Deaf futurity: designing and innovating hearing aids.

One of the tenets of a posthuman vision is the eradication of disability through technology. Within this site of 'no future', as Alison Kafer describes, the disabled body is merged with artificial intelligence technology or transformed into a prosthetic superhuman. These imaginative possibilities are materialised in a future-oriented mindset in contemporary technological innovation, including hearing aids and other devices-such as vibrating vests to 'feel sounds' or sign language gloves, what design critic Liz Jackson defines as 'disability dongles'-designed to bypass deafness that simultaneously provide a 'cure' and create a 'post-deaf reality'.

Aqueous Micelles as Solvent, Ligand, and Reaction Promoter in Catalysis.

Water is considered to be the most sustainable and safest solvent. Micellar catalysis is a significant contributor to the chemistry in water. It promotes pathways involving water-sensitive intermediates and transient catalytic species under micelles' shielding effect while also replacing costly ligands and dipolar-aprotic solvents.

Assessment of human embryonic stem cells differentiation into definitive endoderm lineage on the soft substrates.

Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) hold enormous potential for treating multiple diseases owing to their ability to self-renew and differentiate into any cell type. Albeit possessing such promising potential, controlling their differentiation into a desired cell type continues to be a challenge. Recent studies suggest that PSCs respond to different substrate stiffness and, therefore, can differentiate towards some lineages via Hippo pathway.

The Role of Multiparametric MRI and MRI-targeted Biopsy in the Diagnosis of Radiorecurrent Prostate Cancer: An Analysis from the FORECAST Trial.

Background: The role of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting recurrent prostate cancer after radiotherapy is unclear.

Objective: To evaluate MRI and MRI-targeted biopsies for detecting intraprostatic cancer recurrence and planning for salvage focal ablation.

Design, Setting, And Participants: FOcal RECurrent Assessment and Salvage Treatment (FORECAST; NCT01883128) was a prospective cohort diagnostic study that recruited 181 patients with suspected radiorecurrence at six UK centres (2014 to 2018); 144 were included here.

Focal therapy versus radical prostatectomy and external beam radiotherapy as primary treatment options for non-metastatic prostate cancer: results of a cost-effectiveness analysis.

Aims: Focal therapy treats individual areas of tumour in non-metastatic prostate cancer in patients unsuitable for active surveillance. The aim of this work was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of focal therapy versus prostatectomy and external beam radiotherapy (EBRT).

Materials And Methods: A Markov cohort health state transition model with four health states (stable disease, local recurrence, metastatic disease and death) was created, evaluating costs and utilities over a 10-year time horizon for patients diagnosed with non-metastatic prostate cancer.

External validation of a risk model predicting failure of salvage focal ablation for prostate cancer.

Objectives: To externally validate a published model predicting failure within 2 years after salvage focal ablation in men with localised radiorecurrent prostate cancer using a prospective, UK multicentre dataset.

Patients And Methods: Patients with biopsy-confirmed ≤T3bN0M0 cancer after previous external beam radiotherapy or brachytherapy were included from the FOcal RECurrent Assessment and Salvage Treatment (FORECAST) trial (NCT01883128; 2014-2018; six centres), and from the high-intensity focussed ultrasound (HIFU) Evaluation and Assessment of Treatment (HEAT) and International Cryotherapy Evaluation (ICE) UK-based registries (2006-2022; nine centres). Eligible patients underwent either salvage focal HIFU or cryotherapy, with the choice based predominantly on anatomical factors.

Evaluation of Outcomes Following Focal Ablative Therapy for Treatment of Localized Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer in Patients >70 Years: A Multi-institute, Multi-energy 15-Year Experience.

Purpose: In older patients who do not wish to undergo watchful waiting, focal therapy could be an alternative to the more morbid radical treatment. We evaluated the role of focal therapy in patients 70 years and older as an alternative management modality.

Materials And Methods: A total of 649 patients across 11 UK sites receiving focal high-intensity focused ultrasound or cryotherapy between June 2006 and July 2020 reported within the UK-based HEAT (HIFU Evaluation and Assessment of Treatment) and ICE (International Cryotherapy Evaluation) registries were evaluated.

Soft substrate maintains stemness and pluripotent stem cell-like phenotype of human embryonic stem cells under defined culture conditions.

Unlabelled: Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are derived from the inner cell mass (ICM) of the pre-implantation blastocyst. Prior to embryo implantation the ICM cells are surrounded by trophoblasts which have mechanical stiffness ranging from Pascal (Pa) to kilopascal (kPa). However, under in vitro conditions these cells are cultured on stiff tissue culture treated plastic plates (TCP) which have stiffness of approximately 1 gigapascal (GPa).

Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Targeted Biopsies Compared to Transperineal Mapping Biopsies Before Focal Ablation in Localised and Metastatic Recurrent Prostate Cancer After Radiotherapy.

Background: Recurrent prostate cancer after radiotherapy occurs in one in five patients. The efficacy of prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in recurrent cancer has not been established. Furthermore, high-quality data on new minimally invasive salvage focal ablative treatments are needed.

Public health implications of plasmid-mediated quinolone and aminoglycoside resistance genes in inhabiting a major anthropogenic river of India.

Presence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes in inhabiting anthropogenic rivers is an important public health concern because plasmid-mediated AMR genes can easily spread to other pathogens by horizontal gene transfer. Besides -lactams, quinolones and aminoglycosides are the major antibiotics against In the present study, we have investigated the presence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) and aminoglycoside resistance genes in isolated from a major river of northern India. Our results revealed that majority of the strains were phenotypically susceptible for fluoroquinolones and some aminoglycosides like amikacin, netilmicin, tobramycin and gentamicin.

Cancer Control Outcomes Following Focal Therapy Using High-intensity Focused Ultrasound in 1379 Men with Nonmetastatic Prostate Cancer: A Multi-institute 15-year Experience.

Background: Focal therapy aims to treat areas of cancer to confer oncological control whilst reducing treatment-related functional detriment.

Objective: To report oncological outcomes and adverse events following focal high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for treating nonmetastatic prostate cancer.

Design, Setting, And Participants: An analysis of 1379 patients with ≥6 mo of follow-up prospectively recorded in the HIFU Evaluation and Assessment of Treatment (HEAT) registry from 13 UK centres (2005-2020) was conducted.

Draft Genome Sequence of a Poly-γ-Glutamic Acid-Producing Isolate, Bacillus paralicheniformis Strain bcasdu2018/01.

Bacillus paralicheniformis bcasdu2018/01 was isolated from the indoor environment of a chemistry laboratory. As part of the extracellular matrix, this isolate produces copious amounts of poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA). Here, we report the 4.

Rhizospheric Lactobacillus plantarum (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum) strains exhibit bile salt hydrolysis, hypocholestrolemic and probiotic capabilities in vitro.

Lactobacillus plantarum (renamed as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum) has been isolated from many sources but very rarely from rhizospheric soil. This is the first report on isolation and assessment of probiotic capabilities of L. plantarum strains isolated from rhizospheric soil.

Conventional radical versus focal treatment for localised prostate cancer: a propensity score weighted comparison of 6-year tumour control.

Background: For localised prostate cancer, focal therapy offers an organ-sparing alternative to radical treatments (radiotherapy or prostatectomy). Currently, there is no randomised comparative effectiveness data evaluating cancer control of both strategies.

Methods: Following the eligibility criteria PSA < 20 ng/mL, Gleason score ≤ 7 and T-stage ≤ T2c, we included 830 radical (440 radiotherapy, 390 prostatectomy) and 530 focal therapy (cryotherapy, high-intensity focused ultrasound or high-dose-rate brachytherapy) patients treated between 2005 and 2018 from multicentre registries in the Netherlands and the UK.

High Prevalence of Drug Resistance and Class 1 Integrons in Isolated From River Yamuna, India: A Serious Public Health Risk.

Globally, urban water bodies have emerged as an environmental reservoir of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes because resistant bacteria residing here might easily disseminate these traits to other waterborne pathogens. In the present study, we have investigated the AMR phenotypes, prevalent plasmid-mediated AMR genes, and integrons in commensal strains of , the predominant fecal indicator bacteria isolated from a major urban river of northern India Yamuna. The genetic environment of was also investigated.

Exploring the genetic mechanisms underlying amoxicillin-clavulanate resistance in waterborne Escherichia coli.

Escherichia coli is a human commensal and faecal indicator bacteria which is also the etiologic agent of several nosocomial- and community-acquired infections. Amoxicillin-clavulanate (AMC) is a widely prescribed β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor which is used against E. coli infections.

Focal therapy compared to radical prostatectomy for non-metastatic prostate cancer: a propensity score-matched study.

Introduction: Focal therapy (FT) ablates areas of prostate cancer rather than treating the whole gland. We compared oncological outcomes of FT to radical prostatectomy (RP).

Methods: Using prospective multicentre databases of 761 FT and 572 RP cases (November/2005-September/2018), patients with PSA < 20 ng/ml, Gleason  View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Biomaterials Regulate Mechanosensors YAP/TAZ in Stem Cell Growth and Differentiation.

Tissue-resident stem cells are surrounded by a microenvironment known as 'stem cell niche' which is specific for each stem cell type. This niche comprises of cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic factors like biochemical and biophysical signals, which regulate stem cell characteristics and differentiation. Biochemical signals have been thoroughly studied however, the effect of biophysical signals on stem cell regulation is yet to be completely understood.

Focal HIFU therapy for anterior compared to posterior prostate cancer lesions.

Objective: To compare cancer control in anterior compared to posterior prostate cancer lesions treated with a focal HIFU therapy approach.

Materials And Methods: In a prospectively maintained national database, 598 patients underwent focal HIFU (Sonablate500) (March/2007-November/2016). Follow-up occurred with 3-monthly clinic visits and PSA testing in the first year with PSA, every 6-12 months with mpMRI with biopsy for MRI-suspicion of recurrence.

Exploring the genetic determinants underlying the differential production of an inducible chromosomal cephalosporinase - BlaB in Yersinia enterocolitica biotypes 1A, 1B, 2 and 4.

Yersinia enterocolitica is an enteric bacterium which can cause severe gastroenteritis. Beta-lactams are the most widely used antibiotics against Y. enterocolitica.

Proteomic analysis reveals the damaging role of low redox laccase from Yersinia enterocolitica strain 8081 in the midgut of Helicoverpa armigera.

Objective: Earlier, we have found that the enteropathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica have evolved the survival mechanisms that regulate the expression of laccase-encoding genes in the gut. The present study aims to characterize the purified recombinant laccase from Y. enterocolitica strain 8081 biovar 1B and understand its effect on the midgut of cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) larvae.