Search

Ocean acidification (OA) is known to influence biological and ecological processes, mainly focusing on its impacts on single species, but little has been documented on how OA may alter plankton community interactions. Here, we conducted a mesocosm experiment with ambient (∼410 ppmv) and high (1000 ppmv) CO 2 concentrations in a subtropical eutrophic region of the East China Sea and examined the community dynamics of microeukaryotes, bacterioplankton and microeukaryote-attached bacteria in the enclosed coastal seawater. The OA treatment with elevated CO 2 affected taxa as the phytoplankton bloom stages progressed, with a 72.89% decrease in relative abundance of the protist Cercozoa on day 10 and a 322% increase in relative abundance of Stramenopile dominated by diatoms, accompanied by a 29.54% decrease in relative abundance of attached Alphaproteobacteria on day 28. Our study revealed that protozoans with different prey preferences had differing sensitivity to high CO 2 , and attached bacteria were more significantly affected by high CO 2 compared to bacterioplankton. Our findings indicate that high CO 2 changed the co-occurrence network complexity and stability of microeukaryotes more than those of bacteria. Furthermore, high CO 2 was found to alter the proportions of potential interactions between phytoplankton and their predators, as well as microeukaryotes and their attached bacteria in the networks. The changes in the relative abundances and interactions of microeukaryotes between their predators in response to high CO 2 revealed in our study suggest that high CO 2 may have profound impacts on marine food webs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Xin Lin, Kunshan Gao, Jason M Hall-Spencer reports was provided by Xiamen University., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Pharmaceutical uptake involves processes that vary across aquatic systems and biota. However, single studies examining multiple environmental compartments, microhabitats, biota, and exposure pathways in mesoconsumer fish are sparse. We investigated the pharmaceutical burden in bonefish (Albula vulpes), pathways of exposure, and estimated exposure to a human daily dose. To evaluate exposure pathways, the number and composition of pharmaceuticals across compartments and the bioconcentration in prey and bonefish were assessed. To evaluate bioaccumulation, we proposed the use of a field-derived bioaccumulation factor (fBAF), due to variability inherent to natural systems. Exposure to a human daily dose was based on bonefish daily energetic requirements and consumption rates using pharmaceutical concentrations in prey. Pharmaceutical number and concentration were highest in prey, followed by bonefish, water and sediment. Fifteen pharmaceuticals were detected in common among bonefish, prey, and water; all of which bioconcentrated in prey and bonefish, and four bioaccumulated in bonefish. The composition of detected pharmaceuticals was compartment specific, and prey were most similar to bonefish. Bonefish were exposed to a maximum of 1.2 % of a human daily dose via prey consumption. Results highlight the need for multicompartment assessments of exposure and consideration of prey along with water as a pathway of exposure., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Jennifer Rehage reports financial support, equipment, drugs, or supplies, and travel were provided by Bonefish & Tarpon Trust. Jennifer Rehage reports financial support was provided by United States Environmental Protection Agency. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Adolescence is an important period of increasing independence, when adolescents experience changing influences of family and friends on their diets as they transition into adulthood. We conducted a scoping review to map the literature on interpersonal determinants of diet quality and eating behaviors among individuals aged 13-30 years. We searched seven literature databases, and following screening, 329 papers were included. Determinants were grouped according to sub-categories of the Determinants of Nutrition and Eating framework: family structure (n = 122), social influences (n = 121), parental behaviors (n = 90), family food culture (n = 83), social support (n = 69), parental feeding styles (n = 24), parental attitudes/beliefs (n = 8), and parental resources/risk factors (n = 6), and we added two new sub-categories: parenting style (n = 74) and partner behaviors (n = 6). Fruit/vegetable (n = 143) and sugar-sweetened beverage (n = 102) intake were the most commonly measured diet outcomes, and breakfast consumption (n = 41) and fast food/takeaway intake (n = 39) the most commonly examined eating behaviors. This review highlights the gaps in the literature, both across the determinant sub-categories and also the relative paucity of longitudinal evidence and lack of evidence in emerging adults, particularly outside of university settings. Future research should focus on these areas to provide stronger evidence to support better design of interventions for this age group., (© 2024 The Author(s). Obesity Reviews published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of World Obesity Federation.)

When coordinating and adhering to a surface, microorganisms produce a biofilm matrix consisting of extracellular DNA, lipids, proteins, and polysaccharides that are intrinsic to the survival of bacterial communities. Indeed, bacteria produce a variety of structurally diverse polysaccharides that play integral roles in the emergence and maintenance of biofilms by providing structural rigidity, adhesion, and protection from environmental stressors. While the roles that polysaccharides play in biofilm dynamics have been described for several bacterial species, the difficulty in isolating homogeneous material has resulted in few structures being elucidated. Recently, Cegelski and co-workers discovered that uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) secrete a chemically modified cellulose called phosphoethanolamine cellulose (pEtN cellulose) that plays a vital role in biofilm assembly. However, limited chemical tools exist to further examine the functional role of this polysaccharide across bacterial species. To address this critical need, we hypothesized that we could design and synthesize an unnatural glycopolymer to mimic the structure of pEtN cellulose. Herein, we describe the synthesis and evaluation of a pEtN cellulose glycomimetic which was generated using ring-opening metathesis polymerization. Surprisingly, the synthetic polymers behave counter to native pEtN cellulose in that the synthetic polymers repress biofilm formation in E. coli laboratory strain 11775T and UPEC strain 700415 with longer glycopolymers displaying greater repression. To evaluate the mechanism of action, changes in biofilm and cell morphology were visualized using high resolution field-emission gun scanning electron microscopy which further revealed changes in cell surface appendages. Our results suggest synthetic pEtN cellulose glycopolymers act as an antiadhesive and inhibit biofilm formation across E. coli strains, highlighting a potential new inroad to the development of bioinspired, biofilm-modulating materials.

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of the weight, urine, thirst (WUT) framework in predicting dehydration after a body water manipulation protocol, while concurrently determining the individual and interactive contributions of the model components., Methods: The total study sample was 93 participants (female, n = 47), recruited from two institutions. Phase 1 involved collecting daily hydration measures from free-living participants (Study 1, 58 participants for 3 days; Study 2, 35 participants for 7 days). Phase 2 entailed a two-hour passive heating protocol, where participants from Study 2 were randomly assigned to one of three groups that manipulated total body water over 24-hours using passive heating and fluid restriction. During each Phase, participants provided urine samples, underwent body mass measurements, and completed questionnaires pertaining to thirst perception. Morning and 24-hour urine samples were assessed for color, osmolality, and specific gravity. Differences between intervention groups, based on the probability of hydration status, were examined (ANOVA) and ridge regression analysis assessed the relative importance of variables within the WUT model., Results: The study revealed significant differences among the intervention groups for predicted probability of dehydration, as determined by changes in body mass (p = 0.001), urine color (p = 0.044), and thirst perception (p < 0.001). Binomial ridge regression indicated that change in body mass (58%) and thirst perception (26%) were the most influential predictors of dehydration., Conclusions: These data support use of an enhanced version of the WUT model, underscoring the significance of changes in body mass and thirst perception in the assessment of hydration status., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest and Funding Source: This study was funded in part by a Faculty Grant awarded by the School of Health and Human Sciences as the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and the Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute (BHSAI). WMA declares the following conflicts of interest: he serves on the advisory boards for My Normative and Emerja Corporation, the Medical and Science Advisory Board for the Korey Stringer Institute, and the Sport Advisory Council for the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance where he has received compensation either as part of his role on the respective boards, or as a consultant. WMA has previously received consulting fees/honoraria/compensation/grant funding/travel support from the following entities that is related to the submitted work: Gatorade, Samsung, BSX, QKC LLC, Clif Bar & Company, Danone Research Nutricia, Nobo Inc, and Onda Vision. WMA is also the owner of Adams Sports Medicine Consulting LLC with clients on topics related to the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024 by the American College of Sports Medicine.)

This study hypothesized that SCFA, acetate impacts positively on hypothalamic pyroptosis and its related abnormalities in experimentally induced PCOS rat model, possibly through NrF2/HIF1-α modulation. Eight-week-old female Wister rats were divided into groups (n = 5), namely control, PCOS, acetate and PCOS + acetate groups. Induction of PCOS was performed by administering 1 mg/kg body weight of letrozole for 21 days. After PCOS confirmation, the animals were treated with 200 mg/kg of acetate for 6 weeks. Rats with PCOS were characterized with insulin resistance, leptin resistance, increased plasma testosterone as well as degenerated ovarian follicles. There was also a significant increase in hypothalamic triglyceride level, triglyceride-glucose index, inflammatory biomarkers (SDF-1 and NF-kB) and caspase-6 as well as plasma LH and triglyceride. A decrease was observed in plasma adiponectin, GnRH, FSH, and hypothalamic GABA with severe inflammasome expression in PCOS rats. These were accompanied by decreased level of NrF2/HIF1-α, and the alterations were reversed when treated with acetate. Collectively, the present results suggest the therapeutic impact of acetate on hypothalamic pyroptosis and its related comorbidity in PCOS, a beneficial effect that is accompanied by modulation of NrF2/HIF1-α., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Transgender women (TW) are highly burdened by HIV. There is increasing interest in digital (i.e., through internet-based interfaces) HIV research; yet few studies have assessed potential biases of digital compared to site-based data collection. This study examined differences in characteristics between TW participating via site-based versus digital-only modes in an HIV incidence cohort., Methods: Between March 2018-Aug 2020, a multisite cohort of 1,312 adult TW in the eastern and southern USA was enrolled in site-based and exclusively digital modes. We evaluated differences in baseline demographics, socio-structural vulnerabilities, healthcare access, gender affirmation, mental health, stigma, social support, and HIV acquisition risk comparing site-based vs digital modes using chi square tests and Poisson regression modeling with robust standard errors., Results: The overall median age was 28 (interquartile range=23-35) years and over half identified as people of color (15% Black, 13% Multiracial, 12% Another Race, 18% Latina/e/x). A higher proportion of site-based (vs. digital mode) participants resided in the Northeast, were younger, identified as people of color, experienced socio-structural vulnerabilities, had a regular healthcare provider, received medical gender affirmation, endorsed mental health symptoms and stigma, reported HIV acquisition risk but also greater experience with biomedical HIV prevention (pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis), and had larger social networks (all p<0.05)., Conclusion: Site-based and digital approaches enrolled TW with different demographics, life experiences, and HIV acquisition risks. A hybrid cohort model may achieve a more diverse and potentially representative sample of TW than either site-based or online cohorts alone for HIV research., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest and Sources of Funding: Conflicts of Interest – AW and TP receive separate research funding from ViiV Healthcare to their institution., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Antibodies to select Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) proteins can diagnose early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We have previously shown that IgA against EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) can predict incident NPC in high- and intermediate-risk cohorts 4 years pre-diagnosis. Here, we tested EBNA1 variants, with mutants, to define the sequence requirements for an NPC risk assay., Design: Mammalian-expressed constructs were developed to represent EBNA1 variants 487V and 487A which can differ by ≥15 amino acids in the N- and C-termini. Denatured lysates were evaluated by a refined IgA and IgG immunoblot assay in a case-control study using pre-diagnostic NPC sera from two independent cohorts in Singapore and Shanghai, P.R. China., Results: At 95% sensitivity, 487V yielded a 94.9% specificity compared to 86.1% for 487A. EBNA1 deleted for the conserved glycine-alanine repeats (GAr) reduced false positives by 22.8%. NPC sera reacted more strongly to the C-terminus than healthy controls, but the C-terminal construct (a.a. 390-641) showed lower specificity (84.8%) than the EBNA1 GAr deleted construct (92.4%) at 95% sensitivity., Conclusion: Although EBNA1 IgA was present in healthy sera, most epitopes localized to the immunodominant GAr. We conclude that a refined EBNA1 antigen deleted for the GAr but with residues consistently detected in Southeast Asian NPC tumors is optimal for risk prediction with an extended sojourn time of 7.5 years. Furthermore, distinct EBNA1 serologic profiles enhanced the utility of the EBNA1 IgA assay for risk stratification. This illustrates the importance of serologically relevant EBNA1 sequences for NPC risk prediction and early detection.

SARS-CoV-2 infects via the respiratory tract, but COVID-19 includes an array of non-respiratory symptoms, among them gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations such as vomiting and diarrhea. Here we investigated the GI pathology of SARS-CoV-2 infections in rhesus macaques and humans. Macaques experienced mild infection with USA-WA1/2020 and shed viral RNA in the respiratory tract and stool, including subgenomic RNA indicative of replication in the GI tract. Intestinal immune cell populations were disturbed, with significantly fewer proliferating (Ki67+) jejunal B cells in SARS-CoV-2-infected macaques than uninfected ones. Modest translocation of bacteria/bacterial antigen was observed across the colonic epithelium, with a corresponding significant increase in plasma soluble CD14 (sCD14) that may be induced by LPS. Human plasma demonstrated significant decreases in interleukin (IL)-6 and sCD14 upon recovery from COVID-19, suggesting resolution of inflammation and response to translocated bacteria. sCD14 significantly positively correlated with zonulin, an indicator of gut barrier integrity, and IL-6. These results demonstrate that GI perturbations such as microbial translocation can occur in even mild SARS-CoV-2 infections and may contribute to the COVID-19 inflammatory state.IMPORTANCEThis study investigates gastrointestinal (GI) barrier disruption in SARS-CoV-2 infections and how it may contribute to disease. We observed bacteria or bacterial products crossing from the colon interior (the lumen) to the lamina propria during SARS-CoV-2 infection in macaques. Bacteria/bacterial products are tolerated in the lumen but may induce immune responses if they translocate to the lamina propria. We also observed a significant increase in soluble CD14, which is associated with an immune response to bacterial products. In addition, we observed that humans recovering from COVID-19 experienced a significant decrease in soluble CD14, as well as the inflammatory marker interleukin (IL)-6. IL-6 and sCD14 correlated significantly across macaque and human samples. These findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection results in GI barrier disruption that permits microbial translocation and a corresponding immune response. These findings could aid in developing interventions to improve COVID-19 patient outcomes.

Increased adoption of personalized medicine has brought comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) to the forefront. However, differences in assay, bioinformatics, and reporting systems and lack of understanding of their complex interplay are a challenge for implementation and achieving uniformity in CGP testing. Two commercially available, tissue-based, in-house CGP assays were compared, in combination with a tertiary analysis solution in a research use only (RUO) context: the AVENIO Tumor Tissue CGP RUO Kit paired with navify Mutation Profiler (RUO) software and the TruSight Oncology 500 RUO assay paired with PierianDx Clinical Genomics Workspace software. Agreements and differences between the assays were assessed for short variants (SVs), copy number alterations (CNAs), rearrangements, tumor mutational burden (TMB), and microsatellite instability (MSI), including variant categorization and clinical trial-matching (CTM) recommendations. Results showed good overall agreement for SV, known gene fusion, and MSI detection. Important differences were obtained in TMB scoring, CNA detection, and CTM. Differences in variant and biomarker detection could be explained by bioinformatic approaches to variant calling, filtering, tiering, and normalization; differences in CTM, by underlying reported variants and conceptual differences in system parameters. Thus, distinctions between different approaches may lead to inconsistent results. Complexities in calling, filtering, and interpreting variants illustrate key considerations for implementation of any high-quality CGP in the laboratory and bringing uniformity to genomic insight results., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Health equity is a fast emerging priority for most healthcare systems around the world. Factors impacting health equity include education level, geographical location, age, gender, employment status and income. However, research examining the effect of these demographic variables on health service utilisation among mid-aged and older post-stroke adults is limited. Data was obtained from a sub-study of the Sax Institute's 45 and Up Study, which is conducted in Australia. The sub-study survey collected demographic, health service utilisation and health status information from 576 participants who had a previous stroke diagnosis. Poisson regression was used to examine the association between demographic characteristics and number of consultations with a doctor and/or an allied health practitioner over a 12 month period. All demographic measures were significantly associated with the number of consultations with doctors and/or allied health practitioners. The number of doctor consultations increased for those who struggled to live on their available income (IRR = 1.41), but decreased for females (IRR = 0.81), those who reside in an inner regional area (IRR = 0.83), those who were separated, divorced or widowed (IRR = 0.61), and for those who completed a trade, apprenticeship or diploma (IRR = 0.83). The number of allied health practitioner consultations increased for those who completed a trade, apprenticeship or diploma (IRR = 1.27), and for those who struggled to live on their available income (IRR = 1.38), but decreased for increasing age (IRR = 0.87), females (IRR = 0.78), and for those who reside in an outer regional or remote area (IRR = 0.49). We identified several demographic factors associated with a lower frequency and type of health care services used by post-stroke adults. These possible barriers need to be explored further, as reduced use of healthcare services may lead to poorer stroke outcomes in these demographics. Specifically, researching strategies to best support individuals facing these additional challenges is necessary to ensure equitable healthcare for all Australians., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Many factors contribute to the ability of a microbial species to persist when encountering complexly contaminated environments including time of exposure, the nature and concentration of contaminants, availability of nutritional resources, and possession of a combination of appropriate molecular mechanisms needed for survival. Herein we sought to identify genes that are most important for survival of Gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae in contaminated groundwater environments containing high concentrations of nitrate and metals using the metal-tolerant Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) isolate, Pantoea sp. MT58 (MT58). Survival fitness experiments in which a randomly barcoded transposon insertion (RB-TnSeq) library of MT58 was exposed directly to contaminated ORR groundwater samples from across a nitrate and mixed metal contamination plume were used to identify genes important for survival with increasing exposure times and concentrations of contaminants, and availability of a carbon source. Genes involved in controlling and using carbon, encoding transcriptional regulators, and related to Gram-negative outer membrane processes were among those found to be important for survival in contaminated ORR groundwater. A comparative genomics analysis of 75 Pantoea genus strains allowed us to further separate the survival determinants into core and non-core genes in the Pantoea pangenome, revealing insights into the survival of subsurface microorganisms during contaminant plume intrusion., (© The Author(s) [2024]. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Society for Microbial Ecology.)

Understanding what matters to people with Parkinson's and their family is essential to derive relevant clinical outcome measures and guide clinical care. The purpose of this study was to explore what is important to people with Parkinson's disease vs. family over time. A qualitative content-analysis of online survey data collected by Parkinson's UK was conducted to identify types and frequencies of important symptoms and impacts of Parkinson's for people with the disease vs. family of people with Parkinson's. Independent T-tests were used to identify significance of between group differences for patients vs. family at < 2, 2-5, 6-10, 11-20, > 20-year durations. ANOVA was used to assess for within group differences by disease duration. We found that symptom priority changed significantly over time with longer disease duration. Tremor was reported less often later on, whereas mobility, dyskinesias, gait and speech/communication symptoms gained priority. In general, patients identified movement-related symptoms (e.g., walking, bradykinesia) as the most bothersome at all durations while family more strongly prioritized the physical and psychosocial impacts of disease (e.g., mobility, safety, interpersonal interactions, independence, and family impact). We conclude that important differences exist between family and patient perspectives of what matters and change over time with longer duration of disease., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: The purpose of this Delphi study was to determine whether experts in justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) in the field of physical therapy could achieve consensus on the key JEDI-related curricular content topics to be included in entry-level physical therapist education., Review of Literature: Inequities exist at all levels of health care for historically underserved populations, including referrals, access, and quality of physical therapy services. The physical therapy field is facing challenges and opportunities in how to best prepare providers to address individual, community, and population health inequities. There is a lack of consensus in physical therapist education regarding essential curricular content related to justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and antiracism., Subjects: Eighty-four experts in JEDI in the physical therapy profession were invited through email to participate in the Delphi process., Methods: A Delphi survey brought together 39 identified experts in justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within the field of physical therapy to reach consensus on key JEDI-related curricular topics in physical therapist education. In the first-round survey, participants answered an open-ended question: "What JEDI-related curricular content should be included in entry-level physical therapist education?" The work team coded these free-text responses to populate an initial list of curricular elements. Over 2 subsequent rounds of surveys, the experts came to a consensus on which curricular elements should be addressed within physical therapist education. Nineteen experts completed all survey rounds., Results: In round I, coding of the expert group's responses generated 61 initial JEDI-related curricular elements. By round III, the group refined the list to 43 curricular elements; 41 of the 43 (95%) elements garnered 94% or higher consensus. The expert group deemed 30 of the elements "entry-level" content and 13 as more "advanced practice" topics., Discussion and Conclusions: Experts had a strong consensus on key JEDI-related curricular elements that physical therapist education programs should include to best prepare providers to improve the health of society. Future scholarship will explore recommendations for how physical therapist education programs might prioritize and implement JEDI-related content., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Academy of Physical Therapy Education, APTA.)

In recent years, nitrosamine impurities in pharmaceuticals have been subject to intense regulatory scrutiny, with nitrosamine drug substance-related impurities (NDSRIs) treated as cohort of concern impurities, regardless of predicted mutagenic potential. Here, we describe a case study of the NDSRI N-nitroso-hydrochlorothiazide (NO-HCTZ), which was positive in the bacterial reverse mutation (Ames) test but is unstable under the test conditions, generating formaldehyde among other products. The mutagenic profile of NO-HCTZ was inconsistent with that expected of a mutagenic nitrosamine, exhibiting mutagenicity in the absence of metabolic activation, and instead aligned well with that of formaldehyde. To assess further, a modified Ames system including glutathione (3.3 mg/plate) to remove formaldehyde was developed. Strains used were S. typhimurium TA98, TA100, TA1535, and TA1537, and E. coli WP2 uvrA/pKM101. In this system, formaldehyde levels were considerably lower, with a concomitant increase in levels of S-(hydroxymethyl)glutathione (the adduct formed between glutathione and formaldehyde). Upon retesting NO-HCTZ in the modified system (1.6-5000 µg/plate), a clear decrease in the mutagenic response was observed in the strains in which NO-HCTZ was mutagenic in the original system (TA98, TA100, and WP2 uvrA/pKM101), indicating that formaldehyde drives the response, not NO-HCTZ. In strain TA1535, an increase in revertant colonies was observed in the modified system, likely due to a thiatriazine degradation product formed from NO-HCTZ under Ames test conditions. Overall, these data support a non-mutagenic designation for NO-HCTZ and demonstrate the value of further investigation when a positive Ames result does not align with the expected profile., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Apremilast is a relatively new oral treatment for psoriasis, which reduces expression of pro-inflammatory factors, including tumour necrosis factor-α (TNFα), critical to the immune control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. In randomised controlled trials (RCTs) for apremilast no new cases of active tuberculosis (TB) were identified, thus, screening for latent TB infection (LTBI) is not currently recommended prior to apremilast initiation. We describe a case of M.tuberculosis reactivation shortly after commencement of apremilast for psoriasis. We are recommending clinicians perform LTBI risk assessment in all patients, and appropriate LTBI screening in select populations prior to apremilast initiation., (© 2024 The Australasian College of Dermatologists.)

Bouillon is a widely consumed condiment in many West African countries, including Nigeria. Although Nigeria has mandatory fortification standards for multiple food vehicles, bouillon fortification could help address remaining gaps in micronutrient intake. Using household food consumption data, we used the nutrient density method to model the additional contribution of bouillon fortified with vitamin A (40-250 µg/g bouillon), folic acid (20-120 µg/g), vitamin B12 (0.2-2 µg/g), iron (0.6-5 mg/g), and zinc (0.6-5 mg/g) for meeting micronutrient requirements of women of reproductive age (WRA) and children aged 6-59 months. Accounting for existing fortification programs, our results showed that, except for iron, the prevalence of inadequacy was substantially higher among WRA and children living in poorer and rural households. Given the ubiquity of bouillon consumption, bouillon fortification has the potential to virtually eliminate vitamin A, folate, and vitamin B12 inadequacy, reduce the prevalence of zinc inadequacy by over 20 percentage points, and improve equity in the micronutrient adequacy of diets across socioeconomic strata and urban and rural residence. Our results also suggested that designing a bouillon fortification program would require careful planning to balance reductions in inadequacy with the risk of high intakes. This evidence provides important input into decisions around bouillon fortification in Nigeria., (© 2024 The Author(s). Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The New York Academy of Sciences.)

Background: Tropical oils such as palm and coconut oils are renowned for their high saturated fat content and culinary versatility. However, their consumption has sparked debate regarding their health benefits and production concerns. The purpose of this review was to map existing evidence on the health benefits and challenges associated with the consumption of tropical oils., Method: The recommendations for conducting a scoping review by Arksey and O'Malley were followed. PubMed, Dimensions AI, Central, JSTOR Google, Google Scholar, and ProQuest databases were searched for relevant papers. The predetermined keywords used were Consumption" AND "Tropical oil," as well as "Health benefits" OR "Health challenges" AND "Tropical Countries." Peer-reviewed and grey literature published in English were eligible for this review., Result: Tropical oils, such as palm and coconut oils, provide health benefits including essential vitamins (A and E) that enhance ocular health, boost immunity, and support growth. They are also recognised for their role in managing high blood sugar, obesity, and cholesterol levels, while offering antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These oils have wound-healing abilities and are commonly used in infant nutrition and traditional cooking. Nevertheless, prolonged and repeated use of tropical oils to high temperature can degrade vitamin E, whereas excessive intake may result in overdose. Health concerns include oxidative risks, diabetes, cancer, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and acrylamide formation due to production challenges excessive consumption. Additional issues include obesity, suboptimal oil production, misconceptions, regulatory obstacles, and preferences for alternative fats., Conclusion: This review suggest that tropical oils provide essential health benefits, including vitamins and antioxidant properties, but pose significant health risks and production challenges, particularly when exposed to high temperatures and through excessive intake. Guidelines on the consumption of tropical oils in the tropical regions are necessary to regulate their consumption., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

A wide range of visualization authoring interfaces enable the creation of highly customized visualizations. However, prioritizing expressiveness often impedes the learnability of the authoring interface. The diversity of users, such as varying computational skills and prior experiences in user interfaces, makes it even more challenging for a single authoring interface to satisfy the needs of a broad audience. In this paper, we introduce a framework to balance learnability and expressivity in a visualization authoring system. Adopting insights from learnability studies, such as multimodal interaction and visualization literacy, we explore the design space of blending multiple visualization authoring interfaces for supporting authoring tasks in a complementary and fexible manner. To evaluate the effectiveness of blending interfaces, we implemented a proof-of-concept system, Blace, that combines four common visualization authoring interfaces-template-based, shelf confguration, natural language, and code editor-that are tightly linked to one another to help users easily relate unfamiliar interfaces to more familiar ones. Using the system, we conducted a user study with 12 domain experts who regularly visualize genomics data as part of their analysis workfow. Participants with varied visualization and programming backgrounds were able to successfully reproduce unfamiliar visualization examples without a guided tutorial in the study. Feedback from a post-study qualitative questionnaire further suggests that blending interfaces enabled participants to learn the system easily and assisted them in confdently editing unfamiliar visualization grammar in the code editor, enabling expressive customization. Refecting on our study results and the design of our system, we discuss the different interaction patterns that we identifed and design implications for blending visualization authoring interfaces.

Cocaine use disorder (CUD) is a chronic neuropsychiatric disorder estimated to effect 1-3% of the population. Activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP) is essential for brain development and functioning, shown to be protective in fetal alcohol syndrome and to regulate alcohol consumption in adult mice. The goal of this study was to characterize the role of ADNP, and its active peptide NAP (NAPVSIPQ), which is also known as davunetide (investigational drug) in mediating cocaine-induced neuroadaptations. Real time PCR was used to test levels of Adnp and Adnp2 in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), ventral tegmental area (VTA), and dorsal hippocampus (DH) of cocaine-treated mice (15 mg/kg). Adnp heterozygous (Adnp +/- )and wild-type (Adnp +/- ) mice were further tagged with excitatory neuronal membrane-expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) that allowed for in vivo synaptic quantification. The mice were treated with cocaine (5 injections; 15 mg/kg once every other day) with or without NAP daily injections (0.4 µg/0.1 ml) and sacrificed following the last treatment. We analyzed hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells from 3D confocal images using the Imaris x64.8.1.2 (Oxford Instruments) software to measure changes in dendritic spine density and morphology. In silico ADNP/NAP/cocaine structural modeling was performed as before. Cocaine decreased Adnp and Adnp2 expression 2 h after injection in the NAc and VTA of male mice, with mRNA levels returning to baseline levels after 24 h. Cocaine further reduced hippocampal spine density, particularly synaptically weaker immature thin and stubby spines, in male Adnp +/+ ) mice while increasing synaptically stronger mature (mushroom) spines in Adnp +/- ) male mice and thin and stubby spines in females. Lastly, we showed that cocaine interacts with ADNP on a zinc finger domain identical to ketamine and adjacent to a NAP-zinc finger interaction site. Our results implicate ADNP in cocaine abuse, further placing the ADNP gene as a key regulator in neuropsychiatric disorders. Ketamine/cocaine and NAP treatment may be interchangeable to some degree, implicating an interaction with adjacent zinc finger motifs on ADNP and suggestive of a potential sex-dependent, non-addictive NAP treatment for CUD., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Rotator cuff injuries present a clinical challenge for repair due to current limitations in functional regeneration of the native tendon-to-bone enthesis. A biomaterial that can regionally instruct unique tissue-specific phenotypes offers potential to promote enthesis repair. We have recently demonstrated the mechanical benefits of a stratified triphasic biomaterial made up of tendon- and bone-mimetic collagen scaffold compartments connected via a continuous hydrogel, and we now explore the potential of a biologically favorable enthesis hydrogel for this application. Here we report in vitro behavior of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) within thiolated gelatin (Gel-SH) hydrogels in response to chondrogenic stimuli as well as paracrine signals derived from MSC-seeded bone and tendon scaffold compartments. Chondrogenic differentiation media promoted upregulation of cartilage and entheseal fibrocartilage matrix markers COL2 , COLX , and ACAN as well as the enthesis-associated transcription factors SCX , SOX9 , and RUNX2 in hMSCs within Gel-SH. Similar effects were observed in response to TGF-β3 and BMP-4, enthesis-associated growth factors known to play a role in entheseal development and maintenance. Conditioned media generated by hMSCs seeded in tendon- and bone-mimetic collagen scaffolds influenced patterns of gene expression regarding enthesis-relevant growth factors, matrix markers, and tendon-to-bone transcription factors for hMSCs within the material. Together, these findings demonstrate that a Gel-SH hydrogel provides a permissive environment for enthesis tissue engineering and highlights the significance of cellular crosstalk between adjacent compartments within a spatially graded biomaterial.

Diabetes mellitus, characterized by impaired insulin signaling, is associated with increased incidence and severity of infections. Various diabetes-related complications contribute to exacerbated bacterial infections, including hyperglycemia, innate immune cell dysfunction, and infection with antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. One defining symptom of diabetes is hyperglycemia, resulting in elevated blood and tissue glucose concentrations. Glucose is the preferred carbon source of several bacterial pathogens, and hyperglycemia escalates bacterial growth and virulence. Hyperglycemia promotes specific mechanisms of bacterial virulence known to contribute to infection chronicity, including tissue adherence and biofilm formation. Foot infections are a significant source of morbidity in individuals with diabetes and consist of biofilm-associated polymicrobial communities. Bacteria perform complex interspecies behaviors conducive to their growth and virulence within biofilms, including metabolic cross-feeding and altered phenotypes more tolerant to antibiotic therapeutics. Moreover, the metabolic dysfunction caused by diabetes compromises immune cell function, resulting in immune suppression. Impaired insulin signaling induces aberrations in phagocytic cells, which are crucial mediators for controlling and resolving bacterial infections. These aberrancies encompass altered cytokine profiles, the migratory and chemotactic mechanisms of neutrophils, and the metabolic reprogramming required for the oxidative burst and subsequent generation of bactericidal free radicals. Furthermore, the immune suppression caused by diabetes and the polymicrobial nature of the diabetic infection microenvironment may promote the emergence of novel strains of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens. This review focuses on the "triple threat" linked to worsened bacterial infections in individuals with diabetes: (i) altered nutritional availability in diabetic tissues, (ii) diabetes-associated immune suppression, and (iii) antibiotic treatment failure., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

A major aim of microbial ecology is the search for basic 'rules' that dominate variation in microbial communities. An earlier comparison of several soil successional series showed that pH explained variation in the relative importance of stochastic versus deterministic processes in bacterial communities. In neutral pH soils, bacterial communities were more strongly influenced by stochastic processes than in low or high pH soils. Here, we took a broad level approach to attempt a more definitive answer of whether soil pH dominates bacterial community structuring using the global database of 237 samples. The beta-NTI showed that at both a global and continental scale, samples with low pH were dominated by deterministic processes, while in samples at around neutral pH, stochastic processes dominated. At high pH, stochasticity dominated on the global scale, but on several continents, the beta-NTI showed determinism predominating. Overall, it appears that bacterial community structuring is strongly and predictably affected by pH, with the most consistent difference observed between determinism at low pH and stochasticity at neutral pH. There is a need for hypothesis testing to explain why this trend exists. It is possible that at low pH, there is a greater selection for consortia to exploit resources, which leads to more predictable, deterministic combinations of species co-occurring. Additionally, the high energy demands for homeostasis and the constraints from the lack of available nutrient resources may impose greater niche-based competition, resulting in more deterministic community structuring at low pH., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Haemaphysalis longicornis (Neumann) was first established in New Jersey and has rapidly spread across most of the eastern United States. This tick has the potential to infest a wide variety of hosts and can reproduce quickly via parthenogenesis, presenting a new threat to animal health. Here we report the first record of a single H. longicornis tick in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, from incidental field collections of ticks. In addition to H. longicornis, we collected 787 Amblyomma americanum, 25 Dermacentor variabilis, 6 Ixodes affinis, 1 Haemaphysalis leporispalustris, and 1 Amblyomma maculatum using standard dragging and flagging techniques. The expansion of H. longicornis will have economic consequences for livestock producers in south-central Virginia, who must now manage this species. Enhanced surveillance is needed to fully understand its growing geographic distribution in the United States and the subsequent consequences of its spread., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Diet is a modifiable lifestyle factor that could impact the development of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and its components. MetS prevalence is high and diet quality is suboptimal among older African American women. MetS has been associated with many individual food groups, however, emerging research suggests that analyzing overall diet quality provides insight into the synergistic effects of food groups on health outcomes. In the current cross-sectional study, we examined the relationship between diet quality and MetS, and investigated associations between diet quality and MetS components among older African American women. This study was based on 357 African American women between 45 and 65 years from the NHANES 2011-2018 datasets. This analysis utilized the NCEP ATP III (2001) criteria for women to diagnose MetS. MetS was dichotomized in addition to a MetS z-score being calculated for each participant using a sex- and race-specific equation. Participants' diet quality was measured using the HEI-2015. Linear and logistic regressions were performed to assess the association between HEI-2015 diet quality and metabolic syndrome and its components. 65% of African American women aged 45-65 in the NHANES 2011-2018 had MetS. Study participants had an average HEI-2015 score of 55.4 out of 100. As HEI-2015 quartiles increased, the mean MetS z-score decreased ( p -value: 0.0011). Age-adjusted models demonstrated statistically significant inverse relationships between HEI-2015 and waist circumference (β: -0.217; 95% CI: -0.372, -0.063), systolic blood pressure (β: -0.215; 95% CI: -0.359, -0.072), blood glucose (β: -0.344; 95% CI: -0.681, -0.0066), and triglycerides (β: -0.652; 95% CI: -1.05, -0.251). Significant associations could not be established between MetS and diet quality, assessed with the HEI-2015, among African American women aged 45-65 enrolled in NHANES 2011-2018. However, statistically significant relationships were observed between increased HEI-2015 scores and lowered risks of abdominal obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and systolic hypertension. The findings of this study affirm the necessity of public health strategies to improve diet quality among African-American women which could help to reduce their risks of chronic diseases.

In this survey of 31 hospitals, large metropolitan facilities had a 9.5-fold odds of reporting preparedness for special pathogens; hospitals with special pathogens teams had a 14.3-fold odds of reporting preparedness for special pathogens. In the postpandemic world, healthcare institutions must invest in special pathogen responses to maximize patient safety., Competing Interests: All authors report no conflicts of interest relevant to this article., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

Competing Interests: Intérêts concurrents :: Shamara Baidoobonso déclare avoir reçu du financement des Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada (IRSC), du Conseil de recherches en sciences humaines (CRSH) et de l’Agence de la santé publique du Canada (ASPC), des honoraires des IRSC et de l’ASPC et du soutien aux réunions des IRSC. Aucun autre intérêt concurrent n’a été déclaré.

Genome-wide association studies typically evaluate the autosomes and sometimes the X Chromosome, but seldom consider the Y or mitochondrial Chromosomes. We genotyped the Y and mitochondrial Chromosomes in heterogeneous stock rats (Rattus norvegicus), an outbred population created from eight inbred strains. We identified 8 distinct Y and 4 distinct mitochondrial Chromosomes among the 8 founders. However, only two types of each nonrecombinant chromosome were observed in our modern heterogeneous stock rat population (generations 81-97). Despite the relatively large sample size, there were virtually no significant associations for behavioral, physiological, metabolome, or microbiome traits after correcting for multiple comparisons. However, both Y and mitochondrial Chromosomes were strongly associated with expression of a few genes located on those chromosomes, which provided a positive control. Our results suggest that within modern heterogeneous stock rats there are no Y and mitochondrial Chromosomes differences that strongly influence behavioral or physiological traits. These results do not address other ancestral Y and mitochondrial Chromosomes that do not appear in modern heterogeneous stock rats, nor do they address effects that may exist in other rat populations, or in other species., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Genetics Society of America.)

The superior colliculus receives a direct projection from retinal ganglion cells. In primates, it remains unknown if the same ganglion cells also supply the lateral geniculate nucleus. To address this issue, a double-label experiment was performed in 2 male macaques. The animals fixated a target while injection sites were scouted in the superior colliculus by recording and stimulating with a tetrode. Once suitable sites were identified, cholera toxin - subunit B Alexa Fluor 488 was injected via an adjacent micropipette. In a subsequent acute experiment, cholera toxin subunit B - Alexa Fluor 555 was injected into the lateral geniculate nucleus at matching retinotopic locations. After a brief survival period, ganglion cells were examined in retinal flatmounts. The percentage of double-labeled cells varied locally, depending on the relative efficiency of retrograde transport by each tracer and the precision of retinotopic overlap of injection sites in each target nucleus. In counting boxes with extensive overlap, 76-98% of ganglion cells projecting to the superior colliculus were double-labeled. Cells projecting to the superior colliculus constituted 4.0 - 6.7% of the labeled ganglion cell population. In one particularly large zone, there were 5,746 cells labeled only by CTB-AF555, 561cells double-labeled by CTB-AF555 and CTB-AF488, but no cell labeled only by CTB-AF488. These data indicate that retinal input to the macaque superior colliculus arises from a collateral axonal branch supplied by about 5% of the ganglion cells that project to the lateral geniculate nucleus. Surprisingly, there exist no ganglion cells that project exclusively to the SC. Significance statement The retina contains a multitude of ganglion cell classes, projecting in parallel to different brain targets. The superior colliculus receives retinal input, but its source remains controversial. In two macaques, a green tracer was injected into the superior colliculus and an orange tracer into the lateral geniculate nucleus. When retinotopic overlap was optimal, ganglion cells containing the green tracer were also labeled by the orange tracer. This finding indicates that retinal input to the superior colliculus arises from axon collaterals of ganglion cells that project to the lateral geniculate nucleus, even though these two retinal targets serve utterly different functions. The next challenge is to determine the purpose of this projection and why it is shared., (Copyright © 2024 the authors.)

Introduction: Gender-based violence (GBV) poses a significant threat to women with refugee status., Methodology: Following our analysis based on a previously published scoping review, we introduce a conceptual framework based on postcolonial feminist theory to inform research, policy, and practice that addresses the unique risk factors faced by Somali women with refugee status experiencing GBV and encountering barriers to care., Result: The framework synthesizes existing literature, incorporates findings from previous work with Somali women, and emphasizes the importance of understanding structural and sociocultural factors influencing help-seeking., Discussion: By developing women-centered interventions, health care and social service institutions can play a pivotal role in addressing GBV for Somali women with refugee status., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objectives: To define a reference interval for alanine aminotransferase for the practice laboratory and then identify and longitudinally follow the clinical health and alanine aminotransferase levels in a cohort of clinically healthy dogs with increased alanine aminotransferase levels documented during wellness screening., Materials and Methods: Alanine aminotransferase levels of 125 clinically healthy dogs were used to define a reference interval for the practice laboratory. The electronic records of 315 clinically healthy dogs which had undergone wellness screening including assessment of alanine aminotransferase levels at a first-opinion veterinary hospital in the UK were reviewed between January 2012 and January 2023. Clinically healthy dogs with increased alanine aminotransferase levels relative to the top of the reference interval determined for the practice on at least one test during the study period were identified. These were longitudinally followed through electronic medical records to determine their long-term clinical outcomes over a period of up to 11 years., Results: The reference interval for alanine aminotransferase in the practice laboratory was calculated as 10.6 to 181.8 U/L. Nineteen clinically healthy dogs were identified as having increased alanine aminotransferase levels. One dog from the group with increased alanine aminotransferase levels was diagnosed with chronic hepatitis and died of liver failure, while the other 18 dogs died of other causes, or were still alive at the end of the study, with no clinical signs associated with liver disease. One dog in the group with consistently normal alanine aminotransferase levels also died from clinical signs attributed to liver disease., Clinical Significance: Only a small proportion of clinically healthy dogs with increased alanine aminotransferase levels documented on wellness screening developed clinically relevant liver dysfunction over long-term follow-up., (© 2024 British Small Animal Veterinary Association.)

Petrous bone cholesteatoma, or cholesteatoma that extends beyond the middle ear and mastoid, represents a rare but destructive pathology. Diagnosis can be difficult before substantial morbidity is incurred, and patients can present with life-threatening complications. Determination of disease extent and the functional status of the facial nerve and cochleovestibular system are critical in surgical planning. Typically, surgery involves ablative procedures with the goal of complete disease resection given the low likelihood of preserved inner ear function. In experienced hands, disease control and facial nerve outcomes are favorable; however, disease recidivism is not uncommon and, thus, these patients require lifelong surveillance., Competing Interests: Disclosure Financial material & support: This study was performed without commercial sponsorship or support. Relevant conflicts of interest to declare: no relevant financial disclosures relating to this article., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Evidence suggests historical redlining shaped the built environment and health outcomes in urban areas. Only a handful of studies have examined redlining's association with air pollution and adverse birth outcomes in New York City (NYC). Additionally, no NYC-specific studies have examined the impact of redlining on birth weight., Methods: This longitudinal cohort study analysed data from the National Institute of Health Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes Programme to investigate the extent to which maternal residence in a historically redlined neighbourhood is associated with fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) exposure during pregnancy using multivariable regression models. Additionally, we examined how maternal residence in a historically redlined neighbourhood during pregnancy influenced birth weight z-score, preterm birth and low birth weight., Results: Our air pollution model showed that living in a historically redlined census tract or an ungraded census tract was associated with increased PM 2.5 exposure during pregnancy. We also found living in a historically redlined census tract or an ungraded census tract was associated with a lower birth weight z-score. This finding remained significant when controlling for individual and census tract-level race, ethnicity and income. When we controlled PM 2.5 in our models assessing the relationship between redlining grade and birth outcome, our results did not change., Discussion: Our study supports the literature linking redlining to contemporary outcomes. However, our research in ungraded tracts suggests redlining alone is insufficient to fully explain inequality in birth outcomes and PM 2.5 levels today., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Streptococcus mitis is a leading cause of infective endocarditis (IE). However, our understanding of the genomic epidemiology and pathogenicity of IE-associated S. mitis is hampered by low IE incidence. Here we use whole genome sequencing of 129 S. mitis bloodstream infection (BSI) isolates collected between 2001-2016 from clinically diagnosed IE cases in the UK to investigate genetic diversity, antimicrobial resistance, and pathogenicity. We show high genetic diversity of IE-associated S. mitis with virtually all isolates belonging to distinct lineages indicating no predominance of specific lineages. Additionally, we find a highly variable distribution of known pneumococcal virulence genes among the isolates, some of which are overrepresented in disease when compared to carriage strains. Our findings suggest that S. mitis in patients with clinically diagnosed IE is not primarily caused by specific hypervirulent or antimicrobial resistant lineages, highlighting the accidental pathogenic nature of S. mitis in patients with clinically diagnosed IE., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: The proximal femur is a common site of bone metastasis. The Mirels' score is a frequently utilized system to identify patients at risk for pathologic fracture and while it has consistently demonstrated strong sensitivity, specificity has been relatively poor. Our group previously developed a Modified Mirels' scoring system which demonstrated improved ability to predict cases at risk of fracture in this patient population through modification of the Mirels' location score. The purpose of the present study is to internally validate this newly developed scoring system on an independent patient series., Methods: Retrospective review was performed to identify patients who were evaluated for proximal femoral bone lesions. Patients were stratified into one of two groups: 1) those who went on to fracture within 4 months after initial evaluation (Fracture Group) and 2) those who did not fracture within 4 months of initial evaluation (No Fracture Group). Retrospective chart review was performed to assign an Original Mirels' (OM) Score and Modified Mirels' (MM) score to each patient at the time of initial evaluation. Descriptive statistics, logistic regression, receiver operating curve, and net benefit analyses were performed to determine the predictability of fractures when utilizing both scoring systems., Results: The use of the MM scoring improved fracture prediction over OM scoring for patients observed over a 4 month follow up based on logistic regression. Decision curve analysis showed that there was a net benefit using the MM score over the OM scoring for a full range of fracture threshold probabilities. Fracture prevalence was similar for current internal validation dataset when compared to the dataset of our index study with a comparable reduction in misclassification of fracture prediction when utilizing the modified scoring system versus the original., Conclusions: Use of MM scoring was found to improve fracture prediction over OM scoring when tested on an internal validation set of patients with disseminated metastatic lesions to the proximal femur. The improvement in fracture prediction demonstrated in the present study mirrored the results of our index study during which the MM system was developed., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Transition metal-catalyzed cross-couplings have great potential to furnish complex ethers; however, challenges in the C(sp 3 )-O functionalization step have precluded general methods. Here, we describe computationally guided transition metal-ligand design that positions a hydrogen-bond acceptor anion at the reactive site to promote functionalization. A general cross-coupling of primary, secondary, and tertiary aliphatic alcohols with terminal olefins to furnish >130 ethers is achieved. The mild conditions tolerate functionality that is prone to substitution, elimination, and epimerization and achieve site selectivity in polyol settings. Mechanistic studies support the hypothesis that the ligand's geometry and electronics direct positioning of the phosphate anion at the π-allyl-palladium terminus, facilitating the phosphate's hydrogen-bond acceptor role toward the alcohol. Ligand-directed counteranion positioning in cationic transition metal catalysis has the potential to be a general strategy for promoting challenging bimolecular reactivity.

Introduction: Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) is an echocardiographic parameter that serves as a prognostic indicator for severity of COPD clinical course. This study, consisting of a systematic review and meta-analysis, evaluates the current literature to elucidate the relationship between TAPSE measurement in COPD patients versus control subjects to discern baseline evidence of right heart strain., Methods: PubMedTM, ScopusTM, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Cochrane Review databases were searched from their beginning through November 1, 2023, for eligible studies. Outcomes included the difference of TAPSE measurement and right ventricular wall thickness between COPD patients and control patients. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was applied to assess risk of bias; Q-statistics and I2 values were used to assess for heterogeneity; and Egger's and Begg's test used to assess for publication bias., Results: The search yielded eleven studies reporting TAPSE values involving 1671 patients, 800 (47.9%) patients with COPD. The unadjusted mean TAPSE values for COPD patients was 18.9 mm (SD+/- 4), while the mean TAPSE value for control patients was 22.2 mm (SD+/- 0.8). The presence of COPD was significantly associated with decreased TAPSE values with the meta-analysis reporting the mean difference of TAPSE value between COPD and control patients was -3.0 (95% CI -4.3 to -1.7, P=0.001). Six studies reported the RV free wall thickness. The unadjusted mean RV free wall thickness for COPD patients was 4.9 mm (SD+/- 1.2), and control patients was 3.4 mm (SD+/- 0.7), respectively., Conclusions: This meta-analysis demonstrated statistically-significantly lower TAPSE values and thicker RV free wall among COPD patients versus control patients.

Background: Hepatitis A is a disease of public health significance that typically causes acute, self-limiting infection. Understanding the risk factors and demographics associated with individual infections and outbreaks can guide public health communication and interventions., Objective: To assess the number of hepatitis A cases and outbreaks in Ontario from January 1, 2015, to November 22, 2022, and to identify common risk factors associated with sporadic and outbreak-associated infections in Ontario., Methods: Confirmed and probable hepatitis A cases reported between January 1, 2015, and November 22, 2022, were extracted from the Ontario electronic reporting system. Descriptive analyses were used to summarize and compare risk factors reported by sporadic and outbreak-associated hepatitis A cases. Annual rates of infection for individual public health units were calculated using annual population estimates for Ontario health regions., Results: During the study period, 938 cases of hepatitis A were reported in Ontario (an average annual rate of 0.9 cases per 100,000 population), with 31.3% (n=294) of cases linked to one of 18 unique outbreaks of hepatitis A. Four of 13 local outbreaks were associated with elementary school settings. Reported risk factors differed between sporadic cases (predominantly travel-related) and cases linked to known outbreaks (anal-oral contact, illicit drug use, diapering/assisting in toileting, close contact with a case). Rates of sporadic infection differed across public health units in Ontario over the study period., Conclusion: Public health interventions that aim to increase awareness of hepatitis A risk factors and increase vaccine uptake among those at increased risk of exposure could help to reduce the incidence of both locally acquired and travel-related sporadic infections and outbreaks., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Diffusible iodine-based contrast-enhanced computed tomography (diceCT) is an increasingly used digital complement, supplement, or alternative to traditional dissection-based anatomical research. The diceCT protocol, which has evolved and expanded over the past decade, employs passive diffusion of Lugol's iodine (KI 3 ) to increase soft tissue radiodensity and improve structure contrast in the CT or microCT imaging of specimens. The development and application of diceCT has focused largely on specimens under 1 kg, and the varying reporting of methods on studies of both small and large specimens has initiated, but not yet established, an effective diceCT protocol for larger specimens based on monitored experiments of several fundamental variables ( e.g ., Lugol's iodine concentration, duration, and impacts of Lugol's iodine on tissues). In this study, we have experimentally assessed the efficacy of diceCT protocols for imaging whole-body specimens of the 1-4.5 kg Australian brushtail possum ( Trichosurus vulpecula ) using sequential CT imaging assessment across experimental conditions. We assessed the impact of varying Lugol's iodine concentration, the presence/absence of skin, solution volume and agitation on tissue radiodensity changes through weekly CT-based monitoring of tissue radiodensities over an 8-week experimental period. We have also quantified tissue volumetric changes across our experiment to assess the impact of diceCT applications on subsequent analyses of imaging datasets. Our results indicate that substantial changes in both soft-tissue radiodensity and soft-tissue volume occur within the first 28 days of Lugol's iodine treatment, followed by a slower rate of progressive soft-tissue radiodensity and volume changes across the experiment duration. Our results demonstrate the negligible benefit of skinning larger specimens to improve solution diffusion, and document significant soft-tissue volumetric changes with high concentration solutions ( e.g ., 10%) and long-duration exposure ( e.g ., beyond 5 weeks) that should guide individual diceCT protocol design and/or quantification and analysis for mammal specimens above 1 kg., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests, (© 2024 Costello et al.)

Statement of Problem: Though computer-aided design and computer-aided manufactured (CAD-CAM) denture bases have become popular, evidence on the ability of C. albicans cells to adhere to these denture bases is lacking., Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the adherence of Candida albicans to differently manufactured acrylic resin denture bases., Material and Methods: Acrylic resin disks were fabricated using a total of 6 different fabrication methods (compression molding, injection molding, CAD-CAM milling, and rapid prototyping on 3 different printers with 3 different resins). Each material was evaluated for adherence of C. albicans using 2 different experimental methods - suspension in inoculated tryptic soy broth (TSB) or placed onto a uniform lawn of C. albicans on tryptone soya agar (TSA) with 5% sheep's blood. Attached cells were quantified by spiral plating and then used to re-inoculate sterile plates. Logarithmic transformation was completed to normalize data. For the broth suspension, the Kruskal-Wallis test was used to identify any differences between the 6 specimen types in terms of recovery, and the Dunn test was used for post hoc analysis. For the microbial lawn experiment, 1-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and then the Tukey Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) post hoc test were used., Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the numbers of adherent cells based on manufacturing method and between experimental designs (P<.05). All resins demonstrated growth with re-inoculation., Conclusions: Though statistical significance was noted, neither experimental technique demonstrated what is likely a clinically significant preferential binding to any particular resin surface. Attached Candida cells are effective carriers of pathogens to uninfected surfaces. Further studies are indicated for potential virulence factors and differences in printed resins., (Copyright © 2024 Editorial Council for The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Leptospirosis, an acute bacterial zoonotic disease, is endemic in Puerto Rico. Infection in approximately 10%-15% of patients with clinical disease progresses to severe, potentially fatal illness. Increased incidence has been associated with flooding in endemic areas around the world. In 2022, Hurricane Fiona, a Category 1 hurricane, made landfall and inundated Puerto Rico with heavy rainfall and severe flooding, increasing the risk for a leptospirosis outbreak. In response, the Puerto Rico Department of Health (PRDH) changed guidelines to make leptospirosis cases reportable within 24 hours, centralized the case investigation management system, and provided training and messaging to health care providers. To evaluate changes in risk for leptospirosis after Hurricane Fiona to that before the storm, the increase in cases was quantified, and patient characteristics and geographic distribution were compared. During the 15 weeks after Hurricane Fiona, 156 patients experienced signs and symptoms of leptospirosis and had a specimen with a positive laboratory result reported to PRDH. The mean weekly number of cases during this period was 10.4, which is 3.6 as high as the weekly number of cases during the previous 37 weeks (2.9). After Hurricane Fiona, the proportion of cases indicating exposure to potentially contaminated water increased from 11% to 35%, and the number of persons receiving testing increased; these factors likely led to the resulting overall surge in reported cases. Robust surveillance combined with outreach to health care providers after flooding events can improve leptospirosis case identification, inform clinicians considering early initiation of treatment, and guide public messaging to avoid wading, swimming, or any contact with potentially contaminated floodwaters., Competing Interests: All authors have completed and submitted the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. Melissa Marzán-Rodríguez reported being a member of the board of directors of COAI, Inc. (LGBT Health). No other potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Beginning in late 2023, Oropouche virus was identified as the cause of large outbreaks in Amazon regions with known endemic transmission and in new areas in South America and the Caribbean. The virus is spread to humans by infected biting midges and some mosquito species. Although infection typically causes a self-limited febrile illness, reports of two deaths in patients with Oropouche virus infection and vertical transmission associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes have raised concerns about the threat of this virus to human health. In addition to approximately 8,000 locally acquired cases in the Americas, travel-associated Oropouche virus disease cases have recently been identified in European travelers returning from Cuba and Brazil. As of August 16, 2024, a total of 21 Oropouche virus disease cases were identified among U.S. travelers returning from Cuba. Most patients initially experienced fever, myalgia, and headache, often with other symptoms including arthralgia, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, and rash. At least three patients had recurrent symptoms after the initial illness, a common characteristic of Oropouche virus disease. Clinicians and public health jurisdictions should be aware of the occurrence of Oropouche virus disease in U.S. travelers and request testing for suspected cases. Travelers should prevent insect bites when traveling, and pregnant persons should consider deferring travel to areas experiencing outbreaks of Oropouche virus disease., Competing Interests: All authors have completed and submitted the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. Andrea Morrison reports travel support for attendance at meetings from the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE), the University of Kentucky–Southeastern States Occupational Network, the University of North Carolina, the American Society of Microbiology, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Edgar Kopp reports support for travel from the Association of Public Health Laboratories and service on the Association of Public Health Laboratories’ Biosafety and Biosecurity Committee. Joshua Lassen reports support from CSTE. Amanda M. Nichols reports travel and meeting support from the National Association of County and City Health Officials and CSTE. Alexander T. Ciota reports support from the National Institutes of Health. No other potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Monkeypox virus (MPXV) can spread among humans through direct contact with lesions, scabs, or saliva; via respiratory secretions; and indirectly from fomites; via percutaneous injuries; and by crossing the placenta to the fetus during pregnancy. Since 2022, most patients with mpox in the United States have experienced painful skin lesions, and some have had severe illness. During 2021-2022, CDC initiated aircraft contact investigations after receiving reports of travelers on commercial flights with probable or confirmed mpox during their infectious period. Data were collected 1) during 2021, when two isolated clade II mpox cases not linked to an outbreak were imported into the United States by international travelers and 2) for flights arriving in or traveling within the United States during April 30-August 2, 2022, after a global clade II mpox outbreak was detected in May 2022. A total of 113 persons (100 passengers and 13 crew members) traveled on 221 flights while they were infectious with mpox. CDC developed definitions for aircraft contacts based on proximity to mpox cases and flight duration, sent information about these contacts to U.S. health departments, and received outcome information for 1,046 (68%) of 1,538 contacts. No traveler was found to have acquired mpox via a U.S. flight exposure. For persons with mpox and their contacts who had departed from the United States, CDC forwarded contact information as well as details about the exposure event to destination countries to facilitate their own public health investigations. Findings from these aircraft contact investigations suggest that traveling on a flight with a person with mpox does not appear to constitute an exposure risk or warrant routine contact tracing activities. Nonetheless, CDC recommends that persons with mpox isolate and delay travel until they are no longer infectious., Competing Interests: All authors have completed and submitted the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Introduction: To date, there are no caregiver-reported screening measures of oral behaviors related to feeding. The goal of this study was to develop such a measure., Method: Caregivers of 803 children referred to a feeding clinic and 188 comparison children reported their children's frequency of nine oral behaviors. These data were used to develop an Oral Behavior Screener (OBS). Both the psychometrics of the OBS and the relations between the OBS and child demographics were examined., Results: As expected, the clinical sample demonstrated more deficits in oral behaviors than the comparison sample. We also found special needs status and age were linked to the OBS summary score., Discussion: The OBS is a brief screener that can be used by clinicians to examine the need for further assessment, possible targets for intervention, oral behaviors often associated with feeding problems.

Cellular senescence, a stress-induced stable proliferation arrest associated with an inflammatory senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), is a cause of aging. In senescent cells, cytoplasmic chromatin fragments (CCFs) activate SASP via the anti-viral cGAS/STING pathway. Promyelocytic leukemia (PML) protein organizes PML nuclear bodies (NBs), which are also involved in senescence and anti-viral immunity. The HIRA histone H3.3 chaperone localizes to PML NBs in senescent cells. Here, we show that HIRA and PML are essential for SASP expression, tightly linked to HIRA's localization to PML NBs. Inactivation of HIRA does not directly block expression of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) target genes. Instead, an H3.3-independent HIRA function activates SASP through a CCF-cGAS-STING-TBK1-NF-κB pathway. HIRA physically interacts with p62/SQSTM1, an autophagy regulator and negative SASP regulator. HIRA and p62 co-localize in PML NBs, linked to their antagonistic regulation of SASP, with PML NBs controlling their spatial configuration. These results outline a role for HIRA and PML in the regulation of SASP., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Crater lake fishes are common evolutionary model systems, with recent studies suggesting a key role for gene flow in promoting rapid adaptation and speciation. However, the study of these young lakes can be complicated by human-mediated extinctions. Museum genomics approaches integrating genetic data from recently extinct species are, therefore, critical to understanding the complex evolutionary histories of these fragile systems. Here, we examine the evolutionary history of an extinct Southern Hemisphere crater lake endemic, the rainbowfish Melanotaenia eachamensis. We undertook a comprehensive sampling of extant rainbowfish populations of the Atherton Tablelands of Australia alongside historical museum material to understand the evolutionary origins of the extinct crater lake population and the dynamics of gene flow across the ecoregion. The extinct crater lake species is genetically distinct from all other nearby populations due to historic introgression between 2 proximate riverine lineages, similar to other prominent crater lake speciation systems, but this historic gene flow has not been sufficient to induce a species flock. Our results suggest that museum genomics approaches can be successfully combined with extant sampling to unravel complex speciation dynamics involving recently extinct species., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Systematic Biologists.)

The precise regulation of DNA replication is vital for cellular division and genomic integrity. Central to this process is the replication factor C (RFC) complex, encompassing five subunits, which loads proliferating cell nuclear antigen onto DNA to facilitate the recruitment of replication and repair proteins and enhance DNA polymerase processivity. While RFC1's role in cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy, and vestibular areflexia syndrome (CANVAS) is known, the contributions of RFC2-5 subunits on human Mendelian disorders is largely unexplored. Our research links bi-allelic variants in RFC4, encoding a core RFC complex subunit, to an undiagnosed disorder characterized by incoordination and muscle weakness, hearing impairment, and decreased body weight. We discovered across nine affected individuals rare, conserved, predicted pathogenic variants in RFC4, all likely to disrupt the C-terminal domain indispensable for RFC complex formation. Analysis of a previously determined cryo-EM structure of RFC bound to proliferating cell nuclear antigen suggested that the variants disrupt interactions within RFC4 and/or destabilize the RFC complex. Cellular studies using RFC4-deficient HeLa cells and primary fibroblasts demonstrated decreased RFC4 protein, compromised stability of the other RFC complex subunits, and perturbed RFC complex formation. Additionally, functional studies of the RFC4 variants affirmed diminished RFC complex formation, and cell cycle studies suggested perturbation of DNA replication and cell cycle progression. Our integrated approach of combining in silico, structural, cellular, and functional analyses establishes compelling evidence that bi-allelic loss-of-function RFC4 variants contribute to the pathogenesis of this multisystemic disorder. These insights broaden our understanding of the RFC complex and its role in human health and disease., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)