The Contribution of the Limbus and Collagen Fibrils to Corneal Biomechanical Properties: Estimation of the Low-Strain In Vivo Elastic Modulus and Tissue Strain.

We have compared the biomechanical properties of human and porcine corneas using vibrational optical coherence tomography (VOCT). The elastic modulus of the cornea has been previously reported in the literature to vary from about several kPa to more than several GPa based on the results of different techniques. In addition, the formation of corneal cones near the central cornea in keratoconus has been observed in the clinic.

Neonates exposed to HIV but uninfected exhibit an altered gut microbiota and inflammation associated with impaired breast milk antibody function.

Background: Infants exposed to HIV but uninfected have altered immune profiles which include heightened systemic inflammation. The mechanism(s) underlying this phenomenon is unknown. Here, we investigated differences in neonatal gut bacterial and viral microbiome and associations with inflammatory biomarkers in plasma.

The Staphylococcus aureus non-coding RNA IsrR regulates TCA cycle activity and virulence.

Staphylococcus aureus has evolved mechanisms to cope with low iron (Fe) availability in host tissues. Staphylococcus aureus uses the ferric uptake transcriptional regulator (Fur) to sense titers of cytosolic Fe. Upon Fe depletion, apo-Fur relieves transcriptional repression of genes utilized for Fe uptake.

Evaluation of imputation performance of multiple reference panels in a Pakistani population.

Genotype imputation is crucial for GWAS, but reference panels and existing benchmarking studies prioritize European individuals. Consequently, it is unclear which publicly available reference panel should be used for Pakistani individuals, and whether ancestry composition or sample size of the panel matters more for imputation accuracy. Our study compared different reference panels to impute genotype data in 1814 Pakistani individuals, finding the best performance balancing accuracy and coverage with meta-imputation with TOPMed and the expanded 1000 Genomes (ex1KG) reference.

Multiple sclerosis and self-alienation: a study based on self and others representations.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. MS causes many changes in the lives of its patients, forcing them to renegotiate their lives. Part of these changes are related to patients' self- and others- mental representations.

Nutrient colimitation is a quantitative, dynamic property of microbial populations.

Resource availability dictates how fast and how much microbial populations grow. Quantifying the relationship between microbial growth and resource concentrations makes it possible to promote, inhibit, and predict microbial activity. Microbes require many resources, including macronutrients (e.

Sheath-enhanced concentration and on-chip detection of bacteria from an extremely low-concentration level.

Microfluidic-based sheath flow focusing methods have been widely used for efficiently isolating, concentrating, and detecting pathogenic bacteria for various biomedical applications due to their enhanced sensitivity and exceptional integration. However, such a microfluidic device usually needs complicated device fabrication and sample dilution, hampering the efficient and sensitive identification of target bacteria. In this study, we develop and fabricate a sheath-assisted and pneumatic-induced nano-sieve device for achieving the improved on-chip concentration and sensitive detection of (MRSA).

High-dose modified-release formulation of a poorly soluble drug via twin-screw melt coating and granulation.

Favipiravir, a high dose antiviral drug effective for oral treatment for COVID-19, with poor water solubility is formulated using a simple, low-cost melt coating and granulation methodology. High-dose (82.5 % w/w API) tablets (600 mg and 800 mg) with desired release profiles are developed while minimizing excipient burden.

Autoencoder-based inverse design and surrogate-based optimization of an integrated wet granulation manufacturing process.

In pharmaceutical manufacturing, integrating model-based design and optimization can be beneficial for accelerating process development. This study explores the utilization of Machine Learning (ML) techniques as a surrogate model for the optimization of a three-unit wet-granulation based flowsheet model for solid dosage form manufacturing. First, a reduced representation of a wet granulation flowsheet model is developed, incorporating a granulation and milling process, along with a novel dissolution model that accounts for the effect of particle size, porosity, and microstructure on dissolution rate.

Human mitochondrial RNA polymerase structures reveal transcription start-site and slippage mechanism.

Human mitochondrial RNA polymerase (POLRMT) and protein factors TFAM and TFB2M assemble on mitochondrial DNA promoters to initiate promoter-specific transcription. We present cryo-EM structures of two initiation complexes, IC3 and slipped-IC3, with fully resolved transcription bubbles containing RNA transcripts starting from +1 and -1 positions, respectively. These structures reveal the mechanisms of promoter melting, start site selection, and slippage synthesis.

Brief Report: Psychometric Properties of the Brief Problem Monitor-Parent (BPM-P) 6-18 in a Sample of Children Referred to an Autism Specialty Clinic.

Detection and monitoring of emotional and behavior problems is a critical part of clinical care for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), as well as a common focus of research. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) is a well-established caregiver-report instrument that is used for screening and monitoring of emotional and behavior problems in individuals diagnosed with ASD and NDDs. However, it has over 100 items and can be time-consuming to complete.

A Small-Molecule Approach Enables RNA Aptamers to Function as Sensors for Reactive Inorganic Targets.

Fluorescent light-up aptamer (FLAP) systems are promising (bio)sensing platforms that are genetically encodable. However, FLAP-mediated detection of each distinct target necessitates either in vitro selection or engineering of nucleic acid sequences. Furthermore, an aptamer that binds an inorganic target or a chemical species with a short lifetime is challenging to realize.

Patient perceptions of lisdexamfetamine as a treatment for binge eating disorder: An exploratory qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Lisdexamfetamine (LDX) is the only medication to have gained FDA approval for the treatment of binge eating disorder (BED). LDX treatment is generally effective at reducing binge eating symptoms but is associated with several unwanted side effects. How BED patients perceive the therapeutic efficacy vs.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis increases plasma retention of sorafenib-glucuronide in a mouse model by altering hepatocyte hopping.

Hepatocyte hopping is the hepatocyte-to-sinusoid-to-hepatocyte shuttling that increases the efficiency of hepatic elimination of xenobiotics. This phenomenon is mediated efflux of hepatic metabolites by Mrp3 and reuptake by Oatp transporters in sequential hepatocytes until eventual biliary efflux by Mrp2. Sorafenib-glucuronide (SFB-G), the major metabolite of sorafenib (SFB), undergoes hepatocyte hopping, leading to efficient biliary elimination.

Learning to hunt: A data-driven stochastic feedback control model of predator-prey interactions.

The dynamics unfolding during predator-prey interactions encapsulate a critical aspect of the natural world, dictating the survival and evolutionary trajectories of animal species. Underlying these complex dynamics, sensory-motor control strategies orchestrate the locomotory gates essential to guarantee survival or predation. While analytical models have been instrumental in understanding predator-prey interactions, dissecting sensory-motor control strategies remains a great challenge due to the adaptive and stochastic nature of animal behavior and the strong coupling of predator-prey interactions.