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Cryptococcosis is a fatal infection that can affect both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients, and it is little understood in China's various regions. This research aimed to look at the epidemiology, risk factors, and antifungal susceptibility pattern of Cryptococcus neoformans in eastern Guangdong, China.Methods: A six-year (2016– 2022) retrospective study was conducted at Meizhou People's Hospital, China. Demographical, clinical, and laboratory data of cryptococcal patients were collected from hospital records and statistically analyzed using the chi-square and ANOVA tests.Results: Overall, 170 cryptococcal infections were recorded, of which meningitis accounted for 78 (45.88%), cryptococcemia for 50 (29.41%), and pneumonia for 42 (24.7%). The number of cases increased 8-fold during the study duration. The median age of patients was 58 years (Inter quartile range: 47– 66), and the high proportion of cases was from the male population (n = 121, 71.17%). The underlying diseases were identified only in 60 (35.29%) patients, of which 26 (15.29%) were severely immunocompromised, and 26 (15.29%) others were mildly immunocompromised. A statistically significant difference was reported for chronic renal failure, and anemia (p < 0.05) persisted in cases of three infection types. A high number of non-wild type (NWT) isolates were found against amphotericin B (n=13/145, 8.96%), followed by itraconazole (n=7/136, 5.15%) and voriconazole (n=4/158, 2.53%). Only six isolates (3.79%) were multidrug-resistant, four of which were from cryptococcemia patients. Compared to meningitis and pneumonia, cryptococcemia revealed a higher percentage of NWT isolates (p < 0.05).Conclusion: In high-risk populations, cryptococcal infections require ongoing monitoring and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of pathogens is conferring resistance to last-resort therapies such as tigecycline, colistin, and carbapenems, limiting the therapeutic options, and raising concerns about the emergence of new "superbugs." This study reports the first incident of a blaNDM􀀀5 and tet(X4) co-harboring Escherichia coli with resistance to carbapenem and tigecycline recovered as the causative agent of a urinary tract infection in a 94-year-old patient. The E. coli strain ECCL209 carries multiple resistance genes [i.e., blaTEM􀀀1B, blaNDM􀀀5, blaCMY􀀀2, aadA22, florR, erm(B), mph(A), erm(42), lnuG, qnrS1, and sul2] and exhibits resistance to almost all clinically used antibiotics. MLST analysis found that the strain belongs to ST648, considered a worldwide highrisk pandemic clone. Moreover, multiple plasmid incompatibility types were detected, i.e., IncHI1A, IncHI1B, IncFII, IncFIA, IncFIB, IncQ1, Col, and IncX4. Genetic analysis revealed that blaNDM􀀀5 and tet(X4) genes were localized on two hybrid plasmids with multiple replicons. Continuous monitoring studies are suggested to quantify the antimicrobial resistance and assess the dissemination of such superbugs into a human healthcare setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strategic interdependence between China and Pakistan increased in the post‐9/11 period due to various regional and international developments. The strategic partnership between the two states which was evolved in 1960s due to Indian factor has now been transformed especially in the post‐Cold period where new factors have been added in their relationship. Some of the factors identified in this study include enhancement of the strategic value of these states for each other especially closer collaboration in the defense and security, Cooperation in regional connectivity, cooperation in the regional organizations, mutual consensus on core political issues of Kashmir and Taiwan and China's support to Pakistan stance on the India's membership of Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG). China‐Pakistan strategic cooperation has raised concerns in India which on its part is devising counter‐strategies. Although, the study is qualitative and based on content analysis, but at the same time it is empirical as it also explains the correlations between independent and dependent variable i.e China‐Pakistan strategic cooperation versus India's counter‐strategies. In this backdrop, the main argument of the study is that the strategic partnership between China and Pakistan is not just India centric but in the post‐Cold War period several other factors have been added and one of the prominent factor is the construction of CPEC. The study moreover finds out that these new developments in China‐Pakistan strategic partnership have implications for India due to India's unresolved border issues with both Pakistan and China. The study is significant in terms of its relevance to policy makers, politicians, academia, and think tanks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently among modern molecular tools, novel DNA barcode approach has gained significant importance for the accurate identification of animal species. However, still much remains unknown about the utility of DNA barcodes for plant species identification. To fill this research and knowledge gap, a study was designed to determine the efficacy of plant-based DNA barcodes for identification of spinach cultivars. In land plants, standard DNA barcode markers are Maturase K (matK) and RNA polymerase subunit beta' (rpoC1). Data for DNA barcoding of local spinach species were established based on matK and rpoC1 barcode using the modest taxonomic range. The results pertaining to the nucleotide sequence of matK markers from spinach exhibited maximum homology with sugar beet (Accession ID: HM850762) from Portugal, whereas rpoC1 sequence showed homology with two different plant species from China i.e., Spinach (Accession ID: AJ400848) and sugar beet (Accession id: EF534108). Our results demonstrate the promising potential of chloroplast marker genes as an effective and viable tool for species identification for spinach cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The coexistence of mobile colistin (COL)-resistant gene mcr-1 with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) gene in Escherichia coli has become a serious threat globally. The aim of this study was to investigate the increasing resistance to COL and in particular its coexistence with ESBL-producing E. coli recovered from pig farms in China. Materials and methods: E. coli were isolated from 14 pig farms in Jiangsu China. Susceptibility testing was identified by micro-dilution method. PCR assay and nucleotide sequencing were used to detect COL-resistant genes, mcr-1 to −5, as well as ESBL genes, blaCTX-M, blaSHV and blaTEM. Conjugation experiment, plasmid replicon typing of the multidrug resistance (MDR), S1-PFGE and DNA southern hybridization were performed to study the transferability of these genes. Results: Overall, 275 E. coli isolates were recovered from a total of 432 cloacal and nasal swabs. More than 90% of the isolates were MDR, of which 70.18% were resistant to COL. Of these 275 isolates, mcr-1 was identified as the most predominant gene carried by 71.63% (197/275) of isolates, 39.59% (78/197) of the isolates were harboring both mcr-1 and ESBL genes (blaCTX-M,blaSHV and blaTEM). ESBL genotyping showed that blaCTX-M was the most predominant ESBL (68.49%) followed by blaSHV (16.4%) and blaTEM (15%). Sequencing revealed that the most common variants of blaCTX-M identified were, blaCTX-M-15 (69%), blaCTX-M-55 (29%) and blaCTX-M-1 (1.8%). IncHI2, IncFIB, IncFIC, IncN and IncX4 were found to be the most common Inc-types found both in donors and in transconjugants and were associated with the transfer of the mcr-1 and ESBL encoding genes. Six strains carried a total of five different plasmids: approximately 97-, 130-, 160-, 227- and 242-kb plasmids. Conclusion: The coexistence of the mcr-1- and blaCTX-M-15-carrying isolates displaying high MDR, recovered from E. coli of pig origin, is a major concern for both humans and veterinary medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Escherichia coli is a complex process linked with various mobile genetic elements (MGEs) like plasmids, transposons, and integrons. This study aimed to determine the co-occurrence of ESBL and mcr-1 and their physical linkage with MGEs in E. coli. E. coli strains of chicken origin were obtained from different commercial farms of eastern China from 2010 to 2011. Antimicrobial sensitivity testing, identification of different antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs), and prevalence and evidence involvement of integrons, IS Ecp1 , IS CR1 , and IS Apl1, were determined. A multiplex PCR was used to detect virulence genes and the phylogenetic clustering of isolates. Conjugation experiments, plasmid replicon typing were performed to know the transferability of ARGs and MGEs. A total of 83.33% of isolates were found to be multidrug-resistant (MDR). The incidence rate of bla CTX-M , bla SHV, bla TEM, and mcr-1 was found to be 30%, 10.95%, 8.09%, and 36.66%, respectively. The most prevalent combination was noticed for mcr-1 and bla CTX-M 73%, whereas the most prominent bla CTX-M alleles found, were bla CTX-M-55 46%, followed by bla CTX-M-14 31%, and bla CTX-M-15 13%. The frequency of IS Ecp1 , IS CR1, IS Apl1 , and int1 was 27.77%, 53.70%, 51.85%, and 70.37% respectively. Most β-lactamases, especially bla CTX-M , bla SHV , and bla TEM , were associated with IS Ecp1 , IS CR1 , and Integron 1, whereas the IS APl1-mcr-1 segment was observed in mcr-1- positive E. coli isolates. Phylogrouping revealed that group A was the most predominant phylotype, whereas the common virulence genes detected in these isolates were EHEC, EAEC, and EPEC. Conjugation assay also indicated that multiple genetic elements were involved; common plasmids identified were FIB 61.11%, followed by IncHI2 48.14%, and FrepB 33.33%. Propagation of such MDR strains carrying multiple resistance elements among the bacterial population is a threat of worry. • AMR in Escherichia coli is a complex process linked with various mobile genetic elements (MGEs). • Co-occurrence of ESBL and mcr-1 and their physical linkage with MGEs in E. coli. • β-lactamases, especially bla CTX-M , bla SHV , and bla TEM , were associated with ISE cp 1, IS CR1 , and Integron 1. • Whereas the IS APl1-mcr-1 segment was observed in mcr-1- positive E. coli isolates. • The common virulence genes detected in these isolates were EHEC, EAEC, and EPEC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The alarming impact of climate change and environmental pollutants has increased the focus of policymakers and think tanks' focus on formulating environmental regulations. Environmental regulations may reduce emissions directly and indirectly, as postulated by the famous Porter Hypothesis. It shows that environmental regulation may enhance pollution-reducing innovation by reducing agency costs while at the same time increasing firms' private benefit. The study is designed to investigate environmental regulations' direct and indirect impact on CO2 and GHG emissions using innovations as mediation factors. The study employs a structural equation method using data on G7 economies from 1990 to 2020 to test the relationship between regulations, innovations, and pollution. The study findings confirm that environmental regulations help reduce emissions directly. Our findings also confirm the Porter hypothesis whereby regulations encourage innovations and result in reduced emissions through this indirect channel. The study findings have significant implications for controlling pollution through placing environmental regulations and encouraging innovations., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Aims: Sodium propionate (SP) has been reported to possess an anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic potential by inhibiting certain signaling pathways and helps in reducing the pathological damages of the mammary gland. However, the effects of sodium propionate on attenuating Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory condition and cell damage in bovine mammary epithelial cells (bMECs) are not comprehensively studied yet. Therefore, the aim of the current investigation was to evaluate the protective effects of sodium propionate on LPS-induced inflammatory conditions and to clarify the possible underlying molecular mechanism in bMECs., Main Methods: The effects of increasing doses of SP on LPS-induced inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis was studied in vitro. Furthermore, the underlying protective mechanisms of SP on LPS-stimulated bMECs was investigated under different experimental conditions., Key Findings: The results reveled that increased inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and those of tight junction's mRNA expression was significantly attenuated dose-dependently by propionate. Biochemical analysis revealed that propionate pretreatment modulated the LPS-induced intercellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, oxidative and antioxidant factors and apoptosis rate. Furthermore, we investigated that the LPS activated nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB), caspase/Bax apoptotic pathways and Histone deacetylases (HDAC) was significantly attenuated by propionate in bMECs., Significance: Our results suggest that sodium propionate is a potent agent for ameliorating LPS-mediated cellular disruption and limiting detrimental inflammatory responses, partly via maintaining blood milk barrier integrity, inhibiting HDAC activity and NF-kB signaling pathway., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Nitrogen oxide (NO x ) abatement has become the focus of air quality management strategies. In this study, we examined NO x sources and the atmospheric conversion of NO x in Karachi, Pakistan, a megacity in South Asia with serious particulate pollution problems. Oceanic contributions to NO x were quantified for the first time based on a novel approach using nitrogen/oxygen isotopic analysis in nitrate (δ 15 N-NO 3 - ; δ 18 O-NO 3 - ) and a Bayesian model. Our results showed that δ 15 N-NO 3 - in Karachi varied between -10.2‰ and +12.4‰. As indicated by the δ 18 O-NO 3 - findings (+66.2 ± 7.8‰), the •OH pathway dominated NO x conversion throughout the nearly two-year observation, but high NO 3 - events were attributed to the O 3 pathway. Coal combustion was the most significant source (32.0 ± 9.8%) of NO x in Karachi, with higher contributions in the autumn and winter; a similar situation occurred for biomass burning + lightning (30.3 ± 6.5%). However, mobile sources (25.2 ± 6.4%) and microbial processes (12.5 ± 7.5%) exhibited opposite seasonal trends. The oceanic contributions to NO x in Karachi were estimated to be 16.8%, of which lightning, shipping emissions, and microbial processes accounted for 20.3%, 46.3%, and 33.4%, respectively, emphasizing the dominance of shipping emissions as an oceanic NO x source.