Preliminary insight into the intracellular behaviour of rare earths and other technology-critical elements (TCEs) in northern pike liver: study of TCE-binding biomolecules size-exclusion HPLC-ICP-MS.

Technology-critical elements (TCEs) refer to the elements that play an important role in many emerging technologies and the production of advanced materials, and these include lanthanides, tungsten and vanadium. Actinides, Tl, and Pb, which also belong to TCEs, are abundantly used in power generation, industrial applications, and modern agricultural practices. The information on the influence of these elements on the aquatic environment and biota is still rather scarce.

The IQGAP-related RasGAP IqgC regulates cell-substratum adhesion in Dictyostelium discoideum.

Proper adhesion of cells to their environment is essential for the normal functioning of single cells and multicellular organisms. To attach to the extracellular matrix (ECM), mammalian cells form integrin adhesion complexes consisting of many proteins that together link the ECM and the actin cytoskeleton. Similar to mammalian cells, the amoeboid cells of the protist Dictyostelium discoideum also use multiprotein adhesion complexes to control their attachment to the underlying surface.

Diminished DNA binding affinity of DMRT1 caused by heterozygous DM domain mutations is a cause of male infertility.

The most severe form of male infertility is idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), a complete sperm absence in the ejaculate. We performed exome sequencing in the Croatian infertile brothers with NOA and found a variant in DMRT1 (Doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor 1) gene that was further assessed by the EMSA assay and molecular dynamic simulations. We additionally screened for DMRT1 mutations in 1940 infertile men diagnosed with spermatogenic failure, 644 normozoospermic controls, and 105 females with primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) recruited to the GEnetics of Male INfertility Initiative (GEMINI) or Estonian Andrology (ESTAND) cohorts.

Direct multi-element analysis of biological samples in dry matrix spots by PIXE.

The dried matrix spot (DMS) method, initially developed for neonatal blood screening, has gained prevalence in various research fields for its efficiency in handling small sample volumes and its adaptability to diverse analytical techniques. This study presents the results of the first systematic investigation of direct multi-element analysis in DMS of human blood and plasma samples with Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE). Internal standard addition was used to address the issue of DMS heterogeneity and to eliminate the need for determining the sample volume equivalent, allowing a single-spot (single-punch) measurement.

Simulated Gastrointestinal Fluids Impact the Stability of Polymer-Functionalized Selenium Nanoparticles: Physicochemical Aspects.

Background: Selenium (Se) is a vital micronutrient for maintaining homeostasis in the human body. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have demonstrated improved bioavailability compared to both inorganic and organic forms of Se. Therefore, supplementing with elemental Se in its nano-form is highly promising for biomedical applications related to Se deficiency.

Model organisms for investigating the functional involvement of NRF2 in non-communicable diseases.

Non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) are most commonly characterized by age-related loss of homeostasis and/or by cumulative exposures to environmental factors, which lead to low-grade sustained generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), chronic inflammation and metabolic imbalance. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 2 (NRF2) is a basic leucine-zipper transcription factor that regulates the cellular redox homeostasis. NRF2 controls the expression of more than 250 human genes that share in their regulatory regions a cis-acting enhancer termed the antioxidant response element (ARE).

SatXplor-a comprehensive pipeline for satellite DNA analyses in complex genome assemblies.

Satellite DNAs (satDNAs) are tandemly repeated sequences that make up a significant portion of almost all eukaryotic genomes. Although satDNAs have been shown to play an important role in genome organization and evolution, they are relatively poorly analyzed, even in model organisms. One of the main reasons for the current lack of in-depth studies on satDNAs is their underrepresentation in genome assemblies.

Serum progastrin-releasing peptide in pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and early-stage primary lung cancers.

Introduction: Higher concentrations of the small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) serum marker, pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (proGRP), in lung inflammations has been indicated in literature. The objective of this study was to compare serum proGRP concentration in pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and early-stage primary lung cancers.

Materials And Methods: An observational study was performed to assess serum proGRP against other lung cancer markers in pneumonia, COPD and in stage 1/2 carcinomas.

Gestational diabetes mellitus and peripartum depression: a longitudinal study of a bidirectional relationship.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and peripartum depression (PPD) are increasing global health issues with potentially long-lasting adverse outcomes. While limited studies suggest a bidirectional relationship between GDM and PPD, most research has been cross-sectional and focused on one direction of the relationship, primarily if GDM predicts postpartum depression. The interplay between antenatal depression and GDM is less explored, with a critical lack of prospective bidirectional studies.

Conformational change induced by binding of Mn ions activates SloR transcription factor in Streptococcus mutans.

Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium commonly found in the human oral cavity, is considered the primary causative agent of dental caries. A key player in the pathophysiology of S. mutans is SloR, a 25-kDa metalloregulatory protein.

Competing Photocleavage on Boron and at the -Position in BODIPY Photocages.

BODIPY photocages (photocleavable protective groups) have stirred interest because they can release biologically active cargo upon visible light excitation. We conducted combined theoretical and experimental investigations on selected BODIPY photocages to elucidate the mechanism of the competing photocleavage at the boron and -position. Based on the computations, the former reaction involves elongation of the B-C bond, yielding a tight borenium cation and methyl anion.

Advancements in Adenine Nucleotides Extraction and Quantification from a Single Drop of Human Blood.

Adenine nucleotides (ANs)-adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP), and adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-are essential for energy transfer and the supply of countless processes within cellular metabolism. Their concentrations can be expressed as adenylate energy charge (AEC), a measure of cellular metabolic energy that directly correlates with the homeostasis of the organism. AEC index has broad diagnostic potential, as reduced ATP levels are associated to various conditions, such as inflammatory diseases, metabolic disorders, and cancer.

Solvatomorphic Diversity in Coordination Compounds of Copper(II) with l-Homoserine and 1,10-Phenanthroline: Syntheses, Crystal Structures and ESR Study.

In this study, we report the syntheses, crystal structures and magnetic properties of ternary copper(II) coordination compounds with l-homoserine (l-Hhser) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen). Six new coordination compounds were obtained: [Cu(l-hser)(HO)(phen)]SO·5HO (), [Cu(μ-l-hser)(HO)(phen)][Cu(l-hser)(HO)(phen)](SO)∙12HO (), {[Cu(μ-l-hser)(HO)(phen)][Cu(μ-l-hser)(phen)]SO·6HO} (), {[Cu(μ-l-hser)(HO)(phen)]SO·3HO} (), [Cu(l-hser)(HO)(phen)][Cu(l-hser)(CHOH)(phen)]SO·4HO () and {[Cu(l-hser)(CHOH)(phen)][Cu(μ-l-hser)(phen)]SO·5CHOH} () It was shown that slight differences in water content in the synthetic mixtures highly influence the final product, so in some cases, two or three different products were obtained. The compounds were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and ESR spectroscopy.

The Reversible Electron Transfer Within Stimuli-Responsive Hydrochromic Supramolecular Material Containing Pyridinium Oxime and Hexacyanoferrate (II) Ions.

The structural and electronic features of the stimuli-responsive supramolecular inter-ionic charge-transfer material containing electron accepting -benzylyridinium-4-oxime cation (BPA4) and electron donating hexacyanoferrate (II) are reported. The study of reversible stimuli-induced transformation between hydrated reddish-brown (BPA4)[Fe(CN)]·10HO and anhydrous blue (BPA4)[Fe(CN)] revealed the origin of observed hydrochromic behavior. The comparison of the crystal structures of decahydrate and anhydrous phase showed that subsequent exclusion/inclusion of lattice water molecules induces structural relocation of one BPA4 that alter the donor-to-acceptor charge-transfer states, resulting in chromotropism seen as reversible reddish-brown to blue color changes.

Green and Scalable Preparation of Highly Conductive Alkali Metal-dhta Coordination Polymers.

2,5-Dihydroxyterephthalic acid (H) is well-known for its use in the construction of functional metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Among them, simple coordination polymers (CPs), such as lithium and sodium coordination polymers with H, have been used successfully to synthesize electrically conductive MOFs and have also demonstrated great potential as positive or negative electrode materials on their own. However, there has been little exploration of the structure and physicochemical properties of these and other alkali complexes of H.

Toll-like receptors as a missing link in Notch signaling cascade during neurodevelopment.

Neurodevelopment encompasses a complex series of molecular events occuring at defined time points distinguishable by the specific genetic readout and active protein machinery. Due to immense intricacy of intertwined molecular pathways, extracting and describing all the components of a single pathway is a demanding task. In other words, there is always a risk of leaving potential transient molecular partners unnoticed while investigating signaling cascades with core functions-and the very neglected ones could be the turning point in understanding the context and regulation of the signaling events.

Detecting a wide range of epitranscriptomic modifications using a nanopore-sequencing-based computational approach with 1D score-clustering.

To date, over 40 epigenetic and 300 epitranscriptomic modifications have been identified. However, current short-read sequencing-based experimental methods can detect <10% of these modifications. Integrating long-read sequencing technologies with advanced computational approaches, including statistical analysis and machine learning, offers a promising new frontier to address this challenge.

Chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol-based magnetic hydrogel microspheres with controlled retention and regulated drug release for intravesical instillation.

As a clinically effective treatment for bladder cancer (BC), intravesical instillation still suffers from the debilitating efficacy triggered by frequent urination. Herein, the magnetic hydrogel microspheres (DOX-mMSs) with the incorporation of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and doxorubicin (DOX) into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/chitosan (CS) are developed for intravesical instillation. The magnetic force initiated by the applied magnetic field (AMF) enables the long-term retention of DOX-mMSs in the bladder, and the convenient injection and excretion from the bladder can be accomplished in virtue of the micron size of the DOX-mMSs.

Oscillatory dynamics of Rac1 activity in Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae.

Small GTPases of the Rho family play a central role in the regulation of cell motility by controlling the remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton. In the amoeboid cells of Dictyostelium discoideum, the active form of the Rho GTPase Rac1 regulates actin polymerases at the leading edge and actin filament bundling proteins at the posterior cortex of polarized cells. We monitored the spatiotemporal dynamics of Rac1 and its effector DGAP1 in vegetative amoebae using specific fluorescent probes.

Storozhenkotettix, a new genus of Trusmaditetrigini (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae) from Mindanao, with notes on Bolivaritettix.

The Philippine archipelago houses an incredibly diverse biota, among which are 122 species of pygmy grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae). Many of them belong to genera without proper taxonomic assignment and some genera, e.g.

Technical note: An optimized protocol for standard unenhanced whole-body post-mortem Photon Counting CT imaging.

In recent years, Photon-counting detector CT (PCD CT) has emerged as a new and groundbreaking technology in clinical radiology. While clinical research and practical applications of PCD-CT are constantly evolving, it has not yet been integrated into post-mortem CT (PMCT) imaging. Documented research into the potential applications of PCD CT in the field of post-mortem human forensic pathology and anatomical pathology is scarce in literature.

Quest for Cooper Pair Transfer in Heavy-Ion Reactions: The ^{206}Pb+^{118}Sn Case.

In this Letter we report on effects of nucleon-nucleon correlations probed in nucleon transfer reactions with heavy ions. We measured with high efficiency and resolution a complete set of observables for neutron transfer channels in the ^{206}Pb+^{118}Sn system employing a large solid angle magnetic spectrometer, which allowed us to study a wide range of internuclear distances via a detailed excitation function. The coupled channel theory, based on an independent particle transfer mechanism, follows the experimental transfer probabilities for one- and two-neutron pick-up and stripping channels.

Biocatalytically Generated Library of Chiral Building Blocks Containing a Quaternary Stereocenter.

A biocatalytic strategy for the preparation of a small library of compounds containing a quaternary chiral center is described. By applying halohydrin dehalogenases, four racemic 2,2-disubstituted epoxides were converted in the presence of four nucleophiles to 14 chiral products in yields of 21-47% with 74 to >99% . The obtained set of building blocks, which hold diverse functional groups, can be modified to form many high-value organic molecules for use in medicinal chemistry and other areas.