Veroscience (United States)

Barotrauma, caused by rapid pressure changes, poses a major risk to fish migrating downstream through hydropower turbines. This study investigated the sensitivity of larval and juvenile fish with different swim bladder morphology to barotrauma using a custom-built chamber. Four different representative species, namely the two cypriniform species common nase (Chondrostoma nasus) and roach (Rutilus rutilus), both physostomous species with a two-chambered swim bladder, European grayling (Thymallus thymallus) as physostomous species with a single-chambered swim bladder and European perch (Perca fluviatilis) as physoclistous species with a single chambered swim bladder were investigated. Fish were acclimated to 0- or 15-meters depth (101 and 251 kPa, respectively) and exposed to rapid decompression to different nadirs (15, 30, 40, 60 kPa) to simulate turbine passage as a basis to construct dose-response curves predicting lethal injury probabilities. Species- and stage-specific injury patterns emerged, with physostomous cypriniforms showing the highest sensitivity and suffering frequent swim bladder ruptures. Depth acclimation, particularly in E. grayling, increased vulnerability. Moreover, lower barotrauma-related mortality was observed under partial load conditions in Kaplan turbines compared to full load. These insights are of high relevance for predicting barotrauma-related injury risks across species, particularly for species-rich groups like Cypriniformes and Characiformes that share similar swim bladder traits, to support sustainable hydropower development.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-32670-y.

mRNA-LNP-based COVID-19 vaccines, namely Pfizer-BioNTech's Comirnaty and Moderna's Spikevax, were successfully deployed to help control the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, and their updated formulations continue to be recommended, albeit only for high-risk populations. One widely discussed aspect of these vaccines is their uniquely broad spectrum and increased incidence of adverse events (AEs), collectively referred to as post-vaccination syndrome (PVS). Although the reported PVS rate is low, the high number of administered doses among healthy individuals has resulted in a substantial number of reported vaccine-related injuries. A prominent manifestation of PVS is multisystem inflammation, hypothesized to result from the systemic transfection of organ cells with genetic instructions for a toxin, the spike protein, delivered with lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). In this narrative review, we focus on endothelial cells in the microcirculatory networks of various organs as primary sites of transfection with mRNA-LNP and consequent PVS. We outline the anatomical variations in the microcirculation contributing to the individual variability of symptoms and examine the molecular and cellular responses to vaccine nanoparticle exposure at the endothelial cell level with a focus on the pathways of a sustained cascade of toxic and autoimmune processes. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying mRNA-LNP-induced AEs and PVS at the organ and cellular levels is critical for improving the safety of future vaccines and other therapeutic applications of this groundbreaking technology.

Historically, the lower River Skjern (Denmark) was a biodiversity hotspot of national and European importance, but in the 1960s this part of the river was channelized and the wetlands drained to improve conditions for agriculture. However, to regain former biodiversity, a major restoration project was conducted in 2000–2002, which transformed a 19 km straight channel into a 26 km meandering river. In this study, we use historical data to evaluate how the channelization of the river and its restoration 40 years later affected the aquatic biodiversity. Generally, and as expected, we observed a significant reduction in the taxon richness of aquatic plants and EPT taxa (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera) in response to the channelization, especially taxa associated with backwaters. As hoped, the restoration mediated an increase in taxon richness for both aquatic plants and EPT taxa. This positive response took place immediately after the restoration (1 year) and persisted throughout the study period (10 years). However, taxon richness did not reach the pre-channelization levels. Especially, we observed that the recovery of backwater-associated taxa was limited. The main reason for this is likely that only 5.8 % of the original backwater area was recreated and, additionally, that natural regeneration of these areas relies on natural hydromorphological processes that might take several decades. Furthermore, the possibility of several taxa to recolonize from other and distant areas is poor, reflecting today's rarity of backwater habitats in Danish rivers. Full recovery of the river's former biodiversity might therefore take decades or more without implementing active measures. • The study of a former near-pristine lowland river is unique in size and details. • Largest N-European physical restoration project. • Taxon richness of aquatic plants and EPT taxa is assessed on species level. • Evaluate effects of both channelization (30 year period) and restoration (1–10 years). • Link recolonization of taxa to river area, physical habitats, and dispersal range.

Biomaterials play a pivotal role in advancing tissue engineering, offering significant potential in 3D bioprinting and translational medicine. Their development has led to the creation of innovative solutions in medical devices, dental implants, and prosthetics, where they serve to restore function and enhance patient quality of life. The success of these biomaterials is primarily dependent on important characteristics that guarantee their safe integration with the body and promote tissue regeneration, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and bifunctionality. This review explores recent advancements in these areas, with a particular focus on the role of nanotechnology in enhancing biomaterial properties. Biomaterials have opened many avenues by improving mechanical, biological, and functional properties for targeted treatments, precision therapies, improved therapeutic effectiveness, and better results. Additionally, the rise of 3D printing technologies has transformed the design and fabrication of biomaterials, enabling the production of customized implants and scaffolds with intricate geometries suited to individual patient needs. This review examines the current state of research, challenges faced in the field, and emerging trends in the integration of nanotechnology and additive manufacturing to push the boundaries of biomaterial applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

• 56% cent of respondents (n=39 out of 70) said they have been asked by manuscript reviewers to add animal experiments to their otherwise nonanimal-based studies • 57% (n=47 of 83 respondents) felt that the lack of animal experiments in their grant proposal negatively influenced its evaluation • Respondents reported complying to 24% of these requests on average – or 1 out of every 4 such requests • 22% of the respondents (n=16 out of 72) said that they have used animal-based methods solely because they expected editor or reviewer requests for them • In terms of incentives to use animal-based methods, primarily, respondents indicated that they used animal-based methods to validate the in vitro findings (31%) or mimic biological complexity (26%) While peer review during manuscript or grant application forms the cornerstone of scientific evaluation and assessment, this process is also prone to biases and confounding. Animal methods bias is a specific form of peer review bias where a preference for animal-based research methods or a lack of expertise in nonanimal-based methods undermines the quality and fairness of assessments of nonanimal studies. In this study, we conducted a survey to assess the challenges and experiences of researchers in India to publish peer-reviewed publications and apply for grants based on projects using nonanimal methods. A cross-sectional survey with 19 questions was completed by 186 respondents working in various biological fields in India. Decision logic was used to route respondents through the survey, which led to varying number of responses per question. Fifty-six per cent of respondents (39 out of 70) said they have been asked by manuscript reviewers to add animal experiments to their otherwise nonanimal-based studies. Respondents reported complying to 24% of these requests on average. Respondents indicated the primary impacts of requests for additional experiments were publishing in lower impact factor journals and manuscript rejection. In addition, 57% (47 of 83 respondents) felt that the lack of animal experiments in their grant proposal negatively influenced its evaluation. Respondents were also asked about key factors influencing their use of animal and nonanimal methods, which revealed that some perceived animal methods as necessary to validate nonanimal methods and as more reliable for mimicking biological complexity, while others perceived nonanimal methods as more physiologically relevant and practically advantageous. This survey provides preliminary evidence of animal methods bias experiences during publishing and funding peer review faced by Indian researchers.

Knowledge about species-specific hearing is vital to assessing how anthropogenic noise impacts marine mammals. Unfortunately, no empirical audiogram exists for any mysticete whale. We therefore developed a catch-and-release method to assess hearing in a small mysticete, the minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata). Stationary lead nets were placed to intercept migratory routes and direct the whales into an ocean basin enclosed by nets and islets, while another net was pulled across the entrance once a whale entered the basin. The minke whales were then slowly corralled into a modified aquaculture pen using a net suspended between two boats. Subsequently, the water volume available to the whales was gradually reduced by raising the pen net by hand until the whales were secured in a “hammock” between the floating pen ring and a raft. From the raft, researchers could access the whales to monitor their health, apply instruments for hearing tests, or perform other research objectives, and then attach tags to monitor the movements and diving behavior of the whale post-release. The method is a slow and controlled procedure, allowing continuous monitoring and quick release of the whales, if needed. In the first three field seasons employing the method, three minke whales were caught for research procedures. Initial hearing measurements using auditory evoked potentials were successfully completed. After release, the whales resumed migration, and dive behavior was considered normal. Our observations demonstrated that minke whales can be guided safely via moored net barriers, corralled into an aquaculture pen, and safely handled for research purposes, before being released back into the wild.

Rapamycin (sirolimus) is an FDA approved drug with immune modulating properties that is being prescribed off-label in adults as a preventative therapy to maintain healthspan. We recently published one of the first reports on 333 adults with a history of off-label rapamycin use. Along with presenting evidence that rapamycin can be used safely in adults of normal health status, we discovered that about 26% of rapamycin users also reported oral health changes. Given the recent evidence highlighting the potential benefits of rapamycin and its derivatives in enhancing oral health, we conducted a secondary data analysis to profile the oral health of off-label rapamycin users, the true incidence of mouth sores, and present specific case studies of periodontal bone loss quantification using an FDA-approved artificial intelligence platform. Contrary to expected findings and previous literature, dimensions of rapamycin usage (such as length of use, dosage, and interval) were not found to be related to the incidence of mouth ulcers in rapamycin users. Notably, among rapamycin users, the most deleterious forms of ulcers were found to be infrequent and not statistically linked to rapamycin usage, with most rapamycin users having a common transient form of mouth ulcers. Additionally, we describe the general oral health outcomes of off-label rapamycin users and provide recommendations for individuals engaging in off-label rapamycin to be regularly checked by a dentist or an oral health care provider. This report was limited by being a secondary data analysis taken from survey data that focused on a more holistic health model. Future studies will use a focused survey that collects data on more dimensions of oral health outcomes while including questions on oral health for non-rapamycin-using participants.

PollinERA aims to reverse pollinator population declines and reduce the harmful impacts of pesticides. It addresses the call through four objectives: SO1 filling ecotoxicological data gaps to enable realistic prediction of the source and routes of exposure and impact of pesticides on pollinators and their sensitivity to individual pesticides and mixtures. SO2 developing and testing a co-monitoring scheme for pesticides and pollinators across European cropping systems and landscapes, developing risk indicators and mixture exposure information. SO3 developing models for predicting pesticide toxicological effects on pollinators for chemicals and organisms, environmental fate, toxicokinetic/ toxicodynamic, and population models. SO4 developing a population-level systems-based approach to risk and policy assessment considering multiple stressors and long-term spatiotemporal dynamics at the landscape scale and generating an open database for pollinator/pesticide data and tools. This will be achieved through developing knowledge and protocols for a broad range of toxicological testing, feeding to in silico models (QSARS, toxicokinetic/toxicodynamic, and population). Using a strong stakeholder co-development approach, these models will be combined in a One System framework taking a systems view on risk assessment and policy evaluation, including an international monitoring program. The One System framework is based on EFSA’s system ERA view, expanding on the tools used for bees to include butterflies, moths and hoverflies. The consortium partners are experts in the field needed for this development and are well-placed to facilitate the uptake of tools by European bodies to guarantee the project's future impact. Expected impacts target Destination impacts of better understanding and addressing drivers of biodiversity decline, interconnected biodiversity research using digital technologies, and understanding the biodiversity and health nexus at the ecosystem level.