Pangenome analysis and `in silico` overview of carbohydrate and vitamin metabolism of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strain TRA56 obtained from lactic-acid fermented beverage known as Shalgam

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum is a highly adaptable and versatile species that can befound in a diverse range of niches. It can generate bioactive compounds, includingriboflavin, folic acid, and exopolysaccharides, which contribute to the functionalqualities of fermented foods. This study aimed to provide a brief evaluation of theoverall genetic characteristics, as well as the carbohydrate and vitamin metabolisms of the Lb. plantarum TRA56 (The TRA56). Its genome size was 3,242,215 bp with a44.41% GC content, including 3.030 coding sequences, 62 tRNA genes, 3 rRNA, 4ncRNA, 1 CRISPR array, 69 pseudogenes, and 2 intact phages. Its genome had 195singleton genes that differed from those found in other strains analyzed in thepangenome. Moreover, it has been found that TRA56 possesses a facultativeheterofermentive carbohydrate metabolism as a result of the existence of 6-phosphofructokinase (pfk) and fructose-bisphosphate aldolase (fbaA) enzymes. Thestrain's capacity to synthesize vitamins B2, B5, and B9 has been verified usingcomputational tools. Cholesterol assimilation (46.28±1.6%) and antioxidant activityagainst DPPH (59.04±0.43%) and ABTS+(77.76±0.33%) were verified via in vitro tests.The study of the TRA56's genetic and metabolic characteristics demonstrated itspotential as a probiotic food supplement, offering functional advantages to the host.</p

Environmental sustainability, medical waste management, energy and medicine consumption of the surgical intensive care nurses: A qualitative study

BackgroundIn intensive care units, it is noticeable that there is intensive use of resources in the treatment and care process, leading to a significant amount of waste generation. In addition, the demand for intensive care, increasing life expectancy and surgical interventions, complex comorbidities and ecological crisis make it necessary to make critical care more sustainable.AimTo explore the perspectives of nurses working in surgical intensive care units regarding responsible medical waste management, energy and medication consumption.Study DesignThis qualitative descriptive study was conducted in surgical intensive care units of a university hospital in Turkey in November 2023. Twenty-three nurses filled in an introductory form and participated in a semi-structured interview. Data were analysed using inductive content analysis.ResultsThree main themes were determined: environmentally sustainable intensive care, prevention of waste in intensive care; responsible consumption and recycling; suggestions for institutional and individual behavioural change regarding environmental sustainability.ConclusionsThe majority of nurses lack knowledge about sustainable development goals. However, in the intensive care unit, they provided effective and creative solutions for medical waste management, energy and medication consumption and individual and institutional behavioural change regarding environmental sustainability.Relevance to Clinical PracticeSustainability strategies should be created in institutions to ensure responsible medical waste management, energy and medicine consumption and reduce carbon footprint. In accordance with this purpose, 'Green teams' including unit-based doctors, nurses and paramedics should be established. Training should be provided and awareness should be raised to reduce energy use resulting from heating, lighting, ventilation and air conditioning

Cyber victimization with increasing digitization during the COVID-19 pandemic and coping strategies used by adolescents

Pandemics, a current and important public health problem, can increase the risk of cyberbullying. Especially in adolescence, knowledge about coping with this type of victimization is limited. This study aimed to reveal the cyberbullying victimization experiences of adolescents with the increased digitalization during the pandemic and the coping strategies they employed. The study is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. The research sample consists of adolescents (n = 344). The data were collected online using Personal Information Form, Cyber Victim Scale, and Coping with Cyberbullying Scale. The mean Cyber Victim Scale score of the adolescents was 21.97 ± 5.83, and the mean Coping with Cyberbullying Scale score was 63.33 ± 9.06. It was found that the increase in the frequency of Internet use, the change in the purpose of Internet use during the pandemic, and the sharing of the negative experiences with others negatively affect cyber victimization (p < 0.05). In today's world where digitalization is increasing, it is recommended to provide interdisciplinary trainings to adolescents, to include families in various trainings with school–family cooperation, and to receive support from nurses in this process

Physical, thermal and mechanical properties of horse tail and mane hairs

PurposeThis study aims to comparatively reveal the physical, thermal and mechanical properties of horse tail and mane hairs, which have the potential to be used in many areas.Design/methodology/approachPhysical properties of horsehairs such as diameter, density, moisture and water absorption were measured. Fourier transform infrared, field emission scanning electron microscopy and amino acid analyzes were applied to the hairs. Thermal stability of horsehair was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry analysis. In addition, breaking strength and elongation values of mane and tail hairs were measured.FindingsAs a result of morphological analysis of horsehair, it was observed that there are usually gaps in the internal structure of horsehair, but the size and continuity of these gaps vary. It has been determined that there is a significant difference between the tenacity values of tail and mane hairs as well as geometric characteristics. In addition, amino acid analysis has shown that the amino acid contents of horse tail and mane hairs are similar and not much different from sheep's wool.Originality/valueHorsehair has been used for various purposes such as clothing, accessories, brushes, upholstery and reinforcement material. To use horsehair in accordance with its application area and performance characteristics, it is necessary to know its physical, thermal and mechanical properties. It is considerable to reveal the similar and different aspects of tail and mane hairs to determine whether they are alternatives to each other. Therefore, revealing the characteristics of tail and mane hairs comparatively constitutes the originality of this study

Genetic machinery which accompanies metaplasticity operates differentially in experimental model of autism

The present study investigated metaplasticity-related mRNA expressions in valproic acid (VPA)-rats, focusing on the PI3K/AKT pathway. Wistar dams were treated with a single intraperitoneal injection of 600 mg/kg VPA or saline on embryonic day E12.5 or an equal volume of saline solution. Three behavioral tests were conducted on these males' offspring: grid-walking test, negative geotaxis test, and three-chamber social interaction test. Metaplasticity was induced in 60-day-old male progeny by giving high-frequency stimulation for 5 minutes following low-frequency stimulation to the perforant pathway. For the baseline stimulation protocol (n = 6), stimulation was delivered to the dentate gyrus at the previously determined stimulation intensity (0.33 Hz 0.175 msec 30 s) for 75 min. The percent change of slope of field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP) and amplitude of population spike were calculated 55–60 min after induction protocol. The mRNA levels of PI3K, PTEN, AKT, GSK-3β, and MAPT were measured in the hippocampus by using quantitative rt-PCR. We found that offspring of VPA-treated rats showed significantly impaired sensorimotor coordination, decreased sociability, impaired preference for social novelty, and reduced input–output curve of fEPSP slope, compared to control animals. Despite a similar metaplastic response, mRNA levels of genes of interest were similar but considerably down-regulated after induction in offspring of VPA-treated dams. Our study provides evidence that the induced expression of autism-related genes has evolved to enable an adaptation mechanism during metaplastic control of long-term potentiation

Therapeutic drug monitoring of vancomycin in the case of augmented renal clearance: a case report of a paediatric patient

Augmented renal clearance (ARC) is a condition in which renal circulation increases, causing drug levels in the blood to remain at subtherapeutic levels in severe trauma patients. Vancomycin, a hydrophilic anti-Gram-positive drug, has been shown in the literature to have its levels fall below the therapeutic range in the case of ARC. However, vancomycin dosing recommendations in the case of ARC are still lacking. Here, we identify an ARC case measured with urinary creatinine clearance in a severe trauma paediatric patient, causing vancomycin blood trough levels to drop. We could not be able to increase the vancomycin trough levels with intermittent dosing; hence, we administered vancomycin with continuous infusion, and this resulted in vancomycin blood trough levels remaining in the therapeutic range. No adverse effect was seen. Continuous infusion of vancomycin can be safely administered to paediatric patients in these cases

Contributions to the knowledge of the lichenized fungal genera Amandinea, Buellia and Tetramelas (Ascomycota, Caliciaceae) in Antarctica

Lichenized fungi are the dominant elements of the Antarctic terrestrial vegetation. Recently, biodiversity studies of lichenized fungi in Antarctica have increased and the studies have started to become more phylogeny-based. Previous studies on the genera Amandinea, Buellia and Tetramelas in Antarctica and also Southern Hemisphere were mostly based on their anatomical-morphological and chemical properties. The present study is aimed at contributing to these three buellioid genera in Antarctica especially using molecular characters. As a result of studying Antarctic collections morphologically and phylogenetically based on nrITS and/or mtSSU gene data, we identified Amandinea babingtonii (Hook. f. & Taylor) Søchting & Øvstedal, Amandinea coniops (Wahlenb.) M. Choisy, Amandinea falklandica (Darb.) Elix & Kantvilas, Amandinea latemarginata (Darb.) Søchting & Øvstedal, Amandinea norconiops Elix, Amandinea petermannii (Hue) Matzer, H. Mayrhofer & Scheid, Buellia aethalea (Ach.) Th. Fr., Buellia frigida Darb., Buellia rodseppeltii Elix, Buelliarussa (Hue) Darb., Buellia subfrigida Mas. Inoue, Tetramelas anisomerus (Vain.) Elix, Tetramelas granulosus (Darb.) A. Nordin and Tetramelas pulverulentus (Anzi) A. Nordin & Tibell. Detailed descriptions, photographs and phylogenetic trees of the species are provided in this paper. Besides, nrITS and/or mtSSU nucleotide sequence data of B. subfrigida, B. rodseppeltii, A. babingtonii, A. falklandica, A. latemarginata, A. norconiops and T. granulosus species were obtained and uploaded to GenBank for the first time