Relationships between soil physicochemical properties and nitrogen fixing, nitrifying and denitrifying under varying land-use practices in the northwest region of Argentina

The aim of this study was to evaluate the response pattern of diazotrophic microbes, denitrifiers and nitrifiers to different types of land use management, such as soybean monoculture (M) during 5 and 24 years (M5 and M24) and soybean-maize rotation (R) during 4 and 15 years (R4 and R15) in two subsequent years at the time point of flowering. Soil samples from a site recently introduced into agriculture (RUA) and a pristine soil under native vegetation (NV) were used as controls. Abundances of different functional groups of microbes were assessed using the direct quantification of marker genes by quantitative real-time PCR using extracted DNA from rhizosphere samples. In addition, soil chemical and physical properties were analysed and correlated with the abundance data from the functional microbial groups under investigation. Overall, the results indicate that the abundance of nifH genes was higher under R treatments compared to M treatments. The abundance of ammonium monooxygenase genes amoA (AOA) was generally higher under rotation systems and decreased under M24. RUA evidenced a negative effect on the establishment and development of AOA communities. The influence of land use on nirS abundance was inconsistent. However, R treatments showed a high abundance of nirK genes compared to M treatments. In both growing seasons, the abundance of nosZ genes was higher under NV compared with the other treatments. Furthermore, M24 treatment was related to strongly changed chemical and physical soil properties compared with the other sites. As expected, soil samples from RUA showed the strong dynamics of measured parameters indicating the high sensitivity of soils under transition to environmental parameters. Our results also indicated that the long-term crop rotation modified the abundance of the investigated microbial groups compared to the monoculture and increased soil chemical and physical quality. Therefore, our results provide evidence for a stimulatory effect of the long-term crop rotation on the abundance of microbes involved in N transformation.Fil: Perez Brandan, Carolina Gabriela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Meyer, Annabel. Helmholtz Center Munich German Research Center For Environmental Health; AlemaniaFil: Meriles, Jose Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Huidobro, Jorgelina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Schloter, Michael. Helmholtz Center Munich German Research Center For Environmental Health; AlemaniaFil: Vargas Gil, Silvina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Bone Tissue Response to Porous and Functionalized Titanium and Silica Based Coatings

Background: Topography and presence of bio-mimetic coatings are known to improve osseointegration. The objective of this study was to evaluate the bone regeneration potential of porous and osteogenic coatings. Methodology: Six-implants [Control (CTR); porous titanium coatings (T1, T2); thickened titanium (Ti) dioxide layer (TiO2); Amorphous Microporous Silica (AMS) and Bio-active Glass (BAG)] were implanted randomly in tibiae of 20-New Zealand white rabbits. The animals were sacrificed after 2 or 4 weeks. The samples were analyzed histologically and histomorphometrically. In the initial bone-free areas (bone regeneration areas (BRAs)), the bone area fraction (BAF) was evaluated in the whole cavity (500 mm, BAF-500), in the implant vicinity (100 mm, BAF-100) and further away (100–500 mm, BAF-400) from the implant. Bone-to-implant contact (BIC-BAA) was measured in the areas where the implants were installed in contact to the host bone (bone adaptation areas (BAAs)) to understand and compare the bone adaptation. Mixed models were used for statistical analysis. Principal Findings: After 2 weeks, the differences in BAF-500 for different surfaces were not significant (p.0.05). After 4 weeks, a higher BAF-500 was observed for BAG than CTR. BAF-100 for AMS was higher than BAG and BAF-400 for BAG was higher than CTR and AMS. For T1 and AMS, the bone regeneration was faster in the 100-mm compared to the 400-mm zone. BIC-BAA for AMS and BAG was lower after 4 than 2 weeks. After 4 weeks, BIC-BAA for BAG was lower than AMS and CTR. Conclusions: BAG is highly osteogenic at a distance from the implant. The porous titanium coatings didn’t stimulate bone regeneration but allowed bone growth into the pores. Although AMS didn’t stimulate higher bone response, it has a potential of faster bone growth in the vicinity compared to further away from the surface. BIC-BAA data were inconclusive to understand the bone adaptation.status: publishe

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Increasing frailty is associated with higher prevalence and reduced recognition of delirium in older hospitalised inpatients: results of a multi-centre study

Purpose: Delirium is a neuropsychiatric disorder delineated by an acute change in cognition, attention, and consciousness. It is common, particularly in older adults, but poorly recognised. Frailty is the accumulation of deficits conferring an increased risk of adverse outcomes. We set out to determine how severity of frailty, as measured using the CFS, affected delirium rates, and recognition in hospitalised older people in the United Kingdom. Methods: Adults over 65 years were included in an observational multi-centre audit across UK hospitals, two prospective rounds, and one retrospective note review. Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), delirium status, and 30-day outcomes were recorded. Results: The overall prevalence of delirium was 16.3% (483). Patients with delirium were more frail than patients without delirium (median CFS 6 vs 4). The risk of delirium was greater with increasing frailty [OR 2.9 (1.8–4.6) in CFS 4 vs 1–3; OR 12.4 (6.2–24.5) in CFS 8 vs 1–3]. Higher CFS was associated with reduced recognition of delirium (OR of 0.7 (0.3–1.9) in CFS 4 compared to 0.2 (0.1–0.7) in CFS 8). These risks were both independent of age and dementia. Conclusion: We have demonstrated an incremental increase in risk of delirium with increasing frailty. This has important clinical implications, suggesting that frailty may provide a more nuanced measure of vulnerability to delirium and poor outcomes. However, the most frail patients are least likely to have their delirium diagnosed and there is a significant lack of research into the underlying pathophysiology of both of these common geriatric syndromes

Political Media & Dehumanization of the Self on Marginalized, Immigrant Populations

With the accessibility of the Internet, ideas and sentiments can spread quickly and to many who would not have access otherwise. With this accessibility also comes an everyday exposure to current events and political sentiments. The climate of the 2016 election and conversations about immigration spread anti-immigrant sentiment. This study attempted find if this everyday consumption of anti-immigrant sentiment causes marginalized immigrants (specifically Latinx and Muslim immigrants) to dehumanize themselves, and if these dehumanizing sentiments have an effect on mental health. This study composed anti-climate change (control) and anti-immigrant sentiment tweets, then asked participants to complete a measure of dehumanization of the self. To see the relationship between possible dehumanization of the self and mental health, participants were asked to complete the Beck Anxiety Inventory. The study concludes with future directions for the study and implications of results on the mental health of marginalized immigrants

The provision of emergency healthcare for women who experience intimate partner violence: Part 2: Strategies to address knowledge deficits and negative attitudes

Taylor, AM ORCiD: 0000-0002-4646-9248Background The first article in this two-part series evaluated healthcare professionals’ approaches to the care of women who present to the emergency department (ED) with injuries related to intimate partner violence (IPV). It identified barriers to appropriate care provision, which included a lack of healthcare professional knowledge and negative professional attitudes. Aim To delineate and evaluate strategies that aim to address the knowledge deficits and negative attitudes affecting the care of women presenting to the ED with IPV-related injuries. Method A rapid review of three databases was undertaken with strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. The literature was analysed using three-step thematic analysis. Findings Eleven articles were included in the review. Two main strategies to address ED healthcare professionals’ knowledge deficits and negative attitudes about IPV were identified. These were developed into the themes of IPV/domestic violence specialists, and education and training. Conclusion An IPV healthcare specialist in the ED and a focused IPV education and training programme may improve emergency healthcare professionals’ knowledge, attitudes and ability to respond appropriately to women presenting with IPV-related injuries

The provision of emergency healthcare for women who experience intimate partner violence: Part 2: Strategies to address knowledge deficits and negative attitudes

Background The first article in this two-part series evaluated healthcare professionals’ approaches to the care of women who present to the emergency department (ED) with injuries related to intimate partner violence (IPV). It identified barriers to appropriate care provision, which included a lack of healthcare professional knowledge and negative professional attitudes. Aim To delineate and evaluate strategies that aim to address the knowledge deficits and negative attitudes affecting the care of women presenting to the ED with IPV-related injuries. Method A rapid review of three databases was undertaken with strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. The literature was analysed using three-step thematic analysis. Findings Eleven articles were included in the review. Two main strategies to address ED healthcare professionals’ knowledge deficits and negative attitudes about IPV were identified. These were developed into the themes of IPV/domestic violence specialists, and education and training. Conclusion An IPV healthcare specialist in the ED and a focused IPV education and training programme may improve emergency healthcare professionals’ knowledge, attitudes and ability to respond appropriately to women presenting with IPV-related injuries

Conducting integrative reviews: A guide for novice nursing researchers

Background: Integrative reviews within healthcare promote a holistic understanding of the research topic. Structure and a comprehensive approach within reviews are important to ensure the reliability in their findings. Aim: This paper aims to provide a framework for novice nursing researchers undertaking integrative reviews. Discussion: Established methods to form a research question, search literature, extract data, critically appraise extracted data and analyse review findings are discussed and exemplified using the authors’ own review as a comprehensive and reliable approach for the novice nursing researcher undertaking an integrative literature review. Conclusion: Providing a comprehensive audit trail that details how an integrative literature review has been conducted increases and ensures the results are reproducible. The use of established tools to structure the various components of an integrative review increases robustness and readers’ confidence in the review findings. Implications for practice: Novice nursing researchers may increase the reliability of their results by employing a framework to guide them through the process of conducting an integrative review