Phylogenetic analysis reveals that the H5N1 avian influenza A outbreak in poultry in Ecuador in November 2022 is associated with the highly pathogenic clade 2.3.4.4b.

The ongoing H5N1 outbreak in the Americas caused by clade 2.3.4.

A Theoretical Study on the Structural, Electronic, and Magnetic Properties of Bimetallic PtNi (N = 0, 3, 6, 9, 13) Nanoclusters to Unveil the Catalytic Mechanisms for the Water-Gas Shift Reaction.

In this work, first-principles calculations by using density functional theory at the GFN-xTB level, are performed to investigate the relative stability and structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of bimetallic PtNi (n = 0, 3, 6, 9, 13) nanoclusters by using corrected Hammer and Nørskov model. In addition, by employing the reaction path and the energetic span models, the energy profile and the turnover frequency are calculated to disclose the corresponding reaction mechanism of the water-gas shift reaction catalyzed by these nanoclusters. Our findings render that Ni causes an overall shrinking of the nanocluster's size and misalignment of the spin channels, increasing the magnetic nature of the nanoclusters.

Endometrial microbiota composition is associated with reproductive outcome in infertile patients.

Background: Previous evidence indicates associations between the female reproductive tract microbiome composition and reproductive outcome in infertile patients undergoing assisted reproduction. We aimed to determine whether the endometrial microbiota composition is associated with reproductive outcomes of live birth, biochemical pregnancy, clinical miscarriage or no pregnancy.

Methods: Here, we present a multicentre prospective observational study using 16S rRNA gene sequencing to analyse endometrial fluid and biopsy samples before embryo transfer in a cohort of 342 infertile patients asymptomatic for infection undergoing assisted reproductive treatments.

Diabetes mellitus, revascularization and outcomes in elderly patients with myocardial infarction-related cardiogenic shock.

Background: The prognostic role of diabetes mellitus (DM) in elderly patients with myocardial infarction-related cardiogenic shock (MI-CS) remains controversial. Little information exists about the impact of intensive cardiac care unit (ICCU) and revascularization on outcomes of elderly patients with MI-CS. We aimed to assess the prognostic impact of DM according to age in patients with MI-CS, and to analyze the impact ICCU management and revascularization on in-hospital mortality in MI-CS patients at older ages.

Feeding strategies alter gene expression of the calpain system and meat quality in the longissimus muscle of Braford steers.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of supplementing pasture-finished steers with corn silage on the expression level of the calpain system proteins and beef tenderization.

Methods: Thirty Braford steers grazing on summer pasture were used for the study. For 120 days fifteen animals were supplemented with corn silage at 1% of body weight per head per day (Suppl) whereas the remaining 15 steers only received pasture (Contr).

The influence of Zn coordination sphere and chemical structure over the reactivity of metallo-β-lactamase model compounds.

A systematic study of the influence of the first coordination sphere over the reactivity and structure of metallo-β-lactamase (MβL) monozinc model complexes is reported. Three ZnII complexes with tripodal ligands forming the series [Zn(N-NNN)], [Zn(N-NNS)], and [Zn(N-NNO)] where N-NNX represents the tripodal donor atoms were investigated regarding their ability to mimic MβL. The tripodal series was inspired by MβL active sites in the respective subclasses, representing the (His, His, His) Zn1 site present in B1 and B3 subclasses, (His, His, Asp) present in the B3 subclass site and the thiolate present in B1 and B2 sites.

Revision of "Aemilia" pagana Species-Group (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae), with a Description of a New Endemic Species and Comments on the Conservation Status.

A taxonomical rearrangement of "Aemilia" pagana species-group is proposed: Leucanopsis pagana (Schaus in Proc Zool Soc London 1894:225-243, 1894) comb. nov. and L.

High-sulfate water consumption determines intake and metabolic responses to protein supplementation in lambs consuming low-quality forage.

Twenty Hampshire lambs (31 ± 4 kg BW) in individual metabolism cages were used in a 10-treatment by 2-period ( = 4) trial to evaluate the interaction between protein supplementation and sulfate water on intake and metabolic responses when lambs were fed low-quality grass hay (; 6.4% CP, 79.5% NDF).

In Vitro Fertilization Versus Mild Stimulation Intrauterine Insemination in Women Aged 40 and Older.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to compare clinical pregnancy rates (PRs) and pregnancy outcomes (POs) in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and a specific controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (mild-stimulation or mini-stim) and intrauterine insemination (IUI) protocol in women older than 40.

Methods: It is a retrospective chart review of 770 cycles of all women aged 40 and older who underwent a first cycle of either IVF or mini-stim IUI between the years 2007 and 2012 at a single infertility center.

Results: The PR in all women aged 40 and above was 12% (65/531) for IVF and 5% (13/239) for mini-stim IUI ( P = .

A revision of the South American genus Metecia Snellen (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Noctuinae).

The genus Metecia Snellen (Noctuidae. Noctuinae) from Southern Argentina and Chile is redescribed and three species are recognized: M. cornifrons Snellen, M.

Two different vestigial like 4 genes are differentially expressed during Xenopus laevis development.

The vestigial gene (vg) was first characterized in Drosophila and several homologues were identified in vertebrates and called vestigial like 1-4 (vgll1-4). Vgll proteins interact with the transcription factors TEF-1 and MEF-2 through a conserved region called TONDU (TDU). Vgll4s are characterized by two tandem TDU domains which differentiate them from other members of the vestigial family.

Cardiovascular morbidity-mortality associated to ankle-brachial index in the general population.

Background And Objectives: Abnormal ankle-brachial index (ABI) is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular disease. This study has aimed to investigate the association between low ABI and risk of cardiovascular death in a general population attended in a primary care center.

Patients And Methods: A total of 1,361 volunteers aged between 60 and 79 years without any evidence of peripheral artery disease who attended a primary care center participated in the study.

Differences in the ankle-brachial index in the general population after 4 years of follow-up.

Background: Variation in the ankle-brachial index (ABI) is related to the progression of atherosclerosis in the lower extremities and is associated with mid-term cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in ABI after four years of follow-up of individuals in the general population, and the factors associated with relevant variations observed.

Patients And Methods: The study was performed in 750 volunteers (mean age 69.

Effect of peanut skin extract on chemical stability and sensory properties of salami during storage.

Background: Peanut skin extracts (PSEs) have proven antioxidant properties in different food products. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of peanut skin extract as natural preserving compounds on chemical stability and sensory properties of salami during storage.

Results: PSE was obtained with ethanol-water and added during the preparation of salami samples.

Hierarchical radial and polar organisation of chromosomes in human sperm.

It is well established that chromosomes occupy distinct positions within the interphase nuclei, conferring a potential functional implication to the genome. In addition, alterations in the nuclear organisation patterns have been associated with disease phenotypes (e.g.

Bacterial swimming, swarming and chemotactic response to heavy metal presence: which could be the influence on wastewater biotreatment efficiency?

Fixed-bed reactors are usually designed for wastewater biotreatments, where the biofilm establishment and maintenance play the most important roles. Biofilm development strictly relies on different types of bacterial motility: swimming, swarming, and chemotaxis, which can be altered by the microenvironment conditions. The aim of this work is to do an integrated study on the effects of Cu(II), Cd(II), Zn(II) and Cr(VI) on swimming, swarming and chemotaxis of Pseudomonas veronii 2E, Delftia acidovorans AR and Ralstonia taiwanensis M2 to improve biofilm development and maintenance for metal loaded wastewater biotreatment in fixed-bed bioreactors.

Prognostic value of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin is dependent on day of embryo transfer during in vitro fertilization.

Objective: To determine threshold β-hCG levels predictive of an ongoing pregnancy (OP), live birth (LB), and multiple gestation (MG) in IVF cycles resulting from day-3 (D3) vs. day-5 (D5) embryo transfers (ET), to compare IVF cycle characteristics and pregnancy outcomes in D3 vs. D5 ET groups, and to assess the degree to which maternal characteristics and cycle parameters were predictive of higher β-hCG levels.

Comparison of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes in male factor infertility patients with and without spinal cord injuries.

Objective: To determine if outcomes after in vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) using sperm from men with spinal cord injury (SCI group) differ from those of other etiologies of male factor infertility (non-SCI group). In men with SCI, to determine if IVF/ICSI outcomes differ with sperm obtained by penile vibratory stimulation (PVS group) versus electroejaculation (EEJ group).

Design: Retrospective analysis.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of heart-type fatty acid-binding protein in the early hours of acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) is a cytosolic protein that is released into the bloodstream when the myocardium is injured. The aim was to determine the diagnostic and prognostic value of H-FABP in patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction (AMI) within the first 3-6 hours after the onset of chest pain.

Methods And Results: A consecutive series of 165 patients with chest pain lasting less than 6 hours were enrolled in a forward observational design in the emergency department.

Biocide-containing varnish for the protection of sandstone: comparison of formulations and laboratory test methods.

Two formulations of acrylic varnish, with and without either of two dry film biocides--one a mixture of isothiazolinones and benzimidazole derivatives, and the other a carbamate--were tested in vitro for their activity against mixtures of filamentous fungi and cyanobacteria found on sandstone buildings. Growth on filter-paper squares coated with the varnishes was assessed semi-quantitatively by naked eye, quantitatively by image analysis and chemically by measurement of ergosterol and chlorophyll a. The lower solvent content (higher resin) varnish was more inhibitory to cyanobacteria than the higher varnish content, whilst the opposite was true for the fungal inoculum.

The year's new drugs & biologics - 2008.

This annual article presents new drugs and biologics that were launched or approved for the first time during the previous year. In 2008, 31 new medicines-this figure includes both drugs and biologics for therapeutic use as well as new diagnostic agents-reached their first markets. Line extensions (new indications, new formulations and new combinations of previously marketed products) accounted for more than one-third of the new medicines launched in 2008.

Influence of nutritional iron deficiency anemia on DNA stability and lipid peroxidation in rats.

Objective: Oxidative stress results from an imbalance between the formation and neutralization of pro-oxidants. Disturbance of the pro-oxidant/antioxidant balance is also considered to be a causative factor underlying oxidative damage to cellular molecules, such as DNA, causing strand breaks. There is considerable controversy about the antioxidant status in iron-deficiency anemia (IDA), but scant information is available regarding DNA integrity.

Calcium-enriched goats' milk aids recovery of iron status better than calcium-enriched cows' milk, in rats with nutritional ferropenic anaemia.

Ca-Fe interactions are known, but no studies are available about the effects of Ca-enriched goat or cow milk on Fe status in nutritional ferropenic anaemia (NFA). To examine this matter, control and Fe-deficient rats were fed for 14 d with goat or cow milk diets containing either normal or high Ca content (5000 or 10,000 mg/kg diet), and different indices and parameters related to iron status were measured. The apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) and the Fe retention/intake (R/I) ratio were higher in control and anaemic rats fed goat milk diet (G diet), despite high-Ca content.

The year's new drugs and biologics--2007.

This annual article presents new drugs and biologics that were launched or approved for the first time during the previous year. In 2007, 30 new medicines--this figure includes both drugs and biologics for therapeutic use as well as new diagnostic agents--reached their first markets. Drug repositioning continues to have a significant impact, with line extensions (new indications, new formulations and new combinations of previously marketed products) accounting for 45% of the new medicines launched in 2007.