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Fusarium graminearum produces trichothecene mycotoxins in infected grains and axenic liquid culture. A proposed regulatory model of trichothecene biosynthesis was examined in relation to nitrogen utilization. First, we showed that an important factor for the stimulation of trichothecene biosynthesis was not the occurrence of agmatine as a specific inducer molecule, but rather continuous acidification of the liquid culture medium arising from agmatine catabolism. When the pH of the L-Gln synthetic medium was frequently adjusted to the pH of the agmatine culture, trichothecene productivity of the L-Gln culture was equal to that of the agmatine culture. For efficient trichothecene biosynthesis, the culture pH should be lowered at an appropriate time point during the early growth stage. Second, we re-evaluated the role of the nitrogen regulatory GATA transcription factor AreA in trichothecene biosynthesis. Since Tri6 encodes a transcription factor indispensable for trichothecene biosynthesis, all fifteen AreA-binding consensus sequences in the Tri6 promoter were mutated. The mutant could catabolize L-Phe as the sole nitrogen source; furthermore, the pH profile of the synthetic L-Phe medium (initial pH 4.2) was the same as that of the wild-type (WT) strain. Under such conditions, the promoter mutant exhibited approximately 72% of the trichothecene productivity compared to the WT strain. Thus, F. graminearum AreA (FgAreAp) is dispensable for the functioning of the Tri6 promoter, but it contributes to the increased production of mycotoxin under mildly acidic conditions to some extent. Further investigations on the culture pH revealed that extremely low pH bypasses the function of FgAreAp.The osteoporosis self-assessment tool was more accurate than hand grip strength, gait speed, and calf circumference in predicting osteoporosis in women. Hand grip strength was more accurate than the osteoporosis self-assessment tool, gait speed, and calf circumference in predicting osteoporosis in men.

The osteoporosis self-assessment tool, functional assessment, and anthropometric measurement are different techniques to identify those at risk of osteoporosis. learn more This study aimed to compare the performance of these techniques in predicting osteoporosis.

In this cross-sectional, hospital-based study including 1109 participants, the bone mineral density of the spine and hips was evaluated using the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool was used as a simple clinical risk assessment tool to screen for osteoporosis. Gait speed and hand grip strength were used as functional assessments to predict osteoporosis. Calf circumference was used as an anthropometric measurement to predict urement can be used for men.Cu-based catalysts have been widely used for water-gas shift reaction (WGS, CO + H2O → CO2 + H2), and α-MoC support also shows the good performance for the reaction. Therefore, WGS reaction is systematically studied over Cu/α-MoC by using density functional theory (DFT). DFT result shows the strong metal-support interaction between Cu and α-MoC(111) support. As a result, an extensive tensile strain is introduced in the Cu lattice due to α-MoC support, and Cu 3d band center shifts to Fermi level. However, the strong metal-support interaction does not lead to significant polarization of the Cu/α-MoC surface due to the less charge transfer from Mo to Cu. For the WGS reaction, small Cu particles on α-MoC(111) are likely to facilitate the reaction. At the interface of Cu-α-MoC(111), oxygen stabilizes the dissociated *H, which is benefit of H2O scission. Then, the activity increases compared with Cu(111) surface. In general, small Cu particles on α-MoC support also have good activity for WGS reaction compared with Au deposition on α-MoC. Graphical abstract.

Non-aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (NA-SAH) is a clinical-radiological entity with a different prognosis than aneurysmal SAH (A-SAH). The purpose of this study is to assess the predictive value of the modified Fisher Scale (mFS) for neurological complications in patients with this diagnosis.

We recruited patients admitted at our hospital services between 2009 and 2017 who were diagnosed with spontaneous SAH, with either perimesencephalic (PM-SAH) or diffuse pattern (D-SAH), an initial negative angio-CT, and at least one digital subtraction angiography of brain vessels discarding underlying brain aneurysms or other vascular malformations.

The retrospective observational study included 116 patients. The mean age was 54.4, and the sample included predominantly male subjects (62.9%). Hunt and Hess (HH) scores on admission ranged from 3 to 5 in 18.1% of patients. The prevalence of hydrocephalus requiring ventricular drainage was 18.1%. The prevalence of symptomatic vasospasm was 4.3%. A modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0-2 at discharge was found in 95.6%. In a multivariate logistic regression for the presence of neurological complications including age, sex, admission HH 3-5 compared with < 3, mFS 4 compared with mFS < 4, D-SAH compared with PM-SAH, and mRS score at discharge of 0-2 compared with > 2, the only significant predictors were mFS 4 compared with mFS < 4 (OR 4.47 (95% CI 1.21, 16.66) p value = 0.03) and D-SAH compared with PM-SAH (OR 7.10 (95% CI 1.24, 40.8) p value = 0.03).

In patients with NA-SAH, a mFS score of 4 and/or a D-SAH bleeding pattern in non-contrast cranial CT on admission predicted the development of relevant neurological complications.

In patients with NA-SAH, a mFS score of 4 and/or a D-SAH bleeding pattern in non-contrast cranial CT on admission predicted the development of relevant neurological complications.

Functional MRI is not routinely used for neurosurgical planning despite potential important advantages, due to difficulty of determining quality. We introduce a novel method for objective evaluation of fMRI scan quality, based on activation maps. A template matching analysis (TMA) is presented and tested on data from two clinical fMRI protocols, performed by healthy controls in seven clinical centers. Preliminary clinical utility is tested with data from low-grade glioma patients.

Data were collected from 42 healthy subjects from seven centers, with standardized finger tapping (FT) and verb generation (VG) tasks. Copies of these "typical" data were deliberately analyzed incorrectly to assess feasibility of identifying them as "atypical." Analyses of the VG task administered to 32 tumor patients assessed sensitivity of the TMA method to anatomical abnormalities.

TMA identified all atypical activity maps for both tasks, at the cost of incorrectly classifying 3.6 (VG)-6.5% (FT) of typical maps as atypical.owing atypical activation patterns for further investigation to determine whether atypicality is caused by poor scan data quality or abnormal functional topography.

Kinematic alignment (KA) total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has proven to be aviable alternative to mechanical alignment (MA) TKA. Like any technique, its validity has to encounter challenges. Two of these are flexion contracture and large deformities of the knee.

Flexion contracture is commonly treated with posterior capsular release. Often, however, this technique is not sufficient. Many surgeons accustomed to MA techniques and guided by traditional femoral instruments manage the problem by proximalizing the distal femoral cut. However, this has proven to be asurgical mistake that often leads to mid-flex knee instability. KA rules limit this mistake but leave the problem of flexion contracture. In these cases, the surgeon acts on the tibia distalizing the cut and, so as not to create instability in flexion, decreasing the slope. The technique is effective to obtain full extension but often leaves instability at 90°of knee flexion. To avoid this, it is useful to use the so-called "virtuous mistake" strategy, which strictly follows the KA guidelines but undercuts the posterior femoral condyles by 2 mm.

Another problem that often limits the use of KA is large deformities. It is necessary to distinguish whether they are intra or extra-articular. In the first case, it is possible to decide whether to use the pure KA technique or to restrict the indication at the level of the tibial cut. In the latter, extraarticular osteotomies or combined procedures (osteotomy plus KA) have to be performed.

Another problem that often limits the use of KA is large deformities. It is necessary to distinguish whether they are intra or extra-articular. In the first case, it is possible to decide whether to use the pure KA technique or to restrict the indication at the level of the tibial cut. In the latter, extraarticular osteotomies or combined procedures (osteotomy plus KA) have to be performed.Outdoor tourism and recreational activities strongly depend on actual meteorological conditions. Traditionally, in three studied regions, the peak of tourists' streams concentrates in summer months. In the present study, we assess suitability of weather conditions for various forms of outdoor tourism in different regions of Serbia, Poland and Ukraine. Additionally, how the location of the station differentiates temporal patterns of weather suitability will be discussed. To analyse the suitability of weather conditions for various forms of outdoor recreation, we have chosen 23 meteorological stations of the national weather networks which represent different tourism areas and destinations. For each weather station, daily data for the period 2000-2017 of air temperature, relative humidity, total cloud cover and wind speed (at 10 m above ground) for 12 UTC as well as the daily maximum and minimum temperature, precipitation totals and snow cover depth were applied. Suitability of climate for outdoor recreation and tourism is assessed by the Weather Suitability Index (WSI) based on Błażejczyk's bio-thermal weather classification. The results of research show that passive forms of recreation (sun and air bathing) are preferred mostly in months from May till August or September. For the active forms of recreation, weather in summer months is very oppressive, especially in the resorts located in the south (Serbia, southern Ukraine). Active forms of recreation are preferred there in autumn, winter and spring months.

Recent technological advances have led to the development and implementation of machine learning (ML) in various disciplines, including neurosurgery. Our goal was to conduct a comprehensive survey of neurosurgeons to assess the acceptance of and attitudes toward ML in neurosurgical practice and to identify factors associated with its use.

The online survey consisted of nine or ten mandatory questions and was distributed in February and March 2019 through the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) and the Congress of Neurosurgeons (CNS).

Out of 7280 neurosurgeons who received the survey, we received 362 responses, with a response rate of 5%, mainly in Europe and North America. In total, 103 neurosurgeons (28.5%) reported using ML in their clinical practice, and 31.1% in research. Adoption rates of ML were relatively evenly distributed, with 25.6% for North America, 30.9% for Europe, 33.3% for Latin America and the Middle East, 44.4% for Asia and Pacific and 100% for Africa with only two responses.