Browse Articles

No evidence for increased habitual or decreased goal-directed action control after acute stress

Previous studies suggested that acute stress can impair flexible goal-directed action control in favor of habitual action control. In addition, there is evidence that acute stress differentially affects the processing of rewards and punishments. Therefore, we aimed at investigating whether acute stress affects the balance between goal-directed and habitual behavior not only for behavior aiming at reward but also for behavior motivated by avoiding punishments. In two experiments, a total of 129 participants either underwent a standardized procedure to induce acute stress or a control procedure. Habitual approach and avoidance behavior was established by extensively training participants on responses resulting in either gaining a monetary reward or avoiding a monetary loss. Subsequently, the strength of the resulting habits was tested in the habit-goal competition task. We found no evidence for acute stress to influence the acquisition of novel behaviors or the resulting habit strength, neither for approach nor for avoidance behavior. This result remained when inter-individual differences in cortisol reactivity and subjective reports of chronic stress were taken into account. Together, our results speak against a general effect of acute stress boosting the behavioral impact of habitual behavior on goal-directed action control.

Mechanisms responsible for the ability of enoxaparin sodium to inhibit inflammatory responses in the immune microenvironment of bone repair: A transcriptomic sequencing study

Enoxaparin sodium (ES), a low molecular weight heparin derivative, has recently been recognized for its diverse biological activities. In particular, the ability of heparin to modulate inflammation has been utilized to enhance the biocompatibility of bone implant materials. In this study, we utilized poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), a drug loading bone implant material, as a matrix and combined this with enoxaparin sodium (ES) to create enoxaparin sodium PMMA cement (ES-PMMA) to investigate the regulatory effects of ES on inflammatory responses in bone tissue from an animal model. We established a rabbit model of femoral condyle bone defects to investigate the immunoregulatory mechanisms of ES-PMMA. Rabbits were divided into control (n = 5), model (n = 10), PMMA (n = 10) and ES-PMMA (n = 10) groups. The control group underwent sham surgery as a blank control, while the model group was established with a bone defect model in the rabbit femoral condyle. The PMMA group and ES-PMMA group followed the same modeling procedure as the model group. After successful modeling, the PMMA group and ES-PMMA group were implanted with PMMA bone cement columns and ES-PMMA bone cement columns, respectively. Ten days post-surgery, cancellous bone tissue from the defect site was collected from each group, and the control group was sampled at the same location. Tissue samples were collected from each group for transcriptomic sequencing. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed and differentially expressed mRNAs were identified between the model and controls, between the PMMA and model groups, and between the ES-PMMA and model groups. Key candidate genes associated with ES-PMMA treatment were identified (304 genes), and Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA), Gene Ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed on the differentially expressed genes and key candidate genes in each group (P < 0.05). The 304 key candidate genes associated with ES-PMMA treatment are involved in functions such as inflammation, cell proliferation, and differentiation. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis and machine learning revealed three key candidate genes in the ES-PMMA group: recombination activating gene (RAG1), Src-like adaptor 2 (SLA2), S100 calcium binding protein and beta (neural) (S100B). SLA2 and RAG1 are known to be related to inflammation, whereas S100B is related to osteogenic differentiation. Finally, the subcellular localization and functional similarities of the three genes were assessed, and their transcription factors and miRNAs were predicted. Collectively, these findings provide insights into the mechanism of ES in regulating immune responses in the bone; this may facilitate the development of novel bone implant materials.

Comparative biocompatibility of hydrophilic vs. hydrophobic intraocular lenses following phacoemulsification in patients with uveitis

Purpose To evaluate and compare the biocompatibility of hydrophilic and hydrophobic intraocular lenses (IOLs) in patients with uveitis undergoing phacoemulsification, with particular focus on posterior capsule opacification (PCO), postoperative inflammation, and visual outcomes. Methods Patients with uveitis who underwent phacoemulsification with IOL implantation between 2015 and 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Propensity score matching (1:1) was performed to account for clinical and demographic variables, yielding 132 eyes (66 per group) for analysis. Primary outcomes included the incidence of PCO and the need for neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser capsulotomy. Secondary outcomes were the rate of uveitis reactivation and visual improvement. Cox regression models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Hydrophobic IOLs were significantly associated with a reduced risk of PCO (adjusted HR = 0.35; 95% CI, 0.18–0.68; p < 0.05) and Nd:YAG capsulotomy (adjusted HR = 0.23; 95% CI, 0.09–0.56; p < 0.05) compared to hydrophilic IOLs. No significant difference was found in the rate of uveitis reactivation between groups (adjusted HR = 0.83; 95% CI, 0.37–1.88; p = 0.643). Conclusion Hydrophobic intraocular lenses show better capsular biocompatibility in uveitic eyes by significantly reducing the incidence of PCO and need for Nd:YAG capsulotomy, without increasing postoperative inflammation. These findings support the preferential use of hydrophobic acrylic IOLs in cataract surgery for patients with uveitis.

MDM4 enables efficient human iPS cell generation from PBMCs using synthetic RNAs

Abstract If iPS cells can be established easily and efficiently using freshly collected blood cells, it will enhance regenerative and personalized medicine. While reports of iPS derivation from blood-derived endothelial progenitor cells using RNA have been documented, none have been reported from peripheral blood-derived mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In this study, we established a method to generate iPS cells from PBMCs using synthetic RNAs and found that MDM4, which suppresses p53, improved reprogramming efficiency.

Author Correction: Enhanced CHOLESTEROL biosynthesis promotes breast cancer metastasis via modulating CCDC25 expression and neutrophil extracellular traps formation

Three methods for fair ranking of multiple protected items

Community-based research supports more just and equitable industrial decarbonization

The DNA replication machinery transmits dual signals to prevent unscheduled licensing and execution of centrosome duplication

A roadmap for the widespread adoption of frugal microscopes

E. coli filament buckling modulates Min patterning and cell division

An electrochemiluminescence device powered by streaming potential for the detection of amines in flowing solution

Abstract The research and implementation of portable and low-cost analytical devices that possess high reproducibility and ease of operation is still a challenging task, and a growing field of importance, within the analytical research. Herein, we report the concept, design and optimization of a microfluidic device based on electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection that can be potentially operated without electricity for analytical purposes. The device functions exploiting the concept of streaming potential-driven bipolar electrochemistry, where a potential difference, generated from the flow of an electrolyte through a microchannel under the influence of a pressure gradient, is the driving force for redox reactions. To our purpose, we employ such a device to drive the ECL reaction of an organic chromophore deposited onto the electrode surface by simply flowing an electrolytic solution containing a coreactant into the microfluidic system, and we successively apply such device for the detection of amines in water. Our device shows high reproducibility and satisfactory detection limits for tri- n -propylamine, demonstrating an original, and up to now unexplored, concept of energy saving microfluidic systems with integrated ECL detection.

Understanding efficiency losses from radiative and nonradiative recombination in Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 solar cells

An electrically controlled single-molecule spin switch

Abstract Precise control of spin states and spin-spin interactions in atomic-scale magnetic structures is crucial for spin-based quantum technologies. A promising architecture is molecular spin systems, which offer chemical tunability and scalability for larger structures. An essential component, in addition to the qubits themselves, is switchable qubit-qubit interactions that can be individually addressed. In this study, we present an electrically controlled single-molecule spin switch based on a bistable complex adsorbed on an insulating magnesium oxide film. The complex, which consists of an Fe adatom coupled to an iron phthalocyanine (FePc) molecule, can be reversibly switched between two stable states using bias voltage pulses locally via the tip of a scanning tunnelling microscope. Inelastic electron tunnelling spectroscopy measurements and density functional theory calculations reveal a distinct change between a paramagnetic and a non-magnetic spin configuration. Lastly, we demonstrate the functionality of this molecular spin switch by using it to modify the electron spin resonance frequency of a nearby target FePc spin within a spin-spin coupled structure. Thus, we showcase how individual molecular machines can be utilized to create scalable and tunable quantum devices.

On-liquid surface synthesis of diyne-linked two-dimensional polymer crystals

Abstract The synthesis of thin crystalline two-dimensional polymers (2DPs) typically relies on reversible dynamic covalent reactions. While substantial progress has been made in solution-based and interfacial syntheses, achieving 2DPs through irreversible carbon-carbon coupling reactions remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we present an on-liquid surface (a mixture of N,N-dimethylacetamide and water, DMAc-H2O) synthesis method for constructing diyne-linked 2DP (DY2DP) crystals via Glaser coupling, assisted by a perfluoro-surfactant (PFS) monolayer. In-situ spectroscopic and diffraction techniques reveal that the well-ordered PFS monolayer facilitates the accumulation of Cu+ ions and subsequent vertical coupling of acetylenic monomers on the DMAc-H2O surface. Building on these findings, we successfully synthesized micro-scale rod-shaped DY2DP-Por or graphdiyne (GDY) crystals through the polymerization of porphyrin- or benzene-based monomers, respectively. Our study represents a significant advancement in the field of on-liquid surface chemistry and opens up enormous opportunities for constructing C—C bond linked 2DP crystals with unique functionalities.

Author Correction: Functional mechanisms underlying pleiotropic risk alleles at the 19p13.1 breast–ovarian cancer susceptibility locus

Information sharing and channel structure in e-commerce supply chain considering data-driven marketing

E-tailers such as Amazon and Tmall can accurately recognize consumer interest in product categories and grasp current consumer trends through product recommendation algorithms and data-driven analysis. In this study, we develop a game-theoretic model to investigate the encroachment and information sharing decisions considering data-driven marketing (DDM). Our outcomes reveal that the manufacturer has the incentive to reduce the wholesale price to incentivize the e-tailer to increase the DDM effort when the spillover effect is high and the marginal cost is low. When the manufacturer encroaches on the direct channel, the e-tailer may share information if the spillover effect is low. Moreover, we derive the conditions under which the manufacturer encroaches on the direct channel. Lastly, we extend the model to the case where the agency channel exists, and we find that the manufacturer should select the agency channel only if the marginal cost of DDM effort is moderate and the commission rate is low. Our study provides useful insights for managers to understand and make channel choice and information sharing decisions in the e-commerce supply chain.

A prospective, multicenter study of invasive fungal disease caused by molds in children and adults in Chile

Background Invasive mold diseases (IMDs) are a severe complication of immunocompromised subjects and an emerging problem among severely ill, apparently immunocompetent patients. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological and clinical features of IMDs in Chile. Methods Prospective study of IMD cases in children and adults from 11 reference hospitals in Chile from May 2019 to May 2021. Results One hundred seventy-six cases were included, 135 in adults and 41 in children, with an overall incidence of 0.4/1,000 admissions. The median age was 10.5 years in children and 56.6 years in adults, with male gender predominance in adults (61.5% versus 41.5%, p = 0.03). Immunosuppression was the most common condition in both children and adults. However, cancer, neutropenia, and hematopoietic cell transplantation were significantly more frequent in the pediatric group. In contrast, diabetes, viral pneumonia, chronic kidney disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were significantly more frequent among adult patients. Regarding the diagnostic category, 30.1% of cases were proven, 55.7% probable and 14.2% possible. Aspergillosis was the most frequent IMD diagnosed in 75.5% of cases, followed by fusariosis in children and mucormycosis in adults. Viral pneumonia was associated in 40.3% of cases, mainly COVID-19, with aspergillosis in 87.3%. No triazole resistance was observed in Aspergillus spp.. Antifungals were prescribed in 97.2% of the patients: voriconazole 61.4%, liposomal amphotericin 20.5%, combination antifungals 11.1%, and others 6.4%. Overall survival was 68.7%, 61.4%, and 51.7% at 30, 90 and 180 days, respectively. Discussion This is the most extensive study of IMDs in Chile, evidencing an incidence of 0.4 per 1,000 admissions, with aspergillosis being the most frequent infection. Nearly 40% of cases were associated with respiratory viruses, accounting for the impact of COVID-19. Despite almost all patients starting antifungal therapy, the survival rate was poor. It is advisable to start a surveillance program of IMDs in Chile and verify the absence of azole resistance of Aspergillus spp.

Assessing mosquito dynamics and dengue transmission in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil through an enhanced temperature-dependent mathematical model

Dengue fever remains a major public health concern, requiring continuous efforts to mitigate its impact. This study investigates the influence of key temperature-dependent parameters on dengue transmission dynamics in Foz do Iguaçu, a tri-border municipality in southern Brazil, using a mathematical model based on a system of ordinary differential equations. The fitted model aligns well with observed data. To track changes in dengue transmission over time and detect epidemic onset, we calculated the effective reproduction number. Additionally, we explored the potential effects of climate variability on dengue dynamics. Our findings highlight the importance of vector population dynamics, climate, and incidence, offering insights into dengue transmission in Foz do Iguaçu. This research provides a foundation for optimizing intervention strategies in other cities, improving outbreak prediction, and supporting public health efforts in dengue control.

Machine learning-based prediction model for 28-day mortality in acute kidney injury patients with liver cirrhosis: A MIMIC-IV database analysis

Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with liver cirrhosis represents a significant clinical challenge with high mortality rates. This study aimed to develop and validate a machine learning-based prediction model for 28-day mortality in AKI patients with liver cirrhosis using the MIMIC-IV database. Methods This retrospective study analyzed data from 4,168 AKI patients, including 601 with concurrent liver cirrhosis, from the MIMIC-IV database. Patient selection followed strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study implemented comprehensive data preprocessing, including feature normalization and selection through Recursive Feature Elimination. Multiple machine learning algorithms were evaluated, with model performance assessed through ROC curves, calibration curves, and precision-recall analysis. SHAP analysis was conducted to interpret feature contributions to mortality prediction. Results The liver cirrhosis group demonstrated distinct clinical characteristics, including significantly lower age (median 60 vs 70 years, p < 0.001) and higher disease severity scores (SOFA 11 vs 8 points) compared to non-cirrhotic patients. Survival analysis confirmed significantly lower 28-day survival probability in the cirrhosis group (Log-rank test, χ2 = 46.5, p < 0.001). The Random Forest model achieved optimal performance with an AUC of 0.85 and precision-recall area of 0.81. SHAP analysis identified pH, anion gap, and total CO2 as the most significant predictive factors, with notable interaction effects among these indicators. Conclusion This study successfully developed a machine learning model for predicting 28-day mortality in AKI patients with liver cirrhosis. The model demonstrated superior clinical decision-making value compared to traditional scoring systems, particularly in moderate-risk threshold intervals. The findings emphasize the crucial role of acid-base balance indicators in mortality risk assessment, providing valuable insights for clinical intervention strategies.

Dual-band mixed-mode bandpass filter based on dual-layer substrate integrated waveguide resonator loaded with A capacitive patch

To address the growing demand for compact and high-performance microwave filters in modern communication systems, a mixed-mode bandpass filter is proposed in the article. A dual-layer substrate integrated waveguide resonator loaded with a capacitive patch (CP-DSIWR) is proposed and theoretically analyzed, with both patch modes and cavity modes existing. To construct the bandpass filter, two rows of metallic vias are designed in the CP-SIWR to enable coupling between the two types of the modes, with the structure being fed by microstrip line. A slot is embedded in the center of the capacitive patch to tune the resonant frequencies. The simulated results of the filter show that TM01, TM10 and TE101 modes are excited, achieving a dual-band filtering response with tunable frequency characteristics. The filter is centered at 6.2 GHz and 12.9 GHz with a compact size of 0.57λg×0.57λg. A prototype is fabricated and measured for validation, showing good agreement between the simulation and measured results.