A genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screen to identify phagocytosis modulators in monocytic THP-1 cells

Phagocytosis of microbial pathogens, dying or dead cells, and cell debris is essential to maintain tissue homeostasis. Impairment of these processes is associated with autoimmunity, developmental defects and toxic protein accumulation. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of phagocytosis remain incompletely understood. Here, we performed a genome-wide CRISPR knockout screen to systematically identify regulators involved in phagocytosis of Staphylococcus (S.) aureus by human monocytic THP-1 cells. The screen identified 75 hits including known regulators of phagocytosis, e.g. members of the actin cytoskeleton regulation Arp2/3 and WAVE complexes, as well as genes previously not associated with phagocytosis. These novel genes are involved in translational control (EIF5A and DHPS) and the UDP glycosylation pathway (SLC35A2, SLC35A3, UGCG and UXS1) and were further validated by single gene knockout experiments. Whereas the knockout of EIF5A and DHPS impaired phagocytosis, knocking out SLC35A2, SLC35A3, UGCG and UXS1 resulted in increased phagocytosis. In addition to S. aureus phagocytosis, the above described genes also modulate phagocytosis of Escherichia coli and yeast-derived zymosan A. In summary, we identified both known and unknown genetic regulators of phagocytosis, the latter providing a valuable resource for future studies dissecting the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms and their role in human disease.

(S)-Reutericyclin: Susceptibility Testing and In Vivo Effect on Murine Fecal Microbiome and Volatile Organic Compounds

We aimed to assess the in vitro antimicrobial activity and the in vivo effect on the murine fecal microbiome and volatile organic compound (VOC) profile of (S)-reutericyclin. The antimicrobial activity of (S)-reutericyclin was tested against Clostridium difficile, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus (S.) epidermidis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Propionibacterium acnes. Reutericyclin or water were gavage fed to male BALBc mice for 7 weeks. Thereafter stool samples underwent 16S based microbiome analysis and VOC analysis by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). (S)-reutericyclin inhibited growth of S. epidermidis only. Oral (S)-reutericyclin treatment caused a trend towards reduced alpha diversity. Beta diversity was significantly influenced by reutericyclin. Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size (LEfSe) analysis showed an increase of Streptococcus and Muribaculum as well as a decrease of butyrate producing Ruminoclostridium, Roseburia and Eubacterium in the reutericyclin group. VOC analysis revealed significant increases of pentane and heptane and decreases of 2,3-butanedione and 2-heptanone in reutericyclin animals. The antimicrobial activity of (S)-reutericyclin differs from reports of (R)-reutericyclin with inhibitory effects on a multitude of Gram-positive bacteria reported in the literature. In vivo (S)-reutericyclin treatment led to a microbiome shift towards dysbiosis and distinct alterations of the fecal VOC profile.

Extracting information from noisy data: Strain mapping during dynamic in-situ SEM experiments

Micromechanical testing techniques can reveal a variety of characteristics in materials that are otherwise impossible to address. However, unlike to macroscopic testing, these miniaturized experiments are more challenging to realize and analyze, as loading and boundary conditions can often not be controlled to the same extent as in standardized macroscopic tests. Hence, exploiting all possible information from such an experiment seems utmost desirable. In the present work, we utilize dynamic in-situ microtensile testing of a nanocrystalline equiatomic CoCrFeMnNi high entropy alloy in conjunction with initial feature tracking to obtain a continuous two-dimensional strain field. This enables an evaluation of true stress-strain data as well as of the Poisson's ratio and allows to study localization of plastic deformation for the specimen. We demonstrate that the presented image correlation method allows for an additional gain of information in these sophisticated experiments over commercial tools and can serve as a starting point to study deformation states exhibiting more complex strain fields.

At-Line Reversed Phase Liquid Chromatography for In-Process Monitoring of Inclusion Body Solubilization

Refolding is known as the bottleneck in inclusion body (IB) downstream processing in the pharmaceutical industry: high dilutions leading to large operating volumes, slow refolding kinetics and low refolding yields are only a few of the problems that impede industrial application. Solubilization prior to refolding is often carried out empirically and the effects of the solubilizate on the subsequent refolding step are rarely investigated. The results obtained in this study, however, indicate that the quality of the IB solubilizate has a severe effect on subsequent refolding. As the solubilizate contains chaotropic reagents in high molarities, it is commonly analyzed with sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). SDS-PAGE, however, suffers from a long analysis time, making at-line analytical implementation difficult. In this study, we established an at-line reversed phase liquid chromatography method to investigate the time-dependent quality of the solubilizate. To verify the necessity of at-line solubilization monitoring, we varied the essential solubilization conditions for horseradish peroxidase IBs. The solubilization time was found to have a major influence on subsequent refolding, underlining the high need for an at-line analysis of solubilization. Furthermore, we used the developed reversed phase liquid chromatography method for an in-process control (IPC). In conclusion, the presented reversed phase liquid chromatography method allows a proper control of IB solubilization applicable for tailored refolding.

Spray-Congealing and Wet-Sieving as Alternative Processes for Engineering of Inhalation Carrier Particles: Comparison of Surface Properties, Blending and In Vitro Performance

PURPOSE

Traditionally, α-lactose monohydrate is the carrier of choice in dry powder inhaler (DPI) formulations. Nonetheless, other sugars, such as D-mannitol, have emerged as potential alternatives. Herein, we explored different particle engineering processes to produce D-mannitol carriers for inhaled delivery.

METHODS

Wet-sieving and spray-congealing were employed as innovative techniques to evaluate the impact of engineering on the particle properties of D-mannitol. To that end, the resulting powders were characterized concerning their solid-state, micromeritics and flowability. Afterwards, the engineered carrier particles were blended with inhalable size beclomethasone dipropionate to form low dose (1 wt%) DPI formulations. The in vitro aerosolization performance was evaluated using the NEXThaler®, a reservoir multi-dose device.

RESULTS

Wet-sieving generated D-mannitol particles with a narrow particle size distribution and spray-congealing free-flowing spherical particles. The more uniform pumice particles with deep voids and clefts of wet-sieved D-mannitol (Pearl300_WS) were beneficial to drug aerosolization, only when used in combination with a ternary agent (10 wt% of 'Preblend'). When compared to the starting material, the spray-congealed D-mannitol has shown to be promising in terms of the relative increase of the fine particle fraction of the drug (around 100%), when used without the addition of ternary agents.

CONCLUSIONS

The wet-sieving process and the related aerosolization performance are strongly dependent on the topography and structure of the starting material. Spray-congealing, has shown to be a potential process for generating smooth spherical particles of D-mannitol that enhance the in vitro aerosolization performance in binary blends of the carrier with a low drug dose.

TiAl6V4 Alloy Surface Modifications and Their Impact on Biofilm Development of S. aureus and S. epidermidis

One of the most serious complications following joint replacement surgeries are periprosthetic infections (PIs) arising from the adhesion of bacteria to the artificial joint. Various types of titanium-aluminum-vanadium (TiAl6V4) alloy surface modifications (coatings with silver (Ag), titanium nitride (TiN), pure titanium (cpTi), combinations of cpTi and hydroxyapatite (HA), combinations of cpTi and tricalcium phosphate (TCP), and a rough-blasted surface of TiAl6V4) have been investigated to assess their effects on biofilm development. Biofilms were grown, collected, and analyzed after 48 h to measure their protein and glucose content and the cell viability. Biofilm-associated genes were also monitored after 48 h of development. There was a distinct difference in the development of staphylococcal biofilms on the surfaces of the different types of alloy. According to the findings of this study, the base alloy TiAl6V4 and the TiN-coated surface are the most promising materials for biofilm reduction. Rough surfaces are most favorable when it comes to bacterial infections because they allow an easy attachment of pathogenic organisms. Of all rough surfaces tested, rough-blasted TiAl6V4 was the most favorable as an implantation material; all the other rough surfaces showed more distinct signs of inducing the development of biofilms which displayed higher protein and polysaccharide contents. These results are supported by RT-qPCR measurements of biofilm associated genes for Staphylococcus aureus (icaA, icaC, fnbA, fnbB, clfB, atl) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (atle, aap).

Genomic and Phenotypic Analysis of Linezolid-Resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis in a Tertiary Hospital in Innsbruck, Austria

Whole genome sequencing is a useful tool to monitor the spread of resistance mechanisms in bacteria. In this retrospective study, we investigated genetic resistance mechanisms, sequence types (ST) and respective phenotypes of linezolid-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (LRSE, n = 129) recovered from a cohort of patients receiving or not receiving linezolid within a tertiary hospital in Innsbruck, Austria. Hereby, the point mutation G2603U in the 23S rRNA (n = 91) was the major resistance mechanism followed by the presence of plasmid-derived cfr (n = 30). The majority of LRSE isolates were ST2 strains, followed by ST5. LRSE isolates expressed a high resistance level to linezolid with a minimal inhibitory concentration of ≥256 mg/L (n = 83) in most isolates, particularly in strains carrying the cfr gene (p < 0.001). Linezolid usage was the most prominent (but not the only) trigger for the development of linezolid resistance. However, administration of linezolid was not associated with a specific resistance mechanism. Restriction of linezolid usage and the monitoring of plasmid-derived cfr in LRSE are potential key steps to reduce linezolid resistance and its transmission to more pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria.

Improving Rheological and Mechanical Properties of Various Virgin and Recycled Polypropylenes by Blending with Long-Chain Branched Polypropylene

Blends of two long-chain branched polypropylenes (LCB-PP) and five linear polypropylenes (L-PP) were prepared in a single screw extruder at 240 °C. The two LCB-PPs were self-created via reactive extrusion at 180 °C by using dimyristyl peroxydicarbonate (PODIC C126) and dilauroyl peroxide (LP) as peroxides. For blending two virgin and three recycled PPs like coffee caps, yoghurt cups and buckets with different melt flow rate (MFR) values were used. The influence of using blends was assessed by investigating the rheological (dynamic and extensional rheology) and mechanical properties (tensile test and impact tensile test). The dynamic rheology indicated that the molecular weight as well as the molecular weight distribution could be increased or broadened. Also the melt strength behavior could be improved by using the two peroxide modified LCB-PP blends on the basis of PODIC C126 or PEROXAN LP (dilauroyl peroxide). In addition, the mechanical properties were consistently enhanced or at least kept constant compared to the original material. In particular, the impact tensile strength but also the elongation at break could be increased considerably. This study showed that the blending of LCB-PP can increase the investigated properties and represents a promising option, especially when using recycled PP, which demonstrates a real "up-cycling" process.

NMR resonance assignments of the FinO-domain of the RNA chaperone RocC

In prokaryotic species, gene expression is commonly regulated by small, non-coding RNAs (sRNAs). In the gram-negative bacterium Legionella pneumophila, the regulatory, trans-acting sRNA molecule RocR base pairs with a complementary sequence in the 5'-untranslated region of mRNAs encoding for proteins in the bacterial DNA uptake system, thereby controlling natural competence. Sense-antisense duplexing of RocR with targeted mRNAs is mediated by the recently described RNA chaperone RocC. RocC contains a 12 kDa FinO-domain, which acts as sRNA binding platform, along with an extended C-terminal segment that is predicted to be mostly disordered but appears to be required for repression of bacterial competence. In this work we assigned backbone and side chain 1H, 13C, and 15N chemical shifts of RocC's FinO-domain by solution NMR spectroscopy. The chemical shift data for this protein indicate a mixed α/β fold that is reminiscent of FinO from Escherichia coli. Our NMR resonance assignments provide the basis for a comprehensive analysis of RocC's chaperoning mechanism on a structural level.

Mutation testing with hyperproperties

We present a new method for model-based mutation-driven test case generation. Mutants are generated by making small syntactical modifications to the model or source code of the system under test. A test case kills a mutant if the behavior of the mutant deviates from the original system when running the test. In this work, we use hyperproperties-which allow to express relations between multiple executions-to formalize different notions of killing for both deterministic as well as non-deterministic models. The resulting hyperproperties are universal in the sense that they apply to arbitrary reactive models and mutants. Moreover, an off-the-shelf model checking tool for hyperproperties can be used to generate test cases. Furthermore, we propose solutions to overcome the limitations of current model checking tools via a model transformation and a bounded SMT encoding. We evaluate our approach on a number of models expressed in two different modeling languages by generating tests using a state-of-the-art mutation testing tool.

Locating Hotspots for the Social Life Cycle Assessment of Bio-Based Products from Short Rotation Coppice

The establishment of new value chains raises expectations in economic and social benefits. To determine whether these expectations can be fulfilled or whether there are also negative consequences, social aspects should be assessed as early as the R&D phase. Potential social impacts can be assessed with the help of a social life cycle assessment (SLCA). A common problem in SLCA studies is the large number of social aspects. Thus, it is important to prioritize the most relevant aspects. Scholars agree that socioeconomic indicators should not be selected on a purely intuitive and common sense basis and that a standardized approach is missing. A three-step process has been developed to identify the most vulnerable and relevant social aspects. These three steps were implemented into a case study to empirically test the method. Short-rotation-coppice as an alternative form of agricultural dendromass production is one possibility to obtain wood resources for the processing of bio-based products. The use of agricultural land for dendromass production promises additional income for the region's farmers and job opportunities for the local population. The extant literature shows that the most frequently addressed impacts are related to workers' health and safety aspects. The outcome of this study aims to support future research by identifying an appropriate approach for the selection of indicators in SLCA. For studies with a similar focus, the proposed set of indicators can be used as a framework in itself or serve as a basis for the choice of relevant social indicators.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12155-021-10261-9.

Towards Using Police Officers' Business Smartphones for Contactless Fingerprint Acquisition and Enabling Fingerprint Comparison against Contact-Based Datasets

Recent developments enable biometric recognition systems to be available as mobile solutions or to be even integrated into modern smartphone devices. Thus, smartphone devices can be used as mobile fingerprint image acquisition devices, and it has become feasible to process fingerprints on these devices, which helps police authorities carry out identity verification. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive and in-depth engineering study on the different stages of the fingerprint recognition toolchain. The insights gained throughout this study serve as guidance for future work towards developing a contactless mobile fingerprint solution based on the iPhone 11, working without any additional hardware. The targeted solution will be capable of acquiring 4 fingers at once (except the thumb) in a contactless manner, automatically segmenting the fingertips, pre-processing them (including a specific enhancement), and thus enabling fingerprint comparison against contact-based datasets. For fingertip detection and segmentation, various traditional handcrafted feature-based approaches as well as deep-learning-based ones are investigated. Furthermore, a run-time analysis and first results on the biometric recognition performance are included.

Measuring strain in the exoskeleton of spiders-virtues and caveats

The measurement of cuticular strain during locomotion using foil strain gauges provides information both on the loads of the exoskeleton bears and the adaptive value of the specific location of natural strain detectors (slit sense organs). Here, we critically review available literature. In tethered animals, by applying loads to the metatarsus tip, strain and mechanical sensitivity (S = strain/load) induced at various sites in the tibia were determined. The loci of the lyriform organs close to the tibia-metatarsus joint did not stand out by high strain. The strains induced at various sites during free locomotion can be interpreted based on S and, beyond the joint region, on beam theory. Spiders avoided laterad loading of the tibia-metatarsus joint during slow locomotion. Balancing body weight, joint flexors caused compressive strain at the posterior and dorsal tibia. While climbing upside down strain measurements indicate strong flexor activity. In future studies, a precise calculation and quantitative determination of strain at the sites of the lyriform organs will profit from more detailed data on the overall strain distribution, morphology, and material properties. The values and caveats of the strain gauge technology, the only one applicable to freely moving spiders, are discussed.

Advances in monitoring and control of refolding kinetics combining PAT and modeling

Overexpression of recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli results in misfolded and non-active protein aggregates in the cytoplasm, so-called inclusion bodies (IB). In recent years, a change in the mindset regarding IBs could be observed: IBs are no longer considered an unwanted waste product, but a valid alternative to produce a product with high yield, purity, and stability in short process times. However, solubilization of IBs and subsequent refolding is necessary to obtain a correctly folded and active product. This protein refolding process is a crucial downstream unit operation-commonly done as a dilution in batch or fed-batch mode. Drawbacks of the state-of-the-art include the following: the large volume of buffers and capacities of refolding tanks, issues with uniform mixing, challenging analytics at low protein concentrations, reaction kinetics in non-usable aggregates, and generally low re-folding yields. There is no generic platform procedure available and a lack of robust control strategies. The introduction of Quality by Design (QbD) is the method-of-choice to provide a controlled and reproducible refolding environment. However, reliable online monitoring techniques to describe the refolding kinetics in real-time are scarce. In our view, only monitoring and control of re-folding kinetics can ensure a productive, scalable, and versatile platform technology for re-folding processes. For this review, we screened the current literature for a combination of online process analytical technology (PAT) and modeling techniques to ensure a controlled refolding process. Based on our research, we propose an integrated approach based on the idea that all aspects that cannot be monitored directly are estimated via digital twins and used in real-time for process control. KEY POINTS: • Monitoring and a thorough understanding of refolding kinetics are essential for model-based control of refolding processes. • The introduction of Quality by Design combining Process Analytical Technology and modeling ensures a robust platform for inclusion body refolding.

Deviating from the pure MAX phase concept: Radiation-tolerant nanostructured dual-phase Cr2AlC

A dual-phase Cr₂AlC material was synthesized using magnetron sputtering at a temperature of 648 K. A stoichiometric and nanocrystalline MAX phase matrix was observed along with the presence of spherical-shaped amorphous nano-zones as a secondary phase. The irradiation resistance of the material was assessed using a 300-keV Xe ion beam in situ within a transmission electron microscope up to 40 displacements per atom at 623 K: a condition that extrapolates the harmful environments of future fusion and fission nuclear reactors. At the maximum dose investigated, complete amorphization was not observed. Scanning transmission electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive x-ray revealed an association between swelling due to inert gas bubble nucleation and growth and radiation-induced segregation and clustering. Counterintuitively, the findings suggest that preexisting amorphous nano-zones can be beneficial to Cr₂AlC MAX phase under extreme environments.

Synthesis and accumulation of amylase-trypsin inhibitors and changes in carbohydrate profile during grain development of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

BACKGROUND

Recent studies indicate that amylase-trypsin inhibitors (ATIs) and certain carbohydrates referred to as FODMAPs (fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides and polyols) play an important role in promoting wheat sensitivity. Hitherto, no study has investigated the accumulation of ATIs during the development of the wheat caryopsis. We collected caryopses of common wheat cv. 'Arnold' at eight different grain developmental stages to study compositional changes in ATI and FODMAP content.

RESULTS

The harvested caryopses were analysed for their size, protein and carbohydrate concentrations. ATIs were further characterized by MALDI-TOF MS, and their trypsin inhibition was evaluated by an enzymatic assay. The results showed that ATI accumulation started about 1 week after anthesis and subsequently increased steadily until physiological maturity. However, the biological activity of ATIs in terms of enzyme inhibition was not detectable before about 4 weeks after anthesis. Carbohydrate analysis revealed the abundance of short-chain fructans in early stages of grain development, whereas non-water-soluble carbohydrates increased during later developmental stages.

CONCLUSIONS

The results provide new insights into the complex metabolisms during grain filling and maturation, with particular emphasis on the ATI content as well as the inhibitory potential towards trypsin. The time lag between ATI accumulation and development of their biological activity is possibly attributed to the assembling of ATIs to dimers and tetramers, which seems to be crucial for their inhibitory potential.

Risk of Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndrome in Women with Hyperandrogenemia: A Comparison between PCOS Phenotypes and Beyond

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in premenopausal women, with a wide spectrum of possible phenotypes, symptoms and sequelae according to the current clinical definition. However, there are women who do not fulfill at least two out of the three commonly used "Rotterdam criteria" and their risk of developing type 2 diabetes or obesity later in life is not defined. Therefore, we addressed this important gap by conducting a retrospective analysis based on 750 women with and without PCOS. We compared four different PCOS phenotypes according to the Rotterdam criteria with women who exhibit only one Rotterdam criterion and with healthy controls. Hormone and metabolic differences were assessed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) as well as logistic regression analysis. We found that hyperandrogenic women have per se a higher risk of developing insulin resistance compared to phenotypes without hyperandrogenism and healthy controls. In addition, hyperandrogenemia is associated with developing insulin resistance also in women with no other Rotterdam criterion. Our study encourages further diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for PCOS phenotypes in order to account for varying risks of developing metabolic diseases. Finally, women with hyperandrogenism as the only symptom should also be screened for insulin resistance to avoid later metabolic risks.

The FAM3C locus that encodes interleukin-like EMT inducer (ILEI) is frequently co-amplified in MET-amplified cancers and contributes to invasiveness

BACKGROUND

Gene amplification of MET, which encodes for the receptor tyrosine kinase c-MET, occurs in a variety of human cancers. High c-MET levels often correlate with poor cancer prognosis. Interleukin-like EMT inducer (ILEI) is also overexpressed in many cancers and is associated with metastasis and poor survival. The gene for ILEI, FAM3C, is located close to MET on chromosome 7q31 in an amplification "hotspot", but it is unclear whether FAMC3 amplification contributes to elevated ILEI expression in cancer. In this study we have investigated FAMC3 copy number gain in different cancers and its potential connection to MET amplifications.

METHODS

FAMC3 and MET copy numbers were investigated in various cancer samples and 200 cancer cell lines. Copy numbers of the two genes were correlated with mRNA levels, with relapse-free survival in lung cancer patient samples as well as with clinicopathological parameters in primary samples from 49 advanced stage colorectal cancer patients. ILEI knock-down and c-MET inhibition effects on proliferation and invasiveness of five cancer cell lines and growth of xenograft tumors in mice were then investigated.

RESULTS

FAMC3 was amplified in strict association with MET amplification in several human cancers and cancer cell lines. Increased FAM3C and MET copy numbers were tightly linked and correlated with increased gene expression and poor survival in human lung cancer and with extramural invasion in colorectal carcinoma. Stable ILEI shRNA knock-down did not influence proliferation or sensitivity towards c-MET-inhibitor induced proliferation arrest in cancer cells, but impaired both c-MET-independent and -dependent cancer cell invasion. c-MET inhibition reduced ILEI secretion, and shRNA mediated ILEI knock-down prevented c-MET-signaling induced elevated expression and secretion of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9. Combination of ILEI knock-down and c-MET-inhibition significantly reduced the invasive outgrowth of NCI-H441 and NCI-H1993 lung tumor xenografts by inhibiting proliferation, MMP expression and E-cadherin membrane localization.

CONCLUSIONS

These novel findings suggest MET amplifications are often in reality MET-FAM3C co-amplifications with tight functional cooperation. Therefore, the clinical relevance of this frequent cancer amplification hotspot, so far dedicated purely to c-MET function, should be re-evaluated to include ILEI as a target in the therapy of c-MET-amplified human carcinomas.

Reversible Speed Regulation of Self-Propelled Janus Micromotors via Thermoresponsive Bottle-Brush Polymers

This work reports a reversible braking system for micromotors that can be controlled by small temperature changes (≈5 °C). To achieve this, gated-mesoporous organosilica microparticles are internally loaded with metal catalysts (to form the motor) and the exterior (partially) grafted with thermosensitive bottle-brush polyphosphazenes to form Janus particles. When placed in an aqueous solution of H2 O2 (the fuel), rapid forward propulsion of the motors ensues due to decomposition of the fuel. Conformational changes of the polymers at defined temperatures regulate the bubble formation rate and thus act as brakes with considerable deceleration/acceleration observed. As the components can be easily varied, this represents a versatile, modular platform for the exogenous velocity control of micromotors.

Evaluation of undetected cases during the COVID-19 epidemic in Austria

BACKGROUND

Knowing the number of undetected cases of COVID-19 is important for a better understanding of the spread of the disease. This study analyses the temporal dynamic of detected vs. undetected cases to provide guidance for the interpretation of prevalence studies performed with PCR or antibody tests to estimate the detection rate.

METHODS

We used an agent-based model to evaluate assumptions on the detection probability ranging from 0.1 to 0.9. For each general detection probability, we derived age-dependent detection probabilities and calibrated the model to reproduce the epidemic wave of COVID-19 in Austria from March 2020 to June 2020. We categorized infected individuals into presymptomatic, symptomatic unconfirmed, confirmed and never detected to observe the simulated dynamic of the detected and undetected cases.

RESULTS

The calculation of the age-dependent detection probability ruled values lower than 0.4 as most likely. Furthermore, the proportion of undetected cases depends strongly on the dynamic of the epidemic wave: during the initial upswing, the undetected cases account for a major part of all infected individuals, whereas their share decreases around the peak of the confirmed cases.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of prevalence studies performed to determine the detection rate of COVID-19 patients should always be interpreted with regard to the current dynamic of the epidemic wave. Applying the method proposed in our analysis, the prevalence study performed in Austria in April 2020 could indicate a detection rate of 0.13, instead of the prevalent ratio of 0.29 between detected and estimated undetected cases at that time.

Galanin receptor 3 attenuates inflammation and influences the gut microbiota in an experimental murine colitis model

The regulatory (neuro)peptide galanin and its three receptors (GAL1-3R) are involved in immunity and inflammation. Galanin alleviated inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in rats. However, studies on the galanin receptors involved are lacking. We aimed to determine galanin receptor expression in IBD patients and to evaluate if GAL2R and GAL3R contribute to murine colitis. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that granulocytes in colon specimens of IBD patients (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) expressed GAL2R and GAL3R but not GAL1R. After colitis induction with 2% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) for 7 days, mice lacking GAL3R (GAL3R-KO) lost more body weight, exhibited more severe colonic inflammation and aggravated histologic damage, with increased infiltration of neutrophils compared to wild-type animals. Loss of GAL3R resulted in higher local and systemic inflammatory cytokine/chemokine levels. Remarkably, colitis-associated changes to the intestinal microbiota, as assessed by quantitative culture-independent techniques, were most pronounced in GAL3R-KO mice, characterized by elevated numbers of enterobacteria and bifidobacteria. In contrast, GAL2R deletion did not influence the course of colitis. In conclusion, granulocyte GAL2R and GAL3R expression is related to IBD activity in humans, and DSS-induced colitis in mice is strongly affected by GAL3R loss. Consequently, GAL3R poses a novel therapeutic target for IBD.

Use Them for What They Are Good at: Mealworms in Circular Food Systems

Future food systems must provide more food produced on less land with fewer greenhouse gas emissions if the goal is to keep planetary boundaries within safe zones. The valorisation of agricultural and industrial by-products by insects is an increasingly investigated strategy, because it can help to address resource scarcities and related environmental issues. Thus, insects for food and feed have gained increasing attention as a sustainable protein production strategy in circular food systems lately. In this article, we provide an overview on by-products, which have already been fed to T. molitor (mealworms), a common edible insect species. In addition, we investigate other by-products in Austria, which can be suitable substrates for T. molitor farming. We also provide an overview and discuss different perspectives on T. molitor and link it with the circular economy concept. We identify several future research fields, such as more comprehensive feeding trials with other by-products, feeding trials with mealworms over several generations, and the development of a standardized framework for insect rearing trials. In addition, we argue that due to their ability to convert organic by-products from agricultural and industrial processes into biomass in an efficient way, T. molitor can contribute towards resource-efficient and circular food and feed production. However, several hurdles, such as legal frameworks, need to be adapted, and further research is needed to fully reap the benefits of mealworm farming.

Challenges and future directions in LC-MS-based multiclass method development for the quantification of food contaminants

Monitoring of food contaminants and residues has undergone a significant improvement in recent years and is now performed in an intensive manner. Achievements in the area of chromatography-mass spectrometry coupling techniques enabled the development of quantitative multi-target approaches covering several hundred analytes. Although the majority of methods are focusing on the analysis of one specific group of substances, such as pesticides, mycotoxins, or veterinary drugs, current trends are going towards the simultaneous determination of multiclass compounds from several families of contaminants and residues. This work provides an overview of relevant multiclass concepts based on LC-MS/MS and LC-HRMS instruments. Merits and shortcomings will be critically discussed based on current performance characteristics of the EU legislation system. In addition, the discussion of a recently developed multiclass approach covering >1000 substances is presented as a case study to illustrate the current developments in this area.

Influence of material alterations and machine impairment on throughput related sensor-based sorting performance

Experiments with sensor-based sorting (SBS) machinery provide insight into the effect of throughput rate and input composition on the sorting performance. For this purpose, material mixtures with certain compositions and particle size distributions were created from waste fractions and sorted at various throughput rates. To evaluate the sorting performance of the SBS unit (using near infrared technology) in dependence of the applied load, four assessment factors concerning the output fractions were studied: yield, product purity, recovery/product quantity and incorrectly discharged share of reject particles. The influences on the assessment parameters of light twodimensional (2D) particles in the input of a sorting stage and failing air valves in an SBS unit were evaluated for various input compositions at different throughput rates. It was found that a share of approximately 5 wt% 2D particles in the input had a similar negative effect on the yield as the malfunction of 20% of all air valves in an SBS machine at high throughput rates. Additionally, the failure of the air valves reduced the product purity of the sorting stage at increased throughput rates. Furthermore, qualitative observations concerning systematic effects of prior studies could be confirmed. Resulting graphs for a specific input composition of an SBS unit at varying throughput rates could be used to adjust the throughput rate to meet the exact demands for a sorting stage.

How value-sensitive design can empower sustainable consumption

In a so-called overpopulated world, sustainable consumption is of existential importance. However, the expanding spectrum of product choices and their production complexity challenge consumers to make informed and value-sensitive decisions. Recent approaches based on (personalized) psychological manipulation are often intransparent, potentially privacy-invasive and inconsistent with (informational) self-determination. By contrast, responsible consumption based on informed choices currently requires reasoning to an extent that tends to overwhelm human cognitive capacity. As a result, a collective shift towards sustainable consumption remains a grand challenge. Here, we demonstrate a novel personal shopping assistant implemented as a smart phone app that supports a value-sensitive design and leverages sustainability awareness, using experts' knowledge and 'wisdom of the crowd' for transparent product information and explainable product ratings. Real-world field experiments in two supermarkets confirm higher sustainability awareness and a bottom-up behavioural shift towards more sustainable consumption. These results encourage novel business models for retailers and producers, ethically aligned with consumer preferences and with higher sustainability.