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When π–π Stacking Outcompetes Hydrogen Bonding: Pre-Reactive Intermediates in the Furan–Acrolein Diels–Alder Reaction
A novel Leishmania infantum reference strain for gene editing and the study of visceral leishmaniasis
Parasites of the Leishmania donovani complex are responsible for visceral leishmaniasis, a vector-borne disease transmitted through the bite of female phlebotomine sand flies. As well as the human hosts, these parasites infect many mammals which can serve as reservoirs. Dogs are particularly important reservoirs. Transmission is widespread across Asia, Africa, the Americas, and the Mediterranean basin, including South of France. Visceral leishmaniasis poses a fatal threat if left untreated. Research into the pathophysiology of this neglected disease is of prime importance, as is the development of new drugs. In this study, we evaluated the growth, differentiation, and macrophage infectivity of four L. donovani complex strains and identified L. infantum S9F1 (MHOM/MA/67/ITMAP263, clone S9F1) as a well-adapted strain for genetic engineering studies. We present here the genome sequence and annotation of L infantum S9F1 T7 Cas9, providing the scientific community with easy access to its genomic information. The data has been integrated into the LeishGEdit online resource to support primer design for CRISPR-Cas9 experiments. We now aim to make this strain widely available to foster studies of visceral leishmaniasis.
Thiophenol-Catalyzed Radical Hydroformylation of Unactivated Sterically Hindered Alkenes
<i>N</i>-Heterocyclic Selone-Catalyzed [2σ + 2π] Cycloaddition of Bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes via Photoredox Radical Buffer
Development, optimization, and preliminary evaluation of a novel artificial intelligence tool to promote patient health literacy in radiology reports: The Rads-Lit tool
Radiology reports are an integral part of patient medical records; however, these reports often contain complex medical terminology that are difficult for patients to comprehend, potentially leading to anxiety, misunderstanding, and misinterpretation. The development of user-friendly instruments to improve understanding is thus critically important to enhance health literacy and empower patients. In this study, we introduce a novel artificial intelligence (AI) interface, the Rads-Lit Tool, which can simplify radiology reports for patients using natural language processing (NLP) techniques. This manuscript presents the development process, methodology, and results of the Rads-Lit Tool, demonstrating its potential to simplify radiology reports across various examination types and complexity levels. Our findings highlight that patient-facing AI-driven tools can enhance patient health literacy and foster improved patient-provider communication in radiology.
Catalytic Oxidative Ligand Transfer of Rh-Carbynoids and Alkyl Iodides
Who continued travelling by bus in different periods of COVID-19? A data-driven analysis from Shanghai, China
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented disruptions to individual travel behavior in the public transport (PT) system. To attract more travelers to use PT in the post-pandemic era, it is necessary to understand the heterogeneity of travel behavior changes among various user segments and across different pandemic periods. This paper presents a two-step analysis framework for discovering the inter-segment and intra-segment changes in travel patterns of PT users based on ticketing data. The framework is then applied to the case of Jiading bus transit in Shanghai, China during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022. The results suggest that commuters are more vulnerable to the impacts of the pandemic than non-commuters, with a considerable tendency to give up commuting by bus or even permanently discontinue bus usage after the lockdown in Shanghai. Only 17.7% of bus users maintain their travel patterns after the lockdown, with a few observable sub-segments of users comprising students and employees. The findings in this study aid PT operators in achieving a better recovery in the post-pandemic era and enhance their preparedness to tackle challenges in demand management for potential crises.
Dynamic Equilibrium between the Fluorescent State of Tryptophan and Its Cation-Electron Ion Pair Governs Triplet State Population
Funerary practices of cremation at the megalithic societies of South-Eastern Iberia: The cemetery of Los Milanes
The archaeological excavations undertaken at the Chalcolithic necropolis of Los Milanes have revealed a previously unknown variability in funerary practices in the south-eastern Iberia. For the first time, a megalithic tomb housed a large funerary deposit (28,740 bone fragments) of exclusively cremated human bone remains. For a comprehensive characterization of the funerary ritual, a cutting-edge multi-proxy approach has been undertaken including the osteological study of cremated bone remains, radiocarbon chronology, Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy in Attenuated Total Reflectance mode (FTIR-ATR), and carbon, oxygen and strontium isotope analyses. As a result, the cremation ritual consisted of multi-depositional events of at least 21 individuals chronologically concentrated in the first quarter of the third millennium, principally in the 28th century cal BC. The absence of charcoal/ashes in the funerary chamber and the underrepresentation of anatomical regions such as lower limb and trunk suggest that the cremation took place elsewhere and the bone remains were carefully collected and placed as secondary burial depositions. Different proxies including colour patterns, heat‐induced fractures, the presence of cyanamide in calcined bones would also suggest the cremation of principally complete corpses, burnt soon after death. The ritual of cremation coexisted with inhumations during the third millennium cal BC, suggesting a variability in the body manipulation that previously went unnoticed. Unlike inhumations, through cremation, bodies would have been reduced until being indistinguishable, transforming radically the nature of human beings and their ontological status.
Tiny flier could soar through the mesosphere powered only by light
Orbital-Resolved Stepwise Single-Electron Capture Dynamics in a Single Fullerene
Assessing Knowledge, Uptake and Factors associated with cervical cancer screening among women in selected communities of Wakiso district in Uganda: A population-based study
Background Uganda has the highest prevalence and incidence of cervical cancer in the East African region, with 80% of women diagnosed at advanced stage when survival is minimal. Literature on uptake of cervical cancer screening is limited in Uganda and thus womens’ knowledge and uptake of cervical cancer screening in the general population remains unknown. This study examined this gap of knowledge among women aged 25–65 years, across rural, urban and semi urban communities in a Ugandan district to inform design of targeted future cervical cancer screening programs in the country. Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Wakiso district, Uganda in May 2024 among 783 eligible women. Face-to-face interviews were conducted. Uptake of cervical cancer screening (outcome of interest) was dichotomously (yes/no) assessed. Knowledge of cervical cancer disease was assessed using the AWACAN validated tool, knowledge of cervical cancer screening was assessed using a set of ten (10) questions adapted from previous studies elsewhere, and all were measured on a Likert scale. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariable Poisson regression models with robust variance were performed using Stata software version 17. Results Respondents’ median age was 31 years (IQR 27–39 years). Majority (89.5%, 701/783) had heard of cervical cancer, and 90.6% (635/701) were aware of screening. Median knowledge score on signs and symptoms, risk factors and cervical cancer screening was 8.0 (IQR = 5–10), 8.0 (IQR = 5–11) and 7.0 (IQR = 4–10) respectively, and 54.3% had high knowledge about cervical cancer screening. Uptake of cervical cancer screening was 33.4%. Living in urban areas (aPR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.05–1.88), being the ages 40–49 years (aPR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.36–2.27), 50 years and above (APR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.53–3.04), smoking (aPR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.05–1.86), partner involvement (aPR = 2.61, 95% CI: 2.12–3.21), high knowledge about cervical cancer screening (aPR = 3.29, 95% CI: 2.35–4.60), and living with HIV (aPR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.66–2.13) were significantly associated with higher uptake of cervical cancer screening among women in this setting. Conclusion Knowledge of cervical cancer screening was high, but the uptake of cervical cancer screening was lower than the recommended population coverage by WHO and Uganda national guidelines. There is need to improve accessibility to cervical cancer screening, increase nationwide cervical cancer awareness campaigns focusing on high-risk age groups and design targeted, tailored, culturally and socially sensitive interventions for young women aged 25–39 years to improve cervical cancer screening in Uganda.
Radical Ring Expansion Catalyzed by an α-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase in the Biosynthesis of Tropolones
Comparative evaluation of four fully automated immunoanalyzers for the simultaneous detection of HBeAg and Anti-HBe
Background Hepatitis B envelope Antigen (HBeAg) and anti-hepatitis B envelope Antigen (anti-HBe) are crucial markers for evaluating hepatitis B virus infection status and guiding clinical decisions. Considering the increasing prevalence of HBeAg-negative variants, accurate detection of both markers is essential. This study aimed to examine the analytical performance of four fully automated immunoanalyzers for the simultaneous detection of HBeAg and Anti-HBe and to assess the inter-platform concordance. Methods In total, 439 leftover serum samples from routine clinical testing for HBeAg or anti-HBe testing were analyzed using four immunoanalyzers: Architect i2000 and Alinity i (Abbott), Cobas e801 (Roche), and Atellica IM 1600 (Siemens). Samples not tested immediately were stored at 4 °C and analyzed within 24 hours of storage. Verification of Precision followed the CLSI EP15-A3 guidelines, and methods were compared according to the CLSI EP09-A3 guidelines. Qualitative agreement was assessed using Cohen’s κ, whereas quantitative correlation was evaluated using Deming regression and R² values. Results Architect i2000 and Alinity i exhibited the highest correlation (R² = 0.9960) and concordance (κ = 0.953 for HBeAg, κ = 0.971 for anti-HBe). Cobas e801 showed strong overall correlation with Architect i2000 (R² = 0.9838), but displayed a systematic negative bias near the cutoff, substantially reducing qualitative agreement. Atellica IM 1600 demonstrated relatively weaker correlation with the other three platforms. Conclusions Inter-platform discrepancies observed may impact clinical interpretation. As these discrepancies primarily stem from systematic bias, they can be readily mitigated by adjusting the reference values. Overall, further harmonization efforts are essential to enhance inter-platform agreement and ensure consistency in clinical decision-making.
Cocaine-activated ion channels engineered to break the loop of addiction in rats
A Functional Assay for Mining Noninhibitory Enzyme Ligands from One Bead One Compound Libraries: Application to E3 Ubiquitin Ligases
SARS-CoV-2 antibody and neutralization dynamics among persons with natural- and vaccine-induced exposures
Previous SARS-CoV-2 research indicates that antibody levels and corresponding neutralization potential increase with additional exposures (comprising vaccination or infection), and that hybrid immunity resulting from combined vaccination and natural infection is more robust than either alone. However, it is unclear whether or how antibody levels increase or eventually plateau with repeated exposures and how SARS-CoV-2 exposure differs by sex or other demographic factors. Research regarding the association of antibody production with neutralization potential is also limited. We conducted this analysis within the RESPIRA population-based cohort in Costa Rica to investigate relationships between antibody levels and neutralization potential at increasing exposure levels. We examined immunological profiles from systematically defined single-exposure groups (one vaccine dose or one natural infection), double-exposure groups (two vaccine doses or one vaccine dose following a natural infection), and a triple-exposure group (two vaccine doses following a natural infection). We used a S1-RBD-based serological assay for antibody level detection and a pseudovirion assay for neutralization potential quantification. Using linear regression, we compared antibody levels and pseudoneutralization geometric mean titers between exposure groups. For single exposure groups, one vaccine dose was inferior to natural infection, but a second vaccine dose was superior to natural infection. For double exposure groups, those who were vaccinated once after infection developed higher levels of antibodies and higher neutralization potential compared with those who had only two vaccine doses. We note that peak antibody levels following an exposure may plateau after two exposures while neutralization potential continues to increase with a third exposure dose. Response patterns were comparable in males and females and in sensitivity analyses stratified by age, vaccine type, and pandemic wave. These results provide evidence that SARS-CoV-2 vaccination after COVID infection provides immunological benefit and suggest neutralization potential continues to increase after a second vaccine dose despite plateauing of antibody levels.
Artificial Protrusion Architectures Enabling Horizontal-Diffusion Nucleation for Stable Zinc-Based Batteries
Do third age adults benefit equally in well-being from activity participation? The moderating effect of financial status
The relationship between activity participation and well-being has been well documented for third age adults. However, little has been known about how the financial status influences this relationship. This study aims to investigate the moderating effect of financial status on the association of activity level with subjective happiness and quality of life among third age adults. Systematic sampling was used to select a sample of 304 adults aged 50 and older from an active ageing institute in Hong Kong. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that activity level was a salient predictor for subjective happiness and quality of life when controlling for socio-demographics. It was not salient anymore when its interaction term with financial status was added to the model. The interaction term significantly predicted quality of life but not subjective happiness. When the data were separated by financial status, activity level saliently predicted subjective happiness and quality of life for participants with good or very good financial statuses but not for those with poor or average statuses. The results suggested that financial status played a moderating role in the relationship between activity participation and well-being. Specifically, third age adults with limited financial resources need more welfare support to benefit from activity participation.