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Leptin is an adipokine hormone secreted primarily from the white adipose tissue and leptin levels are usually elevated in obese individuals. Leptin is known to mediate the relaxation of the uterus in the pregnant mouse by increasing Nitric Oxide (NO) synthesis in late pregnancy. The present study aimed to assess the effect of a pathological concentration of leptin (3 nM) on NO synthesis in the uterus of early pregnant mice and also to evaluate its effect on the transcription of genes responsible for NO synthesis. mRNA expression studies using real-time PCR revealed that leptin (3 nM) increased the relative expression of the inducible Nitric Oxide synthase (iNOS) gene which also resulted in increased NO levels. The results suggest that higher leptin levels during early pregnancy may increase NO levels in the uterus which may result in a net decrease in uterine contractions further leading to complications in pregnancy.

Aminopeptidase P (APP) removes N-terminal amino acids from peptides and proteins when the penultimate residue is proline. To understand the structure-function relationships of aminopeptidase P of Streptomyces lavendulae, a conserved arginine residue was replaced with lysine (R453K) by site-directed mutagenesis. The overexpressed wild and mutant enzymes were of nearly 60 kDa and purified by nickel affinity chromatography. Kinetic analysis of R453K variant using Gly-Pro-pNA as the substrate revealed an increase in Km with a decrease in Vmax, leading to overall decrease in the catalytic efficiency, indicating that the guanidinium group of arginine plays an important role in substrate binding in APP. We constructed three dimensional models for the catalytic domains of wild and mutant enzyme and it revealed an interaction in R453 of native enzyme through hydrogen bonding with the adjacent residues making a substrate binding cavity whereas K453 did not participate in any hydrogen bonding. Hence, R453 in APP of S. lavenduale must be playing a critical role in the hydrolysis of the substrate.

Background: Ralstonia mannitolilytica is an often underrecognized pathogen, that can cause infections in immunocompromised hosts. Indwelling catheters are being increasingly used in cancer patients, R. mannitolilytica has a propensity to form biofilms, and this makes it an important pathogen in catheter-related infections. In this study, we report on an outbreak of Ralstonia septicaemia at our facility. Aim: To characterize an outbreak of Ralstonia infections at a tertiary care facility with a focus on antibiotic sensitivity and added burden on treatment. Design: A retrospective analysis of an outbreak of sepsis attributed to R. mannitolilytica. Methods: We report on nine cases of proven R. mannitolilytica septicaemia in the period from January 2022 to June 2023. Results: Blood cultures were positive in 66.7%, and three had tip cultures positive. 77.8% of the patients required removal of their central venous access, due to hemodynamic compromise and/or persistent fever despite adequate coverage with empirical antibiotics. 85.7% required reinsertion of PICC lines. Eight of the isolates (88.9%) were resistant to Meropenem, and seven were resistant to Piperacilin + Tazobactam (77.8%). Resistance to Ceftazidime was seen in six isolates, Sensitivity to Cefaperazone + Sulbactam, and Levolfloxacin was seen in seven and six patients, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete mitogenome of the cotton leafhopper, Amrasca biguttula biguttula Ishida, 1913, was sequenced and annotated. The mitogenome is 14,474 bp long and contains 37 genes, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, as well as a control region. The nucleotide composition of the mitogenome is as follows: A, 39.17%; T, 39.3%; C, 11.13%; and G, 10.39%. The total length of the 13 PCGs is 10,496 bp, which encodes 3503 amino acids. All PCGs start with the ATG codon, except for ATA, ATC, GTG, and ATT. Most of the PCGs stop with TGA, and the remaining with CCT, GAA, GGT, TCA, CCA, CTA, TTA, AAA, ATT, or ATA. The phylogenetic tree shows that A. biguttula biguttula belongs to Empoascini of the subfamily Typhlocybinae, but is different from other species within the subfamily.

Productivity growth is associated with competitiveness, profitability and sustainability in the construction sector, whereas studies underline that poor supervisory characteristics and training resources are the leading causes of construction productivity loss. This study employs a case study to evaluate the capabilities of construction supervisors to apply planning and management approaches for enhancing the effectiveness of construction operations. A new training programme for construction supervisors was designed using meticulous sequential methods, and 59 construction supervisors were trained and assessed under seven elements of competencies and the relevant learning domains. An assessment guide with varying degrees of descriptions and criteria was accomplished through literature reviews and professional interviews. The study has produced a new generalised guideline that shows the cross-section of what levels of skill/ability can be taken into account in supervisory attributes as a result. Using pertinent statistical evaluations and expert assessments, the reliability of the results, as well as the generalisation of the study’s applications and outcomes, were guaranteed. The study has opened a valve that allows new values of highly practicable supervision features to flow into the site management structures, filling the industry’s knowledge vacuum in the methodical execution of apprenticeships. Though the study’s conclusions/findings are particularly applicable to a developing country's construction environment analogous to the Sri Lankan context, they will have a significant impact on current/future industrial practices in a variety of other countries and rising industries.

Purpose – Sources highlight that insufficient skills of site supervisors considerably influence the progress of many construction projects in numerous countries. This study intends to identify the crucial supervisory competencies that influence the effectiveness of building project operations in the context of developing countries. Design/methodology/approach – The crucial construction site supervisory competencies were qualitatively identified through a comprehensive literature survey and a series of expert interviews with the use of thematic analysis approaches. A questionnaire survey was then carried out among 154 building project firms to quantify the impacts of the competencies on the effectiveness of project tasks with the use of the relative importance index approach. Additionally, industry-consultative meetings were held using problem-focused communication strategies to scrutinise the necessary actions. Findings – Overall, 22 cognitive elements and 24 skills/abilities of supervisors were determined as being critical according to their impact values, where the site supervisors cognitive domains in construction planning and construction materials were determined as the top-ranking competencies in the list, with their manual skills/abilities in labour management and labour performance evaluation. Accordingly, a group of key competency outcomes were produced for the considerations in developing new site supervisory training components. Relevant statistical analysis results and the industry consultative outcomes substantiated the validity and dependability of the overall results. Research limitations/implications – Although the study's focus was to site supervision procedures used in Sri Lankan building construction projects, the overall findings/outcomes might be put to the test in related situations in other emerging industries in other countries. Originality/value – The study has constructed a base that shows how the significant site supervisory competencies influence the effectiveness of building construction operations, contributing to making a big difference in the methods of reskilling/upskilling in the industry associated with construction labour, supervision, efficiency management and productivity enhancement.