Risk factors for otitis media and carriage of multiple strains of Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

We studied genetic diversity in Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae in throat culture isolates from 38 children attending two day-care centers in Michigan. Culture specimens were collected weekly; 184 S. pneumoniae and 418 H. influenzae were isolated from the cultures. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis identified 29 patterns among the S. pneumoniae isolates and 87 among the H. influenzae isolates. Of the cultures, 5% contained multiple genetic types of S. pneumoniae, and 43% contained multiple types of H. influenzae. Carriage of multiple H. influenzae isolates, which was associated with exposure to smoking, history of allergies, and age 36 to 47 months, may increase risk for otitis media in children

Solving the random diffusion model in an infinite medium: A mean square approach

[EN] This paper deals with the construction of an analytic-numerical mean square solution of the random diffusion model in an infinite medium. The well-known Fourier transform method, which is used to solve this problem in the deterministic case, is extended to the random framework. Mean square operational rules to the Fourier transform of a stochastic process are developed and stated. The main statistical moments of the stochastic process solution are also computed. Finally, some illustrative numerical examples are included.This work has been partially supported by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad grant: DPI2010-20891-c0-01, and Universitat Politecnica de Valencia grant: PAID06-11-2070.Casabán, M.; Company Rossi, R.; Cortés, J.; Jódar Sánchez, LA. (2014). Solving the random diffusion model in an infinite medium: A mean square approach. Applied Mathematical Modelling. 38(24):5922-5933. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apm.2014.04.063S59225933382

Active compounds and distinctive sensory features provided by American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) extract in a new functional milk beverage

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) has recognized neurocognitive effects, and a ginsenoside-rich extract of the root of the plant has been shown to improve cognitive functions in young adults. This study aimed at assessing the chemical and sensory profiles of a UHT-treated, low-lactose functional milk containing American ginseng. Individual ginsenosides in the milk were analyzed by HPLC. Descriptive sensory analysis was performed by a trained panel to quantitatively document sensory changes resulting from the addition of ginseng and the UHT process on flavored and unflavored milks. Consumer acceptance of the product was also investigated. Total ginsenoside content in the UHT-treated milk enriched with the ginseng extract after UHT process treatment was 7.52. mg/100. g of milk, corresponding to a recovery of 67.6% compared with the content in the unprocessed extract. The intake of 150 to 300. mL of this ginseng-enriched milk provides the amount of total ginsenosides (11.5 to 23. mg) necessary to improve cognitive function after its consumption. Both the presence of ginsenosides and their thermal treatment affected some sensory properties of the milk, most notably an increase in bitterness and metallic taste, the appearance of a brownish color, and a decrease in milky flavor. Levels of brown color, bitterness, and metallic taste were highest in the industrially processed ginseng-enriched milk. The bitterness attributable to ginseng extract was reduced by addition of vanilla flavor and sucralose. A consumer exploratory study revealed that a niche of consumers exists who are willing to consume this type of product.The financial support of the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain (Madrid, Spain) for the project SENIFOOD (CENIT Programme) and for the contract with A. Tárrega (Juan de la Cierva Programme) is acknowledged. We gratefully acknowledge Juan Duato Aguilar, from Naturex Spain S.L. (Quart de Poblet, Spain), for his valuable technical support

Riesgos psicosociales intralaborales y estrés en el área de logística de una empresa multinacional del sector manufacturero

Psychosocial factors in work environment are job and organization characteristics that influence individual’s health and wellbeing. Among these alterations, Job stress has been described as one of the most important consequences on health. Objective: Determine the prevalence of risk factors and the psychosocial stress level in an area previously identified as vulnerable in a multinational company. Methodology: Descriptive, cross-sectional study, in 22 workers of a logistics area at a multinational manufacturing company from Cali, Colombia. It was applied the “tool package for the assessment of psychosocial risk factors”, which has been previously validated by the Colombian Ministry of Social Protection. We also explored the correlation between stress and psychosocial factors at work (Pearson, α: 0,05). Results: The group assessed were primarily male (95%) with scholar level of technician (91%). Psychosocial factors presenting very high risk were: environmental demands and physical stress (65%) and relationship with colleagues (54%). Regard stress, 82% of workers had high level of physiological symptoms and 18% had psychoemotional symptoms in a very high level. No correlation was found between psychosocial factors at work and stress level. Conclusions: psychosocial factors at work and stress level detected suggest immediate intervention.Los factores psicosociales intralaborales son las características del trabajo y su organización que influyen en la salud y bienestar del individuo. Una de las consecuencias más importantes sobre la salud del individuo es el estrés laboral. Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de factores de riesgo psicosocial intralaboral y el nivel de estrés en un área previamente identificada como vulnerable en una empresa multinacional. Metodología: Estudio descriptivo, de corte transversal, realizado en 22 trabajadores del área de logística de una empresa multinacional del sector manufacturero de la ciudad de Cali, Colombia. Se aplicó la Batería de Instrumentos para la Evaluación de los Factores de Riesgo Psicosociales validado por el Ministerio de la Protección Social de Colombia. Se exploró la correlación entre factores intralaborales y estrés (Pearson; α: 0,05). Resultados: La muestra evaluada fueron principalmente hombres (95%) con grado de escolaridad técnico (91%). Los factores psicosociales intralaborales que presentaron nivel muy alto de riesgo fueron: demandas ambientales y de esfuerzo físico (65%) y relación con colaboradores (54%). Con respecto al estrés, el 82% de los trabajadores presentaron síntomas fisiológicos en nivel alto y el 18% presentaron síntomas psicoemocionales en un nivel muy alto. No se encontró correlación entre los factores intralaborales y el nivel de estrés. Conclusiones: Los factores psicosociales intralaborales y el nivel de estrés identificado sugieren una intervención inmediata

Rotated balance in humans due to repetitive rotational movement

We show how asymmetries in the movement patterns during the process of regaining balance after perturbation from quiet stance can be modeled by a set of coupled vector fields for the derivative with respect to time of the angles between the resultant ground reaction forces and the vertical in the anteroposterior and mediolateral directions. In our model, which is an adaption of the model of Stirling and Zakynthinaki (2004), the critical curve, defining the set of maximum angles one can lean to and still correct to regain balance, can be rotated and skewed so as to model the effects of a repetitive training of a rotational movement pattern. For the purposes of our study a rotation and a skew matrix is applied to the critical curve of the model. We present here a linear stability analysis of the modified model, as well as a fit of the model to experimental data of two characteristic “asymmetric” elite athletes and to a “symmetric” elite athlete for comparison. The new adapted model has many uses not just in sport but also in rehabilitation, as many work place injuries are caused by excessive repetition of unaligned and rotational movement patterns

Pigs immunized with a novel E2 subunit vaccine are protected from subgenotype heterologous classical swine fever virus challenge

Citation: Madera, R., Gong, W. J., Wang, L. H., Burakova, Y., Lleellish, K., Galliher-Beckley, A., . . . Shi, J. S. (2016). Pigs immunized with a novel E2 subunit vaccine are protected from subgenotype heterologous classical swine fever virus challenge. Bmc Veterinary Research, 12, 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-016-0823-4Background: Classical swine fever (CSF) or hog cholera is a highly contagious swine viral disease. CSF endemic countries have to use routine vaccination with modified live virus (MLV) vaccines to prevent and control CSF. However, it is impossible to serologically differentiate MLV vaccinated pigs from those infected with CSF virus (CSFV). The aim of this study is to develop a one-dose E2-subunit vaccine that can provide protection against CSFV challenge. We hypothesize that a vaccine consisting of a suitable adjuvant and recombinant E2 with natural conformation may induce a similar level of protection as the MLV vaccine. Results: Our experimental vaccine KNB-E2 was formulated with the recombinant E2 protein (Genotype 1.1) expressed by insect cells and an oil-in-water emulsion based adjuvant. 10 pigs (3 weeks old, 5 pigs/group) were immunized intramuscularly with one dose or two doses (3 weeks apart) KNB-E2, and 10 more control pigs were administered normal saline solution only. Two weeks after the second vaccination, all KNB-E2 vaccinated pigs and 5 control pigs were challenged with 5 x 10(5) TCID50 CSFV Honduras/1997 (Genotype 1.3, 1 ml intramuscular, 1 ml intranasal). It was found that while control pigs infected with CSFV stopped growing and developed high fever (>40 degrees C), high level CSFV load in blood and nasal fluid, and severe leukopenia 3-14 days post challenge, all KNB-E2 vaccinated pigs continued to grow as control pigs without CSFV exposure, did not show any fever, had low or undetectable level of CSFV in blood and nasal fluid. At the time of CSFV challenge, only pigs immunized with KNB-E2 developed high levels of E2-specific antibodies and anti-CSFV neutralizing antibodies. Conclusions: Our studies provide direct evidence that pigs immunized with one dose KNB-E2 can be protected clinically from CSFV challenge. This protection is likely mediated by high levels of E2-specific and anti-CSFV neutralizing antibodies

Transcriptomic analysis of field-droughted sorghum from seedling to maturity reveals biotic and metabolic responses.

Drought is the most important environmental stress limiting crop yields. The C4 cereal sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is a critical food, forage, and emerging bioenergy crop that is notably drought-tolerant. We conducted a large-scale field experiment, imposing preflowering and postflowering drought stress on 2 genotypes of sorghum across a tightly resolved time series, from plant emergence to postanthesis, resulting in a dataset of nearly 400 transcriptomes. We observed a fast and global transcriptomic response in leaf and root tissues with clear temporal patterns, including modulation of well-known drought pathways. We also identified genotypic differences in core photosynthesis and reactive oxygen species scavenging pathways, highlighting possible mechanisms of drought tolerance and of the delayed senescence, characteristic of the stay-green phenotype. Finally, we discovered a large-scale depletion in the expression of genes critical to arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, with a corresponding drop in AM fungal mass in the plants' roots

Simulador para un yacimiento de gas basado en una solución numérica explícita

En este trabajo se presenta las ecuaciones fundamentales para desarrollar un simulador de yacimiento de gas acoplado a un pozo productor. El simulador se construye utilizando la ecuación gobernante para el pozo en estado estacionario, la cual está acoplada a la ecuación de flujo del yacimiento escrita en forma explícita. La ecuación del pozo se resuelve numéricamente utilizando un esquema de diferencias finitas hacia adelante, mientras que se usa un esquema iterativo para la ecuación explícita del yacimiento con el fin de encontrar la presión en cada bloque numérico a cada paso de tiempo. El simulador depende del tamaño del paso de tiempo para obtener soluciones numéricas estables y consistentes, por lo que el número de bloques para discretizar el yacimiento es reducido. A pesar de esta restricción, el simulador es de utilidad para estimar reservas y el influjo al pozo, realizar la interpretación de pruebas de presión y análisis nodal, etc. El simulador se aplicó en un caso base, donde se determinó las presiones a lo largo del pozo, en fondo de pozo, y en el yacimiento