Under the increasingly severe global heat threat, continuous high temperature has far-reaching effects on plant growth and development and become a major constraint to crop production. The development of heat-resistant varieties has become research hotspot in many fields, and it is also necessary to establish effective identification methods. In this study, twenty Brassica rapa varieties were selected to to investigate the physiological and biochemical characteristics under heat stress, explore the relationship between physiological response and the heat resistance mechanism, select some typical heat-resistant and heat-sensitive varieties. The effects of photosynthetic electron transfer and antioxidant pathway on heat resistance of Brassica rapa were identified. These findings will providing an important reference for the physiological regulation and identification method of high-temperature stress in plants.

: Introduction: Discovering compounds with antibacterial activity is crucial in the current fight against antibiotic-resistance. Material and Methods: We generate two QSAR model to design six new heteroaryl drug candidates; we assessed the antibacterial properties of the compounds against nine ATCC strains, the majority being part of the ESKAPE group, that include Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and also Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli. We performed a synergic assay in which we combined PB4, a compound that we have previously tested in published studies, with GC-VI-70, one of the new compounds with the best cytotoxicity/MIC profile. We tested sub-MIC concentrations of PB4 with five antibiotics (linezolid, gentamycin, ampicillin, erythromycin, rifampin and imipenem) to examine the synergic effect on the ATCC strains. To evaluate compounds’ cytotoxicity, we performed a 24-hour and 48-hour 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay on Colorectal Adenocarcinoma (CaCo-2) cells. The antibiotics were tested, alone and in combination with PB4. Results: PB4 lowered the MIC measured for GC-VI-70 and for the various antibiotics employed in clinical use, and all the compounds presented in this study have cytotoxic activity against cells. Conclusions: These compounds show promising use in combination with antibiotics to improve their effectiveness at low concentrations, to prevent unwanted cytotoxic effects.

Public restrooms are often a hub of microbial contamination, and the examination of bacterial contamination in these facilities can serve as an important indicator of the transmission of infectious diseases. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of bacterial contamination in public restrooms based on the economic class of the building. Samples were collected from various spots in 32 restrooms found in 10 shopping malls, classifying them into two categories: upper-end restrooms and lower-end restrooms. The findings showed that the level of contamination was higher in the lower-end restrooms, with the seat being the most contaminated area. The most dominant Gram-positive bacteria were coagulase-negative staphylococci species, making up 86% of the identified Gram-positive isolates. The most dominant Gram-negative bacteria identified were Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The antibiotic sensitivity test results revealed the presence of multi-drug resistant bacteria among the Gram-positive and negative isolates, including Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus kloosi, Acinetobacter baumanii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In conclusion, the study underscores the significance of monitoring bacterial contamination in public restrooms and the need for measures to reduce the spread of infectious diseases. Further research is crucial to gain a complete understanding of the bacterial contamination in public restrooms and their resistance patterns, to ensure the safety and health of the public. The implementation of improved cleaning practices and hands-free designs in restrooms can help reduce the risk of cross-contamination and prevent the spread of diseases.

Polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) plays an important role in mediating mucosal defenses, but the association between its single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and traits (such as growth and disease-resistant) in birds is scarcely known. In this research, we aimed to detect the single nucleotide polymorphisms of the pIgR gene in the chicken F2 resource population and discern the possible associations between pIgR SNPs and chicken growth, disease-resistant, respectively. Six-SNPs (3, 9, 15, 16, 19, and 21) in chicken (Gallus gallus) were significantly associated with disease-resistant in the pIgR gene (P < 0.05). The major allele genotype with SNP 9 and SNP 19 occurred more frequently with high Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) antibody rates; the major allele genotype with the SNP 3 was predominant in those with significantly lower NDV antibody rates (P < 0.05); heterozygous with the SNP 15 and SNP 21 occurred more frequently with high avian leukemia virus (ALV) antibody rates; the TT genotypes with the SNP 16 was predominant in those with low infectious bursal disease (IBD) antibody rates (P < 0.05). Besides, SNP 12 showed significant associations with body weights (BW) and shank lengths (SL) (P < 0.05). Genotyping revealed that the C allele occurred more frequently in breeds with high growth rates and the T allele was predominant in those with low growth rates at 8, 10, and 12w of age (P < 0.05). This polymorphic site may serve as a useful target for the marker assisted selection of growth and disease-resistant traits in chicken.

The lung microbiota is a complex community of microorganisms that colonize the respiratory tract of individuals from or even before birth. Although the lungs were traditionally believed to be sterile, recent research has shown that there is a diversity of bacterial species in the respiratory system. Knowledge about the lung microbiota in the newborn and its relationship with bacterial infections is of vital importance to understand the pathogenesis of respiratory diseases in neona-tal patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. In this article, the current evidence on the compo-sition of the lung microbiota in the newborn will be reviewed, as well as its role in the develop-ment of bacterial infections in mechanically ventilated neonates. Although advances in many as-pects of the neonatal intensive care unit care have significantly improved the survival of preterm infants, the diagnosis and treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia has not progressed in recent decades. Avoiding dysbiosis caused by inappropriate use of antibiotics around birth, as well as avoiding intubation of patients or promoting early removal of endotracheal tubes are among the most important preventive measures for ventilator-associated pneumonia. The use of probiotics and prebiotics to prevent infectious, allergic or metabolic complications in the short or long term constitutes a very important field of research in perinatal medicine.

Enzalutamide is a second-generation androgen-receptor inhibitor that increases overall survival (OS) rates in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). This study evaluates the efficacy of circulating tumor cell (CTC) status as a prognostic biomarker after enzalutamide administration. A retrospective subgroup analysis and prognostic survey of 43 patients with mCRPC and bone metastases, treated in Juntendo University-affiliated hospitals from 2015–2022, were conducted. Patients were treated with 160 mg enzalutamide daily. CTC analyses on blood samples were performed regularly before and every three months post-treatment. Relationship between the patients' clinical factors and the OS rate was analyzed using the log-rank test; the median OS was 37 months. Patients with no detected CTCs at baseline showed significantly longer OS than those with CTCs at baseline. Furthermore, patients showing negative reversion of CTCs during enzalutamide treatment had significantly longer OS than patients with CTC-positive continuation. Two biomarkers–higher hemoglobin at baseline and achieving negative-reversion of CTCs–were significantly associated with prolonged OS. This study suggests that patients achieving CTC-negative reversion during treatment for mCRPC with bone metastases exhibit improved long-term OS. Chronological measurement of CTC status might be clinically useful in treatment of mCRPC.

Prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria has become a major challenge worldwide. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)—a leading cause of infections—forms biofilms on polymeric medical devices and implants, increasing their resistance to antibiotics. Antibiotic administration before biofilm formation is crucial. Raman spectroscopy was used to assess MRSA biofilm development on solid culture media from 0 to 48 h. Biofilm formation was monitored by measuring DNA/RNA-associated Raman peaks and protein/lipid-associated peaks. The search for an antimicrobial agent against MRSA biofilm revealed that Eugenol was a promising candidate as it showed significant potential for breaking down the biofilm. Eugenol was applied at different times to test the optimal time for inhibiting MRSA biofilms, and the Raman spectrum showed that the first 5 h of biofilm formation was the most antibiotic-sensitive time. This study investigated the performance of Raman spectroscopy coupled with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to identify planktonic bacteria from biofilm conglomerates. Raman analysis, microscopic observation, and quantification of the biofilm growth curve indicated early adhesion from 5 to 10 h of incubation time. Therefore, Raman spectroscopy can help in monitoring biofilm formation on a solid culture medium and performing rapid antibiofilm assessments with new antibiotics during the early stages of the procedure.

Multiple myeloma (MM) accounts for about 10 to 15% of all diagnosed hematologic malignancies and about 1-2% of all cancer cases. Approximately 80-90% of MM patients develop bone disease and the changes rarely regress. It is only possible to stop or slow their progression. A major role in bone destruction in MM is attributed to the Wnt signaling pathway, and its action can be modified by various types of interventions including training and diet. Therefore, the aim of this project was to evaluate the effects of a Nordic Walking (NW) training cycle and intermittent fasting (IF) on the levels of selected bone turnover markers associated with the Wnt pathway in patients with MM. Results from 35 patients divided into training (NW and IF NW) and non-training (IF and control) groups were included in the analysis. A 6-week training cycle involving 60-minute workouts 3 times a week was conducted. Body mass and composition and the levels of: vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus, beta2-microglobulin and albumin were examined before and after completion of training cycle. Markers of bone turnover were also determined: sclerostin (SOST), Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK-1), osteoprotegrin (OPG), osteopontin (OPN) and Tartrate-resistant acid phos-phatase 5b (TRACP 5b). There was no negative effect of IF or combined training and fasting on the nutritional status of the patients (the level of albumines was unchanged). Both training groups showed an increase in serum concentrations of the active metabolite of vitamin D (IF NW and NW: p=0.001 and p=0.022, re-spectively). The change in the concentration of this vitamin negatively correlated with the con-centration of TRACP 5b (r=-0.413, p=0.014). Evaluating the concentrations of markers related to bone turnover, a reduction in the concentrations of SOST (time: p=0.026, time vs. group: p=0.033) and TRACP 5b (time: p

Background: About 200 new ovarian cancer cases per year are diagnosed in Armenia, an upper-middle-income country. This study aims to summarize the survival outcomes of relapsed ovarian cancer patients in Armenia based on the type of relapse, risk factors, and the choice of systemic treatment. Methods: A retrospective case-control study including 228 patients with relapsed ovarian cancer from 3 different institutions. Results: The median age of the patients was 55. The median follow-up from the relapse and primary diagnosis was 21 and 48 months. The incidence of platinum-sensitive relapse was 81.6% (186), while platinum-resistant relapse was seen only in 18.4% (42) patients. Median survival of the patients starting from the primary diagnosis in the platinum-sensitive compared to the platinum-resistant group was 54 versus 25 months (p < 0.001), and median survival after relapse: was 25 versus 13 months, respectively 3- and 5-year survival in these groups were: 31.2% vs. 23.8%, and 15.1% vs. 9.5%, respectively (p = 0,113). Conclusions: Overall, despite new therapeutic approaches, ovarian cancer continues to be one of the deadly malignant diseases in women, especially, in developing countries with a lack of resources, where, in fact, the main available systemic treatment for the majority of patients remains chemo-therapy. Low survival rates emphasize the urgent need for more research on this group of patients with poor outcomes.

Candidiasis is one of the global public health problems. In fluconazole resistant Candida spp. (FRCS), mutations in ergosterol biosynthesis gene 11 (ERG 11) have been commonly found. This study aimed to determine the profile of FRCS isolates and to detect mutations in part of ERG 11 gene in fluconazole resistant Candida albicans (FRCA) isolates. Study was conducted on 150 isolates of FRCS obtained from patients admitted in a tertiary care hospital, South India from September 2019 to December 2021. Candida spp. was identified by MALDI-TOF MS and fluconazole resistance was detected by VITEK 2 system. Following which a part of the ERG 11 gene of the FRCA isolates were amplified, purified, sequenced and a phylogenetic tree was constructed. Out of the 150 FRCS, the most common FRCS was C. auris followed by C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis, C. albicans, C. tropicalis and C. guilliermondii. Sequencing of amplicons detected a single missense mutation and 44 silent mutations. We opined that fluconazole resistance in FRCA isolates may be due to mecha-nisms other than the studied one in our region. Phylogenetic analysis of amplified sequences of 12 FRCA isolates observed three clusters and all 12 sequences showed relatedness to Malaysian 2019 isolates.

Background and objective K. pneumoniae appeared to be a significant problem due to its ability to accumulate antibiotic-resistance genes. After 2013, alarming colistin resistance rates among carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae have been reported in the Balkans. The study aims to perform an epidemiological, clinical, and genetic analysis of a local outbreak of COLr CR-Kp. Material and methods All carbapenem-resistant and colistin-resistant K. pneumoniae isolates observed among patients in the ICU unit of Military Medical Academy, Sofia from 1 January to 31 October 2023 were included. The results were analyzed according to the EUCAST criteria. All isolates were screened for blaVIM, blaIMP, blaKPC, blaNDM, and blaOXA-48. Genetic similarity was determined using the Dice coefficient as a similarity measure and the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA). mgrB genes and plasmid-mediated colistin resistance determinants (mcr-1, mcr-2, mcr-3, mcr-4, mcr-5) were investigated. Results There was a total of 379 MDR-K. pneumoniae isolates, 88% of which were carbapenem-resistant. Of them, there were 9 (2.7%) colistin-resistant isolates in six patients. A time and space cluster for five patients was found. Epidemiology typing showed that two isolates belonged to clone A (pts. 1, 5) and the rest to clone B (pts. 2-4) with 69% similarity. Clone A were coproducers of blaNDM-like and blaOXA-48-like and had mgrB-mediated colistin resistance (40%). Clone B isolates had only blaOXA-48-like and intact mgrB genes. All isolates were negative for mcr-1,-2,-3,-4,-5 genes. Conclusions The study describes a within-hospital spread of two clones of COLr CR-Kp with a 60% mortality rate. Clone A were coproducers of NDM-1 and OXA-48-like enzymes and had mgrB-mediated colistin resistance. Clone B isolates had only OXA-48-like enzymes and intact mgrB genes. No plasmid-mediated was found. The extremely high mortality rate and limited treatment options warrant strict measures to prevent outbreaks.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a life-threatening condition caused by infection within the endocardium of the heart, and commonly involves the valves. The subsequent cascading inflammation leads to the appearance of a highly friable thrombus that is large enough to become lodged within the heart chambers. As a result, fever, fatigue, heart murmurs, and embolization phenomena may be seen in patients with IE. Embolization results in the seeding of bacteria, and obstruction of circulation, causing cell ischemia. Of concern, bacteria with the potential to gain pan-drug resistance, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), are increasingly being identified as the causative agent of IE in hospitals and among intravenous drug abusers. We retrospectively reviewed de-identified clinical data to summarize the clinical course of a patient with MRSA isolated using an automated blood culture system. At the time of presentation, the patient showed a poor consciousness level, and the calculated Glasgow scale was 10/15. A high-grade fever with circulatory shock indicated an occult infection, and a systolic murmur was observed with peripheral signs of embolization. This case demonstrated the emerging threat of antimicrobial resistance in the community, and revealed clinical findings of IE that may be helpful to clinicians for the early recognition of the disease. The management of such cases requires a multi-specialty approach, which is not widely available in small island developing states like the Maldives.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a common pathogen in veterinary clinical infections, typically not causing disease. However, under certain conditions, it can cause severe diarrhea, septicemia, and respiratory infections in domestic animals. Here, we report a large-scale mortality event in young donkeys, caused by E. coli infection in a farm with a herd of 340 donkeys, of which over 100 were under 4 months old. The characteristics of the E. coli strain were determined through clinical observation, complete blood count, blood biochemical analysis, H&E staining, histopathological examination, 16S rRNA analysis, and antibiotic sensitivity testing. A mice experiment using the isolated bacteria was also conducted, resulting in the onset of clinical and pathological symptoms similar to those observed in the donkeys. Molecular Evolutionary Genetic Analysis (MEGA) showed that the isolated bacteria, named CEG-GZL20, shared 99.98% sequence identity with E. coli. CEG-GZL20 exhibited high antibiotic resistance and only showed sensitivity to two antibiotics, Tetracycline and Gentamicin. As E. coli is a key component of the gut microbiota, responsible for digestion, nutrient absorption, and immune health, diseases and mortality caused by E. coli have significant implications for animal husbandry and human health.

Chalcones are a class of flavonoids possessing a variety of biological activities, including antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. Therefore, chalcones and their derivatives have potential use in the control of postharvest diseases. In this work, the effects of 2ʹ,4ʹ-dichloro-chalcone on the in vitro growth and in vivo pathogenicity of F. tricinctum and T. roseum were investigated. The results showed that 100 µM of 2ʹ,4ʹ-dichloro-chalcone strongly inhibited mycelial growth and conidial production of F. tricinctum (32.3%) and T. roseum (65.2%) in vitro. This treatment also significantly inhibited the expansion of potato dry rot from F. tricinctum (48.6%) and apple rot spot from T. roseum (36.2%). The incubation of F. tricinctum and T. roseum conidia with this agent for 2 h increased their cell membrane permeability by 25% and 22.5%, respectively and conidial membrane permeability by 41.7 and 65.4%, respectively. This treatment also significantly inhibited the total respiration rate and activated the cyanide-resistant respiratory pathway in both pathogens. Protein immunoblotting showed that the treatment increased alternative oxidase (AOX) levels after 4 h in F. tricinctum and T. roseum by 52.76% and 39.13%, respectively. Conclusion: 100 µM 2ʹ,4ʹ-dichloro-chalcone significantly inhibited mycelial growth and spore production in F. tricinctum and T. roseum in vitro and reduced their pathogenicity in postharvest potato and apple crops. Further analysis indicated that 2ʹ,4ʹ-dichloro-chalcone disrupted the integrity of cell membranes and the mitochondrial respiratory electron transport chain which leaded to ROS burst and oxidative stress, AOXs were induced directly or indirectly, and the cyanide resistant respiratory pathway was activated. The in vitro growth and pathogenicity of F. tricinctum and T. roseum were inhibited.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is characterised by androgen-dependency. Unfortunately, under anti-androgen treatment pressure, castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) emerges, characterised by heterogeneous cell populations that, over time, lead to the development of different androgen-dependent or -independent phenotypes. Despite important advances in therapeutic strategies, CRPC remains incurable. Context-specific essential genes represent valuable candidates for targeted anti-cancer therapies. Through the investigation of gene and protein annotations and the integration of several published transcriptomic data, we identified two consensus lists to stratify PCa patients' risk and discriminate CRPC phenotypes based on androgen receptor activity. ROC and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were used for gene set validation in independent datasets. We further evaluated these genes for their association with cancer dependency. The deregulated expression of the PCa-related genes was associated with overall and disease-specific survival, metastasis and/or high recurrence risk, while the CRPC-related genes clearly discriminated between adeno and neuroendocrine phenotypes. Some of the genes showed context-specific essentiality. We further identified candidate drugs through a computational repositioning approach for targeting these genes and treating lethal variants of PCa. This work provides a proof-of-concept for the use of an integrative approach to identify candidate biomarkers involved in PCa progression and CRPC pathogenesis within the goal of precision medicine.

Background: Carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAB) hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP)/ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is becoming a globally therapeutic problem. Method: The open-label, randomized, superiority, single-blind trial was conducted in Rajavithi Hospital, a super-tertiary care in Bangkok, Thailand. We included CRAB HAP/VAP patients randomly assigned to receive sitafloxacin-colistin-meropenem compared to colistin-meropenem to assess mortality, clinical response, and adverse effects. Result: April 2021-2022, 77 patients were randomized and received combination treatment sitafloxacin-colistin-meropenem (n = 40) or colistin-meropenem (n = 37). Among two groups, the all-cause mortality rate was no significant difference at 7-days and 14-days (7.5% vs 2.7%; p = 0.616 and 10% vs 10%; p = 1, respectively). Patients received sitafloxacin-colistin-meropenem showed improved clinical response, compared patients receiving colistin-meropenem with both intentions to treat (87.5% vs 62.2%; p = 0.016) and per-protocol analysis (87.2% vs 67.7%; p = 0.049). The adverse effects were not different among 2 groups. Conclusion: Adding sitafloxacin as third agent in meropenem plus colistin could improve clinical in CRAB HAP/VAP with comparable adverse effects. Sitafloxacin-meropenem-colistin could be another option for combatting CRAB HAP/VAP

The incidence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) has been increasing considerably annually since being first reported in 2008. Gyeonggi Province has the largest number of healthcare facilities in South Korea, which contribute to its regional vulnerability to CRE infections. Thus, there is a need to obtain up to date information on the occurrence of CRE infections in the Gyeonggi Province to take corrective measures. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the overall trends of CRE occurrence in Gyeonggi Province over the past 4 years and the epidemiological characteristics of CRE-related mortality. Patients admitted to a healthcare facility in Gyeonggi Province from January 2018 to December 2021 with positive blood cultures to CRE were included in the study and investigated. Additionally, the risk factors for CRE-related death were determined using data from CRE-positive patients who died within 30 days of last blood sampling. Older adults aged 70 and over accounted for the highest percentage of both survivors and non-survivors with CRE bacteremia. The number of non-survivors was higher in tertiary hospitals and among patients in intensive care unit. There were no significant differences in the mortality risk according to the use of antibiotics. Moreover, non-survivors were predominant among patients with hypertension, malignant tumor, and those having two or more underlying diseases. Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most common CRE strain in both survivors and non-survivors. Among the survivors, carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae was detected in 151 cases (71.2%) and 49 cases (23.1%) in the KPC and NDM groups, respectively. Among the non-survivors, it was detected in 25 cases (86.2%) and 5 cases (17.2%) in the KPC and NDM groups, respectively. The endemicity of CRE in South Korea has been proposed for several years; our results have suggested endemicity of CRE in the Gyeonggi Province. Despite the strengthened infection control policies in healthcare facilities during the pandemic, there has been an increasing trend in the isolation of CRE strains in South Korean long-term care hospitals and hospitals within Gyeonggi Province. Factors such as history of hospitalization and underlying diseases have been identified as risk factors for CRE-related deaths. However, to address this issue strictly, it is important to establish infection control infrastructure tailored based on each type of healthcare facility, and elaborate specific government support measures, accordingly.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second most common cause of death due to cancer. About 30% of patients with PCa who have been castrated develop a castration-resistant form of the disease (CRPC), which is incurable. In the last decade, new treatments that control the disease have emerged, slowing progression and spread, and prolonging survival while maintaining the quality of life. These include immunotherapies; however, we do not yet know the optimal combination and sequence of these therapies with the standard ones. All therapies are not always suitable for every patient due to co-morbidities or adverse effects of therapies or both, so there is an urgent need for further work on new therapeutic options. Advances in cancer immunotherapy with an immune checkpoint inhibition mechanism (e.g., ipilimumab, an anti-CTLA-4 inhibitor) have not shown a survival benefit in patients with CRPC. Other immunological approaches have also not given clear results, which has indirectly prevented breakthrough for this type of therapeutic strategy into clinical use. Currently, the only approved form of immunotherapy for patients with CRPC is a cell-based medicine, but it is only available to patients in some parts of the world. Based on the experience gained from recently completed clinical research on immunotherapy with dendritic cell-based immunohybridomas, the aHyC dendritic cell vaccine, for patients with CRPC, we highlight the current status, and possible alternatives that should be considered in the future.

Using lightweight fire-rated board (LFRB) presents cost-effective opportunities for various passive fire protection measures. The aim of the project is to develop a LFRB with enhanced fire resistance, acoustic properties, and mechanical properties. These properties were determined using the Bunsen burner, furnace, energy dispersive X-Ray, impedance tube instrument, and Instron universal testing machine. To fabricate the LFRBs, vermiculite and perlite were blended with flame-retardant bind-ers, and four types of LFRBs were produced. A fire test was conducted to compare the fire-resistance performance of the LFRBs with a commercially available flame retardant board. The B2 prototype showed exceptional fire-resistant properties, with a temperature reduction of up to 73.0 °C as compared to the commercially available fire-rated magnesium board. Incorporating nano chicken eggshell into the specially formulated flame-retardant binder preserved the LFRBs’ structural integrity, enabling them to withstand fire for up to 120 minutes with an equilibrium temperature of 92.6 °C. This approach also provided an absorption coefficient of α = 2.0, a high flexural strength of 3.54 MPa, and effective flame retardancy properties with a low oxygen/carbon ratio of 2.60. These results make the LFRBs valuable for passive fire protection applications in the construction and building materials industry.

The use of acoustic and magnetic methods of non-destructive testing to detect zones of stable localization of deformation in order to assess and predict the performance of long-term equipment is of scientific and practical interest at present. A structural-mechanical criterion has been developed, that reflects the revealed relationships between the structural and substructural states, internal stress fields and stable localization of deformations with the characteristics of non-destructive tests in the metal of long-term equipment made of structural 0.2 С steel and heat-resistant 0,12C-1Cr-1Mo-1V steel. The values of the structural-mechanical criteria Ks.-m for structural 0.2 С steel and for heat-resistant 0,12C-1Cr-1Mo-1V steel, corresponding to the moment of stable localization of deformation, are established. At the same time, it is recommended to replace the checked equipment nodes due to the exhaustion of the resource. The proposed and justified approach to assessing and predicting the performance and residual life of long-term power equipment, based on the identified relationships between the structural and substructural states, internal stress fields and stable localization of deformations with the characteristics of non-destructive tests and the calculation of the structural-mechanical criterion, was applied at a number of power plants in the Kemerovo region – Kuzbass. A methodology has been developed for evaluating the residual life, based on the identification and use of relationships between structural and substructural states, internal stress fields and stable localization of deformations with the characteristics of non-destructive tests and the calculation of a structural-mechanical criterion.

The development of multiple drug resistant (MDR) cancer all too often signals the need for alternative toxic therapy or palliative care. Our recent in vivo and in vitro studies using canine MDR lymphoma cancer cells demonstrated that the Anaphase Promoting Complex (APC) is impaired in MDR cells compared to normal canine control and drug sensitive cancer cells. Here, we sought to establish whether this phenomena is a generalizable mechanism independent of species, malignancy type or chemotherapy regime. To test the association of blunted APC activity with MDR cancer behavior, we used matched parental and MDR MCF7 human breast cancer cells, and a patient derived xenograft (PDX) model of human breast cancer. We show that APC activating mechanisms, such as APC subunit 1 (APC1) phosphorylation and CDC27/CDC20 protein associations, are reduced in MCF7 MDR cells when compared to chemosensitive matched cell lines. Consistent with impaired APC function in MDR cells, APC substrate proteins failed to be effectively degraded. Similar to our previous observations in canine MDR lymphoma cells, chemical activation of the APC using Mad2 Inhibitor-1 (M2I-1) in MCF7 MDR cells enhanced APC substrate degradation and resensitized MDR cells in vitro to the cytotoxic effects of the alkylating chemotherapeutic agent, Doxorubicin (DOX). Using cell cycle arrest/release experiments we show that chemo-sensitive and -resistant MCF7 cells progress through the cell cycle at similar rates, but mitosis is delayed in MDR cells with elevated substrate levels. When treated with M2I-1, MDR cells progress through mitosis at a faster rate that coincides with reduced levels of APC substrates. In our PDX model, mice growing a clinically-MDR human breast cancer tumor show significantly reduced tumor growth when treated with M2I-1, with evidence of increased DNA damage and apoptosis. Thus, our results strongly support the hypothesis that APC impairment is a driver of aggressive tumor development and that targeting the APC for activation has the potential for meaningful clinical benefits in treating recurrent cases of MDR malignancy.

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is a serious public health issue. Aim of the study was to identify the antimicrobial resistance and accessory genes, the clonal relatedness and the evolution dynamics of selected CRKP isolates recovered in an adult and a pediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital in Greece. Methods: Twenty-four CRKP isolates recovered during 2018-2022 were included in the study. Next-generation sequencing was performed using the Ion Torrent PGM Platform. The identification of the plasmid content, MLST and antimicrobial resistance genes, as well as the comparison of multiple genome alignments and the identification of core genome single-nucleotide polymorphism sites, were performed applying various bioinformatics software. Results: The isolates belonged to eight sequence types 11, 15, 30, 35, 39, 307, 323, and 512. A variety of carbapenemases (KPC, VIM, NDM and OXA-48) and resistance genes were detected. CRKP strains shared visually common genomic regions with the reference strain (NTUH-K2044). ST15, ST323, ST39, and ST11 CRKP isolates presented on average 17, 6, 16 and 866 recombined SNPs, respectively. All isolates belonging to ST15, ST323 and ST39 were classified in distinct phylogenetic branches, while ST11 isolates were assigned to a two-subclade branch. For large CRKP sets, the phylogeny seems to change approximately every seven SNPs. Conclusion: The current study provides insight into the genetic characterization of CRKP isolates in the ICUs of a tertiary hospital. Our results indicate clonal dispersion of ST15, ST323, and ST39 and highly diverged ST11 isolates.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) constitutes a serious public health concern with a considerable impact on patients' health and substantial healthcare costs. In this study, patients, and healthcare workers (HCWs)from six public hospitals in Benin were screened for MRSA. Strains were identified as MRSA using conventional microbiological methods in Benin and confirmed using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry in Belgium. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was used on confirmed MRSA isolates to characterize their genomic content and study their relatedness. In total,304 and 61 samples were collected from patients and HCWs, respectively. The mecA gene was detected in all isolates. The isolates were assigned to five sequence types (STs), with ST8 (55.6%, n=15), ST152 (18.52%, n=5), and ST121 (18.52%, n=5) being the most common. All isolates carried multiple virulence genes, including genes encoding the Panton-Valentine leukocidin toxin (48.15%, n=13) and the test gene (29.63%, n=8) associated with toxic shock syndrome. The presence of strains carrying numerous genomic features associated with antibiotic resistance and virulence in HCWs is a major public health concern. This study highlights the need to implement a multimodal strategy for reducing the risk of cross-transmission of MRSA in hospitals.

This paper presents the experimental and numerical study on a ductile beam-column connection between a composite reinforced concrete truss (CRCT) beam and Concrete Filled Tube (CFT) column subjected to bending and shear loads. Two experimental models with different beam-column joint testing schemes, extracted from the same prototype three-dimensional structure designed according to the rules of the capacity design provided by seismic code, were subjected to quasi-static cyclic tests by applying gravitational loads and the horizontal seismic force. The main objective of this paper is to verify the experimental ductile behavior of both specimens and to simulate the experimental global and local response by nonlinear static analysis considering different modelling approaches. The comparison between the experimental and numerical results highlights, for both models considered, the ductile and dissipative capacity of the connection system, designed following the criterion of the hierarchy of resistances proposed by the current Italian code. Different experimental setup showed similar results demonstrating the repeatability of the test and its reproducibility through the nonlinear numerical analysis.

(1) Background: Hemispherotomy is the generally accepted treatment for hemispheric drug resistant epilepsy (DRE). Lateral or vertical approaches are performed according to the surgeon's preference. Multiples technical variations have been proposed since Delalande first described his vertical technique. We propose a sub-insular variation of the vertical parasagittal hemispherotomy (VPH) and describe our case series of patients operated on with this procedure. (2) Methods: a continuous series of patients operated on by the senior author (CR) with the modified sub-insular VPH was retrospectively analyzed. We report the demographic pre-operative characteristics, epilepsy and functional outcome as well as the surgical complications.(3) Results: Twenty-five patients were operated on between August 2008 and August 2023, twenty-three of them have at least a 3-month follow-up. On this last group 86,3% of patients were seizure-free. Only two patients developed post-operative hydrocephalus (8.7%), all patients with autonomous preoperative walk and 86,3% of the total series were able to walk without assistance (86.3%) and perform adapted social activities at last follow-up.(4) Conclusion: The modified vertical parasagittal sub-insular hemispherotomy is a successful surgical technique for hemispheric DRE with seizure freedom rates similar to the biggest series reported in the literature. Compared to other series, patients operated with our modified technique had a lower rate of postoperative hydrocephalus and excellent long-term motor and cognitive outcome.

There is a major problem with the rising occurrence of highly virulent and multiply-resistant strains, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), because of their difficult treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial and antibiofilm effect of new enterocins (Ent) against potential pathogenic MRSA strains isolated from rabbits. Staphylococci (n =110) were identified with PCR and screened for methicillin/oxacillin/cefoxitin resistance (MR) using the disk diffusion method and the PBP2' Latex Agglutination Test Kit. Enzyme production, hemolysis, DNase activity, slime production, and biofilm formation were tested in MRSA strains. The susceptibility of MRSA to eight partially-purified enterocins (Ent) produced by E. faecium and E. durans strains was checked using agar spot tests. The antibiofilm activity of Ents was tested using a quantitative plate assay. Out of 14 MRSA, PBP testing confirmed MR in 8 strains. The majority of MRSA showed DNase activity and β-hemolysis. Slime production and moderate biofilm formation were observed in all strains. MRSA were susceptible to tested Ents (100–12800 AU/mL; except Ent4231). The antibiofilm effect of Ents (except Ent4231) was noted in the high range (64.9-97.0%). These results indicate that enterocins offer a promising option for the prevention and treatment of bacterial infections caused by biofilm-forming MRSA.

Background: Number of joint infections caused by Vancomycin-resistant pathogens is emerging. Currently no PMMA cement is commercially available to cover VRE. Daptomycin shows promising results in infection treatment, offers a good safety profile and reduced risk for resistance development. Purpose of this in vitro study is to investigate the mechanical stability, handling properties, elution behavior and antimicrobial effectiveness of PMMA cement loaded with three different Daptomycin concentrations in comparison to commercially available ALBC; Methods: Mechanical properties and handling characteristics (ISO 5833, DIN 53435), HPLC elution, antimicrobial effectiveness with proliferation assay (DIN 17025) and inhibition zone testing were investigated; Results: All tested Daptomycin concentrations fulfilled ISO and DIN mechanical strength. Dosage of 0.5. g added Daptomycin did not show any antimicrobial effectiveness in contrast to 1.0 g and1.5 g. Cement with 1.5 g Daptomycin was best in elution and effectiveness, showed good mechanical ISO strength, ISO doughing was a little longer sticky and setting was faster as Vancomycin containing reference cement; Conclusion: PMMA cement containing 0.5 g Gentamicin and 1.5 g Daptomycin could be a good alternative to the already established COPAL® G+V for PJI treatment of VRE.

Introduction Infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDR) occur more frequently after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) compared to other abdominal surgeries, and infective complications are a leading cause of postoperative morbidity following PD. Pre-operative biliary stent (PBS) placement often leads to biliary contamination, which in turn plays a significant role in postoperative infections. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of MDR contamination on short-term postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing PD and to examine the relationship between MDR bacteria, PBS, and bile contamination. Methods This is a retrospective study based on a prospectively maintained database comprising 825 consecutive patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) between January 2010 and December 2020 at our center. All procedures were conducted with a standardized resection by a dedicated group of surgeons in a specialized pancreatic surgery unit, and the patients were managed according to the same perioperative enhanced recovery protocol. Results MDR bacteria were present in 17.5% of bile cultures, exclusively within the stented group. In our multivariate analysis, the development of a major postoperative complication (MPC) was correlated with the presence of MDR bacteria in the bile (OR 1.66, 95% CI: 1.1-2.52; p = 0.02). MDR bacteria were detected early in the surgical drainage in 144 out of 825 patients (12.1%), with 72.2% having a previous biliary stent placement and 27.8% without stents (p < 0.001). In our multivariate analysis, the development of an MPC was associated with the presence of MDR bacteria in the drainage (OR=1.81, 95% CI: 1.21-2.73, p= 0.0042). Conclusions We demonstrated that MDR contamination worsens the short-term outcomes of patients undergoing PD. Specifically, when MDR bacteria are present in both the bile and drainage, there is a statistically significant increase in the incidence of major postoperative complications (MPC). Our data suggest that the majority of MDR surgical site infections stem from biliary contamination resulting from the placement of a pre-operative biliary stent (PBS).

According to the development needs of marine seismic station networking, it is necessary to develop a marine seismometer with a networking function to realize quasi-real-time and large-scale long-term observation of undersea seismic signals. This can lay a solid foundation for marine seismic research and research on earth tectonics, activities, and processes. Based on the advantages and disadvantages of the existing observation equipment, this study proposed to develop a new type of the Autonomous Glide Marine Seismometer(AGMS) that can be applied to the global sea area, focusing on the design and study of the main structure of the carrier of the AGMS. The ultimate strength of the ellipsoidal pressure-resistant spherical shell is investigated by using the finite element analysis method. A reasonable finite element analysis model is proposed through comparing the finite element parameter results with the theoretical formulas and relevant specifications. Finally, the design process and strength checking of the pressure-resistant shell of the AGMS are established. These relevant results can also provide a reference for the design of other deep-sea pressure-resistant chambers.

As the control brain of the petrochemical plant, blast resistant performance requirements of the petrochemical control room should be guaranteed when the vapor cloud explosion occurs in the petrochemical production process. 3D-Kagome truss core sandwich structure is a kind of blast resistant material with high energy absorption. Considering the influence factors of the radius of the truss core rod and thickness of the upper and lower panels, in this paper, blast resistant performance of a real steel petrochemical control room with 3D-Kagome truss core sandwich wall is analyzed. With the optimization goal of plastic deformation energy and panel displacement, the optimal wall thickness and radius of the truss core rode are obtained. The optimized blast resistant wall is assembled, and the dynamic response of the steel petrochemical control room with the 3D-Kagome truss core sandwich blast resistant wall is analyzed. The simulation results show that the truss core layer does not dissipate the blast energy effectively when the radius ratio of the truss core rod is larger than 2.7% of the total thickness of the wall; with the increase of the thickness of the upper and lower panels, the proportion of plastic deformation energy of the truss core layer increases gradually and then tends to be a stable proportion value, that is about 90%; When the thickness ratio of the panel is 6.7% of the total one of the wall and the radius ratio of the truss core rod is 2.7% of the total thickness of the wall, the optimal blast resistant 3D-Kagome sandwich wall is determined.

The eutrophication of open water bodies, especially in coastal water area, has received intensive public focuses in recent years. Biological treatment of organic pollutants in industrial and domestic wastewater requires microbial flora to participate. The environmental impact of these microbes, particularly in regard to the spread of antibiotic resistance genes and pathogenicity in coastal water, remains largely unknown. We initiate studies to examine antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in microbial flora and study the mode of antibiotic spread in the coastal waters of Bohai Bay, North China by using high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrum analysis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The metabolic features of bacteria related to the presence of ARGs in the coastal area showed the enrichment of Pseudomonadale species with triple resistance properties (ampicillin, kanamycin and gentamycin) at the estuary site locating adjacent to a coastal sewage treatment plant where both type I and type II polyketide synthase genes and b-lactam type antibiotics are detected. Pseudomonadale order is phylogenetically belonged to Proteobacteria Phylum, Gamma-proteobacteria Class and contains Pseudomonadaceae family and Pseudomonas genus. QPCR analysis suggests that the percent occupation of Pseudomonadale species to total Proteobacteria in the examined stations is close to several sampling stations close to sewage treatment plants, where consistent release of organic wastes occurred.

Carbapenems-resistant enterobacteria are considered multidrug-resistant, making the control of their nosocomial infections a major challenge in healthcare settings. It is important to know the incubation site and source of the spread of these strains, especially in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Colonization of the colon of preterm neonates per se by multidrug-resistant bacterial strains could be the source of dissemination of these multidrug-resistant strains and their site of incubation. In this study, colonization of the colon of preterm neonates with enterobacteria and their multidrug-resistant strains was investigated. The presence of enterobacteria in the stool of preterm neonates was investigated on EMB (eosin-methylene blue) agar, followed by morphological and biochemical characterization and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA-encoding gene sequences. Antibiotic susceptibility of all isolated strains was tested using VITEK 2 technology. All cases examined at two weeks of age and older showed bacterial colonization of the colon. Klebsiella pneumoniae colonized the colon in 56.2% of the preterm neonates and Klebsiella quasipneumoniae was found in 6.3%, corresponding to 62.5% in total. The colonizing Klebsiella pneumoniae was multidrug-resistant in 2 of 9 cases. One strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae was resistant to carbapenems and another showed intermediate resistance to these antibiotics. These Klebsiella pneumoniae strains showed resistance to most of the other antibiotics tested. Some cases contained more than one genus, with Escherichia coli found in 50% of cases in preterm neonates. In contrast to Klebsiella pneumoniae, none of the E. coli strains colonizing the colon of preterm neonates in this study showed resistance to carbapenems. The results of this study suggest that Klebsiella pneumoniae and its carbapenems multidrug-resistant strains are well marked in preterm neonates colonizing their colon, which is the incubation site and source of such multidrug-resistant bacterial strains in NICU. This study highlights the importance of careful management of preterm neonates in the NICU and possible contamination with multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae incubated in their colon. Further studies would be of interest to avoid the possibility of fecal-oral transmission and infection by these multidrug-resistant bacteria and their treatment in the colon, where their incubation site is located.

New multilayer 3D nanocomposite wear-resistant ion-plasma hard and superhard coatings Avinit [(TiN-AlN)(Mo-Cr-V-Si)]_n have been developed.The introduction of additional alloying elements (Mo, Cr, V, Si) into the Ti-Al-N coating composition, which have a high affinity for nitrogen and are capable of forming strong nitride nanoparticles in the Ti-N and Al-N layers.This makes it possible to obtain hard and superhard hardening coatings.The metallographic and tribological studies carried out indicate the prospects of the developed multicomponent multilayer nano- and microstructured Avinit coatings for increasing wear resistance and reducing friction coefficients.This paper is devoted to the development and implementation of Avinit vacuum plasma technologies for strengthening cutting and forming tools to improve tool performance.Production tests of cutting tools with Avinit's developed multilayer wear-resistant ion-plasma coatings in production conditions at many large machine-building enterprises have shown their high efficiency.In serial production, the wear resistance of tools increases by 3 to 30 times, stamps by 5 to 100 times, and parts rubbing against abrasive materials by 10 to 100 times.Avinit's vacuum plasma technologies have been successfully implemented in production in the aggregate and engine building, transport engineering, and power engineering industries.Positive experience in applying multicomponent coatings has been gained not only when applying hardening coatings to manufactured cutting tools, but also after regrinding to regrindable carbide cutting tools from domestic and foreign manufacturers.