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Assessing the mutagenicity of chemicals is an essential task in the drug development process. Usually, databases and other structured sources for AMES mutagenicity exist, which have been carefully and laboriously curated from scientific publications. As knowledge accumulates over time, updating these databases is always an overhead and impractical. In this paper, we first propose the problem of predicting the mutagenicity of chemicals from textual information in scientific publications. More simply, given a chemical and evidence in the natural language form from publications where the mutagenicity of the chemical is described, the goal of the model/algorithm is to predict if it is potentially mutagenic or not. For this, we first construct a golden standard data set and then propose MutaPredBERT, a prediction model fine-tuned on BioLinkBERT based on a question-answering formulation of the problem. We leverage transfer learning and use the help of large transformer-based models to achieve a Macro F1 score of >0.88 even with relatively small data for fine-tuning. Our work establishes the utility of large language models for the construction of structured sources of knowledge bases directly from scientific publications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Torrey Peters' debut novel Detransition, Baby from 2021, a Women's Prize for Fiction nominee, problematizes gender norms by telling the story of three main characters: Reese, a trans woman, Ames, who de-transitioned to live as a man again, and Katrina, a Chinese and Jewish cis woman who is also Ames' lover and boss. Ames and Katrina are expecting a child and are testing the possibilities of having a non-conventional family together with Reese. Parenthood is, thus, the central theme of the novel which structures also the sections of book into the time before the conception and the weeks after it. By doing so, the temporal framework of the novel queers the linearity of heteronormative life courses on the form as well as the content level. Therefore, the interplay of form and content invites to critically investigate how the concept of trans time that challenges linearity and normative conformity (Halberstam, 2005) may provide useful insights into trans aging and the life course through this literary representation. Following, contemporary feminist theorists' commitments to negotiate what makes "life more livable for those whose gender presentation, identity, or bodily experience have been judged abnormal, nonexistent, or impossible" (Karhu, 2022, 304–305), this paper aims at carrying out a critical feminist literary analysis of trans aging, queer life courses and the thereof related gendered norms in Peters' novel. By relying predominantly on feminist poststructuralist theories (Butler 2004) and cultural aging studies (Maierhofer, 2019), it is the aim to challenge normativity and limited social norms through this critical literary reading. • Analysis of representation of trans aging in Peters' Detransition, Baby (2021) • Trans aging and the life course as a juxtaposition of conformity and queer temporalities • cultural ideals of trans gender as having no future • queer temporalities and trans time as useful discursive tools to challenge capitalist notions of the life course [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus aureus (SA) plays a significant role in numerous serious life-threatening infections that present a major challenge to public health in controlling it, especially those resistant to methicillin (MR) known as (MRSA). These pathogens have resistance to other classes of antimicrobial agents including aminoglycoside molecules which mostly resist it through three types of medically significant enzymes: APH (3')-III, ANT (4')-I and (6')/APH(2"). In this paper, seventy-two MRAS were isolated from different lesions from Al-Diwaniya teaching hospital, and Maternity and Children teaching hospital, during the period from January to July 2018. Disc diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC), and bactericidal (MBC) were carried out to MRAS strains subjected to phenotype and genotype identification as well as to detect AMEs genes. Susceptibility of 29 drugs of MRAS strains was: 100% susceptible to vancomycin and chloramphenicol, but 100% resistant to penicillin, cefoxitin, ceftriaxone, aztreonam, and nitrofurantoin. Thus, a (72.2%) of MRAS were found to be either MDR or XDR including 20 aminoglycoside resistant (AR) strains. Multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index of a total of 20(100%)AR strains were recorded high values>0.2 ranged(0.48-0.83) from the maximum MAR index:1. Moreover, MIC and MBC values of vancomycin, for S. aureus, ranged from 2 μ g/mL t o 8 μ g/mL. P henotype r esistance o f M RSA strains to aminoglycoside molecules was: kanamycin 20(27.8%)tobramycin 18(25%); gentamicin 16(22.2%);amikacin 14(19.4%); and netilmicin 8(11.1%). PCR analysis led to all 100% MRSA caring for the mecA gene. Frequency of genes encoding aminoglycosides resistance aac(6')/aph (2");80%, aph (3')-IIIa;45%, and ant (4')-Ia; 35%. The aac(6')/aph (2") and ant (4')-Ia genes was the only determinant of resistance in 5 and 1 strains respectively. Correlation between MRSA-AR strains and AMEs genes was 90%. In conclusion, MRSA strains harbouring the mecA gene are currently widely distributed in the Al-Diwaniya governorate. Co-production with AMEs may increase the risk of the spreading of multiple drug resistance clinical strains in communities and hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper was to provide a comprehensive toxicological and safety evaluation of a yeast cell wall preparation (YCWP) for use as an animal feed ingredient. The following toxicological assessments were carried out: the mutagenic activity was tested using the Ames' Test in five Salmonella typhimurium strains; clastogenic activity was investigated using the mammalian micronucleus test in Swiss ICO OF1 (IOPS Caw) mice; genotoxic activity was assessed using the in vitro mammalian chromosomal aberration test in human lymphocytes; acute oral toxicity was tested by administration of a single dose of 2000 mg/kg BW. Eye and skin irritation were assessed in rabbits according to OECD guidelines; skin sensitivity was established in guinea pigs by means of the Buehler test, while acute dermal and inhalation studies in rats were further completed, also according to OECD guidelines. All conducted tests were considered valid under the experimental conditions. No significant mutagenic activity or genotoxic activity was observed, and it was concluded that the test article did not induce any clastogenic effect. YCWP was found to be mildly irritating to the eye, slightly irritating to the skin but was found to be non-sensitizing in the guinea pig. The acute oral, dermal and inhalation studies did not yield any evidence of gross toxicity or pharmacological effects. • Ames' test showed no mutagenic activity. • Micronucleus test detected no clastogenic activity. • Metaphase analysis demonstrated no genotoxicity. • No adverse effects observed in acute oral, dermal and inhalation studies. • Found to be mildly irritating to the eye, slightly irritating to skin but non-skin-sensitizing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of biofuel is one method for limiting the harmful impact of diesel engines on the environment. It is also a way of gradually becoming less dependent on the depleting petroleum resources. New resources for producing biodiesel are currently being sought. The authors produced esters from animal fat waste, obtaining a fuel that can power diesel engines and identifying a way to utilise unnecessary waste. The animal fat methyl ester (AME) was produced using a reactor constructed for non-industrial ester production. The aim underlying this paper was to determine whether a diesel engine can be fuelled with AME biodiesel and to test this fuel's impact on exhaust gas composition and fuel consumption. Fuelling a Perkins 1104D-44TA engine with AME biodiesel led to a reduction in the smoke opacity of the exhaust gas as well as in carbohydrate, particulate matter, and carbon monoxide concentrations. The carbon dioxide concentrations were similar for biodiesel and diesel fuel. Slight increases in nitrogen oxides concentrations and brake-specific fuel consumption were found for AMEs. An engine can be fuelled with AME biodiesel, but it is necessary to improve its low-temperature properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]