The second messenger signaling molecule cyclic diguanylate monophosphate (c-di-GMP) drives the transition between planktonic and biofilm growth in many bacterial species.
has two surface sensing ...systems that produce c-di-GMP in response to surface adherence. Current thinking in the field is that once cells attach to a surface, they uniformly respond by producing c-di-GMP. Here, we describe how the Wsp system generates heterogeneity in surface sensing, resulting in two physiologically distinct subpopulations of cells. One subpopulation has elevated c-di-GMP and produces biofilm matrix, serving as the founders of initial microcolonies. The other subpopulation has low c-di-GMP and engages in surface motility, allowing for exploration of the surface. We also show that this heterogeneity strongly correlates to surface behavior for descendent cells. Together, our results suggest that after surface attachment,
engages in a division of labor that persists across generations, accelerating early biofilm formation and surface exploration.
The maternally inherited endosymbiont Wolbachia is widespread in arthropods and nematodes and can play an important role in the ecology and evolution of its host through reproductive manipulation. ...Here, we survey Wolbachia in Belonocnema treatae, a widely distributed North American cynipid gall forming wasp that exhibits regional host specialization on three species of oaks and alternation of sexually and asexually reproducing generations. We investigated whether patterns of Wolbachia infection and diversity in B. treatae are associated with the insect's geographic distribution, host plant association, life cycle, and mitochondrial evolutionary history.
Screening of 463 individuals from 23 populations including sexual and asexual generations from all three host plants across the southern U.S. showed an average infection rate of 56% with three common Wolbachia strains: wTre1-3 and an additional rare variant wTre4. Phylogenetic analysis based on wsp showed that these strains are unrelated and likely independently inherited. We found no difference in Wolbachia infection frequency among host plant associated populations or between the asexual and sexual generations, or between males and females of the sexual generation. Partially incomplete Wolbachia transmission rates might explain the occurrence of uninfected individuals. A parallel analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene in B. treatae showed high mtDNA haplotype diversity in both infected and uninfected populations suggesting an ancestral infection by Wolbachia as well as a clear split between eastern and western B. treatae mtDNA clades with a sequence divergence of > 6%. The strain wTre1 was present almost exclusively in the western clade while wTre2 and wTre3 occur almost exclusively in eastern populations. In contrast, the same strains co-occur as double-infections in Georgia and triple-infections in two populations in central Florida.
The diversity of Wolbachia across geographically and genetically distinct populations of B. treatae and the co-occurrence of the same strains within three populations highlights the complex infection dynamics in this system. Moreover, the association of distinct Wolbachia strains with mitochondrial haplotypes of its host in populations infected by different Wolbachia strains suggests a potential role of the endosymbiont in reproductive isolation in B. treatae.
Wolbachia bacteria are common endosymbionts of insects and have recently been applied for controlling arboviral vectors, especially Aedes aegypti mosquito populations. However, several medically ...important mosquito species in Sri Lanka were present with limited information for the Wolbachia infection status. Therefore, the screening of Wolbachia in indigenous mosquitoes is required prior to a successful application of Wolbachia-based vector control strategy. In this study, screening of 78 mosquito species collected from various parts of the country revealed that 13 species were positive for Wolbachia infection, giving ~ 17% infection frequency of Wolbachia among the Sri Lankan mosquitoes. Twelve Wolbachia-positive mosquito species were selected for downstream Wolbachia strain genotyping using Multi Locus Sequencing Type (MLST), wsp gene, and 16S rRNA gene-based approaches. Results showed that these Wolbachia strains clustered together with the present Wolbachia phylogeny of world mosquito populations with some variations. Almost 90% of the mosquito populations were infected with supergroup B while the remaining were infected with supergroup A. A new record of Wolbachia supergroup B infection in Ae. aegypti, the main vectors of dengue, was highlighted. This finding was further confirmed by real-time qPCR, revealing Wolbachia density variations between Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus (p = 0.001), and between males and females (p < 0.05). The evidence of natural Wolbachia infections in Ae. aegypti populations in Sri Lanka is an extremely rare incident that has the potential to be used for arboviral vector control.
Mosquitoes are extensively responsible for the transmission of pathogens. Novel strategies using Wolbachia could transform that scenario, since these bacteria manipulate mosquito reproduction, and ...can confer a pathogen transmission-blocking phenotype in culicids. Here, we screened the Wolbachia surface protein region by PCR in eight Cuban mosquito species. We confirmed the natural infections by sequencing and assessed the phylogenetic relationships among the Wolbachia strains detected. We identified four Wolbachia hosts: Aedes albopictus, Culex quinquefasciatus, Mansonia titillans, and Aedes mediovittatus (first report worldwide). Knowledge of Wolbachia strains and their natural hosts is essential for future operationalization of this vector control strategy in Cuba.
This decade witnesses renewed interest in research studies on workplace spirituality (WSP). The present research investigates the relationship between WSP and job satisfaction (JS) with the help of ...two approaches. First, with the help of necessary condition analysis (NCA), it is explored that whether WSP is a necessary condition for the occurrence of JS. Second, the mediation effect of organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB) in association amid WSP and JS is examined using Baron and Kenny’s (1986) technique of mediation analysis. A sample of 194 managers working in insurance companies is collected for the study. The study reports a positive correlation between all three variables of the study. Further, WSP does not come out as a necessary condition for JS. A partial mediation effect of OCB is reported. Practical implications and limitations are also discussed in the article.
(Diptera: Psychodidae) is the main vector of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis.
is a symbiotic alphaproteobacteria of arthropods that can be involved in susceptibility or resistance. This study aimed ...to investigate the relationship between
and Deltamethrin susceptibility/resistance in
. Deltamethrin filter papers (0.00002%) were used to test sand fly field collected from southern Iran. After the test, PCR amplification of the
surface protein gene (wsp) was used to measure
infection rate in the killed, surviving, and control groups.
The rates of infection by
strain (wPap, super group A) differed between killed (susceptible) and surviving (resistant)
specimens. The rate of
infection in susceptible individuals was more than twice (2.3) (39% vs. 17%) in resistant individuals with the same genetic background. This difference was highly significant (
< 0.001), indicating a positive association between
infection and susceptibility to Deltamethrin. In addition, the results showed that Deltamethrin can act as a PCR inhibitor during detection of
in
.
Results of this study show that
is associated with Deltamethrin susceptibility level in
. Also, as Deltamethrin has been identified as a PCR inhibitor, great care must be taken in interpreting
infection status in infected populations. The results of this study may provide information for a better understanding of the host-symbiont relationship, as well as application of host symbiosis in pest management.
Tungsten is currently the main candidate plasma-facing material for future fusion reactors. For large part of the inner surface, the first wall, it is foreseen to be joined to steel-based structural ...components. Tungsten-steel composites and graded layers can serve as joining interlayers to reduce the stress concentration at the interface, originating from the different thermal and mechanical properties of tungsten and steel and temperature excursions. Plasma spraying is among the prospective technologies to fabricate such layers.
In this work, tungsten-steel composites and functionally graded materials (FGMs) were prepared using high power hybrid water-argon plasma spraying system. Argon shrouding was applied to reduce the extent of in-flight oxidation of the molten particles. First, steel and tungsten coatings were prepared at a variety of process parameters and subjected to comprehensive characterization. Based on this, optimized parameters were selected for preparation of the composites and FGMs, and their structure, composition and thermal properties were characterized. Finally, hot isostatic pressing (HIP) was explored as a technique to improve the density and thermal conductivity of the coatings.
•Process optimization for tungsten and steel deposited by argon-shrouded hybrid spraying was performed.•Tungsten-steel composites of various compositions were prepared and characterized, formation of 5-layer FGM was demonstrated.•These coatings may be applicable as stress-relieving interlayers for plasma facing components in fusion devices.
Sotorasib has been approved for the treatment of adult patients with KRAS G12C-mutated locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Due to the limitations of clinical trials, ...potential adverse events (AEs) and long-term safety issues cannot be detected. The presented study aimed to evaluate sotorasib-associated AEs using the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database.
Post-marketing AE reports of sotorasib in the database were collected for analysis. Disproportionality analyses, including the reporting odds ratio (ROR), proportional reporting ratio (PRR), information component (IC) and empirical bayes geometric mean (EBGM) algorithms, were performed to mine the signals of sotorasib-associated AEs. The median duration, quartiles and the Weibull shape parameter (WSP) test were used to assess the onset time data.
The database contained 1538 cases of sotorasib as primary suspect (PS), with 27 signals detected, scattering in 5 SOCs. The SOC of hepatobiliary disorders (182, ROR 4.48, PRR 4.07, IC 2.02, EBGM 4.07) met the four methodological thresholds. The median onset time of sotorasib-associated AEs was 42 days (interquartile range IQR 14–86.75 days). Different SOCs had different types of risk over time.
After obtaining marketing authorization, the study identified all potentially relevant adverse event (AE) signals expected to have a reporting frequency higher than anticipated and characterized them during sotorasib treatment.
Vibration detection in machine health monitoring, perimeter/boundary monitoring, etc., is a subject of great interest in areas such as mechanics of deep-sea fishing or aquaculture boats, military, ...seismic exploration, etc. By resizing a warning sign pile (WSP), and adding a low-reflectivity FBG vibration detector with a sensitive mass fixed at the right position, an FBG-based WSP accelerometer is proposed. The theoretical study of key steps in the sensing of the new accelerometer was carried out by 2D finite element analysis. Experimental results show that the sensor has a natural frequency for about 9.87 Hz; its sensitivity is 144.99 pm/g and 10.68 pm/g in the low (2-90 Hz) and high (90-615 Hz) frequency range, respectively. The FBG-based WSP accelerometer has a wide working frequency range of 90-615 Hz and good repeatability of less than 1.8%. Moreover, its transverse crosstalk, dynamic range, natural frequency and resolution are -28.65 dB, 65.52 dB, 9.87 Hz, and 0.037 g, respectively. Field experiments show that due to its structural advantages, the sensor can detect vibrations coming from all directions. It has a maximum relative error on acceleration measurements via central wavelength shift of 11.9%, and an absolute error of less than 6 pm.
This study provides the first set of quantitative data on the occurrence and fate of a wide range of contaminants of emerging concerns (CECs) in Indonesia’s largest wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). ...The WWTP employs waste stabilization ponds (WSPs) as the secondary treatment before discharging the effluent to the Citarum River. Fourteen out of twenty-two monitored CECs were detected in the wastewater influent, and seven were present in the effluent, with a total concentration of 29.8 ± 0.4 µg/L and 0.5 ± 0.0 µg/L, respectively. The occurrence of the CECs in this study was found to be well correlated with their possible use and known detection in surface waters in Indonesia. Caffeine (CAF) at 12.2 ± 0.1 µg/L, acetaminophen (ACT) at 9.1 ± 0.1 µg/L,
N
,
N
-diethyl-
m
-toluamide (DEET) at 5.0 ± 0.1 µg/L, ibuprofen (IBU) at 2.3 ± 0.0 µg/L, and triclosan (TCS) at 470 ± 64 ng/L were discovered as the five most prevalent CECs, followed by bisphenol A (BPA), trimethoprim (TMP), Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), sulfamethazine (SMZ), carbamazepine (CBZ), fluoxetine (FLX), benzotriazole (BTA), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), and metformin (METF). Biodegradable CECs (SMX, SMZ, ACT, IBU, TCS, BPA, CAF, DEET, and TMP) were efficiently removed (83–100%) by the WSP. In contrast, recalcitrant CECs achieved poor removal efficiencies (e.g., FLX at 24%), and for others, treatment processes even resulted in elevated concentrations in the effluent (CBZ by 85%, TCEP by 149%, and BTA by 92%). The CECs’ influent concentrations were determined to pose a moderate aquatic cumulative risk, while no such risk was associated with their effluent concentrations. The study demonstrates the importance of conventional WWTPs in reducing the concentrations of CECs to minimize their aquatic contamination risk. The findings are relevant for countries, such as Indonesia, with limited resources for advanced centralized wastewater treatments, and which are exploring the efficacy of centralized WSP against the existing decentralized treatments.
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