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Prediction of rockslope dynamic evolution and catastrophic failure remains a fundamental challenge for scientists and practitioners, even though this topic has been studied for decades. Here we report about a case in the Swiss Alps, which has received worldwide attention, not only because a village was evacuated on May 12, 2023, and traffic corridors were progressively closed prior to the slope collapse, but also because this site had been studied and monitored with unprecedented detail during many years before failure. In 2023 the structural and dynamic evolution of the 2 million m3 suspended compound rockslide at Brienz/Brinzauls was closely monitored with diverse ground-based systems and continuously modeled with Voight's creep law. Substantial deviations from this classical failure model were observed, which are in most cases not related to variations in external driving factors, but diverse internal strength degradation processes. This led to a systematic analysis of Voight's model uncertainty and the development of an early warning system which includes supplementary early warning parameters to the classical velocity thresholds. We show how to treat the spatial and temporal variations of velocity thresholds and when they reach their applicability limit in a real-time early warning model. The unstable compartment at Brienz/Brinzauls progressively collapsed in the night of June 15, 2023, and generated a series of dry granular flows and rock mass falls, which just stopped at the Brienz settlement boundary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Post COVID-19 condition (PCC) is increasingly recognized as a debilitating condition characterized by persistent symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Neuropsychological deficits, including cognitive impairments and fatigue, are prevalent in individuals with PCC. The PoCoRe study aimed to evaluate the burden of neuropsychological deficits in PCC patients undergoing multidisciplinary indoor rehabilitation and to describe possible changes in this symptomatology. Methods: The PoCoRe study, a prospective, non-randomized, controlled longitudinal study, recruited PCC patients from six German indoor rehabilitation centers. Eligible participants underwent comprehensive neuropsychological assessments at admission and discharge. Various measures were employed, including the fatigue scale for motor functioning and cognition (FSMC), the Test Battery for Attention (TAP) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Results: Out of the 1,086 recruited participants, a total of N = 701 participants were included in the main data analysis. The prevalence of fatigue on admission was high (84.6%) and decreased significantly by discharge (77.4%), with a mild effect size. Reaction times on the alertness subtest were abnormal in 70% of patients on admission and 50% on discharge. Sustained attention was abnormal in 55% of patients on admission, decreasing to 43% on discharge. These differences were significant with mild effect sizes. Furthermore, of the 27% of participants with pathological MoCA scores at admission, 63% improved to normative levels during rehabilitation, indicating a significant treatment effect (p ≤ 0.001). However, the MoCA demonstrated limited sensitivity in detecting attention deficits. Conclusion: The PoCoRe study highlights the high prevalence of neuropsychological deficits and fatigue in PCC patients, with notable improvements observed following multidisciplinary rehabilitation. Challenges remain in accurately identifying and addressing these deficits, underscoring the importance of comprehensive neuropsychological assessment and tailored rehabilitation interventions. Further research is warranted to optimize screening tools and enhance neuropsychological care for PCC patients in both rehabilitation and outpatient settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study evaluates the effect of power wheelchair telemonitoring and battery charging training on user charging behavior and repair measures and assesses the relationship between wheelchair usage and repair measures to support technician-led servicing.Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of two matched cohorts with a total of n=237 users from the NHS service dataset. In the training cohort, a wheelchair usage telemonitoring device monitored the battery usage of n=119 power wheelchair users for 12 months. Users whose battery charging behavior was not optimal were instructed on appropriate charging practices. Wheelchair usage parameters of wheelchair drive and power time every month were used to predict repairs and associated costs.Results: Fifty-four out of 119 users in the training cohort did not charge batteries regularly and were instructed on appropriate charging. Twenty-six of them changed their behavior and charged their batteries every night. This cohort experienced reduced battery repairs by 18%, wheelchair repairs by 11%, and repair costs by £3,092 compared to a matched standard care cohort (n=118). User age and drive time were associated with repair measures. Drive time predicted time-to-failure for wheelchair parts and classified failure risk with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve as 0.71 (95% CI 0.61 to 0.82; p<.001). Conclusions: By leveraging the significant relationships between wheelchair usage and repairs, wheelchair users at risk of part failures can be identified, and technician-led servicing tools for proactive interventions can be developed. Wheelchair battery health telemonitoring and instructing users on appropriate battery charging reduced repairs and associated costs. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Proactive wheelchair servicing by repair technicians in collaboration with wheelchair users safeguards users against critical part failures and minimises repair-related operating costs for service providers. Providers should leverage wheelchair telemonitoring technologies and related research outputs to improve repair services and support their clients' continued mobility and community participation. It is important that healthcare plans and policies recognise the benefits of proactive wheelchair servicing and use data as a tool to allocate device usage and performance-based reimbursements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has resulted in 762 million infections worldwide from 2020 to date, of which approximately ten percent are suffering from the effects after infection in 2019 (COVID-19) [1, 40]. In Germany, it is now assumed that at least one million people suffer from post-COVID condition with long-term consequences. These have been previously reported in diseases like Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Symptoms show a changing variability and recent surveys in the COVID context indicate that 10–30 % of outpatients, 50 to 70% of hospitalised patients suffer from sequelae. Recent data suggest that only 13% of all ill people were completely free of symptoms after recovery [3, 9]. Current hypotheses consider chronic inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, latent viral persistence, autoimmunity, changes of the human microbiome or multilocular sequelae in various organ system after infection. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is applied since 1957 for heart surgery, scuba dive accidents, CO intoxication, air embolisms and infections with anaerobic pathogens. Under hyperbaric pressure, oxygen is physically dissolved in the blood in higher concentrations and reaches levels four times higher than under normobaric oxygen application. Moreover, the alternation of hyperoxia and normoxia induces a variety of processes at the cellular level, which improves oxygen supply in areas of locoregional hypoxia. Numerous target gene effects on new vessel formation, anti-inflammatory and anti-oedematous effects have been demonstrated [74]. The provision of intermittently high, local oxygen concentrations increases repair and regeneration processes and normalises the predominance of hyperinflammation. At present time only one prospective, randomized and placebo-controlled study exists with positive effects on global cognitive function, attention and executive function, psychiatric symptoms and pain interference. In conclusion, up to this date HBO is the only scientifically proven treatment in a prospective randomized controlled trial to be effective for cognitive improvement, regeneration of brain network and improvement of cardiac function. HBOT may have not only theoretical but also potential impact on targets of current pathophysiology of Post COVID condition, which warrants further scientific studies in patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cost engineering capabilities are becoming increasingly important for the competitiveness of industrial firms, especially for engineer to order products (ETOPs). Despite this relevance, the literature on the use of advanced data-driven methodologies, such as machine learning (ML), for early cost estimation (CE) of ETOPs is quite sparse. Furthermore, ML has still seen little use in real industrial applications due to several challenges. Accordingly, the objective of this paper is threefold: (a) to develop a solid early CE approach for ETOPs, including feature selection; (b) to investigate the benefits of adopting ML for ETOPs' CE; (c) to identify how ML can be introduced into real industrial context with little knowledge on ML. Long action research has been carried out with a large industrial company that produces Oil & Gas ETOPs. We observed how ML facilitates the exploration of the relationships between the choices of early design stages and the CE. ML algorithms also allowed to both capture the high variability of the data and test different combinations of cost drivers in very effective ways. The project resulted in an accurate CE framework with an iterative feature selection process and an approach for introducing ML into a real industrial context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Populist parties are held to be the drivers of unprecedented emotionalisation in electoral politics. Advancing theories of realignment and detachment, this article studies the temporal development in the affective alignments between voters and parties. In particular, it analyses the relationship between social structure, voters' affective orientations towards political parties, and vote choice over time by drawing on 625 representative population surveys from Germany over 44 years. The results show that voters' affective orientations are indeed becoming more important to vote choice. However, this reflects a return to the close link that already existed at the heyday of the original cleavages rather than something novel. What seems to have changed is the degree to which affective orientations are rooted in social structure. This not only qualifies overly myopic interpretations of populist success but has more general implications for the contemporary linkages between parties and voters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Today, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is rarely used in managing the care of premature neonates. This is in large part due to the medical and logistical challenges associated with moving neonates from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to the radiology department. Furthermore, acoustic noise associated with MR scanning poses safety concerns for both practitioners and neonatal patients. A small-format 3.0-T neonatal scanner was recently developed and placed within the NICU to address these logistical and acoustic challenges. Objective: To compare acoustic noise measurements of a small-format 3.0-T neonatal MRI scanner with conventional adult-sized 1.5-T and 3.0-T MRI scanners using identical neonatal head imaging protocols. Materials and methods: Sound pressure level (SPL) measurements of a standard imaging protocol were made in a small-format neonatal 3.0-T MRI scanner as well as in adult-sized 1.5-T and 3.0-T scanners. SPL measurements were made with a Brüel & Kjær sound level meter model 2250. The statistical significance of the differences in SPL between scanners was determined using one-way ANOVA. Results: Average sound pressure level values were measured in unweighted decibels (dB) and A-weighted decibels (dBA) for all imaging sequences in the protocol. The average A-weighted SPLs for the NICU from 1.5-T and 3.0-T MRI scanners were 81.02 ± 0.28 dBA, 87.00 ± 0.85 dBA, and 94.91 ± 0.65 dBA, respectively. SPLs at the isocenter of the NICU MRI scanner were 5.98 dBA quieter than in the 1.5-T scanner (P=0.007), and 13.89 dBA quieter than in the 3.0-T scanner (P<0.001). For staff standing next to the scanner, the NICU scanner was 20.24 dBA quieter than the 1.5-T scanner (P<0.001) and 19.28 dBA quieter than the 3.0-T scanner (P<0.001). Conclusion: The NICU 3.0-T MRI system is significantly quieter than conventional adult-sized MRI systems, improving safety for neonatal patients. Significant reductions in SPL were also noted inside the screen room where clinicians may be present during scanning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) has been proposed as a useful source of biomimetic materials for regenerative medicine due to its biological properties that regulate cell behaviors. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of decellularized ECM derived from dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) on gingival fibroblast (GF) cell behaviors. Cells were isolated from dental pulp and gingival tissues. ECM was derived from culturing dental pulp stem cells in growth medium supplemented with ascorbic acid. A bioinformatic database of the extracellular matrix was constructed using Metascape. GFs were reseeded onto dECM, and their adhesion, spreading, and organization were subsequently observed. The migration ability of the cells was determined using a scratch assay. Protein expression was evaluated using immunofluorescence staining. Results: Type 1 collagen and fibronectin were detected on the ECM and dECM derived from DPSCs. Negative phalloidin and nuclei were noted in the dECM. The proteomic database revealed enrichment of several proteins involved in ECM organization, ECM–receptor interaction, and focal adhesion. Compared with those on the controls, the GFs on the dECM exhibited more organized stress fibers. Furthermore, cultured GFs on dECM exhibited significantly enhanced migration and proliferation abilities. Interestingly, GFs seeded on dECM showed upregulation of FN1, ITGB3, and CTNNB1 mRNA levels. Conclusions: ECM derived from DSPCs generates a crucial microenvironment for regulating GF adhesion, migration and proliferation. Therefore, decellularized ECM from DPSCs could serve as a matrix for oral tissue repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chirurgie (2731-6971) is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We performed an extensive analysis of C-band SAR datasets provided by the European Space Agency (ESA) satellites ERS-1/2, Envisat ASAR, and Sentinel-1 in the period 1992–2020 aiming at reconstructing the multi-decadal spatial and temporal evolution of the surface displacements at the Brienz/Brinzauls landslide complex, located in canton Graubünden (Switzerland). To this end, we analyzed about 1000 SAR images by applying differential interferometry (InSAR), multitemporal stacking, and persistent scatterer interferometry (PSI) approaches. Moreover, we jointly considered digital image correlation (DIC) on high-resolution multi-temporal digital terrain models (DTM) generated from airborne surveys and InSAR results to compute 3-D surface deformation fields. The extensive network of GNSS stations across the Brienz landslide complex allowed us to extensively validate the deformation results obtained in our remote sensing analyses. Here, we illustrate the limitations occurring when relying on InSAR and/or PSI measurements for the analysis and interpretation of complex landslide scenarios, especially in cases of relevant spatial and temporal heterogeneities of the deformation field. The joint use of InSAR and DIC can deliver a better picture of the evolution of the deformation field, however, not for all displacement components. Since InSAR, PSI and DIC measurements are nowadays routinely used in the framework of local investigations, as well as in regional, national, and/or continental monitoring programs, our results are of major importance for users aiming at a comprehensive understanding of these datasets in landslide scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atherosclerotic lesions mainly form in arterial areas exposed to low shear stress (LSS), where endothelial cells express a senescent and inflammatory phenotype. Conversely, areas exposed to high shear stress (HSS) are protected from plaque development. Endothelial extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been shown to regulate inflammation and senescence, and therefore play a crucial role in vascular homeostasis. Whilst previous studies have shown links between hemodynamic forces and EV release, the effects of shear stress on the release and uptake of endothelial EVs remains elusive. We aim to decipher the interplay between these processes in endothelial cells exposed to atheroprone or atheroprotective shear stress. Confluent HUVECs were exposed to LSS or HSS for 24 h. Large and small EVs were isolated from conditioned medium by centrifugation and size exclusion chromatography. They were characterised by TEM, Western blot, tunable resistive pulse sensing, flow cytometry and proteomics. Uptake experiments were performed using fluorescently‐labelled EVs and differences between groups were assessed by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. We found that levels of large and small EVs in conditioned media were fifty and five times higher in HSS than in LSS conditions, respectively. In vivo and in vitro uptake experiments revealed greater EV incorporation by cells exposed to LSS conditions. Additionally, endothelial LSS‐EVs have a greater affinity for HUVECs than HSS‐EVs or EVs derived from platelets, erythrocytes and leukocytes. Proteomic analysis revealed that LSS‐EVs were enriched in adhesion proteins (PECAM1, MCAM), participating in EV uptake by endothelial cells. LSS‐EVs also carried mitochondrial material, which may be implicated in elevating ROS levels in recipient cells. These findings suggest that shear stress influences EV biogenesis and uptake. Given the major role of EVs and shear stress in vascular health, deciphering the relation between these processes may yield innovative strategies for the early detection and treatment of endothelial dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of MEDISAN is the property of Centro Provincial de Informacion en Ciencias Medicas de Santiago de Cuba and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The accurate large-scale classification of tree species is crucial for the monitoring, protection, and management of the Earth's invaluable forest ecosystems. Numerous previous studies have recognized the suitability of satellite imagery, particularly Sentinel-2 imagery, for this task. In this study, we utilized a dense phenology Sentinel-2 time series, which offered consistent data across multiple granules, to map tree species across the entire forested area in Austria. Aiming for the classification scheme to more accurately represent actual forest conditions, we included mixed tree species and sparsely populated classes (classes with sparse canopy cover) alongside pure tree species classes. To enhance the training data for the mixed and sparse classes, synthetic data creation was employed. Autocorrelation has significant implications for the validation of thematic maps. To investigate the impact of spatial dependency on validation data, two methods were employed at numerous split and buffer distances: spatial split validation and a validation method based on a buffered ground reference probability samples provided by the National Forest inventory (NFI). While a random training data holdout set yielded 99% accuracy, the spatial split validation resulted in 74% accuracy, emphasizing the importance of accounting for spatial autocorrelation when validating with holdout sets derived from polygon-based training data. The validation based on NFI data resulted in 55% overall accuracy, 91% post-hoc pure class accuracy, and 79% accuracy when confusions in phenological proximity were disregarded (e.g., spruce–larch confused with spruce). The significant differences in accuracy observed between spatial split and NFI validation underscore the challenge for polygon-based training data to capture ground reference forest complexity, particularly in areas with diverse forests. This hardship is further accentuated by the pure class accuracy of 91%, revealing the substantial impact of mixed stands on the accuracy of tree species maps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article shows that Christopher Franklin's No Opportunity Argument fails and argues that it puts requirements on the ability to do otherwise that have nothing to do with determinism. Topics discussed include the Possibility Principle, the idea of the No Possibility Argument, Humean reductionism, problems of non-fundamentality and crowding out, indeterminism and free will tailored for the No Opportunity Argument, and timing of actions and abilities as loopholes of the No Opportunity Argument.

Individual level or personal "responsibility" is often implicitly or explicitly used to improve sexual health outcomes. Rural women face unique contextual barriers that increase their risk for poorer sexual health. Therefore, the objective of this study was to understand how rural Iowa women define responsible sexual behavior (RSB) and to identify what contextual variables influence these women's ability to enact their definitions. This qualitative descriptive study used a semi-structured interview guide to conduct telephone interviews with rural women living in rural Iowa counties who have had (or planned to have) sex with men. Data were analyzed using within and across case analysis to produce defining and enacting themes of responsible sexual behavior. Ten women from eight Iowa counties completed telephone interviews. For rural women in this sample, RSB was defined as understanding the consequences of sex and taking action to manage risks by using contraception or abstinence, "knowing" your partner, and seeking knowledge and resources. The rural context influenced how participants acquired information and created barriers to enacting responsible sexual behavior. Rural women's definition of responsible sexual behavior did not align with rural values about sexuality. As a result, women often relied on informal information and resources. Emphasizing community-level interventions that act on contextual influences over individual approaches may further assist rural women in enacting responsible sexual behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide, ranking as the third most malignant. The incidence of CRC has been increasing with time, and it is reported that Westernized diet and lifestyle play a significant role in its higher incidence and rapid progression. The intake of high amounts of omega-6 (n − 6) PUFAs and low levels of omega-3 (n − 3) PUFAs has an important role in chronic inflammation and cancer progression, which could be associated with the increase in CRC prevalence. Oxylipins generated from PUFAs are bioactive lipid mediators and have various functions, especially in inflammation and proliferation. Carcinogenesis is often a consequence of chronic inflammation, and evidence has shown the particular involvement of n − 6 PUFA arachidonic acid-derived oxylipins in CRC, which is further described in this review. A deeper understanding of the role and metabolism of PUFAs by their modifying enzymes, their pathways, and the corresponding oxylipins may allow us to identify new approaches to employ oxylipin-associated immunomodulation to enhance immunotherapy in cancer. This paper summarizes oxylipins identified in the context of the initiation, development, and metastasis of CRC. We further explore CRC chemo-prevention strategies that involve oxylipins as potential therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction of Plasmodium falciparum—infected red blood cells (iRBCs) with the vascular endothelium plays a crucial role in malaria pathology and disease. KAHRP is an exported P. falciparum protein involved in iRBC remodelling, which is essential for the formation of protrusions or "knobs" on the iRBC surface. These knobs and the proteins that are concentrated within them allow the parasites to escape the immune response and host spleen clearance by mediating cytoadherence of the iRBC to the endothelial wall, but this also slows down blood circulation, leading in some cases to severe cerebral and placental complications. In this work, we have applied genetic and biochemical tools to identify proteins that interact with P. falciparum KAHRP using enhanced ascorbate peroxidase 2 (APEX2) proximity-dependent biotinylation and label-free shotgun proteomics. A total of 30 potential KAHRP-interacting candidates were identified, based on the assigned fragmented biotinylated ions. Several identified proteins have been previously reported to be part of the Maurer's clefts and knobs, where KAHRP resides. This study may contribute to a broader understanding of P. falciparum protein trafficking and knob architecture and shows for the first time the feasibility of using APEX2-proximity labelling in iRBCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the efficacy of utilizing dining hall napkins as a novel health messaging strategy to promote mindfulness. Undergraduate students at a large Midwestern university. Methods: Utilizing a place-based promotional strategy, mindfulness messages were printed on over 8-million napkins at dining halls. Surveys (N = 573) were used to measure message viewership, and attitudes toward mindfulness. While only a few small significant effects for students who read the messaging were found (e.g., increases in self-efficacy for keeping ones phone out of sight while speaking with someone), napkins appeared to be a successful channel for reaching students. About 97% of students who dined in-person indicated they saw the napkin messaging. Additionally, students were more likely to read the napkin messaging when dining in-person rather than when they took their food "to-go." Future research should continue to test napkins' efficacy as a messaging channel for health messaging for college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual systems adapt to different light environments through several avenues including optical changes to the eye and neurological changes in how light signals are processed and interpreted. Spectral sensitivity can evolve via changes to visual pigments housed in the retinal photoreceptors through gene duplication and loss, differential and coexpression, and sequence evolution. Frogs provide an excellent, yet understudied, system for visual evolution research due to their diversity of ecologies (including biphasic aquatic-terrestrial life cycles) that we hypothesize imposed different selective pressures leading to adaptive evolution of the visual system, notably the opsins that encode the protein component of the visual pigments responsible for the first step in visual perception. Here, we analyze the diversity and evolution of visual opsin genes from 93 new eye transcriptomes plus published data for a combined dataset spanning 122 frog species and 34 families. We find that most species express the four visual opsins previously identified in frogs but show evidence for gene loss in two lineages. Further, we present evidence of positive selection in three opsins and shifts in selective pressures associated with differences in habitat and life history, but not activity pattern. We identify substantial novel variation in the visual opsins and, using microspectrophotometry, find highly variable spectral sensitivities, expanding known ranges for all frog visual pigments. Mutations at spectral-tuning sites only partially account for this variation, suggesting that frogs have used tuning pathways that are unique among vertebrates. These results support the hypothesis of adaptive evolution in photoreceptor physiology across the frog tree of life in response to varying environmental and ecological factors and further our growing understanding of vertebrate visual evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular matrix (ECM) is an intricate structure providing the microenvironment niche that influences stem cell differentiation. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of decellularized ECM derived from human dental pulp stem cells (dECM_DPSCs) and gingival-derived mesenchymal stem cells (dECM_GSCs) as an inductive scaffold for osteogenic differentiation of GSCs. The proteomic analysis demonstrated that common and signature matrisome proteins from dECM_DPSCs and dECM_GSCs were related to osteogenesis/osteogenic differentiation. RNA sequencing data from GSCs reseeded on dECM_DPSCs revealed that dECM_DPSCs upregulated genes related to the Hippo and Wnt signaling pathways in GSCs. In the inhibitor experiments, results revealed that dECM_DPSCs superiorly promoted GSCs osteogenic differentiation, mainly mediated through Hippo and Wnt signaling. The present study emphasizes the promising translational application of dECM_DPSCs as a bio-scaffold rich in favorable regenerative microenvironment for tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarizes the research on countermeasures against driver fatigue based on a comprehensive systematic literature review. Driver fatigue, induced by task monotony during conditional automated driving (CAD, SAE Level 3), can increase the risk of road accidents. There are several measures that counteract driver fatigue and aim to reduce the risk caused by a fatigued driver in the context of CAD. Twelve selected articles focusing on driver fatigue countermeasures in CAD were analyzed. The findings and conclusions are presented, focusing on the countermeasures themselves and their implementation. The countermeasures were critically discussed, especially regarding effectiveness and applicability. They seem to be effective in counteracting driver fatigue. However, the measures are not easily compared because they were studied in various experimental settings and various driver fatigue measurements were used. Different countermeasures have proven to be effective in reducing fatigue during CAD. For this reason, further investigation is needed to gain further insights into their applications, advantages, and disadvantages. Further studies will be conducted to verify the best solution regarding their effectiveness and applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

T‐tubules (TT) form a complex network of sarcolemmal membrane invaginations, essential for well‐co‐ordinated excitation–contraction coupling (ECC) and thus homogeneous mechanical activation of cardiomyocytes. ECC is initiated by rapid depolarization of the sarcolemmal membrane. Whether TT membrane depolarization is active (local generation of action potentials; AP) or passive (following depolarization of the outer cell surface sarcolemma; SS) has not been experimentally validated in cardiomyocytes. Based on the assessment of ion flux pathways needed for AP generation, we hypothesize that TT are excitable. We therefore explored TT excitability experimentally, using an all‐optical approach to stimulate and record trans‐membrane potential changes in TT that were structurally disconnected, and hence electrically insulated, from the SS membrane by transient osmotic shock. Our results establish that cardiomyocyte TT can generate AP. These AP show electrical features that differ substantially from those observed in SS, consistent with differences in the density of ion channels and transporters in the two different membrane domains. We propose that TT‐generated AP represent a safety mechanism for TT AP propagation and ECC, which may be particularly relevant in pathophysiological settings where morpho‐functional changes reduce the electrical connectivity between SS and TT membranes. Key points: Cardiomyocytes are characterized by a complex network of membrane invaginations (the T‐tubular system) that propagate action potentials to the core of the cell, causing uniform excitation–contraction coupling across the cell.In the present study, we investigated whether the T‐tubular system is able to generate action potentials autonomously, rather than following depolarization of the outer cell surface sarcolemma.For this purpose, we developed a fully optical platform to probe and manipulate the electrical dynamics of subcellular membrane domains.Our findings demonstrate that T‐tubules are intrinsically excitable, revealing distinct characteristics of self‐generated T‐tubular action potentials.This active electrical capability would protect cells from voltage drops potentially occurring within the T‐tubular network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment guidelines state that evidence-based psychotherapy is effective for people with psychosis and bipolar disorder and should be offered during every phase of the treatment process. However, research has indicated a lack of outpatient psychotherapeutic services for this patient group, for example, in the United States or Germany. We extend this finding by presenting survey data from Switzerland. We surveyed 112 inpatients with a diagnosis of a schizophrenia spectrum disorder or bipolar disorder and assessed outpatient treatment over the 5 years prior to their index hospitalization by using retrospective self-reports. The survey focused on psychotherapy provided by clinical psychologists. Results indicate that only 23.2% of participants retrospectively reported having utilized any outpatient psychotherapy within the reporting period and only 8% of participants reported having received a number of outpatient sessions that reaches recommended levels of psychotherapy. Exploratory analyses did not detect a significant association between self-reported utilization of outpatient psychotherapy sessions and most demographic, psychiatric, and psychological attributes, but patients with a bipolar disorder diagnosis (vs schizophrenia spectrum diagnosis) reported having utilized outpatient treatment more often. These findings are preliminary. When replicated they highlight the need for increased access to outpatient psychotherapy and better alignment between guideline recommendations and outpatient supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the gendered discourses of the – seemingly favourable – media coverage that certain Heads of State received for their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking at media reports published in different English-speaking outlets in the US, the UK, India, Bangladesh, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, and Ireland, and using multimodal feminist critical discourse analysis, we identify and describe strategies that on the surface appear to challenge hegemonic – and largely masculine – discourses of leadership. Upon closer scrutiny, these superficially complimentary reports rather reinforce and naturalise discriminatory gender ideologies, and, as we demonstrate, they do so to different degrees along a continuum of essentialising, contextualising, and problematising. We critically discuss the discursive and visual processes involved and show that complimenting these leaders on their performance compares them against a masculine norm to construct their leadership as 'alternative', exceptional, and hence marked. This gendered portrayal of political leadership in times of crisis illustrates how the discursive construction of identities, responsibilities, and relationships during COVID-19 largely hinges on power relations and political ideologies that systematically disadvantage and undermine women. The purportedly positive form in which this occurs makes it particularly difficult to challenge and subvert these discriminatory discourses and their underlying gendered ideologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water infiltration into fractures is ubiquitous in crustal rocks. However, little is known about how such a progressive wetting process affects fracture stiffness and seismic wave propagation, which are highly relevant for characterizing fracture systems in situ. We study the acousto‐mechanical behavior of a free‐standing fractured granite subjected to gradual water infiltration with a downward‐moving wetting front over 12 days. We observe significant differences (i.e., by an order of magnitude) in wave amplitudes across the fractured granite compared to an intact granite, with both cases showing a strong correlation between wave amplitudes and wetting front movement. Effects of water infiltration into the fracture and surrounding matrix on seismic attenuation are captured by a numerical model with parameters constrained by experimental data. Back‐calculated fracture stiffness decreases exponentially with the wetting front migration along the fracture. We propose that moisture‐induced matrix expansion around the fracture increases asperity mismatch, leading to reduced fracture stiffness. Plain Language Summary: In the shallow layers of the Earth, hydrological cycles such as snowmelt, fog, dew, and rain have been shown to change the moisture content of crustal rocks, which can alter the elastic properties of natural fractures and affect the propagation of seismic waves. Understanding how seismic waves propagate in the near‐surface environment is crucial for the assessment of earthquake hazards and the characterization of geologic heterogeneities. In this work, we perform well‐controlled laboratory experiments to study the acousto‐mechanical behavior of a single fracture in granitic rock subjected to progressive wetting over 12 days. We report that the fracture stiffness decreases exponentially as the wetting front advances along the fracture. Our research sheds light on an important question in fracture characterization: how elastic waves propagate across a fracture undergoing moisture‐induced expansion. Key Points: A laboratory study establishes a relationship among water imbibition, seismic attenuation, and stiffness evolution in a wetted fractureWave amplitudes across a fracture correlate strongly with the wetting front movement of infiltrated water within the fractureFracture stiffness exponentially decreases with the advance of the wetting front along the fracture [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cells secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs) and non‐vesicular extracellular (nano)particles (NVEPs or ENPs) that may play a role in intercellular communication. Tumor‐derived EVs have been proposed to induce immune priming of antigen presenting cells or to be immuno‐suppressive agents. We suspect that such disparate functions are due to variable compositions in EV subtypes and ENPs. We aimed to characterize the array of secreted EVs and ENPs of murine tumor cell lines. Unexpectedly, we identified virus‐like particles (VLPs) from endogenous murine leukemia virus in preparations of EVs produced by many tumor cells. We established a protocol to separate small EVs from VLPs and ENPs. We compared their protein composition and analyzed their functional interaction with target dendritic cells. ENPs were poorly captured and did not affect dendritic cells. Small EVs specifically induced dendritic cell death. A mixed large/dense EV/VLP preparation was most efficient to induce dendritic cell maturation and antigen presentation. Our results call for systematic re‐evaluation of the respective proportions and functions of non‐viral EVs and VLPs produced by murine tumors and their contribution to tumor progression. Synopsis: Tumor‐derived extracellular vesicles have been proposed to induce immune priming of antigen presenting cells, or to act as immuno‐suppressive agents. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of distinct subpopulations of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and non‐vesicular extracellular particles released by murine tumor cells and reveals presence of endogenous retrovirus‐derived components. Murine tumor cell lines commonly release endogenous retrovirus‐derived virus‐like particles (VLPs) alongside other EVs.Tumor‐derived VLPs and other EVs exhibit distinct effects on dendritic cells, with a mixed EV preparation, including larger vesicles and VLPs, proving most efficient for antigen transfer and dendritic cell‐mediated T cell activation.Non‐vesicular extracellular particles are ineffective in inducing antigen presentation and T cell activation by antigen‐presenting cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Obere Extremitat is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: The underlying functional and microstructural lung disease in neonates who are born preterm (bronchopulmonary dysplasia, BPD) remains poorly characterized. Moreover, there is a lack of suitable techniques to reliably assess lung function in this population. Here, we report our preliminary experience with hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI in neonates with BPD. Methods: Neonatal intensive care patients with established BPD were recruited (N = 9) and imaged at a corrected gestational age of median:40.7 (range:37.1, 44.4) wk using a 1.5T neonatal scanner. 2D 129Xe ventilation and diffusion‐weighted images and dissolved phase spectroscopy were acquired, alongside 1H 3D radial UTE. 129Xe images were acquired during a series of short apneic breath‐holds (˜3 s). 1H UTE images were acquired during tidal breathing. Ventilation defects were manually identified and qualitatively compared to lung structures on UTE. ADCs were calculated on a voxel‐wise basis. The signal ratio of the 129Xe red blood cell (RBC) and tissue membrane (M) resonances from spectroscopy was determined. Results: Spiral‐based 129Xe ventilation imaging showed good image quality and sufficient sensitivity to detect mild ventilation abnormalities in patients with BPD. 129Xe ADC values were elevated above that expected given healthy data in older children and adults (median:0.046 [range:0.041, 0.064] cm2s−1); the highest value obtained from an extremely pre‐term patient. 129Xe spectroscopy revealed a low RBC/M ratio (0.14 [0.06, 0.21]). Conclusion: We have demonstrated initial feasibility of 129Xe lung MRI in neonates. With further data, the technique may help guide management of infant lung diseases in the neonatal period and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children of parents with mental illness are at higher risk of developing cognitive, mental health or physical health difficulties. Previous studies have described several barriers for reaching parents with mental health problems (MHPs) and their utilization of psychosocial services. We conducted a cluster randomized controlled study in 24 pediatric and gynecologic practices to evaluate KID-PROTEKT, a psychosocial healthcare intervention that comprises a psychosocial assessment to identify families with psychosocial needs and refer them to support services. In this paper, we analyzed whether psychosocially distressed parents with additional MHPs (identified by the PHQ-9 and GAD-7) had higher support needs, could be referred to support and utilized it in comparison to parents with psychosocial burden only. In total, 178 pregnant women and mothers with psychosocial burden were included, of whom 55 had MHPs. Participants with MHPs were distressed in their relationships more often and medical staff rated their level of support needs higher compared to parents without MHPs. There were no significant differences between the groups regarding whether they were referred to support services or utilized the recommended services. All participants were most frequently referred to family or parent counseling/care or childcare assistance. The results indicate that despite existing barriers, parents with MHPs could be reached and identified by the KID-PROTEKT psychosocial assessment. A psychosocial intervention like KID-PROTEKT can help to provide support for mentally ill parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Preseason functional performance test measures have been associated with noncontact time-loss injury in some athletic populations. However, findings have been equivocal with many studies consisting of heterogeneous populations. Objective: To determine if preseason standing long jump and/or single-leg hop test scores are associated with a noncontact time-loss injury to the lower quadrant (LQ = low back or lower-extremities) in female Division III college volleyball (VB) players. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III female VB teams. Patients: A total of 82 female college VB players (age = 18.9 [1.0] y). Main Outcome Measures: Standing long jump and single-leg hop test measures were collected at the start of the official preseason. Athletic trainers tracked all time-loss injuries and their mechanisms. Athletes were categorized as at risk if their preseason standing long jump <80% height, bilateral single-leg hop <70% height, and had a SLH side-to-side asymmetry >10%. Results: The noncontact time-loss overall injury rate for the LQ region in at-risk athletes was 13.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.3-31.5) per 1000 athletic exposures. At-risk athletes were significantly more likely to experience a noncontact time-loss injury than VB players in the referent group (rate ratio = 6.2; 95% CI, 1.9-17.2; P = .008). The relative risk of sustaining a noncontact time-loss injury to the LQ was 4 times greater in the at-risk group (relative risk = 4.6; 95% CI, 2.1-10.1; P = .01). At-risk athletes were 6 times more likely to experience a foot or ankle injury (relative risk = 6.3; 95% CI, 2.1-19.2; P = .008). Conclusion: Suboptimal performance on a battery of functional performance tests is associated with a significantly greater risk of noncontact time-loss injury to the LQ in female Division III college VB players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we investigated the oncogenic role of Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus (SGG), a gut bacterium associated with colorectal cancer (CRC). We showed that SGG UCN34 accelerates colon tumor development in a chemically induced CRC murine model. Full proteome and phosphoproteome analysis of murine colons chronically colonized by SGG UCN34 revealed that 164 proteins and 725 phosphorylation sites were differentially regulated. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) indicates a pro-tumoral shift specifically induced by SGG UCN34, as ~ 90% of proteins and phosphoproteins identified were associated with digestive cancer. Comprehensive analysis of the altered phosphoproteins using ROMA software revealed up-regulation of several cancer hallmark pathways such as MAPK, mTOR and integrin/ILK/actin, affecting epithelial and stromal colonic cells. Importantly, an independent analysis of protein arrays of human colon tumors colonized with SGG showed up-regulation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK pathways, providing clinical relevance to our findings. To test SGG's capacity to induce pre-cancerous transformation of the murine colonic epithelium, we grew ex vivo organoids which revealed unusual structures with compact morphology. Taken together, our results demonstrate the oncogenic role of SGG UCN34 in a murine model of CRC associated with activation of multiple cancer-related signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present and analyze a rockfall catalog from an active landslide complex in Brienz/Brinzauls of the Swiss Alps, collected with a new Doppler radar system. This radar system provides a complete and continuous time series of rockfall events with volumes of 1 m 3 and greater since 2018 and serves as automatic traffic control for an important main road. In the period between January 2018 and October 2022, 6743 events were detected, which is 2 orders of magnitude higher activity than in stable continental cliffs. A few percent of all rockfall events reached the shadow area, which hosts an important road and agricultural area. The Doppler radar data set allows us to investigate the triggering factors quantitatively. We found that the background rockfall activity is controlled by seasonal climatic triggers. In winter, more rockfalls are observed during thawing periods, whereas in summer the rockfall activity increases with hourly rainfall intensity. We also found that, due to the geological setting in an active landslide complex, increased rockfall activity occurs clustered in space and time, triggered by local displacement hotspots. Thus, monitoring spatial and temporal variations of slope displacement velocity is crucial for detailed rockfall hazard assessment in similar geological settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optogenetics, utilising light-reactive proteins to manipulate tissue activity, are a relatively novel approach in the field of cardiac electrophysiology. We here provide an overview of light-activated transmembrane channels (optogenetic actuators) currently applied in strategies to modulate cardiac activity, as well as newly developed variants yet to be implemented in the heart. In addition, we touch upon genetically encoded indicators (optogenetic sensors) and fluorescent dyes to monitor tissue activity, including cardiac transmembrane potential and ion homeostasis. The combination of the two allows for all-optical approaches to monitor and manipulate the heart without any physical contact. However, spectral congestion poses a major obstacle, arising due to the overlap of excitation/activation and emission spectra of various optogenetic proteins and/or fluorescent dyes, resulting in optical crosstalk. Therefore, optogenetic proteins and fluorescent dyes should be carefully selected to avoid optical crosstalk and consequent disruptions in readouts and/or cellular activity. We here present a novel approach to simultaneously monitor transmembrane potential and cytosolic calcium, while also performing optogenetic manipulation. For this, we used the novel voltage-sensitive dye ElectroFluor 730p and the cytosolic calcium indicator X-Rhod-1 in mouse hearts expressing channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2). By exploiting the isosbestic point of ElectroFluor 730p and avoiding the ChR2 activation spectrum, we here introduce a novel optical imaging and manipulation approach with minimal crosstalk. Future developments in both optogenetic proteins and fluorescent dyes will allow for additional and more optimised strategies, promising a bright future for all-optical approaches in the field of cardiac electrophysiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the interconnection between human and planetary health, emphasizing the need for a shift in worldview to address global challenges. Integrative health care, involving collaboration between biomedical and holistic providers, is proposed as a solution. Topics include the current reductionist paradigm in U.S. health care, evolving definitions of health based on worldview, and the role of integrative therapies in supporting both individual well-being and planetary health.

Seasonal deformation of mountain rock slopes can be driven by groundwater infiltration and depletion. Such processes could explain our field observation in the Aletsch Valley, Switzerland, where GNSS‐derived 3D annual displacement amplitudes reach 3.4 cm. However, the physical mechanisms behind such groundwater‐driven surface displacements are not well understood. Here, we develop a fully coupled hydromechanical model to simulate the relevant processes in a valley slope embedded with numerous fractures of variable sizes. The magnitude and orientation of transient annual slope surface displacement obtained from our model are in overall agreement with the field observations. The key geological factors controlling the type and magnitude of reversible mountain slope deformations are fracture network geometry, fracture aperture, and regional stress field. We show that the heterogeneity and anisotropy of bedrock hydromechanical responses, originating from depth‐dependent variations of fracture properties, play a critical role in groundwater recharge and valley slope deformation. During recharge events, pore pressure perturbations migrate downward from the groundwater table and toward the receiving stream and the deep subsurface. This process driven by pressure diffusion and poroelastic stressing develops in the subsurface with a great reach of up to a few kilometers, called critical hydromechanical response zone, and controls surface deformation patterns. During groundwater recession, this hydromechanical response zone expands downward and ground surface displacement vectors rotate upwards. Our results suggest that slope surface deformation can inform about subsurface permeability structures and pore pressure fluctuations, which have important implications for understanding groundwater flow in fractured bedrock slopes. Plain Language Summary: Groundwater recharge in alpine valleys mainly occurs during snowmelt and/or rainstorm events. When recharge raises groundwater table in the slope, the bedrock can deform, and centimeter‐scale surface displacements can be observed. Here, we model this process in an alpine valley and investigate how bedrock fractures and regional stresses affect the surface displacement pattern. We show that slope surface deformation is controlled by a so‐called hydromechanical response zone reaching up to a few kilometers below the valley ridges. The shape and location of this zone change throughout the year. We compare our modeling results with long‐term deformation records from the lower Aletsch Valley, Switzerland, and show that they are in general agreement. The results of this work and insights obtained advance our fundamental understanding of the mechanisms of groundwater‐driven deformations in fractured rock slopes. Our research opens an avenue to use the information of surface deformation patterns to infer subsurface hydrogeological processes. Key Points: Coupled hydromechanical simulations are compared to surface displacement magnitude, orientation and hysteresis observed at Aletsch, SwitzerlandGroundwater recharge‐related pressure diffusion and poroelastic stressing in subsurface rock drive slope surface displacementCentimeter‐scale slope surface displacements occur in fractured crystalline rock with permeability in the narrow range of 10−16–10−14 m2 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper-based biofuel cells have the potential to serve as health monitoring devices for urinary glucose and volume by incorporating the fabricated electrodes into nursing diapers. In this study, we evaluate the output power and stability of a biofuel cell by combining 3D impedance measurement and admittance analysis. The 3D impedance-based analysis method can simultaneously detect changes in the overall electrode structure of the enzyme electrode and in the quantity of active enzymes and mediators on the electrode surface. The biofuel cell electrodes were fabricated via screen-printing, using polydimethylglycidyl (poly-GMA)- modified MgO-templated carbon (GMgOC) or poly-GMA-unmodified MgO-templated carbon (NMgOC). The enzymes used were flavin adenine dinucleotide-dependent glucose dehydrogenase and bilirubin oxidase, with Azure-A serving as the mediator. Admittance analysis was utilized to measure the enzyme activity and estimate the charge transfer resistance by extrapolating the spectra obtained through admittance analysis. The charge transfer resistances of both electrodes exhibited a greater stability for the GMgOC electrode. This can be attributed to the covalent immobilization of the enzyme and mediator on the electrode facilitated by GMgOC, effectively suppressing enzyme and mediator elution. The electric double-layer capacitance values of both electrodes indicated the overall stability of the electrode structure during the measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neural progenitor cells in the developing dorsal forebrain generate excitatory neurons followed by oligodendrocytes (OLs) and astrocytes. However, the specific mechanisms that regulate the timing of this neuron-glia switch are not fully understood. In this study, we show that the proper balance of Notch signaling in dorsal forebrain progenitors is required to generate oligodendrocytes during late stages of embryonic development. Using ex vivo and in utero approaches in mouse embryos of both sexes, we found that Notch inhibition reduced the number of oligodendrocyte lineage cells in the dorsal pallium. However, Notch overactivation also prevented oligodendrogenesis and maintained a progenitor state. These results point toward a dual role for Notch signaling in both promoting and inhibiting oligodendrogenesis, which must be fine-tuned to generate oligodendrocyte lineage cells at the right time and in the right numbers. We further identified the canonical Notch downstream factors HES1 and HES5 as negative regulators in this process. CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat)/Cas9-mediated knockdown of Hes1 and Hes5 caused increased expression of the pro-oligodendrocyte factor ASCL1 and led to precocious oligodendrogenesis. Conversely, combining Notch overactivation with ASCL1 overexpression robustly promoted oligodendrogenesis, indicating a separate mechanism of Notch that operates synergistically with ASCL1 to specify an oligodendrocyte fate. We propose a model in which Notch signaling works together with ASCL1 to specify progenitors toward the oligodendrocyte lineage but also maintains a progenitor state through Hes-dependent repression of Ascl1 so that oligodendrocytes are not made too early, thus contributing to the precise timing of the neuron-glia switch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are deleterious lesions that challenge genome integrity. To mitigate this threat, human cells rely on the activity of multiple DNA repair machineries that are tightly regulated throughout the cell cycle1. In interphase, DSBs are mainly repaired by non-homologous end joining and homologous recombination2. However, these pathways are completely inhibited in mitosis3–5, leaving the fate of mitotic DSBs unknown. Here we show that DNA polymerase theta6 (Polθ) repairs mitotic DSBs and thereby maintains genome integrity. In contrast to other DSB repair factors, Polθ function is activated in mitosis upon phosphorylation by Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1). Phosphorylated Polθ is recruited by a direct interaction with the BRCA1 C-terminal domains of TOPBP1 to mitotic DSBs, where it mediates joining of broken DNA ends. Loss of Polθ leads to defective repair of mitotic DSBs, resulting in a loss of genome integrity. This is further exacerbated in cells that are deficient in homologous recombination, where loss of mitotic DSB repair by Polθ results in cell death. Our results identify mitotic DSB repair as the underlying cause of synthetic lethality between Polθ and homologous recombination. Together, our findings reveal the critical importance of mitotic DSB repair in the maintenance of genome integrity.In mitosis, genome integrity is maintained by DNA polymerase theta-dependent repair of DNA double-strand breaks, which is regulated by Polo-like kinase 1 activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we investigated the oncogenic role of Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus (SGG), a gut bacterium associated with colorectal cancer (CRC). We showed that SGG UCN34 accelerates colon tumor development in a chemically induced CRC murine model. Full proteome and phosphoproteome analysis of murine colons chronically colonized by SGG UCN34 revealed that 164 proteins and 725 phosphorylation sites were differentially regulated. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) indicates a pro-tumoral shift specifically induced by SGG UCN34, as ~ 90% of proteins and phosphoproteins identified were associated with digestive cancer. Comprehensive analysis of the altered phosphoproteins using ROMA software revealed up-regulation of several cancer hallmark pathways such as MAPK, mTOR and integrin/ILK/actin, affecting epithelial and stromal colonic cells. Importantly, an independent analysis of protein arrays of human colon tumors colonized with SGG showed up-regulation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK pathways, providing clinical relevance to our findings. To test SGG's capacity to induce pre-cancerous transformation of the murine colonic epithelium, we grew ex vivo organoids which revealed unusual structures with compact morphology. Taken together, our results demonstrate the oncogenic role of SGG UCN34 in a murine model of CRC associated with activation of multiple cancer-related signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The editor of the "Private Lives" section of Psychoanalytic Perspectives offers a personal reflection of his own for the journal's 20th-anniversary issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Joint retrieval of vegetation status from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and optical data holds much promise due to the complimentary of the information in the two wavelength domains. SAR penetrates the canopy and includes information about the water status of the soil and vegetation, whereas optical data contains information about the amount and health of leaves. However, due to inherent complexities of combining these data sources there has been relatively little progress in joint retrieval of information over vegetation canopies. In this study, data from Sentinel–1 and Sentinel–2 were used to invert coupled radiative transfer models to provide synergistic retrievals of leaf area index and soil moisture. Results for leaf area are excellent and enhanced by the use of both data sources (RSME is always less than 0.5 and has a correlation of better than 0.95 when using both together), but results for soil moisture are mixed with joint retrievals generally showing the lowest RMSE but underestimating the variability of the field data. Examples of such synergistic retrieval of plant properties from optical and SAR data using physically based radiative transfer models are uncommon in the literature, but these results highlight the potential for this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Voltage-sensitive dyes (VSDs) are used to image electrical activity in cells and tissues with submillisecond time resolution. Most of these fast sensors are constructed from push-pull chromophores whose fluorescence spectra are modulated by the electric field across the cell membrane. It was found that the substitution of naphthalene with chromene produces a 60 to 80 nm red-shift in absorption and emission spectra while maintaining fluorescence quantum efficiency and voltage sensitivity. One dye was applied to ex vivo murine heart with excitation at 730 nm, by far the longest wavelength reported in voltage imaging. This VSD resolves cardiac action potentials in single trials with 12% ΔF/F per action potential. The well-separated excitation spectra between these long-wavelength VSDs and channelrhodopsin (ChR2) enabled monitoring of action potential propagation in ChR2 hearts without any perturbation of electrical dynamics. Importantly, by employing spatially localized optogenetic manipulation, action potential dynamics can be assessed in an all-optical fashion with no artifact related to optical cross-talk between the reporter and actuator. These new environmentally sensitive chromene-based chromophores are also likely to have applications outside voltage imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]