Functional Entities Research Articles

Low Back Pain—A Disease or Condition of Impaired Functional Health? Definition-Inherent Consequences for the Comprehensive Care of Back Pain Patients

This article provides arguments for and against the classification of low back pain (LBP) as a disease or health condition. Based on the basic definitions of health, disease, illness, sickness, infirmity, and pain, little support has been found for the idea that LBP represents a specific disease entity. Although specified back pains do not signify disease, the pain experienced may be caused by specific diseases, such as inflammation, neuropathy, fractures, or tumors. Common findings in medical imaging indicate disk herniation, degenerative joints with or without signs of inflammation in the facet joints, and spinal stenosis present in a relatively high proportion of pain-free persons. The same applies to hypomobile segmental dysfunction (joint blockage) and myofascial syndrome. Both functional entities play a core role in manual medicine but are common in asymptomatic subjects, showing low–moderate reliability and failing to meet the classification requirements of disease. Reducing disability through interventions targeting a disease’s structural/functional conditions cannot be achieved since the relationship between pathological changes and activity restrictions/participation is indirect in most cases. Considering LBP as a condition shifts the goal of treatment from the disease to the patient’s optimal performance in activities/participation and allows them to be self-determined and independent.

Application of yttrium molybdate tethered polypyrrole nanocomposite for the photocatalytic remediation of nitrofurantoin in water

The present work reveals the photocatalytic ability of yttrium molybdate coupled polypyrrole nanocomposite (YMoO4/PPy) towards the removal of nitrofuran-based broad-spectrum antibiotic nitrofurantoin (NFT) in water under the irradiation of light-emitting diode (LED). Here, YMoO4 was hydrothermally prepared while template-driven growth of PPy nanorods was employed and, finally, the preparation of composite (YMoO4/PPy) was facilitated by ultrasonication. The as-synthesized YMoO4/PPy was explored via electron-microscopy for morphology investigation, X-ray diffraction for structural characterization, Fourier-Transform infrared spectroscopy to confirm chemical functional entities, UV-Visible spectroscopy for determining the bandgap, and electrochemical investigations for photoelectrochemical characterization of the synthesized systems. The composites (1:1, 1:2, and 2:1 YMoO4/PPy by percentage weight) and the individual counter-parts (YMoO4 and PPy) were evaluated in a LED-aided photocatalytic system against NFT. It was observed that ∼93% of NFT (15 ppm) was mineralized within 80 minutes of reaction by a 1:2 YMoO4/PPy (25 mg) catalyst. The kinetics of response fitted the pseudo-first-order model with close to unity value of coefficient of determination. Here, the influence of conducting polymer is significant in terms of rapid electron mobility and prolonged charge separation. Also, the minimal blend of rare-earth oxide upholds the economy and real-time application. Therefore, the present work explicitly explored the combination of rare-earth metal oxide interfaced conductive polymer taking into account photo- and electro-intrinsic traits of the composite.

Protein-based nanomaterials: a new tool for targeted drug delivery.

Protein nanomaterials are well-defined, hollow protein nanoparticles comprised of virus capsids, virus-like particles, ferritin, heat shock proteins, chaperonins and many more. Protein-based nanomaterialsare formed by the self-assembly of protein subunits and have numerous desired properties as drug-delivery vehicles, including being optimally sized for endocytosis, nontoxic, biocompatible, biodegradable and functionalized at three separate interfaces (external, internal and intersubunit). As a result, protein nanomaterials have been intensively investigated as functional entities in bionanotechnology, including drug delivery, nanoreactors and templates for organic and inorganic nanomaterials. Several variables influence efficient administration, particularly active targeting, cellular uptake, the kinetics of the release and systemic elimination. This review examines the wide range of medicines, loading/release processes, targeted therapies and treatment effectiveness.

Habitat and Marine Reserve Status Drive Reef Fish Biomass and Functional Diversity in the Largest South Atlantic Coral Reef System (Abrolhos, Brazil)

The effects of fishing have been documented across coral reefs worldwide. No-take marine reserves do not only act as a conservation tool but also allow an opportunity to study impacts of fishing, by acting as control sites. In addition, well-planned and well-managed no-take marine reserves (NTRs) provide conservation benefits that are essential to marine biodiversity and ecosystem-based management. The Abrolhos Marine National Park, off the tropical Brazilian coast, protects part of the largest coral reef system in the South Atlantic. To investigate the effects of fishing on reef fish richness, abundance, biomass, and functional diversity of the fish assemblage, we compared sites across two protection levels considering the variation in habitats (Fringing Reefs—Protected; Pinnacles Reefs—Protected; and Coastal Reefs—Open Access), using Baited Remote Underwater Stereo-Video systems (stereo-BRUVs). We adjusted generalized additive mixed models of fish assemblage characteristics with protection levels and environmental variables, such as topographic complexity (mean relief and relief variation), visibility, and benthic cover percentage. Inside NTRs, we found higher total biomass and biomass of fishery target species and carnivores, specifically for the Carcharhinidae (sharks) and Epinephelidae (groupers) families, indicating direct fisheries effects on these groups. In contrast, the ecological parameters of non-target fish were positively correlated with habitat characteristics, including mean relief and variance of relief. Moreover, fish functional diversity was higher within NTRs, demonstrating an even distribution of functional entities. The presence of large mobile predators and the overall higher biomass of carnivores inside the NTR indicate the effect of fishing exclusion. Our results point to the value of NTRs to study the effects of fishing and achieve biodiversity conservation and suggest the importance of using remote sampling methods to assess large mobile predators.

Combining Passive Acoustics and Environmental Data for Scaling Up Ecosystem Monitoring: A Test on Coral Reef Fishes

Ecological surveys of coral reefs mostly rely on visual data collected by human observers. Although new monitoring tools are emerging, their specific advantages should be identified to optimise their simultaneous use. Based on the goodness-of-fit of linear models, we compared the potential of passive acoustics and environmental data for predicting the structure of coral reef fish assemblages in different environmental and biogeographic settings. Both data types complemented each other. Globally, the acoustic data showed relatively low added value in predicting fish assemblage structures. The predictions were best for the distribution of fish abundance among functional entities (i.e., proxies for fish functional groups, grouping species that share similar eco-morphological traits), for the simplest functional entities (i.e., combining two eco-morphological traits), and when considering diet and the level in the water column of the species. Our study demonstrates that Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) improves fish assemblage assessment when used in tandem with environmental data compared to using environmental data alone. Such combinations can help with responding to the current conservation challenge by improving our surveying capacities at increased spatial and temporal scales, facilitating the identification and monitoring of priority management areas.

Functional vascular acrosyndromes

Vascular acrosyndromes are characterized by sparse, uniform clinical manifestations and avariety of possible pathomechanisms. The present article focuses on the functional entities. Raynaud phenomenon is based on cold- or stress-induced vasospasms of acral arteries. It is defined by the color changes of the skin, in the typical case white-blue-red (tricolore). The long fingers are most commonly affected. The etiology is unknown, and the pathophysiology is poorly understood. Adistinction is made between primary and asecondary Raynaud phenomenon. The most important underlying diseases include collagenosis, primarily systemic sclerosis, and malignancies; furthermore, medications and drugs may promote vasospasm. Treatment is aimed at preventing or breaking the vasospasm, but has been only partially effective in doing so. Acrocyanosis is avasospastic dystonic acral disorder that results in permanent reddish-livid discoloration, especially of the hands and feet. Secondary forms occur in collagenosis, malignancies, and myelodysplastic syndromes. The etiology and pathophysiology are virtually unknown. Targeted pharmacological intervention is not possible. Unlike all other vascular acrosyndromes, erythromelalgia is characterized by hyperemia. The primary form is agenetic sodium channelopathy, while secondary forms include malignancies, connective tissue diseases, and myelodysplastic syndromes. The symptoms are often distressing and disabling. Therapy requires amultimodal approach that includes both nonpharmacological and pharmacological strategies. Close interdisciplinary collaboration is essential for the management of this disease.

Novel methodology for functional design chain analysis of a nuclear power plant: A new built Finnish power plant case study

Energized by the fact that nuclear power plants (NPP) have a multidisciplinary character as well as a high degree of coupling and interaction between their elements, regulatory bodies worldwide tend to induce a massive number of requirements to ensure the safety of the plants. Mainly, these requirements aim to apply the defence-in-depth (DiD) safety approach. In Fennovoima Hanhikivi 1 (FH1) NPP, the DiD approach is applied through formalizing functional entities that are responsible for defending various DiD levels and preventing them from failure. Each functional entity consists of safety functions that share common non-functional requirements such as safety classification, failure criterion, diversity, and separation requirements.When investigating the safety functions of any NPP, one concludes that they are significantly interconnected and their processing logics exchange a huge number of signals. Therefore, verifying each safety function independently is not effective because a function may seem to perform its function when it is considered alone, but challenges are found when also the interconnected functions are considered. Thus, it becomes essential to verify the whole functional chain. A functional chain can be defined as a set of safety functions that interact together to guarantee the success of plant systems in case of an initiating event. It should be noted that the functional chain term, defined in this study, is different from the safety group term defined in the IAEA safety glossary. The latter is an assembly of equipment, whereas a functional chain is a group of safety functions. In other words, considering the safety engineering process of the plant life cycle, a functional chain is constructed and defined based on plant-level design down to system-level design, while a safety group is constructed based on system-level design.In this study, a methodology for analysing the functional chain is developed. The methodology mainly targets verifying five aspects of the functional chain which are: measurements, actuators, decision-making processing logic, human–machine interface (HMI), and cabling between various components. The methodology utilizes system engineering approach integrated with a relational database that can be utilized to query the plant design data in order to verify the application of non-functional requirements to the plant design components. Additionally, the study also develops a tool that can assist its users to systematically apply the developed methodology and record its results.Finally, a case study for practically applying the methodology to a NPP design is presented. The application of the methodology succeeded in revealing issues that need to be further clarified with the plant supplier. The main usefulness of applying the developed “functional chain analysis” methodology to a NPP is that it provides an additional as-designed verification approach besides the existing verification methods.

Skin Temperature of Acupoints in Health and Disease: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Despite substantial progress made in the field of acupuncture research, the existence and specificity of acupoints remain controversial. In recent years, the concept of acupoint sensitization has emerged as a theoretical framework for understanding acupoints as dynamic functional entities that are sensitized in pathological conditions. Based on this premise, some have claimed that specific acupoints are thermally distinct between healthy and clinical populations, but no systematic review has been conducted to synthesize and evaluate the quality of studies supporting such claims. In this review, we provide a summary and quality assessment of the existing literature addressing the question of whether changes in skin temperature at specific acupoints are indicative of pathological conditions. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE, and AltHealthWatch (EBSCO Host), by combining variations of search terms relevant to acupoints and temperature. The search was limited to the English language, and publication dates ranged from database inception to December 2020. Two authors independently screened all resulting abstracts and subsequently read full-text articles for eligibility. Information on study design, sample, acupoints, parameters of skin temperature assessments, and main findings were extracted from included studies. Quality of the thermal sensing methodology was evaluated using a thermal assessment checklist, adapted from the Thermographic Imaging in Sports and Exercise Medicine (TISEM) consensus checklist, and a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for case-control studies. Results: The search strategy yielded a total of 1771 studies, of which 10 articles met the eligibility criteria. Eight studies compared skin temperature at acupoints in healthy versus clinical populations, and two studies assessed within-subject changes in temperature of acupoints in relation to changes in health status. There were seven clinical conditions examined in the included studies: chronic bronchial asthma, chronic hepatitis, hyperplasia of mammary glands, infertility, intracranial hypertension, obesity, and primary dysmenorrhea. There were numerous methodological quality issues related to skin temperature measurements. Eight studies with case-control designs reported significant differences between healthy and clinical populations in temperature at certain acupoints. Two studies with pre-post designs reported that changes in health-disease status could be associated with changes in temperature at specific acupoints. Conclusion: A review of the available literature suggests that certain acupoints may be thermally distinct between healthy and unhealthy states. However, given the methodological limitations and heterogeneity across included studies, no definitive conclusion could be drawn as to whether changes in skin temperature at specific acupoints are indicative of pathological conditions.

Low Melting Point Alloys Enabled Stiffness Tunable Advanced Materials

AbstractStiffness tunable advanced materials have demonstrated their superiority and versatility in diverse areas, while the global pursuit of reversible, intelligent, and fast response for stiffness regulation is growing radically, leaving great challenges for traditional materials. As newly emerging functional metal material, the low melting point alloys (LMPAs) have shown encouraging potential in developing various stiffness regulation strategies owing to their excellent physicochemical and mechanical properties. This article is dedicated to presenting a comprehensive review of the LMPA‐enabled stiffness tunable materials from the aspects of material system, regulation principle and method, capability enabling mechanisms, and application scenarios. First, according to the structural differences, three kinds of LMPA‐enabled stiffness tunable material systems are evaluated. Then, the regulation strategies are elaborated from the fundamental LMPA modifications to dynamical external field controls, and the mainstream stiffness regulation modes are also combed out. Following that, the diversified applications of LMPA enabled stiffness tunable materials are systematically summarized and discussed. Finally, a perspective interpretation of the potentials and challenges of LMPA‐enabled stiffness tunable materials is provided. This article is expected to be important for guiding the future design of smart materials, functional entities, transformable robots, etc.

Analysis Of Clinical, Biochemical And Echocardiographic Criteria For Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Introduction Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is on pace to become the most common type of heart failure in the population with a prevalence that is increasing by 1% annually. Despite this, there remains no gold standard in diagnosing HFpEF. In addition to clinical exam and history, scoring criteria including H2FPEF score and HFA-PEFF score have been validated to assist in diagnosis. Guidelines and algorithms to determine echocardiographic diastolic dysfunction have also been described. Purpose Our study aimed to compare the sensitivities of various clinical, biochemical and echocardiographic criteria used to diagnosis HFpEF on a cohort of admitted HFpEF patients. Methods: This was a single-center retrospective review of inpatients with a primary diagnosis of HFpEF over a 2-year period. Electronic medical records were reviewed to analyze patient demographics, medical comorbidities and laboratory results. Echocardiograms were reviewed to analyze left ventricular mass, left atrial volume index and tricuspid regurgitation jet velocity as well as parameters of diastology to determine H2FPEF, HFA-PEFF scores, and American Society of Echocardiography diastolic dysfunction (ASE-DD) grading. Sensitivities for various diagnostic criteria were compared. A subgroup analysis was performed for different cut-offs of E/e’ septal velocities. Student's T test was performed for continuous data and statistical significant was defined as p<0.05. Results Over a 2 year period, 325 patients admitted with a primary diagnosis of HFpEF were analyzed. The average patient age was 80.2 years and 197 patients were female (60.6%). Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) great than 100 pg/ml had the highest sensitivity of 94%. ASE-DD criteria for diastolic dysfunction had a sensitivity of 58%. H2FPEF risk percentage of ≥90% had sensitivity of 63%. Septal E/e’ of ≥15 had a sensitivity of 57% which increased to 90% when cut-off was lowered to ≥10. In a subgroup analysis of E/e’ <12 or ≥12, patients with E/e' ≥12 had significantly higher H2FPEF score, HFA-PEFF score and length of stay (p<0.05). Average E/e’ also had a positive correlation to percent change in BNP from baseline (R=0.83) and admission BNP (R=0.62). Conclusion Our study shows that current diagnostic criteria for HFpEF have relatively low sensitivity. Specifically, echocardiographic criteria may be too strict and a lower E/e’ cutoff may improve diagnostic sensitivity. The correlation of E/e’ and BNP suggests a relationship between the functional and biochemical entities of HFpEF. Further studies to optimize HFpEF diagnostic criteria are desired. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is on pace to become the most common type of heart failure in the population with a prevalence that is increasing by 1% annually. Despite this, there remains no gold standard in diagnosing HFpEF. In addition to clinical exam and history, scoring criteria including H2FPEF score and HFA-PEFF score have been validated to assist in diagnosis. Guidelines and algorithms to determine echocardiographic diastolic dysfunction have also been described. Our study aimed to compare the sensitivities of various clinical, biochemical and echocardiographic criteria used to diagnosis HFpEF on a cohort of admitted HFpEF patients. Methods: This was a single-center retrospective review of inpatients with a primary diagnosis of HFpEF over a 2-year period. Electronic medical records were reviewed to analyze patient demographics, medical comorbidities and laboratory results. Echocardiograms were reviewed to analyze left ventricular mass, left atrial volume index and tricuspid regurgitation jet velocity as well as parameters of diastology to determine H2FPEF, HFA-PEFF scores, and American Society of Echocardiography diastolic dysfunction (ASE-DD) grading. Sensitivities for various diagnostic criteria were compared. A subgroup analysis was performed for different cut-offs of E/e’ septal velocities. Student's T test was performed for continuous data and statistical significant was defined as p<0.05. Over a 2 year period, 325 patients admitted with a primary diagnosis of HFpEF were analyzed. The average patient age was 80.2 years and 197 patients were female (60.6%). Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) great than 100 pg/ml had the highest sensitivity of 94%. ASE-DD criteria for diastolic dysfunction had a sensitivity of 58%. H2FPEF risk percentage of ≥90% had sensitivity of 63%. Septal E/e’ of ≥15 had a sensitivity of 57% which increased to 90% when cut-off was lowered to ≥10. In a subgroup analysis of E/e’ <12 or ≥12, patients with E/e' ≥12 had significantly higher H2FPEF score, HFA-PEFF score and length of stay (p<0.05). Average E/e’ also had a positive correlation to percent change in BNP from baseline (R=0.83) and admission BNP (R=0.62). Our study shows that current diagnostic criteria for HFpEF have relatively low sensitivity. Specifically, echocardiographic criteria may be too strict and a lower E/e’ cutoff may improve diagnostic sensitivity. The correlation of E/e’ and BNP suggests a relationship between the functional and biochemical entities of HFpEF. Further studies to optimize HFpEF diagnostic criteria are desired.

CircESRP1 enhances metastasis and epithelial\u2013mesenchymal transition in endometrial cancer via the miR-874-3p/CPEB4 axis

BackgroundMetastasis is critical for endometrial cancer (EC) progression and prognosis. Accumulating evidence suggests that circular RNAs (circRNAs) can operate as independent functional entities. However, the functional regulatory mechanisms of circRNAs in EC remain unclear.MethodsThe levels of circESRP1, miR-874-3p, and CPEB4 mRNA in EC tissues and cells were determined by qRT-PCR. Sanger sequencing, PCR with divergent primers, an actinomycin D assay, and RNase R treatment were applied to verify the circular properties. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and nuclear-cytoplasmic fractionation were used to determine the localization of circESRP1. CCK-8, EdU incorporation, colony formation, Transwell, and wound healing assays were applied to assess the effects of circESRP1 on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. The mutual regulatory mechanism of ceRNAs was investigated using dual-luciferase reporter, RNA pulldown, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), and Western blot assays. The biological effects were further validated in vivo in nude mouse xenograft models.ResultscircESRP1 was highly expressed in EC tissues and cells and was mainly localized in the cytoplasm. Silencing circESRP1 inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of EC cells in vitro and in vivo; however, overexpression of circESRP1 had the opposite effects. Mechanistically, circESRP1 sponged miR-874-3p to upregulate CPEB4 expression and ultimately contribute to EC cell proliferation and metastasis. Furthermore, circESRP1 regulated tumour growth in xenograft models.ConclusionsCircESRP1 can interact with miR-874-3p to regulate EMT in endometrial cancer via the miR-874-3p/CPEB4 axis. CircESRP1 may serve as a promising therapeutic target for endometrial cancer.

Oxygen sensing in the ductus arteriosus-A unifying vision for two concepts.

Closure of the ductus arteriosus at birth is known to be related to the physiological rise in blood oxygen tension. Two main schemes have been proposed to explain the peculiar contraction of the ductus to oxygen, and their function is based on distinct sensor-effector complexes. Specifically, these schemes comprise a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase-endothelin complex or, alternatively, a mitochondrial redox mechanism-voltage gated potassium channel complex. However, it is not clear how these systems may relate to the closure process. Here, it is proposed that they operate jointly within a single functional entity, with their combined activation being required for a full-fledged contraction of the vessel to oxygen. This arrangement is thought to ensure a smooth transition from the powerful relaxant mechanism that is evident through the early postnatal period. Validation of this concept would not only settle a central question in the operation of the ductus but may also afford a broader perspective in any future translational research.

The diagnostic dilemma of Masticator space tumor

The masticator space is an anatomical and functional entity centered on the mandibular ramus, which divides it into medial and lateral compartments. The masticator spaces considered paired supra-hyoid cervical spaces on each side of the face that extend from the angle of the mandible to the parietal bone. The masticator space contains the mastication muscles, posterior mandible, and mandibular nerve. They are separated from the nasopharynx by the parapharyngeal spaces bilaterally. Primary malignancy of the masticator space is very uncommon.Here we report a diagnostic dilemma of primary masticator space malignancy mistaken by nasopharyngeal carcinoma as the patient 40-year old gentleman presented with left lateral rectus palsy and left nasopharynx fullness.

Exploring Marine as a Rich Source of Bioactive Peptides: Challenges and Opportunities from Marine Pharmacology.

This review highlights the underexplored potential and promises of marine bioactive peptides (MBPs) with unique structural, physicochemical, and biological activities to fight against the current and future human pathologies. A particular focus is given to the marine environment as a significant source to obtain or extract high-value MBPs from touched/untouched sources. For instance, marine microorganisms, including microalgae, bacteria, fungi, and marine polysaccharides, are considered prolific sources of amino acids at large, and peptides/polypeptides in particular, with fundamental structural sequence and functional entities of a carboxyl group, amine, hydrogen, and a variety of R groups. Thus, MBPs with tunable features, both structural and functional entities, along with bioactive traits of clinical and therapeutic value, are of ultimate interest to reinforce biomedical settings in the 21st century. On the other front, as the largest biome globally, the marine biome is the so-called “epitome of untouched or underexploited natural resources” and a considerable source with significant potentialities. Therefore, considering their biological and biomedical importance, researchers around the globe are redirecting and/or regaining their interests in valorizing the marine biome-based MBPs. This review focuses on the widespread bioactivities of MBPs, FDA-approved MBPs in the market, sustainable development goals (SDGs), and legislation to valorize marine biome to underlying the impact role of bioactive elements with the related pathways. Finally, a detailed overview of current challenges, conclusions, and future perspectives is also given to satisfy the stimulating demands of the pharmaceutical sector of the modern world.

Underwater photogrammetry reveals new links between coral reefscape traits and fishes that ensure key functions

AbstractMaintaining key functions of coral reefs is vital for the persistence of these ecosystems as well as for securing the goods and services that they provide in the Anthropocene. Underwater photogrammetry by Structure from Motion (SfM) allows the quantification of novel habitat descriptors that may be particularly relevant in assessing key reefscape traits, that is, physical and ecological characteristics of coral reef habitats. Here, we combined this new technology with fish surveys to explore how reefscape traits shape the functional structure of reef fish assemblages around three environmentally contrasted islands of the Indo‐Pacific (Europa Island, Reunion Island, and New Caledonia). At 24 sites, habitat descriptors were computed from digital elevation models (DEM) and orthomosaics, while reef fish assemblages were assessed by visual census and video footage. Four habitat descriptors were marginally correlated and presented low variance inflation factor (VIF) values, thus being the most complementary descriptors: surface complexity, total shelter capacity, Shannon Shelter Index, and total coral cover. Linear mixed models (LMM) were used to explore the relationships between these habitat descriptors and four key fish functional entities: prey, planktivores, grazers, and predators. For each model, the variance explained (i.e., marginal R2) was significantly higher when considering multiple predictors, including the novel three‐dimensional descriptors (i.e., total shelter capacity and Shannon Shelter Index). The habitat descriptors quantified from underwater photogrammetry outputs (i.e., DEM and orthomosaics) provide easily available data to assess key reefscape traits and predict fish assemblage structure in coral reef ecosystems. This trait‐based functional approach allows consistent assessment of the links between these descriptors from local to regional scales. Considering the global coral reef crisis and the increasing availability of world‐reef photogrammetric surveys, this new technology should be key to bringing solutions to 21st‐century conservation issues.

MDH2 produced OAA is a metabolic switch rewiring the fuelling of respiratory chain and TCA cycle

The mitochondrial respiratory chain (RC) enables many metabolic processes by regenerating both mitochondrial and cytosolic NAD+ and ATP. The oxidation by the RC of the NADH metabolically produced in the cytosol involves redox shuttles as the malate-aspartate shuttle (MAS) and is of paramount importance for cell fate. However, the specific metabolic regulations allowing mitochondrial respiration to prioritize NADH oxidation in response to high NADH/NAD+ redox stress have not been elucidated. The recent discovery that complex I (NADH dehydrogenase), and not complex II (Succinate dehydrogenase), can assemble with other respiratory chain complexes to form functional entities called respirasomes, led to the assumption that this supramolecular organization would favour NADH oxidation. Unexpectedly, characterization of heart and liver mitochondria demonstrates that the RC systematically favours electrons provided by the ‘respirasome free’ complex II. Our results demonstrate that the preferential succinate driven respiration is tightly controlled by OAA levels, and that OAA feedback inhibition of complex II rewires RC fuelling increasing NADH oxidation capacity. This new regulatory mechanism synergistically increases RC's NADH oxidative capacity and rewires MDH2 driven anaplerosis of the TCA, preventing malate production from succinate to favour oxidation of cytosolic malate. This regulatory mechanism synergistically adjusts RC and TCA fuelling in response to extramitochondrial malate produced by the MAS.

Induction, inhibition, and incorporation: Different roles for anionic and zwitterionic lysolipids in the fibrillation of the functional amyloid FapC

Amyloid proteins are widespread in nature both as pathological species involved in several diseases and as functional entities that can provide protection and storage for the organism. Lipids have been found in amyloid deposits from various amyloid diseases and have been shown to strongly affect the formation and structure of both pathological and functional amyloid proteins. Here, we investigate how fibrillation of the functional amyloid FapC from Pseudomonas is affected by two lysolipids, the zwitterionic lipid 1-myristoyl-2-hydroxy-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and the anionic lipid 1-myristoyl-2-hydroxy-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1′-rac-glycerol) (LPG). Small-angle X-ray scattering, circular dichroism, dynamic light scattering, and thioflavin T fluorescence measurements were performed simultaneously on the same sample to ensure reproducibility and allow a multimethod integrated analysis. We found that LPG strongly induces fibrillation around its critical micelle concentration (cmc) by promoting formation of large structures, which mature via accumulation of intermediate fibril structures with a large cross section. At concentrations above its cmc, LPG strongly inhibits fibrillation by locking FapC in a core–shell complex. In contrast, lipid 1-myristoyl-2-hydroxy-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine induces fibrillation at concentrations above its cmc, not via strong interactions with FapC but by being incorporated during fibrillation and likely stabilizing the fibrillation nucleus to reduce the lag phase. Finally, we show that LPG is not incorporated into the fibril during assembly but rather can coat the final fibril. We conclude that lipids affect both the mechanism and outcome of fibrillation of functional amyloid, highlighting a role for lipid concentration and composition in the onset and mechanism of fibrillation in vivo.

Optimal Design for an On-Wall Mounted Loudspeaker

The increased number of Internet services and the exposure of the personal information to the public network, create a problem with the privacy of the personal data. This problem is extremely impactful in the healthcare systems where the sensitive medical data circulate in the network. The emerging Blockchain technologies offer properties and tools for better personal data access management. The integration of the Blockchain technologies into the healthcare systems can provide better data privacy. However, beside the attractive properties, the current Blockchain technologies cannot achieve sufficient scalability to serve a global public healthcare system and cannot provide compatibility with the GDPR and HIPAA regulations. To overcome these limitations, this paper introduces new deducted Blockchain-based public healthcare system, the BloHeS, with main focus on several functional entities, such as optimal consensus mechanism, better storage organization, improved network organization and compatibility with GDPR and HIPAA regulations. It also defines a procedure for patient-centric data access management, protocols for Island management and new block structure.

Biomedical DNA hydrogels

Due to considerable progress in DNA nanotechnology, DNA is gaining significant attention as a programmable building block for the next generation of soft biomaterials. DNA has been used as either the only component to form all-DNA hydrogels or a cross-linker or functional entity to form hybrid DNA hydrogels through physical interactions or chemical reactions. The formed hydrogels exhibit adequate biocompatibility, convenient programmability, tunable multifunctionality, and capability of precise molecular recognition, making them an irreplaceable polymeric platform for interfacing biology. Responsive DNA hydrogels that are prepared through hybridization of DNA sticky ends, formation of i-motifs, enzymatic ligation, and enzymatic polymerization are commonly reported nowadays, which can undergo disassembly induced by various triggers, including alteration in ionic strength, pH, temperature, and biomolecules. These hydrogels are envisioned for applications of drug delivery and biosensing. This perspective aims to assess the most recent and important developments in this emerging class of biomedically useful DNA hydrogels.

ROLE OF UDAKAVAHA SROTAS IN RESPIRATORY PHYSIOLOGY A CONCEPTUAL REVIEW

In Ayurveda shastra Srotas are explained as structural and functional entities of the living body. Brihatrayies explained various number of srotus based on the clinical utility. Acharyas explained systemic anatomy &amp; physiology under srotus. Udakavaha srotas is one among the antharmukha srotas explained by Brihatrayies. Along with Pranavaha srotas udakavaha srotas also plays a major role in Respiratory physiology.Udakavaha sroto mula is talu and kloma narrated by Brahtrayies. Here Acharyas explained Kloma is situated right lateral side of the Hridaya.Kloma is one of the kapha sthana explained by Acharya vagbhata.This kapha is helps for Ambukarma. By these references here it considered as kloma is Right lung. Along with Pranavaha dushti lakshanas many sysmptoms of respiratory pathology showing symptoms of Udakavaha dushti lakshanas also like pipasa,jivha shosha ,talu shosha etc. So by this concept it will help for clinical understanding of the srotas. So the attempt is made to understanding the role of udakavaha srotus in Respiratory Physiology.