Screening and characterization of Bacillus velezensis LB-Y-1 toward selection as a potential probiotic for poultry with multi-enzyme production property

Bacillus spp. have gained increasing recognition as an option to use as antimicrobial growth promoters, which are characterized by producing various enzymes and antimicrobial compounds. The present study was undertaken to screen and evaluate a Bacillus strain with the multi-enzyme production property for poultry production. LB-Y-1, screened from the intestines of healthy animals, was revealed to be a Bacillus velezensis by the morphological, biochemical, and molecular characterization. The strain was screened out by a specific screening program, possessed excellent multi-enzyme production potential, including protease, cellulase, and phytase. Moreover, the strain also exhibited amylolytic and lipolytic activity in vitro. The dietary LB-Y-1 supplementation improved growth performance and tibia mineralization in chicken broilers, and increased serum albumin and serum total protein at 21 days of age (p < 0.05). Besides, LB-Y-1 enhanced the activity of serum alkaline phosphatase and digestive enzyme in broilers at 21 and 42 days of age (p < 0.05). Analysis of intestinal microbiota showed that a higher community richness (Chao1 index) and diversity (Shannon index) in the LB-Y-1 supplemented compared with the CON group. PCoA analysis showed that the community composition and structure were distinctly different between the CON and LB-Y-1 group. The beneficial genera such as Parasutterella and Rikenellaceae were abundant, while the opportunistic pathogen such as Escherichia-Shigella were reduced in the LB-Y-1 supplemented group (p < 0.05). Collectively, LB-Y-1 can be considered as a potential strain for further utilization in direct-fed microbial or starter culture for fermentation

Predictors of total hip replacement in community based older adults : a cohort study

This work was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC Grant ID – 302204); Tasmanian Community Fund (Grant ID – D0015018); Masonic Centenary Medical Research Foundation; Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation; Arthritis Foundation of Australia (Grant ID – MRI06161); and University of Tasmania institutional research grants scheme (D0015019). The study sponsor had no role in the design of the study; the collection, analysis, and interpretation of the data; or the writing of the article and the decision to submit it for publication. Laura Laslett is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia Early Career Fellowship (1070586). Graeme Jones is supported by a NHMRC Practitioner Fellowship (1023222).Peer reviewedPostprin

Brachial-cuff excess pressure is associated with carotid intima-media thickness among Australian children: a cross-sectional population study

Reservoir pressure parameters (i.e., reservoir pressure [RP] and excess pressure [XSP]) independently predict cardiovascular events in adults, but this has not been investigated in children. This study aimed to determine (1) the association of reservoir pressure parameters with carotid intima-media thickness (carotid IMT), a preclinical vascular phenotype, and (2) whether a multivariable regression model with or without reservoir pressure parameters fits better for estimating carotid IMT in children. Study participants were 11–12-year-old children (n = 1231, 50% male) from the Child Health CheckPoint study, a cross-sectional substudy of the population-based Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. RP and XSP were obtained using brachial-cuff oscillometry (SphygmoCor XCEL, AtCor, Sydney). Carotid IMT was quantified by vascular ultrasonography. XSP was associated with carotid IMT after adjusting for confounders including age, sex, BMI z-score, heart rate, pubertal stage, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and mean arterial pressure (β = 0.93 µm, 95% CI 0.30–1.56 for XSP peak and β = 0.04 µm, 95% CI 0.01–0.08 for XSP integral). The results of the likelihood ratio test indicated a trend that the model with XSP and the above confounders fit better than a similar model without XSP for estimating carotid IMT. Our findings indicate that brachial-cuff device-measured XSP is associated with carotid IMT independent of conventional cardiovascular risk factors, including standard BP. This implies that a clinically convenient cuff approach could provide meaningful information for the early assessment of cardiovascular risk among children. </p

Analysis on the situation of subjective well-being and its influencing factors in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

BACKGROUND: To examine the subjective well-being (SWB) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) compared with the healthy controls, and to explore the associations between SWB and demographic characteristics, disease-specific variables in AS patients. METHODS: SWB was assessed with General Well-Being Schedule (GWBS) in 200 AS patients and 210 healthy controls. Comparisons among subgroups were performed to investigate how certain aspects operate as favorable or adverse factors in influencing SWB in the patients with AS. RESULTS: Both men and women with AS reported significantly impaired SWB on all scales of the GWBS except for the Control (O) scale. The results revealed that better sleep, lower disease activity and more family care predicted higher SWB. In AS patients, positive attitude towards therapy prospect was significantly associated with higher SWB. Therapy prospect refers to the hope of patients about the disease treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with general population, SWB might be affected by the onset of AS. There are significant associations between SWB and sleep quality, BASDAI, APGAR, therapy prospect

骨关节炎与2型糖尿病的风险:一项双样本孟德尔随机化分析

Abstract Background Physical inactivity is an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disease that limits patients' physical activity, which may increase risk of other chronic diseases including T2D. However, studies evaluating the effect of OA on T2D are scarce. This study aimed to investigate the causal effect of knee and hip OA on risk of T2D from a genetic perspective. Methods We performed two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to obtain nonconfounding estimates of the effect of OA on T2D risk. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from genome‐wide association studies were selected as genetic instruments for radiographic knee and hip OA (ie, Kellgren–Lawrence grade ≥2). The associations of these SNPs with T2D were evaluated in participants from the UK Biobank. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to test the robustness of the MR results. Results Genetic predisposition of knee but not hip OA was significantly associated with an increased risk of T2D (knee OA: odds ratio [OR] 1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09–1.27, p <.001; hip OA: OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.94–1.16, p = .425). Sensitivity analyses showed that the main findings are robust. Conclusion The current study provides genetic evidence supporting that knee OA is a potential risk factor for T2D

Integrated energy operation considering the dependence of multiple wind turbines

A key pathway to deep decarbonization of the energy sector is the increased use of wind power in integrated energy systems in the situation of the demand for low-carbon development. However, existing work on wind power in the integrated energy system does not adequately take into account the low carbon emissions in the context of multiple wind turbine dependency. In this respect, it is essential to examine a new type of framework for coordinated operations for meeting operational, low carbon and dependence requirements of multiple wind turbines. Here, a low-carbon oriented electrical-gas-heat energy system including carbon emission, carbon capture and carbon trading is proposed. In particular, the multivariate Gaussian copula in the region is used to investigate the dependence of power output from multiple wind turbines. Results from case studies demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed model in achieving a balanced weigh up between economics and low carbon emissions by the dependence on multiple wind turbines

Integrated energy operation considering the dependence of multiple wind turbines

A key pathway to deep decarbonization of the energy sector is the increased use of wind power in integrated energy systems in the situation of the demand for low-carbon development. However, existing work on wind power in the integrated energy system does not adequately take into account the low carbon emissions in the context of multiple wind turbine dependency. In this respect, it is essential to examine a new type of framework for coordinated operations for meeting operational, low carbon and dependence requirements of multiple wind turbines. Here, a low-carbon oriented electrical-gas-heat energy system including carbon emission, carbon capture and carbon trading is proposed. In particular, the multivariate Gaussian copula in the region is used to investigate the dependence of power output from multiple wind turbines. Results from case studies demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed model in achieving a balanced weigh up between economics and low carbon emissions by the dependence on multiple wind turbines

Microstructure and hardness of SAC305 and SAC305-0.3Ni solder on Cu, high temperature treated Cu, and graphene-coated Cu substrates

In this study, SAC305 and SAC305-0.3Ni solder balls were soldered onto Cu, high temperature treated Cu (H-Cu) and graphene coated Cu (G-Cu) substrates, respectively. The microstructure, the interfacial reaction, and the hardness of the solder joints were investigated. The interfacial intermetallic compound (IMC) is Cu6Sn5 in the solder joints of SAC305/Cu, SAC305/H-Cu, and SAC305/G-Cu. With the addition of 0.3 wt% Ni in the SAC305 solder, the interfacial IMC on Cu, H-Cu, and G-Cu transforms from Cu6Sn5 into (Cu, Ni)6Sn5. The thickness of Cu6Sn5 and (Cu, Ni)6Sn5 is the lowest on G-Cu substrate. Meanwhile, smooth (Cu, Ni)6Sn5 interfacial IMC layers are obtained in SAC305-0.3Ni/H-Cu and SAC305-0.3Ni/G-Cu solder joints. Both the SAC305 and the SAC305-0.3Ni solder bulks have the highest β-Sn content and the lowest concentration of eutectic phases on G-Cu substrate. Consequently, the hardness of the solder bulks on G-Cu is lower than that on the other two kinds of substrates. Keywords: Sn-Ag-Cu, Microstructure, Hardness, Graphene, Solderin

Association of knee and hip osteoarthritis with the risk of falls and fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Objective Studies evaluating the association of knee and hip osteoarthritis (OA) with falls and fractures have inconsistent findings. We aimed to investigate associations of symptomatic and radiographic knee and hip OA with risk of falls, recurrent falls, and fractures. Methods We conducted an electronic search of databases from inception to February 2023. Two authors independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale tool in eligible studies. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects models. Results Of 17 studies included (n = 862849), 2 had a high risk of bias. Among studies that evaluated falls or fractures as outcomes, 7/8 (87.5%) and 5/11 (45.5%) were self-reported, respectively. Both symptomatic knee and hip OA were associated with increased risk of recurrent falls (knee: OR = 1.55, 95% CI 1.10 to 2.18; hip: OR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.28 to 1.75) but not falls or fractures. Radiographic knee OA increased risk of falls (OR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.59) and did not significantly increase risk of recurrent falls (OR = 1.39, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.97) or fractures (OR = 1.22, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.52). Radiographic hip OA decreased the risk of recurrent falls (OR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.96) but had no statistically significant association with fractures (OR = 1.16, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.71). Conclusion Symptomatic knee and hip OA were both associated with an increased risk of recurrent falls, and radiographic knee OA was associated with an increased risk of falls. No statistically significant associations of radiographic and symptomatic knee or hip OA with fractures were found