Inherent Capacity Research Articles

Modular Customization and Regulation of Metal-Organic Frameworks for Efficient Membrane Separations.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are considered ideal membrane candidates for energy-efficient separations. However, the MOF membrane amount to date is only a drop in the bucket compared to the material collections. The fabrication of an arbitrary MOF membrane exhibiting inherent separation capacity of the material remains a long-standing challenge. Herein, we report a MOF modular customization strategy by employing four MOFs with diverse structures and physicochemical properties and achieving innovative defect-free membranes for efficient separation validation. Each membrane fully displays the separation potential according to the MOF pore/channel microenvironment, and consequently, an intriguing H2 /CO2 separation performance sequence is achieved (separation factor of 1656-5.4, H2 permeance of 964-2745 gas permeation unit). Taking advantage of this strategy, separation performance can be manipulated by a non-destructive modification separately towards the MOF module. This work establishes a universal full-chain demonstration for membrane fabrication-separation validation-microstructure modification and opens an avenue for exclusive customization of membranes for important separations.

A Micrometric Transformer: Compositional Nanoshell Transformation of Fe3+ -Trimesic-Acid Complex with Concomitant Payload Release in Cell-in-Catalytic-Shell Nanobiohybrids.

Nanoencapsulation of living cells within artificial shells is a powerful approach for augmenting the inherent capacity of cells and enabling the acquisition of extrinsic functions. However, the current state of the field requires the development of nanoshells that can dynamically sense and adapt to environmental changes by undergoing transformations in form and composition. This paper reports the compositional transformation of an enzyme-embedded nanoshell of Fe3+ -trimesic acid complex to an iron phosphate shell in phosphate-containing media. The cytocompatible transformation allows the nanoshells to release functional molecules without loss of activities and biorecognition, while preserving the initial shell properties, such as cytoprotection. Demonstrations include the lysis and killing of Escherichia coli by lysozyme, and the secretion of interleukin-2 by Jurkat T cells in response to paracrine stimulation by antibodies. This work on micrometric Transformers will benefit the creation of cell-in-shell nanobiohybrids that can interact with their surroundings in active and adaptive ways.

LPMO-supported saccharification of biomass: effects of continuous aeration of reaction mixtures with variable fractions of water-insoluble solids and cellulolytic enzymes

BackgroundHigh substrate concentrations and high sugar yields are important aspects of enzymatic saccharification of lignocellulosic substrates. The benefit of supporting the catalytic action of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (LPMO) through continuous aeration of slurries of pretreated softwood was weighed against problems associated with increasing substrate content (quantitated as WIS, water-insoluble solids, in the range 12.5–17.5%), and was compared to the beneficial effect on the saccharification reaction achieved by increasing the enzyme preparation (Cellic CTec3) loadings. Aerated reactions were compared to reactions supplied with N2 to assess the contribution of LPMO to the saccharification reactions. Analysis using 13C NMR spectroscopy, XRD, Simons’ staining, BET analysis, and SEM analysis was used to gain further insights into the effects of the cellulolytic enzymes on the substrate under different reaction conditions.ResultsAlthough glucose production after 72 h was higher at 17.5% WIS than at 12.5% WIS, glucan conversion decreased with 24% (air) and 17% (N2). Compared to reactions with N2, the average increases in glucose production for aerated reactions were 91% (12.5% WIS), 70% (15.0% WIS), and 67% (17.5% WIS). Improvements in glucan conversion through aeration were larger (55–86%) than the negative effects of increasing WIS content. For reactions with 12.5% WIS, increased enzyme dosage with 50% improved glucan conversion with 25–30% for air and N2, whereas improvements with double enzyme dosage were 30% (N2) and 39% (air). Structural analyses of the solid fractions revealed that the enzymatic reaction, particularly with aeration, created increased surface area (BET analysis), increased disorder (SEM analysis), decreased crystallinity (XRD), and increased dye adsorption based on the cellulose content (Simons' staining).ConclusionsThe gains in glucan conversion with aeration were larger than the decreases observed due to increased substrate content, resulting in higher glucan conversion when using aeration at the highest WIS value than when using N2 at the lowest WIS value. The increase in glucan conversion with double enzyme preparation dosage was smaller than the increase achieved with aeration. The results demonstrate the potential in using proper aeration to exploit the inherent capacity of LPMO in enzymatic saccharification of lignocellulosic substrates and provide detailed information about the characteristics of the substrate after interaction with cellulolytic enzymes.

Computational and experimental analysis of foxtail millet under salt stress and selenium supplementation.

Salinity stress is a major threat to crop growth and productivity. Millets are stress-tolerant crops that can withstand the environmental constraints. Foxtail millet is widely recognized as a drought and salinity-tolerant crop owing to its efficient ROS scavenging mechanism. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) is one of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging enzymes that leads to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) detoxification and stabilization of the internal biochemical state of the cell under stress. This inherent capacity of the APX enzyme can further be enhanced by the application of an external mitigant. This study focuses on the impact of salt (NaCl) and selenium (Se) application on the APX enzyme activity of foxtail millet using in silico and in-vitro techniques and mRNA expression studies. The NaCl was applied in the concentrations, i.e., 150mM and 200mM, while the Se was applied in 1μM, 5μM, and 10μM concentrations. The in silico studies involved three-dimensional structure modeling and molecular docking. The in vitro studies comprised the morphological and biochemical parameters, alongside mRNA expression studies in foxtail millet under NaCl stress and Se applications. The in silico studies revealed that the APX enzyme showed better interaction with Se as compared to NaCl, thus suggesting the enzyme-modulating role of Se. The morphological and biochemical analysis indicated that Se alleviated the NaCl (150mM and 200mM) and induced symptoms at 1µM as compared to 5 and 10µM by enhancing the morphological parameters, upregulating the gene expression and enzyme activity of APX, and ultimately reducing the H2O2 content significantly. The transcriptomic studies confirmed the upregulation of chloroplastic APX in response to salt stress and selenium supplementation. Hence, it can be concluded that Se as a mitigant at lower concentrations can alleviate NaCl stress in foxtail millet.

Color-blind racial ideology and beliefs about environmental inequality among local US government officials

ABSTRACT Recent scholarship argues that racial oppression by the state is central to the formation of environmental inequalities, calling into question reliance on the state to achieve environmental justice. Others argue that the state is not monolithic and is the only institution capable of wielding sufficient power to address environmental inequalities. I engage with this discussion through a survey of US local government officials (N = 691). I find that officials tend to engage in color-blind environmental racism; that is, officials tend to understand issues of environmental inequality through the lens of color-blind racial ideology. Findings support the arguments of critical environmental justice scholars who question the state’s inherent capacity to respond to issues of environmental racism. However, variance in officials’ views also suggest that the state is a site of political contestation with many officials both recognizing the reality of environmental inequality and racism and supporting government intervention to address it.

The relationship between ventilation rates in schools and the indoor airborne transmission potential of COVID-19

ABSTRACT The requirement for natural ventilation strategies in classrooms to perform in respect to both their inherent and adaptive capacity is necessary to mitigate the risk of transmission associated with infectious airborne pathogens such as COVID-19. This paper assesses the performance of ten classrooms considering (a) the designed versus actual ventilation capacity; (b) the probability of airborne disease transmission by unit time resulting from calculated ventilation rates and (c) the reduction of transmission risk associated with mask wearing by all occupants. Monitored air changes per hour (ACH) range from 0.26–1.7, demonstrating that none of the classrooms meet designed ventilation rate whilst in operation. If the designed ventilation rate of 5 ACH were to be achieved, it would represent an infection risk of less than 1% during standard class durations and 5% over an 8-hour school day. The minimum achieved ventilation rate represents an infection risk of 7–12% (per class) and 75–100% (per school day) dependent on classroom specific parameters. Protection is afforded by the wearing of masks within the indoor school setting. During specified class durations in settings with sub-optimal ventilation rates, probability of infection can be reduced from 7–12% to 1–5%. Over an 8-hour school day, probability of infection can be reduced from 75–100% to 18–43%. These reductions are possible dependent on mask choice.

Development of a liver graft assessment expert machine-learning system: when the artificial intelligence helps liver transplant surgeons.

The complex process of liver graft assessment is one point for improvement in liver transplantation. The main objective of this study is to develop a tool that supports the surgeon who is responsible for liver donation in the decision-making process whether to accept a graft or not using the initial variables available to it. Liver graft samples candidate for liver transplantation after donor brain death were studied. All of them were evaluated "in situ" for transplantation, and those discarded after the "in situ" evaluation were considered as no transplantable liver grafts, while those grafts transplanted after "in situ" evaluation were considered as transplantable liver grafts. First, a single-center, retrospective and cohort study identifying the risk factors associated with the no transplantable group was performed. Then, a prediction model decision support system based on machine learning, and using a tree ensemble boosting classifier that is capable of helping to decide whether to accept or decline a donor liver graft, was developed. A total of 350 liver grafts that were evaluated for liver transplantation were studied. Steatosis was the most frequent reason for classifying grafts as no transplantable, and the main risk factors identified in the univariant study were age, dyslipidemia, personal medical history, personal surgical history, bilirubinemia, and the result of previous liver ultrasound (p < 0.05). When studying the developed model, we observe that the best performance reordering in terms of accuracy corresponds to 76.29% with an area under the curve of 0.79. Furthermore, the model provides a classification together with a confidence index of reliability, for most cases in our data, with the probability of success in the prediction being above 0.85. The tool presented in this study obtains a high accuracy in predicting whether a liver graft will be transplanted or deemed non-transplantable based on the initial variables assigned to it. The inherent capacity for improvement in the system causes the rate of correct predictions to increase as new data are entered. Therefore, we believe it is a tool that can help optimize the graft pool for liver transplantation.

Antibacterial Potential of Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. Ex Fr.) P. Kumm.) Extract against Pathogenic Bacteria

This study investigated the antibacterial properties of Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. Ex Fr.) P. Kumm. extracts against various pathogenic bacteria. The fruiting bodies of fresh oyster mushrooms were collected from Mae Phai Boon Mushroom Farm in Ban Thung Nang Rao, Mueang District, Mahasarakham Province, and subjected to extraction using 95% ethanol and 95% ethyl acetate solvents. The effectiveness of the extracts in suppressing the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms, encompassing Bacillus cereus, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Serratia marcescens, and Staphylococcus aureus, was assessed through the utilization of the paper disk diffusion technique. The results revealed that the crude extract obtained from the 95% ethanol solvent exhibited significant inhibitory effects against B. cereus, E. cloacae, P. aeruginosa, S. marcescens, and S. typhi, yielding inhibition zone diameters from 9.22 to 12.33 mm. In contrast, the crude extract from the 95% ethyl acetate solvent showed inhibitory activity only against E. coli, revealing an inhibition zone diameter of 12.00 mm. Additionally, the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the 95% ethanol crude extract against P. aeruginosa and S. marcescens established a value of 150 mg/ml, and concomitantly, the minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) was also established at 150 mg/ml. However, it was observed that the 95% ethanol crude extract at a concentration of 15 mg/ml was incapable of suppressing the proliferation of E. coli in the MIC evaluations. These findings imply that the extracts originating from P. ostreatus possess inherent capacity as organic antibacterial agents targeting specific pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, these findings justify the necessity for additional scrutiny into their conceivable utilities within the domains of medicine and food preservation.

Çağdaş İngiliz Şiirinde Antroposen’in Posthüman Poetikasi: Mario Petrucci’nin Bosco Eserinde Ekomerkezci Yankılar

This study aims to question the discursive construction of the hierarchical order attributed to the human/nonhuman dichotomy through an ecocentric reading of Mario Petrucci’s Bosco (1999). Bosco consists of poems that represent catastrophic consequences of deforestation, and it demonstrates how the more-than-human world reacts to egocentric schemes of humankind via its delineation of the agential faculties of the trees. In the collection, trees can no longer remain silent about the desolation that has been wrought upon nature, and they start addressing humankind to make them realise that they have long turned the planet into a barren space. Although it is too late to mitigate the ecological loss, Bosco explores the self-annihilating capacity of the anthropocentric mindset and warns against the imminent extinction that threatens all life forms. Given the increasing impact of the human imprint on Earth, therefore, it is seen that cultural modes of representation are bound to re-evaluate the undercurrents of the dialogue between human and nonhuman agents. In this manner, the Anthropocene functions as a material-discursive foundation that raises questions not only about the ecological crises triggered by humankind, but also about the exceptional status of the human ‘subject.’ Relatedly, it can be argued that traditional ‘nature’ poems fall behind in representing the complexity of human-nonhuman, culture-nature relations in the Anthropocene, and that contemporary ‘nature’ poetry needs a more inclusive dictionary that is devoid of egocentric insinuations. In this way, it will be possible to deal comprehensively with the multi-dimensional and intricate features of human-nonhuman relationship(s) in contemporary British poetry. While such terms as environmental poetry and/or ecopoetry have been used to denote a less anthropocentric position, none of them has been able to exhibit a well-developed ecocentric stance that can address the entanglement of human and nature thoroughly. Thus, the term ‘posthuman poetry’ is presented as an alternative tool that does not flatter the egocentric hubris of humankind but keeps the necessary aesthetic distance between humans and nonhumans by putting neither of them in the centre or in the periphery. Within this perspective, this study argues that, exploring the nonhuman agent’s inherent capacity to counter the negative consequences of egocentric mindset, Bosco serves as an ecocentric critique problematising the rationale for human authority over the more-than-human world in the Anthropocene.

Evaluation of point of care ultrasound (POCUS) training on arteriovenous access assessment and cannula placement for haemodialysis.

Haemodialysis requires a permanent vascular access and relies on cannulation with two large bore needles. Point Of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) is a tool that may assist nursing staff with visualising cannula placement and prevent miscannulation. This can be particularly useful in regional hospitals with limited access to vascular access specialists. To examine the impact of POCUS provision and education for nursing staff on confidence in cannulation and to understand the patient experience at three regional hospital haemodialysis units in South Australia. A POCUS machine and dedicated nursing education were provided at each of the three sites. A pre-test post-test model was used to assess the individual nurses perceived competency before and after the delivery of a series of online ultrasound education modules and face to face training. Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) were collected to understand the use of POCUS from the client perspective. There was a shift towards 'agree' or 'strongly agree' for all nursing surveys in regard to perceived competency (n = 15). This was statistically significant (p ⩽ 0.05) for all questions other than question 1 'I am confident in my ability to physically assess vascular access' (p = 0.06). The patients that completed the PROMs (n = 17) overall supported the ease and use of POCUS for haemodialysis cannulation and felt that it contributed to the nursing staff competency in cannulation. POCUS has the potential to be a valuable tool in regional haemodialysis units to support vascular access cannulation and potentially avoid metropolitan transfer due to cannulation difficulties. The non-significant change post intervention for question 1 likely reflects the haemodialysis nurses inherent pre-existing capacity to assess vascular access without the use of POCUS using the standard process of visual inspection, the use of a stethoscope and palpation ('look, listen and feel').

Enhancing Pest Detection: Assessing Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) Damage Intensity in Field Images through Advanced Machine Learning

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum (Solanaceae)), susceptible to significant yield loss due to pests, is particularly impacted by Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), a pest that directly and profoundly influences tomato yields. Consequently, early detection of T. absoluta damage intensity on leaves using machine learning or artificial intelligence-based algorithms is crucial for effective pest control. In this ground-breaking study, the galleries generated by T. absoluta were examined via field images using the Decision Trees (DTs) algorithm, a machine learning method. The unique advantage of DTs over other algorithms is their inherent capacity to identify complex and vague shapes without the necessity of feature extraction, providing a more streamlined and effective approach. The DTs algorithm was meticulously trained using pixel values from the leaf images, leading to the classification of pixels within regions with and without galleries on the leaves. Accordingly, the gallery intensity was determined to be 9.09% and 35.77% in the test pictures. The performance of the DTs algorithm, as evidenced by a high coefficient of determination (R²) and an accuracy rate of 0.98 and 0.99 respectively, testifies to its robust predictive and classification abilities. This pioneering study has far-reaching implications for the future of precision agriculture, potentially informing the development of advanced algorithms that can be integrated into autonomous vehicles. The integration of DTs in such applications, thanks to their distinctive ability to handle complex and indistinct shapes without the need for feature extraction, sets the stage for a new era of efficient and effective pest control strategies.

Effect of adsorbate geometry and hydrogen bonding on the enhanced adsorption of VOCs by an interfacial Fe3O4–rGO heterostructure

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced from a wide range of industrial and household chemicals are toxic to human health. Hence, effective VOC removal strategies such as adsorption are essential. Developing a carbon-based adsorbent for the selective adsorption of VOCs without affecting its inherent adsorption capacity is challenging. In this study, we prepared three Fe3O4-doped reduced graphene oxide (Fe-rGO) materials via a liquid-phase reduction technique under acidic, neutral, and basic coagulation conditions. The Fe-rGO adsorbents exhibited a hydrolysis-induced GO network with a wrinkled layer morphology. Acidic conditions yielded an rGO surface with a large number of O-functional groups (epoxy and carboxylic groups), which act as anchoring sites for the growth of Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The synergistic effect of Fe3O4 domains and O active sites led to the effective and selective adsorption of amphiphilic VOCs including C4-C7 alkanes, ketones, and aromatic compounds (10.8–63.2 mg g−1). Experimental analyses and density functional theory calculations revealed three crucial factors that determine the improved amphiphilic VOC adsorption of the Fe-rGO materials: geometry of the adsorbate, hydrogen bonding at the rGO surface, and Fe3O4 nanoparticles controlling the charge density. Our facile and effective rGO surface manipulation strategy involving the fabrication of a metal oxide–carbon heterostructure provides a selective adsorption platform for amphiphilic VOCs.

Hierarchically structured phycocyanin-loaded micro/nanofibrous membrane for guided bone regeneration

Although bone tissues possess an excellent inherent repair capacity, the ability to repair bone defects associated with osteoporosis, osteosarcoma, and congenital anomalies remains challenging. Several previous studies have developed biomaterials such as hydrogels, three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds, and nanofibrous scaffolds using synthetic and natural biomaterials that can deliver bioactive natural products to accelerate bone repair. Here, we evaluated the cytotoxicity, alkaline phosphatase activity, and mineral deposition capacity of MC3T3-E1 cells treated with Spirulina maxima-derived phycocyanin (PC), as well as the effects of PC on the expression of osteogenic protein markers such as osteocalcin and osteopontin in MC3T3-E1 cells. Next, we fabricated a PC-loaded poly lactic acid (PLA) and sodium alginate (SA) micro/nanofibrous membrane using emulsion electrospinning technology and generated hierarchically structured membranes using atelocollagen (AC) isolated from Paralichthys olivaceus. The microstructural architecture and physicochemical properties of the fabricated fibrous membranes were evaluated via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), and water contact angle analyses. The fabricated hierarchically structured micro/nanofibrous membrane exhibited excellent in vitro biocompatibility, cytoskeleton organization, and mineral deposition. The fibrous membranes implanted into calvarial bone defect models were evaluated 12 weeks after surgery using micro-CT and histological analysis and the results confirmed that the implant could significantly enhance bone tissue regeneration. Overall, our findings confirmed that PC loaded hierarchically arranged micro/nanofibrous membranes have significant potential for bone tissue regeneration applications.

Optimising the inherent fire capacity of structures

This paper introduces a structural design optimisation methodology aimed at minimising the consequences of a fire. The methodology considers the trade-off between implementing passive fire protection measures and enhancing a structure’s “inherent fire capacity”, defined as its ability to retain integrity/functionality without additional fire safety measures. The feasibility of the methodology is demonstrated through the fire safety design of a single-span, steel girder bridge. The optimisation process generates multiple Pareto-optimal solutions for minimising the maximum bridge deflection after a given fire exposure time. Passive protection ensures the bridge’s functionality when facing a heavy goods vehicle fire. In the case of exposure to a car fire, solutions requiring fire protection in specific limited girder regions are identified. The decision-making process is further supported by investigating the robustness of the solutions to uncertainties in material properties and the heat flux model.

Impact of simulated brain interstitial fluid flow on the chemokine CXCL12 release from an alginate-based hydrogel in a new 3D in vitro model

Introduction: Extensive investigation has been undertaken regarding drug delivery systems for the management of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). The infiltrative behavior of GBM cells within the brain tissue is primarily attributed to their heterogeneity, the movement of interstitial fluid (IFF), and the presence of chemokines. These factors contribute to the limited effectiveness of current conventional treatments. To address the dissemination of GBM cells, a proposed therapeutic approach involves utilizing a controlled release gradient of CXC-chemokine-ligand-12 (CXCL12). However, the impact of IFF on GBM cell migration within the brain underscores its critical importance as a significant parameter, which, surprisingly, has not been extensively studied in the context of localized drug delivery targeting the brain.Methods: Hydrogels are known for their inherent capacity to entrap various agents and exert precise control over their subsequent release. In the present investigation, we aimed to elucidate the release kinetics of CXCL12, whether in its free form or encapsulated within nanoparticles, from alginate-based hydrogels, both under static and dynamic conditions. To investigate the impact of convective forces mimicking the interstitial fluid flow (IFF) within the peritumoral environment of the brain, a three-dimensional in vitro model was developed. This model enabled the evaluation of CXCL12 release as a function of time and position, specifically accounting for the contribution of simulated IFF on the release behavior.Results: We first demonstrated that the release kinetic profiles under static culture conditions were independent of the initial mass loading and the predominant phenomenon occurring was diffusion. Subsequently, we investigated the release of CXCL12, which was loaded into Alginate/Chitosan-Nanoparticles (Alg/Chit-NPs) and embedded within an alginate hydrogel matrix. Mathematical modeling results also indicated the presence of electrostatic interactions between alginate and CXCL12. The Alg/Chit-NPs effectively slowed down the initial burst release, leading to a reduction in the diffusion coefficient of CXCL12. To further study the release behavior, we developed a perfusion bioreactor with a unique culture chamber designed to recapitulate the peritumoral environment and varied the fluid flow rates at 0.5 µL/min, 3 µL/min, 6.5 µL/min, and 10 µL/min. As the flow rate increased, the cumulative amount of released CXCL12 also increased for all three initial mass loadings. Beyond 3 µL/min, convection became the dominant mechanism governing CXCL12 release, whereas below this threshold, diffusion played a more prominent role.Conclusion: The indirect perfusion flow had a crucial impact on CXCL12 release and distribution inside the hydrogel in and against its direction. This system highlights the importance of considering the IFF in brain targeting delivery system and will be used in the future to study GBM cell behaviors in response to CXCL12 gradient.

Raising the social status of teachers: teachers as social entrepreneurs

In Australia, concerningly high levels of teacher attrition, and subsequent teacher shortages, have led to calls for improvement in the social status of teachers. In response, this study explored what draws pre-service teachers to the teaching profession in the face of research and media reports that suggest teaching is perceived as a low-status career. Using mixed methods, we surveyed 387 Australian pre-service teachers and found that their primary motivations for entering the teaching profession corresponded with the motivations attributed to social entrepreneurs who use innovation to make positive social change for their constituents. As far as the authors know, this is the first time that a close alignment between pre-service teachers’ motivations for entering the teaching profession and social entrepreneurs’ behaviours and intentions has been demonstrated. Thus, this study makes a unique contribution in the field of initial teacher education. We suggest that explicitly recognising teachers as social entrepreneurs with the inherent capacity to generate social innovation has the potential to raise the status of the profession. Such recognition could also positively inform pre-service teacher recruitment and teacher retention.

Topographical and Chemical Inductive Cues Synergistically Enhance the Schwann Cell Differentiation of Aligned Dental Pulp Stem Cell Sheets

Peripheral nerves have an inherent capacity for regeneration, but these Schwann cell-mediated mechanisms are insufficient for severe injuries. With current clinical treatments, slow regeneration and aberrant reinnervation result in poor functional outcomes. Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) offer a promising source of therapeutic neurotrophic factors (NTFs), growth factors that stimulate axon regeneration. Previously, we established that DPSCs can generate scaffold-free sheets with a linearly aligned extracellular matrix (ECM). These sheets provide trophic cues via the DPSCs and directional cues through the aligned ECM to both accelerate and orient axon outgrowth, thus providing a biomaterial capable of addressing the current clinical challenges. DPSCs have a propensity for differentiating into Schwann cells (SC-DPSCs), further enhancing their endogenous NTF expression. Here, we evaluated the effect of inducing SC differentiation on the neuroregenerative bioactivity of our DPSC sheets. These sheets were formed on substrates with linear microgrooves to direct the cells to deposit an aligned ECM. Inducing differentiation using an SC differentiation medium (SCDM) increased NTF expression 2-fold compared to unaligned uDPSC sheets, and this effect was amplified in linearly oriented SC-DPSC sheets by up to 8-fold. Furthermore, these aligned SC-DPSC sheets remodeled the sheet ECM to more closely emulate a regenerative neural microenvironment, expressing 8-fold and 2 × 107-fold more collagen IV and laminin, respectively, than unaligned uDPSC sheets. These data demonstrate that the chemical cues of the SCDM and the mechanotransductive cues of the aligned cell sheet synergistically enhanced the differentiation of DPSCs into repair SC-like cells. To evaluate their functional effects on neuritogenesis, the DPSC sheets were directly cocultured with neuronally differentiated neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. In this in vitro culture system, the aligned SC-DPSC sheets promoted oriented neurite-like outgrowth similar to aligned uninduced DPSC sheets and increased collateral branching, which may emulate stages associated with natural SC-mediated repair processes. Therefore, linearly aligned SC-DPSC sheets have the potential to both promote nerve regeneration and reduce aberrant reinnervation, thus providing a promising biomaterial for applications to improve the treatment of peripheral nerve injury.

A fluorescent reporter system for anaerobic thermophiles.

Owing to their inherent capacity to make invisible biological processes visible and quantifiable, fluorescent reporter systems have numerous applications in biotechnology. For classical fluorescent protein systems (i.e., GFP and derivatives), chromophore maturation is O2-dependent, restricting their applications to aerobic organisms. In this work, we pioneered the use of the oxygen-independent system FAST (Fluorescence Activating and absorption Shifting tag) in the thermophilic anaerobe Thermoanaerobacter kivui. We developed a modular cloning system that was used to easily clone a library of FAST expression cassettes in an E. coli-Thermoanaerobacter shuttle plasmid. FAST-mediated fluorescence was then assessed in vivo in T. kivui, and we observed bright green and red fluorescence for cells grown at 55°C. Next, we took advantage of this functional reporter system to characterize a set of homologous and heterologous promoters by quantifying gene expression, expanding the T. kivui genetic toolbox. Low fluorescence at 66°C (Topt for T. kivui) was subsequently investigated at the single-cell level using flow cytometry and attributed to plasmid instability at higher temperatures. Adaptive laboratory evolution circumvented this issue and drastically enhanced fluorescence at 66°C. Whole plasmid sequencing revealed the evolved strain carried functional plasmids truncated at the Gram-positive origin of replication, that could however not be linked to the increased fluorescence displayed by the evolved strain. Collectively, our work demonstrates the applicability of the FAST fluorescent reporter systems to T. kivui, paving the way for further applications in thermophilic anaerobes.

Entropy structural characterization of zeolites BCT and DFT with bond-wise scaled comparison

Entropy of a connected network is a quantitative measure from information theory that has triggered a plethora of research domains in molecular chemistry, biological sciences and computer programming due to its inherent capacity to explore the structural characteristics of complex molecular frameworks that have low structural symmetry as well as high diversity. The analysis of the structural order is greatly simplified through the topological indices based graph entropy metrics, which are then utilized to predict the structural features of molecular frameworks. This predictability has not only revolutionized the study of zeolitic frameworks but has also given rise to new generations of frameworks. We make a comparative study of two versatile framework topologies namely zeolites BCT and DFT, which have been widely utilized to create a new generation of frameworks known as metal organic frameworks. We discuss bond-additive topological indices and compute entropy measure descriptors for zeolites BCT and DFT using degree and degree-sum parameters. In addition, we perform bond-wise scaled comparative analysis between BCT and DFT which shows that zeolite BCT has greater entropy values compared to zeolite DFT.

Seyyed Jamaluddin Afghani's views on religious life in the modern world

Seyyed Jamal al-Din Afghani, a prominent and influential figure in the Islamic world during the past two centuries, occupies a significant position in the historical narrative. Faced with the challenge of reconciling Islam with the forces of modernity, Afghani sought to reclaim the waning authority and greatness of Muslims while striving to alleviate the colonial subjugation of Islamic nations. Rejecting the dichotomy between "extreme traditionalism" and "progressive modernism" as the sole solutions to the clash between Islam and modernity, he advanced a distinctive third alternative termed "Islamic reformism." This approach aimed to harmoniously blend Islamic principles with modernity, while concurrently reevaluating the interpretation of Islamic teachings within the context of modern discourse. Afghani accentuated the inherent capacity of Islam to lead and guide humanity, establishing it as the foundational tenet of his discourse. His objective was to transcend the uncritical adherence to traditional interpretations of Islam and embrace novel interpretations supported by rational inquiry.