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In today's business world, digital technologies have become vital for implementing processes in any company, including the healthcare industry. By utilizing the latest technologies to collect, process, analyze, and transmit data through smart devices and IT infrastructure, it is possible to implement trends in medicine as a value approach, personalization, predictability, and participation. Considering these trends, it is necessary to develop a methodology for creating a management system for medical organizations that can comprehensively and interconnectively develop various elements of the system. This includes business process systems, information systems and application architectures, hardware, and "smart" medical equipment that can fully participate in hospital information exchange. These elements should be developed within a single model. An architectural approach can be used to create a model of a medical organization. This paper examines the integration of smart infrastructure in medical organizations, develops requirements for smart infrastructure services, and creates architectural models based on the findings and requirements. Architecture models were developed for the following elements of the Smart Infrastructure: smart wards, wearable devices and telemedicine stands as the most necessary elements in everyday healthcare. The key discovery of the study is the architecture models of the mentioned elements and their integration with the medical organization IT architecture, described in the form of visual models and data exchange tables. The proposed models can be used both for further research or for practical implementation as the reference models to check up and adopt to each individual case. The solutions proposed in the paper give an example of open innovation philosophy, as they are developed on the basis of open information about the innovation activities of various medical organizations, and, at the same, time the results themselves are openly published and open for adaptation by the scientific and practicing medical community. • A framework of an integrated smart infrastructure of a hospital is described. • The framework enables an interaction between medical equipment, IT systems, personnel, and patients. • The integration of Smart ward, wearable devices, telemedicine systems is proposed. • The paper contributes to the implementation of value-based and personalized medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancers contain a suite of genetically stable cells within an extracellular matrix, collectively termed the tumor microenvironment (TME). The TME strongly influences disease outcome for patients. Gleaning clues from the literature, we propose that the TME should be viewed not as disparate populations of cells constituting a pathological lesion, but as a cohesive tissue constituting a novel pathological organ, arising from the coordinated differentiation of its constituent cell types – a process we have termed tumor-associated neodifferentiation (TAND). We also discuss why cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) may assume the role of Organizer of this organ, directing the recruitment and differentiation of cells within the TME. Viewing the microenvironment in this way will reveal new cancer vulnerabilities that may be exploited for therapy. Cancers should be viewed not as an uncoordinated collection of disparate cell types, but as a novel pathological organ whose cells arise from a coordinated, tumor-specific differentiation program. While cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) still defy precise definition, their strong influence on disease outcome is now beyond doubt. As the most numerous genetically normal cell type in the tumor mass, CAFs, given their huge versatility, are well equipped to assume the role of master Organizer in the tumor. We propose that CAFs direct the coordinated differentiation of various cell types in the microenvironment via their diverse secretome and their capacity to produce and remodel the extracellular matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mechanistic understanding of bone fracture is indispensable for developing improved fracture risk assessment in clinics. Since bone is a hierarchically structured material, gaining such knowledge requires analysis at multiple length scales. Here, the tensile response of cortical bone is characterized at the lamellar length scale under dry and hydrated conditions with the aim of investigating the influence of bone's microstructure and hydration on its microscale strength and toughness. For individual lamellae, bone strength strongly correlates with the underlying mineralized collagen fibrils orientation and shows a 2.3-fold increase compared to the macroscale. When specimen size is increased to a few lamellae, the influence of fibril orientation and the size effect on strength are significantly reduced. These findings highlight the critical influence of defects, such as canaliculi and interlamellar interfaces, when assessing larger volumes. Hydration leads up to a 3-fold strength decrease but activates several toughening mechanisms enabling inelastic deformation. In axial specimens, toughening is seen through fibril bridging and crack kinking. In transverse specimens, water presence leads to a progressive but stable crack growth parallel to the fibril orientation, suggesting crack-tip plasticity at the fibrillar interfaces. This work offers a better understanding of the role of interfaces, porosity, and hydration in crack initiation under tensile loading, which is a crucial step towards improved clinical management of disease-related bone fractures through multiscale modeling approaches. Bone features a complex hierarchical structure which gives rise to several toughening mechanisms across several length scales. To better understand bone fracture, particularly the changes associated with age and disease, it is essential to investigate bone mechanical response at different levels of its hierarchical structure. For the first time, we were able to observe the nucleation of a single crack in hydrated bone lamellae under well-controlled uniaxial tensile loading conditions. These experiments highlight the role of water, interfaces, defects, and the ratio of defect to specimen size on bone's apparent strength and toughness. Such knowledge can be used in the future to develop multiscale models enabling improved clinical management of disease-related bone fractures. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibrous biocomposites like bone and tendons exhibit a hierarchical arrangement of their components ranging from the macroscale down to the molecular level. The multiscale complex morphology, together with the correlated orientation of their constituents, contributes significantly to the outstanding mechanical properties of these biomaterials. In this study, a systematic road map is provided to quantify the hierarchical structure of a mineralized turkey leg tendon (MTLT) in a holistic multiscale evaluation by combining micro-Computed Tomography (micro-CT), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). We quantify the interplay of the main MTLT components with respect to highly ordered organic parts such as fibrous collagen integrating inorganic components like hydroxyapatite (HA). The microscale fibrous morphology revealing different types of porous features and their orientation was quantified based on micro-CT investigations. The quantitative analysis of the alignment of collagen fibrils and HA crystallites was established from the streak-like signal in SAXS using the Ruland approach and the broadening of azimuthal profiles of the small and wide-angle diffraction peaks. It has been in general agreement that HA crystallites are co-aligned with the nanostructure of mineralized tissue. However, we observe relatively lower degree of orientation of HA crystallites compared to the collagen fibrils, which supports the recent findings of the structural interrelations within mineralized tissues. The generic multiscale characterization approach of this study is relevant to any hierarchically structured biomaterials or bioinspired materials from the μm-nm-Å scale. Hence, it gives the basis for future structure-property relationship investigations and simulations for a wide range of hierarchically structured materials. Many fibrous biocomposites such as tendon, bone, and wood possess multiscale hierarchical structures, responsible for their exceptional mechanical properties. In this study, the 3-dimensional hierarchical structure, the degree of orientation and composition of mineralized tendon extracted from a turkey leg were quantified using a multimodal X-ray based approach combining small-angle X-ray scattering and wide-angle X-ray diffraction with micro-Computed Tomography. We demonstrate that hydroxyapatite (HA) domains are co-aligned with the nanostructure of mineralized tissue. However, the lower degree of orientation of HA crystallites was observed when compared to the collagen fibrils. The generic multiscale characterization approach of this study is relevant to any hierarchically structured biomaterials or bioinspired materials from the micrometer over the nanometer to the Angström scale level. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Development, calibration, and validation of a method for quantitative collagen fibril orientation estimation based on polarized Raman spectroscopy (qPRS). • Micropillar compression experiments at the length scale of a single bone lamella under hydrated conditions combined with collagen orientation analysis. • Elastic modulus and yield stress were found to be strongly affected by mineralized collagen fibril (MCF) orientation. • Failure modes and post yield behavior of isolated bone lamellae in compression depend on MCF orientation with a transition between softening to hardening behavior at θ = 48 ∘ − 54 ∘. Bone is a natural composite possessing outstanding mechanical properties combined with a lightweight design. The key feature contributing to this unusual combination of properties is the bone hierarchical organization ranging from the nano- to the macro-scale. Bone anisotropic mechanical properties from two orthogonal planes (along and perpendicular to the main bone axis) have already been widely studied. In this work, we demonstrate the dependence of the microscale compressive mechanical properties on the angle between loading direction and the mineralized collagen fibril orientation in the range between 0° and 82°. For this, we calibrated polarized Raman spectroscopy for quantitative collagen fibril orientation determination and validated the method using widely used techniques (small angle X-ray scattering, micro-computed tomography). We then performed compression tests on bovine cortical bone micropillars with known mineralized collagen fibril angles. A strong dependence of the compressive micromechanical properties of bone on the fibril orientation was found with a high degree of anisotropy for both the elastic modulus (E a / E t = 3.80) and the yield stress (σ a y / σ t y = 2.54). Moreover, the post-yield behavior was found to depend on the MCF orientation with a transition between softening to hardening behavior at approximately 50°. The combination of methods described in this work allows to reliably determine structure-property relationships of bone at the microscale, which may be used as a measure of bone quality. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tissue fixation is a prevalent method for bone conservation. Bone biopsies are typically fixed in formalin, dehydrated in ethanol, and infiltrated with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) Since some experiments can only be performed on fixed bone samples, it is essential to understand how fixation affects the measured material properties. The aim of this study was to quantify the influence of tissue fixation on the mechanical properties of cortical ovine bone at the extracellular matrix (ECM) level with state-of-the-art micromechanical techniques. A small section from the middle of the diaphysis of two ovine tibias (3.5 and 5.5 years old) was cut in the middle and polished on each side, resulting in a pair of mirrored surfaces. For each pair, one specimen underwent a fixation protocol involving immersion in formalin, dehydration with ethanol, and infiltration with PMMA. The other specimen (mirrored) was air-dried. Six osteons were selected in both pairs, which could be identified in both specimens. The influence of fixation on the mechanical properties was first analyzed using micropillar compression tests and nanoindentation in dry condition. Additionally, changes in the degree of mineralization were evaluated with Raman spectroscopy in both fixed and native bone ECM. Finally, micro tensile experiments were conducted in the 3.5-year fixed ovine bone ECM and compared to reported properties of unfixed dry ovine bone ECM. Interestingly, we found that tissue fixation does not alter the mechanical properties of ovine cortical bone ECM compared to experiments in dry state. However, animal age increases the degree of mineralization (p = 0.0159) and compressive yield stress (p = 0.041). Tissue fixation appears therefore as a valid conservation technique for investigating the mechanical properties of dehydrated bone ECM. [Display omitted] • Influence of fixation on the mechanical and mineralization properties was examined in dry ovine bone extracellular matrix. • Novel micro mechanical tests were applied to compare the mechanical properties in fixed and native dry ovine bone biopsies. • Mechanical properties of fixed bone were not statistically different compared to native dry bone extracellular matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current clinical methods of bone health assessment depend to a great extent on bone mineral density (BMD) measurements. However, these methods only act as a proxy for bone strength and are often only carried out after the fracture occurs. Besides BMD, composition and tissue-level mechanical properties are expected to affect the whole bone's strength and toughness. While the elastic properties of the bone extracellular matrix (ECM) have been extensively investigated over the past two decades, there is still limited knowledge of the yield properties and their relationship to composition and architecture. In the present study, morphological, compositional and micropillar compression bone data was collected from patients who underwent hip arthroplasty. Femoral neck samples from 42 patients were collected together with anonymous clinical information about age, sex and primary diagnosis (coxarthrosis or hip fracture). The femoral neck cortex from the inferomedial region was analyzed in a site-matched manner using a combination of micromechanical testing (nanoindentation, micropillar compression) together with micro-CT and quantitative polarized Raman spectroscopy for both morphological and compositional characterization. Mechanical properties, as well as the sample-level mineral density, were constant over age. Only compositional properties demonstrate weak dependence on patient age: decreasing mineral to matrix ratio (p = 0.02, R2 = 0.13, 2.6 % per decade) and increasing amide I sub-peak ratio I ∼ 1660 /I ∼ 1683 (p = 0.04, R2 = 0.11, 1.5 % per decade). The patient's sex and diagnosis did not seem to influence investigated bone properties. A clear zonal dependence between interstitial and osteonal cortical zones was observed for compositional and elastic bone properties (p < 0.0001). Site-matched microscale analysis confirmed that all investigated mechanical properties except yield strain demonstrate a positive correlation with the mineral fraction of bone. The output database is the first to integrate the experimentally assessed microscale yield properties, local tissue composition and morphology with the available patient clinical information. The final dataset was used for bone fracture risk prediction in-silico through the principal component analysis and the Naïve Bayes classification algorithm. The analysis showed that the mineral to matrix ratio, indentation hardness and micropillar yield stress are the most relevant parameters for bone fracture risk prediction at 70 % model accuracy (0.71 AUC). Due to the low number of samples, further studies to build a universal fracture prediction algorithm are anticipated with the higher number of patients (N > 200). The proposed classification algorithm together with the output dataset of bone tissue properties can be used for the future comparison of existing methods to evaluate bone quality as well as to form a better understanding of the mechanisms through which bone tissue is affected by aging or disease. [Display omitted] • Multimodal framework for human compact bone characterization at the microscale • First high-throughput micropillar compressions of human cortical bone • Microscale yield and elastic bone properties are nearly constant for 45–89 y.o. patients. • Only compositional properties demonstrate weak dependence on patient age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prenatal screening occupies a prominent role within sociological debates on medical uncertainty. A particular issue concerns the limitations of routine screening which tends to be based on risk prediction. Computer assisted visual technologies such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are now starting to be applied to the prenatal realm to assist in the diagnosis of a range of fetal and maternal disorders (from problems with the fetal brain to the placenta). MRI is often perceived in popular and medical discourse as a technology of certainty and truth. However, little is known about the use of MRI as a tool to confirm or refute the diagnosis of a range of disorders in pregnancy. Drawing on qualitative research with pregnant women attending a fetal medicine clinic in the North of England this paper examines the potential role that MRI can play in mediating pregnancy uncertainty. The paper will argue that MRI can create and manage women's feelings of uncertainty during pregnancy. However, while MRI may not always provide women with unequivocal answers, the detailed information provided by MR images combined with the interpretation and communication skills of the radiologist in many ways enables women to navigate the issue. Our analysis of empirical data therefore highlights the value of this novel technological application for women and their partners. It also seeks to stress the merit of taking a productive approach to the study of diagnostic uncertainty, an approach which recognises the concepts dual nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editors-in-Chief. After a thorough investigation, the Editors have concluded that the acceptance of this article was partly based upon the positive advice of two unreliable reviewer reports. The reports were submitted from email accounts which were provided to the journal as suggested reviewers during the submission of the article. The reviewer accounts did not respond to the journal request to confirm the reviewer identity, and the Editors decided to retract the article. This manipulation of the peer-review process represents a clear violation of the fundamentals of peer review, our publishing policies, and publishing ethics standards. Apologies are offered to the readers of the journal that this deception was not detected during the submission process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel approaches for the production of liquid fuels from biomass are continuing to be explored; these approaches are enabled by the improved properties of advanced biofuels. The production of synthetic biodiesel via catalytic hydrotreating of vegetable oils and other feed with high triglyceride content is among these possibilities. The aim of the study was to hydrotreat rapeseed oil for the production of hydrocarbons in the diesel fuel range. We assessed what proportions of rapeseed oil were converted into n-alkanes through three different reactions (hydrodecarbonylation, hydrodecarboxylation, and hydrodeoxygenation) and what compounds other than n-alkanes were produced from rapeseed oil. The mixture of rapeseed oil and tetralin with a mass ratio of 2:8 was hydrotreated (320–380 °C, 4 MPa, co-current reactor) on a commercial Co–Mo/Al 2 O 3 + SiO 2 hydrotreating catalyst. The proportion of C 17 and C 18 isoalkanes in liquid products increased with increasing reaction temperature from 16 wt.% at 320 °C to 28 wt.% at 380 °C. Hydrodecarboxylation/hydrodecarbonylation dominated over hydrodeoxygenation in the hydrotreating mechanism. This dominance increased with increasing reaction temperature. The products of rapeseed oil conversion suppressed hydrogenation of tetralin into decalin. Therefore, the hydrotreating of a middle petroleum feedstock with a rapeseed oil addition will impair the ability of the Co–Mo/supporter catalyst to reduce content of monoaromatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the feedstock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preclinical studies often require animal models for in vivo experiments. Particularly in dental research, pig species are extensively used due to their anatomical similarity to humans. However, there is a considerable knowledge gap on the multiscale morphological and mechanical properties of the miniature pigs' jawbones, which is crucial for implant studies and a direct comparison to human tissue. In the present work, we demonstrate a multimodal framework to assess the jawbone quantity and quality for a minipig animal model that could be further extended to humans. Three minipig genotypes, commonly used in dental research, were examined: Yucatan, Göttingen, and Sinclair. Three animals per genotype were tested. Cortical bone samples were extracted from the premolar region of the mandible, opposite to the teeth growth. Global morphological, compositional, and mechanical properties were assessed using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) together with Raman spectroscopy and nanoindentation measurements, averaged over the sample area. Local mineral-mechanical relationships were investigated with the site-matched Raman spectroscopy and micropillar compression tests. For this, a novel femtosecond laser ablation protocol was developed, allowing high-throughput micropillar fabrication and testing without exposure to high vacuum. At the global averaged sample level, bone relative mineralization demonstrated a significant difference between the genotypes, which was not observed from the complementary micro-CT measurements. Moreover, bone hardness measured by nanoindentation showed a positive trend with the relative mineralization. For all genotypes, significant differences between the relative mineralization and elastic properties were more pronounced within the osteonal regions of cortical bone. Site-matched micropillar compression and Raman spectroscopy highlighted the differences between the genotypes' yield stress and mineral to matrix ratios. The methods used at the global level (averaged over sample area) could be potentially correlated to the medical tools used to assess jawbone toughness and morphology in clinics. On the other hand, the local analysis methods can be applied to quantify compressive bone mechanical properties and their relationship to bone mineralization. [Display omitted] • A multimodal framework for bone characterization was developed in an animal model that could be further extended to humans. • Jawbone mineralization, morphology, and mechanical properties were assessed in Yucatan, Göttingen and Sinclair minipigs. • A novel femtosecond laser ablation protocol was established for bone micropillar fabrication. • Site-matched micropillar compression and Raman spectroscopy revealed bone microscale structure-properties relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beeswax can be a good structuring agent for edible oleogels. There is controversy about its role in the oleogel oxidation processes. This study investigated the oxidative stability of oleogels and the impact of their composition and texture on this stability. Oleogels were created by structuring sunflower oil with beeswax or combinations of its fractions (6% w/w gelator). Preparative flash chromatography was used to obtain beeswax fractions, which had a diverse composition according to TLC and HPLS-ELSD (hydrocarbons, wax esters, free fatty acids, and alcohols). Different oxidation indices (PV, AV, CDV, TOTOX, volatile organic compounds) of oleogels were evaluated, as well as their textural properties (firmness and Young's modulus) after 20 days of storage at 35 °C. Among the tested samples, unstructured sunflower oil demonstrated the highest oxidative stability. The sample based on hydrocarbons and monoesters was the most stable of the oleogels tested. Hexanal is the most common volatile organic molecule generated during the oxidation of sunflower oil. Oleogels have a more complex profile of volatile compounds, including ketones, alcohols, and terpenes. Beeswax based oleogel's induction period was the shortest. The oxidation rate of oleogels and Young's modulus (r2 = 0.9511, negative), as well as the concentration of free fatty acids (r2 = 0.8195, positive) had a strong correlations. The results show that oleogels structured with beeswax fractions could be beneficial in fat-containing products with improved oxidation resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pneumonectomy remains a high-risk procedure. Comprehensive patient selection should be based on analysis of proven risk factors. Methods: The records of 323 pneumonectomy patients were retrospectively reviewed. Multiple demographic data were collected. End points were operative mortality at 30 and at 90 days, major procedurally related complications, and cardiovascular events. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed. Results: Smoking habits, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) status, induction chemotherapy status, diabetes, and obesity had no statistical influence on short-term outcomes. After right pneumonectomy, 30-day mortality (p = 0.045) and the incidence of bronchopleural fistulas (p = 0.009) were increased. Multivariate analysis for postoperative bronchopleural fistulas discovered that right pneumonectomies are the sole risk factor (p = 0.015). Univariate analysis for postoperative atrial fibrillation showed that male gender, age 70 and older, hypertension, and dyslipidemia are risk factors. Multivariate analysis found no definite risk factor. Patients with coronary artery disease had more postoperative cardiovascular events (p = 0.003). Among patients free of coronary artery disease, COPD led to an increased 90-day mortality rate (p = 0.028). Conclusions: Patients with right pneumonectomies are at increased risk. Postoperative cardiovascular events are more frequent in coronary artery disease patients. COPD is a risk factor in patients free of coronary disease. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Operative management of patients with persistent N2 disease after induction therapy is still debated. Methods: One hundred fifty-three consecutive patients underwent pneumonectomy from January 1999 until July 2005; 28 patients (18.3%) had persistent N2 disease after induction therapy (group 1), 32 patients (20.9%) had pathologic stage N0 or N1 after induction therapy (group 2), and 93 patients (60.8%) with pathologic N2 disease underwent immediate surgery (group 3). Short-term end points were operative mortality at 30 and 90 days and major complications. Long-term end points were 5-year survival and disease-free survival rates. Results: Demographics of the three groups were similar (age, sex, side of operation, type of chemotherapy, smoking status, and comorbidity such as coronary artery disease, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Thirty-day postoperative mortality was 10.7% in group 1, 3.1% in group 2 (p = 0.257), and 4.3% in group 3 (p = 0.201); 90-day postoperative mortality was 10.7% in group 1, 12.5% in group 2 (p = 0.577), and 9.7% in group 3 (p = 0.558). Incidence of major postoperative complications was similar. Five-year survival rate was 32.2% (median, 28 months; 95% confidence interval, 7 to 43) in group 1, 34.8% (median, 27 months; 95% confidence interval, 7 to 47) in group 2 (p = 0.685), and 12.4% (median, 15 months; 95% confidence interval, 11 to 19) in group 3 (p = 0.127). No statistical difference was found in terms of 5-year event-free survival, or regarding the side of pneumonectomy. Conclusions: Our results suggest that pneumonectomy is justified in patients with persistent N2 disease after induction chemotherapy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Receptor-mediated gene transfer using an M cell ligand has been shown to be an efficient method for mucosal DNA immunization. To investigate further into alternative M cell ligands, the plant lectin, Ulex europaeus agglutinin I (UEA-1), was tested. UEA-1 binds to human intestinal Caco-2 cells, and these cells can be transfected with poly-l-lysine (PL)-conjugated UEA-1 for expression of reporter cDNAs. When tested in vivo, mice nasally immunized with UEA-1-PL complexed to plasmid encoding HIV-1 envelope showed elevated systemic and mucosal antibody responses, and these were supported by tissue antibody-forming cells. Likewise, elevated envelope-specific CTLs were induced. Thus, UEA-1 mediated DNA delivery represents an alternative mucosal formulation for inducing humoral and cellular immunity against HIV-1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• This study was conducted among 108 gifted students from South Ural State University (Russia). • Gifted students tend to react to various learning factors in a unique way. • Study results can be used in solving the difficulties of increasing the academic success of gifted students. Many various methods of increasing the effectiveness of teaching gifted students, as well as distinguishing important factors that affect their creativity and academic performance, have been reviewed. However, this research was mainly devoted to investigating the relationship between individualization of learning and students' preliminary orientation and students' creativity. On the example of 108 students, researchers tested the principles of selecting gifted learners, giving the ability to apply these principles in subsequent studies. Between the results of the experimental groups (Group 1 and 2) and the control group (Group 3), a moderate correlation was found. For the theoretical test, the correlation between Group 1 (the most efficient one) and the control group comprised 0.401026. There were no changes in the creativity of the participants as a result of training (according to the CAQ test). A medium correlation was found between the level of creativity in Group 1, to which preliminary orientation was applied, with an increase in the academic results of its participants (above r = 0.4617 for all group participants and above r = 0.582 for 7 of them). It is assumed that preliminary orientation can improve the quality of creativity implementation. Individualization of learning was recognized as a critical factor in improving gifted students' performance, while the preliminary orientation was admitted to be able only to make academic achievements more stable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel hyperthermophilic crenarchaeon, strain 3507LTT, was isolated from a terrestrial hot spring near Tinguiririca volcano, Chile. Cells were non-motile thin, slightly curved filamentous rods. It grew at 73–93 °C and pH range of 5 to 7.5 with an optimum at 85 °C and pH 6.0–6.7. The presence of culture broth filtrate of another hyperthemophilic archaeon as well as yeast extract was obligatory for growth of the novel isolate. Strain 3507LTT is an anaerobic chemoorganoheterotroph, fermenting monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides (lichenan, starch, xanthan gum, xyloglucan, alpha-cellulose and amorphous cellulose). No growth stimulation was detected when nitrate, thiosulfate, selenate or elemental sulfur were added as the electron acceptors. The complete genome of strain 3507LTT consisted of a single circular chromosome with size of 1.63 Mbp. The DNA G+C content was 53.9%. According to the 16S rRNA gene sequence as well as conserved protein sequences phylogenetic analyses, strain 3507LTT together with Thermofilum uzonense formed a separate cluster within a Thermofilaceae family (Thermoproteales / Thermoprotei / Crenarchaeota). Based on phenotypic characteristics, phylogeny as well as AAI comparisons, a novel genus and species Infirmifilum lucidum strain 3507LTT (=VKM B-3376T = KCTC 15797T) gen. nov. sp. nov. was proposed. Its closest relative, Thermofilum uzonense strain 1807–2T should be reclassified as Infirmifilum uzonense strain 1807–2T comb. nov. Finally, based on phylogenomic and comparative genome analyses of representatives of Thermofilaceae family and other representatives of Thermoproteales order, a proposal of transfer of the family Thermofilaceae into a separate order Thermofilales ord. nov. was made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel anaerobic moderately thermophilic bacterium, designated strain 38H-strT, was isolated from a 12 m deep hot spring of the Kunashir Island shore. Gram-negative cells were non-spore-forming, motile, straight or curved filamentous rods, occasionally forming loops and knots. The strain grew at 20–65 °C and pH range of 4.0–9.0 with an optimum at 50 °C and pH 6.5–7.0. Strain 38H-strT required 0.5–2.5% NaCl (1.5% is an optimum) for growth. It was a chemoorganoheterotroph, growing on carbohydrates (starch, pullulan, alginate, laminarin, beta-glucan) or peptide mixtures and proteins (peptone, tryptone, gelatin, and α- or β- keratins). Major products of glucose fermentation were acetate, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide. Major cellular fatty acids were iso- and anteiso-C 15:0. Phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified phospholipid, and three unidentified polar lipids were detected in cellular lipids fractions. The quinone was MK-7. The size of complete genome of strain 38H-strT was 3.2 Mb; DNA G+C content was 38.3 mol%. According to 16S rRNA gene sequence and conserved protein sequences phylogenies, strain 38H-strT represented a deeply branched lineage near the root of the class Bacteroidia. Based on phylogenetic analysis and phenotypic features the novel isolate was assigned to a novel family within the order Bacteroidales for which the name Tenuifilaceae fam. nov. is proposed. Strain 38H-strT (=DSM 100343T =VKM B-2964T) represents the first genus and species Tenuifilum thalassicum gen. nov., sp. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to grow by anaerobic CO oxidation with production of H 2 from water is known for some thermophilic bacteria, most of which belong to Firmicutes , as well as for a few hyperthermophilic Euryarchaeota isolated from deep-sea hydrothermal habitats. A hyperthermophilic, neutrophilic, anaerobic filamentous archaeon strain 1505 = VKM B-3180 = KCTC 15798 was isolated from a terrestrial hot spring in Kamchatka (Russia) in the presence of 30% CO in the gas phase. Strain 1505 could grow lithotrophically using carbon monoxide as the energy source with the production of hydrogen according to the equation CO + H 2 O → CO 2 + H 2 ; mixotrophically on CO plus glucose; and organotrophically on peptone, yeast extract, glucose, sucrose, or Avicel. The genome of strain 1505 was sequenced and assembled into a single chromosome. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and in silico genome-genome hybridization, this organism was shown to be closely related to the Thermofilum adornatum species. In the genome of Thermofilum sp. strain 1505, a gene cluster (TCARB_0867-TCARB_0879) was found that included genes of anaerobic (Ni,Fe-containing) carbon monoxide dehydrogenase and genes of energy-converting hydrogenase ([Ni,Fe]-CODH–ECH gene cluster). Compared to the [Ni,Fe]-CODH–ECH gene clusters occurring in the sequenced genomes of other H 2 -producing carboxydotrophs, the [Ni,Fe]-CODH–ECH gene cluster of Thermofilum sp. strain 1505 presented a novel type of gene organization. The results of the study provided the first evidence of anaerobic CO oxidation coupled with H 2 production performed by a crenarchaeon, as well as the first documented case of lithotrophic growth of a Thermofilaceae representative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report here a draft genome sequence of Megasphaera sp. ASD88, a strain from the intestinal microbiota of a child with autism spectrum disorder, representing a previously undescribed species of the genus Megasphaera. The assembled sequence consists of 88 scaffolds, and the total size is 2.59 Mb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]