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Journal of Neuroscience Research Jul 2024Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a condition that occurs commonly in children from infancy through adolescence and is a global health concern. Pediatric TBI presents with... (Review)
Review
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a condition that occurs commonly in children from infancy through adolescence and is a global health concern. Pediatric TBI presents with a bimodal age distribution, with very young children (0-4 years) and adolescents (15-19 years) more commonly injured. Because children's brains are still developing, there is increased vulnerability to the effects of head trauma, which results in entirely different patterns of injury than in adults. Pediatric TBI has a profound and lasting impact on a child's development and quality of life, resulting in long-lasting consequences to physical, cognitive, and emotional development. Chronic issues like learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and emotional disturbances can develop. Early intervention and ongoing support are critical for minimizing these long-term deficits. Many animal models of TBI exist, and each varies significantly, displaying different characteristics of clinical TBI. The neurodevelopment differs in the rodent from the human in timing and effect, so TBI outcomes in the juvenile rodent can thus vary from the human child. The current review compares findings from preclinical TBI work in juvenile and adult rodents to clinical TBI research in pediatric and adult humans. We focus on the four brain regions most affected by TBI: the prefrontal cortex, corpus callosum, hippocampus, and hypothalamus. Each has its unique developmental projections and thus is impacted by TBI differently. This review aims to compare the healthy neurodevelopment of these four brain regions in humans to the developmental processes in rodents.
Topics: Brain Injuries, Traumatic; Humans; Animals; Child; Disease Models, Animal; Adult; Adolescent; Rodentia; Brain; Child, Preschool
PubMed: 38953607
DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25364 -
General Physiology and Biophysics Jul 2024Since the acid growth theory was introduced in plant physiology and mainframe computers became more widely available in the mid-20th century, there has been a growing...
Since the acid growth theory was introduced in plant physiology and mainframe computers became more widely available in the mid-20th century, there has been a growing need to accurately predict plant cell morphological parameters during growth. This article presents a computer program that uses an original numerical method to solve a highly nonlinear growth equation. The program is written in Python, a popular open-source scientific software environment called CoCalc or SAGE. This program can be used to determine the growth of an individual plant cell or multicellular organ, such as a coleoptile or hypocotyl segment, at the non-meristemic limit. This standalone program is designed to be user-friendly and accessible to all readers, without barriers. With only a few key parameters, including pH and temperature, this program provides a practical set of tools for comparing growth-related experimental data across various areas of plant biology. Additionally, it could be useful in predicting plant growth during assisted migration, particularly in the face of climate change.
Topics: Software; Plant Development; Models, Biological; Computer Simulation; Algorithms
PubMed: 38953576
DOI: 10.4149/gpb_2024016 -
Journal of Cellular and Molecular... Jul 2024Both osteoporosis and tendinopathy are widely prevalent disorders, encountered in diverse medical contexts. Whilst each condition has distinct pathophysiological... (Review)
Review
Both osteoporosis and tendinopathy are widely prevalent disorders, encountered in diverse medical contexts. Whilst each condition has distinct pathophysiological characteristics, they share several risk factors and underlying causes. Notably, oxidative stress emerges as a crucial intersecting factor, playing a pivotal role in the onset and progression of both diseases. This imbalance arises from a dysregulation in generating and neutralising reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to an abnormal oxidative environment. Elevated levels of ROS can induce multiple cellular disruptions, such as cytotoxicity, apoptosis activation and reduced cell function, contributing to tissue deterioration and weakening the structural integrity of bones and tendons. Antioxidants are substances that can prevent or slow down the oxidation process, including Vitamin C, melatonin, resveratrol, anthocyanins and so on, demonstrating potential in treating these overlapping disorders. This comprehensive review aims to elucidate the complex role of oxidative stress within the interlinked pathways of these comorbid conditions. By integrating contemporary research and empirical findings, our objective is to outline new conceptual models and innovative treatment strategies for effectively managing these prevalent diseases. This review underscores the importance of further in-depth research to validate the efficacy of antioxidants and traditional Chinese medicine in treatment plans, as well as to explore targeted interventions focused on oxidative stress as promising areas for future medical advancements.
Topics: Humans; Oxidative Stress; Osteoporosis; Antioxidants; Tendinopathy; Reactive Oxygen Species; Animals
PubMed: 38953556
DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18508 -
Advanced Science (Weinheim,... Jul 2024The phenomenon of flexoelectricity, wherein mechanical deformation induces alterations in the electron configuration of metal oxides, has emerged as a promising avenue...
The phenomenon of flexoelectricity, wherein mechanical deformation induces alterations in the electron configuration of metal oxides, has emerged as a promising avenue for regulating electron transport. Leveraging this mechanism, stress sensing can be optimized through precise modulation of electron transport. In this study, the electron transport in 2D ultra-smooth InO crystals is modulated via flexoelectricity. By subjecting cubic InO (c-InO) crystals to significant strain gradients using an atomic force microscope (AFM) tip, the crystal symmetry is broken, resulting in the separation of positive and negative charge centers. Upon applying nano-scale stress up to 100 nN, the output voltage and power values reach their maximum, e.g. 2.2 mV and 0.2 pW, respectively. The flexoelectric coefficient and flexocoupling coefficient of c-InO are determined as ≈0.49 nC m and 0.4 V, respectively. More importantly, the sensitivity of the nano-stress sensor upon c-InO flexoelectric effect reaches 20 nN, which is four to six orders smaller than that fabricated with other low dimensional materials based on the piezoresistive, capacitive, and piezoelectric effect. Such a deformation-induced polarization modulates the band structure of c-InO, significantly reducing the Schottky barrier height (SBH), thereby regulating its electron transport. This finding highlights the potential of flexoelectricity in enabling high-performance nano-stress sensing through precise control of electron transport.
PubMed: 38953411
DOI: 10.1002/advs.202404272 -
Small (Weinheim An Der Bergstrasse,... Jul 2024Polyimide aerogels have been extensively used in thermal protection domain because they possess a combination of intrinsic characteristics of aerogels and unique...
Polyimide aerogels have been extensively used in thermal protection domain because they possess a combination of intrinsic characteristics of aerogels and unique features of polyimide. However, polyimide aerogels still suffer significant thermally induced shrinkage at temperatures above 200 °C, restricting their application at high temperature. Here, a novel "double-phase-networking" strategy is proposed for fabricating a lightweight and mechanically robust polyimide hybrid aerogel by forming silica-zirconia-phase networking skeletons, which possess exceptional dimensional stability in high-temperature environments and superior thermal insulation. The rational mechanism responsible for the formation of double-phase-networking aerogel is further explained, generally attributing to chemical crosslinking reactions and supramolecular hydrogen bond interactions derived from the main chains of polyimide and silane/zirconia precursor/sol. The as-prepared aerogels exhibit excellent high-temperature (270 °C) dimensional stability (5.09% ± 0.16%), anti-thermal-shock properties, and low thermal conductivity. Moreover, the hydrophobic treatment provides aerogels high water resistance with water contact angle of 136.9°, further suggestive of low moisture content of 3.6% after exposure to 70 °C and 85% relative humidity for 64 h. The proposed solution for significantly enhancing high-temperature dimensional stability and thermal insulation provides a great supporting foundation for fabricating high-performance organic aerogels as thermal protection materials in aerospace.
PubMed: 38953403
DOI: 10.1002/smll.202404104 -
Small (Weinheim An Der Bergstrasse,... Jul 2024Constructing dual-site catalysts consisting of atomically dispersed metal single atoms and metal atomic clusters (MACs) is a promising approach to further boost the...
Constructing dual-site catalysts consisting of atomically dispersed metal single atoms and metal atomic clusters (MACs) is a promising approach to further boost the catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Herein, a porous Co@SNC featuring the coexistence of Co single-atom sites (CoN) and S-coordinated Co atomic clusters (SCo) in S, N co-doped carbon substrate is successfully synthesized by using porphyrinic metal-organic framework (Co-TPyP MOF) as the precursor. The introduction of the sulfur source creates abundant microstructural defects to anchor Co metal clusters, thus modulating the electronic structure of its surrounding carbon substrate. The synergistic effect between the two types of active sites and structural advantages, in turn, results in high ORR performance of Co@SNC with half-wave potential (E) of 0.86 V and Tafel slope of 50.17 mV dec. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations also support the synergistic effect between CoN and SCo by detailing the catalytic mechanism for the improved ORR performance. The as-fabricated Zn-air battery (ZAB) using Co@SNC demonstrates impressive peak power density of 174.1 mW cm and charge/discharge durability for 148 h. This work provides a facile synthesis route for dual-site catalysts and can be extended to the development of other efficient atomically dispersed metal-based electrocatalysts.
PubMed: 38953346
DOI: 10.1002/smll.202402323 -
Small (Weinheim An Der Bergstrasse,... Jul 2024Ammonia fuel cells using carbon-neutral ammonia as fuel are regarded as a fast, furious, and flexible next-generation carbon-free energy conversion technology, but it is...
Ammonia fuel cells using carbon-neutral ammonia as fuel are regarded as a fast, furious, and flexible next-generation carbon-free energy conversion technology, but it is limited by the kinetically sluggish ammonia oxidation reaction (AOR), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Platinum can efficiently drive these three types of reactions, but its scale-up application is limited by its susceptibility to poisoning and high cost. In order to reduce the cost and alleviate poisoning, incorporating Pt with various metals proves to be an efficient and feasible strategy. Herein, PtFeCoNiIr/C trifunctional high-entropy alloy (HEA) catalysts are prepared with uniform mixing and ultra-small size of 2 ± 0.5 nm by Joule heating method. PtFeCoNiIr/C exhibits efficient performance in AOR (J = 139.8 A g ), ORR (E = 0.87 V), and HER (E = 20.3 mV), outperforming the benchmark Pt/C, and no loss in HER performance at 100 mA cm for 200 h. The almost unchanged E in the anti-poisoning test indicates its promising application in real fuel cells powered by ammonia. This work opens up a new path for the development of multi-functional electrocatalysts and also makes a big leap toward the exploration of cost-effective device configurations for novel fuel cells.
PubMed: 38953333
DOI: 10.1002/smll.202400892 -
Advanced Science (Weinheim,... Jul 2024In situ cancer vaccination is an attractive strategy that stimulates protective antitumor immunity. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are major mediators of the adaptive...
In situ cancer vaccination is an attractive strategy that stimulates protective antitumor immunity. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are major mediators of the adaptive immune defenses, with critical roles in antitumor immune response and establishing immune memory, and are consequently extremely important for in situ vaccines to generate systemic and lasting antitumor efficacy. However, the dense extracellular matrix and hypoxia in solid tumors severely impede the infiltration and function of CTLs, ultimately compromising the efficacy of in situ cancer vaccines. To address this issue, a robust in situ cancer vaccine, Au@MnO nanoparticles (AMOPs), based on a gold nanoparticle core coated with a manganese dioxide shell is developed. The AMOPs modulated the unfavorable tumor microenvironment (TME) to restore CTLs infiltration and function and efficiently induced immunogenic cell death. The Mn-mediated stimulator of the interferon genes pathway can be activated to further augment the therapeutic efficacy of the AMOPs. Thus, the AMOPs vaccine successfully elicited long-lasting antitumor immunity to considerably inhibit primary, recurrent, and metastatic tumors. This study not only highlights the importance of revitalizing CTLs efficacy against solid tumors but also makes progress toward overcoming TME barriers for sustained antitumor immunity.
PubMed: 38953329
DOI: 10.1002/advs.202403158 -
MSystems Jul 2024The erythromycin resistance RNA methyltransferase () confers cross-resistance to all therapeutically important macrolides, lincosamides, and streptogramins (MLS...
UNLABELLED
The erythromycin resistance RNA methyltransferase () confers cross-resistance to all therapeutically important macrolides, lincosamides, and streptogramins (MLS phenotype). The expression of is often induced by the macrolide-mediated ribosome stalling in the upstream co-transcribed leader sequence, thereby triggering a conformational switch of the intergenic RNA hairpins to allow the translational initiation of . We investigated the evolutionary emergence of the upstream regulatory elements and the impact of allelic variation on erm expression and the MLS phenotype. Through systematic profiling of the upstream regulatory sequences across all known operons, we observed that specific subfamilies, such as and , have independently evolved distinct configurations of small upstream ORFs and palindromic repeats. A population-wide genomic analysis of the upstream regions revealed substantial non-random allelic variation at numerous positions. Utilizing machine learning-based classification coupled with RNA structure modeling, we found that many alleles cooperatively influence the stability of alternative RNA hairpin structures formed by the palindromic repeats, which, in turn, affects the inducibility of expression and MLS phenotypes. Subsequent experimental validation of 11 randomly selected variants demonstrated an impressive 91% accuracy in predicting MLS phenotypes. Furthermore, we uncovered a mixed distribution of MLS-sensitive and MLS-resistant loci within the evolutionary tree, indicating repeated and independent evolution of MLS resistance. Taken together, this study not only elucidates the evolutionary processes driving the emergence and development of MLS resistance but also highlights the potential of using non-coding genomic allele data to predict antibiotic resistance phenotypes.
IMPORTANCE
Antibiotic resistance (AR) poses a global health threat as the efficacy of available antibiotics has rapidly eroded due to the widespread transmission of AR genes. Using Erm-dependent MLS resistance as a model, this study highlights the significance of non-coding genomic allelic variations. Through a comprehensive analysis of upstream regulatory elements within the family, we elucidated the evolutionary emergence and development of AR mechanisms. Leveraging population-wide machine learning (ML)-based genomic analysis, we transformed substantial non-random allelic variations into discernible clusters of elements, enabling precise prediction of MLS phenotypes from non-coding regions. These findings offer deeper insight into AR evolution and demonstrate the potential of harnessing non-coding genomic allele data for accurately predicting AR phenotypes.
PubMed: 38953319
DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00430-24 -
Small (Weinheim An Der Bergstrasse,... Jul 2024Flexible rechargeable Zn-air batteries (FZABs) exhibit high energy density, ultra-thin, lightweight, green, and safe features, and are considered as one of the ideal... (Review)
Review
Flexible rechargeable Zn-air batteries (FZABs) exhibit high energy density, ultra-thin, lightweight, green, and safe features, and are considered as one of the ideal power sources for flexible wearable electronics. However, the slow and high overpotential oxygen reaction at the air cathode has become one of the key factors restricting the development of FZABs. The improvement of activity and stability of bifunctional catalysts has become a top priority. At the same time, FZABs should maintain the battery performance under different bending and twisting conditions, and the design of the overall structure of FZABs is also important. Based on the understanding of the three typical configurations and working principles of FZABs, this work highlights two common strategies for applying bifunctional catalysts to FZABs: 1) powder-based flexible air cathode and 2) flexible self-supported air cathode. It summarizes the recent advances in bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts and explores the various types of catalyst structures as well as the related mechanistic understanding. Based on the latest catalyst research advances, this paper introduces and discusses various structure modulation strategies and expects to guide the synthesis and preparation of efficient bifunctional catalysts. Finally, the current status and challenges of bifunctional catalyst research in FZABs are summarized.
PubMed: 38953299
DOI: 10.1002/smll.202402761