Complementary Approaches Research Articles

Resolving the Intricate Effects of Multiple Global Change Drivers on Root Litter Decomposition.

Plant roots represent about a quarter of global plant biomass and constitute a primary source of soil organic carbon (C). Yet, considerable uncertainty persists regarding root litter decomposition and their responses to global change factors (GCFs). Much of this uncertainty stems from a limited understanding of the multifactorial effects of GCFs and it remains unclear how these effects are mediated by litter quality, soil conditions and microbial functionality. Using complementary field decomposition and laboratory incubation approaches, we assessed the relative controls of GCF-mediated changes in root litter traits and soil and microbial properties on fine-root decomposition under warming, nitrogen (N) enrichment, and precipitation alteration. We found that warming and N enrichment accelerated fine-root decomposition by over 10%, and their combination showed an additive effect, while precipitation reduction suppressed decomposition overall by 12%, with the suppressive effect being most significant under warming-alone and N enrichment-alone conditions. Significantly, changes in litter quality played a dominant role and accelerated fine-root decomposition by 15% ~ 18% under warming and N enrichment, while changes in soil and microbial properties were predominant and reduced decomposition by 7% ~ 10% under precipitation reduction and the combined warming and N enrichment. Examining only the decomposition environment or litter properties in isolation can distort global change effects on root decomposition, underestimating precipitation reduction impacts by 38% and overstating warming and N effects by up to 73%. These findings highlight that the net impact of GCFs on root litter decomposition hinges on the interplay between GCF-modulated root decomposability and decomposition environment, as well as on the synergistic or antagonistic relationships among GCFs themselves. Our study emphasizes that integrating the legacy effects of multiple GCFs on root traits, soil conditions and microbial functionality would improve our prediction of C and nutrient cycling under interactive global change scenarios.

Remote delivered cognitive rehabilitation programs in Acquired Brain Injury: a systematic review of methods and outcomes

AbstractRemote delivered cognitive rehabilitation programs (r-CRP) are increasingly recognized as alternative and complementary intervention approaches to traditional cognitive rehabilitation (CR) in the context of several neurological conditions, including acquired brain injuries (ABI). This systematic review examines the methodological characteristics of currently available r-CRP for ABI patients and investigates their impact on cognitive and noncognitive outcomes. A systematic search was performed on EBSCOhost, PubMed, and Web of Science, complemented by a manual search. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and the Cochrane Collaboration Guidelines were followed. Out of 1624 studies, a total of 19 studies were included. The results demonstrate that most r-CRP were administered to middle-aged community-dwelling chronic stroke survivors and that there was no consensus regarding assessment and intervention protocols. Moreover, most r-CRP were delivered through information and communication technologies (ICTs), primarily relying on cognitive training (CT) interventions addressing multiple cognitive domains (e.g., attention, memory). These ICT-based CT programs included tasks with low ecological validity, i.e., tasks with limited real-world application (e.g., cancelation tasks with artificial stimuli), and were asynchronous, meaning that participants performed the sessions at their own pace, without real-time monitoring from a therapist. In terms of the impact of r-CRP, class I studies reported mixed and inconsistent results regarding the effect of this mode of delivery on cognitive and noncognitive outcomes of ABI patients while supporting its high feasibility and acceptability among patients. Specific recommendations for future research are provided to improve the methodological quality of clinical studies and establish the evidence base for r-CRP.

A period of backwards walking affects the craniovertebral angle, proprioception, balance, and foot pressure on forward head posture of female students

PurposeThe presence of spinal arches is crucial for maintaining good body posture, reducing pressure on joints, and preventing deformities caused by misalignment. Engaging in exercises that focus on correcting body alignment, such as walking backward, can enhance posture and various related factors. MethodA group of 46 female students suffering from forward head posture was selected (age: 22.89 ± 2.31 years, height: 1.63 ± 0.05 m, weight: 60.01 ± 5.41 kg, body mass index: 22.38 ± 1.28 kg/m2) and randomly divided into two groups. The intervention group participated in three exercise sessions per week for four weeks, while the control group did not receive any intervention during the study. Changes in the craniovertebral angle, proprioception, resistance, and foot pressure were measured using photogrammetry, head-neck angle examination with a laser pointer, a balance measuring device, and a foot scanner. FindingsThe results of this study showed that the training program had a significant effect on the craniovertebral angle (P = 0.001), neck proprioception (P = 0.001), balance (P = 0.001), and sole pressure (P = 0.001). Likewise, the results of the group comparison revealed significant differences in various variables, such as the craniovertebral angle (P = 0.001), neck proprioception (P = 0.001), balance (P = 0.001), and plantar pressure (P ≥ 0.05). ConclusionThis study demonstrated that walking backward enhanced the craniovertebral angle, proprioception, balance, and alterations in the plantar center of pressure. Therefore, this exercise is recommended as a complementary therapeutic approach for individuals with forward head posture.

Assessing the Impact of the Way of Saint James on Psychological Distress and Subjective Well-being: The Ultreya Study

This study aimed to examine the impact of a pilgrimage on the Way of St. James on psychological distress and subjective well-being, and to compare these outcomes with a control group on non-pilgrimage vacations. Additionally, the study explored psychological process variables that may mediate the pilgrimage's beneficial effects. A nonrandomized pretest-posttest design was used, involving 444 pilgrims and 124 controls. Participants completed baseline and post-experience self-reported measures of psychological distress, subjective well-being, and psychological processes (i.e., mindfulness, nonattachment, engaged living). A 3-month follow-up was conducted only in the pilgrim group. Mediation analyses examined psychological processes as potential mediators of pre-post change in the pilgrim group (vs. control). Within-group analyses revealed that the pilgrim group experienced improvements in psychological distress, subjective well-being, and psychological processes immediately post-experience, with most measures sustaining improvement at the 3-month follow-up. Compared to the control group, pilgrims showed significantly greater increases in positive affect, life satisfaction, and valued living, alongside greater reductions in anxiety, depression, and perceived stress. Valued living partially mediated the relationship between pilgrimage and positive affect, and fully mediated the effects on perceived stress, negative affect, life satisfaction, and subjective happiness. Pilgrimage on the Way of St. James effectively reduced psychological distress and enhanced subjective well-being, with greater benefits observed compared to a non-pilgrimage vacation control group. Consistent with the concept of pilgrimage as a transformative experience, significant improvements in valued living were noted, which mediated some of the positive outcomes post-pilgrimage. The Way of St. James may serve as a valuable complementary approach for alleviating distress and promoting well-being. Further studies exploring the effects of this pilgrimage on specific populations and using more robust study designs are warranted.Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT04141813.

Gene regulatory network inference from CRISPR perturbations in primary CD4+ Tcells elucidates the genomic basis of immune disease.

The effects of genetic variation on complex traits act mainly through changes in gene regulation. Although many genetic variants have been linked to target genes in cis, the trans-regulatory cascade mediating their effects remains largely uncharacterized. Mapping trans-regulators based on natural genetic variation has been challenging due to small effects, but experimental perturbations offer a complementary approach. Using CRISPR, we knocked out 84 genes in primary CD4+ Tcells, targeting inborn error of immunity (IEI) disease transcription factors (TFs) and TFs without immune disease association. We developed a novel gene network inference method called linear latent causal Bayes (LLCB) to estimate the network from perturbation data and observed 211 regulatory connections between genes. We characterized programs affected by the TFs, which we associated with immune genome-wide association study (GWAS) genes, finding that JAK-STAT family members are regulated by KMT2A, an epigenetic regulator. These analyses reveal the trans-regulatory cascades linking GWAS genes to signaling pathways.

Application of lentinan in suppression of Marek's disease virus infection

Marek's disease virus (MDV) is an extremely widespread avian immunosuppressive virus. In recent years, many reports have shown that there are still cases of MDV infection and immunosuppression after immunization with the vaccine. Consequently, there is a need to develop alternative complementary approaches for strengthening the efficacy of MDV prevention and control measures. Lentinan (LNT) is a macromolecular compound with immune-enhancing activity extracted from shiitake mushrooms. To explore the value and effectiveness of administering LNT through drinking water in the prevention and control of MDV, this study first observed the effects of high and low doses of LNT on weight gain, organ development, viral replication, and antibody titer of an avian influenza virus subtype H9 (AIV-H9) inactivated vaccine in specific pathogen-free (SPF) chicks infected with the wild strain of MDV. The results showed that both high and low doses of LNT significantly alleviated the weight gain retardation and liver and spleen enlargement caused by MDV infection, and significantly inhibited the replication of MDV in SPF chicks (P < 0.05), compared with the MDV-positive control group, both high and low doses of LNT significantly increased the antibody titer of AIV-H9 after immunization with inactivated AIV-H9 vaccine (P < 0.0001). On this basis, we also observed the effects of a chicken Marek's disease meq gene deletion live vaccine (SC9-1 strain), administered alone or in combination with LNT, on MDV infections of varying virulence in Hy-Line Brown chicks. The results showed that combined administration of LNT and the SC9-1 vaccine resulted in a significant alleviation of weight gain retardation and liver and spleen enlargement due to MDV infection (P < 0.05), as well as a significant inhibition of MDV replication and release in Hy-Line Brown chicks compared to the vaccine alone (P < 0.0001). These findings suggest that LNT not only alleviates the adverse effects of MDV infection in chickens but also enhances the efficacy of MDV vaccination, offering a potential auxiliary measure for controlling MDV infection.

Journalism as a Service: How Tablet News Service Influences Subscriber Retention and Long-Term Profitability

With the decline of advertising revenue, the newspaper industry faces the challenge of increasing audience-supported revenue. While news organizations must provide quality journalism to their readers, a complementary approach is to create better reading experiences using mobile news delivery. Focusing on the reading experience and building a long-term relationship are tenants of service-dominant logic theory. We study the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, which provided its subscribers iPads with training and tech support while discontinuing its print edition. We analyze clickstream and subscription data to examine how participating in the iPad program influences subscriber retention, how the effect of the iPad program varies by region, and whether the customer lifetime value (CLV, discounted expected future profits) of subscribers who enrolled in the iPad program outweighs the cost of the program. The iPad program decreases subscriber churn across regions and subscriber segments. The CLV of subscribers in the iPad program is greater than the cost of iPads, training, and tech support, with newer subscribers showing higher CLV. The results demonstrate the importance of shifting to service-oriented approach in journalism and the potential of mobile devices to increase readership and long-term profitability.

The requirements of providing health education for rural people through electronic methods: the experiences and perspectives of community health workers.

Reliance solely on traditional approaches in health education is no longer considered sufficient, and electronic/digital education can be a complementary approach. Implementing electronic methods in health education requires identifying the requirements from the perspective of the service providers. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the experiences and perspectives of community health workers (Behvarzan) regarding the requirements for providing health education for rural people through electronic/digital means. This descriptive qualitative study was conducted in 2022 at Alborz University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 14 Behvarzan from Health Houses (HH) in Karaj City. The data were analyzed using the inductive Elo & Kyngas approach and conventional content analysis facilitated with MAXQDA software. After analyzing the results, we extracted 139 open codes, and by merging them for more precise coding and to facilitate the research process, we formed three main themes and ten subthemes. The themes included Technology (technical infrastructure, content production, content delivery methods, and content delivery channels), Facilities and equipment (communication equipment and electronic content repositories), and Stakeholders (training of providers, motivating providers, persuading learners and target groups, and reference groups). From the perspective of rural healthcare workers, the implementation of electronic education requires necessary technology, equipment, facilities, processes, and content should be pursued and provided through specialized working groups, extending from the Ministry of Health and Medical Education to local HHs. These resources should be available to the healthcare workers and their target populations. Concurrently, educational programs and incentives should be defined and offered at the university level and within health networks for rural healthcare workers and their populations.

Views of Assessment and Evaluation Experts on Assessment and Evaluation Units in Schools

In this study, it was aimed to reveal the views of assessment and evaluation experts on assessment and evaluation units in schools. Participants were selected from the schools where the assessment and evaluation unit is located and from among the schools that the researchers could easily contact. In this context, seven assessment and evaluation experts were selected from schools where the unit existed as participants. In order to seek answers to the research problems, expert opinions were obtained through a semi-structured interview form and by interview technique. According to the results of the research, assessment and evaluation experts stated that traditional and complementary assessment and evaluation approaches are mostly used together in schools. According to another result, it was stated that an assessment and evaluation unit affected the behaviors of teachers, administrators, and parents positively. In teacher-administrator and teacher-parent relations, that this department provides objective data with unbiased evaluation provides an objective perspective on transferring shortcomings. In addition, it was concluded that the coordinated and harmonious relationship of this unit with other departments (such as the curriculum development unit and counseling unit) positively affects the school climate as it increases the quality of the school education policy and ensures that all educational activities are carried out systematically. In line with the results of the research, it is recommended that assessment and evaluation units be established in schools to coordinate with Assessment and Evaluation Centers.

Critical Discourse Analysis of empowerment in “Amid the Rubble of Mosul, Francis Offers a Salve for Iraq’s Wounds”

Positive Discourse Analysis is a complementary approach for Critical discourse analysis, yet the former intends to have a positive orientation to make the world a better place to live in. The present study attempts to find out one of the syntactic strategies positively used by The New York Times in a report entitled “Amid the Rubble of Mosul, Francis Offers a Salve for Iraq’s Wounds” through which the ideology of empowerment is used to encourage individuals and enhance confidence in their active participation in social, economic, and political processes. To accomplish the analysis of one of the syntactic strategies of the selected report, the present study intends to analyze a report on the first-ever papal visit to Iraq by Pope Francis through the lens of transitivity to examine how the media report from the New York Times utilizes this strategy to focus on the positive effect of the visit. The present study aims at finding (1)the types of empowerment and (2) investigating the most frequently used process in transitivity to reflect empowerment. It is hypothesized that empowerment has six types and (2) there are six processes of transitivity, with material process being the most widely used in the chosen report. The methodology of the present study includes (1) a theoretical survey of CDA and PDA, and (2) analyzing the chosen data qualitatively and quantitatively. An eclectic model is used based on Fairclough model of CDA (1989) and Halliday and Matthiessen (2014) for transitivity. The findings show how the selected tool ,especially the material process, is functionalized to express empowerment in Media to affect the life of the ordinary people.

Mapping and engineering RNA-controlled architecture of the multiphase nucleolus.

Biomolecular condensates are key features of intracellular compartmentalization. As the most prominent nuclear condensate in eukaryotes, the nucleolus is a layered multiphase liquid-like structure and the site of ribosome biogenesis. In the nucleolus, ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) are transcribed and processed, undergoing multiple maturation steps that ultimately result in formation of the ribosomal small subunit (SSU) and large subunit (LSU). However, how rRNA processing is coupled to the layered nucleolar organization is poorly understood due to a lack of tools to precisely monitor and perturb nucleolar rRNA processing dynamics. Here, we developed two complementary approaches to spatiotemporally map rRNA processing and engineer de novo nucleoli. Using sequencing in parallel with imaging, we found that rRNA processing steps are spatially segregated, with sequential maturation of rRNA required for its outward movement through nucleolar phases. Furthermore, by generating synthetic de novo nucleoli through an engineered rDNA plasmid system in cells, we show that defects in SSU processing can alter the ordering of nucleolar phases, resulting in inside-out nucleoli and preventing rRNA outflux, while LSU precursors are necessary to build the outermost layer of the nucleolus. These findings demonstrate how rRNA is both a scaffold and substrate for the nucleolus, with rRNA acting as a programmable blueprint for the multiphase architecture that facilitates assembly of an essential molecular machine.

Association between severe headache or migraine and lipid accumulation product and visceral adiposity index in adults: a cross-sectional study from NHANES

BackgroundExisting literature on the impact of lipid accumulation product (LAP) and visceral adiposity index (VAI) on severe headache or migraine is limited. This study aims to elucidate the association between LAP and VAI and the prevalence of migraine.MethodsData for this study were sourced from the 1999–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). A database-self-administered questionnaire was used to assess severe headache or migraine. A weighted logistic regression model was employed to assess the relationship between LAP and VAI with migraine prevalence. Complementary analytical approaches included subgroup analysis, restricted cubic spline (RCS), and threshold effect analysis to validate the findings.ResultsIn the end, 4572 people were recruited for the research, including 880 with migraine and 3692 without migraine. Following adjustment for the relevant covariables, weighted logistic regression analysis (OR = 1.409, 95% CI: 1.054, 1.883, P = 0.022; OR = 1.288, 95% CI: 1.010, 1.642, P = 0.042) revealed significantly elevated odds of migraine prevalence in participants within the highest tertile (T3) of LAP and VAI than those in the lowest tertile (T1). The nonlinear association between migraine prevalence and both VAI and LAP was further elucidated through a restricted cubic spline. The threshold analysis pinpointed 2.142 (log-likelihood ratio = 0.016) as the critical inflection point for VAI. Subgroup analysis and interaction testing revealed the significant association was independent in different subgroup factors.ConclusionsThe data indicate a robust association between higher levels of LAP and VAI and an increased prevalence of migraine.

Study on correlation between Chinese medicine syndromes in stroke and neurological deficits during recovery phase: Perspective.

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability and mortality worldwide, necessitating effective rehabilitation strategies for successful recovery. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has gained recognition as a complementary and alternative approach in stroke rehabilitation, owing to its unique syndromes that offer valuable insights for personalized treatment plans. This study aims to elucidate the correlation between TCM syndromes observed during the recovery phase of stroke and the associated neurological deficits. Syndromes such as Blood stasis, Phlegm-dampness, Qi deficiency, and Yin deficiency were systematically examined, while standardized neurological assessments, encompassing motor function, sensory perception, and cognitive abilities, were employed to evaluate the extent of neurological impairment. Rigorous statistical analyses were conducted to discern potential correlations between TCM syndromes and the severity of neurological deficits. The results revealed statistically significant positive associations between certain TCM syndromes, particularly Blood stasis and Phlegm-dampness, and heightened neurological deficits during the recovery phase post-stroke. These findings suggest that these syndromes may serve as indicators of more severe brain injury post-stroke, thereby guiding the development of tailored rehabilitation strategies. By establishing robust connections between TCM syndromes and neurological deficits, this study contributes to advancing our understanding of stroke recovery through an integrated approach that incorporates TCM principles. Moreover, it underscores the potential benefits of integrating TCM into conventional rehabilitation protocols, offering valuable insights for healthcare professionals and potentially improving patient outcomes.

Modular alkene synthesis from carboxylic acids, alcohols and alkanes via integrated photocatalysis.

Alkenes serve as versatile building blocks in diverse organic transformations. Despite notable advancements in olefination methods, a general strategy for the direct conversion of carboxylic acids, alcohols and alkanes into alkenes remains a formidable challenge owing to their inherent reactivity disparities. Here we demonstrate an integrated photochemical strategy that facilitates a one-pot conversion of these fundamental building blocks into alkenes through a sequential C(sp3)-C(sp3) bond formation-fragmentation process, utilizing an easily accessible and recyclable phenyl vinyl ketone as the 'olefination reagent'. This practical method not only offers an unparalleled paradigm for accessing value-added alkenes from abundant and inexpensive starting materials but also showcases its versatility through various complex scenarios, including late-stage on-demand olefination of multifunctional molecules, chain homologation of acids and concise syntheses of bioactive molecules. Moreover, initiating from carboxylic acids, alcohols and alkanes, this protocol presents a complementary approach to traditional olefination methods, making it a highly valuable addition to the research toolkit for alkene synthesis.

Hagedorn temperature in holography: world-sheet and effective approaches

We provide general results on the Hagedorn temperature of planar, strongly coupled confining gauge theories holographically dual to type II superstring models on curved backgrounds with Ramond-Ramond and Kalb-Ramond fluxes and non-trivial dilaton. For exact backgrounds the Hagedorn temperature is determined up to next-to-next-to-next-to-leading order (NNNLO) in an expansion in α′; in all the other cases the results can be safely trusted up to NNLO. To reach these goals we exploit two complementary approaches. On the one hand, we perform an extrapolation to the Hagedorn regime of world-sheet results obtained from the semiclassical quantization of string configurations winding around the compact Euclidean time direction. En passant, we provide a detailed derivation of the fermionic part of the world-sheet spectrum, which is hard to find in the literature. On the other hand, we perturbatively solve the equations of motion for the thermal scalar field corresponding to the lightest mode of the winding string, which in flat space becomes tachyonic above the Hagedorn temperature. The interplay between different approaches is surely convenient, but we provide insights about a possible derivation of the whole NNLO correction to the Hagedorn temperature from a pure world-sheet perspective; furthermore, we determine the effective mass of the thermal scalar from the world-sheet in full generality.

Widespread Adaptive Introgression of Major Histocompatibility Complex Genes across Vertebrate Hybrid Zones.

Interspecific introgression is a potentially important source of novel variation of adaptive significance. Although multiple cases of adaptive introgression are well documented, broader generalizations about its targets and mechanisms are lacking. Multiallelic balancing selection, particularly when acting through rare allele advantage, is an evolutionary mechanism expected to favor adaptive introgression. This is because introgressed alleles are likely to confer an immediate selective advantage, facilitating their establishment in the recipient species even in the face of strong genomic barriers to introgression. Vertebrate major histocompatibility complex genes are well-established targets of long-term multiallelic balancing selection, so widespread adaptive major histocompatibility complex introgression is expected. Here, we evaluate this hypothesis using data from 29 hybrid zones formed by fish, amphibians, squamates, turtles, birds, and mammals at advanced stages of speciation. The key prediction of more extensive major histocompatibility complex introgression compared to genome-wide introgression was tested with three complementary statistical approaches. We found evidence for widespread adaptive introgression of major histocompatibility complex genes, providing a link between the process of adaptive introgression and an underlying mechanism. Our work identifies major histocompatibility complex introgression as a general mechanism by which species can acquire novel, and possibly regain previously lost, variation that may enhance defense against pathogens and increase adaptive potential.

Sources and development of the Kalevala as an example for the quantitative analysis of literary editions and sources

This paper describes ongoing work to quantitatively analyse the development of the Finnish national epic Kalevala. The analysis targets both the oral poetry sources used and the development of the final edition through multiple preparatory publications and manuscripts. In terms of methodological development, the paper relates to prior research on how to visualise relations between texts. However, the particular nature of oral poetry and the editing process at play here precludes using the established methods directly, leading instead to the development of complementary approaches.

Assessing Language Lateralization through Gray Matter Volume: Implications for Preoperative Planning in Brain Tumor Surgery.

Functional MRI (fMRI) is widely used to assess language lateralization, but its application in patients with brain tumors can be hindered by cognitive impairments, compensatory neuroplasticity, and artifacts due to patient movement or severe aphasia. Gray matter volume (GMV) analysis via voxel-based morphometry (VBM) in language-related brain regions may offer a stable complementary approach. This study investigates the relationship between GMV and fMRI-derived language lateralization in healthy individuals and patients with left-hemisphere brain tumors, aiming to enhance accuracy in complex cases. The MRI data from 22 healthy participants and 28 individuals with left-hemisphere brain tumors were analyzed. Structural T1-weighted and functional images were obtained during three language tasks. Language lateralization was assessed based on activation in predefined regions of interest (ROIs), categorized as typical (left) or atypical (right or bilateral). The GMV in these ROIs was measured using VBM. Linear regressions explored GMV-lateralization associations, and logistic regressions predicted the lateralization based on the GMV. In the healthy participants, typical left-hemispheric language dominance correlated with higher GMV in the left pars opercularis of the inferior frontal gyrus. The brain tumor participants with atypical lateralization showed increased GMV in six right-hemisphere ROIs. The GMV in the language ROIs predicted the fMRI language lateralization, with AUCs from 80.1% to 94.2% in the healthy participants and 78.3% to 92.6% in the tumor patients. GMV analysis in language-related ROIs effectively complements fMRI for assessing language dominance, particularly when fMRI is challenging. It correlates with language lateralization in both healthy individuals and brain tumor patients, highlighting its potential in preoperative language mapping. Further research with larger samples is needed to refine its clinical utility.

Recycling Materials for Sustainable DNA Origami Manufacturing.

DNA origami nanotechnology has great potential in multiple fields including biomedical, biophysical, and nanofabrication applications. However, current production pipelines lead to single-use devices incorporating a small fraction of initial reactants, resulting in a wasteful manufacturing process. Here, we introduce two complementary approaches to overcome these limitations by recycling the strand components of DNA origami nanostructures (DONs). We demonstrate reprogramming entire DONs into new devices, reusing scaffold strands. We validate this approach by reprogramming DONs with complex geometries into each other, using their distinct geometries to verify successful scaffold recycling. We reprogram one DON into a dynamic structure and show both pristine and recycled structures display similar properties. Second, we demonstrate the recovery of excess staple strands postassembly and fold DONs with these recycled strands, showing these structures exhibit the expected geometry and dynamic properties. Finally, we demonstrate the combination of both approaches, successfully fabricating DONs solely from recycled DNA components.

Numerical-experimental estimation of the deformability of human red blood cells from rheometrical data

The deformability of human red blood cells (RBCs), which comprise almost 99% of the cells in whole blood, is largely related not only to pathophysiological blood flow but also to the levels of intracellular compounds. Therefore, statistical estimates of the deformability of individual RBCs are of paramount importance in the clinical diagnosis of blood diseases. Although the microscale hydrodynamic interactions of individual RBCs lead to non-Newtonian blood rheology, there is no established method to estimate individual RBC deformability from the rheological data of RBC suspensions, and the possibility of this estimation has not been proven. To address this issue, we conducted an integrated analysis of a model of the rheology of RBC suspensions, coupled with macrorheological data of human RBCs suspended in plasma. Assuming a nonlinear curve of the relative viscosity of the suspensions as a function of the cell volume fraction, the statistical average of the membrane shear elasticity was estimated for individual intact RBCs or hardened RBCs. Both estimated values reproduced well the experimentally observed shear-thinning non-Newtonian behavior in these suspensions. We hereby conclude that our complementary approach makes it possible to estimate the statistical average of individual RBC deformability from macrorheological data obtained with usual rheometric tests.