The Ontogeny of Muscle Structure and Locomotory Function in the Long-Finned Squid Doryteuthis Pealeii

Understanding the extent to which changes in muscle form and function underlie ontogenetic changes in locomotory behaviors and performance is important in understanding the evolution of musculoskeletal systems and also the ecology of different life stages. We explored ontogenetic changes in the structure, myosin heavy chain (MHC) expression and contractile properties of the circular muscles that provide power for jet locomotion in the long-finned squid Doryteuthis pealeii. The circular muscle fibers of newly hatched paralarvae had different sizes, shapes, thick filament lengths, thin: thick filament ratio, myofilament organization and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) distribution than those of adults. Viewed in cross section, most circular muscle cells were roughly triangular or ovoid in shape with a core of mitochondria; however, numerous muscle cells with crescent or other unusual cross-sectional shapes and muscle cells with unequal distributions of mitochondria were present in the paralarvae. The frequency of these muscle cells relative to \u27normal\u27 circular muscle cells ranged from 1: 6 to 1: 10 among the 19 paralarvae we surveyed. The thick filaments of the two types of circular fibers, superficial mitochondria-rich (SMR) and central mitochondria-poor (CMP), differed slightly in length among paralarvae with thick filament lengths of 0.83+/-0.15 μm and 0.71+/-0.1μm for the SMR and CMP fibers, respectively (P 0.05; ANOVA). During ontogeny the thick filament lengths of both the CMP and SMR fibers increased significantly to 1.78+/-0.27 μm and 3.12+/-0.56 μm, respectively, in adults (P-1 (where L0 was the preparation length that generated the peak isometric stress), nearly twice that measured in other studies for the CMP fibers of adults. The mean peak isometric stress was 119+/-15mN mm-2 physiological cross section, nearly half that measured for the CMP fibers of adults. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis of paralarval and adult mantle samples revealed very similar expression patterns of the two known isoforms of squid MHC. The ontogenetic differences in the structure and physiology of the circular muscles may result in more rapid mantle movements during locomotion. This prediction is consistent with jet pulse durations observed in other studies, with shorter jet pulses providing hydrodynamic advantages for paralarvae

Covalent cucurbit[7]uril-dye conjugates for sensing in aqueous saline media and biofluids

Non-covalent chemosensing ensembles of cucurbit[n]urils (CBn) have been widely used in proof-of-concept sensing applications, but they are prone to disintegrate in saline media, e.g. biological fluids. We show here that covalent cucurbit[7]uril–indicator dye conjugates are buffer- (10× PBS buffer) and saline-stable (up to 1.4 M NaCl) and allow for selective sensing of Parkinson\u27s drug amantadine in human urine and saliva, where the analogous non-covalent CB7⊃dye complex is dysfunctional. The in-depth analysis of the covalent host–dye conjugates in the gas-phase, and deionized versus saline aqueous media revealed interesting structural, thermodynamic and kinetic effects that are of general interest for the design of CBn-based supramolecular chemosensors and systems. This work also introduces a novel high-affinity indicator dye for CB7 through which fundamental limitations of indicator displacement assays (IDA) were exposed, namely an impractical slow equilibration time. Unlike non-covalent CBn⊃dye reporter pairs, the conjugate chemosensors can also operate through a S$_{N}$2-type guest–dye exchange mechanism, which shortens assay times and opens new avenues for tailoring analyte-selectivity

Combination of pulsed laser ablation and inert gas condensation for the synthesis of nanostructured nanocrystalline, amorphous and composite materials

A new instrument combining pulsed laser ablation and inert gas condensation for the production of nanopowders is presented. It is shown that various nanostructured materials, such as regular metallic, semiconducting, insulating materials, complex high entropy alloys, amorphous alloys, composites and oxides can be synthesized. The unique variability of the experimental set-up is possible due to the reproducible control of laser power (pulse energy and repetition rate), laser ablation pattern on the target, and experimental conditions during the inert gas condensation, all of which can be controlled and optimized independently. Microstructure analysis of the as-prepared composite and amorphous Ni(60)Nb(40) nanopowders establishes the instrument's ability for the synthesis of materials with unique compositions and atomic structure. It is further shown that small variations of the synthesis parameters can influence materials properties of the final product, in terms of particle size, composition and properties. As an example, the laser power has been used to control the magnetic properties of amorphous Ni(60)Nb(40) nanopowders. A few selected examples of the manifold possibilities of the new synthesis apparatus are presented in this report together with detailed structural characterization of the produced nanopowders

Histiocytoid cardiomyopathy and microphthalmia with linear skin defects syndrome: phenotypes linked by truncating variants in NDUFB11

Variants in NDUFB11, which encodes a structural component of complex I of the mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC), were recently independently reported to cause histiocytoid cardiomyopathy (histiocytoid CM) and microphthalmia with linear skin defects syndrome (MLS syndrome). Here we report an additional case of histiocytoid CM, which carries a de novo nonsense variant in NDUFB11 (ENST00000276062.8: c.262C > T; p.[Arg88*]) identified using whole-exome sequencing (WES) of a family trio. An identical variant has been previously reported in association with MLS syndrome. The case we describe here lacked the diagnostic features of MLS syndrome, but a detailed clinical comparison of the two cases revealed significant phenotypic overlap. Heterozygous variants in HCCS (which encodes an important mitochondrially targeted protein) and COX7B, which, like NDUFB11, encodes a protein of the MRC, have also previously been identified in MLS syndrome including a case with features of both MLS syndrome and histiocytoid CM. However, a systematic review of WES data from previously published histiocytoid CM cases, alongside four additional cases presented here for the first time, did not identify any variants in these genes. We conclude that NDUFB11 variants play a role in the pathogenesis of both histiocytoid CM and MLS and that these disorders are allelic (genetically related)

Orientational self-sorting in cuboctahedral Pd cages

Cuboctahedral coordination cages of the general formula [Pd12L24]24+ (L = low-symmetry ligand) were analyzed theoretically and experimentally. With 350 696 potential isomers, the structural space of these assemblies is vast. Orientational self-sorting refers to the preferential formation of particular isomers within the pool of potential structures. Geometric and computational analyses predict the preferred formation of cages with a cis arrangement at the metal centers. This prediction was corroborated experimentally by synthesizing a [Pd12L24]24+ cage with a bridging 3-(4-(pyridin-4-yl)phenyl)pyridine ligand. A crystallographic analysis of this assembly showed exclusive cis coordination of the 3- and the 4-pyridyl donor groups at the Pd2+ ions

A rare case of extensive biventricular cardiac sarcoidosis with reversible torrential tricuspid regurgitation

Reversal of torrential tricuspid regurgitation is rarely seen. We describe a case in which effective immunosuppression alongside conventional heart failure therapies lead to reversibility of torrential tricuspid regurgitation in a patient with cardiac sarcoidosis. We also discuss the diagnostic challenge in distinguishing cardiac sarcoidosis from other myocardial diseases in a patient presenting with biventricular failure

Syntheses, Crystal Structure, Electrocatalytic, and Magnetic Properties of the Monolanthanide-Containing Germanotungstates [Ln(H2_{2}O)n_{n}GeW11_{11}O39_{39}]5−^{5-} (Ln = Dy, Er, n = 4,3)

Two monolanthanide-containing polyanions based on monolacunary Keggin germanotungstates [Ln(H2O)nGeW11O39]5− (Ln = Dy, Er, n = 4,3) have been synthesized in simple one-pot synthetic procedure and compositionally characterized in solid state by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and elemental analysis. Electronic absorption and emission spectra of the title compounds in solution were also studied. The [DyIII(H2O)4GeW11O39]5− Keggin POM exhibits a slow relaxation of magnetization. The cyclic voltammetry measurements and mass spectrometry were carried out to check the stability of the compounds in solution. Both polyanions prove efficient in the electrocatalytic reduction of nitrite. To our knowledge, this observation establishes the first example of electrocatalysis of nitrite reduction by all inorganic monolanthanidecontaining germanotungstates family

Thermal conductivity of Barium Bismuthate at low temperatures

The perovskite BaBiO$_3$ crystallizes in a cubic structure and undergoes structural transitions toward lower symmetry phases upon cooling. The two low-temperature monoclinic phases are insulating, and the origin of this unexpected non-metallic character has been under debate. Both monoclinic phases exhibit tilting and breathing distortions, which are connected with the insulating nature of this compound and may have important effects on phononic heat conductivity. Here, we report the first thermal conductivity measurement, $\kappa$(T), in pristine polycrystalline BaBiO$_3$ from 1.5 K to 310 K. At low and intermediate temperatures, we observe features reminiscent of a glass-like behavior, whereas at high-temperatures we find a downturn - typical of a crystalline solid. We compare our findings with available data of other recently investigated perovskite oxides displaying similar temperature dependence