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Delays in awards and funding calls worry NIH-funded researchers
Many programs may be pushed into the next fiscal year, and some could face funding gaps
Direct optical observation of solid electrolyte interphase formation dynamics in lithium-ion batteries
Lithium-ion battery formation is a pivotal step that dictates performance, longevity, and manufacturing safety. At the core of this process is the formation and evolution of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), whose nanoscale thickness, high environmental sensitivity, and dynamic behavior have long hindered direct characterization. Here, we exploit the SEI-induced refractive index matching effect and utilize operando optical microscopy to directly visualize SEI growth in real time. Our...
Age-related increase of NLRC4 inflammasome and TGF-β1 signaling exacerbates airway inflammation and remodeling in asthma
The prevalence and severity of asthma increase significantly with age; however, the fundamental processes are still not well understood. This study investigated the interplay between aging and asthma, specifically focusing on two critical pathways: activating NLR Family CARD domain containing 4 (NLRC4) inflammasome and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 signaling. Using age-specific mouse models (at 3, 13, and 23 months) and hydrogen peroxide-induced senescent human bronchial epithelial cells,...
Changes in ApoE and TIMP-1 expression correlate with outer blood-retinal barrier disruption in an in vitro model of retinal aging
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness worldwide. Unfortunately, the early stages of this disease are poorly understood, which has led to limited treatment options. Investigating normal changes in tissues eventually affected by AMD can further elucidate the mechanisms of disease progression and lead to novel therapeutic targets. The primary cell layer affected in AMD is the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), which forms the outer blood-retinal barrier (oBRB)....
Loss of Splicing Homeostasis as a Hallmark of Aging
Alternative splicing is a fundamental mechanism that ensures accurate gene expression, supports cellular adaptability, and expands protein diversity beyond the limits of a fixed gene pool. With aging, splicing fidelity weakens, contributing to decline in RNA homeostasis and disrupting essential cellular functions, including mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, genome stability, and immune regulation, and in turn accelerating tissue and organ dysfunction. Evidence from senescent cells, aged...
Loss of Splicing Homeostasis as a Hallmark of Aging
Alternative splicing is a fundamental mechanism that ensures accurate gene expression, supports cellular adaptability, and expands protein diversity beyond the limits of a fixed gene pool. With aging, splicing fidelity weakens, contributing to decline in RNA homeostasis and disrupting essential cellular functions, including mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, genome stability, and immune regulation, and in turn accelerating tissue and organ dysfunction. Evidence from senescent cells, aged...
Toward neuroanatomical and cognitive foundations of macaque social tolerance grades
The macaque genus includes 25 species with diverse social systems, ranging from low to high social tolerance grades. Such interspecific behavioral variability provides a unique model to tackle the evolutionary foundation of primate social brain. Yet, the neuroanatomical correlates of these social tolerance grades remain unknown. To address this question, we expressed social tolerance grades within a novel cognitive framework and analyzed post-mortem structural scans from 12 macaque species. Our...
Microbes might be able to planet hop on asteroid shrapnel
Experiment confirms bacteria could survive being blasted off world by impact