Large contribution of biomass burning emissions to ozone throughout the global remote troposphere.

Ozone is the third most important anthropogenic greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide and methane but has a larger uncertainty in its radiative forcing, in part because of uncertainty in the source characteristics of ozone precursors, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic carbon that directly affect ozone formation chemistry. Tropospheric ozone also negatively affects human and ecosystem health. Biomass burning (BB) and urban emissions are significant but uncertain sources of ozone precursors. Here, we report global-scale, in situ airborne measurements of ozone and precursor source tracers from the NASA Atmospheric Tomography mission. Measurements from the remote troposphere showed that tropospheric ozone is regularly enhanced above background in polluted air masses in all regions of the globe. Ozone enhancements in air with high BB and urban emission tracers (2.1 to 23.8 ppbv [parts per billion by volume]) were generally similar to those in BB-influenced air (2.2 to 21.0 ppbv) but larger than those in urban-influenced air (-7.7 to 6.9 ppbv). Ozone attributed to BB was 2 to 10 times higher than that from urban sources in the Southern Hemisphere and the tropical Atlantic and roughly equal to that from urban sources in the Northern Hemisphere and the tropical Pacific. Three independent global chemical transport models systematically underpredict the observed influence of BB on tropospheric ozone. Potential reasons include uncertainties in modeled BB injection heights and emission inventories, export efficiency of BB emissions to the free troposphere, and chemical mechanisms of ozone production in smoke. Accurately accounting for intermittent but large and widespread BB emissions is required to understand the global tropospheric ozone burden.

Collection of Nitrogen Dioxide for Nitrogen and Oxygen Isotope Determination─Laboratory and Environmental Chamber Evaluation.

The family of atmospheric oxides of nitrogen, NOy (e.g., nitrogen oxides (NOx) + nitric acid (HNO3) + nitrous acid (HONO) + peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) + particulate nitrate (pNO3-) + other), have an influential role in atmospheric chemistry, climate, and the environment. The nitrogen (δ15N) and oxygen (δ18O and Δ17O) stable isotopes of NOy are novel tools for potentially tracking emission sources and quantifying oxidation chemistry. However, there is a lack of well-established methods, particularly for speciated gas-phase components of NOy, to accurately quantify δ15N, δ18O, and Δ17O. This work presents controlled laboratory experiments and complex chamber α-pinene/NOx oxidation experiments of a sampling apparatus constructed for the simultaneous capture of multiple NOy species for isotope analysis using a series of coated denuders, with a focus on nitrogen dioxide (NO2•). The laboratory tests indicate complete NO2• capture for the targeted concentration of 15 ppbv for at least 24 h collections at 10 liters per minute, with δ15N and δ18O precisions of ±1.3‰ and 1.0‰, respectively, and minimal (2.2% ± 0.1%) NO2• collection on upstream denuders utilized for the capture of HNO3 and other acidic gases. The multispecies NOy collection system showed excellent concentration correlations with online instrumentation for both HNO3 and NO2• and isotope reproducibility of ±1.7‰, ±1.8‰, and ±0.7‰ for δ15N, δ18O, and Δ17O, respectively, for replicate experiments and highly time-resolved collections. This work demonstrates a new method that can enable the simultaneous collection of HNO3 and NO2• for accurate quantification of concentration and isotopic composition.

Low-Molecular-Weight Carboxylic Acids in the Southeastern U.S.: Formation, Partitioning, and Implications for Organic Aerosol Aging.

While carboxylic acids are important components in both particle and gas phases in the atmosphere, their sources and partitioning are not fully understood. In this study, we present real-time measurements of both particle- and gas-phase concentrations for five of the most common and abundant low-molecular-weight carboxylic acids (LMWCA) in a rural region in the southeastern U.S. in Fall 2016. Through comparison with secondary organic aerosol (SOA) tracers, we find that isoprene was the most important local precursor for all five LMWCA but via different pathways. We propose that monocarboxylic acids (formic and acetic acids) were mainly formed through gas-phase photochemical reactions, while dicarboxylic acids (oxalic, malonic, and succinic acids) were predominantly from aqueous processing. Unexpectedly high concentrations of particle-phase formic and acetic acids (in the form of formate and acetate, respectively) were observed and likely the components of long-range transport organic aerosol (OA), decoupled from their gas-phase counterparts. In addition, an extraordinarily strong correlation (R2 = 0.90) was observed between a particulate LMWCA and aged SOA, which we tentatively attribute to boundary layer dynamics.

Active molecular iodine photochemistry in the Arctic.

During springtime, the Arctic atmospheric boundary layer undergoes frequent rapid depletions in ozone and gaseous elemental mercury due to reactions with halogen atoms, influencing atmospheric composition and pollutant fate. Although bromine chemistry has been shown to initiate ozone depletion events, and it has long been hypothesized that iodine chemistry may contribute, no previous measurements of molecular iodine (I2) have been reported in the Arctic. Iodine chemistry also contributes to atmospheric new particle formation and therefore cloud properties and radiative forcing. Here we present Arctic atmospheric I2 and snowpack iodide (I-) measurements, which were conducted near Utqiagvik, AK, in February 2014. Using chemical ionization mass spectrometry, I2 was observed in the atmosphere at mole ratios of 0.3-1.0 ppt, and in the snowpack interstitial air at mole ratios up to 22 ppt under natural sunlit conditions and up to 35 ppt when the snowpack surface was artificially irradiated, suggesting a photochemical production mechanism. Further, snow meltwater I- measurements showed enrichments of up to ∼1,900 times above the seawater ratio of I-/Na+, consistent with iodine activation and recycling. Modeling shows that observed I2 levels are able to significantly increase ozone depletion rates, while also producing iodine monoxide (IO) at levels recently observed in the Arctic. These results emphasize the significance of iodine chemistry and the role of snowpack photochemistry in Arctic atmospheric composition, and imply that I2 is likely a dominant source of iodine atoms in the Arctic.

Interaction Between the a3 Region of Factor VIII and the TIL'E' Domains of the von Willebrand Factor.

The von Willebrand factor (VWF) and coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) are intricately involved in hemostasis. A tight, noncovalent complex between VWF and FVIII prolongs the half-life of FVIII in plasma, and failure to form this complex leads to rapid clearance of FVIII and bleeding diatheses such as hemophilia A and von Willebrand disease (VWD) type 2N. High-resolution insight into the complex between VWF and FVIII has so far been strikingly lacking. This is particularly the case for the flexible a3 region of FVIII, which is imperative for high-affinity binding. Here, a structural and biophysical characterization of the interaction between VWF and FVIII is presented with focus on two of the domains that have been proven pivotal for mediating the interaction, namely the a3 region of FVIII and the TIL'E' domains of VWF. Binding between the FVIII a3 region and VWF TIL'E' was here observed using NMR spectroscopy, where chemical shift changes were localized to two ß-sheet regions on the edge of TIL'E' upon FVIII a3 region binding. Isothermal titration calorimetry and NMR spectroscopy were used to characterize the interaction between FVIII and TIL'E' as well as mutants of TIL'E', which further highlights the importance of the ß-sheet region of TIL'E' for high-affinity binding. Overall, the results presented provide new insight into the role the FVIII a3 region plays for complex formation between VWF and FVIII and the ß-sheet region of TIL'E' is shown to be important for FVIII binding. Thus, the results pave the way for further high-resolution insights into this imperative complex.

Atmospheric Acetaldehyde: Importance of Air-Sea Exchange and a Missing Source in the Remote Troposphere.

We report airborne measurements of acetaldehyde (CH3CHO) during the first and second deployments of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Atmospheric Tomography Mission (ATom). The budget of CH3CHO is examined using the Community Atmospheric Model with chemistry (CAM-chem), with a newly-developed online air-sea exchange module. The upper limit of the global ocean net emission of CH3CHO is estimated to be 34 Tg a-1 (42 Tg a-1 if considering bubble-mediated transfer), and the ocean impacts on tropospheric CH3CHO are mostly confined to the marine boundary layer. Our analysis suggests that there is an unaccounted CH3CHO source in the remote troposphere and that organic aerosols can only provide a fraction of this missing source. We propose that peroxyacetic acid (PAA) is an ideal indicator of the rapid CH3CHO production in the remote troposphere. The higher-than-expected CH3CHO measurements represent a missing sink of hydroxyl radicals (and halogen radical) in current chemistry-climate models.

Derivation of Hydroperoxyl Radical Levels at an Urban Site via Measurement of Pernitric Acid by Iodide Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry.

Hydroperoxyl radical (HO2) is a key species to atmospheric chemistry. At warm temperatures, the HO2 and NO2 come to a rapid steady state with pernitric acid (HO2NO2). This paper presents the derivation of HO2 from observations of HO2NO2 and NO2 in metropolitan Atlanta, US, in winter 2014 and summer 2015. HO2 was observed to have a diurnal cycle with morning concentrations suppressed by high NO from the traffic. At night, derived HO2 levels were nonzero and exhibited correlations with O3 and NO3, consistent with previous studies that ozonolysis and oxidation by NO3 are sources of nighttime HO2. Measured and model calculated HO2 were in reasonable agreement: Without the constraint of measured HO2NO2, the model reproduced HO2 with a model-to-observed ratio (M/O) of 1.27 (r = 0.54) for winter, 2014, and 0.70 (r = 0.80) for summer, 2015. Adding measured HO2NO2 as a constraint, the model predicted HO2 with M/O = 1.13 (r = 0.77) for winter 2014 and 0.90 (r = 0.97) for summer 2015. These results demonstrate the feasibility of deriving HO2 from HO2NO2 measurements in warm regions where HO2NO2 has a short lifetime.

Intermixed adatom and surface-bound adsorbates in regular self-assembled monolayers of racemic 2-butanethiol on Au(111).

In situ scanning tunneling microscopy combined with density functional theory molecular dynamics simulations reveal a complex structure for the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of racemic 2-butanethiol on Au(111) in aqueous solution. Six adsorbate molecules occupy a (10×√3)R30° cell organized as two RSAuSR adatom-bound motifs plus two RS species bound directly to face-centered-cubic and hexagonally close-packed sites. This is the first time that these competing head-group arrangements have been observed in the same ordered SAM. Such unusual packing is favored as it facilitates SAMs with anomalously high coverage (30%), much larger than that for enantiomerically resolved 2-butanethiol or secondary-branched butanethiol (25%) and near that for linear-chain 1-butanethiol (33%).

Runners maintain locomotor-respiratory coupling following isocapnic voluntary hyperpnea to task failure.

INTRODUCTION: Evidence has long suggested that mammalian ventilatory and locomotor rhythms are linked, yet determinants and implications of locomotor-respiratory coupling (LRC) continue to be investigated. Anecdotally, respiratory muscle fatigue seen at the end of heavy exercise may result in an uncoupling of movement-ventilation rhythms; however, there is no scientific evidence to substantiate this claim. PURPOSE: We sought to determine whether or not fatigue of the respiratory muscles alters locomotor-respiratory coupling patterns typically observed in highly trained individuals while running. A related query was to examine the relationship between the potential changes in LRC and measures of running economy. METHOD: Twelve male distance runners ran at four submaximal workloads (68-89 % VO2peak) on two separate days while LRC was quantified. One LRC trial served as a control (CON), while the other was performed following an isocapnic voluntary hyperpnea to task failure to induce respiratory muscle fatigue (FT+). LRC was assessed as stride-to-breathing frequency ratios (SF/fB) and degree of LRC (percentage of breaths occurring during the same decile of the step cycle). RESULT: Hyperpnea resulted in significant declines in maximal voluntary inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory (MEP) mouth pressures (ΔMIP = -10 ± 12 cm H2O; ΔMEP = -6 ± 9 cm H2O). There were no differences in minute ventilation between CON and FT+ (CON, all speeds pooled = 104 ± 25 L min(-1); FT+ pooled = 106 ± 23 L min(-1)). Stride frequency was not different between trials; however, breathing frequency was significantly greater during FT+ compared to CON at all speeds (CON pooled = 47 ± 10 br min(-1); FT+ pooled = 52 ± 9 br min(-1)), resulting in smaller corresponding SF/fB. Yet, the degree of LRC was the same during CON and FT+ (CON pooled = 63 ± 15 %; FT+ pooled = 64 ± 18 %). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that trained runners are able to continue entraining breath and step cycles, despite marked changes in exercise breathing frequency, after a fatiguing hyperpnea challenge.

Controlling the stereochemistry and regularity of butanethiol self-assembled monolayers on au(111).

The rich stereochemistry of the self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of four butanethiols on Au(111) is described, the SAMs containing up to 12 individual C, S, or Au chiral centers per surface unit cell. This is facilitated by synthesis of enantiomerically pure 2-butanethiol (the smallest unsubstituted chiral alkanethiol), followed by in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) imaging combined with density functional theory molecular dynamics STM image simulations. Even though butanethiol SAMs manifest strong headgroup interactions, steric interactions are shown to dominate SAM structure and chirality. Indeed, steric interactions are shown to dictate the nature of the headgroup itself, whether it takes on the adatom-bound motif RS(•)Au(0)S(•)R or involves direct binding of RS(•) to face-centered-cubic or hexagonal-close-packed sites. Binding as RS(•) produces large, organizationally chiral domains even when R is achiral, while adatom binding leads to rectangular plane groups that suppress long-range expression of chirality. Binding as RS(•) also inhibits the pitting intrinsically associated with adatom binding, desirably producing more regularly structured SAMs.

Synthesis of oxacyclic scaffolds via dual ruthenium hydride/Brønsted acid-catalyzed isomerization/cyclization of allylic ethers.

A ruthenium hydride/Brønsted acid-catalyzed tandem sequence is reported for the synthesis of 1,3,4,9-tetrahydropyrano[3,4-b]indoles (THPIs) and related oxacyclic scaffolds. The process was designed on the premise that readily available allylic ethers would undergo sequential isomerization, first to enol ethers (Ru catalysis), then to oxocarbenium ions (Brønsted acid catalysis) amenable to endo cyclization with tethered nucleophiles. This methodology provides not only an attractive alternative to the traditional oxa-Pictet-Spengler reaction for the synthesis of THPIs, but also convenient access to THPI congeners and other important oxacycles such as acetals.

Nanofiltered C1 inhibitor concentrate for treatment of hereditary angioedema.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary angioedema due to C1 inhibitor deficiency is characterized by recurrent acute attacks of swelling that can be painful and sometimes life-threatening. METHODS: We conducted two randomized trials to evaluate nanofiltered C1 inhibitor concentrate in the management of hereditary angioedema. The first study compared nanofiltered C1 inhibitor concentrate with placebo for treatment of an acute attack of angioedema. A total of 68 subjects (35 in the C1 inhibitor group and 33 in the placebo group) were given one or two intravenous injections of the study drug (1000 units each). The primary end point was the time to the onset of unequivocal relief. The second study was a crossover trial involving 22 subjects with hereditary angioedema that compared prophylactic twice-weekly injections of nanofiltered C1 inhibitor concentrate (1000 units) with placebo during two 12-week periods. The primary end point was the number of attacks of angioedema per period, with each subject acting as his or her own control. RESULTS: In the first study, the median time to the onset of unequivocal relief from an attack was 2 hours in the subjects treated with C1 inhibitor concentrate but longer than 4 hours in those given placebo (P=0.02). In the second study, the number of attacks per 12-week period was 6.26 with C1 inhibitor concentrate given as prophylaxis, as compared with 12.73 with placebo (P<0.001); the subjects who received the C1 inhibitor concentrate also had significant reductions in both the severity and the duration of attacks, in the need for open-label rescue therapy, and in the total number of days with swelling. CONCLUSIONS: In subjects with hereditary angioedema, nanofiltered C1 inhibitor concentrate shortened the duration of acute attacks. When used for prophylaxis, nanofiltered C1 inhibitor concentrate reduced the frequency of acute attacks. (Funded by Lev Pharmaceuticals; ClinicalTrials.gov numbers, NCT00289211, NCT01005888, NCT00438815, and NCT00462709.)

Ruthenium hydride/Brønsted acid-catalyzed tandem isomerization/N-acyliminium cyclization sequence for the synthesis of tetrahydro-ß-carbolines.

This paper describes an efficient tandem sequence for the synthesis of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-ß-carbolines (THBCs) relying on a ruthenium hydride/Brønsted acid-catalyzed isomerization of allylic amides to N-acyliminium ion intermediates which are trapped by a tethered indole nucleophile. The methodology provides not only a convenient "aldehyde-free" alternative to the classical Pictet-Spengler reaction but also attractive possibilities for total synthesis, including rapid generation of molecular complexity and formation of quaternary stereogenic centers. TBHCs can also be accessed by harnessing the Suzuki cross-coupling reaction to the isomerization/N-acyliminium cyclization sequence. Finally, diastereo- and enantioselective versions of the title reaction have been examined using substrate control (with dr >15: 1) and asymmetric catalysis (ee up to 57%), respectively.

Grain-size distribution dataset of supercritical flow sediments from a Gilbert-type delta that are associated with disaggregation bands.

This is a dataset of grain-size distribution in sub- and supercritical flow sediments of a Gilbert-type delta from an outcrop in North Germany. Thirteen samples of ca 2.5 kg were dried (at 105°C), and homogenised twice with a sample divider. A representative sample of 1-2 g was then analysed using laser diffraction. The grain-size distribution of the sand has a maximum between fine to medium sand, with a long fine fraction tail down to 0.06 µm and occasional coarse fractions (up to 1.5 mm) in some samples. Specific grain-size distributions correlate with the different sedimentary bedforms from which the samples were taken. This data is important for two reasons: Firstly, sedimentary structures formed by Froude supercritical flows are controlled by grain-size. However, few studies have provided grain-size datasets from the natural record, which often have a much wider grain-size distribution than experimentally-produced supercritical flow deposits. Secondly, the sands were deformed subsequently by disaggregation bands, a type of geological fault that only develops in porous granular materials, i.e. well-sorted, medium sand. The disaggregation bands are indicative of seismic or even aseismic, creeping movement of basement faults.

Activity-based CRISPR scanning uncovers allostery in DNA methylation maintenance machinery.

Allostery enables dynamic control of protein function. A paradigmatic example is the tightly orchestrated process of DNA methylation maintenance. Despite the fundamental importance of allosteric sites, their identification remains highly challenging. Here, we perform CRISPR scanning on the essential maintenance methylation machinery-DNMT1 and its partner UHRF1-with the activity-based inhibitor decitabine to uncover allosteric mechanisms regulating DNMT1. In contrast to non-covalent DNMT1 inhibition, activity-based selection implicates numerous regions outside the catalytic domain in DNMT1 function. Through computational analyses, we identify putative mutational hotspots in DNMT1 distal from the active site that encompass mutations spanning a multi-domain autoinhibitory interface and the uncharacterized BAH2 domain. We biochemically characterize these mutations as gain-of-function, exhibiting increased DNMT1 activity. Extrapolating our analysis to UHRF1, we discern putative gain-of-function mutations in multiple domains, including key residues across the autoinhibitory TTD-PBR interface. Collectively, our study highlights the utility of activity-based CRISPR scanning for nominating candidate allosteric sites, and more broadly, introduces new analytical tools that further refine the CRISPR scanning framework.

Ajoene, a sulfur-rich molecule from garlic, inhibits genes controlled by quorum sensing.

In relation to emerging multiresistant bacteria, development of antimicrobials and new treatment strategies of infections should be expected to become a high-priority research area. Quorum sensing (QS), a communication system used by pathogenic bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa to synchronize the expression of specific genes involved in pathogenicity, is a possible drug target. Previous in vitro and in vivo studies revealed a significant inhibition of P. aeruginosa QS by crude garlic extract. By bioassay-guided fractionation of garlic extracts, we determined the primary QS inhibitor present in garlic to be ajoene, a sulfur-containing compound with potential as an antipathogenic drug. By comprehensive in vitro and in vivo studies, the effect of synthetic ajoene toward P. aeruginosa was elucidated. DNA microarray studies of ajoene-treated P. aeruginosa cultures revealed a concentration-dependent attenuation of a few but central QS-controlled virulence factors, including rhamnolipid. Furthermore, ajoene treatment of in vitro biofilms demonstrated a clear synergistic, antimicrobial effect with tobramycin on biofilm killing and a cease in lytic necrosis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Furthermore, in a mouse model of pulmonary infection, a significant clearing of infecting P. aeruginosa was detected in ajoene-treated mice compared to a nontreated control group. This study adds to the list of examples demonstrating the potential of QS-interfering compounds in the treatment of bacterial infections.

Alcohol use disorder: An analysis of the evidence underpinning clinical practice guidelines.

BACKGROUND: As Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) provide effective guidance for providing medical care for individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD), the evidence behind them should be robust. OBJECTIVE: Our primary objective was to critically appraise the methodological and reporting quality of systematic reviews cited within CPGs regarding the treatment of AUD. Our secondary objective was to determine how frequently Cochrane Reviews were cited as justification and to evaluate appraisals between Cochrane and non-Cochrane reviews. METHODS: We searched PubMed to identify CPGs for the treatment of AUD published between 2015 and 2021. Systematic reviews included in each CPG were evaluated using the Preferred Reporting Instrument for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and a validated quality assessment tool (AMSTAR-2). Additional study characteristics were recorded. RESULTS: From the screening process, 98 systematic reviews from 6 CPGs met inclusion criteria. PRISMA adherence ranged from 72% to 85% (mean of 79%). AMSTAR-2 adherence ranged from 52% to 73% (mean of 68%). AMSTAR appraisal ratings found 32 (35.6%) critically low, 10 (11.1%) low, 35 (38.9%) moderate, and only 13 (14.4%) high systematic reviews. Cochrane systematic reviews displayed greater PRISMA (0.92 vs. 0.75: p < 0.001) and AMSTAR-2 (0.90 vs. 0.61.; p < 0.001) scores compared to the non-Cochrane studies. CONCLUSION: Systematic reviews included in CPGs for AUD treatment showed variable adherence to PRISMA and AMSTAR-2 guidelines, with almost half of the systematic reviews being critically low to low methodological quality. Given the prevalence of alcohol use disorder, methodological and reporting quality recommendations are important to strengthening evidence informing CPGs.

Engineering bio-interfaces for the direct electron transfer of Myriococcum thermophilum cellobiose dehydrogenase: Towards a mediator-less biosupercapacitor/biofuel cell hybrid.

Direct electron transfer (DET) of enzymes on electrode surfaces is highly desirable both for fundamental mechanistic studies and to achieve membrane- and mediator-less bioenergy harvesting. In this report, we describe the preparation and comprehensive structural and electrochemical characterization of a three-dimensional (3D) graphene-based carbon electrode, onto which the two-domain redox enzyme Myriococcum thermophilum cellobiose dehydrogenase (MtCDH) is immobilized. The electrode is prepared by an entirely novel method, which combines in a single step electrochemical reduction of graphene oxide (GO) and simultaneous electrodeposition of positively charged polyethylenimine (PEI), resulting in a well dispersed MtCDH surface. The resulting MtCDH bio-interface was characterized structurally in detail, optimized, and found to exhibit a DET maximum current density of 7.7 ± 0.9 µA cm-2 and a half-lifetime of 48 h for glucose oxidation, attributed to favorable MtCDH surface orientation. A dual, entirely DET-based enzymatic biofuel cell (EBFC) was constructed with a MtCDH bioanode and a Myrothecium verrucaria bilirubin oxidase (MvBOD) biocathode. The EBFC delivers a maximum power density (Pmax) of 7.6 ± 1.3 µW cm-2, an open-circuit voltage (OCV) of 0.60 V, and an operational lifetime over seven days, which exceeds most reported CDH based DET-type EBFCs. A biosupercapacitor/EBFC hybrid was also constructed and found to register maximum power densities 62 and 43 times higher than single glucose/air and lactose/air EBFCs, respectively. This hybrid also shows excellent operational stability with self-charging/discharging over at least 500 cycles.

Evaluating reporting of patient-reported outcomes in randomized controlled trials regarding inflammatory bowel disease: a methodological study.

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in randomized controlled trials pertaining to inflammatory bowel disease are important in identifying patients' perspective of treatment. Incompletely reported PROs within trials could misrepresent information for clinicians and may contribute to treatment which lacks accommodation of patient input. Our study evaluates completeness of reporting of PROs and risk of bias (RoB) to identify how well trialists are adhering to known resources for trials. We used MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to identify eligible trials from 2006 to 2020 with at least 1 PRO measure related to inflammatory bowel disease. The trials were screened in duplicate using Rayyan. We then compared trial completion of reporting to the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT)-PRO adaptation, and assessed RoB using the Cochrane Collaboration RoB 2.0 tool. To measure trial and reporting characteristics, we performed bivariate regression analyses. Among a sample of 29 trials, the mean completion percentage for CONSORT-PRO was 46.77%. We found PROs as a secondary outcome had significantly lower CONSORT-PRO reporting (p<0.05). In addition, per cent completeness of reporting was significantly higher with both a 'therapy' intervention, and trials published following the development of CONSORT-PRO (p<0.05). Incomplete PRO reporting is common in trials focused on inflammatory bowel disease. This suboptimal reporting indicates the need for adherence to reporting guidelines. Trialists should use the CONSORT-PRO checklist, as endorsed by Patient-Reported Outcomes Tools: Engaging Users and Stakeholders, to assess their studies in order to enhance reporting adherence.

Identification of the Biosynthetic Gene Cluster for Pyracrimycin A, an Antibiotic Produced by Streptomyces sp.

Actinomycetes make a wealth of complex, structurally diverse natural products, and a key challenge is to link them to their biosynthetic gene clusters and delineate the reactions catalyzed by each of the enzymes. Here, we report the biosynthetic gene cluster for pyracrimycin A, a set of nine genes that includes a core nonribosomal peptide synthase (pymB) that utilizes serine and proline as precursors and a monooxygenase (pymC) that catalyzes Baeyer-Villiger oxidation. The cluster is similar to the one for brabantamide A; however, pyracrimycin A biosynthesis differs in that feeding experiments with isotope-labeled serine and proline suggest that a ring opening reaction takes place and a carbon is lost from serine downstream of the oxidation reaction. Based on these data, we propose a full biosynthesis pathway for pyracrimycin A.