Browse Articles

Stenhouse Zwitterion Photoswitches as Hydrogen-Bond Acceptors

Prevalence of the double burden of malnutrition and its association with ideal cardiovascular health in Brazilian children

Introduction The Double Burden of Malnutrition (DBM), characterized by the coexistence of overweight/obesity and nutritional deficiencies, represents a growing risk to child health, affecting Ideal Cardiovascular Health (CVH). This study aimed to assess the prevalence of DBM and examine its association with CVH. Methods The SAYCARE study was conducted in public and private schools in São Paulo and Fortaleza, including children aged 3–10 years. CVH was evaluated based on the eight components recommended by the American Heart Association. DBM was defined as the coexistence of overweight/obesity (classified by BMI according to age- and sex-specific percentiles) and iron deficiency (serum ferritin concentration <50 µg/L). Data collection included parent questionnaires, anthropometric assessments, accelerometer measurements, blood pressure, and blood samples. Descriptive statistics and multilevel Poisson regression models were applied to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), with p < 0.05 considered significant. Cluster analyses were also performed using hierarchical and non-hierarchical methods. Results The sample included 611 children, of whom 35.96% had low CVH. DBM was identified in 4.45% of the children, characterized by the coexistence of overweight/obesity and iron deficiency. Children with overweight had a 43.06% prevalence of low CVH, while those with obesity had 49.06%. Poisson regression analysis found no significant associations between DBM and CVH; however, factors such as maternal education and family income positively influenced CVH. Conclusion This study showed that most Brazilian children present moderate to high cardiovascular health, although a significant proportion remains at risk due to factors such as poor diet, sedentary behavior, and excess weight. The presence of DBM highlights the complexity of the nutritional transition in Brazil. Although no significant association between DBM and CVH was found, multifactorial interventions are needed to address the social, behavioral, and biomedical determinants of cardiovascular health in childhood.

Lead-Free Double Cs ₂ Ag(Bi,Sb)(Br,I) ₆ Perovskites: Going below 1.8 eV Bandgap by Anion Exchange and Solid-State Reactions

Solution structure of mouse HBS1L/SKI7-specific UBA domain in complex with ubiquitin: Implications for stalled ribosome recognition

Human HBS1L and SKI7 (HBS1LV3) are isoforms encoded by the same gene. HBS1L forms a complex with PELO to recognize ribosomes stalled on non-stop mRNAs and promotes ribosome splitting, whereas SKI7 acts as a bridge between the exosome and the SKI complex to mediate mRNA decay on stalled ribosomes. Despite substantial differences in the sequence and function of their C-terminal regions, the two isoforms share an identical N-terminal domain (termed UBAh) that resembles the ubiquitin binding UBA and CUE domains (collectively referred to as the three-helix bundle ubiquitin-binding [THB–Ub] group). Although UBAh has been predicted to interact with ubiquitin moieties attached to the small subunits of stalled ribosomes, evidence for its interaction with ubiquitin is lacking. Herein, we report the NMR structure of the mouse UBAh–ubiquitin complex. UBAh adopts a three-helix bundle architecture (α1–α2–α3) with unique connecting loops. The hydrophobic patch in UBAh interacts with the Ile44-centered hydrophobic patch of ubiquitin in a binding mode nearly identical to that of the UBA and CUE domains. In contrast, the α1/α2 loop contains a distinctive double β-turn that accommodates the protrusion of the ubiquitin β-turn. The hallmark motif of UBAh, located within and downstream of this loop, was identified as VLGD/E. HSQC titration experiments yielded a dissociation constant of approximately 50 µM for ubiquitin. These findings demonstrate that UBAh specifically interacts with ubiquitin in vitro, providing structural insights into its potential role in recruiting HBS1L–PELO and SKI7 to stalled ribosomes.

Iron Age: Ionic-Liquid-Mediated Interfacial Charge Transfer Enables Selective CO ₂ Photoreduction to Formic Acid on Iron Oxide

Effectiveness of Forum Play to promote respectful maternity care: A pilot intervention investigating self-reported perception and behaviour among care providers in urban Nepal

Background Ensuring respectful maternity care is crucial to promote positive childbirth experiences among women. Globally, 22–100% women report experiencing at least one form of disrespect and abuse during facility-based birth, with a study in Nepal reporting 100% prevalence. Thus, interventions like Forum Play are needed to promote respectful maternity care but remain scarce. Forum Play is a participatory theatre technique which encourages the participants to create scenes based on their own experiences illustrating a situation of oppression. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a pilot Forum Play intervention in promoting respectful maternity care by investigating self-reported perception and behaviour among care providers. Methods A quasi-experimental pre–post study with a control group was conducted among doctors and nurses in two tertiary hospitals in Nepal. Participants involved in providing care or interacting with women during labour and delivery were purposively selected for the intervention and control groups. The intervention group comprised 25 care providers (14 nurses and 11 doctors), while the control group included 75 care providers (42 nurses and 33 doctors). Two half-day Forum Play workshops were conducted separately for nurses and doctors in the intervention hospital. Data were collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire at baseline and two months post-intervention in both groups; however, the design was not strictly parallel. In the control hospital, data were collected later at the same intervals to provide contextual comparison. Data were analysed using IBM statistical package for social sciences version 20. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation) were used to measure the self-reported perception and behaviour on disrespect and abuse and perceptions of respectful maternity care. Mann Whitney U test was used to compare groups and Wilcoxon Signed Rank test was used to assess within-group changes before and after the intervention. Results There were no differences in background characteristics between intervention and control groups (p=>0.05), nor in the overall disrespect and abuse of women at baseline (p = 0.09 to 0.35) whereas significant differences were observed at follow-up (p=<0.001 to 0.004, r = 0.33 to 0.61). There were no significant differences in perception scores towards respectful maternity care between the groups at baseline while significant differences were found at follow-up (z = −3.25, p = 0.001 and r = 0.32). The perception score was significantly higher in the intervention group after the intervention (z = −3.073, p = 0.002 and r = 0.61) while no significant difference was observed in the control group (z = −0.120, p = 0.90 and r = 0.05). Conclusion Forum Play as a method of participatory intervention has the potential to enhance positive perception and behavioral change among care providers towards respectful maternity care. Scaling up the Forum Play intervention and systematically exploring women’s experiences are essential to determine its actual effectiveness.

Light-Driven Proton-Coupled Two-Electron Ligand Reduction Causes the Rearrangement of the Coordination Sphere in Cu(I) 4 <i>H</i> -Imidazolato Complexes

Transcriptomic profile of the hippocampus of rat strains with contrasting nervous system excitability

Individual variability of reactions to environmental influences which determines the range of the “reaction norm” and the possibilities of adaptation is strongly shaped by inherited properties of the nervous system, including genetically determined differences in excitability. Rat strains selectively bred for contrasting thresholds of neural system excitability provide a model for studying how such inherited differences are reflected at the molecular level. Here, we performed bulk RNA sequencing of the hippocampus in high-excitability (LT) and low-excitability (HT) rats to characterize baseline interstrain transcriptomic divergence. Differential expression analysis revealed strain-specific transcriptional profiles involving not only synapse- and plasticity-related genes, but also non-neuronal components associated with glial/immune functions, intracellular trafficking and protein processing, kinase signaling, extracellular matrix remodeling, and neurovascular regulation. Functional annotation highlighted differences in synaptic organization, neuronal projection development, cellular maintenance pathways, and tissue-level regulatory processes. The analysis motivates testable hypotheses involving synaptic/neurite organization, cellular maintenance pathways (MAPK/PI3K-linked trafficking and redox regulation), and glial/neurovascular components, to be evaluated in follow-up studies using structural and functional tissue-level measurements. This work also provides a reference for cross-model comparisons of polygenic excitability-related traits, as a reference transcriptomic profile from a long-term selective-breeding paradigm.

Harnessing Oil–Water Microinterfaces for the Catalyst-Free Oxidative Degradation of Toxic Organic Pollutants

Acinetobacter baumannii utilizes a novel protective factor to combat desiccation-induced oxidative stress

One of the factors that facilitates the nosocomial spread of the frequently multidrug-resistant pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii is its ability to persist on dry surfaces for weeks. These bacteria do not form spores, but instead rely on a group of protective factors to survive desiccation. We investigated a protective factor of unknown function, referred to here as desiccation tolerance protein C (DtpC), which we found to be co-transcribed with another protective factor, the KatE catalase. A Δ dtpC Δ katE mutant strain had a greatly decreased ability to survive desiccation, but complementation with either dtpC or katE individually could restore survival to the wild-type level, showing that DtpC and KatE are each sufficient for desiccation tolerance. Since KatE also protects cells from oxidative stress, we examined whether oxygen had an effect on desiccation survival, and analyzed the formation of reactive oxygen species in dried cells. Compared to the wild-type strain, the Δ dtpC Δ katE mutant strain was much more sensitive to the detrimental effects of oxygen during desiccation, and we observed that hydrogen peroxide accumulated in dried cells of the Δ dtpC Δ katE mutant strain over time, whereas hydrogen peroxide levels were limited when either dtpC or katE was present. Additionally, either dtpC or katE was sufficient to limit desiccation-induced mutagenesis, which is driven by DNA damage during drying. By using structural predictions and site-directed mutagenesis, we found that DtpC’s protective activity depends on a domain that is similar to heme-oxygenase-like diiron oxidases. No other proteins in this family have been linked to desiccation tolerance or oxidative stress, making DtpC a novel type of protective factor. Overall, our data show that both DtpC and KatE act to limit desiccation-induced oxidative stress, which is critical for A. baumannii to survive on dry surfaces.

Tetracoordinate-Boron-Rigidified Heterohelicenes with Fragment-Precise Short-Range Charge Transfer for Narrow Near-Infrared Emission

Correction: Asynchronous telerehabilitation in prehabilitation and postoperative recovery for colorectal cancer: A protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Weak Polar Optical Phonon Scattering Decouples Electron and Phonon Transport in Layered Thermoelectric Materials

Correction: IL-22 inhibits ferroptosis and attenuates ischemia-reperfusion-induced acute kidney injury: Association with activation of the P62-Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway

Machine Learning-Guided Pore Engineering of Metal–Organic Frameworks for Ultrahigh Volumetric Methane Storage

Molecular Recognition-Driven Reaction-Based Sensing of Catecholamines in a Lipid Nanoreactor

Magnesium in acute pediatric asthma in the emergency department (MAGICIAN)—A multicentre randomized controlled clinical trial protocol

Background While guidelines recommend intravenous magnesium (IVMg) for refractory pediatric acute asthma, evidence for benefit is scant and disparate. IVMg therapy is resource-intensive and can cause hypotension. To determine if IVMg alters the exacerbation course, it must be given early , and the clinical effect measured at the peak effect of routine co-interventions. Primary aim In children with acute asthma remaining in moderate-severe respiratory distress after initial ED therapy, to determine if early IVMg therapy is associated with a significantly greater improvement in respiratory distress at 2 hours after starting IVMg, compared to placebo. Hypothesis IVMg will yield significantly greater Pediatric Respiratory Assessment Measure (PRAM) improvement of ≥1.0 point than placebo. Study design A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial in 6 Canadian pediatric EDs of otherwise healthy children 2–17 years old with acute asthma and PRAM ≥5 after initial 1 hour therapy with systemic corticosteroids and 3 inhaled salbutamol ± ipratropium treatments. Intervention IVMg sulfate (75 mg/kg, max 2.5 g) or normal saline placebo over 30 minutes. Primary outcome PRAM 2 hours post-intervention start. Secondary: PRAM ≤3 at 2 hours; change in PRAM and vital signs over 3 hours; hospitalization; asthma re-visits by 72 hours. Sample size With 192 patients, a two-sided test and alpha 0.05 have 80% power to achieve statistical significance if IVMg yields a difference in PRAM changes ≥1.0 point between groups. Primary analysis Student’s t test comparing a difference in PRAM changes between groups. Expected outcomes This trial will clarify if there is an incremental clinical benefit of IVMg in pediatric refractory asthma. A positive result will establish a proven routine standard of care for this indication; a negative result will lead to de-implementation of IVMg which may also lead to cost savings. Status Enrolling at SickKids and McMaster, start of other sites pending. No results generated yet. Study title Magnesium Trial in Acute Asthma in Emergency Department

Precision Selenium Doping Unlocks Palladium Nanocluster for Efficient Chemoselective Hydrogenations

Basking sharks overlap with primary and secondary deep scattering layers during overwintering migration in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean

Long-distance migrations allow animals to exploit seasonal prey opportunities and track favorable oceanographic conditions. The basking shark ( Cetorhinus maximus ) is a large, filter-feeding elasmobranch commonly observed in temperate shelf habitats, though it is known to seasonally occupy warmer, lower-latitude regions. In the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, basking sharks migrate from summer habitats on the continental shelf of the northeastern United States and Canada to the tropical waters of the Caribbean and South America during winter. However, the functional role of these large-scale movements is poorly understood, and their overwintering behavior during migration remains enigmatic. Here, we use pop-up satellite archival transmitting (PSAT) tags to measure basking shark vertical habitat use during this migration. Based on daily summaries of time-at-depth and time-at-temperature, we find that sharks exhibited two main behaviors: shallow epipelagic occupancy on or near the continental shelf and movements throughout the mesopelagic in offshore waters. While offshore, vertical habitat use was characterized by a strong diel vertical migration (DVM) that overlapped with primary and secondary deep scattering layers, particularly in the southern Sargasso Sea. However, DVM behavior was widespread throughout the Sargasso Sea, where most tagged individuals overwintered, and continued into the Caribbean and during trans-equatorial movements. Our results suggest basking sharks likely forage throughout these large-scale migrations, rather than relying primarily on energy stores as has been suggested for other highly migratory shark species. We also suggest that basking sharks may regularly target prey biomass in a deeper, often non-migratory prey layer below the primary deep scattering layer. These findings highlight the potential ecological importance of mesopelagic prey for basking sharks during migration and contribute to growing recognition of the ecosystem services supported by deep-pelagic food webs within and beyond the primary deep scattering layer.

Enantioselective Nickel-Catalyzed Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling of Aldehydes and Alkenes toward Skipped Enones