Firefly genomes illuminate parallel origins of bioluminescence in beetles

Fireflies and their luminous courtships have inspired centuries of scientific study. Today firefly luciferase is widely used in biotechnology, but the evolutionary origin of bioluminescence within beetles remains unclear. To shed light on this long-standing question, we sequenced the genomes of two firefly species that diverged over 100 million-years-ago: the North American Photinus pyralis and Japanese Aquatica lateralis. To compare bioluminescent origins, we also sequenced the genome of a related click beetle, the Caribbean Ignelater luminosus, with bioluminescent biochemistry near-identical to fireflies, but anatomically unique light organs, suggesting the intriguing hypothesis of parallel gains of bioluminescence. Our analyses support independent gains of bioluminescence in fireflies and click beetles, and provide new insights into the genes, chemical defenses, and symbionts that evolved alongside their luminous lifestyle

Role of Humic Acid Chemical Structure Derived from Different Biomass Feedstocks on Fe(III) Bioreduction Activity: Implication for Sustainable Use of Bioresources

Humic acids (HAs) are redox-active components that play a crucial role in catalyzing relevant redox reactions in various ecosystems. However, it is unclear what role the different compost-derived Has play in the dissimilatory Fe(III) bioreduction and which chemical structures could accelerate Fe reduction. In this study, we compared the effect of eighteen HAs from the mesophilic phase, thermophilic phase and mature phase of protein-, lignocellulose- and lignin-rich composting on catalyzing the bioreduction of Fe(III)-citrate by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 in temporarily anoxic laboratory systems. The chemical composition and structure of different compost-derived HAs were analyzed by UV–Vis spectroscopy, excitation-emission matrices of the fluorescence spectra, and 13C-NMR. The results showed that HAs from lignocellulose- and lignin-rich composting, especially in the thermophilic phase, promoted the bioreduction of Fe(III). They also showed that HA from protein-rich materials suppressed significantly the Fe(II) production, which was mainly affected by the amount and structures of functional groups (e.g., quinone groups) and humification degree of the HAs. This study can aid in searching sustainable HA-rich composts for wide-ranging applications to catalyze redox-mediated reactions of pollutants in soils

Exploration of the Magnetic Flux Density on the Surface of Seamless Knitted Fabrics Manufactured with Magnetic Polypropylene Fibers

In this paper, magnetic fibers were integrated with seamless knitting technology. Additionally, the raw materials for the outer fabrics and the relevant yarn feed ratio were designed, including the polypropylene yarn with different magnetic powder contents (0%, 10% and 50%) and its yarn feed ratio (100:0, 75:25, 50:50 and 25:75) to graphene viscose yarn. In addition, weft plain stitch, 1 + 1 mock rib and 1 + 3 mock rib were adopted to weave polyamide fiber/polyurethane fiber wrap yarn as the lining materials into 12 knitted fabric samples on a seamless knitting machine according to the partial addition method in the orthogonal experimental design. As per the test and analysis results of the magnetic flux density on the front and back surfaces of 12 seamless knitted fabrics, polypropylene yarn with different magnetic powder contents in outer fabrics is the most significant factor affecting the magnetic flux density on the surface, followed by the yarn feed ratio of outer fabrics and fabric stitches. The findings in this study can provide a reference and theoretical basis for the specification design of seamless knitted fabrics manufactured by magnetic fabrics to a certain extent

The incidence, risk factors and outcomes of early bloodstream infection in patients with malignant hematologic disease after unrelated cord blood transplantation: a retrospective study

Abstract Background Bloodstream infection (BSI) is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The unrelated cord blood transplantation (UCBT) can provided opportunities for patients without suitable donors for bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT), while few studies have addressed BSI after UCBT. The aim of this study was to analyse the incidence and risk factors of BSI, causative organisms, microbial resistance, and its impact on the clinical outcomes and survival of patients. Methods There are 336 patients, were divided into two groups depending on whether developing BSI. Demographic characteristics, laboratory data, and clinical outcome were compared between different groups. The risk factors of BSI was examined using logistic regression and the survival was examined using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Results Ninety-two patients (27.4%) developed early BSI with 101 pathogenic bacteria isolated, and the median day of developing initial BSI was 4.5 d. Gram-negative bacteria were the most common isolate (60, 59.4%), followed by Gram-positive bacteria (40, 39.6%) and fungi (1, 1.0%). Thirty-seven (36.6%) isolates were documented as having multiple drug resistance (MDR). Myeloid malignancies, conditioning regimens including total body irradiation (TBI), and prolonged neutropenia were identified as the independent risk factors for early BSI. The 3-year OS was 59.9% versus 69.2% in the BSI group and no-BSI group (P = 0.0574), respectively. The 3-year OS of the MDR group was significantly lower than that of the non-BSI group (51.1% versus 69.2%, p = 0.013). Conclusions Our data indicate that the incidence of early BSI after UCBT was high, especially in patients with myeloid disease and a conditioning regimen including TBI and prolonged neutropenia. Early BSI with MDR after UCBT had a negative impact on long-term survival

Prenatal air pollution, maternal immune activation, and autism spectrum disorder.

BACKGROUND: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) risk is highly heritable, with potential additional non-genetic factors, such as prenatal exposure to ambient particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and maternal immune activation (MIA) conditions. Because these exposures may share common biological effect pathways, we hypothesized that synergistic associations of prenatal air pollution and MIA-related conditions would increase ASD risk in children. OBJECTIVES: This study examined interactions between MIA-related conditions and prenatal PM2.5 or major PM2.5 components on ASD risk. METHODS: In a population-based pregnancy cohort of children born between 2001 and 2014 in Southern California, 318,751 mother-child pairs were followed through electronic medical records (EMR); 4,559 children were diagnosed with ASD before age 5. Four broad categories of MIA-related conditions were classified, including infection, hypertension, maternal asthma, and autoimmune conditions. Average exposures to PM2.5 and four PM2.5 components, black carbon (BC), organic matter (OM), nitrate (NO3-), and sulfate (SO42-), were estimated at maternal residential addresses during pregnancy. We estimated the ASD risk associated with MIA-related conditions, air pollution, and their interactions, using Cox regression models to adjust for covariates. RESULTS: ASD risk was associated with MIA-related conditions [infection (hazard ratio 1.11; 95% confidence interval 1.05-1.18), hypertension (1.30; 1.19-1.42), maternal asthma (1.22; 1.08-1.38), autoimmune disease (1.19; 1.09-1.30)], with higher pregnancy PM2.5 [1.07; 1.03-1.12 per interquartile (3.73 μg/m3) increase] and with all four PM2.5 components. However, there were no interactions of each category of MIA-related conditions with PM2.5 or its components on either multiplicative or additive scales. CONCLUSIONS: MIA-related conditions and pregnancy PM2.5 were independently associations with ASD risk. There were no statistically significant interactions of MIA conditions and prenatal PM2.5 exposure with ASD risk

Refining eligibility criteria of unit selection for myeloablative cord blood transplantation in acute leukemia: Real‐world experience of a referral center

Abstract The algorithm for cord blood (CB) unit selection is still somewhat ambiguous. We retrospectively analyzed 620 cases of acute leukemia between 2015 and 2020, who were treated with myeloablative single‐unit umbilical CB transplantation (UCBT). We found that, when human leukocyte antigen (HLA) mismatch was ≤3/10, CD34+ cell dosage <0.83 × 105/kg—considerably lower than prevalent guidelines—was permissible without affecting survival. Moreover, synergy between donor killer‐cell immunoglobulin‐like receptors (KIR) haplotypes‐B and donor‐recipient HLA‐C mismatch protected against relapse‐related mortality. We submit that minimum required CD34+ cell dosage can possibly be relaxed to broaden access to UCBT, and donor KIR genotyping should be considered during unit selection

Prenatal air pollution, maternal immune activation, and autism spectrum disorder

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) risk is highly heritable, with potential additional non-genetic factors, such as prenatal exposure to ambient particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and maternal immune activation (MIA) conditions. Because these exposures may share common biological effect pathways, we hypothesized that synergistic associations of prenatal air pollution and MIA-related conditions would increase ASD risk in children. Objectives: This study examined interactions between MIA-related conditions and prenatal PM2.5 or major PM2.5 components on ASD risk. Methods: In a population-based pregnancy cohort of children born between 2001 and 2014 in Southern California, 318,751 mother–child pairs were followed through electronic medical records (EMR); 4,559 children were diagnosed with ASD before age 5. Four broad categories of MIA-related conditions were classified, including infection, hypertension, maternal asthma, and autoimmune conditions. Average exposures to PM2.5 and four PM2.5 components, black carbon (BC), organic matter (OM), nitrate (NO3–), and sulfate (SO42-), were estimated at maternal residential addresses during pregnancy. We estimated the ASD risk associated with MIA-related conditions, air pollution, and their interactions, using Cox regression models to adjust for covariates. Results: ASD risk was associated with MIA-related conditions [infection (hazard ratio 1.11; 95% confidence interval 1.05–1.18), hypertension (1.30; 1.19–1.42), maternal asthma (1.22; 1.08–1.38), autoimmune disease (1.19; 1.09–1.30)], with higher pregnancy PM2.5 [1.07; 1.03–1.12 per interquartile (3.73 μg/m3) increase] and with all four PM2.5 components. However, there were no interactions of each category of MIA-related conditions with PM2.5 or its components on either multiplicative or additive scales. Conclusions: MIA-related conditions and pregnancy PM2.5 were independently associations with ASD risk. There were no statistically significant interactions of MIA conditions and prenatal PM2.5 exposure with ASD risk