A systematic review of robotic efficacy in coral reef monitoring techniques.

Coral reefs are home to a variety of species, and their preservation is a popular study area; however, monitoring them is a significant challenge, for which the use of robots offers a promising answer. The purpose of this study is to analyze the current techniques and tools employed in coral reef monitoring, with a focus on the role of robotics and its potential in transforming this sector. Using a systematic review methodology examining peer-reviewed literature across engineering and earth sciences from the Scopus database focusing on "robotics" and "coral reef" keywords, the article is divided into three sections: coral reef monitoring, robots in coral reef monitoring, and case studies. The initial findings indicated a variety of monitoring strategies, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Case studies have also highlighted the global application of robotics in monitoring, emphasizing the challenges and opportunities unique to each context. Robotic interventions driven by artificial intelligence and machine learning have led to a new era in coral reef monitoring. Such developments not only improve monitoring but also support the conservation and restoration of these vulnerable ecosystems. Further research is required, particularly on robotic systems for monitoring coral nurseries and maximizing coral health in both indoor and open-sea settings.

A comprehensive review of genetic causes of obesity.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a multifactorial chronic disease with a high, increasing worldwide prevalence. Genetic causes account for 7% of the cases in children with extreme obesity. DATA SOURCES: This narrative review was conducted by searching for papers published in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase and SciELO databases and included 161 articles. The search used the following search terms: "obesity", "obesity and genetics", "leptin", "Prader-Willi syndrome", and "melanocortins". The types of studies included were systematic reviews, clinical trials, prospective cohort studies, cross-sectional and prospective studies, narrative reviews, and case reports. RESULTS: The leptin-melanocortin pathway is primarily responsible for the regulation of appetite and body weight. However, several important aspects of the pathophysiology of obesity remain unknown. Genetic causes of obesity can be grouped into syndromic, monogenic, and polygenic causes and should be assessed in children with extreme obesity before the age of 5 years, hyperphagia, or a family history of extreme obesity. A microarray study, an analysis of the melanocortin type 4 receptor gene mutations and leptin levels should be performed for this purpose. There are three therapeutic levels: lifestyle modifications, pharmacological treatment, and bariatric surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic study technologies are in constant development; however, we are still far from having a personalized approach to genetic causes of obesity. A significant proportion of the affected individuals are associated with genetic causes; however, there are still barriers to its approach, as it continues to be underdiagnosed. Video Abstract (MP4 1041807 KB).

Improved Cardiac Function in Postischemic Rats Using an Optimized Cardiac Reprogramming Cocktail Delivered in a Single Novel Adeno-Associated Virus.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac reprogramming is a technique to directly convert nonmyocytes into myocardial cells using genes or small molecules. This intervention provides functional benefit to the rodent heart when delivered at the time of myocardial infarction or activated transgenically up to 4 weeks after myocardial infarction. Yet, several hurdles have prevented the advancement of cardiac reprogramming for clinical use. METHODS: Through a combination of screening and rational design, we identified a cardiac reprogramming cocktail that can be encoded in a single adeno-associated virus. We also created a novel adeno-associated virus capsid that can transduce cardiac fibroblasts more efficiently than available parental serotypes by mutating posttranslationally modified capsid residues. Because a constitutive promoter was needed to drive high expression of these cell fate-altering reprogramming factors, we included binding sites to a cardiomyocyte-restricted microRNA within the 3' untranslated region of the expression cassette that limits expression to nonmyocytes. After optimizing this expression cassette to reprogram human cardiac fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocyte-like cells in vitro, we also tested the ability of this capsid/cassette combination to confer functional benefit in acute mouse myocardial infarction and chronic rat myocardial infarction models. RESULTS: We demonstrated sustained, dose-dependent improvement in cardiac function when treating a rat model 2 weeks after myocardial infarction, showing that cardiac reprogramming, when delivered in a single, clinically relevant adeno-associated virus vector, can support functional improvement in the postremodeled heart. This benefit was not observed with GFP (green fluorescent protein) or a hepatocyte reprogramming cocktail and was achieved even in the presence of immunosuppression, supporting myocyte formation as the underlying mechanism. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these results advance the application of cardiac reprogramming gene therapy as a viable therapeutic approach to treat chronic heart failure resulting from ischemic injury.

Food allergen analysis: Considerations for establishing a reference measurement system to implement EU legislation.

Inconsistent quantification results obtained from various analytical methods for food allergen testing hamper an accurate quantitative risk assessment and its regulatory implementation. In order to overcome such problems, a concept aiming at ensuring the comparability of quantitative food allergen measurement results is presented here. It is based on an approach called reference measurement system for food allergens, which uses a commonly agreed reference, namely the 'mass fraction of total protein of the allergenic ingredient in food'. The necessary system components are outlined, consisting of a primary reference measurement method, a certified reference material and a reference laboratory. This metrology-based concept can be applied to quantify various food allergens determined with different analytical procedures. The example of 'milk in cookies' is used to demonstrate the approach.

Tetralogy of Fallot Associated With Right Aortic Arch and Isolated Left Brachiocephalic Artery.

A newborn presented with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), right aortic arch (RAA), and isolated left brachiocephalic artery. The RAA supplied the right common carotid artery, right vertebral artery, and right subclavian artery, in that order. The left common carotid and left subclavian arteries were in continuity with no aortic origin. Ultrasound demonstrated retrograde flow in the left vertebral artery supplying antegrade flow to the diminutive left subclavian artery (ie, "steal phenomenon"). The patient underwent repair of TOF without intervention on the left common carotid or left subclavian arteries and is being followed conservatively.

Prenatally diagnosed coronary artery abnormalities in hypoplastic left heart syndrome are associated with a higher probability of heart transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: Coronary artery abnormalities (CA) occur in patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and may be associated with higher mortality and heart transplantation (HT). We aimed to determine whether fetuses with HLHS and prenatal CA have a higher risk of death or HT. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of fetal echocardiograms with HLHS from 2011 to 2018. We excluded fetuses with ventricular septal defects, elective termination, death in utero, planned postnatal non-intervention, or absent follow-up data. Presence or absence of CA was determined by review of serial fetal echocardiograms. Survival analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between prenatal CA and death or HT. RESULTS: Of 86 patients with fetal HLHS, 11 had prenatal diagnosis of CA. Of these, six required HT and five died (one after undergoing HT); only one remains alive without HT. Of those without prenatal CA (n = 75), 25 died and 7 underwent HT. Patients with prenatal diagnosis of HLHS and CA had a significantly increased likelihood of death or HT (p-value <0.05). CONCLUSION: Prenatal diagnosis of CA in our cohort of patients with HLHS was associated with increased risk of death or HT. These data have significance for prenatal counseling and postnatal management.

Comparative characterization of the gluten and fructan contents of breads from industrial and artisan bakeries: a study of food products in the Spanish market.

Background: The consumption of wheat/gluten is associated with adverse reactions for human health. Gluten and fructans are identified as the major compounds triggering and worsening adverse reactions to wheat, which are increasing, and as a consequence, avoidance of gluten/wheat is the common strategy of many individuals of the western population. Although bread is a product of daily consumption, there is a lack of information on the gluten and fructan contents and the influence of artisanal or industrial processes. Objective: The aim of this study is to carry out a comparative characterization between artisan bakeries and hypermarkets in Spain for gluten and fructan contents in daily sold breads. Design: A total of 48 types of bread highly consumed in Spain sold in artisan bakeries (long fermentation) and hypermarkets (short fermentations) were selected for comparing the gluten and fructan contents. Methods such as reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), R5 monoclonal antibody (moAb), and fructans protocols were used for the quantification of these compounds. Results: Great variation for the content of gluten and fructans has been found between all bread categories. Although breads produced using long fermentation (artisan bakeries) contain significantly lower gluten, they have higher fructans than those using short fermentations (hypermarkets). Durum wheat breads had the lowest content of gluten. Moreover, spelt breads from artisan bakeries had the lowest content of fructans but not those from hypermarkets. Discussion: In this study, we report the comparative characterizarion of the breads of the Spanish market. These food products presented variation in the amount of gluten and fructans, ligated in most of the cases to the nature of the providers: artisan bakeries against hypermarkets. Depending on the type of bread, the differences for the daily consumption of gluten and fructan can be 4.5 and 20 times, respectively. Conclusions: We found strong differences for gluten and fructan contents among breads. These information may contribute to designing strategies to improve the management of gluten and fructans in bread.

Assignment of a Reference Value of Total Cow's Milk Protein Content in Baked Cookies Used in an Interlaboratory Comparison.

Interlaboratory comparisons (ILC) in the food allergens field mainly rely on the use of consensus values per applied methodology or even per type of an ELISA test kit. Results suggest good reproducibility; however, possible biases may not be recognized since metrological traceability to an independent reference is lacking. The work presented here utilizes isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) to assign a reference value of the total cow's milk protein (TCMP) content in a baked cookie and its associated uncertainty. TCMP consists of several individual proteins, of which five (representing 92%) served us as markers for TCMP. Per marker, one to four proteotypic peptides were selected for the quantification. These were synthesized, and the mass fractions of respective reference solutions were determined with peptide-impurity-corrected amino acid analysis to establish traceability to SI units. Stable isotope labelled ("heavy") analogues of the proteotypic peptides were also synthesized and blended with extracts of the test material or the reference solutions for IDMS. Through careful measurement design minimizing biases, well-defined model equations were developed, allowing appropriate estimation of the associated uncertainty. The determined reference value of 11.8 ± 1.1 mg TCMP/kg cookie was used for scoring of a novel ILC.

Long-term impact of COVID-19 associated acute respiratory distress syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the health status, exercise capacity, and health related quality of life (HRQoL) of COVID-19 associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) survivors, 8 months after diagnosis. METHODS: All eligible patients were interviewed and underwent a physical examination, chest X-ray, and 6 min walk test (6MWT). Scales to evaluate post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and HRQoL were applied. RESULTS: Of 1295 patients, 365 suffered ARDS and 166 survived to hospital discharge. Five died after discharge and 48 were lost to follow-up. Of the 113 remaining patients, 81% had persistent symptoms. More than 50% of patients completed less than 80% of the theoretical distance on the 6MWT, 50% had an abnormal X-ray and 93% of patients developed psychiatric disorders. Mean SF-36 scores were worse than in the general population. After multivariate regression analysis, female sex, non-Caucasian race, and Charlson index>2 were independent risk factors for a worse mental health component summary score on the SF-36, and age was associated with a better prognosis. Female sex and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were independently associated with a worse physical component summary score. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 associated ARDS survivors have long-term consequences in health status, exercise capacity, and HRQoL. Strategies addressed to prevent these sequelae are needed.

A reference method for determining the total allergenic protein content in a processed food: the case of milk in cookies as proof of concept.

The establishment of a reference method for the determination of the allergen protein content in a processed food material has been explored. An analytical approach was developed to enable the comparability of food allergen measurement results expressed in a decision-relevant manner. A proof of concept is here presented, resulting in quantity values for the common measurand, namely 'mass of total allergen protein per mass of food'. The quantities are determined with SI traceability to enable the comparability of reported results. A method for the quantification of total milk protein content in an incurred baked food at a concentration level clinically relevant is presented. The strategy on how to obtain the final analytical result is outlined. Challenges associated with this method are discussed, in particular the optimal extraction of the marker proteins, the complete digestion and release of the peptides in an equimolar fashion, the use of conversion factors to translate the amount of measured proteins into total milk protein and the estimation of the uncertainty contributions as well as of the combined uncertainty of the final result. The implementation of such a reference method for the determination of the total allergen content in a processed food is an important step, which will provide comparable measurement data of relevance to risk assessors. Graphical abstract.

Determination of tropane alkaloids in cereals, tea and herbal infusions: Exploiting proficiency testing data as a basis to derive interlaboratory performance characteristics of an improved LC-MS/MS method.

Monitoring of tropane alkaloids is regulated in the European Union in cereal-based foods for infants and young children, tea and herbal infusions. The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) developed an improved LC-MS/MS analytical method using a pentafluorophenyl column, validated it and conducted two proficiency tests targeting these food categories. A subset of the data gathered from laboratories that used the JRC method was additionally exploited to derive interlaboratory performance characteristics. The method showed fit-for-purpose figures of merit. The LOQs for atropine and scopolamine were around 0.4 and 1.2 µg/kg in cereal products, and in tea and herbal infusions, respectively. Uncertainties varied from 15 to 25%. The reproducibility varied from 11 to 38% for scopolamine and from 17 to 44% for atropine at levels ranging from 0.18 to 18.8 and 1.2-54.0 µg/kg, respectively. Recoveries ranged from 71 to 96%. These performance parameters render the method a good candidate for standardisation.

Chemical and structural studies provide a mechanistic basis for recognition of the MYC G-quadruplex.

G-quadruplexes (G4s) are noncanonical DNA structures that frequently occur in the promoter regions of oncogenes, such as MYC, and regulate gene expression. Although G4s are attractive therapeutic targets, ligands capable of discriminating between different G4 structures are rare. Here, we describe DC-34, a small molecule that potently downregulates MYC transcription in cancer cells by a G4-dependent mechanism. Inhibition by DC-34 is significantly greater for MYC than other G4-driven genes. We use chemical, biophysical, biological, and structural studies to demonstrate a molecular rationale for the recognition of the MYC G4. We solve the structure of the MYC G4 in complex with DC-34 by NMR spectroscopy and illustrate specific contacts responsible for affinity and selectivity. Modification of DC-34 reveals features required for G4 affinity, biological activity, and validates the derived NMR structure. This work advances the design of quadruplex-interacting small molecules to control gene expression in therapeutic areas such as cancer.

Total Parenteral Nutrition Standardization and Electronic Ordering to Reduce Errors: a Quality Improvement Initiative.

INTRODUCTION: Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) provides vital intravenous nutrition for patients who cannot tolerate enteral nutrition but is susceptible to medical errors due to its formulation, ordering, and administrative complexities. At Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, 22% of TPN orders required clarification of errors and averaged 10 minutes per order for error correction by pharmacists. Quality improvement methodology improved patient safety by standardizing TPN formulations and incorporating TPN ordering processes into the electronic medical record. METHODS: A multidisciplinary group of providers developed standardized TPN solutions for neonatal and pediatric patients. Inclusion, exclusion, and discontinuation criteria were defined. The primary outcome measure was reducing TPN ordering error rate, and secondary outcomes were improving TPN ordering and processing time along with reducing blood draws. Through multiple plan-do-study-act cycles, we standardized TPN solutions, incorporated them in the electronic medical record, monitored blood draws, and evaluated resource efficiency. Data were analyzed using chi-square tests of independence and t tests for 2 independent samples. RESULTS: The TPN ordering error rate significantly decreased from baseline of 22% to 3.2% over the final quarter of the study period, χ2 (1, N = 2,467) = 89.13, P < 0.001. Order processing time fell from 10 to 5 minutes by project end. The average number of blood draws decreased significantly from 6.2 (SD = 3.12) blood draws to 4.3 (SD = 2.13) in the last quarter of the study, t (506) = 5.97, P < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: Standardizing TPN and transitioning to electronic ordering effectively and significantly reduced ordering errors and processing time. It also substantially improved resource efficiency by reducing the number of blood draws.

Metabolomics for organic food authentication: Results from a long-term field study in carrots.

Increasing demand for organic products and their premium prices make them an attractive target for fraudulent malpractices. In this study, a large-scale comparative metabolomics approach was applied to investigate the effect of the agronomic production system on the metabolite composition of carrots and to build statistical models for prediction purposes. Orthogonal projections to latent structures-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was applied successfully to predict the origin of the agricultural system of the harvested carrots on the basis of features determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. When the training set used to build the OPLS-DA models contained samples representative of each harvest year, the models were able to classify unknown samples correctly (100% correct classification). If a harvest year was left out of the training sets and used for predictions, the correct classification rates achieved ranged from 76% to 100%. The results therefore highlight the potential of metabolomic fingerprinting for organic food authentication purposes.

Cooperative Targets of Combined mTOR/HDAC Inhibition Promote MYC Degradation.

Cancer treatments often require combinations of molecularly targeted agents to be effective. mTORi (rapamycin) and HDACi (MS-275/entinostat) inhibitors have been shown to be effective in limiting tumor growth, and here we define part of the cooperative action of this drug combination. More than 60 human cancer cell lines responded synergistically (CI<1) when treated with this drug combination compared with single agents. In addition, a breast cancer patient-derived xenograft, and a BCL-XL plasmacytoma mouse model both showed enhanced responses to the combination compared with single agents. Mice bearing plasma cell tumors lived an average of 70 days longer on combination treatment compared with single agents. A set of 37 genes cooperatively affected (34 downregulated; 3 upregulated) by the combination responded pharmacodynamically in human myeloma cell lines, xenografts, and a P493 model, and were both enriched in tumors, and correlated with prognostic markers in myeloma patient datasets. Genes downregulated by the combination were overexpressed in several untreated cancers (breast, lung, colon, sarcoma, head and neck, myeloma) compared with normal tissues. The MYC/E2F axis, identified by upstream regulator analyses and validated by immunoblots, was significantly inhibited by the drug combination in several myeloma cell lines. Furthermore, 88% of the 34 genes downregulated have MYC-binding sites in their promoters, and the drug combination cooperatively reduced MYC half-life by 55% and increased degradation. Cells with MYC mutations were refractory to the combination. Thus, integrative approaches to understand drug synergy identified a clinically actionable strategy to inhibit MYC/E2F activity and tumor cell growth in vivoMol Cancer Ther; 16(9); 2008-21. ©2017 AACR.

Determination of Ochratoxin A in Black and White Pepper, Nutmeg, Spice Mix, Cocoa, and Drinking Chocolate by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Fluorescence Detection: Collaborative Study.

A method validation study for the determination of ochratoxin A in black and white pepper (Piper spp.), nutmeg (Myristica fragrans), spice mix (blend of ginger, turmeric, pepper, nutmeg, and chili), cocoa powder, and drinking chocolate was conducted according to the International Harmonized Protocol of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. The method is based on the extraction of samples with aqueous methanol, followed by a cleanup of the extract with an immunoaffinity column. The determination is carried out by reversed-phase LC coupled with a fluorescence detector. The study involved 25 participants representing a cross-section of research, private, and official control laboratories from 12 European Union (EU) Member States, together with Turkey and Macedonia. Mean recoveries ranged from 71 to 85% for spices and from 85 to 88% for cocoa and drinking chocolate. The RSDr values ranged from 5.6 to 16.7% for spices and from 4.5 to 18.7% for cocoa and drinking chocolate. The RSDR values ranged from 9.5 to 22.6% for spices and from 13.7 to 30.7% for cocoa and drinking chocolate. The resulting Horwitz ratios ranged from 0.4 to 1 for spices and from 0.6 to 1.4 for cocoa and drinking chocolate according to the Horwitz function modified by Thompson. The method showed acceptable within-laboratory and between-laboratory precision for each matrix, and it conforms to requirements set by current EU legislation.

Small Molecule Microarrays Enable the Identification of a Selective, Quadruplex-Binding Inhibitor of MYC Expression.

The transcription factor MYC plays a pivotal role in cancer initiation, progression, and maintenance. However, it has proven difficult to develop small molecule inhibitors of MYC. One attractive route to pharmacological inhibition of MYC has been the prevention of its expression through small molecule-mediated stabilization of the G-quadruplex (G4) present in its promoter. Although molecules that bind globally to quadruplex DNA and influence gene expression are well-known, the identification of new chemical scaffolds that selectively modulate G4-driven genes remains a challenge. Here, we report an approach for the identification of G4-binding small molecules using small molecule microarrays (SMMs). We use the SMM screening platform to identify a novel G4-binding small molecule that inhibits MYC expression in cell models, with minimal impact on the expression of other G4-associated genes. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and thermal melt assays demonstrated that this molecule binds reversibly to the MYC G4 with single digit micromolar affinity, and with weaker or no measurable binding to other G4s. Biochemical and cell-based assays demonstrated that the compound effectively silenced MYC transcription and translation via a G4-dependent mechanism of action. The compound induced G1 arrest and was selectively toxic to MYC-driven cancer cell lines containing the G4 in the promoter but had minimal effects in peripheral blood mononucleocytes or a cell line lacking the G4 in its MYC promoter. As a measure of selectivity, gene expression analysis and qPCR experiments demonstrated that MYC and several MYC target genes were downregulated upon treatment with this compound, while the expression of several other G4-driven genes was not affected. In addition to providing a novel chemical scaffold that modulates MYC expression through G4 binding, this work suggests that the SMM screening approach may be broadly useful as an approach for the identification of new G4-binding small molecules.

Intersex related gene expression profiles in clams Scrobicularia plana: Molecular markers and environmental application.

Intersex, the appearance of female characteristics in male gonads, has been identified in several aquatic species. It is a widespread phenomenon in populations of the bivalve, Scrobicularia plana, from the southwest coast of the U.K. Genes previously identified as differentially expressed (ferritin, testicular haploid expressed gene, THEG, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, PCNA; receptor activated protein kinase C, RACK; cytochrome B, CYB; and cytochrome c oxidase 1, COX1) in intersex clams relative to normal male clams, were selected for characterisation and an environmental survey of the Channel region. Transcripts were significantly differentially expressed at sites with varying intersex incidence and contaminant burdens. Significant correlations between specific gene expressions, key contaminants and sampling locations have been identified, though no single gene was associated with intersex incidence. The results highlight the difficulty in understanding the intersex phenomenon in molluscs where there is still a lack of knowledge on the control of normal reproduction.