Article
Environmental Studies
Alvaro Enriquez-de-Salamanca
Summary: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a tool that integrates environmental factors into decision-making processes, but it may not always effectively reject projects with controversial justifications and little social utility, especially when they have political backing. In order to prevent unjustified projects, measures such as adopting an administrative justice approach, minimizing politicization, improving transparency and proportionality, conducting pre-feasibility studies, and strengthening project justifications in EIA documents could be implemented.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REVIEW
(2021)
Editorial Material
Medicine, General & Internal
Caroline Wellbery
Summary: This essay discusses whether it is appropriate for physicians to offer medical advice to friends and family. It concludes that such consults are acceptable as long as the individual talks with their own physician.
JAMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
(2022)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Alexandre Belin, Robert C. Myers, Shan-Ming Ruan, Gabor Sarosi, Antony J. Speranza
Summary: This paper presents a new infinite class of gravitational observables in asymptotically anti-de Sitter space living on codimension-one slices of the geometry, the most famous of which is the volume of the maximal slice. The authors show that these observables display universal features for the thermofield-double state, growing linearly in time at late times and reproducing the switchback effect in shock wave geometries. They argue that any member of this class of observables is an equally viable candidate as the extremal volume for a gravitational dual of complexity.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Physical
C. Eckel, R. T. Weitz
Summary: Remotely powered vertical electrochemical transistors can accurately track subtle nerve-cell activity, even with the transistor core fully shielded from the biological environment.
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Physical
Christopher H. Marrows
Summary: A significant spin-orbit interaction is introduced in a purely silicon heterostructure and can be adjusted by applying a gate voltage.
Article
Cell Biology
Sidney W. Whiteheart
Summary: This article discusses the interactions between platelets and HIV, including what happens when a virus binds to a platelet, the nature of virus-induced platelet activation, and whether platelets are used as part of the immune response to increase HIV spread. Answering these questions will help in developing platelet-directed therapeutics for HIV treatment.
Article
Virology
Wei Li, Ji Liu, Yuanyuan Liu, Qin Li, Wen Yin, Kevin K. Wanderi, Xiaowei Zhang, Zhiping Zhang, Xian-En Zhang, Zongqiang Cui
Summary: This study reveals the dynamic podosome-mediated entry of HIV-1 into macrophages, where the core and ring structures of podosomes play complex roles in viral entry, with the CCR5 coreceptor recruited to form specific clusters. The podosome facilitates HIV-1 entry with a rotation mode triggered by dynamic actin.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Connie Zhao, Hongru Li, Talia H. Swartz, Benjamin K. Chen
Summary: The HIV Env glycoprotein plays a crucial role in viral entry and antibody responses. Complex mechanisms allow HIV-1 Env to evade the immune system. Env on infected cells has distinct conformations compared to Env on virus particles. Understanding these differences is essential for vaccine design and therapeutic strategies.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Andrew R. Akbashev
Summary: Researchers often overlook the complexity and usability of nanoelectrocatalysts with outstanding performance, leading to a lack of meaningful interpretation and scientific insight in previous studies. This article suggests that experiments should be designed to minimize the complexity of electrode materials in order to obtain interpretable electrochemical responses. Greater recognition of the challenges in this field will help improve the quality of research in electrocatalysis.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jameel Iqbal, Mone Zaidi
Summary: The study by McDonald et al. discovered that giant multinucleated, bone-resorbing osteoclasts can dissolve into smaller cells, termed osteopmorhs,'' which re-form into osteoclasts at distal bone sites. These findings overturn the long-standing premise that osteoclasts differentiate solely from hematopoietic precursors and undergo apoptosis after completing resorption.
Article
Biology
Xia Li, Dianbing Wang, Zongqiang Cui, Qin Li, Min Li, Yingxin Ma, Qinxue Hu, Yikai Zhou, Xian-En Zhang
Summary: Research suggests that HIV-1 may enter the nucleus through nuclear vesicles, revealing a new mechanism for HIV-1 nuclear entry and expanding our understanding of HIV-1 virology.
SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)
Editorial Material
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Norikazu Mizuochi
Summary: Quantum sensing using electron spins in diamond is precise but inefficient at high magnetic fields. An alternative method utilizing carbon-13 nuclei spins can operate effectively in high-field regimes.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Florian Schueder, Joerg Bewersdorf
Summary: Spatial omics techniques provide comprehensive data about the identity and function of cells in tissues. Epigenetic multiplexing approaches like MERFISH allow researchers to study the epigenomic regulation of gene expression in tissue-specific regions.
Editorial Material
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Artur Bednarkiewicz, Marcin Szalkowski
Summary: A new excitation scheme has been developed to broaden the range of colors available for near-infrared excitable photon avalanching nanoscale labels, which can be used for super-resolution imaging.
NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biochemical Research Methods
Lei Tang
Summary: Microfluidic channels provide a method for delivering barcodes encoding spatial information to tissues, enabling the co-profiling of gene expression and proteins of interest in a spatially resolved manner.
Article
Oncology
Eudald Felip, Laia Llobera, Clara Perez-Mana, David Quintela, Ignacio Guasch, Mireia Margeli, Iris Teruel, Beatriz Cirauqui, Carmen Centeno, Margarita Romeo, Ester Ballana, Vanesa Quiroga
Article
Oncology
Marc Castellvi, Eudald Felip, Ifeanyi Jude Ezeonwumelu, Roger Badia, Edurne Garcia-Vidal, Maria Pujantell, Lucia Gutierrez-Chamorro, Iris Teruel, Anna Martinez-Cardus, Bonaventura Clotet, Eva Riveira-Munoz, Mireia Margeli, Ester Ballana
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Marianna Nalli, Jorge Armijos Rivera, Domiziana Masci, Antonio Coluccia, Roger Badia, Eva Riveira-Munoz, Alessandro Brambilla, Elisabetta Cinquina, Ombretta Turriziani, Francesca Falasca, Myriam Catalano, Cristina Limatola, Jose A. Este, Giovanni Maga, Romano Silvestri, Emmanuele Crespan, Giuseppe La Regina
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2020)
Article
Immunology
Oriol Mitja, Marc Corbacho-Monne, Maria Ubals, Cristian Tebe, Judith Penafiel, Aurelio Tobias, Ester Ballana, Andrea Alemany, Nuria Riera-Marti, Carla A. Perez, Clara Suner, Pep Laporte, Pol Admella, Jordi Mitja, Mireia Clua, Laia Bertran, Maria Sarquella, Sergi Gavilan, Jordi Ara, Josep M. Argimon, Jordi Casabona, Gabriel Cuatrecasas, Paz Canadas, Aleix Elizalde-Torrent, Robert Fabregat, Magi Farre, Anna Forcada, Gemma Flores-Mateo, Esteve Muntada, Nuria Nadal, Silvia Narejos, Aroa Nieto, Nuria Prat, Jordi Puig, Carles Quinones, Juliana Reyes-Urena, Ferran Ramirez-Viaplana, Lidia Ruiz, Eva Riveira-Munoz, Alba Sierra, Cesar Velasco, Rosa Maria Vivanco-Hidalgo, Alexis Sentis, Camila G-Beiras, Bonaventura Clotet, Marti Vall-Mayans
Summary: A study conducted in Spain showed that early treatment with hydroxychloroquine did not bring more benefits than usual care for patients with mild COVID-19. The treatment did not reduce the risk of hospitalization or shorten the time to complete resolution of symptoms.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Oriol Mitja, Marc Corbacho-Monne, Maria Ubals, Andrea Alemany, Clara Suner, Cristian Tebe, Aurelio Tobias, Judith Penafiel, Ester Ballana, Carla A. Perez, Pol Admella, Nuria Riera-Marti, Pep Laporte, Jordi Mitja, Mireia Clua, Laia Bertran, Maria Sarquella, Sergi Gavilan, Jordi Ara, Josep M. Argimon, Gabriel Cuatrecasas, Paz Canadas, Aleix Elizalde-Torrent, Robert Fabregat, Magi Farre, Anna Forcada, Gemma Flores-Mateo, Cristina Lopez, Esteve Muntada, Nuria Nadal, Silvia Narejos, Aroa Nieto, Nuria Prat, Jordi Puig, Carles Quinones, Ferran Ramirez-Viaplana, Juliana Reyes-Uruena, Eva Riveira-Munoz, Lidia Ruiz, Sergi Sanz, Alexis Sentis, Alba Sierra, Cesar Velasco, Rosa M. Vivanco-Hidalgo, Juani Zamora, Jordi Casabona, Marti Vall-Mayans, Camila Gonzalez-Beiras, Bonaventura Clotet
Summary: In a trial involving asymptomatic contacts of patients with PCR-confirmed Covid-19 in Spain, the authors compared the use of hydroxychloroquine with usual care. Postexposure therapy with hydroxychloroquine did not prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection or symptomatic Covid-19 in healthy persons.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Michael Marks, Pere Millat-Martinez, Dan Ouchi, Chrissy H. Roberts, Andrea Alemany, Marc Corbacho-Monne, Maria Ubals, Aurelio Tobias, Cristian Tebe, Ester Ballana, Quique Bassat, Barbara Baro, Marti Vall-Mayans, Camila G-Beiras, Nuria Prat, Jordi Ara, Bonaventura Clotet, Oriol Mitja
Summary: The viral load of index cases is a key driver of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, while the viral load of contacts at baseline is strongly associated with the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19 and shortening the incubation period in a dose-dependent manner.
LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lucia Gutierrez-Chamorro, Eudald Felip, Ifeanyi Jude Ezeonwumelu, Mireia Margeli, Ester Ballana
Summary: CDKs play crucial roles in cell proliferation and viral infections, with specific CDK inhibitors showing potential for treating viral infections as a novel therapeutic strategy. The development and repurposing of CDK inhibitors may offer new options in combating both known and emerging viruses.
TRENDS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Lucia Gutierrez-Chamorro, Eva Riveira-Munoz, Clara Barrios, Vanesa Palau, Maria Nevot, Sonia Pedreno-Lopez, Jordi Senserrich, Marta Massanella, Bonaventura Clotet, Cecilia Cabrera, Oriol Mitja, Marta Crespo, Julio Pascual, Marta Riera, Ester Ballana
Summary: The study found that soluble functional ACE2 levels increase upon SARS-CoV-2 infection in swabs and plasma of infected patients, but rapidly decrease during the course of infection alongside ACE2 gene expression. Similarly, SARS-CoV-2 infection induced the expression of inflammatory cytokines, which correlated positively with viral load.
Letter
Immunology
Daniel Perez-Zsolt, Jordana Munoz-Basagoiti, Jordi Rodon, Marc Elosua-Bayes, Dalia Raich-Regue, Cristina Risco, Martin Sachse, Maria Pino, Sanjeev Gumber, Mirko Paiardini, Jakub Chojnacki, Itziar Erkizia, Xabier Muniz-Trabudua, Ester Ballana, Eva Riveira-Munoz, Marc Noguera-Julian, Roger Paredes, Benjamin Trinite, Ferran Tarres-Freixas, Ignacio Blanco, Victor Guallar, Jorge Carrillo, Julia Blanco, Amalio Telenti, Holger Heyn, Joaquim Segales, Bonaventura Clotet, Javier Martinez-Picado, Julia Vergara-Alert, Nuria Izquierdo-Useros
CELLULAR & MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Virology
Ifeanyi Jude Ezeonwumelu, Edurne Garcia-Vidal, Ester Ballana
Summary: The modulation of the antiviral innate immune response through targeting the JAK-STAT pathway has been proposed for the development of novel pan-viral therapeutic strategies. Viruses have evolved diverse strategies to interfere with JAK-STAT signaling, highlighting its relevance as a potential antiviral target. Recent advances in JAK inhibitors have shown efficacy against various viral infections and may represent good candidates for drug repurposing strategies.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Rubaiya Hussain, Alfredo E. Ongaro, Maria L. Rodriguez de la Concepcion, Ewelina Wajs, Eva Riveira-Munoz, Ester Ballana, Julia Blanco, Ruth Toledo, Anna Chamorro, Marta Massanella, Lourdes Mateu, Eulalia Grau, Bonaventura Clotet, Jorge Carrillo, Valerio Pruneri
Summary: This study reports a novel optofluidic technology for rapid and reliable detection of SARS-CoV-2 in saliva samples. The technology exhibits high sensitivity and specificity, as well as short time-to-result and small size, making it suitable for point-of-care diagnostics and low resource settings.
BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Eudald Felip, Lucia Gutierrez-Chamorro, Maica Gomez, Edurne Garcia-Vidal, Margarita Romeo, Teresa Moran, Laura Layos, Laia Perez-Roca, Eva Riveira-Munoz, Bonaventura Clotet, Pedro Luis Fernandez, Ricard Mesia, Anna Martinez-Cardus, Ester Ballana, Mireia Margeli
Summary: The study found that tumors with low SAMHD1 expression have better prognosis in breast, ovarian, and lung cancer. Moreover, low SAMHD1 expression is a positive predictive factor in lung and ovarian cancer treated with certain drugs. In vitro experiments also showed that SAMHD1 depletion leads to DNA damage and cell apoptosis in tumor cells. These results suggest the clinical importance of SAMHD1 in personalized cancer treatments.
Article
Microbiology
Ferran Tarres-Freixas, Benjamin Trinite, Anna Pons-Grifols, Miguel Romero-Durana, Eva Riveira-Munoz, Carlos avila-Nieto, Monica Perez, Edurne Garcia-Vidal, Daniel Perez-Zsolt, Jordana Munoz-Basagoiti, Dalia Raich-Regue, Nuria Izquierdo-Useros, Cristina Andres, Andres Anton, Tomas Pumarola, Ignacio Blanco, Marc Noguera-Julian, Victor Guallar, Rosalba Lepore, Alfonso Valencia, Victor Urrea, Julia Vergara-Alert, Bonaventura Clotet, Ester Ballana, Jorge Carrillo, Joaquim Segales, Julia Blanco
Summary: The study found that the emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants show heterogeneous infectivity and pathogenesis in mice models, with B.1.351/Beta variant being the most pathogenic and BA.1.1/Omicron leading to lower viral RNA levels.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Dalia Raich-Regue, Jordana Munoz-Basagoiti, Daniel Perez-Zsolt, Marc Noguera-Julian, Edwards Pradenas, Eva Riveira-Munoz, Neus Gimenez, Assumpta Carabaza, Francesc Gimenez, Veronica Saludes, Elisa Martro, Neus Robert, Ignacio Blanco, Roger Paredes, Lidia Ruiz, Ester Ballana, Bonaventura Clotet, Julia Blanco, Nuria Izquierdo-Useros
Summary: The SARS-CoV-2 antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic test (Ag-RDTs) plays an important role in identifying new infections, but its sensitivity to different variants varies. Certain Ag-RDTs have shown a more than 10-fold reduction in detection capability for the Delta and Alpha variants, while the Beta and Omicron variants have not been affected. Therefore, continuous monitoring of Ag-RDTs performance is crucial for successful contact tracing.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Edwards Pradenas, Maria Ubals, Victor Urrea, Clara Suner, Benjamin Trinite, Eva Riveira-Munoz, Silvia Marfil, Carlos Avila-Nieto, Maria Luisa Rodriguez de la Concepcion, Ferran Tarres-Freixas, Josep Laporte, Ester Ballana, Jorge Carrillo, Bonaventura Clotet, Oriol Mitja, Julia Blanco
Summary: This cohort study investigates the determinants of humoral responses and neutralizing titers in individuals with mild COVID-19. The results show that the duration of symptoms and age, rather than viral load, contribute to higher humoral responses. Individuals with high or low viral load exhibit similar neutralizing antibody titers at day 60, while non-early seroconverters have lower antibody titers but similar neutralizing activity.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
