Method to Study the Survival Abilities of Foodborne Bacterial Pathogens Under Food Processing Conditions.

Properly using controllable atmospheric containers can facilitate investigations of the survival abilities and physiological states of key and emerging-foodborne pathogens under recreated applicable food processing environmental conditions. Notably, saturated salt solutions can efficiently control relative humidity in airtight containers. This chapter describes a practical experimental setup, with necessary prerequisites for exposing foodborne pathogens to simulated and relevant food processing environmental conditions. Subsequent analyses for studying cell physiology will also be suggested.

Relationship between Neighborhood-Level Social Risk Factor Measures and Presenting Glaucoma Severity Utilizing Multilevel Modeling.

Purpose: The neighborhood and built environment social determinant of health domain has several social risk factors (SRFs) that are modifiable through policy efforts. We investigated the impact of neighborhood-level SRFs on presenting glaucoma severity at a tertiary eye care center. Design: A cross-sectional study from August 2012 to May 2022 in the University of Michigan electronic health record (EHR). Participants: Patients with a diagnosis of any open-angle glaucoma with ≥1 eye care visit at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center and ≥1 reliable visual field (VF). Methods: Participants who met inclusion criteria were identified by International Classification of Diseases ninth and tenth revision codes (365.x/H40.x). Data extracted from the EHR included patient demographics, address, presenting mean deviation (MD), and VF reliability. Addresses were mapped to SRF measures at the census tract, block group, and county levels. Multilevel linear regression models were used to estimate the fixed effects of each SRF on MD, after adjusting for patient-level demographic factors and a random effect for neighborhood. Interactions between each SRF measure with patient-level race and Medicaid status were tested for an additive effect on MD. Main Outcome Measures: The main outcome measure was the effect of SRF on presenting MD. Results: In total, 4428 patients were included in the analysis who were, on average, 70.3 years old (standard deviation = 11.9), 52.6% self-identified as female, 75.8% self-identified as White race, and 8.9% had Medicaid. The median value of presenting MD was -4.94 decibels (dB) (interquartile range = -11.45 to -2.07 dB). Neighborhood differences accounted for 4.4% of the variability in presenting MD. Neighborhood-level measures, including worse area deprivation (estimate, ß = -0.31 per 1-unit increase; P < 0.001), increased segregation (ß = -0.92 per 0.1-unit increase in Theil's H index; P < 0.001), and increased neighborhood Medicaid (ß = -0.68; P < 0.001) were associated with worse presenting MD. Significant interaction effects with race and Medicaid status were found in several neighborhood-level SRF measures. Conclusions: Although patients' neighborhood SRF measures accounted for a minority of the variability in presenting MD, most neighborhood-level SRFs are modifiable and were associated with clinically meaningful differences in presenting MD. Policies that aim to reduce neighborhood inequities by addressing allocation of resources could have lasting impacts on vision outcomes. Financial Disclosures: Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Up-conversion luminescence and temperature sensing properties of Ho3+-, Tm3+-, and Yb3+-codoped Bi2WO6 materials in a water environment.

A series of x%Ho3+, 5 %Tm3+, y%Yb3+:Bi2WO6 (x = 0, 0.5, 1, 3, 5; y = 0.5, 1, 3) luminescent materials was prepared using a high-temperature solid-phase method. The microstructure, up-conversion luminescence, and temperature sensing properties of the synthesized powders were analyzed. X-ray diffraction patterns revealed that doping with Ho3+, Tm3+, and Yb3+ ions at certain concentrations did not affect the orthorhombic crystal structure of the Bi2WO6 host. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the morphology of the sample consisted of lumpy particles with a particle size range of 1-5 µm and agglomeration. SEM mapping and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyses revealed that each element was relatively uniformly distributed on the particle surface. Under 980 nm excitation (380 mW), the strongest luminescence of the sample was obtained when both Ho3+ and Yb3+ doping concentrations were 1 %. Compared with the luminescence of the 5 %Tm3+ and 1 %Yb3+:Bi2WO6 sample, with increasing Ho3+ concentrations, the luminescence intensity of Tm3+ was first enhanced and subsequently weakened, whereas the luminescence of Ho3+ was significantly weakened, which indicates the positive energy transfer from Ho3+ â†’ Tm3+. At 980 nm (80-380 mW), for the 1 %Ho3+, 5 %Tm3+, and 1 %Yb3+:Bi2WO6 sample, the 538 nm, 545 nm, 660 nm, and 804 nm emission peaks originated from the two-photon absorption. FIR660 nm/804 nm, FIR545 nm/804 nm, and FIR538 nm/804 nm were used to characterize the temperature and corresponded to temperature sensitivities Sr of 0.0046 K-1, 0.022 K-1 and 0.024 K-1 at 573 K, respectively. At 498 K, the minimum temperature resolution δT values were 0.03384 K, 0.03203 K and 0.04373 K. When the temperature increased from 298 K to 573 K, the powder sample luminescence gradually shifted from the yellow-green region to the red region. The results of environmental discoloration and thermochromic performance tests indicate that this sample has potential application in optical anti-counterfeiting. FIR804 nm /660 nm and FIR804 nm /538 nm were obtained for the 40 NTU turbidity suspension under identical excitation conditions. At 298 K, for the 40 NTU turbidity sample, the maximum Sr values were 0.0197 K-1 and 0.0405 K-1; at 340 K, the minimum temperature resolutions δT values were 0.54037 K and 0.66237 K. When the temperature decreased from 340 K to 298 K, the luminescence of the 40 NTU suspension samples gradually shifted from the yellow region to the green region.

Complex housing in adulthood state-dependently affects the excitation-inhibition balance in the infralimbic prefrontal cortex of male C57Bl/6 mice.

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays an important role in social behavior and is sensitive to stressful circumstances. Challenging life conditions might change PFC function and put individuals at risk for maladaptive social behavior. The excitation-inhibition (EI) balance of prefrontal neurons appears to play a crucial role in this process. Here, we examined how a challenging life condition in C57BL/6JolaHsd mice, i.e. group-housing 6 mice in a complex environment for 10 days in adulthood, changes the EI-balance of infralimbic prefrontal neurons in layer 2/3, compared to standard pair-housing. Slices were prepared from "undisturbed" mice, i.e. the first mouse taken from the cage, or mice taken ∼15 min later, who were mildly aroused after removal of the first mouse. We observed a housing-condition by arousal-state interaction, with in the complex housing group an elevated EI-balance in undisturbed and reduced EI-balance in mildly aroused animals, while no differences were observed in standard housed animals. The change was explained by a shift in mIPSC and mEPSC frequency, while amplitudes remained unaffected. Female mice showed no housing-by-state interaction, but a main effect of housing was found for mIPSCs, with a higher frequency in complex- versus standard-housed females. No effects were observed in males who were complex-housed from a young age onwards. Explorative investigations support a potential mediating role of corticosterone in housing effects on the EI-balance of males. We argue that taking the arousal state of individuals into account is necessary to better understand the consequences of exposure to challenging life conditions for prefrontal function.

Capacitive pressure sensors based on microstructured polymer-derived SiCN ceramics for high-temperature applications.

Traditional silicon-based pressure sensors cannot meet demand of pressure information acquisition in high-temperature extreme environments due to their low sensitivity, limited detection temperature and complex processing. Herein, a capacitive pressure sensor is fabricated using polymer-derived SiCN ceramics with convex microstructures via a sample replication strategy. Its performance is measured at different pressures (0-800 kPa) from room temperature to 500 °C. The results show that the SiCN ceramic capacitive pressure sensor exhibits low hysteresis, good non-linearity of 0.26 %, outstanding repeatability and high sensitivity of 0.197 pF/MPa under room temperature. When the test temperature reaches 500 °C, the performance of the prepared capacitive pressure sensor has no degradation, keeping competent sensitivity of 0.214 pF/MPa and nonlinear error of 0.24 %. Therefore, benefitting from the preeminent high-temperature properties, e.g., excellent oxidation/corrosion resistance and thermal stability, SiCN ceramics capacitive pressure sensors have great potential in the application of high-temperature and harsh environments.

Regulating coordination environment in metal-organic Framework@Cuprous oxide Core-Shell catalyst for Promoting electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction.

As a kind of promising oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts, metal-organic frameworks (MOF) are often constrained by their inherent poor electroconductivity and structural instability. In this study, we developed a mono-dispersed zeolitic imidazolate framework-67@cuprous oxide (ZIF-67@Cu2O) core-shell catalyst via in-situ growth method for highly efficient alkaline OER. The ZIF-67@Cu2O shows an excellent OER activity with a low overpotential of 254 mV at 10 mA cm-2 and Tafel slope of 87.9 mV·dec-1 in 1.0 M KOH. Furthermore, the ZIF-67@Cu2O also shows a high turnover frequency (TOF) of 0.166 s-1 at 1.60  V vs. RHE and long-term stability for 160 h at a high current density of 100 mA cm-2. The unique core-shell structure with the Cu2O core linked with ZIF-67 shell through interfacial di-oxygen bridge improves the structural stability, enhances the charge transfer, and provides more active sites. Moreover, the interfacial coordination structure was regulated from Co-N4 to Co-N2O2 which elevates the valence of Co sites and optimizes the adsorption free energy of oxygen-containing intermediates, thus improving the electrocatalytic OER performance. This work could propose the way for designing novel MOF-based nanomaterials and developing desirable and robust heterogeneous OER catalysts.

Emission characteristics and probabilistic health risk of volatile organic compounds from leather sofa.

Furniture is identified as a vital volatile organic compound (VOC) emission source in the indoor environment. Leather has become the most common raw and auxiliary fabric material for upholstered furniture, particularly with extensive consumption in sofas, due to its abundant resources and efficient functions. Despite being widely traded across the world, little research has been conducted on the VOCs released by leather materials and their health risk assessment in the indoor environment. Accordingly, this study investigated the VOC emissions of leather with different grades and the health risk of the inhalation exposure. Based on the ultra-fast gas phase electronic nose (EN) and GC-FID/Qtof, the substantial emissions of aliphatic aldehyde ketones (Aks), particularly hexanal, appear to be the cause of off-flavor in medium and low grade (MG and LG) sofa leathers. The health risk assessment indicated that leather materials barely pose non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic effects to residents. Given the abundance of VOC sources and the accumulation of health risks in the indoor environment, more stringent specifications concerning qualitative and quantitative content should be extended to provide VOC treatment basic for the manufacturing industry and obtain better indoor air quality.

Insights into the roles of nitrogen and phosphorus co-doping for efficient methanol electrooxidation.

Anchoring Pt onto multi-heteroatom doped carbon materials has been recognized as an effective approach to improve the performance of electrocatalytic methanol oxidation. However, distinct contributions and specific behavior mechanisms of different heteroatoms, notably N and P, the specific behavior mechanisms in synergistically promoting Pt NPs remain elusive. In this work, we construct 1D N and P co-doped carbon nanotube (N, P-CNTs) supports with abundant defect anchors for Pt. The as-prepared Pt/N, P-CNTs exhibit outstanding activity and exceptional stability in methanol oxidation reaction (MOR), achieving high mass activity up to 6481.3 mA mg-1Pt. Moreover, they can retain 90.5 % of their initial current density even after 800 cycles tests. Detailed characterizations and theoretical calculations indicate that the robust strong metal-support interactions (SMSI) effect caused by N doping within the unique N and P co-doped coordination structure controllably regulate the coordination environment of Pt, reduce the d-band center of Pt, thus promoting the adsorption and decomposition of CH3OH. However, P doping weakens the adsorption strength of CO on the Pt active site by sacrificing partial electron transfer, accelerating the oxidative conversion of the CO-like poisoning species (COads). Significantly, the synergistic mechanism of N and P species on the modification of Pt's electronic structure and its subsequent impact on the electrocatalytic methanol oxidation behaviors on the Pt surface was thoroughly elucidated, providing a constructive route for designing robust MOR electrocatalysts with high MOR activity and durability.

Empoderamento estrutural: potencializando as competências dos enfermeiros de um hospital de alta complexidade / Structural empowerment: enhancing the skills of nurses in a high-complexity hospital / Empoderamiento estructural: potenciar las competencias de los enfermeros en un hospital de alta complejidad

Objetivo: analisar o empoderamento estrutural de enfermeiros em um hospital de alta complexidade. Métodos: estudo quantitativo, analítico e transversal, realizado com 93 enfermeiros, utilizando um questionário sociodemográfico e ocupacional e o Questionário de Condições de Eficácia no Trabalho II. Os dados foram coletados entre fevereiro e março de 2023. A análise dos dados deu-se por meio de estatística descritiva, teste de Kolgomorov-Smirnov, teste do qui-quadrado e regressão de Poisson. Resultados: os enfermeiros apresentaram nível moderado de empoderamento estrutural, com média de 20,67 (p<0,000). O componente mais pontuado foi a oportunidade (4,22 dp±0,80). Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas nos níveis de empoderamento estrutural relacionadas às unidades de trabalho (p-Valor 0,381), vínculo empregatício (p-Valor 0,352) e grau de instrução (p-Valor 0,839). O modelo de regressão de Poisson indica que tanto pode haver altos ou baixos níveis de empoderamento a depender do setor. Conclusão: os enfermeiros demonstraram possuir níveis moderados de empoderamento estrutural.

Objective: to analyze the structural empowerment of nurses in a high-complexity hospital. Methods: a quantitative, analytical, cross-sectional study was carried out with 93 nurses, using a sociodemographic and occupational questionnaire and the Questionnaire of Conditions of Effectiveness at Work II. The data was collected between February and March 2023. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Kolgomorov-Smirnov test, the chi-square test, and Poisson regression. Results: the nurses had a moderate structural empowerment level, with a mean of 20.67 (p<0.000). The highest scoring component was opportunity (4.22 sd±0.80). No significant differences were found in the structural empowerment levels related to work units (p-Value 0.381), employment relationship (p-Value 0.352) and education level (p-Value 0.839). The Poisson regression model indicates that there can be either high or low empowerment levels depending on the sector. Conclusion: nurses showed moderate structural empowerment levels.

Objetivo: analizar el empoderamiento estructural del enfermero en un hospital de alta complejidad. Métodos: estudio cuantitativo, analítico y transversal, realizado con 93 enfermeros, utilizando un cuestionario sociodemográfico y ocupacional y el Cuestionario de Condiciones de Efectividad en el Trabajo II. Los datos se recolectaron entre febrero y marzo de 2023. El análisis de los datos se realizó mediante estadística descriptiva, prueba de Kolgomorov-Smirnov, prueba de chi-cuadrado y regresión de Poisson. Resultados: los enfermeros presentaron un nivel moderado de empoderamiento estructural, la media fue de 20,67 (p<0,000). El componente con mayor puntaje fue oportunidad (4,22 DE±0,80). No se encontraron diferencias significativas en los niveles de empoderamiento estructural relacionados con las unidades de trabajo (valor p 0,381), la relación laboral (valor p 0,352) y el nivel de formación (valor p 0,839). El modelo de regresión de Poisson indica que pueden existir niveles altos o bajos de empoderamiento dependiendo del sector. Conclusión: los enfermeros demostraron niveles moderados de empoderamiento estructural.

Powerful Rare-Variant Association Analysis of Secondary Phenotypes.

Most genome-wide association studies are based on case-control designs, which provide abundant resources for secondary phenotype analyses. However, such studies suffer from biased sampling of primary phenotypes, and the traditional statistical methods can lead to seriously distorted analysis results when they are applied to secondary phenotypes without accounting for the biased sampling mechanism. To our knowledge, there are no statistical methods specifically tailored for rare variant association analysis with secondary phenotypes. In this article, we proposed two novel joint test statistics for identifying secondary-phenotype-associated rare variants based on prospective likelihood and retrospective likelihood, respectively. We also exploit the assumption of gene-environment independence in retrospective likelihood to improve the statistical power and adopt a two-step strategy to balance statistical power and robustness. Simulations and a real-data application are conducted to demonstrate the superior performance of our proposed methods.

A Multi-State Examination of School District Policies to Address Teen Dating Violence.

In 2021, 13.6% of United States (U.S.) high school students reported experiencing teen dating violence (TDV). Most states have at least one law for addressing TDV in high schools through policies and/or educational programs. Limited research has been done to analyze the content and variability of school district TDV policies across the U.S., and its association with TDV victimization. Twenty-three large urban school districts across the U.S. were included in the analysis. School district TDV policies were obtained through an online search and were coded for the presence or absence of information pertaining to the scope, prevention education, response to TDV, and implementation of the policy. Self-reported TDV victimization was also obtained for each school district from the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Overall, 18 school districts had a written TDV policy available online, with 15 school districts defining TDV in the policy. In terms of prevention education, only two school districts used culturally responsive language for diverse populations in the policy. Although 17 school districts included disciplinary consequences for TDV perpetration in the policy, only 6 school districts specified the consequences. All school districts with a TDV policy designated a liaison for TDV coordination. Overall, the prevalence and odds of self-reported TDV victimization was higher in school districts without a TDV policy compared to school districts with a TDV policy. Although most of the school districts had a TDV policy, there was substantial variation in the content of these TDV policies. Identifying and addressing gaps in school district TDV policies can potentially lead schools to preventing and responding to TDV more comprehensively, ultimately creating safer school environments.

Decoding the genetic landscape of autism: A comprehensive review.

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by heterogeneous symptoms and genetic underpinnings. Recent advancements in genetic and epigenetic research have provided insights into the intricate mechanisms contributing to ASD, influencing both diagnosis and therapeutic strategies. AIM: To explore the genetic architecture of ASD, elucidate mechanistic insights into genetic mutations, and examine gene-environment interactions. METHODS: A comprehensive systematic review was conducted, integrating findings from studies on genetic variations, epigenetic mechanisms (such as DNA methylation and histone modifications), and emerging technologies [including Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 and single-cell RNA sequencing]. Relevant articles were identified through systematic searches of databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar. RESULTS: Genetic studies have identified numerous risk genes and mutations associated with ASD, yet many cases remain unexplained by known factors, suggesting undiscovered genetic components. Mechanistic insights into how these genetic mutations impact neural development and brain connectivity are still evolving. Epigenetic modifications, particularly DNA methylation and non-coding RNAs, also play significant roles in ASD pathogenesis. Emerging technologies like CRISPR-Cas9 and advanced bioinformatics are advancing our understanding by enabling precise genetic editing and analysis of complex genomic data. CONCLUSION: Continued research into the genetic and epigenetic underpinnings of ASD is crucial for developing personalized and effective treatments. Collaborative efforts integrating multidisciplinary expertise and international collaborations are essential to address the complexity of ASD and translate genetic discoveries into clinical practice. Addressing unresolved questions and ethical considerations surrounding genetic research will pave the way for improved diagnostic tools and targeted therapies, ultimately enhancing outcomes for individuals affected by ASD.

Effect of Soundscape Augmentation on Behavioral Symptoms in People With Dementia: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background and Objectives: Sound is an important environmental factor that influences the expression of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Recent research on the effect of soundscape has shown promising results in improving environmental impact on people with dementia. However, no controlled studies have aimed to quantify the effects of soundscape intervention on resident outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and impact of a soundscape intervention on people with dementia and behavioral symptoms. Research Design and Methods: Pilot single-blind repeated-measures randomized controlled trial of an augmented soundscape intervention. Participants were people with dementia in a hospital-based specialized dementia unit. Participants were randomized to an augmented soundscape intervention delivered in their room in the morning and evening or treatment as usual, with 2 baseline weeks and 4 weekly post-randomization assessments of the primary and secondary behavioral outcomes. Results: The soundscape intervention was feasible in terms of recruitment, retention, and delivery of the intervention. There were improvements in the neuropsychiatric inventory total scores over time in both groups (-5.89, 95%CI -8.45 to -3.28, p < .001), but no differences between groups. There were no significant group, time, or group × time differences for the Pittsburgh Agitation Scale (PAS) total score. For the PAS-resisting care subscale, there was a significant group × time difference, with a greater reduction in the soundscape group over the study period (-0.81, 95% CI -1.59 to -0.03, p = .042). Discussion and Implications: In this pilot study, soundscape augmentation was a feasible and effective nonpharmacological approach to reducing resistance to care in people with dementia, although it did not improve neuropsychiatric symptoms more globally. Further studies with larger samples and of longer duration are needed to investigate the long-term effects of augmented sonic environments on people with dementia. Clinical Trials Registration Number: NCT04809545.

Improvement of thermal environment in the outdoor atrium by employing the spray system.

Outdoor atriums have recently been applied with increasing frequency for natural illumination, but they produce a harsh thermal environment easily in summer. Moreover, overheating of the outdoor atrium necessitates air-conditioning to moderate indoor thermal comfort. Simultaneously, the substantial heat emissions from air-conditioning outdoor units worsen the outdoor thermal environment, creating a vicious cycle. Traditional passive evaporative methods involving water and greenery, while capable of regulating the thermal environment, suffer from low evaporative efficiency and pose significant challenges. To improve thermal environment in outdoor atriums, the spray system was employed due to its high cooling efficiency, especially in open or semi-open spaces. In this study, a comparative experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of using a spray system for evaporative cooling in open outdoor spaces. Furthermore, employing high-efficiency evaporative cooling through spraying to disrupt the vicious cycle of indoor and outdoor thermal environments. The dual goals include regulating indoor and outdoor thermal conditions while also mitigating the local heat island effect. Temperature and humidity distribution within the atrium and adjacent hallways were monitored, along with the impact on air-conditioning operation consumption in neighboring offices. Results showed that the spray system significantly improved the thermal environment in the outdoor atrium, reducing the average and peak air temperatures by 0.94-2.83 °C and 2.92-5.21 °C, respectively. It also resulted in a drop in the average temperature by 0.56-1.62 °C and the peak temperature by 2.31-3.25 °C in adjacent hallways. This effectively eased the issue of overheating in these areas while raising the comfort level in adjacent office spaces. The predicted mean vote decreased from 1.46 to 0.87, indicating a significant improvement in thermal environment in neighboring offices. Furthermore, the daily energy consumption was reduced by 10.6-12.4% in neighboring offices. This study provided the valuable guidance for improving thermal environments within outdoor atrium.

Environmental contamination with carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in healthcare settings in Fiji: a potential source of infection.

Introduction: There are multiple ongoing outbreaks of carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAb) infection in Fiji's hospitals. CRAb is able to colonize and persist on various hospital surfaces for extended periods. We conducted a study to understand the extent of hospital environmental contamination and phylogenetic links with clinical isolates. Methods: Swabs were collected from high-touch surfaces at Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH) September 2021 and December 2022; Lautoka Hospital (LTKH) August 2022; and Labasa Hospital (LBSH) November 2022. All bacterial isolates were identified, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) performed; isolates resistant to carbapenems and producing a carbapenemase underwent whole genome sequencing. Comparison was made to clinical isolates obtained from CWMH in 2016-2017 and 2019-2021 and from LTKH and LBSH from 2020-2021. Results: From the 180 environmental samples collected, ten (5.6%) CRAb were isolated; no other carbapenem-resistant gram-negative organisms were isolated. Seven (70%) of the CRAb were isolated from CWMH and three (30%) from LTKH; no CRAb were isolated from LBSH. Of the seven CWMH CRAb, two were sequence type 2 (ST2), three ST25, and two ST499. All LTKH isolates were ST499. The two environmental CRAb ST2 isolates were closely genetically linked to isolates obtained from patients in CWMH, LTKH, and LBSH 2020-2021. Similarly, the three environmental CRAb ST25 isolates were closely genetically linked to isolates obtained from patients admitted to CWMH in 2019-2021 and LBSH in 2020. The environmental CRAb ST499 isolates represented two distinct clones, with clone 1 comprising two genetically identical isolates from CWMH and clone 2 the three isolates from LTKH. Although no genetic linkages were observed when comparing environmental ST499 isolates to those from CWMH patients in 2020-2021, both clone 1 isolates were genetically identical to an isolate obtained from a patient admitted during the sampling period. Conclusion: Our study highlights the contamination of high-touch surfaces within Fiji hospitals with CRAb, suggesting that these may serve as important sources for CRAb. Phylogenetic linkages to CRAb isolated from patients since 2019 underscores the persistence of this resistant pathogen in hospital settings and the ongoing risk for hospital-acquired infections.

Multi-modal remote perception learning for object sensory data.

Introduction: When it comes to interpreting visual input, intelligent systems make use of contextual scene learning, which significantly improves both resilience and context awareness. The management of enormous amounts of data is a driving force behind the growing interest in computational frameworks, particularly in the context of autonomous cars. Method: The purpose of this study is to introduce a novel approach known as Deep Fused Networks (DFN), which improves contextual scene comprehension by merging multi-object detection and semantic analysis. Results: To enhance accuracy and comprehension in complex situations, DFN makes use of a combination of deep learning and fusion techniques. With a minimum gain of 6.4% in accuracy for the SUN-RGB-D dataset and 3.6% for the NYU-Dv2 dataset. Discussion: Findings demonstrate considerable enhancements in object detection and semantic analysis when compared to the methodologies that are currently being utilized.

Childhood poverty, social support, immigration background and adolescent health and life satisfaction: A population-based longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined whether poverty (neighborhood and household) was associated with future health or life satisfaction outcomes and whether the association operated through social support (adult support at home, adult support at school, peer belonging), or differed by the immigration background (nonimmigrant family or immigrant family) of the family. METHODS: This study utilized a retrospective, longitudinal, population-based cohort that included self-reported survey data from the Middle Years Development Instrument (MDI) completed by children at age 9 and age 12, linked to administrative records. Participants included 5906 children in British Columbia, Canada. Neighborhood and household poverty were observed at age 8. Social support from adults and peers was self-reported at age 9. Outcomes (overall health; life satisfaction) were self-reported at age 12. Adjusted multi-level multiple linear regression analyses and parallel mediation analyses were utilized. The interaction between poverty exposure and immigration background was also examined. RESULTS: Exposure to either poverty type was associated with lower levels of life satisfaction and overall health at age 12, though household poverty appeared to be associated with lower outcomes in comparison to neighborhood poverty. The indirect effects of poverty on outcomes appeared to operate primarily through adult support at home and peer belonging. Children in immigrant families had a larger negative association between neighborhood poverty and life satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Household poverty had a larger negative association to outcomes in comparison to neighborhood poverty. The association of poverty to outcomes differed by immigration background and operated partially through adult support at home and peer belonging.

Virtual Reality / Augmented Reality (VR/AR) Approach to Develop Social and Communication Skills in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders Without Intellectual Impairment.

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a significant proportion of the world's population, particularly children and adolescents. The sensory processing issues can be an evidence-based target for therapeutic/corrective interventions by controlling the intensity and targeted replacement of maladaptive sensory stimuli with neutral stimuli using virtual reality or augmented reality. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We searched for articles on Pubmed. The search query included ((VR or virtual reality) or (AR or augmented reality)) and (children or adolescents) and (ASD or autism spectrum disorder or autism). RESULTS: Our criteria were met by 25 articles. 19 articles used VR, 5 articles used AR and 1 article used MR. Most interventions offer children and adolescents with ASD individualized tasks. Immersive VR games developed collaborative skills. Other systems encourage and teach directed facial gaze. Evaluation of the effectiveness of learning in VR/AR environment is carried out by means of different scales, qualitative analysis of surveys, questionnaires and interviews, studying the number and duration of eye contacts between the participant and the avatar. It should be noted that almost all studies were conducted on small samples, so their results allow us to draw only preliminary conclusions about the effectiveness of VR /AR. CONCLUSIONS: The following key areas of VR/AR technologies for children and adolescents with high-functioning ASD can be identified: communicating with an avatar, including answering its questions, tracking the child's gaze and encouraging the child to look at the face, placing it in social situations close to real life, practicing common everyday situations, learning to recognize emotions. A VR/AR-based therapy approach may help children with autism spectrum disorder without cognitive impairment to develop higher levels of adaptation in terms of social and communication skills. However, more research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of different methods.

Understanding the mechanism of microplastic-associated antibiotic resistance genes in aquatic ecosystems: Insights from metagenomic analyses and machine learning.

The pervasive presence of microplastics (MPs) in aquatic systems facilitates the transmission of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), thereby posing risks to ecosystems and human well-being. However, owing to variations in environmental backgrounds and the limited scope of research subjects, studies on ARGs in MPs lack unified conclusions, particularly regarding whether different types of MPs selectively promote ARG enrichment. Analysing large-scale datasets can better encompass broad spatiotemporal scales and diverse samples, facilitating a more extensive exploration of the complex ecological relationships between MPs and ARGs. The present study integrated existing metagenomic datasets to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment and comparative analysis of resistance groups across various MPs. In addition, we endeavoured to elucidate potential associations between ARGs and bacterial taxa, as well as MP structural features, using machine learning (ML) methods. The findings of our research highlight the pivotal role of MP type in shaping plastispheres, accounting for 9.56 % of the biotic variation (Adonis index) and explaining 18.59 % of the ARG variance. Compared to conventional MPs, biodegradable MPs, such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) and polylactic acid (PLA), exhibit lower species uniformity and diversity but pose a higher risk of ARG occurrence. These ML approaches effectively forecasted ARG abundance by using the bacterial taxa and molecular structure descriptors (MDs) of MPs (average R2tra = 0.882, R2test = 0.759). Feature analysis showed that MDs associated with lipophilicity, solubility, toxicity, and surface potential significantly influenced the relative abundance of ARGs in the plastispheres. The interpretable multiple linear regression (MLR) model, particularly notable, elucidated a linear relationship between bacterial genera and ARGs, offering promise for identifying potential ARG hosts. This study offers novel insights into ARG dynamics and ecological risks within aquatic plastispheres, highlighting the importance of comprehensive MP monitoring initiatives.

Electro-mediated cathodic oxygen drives respiration chain electron transfer of electroactive bacteria to enhance refractory organic biological oxidation.

In electro-mediated biological system (EMBS), biological anode and cathode components were incorporated into an anaerobic bioreactor, providing a small amount of oxygen to the cathode as an electron acceptor. Oxygen diffusion also impacts the anode's anaerobic ecological environment. This study unraveled how oxygen influences the metabolism and electron transport chain during the biological oxidation of refractory organics. Under the influence of electromotive force, the straight-chain model pollutant N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) showed rapid degradation and better ammonification, with maximum rates reaching 0.53 h-1 and 26.6 %, respectively. Elevated electromotive force promoted the enrichment of functional electroactive bacteria on the anode and enhanced the availability of electron storage sites, thereby facilitating electron transfer at the anode-biofilm interface. Conversely, the anodic micro-aerobic environment disrupted the anaerobic microbial community structure, and the competitive interactions among fermentative bacteria and electroactive bacteria inhibited DMF degradation. Metagenomic analysis confirmed that cathodic oxygen up-regulated the pyruvate metabolism and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle to generate NADH and synthesize ATP. The electromotive force induced by cathodic oxygen accelerated the electron transfer in respiratory chains of electroactive bacteria, driving the oxidation of NADH and enhancing the degradation of organics. This study improves our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms governing metabolic pathways under the influence of cathodic oxygen. It offers potential for developing more efficient EMBS in industrial wastewater pretreatment, ensuring that oxygen is prevented from diffusing to the anode during micro-aeration at the cathode.