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Tool development enables efficient engineering of the yeast Starmerella bombicola for uniform biosurfactant production from waste streams
No full textThe yeast Starmerella bombicola is a natural producer of sophorolipids. The basic structure of these molecules consist of a hydrophilic sophorose head and a lipophilic fatty acid tail, giving them amphiphilic surfactant properties. As they are made from sugars and fatty acids and are readily biodegradable, sophorolipids offer a green alternative to fossil oil derived surfactants in for example detergents, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and more. Despite the gaining interest for and the research performed on this yeast, S. bombicola still is an unconventional organism, with rather limited engineering possibilities. Therefore, standardized parts for a Golden Gate based approach were developed to broaden and speed up engineering strategies undertaken with this yeast. This then allowed the engineering of Starmerella bombicola for increasing productivity, making the production more uniform and allowing the usage of waste derived streams for the sustainable and competitive production of biosurfactantsThe yeast Starmerella bombicola is a natural producer of sophorolipids. The basic structure of these molecules consist of a hydrophilic sophorose head and a lipophilic fatty acid tail, giving them amphiphilic surfactant properties. As they are made from sugars and fatty acids and are readily biodegradable, sophorolipids offer a green alternative to fossil oil derived surfactants in for example detergents, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and more. Despite the gaining interest for and the research performed on this yeast, S. bombicola still is an unconventional organism, with rather limited engineering possibilities. Therefore, standardized parts for a Golden Gate based approach were developed to broaden and speed up engineering strategies undertaken with this yeast. This then allowed the engineering of Starmerella bombicola for increasing productivity, making the production more uniform and allowing the usage of waste derived streams for the sustainable and competitive production of biosurfactantsC
Cash in, factuur uit : de logica van het Cash Compensatie Model ontleed
No full textIn deze aflevering duiken we diep in het cash compensatie model: een witwasmethode waarbij contant crimineel geld wordt geruild tegen giraal geld via ogenschijnlijk legitieme bedrijven in arbeidsintensieve sectoren.In deze aflevering duiken we diep in het cash compensatie model: een witwasmethode waarbij contant crimineel geld wordt geruild tegen giraal geld via ogenschijnlijk legitieme bedrijven in arbeidsintensieve sectoren.
Use of inhaled corticosteroids in bronchiectasis : data from the European Bronchiectasis Registry (EMBARC)
No full textIntroduction Current bronchiectasis guidelines advise against the use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) except in patients with associated asthma, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study aimed to describe the use of ICS in patients with bronchiectasis across Europe. Methods Patients with bronchiectasis were enrolled into the European Bronchiectasis Registry from 2015 to 2022. Patients were grouped into ICS users and non-users at baseline and clinical characteristics associated with ICS use were investigated. Patients were followed up for clinical outcomes of exacerbation, hospitalisation and mortality for up to 5 years. We evaluated if elevated blood eosinophil counts (above the laboratory upper limit of normal) modified the effect of ICS on exacerbations. Results 19 324 patients were included for analysis and 10 109 (52.3%) were recorded as being prescribed ICS at baseline. After exclusion of patients with a history of asthma, COPD and/or ABPA, 3174/9715 (32.7%) patients with bronchiectasis were prescribed ICS. Frequency of ICS use varied across countries, ranging from 17% to 85% of included patients. ICS users had more severe disease, with significantly worse lung function, higher Bronchiectasis Severity Index scores and more frequent exacerbations at baseline (p<0.0001). Overall, ICS users did not have a reduced risk of exacerbation or hospitalisation during follow-up, but a significant reduction in exacerbation frequency was observed in the subgroup of ICS users with elevated blood eosinophil counts (relative risk 0.70, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.84, p<0.001). Conclusion ICS use is common in bronchiectasis, including in those not currently recommended ICS according to bronchiectasis guidelines. ICS use may be associated with reduced exacerbation frequency in patients with elevated blood eosinophils.Introduction Current bronchiectasis guidelines advise against the use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) except in patients with associated asthma, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study aimed to describe the use of ICS in patients with bronchiectasis across Europe. Methods Patients with bronchiectasis were enrolled into the European Bronchiectasis Registry from 2015 to 2022. Patients were grouped into ICS users and non-users at baseline and clinical characteristics associated with ICS use were investigated. Patients were followed up for clinical outcomes of exacerbation, hospitalisation and mortality for up to 5 years. We evaluated if elevated blood eosinophil counts (above the laboratory upper limit of normal) modified the effect of ICS on exacerbations. Results 19 324 patients were included for analysis and 10 109 (52.3%) were recorded as being prescribed ICS at baseline. After exclusion of patients with a history of asthma, COPD and/or ABPA, 3174/9715 (32.7%) patients with bronchiectasis were prescribed ICS. Frequency of ICS use varied across countries, ranging from 17% to 85% of included patients. ICS users had more severe disease, with significantly worse lung function, higher Bronchiectasis Severity Index scores and more frequent exacerbations at baseline (p<0.0001). Overall, ICS users did not have a reduced risk of exacerbation or hospitalisation during follow-up, but a significant reduction in exacerbation frequency was observed in the subgroup of ICS users with elevated blood eosinophil counts (relative risk 0.70, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.84, p<0.001). Conclusion ICS use is common in bronchiectasis, including in those not currently recommended ICS according to bronchiectasis guidelines. ICS use may be associated with reduced exacerbation frequency in patients with elevated blood eosinophils.A
Exhaled volatile organic compounds and the importance of background sampling in the early prediction of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants
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Stehlen, Schimpfen, Spielen /
No full textBarbi Marković hat sich das Stehlen als kulturelle Unverschämtheit zum Programm gemacht. In ihrem neuen Buch erzählt sie, wie es dazu kam und warum man ihr trotz offener Piraterie die Originalität nie abgestritten hat. Fast nie. Aber es geht auch um die Kraft und den Zug einer guten, rhythmisch abgestimmten Schimpftirade. Es geht um Machtverhältnisse. Um Regeln, die man sich selbst auferlegt. Darum, objektiv zu sein und wütend, aber auf niemanden konkret. Distanz zu erzeugen, damit die Geschichte näherkommen kann. Dass die Texte am Ende mehr wissen als die Person, die sie geschrieben hat, und über mehr berichten als nur über ein PrivatschicksalBarbi Marković hat sich das Stehlen als kulturelle Unverschämtheit zum Programm gemacht. In ihrem neuen Buch erzählt sie, wie es dazu kam und warum man ihr trotz offener Piraterie die Originalität nie abgestritten hat. Fast nie. Aber es geht auch um die Kraft und den Zug einer guten, rhythmisch abgestimmten Schimpftirade. Es geht um Machtverhältnisse. Um Regeln, die man sich selbst auferlegt. Darum, objektiv zu sein und wütend, aber auf niemanden konkret. Distanz zu erzeugen, damit die Geschichte näherkommen kann. Dass die Texte am Ende mehr wissen als die Person, die sie geschrieben hat, und über mehr berichten als nur über ein Privatschicksa
Collective decision making by embodied neural agents
No full textCollective decision making using simple social interactions has been studied in many types of multiagent systems, including robot swarms and human social networks. However, existing multiagent studies have rarely modeled the neural dynamics that underlie sensorimotor coordination in embodied biological agents. In this study, we investigated collective decisions that resulted from sensorimotor coordination among agents with simple neural dynamics. We equipped our agents with a model of minimal neural dynamics based on the coordination dynamics framework, and embedded them in an environment with a stimulus gradient. In our single-agent setup, the decision between two stimulus sources depends solely on the coordination of the agent’s neural dynamics with its environment. In our multiagent setup, that same decision also depends on the sensorimotor coordination between agents, via their simple social interactions. Our results show that the success of collective decisions depended on a balance of intra-agent, interagent, and agent–environment coupling, and we use these results to identify the influences of environmental factors on decision difficulty. More generally, our results illustrate how collective behaviors can be analyzed in terms of the neural dynamics of the participating agents. This can contribute to ongoing developments in neuro-AI and self-organized multiagent systems.Collective decision making using simple social interactions has been studied in many types of multiagent systems, including robot swarms and human social networks. However, existing multiagent studies have rarely modeled the neural dynamics that underlie sensorimotor coordination in embodied biological agents. In this study, we investigated collective decisions that resulted from sensorimotor coordination among agents with simple neural dynamics. We equipped our agents with a model of minimal neural dynamics based on the coordination dynamics framework, and embedded them in an environment with a stimulus gradient. In our single-agent setup, the decision between two stimulus sources depends solely on the coordination of the agent’s neural dynamics with its environment. In our multiagent setup, that same decision also depends on the sensorimotor coordination between agents, via their simple social interactions. Our results show that the success of collective decisions depended on a balance of intra-agent, interagent, and agent–environment coupling, and we use these results to identify the influences of environmental factors on decision difficulty. More generally, our results illustrate how collective behaviors can be analyzed in terms of the neural dynamics of the participating agents. This can contribute to ongoing developments in neuro-AI and self-organized multiagent systems.A
First detection of tick-borne encephalitis virus in Ixodes ricinus ticks in Belgium, May 2024
No full textTick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is the most frequent tick-borne viral disease transmitted by ticks in Europe and Asia. In Belgium, autochthonous cases of TBE have been reported, but even though some tick collection was carried out in the past, no TBEV-positive ticks have been found thus far. In this study, questing ticks were collected by flagging at the precise location where a patient was reported to have been bitten by a tick before developing TBE in Belgium in 2020. In total, 350 ticks were pooled by life stage (nymphs, adult females, adult males) and collection date, lysed, and RNA extracted. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was performed to detect tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and Ixodes 18S rRNA, followed by Oxford nanopore amplicon sequencing. TBEV was detected in all three types of pools. Out of 69 nymph pools, 2 were positive, in adult female pools, 2 out of 16 were positive, and 1 of the 14 adult male pools was positive. A complete sequence was retrieved through sequencing. This sequence shares greater similarity with a strain found in Finland than the neighboring Salland strain (the Netherlands) and the Neudoerfl reference strain. These findings confirm that TBE can be acquired from tick bites within the country. It is therefore necessary to increase awareness of the disease among healthcare professionals.Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is the most frequent tick-borne viral disease transmitted by ticks in Europe and Asia. In Belgium, autochthonous cases of TBE have been reported, but even though some tick collection was carried out in the past, no TBEV-positive ticks have been found thus far. In this study, questing ticks were collected by flagging at the precise location where a patient was reported to have been bitten by a tick before developing TBE in Belgium in 2020. In total, 350 ticks were pooled by life stage (nymphs, adult females, adult males) and collection date, lysed, and RNA extracted. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was performed to detect tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and Ixodes 18S rRNA, followed by Oxford nanopore amplicon sequencing. TBEV was detected in all three types of pools. Out of 69 nymph pools, 2 were positive, in adult female pools, 2 out of 16 were positive, and 1 of the 14 adult male pools was positive. A complete sequence was retrieved through sequencing. This sequence shares greater similarity with a strain found in Finland than the neighboring Salland strain (the Netherlands) and the Neudoerfl reference strain. These findings confirm that TBE can be acquired from tick bites within the country. It is therefore necessary to increase awareness of the disease among healthcare professionals.A
Inline or in the line : quantitative analyses of layout in Old Babylonian economical texts using coordinates from image annotations
No full textOld Babylonian cuneiform texts use layout to convey parts of their messages. Writers of lexical lists used indentation to indicate topical change and certain layout choices in sale documents can indicate family relations. However, the connection between specific layout choices and text has not yet been quantitively investigated as the data required has not been available prior to our work. Within the Cune-iiif-orm project, we have annotated signs on 2D+ visualizations of Old Babylonian cuneiform tablets concerning economic matters. The coordinates of cuneiform signs can be extracted together with the text. Comparing this data across tablets can help us understand the relations between layout and meaning. The results inform the reader on sentence lengths and intra-textual structures. Furthermore, a deeper knowledge of layout can assist the reconstruction of partially broken texts. All this Information is relevant for both human and computer reading of texts. ?We hope that our methodology can easily be reproduced across genres of Old Babylonian cuneiform texts to help the reading of individual texts, and the further enrichment of data used to train computer models for reading cuneiform.Old Babylonian cuneiform texts use layout to convey parts of their messages. Writers of lexical lists used indentation to indicate topical change and certain layout choices in sale documents can indicate family relations. However, the connection between specific layout choices and text has not yet been quantitively investigated as the data required has not been available prior to our work. Within the Cune-iiif-orm project, we have annotated signs on 2D+ visualizations of Old Babylonian cuneiform tablets concerning economic matters. The coordinates of cuneiform signs can be extracted together with the text. Comparing this data across tablets can help us understand the relations between layout and meaning. The results inform the reader on sentence lengths and intra-textual structures. Furthermore, a deeper knowledge of layout can assist the reconstruction of partially broken texts. All this Information is relevant for both human and computer reading of texts. ?We hope that our methodology can easily be reproduced across genres of Old Babylonian cuneiform texts to help the reading of individual texts, and the further enrichment of data used to train computer models for reading cuneiform.C
