Spectroscopic assessments on Sm3+ ions doped phospho-borate glasses mixed with fluoride modifiers for the applications of reddish-orange visible light.

Sm3+ions doped Phospho-Borate glasses were synthesized and their physical and spectroscopic parameters were studied to evaluate its potential reddish-orange emission for photonic applications. Structural investigation made through XRD analysis confirms the amorphous nature. The evaluated bonding parameters from the absorption spectral analysis confirm the ionic bonding of the Sm-O network in the prepared glasses. Four emission bands were observed from the luminescence spectra, and the HT 4G5/2 → 6H7/2 is observed at 601 nm. The oscillator strength values elucidate the intensity of the absorption bands, and the PBKZnF:Sm sample exhibits a higher oscillator strength value. The Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters were observed to trail the trend Ω4 > Ω6. > Ω2 for the majority of the samples. The CIE 1931 color chromaticity investigation confirms that the present glass samples are suitable for reddish-orange media. Barium and strontium-incorporated glasses exhibit outstanding lasing potential, which was confirmed through the efficiency of the quantum yield and some of the radiative parameters like effective bandwidth, transition probability and stimulated emission cross-section. Radiative parameters have been calculated from the luminescence spectra. Amid all transitions, 4G5/2 →6H7/2 transition has higher transition probability and higher stimulated emission cross-section values for all the prepared glass samples. Barium-incorporated glass exhibits a higher emission cross-section of 30.55 × 10-22 cm2 and a transition probability of 30.89 s-1 compared to all other glasses. The non-exponential decay profiles of the fabricated samples were plotted by examining the excitation wavelength at 402 nm and emission wavelength at 600 nm. Of all the prepared glasses, the quantum efficiency is found to be higher for the glass sample PBKSrF:Sm (65 %).

Simultaneous assessment of NAD(P)H and flavins with multispectral fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy at a single excitation wavelength of 750 nm.

Significance: Autofluorescence characteristics of the reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and oxidized flavin cofactors are important for the evaluation of the metabolic status of the cells. The approaches that involve a detailed analysis of both spectral and time characteristics of the autofluorescence signals may provide additional insights into the biochemical processes in the cells and biological tissues and facilitate the transition of spectral fluorescence lifetime imaging into clinical applications. Aim: We present the experiments on multispectral fluorescence lifetime imaging with a detailed analysis of the fluorescence decays and spectral profiles of the reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and oxidized flavin under a single excitation wavelength aimed at understanding whether the use of multispectral detection is helpful for metabolic imaging of cancer cells. Approach: We use two-photon spectral fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. Starting from model solutions, we switched to cell cultures treated by metabolic inhibitors and then studied the metabolism of cells within tumor spheroids. Results: The use of a multispectral detector in combination with an excitation at a single wavelength of 750 nm allows the identification of fluorescence signals from three components: free and bound NAD(P)H, and flavins based on the global fitting procedure. Multispectral data make it possible to assess not only the lifetime but also the spectral shifts of emission of flavins caused by chemical perturbations. Altogether, the informative parameters of the developed approach are the ratio of free and bound NAD(P)H amplitudes, the decay time of bound NAD(P)H, the amplitude of flavin fluorescence signal, the fluorescence decay time of flavins, and the spectral shift of the emission signal of flavins. Hence, with multispectral fluorescence lifetime imaging, we get five independent parameters, of which three are related to flavins. Conclusions: The approach to probe the metabolic state of cells in culture and spheroids using excitation at a single wavelength of 750 nm and a fluorescence time-resolved spectral detection with the consequent global analysis of the data not only simplifies image acquisition protocol but also allows to disentangle the impacts of free and bound NAD(P)H, and flavin components evaluate changes in their fluorescence parameters (emission spectra and fluorescence lifetime) upon treating cells with metabolic inhibitors and sense metabolic heterogeneity within 3D tumor spheroids.

Mechanosensitive fluorescence lifetime probes for investigating the dynamic mechanism of ferroptosis.

Deciphering the dynamic mechanism of ferroptosis can provide insights into pathogenesis, which is valuable for disease diagnosis and treatment. However, due to the lack of suitable time-resolved mechanosensitive tools, researchers have been unable to determine the membrane tension and morphology of the plasma membrane and the nuclear envelope during ferroptosis. With this research, we propose a rational strategy to develop robust mechanosensitive fluorescence lifetime probes which can facilitate simultaneous fluorescence lifetime imaging of the plasma membrane and nuclear envelope. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy using the unique mechanosensitive probes reveal a dynamic mechanism for ferroptosis: The membrane tension of both the plasma membrane and the nuclear envelope decreases during ferroptosis, and the nuclear envelope exhibits budding during the advanced stage of ferroptosis. Significantly, the membrane tension of the plasma membrane is always larger than that of the nuclear envelope, and the membrane tension of the nuclear envelope is slightly larger than that of the nuclear membrane bubble. Meanwhile, the membrane lesions are repaired in the low-tension regions through exocytosis.

Investigation of the emission and leaching behavior of characteristic heavy metals in sintered bricks prepared from oil-based drill cutting residues.

Oil-based drill cutting residues (OBDCR) are hazardous waste generated by the thermal desorption of oil-based drill cuttings. Recently, the utilization of OBDCR as building materials has attracted extensive attention, but the environmental risks during preparation and long-term usage remained unclear. In this study, OBDCR with a 40 % (wt./wt.) mixing ratio was used to prepare sintered bricks, and the emission and leaching behaviors of Ba, Mn, Zn, Ni, Cr, and Pb were investigated. The results indicated that the addition of OBDCR in bricks showed insignificant increase in the emission of Ba, Mn, Zn, Ni, and Cr, whereas the emission of Pb slight decreased from 10.5 to 8.6 µg/m3. The volatilization rates of these heavy metals were considerably low, with Ni showed the highest volatilization rate of only 1.45 % in OBDCR bricks. Moreover, the leaching behavior of Ba, Mn, Zn, Ni, Cr, and Pb in bricks were studied. The results indicated that surface wash-off was the main controlling leaching mechanism of Ba and Cr, whereas the leaching of Mn, Zn, Ni, and Pb was controlled by diffusion. The Elovich and second-order kinetic equation were identified as the leaching models for Mn, Zn, Pb, and Ni. The life-time leaching predictions of OBDCR bricks indicated that the leaching of Ni and Mn after 10 and 20 years of leaching were 0.1529, 0.257, 0.1530, and 0.274 mg/L, respectively, exceeding the relevant standards. Therefore, the leaching risks of Ni and Mn should be emphasized when using OBDCR bricks with a 40 % OBDCR mixing ratio.

Impact of Graphene Oxide Nanoparticles on In Vitro Development of a Mouse Preimplantation Embryo and Interaction With the Zona Pellucida.

The development of assisted reproductive technologies increases the likelihood of nanoparticles' (NPs) direct contact with gametes and embryos in in vitro conditions. Analyzing the influence of nanomaterials on the early mammalian embryo becomes increasingly relevant. This work is devoted to the effect of graphene oxide (GO) NPs on the in vitro development of mammalian embryos. Mouse 2-cell embryos were preincubated with GO NPs. The interaction of GO with the Zona Pellucida (ZP) of the embryo was investigated using fluorescence lifetime imaging with two-photon excitation (2p-FLIM). During embryo development, the NPs penetration into ZP (blastocyst stage) and perivitelline space (blastocyst hatching stage) was observed. Despite this, GO did not affect the embryo's ability to develop till late and hatching blastocysts. The mechanism of the NPs getting into the perivitelline space and the consequences of NP-embryo direct contact are discussed. The 2p-FLIM efficiency for studying NP interaction with mammalian embryos is evaluated.

Differential effects of lifetime stressors on major depressive disorder severity: a longitudinal community-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Stressors across the lifespan are associated with the onset of major depressive disorder (MDD) and increased severity of depressive symptoms. However, it is unclear how lifetime stressors are related to specific MDD subtypes. The present study aims to examine the relationships between MDD subtypes and stressors experienced across the lifespan while considering potential confounders. METHODS: Data analyzed were from the Zone d'Épidémiologie Psychiatrique du Sud-Ouest de Montréal (N = 1351). Lifetime stressors included childhood maltreatment, child-parent bonding, and stressful life events. Person-centered analyses were used to identify the clusters/profiles of the studied variables and multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the relationships between stressors and identified MDD subtypes. Intersectional analysis was applied to further examine how distal stressors interact with proximal stressors to impact the development of MDD subtypes. RESULTS: There was a significant association between proximal stressors and melancholic depression, whereas severe atypical depression and moderate depression were only associated with some domains of stressful life events. Additionally, those with severe atypical depression and melancholic depression were more likely to be exposed to distal stressors such as childhood maltreatment. The combinations of distal and proximal stressors predicted a greater risk of all MDD subtypes except for moderate atypical depression. CONCLUSIONS: MDD was characterized into four subtypes based on depressive symptoms and severity. Different stressor profiles were linked with various MDD subtypes. More specific interventions and clinical management are called to provide precision treatment for MDD patients with unique stressor profiles and MDD subtypes.

Visualizing Mitochondrial Membrane Potential with FRET Probes: Integrating Fluorescence Intensity Ratio and Lifetime Imaging.

Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) is crucial for mitochondrial function and serves as a key indicator of cellular health and metabolic activity. Traditional lipophilic cationic fluorescence intensity probes are unavoidably influenced by probe concentration, laser intensity, and photobleaching, limiting their accuracy. To address these issues, we designed and synthesized a pair of fluorescence molecules, OR-C8 and SiR-BA, based on the Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) mechanism, for dual-modality visualization of MMP. OR-C8 anchors to the inner mitochondrial membrane through strong hydrophobic interactions, while SiR-BA is expelled from mitochondria when MMP decreases, thereby regulating the FRET process. During MMP reduction, the fluorescence intensity and lifetime of OR-C8 increase, while the fluorescence intensity of SiR-BA decreases. By combining changes in fluorescence intensity ratio and fluorescence lifetime, dual-modality visualization of MMP was achieved. This method not only accurately reflects MMP changes but also provides a novel tool for in-depth studies of mitochondrial function and related disease mechanisms, offering significant potential for advancing mitochondrial research and therapeutic development.

Optimal directed acyclic graph federated learning model for energy-efficient IoT communication networks.

Federated learning (FL) stimulates distributed on-device computation systems to process an optimum technique efficiency by communicating local process upgrades and global method distribution from aggregation averaging procedure. On-device FL is a standard application in wireless environments, with several mobile devices participating as nodes in the FL network. Managing extensive multi-dimensional process upgrades and resource-constrained computations in large-scale heterogeneous IoT cellular networks can be challenging. This article introduces a Lifetime Maximization using Optimal Directed Acyclic Graph Federated Learning in IoT Communication Networks (LM-ODAGFL) technique. The proposed LM-ODAGFL technique utilizes FL and metaheuristic optimization algorithms for energy-effective IoT networks. The Direct Acyclic Graph (DAG) model addresses device asynchrony in FL while minimizing additional resource usage. The Archimedes Optimization Algorithm (AOA) is designed to optimize the DAG model by reducing both user energy consumption and the training loss of the FL model. The performance validation of the LM-ODAGFL technique is performed by utilizing a series of experimentations. The obtained results of the LM-ODAGFL model demonstrate superior performance by consuming significantly less energy than SDAGFL and ESDAGFL, with values ranging from 0.373 to 0.485 kJ per round on the FMNIST-Clustered dataset and 16.27 to 20.34 kJ per round on the Poets dataset, compared to 0.000 to 1.442 kJ and 0.00 to 63.89 kJ respectively.

PCBs contamination in water and Mytilus edulis along the north Portuguese Atlantic Ocean coastline and analysis of potential carcinogenic risk to human health.

Seven seawater polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in water (DAP), suspended particulate matter (SPM), and blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) collected from four beaches in northwest Portugal. PCBs were extracted using solid-phase-extraction, ultrasound-extraction and QuEChERS before GC-MS analysis. The two-year annual average concentrations of PCBs in DAP, SPM and the four-year analysis in mussels were âˆ¼ 4.4 ng/L, ∼15.9 µg/kg, and âˆ¼ 56.0 µg/kg. The results suggest higher concentrations of PCBs in summer for SPM and in spring for mussels, mainly those collected close to the Ave River estuary. The origins of PCBs remain uncertain. Risk assessment shows that PCBs in water are unlikely to harm local biota due to their low thyroid hormone toxicity equivalents (TEQ-TH; ∼1.4E-04 ng/L and âˆ¼ 4.1E-04 µg/kg) and on WHO toxicity equivalents (TEQ-WHO; ∼2.1E-05 ng/L and âˆ¼ 4.9E-05 µg/kg). However, the lifetime carcinogenic risk (LCR) for humans consuming local bivalves is concerning, as it exceeds 1.0E-06.

Light-field tomographic fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy.

Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) is a powerful imaging technique that enables the visualization of biological samples at the molecular level by measuring the fluorescence decay rate of fluorescent probes. This provides critical information about molecular interactions, environmental changes, and localization within biological systems. However, creating high-resolution lifetime maps using conventional FLIM systems can be challenging, as it often requires extensive scanning that can significantly lengthen acquisition times. This issue is further compounded in three-dimensional (3D) imaging because it demands additional scanning along the depth axis. To tackle this challenge, we developed a computational imaging technique called light-field tomographic FLIM (LIFT-FLIM). Our approach allows for the acquisition of volumetric fluorescence lifetime images in a highly data-efficient manner, significantly reducing the number of scanning steps required compared to conventional point-scanning or line-scanning FLIM imagers. Moreover, LIFT-FLIM enables the measurement of high-dimensional data using low-dimensional detectors, which are typically low cost and feature a higher temporal bandwidth. We demonstrated LIFT-FLIM using a linear single-photon avalanche diode array on various biological systems, showcasing unparalleled single-photon detection sensitivity. Additionally, we expanded the functionality of our method to spectral FLIM and demonstrated its application in high-content multiplexed imaging of lung organoids. LIFT-FLIM has the potential to open up broad avenues in both basic and translational biomedical research.

Monitoring cancer treatments in melanoma cells using a fluorescence lifetime nanoprobe based on a CdSe/ZnS quantum dot functionalized with a peptide containing D-penicillamine and histidine.

Anticancer therapies with cisplatin and volasertib (BI-6727) were monitored by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) in live SK-Mel-2 melanoma cells. A CdSe/ZnS quantum dot functionalized with a peptide containing D-penicillamine and histidine (CdSe/ZnS-PH) was used as intracellular pH fluorescent probe. A faster cytosol acidification was observed for cells treated with cisplatin when compared to volasertib. The first changes in the intracellular pH were found after 2 hours of treatment with cisplatin and 8 hours with volasertib. Additionally, the relationship between cytosol acidification and apoptosis was investigated using an innovative methodology based on time-resolved fluorescence measurements. Similar low percentages of apoptotic cells were observed after short incubation periods (2 - 8 hours) with both drugs. In contrast, late apoptosis and death were found for a large fraction of cells during 24-hour incubation with cisplatin but not volasertib. Thus, the early acidification observed in cisplatin treatment could accelerate apoptosis and cell death. Despite volasertib treatment shows slower mechanism of action than cisplatin, similar inhibitory effects were found for both drugs at longer incubation periods (72 hours). This study proves the potential of CdSe/ZnS-PH nanoparticle as a fluorescence lifetime probe in the study of the mechanism of action of antitumor drugs.

Localized Gradual Photomediated Brightness and Lifetime Increase of Superacid-Treated Monolayer MoS2.

Monolayer semiconducting transition-metal dichalcogenides (S-TMDs) have been extensively studied as materials for next-generation optoelectronic devices due to their direct band gap and high exciton binding energy at room temperature. Under a superacid treatment of bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide (TFSI), sulfur-based TMDs such as MoS2 can emit strong photoluminescence (PL) with a photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) approaching unity. However, the magnitude of PL enhancement varies by more than 2 orders of magnitude in published reports. A major culprit behind the discrepancy is sulfur-based TMD's sensitivity to above-bandgap photostimulation. Here, we present a detailed study of how TFSI-treated MoS2 reacts to photostimulation with increasing PL occurring hours after continuous or pulsed laser exposure. The PL of TFSI-treated MoS2 is enhanced up to 74 times its initial intensity after 5 h of continuous exposure to 532 nm laser light. Photostimulation also enhances the PL of untreated MoS2 but with a much smaller enhancement. Caution should be taken when probing MoS2 PL spectra, as above-bandgap light can alter the resulting intensity and peak wavelength of the emission over time. The presence of air is verified to play a key role in the photostimulated enhancement effect. Additionally, the rise of PL intensity is mirrored by an increase in measured carrier lifetime of up to ∼400 ps, consistent with the suppression of nonradiative pathways. This work demonstrates why variations in PL intensity are observed across samples and provides an understanding of the changes in carrier lifetimes to better engineer next-generation optoelectronic devices.

200-Fold Lifetime Extension of 2,6- Dihydroxyanthraquinone Electrolyte during Flow Battery Operation.

We study the capacity fade rate of a flow battery utilizing 2,6-dihydroxyanthraquinone (DHAQ) and its dependence on hydroxide concentration, state of charge, cutoff voltages for the discharge step and for the electrochemical regeneration (oxidation of decomposition compounds back to active species) step, and the period of performing the electrochemical regeneration events. Our observations confirm that the first decomposition product, 2,6-dihydroxyanthrone (DHA), is stable, but after electro-oxidative dimerization, the anthrone dimer decomposes. We identify conditions for which there is little time after dimerization until the dimer is rapidly reoxidized electrochemically to form DHAQ. Combining these approaches, we decrease the fade rate to 0.02%/day, which is 18 times lower than the lowest rate reported previously of 0.38%/day, and over 200 times lower than the value under standard cycling conditions of 4.3%/day. The findings and their mechanistic interpretation are expected to extend the lifetime and enhance the effectiveness of in situ electrochemical regeneration for other electroactive species with finite lifetimes.

Fluorescence lifetime imaging of human pancreatic lipase activity using a novel probe for early diagnosis of severe acute pancreatitis.

Severe Acute Pancreatitis, a serious condition caused by factors such as gallstones and chronic excessive alcohol consumption, with a very high mortality rate. Human pancreatic lipase (hPL) is a key digestive enzyme and abnormal activity levels of this enzyme are important indicators for diagnosing and monitoring pancreatic diseases. A fluorescent probe, LPP, has been developed to monitor the activity of hPL, especially in cases of SAP. The probe is based on cyanine isoindole derivatives, in vitro experiments confirmed the high specificity and sensitivity of the probe, with a detection limit of 0.012 U/mL, reactions completed within 10 min, and effective monitoring of pancreatic lipase activity in various biological samples. The stability and low cytotoxicity of LPP make it suitable for clinical applications, providing new tools and perspectives for the research and treatment of pancreatic diseases and related metabolic abnormalities. In addition, the change in fluorescence lifetime after the reaction of the probe with lipase allows for fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM), effectively monitoring the dynamic changes of hPL and enabling early diagnosis and monitoring of pancreatitis. This research not only enhances the understanding of pancreatic lipase activity detection but also has the potential to improve the diagnostics and treatment of pancreatitis.

The Interaction Of Homodimer Styrylcyanine Dyes With Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate And Triton X-100.

Solubilization of the styrylcyanine dye Sbt ((E)-2-(4-(dimethylamino)styryl)-3-methylbenzo[d]thiazol-3-ium iodide) and its homodimers Dbt-5 and Dbt-10 in aqueous solution of sodium dodecyl sulfate and Triton X-100 has been studied by steady state and picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. At low concentration of sodium dodecyl sulfate in solution, between Sbt, Dbt-5 dyes molecules and surfactant ion pairs are formed followed by the formation non-luminescent H-aggregates. The nature of the interaction between molecules of dyes and surfactants has been revealed. The binding constants Ks of the dyes to the surfactants, free energy changes (ΔG0), the number of dye molecules (n) included in a single micelle and photophysical parameters have been determined. The degree of solubilization of dyes in micellar solution of Triton X-100 is higher as compared to sodium dodecyl sulfate and depends on the molecular weight and size of both dye molecules and micelles.

An indicator of the view of time passing: the development and validation of the metacognitive knowledge of time passing scale (MKTPS) in Chinese college students.

How we view the passage of past time determines how we face time itself as well as our futures, which has a strong impact particularly during the highly creative and malleable college years. Chinese culture cherishes time deeply, and for centuries there has been a tradition of "educating children and youth to inspect the passage of time." However, in today's age of information and intelligence, time has shown a trend toward fragmentation. How do contemporary Chinese college students view the passage of time, and what structures or content does it contain? The answer to this question remains uncertain, necessitating further exploration. Following Flavell's theory of metacognitive knowledge (MK), we adopted a semi-structured interview method and used the results to first outline the basic structure of Chinese college students' view of time passing, identifying four major aspects: priming aftereffect, life touching, positive promotion, and negative inhibition. Then, using the initial four-dimensional structure as a starting point, we developed the Metacognitive Knowledge of Time Passing Scale (MKTPS), and carried out exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis to test its fit. The results showed that the four-factor scale and its 22 items had a good fit to the data. Third, the reliability and validity of the self-developed scale were tested. The results show that the internal consistency, split-half, and retest reliability of the MKTPS are good (all rs > 0.60). The construct validity of the MKTPS is also good (r between subscales is 0.33-0.60, r between subscales and total scale is 0.64-0.87), the convergent validity with Zimbardo's negative past time perspective is high (r = 0.37), and the discriminant validity with Zimbardo's future time perspective is significant (r = 0.18). Regarding criterion correlation validity, the total scores of the MKTPS have a significantly higher positive correlation with those of the time management disposition (TMD) scale (r = 0.45). Future points for studying the view of time passing in adults of all ages and across cultures field and shortcomings of the current study are also discussed.

Association Between Cannabis Use and Brain Structures: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background  Observational studies suggested that cannabis use was associated with alternation of brain structures; however, as subjected to confounding factors, they were difficult to make causal inferences and direction determinations. In this study, a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was employed to examine the potential causal association between cannabis use and brain structures. Methods The genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data for lifetime cannabis use (LCU), cannabis use disorder (CUD), and brain cortical and subcortical structures were utilized in this study. Cortical structures were divided into 34 distinct gyral-defined regions with surface area (SA) and thickness (TH) measured. Subcortical structures encompassed volumes from seven specified regions. The primary estimator used in our analysis was inverse-variance weighted (IVW), complemented by MR-Egger and weighted median methods to enhance the robustness of the results. The Cochran's Q test, funnel plots, and MR-Egger intercept tests were used to detect heterogeneity and pleiotropy. Results  No causal relationship was detected between LCU and global cortical SA or TH. However, at the regional cortex level, LCU was associated with decreased TH in the fusiform (ß = -0.0168 mm, SE = 0.00581, P = 0.0039) and lateral occipital (ß = -0.0141 mm, SE = 0.00531, P = 0.0079) regions, while increasing TH in the postcentral region (ß = 0.0093 mm, SE = 0.00445, P = 0.0374). At the subcortical level, LCU was found to increase the brainstem volume (ß = 0.224 mm3, SE = 0.09, P = 0.0128). CUD did not show any causal association with brain structure at either cortical or subcortical levels. Nonetheless, after applying multiple comparison corrections, the P values for the MR analysis of causal relationships between cannabis use and these brain structures did not meet the significance threshold. Conclusion  The evidence for cannabis use causally influencing brain structures is insufficient.

Ortho-positronium lifetime for soft-tissue classification.

The objective of this work is to showcase the ortho-positronium lifetime as a probe for soft-tissue characterization. We employed positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy to experimentally measure the three components of the positron annihilation lifetime-para-positronium (p-Ps), positron, and ortho-positronium (o-Ps)-for three types of porcine, non-fixated soft tissues ex vivo: adipose, hepatic, and muscle. Then, we benchmarked our measurements with X-ray phase-contrast imaging, which is the current state-of-the-art for soft-tissue analysis. We found that the o-Ps lifetime in adipose tissues (2.54 ± 0.12 ns) was approximately 20% longer than in hepatic (2.04 ± 0.09 ns) and muscle (2.03 ± 0.12 ns) tissues. In addition, the separation between the measurements for adipose tissue and the other tissues was better from o-Ps lifetime measurement than from X-ray phase-contrast imaging. This experimental study proved that the o-Ps lifetime is a viable non-invasive probe for characterizing and classifying the different soft tissues. Specifically, o-Ps lifetime as a soft-tissue characterization probe had a strong sensitivity to the lipid content that can be potentially implemented in commercial positron emission tomography scanners that feature list-mode data acquisition.

Loss of Cognitive Function in Mexican children due to lead exposure and the associated economic costs.

BACKGROUND: Lead exposure reduces the cognitive development and future economic prospects of children. While previous studies in high-income settings have explored productivity losses associated with lead exposure, limited research has focused on low and middle-income countries like Mexico. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the economic implications of lead exposure on Mexican children using, for the first time, nationally representative Blood lead levels (BLLs) measurements in children aged 1-4, specifically focusing on the costs of forgone lifetime income due to cognitive losses. METHODS: BLLs of children aged 1-4 were extracted from the 2018-2019 National Health and Nutrition Survey (ENSANUT). Estimations of cognitive losses were derived from a log-linear relationship between BLLs and IQ loss. Lost lifetime economic productivity per child was calculated, assuming a 2% reduction in lifetime potential productivity for each IQ point lost due to lead exposure, based on previous literature (Attina and Trasande, 2013; Larsen and Sanchez-Triana, 2023). Productivity data were obtained from representative sources for Mexico. RESULTS: The estimated economic loss amounted to US $33.02 billion, equivalent to 2.76% of Mexico's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2019 (calculated for a 1-year cohort). On a national scale, the long-term loss of cognition for children 1-4 years old is 4.14 IQ points per child due to lead exposure, with significant variability across States (range: 3.26 to 5.26). Lead-poisoned children (≥5 µg/dL) suffered an average loss of 6.42 IQ points (range: 0 to 6.97). In terms of economic impact, some States like Chiapas experienced losses of 7.08% of its GDP, while others had losses as low as 0.67%. Intriguingly, states with lower Human Development Indexes (HDIs) exhibited relatively higher economic losses despite lower average blood lead levels. DISCUSSION: The heterogeneous impact of lead exposure across Mexican states underscores the necessity for tailored regional policies. These findings emphasize the urgency for targeted interventions and informed policy measures to mitigate the socioeconomic consequences of lead exposure on Mexican children.

Interacting phenotypic plasticities: Do male and female responses to the sociosexual environment interact to determine fitness?

Socially induced plasticity in reproductive effort is a widely documented phenomenon. However, few empirical studies have examined how male and female plastic responses to the social environment might interact in determining fitness outcomes. In field crickets, Teleogryllus oceanicus, males respond to rival song by increasing expenditure on seminal fluid proteins that enhance competitive fertilization success at the cost of reduced embryo survival. It remains unknown whether plastic responses in females could moderate the effects of male competitiveness on offspring performance. Here we used a fully factorial design to explore the interacting effects on fitness of male and female plasticity to the sociosexual environment. We found that female crickets exposed to male song increased the number of eggs produced during early life reproduction, which came at a cost of reduced offspring size. There was evidence, albeit weak, that interacting effects of male and female sociosexual environment contributed to variation in the hatching success of eggs laid by females. Lifetime offspring production was unaffected by the sociosexual environments to which upstream male and female plastic responses were made. Our data offer a rare test of the theoretical expectation that male and female plasticities should interact in their effects on female fitness.