Serological evidence of zoonotic filovirus exposure among bushmeat hunters in Guinea

Human Ebola virus (EBOV) outbreaks caused by persistent EBOV infection raises questions on the role of zoonotic spillover in filovirus epidemiology. To characterise filovirus zoonotic exposure, we collected cross-sectional serum samples from bushmeat hunters (n = 498) in Macenta Prefecture Guinea, adjacent to the index site of the 2013 EBOV-Makona spillover event. We identified distinct immune signatures (20/498, 4.0%) to multiple EBOV antigens (GP, NP, VP40) using stepwise ELISA and Western blot analysis and, live EBOV neutralisation (5/20; 25%). Using comparative serological data from PCR-confirmed survivors of the 2013-2016 EBOV outbreak, we demonstrated that most signatures (15/20) were not plausibly explained by prior EBOV-Makona exposure. Subsequent data-driven modelling of EBOV immunological outcomes to remote-sensing environmental data also revealed consistent associations with intact closed canopy forest. Together our findings suggest exposure to other closely related filoviruses prior to the 2013-2016 West Africa epidemic and highlight future surveillance priorities

Blinded, multi-centre evaluation of drug-induced changes in contractility using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes

Animal models are 78% accurate in determining whether drugs will alter contractility of the human heart. To evaluate the suitability of human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) for predictive safety pharmacology, we quantified changes in contractility, voltage, and/or Ca2+ handling in 2D monolayers or 3D engineered heart tissues (EHTs). Protocols were unified via a drug training set, allowing subsequent blinded multicenter evaluation of drugs with known positive, negative, or neutral inotropic effects. Accuracy ranged from 44% to 85% across the platform-cell configurations, indicating the need to refine test conditions. This was achieved by adopting approaches to reduce signal-to-noise ratio, reduce spontaneous beat rate to ≤ 1 Hz or enable chronic testing, improving accuracy to 85% for monolayers and 93% for EHTs. Contraction amplitude was a good predictor of negative inotropes across all the platform-cell configurations and of positive inotropes in the 3D EHTs. Although contraction- and relaxation-time provided confirmatory readouts forpositive inotropes in 3D EHTs, these parameters typically served as the primary source of predictivity in 2D. The reliance of these “secondary” parameters to inotropy in the 2D systems was not automatically intuitive and may be a quirk of hiPSC-CMs, hence require adaptations in interpreting the data from this model system. Of the platform-cell configurations, responses in EHTs aligned most closely to the free therapeutic plasma concentration. This study adds to the notion that hiPSC-CMs could add value to drug safety evaluation

Ευρετικές προσεγγίσεις του μοναδιάστατου προβλήματος πακετοποίησης

Article 59.1, of the International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants (ICN; Melbourne Code), which addresses the nomenclature of pleomorphic fungi, became effective from 30 July 2011. Since that date, each fungal species can have one nomenclaturally correct name in a particular classification. All other previously used names for this species will be considered as synonyms. The older generic epithet takes priority over the younger name. Any widely used younger names proposed for use, must comply with Art. 57.2 and their usage should be approved by the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi (NCF). In this paper, we list all genera currently accepted by us in Dothideomycetes (belonging to 23 orders and 110 families), including pleomorphic and non-pleomorphic genera. In the case of pleomorphic genera, we follow the rulings of the current ICN and propose single generic names for future usage. The taxonomic placements of 1261 genera are listed as an outline. Protected names and suppressed names for 34 pleomorphic genera are listed separately. Notes and justifications are provided for possible proposed names after the list of genera. Notes are also provided on recent advances in our understanding of asexual and sexual morph linkages in Dothideomycetes. A phylogenetic tree based on four gene analyses supported 23 orders and 75 families, while 35 families still lack molecular data

Elite Self-Pity

We discuss elite self-pity, and whether the sentiment is prevalent among sociology professors

Academic Publishing

Columbia University Press' Eric Schwartz discusses academic publishing, and how to approach presses

Mn-rich tourmaline from Austria: structure, chemistry, optical spectra, and relations to synthetic solid solutions

Yellow-brown to pink Mn-rich tourmalines with MnO contents in the range 8–9 wt% MnO (~0.1 wt% FeO) from a recently discovered locality in Austria, near Eibenstein an der Thaya (Lower Austria), have been characterized by crystal structure determination, by chemical analyses (EMPA, SIMS), and by optical absorption spectroscopy. Qualitatively, the optical spectra show that Mn^(2+) is present in all regions of the crystals, and that there is more Mn^(3+) in the pink regions (~8% of the total Mn is Mn^(3+)) than in the yellow-brown regions. A gamma-ray irradiated crystal fragment is distinctly pink compared to the yellow-brown color of the sample before irradiation, but it still has hints of the yellow-brown color, which suggests that the natural pink color in Mn-rich tourmaline from this locality is due to natural irradiation of the initial Mn^(2+). For these Mn-rich and Li-bearing olenite samples, crystal structure refinements in combination with the chemical analyses give the optimized formulae ^X(Na_(0.80)Ca_(0.01)□ _(0.19)) ^Y(Al_(1.28)Mn^(2+)_(1.21)Li_(0.37)Fe^(2+)_(0.02)□ _(0.12)) ^ZAl_6 ^T(Si_(5.80)Al_(0.20))B_3O_(27) [(OH)_(3.25)F_(0.43)O_(0.32)], with a = 15.9466(3) Å, c = 7.1384(3) Å, and R = 0.036 for the sample with ~9 wt% MnO, and ^X(Na_(0.77)Ca_(0.03)□_(0.20)) ^Y(Al_(1.23)Mn^(2+)_(1.14)Li_(0.48)Fe^(2+)_(0.02)Ti_(0.01)□_(0.12))^ZAl_(6) ^T(Si_(5.83)Al_(0.17))B_3O_(27) [(OH)_(3.33)F_(0.48)O_(0.19)] for a sample with a = 15.941(1) Å, c = 7.136(1) Å, R = 0.025 and ~8 wt% MnO. The refinements show 1.22–1.25 Al at the Y site. As the Mn content increases, the Li and the F contents decrease. The Li content (0.37–0.48 apfu) is similar to, or lower than, the Li content of olenite (rim-composition) from the type locality, but these Mn-rich tourmalines do not contain ^([4])B. Like the tourmaline from Eibenstein an der Thaya, synthetic Mn-rich tourmaline (in a Li + Mn-bearing system), containing up to ~0.9 apfu Mn (~6.4 wt% MnO), is aluminous but not Li-rich. This study demonstrates that although a positive correlation exists between Mn and Li (elbaite) in tourmaline samples from some localities, this coupling is not required to promote compatibility of Mn in tourmaline. The a parameter in Mn-rich tourmalines (MnO: ≥3 wt%) is largely a function of the cation occupancy of the Y site (r^2 = 0.97)