Model

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition by organophosphorus (OP) compounds poses a serious health risk to humans. While many therapeutics have been tested for treatment after OP exposure, there is still a need for efficient reactivation against all kinds of OP compounds, and current oxime therapeutics have poor blood-brain barrier penetration into the central nervous system, while offering no recovery in activity from the OP-aged forms of AChE. Herein, we report a novel library of 4-amidophenol quinone methide precursors (QMP) that provide effective reactivation against multiple OP-inhibited forms of AChE in addition to resurrecting the aged form of AChE after exposure to a pesticide or some phosphoramidates...

Electromicrobial production (EMP), where electrochemically generated substrates (e.g., H2 ) are used as energy sources for microbial processes, has garnered significant interest as a method of producing fuels and other value-added chemicals from CO2 . Combining these processes with direct air capture (DAC) has the potential to enable a truly circular carbon economy. Here, we analyze the economics of a hypothetical system that combines adsorbent-based DAC with EMP to produce n -butanol, a potential replacement for fossil fuels...

When a droplet interacts with a water-repellent surface, its triple-phase contact line typically exhibits varying contact angles, which can vary from point-to-point across the surface. Consequently, measuring the contact angles along the contact line would provide a better representation of the wetting properties of the surface than a single average contact angle. However, an effective method for estimating the local contact angle along the contact line on opaque hydrophobic surfaces is currently lacking. Here we present a method that combines through-drop imaging of the wetting interface during a sliding experiment with Finite Element Modeling of the droplet to estimate contact angle values along the contact line...

In this Pro-Con commentary article, we discuss use of continuous physiologic monitoring for clinical deterioration, specifically respiratory depression in the postoperative population. The Pro position advocates for 24/7 continuous surveillance monitoring of all patients starting in the postanesthesia care unit until discharge from the hospital. The strongest arguments for universal monitoring relate to inadequate assessment and algorithms for patient risk. We argue that the need for hospitalization in and of itself is a sufficient predictor of an individual's risk for unexpected respiratory deterioration...

The hybridizations of two-dimensional (2D) metallic materials with semiconducting transition metal oxides (TMOs) register attractive heterojunctions, which can find various applications in photostimulated circumstances. In this work, we developed an ambient-pressure chemical vapor deposition method to directly grow T-VS2 on atomically smooth rutile TiO2 single crystals with different terminations and thus successfully constructed a heterojunction model of VS2 /TiO2 with a well-defined clean interface. Detailed measurements with Kelvin probe force microscopy revealed the facet-dependent charge transfer occurring at the VS2 /TiO2 interfaces, seeing variations not only in the amount and direction of the transferred electrons but also in the photoinduced surface potential changes and the dynamics of photogenerated charge carriers under ultraviolet irradiation...

The last five years have seen impressive progress in deep learning models applied to protein research. Most notably, sequence-based structure predictions have seen transformative gains in the form of AlphaFold2 and related approaches. Millions of missense protein variants in the human population lack annotations, and these computational methods are a valuable means to prioritize variants for further analysis. Here, we review the recent progress in deep learning models applied to the prediction of protein structure and protein variants, with particular emphasis on their implications for human genetics and health...

BACKGROUND: During health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, shortages of health care workers often occur. Recruiting students as volunteers could be an option, but it is uncertain whether the idea is well-accepted. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to estimate the global rate of willingness to volunteer among medical and health students in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar for studies reporting the number of health students willing to volunteer during COVID-19 from 2019 to November 17, 2023...

BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence (AI) has garnered considerable attention in the context of sepsis research, particularly in personalized diagnosis and treatment. Conducting a bibliometric analysis of existing publications can offer a broad overview of the field and identify current research trends and future research directions. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to leverage bibliometric data to provide a comprehensive overview of the application of AI in sepsis...

Invited for the cover of this issue are Harmeet Bhoday, Nathan Knotts, and Rainer Glaser at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. Joe Miner, the university mascot, is a silent and honorary co-author and personifies the spirit of the old west and the determination to succeed (our emphasis). The image depicts one (MeO-Ph, Y)-azine molecule and a model of a perfectly polar stacked bilayer. The floodlight illumination presents a graphic metaphor of second-harmonic generation (frequency doubling) by the crystalline ferroelectric materials...

In this work, we introduce the Solvate Suite , a comprehensive and modular command-line interface designed for molecular simulation and microsolvation modeling. The suite interfaces with widely used scientific software, streamlining computational experiments for liquid systems through the automated creation of simulation boxes and topology with adjustable simulation parameters. Furthermore, it has features for graphical and statistical analysis of simulated properties and extraction of trajectory configurations with various filters...

Obesity is a public health concern resulting in a variety of health complications, including heart disease and insulin resistance. Estrogens have been associated with a reduced risk of obesity, but this relationship remains incompletely understood. We assessed the role of 17β-estradiol (E2) in mitigating complications associated with obesity by supplementing E2 in the diets of overfed zebrafish. We report that dietary E2 supplementation protects against weight gain and modulates de novo cholesterol synthesis in a sex-specific manner...

Project BioEYES celebrated 20 years in K12 schools during the 2022-2023 school year. Using live zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) during week-long science experiments, sparks the interest of students and teachers from school districts, locally and globally. Over the past two decades, BioEYES has been replicated in different ways based on the interest and capacity of our partners. This article discusses several of the successful models, the common challenges, and how each BioEYES site has adopted guiding principles to help foster their success...

Zebrafish eyes are anatomically similar to humans and have a higher percentage of cone photoreceptors more akin to humans than most rodent models, making them a beneficial model organism for studying vision. However, zebrafish are different in that they can regenerate their optic nerve after injury, which most other animals cannot. Vision in zebrafish and many other vertebrate animals, including humans, can be accessed using the optokinetic response (OKR), which is an innate eye movement that occurs when tracking an object...

This study outlines a 2-week laboratory module for an authentic cell biology undergraduate research experience that uses zebrafish ( Danio rerio ), a popular model organism for research. Previous research has indicated that course-based undergraduate research experiences such as this one increase student confidence, active learning, and retention. During this research experience, students investigate variations in pigmentation in the caudal fins of wild type (WT) and transgenic fish [ Tg(mitfa:GNAQQ209L )]...

Rising in popularity as a model organism in the classroom, zebrafish have numerous characteristics that make them ideal for teaching. In this study, we describe an experiment that helps students better understand the concept of tissue regeneration and the genes that control it. This experiment utilizes a dominant negative transgene for fgfr1 and allows students to observe the consequences of its activation. The first part of the laboratory is hands-on, and includes details of the amputation of caudal fins, heat shocking, general fish care, and visual observations...

The zebrafish is a powerful model organism for studying development and regeneration. However, there is a lack of a standardized reference diet for developmental and regeneration experiments. Most studies evaluate the rate of growth, survival, and fecundity. In this study, we compare three diets and their effects on growth and regeneration after a spinal cord injury (SCI). Fish were fed daily for 1 week with daily measurements of overall length and width of spinal injury. Fish fed a live rotifer diet grew 32%, whereas a commercially available diet only led to a 4% increase in body length...

Research-based education at the undergraduate level is ideal for fostering the training of future scientists. In an undergraduate Developmental Biology course, this learning strategy requires the availability of model species and enough research reagents, not only for technique training but also for the development of student original projects. This might be challenging in most countries, where resources are limited. Hence, there is a need to develop low-cost solutions for use in the classroom. In this study, we describe the optimization and use of two low-cost protocols in zebrafish embryos for hands-on practical sessions and project-based learning in a Developmental Biology undergraduate course in Ecuador...

The goal of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee WInSTEP SEPA program is to provide valuable and relevant research experiences to students and instructors in diverse secondary educational settings. Introducing an online experience allows the expansion of a proven instructional research program to a national scale and removes many common barriers. These can include lack of access to zebrafish embryos, laboratory equipment, and modern classroom facilities, which often deny disadvantaged and underrepresented students from urban and rural school districts valuable inquiry-based learning opportunities...

Currently, in Brazil, all researchers involved in animal experimentation must undergo training in laboratory animal science to stay updated on biology, methodology, ethics, and legal considerations related to the use of animals. The training program presented in this study not only aims to fulfill a legal obligation but also intends to train students and professionals to effectively care for their biomodels. It seeks to help them understand the importance of this care, both for the welfare of the animals and for the results of their projects...

Current hospital VTE (venous thromboembolism) prophylaxis for medical patients has been characterized by both underuse and, increasingly, overuse. The American Society of Hematology (ASH) has endorsed the use of risk assessment models (RAM) as an approach to individualize VTE prophylaxis as a way of balancing overuse (excessive risk of bleeding) and underuse (risk of avoidable VTE). ASH has endorsed IMPROVE (International Medical Prevention Registry on Venous Thromboembolism) risk assessment models - the only RAM to assess short-term bleeding and VTE risk in acutely ill medical inpatients...