Molecular and geochemical basis of microbially induced carbonate precipitation for treating acid mine drainage: The case of a novel Sporosarcina genomospecies from mine tailings.

Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) immobilizes toxic metals and reduces their bioavailability in aqueous systems. However, its application in the treatment of acid mine drainage (AMD) is poorly understood. In this study, the genomes of Sporosarcina sp. UB5 and UB10 were sequenced. Urease, carbonic anhydrases, and metal resistance genes were identified and enzymatic assays were performed for their validation. The geochemical mechanism of precipitation in AMD was elucidated through geo-mineralogical analysis. Sporosarcina sp. UB5 was shown to be a new genomospecies, with an average nucleotide identity < 95 % (ANI) and DNA-DNA hybridization < 70 % (DDH) whereas UB10 is close to S. pasteurii. UB5 contained two urease operons, whereas only one was identified in UB10. The ureolytic activities of UB5 and UB10 were 122.67 ± 15.74 and 131.70 ± 14.35 mM NH4+ min-1, respectively. Both strains feature several carbonic anhydrases of the α, ß, or γ families, which catalyzed the precipitation of CaCO3. Only Sporosarcina sp. UB5 was able to immobilize metals and neutralize AMD. Geo-mineralogical analyses revealed that UB5 directly immobilized Fe (1-23 %), Mn (0.65-1.33 %) and Zn (0.8-3 %) in AMD via MICP and indirectly through adsorption to calcite and binding to bacterial cell walls. The MICP-treated AMD exhibited high removal rates (>67 %) for Ag, Al, As, Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn, and a removal rate of 15 % for Mg. This study provides new insights into the MICP process and its applications to AMD treatment using autochthonous strains.

Recognition and Awareness of Sepsis by First-Aid Providers in Adults With Suspected Infection: A Scoping Review.

Sepsis accounts for a significant proportion of preventable deaths worldwide and early treatment has been found to be a mainstay of decreasing mortality. Early identification of sepsis in the first-aid setting is critical as this results in a shorter time to hospital presentation and management with antibiotics and initial resuscitation. Our aim was to explore the existing literature related to either sepsis recognition or awareness of sepsis by first-aid providers who are evaluating an adult suspected of an acute infection. Our scoping review was performed as part of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation's (ILCOR) continuous evidence evaluation process to update the 2024 ILCOR Consensus on Science with Treatment Recommendations. We searched Embase, Medline, and Cochrane databases from their inception to January 17, 2023, with updated searches performed on November 21, 2023, and December 2, 2023. The gray literature search was conducted on August 29, 2023. The population included adults presenting with an acute illness exhibiting signs and symptoms of a severe infection. Outcomes included sepsis recognition or awareness of sepsis by a lay first-aid provider. After reviewing 4380 potential sources, four reviews (three systematic reviews and one scoping review), 11 observational studies, and 27 websites met the inclusion criteria. No study directly addressed our PICOST (Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcomes, Study Design, and Timeframe) question as none were performed in the first-aid setting. Three systematic reviews and nine observational studies that assessed the ability of early warning scores to detect sepsis and predict adverse outcomes secondary to sepsis had inconsistent results, but many found the screening tools to be useful. One scoping review and one observational study found public knowledge and awareness of sepsis to be variable and dependent upon healthcare employment, location, education level, ethnicity, sex, and age. Signs and symptoms associated with sepsis as listed by gray literature sources fell primarily under nine general categories as a means of educating the public on sepsis recognition. Although this scoping review did not identify any studies that directly addressed our outcomes, it highlights the need for future research to better understand the recognition of sepsis in first-aid settings.

Oral pathobiont Klebsiella chaperon usher pili provide site-specific adaptation for the inflamed gut mucosa.

The ectopic gut colonization by orally derived pathobionts has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various gastrointestinal diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). For example, gut colonization by orally derived Klebsiella spp. has been linked to IBD in mice and humans. However, the mechanisms whereby oral pathobionts colonize extra-oral niches, such as the gut mucosa, remain largely unknown. Here, we performed a high-density transposon (Tn) screening to identify genes required for the adaptation of an oral Klebsiella strain to different mucosal sites - the oral and gut mucosae - at the steady state and during inflammation. We find that K. aerogenes, an oral pathobiont associated with both oral and gut inflammation in mice, harbors a newly identified genomic locus named "locus of colonization in the inflamed gut (LIG)" that encodes genes related to iron acquisition (Sit and Chu) and host adhesion (chaperon usher pili [CUP] system). The LIG locus is highly conserved among K. aerogenes strains, and these genes are also present in several other Klebsiella species. The Tn screening revealed that the LIG locus is required for the adaptation of K. aerogenes in its ectopic niche. In particular, we determined K. aerogenes employs a CUP system (CUP1) present in the LIG locus for colonization in the inflamed gut, but not in the oral mucosa. Thus, oral pathobionts likely exploit distinct adaptation mechanisms in their ectopically colonized intestinal niche compared to their native niche.

2023 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations: Summary From the Basic Life Support; Advanced Life Support; Pediatric Life Support; Neonatal Life Support; Education, Implementation, and Teams; and First Aid Task Forces.

The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation engages in a continuous review of new, peer-reviewed, published cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid science. Draft Consensus on Science With Treatment Recommendations are posted online throughout the year, and this annual summary provides more concise versions of the final Consensus on Science With Treatment Recommendations from all task forces for the year. Topics addressed by systematic reviews this year include resuscitation of cardiac arrest from drowning, extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation for adults and children, calcium during cardiac arrest, double sequential defibrillation, neuroprognostication after cardiac arrest for adults and children, maintaining normal temperature after preterm birth, heart rate monitoring methods for diagnostics in neonates, detection of exhaled carbon dioxide in neonates, family presence during resuscitation of adults, and a stepwise approach to resuscitation skills training. Members from 6 International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation task forces have assessed, discussed, and debated the quality of the evidence, using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation criteria, and their statements include consensus treatment recommendations. Insights into the deliberations of the task forces are provided in the Justification and Evidence-to-Decision Framework Highlights sections. In addition, the task forces list priority knowledge gaps for further research. Additional topics are addressed with scoping reviews and evidence updates.

2023 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations: Summary From the Basic Life Support; Advanced Life Support; Pediatric Life Support; Neonatal Life Support; Education, Implementation, and Teams; and First Aid Task Forces.

The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation engages in a continuous review of new, peer-reviewed, published cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid science. Draft Consensus on Science With Treatment Recommendations are posted online throughout the year, and this annual summary provides more concise versions of the final Consensus on Science With Treatment Recommendations from all task forces for the year. Topics addressed by systematic reviews this year include resuscitation of cardiac arrest from drowning, extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation for adults and children, calcium during cardiac arrest, double sequential defibrillation, neuroprognostication after cardiac arrest for adults and children, maintaining normal temperature after preterm birth, heart rate monitoring methods for diagnostics in neonates, detection of exhaled carbon dioxide in neonates, family presence during resuscitation of adults, and a stepwise approach to resuscitation skills training. Members from 6 International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation task forces have assessed, discussed, and debated the quality of the evidence, using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation criteria, and their statements include consensus treatment recommendations. Insights into the deliberations of the task forces are provided in the Justification and Evidence-to-Decision Framework Highlights sections. In addition, the task forces list priority knowledge gaps for further research. Additional topics are addressed with scoping reviews and evidence updates.

Predictions and test of multiple climate-species richness hypotheses to explain the spatial distribution of tenebrionid beetles in mountain environments.

Few studies have evaluated how climate is mechanistically related to species richness in mountain environments. We used path analysis to evaluate predictions of several mechanistic hypotheses based on their hypothesized mechanism relating climate with richness of darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). We modeled the influence of spatial covariation on climatic variables and tenebrionid richness. Results showed that richness peaks at mid elevations, chiefly influenced by precipitation and temperature, both directly and indirectly through geographic range sizes. The best fitting model explains 84% of the variance of tenebrionid richness. We suggest this pattern is induced by a water-energy balance along the altitudinal gradient. At low elevations, energy availability is high but water deficit may limit species richness; in contrast, at high elevations water availability is high, but energy deficit may limit species richness. These results suggest high susceptibility of the study region to future global climate change.

Taxonomic revision of the Peruvian genus Pilobaloderes Kulzer, 1958 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Pimeliinae, Praociini).

The monotypic genus Pilobaloderes Kulzer (Pimeliinae: Praociini), endemic to Peruvian Andes, is revised. Based on examination of recently collected specimens, we describe the female of the type species and a new species, Pilobaloderes aquilonarius sp. nov., emphasizing dimorphic and diagnostic characters of the protibiae. A redescription of the genus and its species, with remarks about sexual dimorphism are included. Habitus photographs, illustrations of protibiae, genital features, and a distribution map are also presented.

Conservative management following patellar dislocation: a level I systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Patellar instability is a common and disabling clinical condition. Treatment of acute primary patellar dislocation aims to reduce the risk of recurrence or painful subluxation and improve function. However, the actual clinical efficacy of any management modality following an acute dislocation has never been demonstrated in prospective or retrospective studies, and the optimal way in which the various management modalities should be used is at best unclear. METHODS: A search was conducted in PubMed, Bireme and Embase databases. Inclusion criteria followed the acronym PICOS, (P) subjects with patellar instability, (I) therapeutic interventions, (C) placebo or control or surgical treatments, (O) rate of dislocations and function, and (S) clinical trials. The Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms used were: (("patellar instability") OR ("patellar dislocation")) AND ((physiotherapy) OR (rehabilitation) OR ("conservative treatment") OR (therapy) OR (therapeutic)). The risk of bias was analysed using the PeDRO scale. RESULTS: Seven randomized controlled trials including 282 patients were considered. The quality of studies detailing the results of conservative treatment was higher than that of surgical procedures, but all studies have relatively low methodological quality. Four studies compared physiotherapeutic interventions with surgical procedures, and three studies compared conservative intervention techniques. CONCLUSION: An unstructured lower limb physical therapy programme evidences similar outcomes to specific exercises. Surgical management is associated with a lower rate of re-dislocation; however, whether surgery produces greater functional outcomes than conservative management is still unclear. The use of a knee brace with a limited range of motion, stretching and neuromuscular exercises are the most commonly recommended physiotherapy methodologies.

Environmental factors determining the diversity of darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in arid, high-altitude environments in Northwestern Argentina.

Factors influencing the diversity of tenebrionid beetles in arid, high-altitude environments in the northwest of Argentina are little-known. Using pitfall traps and suction sampling in 30 sites, we collected these beetles in Altos Andes (AA) and Puna (PU) ecoregions and evaluated how local and regional factors influenced their assemblages. During each sampling date, we registered variables related to climate, vegetation, and soil in each sampling site. In total, we recorded 270 individuals from 21 species, richness of species was higher in PU than in AA, but without a statistically significant difference. Twelve species were present exclusively in PU, while two in AA. Tenebrionid assemblages in both ecoregions had different dominant species, in PU, Psectrascelis cariosicollis while Epipedonota interandina in AA. Beta diversity between ecoregions was moderate and we recorded a high beta diversity and high turnover of species in each ecoregion. The geographical distance between the sites influenced the similarity of the assemblages inside and between ecoregions, therefore, an increase in the geographical distance between sites determined a decrease in the similarity of the assemblages. The increase in elevation of the sampled sites did not produce significant changes in the abundance and richness of Tenebrionidae. There is no individual factor responsible for the darkling beetle communities structuration in these high-altitude environments. Different combinations of both local (soil and vegetation) and regional (climate and geographical distance) environmental factors together explain the ecoregional tenebrionid assemblages. We suggest including them among the focus groups in conservation studies to evaluate anthropogenic activities in this area.

Downward quantum learning from element 118: Automated generation of Fermi-Löwdin orbitals for all atoms.

A new algorithm based on a rigorous theorem and quantum data computationally mined from element 118 guarantees automated construction of initial Fermi-Löwdin-Orbital (FLO) starting points for all elements in the Periodic Table. It defines a means for constructing a small library of scalable FLOs for universal use in molecular and solid-state calculations. The method can be systematically improved for greater efficiency and for applications to excited states such as x-ray excitations and optically silent excitations. FLOs were introduced to recast the Perdew-Zunger self-interaction correction (PZSIC) into an explicit unitarily invariant form. The FLOs are generated from a set of N quasi-classical electron positions, referred to as Fermi-Orbital descriptors (FODs), and a set of N-orthonormal single-electron orbitals. FOD positions, when optimized, minimize the PZSIC total energy. However, creating sets of starting FODs that lead to a positive definite Fermi orbital overlap matrix has proven to be challenging for systems composed of open-shell atoms and ions. The proof herein guarantees the existence of a FLOSIC solution and further guarantees that if a solution for N electrons is found, it can be used to generate a minimum of N - 1 and a maximum of 2N - 2 initial starting points for systems composed of a smaller number of electrons. Applications to heavy and super-heavy atoms are presented. All starting solutions reported here were obtained from a solution for element 118, Oganesson.

Monkeypox and its broad clinical spectrum in immunocompromised patients: Two case reports.

Monkeypox is the latest reemerging zoonosis worldwide. Anyone is susceptible to contracting this infection; however, the clinical presentation may be atypical in a particularly vulnerable group that identifies as men who have sex with men. Herein, we present two cases of patients diagnosed with monkeypox infection, both of whom were also co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and exhibited different degrees of immunosuppression. Notably, the clinical presentations differed significantly. Patients co-infected with HIV are prone to develop clinical features ranging from barely visible lesions to severe or even fatal disease.

Microbiota-mediated colonization resistance: mechanisms and regulation.

A dense and diverse microbial community inhabits the gut and many epithelial surfaces. Referred to as the microbiota, it co-evolved with the host and is beneficial for many host physiological processes. A major function of these symbiotic microorganisms is protection against pathogen colonization and overgrowth of indigenous pathobionts. Dysbiosis of the normal microbial community increases the risk of pathogen infection and overgrowth of harmful pathobionts. The protective mechanisms conferred by the microbiota are complex and include competitive microbial-microbial interactions and induction of host immune responses. Pathogens, in turn, have evolved multiple strategies to subvert colonization resistance conferred by the microbiota. Understanding the mechanisms by which microbial symbionts limit pathogen colonization should guide the development of new therapeutic approaches to prevent or treat disease.

Conditions of employment, work and quality of life of men and women in informal jobs.

OBJECTIVE: Identify gender gaps in the employment conditions, work and quality of life of informal sellers in Vega Central of Chile. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study with eighty workers, who answered modules of the Encuesta Nacional de Condiciones de Empleo, Trabajo y Salud (ENETS - National Survey of Employment, Work and Health Conditions) and the SF-36 Health Questionnaire for data collection. We performed a descriptive analysis to determine the characteristics of the population and the Chi-square test to study correlations between each of the variables with gender. RESULTS: Of the sample, fifty (62.5%) are male and thirty (37.5%) are female. Both groups have similar conditions of employment, work and quality of life. However, women express greater fear than men do with respect to demanding better working conditions, as well as more discouragement and sadness during the workday and a worse perception of their state of health. CONCLUSIONS: Strategies for the promotion and prevention of occupational health and social security should consider a gender perspective on working conditions and health indicators, allowing women to develop tools to demand fair conditions and promote employer obligations to care for the well-being of male and female workers.

Revision of the subgenus Mesopraocis Flores & Pizarro-Araya of the Neotropical genus Praocis Eschscholtz (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Pimeliinae).

The second part of a revision of the species of the genus Praocis Eschscholtz is presented. The subgenus Mesopraocis Flores & Pizarro-Araya, distributed in northern Chile from 25° South to 31° South, is revised. This article includes a redescription of the subgenus, redescriptions of its species, an identification key, and a discussion on morphological adaptations of the species to fossorial life. Habitus photographs, scanning electron micrographs of head, antennae, prosternum, abdomen, and protibiae, illustrations of genital features, and distribution maps are presented. Conical pegs sensilla on tibiae are described and illustrated using SEM for the first time for a South American tenebrionid species. A new Praocis species is described: Praocis (Mesopraocis) arenicola sp. nov. Praocis (Mesopraocis) flava Kulzer, 1958 is synonymised with P. (M.) pilula Laporte, 1840. Other species of the subgenus are: P. (M.) calderana Kulzer and P. (M.) nitens Kulzer. A statement on the variation in the number of antennomeres in P. (M.) pilula is appended.

Species diversity of Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera) in mountaintops of extra-Andean volcanoes of Payunia (Argentina), with descriptions of two new species.

The north of Neuquén province shares with the south of Mendoza province the subprovince Payunia of the biogeographical province of Patagonic steppe, which is characterized by the presence of approximately 800 volcanoes. Although we have conducted several samplings in volcanoes of Mendoza in past years to recognize the biodiversity of tenebrionids, it is still pending which is the role that these mountains have in the biota of tenebrionids in Neuquén. In this work we reported the results of two consecutive years of prospection in two volcanoes separated by 120 km between each other, Tromen and Auca Mahuida which have 3978 and 2215 meters above sea level respectively. We found that Auca Mahuida harbours a total diversity of 10 tenebrionid species and Tromen 9, but these communities were significantly different between them. From these prospections two new endemic species of Tenebrionidae are described: Scotobius aucamahuidensis Silvestro sp. nov. (Tenebrioninae: Scotobiini) from Auca Mahuida and Psectrascelis tromensis Flores sp. nov. (Pimeliinae: Nycteliini) from Tromen. Photographs for these two new species are included, with comparisons to other known species of these genera. Based on these results we discuss the role of different factors that influence tenebrionid diversity and their implications to conserve biodiversity.

Regulation of Citrobacter rodentium colonization: virulence, immune response and microbiota interactions.

Citrobacter rodentium is a mouse-specific pathogen commonly used to model infection by human Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, an important cause of infant diarrhea and mortality worldwide. In the early phase of infection, C. rodentium overcomes competition by the gut microbiota for successful replication. Then, the pathogen uses a type three secretion system (T3SS) to inject effector proteins into intestinal epithelial cells and induce metabolic and inflammatory conditions that promote colonization of the intestinal epithelium. C. rodentium also elicits highly coordinated innate and adaptive immune responses in the gut that regulate pathogen colonization and eradication. In this review, we highlight recent work on the regulation and function of the C. rodentium T3SS, the mechanisms employed by the pathogen to evade competition by the microbiota, and the function of the host immune response against infection.