From meadows to milk to mucosa – adaptation of Streptococcus and Lactococcus species to their nutritional environments

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are indigenous to food-related habitats as well as associated with the mucosal surfaces of animals. The LAB family Streptococcaceae consists of the genera Lactococcus and Streptococcus. Members of the family include the industrially important species Lactococcus lactis, which has a long history safe use in the fermentative food industry, and the disease-causing streptococci Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes. The central metabolic pathways of the Streptococcaceae family have been extensively studied because of their relevance in the industrial use of some species, as well as their influence on virulence of others. Recent developments in high-throughput proteomic and DNA-microarray techniques, in in vivo NMR studies, and importantly in whole-genome sequencing have resulted in new insights into the metabolism of the Streptococcaceae family. The development of cost-effective high-throughput sequencing has resulted in the publication of numerous whole-genome sequences of lactococcal and streptococcal species. Comparative genomic analysis of these closely related but environmentally diverse species provides insight into the evolution of this family of LAB and shows that the relatively small genomes of members of the Streptococcaceae family have been largely shaped by the nutritionally rich environments they inhabit.

Microwave-activated gates between a fluxonium and a transmon qubit

We propose and analyze two types of microwave-activated gates between a fluxonium and a transmon qubit, namely a cross-resonance (CR) and a CPHASE gate. The large frequency difference between a transmon and a fluxonium makes the realization of a two-qubit gate challenging. For a medium-frequency fluxonium qubit, the transmon-fluxonium system allows for a cross-resonance effect mediated by the higher levels of the fluxonium over a wide range of transmon frequencies. This allows one to realize the cross-resonance gate by driving the fluxonium at the transmon frequency, mitigating typical problems of the cross-resonance gate in transmon-transmon chips related to frequency targeting and residual ZZ coupling. However, when the fundamental frequency of the fluxonium enters the low-frequency regime below 100 MHz, the cross-resonance effect decreases leading to long gate times. For this range of parameters, a fast microwave CPHASE gate can be implemented using the higher levels of the fluxonium. In both cases, we perform numerical simulations of the gate showing that a gate fidelity above 99% can be obtained with gate times between 100 and 300 ns. Next to a detailed gate analysis, we perform a study of chip yield for a surface code lattice of fluxonia and transmons interacting via the proposed cross-resonance gate. We find a much better yield as compared to a transmon-only architecture with the cross-resonance gate as native two-qubit gate

Chebyshev Type Inequalities Involving the Fractional Integral Operator Containing Multi-Index Mittag-Leffler Function in the Kernel

Recently, several authors have investigated Chebyshev type inequalities for numerous fractional integral operators. Being motivated by the work done by earlier researchers and their numerous applications in probability, transform theory, numerical quadrature, statistical problems and its significance in fractional boundary value problems. We aim to evaluate Chebyshev type inequalities involving fractional integral operator containing multi-index Mittag-Leffler function in the kernel. Admissible connections of the results mentioned in this article to those associated with previously established familiar fractional integral operators have been pointed out

Are babies conceived during Ramadan born smaller and sooner than babies conceived at other times of the year? A Born in Bradford Cohort study

Background It is not known whether infants exposed to intermittent maternal fasting at conception are born smaller or have a higher risk of premature birth than those who are not. Doctors are therefore unsure about what advice to give women about the safety of Ramadan fasting. This cohort study aimed to investigate these questions in Muslim mother–infant pairs to inform prenatal care. Methods Routinely collected data accessed from maternity records were the source for information. Mothers were considered exposed if they were Muslim and Ramadan overlapped with their infant conception date, estimated to be 14 days after the last menstrual period. Infants were included as exposed if their estimated conception date was in the first 21 days of Ramadan or 7 days prior to Ramadan. Results After adjusting for gestational age, maternal age, infant gender, maternal body mass index at booking, smoking status, gestational diabetes, parity and year of birth, there was no significant difference in birth weight between infants born to Muslim mothers who were conceived during Ramadan (n=479) and those who were not (n=4677) (adjusted mean difference =24.3 g, 95% CI −16.4 to 64.9). There was no difference in rates of premature births in exposed and unexposed women (5.2% vs 4.9%; OR=1.08, 95% CI 0.71 to 1.65). Conclusions Healthy Muslim women considering becoming pregnant prior to, or during Ramadan, can be advised that fasting does not seem to have a detrimental effect on the size (weight) of their baby and it appears not to increase the likelihood of giving birth prematurely

Photomechanical and Photochromic Behavior of a Molecule Containing Multiple Photoactive Groups

Photomechanical and photochromic activities are reported for single crystals of a new multirespon-sive material, 2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-((E)-((4-((E)-phenyldiazenyl)phenyl)imino)methyl)phenol (Azim-1), with two photoactive groups that can undergo photoisomerization (azo and imine), and an ortho-hydroxy group that is capable of proton transfer. Upon irradiation with UV light, platy and needle-shaped crystals of Azim-1 rapidly bend towards the light source and return to their initial shape as soon as the irradiation is terminated. Upon prolonged exposure to UV light, the crystals change their color from yellow to red. The crystal structure of non-irradiated Azim-1 is reported, and the mecha-nisms of the photomechanical and photochromic responses are discussed

Principles And Practices Fostering Inclusive Excellence: Lessons From The Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Capstone Institutions

Best-practices pedagogy in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) aims for inclusive excellence that fosters student persistence. This paper describes principles of inclusivity across 11 primarily undergraduate institutions designated as Capstone Awardees in Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s (HHMI) 2012 competition. The Capstones represent a range of institutional missions, student profiles, and geographical locations. Each successfully directed activities toward persistence of STEM students, especially those from traditionally underrepresented groups, through a set of common elements: mentoring programs to build community; research experiences to strengthen scientific skill/identity; attention to quantitative skills; and outreach/bridge programs to broaden the student pool. This paper grounds these program elements in learning theory, emphasizing their essential principles with examples of how they were implemented within institutional contexts. We also describe common assessment approaches that in many cases informed programming and created traction for stakeholder buy-in. The lessons learned from our shared experiences in pursuit of inclusive excellence, including the resources housed on our companion website, can inform others’ efforts to increase access to and persistence in STEM in higher education

Effects of Syngenta Enogen Feed Corn containing an α-amylase trait on finishing cattle performance and carcass characteristics

Two experiments evaluated the effects of feeding a new corn hybrid, containing an α-amylase enzyme trait, Syngenta Enogen Feed Corn (SYT-EFC), on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics at two locations. Experiment 1 utilized 300 calffed steers (298.5 ± 16.3 kg of BW) at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center Mead, NE. Treatments were designed as a 2 × 2 + 1– factorial arrangement with factors consisting of 1) corn type (SYT-EFC or conventional [CON]) and 2) byproduct type (with or without Sweet Bran [SB]), or a BLEND of STY-EFC and CON without SB. In Exp. 2, 240 crossbred, calf-fed steers (287.6 ± 15.4 kg of BW) were utilized at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Panhandle Research and Extension Center near Scottsbluff, NE. Steers were fed SYT-EFC, CON, BLEND, or CON with a commercial α-amylase enzyme supplement (CON-E). In Exp. 1, there was an interaction for ADG (P = 0.05) and G:F (P = 0.02). Steers fed SYT-EFC with SB had greater ADG and G:F than CON; however, in diets without SB, SYT-EFC and CON were not different resulting in a 10.1% change in G:F when steers were fed SYT-EFC in SB compared with CON and only 1.6% change between SYT-EFC and CON without SB. Energy values, based on performance data, resulted in a 6.5% and 8.3% change in NEm and NEg, respectively, for steers fed SYT-EFC and CON with SB and 1.6% change for both NEm and NEg for steers fed SYT-EFC and CON without SB. For the main effect of corn trait, steers fed SYT-EFC had greater marbling scores, fat depth, and calculated yield grade compared with CON (P ≤ 0.03). In diets without SB, there was no difference between SYT-EFC, CON, or BLEND for DMI, final BW, ADG, G:F, NEm, or NEg (P ≥ 0.35). In Exp. 2, cattle fed SYT-EFC, BLEND, or CON-E had greater final BW, ADG, and G:F than cattle fed CON (P ≤ 0.03). On average, NEm and NEg were 4.9% and 7.0% greater, respectively, for steers fed amylase enzyme treatments compared with CON (P ≤ 0.01). Hot carcass weights were greater in steers fed α-amylase treatments compared with CON (P \u3c 0.01). Feeding Syngenta Enogen Feed Corn, which contains an α-amylase enzyme trait, at both locations improved feed efficiency in finishing cattle diets containing WDGS or SB

Pioneering the human development revolution: Analysing the trajectory of Mahbub ul Haq

Mahbub ul Haq's work to coordinate, establish and propagate the human development approach offers an example of effective leadership in promoting more ethical socio-economic development. This article reviews Pioneering the Human Development Revolution-An Intellectual Biography of Mahbub ul Haq (edited by Haq and Ponzio), and extends themes from the United Nations Intellectual History Project to examine Haq's contributions in terms of four aspects of leadership: articulating and applying values that combine depth with broad appeal; providing a fruitful and vivid way of seeing, a 'vision', that reflects the values; embodying the values and vision in workable practical proposals; and supporting and communicating the previous aspects through wide and relevant networks. It suggests that the human development approach may need to update its values and vision, including through better integration of human security thinking, if it is to retain the leadership role it acquired thanks to Haq

SARS-CoV-2 sensing by RIG-I and MDA5 links epithelial infection to macrophage inflammation

SARS-CoV-2 infection causes broad-spectrum immunopathological disease, exacerbated by inflammatory co-morbidities. A better understanding of mechanisms underpinning virus-associated inflammation is required to develop effective therapeutics. Here we discover that SARS-CoV-2 replicates rapidly in lung epithelial cells despite triggering a robust innate immune response through activation of cytoplasmic RNA-sensors RIG-I and MDA5. The inflammatory mediators produced during epithelial cell infection can stimulate primary human macrophages to enhance cytokine production and drive cellular activation. Critically, this can be limited by abrogating RNA sensing, or by inhibiting downstream signalling pathways. SARS-CoV-2 further exacerbates the local inflammatory environment when macrophages or epithelial cells are primed with exogenous inflammatory stimuli. We propose that RNA sensing of SARS-CoV-2 in lung epithelium is a key driver of inflammation, the extent of which is influenced by the inflammatory state of the local environment, and that specific inhibition of innate immune pathways may beneficially mitigate inflammation-associated COVID-19