Convergent evidence for the temperature-dependent emergence of silicification in terrestrial plants.

Research on silicon (Si) biogeochemistry and its beneficial effects for plants has received significant attention over several decades, but the reasons for the emergence of high-Si plants remain unclear. Here, we combine experimentation, field studies and analysis of existing databases to test the role of temperature on the expression and emergence of silicification in terrestrial plants. We first show that Si is beneficial for rice under high temperature (40 °C), but harmful under low temperature (0 °C), whilst a 2 °C increase results in a 37% increase in leaf Si concentrations.

Predicting falls with ultrasound, physical parameters or fall-risk questions among older adults: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Falls are a significant issue among older adults, leading to morbidity and mortality. Screening for fall risk in the ED is crucial but challenging due to time limitations and patient conditions. Sarcopenia, characterized by muscle loss, is associated with increased fall risk, and ultrasound has been proposed as a non-invasive tool to measure muscle mass in this context.

Efficacy of Voice Therapy for Vocal Fold Masses: Avoidance of Surgery.

Introduction: Voice abuse and misuse are the most common causes of benign vocal fold lesions (BVFL). Treatment may include a combination of voice therapy, singing sessions, or surgical resection. Otolaryngologists and speech language pathologists advocate for preoperative, as well as postoperative, voice therapy.

Experimental and DFT Studies of Intermolecular Interaction-Assisted Oxindole Cyclization Reaction of Di-t-butyl 2-Aminophenyl-2-methyl Malonate.

Density functional theory calculations on the cyclization of di-t-butyl 2-(2-aminophenyl)-2-methyl malonate (1) to t-butyl 3-methyloxindole-3-carboxylate (2) reveal that acetic acid-assisted protonation of the carbonyl oxygen atom reduces the activation Gibbs free energy significantly lower than methanol-assisted pathways. Experimental data confirm that reaction concentration plays a pivotal role in oxindole formation. Experimental results also indicate distinct reaction mechanisms at low and high concentrations.

In-Situ Monitoring of Dissolution and Crystallization Processes of Carbamazepine Using Low-Frequency Raman Spectroscopy and Multivariate Analysis.

Optimization of the manufacturing process based on scientific evidence is essential for quality control of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Real-time monitoring can ensure the production of stable quality crystals in the crystallization process. Raman spectroscopy is an attractive tool for pharmaceutical quality evaluation and process analytical technology because of its ability to analyze samples non-destructively and rapidly.

Preexisting multimorbidity predicts greater mortality risks related to long-term PM exposure.

Long-term health risk assessments related to ambient fine particulate matter (PM) exposure have been more limited to general population but not towards individuals suffering from multimorbidity. While both multimorbidity and PM are independently linked to elevated mortality risk, their combined effects and interactions remain practically unexplored. A cross-cohort analysis was undertaken on data from 3 prospective cohorts, initially enrolling 869038 adults aged ≥18 years followed up during 2005-2022.

The inflammatory profiling in a cohort of older patients suffering from cognitive decline and dementia.

Background: During aging, there is a progressive impairment of immune cell function that triggers the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines causing the so-called "inflammaging". Frailty represents a condition of increased vulnerability to stresses and reduced homeostatic reserve reflecting not only health status but also biological age. In older subjects without dementia, we showed that markers of inflammaging were differently associated with chronological age than with frailty.

1-year efficacy results after MR-guided risk-adapted stereotactic radiotherapy of infra-diaphragmatic oligometastases in a multicenter phase II trial.

Background And Purpose: The SOFT (Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy of infra-diaphragmatic sOFT tissue metastases) trial assesses the safety and efficacy of risk-adapted MR-guided stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) of infra-diaphragmatic soft tissue metastasis in patients with oligometastatic disease (OMD) (clinicaltrials.gov ID NCT04407897). This paper reports the one-year efficacy analysis and evaluates associations between local control (LC) and clinical and dosimetric parameters.

Age bias in changes in finger dexterity based on brain activation and spinal motor nerve excitability induced by motor imagery practice.

Elderly adults may have poorer recall ability than young adults and may not fully enjoy the effects of motor imagery. To understand the age bias of the effect of motor imagery on hand dexterity, we evaluated brain activation and spinal motor nerve excitability. Brain activation was evaluated from changes in oxygenated hemoglobin concentration, while spinal motor nerve excitability was evaluated from F-waves in eight young (mean age 21.

ALTERNATIVE AUTOLOGOUS VEIN GRAFTS VERSUS SINGLE SEGMENT GREAT SAPHENOUS VEIN IN LOWER EXTREMITY BYPASS SURGERY - SINGLE-CENTER STUDY.

Objectives: Studies comparing alternative autologous vein grafts (AAVG) to single-segment great saphenous vein (ssGSV) grafts report mixed results. The status of AAVG as first choice when ssGSV is unavailable is not unequivocal, based on current evidence. Our study compares results between AAVG and ssGSV in lower extremity bypass surgery.

Optical time-lapse microscopy for rapid assessment of microbial quality in hygroscopic food samples.

In the food industry, time-to-result is crucial for faster release of products, minimising recalls, mitigation of microbial contamination problems and, ultimately, food safety. Carrageenan is isolated from red seaweed (Rhodophyta) and applied in various foods and beverages as a gelling, thickening, texturing, or stabilizing agent due to its hygroscopic properties. Currently, the standard industry plate count method entails a one-hundred-fold dilution of the sample before mixing with molten agar for assessment of the level of microbial contamination in carrageenan samples prior to business-to-business shipment.

Inhibition of hydrogen peroxide-induced senescence markers by yeast-derived vacuoles in human lung fibroblasts.

Senescence significantly contributes to aging in various tissues, influenced by factors such as lysosomal alkalinization, which disrupts autophagic flux and accumulates toxic substances. This disruption leads to oxidative stress, increased lysosomal permeability, cellular senescence, and apoptosis. Similar to mammalian lysosomes, S.

Enhancing single-stage partial nitritation-anammox process with airlift inner-circulation and oxygen partition: a novel strategy for treating high-strength ammonium wastewater.

In the single-stage partial nitritation-anammox process for high-ammonium wastewater treatment, the presence of sufficient biomass with high activity is essential. This study developed an innovative airlift inner-circulation partition bioreactor (AIPBR) with a dual-cylinder structure. During the 362 days' operation, the AIPBR exhibited robust and stable nitrogen removal performance under diverse influent ammonium spanning from 300 to 1800 mg N/L.

Shifting surface plasmon resonance wavelength to the far-ultraviolet region with aluminum-based sensors.

A novel aluminum (Al)-based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor operating in the far-ultraviolet (FUV, <200 nm) region has been developed. By utilizing a thinner Al film compared to previously reported deep-ultraviolet (DUV, <300 nm) SPR sensors, the SPR wavelength was effectively maintained within the FUV region across various liquids. In the presence of resonant molecules, the SPR wavelength shift was notably enhanced.

Biolubricants from waste cooking oil: A review of extraction technologies, conversion techniques, and performance enhancement using natural antioxidants.

Effective management of agricultural and industrial by-products is essential for promoting circular economic practices and enhancing environmental sustainability. Agri-food wastes and waste cooking oil (WCO) represent two abundant residual streams with significant potential for sustainable biolubricant production. Valorizing biomass and WCO aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7, as it improves energy efficiency through enhanced lubricant performance and reduced energy loss.

Coloured overlays improve reading speed and reading experience in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome.

High prevalences of visual dysfunction and reading-related symptoms have been found in patients with rehabilitation needs after COVID-19 infection. The purpose of this study was to study the effects of coloured overlays on reading speed and reading experience. Twenty-nine patients (45.

Safety comparison between Pfizer BNT162b2, Moderna mRNA-1273, and AstraZeneca AZD1222 in a Nationwide prospective cohort survey at the beginning of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccination in Japan.

This study was conducted at 112 government and Juntendo University hospitals in February 2021 for the primary series of SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations. We compared the timing of solicited adverse event (AE) onset and prevalence of unsolicited AEs for Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca vaccines in a nationwide, large-scale prospective cohort study. The Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines were associated with a higher frequency of fever after the second dose than after the first dose.

Stability of antipsychotic biomarkers for wastewater-based epidemiology.

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) offers a promising approach by providing objective data on antipsychotic drug consumption within a population that can be used to monitor abuse, misuse, and regional prescription patterns. However, accurate estimations depend on knowing the stability of drug biomarkers. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the stability of 11 antipsychotic biomarkers (parent drugs and their metabolites) in influent wastewater, using a series of experiments mimicking in-sewer transport (in-sewer setup and deconjugation) and in-sample stability (benchtop, frozen cartridge, long-term sample storage, and freeze-thaw).

Prolgolimab with chemotherapy as first-line treatment for advanced non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background: Prolgolimab is an IgG1 anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody with the Fc-silencing 'LALA' mutation. The phase III DOMAJOR study assessed efficacy and safety of prolgolimab in combination with pemetrexed and platinum-based chemotherapy vs placebo in combination with pemetrexed and platinum-based chemotherapy as first-line treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: 292 patients with advanced non-squamous NSCLC were randomized 1:1 to receive 4 cycles of pemetrexed, platinum-based drug and either prolgolimab (3 mg/kg Q3W) or placebo followed by prolgolimab/placebo with pemetrexed until disease progression or toxicity (≤36 months).

miR378a-3p in serum extracellular vesicles is associated with pancreatic beta-cell mass in diabetic states.

The condition in which the insulin secretory ability of pancreatic β-cells decreases in diabetes is extremely important, but there are currently no biomarkers that reflect pancreatic β-cell failure. Therefore, we conducted a search for biomarkers, using pancreatic β-cell-specific 3-Phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) knockout mice, which develop severe hyperglycemia due to a decrease in pancreatic β-cell mass without insulin resistance. The analysis was performed in young mice when metabolic abnormalities were not yet apparent.

Estimating the Prevalence of Schizophrenia in the General Population of Japan Using an Artificial Neural Network-Based Schizophrenia Classifier: Web-Based Cross-Sectional Survey.

Background: Estimating the prevalence of schizophrenia in the general population remains a challenge worldwide, as well as in Japan. Few studies have estimated schizophrenia prevalence in the Japanese population and have often relied on reports from hospitals and self-reported physician diagnoses or typical schizophrenia symptoms. These approaches are likely to underestimate the true prevalence owing to stigma, poor insight, or lack of access to health care among respondents.

Fatuamide A, a Hybrid PKS/NRPS Metallophore from a sp. Marine Cyanobacterium Collected in American Samoa.

A structurally novel metabolite, fatuamide A (), was discovered from a laboratory cultured strain of the marine cyanobacterium sp., collected from Faga'itua Bay, American Samoa. A bioassay-guided approach using NCI-H460 human lung cancer cells directed the isolation of fatuamide A, which was obtained from the most cytotoxic fraction.

Anomalous superconductivity in twisted MoTe nanojunctions.

Introducing superconductivity in topological materials can lead to innovative electronic phases and device functionalities. Here, we present a unique strategy for quantum engineering of superconducting junctions in moiré materials through direct, on-chip, and fully encapsulated 2D crystal growth. We achieve robust and designable superconductivity in Pd-metalized twisted bilayer molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe) and observe anomalous superconducting effects in high-quality junctions across ~20 moiré cells.

Impact of Ligand-Induced Oligomer Dissociation on Enzyme Diffusion, Directly Observed at the Single-Molecule Level.

The existence of the phenomenon of enhanced enzyme diffusion (EED) has been a topic of debate in recent literature. One proposed mechanism to explain the origin of EED is oligomeric enzyme dissociation. We used mass photometry (MP), a label-free single-molecule technique, to investigate the dependence of the oligomeric states of several enzymes on their ligands.

Computational Methods for Modeling Lipid-Mediated Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Delivery.

Lipid-mediated delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) opened new possibilities in advanced therapies. By encapsulating an API into a lipid nanocarrier (LNC), one can safely deliver APIs not soluble in water, those with otherwise strong adverse effects, or very fragile ones such as nucleic acids. However, for the rational design of LNCs, a detailed understanding of the composition-structure-function relationships is missing.