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Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on December 3, 2024 at 12:26pm

Countertop workers exposed to serious lung disease

Durable and attractive, engineered stone countertops are a popular feature in modern  kitchens, but the workers who build them are risking their health. A growing number of these countertop workers are developing silicosis, a serious and long-term lung disease, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

This is a new and emerging epidemic, and we must increase awareness of this disease process so we can avoid delays in diagnosis and treatment for our patients, say the study authors.

Silicosis is caused by the inhalation of crystalline silica dust produced in construction, coal mining and other industries. The prognosis is poor, with gradually worsening lung function leading to respiratory failure. The disease also makes patients more vulnerable to infection in the lungs, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, autoimmune disease and lung cancer.

In recent years, a resurgence of silicosis has been reported in engineered countertop workers. Engineered stone countertops are made from quartz aggregate held together with a resin binder. They contain substantially more crystalline silica than natural stone versions. Workers who cut, shape, grind and polish these countertops may be exposed to significant amounts of silica dust.

In a preliminary analysis of 21 workers, 100% were male and Hispanic with a median age of 43 years and a median exposure of 18 years. All patients were symptomatic. Patients commonly had atypical and advanced features of silicosis. Shortness of breath and cough were the most common symptoms.

Primary clinicians recognized silicosis at the initial encounter in only four of 21 cases (19%), while radiologists recognized it in seven of 21 cases (33%). Alternative diagnoses, such as infection, were initially suggested in most cases. Nearly half of the patients (48%) had atypical imaging features.

The results highlight a need for more awareness and better recognition of imaging features associated with silicosis.

Source: https://www.rsna.org/annual-meeting

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on December 3, 2024 at 12:21pm

Scientists discover a natural flu defense mechanism that activates in the nasal cavity during pregnancy

Scientists have discovered that pregnancy may trigger a natural immunity to boost protection against severe flu infection. Their work is published in the journal Science Advances.

Contrary to the common belief that pregnancy increases vulnerability to infections, researchers found that it strengthened an immune defense in mice, blocking the Influenza A virus from spreading to the lungs, where it can cause severe infection.

A mother needs to stay healthy to protect her developing baby, so the immune system adapts to provide stronger defenses. This fascinating response in the nasal cavity  is the body's way of adding an extra layer of protection, which turns on during pregnancy.

The researchers used a mouse model to observe how a certain type of immune cell activates in the nasal cavity of mice during pregnancy, producing a powerful molecule that boosts the body's antiviral defenses, especially in the nose and upper airways.

This natural immunity in pregnancy could change the way we think about flu protection for expectant mothers

Julia Chronopoulos et al, Pregnancy enhances antiviral immunity independent of type I IFN but dependent on IL-17–producing γδ + T cells in the nasal mucosa, Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ado7087

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on December 3, 2024 at 11:19am

Cooperative motion by atoms protects glass from fracturing

What if glass doesn't break?

We've all experienced the moment of panic when a glass slips from our hands, shattering into pieces upon hitting the ground. What if this common mishap could become a thing of the past?

Now, a new discovery by researchers  has offered insights into how glass resists breakage, potentially paving the way for highly durable, break-resistant materials. The breakthrough has wide ranging implications for glass-related industries.

Details of their findings are published in the journal Acta Materialia.

Glass, while strong, is prone to breaking when stress exceeds its tolerance, but interestingly, the movement of atoms and molecules within glass can relax internal stress, making the material more resistant to fractures.

Although we know that some atoms 'jump' into nearby empty spaces, how this process alleviates stress has long been a mystery till now.

Scientists uncovered a previously unknown mechanism of stress relaxation in ionic glass, a model system of glass now.

Their research utilized state-of-the-art synchrotron radiation experiments and computer simulations to observe atomic motions in glass on a nanosecond-to-microsecond timescale.

The team discovered that when some atoms within the glass "jump" into nearby empty spaces, surrounding groups of atoms slowly move together to fill the void. This interplay of atomic jumps and collective motion reduces internal stress, protecting the glass from breaking under external force.

The research team plans to explore whether similar atomic mechanisms operate in other types of glass. Their ultimate goal is to establish universal guidelines for designing glass with superior impact resistance, which could revolutionize applications requiring durable materials.

 Makina Saito et al, Discovery of collective nonjumping motions leading to Johari–Goldstein process of stress relaxation in model ionic glass, Acta Materialia (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.actamat.2024.120536

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on December 3, 2024 at 10:37am

Proof-of-concept study demonstrates self-assembling electronics

Researchers have demonstrated a new technique for self-assembling electronic devices. The proof-of-concept work was used to create diodes and transistors, and paves the way for self-assembling more complex electronic devices without relying on existing computer chip manufacturing techniques.

The paper, "Guided Ad infinitum Assembly of Mixed-Metal Oxide Arrays from Liquid Metal," is published open access in the journal Materials Horizons.

Julia J Chang et al, Guided Ad infinitum Assembly of Mixed-Metal Oxide Arrays from Liquid Metal, Materials Horizons (2024). DOI: 10.1039/D4MH01177E

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on December 3, 2024 at 10:02am

New spin quantum battery can be charged without an external field

Over the past few years, some researchers have been working on alternative energy storage systems that leverage the principles of quantum mechanics. These systems, known as quantum batteries, could be more efficient and compact than conventional battery technologies, while also achieving faster charging times.

In a recent paper published in Physical Review Letters, a research group  introduced a new spin quantum battery, a battery that leverages the spin degrees of freedom of particles to store and release energy. This battery is charged in a unique and advantageous way, without the need for an external field.

This  quantum battery can be seen as the intercalation of two collections of ½-spins, the simplest possible quantum systems. By properly changing the interaction between the elements of the two chains, for example by shifting one with respect to the other, it becomes possible to trap energy into the quantum battery in a stable way.

This allows their battery to be charged via a new mechanism that does not rely on the presence of an external field.

 Riccardo Grazi et al, Controlling Energy Storage Crossing Quantum Phase Transitions in an Integrable Spin Quantum Battery, Physical Review Letters (2024). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.133.197001. On arXiv: DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2402.09169

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on December 3, 2024 at 9:51am

The modified α-hemolysin successfully traveled to the cell membrane and embedded itself. Following this, the peptide inserts could successfully translocate across the membrane, demonstrating protein transport.

Peptides containing up to 50 amino acids could be inserted into α-hemolysin without disrupting pore formation, membrane insertion, and protein functionality.

The researchers further found that the translocated peptides remained accessible on the external side of the membrane. This suggests they could be used for assembling tissue-like structures, as their accessibility allows for further interactions and organization in the external environment.
By generating one population of artificial cells that translocate negatively charged peptides across their membrane and another population of artificial cells that translocate positively charged peptides, we can create a tissue-like structure because artificial cells with a negatively charged outer membrane will bind to artificial cells with a positively charged membrane.
The researchers also added a system to detect if the cells can communicate with each other, where cells produce a visible (fluorescent) signal when they receive a signal from other cells. This could help with the creation of more complex and functional artificial tissues for future applications.

With the possibility of developing artificial tissues and potential drug delivery systems, the novel method demonstrates a pivotal step in cell research.

 Alexander Harjung et al, Encoding extracellular modification of artificial cell membranes using engineered self-translocating proteins, Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53783-4, www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-53783-4

Part 2

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on December 3, 2024 at 9:48am

Scientists develop self-sustained protein transport and tissue assembly in artificial cells

In a new Nature Communications study, scientists have developed a novel method for artificial cells to interact with their external environment without the need for complex modification processes.

This method could open new frontiers in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and cell processes.

Biological cells are protected by a membrane, made of phospholipids, which modulates interactions with the outside environment. Recreating this in artificial cells is challenging, requiring manual external modification of the membrane.

This is particularly true for protein translocation or movement across the membrane. The present study addresses this problem by developing a method in which artificial cells modify their own membrane.

For the study, the researchers aimed to functionalize the cell membrane to enable protein transport across the membrane and assemble them into tissue-like structures afterward.

Biological channels typically use ion channels and transporters to exchange substances across the membrane. In artificial cells, this interaction has to be replicated manually. The researcher can change the membrane composition to achieve this, which is very different from how natural cells interact with their environment.

To overcome this problem, the researchers developed a method with which you can encode modification of the outer membrane, and thereby interact with the external environment, into the artificial cell genome.

To do so, the researchers chose a pore-forming protein called α-hemolysin. This is a protein produced by Staphylococcus aureus, the bacteria responsible for causing staph infections. It is technically termed a toxin since it forms holes in cell membranes.

But it has the unique ability to be expressed as a soluble monomer, which upon contact with a lipid bilayer (cell membrane) spontaneously assembles into a transmembrane protein.

The researchers not only used the α-Hemolysin as a pore-forming protein but also modified the artificial cells to produce the protein themselves. By having a self-sustaining system, the researchers do not need to add the protein each time.

Part 1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on November 30, 2024 at 11:25am

Homo juluensis: Possible new ancient human species uncovered by researchers

Researcher say they may have found a new human species called Homo juluensis, which includes mysterious groups like the Denisovans—ancient human relatives whose histories are still being uncovered.

Homo juluensis lived approximately 300,000 years ago in eastern Asia, hunted wild horses in small groups, and made stone tools and possibly processed animal hides for survival before disappearing around 50,000 years ago.

It was proposed that the new species include the enigmatic Denisovans, a population known primarily through DNA evidence from a few physical remains found in Siberia, and a few fossils found in Tibet and Laos. More research is clearly needed to test this relationship, which is primarily based on similarities between jaw and teeth fossils from these different sites.

This study clarifies a hominin fossil record that has tended to include anything that cannot easily be assigned to Homo erectus, Homo neanderthalensis or Homo sapiens.

 Christopher J. Bae et al, Making sense of eastern Asian Late Quaternary hominin variability, Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53918-7

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on November 30, 2024 at 11:16am

Satellite evidence points to climate-induced poisoning of over 300 African elephants

A new study  has provided further evidence that the deaths of 350 African elephants in Botswana during 2020 were the result of drinking from water holes where toxic algae populations had exploded due to climate change.

The lead author of the report says their analysis shows animals were very likely poisoned by watering holes where toxic blooms of blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, had developed after a very wet year followed a very dry one.

Botswana is home to a third of all African elephants, and this unprecedented die-off within their largest remaining population underlines the escalating concerns surrounding the impact of drought and climate change on the Okavango Delta, one of the most important ecosystems in the world.

Elephant carcasses were first spotted in the north-eastern sector of the country's Okavango Delta between May and June 2020, but poaching was soon ruled out as the cause.

The event sparked global concern, with a total of 350 elephants now known to have died.

Toxins produced by the algae growing in watering holes was one suspected cause, though evidence has remained inconclusive, in part because it occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic when movements were restricted, and this prevented the collection of samples at the time.

The deaths of 25 elephants in neighboring Zimbabwe from septicemia in the same year cast some doubt on algal toxins being the reason for the Botswana deaths.

However, writing in the journal Science of The Total Environment, the team say their analysis all but confirms toxic algae as the cause.

Combining satellite data and spatial analysis, the team examined the relationship between about 3,000 waterholes and the locations of deceased elephants.

Their analysis revealed waterholes near the carcasses showed elevated algal levels and repeated bloom events in 2020 compared to previous years—particularly during the period associated with the mass mortality event.

The team also showed that decayed elephant carcasses were more spread out across the landscape than fresh carcasses, indicating that the die-off in 2020 was different from typical elephant mortality patterns.

After drinking, elephants were estimated to have walked an average of 16.5 km from the toxic waterholes and died within about 88 hours of exposure.

Southern Africa is projected to become drier and hotter under climate changes, and as a result waterholes across this region will likely be drier for more months of the year. Our findings point to the potential negative effects on water quantity and quality, and the catastrophic repercussions on animals, this could have.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969724076824...

Davide Lomeo et al, Remote sensing and spatial analysis reveal unprecedented cyanobacteria bloom dynamics associated with elephant mass mortality, Science of The Total Environment (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177525

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on November 30, 2024 at 11:06am

New hydrovoltaic cell continuously generates electricity with little water and no sunlight

A team of engineers  has modified the approach used to generate electricity with a hydrovoltaic cell, building one that uses little water and no sunlight. Their study is published in the journal Nature Communications.

Hydrovoltaic cells generate electricity by capturing the energy from interactions between water and other surfaces. Such interactions typically rely on sunlight as the instigating power source. As the researchers with this new effort note, the traditional approach results in a hydrovoltaic cell that needs a continuous source of water and that typically only operates in dry environments. In this new study, the research team  overcame both problems to create a new kind of hydrovoltaic cell.

To allow their cell to operate in virtually any climate, the research team built their cell inside a hermetically sealed container—they call the result a hermetic hydrovoltaic cell (HHC). Inside, they placed a double-layer wicking agent made of tissue paper and carbon black. A small amount of water added to the HHC is continuously circulated due to changes in ambient temperature and capillary flow in the tissue paper.

The HHC generates power using the energy of ambient heat as the instigating power source. Testing showed the cell is capable of producing electricity for up to 160 hours without the addition of any more water. The researchers suggest such a cell would be an ideal candidate for people living in water-poor areas.

Further testing showed that exposure to strong sunlight increased electrical output. The researchers found this was due to energy from the sunlight increasing the rate of absorption by the black carbon, which in turn led to an increased moisture gradient.

 Renxuan Yuan et al, Hermetic hydrovoltaic cell sustained by internal water circulation, Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54216-y

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