Effect of the environment on the secondary metabolic profile of Tithonia diversifolia : a model for environmental metabolomics of plants

Tithonia diversifolia is an invasive weed commonly found in tropical ecosystems. In this work, we investigate the influence of different abiotic environmental factors on the plant's metabolite profile by multivariate statistical analyses of spectral data deduced by UHPLC-DAD-ESI-HRMS and NMR methods. Different plant part samples of T. diversifolia which included leaves, stems, roots, and inflorescences were collected from two Brazilian states throughout a 24-month period, along with the corresponding monthly environmental data. A metabolomic approach employing concatenated LC-MS and NMR data was utilised for the first time to study the relationships between environment and plant metabolism. A seasonal pattern was observed for the occurrence of metabolites that included sugars, sesquiterpenes lactones and phenolics in the leaf and stem parts, which can be correlated to the amount of rainfall and changes in temperature. The distribution of the metabolites in the inflorescence and root parts were mainly affected by variation of some soil nutrients such as Ca, Mg, P, K and Cu. We highlight the environment-metabolism relationship for T. diversifolia and the combined analytical approach to obtain reliable data that contributed to a holistic understanding of the influence of abiotic environmental factors on the production of metabolites in various plant parts

An assessment of functioning and non-functioning distractors in multiple-choice questions: a descriptive analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Four- or five-option multiple choice questions (MCQs) are the standard in health-science disciplines, both on certification-level examinations and on in-house developed tests. Previous research has shown, however, that few MCQs have three or four functioning distractors. The purpose of this study was to investigate non-functioning distractors in teacher-developed tests in one nursing program in an English-language university in Hong Kong.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using item-analysis data, we assessed the proportion of non-functioning distractors on a sample of seven test papers administered to undergraduate nursing students. A total of 514 items were reviewed, including 2056 options (1542 distractors and 514 correct responses). Non-functioning options were defined as ones that were chosen by fewer than 5% of examinees and those with a positive option discrimination statistic.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The proportion of items containing 0, 1, 2, and 3 functioning distractors was 12.3%, 34.8%, 39.1%, and 13.8% respectively. Overall, items contained an average of 1.54 (SD = 0.88) functioning distractors. Only 52.2% (n = 805) of all distractors were functioning effectively and 10.2% (n = 158) had a choice frequency of 0. Items with more functioning distractors were more difficult and more discriminating.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The low frequency of items with three functioning distractors in the four-option items in this study suggests that teachers have difficulty developing plausible distractors for most MCQs. Test items should consist of as many options as is feasible given the item content and the number of plausible distractors; in most cases this would be three. Item analysis results can be used to identify and remove non-functioning distractors from MCQs that have been used in previous tests.</p

Measuring progress and projecting attainment on the basis of past trends of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals in 188 countries: an analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016

The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are grounded in the global ambition of “leaving no one behind”. Understanding today’s gains and gaps for the health-related SDGs is essential for decision makers as they aim to improve the health of populations. As part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2016 (GBD 2016), we measured 37 of the 50 health-related SDG indicators over the period 1990–2016 for 188 countries, and then on the basis of these past trends, we projected indicators to 2030

Global, regional, and national disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 333 diseases and injuries and healthy life expectancy (HALE) for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016

BACKGROUND: Measurement of changes in health across locations is useful to compare and contrast changing epidemiological patterns against health system performance and identify specific needs for resource allocation in research, policy development, and programme decision making. Using the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2016, we drew from two widely used summary measures to monitor such changes in population health: disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) and healthy life expectancy (HALE). We used these measures to track trends and benchmark progress compared with expected trends on the basis of the Socio-demographic Index (SDI). METHODS: We used results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2016 for all-cause mortality, cause-specific mortality, and non-fatal disease burden to derive HALE and DALYs by sex for 195 countries and territories from 1990 to 2016. We calculated DALYs by summing years of life lost and years of life lived with disability for each location, age group, sex, and year. We estimated HALE using age-specific death rates and years of life lived with disability per capita. We explored how DALYs and HALE differed from expected trends when compared with the SDI: the geometric mean of income per person, educational attainment in the population older than age 15 years, and total fertility rate. FINDINGS: The highest globally observed HALE at birth for both women and men was in Singapore, at 75·2 years (95% uncertainty interval 71·9-78·6) for females and 72·0 years (68·8-75·1) for males. The lowest for females was in the Central African Republic (45·6 years [42·0-49·5]) and for males was in Lesotho (41·5 years [39·0-44·0]). From 1990 to 2016, global HALE increased by an average of 6·24 years (5·97-6·48) for both sexes combined. Global HALE increased by 6·04 years (5·74-6·27) for males and 6·49 years (6·08-6·77) for females, whereas HALE at age 65 years increased by 1·78 years (1·61-1·93) for males and 1·96 years (1·69-2·13) for females. Total global DALYs remained largely unchanged from 1990 to 2016 (-2·3% [-5·9 to 0·9]), with decreases in communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional (CMNN) disease DALYs offset by increased DALYs due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The exemplars, calculated as the five lowest ratios of observed to expected age-standardised DALY rates in 2016, were Nicaragua, Costa Rica, the Maldives, Peru, and Israel. The leading three causes of DALYs globally were ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and lower respiratory infections, comprising 16·1% of all DALYs. Total DALYs and age-standardised DALY rates due to most CMNN causes decreased from 1990 to 2016. Conversely, the total DALY burden rose for most NCDs; however, age-standardised DALY rates due to NCDs declined globally. INTERPRETATION: At a global level, DALYs and HALE continue to show improvements. At the same time, we observe that many populations are facing growing functional health loss. Rising SDI was associated with increases in cumulative years of life lived with disability and decreases in CMNN DALYs offset by increased NCD DALYs. Relative compression of morbidity highlights the importance of continued health interventions, which has changed in most locations in pace with the gross domestic product per person, education, and family planning. The analysis of DALYs and HALE and their relationship to SDI represents a robust framework with which to benchmark location-specific health performance. Country-specific drivers of disease burden, particularly for causes with higher-than-expected DALYs, should inform health policies, health system improvement initiatives, targeted prevention efforts, and development assistance for health, including financial and research investments for all countries, regardless of their level of sociodemographic development. The presence of countries that substantially outperform others suggests the need for increased scrutiny for proven examples of best practices, which can help to extend gains, whereas the presence of underperforming countries suggests the need for devotion of extra attention to health systems that need more robust support. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Sélection de bactéries probiotiques et amélioration de la survie et de la fonctionnalité d'une bactérie modèle, Bifidobacterium bifidum, par modification du potentiel d'oxydoréduction par bullage de gaz

The aim of this work was to select rationally a probiotic strain by setting up a screening method as well as study and understand the impact of the redox potential (Eh) and gas bubbling on the survival of Bifidobacterium bifidum in a fermented dairy product. In a first time, we have developed selection techniques of probiotic bacteria on the criteria of viability / vitality (flow cytometry analysis) and on the criteria of functionality (antioxidant). We were able to select strains of industrial interest as well as an academic strain, Bifidobacterium bifidum.Secondly, we have studied effect of modifying redox potential by gas bubbling on the survival of B. bifidum in a fermented dairy product. Thus, fermented milk manufactured under anaerobic condition (Nitrogen,) and/or under reducing one (Nitrogen-Hydrogen) allow a better survival of the probiotic strain during the storage (28 days) at 4 °C compared with the Control fermented milk. Yogurt starter strains are not impacted. Then, we have analysed the effect of a growth under various Eh on the viability in model medium and the functionality of B. bifidum. A growth under anaerobic and/or reducing condition thus improved resistance to stress (physiological oxidative stress, bile salts and intestinal stress) the reducing power (tetrazolium salts) and the antioxidant power (KRL test and comet assay) compared with the Control. The adhesion to Caco-2 cells under these conditions is also improvedModulation of biochemical membrane properties under Azote and Azote-Hydrogen conditions could explain these phenomena. An increase in the proportion of exofacial thiol groups and in the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids with long chain was observed for cells produced under Nitrogen and Nitrogen-Hydrogen. These growth conditions present a major improvement for the probiotic effect of B. bifidum, regarding its resistance to stress and its functionalityL'objectif de ce travail était de sélectionner de manière rationnelle une bactérie probiotique par la mise en place d'un crible ainsi que d'étudier et de comprendre l'impact du potentiel d'oxydoréduction (Eh) et du bullage de gaz sur la survie de Bifidobacterium bifidum dans un produit laitier fermenté. Nous avons tout d’abord développé des techniques de sélection des bactéries sur des critères de viabilité / vitalité (analyse par cytométrie en flux) ainsi que sur des critères de fonctionnalité (pouvoir antioxydant). Nous avons pu sélectionner des souches d'intérêt industriel ainsi qu'une souche d'étude académique, Bifidobacterium bifidum.Nous avons ensuite étudié l'effet de la modification du Eh par bullage de gaz sur la survie de B. bifidum dans un produit laitier fermenté. Les laits fermentés conditionnés sous atmosphère anaérobie (Azote) et/ou réductrice (Azote-Hydrogène) permettent une meilleure survie de la souche au cours du stockage (28 jours – 4 °C) par rapport au Contrôle. Puis, nous avons analysé l'effet d'une croissance sous différents Eh sur la viabilité en milieu modèle et la fonctionnalité de B. bifidum. Une croissance en condition anaérobie et/ou réductrice permet d’améliorer à la fois la résistance aux stress (stress oxydant d’ordre physiologique, stress aux sels biliaires et stress côlon), le pouvoir réducteur (sels de tétrazolium), le pouvoir antioxydant (test KRL et test des comètes) et l’adhérence par rapport au Contrôle. Une modulation des propriétés biochimiques membranaires sous Azote et sous Azote-Hydrogène pourraient expliquer ces phénomènes. L’augmentation des composés thiols exofaciaux et l’augmentation des acides gras insaturés à longues chaines est observée pour des cellules produites sous conditions Azote et Azote-Hydrogène. Ainsi ces conditions de croissance présentent une amélioration majeure de l’effet probiotique de B. bifidum, à la fois d’un point de vue de sa résistance aux stress que d’un point de vue de sa fonctionnalit

Selection of probiotic strains and improving the survival and functionality of an academic strain, Bifidobacterium bifidum, by changing the redox potential by gas bubbling

L'objectif de ce travail était de sélectionner de manière rationnelle une bactérie probiotique par la mise en place d'un crible ainsi que d'étudier et de comprendre l'impact du potentiel d'oxydoréduction (Eh) et du bullage de gaz sur la survie de Bifidobacterium bifidum dans un produit laitier fermenté. Nous avons tout d’abord développé des techniques de sélection des bactéries sur des critères de viabilité / vitalité (analyse par cytométrie en flux) ainsi que sur des critères de fonctionnalité (pouvoir antioxydant). Nous avons pu sélectionner des souches d'intérêt industriel ainsi qu'une souche d'étude académique, Bifidobacterium bifidum.Nous avons ensuite étudié l'effet de la modification du Eh par bullage de gaz sur la survie de B. bifidum dans un produit laitier fermenté. Les laits fermentés conditionnés sous atmosphère anaérobie (Azote) et/ou réductrice (Azote-Hydrogène) permettent une meilleure survie de la souche au cours du stockage (28 jours – 4 °C) par rapport au Contrôle. Puis, nous avons analysé l'effet d'une croissance sous différents Eh sur la viabilité en milieu modèle et la fonctionnalité de B. bifidum. Une croissance en condition anaérobie et/ou réductrice permet d’améliorer à la fois la résistance aux stress (stress oxydant d’ordre physiologique, stress aux sels biliaires et stress côlon), le pouvoir réducteur (sels de tétrazolium), le pouvoir antioxydant (test KRL et test des comètes) et l’adhérence par rapport au Contrôle. Une modulation des propriétés biochimiques membranaires sous Azote et sous Azote-Hydrogène pourraient expliquer ces phénomènes. L’augmentation des composés thiols exofaciaux et l’augmentation des acides gras insaturés à longues chaines est observée pour des cellules produites sous conditions Azote et Azote-Hydrogène. Ainsi ces conditions de croissance présentent une amélioration majeure de l’effet probiotique de B. bifidum, à la fois d’un point de vue de sa résistance aux stress que d’un point de vue de sa fonctionnalitéThe aim of this work was to select rationally a probiotic strain by setting up a screening method as well as study and understand the impact of the redox potential (Eh) and gas bubbling on the survival of Bifidobacterium bifidum in a fermented dairy product. In a first time, we have developed selection techniques of probiotic bacteria on the criteria of viability / vitality (flow cytometry analysis) and on the criteria of functionality (antioxidant). We were able to select strains of industrial interest as well as an academic strain, Bifidobacterium bifidum.Secondly, we have studied effect of modifying redox potential by gas bubbling on the survival of B. bifidum in a fermented dairy product. Thus, fermented milk manufactured under anaerobic condition (Nitrogen,) and/or under reducing one (Nitrogen-Hydrogen) allow a better survival of the probiotic strain during the storage (28 days) at 4 °C compared with the Control fermented milk. Yogurt starter strains are not impacted. Then, we have analysed the effect of a growth under various Eh on the viability in model medium and the functionality of B. bifidum. A growth under anaerobic and/or reducing condition thus improved resistance to stress (physiological oxidative stress, bile salts and intestinal stress) the reducing power (tetrazolium salts) and the antioxidant power (KRL test and comet assay) compared with the Control. The adhesion to Caco-2 cells under these conditions is also improvedModulation of biochemical membrane properties under Azote and Azote-Hydrogen conditions could explain these phenomena. An increase in the proportion of exofacial thiol groups and in the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids with long chain was observed for cells produced under Nitrogen and Nitrogen-Hydrogen. These growth conditions present a major improvement for the probiotic effect of B. bifidum, regarding its resistance to stress and its functionalit

Sélection de bactéries probiotiques et amélioration de la survie et de la fonctionnalité d'une bactérie modèle, Bifidobacterium bifidum, par modification du potentiel d'oxydoréduction par bullage de gaz

L'objectif de ce travail était de sélectionner de manière rationnelle une bactérie probiotique par la mise en place d'un crible ainsi que d'étudier et de comprendre l'impact du potentiel d'oxydoréduction (Eh) et du bullage de gaz sur la survie de Bifidobacterium bifidum dans un produit laitier fermenté. Nous avons tout d abord développé des techniques de sélection des bactéries sur des critères de viabilité / vitalité (analyse par cytométrie en flux) ainsi que sur des critères de fonctionnalité (pouvoir antioxydant). Nous avons pu sélectionner des souches d'intérêt industriel ainsi qu'une souche d'étude académique, Bifidobacterium bifidum.Nous avons ensuite étudié l'effet de la modification du Eh par bullage de gaz sur la survie de B. bifidum dans un produit laitier fermenté. Les laits fermentés conditionnés sous atmosphère anaérobie (Azote) et/ou réductrice (Azote-Hydrogène) permettent une meilleure survie de la souche au cours du stockage (28 jours 4 C) par rapport au Contrôle. Puis, nous avons analysé l'effet d'une croissance sous différents Eh sur la viabilité en milieu modèle et la fonctionnalité de B. bifidum. Une croissance en condition anaérobie et/ou réductrice permet d améliorer à la fois la résistance aux stress (stress oxydant d ordre physiologique, stress aux sels biliaires et stress côlon), le pouvoir réducteur (sels de tétrazolium), le pouvoir antioxydant (test KRL et test des comètes) et l adhérence par rapport au Contrôle. Une modulation des propriétés biochimiques membranaires sous Azote et sous Azote-Hydrogène pourraient expliquer ces phénomènes. L augmentation des composés thiols exofaciaux et l augmentation des acides gras insaturés à longues chaines est observée pour des cellules produites sous conditions Azote et Azote-Hydrogène. Ainsi ces conditions de croissance présentent une amélioration majeure de l effet probiotique de B. bifidum, à la fois d un point de vue de sa résistance aux stress que d un point de vue de sa fonctionnalitéThe aim of this work was to select rationally a probiotic strain by setting up a screening method as well as study and understand the impact of the redox potential (Eh) and gas bubbling on the survival of Bifidobacterium bifidum in a fermented dairy product. In a first time, we have developed selection techniques of probiotic bacteria on the criteria of viability / vitality (flow cytometry analysis) and on the criteria of functionality (antioxidant). We were able to select strains of industrial interest as well as an academic strain, Bifidobacterium bifidum.Secondly, we have studied effect of modifying redox potential by gas bubbling on the survival of B. bifidum in a fermented dairy product. Thus, fermented milk manufactured under anaerobic condition (Nitrogen,) and/or under reducing one (Nitrogen-Hydrogen) allow a better survival of the probiotic strain during the storage (28 days) at 4 C compared with the Control fermented milk. Yogurt starter strains are not impacted. Then, we have analysed the effect of a growth under various Eh on the viability in model medium and the functionality of B. bifidum. A growth under anaerobic and/or reducing condition thus improved resistance to stress (physiological oxidative stress, bile salts and intestinal stress) the reducing power (tetrazolium salts) and the antioxidant power (KRL test and comet assay) compared with the Control. The adhesion to Caco-2 cells under these conditions is also improvedModulation of biochemical membrane properties under Azote and Azote-Hydrogen conditions could explain these phenomena. An increase in the proportion of exofacial thiol groups and in the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids with long chain was observed for cells produced under Nitrogen and Nitrogen-Hydrogen. These growth conditions present a major improvement for the probiotic effect of B. bifidum, regarding its resistance to stress and its functionalityDIJON-BU Doc.électronique (212319901) / SudocSudocFranceF

Real-time monitoring of the physiological state of CHO cells in bioreactor by using a dual spectroscopic strategy

International audienc

Chap. 7.8.1. Biotechnological Processes : Culture of cells and microorganisms

International audienceNo abstrac