Queuosine (Q) is a modification of the wobble base in tRNAs that decode NAC codons. It is ubiquitous in bacteria, including many pathogens. Streptococcus mutans is an early colonizer of dental plaque biofilm and a key player in dental caries. Using a combination of genetic and physiological approaches, the predicted Q synthesis and salvage pathways were validated in this organism. These experiments confirmed that S. mutans can synthesize Q de novo through similar pathways found in Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. However, S. mutans has a distinct salvage pathway compared to these model organisms, as it uses a transporter belonging to the Energy Coupling Factor (ECF) family controlled by a preQ 1-dependent riboswitch. Furthermore, Q levels in this oral pathogen depended heavily on the media composition, suggesting that micronutrients can affect Q-mediated translation efficiency.

Body size determines mobility and fitness of insects in various ways. Yet, especially in parasitoid species, drivers of body size are poorly understood, as they can be influenced by complex interactions between parasitoid behaviour, the environment, and their hosts. We measured the body size of 393 individuals of four parasitoid species sampled with trap nests for cavity-nesting bees and wasps in the Southern Black Forest, Germany. We related the body size of the parasitoids to the size of 15 host species and the diameters of their nests along four environmental gradients (canopy cover, structural complexity, herb cover and deadwood diameter). Host identity, nest diameter, and to a lesser extent, size differences within host species, were primary drivers of parasitoid body size, albeit parasitoid species differed in their responses. For instance, when the host Trypoxylon figulus doubled in size, Nematopodius debilis (parasitizing the host directly) increased by 37% in size, while Trichrysis cyanea (parasitizing food resources) increased by only 8%. Across host-parasitoid species combinations, there was only a weak positive relationship between the size of parasitoids and their hosts. In addition, we did not observe size variations in hosts and parasitoids across environmental gradients. Our findings highlight the primary factors influencing parasitoid size, with host identity and nest diameter emerging as influential factors within and between species, though not uniformly across all species. In contrast, the relationship between parasitoid and host size and environmental gradients were less influential. Considering the environmental variables that directly affect body size, such as microhabitat conditions and biotic interactions, may further clarify the dynamics shaping variation in parasitoid size.

Background. Drug shortages are an increasing and worldwide problem. Oral antibiotics are one of the most used medicines worldwide and have recently been affected by drug shortages. Despite this, little is known about the impact of antibiotic shortages on clinical and prescribing practices. Aim. To explore the impact of oral antibiotic shortages on national antibiotic utilisation. Methods. A longitudinal study of oral antibiotic shortages and antibiotic utilisation was conducted using Australian reimbursement and regulatory data from January 2022 to December 2023. All nationally reimbursed oral antibiotics were included in the study. The number and duration of reported antibiotic shortages per product were determined for each active ingredient. The clinical impact was assessed using national utilisation in Defined Daily Doses per 100,000 inhabitants. Changes in trends were analysed using Joinpoint regression. Results. Shortages were reported for eighteen of the twenty-one (86%) oral antibiotics reimbursed in Australia. No clear relation between the number and duration of shortages was observed for most antibiotics. Changes in utilisation coinciding with shortages were observed for eight active ingredients. For cefaclor (-20% decrease in utilisation) and roxithromycin (-26% decrease), the impact of shortages is most clearly reflected by decreases in utilisation. For the other six, either minor or mixed changes in utilisation were observed. Conclusions. Antibiotic shortages were common in Australia during 2022 and 2023. The impact of shortages appears complex with various factors most likely influencing impact. Australia’s healthcare professionals seem successful in mitigating the effects of shortages on drug utilisation.

The global biodiversity loss is causing abrupt shifts in the structure and functioning of ecosystems with severe ecological and socio-economic consequences. Therefore, improving our understanding of ecosystem dynamics and regime shifts, as well as the stabilizing role of biodiversity across multiple scales is needed. Here we investigate the temporal dynamics and stability of marine ecosystems using high-resolution monitoring data on fish species composition, abundances and traits throughout European Seas. More specifically, we quantify and compare the direction and magnitude of community change at multiple spatial scales and levels of biological organization. Our results show less variability in community trajectories at larger spatial scales and higher levels of biological organization. The main underlying processes providing stability are statistical averaging arising from a larger pool of species, while at smaller spatial scales stability also emerge from functional complementarity channeled through the distribution of species traits within functional groups.

Oncolytic viruses are emerging as promising cancer therapeutic agents, with several poxviruses, including vaccinia virus (VACV) and myxoma virus, showing significant potential in preclinical and clinical trials. Modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA), a laboratory-derived VACV strain approved by the FDA for mpox and smallpox vaccination, has been shown to be incapable of replicating in human cells unless zinc finger antiviral protein (ZAP) is repressed. Notably, ZAP deficiency is prevalent in various cancer types. We hypothesized that MVA could selectively target and replicate in ZAP-deficient cancer cells. Our study examined MVA’s replication across multiple cancer cell lines with varying ZAP expression levels, revealing that MVA replicates more efficiently in cells with lower ZAP expression. Additionally, we assessed MVA’s oncolytic potential using a xenograft mouse model, where cancer cells were transplanted into immunodeficient mice. The data demonstrated that MVA significantly reduced tumors with lower ZAP expression without causing morbidity in nude mice. These findings suggest that MVA holds promise for further development as a targeted therapy for ZAP-deficient cancers.

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown Background: IgE-mediated fish allergy has long been considered an umbrella term due to the high cross-reactivity of parvalbumin, the major fish allergen. Yet, clinical tolerance to certain fish highlights allergenicity differences. In this study, we sought to construct a fish allergenicity ladder and identify fish parvalbumin epitopes to improve the diagnosis of fish allergy. Methods: Reported clinical history and the serum-specific IgE (sIgE) responses of 200 fish allergic patients were collected and analyzed, while the relative parvalbumin content in different fish were measured for the construction of fish allergenicity ladder. Double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) and open challenge against salmon, grass carp and grouper were performed in 58 selected patients for validation of the ladder. Epitope mapping was performed by peptide array against parvalbumins of salmon (both β-1 and β-2), cod, grouper, and grass carp with sera from fish allergic (n=11), partial fish tolerant (n=12), and complete fish tolerant (n=5) patients diagnosed based on oral food challenge outcome. Results: The distribution pattern of clinical, sIgE and molecular data and their strong positive correlation led to the construction of a 4-step fish allergenicity ladder comprising: step 1 of the least allergenic fishes (tuna, halibut, salmon), steps 2 (cod) and 3 (herring and grouper) of moderately allergenic fishes to step 4 of highly allergenic fishes (catfish, grass carp and tilapia). Epitope mapping revealed one epitope from grouper parvalbumin (AA64-78) for diagnosing general fish allergy and one epitopic region from salmon parvalbumin (AA19-33) as biomarker of specific fish tolerance. Only epitope-specific IgE differentiated these patients but not sIgE to fish extract or parvalbumin. Conclusion: The fish ladder and epitopes discovery can precisely differentiate fish-allergic and tolerant subjects and guide fish reintroduction by stepping up the ladder, which innovate fish allergy care in the next millennium.

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown There is a paucity of literature describing equine lipoid pneumonia (LP) caused by inadvertent intra-pulmonary administration of liquid paraffin (mineral oil). This case report improves our understanding of LP by describing; 1) the first reported return of a horse to racing after LP, 2) the likely benefits of prolonged dexamethasone administration, 3) the detailed short- and long-term pulmonary and systemic responses to intra-pulmonary liquid paraffin, and 4) the prolonged pulmonary retention of liquid paraffin.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of energy storage technologies, sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have emerged as promising alternatives to conventional lithium-ion batteries. SIBs exhibit moderate to high specific energy ranging from approximately 70 to 170 Wh/kg, ensuring suitability for diverse applications. Furthermore, with their abundance of raw materials and potential for lower costs, sodium-ion batteries are attracting significant interest from researchers, manufacturers, and investors. This heightened interest is evidenced by the exponential growth in the number of patents filed for SIBs over the past decade, totalling 131,026 patents. This surge in patent filings underscores the growth pattern of SIBs as promising alternatives in the energy storage landscape. In this dynamic environment, securing and maintaining a robust patent portfolio is imperative for companies and innovators to establish a competitive edge, enabling them to capitalize on the increasing market demand. This article examines the strategies involved in building, protecting, and managing a robust patent portfolio as well as provides intellectual property challenges and patent filing opportunities in SIB technologies.

We revisit multi-slit diffraction with a scaling of space and time to exploit an equivalence of wave packets describing quantum free and harmonic oscillator (HO) motion. We introduce a co-moving frame of space and time coordinates to define an effective, time-independent, HO potential that confines and directs initially displaced wave packets along the classical phase space of the oscillator. $N$-slit diffraction in the lab frame from the slits to a distant detector and the familiar spreading of the propagating wave front is then described as the propagation of HO wave packets over just a quarter cycle of the oscillator and confined to the HO potential well. This connection with the co-moving frame suggests a simplified time of flight experiment wherein the arrival time distribution of diffracted particles hitting a \emph{single point detector} in the lab frame images in the co-moving frame as the \emph{full} diffraction pattern from grating to detector.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate how serum uric acid (SUA) influences the reproductive outcomes among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) undergoing freeze-all strategy. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Reproductive center in a tertiary hospital in China. Population: 1115 women aged 20-40 years with PCOS were included. Method: The entire population was categorized into four groups based on SUA quartiles, logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine odds ratios (ORs) for reproductive and pregnancy complications, adjusting for potential confounders. Main Outcome Measures: Primary outcome was live birth, defined as the gestational age ≥28 weeks or weighing ≥ 1000 grams. RESULTS: In quartiles of SUA levels, there was no significant difference in the live birth rate from the lowest quartile (Q1: 57.9%) to the highest (Q4: 56.6%) (adjusted OR 1.08, 95% CI, 0.74-1.57, P=0.58). Similarly, SUA showed no significant effect on biochemical and clinical pregnancy rate, or miscarriage rate (p>0.05). Women in quartile 4 had added the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (adjusted OR 3.87, 95% CI 1.77-8.47), gestational hypertension (GH) (adjusted OR 3.82, 95% CI 1.16-12.58) compared with quartile 1. Women in quartile 4 also had an increased probability of preterm birth and low birth weight（adjusted OR 2.24, 95% CI 0.90-5.59；adjusted OR 3.58, 95% CI 0.88-14.56, respectively). CONCLUSION: No significant correlation was found between SUA and live birth in women with PCOS undergoing freeze-all strategy. However, elevated SUA increased the risk of GH, GDM and tended to increase the risk of preterm labor and LBWI.

Hemifacial microsomia, resulting from aberrant development of branchial arches, presents with craniofacial malformations including mandibular hypoplasia. The treatment requires both soft tissue augmentation and skeletal correction. The case involved a 25-year-old man with right hemifacial microsomia who underwent skeletal reconstruction with vascularized scapula bone grafting and soft tissue reconstruction with a

Abstracts: Soybean ( Glycine max L.), a vital widely grown grain and oilseed crop in northeastern China, often suffers yield and quality issues from sulfur deficiency due to continuous cropping and its high sulfur demand, resulting in reduced soil sulfur content. This study aimed to enhance soybean soil-available sulfur absorption by inoculating with a clumping arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), specifically Funneliformis mosseae, to improve sulfur utilization in the soybean root system and alleviate sulfur deficiency in continuously cropped soybean. The experiment used the soybean variety “Heinong 48” as the test material, and involved four treatments in pots over three years, with soil inoculated with F. mosseae in both non-continuous and continuous cropping systems. Physiological indicators such as soybean mycorrhizal infestation rate, sulfur content, cysteine (Cys), glutathione (GSH), and β-thioglucoside levels were measured. Additionally, functional genes and differential metabolites involved in sulfur metabolism within cysteine and methionine metabolism pathways in soybean roots were analyzed using a combination of transcriptomics and metabolomics methods. The results demonstrated that inoculation with F. mosseae increased Cys, β-thioglucoside, GSH and sulphur contents in soybean roots. It enhanced the enrichment of the cysteine and methionine metabolism pathway and significantly up-regulated the expression of key regulatory genes, such as  ACO1 and  At5g53970, and the sulfur metabolite 5’-methylthioadenosine. Consequently, F. mosseae effectively regulates cysteine and methionine metabolism in soybean roots, promotes root sulfur uptake, and mitigates the sulfur deficiency barrier in continuous soybean cropping. Therefore, this study provides a theoretical basis for applying AMF microbial fungicidesin continuous soybean cropping production.

A document by Lanqin Chen. Click on the document to view its contents.

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown Emotional experiences involve dynamic multi-sensory perception, yet most EEG research uses unimodal stimuli such as photographs. However, a recent study found that realistic emotional videos reliably reduce the amplitude of a steady state visual evoked potential (ssVEP) elicited by a flickering border. It is unknown how the video-ssVEP measure compares to the well-established Late Positive Potential (LPP) that is reliably larger for emotional scenes. To address this question, 45 participants viewed 90 matched pairs of realistic videos and scenes. Replicating the previous study, emotional videos reduced ssVEP amplitude more than neutral videos. At the group level, the video-ssVEP and scene-LPP measures produced similarly large differences per category (pleasant, neutral, unpleasant), and both measures strongly correlated with arousal ratings. However, trial-based Bayesian multilevel models suggest that the group-level results mask important differences. Consistent with previous research, the scene-LPP was sensitive to specific emotional contents (erotica and gore) more than would be predicted by arousal ratings. In contrast, the video-ssVEP did not show this specific sensitivity, and was better explained by individual arousal ratings collected for each stimulus trial. These results suggest that the 2 measures index partially distinct aspects of emotional perception, with the LPP reflecting the discrimination of emotional features, while the ssVEP indexes emotional engagement. Taken together, the results suggest that a video-ssVEP paradigm has comparable single-trial reliability and may better reflect a more diverse range of experienced emotional states relative to scene-LPP paradigms.

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown Aim/Purpose: This study aims to compare the efficacy of locally applied Titanium-Platelet Rich Fibrin (T-PRF) and Leukocyte-Platelet Rich Fibrin (L-PRF) in bone defect healing using micro-CT analysis and histopathological examination in rabbit models. Materials and Methods: Eight healthy male New Zealand rabbits, aged 4-6 months, were utilized. Circular bicortical defects (6 mm diameter) were created at three areas in each rabbit. One of the defects was chosen as the control group received saline solution, while T-PRF and L-PRF were applied to the defect sites in separate experimental groups. Bone regeneration was analyzed using high-resolution micro-CT and histological evaluation post-sacrifice. Statistical analysis assessed the significance of observed differences. Results: Micro-CT analysis revealed significant differences among the groups in bone volume, trabecular thickness, trabecular number, connectivity, and connectivity density (p<0.05). Both T-PRF and L-PRF groups exhibited superior bone parameters compared to controls, with L-PRF showing higher values. Trabecular separation and bone surface area to bone volume ratio did not differ significantly among the groups (p>0.05). Histological examination indicated advanced healing stages in the L-PRF group, suggesting both T-PRF and L-PRF contribute to bone regeneration, with L-PRF demonstrating better effects. Conclusion: The study concludes that while both T-PRF and L-PRF aid in bone regeneration, L-PRF shows superior efficacy. L-PRF is recommended for bone defect healing due to its better performance in enhancing bone parameters.

Measuring the efficiency of health services using Data Envelopment Analysis is a customary practice nowadays. In addition, some of the studies use analytical techniques to discover the variables that explain the efficiency level of such services. Nevertheless, efficiency analyses have seldom resulted in proposals to design organizational health care structures that provide adequate management for improving efficiency. Thus, to address the lack of use of Data Envelopment Analysis results in practice, this paper provides a general methodology based on the idea that measuring the efficiency of healthcare services must be complemented with their redesign to obtain potential efficiency improvements. This redesign includes healthcare processes or clinical flows, analytical techniques to advise such processes -e.g., OR/MS and AI models-, information technology for their support, and new management structures to facilitate the implementation and operation of the redesigns. Such methodology was applied to a large hospital specialized in cancer to illustrate its use and the results that can be achieved. They show that the potential cost savings of the proposed design are about US$ 1.0 million yearly. To generate such savings, the author designed new medical and management practices with the hospital personnel participation. The implementation of the practices and their continuous evaluation and innovation was possible by the new organizational structure designed for such purpose. This work shows the importance of integration methodologies to generate better-founded designs and facilitate their implementation. This integration is lacking in health-service design research, particularly in connection with architecture, processes, and organizational structure; this paper shows that this is a promising line of application. Highlights DEA analysis determines efficiency of health services and ways to improve it Scarce research on how to use DEA results to improve health processes exists A DEA-based methodology to design health and supporting flows is presented The methodology is applied to the design of the flows of a cancer hospital

Fish fauna biodiversity, abundance and distribution pattern are essential component needed for conservation and management strategies in any water body. The temporal variations of the fish assemblages in relation to maritime construction activities are poorly explored in Ghana. The association between the fish assemblage and construction activities were examined off the coast of Greater Accra, Ghana. A total of 37 and 14 species were identified prior and after the dumping activities at DSA dominated by S. dorsalis and B. auritus respectively. For the 27 and 24 species recorded before and after dredging activities at VNB, S. histrio and L. atlanticus & P. prayensis dominated respectively. SIMPER analysis revealed that S. micrurum, A. notacanthus and S. dorsalis were the most discriminating species at DSA while S. hoefleri and L. atlanticus discriminated most at VNB. Cluster analysis was used to temporally compare fish assemblage structures in sampling areas at both sampling sites (DSA and VNB). SimProf and ANOSIM analysis revealed that sampling location within the sites was not a major factor in changes in fish assemblages. Species richness and Shannon-Weaver index (H′) increased significantly after the dredging activities while at the dumping sites, species richness and Shannon-Weaver index decreased significantly after the dumping activities. Correspondence Analysis ordinations (CCA) revealed increase in herbivorous and benthic invertebrate feeders after the dredging activities while vermivorous and euryphagus feeders were proportionally high after the dredging activities. The driving factor influencing the temporal variation in fish assemblage structure at both sites is probably related to the dredging and dumping activities which affects the trophic guild of the species.

Participatory science (or ”citizen science”) records are becoming increasingly useful for wildlife monitoring due to their volume and spatiotemporal coverage. However, statistical analysis using these data can be challenging due to the many sources of bias that need to be corrected. Many previous studies characterize sampling biases across entire participatory science datasets, such as spatial heterogeneity in sampling effort or species preferences. User-level heterogeneity in sampling behavior is less well studied, but it may be just as important as dataset-level bias in contributing to error in downstream analyses. Here, we investigate user-level novelty and specialization bias. Novelty bias occurs when an individual observer preferentially reports species that have not seen before, while specialization bias occurs when an observer preferentially reports species they have previously observed (i.e., they specialize in particular species). We provide the first test of this kind of user-level sampling bias in participatory science data by analyzing the sampling histories of more than 540 observers on the popular participatory science platform iNaturalist in Pennsylvania, USA. We find evidence of specialization or novelty bias in the overall sampling behavior of 66% of the observers considered. Specialization bias was more than 5 times more common than novelty bias, indicating that observers reported species they had reported previously at a higher rate than expected. Looking within taxonomic groups, 41% of observers deviated from unbiased sampling. Novelty bias and specialization bias were both common within taxa. These findings suggest that iNaturalist observers often specialize in favorite taxa or species, while within taxa some users simultaneously seek out previously unobserved species.