Review
Neurosciences
Zuzanna A. Slonina, Katarina C. Poole, Jennifer K. Bizley
Summary: Inactivation experiments in auditory cortex produce varying results, complicating interpretations of AC's role in auditory perception and behavior. The advent of optogenetic methods provides new insights into the mechanism of transforming brain activity into behavior, but faces methodological challenges in manipulating neural activity.
TRENDS IN NEUROSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Kathy Y. Liu, Robert Howard
Summary: The FDA recently granted accelerated approval to aducanumab for the treatment of Alzheimer disease. Here, the authors reflect on the events that led to this controversial approval and consider whether any lessons can be learned for the field.
NATURE REVIEWS NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Anna Guiomar Ferrete-Bonastre, Josefina Cortes-Hernandez, Esteban Ballestar
Summary: Multiple studies have established the presence of epigenetic alterations, specifically DNA methylation changes, in lupus over the past twenty years. These changes may have varying contributions in pediatric and adult-onset lupus. Although DNA methylation alterations related to disease activity, different lupus subtypes, and drug responses have been identified, practical applications in clinical settings are still lacking.
CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Physical
Ida Sognnaes
Summary: In a new paper published in Nature Energy, Odenweller et al. analyze the feasibility of green hydrogen supply using uncertainty analysis. Their findings indicate that despite the rapid growth in electrolysis capacity similar to wind and solar power, the availability of green hydrogen will remain scarce in the short term and uncertain in the long term.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Paula Rezende-Teixeira, Renata G. Dusi, Paula C. Jimenez, Laila S. Espindola, Leticia Costa-Lotufo
Summary: Worldwide pesticide usage has reached up to 3.5 million tons in 2020. Among the nearly 5000 approved pesticide products in Brazil, insecticides play a crucial role in controlling crop pests and disease vectors. However, resistance to commercially approved insecticides is a common issue, leading to the search for more effective and environmentally friendly alternatives. This review discusses the historical strategies used in the development of modern insecticides and their impact on insecticidal activity and the environment.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biology
Julia A. Schwartzman
Summary: The Western honey bee serves as a model system for studying how different species of bacteria can coexist in a single community.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maria Elena Crespo-Lopez, Marcus Augusto-Oliveira, Amanda Lopes-Araujo, Leticia Santos-Sacramento, Priscila Yuki Takeda, Barbarella de Matos Macchi, Jose Luiz Martins do Nascimento, Cristiane S. F. Maia, Rafael R. Lima, Gabriela P. Arrifano
Summary: Mercury is among the top ten most dangerous chemicals for public health worldwide, with increasing emissions particularly in South America, notably the Amazon region. Human populations in this area are highly exposed to methylmercury through contaminated fish consumption, with levels far exceeding those of other regions globally.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Business, Finance
Dan Zhang, Biangxiang Li
Summary: This paper investigates the predictive power of the financial stress index for stock returns and finds that it is efficient in predicting stock returns. Additionally, the financial stress index provides incremental information compared to traditional macroeconomic variables. The study also reveals that the financial stress index achieves the highest CER and SR gains among the predictors, considering different investor risk aversion coefficients.
FINANCE RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Markus Knuf, Herve Haas, Pilar Garcia-Corbeira, Elisa Turriani, Piyali Mukherjee, Winnie Janssens, Valerie Berlaimont
Summary: The three licensed hexavalent vaccines in Europe have similar safety profiles, but show some differences in reactogenicity and immunogenicity. While DT2aP-HBV-IPV-Hib and DT5aP-HBV-IPV-Hib are non-inferior to DT3aP-HBV-IPV/Hib in terms of immunogenicity, there are some differences in immune responses to common antigens.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zaida L. Almeida, Rui M. M. Brito
Summary: Protein aggregation and the formation of insoluble amyloid fibrils are intrinsic characteristics of amyloid diseases. Soluble oligomeric species formed during amyloid formation are highly cytotoxic and can lead to cell death and organ dysfunction. Disassembling preformed amyloids is a potential therapeutic strategy to arrest the progression of organ deterioration in amyloidosis. In this review, various chemical and biochemical agents capable of disaggregating amyloids are discussed, including their mode of action, structure, interactions with fibrillar structures, toxicity, and potential as treatment options.
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Patrick M. Williamson, Benjamin R. Freedman, Nicholas Kwok, Indeevar Beeram, Jan Pennings, Jeremy Johnson, Daron Hamparian, Emily Cohen, Jenna L. Galloway, Arun J. Ramappa, Joseph P. DeAngelis, Ara Nazarian
Summary: Tendinopathy is a debilitating disease that causes 30% of musculoskeletal consultations, with varying treatment efficacy possibly due to incomplete characterization of its pathophysiology. Mechanical load has both beneficial and detrimental effects on tendons based on the degree, frequency, timing, and magnitude. Utilization of small animal models to mimic human tendinopathy could provide insights into the continuum between normal tendon and tendinopathy.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sara Maslanka Figueroa, Daniel Fleischmann, Achim Goepferich
Summary: Viruses, as nanomaterials, possess unique properties that allow for efficient infection of host cells and evasion of the immune system. While there have been efforts to mimic viral traits to improve nanomaterial performance, a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of virus-mimetic material design on the targeting efficiency of nanomaterials is currently lacking.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2021)
Review
Toxicology
Yalcin Duydu, Nursen Basaran, Hermann M. Bolt
Summary: Boric acid and sodium borates are toxic to reproduction and development. A high daily boron exposure level has been found in mining areas and processing plants in China and Turkiye. Despite this high exposure, no reproductive and developmental effects have been reported in humans. Blood boron concentrations in humans are lower than the levels associated with adverse effects in rats.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Tatiana Swoczyna, Hazem M. M. Kalaji, Filippo Bussotti, Jacek Mojski, Martina Pollastrini
Summary: Chlorophyll a fluorescence signal analysis is a non-invasive technique widely used to study photosynthetic process under stress conditions. It has extensive applications in ecology, forestry, agriculture, horticulture, and arboriculture. Woody plants have complex responses to stress, and understanding the changes in their photosynthetic efficiency is crucial for assessing their health and adaptability.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Kristian Hoelscher, Hanne Cecilie Geirbo, Lisbet Harboe, Sobah Abbas Petersen
Summary: The transition towards urban living poses challenges and vulnerabilities. Despite the crises cities face, innovative policies and practices can emerge to support urban resilience and sustainable development. Knowledge and practices from urban crisis contexts offer valuable insights for addressing urban challenges.
