Phosphodiesterase D is Involved in Bile Resistance in Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes is a deadly foodborne bacterium that is responsible for almost 20% of food-related deaths in the United States. Listeria monocytogenes contaminates ready-to-eat products such as cheese, deli meat, and ice cream. Once ingested, it invades the intestinal lining and can enter the bloodstream, causing listeriosis. There is a gap in the knowledge of the pathogenesis of L. monocytogenes in how it is able to survive in the gastrointestinal tract in the presence of bile, which has bactericidal properties. Previous studies have suggested that the second messenger cyclic-dimeric-GMP may be involved in the regulation of virulence factors of Listeria. This nucleotide is produced by diguanylate cyclases and degraded by phosphodiesterases. The purpose of this study was to determine whether phosphodiesterase D was responsible for bile survival and if oxygen availability influences the impact of this phosphodiesterase. Survival of the wild-type strain (F2365) and the pdeD mutant was analyzed in aerobic and anaerobic conditions in neutral and acidic pH with and without 1% bile to mimic locations within the body where bile would be present (i.e. duodenum and gall bladder). Results showed that the pdeD mutant was more sensitive to bile in anaerobic and acidic conditions than the wild type. In order to better understand the relationship between PdeD and bile, real-time qPCR was conducted to determine if there were differences in the expression of bsh in pdeD and F2365. Bsh is the bile salt hydrolase that is used to detoxify bile. Using the 16S gene as an internal control, it was found that there was a slight decrease in expression of bsh in pdeD than F2365, though this change was not significant. These data suggest that the phosphodiesterase D may be involved in responding to bile-induced damage, but does so independently of the bsh expression. The v reduction in bile survival exhibited by this strain suggests that the phosphodiesterase may be responsive to oxidative stress. Further research is needed to determine if the regulation of the pdeD is due to exposure to oxidative stress

Analyzing quantum entanglement with the Schmidt decomposition in operator space

Characterizing entanglement is central for quantum information science. Special observables which indicate entanglement, so-called entanglement witnesses, are a widely used tool for this task. The construction of these witnesses typically relies on the observation that quantum states with a high fidelity to some entangled target state are entangled, too. We introduce a general method to construct entanglement witnesses based on the Schmidt decomposition of observables. The method works for two- and, more importantly, many-body systems and is strictly stronger than fidelity-based constructions. The resulting witnesses can also be used to quantify entanglement as well as to characterize the dimensionality of it. Finally, we present experimentally relevant examples, where our approach improves entanglement detection significantly.Comment: S. Denker and C. Zhang contributed equally; 17 pages, one figur

The Simultaneous Effects of Spatial and Social Networks on Cholera Transmission

This study uses social network and spatial analytical methods simultaneously to understand cholera transmission in rural Bangladesh. Both have been used separately to incorporate context into health studies, but using them together is a new and recent approach. Data include a spatially referenced longitudinal demographic database consisting of approximately 200,000 people and a database of all laboratory-confirmed cholera cases from 1983 to 2003. A complete kinship-based network linking households is created, and distance matrices are also constructed to model spatial relationships. A spatial error-social effects model tested for cholera clustering in socially linked households while accounting for spatial factors. Results show that there was social clustering in five out of twenty-one years while accounting for both known and unknown environmental variables. This suggests that environmental cholera transmission is significant and social networks also influence transmission, but not as consistently. Simultaneous spatial and social network analysis may improve understanding of disease transmission

Prosocial Motivation as a Driver of Social Innovation in the UAE

© 2020 by the Southwestern Social Science Association One important domain of nonmarket-driven innovation is social innovation. Defined as “new ideas that have the potential to improve either the quality or the quantity of life,” social innovation stands in stark contrast to business innovation that focuses on creativity with the intention of making a profit. Drawing on research on motivation, creativity, rentier mentality, and Islamic work ethics, this article takes a motivational approach to social innovation and advances a proposition that prosocial motivation is of particular importance in fostering social innovation in the context of the UAE. We argue that due to policies that grant nationals high financial stability and affluence, UAE locals are less likely to be driven by extrinsic motivation, but rather by intrinsic motivation. We propose that enhancing their prosocial motivation will have a synergetic effect with their intrinsic motivation and therefore lead to higher social innovation. This article extends the literature on prosocial motivation, social innovation, and social entrepreneurship by identifying a geographical/cultural region where the motivational basis for social innovation is amplified. Significantly, this article questions common assumptions about a rentier mentality and proposes a path to leverage social innovation. Implications for policymakers and practitioners are discussed

Carrier Status of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

To investigate nasal carriage of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among dental healthcare workers (HCWs) , as the carriers could be the potential risk factor for the transmission of nosocomial infection when exposed to hospital setting during clinical posting. Methods: One hundred HCWs including postgraduate trainees, house physicians, staff nurses and technicians participated in the study. Nasal specimens were obtained by using cotton swabs moistened in sterile saline. The nasal specimens collected were processed as per (CLSI, 2008). Specimens were inoculated on blood agar to look for β-hemolysis of Staphylococcus aureus. Nutrient agar was used for the direct colony identification of Staphylococcus aureus. Mannitol salt agar (MSA) and DNAse were used as selective media for the isolation of Staphylococcus aureus and incubated at 35˚C for 48 hrs.Resistance to methicillin was detected with cefoxitin(30 μg) through Disk Diffusion Test and interpreted according to (CLSI, 2009). A diameter of ≥22 mm was considered as susceptible and ≤21 mm as resistant as per (CLSI, 2010).Results: Out of 100 nasal swabs collected, 71 nasal swabs were from the dental surgeons and 29 were from the nursing staff, 35 (35%) showed a growth of Staphylococcus aureus. Among those who were positive for Staphylococcus aureus 62.85%were positive for MRSA. Overall 22 (22%) out of a 100 individuals came out to be positive for MRSA.Conclusion: Health care workers (HCWs) were the potential colonizers of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and may serve as reservoirs or disseminators of MRSA

Estimate Suitable Location of Solar Power Plants Distribution by GIS Spatial Analysis

This study proposes a model for the best investment in renewable energy plants that uses DEM, Spatial Analysis, and analysis of indicator weights by AHP to choose a suitable place to locate the solar plants, which increases their efficiency. This is because renewable energy is the most important component of future sustainability. In addition, the cities of Iraq, including Babylon, have increased the proportion of the population, which has led to high rates of urbanization and a lack of services. In particular, the need for services increased, especially electric power, which is characterized by its inefficiency and insufficiency. Yet, the governorate is a good source of solar energy and regular radiation. Therefore, the trend to use renewable energy is the optimal solution, and this manuscript proposes multiple criteria that can determine the optimal locations for building solar energy farms. So methods of analysis are the Digital Elevation Model (DEM), the slope of the earth, efficient distances from the city center, the main road networks and electricity distribution networks, and average solar brightness (hours/day) quantity. Finally, the spatial analysis of all indicators shows eight sites. By using criteria of analysis based on AHP analysis, the result is that six represent suitable sites chosen as sufficient space to locate solar plants. Consequently, the results of this manuscript for solar energy collection projects show percentages ranging between 2% and 37%, with areas starting with 10 ‎km2 and gradually rising towards the largest proposed area of 155 km2, distributed over the province so that the total proposed areas for solar energy collection projects will be about 422 km2. All that aim to achieve the best service in quality and quantity of renewable energy to establish sustainability and efficiency economic modeling in addition to increasing production efficiency. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2023-09-05-013 Full Text: PD

Injectable, antibacterial, and oxygen-releasing chitosan-based hydrogel for multimodal healing of bacteria-infected wounds

Bacterial infection is one of the main challenges of wound healing. It imposes financial and healthcare costs. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has increased concerns about this challenge, and made finding alternative solutions a crucial aim. We created a new, antibacterial, multifunctional hydrogel with synergistic chemodynamic and photothermal features for wound-healing applications. We fabricated a chitosan (CT)-based hydrogel containing tannic acid (TA), Fe, and MnO2 nanosheets (CT-TA-Fe-MnO2) via a simple method and characterized it. The antibacterial features (resulting from the production of reactive oxygen species within bacterial cells) and healing ability (via anti-inflammatory and hemostatic features) of the hydrogel were confirmed in vitro. In vivo results revealed the effectiveness of the CT-TA-Fe-MnO2 hydrogel in decreasing the hemostatic time, improving anti-inflammatory effects, and promoting wound healing during 14 days by enhancing the deposition and maturation of collagen fibers without affecting the vital organs. The fabricated CT-TA-Fe-MnO2 hydrogel could be a promising candidate with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities suitable for wound-healing applications.</p

Injectable, antibacterial, and oxygen-releasing chitosan-based hydrogel for multimodal healing of bacteria-infected wounds

Bacterial infection is one of the main challenges of wound healing. It imposes financial and healthcare costs. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has increased concerns about this challenge, and made finding alternative solutions a crucial aim. We created a new, antibacterial, multifunctional hydrogel with synergistic chemodynamic and photothermal features for wound-healing applications. We fabricated a chitosan (CT)-based hydrogel containing tannic acid (TA), Fe, and MnO2 nanosheets (CT-TA-Fe-MnO2) via a simple method and characterized it. The antibacterial features (resulting from the production of reactive oxygen species within bacterial cells) and healing ability (via anti-inflammatory and hemostatic features) of the hydrogel were confirmed in vitro. In vivo results revealed the effectiveness of the CT-TA-Fe-MnO2 hydrogel in decreasing the hemostatic time, improving anti-inflammatory effects, and promoting wound healing during 14 days by enhancing the deposition and maturation of collagen fibers without affecting the vital organs. The fabricated CT-TA-Fe-MnO2 hydrogel could be a promising candidate with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities suitable for wound-healing applications.</p

Injectable, antibacterial, and oxygen-releasing chitosan-based hydrogel for multimodal healing of bacteria-infected wounds

Bacterial infection is one of the main challenges of wound healing. It imposes financial and healthcare costs. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has increased concerns about this challenge, and made finding alternative solutions a crucial aim. We created a new, antibacterial, multifunctional hydrogel with synergistic chemodynamic and photothermal features for wound-healing applications. We fabricated a chitosan (CT)-based hydrogel containing tannic acid (TA), Fe, and MnO2 nanosheets (CT-TA-Fe-MnO2) via a simple method and characterized it. The antibacterial features (resulting from the production of reactive oxygen species within bacterial cells) and healing ability (via anti-inflammatory and hemostatic features) of the hydrogel were confirmed in vitro. In vivo results revealed the effectiveness of the CT-TA-Fe-MnO2 hydrogel in decreasing the hemostatic time, improving anti-inflammatory effects, and promoting wound healing during 14 days by enhancing the deposition and maturation of collagen fibers without affecting the vital organs. The fabricated CT-TA-Fe-MnO2 hydrogel could be a promising candidate with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities suitable for wound-healing applications.</p