Changes in protein fluxes and gene expression in non-injured muscle tissue distant from an acute myotoxic injury in male mice.

The response to acute myotoxic injury requires stimulation of local repair mechanisms in the damaged tissue. However, satellite cells in muscle distant from acute injury have been reported to enter a functional state between quiescence and active proliferation. Here, we asked whether protein flux rates are altered in muscle distant from acute local myotoxic injury and how they compare to changes in gene expression from the same tissue. Broad and significant alterations in protein turnover were observed across the proteome in the limb contralateral to injury during the first 10 days after. Interestingly, mRNA changes had almost no correlation with directly measured protein turnover rates. In summary, we show consistent and striking changes in protein flux rates in muscle tissue contralateral to myotoxic injury, with no correlation between changes in mRNA levels and protein synthesis rates. This work motivates further investigation of the mechanisms, including potential neurological factors, responsible for this distant effect. KEY POINTS: Previous literature demonstrates that stem cells of uninjured muscle respond to local necrotic muscle tissue damage and regeneration. We show that muscle tissue that was distant from a model of local necrotic damage had functional changes at both the gene expression and the protein turnover level. However, these changes in distant tissue were more pronounced during the earlier stages of tissue regeneration and did not correlate well with each other. The results suggest communication between directly injured tissue and non-affected tissues that are distant from injury, which warrants further investigation into the potential of this mechanism as a proactive measure for tissue regeneration from damage.

FLAIR signal intensity ratio predicts small subcortical infarct early neurologic deterioration: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: Prior studies have used the fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequence signal intensity ratio (FLAIR-SIR) to predict those with an incomplete infarct that may safely receive acute thrombolytics. Clinical early neurologic deterioration (END) of small subcortical infarcts (SSIs) is suspected to occur due to delayed infarct completion. We aimed to understand if a lower FLAIR-SIR, suggestive of an incomplete infarct, would have a higher likelihood of SSI-related END. METHODS: A cross-sectional retrospective study was performed of those with an acute SSI (anterior or posterior circulation) without significant parent vessel steno-occlusive disease. END was defined as a new or worsened disabling neurologic deficit during the index hospitalization. Standard-of-care brain MRIs were reviewed from the hospitalization, and a FLAIR-SIR cutoff of ≤ 1.15 was used based on prior studies. Adjusted logistic regression models were used for analysis. RESULTS: We identified 252 patients meeting inclusion criteria: median (IQR) age 68 (12) years, 38.5% (97/252) female, and 11% (28/252) with END. Tobacco use was more common in those without END (32%) compared with END (55%, p = 0.03). In adjusted analyses, a FLAIR-SIR cutoff of ≤ 1.15 yielded an odds ratio of 2.8 (95% CI 1.23-6.13, p = 0.012) of early neurological deterioration. CONCLUSION: Those with a FLAIR-SIR ≤ 1.15 are nearly threefold more likely to develop SSI-related END.

Digital workflow for mini-implant-assisted rapid palatal expander fabrication-a case report.

BACKGROUND: Non-surgical mini-implant assisted rapid palatal expansion, or midfacial skeletal expansion, is a paradigm-shifting concept that in recent years has expanded the envelope of orthopedic movement in the transverse direction for adult patients. Although adding mini-screws to a rapid palatal expander is not complicated, accurate and successful expansion strongly depends on the device's position and its relation to the resisting structures of the maxillofacial complex. CASE PRESENTATION: This article presents a digital workflow to locate the optimal position of the Midfacial Skeletal Expander (MSE) device in a CBCT-combined intraoral scan file and describes how to transfer the MSE position intra-orally with properly sized bands during the device fabrication. The complete digital workflow of MSE fabrication and its application for a Class III orthognathic surgical case is presented in detail. CONCLUSIONS: This report describes a completely digital process that can accurately position the MSE device according to the orientation and morphology of maxillary basal bone, which is crucial in adult cases demand maxillary expansion.

Atomistic determination of the surface structure of Cu2O(111): experiment and theory.

Cuprous oxide (Cu2O) is a promising catalyst for several important reactions. However, the atomic structures of defective Cu2O surfaces, which critically affect the catalytic properties both thermodynamically and kinetically, are not unambiguously characterized. High-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations and STM simulations, has been used to determine the atomic structure of the (111) surface of a Cu2O bulk crystal. The single crystal surface, processed by ultrahigh vacuum cleaning and oxygen annealing, shows a (1 × 1) periodicity in the low-energy electron diffraction pattern. The pristine (defect-free) Cu2O(111) surface exhibits a lattice of protrusions with hexagonal symmetry under STM, which is attributed to the dangling bonds of the coordinatively unsaturated copper (CuU) atoms on the surface. Two types of surface atomic defects are also identified, including the CuU vacancy and the oxygen-vacancy-induced local surface restructuring. The electronic structure of this surface measured by dI/dV spectroscopy shows an energy band gap of ∼1.6-2.1 eV. Consistent with dI/dV measurements, DFT calculations identified surface states within the electronic band gap arising from the Cu ions on the surface. Our results provide a clear picture of the pristine and defective Cu2O(111) surface structure in addition to the formation mechanism of the reconstructed surface, paving the way toward studying the site-dependent reactivity of this surface.

Seeing the invisible plasma with transient phonons in cuprous oxide.

The emission of phonons from electron-hole plasma is the primary limit on the efficiency of photovoltaic devices operating above the bandgap. In cuprous oxide (Cu2O) there is no luminescence from electron-hole plasma. Therefore, we searched for optical phonons emitted by energetic charge carriers using phonon-to-exciton upconversion transitions. We found 14 meV phonons with a lifetime of 0.916 ± 0.008 ps and 79 meV phonons that are longer lived and overrepresented. It is surprising that the higher energy phonon has a longer lifetime.

Deformation of the Zurich cementless acetabular cup caused by implantation in a canine cadaver model.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the change in geometry of the Zurich total hip arthroplasty (THA) acetabular component after implantation. ANIMALS: Hemipelves from adult mix-breed dogs weighing between 20 and 25 kg. METHODS: Digital image correlation imaging was performed prior to, immediately after, and 24 hours after impaction of Zurich THA acetabular component, and after removal of the cup from the specimen. Patterns of deformation were qualitatively described, and maximal deformations were compared between time points. RESULTS: All cups deformed after implantation into the hemipelves by "pinching" in a cranial-caudal direction and dorsoventral expansion, resulting in an ellipsoid configuration to the peripheral rim. The mean ± SD maximum deformation at the rim immediately post-impaction was 0.202 ± 0.052 mm, or approximately 0.4 mm of diametrical deformation. Deformation did not change after the 24-hour saline bath. Impaction and subsequent extraction had a marginal effect on the original cup geometry, as maximum deformation at the rim after cup extraction was 0.074 ± 0.032 mm, relative to prior to impaction. CONCLUSIONS: The original Zurich cup geometry is distorted as a consequence of the press-fit mechanism. Further studies are required to determine whether deformation induced by impaction has any association with polyethylene wear rates or other prosthesis-related complications.

Pb17O8Cl18: A Promising IR Nonlinear Optical Material with Large Laser Damage Threshold Synthesized in an Open System.

Mid-IR nonlinear optical (NLO) materials are of great importance in modern laser frequency conversion technology and optical parametric oscillator processes. However, the commercially available IR NLO crystals (e.g., AgGaQ2 (Q = S, Se) and ZnGeP2) suffer from two obstacles, low laser damage thresholds (LDTs) and the difficulty of obtaining high-quality crystals, both of which seriously hinder their applications. The introduction of Cl, an element with a large electronegativity, and Pb, a relatively heavy element to promote the optical properties, affords an oxide-based IR NLO material, Pb17O8Cl18 (POC). High-quality POC single crystals with sizes of up to 7 mm × 2 mm × 2 mm have been grown in an open system. Additionally, POC exhibits a large LDT of 408 MW/cm(2), 12.8 times that of AgGaS2. POC also exhibits an excellent second harmonic generation response: 2 times that of AgGaS2, the benchmark IR NLO crystal at 2090 nm, and 4 times that of KDP, the standard UV NLO crystal at 1064 nm. Thus, we believe that POC is a promising IR NLO material.

On the origin of the differences in structure directing properties of polar metal oxyfluoride [MO(x)F(6-x)]2- (x = 1, 2) building units.

In oxyfluoride chemistry, the [MO(x)F(6-x)](2-) anions (M = transition metal) are interesting polar building units that may be used to design polar materials, but their polar vs antipolar orientations in the solid state, which directly depend on the interactions between O(2-)/F(-) ligands and the extended structure, remain difficult to control. To improve this control, these interactions were assessed through crystallization of five related [MO(x)F(6-x)](2-) (M = Ti(4+), V(5+), Mo(6+), W(6+)) anions with organic molecules. The hybrid organic-inorganic compounds, (4,4'-bpyH2)TiF6 (1), (enH2)MoO2F4 (2), (4-hpyH)2MoO2F4·H2O (3), (4,4'-bpyH2)WO2F4 (4), and (4,4'-bpyH2)VOF5 (5), exhibit isolated [MO(x)F(6-x)](2-) anions in a hydrogen bond network. The analysis of these crystal structures in combination with DFT calculations elucidate how differences in structure directing properties of these anions arise when π-overlap between O 2p orbitals and M d orbitals is weak and significantly affected by an increase of the energy of the d orbitals from 3d to 5d.

Cupric oxide inclusions in cuprous oxide crystals grown by the floating zone method.

Phase-pure cuprous oxide (Cu2O) crystals are difficult to grow since cupric oxide can form within the crystal as the crystal is cooled to ambient conditions. Vacancies are the solute which causes precipitation of macroscopic defects. Therefore, even when a mostly phase-pure single crystal is used as a feed rod, cupric oxide inclusions persist in the recrystallized solid. Control of the thermal profile during crystal growth, however, can improve phase-purity; a slow counter-rotation rate of the feed and seed rods results in fewer inclusions. Cupric oxide can be removed by annealing, which produces a factor of 540 ± 70 increase in phase-purity.

Third-harmonic generation in cuprous oxide: efficiency determination.

The efficiency of third-harmonic generation in cuprous oxide was measured. Intensities followed a noncubic power law that indicates nonperturbative behavior. Polarization anisotropy of the harmonic generation was demonstrated and related to the third-order susceptibility. The results will influence the understanding of harmonic generation in centrosymmetric materials and are potentially relevant to device design and the interpretation of exciton behavior.

How Lewis acidity of the cationic framework affects KNaNbOF(5) polymorphism.

The valence matching principle is used to explain the loss of inversion symmetry in the noncentrosymmetric (NCS) polymorph of KNaNbOF5 in comparison to its centrosymmetric (CS) polymorph. The [NbOF5](2-) anion has five contacts to both potassium and sodium in the NCS polymorph, whereas in the CS polymorph there are only four contacts to potassium and six contacts to sodium. The lower average Lewis acidity of the cationic framework in the NCS polymorph relative to the CS polymorph reflects the loss of inversion symmetry. This lower average Lewis acidity is achieved during hydrothermal synthesis with a potassium-rich solution when the K:Na ratio in the reaction is greater than 1:1, as the Lewis acidity of potassium is lower than that of sodium. The contrasting coordination environments are manifested in secondary distortions that weaken the primary Nb═O interaction and lengthen the Nb═O bond in the NCS polymorph. An unusual heat-induced phase transition from the CS to the NCS polymorph was studied with in situ powder X-ray diffraction. The transition to the NCS polymorph upon cooling occurs through an intermediate phase(s).

Changes in protein fluxes in skeletal muscle during sequential stages of muscle regeneration after acute injury in male mice.

Changes in protein turnover play an important role in dynamic physiological processes, including skeletal muscle regeneration, which occurs as an essential part of tissue repair after injury. The inability of muscle tissue to recapitulate this regenerative process can lead to the manifestation of clinical symptoms in various musculoskeletal diseases, including muscular dystrophies and pathological atrophy. Here, we employed a workflow that couples deuterated water (2H2O) administration with mass spectrometry (MS) to systematically measure in-vivo protein turnover rates across the muscle proteome in 8-week-old male C57BL6/J mice. We compared the turnover kinetics of over 100 proteins in response to cardiotoxin (CTX) induced muscle damage and regeneration at unique sequential stages along the regeneration timeline. This analysis is compared to gene expression data from mRNA-sequencing (mRNA-seq) from the same tissue. The data reveals quantitative protein flux signatures in response to necrotic damage, in addition to sequential differences in cell proliferation, energy metabolism, and contractile gene expression. Interestingly, the mRNA changes correlated poorly with changes in protein synthesis rates, consistent with post-transcriptional control mechanisms. In summary, the experiments described here reveal the signatures and timing of protein flux changes during skeletal muscle regeneration, as well as the inability of mRNA expression measurements to reveal changes in directly measured protein turnover rates. The results of this work described here provide a better understanding of the muscle regeneration process and could help to identify potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets.

catena-Poly[2,2',2''-nitrilo-tris-(ethan-aminium) [tri-µ-oxido-tris-[dioxido-vanadate(V)]] monohydrate].

The title compound, {(C6H21N4)[V3O9]·H2O} n , crystallizes as a salt with [trenH3](3+) cations [tren is tris-(2-amino-eth-yl)amine], and one-dimensional anionic {[V(V)O3](-)} n (metavanadate) chains along the c-axis direction. Three crystallographically distinct V(V) sites and one occluded water mol-ecule are present for every [trenH3](3+) cation in the unit cell. The {[V(V)O3](-)} n chains are composed of vertex-sharing [VO4] tetra-hedra and have a repeat unit of six tetra-hedra. Each tetra-hedron in the chain contains two terminal and two µ(2)-bridging oxide ligands. The [trenH3](3+) cations, {[V(V)O3](-)} n anions and occluded water mol-ecules participate in an extensive three-dimensonal hydrogen-bonding network. The three terminal ammonium sites of the [trenH3](3+) cations each form strong N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds to terminal oxide ligands on the {[V(V)O3](-)} n chain. Each occluded water mol-ecule also donates two O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds to the terminal oxide ligands.

The role of stereoactive lone pairs in templated vanadium tellurite charge density matching.

The role of charge density matching was investigated in the formation of templated vanadium tellurites under mild hydrothermal conditions. Reactions were conducted using a fixed NaVTeO(5):amine ratio in an ethanol/water solution to isolate the effects of amine structure. The use of 1,4-diaminobutane, 1,3-diaminopropane, and piperazine resulted in three distinct vanadium tellurite connectivities, [V(2)Te(2)O(10)](n)(2n-) chains, [V(2)TeO(8)](n)(2n-) layers, and [V(2)Te(2)O(10)](n)(2n-) layers, respectively. Charge density matching with the protonated amines is the primary influence over the structure of each vanadium tellurite anion, as quantified by molecular surface area and geometric decomposition methods. Electron localization functions were calculated using the Stuttgart tight-binding linear muffin-tin orbital, atomic sphere approximation code, to visualize the location and relative size, shape, and orientation of the stereoactive lone pair in the tellurite groups. [C(4)H(14)N(2)][V(2)Te(2)O(10)]: a = 5.649(5) A, b = 6.348(5) A, c = 9.661(5) A, alpha = 84.860(5) degrees , beta = 85.380(5) degrees , gamma = 81.285(5) degrees , triclinic, P1 (No. 2), Z = 1.