Spongy-looking microfabrics in the earliest named stromatolite represent deep burial alteration and incipient metamorphism.

The earliest named stromatolite Cryptozoon Hall, 1884 (Late Cambrian, ca. 490 Ma, eastern New York State), was recently re-interpreted as an interlayered microbial mat and non-spiculate (keratosan) sponge deposit. This "classic stromatolite" is prominent in a fundamental debate concerning the significance or even existence of non-spiculate sponges in carbonate rocks from the Neoproterozoic (Tonian) onwards.

Metabolic profiling reveals altered amino acid and fatty acid metabolism in children with Williams Syndrome.

Williams Syndrome (WS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder with a prevalence of 1 in 7500 to 1 in 20,000 individuals, caused by a microdeletion in chromosome 7q11.23. Despite its distinctive clinical features, the underlying metabolic alterations remain largely unexplored.

Moving beyond word frequency based on tally counting: AI-generated familiarity estimates of words and phrases are an interesting additional index of language knowledge.

This study investigates the potential of large language models (LLMs) to estimate the familiarity of words and multi-word expressions (MWEs). We validated LLM estimates for isolated words using existing human familiarity ratings and found strong correlations. LLM familiarity estimates performed even better in predicting lexical decision and naming performance in megastudies than the best available word frequency measures.

Sellar and perisellar meningiomas: effects on pituitary function in a Spanish cohort observational study.

Purpose: Studies focused on the effects of sellar and/or perisellar (S/PS) meningiomas on pituitary function are scarce. The primary objective of the present study was to determinate the effects that S/PS meningiomas and their treatments have on pituitary function. Also, we described the clinical characteristics and therapeutic outcomes of the cohort of adult Spanish patients.

Expanded and independent validation of the NoMoFA scale for Parkinson's disease: the Italian version.

Introduction: Non-motor symptoms (NMS) in Parkinson's disease (PD) can fluctuate daily, impacting patient quality of life. The Non-Motor Fluctuation Assessment (NoMoFA) Questionnaire, a recently validated tool, quantifies NMS fluctuations during ON- and OFF-medication states. Our study aimed to validate the Italian version of NoMoFA, comparing its results to the original validation and further exploring its clinimetric properties.

Potential backfiring effects of Marine Protected Areas on kelp herbivory.

The management and creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is currently under great focus, with international organisations aiming to protect 30% of our oceans by 2030. The success of MPAs depends on a nuanced understanding of local ecological dynamics and threats, which can significantly influence ecosystem balance. Herbivory can be a stressor for foundation species, namely kelp forests, contributing to their decline in several regions of the globe.

Utility of quantitative measurement of T using restriction spectrum imaging for detection of clinically significant prostate cancer.

The Restriction Spectrum Imaging restriction score (RSIrs) has been shown to improve the accuracy for diagnosis of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) compared to standard DWI. Both diffusion and T properties of prostate tissue contribute to the signal measured in DWI, and studies have demonstrated that each may be valuable for distinguishing csPCa from benign tissue. The purpose of this retrospective study was to (1) determine whether prostate T varies across RSI compartments and in the presence of csPCa, and (2) evaluate whether csPCa detection with RSIrs is improved by acquiring multiple scans at different TEs to measure compartmental T (cT).

Effects of minipuberty disruption on the expression of sexual behavior in female mice.

Sex steroids influence early organization of neural structures involved in expression of sexual behavior. A critical perinatal period during which testosterone surges occur has been identified in male rodents. Data are lacking for females, whose ovarian activity starts later in the postnatal period.

Salivary extracellular vesicles isolation methods impact the robustness of downstream biomarkers detection.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), crucial mediators in cell-to-cell communication, are implicated in both homeostatic and pathological processes. Their detectability in easily accessible peripheral fluids like saliva positions them as promising candidates for non-invasive biomarker discovery. However, the lack of standardized methods for salivary EVs isolation greatly limits our ability to study them.

Large-scale proteogenomics characterization of microproteins in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis remains a burden to this day, due to the rise of multi and extensively drug-resistant bacterial strains. The genome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) strain H37Rv underwent an annotation process that excluded small Open Reading Frames (smORFs), which encode a class of peptides and small proteins collectively known as microproteins. As a result, there is an overlooked part of its proteome that is a rich source of potentially essential, druggable molecular targets.

Factorial validation and invariance of the Academic Procrastination Scale in Colombian students.

Background: Academic procrastination is an increasingly pertinent issue among university students, impacting their academic performance, interpersonal relationships, and emotional well-being. However, brief assessment tools for timely intervention are scarce, especially in the Colombian context. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the academic procrastination scale and analyze its relationship with mental health and life satisfaction.

Aicardi-Goutières syndrome type 6: report of ADAR variant and clinical outcome after ruxolitinib treatment in the neonatal period.

Background: Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome is a monogenic type 1 interferonopathy with infantile onset, characterized by a variable degree of neurological damage. Approximately 7% of Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome cases are caused by pathogenic variants in the ADAR gene and are classified as Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome type 6. Here, we present a new homozygous pathogenic variant in the ADAR gene.

Ultrasound-responsive nanoparticles for nitric oxide release to inhibit the growth of breast cancer.

Gas therapy represents a promising strategy for cancer treatment, with nitric oxide (NO) therapy showing particular potential in tumor therapy. However, ensuring sufficient production of NO remains a significant challenge. Leveraging ultrasound-responsive nanoparticles to promote the release of NO is an emerging way to solve this challenge.

Immunologic assessment of the impact of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine booster doses on humoral immunity: a cross-sectional study in morocco.

To assess the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 booster dose on the immune response against COVID-19, we conducted a cross-sectional study in the Casablanca-Settat region of Morocco. The study included 2,802 participants from 16 provinces, all of whom had received three doses of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. IgG antibodies targeting the S1 RBD subunit of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein were quantified using the SARS-CoV-2 IgG II Quant assay and measured on the Abbott Architect i2000SR instrument.

Shear bond strength and ARI scores of metal brackets to glazed glass ceramics and zirconia: an in vitro study investigating surface treatment protocols.

Objective: To evaluate the shear bond strength (SBS) and adhesive remnant index (ARI) scores of metal brackets to glazed lithium disilicate reinforced glass-ceramics and zirconia according to various surface treatment protocols.

Methods: A total of 240 lithium disilicate ceramic (LD) and 240 zirconia (Zr) blocks were randomly divided according to sandblasting, hydrofluoric acid (HF) etching, universal primer use, and the adhesive system applied. A maxillary canine metal bracket was bonded to each sample with resin cement (Transbond XT, TXT).

Liver Cirrhosis: ancient disease, new challenge.

Liver cirrhosis is a common cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Excessive alcohol consumption and metabolic associated steatotic liver disease are the most common etiological factors of cirrhosis in our region. Cirrhosis occurs in two well-differentiated phases, compensated and decompensated, depending on the absence or presence of complications, respectively.

Linking structural and functional changes during healthy aging and semantic dementia using multilayer brain network analysis.

Healthy aging is characterized by frontal and diffuse brain changes, while certain age-related pathologies such as semantic dementia will be associated with more focal brain lesions, particularly in the temporo-parietal regions. These changes in structural integrity could influence functional brain networks. Here we use multilayer brain network analysis on structural (DWI) and functional (fMRI) data in younger and older healthy individuals and patients with semantic dementia.

[Use of hydroxychloroquine in recurrent immune-mediated obstetric diseases (excluding systemic lupus): Scientific basis and evidence].

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), a synthetic antimalarial, is recognized for its immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and vascular-protective effects. In 20-30% of cases of primary obstetrical antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), the combination of antiplatelet aggregation and prophylactic anticoagulation fails to prevent obstetrical complications, a situation referred to as refractory obstetrical APS. This is partly due to the pro-inflammatory effects of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) binding to decidual and trophoblastic cells, which compromise embryonic implantation and placentation.

Social support status and associated factors among methadone maintenance patients: a multicentre, cross-sectional study in Vietnam during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: To investigate the social support status and associated factors among Vietnamese methadone maintenance patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Three methadone clinics.

Inequalities in ownership and availability of home-based vaccination records in 82 low- and middle-income countries.

Introduction: Home-based records (HBRs) are widely used for recording health information including child immunisations. We studied levels and inequalities in HBR ownership in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) using data from national surveys conducted since 2010.

Methods: We used data from national household surveys (Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS)) from 82 LMICs.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of proactive home visits compared with site-based community health worker care on antenatal care outcomes in Mali: a cluster-randomised trial.

Introduction: Despite recommendations from the WHO, antenatal care (ANC) coverage remains low in many low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Community health workers (CHWs) can play an important role in expanding ANC coverage through pregnancy identification, provision of health education, screening for complications, delivery of therapeutic care and referral to higher levels of care. However, despite the success of CHW programmes in various countries, WHO has called for additional research to develop evidence-based models that optimise CHW service delivery and that can be replicated across geographies.

Predictors of return to work after multidisciplinary rehabilitation program for patients with chronic low back pain.

Introduction: Patients with chronic low back pain face functional, psychological, social and professional difficulties. Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation Programs (MRP) can be an effective treatment to help these patients to improve their condition and return to work.

Objective: To determine baseline predictors for return to work after an MRP for patients with chronic low back pain struggling to maintain their job.

Lower mini-sternotomy: an approach for treating all valvulopathies?

Background: Lower mini-sternotomy offers the advantage of providing excellent visualization of the 4 cardiac cavities, allowing surgical treatment of aortic, mitral and tricuspid valves as well as any intra-cavitary procedure. Technical issues, as well as safety and echocardiographic results of this approach, are lacking. The aim of this retrospective study was to describe outcomes of lower mini-sternotomy to treat valvulopathies and other intracardiac surgeries.