Natural solution for the remediation of multi-metal contamination: application of natural amino acids, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Micrococcus yunnanensis to increase the phytoremediation efficiency.

Natural amino acids (NAA) have been rarely investigated as chelators, despite their ability to chelate heavy metals (HMs). In the present research, the effects of extracted natural amino acids, as a natural and environmentally friendly chelate agent and the inoculation of Pseudomonas fluorescens (PF) and Micrococcus yunnanensis (MY) bacteria were investigated on some responses of quinoa in a soil polluted with Pb, Ni, Cd, and Zn. Inoculation of PGPR bacteria enhanced plant growth and phytoremediation efficiency. Pb and Cd were higher in quinoa roots, while Ni and Zn were higher in the shoots. The highest efficiencies were observed with NAA treatment and simultaneous inoculation of PF and MY bacteria for Ni, Cd, Pb, and Zn. The highest values of phytoremediation efficiency and uptake efficiency of Ni, Cd, Pb, and Zn were 21.28, 19.11, 14.96 and 18.99 µg g-1, and 31.52, 60.78, 51.89, and 25.33 µg g-1, respectively. Results of present study well demonstrated NAA extracted from blood powder acted as strong chelate agent due to their diversity in size, solubilizing ability, abundant functional groups, and potential in the formation of stable complexes with Ni, Cd, Pb, and Zn, increasing metal availability in soil and improving phytoremediation efficiency in quinoa.

This study focused on an underexplored topic, the potential of natural amino acids (NAA) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) to enhance phytoremediation efficiency of quinoa in a multi-metal contaminated soil with the waste recycling approach. Despite their chelating abilities, NAA have been rarely studied in this context. In the present study, the effects of extracted NAA, acting as environmentally friendly chelating agents, and the inoculation of Pseudomonas fluorescens (PF) and Micrococcus yunnanensis (MY) bacteria were examined on the responses of quinoa in a soil contaminated with Pb, Ni, Cd, and Zn.

Efficient Immobilization of heavy metals using newly synthesized magnetic nanoparticles and some bacteria in a multi-metal contaminated soil.

Simultaneous application of modified Fe3O4 with biological treatments in remediating multi-metal polluted soils, has rarely been investigated. Thus, a pioneering approach towards sustainable environmental remediation strategies is crucial. In this study, we aimed to improve the efficiency of Fe3O4 as adsorbents for heavy metals (HMs) by applying protective coatings. We synthesized core-shell magnetite nanoparticles coated with modified nanocellulose, nanohydrochar, and nanobiochar, and investigated their effectiveness in conjunction with bacteria (Pseudomonas putida and Bacillus megaterium) for remediating a multi-metal contamination soil. The results showed that the coatings significantly enhanced the immobilization of heavy metals in the soil, even at low doses (0.5%). The coating of nanocellulose had the highest efficiency in stabilizing metals due to the greater variety of surface functional groups and higher specific surface area (63.86 m2 g-1) than the other two coatings. Interestingly, uncoated Fe3O4 had lower performance (113.6 m2 g-1) due to their susceptibility to deformation and oxidation. The use of bacteria as a biological treatment led to an increase in the stabilization of metals in soil. In fact, Pseudomonas putida and Bacillus megaterium increased immobilization of HMs in soil successfully because of extracellular polymeric substances and intensive negative charges. Analysis of metal concentrations in plants revealed that Ni and Zn accumulated in the roots, while Pb and Cd were transferred from the roots to the shoots. Treatment Fe3O4 coated with modified nanocellulose at rates of 0.5 and 1% along with Pseudomonas putida showed the highest effect in stabilizing metals. Application of coated Fe3O4 for in-situ immobilization of HMs in contamination soils is recommendable due to their high metal stabilization efficiency and suitability to apply in large quantities.

Occupational Therapy Outcome Measures in Preschool Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Scoping Review.

With the rising prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), early assessment of preschool children is vital for occupational therapists. This scoping review aimed to provide detailed information about outcome measures used in occupational therapy interventions in preschool children with ASD and map the focus of the outcome measures based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) components. A thorough search from 2000 to 2022 was conducted that employed ICF linking rules to categorize the outcome measures. Seventy-four outcome measures were identified. They predominantly targeted body function and activity/participation, with less emphasis on environmental factors, and none assessed body structure. The most common measures were Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale (VABS-2), Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), and Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF). This study offers a diverse array of outcome measures and underscores the potential of the ICF framework in enhancing evaluations, particularly concerning broader environmental components as one of the primary facilitating/hindering factors in the participation of children with ASD.

METHOD: We did a scoping review following steps by Arksey and O'Malley. Scoping reviews help us to find important information. We wanted to see what works in occupational therapy for young children with ASD, using the ICF. We looked at studies from 2000 to 2022 and also checked different sources for studies. We made a summary of what we found. RESULTS: We found 802 articles but only used 46 after checking. Most kids in the studies were 4 years or older. We found 74 different tools to see whether treatments worked. The most common tools were COPM, Vineland-II, and PSI-SF. These tools looked at how children move, do things, and feel. Some ways looked at how children play, talk, and connect with others. Others focused on how parents feel. Two ways, Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) and Functional Emotional Assessment Scale (FEAS), looked at everything. Some general ways were used too. Over time, people looked more at how the environment affects children with ASD. CONCLUSION: We gathered many ways to see whether treatments work for children with ASD. The most common ones were COPM, Vineland-II, and PSI-SF. Each tool looked at different parts of how children do things. We did not see big changes in how people looked at treatments over time. Children with ASD need better ways to see whether treatments help them. We should look more at how the environment affects children.

Mapping the Available Tools for Occupational Therapy Effectiveness in Young Children With ASD Based on the ICF StructureIntroduction: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) affect how people communicate and behave, with about one in 44 children having it. Early help for ASD, such as occupational therapy, is really important. Occupational therapy helps with everyday skills and makes life better. Not many studies use good ways and tools to see whether occupational therapy works for young children with ASD. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) is a reference that helps to see how well treatments work.

Comparing Telerehabilitation and In-Person Interventions in School-Based Occupational Therapy for Specific Learning Disorder A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: This study investigated the efficacy of telerehabilitation (TR) in school-based Occupational Therapy (OT) for children with Specific Learning Disorder (SLD), focusing on occupational competence and parental satisfaction, aiming to contribute empirical insights to the discourse on the educational well-being of this population. Materials & Methods: The study adopted a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) design involving 31 children diagnosed with SLD, implementing TR and in-person interventions alongside a control group. Outcome measures included the School Self-Concept Inventory, Child Occupational Self-Assessment (COSA), and Canadian Occupational Performance Measurement (COMP), analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (ANOVA, post hoc tests). Results: Both TR and in-person interventions exhibited significant enhancements in academic self-efficacy (F=23.96, p<0.001, Partial ȵ²=0.461), occupational competence (F=70.59, p<0.001, Partial ȵ²=0.716), and parent satisfaction (F=17.03, p<0.001, Partial ȵ²=0.378) compared to the control group. Notably, no significant differences emerged between the TR and in-person groups, emphasizing their comparable effectiveness in improving outcomes. Conclusion: In conclusion, the study demonstrated the efficacy of TR and in-person interventions in school-based OT for children with SLD. The cohesive outcomes in academic self-efficacy, occupational competence, and parental satisfaction highlight TR as a versatile modality. This research, grounded in robust methodology, encourages further exploration of TR's transformative role in enhancing the holistic well-being of children with SLDs.

Flexible Embedded Metal Meshes by Sputter-Free Crack Lithography for Transparent Electrodes and Electromagnetic Interference Shielding.

A facile and novel fabrication method is demonstrated for creating flexible poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)-embedded silver meshes using crack lithography, reactive ion etching (RIE), and reactive silver ink. The crack width and spacing in a waterborne acrylic emulsion polymer are controlled by the thickness of the polymer and the applied stress due to heating and evaporation. Our innovative fabrication technique eliminates the need for sputtering and ensures stronger adhesion of the metal meshes to the PET substrate. Crack trench depths over 5 µm and line widths under 5 µm have been achieved. As a transparent electrode, our flexible embedded Ag meshes exhibit a visible transmission of 91.3% and sheet resistance of 0.54 Ω/sq as well as 93.7% and 1.4 Ω/sq. This performance corresponds to figures of merit (σDC/σOP) of 7500 and 4070, respectively. For transparent electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, the metal meshes achieve a shielding efficiency (SE) of 42 dB with 91.3% visible transmission and an EMI SE of 37.4 dB with 93.7% visible transmission. We demonstrate the highest transparent electrode performance of crack lithography approaches in the literature and the highest flexible transparent EMI shielding performance of all fabrication approaches in the literature. These metal meshes may have applications in transparent electrodes, EMI shielding, solar cells, and organic light-emitting diodes.

First Report of Isolation and Characterization of Acanthamoeba spp. from the Milk Used for Calf Feeding.

PURPOSE: Acanthamoeba spp. can be found in natural and artificial environments, which reflects their high adaptability to different conditions. Based on the available data, there is scarce information about the isolation of amoeba from milk. This study aimed to investigate the probable presence of Acanthamoeba in milk used for calf feeding. METHODS: 200 milk samples from 50 industrial and traditional farms were collected. The samples were filtered and cultured on the 1.5% Non-nutrient agar medium. The amoebic growth was examined with an inverted microscope daily. DNA was extracted from the positive plates, and a PCR reaction was undertaken using the primers amplifying the Acanthamoeba 18 S rRNA gene. Five samples were purified and sequenced using specific primers. Maximum likelihood reconstructions were performed using the phylogenetic program MEGA software. The osmo and thermotolerance of isolated trophozoites were examined as well. RESULTS: Out of 200 milk samples, Acanthamoeba was isolated from 27 (13.5%). The phylogenetic tree represents that all the isolates belonged to the genotype T4. Results of thermo and osmotolerance tests showed that isolates could develop at 37 and 43 ◦C. Besides, trophozoites survived at 0.5 M mannitol and 1 M. CONCLUSION: For the first time, Acanthamoeba spp. were isolated from milk used to feed dairy calves. Due to Acanthamoeba's neglected role in pathogen persistence and survival, hygiene instructions should be reconsidered.

The role of specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) in inflammatory arthritis: A therapeutic strategy.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is classified as a persistent inflammatory autoimmune disorder leading to the subsequent erosion of articular cartilage and bone tissue originating from the synovium. The fundamental objective of therapeutic interventions in RA has been the suppression of inflammation. Nevertheless, conventional medicines that lack target specificity may exhibit unpredictable effects on cell metabolism. In recent times, there has been evidence suggesting that specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs), which are lipid metabolites, have a role in facilitating the resolution of inflammation and the reestablishment of tissue homeostasis. SPMs are synthesized by immune cells through the enzymatic conversion of omega-3 fatty acids. In the context of RA, there is a possibility of dysregulation in the production of these SPMs. In this review, we delve into the present comprehension of the endogenous functions of SPMs in RA as lipids that exhibit pro-resolutive, protective, and immunoresolvent properties.

Substrate-embedded metal meshes for ITO-free organic light emitting diodes.

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) have great potential for use in large-area display and lighting applications, but their widespread adoption for large areas is hindered by the high cost and insufficient performance of indium tin oxide (ITO) anodes. In this study, we introduce an alternative anode material - a silver mesh embedded in glass - to facilitate production of large-area OLEDs. We present a facile, scalable manufacturing technique to create high aspect ratio micromeshes embedded in glass to provide the planar geometry needed for OLED layers. Our phosphorescent green OLEDs achieve a current efficiency of 51.4 cd/A at 1000 cd/m2 and reach a slightly higher external quantum efficiency compared to a standard ITO/glass reference sample. Notably, these advancements are achieved without any impact on the viewing angle of the OLEDs. These findings represent a promising advancement towards ITO-free, high-efficiency OLEDs for various high performance, large-area applications, such as lighting and displays.

Identification, proteolytic activity quantification and biofilm-forming characterization of Gram-positive, proteolytic, psychrotrophic bacteria isolated from cold raw milk.

Psychrotrophic bacteria of raw milk face the dairy industry with significant spoilage and technological problems due to their ability to produce heat-resistant enzymes and biofilms. Despite extensive information about Gram-negative psychrotrophic bacteria in milk, little is known about Gram-positive psychrotrophic bacteria in milk, and their proteolytic activity and biofilm-forming characteristics. In the present study, Gram-positive, proteolytic, psychrotrophic bacteria of cold raw milk were identified, and their proteolytic activity and biofilm-forming capacity were quantified. In total, 12 genera and 22 species were represented among the bacterial isolates, however 50% belonged to three genera, namely Staphylococcus (19.4%), Bacillus (16.7%), and Enterococcus (13.9%). Different levels of proteolytic activity were detected in the identified isolates, even among the strains belonging to the same species. In addition, proteolytic activity was significantly higher at 25°C than at 7°C for all isolates. The crystal violet staining assay in polystyrene microtitre plates revealed a high level of variation in the biofilm-forming capacity at 7°C. After 72 hours of incubation, 11.1% of the strains did not produce a biofilm, while 27.8%, 52.8%, and 8.3% produced low, moderate, and high amounts of biofilm on polystyrene, respectively. The psychrotrophic bacteria were also able to produce biofilms on the surface of stainless steel coupons in ultra-high temperature milk after 72 h of incubation at 7°C; the number of attached cells ranged from 1.34 to 5.11 log cfu/cm2. These results expand the knowledge related to the proteolytic activity and biofilm-forming capacity of Gram-positive psychrotrophic milk bacteria.

Effect of plasma-activated water on the biofilm-forming ability of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis and expression of the related genes.

In recent years, microbial decontamination with plasma-activated water (PAW) has attracted a lot of research attention in the field of food industry. Despite several studies showing that PAW effectively inactivates planktonic bacteria, few studies have been conducted on biofilms. The present study was, therefore, designed to evaluate the effect of PAW on the biofilm formation characteristics of Salmonella Enteritidis. Comparing the expression patterns of biofilm-related genes in PAW-treated and non-treated planktonic and biofilm cells provided insight into how PAW regulates this process. The results showed that a 30-minute exposure to PAW at room temperature significantly reduced S. enteritidis planktonic cells. This exposure resulted in a decreased expression of the genes involved in the early stages of biofilm formation (csgD, agfA, fimA, lpfE, and rpoS), and an increased expression of the csrA gene in S. enteritidis planktonic cells. These results indicated the inhibitory effect of PAW on the biofilm formation process in S. enteritidis. Results of the initial attachment assay confirmed these findings, where, after 6 h, the number of PAW-treated cells attached to the stainless steel surfaces were significantly lower than non-treated ones. Furthermore, biofilm development assay revealed that the number of PAW-treated biofilm cells were significantly lower than non-treated ones after 24 h incubation at 37 °C. These findings were confirmed by measurements of the major components of biofilm i.e., extracellular DNA (eDNA), protein and carbohydrate. The amount of these components in 24-hour biofilms produced by PAW-treated S. enteritidis cells was significantly lower than that of non-treated cells. PAW's treatment on preformed 24-hour biofilms for 30 min led to a decrease in the expression of genes involved in quorum sensing and cellulose synthesis (csgD, bapA, adrA, luxS and sdiA) and an increase in the expression of the csrA gene. This treatment also reduced the number and metabolic activity of biofilm cells compared to non-treated biofilm cells. In total, the present study demonstrated that PAW has an inhibitory effect on the process of biofilm formation in S. enteritidis and hence, the food industry should pay special attention to PAW as a promising treatment to eliminate bacterial biofilms.

Black silicon spacing effect on bactericidal efficacy against gram-positive bacteria.

The morphology of regular and uniform arrays of black silicon structures was evaluated for bactericidal efficacy against gram-positive, non-motileStaphylococcusepidermidis(S.epidermidis). In this study, uniform and regular arrays of black silicon structures were fabricated using nanosphere lithography and deep reactive ion etching. The effects of nanomorphology on bacterial killing were systematically evaluated using silicon nanostructures with pitches ranging from 300 to 1400 nm pitch on spherical cocci approximately 500 to 1000 nm in diameter. Our results show that nanostructure morphology factors such as height and roughness do not directly determine bactericidal efficacy. Instead, the spacing between nanostructures plays a crucial role in determining how bacteria are stretched and lysed. Nanostructures with smaller pitches are more effective at killing bacteria, and an 82 ± 3% enhancement in bactericidal efficacy was observed for 300 nm pitch nanoneedles surface compared to the flat control substrates.

Cost-utility analysis of multiple sclerosis rehabilitation in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Rehabilitation of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is associated with various clinical, social and economic outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the cost-utility of MS multidisciplinary rehabilitation in Iran. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: An economic evaluation was conducted using a Markov model designed to reflect the natural course of the disease and interventions. Parameters and variables were extracted from available evidence, and costs and outcomes were calculated from the social perspective. The base-case analysis considered a 5-year time horizon. Costs were estimated based on approved national standards for MS rehabilitation. Sensitivity analyses were also performed. RESULTS: The average cost of the rehabilitation strategy was higher compared to the non-rehabilitation strategy, but it resulted in higher quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) values. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was found to be $2,845.8 per QALY, indicating that the rehabilitation strategy is cost-effective. In the deterministic sensitivity analysis, extending the time horizon to 10 years made the rehabilitation strategy a dominant choice. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis results were consistent with the base-case findings. CONCLUSIONS: The MS multidisciplinary rehabilitation proved to be a cost-effective strategy; however, the results were sensitive to the input values of the model. Increasing the time horizon increased the probability of rehabilitation being cost-effective.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and nitric oxide alleviate cadmium phytotoxicity by improving internal detoxification mechanisms of corn plants.

Plants develop several external and internal mechanisms to increase their tolerance to heavy metals (HMs) toxicity including cadmium (Cd). Symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi (AMF) is one of the plants' strategies to tolerate HMs toxicity. Nitric oxide (NO), as a signaling molecule, is also involved in physiological responses of plants to various stresses. The present work was conducted as a factorial completely randomized design with three replications to study the effects of Funneliformis mosseae fungi and Sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 100 mM) as a donor of NO alone, in combination (AMF + SNP) on corn plant growth, and internal detoxification mechanisms of Cd toxicity in a Cd-contaminated calcareous soil (0, 25, 50, and 100 mg Cd kg-1). The results showed that under Cd stress, AMF inoculation and/or foliar application of SNP significantly increased plant growth (32% to 103% for shoot and 44% to 84% for root) by decreasing Cd concentration in corn plant tissues (23% to 46% for shoot and 19% to 40% for root). Cd-induced oxidative stress was mitigated by AMF and/or SNP by enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and concentration of non-enzymatic antioxidants such as glutathione (GSH) and phytochelatin (PC). Increasing the tolerance index (TI) and decreasing the transfer factor (TF) in the corn plants treated with AMF and/or SNP, confirm the efficient role of SNP and AMF in stimulating the detoxification mechanisms of Cd within the plant cells, which was more pronounced at the lowest Cd level (25 mg Cd kg-1). In conclusion, symbiotic associations of corn plants with AMF alone or in combination with SNP mitigated the detrimental effect of Cd toxicity in corn grown in Cd-contaminated calcareous soil. The corn's internal detoxification mechanisms lowered the Cd concentration in plant tissue which resulted in the improvement of the corn's growth parameters.

Sublethal Exposure to Plasma-Activated Water Influences the Morphological Characteristics, Phagocytic Ability, and Virulence of Acanthamoeba castellanii.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the ultrastructure, cytotoxicity, phagocytosis, and antioxidant responses of Acanthamoeba castellanii trophozoites exposed to sublethal plasma-activated water. METHODS: Trophozoites were exposed to a sublethal treatment of PAW and compared to untreated viable trophozoites via adhesion assays on macrophage monolayers, osmo- and thermotolerance tests. Bacterial uptake was assessed in treated cells to evaluate their phagocytic characteristics. Oxidative stress biomarkers and antioxidant activities were compared in treated and untreated trophozoites. Finally, the expression of the mannose-binding protein (MBP), cysteine protease 3 (CP3), and serine endopeptidase (SEP) genes was determined in cells. RESULTS: In PAW-treated trophozoites, cytopathic effects were more extensive and resulted in the detachment of macrophage monolayers. Treated trophozoites could not grow at high temperatures (43 °C). Moreover, they showed osmotolerance to 0.5 M D-mannitol but not to 1 M. Results demonstrated a higher bacterial uptake rate by PAW-treated trophozoites than untreated cells. Activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase and catalase were significantly greater in the treated trophozoites, and the glutathione and glutathione/glutathione disulfide were significantly lower in the PAW-treated cells. Exposure to PAW also significantly increased the malondialdehyde level and total antioxidant capacity. Treatment with PAW led to significantly higher expression of virulent genes like MBP, CP3, and SEP. CONCLUSION: PAW is a double-edged sword against A. castellanii. PAW is an effective antiamoebic agent in proper usage, whereas its sublethal exposure may reduce its effectiveness and increase amoebas' pathogenicity. An agent's adequate concentration and exposure time are essential to achieve optimum results.

Silver Meshes for Record-Performance Transparent Electromagnetic Interference Shielding.

We present a simulation and experimental study of silver meshes to determine their performance for transparent electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. Simulations were employed to study the effects of the silver mesh's width, pitch, and thickness on EMI shielding efficiency (SE) in the 8-18 GHz frequency range and transparency in the visible spectrum. We demonstrate a scalable, facile fabrication method that involves embedding meshes in glass by etching trenches in glass and filling and curing reactive particle-free silver ink in these trenches. Our silver meshes achieve 58.4 dB EMI SE with 83% visible light transmission and 48.3 dB EMI SE with 90.3% visible transmission. The combination of high-conductivity silver, small widths (1.3 to 5 µm), and large thicknesses (0.5 to 2.0 µm) enables the best performance of metal meshes as well as single-sided shielding materials for transparent EMI shielding, as reported in the literature.

Investigation of the concentration, origin and health effects of PAHs in the Anzali wetland: The most important coastal freshwater wetland of Iran.

This study investigated the concentration of PAHs in 19 water samples, 34 sediment samples and 22 fish samples of Anzali Wetland, located in north of Iran. The average concentration of ∑PAHs in the wetland sediment was 89.19 µg/kg (8.28-806.64) and 78.31 ng/L (5.14-253.37) in the wetland water. Also, the average concentration of ∑PAHS in the muscle of the investigated fish in the wetland was 23 µg/kg (56.1 to 7.6). The source apportionment of PAHs in water and sediment considering isomeric ratios and statistical methods reveals the predominance of petrogenic origin of the compounds in water and pyrogenic origin in sediment. Overall, the level of contamination in fish is relatively low to moderate, considering ∑PAHs. The findings present clear evidence of low to moderate level of contamination in the wetland, the PAHs contamination however could cross their ecological thresholds in future unless control measures are taken to protect the wetland.

Microplastics in aquatic species of Anzali wetland: An important freshwater biodiversity hotspot in Iran.

Coastal wetlands are sensitive ecosystems that give habitat to large number of species. The extent of the impact of microplastic pollution in the aquatic system and humans is not known. In this study, the occurrence of microplastics (MPs) was assessed in 7 aquatic species from the Anzali Wetland (40 fish and 15 shrimp specimens), a listed wetland on the Montreux record. Specifically, the tissues analyzed were gastrointestinal (GI) tract, gills, skin, and muscles. The total frequency of MPs (all detected MPs in the GI tract, gill and skin samples) varied from 5.2 ± 4.2 MPs/specimen for Cobitis saniae to 20.8 ± 6.7 MPs/specimen for Abramis brama. Among all tissues studied, the GI tract of the Chelon saliens, a herbivorous demersal species, had the greatest level of MPs (13.6 ± 10 MPs/specimen). Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between the abundance of MPs in different species, tissues, living domains and feeding habit types. The findings support that fish may uptake MPs through adherence in gills (respiration) in addition to ingestion. White/transparent and black/grey polyamide (PA) fibers were the most common type of MP which may be originated from municipal wastewater and intensive fishing activities. About 34% of the MPs were in the range of 250 µm-500 µm, and those >100 µm were not detected in muscles from the study fish. All species had unhealthy weight according to the Fulton's condition index (K). Positive relationships existed between biometric properties (total length and weight) of species and the total frequency of uptaken MPs, pointing to detrimental impact of MPs in the wetland.

Exposure to sublethal concentrations of chlorine enhances the cytotoxicity of Acanthamoeba castellanii.

Free-living amoebae belonging to the genus Acanthamoeba are the causative agents of infections in humans and animals. Many studies are being conducted to find effective compounds against amoebae, but their sublethal concentration effects on surviving amoebae seem to have been overlooked. Chlorine is a common disinfection agent commonly added to public water facilities and supplies. In this study, the cytopathic and phagocytic properties of Acanthamoeba castellanii trophozoites following exposure to sublethal concentrations of chlorine were examined. Two hours of exposure to 5 ppm hypochlorite calcium was considered the sublethal concentration for A. castellanii trophozoites. To compare the pathogenic potential of treated and untreated Acanthamoeba trophozoites, cytotoxicity, adhesion assays in RAW 264.7 macrophages, osmo, and thermotolerance tests were carried out. Bacterial uptake was assessed in treated cells to evaluate their phagocytic characteristics. Oxidative stress biomarkers and antioxidant activities were compared in treated and untreated trophozoites. Finally, the mRNA expression of the mannose-binding protein (MBP), cysteine protease 3 (CP3), and serine endopeptidase (SEP) genes was determined in cells. In all the experiments, untreated trophozoites were considered the control. In comparison to untreated trophozoites, in chlorine-treated trophozoites, cytopathic effects were more extensive and resulted in the detachment of macrophage monolayers. Treated trophozoites could not grow at high temperatures (43 °C). Besides, they showed osmotolerance to 0.5 M D-mannitol but not to 1 M. Results demonstrated a higher bacterial uptake rate by chlorine-treated trophozoites than untreated cells. The treated and untreated cells had significantly different glutathione and glutathione/glutathione disulfide ratios. Antioxidant enzyme activities, total antioxidant capacity, and malondialdehyde levels were increased significantly in chlorine-treated cells. Quantifying mRNA expression in chlorine-treated trophozoites revealed that virulence genes were upregulated. Chlorine can form resistance and virulent amoebae if it is not used at a proper concentration and exposure time. Identification of stress responses, their mechanisms in Acanthamoeba, and their relation to amoeba virulence would give us a better perception of their pathophysiology.

Cost-benefit analysis of stroke rehabilitation in Iran.

BACKGROUND: The economic evaluation of medication interventions for stroke has been the subject of much economic research. This study aimed to examine the cost-benefit of multidisciplinary rehabilitation services for stroke survivors in Iran. METHODS: This economic evaluation was conducted from the payer's perspective with a lifetime horizon in Iran. A Markov model was designed and Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were the final outcomes. First, to evaluate the cost-effectiveness, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated. Then, using the average net monetary benefit (NMB) of rehabilitation, the average Incremental Net Monetary Benefit (INMB) per patient was calculated. The analyses were carried out separately for public and private sector tariffs. RESULTS: While considering public tariffs, the rehabilitation strategy had lower costs (US$5320 vs. US$ 6047) and higher QALYs (2.78 vs. 2.61) compared to non-rehabilitation. Regarding the private tariffs, the rehabilitation strategy had slightly higher costs (US$6,698 vs. US$6,182) but higher QALYs (2.78 vs. 2.61) compared to no rehabilitation. The average INMB of rehabilitation vs non-rehabilitation for each patient was estimated at US$1518 and US$275 based on Public and private tariffs, respectively. CONCLUSION: Providing multidisciplinary rehabilitation services to stroke patients was cost-effective and has positive INMBs in public and private tariffs.

Sublethal chlorine stress promotes the biofilm-forming ability of Salmonella enterica serovars enteritidis and expression of the related genes.

Chlorine treatment is the most common disinfection method in food-related environments. In addition to being simple and inexpensive, this method is very effective if used properly. However, insufficient chlorine concentrations only cause a sublethal oxidative stress in the bacterial population and may alter the growth behavior of stressed cells. In the present study, the effect of sublethal chlorine stress on the biofilm formation characteristics of Salmonella Enteritidis was evaluated. Our results demonstrated that, sublethal chlorine stress (350 ppm total chlorine) activates the biofilm (csgD, agfA, adrA and bapA) and quorum-sensing (sdiA and luxS) related genes in planktonic cells of S. Enteritidis. The higher expression of these genes illustrated that the chlorine stress induced the initiation of the biofilm formation process in S. Enteritidis. Results of the initial attachment assay confirmed this finding. In addition, the number of chlorine-stressed biofilm cells was significantly higher than non-stressed biofilm cells after 48 h incubation at 37 °C. In S. Enteritidis ATCC 13076 and S. Enteritidis KL19, the number of chlorine-stressed biofilm cells were 6.93 ± 0.48 and 7.49 ± 0.57 log CFU/cm2, while the number of non-stressed biofilm cells were 5.12 ± 0.39 and 5.63 ± 0.51 log CFU/cm2, respectively. These findings were confirmed by measurements of the major components of biofilm, i.e., eDNA, protein and carbohydrate. The amount of these components in 48-h biofilms was higher when the cells were initially subjected to sublethal chlorine stress. However, the up-regulation of the biofilm and quorum sensing genes was not observed in 48-h biofilm cells, indicating that the effect of chlorine stress had vanished in the subsequent generations of Salmonella. In total, these results revealed that sublethal chlorine concentrations can promote the biofilm-forming ability of S Enteritidis.