Enhanced Transcriptional Activation in Developing Mouse Photoreceptors.

Purpose: Retinal development in the mouse continues past birth and provides a widely used model system in which photoreceptor formation can be observed and manipulated. This experimental paradigm provides opportunities for both gain-of-function and loss-of-function studies, which can be accomplished through in vivo or ex vivo plasmid delivery and electroporation. However, the cis-regulatory elements used to implement this approach have not been fully evaluated or optimized for the unique transcriptional environment of photoreceptors.

Genome-Wide Genomic Analysis and Evolutionary Insights into Bovine Coronavirus Strains in Southwest China.

The global epidemic of bovine coronavirus (BCoV) has caused enormous economic losses. The characterisation and genetic composition of endemic strains in Southwest China remain elusive. This study aimed to fill this gap by isolating three BCoV strains from this region and sequencing their whole genomes.

Gold Nanorod-Coated Hydrogel Brush Valves in Macroporous Silicon Membranes for NIR-Driven Localized Chemical Modulation.

A two-dimensional array of microfluidic ports with remote-controlled valve actuation is of great interest for applications involving localized chemical stimulation. Herein, a macroporous silicon-based platform where each pore contains an independently controllable valve made from poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) brushes is proposed. These valves are coated with silica-encapsulated gold nanorods (GNRs) for NIR-actuated switching capability.

Impact of humidity on the adsorption and decomposition of mustard gas simulant on heteroatom-modified nanoporous carbon textiles.

Activated carbon textile (C-Text) was chemically modified to incorporate oxygen- (C-Text-O), nitrogen- (C-Text-ON), and/or sulfur- (C-Text-OS) containing surface functional groups, aiming to enhance their reactive adsorption capacity. The modified textiles were evaluated for their ability to detoxify 2-choloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES) in both vapor and liquid phases, under dry and humid conditions. The maximum amount of water adsorbed was directly affected by the surface area (R = 0.

for an automated quantitative analysis of fibers orientation and organization in biological fibrous tissues.

Many biological fibrous tissues exhibit distinctive mechanical properties arising from their highly organized fibrous structure. In disease conditions, alterations in the primary components of these fibers, such as type I collagen molecules in bone, tendons, and ligaments, assembly into a disorganized fibers architecture generating a weak and/or brittle material. Being able to quantitatively assess the fibers orientation and organization in biological tissue may help improve our understanding of their contribution to the tissue and organ mechanical integrity, and assess disease progress and therapy effect.

Lack of TRIC-B dysregulates cytoskeleton assembly, trapping β-catenin at osteoblast adhesion sites.

The trimeric intracellular cation channel B (TRIC-B), encoded by TMEM38B, is a potassium (K) channel present in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, where it counterbalances calcium (Ca) exit. Lack of TRIC-B activity causes a recessive form of the skeletal disease osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), namely OI type XIV, characterized by impaired intracellular Ca flux and defects in osteoblast (OB) differentiation and activity. Taking advantage of the OB-specific Tmem38b knockout mouse (Runx2Cre;Tmem38b; cKO), we investigated how the ion imbalance affects the osteogenetic process.

High Gain, Low Voltage Solar-Blind Deep UV Photodetector Based on GaO/(AlGa)O/GaN nBp Heterojunction.

In this study an (AlGa)O barrier layer is inserted between β-GaO and GaN in a p-GaN/n-GaO diode photodetector, causing the dark current to decrease considerably, and device performance to improve significantly. The β-GaO/β-(AlGa)O/GaN n-type/Barrier/p-type photodetector achieves a photocurrent gain of 1246, responsivity of 237 A W, and specific detectivity of 5.23 × 10 cm Hz W under a bias of -20 V.

Experimental Investigation of Cadmium Isotope Fractionation during Adsorption on Montmorillonite and Kaolinite.

Cadmium (Cd) isotopes have recently emerged as novel tracers of Cd sources and geochemical processes. Widespread clay minerals play a key role in Cd migration due to their strong adsorption capacity, but the mechanism of Cd isotope fractionation during adsorption onto clay minerals is poorly understood. Here, we experimentally investigated the adsorption mechanisms of Cd on montmorillonite (2:1) and kaolinite (1:1) by using extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy.

An intersectional examination of the relationship between racial/ethnic discrimination and psychotic-like experiences: the role of other psychiatric symptoms.

Background: Racial and ethnic experiences of discrimination (EODs) are associated with numerous psychiatric symptoms, including outcomes along the psychosis spectrum; however, less is known about mechanisms by which EODs confer risk for psychotic-like experiences (PLEs; common subthreshold psychotic symptoms). Furthermore, work on gendered racism asserts that the intersection of race and gender impacts the nature of EODs experienced and, in turn, may impact the relationship between EODs and PLEs.

Aims: To utilize an intersectional lens (race and gender) to examine whether psychological correlates of EODs (post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, and dissociation) mediate the EOD-PLE relationship.

The songbird connectome (OSCINE-NET.ORG): structure-function organization beyond the canonical vocal control network.

Background: Understanding the neural basis of behavior requires insight into how different brain systems coordinate with each other. Existing connectomes for various species have highlighted brain systems essential to various aspects of behavior, yet their application to complex learned behaviors remains limited. Research on vocal learning in songbirds has extensively focused on the vocal control network, though recent work implicates a variety of circuits in contributing to important aspects of vocal behavior.

Distressing Aspects of Elder Abuse Victimization: Perspective of Survivors.

Objectives: Our understanding of elder abuse (EA) phenomena has largely been shaped from the perspective of researchers and professionals whose conceptualizations often differ from the perceptions of older adults who experience mistreatment. This study sought to understand the most distressing aspects of EA victimization from the perspective of survivors.

Methods: Using a descriptive phenomenological approach, individual interviews were conducted with a diverse sample ( = 32) of EA survivors, recruited from EA support and Adult Protective Services programs in New York City and Los Angeles.

Enabling electric field model of microscopically realistic brain.

Background: Modeling brain stimulation at the microscopic scale may reveal new paradigms for various stimulation modalities.

Objective: We present the largest map to date of extracellular electric field distributions within a layer L2/L3 mouse primary visual cortex brain sample. This was enabled by the automated analysis of serial section electron microscopy images with improved handling of image defects, covering a volume of 250 × 140 × 90 μm³.

A novel chemical chaperone ameliorates osteoblast homeostasis and extracellular matrix in osteogenesis imperfecta.

Aims: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a collagen I-related heritable family of skeletal diseases associated to extreme bone fragility and deformity. Its classical forms are caused by dominant mutations in COL1A1 and COL1A2, which encode for the protein α chains, and are characterized by impairment in collagen I structure, folding, and secretion. Mutant collagen I assembles in an altered extracellular matrix affecting mineralization and bone properties and partially accumulating inside the cells, leading to impaired trafficking and cellular stress.

Lanthanide binding peptide surfactants at air-aqueous interfaces for interfacial separation of rare earth elements.

Rare earth elements (REEs) are critical materials to modern technologies. They are obtained by selective separation from mining feedstocks consisting of mixtures of their trivalent cation. We are developing an all-aqueous, bioinspired, interfacial separation using peptides as amphiphilic molecular extractants.

Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes as Optical Transducers for Nanobiosensors In Vivo.

Semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) may serve as signal transducers for nanobiosensors. Recent studies have developed innovative methods of engineering molecularly specific sensors, while others have devised methods of deploying such sensors within live animals and plants. These advances may potentiate the use of implantable, noninvasive biosensors for continuous drug, disease, and contaminant monitoring based on the optical properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs).

Conditional cooperation with longer memory.

Direct reciprocity is a wide-spread mechanism for the evolution of cooperation. In repeated interactions, players can condition their behavior on previous outcomes. A well-known approach is given by reactive strategies, which respond to the coplayer's previous move.

Regional PM prediction with hybrid directed graph neural networks and Spatio-temporal fusion of meteorological factors.

Traditional statistical prediction methods on PM often focus on a single temporal or spatial dimension, with limited consideration for regional transport interactions among adjacent cities. To address this limitation, we propose a hybrid directed graph neural network method based on deep learning, which utilizes domain features to quantify the influence of neighboring cities and construct a directed graph. The model comprises a historical feature extraction module and a future transmission prediction module, and each module integrates a Graph Neural Network (GNN) and a Long Short-Term Memory Network (LSTM) for spatiotemporal encoding.

Formation of Twin-Free Single Phase β-InSe Layers via Selenium Diffusion into InP(111)B Substrate.

Indium selenide, InSe, has recently attracted growing interest due to its remarkable properties, including room temperature ferroelectricity, outstanding photoresponsivity, and exotic in-plane ferroelectricity, which open up new regimes for next generation electronics. InSe also provides the important advantage of tuning the electrical properties of ultrathin layers with an external electrical and magnetic field, making it a potential platform to study novel two-dimensional physics. Yet, InSe has many different polymorphs, and it has been challenging to synthesize a single phase material, especially using scalable growth methods, as needed for technological applications.

Queer- and trans-inclusive faculty hiring-A call for change.

As queer and trans scientists, we face varied and systemic barriers to our professional success, resulting in our relative absence from faculty ranks at many institutions. In this Perspective, we call for a change in faculty hiring practices and present concrete guidance to make it a more inclusive process.

New Insights Into The Melanin Structure Of .

is a filamentous fungus with a global distribution, manifesting particularly higher prevalence in human-impacted environments. This organism is associated with a wide spectrum of human infections, especially in immunosuppressed individuals, for whom it causes severe and debilitating illnesses with high morbidity and mortality that are compounded by its pan-resistant profile with respect to antifungal drugs. Melanin is a ubiquitous pigment among fungi with a broad range of actions that include promoting fungal virulence.

The effect of cancer and cancer treatment on attention control: evidence from anti-saccade performance.

Purpose: Cancer and cancer treatment have been associated with cognitive changes in survivorship, with forgetfulness and distractibility reported years post-treatment. Deficits in attention control may explain these difficulties. We assessed breast cancer survivors using a primary measure of attention control, the saccade/antisaccade task, to assess the effects of diagnosis and treatment.