Identification and assessment of potential probiotics for the use in rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis) and Artemia used as feed for marine fish larvae

Probiotics are microorganisms which have beneficial effects on the host, including increased host response to pathogens and prevention of disease. Marine larval fish are susceptible to bacterial and viral infections during early development as they hatch underdeveloped with an immunologically naïve immune system. The use of live feeds in marine larval rearing transfers potentially harmful bacteria into the larval rearing tank. Live feeds, such as rotifers and Artemia, are non-selective filter feeders therefore enriching live feeds with probiotics is a way to both remove unwanted, and introduce beneficial, bacteria to newly hatched larvae. A screening process was used to select potential probiotics from the genera Shewanella, Vibrio and Pseudoalteromonas. Culture dependant techniques identified an isolate from each genera that demonstrated the highest inhibition properties against common marine fish pathogens. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and Sanger sequencing were used to determine the identity of these three isolates, the Vibrio isolate was successfully identified as V. scophthalmi, however the species of the Shewanella and Pseudoalteromonas isolates remain unresolved. Due to the nature of their culture, rotifers have an inherently high bacterial load which can be easily transferred to the fish larvae to which they are fed. Minimising these potentially harmful bacteria allows for beneficial probiotic bacteria to proliferate in the rotifer culture. However, disinfection techniques commonly used in fish hatcheries are often ineffective at low doses or lethal to the rotifer at higher doses. A minimum inhibitory concentration assay for antimicrobial peptides was performed against bacterial species common in rotifer cultures, however the peptides were ineffective under normal rotifer culture conditions (salinity at 25‰). Disinfection techniques can be used more favourably in Artemia enrichment. This study found, a short-term probiotic enrichment method resulted in a high probiotic retention in the Artemia at commercially relevant densities (500 – 5000 Artemia/ mL). Probiotic retention was improved when Artemia were disinfected with sodium hypochlorite after the fatty acid enrichment, whilst also reducing the unwanted bacteria species common to Artemia cultures. The use of a probiotic selection process identified candidate probiotics to be administered into the most common live feeds used in marine larviculture, rotifers and Artemia. Importantly, this study found the successful enrichment of probiotics in Artemia at high retention yields which may have significant positive impacts to the performance of marine finfish larvae

How purpose in life and locus of control relate to alcohol behaviors among college students

Alcohol is a significant problem on university campuses, and rates of alcohol use and abuse are higher on college campuses than those found in the population at large (Rivenus, 1988). This study examines two constructs that may be related to alcohol behavior: purpose and locus of control. Moran (2009) defines purpose as: an internal compass that integrates engagement in activities that affect others, self-awareness of one\u27s reasons, and the intention to continue these activities (p. 143). Locus of control refers to the degree to which a person takes responsibility over events in their life. There are two types of locus of control: internal and external (Rotter, 1975). An individual with an internal locus of control perceives that their actions influence events in their life, whereas an individual with an external locus of control believes that their actions have little to no influence over events in the life; instead, events in their life occur as a result of external factors, such as fate, chance, or luck. In this study, 138 undergraduate students were surveyed about their perceived purpose in life, locus of control orientation, and alcohol behaviors, including their drinking habits and experience with alcohol-related problems

The Outsiders: Understanding How Activists Use Issues Management to Challenge Corporate Behavior

Increasingly, corporations receive pressure from activist organizations to alter activities that these individuals find problematic and irresponsible. Despite this escalation, research on activism from a public relations perspective progressed slowly; much of this literature privileges the perspective of corporations and rarely examines the process from the activist perspective. To address this gap, this dissertation examined how activist organizations use issues management and communication strategies to incite corporations to change their practices and policies while simultaneously building relationships with pertinent audiences. This study incorporated data collected from qualitative interviews with activist practitioners representing a variety of activist organizations, along with organizational texts and news articles. These data provided an understanding of how activist organizations campaign against corporations using a variety of strategies and tactics in an effort to pressure corporations into changing their behavior. Because this dissertation focused on how activist organizations generate and promote issues to gain the attention of their targets, issues management served as the theoretical framework. Guided by this theory and existing issues management models, this dissertation demonstrates how activist groups identify and establish legitimacy for their issue(s). As issues management is traditionally studied from a corporate perspective, the findings show that the process differs slightly for activist organizations and introduces the Issue Advancement Model to demonstrate how activists employ issues management. Additionally, this dissertation explored how activist groups develop relationships with their targets, supporters, communities, and other relevant publics, noting the nuances involved in each of these dynamics. Specifically, this dissertation supports claims that the dialogue approach is more appropriate for understanding and analyzing the corporation-activist relationship than other public relations models, but also notes that some activist organizations may not seek resolution. In addition to these theoretical findings, this dissertation also offers practical implications, introducing the Corporate Campaign Model, which depicts how activist organizations challenge firms while also offering suggestions for corporations targeted by these groups

Balancing Transparency and Privacy in a University Sexual Misconduct Case: A Legal Public Relations Case Study

In 2016, the University of Kentucky became embroiled in an open records debate with its student newspaper, The Kentucky Kernel. Following a professor’s resignation amid a sexual misconduct investigation, the Kernel asked for records pertaining to the case. The University refused, claiming the information would violate survivors’ privacy. The decision sparked public backlash, forcing the University to combat accusations that it was prioritizing reputation over student safety. This case study provides insight into the crisis management process by exploring how key actors in the case made decisions. Drawing from theoretical perspectives including stakeholder theory and the ethics of care and justice, this study explores the complexities of addressing incongruent stakeholder perspectives and balancing stakeholder interests, along with offering implications for public relations practitioners

DORA : 48-week weight and metabolic changes in Black women with HIV, in a phase IIIb switch study from dolutegravir- or efavirenz- to doravirine-based first-line antiretroviral therapy

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions. Requests for access to the DORA study data should be sent to [email protected]. De-identified participant data and a data dictionary can be made available and shared under a data transfer agreement.OBJECTIVES : Treatment-related weight gain and metabolic complications with antiretroviral integrase-based regimens, especially among Black women, suggest the need for alternative options. METHODS : We conducted a 48-week, open-label, single-arm, single-centre, phase IIIb switch study to evaluate the tolerability, safety and efficacy of switching from stable efavirenz- or dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy to doravirine/lamivudine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in Black women. RESULTS : The 101 participants enrolled (median age 35 years; interquartile range 31–40) were on efavirenz (n = 46; mean duration on therapy 1.7 years) or dolutegravir-based (n = 55; mean duration 1.5 years) antiretrovirals at screening. Retention at 48 weeks was 92/101 participants, and viral suppression was >90% throughout the study, with a single case of doravirine resistance (106 M, V108I and H221Y mutations). The mean weight percentage change at week 48 was 4.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.0–6.5; p < 0.001), and the adjusted mean change was 2.7 kg (95% CI 1.50–3.98; p < 0.001); for efavirenz, the percentage change was 5.0% (95% CI 2.9–7.1; p < 0.001), and the adjusted weight gain was 3.5 kg (95% CI 1.93–5.13); for dolutegravir, the percentage change was 4.5% (95% CI 1.8–7.3; p < 0.001), and the adjusted weight gain was 2.1 kg (95% CI 0.26–3.90). Statistically significant decreases in lipid panel percent mean to week 48 included: total cholesterol −8.4% (95% CI −11.3 to −5.5; p < 0.001), triglycerides −10.4% (95% CI −16.4 to −4.4; p < 0.001) and high-density lipoprotein −14.8% (95% CI −18.5 to −11.2%; p < 0.001), with minor differences when disaggregating the mean percent change in lipids between previous efavirenz/dolutegravir regimens. Adverse events due to doravirine were few and mild. CONCLUSIONS : Our findings suggest that a switch to doravirine from efavirenz or dolutegravir is safe and effective in Black women, with significant improvement in lipid profiles, but does not arrest progressive weight gain.MSD Sharp and Dohme.http://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/hivhj2024School of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH)SDG-03:Good heatlh and well-bein

Diagnosis and histopathologic prognostication of canine melanocytic neoplasms: A consensus of the Oncology-Pathology Working Group

One of the primary objectives of the Oncology Pathology Working Group (OPWG) is for oncologists and pathologists to collaboratively generate consensus documents to standardize aspects of and provide guidelines for veterinary oncologic pathology. Consensus is established through review of relevant peer-reviewed literature relative to a subgroup's particular focus. In this article, the authors provide a critical review of the current literature for the diagnosis of, and histopathologic prognostication for, canine cutaneous and oral/lip melanocytic neoplasms, suggest guidelines for reporting, provide recommendations for clinical interpretation, and discuss future directions. This document represents the opinions of the working group and the authors and does not constitute a formal endorsement by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine or the Veterinary Cancer Society

2017 Research & Innovation Day Program

A one day showcase of applied research, social innovation, scholarship projects and activities.https://first.fanshawec.ca/cri_cripublications/1004/thumbnail.jp

Effect of Hydrocortisone on Mortality and Organ Support in Patients With Severe COVID-19: The REMAP-CAP COVID-19 Corticosteroid Domain Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Evidence regarding corticosteroid use for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is limited. Objective: To determine whether hydrocortisone improves outcome for patients with severe COVID-19. Design, Setting, and Participants: An ongoing adaptive platform trial testing multiple interventions within multiple therapeutic domains, for example, antiviral agents, corticosteroids, or immunoglobulin. Between March 9 and June 17, 2020, 614 adult patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 were enrolled and randomized within at least 1 domain following admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) for respiratory or cardiovascular organ support at 121 sites in 8 countries. Of these, 403 were randomized to open-label interventions within the corticosteroid domain. The domain was halted after results from another trial were released. Follow-up ended August 12, 2020. Interventions: The corticosteroid domain randomized participants to a fixed 7-day course of intravenous hydrocortisone (50 mg or 100 mg every 6 hours) (n = 143), a shock-dependent course (50 mg every 6 hours when shock was clinically evident) (n = 152), or no hydrocortisone (n = 108). Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was organ support-free days (days alive and free of ICU-based respiratory or cardiovascular support) within 21 days, where patients who died were assigned -1 day. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model that included all patients enrolled with severe COVID-19, adjusting for age, sex, site, region, time, assignment to interventions within other domains, and domain and intervention eligibility. Superiority was defined as the posterior probability of an odds ratio greater than 1 (threshold for trial conclusion of superiority >99%). Results: After excluding 19 participants who withdrew consent, there were 384 patients (mean age, 60 years; 29% female) randomized to the fixed-dose (n = 137), shock-dependent (n = 146), and no (n = 101) hydrocortisone groups; 379 (99%) completed the study and were included in the analysis. The mean age for the 3 groups ranged between 59.5 and 60.4 years; most patients were male (range, 70.6%-71.5%); mean body mass index ranged between 29.7 and 30.9; and patients receiving mechanical ventilation ranged between 50.0% and 63.5%. For the fixed-dose, shock-dependent, and no hydrocortisone groups, respectively, the median organ support-free days were 0 (IQR, -1 to 15), 0 (IQR, -1 to 13), and 0 (-1 to 11) days (composed of 30%, 26%, and 33% mortality rates and 11.5, 9.5, and 6 median organ support-free days among survivors). The median adjusted odds ratio and bayesian probability of superiority were 1.43 (95% credible interval, 0.91-2.27) and 93% for fixed-dose hydrocortisone, respectively, and were 1.22 (95% credible interval, 0.76-1.94) and 80% for shock-dependent hydrocortisone compared with no hydrocortisone. Serious adverse events were reported in 4 (3%), 5 (3%), and 1 (1%) patients in the fixed-dose, shock-dependent, and no hydrocortisone groups, respectively. Conclusions and Relevance: Among patients with severe COVID-19, treatment with a 7-day fixed-dose course of hydrocortisone or shock-dependent dosing of hydrocortisone, compared with no hydrocortisone, resulted in 93% and 80% probabilities of superiority with regard to the odds of improvement in organ support-free days within 21 days. However, the trial was stopped early and no treatment strategy met prespecified criteria for statistical superiority, precluding definitive conclusions. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02735707

AI is a viable alternative to high throughput screening: a 318-target study

: High throughput screening (HTS) is routinely used to identify bioactive small molecules. This requires physical compounds, which limits coverage of accessible chemical space. Computational approaches combined with vast on-demand chemical libraries can access far greater chemical space, provided that the predictive accuracy is sufficient to identify useful molecules. Through the largest and most diverse virtual HTS campaign reported to date, comprising 318 individual projects, we demonstrate that our AtomNet® convolutional neural network successfully finds novel hits across every major therapeutic area and protein class. We address historical limitations of computational screening by demonstrating success for target proteins without known binders, high-quality X-ray crystal structures, or manual cherry-picking of compounds. We show that the molecules selected by the AtomNet® model are novel drug-like scaffolds rather than minor modifications to known bioactive compounds. Our empirical results suggest that computational methods can substantially replace HTS as the first step of small-molecule drug discovery