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Mucormycosis is an invasive fungal infection caused by certain members of the fungal order of Mucorales. The species most frequently identified as the etiological agents of mucormycosis belong to the genera Rhizopus, Lichtheimia, and Mucor. The frequency of systemic mucormycosis has been increasing, mainly because of increasing numbers of susceptible patients. Furthermore, Mucorales display intrinsic resistance to the majority of routinely used antifungal agents (e.g., echinocandins and short-tailed azoles), which limits the number of possible therapeutic options. All the above-mentioned issues urge the improvement of molecular identification methods and the discovery of new antifungal targets and strategies. Spore coat proteins (CotH) constitute a kinase family present in many pathogenic bacteria and fungi and participate in the spore formation in these organisms. Moreover, some of them can act as virulence factors being receptors of the human GRP78 protein during Rhizopus delemar-induced mucormycosis. We identified 17 cotH-like genes in the Mucor lusitanicus genome database. Successful disruption of five cotH genes in Mucor was performed using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. The CotH3 and CotH4 proteins play a role in adaptation to different temperatures as well as in developing the cell wall structure. We also show CotH4 protein is involved in spore wall formation by affecting the total chitin content and, thus, the composition of the spore wall. The role of CotH3 and CotH4 proteins in virulence was confirmed in two invertebrate models and a diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) mouse model. IMPORTANCE Current treatment options for mucormycosis are inadequate, resulting in high mortality rates, especially among immunosuppressed patients. The development of novel therapies for mucormycosis has been hampered by lack of understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms. The importance of the cell surface CotH proteins in the pathogenesis of Rhizopus-mediated mucormycosis has been recently described. However, the contribution of this family of proteins to the virulence of other mucoralean fungi and their functionality in vital processes remain undefined. Through the use of the CRISPR-Case9 gene disruption system, we demonstrate the importance of several of the CotH proteins to the virulence of Mucor lusitanicus by using three infection models. We also report on the importance of one of these proteins, CotH4, to spore wall formation by affecting chitin content. Therefore, our studies extend the importance of CotH proteins to Mucor and identify the mechanism by which one of the CotH proteins contributes to the development of a normal fungal cell wall, thereby indicating that this family of proteins can be targeted for future development of novel therapeutic strategies of mucormycosis.

Let CC be a linear code of length nn and dimension kk over the finite field Fqm{{\mathbb{F}}}_{{q}^{m}}. The trace code Tr(C){\rm{Tr}}\left(C) is a linear code of the same length nn over the subfield Fq{{\mathbb{F}}}_{q}. The obvious upper bound for the dimension of the trace code over Fq{{\mathbb{F}}}_{q} is mkmk. If equality holds, then we say that CC has maximum trace dimension. The problem of finding the true dimension of trace codes and their duals is relevant for the size of the public key of various code-based cryptographic protocols. Let Ca{C}_{{\boldsymbol{a}}} denote the code obtained from CC and a multiplier vector a∈(Fqm)n{\boldsymbol{a}}\in {\left({{\mathbb{F}}}_{{q}^{m}})}^{n}. In this study, we give a lower bound for the probability that a random multiplier vector produces a code Ca{C}_{{\boldsymbol{a}}} of maximum trace dimension. We give an interpretation of the bound for the class of algebraic geometry codes in terms of the degree of the defining divisor. The bound explains the experimental fact that random alternant codes have minimal dimension. Our bound holds whenever n≥m(k+h)n\ge m\left(k+h), where h≥0h\ge 0 is the Singleton defect of CC. For the extremal case n=m(h+k)n=m\left(h+k), numerical experiments reveal a closed connection between the probability of having maximum trace dimension and the probability that a random matrix has full rank.

We set up a hydrodynamic description of the non-equilibrium dynamics of sine-Gordon quantum field theory for generic coupling. It is built upon an explicit form of the Bethe Ansatz description of general thermodynamic states, with the structure of the resulting coupled integral equations encoded in terms of graphical diagrams. The resulting framework is applied to derive results for the Drude weights of charge and energy. Quantities associated with the charge universally have fractal dependence on the coupling, which is notably absent from those associated with energy, a feature explained by the different roles played by reflective scattering in transporting these quantities. We then present far-from-equilibrium results, including explicit time evolution starting from bipartite initial states and dynamical correlation functions. Our framework can be applied to explore numerous other aspects of non-equilibrium dynamics, which opens the way to a wide array of theoretical studies and potential novel experimental predictions.

The use of big data in urban mobility research is growing dynamically. However, relatively few studies have been devoted to systematically review the results in this field. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to explore the general characteristics of the application of the big data approach in urban mobility research. For this purpose, the systematic literature review method was applied and the scientific Scopus database was accessed to collect publications relevant to the predefined criteria. Then the papers included in the sample were analysed using quantitative and qualitative techniques, focusing on the trends emerging from the years of publications in the database, the distribution of the papers by journal, the geographical distribution of case-study areas, the methods and data types employed, and their policy implications. This literature review demonstrates the diversity of big datadriven urban mobility research and provides lessons for geography and urban policy in Hungary.

In this paper we study the isotopism classes of two-step nilpotent algebras. We show that every nilpotent Leibniz algebra g with dim [ g , g ] = 1 is isotopic to the Heisenberg Lie algebra or to the Heisenberg algebra l 2 n + 1 J 1 , where J1 is the n × n Jordan block of eigenvalue 1. We also prove that two such algebras are isotopic if and only if the Lie racks integrating them are isotopic. This gives the classification of Lie racks whose tangent space at the unit element is a nilpotent Leibniz algebra with one-dimensional commutator ideal. Eventually, we introduce new isotopism invariants for Leibniz algebras and Lie racks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of our research is the examination of Hermitian curves over finite fields, specifically concentrating on places of degree three and their role in constructing Hermitian codes. We begin by studying the structure of the Riemann–Roch space associated with these degree-three places, aiming to determine essential characteristics such as the basis. The investigation then turns to Hermitian codes, where we analyze both functional and differential codes of degree-three places, focusing on their parameters and automorphisms. In addition, we explore the study of subfield subcodes and trace codes, determining their structure by giving lower bounds for their dimensions. This presents a complex problem in coding theory. Based on numerical experiments, we formulate a conjecture for the dimension of some subfield subcodes of Hermitian codes. Our comprehensive exploration seeks to deepen the understanding of Hermitian codes and their associated subfield subcodes related to degree-three places, thus contributing to the advancement of algebraic coding theory and code-based cryptography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pharmacist career is constantly adapting to societal and health care needs. The past decade has seen a growing demand for curricular development to align graduation outcome with workforce competencies. This study aims to identify expectations for both didactic and experiential components of a new curriculum based on young pharmacist practitioner views. An online survey questionnaire was used in 2019–2020 to evaluate the pharmacy curriculum to detect indicators or key areas which require comprehensive reform. The predominant majority of the 205 study participants recommended reduction in credit hours for Natural Sciences (78.54%) and a similar increase in the Theoretical and Practical Expertise Module (77.9%). Pharmaceutical care, clinical therapeutics and clinical pharmacy competencies should also be more highlighted in the program. Findings indicate the current training does not prepare for problem-solving and daily workplace challenges (72.7%) or for extended pharmacist skills and competencies (71.71%). Results show inconsistency in practical training experience, as all respondents participated in practical training for drug manufacturing and analysis but 61.0% reported no hands-on skills training in a hospital-clinical simulation setting. Indications for practitioner involvement into the natural sciences and biomedical subjects (86.3%) confirm the obvious need for more practice-oriented education. Educational reforms seem to be inevitable to achieve measurable improvement in professional practice and skills competency. The country specific demand for a needs-based pharmacy education reflects global trends but may also provide useful insights for individual transitions to transform education through practice and improve practice through education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]