Nanobody screening and machine learning guided identification of cross-variant anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing heavy-chain only antibodies.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to persist, demonstrating the risks posed by emerging infectious diseases to national security, public health, and the economy. Development of new vaccines and antibodies for emerging viral threats requires substantial resources and time, and traditional development platforms for vaccines and antibodies are often too slow to combat continuously evolving immunological escape variants, reducing their efficacy over time. Previously, we designed a next-generation synthetic humanized nanobody (Nb) phage display library and demonstrated that this library could be used to rapidly identify highly specific and potent neutralizing heavy chain-only antibodies (HCAbs) with prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy in vivo against the original SARS-CoV-2.

Therapeutic efficacy of a potent anti-Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus antibody is contingent on Fc effector function.

The development of specific, safe, and potent monoclonal antibodies (Abs) has led to novel therapeutic options for infectious disease. In addition to preventing viral infection through neutralization, Abs can clear infected cells and induce immunomodulatory functions through engagement of their crystallizable fragment (Fc) with complement proteins and Fc receptors on immune cells. Little is known about the role of Fc effector functions of neutralizing Abs in the context of encephalitic alphavirus infection.

Probiotics for coral aquaculture: challenges and considerations.

Globally, coral reefs are under pressure from climate change, with concerning declines in coral abundance observed due to increasing cumulative impacts. Active intervention measures that mitigate the declines are increasingly being applied to buy time for coral reefs as the world transitions to a low-carbon economy. One such mitigation strategy is coral restoration based on large-scale coral aquaculture to provide stock for reseeding reefs, with the added potential of selecting corals that better tolerate environmental stress.

Development of potent and effective synthetic SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing nanobodies.

The respiratory virus responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has affected nearly every aspect of life worldwide, claiming the lives of over 3.9 million people globally, at the time of this publication. Neutralizing humanized nanobody (VH)-based antibodies (VH-huFc) represent a promising therapeutic intervention strategy to address the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and provide a powerful toolkit to address future virus outbreaks.

In Dialogue: How Writing to the Dead and the Living Can Increase Self-Awareness in Those Bereaved by Addiction.

This article examines how writing can increase the self-awareness of a socially isolated and often stigmatized population: those bereaved by addiction. Writing about a traumatic event has been shown to increase self-awareness which can improve health and regulate negative behaviors. Using narrative analysis on the writing of individuals bereaved by addiction, this study found that participants were able to increase their self-awareness through writing to the dead, the living and themselves.

Understanding the Attachment Dimension of Human-animal Bond within A Homeless Population: A One-Health Initiative in the Student Health Outreach for Wellness (SHOW) Clinic.

In response to a gap in veterinary care for low-income, under-served populations, the Student Health Outreach for Wellness (SHOW) Clinic in Phoenix, AZ took a One-Health initiative to establish a pilot veterinary care program to serve the veterinary needs of the local homeless pet owners receiving human medical care at the clinic. The study examines the pilot program through the lens of the human-animal bond (HAB) and focuses specifically on the attachment dimension of the bond as measured by the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS). Data was collected from the homeless pet owners, and Rasch modeling was used to investigate the importance of various factors of the owner attachment to pet as described in LAPS items.

Haemostatic efficacy of single-dose factor administration in neonates with severe haemophilia undergoing circumcision.

Introduction: Perioperative management of children with haemophilia undergoing surgery is a complex and understudied topic. Circumcision is the most common procedure performed in the neonatal period, and guidelines to prevent bleeding complications from circumcision are lacking. Treatment protocols vary widely, and many centres treat patients with factor products for up to two weeks after circumcision.

A Synergy Between Peer Evaluation and Student Coaching in Team-Based Learning: Coach Review of Peer Evaluations Improves Student Acceptance.

Peer assessment is an integral component of team-based learning (TBL) and provides a method to foster accountability and team performance. Traditionally, peer assessment in TBL contributes to the final course grade. We assessed the impact of replacing course grading with student's faculty coach review.

Nanoengineering ABO active sites from low-energy routes (TX100-stabilised water-in-oil microemulsions, surface segregation and surface complexation on colloidal AlOOH/sol-gel AlO surfaces) for pollution control catalysis.

It is shown that water-in-oil microemulsions (m/e or μE) can produce BaCeO3 (BCO) and LaCoO3 (LCO) precursors. The nanoparticles (NPs) adsorb on AlOOH sols, in much the same way as Turkevich previously immobilised platinum group metal sols. BCO is active in CO and propane oxidation and NO removal under stoichiometric exhaust conditions, but LCO is a better oxidation catalyst.

Intraoperative examination of sentinel lymph nodes using scrape cytology.

Background. In breast cancer, sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is widely used to assess the axilla when the nodes appear normal on palpation and ultrasonography. When the sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) are negative, no further dissection is required.

Adiposity, plasma insulin, leptin, lipids, and oxidative stress in mature light breed horses.

Background: Increased blood insulin levels are associated with an increased risk of pasture-associated laminitis in equids.

Objective: To determine the relationship between plasma insulin, leptin, and lipid levels, and measures of oxidative stress with adiposity in mature light breed horses.

Animals: 300 randomly selected light breed horses, aged 4-20 years.

Relationships between body condition score and plasma inflammatory cytokines, insulin, and lipids in a mixed population of light-breed horses.

Background: Obesity and hyperinsulinemia increase the risk of laminitis in horses and ponies. In mares, obesity also has been associated with increased circulating concentrations of the proinflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. The association of other proinflammatory cytokines with body condition score (BCS) and insulin requires further determination.

Prevalence of overconditioning in mature horses in southwest Virginia during the summer.

Background: The prevalence of obesity in horses in the eastern United States is not well documented.

Objective: To determine body condition and risk factors for obesity in horses in Southwest Virginia during summer.

Animals: A sample of 300 mature (4-20 years old), light breed horses (140 mares, 151 geldings, and 9 stallions) from the VMRCVM Equine Field Service practice equine database.

Implications of urine F2-isoprostane metabolite concentration in horses with colic and its potential use as a predictor for surgical intervention.

Reasons For Performing Study: F2-isoprostanes have been used extensively to quantify lipid peroxidation in association with risk factors in various diseases. Horses with colic may have intestinal ischaemia and/or inflammation characterised by oxidative stress and increased production of isoprostanes.

Objectives: To gather preliminary data regarding the feasibility of using urine F2-isoprostanes and isoprostane metabolites as early screening tools for the presence of gastrointestinal disease requiring surgical intervention in horses and ultimately develop a stall-side test capable of identifying these horses as early as possible for timely referral.

Geographic profiling to assess the risk of rare plant poaching in natural areas.

We demonstrate the use of an expert-assisted spatial model to examine geographic factors influencing the poaching risk of a rare plant (American ginseng, Panax quinquefolius L.) in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, USA. Following principles of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), we identified a hierarchy of 11 geographic factors deemed important to poaching risk and requested law enforcement personnel of the National Park Service to rank those factors in a series of pair-wise comparisons.

Measurement of ascorbic acid concentration and glutathione peroxidase activity in biological samples collected from horses with recurrent airway obstruction.

Objective: To measure the ascorbic acid (AA) concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and cellular glutathione peroxidase (cGPx) activity in RBCs and WBCs from peripherally obtained blood and in cells from BALF to determine whether differences existed between the 2 major redox systems in recurrent airway obstruction (RAO)-affected and -nonaffected (control) horses and between systemic and local pulmonary responses in the glutathione redox system.

Animals: 16 adult horses in pairs: 8 healthy (control) and 8 RAO-affected horses.

Procedures: Physical examination data and biological samples were collected from horses before (remission), during, and after (recovery) environmental challenge with dusty straw and hay.

Tocopherol induced angiogenesis in placental vascular network in late pregnant ewes.

Background: Tocopherols have biphasic, proangiogenic and antiangiogenic therapeutic effects. The objective of this clinical trial was to clarify tocopherol's placental angiogenic potential in late pregnant ewes following oral supplementation.

Methods: Eighteen pregnant ewes during late gestation were selected for this study.

Surfactant alterations in horses with recurrent airway obstruction at various clinical stages.

Objective: To evaluate the phospholipid composition and function of surfactant in horses with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) at various clinical stages and compare these properties with findings in horses without RAO.

Animals: 7 horses with confirmed RAO and 7 without RAO (non-RAO horses).

Procedures: Pairs of RAO-affected and non-RAO horses were evaluated before, during, and after exposure to hay.

Influence of age on surfactant isolated from healthy horses maintained on pasture.

Background: Surfactant alterations are described in horses after exercise, anesthesia, and prolonged transport, in horses with recurrent airway obstruction, and in neonatal foals. The effect of horse age or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) sample characteristics on surfactant is unknown.

Objectives: To evaluate surfactant phospholipid composition and function in healthy horses, and to investigate the influence of age and BALF sample characteristics on surfactant.

Clinical assessment of nutritional status and feeding programs in horses.

Veterinarians are a primary source of nutritional information and advice for horse owners. This article reviews methods for clinical assessment of nutritional status and feeding programs that can be applied to an individual horse or group of horses. Physical examination, including measurement of body weight and evaluation of body condition score, estimation of nutrient requirements and the nutrient content of the horse's diet, and evaluation of the feeding method are important components of the assessment.

Synthesis and characterization of poly(ethylene glycol)-glutathione conjugate self-assembled nanoparticles for antioxidant delivery.

Functional oligomers based on glutathione (GSH) and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) were synthesized via Michael addition. Well-defined, spherical nanoparticle self-assembly was confirmed via dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. In addition, a series of Michael addition oligomers containing GSH were prepared with various molecular weights of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG).

Urban community characteristics and adolescent assault victims.

Purpose: To examine the relationship between neighborhood factors and adolescent victimization for low- and high-risk areas of Milwaukee, Wis.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we compared neighborhood characteristics based on the US Census Database by rates of adolescent victim rates as measured through victim client enrollment in an adolescent violence intervention program. Multiple regression procedures were used to analyze the data.

Relationships among lipid peroxidation, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, sperm parameters, and competitive index in dairy bulls.

Sperm membranes contain high concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids that are highly susceptible to oxidative damage that interferes with fertilization ability. The objective of this study was to determine associations among lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric-acid-reactive substance concentration), antioxidant enzymatic activities in frozen spermatozoa, and competitive indices. Semen from multiple ejaculates collected in succession from each bull (four Holstein and four Jersey) was pooled.