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Social determinants of health (SDoH) play a critical role in patient outcomes, yet their documentation is often missing or incomplete in the structured data of electronic health records (EHRs). Large language models (LLMs) could enable high-throughput extraction of SDoH from the EHR to support research and clinical care. However, class imbalance and data limitations present challenges for this sparsely documented yet critical information. Here, we investigated the optimal methods for using LLMs to extract six SDoH categories from narrative text in the EHR: employment, housing, transportation, parental status, relationship, and social support. The best-performing models were fine-tuned Flan-T5 XL for any SDoH mentions (macro-F1 0.71), and Flan-T5 XXL for adverse SDoH mentions (macro-F1 0.70). Adding LLM-generated synthetic data to training varied across models and architecture, but improved the performance of smaller Flan-T5 models (delta F1 + 0.12 to +0.23). Our best-fine-tuned models outperformed zero- and few-shot performance of ChatGPT-family models in the zero- and few-shot setting, except GPT4 with 10-shot prompting for adverse SDoH. Fine-tuned models were less likely than ChatGPT to change their prediction when race/ethnicity and gender descriptors were added to the text, suggesting less algorithmic bias (p < 0.05). Our models identified 93.8% of patients with adverse SDoH, while ICD-10 codes captured 2.0%. These results demonstrate the potential of LLMs in improving real-world evidence on SDoH and assisting in identifying patients who could benefit from resource support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the past decade metabolomics has emerged as one of the fastest developing branches of "-omics" technologies. Metabolomics involves documentation, identification, and quantification of metabolites through modern analytical platforms in various biological systems. Advanced analytical tools, such as gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS), liquid chromatography–mass spectroscopy (LC/MS), and non-destructive nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, have facilitated metabolite profiling of complex biological matrices. Metabolomics, along with transcriptomics, has an influential role in discovering connections between genetic regulation, metabolite phenotyping and biomarkers identification. Comprehensive metabolite profiling allows integration of the summarized data towards manipulation of biosynthetic pathways, determination of nutritional quality markers, improvement in crop yield, selection of desired metabolites/genes, and their heritability in modern breeding. Along with that, metabolomics is invaluable in predicting the biological activity of medicinal plants, assisting the bioactivity-guided fractionation process and bioactive leads discovery, as well as serving as a tool for quality control and authentication of commercial plant-derived natural products. Metabolomic analysis of human biofluids is implemented in clinical practice to discriminate between physiological and pathological state in humans, to aid early disease biomarker discovery and predict individual response to drug therapy. Thus, metabolomics could be utilized to preserve human health by improving the nutritional quality of crops and accelerating plant-derived bioactive leads discovery through disease diagnostics, or through increasing the therapeutic efficacy of drugs via more personalized approach. Here, we attempt to explore the potential value of metabolite profiling comprising the above-mentioned applications of metabolomics in crop improvement, medicinal plants utilization, and, in the prognosis, diagnosis and management of complex diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The autophagic degradation of misfolded and ubiquitinated proteins is important for cellular homeostasis. In this process, which is governed by cargo receptors, ubiquitinated proteins are condensed into larger structures and subsequently become targets for the autophagy machinery. Here we employ in vitro reconstitution and cell biology to define the roles of the human cargo receptors p62/SQSTM1, NBR1 and TAX1BP1 in the selective autophagy of ubiquitinated substrates. We show that p62 is the major driver of ubiquitin condensate formation. NBR1 promotes condensate formation by equipping the p62-NBR1 heterooligomeric complex with a high-affinity UBA domain. Additionally, NBR1 recruits TAX1BP1 to the ubiquitin condensates formed by p62. While all three receptors interact with FIP200, TAX1BP1 is the main driver of FIP200 recruitment and thus the autophagic degradation of p62–ubiquitin condensates. In summary, our study defines the roles of all three receptors in the selective autophagy of ubiquitin condensates. Misfolded proteins are ubquitinated and subsequently condensed by cargo receptors for selective autophagy. Here, the authors use in vitro reconstitution to elegantly dissect how the receptors p62/SQSTM1, NBR1 and TAX1BP1 contribute to p62-ubiquitin condensate formation and degradation by autophagy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths. Tumor heterogeneity, which hampers development of targeted therapies, was herein deconvoluted via single cell RNA sequencing in aggressive human adenocarcinomas (carrying Kras-mutations) and comparable murine model. We identified a tumor-specific, mutant-KRAS-associated subpopulation which is conserved in both human and murine lung cancer. We previously reported a key role for the oncogene BMI-1 in adenocarcinomas. We therefore investigated the effects of in vivo PTC596 treatment, which affects BMI-1 activity, in our murine model. Post-treatment, MRI analysis showed decreased tumor size, while single cell transcriptomics concomitantly detected near complete ablation of the mutant-KRAS-associated subpopulation, signifying the presence of a pharmacologically targetable, tumor-associated subpopulation. Our findings therefore hold promise for the development of a targeted therapy for KRAS-mutant adenocarcinomas. Maroni, Bassal, Krishnan et al. characterise human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) carrying Kras-mutations by single-cell RNA sequencing. They identify a tumour-specific population that is conserved in mice and responds to the drug, PTC596, which is currently in clinical trials and may offer a potential avenue for treating aggressive NSCLC expressing mutated Kras. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a cohort of patients with anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysms to investigate morphological characteristics and clinical factors associated with rupture of the aneurysms. 505 patients with ACoA aneurysms were identified at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital between 1990 and 2016, with available CT angiography (CTA). Three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions were performed to evaluate aneurysmal morphologic features, including location, projection, irregularity, the presence of daughter dome, height, height/width ratio, and relationships between surrounding vessels. Patient risk factors assessed included patient age, sex, tobacco use, alcohol use, and family history of aneurysms and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Logistic regression was used to build a predictive ACoA score for rupture. Morphologic features associated with ruptured ACoA aneurysms were the presence of a daughter dome (OR 21.4, 95% CI 10.6–43.1), smaller neck diameter (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.42–0.71), larger aspect ratio (OR 3.57, 95% CI 2.05–6.24), larger flow angle (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02–1.05), and smaller ipsilateral A2-ACoA angle (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97–1.00). Tobacco use was predominantly associated with morphological factors intrinsic to the aneurysm that were associated with rupture while younger age was also associated with morphologic features extrinsic to the aneurysm that were associated with rupture. The ACoA score had good predictive capacity for rupture with AUC = 0.92 using the 0.632 bootstrap cross-validation for correction of overfitting bias. Ruptured ACoA aneurysms were associated with morphological features that are simple to assess using a simple scoring system. Tobacco use and younger age were predominantly associated with intrinsic and extrinsic morphological features characteristic of rupture, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphological factors of intracranial aneurysms and the surrounding vasculature could affect aneurysm rupture risk in a location specific manner. Our goal was to identify image-based morphological parameters that correlated with ruptured basilar tip aneurysms. Three-dimensional morphological parameters obtained from CT-angiography (CTA) or digital subtraction angiography (DSA) from 200 patients with basilar tip aneurysms diagnosed at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital between 1990 and 2016 were evaluated. We examined aneurysm wall irregularity, the presence of daughter domes, hypoplastic, aplastic or fetal PCoAs, vertebral dominance, maximum height, perpendicular height, width, neck diameter, aspect and size ratio, height/width ratio, and diameters and angles of surrounding parent and daughter vessels. Univariable and multivariable statistical analyses were performed to determine statistical significance. In multivariable analysis, presence of a daughter dome, aspect ratio, and larger flow angle were significantly associated with rupture status. We also introduced two new variables, diameter size ratio and parent-daughter angle ratio, which were both significantly inversely associated with ruptured basilar tip aneurysms. Notably, multivariable analyses also showed that larger diameter size ratio was associated with higher Hunt-Hess score while smaller flow angle was associated with higher Fisher grade. These easily measurable parameters, including a new parameter that is unlikely to be affected by the formation of the aneurysm, could aid in screening strategies in high-risk patients with basilar tip aneurysms. One should note, however, that the changes in parameters related to aneurysm morphology may be secondary to aneurysm rupture rather than causal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risk of intracranial aneurysm rupture could be affected by geometric features of intracranial aneurysms and the surrounding vasculature in a location specific manner. Our goal is to investigate the morphological characteristics associated with ruptured posterior communicating artery (PCoA) aneurysms, as well as patient factors associated with the morphological parameters. Three-dimensional morphological parameters in 409 patients with 432 PCoA aneurysms diagnosed at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital between 1990 and 2016 who had available CT angiography (CTA) or digital subtraction angiography (DSA) were evaluated. Morphological parameters examined included aneurysm wall irregularity, presence of a daughter dome, presence of hypoplastic or aplastic A1 arteries and hypoplastic or fetal PCoA, perpendicular height, width, neck diameter, aspect and size ratio, height/width ratio, and diameters and angles of surrounding parent and daughter vessels. Univariable and multivariable statistical analyses were performed to determine the association of morphological parameters with rupture of PCoA aneurysms. Additional analyses were performed to determine the association of patient factors with the morphological parameters. Irregular, multilobed PCoA aneurysms with larger height/width ratios and larger flow angles were associated with ruptured PCoA aneurysms, whereas perpendicular height was inversely associated with rupture in a multivariable model. Older age was associated with lower aspect ratio, with a trend towards lower height/width ratio and smaller flow angle, features that are associated with a lower rupture risk. Morphological parameters are easy to assess and could help in risk stratification in patients with unruptured PCoA aneurysms. PCoA aneurysms diagnosed at older age have morphological features associated with lower risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteocalcin, known as a bone gla protein, is considered a regulator of energy metabolism and behavior in its undercarboxylated form (ucOC). Antiresorptive drugs, such as alendronate, reduce serum level of ucOC. The purpose of the current study was to verify if alendronate might impact on energy metabolism and animal behavior by reducing ucOC level and to find out if the presence of metabolic alterations would further worsen these potential adverse effects. Four groups of male Wistar rats (12 per group) were used: a control group, a group receiving high-fat high-fructose diet (HFHF), a group treated with alendronate, and a group receiving alendronate and HFHF. Alendronate was administered subcutaneously in a dose of 50 mcg/kg thrice weekly. Study duration was 15 weeks. Animals were tested for locomotion, anxiety and spatial memory. Glucose and insulin tolerance tests evaluated the glucose metabolism. Visceral obesity was assessed by the weight of right retroperitoneal fat pads. Concentration of ucOC was measured in the serum. Alendronate reduced serum ucOC concentration, increased fasting blood glucose level, and worsened insulin sensitivity. It did not increase visceral adiposity. Fat index was negatively correlated with ucOC in all animals and in the alendronate-treated rats. Alendronate worsened spatial memory of the animals and ucOC levels correlated positively with their cognitive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Establishing clinically relevant single-cell (SC) transcriptomic workflows from cryopreserved tissue is essential to move this emerging immune monitoring technology from the bench to the bedside. Improper sample preparation leads to detrimental cascades, resulting in loss of precious time, money and finally compromised data. There is an urgent need to establish protocols specifically designed to overcome the inevitable variations in sample quality resulting from uncontrollable factors in a clinical setting. Here, we explore sample preparation techniques relevant to a range of clinically relevant scenarios, where SC gene expression and repertoire analysis are applied to a cryopreserved sample derived from a small amount of blood, with unknown or partially known preservation history. We compare a total of ten cell-counting, viability-improvement, and lymphocyte-enrichment methods to highlight a number of unexpected findings. Trypan blue-based automated counters, typically recommended for single-cell sample quantitation, consistently overestimate viability. Advanced sample clean-up procedures significantly impact total cell yield, while only modestly increasing viability. Finally, while pre-enrichment of B cells from whole peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) results in the most reliable BCR repertoire data, comparable T-cell enrichment strategies distort the ratio of CD4+ and CD8+ cells. Furthermore, we provide high-resolution analysis of gene expression and clonotype repertoire of different B cell subtypes. Together these observations provide both qualitative and quantitative sample preparation guidelines that increase the chances of obtaining high-quality single-cell transcriptomic and repertoire data from human PBMCs in a variety of clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The functions of epithelial tissues are dictated by the types, abundance and distribution of the differentiated cells they contain. Attempts to restore tissue function after damage require knowledge of how physiological tasks are distributed among cell types, and how cell states vary between homeostasis, injury-repair and disease. In the conducting airway, a heterogeneous basal cell population gives rise to specialized luminal cells that perform mucociliary clearance1. Here we perform single-cell profiling of human bronchial epithelial cells and mouse tracheal epithelial cells to obtain a comprehensive census of cell types in the conducting airway and their behaviour in homeostasis and regeneration. Our analysis reveals cell states that represent known and novel cell populations, delineates their heterogeneity and identifies distinct differentiation trajectories during homeostasis and tissue repair. Finally, we identified a novel, rare cell type that we call the ‘pulmonary ionocyte’, which co-expresses FOXI1, multiple subunits of the vacuolar-type H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) and CFTR, the gene that is mutated in cystic fibrosis. Using immunofluorescence, modulation of signalling pathways and electrophysiology, we show that Notch signalling is necessary and FOXI1 expression is sufficient to drive the production of the pulmonary ionocyte, and that the pulmonary ionocyte is a major source of CFTR activity in the conducting airway epithelium. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis is used to identify cell types in the tracheal epithelium, including previously unidentified ionocytes, which express high levels of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, CFTR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to understand the differential acute effects of two distinct wheat-related dusts, such as field or stored wheat dust handling, on workers’ health and how those effects evolved at 6 month intervals.Methods: Exposure, work-related symptoms, changes in lung function, and blood samples of 81 workers handling wheat and 61 controls were collected during the high exposure season and 6 months after. Specific IgG, IgE, and precipitins against 12 fungi isolated from wheat dust were titrated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, dissociation-enhanced lanthanide fluorescence immunoassay, and electrosyneresis. The level of fungi was determined in the workers’ environment. Levels of exhaled fraction of nitrogen monoxide (FENO) and total IgE were obtained. Exposure response associations were investigated by mixed logistic and linear regression models.Results: The recent exposure to field wheat dust was associated with a higher prevalence for five of six self-reported airway symptoms and with a lower FENO than those in the control population. Exposure to stored wheat dust was only associated with cough. No acute impact of exposure on respiratory function was observed. Exposure to field wheat dust led to workers’ sensitization against the three field fungi Aureobasidum, Cryptococcus, and Phoma, although exposure to storage wheat dust was associated with tolerance. The level of Ig remained stable 6 months after exposure.Conclusion: The clinical picture of workers exposed to field or storage wheat dust differed. The systematic characterization of the aerosol microbial profile may help to understand the reasons for those differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While cocaine use is thought to be associated with aneurysmal rupture, it is not known whether heroin use increases the risk of rupture in patients with non-mycotic saccular aneurysms. Our goal was to investigate the association between heroin and cocaine use and the rupture of saccular non-mycotic aneurysms. The medical records of 4701 patients with 6411 intracranial aneurysms, including 1201 prospective patients, diagnosed at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital between 1990 and 2016 were reviewed and analyzed. Patients were separated into ruptured and non-ruptured groups. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association between heroin, cocaine, and methadone use and the presence of ruptured intracranial aneurysms. In multivariable analysis, current heroin use was significantly associated with rupture status (OR 3.23, 95% CI 1.33-7.83) whereas former heroin use (with and without methadone replacement therapy), and current and former cocaine use were not significantly associated with intracranial aneurysm rupture. In the present study, heroin rather than cocaine use is significantly associated with intracranial aneurysm rupture in patients with non-mycotic saccular cerebral aneurysms, emphasizing the possible role of heroin in the pathophysiology of aneurysm rupture and the importance of heroin cessation in patients harboring unruptured intracranial aneurysms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol consumption may be a modifiable risk factor for rupture of intracranial aneurysms. Our aim is to evaluate the association between ruptured aneurysms and alcohol consumption, intensity, and cessation. The medical records of 4701 patients with 6411 radiographically confirmed intracranial aneurysms diagnosed at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital between 1990 and 2016 were reviewed. Individuals were divided into cases with ruptured aneurysms and controls with unruptured aneurysms. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association between alcohol consumption and rupture of intracranial aneurysms. In multivariable analysis, current alcohol use (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.17-1.58) was associated with rupture status compared with never drinkers, whereas former alcohol use was not significant (OR 1.23, 95% CI 0.92-1.63). In addition, the number of alcoholic beverages per day among current alcohol users (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.04-1.23) was significantly associated with rupture status, whereas alcohol use intensity was not significant among former users (OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.94-1.11). Current alcohol use and intensity are significantly associated with intracranial aneurysm rupture. However, this increased risk does not persist in former alcohol users, emphasizing the potential importance of alcohol cessation in patients harboring unruptured aneurysms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complex chromosome translocations are structural chromosomal rearrangements involving three or more chromosomes and more than two breakpoints. A complex chromosome rearrangement was detected in a phenotypically normal female patient that was referred to the hospital for genetic counseling due to reproductive failure. A cytogenetic evaluation was performed, according to standard method of chromosomal analysis, using G-banding technique. The patient's karyotype showed a balanced complex chromosome rearrangement (BCCR) involving chromosomes 1, 8, and 11 with three breakpoints 1p31, 8q13, and 11q23. The karyotype designed according to ISCN (2013), is 46,XX,t(1;8;11)(p31;q13;q23) (8qter→8q13::1p31→1qter;8pter→8q13::11q23→11qter;11pter→11q23::1p31→1pter). Additionally, the proband's mother and brother were tested, resulting in the same exact translocation. In this study, we describe all possible meiotic segregations regarding this translocation, as well as the clinical phenotypes which could arise, if unbalanced products of conception survive. This is a rare case of familial complex chromosome rearrangement, giving a view for its reproductive consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES:Psychiatric comorbidity is common in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-related surgery or hospitalizations represent major events in the natural history of the disease. The objective of this study is to examine whether there is a difference in the risk of psychiatric comorbidity following surgery in CD and UC.METHODS:We used a multi-institution cohort of IBD patients without a diagnosis code for anxiety or depression preceding their IBD-related surgery or hospitalization. Demographic-, disease-, and treatment-related variables were retrieved. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to individually identify risk factors for depression and anxiety.RESULTS:Our study included a total of 707 CD and 530 UC patients who underwent bowel resection surgery and did not have depression before surgery. The risk of depression 5 years after surgery was 16% and 11% in CD and UC patients, respectively. We found no difference in the risk of depression following surgery in the CD and UC patients (adjusted odds ratio, 1.11; 95% confidence interval, 0.84-1.47). Female gender, comorbidity, immunosuppressant use, perianal disease, stoma surgery, and early surgery within 3 years of care predicted depression after CD surgery; only the female gender and comorbidity predicted depression in UC patients. Only 12% of the CD cohort had ≥4 risk factors for depression, but among them nearly 44% subsequently received a diagnosis code for depression.CONCLUSIONS:IBD-related surgery or hospitalization is associated with a significant risk for depression and anxiety, with a similar magnitude of risk in both diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information in electronic medical records is often in an unstructured free-text format. This format presents challenges for expedient data retrieval and may fail to convey important findings. Natural language processing (NLP) is an emerging technique for rapid and efficient clinical data retrieval. While proven in disease detection, the utility of NLP in discerning disease progression from free-text reports is untested. We aimed to (1) assess whether unstructured radiology reports contained sufficient information for tumor status classification; (2) develop an NLP-based data extraction tool to determine tumor status from unstructured reports; and (3) compare NLP and human tumor status classification outcomes. Consecutive follow-up brain tumor magnetic resonance imaging reports (2000–­2007) from a tertiary center were manually annotated using consensus guidelines on tumor status. Reports were randomized to NLP training (70%) or testing (30%) groups. The NLP tool utilized a support vector machines model with statistical and rule-based outcomes. Most reports had sufficient information for tumor status classification, although 0.8% did not describe status despite reference to prior examinations. Tumor size was unreported in 68.7% of documents, while 50.3% lacked data on change magnitude when there was detectable progression or regression. Using retrospective human classification as the gold standard, NLP achieved 80.6% sensitivity and 91.6% specificity for tumor status determination (mean positive predictive value, 82.4%; negative predictive value, 92.0%). In conclusion, most reports contained sufficient information for tumor status determination, though variable features were used to describe status. NLP demonstrated good accuracy for tumor status classification and may have novel application for automated disease status classification from electronic databases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introgression from allohexaploid wheat ( Triticum aestivum L., AABBDD) to allotetraploid jointed goatgrass ( Aegilops cylindrica Host, CCDD) can take place in areas where the two species grow in sympatry and hybridize. Wheat and Ae. cylindrica share the D genome, issued from the common diploid ancestor Aegilops tauschii Coss. It has been proposed that the A and B genome of bread wheat are secure places to insert transgenes to avoid their introgression into Ae. cylindrica because during meiosis in pentaploid hybrids, A and B genome chromosomes form univalents and tend to be eliminated whereas recombination takes place only in D genome chromosomes. Wheat random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fragments, detected in intergeneric hybrids and introgressed to the first backcross generation with Ae. cylindrica as the recurrent parent and having a euploid Ae. cylindrica chromosome number or one supernumerary chromosome, were assigned to wheat chromosomes using Chinese Spring nulli-tetrasomic wheat lines. Introgressed fragments were not limited to the D genome of wheat, but specific fragments of A and B genomes were also present in the BC1. Their presence indicates that DNA from any of the wheat genomes can introgress into Ae. cylindrica. Successfully located RAPD fragments were then converted into highly specific and easy-to-use sequence characterised amplified regions (SCARs) through sequencing and primer design. Subsequently these markers were used to characterise introgression of wheat DNA into a BC1S1 family. Implications for risk assessment of genetically modified wheat are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the influence of hydrogen diffusion on the Raman spectra of highly protonated LiNbO3 waveguides. Vibrations in the lowest frequency range (30-150 cm-1) in various scattering configurations are reported. On the basis of the detected mixing of A1(zz) and E(zx) types of phonons, we show that the formation of off-axis HxLi1-xNbO3 waveguide layers on X-cut LiNbO3 substrates is confirmed by Raman-scattering measurements. An attempt to clarify the structural changes which take place during the proton-exchange process has been made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the influence of hydrogen diffusion on the Raman spectra of highly protonated LiNbO3 waveguides. Vibrations in the lowest frequency range (30-150 cm-1) in various scattering configurations are reported. On the basis of the detected mixing of A1(zz) and E(zx) types of phonons, we show that the formation of off-axis HxLi1-xNbO3 waveguide layers on X-cut LiNbO3 substrates is confirmed by Raman-scattering measurements. An attempt to clarify the structural changes which take place during the proton-exchange process has been made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moss and lichen samples from the region of the Bulgarian base on Livingston Island, Antarctica were examined for the presence of yeasts. Six pure cultures were obtained. They were screened for β-glucosidase production and two of them were selected. These were identified as Cryptococcus albidus AL2 and C. albidus AL3, according to their morphology, reproductive behaviour, and growth at different temperatures, salt concentrations, nutritional characteristics and various biochemical tests. These strains were examined for biosynthesis of β-glucosidase on different carbon sources under aerobic conditions. High exocellular and endocellular activities were obtained when they were grown on cellobiose, methyl- β-D-glucopyranoside and salicin. The time course of growth and β-glucosidase production of the yeast was examined by cultivation in a medium with cellobiose under aerobic conditions at temperatures 18 and 24 °C for 96 h. Cryptococcus albidus AL2 and C. albidus AL3 synthesized exocellular enzyme, respectively 58.33 and 55.83 U/ml and endocellular enzyme 137.75 and 205.34 U/ml at 24 °C for 72 h of the cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work we present polarized Raman measurements of z-cut multimode H:LiNbO[sub 3] waveguides in the κ[sub i] - and β[sub i] -phase states. A spectrum with unexpected form and behaviour, originating from the layer at the very surface, was observed in samples with various degrees of Li–H substitution. Possible reasons for the presence of this strange spectrum are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of high-temperature phases in low-doped H:LiTaO[sub 3] waveguide layers in Z-cut LiTaO[sub 3] has been observed both by refractive-index and IR-spectra measurements. This permits us to correlate the index jumps to the changes of the OH bonds in the crystal lattice. Reversible phase transitions were detected in the temperature interval T=50–200 °C over a wide range of hydrogen content including as-grown LiTaO[sub 3] . The high-temperature phases are metastable close to room temperature. This was demonstrated by tracing the time evolution of the refractive-index change. It was shown that the high-temperature phases are responsible for the long-term refractive-index instabilities in both H:LiTaO[sub 3] waveguides and virgin LiTaO[sub 3] . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seeds of English and Austrian populations of bearded wheatgrass (Elymus caninus L.) and sea barley (Hordeum marinum Huds.) growing in the vicinity of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) fields were collected in order to search for evidence of the introgression of wheat traits into these wild relatives. Seeds were sown and plants grown for subsequent analyses using morphological and genetic (isozymes, RAPD and wheat microsatellites) markers. No F1 hybrids were found within the individuals of the two species grown, neither with morphological nor with genetic markers. Also, no evidence of introgression of wheat traits into E. caninus was observed. However, in one individual of H. marinum which had the typical morphology of this species, numerous species-specific DNA markers of wheat were amplified, thereby demonstrating previous hybridization. Consequently, the hybridization between wheat and H. marinum under natural conditions and the introgression of wheat traits into this wild relative seems to be possible. Our results contribute to the risk assessment of transgenic wheat cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to estimate the potential of gene flow between wheat (Triticum æstivum L.) and jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica Host.), we carried out mixed pollinations in experimental and natural conditions. A set of species-specific RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA) and microsatellite markers were used to detect the presence of parental markers in the progeny of the plants used in these experiments. No hybrids were found within the offsprings of the plants used for the greenhouse experiments, while 85 Ae. cylindrica×T. æstivum hybrids were found within 2400 analyzed F1 plants resulting from the field pollinations. The hybridization rates for individuals of different populations of the wild species differed considerably: 1% for two populations known for more than 90 years versus 7% for a newly discovered population. Most of the hybrids were completely sterile, but five of them produced 13 seeds (BC1) by backcross with Ae. cylindrica. Twelve seeds germinated and generated viable and partly fertile plants. About 25% of the wheat specific RAPD markers were found in the BC1 plants, indicating that introgression of wheat DNA into Ae. cylindrica is possible. In addition, one microsatellite marker, known to be situated on the D genome (a genome shared by both species), was also found in the BC1 plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. Refractive index change and Raman scattering of Z-cut proton-exchanged LiTaO[sub 3] optical waveguides with different composition have been studied. Probing of the waveguide depth was carried out by using micro-Raman spectroscopy in order to distinguish layers with different phase states. Varying the proton-exchange and post-exchange annealing regimes, two phases -- alpha and beta -- in addition to the pure LiTaO[sub 3], were clearly observed. The behaviour of the A[sub 1] vibrations of the TaO[sub 6] groups was found to be very sensitive to the phase changes. Using data from waveguide Raman spectra, normal and oblique E(TO, LO) phonons were sorted and their properties were followed in the a and beta phases. The OH-stretchings are considered to correspond to dipoles turned out of the oxygen planes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reliable protocol for regeneration of barley from seedling explants including leaf bases with the complete apical meristem has been developed. Callus induction and shoot regeneration was only achieved when 28 days-old-seedlings were grown in the presence of high concentrations of 2,4-D. The Bulgarian barley variety Ruen commercially important for brewery industry was used as a model. The regeneration response of a range of Bulgarian barley genotypes was evaluated. Cytological analyses were performed at the level of callus and regenerants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of determining the mean displacements of a microinhomogeneous viscoelastic body is reduced to a problem of the couple-stress theory of viscoelasticity. A uniqueness theorem is proved for the latter and a variational principle corresponding to the principle of stationarity of potential energy in the theory of elasticity is formulated and proved. The question of the experimental determination of the functions characterizing the properties of a medium with couple stresses is examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron and its derivatives play a significant role in various physiological and biochemical pathways, and are influenced by a wide variety of inflammatory, infectious, and immunological disorders. We hypothesized that iron and its related factors play a role in intracranial aneurysm pathophysiology and investigated if serum iron values are associated with ruptured intracranial aneurysms. 4,701 patients with 6,411 intracranial aneurysms, including 1201 prospective patients, who were diagnosed at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital between 1990 and 2016 were evaluated. A total of 366 patients with available serum iron, ferritin and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) values were ultimately included in the analysis. 89% of included patients had anemia. Patients were categorized into ruptured and non-ruptured groups. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association between ruptured aneurysms and iron, ferritin, and TIBC. TIBC values (10−3 g/L) within 1 year of diagnosis (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.28–0.59) and between 1 and 3 years from diagnosis (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.29–0.93) were significantly and inversely associated with intracranial aneurysm rupture. In contrast, serum iron and ferritin were not significant. In this case-control study, low TIBC was significantly associated with ruptured aneurysms, both in the short- and long term. However, this association may not apply to the general population as there may be a selection bias as iron studies were done in a subset of patients only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]