A double-blind intervention trial in healthy women demonstrates the beneficial impact on with low dosages of prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides.

Introduction: Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are well-substantiated prebiotic substrates. Multiple studies have demonstrated a positive impact of GOS on gut microbiota composition and activity, so-far mainly related to . However, data on the beneficial impact at lower dosages in a healthy female population are limited.

Fluid dynamics alters liquid-liquid phase separation in confined aqueous two-phase systems.

Liquid-liquid phase separation is key to understanding aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) arising throughout cell biology, medical science, and the pharmaceutical industry. Controlling the detailed morphology of phase-separating compound droplets leads to new technologies for efficient single-cell analysis, targeted drug delivery, and effective cell scaffolds for wound healing. We present a computational model of liquid-liquid phase separation relevant to recent laboratory experiments with gelatin-polyethylene glycol mixtures.

Effect of water management on microbial diversity and composition in an Italian rice field system.

Traditional rice cultivation consumes up to 2500 L of water per kg yield and new strategies such as the 'Alternate Wetting and Drying' (AWD) might be promising water-saving alternatives. However, they might have large impacts on the soil microbiology. In this study, we compared the bacterial and archaeal communities in experimental field plots, cultivated under continuously flooding (CF) and AWD management, by high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene.

Improved phase-field models of melting and dissolution in multi-component flows.

We develop and analyse the first second-order phase-field model to combine melting and dissolution in multi-component flows. This provides a simple and accurate way to simulate challenging phase-change problems in existing codes. Phase-field models simplify computation by describing separate regions using a smoothed phase field.

Metabolic Overlap in Environmentally Diverse Microbial Communities.

The majority of microbial communities consist of hundreds to thousands of species, creating a massive network of organisms competing for available resources within an ecosystem. In natural microbial communities, it appears that many microbial species have highly redundant metabolisms and seemingly are capable of utilizing the same substrates. This is paradoxical, as theory indicates that species requiring a common resource should outcompete one another.

Discovery of a functional, contracted heme-binding motif within a multiheme cytochrome.

Anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) bacteria convert nitrite and ammonium via nitric oxide (NO) and hydrazine into dinitrogen gas by using a diverse array of proteins, including numerous -type cytochromes. Many new catalytic and spectroscopic properties of -type cytochromes have been unraveled by studies on the biochemical pathways underlying the anammox process. The unique anammox intermediate hydrazine is produced by a multiheme cytochrome protein, hydrazine synthase, through the comproportionation of ammonium and NO and the input of three electrons.

The Water Hyacinth Microbiome: Link Between Carbon Turnover and Nutrient Cycling.

Water hyacinth (WH), a large floating plant, plays an important role in the biogeochemistry and ecology of many freshwaters globally. Its biogeochemical impact on wetland functioning is strongly mediated by the microbiome associated with its roots. However, little is known about the structure and function of this WH rhizobiome and its relation to wetland ecosystem functioning.

Linking Nitrogen Load to the Structure and Function of Wetland Soil and Rhizosphere Microbial Communities.

Wetland ecosystems are important reservoirs of biodiversity and significantly contribute to emissions of the greenhouse gases CO, NO, and CH. High anthropogenic nitrogen (N) inputs from agriculture and fossil fuel combustion have been recognized as a severe threat to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, such as control of greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, it is important to understand how increased N input into pristine wetlands affects the composition and activity of microorganisms, especially in interaction with dominant wetland plants.

Metagenomic and satellite analyses of red snow in the Russian Arctic.

Cryophilic algae thrive in liquid water within snow and ice in alpine and polar regions worldwide. Blooms of these algae lower albedo (reflection of sunlight), thereby altering melting patterns (Kohshima, Seko & Yoshimura, 1993; Lutz et al., 2014; Thomas & Duval, 1995).

Stable and sporadic symbiotic communities of coral and algal holobionts.

Coral and algal holobionts are assemblages of macroorganisms and microorganisms, including viruses, Bacteria, Archaea, protists and fungi. Despite a decade of research, it remains unclear whether these associations are spatial-temporally stable or species-specific. We hypothesized that conflicting interpretations of the data arise from high noise associated with sporadic microbial symbionts overwhelming signatures of stable holobiont members.

Orf-induced immunobullous disease: A distinct autoimmune blistering disorder.

Background: Many complications have been reported after orf infection, including lymphadenopathy, secondary bacterial infection, and erythema multiforme. Rare associations with papulovesicular eruptions, including a bullous pemphigoid-like eruption, have also been described.

Objectives: Our purpose was to clinically, histologically, and immunologically characterize two cases of orf-induced blistering disease, and to determine whether this condition represented a novel disease entity distinct from known immunobullous diseases.

Dermatology Internet Yellow Page advertising.

Background: Patients may use Internet Yellow Pages to help select a physician.

Objective: We sought to describe dermatology Internet Yellow Page advertising.

Methods: Dermatology advertisements in Colorado, California, New York, and Texas at 3 Yellow Page World Wide Web sites were systematically examined.

Indoor tanning attitudes and practices of US dermatologists compared with other medical specialists.

Objective: To compare the indoor tanning attitudes and practices of dermatologists with physicians in other medical specialties (internal medicine, pediatrics, and family medicine) commonly providing sun safety counseling to patients.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Questionnaire mailed to randomly selected US dermatologists, internists, family practitioners, and pediatricians.

What dermatologists do not know about smallpox vaccination: results from a worldwide electronic survey.

The risk of a bioterrorist attack with smallpox has increased owing to breakthroughs in the de novo synthesis of long-chain DNA molecules. Although the leading roles of dermatologists in diagnosing recent outbreaks of cutaneous anthrax and monkeypox demonstrate the importance of dermatologist preparedness for bioterrorism, dermatologist knowledge regarding smallpox vaccination has not been extensively examined. We conducted a cross-sectional worldwide electronic survey of all members of the American Academy of Dermatology with available e-mail addresses.

Compliance with youth access regulations for indoor UV tanning.

Objectives: To describe youth access to indoor UV tanning and youth discount pricing incentives in 4 states with different age restrictions: Colorado (no age restrictions), Texas (age 13 years), Illinois (age 14 years), and Wisconsin (age 16 years).

Design: Cross-sectional telephone survey conducted in October 2003 using a standardized script to assess the practices of randomly selected UV tanning operators.

Participants: Randomly selected licensed indoor UV tanning facility operators in Colorado, Texas, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

A case for informed consent? Indoor UV tanning facility operator's provision of health risks information (United States).

Objective: Indoor UV tanning is associated with skin cancer. This study describes consumer health risks information provided by indoor UV tanning facility operators in four states (Colorado, Illinois, Texas, and Wisconsin) with varying operator training, regulations, enforcement and penalties.

Methods: Using a cross-sectional survey study design, 100 randomly selected licensed indoor UV tanning facilities from each state were surveyed anonymously by telephone.

Clinical diagnosis of actinic keratosis identifies an elderly population at high risk of developing skin cancer.

Background: Development of actinic keratoses (AK) involves some of the same processes as nonmelanoma skin cancer and may serve as a marker for overall increased risk of skin cancer.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the risk of developing skin cancer in an elderly population with and without AK.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational study.

Indoor UV tanning operator opinion regarding youth access: an electronic survey.

Background: Adolescents frequently use indoor tanning facilities, but little is known about tanning facility operator opinions regarding this use. Objective To assess indoor tanning operator attitudes and stated practices regarding youth access.

Methods: We electronically surveyed 89 indoor tanning facilities and 130 spas with active e-mail addresses.

Is high mole count a marker of more than melanoma risk? Eczema diagnosis is associated with melanocytic nevi in children.

Background: The number of melanocytic nevi is the best single marker of increased melanoma risk. In a previous study, adults with severe eczema were reported to have significantly fewer nevi than adults without eczema.

Observations: In a nested case-control design within a randomized, controlled interventional trial of additional sun protection vs standard care in 269 children, a history of eczema was reported by the parents of 44 (16%) of the children.