Structural Changes Research Articles

Assessment of mandibular trabecular structure and cervical vertebral maturation using fractal analysis.

Changes in bone trabeculae occur during skeletal maturation. Fractal analysis is a technique for assessing changes in the internal structure of the bone. The aim of this study was to investigate correlation of bone trabeculation measured on panoramic and lateral cephalometric radiographs with cervical vertebral maturation stages (CVMS). CVMS was evaluated on lateral cephalometric radiographs of 120 individuals aged 6 to 18 years. The subjects were divided into 6 groups (n= 20 each) according to CVMS. On panoramic and lateral cephalometric radiographs, fractal dimension (FD) analyses were performed in mandibular corpus, gonial and condylar regions and cervical vertebral bodies (C2, C3, C4). FD measurements from the mandibular corpus region bilaterally and C2-C4 vertebral bodies showed significant positive correlations with CVMS (r= 0.418, r= 0.412, r= 0.324, r= 0.304, r= 0.263, respectively). Significant differences were found in the FD values of the right/left mandibular corpus and C2 and C3 vertebrae compared to CVMS (P< 0.001, P< 0.001, P= 0.005, P= 0.019, respectively). Significant positive moderate correlations between the FD values of the right and left mandibular corpus and CVMS suggest that fractal analysis may be useful in determining skeletal maturity stage. The significant FD values obtained from the right/left mandibular corpus, and C2 and C3 vertebra indicate that the complexity of the internal trabecular structure increases with maturation.

Thinning vs. Pruning: Impacts on Sap Flow Density and Water Use Efficiency in Young Populus tomentosa Plantations in Northern China

Water is a vital resource for tree growth, and changes in plantation and canopy structure can affect stand transpiration (Ec), consequently influencing water use efficiency (WUE). Populus tomentosa is a fast-growing and productive timber species in China. In recent years, thinning combined with pruning has become a widely used silvicultural practice for timber management. However, its effect on water utilization has been less well studied. To address this gap, we designed experiments with two thinning intensities and three pruning treatments. Thermal dissipation probes were employed to monitor tree sap flow density (Js), and estimated Ec and canopy conductance (gc). We established a relationship between the canopy transpiration per unit leaf area (EL) and gc and climatic factors. Finally, we compared basal area increment (BAI) and WUE among treatments under different rainfall conditions. The results indicated that: (1) The pattern of transpiration changes was consistent at both the individual tree and stand level. (2) The combined effect of T1 (thinning intensity of 833 trees per hectare) and pruning reduced Ec, decreasing the sensitivity of tree transpiration to the climate, with no discernible impact on EL and gc. Conversely, T2 (thinning intensity of 416 trees per hectare) and pruning increased EL and gc but had no effect on Ec, enhancing the sensitivity of tree transpiration to the climate. The sensitivity of gc to VPD suggested a flexible stomatal regulation of transpiration under different combined thinning and pruning treatments. (3) Under T1, only P2 (4 m pruning from ground) promoted WUE, while pruning effects significantly reduced WUE under T2. Overall, the WUE of T2P0 (thinning intensity of 416 trees per hectare combined with no pruning) was significantly higher than that of the other treatments, and that of T1P0 (thinning intensity of 833 trees per hectare combined with no pruning) was significantly lower than that of the other treatments. Additionally, significant differences in Ec and BAI were observed among treatments under different rainfall conditions, with the promotion effect of Ec on BAI being more pronounced in the dry season.

Mutation of SOCS2 induces structural and functional changes in mammary development.

Lactation is an essential process for mammals. In sheep, the R96C mutation in suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS2) protein is associated with greater milk production and increased mastitis sensitivity. To shed light on the involvement of R96C mutation in mammary gland development and lactation, we developed a mouse model carrying this mutation (SOCS2KI/KI). Mammary glands from virgin adult SOCS2KI/KI mice presented a branching defect and less epithelial tissue, which were not compensated for in later stages of mammary development. Mammary epithelial cell (MEC) subpopulations were modified, with mutated mice having three times as many basal cells, accompanied by a decrease in luminal cells. The SOCS2KI/KI mammary gland remained functional; however, MECs contained more lipid droplets versus fat globules, and milk lipid composition was modified. Moreover, the gene expression dynamic from virgin to pregnancy state resulted in the identification of about 3000 differentially expressed genes specific to SOCS2KI/KI or control mice. Our results show that SOCS2 is important for mammary gland development and milk production. In the long term, this finding raises the possibility of ensuring adequate milk production without compromising animal health and welfare.

The changes of chili leaf structure by Geminivirus infection

The Geminivirus in chili plants is a significant problem in chili cultivation. Symptoms of Geminivirus infection are quite easy to find in chili plants because the symptoms are quite typical: mosaic, yellowing, small leaves, leaf lamina malformation, and stunting. The visual changes in leaf morphology are due to the leaf tissue structure, such as the upper and lower epidermis and the mesophyll tissue, including the palisade and sponge. There is little information about changes in the structure of chili plants infected with the Geminivirus. Therefore, this study aims to add information about changes in the leaf tissue structure of chili plants infected with the Geminivirus. The structural changes observed were palisades. Long palisades were less preferred by whiteflies, so the incidence of geminivirus disease was lower. This information is a reference for assembling chili plants with better structural resistance. The method used was a cross-section of chili leaves, double staining, and observation with a light microscope. Observations on mild symptoms showed epidermal cells shrinking. Some parts of palisade leaves were composed of two layers with shortened cells and tend to be oval. The symptom is that the upper epidermal cells were shrunken, and the palisade also tends to shorten. Severe symptoms of the epidermis on the leaves were curly, shriveled, thinned, and even dying; the palisade is shortened and sometimes looks irregular/tight. Changes in the leaf tissue of chili plants infected with the Geminivirus cause changes at the ultra-structural, cell, or tissue level, depending on the type of virus attack and the attack level.

Quantitative or qualitative biomolecular changes in blood serum composition induced by childhood obesity: A Fourier transform infrared examination

Childhood obesity (CO) negatively affects one in three children and stands as the fourth most common risk factor of health and well-being. Clarifying the molecular and structural modifications that transpire during the development of obesity is crucial for understanding its progression and devising effective therapies. The study was indeed conducted as part of an ongoing CO treatment trial, where data were collected from children diagnosed with CO before the initiation of non-drug treatment interventions. Our primary aim was to analyze the biochemical changes associated with childhood obesity, specifically focusing on concentrations of lipids, lipoproteins, insulin, and glucose. By comparing these parameters between the CO group (n = 60) and a control group of healthy children (n = 43), we sought to elucidate the metabolic differences present in individuals with CO. Our biochemical analyses unveiled lower LDL (low-density lipoproteins) levels and higher HDL (high-density lipoproteins), cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, and glucose levels in CO individuals compared to controls. To scrutinize these changes in more detail, we employed Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy on the serum samples. Our results indicated elevated levels of lipids and proteins in the serum of CO, compared to controls. Additionally, we noted structural changes in the vibrations of glucose, β-sheet, and lipids in CO group. The FTIR technique, coupled with principal component analysis (PCA), demonstrated a marked differentiation between CO and controls, particularly in the FTIR region corresponding to amide and lipids. The Pearson test revealed a stronger correlation between biochemical data and FTIR spectra than between 2nd derivative FTIR spectra. Overall, our study provides valuable insights into the molecular and structural changes occurring in CO.

Correlation of light and electron microscopic morphometric parameters of glomerular capillaries with serum creatinine and proteinuria

ABSTRACT Waste products in the bloodstream are filtered by the glomerular capillaries in the kidneys and excreted into the urine. When making a differential diagnosis of kidney diseases, structural assessment of glomeruli using histological, ultrastructural, and immunological studies is crucial. This study assessed the microscopic and ultrastructural morphometric parameters of glomerular capillaries and examined their correlation with serum creatinine and proteinuria. A total of 60 kidney biopsy cases received by the transmission electron microscope (TEM) laboratory for diagnosis were included in the study. Toluidine blue stained 300 nm thick sections of TEM tissue blocks were scanned for glomerular morphometry by a whole slide imaging system, and the estimation of Bowman’s capsule (BC) area, glomerular capillary lumen diameter (GCLD), glomerular capillary density (GCD), glomerular capillary surface area density (GCSA), and percentage of glomerular capillary lumen space (%GCLS) was performed with QuPath software. TEM images of 70 nm thick sections were used for the evaluation of endothelial fenestration diameter (EFD), glomerular basement membrane (GBM) thickness, and podocyte foot process (PFP) effacement. Proteinuria and serum creatinine showed positive correlations with GBM thickness and PFP effacement. Negative correlations of serum creatinine were observed with EFD, %GCLS, and GCSA. Hence, glomerular filtration is greatly affected by the total area of the glomerular capillary surface and structural changes of GBM. Reduction of glomerulus filtration due to foot process effacement and thickening of GBM results in damage to the filtration barrier leading to the leakage of plasma protein into urine.

Human apo-metallothionein 1a is not a random coil: Evidence from guanidinium chloride, high temperature, and acidic pH unfolding studies

The structures of apo-metallothioneins (apo-MTs) have been relatively elusive due to their fluxional, disordered state which has been difficult to characterize. However, intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) structures are rather diverse, which raises questions about where the structure of apo-MTs fit into the protein structural spectrum. In this paper, the unfolding transitions of apo-MT1a are discussed with respect to the effect of the chemical denaturant GdmCl, temperature conditions, and pH environment. Cysteine modification in combination with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry was used to probe the unfolding transition of apo-MT1a in terms of cysteine exposure. Circular dichroism spectroscopy was also used to monitor the change in secondary structure as a function of GdmCl concentration. For both of these techniques, cooperative unfolding was observed, suggesting that apo-MT1a is not a random coil. More GdmCl was required to unfold the protein backbone than to expose the cysteines, indicating that cysteine exposure is likely an early step in the unfolding of apo-MT1a. MD simulations complement the experimental results, suggesting that apo-MT1a adopts a more compact structure than expected for a random coil. Overall, these results provide further insight into the intrinsically disordered structure of apo-MT.

Changes in physical fitness and body build of women and men surveyed in 2004 and 2022-A longitudinal study.

Physical fitness plays a crucial role in determining human health and overall well-being. The objective of the study was to assess the changes in body structure and physical fitness among individuals examined in 2004 and 2022 (persons aged 32-34 and 50-52). The research material consists of data from the Krakow Continuous Study (KCS) of somatic development and physical fitness of people born in 1970 and 1972, conducted in Krakow in the years 1976-2022. In total, in 2004, 103 women and 122 men took part in the study, and in 2022-47 women and 67 men. Of these participants, 37 women and 53 men were present for both measurements. The following measurements were performed-physical fitness tests: handgrip strength of left and right hand, standing broad jump, sit-and-reach test and overhead medicine ball throw (2 kg); anthropometric measurements: body height, body weight and tissue composition, circumferences of the chest (relaxed and in deep inspiration), waist, hips, thigh, mid-upper-arm (MUAC, relaxed and in deep inspiration), forearm and calf, thickness of biceps, triceps, subscapular, abdominal, suprailiac and calf skinfolds; width of shoulders and hips, depth and width of the chest. A comparative analysis of the two series showed that all fitness test scores deteriorated. The percentage decrease was greater in women than in men in the tests of right and left handgrip strength and overhead medicine ball throw than in men, in the standing broad jump test similar in both sexes, in the sit-and-reach test-lower in women than in men. The greatest decreases were observed in the standing broad jump (by 14%) and the 2 kg medicine ball throw (15-12%), both in women and men. In contrast, the level of development of most of the somatic characteristics studied in 2022 was higher compared to the previous study, and, apart from body height, elbow and knee width and calf skinfold in both sexes, the differences in arithmetic means between the 2004 and 2022 series were statistically significant. Furthermore, the absence of involutionary changes in body height can be highlighted. In conclusion, the decrease in physical fitness occurring in adulthood and the increase in most somatic characteristics between 32 and 34 year-olds and 50 and 52 year-olds were confirmed.

A comparative study on the Cs adsorption/desorption and structural changes in different clay minerals.

We investigated the structural changes in clay minerals after Cs adsorption and understood their low desorption efficiency using an ion-exchanger. We focused on the role of interlayers in Cs adsorption and desorption in 2:1 clay minerals, namely illite, hydrobiotite, and montmorillonite, using batch experiments and XRD and EXAFS analyses. The adsorption characteristics of the clay minerals were analyzed using cation exchange capacity (CEC), maximum adsorption isotherms (Qmax), and radiocesium interception potential (RIP) experiments. Although illite showed a low CEC value, it exhibited high selectivity for Cs with a relatively high RIP/CEC ratio. The Cs desorption efficiency after treatment with a NaCl ion exchanger was the highest for illite (74.3%), followed by hydrobiotite (45.5%) and montmorillonite (30.3%); thus, Cs adsorbed onto planar sites, rather than on interlayers or frayed edge sites (FESs), is easily desorbed. After NaCl treatment, XRD analysis showed that the low desorption efficiency was due to the collapse of the interlayer-fixed Cs, which tightly narrowed the interlayers' hydrobiotite due to the ion exchange of divalent cations (Mg2+ or Ca2+) into the monovalent cation (Na+). Moreover, EXAFS analysis showed that hydrobiotite formed inner-sphere structures after NaCl desorption, indicating that it was difficult to remove Cs from NaCl desorption due to the collapsed hydrobiotite and montmorillonite interlayers as well as the strong bonding in FESs of illite. In contrast, chelation desorption using oxalic acid effectively dissolved the narrowed interlayers of hydrobiotite (98%) and montmorillonite (85.26%), enhancing the desorption efficiency. Therefore, low desorption efficiency for Cs clays using an ion exchanger was caused by the collapsed interlayer due to the exchange between monovalent cation and divalent cation.

Ameliorative effect of Ononis natrix against chronic lead poisoning in mice: neurobehavioral, biochemical, and histological study.

Lead (Pb) is one of the most common heavy metals with toxicological effects on many tissues in humans as well as animals. In order to counteract the toxic effects of this metal, the administration of synthetic or natural antioxidants is thus required. The aim of this study was to examine the beneficial effect of the aqueous extract of Ononis natrix (AEON) against lead acetate-induced damage from a behavioral, biochemical, and histological point of view. Forty-eight male mice were divided into four equal groups: Ctr (control); Pb (lead acetate 1g/l); Pb + On 100 mg/kg (lead acetate 1 g/l + AEON 100 mg/kg); Pb + On 500 mg/kg (lead acetate 1 g/l + AEON 500 mg/kg). AEON was administered orally from day 21 after the start of lead exposure up to the end of the experiment. The results revealed that lead induced behavioral disorders, increased serum levels of liver markers (AST, ALT, and bilirubin), as well as kidney markers (urea and creatinine). At the same time, levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) increased significantly. Moreover, Pb caused structural changes in the liver and kidneys of Pb-exposed mice. However, AEON administration significantly improved all lead-induced brain, liver, and kidney dysfunctions. Our results suggest that AEON could be a source of molecules with therapeutic potential against brain, liver, and kidney abnormalities caused by lead exposure.

Recent advancements in the role of histone acetylation dynamics to improve stress responses in plants.

In eukaryotes, transcriptional regulation is determined by the DNA sequence and is facilitated through sophisticated and complex chromatin alterations and histone remodelling. Recent research has shown that the histone acetylation dynamic, an intermittent and reversible substitution, constitutes a prerequisite for chromatin modification. These changes in chromatin structure modulate genome-wide and specific changes in response to external and internal cues like cell differentiation, development, growth, light temperature, and biotic stresses. Histone acetylation dynamics also control the cell cycle. HATs and HDACs play a critical role in gene expression modulation during plant growth and response to environmental circumstances. It has been well established that HATs and HDACs interact with various distinct transcription factors and chromatin-remodelling proteins (CRPs) involved in the transcriptional regulation of several developmental processes. This review explores recent research on histone acyltransferases and histone deacetylases, mainly focusing on their involvement in plant biotic stress responses. Moreover, we also emphasized the research gaps that must be filled to fully understand the complete function of histone acetylation dynamics during biotic stress responses in plants. A thorough understanding of histone acetylation will make it possible to enhance tolerance against various kinds of stress and decrease yield losses in many crops.

SARS-CoV2 evokes structural brain changes resulting in declined executive function.

Several research has underlined the multi-system character of COVID-19. Though effects on the Central Nervous System are mainly discussed as disease-specific affections due to the virus' neurotropism, no comprehensive disease model of COVID-19 exists on a neurofunctional base by now. We aimed to investigate neuroplastic grey- and white matter changes related to COVID-19 and to link these changes to neurocognitive testings leading towards a multi-dimensional disease model. Groups of acutely ill COVID-19 patients (n = 16), recovered COVID-19 patients (n = 21) and healthy controls (n = 13) were prospectively included into this study. MR-imaging included T1-weighted sequences for analysis of grey matter using voxel-based morphometry and diffusion-weighted sequences to investigate white matter tracts using probabilistic tractography. Comprehensive neurocognitive testing for verbal and non-verbal domains was performed. Alterations strongly focused on grey matter of the frontal-basal ganglia-thalamus network and temporal areas, as well as fiber tracts connecting these areas. In acute COVID-19 patients, a decline of grey matter volume was found with an accompanying diminution of white matter tracts. A decline in executive function and especially verbal fluency was found in acute patients, partially persisting in recovered. Changes in gray matter volume and white matter tracts included mainly areas involved in networks of executive control and language. Deeper understanding of these alterations is necessary especially with respect to long-term impairments, often referred to as 'Post-COVID'.

Chronic Pain-Related Cognitive Deficits: Preclinical Insights into Molecular, Cellular, and Circuit Mechanisms.

Cognitive impairment is a common comorbidity of chronic pain, significantly disrupting patients' quality of life. Despite this comorbidity being clinically recognized, the underlying neuropathological mechanisms remain unclear. Recent preclinical studies have focused on the fundamental mechanisms underlying the coexistence of chronic pain and cognitive decline. Pain chronification is accompanied by structural and functional changes in the neural substrate of cognition. Based on the developments in electrophysiology and optogenetics/chemogenetics, we summarized the relevant neural circuits involved in pain-induced cognitive impairment, as well as changes in connectivity and function in brain regions. We then present the cellular and molecular alternations related to pain-induced cognitive impairment in preclinical studies, mainly including modifications in neuronal excitability and structure, synaptic plasticity, glial cells and cytokines, neurotransmitters and other neurochemicals, and the gut-brain axis. Finally, we also discussed the potential treatment strategies and future research directions.

Dynamic Copper Site Redispersion through Atom Trapping in Zeolite Defects.

Single-site copper-based catalysts have shown remarkable activity and selectivity for a variety of reactions. However, deactivation by sintering in high-temperature reducing environments remains a challenge and often limits their use due to irreversible structural changes to the catalyst. Here, we report zeolite-based copper catalysts in which copper oxide agglomerates formed after reaction can be repeatedly redispersed back to single sites using an oxidative treatment in air at 550 °C. Under different environments, single-site copper in Cu-Zn-Y/deAlBeta undergoes dynamic changes in structure and oxidation state that can be tuned to promote the formation of key active sites while minimizing deactivation through Cu sintering. For example, single-site Cu2+ reduces to Cu1+ after catalyst pretreatment (270 °C, 101 kPa H2) and further to Cu0 nanoparticles under reaction conditions (270-350 °C, 7 kPa EtOH, 94 kPa H2) or accelerated aging (400-450 °C, 101 kPa H2). After regeneration at 550 °C in air, agglomerated CuO was dispersed back to single sites in the presence and absence of Zn and Y, which was verified by imaging, in situ spectroscopy, and catalytic rate measurements. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations show that solvation of CuO monomers by water facilitates their transport through the zeolite pore, and condensation of the CuO monomer with a fully protonated silanol nest entraps copper and reforms the single-site structure. The capability of silanol nests to trap and stabilize copper single sites under oxidizing conditions could extend the use of single-site copper catalysts to a wider variety of reactions and allows for a simple regeneration strategy for copper single-site catalysts.

Articular cartilage corefucosylation regulates tissue resilience in osteoarthritis.

This study aimed to investigate the glycan structural changes that occur before histological degeneration in osteoarthritis (OA) and to determine the mechanism by which these glycan conformational changes affect cartilage degeneration. An OA model was established in rabbits using mannosidase injection, which reduced high-mannose type N-glycans and led to cartilage degeneration. Further analysis of glycome in human OA cartilage identified specific corefucosylated N-glycan expression patterns. Inhibition of N-glycan corefucosylation in mice resulted in unrecoverable cartilage degeneration, while cartilage-specific blocking of corefucosylation led to accelerated development of aging-associated and instability-induced OA models. We conclude that α1,6 fucosyltransferase is required postnatally to prevent preosteoarthritic deterioration of articular cartilage. These findings provide a novel definition of early OA and identify glyco-phenotypes of OA cartilage, which may distinguish individuals at higher risk of progression.

Articular cartilage corefucosylation regulates tissue resilience in osteoarthritis

This study aimed to investigate the glycan structural changes that occur before histological degeneration in osteoarthritis (OA) and to determine the mechanism by which these glycan conformational changes affect cartilage degeneration. An OA model was established in rabbits using mannosidase injection, which reduced high-mannose type N-glycans and led to cartilage degeneration. Further analysis of glycome in human OA cartilage identified specific corefucosylated N-glycan expression patterns. Inhibition of N-glycan corefucosylation in mice resulted in unrecoverable cartilage degeneration, while cartilage-specific blocking of corefucosylation led to accelerated development of aging-associated and instability-induced OA models. We conclude that α1,6 fucosyltransferase is required postnatally to prevent preosteoarthritic deterioration of articular cartilage. These findings provide a novel definition of early OA and identify glyco-phenotypes of OA cartilage, which may distinguish individuals at higher risk of progression.

The effect of changes in morphology and structure of ZnS particle spheres on H2S gas release and cellular uptake behavior

Because preparation circumstances are limited, the relationship between spherical porous zinc sulfide (ZnS) and cells is rarely investigated. Thus, using the hydrothermal approach, four different types of ZnS spheres with consistent size, high dispersion, and stability were created in this research by varying the temperature, duration, solvent ratio, and pH level of the hydrothermal process. Three structures are present in the generated particle spheres: solid, hollow, and mesoporous structures. In addition to causing a significant variation in the particle spheres' specific surface area, porosity, and surface roughness, the distinct architectures also have an impact on ZnS particle spheres' capacity to produce hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas in an acidic environment. Experiments on hemolysis and cytotoxicity demonstrated that ZnS particle spheres with varying concentrations and shapes exhibited no cytotoxicity and good biocompatibility. According to cellular uptake trials, ZnS particle spheres with a rougher surface structure and a bigger specific surface area are more likely to be absorbed by macrophages and release more H2S gas. This activity of releasing H2S gas by H+ action and MA phagocytosis by employing ZnS as a donor lays the groundwork for later particles to load medicines and carry out biological functions.

Nrf2 pre-recruitment at Enhancer 2 is a hallmark of H2 O2 -induced epigenetic transcriptional memory in the HMOX1 gene in human umbilical artery endothelial cells.

Maternal obesity (MO) is a significant cause of increased cardiometabolic risk in offspring, who present endothelial dysfunction at birth. Alterations in physiologic and cellular redox status are strongly associated with altered gene regulation in arterial endothelium. However, specific mechanisms by which the pro-oxidant fetal environment in MO could modulate the vascular gene expression and function during the offspring's postnatal life are elusive. We tested if oxidative stress could reprogram the antioxidant-coding gene's response to a pro-oxidant challenge through an epigenetic transcriptional memory (ETM) mechanism. A pro-oxidant double-hit protocol was applied to human umbilical artery endothelial cells (HUAECs) and EA.hy 926 endothelial cell lines. The ETM acquisition in the HMOX1 gene was analyzed by RT-qPCR. HMOX1 mRNA decay was evaluated by Actinomycin-D treatment and RT-qPCR. To assess the chromatin accessibility and the enrichment of NRF2, RNAP2, and phosphorylation at serin-5 of RNAP2, at HMOX1 gene regulatory regions, were used DNase HS-qPCR and ChIP-qPCR assays, respectively. The CpG methylation pattern at the HMOX1 core promoter was analyzed by DNA bisulfite conversion and Sanger sequencing. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA, and p < 0.05 was statistically significant. Using a pro-oxidant double-hit protocol, we found that the Heme Oxygenase gene (HMOX1) presents an ETM response associated with changes in the chromatin structure at the promoter and gene regulatory regions. The ETM response was characterized by a paused-RNA Polymerase 2 and NRF2 enrichment at the transcription start site and Enhancer 2 of the HMOX1 gene, respectively. Changes in DNA methylation pattern at the HMOX1 promoter were not a hallmark of this oxidative stress-induced ETM. These data suggest that a pro-oxidant milieu could trigger an ETM at the vascular level, indicating a potential epigenetic mechanism involved in the increased cardiovascular risk in the offspring of women with obesity.

High‐Temperature X‐Ray Imaging with Transparent Ceramics Scintillators

AbstractScintillators with high spatial‐resolution and high‐stability are highly desirable for X‐ray imaging applications at unpredictable environments. To challenge state‐of‐the‐art technology, it is necessary to design high thermal stable scintillators with high‐resolution and high light yield. In this work, the zero‐thermal‐quenching Lu3Al5O12:Ce3+ (LuAG: Ce3+) transparent ceramics (TCs) is synthesized with high optical transparency. The thermoluminescence (TL) curves of the as‐obtained TCs demonstrate that the formation of the oxygen vacancies, acting as the trapping centers, can capture the carriers and then contribute to the enhancement of its thermals stability via the thermal compensation effect. The exceptional thermal‐stability of the TCs scintillator endows the monitoring of the dynamic changes of the internal structure of the objective samples without any ghosting effects during heating. In addition, given the ultra‐high uniform, transparency, and fast light decay of the TCs scintillator, the excellent spatial resolution (≈112 lp mm−1) of the X‐ray microscopic imaging is realized. These results undeniably demonstrate that the as‐obtained LuAG: Ce3+ TCs have great prospects for advancement in X‐ray detectors.

Late-adolescent onset of prefrontal endocannabinoid control of hippocampal and amygdalar inputs and its impact on trace-fear conditioning behavior.

Prefrontal cortex (PFC) maturation during adolescence is characterized by structural and functional changes, which involve the remodeling of GABA and glutamatergic synapses, as well as changes in the endocannabinoid system. Yet, the way PFC endocannabinoid signaling interacts with local GABA and glutamatergic function to impact its processing of afferent transmission during the adolescent transition to adulthood remains unknown. Here we combined PFC local field potential recordings with local manipulations of 2-AG and anandamide levels to assess how PFC endocannabinoid signaling is recruited to modulate ventral hippocampal and basolateral amygdalar inputs in vivo in adolescent and adult male rats. We found that the PFC endocannabinoid signaling does not fully emerge until late-adolescence/young adulthood. Once present, both 2-AG and anandamide can be recruited in the PFC to limit the impact of hippocampal drive through a CB1R-mediated mechanism whereas basolateral amygdalar inputs are only inhibited by 2-AG. Similarly, the behavioral effects of increasing 2-AG and anandamide in the PFC do not emerge until late-adolescence/young adulthood. Using a trace fear conditioning paradigm, we found that elevating PFC 2-AG levels preferentially reduced freezing behavior during acquisition without affecting its extinction. In contrast, increasing anandamide levels in the PFC selectively disrupted the extinction of trace fear memory without affecting its acquisition. Collectively, these results indicate a protracted recruitment of PFC endocannabinoid signaling, which becomes online in late adolescence/young adulthood as revealed by its impact on hippocampal and amygdalar-evoked local field potential responses and trace fear memory behavior.