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Introduction: Incidence of mucormycosis has increased recently due to rapid spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is a hyper-ferritemic state paving a way for easy growth of mucor species. COVID-19 infection results in an immunocompromised state due to the steroid therapy administered to patients and the infection itself. The presence of co-morbidities makes patients more susceptible to acquire mucor infection. Mucormycosis spreads rapidly, associated with aggressive angioinvasion, leading to ischemic necrosis of surrounding tissues. Due to its rapid spread and angioinvasion, mucormycosis is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Treatment Planning: Early diagnosis and proper treatment planning are crucial to prevent further spread of infection, where dentists play an important role. Discussion: This case series is mainly focused on patients reported to the oral medicine department with complaints of discomfort or mobility of teeth in the maxillary region while explaining the role of dentists in diagnosing and treating the disease.

Introduction: This article emphasizes the importance of pterygoid plates (PP) and their anatomical characteristics while adding points about the relation between PP asymmetry and resulting temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJD). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study analyzes 100 Cone Beam Computed Tomography images. Morphometric analysis of the shape, thickness, and angulation of PP and pterygoid fossae (PF) was done. Statistical analysis was performed using Paired t-test and ANOVA. Results: Five different shapes of PP were noted, the tapered form was more prevalent (P < 0.01), and the needle form had the least thickness, which is prone to fracture. Three different shapes of PF were noted, namely U, V, W. V shape was more common. Males had increased thickness than females in medial and lateral pterygoid (P = 0.005). Conclusion: Owing to their location and relations to their adjacent structures, PP plays a vital role during various surgical procedures. Oral and maxillofacial surgical procedure planning must be done following the evaluation of PP as there is an increased risk of complication due to PP fracture. PP gives attachment to a few muscles and ligaments essential for jaw movements. Any deviation of PP from normal may result in temporomandibular joint disorders.

Introduction: Sexual dimorphism plays a pivotal role in many instances, including solving medicolegal problems, anthropological studies, sorting out victims of natural calamities and man-made calamities. Among various parameters available for sexual dimorphism, structures of the oral cavity play an important role. The use of Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) is convenient and provides accurate measurements with the help of digital software. Aim: To determine the role of Greater Palatine Foramen (GPF), its Greater Palatine Canal (GPC) and relation with the adjacent structures like Naso-Palatine Foramen (NPF) and Lesser Palatine Foramen (LPF) in elucidating the level of sexual dimorphism using CBCT images, while enhancing the information on anatomy of Greater Palatine Foramen (GPF). Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional forensic odontology study was conducted in the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, CSI College of Dental Sciences and Research, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India, and was performed using 50 males and 50 females CBCT images of patients between age 18 to 45. The CBCT data were collected from January 2021 till January 2022, and the obtained data were analysed from March 2022 till April 15, 2022. These were analysed using Planmeca imaging software. Measurements of GPF length, angulation with respect to Hard Palate (HP), relation between NPC and GPF, distance between GPC and Mid Maxillary Suture (MMS). Its relation to LPF and dimensions of GPF at opening of oral cavity were done. Finally, all measures were subjected to statistical analysis using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 28.0. Independent t-test was used for analysis of difference between male and female measurements. Results: The GPC length on right (male:13.2570, female:12.3628) and left (male:12.8089, female:12.2780), angulation of GPC left (male: 61.1379, female: 57.4964), angle between GPF and NPC left (male: 28.6208, female: 26.5024), distance between GPC and MMS left (male: 15.1625, female: 14.5350) and Anteroposterior (AP) dimensions of GPF on right (male: 5.5402, female: 4.2314) and left-side (5.4934, female: 4.4576), Transverse (TR) dimension of GPF on right (male: 2.6752, female: 2.0528) and left (male: 5.4943, female: 4.4576) showed statistically significant difference between male and female CBCT images, while the measures were significantly higher in males. Conclusion: The CBCT images provided reliable measurements of the areas of interest. The present study results highlight a statistically significant difference between male and female, where males showed higher measurements in most instances. A more precise morphological measurement of GPF in relation to adjacent structures such as NPC, MMS proves to have sexual dimorphism in humans.

Acute myeloid leukemia is a malignant disease of the bone marrow. Because of its high morbidity, early diagnosis and prompt treatment are essential to save lives. This article describes the case reports of a 33-year-old female and a 60-year-old male who came to our dental hospital with gingival overgrowth, gingival bleeding, epistaxis, and facial swelling for about 1 week. After doing a thorough hematological examination, acute myeloid leukemia was diagnosed The oral health care professionals need to be able to recognize oral physiological characteristics, and, when identifying a change of normalcy, investigate it requesting additional tests or referring the patient to a specialized professional.

Objectives Informing research participants of the results of studies in which they took part is viewed as an ethical imperative. However, there is little guidance in the literature about how to do this. The Fluoxetine Or Control Under Supervision trial randomised 3127 patients with a recent acute stroke to 6 months of fluoxetine or placebo and was published in the Lancet on 5 December 2018. The trial team decided to inform the participants of the results at exactly the same time as the Lancet publication, and also whether they had been allocated fluoxetine or placebo. In this report, we describe how we informed participants of the results.Design In the 6-month and 12-month follow-up questionnaires, we invited participants to provide an email address if they wished to be informed of the results of the trial. We re-opened our trial telephone helpline between 5 December 2018 and 31 March 2019.Setting UK stroke services.Participants 3127 participants were randomised. 2847 returned 6-month follow-up forms and 2703 returned 12-month follow-up forms; the remaining participants had died (380), withdrawn consent or did not respond.Results Of those returning follow-up questionnaires, a total of 1845 email addresses were provided and a further 50 people requested results to be sent by post. Results were sent to all email and postal addresses provided; 309 emails were returned unrecognised. Seventeen people replied, of whom three called the helpline and the rest responded by email.Conclusion It is feasible to disseminate results of large trials to research participants, though only around 60% of those randomised wanted to receive the results. The system we developed was efficient and required very little resource, and could be replicated by trialists in the future.Trial registration number ISRCTN83290762; Post-results.

Tobacco industries have resorted to brand stretching to keep their brands visible through sale of non-tobacco products like elaichi (cardamom) and paan masala, as seen in television advertisements aired during Indian premier league matches. The direct and indirect forms of advertisements of tobacco products in digital media remains unchecked. Strict ban should be enforced as these advertisements lure children and the youth into consumption of tobacco products later in life. In addition to providing tobacco cessation services to patients, oral health professionals should be aware of the marketing strategies of tobacco companies so that we can advise governing authorities to enact new laws and enforce existing laws in order to curtail tobacco consumption in our country.

Abstract Telecommunications offers an alternative or supplement to community-based interventions as a means of extending healthcare services and improving health outcomes in remote settings but can fail to reach target communities and achieve the desired impact if barriers to access are not overcome. We conducted seven focus group discussions and 26 interviews with community health workers, community leaders, and female members of the public who declared that they had or had not previously accessed free audio health messages provided via a mobile platform in two rural communities of Mali, Koulikoro and Bougouni. A content analysis showed that participants accessed and trusted health information from a range of sources, including radio, telephone and television, as well as town criers, local relays and community health centres. Barriers to access faced by women included economic factors, lack of network or electricity, and social factors such as illiteracy, cultural restrictions and being unaware of mobile communication. Through analysis and interpretation of the participants’ responses, we have made recommendations for future campaigns for the dissemination of health-related information for women in remote settings.

Abstract Digital quantification of gait can be used to measure aging- and disease-related decline in mobility. Gait performance also predicts prognosis, disease progression, and response to therapies. Most gait analysis systems require large amounts of space, resources, and expertise to implement and are not widely accessible. Thus, there is a need for a portable system that accurately characterizes gait. Here, depth video from two portable cameras accurately reconstructed gait metrics comparable to those reported by a pressure-sensitive walkway. 392 research participants walked across a four-meter pressure-sensitive walkway while depth video was recorded. Gait speed, cadence, and step and stride durations and lengths strongly correlated (r > 0.9) between modalities, with root-mean-squared-errors (RMSE) of 0.04 m/s, 2.3 steps/min, 0.03 s, and 0.05–0.08 m for speed, cadence, step/stride duration, and step/stride length, respectively. Step, stance, and double support durations (gait cycle percentage) significantly correlated (r > 0.6) between modalities, with 5% RMSE for step and stance and 10% RMSE for double support. In an exploratory analysis, gait speed from both modalities significantly related to healthy, mild, moderate, or severe categorizations of Charleson Comorbidity Indices (ANOVA, Tukey’s HSD, p

Abbott’s duiker Cephalophus spadix is a forest antelope endemic to a very few highland forests in Tanzania. Apparently extinct over much of its historical range, the species is listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature based on its rarity and its known current distribution in only 5 isolated upland areas: Kilimanjaro, Southern Highlands, West Usambara, Rubeho and Udzungwa Mountains. In contrast to the situation in the rest of its range, Abbott’s duiker is relatively well documented and locally abundant in parts of the Udzungwa Mountains, which may now be the only stronghold for the species. We review the distribution of Abbott’s duiker within the Udzungwa Mountains and present new information based on the non-invasive genetic identification of dung piles collected from the majority of forest blocks between 2006 and 2010 (73 confirmed dung samples). Our results include new records from outlying forest blocks where the presence of Abbott’s duiker was previously unknown. Moreover, we present the first population-level analysis of genetic structure and diversity in this endangered species based on nuclear microsatellites and mitochondrial sequence data. While these genetic results are limited due to small sample sizes, they indicate differentiation from other Abbott’s duiker populations, as well as low genetic diversity relative to sympatric antelope species. Finally, we discuss threats to Abbott’s duiker and identify broad trends within the differently managed Udzungwa Mountain forests, and elsewhere, that suggest potentially successful conservation strategies for this neglected species.

Abstract Background The global economic cost of cancer and the costs of ongoing care for survivors are increasing. Little is known about factors affecting hospitalisations and related costs for the growing number of cancer survivors. Our aim was to identify associated factors of cancer survivors admitted to hospital in the public system and their costs from a health services perspective. Methods A population‐based, retrospective, data linkage study was conducted in Queensland (COS‐Q), Australia, including individuals diagnosed with a first primary cancer who incurred healthcare costs between 2013 and 2016. Generalised linear models were fitted to explore associations between socio‐demographic (age, sex, country of birth, marital status, occupation, geographic remoteness category and socio‐economic index) and clinical (cancer type, year of/time since diagnosis, vital status and care type) factors with mean annual hospital costs and mean episode costs. Results Of the cohort (N = 230,380) 48.5% (n = 111,820) incurred hospitalisations in the public system (n = 682,483 admissions). Hospital costs were highest for individuals who died during the costing period (cost ratio ‘CR’: 1.79, p

IntroductionThe purpose was to examine the prevalence of low energy availability (LEA), explore dietary behaviors in men collegiate gymnasts (n = 14), and investigate the relationships between energy availability (EA), body composition, and plyometric performance.MethodsBody composition was measured using air displacement plethysmography. Lower- and upper-body peak power (PWRpeak) and modified reactive strength index (RSImod) were calculated from countermovement jump (CMJ) and plyometric push-up (PP) assessments. Energy expenditure was tracked over 3 days, while daily energy and macronutrient intake were recorded. EA was calculated and used to categorize athletes into LEA and non-LEA groups. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to examine relationships between EA, body composition, and performance metrics.Results85.7% of athletes (n = 12) exhibited LEA (20.98 ± 5.2 kcals/kg FFM), with non-LEA athletes (n = 2) marginally surpassing the

Abstract While basaltic volcanism is dominant during rifting and continental breakup, felsic magmatism may be a significant component of some rift margins. During International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 396 on the continental margin of Norway, a graphite‐garnet‐cordierite bearing dacitic unit (the Mimir dacite) was recovered in two holes within early Eocene sediments on Mimir High (Site U1570), a marginal high on the Vøring Transform Margin. Here, we present a comprehensive textural, petrological, and geochemical study of the Mimir dacite in order to assess its origin and discuss the geodynamic implications. The major mineral phases (garnet, cordierite, quartz, plagioclase, alkali feldspar) are hosted in a fresh rhyolitic, vesicular, glassy matrix that is locally mingled with sediments. The major element chemistry of garnet and cordierite, the presence of zircon inclusions with inherited cores, and thermobarometric calculations all support an upper crustal metapelitic origin. While most magma‐rich margin models favor crustal anatexis in the lower crust, thermobarometric calculations performed here show that the Mimir dacite was produced at upper‐crustal depths (

Background: There is a widely held assumption that research engagement improves health-care performance at various levels, but little direct empirical evidence. Objectives: To conduct a theoretically and empirically grounded synthesis to map and explore plausible mechanisms through which research engagement might improve health services performance. A review of the effects on patients of their health-care practitioner's or institution's participation in clinical trials was published after submission of the proposal for this review. It identified only 13 relevant papers and, overall, suggested that the evidence that research engagement improves health-care performance was less strong than some thought. We aimed to meet the need for a wider review. Methods: An hourglass review was developed, consisting of three stages: (1) a planning and mapping stage; (2) a focused review concentrating on the core question of whether or not research engagement improves health care; and (3) a wider (but less systematic) review of papers identified during the two earlier stages. Studies were included in the focused review if the concept of ‘engagement in research’ was an input and some measure of ‘performance’ an output. The search strategy covered the period 1990 to March 2012. MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Web of Science and other relevant databases were searched. A total of 10,239 papers were identified through the database searches, and 159 from other sources. A further relevance and quality check on 473 papers was undertaken, and identified 33 papers for inclusion in the review. A standard meta-analysis was not possible on the heterogeneous mix of papers in the focused review. Therefore an explanatory matrix was developed to help characterise the circumstances in which research engagement might improve health-care performance and the mechanisms that might be at work, identifying two main dimensions along which to categorise the studies: the degree of intentionality and the scope of the impact. Results: Of the 33 papers in the focused review, 28 were positive (of which six were positive/mixed) in relation to the question of whether or not research engagement improves health-care performance. Five papers were negative (of which two were negative/mixed). Seven out of 28 positive papers reported some improvement in health outcomes. For the rest, the improved care took the form of improved processes of care. Nine positive papers were at a clinician level and 19 at an institutional level. The wider review demonstrated, for example, how collaborative and action research can encourage some progress along the pathway from research engagement towards improved health-care performance. There is also evidence that organisations in which the research function is fully integrated into the organisational structure out-perform other organisations that pay less formal heed to research and its outputs. The focused and wider reviews identified the diversity in the mechanisms through which research engagement might improve health care: there are many circumstances and mechanisms at work, more than one mechanism is often operative, and the evidence available for each one is limited. Limitations: To address the complexities of this evidence synthesis of research we needed to spend significant time mapping the literature, and narrowed the research question to make it feasible. We excluded many potentially relevant papers (though we partially addressed this by conducting a wider additional synthesis). Studies assessing the impact made on clinician behaviour by small, locally conducted pieces of research could be difficult to interpret without full knowledge of the context. Conclusions: Drawing on the focused and wider reviews, it is suggested that when clinicians and health-care organisations engage in research there is the likelihood of a positive impact on health-care performance. Organisations that have deliberately integrated the research function into organisational structures demonstrate how research engagement can, among other factors, contribute to improved health-care performance. Further explorations are required of research networks and schemes to promote the engagement of clinicians and managers in research. Detailed observational research focusing on research engagement within organisations would build up an understanding of mechanisms. Study registration: PROSPERO: CRD42012001990. Funding: The National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme.

Background: Nilotinib and dasatinib are now being considered as alternative treatments to imatinib as a first-line treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). Objective: This technology assessment reviews the available evidence for the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of dasatinib, nilotinib and standard-dose imatinib for the first-line treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive CML. Data sources: Databases [including MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE, Current Controlled Trials, ClinicalTrials.gov, the US Food and Drug Administration website and the European Medicines Agency website] were searched from search end date of the last technology appraisal report on this topic in October 2002 to September 2011. Review methods: A systematic review of clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness studies; a review of surrogate relationships with survival; a review and critique of manufacturer submissions; and a model-based economic analysis. Results: Two clinical trials (dasatinib vs imatinib and nilotinib vs imatinib) were included in the effectiveness review. Survival was not significantly different for dasatinib or nilotinib compared with imatinib with the 24-month follow-up data available. The rates of complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) and major molecular response (MMR) were higher for patients receiving dasatinib than for those with imatinib for 12 months’ follow-up (CCyR 83% vs 72%, p

Accurately capturing children’s word learning abilities is critical for advancing our understanding of language development. Researchers have demonstrated that utilizing more complex statistical methods, such as mixed-effects regression and hierarchical linear modeling, can lead to a more complete understanding of the variability observed within children’s word learning abilities. In the current paper, we demonstrate how a person-centered approach to data analysis can provide additional insights into the heterogeneity of word learning ability among children while also aiding researchers’ efforts to draw individual-level conclusions. Using previously published data with 32 typically developing and 32 late-talking infants who completed a novel noun generalization (NNG) task to assess word learning biases (i.e., shape and material biases), we compare this person-centered method to three traditional statistical approaches: (1) a t-test against chance, (2) an analysis of variance (ANOVA), and (3) a mixed-effects regression. With each comparison, we present a novel question raised by the person-centered approach and show how results from the corresponding analyses can lead to greater nuance in our understanding of children’s word learning capabilities. Person-centered methods, then, are shown to be valuable tools that should be added to the growing body of sophisticated statistical procedures used by modern researchers.

Rehabilitation from musculoskeletal injuries focuses on reestablishing and monitoring muscle activation patterns to accurately produce force. The aim of this study is to explore the use of a novel low-powered wearable distributed Simultaneous Musculoskeletal Assessment with Real-Time Ultrasound (SMART-US) device to predict force during an isometric squat task. Participants (N = 5) performed maximum isometric squats under two medical imaging techniques; clinical musculoskeletal motion mode (m-mode) ultrasound on the dominant vastus lateralis and SMART-US sensors placed on the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, medial hamstring, and vastus medialis. Ultrasound features were extracted, and a linear ridge regression model was used to predict ground reaction force. The performance of ultrasound features to predict measured force was tested using either the Clinical M-mode, SMART-US sensors on the vastus lateralis (SMART-US: VL), rectus femoris (SMART-US: RF), medial hamstring (SMART-US: MH), and vastus medialis (SMART-US: VMO) or utilized all four SMART-US sensors (Distributed SMART-US). Model training showed that the Clinical M-mode and the Distributed SMART-US model were both significantly different from the SMART-US: VL, SMART-US: MH, SMART-US: RF, and SMART-US: VMO models (p < 0.05). Model validation showed that the Distributed SMART-US model had an R2 of 0.80 ± 0.04 and was significantly different from SMART-US: VL but not from the Clinical M-mode model. In conclusion, a novel wearable distributed SMART-US system can predict ground reaction force using machine learning, demonstrating the feasibility of wearable ultrasound imaging for ground reaction force estimation.

ABSTRACT Persons with cystic fibrosis (CF), starting in early life, show intestinal microbiome dysbiosis characterized in part by a decreased relative abundance of the genus Bacteroides. Bacteroides is a major producer of the intestinal short chain fatty acid propionate. We demonstrate here that cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator-defective (CFTR−/−) Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells are responsive to the anti-inflammatory effects of propionate. Furthermore, Bacteroides isolates inhibit the IL-1β-induced inflammatory response of CFTR−/− Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells and do so in a propionate-dependent manner. The introduction of Bacteroides-supplemented stool from infants with cystic fibrosis into the gut of CftrF508del mice results in higher propionate in the stool as well as the reduction in several systemic pro-inflammatory cytokines. Bacteroides supplementation also reduced the fecal relative abundance of Escherichia coli, indicating a potential interaction between these two microbes, consistent with previous clinical studies. For a Bacteroides propionate mutant in the mouse model, pro-inflammatory cytokine KC is higher in the airway and serum compared with the wild-type (WT) strain, with no significant difference in the absolute abundance of these two strains. Taken together, our data indicate the potential multiple roles of Bacteroides-derived propionate in the modulation of systemic and airway inflammation and mediating the intestinal ecology of infants and children with CF. The roles of Bacteroides and the propionate it produces may help explain the observed gut-lung axis in CF and could guide the development of probiotics to mitigate systemic and airway inflammation for persons with CF.IMPORTANCEThe composition of the gut microbiome in persons with CF is correlated with lung health outcomes, a phenomenon referred to as the gut-lung axis. Here, we demonstrate that the intestinal microbe Bacteroides decreases inflammation through the production of the short-chain fatty acid propionate. Supplementing the levels of Bacteroides in an animal model of CF is associated with reduced systemic inflammation and reduction in the relative abundance of the opportunistically pathogenic group Escherichia/Shigella in the gut. Taken together, these data demonstrate a key role for Bacteroides and microbially produced propionate in modulating inflammation, gut microbial ecology, and the gut-lung axis in cystic fibrosis. These data support the role of Bacteroides as a potential probiotic in CF.

Abstract Background: The knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for clinical research professionals (CRPs) are described in the Joint Task Force (JTF) for Clinical Trial Competencies Framework as a basis for leveled educational programs, training curricula, and certification. There is a paucity of literature addressing team science competencies tailored to CRPs. Gaps in training, research, and education can restrict their capability to effectively contribute to team science. Materials/Methods: The CRP Team Science team consisted of 18 members from 7 clinical and translational science awarded institutions. We employed a multi-stage, modified Delphi approach to define “Smart Skills” and leveled team science skills examples using individual and team science competencies identified by Lotrecchiano et al. Results: Overall, 59 team science Smart Skills were identified resulting in 177 skills examples across three levels: fundamental, skilled, and advanced. Two examples of the leveled skillsets for individual and team competencies are illustrated. Two vignettes were created to illustrate application for training. Discussion: This work provides a first-ever application of team science for CRPs by defining specific individual and team science competencies for each level of the CRP career life course. This work will enhance the JTF Domains 7 (Leadership and Professionalism) and 8 (Communication and Teamwork) which are often lacking in CRP training programs. The supplement provides a full set of skills and examples from this work. Conclusion: Developing team science skills for CRPs may contribute to more effective collaborations across interdisciplinary clinical research teams. These skills may also improve research outcomes and stabilize the CRP workforce.

Abstract Introduction: Translational science (TS) teams develop and conduct translational research. Academic TS teams can be categorized under three constituency groups: trainees and faculty, clinical research professionals (CRP), and community partners. Our study objectives were to define individual and team competencies of these three constituency groups during their career life course and determine relative importance and the level of mastery of each of the competencies needed at different stages of their life course. Methods: Each group was composed of experts for their constituency group. We applied individual and team competencies in TS teams by Lotrecchiano et al. (2020) as a starting point for structured expert discussions following a modified Delphi approach that we adapted based on the emergent needs and insights per constituency group. Results: The degree of relevance and level of mastery for individual and team competencies varies for trainees and faculty members across the career life course based on opportunities provided and relative importance at that career stage. However, CRPs enter TS teams at various career stages with fundamental, skilled, or advanced levels of smart skills that may or may not be contextual to their role. Community partners equally possess and develop competencies in a non-linear and contextual fashion that are required to facilitate constructive, bi-directional collaboration with other members of TS teams. Conclusions: Team science competencies across the career life course do not develop linearly among different constituency groups and require an adaptive framework to enhance TS team effectiveness.

ABSTRACT People with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) commonly test positive for the pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus, which is associated with a decline in lung function. Trikafta is a recently approved therapy for pwCF that improves quantity and function of the CFTR protein; however, it is not known how Trikafta affects microbial communities in the lung. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether Trikafta directly affects A. fumigatus growth and biology. While Trikafta did not impact the viability of A. fumigatus conidia, treatment of A. fumigatus biofilms with Trikafta reduced overall biofilm biomass. This finding was associated with increased membrane permeability, decreased viability, and reduced metabolic activity following long-term treatment of biofilms. Trikafta-induced membrane permeability, and biomass reduction was partially blocked with the calcium channel inhibitor verapamil and fully blocked by the mammalian CFTR inhibitor GlyH-101. Trikafta-induced biomass reduction and metabolic activity was shown to be regulated by the high-osmolarity glycerol pathway gene sakA. Trikafta treatment also induced resistance to the cell wall stressor calcofluor white, susceptibility to the anti-fungal drug caspofungin, and decreased inflammatory responses from murine bone marrow cells. Collectively, these results reveal that Trikafta affects infection-relevant A. fumigatus biology and host-microbial interactions. IMPORTANCE PwCF commonly test positive for pathogenic fungi, and more than 90% of the cystic fibrosis patient population is approved for the modulator treatment, Trikafta. Therefore, it is critical to understand how fungal communities, specifically A. fumigatus, respond to Trikafta exposure. Therefore, we sought to determine whether Trikafta impacted the biology of A. fumigatus biofilms. Our data demonstrate that Trikafta reduces biomass in several laboratory strains as well as clinical strains isolated from the expectorated sputum of pwCF. Furthermore, Trikafta reduces fungal viability and the capacity of biofilms to recover following treatment. Of particular importance, Trikafta affects how A. fumigatus biofilms respond to cell wall stressors, suggesting that Trikafta modulates components of the cell wall. Since the cell wall directly affects how a host immune system will respond to and effectively neutralize pathogens, our work, demonstrating that Trikafta impacts the A. fumigatus cell wall, is potentially highly relevant to fungal-induced disease pathogenesis.

JET, the world’s largest operating tokamak with unique Be/W wall and tritium handling capability, completed a Deuterium-Tritium (D-T) campaign in 2021 (Maggi et al 29th Fusion Energy Conf. ) following a decade of preparatory experiments, dedicated enhancements, technical rehearsals and training (Horton et al 2016 Fusion Eng. Des. 109–111 925). Operation with tritium raises significant technical, safety and scientific challenges not encountered in standard protium or deuterium operation. This contribution describes the tritium operational requirements, pulses and technical preparations, new operating procedures, lessons learned and details on the achieved operational availability and performance. The preparation and execution of the recent JET tritium experiments benefitted from the previous experience in 1991 (Preliminary Tritium Experiment), 1997 (DTE1 campaign) and 2003 (Trace Tritium Campaigns) and consisted of the following five phases: technical rehearsals and scenario preparation, tritium commissioning, 100% tritium campaign, D-T campaign (DTE2), tritium clean-up. Following the clean-up JET resumed normal operation and is currently undertaking a further D-T campaign (DTE3).