bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Active Cytoskeletal Composites Display Emergent Tunable Contractility and Restructuring
Authors: Lee Gloria , Leech Gregor , Lwin Pancy , Michel Jonathan , Currie Christopher , Rust Michael , Ross Jennifer , McGorty Ryan , Das Moumita , Robertson-Anderson Rae
Published: May 2021

The cytoskeleton is a model active matter system that controls diverse cellular processes from division to motility. While both active actomyosin dynamics and actin-microtubule interactions are key to the cytoskeleton’s versatility and adaptability, an understanding of their interplay is lacking. Here, we couple microscale experiments with mechanistic modeling to elucidate how connectivity, rigidity, and force-generation affect emergent material properties in in vitro composites of actin, tubulin, and myosin. We use time-resolved differential dynamic microscopy and spatial image autocorrelation to show that ballistic contraction occurs in composites with sufficient flexibility and motor density, but that a critical fraction of microtubules is necessary to sustain controlled dynamics. Our active double-network models reveal that percolated actomyosin networks are essential for contraction, but that networks with comparable actin and microtubule densities can uniquely resist mechanical stresses while simultaneously supporting substantial restructuring. Our findings provide a much-needed blueprint for designing cytoskeleton-inspired materials that couple tunability with resilience and adaptability.
(Murradambirra Dhangaang - Make Food Secure) Aboriginal Community and Stakeholder Perspectives on Food Insecurity in Urban and Regional Australia: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Sherriff Simone , Kalucy Deanna , Tong Allison , Naqvi Nawazish , Nixon Janice , Eades Sandra , Ingram Tangerene , Slater Kym , Dickson Michelle , Lee Amanda , Muthayya Sumithra
Published: May 2021

Background:

Food insecurity affects one in five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people residing in non-remote environments. Inequalities in diet contribute to the differential impact on diet-sensitive chronic diseases and the related burden of disease among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This study aimed to describe Aboriginal community and stakeholder perspectives on food insecurity to get a better understanding of the key factors driving this issue and recommendations for potential solutions in urban and regional Aboriginal communities in Australia.
Methods:

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 44 participants who were purposively selected. This included Aboriginal people in two communities and both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal stakeholders from local food relief agencies, food suppliers, schools, and government. A conceptual framework was developed from food insecurity literature and we used the sensitizing concepts of availability, affordability, accessibility and acceptability or the lack thereof of healthy food to elicit interview responses. Interview transcripts were analysed thematically.
Results:

All participants felt strongly that food insecurity was a major problem experienced in the local Aboriginal communities. Five core areas impacting on food security identified: trapped in financial disadvantage; gaps in the local food system; limitations of non-Aboriginal food relief services; on-going impacts of colonization; and maintaining family, cultural and community commitments and responsibilities.
Conclusions:

This study found Aboriginal families in urban and regional Australia are experiencing food insecurity on a regular basis, which is impacted by a range of socio-economic, environmental, systemic and cultural factors, as reported by the participants. Our findings highlight the need to address system level changes in the food environment and acknowledge Aboriginal culture and food preferences while considering the development of programs to alleviate food insecurity among urban and regional communities.
The Efficacy and Safety of Massage for Treatment of Functional Constipation in Children: Protocol for Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Cao Xue , Wu Jia-ping , Bai Yi-fan , Zhang Yan , Zhang Jia-jia , Liu Ya-li , Liu Jia
Published: May 2021

Background: Constipation is one of the most common diseases in children and it is also a significant healthcare burden, more than many other common childhood diseases. Massage has gained increased popularity for the management of constipation. However, there is a lack of supportive evidence on the efficacy of massage for constipation in children. This systematic review aims to collect and critically appraise all the available evidence about the efficacy and safety of massage for functional constipation (FC) in children. Methods/Design: The electronic databases of Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Wanfang Database (Wanfang), Chinese Scientific and Journal Database (VIP) will be searched from the establishment to February 2021 for randomized controlled trials investigating massage for treatment of functional constipation in children. Papers not in English or Chinese language were excluded. Two independent reviewers will conduct studies retrieval, remove duplication, screen, extract data, evaluate quality, and analyze data by NoteExpress (Version 3.2) and RevMan (Version 5.3.5 software (the Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, England). We will conduct the meta-analysis to synthesis the evidence for each outcome. The primary outcome included: 1) Overall response rate (according to stool frequency, time of defecation interval, stool consistency, difficult defecation, sense of incomplete evacuation, abdominal pain and bloating); 2) The mean number of bowel movements in the fourth week. Secondary outcome measures included 1) The symptom integrals; 2) Adverse events; 3) Recurrence rate. Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions will be used to assess the risk of bias, and GRADE will be used to access the confidence in cumulative evidence. The protocol followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols.Discussion: The findings of this meta-analysis will be important to clinicians and patients regarding the use of massage in childhood functional constipation.Study registration: PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021237173
Novel Variants of Avian Paramyxoviruses 13 in Wild Migratory Waterfowl Reveals 2 Low Evolutionary Rate
Authors: Fei Yidong , Ding Zhuang , Cong Yanlong , Chen Jianchun , Yin Renfu
Published: May 2021

Avian paramyxovirus 13 (APMV-13), formerly known as Avian orthoavulavirus 13, is found scatteredly in wild birds around the world. Although four complete genome sequences of APMV-13 had been identified since the first discovery in Japan in 2003, the information available on the genetic variation and biological characteristics of APMV-13 is still limited. In the present study, we isolated six APMV-13 strians from fecal samples of wild migratory waterfowls during annual (2013-2018) viral surveillance of wild bird populations from wetland in China. The phylogenetic analyses showed that they had very close relationship in HN and F genes. The molecular clock estimations also showed a low evolutionary rate of APMV-13. However, there are obvious sequence differences among these strains. Bean goose/Hubei/V97-1/2015 is 1,953 nt in size (ORF, 1, 776 nt), which is a unique size and longer than other reported APMV-13 strians. Additionally, Swan goose/Hubei/VI49-1/2016 has four repeats of conserved sequences “AAAAAT” in the 5’-end trailer, which is unprecedented in the APMV-13. These findings reveal the existence of novel variants within APMV-13, which highlights the importance of continuous monitoring the specific species of APMVs.
Estimating the Genetic Parameters of Flowering-Time Related traits in a Miscanthus Sinensis population tested with a staggered-start design
Authors: HOU Wei , RAVERDY Raphaël , MIGNOT Emilie , ARNOULT Stéphanie , GIAUFFRET Catherine , BRANCOURT-HULMEL Maryse
Published: May 2021

There is a growing interest in the cultivation of miscanthus on marginal land, but biomass yields are much lower there than on good farming land. Therefore, understanding what causes such instability is of primary interest for breeding later-flowering but stable miscanthus genotypes. Our objectives were to estimate the genetic parameters -genetic variance and genetic heritability- and genetic correlations for flowering-time-related traits in a biparental Miscanthus sinensis diploid population, and to divide the year effect into both age and climate effects using a staggered-start design. The population was established with single plants organized in a staggered-start design and consisted of two genotype groups established twice, in 2014 and 2015, with a total of 159 genotypes and 82 common genotypes between the two groups. All plants were extensively phenotyped for different panicle and anther emergence traits in 2018 and 2019. All traits were delayed by about 20 days in 2019 compared to 2018, which was explained by climatic conditions that occurred before the floral transition, mainly by a 3°C decrease in maximal and minimal temperatures. When dividing the year interaction effect, the genotype × climate interaction was much higher than the genotype × age interaction. The climate effect not only caused a delay in the flowering time but also involved differential genotype behavior through climate × genotype interactions, which increased the corresponding genotype × climate interaction variance compared to the genotype × age interaction variance: the climate effect decreased the genetic parameters for all flowering-time related traits, up to 20 % for broad-sense heritability. Interestingly, all traits responded similarly to the climate effect, excepting the interval between the start of panicle emergence and that of anther appearance, for which the correlation coefficients were lower due to significant climate interactions, compared to genotype × age interactions. Therefore, M. sinensis breeding for flowering-time related traits must be conducted under contrasted climates in order to select more stable genotypes.
U (VI) tolerance affects Shewanella sp. RCRI7 biological responses: growth, morphology and bioreduction ability
Authors: Zarei Mahsa , Fatemi Faezeh , Mir-Derikvand Mohammad , Hosseinpour Hamzeh , Ghasemi Razieh
Published: May 2021

Native Shewanella sp. RCRI7 is recently counted as an operative bacterium in the uranium bioreduction. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of uranium tolerance on the morphology and population of RCRI7 following its potential removal capacity in different time intervals. Accordingly, the bacterial growth and uranium removal kinetic were evaluated in aerobic TSB medium, uranium reducing condition (URC), aerobic uranium containing (AUC) and anaerobic uranium free (AUF) solutions, following evaluations of omcAB gene expressions. In addition, spectrophotometry analyses were performed in URC confirming the bioreduction mechanism. It was found that the bacteria can grow efficiently in the presence of 0.5 mM uranium anaerobically, unlike AUC and AUF solutions during 92 h incubation. The bacteria can kinetically remove a large amount of soluble uranium through adsorption pathway in the first 12 h in URC. This occurs in a circumstance that the removal process keeps on increasing via reduction lane up to 84 h, when the most amount of uranium removal has been indicated. In 92 h, the adsorbed uranium containing unreduced and reduced (U (IV) monomeric), was released to the solution due to either the increased pH or bacterial death. In AUC and AUF, improper conditions lead to reduced bacterial size and increased bacterial aggregations, however, membrane vesicles produced by the bacteria avoid the uranium incrustation in AUC.
Buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty for anterior urethral stricture, Experience from a low-income country
Authors: Taha Sami Mahjoub , Ahmed Musab Abdalla , Osman Yassin M. , Elemam Mohammed , Daffalla-Awadalla Mohamed
Published: May 2021

Background/purpose: This study was conducted to present our experience in urethral mucosal graft urethroplasty to repair urethral stricture, as the first experience in our context.Methods: This is a prospective hospital-based study that had been designed to review management outcomes of buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty for anterior urethral stricture from January 2017 to January 2019.Results: The total number of involved patients was 60. The success rate was found to be 90% (n= 54), while 6(10%) had a recurrence of stricture. Pain and pain combined bleeding from internal suture lines were the only early complication encountered in 50(83.3%) and 2(3.3%) patients, respectively. late complications occurred as follows 14(23.3%) patients had UTI, 12(20%) had wound infections, 8(13.3%) had changes in ejaculation, and decrease in intensity of orgasm, and 6(10%) had erectile dysfunction. One of the long-term complications was graft diverticulum in one case and was treated conservatively (in ventral on lay BMG).Conclusion: Improvement of the service in limited resources countries like Sudan and was reflected in the excellent outcome of BMG urethroplasty as treatment of anterior urethral stricture (success rate 90%).
Multilevel Mixed Effects Analysis of Individual and Community Factors Associated With Unmet Need for Contraception Among Married Women in Four East African Countries
Authors: Kabagenyi Allen , Wasswa Ronald , Henry Nsobya , Paulino Ariho , Sseninde Julius , Rusatira Jean Christophe
Published: May 2021

Background: Although use of contraceptives is an expression of a woman’s reproductive control, unmet need for contraception remains high and a public concern among married women in East Africa. Limited literature has explored the associated factors in the region. This study examined the individual and community level factors associated with unmet need for contraception among married women in Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Methods: The study utilized data from the four most recent demographic and health surveys on the following selected samples of women in Burundi (8767), Rwanda (6472), Tanzania (7417) and Uganda (10288). Analyses were conducted using multilevel mixed effect logistic regressions with random community and country level effects.Results: Findings showed that: 20%, 22%, 28% and 33% of the married women in Rwanda Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi respectively had unmet need for contraception. Young married women, low education level, low wealth quintile, higher number of living children, couples that are not staying together, husband’s desire for more children, history of child death, women who are not working, no access to family planning messages, long distances to health facilities, and husbands as decision-makers on women’s health care were associated with high level of unmet need for contraception. Also, low community wealth, low community use of modern contraceptives, higher community age at marriage, higher community mean number of living children and lower community age at sexual debut were found to be significantly associated with high risk of unmet need for contraception in at least one of the countries. Conclusions: The findings suggest the need to design programs and policies that ensure awareness and access to modern contraceptive services among all disadvantaged communities and unique groups like couples who are not staying together through increased outreaches and increased mass media campaigns. In addition, concerted efforts aimed at raising the educational levels of people to bring about change in social and cultural norms that influence the husbands desire for higher number of children are much needed. Deliberate efforts of empowering women through education, job creation, and reproductive health decisions will significantly reduce the levels of unmet need for contraception in East Africa.
Adaptation and implementation of a parenting curriculum in a refugee/immigrant community using a task-shifting approach: A study protocol
Authors: Whitaker Daniel , Self-Brown Shannon , Weeks Erin , O'Connor Mary Helen , Lyons Matthew , Willging Cathleen , Lee NaeHyung , Kumar Jessica L. , Joseph Hannah , Reidy Dennis , Rivers Danielle , Rao Nikita
Published: May 2021

Background Delivering evidence-based interventions to refugee and immigrant families is difficult for several reasons, including language and cultural issues, access and trust issues that can lead to an unwillingness to engage with the typical intervention delivery systems. Adapting both the intervention and the delivery system for evidence-based interventions can make those interventions most appropriate and palatable for the targeted population, increasing uptake and effectiveness. This study focuses on the adaptation of the SafeCare© parenting model, and its delivery through either standard implementation methods via community-based organizations (CBO) and a task-shifted implementation in which members of the Afghans, Burmese, Congolese community will be trained to deliver SafeCare. MethodAn adaptation team consisting of community members, members of CBO, and SafeCare experts will engage a structured process to adapt the SafeCare curriculum for each targeted community. Adaptations will focus on both the model and the delivery of it. Data collection of the adaptation process will focus on documenting adaptations and team member’s engagement and satisfaction with the process. SafeCare will be implemented in each community in two ways: standard implementation and task-shifted implementation. Standard implementation will be delivered by CBOs (n = 120), and task-shifted implementation will be delivered by community members (n = 120). All interventionists will be trained in a standard format, and will receive post-training support. Both implementation metrics and family outcomes will be assessed. Implementation metrics will include ongoing adaptations, delivery of services, fidelity, skill uptake by families, engagement/completion, and satisfaction with services. Family outcomes will include assessments at three time points (pre, post, and six months) of positive parenting, parent-child relationship, parenting stress, and child behavioral health. Discussion The need for adapting of evidence-based programs and delivery methods for specific populations continues to be an important research question in implementation science. The goal of this study is to better understand an adaptation process and delivery method for three unique populations. We hope the study will inform other efforts to deliver health intervention to refugee communities and ultimately improve refugee health.
Production of succinic acid from pineapple peel waste
Authors: Pathanibul Panchalee , Hongkulsup Choosit
Published: May 2021

Background: Succinic acid is a crucial platform chemical for production of various industrially significant compounds. For a sustainable and eco-friendly process, succinic acid synthesis has been shifted towards the fermentative route using renewable biomass substrates. Pineapple consumption and processing generate an immense amount of waste from its non-edible peel portion. As a carbon source, pineapple peel can be valorized for succinic acid bioproduction.
Results: The hydrothermal pretreatment (121°C, 15 min) of pineapple peel waste resulted in the highest sugar release of 35.22 g/L (18 g/L glucose and 17 g/L fructose). The subsequent fermentation of pineapple peel hydrolysate was performed by a natural succinic acid producer, Actinobacillus succinogenes TISTR 1994. When the non-detoxified hydrolysate was used as a sole carbon source, 6.21 g/L of succinic acid was produced from 26.16 g/L of sugars. Additional supplementation of 9 g/L mixed nitrogen source enhanced the formation of succinic acid to 9.96 g/L from roughly the same amount of sugar. The current production conditions using mainly hydrolysate-based medium gave the succinic acid yield of 0.39 g/g sugar suggesting feasibilities for further improvement.
Conclusion: Bio-based succinic acid production was attempted for the first time using the solid pineapple waste as a main starting material. Results demonstrated a proof of concept that the abundant pineapple peel waste can serve as a renewable substrate for a low-cost, value-added bioconversion to succinic acid. Optimization of nutritional composition in hydrolysate is necessary to enhance the yield of succinic acid in future studies.
BnERF114.A1, a Gene Encoding an APETALA2/ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR, Regulates Plant Architecture Through Blocking Auxin Efflux in Apex of Rapeseed Plant
Authors: Lyu Jinyang , Guo Yuan , Du Chunlei , Yu Haibo , Guo Lijian , Liu Li , Wang Xinfa , Zhao Huixian , Hu Shengwu
Published: May 2021

Plant architecture is very important for rapeseed breeding. Here, we reported an ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR (ERF) transcription factor BnERF114.A1 of Brassica napus participating in plant architecture regulation. BnERF114.A1 is a member of ERF family group x-a, encoding a putative protein of 252 aa which consisting of an AP2/ERF domain and a conserved CMX-1 motif. BnERF114.A1 located in nucleus and had transcriptional activity with its functional region located in 142 aa ~ 252 aa of its C-terminus. The GUS staining analysis revealed that BnERF114.A1 highly expressed in leaf primordia, shoot apical meristem, leaf marginal meristem, and reproductive organs. Ectopic expression of BnERF114.A1 in Arabidopsis reduced plant height, increased branch numbers and silique numbers per plants, and finally increased seed yield per plant. Further investigation demonstrated that overexpression of BnERF114.A1 can inhibit IAA efflux and cause accumulation of auxin in apex, and arrest apical dominance in Arabidopsis. The findings suggested BnERF114.A1 could provide a candidate gene for rapeseed plant architecture molecular breeding.
Interferon Regulatory Factor 5 represses oxidative respiration in human and murine macrophages by inhibition of mitochondrial matrix protein GHITM
Authors: Orliaguet Lucie , Ejlalmanesh Tina , Humbert Alexandre , Ballaire Raphaëlle , Diedisheim Marc , Julla Jean-Baptiste , Michieletto Jessica , Charbit Judith , Linden Daniel , Boucher Jeremie , Potier Charline , Hamimi Akila , Lemoine Sophie , Blugeon Corinne , Legoix Patricia , Lameiras Sonia , Baudrin Laura , Baulande Sylvain , Soprani Antoine , Castelli Florence , Fenaille Francois , Riveline Jean-Pierre , Rieusset Jennifer , Gautier Jean-François , Venteclef Nicolas , Alzaid Fawaz
Published: May 2021

Over the course of diet-induced obesity (DIO), adipose tissue macrophage (ATM) populations transition from highly oxidative and protective to highly inflammatory and metabolically deleterious. Here, we demonstrate that the Interferon Regulatory Factor (IRF)-5 is a key molecular switch mediating repression of macrophage oxidative capacity early in DIO. ATMs from mice with a myeloid-specific deletion of IRF5 are characterised by increased mitochondrial activity and oxidative respiration compared to ATMs from wild-type mice. This hyper-oxidative phenotype is inducible and reversible in vitro by delivery of an inhibitory IRF5-decoy peptide and through IRF5 adenoviral over-expression, respectively. In a data-driven approach, using public IRF5-cistrome data and in-house RNA-sequencing, we identified a transcriptional mechanism by which cellular oxidative capacity is repressed in an IRF5-dependent manner. The hyper-oxidative phenotype of IRF5-deficient macrophages is mediated by the Growth Hormone Inducible Transmembrane Protein (GHITM), known for maintaining mitochondrial architecture for optimal oxidative respiration. Cas9-mediated simultaneous knock-down of GHITM and of IRF5 reverses the hyper-oxidative phenotype associated with IRF5-deficiency in vitro. IRF5-dependent regulation of GHITM expression and mitochondrial activity extends to human ATMs and monocytes from obese and diabetic patients.
Making Assembly Line in Supply Chain Robust and Secure Using UHF RFID and Blockchain
Authors: Sharif Abu , Kumar Rajesh , Ouyang Jun , Abbas Hasan T. , Alomainy Akram , Arshad Kamran , Assaleh Khaled , Althuwayb Ayman , Imran Muhammad Ali , Abbasi Qammer H.
Published: May 2021

This paper presents a block-chain enabled inkjet-printed ultrahigh frequency radiofrequency identification (UHF RFID) system for the supply chain management, traceability and authentication of hard to tag bottled consumer products containing fluids such as water, oil, juice, and wine. In this context, we propose a novel low-cost, compact inkjet-printed UHF RFID tag antenna design for liquid bottles, with 2.5 m read range improvement over existing designs along with robust performance on different liquid bottle products. The tag antenna is based on a nested slot-based configuration that achieves good impedance matching around high permittivity surfaces. The tag was designed and optimized using the characteristic mode analysis. Moreover, the proposed RFID tag was commercially tested for tagging and billing of liquid bottle products in a conveyer belt and smart refrigerator for automatic billing applications. With the help of block-chain based product tracking and a mobile application, we demonstrate a real-time, secure and smart supply chain process in which items can be monitored using the proposed RFID technology. We believe the standalone system presented in this paper can be deployed to create smart contracts that benefit both the suppliers and consumers through the development of trust. Furthermore, the proposed system will paves the way towards authentic and contact-less delivery of food, drinks and medicine in recent Corona virus pandemic.
Surrogate Perspectives on a Patient Preference Predictor: Good Idea, But I Should Decide How It Is Used
Authors: Howard Dana , Rivlin Allan , Candilis Philip , Dickert Neal , Drolen Claire , Krohmal Benjamin , Pavlick Mark , Wendler David
Published: May 2021

Objective: Current practice frequently fails to provide care consistent with the preferences and values of decisionally-incapacitated, critically ill patients. It also imposes significant emotional burden on their surrogates. Algorithmic-based patient preference predictors (PPPs) have been proposed as a way to address these two concerns. While previous research found that patients strongly support the use of PPPs, the views of surrogates are unknown. This study assesses the views of experienced surrogates regarding the use of PPPs as a means to improve treatment decision making for incapacitated patients.Setting: Two academic medical centers and two community hospitals.Subjects: Experienced Surrogates [n=26].Interventions: An initial quantitative survey followed by an in-depth interview and a final quantitative survey.Measurements: Overall level of support for PPPs and views on how a PPP should be used, if at all, in practice.Main Results: Overall, 21 participants supported the use of PPPs. The remaining five indicated that they would not use a PPP because they made decisions based on the patient’s best interests, not based on which treatments the patient would choose for themselves. Some respondents expressed concern that PPPs might be used to deny expensive care or be biased against minority groups. Finally, 24 respondents indicated that surrogates, not patients, should decide how treatment decisions are made, including whether and how to use PPPs.Conclusions: Surrogates, like patients, strongly support the use of PPPs as a means to improving decision-making for incapacitated patients. These findings provide support for developing a PPP and assessing its use in practice. At the same time, patients and surrogates disagree over whose preferences should determine how treatment decisions, including whether to use a PPP, are made. These findings reveal a fundamental disagreement regarding the guiding principles for surrogate decision-making that need to be addressed by attempts to improve current critical care practice.
Impact of a restrictive antibiotic policy on the acquisition of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in an endemic region: a quasi-experimental, before-and-after, propensity-matched cohort study in a Caribbean intensive care unit
Authors: Terrier Christophe Le , Vinetti Marco , Bonjean Paul , Richard Régine , Jarrige Bruno , Pons Bertrand , Madeux Benjamin , Piednoir Pascale , Ardisson Fanny , Elie Elain , Martino Frédéric , Valette Marc , Ollier Édouard , Breurec Sébastien , Carles Michel , Thiéry Guillaume
Published: May 2021

Background: High-level antibiotic consumption plays a critical role in the selection and spread of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) in ICU. Implementation of a stewardship program including a restrictive antibiotic policy was evaluated with respect to the ESBL-E acquisition (carriage and infection).Methods: We implemented a two-years, quasi-experimental, before-and-after intervention study with all consecutive adult patients admitted for >48 h in the medical-surgical 26-bed ICU of Guadeloupe University Hospital (French West Indies). A conventional strategy period (CSP), including a broad-spectrum antibiotic as initial empirical treatment, followed by de-escalation (period before) was compared to a restrictive strategy period (RSP) limiting broad-spectrum antibiotics and shortening their duration. Antibiotic therapy was delayed and initiated only after microbiological identification, except for septic shock, severe acute respiratory distress syndrome and meningitis (period after). A multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression model adjusted on propensity score values was performed. The main outcome was the median time of being free of ESBL-E in the ICU. Secondary outcome included all-cause ICU mortality.Results: The study included 1,541 patients, for a total of 738 in the CSP and 803 in the RSP. During the RSP, less patients were treated with antibiotics (46.8% vs 57.9%; p<0.01), treatment duration was shorter (5 vs 6 days; p<0.01), administration of antibiotics targeting anaerobic pathogens significantly decreased (65.3% vs 33.5%; p<0.01) compared to the CSP. The incidence of ICU-acquired ESBL-E was lower (12.1% vs 19%; p<0.01) during the RSP. The median time of being free of ESBL-E was 22 days (95% confidence interval, 16-NA days) in the RSP and 18 days (95% CI, 16-21 days) in the CSP. After propensity score weighting and adjusted analysis, the median time of being free of ESBL-E was independently associated with the RSP (hazard ratio, 0.746 [95% CI, 0.575-0.968]; p=0.02, and hazard ratio 0.751 [95% CI 0.578-0.977]; p=0.03, respectively). All-cause ICU mortality were lower in the RSP than in the CSP (22.5% vs 28.6%; p<0.01).Conclusions: Implementation of a program including a restrictive antibiotic strategy is feasible and is associated with less ESBL-E acquisition in the ICU without any worsening of patient outcome.
Arsenic in Mining Area: Environmental Contamination Route
Authors: Hott Rodrigo , Oliveira Grazielle , Bomfeti Cleide , Sousa Maicon , Santos Mayra , Andrade Thainá , Faria Márcia , Barbosa Fernando , Rodrigues Jairo Lisboa
Published: May 2021

The emission of residues has contributed immensely to the fact that man is susceptible and exposed to toxic chemical products, among them, arsenic. One of the main anthropic sources of arsenic in the world is mining, which can contribute to the contamination of soil, water, air, and food. An example of environmental arsenic contamination in Brazil occurs in the city of Paracatu - MG, due to the operation of a gold mine. Thus, the objectives of this study were: (i) to assess the physical-chemical parameters and the concentration of arsenic in samples of superficial fresh water (sub-basin of the Paracatu River), and soil samples, during winter and summer; (ii) evaluate the arsenic concentration in samples of particulate matter; (iii) determine the concentration and species of As in biological samples and (iiii) evaluate the toxicity of surface waters using the Allium cepa test. There was no change in the physical-chemical parameters. The water samples collected during the winter and all soil samples showed values ​​of As above those allowed by organs regulatory agencies. The values ​​of As in the particulate material showed great variations between the regions under study but were within the limit established by the ATSDR for urban areas. Inorganic and organic As was found above the limit allowed in biological samples The analysis of water toxicity by the Allium cepa test indicated the presence of cytotoxic and genotoxic compounds, demonstrating a great risk for the population exposed to the waters of the Rico stream.
UAV Cooperative Search in Dynamic Environment Based on Hybrid-Layered APF
Authors: Rui Shao , Tao Rentuo , Liu Youda , Yang Yuhao , Li Dasheng , Chen Jianjun
Published: May 2021

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) detection has the advantages of flexible deployment, no casualties. It has become a force that cannot be ignored in the battlefield. Scientific and efficient mission planning can help improving the survival rate and mission completion rate of the UAV search in dynamic environments. Towards the mission planning problem of UAV collaborative search for multi-types of time-sensitive moving targets, a search algorithm based on hybrid layered artificial potential fields algorithm (HL-APF) was proposed. This paper utilized a new target attraction field function which was segmented by the search distance to quickly search for quickly targets searching. Moreover, in order to solve the problem of repeated search by the UAV in a short time interval, a search repulsion field generated by the UAV search path was proposed. Besides, in order to solve the unknown target search and improve the area coverage, a centralized layered scheduling algorithm controlled by the cloud server (CS) was added. CS divides the mission area into several sub-areas, and allocates UAV according to the priority function based on the search map. The CS activation mechanism can make full use of prior information, and the UAV assignment cool-down mechanism can avoid the repeated assignment of the same UAV. The simulation results show that compared with the hybrid artificial potential field and ant colony optimization (HAPF-ACO) and improved artificial potential field(IAPF), this method can significantly improve the found number of targets and mission area coverage. At the same time, comparative experiment results of CS mechanism proved the necessity of setting CS activation and cool-down for improving the search performance.
Virulence characterization and clonal analysis of uropathogenic Escherichia coli metallo-beta-lactamase-producing isolates
Authors: Matin Fatemeh Zanganeh , Rezatofighi Seyedeh Elham , Ardakani Mohammad Roayaei , Akhoond Mohammad Reza , Mahmoodi Fahimeh
Published: May 2021

BackgroundUropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is a major cause of urinary tract infection (UTI); however, treatment of this disease has been associated with problems due to increased antimicrobial resistance (AMR). One of the most important types of AMR is carbapenem resistance (CR). CR bacteria are known as an important challenge to global public health today. Class B metallo-beta-lactamases (MBLs) are one of the major factors for resistance against carbapenems. We aimed to investigate the characteristics of UPEC isolates producing MBL. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2018 to December 2019 in Ahvaz; Iran. Urine samples of patients with UTI were collected and UPEC isolates were identified by biochemical and molecular methods. Metallo-beta-lactamase-producing isolates were detected using modified carbapenem inactivation method (mCIM) and EDTA-CIM (eCIM) tests. MBL genes, phylogenetic group, and virulence genes profile of carbapenem resistant isolates were determined. Conjugation assay and plasmid profiling were conducted to evaluate the ability of transferring of CR to other E. coli isolates. Clonal similarity of isolates were assessed using Enterobacterial intergenic repetitive element sequence (ERIC)-PCR. ResultsAmong 406 UPEC isolates, 12 (2.95%) carbapenem-resistant were detected of which 11 were phenotypically MBL-producing. Four isolates were resistant to all antimicrobial agents and were considered possible pandrug-resistant (PDR). blaNDM, blaOXA-48, blaIMP-1, and blaIMP-2 genes were found in 9, 5, 1, and 1 isolates, respectively. Among 30 virulence genes investigated, the traT, fyuA followed by fimH, and iutA with the frequency of 8 (66.7%), 8 (66.7%), 7 (58.3%), and 7 (58.3%) were the most identified genes, respectively. Siderophore production was the main virulence trait among carbapenem-resistant UPEC isolates. Except for two, all other isolates showed weak to moderate virulence index. In all recovered isolates, CR was readily transmitted via plasmids to other isolates during conjugation experiments. ConclusionMBL and carbapenemase genes, especially blaNDM and blaOXA-48 are spreading rapidly among bacteria, which can be a threat to global public health. Therefore monitoring the emergence and dissemination of new AMR is necessary to continuously refine guidelines for empiric antimicrobial therapy. Understanding the mechanisms of resistance and virulence in this group of bacteria can play an effective role in providing new therapeutic methods.
The Hydrodynamic Cavitation Manifestation in Small Chips
Authors: Ghorbani Morteza
Published: May 2021

Cavitation is a phase change phenomenon created by the static pressure reduction of a liquid medium at a constant temperature. This process has been considered as a disadvantageous mechanism in most turbomachinery systems, however, its potential in releasing energy at the bubble collapse stage has received lots of attention in recent decades. Particularly, the applicability of this phenomenon in micro scale gives rise to the research studies in different fields, i.e., wastewater treatment and medical imaging. In this study, microfluidic devices housing small microchannels have been fabricated to study the generation of the cavitating flow patterns bubbles. The main focuses in this work are on the surface and side wall roughness together with the size reduction effects on cavitation bubble generation. Accordingly, the microfluidic devices were fabricated using the techniques adopted from semi conductor based micro-fabrication. The experiments were performed at relatively higher upstream pressure, 4 to 7 MPa, to investigate the durability of the devices and flow patterns features. The results show that the side wall roughness elements are very effective in the small microchannels in terms of facile cavitating flow generation, while the size reduction in the diameter of the channel does not accompany intensified cavitating flow necessarily.
Alterations of Oropharyngeal Microbiome Reflected Disease Severity and Long-Term Dysbiosis in Patients With COVID-19
Authors: Zhou Yongzhao , Lu Sifen , Li Mengjiao , Wang Minjin , Ma Jinmin , Mao Yuanchen , Zhu Zhongyi , Min Jiumeng , Xiao Jun , Qiu Rong , Deng Taibing , Jiang Li , Zhu Jing , Zeng Yilan , Liu Dan , li weimin , Ying Binwu
Published: May 2021

Background: Recent evidences have shown that gut microbiome of patients with COVID-19 significantly changes and can reflect the severity of the disease. And gut microbiota richness was not restored to normal levels after 6-month recovery. However, SARS-CoV-2 primarily infects the respiratory tract, few studies investigate whether the alterations of oropharyngeal microbiome is associated with disease severity in patients with COVID-19, and whether interferences in microbiome composition, if any, eliminate with clearance of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. We employed metatranscriptomic sequencing to analyse oropharyngeal swabs collected within a week of diagnosis COVID-19 (period of disease group: PDG) and two months after clearance of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (convalescent group: CG) from 47 patients with COVID-19. Meanwhile, oropharyngeal swabs from 40 healthy subjects were analyzed as healthy control group (HCG). Results: Oropharyngeal microbial composition was significantly altered in patients with COVID-19 compared with healthy controls even two months after clearance of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Little changes in α-diversity among HCG, PDG and CG ( P ＞0.05), but obviously changes in β-diversity among them. Notably, Prevotella increased significantly in PDG than that in HCG (Wilcoxon rank-sum test, P ＜0.001) and increased gradually along with the severity of patients with COVID-19 aggravated. There was a positive correlation between Prevotella and the elevation of Neutrophil percentage (R = 0.301, P = 0.040). Similarly, SARS-CoV-2 and Aspergillus increased remarkably in critical Patients with COVID-19. There was a negative correlation between SARS-CoV-2 viral load and platelet counts (R = −0.330, P = 0.022). Conclusions: The oropharyngeal microbiome in patients with COVID-19 present persistent dysbiosis even two months after clearance of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Furthermore, alterations in oropharyngeal microbial composition reflected the severity of disease in patients with COVID-19. Our findings underscore that there is an urgent need to understand the specific roles of oropharyngeal microorganisms in COVID-19 disease progression and rehabilitation.
Molecular Epidemiologic Factors Contributing to Guinolone Resistance in Clinical Multidrug-resistant Klebsiella Pneumoniae Isolates from Shanghai, China
Authors: Wang Yan , Cai Guoping , Zhang Jinan , Xu Xiaogang , Lu Hongzhou
Published: May 2021

Background : The soaring quinolone-resistance rate of Klebsiella pneumoniae , a common pathogen in immunocompromised individuals, has seriously undermined the wide applications of antimicrobials of this class. This study aimed to investigate the emerging key contributors to quinolone resistance in multidrug resistant K. pneumoniae (MDR-KP) isolates from a clinical setting with continuing point-source infection outbreaks. Methods : A total of 34 K. pneumoniae isolates, including 30 carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKP) isolates were randomly selected from a teaching hospital participating in an ongoing Bacterial Resistance Surveillance Project in Shanghai, China. Investigations included antimicrobial susceptibility tests, MLST and wzi -genotyping, PCR and DNA sequencing for identification of resistance determinants, sequence analyses using MEGA7.0 software, and clinical information retrieving through electronic medical records. Results : Two predominant high-risk resistant clones, ST11- wzi 64 and ST15- wzi 19/ wzi 24, from 30 CRKP isolates caused three point-source nosocomial outbreaks in intensive care unit and neurosurgery department potentially by respiratory-route, promoting the co-selection and evolution of multidrug resistant determinants. Multiple quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) mutations occurred in isolates of ST15 (S83F, D87A; S80I), ST11 (S83I, D87G; S80I), and ST218 (D87A; S80I). Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance determinants, qnrS1 , aac(6’)-Ib-cr , oqxAB , were detected in 32 (94.1%) isolates alone or in combination, accompanied with β-lactamases, 16S rRNA methylases, and putrescine ABC permeases. AcrR, AcrAB transcriptional repressor, was insertion-inactivated by IS5-transposase in isolates of ST11. Thirteen ompK36 variants associated with specific ST (n=7) and wzi -allele (n=9) clustered into 10 (sub)lineages in the phylogenetic tree possibly affecting the MDR phenotype and infection outcome of isolates. Isolates of ST11, ST15, and ST218 had frameshift disruptions in OmpK35 coupled with specific GD-insertion at position 134-135 in OmpK36, all showing distinct microevolution clusters of ompK36 genotypes. Seven quinolone-susceptible isolates kept the porin genes integral, including two each CRKPs of ST13- wzi74 (carbapenemase KPC-2 and NDM-1-coproducers) and ST65- wzi72 . Conclusions : Under multiple selective pressures, accumulation of mutations of three types (QRDR, AcrR, OmpK36/OmpK35) and acquisition of resistance-conferring genes contribute to quinolone-resistance in clinical MDR-KP isolates, reinforcing the importance of continued epidemiologic surveillance on the evolution and transmission of these isolates. Our findings provided detailed mechanistic analyses and epidemiologic implications for further infection control and antibiotic stewardship initiatives.
Performance and Utility of More Highly Sensitive Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests
Authors: Slater Hannah C , Ding Xavier C , Knudson Sophia , Bridges Daniel J , Moonga Hawela , Saad Neil J. , De Smet Martin , Bennett Adam F , Dittrich Sabine , Slutsker Laurence , Domingo Gonzalo J
Published: May 2021

BackgroundA new more highly sensitive rapid diagnostic test (HS-RDT) for Plasmodium falciparum malaria (Alere™/Abbott Malaria Ag P.f RDT [05FK140], now called NxTek™ Eliminate Malaria Ag Pf) was launched in 2017. The test has already been used in many research studies in a wide range of geographies and use cases. MethodsIn this study, we collate all published and available unpublished studies that use the HS-RDT and assess its performance in (i) prevalence surveys, (ii) clinical diagnosis, (iii) screening pregnant women, and (iv) active case detection. Two individual-level data sets from asymptomatic populations are used to fit logistic regression models to estimate the probability of HS-RDT positivity based on histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) concentration and parasite density. The performance of the HS-RDT in prevalence surveys is estimated by calculating the sensitivity and positive proportion in comparison to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and conventional malaria RDTs. ResultsWe find that across 18 studies, in prevalence surveys, the mean sensitivity of the HS-RDT is estimated to be 56.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 46.9%–65.4%) compared to 44.3% (95% CI 32.6%–56.0%) for a conventional RDT (co-RDT) when using nucleic acid amplification techniques as the reference standard. For use in clinical diagnosis, the HS-RDT was not significantly more sensitive than a co-RDT; however, it did detect more polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–positive individuals presenting with fever in both studies that investigated this use case. Similarly, for screening pregnant women, the HS-RDT was more sensitive than a co-RDT in all but one study; however, this improvement was only statistically significant in one study where data were aggregated across all stages of pregnancy. ConclusionsOverall, the evidence presented here suggests that the HS-RDT is more sensitive in asymptomatic populations and could provide a marginal improvement in clinical diagnosis and screening pregnant women. Although the HS-RDT has limited temperature stability and shelf-life claims compared to co-RDTs, there is no evidence to suggest, given this test has the same cost as current RDTs, it would have any negative impacts if it were widely used in all use cases explored here.