MALDI-TOF MS fingerprinting for identification and differentiation of species within the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex.

Members of the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (FFSC) are commonly involved in devastating diseases of many economically important plants. They invade developing seeds and other plant tissues in the field causing significant annual losses. In addition, fungal spoilage can also affect human and animal health because some species in this group, especially F.

CDK11 Loss Induces Cell Cycle Dysfunction and Death of BRAF and NRAS Melanoma Cells.

Cyclin dependent kinase 11 (CDK11) is a protein kinase that regulates RNA transcription, pre-mRNA splicing, mitosis, and cell death. Targeting of CDK11 expression levels is effective in the experimental treatment of breast and other cancers, but these data are lacking in melanoma. To understand CDK11 function in melanoma, we evaluated protein and RNA levels of CDK11, Cyclin L1 and Cyclin L2 in benign melanocytes and BRAF- as well as NRAS-mutant melanoma cell lines.

Sexual quality of life after the treatment of gynecologic cancer: what women want.

Purpose: While the incidence of sexual dysfunction after treatment for gynecologic malignancies is well documented, few studies describe how patients want healthcare providers to address these concerns. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in sexual function and describe patient preferences regarding healthcare provider roles in addressing and treating sexual dysfunction in gynecologic cancer survivors.

Methods: Patients undergoing gynecologic cancer treatment from 2013 to 2014 at a single University-based Gynecologic Cancer clinic were surveyed using a modified Changes in Sexual Function Questionnaire (CSFQ), along with questions relating to healthcare provider interactions and preferences.

Universality of biochemical feedback and its application to immune cells.

We map a class of well-mixed stochastic models of biochemical feedback in steady state to the mean-field Ising model near the critical point. The mapping provides an effective temperature, magnetic field, order parameter, and heat capacity that can be extracted from biological data without fitting or knowledge of the underlying molecular details. We demonstrate this procedure on fluorescence data from mouse T cells, which reveals distinctions between how the cells respond to different drugs.

Prediction of in situ metabolism of photobacteria in modified atmosphere packaged poultry meat using metatranscriptomic data.

Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) is widely used in food industry to extend the microbiological shelf life of meat. Common CO-containing gas atmospheres for poultry meat packaging are either nearly O-free or high O MAPs. In this work, we compared spoilage microbiota of skinless chicken breast in CO/O (30/70%) and CO/N (30/70%) MAP, which are culturable with conventional methods and identified isolates by MALDI-TOF MS.

Mitochondrial origins of fractional control in regulated cell death.

Individual cells in clonal populations often respond differently to environmental changes; for binary phenotypes, such as cell death, this can be measured as a fractional response. These types of responses have been attributed to cell-intrinsic stochastic processes and variable abundances of biochemical constituents, such as proteins, but the influence of organelles is still under investigation. We use the response to TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) and a new statistical framework for determining parameter influence on cell-to-cell variability through the inference of variance explained, DEPICTIVE, to demonstrate that variable mitochondria abundance correlates with cell survival and determines the fractional cell death response.

Proteomic Analysis of in the Presence of Isolated From Water Kefir and Comparison With .

Water kefir is a slightly alcoholic and traditionally fermented beverage, which is prepared from sucrose, water, kefir grains, and dried or fresh fruits (e.g., figs).

Diversity and anaerobic growth of Pseudomonas spp. isolated from modified atmosphere packaged minced beef.

Aims: This study aimed to monitor development of spoilage-associated microbiota on high-oxygen modified atmosphere packaged (MAP) minced beef, assess diversity of Pseudomonas sp. therein employing a polyphasic approach and probe their ability to grow anaerobically in the presence of carbon dioxide.

Methods And Results: Headspace atmosphere and total viable count of MAP minced beef were monitored, and spoilage-associated microbiota was identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).

Comparative genomics of Lactobacillus sakei supports the development of starter strain combinations.

Strains of Lactobacillus sakei can be isolated from a variety of sources including meat, fermented sausages, sake, sourdough, sauerkraut or kimchi. Selected strains are widely used as starter cultures for sausage fermentation. Recently we have demonstrated that control about the lactic microbiota in fermenting sausages is achieved rather by pairs or strain sets than by single strains.

The American College of Surgeon's surgical risk calculator's ability to predict disposition in older gynecologic oncology patients undergoing laparotomy.

Objectives: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) surgical risk calculator calculates risk of postoperative complications utilizing clinically apparent preoperative variables. If validated for patients with gynecologic cancers, this can be an effective tool in to use for shared decision-making, especially in the older (70+ years of age) patient population for whom surgical risks and potential loss of independence is increased. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of the ACS NSQIP surgical risk calculator to predict discharge to a post-acute care among older (age 70+ years) gynecologic oncology patients undergoing laparotomy.

The attention-enhancing effects of spearmint extract supplementation in healthy men and women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel trial.

Previous studies have demonstrated that chronic supplementation with a proprietary spearmint extract (PSE) can improve cognitive performance in individuals 50-70 years of age with age-related memory issues. In the present study, our hypothesis was that chronic supplementation of PSE would improve cognitive performance in young, active individuals. Using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel design, healthy, recreationally active men and women (N = 142) received 900 mg of PSE or placebo (PLA) daily for 90 days.

Acid stress response of Staphylococcus xylosus elicits changes in the proteome and cellular membrane.

Aims: Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus xylosus strains are used as starter organisms for sausage fermentation. As those strains have to cope with low pH-values during fermentation, the aim of this study was to identify the acid adaptation mechanisms of S. xylosus TMW 2.

Evaluation of graphic messages to promote human papillomavirus vaccination among young adults: A statewide cross-sectional survey.

Young adults in the United States 18-26 years of age are eligible for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, yet they rarely attend preventive healthcare visits. In contrast, they have a high prevalence of social media use, which could be leveraged to provide healthcare recommendations. Since graphics attract users, the study's primary objective was to determine the most appealing graphic to promote HPV vaccination to young adults.

A patient-centered mobile health application to motivate use of genetic counseling among women with ovarian cancer: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Despite current guidelines recommending women with ovarian cancer receive genetic risk evaluation by a genetic counselor, utilization has historically been low. We sought to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a week-long mobile Application for Genetic Information on Cancer (mAGIC) intervention aimed to persuade women with ovarian cancer to pursue genetic counseling.

Methods: The mobile application intervention was based on the Fogg Behavior Model, and consisted of three parts: (1) identifying barriers, (2) developing motivators, and (3) providing triggers to action.

Label-free quantitative proteomic analysis reveals the lifestyle of Lactobacillus hordei in the presence of Sacchromyces cerevisiae.

Water kefir is a fermented beverage, which is traditionally prepared from sucrose, kefir grains, dried or fresh fruits, and water. L. hordei and S.

Characterization and distribution of CRISPR-Cas systems in Lactobacillus sakei.

Clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas (CRISPR-associated) structures, known as prokaryotes 'immune system', have been successfully applied for genetic engineering and genotyping purposes for a variety of microorganisms. Here we investigated 50 Lactobacillus (L.) sakei genomes and found 13 of them as CRISPR-Cas positive.

Transcatheter mitral valve chord repair.

The field of mitral valve disease diagnosis and management is rapidly evolving. New understanding of pathophysiology and improvements in the adoption of sophisticated multimodality imaging modalities have led to early diagnosis and to more complex treatment. The most common cause of mitral regurgitation (MR) in the western world is in the primary alteration of the valve, which leads to degenerative leaflet prolapse due to chordal elongation or rupture and annular dilatation.

Efficacy of a nootropic spearmint extract on reactive agility: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel trial.

Background: Proprietary spearmint extract (PSE) containing a minimum 14.5% rosmarinic acid and 24% total phenolic content, has evinced positive effects on cognition in individuals aged 50-70 with memory impairment after chronic supplementation. To address the growing interest in connecting mental and physical performance, the present study examined whether the nootropic effects of PSE translate into changes in reactive agility following daily supplementation with PSE.

Sucrose-Induced Proteomic Response and Carbohydrate Utilization of TMW 1.411 During Dextran Formation.

belongs to the dominating lactic acid bacteria in indigenous meat fermentations, while diverse strains of this species have also been isolated from plant fermentations. We could recently show, that TMW 1.411 produces a high molecular weight dextran from sucrose, indicating its potential use as a dextran forming starter culture.

Development of a multiplexed giant magnetoresistive biosensor array prototype to quantify ovarian cancer biomarkers.

In this work, we developed benchtop and handheld Giant Magnetoresistive (GMR) biosensing systems that serve as platforms for detecting a wide variety of protein biomarkers for human diseases. System development included spintronic and nanomagnetic materials, biomolecular chemistry, electronic circuitry, analog and digital signal processing, firmware programming, user interface programming on both PC and Android smartphone, communications over both USB and Bluetooth, and mechanical integration. In this work, we demonstrated the benchtop GMR biosensing system in the context of ovarian cancer assay development.

Monitoring of assertive Lactobacillus sakei and Lactobacillus curvatus strains using an industrial ring trial experiment.

Aims: In a previous study, we used a 5-day fermenting sausage model to characterize assertiveness of Lactobacillus curvatus and Lactobacillus sakei starter strains towards employ autochthonous contaminants. In this work, we probed those findings and their transferability to real sausage fermentation including the drying process in an industrial ring trial experiment.

Methods And Results: Raw fermented sausages ('salami') were produced with three L.

Practice guidelines for the supervising professional: intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring.

The American Society of Neurophysiological Monitoring (ASNM) was founded in 1989 as the American Society of Evoked Potential Monitoring. From the beginning, the Society has been made up of physicians, doctoral degree holders, Technologists, and all those interested in furthering the profession. The Society changed its name to the ASNM and held its first Annual Meeting in 1990.

Preclinical Characterization of NVR 3-778, a First-in-Class Capsid Assembly Modulator against Hepatitis B Virus.

NVR 3-778 is the first capsid assembly modulator (CAM) that has demonstrated antiviral activity in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients. NVR 3-778 inhibited the generation of infectious HBV DNA-containing virus particles with a mean antiviral 50% effective concentration (EC) of 0.40 µM in HepG2.