Nearly all bacteria form biofilms as a strategy for survival and persistence. Biofilms are associated with biotic and abiotic surfaces and are composed of aggregates of cells that are encased by a ...self-produced or acquired extracellular matrix. Vibrio cholerae has been studied as a model organism for understanding biofilm formation in environmental pathogens, as it spends much of its life cycle outside of the human host in the aquatic environment. Given the important role of biofilm formation in the V. cholerae life cycle, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process and the signals that trigger biofilm assembly or dispersal have been areas of intense investigation over the past 20 years. In this Review, we discuss V. cholerae surface attachment, various matrix components and the regulatory networks controlling biofilm formation.
There is conflicting evidence on the protective role of breastfeeding in relation to the development of allergic sensitisation and allergic disease. Studies vary in methodology and definition of ...outcomes, which lead to considerable heterogeneity. Human milk composition varies both within and between individuals, which may partially explain conflicting data. It is known that human milk composition is very complex and contains variable levels of immune active molecules, oligosaccharides, metabolites, vitamins and other nutrients and microbial content. Existing evidence suggests that modulation of human breast milk composition has potential for preventing allergic diseases in early life. In this review, we discuss associations between breastfeeding/human milk composition and allergy development.
Universities must better recognize, reward, and support the efforts of researchers who are also excellent and dedicated teachers.
Professors have two primary charges: generate new knowledge and ...educate students. The reward systems at research universities heavily weight efforts of many professors toward research at the expense of teaching, particularly in disciplines supported extensively by extramural funding (
1
). Although education and lifelong learning skills are of utmost importance in our rapidly changing, technologically dependent world (
2
), teaching responsibilities in many STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) disciplines have long had the derogatory label “teaching load” (
3
,
4
). Some institutions even award professors “teaching release” as an acknowledgment of their research accomplishments and success at raising outside research funds.
Antimicrobial resistance is a silent pandemic considered a public health concern worldwide. Strategic therapies are needed to replace antibacterials that are now ineffective. One approach entails the ...use of well-known antibacterials along with adjuvants that possess non-antibiotic properties but can extend the lifespan and enhance the effectiveness of the treatment, while also improving the suppression of resistance. In this regard, a group of uniform materials based on organic salts (GUMBOS) presents an alternative to this problem allowing the combination of antibacterials with adjuvants. Fluoroquinolones are a family of antibacterials used to treat respiratory and urinary tract infections with broad-spectrum activity. Ciprofloxacin and moxifloxacin-based GUMBOS were synthesized via anion exchange reactions with lithium and sodium salts. Structural characterization, thermal stability and octanol/water partition ratios were evaluated. The antibacterial profiles of most GUMBOS were comparable to their cationic counterparts when tested against Gram-positive S. aureus and Gram-negative E. coli, except for deoxycholate anion, which demonstrated the least effective antibacterial activity. Additionally, some GUMBOS were less cytotoxic to L929 fibroblast cells and non-hemolytic to red blood cells. Therefore, these agents exhibit promise as an alternative approach to combining drugs for treating infections caused by resistant bacteria.
Background: Until recently, only two cases of acute adrenal crisis associated with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) had been reported worldwide. We identified four additional cases and sought to survey ...the frequency of this side effect in the United Kingdom. Methods: Questionnaires were sent to all consultant paediatricians and adult endocrinologists registered in a UK medical directory, asking whether they had encountered asthmatic patients with acute adrenal crisis associated with ICS. Those responding positively completed a more detailed questionnaire. Diagnosis was confirmed by symptoms/signs and abnormal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function test results. Results: From an initial 2912 questionnaires, 33 patients met the diagnostic criteria (28 children, five adults). Twenty-three children had acute hypoglycaemia (13 with decreased levels of consciousness or coma; nine with coma and convulsions; one with coma, convulsions and death); five had insidious onset of symptoms. Four adults had insidious onset of symptoms; one had hypoglycaemia and convulsions. Of the 33 patients treated with 500–2000 μg/day ICS, 30 (91%) had received fluticasone, one (3%) fluticasone and budesonide, and two (6%) beclomethasone. Conclusions: The frequency of acute adrenal crisis was greater than expected as the majority of these patients were treated with ICS doses supported by British Guidelines on Asthma Management. Despite being the least prescribed and most recently introduced ICS, fluticasone was associated with 94% of the cases. We therefore advise that the licensed dosage of fluticasone for children, 400 μg/day, should not be exceeded unless the patient is being supervised by a physician with experience in problematic asthma. We would also emphasise that until adrenal function has been assessed patients receiving high dose ICS should not have this therapy abruptly terminated as this could precipitate adrenal crisis.
Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides exhibit strong optical transitions with significant potential for optoelectronic devices. In particular they are suited for cavity quantum ...electrodynamics in which strong coupling leads to polariton formation as a root to realisation of inversionless lasing, polariton condensation and superfluidity. Demonstrations of such strongly correlated phenomena to date have often relied on cryogenic temperatures, high excitation densities and were frequently impaired by strong material disorder. At room-temperature, experiments approaching the strong coupling regime with transition metal dichalcogenides have been reported, but well resolved exciton-polaritons have yet to be achieved. Here we report a study of monolayer WS2 coupled to an open Fabry-Perot cavity at room-temperature, in which polariton eigenstates are unambiguously displayed. In-situ tunability of the cavity length results in a maximal Rabi splitting of ħΩRabi = 70 meV, exceeding the exciton linewidth. Our data are well described by a transfer matrix model appropriate for the large linewidth regime. This work provides a platform towards observing strongly correlated polariton phenomena in compact photonic devices for ambient temperature applications.
•Association between serum 25(OH)D and preterm birth during 3 timepoints was examined.•25(OH)D value closest to delivery more strongly correlated with preterm birth.•Findings most notable in Hispanic ...women.•47% lower preterm birth rate associated with 25(OH)D >100nmol/L at 27 weeks.•Later intervention as rescue therapy may positively impact risk of preterm delivery.
There have been observational reports that maternal vitamin D status at baseline and not closest to delivery is a better predictor of pregnancy outcomes, suggesting that a cascade of events is set into motion that is not modifiable by vitamin D supplementation during later pregnancy. To address this issue, in this exploratory post-hoc analysis using correlation and logistic regression, we sought to measure the strength of the association between serum 25(OH)D concentrations at 3 timepoints during pregnancy: baseline, 1st trimester (<16 weeks); 2nd trimester (16–26 weeks); and 3rd trimester (≥27 weeks) and preterm birth. It was hypothesized that the 25(OH)D value closest to delivery would be most significantly associated with preterm birth. To accomplish this objective, the datasets from NICHD (n=333) and Thrasher Research Fund (n=154) vitamin D supplementation pregnancy studies were combined.
The results of this analysis were that 25(OH)D values closer to delivery were more strongly correlated with gestational age at delivery than earlier values: 1st trimester: r=0.11 (p=0.02); 2nd trimester: r=0.08 (p=0.09); and 3rd trimester: r=0.15 (p=0.001). When logistic regression was performed with preterm birth (<37 weeks) as the outcome and 25(OH)D quartiles as the predictor variable, adjusting for study and participant race/ethnicity, as with the correlation analysis, the measurements closer to delivery were more significantly associated and had a higher magnitude of effect. That is, at baseline, those who had serum concentrations <50nmol/L (20ng/mL) had 3.3 times of odds of a preterm birth compared to those with serum concentrations ≥100nmol/L (40ng/mL; p=0.27). At 2nd trimester, the odds were 2.0 fold (p=0.21) and at the end of pregnancy, the odds were 3.8 fold (p=0.01). The major findings from this exploratory analysis were: (1) maternal vitamin D status closest to delivery date was more significantly associated with preterm birth, suggesting that later intervention as a rescue treatment may positively impact the risk of preterm delivery, and (2) a serum concentration of 100nmol/L (40ng/mL) in the 3rd trimester was associated with a 47% reduction in preterm births.
This article is part of a Special Issue entitled ‘17th Vitamin D Workshop’.
We report the aeolian changes observed in situ by NASA's InSight lander during the first 400 sols of operations: Granule creep, saltation, dust removal, and the formation of dark surface tracks. ...Aeolian changes are infrequent and sporadic. However, on sols, when they do occur, they consistently appear between noon to 3 p.m., and are associated with the passage of convective vortices during periods of high vortex activity. Aeolian changes are more frequent at elevated locations, such as the top surfaces of rocks and lander footpads. InSight observed these changes using, for the first time, simultaneous in‐situ and orbital imaging and high‐frequency meteorological, seismological, and magnetic measurements. Seismometer measurements of ground acceleration constrain the timing and trajectory of convective vortex encounters, linking surface changes to source vortices. Magnetometer measurements show perturbations in magnetic field strength during the passage of convective vortices consistent with charged‐particle motion. Detachment of sand‐scale particles occurs when high background winds and vortex‐induced turbulence provide a peak surface friction wind speed above the classic saltation fluid threshold. However, detachment of dust‐ and granule‐scale particles also occurred when the surface friction wind speed remained below this threshold. This may be explained by local enhancement of the surface roughness and other effects described here and further studied in Part 2 (Baker et al., 2021). The lack of saltation and bright dust‐coated surfaces at the InSight landing site implies surface stability and the onset of particle motion may be suppressed by dust “cushioning.” This differentiates the InSight landing site from other areas on Mars that exhibit more aeolian activity.
Plain Language Summary
Aeolian activity, the movement of dust and sand by the wind, is common on Earth and has been observed on other planets, including Mars. A new Mars lander, InSight, has for the first time monitored aeolian changes by combining imaging with weather, seismic and magnetic field measurements. Sand grains are seen moving along the ground and dust is lifted from both artificial and natural surfaces. We found these changes were rare, but almost always happened in the early afternoon when tornado‐like phenomena, called convective vortices, passed by the lander, sometimes leaving dark surface trails behind. The combination of the background wind speed and the rotational wind speed within a vortex was likely to be high enough to detach particles from the surface and set them into motion. When these vortices passed by the lander, the seismometer detected the ground tilting, and there was a pulse in the magnetic field, indicating charged particles were part of these dust‐clearing events.
Key Points
Aeolian activity at InSight is observed using imaging, meteorological, seismological, and magnetic field measurements for the first time on Mars
Infrequent episodes of creep, dust removal, saltation, and track formation coincide with passage of convective vortices in early afternoon
Paucity of observations of saltation coupled with the bright appearance of dust‐coated surfaces suggests surface stability around InSight
Aim
To evaluate the PAQ® (CeQur SA, Horw, Switzerland), a wearable 3‐day insulin delivery device that provides set basal rates and bolus insulin on demand, in people with Type 2 diabetes.
Method
...Adults with Type 2 diabetes with HbA1c concentrations ≥53 and ≤97 mmol/mol (7.0 and 11.0%) while treated with ≥2 insulin injections/day were enrolled in two single‐arm studies comprising three periods: a baseline (insulin injections), a transition and a PAQ treatment period (12 weeks). Endpoints included HbA1c, seven‐point self‐monitored blood glucose, total daily dose of insulin and body weight. Safety was assessed according to examination, hypoglycaemic episodes and adverse device effects.
Results
A total of 28 adults were enrolled (age 63 ± 7 years, 86% men, BMI 32.3 ± 4.3kg/m2, Type 2 diabetes duration 17 ± 8 years, HbA1c 70 ± 12 mmol/mol (8.6 ± 1.1%), total daily insulin dose 58.7 ± 20.7 U), of whom 24 completed the studies. When transitioned to PAQ, 75% of participants continued on the first basal rate selected. After 12 weeks of PAQ wear, significant improvements from baseline were seen HbA1c –16 ± 9 mmol/mol (95% CI –20, –12) or –1.5 ± 0.9% (95% CI –1.8, –1.1) P<0.0001, and at all seven self‐monitored blood glucose readings time points (P ≤0.03). Total daily insulin dose increased by 12.1 ± 19.5 U (95% CI 3.9, 20.4; P=0.0058), the number of meal time boluses increased by 0.9 ± 1.5/day (95% CI 0.3, 1.5; P=0.0081) and body weight remained stable. Six participants had mild to moderate catheter site reactions and one mild skin irritation occurred. No participant experienced severe hypoglycaemia.
Conclusions
Adults with Type 2 diabetes were safely transitioned from insulin injections to the PAQ and had significantly improved glycaemic control and treatment satisfaction with insulin therapy.
(ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: NCT02158078 & NCT02419859)
What's new?
As Type 2 diabetes mellitus progresses, basal‐bolus insulin is required to achieve glycaemic targets; however, because of barriers associated with multiple daily injections (MDI), many people with Type 2 diabetes do not reach their goal.
Randomized controlled trials evaluating continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) via pumps vs MDI in people with Type 2 diabetes have shown that CSII achieves better glycaemic control and treatment satisfaction scores than MDI, but use is limited because of cost and complexity.
The PAQ, a simple wearable CSII device provides freedom from daily injections.
Results suggest the PAQ device achieves improved glycaemic control and treatment satisfaction scores among people with Type 2 diabetes. The PAQ device may be a viable alternative to MDI.
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