Search Results (790)

The excessive use of antimicrobials drives the emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR) in bacterial strains, which harbor resistance genes to survive under diverse drug pressures. Such resistance can result in life-threatening infections. The predominance of MDR Pseudomonas spp. poses significant challenges to public health and environmental sustainability, particularly in ecosystems affected by human activities. Characterizing MDR Pseudomonas spp. is crucial for developing effective diagnostic tools and biosecurity protocols, with broader implications for managing other pathogenic bacteria. Strains were diagnosed through 16S rRNA PCR and sequencing, complemented by phylogenetic analysis to evaluate local and global evolutionary connections. Antibiotic susceptibility tests revealed extensive resistance across multiple classes, with MIC values surpassing clinical breakpoints. This study examined the genetic diversity, resistance potential, and phylogenetic relationships among Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain DG2 and Pseudomonas fluorescens strain FM3, which were isolated from solid waste dump sites (n = 30) and dairy farms (n = 22) in West Bengal, India. Phylogenetic analysis reveals distinct clusters that highlight significant geographic linkages and genetic variability among the strains. Significant biofilm production under antibiotic exposure markedly increased resistance levels. RAPD-PCR profiling revealed substantial genetic diversity among the isolates, indicating variations in their genetic makeup. In contrast, SDS-PAGE analysis provided insights into the protein expression patterns that are activated by stress, which are closely linked to MDR. This dual approach offers a clearer perspective on their adaptive responses to environmental stressors. This study underscores the need for vigilant monitoring of MDR Pseudomonas spp. in anthropogenically impacted environments to mitigate risks to human and animal health. Surveillance strategies combining phenotypic and molecular approaches are essential to assess the risks posed by resilient pathogens. Solid waste and dairy farm ecosystems emerge as critical reservoirs for the evolution and dissemination of MDR Pseudomonas spp. Full article

Jumping translocations (JTs) are rare chromosomal abnormalities that play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of various cancer types. These rearrangements, especially those involving chromosome 1q, are frequently associated with tumor progression, therapeutic resistance, and poor prognosis. One gene of particular interest, human Jumping Translocation Breakpoint (JTB), has been identified at the site of translocation breakpoints and exhibits complex, context-dependent roles in cancer biology. JTB protein functions as a pivotal regulator in mitosis, chromosomal segregation, apoptosis, and cellular metabolism. It is functionally linked with the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) and is implicated in processes such as epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), immune evasion, and therapy resistance, especially in breast and prostate cancers. Advances in genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic research have highlighted the significant potential of JTB as a diagnostic biomarker and a target for therapeutic interventions. This review underscores the dual role of JTB as both a tumor suppressor and oncogene, depending on the cellular context, and advocates for its continued investigation at the genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic levels. Understanding JTB’s multifaceted contributions to tumor biology may pave the way for novel biomarkers and targeted treatments in cancer management. Full article

Understanding spatial variations in land surface temperature (LST) is critical for analyzing urban climate dynamics, especially within the framework of two-dimensional (2D) turbulence theory. This study assesses the spatial sampling behavior of urban thermal fields across eight metropolitan areas, encompassing diverse morphologies, surface materials, and Köppen–Geiger climate zones. We analyzed thermal infrared (TIR) imagery from two remote sensing platforms—MODIS (1 km) and Landsat (30 m)—to evaluate resolution-dependent turbulence indicators such as spectral slopes and breakpoints. Power spectral analysis revealed systematic divergences across spatial scales. Landsat exhibited more negative breakpoint values, indicating a greater ability to capture fine-scale thermal heterogeneity tied to vegetation, buildings, and surface cover. MODIS, in contrast, emphasized broader thermal gradients, suitable for regional-scale assessments. Seasonal differences reinforced the turbulence framework: summer spectra displayed steeper, more variable slopes, reflecting increased thermal activity and surface–atmosphere decoupling. Despite occasional agreement between sensors, spectral metrics remain inherently resolution-dependent. MODIS is better suited for macro-scale thermal structures, while Landsat provides detailed insights into intra-urban processes. Our findings confirm that 2D turbulence indicators are not fully scale-invariant and vary with sensor resolution, season, and urban form. This multi-sensor comparison offers a framework for interpreting LST data in support of climate adaptation, urban design, and remote sensing integration. Full article

Evaluating how dams modify hydrological regimes and their long-term impacts on riverine ecosystems is critical. This study evaluated trends and change points in Fractional Vegetation Cover (FVC) of braided riverbanks downstream of the Xiaolangdi Dam (1990–2020) using time-series decomposition and structural breakpoint analysis. Distinct temporal periods corresponding to different dam construction and operational phases were identified. Partial correlation analysis and linear mixed-effects modeling were employed to elucidate the spatiotemporal linkages between FVC and key driving factors. The results identified 1997 and 2004 as significant change points in FVC, corresponding to the dam’s construction and initial interception in 1997, and its subsequent comprehensive water and sediment regulation from 2004 onwards, respectively. Although dam construction may have initially posed short-term challenges to downstream vegetation, the post-operational phase witnessed a notable increase in significant vegetation growth compared to the pre-dam period, primarily attributed to the altered hydrological conditions. Notably, the dam operation’s contribution to the total FVC increase was 56% in the near-dam Xiaolangdi–Jiahetan reach. The analysis revealed distinct differences in vegetation responses to these hydrological alterations between the upstream Xiaolangdi–Jiahetan and downstream Jiahetan–Gaocun river sections, with the latter demonstrating greater ecological sensitivity to the dam-induced hydrological changes. Full article

Peters anomaly (PA) is a rare congenital disorder within the anterior segment dysgenesis (ASD) spectrum, characterized by corneal opacity, iridocorneal adhesions, and potential systemic involvement. The genetic basis of PA and related syndromes are complex and incompletely understood. This study investigates novel genetic variants and their clinical impact in two unrelated individuals diagnosed with PA spectrum disorder. Whole-exome sequencing (WES), long-range PCR, and breakpoint analysis were applied to identify pathogenic variants. In the first patient, a heterozygous ~1.6 Mb deletion was detected, spanning the genes PEX2 and ZFHX4 (GRCh37 chr8:g.76760782_78342600del). The second patient carried a heterozygous FOXC1 variant (NM_001453.3:c.310A>G), classified as likely pathogenic. Both variants were confirmed by Sanger sequencing and considered de novo, as they were not present in the biological parents. Clinical evaluations revealed phenotypic variability, with the first patient displaying both ocular and systemic anomalies as in a Peters plus-like syndrome phenotype, while the second patient had isolated ocular manifestations as in a PA type 1 phenotype. These findings expand the genetic landscape of PA, underscoring the importance of comprehensive genomic analysis in subclassifying ASD disorders. Further studies are needed to elucidate the functional consequences of these variants and improve diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Full article

Background: The combination of aztreonam (ATM) and avibactam (AVI) presents an important therapeutic option for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales, particularly the NDM-producing Enterobacterales. In 2024, both the CLSI and EUCAST published their methods in antimicrobial susceptibility testing for this combination of agents. Materials and Methods: Forty carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales isolates, including Escherichia coli (n = 35), Enterobacter cloacae complex (n = 2), Klebsiella pneumoniae complex (n = 2), and Citrobacter freundii complex (n = 1) were included in this study. All isolates harbored the NDM carbapenemase except one, which had no known detected carbapenemases. Four antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods of the combination of ATM and AVI were evaluated on these isolates, including the CLSI broth disk elution (BDE) method, the disk diffusion (DD) method of aztreonam–avibactam (AZA) following the EUCAST breakpoints, the MIC test strip (MTS) method of AZA following the EUCAST breakpoints, and the gradient strip stacking (SS) method. BDE was used as the standard of comparison. Results: Using BDE as the standard of comparison, the AZA DD, AZA MTS, and SS methods had 100% categorical agreement (CA), 0% very major error (VME), and 0% major error (ME). The essential agreement (EA) between the AZA MTS and SS method was 57.5%. Conclusions: The AZA DD, AZA MTS, and the SS methods showed complete concordance with the BDE method. However, the MICs obtained from the AZA MTS and SS were not comparable. Full article

Background/Objectives: ALK+ Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL) is an aggressive T-cell lymphoma that is characterized by expression of the Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK), which is induced by the t(2;5) chromosomal rearrangement, leading to the expression of the NPM-ALK fusion oncogene. Most previous preclinical models of ALK+ ALCL were based on overexpression of the NPM-ALK cDNA from heterologous promoters. Due to the enforced expression, this approach is prone to artifacts arising from synthetic overexpression, promoter competition and insertional variation. Methods: To improve the existing ALCL models and more closely recapitulate the oncogenic events in ALK+ ALCL, we employed CRISPR/Cas-based chromosomal engineering to selectively introduce translocations between the Npm1 and Alk gene loci in murine cells. Results: By inducing precise DNA cleavage at the syntenic loci on chromosome 11 and 17 in a murine IL-3-dependent Ba/F3 reporter cell line, we generated de novo Npm-Alk translocations in vivo, leading to IL-3-independent cell growth. To verify efficient recombination, we analyzed the expression of the NPM-ALK fusion protein in the recombined cells and could also show the t(11;17) in the IL-3 independent Ba/F3 cells. Subsequent functional testing of these cells using an Alk-inhibitor showed exquisite responsiveness towards Crizotinib, demonstrating strong dependence on the newly generated ALK fusion oncoprotein. Furthermore, a comparison of the gene expression pattern between Ba/F3 cells overexpressing the Npm-Alk cDNA with Ba/F3 cells transformed by CRISPR-mediated Npm-Alk translocation indicated that, while broadly overlapping, a set of pathways including the unfolded protein response pathway was increased in the Npm-Alk overexpression model, suggesting increased reactive changes induced by exogenous overexpression of Npm-Alk. Furthermore, we observed clustered expression changes in genes located in chromosomal regions close to the breakpoint in the new CRISPR-based model, indicating positional effects on gene expression mediated by the translocation event, which are not part of the older models. Conclusions: Thus, CRISPR-mediated recombination provides a novel and more faithful approach to model oncogenic translocations, which may lead to an improved understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of ALCL and enable more accurate therapeutic models of malignancies driven by oncogenic fusion proteins. Full article

Background/Objectives: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) and carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) are challenging multidrug-resistant pathogens. This study evaluated the in vitro susceptibility of CRE and CRPA blood isolates from Korea to novel β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations: ceftolozane/tazobactam (C/T), ceftazidime/avibactam (CZA), imipenem/cilastatin/relebactam (IMR), and meropenem/vaborbactam (MEV). Methods: Blood isolates of CRE (n = 55) and CRPA (n = 65) collected between September 2017 and September 2022 in a Korean tertiary hospital were included. Carbapenemase production was determined using phenotypic and molecular methods. In vitro susceptibility to C/T, CZA, IMR, and MEV was determined primarily by broth microdilution using current CLSI/EUCAST breakpoints. Clinical characteristics and in-hospital mortality were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Among non-carbapenemase-producing (non-CP) CRPA isolates (n = 47), susceptibility rates were 83.0% to C/T and 70.2% to CZA. For KPC-producing CRE isolates (n = 28), susceptibility rates were high to CZA (92.9%), IMR (82.1%), and MEV (96.4%). However, non-CP CRE isolates (n = 22) showed low susceptibility to C/T (18.2%) but high susceptibility to CZA (100%), IMR (81.8%), and MEV (95.5%). CRE infections were associated with higher rates of hematologic malignancy, immunosuppression, and in-hospital mortality (63.6% vs. 18.5% for CRPA, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The susceptibility of CRE and CRPA to novel β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors varies significantly by species and carbapenemase production. CZA, IMR, and MEV showed promising activity against KPC-producing CRE. These findings can inform empirical therapy and stewardship efforts in Korea. Full article

Background/Objectives: Ring chromosomes (RCs) can be rare or common depending on the chromosome involved. With interest in the historical RCs identified by our laboratory, we curated instances to provide further information to this research field. Methodology: We carried out a retrospective, single-center study of constitutional RCs identified starting in the late 1980s. Details for 40 RCs with a modal number of 46 chromosomes are featured here. Results: Mosaic and non-mosaic RCs are identified, with a preponderance of pediatric-aged females at first ascertainment. We corroborated an enrichment for acrocentric and X chromosome RCs. Six were ascertained perinatally, with peripheral blood being the most commonly studied postnatal specimen type. Notable RCs included a female fetus with an increased risk for monosomy X, whose mosaic RCY arose secondary to a translocation between the sex chromosomes. In another, a series of complex events formed three structurally aberrant chromosomes, including an RC4 with loss of 4p16.3, corresponding with the observed phenotypic expression of Wolf–Hirschhorn syndrome. In another, a mosaic RCX was co-identified with an isochromosome 21q, resulting in a dual diagnosis of trisomy 21 and Turner syndrome. In another, the atypical RC21 structure raises the possibility of a complex rearrangement. Chromosomal microarray data clarified breakpoints and gene dosage imbalances in fifteen, while low-level mosaicism for the RC escaped detection by array in another. Eight RCs were de novo, and parental exclusion was documented for six. Conclusions: This study illustrates the need for cytogenomic follow-up to improve the literature for patients with RCs. Full article

Candida auris (C. auris) is an emerging multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a critical global health threat. Its rapid transmission, high mortality rate, and frequent misidentification in clinical laboratories present significant challenges for diagnosis and infection control. This review provides a comprehensive overview of current and emerging diagnostic methods for C. auris detection, including culture-based techniques, biochemical assays, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), and molecular diagnostics such as PCR and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). We evaluate each method’s sensitivity, specificity, turnaround time, and feasibility in clinical and surveillance settings. While culture remains the diagnostic gold standard, it is limited by slow turnaround and phenotypic overlap with related species. Updated biochemical platforms and MALDI-TOF MS with expanded databases have improved identification accuracy. Molecular assays offer rapid, culture-independent detection. Antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST), primarily using broth microdilution, is essential for guiding treatment, although standardized breakpoints remain lacking. This review proposes an integrated diagnostic workflow and discusses key innovations and gaps in current practice. Our findings aim to support clinicians, microbiologists, and public health professionals in improving early detection, containment, and management of C. auris infections. Full article

Background: Campylobacter causes gastroenteritis worldwide with increasing antimicrobial resistance. Furazolidone (FZD) shows potential in resource-poor areas but needs further study. We aimed to assess the in vitro susceptibility of Campylobacter spp. to FZD, ciprofloxacin (CIP), and erythromycin (ERY) in a high-risk pediatric cohort and to evaluate the clinical relevance of resistance patterns using inhibitory quotient (IQ) pharmacodynamics. Methods: A two-phase prospective study (2012–2013, 2014–2015) was conducted at a tertiary pediatric hospital in Lima, Peru. Stool samples from children ≤24 months were cultured on selective media, with Campylobacter isolates identified via conventional bacteriological methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion and regression-derived minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). IQ analysis correlated inhibition zones with therapeutic outcomes. Results: Among 194 Campylobacter isolates (C. jejuni: 28%; C. coli: 72%), resistance to CIP declined from 97.7% (2012–2013) to 83% (2014–2015), while ERY resistance rose from 2.3% to 9.4% (p= 0.002). No FZD resistance was observed, with mean inhibition zones of 52 ± 8 mm (2012–2013) and 43 ± 10.5 mm (2014–2015). MICs for FZD were predominantly <0.125 μg/mL, and all susceptible isolates demonstrated favorable IQ outcomes. Multidrug resistance (≥2 drugs) increased to 6.2% (2014–2015), though all MDR strains retained FZD susceptibility. CLSI and EUCAST breakpoints showed concordance for ERY (p = 0.724) but discordance for CIP (p = 0.022 vs. 0.008). Conclusions: FZD exhibits sustained in vitro efficacy against Campylobacter spp., even among MDR strains, contrasting with escalating fluoroquinolone and macrolide resistance. Full article

This paper introduces SmartBarrel, an innovative IoT-based sensory system that monitors and forecasts wine fermentation processes. At the core of SmartBarrel are two compact, attachable devices—the probing nose (E-nose) and the probing tongue (E-tongue), which mount directly onto stainless steel wine tanks. These devices periodically measure key fermentation parameters: the nose monitors gas emissions, while the tongue captures acidity, residual sugar, and color changes. Both utilize low-cost, low-power sensors validated through small-scale fermentation experiments. Beyond the sensory hardware, SmartBarrel includes a robust cloud infrastructure built on open-source Industry 4.0 tools. The system leverages the ThingsBoard platform, supported by a NoSQL Cassandra database, to provide real-time data storage, visualization, and mobile application access. The system also supports adaptive breakpoint alerts and real-time adjustment to the nonlinear dynamics of wine fermentation. The authors developed a novel deep learning model called V-LSTM (Variable-length Long Short-Term Memory) to introduce intelligence to enable predictive analytics. This auto-calibrating architecture supports variable layer depths and cell configurations, enabling accurate forecasting of fermentation metrics. Moreover, the system includes two fuzzy logic modules: a device-level fuzzy controller to estimate alcohol content based on sensor data and a fuzzy encoder that synthetically generates fermentation profiles using a limited set of experimental curves. SmartBarrel experimental results validate the SmartBarrel’s ability to monitor fermentation parameters. Additionally, the implemented models show that the V-LSTM model outperforms existing neural network classifiers and regression models, reducing RMSE loss by at least 45%. Furthermore, the fuzzy alcohol predictor achieved a coefficient of determination ($R^2$) of 0.87, enabling reliable alcohol content estimation without direct alcohol sensing. Full article

This study aimed to determine the thermoneutral zone (TNZ) in Sahiwal zebu calves under controlled environmental conditions. The experiment was conducted in the psychrometric chamber in two phases on six calves aged 8 to 11 months and weighing 120 to 150 Kg at the beginning of the experiment. In the first phase, to determine the upper critical temperature (UCT), calves were kept for six hours per day over 10 consecutive days at six different increasing temperature ranges from 24 to 39 °C with corresponding temperature humidity indexes (THIs) between 67 and 93. In the second phase, the same calves were exposed to decreasing temperatures (24 °C to 9 °C) to determine the lower critical temperature (LCT). On the 10th day of each temperature exposure, physiological parameters were recorded, and blood sampling was done. Using segmented regression analysis (SegReg standard version software), the breakpoints in linear regressions for different parameters with respect to exposure temperatures and THI in both phases were separately determined and considered to be the critical temperatures and threshold THIs, respectively. The LCT and UCT were arranged on a temperature scale. The temperature range between the highest LCT and the lowest UCT with respect to different studied parameters was considered as the thermoneutral zone (TNZ). The highest LCT was observed for granulocyte % at 18.15 °C, whereas the lowest UCT was observed at 30.10 °C (THI: 82.35). It was found that the LCT and UCT varied with respect to different physiological parameters. A subset of parameters displayed identifiable LCT and UCT values, while some did not exhibit clear breakpoints. The respiration rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT), total leukocyte count (TLC), granulocyte%, aspartate amino-transferase (AST), Alanine amino-transferase (ALT), cortisol, IL6, and HSP90 were the sensitive parameters for both cold stress and heat stress, whereas pulse rate (PR), triglyceride, and urea were only sensitive to cold stress, and erythrocytic parameters and lymphocyte % were sensitive only to heat stress. Based on heat stress responses, the UCT for zebu calves was identified at approximately 30.10 °C (THI: 82.35), whereas based on cold stress responses, the LCT for zebu calves was identified at approximately 18.15 °C. Thus, the TNZ for zebu calves can be proposed to be between 18.15 and 30.10 °C. These findings can inform climate-adaptive housing and management strategies for improving calf welfare and productivity in subtropical environments. Full article

Estimating leaf water potential (Ψ_leaf) is essential for understanding plant physiological processes’ response to drought. The estimation of Ψ_leaf based on different regression analysis methods with hyperspectral vegetation indices (VIs) has been proven to be a simple and efficient technique. However, models constructed by existing methods and VIs still face challenges regarding the generalizability and limited ranges of field experiment datasets. In this study, leaf dehydration experiments of three maize cultivars were applied to provide a dataset covering a wide range of Ψ_leaf variations, which is often challenging to obtain in field trials. The analysis screened published VIs highly correlated with Ψ_leaf and constructed a model for Ψ_leaf estimation based on three algorithms—partial least squares regression (PLSR), random forest (RF), and multiple linear stepwise regression (MLR)—for each cultivar and all three cultivars. Models were constructed using PLSR and MLR for each cultivar and PLSR, MLR, and RF for the samples from all three cultivars. The performance of the models developed for each cultivar was compared with the performance of the cross-cultivar model. Simultaneously, the normalized ratio (ND) and double-difference (DDn) were applied to determine the VIs and models. Finally, the relationship between the optimal VIs and Ψ_leaf was analyzed using discontinuous linear segmental fitting. The results showed that leaf spectral reflectance variations in the 350~700 nm bands and 1450~2500 nm bands were significantly sensitive to Ψ_leaf. The RF method achieved the highest prediction accuracy when all three cultivars’ data were used, with a normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) of 9.02%. In contrast, there was little difference in the predictive effectiveness of the models constructed for each cultivar and all three cultivars. Moreover, the simple linear regression model built based on the DDn(2030,45) outperformed the RF method regarding prediction accuracy, with an NRMSE of 7.94%. Ψ_leaf at the breakpoint obtained by discontinuous linear segment fitting was about −1.20 MPa, consistent with the published range of the turgor loss point (Ψ_TLP). This study provides an effective methodology for Ψ_leaf monitoring with significant practical value, particularly in irrigation decision-making and drought prediction. Full article

This study investigated the effects of dietary niacinamide supplementation on blood parameters, antioxidant status, and intestinal health in finishing pigs fed low-protein diets. Sixty-four pigs (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire; 80.4 ± 0.1 kg) were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments supplemented with 30 (NAM30), 130 (NAM130), 230 (NAM230), and 330 (NAM330) mg/kg niacinamide for 30 days. Each treatment had four replicate pens and four pigs per pen. Growth performance was not significantly affected. However, the NAM130 group showed higher (p < 0.05) hemoglobin levels, reduced (p < 0.05) serum malondialdehyde and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) concentrations, and altered intestinal microbiota composition, including lower Streptococcus abundance (p < 0.05). Serum alanine aminotransferase levels increased quadratically (p < 0.05) with niacinamide supplementation, with a breakpoint at approximately 221 mg/kg. These results suggest that dietary supplementation with 130 mg/kg niacinamide improves antioxidant status, modulates inflammation, and supports intestinal microbial balance, with a safety threshold to avoid hepatic stress. Full article