Search

Objective: To assess the internal construct validity, including local independence, unidimensionality, monotonicity, and invariance, reliability, and targeting of the Forgotten Joint Score within the Rasch Measurement Theory framework., Design: Cross-sectional study., Patients: A total of 111 patients with total hip arthroplasty at least 3 months after surgery., Methods: The Forgotten Joint Score was submitted to each subject during their rehabilitative treatment in an Italian centre and then to Rasch analysis., Results: The base Rasch analysis showed a satisfactory fit to the model with strict unidimensionality and no differential item functioning. However, monotonicity (11 out of 12 items showed disordered thresholds) and local independence were  violated. After rescoring 10 items and creating 5 subtests to account for local dependence, the scale satisfied all the other Rasch model requirements (i.e. invariance, local independence, monotonicity, unidimensionality, and multi-group invariance), with reliability indexes (> 0.850) for measurement at the individual level and proper targeting. A raw-score-to-measure conversion table was provided., Conclusion: After structural (i.e. collapsing items categories) and non-structural (i.e. creating subtests) strategies, the Forgotten Joint Score satisfied the measurement requirements of the Rasch model, and it can be used in patients with total hip arthroplasty in clinical and research settings.

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) surgeries are increasing; to assess quality of life after THA, an instrument that considers patient's perspective on surgical outcomes is necessary. The objective of this study is to assess the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Forgotten Joint Score (FJS-I) in patients with THA. The FJS-I was administered to 111 patients with THA, as well as the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC), Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), and the EuroQol 5D-5L (EQ-5D-5L). Structural validity [confirmatory factor analysis (CFA)], internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), test-retest reliability [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC 2,1 )], measurement error [standard error of the measurement (SEM)], and construct validity (hypothesis testing with correlation of the WOMAC, NPRS, and EQ-5D-5L) were assessed. In addition, the minimal detectable change (MDC) was computed. The result of CFA confirmed the one-factor structure. Internal consistency was supported (α = 0.944). A high test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.958; 95% confidence interval, 0.914-0.980) was found with an SEM and an MDC of 5.3 and 16.6 points, respectively. The a-priori hypotheses were fully met, determining the construct validity to be satisfactory. Psychometric properties of the FJS-I were confirmed, and it can be used for single-person assessment. Further research is suggested to refine its structural validity., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

The sheet-like lipid bilayer is the fundamental structural component of all cell membranes. Its building blocks are phospholipids and cholesterol. Their amphiphilic structure spontaneously leads to the formation of a bilayer in aqueous environment. Lipids are not just structural elements. Individual lipid species, the lipid membrane structure, and lipid dynamics influence and regulate membrane protein function. An exciting field is emerging where the membrane-associated material properties of different bilayer systems are used in designing innovative solutions for widespread applications across various fields, such as the food industry, cosmetics, nano- and biomedicine, drug storage and delivery, biotechnology, nano- and biosensors, and computing. Here, the authors summarize what is known about how lipids determine the properties and functions of biological membranes and how this has been or can be translated into innovative applications. Based on recent progress in the understanding of membrane structure, dynamics, and physical properties, a perspective is provided on how membrane-controlled regulation of protein functions can extend current applications and even offer new applications., (© 2024 The Authors. Advanced Materials published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Background: The ultimate goal of arthroplasty is thought to be the ability to "forget" a joint implant in daily activities. The Forgotten Joint Score (FJS-12), a score system that evaluates how much patients have been able to forget their hip or knee prosthesis, was recently published. It is based on a self-administered questionnaire that consists of 12 items. The major goal of the current study was to validate, adapt, and evaluate a Arabic-language FJS-12 (Ar-FJS-12) version in patients who had undergone total hip replacement (THA). Materials and methods: The study included 107 patients who underwent THA 1–5 years ago and completed the Ar-FJS. The construct validity of the study was evaluated using the reduced Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (rWOMAC). To assess the test-retest reliability, 72 people took the Ar-FJS test twice. Results: Cronbach's alpha (Internal Consistency) of the Ar-FJS-12 was 0.957 and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.931 indicating high reliability. For construct validity, there was a moderate significant correlation between the Arabic the rWOMAC with r = 0.595. The ceiling effect was 1.9% (n = 2), whereas the floor effect was 1.9% (n = 2). Conclusion: The Arabic version of the FJS-12 valid, reliable tool and can be recommended for patients in Arabic-speaking communities who have undergone hip arthroplasty. Level of evidence: III, validity and reliability study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MS) represents a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors that has become a serious problem for HIV-1-infected patients. It has been proposed that disturbance of phosphate metabolism may represent a key feature of MS. Thus, we undertook the present study to investigate the relationship between phosphate levels and the presence of the characteristics of MS., Methods: One hundred and twenty-one HIV-1-infected patients were consecutively enrolled in a prospective, cross-sectional, single-centre study. Kidney tubular function was examined using tubular resorption of phosphate and normalized renal threshold phosphate concentration., Results: Univariate analysis showed that serum phosphate levels correlated negatively with systolic and diastolic blood pressure, glucose values, waist circumference, insulin, and triglycerides. Moreover, there was a positive relationship between phosphate and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Multivariate analysis showed that insulin levels were correlated with serum phosphate concentration (r = - 0.24, p = 0.01)., Conclusions: Our data show that HIV-1-infected patients with MS have lower phosphate levels.

Objective: To report the efficacy, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic effects of combined voriconazole and efavirenz treatment administered at therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM)-based adjusted doses to a patient with AIDS, cryptococcosis, and mild liver cirrhosis., Case Summary: A 40-year-old man with AIDS (hemophiliac, antiretroviral-naïve, plasma HIV-RNA = 290,000 copies/mL, CD4+ lymphocytes = 0), hepatitis C virus-related liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh class A), and cryptococcal meningitis was failing standard antifungal therapies. He received an antifungal-antiretroviral combination treatment based on the association of voriconazole plus efavirenz. Doses of both drugs were serially adjusted based on their plasma concentrations, which were evaluated at steady-state of each dose combination at least once (week 3.1 or later) as full concentration-time profile (samples collected at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12 h postdose). Adequate concentrations of voriconazole in both plasma and cerebrospinal fluid were obtained and target plasma concentrations of efavirenz were achieved at the final dose adjustment (voriconazole 200 mg twice daily plus efavirenz 300 mg once daily, both administered orally). The patient showed prompt and stable suppression of cryptococcosis and plasma viremia of HIV at long-term follow-up (66 wk), with no significant adverse events., Discussion: Standard therapies for cryptococcosis in patients with AIDS are often not effective. Voriconazole, despite its promising anticryptococcal efficacy, is currently not approved for cryptococcosis therapy in the US and Europe, nor is it recommended for combination with efavirenz due to the significant pharmacokinetic interactions between the 2 compounds. Thus far, published studies regarding the effects of voriconazole in human cryptococcosis are scarce and none has described the clinical and pharmacokinetic outcomes of a voriconazole/efavirenz combination in patients with AIDS, either with or without liver cirrhosis., Conclusions: The combination of voriconazole and efavirenz at TDM-assisted doses may represent a valuable therapeutic option in AIDS patients with cryptococcosis and mild liver cirrhosis.

Human infection with Aeromonas species is uncommon and most often due to trauma with exposure to contaminated water or soil. A 43-year-old HIV- and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected male, after a two-week course of corticosteroid therapy for an autoimmune anemia, developed diarrhea, dermatologic manifestations and a multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, resulting in death. Although stool samples were repeatedly negative, two sets of blood cultures obtained during a single peak of fever yielded the post-mortem isolation of a Gram-negative, oxidase-positive, beta-hemolytic bacillus that was identified as Aeromonas sobria. Empiric antibiotic therapy was unsuccessful. Evaluation of the virulence-associated traits of the clinical isolate (adhesion, cytotoxicity activity, biofilm production) showed that the strain was a poor producer of recognized virulence factors, thereby indicating that the unfortunate coexistence of HIV infection, HCV-related liver cirrhosis and corticosteroids played a key role in the clinical course.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) often represents a clinical emergency requiring prompt and adequate antimicrobial treatment. The choice of antimicrobials, however, is difficult due to the variety of potential pathogens and to the spread of drug-resistance. Hence, a correct therapeutic approach should be based on the knowledge of the most frequently reported etiologies for the different clinical conditions, specific patient risk factors and the treatment setting (home, hospital, intensive or non intensive care unit) chosen accordingly. The awareness of the local drug-resistance epidemiology and individual patient characteristics, such as age, history of antibiotic treatments and related adverse events, underlying diseases, concurrent therapies and expected adherence to treatment should also be considered. Lastly, an adequate CAP management should address other issues, including therapy duration, monitoring of its efficacy and adverse effects, and supportive measures. The guidelines for CAP management aim to provide the physician with the necessary knowledge and criteria to assist him in these crucial decisions, and their adoption result in a significant reduction of mortality, frequency and length of hospitalization, and costs. Herein, the authors review and discuss some of the main current guidelines for CAP management, highlighting their differences and similarities.

In recent years, there has been a surge in interest concerning emerging contaminants, also known as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), due to their presence in environmental matrices. Despite lacking regulation, these chemicals pose potential health and environmental safety risks. Disodium EDTA, a widely utilized chelating agent, has raised concerns regarding its environmental impact. The present work aimed to verify the presence of Disodium EDTA at the exit of eight wastewater treatment plants discharging into some losing streams flowing within a large alluvial aquifer. Conducted in the Province of Parma (Northern Italy), the research employs a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating geological, hydrogeological, chemical, and microbial community analyses. Following a territorial analysis to assess industries in the region, through the use of ATECO codes (a classification system for economic activities), the study investigated the concentration of Disodium EDTA in effluents from eight diverse wastewater treatment plants, noting that all discharges originate from an activated sludge treatment plant, released into surface water courses feeding the alluvial aquifer. Results revealed detectable levels of Disodium EDTA in all samples, indicating its persistence post-treatment. Concentrations ranged from 80 to 980 µg/L, highlighting the need for further research on its environmental fate and potential mitigation strategies. Additionally, the microbial communities naturally occurring in shallow groundwater were analyzed from a hydrogeological perspective. The widespread presence of a bacterial community predominantly composed of aerobic bacteria further confirmed that the studied aquifer is diffusely unconfined or semi-confined and/or diffusely fed by surface water sources. Furthermore, the presence of fecal bacteria served as a marker of diffuse leakage from sewage networks, which contain pre-treated wastewater. Although concentrations of Disodium EDTA above the instrumental quantification limit have not been found in groundwater to date, this research highlights the significant vulnerability of aquifers to Disodium EDTA. It reveals the critical link between surface waters, which receive treated wastewaters impacted by Disodium EDTA, and groundwater, emphasizing how this connection can expose aquifers to potential contamination. At this stage of the research, dilution of wastewaters in surface- and groundwater, as well as hydrodynamic dispersion within the alluvial aquifer, seem to be the main factors influencing the decrease in Disodium EDTA concentration in the subsurface below the actual quantification limit. Consequently, there is a pressing need to enhance methodologies to lower the instrumental quantification limit within aqueous matrices. In a broader context, urgent measures are needed to address the risk of diffuse transport of CECs contaminants like Disodium EDTA and safeguard the integrity of surface and groundwater resources, which are essential for sustaining ecosystems and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein we report the case of hepatic amoebic abscesses in an HIV-positive Italian seaman with a history of promiscuous heterosexual intercourse. In October 2004, the patient was hospitalized because of fever and recurring abdominal pain. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed six hepatic hypoechoid oval lesions with hyperechoid margins. Stool samples were negative for parasites and bacteria, and serology for Entamoeba histolytica was also negative. Therapy with meropenem plus levofloxacin was initiated. After a partial resolution of clinical symptoms and reduction of three hepatic lesions, the patient was again hospitalized in December 2004, because of recurring intense pain at the right hypochondrium and fever. At this time, one hepatic lesion at the sixth segment was enlarged, two lesions were unchanged, and the remaining three smaller abscesses were resolved. Serum antibodies for E. histolytica and amoebic antigens on the largest abscess drainage were positive; moreover, E. histolytica was also identified on drainage fluid with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Therapy with metronidazole followed by paromomycin improved both symptoms and radiographic images. This case report suggests that in HIV-infected patients, invasive amoebiasis should be considered and atypical aspects, such as multiple hepatic lesions, delayed positivity of serology for E. histolytica, and possible bacterial superinfection should be evaluated.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate content validity, test–retest reliability, internal consistency, construct validity, responsiveness and floor/ceiling effects of Forgotten Joint Score (FJS) for assessing functions in activities of daily living (ADL) following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and perform an item reduction of FJS. Methods: Swedish‐speaking ACLR patients in one surgical clinic were eligible. Content validity was evaluated through patient responses and patient and expert clinician relevance ratings, omitting items with low relevance. Principal component factor analysis, Cronbach's ⍺, paired t test, correlations between FJS and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Cohen's d effect sizes (ESs) and standardized response mean (SRM) were used to evaluate internal consistency, test–retest reliability, construct validity and responsiveness. Floor/ceiling effects were calculated. FJS was expected to reveal one dominant factor, a Cronbach's ⍺ between 0.70 and 0.95, correlations >0.50 to all KOOS subscores, highest for ADL, moderate ES and SRM, floor/ceiling effects <15%. Results: One hundred and seventy‐six participants (103 for assessing internal consistency, construct validity, responsiveness and floor/ceiling effects; 73 for assessing test–retest reliability and content validity) were included. Item reduction yielded a nine‐item FJS (FJS‐9). FJS‐12 and FJS‐9 demonstrated sufficient content validity (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.5–3.1, respectively, 2.9–3.3). FJS‐9 was found unidimensional, and FJS‐12 was multidimensional. Cronbach's ⍺ was 0.94 for FJS, and the intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.90. FJS showed significant correlations >0.65 to all KOOS subscales, moderate ES and SRM > 0.50. No floor/ceiling effects were found. Conclusion: FJS‐9 demonstrated adequate validity for the evaluation of joint awareness in ACLR patients and can be a valuable tool to assess ADL and joint awareness. Level of Eidence: Level III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bottom-up constructed artificial cells help to understand the cell working mechanism and provide the evolution clues for organisms. The energy supply and metabolism mimicry are the key issues in the field of artificial cells. Herein, an artificial cell containing cyanobacteria capable of light harvesting and carbon dioxide fixation is demonstrated to produce glucose molecules by converting light energy into chemical energy. Two downstream "metabolic" pathways starting from glucose molecules are investigated. One involves enzyme cascade reaction to produce H 2 O 2 (assisted by glucose oxidase) first, followed by converting Amplex red to resorufin (assisted by horseradish peroxidase). The other pathway is more biologically relevant. Glucose molecules are dehydrogenated to transfer hydrogens to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD + ) for the production of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydride (NADH) molecules in the presence of glucose dehydrogenase. Further, NADH molecules are oxidized into NAD + by pyruvate catalyzed by lactate dehydrogenase, meanwhile, lactate is obtained. Therefore, the cascade cycling of NADH/NAD + is built. The artificial cells built here pave the way for investigating more complicated energy-supplied metabolism inside artificial cells., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Building an artificial photosynthetic cell from scratch helps to understand the working mechanisms of chloroplasts. It is a challenge to achieve carbon fixation triggered by photosynthetic organelles in an artificial cell. ATP synthase and photosystem II (PSII) are purified and reconstituted onto the phospholipid membrane to fabricate photosynthetic organelles. With the integration of phycocyanin, the ATP production yield increases by 2.51-fold due to the enhanced light harvesting capability. The carbon fixation pathway is established by converting α-oxoglutarate to acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetate with cascade enzyme reactions including the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), aconitase (ACO), and ATP citrate lyase (ACL). The photosynthetic organelles, phycocyanin, and carbon fixation pathway are encapsulated into giant unilamellar vesicles to obtain artificial photosynthetic cells, which convert α-oxoglutarate to acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetate inside artificial cells upon light irradiation. The acetyl-CoA is the most important intermediate product in the cellular metabolic networks for the synthesis of cholesterol and fatty acids. Our results provide a way for efficient light energy conversion to produce ATP and fix CO 2 , and pave the path to build autonomous artificial cells with more complicated metabolic networks., (© 2025 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The spontaneous emergence of lipid vesicles in the absence of evolved biological machinery represents a major challenge for bottom-up synthetic biology. We show that coacervate microdroplets could create a compartmentalized environment that enriches lipid molecules and facilitates their spontaneous assembly into lipid vesicles. These vesicles can escape from the coacervate microdroplets in a continuous process under non-equilibrium conditions, resembling a constant production process akin to a "primitive enzyme" factory assembly line. These findings significantly extend our understanding of the intricate interaction between lipid molecules and coacervate microdroplets, shedding light on the emergence of cellular systems and offering a new perspective on the conditions necessary for the development of life on Earth., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Nanocelluloses have garnered significant attention recently in the attempt to create sustainable, improved functional materials. Nanocellulose possesses wide varieties, including rod-shaped crystalline cellulose nanocrystals and elongated cellulose nanofibers, also known as microfibrillated cellulose. In recent times, nanocellulose has sparked research into a wide range of biomedical applications, which vary from developing 3D printed hydrogel to preparing structures with tunable characteristics. Owing to its multifunctional properties, different categories of nanocellulose, such as cellulose nanocrystals, cellulose nanofibers, and bacterial nanocellulose, as well as their unique properties are discussed here. Here, different methods of nanocellulose-based hydrogel preparation are covered, which include 3D printing and crosslinking methods. Subsequently, advanced nanocellulose-hydrogels addressing conductivity, shape memory, adhesion, and structural color are highlighted. Finally, the application of nanocellulose-based hydrogel in biomedical applications is explored here. In summary, numerous perspectives on novel approaches based on nanocellulose-based research are presented here., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Different levels of EspP2 expression are seen in strains of Glaesserella parasuis with high and low pathogenicity. As a potential virulence factor for G. parasuis, the pathogenic mechanism of EspP2 in infection of host cells is not clear. To begin to elucidate the effect of EspP2 on virulence, we used G. parasuis SC1401 in its wild-type form and SC1401, which was made EspP2-deficient. We demonstrated that EspP2 causes up-regulation of claudin-1 and occludin expression, thereby promoting the adhesion of G. parasuis to host cells; EspP2-deficiency resulted in significantly reduced adhesion of G. parasuis to cells. Transcriptome sequencing analysis of EspP2-treated PK15 cells revealed that the Rap1 signaling pathway is stimulated by EspP2. Blocking this pathway diminished occludin expression and adhesion. These results indicated that EspP2 regulates the adhesion of Glaesserella parasuis via Rap1 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Frozen Shoulder (FS) is a painful condition characterized by severe pain and progressive restriction of shoulder movement, leading to functional impairment and reduced quality of life. While different Patient Reported Outcome Measurements (PROMs) tools exist for assessing shoulder diseases, few specific PROMs are validated for FS patients. Purpose: This study aims to assess the psychometric properties of the Disability of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire in FS patients. Methods: One hundred and twenty-four subjects (mean ± SD age = 55.4 ± 7.9 years; 55.6% female) diagnosed with FS were included and completed the DASH questionnaire, the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), and the Short-Form Health Survey 36 (SF-36). Floor or ceiling effects were investigated. Structural validity was analysed through a unidimensional Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), internal consistency through Cronbach's alpha, test-retest reliability through the Intraclass Correlation coefficient (ICC), measurement error through the Standard Error of Measurement (SEM), and the Minimum Detectable Change (MDC), and construct validity through the hypothesis testing with the correlation with the other outcome measures used. Results: No floor or ceiling effects were observed. CFA confirmed a one-factor structure after addressing local item dependency (Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.055; Standardized Root Mean Square Residual = 0.077; Comparative Fit Index = 0.970; Tucker-Lewis Index = 0.968). Cronbach's alpha was high (= 0.951), and test-retest reliability was excellent (ICC = 0.999; 95% CI: 0.998-1.000). SEM was equal to 0.5 points, and MDC to 1.5 points. Construct validity was considered satisfactory as 80% of the a-priori hypotheses were met. Conclusion: The DASH questionnaire demonstrated good psychometric properties in FS patients, supporting its use as a valuable tool for assessing the impact of FS in clinical and research settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhanced bioenergy anabolism through transmembrane redox reactions in artificial systems remains a great challenge. Here, we explore synthetic electron shuttle to activate transmembrane chemo‐enzymatic cascade reactions in a mitochondria‐like nanoarchitecture for augmenting bioenergy anabolism. In this nanoarchitecture, a dendritic mesoporous silica microparticle as inner compartment possesses higher load capacity of NADH as proton source and allows faster mass transfer. In addition, the outer compartment ATP synthase‐reconstituted proteoliposomes. Like natural enzymes in the mitochondrion respiratory chain, a small synthetic electron shuttle embedded in the lipid bilayer facilely mediates transmembrane redox reactions to convert NADH into NAD+ and a proton. These facilitate an enhanced outward proton gradient to drive ATP synthase to rotate for catalytic ATP synthesis with improved performance in a sustainable manner. This work opens a new avenue to achieve enhanced bioenergy anabolism by utilizing a synthetic electron shuttle and tuning inner nanostructures, holding great promise in wide‐range ATP‐powered bioapplications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exponential growth of research on artificial cells and organelles underscores their potential as tools to advance the understanding of fundamental biological processes. The bottom–up construction from a variety of building blocks at the micro‐ and nanoscale, in combination with biomolecules is key to developing artificial cells. In this review, artificial cells are focused upon based on compartments where polymers are the main constituent of the assembly. Polymers are of particular interest due to their incredible chemical variety and the advantage of tuning the properties and functionality of their assemblies. First, the architectures of micro‐ and nanoscale polymer assemblies are introduced and then their usage as building blocks is elaborated upon. Different membrane‐bound and membrane‐less compartments and supramolecular structures and how they combine into advanced synthetic cells are presented. Then, the functional aspects are explored, addressing how artificial organelles in giant compartments mimic cellular processes. Finally, how artificial cells communicate with their surrounding and each other such as to adapt to an ever‐changing environment and achieve collective behavior as a steppingstone toward artificial tissues, is taken a look at. Engineering artificial cells with highly controllable and programmable features open new avenues for the development of sophisticated multifunctional systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the intricate interrelationship between groundwater microbial communities and hydrochemical characteristics in the Mancheng District, Baoding City, samples from karst groundwater and porous groundwater were collected. Hydrochemical analysis and the 16s RNA gene V4-V5 region sequencing method were used to detail the water environmental characteristics and microbial community distribution pattern in the study area. The hydrochemical results reveal notable differences in major ion contents and other hydrochemical indices between karst water and porous water. Microbial community analysis demonstrates that Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes are the dominant taxa in both types of water bodies, albeit with significant variations in their proportions across distinct water bodies. The observed disparities in microbial communities between karst water and porous water underscore the influence of environmental factors such as ion concentration and pH on microbial distribution. Redundancy Analysis (RDA) indicates notable associations between microbial community composition and environmental factors in both types of groundwater environments. Studying the distribution pattern of microbial communities and the connection with environmental factors in two types of groundwater lays a crucial foundation for interpreting the functional roles of microbes in groundwater ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-oscillating chemical reactions that undergo reaction–diffusion (RD) phenomena have shown great potential for designing stimuli-responsive materials. Belousov–Zhabotinsky (BZ) reactions are one such class of reactions that exhibit nonlinear chemical oscillations due to redox cycles of the metal-ion catalyst by virtue of Hopf bifurcation. Using bifurcation analyses, here we investigate the BZ reactions, catalyzed by 0D–2D catalytic nanomats and bare nanosheets, which are known to exhibit enhanced dynamic response due to catalysts' heterogeneity. Specifically, we incorporate the nanocatalysts' activity in the kinetic model of the BZ reactions and, subsequently, use catalysts' activity as the bifurcation parameter for analyses. By computing higher-order Lyapunov and frequency coefficients, we have revealed new oscillatory regimes in the bifurcation diagram, including re-entrant regions where sustained oscillations are unexpectedly suppressed, even with high catalytic activity. In addition, we also calculate the amplitude and frequency of BZ oscillations in each of these regions as a function of nanocatalysts' activity. We believe that our current findings can be used to harness the nonlinearity of RD-based dynamical systems to provide unique functionalities to active stimuli-response systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA nanostructures designed to interact with bilayer membranes are of fundamental interest as they mimic biological cytoskeletons and other membrane-associated proteins for applications in synthetic biology, biosensing, and biological research. Yet, there is limited insight into how the binary interactions are influenced by steric effects produced by 3D geometries of DNA structures and membranes. This work uses a 3D DNA nanostructure with membrane anchors in four different steric environments to elucidate the interaction with membrane vesicles of varying sizes and different local bilayer morphology. It is found that interactions are significantly affected by the steric environments of the anchors -often against predicted accessibility- as well as local nanoscale morphology of bilayers rather than on the usually considered global vesicle size. Furthermore, anchor-mediated bilayer interactions are co-controlled by weak contacts with non-lipidated DNA regions, as showcased by pioneering size discrimination between 50 and 200 nm vesicles. This study extends DNA nanotechnology to controlled bilayer interactions and can facilitate the design of nanodevices for vesicle-based diagnostics, biosensing, and protocells., (© 2024 The Author(s). Small published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

N‐Alkyl‐thio glycolipids (TGL) are proposed as fundamental components in the production of synthetic outer membrane vesicles (S‐OMVs). A small but representative library of glycolipids was prepared by thiol‐ene coupling (TEC), using unprotected thiols in acceptable to good yields (63‐96 %). Multilamellar giant vesicles (GVs) of varying sizes were assembled from mixtures of TGL and 1‐palmitoyl‐2‐oleoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphate (POPC). Our results mark an important advancement for the development of synthetic anticancer vaccines, supramolecular adjuvants and drug delivery systems based on glycolipid/phospholipid formulations (10 % mol/mol in 0.1 mm solution). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, significant progress has been made in the emerging field of constructing biomimetic soft compartments with life‐like behaviors. Given that biological activities occur under a flux of energy and matter exchange, the implementation of rudimentary signaling pathways in artificial cells (protocells) is a prerequisite for the development of adaptive sense‐response phenotypes in cytomimetic models. Herein, recent approaches to the integration of signal transduction modules in model protocells prepared by bottom‐up construction are discussed. The approaches are classified into two categories involving invasive biochemical signals or non‐invasive physical stimuli. In the former mechanism, transducers with intrinsic recognition capability respond with high specificity, while in the latter, artificial cells respond through intra‐protocellular energy transduction. Although major challenges remain in the pursuit of a sophisticated artificial signaling network for the orchestration of higher‐order cytomimetic models, significant advances have been made in establishing rudimentary protocell communication networks, providing novel organizational models for the development of life‐like microsystems and new avenues in protoliving technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controllable, self‐regenerating artificial cells (SRACs) can be a vital advancement in the field of synthetic biology, which seeks to create living cells by recombining various biological molecules in the lab. This represents, more importantly, the first step on a long journey toward creating reproductive cells from rather fragmentary biochemical mimics. However, it is still a difficult task to replicate the complex processes involved in cell regeneration, such as genetic material replication and cell membrane division, in artificially created spaces. This review highlights recent advances in the field of controllable, SRACs and the strategies to achieve the goal of creating such cells. Self‐regenerating cells start by replicating DNA and transferring it to a location where proteins can be synthesized. Functional but essential proteins must be synthesized for sustained energy generation and survival needs and function in the same liposomal space. Finally, self‐division and repeated cycling lead to autonomous, self‐regenerating cells. The pursuit of controllable, SRACs will enable authors to make bold advances in understanding life at the cellular level, ultimately providing an opportunity to use this knowledge to understand the nature of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the extant lifeforms, the self‐sustaining behaviors refer to various well‐organized biochemical reactions in spatial confinement, which rely on compartmentalization to integrate and coordinate the molecularly crowded intracellular environment and complicated reaction networks in living/synthetic cells. Therefore, the biological phenomenon of compartmentalization has become an essential theme in the field of synthetic cell engineering. Recent progress in the state‐of‐the‐art of synthetic cells has indicated that multi‐compartmentalized synthetic cells should be developed to obtain more advanced structures and functions. Herein, two ways of developing multi‐compartmentalized hierarchical systems, namely interior compartmentalization of synthetic cells (organelles) and integration of synthetic cell communities (synthetic tissues), are summarized. Examples are provided for different construction strategies employed in the above‐mentioned engineering ways, including spontaneous compartmentalization in vesicles, host–guest nesting, phase separation mediated multiphase, adhesion‐mediated assembly, programmed arrays, and 3D printing. Apart from exhibiting advanced structures and functions, synthetic cells are also applied as biomimetic materials. Finally, key challenges and future directions regarding the development of multi‐compartmentalized hierarchical systems are summarized; these are expected to lay the foundation for the creation of a "living" synthetic cell as well as provide a larger platform for developing new biomimetic materials in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the improving life expectancy of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), there is an increasing health concern of potential toxicity and drug interactions of long-term antiretroviral therapies. We describe a female patient with HIV, who was admitted to the emergency department following an unexplained loss of consciousness. This patient had been on antiretroviral therapy comprising tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, lamivudine, and lopinavir/ ritonavir for 12 years. Coincidentally, she had been prescribed terfenadine for urticaria recently. After 3 days on this medication, she suddenly lost her consciousness, with a distinctive electrocardiogram alteration characterized by QT prolongation and torsade de pointes. This symptom recurred several times over a span of 2 days. We postulate that the primary instigator was an elevated concentration of terfenadine, which can be traced back to her antiretroviral therapy regimen comprising lopinavir/ritonavir. This drug is known to impede the metabolism of cytochrome P450 3A4 substrates and consequently elevate terfenadine concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aghdam is one of the regions of Azerbaijan, located in the south-west of the country and administratively belong to the center of Aghdam city. Until 1992, the Aghdam region, with an area of 1250 km², was considered one of the most developed districts of the republic. However, 77.4% of territory (846.7 km²) was subjected to occupation. The relief of most part of the Aghdam region is flat, although there is also a small upland area. After the liberation of the territory of the region, in order to restore agricultural and animal husbandry activities, as well as, in accordance with the observed global climate changes, it becomes clear that it is necessary to carefully study and evaluate the water potential of fresh water in this region. Similar studies are key to successful restoration of agricultural activity and maintenance of sustainable development in new climatic conditions. The article uses data obtained during exploratory drilling. By conducting comprehensive studies and analyzing available literary sources, the characteristics of the hydrogeological situation associated with the occurrence of groundwater and water strikes were clarified. Also, the hydrological conditions in the area where the research was conducted were studied and analyzed. The conditions of groundwater formation, chemical composition, mineralization and other indicators of groundwater are studied, the areas of their distribution are determined, and recommendations are given for their rational use for irrigation and other purposes in agriculture and to provide the need for fresh water in the liberated Aghdam region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building a live cell from non-living building blocks would be a fundamental breakthrough in biological sciences, and it would enable engineering new lineages of life, not directly descendant of the Last Universal Common Ancestor. Fully engineered synthetic cells will have architectures that can be radically different from the natural cells, yet most life processes reconstituted in synthetic cells so far are built from natural and biosimilar building blocks. Most natural processes have already been reconstituted in synthetic cell chassis. This paper summarizes recent advancements in using non-living building blocks to reconstitute some of the most crucial features of living systems in a fully engineerable chassis of a synthetic cell., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The bottom-up construction of a synthetic cell from nonliving building blocks capable of mimicking cellular properties and behaviors helps to understand the particular biophysical properties and working mechanisms of a cell. A synthetic cell built in this way possesses defined chemical composition and structure. Since phospholipids are native biomembrane components, their assemblies are widely used to mimic cellular structures. Here, recent developments in the formation of versatile phospholipid assemblies are described, together with the applications of these assemblies for functional membranes (protein reconstituted giant unilamellar vesicles), spherical and nonspherical protoorganelles, and functional synthetic cells, as well as the high-order hierarchical structures of artificial tissues. Their biomedical applications are also briefly summarized. Finally, the challenges and future directions in the field of synthetic cells and artificial tissues based on phospholipid assemblies are proposed., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Exchange bias (EB) is a unidirectional anisotropy occurring in exchange-coupled ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic systems, such as thin films, core–shell particles, or nanostructures. In addition to a horizontal shift of the hysteresis loop, defining the exchange bias, asymmetric loops and even vertical shifts can often be found. While the effect is used in hard disk read heads and several spintronics applications, its origin is still not fully understood. Especially in nanostructures with their additional shape anisotropies, interesting and often unexpected effects can occur. Here, we provide an overview of the most recent experimental findings and theoretical models of exchange bias in nanostructures from different materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic cells have a major role in gaining insight into the complex biological processes of living cells; they also give rise to a range of emerging applications from gene delivery to enzymatic nanoreactors. Living cells rely on compartmentalization to orchestrate reaction networks for specialized and coordinated functions. Principally, the compartmentalization has been an essential engineering theme in constructing cell-mimicking systems. Here, efforts to engineer liquid-liquid interfaces of multiphase systems into membrane-bounded and membraneless compartments, which include lipid vesicles, polymer vesicles, colloidosomes, hybrids, and coacervate droplets, are summarized. Examples are provided of how these compartments are designed to imitate biological behaviors or machinery, including molecule trafficking, growth, fusion, energy conversion, intercellular communication, and adaptivity. Subsequently, the state-of-art applications of these cell-inspired synthetic compartments are discussed. Apart from being simplified and cell models for bridging the gap between nonliving matter and cellular life, synthetic compartments also are utilized as intracellular delivery vehicles for nuclei acids and nanoreactors for biochemical synthesis. Finally, key challenges and future directions for achieving the full potential of synthetic cells are highlighted., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Rivers are the "tip of the iceberg", with the underlying groundwater being the unseen freshwater majority. Microbial community composition and the dynamics of shallow groundwater ecosystems are thus crucial, due to their potential impact on ecosystem processes and functioning. In early summer and late autumn, samples of river water from 14 stations and groundwater from 45 wells were analyzed along a 300 km transect of the Mur River valley, from the Austrian alps to the flats at the Slovenian border. The active and total prokaryotic communities were characterized using high-throughput gene amplicon sequencing. Key physico-chemical parameters and stress indicators were recorded. The dataset was used to challenge ecological concepts and assembly processes in shallow aquifers. The groundwater microbiome is analyzed regarding its composition, change with land use, and difference to the river. Community composition and species turnover differed significantly. At high altitudes, dispersal limitation was the main driver of groundwater community assembly, whereas in the lowland, homogeneous selection explained the larger share. Land use was a key determinant of the groundwater microbiome composition. The alpine region was more diverse and richer in prokaryotic taxa, with some early diverging archaeal lineages being highly abundant. This dataset shows a longitudinal change in prokaryotic communities that is dependent on regional differences affected by geomorphology and land use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article briefly characterizes the printed and digital dictionary The lexis of Slovak anoikonyms. The dictionary entry baba/Baba and other entries with the base -bab-/-báb-are processed in various Slavic dictionaries of appellative and proprial lexis, including toponymic dictionaries. They will be also dealt with in this Slovak anoikonymic dictionary. In Polish onomastics, special attention to toponyms with the appellative baba and their motivations, semantics and lexicographic processing, has been devoted by E. Wolnicz-Pawłowska, in Czech onomastics by M. Šipková. The author of the present article focused on the meanings and etymology of the substantive baba in appellative lexicon and its occurrence in Slovak anoikonymy. The aim of this paper is also to analyse the Slovak anoikonymic material, to characterize structural types of the names, and to carry out lexical-semantic and language analyses of these names with emphasis on onymic motivations in the context of Slavic anoikonymy. The second part of the article deals with lexical-semantic and word-formation analyses, onymic motivations and structural types of the Slovak anoikonyms containing lexemes derived from the substantive baba/BABA in the context of Slavic anoikonymy, or rather toponymy. In Slovak anoikonyms, the forms of possessive adjectives and the relational adjective babí occur most frequently. Onymic word-formation, or name-formation, is characterized by the specific use of linguistic means in the given class of proper names, which must be taken into account when analyzing anoikonyms and anoikonymic lexis. Various possibilities of onymic motivation of the names with the same basis also point to complex issues related to the conception of dictionary entries (especially explanatory parts) and the formation of headwords of the printed and digital dictionary The lexis of Slovak anoikonyms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]