Antifungal resistance in yeast vaginitis.

The increased number of vaginal yeast infections in the past few years has been a disturbing trend, and the scientific community has been searching for its etiology. Several theories have been put forth to explain the apparent increase. First, the recent widespread availability of low-dosage, azole-based over-the-counter antifungal medications for vaginal yeast infections encourages women to self-diagnose and treat, and women may be misdiagnosing themselves. Their vaginitis may be caused by bacteria, parasites or may be a symptom of another underlying health condition. As a result, they may be unnecessarily and chronically expose themselves to antifungal medications and encourage fungal resistance. Second, medical technology has increased the life span of seriously immune compromised individuals, yet these individuals are frequently plagued by opportunistic fungal infections. Long-term and intense azole-based antifungal treatment has been linked to an increase in resistant Candida and non-Candida species. Thus, the future of limiting antifungal resistance lies in identifying the factors promoting resistance and implementing policies to prevent it

Transformative mobilities in the Pacific: Promoting adaptation and development in a changing climate

Climate change is affecting Pacific life in significant and complex ways. Human mobility is shaped by climate change and is increasingly positioned by international agencies, policymakers, and governments as having an important role in both climate change adaptation and human development. We consider the potential for human mobility to promote adaptation and development among Pacific people in a changing climate. We argue that where Pacific people choose mobility, this should be supported and create opportunities that are responsive to the histories and existing patterns of mobility and place attachment among Pacific Islanders; commence from a position of climate and development justice; and advance human rights and socio-political equity. Transformative mobilities are where mobility, adaptation, and development intersect to achieve the best possible outcomes for cultural identity, human rights, adaptation, and human development goals across scales and in origin and destination sites

Air Raid

Ġabra ta’ poeżiji u proża li tinkludi: Dwejjaq Missirijietna ta’ Rużar Briffa – Xemx ta’ Settembru ta’ Vic. Apap – God Save the King ta’ Ġużè Galea – It-8 ta’ Settembru Londra, 1942 ta’ A. V. Vassallo – Wenzu jsib lil Luċija f’Lazzarett ta’ Dun Pawl – MDLXV ta’ Albert M. Cassola – Innu lil San Duminku ta’ Gużman – Innu lill-Bambina – Il-Għanja tar-Rebħa! ta’ N. Biancardi – Air Raid ta’ E. Agius.N/

Loss of SOX10 function contributes to the phenotype of human Merlin-null schwannoma cells.

Loss of the Merlin tumour suppressor causes abnormal de-differentiation and proliferation of Schwann cells and formation of schwannoma tumours in patients with neurofibromatosis type 2. Within the mature peripheral nerve the normal development, differentiation and maintenance of myelinating and non-myelinating Schwann cells is regulated by a network of transcription factors that include SOX10, OCT6 (now known as POU3F1), NFATC4 and KROX20 (also known as Egr2). We have examined for the first time how their regulation of Schwann cell development is disrupted in primary human schwannoma cells. We find that induction of both KROX20 and OCT6 is impaired, whereas enforced expression of KROX20 drives both myelin gene expression and cell cycle arrest in Merlin-null cells. Importantly, we show that human schwannoma cells have reduced expression of SOX10 protein and messenger RNA. Analysis of mouse SOX10-null Schwann cells shows they display many of the characteristics of human schwannoma cells, including increased expression of platelet derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRB) messenger RNA and protein, enhanced proliferation, increased focal adhesions and schwannoma-like morphology. Correspondingly, reintroduction of SOX10 into human Merlin-null cells restores the ability of these cells to induce KROX20 and myelin protein zero (MPZ), localizes NFATC4 to the nucleus, reduces cell proliferation and suppresses PDGFRB expression. Thus, we propose that loss of the SOX10 protein, which is vital for normal Schwann cell development, is also key to the pathology of Merlin-null schwannoma tumours

A hybrid optical-wireless network for decimetre-level terrestrial positioning

Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) are widely used for navigation and time distribution, features indispensable for critical infrastructure such as mobile communication networks, as well as emerging technologies like automated driving and sustainable energy grids. While GNSS can provide centimetre-level precision, GNSS receivers are prone to many-metre errors due to multipath propagation and obstructed view of the sky, which occur especially in urban areas where accurate positioning is needed most. Moreover, the vulnerabilities of GNSS, combined with the lack of a back-up system, pose a severe risk to GNSS-dependent technologies. Here, we demonstrate a terrestrial positioning system which is independent of GNSS and offers superior performance through a constellation of radio transmitters, connected and time-synchronised at the sub-nanosecond level through a fibre-optic Ethernet network. Employing optical and wireless transmission schemes similar to those encountered in mobile communication networks, and exploiting spectrally efficient virtual wideband signals, the detrimental effects of multipath propagation are mitigated, thus enabling robust decimetre-level positioning and sub-nanosecond timing in a multipath-prone outdoor environment. This work provides a glimpse of a future in which telecommunication networks provide not only connectivity, but also GNSS-independent timing and positioning services with unprecedented accuracy and reliability.Comment: 38 pages, 9 figures, 3 table

Epigrammi

Ġabra ta’ poeżiji u proża li tinkludi: Id-daqq tal-qanpiena ta’ għonq il-mogħża ħasbu l-vjatku ta’ Dun A. Tabone – Għaddejja l-purċissjoni ta’ Dun Frans Camilleri – Nazju jidħol baħri ta’ Alfie Guillaumier – Lil marti ta’ Pawlu Aquilina – In-nawfraġju ta’ Br. Henry – Orqod tfajjel, orqod ta’ Peter A. Caruana – Epigrammi ta’ E. Quattromani.peer-reviewe

Electrochemical regeneration of a graphite adsorbent loaded with Acid Violet 17 in a spouted bed reactor

A novel spouted bed reactor is evaluated for water treatment by an adsorption and electrochemical regeneration process. The adsorbent is a bisulphate graphite intercalation compound with low specific surface area but high electrical conductivity, suitable for adsorption of contaminants and simultaneous electrochemical regeneration within a single unit. The effects of current density and liquid flow rate on Acid Violet 17 removal were investigated. The hydrodynamic behavior of the liquid spouted bed reactor was characterized by a flow regime map. A four-parameter model has been developed to describe the adsorption and electrochemical regeneration process in the liquid spouted bed reactor. It was found that the experimental data of dye removal agrees well with the modelled simulations