Search Results (1,316)

Distant Retrograde Orbits (DROs) and Near-Rectilinear Halo Orbits (NRHOs), as categories of Lagrange orbits, have been selected for the construction of future deep-space navigation constellations in the Earth-Moon space due to their unique orbital trajectories and dynamical characteristics. To obtain high-precision orbit and clock solutions, the orbit determination (OD) and time synchronization (TS) performance of DRO and NRHO based on Beidou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) L-band and Ka-band signals were analyzed. Considering the constraints of onboard resources and cost, it may be infeasible to establish Ka-band links with all BDS satellites. Therefore, multiple experiments with different link configuration schemes were designed. The results show that an orbit determination accuracy of about 500 m and the time synchronization accuracy of 50 ns can be achieved using only L-band observations. In contrast, much higher accuracy can be obtained with full Ka-band links, with orbit and clock accuracy reaching 80 m and 7 ns, respectively. Moreover, higher orbit and clock accuracies can be obtained with more Ka-band links based on L-band observations. Furthermore, with the addition of the DRO-NRHO links, the orbit determination and time synchronization performance of each scheme was further improved by 15%. And the orbit determination accuracy can be better than 65 m, while the time synchronization accuracy can be better than 5 ns. Although the analysis is based on BDS signals, the proposed framework is general in nature and can be extended to other GNSS-based or future space navigation systems, providing a reference for the design of high-precision cislunar navigation and timing architectures. Full article

Heat transport in heterogeneous materials can deviate markedly from classical Fourier behavior when microstructural disorder, trapping effects, nonlinear mobility, and long-range temporal correlations interact across multiple spatial and temporal scales. These mechanisms may produce delayed relaxation, persistent thermal footprints, front deformation, and non-classical spreading patterns that are not adequately represented by conventional integer-order diffusion models. In this study, a modeling and simulation framework is developed for anomalous heat transport in heterogeneous media using a two-dimensional time-fractional porous medium equation. The model combines a Caputo fractional time derivative, which represents thermal memory, with nonlinear degenerate porous-medium diffusion, spatially heterogeneous conductivity, localized volumetric heating, and Robin-type convective boundary exchange. A conservative fully discrete numerical scheme is constructed using flux-based finite differences for the heterogeneous nonlinear diffusion operator and an $L1$ approximation for the Caputo derivative. The nonlinear algebraic system at each time level is solved using an under-relaxed Picard frozen-coefficient iteration with non-negativity enforcement and sparse direct solution of the resulting linear systems. The numerical implementation is verified through a manufactured-solution convergence study, and additional analyses are performed to examine computational cost, Picard iteration behavior, coefficient-regularization sensitivity, strong-source effects, heterogeneous conductivity structures, and long-time thermal-footprint persistence. The results show that heterogeneous conductivity mainly redirects heat through preferential pathways and enlarges the spatial footprint while producing negligible changes in global heat content. Stronger fractional memory, represented by smaller fractional order, increases the persistence and spatial reach of moderate heating, whereas larger porous-medium exponents confine heat near the source and preserve higher local peaks. Source amplitude increases the thermal burden and footprint monotonically over the tested range, including strong forcing, without producing an abrupt localization-spreading transition. Boundary exchange remains secondary in the short-time interior-heating regime considered. These findings demonstrate that the proposed two-dimensional time-fractional porous medium framework provides a verified and physically interpretable model for non-Fourier heat transport in heterogeneous materials, where local intensity, global heat retention, and spatial thermal exposure must be assessed jointly. Full article

The seedling production stage of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is crucial for crop success, as it determines the initial quality of the plants. The use of seeds with rapid and uniform germination is essential to ensure proper seedling establishment. Among sustainable alternatives for water management, irrigation with ozonated water stands out due to its disinfectant potential and its ability to stimulate plant physiology. This study evaluated the effects of irrigation with ozonated water on the production and development of lettuce seedlings. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design (CRD) arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial scheme, with four replications. Two lettuce cultivars were tested: one with smooth leaves and another with crisp leaves. The variables analyzed included germination parameters (final percentage, germination index and mean germination rate, uniformity, and time to reach 10, 50, and 90% germination), as well as initial growth parameters (total height, shoot and root height, and dry matter content). Analyses were performed on 20 seedlings per cultivar. Irrigation with ozonated water promoted significant growth (p < 0.05) of the shoot and root growth, with increases of 16.90 and 4.99% for the smooth-leaf cultivar, and 24.27 and 9.26% for the crisp-leaf cultivar, compared to the control. Ozone application did not alter the microbiological, physical, or chemical parameters of the water. These growth-promoting effects are likely associated with increased oxygenation of the root zone, enhanced oxidation of organic matter in the substrate, and improved nutrient availability promoted by ozone-derived radicals, which may also optimise root respiration and reduce pathogenic pressure. The applied concentration of 5 mg L⁻¹ O₃ over a 25-day seedling production cycle proved effective and did not cause phytotoxic effects. Irrigation with ozonated water is an efficient and environmentally safe alternative for producing vigorous lettuce seedlings. Full article

This paper proposes a novel hybrid numerical scheme that augments the classical L1 finite-difference approximation of the Caputo fractional derivative of order $\alpha \in (0,1]$ with a selective shifted Grünwald–Letnikov correction (controlled by a shift parameter $\beta \in [0,1)$) applied only to the most recent time increment. When $\beta =0$, the scheme reduces exactly to the classical L1 scheme and retains its optimal convergence rate $O\left(h^{2-\alpha }\right)$, where h denotes the uniform time-step size. For $\beta >0$ (optimally chosen as $\beta =1-\alpha /2$), extra numerical damping is introduced at the cost of a mildly reduced convergence order $O\left(h^{1-\alpha }\right)$, while long-term stability is significantly improved. The scheme is applied to the fractional Kelvin-Voigt and Standard Linear Solid models to analyze creep and relaxation responses. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the proposed hybrid scheme achieves improved accuracy, long-term stability, and computational efficiency compared to classical integer-order models and several existing fractional schemes reported in the recent literature. Results show that fractional orders capture anomalous creep behavior more accurately, aligning with experimental data from recent studies. The proposed method offers improved computational performance for real-time structural health monitoring applications. Full article

This paper investigates the problems of anti-synchronization for a class of inertial neural networks (INNs) with time-varying delays under the influence of deception attacks and hybrid triggered control. A novel dynamic hybrid-triggered control (DHTC) scheme is developed to utilize communication resources and enhance network security efficiently for the model INNs. By integrating the extended dissipative approach with Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional (LKF) techniques, new sufficient conditions are established to ensure the quadratic stability of the resulting closed-loop system. The proposed framework not only unifies the anti-synchronization problems but also extends classical passivity, (Q, S, R)-dissipative, $H_{\infty }$, and $L_2-L_{\infty }$ results as special cases. Moreover, the DHTC mechanism dynamically switches between time-triggered and event-triggered modes, reducing unnecessary signal transmissions while maintaining system stability against deception attacks. Finally, simulation results on delayed INNs demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed theoretical and control strategy. Full article

Time-fractional diffusion equations (TFDEs) are essential for modeling anomalous transport in heterogeneous media, but high-fidelity long-time simulations face two bottlenecks: the $O\left(N^2\right)$ complexity of non-local fractional derivatives, and the spatial truncation error of polynomial-based finite element methods (FEMs) when resolving oscillatory plumes or singular sources. We propose a framework combining a C-Bézier FEM for spatial approximation with a fast L1 temporal discretization. By coupling the shape parameter of the C-Bézier basis to the mesh size ($\mu =\pi h$), the scheme reproduces trigonometric profiles of the corresponding frequency exactly; for solutions whose spatial part lies in the C-Bézier space this eliminates the spatial truncation error and drives the associated error constant to near zero. A sum-of-exponentials (SOE) approximation reduces the temporal complexity from $O\left(N^2\right)$ to $O\left(N\right)$ and storage to $O\left(1\right)$, enabling scalable 3D simulation. We prove the optimal $O({\tau }^{2-\alpha }+h^{k+1})$ convergence, and numerical experiments confirm these rates. For profiles matched by the basis, the method yields substantially smaller errors than Lagrange FEM; for a general solution outside the C-Bézier space, the two methods share the same order and comparable error magnitudes, so the gains are specific to fields reproduced by the basis. We further examine low-regularity scenarios, including discontinuous interfaces and Dirac-delta injections. Full article

Ensemble learning has been widely adopted in fraud detection; however, conventional ensemble strategies rely on uniform or performance-based weighting schemes that treat explainability as a post hoc annotation rather than an architectural component. This study addresses the research goal of whether SHAP attribution values can serve as a principled, instance-specific weighting mechanism within an ensemble, thereby embedding interpretability directly into the aggregation process. A SHAP-Weighted Ensemble (SWE) framework is proposed in which the L2 norm of each base model’s SHAP attribution vector, computed at prediction time, is used to derive instance-specific voting weights via Softmax normalization. Three linear base learners (logistic regression, robust LR, calibrated linear SVM) are combined, with LinearSHAP providing exact attribution values. A comprehensive evaluation protocol was applied on a real-world vehicle insurance claims dataset, including bootstrap 95% confidence intervals, McNemar’s test, a three-way ablation study comparing equal weighting, SWE, and validation-AUC weighting, F1-optimal threshold selection, expected calibration error, and cost-sensitive evaluation under asymmetric misclassification costs. The central finding is that SWE achieves performance statistically comparable to both simpler baselines across all evaluated metrics (ROC-AUC = 0.774, 95% CI [0.681, 0.862]; F1 = 0.679, 95% CI [0.569, 0.774]; McNemar p = 1.000), while producing a transparent, per-claim weighting trace that equal-weight voting cannot provide. A KernelSHAP influence analysis conducted directly on the SWE confirms that SHAP-derived weights are substantially aligned with actual model influence ratios (LR: 1.05×, LR_R: 1.05×, SVM: 0.81×), validating the weighting mechanism empirically. An exploratory analysis of a seven-model equal-weight diagnostic ensemble reveals a negative correlation (r = −0.721, p = 0.067) between individual model performance and ensemble influence; a theoretically coherent finding that does not reach statistical significance at conventional thresholds. The primary contribution of SWE is architectural and interpretability-driven: it produces an auditable, instance-level model-weighting mechanism grounded in SHAP attribution theory, supporting regulatory accountability under GDPR Article 22 and the EU AI Act. Full article

[¹⁸F]-PSMA PET/CT is a high-impact modality for the staging and restaging of prostate cancer, but its wide anatomic coverage and tracer biology generate frequent incidental findings on both PET and the accompanying low-dose CT (LDCT). This narrative review is restricted in scope to fluorine-18 PSMA tracers because tracer-specific biodistribution and pitfall profiles shape what is perceived as incidentaloma: how confidently lesions can be categorized, and how often borderline findings trigger downstream testing, particularly for skeletal foci with [¹⁸F]-PSMA-1007. Specifically, [¹⁸F]-PSMA-1007 shows substantially higher rates of focal unspecific bone uptake than [⁶⁸Ga]-PSMA-11—reported in multicenter studies as affecting up to 40–50% of patients—which directly inflates the pool of potential incidentalomas and creates a tracer-specific false-positive problem with no parallel in gallium-68 practice. Additionally, [¹⁸F]-DCFPyL has different urinary clearance kinetics that affect bladder and ureteral uptake patterns, altering what qualifies as physiologic versus incidental in the pelvis. These differences mean that the threshold for Category B versus C classification—and the appropriate cascade-resistant language—must be tuned to the specific tracer in use. A framework built on [⁶⁸Ga]-PSMA-11 data would systematically underestimate bone pitfall frequency in [¹⁸F]-PSMA-1007 practice and could therefore paradoxically increase rather than reduce cascades if applied uncritically across tracers. These biodistribution differences have direct and concrete consequences for reporting behaviour and downstream management. In [¹⁸F]-PSMA-1007 practice, a focal bone uptake without a CT correlate in a mechanically plausible location—such as an anterior rib or vertebral endplate—should trigger Category B language in the report conclusion: the finding is documented in the body with explicit safety netting (“most consistent with unspecific uptake; no routine workup unless interval growth, new pain, or aggressive CT morphology”), and no referral to bone scintigraphy or MRI is generated. Without tracer-specific awareness, the same finding would typically prompt a reflex bone scan or whole-body MRI referral, delaying definitive prostate cancer management by weeks and adding imaging costs without diagnostic gain. By contrast, in [⁶⁸Ga]-PSMA-11 practice, an equivalent focal bone uptake without a CT correlate carries a higher prior probability of true metastatic disease given the lower background rate of unspecific uptake and should more often be reported at Category B with a lower threshold for escalation or more cautious language. For [¹⁸F]-DCFPyL, the higher urinary activity in the pelvis means that ureteral segments can mimic lymph node disease; recognizing this as a physiologic variant (Category C) rather than an equivocal nodal finding (Category B) avoids unnecessary pelvic MRI referrals that would otherwise be triggered by an uncontextualized report. In practical terms, the tracer-specific calibration of the overlay therefore changes not only the category assigned but also the specific safety-netting language and the escalation trigger, which directly modifies the downstream management pathway for each affected finding type. The scanned population—predominantly older men with a high prevalence of degenerative, inflammatory, and vascular abnormalities—creates substantial background noise that can drive low-value diagnostic cascades if incidental findings are communicated without actionability context. We integrate society-endorsed frameworks (EANM/SNMMI procedure guideline 2.0; E-PSMA; PSMA-RADS; and PROMISE/miTNM with miPSMA score) and propose a cascade-aware overlay for incidental findings that can be appended to existing PSMA reporting standards rather than replacing them. The A/B/C actionability overlay is a structured expert-consensus framework informed by existing evidence-based guidelines for specific finding types and by tracer-specific cohort data; it has not yet been prospectively validated as a standalone tool, and its current level of evidence is therefore analogous to a structured expert recommendation rather than an evidence-based clinical guideline. We operationalize a three-tier actionability scheme across PET- and CT-dominant findings, provide cascade-resistant language for conclusions, and clarify why SUVmax-only “probability scales” for lymph nodes are not recommended in routine reports. Three practical tables summarize PET incidental findings, lymph node reporting frameworks, and LDCT incidental findings, and two structured report templates are provided (concise and extended), with the extended version explicitly labelling actionability tiers and escalation triggers. Finally, we outline concrete AI use cases for standardization and triage while emphasizing governance to avoid the amplification of false positives and paradoxical growth of cascades. Full article

This paper develops a boundary-sensitive asymptotic theory for nonparametric conditional U-statistics smoothed by support-adapted asymmetric kernels when the response variable is subject to Missing-at-Random observation. The problem lies at the intersection of three well-established but traditionally separate lines of research: conditional U-statistics, asymmetric smoothing on constrained supports, and incomplete-data inference under MAR sampling. The contribution of the paper is not a novelty claim concerning any of these components in isolation. Rather, it consists in deriving a kernel-specific and MAR-aware limit theory for their simultaneous occurrence, where the estimators are nonlinear complete-case ratios of localized U-statistics and the localization devices are point-dependent approximate identities adapted to the geometry of the covariate support. The analysis covers three principal classes of support-respecting smoothers: Dirichlet kernels on the simplex, Bernstein polynomial smoothers, and multivariate beta kernels on hypercubes, with an additional extension to mixed continuous–categorical regressors. These smoothing schemes are not translation-invariant, and their local moments, effective support, normalizing constants and $L^2$-masses vary with the evaluation point, especially near the boundary. Consequently, their incorporation into conditional U-statistics requires more than a direct transfer of ordinary asymmetric-kernel regression theory. The numerator and denominator of the estimators are localized U-statistics whose stochastic expansions are governed by Hoeffding projections, including canonical components that must be controlled uniformly over the conditioning domain. Under regularity, smoothness and positivity assumptions adapted to the MAR setting, we establish uniform consistency, weak and strong uniform convergence rates, stochastic expansions and asymptotic normality. The results are obtained both on fixed compact subsets and on interior regions approaching the boundary, thereby identifying how support geometry enters the bias and stochastic normalizations. A central feature of the theory is the separation between the deterministic effect of complete-case sampling and its stochastic effect. For the complete-case estimator, the natural deterministic equivalent is obtained by replacing the design density f with the effective complete-case density $pf$, where p is the propensity score. Thus, the MAR mechanism may enter higher-order deterministic bias constants through the local design tilt, whereas the leading stochastic dispersion reflects the loss of effective information through propensity score factors. The precise variance constants and normalizing rates remain kernel-specific, depending on the local $L^2$-structure of the Dirichlet, Bernstein or beta smoothing device. The paper should therefore be viewed as a MAR extension and refinement of the complete-data asymmetric-kernel conditional U-statistic theory. It provides a common probabilistic architecture for several boundary-adapted smoothing schemes while retaining the kernel-dependent bias operators, variance constants, boundary regimes and Hoeffding-projection structures required for sharp asymptotic interpretation. Numerical experiments illustrate the finite-sample behavior predicted by the theory and highlight the interaction between support-adapted smoothing, boundary effects and incomplete response observation. Full article

Developing sustainable strategies for natural resource management and conservation under shifting climatic scenarios is increasingly necessary due to exacerbated abiotic stresses, such as salinity. Under salt stress, several negative effects are observed in plants, particularly in leafy vegetables such as lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). To mitigate the effects of saline stress from brackish water, several strategies have been adopted, including hydroponic cultivation. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effects of variations in nutrient solution concentration and volume per lettuce plant cultivated in a nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic system using brackish water. The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial scheme, combining two levels of water electrical conductivity (ECw of 0.3 and 5.0 dS m⁻¹), two nutrient solution concentrations (NSC of 50 and 100%), and two nutrient solution volumes (NSV of 1 and 2 L plant⁻¹), with four replications. Growth, production, and water productivity variables were evaluated at 20 and 25 days following the imposition of treatments. The responses of the variables to saline stress varied according to the evaluation period (20 and 25 days), depending on the NSC and NSV levels. At the end of the 25-day cycle, it can be concluded that for lettuce cultivation using brackish water, the NSC can be reduced to 50% and provide an NSV of 2 L plant⁻¹. Under these growing conditions, leaf fresh matter production loss was approximately 40% lower than under cultivation without saline stress, which yielded 144.11 g plant⁻¹ under 100% NSC and an NSV of 2 L plant⁻¹. In contrast, water productivity of fresh matter was similar, at 78.68 and 76.55 g L⁻¹, respectively. Full article

As a representative multiphase heterogeneous material, concrete exhibits complex fracture behavior that is closely related to its mesoscopic constituents. Although conventional homogenized models have been widely used and can effectively predict the macroscopic mechanical response of concrete in many cases, the influence of mesoscopic heterogeneity on crack evolution and failure patterns still requires further consideration. In this study, an improved intermediately homogenized peridynamic (IH-PD) model is proposed based on ordinary state-based peridynamics (PD). In this model, the mesoscopic heterogeneity of concrete is statistically represented at the bond level. A randomly distributed aggregate structure is generated according to a prescribed aggregate volume fraction. The actual proportions of different bond types are then determined, and corresponding material parameters are assigned to each bond type through a random allocation scheme. In this way, the effects of mesoscopic constituents are equivalently represented without explicitly constructing the mesoscopic geometric structure of concrete. Based on the proposed model, numerical simulations are carried out for dynamic fracture of L-shaped plates, projectile penetration into concrete targets, and fracture processes of three-point bending beams. The results demonstrate that the proposed model can reproduce crack initiation and propagation in concrete with reasonable accuracy while maintaining high computational efficiency. Full article

Background: Creatine deficiency syndromes (CDS) are rare neurometabolic disorders caused by defects in creatine biosynthesis (AGAT and GAMT deficiencies) or creatine transport (SLC6A8 deficiency). Early biochemical recognition is crucial for timely treatment of AGAT and GAMT deficiencies and for improving neurodevelopmental outcomes. In Morocco, expanding the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) biomarker panel for inherited metabolic disorders is a priority to strengthen diagnostic capacity and reduce diagnostic delay. Methods: We developed and validated a rapid LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of creatine (Cr), guanidinoacetate (GAA), and creatinine (Crn) in plasma and urine using isotopically labelled internal standards and a standardized sample preparation procedure. Analytical performance, including linearity, precision, accuracy, sensitivity, matrix effects, carryover, inter-sample contamination, stability, and measurement uncertainty, was assessed in accordance with ISO 15189:2022 requirements. Results: The assay showed excellent linearity across the analytical range (r² > 0.99), with robust intra- and inter-day precision (CV < 10%). Limits of detection (LOD) were 0.05 µmol/L for Cr and 0.03 µmol/L for GAA in urine, and 0.05 µmol/L for Cr and GAA in plasma. The total run time was 1.1 min per sample, supporting high-throughput implementation. Method performance was further supported by satisfactory results in ERNDIM external quality assessment schemes. Preliminary internal reference ranges and expanded measurement uncertainty were calculated from the available anonymized dataset. Conclusions: This rapid LC-MS/MS method enables the measurement of key CDS biomarkers and contributes to expanding the LC-MS/MS biomarker panel for inherited metabolic disorders in Morocco. Full article

Reducing hospital-acquired infections, especially those related to medical devices, is essential not only to improve patients’ well-being but also to reduce healthcare costs. Among various antibacterial approaches, creating bactericidal device surfaces has been advocated as it reduces the likelihood of antibiotic-resistant strains emerging when antibiotics are used. Functionalizing the device surface with cationic groups, such as quaternary ammonium terminal groups, has been considered an effective approach for killing microbes upon contact. Nonetheless, multiple steps, some of which may require harsh chemical reactions and toxic solvents, are generally required to attach the cationic quaternary ammonium functionalities to the surface. Inspired by the mussel’s capability to bind to various substrates, various novel biomimetic cationic catechol-terminated small molecules having the quaternary ammonium functionality with different alkyl chain lengths were synthesized for the first time. These compounds were used for surface modification of medical-grade titanium using simple immersion approaches: a single-layer procedure or a two-layer approach, in which the first layer was prepared by dopamine immersion, followed by a second immersion in the compound of interest. The surface characteristics and antimicrobial capability against the Gram-negative E. coli and Gram-positive S. aureus were assessed. The likely effects of the alkyl chain length and modification schemes on the surface properties and antibacterial activity are discussed and compared. The highest antimicrobial activity against E. coli was noted on the modified surfaces prepared by the two-layer approach with the cationic compound having the shortest alkyl chain, C1, at 2 mg/mL (DA_C1-2) and 8 mg/mL (DA_C1-8). The DA_C1-8 surface also exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity against S. aureus. These findings indicated that the antibacterial activity of titanium can be greatly improved by selecting the appropriate compound and a proper, facile immersion procedure. Full article

This paper is concerned with the numerical solution of the variable-order time fractional advection–diffusion–reaction equation (VO-TFADRE) in two space dimensions. We first propose a Crank–Nicolson (C-N) discretization scheme based on central difference operators and L1 formula for space and time variables, respectively. Then, we apply the C-N scheme to construct a new algorithm, namely the explicit group (EG) method, for the model problem under consideration. The EG method utilizes the idea of small fixed-size groups of mesh points and comes with computational merits as compared with the C-N scheme. Stability and convergence analyses are given in this work. The resulting discretization leads to large sparse linear systems, which are solved using the Bi-CGSTAB iterative method. Numerical experiments demonstrate that both the C–N and EG schemes achieve accurate approximations, while the EG method significantly reduces computational time. To economize further on the computational cost, we propose a parallelized version of the EG method for solving the VO-TFADRE. Carried out numerical simulations reveal that the parallel algorithm is more efficient than the serial algorithm for solving the problem under consideration. Full article

Tuberculosis is one of the hardest-to-treat bacterial diseases with a high capacity to develop antibiotic resistance. The treatment scheme based on bedaquiline and linezolid was introduced in Russia in 2014 and, since 2018, has been widely used for the treatment of resistant tuberculosis. In our study of clinical M. tuberculosis isolates, we identified a case of a recent transmission of a strain with mutations in the genes rv0678 and rplC, associated with resistance to bedaquiline and linezolid. We analyzed five isolates obtained from patient A between 2015 and 2019 after unsuccessful treatment and three isolates from patient B obtained between diagnosis in 2019 and death in mid-2020 via whole-genome sequencing and 24-loci MIRU-VNTR genotyping. During the treatment of patient A, a large spectrum of different mutations in rv0678 developed, accompanied by an increase in bedaquiline MIC from 0.06 to 0.5 mg/L. Simultaneously, rplC C154R substitution emerged, leading to linezolid resistance. The isolates from patient B contained nearly the same mutation spectra as the isolates from patient A, differing in only four variants that emerged during transmission. The possible transmission event must have occurred in a public place in Moscow, since there was no evidence of direct contact between the patients. This finding confirms the worrying trend of untreatable M. tuberculosis strains circulating in the general population. Full article