Editorial Material
Microbiology
Falk Hildebrand
Summary: Technological advances have increased microbial taxonomic resolution, allowing for high-resolution metagenomics to resolve bacterial strains. Research in the Hildebrand lab aims to further increase phylogenetic resolution. Ultra-resolution metagenomics will quantify evolutionary processes, monitor infections, and track pathogens.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alba Benito-Kaesbach, Jose Manuel Amigo, Urtzi Izagirre, Nerea Garcia-Velasco, Laura Arevalo, Andreas Seifert, Kepa Castro
Summary: The presence of microplastics in the food chain is a global public concern, and its analysis presents challenges. In this study, Raman imaging was used to investigate the presence of 1 μm polystyrene microplastics in cryosections of Mytilus galloprovincialis due to its wide distribution, occurrence in the food web, and high presence in the environment. Surface imaging alone was not sufficient to confirm translocation to epithelial cells, highlighting the need for appropriate three-dimensional analytical methods.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Editorial Material
Orthopedics
James H. Lubowitz, Jefferson C. Brand, Michael J. Rossi
Summary: Delayed treatment of shoulder instability and repairable rotator cuff tears can lead to more complicated surgeries and less optimal outcomes. Education and research investigation are potential solutions to address this issue.
ARTHROSCOPY-THE JOURNAL OF ARTHROSCOPIC AND RELATED SURGERY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Ajay Gambhir
Summary: Two studies highlight the need for greater political ambition to achieve the 1.5 degrees C goal by exploring the implications of phasing out coal.
NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Carson O. Zellman, Vance E. Williams
Summary: Two diastereomeric dibenzo[a,c]phenazine 1,2-cyclohexyl bridged diesters were prepared and their phase properties examined. The trans dimer exhibited a broad columnar liquid crystal phase, while the cis dimer was amorphous at all temperatures studied. Experimental and theoretical studies showed that the conformational dynamics of the dimers, as well as the geometric constraints imposed by the cyclic linker, were crucial factors influencing their phase behavior.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Thais Mazzafera Haddad, Natashi Aparecida Lima Pilon, Giselda Durigan, Ricardo Augusto Gorne Viani
Summary: The study found that passive restoration and native tree planting in Brazilian Cerrado can effectively restore the structure, richness, and composition of the upper layer vegetation. However, the ground layer vegetation lacks subshrubs and herbs typical of undisturbed savannas, leading to communities shifting towards low-diversity forests after 15 years of restoration.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ines P. E. Macario, Telma Veloso, Andreia P. M. Fernandes, Margarida Martins, Tania R. Dias, Helena Oliveira, Fernando J. M. Goncalves, Sonia P. M. Ventura, Joana L. Pereira
Summary: The study analyzed the biological activities of phycocyanin extracted from Anabaena cylindrica, finding that raw extracts performed better than pure extracts, and different cyanobacteria species produced C-PC extracts with different antioxidant profiles.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Sanda Ravlic, Ana Hecimovic, Tihana Kurtovic, Jelena Ivancic Jelecki, Dubravko Forcic, Anamarija Slovic, Ivan Christian Kurolt, Zeljka Macak Safranko, Tatjana Muslin, Dina Rnjak, Ozren Jaksic, Ena Soric, Gorana Dzepina, Oktavija Dakovic Rode, Kristina Kujavec Sljivac, Tomislav Vuk, Irena Jukic, Alemka Markotic, Beata Halassy
Summary: During the COVID-19 epidemic, efforts have been made to investigate SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies as potential therapeutics. A method of establishing antibody characterisation has been proposed, showing a positive correlation between neutralising antibodies and disease severity, with a gradual decline in convalescents.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chunsheng Hou, Hao Liang, Chenxiao Chen, Hongxia Zhao, Pengfei Zhao, Shuai Deng, Beibei Li, Dahe Yang, Sa Yang, Lena Wilfert
Summary: Domesticated honeybees and wild bees are essential for human and environmental health, but infectious diseases, such as Varroa destructor mite as a viral vector, pose a significant threat to these pollinators. Lake Sinai Viruses (LSV) have been found in honeybee colonies, but the global epidemiology and transmission patterns of LSV remain unclear. This study investigates the diversity and association of LSV with different honeybee species and suggests a potential role of migratory beekeeping in pathogen spread.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Daniel P. Sulmasy, Christopher A. DeCock
Summary: The emergence of chronic brain death cases challenges the biophilosophical justification of brain death as true death. Severely neurologically damaged patients who can persist with support seem to be integrated organisms and not dead. The authors argue that living organisms must be self-integrating, with irreversible apnea and unresponsiveness not being enough to qualify as death. They propose that loss of cardiac function or cerebrosomatic homeostatic control is also required, even if the body can be maintained with support. This suggests that brain death remains a valid concept, but additional testing is needed.
Review
Food Science & Technology
X. Liu, Xinyue Xu, Huaitian Cui, Jiaxin Xu, Zhiheng Yuan, Jun Liu, Chunyang Li, Jun Li, Danshi Zhu
Summary: Plant-based beverages have gained popularity in the development of functional foods due to increasing demand for nutrition and health food. However, these beverages have faced challenges such as poor sensory experience, flavor, and stability. To address these issues, the study explores fermentation using beneficial active strains like lactobacillus and yeasts, as well as non-thermal processing techniques. Both fermentation and non-thermal processing technologies have shown advantages in enhancing flavor and quality of plant-based beverages, and retaining their nutritional properties.
FOOD REVIEWS INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Toshiko Tanaka, Jayanta K. Das, Yichen Jin, Qu Tian, Ruin Moaddel, Ann Zenobia Moore, Katherine L. Tucker, Sameera A. Talegawkar, Luigi Ferrucci
Summary: This study explores the role of circulating metabolites in mediating the relationship between dietary protein and frailty. The results suggest that higher intake of plant protein is associated with lower levels of frailty, while animal protein does not show such association. The study also identifies specific metabolites, such as lipid metabolites and tryptophan-related metabolites, that mediate the protective effect of plant protein on frailty.
Article
History & Philosophy Of Science
Marcello Di Bello
Summary: Some philosophers raise concerns about the reliability of statistical evidence, suggesting that it may not be sufficient to support a conviction in certain cases; others argue that such reservations may be too strict, as appellate courts have nuanced views on statistical evidence. In an effort to clarify the issue, the author presents an interpretive analysis explaining why statistical evidence should be of concern in some cases but not others.
Article
History & Philosophy Of Science
Andrew del Rio
Summary: The article discusses the denial of the conclusion of a valid argument and the phenomenon of insufficient doubt towards the conclusion when only one premise is undermined. The author argues that merely undermining the debunker's empirical claim is not a successful response to evolutionary debunking of moral knowledge, and that there should be equal doubt towards both premises and conclusion of a valid argument.
Article
Neurosciences
Frederic Darios, Giulia Coarelli, Alexandra Durr
Summary: Hereditary spastic paraplegias are rare neurodegenerative diseases characterized by lower limb spasticity, with high genetic variability and clinical diversity. While genetic mutations play a significant role, genetics alone cannot fully explain the diversity of symptoms. The discovery of biomarkers may provide insights into disease progression.
CURRENT OPINION IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2022)
