Assessment of Ti, Ir, Ta and Ru influence on mixed metal oxide electrodes for photoelectrochemical generation of persulfate: Impact on sulfamethoxazole degradation.

The presence of persulfate (S2O82-) in decontamination processes favors the oxidation of organic pollutants due to its strong oxidation power. In this research we study the photoelectrochemical generation of persulfate using five mixed metal oxides electrodes (MMO) with different compositions and its effect on the degradation of sulfamethoxazole antibiotic (SMX) by photoelectrocatalysis (PEC) and electro-oxidation (EO). By PEC, all anodes generated a higher concentration of S2O82- than those not exposed to light. The high S2O82-concentration obtained by PEC was 0.150 mM using MMO[Ti/Ir/Ta] in a solution with Na2SO4 100 mM applying a current density of 2 mA/cm2. On the other hand, the maximum concentration obtained was 0.250 mM at 30 min of electrolysis for MMO[Ti/Ir/Ta] using Na2SO4 50 mM and applying current density of 5 mA/cm2. S2O82-production by EO was between 0.005 and 0.089 mM. It is observed that MMO based in Ta2O5 showed the best S2O82- production. The effect of S2O82- electro-generation (using the anode with the highest and the anode with the lowest S2O82- production) on the degradation of sulfamethoxazole by PEC and EO was studied using the experimental conditions with the best production of this oxidant. MMO[Ti/Ir/Ta] and MMO[Ti/Ru] were used as anodes, and it was observed that by PEC, 100% of SMX was degraded after 30 min of electrolysis using MMO[Ti/Ir/Ta] and 60 min using MMO[Ti/Ru]. By EO, the degradation of SMX was partial, demonstrating that the electrophotocatalytic effect favors the generation of S2O82-, enhancing the degradation of SMX at short electrolysis times.

The Sigma-1 Receptor Exacerbates Cardiac Dysfunction Induced by Obstructive Nephropathy: A Role for Sexual Dimorphism.

The Sigma-1 Receptor (Sigmar1) is a stress-activated chaperone and a promising target for pharmacological modulation due to its ability to induce multiple cellular responses. Yet, it is unknown how Sigmar1 is involved in cardiorenal syndrome type 4 (CRS4) in which renal damage results in cardiac dysfunction. This study explored the role of Sigmar1 and its ligands in a CRS4 model induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in male and female C57BL/6 mice. We evaluated renal and cardiac dysfunction markers, Sigmar1 expression, and cardiac remodeling through time (7, 12, and 21 days) and after chronically administering the Sigmar1 agonists PRE-084 (1 mg/kg/day) and SA4503 (1 mg/kg/day), and the antagonist haloperidol (2 mg/kg/day), for 21 days after UUO using colorimetric analysis, RT-qPCR, histology, immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, RNA-seq, and bioinformatics. We found that obstructive nephropathy induces Sigmar1 expression in the kidneys and heart, and that Sigmar1 stimulation with its agonists PRE-084 and SA4503 aggravates cardiac dysfunction and remodeling in both sexes. Still, their effects are significantly more potent in males. Our findings reveal essential differences associated with sex in the development of CRS4 and should be considered when contemplating Sigmar1 as a pharmacological target.

Prevalence of internal iliac artery anatomical variants in a Mexican population.

The internal iliac artery arises as a terminal extension of the common iliac artery and supplies blood to the pelvic region. This study aims to identify the anatomic variations of the internal iliac artery (IIA) in a Mexican population sample. This is a retrospective cross-sectional observational study. A total of 81 angiographies via the femoral artery approach performed on patients undergoing various medical procedures were included. Variations in the IIA branching patterns were identified by evaluating the angiographic images and grouped according to Adachi's classification into five types (I-V). A total of 139 hemipelvises were analyzed (78 right and 61 left). The frequencies of each type of variation were as follows: Type I (71.2%), Type II (10.79%), Type III (0 cases), Type IV (0.7%), Type V (12.94%), and unclassified (4.31%). The most frequent anatomical variants of the IIA in the western Mexican population sample were Type I, followed by Types V and II. Even though Type V is rare in most populations, it was the second most frequent variant in this study. Understanding the variants of the IIA branching pattern is necessary for performing invasive procedures in the pelvic region with precision and minimizing complications.

A framework to foster accessibility in post-pandemic virtual higher education.

The SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) forced educational institutions to move their programmes to the virtual world. Several tech-based solutions -including virtual training and tutoring, discussion forums, access to content and information, collaborative platforms, and Open Educational Resources (OER)- were implemented to address this shift and continue to be used in the post-pandemic era due to the advantages they offer, especially for hybrid and blended learning. However, the implementation of these tech-based solutions also revealed several accessibility issues that need to be addressed to fully leverage the technological benefits. This study aims to provide a framework to facilitate the adoption of good practices related to technological accessibility in virtual Higher Education. The implementation of the framework is divided into four basic actions, each of which should be tailored to the constraints and needs for improving accessibility in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The framework's instantiation in four HEIs serves as a proof-of-concept in real-world scenarios. The preliminary results suggest that the proposal is promising, as it was adaptable to the specific needs of each HEI fostering accessibility and inclusion through technological alternatives that align with their organisational structures and current levels of attention to accessibility.

A Primary Health Care Program and COVID-19. Impact in Hospital Admissions and Mortality.

BACKGROUND: Most patients with mild or moderate COVID infection did not require hospital admission, but depending on their personal history, they needed medical supervision. In monitoring these patients in primary care, the design of specific surveillance programs was of great help. Between February 2021 and March 2022, EDCO program was designed in Tenerife, Spain, to telemonitor patients with COVID infection who had at least one vulnerability factor to reduce hospital admissions and mortality. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to describe the clinical course of patients included in the EDCO program and to analyze which factors were associated with a higher probability of hospital admission and mortality. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PATIENTS: We included 3848 patients with a COVID-19 infection age over 60 years old or age over 18 years and at least one vulnerability factor previously reported in medical history. MAIN MEASURES: Primary outcome was to assess risk of admission or mortality. KEY RESULTS: 278 (7.2%) patients required hospital admission. Relative risks (RR) of hospital admission were oxygen saturation ≤ 92% (RR: 90.91 (58.82-142.86)), respiratory rate ≥ 22 breaths per minute (RR: 20.41 (1.19-34.48), obesity (RR: 1.53 (1.12-2.10), chronic kidney disease (RR:2.31 (1.23-4.35), ≥ 60 years of age (RR: 1.44 (1.04-1.99). Mortality rate was 0.7% (27 patients). Relative risks of mortality were respiratory rate ≥ 22 breaths per minute (RR: 24.85 (11.15-55.38), patients with three or more vulnerability factors (RR: 4.10 (1.62-10.38), oxygen saturation ≤ 92% (RR: 4.69 (1.70-15.15), chronic respiratory disease (RR: 3.32 (1.43-7.69) and active malignancy (RR: 4.00 (1.42-11.23). CONCLUSIONS: Vulnerable patients followed by a primary care programme had admission rates of 7.2% and mortality rates of 0.7%. Supervision of vulnerable patients by a Primary Care team was effective in the follow-up of these patients with complete resolution of symptoms in 91.7% of the cases.

Papain-Mediated Conjugation of Peptide Nucleic Acids to Delivery Peptides: A Density Functional Theory/Molecular Mechanics Metadynamics Study in Aqueous and Organic Solvent.

Enzymatic peptide synthesis is a powerful alternative to solid-phase methods, as enzymes can have high regio- and stereoselectivity and high yield and require mild reaction conditions. This is beneficial in formulation research due to the rise of nucleic acid therapies. Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) have a high affinity toward DNA and RNA, and their solubility and cellular delivery can be improved via conjugation to peptides. Here, we designed and assessed the viability of the papain enzyme to conjugate four PNA-peptide models in water and an organic solvent using QM/MM metadynamics. We found that the reactions in water yield better results, where three conjugates could potentially be synthesized by the enzyme, with the first transition state as the rate-limiting step, with an associated energy of 14.53 kcal mol-1, although with a slight endergonic profile. The results highlight the importance of considering the enzyme pockets and different substrate acceptivities and contribute to developing greener, direct, and precise synthetic routes for nucleic acid-based therapies. By exploring the enzyme's potential in conjunction with chemical synthesis, current protocols can be simplified for the synthesis of longer nucleic acids and peptide sequences (and, by extension, proteins) from smaller oligo or peptide blocks.

Low-performance diagnosis of covered anaerobic lagoons as a waste management strategy in the intensive dairy industry.

Covered anaerobic lagoons (CALs) are Latin America's main livestock waste treatment systems. Mexico has 680 CALs that present low biogas yields (0.05 m3 m-3 digester d-1) and low COD removal rates (< 60%). This work focused on diagnosing CAL´s low performance in dairy farms by determining and analyzing operational parameters. Seven CALs located in the main dairy basin of Mexico were analyzed. The sampling areas for each CAL were the supernatant, the active zone, settled sludge, and digester inlet and outlet. The variation of the process parameter values corroborated that CALs appeared stratified and not working as expected. The sludge zone, comprising 50-58% of total solids content and 1-15% of total CALs volume, showed an elemental compounds content suitable for organic fertilizer (340, 48, and 5 kg t-1 of C, N, and S, respectively). However, this zone contained, at least, 85% of the slowly hydrolysable material; the methanogenic potential was less than 87 mL CH4 g VS-1, and the C/N ratio ranged from 4.9 to 17, outside of the optimal range. The biogas produced did not exceed 60% of methane content and more than 3000 ppm of H2S. The sludge zone significantly influences the lagoon's dynamics since it is a nutrient sink. Furthermore, the lack of agitation is the leading cause for the low energy yield and the low removal of organic matter rate. This work provides valuable information to address the operational problems within the CALs improving our understanding that shall allow proposing reactivation alternatives.

Non-Islet Cell Tumor Hypoglycemia Secondary to a 20 cm Intra-Abdominal Leiomyoma in a Male Patient: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Non-islet cell tumor hypoglycemia (NICTH) is a rare clinical entity associated with large mesenchymal tumors. Its pathogenesis is most commonly mediated by tumor overproduction of "big" insulin-like growth factor-2. Here, we present a 54-year-old male who presented with noninsulin-mediated hypoglycemia and a 20 cm intra-abdominal leiomyoma. His hypoglycemic episodes resolved after the resection of his tumor. To our knowledge, this is the only documented case in the English literature of NICTH associated with leiomyoma in a male patient. NICTH due to a benign leiomyoma should be in the differential diagnosis for any patient with hypoglycemia and an abdominal mass.

AUA Guideline Committee Members Determine Quality of Artificial Intelligence‒Generated Responses for Female Stress Urinary Incontinence.

INTRODUCTION: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) affects countless women worldwide. Given ChatGPT's rising ubiquity, patients may turn to the platform for SUI advice. Our objective was to evaluate the quality of clinical information about SUI from the ChatGPT platform. METHODS: The most-asked patient questions regarding SUI were derived from patient materials from societal websites and forums, and queried using ChatGPT 3.5. The responses from ChatGPT were compiled into a survey and disseminated to 3 AUA guideline committee members who developed the Surgical Management of Female SUI guidelines. They were asked to grade responses on reliability, understandability, quality, and actionability using DISCERN and Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool standardized questionnaires. Accuracy was assessed with a 4-point Likert scale and readability using Flesch Reading Ease score. RESULTS: The overall material was rated as moderate to moderately high quality (DISCERN = 3.73/5) with potentially important but no serious shortcomings. Reliability and quality were reported to be 63% and 75%. Understandability was 89%, actionability 18%, and accuracy 88%. All question domains were rated at moderate or better. Actionability was poor in all domains. Every response was "hard to read" translating to a college graduate reading level. CONCLUSIONS: The urologic community should critically evaluate this platform's output if patients are to use it for adjunctive medical guidance. AUA committee members, who are experts in the field, rate ChatGPT-produced responses on SUI as moderate to moderately high quality, moderate reliability, excellent understandability, and poor actionability utilizing standardized questionnaires. The reading level of the material was advanced, which is an area of potential improvement to make generated responses more comprehensible.

Does yoga improve sexual function? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: Yoga practice can increase blood flow in the genital area, increase muscular strength, and improve body perception, which is related to sexual function. This study aimed to summarize the available evidence about the effects of yoga on sexual function in adults. METHODS: Systematic searches of five databases were conducted from inception to April 28, with the last update on September 28, 2023. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that compared yoga with nonintervention control groups on sexual function in adults. Risk of bias and certainty of evidence were assessed by the Cochrane risk of bias tool 2, and the GRADE approach, respectively. Summary effect size measures were calculated using a random-effects model estimation and are reported as standardized mean differences and 95% confidence intervals. Reporting followed the PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: Ten RCTs that comprised 730 adults (range mean age, 26.64-68.2 years; 680 [93.2 %] women) were included. For the primary outcome, yoga intervention was associated with a significant small improvement in sexual function (-0.31; -0.47 to -0.15, p = 0.0002), with some concerns about risk of bias in nine RCTs (90%) and low-certainty evidence. Subgroup analyses revealed that yoga interventions performed by women (-0.36; -0.52 to -0.21, p < 0.00001), healthy individuals (-0.38; -0.59 to -0.16, p = 0.0006), or middle-aged individuals (-0.44; -0.63 to -0.25, p < 00001) significantly improved sexual function compared with control groups. CONCLUSION: Yoga was associated with a small improvement in sexual function compared with nonintervention control groups in adults. However, high-quality, larger RCTs are required to draw more definitive conclusions.

The wheat powdery mildew resistance gene Pm4 also confers resistance to wheat blast.

Wheat blast, caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, threatens global cereal production since its emergence in Brazil in 1985 and recently spread to Bangladesh and Zambia. Here we demonstrate that the AVR-Rmg8 effector, common in wheat-infecting isolates, is recognized by the gene Pm4, previously shown to confer resistance to specific races of Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici, the cause of powdery mildew of wheat. We show that Pm4 alleles differ in their recognition of different AVR-Rmg8 alleles, and some confer resistance only in seedling leaves but not spikes, making it important to select for those alleles that function in both tissues. This study has identified a gene recognizing an important virulence factor present in wheat blast isolates in Bangladesh and Zambia and represents an important first step towards developing durably resistant wheat cultivars for these regions.

Harnessing landrace diversity empowers wheat breeding.

Harnessing genetic diversity in major staple crops through the development of new breeding capabilities is essential to ensure food security1. Here we examined the genetic and phenotypic diversity of the A. E. Watkins landrace collection2 of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum), a major global cereal, by whole-genome re-sequencing of 827 Watkins landraces and 208 modern cultivars and in-depth field evaluation spanning a decade. We found that modern cultivars are derived from two of the seven ancestral groups of wheat and maintain very long-range haplotype integrity. The remaining five groups represent untapped genetic sources, providing access to landrace-specific alleles and haplotypes for breeding. Linkage disequilibrium-based haplotypes and association genetics analyses link Watkins genomes to the thousands of identified high-resolution quantitative trait loci and significant marker-trait associations. Using these structured germplasm, genotyping and informatics resources, we revealed many Watkins-unique beneficial haplotypes that can confer superior traits in modern wheat. Furthermore, we assessed the phenotypic effects of 44,338 Watkins-unique haplotypes, introgressed from 143 prioritized quantitative trait loci in the context of modern cultivars, bridging the gap between landrace diversity and current breeding. This study establishes a framework for systematically utilizing genetic diversity in crop improvement to achieve sustainable food security.

Biodegradable Biocomposite of Starch Films Cross-Linked with Polyethylene Glycol Diglycidyl Ether and Reinforced by Microfibrillated Cellulose.

Biopolymers are biodegradable and renewable and can significantly reduce environmental impacts. For this reason, biocomposites based on a plasticized starch and cross-linker matrix and with a microfibrillated OCC cardboard cellulose reinforcement were developed. Biocomposites were prepared by suspension casting with varied amounts of microfibrillated cellulose: 0, 4, 8, and 12 wt%. Polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (PEGDE) was used as a cross-linking, water-soluble, and non-toxic agent. Microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) from OCC cardboard showed appropriate properties and potential for good performance as a reinforcement. In general, microfiber incorporation and matrix cross-linking increased crystallization, reduced water adsorption, and improved the physical and tensile properties of the plasticized starch. Biocomposites cross-linked with PEGDE and reinforced with 12 wt% MFC showed the best properties. The chemical and structural changes induced by the cross-linking of starch chains and MFC reinforcement were confirmed by FTIR, NMR, and XRD. Biodegradation higher than 80% was achieved for most biocomposites in 15 days of laboratory compost.

In vivo single-cell high-dimensional mass cytometry analysis to track the interactions between Klebsiella pneumoniae and myeloid cells.

In vivo single-cell approaches have transformed our understanding of the immune populations in tissues. Mass cytometry (CyTOF), that combines the resolution of mass spectrometry with the ability to conduct multiplexed measurements of cell molecules at the single cell resolution, has enabled to resolve the diversity of immune cell subsets, and their heterogeneous functionality. Here we assess the feasibility of taking CyTOF one step further to immuno profile cells while tracking their interactions with bacteria, a method we term Bac-CyTOF. We focus on the pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae interrogating the pneumonia mouse model. Using Bac-CyTOF, we unveil the atlas of immune cells of mice infected with a K. pneumoniae hypervirulent strain. The atlas is characterized by a decrease in the populations of alveolar and monocyte-derived macrophages. Conversely, neutrophils, and inflammatory monocytes are characterized by an increase in the subpopulations expressing markers of less active cells such as the immune checkpoint PD-L1. These are the cells infected. We show that the type VI secretion system (T6SS) contributes to shape the lung immune landscape. The T6SS governs the interaction with monocytes/macrophages by shifting Klebsiella from alveolar macrophages to interstitial macrophages and limiting the infection of inflammatory monocytes. The lack of T6SS results in an increase of cells expressing markers of active cells, and a decrease in the subpopulations expressing PD-L1. By probing Klebsiella, and Acinetobacter baumannii strains with limited ability to survive in vivo, we uncover that a heightened recruitment of neutrophils, and relative high levels of alveolar macrophages and eosinophils and the recruitment of a characteristic subpopulation of neutrophils are features of mice clearing infections. We leverage Bac-CyTOF-generated knowledge platform to investigate the role of the DNA sensor STING in Klebsiella infections. sting-/- infected mice present features consistent with clearing the infection including the reduced levels of PD-L1. STING absence facilitates Klebsiella clearance.

Habitat escalated adaptive therapy (HEAT): a phase 2 trial utilizing radiomic habitat-directed and genomic-adjusted radiation dose (GARD) optimization for high-grade soft tissue sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Soft tissue sarcomas (STS), have significant inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity, with poor response to standard neoadjuvant radiotherapy (RT). Achieving a favorable pathologic response (FPR ≥ 95%) from RT is associated with improved patient outcome. Genomic adjusted radiation dose (GARD), a radiation-specific metric that quantifies the expected RT treatment effect as a function of tumor dose and genomics, proposed that STS is significantly underdosed. STS have significant radiomic heterogeneity, where radiomic habitats can delineate regions of intra-tumoral hypoxia and radioresistance. We designed a novel clinical trial, Habitat Escalated Adaptive Therapy (HEAT), utilizing radiomic habitats to identify areas of radioresistance within the tumor and targeting them with GARD-optimized doses, to improve FPR in high-grade STS. METHODS: Phase 2 non-randomized single-arm clinical trial includes non-metastatic, resectable high-grade STS patients. Pre-treatment multiparametric MRIs (mpMRI) delineate three distinct intra-tumoral habitats based on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) sequences. GARD estimates that simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) doses of 70 and 60 Gy in 25 fractions to the highest and intermediate radioresistant habitats, while the remaining volume receives standard 50 Gy, would lead to a > 3 fold FPR increase to 24%. Pre-treatment CT guided biopsies of each habitat along with clip placement will be performed for pathologic evaluation, future genomic studies, and response assessment. An mpMRI taken between weeks two and three of treatment will be used for biological plan adaptation to account for tumor response, in addition to an mpMRI after the completion of radiotherapy in addition to pathologic response, toxicity, radiomic response, disease control, and survival will be evaluated as secondary endpoints. Furthermore, liquid biopsy will be performed with mpMRI for future ancillary studies. DISCUSSION: This is the first clinical trial to test a novel genomic-based RT dose optimization (GARD) and to utilize radiomic habitats to identify and target radioresistance regions, as a strategy to improve the outcome of RT-treated STS patients. Its success could usher in a new phase in radiation oncology, integrating genomic and radiomic insights into clinical practice and trial designs, and may reveal new radiomic and genomic biomarkers, refining personalized treatment strategies for STS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05301283. TRIAL STATUS: The trial started recruitment on March 17, 2022.

A complex receptor locus confers responsiveness to necrosis and ethylene-inducing like peptides in Brassica napus.

Brassica crops are susceptible to diseases which can be mitigated by breeding for resistance. MAMPs (microbe-associated molecular patterns) are conserved molecules of pathogens that elicit host defences known as pattern-triggered immunity (PTI). Necrosis and Ethylene-inducing peptide 1-like proteins (NLPs) are MAMPs found in a wide range of phytopathogens. We studied the response to BcNEP2, a representative NLP from Botrytis cinerea, and showed that it contributes to disease resistance in Brassica napus. To map regions conferring NLP response, we used the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced during PTI across a population of diverse B. napus accessions for associative transcriptomics (AT), and bulk segregant analysis (BSA) on DNA pools created from a cross of NLP-responsive and non-responsive lines. In silico mapping with AT identified two peaks for NLP responsiveness on chromosomes A04 and C05 whereas the BSA identified one peak on A04. BSA delimited the region for NLP-responsiveness to 3 Mbp, containing ~245 genes on the Darmor-bzh reference genome and four co-segregating KASP markers were identified. The same pipeline with the ZS11 genome confirmed the highest-associated region on chromosome A04. Comparative BLAST analysis revealed unannotated clusters of receptor-like protein (RLP) homologues on ZS11 chromosome A04. However, no specific RLP homologue conferring NLP response could be identified. Our results also suggest that BR-SIGNALLING KINASE1 may be involved with modulating the NLP response. Overall, we demonstrate that responsiveness to NLP contributes to disease resistance in B. napus and define the associated genomic location. These results can have practical application in crop improvement.

Differentiating action from inaction: Longitudinal relations among impulsive personality traits, internalizing symptoms, and drinking behavior.

BACKGROUND: Impulsive personality traits are strong, consistent risk factors for heavy drinking, and modern theories suggest that impulsive traits may also confer risk for internalizing symptoms. However, it remains unclear which specific impulsive traits are linked with heavy drinking versus internalizing symptoms, and whether heavy drinking and internalizing symptoms are mechanisms of risk for negative alcohol consequences in impulsive individuals. METHOD: Data are from a longitudinal study of young adults (N = 448, Mage = 22.27, 43.5 % female) assessed at baseline (T1), 6 months (T2), and one year later (T3). Longitudinal path models tested whether T1 impulsive traits (i.e., lack of premeditation, lack of perseverance, sensation seeking, positive urgency, negative urgency) were indirectly associated with T3 negative alcohol consequences through heavy T2 drinking and T2 internalizing symptoms (i.e., depression, anxiety, stress). Separate models were tested for positive and negative urgency given strong correlations between these measures. RESULTS: Across models, T1 lack of premeditation indirectly predicted more T3 negative alcohol consequences through heavy T2 drinking. When tested separately, T1 negative urgency indirectly predicted more T3 negative consequences through higher T2 stress and depressive (but not anxiety) symptoms, and T1 positive urgency predicted higher T2 anxiety symptoms, but T2 anxiety was unrelated to T3 negative consequences. Across models, T1 sensation seeking indirectly predicted less T3 negative consequences through decreased T2 depression. CONCLUSIONS: Distinct impulsive traits prospectively predicted heavy drinking and internalizing symptoms, both of which conferred risk for negative alcohol consequences. Findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions based on personality and suggest that decreases in drinking may be more effective prevention for those who lack premeditation, whereas decreases in internalizing, particularly depression/stress, may be critical for those high in negative urgency.

Role of Nb2O5 Crystal Phases on the Photocatalytic Conversion of Lignin Model Molecules and Selectivity for Value-Added Products.

The photocatalytic conversion in aqueous media of phenol and guaiacol as a lignin model compound using Nb2O5 with different crystal phases was studied. Nb2O5 particles were synthesized using hydrothermal methods, where it was observed that changes in the solvent control their morphology and crystal phase. Different photocatalytic behavior of Nb2O5 was observed with the selected model compounds, indicating that its selection directly impacts the resulting conversion and selectivity rates as well as the reaction pathway, highlighting the relevance of model molecule selection. Photocatalytic conversion of phenol showed conversion rate (C%) up to 25 % after 2 h irradiation and high selectivity (S%) to pyrogallol (up to 50 %). Orthorhombic Nb2O5 spheres favored conversion through free hydroxyl radicals while monoclinic rods did not convert phenol. Guaiacol photocatalytic oxidation showed high conversion rate but lower selectivity. Orthorhombic and monoclinic Nb2O5 favored the formation of resorcinol with S % ~0.43 % (C % ~33 %) and ~13 % (C % ~27 %) respectively. The mixture of both phases enhanced the guaiacol conversion rate to ~55 % with ~17 % of selectivity to salicylaldehyde. The use of radical scavengers provided information to elucidate the reaction pathway for these model compounds, showing that different reaction pathways may be obtained for the same photocatalyst if the model compound is changed.

Near-Infrared Light Activated Formulation for the Spatially Controlled Release of CRISPR-Cas9 Ribonucleoprotein for Brain Gene Editing.

The CRISPR/Cas9 system has emerged as a promising platform for gene editing; however, the lack of an efficient and safe delivery system to introduce it into cells continues to hinder clinical translation. Here, we report a rationally designed gene-editing nanoparticle (NP) formulation for brain applications: an sgRNA:Cas9 ribonucleoprotein complex is immobilized on the NP surface by oligonucleotides that are complementary to the sgRNA. Irradiation of the formulation with a near-infrared (NIR) laser generates heat in the NP, leading to the release of the ribonucleoprotein complex. The gene-editing potential of the formulation was demonstrated in vitro at the single-cell level. The safety and gene editing of the formulation were also demonstrated in the brains of reporter mice, specifically in the subventricular zone after intracerebral administration and in the olfactory bulb after intranasal administration. The formulation presented here offers a new strategy for the spatially controlled delivery of the CRISPR system to the brain.

Objective and subjective measures of air pollution and self-rated health: the evidence from Chile.

PURPOSE: The literature exploring individual differences in self-rated health has grown fast in recent years. Self-rated health (SRH) is a good indicator of general health status. This empirical study explores the association between outdoor air pollution and SRH in Chile. This type of analysis is infrequent in Latin America. METHODS: We used objective and subjective air pollution measures. The first corresponds to PM2.5, and the latter to the perception of a high level of air pollution. Drawing on data from two independent and repeated nationwide surveys over the period 2006-2017 at the individual level in Chile, we performed repeated cross-sectional analyses for each year of survey application. Ordered Logit (OL) and Logit (L) multivariate models were used to investigate the association between SRH and air pollution measures, considering other socioeconomic and demographic covariates. RESULTS: We found that the higher is the level of air pollution, the lower the SRH in Chile, regardless of whether air pollution is physically measured or perceived by respondents. The results were consistent over the years in the sign and significance of regression coefficients using two surveys and two forms of the outcome variable. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings add evidence that air pollution is a relevant determinant of SRH. In addition, they show that subjective measures of air pollution can be as reliable as physical measures in the analysis of the association between air pollution and human health.