Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Oliver Anagnostou, Michele Trenti, Andrew Melatos
Summary: The study suggests that the gravitational wave event GW190521 may involve the merger of two large black holes to form an intermediate-mass black hole. The researchers propose that this formation pathway could occur through multiple mergers in the core of a globular cluster. These findings contribute to our understanding of the formation pathways for black holes within the upper mass gap.
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sangeeta Ghuwalewala, Seon A. Lee, Kevin Jiang, Joydeep Baidya, Gopal Chovatiya, Pritinder Kaur, David Shalloway, Tudorita Tumbar
Summary: This study elucidates the molecular and cellular states of basal interfollicular epidermis (IFE) domains and their role in skin adaptation to environmental exposure. The research uncovers two paths of basal cell differentiation and identifies a novel transcription factor, Sox6, that plays an important role in IFE proliferation and survival.
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Xiyong Huang, Andrew N. Chalmers
Summary: Sunlight is a vital environmental resource for all living organisms on Earth, with UV radiation playing a crucial role in synthesizing vitamin D in the human body. While sun exposure has health benefits, excessive UV exposure can lead to adverse effects such as eye diseases and skin cancers. UV intensity depends on environmental factors, personal outdoor activities, and skin sensitivity. Various UV sensors have been developed over the years to monitor personal UV exposure and protect individuals from potential health risks.
ANNALS OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Gaurav Kapur, Anais F. Stenson, Lisa M. Chiodo, Virginia Delaney-Black, John H. Hannigan, James Janisse, Hilary H. Ratner
Summary: Community violence exposure is a significant risk factor for hypertension in young Black American adults. The higher exposure to community violence among Black American children compared to other races may contribute to racial disparities in hypertension burden among adults.
JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Brian Diffey
Summary: The study introduces a computational model to predict erythema and acclimatization of the skin following repeated exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation. Good agreement was found between experimental data and model predictions, and the model demonstrates how these skin responses change throughout the year at different latitudes and for different sun-reactive skin types.
PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Renata Spagolla Napolea, Douglas Adamoski, Alessandra Girasole, Ellen Nogueira Lima, Amauri da Silva Justo-Junior, Romenia Domingues, Ana Clara Caznok Silveira, Rafael Elias Marques, Murilo de Carvalho, Andre Luis Berteli Ambrosio, Adriana Franco Paes Leme, Sandra Martha Gomes Dias
Summary: Ultraviolet C (UVC) light has been used for sterilization, and filtered KrCl excimer lamps emitting at 222 nm have been proposed as safer alternatives. This study compared the effects of UV 254 nm and UV 222 nm on cell viability, DNA damage, protein oxidation, and skin morphology. It found that UV 254 nm caused more alterations in reactive oxygen species and inflammatory responses, but UV 222 nm caused minor damage to the skin and raised concerns about skin regeneration pathways.
JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY B-BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zsofia Szilagyi, Zsuzsanna Nemeth, Jozsef Bakos, Gyoergyi Kubinyi, Peter Pal Necz, Erika Szabo, Gyoergy Thuroczy, Rosanna Pinto, Brahim Selmaoui
Summary: In recent years, there has been increasing exposure to radiofrequency (RF) radiation emitted by wireless devices in the human environment, which could be absorbed in the body. This study aimed to investigate the combined effects of 2422 MHz (Wi-Fi) RF exposure and UV radiation on the inflammation process in the skin. The results suggest a slight but not significant increase in cytokine concentrations after prior UV exposure to 2422 MHz Wi-Fi radiation, and no adaptive response phenomenon was detected.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Giacomo Fragione, Bence Kocsis, Frederic A. Rasio, Joseph Silk
Summary: Current theoretical models predict a gap in mass between stellar black holes and intermediate-mass black holes. This study explores the possibility that these black holes are formed through successive mergers in dense star clusters. Simulations show that a massive stellar black hole seed can grow to a larger mass through repeated mergers with smaller black holes.
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Nicole Frumento, Alexis Figueroa, Tingchang Wang, Muhammad N. Zahid, Shuyi Wang, Guido Massaccesi, Georgia Stavrakis, James E. Crowe, Andrew Flyak, Hongkai Ji, Stuart C. Ray, George M. Shaw, Andrea L. Cox, Justin R. Bailey
Summary: This study investigated the development of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) in HCV-infected individuals, including those with persistent infection or spontaneous clearance of multiple reinfections. The findings showed that the breadth and potency of the antibody response increased with exposure to genetically distinct infections and longer duration of viremia. Importantly, repeated exposure to antigenically related, antibody-sensitive envelope proteins was associated with potent bNAb induction. These results suggest that a prime-boost vaccine strategy with genetically distinct, antibody-sensitive viruses could be a promising approach to inducing potent bNAbs in humans.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Angela Sandri, Aldo Tessari, Danilo Giannetti, Alberto Cetti, Maria M. Lleo, Federico Boschi
Summary: UV radiation has both sterilization effects and adverse health effects in humans. UV-A radiation has lower antimicrobial effect but lower health risk, and it can be used to sanitize environments with human presence in controlled exposure conditions. The study investigated safe exposure conditions for a UV-A lamp and efficient sanitization of the environment. Antibacterial activity was observed with longer exposure time and shorter distance from the source, and the modulation of factors like distance, exposure time, and irradiation angle can ensure effective antibacterial activity and human safety.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Florian Bartenschlager, Nikolai Klymiuk, Achim D. Gruber, Lars Mundhenk
Summary: Recent studies have found that CLCA2 is highly conserved in both genomic and protein levels in birds and mammals. The research results suggest that CLCA2 plays an important role in keratinocyte function and its high conservation makes it a strong candidate for studying the CLCA gene family, which is still widely unresolved.
Article
Microbiology
Aurore Perault, Catherine Turlan, Nathalie Eynard, Quentin Valle, Alain Bousquet-Melou, Etienne Giraud
Summary: Recent studies have shown that both resistance and tolerance/persistence levels can evolve rapidly in bacteria exposed to repeated antibiotic treatments. This study used in vitro evolution to explore the selection of tolerant/hyperpersistent Escherichia coli mutants under repeated exposure to high ciprofloxacin concentration. The researchers found that mutants with hyperpersistence specific to fluoroquinolones emerged, without a significant increase in minimum inhibitory concentration. This research highlights the importance of considering tolerance/persistence phenotypes in addition to resistance in antibiotic therapy selection.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gareth Hazell, Marina Khazova, Paul O'Mahoney
Summary: Sunlight exposure in the UK has been shown to upregulate the cardio protectant nitric oxide (NO) in in vitro skin cell lines, with minimal impact on DNA damage and cell death. The release of NO is primarily driven by the whole UV-A spectrum, with higher efficiency observed at shorter wavelengths.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Slavica Malinovic-Milicevic, Zoran Mijatovic, Gorica Stanojevic, Milan M. Radovanovic, Vladimir Popovic
Summary: This study demonstrates the need to revise the current health recommendations regarding the duration of sun exposure and individual sensitivity of the skin to UV radiation. It shows that the percentage of days with low UV index increases with latitude, indicating a higher risk of erythema in mid latitudes and areas with predominantly lighter-skinned populations. Prolonged exposure on days with lower UV index poses a significant risk of erythema even for a short duration, suggesting the need for revised health recommendations.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Toxicology
Quincy A. Hathaway, Nairrita Majumder, William T. Goldsmith, Amina Kunovac, Mark V. Pinti, Jack R. Harkema, Vince Castranova, John M. Hollander, Salik Hussain
Summary: The study found that co-exposure to ultrafine carbon black and ozone led to unique transcriptomic changes in the lungs, affecting mitochondrial bioenergetics, including decreased complex activity and ATP content. Co-exposure also resulted in a significant increase in the expression of oxidative stress and inflammation related genes.
PARTICLE AND FIBRE TOXICOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Sebastian Mader, Jonathan Goldenberg, Federico Massetti, Karen Bisschop, Liliana D'Alba, Rampal S. Etienne, Susana Clusella-Trullas, Matthew D. Shawkey
Summary: The impact of climate change on global biodiversity is well-established, but the differential effect of climate change on populations within the same species is often overlooked. This study focuses on color-polyphenic lizards and finds that darker populations are more likely to adapt to future climate conditions. These findings highlight the importance of considering population variation when studying responses to climate change and developing effective conservation strategies.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Jonathan Goldenberg, Karen Bisschop, Liliana D'Alba, Matthew D. Shawkey
Summary: Biological rules describe general patterns within and across species, but their applicability in our rapidly changing environment is uncertain due to contradicting predictions and altered environmental conditions caused by climate change.
Article
Ornithology
Svana Rogalla, Michael P. J. Nicolai, Viki Vandomme, Robin Teifel, Susana Clusella-Trullas, Liliana D'Alba, Matthew D. Shawkey
Summary: Nest care and brooding in sunbirds, which was previously believed to be solely performed by females, might involve the participation of males as well, according to our observation of a male Amethyst Sunbird with a brood patch during a ringing session in South Africa.
JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Aude Cincotta, Michael Nicolai, Hebert Bruno Nascimento Campos, Maria McNamara, Liliana D'Alba, Matthew D. Shawkey, Edio-Ernst Kischlat, Johan Yans, Robert Carleer, Francois Escuillie, Pascal Godefroit
Summary: The study on well-preserved soft tissues in Mesozoic fossils provides valuable insights into the evolution of feathers. Recent research on pterosaurs reveals the presence of branched feathers, suggesting that feathers originated in the ancestor of pterosaurs and dinosaurs in the Early Triassic. However, the homology between pterosaur structures and feathers is still debated. Furthermore, diverse melanosome geometries related to the skin and feathers have been found in pterosaurs, indicating the early genetic regulation of feather color and shape, which has deep evolutionary origins.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sarah-Sophie Weil, Laure Gallien, Sebastien Lavergne, Luca Borger, Gabriel W. Hassler, Michael P. J. Nicolai, William L. Allen
Summary: Understanding the role of traits in dispersal is crucial for historical biogeography, community assembly processes, and predicting species' future movements. This study investigated the relationship between three traits (coastal distribution, body size, position on life history continuum) and past dispersal probability in chameleons. The results showed that coastal distribution, large body size, and extreme life history were associated with higher biogeographical movements. The findings suggest that these traits form a dispersal syndrome and have played an important role in the biogeographic history of chameleons.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Deok-Jin Jeon, Seungmuk Ji, Eunok Lee, Jihun Kang, Liliana D'Alba, Matthew D. Shawkey, Jong-Souk Yeo
Summary: Using electron microscopy, optical modeling, and biomimicry, it is shown that variations in the thickness of feather nanostructures in Eurasian jay wing covert feathers create periodic color variations. It is also found that even in the presence of melanin, the white color of Eurasian jay feathers is produced due to a sufficiently thick spongy layer reflecting all visible wavelengths. Inspired by the Eurasian jay, a method for mimicking periodic color variations in synthetic materials is described.
ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Deok-Jin Jeon, Seungmuk Ji, Eunok Lee, Jihun Kang, Jiyeong Kim, Liliana D'Alba, Marie Manceau, Matthew D. Shawkey, Jong-Souk Yeo
Summary: The thickness of the keratin cortex plays a significant role in producing colors in feathers, with the position of the major reflectance peak determined by the cortex thickness. Specifically, the common pheasant has the appropriate keratin cortex thickness to produce blue and green structural colors. This finding provides a general principle of structural color production and sheds light on the evolution of brilliant iridescent colors in the common pheasant.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jonathan Goldenberg, Federico Massetti, Liliana D'Alba, Matthew D. Shawkey
Summary: Substrate properties can affect the thermal balance of organisms, and the colored integument, alongside other factors, may influence heat transfer via differential absorption and reflection. Bright ventral colors occur more frequently in low c(p) substrates, especially in larger body-sized individuals, possibly to better modulate heat transfer with the surrounding environment. Dorsal brightness, on the other hand, is not associated with body size or any substrate thermal property, suggesting other selection pressures.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christian M. Heil, Anvay Patil, Bram Vanthournout, Saranshu Singla, Markus Bleuel, Jing-Jin Song, Ziying Hu, Nathan C. Gianneschi, Matthew D. Shawkey, Sunil K. Sinha, Arthi Jayaraman, Ali Dhinojwala
Summary: Inspired by avian species, scientists have developed synthetic strategies to produce noniridescent, saturated colors using nanoparticle assemblies. By understanding the assembled structure and using a computational analysis method, scientists can predict and engineer designer materials with tailored colors, making trial-and-error experiments unnecessary.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jamie Dunning, Anvay Patil, Liliana D'Alba, Alexander L. Bond, Gerben Debruyn, Ali Dhinojwala, Matthew Shawkey, Lukas Jenni
Summary: Until recently, it was believed that communication in nocturnal and crepuscular species mainly relied on acoustic and chemical channels, unlike diurnal birds that use contrasting plumage patches and complex feather structures. However, our study on the Eurasian woodcock revealed that these low-light birds have evolved intensely white plumage patches within their inconspicuous plumage for visual communication. The intense reflectance of the bright white tail feather tips is a result of a disordered nanostructure composed of keratin and air, as well as the flattening, thickening, and arrangement of the barbs that enhance light reflection.
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY INTERFACE
(2023)
