Non-thermal Plasma Exposure Rapidly Attenuates Bacterial AHL-Dependent Quorum Sensing and Virulence.

The antimicrobial activity of atmospheric pressure non-thermal plasma has been exhaustively characterised, however elucidation of the interactions between biomolecules produced and utilised by bacteria and short plasma exposures are required for optimisation and clinical translation of cold plasma technology. This study characterizes the effects of non-thermal plasma exposure on acyl homoserine lactone (AHL)-dependent quorum sensing (QS). Plasma exposure of AHLs reduced the ability of such molecules to elicit a QS response in bacterial reporter strains in a dose-dependent manner. Short exposures (30–60 s) produce of a series of secondary compounds capable of eliciting a QS response, followed by the complete loss of AHL-dependent signalling following longer exposures. UPLC-MS analysis confirmed the time-dependent degradation of AHL molecules and their conversion into a series of by-products. FT-IR analysis of plasma-exposed AHLs highlighted the appearance of an OH group. In vivo assessment of the exposure of AHLs to plasma was examined using a standard in vivo model. Lettuce leaves injected with the rhlI/lasI mutant PAO-MW1 alongside plasma treated N-butyryl-homoserine lactone and n-(3-oxo-dodecanoyl)-homoserine lactone, exhibited marked attenuation of virulence. This study highlights the capacity of atmospheric pressure non-thermal plasma to modify and degrade AHL autoinducers thereby attenuating QS-dependent virulence in P. aeruginosa

Buried Versus Exposed Kirschner Wires Following Fixation of Hand Fractures: l Clinician and Patient Surveys

Background: Fractures of the metacarpals and phalanges are common. Placement of Kirschner wires (K-wires) is the most common form of surgical fixation. After placement, a key decision is whether to bury the end of a K-wire or leave it protruding from the skin (exposed). A recent systematic review found no evidence to support either approach. The aim of study was to investigate current clinical practice, understand the key factors influencing clinician decision-making, and explore patient preferences to inform the design of a randomized clinical trial. Methods: The steering group developed surveys for hand surgeons, hand therapists, and patients. Following piloting, they were distributed across the United Kingdom hand surgery units using the Reconstructive Surgery Trials Network. Results: A total of 423 hand surgeons, 187 hand therapists, and 187 patients completed the surveys. Plastic surgeons and junior surgical trainees preferred to leave K-wires not buried. Ease of removal correlated with a decision to leave wires exposed, whereas perceived risk of infection correlated with burying wires. Cost did not affect the decision. Hand therapists were primarily concerned about infection and patient-related outcomes. Patients were most concerned about wire-related problems and pain. Conclusion: This national survey provides a new understanding of the use of K-wires to manage hand fractures in the United Kingdom. A number of nonevidence-based factors seem to influence the decision to bury or leave K-wires exposed. The choice has important clinical and health economic implications that justify a randomized controlled trial

Wykorzystanie metody analizy składowych głównych do oceny cech pszenicy jarej

In the studies, the analysis of the diversification of spring wheat characteristics was carried out depending on the growth system. Field experiment was carried out in years 2004-2006 at the Agricultural Experimental Station in Zawady, which is part of the Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities. The obtained correlation coefficients prove that the relation between wheat characteristics depends on the growth system. The applied method of principal component analysis (PCA) allowed a complex assessment of the relations between the characteristics. It also made it possible to reduce the original seven characteristics to three new variables, which carried over 75% of the information of the input data obtained from the direct sowing and almost 80% for the conventional tillage. The greatest discriminatory power, which diversified the studied plants, was shown by the mass of 1000 grains and grain yield.W badaniach dokonano analizy zróżnicowania cech pszenicy jarej w zależności od systemu uprawy. Doświadczenie polowe przeprowadzono w latach 2004- -2006 w Rolniczej Stacji Doświadczalnej Zawady, należącej do Uniwersytetu Przyrodniczo-Humanistycznego w Siedlcach. Uzyskane wartości współczynników korelacji dowodzą, że współzależność pomiędzy cechami pszenicy zależy od systemu uprawy. Zastosowana metoda analizy składowych głównych (PCA) pozwoliła na kompleksową ocenę współzależności cech. Umożliwiła jednocześnie zredukowanie siedmiu pierwotnych cech do trzech nowych zmiennych, które przenosiły ponad 75% informacji danych wejściowych uzyskanych dla siewu bezpośredniego i prawie 80% dla uprawy tradycyjnej. Najsilniejszą moc dyskryminacyjną, różnicującą badane obiekty, wykazały masa tysiąca ziaren i plon ziarna

On-farm production profitability of winter triticale seeds for sowing

Celem badań była ocena opłacalności produkcji kwalifikowanego materiału siewnego w gospodarstwie indywidualnym w latach 2012-2014. Dane empiryczne do opracowania uzyskano z gospodarstwa rolnego współpracującego w ramach wieloletniej umowy licencyjnej z firmą Hodowla Roślin Strzelce. Najwyższy plon handlowy ziarna pszenżyta ozimego uzyskano w 2012 roku, a wartość produkcji z 1 ha w poszczególnych latach była zróżnicowana i kształtowała się od 5922 do 7644 zł. Zmienność przychodu w poszczególnych latach była podyktowana wysokością plonu i różną ceną sprzedaży kwalifikowanego materiału siewnego. O efektywności ekonomicznej produkcji nasiennej pszenżyta ozimego decydowały również koszty bezpośrednie. Największy udział w strukturze poniesionych kosztów miały koszty środków ochrony roślin i koszty nawozów. Najwyższą opłacalność produkcji kwalifikowanego materiału siewnego uzyskano w 2012 roku, natomiast najniższą w 2014 roku.The objective of the study was to assess the on-farm production profitability of seeds for sowing in 2012- 2014. Empirical data was obtained from the owner of an agricultural holding who cooperates with Strzelce Plant Breeding as a long-term contractor. The highest marketable grain yield of winter triticale was obtained in 2012. Per 1 ha production value varied in individual study years and ranged from 6002.0 do 10649.6 PLN. The variation in income in individual study years depended on yield level as well as changing prices of certified seeds for sowing. The economic effectiveness of winter triticale cultivated to obtain certified seeds for sowing was affected by direct costs. Plant protection agents and fertiliser costs constituted the greatest share of the costs incurred on winter triticale production. The highest profitability of production of certified seeds for sowing was obtained in 2012, it being the lowest in 2014

Ocena determinacji plonu pszenicy jarej uprawianej w monokulturze przerywanej uprawą międzyplonów ścierniskowych z wykorzystaniem analizy ścieżek

Studies were conducted in years 2001-2004 at the Agricultural Experimental Station in Zawady, which is part of the Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities. The objective of the work was to analyse the effect of some characteristics of spring wheat grown in monoculture on its yield, interrupted with stubble crop growth. The effect of yield components on spring wheat yield was evaluated using the method of path analysis. It was found that, in monoculture, the yield of spring wheat grown after mustard was determined mainly by spike length, number of spikelets in the spike, mass of 1000 grains, and spike density per 1 m2. The yield of spring wheat grown after phacelia was the most strongly determined by the mass of 1000 grains, number of grains per spike, and spike density per 1 m2.Badania przeprowadzono w latach 2001-2004 w Rolniczej Stacji Doświadczalnej w Zawadach, należącej do Uniwersytetu Przyrodniczo-Humanistycznego w Siedlcach. Celem pracy była analiza wpływu niektórych cech pszenicy jarej, uprawianej w monokulturze, przerywanej uprawą międzyplonów ścierniskowych na jej plon. Wpływ wybranych komponentów plonu na plonowanie pszenicy jarej oceniono za pomocą metody analizy ścieżek. Stwierdzono, że w warunkach stosowania monokultury plon pszenicy jarej, uprawianej po gorczycy, determinowany był głównie przez długość kłosa, liczbę kłosków w kłosie, masę tysiąca ziaren i obsadę kłosów na 1 m2. Plon pszenicy jarej uprawianej po facelii najsilniej determinowały: masa tysiąca ziaren, liczba ziaren w kłosie oraz obsada kłosów

Buried versus exposed Kirschner wires following fixation of metacarpal and phalangeal fractures: a national clinician and patient survey

Background Fractures of the metacarpals and phalanges are common. Placement of Kirschner wires (K-wires) is the most common form of surgical fixation. After placement, a key decision is whether to bury the end of a K-wire or leave it protruding from the skin (exposed). A recent systematic review found no evidence to support either approach. The aim of study was to investigate current clinical practice, understand the key factors influencing clinician decision-making, and explore patient preferences to inform the design of a randomized clinical trial. Methods The steering group developed surveys for hand surgeons, hand therapists, and patients. Following piloting, they were distributed across the United Kingdom hand surgery units using the Reconstructive Surgery Trials Network. Results A total of 423 hand surgeons, 187 hand therapists, and 187 patients completed the surveys. Plastic surgeons and junior surgical trainees preferred to leave K-wires not buried. Ease of removal correlated with a decision to leave wires exposed, whereas perceived risk of infection correlated with burying wires. Cost did not affect the decision. Hand therapists were primarily concerned about infection and patient-related outcomes. Patients were most concerned about wire-related problems and pain. Conclusion This national survey provides a new understanding of the use of Kwires to manage hand fractures in the United Kingdom. A number of nonevidencebased factors seem to influence the decision to bury or leave K-wires exposed. The choice has important clinical and health economic implications that justify a randomized controlled trial.</p