Antibacterial activities of methanol extracts from Alchornea cordifolia and four other Cameroonian plants against MDR phenotypes

AbstractObjectivesMultidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections, especially those caused by Gram-negative phenotypes, have emerged as one of the major health concerns worldwide. In the present study, we investigated the antibacterial activity of methanol extracts from five Cameroonian medicinal plants (Alchornea cordifolia, Eremomastax speciosa, Laportea aestuans, Pennisetum purpureum and Spathodea campanulata) against 15 Gram-negative bacteria that included MDR phenotypes.MethodsThe broth microdilution method was used to determine the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and the minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC) of all of the samples. Standard phytochemical methods were used for a preliminary phytochemical screening of the plant extracts.ResultsPhytochemical analysis showed the presence of polyphenols, tannins, triterpenes and sterols in all of the studied extracts. Other chemical classes of secondary metabolites were selectively identified. The best antibacterial activities (MICs ranges of 64–1024 μg/mL) obtained against the 15 tested bacteria were found in extracts of leaves (93.3%), bark (86.7%) and roots (80%) of A. cordifolia as well as extracts of L. aestuans (86.7%) and P. purpureum (66.7%). The lowest MIC value of 64 μg/mL was recorded for the A. cordifolia bark extract against Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01.ConclusionsThe findings of this study provide deep insights into the possible use of the studied plants, especially A. cordifolia and L. aestuans, for the control of Gram-negative bacterial infections, especially against MDR species

Accurate: Penunjang di Era Digitalisasi untuk Meningkatkan Kompetensi dan Profesionalisme Guru dan Murid SMK

Abstract - Covid-19 pandemic has brought many changes for education, working life and so on. Digitalization is increasingly felt and forced to change from being face-to-face to online, so inevitably world moves faster to accelerate the use of technology. Technology development also applied in industry, including in terms of accounting records. The importance of debriefing for teachers and students of VHS, especially accounting vocational, related to using Accurate accounting software which has been widely used. This training improves self-competence and competitiveness in the face of digitalization. Therefore, Pusat Penelitian dan Pengabdian Masyarakat TSM in collaboration with TSM lecturers help to provide training for teachers and students to recognize and able to operate one of accounting software that has been widely used, especially by SME industry in Indonesia, namely Accurate. The purpose of this training is to provide briefing to teachers and students in understanding and operating various features in Accurate related to accounting transactions which are expected to improve skills in using this software. The training method includes Accurate introduction session, simulation, journal and financial statements discussion. Targets and outcomes to be achieved from this training are increased the understanding and skills of teachers and students in operating Accurate so the students could meet the requirements of world of work in terms of the use of technology

Capitals and commitment. The case of a local learning and employment network.

This article draws on research undertaken with a Local Learning and Employment Network (LLEN) in the state of Victoria, Australia. LLEN are networks that were implemented by the state government in 2001 to undertake community capacity building through which the outcomes of young people aged 15-19 in education, training and employment would be enhanced. In 2008, in the context of an enhanced federal commitment to social inclusion through ‘joining-up’, the Victorian experience provides insights on the implications of such policy initiatives. Drawing on Bourdieu’s discussion of the forms of capital and Granovetter’s notion of the strength of weak ties, I argue that stores of economic, cultural and social capital as outlined by Bourdieu were necessary, but insufficient, for LLEN to achieve the objectives with which they were charged given the failure of government to follow through on the implications of its policies. I argue for a commitment on the part of all stakeholders to realise the potential of ‘joining-up’

Impact of Level of Effort on the Effects of Compliance with the 3-Hour Rule

Objective To determine if patients’ level of effort (LOE) in therapy sessions during traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation modifies the effect of compliance with the 3-Hour Rule of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Design Propensity score methodology applied to the TBI-Practice-Based Evidence (TBI-PBE) database, consisting of multi-site, prospective, longitudinal observational data. Setting Acute inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRF). Participants Patients (n=1820) who received their first IRF admission for TBI in the US and were enrolled for 3 and 9 month follow-up. Main Outcome Measures Participation Assessment with Recombined Tools-Objective-17, FIMTM Motor and Cognitive scores, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Results When the full cohort was examined, no strong main effect of compliance with the 3-Hour Rule was identified and LOE did not modify the effect of compliance with the 3-Hour Rule. In contrast, LOE had a strong positive main effect on all outcomes, except depression. When the sample was stratified by level of disability, LOE modified the effect of compliance, particularly on the outcomes of participants with less severe disability. For these patients, providing 3 hours of therapy for 50%+ of therapy days in the context of low effort resulted in poorer performance on select outcome measures at discharge and up to 9 months post discharge compared to patients with <50% of 3-hr therapy days. Conclusions LOE is an active ingredient in inpatient TBI rehabilitation, while compliance with the 3-Hour Rule was not found to have a substantive impact on the outcomes. The results support matching time in therapy during acute TBI rehabilitation to patients’ LOE in order to optimize long-term benefits on outcomes

Relationship of dietary pattern with body composition and symptoms in patients with COPD

This study explored the relationship of dietary patterns with body composition and symptoms in patients with COPD. Data collection included: dietary pattern – n. meals/day; period of the day of highest food intake (morning [6 AM–12 PM], afternoon [12–18 PM], and evening [18 PM–6 AM]); the time interval between meals (3-4h, 5-6h, 9-10h), and daily energy and nutrient intake using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (last 12 months); body composition – body mass index (BMI), % fat mass (%FM), % fat-free mass (%FFM), % total muscle mass (%MM), fat-free mass index (FFMI) and visceral fat index (VAT) (SECA mBCA 525); symptoms – dyspnoea (modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale, mMRC), fatigue (Checklist of Individual Strength, CIS20-P total score), impact of COPD (COPD Assessment Test, CAT). Pearson’s (r) or Spearman’s (ρ) correlations were conducted. 18 patients participated (16 males, 68±7 years old, FEV1 43±20% predicted, BMI 25±5kg/m2, FFMI 18±3kg/m2). Most participants reported having 3-4 meals/day (n=14, 78%) with a 3-4-hour interval (n=15, 83%). Moderate correlations were found between %FM and carbohydrates (ρ=-.501) and between FFMI and monosaturated fat (r=.476) (p.05). Energy and nutrient intake are related to COPD symptoms and body composition. The nature of these relationships should be explored.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

PPARγ agonists negatively regulate αIIbβ3 integrin outside-in signalling and platelet function through upregulation of protein kinase A activity

BACKGROUND: Agonists for the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor PPARγ, have been shown to have inhibitory effects on platelet activity following stimulation by GPVI and GPCR agonists. OBJECTIVES: Profound effects on thrombus formation led us to suspect a role for PPARγ agonists in the regulation of integrin αIIbβ3 mediated signalling. Both GPVI and GPCR signalling pathways lead to αIIbβ3 activation, and signalling through αIIbβ3 plays a critical role in platelet function and normal haemostasis. METHODS: The effects of PPARγ agonists on the regulation of αIIbβ3 outside-in signalling was determined by monitoring the ability of platelets to adhere and spread on fibrinogen and undergo clot retraction. Effects on signalling components downstream of αIIbβ3 activation were also determined following adhesion to fibrinogen by western blotting. RESULTS: Treatment of platelets with PPARγ agonists inhibited platelet adhesion and spreading on fibrinogen and diminished clot retraction. A reduction in phosphorylation of several components of αIIbβ3 signalling, including the integrin β3 subunit, Syk, PLCγ2, FAK and Akt was also observed as a result of reduced interaction of the integrin β3 subunit with Gα13. Studies of VASP phosphorylation revealed that this was a due to an increase in PKA activity following treatment with PPARγ receptor agonists. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides further evidence for anti-platelet actions of PPARγ agonists, identifies a negative regulatory role for PPARγ agonists in the control of integrin αIIbβ3 outside-in signalling, and provides a molecular basis by which the PPARγ agonists negatively regulate platelet activation and thrombus formation

Agricultura de precisão no manejo de pragas na cultura da soja no sul do Brasil.

Entre os fatores que podem interferir negativamente no rendimento de grãos da soja, destacam-se os insetos-praga. O estudo da distribuição espacial de insetos-praga é fundamental para a utilização de estratégias de controle, aperfeiçoamento de técnicas de amostragens, quantificação de danos econômicos e incorporação de um programa de agricultura de precisão (AP) voltado para manejo integrado de pragas. Avaliar a distribuição espacial de pragas na cultura da soja por meio de ferramentas de AP e a possibilidade de controle sítio específico foi o objetivo desse estudo. O estudo foi realizado na safra agrícola 2007/2008 em uma área de 99,75 ha, localizada no município de Boa Vista das Missões, RS, Brasil. A área foi amostrada em malha de 100 m x 100 m (1 ha) totalizando 98 pontos amostrais. Para fins de comparação, 40,27 ha foram manejados segundo princípios da AP e 59,48 ha segundo a metodologia convencional. Durante a safra investigada realizaram-se 13 avaliações de pragas semanalmente. Este estudo indicou que a utilização das ferramentas de AP em associação as do Manejo Integrado de Pragas - MIP mostram-se promissoras na redução do custo de produção e no incremento da sustentabilidade da produção de soja

Clinical Effectiveness of Weight Loss and Weight Maintenance Interventions for Men: A Systematic Review of Men-Only Randomized Controlled Trials (The ROMEO Project).

Men are underrepresented in obesity services, suggesting current weight loss service provision is suboptimal. This systematic review evaluated evidence-based strategies for treating obesity in men. Eight bibliographic databases and four clinical trials' registers were searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of weight loss interventions in men only, with mean/median body mass index of ≥30 kg/m(2) (or ≥28 kg/m(2) with cardiac risk factors), with a minimum mean/median duration of ≥52 weeks. Interventions included diet, physical activity, behavior change techniques, orlistat, or combinations of these; compared against each other, placebo, or a no intervention control group; in any setting. Twenty-one reports from 14 RCTs were identified. Reducing diets produced more favorable weight loss than physical activity alone (mean weight change after 1 year from a reducing diet compared with an exercise program -3.2 kg, 95% confidence interval -4.8 to -1.6 kg, reported p < .01). The most effective interventions combined reducing diets, exercise, and behavior change techniques (mean difference in weight at 1 year compared with no intervention was -4.9 kg, 95% confidence interval -5.9 to -4.0, reported p < .0001). Group interventions produced favorable weight loss results. The average reported participant retention rate was 78.2%, ranging from 44% to 100% retention, indicating that, once engaged, men remained committed to a weight loss intervention. Weight loss for men is best achieved and maintained with the combination of a reducing diet, increased physical activity, and behavior change techniques. Strategies to increase engagement of men with weight loss services to improve the reach of interventions are needed

Análise de componentes principais de atributos químicos e físicos do solo limitantes à produtividade de grãos.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar, por meio da análise dos componentes principais, a redução na dimensionalidade de atributos químicos e físicos do solo para a compreensão da variabilidade espacial e temporal da produtividade de culturas de grãos. A área experimental, de 54 ha, é manejada em agricultura de precisão há oito anos. Com base em seis mapas de colheita (soja - safra 2000/2001; milho - 2001/2002; soja - 2002/2003; trigo - 2003; soja - 2003/2004; e milho - 2004/2005), a área foi dividida em três zonas de produtividade de grãos (alta, média e baixa). Foram definidos 15 pontos georreferenciados representativos, para determinação de atributos químicos e físicos do solo, o que totalizou 63 variáveis analisadas. Entre os atributos químicos, o elevado teor de K no solo é o que melhor explica a variabilidade espacial da produtividade das culturas de grãos, provavelmente em razão do desbalanço das relações Ca:K e Mg:K. A zona de baixa produtividade apresentou baixa qualidade física do solo. Neste caso, a infiltração de água no solo, isoladamente, é a variável que melhor explica o desempenho das culturas de grãos. A análise dos componentes principais dos atributos químicos e físicos do solo é estratégia eficiente para explicar a variabilidade espacial e temporal da produtividade de culturas de grãos