Incubation Period Research Articles

Validation of short culture method for rapid bacterial identification of blood cultures via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Abstract Background Development of rapid bacterial identification from blood cultures has been an area of intense study in diagnostic microbiology. Shortened turnaround time coupled with antimicrobial stewardship interventions have been shown to improve patient outcomes and decrease healthcare-associated costs. Objectives We report the validation of a short incubation method for Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial identification utilizing MALDI-TOF MS without additional instrumentation, processing or cost compared with current practice. Methods Prospective, observational, single-centre study in a quaternary care academic hospital encompassing 376 blood cultures subjected to bacterial identification after short incubation periods of 3–4 and 6–8 h. Results There was 97.5% species-level identification agreement with tests undertaken after 3–4 h incubation with 83.6% isolates identified, and 99.7% species-level identification agreement after 6–8 h incubation with 96.7% isolates identified. Conclusions The short incubation method provides a rapid MALDI-TOF MS bacterial identification method, reducing turnaround time by 10–18 h compared with standard practice without additional cost, processing or instrumentation.

Immobilization of Pb, Cd, and Cr in contaminated soil around mining areas using Mg/Al LDH-zeolite and evaluation of maize growth

Abstract This study conducted simultaneous adsorption of Pb, Cd, and Cr ions using Mg/Al LDH-zeolite on contaminated soils from lead-zinc and tin mining areas. The optimal conditions were a 3% adsorbent-to-soil ratio, a 30-day incubation period, and 70% soil moisture. Characterization of the materials revealed that Mg/Al LDH-zeolite has superior physicochemical properties to natural zeolite, with a higher surface area and better adsorption capacity. Results indicated significant reductions in exchangeable heavy metal content: in lead-zinc mining area soil, exchangeable Pb decreased from 139.79 mg/kg to 10.95 mg/kg, Cd from 1.518 mg/kg to 0.533 mg/kg, and Cr from 2.636 mg/kg to 0.461 mg/kg using Mg/Al LDH-zeolite. In tin mining area soil, exchangeable Pb decreased from 583.97 mg/kg to 48.22 mg/kg, Cd from 0.498 mg/kg to 0.122 mg/kg, and Cr from 106.095 mg/kg to 38.038 mg/kg. Maize cultivation on post-adsorption soil showed improved growth performance, with plants exhibiting increased height and ear and reduced heavy metal accumulation in roots, shoots, and grains. Pb, Cd, and Cr concentrations in maize roots decreased significantly, with Pb reducing to 0.113 mg/kg in the lead-zinc area and 0.203 mg/kg in the tin area, Cd reducing to 0.061 mg/kg and 0.037 mg/kg, respectively, and Cr reducing to 0.036 mg/kg and 0.243 mg/kg respectively. Mg/Al LDH-zeolite consistently demonstrated higher efficiency in reducing the bioavailability and translocation of heavy metals in maize tissues, confirming its potential as an effective adsorbent for soil remediation. Key mechanisms, including adsorption, surface complexation, ion exchange, precipitation, and structural incorporation, reduce metal mobility and bioavailability.

Effect of temperature on the embryonic and larvae development of discus fish Symphysodon aequifasciatus and time of first feeding.

This study aimed to analyze the influence of different temperatures on the embryonic and larval development of discus fish Symphysodon aequifasciatus and determine the time required for the beginning of exogenous feeding. Eggs and larvae were obtained from natural spawns and distributed in five treatments: 24.0, 26.0, 28.0, 30.0, and 32.0°C. To assess the developmental stages and embryonic structures, samples were taken at regular intervals and checked under an optical microscope. At the end of the experimental period, statistical analysis was performed, followed by Tukey's test. As a result, it was possible to observe the significant effects of temperature on the variables. It was noted that the temperature accelerated the embryonic and larval development of the discus and also contributed to a reduction in the time between the incubation period and the feeding transition. It was also noted that the incubation of eggs and larvae at a temperature of 24.0°C can cause damage to embryos, such as malformation of the body as well as anomalies in the circulatory system.

Oral Chagas disease outbreak by bacaba juice ingestion: A century after Carlos Chagas' discovery, the disease is still hard to manage.

Orally transmitted acute Chagas disease (ACD) primarily affects low-visibility and low-income individuals in tropical and subtropical zones. Managing ACD remains challenging even after more than 100 years of its discovery. Its spread to non-endemic areas has made it a global health issue. The aim of this work is to demonstrate the difficulties encountered in handling a real-life situation. This report examines an outbreak of 39 cases of ACD due to oral transmission by bacaba juice ingestion that occurred in Pedro do Rosário, Maranhão, Brazil. A clinical and epidemiological investigation, including an entomological search, was conducted. Diagnosis criteria included positive peripheral blood smear (PBS), seroconversion of IgG, and a two-fold increase in IgG titer (laboratory criteria); and clinical findings, epidemiological exposure, and at least one positive IgG test (clinical-epidemiological criteria). In-house conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on 33 samples. All patients were treated with benznidazole. After 4.5 years, IgG levels were reassessed in 26 individuals. The mean age was 33.6 years, with no gender difference. The mean incubation period was 13.8 days, and the mean between symptom onset and treatment was 16.6 days. The most common symptoms were fever and lymphadenopathy (90%). Diagnostic success rates were 66.6% (laboratory criteria), 23% (clinical-epidemiological criteria), and 10.2% (high clinical suspicion despite negative tests). Test positivity rates were 69.7% (PBS), 91.4% (serology), and 100% (PCR). There were no deaths. Serological cure was achieved in 34.6% of cases, and IgG titers decreased in 15.3%. We encountered several barriers in managing ACD, including population vulnerability, reliance on outdated diagnostic techniques, lack of standardized molecular biology methods, and limited therapeutic options. This report underscores the importance of rapid surveillance and early treatment to prevent fatalities. We recommend the standardization of conventional PCR in diagnostic routines.

Multi-parametric Photoacoustic Imaging Combined with Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Imaging for Applications in Tissue Engineering.

Tissue engineering is a dynamic field focusing on the creation of advanced scaffolds for tissue and organ regeneration. These scaffolds are customized to their specific applications and are often designed to be complex, large structures to mimic tissues and organs. This study addresses the critical challenge of effectively characterizing these thick, optically opaque scaffolds that traditional imaging methods fail to fully image due to their optical limitations. We introduce a novel multi-modal imaging approach combining ultrasound, photoacoustic, and acoustic radiation force impulse imaging. This combination leverages its acoustic-based detection to overcome the limitations posed by optical imaging techniques. Ultrasound imaging is employed to monitor the scaffold structure, photoacoustic imaging is employed to monitor cell proliferation, and acoustic radiation force impulse imaging is employed to evaluate the homogeneity of scaffold stiffness. We applied this integrated imaging system to analyze melanoma cell growth within silk fibroin protein scaffolds with varying pore sizes and therefore stiffness over different cell incubation periods. Among various materials, silk fibroin was chosen for its unique combination of features including biocompatibility, tunable mechanical properties, and structural porosity which supports extensive cell proliferation. The results provide a detailed mesoscale view of the scaffolds' internal structure, including cell penetration depth and biomechanical properties. Our findings demonstrate that the developed multimodal imaging technique offers comprehensive insights into the physical and biological dynamics of tissue-engineered scaffolds. As the field of tissue engineering continues to advance, the importance of non-ionizing and non-invasive imaging systems becomes increasingly evident, and by facilitating a deeper understanding and better characterization of scaffold architectures, such imaging systems are pivotal in driving the success of future tissue-engineering solutions.

"Luck Be a Lady": Retrospective Study of Disease-Associated Prion (PrPSc) Distribution and Lesions in Captive, Environmentally Exposed Female Rocky Mountain Elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni) with 132LL Genotype.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease of cervids caused by an infectious misfolded protein (prion). Several members of the Cervidae, including Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni), are susceptible to CWD. There is no evidence of complete genetic resistance to CWD; the M132L polymorphism in the elk prion protein gene influences the incubation period: longest in 132LL, intermediate in 132ML, and shortest in 132MM elk. We retrospectively analyzed six female 132LL elk housed in an environment heavily contaminated with prions to 1) document clinical outcomes and incubation periods, 2) describe PrPSc distribution and extent in tissues, and 3) characterize their histologic lesions. In five of six elk, PrPSc was detected postmortem, with a distribution pattern distinct from that of 132MM and 132ML elk; time to clinical CWD onset CWD ranged from 73 to 117 mo (6.1-9.8 yr). Although the remaining animal was observed for 220 mo (18.3 yr), PrPSc was not detected in its tissues postmortem. This study suggests that 132LL elk infected via natural exposure may live even longer with CWD than previously thought, but ultimately remain susceptible. We also report a distinct distribution of PrPSc in 132LL genotypes and highlight unusual histologic findings. Understanding the relationship between cervid genetics and CWD is of increasing importance, especially given the growing interest in leveraging genetics that delay disease onset despite not preventing infection.

Intravitreal chlorhexidine for sterilizing the vitreous cavity in an animal model of bacterial endophthalmitis

Purpose To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal chlorhexidine (CHX) for sterilising the vitreous cavity in bacterial endophthalmitis. Methods For in-vitro experiments, full-thickness retina explants were harvested from freshly enucleated pig eyes. Six-millimeter circular sensory retina patches were then incubated in varying concentrations of CHX (0.625-800 µg/mL) for 24 hours. Retinal cell viability was determined at the end of the incubation period with a live-dead assay. The bactericidal effects of the tested CHX concentrations were determined using a quantitative suspension test on Staphylococcus epidermidis. The safety of CHX was also tested by injecting varying doses of CHX (50-400 µg/mL) into the vitreous cavity of albino rabbits followed by flash electroretinography (ERG) and light microscopy. The bactericidal effect of the non-toxic CHX doses was determined using the rabbit model of endophthalmitis created by injecting 3000 CFU/0.1 mL of Staphylococcus epidermidis. Results In vitro concentrations of CHX greater than 6.25 µgr/mL exerted a bactericidal effect, while concentrations of CHX less than 200 µg/mL did not impair retinal cell viability. Intravitreal concentrations of CHX between 20-100 µg/mL were adequate to sterilise the infected rabbit vitreous cavity in the animal model. No significant functional or anatomical deleterious effect was observed with ERG or light microscopy. Conclusion CHX can sterilise the vitreous cavity in an animal model of bacterial endophthalmitis without impairing retinal cell viability. Our results encourage further research for clinical use of chlorhexidine in treatment of bacterial endophthalmitis.

AI-guided investigation of biochar’s efficacy in Pb immobilization for remediation of Pb contaminated agricultural land

This study evaluated the lead (Pb) immobilization efficiency of biochar in contaminated agricultural soil. The biochar was produced from a range of major biomass residues and pyrolyzed under well-controlled conditions. Ten different types of standard biochar samples were derived from five different feedstocks (i.e., softwood, miscanthus straw, rice husk, oilseed rape straw, wheat straw) and pyrolyzed at 550 ℃ and 700 ℃. Pb-contaminated soil near an abandoned mine was incubated with 2.5% (w w− 1) of biochar. Incubation was conducted for various durations at room temperature under both short-term (21 days) and long-term (214 days) conditions. This variation explicitly accounted for the simulated microplastic contamination during the long-term incubation period. A novel framework has been developed to predict the long-term immobilization effect of various biochar types using a machine-learning approach, following the successful identification of optimal biochar implementations. This prediction method utilizes a small on-field dataset by employing a data augmentation approach, showcasing an innovative approach to forecasting the effects of different biochar types over time. After the incubation period, soil samples were analyzed for their chemical properties. As a result, oil seed rape biochar was the highest in pH, EC, exchangeable Ca2+, Mg2+, and K+, total nitrogen content, soil organic matter content, and available phosphate. In return, OSR 700 treated soils showed the highest content of exchangeable cations and the lowest content of available Pb after the incubation period. The most efficient biochar for immobilizing lead (Pb) in soil appears to be OSR 700, based on the available evidence.

Threshold dynamics of a degenerated diffusive incubation period host–pathogen model with saturation incidence rate

In this paper, we consider an incubation period host–pathogen system with degenerated diffusion. The global compact attractor of the solution of the model is investigated using the κ-contraction method. Furthermore, the basic reproduction number is defined, and we discuss the dynamic analysis of a degenerated diffusion model. The obtained theoretical results are nontrivial and can be considered a continuation of the work by Wang et al. in 2022.

Effects of In Vivo / In Vitro Melatonin Application on the Duodenum in Rats with Experimental Hyperthyroidism

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of melatonin on the intestinal motility of hyperthyroidism rats. Therefore, we determined in vivo and in vitro effects of melatonin on duodenal tissue in experimental hyperthyroid rats. 34 Wistar-Albino male rats were fed with physiological conditions, and then euthanized by cervical dislocation. The experimental animals, Group 1: Control group (n=5), Group 1B: Melatonin group in vitro (n=5), Group 1C: Melatonin group in vivo (n=6), Group 2: 2A: Hypertension group (n=6), 2B: Group 2: Hyperthyroidi sm in vitro melatonin group (n=6), 2C: Hyperthyroidism in vivo melatonin group (n=6). Acetylcholine (ACh, 10-7, 10-6, 10-5, 10-4, 10-3, 10-2 M), potassium chloride (KCl, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 mM) at the end of the incubation period different doses were given to the bathing environment. In in vitro melatonin groups, the determined submaximal doses (ACh 10-4 M, KCl 60 mM) and melatonin at different doses (Mel 10-10, 10-9, 10-8, 10-7, 10-6, 10-5 and 10-4 M) were applied. It was determined that the contraction responses of the isolated duodenal tissues induced by KCl and ACh increased significantly (p

Transformation of waste thermocol into activated carbon for electrochemical detection of ammonia in an aqueous solution

In this study, waste thermocol sheets are used to synthesize activated carbon (AC) for the electrochemical detection of ammonia in an aqueous solution. The AC is characterized for its morphology, structure, and chemical composition via standard characterization techniques. AC shows promise for detecting ammonia in aqueous solutions due to its high adsorption capacity from large surface area and porosity. The electrochemical approach used to detect ammonia (NH3) in electrolyte solutions uses an AC electrode and is based mostly on the electro-oxidative conversion of ammonia species at the electrode's interface. AC electrodes fabricated on flexible conductive fabric (CF) are used for the electrochemical detection of ammonia at pH 6. The electrochemical sensing of ammonia in aqueous solutions involves its oxidation on the electrode's surface. Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) experiments were conducted over a pH range of 5 to 8, revealing optimal current responses at pH 6. Therefore, phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at pH 6.0 was employed for all electrochemical analyses. Various concentrations of ammonia (10–100 ppm) were investigated within a voltage window of −0.3 V to 0.3 V, with current signals increasing proportionally with ammonia concentration. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were determined to be 28.55 ppm and 86.54 ppm, respectively. An incubation period of 3 min was observed for ammonia concentrations ranging from 0 to 40 ppm. Selectivity evaluations were conducted by assessing interference effects from ethanol (E), methanol (M), toluene (T), and uric acid (UA), revealing ammonia's distinctive peak, indicative of superior selectivity. Notably, the electrode exhibited remarkable stability, retaining approximately 95 % of the original signal over a 5-week duration. The reproducibility of the fabricated electrodes shows significant results. The repeatability was performed at room temperature in a buffer solution of pH 6 and at a 40-ppm concentration of ammonia and has shown almost similar results. Therefore, the fabricated AC sensing electrode has shown prominent stability, reproducibility, and repeatability. These sensing electrodes can be very beneficial for sensing applications.

384 Synthesis of glycine from trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline by placentae but not endometria of gestating gilts

Abstract Trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline (Hyp) is an abundant amino acid in the collagen of pigs. The turnover of this protein releases a large amount of Hyp, traditionally considered a metabolic waste. However, results of recent studies documented the conversion of Hyp into glycine in young pigs. Because pregnant gilts are typically fed a soybean meal-based diet that contains insufficient glycine and provides only 35% of the total glycine needed by pregnant gilts, it is possible that the conceptus can form glycine from Hyp. This hypothesis was tested in the present study. Gilts were fed a 1.8-kg corn- and soybean meal-based diet containing 14% crude protein. On d 90 of gestation, gilts (n = 5) were hysterectomized after euthanasia. Slices (~ 100 mg) of placentae or endometria were incubated at 37 °C for 2 h in oxygenated (95% O2/5% CO2) Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer (pH 7.4, with 5 mM D-glucose) containing 0 or 2 mM Hyp. After a period of 2 h incubation, 200 μL of 1.5 M HClO4 was added into the incubation medium to stop the reaction. The tissues were homogenized and rinsed with 1 mL water, followed by the addition of 100 μL of 2 M K2CO3. The neutralized extract was analyzed for amino acids using HPLC involving derivatization with o-phthaldialdehyde. Tissues that received no incubation time were determined as well. Data were analyzed by the paired t-test. Results indicated that glycine was produced from 2 mM Hyp by the placenta (Table 1). Glycine was subsequently converted into serine by the placenta. The formation of glycine and serine from Hyp was not due to protein breakdown because there were no differences (P > 0.05) in concentrations of tyrosine (an amino acid that is neither synthesized nor degraded by porcine placentae) in the incubation medium plus tissue at the end of a 2-h incubation period. In contrast to placentae, endometria did not form glycine or serine from Hyp. These findings indicate an important role for Hyp in the provision of both glycine and serine in the conceptus, which may be nutritionally and physiologically significant to compensate for a deficiency of glycine in maternal diets for gestating gilts. (Supported by a USDA/NIFA grant # 2022-67015-36376 and USDA multistate Hatch project #7752: S1081)

Effect of humic acids extracted from different organic sources and inoculation with Bacillus subtilis or Aspergillus Niger on urease activity in calcareous soil

Humic substances have received a large share of research and development as amendments to poor fertility soils that are poor in fertility and have deteriorating physical properties, since the process of extracting is a common process and easy to implement, as well as diluting these acids with water enables them to be used at economically acceptable levels over large areas. It is necessary to noticed that the properties of these acids depending on the organic source and the concentration added to the soil. A laboratory experiment was conducted at the Department of Soil Sciences and Water Resources, College of Agriculture, University of Basrah ,IRAQ to demonstrate the effect of humic substances extracted from different sources and inoculation with Bacillus subtilis or Aspergillus niger on the activity of the urease in calcareous soil. Wheat straw, alfalfa leaves, goat waste and poultry waste were composted aerobically for 3 months by filling a hole of 2×2×1.5 m by layers of such waste ,turned weekly for aeration. Each pile was extracted for humic acids (humic acid + fulvic acid) . Humic acid mixed with to soil at levels of 0, 25, and 50 L h-1. The soil was also inoculated with Bacillus subtilis or Aspergillus niger isolated from local soil at rates of 20.06×106 and 40× 103 cfu ml-1, respectively The samples were incubated at field capacity level 28±2°C for 30 days. Urease activity was estimated after 7 or 30 days by determining NH4+ released using steam distillation method . A decrease in urease activity was observed when treated with different types of humic acid compared to the control treatment. The lowest activity was obtained at humic acids extracted from poultry waste, reaching 312.0 and 188.72 µg N-NH4+g-1soil.2h-1 at incubation periods of 7 and 30 days, respectively .The results also indicated that increasing the level of humic acids significantly inhibited the activity of the enzyme. However, in soil treated with Bacillus subtilis or Aspergillus niger, an increase in urease activity was observed compared to the non-inoculation treatment. Treatment with the fungal inoculant had higher activity than the bacterial inoculum, reaching 324.5 and 297.2 µg N-NH4+ g-1 soil 2 hours-1 for both inoculants at a period of 7 days, and 178.09 and 150.31 µg N-NH4+g-1soil.2h-1at a period of 30 days, respectively.It is proposed that the inhibition of urease by humic acid addition may benefit for increasing urea fertilizer efficiency.

Epidemiological characteristics of human rabies cases reported by sites in China from 2006 to 2022

BackgroundRabies is an incessant public health threat in China. The Ministry of Health implemented the Central Payment for Rabies Prevention and Control Project to assist with rabies prevention and control in a few representative provinces in 2006.MethodsData on human rabies cases reported by the National Infectious Disease Reporting Information Management System and national surveillance sites from 2006 to 2022 were collected, and statistical and multivariate analyses were then used to assess the effectiveness of current prevention and control efforts.ResultsDuring 2006–2022, a total of 2025 human rabies cases were collected by the national surveillance sites, with incidence rates far above the national average, but the incidence rate was consistent with the national trend. Human rabies cases demonstrated a dual peak distribution in terms of exposure and onset dates, with the peak exposure dates falling mostly in the spring and summer and the peak onset dates occurring mostly in the summer and autumn. Three danger categories are shown by the geographical distribution: high, medium and low. Dogs had a high infection rate (86.93%), with own domesticated dogs accounting for the majority of infections. The rates of post-exposure prophylaxis are not constant. The median incubation period was 71 days.ConclusionsVarious measures and policies implemented by the government have played a key role in reducing the incidence of rabies. To effectively prevent and control the resurgence of epidemics and halt the spread of the virus among host animals, it is imperative to prioritize and implement a robust dog management system, accelerate research and development of animal vaccines and improve the level of post-exposure prophylaxis.

Sialic acid detection and theranostic activity of phenylboronic acid-based fluorescent probe in human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells

A new probe, 4-(((3′,6′-bis(diethylamino)-3-oxospiro[isoindoline-1,9′-xanthen]-2-yl)imino)methyl)phenyl)boronic acid (R4B) was prepared by facile condensation of 4-formylphenylboronic acid and rhodamine B hydrazide. R4B was characterized by spectroscopic methods and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The sensor R4B solution turned pink and emitted orange fluorescence only in the presence of sialic acid but remained colorless and non-fluorescent otherwise. The sugar recognition performance was investigated via UV–vis and fluorescence spectroscopic studies. Our results revealed that R4B has good affinity and selectivity for sialic acid over common monosaccharides, with a detection limit as low as 10−7 M. Furthermore, R4B selectively inhibited growth of human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 (IC50 <20 µM) without significant cytotoxicity to normal human colon fibroblasts CCD-18Co. Treatment with R4B suppressed HT-29 colony formation via mitochondrial apoptosis in a time-dependent manner. Cellular imaging studies also revealed the ability of R4B as a fluorescence dye to detect intracellular sialic acid and showed mitochondria-tracking ability in HT-29 cells. In summary, R4B is a potential theranostic for the detection of intracellular sialic acid during the early incubation period, followed by induction of cancer apoptotic cell death at a later treatment point.

Validity of reducing blood culture incubation time for the BD BACTEC FX blood culture system considering microbiological and clinical aspects

IntroductionA blood culture (BC) test is vital for diagnosing bacteremia in clinical practice. Although incubation time varies among automated BC systems, 4–5 days is deemed to be sufficient time for the BD BACTEC FX blood culture system. This study compared the clinical and microbiological characteristics of true-positive BC samples on day 5 with those within 4 days to reduce missed true bacteremia cases. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study of blood cultures from hospitalized patients between April 2020 and April 2023 at a tertiary care hospital in Japan. ResultsIn total, 12,342 BC sets were collected from 6,567 patients. Gram-positive bacilli other than Bacillus spp. and Corynebacterium spp., non-albicans Candida, and yeasts other than Candida spp. were detected more frequently in BC-positive patients on day 5 than in those within 4 days. The gastrointestinal tract was the portal of entry more frequently on day 5 than within 4 days (25 % vs. 4 %, p = 0.006). ConclusionA 4-day incubation period is sufficient for the BD BACTEC FX blood culture system under routine conditions. However, a 5-day incubation period may be warranted when low pathogenicity is suspected or the gastrointestinal tract is suspected as the portal of entry.

Half substitution of mineral N with fish protein hydrolysate enhancing microbial residue C and N storage and climate benefits under high straw residue return

The widespread utilization of straw return was a popular practice straw disposal for highly intensive agriculture in China, which has brought about some negative impacts such as less time for straw complete biodegradation, aggravation of greenhouse gas evolution, and lower efficient of carbon accumulation. It was urgent to find an eco-friendly N-rich organic fertilizer instead of mineral N as activator to solve the above problems and lead a carbon accumulation in long tern management. Besides, microbial necromass was considered as a crucial contributor to persistent soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pool. How organic fertilizer activators influence microbial residue under different amount of crop residues input remained unclear. Thus, soils incorporating moderate and high rate of rice straw residue with additions of half and full of organic activators (fish protein hydrolysates vs. manure) were incubated for measuring carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emission, microbial community and necromass. It was found that soil CO2 emission was rapidest during the first 13 days of straw decomposition but remained lowest in the treatments of 50% mineral N substituted by fish protein hydrolysate. There were that 81%–89% of total CO2 release and 59%–65% of total N2O emission occurred within 60 days of incubation period, and bacterial community and nitrate positively affected soil CO2 and N2O release respectively. Straw incorporation amount and organic activator application interactively influenced soil CO2 emission but not affected soil N2O emission. After 360 days of incubation, the difference of bacterial necromass was noticeable but fungal necromass remained almost unaltered across all treatments. All treatments showed generally comparable contribution of microbial necromass N to the total N pool. The treatment of 50% mineral N substituted by fish protein hydrolysate under high rate of straw input (HSF50) promoted the highest proportion of microbial necromass C in soil organic C because of alleviating N limitation for microorganisms. Finally, HSF50 was recommended as an eco-friendly strategy for enhancing microbial necromass C and N storage and climate benefits in agroecosystems.

Emulating target trials of postexposure vaccines using observational data.

Postexposure vaccination has the potential to prevent or modify the course of clinical disease among those exposed to a pathogen. However, due to logistical constraints, postexposure vaccine trials have been difficult to implement in practice. In place of trials, investigators have used observational data to estimate the effectiveness or optimal timing window for postexposure vaccines, but the relationship between these analyses and those that would be conducted in a trial is often unclear. Here, we define several possible target trials for postexposure vaccination and show how, under certain conditions, they can be emulated using observational data. We emphasize the importance of the incubation period and the timing of vaccination in trial design and emulation. As an example, we specify a protocol for postexposure vaccination against mpox and provide a step-by-step description of how to emulate it using data from a healthcare database or contact tracing program. We further illustrate some of the benefits of the target trial approach through simulation.

Taming the Production of Bioluminescent Wood Using the White Rot Fungus Desarmillaria Tabescens.

Although bioluminescence is documented both anecdotally and experimentally, the parameters involved in the production of fungal bioluminescence during wood colonization have not been identified to date. Here, for the first time, this work develops a methodology to produce a hybrid living material by manipulating wood colonization through merging the living fungus Desarmillaria tabescens with nonliving balsa (Ochroma pyramidale) wood to achieve and control the autonomous emission of bioluminescence. The hybrid material with the highest bioluminescence is produced by soaking the wood blocks before co-cultivating them with the fungus for 3 months. Regardless of the incubation period, the strongest bioluminescence is evident from balsa wood blocks with a moisture content of 700-1200%, highlighting the fundamental role of moisture content for bioluminescence production. Further characterization reveals that D. tabescens preferentially degraded hemicelluloses and lignin in balsa wood. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy reveals a decrease in lignin, while X-ray diffraction analysis confirms that the cellulose crystalline structure is not altered during the colonization process. This information will enable the design of ad-hoc synthetic materials that use fungi as tools to maximize bioluminescence production, paving the way for an innovative hybrid material that could find application in the sustainable production of light.

Review Based Study of Monkeypox Disease: A Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

Monkeypox, a zoonotic disease, has become the hot topic spreading across the newspaper headlines like a forest fire. The disease is transmitted from one individual to another by close, intimate contact such as cuddling, kissing, or contact with fluids in the dermal lesions. Though it is a self-limiting disease with symptoms akin to Smallpox (but a milder version), some severe cases have been reported as well. WHO has reported the case fatality rate of Monkeypox infection to be around 3–6%, which is slightly higher than that of COVID-19. Incubation period of the disease is 6–13 days on an average (range of 5–21 days). The monkeypox virus, which was previously exclusive to West and Central African nations and caused endemic diseases in monkeys and people, has recently been linked to human infections in non-endemic areas including the United States of America (USA) and more than 30 additional countries. The monkeypox outbreak continues to be a worldwide health emergency, the highest degree of alert recognised by the World Health Organization. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises vaccination for those who have been exposed to the disease as well as those who may be at higher risk of contracting it, such as those who have been identified by public health officials as a contact of someone who has the disease.