar Mass Estimation of Polyolefin Blends Using High Temperature-size Exclusion Chromatography With Triple Detection: Insight Into Molecular Level Mixing of Polypropylene With Various Application Grades of Polyethylene.

In this study, a commercially available polypropylene homopolymer (H-PP) was blended with blow molding polyethylene (PE) grade via melt mixing using a compounding machine. The resulting blends were subjected to high-temperature size exclusion chromatography (SEC) analysis, coupled with infrared-5 (IR-5), viscometer (VISCO), and multi-angle laser light scattering (MALS) detectors. The molecular weight (MW) and MW distributions were investigated using SEC, and the exact blend compositions were evaluated using C nuclear magnetic resonance.

Observational study: effect of varying transport durations and feed withdrawal on the physiological status and health of dairy calves.

Long-distance transport and associated fasting of unweaned calves have the potential to compromise the animals' welfare. This observational study aimed to determine how transport and fasting durations impacted the physiology and health of 115 transported calves in three transport groups; IRE (n = 20, mean age 29.8d; short road transport (~ 29 h incl.

Clinical Decision Support Using Speech Signal Analysis: Systematic Scoping Review of Neurological Disorders.

Background: Digital biomarkers are increasingly used in clinical decision support for various health conditions. Speech features as digital biomarkers can offer insights into underlying physiological processes due to the complexity of speech production. This process involves respiration, phonation, articulation, and resonance, all of which rely on specific motor systems for the preparation and execution of speech.

Insights on the role of cryoprotectants in enhancing the properties of bioinks required for cryobioprinting of biological constructs.

Preservation and long-term storage of readily available cell-laden tissue-engineered products are major challenges in expanding their applications in healthcare. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the development of off-the-shelf tissue-engineered products using the cryobioprinting approach. Here, bioinks are incorporated with cryoprotective agents (CPAs) to allow the fabrication of cryopreservable tissue constructs.

EGFP/RFP-based FRET sensors for botulinum neurotoxin A biological activity detection and methodological validation.

Background: Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) is the most potent and prevalent neurotoxin known to cause botulism, and is also widely used in medical and cosmetic applications. The detection of BoNT/A is of great significance for botulism diagnosis and drug potency determination. Currently, the mouse bioassay (MBA) has long been the gold standard method but has disadvantages of ethical concerns, long testing duration, and high costs.

Diverse strategies utilized by coronaviruses to evade antiviral responses and suppress pyroptosis.

Viral infections trigger inflammasome-mediated caspase-1 activation. Nevertheless, limited understanding exists regarding how viruses use the active caspase-1 to evade host immune response. Here, we use porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) as a model of coronaviruses (CoVs) to illustrate the intricate regulation of CoVs to combat IFN-I signaling and pyroptosis.