Differential Kinetics of Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus fumigatus Phagocytosis

Acknowledgements: The authors would like to acknowledge Fraser P. Coxon and Ian Ganley for providing LC3-GFP-mCherry BMDMs. M.S.G. was supported by an FEMS research grant and F.L.v.d.V. was supported by ZonMW under the name EURO-CMC frame of E-Rare-2, the ERA-Net for Research on Rare Diseases.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Discretization of the velocity space in solution of the Boltzmann equation

We point out an equivalence between the discrete velocity method of solving the Boltzmann equation, of which the lattice Boltzmann equation method is a special example, and the approximations to the Boltzmann equation by a Hermite polynomial expansion. Discretizing the Boltzmann equation with a BGK collision term at the velocities that correspond to the nodes of a Hermite quadrature is shown to be equivalent to truncating the Hermite expansion of the distribution function to the corresponding order. The truncated part of the distribution has no contribution to the moments of low orders and is negligible at small Mach numbers. Higher order approximations to the Boltzmann equation can be achieved by using more velocities in the quadrature

Diffusion in a multi-component Lattice Boltzmann Equation model

Diffusion phenomena in a multiple component lattice Boltzmann Equation (LBE) model are discussed in detail. The mass fluxes associated with different mechanical driving forces are obtained using a Chapman-Enskog analysis. This model is found to have correct diffusion behavior and the multiple diffusion coefficients are obtained analytically. The analytical results are further confirmed by numerical simulations in a few solvable limiting cases. The LBE model is established as a useful computational tool for the simulation of mass transfer in fluid systems with external forces.Comment: To appear in Aug 1 issue of PR

Multi-component lattice-Boltzmann model with interparticle interaction

A previously proposed [X. Shan and H. Chen, Phys. Rev. E {\bf 47}, 1815, (1993)] lattice Boltzmann model for simulating fluids with multiple components and interparticle forces is described in detail. Macroscopic equations governing the motion of each component are derived by using Chapman-Enskog method. The mutual diffusivity in a binary mixture is calculated analytically and confirmed by numerical simulation. The diffusivity is generally a function of the concentrations of the two components but independent of the fluid velocity so that the diffusion is Galilean invariant. The analytically calculated shear kinematic viscosity of this model is also confirmed numerically.Comment: 18 pages, compressed and uuencoded postscript fil

Extraction of Electron Self-Energy and Gap Function in the Superconducting State of Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_8 Superconductor via Laser-Based Angle-Resolved Photoemission

Super-high resolution laser-based angle-resolved photoemission measurements have been performed on a high temperature superconductor Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_8. The band back-bending characteristic of the Bogoliubov-like quasiparticle dispersion is clearly revealed at low temperature in the superconducting state. This makes it possible for the first time to experimentally extract the complex electron self-energy and the complex gap function in the superconducting state. The resultant electron self-energy and gap function exhibit features at ~54 meV and ~40 meV, in addition to the superconducting gap-induced structure at lower binding energy and a broad featureless structure at higher binding energy. These information will provide key insight and constraints on the origin of electron pairing in high temperature superconductors.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

The Fermi surface of Ba(1-x)K(x)Fe2As2 and its evolution with doping

We use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) to investigate the electronic properties of the newly discovered iron-arsenic superconductor, Ba(1-x)K(x)Fe2As2 and non-supercondcuting BaFe2As2. Our study indicates that the Fermi surface of the undoped, parent compound BaFe$_2$As$_2$ consists of hole pocket(s) at Gamma (0,0) and larger electron pocket(s) at X (1,0), in general agreement with full-potential linearized plane wave (FLAPW) calculations. Upon doping with potassium, the hole pocket expands and the electron pocket becomes smaller with its bottom approaching the chemical potential. Such an evolution of the Fermi surface is consistent with hole doping within a rigid band shift model. Our results also indicate that FLAPW calculation is a reasonable approach for modeling the electronic properties of both undoped and K-doped iron arsenites.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Cluster randomised controlled trial to assess a tailored intervention to reduce antibiotic prescribing in rural China:study protocol

INTRODUCTION: Up to 80% of patients with respiratory tract infections (RTI) attending healthcare facilities in rural areas of China are prescribed antibiotics, many of which are unnecessary. Since 2009, China has implemented several policies to try to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use; however, antibiotic prescribing remains high in rural health facilities. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A cluster randomised controlled trial will be carried out to estimate the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of a complex intervention in reducing antibiotic prescribing at township health centres in Anhui Province, China. 40 Township health centres will be randomised at a 1:1 ratio to the intervention or usual care arms. In the intervention group, practitioners will receive an intervention comprising: (1) training to support appropriate antibiotic prescribing for RTI, (2) a computer-based treatment decision support system, (3) virtual peer support, (4) a leaflet for patients and (5) a letter of commitment to optimise antibiotic use to display in their clinic. The primary outcome is the percentage of antibiotics (intravenous and oral) prescribed for RTI patients. Secondary outcomes include patient symptom severity and duration, recovery status, satisfaction, antibiotic consumption. A full economic evaluation will be conducted within the trial period. Costs and savings for both clinics and patients will be considered and quality of life will be measured by EuroQoL (EQ-5D-5L). A qualitative process evaluation will explore practitioner and patient views and experiences of trial processes, intervention fidelity and acceptability, and barriers and facilitators to implementation. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was obtained from the Biomedical Research Ethics Committee of Anhui Medical University (Ref: 20180259); the study has undergone due diligence checks and is registered at the University of Bristol (Ref: 2020-3137). Research findings will be disseminated to stakeholders through conferences and peer-reviewed journals in China, the UK and internationally. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN30652037

Efficacy of Dapagliflozin According to Geographic Location of Patients With Heart Failure

Background: Because clinical characteristics and prognosis vary by geographic region in patients with heart failure (HF), the response to treatment may also vary. A previous report suggested that the efficacy of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor efficacy in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) may be modified by region. Objectives: The goal of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin in patients with HF according to geographic region. Methods: We conducted a patient-level pooled analysis of the DAPA-HF (Dapagliflozin and Prevention of Adverse Outcomes in Heart Failure) and DELIVER (Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the Lives of Patients with Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure) trials, which evaluated the effects of dapagliflozin in HFrEF and heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF)/heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), respectively. The primary outcome was the composite of worsening HF or cardiovascular death. Results: Among 11,007 patients, 5,159 (46.9%) were enrolled in Europe, 1,528 (13.9%) in North America, 1,998 (18.2%) in South America, and 2,322 (21.1%) in Asia. The rate of the primary outcome (per 100 person-years) was higher in North America (13.9 [95% CI: 12.5-15.4]) than in other regions: Europe 10.8 (95% CI: 10.1-11.5), South America 10.0 (95% CI: 9.0-11.1), and Asia 10.5 (95% CI: 9.5-11.5). The benefit of dapagliflozin on the primary outcome was not modified by region: dapagliflozin vs placebo HR: Europe, 0.85 (95% CI: 0.75-0.96); North America, 0.75 (95% CI: 0.61-0.93); South America, 0.72 (95% CI: 0.58-0.89); and Asia, 0.74 (95% CI: 0.61-0.91) (P interaction = 0.40). This was the same when evaluated separately for HFrEF (P interaction = 0.39) and HFmrEF/HFpEF (P interaction = 0.84). Patients in North America discontinued randomized treatment more frequently than did those elsewhere (placebo discontinuation: 21.8% in North America vs 6.4% in South America), but discontinuation rates did not differ between placebo and dapagliflozin by region. Conclusions: The efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin were consistent across global regions despite geographic differences in patient characteristics, background treatment, and event rates.</p

antiSMASH 4.0—improvements in chemistry prediction and gene cluster boundary identification

Many antibiotics, chemotherapeutics, crop protection agents and food preservatives originate from molecules produced by bacteria, fungi or plants. In recent years, genome mining methodologies have been widely adopted to identify and characterize the biosynthetic gene clusters encoding the production of such compounds. Since 2011, the ‘antibiotics and secondary metabolite analysis shell—antiSMASH’ has assisted researchers in efficiently performing this, both as a web server and a standalone tool. Here, we present the thoroughly updated antiSMASH version 4, which adds several novel features, including prediction of gene cluster boundaries using the ClusterFinder method or the newly integrated CASSIS algorithm, improved substrate specificity prediction for non-ribosomal peptide synthetase adenylation domains based on the new SANDPUMA algorithm, improved predictions for terpene and ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides cluster products, reporting of sequence similarity to proteins encoded in experimentally characterized gene clusters on a per-protein basis and a domain-level alignment tool for comparative analysis of trans-AT polyketide synthase assembly line architectures. Additionally, several usability features have been updated and improved. Together, these improvements make antiSMASH up-to-date with the latest developments in natural product research and will further facilitate computational genome mining for the discovery of novel bioactive molecules