Structural Dynamics of the Dengue Virus Non-structural 5 (NS5) Interactions with Promoter Stem Loop A (SLA).

The dengue virus (DENV) NS5 protein plays a central role in dengue viral RNA synthesis which makes it an attractive target for antiviral drug development. DENV NS5 is known to interact with the stem-loop A (SLA) promoter at the 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR) of the viral genome as a molecular recognition signature for the initiation of negative strand synthesis at the 3' end of the viral genome. However, the conformational dynamics involved in these interactions are yet to be fully elucidated.

Novel broadly reactive monoclonal antibody protects against infection.

The incidence of infections attributed to antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) pathogens has increased exponentially over the recent decades reaching 1.27 million deaths worldwide in 2019. Without intervention, these infections are predicted to cause up to 10 million deaths a year and incur costs of up to 100 trillion US dollars globally by 2050.

Transmission of group A Streptococcus in long-term care: An outbreak investigation.

We report 2 outbreaks comprising a cluster of 18 group A Streptococcal infections across 2 nursing facilities. Point prevalence surveillance testing identified 8 of 18 cases, and whole genome sequencing validated transmission pathways. Infection prevention interventions at the facility level comprised symptomatic and asymptomatic carriage-based case finding, transmission-based precautions, and treatment to eradicate colonization.

Candidate stem cell isolation and transplantation in Hexacorallia.

Stem cells are the foundation for cell therapy due to their ability to self-renew, differentiate into other cell types, and persist throughout the life of an organism. Stem cell isolation and transplantation have not yet been established in Hexacorallia, a cnidarian subclass containing stony corals and sea anemones. Here, we demonstrate that candidate stem cells in the hexacorallian Nematostella vectensis can be transplanted into adult animals.

System infection prevention in hospital networks in the United States-an SHEA research network inquiry into operational characteristics and current challenges.

A 54-question survey about System Healthcare Infection Prevention Programs (SHIPPs) was sent out to SHEA Research Network participants in August 2023. Thirty-eight United States-based institutions responded (38/93, 41%), of which 23 have SHIPPs. We found heterogeneity in the structure, staffing, and resources for system infection prevention (IP) programs.

A modified dual preparatory method for improved isolation of nucleic acids from laser microdissected fresh-frozen human cancer tissue specimens.

A central theme in cancer research is to increase our understanding of the cancer tissue microenvironment, which is comprised of a complex and spatially heterogeneous ecosystem of malignant and non-malignant cells, both of which actively contribute to an intervening extracellular matrix. Laser microdissection (LMD) enables histology selective harvest of cellular subpopulations from the tissue microenvironment for their independent molecular investigation, such as by high-throughput DNA and RNA sequencing. Although enabling, LMD often requires a labor-intensive investment to harvest enough cells to achieve the necessary DNA and/or RNA input requirements for conventional next-generation sequencing workflows.

Immediate-use steam sterilization and the effect on surgical site infection risk in an acute care facility.

Immediate-use steam sterilization (IUSS) shortens the time of sterilization but may increase the risk of surgical site infection (SSI). Among 23,919 procedures with 416 (1.7%) procedures resulting in SSI, IUSS was associated with a 1.

Realizing Ultrahigh Near-Room-Temperature Thermoelectric Figure of Merit for N-Type Mg(Sb,Bi) through Grain Boundary Complexion Engineering with Niobium.

Despite decades of extensive research on thermoelectric materials, BiTe alloys have dominated room-temperature applications. However, recent advancements have highlighted the potential of alternative candidates, notably MgSb-MgBi alloys, for low- to mid-temperature ranges. This study optimizes the low-temperature composition of this alloy system through Nb addition (MgNb(SbBi)Te), characterizing composition, microstructure, and transport properties.

Assessing COVID-19 transmission risk: Roommate and unit mate exposures at an inpatient behavioral health facility.

Background: Inpatient psychiatric facilities have an increased risk of infection transmission. This study evaluated the impact of roommate and unit mate exposures on coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) transmission to inform isolation practices.

Methods: A single-center retrospective study was conducted among patients hospitalized in an inpatient behavioral health hospital from July 2020 through August 2023.

Implementation of an external female urinary catheter strategy on prevention of skin breakdown in acute care: A quality improvement study.

Aim(s): To evaluate the incidence of skin-related complications attributable to incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) using an external female urinary catheter device strategy for urinary incontinent (UI) patients in acute care.

Design: Multicenter quality improvement study.

Methods: Randomized allocation of two commercially available external female urinary catheter devices was used in hospitalized UI female patients.

Pd and Pt Complexes of Benzo-Fused Dipyrrins: Synthesis, Structure, Electrochemical, and Optical Properties.

Benzo-fused dipyrrins are π-extended analogs of conventional dipyrrins, which exhibit bathochromically shifted absorption and possess the synthetic capability to bind various metal ions. We aimed to investigate the synthetic potential of benzo-fused dipyrrins in the complexation with transition metals. Two new complexes with Pd and Pt were synthesized and characterized.

Transport properties of indium-alloyed and indium telluride nanostructured bismuth telluride.

Nanostructured thermoelectric materials ideally reduce lattice thermal conductivity without harming the electrical properties. Thus, to truly improve the thermoelectric performance, the quality factor, which is proportional to the weighted mobility divided by the lattice thermal conductivity of the material, must be improved. Precipitates of InTe form in the state-of-the-art BiTe with crystallographic alignment to the BiTe structure.

Impact of discontinuation of contact precautions on surveillance- and whole genome sequencing-defined methicillin-resistant healthcare-associated infections.

Objective: Prior studies evaluating the impact of discontinuation of contact precautions (DcCP) on methicillin-resistant (MRSA) outcomes have characterized all healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) rather than those likely preventable by contact precautions. We aimed to analyze the impact of DcCP on the rate of MRSA HAI including transmission events identified through whole genome sequencing (WGS) surveillance.

Design: Quasi experimental interrupted time series.

Discovery of ITI-333, a Novel Orally Bioavailable Molecule Targeting Multiple Receptors for the Treatment of Pain and Other Disorders.

Development of more efficacious medications with improved safety profiles to manage and treat multiple forms of pain is a critical element of healthcare. To this end, we have designed and synthesized a novel class of tetracyclic pyridopyrroloquinoxalinone derivatives with analgesic properties. The receptor binding profiles and analgesic properties of these tetracyclic compounds were studied.

Pharmacologic profile of ITI-333: a novel molecule for treatment of substance use disorders.

Rationale: Medications are urgently needed to treat symptoms of drug withdrawal and mitigate dysphoria and psychiatric comorbidities that drive opioid abuse and relapse. ITI-333 is a novel molecule in development for treatment of substance use disorders, psychiatric comorbidities, and pain.

Objective: Characterize the preclinical profile of ITI-333 using pharmacological, behavioral, and physiological assays.

Implications and Optimization of Domain Structures in IV-VI High-Entropy Thermoelectric Materials.

High-entropy semiconductors are now an important class of materials widely investigated for thermoelectric applications. Understanding the impact of chemical and structural heterogeneity on transport properties in these compositionally complex systems is essential for thermoelectric design. In this work, we uncover the polar domain structures in the high-entropy PbGeSnSeTe system and assess their impact on thermoelectric properties.

Topological Electronic Transition Contributing to Improved Thermoelectric Performance in p-Type MgSb Bi Solid Solutions.

Topological electronic transition is the very promising strategy for achieving high band degeneracy (N) and for optimizing thermoelectric performance. Herein, this work verifies in p-type MgSb Bi that topological electronic transition could be the key mechanism responsible for elevating the N of valence band edge from 1 to 6, leading to much improved thermoelectric performance. Through comprehensive spectroscopy characterizations and theoretical calculations of electronic structures, the topological electronic transition from trivial semiconductor is unambiguously demonstrated to topological semimetal of MgSb Bi with increasing the Bi content, due to the strong spin-orbit coupling of Bi and the band inversion.

Healthcare personnel opinions regarding the feasibility of a risk-tailored approach to contact precautions for methicillin-resistant in the acute care setting.

"All or none" approaches to the use of contact precautions for methicillin-resistant (MRSA) both fail to recognize that transmission risk varies. This qualitative study assessed healthcare personnel perspectives regarding the feasibility of a risk-tailored approach to use contact precautions for MRSA more strategically in the acute care setting.

Suppressed Lone Pair Electrons Explain Unconventional Rise of Lattice Thermal Conductivity in Defective Crystalline Solids.

Manipulating thermal properties of materials can be interpreted as the control of how vibrations of atoms (known as phonons) scatter in a crystal lattice. Compared to a perfect crystal, crystalline solids with defects are expected to have shorter phonon mean free paths caused by point defect scattering, leading to lower lattice thermal conductivities than those without defects. While this is true in many cases, alloying can increase the phonon mean free path in the Cd-doped AgSnSbSe system to increase the lattice thermal conductivity from 0.

Discordant Antigenic Properties of Soluble and Virion SARS-CoV-2 Spike Proteins.

Efforts to develop vaccine and immunotherapeutic countermeasures against the COVID-19 pandemic focus on targeting the trimeric spike (S) proteins of SARS-CoV-2. Vaccines and therapeutic design strategies must impart the characteristics of virion S from historical and emerging variants onto practical constructs such as soluble, stabilized trimers. The virus spike is a heterotrimer of two subunits: S1, which includes the receptor binding domain (RBD) that binds the cell surface receptor ACE2, and S2, which mediates membrane fusion.