It's bigger on the inside: mapping the black box of motivation.

Many motivational constructs are opaque "black boxes," and should be replaced by an explicit account of the underlying psychological mechanisms. The theory of motivational systems has begun to provide such an account. I recently contributed to this tradition with a general architecture of motivation, which connects "energization" and "direction" through the goal-setting activity of emotions, and serves as an evolutionary grounded map of motivational processes.

Linking warmer nest temperatures to reduced body size in seabird nestlings: Possible mitochondrial bioenergetic and proteomic mechanisms.

Rapid reduction of body size in populations responding to global warming suggests the involvement of temperature-dependent physiological adjustments during growth, such as mitochondrial alterations, in the efficiency of producing metabolic energy, a process that is poorly explored, especially in endotherms. Here, we examined the mitochondrial metabolism and proteomic profile of red blood cells in relation to body size and cellular energetics in nestling shearwaters (Calonectris diomedea) developing at different natural temperatures. We found that nestlings of warmer nests had lighter bodies and smaller beaks at fledging.

Integrating impedance cytometry with other microfluidic tools towards multifunctional single-cell analysis platforms.

Microfluidic impedance cytometry (MIC) is a label-free technique that characterizes individual flowing particles/cells based on their interaction with a multifrequency electric field. The technique has been successfully applied in different scenarios including life-science research, diagnostics, and environmental monitoring. The aim of this review is to illustrate the fascinating opportunities enabled by the integration of MIC with other microfluidic tools.

From Paper to Digital: Evaluating Electronic Medical Records and their Compliance with EMA Guidelines in European Clinical Trials.

Background: Over the past decade, there has been a significant shift from paper-based to digital medical record management, driven largely by advances in digital technology. This transition has led to widespread adoption of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs), with the expectation that paper documentation will soon be fully replaced. In response, the European Medicines Agency's "Guideline on Computerised Systems in Clinical Trials" outlines essential criteria for validated EMR systems to ensure data integrity and security, and sets standards for electronic source documents in clinical trials.

Validation of the PANAMA-Score for Survival and Benefit of Adjuvant Therapy in Patients with Resected Pancreatic Cancer After Neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX.

Aim: To validate the prognostic value of the PAncreatic NeoAdjuvant MAssachusetts (PANAMA)-score and to determine its predictive ability for survival benefit derived from adjuvant treatment in patients after resection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) following neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX.

Background: The PANAMA-score was developed to guide prognostication in patients after neoadjuvant therapy and resection for PDAC. As this score focuses on the risk for residual disease after resection, it might also be able to select patients who benefit from adjuvant after neoadjuvant therapy.

Efficacy and Safety of Aldosterone Synthase Inhibitors for Hypertension: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials and Systematic Review.

Background: Hypertension is a major global health issue. Aldosterone synthase inhibitors (ASIs) have emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for blood pressure control.

Methods: A thorough search of the MEDLINE and Embase databases up to March 30, 2024, identified randomized trials comparing ASIs with a placebo for hypertension treatment.

People and Pixels 20 years later: the current data landscape and research trends blending population and environmental data.

In 1998 the National Research Council published . The volume focused on emerging research linking changes in human populations and land use/land cover to shed light on issues of sustainability, human livelihoods, and conservation, and led to practical innovations in agricultural planning, hazard impact analysis, and drought monitoring. Since then, new research opportunities have emerged thanks to the growing variety of remotely sensed data sources, an increasing array of georeferenced social science data, including data from mobile devices, and access to powerful computation cyberinfrastructure.

Pooled safety analysis of two phase 3 studies investigating trifluridine/tipiracil plus bevacizumab in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Background: Trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI) is approved as monotherapy and in combination with bevacizumab for the treatment of patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). FTD/TPI plus bevacizumab showed good tolerability in the phase 3 SOLSTICE (first-line) and SUNLIGHT (later-line) trials. This pooled analysis was performed to further characterize the safety of FTD/TPI plus bevacizumab and to compare safety in untreated and previously treated patients with mCRC.

Can a mechanical circulatory support comprehensive approach to cardiogenic shock at referral centers reduce 30-day mortality?

Although mortality risk prediction in cardiogenic shock (CS) is possible, assessing the impact of the multitude of therapeutic efforts on outcomes is not straightforward. We assessed whether a temporary mechanical circulatory support comprehensive approach to the treatment of CS may reduce 30-day mortality as compared to expected mortality predicted by the recently proposed Cardiogenic Shock Score (CSS). Consecutive CS patients supported by pVAD Impella (Abiomed, Danvers, MA) at two national referral centers were included.

Protein-Driven Electron-Transfer Process in a Fatty Acid Photodecarboxylase.

Naturally occurring photoenzymes are rare in nature, but among them, fatty acid photodecarboxylases derived from (FAPs) have emerged as promising photobiocatalysts capable of performing the redox-neutral, light-induced decarboxylation of free fatty acids (FAs) into C1-shortened alka(e)nes. Using a hybrid QM/MM approach combined with a polarizable embedding scheme, we identify the structural changes of the active site and determine the energetic landscape of the forward electron transfer (fET) from the FA substrate to the excited flavin adenine dinucleotide. We obtain a charge-transfer diradical structure where a water molecule rearranges spontaneously to form a H-bond interaction with the excited flavin, while the FA's carboxylate group twists and migrates away from it.

E_N_T_R_O_P_Y: Monocentric analysis of rectal cancer radio-chemotherapy treatment in patients of young age.

Purpose//objectives: A disproportionate incidence's increase of rectal cancer in patients younger than 50 years of age. The ESMO and NCCN recommendations are not age-specific and the literature is poor and conflicting. We decided to examine patients with rectal cancer treated in our centre in the last 15 years with curative neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy comparing outcomes in the two groups under and over 55 years old.

Challenges in the transition of care for rare connective tissue diseases: results from the 2023 ERN ReCONNET Transition of Care Task Force survey.

Objectives: Two different European Reference Networks cover CTDs with paediatric onset, the European Reference Network on Rare and Complex Connective Tissue Diseases (ERN ReCONNET) and the European Reference Network on Rare Immunological Disorders (ERN RITA). The transition of care is a significant focus, with ReCONNET centres actively addressing this through updated programs. Despite these efforts, challenges persist.

Time trends in health-related quality of life assessment and reporting within publications of oncology randomised phase III trials: a meta-research study.

Objective: To assess time trends in the inclusion of health-related quality of life (QoL) among study endpoints and in the reporting of QoL results in study publications, randomised phase III oncology trials published between 2017 and 2021 were compared with the trials published in the previous 5 years.

Methods And Analysis: All issues published between 2012 and 2021 by 11 major journals were handsearched for primary publications of phase III trials in adult patients with solid tumours. Trials published in 2017-2021 were compared with trials published in 2012-2016 for three endpoints: (1) proportion of publications including QoL among endpoints out of all the eligible publications; (2) proportion of publications presenting QoL results out of those including QoL among endpoints and (3) proportion of publications presenting QoL data out of all the eligible publications.

Globalisation of industry-sponsored clinical trials for breast, lung and colon cancer research: trends, threats and opportunities.

Objective: Breast, lung, colon cancers are the 'big killers' in oncology. Access to innovative treatments lags behind in low-income and middle-income countries. We investigated the geographic distribution of industry-sponsored trials; and whether results were reported in clinical trial registries.

New taxa and a combination in Glomerales (Glomeromycota, Glomeromycetes).

This article presents the results of morphological studies, as well as comparisons and phylogenetic analyzes of sequences of four arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF, phylum Glomeromycota): , strain 211, Isolate 517, and Isolate 524. strain 211 was previously characterized only by sequences of the 45S nuc rDNA region (= 18S, partial, ITS-1-5.8S-ITS2, 28S, partial) and the gene (without any morphological data) that were deposited in GenBank under the incorrect name " strain 211".

Green Synthesis of Cellulose Acetate Mixed Matrix Membranes: Structure-Function Characterization.

Although membrane technology is widely used in different gas separation applications, membrane manufacturers need to reduce the environmental impact during the membrane fabrication process within the framework of the circular economy by replacing toxic solvents, oil-based polymers, and such by more sustainable alternatives. These include environmentally friendly materials, such as biopolymers, green solvents, and surfactant free porous fillers. This work promotes the use of environmentally sustainable and low toxic alternatives, introducing the novel application of cellulose acetate (CA) as a biopolymer in combination with dimethyl carbonate (DMC) as a greener solvent and different inorganic fillers (Zeolite-A, ETS-10, AM-4 and ZIF-8) prepared without the use of toxic solvents or reactants.

The role of conscious attention in auditory statistical learning: Evidence from patients with impaired consciousness.

The need for attention to enable statistical learning is debated. Testing individuals with impaired consciousness offers valuable insight, but very few studies have been conducted due to the difficulties inherent in such studies. Here, we examined the ability of patients with varying levels of disorders of consciousness (DOC) to extract statistical regularities from an artificial language composed of randomly concatenated pseudowords by measuring frequency tagging in EEG.

A pilot human study using ketamine to treat disorders of consciousness.

Post-comatose disorders of consciousness (DoC) represent persistent neurological conditions with limited therapeutic options and a poor prognosis. Recent works advocate for exploring the effects of psychedelics to enhance brain complexity in DoC and ameliorate their consciousness. We investigated sub-anesthetic concentration of the atypical psychedelic ketamine for treating post-comatose prolonged DoC through a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial involving three adult patients.

Milk sustainability in specialized farms as affected by farm size and culling rates: A new perspective for allocation.

Several studies investigated the sustainability of dairy cattle systems. Global warming potential (GWP) is a "touchstone impact category" of LCA, whereas fossil depletion (FD) remains a scarcely studied environmental indicator. This study aims to help fill the gap of knowledge on FD in dairy cattle systems.

Treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration: one year real-life results with intravitreal Brolucizumab.

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a prevalent cause of irreversible vision loss worldwide, particularly among the elderly population. Two forms of late AMD are described: neovascular AMD (nAMD), characterized by abnormal choroidal blood vessel growth, and atrophic (dry) AMD, involving retinal cell degeneration. Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents have transformed nAMD treatment, with Brolucizumab emerging as a promising therapy.

On the breakdown of Förster energy transfer theory due to solvent effects: atomistic simulations unveil distance-dependent dielectric screening in calmodulin.

Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a powerful technique used to investigate the conformational preferences of biosystems, and molecular simulations have emerged as an ideal complement to FRET due to their ability to provide structural models that can be compared with experiments. This synergy is however hampered by the approximations underlying Förster theory regarding the electronic coupling between the participating dyes: a dipole-dipole term attenuated by a simple dielectric screening factor 1/ that depends on the refractive index of the medium. Whereas the limits of the dipole approximation are well-known, detailed insights on how environment effects deviate from the 1/ assumption and modify the distance dependence that characterizes FRET as a spectroscopic ruler are still not well understood, especially in biosystems characterized by significant structural disorder.

Cu(ii) binding to an antimicrobial shrimp peptide - a small step for structural chemistry, a big leap for medicinal applications.

PvHCt, a 23-amino acid long, histidine-rich peptide derived from shrimp, becomes strongly antimicrobial upon Cu(ii) ion binding. We describe Zn(ii) and Cu(ii) complexes of this peptide, aiming to understand how metal binding and structure correlates to biological activity. Using NMR, UV-vis, CD and FTIR spectroscopies, along with cyclic voltammetry, potentiometry, and DFT calculations, we demonstrate that Cu(ii) binds to the central and C-terminal regions of the peptide, inducing significant structural changes.

Novel Pt (II) Complexes With Anticancer Activity Against Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cells.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive type of solid tumor that is becoming more common. -[PtCl (NH)] (in short cisplatin or CDDP) has been shown to be effective in treating various cancers, including PDAC. However, the development of resistance to chemotherapy drugs has created a need for the synthesis of new anticancer agents.