The influence of probiotics on gastrointestinal tract infections among children attending childcare: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Current literature related to the impact of probiotics on the incidence of gastrointestinal tract infections (GITIs) has shown mixed results and no systematic review available with pooled analysis exists. Thus, the aim of this systematic review was to provide contemporary evidence regarding the overall and strain-specific influence of probiotics in preventing GITIs among infants and children attending childcare centres. The review shortlisted 18 RCTs after screening through the initial search results of 779 articles. However, only 15 trials were deemed eligible, addressing at least one outcome in the pooled analysis. It is concluded that the supplementation of probiotics (overall effect) may reduce the risk of GITI episode by 26%, with Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, Limosilactobacillus reuteri and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG being specifically potent probiotic strains in reducing GITI episode, duration of infection and absence from childcare respectively. There is insufficient evidence to determine the effect of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 based on the findings of the trials included in this review.

Spectroscopic evidence for negative electronic compressibility in a quasi-three-dimensional spin-orbit correlated metal.

Negative compressibility is a sign of thermodynamic instability of open or non-equilibrium systems. In quantum materials consisting of multiple mutually coupled subsystems, the compressibility of one subsystem can be negative if it is countered by positive compressibility of the others. Manifestations of this effect have so far been limited to low-dimensional dilute electron systems. Here, we present evidence from angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) for negative electronic compressibility (NEC) in the quasi-three-dimensional (3D) spin-orbit correlated metal (Sr1-xLax)3Ir2O7. Increased electron filling accompanies an anomalous decrease of the chemical potential, as indicated by the overall movement of the deep valence bands. Such anomaly, suggestive of NEC, is shown to be primarily driven by the lowering in energy of the conduction band as the correlated bandgap reduces. Our finding points to a distinct pathway towards an uncharted territory of NEC featuring bulk correlated metals with unique potential for applications in low-power nanoelectronics and novel metamaterials.

Extracting the redox orbitals in Li battery materials with high-resolution x-ray compton scattering spectroscopy.

We present an incisive spectroscopic technique for directly probing redox orbitals based on bulk electron momentum density measurements via high-resolution x-ray Compton scattering. Application of our method to spinel Li_{x}Mn_{2}O_{4}, a lithium ion battery cathode material, is discussed. The orbital involved in the lithium insertion and extraction process is shown to mainly be the oxygen 2p orbital. Moreover, the manganese 3d states are shown to experience spatial delocalization involving 0.16±0.05 electrons per Mn site during the battery operation. Our analysis provides a clear understanding of the fundamental redox process involved in the working of a lithium ion battery.

Utilization of Water Utility Lime Sludge for Flue Gas Desulfurization in Coal-Fired Power Plants: Part III. Testing at a Higher Scale and Assessment of Selected Potential Operational Issues.

The feasibility of lime sludge utilization for flue gas desulfurization was evaluated by continuing the previous laboratory-scale studies at a higher scale and investigating two potential operational issues, namely viscosity and metal corrosion. Two lime sludge samples and a baseline limestone sample, which were previously characterized and tested for SO2 capture from a simulated flue gas at a laboratory scale, were first tested at a 10-fold scale with a simulated flue gas, and then tested with a slipstream of flue gas from a coal-fired power plant. The tested lime sludge and limestone slurries reduced the SO2 concentration of the simulated flue gas from 2000 to <1 ppm, and they demonstrated similar Hg reemission profiles. Field-testing results revealed that the limestone and lime sludge slurries reduced the SO2 concentration of the flue gas from ~1500 to <1 ppm. These experiments confirmed our previous smaller scale laboratory results that lime sludge can function as a suitable substitute for limestone for SO2 removal from the flue gas of coal-fired power plants without negatively affecting Hg reemission. Two operational issues, namely viscosity and metal corrosion, were investigated to evaluate practical issues in the transition from limestone to lime sludge at power plants. Results of Marsh funnel viscosity experiments conducted at different solids contents and temperatures indicated the limestone and lime sludge slurries and their gypsum counterparts had similar flow characteristics. Carbon-steel, stainless-steel, and Hastelloy coupons were tested for corrosion by lime sludge and limestone slurries. Both stainless steel and Hastelloy were resistive to corrosion in slurries made from lime sludge or limestone samples or their gypsum counterparts. A considerable but similar amount of corrosion was observed for carbon-steel coupons exposed to lime sludge and limestone slurries. Adding 5000 ppm of Cl- to slurries considerably increased the corrosion rate of carbon steel.

Removal of Stabilized Silver Nanoparticles from Surface Water by Conventional Treatment Processes.

Engineered nanomaterials are used in many applications, including pollution sensors, photovoltaics, medical imaging, drug delivery and environmental remediation. Due to their numerous applications, silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are receiving a large amount of attention. Ag NPs may occur in drinking water sources either during manufacturing, consumption and/or disposal processes. This potentially leads to the presence of Ag NPs in finished drinking water, which could have public health impacts. The objective of this research was to investigate the removal of several types of stabilized Ag NPs by potable water treatment processes. Specifically, this research achieved these objectives through; 1) Synthesis of Citrate-reduced Ag NPs, Polyvinylpyrrolidone stabilized (PVP) Ag NPs and Branched polyethyleneimine stabilized (BPEI) Ag NPs, 2) Characterization of synthesized Ag NPs to determine their aggregation potential, Zeta potential profiles, (pHpzc) and obtain morphological data from SEM images, and 3) An evaluation of the efficacy of conventional water treatment processes (i.e., coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation and sand filtration) in removing stabilized Ag NPs from natural water. The three NPs were found to be stable at the nano size in natural water. Alum coagulation had no impact on the PVP and BPEI Ag NPs. Flocculation and settling were found to be key steps for removal of these NPs. The three Ag NPs were not permanently removed by means of conventional water treatment processes employed in this study.

Utilization of Water Utility Lime Sludge for Flue Gas Desulfurization in Coal-Fired Power Plants: Part II. Lime Sludge Characterization and Mercury Reemission.

The feasibility of utilizing lime sludge in the flue gas desulfurization process of coal-fired power plants was evaluated through laboratory-scale studies. Eight lime sludge samples, collected from various water treatment plants, and a high-purity limestone sample were extensively characterized and tested for their ability to capture SO2 from a simulated flue gas, while investigating the mercury reemission profiles during the scrubbing process. The reactivity of lime sludge samples for acid neutralization was significantly higher than the reactivity of the tested limestone sample. At doses less than that of the limestone sample, the lime sludge materials reduced the SO2 concentration from 2,000 to <0.5 ppm. The residual lime, higher surface area, and more accessible pores in lime sludge samples were the major factors contributing to their higher reactivity. Concentrations of several elements including B, Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, Sr, and Ba in some of the tested lime sludge samples were considerably higher than those elements in the limestone. However, no significant leaching of these elements into the scrubber solutions was observed. To investigate mercury reemission during the scrubbing process, ionic mercury was introduced into the simulated slurry and mercury reemission was monitored continuously. Results showed that compared with the limestone sample, the lime sludge samples tested had lower or similar cumulative mercury reemissions. However, different lime sludge samples showed different emission profiles. No conclusive correlation between the composition or trace element content of lime sludge samples and their mercury reemission could be identified. This result was likely due to the oxidative condition of the scrubbing process, which prohibited the reducing species from transforming the ionic mercury into elemental mercury.

Life cycle assessment of treatment and handling options for a highly saline brine extracted from a potential CO2 storage site.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) injection in deep saline aquifers is a promising option for CO2 geological sequestration. However, brine extraction may be necessary to control the anticipated increase in reservoir pressure resulting from CO2 injection. The extracted brines usually have elevated concentrations of total dissolved solids (TDS) and other contaminants and require proper handling or treatment. Different options for the handling or treatment of a high-TDS brine extracted from a potential CO2 sequestration site (Mt. Simon Sandstone, Illinois, USA) are evaluated here through a life cycle assessment (LCA) study. The objective of this LCA study is to evaluate the environmental impact (EI) of various treatment or disposal options, namely, deep well disposal (Case 1); near-zero liquid discharge (ZLD) treatment followed by disposal of salt and brine by-products (Case 2); and near-ZLD treatment assuming beneficial use of the treatment by-products (Case 3). Results indicate that energy use is the dominant factor determining the overall EI. Because of the high energy consumption, desalination of the pretreated brine (Cases 2 and 3) results in the highest EI. Consequently, the overall EI of desalination cases falls mainly into two EI categories: global warming potential and resources-fossil fuels. Deep well disposal has the least EI when the EI of brine injection into deep formations is not included. The overall freshwater consumption associated with different life cycle stages of the selected disposal or treatment options is 0.6-1.8 m3 of freshwater for every 1.0 m3 of brine input. The freshwater consumption balance is 0.6 m3 for every 1.0 m3 of brine input for Case 3 when desalination by-products are utilized for beneficial uses.

Structural determinants outside of the leucine zipper influence the interactions of CREB and ATF-2: interaction of CREB with ATF-2 blocks E1a-ATF-2 complex formation.

Dimerization of leucine zipper-containing proteins has been associated characteristically with the formation of a coiled-coil structure between two compatible leucine zipper motifs. In the present study we demonstrate the association of the leucine zipper of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) with a zinc finger motif of ATF-2. The association of the CREB leucine zipper with the ATF-2 zinc finger is stabilized if the ATF-2 leucine zipper is intact, implying that the preferred interactive structure of ATF-2 juxtaposes the amino-terminal zinc finger motif of this protein with the carboxy-terminal leucine zipper of this same protein. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the association of the CREB leucine zipper with the ATF-2 zinc finger in vitro blocks the association of the adenoviral E1a protein with ATF-2. Similarly, overexpression of full-length CREB, or a truncated version of this protein corresponding to the carboxy-terminal 74 amino acids that make up the DNA-binding and dimerization domains, can block the ATF-2-mediated transcriptional stimulation by E1a in vivo. Mutation of the ATF-2 zinc finger motif stimulates DNA binding of this protein, and abolishes interactions with E1a and CREB proteins. These results demonstrate that the structural conformation of ATF-2 is critical for DNA binding and protein-protein interactions and, further, that leucine zippers can mediate protein-protein interactions with structural motifs other than leucine zippers.

Activating transcription factor-2 DNA-binding activity is stimulated by phosphorylation catalyzed by p42 and p54 microtubule-associated protein kinases.

Recent studies have detailed the ability of activating transcription factor-2 (ATF-2) to mediate adenoviral E1a stimulation of gene expression; however, an endogenous regulator for the transcriptional activity of this protein has not been described. To characterize the regulation of ATF-2 activity, we have expressed full-length and truncated peptides corresponding to various regions of the ATF-2 protein in bacteria and the baculovirus insect cell system. Bacterially expressed truncated (350-505) but not full-length ATF-2, was able to bind a consensus cAMP response element-containing oligonucleotide, suggesting the N-terminal moiety may serve as a negative regulator of DNA-binding activity. In contrast, the full-length ATF-2 protein expressed in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells using a recombinant baculovirus was fully competent to bind DNA. Protein phosphatase 2A reversed the DNA-binding activity by dephosphorylating the ATF-2 polypeptide. Microtubule-associated protein kinase catalyzed the phosphorylation and stimulated the DNA-binding activity of bacterially expressed full-length ATF-2. Phosphopeptide mapping of phosphorylated ATF-2 proteins identified a single peptide in the N-terminal moiety of ATF-2 phosphorylated by p42 or p54 microtubule-associated protein kinase. Therefore, we propose that phosphorylation of this regulatory site is sufficient to induce an allosteric structural change in the ATF-2 protein, which allows dimerization and subsequent DNA binding.

Effect of pregnancy-lactation overlap on the current pregnancy outcome in women with substandard nutrition: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy during lactation is common in Egypt and is often unplanned. Overlap between pregnancy and lactation could be associated with an increased risk for the pregnant mother, her fetus as well as her nursing child. AIM OF THE STUDY: The current study aims to compare the maternal and perinatal outcome of pregnancies occurred during lactation with those occurred after weaning in women with substandard nutrition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective-cohort study was carried out in six Maternal and Child Health Centers in Assiut-Egypt. Estimated sample size was 540 women divided equally into two groups; the first included women who got pregnant during breastfeeding (PDBF), while the second included women who got pregnant after weaning (PAW). Tools were consisted of structured interview questionnaire including personal history, obstetrical data, breastfeeding, family planning histories and dietary intake during pregnancy. Pregnant women had been followed up to delivery to assess different maternal and fetal outcomes. RESULTS: Miscarriage rate was not statistically significant between both groups (2.2% in PDBF and 0.4% in PAW, p = 0.284). Women in PDBF group had higher prevalence of maternal anemia (54.1% versus 30.7%), intrauterine growth restriction (16.7% versus 4.8%), cesarean delivery (43.7% versus 31.5%), prolonged labor (13.3% versus 11.1%) and low birth weight infants (15.7% versus 8.8%) compared to women in PAW group. CONCLUSION: Pregnancy during breastfeeding is associated with an increase in the overall complications of pregnancy as compared to PAW. Although it does not increase the miscarriage rate, it increases the prevalence of maternal anemia, delayed fetal growth, prolonged labor, cesarean section delivery and the prevalence of low birth weight infants.

Fermi arcs vs. Fermi pockets in electron-doped perovskite iridates.

We report on an angle resolved photoemission (ARPES) study of bulk electron-doped perovskite iridate, (Sr(1-x)La(x))3Ir2O7. Fermi surface pockets are observed with a total electron count in keeping with that expected from La substitution. Depending on the energy and polarization of the incident photons, these pockets show up in the form of disconnected "Fermi arcs", reminiscent of those reported recently in surface electron-doped Sr2IrO4. Our observed spectral variation is consistent with the coexistence of an electronic supermodulation with structural distortion in the system.

A multifunctional prokaryotic protein expression system: overproduction, affinity purification, and selective detection.

A series of plasmid vectors, pRSET A, B, and C, have been developed for high-level protein expression in prokaryotes and have been characterized. Based upon the T7 RNA polymerase-driven pET system, the pRSET vectors encode recombinant proteins as fusions with a multifunctional leader peptide containing a hexahistidyl sequence for purification on Ni(2+)-affinity resins, a tyrosine residue for radioiodination, and an enterokinase proteolytic cleavage site for leader peptide removal. Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to two epitopes on the leader peptide, which also contains amino acids 1-12 of the T7 gene 10 major capsid protein, were developed and provide for universal immunological detection of pRSET-expressed fusion proteins. Subcloning of protein-encoding DNA is facilitated by an 11-site polylinker which is offset for all three ribosomal reading frames, and an f1(+) origin of DNA replication permits single-stranded DNA synthesis for site-directed mutagenesis protocols. Representative fusion proteins overexpressed in Escherichia coli were successfully purified under both denaturing and nondenaturing conditions by single-step Ni2+ affinity chromatography. Purification was independent of recombinant protein solubility in sonicated or freeze-thawed E. coli lysates. Isolation of MAbs for selective recognition of either of two leader peptide epitopes was demonstrated by immunoprecipitation, but this selectivity was less evident under conditions for Western blotting. In combining the utility of T7 RNA polymerase-directed expression with several recent advances in protein purification and detection, the pRSET vectors will serve as a powerful resource for a variety of studies in protein biochemistry.

Distribution of constitutive (COX-1) and inducible (COX-2) cyclooxygenase in postviral human liver cirrhosis: a possible role for COX-2 in the pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis.

AIMS: Prostaglandins produced by the action of cyclooxygenases (COX) are important mediators of systemic vasodilatation and inflammation in liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of COX-1 and COX-2 in postviral cirrhosis. METHODS: The immunohistochemical expression of the constitutive (COX-1) and the inducible (COX-2) isoenzymes was investigated in 15 patients with cirrhosis after hepatitis B and C infection; three normal control livers were also analysed. RESULTS: COX-2 was absent from normal liver but was highly expressed in cirrhosis, mainly in the inflammatory, sinusoidal, vascular endothelial, and biliary epithelial cells. Low amounts of COX-1 were expressed in both normal and cirrhotic livers, exclusively in sinusoidal and vascular endothelial cells, with no differences seen between normal and cirrhotic livers. CONCLUSIONS: COX-2 is overexpressed in liver cirrhosis, and possibly contributes to prostaglandin overproduction, which may be a major component of the inflammation and hyperdynamic circulation associated with cirrhosis. Because COX-2 is thought to contribute to tumour development, high COX-2 production could be a contributor to hepatocellular carcinoma development in cirrhosis. The finding of COX-2 and not COX-1 upregulation in cirrhosis could provide a possible new role for selective COX-2 inhibitors in reducing inflammation and minimising the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis.

The fate and transport of the SiO2 nanoparticles in a granular activated carbon bed and their impact on the removal of VOCs.

Adsorption isotherm, adsorption kinetics and column breakthrough experiments evaluating trichloroethylene (TCE) adsorption onto granular activated carbon (GAC) were conducted in the presence and absence of silica nanoparticles (SiO(2) NPs). Zeta potentials of the SiO(2) NPs and the GAC were measured. Particle size distribution (PSD) of SiO(2) NPs dispersions was analyzed with time to evaluate the extent of aggregation. TEM analysis was conducted. The specific surface area and the pore size distribution of the virgin and the spent GAC were obtained. The fate and transport of the SiO(2) NPs in the GAC fixed bed and their impact on TCE adsorption were found to be a function of their zeta potential, concentration and PSD. The interaction of the SiO(2) NPs and the GAC is of an electrokinetic nature. A weak electrostatic attraction was observed between the SiO(2) NPs and the GAC. This attraction favors SiO(2) NPs attachment on the surface of GAC. SiO(2) NPs attachment onto GAC is manifested by a reduction in the amount of TCE adsorbed during the column breakthrough experiments suggesting a preloading pore blockage phenomenon. However, no effect of SiO(2) NPs was observed on the isotherm and the kinetic studies, this is mainly due to the fast kinetics of TCE adsorption.