The role of non-uniform magnetization texture for magnon-magnon coupling in an antidot lattice

We numerically study the spin-wave dynamics in an antidot lattice based on a Co/Pd multilayer structure with reduced perpendicular magnetic anisotropy at the edges of the antidots. This structure forms a magnonic crystal with a periodic antidot pattern and a periodic magnetization configuration consisting of out-of-plane magnetized bulk and in-plane magnetized rims. Our results show a different behavior of spin waves in the bulk and in the rims under varying out-of-plane external magnetic field strength, revealing complex spin-wave spectra and hybridizations between the modes of these two subsystems. A particularly strong magnon-magnon coupling, due to exchange interactions, is found between the fundamental bulk spin-wave mode and the second-order radial rim modes. However, the dynamical coupling between the spin-wave modes at low frequencies, involving the first-order radial rim modes, is masked by the changes in the static magnetization at the bulk-rim interface with magnetic field changes. The study expands the horizons of magnonic-crystal research by combining periodic structural patterning and non-collinear magnetization texture to achieve strong magnon-magnon coupling, highlighting the significant role of exchange interactions in the hybridization.

Problematic pornography use across countries, genders, and sexual orientations: Insights from the International Sex Survey and comparison of different assessment tools

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Problematic pornography use (PPU) is a common manifestation of the newly introduced Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder diagnosis in the 11th edition of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. Although cultural, gender- and sexual orientation-related differences in sexual behaviors are well documented, there is a relative absence of data on PPU outside Western countries and among women as well as gender- and sexually-diverse individuals. We addressed these gaps by (a) validating the long and short versions of the Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale (PPCS and PPCS-6, respectively) and the Brief Pornography Screen (BPS) and (b) measuring PPU risk across diverse populations.

METHODS

Using data from the pre-registered International Sex Survey [n = 82 243; mean age (Mage) = 32.4 years, standard deviation = 12.5], a study across 42 countries from five continents, we evaluated the psychometric properties (i.e. factor structure, measurement invariance, and reliability) of the PPCS, PPCS-6, and BPS and examined their associations with relevant correlates (e.g. treatment-seeking). We also compared PPU risk among diverse groups (e.g. three genders).

RESULTS

The PPCS, PPCS-6, and BPS demonstrated excellent psychometric properties [for example, comparative fit index = 0.985, Tucker-Lewis Index = 0.981, root mean square error of approximation = 0.060 (90% confidence interval = 0.059-0.060)] in the confirmatory factor analysis, with all PPCS' inter-factor correlations positive and strong (rs = 0.72-0.96). A total of 3.2% of participants were at risk of experiencing PPU (PPU+) based on the PPCS, with significant country- and gender-based differences (e.g. men reported the highest levels of PPU). No sexual orientation-based differences were observed. Only 4-10% of individuals in the PPU+ group had ever sought treatment for PPU, while an additional 21-37% wanted to, but did not do so for specific reasons (e.g. unaffordability).

CONCLUSIONS

This study validated three measures to assess the severity of problematic pornography use across languages, countries, genders, and sexual orientations in 26 languages: the Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale (PPCS, and PPCS-6, respectively), and the Brief Pornography Screen (BPS). The problematic pornography use risk is estimated to be 3.2-16.6% of the population of 42 countries, and varies among different groups (e.g. genders) and based on the measure used.

A Machine Learning Study of Anxiety-related Symptoms and Error-related Brain Activity

Changes in error processing are observable in a range of anxiety-related disorders. Numerous studies, however, have reported contradictory and nonreplicating findings, thus the exact mapping of brain response to errors (i.e., error-related negativity [ERN]; error-related positivity [Pe]) onto specific anxiety symptoms remains unclear. In this study, we collected 16 self-reported scores of anxiety dimensions and obtained spatial features of EEG recordings from 171 individuals. We then used machine learning to (1) identify symptoms that are central for elevated ERN/Pe and (2) estimate the generalizability of traditional statistical approaches. ERN was associated with rumination, threat overestimation, and inhibitory intolerance of uncertainty. Pe was associated with rumination, prospective intolerance of uncertainty, and behavioral inhibition. Our findings emphasize that not only the amplitude of ERN but also other sources of brain signal variance encode information relevant to individual differences in error processing. The results of the generalizability check reveal the need for a change in result-validation methods to move toward robust findings that reflect stable individual differences and clinically useful biomarkers. Our study benefits from the use of machine learning to improve the generalizability of results.

Influence of Pulsed Interference Laser Heating on Crystallisation of Amorphous Fe77Cu1Si13B9 Ribbons

Amorphous Fe77Cu1Si13B9 ribbons were treated with pulsed laser interference heating (PLIH). The research results will significantly contribute to a better understanding of the impact of PLIH on crystallisation and magnetic properties in precisely defined micro-areas of Fe77Cu1Si13B9 (FeCuSiB) ribbons, which has not yet been described in the literature. It was confirmed here that the use of the laser heating process allowed for the achievement of two-dimensional crystallised micro-areas, periodically distributed (at a distance of 17 µm) on the surface of the amorphous ribbons. The correlation between structural changes (SEM, TEM, HRTEM) and the distribution of magnetic field lines of heated amorphous Fe77Cu1Si13B9 ribbons is presented. Particular attention is paid to structural changes in micro-areas where, by controlling the laser interference heating process, the partial crystallisation of amorphous alloys and the formation of clusters or single nanocrystallites (α-Fe(Si)) embedded in an amorphous matrix occur. The addition of copper to the FeSiB alloy promoted the inhibition of grain growth. Electron holography of micro-areas confirmed shifts in the magnetic field lines in the areas of nanocrystallites, the presence of which in the structure caused the magnetisation of the surrounding amorphous matrix.

Clinical and experimental treatment of primary humoral immunodeficiencies

Selective IgA deficiency (sIgAD), common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), and transient hypogammaglobulinemia of infancy (THI) are the most frequent forms of primary antibody deficiencies. Difficulties in initial diagnosis, especially in the early childhood, the familiar occurrence of these diseases, as well as the possibility of progression to each other suggest common cellular and molecular patomechanism and a similar genetic background. In this review, we discuss both similarities and differences of these three humoral immunodeficiencies, focusing on current and novel therapeutic approaches. We summarize immunoglobulin substitution, antibiotic prophylaxis, treatment of autoimmune diseases, and other common complications, i.e. cytopenias, gastrointestinal complications, and granulomatous disease. We discuss novel therapeutic approaches such as allogenic stem cell transplantation and therapies targeting-specific proteins, dependent on the patient's genetic defect. The diversity of possible therapeutics models results from a great heterogeneity of the disease variants, implying the need of personalized medicine approach as a future of primary humoral immunodeficiencies treatment.

Systematic approaches to assessing high-temperature limits to fertility in animals

Critical thermal limits (CTLs) gauge the physiological impact of temperature on survival or critical biological function, aiding predictions of species range shifts and climatic resilience. Two recent Drosophila species studies, using similar approaches to determine temperatures that induce sterility (thermal fertility limits [TFLs]), reveal that TFLs are often lower than CTLs and that TFLs better predict both current species distributions and extinction probability. Moreover, many studies show fertility is more sensitive at less extreme temperatures than survival (thermal sensitivity of fertility [TSF]). These results present a more pessimistic outlook on the consequences of climate change. However, unlike CTLs, TFL data are limited to Drosophila, and variability in TSF methods poses challenges in predicting species responses to increasing temperature. To address these data and methodological gaps, we propose 3 standardized approaches for assessing thermal impacts on fertility. We focus on adult obligate sexual terrestrial invertebrates but also provide modifications for other animal groups and life-history stages. We first outline a "gold-standard" protocol for determining TFLs, focussing on the effects of short-term heat shocks and simulating more frequent extreme heat events predicted by climate models. As this approach may be difficult to apply to some organisms, we then provide a standardized TSF protocol. Finally, we provide a framework to quantify fertility loss in response to extreme heat events in nature, given the limitations in laboratory approaches. Applying these standardized approaches across many taxa, similar to CTLs, will allow robust tests of the impact of fertility loss on species responses to increasing temperatures.

Machine learning reveals differential effects of depression and anxiety on reward and punishment processing

Recent studies suggest that depression and anxiety are associated with unique aspects of EEG responses to reward and punishment, respectively; also, abnormal responses to punishment in depressed individuals are related to anxiety, the symptoms of which are comorbid with depression. In a non-clinical sample, we aimed to investigate the relationships between reward processing and anxiety, between punishment processing and anxiety, between reward processing and depression, and between punishment processing and depression. Towards this aim, we separated feedback-related brain activity into delta and theta bands to isolate activity that indexes functionally distinct processes. Based on the delta/theta frequency and feedback valence, we then used machine learning (ML) to classify individuals with high severity of depressive symptoms and individuals with high severity of anxiety symptoms versus controls. The significant difference between the depression and control groups was driven mainly by delta activity; there were no differences between reward- and punishment-theta activities. The high severity of anxiety symptoms was marginally more strongly associated with the punishment- than the reward-theta feedback processing. The findings provide new insights into the differences in the impacts of anxiety and depression on reward and punishment processing; our study shows the utility of ML in testing brain-behavior hypotheses and emphasizes the joint effect of theta-RewP/FRN and delta frequency on feedback-related brain activity.

Symbiotic efficiency of Rhizobium leguminosarum sv. trifolii strains originating from the subpolar and temperate climate regions

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is a forage legume cultivated worldwide. This plant is capable of establishing a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with Rhizobium leguminosarum symbiovar trifolii strains. To date, no comparative analysis of the symbiotic properties and heterogeneity of T. pratense microsymbionts derived from two distinct geographic regions has been performed. In this study, the symbiotic properties of strains originating from the subpolar and temperate climate zones in a wide range of temperatures (10-25 °C) have been characterized. Our results indicate that all the studied T. pratense microsymbionts from two geographic regions were highly efficient in host plant nodulation and nitrogen fixation in a wide range of temperatures. However, some differences between the populations and between the strains within the individual population examined were observed. Based on the nodC and nifH sequences, the symbiotic diversity of the strains was estimated. In general, 13 alleles for nodC and for nifH were identified. Moreover, 21 and 61 polymorphic sites in the nodC and nifH sequences were found, respectively, indicating that the latter gene shows higher heterogeneity than the former one. Among the nodC and nifH alleles, three genotypes (I-III) were the most frequent, whereas the other alleles (IV-XIII) proved to be unique for the individual strains. Based on the nodC and nifH allele types, 20 nodC-nifH genotypes were identified. Among them, the most frequent were three genotypes marked as A (6 strains), B (5 strains), and C (3 strains). Type A was exclusively found in the temperate strains, whereas types B and C were identified in the subpolar strains. The remaining 17 genotypes were found in single strains. In conclusion, our data indicate that R. leguminosarum sv. trifolii strains derived from two climatic zones show a high diversity with respect to the symbiotic efficiency and heterogeneity. However, some of the R. leguminosarum sv. trifolii strains exhibit very good symbiotic potential in the wide range of the temperatures tested; hence, they may be used in the future for improvement of legume crop production.

Metal leakage from orthodontic appliances chemically alters enamel surface during experimental in vitro simulated treatment

Human enamel is composed mainly of apatite. This mineral of sorption properties is susceptible to chemical changes, which in turn affect its resistance to dissolution. This study aimed to investigate whether metal leakage from orthodontic appliances chemically alters the enamel surface during an in vitro simulated orthodontic treatment. Totally 107 human enamel samples were subjected to the simulation involving metal appliances and cyclic pH fluctuations over a period of 12 months in four complimentary experiments. The average concentrations and distribution of Fe, Cr, Ni, Ti and Cu within the enamel before and after the experiments were examined using ICP‒MS and LA‒ICP‒MS techniques. The samples exposed to the interaction with metal appliances exhibited a significant increase in average Fe, Cr and Ni (Kruskal-Wallis, p < 0.002) content in comparison to the control group. The outer layer, narrow fissures and points of contact with the metal components showed increased concentrations of Fe, Ti, Ni and Cr after simulated treatment, conversely to the enamel sealed with an adhesive system. It has been concluded that metal leakage from orthodontic appliances chemically alters enamel surface and microlesions during experimental in vitro simulated treatment.

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles exert pro-angiogenic and pro-lymphangiogenic effects in ischemic tissues by transferring various microRNAs and proteins including ITGa5 and NRP1

Mesenchymal stem cells/stromal cells (MSCs)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) mediate pro-regenerative effects in damaged ischemic tissues by regulating angiogenesis. MSCs-EVs modulate functions of cells including endogenous mature cells, progenitors and stem cells, resulting in restoration of blood flow. However, the mechanisms underlying such MSC-EV activity still remain poorly understood. The present study analyzes biological effects of bone marrow (BM) MSC-EVs on endothelial cells (ECs) in ischemic tissues both in in vitro and in vivo conditions and elucidates the molecular mechanisms underlying the tissue repair. MSC-EVs were isolated from murine BM-derived MSCs and their morphological, antigenic and molecular composition regarding protein and microRNA levels were evaluated to examine their properties. Global proteomic analysis demonstrated the presence in MSC-EVs of proteins regulating pro-regenerative pathways, including integrin α5 (Itgα5) and neuropilin-1 (NRP1) involved in lymphangiogenesis. MSC-EVs were also enriched in microRNAs regulating angiogenesis, TGF-β signaling and processes guiding cellular adhesion and interactions with extracellular matrix. The functional effects of MSC-EVs on capillary ECs in vitro included the increase of capillary-like tube formation and cytoprotection under normal and inflammatory conditions by inhibiting apoptosis. Notably, MSC-EVs enhanced also capillary-like tube formation of lymphatic ECs, which may be regulated by Itgα5 and NRP1. Moreover, in a mouse model of critical hind limb ischemia, MSC-EVs increased the recovery of blood flow in ischemic muscle tissue, which was accompanied with increased vascular density in vivo. This pro-angiogenic effect was associated with an increase in nitric oxide (NO) production via endothelial NO-synthase activation in ischemic muscles. Interestingly, MSC-EVs enhanced lymphangiogenesis, which has never been reported before. The study provides evidence on pro-angiogenic and novel pro-lymphangiogenic role of MSC-EVs on ECs in ischemic tissue mediated by their protein and miRNA molecular cargos. The results highlight Itgα5 and NRP1 carried by MSC-EVs as potential therapeutic targets to boost lymphangiogenesis.

A low thrombospondin-1 serum concentration is related to increased bacteremia risk in lymphoma patients treated with BeEAM/BEAM conditioning regimen and autologous stem cell transplantation

Infectious complications of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) are the most common adverse effects of the therapy, resulting in prolonged hospitalization and deterioration of patient well-being. Identifying predictors of these complications is essential for improving patient outcomes and guiding clinical management. This study aimed to examine thrombospondin-1 (THBS-1) serum levels as a potential biomarker for predicting bacteremia in AHSCT recipients. Blood samples were collected from 30 patients undergoing BeEAM/BEAM (bendamustine/carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, melphalan) conditioning regimen at subsequent time points during AHSCT. THBS-1 levels were quantified using ELISA kits. Patients who developed bacteremia (n = 11) during the AHSCT course had lower THBS-1 concentration compared with those without (n = 19) (22.88 ± 11.53 µg/mL vs. 15.24 ± 5.62 µg/mL, p = .0325). The ROC curve analysis revealed that THBS-1 serum concentration at the first day of BeEAM/BEAM regimen had an area under the curve of 0.732 (95%CI: 0.5390.925, p = .0186) with an optimal cut-off value of 16.5 µg/ml resulting in 82% Sensitivity and 53% Specificity for predicting bacteremia with a median of 11 days before its occurrence. Patients with lower THBS-1 concentrations experienced febrile neutropenia significantly earlier, with a median difference of 5 days (p = .0037). Patients with a low concentration of THBS-1 had a higher risk of bacteremia and a shorter time to febrile neutropenia, indicating its potential value as a complications biomarker. Patients with lower serum THBS-1 concentrations, indicating an increased risk, may be more suitable for an inpatient AHSCT procedure, where close monitoring and immediate intervention are accessible.

Exploring Epitaxial Structures for Electrically Pumped Perovskite Lasers: A Study of CsPb(Br,I)3 Based on the Ab Initio Bethe-Salpeter Equation

Halide perovskites are widely used as components of electronic and optoelectronic devices such as solar cells, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), optically pumped lasers, field-effect transistors, photodetectors, and γ-detectors. Despite this wide range of applications, the construction of an electrically pumped perovskite laser remains challenging. In this paper, we numerically justify that mixing two perovskite compounds with different halide elements can lead to optical properties suitable for electrical pumping. As a reference, the chosen model material was CsPbBr3, whose performance as a part of lasers has been widely recognised, with some Br atoms substituted by I at specific sites. In particular, a strong enhancement of the low-energy absorption peaks has been obtained using the ab initio Bethe-Salpeter equation. Based on these results, we propose specific architectures of ordered doping that could be realised by epitaxial growth. Efficient light emission from the bottom of the conduction band is expected.

Plasma Circular-RNA 0005567 as a Potential Marker of Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are noncoding molecules and are generated through back splicing, during which the 5' and 3' ends are covalently joined. Consequently, the lack of free ends makes them stable and resistant to exonucleases, and they become more suitable biomarkers than other noncoding RNAs. The aim of the study was to find an association between selected circRNAs and disease activity in patients with RA. A total of 71 subjects, 45 patients with RA and 26 healthy controls (HCs), were enrolled. In the RA group, 24 patients had high disease activity (DAS-28-ESR > 5.1) and 21 individuals were in remission (DAS-28-ESR ≤ 2.6). The cell line SW982 was used to evaluate the biological function of circ_0005567. The concentration of circ_0005567 in RA patients was elevated compared to HCs (median, 177.5 [lower-upper quartile, 83.13-234.6] vs. 97.83 [42.03-145.4], p = 0.017). Patients with high disease activity had a higher concentration of circ_0005567 than the control group (185.4 [112.72-249.25] vs. 97.83 [42.03-145.4], p = 0.015). In the cell line model, we found an association between circ_0005567 and miR-194-5p concentration and increased expression of mRNAs that may be related to cell proliferation. The plasma concentration of circ_0005567 may be a new potential biomarker associated with disease activity in patients with RA.

Transcriptome profiling of regulatory T cells from children with transient hypogammaglobulinemia of infancy

Transient hypogammaglobulinemia of infancy (THI) is one of the most common forms of hypogammaglobulinemia in the early childhood. THI is usually associated with chronic, recurrent bacterial and viral infections, life-threatening in some cases, yet its pathogenesis is still largely unknown. As our previous findings indicated the possible role of Treg cells in the pathomechanism of THI, the aim of the current study was to investigate gene expression profile of Treg cells isolated from THI patients. The transcriptome-wide gene profiling was performed using microarray technology on THI patients in two time-points: during (THI-1), and in resolution phase (THI-2) of hypogammaglobulinemia. As a result, a total of 1086 genes were differentially expressed in THI-1 patients, when compared to THI-2 as well as control group. Among them, 931 were up- and 155 downregulated, and part of them encodes genes important for Treg lymphocyte biology and function, i.e. transcription factors/cofactors that regulate FOXP3 expression. Thus, we postulate that Treg cells isolated from THI patients during hypogammaglobulinemia display enhanced suppressor transcriptome signature. Treg expression profile of THI children after normalization of Ig levels largely resembles the results obtained in healthy control group, suggesting THI Treg transcriptome seems to return to that observed in healthy children. Taken together, we suggest that THI pathomechanism is associated not only with transiently elevated Treg cell numbers, but also with their enhanced regulatory/inhibitory functions. These findings expand our knowledge of human Treg cells and may be useful for the future diagnosis or management of THI.

Genetic variants in myostatin and its receptors promote elite athlete status

BACKGROUND

While product of the myostatin gene (MSTN) is an important factor influencing muscle growth, which is well confirmed in nonhuman species, it has not been clearly confirmed whether MSTN expression influences interindividual differences in skeletal muscle mass, affects posttraining changes, or plays a role in the age-related loss of muscle mass and function in humans. Although the inconclusive results are usually explained by ethnic differences and the low frequency of some alleles, it is possible that the role of receptors (ACVR2A and ACVR2B) that affect the biological activity of myostatin is crucial. Therefore, we investigated the sequences of the MSTN, ACVR2A, and ACVR2B genes and determined the interaction between allelic variants and athletic performance and competition level in the Caucasian population. One hundred-two athletes were recruited for the sequencing study, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed. Second, 330 athletes and 365 controls were included, and real-time PCR was performed.

RESULTS

The sequence analysis revealed two polymorphisms relatively common in the athlete cohort, and the alternate allele showed overrepresentation in athletes: MSTN rs11333758 and ACVR2A rs3764955. Regarding the polymorphic site MSTN rs11333758, there was a significant overrepresentation of the -/- genotype in all high-elite and mixed-sport high-elite athletes. Carriers of the ACVR2A rs3764955 CC and GG genotypes were more likely to be elite and high-elite athletes. In addition, carriers of the CC genotype were more likely to be in the mixed-sport subelite group. The gene‒gene interaction analysis revealed that mixed-sport high elite athletes showed significant underrepresentation of the ACVR2A rs3764955 GC - MSTN rs11333758 AA genotype combination. In the same group, we observed a significant overrepresentation of the ACVR2A rs3764955 GC - MSTN rs11333758 -/- and the ACVR2A rs3764955 CC - MSTN rs11333758 -/- genotype combinations.

CONCLUSIONS

We showed that the specific genotypes of the MSTN rs11333758 and ACVR2A rs3764955, either individually or in gene‒gene combination, are significantly associated with athletes' competition level in the Polish population, especially in the mixed-sports athlete group. Thus, although further research is required, these polymorphisms, alone or in combination with other polymorphisms, are among the numerous candidates that could explain individual variations in muscle phenotypes.

miRNA-ome plasma analysis unveils changes in blood-brain barrier integrity associated with acute liver failure in rats

BACKGROUND

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) symptoms associated with liver insufficiency are linked to the neurotoxic effects of ammonia and other toxic metabolites reaching the brain via the blood-brain barrier (BBB), further aggravated by the inflammatory response. Cumulative evidence documents that the non-coding single-stranded RNAs, micro RNAs (miRs) control the BBB functioning. However, miRs' involvement in BBB breakdown in HE is still underexplored. Here, we hypothesized that in rats with acute liver failure (ALF) or rats subjected to hyperammonemia, altered circulating miRs affect BBB composing proteins.

METHODS

Transmission electron microscopy was employed to delineate structural alterations of the BBB in rats with ALF (thioacetamide (TAA) intraperitoneal (ip.) administration) or hyperammonemia (ammonium acetate (OA) ip. administration). The BBB permeability was determined with Evans blue dye and sodium fluorescein assay. Plasma MiRs were profiled by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), followed by in silico analysis. Selected miRs, verified by qRT-PCR, were examined in cultured rat brain endothelial cells. Targeted protein alterations were elucidated with immunofluorescence, western blotting, and, after selected miR mimics transfection, through an in vitro resistance measurement.

RESULTS

Changes in BBB structure and increased permeability were observed in the prefrontal cortex of TAA rats but not in the brains of OA rats. The NGS results revealed divergently changed miRNA-ome in the plasma of both rat models. The in silico analysis led to the selection of miR-122-5p and miR-183-5p with their target genes occludin and integrin β1, respectively, as potential contributors to BBB alterations. Both proteins were reduced in isolated brain vessels and cortical homogenates in TAA rats. We documented in cultured primary brain endothelial cells that ammonia alone and, in combination with TNFα increases the relative expression of NGS-selected miRs with a less pronounced effect of TNFα when added alone. The in vitro study also confirmed miR-122-5p-dependent decrease in occludin and miR-183-5p-related reduction in integrin β1 expression.

CONCLUSION

This work identified, to our knowledge for the first time, potential functional links between alterations in miRs residing in brain endothelium and BBB dysfunction in ALF.

Treatment with aripiprazole and N-acetylcysteine affects anaerobic cysteine metabolism in the hippocampus and reverses schizophrenia-like behavior in the neurodevelopmental rat model of schizophrenia

Preclinical and clinical studies have shown that the antipsychotic drug aripiprazole and the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine have unique biological properties. The aim of the study was to investigate, in a rat model of schizophrenia, the effects of chronic administration of these drugs on schizophrenia-like behaviors and anaerobic cysteine metabolism in the hippocampus (HIP). The schizophrenia-type changes were induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by repeated administration of the glutathione synthesis inhibitor l-butionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine in combination with the dopamine reuptake inhibitor GBR 12909 in the early postnatal period. Adult model rats were chronically treated with aripiprazole (0.3 mg·kg-1 , i.p.) or N-acetylcysteine (30 mg·kg-1 , orally), and their effects on schizophrenia-like behaviors were assessed using the social interaction test and novel object recognition test. In the HIP, the level of anaerobic cysteine metabolites, H2 S, and bound sulfane sulfur were determined by a fluorescence method, while the expression of H2 S-synthetizing enzymes: cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) and mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MST) by western blot. Long-term treatment with aripiprazole or N-acetylcysteine reversed social and cognitive deficits and reduced the exploratory behaviors. In the HIP of 16-day-old model pups, H2 S levels and MST protein expression were significantly decreased. In adult model rats, H2 S levels remained unchanged, bound sulfane sulfur significantly increased, and the expression of CBS and MST slightly decreased. The studied drugs significantly reduced the level of bound sulfane sulfur and the expression of tested enzymes. The reduction in bound sulfane sulfur level coincided with the attenuation of exploratory behavior, suggesting that modulation of anaerobic cysteine metabolism in the HIP may have therapeutic potential in schizophrenia.

Evolution and phylogenetic distribution of endo-α-mannosidase

While glycans underlie many biological processes, such as protein folding, cell adhesion, and cell-cell recognition, deep evolution of glycosylation machinery remains an understudied topic. N-linked glycosylation is a conserved process in which mannosidases are key trimming enzymes. One of them is the glycoprotein endo-α-1,2-mannosidase which participates in the initial trimming of mannose moieties from an N-linked glycan inside the cis-Golgi. It is unique as the only endo-acting mannosidase found in this organelle. Relatively little is known about its origins and evolutionary history; so far it was reported to occur only in vertebrates. In this work, a taxon-rich bioinformatic survey to unravel the evolutionary history of this enzyme, including all major eukaryotic clades and a wide representation of animals, is presented. The endomannosidase was found to be more widely distributed in animals and other eukaryotes. The protein motif changes in context of the canonical animal enzyme were tracked. Additionally, the data show the two canonical vertebrate endomannosidase genes, MANEA and MANEAL, arose at the second round of the two vertebrate genome duplications and one more vertebrate paralog, CMANEAL, is uncovered. Finally, a framework where N-glycosylation co-evolved with complex multicellularity is described. A better understanding of the evolution of core glycosylation pathways is pivotal to understanding biology of eukaryotes in general, and the Golgi apparatus in particular. This systematic analysis of the endomannosidase evolution is one step toward this goal.

Influence of the strain effect on magnetocrystalline anisotropy in Co2Fe0.4Mn0.6Si Heusler alloys

The perpendicular magnetocrystalline anisotropy, magnetoelastic properties as well as the Gilbert damping factor in Co2Fe0.4Mn0.6Si thin films were found to depend on a magnetic layer thickness, and they can be also tuned by the application of additional Ag buffer layer. The tetragonal distortion of a magnetic layer was found to increase with decreasing thickness, and after the application of an additional Ag buffer layer, the character of this distortion was changed from tensile to compressive in the plane of a film. A correlation between the tetragonal distortion and perpendicular magnetocrystalline anisotropy was found. However, the magnitude of the observed tetragonal distortion for most samples seems to be too small to explain alone the experimentally found large magnitude of the perpendicular magnetocrystalline anisotropy. For these samples, other mechanisms including both surface and volume effects must be taken into account.

Carbon Dots-Types, Obtaining and Application in Biotechnology and Food Technology

Materials with a "nano" structure are increasingly used in medicine and biotechnology as drug delivery systems, bioimaging agents or biosensors in the monitoring of toxic substances, heavy metals and environmental variations. Furthermore, in the food industry, they have found applications as detectors of food adulteration, microbial contamination and even in packaging for monitoring product freshness. Carbon dots (CDs) as materials with broad as well as unprecedented possibilities could revolutionize the economy, if only their synthesis was based on low-cost natural sources. So far, a number of studies point to the positive possibilities of obtaining CDs from natural sources. This review describes the types of carbon dots and the most important methods of obtaining them. It also focuses on presenting the potential application of carbon dots in biotechnology and food technology.

Endothelial Effects of Simultaneous Expression of Human HO-1, E5NT, and ENTPD1 in a Mouse

The vascular endothelium is key target for immune and thrombotic responses that has to be controlled in successful xenotransplantation. Several genes were identified that, if induced or overexpressed, help to regulate the inflammatory response and preserve the transplanted organ function and metabolism. However, few studies addressed combined expression of such genes. The aim of this work was to evaluate in vivo the effects of the simultaneous expression of three human genes in a mouse generated using the multi-cistronic F2A technology. Male 3-month-old mice that express human heme oxygenase 1 (hHO-1), ecto-5'-nucleotidase (hE5NT), and ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 1 (hENTPD1) (Transgenic) were compared to wild-type FVB mice (Control). Background analysis include extracellular nucleotide catabolism enzymes profile on the aortic surface, blood nucleotide concentration, and serum L-arginine metabolites. Furthermore, inflammatory stress induced by LPS in transgenic and control mice was used to characterize interleukin 6 (IL-6) and adhesion molecules endothelium permeability responses. Transgenic mice had significantly higher rates of extracellular adenosine triphosphate and adenosine monophosphate hydrolysis on the aortic surface in comparison to control. Increased levels of blood AMP and adenosine were also noticed in transgenics. Moreover, transgenic animals demonstrated the decrease in serum monomethyl-L-arginine level and a higher L-arginine/monomethyl-L-arginine ratio. Importantly, significantly decreased serum IL-6, and adhesion molecule levels were observed in transgenic mice in comparison to control after LPS treatment. Furthermore, reduced endothelial permeability in the LPS-treated transgenic mice was noted as compared to LPS-treated control. The human enzymes (hHO-1, hE5NT, hENTPD1) simultaneously encoded in transgenic mice demonstrated benefits in several biochemical and functional aspects of endothelium. This is consistent in use of this approach in the context of xenotransplantation.

DNA Damage Induced by T-2 Mycotoxin in Human Skin Fibroblast Cell Line-Hs68

T-2 mycotoxin is the most potent representative of the trichothecene group A and is produced by various Fusarium species, including F. sporotrichioides, F. poae, and F. acuminatum. T-2 toxin has been reported to have toxic effects on various tissues and organs, and humans and animals alike suffer a variety of pathological conditions after consumption of mycotoxin-contaminated food. The T-2 toxin's unique feature is dermal toxicity, characterized by skin inflammation. In this in vitro study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of T-2 toxin-induced genotoxicity in the human skin fibroblast-Hs68 cell line. For the purpose of investigation, the cells were treated with T-2 toxin in 0.1, 1, and 10 μM concentrations and incubated for 24 h and 48 h. Nuclear DNA (nDNA) is found within the nucleus of eukaryotic cells and has a double-helix structure. nDNA encodes the primary structure of proteins, consisting of the basic amino acid sequence. The alkaline comet assay results showed that T-2 toxin induces DNA alkali-labile sites. The DNA strand breaks in cells, and the DNA damage level is correlated with the increasing concentration and time of exposure to T-2 toxin. The evaluation of nDNA damage revealed that exposure to toxin resulted in an increasing lesion frequency in Hs68 cells with HPRT1 and TP53 genes. Further analyses were focused on mRNA expression changes in two groups of genes involved in the inflammatory and repair processes. The level of mRNA increased for all examined inflammatory genes (TNF, INFG, IL1A, and IL1B). In the second group of genes related to the repair process, changes in expression induced by toxin in genes-LIG3 and APEX were observed. The level of mRNA for LIG3 decreased, while that for APEX increased. In the case of LIG1, FEN, and XRCC1, no changes in mRNA level between the control and T-2 toxin probes were observed. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that T-2 toxin shows genotoxic effects on Hs68 cells, and the molecular mechanism of this toxic effect is related to nDNA damage.

Confocal Raman imaging reveals the impact of retinoids on human breast cancer via monitoring the redox status of cytochrome c

This paper expands the current state of knowledge on impact of retinoids on redox status of cytochrome c in cancers. Little is known how the expression of cytochromes may influence the development of cancers. We studied the effect of the redox status of the central iron ion in heme of cytochrome c. We determined the redox status of the iron ion in cytochrome c in mitochondria, cytoplasm, lipid droplets, and endoplasmic reticulum of the human breast cancer cells by Raman imaging. We incubated human breast adenocarcinoma cells (SK-BR-3) with retinoic acid, retinol and retinyl ester (palmitate) at concentration of 50 μM for 24 h. We recorded the Raman spectra and images of human breast cancer in vitro SK-BR-3 cells receiving redox stimuli by retinoic acid, retinol and retinyl ester (palmitate). The paper provides evidence that retinoic acid and retinol are pivotally important for mitochondrial energy homeostasis by controlling the redox status of cytochrome c in the electron transport chain controlling oxidative phosphorylation and apoptosis. We discussed the role of retinoids in metabolism and signaling of cancer cells. The paper provides experimental support for theoretical hypothesis how retinoic acid/retinol catalyse resonance energy transfer reactions and controls the activation/inactivation cycle of protein kinase PKCδ.

Optimal design of transmitarray antennas via low-cost surrogate modelling

Over the recent years, reflectarrays and transmitarrays have been drawing a considerable attention due to their attractive features, including a possibility of realizing high gain and pencil-like radiation patterns without the employment of complex feeding networks. Among the two, transmitarrays seem to be superior over reflectarrays in terms of achieving high radiation efficiency without the feed blockage. Notwithstanding, the design process of transmitarrays is more intricate due to the necessity of manipulating both the transmission phase and magnitude of its unit elements. For reliability, the design process has to be conducted at the level of full-wave electromagnetic models, which makes direct optimization prohibitive. The most widely used workaround is to employ surrogate modeling techniques to construct fast representations of the unit elements, yet the initial model setup cost is typically high and includes acquisition of thousands of training data points. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to cost-efficient design of transmitarrays. It is based on artificial-intelligence-enabled data-driven surrogates, which can be constructed using only a few hundreds of training data samples, while exhibiting the predictive power sufficient for reliable design. Our methodology is demonstrated by re-using the presented surrogate for the design of high-performance transmitarrays operating at various frequency ranges of 8-14 GHz, 22-28 GHz, and 28-36 GHz.

Association between the Cytosine Hydroxymethylation and the Expression of microRNA in Multiple Sclerosis in Polish Population

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic demyelinating disorder with an unclear etiology. A key role is thought to be played by Th17 cells and microRNAs associated with Th17, such as miR-155, miR-326 and miR-223. The present study compared the methylation and hydroxymethylation levels of CpG sites within promoters of these microRNA between MS patients and controls using PBMCs and analyzed their relationship with microRNA expression. Significant intergroup differences were found between the levels of 5-hmC within the CpG-1 miR-155 promoter and CpG within the miR-326 promoter; in addition, miR-155-5p and miR-223-3p expression was elevated in MS patients. Correlation analysis showed a positive relationship between the level of 5-hmC of CpG-2 in the miR-223 promoter and miR-223-3p level. As it is possible to pharmacologically modulate the level of epigenetic modifications, our findings cast light on the etiology of MS and support the development of more effective therapies.

Computationally-efficient statistical design and yield optimization of resonator-based notch filters using feature-based surrogates

Modern microwave devices are designed to fulfill stringent requirements pertaining to electrical performance, which requires, among others, a meticulous tuning of their geometry parameters. When moving up in frequency, physical dimensions of passive microwave circuits become smaller, making the system performance increasingly susceptible to manufacturing tolerances. In particular, inherent inaccuracy of fabrication processes affect the fundamental operating parameters, such as center frequency or bandwidth, which is especially troublesome for narrow-band structures, including notch filters. The ability to quantify the effects of tolerances, and-even more-to account for these in the design process, are instrumental in making the designs more reliable, and to increase the likelihood that adequate operation is ensured despite manufacturing errors. This paper proposes a simple yet computationally efficient and reliable procedure for statistical analysis and yield optimization of resonator-based notch filters. Our methodology involves feature-based surrogate models that can be established using a handful of training data points, and employed for rapid evaluation of the circuit fabrication yield. Furthermore, a yield optimization procedure is developed, which iteratively sets up a sequence of feature-based models, constructed within local domains relocated along the optimization path, and uses them as predictors to find a robust (maximum yield) design at a low computational cost. The presented approach has been demonstrated using two complementary split ring resonator (CSRR)-based notch filters. The cost of statistical design is about a hundred of EM simulations of the respective filter, with yield evaluation reliability corroborated through EM-based Monte Carlo analysis.

Posterior theta activity reveals an early signal of self-face recognition

Self-related visual information, especially one's own face and name, are processed in a specific, prioritized way. However, the spatio-temporal brain dynamics of self-prioritization have remained elusive. Moreover, it has been unclear whether this prioritization is an effect of enhancement and amplification, or rather a facilitating automatization of processing self-referential information. In this EEG study, 25 married women (who changed their surnames after marriage, so that their past and present surnames could be used as stimuli) performed a detection task with faces and names from five categories: self, self from the past, friend, famous, and unknown person. The aim was to determine the temporal and spatial characteristics of early electrophysiological markers of self-referential processing. We report results of event-related component (ERP) and time-frequency analyses. In the ERPs, the earliest self-relevance effect was displayed only 300 ms after stimulus onset in the midfrontal N2, and later in the parietal P3b, independently of the stimulus type. No self-relevance effect was found on the N170 component. However, local theta power at the occipito-temporal (visual) areas and inter-regional theta phase coherence between the visual and midfrontal areas showed that self-relevance differentiation of faces began already about 100-300 ms after stimulus onset. No such early effects were found for names. The results are discussed in terms of the time-course, functional localization, stimulus-specificity, and automatization of self-prioritization.

Stabilization and racetrack application of asymmetric Néel skyrmions in hybrid nanostructures

Magnetic skyrmions, topological quasiparticles, are small stable magnetic textures that possess intriguing properties and potential for data storage applications. Hybrid nanostructures comprised of skyrmions and soft magnetic material can offer additional advantages for developing skyrmion-based spintronic and magnonic devices. We show that a Néel-type skyrmion confined within a nanodot placed on top of a ferromagnetic in-plane magnetized stripe produces a unique and compelling platform for exploring the mutual coupling between magnetization textures. The skyrmion induces an imprint upon the stripe, which, in turn, asymmetrically squeezes the skyrmion in the dot, increasing their size and the range of skyrmion stability at small values of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction, as well as introducing skyrmion bi-stability. Finally, by exploiting the properties of the skyrmion in a hybrid system, we demonstrate unlimited skyrmion transport along a racetrack, free of the skyrmion Hall effect.

Mutual Coupling Reduction in Antenna Arrays Using Artificial Intelligence Approach and Inverse Neural Network Surrogates

This paper presents a novel approach to reducing undesirable coupling in antenna arrays using custom-designed resonators and inverse surrogate modeling. To illustrate the concept, two standard patch antenna cells with 0.07λ edge-to-edge distance were designed and fabricated to operate at 2.45 GHz. A stepped-impedance resonator was applied between the antennas to suppress their mutual coupling. For the first time, the optimum values of the resonator geometry parameters were obtained using the proposed inverse artificial neural network (ANN) model, constructed from the sampled EM-simulation data of the system, and trained using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. The inverse ANN surrogate directly yields the optimum resonator dimensions based on the target values of its S-parameters being the input parameters of the model. The involvement of surrogate modeling also contributes to the acceleration of the design process, as the array does not need to undergo direct EM-driven optimization. The obtained results indicate a remarkable cancellation of the surface currents between two antennas at their operating frequency, which translates into isolation as high as -46.2 dB at 2.45 GHz, corresponding to over 37 dB improvement as compared to the conventional setup.

Comparative study of TiO2-Fe3O4 photocatalysts synthesized by conventional and microwave methods for metronidazole removal

This study focused on a direct comparison of conventional hydrothermal and microwave treatment during the synthesis of TiO₂-Fe₃O₄ photocatalyst, which is an effective catalyst for decomposing metronidazole. The photocatalyst underwent various characterization analyses, including X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The Raman spectroscopy analysis revealed that the materials obtained through the conventional hydrothermal treatment consisted of separate phases of anatase and magnetite. On the other hand, the materials synthesized using the microwave process showed a noticeable shift in the E_g band (143 cm^-1) and its half-width towards higher wavenumbers. This shift is likely due to the introduction of Fe ions into the TiO₂ lattice. Additionally, both conventional hydrothermal and microwave synthesis routes produced TiO₂-Fe₃O₄ systems with superparamagnetic properties, as demonstrated by SQUID magnetic measurements. The TEM analysis revealed that the materials synthesized using the microwave process exhibited higher homogeneity, with no noticeable large aggregates observed. Finally, this work proposed a convenient LED photoreactor that effectively utilized the photo-oxidative properties of TiO₂-Fe₃O₄ photocatalysts to remove metronidazole. Combining photoactive TiO₂-Fe₃O₄ catalysts with an energy-efficient LED reactor resulted in a low electrical energy per order (E_EO).

Bandwidth-Controllable Third-Order Band Pass Filter Using Substrate-Integrated Full- and Semi-Circular Cavities

The article presents a novel circular substrate-integrated waveguide (SIW) bandpass filter (BPF) with controllable bandwidth. The proposed BPF was configured using two microstrip feed lines, semi-circular SIW cavities, capacitive slots, and inductive vias. The circular cavity was divided into two halves, and the two copies were cascaded. The resulting bisected and cascaded structures were then connected back-to-back. Finally, by introducing two inductive vias to the circular center cavity, a transmission zero was generated. In order to examine the design concept, a coupling matrix was generated. To demonstrate the theory, a third-order BPF was realized, fabricated, and experimentally validated. The BPF prototype features a wide passband of 8.7%, a low insertion loss of 1.1 dB, and a stopband of 1.5 f0 with a rejection level better than 20 dB, which makes it a potential candidate for microwave sensing and communication industries.

Exopolysaccharide from Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus induces IgA production in airways and alleviates allergic airway inflammation in mouse model

The currently observed high prevalence of allergic diseases has been associated with changes in microbial exposure in industrialized countries. Defined bacterial components represent a new strategy for modulating the allergic immune response. We show that intranasal administration of exopolysaccharide (EPS) isolated from Lacticaseibacillus (L.) rhamnosus LOCK900 induces TGF-β1, IgA, and regulatory FoxP3+ T-cells in the lungs of naïve mice. Using the ovalbumin mouse model, we demonstrate that intranasal administration of EPS downregulates the development of allergic airway inflammation and the Th2 cytokine response in sensitized individuals. At the same time, EPS treatment of sensitized mice, similar to EPS-induced responses in naïve mice, significantly increased the level of total, OVA-specific, and also bacteria-specific IgA in bronchoalveolar lavage and the number of IgA-producing B-cells in the lung tissue of these mice. Thus, EPS derived from L. rhamnosus LOCK900 can be considered a safe candidate for preventing the development of allergic symptoms in the lungs of sensitized individuals upon exposure to an allergen.

Accessory fimbrial subunits and PPAD are necessary for TLR2 activation by Porphyromonas gingivalis

Porphyromonas gingivalis is an oral pathogen that promotes dysbiosis by quenching the bactericidal activity of the host immune system while maintaining chronic inflammation, leading to periodontitis. This involves the secretion of virulence factors such as P. gingivalis peptidyl arginine deiminase (PPAD), which converts the C-terminal Arg residues of bacterial and host-derived proteins and peptides into citrulline. We have previously shown that PPAD activity and major fimbriae (containing FimA) are necessary for P. gingivalis to activate Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2). TLR2 is an important component of the innate immune system and plays a predominant role in the recognition of P. gingivalis by host cells. Here, we extend those findings to show that P. gingivalis strains deficient for PPAD and fimbriae induced almost identical transcriptional profiles in infected primary human gingival fibroblasts (PHGFs), but these differed substantially from the transcriptome elicited by the wild-type ATCC 33277 strain. Apparently, PPAD-modified fimbriae trigger the host cell response to P. gingivalis, as confirmed by showing that the proinflammatory host cell response mediated by TLR2 is dependent on PPAD activity and the presence of fimbriae, with type I fimbriae as the most potent TLR2 activators. We also found that PPAD-modified accessory fimbrial subunits (FimC, FimD, and FimE) alone or in combination are TLR2 ligands in a reporter cell line. Although FimA polymerization to form the fimbrial shaft was not required for TLR2 activation, the secretion and proteolytic maturation of FimA were necessary for signaling by accessory Fim proteins. This was supported by showing that the proinflammatory activation of PHGFs is dependent on PPAD and accessory fimbrial subunits. We conclude that accessory fimbrial subunits are modified by PPAD and stimulate the response to P. gingivalis infection in a TLR2-dependent manner.

The connection of α- and β-domains in mammalian metallothionein-2 differentiates Zn(II) binding affinities, affects folding, and determines zinc buffering properties

Mammalian metallothioneins (MTs) are small Cys-rich proteins involved in Zn(II) and Cu(I) homeostasis. They bind seven Zn(II) ions in two distinct β- and α-domains, forming Zn3Cys9 and Zn4Cys11 clusters, respectively. After six decades of research, their role in cellular buffering of Zn(II) ions has begun to be understood recently. This is because of different affinities of bound ions and the proteins' coexistence in variously Zn(II)-loaded Zn4-7MT species in the cell. To date, it has remained unclear how these mechanisms of action occur and how the affinities are differentiated despite the Zn(S-Cys)4 coordination environment being the same. Here, we dissect the molecular basis of these phenomena by using several MT2 mutants, hybrid protein, and isolated domains. Through a combination of spectroscopic and stability studies, thiol(ate) reactivity, and steered molecular dynamics, we demonstrate that both protein folding and thermodynamics of Zn(II) ion (un)binding significantly differ between isolated domains and the whole protein. Close proximity reduces the degrees of freedom of separated domains, making them less dynamic. It is caused by the formation of intra- and interdomain electrostatic interactions. The energetic consequence of domains connection has a critical impact on the role of MTs in the cellular environment, where they function not only as a zinc sponge but also as a zinc buffering system keeping free Zn(II) in the right concentrations. Any change of that subtle system affects the folding mechanism, zinc site stabilities, and cellular zinc buffer components.

Leaflet Tensions Control the Spatio-Temporal Remodeling of Lipid Bilayers and Nanovesicles

Biological and biomimetic membranes are based on lipid bilayers, which consist of two monolayers or leaflets. To avoid bilayer edges, which form when the hydrophobic core of such a bilayer is exposed to the surrounding aqueous solution, a single bilayer closes up into a unilamellar vesicle, thereby separating an interior from an exterior aqueous compartment. Synthetic nanovesicles with a size below 100 nanometers, traditionally called small unilamellar vesicles, have emerged as potent platforms for the delivery of drugs and vaccines. Cellular nanovesicles of a similar size are released from almost every type of living cell. The nanovesicle morphology has been studied by electron microscopy methods but these methods are limited to a single snapshot of each vesicle. Here, we review recent results of molecular dynamics simulations, by which one can monitor and elucidate the spatio-temporal remodeling of individual bilayers and nanovesicles. We emphasize the new concept of leaflet tensions, which control the bilayers' stability and instability, the transition rates of lipid flip-flops between the two leaflets, the shape transformations of nanovesicles, the engulfment and endocytosis of condensate droplets and rigid nanoparticles, as well as nanovesicle adhesion and fusion. To actually compute the leaflet tensions, one has to determine the bilayer's midsurface, which represents the average position of the interface between the two leaflets. Two particularly useful methods to determine this midsurface are based on the density profile of the hydrophobic lipid chains and on the molecular volumes.

Studies of the Impact of the Bifidobacterium Species on Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression and Nitric Oxide Production in Murine Macrophages of the BMDM Cell Line

Bifidobacterium species are one of the most important probiotic microorganisms which are present in both, infants and adults. Nowadays, growing data describing their healthy properties arise, indicating they could act at the cellular and molecular level. However, still little is known about the specific mechanisms promoting their beneficial effects. Nitric oxide (NO), produced by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), is involved in the protective mechanisms in the gastrointestinal tract, where it can be provided by epithelial cells, macrophages, or bacteria. The present study explored whether induction of iNOS-dependent NO synthesis in macrophages stems from the cellular action of Bifidobacterium species. The ability of ten Bifidobacterium strains belonging to 3 different species (Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, and Bifidobacterium animalis) to activate MAP kinases, NF-κB factor, and iNOS expression in a murine bone-marrow-derived macrophages cell line was determined by Western blotting. Changes in NO production were determined by the Griess reaction. It was performed that the Bifidobacterium strains were able to induce NF-қB-dependent iNOS expression and NO production; however, the efficacy depends on the strain. The highest stimulatory activity was observed for Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. animals CCDM 366, whereas the lowest was noted for strains Bifidobacterium adolescentis CCDM 371 and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum CCDM 372. Both TLR2 and TLR4 receptors are involved in Bifidobacterium-induced macrophage activation and NO production. We showed that the impact of Bifidobacterium on the regulation of iNOS expression is determined by MAPK kinase activity. Using pharmaceutical inhibitors of ERK 1/2 and JNK, we confirmed that Bifidobacterium strains can activate these kinases to control iNOS mRNA expression. Concluding, the induction of iNOS and NO production may be involved in the protective mechanism of action observed for Bifidobacterium in the intestine, and the efficacy is strain-dependent.

On nature-inspired design optimization of antenna structures using variable-resolution EM models

Numerical optimization has been ubiquitous in antenna design for over a decade or so. It is indispensable in handling of multiple geometry/material parameters, performance goals, and constraints. It is also challenging as it incurs significant CPU expenses, especially when the underlying computational model involves full-wave electromagnetic (EM) analysis. In most practical cases, the latter is imperative to ensure evaluation reliability. The numerical challenges are even more pronounced when global search is required, which is most often carried out using nature-inspired algorithms. Population-based procedures are known for their ability to escape from local optima, yet their computational efficiency is poor, which makes them impractical when applied directly to EM models. A common workaround is the utilization of surrogate modeling techniques, typically in the form of iterative prediction-correction schemes, where the accumulated EM simulation data is used to identify the promising regions of the parameter space and to refine the surrogate model predictive power at the same time. Notwithstanding, implementation of surrogate-assisted procedures is often intricate, whereas their efficacy may be hampered by the dimensionality issues and considerable nonlinearity of antenna characteristics. This work investigates the benefits of incorporating variable-resolution EM simulation models into nature-inspired algorithms for optimization of antenna structures, where the model resolution pertains to the level of discretization density of an antenna structure in the full-wave simulation model. The considered framework utilizes EM simulation models which share the same physical background and are selected from a continuous spectrum of allowable resolutions. The early stages of the search process are carried out with the use of the lowest fidelity model, which is subsequently automatically increased to finally reach the high-fidelity antenna representation (i.e., considered as sufficiently accurate for design purposes). Numerical validation is executed using several antenna structures of distinct types of characteristics, and a particle swarm optimizer as the optimization engine. The results demonstrate that appropriate resolution adjustment profiles permit considerable computational savings (reaching up to eighty percent in comparison to high-fidelity-based optimization) without noticeable degradation of the search process reliability. The most appealing features of the presented approach-apart from its computational efficiency-are straightforward implementation and versatility.

Nano-Sized Selenium Maintains Performance and Improves Health Status and Antioxidant Potential While Not Compromising Ultrastructure of Breast Muscle and Liver in Chickens

The poultry industry is looking for the most effective sources of selenium (Se) for commercial use. Over the past five years, nano-Se has attracted a great deal of attention in terms of its production, characterisation and possible application in poultry production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary levels of inorganic and organic Se, selenised yeast and nano forms of selenium on breast meat quality, liver and blood markers of antioxidants, the ultrastructure of tissue and the health status of chickens. A total of 300 one-day-old chicks Ross 308 were divided into 4 experimental groups, in 5 replications, with 15 birds per replication. Birds were fed the following treatments: a standard commercial diet containing inorganic Se in the form of inorganic Se at the level of 0.3 mg/kg diet and an experimental diet with an increased level of Se (0.5 mg/kg diet). The use of other forms of Se (nano-Se) versus sodium selenate significantly influences (p ≤ 0.05) a higher collagen content and does not impair physico-chemical properties in the breast muscle or the growth performance of the chickens. In addition, the use of other forms of selenium at an increased dose versus sodium selenate affected (p ≤ 0.01) the elongation of sarcomeres in the pectoral muscle while reducing (p ≤ 0.01) mitochondrial damage in hepatocytes and improving (p ≤ 0.05) oxidative indices. The use of nano-Se at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg feed has high bioavailability and low toxicity without negatively affecting the growth performance and while improving breast muscle quality parameters and the health status of the chickens.

Buried object characterization by data-driven surrogates and regression-enabled hyperbolic signature extraction

This work addresses artificial-intelligence-based buried object characterization using FDTD-based electromagnetic simulation toolbox of a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to generate B-scan data. In data collection, FDTD-based simulation tool, gprMax is used. The task is to estimate geophysical parameters of a cylindrical shape object of various radii, buried at different positions in the dry soil medium simultaneously and independently of each other. The proposed methodology capitalizes on a fast and accurate data-driven surrogate model developed for object characterization in terms of its vertical and lateral position, and the size. The surrogate is constructed in a computationally efficient manner as compared to methodologies using 2D B-scan image. This is achieved by operating at the level of hyperbolic signatures extracted from the B-scan data through linear regression, which effectively reduces the dimensionality and the size of data. The proposed methodology relies on reducing of 2D B-scan image to 1D data including variation of reflected electric fields' amplitudes with respect to the scanning aperture. The input of the surrogate model is the extracted hyperbolic signature obtained through linear regression executed on the background subtracted B-scan profiles. The hyperbolic signatures encode information about the geophysical parameters of the buried object, including depth, lateral position, and radius, all of which can be extracted using proposed methodology. Parametric estimation of the object radius and the estimation of the location parameters simultaneously is a challenging problem. Applying the application of processing steps on B-scan profiles incurs high computational costs, which is a limitation of the current methodologies. The metamodel itself is rendered using a novel deep-learning-based modified multilayer perceptron (M2LP) framework. The presented object characterization technique is favourably benchmarked against the state-of-the-art regression techniques, including Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), Support Vector Regression Machine (SVRM), and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). The verification results demonstrate the average mean absolute error of 10 mm, and the average relative error of 8 percent, both corroborating the relevance of the proposed M2LP framework. In addition, the presented methodology provides a well-structured relation between the geophysical parameters of object and the extracted hyperbolic signatures. For the sake of supplementary verification under realistic scenarios, it is also applied for scenarios involving noisy data. The environmental and internal noise of the GPR system and their effect is analyzed as well. Furthermore, the proposed surrogate modeling approach is validated using measurement data, which is indicative of suitability of the approach to handle physical measurements as data sources.

Opinions and options about COVID-19: Personality correlates and sex differences in two European countries

In the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, we collected data (N = 1,420) from Portugal and Spain in relation to personality (i.e., Dark Triad traits, Big Five traits, religiousness, and negative affect) and attitudes related to COVID-19 about its origins, opinions on how to deal with it, and fear of it. The most pervasive patterns we found were: (1) neurotic-type dispositions were associated with stronger opinions about the origins of the virus and leave people to have more fear of the virus but also more trust in tested establishments to provide help. (2): religious people were less trusting of science, thought prayer was answer, and attributed the existence of the virus to an act of God. We also found that sex differences and country differences in attitudes towards COVID-19 were mediate by sex/country differences in personality traits like emotional stability, religiousness, and negative affect. For instance, women reported more fear of COVID-19 than men did, and this was verified by women’s greater tendency to have negative affect and low emotional stability relative to men. Results point to the central role of neuroticism in accounting for variance in broad-spectrum attitudes towards COVID-19.

Assembly-dependent translation of subunits 6 (Atp6) and 9 (Atp9) of ATP synthase in yeast mitochondria

The yeast mitochondrial ATP synthase is an assembly of 28 subunits of 17 types of which 3 (subunits 6, 8, and 9) are encoded by mitochondrial genes, while the 14 others have a nuclear genetic origin. Within the membrane domain (FO) of this enzyme, the subunit 6 and a ring of 10 identical subunits 9 transport protons across the mitochondrial inner membrane coupled to ATP synthesis in the extra-membrane structure (F1) of ATP synthase. As a result of their dual genetic origin, the ATP synthase subunits are synthesized in the cytosol and inside the mitochondrion. How they are produced in the proper stoichiometry from two different cellular compartments is still poorly understood. The experiments herein reported show that the rate of translation of the subunits 9 and 6 is enhanced in strains with mutations leading to specific defects in the assembly of these proteins. These translation modifications involve assembly intermediates interacting with subunits 6 and 9 within the final enzyme and cis-regulatory sequences that control gene expression in the organelle. In addition to enabling a balanced output of the ATP synthase subunits, these assembly-dependent feedback loops are presumably important to limit the accumulation of harmful assembly intermediates that have the potential to dissipate the mitochondrial membrane electrical potential and the main source of chemical energy of the cell.

The fear of COVID-19 scale: Its structure and measurement invariance across 48 countries

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been a source of fear around the world. We asked whether the measurement of this fear is trustworthy and comparable across countries. In particular, we explored the measurement invariance and cross-cultural replicability of the widely used Fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19S), testing community samples from 48 countries (N = 14,558). The findings indicate that the FCV-19S has a somewhat problematic structure, yet the one-factor solution is replicable across cultural contexts and could be used in studies that compare people who vary on gender and educational level. The validity of the scale is supported by a consistent pattern of positive correlations with perceived stress and general anxiety. However, given the unclear structure of the FCV-19S, we recommend using latent factor scores, instead of raw scores, especially in cross-cultural comparisons. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Posttreatment Strategy Against Hypoxia and Ischemia Based on Selective Targeting of Nonnuclear Estrogen Receptors with PaPE-1

Newly synthesized Pathway Preferential Estrogen-1 (PaPE-1) selectively activates membrane estrogen receptors (mERs), namely, mERα and mERβ, and has been shown to evoke neuroprotection; however, its effectiveness in protecting brain tissue against hypoxia and ischemia has not been verified in a posttreatment paradigm. This is the first study showing that a 6-h delayed posttreatment with PaPE-1 inhibited hypoxia/ischemia-induced neuronal death, as indicated by neutral red uptake in mouse primary cell cultures in vitro. The effect was accompanied by substantial decreases in neurotoxicity and neurodegeneration in terms of LDH release and Fluoro-Jade C staining of damaged cells, respectively. The mechanisms of the neuroprotective action of PaPE-1 also involved apoptosis inhibition demonstrated by normalization of both mitochondrial membrane potential and expression levels of apoptosis-related genes and proteins such as Fas, Fasl, Bcl2, FAS, FASL, BCL2, BAX, and GSK3β. Furthermore, PaPE-1-evoked neuroprotection was mediated through a reduction in ROS formation and restoration of cellular metabolic activity that had become dysregulated due to hypoxia and ischemia. These data provide evidence that targeting membrane non-GPER estrogen receptors with PaPE-1 is an effective therapy that protects brain neurons from hypoxic/ischemic damage, even when applied with a 6-h delay from injury onset.

Thermal and optical properties of PMMA films reinforced with Nb2O5 nanoparticles

The article presents the thermal and physical properties of PMMA composite films with the addition of Nb2O5 nanoparticles. The addition of nanoparticles to PMMA mainly influenced the optical transmission and glass transition temperature of composite films compared to pure PMMA. It is clearly visible in the results of the conducted ellipsometric and differential scanning calorimetry tests. X-ray studies showed that the heat treatment of the samples resulted in the ordering of the polymer structure (flattening of the polymer chains). Examining the surface of the samples with scanning electron microscopy, it can be seen that Nb2O5 nanoparticles formed unusual, branched formations resembling "snowflakes".

Slight dependence of temperate-forest herbaceous plants, Geum urbanum and Senecio ovatus, on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) enables them to colonise soils with a low level of AMF abundance

While numerous studies have revealed that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) enhance plant performance, the influence of these symbionts on temperate-forest herbaceous species in relation to soil physical and chemical properties has been left largely unexplored. Therefore, two perennial herbs, Geum urbanum (Rosaceae) and Senecio ovatus (Asteraceae), were examined in a laboratory pot experiment to determine whether AMF influenced their growth, photosynthetic performance index, and N and P contents in biomass. The treatments, involving three widespread AMF species, were prepared in the soils of two habitats colonised by both plants, namely beech and riparian forests, as follows: (1) control—soils without AMF, (2) Claroideoglomus claroideum, (3) Funneliformis geosporus, and (4) Funneliformis mosseae. Neither shoot mass nor photosynthetic performance index of G. urbanum and S. ovatus was enhanced by AMF. Senecio ovatus root mass was increased compared to control only by F. geosporus. Inconsistent effects were observed in N and P contents in shoots and roots of both species. The direction and magnitude of these responses were dependent on the fungal species and soil type. Although the plant species belong to families whose representatives are usually regularly colonised by and highly responsive to AMF, our study indicates that AMF had only a slight impact on the performance of G. urbanum and S. ovatus at the early stages of their development. The plants being slightly dependent on AMF are thus adapted to colonise temperate-forest soils with a low level of availability of AMF propagules.

Two Paralogous Gb3/CD77 Synthases in Birds Show Different Preferences for Their Glycoprotein and Glycosphingolipid Substrates

Most glycosyltransferases show remarkable gross and fine substrate specificity, which is reflected in the old one enzyme-one linkage paradigm. While human Gb3/CD77 synthase is a glycosyltransferase that synthesizes the Galα1→4Gal moiety mainly on glycosphingolipids, its pigeon homolog prefers glycoproteins as acceptors. In this study, we characterized two Gb3/CD77 synthase paralogs found in pigeons (Columba livia). We evaluated their specificities in transfected human teratocarcinoma 2102Ep cells by flow cytofluorometry, Western blotting, high-performance thin-layer chromatography, mass spectrometry and metabolic labelling with 14C-galactose. We found that the previously described pigeon Gb3/CD77 synthase (called P) can use predominately glycoproteins as acceptors, while its paralog (called M), which we serendipitously discovered while conducting this study, efficiently synthesizes Galα1→4Gal caps on both glycoproteins and glycosphingolipids. These two paralogs may underlie the difference in expression profiles of Galα1→4Gal-terminated glycoconjugates between neoavians and mammals.

The new insight into extracellular NAD+ degradation-the contribution of CD38 and CD73 in calcific aortic valve disease

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+ ) is crucial for cell energy metabolism and many signalling processes. Recently, we proved the role of ecto-enzymes in controlling adenine nucleotide-dependent pathways during calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD). This study aimed to investigate extracellular hydrolysis of NAD+ and mononucleotide nicotinamide (NMN) in aortic valves and aorta fragments of CAVD patients and on the inner aortic surface of ecto-5'-nucleotidase knockout mice (CD73-/-). Human non-stenotic valves (n = 10) actively converted NAD+ and NMN via both CD73 and NAD+ -glycohydrolase (CD38) according to our analysis with RP-HPLC and immunofluorescence. In stenotic valves (n = 50), due to reduced CD73 activity, NAD+ was degraded predominantly by CD38 and additionally by ALP and eNPP1. CAVD patients had significantly higher hydrolytic rates of NAD+ (0.81 ± 0.07 vs 0.56 ± 0.10) and NMN (1.12 ± 0.10 vs 0.71 ± 0.08 nmol/min/cm2 ) compared with controls. CD38 was also primarily engaged in human vascular NAD+ metabolism. Studies using specific ecto-enzyme inhibitors and CD73-/- mice confirmed that CD73 is not the only enzyme involved in NAD+ and NMN hydrolysis and that CD38 had a significant contribution to these pathways. Modifications of extracellular NAD+ and NMN metabolism in aortic valve cells may be particularly important in valve pathology and could be a potential therapeutic target.

Omega Phase Formation in Ti-3wt.%Nb Alloy Induced by High-Pressure Torsion

It is well known that severe plastic deformation not only leads to strong grain refinement and material strengthening but also can drive phase transformations. A study of the fundamentals of α → ω phase transformations induced by high-pressure torsion (HPT) in Ti-Nb-based alloys is presented in the current work. Before HPT, a Ti-3wt.%Nb alloy was annealed at two different temperatures in order to obtain the α-phase state with different amounts of niobium. X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were applied for the characterisation of phase transitions and evolution of the microstructure. A small amount of the β-phase was found in the initial states, which completely transformed into the ω-phase during the HPT process. During HPT, strong grain refinement in the α-phase took place, as did partial transformation of the α- into the ω-phase. Therefore, two kinds of ω-phase, each with different chemical composition, were obtained after HPT. The first one was formed from the β-phase, enriched in Nb, and the second one from the α-phase. It was also found that the transformation of the α-phase into the ω-phase depended on the Nb concentration in the α-Ti phase. The less Nb there was in the α-phase, the more of the α-phase was transformed into the ω-phase.

Epidemic Territorial Spread of IncP-2-Type VIM-2 Carbapenemase-Encoding Megaplasmids in Nosocomial Pseudomonas aeruginosa Populations

In 2003 to 2004, the first five VIM-2 metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MPPA) isolates with an In4-like integron, In461 (aadB-blaVIM-2-aadA6), on conjugative plasmids were identified in three hospitals in Poland. In 2005 to 2015, MPPA expanded much in the country, and as many as 80 isolates in a collection of 454 MPPA (∼18%) had In461, one of the two most common MBL-encoding integrons. The organisms occurred in 49 hospitals in 33 cities of 11/16 main administrative regions. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) classified them into 55 pulsotypes and 35 sequence types (STs), respectively, revealing their remarkable genetic diversity overall, with only a few small clonal clusters. S1 nuclease/hybridization assays and mating of 63 representative isolates showed that ∼85% of these had large In461-carrying plasmids, ∼350 to 550 kb, usually self-transmitting with high efficiency (∼10-1 to 10-2 per donor cell). The plasmids from 19 isolates were sequenced and subjected to structural and single-nucleotide-polymorphism (SNP)-based phylogenetic analysis. These formed a subgroup within a family of IncP-2-type megaplasmids, observed worldwide in pseudomonads from various environments and conferring resistance/tolerance to multiple stress factors, including antibiotics. Their microdiversity in Poland arose mainly from acquisition of different accessory fragments, as well as new resistance genes and multiplication of these. Short-read sequence and/or PCR mapping confirmed the In461-carrying plasmids in the remaining isolates to be the IncP-2 types. The study demonstrated a large-scale epidemic spread of multidrug resistance plasmids in P. aeruginosa populations, creating an epidemiological threat. It contributes to the knowledge on IncP-2 types, which are interesting research objects in resistance epidemiology, environmental microbiology, and biotechnology.

EPIP-Evoked Modifications of Redox, Lipid, and Pectin Homeostasis in the Abscission Zone of Lupine Flowers

Yellow lupine is a great model for abscission-related research given that excessive flower abortion reduces its yield. It has been previously shown that the EPIP peptide, a fragment of LlIDL (INFLORESCENCE DEFICIENT IN ABSCISSION) amino-acid sequence, is a sufficient molecule to induce flower abortion, however, the question remains: What are the exact changes evoked by this peptide locally in abscission zone (AZ) cells? Therefore, we used EPIP peptide to monitor specific modifications accompanied by early steps of flower abscission directly in the AZ. EPIP stimulates the downstream elements of the pathway-HAESA and MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE6 and induces cellular symptoms indicating AZ activation. The EPIP treatment disrupts redox homeostasis, involving the accumulation of H2O2 and upregulation of the enzymatic antioxidant system including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase. A weakening of the cell wall structure in response to EPIP is reflected by pectin demethylation, while a changing pattern of fatty acids and acyl lipids composition suggests a modification of lipid metabolism. Notably, the formation of a signaling molecule-phosphatidic acid is induced locally in EPIP-treated AZ. Collectively, all these changes indicate the switching of several metabolic and signaling pathways directly in the AZ in response to EPIP, which inevitably leads to flower abscission.