Despite significant reductions in phosphorus (P) loads, lakes still experience cyanobacterial blooms. Little is known regarding cellular P regulation in response to P deficiency in widely distributed bloom causing species such as Microcystis. In this study, we investigated changes in P containing and non-P lipids contents and their ratios concomitantly with the determinations of expression levels of genes encoding these lipids in cultural and field Microcystis samples. In the culture, the content of phosphatidylglycerol (PG) decreased from 2.1 μg g-1 in P replete control to 1.2 μg g-1 in P-deficient treatment, while non-P lipids, like sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG) and monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG), increased dramatically from 13.6 μg g-1 to 142.3 μg g-1, and from 0.9 μg g-1 to 16.74 μg g-1, respectively. The expression of the MGDG synthesis gene, mgdE, also increased under low P conditions. Significant positive relationships between soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and ratios of P-containing lipids (PG) to non-P lipids, including SQDG, MGDG and digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG) (P < 0.05) were observed in the field investigations. Both cultural and field data indicated that Microcystis sp. might increase non-P lipids proportion to lower P demand when suffering from P deficiency. Furthermore, despite lipid remodeling, photosynthetic activity remained stable, as indicated by comparable chlorophyll fluorescence and Fv/Fm ratios among cultural treatments. These findings suggested that Microcystis sp. may dominate in P-limited environments by substituting glycolipids and sulfolipids for phospholipids to reduce P demand without compromising the photosynthetic activity. This effective strategy in response to P deficiency meant a stricter P reduction threshold is needed in terms of Microcystis bloom control.

The UNICOM Test Lab enhances patient safety and healthcare efficiency by implementing ISO\'s IDMP standards across the EU. Funded by the EU\'s HORIZON Programme, this initiative unites diverse stakeholders to enable the seamless exchange of medicinal product information. This paper details the interoperability challenges and methodologies employed, highlighting the UNICOM Test Lab\'s role in validating and testing tools for IDMP standards implementation, aiming for semantic interoperability and a safe pharmaceutical supply chain within the EU.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) arises from a collagen type 1 defect due to several gene mutations, particularly COL1A1 and COL1A2. Its inheritance pattern is typically autosomal dominant, which is more common, or autosomal recessive, although sporadic cases also occur. Prenatal ultrasound can detect severe types, but genetic testing is necessary for confirmation, often at birth or in early childhood. We present a rare case of sporadic OI type III involving a three-year-old boy. Prenatal ultrasound initially revealed limb deformities and skeletal dysplasia, with subsequent confirmation at birth through bone deformities and multiple fractures. Exome sequencing confirmed the diagnosis at 15 months, revealing a new, rare variant in the COL1A2 gene. Pamidronate treatment began at seven months.

Antimony(V) substitution is common in secondary ferrihydrite, especially in mining areas and tailings. However, its impact on the adsorption behavior of ferrihydrite is still unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the influential mechanisms of Sb(V) substitution on the lattice structure and surface properties of Sb-substituted ferrihydrite (SbFh), and its adsorption of coexisting Sb(OH)6-. Antimony(V) is substituted at Fe1 sites and is primarily distributed on the surface. Substitution has opposing effects on the outer- and inner-sphere complexation of Sb(OH)6-. On one hand, substituted-Sb(V) transfers more positive charges to ≡FeOH, reducing the number of H bonds. Subsequently, the charge saturation of ≡FeOH decreases, surface charge increases, and outer-sphere complexation is promoted. On the other hand, the elevated bond valence of Sb-O increases charge saturation of ≡FeOH, reducing the charge capacity that ≡FeOH can accommodate from inner-sphere complexes. Thus, inner-sphere complexation is inhibited. Inner-sphere complexation plays a more important role, and Sb(OH)6- adsorption is inhibited. Additionally, the primary complexation modes of Sb(OH)6- transform from bidentate to monodentate complexation. This research has important implications for understanding the environmental behavior of ferrihydrite, as well as the fate and bioavailability of antimony in mining areas and tailings.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol-free drinks are suggested as healthy alternatives for alcohol consumption. To achieve benefits, alcohol-free beverages must be consumed as a substitute for alcoholic beverages, not in addition. This study examined in a student sample (i) the frequency/quantity of alcohol(-free) consumption; (ii) the relationship between alcohol-free and alcohol consumption; (iii) alcohol-free drinks as substitution or in addition to alcoholic drinks; and (iv) possible gender differences.
METHODS: Survey data regarding alcohol(-free) consumption (May-June 2022) of Dutch university students (N = 4.318, females 70.2%; males 28.5%, average age 22.6 years [SD = 2.4]).
RESULTS: (i) A total of 42.8% of the students indicated they had never consumed alcohol-free versus 10.1% who never consumed alcoholic beverages; (ii) the group who recently consumed alcohol-free also most often recently consumed alcoholic beverages (42.7%). The group that had never consumed alcohol-free drank on average more alcoholic beverages (M = 3.98 on a drinking day) compared to past and recent alcohol-free drinkers (respectively, M = 3.44 and M = 3.59). (iii) Most students (54.9%) reported drinking alcohol-free beverages in addition to alcohol, 17.4% indicated using it as a substitution. Students who consumed alcohol-free as \'substitution\' were older, more often living alone or with a partner, less often living with parents and more often involved in a steady relationship compared to students who consumed in \'addition\'. (iv) No prominent gender differences were found.
CONCLUSIONS: The majority of students remained consuming the same number of alcoholic beverages since they started consuming alcohol-free beverages, pointing to an addition effect. A small group did use alcohol-free beverages as a substitute for their alcohol consumption.

Insect mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) are usually represented by a conserved gene order. Whiteflies exhibit gene rearrangement in their mitogenomes; however, understanding how nucleotide substitution rates shape gene rearrangement in whiteflies is unclear due to the limited number of mitogenomes. Additionally, the mechanisms by which selection pressure drives adaptations in mitochondrial genes in the two subfamilies of whiteflies are not yet known. Here, we analyzed 18 whitefly mitogenomes, including one newly generated mitogenome, to compare nucleotide substitution rates, selection pressure, and gene arrangements. The newly generated mitogenome is reported along with reannotation of Pealius mori and comparisons to other whitefly mitogenomes. Comparative studies on nucleotide composition of 18 whiteflies revealed the positive GC skewness, confirming the reversal of strand asymmetry. We found 11 rearranged gene orders within two subfamilies of whiteflies with 8-18 breakpoints of gene rearrangements. Members of the subfamily Aleyrodinae exhibit more complex pathways in the evolution of gene order as compared to the subfamily Aleurodicinae. Our findings also revealed that the increase or reduction of nucleotide substitution rates does not have an impact on any of the gene rearrangement scenarios depicting neutral correlation. Selection pressure analysis revealed that the mitogenomes from members of both the subfamilies Aleurodicinae and Aleyrodinae are characterized by intense purifying selection pressure.

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Since May 2023, a novel combination of neuraminidase mutations, I223V + S247N, has been detected in influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses collected in countries spanning 5 continents, mostly in Europe (67/101). The viruses belong to 2 phylogenetically distinct groups and display ≈13-fold reduced inhibition by oseltamivir while retaining normal susceptibility to other antiviral drugs.

Rheostat positions, which can be substituted with various amino acids to tune protein function across a range of outcomes, are a developing area for advancing personalized medicine and bioengineering. Current methods cannot accurately predict which proteins contain rheostat positions or their substitution outcomes. To compare the prevalence of rheostat positions in homologs, we previously investigated their occurrence in two pyruvate kinase (PYK) isozymes. Human liver PYK contained numerous rheostat positions that tuned the apparent affinity for the substrate phosphoenolpyruvate (Kapp-PEP) across a wide range. In contrast, no functional rheostat positions were identified in Zymomonas mobilis PYK (ZmPYK). Further, the set of ZmPYK substitutions included an unusually large number that lacked measurable activity. We hypothesized that the inactive substitution variants had reduced protein stability, precluding detection of Kapp-PEP tuning. Using modified buffers, robust enzymatic activity was obtained for 19 previously-inactive ZmPYK substitution variants at three positions. Surprisingly, both previously-inactive and previously-active substitution variants all had Kapp-PEP values close to wild-type. Thus, none of the three positions were functional rheostat positions, and, unlike human liver PYK, ZmPYK\'s Kapp-PEP remained poorly tunable by single substitutions. To directly assess effects on stability, we performed thermal denaturation experiments for all ZmPYK substitution variants. Many diminished stability, two enhanced stability, and the three positions showed different thermal sensitivity to substitution, with one position acting as a \"stability rheostat.\" The differences between the two PYK homologs raises interesting questions about the underlying mechanism(s) that permit functional tuning by single substitutions in some proteins but not in others.

A twelve-week feeding experiment was undertaken to explore the impact of substituting dietary fish meal (FM) and fish oil (FO) with complex protein (CP) and canola oil (CO) in the diet of triploid rainbow trout on the quality of their fillets. The control diet (F100) contained FM (60%) and FO (18.6%) as the main protein and lipid sources. Based on this, 50% and 100% of FM and FO were substituted by CP and CO and they were named as F50 and F0, respectively. The results showed that there were no significant differences in the specific growth rates, condition factors, gutted yields, fillet yields and yellowness values as the substitution levels increased (p > 0.05). The F50 treatment obtained the highest values of fillet springiness and chewiness, improved the umami and bitter taste of the fillets by increasing the contents of inosine-5\'-monophosphate and histidine, and increased lipid, protein, C18: 1n-9 and C18: 2n-6 contents (p < 0.05). The F0 treatment obtained the highest values of fillet hardness and pH, attenuated the sweet taste of the fillets by decreasing the content of glycine, and decreased the contents of EPA and DHA (p < 0.05). Both F50 and F0 treatments could increase the redness value, decrease the lightness and hue values of fillets, and increase the odor intensity, resulting in the typical fillet odors of green, fatty, orange and fishy (p < 0.05). In general, 50% and 100% of FM and FO substitution did not affect the growth of trout, but it did affect quality. Compared to the F100 treatment, the fillet quality of the F0 treatment was similar to the F50 treatment and could improve the appearance and odor intensity of the fillets. However, the difference was that the F50 treatment increased the springiness, umami, bitterness and lipid nutritional value of the fillets, but the F0 treatment increased the hardness, decreased the sweetness, and decreased the lipid, EPA and DHA contents of the fillets.