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Aims: The aim of this study was to determine whether obesity had a detrimental effect on the long-term performance and survival of medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasties (UKAs). Methods: This study reviewed prospectively collected functional outcome scores and revision rates of all medial UKA patients with recorded BMI performed in Christchurch, New Zealand, from January 2011 to September 2021. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were the primary outcome of this study, with all-cause revision rate analyzed as a secondary outcome. PROMs were taken preoperatively, at six months, one year, five years, and ten years postoperatively. There were 873 patients who had functional scores recorded at five years and 164 patients had scores recorded at ten years. Further sub-group analysis was performed based on the patient’s BMI. Revision data were available through the New Zealand Joint Registry for 2,323 UKAs performed during this time period. Results: Obese patients (BMI > 30 kg/m2) were 3.1 years younger than non-obese patients (BMI < 30 kg/m2) at the time of surgery (mean age of obese patients 65.5 years (SD 9.7) and mean age of non-obese patients 68.6 years (SD 10.1)). Preoperatively, obese patients tended to have significantly lower functional scores than non-obese patients, which continued at five and ten years postoperatively. At these timepoints, obese patients had significantly lower scores for most PROMs measured compared to non-obese patients. However, there was no significant difference in the improvement of any of these scores after surgery between obese and non-obese patients. There was no significant difference in revision rates between obese and non-obese patients at any time. All-cause revision rate for obese patients was 0.73 per 100 observed component years compared to 0.67 in non-obese patients at ten years. There was also no significant difference in the aseptic loosening rate between groups. Conclusion: Our study supports the use of UKAs in obese patients, with similar benefit and survival compared to non-obese patients at ten years.

Abstract Background Small extracellular vesicles (sEV) derived from synovial fibroblasts (SF) represent a novel molecular mechanism regulating cartilage erosion in osteoarthritis (OA). However, a comprehensive evaluation using disease relevant cells has not been undertaken. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterise sEV from OA SF and to look at their ability to regulate OA chondrocyte effector responses relevant to disease. Profiling of micro (mi) RNA signatures in sEV and parental OA SF cells was performed. Methods SF and chondrocytes were isolated from OA synovial membrane and cartilage respectively (n = 9). sEV were isolated from OA SF (± IL-1β) conditioned media by ultracentrifugation and characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Particle size was confirmed by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). sEV regulation of OA chondrocyte and cartilage effector response was evaluated using qPCR, ELISA and sulphated glycosaminoglycan assay (sGAG). RNA-sequencing was used to establish miRNA signatures in isolated sEV from OA SF. Results OA SF derived sEV were readily taken up by OA chondrocytes, with increased expression of the catabolic gene MMP 13 (p

Abstract One of the fundamental tasks in quantum information theory is quantum data compression, which can be realized via quantum autoencoders that first compress quantum states to low-dimensional ones and then recover to the original ones with a reference state. When taking a pure reference state, there exists an upper bound for the encoding fidelity, which limits the compression of states with high entropy. To overcome the entropy inconsistency, we allow the reference state to be a mixed state and propose a cost function that combines the encoding fidelity and the quantum mutual information. We consider the reference states to be a mixture of maximally mixed states and pure states and propose three strategies for setting the ratio of mixedness. Numerical simulations of different states and experimental implementations on IBM quantum computers illustrate the effectiveness of our approach.

Abstract HPV-positive and HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are recognized as distinct entities. There remains uncertainty surrounding the causal effects of smoking and alcohol on the development of these two cancer types. Here we perform multivariable Mendelian randomization (MR) to evaluate the causal effects of smoking and alcohol on the risk of HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC in 3431 cases and 3469 controls. Lifetime smoking exposure, as measured by the Comprehensive Smoking Index (CSI), is associated with increased risk of both HPV-negative HNSCC (OR = 3.03, 95%CI:1.75-5.24, P = 7.00E-05) and HPV-positive HNSCC (OR = 2.73, 95%CI:1.39-5.36, P = 0.003). Drinks Per Week is also linked with increased risk of both HPV-negative HNSCC (OR = 7.72, 95%CI:3.63-16.4, P = 1.00E-07) and HPV-positive HNSCC (OR = 2.66, 95%CI:1.06-6.68, P = 0.038). Smoking and alcohol independently increase the risk of both HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC. These findings have important implications for understanding the modifying risk factors between HNSCC subtypes.

Abstract Marine phosphatization events cause episodic carbonate fluorapatite (CFA) precipitation on seamounts, and are commonly linked to growth hiatuses in ferromanganese (Fe-Mn) crusts. However, the complete record of these events and their paleoenvironmental significance remains poorly understood, in large part due to poor age constraints. Here, we apply U-Pb dating to CFA in Fe-Mn crusts from Western Pacific seamounts. These data exhibit good alignment with Sr isotope ages, revealing six potential phosphatization events. This established CFA chronology tightens the timespan of phosphatization events and refines the age framework of Fe-Mn crusts. We subsequently utilize a multiproxy approach to demonstrate that the phosphatization events occurred coeval with the expansion of oceanic oxygen minimum zones. The Western Pacific Fe-Mn crusts thus document major perturbations in global oceanic phosphorus cycling, which appear to have been driven by climate-induced increases in primary productivity linked to changes in global ocean circulation.

The aryl diester compound, 2-methyl-1,4-phenylene bis(3,5-dibromobenzoate), C21H12Br4O4, was synthesized by esterification of methyl hydroquinone with 3,5-dibromobenzoic acid. A crystalline sample was obtained by cooling a sample of the melt (m.p. = 502 K/DSC) to room temperature. The molecular structure consists of a central benzene ring with anti-3,5-dibromobenzoate groups symmetrically attached at the 1 and 4 positions and a methyl group attached at the 2 position of the central ring. In the crystal structure (space group P\overline{1}), molecules of the title aryl diester are located on inversion centers imposing disorder of the methyl group and H atom across the central benzene ring. The crystal structure is consolidated by a network of C—H...Br hydrogen bonds in addition to weaker and offset π–π interactions involving the central benzene rings as well as the rings of the attached 3,5-dibromobenzoate groups.

Abstract Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is often treated with neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NAST). We investigated if radiomic models based on multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) obtained early during NAST predict pathologic complete response (pCR). We included 163 patients with stage I-III TNBC with multiparametric MRI at baseline and after 2 (C2) and 4 cycles of NAST. Seventy-eight patients (48%) had pCR, and 85 (52%) had non-pCR. Thirty-six multivariate models combining radiomic features from dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI and diffusion-weighted imaging had an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) > 0.7. The top-performing model combined 35 radiomic features of relative difference between C2 and baseline; had an AUC = 0.905 in the training and AUC = 0.802 in the testing set. There was high inter-reader agreement and very similar AUC values of the pCR prediction models for the 2 readers. Our data supports multiparametric MRI-based radiomic models for early prediction of NAST response in TNBC.

Summary: Metabolites that mark aging are not fully known. We analyze 408 plasma metabolites in Long Life Family Study participants to characterize markers of age, aging, extreme longevity, and mortality. We identify 308 metabolites associated with age, 258 metabolites that change over time, 230 metabolites associated with extreme longevity, and 152 metabolites associated with mortality risk. We replicate many associations in independent studies. By summarizing the results into 19 signatures, we differentiate between metabolites that may mark aging-associated compensatory mechanisms from metabolites that mark cumulative damage of aging and from metabolites that characterize extreme longevity. We generate and validate a metabolomic clock that predicts biological age. Network analysis of the age-associated metabolites reveals a critical role of essential fatty acids to connect lipids with other metabolic processes. These results characterize many metabolites involved in aging and point to nutrition as a source of intervention for healthy aging therapeutics.

Summary: Organisms integrate circadian and metabolic signals to optimize substrate selection to survive starvation, yet precisely how this occurs is unclear. Here, we show that hepatocyte Period 1 (Per1) is selectively induced during fasting, and mice lacking hepatocyte Per1 fail to initiate autophagic flux, ketogenesis, and lipid accumulation. Transcriptomic analyses show failed induction of the fasting hepatokine Fgf21 in Per1-deficient mice, and single-nucleus multiome sequencing defines a putative responding hepatocyte subpopulation that fails to induce the chromatin accessibility near the Fgf21 locus. In vivo isotopic tracing and indirect calorimetry demonstrate that hepatocyte Per1-deficient mice fail to transit from oxidation of glucose to fat, which is completely reversible by exogenous FGF21 or by inhibiting pyruvate dehydrogenase. Strikingly, disturbing other core circadian genes does not perturb Per1 induction during fasting. We thus describe Per1 as an important mechanism by which hepatocytes integrate internal circadian rhythm and external nutrition signals to facilitate proper fuel utilization.

Mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation serves as an essential process for cellular survival, differentiation, proliferation, and energy metabolism. Numerous studies have utilized etomoxir (ETO) for the irreversible inhibition of carnitine palmitoylcarnitine transferase 1 (CPT1), which catalyzes the rate-limiting step for mitochondrial long-chain fatty acid β-oxidation to examine the bioenergetic roles of mitochondrial fatty acid metabolism in many tissues in multiple diverse disease states. Herein, we demonstrate that intact mitochondria robustly metabolize ETO to etomoxir-carnitine (ETO-carnitine) prior to nearly complete ETO-mediated inhibition of CPT1. The novel pharmaco-metabolite, ETO-carnitine, was conclusively identified by accurate mass, fragmentation patterns, and isotopic fine structure. On the basis of these data, ETO-carnitine was successfully differentiated from isobaric structures (e.g., 3-hydroxy-C18:0 carnitine and 3-hydroxy-C18:1 carnitine). Mechanistically, generation of ETO-carnitine from mitochondria required exogenous Mg2+, ATP or ADP, CoASH, and L-carnitine, indicating that thioesterification by long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase to form ETO-CoA precedes its conversion to ETO-carnitine by CPT1. CPT1-dependent generation of ETO-carnitine was substantiated by an orthogonal approach using ST1326 (a CPT1 inhibitor), which effectively inhibits mitochondrial ETO-carnitine production. Surprisingly, purified ETO-carnitine potently inhibited calcium-independent PLA2γ and PLA2β as well as mitochondrial respiration independent of CPT1. Robust production and release of ETO-carnitine from HepG2 cells incubated in the presence of ETO was also demonstrated. Collectively, this study identifies the chemical mechanism for the biosynthesis of a novel pharmaco-metabolite of ETO, ETO-carnitine, that is generated by CPT1 in mitochondria and likely impacts multiple downstream (non-CPT1 related) enzymes and processes in multiple subcellular compartments.

Background Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is a severe type of stroke that is associated with poor outcome. A subset of patients with aSAH will develop secondary complications, most notably delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), which potentiates neurological injury. In this study, we investigate the relationship between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) iron accumulation, brain metabolism, and neuronal injury in patients with aSAH with or without DCI. Methods We collected longitudinal CSF samples of patients immediately after hospitalization and 5 to 8 days after onset of ictus. CSF was analyzed with electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and metabolomics to determine the presence of redox‐active iron species and metabolic alterations associated with aSAH and DCI. Neuronal pathology induced by iron overload was characterized in neuronal and meningeal cell models. Results Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy identified higher levels of an Fe(III) protoporphyrin IX (hemin)‐like molecule in the CSF of patients who developed DCI compared with patients who did not show secondary ischemic injury after aSAH or controls without neurological disease. Treatment of a human neuronal cell line with Fe(III)‐containing hemin resulted in the disruption of the axonal mitochondrial network and loss of viability. This was cell‐type dependent as a meningeal cell line was resistant to hemin treatment, despite both cell types upregulating the iron ferroxidase ceruloplasmin. Metabolomic profiling of the same CSF samples uncovered significant dysregulation of metabolic pathways associated with energy generation and amino acid utilization, consistent with mitochondrial dysfunction. Using machine learning, we identified a set of metabolites that predicted intensive care unit length of stay. Conclusion aSAH leads to the accumulation of an Fe(III)‐containing heme species in the CSF of a subset of patients who subsequently develop DCI. The accumulation of an Fe(III) protoporphyrin induces axonal mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to cell death. aSAH alters the CSF metabolome involved in mitochondrial function and a subset of these metabolites are predictive of intensive care unit stay. These results identify potential biomarkers for mitochondrial pathology and provide insight into alterations in brain iron metabolism triggered by aSAH.

Summary: System-level patient health signals, as captured by treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), might contain correlates of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy response. Using all TEAEs and a novel machine learning modeling approach, we derived a composite signature predictive of, and potentially specific to, the response to the anti-PD-L1 ICI durvalumab in patients with non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We trained on data from the durvalumab arm and chemotherapy arm in the MYSTIC clinical trial and tested on data from four independent durvalumab-containing NSCLC trials using only the first 60 days’ TEAEs. We directly compared our signature performance against that of three different definitions of immune-related adverse events. Only our signature was predictive and identified longer survivors in patients treated with durvalumab but not in patients treated with chemotherapy or placebo. It also identified durvalumab-treated long survivors with stable disease at their first RECIST evaluation and a set of PD-L1-negative long survivors.

Aims: Cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain (DYNC1H1) is a multi-subunit protein complex that provides motor force for movement of cargo on microtubules and traffics them back to the soma. In humans, mutations along the DYNC1H1 gene result in intellectual disabilities, cognitive delays, and neurologic and motor deficits. The aim of the study was to generate a mouse model to a newly identified de novo heterozygous DYNC1H1 mutation, within a functional ATPase domain (c9052C > T(P3018S)), identified in a child with motor deficits, and intellectual disabilities. Results: P3018S heterozygous (HET) knockin mice are viable; homozygotes are lethal. Metabolic and EchoMRI™ testing show that HET mice have a higher metabolic rate, are more active, and have less body fat compared to wildtype mice. Neurobehavioral studies show that HET mice perform worse when traversing elevated balance beams, and on the negative geotaxis test. Immunofluorescent staining shows neuronal migration abnormalities in the dorsal and lateral neocortex with heterotopia in layer I. Neuron-subtype specific transcription factors CUX1 and CTGF identified neurons from layers II/III and VI respectively in cortical layer I, and abnormal pyramidal neurons with MAP2+ dendrites projecting downward from the pial surface. Conclusion: The HET mice are a good model for the motor deficits seen in the child, and highlights the importance of cytoplasmic dynein in the maintenance of cortical function and dendritic orientation relative to the pial surface. Our results are discussed in the context of other dynein mutant mice and in relation to clinical presentation in humans with DYNC1H1 mutations.

Abstract Parkinson’s disease (PD) is closely linked to α-synuclein (α-syn) misfolding and accumulation in Lewy bodies. The PDZ serine protease HTRA1 degrades fibrillar tau, which is associated with Alzheimer’s disease, and inactivating mutations to mitochondrial HTRA2 are implicated in PD. Here, we report that HTRA1 inhibits aggregation of α-syn as well as FUS and TDP-43, which are implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia. The protease domain of HTRA1 is necessary and sufficient for inhibiting aggregation, yet this activity is proteolytically-independent. Further, HTRA1 disaggregates preformed α-syn fibrils, rendering them incapable of seeding aggregation of endogenous α-syn, while reducing HTRA1 expression promotes α-syn seeding. HTRA1 remodels α-syn fibrils by targeting the NAC domain, the key domain catalyzing α-syn amyloidogenesis. Finally, HTRA1 detoxifies α-syn fibrils and prevents formation of hyperphosphorylated α-syn accumulations in primary neurons. Our findings suggest that HTRA1 may be a therapeutic target for a range of neurodegenerative disorders.

Abstract Objective In this study, we sought to determine the types and prevalence of antimicrobial resistance determinants (ARDs) in Burkholderia spp. strains using the Antimicrobial Resistance Determinant Microarray (ARDM). Results Whole genome amplicons from 22 B. mallei (BM) and 37 B. pseudomallei (BP) isolates were tested for > 500 ARDs using ARDM v.3.1. ARDM detected the following Burkholderia spp.-derived genes, aac(6), bla BP/MBL-3, blaA BPS, penA-BP, and qacE, in both BM and BP while bla BP/MBL-1, macB, bla OXA-42/43 and penA-BC were observed in BP only. The method of denaturing template for whole genome amplification greatly affected the numbers and types of genes detected by the ARDM. Bla TEM was detected in nearly a third of BM and BP amplicons derived from thermally, but not chemically denatured templates. Bla TEM results were confirmed by PCR, with 81% concordance between methods. Sequences from 414-nt PCR amplicons (13 preparations) were 100% identical to the Klebsiella pneumoniae reference gene. Although bla TEM sequences have been observed in B. glumae, B. cepacia, and other undefined Burkholderia strains, this is the first report of such sequences in BM/BP/B. thailandensis (BT) clade. These results highlight the importance of sample preparation in achieving adequate genome coverage in methods requiring untargeted amplification before analysis.

Abstract Background In soybeans, faster canopy coverage (CC) is a highly desirable trait but a fully covered canopy is unfavorable to light interception at lower levels in the canopy with most of the incident radiation intercepted at the top of the canopy. Shoot architecture that influences CC is well studied in crops such as maize and wheat, and altering architectural traits has resulted in enhanced yield. However, in soybeans the study of shoot architecture has not been as extensive. Results This study revealed significant differences in CC among the selected soybean accessions. The rate of CC was found to decrease at the beginning of the reproductive stage (R1) followed by an increase during the R2-R3 stages. Most of the accessions in the study achieved maximum rate of CC between R2-R3 stages. We measured Light interception (LI), defined here as the ratio of Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) transmitted through the canopy to the incoming PAR or the radiation above the canopy. LI was found to be significantly correlated with CC parameters, highlighting the relationship between canopy structure and light interception. The study also explored the impact of plant shape on LI and CO2 assimilation. Plant shape was characterized into distinct quantifiable parameters and by modeling the impact of plant shape on LI and CO2 assimilation, we found that plants with broad and flat shapes at the top maybe more photosynthetically efficient at low light levels, while conical shapes were likely more advantageous when light was abundant. Shoot architecture of plants in this study was described in terms of whole plant, branching and leaf-related traits. There was significant variation for the shoot architecture traits between different accessions, displaying high reliability. We found that that several shoot architecture traits such as plant height, and leaf and internode-related traits strongly influenced CC and LI. Conclusion In conclusion, this study provides insight into the relationship between soybean shoot architecture, canopy coverage, and light interception. It demonstrates that novel shoot architecture traits we have defined here are genetically variable, impact CC and LI and contribute to our understanding of soybean morphology. Correlations between different architecture traits, CC and LI suggest that it is possible to optimize soybean growth without compromising on light transmission within the soybean canopy. In addition, the study underscores the utility of integrating low-cost 2D phenotyping as a practical and cost-effective alternative to more time-intensive 3D or high-tech low-throughput methods. This approach offers a feasible means of studying basic shoot architecture traits at the field level, facilitating a broader and efficient assessment of plant morphology.

Abstract Background Anti‐obesity medications (AOMs) may provide a viable option for obesity management. However, little is known about the use of AOMs in persons with SCI/D. Objective Describe health care providers' (HCPs) views about barriers to AOM use in persons living with SCI/D. Methods Descriptive qualitative design using in‐depth interviews Descriptive statistics were used to calculate demographic and employment characteristics. Interviews were audio‐recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were coded and analyzed using Braun and Clarke's (2006) six thematic analysis phases. Results HCPs (n = 12) were from 11 different nationwide facilities. Most HCPs were male (75%), a large majority were white (67%), and most were 26–49 years of age. Participants were dietitians (75%), physicians (17%), and psychologists (8%). HCPs ranged from 1.5 to 15 years of providing SCI/D care. HCPs described four main thematic barriers to AOM use in persons with SCI/D: (1) AOM side effects that are especially concerning in persons with SCI/D; (2) AOMs contribute to poor eating habits; (3) availability, accessibility, and administration; and (4) lack of evidence, clinical agreement, and knowledge about AOM use in the SCI/D population. Conclusions There are several potential barriers to AOM use in the SCI/D population. Barriers include AOM side effects which may cause or exacerbate conditions that are already concerns in persons with SCI/D, such as bowel and skin problems, and muscle loss. SCI/D HCPs reported a lack of evidence about AOM use in persons with SCI/D, but interest in obtaining more knowledge.

With an extensive range of distinctive features at nano meter-scale thicknesses, two-dimensional (2D) materials drawn the attention of the scientific community. Despite tremendous advancements in exploratory research on 2D materials, knowledge of 2D electrical transport and carrier dynamics still in its infancy. Thus, here we highlighted the electrical characteristics of 2D materials with electronic band structure, electronic transport, dielectric constant, carriers mobility. The atomic thinness of 2D materials makes substantially scaled field-effect transistors (FETs) with reduced short-channel effects conceivable, even though strong carrier mobility required for high performance, low-voltage device operations. We also discussed here about factors affecting 2D materials which easily enhanced the activity of those materials for various applications. Presently, Those 2D materials used in state-of-the-art electrical and optoelectronic devices because of the extensive nature of their electronic band structure. 2D materials offer unprecedented freedom for the design of novel p-n junction device topologies in contrast to conventional bulk semiconductors. We also, describe the numerous 2D p-n junctions, such as homo junction and hetero junction including mixed dimensional junctions. Finally, we talked about the problems and potential for the future.

Abstract Background Syringomyelia (SM) is characterized by the development of fluid-filled cavities, referred to as syrinxes, within the spinal cord tissue. The molecular etiology of SM post-spinal cord injury (SCI) is not well understood and only invasive surgical based treatments are available to treat SM clinically. This study builds upon our previous omics studies and in vitro cellular investigations to further understand local fluid osmoregulation in post-traumatic SM (PTSM) to highlight important pathways for future molecular interventions. Methods A rat PTSM model consisting of a laminectomy at the C7 to T1 level followed by a parenchymal injection of 2 μL quisqualic acid (QA) and an injection of 5 μL kaolin in the subarachnoid space was utilized 6 weeks after initial surgery, parenchymal fluid and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were collected, and the osmolality of fluids were analyzed. Immunohistochemistry (IHC), metabolomics analysis using LC–MS, and mass spectrometry-based imaging (MSI) were performed on injured and laminectomy-only control spinal cords. Results We demonstrated that the osmolality of the local parenchymal fluid encompassing syrinxes was higher compared to control spinal cords after laminectomy, indicating a local osmotic imbalance due to SM injury. Moreover, we also found that parenchymal fluid is more hypertonic than CSF, indicating establishment of a local osmotic gradient in the PTSM injured spinal cord (syrinx site) forcing fluid into the spinal cord parenchyma to form and/or expand syrinxes. IHC results demonstrated upregulation of betaine, ions, water channels/transporters, and enzymes (BGT1, AQP1, AQP4, CHDH) at the syrinx site as compared to caudal and rostral sites to the injury, implying extensive local osmoregulation activities at the syrinx site. Further, metabolomics analysis corroborated alterations in osmolality at the syrinx site by upregulation of small molecule osmolytes including betaine, carnitine, glycerophosphocholine, arginine, creatine, guanidinoacetate, and spermidine. Conclusions In summary, PTSM results in local osmotic disturbance that propagates at 6 weeks following initial injury. This coincides with and may contribute to syrinx formation/expansion.

Abstract The identification of agriculture and land use configurations that achieve net zero (NZ) greenhouse gas emissions is critical to inform appropriate land use and food policy, yet national NZ targets lack consistent definitions. Here, 3000 randomised scenarios projecting future agricultural production and compatible land use combinations in Ireland were screened using ten NZ definitions. When aggregating carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide emissions using various methods, 1–85% of scenarios met NZ criteria. Despite considerable variation, common actions emerged across definitions, including high rates of afforestation, organic soil re-wetting, and cattle destocking. Ambitious technical abatement of agricultural emissions moderated, but could not substitute, these actions. With abatement, 95th percentile milk output varied from 11–91% of 2021 output, but was associated with reductions of up to 98% in suckler-beef production, and a 47–387% increase in forest cover. Achieving NZ will thus require transformation of Ireland’s land sector. Lagging land use change effects require urgent action, but sustaining a just transition will require visioning of future NZ land use combinations supporting a sustainable and resilient food system, alongside an expanding circular bioeconomy. We provide new insight into the sensitivity of such visioning to NZ definitions, pointing to an urgent need for international consensus on the accounting of methane emissions in NZ targets.

Abstract Barley genomic resources are increasing rapidly, with the publication of a barley pangenome as one of the latest developments. Two-row spring barley cultivars are intensely studied as they are the source of high-quality grain for malting and distilling. Here we provide data from a European two-row spring barley population containing 209 different genotypes registered for the UK market between 1830 to 2014. The dataset encompasses RNA-sequencing data from six different tissues across a range of barley developmental stages, phenotypic datasets from two consecutive years of field-grown trials in the United Kingdom, Germany and the USA; and whole genome shotgun sequencing from all cultivars, which was used to complement the RNA-sequencing data for variant calling. The outcomes are a filtered SNP marker file, a phenotypic database and a large gene expression dataset providing a comprehensive resource which allows for downstream analyses like genome wide association studies or expression associations.

Abstract The complex neuromuscular network that controls body movements is the target of severe diseases that result in paralysis and death. Here, we report the development of a robust and efficient self-organizing neuromuscular junction (soNMJ) model from human pluripotent stem cells that can be maintained long-term in simple adherent conditions. The timely application of specific patterning signals instructs the simultaneous development and differentiation of position-specific brachial spinal neurons, skeletal muscles, and terminal Schwann cells. High-content imaging reveals self-organized bundles of aligned muscle fibers surrounded by innervating motor neurons that form functional neuromuscular junctions. Optogenetic activation and pharmacological interventions show that the spinal neurons actively instruct the synchronous skeletal muscle contraction. The generation of a soNMJ model from spinal muscular atrophy patient-specific iPSCs reveals that the number of NMJs and muscle contraction is severely affected, resembling the patient’s pathology. In the future, the soNMJ model could be used for high-throughput studies in disease modeling and drug development. Thus, this model will allow us to address unmet needs in the neuromuscular disease field.

Given the pressing climate and sustainability challenges, shifting industrial processes towards environmentally friendly practices is imperative. Among various strategies, the generation of green, flexible materials combined with efficient reutilization of biomass stands out. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) process as a sustainable approach for developing carbonaceous materials from biomass. Key parameters influencing hydrochar preparation are examined, along with the mechanisms governing hydrochar formation and pore development. Then, this review explores the application of hydrochars in supercapacitors, offering a novel comparative analysis of the electrochemical performance of various biomass-based electrodes, considering parameters such as capacitance, stability, and textural properties. Biomass-based hydrochars emerge as a promising alternative to traditional carbonaceous materials, with potential for further enhancement through the incorporation of extrinsic nanoparticles like graphene, carbon nanotubes, nanodiamonds and metal oxides. Of particular interest is the relatively unexplored use of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), with preliminary findings demonstrating highly competitive capacitances of up to 360 F/g when combined with hydrochars. This exceptional electrochemical performance, coupled with unique material properties, positions these biomass-based hydrochars interesting candidates to advance the energy industry towards a greener and more sustainable future.

ObjectiveTo identify the optimal dose of selinexor in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone (SPd).MethodsAn analysis of efficacy and safety of 2 once-weekly selinexor regimens (60 mg and 40 mg) with pomalidomide and dexamethasone (SPd-60 and SPd-40, respectively) given to patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) in the STOMP (NCT02343042) and XPORT-MM-028 (NCT04414475) trials.ResultsTwenty-eight patients (60.7% males, median age 67.5 years) and 20 patients (35.0% males, median age 65.5 years) were analyzed in the SPd-40 and SPd-60 cohorts, respectively. Overall response rate was 50% (95% confidence interval [CI] 30.6-69.4%) and 65% (95% CI 40.8-84.6%), respectively. Very good partial response or better was reported in 28.6% (95% CI 13.2-48.7%) and 30.0% (95% CI 11.9-54.3%) of patients, respectively. Among 27 responders in both cohorts, the 12-month sustained response rate was 83.3% (95% CI 64.7-100.0%) for SPd-40 and 28.1% (95% CI 8.9-88.8%) for SPd-60. Median progression-free survival was 18.4 months (95% CI 6.5 months, not evaluable [NE]) and 9.5 months (95% CI 7.6 months-NE) for SPd-40 and SPd-60, respectively. Twenty-four-month survival rates were 64.2% (95% CI 47.7-86.3%) for SPd-40 and 51.1% (95% CI 29.9-87.5%) for SPd-60. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) included neutropenia (all grades: SPd-40 64.3% versus SPd-60 75.0%), anemia (46.4% versus 65.0%), thrombocytopenia (42.9% versus 45.0%), fatigue (46.4% versus 75.0%), nausea (32.1% versus 70.0%) and diarrhea (28.6% versus 35.0%).ConclusionThe all-oral combination of SPd exhibited preliminary signs of efficacy and was generally tolerable in patients with RRMM. The overall risk-benefit profile favored the SPd-40 regimen.

Abstract Flexible pressure sensors employing porous polymer materials are renowned for their superior sensing capabilities, attributed to the inherently low stiffness of porous polymers. The practical utilization of such sensors hinges on the development of a straightforward, cost‐effective, and patternable method for preparing porous polymer materials. In this research, a novel laser thermoforming process is introduced to craft a porous Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film, leveraging carbon black (CB) as an endothermic agent and glucose as a porogen. The resulting porous PDMS film serves as the foundation for a remarkably sensitive flexible piezoresistive sensor. Owing to the inherent flexibility endowed by the porous structure, the porous PDMS‐based pressure sensor achieves a remarkable sensitivity of 109.4 kPa−1 within 0–200 Pa, an effective measurement span of 0–100 kPa, rapid response and recovery times of 79 and 55 ms, and impressive stability over 5000 cycles. The sensor's utility extends to applications such as human pulse monitoring, Morse coding, and robot claw sensing, underscoring its promise in the realm of flexible electronics. In summary, the laser thermoforming process realizes the one‐step, economical, and patternable preparation of porous polymer materials, and introduces a novel avenue for the realization of high‐performance flexible sensors based on thermally cured porous polymers.

ABSTRACT Of the approximately 10 million cases of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infections each year, over 10% are resistant to the frontline antibiotic isoniazid (INH). INH resistance is predominantly caused by mutations that decrease the activity of the bacterial enzyme KatG, which mediates the conversion of the pro-drug INH to its active form INH-NAD. We previously discovered an inhibitor of Mtb respiration, C10, that enhances the bactericidal activity of INH, prevents the emergence of INH-resistant mutants, and re-sensitizes a collection of INH-resistant mutants to INH through an unknown mechanism. To investigate the mechanism of action of C10, we exploited the toxicity of high concentrations of C10 to select for resistant mutants. We discovered two mutations that confer resistance to the disruption of energy metabolism and allow for the growth of Mtb in high C10 concentrations, indicating that growth inhibition by C10 is associated with inhibition of respiration. Using these mutants as well as direct inhibitors of the Mtb electron transport chain, we provide evidence that inhibition of energy metabolism by C10 is neither sufficient nor necessary to potentiate killing by INH. Instead, we find that C10 acts downstream of INH-NAD synthesis, causing Mtb to become particularly sensitive to inhibition of the INH-NAD target, InhA, without changing the concentration of INH-NAD or the activity of InhA, the two predominant mechanisms of potentiating INH. Our studies revealed that there exists a vulnerability in Mtb that can be exploited to render Mtb sensitive to otherwise subinhibitory concentrations of InhA inhibitor.IMPORTANCEIsoniazid (INH) is a critical frontline antibiotic to treat Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infections. INH efficacy is limited by its suboptimal penetration of the Mtb-containing lesion and by the prevalence of clinical INH resistance. We previously discovered a compound, C10, that enhances the bactericidal activity of INH, prevents the emergence of INH-resistant mutants, and re-sensitizes a set of INH-resistant mutants to INH. Resistance is typically mediated by katG mutations that decrease the activation of INH, which is required for INH to inhibit the essential enzyme InhA. Our current work demonstrates that C10 re-sensitizes INH-resistant katG-hypomorphs without enhancing the activation of INH. We furthermore show that C10 causes Mtb to become particularly vulnerable to InhA inhibition without compromising InhA activity on its own. Therefore, C10 represents a novel strategy to curtail the development of INH resistance and to sensitize Mtb to sub-lethal doses of INH, such as those achieved at the infection site.

Elevated blood pressure during childhood can lead to hypertension in adulthood and is associated with an increased risk of future cardiovascular disease with early identification as the best option for prevention. This study examines the prevalence of hypertension in Hispanic and White youths and reports the ability of a school-based program to identify hypertension in school-aged children. Approximately 3.5 % of students had hypertension while 7.5 % of students had elevated blood pressure. Elevated body mass index (BMI) was the most common predictor of hypertension in all three grade levels (elementary: 5th grade, middle: 7th grade, and high school: 10th grade). In the elementary school age group, the significant predictors of hypertension were an elevated BMI, sex, and height. In the middle school age group, the factors that were significant predictors of hypertension included ethnicity, an elevated BMI, and height. In high school age students, the only significant predictor of hypertension was elevated BMI; ethnicity alone was not a significant predictor. The only group that ethnicity was a significant predictor of hypertension was the middle school age. Given that at all three grade levels, the Hispanic students had a higher percentage with elevated BMIs compared to White students, they should be considered at higher risk of hypertension.

We review the use of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to assess the exchange of amide protons for deuterons (HDX) in efforts to understand how high concentration of cosolutes, especially macromolecules, affect the equilibrium thermodynamics of protein stability. HDX NMR is the only method that can routinely provide such data at the level of individual amino acids. We begin by discussing the properties of the protein systems required to yield equilibrium thermodynamic data and then review publications using osmolytes, sugars, denaturants, synthetic polymers, proteins, cytoplasm and in cells.

Abstract Background In European axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) clinical registries, we aimed to investigate commonalities and differences in (1) set-up, clinical data collection; (2) data availability and completeness; and (3) wording, recall period, and scale used for selected patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Methods Data was obtained as part of the EuroSpA Research Collaboration Network and consisted of (1) an online survey and follow-up interview, (2) upload of real-world data, and (3) selected PROMs included in the online survey. Results Fifteen registries participated, contributing 33,948 patients (axSpA: 21,330 (63%), PsA: 12,618 (37%)). The reported coverage of eligible patients ranged from 0.5 to 100%. Information on age, sex, biological/targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug treatment, disease duration, and C-reactive protein was available in all registries with data completeness between 85% and 100%. All PROMs (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity and Functional Indices, Health Assessment Questionnaire, and patient global, pain and fatigue assessments) were more complete after 2015 (68–86%) compared to prior (50–79%). Patient global, pain and fatigue assessments showed heterogeneity between registries in terms of wording, recall periods, and scale. Conclusion Important heterogeneity in registry design and data collection across fifteen European axSpA and PsA registries was observed. Several core measures were widely available, and an increase in data completeness of PROMs in recent years was identified. This study might serve as a basis for examining how differences in data collection across registries may impact the results of collaborative research in the future.

Abstract In this study, several approaches were tested to optimise the production and recovery of the widely used anticancer drug Taxol® (paclitaxel) from culturable vascular stem cells (VSCs) of Taxus baccata, which is currently used as a successful cell line for paclitaxel production. An in situ product recovery (ISPR) technique was employed, which involved combining three commercial macro-porous resin beads (HP-20, XAD7HP and HP-2MG) with batch and semi-continuous cultivations of the T. baccata VSCs after adding methyl jasmonate (Me-JA) as an elicitor. The optimal resin combination resulted in 234 ± 23 mg of paclitaxel per kg of fresh-weight cells, indicating a 13-fold improved yield compared to the control (with no resins) in batch cultivation. This resin treatment was further studied to evaluate the resins’ removal capacity of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can cause poor cell growth or reduce product synthesis. It was observed that the ISPR cultivations had fourfold less intracellular ROS concentration than that of the control; thus, a reduced ROS concentration established by the resin contributed to increased paclitaxel yield, contrary to previous studies. These paclitaxel yields are the highest reported to date using VSCs, and this scalable production method could be applied for a diverse range of similar compounds utilising plant cell culture. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Treatment of osteoporosis commonly diminishes osteoclast number which suppresses bone formation thus compromising fracture prevention. Bone formation is not suppressed, however, when bone degradation is reduced by retarding osteoclast functional resorptive capacity, rather than differentiation. We find deletion of deubiquitinase, BRCA1-associated protein 1 (Bap1), in myeloid cells (Bap1 ∆LysM ), arrests osteoclast function but not formation. Bap1 ∆LysM osteoclasts fail to organize their cytoskeleton which is essential for bone degradation consequently increasing bone mass in both male and female mice. The deubiquitinase activity of BAP1 modifies osteoclast function by metabolic reprogramming. Bap1 deficient osteoclast upregulate the cystine transporter, Slc7a11, by enhanced H2Aub occupancy of its promoter. SLC7A11 controls cellular reactive oxygen species levels and redirects the mitochondrial metabolites away from the tricarboxylic acid cycle, both being necessary for osteoclast function. Thus, in osteoclasts BAP1 appears to regulate the epigenetic-metabolic axis and is a potential target to reduce bone degradation while maintaining osteogenesis in osteoporotic patients.

As quantum technology advances and the size of quantum computers grow, it becomes increasingly important to understand the extent of quality in the devices. As large-scale entanglement is a quantum resource crucial for achieving quantum advantage, the challenge in its generation makes it a valuable benchmark for measuring the performance of universal quantum devices. In this paper, we study entanglement in Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) and graph states prepared on the range of IBM Quantum devices. We generate GHZ states and investigate their coherence times with respect to state size and dynamical decoupling techniques. A GHZ fidelity of 0.519±0.014 is measured on a 32-qubit GHZ state, certifying its genuine multipartite entanglement (GME). We show a substantial improvement in GHZ decoherence rates for a seven-qubit GHZ state after implementing dynamical decoupling, and observe a linear trend in the decoherence rate of α=(7.13N+5.54)×10^{−3}µs^{−1} for up to N=15 qubits, confirming the absence of superdecoherence. Additionally, we prepare and characterize fully bipartite entangled native-graph states on 22 superconducting quantum devices with qubit counts as high as 414 qubits, all active qubits of the 433-qubit IBM Osprey device. Analysis of the decay of two-qubit entanglement within the prepared states shows suppression of coherent noise signals with the implementation of dynamical decoupling techniques. Additionally, we observe that the entanglement in some qubit pairs oscillates over time, which is likely caused by residual ZZ-interactions. Characterizing entanglement in native-graph states, along with detecting entanglement oscillations, can be an effective approach to low-level device benchmarking that encapsulates two-qubit error rates along with additional sources of noise, with possible applications to quantum circuit compilation. We develop several tools to automate the preparation and entanglement characterization of GHZ and graph states. In particular, a method to characterize graph state bipartite entanglement using just 36 circuits, constant with respect to the number of qubits.

Persimmon fruit processing-derived waste and by-products, such as peels and pomace, are important sources of dietary fiber and phytochemicals. Revalorizing these by-products could help promote circular nutrition and agricultural sustainability while tackling dietary deficiencies and chronic diseases. In this study, fiber-rich fractions were prepared from the by-products of Sharoni and Brilliant Red persimmon varieties. These fractions were quantified for their phenolic composition and assessed for their ability to promote the growth of beneficial human colonic Firmicutes species and for their in vitro anti-inflammatory potential. Gallic and protocatechuic acids, delphinidin, and cyanidin were the main phenolics identified. Faecalibacterium prausnitzii strains showed significantly higher growth rates in the presence of the Brilliant Red fraction, generating more than double butyrate as a proportion of the total short-chain fatty acids (39.5% vs. 17.8%) when compared to glucose. The fiber-rich fractions significantly decreased the inflammatory effect of interleukin-1β in Caco-2 cells, and the fermented fractions (both from Sharoni and Brilliant Red) significantly decreased the inflammatory effect of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in the RAW 264.7 cells. Therefore, fiber-rich fractions from persimmon by-products could be part of nutritional therapies as they reduce systemic inflammation, promote the growth of beneficial human gut bacteria, and increase the production of beneficial microbial metabolites such as butyrate.

In 1979, NASA established the Great Observatory program, which included four telescopes (Hubble, Compton, Chandra, and Spitzer) to explore the Universe. The Spitzer Space Telescope was launched in 2003 into solar orbit, gradually drifting away from the Earth. Spitzer was operated very successfully until 2020 when NASA terminated observations and placed the telescope in safe mode. In 2028, the U.S. Space Force has the opportunity to demonstrate satellite servicing by telerobotically reactivating Spitzer for astronomical observations, and in a separate experiment, carry out novel Space Weather research and operations capabilities by observing solar Coronal Mass Ejections. This will be accomplished by launching a small satellite, the Spitzer-Resurrector Mission (SRM), to rendezvous with Spitzer in 2030, positioning itself around it, and serving as a relay for recommissioning and science operations. A sample of science goals for Spitzer is briefly described, but the focus of this paper is on the unique opportunity offered by SRM to demonstrate novel Space Weather research and operations capabilities.

Abstract Paragonimiasis is a zoonotic, food-borne trematode infection that affects 21 million people globally. Trematodes interact with their hosts via extracellular vesicles (EV) that carry protein and RNA cargo. We analyzed EV in excretory-secretory products (ESP) released by Paragonimus kellicotti adult worms cultured in vitro (EV ESP) and EV isolated from lung cyst fluid (EV CFP) recovered from infected gerbils. The majority of EV were approximately 30–50 nm in diameter. We identified 548 P. kellicotti-derived proteins in EV ESP by mass spectrometry and 8 proteins in EV CFP of which 7 were also present in EV ESP. No parasite-derived proteins were reliably detected in EV isolated from plasma samples. A cysteine protease (MK050848, CP-6) was the most abundant protein found in EV CFP in all technical and biological replicates. Immunolocalization of CP-6 showed strong labeling in the tegument of P. kellicotti and in the adjacent cyst and lung tissue that contained worm eggs. It is likely that CP-6 present in EV is involved in parasite-host interactions. These results provide new insights into interactions between Paragonimus and their mammalian hosts, and they provide potential clues for development of novel diagnostic tools and treatments.

Unsustainable hunting, both illegal and legal, has led to the extirpation of many species. In the last 35 years giraffe Giraffa spp. populations have declined precipitously, with extinctions documented in seven African countries. Amongst the various reasons for these population declines, poaching is believed to play an important role in some areas. Giraffes are primarily hunted for consumption and for the use of their body parts as trophies and in traditional medicine. However, the socio-economic factors that correlate with the use of giraffe body parts are not well understood. We conducted our study in Tsavo Conservation Area, Kenya, which experiences high levels of poaching. We used semi-structured surveys amongst 331 households to document how giraffe body parts are typically acquired and their intended use (i.e. trophy, medicinal or consumptive). We then used logistic regression models to assess the correlations between nine socio-economic factors and the use of giraffe body parts. We found that giraffe body parts had mostly consumptive and trophy uses. One-time suppliers, opportunistic access and widely known markets were the most common means of acquiring giraffe body parts. Results from our models showed that three variables (gender: men, occupation: tourism worker, and land ownership) were correlated significantly and positively with the use of giraffe body parts. We describe the complex links between socio-economic factors and the use of giraffe body parts and highlight the importance of implementing mitigation measures adapted to local contexts to combat a challenge that many species of conservation concern are facing.

Abstract Agents that can simultaneously activate latent HIV, increase immune activation and enhance the killing of latently-infected cells represent promising approaches for HIV cure. Here, we develop and evaluate a trispecific antibody (Ab), N6/αCD3-αCD28, that targets three independent proteins: (1) the HIV envelope via the broadly reactive CD4-binding site Ab, N6; (2) the T cell antigen CD3; and (3) the co-stimulatory molecule CD28. We find that the trispecific significantly increases antigen-specific T-cell activation and cytokine release in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Co-culturing CD4+ with autologous CD8+ T cells from ART-suppressed HIV+ donors with N6/αCD3-αCD28, results in activation of latently-infected cells and their elimination by activated CD8+ T cells. This trispecific antibody mediates CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell activation in non-human primates and is well tolerated in vivo. This HIV-directed antibody therefore merits further development as a potential intervention for the eradication of latent HIV infection.

Abstract RNA binding proteins (RBPs) act as critical facilitators of spatially regulated gene expression. Muscleblind-like (MBNL) proteins, implicated in myotonic dystrophy and cancer, localize RNAs to myoblast membranes and neurites through unknown mechanisms. We find that MBNL forms motile and anchored granules in neurons and myoblasts, and selectively associates with kinesins Kif1bα and Kif1c through its zinc finger (ZnF) domains. Other RBPs with similar ZnFs associate with these kinesins, implicating a motor-RBP specificity code. MBNL and kinesin perturbation leads to widespread mRNA mis-localization, including depletion of Nucleolin transcripts from neurites. Live cell imaging and fractionation reveal that the unstructured carboxy-terminal tail of MBNL1 allows for anchoring at membranes. An approach, termed RBP Module Recruitment and Imaging (RBP-MRI), reconstitutes kinesin- and membrane-recruitment functions using MBNL-MS2 coat protein fusions. Our findings decouple kinesin association, RNA binding, and membrane anchoring functions of MBNL while establishing general strategies for studying multi-functional, modular domains of RBPs.

Guinea pigs have historically been used as a food source and are also an important model for studying the human intestines. Fasting is the act of temporarily stopping the intake of food. This process can alter the microbiota of various animals. This study is the first to investigate the impact of fasting on the cecum microbiome of three guinea pig breeds. We investigated the impact of fasting on the microbiome population structure in the cecum of three guinea pig breeds. This was done by sequencing and analyzing the V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene in bacterial communities found in cecum mucosa samples. To achieve this, we established two treatment groups (fasting and fed), for each of the three guinea pig breeds: Andina, Inti, and Peru. The study involved twenty-eight guinea pigs, which were divided into the following groups: Andina-fed (five), Andina-fasting (five), Inti-fed (four), Inti-fasting (five), Peru-fed (five), and Peru-fasting (four). The results indicated a significant difference in beta diversity between the treatment groups for the Peru breed (P-value = 0.049), but not for the treatment groups of the Andina and Inti breeds. The dominant phyla across all groups were Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. We observed variations in the abundance of different taxa in the cecum microbiota when comparing the treatment groups for each breed. Additionally, there was a higher number of unique taxa observed in the fasting groups compared to the fed groups. We discovered that the genus Victivallis was the only one present in all fasting groups across all breeds. Despite the findings, the resilience of the gut microbiome was not challenged in all three breeds, which can lead to disruptive changes that may affect the overall maintenance of the cecum microbiome. Based on the observed differences in the treatment groups of the Peru breed, it can be suggested that fasting has a greater impact on this particular breed.

Abstract Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors, including those against programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) or its ligand (PD-L1), are routinely used to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PD-L1 is a validated prognostic and predictive immunohistochemical biomarker of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy but displays temporospatial heterogeneity of expression. Non-invasive radiopharmaceutical techniques, including technetium-99m [99mTc]-labelled anti-PD-L1 single-domain antibody (NM-01) SPECT/CT, have the potential to improve the predictive value of PD-L1 assessment. This study aims to determine the inter- and intra-rater agreement of the quantitative measurement of [99mTc]NM-01 SPECT/CT in NSCLC. Methods Participants (n = 14) with untreated advanced NSCLC underwent [99mTc]NM-01 SPECT/CT at baseline (n = 3) or at baseline plus 9-week follow-up (n = 11). [99mTc]NM-01 uptake (of primary lung, lymph node, thoracic and distant metastases, and healthy reference tissues) was measured using SUVmax and malignant lesion-to-blood pool ratios with Siemens xSPECT Broad Quantification software by three independent raters. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated and Bland–Altman plot analysis performed to determine inter- and intra-rater agreement. Results There was excellent inter-rater agreement of manual freehand SUVmax scores of primary lung tumour (T; n = 25; ICC 1.00; 95% CI 0.99–1.00), individual lymph node metastases (LN; n = 56; ICC 0.97; 95% CI 0.95–0.98), thoracic metastases (ThMet; n = 9; ICC 0.94; 95% CI 0.83–0.99) and distant metastases (DisMet; n = 21; ICC 0.91; 95% CI 0.83–0.96). The inter-rater ICCs of tumour-to-blood pool (T:BP), LN:BP, ThMet:BP and DisMet:BP measures of [99mTc]NM-01 uptake also demonstrated good or excellent agreement. Manual freehand scoring of T, LN, ThMet, DisMet and their ratios using [99mTc]NM-01 SPECT/CT following a 28-day interval was consistent for all raters with good or excellent intra-rater agreement demonstrated (ICCs range 0.86–1.00). Conclusion Quantitative assessment of [99mTc]NM-01 SPECT/CT in NSCLC, using SUVmax of malignant primary or metastatic lesions and their ratios with healthy reference tissues, demonstrated good or excellent inter- and intra-rater agreement in this study. Further validation with ongoing and future larger cohort studies is now warranted. Clinical trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier no. NCT04436406 (registered 18th June 2020; available at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04436406 ) and NCT04992715 (registered 5th August 2021; available at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04992715 ).

Abstract Tumors are comprised of a multitude of cell types spanning different microenvironments. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) has the potential to identify metabolic patterns within the tumor ecosystem and surrounding tissues, but conventional workflows have not yet fully integrated the breadth of experimental techniques in metabolomics. Here, we combine MSI, stable isotope labeling, and a spatial variant of Isotopologue Spectral Analysis to map distributions of metabolite abundances, nutrient contributions, and metabolic turnover fluxes across the brains of mice harboring GL261 glioma, a widely used model for glioblastoma. When integrated with MSI, the combination of ion mobility, desorption electrospray ionization, and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization reveals alterations in multiple anabolic pathways. De novo fatty acid synthesis flux is increased by approximately 3-fold in glioma relative to surrounding healthy tissue. Fatty acid elongation flux is elevated even higher at 8-fold relative to surrounding healthy tissue and highlights the importance of elongase activity in glioma.

Abstract Background Myocardial programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression is implicated in immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-associated myocarditis. Measurement of myocardial PD-L1 expression may have potential use as a mechanistic and predictive biomarker. The aim of this study was to determine non-invasive assessment of myocardial PD-L1 expression using [99mTc]-labelled anti-PD-L1 single-domain antibody (NM-01) SPECT/CT. Methods Thoracic [99mTc]NM-01 SPECT/CT was performed in lung cancer patients (n = 10) at baseline and 9-weeks following anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) therapy. Baseline and 9-week left ventricular and right ventricular to blood pool ratios (LVmax:BP) and (RVmax:BP) were measured. LVmax was compared to background skeletal muscle (musclemax). Intra-rater reliability was determined by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland–Altman analysis. Results Mean LVmax:BP values were 2.76 ± 0.67 at baseline vs 2.55 ± 0.77 at 9 weeks (p = 0.42). Mean RVmax:BP was 1.82 ± 0.32 at baseline vs 1.76 ± 0.45 at 9 weeks (p = 0.67). Myocardial PD-L1 expression was at least threefold greater than skeletal muscle at baseline for the LV (LVmax to musclemax 3.71 ± 0.77 vs 0.98 ± 0.20 (p

Abstract The exchange bias (EB) effect plays an undisputed role in the development of highly sensitive, robust, and high-density spintronic devices in magnetic data storage. However, the weak EB field, low blocking temperature, as well as the lack of modulation methods, seriously limit the application of EB in van der Waals (vdW) spintronic devices. Here, we utilized pressure engineering to tune the vdW spacing of the two-dimensional (2D) FePSe3/Fe3GeTe2 heterostructures. The EB field (H EB, from 29.2 mT to 111.2 mT) and blocking temperature (T b, from 20 K to 110 K) are significantly enhanced, and a highly sensitive and robust spin valve is demonstrated. Interestingly, this enhancement of the EB effect was extended to exposed Fe3GeTe2, due to the single-domain nature of Fe3GeTe2. Our findings provide opportunities for the producing, exploring, and tuning of magnetic vdW heterostructures with strong interlayer coupling, thereby enabling customized 2D spintronic devices in the future.

Pyrazinacenes are linearly fused heteroaromatic rings, with N atoms replacing all apical CH moieties. Component rings may exist in a reduced state, having NH groups instead of N, causing cross-conjugation. These compounds have interesting optical and electronic properties, including strong fluorescence in the near-infrared region and photocatalytic properties, leading to diverse possible applications in bio-imaging and organic synthesis, as well as obvious molecular electronic uses. In this study, we investigated the behavior of seven-ring pyrazinacene 2,3,11,12-tetraphenyl-7,16-dihydro-1,4,5,6,7,8,9,12,13,14,15,16,17,18-tetradecaazaheptacene (Ph4H2N14HEPT), with an emphasis on protic processes, including oxidation, tautomerism, deprotonation, and protonation, and the species resulting from those processes. We used computational methods to optimize the structures of the different species and generate/compare molecular orbital structures. The aromaticity of the species generated by the different processes was assessed using the nucleus-independent chemical shifts, and trends in the values were associated with the different transformations of the pyrazinacene core. The computational data were compared with experimental data obtained from synthetic samples of the molecule tBu8Ph4H2N14HEPT.

The aim of this study was to assess the utility of CHROMID® Colistin R for direct detection of colistin-resistant Gram-negative bacteria from positive blood cultures. A total of 390 blood cultures from hospitalised patients containing Gram-negative bacteria were included in this study. These blood cultures were referred to clinical laboratories in the United Kingdom and Türkiye. A further 16 simulated positive blood culture bottles were included that contained a range of colistin-resistant strains as well as susceptible control strains. Fluid from each positive blood culture was diluted 1/200 in saline and 10 µL aliquots cultured onto cystine-lactose-electrolyte-deficient agar and CHROMID® Colistin R. All recovered bacteria were identified, and for Gram-negative bacteria, their minimum inhibitory concentration of colistin was measured using the broth microdilution method. From a total of 443 Gram-negative isolates, 57 colistin-resistant isolates were recovered, of which 53 (93%) grew on CHROMID® Colistin R within 18 h. Of the 377 isolates determined to be colistin-susceptible, only 9 isolates were able to grow, including 6 isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. For positive blood cultures that are shown to contain Gram-negative bacteria, culture on CHROMID® Colistin R is a useful diagnostic tool to detect susceptibility or resistance to colistin within 18 h.

Summary: The liver coordinates the systemic response to nutrient deprivation and availability by producing glucose from gluconeogenesis during fasting and synthesizing lipids via de novo lipogenesis (DNL) when carbohydrates are abundant. Mitochondrial pyruvate metabolism is thought to play important roles in both gluconeogenesis and DNL. We examined the effects of hepatocyte-specific mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) deletion on the fasting-refeeding response. Rates of DNL during refeeding were impaired by hepatocyte MPC deletion, but this did not reduce intrahepatic lipid content. During fasting, glycerol is converted to glucose by two pathways; a direct cytosolic pathway and an indirect mitochondrial pathway requiring the MPC. Hepatocyte MPC deletion reduced the incorporation of 13C-glycerol into TCA cycle metabolites, but not into new glucose. Furthermore, suppression of glycerol and alanine metabolism did not affect glucose concentrations in fasted hepatocyte-specific MPC-deficient mice, suggesting multiple layers of redundancy in glycemic control in mice.

BackgroundImproved diagnostic tools are needed for detecting active filarial infections in humans. Tests are available that detect adult W. bancrofti circulating filarial antigen, but there are no sensitive and specific biomarker tests for brugian filariasis or loiasis. Here we explored whether extracellular vesicles released by filarial parasites contain diagnostic biomarker candidates.MethodsVesicles were isolated using VN96-affinity purification from supernatants of short-term in vitro cultured B. malayi microfilariae (Mf) and analyzed by mass spectrometry (Bruker timsTOF). Parasite-specific proteins were identified by bioinformatic analysis and a protein was called present if supported by ≥ 2 spectra. After validation with cultures parasites, this approach was then used to analyze vesicles isolated from plasma of animals infected with B. malayi and from humans with heavy Loa loa infections.ResultsVesicles from Mf cultures contained more than 300 B. malayi proteins with high consistency across biological replicates. These included the known Mf excretory antigen BmR1 (AF225296). Over 150 B. malayi proteins were detected in vesicles isolated from plasma samples from two infected animals. Vesicles isolated from plasma from 10 persons with high L. loa Mf densities contained consistently 21 proteins, 9 of them were supported by at least 5 unique peptides and 7 with spectral counts above 10. The protein EN70_10600 (an orthologue of the B. malayi antigen BmR1, GenBank AF225296) was detected in all 10 samples with a total count of 91 spectra and a paralogue (EN70_10598) was detected in 6 samples with a total of 44 spectra.DiscussionExtracellular vesicles released by filarial parasites in vitro and in vivo contain parasite proteins which can be reliably detected by mass spectrometry. This research provides the foundation to develop antigen detection assays to improve diagnosis of active filarial infections in humans.

The emergence of antibiotic resistance is a growing threat to human health, and therefore, alternatives to existing compounds are urgently needed. In this context, a novel fluorescent photoactivatable diarylacetylene has been identified and characterised for its antibacterial activity, which preferentially eliminates Gram-positive over Gram-negative bacteria. Experiments confirmed that the Gram-negative lipopolysaccharide-rich outer surface is responsible for tolerance, as strains with reduced outer membrane integrity showed increased susceptibility. Additionally, bacteria deficient in oxidative damage repair pathways also displayed enhanced sensitivity, confirming that reactive oxygen species production is the mechanism of antibacterial activity. This new diarylacetylene shows promise as an antibacterial agent against Gram-positive bacteria that can be activated in situ, potentially for the treatment of skin infections.