Mpox: emergence following smallpox eradication, ongoing outbreaks and strategies for prevention.

Purpose Of Review: This review focuses on the temporal relationship between the discontinuation of the global smallpox eradication effort with the rise of mpox in Africa and worldwide. It also discusses the global 2022 clade II mpox epidemic and the current 2024 clade I mpox outbreak. Newer findings on viral evolution and pathogenesis, plus current and future strategies for disease prevention, are reviewed.

Interfacial engineering-induced electronic state modulation in Ru/MoS heterostructures for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction.

In traditional binary heterojunction catalysts, mismatched energy band structures lead to higher electron transfer barriers. By reducing the work function difference a ternary Ru-RuS/MoS heterostructure, we developed a HER catalyst with remarkable activity (17 mV@10 mA cm) and excellent stability (300 h@500 mA cm).

A chromosome-level, haplotype-resolved genome assembly and annotation for the Eurasian minnow (Leuciscidae: Phoxinus phoxinus) provide evidence of haplotype diversity.

Background: In this study, we present an in-depth analysis of the Eurasian minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) genome, highlighting its genetic diversity, structural variations, and evolutionary adaptations. We generated an annotated haplotype-phased, chromosome-level genome assembly (2n = 50) by integrating high-fidelity (HiFi) long reads and chromosome conformation capture data (Hi-C).

Results: We achieved a haploid size of 940 megabase pairs (Mbp) for haplome 1 and 929 Mbp for haplome 2 with high scaffold N50 values of 36.

Using three-zone flexible cones at the metaphyseal-diaphyseal junction may avoid the need for distal femoral replacement: The floating cone technique.

Distal femoral replacement (DFR) with megaprostheses is a salvage revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) procedure indicated in cases with massive bone defects in the distal femur. As long as these implants achieve fixation only in the diaphysis, the high aseptic loosening rate reported in some series is probably related to a lack of rotational stability. Two patients with extensive distal femoral bone defects with preservation of the metaphyseal-diaphyseal junction underwent rTKA.

Molecular and functional convergences associated with complex multicellularity in Eukarya.

A key trait of Eukarya is the independent evolution of complex multicellular (CM) in animals, plants, fungi, brown algae and red algae. This phenotype is characterized by the initial exaptation of cell-cell adhesion genes followed by the emergence of mechanisms for cell-cell communication, together with the expansion of transcription factor gene families responsible for cell and tissue identity. The number of cell types (NCT) is commonly used as a quantitative proxy for biological complexity in comparative genomics studies.

In Situ Generation of Anatase-Rutile TiO/g-CN Composite Catalyst in High-Temperature Molten Salt.

Hydrogen evolution from water, catalyzed by solar energy, is a promising yet challenging endeavor. Small-sized catalysts usually exhibit high utilization and high performance in the hydrogen evolution field. However, the high surface energy tends to make them aggregate.

Flotillins in membrane trafficking and physiopathology.

Flotillin 1 and 2 are highly conserved and homologous members of the stomatin, prohibitin, flotillin, HflK/C (SPFH) family. These ubiquitous proteins assemble into hetero-oligomers at the cytoplasmic membrane in sphingolipid-enriched domains. Flotillins play crucial roles in various cellular processes, likely by concentrating sphingosine.

The phase I RELEASE clinical trial to evaluate the safety of NK cells in COVID-19.

The severity of COVID 19 symptoms has a direct correlation with lymphopenia, affecting natural killer (NK) cells. SARS-CoV-2 specific "memory" NK cells obtained from convalescent donors can be used as cell immunotherapy. In 2022 a phase I, dose-escalation, single center clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the safety and feasibility of the infusion of CD3/CD56 NK cells against moderate/severe cases of COVID-19 (NCT04578210).

Resonant song recognition and the evolution of acoustic communication in crickets.

Cricket song recognition is thought to evolve through modifications of a shared neural network. However, the species has an unusual recognition pattern that challenges this view: females respond to both normal male song pulse periods and periods twice as long. Of the three minimal models tested, only a single-neuron model with an oscillating membrane could explain this unusual behavior.

Highly pathogenic bovine viral diarrhea virus BJ-11 unveils genetic evolution related to virulence in calves.

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is the causative agent of bovine viral diarrhea, which causes significant economic loss to the global livestock industry. Despite the widespread use of inactivated BVDV vaccines, highly pathogenic strains continue to emerge. In China, regional variations in BVDV subtypes, morbidities, and symptoms, however, only the BVDV 1a subtype vaccine is currently approved.

Vic9 mycobacteriophage: the first subcluster B2 phage isolated in Russia.

Mycobacteriophages are viruses that specifically infect bacteria of the Mycobacterium genus. A substantial collection of mycobacteriophages has been isolated and characterized, offering valuable insights into their diversity and evolution. This collection also holds significant potential for therapeutic applications, particularly as an alternative to antibiotics in combating drug-resistant bacterial strains.

Exploring adult glioma through MRI: A review of publicly available datasets to guide efficient image analysis.

Background: Publicly available data are essential for the progress of medical image analysis, in particular for crafting machine learning models. Glioma is the most common group of primary brain tumors, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a widely used modality in their diagnosis and treatment. However, the availability and quality of public datasets for glioma MRI are not well known.

Response mechanism of water status and photosynthetic characteristics of under drought stress and rehydrated conditions.

Introduction: Plant physiology response and adaptation to drought stress has become a hotspot in plant ecology and evolution. possesses high ecological, ornamental and economic benefits. It has large root system and tolerance to cold, drought and poor soil.

Fieldwork on animals living in extreme conditions as a source of biomedical innovation.

Most biomedical research on animals is based on the handful of the so-called standard model organisms, i.e. laboratory mice, rats or , but the keys to some important biomedical questions may simply not be found in these.

Effective and Engaging Active Learning in the Medical School Classroom: Lessons from Case-Based Collaborative Learning.

Large group collaborative teaching approaches are rapidly gaining popularity in undergraduate medical education. The case-based collaborative Learning (CBCL) pedagogy was instituted for pre-clerkship teaching at Harvard Medical School in 2015 with subsequent implementation at other medical schools. CBCL emphasizes inductive reasoning, integrates basic and clinical sciences, stimulates curiosity, and fosters teamwork.

Reactivity of Wet scCO toward Reservoir and Caprock Formations under Elevated Pressure and Temperature Conditions: Implications for CCS and CO-Based Geothermal Energy Extraction.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) and CO-based geothermal energy are promising technologies for reducing CO emissions and mitigating climate change. Safe implementation of these technologies requires an understanding of how CO interacts with fluids and rocks at depth, particularly under elevated pressure and temperature. While CO-bearing aqueous solutions in geological reservoirs have been extensively studied, the chemical behavior of water-bearing supercritical CO remains largely overlooked by academics and practitioners alike.

Genetic Modifiers in Sickle Cell Disease Leg Ulcers: Unveiling the Pathways associated with the development and, or progression of Leg Ulcers - A Scoping Review Protocol.

This scoping review aims to assess the literature on genetic modifiers of leg ulcers in sickle cell disease, evaluating available evidence, methodologies, and research gaps. A major morbidity in sickle cell disease is the development of leg ulcers. This clinical syndrome of SCD leg ulcers (SLU) has continued to be an enigma due to its multifactorial evolution, dearth of promising guidelines on treatment, and generally unsatisfactory response to treatment.

A c-type lectin with dual function of immunology and mineralization from the freshwater oyster ( Lea).

Background: Shell and pearl formation in bivalves is a sophisticated biomineralization process that encompasses immunological and mineralization aspects, particularly during shell repair and the initial stages of pearl cultivation when a nucleus is inserted. Here, we describe a novel C-type lectin, HcLec1, isolated and characterized from the freshwater pearl mussel Lea.

Methods: Immune challenge, RNA interference (RNAi) experiments, ELISA, and antibacterial assays were employed to investigate the role of HcLec1 in innate immunity.

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and of seasonal variations on the innate immune inflammatory response.

Introduction: The innate immune response is an important first checkpoint in the evolution of an infection. Although adaptive immunity is generally considered the immune component that retains antigenic memory, innate immune responses can also be affected by previous stimulations. This study evaluated the impact of vaccination on innate cell activation by TLR7/8 agonist R848, as well as seasonal variations.

Combined semiquantitative nail-enthesis complex ultrasonography and capillaroscopy in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

This pilot study investigates distinctive features within the nail-enthesis complex among Psoriatic arthritis (PsA), Psoriasis (PSO), Rheumatoid Arthrit is (RA), and Healthy Control (HC) groups, utilizing a combined approach of ultrasound (US) and nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC). Clinical assessments and comprehensive US and NVC evaluations of the nail-enthesis complex were conducted on 72 subjects (18 PsA, 16 PSO, 19 RA, 19 HC). Unsupervised clustering models and factor analysis were employed to identify patterns and interrelationships between US and NVC parameters.

 (Ericaceae), a new species from Yunnan, China.

, a new species of Ericaceae from Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. This new species resembles and , but differs from the former by its linear or narrowly oblong and bullate leaf blade with a strongly recurved leaf margin and obvious reticulate veinlets adaxially, and larger flowers with yellow green and glabrous corollas and longer stamens, and can be distinguished from the latter by having glabrous twigs, linear or narrowly oblong leaf blades, yellow green corollas and exerted style.

Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Isolates from Vegetable Crop Rhizospheres in Nepal.

Background: spp. hold significant potential as biocontrol agents in agriculture due to their antagonistic properties against plant pathogens. The study aimed to characterize and identify isolates from rhizospheric regions of vegetable crops.

Comparative Analysis of Spacer Targets in CRISPR-Cas Systems of Starter Cultures.

Dairy production facilities represent a unique ecological niche for bacteriophages of lactic acid bacteria. Throughout evolution, bacteria have developed a wide range of defense mechanisms against viral infections caused by bacteriophages. The CRISPR-Cas system is of particular interest due to its adaptive nature.

Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation to Definitive Endoderm As a Model of Heterogeneity Onset During Germ Layer Specification.

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) hold great promise for regenerative medicine thanks to their ability to self-renew and differentiate into somatic cells and the germline. ESCs correspond to pluripotent epiblast - the tissue from which the following three germ layers originate during embryonic gastrulation: the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. Importantly, ESCs can be induced to differentiate toward various cell types by varying culture conditions, which can be exploited for modeling of developmental processes such as gastrulation.

high-content screening reveals miR-429 as a protective molecule in photoreceptor degeneration.

Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorders characterized by progressive photoreceptor degeneration and irreversible vision loss. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of endogenous non-coding RNAs with post-transcriptional regulatory properties, are known to play a major role in retinal function, both in physiological and pathological conditions. Given their ability to simultaneously modulate multiple molecular pathways, miRNAs represent promising therapeutic tools for disorders with high genetic heterogeneity, such as IRDs.