Sustainable synthesis of fluorescent polymer carbon dots@PVA for sensitive chlortetracycline detection.

Antibiotic residues persist in the environment and represent serious health hazards; thus, it is important to develop sensitive and effective detection techniques. This paper presents a bio-inspired way to make water-soluble fluorescent polymer carbon dots (PCDs@PVA) by heating biomass precursors and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) together. For example, the synthesized PCDs@PVA are very stable with enhanced emission intensity. This property was observed in a wide range of environmental conditions, including those with changing temperatures, pH levels, UV light, and ionic strength. PCDs@PVA detected the antibiotic chlortetracycline (CTCs) with great selectivity against structurally related compounds and a low detection limit of 20 nM, demonstrating outstanding sensitivity and specificity. We confirmed the sensor's practical application through real sample analysis, yielding recovery rates of 98%-99% in samples of milk, honey, and river water. The synthesized PCDs@PVA fluorescence sensor was successfully used for CTCs detection in real samples.

Development of Magnetic Nanosystems with Potential for the Treatment of Inner Ear Pathologies.

Hearing loss (HL) affects more than 5% of the global population, with projections indicating an impact of up to 50% on young individuals in the next years. HL treatments remain limited due to the inner ear's hermeticism. HL often involves inflammatory processes, underscoring the need for enhanced delivery of antiinflammatory agents to the inner ear. Our research focuses on the development of a directed therapy based on magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). We previously synthesized biocompatible folic acid-coated iron oxide-core nanoparticles (MNPs@FA) as potential carriers for the anti-inflammatory Diclofenac (Dfc). This study aims to incorporate Dfc onto MNPs@FA to facilitate targeted drug delivery to the inner ear. Through optimizing the loading procedure, we achieved optimal loading capacity. Dfc release was studied in the simulated target fluid and the administration vehicle. Complete characterization is also shown. In vitro biocompatibility testing ensured the biosafety of the resulting formulation. Subsequent ex vivo targeting assays on murine cochleae validated the nanosystems' ability to penetrate the round window membrane, one of the main HL therapy barriers. These findings serve as validation before continuing to more complex in vivo studies. Together, the data here presented represent an advancement in addressing unmet medical needs in HL therapy.

Does attachment anxiety mediate the persistence of anxiety and depressive symptoms from adolescence to early adulthood?

OBJECTIVES: Depression and anxiety often emerge in adolescence and persist into early adulthood. Developing a greater understanding of the factors that influence their persistence may inform psychological interventions. Their association with an insecure attachment style is well established although the mediating role of attachment anxiety in the persistence of depression and anxiety over time has not been examined. This study aimed to examine if anxious attachment mediated depression and anxiety from adolescence to early adulthood. METHODS: Data from 3,436 participants in a longitudinal birth cohort study were examined. At 14-years and 21-years, participants completed the Achenbach Youth Self Report (YSR) and the Achenbach Young Adult Self-Report (YASR) respectively. At 21-years, participants completed the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ). Attachment anxiety as a mediator for the persistence of anxiety/depressive symptoms from 14- to 21-years was examined. RESULTS: Attachment anxiety accounted for approximately 60% of the persistence of anxiety and depressive symptoms at 14- and 21- years after adjusting for covariates. Results were similar when stratifying by males and females. CONCLUSIONS: Attachment anxiety significantly contributes to the persistence of anxiety and depressive symptoms from adolescence into early adulthood for both males and females. Incorporating interventions that address attachment anxiety in adolescents may improve the response to therapy for anxiety and depression.

Lymphatic Vessels in the Inner Ear of Patients With Meniere Disease: A Novel Pathological Finding.

Background: Meniere disease, characterized by intermittent episodes of vertigo, fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and aural pressure, is a common cause of vertigo in humans. The pathogenesis of Meniere disease remains unknown. The current study aimed to describe a novel pathological change discovered in the inner ears of patients with Meniere disease who underwent labyrinthectomy. Methods: This retrospective case-control study was conducted with 21 patients with MD who underwent labyrinthectomy. A total of 15 patients diagnosed with acoustic neuroma or glomus jugular tumor were review over the same period of time as control. The clinical information of the patients and the pathological features of the membrane are described. Results: The new pathological tissue was a morbid membrane structure sealing the round window, characterized by the formation of lymphatic capillaries. Histochemical and immunofluorescent staining was positive for D2-40, LYVE-1, podoplanin, and PROX1, which are the classical markers of the lymphatic vessels. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the lymph capillaries lacked a typical basement membrane and that their ends were blind, composed of a single layer of endothelial cells with valval connection structures between adjacent capillary epithelial cells. Conclusion: This is the first report of lymphatic vessels in the human inner ear, and this pathological structure is a completely new discovery. The lymphatic vessels may develop due to inflammation or decompensation of pressure in the inner ear, suggesting that the inner ear can reactively form lymphatic vessels in some inflammation and fluid flow-dependent pathological conditions. The current findings help in improving our understanding of the pathogenesis of Meniere disease.

Recent Progress in Generation of Inner Ear Organoid.

Inner ear organoids play a crucial role in hearing research. In comparison to other animal models and 2D cell culture systems, inner ear organoids offer significant advantages for studying the mechanisms of inner ear development and exploring novel approaches to disease treatment. Inner ear organoids derived from human cells are more closely resemble normal human organs in development and function. The 3D culture system of the inner ear organoid enhances cell-cell interactions and mimics the internal environment. In this review, the progress and limitations of organoid culture methods derived from tissue-specific progenitors and pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are summarized, which may offer new insights into generating organoids that closely resemble the inner ear in terms of morphology and function.

SLC25A48 influences plasma levels of choline and localizes to the inner mitochondrial membrane.

Choline contributes to the biogenesis of methyl groups, neurotransmitters, and cell membranes. Our genome-wide association study (GWAS) of circulating choline in 2228 college students found that alleles in SLC25A48 (rs6596270) influence choline concentrations in men (p = 9.6 × 10-8), but not women. Previously, the subcellular location and function of SLC25A48 were unknown. Using super-resolution immunofluorescence microscopy, we localized SLC25A48 to the inner mitochondrial membrane. Our results suggest that SLC25A48 transports choline across the inner mitochondrial membrane.

A non-toxic equinatoxin-II reveals the dynamics and distribution of sphingomyelin in the cytosolic leaflet of the plasma membrane.

Sphingomyelin (SM) is a major sphingolipid in mammalian cells. SM is enriched in the extracellular leaflet of the plasma membrane (PM). Besides this localization, recent electron microscopic and biochemical studies suggest the presence of SM in the cytosolic leaflet of the PM. In the present study, we generated a non-toxic SM-binding variant (NT-EqtII) based on equinatoxin-II (EqtII) from the sea anemone Actinia equina, and examined the dynamics of SM in the cytosolic leaflet of living cell PMs. NT-EqtII with two point mutations (Leu26Ala and Pro81Ala) had essentially the same specificity and affinity to SM as wild-type EqtII. NT-EqtII expressed in the cytosol was recruited to the PM in various cell lines. Super-resolution microscopic observation revealed that NT-EqtII formed tiny domains that were significantly colocalized with cholesterol and N-terminal Lyn. Meanwhile, single molecule observation at high resolutions down to 1 ms revealed that all the examined lipid probes including NT-EqtII underwent apparent fast simple Brownian diffusion, exhibiting that SM and other lipids in the cytosolic leaflet rapidly moved in and out of domains. Thus, the novel SM-binding probe demonstrated the presence of the raft-like domain in the cytosolic leaflet of living cell PMs.

Poly(Ethylene Glycols) to Facilitate Celloidin Removal for Immunohistochemical Studies on Archival Human Brain and Temporal Bone Sections.

Pathology repositories worldwide store millions of celloidin-processed human brain and temporal bone (TB) sections vital for studying central nervous system diseases and sensory organs. However, accessing these sections for modern molecular-pathological research, like immunohistochemistry, is hindered by the challenge of removing celloidin without damaging tissue. In this study, we explored the use of polyethylene glycols (PEGs), a class of non-hazardous, ethylene glycol oligomers, combined with an improved section mounting technique, to gently and effectively dissolve celloidin from sections archived for up to 40 years. Optimizing our protocol involved exploring celloidin dissolution kinetics in PEGs of varying molecular weights and terminations, as well as different temperatures. Low molecular weight PEGs, particularly PEG 200, were the most efficient celloidin solvent. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of celloidin-PEG 200 dissolution products revealed no chemical alterations, suggesting pure solvation without chemical modification. Because the solvation of celloidin in PEG was inhibited by proteins, we further developed a protein-free mounting protocol allowing complete celloidin removal in 30 to 60 minutes by immersing in PEG 200. In summary, our approach overcomes major methodological hurdles, rendering decades-old archival celloidin sections viable for immunohistochemical and other molecular biological techniques, while enhancing safety and workflow efficiency.

Complete genome sequence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain NCTR 501 isolated from the inner ear of a laboratory mouse (Mus musculus) diagnosed with otitis media.

We report the circularized 6,427,509-bp genome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from the inner ear of a laboratory mouse (Mus musculus) diagnosed with otitis media. The genome of P. aeruginosa NCTR 501 has a circular chromosome of 6,420,288 bp and two plasmids of 4,042 and 3,179 bp, respectively.

Three in one: coordination-induced emission for inherent fluorescent Al-MOF synthesis combined with inner filter effect@aggregation-induced emission mechanisms for designing color tonality and ratiometric sensing platforms.

Three phenomena, namely coordination-induced emission (CIE), aggregation-induced emission (AIE), and inner filter effect (IFE), were incorporated into the design of a ratiometric and color tonality-based biosensor. Blue fluorescent Al-based metal-organic frameworks (FMIL-96) were prepared from non-emissive ligand and aluminum ions via CIE. Interestingly, the addition of tetracycline (TC) led to ratiometric detection and color tonality, as the blue emission at 380 nm was quenched (when excited at 350 nm) due to IFE, while the green-yellowish emission at 525 nm was enhanced due to AIE. Based on that, an ultra-sensitive visual-based color tonality mode with smartphone assistance was developed for detection of TC. The sensor exhibited a linear relationship within a broad range of 2.0 to 85.0 µM TC with a detection limit of 68.0 nM. TC in milk samples was quantified with high accuracy and precision. This integration of smartphone and visual fluorescence in solution is accurate, reliable, cost-effective, and time-saving, providing an alternative strategy for the semi-quantitative determination of TC on-site.

[Evolution Trend of Water Quality in the Inner Mongolia Section of the Yellow River from 2003 to 2020].

The aim of this study was to comprehensively understand the water environment quality status and its change trend in the Inner Mongolia section of the Yellow River Basin. To analyze the water quality in recent years,the water quality data in the Yellow River basin from 2003 to 2020 were firstly collected from five typical monitoring stations．Various data analysis methods, including principal component analysis, cluster analysis, and a long short-term memory model, were used along with an improved comprehensive water quality identification index to explore the spatiotemporal characteristics of water quality in the Yellow River Basin. The results showed that the overall water quality in the basin has improved and stabilized over time. In terms of temporal variation, there was a distinction between the wet season and dry season, with a better status observed during the wet season due to increased agricultural irrigation and higher water volume. Spatially, the five monitoring sections could be divided into three categories based on strong natural factors that maintained their temporal characteristics during the wet season； however, significant differences were observed during the dry season due to urban water usage patterns. Analysis using LSTM models revealed that ammonia nitrogen will continue to decline and have a decreasing impact on the comprehensive water quality. These findings provide valuable insights for the comprehensive management of water quality in Inner Mongolia's Yellow River Basin.

Prediction of the Cause of Glaucoma Disease Identified by Glaucoma Optical Coherence Tomography Test in Relation to Diabetes and Hypertension at a National Hospital in Seoul: A Retrospective Study.

Glaucoma remains the primary cause of long-term blindness. While diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HTN) are known to influence glaucoma, other factors such as age and sex may be involved. In this retrospective study, we aimed to investigate the associations between age, sex, DM, HTN, and glaucoma risk. We employed optical coherence tomography (OCT) conducted using a 200 × 200-pixel optic cube (Cirrus HD OCT 6000, version 10.0; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA, USA). Effects obscured by low-test signals were disregarded. Data were amassed from 1337 patients. Among them, 218 and 402 patients had DM and HTN, respectively, with 133 (10%) exhibiting both. A sex-based comparison revealed slightly greater retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness in females. Patients without DM and HTN were predominantly in their 50 s and 60 s, whereas DM and HTN were most prevalent in those in their 60 s and 70 s. Both RNFL and GCIPL thicknesses decreased with advancing age in most patients. The study revealed that older individuals were more prone to glaucoma than younger individuals, with a higher incidence among patients with DM and HTN and reduced RNFL and GCIPL thicknesses. Furthermore, early detection before advancing age could furnish valuable preventive insights.

A MELET- and IFE-based UV-visible luminescent ratiometric probe for quantization of mercury(II) and nitrofurantoin in environmental sewage.

A novel fluorimetric ratiometric probe of green and eco-friendily nitrogen-enriched, oxygen-doped carbon nanodots (Cnanodots) was prepared for the quantitative analysis of mercury(II) (HgII) and nitrofurantoin (Nit) in the environmental sewage. The Cnanodots exhibits dual-emission peaks respectively at 345 and 445 nm under 285 nm excitation, with excitation-independent properties. Unexpectedly, this Cnanodots displays two obvious ratiometric responses to HgII and Nit through decreasing the signal at 345 nm and remaining invariable at 445 nm. Experimental results confirm that the highly sensitive analysis of HgII and Nit are achieved respectively based on matching energy-level electron transfer and inner filter effect mechanisms. The fluorescence (FL) ratiometric intensity of [FL345nm/FL445nm] expresses a good linear relationship with the concentration of HgII in the scope of 0.01-20 µM, while the logarithm of [Log(FL0345nm-FL345nm)] on the quenching degree of the probe by Nit also shows a good linear correlation within the range of 0.01-100 µM. The detection limits were calculated to be 4.14 nM for HgII, and 7.84 nM for Nit. Moreover, recovery experiments of Cnanodots for HgII and Nit sensing in real sewage samples obtained satisfactory results, comfirming the feasibility of practical application.

Localisation and function of key axonemal microtubule inner proteins and dynein docking complex members reveal extensive diversity among vertebrate motile cilia.

Vertebrate motile cilia are classified as (9+2) or (9+0), based on the presence or absence of the central pair apparatus, respectively. Cryogenic electron microscopy analyses of (9+2) cilia have uncovered an elaborate axonemal protein composition. The extent to which these features are conserved in (9+0) cilia remains unclear. CFAP53, a key axonemal filamentous microtubule inner protein (fMIP) and a centriolar satellites component, is essential for motility of (9+0), but not (9+2) cilia. Here, we show that in (9+2) cilia, CFAP53 functions redundantly with a paralogous fMIP, MNS1. MNS1 localises to ciliary axonemes, and combined loss of both proteins in zebrafish and mice caused severe outer dynein arm loss from (9+2) cilia, significantly affecting their motility. Using immunoprecipitation, we demonstrate that, whereas MNS1 can associate with itself and CFAP53, CFAP53 is unable to self-associate. We also show that additional axonemal dynein-interacting proteins, two outer dynein arm docking (ODAD) complex members, show differential localisation between types of motile cilia. Together, our findings clarify how paralogous fMIPs, CFAP53 and MNS1, function in regulating (9+2) versus (9+0) cilia motility, and further emphasise extensive structural diversity among these organelles.

Interdisciplinary approaches to understanding the inner speech, with emphasis on the role of incorporating clinical data.

Neuroscience has largely conceptualized inner speech, sometimes called covert speech, as being a part of the language system, namely, a precursor to overt speech and/or speech without the motor component (impoverished motor speech). Yet interdisciplinary work has strongly suggested that inner speech is multidimensional and situated within the language system as well as in more domain general systems. By leveraging evidence from philosophy, linguistics, neuroscience and cognitive science, we argue that neuroscience can gain a more comprehensive understanding of inner speech processes. We will summarize the existing knowledge on the traditional approach to understanding the neuroscience of inner speech, which is squarely through the language system, before discussing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding the cognitive, linguistic and neural substrates/mechanisms that may be involved in inner speech. Given our own interests in inner speech after brain injury, we finish by discussing the theoretical and clinical benefits of researching inner speech in aphasia through an interdisciplinary lens.

Ebf1 is a mouse deafness gene and deletion causes a dramatic increase in hair cells and support cells of the organ of Corti.

Following up on our previous observation that early B cell factor (EBF) sites are enriched in open chromatin of the developing sensory epithelium of the mouse cochlea, we investigated the effect of deletion of Ebf1 on inner ear development. We used a Cre driver to delete Ebf1 at the otocyst stage prior to development of the cochlea. We examined the cochlea at postnatal day (P) 1 and found that the sensory epithelium had doubled in size but the length of the cochlear duct was unaffected. We also found that deletion of Ebf1 led to ectopic sensory patches in the Kölliker's organ. Innervation of the developing organ of Corti was disrupted with no obvious spiral bundles. The ectopic patches were also innervated. All the extra hair cells (HCs) within the sensory epithelium and Kölliker's organ contained mechanoelectrical transduction channels as indicated by rapid uptake of FM1-43. The excessive numbers of HCs were still present in the adult Ebf1 conditional knockout (cKO) animal. The animals had no detectable auditory brainstem response (ABR) suggesting that this gene is essential for hearing development.

Predicting ecology and hearing sensitivities in Parapontoporia-An extinct long-snouted dolphin.

Analyses of the cetacean (whale and dolphin) inner ear provide glimpses into the ecology and evolution of extinct and extant groups. The paleoecology of the long-snouted odontocete (toothed whale) group, Parapontoporia, is primarily marine with its depositional context also suggesting freshwater tolerance. As an extinct relative of the exclusively riverine Lipotes vexillifer, Parapontoporia provides insight into a transition from marine to freshwater environments. High-resolution X-ray CT scans (~3 microns or less) of three individual specimens from two species, P. sternbergi and P. pacifica, were acquired. Digital endocasts of the inner ear labyrinths were extracted non-destructively. Nine measurements of the inner ear were compared with an existing dataset covering 125 terrestrial and aquatic artiodactyls. These measurements were then subjected to a principal component analysis to interpret hearing sensitivities among other artiodactyls. Based on our analyses, Parapontoporia was likely to have been able to hear within narrow-band high frequency (NBHF) ranges. This finding indicates another convergence of NBHF-style hearing, or, more intriguingly, suggests that it may be an ancestral characteristic present among the longirostrine dolphins that dominated in the Miocene prior to the evolution of more modern lineages.

Fusion Genes Landscape of Lung Cancer Patients From Inner Mongolia, China.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Gene fusion, a key driver of tumorigenesis, has led to the identification of numerous driver gene fusions for lung cancer diagnosis and treatment. However, previous studies focused on Western populations, leaving the possibility of unrecognized lung cancer-associated gene fusions specific to Inner Mongolia due to its unique genetic background and dietary habits. To address this, we conducted DNA sequencing analysis on tumor and adjacent nontumor tissues from 1200 individuals with lung cancer in Inner Mongolia. Our analysis established a comprehensive fusion gene landscape specific to lung cancer in Inner Mongolia, shedding light on potential region-specific molecular mechanisms underlying the disease. Compared to Western cohorts, we observed a higher occurrence of ALK and RET fusions in Inner Mongolian patients. Additionally, we discovered eight novel fusion genes in three patients: SLC34A2-EPHB1, CCT6P3-GSTP1, BARHL2-APC, HRAS-MELK, FAM134B-ERBB2, ABCB1-GIPC1, GPR98-ALK, and FAM134B-SALL1. These previously unreported fusion genes suggest potential regional specificity. Furthermore, we characterized the fusion genes' structures based on breakpoints and described their impact on major functional gene domains. Importantly, the identified novel fusion genes exhibited significant clinical and pathological relevance. Notably, patients with SLC34A2-EPHB1, CCT6P3-GSTP1, and BARHL2-APC fusions showed sensitivity to the combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Patients with HRAS-MELK, FAM134B-ERBB2, and ABCB1-GIPC1 fusions showed sensitivity to chemotherapy. In summary, our study provides novel insights into the frequency, distribution, and characteristics of specific fusion genes, offering valuable guidance for the development of effective clinical treatments, particularly in Inner Mongolia.

Lightweight tomato ripeness detection algorithm based on the improved RT-DETR.

Tomatoes, widely cherished for their high nutritional value, necessitate precise ripeness identification and selective harvesting of mature fruits to significantly enhance the efficiency and economic benefits of tomato harvesting management. Previous studies on intelligent harvesting often focused solely on identifying tomatoes as the target, lacking fine-grained detection of tomato ripeness. This deficiency leads to the inadvertent harvesting of immature and rotten fruits, resulting in economic losses. Moreover, in natural settings, uneven illumination, occlusion by leaves, and fruit overlap hinder the precise assessment of tomato ripeness by robotic systems. Simultaneously, the demand for high accuracy and rapid response in tomato ripeness detection is compounded by the need for making the model lightweight to mitigate hardware costs. This study proposes a lightweight model named PDSI-RTDETR to address these challenges. Initially, the PConv_Block module, integrating partial convolution with residual blocks, replaces the Basic_Block structure in the legacy backbone to alleviate computing load and enhance feature extraction efficiency. Subsequently, a deformable attention module is amalgamated with intra-scale feature interaction structure, bolstering the capability to extract detailed features for fine-grained classification. Additionally, the proposed slimneck-SSFF feature fusion structure, merging the Scale Sequence Feature Fusion framework with a slim-neck design utilizing GSConv and VoVGSCSP modules, aims to reduce volume of computation and inference latency. Lastly, by amalgamating Inner-IoU with EIoU to formulate Inner-EIoU, replacing the original GIoU to expedite convergence while utilizing auxiliary frames enhances small object detection capabilities. Comprehensive assessments validate that the PDSI-RTDETR model achieves an average precision mAP50 of 86.8%, marking a 3.9% enhancement over the original RT-DETR model, and a 38.7% increase in FPS. Furthermore, the GFLOPs of PDSI-RTDETR have been diminished by 17.6%. Surpassing the baseline RT-DETR and other prevalent methods regarding precision and speed, it unveils its considerable potential for detecting tomato ripeness. When applied to intelligent harvesting robots in the future, this approach can improve the quality of tomato harvesting by reducing the collection of immature and spoiled fruits.

Intratympanic injections of emulsion-like dispersions to augment cinnarizine amount in a healthy rabbit inner ear model.

Aim: To investigate eutectic liquid-based emulsion-like dispersions for intratympanic injections to augment cinnarizine permeability across round window membrane in a healthy rabbit inner ear model. Methods: Two-tier systematic optimization was used to get the injection formula. The drug concentrations in perilymph and plasma were analyzed via. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method after 30-, 60-, 90- and 120-min post intratympanic injection time points in rabbits. Results: A shear-thinning behavior, immediate drug release (∼98.80%, 10 min) and higher cell viability (>97.86%, 24 h) were observed in dispersions. The cinnarizine level of 8168.57 ± 1236.79 ng/ml was observed in perilymph at 30 min post intratympanic injection in rabbits. Conclusion: The emulsion-like dispersions can augment drug permeability through round window membrane.

[Box: see text].