Kinetic and structural investigation of the 4-allyl syringol oxidase from Streptomyces cavernae.

4-Phenol oxidases are proposed to be involved in the utilization of lignin-derived aromatic compounds. While enzymes with selectivity towards 4-hydroxyphenyl and guaiacyl motifs are well described, we identified the first syringyl-specific oxidase from Streptomyces cavernae (Sc4ASO) only very recently. Here, in-depth studies were conducted to unravel the molecular origins of the outstanding selectivity of Sc4ASO.

A review of lignin as a precursor for macromonomers: Challenges and opportunities in utilizing agri-food waste.

Lignocellulosic biomass, rich in cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, represents a promising renewable resource. However, lignin, a complex polyphenolic material, remains underutilized despite its surplus production. This review focuses on the conversion of lignin into macromonomers for polymer production.

Brain State Forecasting for Precise Brain Stimulation: Current Approaches and Future Perspectives.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has the potential to yield insights into cortical functions and improve the treatment of neurological and psychiatric conditions. However, its reliability is hindered by a low reproducibility of results. Among other factors, such low reproducibility is due to structural and functional variability between individual brains.

Additively Manufactured Subperiosteal Implants for the Rehabilitations of Lateral Incisors Agenesis - a case series.

Background: Tooth agenesis, particularly the absence of upper lateral incisors, presents substantial challenges for clinicians due to the associated bone atrophy, which limits the use of traditional implant solutions. Current options, such as endosseous implants combined with guided bone regeneration (GBR), often fail due to insufficient osseointegration in atrophic bone. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of custom-made, additively manufactured subperiosteal implants in addressing these challenges METHODS: This retrospective study assessed 16 custom-made subperiosteal implants used in 12 patients (10 females, 2 males; mean age 25 ± 2.

Efficacy and safety of long-acting muscarinic antagonists in COPD: a meta-analysis and meta-regression with a focus on aging.

The increasing global elderly population, projected to reach 20% of individuals aged 65 and over by 2030, faces significant pulmonary challenges, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Aging is associated with a natural decline in lung function and structural changes that exacerbate respiratory issues. COPD, characterized by chronic respiratory symptoms and airflow obstruction, presents a unique challenge in older patients due to the accelerated decline in lung function.

Development of nebulized inhalation delivery for fusion-inhibitory lipopeptides to protect non-human primates against Nipah-Bangladesh infection.

Nipah virus (NiV) is a lethal zoonotic paramyxovirus that can be transmitted from person to person through the respiratory route. There are currently no licensed vaccines or therapeutics. A lipopeptide-based fusion inhibitor was developed and previously evaluated for efficacy against the NiV-Malaysia strain.

Changes in Coagulation Factor XI Activity Levels in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Primary PCI.

Background - Although Factor XI (FXI) inhibitors are currently tested for the prevention of thrombotic events, their early treatment could prevent thrombus consolidation in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This study aims to characterize coagulation FXI levels and their variations in patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods - Patients with STEMI were prospectively enrolled between December 2023 and May 2024.

Intraoperative methylene blue staining is effective as a single mapping technique in the identification of sentinel lymph nodes in dogs with low-grade mast cell tumours.

Objectives: The aim of this prospective study was to assess the association between methylene blue staining pattern and the presence of histologic nodal metastasis in dogs with low-grade mast cell tumour in low-resource settings for the efficient diagnosis of lymphatic spread.

Methods: Dogs with a single, cytologically low-grade mast cell tumour and no documented distant metastases were prospectively included and underwent surgery. Along with primary mast cell tumour removal, intraoperative sentinel lymph node mapping with peritumoral mast cell tumour injection and regional lymph node excision, regardless of whether blue dye was visible in the lymph node, were performed.

State of the Art and Emerging Technologies in Vaccine Design for Respiratory Pathogens.

In this review, we present the efforts made so far in developing effective solutions to prevent infections caused by seven major respiratory pathogens: influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), , (), , and . Advancements driven by the recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis have largely focused on viruses, but effective prophylactic solutions for bacterial pathogens are also needed, especially in light of the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) phenomenon. Here, we discuss various innovative key technologies that can help address this critical need, such as (a) the development of Lung-on-Chip ex vivo models to gain a better understanding of the pathogenesis process and the host-microbe interactions; (b) a more thorough investigation of the mechanisms behind mucosal immunity as the first line of defense against pathogens; (c) the identification of correlates of protection (CoPs) which, in conjunction with the Reverse Vaccinology 2.

Spatio-temporal transformers for decoding neural movement control.

Deep learning tools applied to high-resolution neurophysiological data have significantly progressed, offering enhanced decoding, real-time processing, and readability for practical applications. However, the design of artificial neural networks to analyze neural activity in vivo remains a challenge, requiring a delicate balance between efficiency in low-data regimes and the interpretability of the results. Approach: To address this challenge, we introduce a novel specialized transformer architecture to analyze single-neuron spiking activity.

Prioritizing performance and outcome indicators for quality assessment of cancer screening programs in the EU.

Objectives: A key element in ensuring appropriate balance of harms and benefits in cancer screening is to develop a priority set of performance and outcome indicators to be used in screening data evaluation systems. These indicators need to be equity-focused, aligned to new screening approaches and broad-based to cover possible opportunistic screening, but at the same time as limited as possible.

Study Design: Indicators for breast, colorectal and cervical cancer screening programs were chosen through a consensus building Delphi methodology involving a panel of cancer screening experts.

A deep architecture based on attention mechanisms for effective end-to-end detection of early and mature malaria parasites in a realistic scenario.

Background: Malaria is a critical and potentially fatal disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite and is responsible for more than 600,000 deaths globally. Early and accurate detection of malaria parasites is crucial for effective treatment, yet conventional microscopy faces limitations in variability and efficiency.

Methods: We propose a novel computer-aided detection framework based on deep learning and attention mechanisms, extending the YOLO-SPAM and YOLO-PAM models.

Environmental impact of peat alternatives in growing media for European mushroom production.

Button mushrooms are an important protein source with a production of >48 million metric tonnes in 2021. Several life cycle assessments (LCAs) have been employed in assessing mushroom cultivation. This paper assessed potential impacts of relevant alternatives (sphagnum moss, grass fibres, spent casing and bark) to peat as casing materials for mushroom production across Europe by using LCA using a cradle to farm gate approach.

New cinnamic acid sugar esters as potential UVB filters: Synthesis, cytotoxicity, and physicochemical properties.

Cinnamic Acid Sugar Ester Derivatives (CASEDs) are a class of natural compounds that exhibit several interesting biological activities. However, to date, no examples of their use in sunscreen formulations have been reported. Here, we describe the synthesis of a series of novel cinnamic acid esters of glucose (4a-g), ribose (4h) and lactose (4i) starting from the respective acetals 3.

Guidelines International Network: Principles for Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Health Guideline Enterprise.

Description: Artificial intelligence (AI) has been defined by the High-Level Expert Group on AI of the European Commission as "systems that display intelligent behaviour by analysing their environment and taking actions-with some degree of autonomy-to achieve specific goals." Artificial intelligence has the potential to support guideline planning, development and adaptation, reporting, implementation, impact evaluation, certification, and appraisal of recommendations, which we will refer to as "guideline enterprise." Considering this potential, as well as the lack of guidance for the use of AI in guidelines, the Guidelines International Network (GIN) proposes a set of principles for the development and use of AI tools or processes to support the health guideline enterprise.

Cross-Cultural Sense-Making of Global Health Crises: A Text Mining Study of Public Opinions on Social Media Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Developed and Developing Economies.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped social dynamics, fostering reliance on social media for information, connection, and collective sense-making. Understanding how citizens navigate a global health crisis in varying cultural and economic contexts is crucial for effective crisis communication.

Objective: This study examines the evolution of citizen collective sense-making during the COVID-19 pandemic by analyzing social media discourse across Italy, the United Kingdom, and Egypt, representing diverse economic and cultural contexts.

Clinical Activity of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Inhibitors in Patients With MAP2K1 (MEK1)-Mutated Metastatic Cancers.

Purpose: MAP2K1/MEK1 mutations are potentially actionable drivers in cancer. MAP2K1 mutations have been functionally classified into three groups according to their dependency on upstream RAS/RAF signaling. However, the clinical efficacy of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway inhibitors (MAPKi) for MAP2K1-mutant tumors is not well defined.

How can we make sound replication decisions?

Replication and the reported crises impacting many fields of research have become a focal point for the sciences. This has led to reforms in publishing, methodological design and reporting, and increased numbers of experimental replications coordinated across many laboratories. While replication is rightly considered an indispensable tool of science, financial resources and researchers' time are quite limited.

Is Ockham's razor losing its edge? New perspectives on the principle of model parsimony.

The preference for simple explanations, known as the parsimony principle, has long guided the development of scientific theories, hypotheses, and models. Yet recent years have seen a number of successes in employing highly complex models for scientific inquiry (e.g.

Discourse on measurement.

Measurement literacy is required for strong scientific reasoning, effective experimental design, conceptual and empirical validation of measurement quantities, and the intelligible interpretation of error in theory construction. This discourse examines how issues in measurement are posed and resolved and addresses potential misunderstandings. Examples drawn from across the sciences are used to show that measurement literacy promotes the goals of scientific discourse and provides the necessary foundation for carving out perspectives and carrying out interventions in science.

How should the advancement of large language models affect the practice of science?

Large language models (LLMs) are being increasingly incorporated into scientific workflows. However, we have yet to fully grasp the implications of this integration. How should the advancement of large language models affect the practice of science? For this opinion piece, we have invited four diverse groups of scientists to reflect on this query, sharing their perspectives and engaging in debate.

Exploring the Complex Interplay Between Ineffective Esophageal Motility and Reflux Burden.

The role of esophageal motility in determining GERD severity has been widely explored. Kamboj et al. show that IEM diagnosis is associated with increased GERD severity.

Intraspecific Variation and Recent Loss of Ancient, Conserved Effector Genes in the Sudden Oak Death Pathogen .

Members of the genus are responsible for many important diseases in agricultural and natural ecosystems. causes devastating diseases of oak, and tanoak stands in US forests and larch in the UK. The four evolutionary lineages involved express different virulence phenotypes on plant hosts, and characterization of gene content is foundational to understanding the basis for these differences.