Background Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of bacterial infection among infants and young children with high morbidity and mortality. The serotype distribution of S. pneumoniae varies with geography, time, age, and disease. Aim We aimed to investigate the current status of molecular characteristics of S. pneumoniae strains isolated from pediatric patients in Shanghai, China. Methods Between 2016 and 2018, 73 clinical S. pneumoniae isolates were characterized by capsular serotype, multilocus sequence typing, antibiotic susceptibility, and resistant genes. Results The most common serotypes were 19F (39.7%), 19A (16.4%), 6A (11.0%), 14 (9.6%), and 6B (8.2%). The coverage rates of the 7-, 10- and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines were 64.4%, 64.4%, and 91.8%, respectively. The five predominant sequence types were ST271 (37.0%), ST320 (19.2%), ST3173 (11.0%), ST876 (6.8%), and ST81 (4.1%), which were mainly associated with serotypes 19F, 19A, 6A, 14, and 23F, respectively. The rates of resistance to penicillin and ceftriaxone were 21.9% and 39.7%, respectively. All strains displayed resistance to macrolides, 54.8% of which possessed both erm(B) and mef(A/E) genes, and 41.1% carried the erm(B) gene alone. Tn2010 (41.1%) was the most common transposon. Conclusions Clonal complex 271 (Taiwan19F-14 clone) played a dominant role in the dissemination of pneumococcal isolates. The prevalent serotypes indicated a lack of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, which has not been included in national immunization programs in mainland China. The high rate of macrolide resistance made the empirical use of macrolides alone not suitable for treating pediatric pneumococcal disease.Lake Victoria, regionally important both as a food and income source, is under pressure due to overfishing and severe pollution. Currently, the vast majority of east African aquaculture is open pond based. The adoption of modern, sustainable, aquaculture technologies and practices - in this case study recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) - will aid the region to increase food security and decrease the current reliance on imported fish and stressed wild stocks. To this end, VicInAqua, a project under the EU Horizon 2020 programme, has developed a pilot Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) hatchery in Kisumu, Kenya using RAS adapted to local conditions. The hatchery is designed as a flexible, scalable and modular system. An online monitoring system enables the farmers to access farm data both from fish tanks and the supporting renewable energy systems allowing around the clock monitoring and control. The hatchery is linked to a 14.3 kWp Photovoltaic system including 30 kWh lithium-battery storage to supply sustainable electricity. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/tepp-46.html Treated by a membrane bioreactor (MBR), water for the RAS, certified for use in aquaculture and agriculture, comes chiefly from Kisumu's municipal sewage reducing the farms reliance on an expensive and occasionally intermittent potable water supply. The coupling of these technologies represents a first for the industry and offers a working example for larger scale future developments. The purpose of the project is to demonstrate the possible technologies and practices in situ as well as providing a template for future development and investment. The hatchery is used by the Department of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, Kisumu County, Kenya, as a training and demonstration facility to promote the aquaculture sector and increase awareness, knowledge and skills for fish farmers as well as providing high quality fingerlings to cage farmers within the lake. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.The trophoblast cells that take part in placenta formation are characterized by different modes of multiplication of their genome that largely designates their eu- or aneuploidy level. The two main ways of genome multiplication are described in different degree (a) endoreduplication that involves almost complete shutdown of mitosis and (b) reduced mitosis ('endomitosis') in which, by contrast, entry into mitosis and the passage of its initial stages is a prerequisite of genome multiplication. Endoreduplication observed in the trophoblast giant cells (TGC) in a range of mammalian species implies uncoupling of DNA replication from mitosis achieved by reduction of mitotic Cdk activity. The key role in the regulation of endoreduplication and endomitosis play activity of APC/C complex, geminin and E2F family. A programme of genome multiplication and cell cycle progression may include depolyploidization achieved by specific mitotic or non-mitotic (amitotic) division of the giant nucleus. In some mammalian species (Rodents), this process represents the final step of the giant cell lifespan that coincides with complete cessation of cell or genome reproduction. Meantime, in other species the process may take part in cell reproduction during lengthy pregnancy. The dynamics of fox and human polyploidization is similar by the possibility of a simultaneous increase in the proportion of endopolyploid and low-polyploid cells. Reduced mitoses, endoreduplication and depolyploidization appear to be an evolution strategy allowing to generate the functionally different trophoblast cell populations depending of the lifestyle of life of the animal species. Some placental pathologies may be accounted for disturbance of the programme of the cell/genome reproduction of the giant and low-ploid cell populations.Aoniraptor libertatem is a mid-sized megaraptoran that comes from the Late Cretaceous (Turonian) Huincul Formation at Río Negro province, Patagonia, Argentina. In this study, we conducted a detailed analysis of pneumaticity of the sacrum and tail of Aoniraptor. This shows a complex structure within these vertebrae, being composed by small diverticulae surrounding large pneumatic canals and a central chamber that opens outside through pleurocoels or pneumatic canals. Further, we carried out a histologic analysis which confirms the pneumatic nature of these anatomical features. Both analyses found that chevrons in Aoniraptor were invaded by pneumaticity, a feature that appears to be unique to this taxon. In addition, a comparative analysis between Aoniraptor and other theropods (e.g. Gualicho and other megaraptorans) was carried out. This resulted in the modification of previous schemes about the evolution of pneumaticity through Theropoda, the finding of some evolutionary pneumatic traits through Megaraptora, and the usefulness of pneumatic traits as a taxonomic tool.