Intrinsic Ability Research Articles

Painting Rocks with Polarized Light

Abstract Exploring the intersection between science and art — Sciart — inevitably involves microscopy because of its intrinsic ability to reveal microscopic hidden worlds not normally accessible to the public. Aesthetic microscopy, mainly performed in the biosciences using optical and electron devices, has more recently included the world of rocks and minerals as viewed with polarized light microscopy. In this contribution, all images are only from quartz to demonstrate the project micROCKScopica, where thin slices of rocks are “painted” with polarized light. The results resemble abstract or impressionist works of art. Who would have imagined?

Exploring the pathogenesis of insomnia and acupuncture intervention strategies based on the microbiota-gut-brain axis.

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder observed in clinical settings, with a globally rising prevalence rate. It not only impairs sleep quality and daytime functioning but also contributes to a range of physiological and psychological conditions, often co-occurring with somatic and mental disorders. Currently, the pathophysiology of this condition is not fully understood. Treatment primarily involves symptomatic management with benzodiazepine receptor agonists, melatonin and its receptor agonists, sedative antidepressants, atypical antipsychotics, and orexin receptor antagonists. However, due to the adverse side effects of these drugs, including dependency, addiction, and tolerance, there is an urgent need for safer, more effective, and environmentally friendly treatment methods. In recent years, research on the microbiota-gut-brain axis has received significant attention and is expected to be key in uncovering the pathogenesis of insomnia. Acupuncture stimulates acupoints, activating the body's intrinsic regulatory abilities and exerting multi-pathway, multi-target regulatory effects. A substantial body of evidence-based research indicates that acupuncture is effective in treating insomnia. However, the unclear mechanisms of its action have limited its further clinical application in insomnia treatment. Therefore, this study aims to elucidate the pathogenesis of insomnia from the perspective of the microbiota-gut-brain axis by examining metabolic, neuro-endocrine, autonomic nervous, and immune pathways. Additionally, this study discusses the comprehensive application of acupuncture in treating insomnia, aiming to provide new strategies for its treatment.

Novel, active, and uncultured hydrocarbon-degrading microbes in the ocean.

Given the vast quantity of oil and gas input to the marine environment annually, hydrocarbon degradation by marine microorganisms is an essential ecosystem service. Linkages between taxonomy and hydrocarbon degradation capabilities are largely based on cultivation studies, leaving a knowledge gap regarding the intrinsic ability of uncultured marine microbes to degrade hydrocarbons. To address this knowledge gap, metagenomic sequence data from the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill deep-sea plume was assembled to which metagenomic and metatranscriptomic reads were mapped. Assembly and binning produced new DWH metagenome-assembled genomes that were evaluated along with their close relatives, all of which are from the marine environment (38 total). These analyses revealed globally distributed hydrocarbon-degrading microbes with clade-specific substrate degradation potentials that have not been reported previously. For example, methane oxidation capabilities were identified in all Cycloclasticus. Furthermore, all Bermanella encoded and expressed genes for non-gaseous n-alkane degradation; however, DWH Bermanella encoded alkane hydroxylase, not alkane 1-monooxygenase. All but one previously unrecognized DWH plume member in the SAR324 and UBA11654 have the capacity for aromatic hydrocarbon degradation. In contrast, Colwellia were diverse in the hydrocarbon substrates they could degrade. All clades encoded nutrient acquisition strategies and response to cold temperatures, while sensory and acquisition capabilities were clade specific. These novel insights regarding hydrocarbon degradation by uncultured planktonic microbes provides missing data, allowing for better prediction of the fate of oil and gas when hydrocarbons are input to the ocean, leading to a greater understanding of the ecological consequences to the marine environment.IMPORTANCEMicrobial degradation of hydrocarbons is a critically important process promoting ecosystem health, yet much of what is known about this process is based on physiological experiments with a few hydrocarbon substrates and cultured microbes. Thus, the ability to degrade the diversity of hydrocarbons that comprise oil and gas by microbes in the environment, particularly in the ocean, is not well characterized. Therefore, this study aimed to utilize non-cultivation-based 'omics data to explore novel genomes of uncultured marine microbes involved in degradation of oil and gas. Analyses of newly assembled metagenomic data and previously existing genomes from other marine data sets, with metagenomic and metatranscriptomic read recruitment, revealed globally distributed hydrocarbon-degrading marine microbes with clade-specific substrate degradation potentials that have not been previously reported. This new understanding of oil and gas degradation by uncultured marine microbes suggested that the global ocean harbors a diversity of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria, which can act as primary agents regulating ecosystem health.

How does peer feedback impact academic performance? An empirical investigation in an undergraduate business context

ABSTRACT This study explores the peer feedback process with first-year undergraduate business students at an Irish University. This research explicitly examines (1) whether the act of generating or receiving high-quality peer feedback had a significant impact on student performance (grades) and (2) participants’ attitudes to peer feedback (pre and post-process). A mixed methods approach was adopted where the data gathered included draft and final assignment grades, content analysis and quality ratings of peer feedback and responses to student attitude and perception questionnaires. Results demonstrate that the quality of peer feedback generated has a statistically significant impact on students’ final grades. While the feedback received is often seen as the main benefit derived from the peer feedback process, this study provides empirical evidence that students who generated high quality feedback, were able to self-evaluate and enhance their own work which resulted in improved performance. Together with positive attitudes, this finding suggests that there is more scope to support and encourage students’ role as assessor in higher education. A limitation of the study is that it did not control for intrinsic motivation or innate academic ability.

Looming stimuli reliably drive innate defensive responses in male rats, but not learned defensive responses

Survival relies on an organism's intrinsic ability to instinctively react to stimuli such as food, water, and threats, ensuring the fundamental ability to feed, drink, and avoid danger even in the absence of prior experience. These natural, unconditioned stimuli can also facilitate associative learning, where pairing them consistently with neutral cues will elicit responses to these cues. Threat conditioning, a well-explored form of associative learning, commonly employs painful electric shocks, mimicking injury, as unconditioned stimuli. It remains elusive whether actual injury or pain is necessary for effective learning, or whether the threat of harm is sufficient. Approaching predators create looming shadows and sounds, triggering strong innate defensive responses like escape and freezing. This study investigates whether visual looming stimuli can induce learned freezing or learned escape responses to a conditioned stimulus in male rats. Surprisingly, pairing a neutral tone with a looming stimulus only weakly evokes learned defensive responses, in contrast to the strong responses observed when the looming stimulus is replaced by a shock. This dissociation sheds light on the boundaries for learned defensive responses thereby impacting our comprehension of learning processes and defensive strategies.

Pseudocapacitive Na ion storage in binder-less, carbon additive-free Nb2O5-x electrode synthesised via solvothermal-assisted electro-coating with enhanced areal capacitance and lowered impedance parameters

Negatrodes with wide negative operating voltage, high electrochemical storage capacity, and intrinsic metal ion intercalation abilities are vital to the continuous development of storage devices with simultaneous energy and power density improvement. Herein, we report binder-less coating of non-stoichiometric vacancy-implanted Nb2O5-x as carbon additive-free negatrode on FTO substrate for asymmetric supercapacitor and sodium ion capacitor applications. The negatrode was fabricated through vacuum-less and low-temperature solvothermal-assisted electro-coating technique and yielded several orders of enhancement in its areal capacitance and retained ca. 90 % of its capacity after 5000 cycles of charge-discharge in aqueous Na+ electrolyte. The solvothermal treated electro-coated electrode (STT_Nb2O5-x) achieved an areal capacitance of 22.58 mF/cm2, which was far higher than those of hydrothermal-treated electro-coated HTT_Nb2O5 and Nb2O5 electrodes. The solvothermal treatment simultaneously enhanced the electro-coated samples' impedance properties and mass load through oxygen vacancy implantation and re-crystallization of the electro-coated Nb2O5 layer, respectively. This study presented a facile and energy-efficient technique of direct coating of defect-enhanced pseudocapacitive nanomaterials for the fabrication of electrochemical storage devices.

Costa Rican fungi as potential biomaterials

Fungal biomaterials are gaining relevance due to their intrinsic ability of self-repair, higher sensitivity to external conditions and faster growth respective to synthetic materials. This project consists of evaluating and characterizing the physical properties of fungal strains isolated from a Pacific Coast Mangrove in Costa Rica. We identified environmental strains by recording their morphological features and complemented this by ITS-based DNA barcoding, and subsequently, classified three strains based on morphological features and seven strains by molecular analyses. Ongoing work is being done to measure electrical responses of these fungi upon light stimulation; in addition, a protocol for studying their piezoelectric properties is being developed to identify potential candidates to be used in the field of electronics. To the extent of our knowledge, our project is the first one to report piezoelectric properties from microscopic fungi in Costa Rica as means to determine its potential as biomaterials.

Antibiotic heteroresistance and persistence: an additional aid in hospital acquired infections by Enterococcus spp.?

Enterococcus, particularly E. faecium and E. faecalis, are responsible for many hospital-acquired infections. With their intrinsic antibiotic resistance and ability to form biofilms, enterococcal infections are already challenging to manage. However, when heterogenous populations are present, such as those exhibiting heteroresistance and persistence, the complexity of these infections increases exponentially not only due to their treatment but also due to their difficult diagnosis. In this study, we provide a summary of the current understanding of both heteroresistance and persistence in terms of mechanisms, diagnosis and treatment and subsequently review recent literature pertaining to these susceptibility types specifically in enterococci.

Construction of multiple interpenetrati ng network electric field-assisted healing hydrogel composite damage-resistant membrane

Inspired by the intrinsic self-healing ability of organisms, this study proposes to incorporate healing properties into separation membranes that are susceptible to physical damage during installation, operation, maintenance, and cleaning. The polyacrylic acid (PAA) hydrogel-modified layer was first obtained by in situ cross-linking and free radical polymerization in this research. After that, the construction of multiple interpenetrating three-dimensional (3D) network hydrogel-modified layers was realized via inserting amininated carbon nanotubes (CNTs-NH2) and Fe3+. Under the external effect of the electric field, the reversible dynamic linkage bonded in the conductive network constructed by CNTs-NH2 and Fe3+ benefited the rearrangement and diffusion of PAA molecular chains at the fractured interface. The dye separation performance of the composite membrane was restored to ca. 90 % of the initial level without affecting the dynamic operation after damage. The hydrogel-modified layer can be structurally stabilized for as long as 100 days. The Fe3+/CNTs-NH2/PAA/PES hydrogel composite membrane maintained a pure water flux of as high as 124.66 L m−2 h−1∙bar−1. This coating also exhibited excellent electrical conductivity (714.33 Ω/sq), mechanical strength (4.31 Mpa), repair, and screening capabilities. It provides a theoretical basis for achieving industrial scale-up and demonstrates good application prospects and empowerment potential.

A review on the implementation of lower-limb exoskeletons to improve the intrinsic capacity and functional ability of older adults

A review on the implementation of lower-limb exoskeletons to improve the intrinsic capacity and functional ability of older adults

REVOLUTIONIZING POWER TRANSFORMER FAULT DIAGNOSIS THROUGH COGNITIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND DISSOLVED GAS ANALYSIS INTEGRATION

The research introduces a cognitive artificial intelligence (CAI) model that leverages dissolved gas analysis (DGA) to investigate power transformer faults. Conventional fault interpretation methods using DGA are limited in accuracy and uncertainty. In response, the proposed CAI model utilizes cognitive learning and direct interaction to achieve remarkably accurate fault identification without the need for supervised training. By extracting fault features through key gas ratio limitations. However, the CAI model also has a gap in data perception due to the information sensory challenges. Using gas ratios based on the conventional fault interpretation methods in the latest study still limited data perception of the CAI model to only three or four gas ratios. Thus, this study aims to increase data perception by extracting fault features through ten gas ratio limitations. The proposed CAI model's performance is validated, outperforming traditional methods like the Duval triangle method, Duval pentagon method, Doernenburg ratio method, and Roger ratio method, as well as common AI approaches including artificial neuron network, long short-term memory, nearest neighbor classifiers, support vector machine, ensemble classifiers, and decision trees. Notably, the CAI model's success rate in fault type identification stands at an impressive 98.04%. A distinctive trait of the CAI model is its autonomous knowledge accumulation and enhancement, enabled by inferring-fusion information and sensor-based knowledge integration. This intrinsic learning ability further contributes to its exceptional fault diagnosis accuracy. The proposed CAI model showcases promising potential for revolutionizing power transformer fault investigation and diagnosis, mitigating unplanned outages, and ultimately bolstering power system reliability.

Assessment of the geriatric patient’s prescription for the analysis of medications and diseases

Objective: Aging is broadly defined as a gradual functional decline in the living organism’s intrinsic ability to defend, maintain, and repair itself in order to keep working efficiently and has attracted attention throughout the history of civilization Methods: The recent work was an observational, prescription based study carried out in the nearby area of Jahangirabad Institute of Technology Faculty of Pharmacy, Barabanki UP., and India. A descriptive study was conducted for 3 months from March 2024 to June 2024. Elder from (50-100) years of age in outpatient department were recruited for this study. Results: The data reveals a higher number of male patients (446) compared to female patients (324), with 65% of patients in the 50-70 age range and a notable decline in those over 70. Commonly prescribed medications include Omeprazole (275) for heartburn, Diclofenac (272) for pain, and dietary supplements for weakness. Amoxicillin is the most frequently prescribed antibiotic (86 instances), followed by Ciprofloxacin (53) and Metronidazole (45). Parenteral antibiotics like Gentamycin and Ceftriaxone are used for severe infections. This information highlights the need for targeted healthcare services for middle-aged and early senior patients and reflects the reliance on both oral and parenteral antibiotics for treating infections. Conclusion: First and foremost, seniors should focus on living a healthy lifestyle. Eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep are all essential components of maintaining good health. Seniors should speak with their doctor to determine the best course of action for their specific health needs. This may include implementing a specific diet, taking vitamins, or engaging in physical activity.

Characterization of myocardial perfusion imaging systems - an extension of quality metrics

PurposeThe aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) systems in detecting perfusion defects (PDs). The defect perfusion index (DPI) was introduced to extend and further advance the current MPI quality metrics. MethodsAn anthropomorphic phantom simulating normal and pathological myocardial perfusion conditions was imaged by various NaI-crystal detector systems with and without corrections for scatter (SC) and attenuation (AC) (Symbia, Symbia + SC, Symbia IQ + SCAC, Symbia IQ), and cadmium-zinc-telluride detector systems without corrections (DSPECT, D530c). The extent of PD and the summed score (SS) were obtained by comparing polar maps with ad hoc normal databases created for each MPI system by using phantom polar maps with normal perfusion. The segmental uptake (SU) and the global uniformity (GU) were evaluated. The DPI was calculated on segments included in the PD to minimize attenuation artifacts outside the PD. The 17 segmental model was used. ResultsThe highest level of uniformity of polar map was obtained for Symbia IQ + SCAC. D530c showed the highest extent of PD and dependence of the extent on the PD position. It showed in general the lowest SU values and the highest GU due to attenuation artifacts. Nevertheless, D530c outperforms other MPI systems in terms of PD detection, showing the highest DPI value. DSPECT system showed the lowest SS value, and DPI values comparable to NaI-crystal detector systems. ConclusionThe DPI can be evaluated to investigate the intrinsic ability of MPI systems to detect PDs, whatever the quantitative post-processing software used.

Natural Regenerative Hydrogels for Wound Healing.

Regenerative hydrogels from natural polymers have come forth as auspicious materials for use in regenerative medicine, with interest attributed to their intrinsic biodegradability, biocompatibility, and ability to reassemble the extracellular matrix. This review covers the latest advances in regenerative hydrogels used for wound healing, focusing on their chemical composition, cross-linking mechanisms, and functional properties. Key carbohydrate polymers, including alginate, chitosan, hyaluronic acid, and polysaccharide gums, including agarose, carrageenan, and xanthan gum, are discussed in terms of their sources, chemical structures and specific properties suitable for regenerative applications. The review further explores the categorization of hydrogels based on ionic charge, response to physiological stimuli (i.e., pH, temperature) and particularized roles in wound tissue self-healing. Various methods of cross-linking used to enhance the mechanical and biological performance of these hydrogels are also examined. By highlighting recent innovations and ongoing challenges, this article intends to give a detailed understanding of natural hydrogels and their potential to revolutionize regenerative medicine and improve patient healing outcomes.

The OsSRO1c-OsDREB2B complex undergoes protein phase transition to enhance cold tolerance in rice

Cold stress is one of the major abiotic stress factors affecting rice growth and development, leading to significant yield loss in the context of global climate change. Exploring natural variants that confer cold resistance and the underlying molecular mechanism responsible for this is the major strategy to breed cold-tolerant rice varieties. Here, we show that natural variations of a SIMILAR to RCD ONE (SRO) gene, OsSRO1c, confer cold tolerance in rice at both seedling and booting stages. Our in vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrated that OsSRO1c possesses intrinsic liquid–liquid phase-separation ability and recruits OsDREB2B, an AP2/ERF transcription factor that functions as a positive regulator of cold stress, into its biomolecular condensates in the nucleus, resulting in elevated transcriptional activity of OsDREB2B. We found that the OsSRO1c-OsDREB2B complex directly responds to low temperature through dynamic phase transitions and regulates key cold-response genes, including COLD1. Furthermore, we showed that introgression of an elite haplotype of OsSRO1c into a cold-susceptible indica rice could significantly increase its cold resistance. Collectively, our work reveals a novel cold-tolerance regulatory module in rice and provides promising genetic targets for molecular breeding of cold-tolerant rice varieties.

Synonymous codon usage influences the transmission of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) virus in camels.

Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) is an infectious pathogen; causing highly contagious, acute febrile, and economically important disease of small ruminants. The virus is known to have intrinsic ability to adapt new hosts and to cross the species barrier. The incidence of PPR has already been reported in unusual host species such as camels, bovines, and wild animals from spill-over or natural infection. Still, there are elementary gaps in our knowledge of the extent of susceptibility of camel to PPRV and the adaptability of PPRV to camel. The present study delineates the potential role of preferential codon usage patterns responsible for adaptation, host immune evasion, and transmission of PPRV to unusual hosts like old world camel species namely, dromedary and bactrian camel. The results indicate codon usage of the PPRV genome is functioned by an interplay of mutational pressure and natural selection to exhort the adaptation and fitness of PPRV in probable hosts. The indices of natural selection like the relative codon deoptimization index (RCDI) and codon adaptation index (CAI) predict the ability of PPRV to adapt and evolve in camel species. The analysis also depicts the potential role of the CpG depletion mechanism employed by PPRV to evade host adaptive immune response. The report emphasizes the need for a comprehensive national PPR surveillance plan in unusual hosts like camels for the successful implementation of the PPR Global Eradication Programme (PPR- GEP).

EPHA2 is a novel cell surface marker of OCT4-positive undifferentiated cells during the differentiation of mouse and human pluripotent stem cells.

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) possess the intrinsic ability to differentiate into diverse cellular lineages, marking them as potent instruments in regenerative medicine. Nonetheless, the proclivity of these stem cells to generate teratomas post-transplantation presents a formidable obstacle to their therapeutic utility. In previous studies, we identified an array of cell surface proteins specifically expressed in the pluripotent state, as revealed through proteomic analysis. Here we focused on EPHA2, a protein found to be abundantly present on the surface of undifferentiated mouse ESCs and is diminished upon differentiation. Knock-down of Epha2 led to the spontaneous differentiation of mouse ESCs, underscoring a pivotal role of EPHA2 in maintaining an undifferentiated cell state. Further investigations revealed a strong correlation between EPHA2 and OCT4 expression during the differentiation of both mouse and human PSCs. Notably, removing EPHA2+ cells from mouse ESC-derived hepatic lineage reduced tumor formation after transplanting them into immune-deficient mice. Similarly, in human iPSCs, a larger proportion of EPHA2+ cells correlated with higher OCT4 expression, reflecting the pattern observed in mouse ESCs. Conclusively, EPHA2 emerges as a potential marker for selecting undifferentiated stem cells, providing a valuable method to decrease tumorigenesis risks after stem-cell transplantation in regenerative treatments.

Endocytosed dsRNAs induce lysosomal membrane permeabilization that allows cytosolic dsRNA translocation for Drosophila RNAi responses

RNA interference (RNAi) is a gene-silencing mechanism triggered by the cytosolic entry of double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs). Many animal cells internalize extracellular dsRNAs via endocytosis for RNAi induction. However, it is not clear how the endocytosed dsRNAs are translocated into the cytosol across the endo/lysosomal membrane. Herein, we show that in Drosophila S2 cells, endocytosed dsRNAs induce lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) that allows cytosolic dsRNA translocation. LMP mediated by dsRNAs requires the lysosomal Cl−/H+ antiporter ClC-b/DmOstm1. In clc-b or dmostm1 knockout S2 cells, extracellular dsRNAs are endocytosed and reach the lysosomes normally but fail to enter the cytosol. Pharmacological induction of LMP restores extracellular dsRNA-directed RNAi in clc-b or dmostm1-knockout cells. Furthermore, clc-b or dmostm1 mutant flies are defective in extracellular dsRNA-directed RNAi and its associated antiviral immunity. Therefore, endocytosed dsRNAs have an intrinsic ability to induce ClC-b/DmOstm1-dependent LMP that allows cytosolic dsRNA translocation for RNAi responses in Drosophila cells.

Chemically Tagging Cargo for Specific Packaging inside and on the Surface of Virus-like Particles.

Virus-like particles (VLPs) have untapped potential for packaging and delivery of macromolecular cargo. To be a broadly useful platform, there needs to be a strategy for attaching macromolecules to the inside or the outside of the VLP with minimal modification of the platform or cargo. Here, we repurpose antiviral compounds that bind to hepatitis B virus (HBV) capsids to create a chemical tag to noncovalently attach cargo to the VLP. Our tag consists of a capsid assembly modulator, HAP13, connected to a linker terminating in maleimide. Our cargo is a green fluorescent protein (GFP) with a single addressable cysteine, a feature that can be engineered in many proteins. The HAP-GFP construct maintained HAP's intrinsic ability to bind HBV capsids and accelerate assembly. We investigated the capacity of HAP-GFP to coassemble with HBV capsid protein and bind to preassembled capsids. HAP-GFP binding was concentration-dependent, sensitive to capsid stability, and dependent on linker length. Long linkers had the greatest activity to bind capsids, while short linkers impeded assembly and damaged intact capsids. In coassembly reactions, >20 HAP-GFP molecules were presented on the outside and inside of the capsid, concentrating the cargo by more than 100-fold compared to bulk solution. We also tested an HAP-GFP with a cleavable linker so that external GFP molecules could be removed, resulting in exclusive internal packaging. These results demonstrate a generalizable strategy for attaching cargo to a VLP, supporting development of HBV as a modular VLP platform.

(Invited) Photon Upconversion: Getting Molecules and Nanocrystals to Talk Triplets

Photon upconversion offers the prospect of combining low energy near-infrared radiation to make high energy photons in the visible wavelengths to improve photovoltaics and introduce new bioimaging techniques. In order to harness the intrinsic ability of colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals to couple strongly with light, it is important to efficiently outcouple energy from photoexcited quantum dots (QDs), much like how nature uses molecular antennas to direct light during photosynthesis. This talk focuses on the organic-inorganic interface for triplet-fusion based photon upconversion, where orbital overlap between the QD donor and molecular acceptor is critical for efficient energy transduction. In the past 8 years, we have learnt a great deal about how the electronic interactions between chalcogenide nanocrystals and acene conjugated molecules affect the photon upconversion quantum yield. We apply the lessons learnt to extending photon upconversion to silicon nanocrystal light absorbers, addressing synthetic challenges with invaluable insight from time-resolved spectroscopy.