Overcoming the coupled climate and biodiversity crises and their societal impacts.

Earth's biodiversity and human societies face pollution, overconsumption of natural resources, urbanization, demographic shifts, social and economic inequalities, and habitat loss, many of which are exacerbated by climate change. Here, we review links among climate, biodiversity, and society and develop a roadmap toward sustainability. These include limiting warming to 1.5°C and effectively conserving and restoring functional ecosystems on 30 to 50% of land, freshwater, and ocean "scapes." We envision a mosaic of interconnected protected and shared spaces, including intensively used spaces, to strengthen self-sustaining biodiversity, the capacity of people and nature to adapt to and mitigate climate change, and nature's contributions to people. Fostering interlinked human, ecosystem, and planetary health for a livable future urgently requires bold implementation of transformative policy interventions through interconnected institutions, governance, and social systems from local to global levels.

Prognostic significance of genetic biomarkers in isocitrate dehydrogenase-wild-type lower-grade glioma: the need to further stratify this tumor entity - a meta-analysis.

The clinical outcomes of isocitrate dehydrogenase-wild-type (IDH-wt) lower-grade glioma (LGG) have been the subject of debate for some time. In this meta-analysis, we aimed to assess the prognostic values of several known genetic markers (e.g. TERT promoter mutation, H3F3A mutation, CDKN2A loss) in this tumor group. Four electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Virtual Health Library, were searched for relevant articles. Pooled hazard ratio (HR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) for overall survival were calculated using a random-effect model weighted by an inverse variance method. A total of 11 studies were finally selected from 2274 articles for meta-analyses. Several genetic alterations were demonstrated to have a negative impact on prognosis of IDH-wt LGGs, specifically TERT promoter mutation (HR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.42-2.70), H3F3A mutation (HR, 3.21; 95% CI, 1.86-5.55) and EGFR amplification (HR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.02-2.74). However, CDKN loss, ATRX mutation and coexisting gain of chromosome 7/loss of chromosome 10 showed no clinical significance in this glioma entity. Our study results demonstrated that IDH-wt LGGs are heterogeneous in clinical outcome and not all tumors have a poor prognosis. The presence of TERT promoter mutation, H3F3A mutation and EGFR amplification showed negative prognostic impacts in this tumor entity. These genetic events can be used to better stratify patient outcomes.

Rapid Nanophotonics Assay for Head and Neck Cancer Diagnosis.

Efficient and timely diagnosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a critical challenge, particularly in low and middle income countries. These regions, which are expected to witness a drastic increase in HNSCC rates, are ill-prepared to handle the diagnostic burden due to limited resources, especially the low ratio of pathologists per population, resulting in delayed diagnosis and treatment. Here, we demonstrate the potential of an alternative diagnostic method as a low-cost, resource-efficient alternative to histopathological analysis. Our novel technology employs unique surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) "nanorattles" targeting cytokeratin nucleic acid biomarkers specific for HNSCC. In this first study using SERS diagnostics for head and neck cancers, we tested the diagnostic accuracy of our assay using patient tissue samples. In a blinded trial, our technique demonstrated a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 89%, supporting its use as a useful alternative to histopathological diagnosis. The implications of our method are vast and significant in the setting of global health. Our method can provide a rapid diagnosis, allowing for earlier treatment before the onset of distant metastases. In comparison to histopathology, which can take several months in remote limited-resources regions, our method provides a diagnosis within a few hours.

Author Correction: Rapid Nanophotonics Assay for Head and Neck Cancer Diagnosis.

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Interactive effects of compost and pre-planting soil moisture on plant biomass, nutrition and formation of mycorrhizas: a context dependent response.

We aimed to investigate the combined impacts of compost addition and pre-planting soil moisture conditions, on plant-available nutrients, and subsequent impacts on the biomass, nutrition and formation of AM by two important crop species. A glasshouse study was undertaken in which wheat and tomato plants were grown in compost amended or un-amended soil that was subjected to different moisture regimes prior to planting. The availability of P was strongly influenced by compost addition, but not pre-planting moisture conditions. In contrast, mineral N pools were affected by compost addition and pre-planting soil moisture conditions in complex ways. These changes in nutrient availability affected plant biomass, nutrient uptake and formation of AM. In general, plant performance was better where pre-planting soil moisture conditions were wet or dry, and worse where they involved a wet/dry cycle, and mycorrhizal colonisation was lower where compost was added to the soil. That pre-planting moisture conditions affect the biomass of subsequent crops is an important finding, the potential implications of which are considered here.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma DNA Detection Using Ultrabright SERS Nanorattles and Magnetic Beads for Head and Neck Cancer Molecular Diagnostics.

A rise in head and neck cancers in low and middle countries over recent years has prompted the need for low-cost, resource-efficient diagnostic technologies. Standard diagnosis with histopathology is often not feasible due to the low number of trained pathologists in these regions, resulting in delayed diagnosis and treatment. This study presents an alternative diagnostic method to standard histopathology. We developed a surface enhanced raman scattering (SERS) based method to distinguish squamous cell carcinoma from other cell lines. Using a "sandwich" method employing ultrabright SERA nanorattles and magnetic beads, we directly targeted specific nucleic acid markers of squamous cells. Our method was able to detect the presence of squamous cells with high sensitivity and specificity, supporting its potential for use as a diagnostic tool in head and neck fine needle aspirations (FNA).

Screening of pigmented Bacillus aquimaris SH6 from the intestinal tracts of shrimp to develop a novel feed supplement for shrimp.

AIMS: To develop a novel feed supplement for shrimp using pigmented spore-forming bacterial strains isolated from their gastrointestinal tracts. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eight pigmented Bacillus strains were selected from the isolates based on high production of heat-stable spores, typical UV-Vis spectra of produced carotenoids (400-550 nm), and free radical scavenging activity of their extracts. Of the eight strains, the red-orange pigmented Bacillus aquimaris SH6 was selected because it showed the highest abundance in shrimp guts (70% population). Whiteleg shrimp (n = 30 per group) fed with SH6 spores, at >3 × 106  CFU g-1  pellet for 4 weeks had redder colour (score of 21-23 vs 20-22), 2·7-fold higher astaxanthin level (0·69 vs 0·25 µg g-1 shrimp), 34% higher weight gain (7·18 vs 5·32 g shrimp-1 ), and 85% higher phenoloxidase activity (OD490  = 0·265 vs 0·143) than shrimp in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The result supports the potential use of B. aquimaris SH6 as a feed supplement for promoting the colourization and weight gain, and for enhancing innate immunity of whiteleg shrimp. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study demonstrates that carotenoids produced by B. aquimaris SH6 can be successfully absorbed and converted to astaxanthin in whiteleg shrimp.

Blood naltrexone levels over time following naltrexone implant.

AIMS: Oral naltrexone is used in the management of both heroin and alcohol dependence. However, poor compliance has limited its clinical utility. The study's objective was to determine the period of therapeutic coverage (>or=2 ng/ml) provided by a 3.3 g naltrexone subcutaneous implant compared with existing data on 1.1 g and 2.2 g implants. METHODS: We assessed free blood naltrexone levels following treatment with a 3.3 g naltrexone implant in heroin dependent patients (n=50) in Perth, Western Australia. Results were compared with previously collated data for patients treated with either a 1.1 g (n=10) or 2.2 g (n=24) implant. RESULTS: Following 3.3 g naltrexone implant treatment, free blood naltrexone levels remained above 2 ng/ml for 145 days (95% CI 125-167). In comparison, 1.1 g or 2.2 g implant treatment resulted in 95 days (95% CI 69-121) and 136 days (95% CI 114-158) coverage, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The 3.3 g implant provides longer therapeutic coverage than the 1.1 g implant but not significantly longer than the 2.2 g implant.

Lactococcal 936-species phage attachment to surface of Lactococcus lactis.

The interactions of the 936-species phages sk1, jj50, and 64 with the cell surface of Lactococcus lactis LM0230 were analyzed. Cell envelopes (walls + plasma membrane), cell wall, or plasma membrane from L. lactis ssp. lactis LM0230 each inactivated the phages in vitro. However, other 936-species phages kh and P008, which do not infect strain LM0230, were not inactivated by any of the subcellular fractions. Treating cell walls or plasma membrane with the cell wall hydrolase mutanolysin eliminated inactivation of phage sk1. This suggested that intact cell wall fragments were required for inactivation. A role for plasma membrane in phage sk1 inactivation was further investigated. Boiling, washing in 2 M KCl, 8 M urea, or 0.1 M Na(2)CO(3)/pH 11, or treating the plasma membrane with proteases did not reduce adsorption or inactivation of phage. Adding lipoteichoic acid or antibodies to lipoteichoic acid did not reduce inactivation of phage in a mixture with membrane, suggesting that lipoteichoic acid was not involved. Inactivation by envelopes or cell wall correlated with ejection of DNA from the phage sk1 capsid. Although calcium is required for plaque formation, it was not required for adsorption, inactivation, or ejection of phage DNA by envelopes or cell wall. The results suggest that at least for phages sk1, jj50, and 64, adsorption and phage DNA injection into the host does not require a host membrane protein or lipoteichoic acid, and that cell wall components are sufficient for these initial steps of phage infection.

Preparative chiral liquid chromatography for enantiomeric separation of pheromones.

Cellulose triacetate was investigated as a chiral stationary phase for preparatively separating the enantiomers of lineatin, frontalin, exo-brevicomin, endo-brevicomin, verbenone, (E)-conophthorin, and grandisol. Tens of milligrams of both enantiomers were efficiently prepared in high percentage enantiomeric excess from one injection of each compound except grandisol. We prepared grandisyl acetate, benzoate, and 4-bromobenzoate to determine if derivatization of the free alcohol might improve separation. Of these, grandisyl 4-bromobenzoate provided the best separation but was still not very well resolved. Preparative separation of enantiomers on cellulose triacetate is a viable alternative to stereoselective synthesis when semiochemicals of very high enantiomeric purity are required for biological testing.

Preparation and biological activity of amino acid and peptide conjugates of antitumor hydroxymethylacylfulvene.

The primary hydroxyl group in hydroxymethylacylfulvene, a potent antitumor drug, is readily replaced by thiols including cysteine, N-acetylcysteine, homocysteine, and glutathione. Best yields are obtained when reaction is carried out in the presence of dilute sulfuric acid. A variety of sulfur-containing analogues have been prepared, and their toxicity to tumor cells was examined.