Microfluidics for studying the deep underground biosphere: from applications to fundamentals.

In this review, selected examples are presented to demonstrate how microfluidic approaches can be utilized for investigating microbial life from deep geological environments, both from practical and fundamental perspectives. Beginning with the definition of the deep underground biosphere and the conventional experimental techniques employed for these studies, the use of microfluidic systems for accessing critical parameters of deep life in geological environments at the microscale is subsequently addressed (high pressure, high temperature, low volume). Microfluidics can simulate a range of environmental conditions on a chip, enabling rapid and comprehensive studies of microbial behavior and interactions in subsurface ecosystems, such as simulations of porous systems, interactions among microbes/microbes/minerals, and gradient cultivation.

Use of H-labeled nanoplastics to study their accumulation and toxicity in Daphniamagna.

Understanding the interactions between nanoplastics (NP) and biota is essential for risk assessment. However, NP quantification in complex matrices remains a challenge, especially when they are not labeled. Most labeling strategies consists in adding another compound (fluorophore, metal, lanthanide …) to the polymer, which can alter the NP properties and poses a risk of leaching phenomena.

Navigating Mathematical Basics: A Primer for Deep Learning in Science.

We present a gentle introduction to elementary mathematical notation with the focus of communicating deep learning principles. This is a "math crash course" aimed at quickly enabling scientists with understanding of the building blocks used in many equations, formulas, and algorithms that describe deep learning. While this short presentation cannot replace solid mathematical knowledge that needs multiple courses and years to solidify, our aim is to allow nonmathematical readers to overcome hurdles of reading texts that also use such mathematical notation.

Charge as a key physicochemical factor in adsorption of organic micropollutants from wastewater effluent by rice husk bio-silica.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) often fail to fully remove organic micro-pollutants (OMPs), necessitating advanced treatment methods. This study examines the potential of an agricultural waste-derived adsorbent, rice husk (RH) - silica, for removing a complex mixture of 20 OMPs in MilliQ water and wastewater effluent. While RH-silica shows potential for OMP removal, its performance with multicomponent mixtures in real wastewater has yet to be investigated.

Methylmercury degradation by hot spring sulfur-linked microbial communities as a dominant pathway in regulating mercury speciation.

Sulfidic hot springs harbor unique microbial communities and are important in mercury (Hg) species transformations, although the fine scale drivers of these processes remain poorly understood. Here we studied Hg speciation in water, biofilms, and sediment across three sampling seasons in a French sulfidic hot spring with low Hg concentrations. Microbial Hg species methylation and demethylation potentials were evaluated using incubation experiments with species-specific Hg isotope tracers.

An optimized whole-body corticosteroid hormones quantification method by LC-MS/MS for assessing stress levels in European glass eels (Anguilla anguilla).

The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) juvenile stage exhibits facultative estuarine migration. The causes of this behavior are yet unknown but it may have an impact on the population's fate by altering the sex ratio of the population. Recent studies have highlighted potential stress-related issues in glass eels settling in estuaries but studying stress response in small organisms requires sensitive, accurate and precise analytical methods.

When subcellular chemical imaging enlightens our understanding on intestinal absorption, intracellular fate and toxicity of PFOA in vitro.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a persistent organic pollutant that accumulates in the human body, leading to major health issues. Upon oral uptake, the gastrointestinal tract is the first biological barrier against PFOA. However, the localization of PFOA and its impact on the intestinal wall are largely unknown.

Effect of Reactive Oxygen Species Photoproduced in Different Water Matrices on the Photostability of Gadusolate and Mycosporine-Serinol.

In the past few years, there has been an increasing interest in mycosporines-UV-absorbing molecules-bringing important insights into their intrinsic properties as natural sunscreens. Herein, mycosporine-serinol and gadusol (enolate form)/gadusolate were exposed to UV radiation via a solar simulator and the photostability was assessed in pure water and different natural matrices like river, estuary and ocean water. In general, this study revealed that the photodegradation of gadusolate and mycosporine-serinol was higher in natural matrices than in pure water due to the generation of singlet oxygen on UV irradiation.

Artificial subsurface lithoautotrophic microbial ecosystems and gas storage in deep subsurface.

Over the next few years, it is planned to convert all or part of the underground gas storage (UGS) facilities used for natural gas (salt caverns, depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs, and deep aquifers) into underground dihydrogen (H2) storage reservoirs. These deep environments host microbial communities, some of which are hydrogenotrophic (sulfate reducers, acetogens, and methanogens). The current state of microbiological knowledge is thus presented for the three types of UGS facilities.

Unravelling the metabolomic signatures of migrant and non-migrant glass eels (Anguilla anguilla) and their response to diazepam exposure.

Understanding the migratory cycle of the European eel is crucial for implementing effective conservation measures. The reasons why some glass eels settle in lower estuaries rather than migrating upriver remain unclear. This study aims to identify metabolomic signatures that distinguish active (migrant) from inactive (non-migrant) glass eels.

Effects of refeeding with low- or high-carbohydrate diets on intermediary carbohydrate metabolism in juvenile and adult Nile tilapia.

Generally, energy expenditure and compensation according to food deprivation and refeeding often occur along the life cycle of farmed-raised fish. Fasting and refeeding are also hypothesised to modulate carbohydrate metabolism particularly for herbivorous and/or omnivorous. This study aims to investigate the effects of short-term fasting and subsequent refeeding with high or low-carbohydrate diets on the intermediary carbohydrate metabolism of juvenile and adult Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) which is known to be a good user of carbohydrate as an energy source.

Hypervalent iodine-mediated cyclization of bishomoallylamides to prolinols.

A change in mechanism was observed in the hypervalent iodine-mediated cyclization of -alkenylamides when the carbon chain between the alkene and the amide increased from two to three atoms. In the latter case, cyclization at the amide nitrogen to form the pyrrolidine ring was favored over cyclization at the amide oxygen. A DFT study was undertaken to rationalize the change in mechanism of this cyclization process.

European eel (Anguilla anguilla) survival modeling based on a 22-year capture-mark-recapture survey of a Mediterranean subpopulation.

Since the 1980s, the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) has declined by over 90% in recruitment across its European and North African distribution area. This diadromous fish spawns at sea and migrates into continental waters, where it grows for three to more than 30 years, depending on habitat conditions and location. During their growth, different habitat use tactics can locally influence the life-history traits of eels, including their survival rates.

The global loss of avian functional and phylogenetic diversity from anthropogenic extinctions.

Humans have been driving a global erosion of species richness for millennia, but the consequences of past extinctions for other dimensions of biodiversity-functional and phylogenetic diversity-are poorly understood. In this work, we show that, since the Late Pleistocene, the extinction of 610 bird species has caused a disproportionate loss of the global avian functional space along with ~3 billion years of unique evolutionary history. For island endemics, proportional losses have been even greater.

Reproducible 3D culture of multicellular tumor spheroids in supramolecular hydrogel from cancer stem cells sorted by sedimentation field-flow fractionation.

Three-dimensional (3D) cancer models, such as multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS), are biological supports used for research in oncology, drug development and nanotoxicity assays. However, due to various analytical and biological challenges, the main recurring problem faced when developing this type of 3D model is the lack of reproducibility. When using a 3D support to assess the effect of biologics, small molecules or nanoparticles, it is essential that the support remains constant over time and multiples productions.

Fate and impact at molecular level of diatrizoic acid and iohexol contrast agents in Dreissena polymorpha mollusks.

Iodinated contrast media (ICMs) used in X-ray imaging for medical diagnostics are released into wastewater and then encountered in river water at concentrations ranging from several dozen to hundreds of µg/L, and even thousands of µg/L in hospital effluents. ICMs are considered as emerging pollutants as their occurrence and impact on ecosystems and the environment are poorly documented. Even if they are considered inert for humans, aquatic organisms are continuously exposed to ICMs, and their potential deleterious effects are therefore questioned as we have recently demonstrated that they enter into organisms such as the zebra mussels.

Spectral library and method for sparse unmixing of hyperspectral images in fluorescence guided resection of brain tumors.

Through spectral unmixing, hyperspectral imaging (HSI) in fluorescence-guided brain tumor surgery has enabled the detection and classification of tumor regions invisible to the human eye. Prior unmixing work has focused on determining a minimal set of viable fluorophore spectra known to be present in the brain and effectively reconstructing human data without overfitting. With these endmembers, non-negative least squares regression (NNLS) was commonly used to compute the abundances.

Metabolites derived from radical oxidation of PUFA: NEO-PUFAs, promising molecules for health?

Oxidative stress plays a critical role in numerous pathological processes. Under these stress conditions, the free radical-catalyzed lipid peroxidation generates in vivo a large number of key products that are involved in many physiological and pathophysiological processes. Among these products are neuroprostanes, which arise from the peroxidation of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and isoprostanes, resulting from arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) through the same peroxidation process.

Impaired Upper Airway Muscle Function with Excessive or Deficient Dietary Intake of Selenium in Rats.

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) involves impaired upper airway muscle function and is linked to several pathologies including systemic hypertension, daytime somnolence and cognitive decline. Selenium is an essential micronutrient that exerts many of its effects through selenoproteins. Evidence indicates that either deficient or excessive dietary selenium intake can result in impaired muscle function, termed nutritional myopathy.

Multidimensional Analysis of Physiological Entropy during Self-Paced Marathon Running.

The pacing of a marathon is arguably the most challenging aspect for runners, particularly in avoiding a sudden decline in speed, or what is colloquially termed a "wall", occurring at approximately the 30 km mark. To gain further insight into the potential for optimizing self-paced marathon performance through the coding of comprehensive physiological data, this study investigates the complex physiological responses and pacing strategies during a marathon, with a focus on the application of Shannon entropy and principal component analysis (PCA) to quantify the variability and unpredictability of key cardiorespiratory measures. Nine recreational marathon runners were monitored throughout the marathon race, with continuous measurements of oxygen uptake (V˙O), carbon dioxide output (V˙CO), tidal volume (Vt), heart rate, respiratory frequency (Rf), and running speed.

Catechol/-benzoquinone exchange at gold(iii).

Although gold(iii) chemistry has tremendously progressed in the past 2 decades, gold(iii) catecholate complexes remain extremely scarce and underdeveloped. Upon preparation and full characterization of P^C-cyclometalated gold(iii) complexes, we serendipitously uncovered an intriguing catechol exchange process at gold(iii). Electron-rich catecholates turned out to be readily displaced by electron-poor -benzoquinones.

The iodinated contrast agent diatrizoic acid has an impact on the metabolome of the mollusc Dreissena polymorpha.

The occurrence of iodinated contrast agents (ICAs) in the aquatic environment is relatively well documented, showing that these compounds can be found at several µg/L in natural waters, and up to hundreds of µg/L in waste water treatment plants inlets. Nevertheless, only few studies address their potential impacts and fate in aquatic organisms mainly because these compounds are considered non-toxic due to their intrinsic properties. However, as aquatic organisms are continuously exposed to these compounds, they could nonetheless induce some adverse effects on aquatic populations like filter feeder organisms.