Spatial Narrative in the Cinematographic Body Environment

Due to the experimental interface of cinematographic space fiction that produces temporal and spatial intervals, architectural design can be explored via time-body-space relationships. In this study, Eskihisar Coastline/Turkey has been selected as an urban coastline, due to its potential as a public space where the body can be observed, much like all public spaces. It is being examined with an experimental surface exploration developed with the relations between fragments of spatial intervals within the context of the movement-body experience in cinematographic spatial fiction. So cinematographic spatial fiction is a spatial narrative displayed based on the time-body-space fragments. The study has explored cinematographic fiction as an architectural design approach through the notions of time-body-space shared between the disciplines of cinema and architecture. The research methodology is qualitative; coherent to the case-study. The experimental phases consisted of the fragmentation of video recording, the multiple exposure experiment, and the “kinesphere” experiment phases that visualized the inter-surface connection codes of Eskihisar Coastline/Turkey as an urban coastline. Rudolf Laban’s “kinesphere” approach, which questions the direction of bodily movement in relation to the limbs, is developed as a controllable, definable template for measuring the interval of body movement. This approach is handled the movement intervals over the proportions of the body as a measurable parameter through a geometric design approach. As a result, the surface articulations determined through the spatial intervals of experience produced urban furniture images. Cinematographic spatial fiction offers a geometry-based reading interval developed from the ratio-proportion of the body to the production intervals presented to the architectural design in the context of time-space through the produced urban furniture image. The interface designed in this study is expected to offer a solution proposal that can be developed from the body scale for the urban furniture needed in public spaces in the cities of the future

Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: What We Learn from Omics Studies

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common causes of chronic liver diseases with 10–30% prevalence in western countries. The severity of NAFLD ranges from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the wide range of clinical staging of the disease prevents the clear understanding of its pathogenesis. Recently, high-throughput genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic studies focus on enlightening the complex mechanisms responsible for NAFLD and NASH development. All together these Omics studies, in different cohorts once again, proved that NAFLD and NASH are linked with many complex mechanisms such as accumulation and traffic of various lipids in the liver and activation of inflammation responses. Moreover, some of these studies may have identified potential biomarkers and candidate risky or protective alleles that can be a valuable tool for the assessment of susceptibility and histological severity of NAFLD. Nonetheless, confirmation of these potential biomarkers and candidate genes by multiple Omics tools is required for their clinical application in the diagnosis and treatment of NASH and NAFLD

Can Proteomic Profiling Identify Biomarkers and/or Therapeutic Targets for Liver Fibrosis?

Liver fibrosis is a serious disease that affects around 350–400 million people worldwide. The main approach for fibrosis staging is liver biopsy, which is an invasive procedure that is not endured pretty well by patients. Currently, some serum-based biomarker panels are available for diagnosis and staging of liver fibrosis. Recent high-throughput proteomic studies are also very promising for identification of novel biomarkers for diagnosis and/or treatment of liver fibrosis. We hereby review the application of proteomic profiling studies for identification of fibrosis biomarkers with their advantages and drawbacks

Antagonistic Effects of Lipids Against the Anti-Escherichia coli and Anti-Salmonella Activity of Thymol and Thymol-β-d-Glucopyranoside in Porcine Gut and Fecal Cultures In Vitro

Strategies are sought to reduce the carriage and dissemination of zoonotic pathogens and antimicrobial-resistant microbes within food-producing animals and their production environment. Thymol (an essential oil) is a potent bactericide in vitro but in vivo efficacy has been inconsistent, largely due to its lipophilicity and absorption, which limits its passage and subsequent availability in the distal gastrointestinal tract. Conjugation of thymol to glucose to form thymol-β-d-glucopyranoside can decrease its absorption, but in vivo passage of effective concentrations to the lower gut remains suboptimal. Considering that contemporary swine diets often contain 5% or more added fat (to increase caloric density and reduce dustiness), we hypothesized that there may be sufficient residual fat in the distal intestinal tract to sequester free or conjugated thymol, thereby limiting the availability and subsequent effectiveness of this biocide. In support of this hypothesis, the anti-Salmonella Typhimurium effects of 6 mM free or conjugated thymol, expressed as log10-fold reductions of colony-forming units (CFU) ml−1, were diminished 90 and 58%, respectively, following 24-h in vitro anaerobic fecal incubation (at 39°C) with 3% added vegetable oil compared to reductions achieved during culture without added oil (6.1 log10 CFU ml−1). The antagonistic effect of vegetable oil and the bactericidal effect of free and conjugated thymol against Escherichia coli K88 tested similarly were diminished 86 and 84%, respectively, compared to reductions achieved in cultures incubated without added vegetable oil (5.7 log10 CFU ml−1). Inclusion of taurine (8 mg/ml), bile acids (0.6 mg/ml), or emulsifiers such as polyoxyethylene-40 stearate (0.2%), Tween 20, or Tween 80 (each at 1%) in the in vitro incubations had little effect on vegetable oil-caused inhibition of free or conjugated thymol. Based on these results, it seems reasonable to suspect that undigested lipid in the distal gut may limit the effectiveness of free or conjugated thymol. Accordingly, additional research is warranted to learn how to overcome obstacles diminishing bactericidal activity of free and conjugated thymol in the lower gastrointestinal tract of food-producing animals

Evaluation of Thymol-β-d-Glucopyranoside as a Potential Prebiotic Intervention to Reduce Carriage of Zoonotic Pathogens in Weaned and Feeder Pigs

The gut of food-producing animals is a reservoir for foodborne pathogens. Thymol is bactericidal against foodborne pathogens but rapid absorption of thymol from the proximal gut precludes the delivery of effective concentrations to the lower gut where pathogens mainly colonize. Thymol-β-d-glucopyranoside is reported to be more resistant to absorption than thymol in everted jejunal segments and could potentially function as a prebiotic by resisting degradation and absorption in the proximal gut but being hydrolysable by microbial β-glycosidase in the distal gut. Previous in vitro studies showed bactericidal effects of thymol-β-d-glucopyranoside against Campylobacter, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in the presence but not absence of intestinal microbes expressing β-glycosidase activity, indicating that hydrolysis was required to obtain antimicrobial activity. Presently, the oral administration of thymol-β-d-glucopyranoside was studied to examine the effects on intestinal carriage of Campylobacter, E. coli, and S. Typhimurium in swine. The effects of thymol-β-d-glucopyranoside or thymol on antimicrobial sensitivity of representative E. coli isolates and characterized Salmonella strains were also explored. Results from two in vivo studies revealed little antimicrobial effects of thymol-β-d-glucopyranoside on Campylobacter, E. coli, or S. Typhimurium in swine gut. These findings add credence to current thinking that hydrolysis and absorption of thymol-β-d-glucopyranoside and thymol may be sufficiently rapid within the proximal gut to preclude delivery to the distal gut. Antibiotic susceptibilities of selected bacterial isolates and strains were mainly unaffected by thymol. Further research is warranted to overcome obstacles, preventing the delivery of efficacious amounts of thymol-β-d-glucopyranoside to the lower gut

Assessment of potential anti-methanogenic and antimicrobial activity of ethyl nitroacetate, α-lipoic acid, taurine and L-cysteinesulfinic acid In vitro

Livestock producers need new technologies to maintain the optimal health and wellbeing of their animals while minimizing the risks of propagating and disseminating pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria to humans or other animals. Where possible, these interventions should contribute to the efficiency and profitability of animal production to avoid passing costs on to consumers. In this study, we examined the potential of nitroethane, 3-nitro-1-propionate, ethyl nitroacetate, taurine and L-cysteinesulfinic acid to modulate rumen methane production, a digestive inefficiency that results in the loss of up to 12% of the host’s dietary energy intake and a major contributor of methane as a greenhouse gas to the atmosphere. The potential for these compounds to inhibit the foodborne pathogens, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium DT104, was also tested. The results from the present study revealed that anaerobically grown O157:H7 and DT104 treated with the methanogenic inhibitor, ethyl nitroacetate, at concentrations of 3 and 9 mM had decreased (p < 0.05) mean specific growth rates of O157:H7 (by 22 to 36%) and of DT104 (by 16 to 26%) when compared to controls (0.823 and 0.886 h−1 , respectively). The growth rates of O157:H7 and DT104 were decreased (p < 0.05) from controls by 31 to 73% and by 41 to 78% by α-lipoic acid, which we also found to inhibit in vitro rumen methanogenesis up to 66% (p < 0.05). Ethyl nitroacetate was mainly bacteriostatic, whereas 9 mM α-lipoic acid decreased (p < 0.05) maximal optical densities (measured at 600 nm) of O157:H7 and DT104 by 25 and 42% compared to controls (0.448 and 0.451, respectively). In the present study, the other oxidized nitro and organosulfur compounds were neither antimicrobial nor anti-methanogenic

Geographical and temporal distribution of SARS-CoV-2 clades in the WHO European Region, January to June 2020

We show the distribution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) genetic clades over time and between countries and outline potential genomic surveillance objectives. We applied three genomic nomenclature systems to all sequence data from the World Health Organization European Region available until 10 July 2020. We highlight the importance of real-time sequencing and data dissemination in a pandemic situation, compare the nomenclatures and lay a foundation for future European genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2

EXPLORING THE ECOLOGY OF SALMONELLA WITHIN COHORTS OF BEEF CATTLE

Salmonella is a leading bacterial pathogen, causing a significant number of human infections and deaths every year in the United States. Recently, the increase in the prevalence of ceftriaxone and azithromycin resistance among human Salmonella isolates became a serious public health threat since both are used for the empirical treatment of salmonellosis. Analogs of these antibiotics (ceftiofur and tulathromycin, respectively) are widely used in beef cattle, which could be contributing to this problem, since beef products are one of several major sources of Salmonella outbreaks. A randomized controlled longitudinal field trial was designed to determine the effects of single-doses of ceftiofur and tulathromycin metaphylactic treatment on Salmonella prevalence, quantity and serotype distribution among cattle feces, sub-iliac lymph nodes, and hide samples. Beef cattle (n = 134) were divided 4 blocks consisting of three pens each. One pen in each block received either ceftiofur, tulathromycin, or else no antibiotic (i.e., negative control group) on Day 0. Feces (during the feeding period and at slaughter), sub-iliac lymph nodes and hide swabs (at slaughter) were collected from each animal, during periods before and after the treatment. Salmonella was isolated, quantified and tested for phenotypic antibiotic resistance using standard methods. Serotypes, sequence types, antibiotic resistance genes, and plasmids of Salmonella isolates were determined from whole-genome sequencing data. Phylogenetic analyses were performed to measure evolutionary distances between Salmonella comparing pens, source, days, sample types across the study period. Data analyses indicated no significant effects (P > 0.05) of metaphylactic antibiotic treatments on the prevalence and quantity of Salmonella; however, there was a significant (P < 0.05) day (period) effect observed in both measures of Salmonella occurrence, increasing significantly from early spring through mid-summer. Salmonella isolates were mostly pan-susceptible and this was not affected by the antibiotic treatment. Serotypes found in cattle samples strongly clustered within pens and dynamically shifted their dominance over time; importantly, suggesting a strong interaction of this pathogen with the local ambient cattle pen environment. Further analyses are needed to understand the environmentally related dynamics of Salmonella originating from cattle

EXPLORING THE ECOLOGY OF SALMONELLA WITHIN COHORTS OF BEEF CATTLE

Salmonella is a leading bacterial pathogen, causing a significant number of human infections and deaths every year in the United States. Recently, the increase in the prevalence of ceftriaxone and azithromycin resistance among human Salmonella isolates became a serious public health threat since both are used for the empirical treatment of salmonellosis. Analogs of these antibiotics (ceftiofur and tulathromycin, respectively) are widely used in beef cattle, which could be contributing to this problem, since beef products are one of several major sources of Salmonella outbreaks. A randomized controlled longitudinal field trial was designed to determine the effects of single-doses of ceftiofur and tulathromycin metaphylactic treatment on Salmonella prevalence, quantity and serotype distribution among cattle feces, sub-iliac lymph nodes, and hide samples. Beef cattle (n = 134) were divided 4 blocks consisting of three pens each. One pen in each block received either ceftiofur, tulathromycin, or else no antibiotic (i.e., negative control group) on Day 0. Feces (during the feeding period and at slaughter), sub-iliac lymph nodes and hide swabs (at slaughter) were collected from each animal, during periods before and after the treatment. Salmonella was isolated, quantified and tested for phenotypic antibiotic resistance using standard methods. Serotypes, sequence types, antibiotic resistance genes, and plasmids of Salmonella isolates were determined from whole-genome sequencing data. Phylogenetic analyses were performed to measure evolutionary distances between Salmonella comparing pens, source, days, sample types across the study period. Data analyses indicated no significant effects (P > 0.05) of metaphylactic antibiotic treatments on the prevalence and quantity of Salmonella; however, there was a significant (P < 0.05) day (period) effect observed in both measures of Salmonella occurrence, increasing significantly from early spring through mid-summer. Salmonella isolates were mostly pan-susceptible and this was not affected by the antibiotic treatment. Serotypes found in cattle samples strongly clustered within pens and dynamically shifted their dominance over time; importantly, suggesting a strong interaction of this pathogen with the local ambient cattle pen environment. Further analyses are needed to understand the environmentally related dynamics of Salmonella originating from cattle

Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) MATLAB codes for first-and second-order em differential equations

A set of two-dimensional (2D) electromagnetic (EM) MATLAB codes, using both first-order coupled differential (Maxwell) equations and second-order decoupled (wave) equations, are developed for both transverse-magnetic (TM) and transverse-electric (TE) polarizations. Second-order MUR type absorbing boundary conditions are used to simulate free space. Metamaterial (MTM) modeling is also included. Performance tests in terms of computational times, memory requirements, and accuracies were done for simple EM scenarios with magnetic field, current, and voltage comparisons. The codes may be used for teaching and research purposes.IEEE Antennas and Propagation Societ