Broadband Superabsorber Operating at 1500 °C Using Dielectric Bilayers.

Many technological applications in photonics require devices to function reliably under extreme conditions, including high temperatures. To this end, materials and structures with thermally stable optical properties are indispensable. State-of-the-art thermal photonic devices based on nanostructures suffer from severe surface diffusion-induced degradation, and the operational temperatures are often restricted.

Effects of Lumacaftor/Ivacaftor on Cystic Fibrosis Disease Progression in Children 2 through 5 Years of Age Homozygous for : A Phase 2 Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial.

Lumacaftor/ivacaftor (LUM/IVA) was shown to be safe and well tolerated in children 2 through 5 years of age with cystic fibrosis (CF) homozygous for in a Phase 3 open-label study. Improvements in sweat chloride concentration, markers of pancreatic function, and lung clearance index (LCI), along with increases in growth parameters, suggested the potential for early disease modification with LUM/IVA treatment. To further assess the effects of LUM/IVA on CF disease progression in children 2 through 5 years of age using chest magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Three-Dimensional Humanized Model of the Periodontal Gingival Pocket to Study Oral Microbiome.

The oral cavity contains distinct microenvironments that serve as oral barriers, such as the non-shedding surface of the teeth (e.g., enamel), the epithelial mucosa and gingival tissue (attached gingiva) where microbial communities coexist.

Refractory Metals and Oxides for High-Temperature Structural Color Filters.

Refractory metals have recently garnered significant interest as options for photonic applications due to their superior high-temperature stability and versatile optical properties. However, most previous studies only consider their room-temperature optical properties when analyzing these materials' behavior as optical components. Here, we demonstrate structural color pixels based on three refractory metals (Ru, Ta, and W) for high-temperature applications.

Rate of Lung Function Decline in People with Cystic Fibrosis Having a Residual Function Gene Mutation.

Introduction: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. Approximately 5% of people with CF have residual function (RF) CFTR mutations that result in partially retained CFTR activity. Published literature on disease trajectory among those with RF mutations is limited.

No man's land: Species-specific formation of exclusion zones bordering Actinomyces graevenitzii microcolonies in nanoliter cultures.

To survive within complex environmental niches, including the human host, bacteria have evolved intricate interspecies communities driven by competition for limited nutrients, cooperation via complementary metabolic proficiencies, and establishment of homeostatic relationships with the host immune system. The study of such complex, interdependent relationships is often hampered by the challenges of culturing many bacterial strains in research settings and the limited set of tools available for studying the dynamic behavior of multiple bacterial species at the microscale. Here, we utilize a microfluidic-based co-culture system and time-lapse imaging to characterize dynamic interactions between Streptococcus species, Staphylococcus aureus, and Actinomyces species.

VO as an exercise tolerance endpoint in people with cystic fibrosis: Lessons from a lumacaftor/ivacaftor trial.

Background: The impact of lumacaftor/ivacaftor on exercise tolerance in people with cystic fibrosis (CF) has not been thoroughly studied.

Methods: We conducted a multisite Phase 4 trial comparing the impact of lumacaftor/ivacaftor on exercise tolerance with that of placebo in participants ≥ 12 years of age with CF homozygous for F508del-CFTR. The primary endpoint was relative change from baseline in maximum oxygen consumption (VO) during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) at Week 24.

Tezacaftor/ivacaftor in people with cystic fibrosis who stopped lumacaftor/ivacaftor due to respiratory adverse events.

Background: Increased rates of respiratory adverse events have been observed in people ≥12 years of age with cystic fibrosis homozygous for the Phe508del-CFTR mutation treated with lumacaftor/ivacaftor, particularly in those with percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (ppFEV) of <40%. We evaluated the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of tezacaftor/ivacaftor in people with cystic fibrosis homozygous for Phe508del-CFTR who discontinued lumacaftor/ivacaftor due to treatment-related respiratory signs or symptoms.

Methods: Participants ≥12 years of age with cystic fibrosis homozygous for Phe508del-CFTR with ppFEV of ≥25% and ≤90% were randomized 1:1 and treated with tezacaftor/ivacaftor or placebo for 56 days.

Interspecies Inhibition of by Yogurt-Derived Requires Active Pyruvate Oxidase.

Despite a growing interest in using probiotic microorganisms to prevent disease, the mechanisms by which probiotics exert their action require further investigation. is an important pathogen implicated in the development of periodontitis. We isolated several strains of from dairy products and examined their ability to inhibit growth We observed strain-specific inhibition of growth Whole-genome sequencing of inhibitory and noninhibitory strains of revealed significant genetic differences supporting the strain specificity of the interaction.

Association Between State Medicaid Eligibility Thresholds and Deaths Due to Substance Use Disorders.

Importance: The United States is currently facing an epidemic of deaths related to substance use disorder (SUD), with totals exceeding those due to motor vehicle crashes and gun violence. The epidemic has led to decreased life expectancy in some populations. In recent years, Medicaid eligibility has expanded in some states, and the association of this expansion with SUD-related deaths is yet to be examined.

Post-translational regulation of a regulator.

: Bacteria use two-component signal transduction systems (among others) to perceive and respond to environmental changes. Within the genus , we observed degeneration of these systems, as exemplified by the loss of RprX, the sensor kinase partner of the RprY. : The purpose of this study was to investigate modulation of RprY function by acetylation.

Healthcare utilization and costs associated with treatment for opioid dependence.

Objective: Opioid use disorder (OUD) can be managed with medication assisted therapy (MAT) (methadone [MET], buprenorphine [BUP], or extended-release naltrexone [XR-NTX]) or counseling alone (non-pharmacological therapy [NPT]). The objective of this study was to evaluate healthcare resource utilization and costs associated with XR-NTX compared with alternative treatments for opioid dependence.

Methods: Adults with a diagnosis of opioid dependence who initiated treatment with XR-NTX, BUP, MET, or NPT between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2014 were identified in the Truven Health MarketScan Commercial administrative claims database.

Endogenous acid ceramidase protects epithelial cells from Porphyromonas gingivalis-induced inflammation in vitro.

Ceramidases are a group of enzymes that degrade pro-inflammatory ceramide by cleaving a fatty acid to form anti-inflammatory sphingosine lipid. Thus far, acid, neutral and alkaline ceramidase isozymes have been described. However, the expression patterns of ceramidase isoforms as well as their role in periodontal disease pathogenesis remain unknown.

Two-component signal transduction systems in oral bacteria.

We present an overview of how members of the oral microbiota respond to their environment by regulating gene expression through two-component signal transduction systems (TCSs) to support conditions compatible with homeostasis in oral biofilms or drive the equilibrium toward dysbiosis in response to environmental changes. Using studies on the sub-gingival Gram-negative anaerobe and Gram-positive streptococci as examples, we focus on the molecular mechanisms involved in activation of TCS and species specificities of TCS regulons.

Mechanisms by which Porphyromonas gingivalis evades innate immunity.

The oral cavity is home to unique resident microbial communities whose interactions with host immunity are less frequently studied than those of the intestinal microbiome. We examined the stimulatory capacity and the interactions of two oral bacteria, Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (F.

Using Tn-seq To Identify Pigmentation-Related Genes of Porphyromonas gingivalis: Characterization of the Role of a Putative Glycosyltransferase.

Cellular pigmentation is an important virulence factor of the oral pathogen Pigmentation has been associated with many bacterial functions, including but not limited to colonization, maintaining a local anaerobic environment by binding oxygen molecules, and defense against reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by immune cells. Pigmentation-associated loci identified to date have involved lipopolysaccharide, fimbriae, and heme acquisition and processing. We utilized a transposon mutant library of strain ATCC 33277 and screened for pigmentation-defective colonies using massively parallel sequencing of the transposon junctions (Tn-seq) to identify genes involved in pigmentation.

Oral cavities of healthy infants harbour high proportions of Streptococcus salivarius strains with phenotypic and genotypic resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics.

Emerging antibiotic resistance in the oropharyngeal microbiota, of which Streptococcus salivarius is a prominent species, represents a challenge for treating paediatric populations. In this study, we investigated the role of Streptococcussalivarius as a reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) in the oral microbiota by analysing 95 Streptococcussalivarius isolates from 22 healthy infants (2-16 months of age). MICs of penicillin G, amoxicillin, erythromycin, tetracycline, doxycycline and streptomycin were determined.

Oral Delivery of a Novel Recombinant Streptococcus mitis Vector Elicits Robust Vaccine Antigen-Specific Oral Mucosal and Systemic Antibody Responses and T Cell Tolerance.

The pioneer human oral commensal bacterium Streptococcus mitis has unique biologic features that make it an attractive mucosal vaccine or therapeutic delivery vector. S. mitis is safe as a natural persistent colonizer of the mouth, throat and nasopharynx and the oral commensal bacterium is capable of inducing mucosal antibody responses.

Identification and characterization of a minisatellite contained within a novel miniature inverted-repeat transposable element (MITE) of Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Background: Repetitive regions of DNA and transposable elements have been found to constitute large percentages of eukaryotic and prokaryotic genomes. Such elements are known to be involved in transcriptional regulation, host-pathogen interactions and genome evolution.

Results: We identified a minisatellite contained within a miniature inverted-repeat transposable element (MITE) in Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Defining essential genes and identifying virulence factors of Porphyromonas gingivalis by massively parallel sequencing of transposon libraries (Tn-seq).

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a keystone pathogen in the development and progression of periodontal disease. Obstacles to the development of saturated transposon libraries have previously limited transposon mutant-based screens as well as essential gene studies. We have developed a system for efficient transposon mutagenesis of P.

Commensal Streptococcus mitis is a unique vector for oral mucosal vaccination.

The development of vaccine approaches that induce mucosal and systemic immune responses is critical for the effective prevention of several infections. Here, we report on the use of the abundant human oral commensal bacterium Streptococcus mitis as a delivery vehicle for mucosal immunization. Using homologous recombination we generated a stable rS.

Transglutaminase 2 is essential for adherence of Porphyromonas gingivalis to host cells.

Porphyromonas gingivalis is the major causative agent of periodontitis, and it may also be involved in the development of systemic diseases (atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis). P. gingivalis is found on and within oral and gingival epithelial cells following binding to surface components of host cells, which serve as receptors for the bacterium.

A two-component system regulates hemin acquisition in Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a Gram-negative oral anaerobe associated with infection of the periodontia. The organism has a small number of two-component signal transduction systems, and after comparing genome sequences of strains W83 and ATCC 33277 we discovered that the latter was mutant in histidine kinase (PGN_0752), while the cognate response regulator (PGN_0753) remained intact. Microarray-based transcriptional profiling and ChIP-seq assays were carried out with an ATCC 33277 transconjugant containing the functional histidine kinase from strain W83 (PG0719).