Knowledge about the ecological patterns of abundant and rare bacteria in regulated river ecosystems, especially with respect to their community traits, is an important but poorly investigated subject. In this study, we examined the community assembly of abundant and rare bacteria, as well as their environmental adaptation, across complex environmental gradients in sediments of the Yarlung Tsangpo River on the Tibetan Plateau. Results showed that abundant taxa exhibited broader environmental thresholds and stronger phylogenetic signals for ecological traits than rare taxa. In contrast, rare taxa were more sensitive to environmental changes and showed stronger phylogenetic clustering. Although both subcommunities exhibited significant distance-decay patterns, the abundant subcommunity was governed primarily by dispersal limitation, while the rare subcommunity was strongly driven by heterogeneous selection. The similar distribution patterns but contrasting assembly mechanisms affecting abundant and rare subcommunities resulted from the differences in environmental adaptation. Forest area and total nitrogen were key factors in determining the stochastic and deterministic assembly for abundant and rare subcommunities, respectively. Additionally, rare taxa might play potential roles in maintaining network stability, although they were less connected and located more peripherally within the network. Collectively, our study provides a new perspective for the ecological significance of abundant and rare bacteria in fluvial sediments, and facilitates the prediction of microbial responses to ongoing environmental changes in the Yarlung Tsangpo River.

Background. Iron overload may contribute to complications in childhood cancer survivors. Methodology. Patients treated for hematological malignancy, ≥6 months from the end of therapy, who had received ≥5 red-cell transfusions were enrolled in the cross-sectional study. Iron-overload was estimated by serum ferritin (SF) and T2*MRI. Results. Forty-five survivors were enrolled among 431 treated for hematological malignancies. The median age at diagnosis was 7-years. The median number of red-cell units transfused was 8 (IQR 7, 10). The median duration from the end of treatment was 15 months (IQR 8.75, 25). An elevated SF (>1000 ng/ml), elevated liver iron concentration (LIC) and myocardial iron concentration (MIC) were observed in 5 (11.1%), 20 (45.4%), and 2 (4.5%) patients, respectively. All survivors with SF >1000 ng/ml had elevated LIC. The LIC correlated with SF (p<0.001). MIC lacked correlation with SF or LIC. The number of red-cell units transfused and duration from last transfusion correlated with SF (p=0.001, 0.002) and LIC (p=0.012, 0.005). SF >500 ng/ml predicted elevated LIC with sensitivity/specificity of 80%/79%. A cut-off of 8 units of red-cells predicted elevated LIC with sensitivity/specificity of 95%/49.8%. Conclusions. Iron overload in survivors of hematological malignancies who had received ≥5 red-cell transfusions, estimated by SF, LIC, and MIC was 11.1%, 45.4%, and 4.5%. We suggest screening by SF for survivors who have received >8 transfusions. If SF is 500-1000 ng/ml, a T2*MRI is useful for estimating LIC. A T2*MRI can be avoided if SF exceeds 1000 ng/ml, as LIC will be expected to be elevated.

Background and purpose: The solute carrier 26 family member A9 (SLC26A9) is an epithelial anion transporter that is assumed to contribute to basal airway chloride conductance and airway surface hydration. It is a genetic modifier in cystic fibrosis and therefore may serve as a possible alternative Cl- secretory pathway in airways. Whether SLC26A9 or CFTR is responsible for airway Cl- transport under basal conditions, is still unclear, due to the lack of a specific inhibitor for SLC26A9. Experimental approach: In the present study we report a novel potent and specific inhibitor for SLC26A9, which was identified by screening of a drug-like small molecule library and subsequent chemical modifications. Key results: The most potent compound S9-A13 inhibited SLC26A9 with an IC50 of 90.9  13.4 nM in YFP fluorescence quenching assay. Notably, S9-A13 did not inhibit other members of the SLC26-family and showed little effects on other Cl- channels such as CFTR, TMEM16A, and VRAC. Although S9-A13 clearly inhibited SLC26A9 when overexpressed in HEK293 cells, it showed little inhibitory effects on ion transport in highly differentiated human airway epithelial cells or mouse trachea under basal conditions, despite clear apical expression of SLC26A9 in ciliated epithelial cells. Conclusions and Implications: Using the potent inhibitor S9-A13, the present data demonstrate the lack of activity of SLC26A9 in nonstimulated airways. Because on the contrary, the CFTR-inhibitor CFTRinh-172 clearly inhibited transport in non-stimulated airways, we conclude that CFTR rather than SLC26A9 is in charge of constitutive Cl- transport in airways.

The treatment on patients with T2DM who suffered from defective in insulin secretion and inability of tissues responding to insulin properly have been studied for decades. Currently, incretins-based hypoglycemic agents have become a focus in treating T2DM and this kind of drugs could be classified as GLP-1 receptor agonists which mimic the function of GLP-1 and DPP-4 antagonists which avoid GLP-1 being degraded. Both of them focused on GLP-1 polypeptide. Since incretins-based hypoglycemic agents are widely used, the physiological disposition is of great significance in discovering more effective drugs and providing guidance on clinicals for treating T2DM. In the review, we summarize the mechanisms of these two kinds of drugs and provide information of the drugs currently be approved. In addition, the physiological disposition of each type of GLP-1 receptor agonists and DPP-4 antagonists are thoroughly reviewed. By this review, based on the physiological disposition of these drugs, patients with different situation could choose the drugs based on their physical conditions and the need of supplementary treatment in avoid of drug interactions. We also hope some drugs with novel structure with appropriate physiological disposition could be inspired and invented.

Background Childbirth progress is much related to labour pain, whereby the progress can be predicted using suitable pain assessment tools. Objective To summarise methodology used for the assessment includes scales, questionnaires, tests, and other methods used to assess pain severity and childbirth progress in labouring women. Search strategy Elsevier® Scopus and MEDLINE (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, or MEDLARS Online accessed using PubMed®) were systematically searched in November 2021. Selection criteria Original research utilising pain assessment tools to assess pain severity and labour progress. Data collection and analysis Data on study characteristics, labour pain assessment tools, and labour evaluation are qualitatively synthesised. Main results There are various types of pain assessment tools that were identified. Nineteen (19) papers used the Visual Analogue Scale to measure the pain in labouring women, 14 studies used McGill Pain Questionnaire, and one (1) study used the questionnaire in the Danish version, while seven (7) papers used numerical rating scale in their studies to assess the labour pain in labouring women. For the progression of labour, ten (10) research papers assess the labour progress by examining cervical dilation and two (2) papers address the duration of labour as the measurement in their studies. Conclusions Many pains assessment tools are available to measure pain in labouring women. Most articles used the Visual Analogue Scale to assess childbirth pain with cervical dilatation to assess the labour progress. However, there is still limited information available in the literature about suitable pain assessment to predict labour progress.

A document by Taruna Agrawal. Click on the document to view its contents.

The African ostrich (Struthio camelus.) is a fast-growing, rough feed-tolerant herbivorous bird. This species has been extensively studied. The aim of this study was to understand the prokaryotic microbial diversity in the intestinal tract of the African ostrich raised in China, and the differences among intestinal segments. To do this, microorganisms in the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, colon, and rectum were identified and analyzed via 16S rRNA-based macrogenomic sequencing. The microbial abundance and diversity were significantly higher in the cecum, rectum, and especially the colon, than in the duodenum and jejunum. Meanwhile, microbial abundance and diversity in the ileum were between those in the small and large intestines. Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were the most abundant phyla in each segment. Tenericutes and Bacteroidetes were also dominant in the cecum and colon. At the genus level, Acinetobacter, Escherichia–Shigella, Pseudomonas, and Bacillus were dominant in the small intestine. In the large intestine, Acinetobacter, Escherichia–Shigella, Anaeroplasma, and Bacteroides were dominant. The microflora in each segment differed significantly. Different numbers of microbial groups were responsible for these differences in each segment. Only two main bacterial groups contributed to differences in the duodenum, while 23 different bacterial groups contributed in the colon. The results demonstrated that the intestinal microflora of the African ostrich is complex and diverse, with its composition and abundance differing throughout the system. These findings provide a theoretical basis for further study of intestinal microbial compositions and functions in the African ostrich.

Major marine natural products (MNPs) and marine organisms include sea urchin, sea squirts or ascidians, sea cucumbers, sea snake, sponge, soft coral, marine algae, and microalgae. As vital biomedical resources for the discovery of marine drugs, bioactive molecules, and agents for treatment of infectious diseases and major non-communicable diseases (mNCDs), these MNPs have bioactive potentials of antioxidant, anti-infection, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, anti-diabetic effects, cancer treatment, and improvement of human immunity. This article reviews MNPs as huge and novel biomedical resources for anti-infection of coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 and its major variants (such as Delta and Omicron), as well tuberculosis, H. Pylori, and HIV infection, and as promising biomedical resources for infection related cardiovascular disease (irCVD), diabetes, and cancer. The anti-inflammatory mechanisms of current MNPs against SARS-CoV-2 infection are also involved. Moreover, since the use of other chemical agents for COVID-19 treatment are associated with some adverse effects in cardiovascular system, MNPs have more therapeutic advantages. Herein, it’s time to protect this ecosystem for better sustainable development in the new era of ocean economy, since MNPs are indeed huge, novel and promising biomedical resources for anti-infection of SARS-CoV-2 and its major variants as well as irCVD. The novel potential mechanisms may be through multiple targets and pathways regulating human immunity and inhibiting inflammation. In short, MNPs are worthy of translational research for further clinical application.

1. Aims Underdosing of adalimumab can result in non-response and poor disease control. In this study we investigated the prediction of adalimumab levels with population pharmacokinetic model-based Bayesian forecasting early in therapy. This way underexposed non-responders can possibly be identified early to optimise disease control. 2. Methods A literature study was performed to identify adalimumab pharmacokinetic models. With data from a previous pharmacokinetic adalimumab study a model was evaluated retrospectively. In the prospective phase, a fit-for-purpose evaluation of the model was performed for rheumatologic and inflammatory bowel disease patients with peak, trough and control adalimumab samples obtained by a volumetric absorptive microsampling technique and administration data from an electronic needle container. Steady state adalimumab levels were predicted from peak and trough levels collected after the first adalimumab administration. Predictive performance was calculated with mean prediction error (MPE) and normalized root mean square error (RMSE). 3. Results An existing pharmacokinetic model was selected with external validation for the prospective phase. Thirty-six patients (22 rheumatologic and 14 IBD) were included in our study. After stratification for absence of anti-adalimumab antibodies, the calculated MPE was -2.6% and normalised RMSE 24.0%. Concordance between predicted and measured adalimumab serum levels falling within or outside the therapeutic window was 75%. Three patients (8.3%) developed detectable levels of anti-adalimumab antibodies. 4. Conclusion This prospective study demonstrates that adalimumab levels at steady state can be predicted from early samples. This concept enables early precision dosing at home to guide therapy.

It is relatively poorly understood how vertebrates can survive and thrive in deep-sea environments (depths below 3,400 m that are characterized by high hydrostatic pressures, low temperatures, and sparse food resources). Here we report two high-quality chromosome-level genomes for deep-sea eels (Ilyophis sp1 and Ilyophis sp2). Combining Illumina reads, PacBio, and Hi-C technologies, we sequenced and assembled its genomes. The genome assemblies were 1494.88 Mb and 1469.15 Mb for Ilyophis sp1 and Ilyophis sp2, with scaffold N50 values of 121.13 Mb and 115.31 Mb, and genome annotation predicted 22,465 and 21,632 protein-coding genes respectively. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that these two deep-sea eels diverged from European eels ~111.9 million years ago (Mya) and likely evolved into two separate groups ~3.59 Mya. Comparative genomic analyses reveal that: (1) the positively selected cytoskeleton gene TUBGCP3 and the expanded family MLC1 may improve the cytoskeleton stability under high pressure; (2) the changes in protein sequences of Acox1 may enhance cell membrane fluidity and maintain transport activity under high pressure; (3) functional mutation of the translation gene HARS in deep-sea eels may change its translation ability to resist the influence of low temperature on translation-related enzymes; and (4) energy metabolism under a food-limited environment may be increased by expanded and positively selected gene enrichment in AMPK and mTOR signaling pathways. This study provides insights into the underlying genetic basis and molecular evolution of deep-sea vertebrates and provides valuable genomic resources for future investigations of deep-sea biology. Keywords: deep-sea, eels, Ilyophis, adaption, high hydrostatic pressure.

Nutrient-specific foraging is the ecological theory that generalist consumers select food resources based on their nutritional content. While laboratory experiments support this idea, it has yet to be demonstrated in invertebrates in the field. We combined dietary DNA metabarcoding with prey availability data and macronutrient content in the field to analyze nutrient-based prey choice. We show that spider nutrient intake and prey choice deviates from what we would expect if individuals randomly chose their prey. Through a novel nutrient-based taxonomy and null modelling, we reveal a stable average macronutrient intake. There was disproportionate foraging for different macronutrients by individual spiders. Although, this might be expected as individual prey are biased toward particular nutrients and individual spiders were at different stages of nutrient balancing when collected. This finding suggests that spiders are redressing nutritional deficits to obtain a target nutrient intake, as would be expected of nutrient-specific foraging. This evidence for nutrient-specific foraging under field conditions is a significant advance, extending our understanding beyond lab-based behavioral assays to now resolving complex real-world systems.

While three hypotheses (niche dimension, light asymmetry, soil acidification) are proposed to explain the decline of plant diversity following nutrient enrichment, our knowledge of the underlying mechanisms remains vague. To reveal the cryptic mechanisms, we analysed the century-long Park Grass Experiment under modern coexistence theory by fitting Lotka-Volterra competition models with time-series data. Supportive of the last two hypotheses, intrinsic population growth rates (r) decreased and competitive differences or hierarchies reshuffled with nutrient addition and soil acidification remarkably, mostly favouring grasses over legumes or forbs. Moreover, the altered r (affecting species existence) and competitive differences (affecting species coexistence) effectively explained the diversity loss and recovery. However, intraspecific and interspecific competition decreased dramatically but niche differences increased and decreased respectively with nutrient addition and soil neutralisation, poorly supporting the first hypothesis. These findings greatly deepen our insights into fundamental mechanisms underlying the response of plant diversity to nutrient deposition in nature.

The effect of vegetation on soil and water conservation increases with the increase of planting density. At the same time, the degree of soil drought increases with the increase of planting density, and leads to the decline of vegetation or waste resources and then affects the benefit of vegetation on soil and water conservation. However, there is a few research of high-quality sustainable management of easier degraded soil and water conservation vegetation ecosystems. In this paper, the high-quality sustainable management of soil and water conservation vegetation was reviewed. The results showed that the degree of cover of soil and water conservation vegetation increases with increasing density under other things being equal; the canopy interception increases with stand density but there is a peak value of canopy interception. The surface runoff decreases with increasing density with a logarithm relationship; the sediment charge in the runoff increases with reducing density with a logistic relation. There is a limit of soil and water conservation vegetation, which is the cover degree of soil and water conservation vegetation when the existing plant density of indicator species in a plant community is equal to vegetation carrying capacity. When plant density of indicator species in a plant community is more than vegetation carrying capacity, the cover degree of soil and water conservation vegetation is more than the vegetation restoration limit of soil and water conservation vegetation, the plant resources relationship should be regulated based on vegetation carrying capacity to realize high-quality sustainable management of soil and water conservation vegetation.

1. Cuscuta species are rootless, leafless and branchless stems without meaningful photosynthesis. Hence, sink-free and source-free mechanistic growth models are possible yet remain unexplored. Furthermore, phytohormone expression has not yet been studied in the absence of hosts. 2. We use mass conservation in second-order differential equations to build mechanistic models for Cuscuta growth dynamics and UPLC-MS/MS to identify and mathematically score phytohormone expression. 3. We identified four sequential stages of growth – exponential, linear, parabolic deceleration and terminal stages and, in Cuscuta chinensis, the phases are discernable by eye. 4. Analytical solutions to the differential equations fit the growth data well and the model also predicts faster growth in Cuscuta species with smaller seeds, in agreement with the fact that Cuscuta chinensis attains terminal stage faster than Cuscuta japonica. 5. We found evidence for stage-specific phytohormone expression and for the existence of stem-wide phytohormone gradients, especially for the Auxin components MEIAA and ICAId in Cuscuta japonica. 6. We have built models for the roles of phytohormones in Cuscuta growth dynamics, and performed ad hoc calculations which suggest a continuously-increasing Cytokinin/Auxin ratio in growing Cuscuta seedlings, thereby implying a maximum value beyond-which growth slow-down begins. 7. Synthesis: We have created the first-ever source-free and sink-free plant growth models using mass conservation in second-order differential equations and in so-doing, uncovered four growth stages in Cuscuta, observable by eye in Cuscuta chinensis. We found stage-specific phytohormone expression and a likelihood of stem-wide phytohormone expression gradients. We then brought it all together by building models for the roles of phytohormones in Cuscuta growth dynamics and by performing ad hoc calculations which have suggested that the Cytokinin to Auxin ratio increases continuously in growing Cuscuta seedlings, to perhaps attain a maximum value beyond-which slow-down in growth begins.

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a myocardial repolarization disorder characterised by a prolonged QT interval ( >470 milliseconds for men and >480 milliseconds for women) on the electrocardiogram 1. It can be congenital or acquired. Due to the incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity of genes, this classification is not binary and hence confers different risks. Acquired LQTS may represent a forme fruste of previously clinically concealed congenital LQTS. Eating disorders affect 9% of the population worldwide 2 and carry with them one of the highest mortality rate of any other psychiatric disorder (second to opioid overdose) 2. Women have a 8.4% prevalence of weighted means for lifetime eating disorders, compared to 2.2% in men 3. Since the pandemic began, there has been a surge in eating disorders according to the national eating disorders association. Most of these are due to sudden cardiac arrest due to arrhythmias 4 or suicide. Multiple factors could prolong the QT interval in such conditions, predisposing patients to malignant ventricular arrhythmias like torsade de pointes. In eating disorders, electrolyte abnormalities (hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia) can be caused due to restrictive eating, purging/ self induced vomiting, refeeding syndrome, laxative and diuretic abuse. Many antidepressant medications used in treatment of the same could also cause QT prolongation. Patients with severe eating disorders may also experience thiamine deficiency or ipecac induced cardiomyopathy 5, which could increase the risk of fatal arrhythmias. If an inherited predisposition for LQTS is present, it becomes diagnostically apparent when exposed to multiple inciting factors like these and could manifest in a lethal way.

Abstract   Objectives: We aimed to investigate the the role of non-functional High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) in the form of binding to Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) in patients with Coronary Artery Disaese (CAD) regarding to progression of atherosclerosis.   Methods: Twenty-one patients who underwent multivessel CABG using internal mammarian artery (IMA), radial artery (RA) and saphaneous vein (SV) grafts between November 2019 and April 2020 were obtained. Using CD31 to identify endothelial cells; LOX-1 expression in all cells in culture was evaluated.   Findings: The study consists of 21 patients, 17 (80.9%) males and 4 (19.04%) females.  We found a significant positive correlation between HDL and LOX-1+ in the specimens explanted from any type of grafts (SV, r=0.60; RA, r=0.48; IMA, r=0.53). ~28% of variation in LOX-1+ for IMA (F=7.03; p<0.05), ~36% of variation in LOX-1+ for SV (F=10.10; p<0.05) and ~24% of variation in LOX-1+ in the RA (F=5.64; p<0.05) were explained by HDL.   Conclusions:   In cases with high LOX-1 receptor expression, HDL binds to LOX-1 and loses its function. Assessment and monitoring of HDL and LOX-1 may help physicians to predict which patients may be harder to treat and allowing for appropriate intervention.         Keywords: Atherosclerosis, Coronary artery bypass grafts, Cardiovascular disease, LOX-1, Lipoprotein.

Purpose: We develop a new low junction-dose-gradient VMAT planning technique to mitigate the position-induced dose error based on standard linac with true attachment free. Methods: An eight years old girl diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia underwent TBI in 2020. Target volumes and organs at risk were contoured on 2 sets of CT scan done in head-first supine and feet-first supine positions respectively. Two component plans were then created in sequence, firstly a base plan that covered the caudal half of the target volume with shallow dose gradient toward the cranial end, secondly a plan that covered the cranial half with matching dose gradient toward the caudal end. The final product was a composite plan that is dosimetrically matched at the junction region of the 2 component plans. Results: Average time for on-board image position verification per fraction was 40.3 minutes. Average beam on time per fraction was 37.2 minutes. Average time for changing from head first to feet first treatment position and on board imaging verification was 18.4 minutes. Average mean lung dose was 9.89 Gy, Maximum lens dose was 7.6 Gy. Mean dose and maximum dose of planning target volume (PTV) were 12.17 Gy and 13.65 Gy respectively. 98.23% of PTV was covered by 90 % of the prescribed dose. Mean dose and V10.8 of PTV are only slightly different (0.49% - 1.89% and 0.26% - 1.04% respectively) even with an error of 5 - 20mm longitudinal misalignments. Gamma passing rate (3mm/ 3% Gamma criteria) are between 93.5% and 100%. Real-time dose monitoring showed an overall deviation of -3.9% ± 5.51%. Conclusions: Low junction-dose-gradient VMAT based on standard linac with true attachment free for total body irradiation is feasible, accurate, and reliable. It is worthy of clinical application.

The article published in this edition of Journal of Cardiac Surgery, Arafat and colleagues discuss the results of their ten year clinical experience of concomitant tricuspid annuloplasty (TA) for moderate to severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) during mitral valve surgery in patients with rheumatic (RMVD - n= 345; 61% had mitral regurgitation and 39% mitral valve stenosis) and degenerative (DMVD n= 135) mitral valve diseases, The objective of the observational non-randomized trial was to identify predictors of durability of TA for moderate to severe TR in patients with RMVD and DMVD undergoing mitral valve repairs and replacements. Valve repair was feasible in 12% in the RMVD group as compared to 52% in DMVD group (1). The TA was performed with flexible, rigid prostheses and the de Vega suture technique.

Background Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a severe complication of pregnancy affecting around 1% of pregnancies globally. Objective To investigate whether ondansetron use during pregnancy is associated with increased rates of abnormal pregnancy outcomes. Search strategy PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, CNKI, CBM, WANFANG, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for citations published in any language from inception to 15 December 2021. Selection criteria Eligible studies included any observational study. Data collection and analysis We used odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) as a measure of the association between ondansetron and abnormal pregnancy outcomes. Main results Of 1,558 citations screened, 19 articles were included. No significant increased risk for overall congenital malformations (OR=1.10,95% CI:0.94–1.29, Low certainty), cleft palate (OR=0.78,95% CI:0.37–1.64, Very Low certainty), stillbirth (OR=0.60,95% CI:0.40–0.91, Low certainty) or preterm birth (OR=0.78,95% CI:0.37–1.64, Low certainty) were identified in our primary analysis. However, the results of our primary analysis indicated that ondansetron use during pregnancy was associated with significantly increased rates of heart defects (OR=1.06,95% CI:1.02–1.11, Moderate certainty) and other organ malformations (OR=1.09,95% CI:1.03–1.16, Moderate certainty) when exposed infants were compared with healthy or disease-matched controls. Conclusion Ondansetron use during pregnancy was associated with a significant increase in rate of some abnormal pregnancy outcomes in our primary analysis. In conclusion, our review found that ondansetron should not use as first-line treatment for NVP. But for sever and incurable NVP, clinician can consider use moderate amount ondansetron to treat NVP with close monitoring.

We outline the operational model and outcomes of a successful Maternity Virtual Ward (MVW) established during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Between October 2021 and February 2022, 429 patients were referred, of which 228 were admitted to the MVW. Total bed-days was 1,182, mean length of stay was 6 days (SD 2.3, range 1-14 days). Fifteen (6.6%) required hospital admission and one (0.4%) critical care. There were no deaths. Patients alluded to increased safety, comfort, and ease with the technology. Attention should be given to identifying clinical champions, triage criteria, technology selection, and flexible escalation pathways, adaptable to changing patterns of disease.

A document by Maureen Page. Click on the document to view its contents.

We use generalized joint attribute modeling (GJAM) to estimate how the proclivity to consume different Piper species varies among three syntopic Carollia species my depend on bat traits (e.g., body size and age) or Piper fruit traits. How these ecologically and morphologically similar bats coexist is unclear. Compared to the Piper-specialist Carollia castanea, generalist C. perspicillata had a higher proclivity for several Piper species that were the lowest ranked for the specialist, indicating some degree of niche partitioning. Piper proclivity estimates were associated with bat forearm length and age after controlling for bat species, reproductive condition and sex. However, neither fruit nor seed shape influence dietary differences among bats. Understanding the mechanisms of coexistence for closely related species with a high degree of morphological and behavioral similarity is complex, but simultaneously controlling for multiple sources of variation among different data types allowed us to discover key differences in resource consumption and traits contributing to niche partitioning among frugivores.

Immobilized enzymes have drawn widespread attention due to the enhanced stability, easy separation from reaction mixture, and the prominent recyclability. Nevertheless, it is still an ongoing challenge to develop potent immobilization techniques which are capable of stable enzyme encapsulation, minimal loss of activity, and modulability for various enzymes and applications. Here, microfibers with tunable size and composition were fabricated using a home-made microfluidic device. These microfibers were able to efficiently encapsulate bovine serum albumin (BSA), glucose oxidase (GOX) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP). But the physically adsorbed enzymes readily diffused from microfibers into the catalytic reaction system. The leakage of enzymes could be substantially inhibited by conjugating to polyacrylic acid (PAA) and incorporating into the alginate-based microfibers, enabling stable immobilization, improved recyclability, and enhanced thermostability. In addition, GOX and HRP-loaded microfibers were fabricated under the optimized conditions for the visual detection of glucose using the cascade reaction of these enzymes, showing sensitive color change to glucose with concentration range of 0-2 mM. Due to the tunability and versatility, this microfluidic-based microfiber platform may provide a valuable approach to the enzyme immobilization for the cascade catalysis and diagnoses with multiple clinical markers.

The atom-bond connectivity energy (ABC energy) of an undirected graph $G$, denoted by $\mathcal{E}_{ABC}(G)$, is defined as the sum of the absolute values of the ABC eigenvalues of $G$. Gao and Shao [The minimum ABC energy of trees, Linear Algebra Appl. 577 (2019) 186-203] proved that the star $S_n$ is the unique tree with minimum ABC energy among all trees on $n$ vertices. In this paper, we characterize the trees with the minimum ABC energy among all trees on $n$ vertices except the star $S_n$.