Dihydrochelerythrine(DHCHE)is an isoquinoline compound,which has distinct antifungal activity and can induce apoptosis.The antifungal activity of DHCHE against five rice pathogenic fungi was studied in vitro.At the co...Dihydrochelerythrine(DHCHE)is an isoquinoline compound,which has distinct antifungal activity and can induce apoptosis.The antifungal activity of DHCHE against five rice pathogenic fungi was studied in vitro.At the concentration of 7.5 mg/L,DHCHE exhibited the highest efficacy among tested compounds in inhibiting mycelium growth,with an inhibition rate of 68.8%in Ustilaginoidea virens,which was approximately 2.4 times of that of validamycin(28.7%).After exposure to DHCHE,transmission electron micrographs revealed spores showed incomplete organelles,malformed cell walls and nuclear membranes,as well as irregular lipid spheres.Reactive oxygen species accumulation in treated spores was markedly higher than that in control spores.DHCHE induced cell damage increased in a dose-dependent manner,as indicated by the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and initiation of apoptosis.The differences of expression levels of Fip1,ACP1,PMS2 and COX13 that are important for oxidative phosphorylation and mismatch repair pathway were significant,which may be some of the reasons for the induction of apoptosis in DHCHE-treated U.virens.The protein levels of Fip1,ACP1,PMS2 and COX13 agreed with protein fold change ratio from parallel reaction monitoring Gene Ontology terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway of differentially expressed proteins were further analyzed.These findings will help to elucidate the mechanisms associated with antifungal and pro-apoptotic effects of DHCHE on U.virens,thereby aiding the potential development of novel pesticides.展开更多
Puccinia triticina(Pt), as the causal agent of wheat leaf rust, employs a plethora of effector proteins to modulate wheat immunity for successful colonization. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying Pt effe...Puccinia triticina(Pt), as the causal agent of wheat leaf rust, employs a plethora of effector proteins to modulate wheat immunity for successful colonization. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying Pt effector-mediated wheat susceptibility remains largely unexplored. In this study, an effector Pt_21 was identified to interact with the apoplast-localized wheat thaumatin-like protein TaTLP1 using a yeast two-hybrid assay and the Pt_21-TaTLP1 interaction was characterized. The interaction between Pt_21 and TaTLP1 was validated by in vivo co-immunoprecipitation assay. A TaTLP1 variant,TaTLP1C71A, that was identified by the site-directed mutagenesis failed to interact with Pt_21. Pt_21was able to suppress Bax-mediated cell death in leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana and inhibit TaTLP1-mediated antifungal activity. Furthermore, infiltration of recombinant protein Pt_21 into leaves of transgenic wheat line overexpressing TaTLP1 enhanced the disease development of leaf rust compared to that in wild-type leaves. These findings demonstrate that Pt_21 suppresses host defense response by directly targeting wheat TaTLP1 and inhibiting its antifungal activity, which broadens our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying Pt effector-mediated susceptibility in wheat.展开更多
The present work was aimed to the study of the antifungal activity of essential oils of two aromatic plants against three strains of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum responsible for white rot of bean. The two essential oils (...The present work was aimed to the study of the antifungal activity of essential oils of two aromatic plants against three strains of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum responsible for white rot of bean. The two essential oils (EO) of the studied plants: Thymus vulgaris (HET) and Cymbopogon citratrus (HEC), used at different concentrations: C1 (0.75 ml/ml), C2 (1.5 ml/ml) and C3 (3 ml/ml) presented significant inhibitory activities on the three tested fungal strains namely Bia 1, Bia 2, and Njo 2. Two control treatments (T-: containing no antifungal substance and T+: synthetic fungicide) were also used. The antifungal activity here is related to the inhibition of mycelial growth especially with high concentrations of essential oils. Thus, against S. sclerotiorum, HET showed the highest activity comparable to that of T+ (100% inhibition) at all concentrations on the Bia 1 and Bia 2 strains and at concentration C3 on the Njo 2 strain compared to that of HEC, which certainly inhibited the mycelial growth of the different strains considerably (with a maximum of 78.15% on the Njo 2 strain) but not completely. According to their sensitivity, the Bia 2 strain showed a higher sensitivity to essential oils than the others while the Njo 2 strain was more aggressive. On the basis of MIC<sub>50</sub> and MIC<sub>90</sub> obtained on the Njo 2 strain, the HET turns out to be the most efficient with respective lower values of (1.73 and 23.34 ml/ml) against (4.76 and 26.03 ml/ml) for the HEC. These EO could thus be exploited as biodegradable antifungal substances, likely to control white rot of bean.展开更多
We developed a molecular marker for MAS of mungbean resistant varieties against CLS from the consensus sequence(MB-CLsRG)of identified RGAs(MB-ClsRCaG1 and MB-ClsRCaG2).The MB-CLsRG sequence-specific primer pair was u...We developed a molecular marker for MAS of mungbean resistant varieties against CLS from the consensus sequence(MB-CLsRG)of identified RGAs(MB-ClsRCaG1 and MB-ClsRCaG2).The MB-CLsRG sequence-specific primer pair was used to screen Cercospora leaf spot(CLS)resistant varieties of mungbean in genomic analysis that showed congruency with phenotypic screening.Validation of molecular marker linkage with CLS resistance was performed using rtPCR in transcriptomic analysis.The sequenced PCR products showed 100%homology with MB-CLsRG sequence and putative disease resistance proteins that confirmed the linkage of molecular marker with CLS resistance in mungbean.The antifungal potential of MB-CLsRG gene encoding protein was assessed.The MB-CLsRG gene sequence was cloned in the E.coli expression vector for recombinant protein production.The recombinant protein was then investigated for its in vitro antifungal potential against Cercospora canescens.The in vitro investigation showed strong antifungal activity of recombinant protein as it restricted the growth of fungal mycelial mass.The results validated the linkage of developed marker with CLS-resistant mungbean varieties;therefore,it can be used to screen resistant varieties from a large population in MAS.Moreover,the recombinant protein of the MB-CLsRG gene sequence revealed antifungal potential,which proved the gene sequence could be suitable to use in transgenic plants technology to develop fungal-resistant transgenic crops.展开更多
Background:Information on the association between physical activity(PA)and the risk of chronic kidney disease(CKD)is limited.We aimed to explore the associations of total,domain-specific,and intensity-specific PA with...Background:Information on the association between physical activity(PA)and the risk of chronic kidney disease(CKD)is limited.We aimed to explore the associations of total,domain-specific,and intensity-specific PA with CKD and its subtypes in China.Methods:The study included 475,376 adults from the China Kadoorie Biobank aged 30-79 years during 2004-2008 at baseline.An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect the information about PA,which was quantified as metabolic equivalent of task hours per day(MET-h/day)and categorized into 4 groups based on quartiles.Cox regression was used to analyze the association between PA and CKD risk.Results:During a median follow-up of 12.1 years,5415 incident CKD cases were documented,including 1159 incident diabetic kidney disease(DKD)cases and 362 incident hypertensive nephropathy(HTN)cases.Total PA was inversely associated with CKD risk,with an adjusted hazard ratio(HR,95%confidence interval(95%CI))of 0.83(0.75-0.92)for incident CKD in the highest quartile of total PA as compared with participants in the lowest quartile.Similar results were observed for risk of DKD and HTN,and the corresponding HRs(95%CIs)were 0.75(0.58-0.97)for DKD risk and 0.56(0.37-0.85)for HTN risk.Increased nonoccupational PA,low-intensity PA,and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA were significantly associated with a decreased risk of CKD,with HRs(95%CIs)of 0.80(0.73-0.88),0.85(0.77-0.94),and 0.85(0.76-0.95)in the highest quartile,respectively.Conclusion:PA,including nonoccupational PA,low-intensity PA,and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA,was inversely associated with the risk of CKD,including DKD,HTN,and other CKD,and such associations were dose dependent.展开更多
Background:Prolonged sitting and reduced physical activity lead to low energy expenditures.However,little is known about the joint impact of daily sitting time and physical activity on body fat distribution.We investi...Background:Prolonged sitting and reduced physical activity lead to low energy expenditures.However,little is known about the joint impact of daily sitting time and physical activity on body fat distribution.We investigated the independent and joint associations of daily sitting time and physical activity with body fat among adults.Methods:This was a cross-sectional analysis of U.S.nationally representative data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey2011-2018 among adults aged 20 years or older.Daily sitting time and leisure-time physical activity(LTPA)were self-reported using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire.Body fat(total and trunk fat percentage)was determined via dual X-ray absorptiometry.Results:Among 10,808 adults,about 54.6%spent 6 h/day or more sitting;more than one-half reported no LTPA(inactive)or less than 150 min/week LTPA(insufficiently active)with only 43.3%reported 150 min/week or more LTPA(active)in the past week.After fully adjusting for sociodemographic data,lifestyle behaviors,and chronic conditions,prolonged sitting time and low levels of LTPA were associated with higher total and trunk fat percentages in both sexes.When stratifying by LTPA,the association between daily sitting time and body fat appeared to be stronger in those who were inactive/insuufficiently active.In the joint analyses,inactive/insuufficiently active adults who reported sitting more than 8 h/day had the highest total(female:3.99%(95%confidence interval(95%CI):3.09%-4.88%);male:3.79%(95%CI:2.75%-4.82%))and trunk body fat percentages(female:4.21%(95%CI:3.09%-5.32%);male:4.07%(95%CI:2.95%-5.19%))when compared with those who were active and sitting less than 4 h/day.Conclusion:Prolonged daily sitting time was associated with increased body fat among U.S.adults.The higher body fat associated with 6 h/day sitting may not be offset by achieving recommended levels of physical activity.展开更多
In this editorial we comment on the article titled“Inflammatory bowel diseases patients suffer from significant low levels and barriers to physical activity:The BE-FIT-IBD study”published in a recent issue of the Wo...In this editorial we comment on the article titled“Inflammatory bowel diseases patients suffer from significant low levels and barriers to physical activity:The BE-FIT-IBD study”published in a recent issue of the World Journal of Gastroen-terology 2023;29(41):5668-5682.Inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD)are emerging as a significant global health concern as their incidence continues to rise on a global scale,with detrimental impacts on quality of life.While many advances have been made regarding the management of the disease,physical inactivity in these patients represents an underexplored issue that may hold the key for further and better understanding the ramifications of IBD.Chronic pain,fatigue,and fear of exacerbating symptoms promotes physical inactivity among IBD patients,while the lack of clear guidelines on safe exercise regimens contributes to a norm of physical inactivity.Physical activity(PA)is accepted to have a positive effect on disease outcomes and quality of life,while inactivity exacerbates comorbidities like cardiovascular disease and mental health disorders.The“BE-FIT-IBD”study,focusing on PA levels and barriers in IBD patients of Southern Italy,revealed that a significant proportion(42.9%)were physically inactive.This lack of PA is attributed to barriers such as fear of flare-ups and misconceptions about exercise exacerbating the disease.The study also highlighted the need for better communication between healthcare providers and patients regarding the benefits of PA and safe incorporation into lifestyles.Moreover,physical inactivity may also contribute to disability in IBD patients,having a great impact on employment status.Of note is the fact that IBD also comes with an important psychological burden with relevant evidence suggesting that regular PA can improve mood,reduce anxiety,and enhance mental health.The“BE-FIT-IBD”study advocated for the integration of PA into IBD management,emphasizing the bidirectional link between PA and IBD.Regular exercise can influence the course of IBD,potentially reducing symptom severity and prolonging remission periods.As such,it is mandatory that healthcare providers actively educate patients,dispel misconceptions,and tailor exercise recommendations to improve the quality of life and reduce IBD-related complications.展开更多
Plant-based fermentations provide an untapped source for novel biotechnological applications.In this study,a probiotic named Lactobacillus fermentum 21828 was introduced to ferment Lentinus edodes.Polysaccharides were...Plant-based fermentations provide an untapped source for novel biotechnological applications.In this study,a probiotic named Lactobacillus fermentum 21828 was introduced to ferment Lentinus edodes.Polysaccharides were extracted from fermented and non-fermented L.edodes and purified via DEAE-52 and Sephadex G-100.The components designated F-LEP-2a and NF-LEP-2a were analyzed by FT-IR,HPGPC,HPAEC,SEM,GC-MS and NMR.The results revealed that probiotic fermentation increased the molecular weight from 1.16×10^(4) Da to 1.87×10^(4) Da and altered the proportions of glucose,galactose and mannose,in which glucose increased from 45.94%to 48.16%.Methylation analysis and NMR spectra indicated that F-LEP-2a and NF-LEP-2a had similar linkage patterns.Furthermore,their immunomodulatory activities were evaluated with immunosuppressive mice.NF-LEP and F-LEP improved immune organ indices,immunoglobulin(Ig G and Ig M)and cytokines concentrations;restored the antioxidation capacity of liver;and maintained the balance of gut microbiota.F-LEP displayed better moderating effects on the spleen index,immunoglobulin,cytokines and the diversity of gut microbiota than NF-LEP(200,400 mg/kg).Our study provides an efficient and environment-friendly way for the structural modification of polysaccharides,which helps to enhance their biological activity and promote their wide application in food,medicine and other fields.展开更多
Background: Antifungal resistance (AFR) is a global public health problem with devastating effects, especially among immunocompromised individuals. Addressing AFR requires a One Health approach including Antifungal St...Background: Antifungal resistance (AFR) is a global public health problem with devastating effects, especially among immunocompromised individuals. Addressing AFR requires a One Health approach including Antifungal Stewardship (AFS). This study aimed to comprehensively review global studies published on fungal infections and AFR and to recommend solutions to address this growing problem. Materials and Methods: This was a narrative review that was conducted using published papers on fungal infections, AFR, and AFS between January 1961 and March 2024. The literature was searched using PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and EMBASE. Results: This found that there has been an increase in fungal infections globally, especially among immunocompromised patients. Due to this increase in fungal infections, there has been a proportionate increase in the use of antifungal agents to prevent and treat fungal infections. This increased use of antifungal agents has worsened the problem of AFR contributing to increased morbidity and mortality. Globally, fungal infections have contributed to 150 million infections annually and 1.7 million deaths per year. By the year 2023, over 3.8 million people died from fungal infections. Addressing AFR remains a challenge because the treatment of antifungal-resistant infections is difficult. Finally, the treatment of fungal infections is a global challenge exacerbated by the limited number of antifungal agents to treat invasive fungal infections. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that fungal infections and AFR are prevalent across humans, animals, agriculture, and the environment. Addressing this problem requires the provision of solutions such as improving the awareness of AFR, conducting further research on the discovery of new antifungal agents, and implementing AFS programs. If this global problem is not addressed, the morbidity and mortality associated with AFR will continue to rise in the future.展开更多
The misuse and overuse of classic antifungals have accelerated the development of resistance mechanisms,diminishing the efficacy of established therapeutic pathways and necessitating a shift towards alternative target...The misuse and overuse of classic antifungals have accelerated the development of resistance mechanisms,diminishing the efficacy of established therapeutic pathways and necessitating a shift towards alternative targets.Despite this pressing need for new treatments,the antifungal drug pipeline has been largely stagnant for the past three decades,primarily due to the high risks and costs associated with antifungal drug development,compounded by uncertain market returns.Extensive research durations,special patient populations and rigorous regulatory demands pose significant barriers to bringing novel antifungal agents to market.In response,the“push-pull”incentive model has emerged as a vital strategy to invigorate the pipeline and encourage innovation.This editorial critically examines the current clinical landscape and spotlights emerging antifungal agents,such as Fosmanogepix,Ibrexafungerp,and Olorofim,while also unraveling the multifaceted challenges faced in new antifungal drug development.The generation of novel antifungals offers a beacon of hope in the battle against antimicrobial resistance,but it is premature to declare them as definitive solutions.Their future role hinges on thorough clinical validation,costeffectiveness assessments,and continuous post-marketing surveillance.Only through strategic implementation and integration with market strategies we can transform the landscape of antifungal development,addressing both the resistance crisis and the treatment challenges.展开更多
Candida auris since it discovery in 2009 is becoming a severe threat to human health due to its very quickly spread, its worldwide high resistance to systemic antifungal drugs. In resource-constrained settings where s...Candida auris since it discovery in 2009 is becoming a severe threat to human health due to its very quickly spread, its worldwide high resistance to systemic antifungal drugs. In resource-constrained settings where several conditions are met for its emergence and spread, this worrisome fungus could cause large hospital and/or community-based outbreaks. This review aimed to summarize the available data on C. auris in Africa focusing on its epidemiology and antifungal resistance profile. Major databases were searched for articles on the epidemiology and antifungal resistance profile of C. auris in Africa. Out of 2,521 articles identified 22 met the inclusion criteria. In Africa, nearly 89% of African countries have no published data on C. auris. The prevalence of C. auris in Africa was 8.74%. The case fatality rate of C. auris infection in Africa was 39.46%. The main C. auris risk factors reported in Africa were cardiovascular disease, renal failure, diabetes, HIV, recent intake of antimicrobial drugs, ICU admissions, surgery, hemodialysis, parenteral nutrition and indwelling devices. Four phylogenetic clades were reported in Africa, namely clades I, II, III and IV. Candida auris showed a pan-African very high resistance rate to fluconazole, moderate resistance to amphotericin B, and high susceptibility to echinocandins. Finally, C. auris clade-specific mutations were observed within the ERG2, ERG3, ERG9, ERG11, FKS1, TAC1b and MRR1 genes in Africa. This systematic review showed the presence of C. auris in the African continent and a worrying unavailability of data on this resilient fungus in most African countries.展开更多
Lawsonia inermis is a hairless plant growing in various regions of North Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and the Middle East. It possesses many medicinal attributes, including curative properties against infectious d...Lawsonia inermis is a hairless plant growing in various regions of North Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and the Middle East. It possesses many medicinal attributes, including curative properties against infectious dermatoses. This study was carried out to evaluate the phytochemical profile of the crude ethanolic extract of the plant leaves and its fractions as well as their antimicrobial activities. The phytochemical profile was performed using high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Additionally, the phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu spectrophotometric and the aluminum trichloride methods. Antimicrobial activity was tested using disc diffusion and microdilution methods. The presence of flavonoids, tannins, sterols, and triterpenes was revealed. GC-MS detected twelve compounds main compounds consisting of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and phenolic and terpenoid compounds among twenty-seven components. HPLC also detected high contents of phenolic acids and flavonoids. The most abundant triterpene and sterols were ursolic acid (around 43.14 g/100g DW, 13.9 g/100g dry weight (DW), and 0.68 g/100g DW) in the crude ethanolic extract of leaves (FeLi), hexane fraction (FHLi) and dichloromethane fraction (FDLi), respectively and, β-sitosterol in FeLi (56.7 mg/100g DW), FHLi (10.55 g/100g DW), FDLi (106.1 mg/100g DW) and butanol fraction (FBLi) (357.4 mg/100g DW). Among the flavonoids, rutin = 3.24 g/100g and quercetin = 0.63 g/100g in the ethanolic extract, rutin = 15.73 g/100g in the dichloromethane fraction, and rutin = 0.23 g/100g) in the aqueous fraction;and among phenolic compounds, caffeic acid (37.65 g/100g DW) and vanillic acid (22.70 g/100g DW) were the most important in the ethyl acetate fraction (FAeLi). All organic fractions exhibited interesting antibacterial and antifungal activities against the tested strains, with the best activity recorded with the dichloromethane and ethyl acetate fractions. The leaf extracts’ phytochemical profile and antimicrobial activity support the use of Lawsonia inermis against infectious skin diseases.展开更多
Research Background: Compared to the general population, people experiencing age-related cognitive decline are more likely to have low levels of physical activity and sleep problems. Sufficient physical activity and q...Research Background: Compared to the general population, people experiencing age-related cognitive decline are more likely to have low levels of physical activity and sleep problems. Sufficient physical activity and quality sleep are protective factors against cognitive decline and poor health and can improve coping with stressors. The “Active Feedback” intervention comprises a wearable activity and sleep tracker (Fitbit), access to Fitbit software healthy lifestyle software apps;one session with Memory Assessment Service (MAS) staff providing physical activity and sleep hygiene advice and two further engagement, discussion, and feedback sessions. Purpose/Aim: This study investigates the acceptability and feasibility of Active Feedback and the effect on stress, mental wellbeing, and sleep quality, and the links between these factors. Methods: An open-label patient cohort design with no control group was used. Pre-intervention, 4-week and 8-week intervention assessments were performed using participant self-report measures: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS), and Sleep Conditioning Index (SCI). Twenty-five participants completed an eight-week three-session intervention (18 males and 7 females), with the age range of 66 - 84 years old, and average age of 73.8 years (SD = 5.09). Fifteen participants had a diagnosis of MCI, ten participants did not. Results: There were non-significant improvements in SCI scores from 21.0 (SD = 8.84) to 21.6 (SD = 6.20) at 8 weeks, PSS scores from 17.5 (SD = 5.89) to 17.0 (SD = 6.20) at 8 weeks, and WEMWBS scores from 46.9 (SD = 9.23) to 48.8 (SD = 9.69) at 8 weeks. There were negative correlations between WEMWBS and PSS. Conclusion: Active Feedback intervention was found to be feasible and acceptable. Active Feedback could be enhanced to include motivational interviewing and goal setting.展开更多
Anthropogenic activities have contributed to pollution of water bodies through deposition of diverse pollutants amongst which are heavy metals. These pollutants, which at times are above the maximum concentration leve...Anthropogenic activities have contributed to pollution of water bodies through deposition of diverse pollutants amongst which are heavy metals. These pollutants, which at times are above the maximum concentration levels recommended, are detrimental to the quality of the water, soil and crops (plant) with subsequent human health risks. The objective of the work was to evaluate the impacts of human-based activities on the heavy metal properties of surface water with focus on the Kumba River basin. Field observations, interviews, field measurements and laboratory analyses of different water samples enabled us to collect the different data. The results show four main human-based activities within the river basin (agriculture, livestock production, domestic waste disposal and carwash activities) that pollute surface water. Approximately 20.61 tons of nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural activities, 156.48 tons of animal wastes, 2517.5 tons of domestic wastes and 1.52 tons of detergent from carwash activities were deposited into the river each year. A highly significant difference at 1% was observed between the upstream and downstream heavy metal loads in four of the five heavy metals tested except for copper that was not significant. Lead concentrations were highest in all the activities with an average of 2.4 mg∙L<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> representing 57.81%, followed by zinc with 1.596 mg∙L<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> (38.45%) and manganese with 0.155 mg∙L<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> (3.74%) for the different anthropogenic activities thus indicating that these activities highly lead to pollution of the Kumba River water. The level of zinc and manganese was significantly influenced at ρ 005 by anthropogenic activities though generally the variations were in the order: carwash (3.196 mg∙L<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>) < domestic waste disposal (3.347 mg∙L<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>) < agriculture (4.172 mg∙L<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>) < livestock (4.886 mg∙L<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>) respectively and leading to a total of 14.04 tons of heavy metal pollutants deposited each day.展开更多
The removal of organic sulfur through catalytic hydrolysis is a significant area of research in the field of desulfurization.This review provides an overview of recent advancements in catalytic hydrolysis technology o...The removal of organic sulfur through catalytic hydrolysis is a significant area of research in the field of desulfurization.This review provides an overview of recent advancements in catalytic hydrolysis technology of organic sulfur,including the activity,stability,and atmosphere effects of hydrolysis catalysts.The emphasis is on strategies for enhancing hydrolysis activity and anti-oxygen poisoning property of catalysts.Surface modification,metal doping and nitrogen doping have been found to improve the activity of catalysts.Alkaline components modification is the most commonly used method,the formation of oxygen vacancies through metal doping and creation of nitrogen basic sites through nitrogen doping also contribute to the hydrolysis of organic sulfur.The strategies for anti-oxygen poisoning are discussed in a systematic manner.The structural regulation of catalysts is beneficial for the desorption and diffusion of hydrogen sulfide(H_(2)S),thereby effectively inhibiting its oxidation.Nitrogen doping and the addition of electronic promoters such as transition metals can protect active sites and decrease the number of active oxygen species.These methods have been proven to enhance the anti-poisoning performance of catalysts.Additionally,this article summarizes how different atmospheres affect the activity of hydrolysis catalysts.The objective of this review is to pave the way for the development of efficient,stable and widely used catalysts for organic sulfur hydrolysis.展开更多
RFID-based human activity recognition(HAR)attracts attention due to its convenience,noninvasiveness,and privacy protection.Existing RFID-based HAR methods use modeling,CNN,or LSTM to extract features effectively.Still...RFID-based human activity recognition(HAR)attracts attention due to its convenience,noninvasiveness,and privacy protection.Existing RFID-based HAR methods use modeling,CNN,or LSTM to extract features effectively.Still,they have shortcomings:1)requiring complex hand-crafted data cleaning processes and 2)only addressing single-person activity recognition based on specific RF signals.To solve these problems,this paper proposes a novel device-free method based on Time-streaming Multiscale Transformer called TransTM.This model leverages the Transformer's powerful data fitting capabilities to take raw RFID RSSI data as input without pre-processing.Concretely,we propose a multiscale convolutional hybrid Transformer to capture behavioral features that recognizes singlehuman activities and human-to-human interactions.Compared with existing CNN-and LSTM-based methods,the Transformer-based method has more data fitting power,generalization,and scalability.Furthermore,using RF signals,our method achieves an excellent classification effect on human behaviorbased classification tasks.Experimental results on the actual RFID datasets show that this model achieves a high average recognition accuracy(99.1%).The dataset we collected for detecting RFID-based indoor human activities will be published.展开更多
Background:Optimal patterns of accrual of recommended levels of physical activity(PA)for prevention of hypertension and obesity are not known.The overall aim of this study was to investigate whether different patterns...Background:Optimal patterns of accrual of recommended levels of physical activity(PA)for prevention of hypertension and obesity are not known.The overall aim of this study was to investigate whether different patterns of accumulation of PA are differentially associated with hypertension and obesity in Australian women over 21 years.Specifically,we investigated whether,for the same weekly volume of PA,the number of sessions(frequency)and vigorousness of PA(intensity)were associated with a reduction in the occurrence of hypertension and obesity in women.Methods:Data from the 1973-1978 and 1946-1951 cohorts of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health were analyzed(n=20,588;12%-16%with a Bachelor's or higher degree).Self-reported PA,hypertension,height,and weight were collected using mail surveys every 3 years from 1998/2000 to 2019/2021.Generalized Estimating Equation models with a 3-year lag model were used to investigate the association of PA volume(metabolic equivalent min/week)(none;33-499;500-999;≥1000,weekly frequency(none;1-2 times;3-4times;5-7 times;≥8 times),and the proportion of vigorous PA to total volume of PA(none;0%;1%-33%;34%-66%;67%-100%)with odds of hypertension and obesity from 2000 to 2021.Results:The cumulative incidence of hypertension was 6%in the 1973-1978 and 23%in the 1946-1951 cohort;27%of women in the 1973-1978;and 15%in the 1946-1951 cohort developed obesity over the period.Overall,a higher volume of PA was associated with reduced odds of hypertension and obesity.When the volume of PA was considered,the odds of hypertension did not vary according to the frequency or intensity of PA.However,increased proportion of vigorous PA to the total volume of PA was associated with a small additional reduction in the risk of obe sity.Conclusion:PA volume appears to be more important than the pattern of accumulation for the prevention of hypertension and obesity.Incorporating more sessions,particularly of vigorous-intensity PA,may provide extra benefits for the prevention of obesity.展开更多
This study aimed to compare the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activities of A. rigidula extracts. It also aimed to identify phenolic acids present in the extracts. The 2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoli...This study aimed to compare the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activities of A. rigidula extracts. It also aimed to identify phenolic acids present in the extracts. The 2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and ferric thiocyanate lipid peroxidation antioxidant assays were performed. High performance liquid chromatography was used to identify phenolic acids. There was no solvent effect on TPC nor on scavenging activities, and inhibition of lipid peroxidation (p > 0.05) among solvent extracts. On the other hand, 1:1:3 water: acetone: methanol extract (10.22 mg GAE/g sample) had significantly higher reducing potential than 50% ethanol extract (EE) (9.259 mg GAE/g sample) (p < 0.05);but EE was not significantly different from 80% methanol extract (9.781 mg GAE/g sample) (p > 0.05). Phenolic fraction designated as fraction 4 had the highest antioxidant activity (p < 0.05) with 69.49% ABTS scavenging activity and FRAP reducing potential, 22.26 mg of GAE/g sample. DPPH scavenging activities of fractions 4 (55.59%) and 5 (55.64%) were significantly higher than the other fractions (p A. rigidula extracts contain gallic, caffeic, vanillic, p-coumaric, salicylic acids and vanillin.展开更多
Background: Women are thought to be more susceptible to stress than men in a stressful society, and reducing stress is crucial for women to maintain their health. Static stretching (SST) is applied in various fields t...Background: Women are thought to be more susceptible to stress than men in a stressful society, and reducing stress is crucial for women to maintain their health. Static stretching (SST) is applied in various fields to not only increase muscle flexibility but also reduce stress. Additionally, conscious slower breathing (CSB) predominates parasympathetic activity, causing a relaxing effect. These results indicate that combining SST and CSB may be more useful in reducing stress. However, to the best of our knowledge, the effect of this combination remains unclear. Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the effects of the combination of SST and CSB on autonomic activity and stress in adult women. Methods: Eleven healthy Japanese adult female participants performed SST with nonconscious natural breathing for 20 min. The same participants performed SST in combination with CSB (2 s inspiratory and 4 s expiratory) for 20 min on another day. Salivary cortisol and chromogranin A levels were measured before and after stretching as stress markers of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and sympathetic nervous system. The coefficient of variation of the R-R interval (CVR-R) and high-frequency component (HF), which reflect parasympathetic nerve activity, and heart rate and low-frequency component (LF)/HF ratio, which reflect sympathetic nerve activity, were measured before, during, and after stretching. Results: SST decreased cortisol levels but with no significant changes in chromogranin A, heart rate, CVR-R, HF, or LF/HF ratio. The combination of SST and CSB increased CVR-R and HF levels in addition to decreasing cortisol levels but with no significant changes in chromogranin A, heart rate, or LF/HF levels. Conclusion: These results indicate that the combination of SST and CSB may increase parasympathetic activity and reduce stress. However, future randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes should support this conclusion.展开更多
Purpose This scoping review aimed to offer researchers and practitioners an understanding of artificial intelligence(AI)applications in physical activity(PA)interventions;introduce them to prevalent machine learning(M...Purpose This scoping review aimed to offer researchers and practitioners an understanding of artificial intelligence(AI)applications in physical activity(PA)interventions;introduce them to prevalent machine learning(ML),deep learning(DL),and reinforcement learning(RL)algorithms;and encourage the adoption of AI methodologies.Methods A scoping review was performed in PubMed,Web of Science,Cochrane Library,and EBSCO focusing on AI applications for promoting PA or predicting related behavioral or health outcomes.AI methodologies were summarized and categorized to identify synergies,patterns,and trends informing future research.Additionally,a concise primer on predominant AI methodologies within the realm of PA was provided to bolster understanding and broader application.Results The review included 24 studies that met the predetermined eligibility criteria.AI models were found effective in detecting significant patterns of PA behavior and associations between specific factors and intervention outcomes.Most studies comparing AI models to traditional statistical approaches reported higher prediction accuracy for AI models on test data.Comparisons of different AI models yielded mixed results,likely due to model performance being highly dependent on the dataset and task.An increasing trend of adopting state-of-the-art DL and RL models over standard ML was observed,addressing complex human–machine communication,behavior modification,and decision-making tasks.Six key areas for future AI adoption in PA interventions emerged:personalized PA interventions,real-time monitoring and adaptation,integration of multimodal data sources,evaluation of intervention effectiveness,expanding access to PA interventions,and predicting and preventing injuries.Conclusion The scoping review highlights the potential of AI methodologies for advancing PA interventions.As the field progresses,staying informed and exploring emerging AI-driven strategies is essential for achieving significant improvements in PA interventions and fostering overall well-being.展开更多
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51678120).
文摘Dihydrochelerythrine(DHCHE)is an isoquinoline compound,which has distinct antifungal activity and can induce apoptosis.The antifungal activity of DHCHE against five rice pathogenic fungi was studied in vitro.At the concentration of 7.5 mg/L,DHCHE exhibited the highest efficacy among tested compounds in inhibiting mycelium growth,with an inhibition rate of 68.8%in Ustilaginoidea virens,which was approximately 2.4 times of that of validamycin(28.7%).After exposure to DHCHE,transmission electron micrographs revealed spores showed incomplete organelles,malformed cell walls and nuclear membranes,as well as irregular lipid spheres.Reactive oxygen species accumulation in treated spores was markedly higher than that in control spores.DHCHE induced cell damage increased in a dose-dependent manner,as indicated by the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and initiation of apoptosis.The differences of expression levels of Fip1,ACP1,PMS2 and COX13 that are important for oxidative phosphorylation and mismatch repair pathway were significant,which may be some of the reasons for the induction of apoptosis in DHCHE-treated U.virens.The protein levels of Fip1,ACP1,PMS2 and COX13 agreed with protein fold change ratio from parallel reaction monitoring Gene Ontology terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway of differentially expressed proteins were further analyzed.These findings will help to elucidate the mechanisms associated with antifungal and pro-apoptotic effects of DHCHE on U.virens,thereby aiding the potential development of novel pesticides.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32172384 and 31501623)the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei (C2020204028)+1 种基金the Key Research and Development Project of Hebei Province (20326505D)the “Hundred Talents Program” for the Introduction of High-level Overseas Talents in Hebei Province (E2020100004)。
文摘Puccinia triticina(Pt), as the causal agent of wheat leaf rust, employs a plethora of effector proteins to modulate wheat immunity for successful colonization. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying Pt effector-mediated wheat susceptibility remains largely unexplored. In this study, an effector Pt_21 was identified to interact with the apoplast-localized wheat thaumatin-like protein TaTLP1 using a yeast two-hybrid assay and the Pt_21-TaTLP1 interaction was characterized. The interaction between Pt_21 and TaTLP1 was validated by in vivo co-immunoprecipitation assay. A TaTLP1 variant,TaTLP1C71A, that was identified by the site-directed mutagenesis failed to interact with Pt_21. Pt_21was able to suppress Bax-mediated cell death in leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana and inhibit TaTLP1-mediated antifungal activity. Furthermore, infiltration of recombinant protein Pt_21 into leaves of transgenic wheat line overexpressing TaTLP1 enhanced the disease development of leaf rust compared to that in wild-type leaves. These findings demonstrate that Pt_21 suppresses host defense response by directly targeting wheat TaTLP1 and inhibiting its antifungal activity, which broadens our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying Pt effector-mediated susceptibility in wheat.
文摘The present work was aimed to the study of the antifungal activity of essential oils of two aromatic plants against three strains of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum responsible for white rot of bean. The two essential oils (EO) of the studied plants: Thymus vulgaris (HET) and Cymbopogon citratrus (HEC), used at different concentrations: C1 (0.75 ml/ml), C2 (1.5 ml/ml) and C3 (3 ml/ml) presented significant inhibitory activities on the three tested fungal strains namely Bia 1, Bia 2, and Njo 2. Two control treatments (T-: containing no antifungal substance and T+: synthetic fungicide) were also used. The antifungal activity here is related to the inhibition of mycelial growth especially with high concentrations of essential oils. Thus, against S. sclerotiorum, HET showed the highest activity comparable to that of T+ (100% inhibition) at all concentrations on the Bia 1 and Bia 2 strains and at concentration C3 on the Njo 2 strain compared to that of HEC, which certainly inhibited the mycelial growth of the different strains considerably (with a maximum of 78.15% on the Njo 2 strain) but not completely. According to their sensitivity, the Bia 2 strain showed a higher sensitivity to essential oils than the others while the Njo 2 strain was more aggressive. On the basis of MIC<sub>50</sub> and MIC<sub>90</sub> obtained on the Njo 2 strain, the HET turns out to be the most efficient with respective lower values of (1.73 and 23.34 ml/ml) against (4.76 and 26.03 ml/ml) for the HEC. These EO could thus be exploited as biodegradable antifungal substances, likely to control white rot of bean.
基金The Higher Education Commission(HEC)funded this work under“Transcriptomics Based Understanding of Cercospora Leaf Spot Resistance in Mungbean and Disease Management through Nanotechnology,”Project No.7425.
文摘We developed a molecular marker for MAS of mungbean resistant varieties against CLS from the consensus sequence(MB-CLsRG)of identified RGAs(MB-ClsRCaG1 and MB-ClsRCaG2).The MB-CLsRG sequence-specific primer pair was used to screen Cercospora leaf spot(CLS)resistant varieties of mungbean in genomic analysis that showed congruency with phenotypic screening.Validation of molecular marker linkage with CLS resistance was performed using rtPCR in transcriptomic analysis.The sequenced PCR products showed 100%homology with MB-CLsRG sequence and putative disease resistance proteins that confirmed the linkage of molecular marker with CLS resistance in mungbean.The antifungal potential of MB-CLsRG gene encoding protein was assessed.The MB-CLsRG gene sequence was cloned in the E.coli expression vector for recombinant protein production.The recombinant protein was then investigated for its in vitro antifungal potential against Cercospora canescens.The in vitro investigation showed strong antifungal activity of recombinant protein as it restricted the growth of fungal mycelial mass.The results validated the linkage of developed marker with CLS-resistant mungbean varieties;therefore,it can be used to screen resistant varieties from a large population in MAS.Moreover,the recombinant protein of the MB-CLsRG gene sequence revealed antifungal potential,which proved the gene sequence could be suitable to use in transgenic plants technology to develop fungal-resistant transgenic crops.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(82192900,82192901,82192904,81941018,and 91846303)Peking University Medicine Seed Fund for Interdisciplinary Research(BMU2022MX025)+5 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universitiessupported by a grant from the Kadoorie Charitable Foundation in Hong Kongsupported by grants from the UK Wellcome Trust(212946/Z/18/Z,202922/Z/16/Z,104085/Z/14/Z,and 088158/Z/09/Z)the National Key R&D Program of China(2016YFC0900500)National Natural Science Foundation of China(81390540)Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology(2011BAI09B01)。
文摘Background:Information on the association between physical activity(PA)and the risk of chronic kidney disease(CKD)is limited.We aimed to explore the associations of total,domain-specific,and intensity-specific PA with CKD and its subtypes in China.Methods:The study included 475,376 adults from the China Kadoorie Biobank aged 30-79 years during 2004-2008 at baseline.An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect the information about PA,which was quantified as metabolic equivalent of task hours per day(MET-h/day)and categorized into 4 groups based on quartiles.Cox regression was used to analyze the association between PA and CKD risk.Results:During a median follow-up of 12.1 years,5415 incident CKD cases were documented,including 1159 incident diabetic kidney disease(DKD)cases and 362 incident hypertensive nephropathy(HTN)cases.Total PA was inversely associated with CKD risk,with an adjusted hazard ratio(HR,95%confidence interval(95%CI))of 0.83(0.75-0.92)for incident CKD in the highest quartile of total PA as compared with participants in the lowest quartile.Similar results were observed for risk of DKD and HTN,and the corresponding HRs(95%CIs)were 0.75(0.58-0.97)for DKD risk and 0.56(0.37-0.85)for HTN risk.Increased nonoccupational PA,low-intensity PA,and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA were significantly associated with a decreased risk of CKD,with HRs(95%CIs)of 0.80(0.73-0.88),0.85(0.77-0.94),and 0.85(0.76-0.95)in the highest quartile,respectively.Conclusion:PA,including nonoccupational PA,low-intensity PA,and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA,was inversely associated with the risk of CKD,including DKD,HTN,and other CKD,and such associations were dose dependent.
文摘Background:Prolonged sitting and reduced physical activity lead to low energy expenditures.However,little is known about the joint impact of daily sitting time and physical activity on body fat distribution.We investigated the independent and joint associations of daily sitting time and physical activity with body fat among adults.Methods:This was a cross-sectional analysis of U.S.nationally representative data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey2011-2018 among adults aged 20 years or older.Daily sitting time and leisure-time physical activity(LTPA)were self-reported using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire.Body fat(total and trunk fat percentage)was determined via dual X-ray absorptiometry.Results:Among 10,808 adults,about 54.6%spent 6 h/day or more sitting;more than one-half reported no LTPA(inactive)or less than 150 min/week LTPA(insufficiently active)with only 43.3%reported 150 min/week or more LTPA(active)in the past week.After fully adjusting for sociodemographic data,lifestyle behaviors,and chronic conditions,prolonged sitting time and low levels of LTPA were associated with higher total and trunk fat percentages in both sexes.When stratifying by LTPA,the association between daily sitting time and body fat appeared to be stronger in those who were inactive/insuufficiently active.In the joint analyses,inactive/insuufficiently active adults who reported sitting more than 8 h/day had the highest total(female:3.99%(95%confidence interval(95%CI):3.09%-4.88%);male:3.79%(95%CI:2.75%-4.82%))and trunk body fat percentages(female:4.21%(95%CI:3.09%-5.32%);male:4.07%(95%CI:2.95%-5.19%))when compared with those who were active and sitting less than 4 h/day.Conclusion:Prolonged daily sitting time was associated with increased body fat among U.S.adults.The higher body fat associated with 6 h/day sitting may not be offset by achieving recommended levels of physical activity.
文摘In this editorial we comment on the article titled“Inflammatory bowel diseases patients suffer from significant low levels and barriers to physical activity:The BE-FIT-IBD study”published in a recent issue of the World Journal of Gastroen-terology 2023;29(41):5668-5682.Inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD)are emerging as a significant global health concern as their incidence continues to rise on a global scale,with detrimental impacts on quality of life.While many advances have been made regarding the management of the disease,physical inactivity in these patients represents an underexplored issue that may hold the key for further and better understanding the ramifications of IBD.Chronic pain,fatigue,and fear of exacerbating symptoms promotes physical inactivity among IBD patients,while the lack of clear guidelines on safe exercise regimens contributes to a norm of physical inactivity.Physical activity(PA)is accepted to have a positive effect on disease outcomes and quality of life,while inactivity exacerbates comorbidities like cardiovascular disease and mental health disorders.The“BE-FIT-IBD”study,focusing on PA levels and barriers in IBD patients of Southern Italy,revealed that a significant proportion(42.9%)were physically inactive.This lack of PA is attributed to barriers such as fear of flare-ups and misconceptions about exercise exacerbating the disease.The study also highlighted the need for better communication between healthcare providers and patients regarding the benefits of PA and safe incorporation into lifestyles.Moreover,physical inactivity may also contribute to disability in IBD patients,having a great impact on employment status.Of note is the fact that IBD also comes with an important psychological burden with relevant evidence suggesting that regular PA can improve mood,reduce anxiety,and enhance mental health.The“BE-FIT-IBD”study advocated for the integration of PA into IBD management,emphasizing the bidirectional link between PA and IBD.Regular exercise can influence the course of IBD,potentially reducing symptom severity and prolonging remission periods.As such,it is mandatory that healthcare providers actively educate patients,dispel misconceptions,and tailor exercise recommendations to improve the quality of life and reduce IBD-related complications.
基金supported by grants from the National Key R&D Program of China(2019YFC1606701)。
文摘Plant-based fermentations provide an untapped source for novel biotechnological applications.In this study,a probiotic named Lactobacillus fermentum 21828 was introduced to ferment Lentinus edodes.Polysaccharides were extracted from fermented and non-fermented L.edodes and purified via DEAE-52 and Sephadex G-100.The components designated F-LEP-2a and NF-LEP-2a were analyzed by FT-IR,HPGPC,HPAEC,SEM,GC-MS and NMR.The results revealed that probiotic fermentation increased the molecular weight from 1.16×10^(4) Da to 1.87×10^(4) Da and altered the proportions of glucose,galactose and mannose,in which glucose increased from 45.94%to 48.16%.Methylation analysis and NMR spectra indicated that F-LEP-2a and NF-LEP-2a had similar linkage patterns.Furthermore,their immunomodulatory activities were evaluated with immunosuppressive mice.NF-LEP and F-LEP improved immune organ indices,immunoglobulin(Ig G and Ig M)and cytokines concentrations;restored the antioxidation capacity of liver;and maintained the balance of gut microbiota.F-LEP displayed better moderating effects on the spleen index,immunoglobulin,cytokines and the diversity of gut microbiota than NF-LEP(200,400 mg/kg).Our study provides an efficient and environment-friendly way for the structural modification of polysaccharides,which helps to enhance their biological activity and promote their wide application in food,medicine and other fields.
文摘Background: Antifungal resistance (AFR) is a global public health problem with devastating effects, especially among immunocompromised individuals. Addressing AFR requires a One Health approach including Antifungal Stewardship (AFS). This study aimed to comprehensively review global studies published on fungal infections and AFR and to recommend solutions to address this growing problem. Materials and Methods: This was a narrative review that was conducted using published papers on fungal infections, AFR, and AFS between January 1961 and March 2024. The literature was searched using PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and EMBASE. Results: This found that there has been an increase in fungal infections globally, especially among immunocompromised patients. Due to this increase in fungal infections, there has been a proportionate increase in the use of antifungal agents to prevent and treat fungal infections. This increased use of antifungal agents has worsened the problem of AFR contributing to increased morbidity and mortality. Globally, fungal infections have contributed to 150 million infections annually and 1.7 million deaths per year. By the year 2023, over 3.8 million people died from fungal infections. Addressing AFR remains a challenge because the treatment of antifungal-resistant infections is difficult. Finally, the treatment of fungal infections is a global challenge exacerbated by the limited number of antifungal agents to treat invasive fungal infections. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that fungal infections and AFR are prevalent across humans, animals, agriculture, and the environment. Addressing this problem requires the provision of solutions such as improving the awareness of AFR, conducting further research on the discovery of new antifungal agents, and implementing AFS programs. If this global problem is not addressed, the morbidity and mortality associated with AFR will continue to rise in the future.
文摘The misuse and overuse of classic antifungals have accelerated the development of resistance mechanisms,diminishing the efficacy of established therapeutic pathways and necessitating a shift towards alternative targets.Despite this pressing need for new treatments,the antifungal drug pipeline has been largely stagnant for the past three decades,primarily due to the high risks and costs associated with antifungal drug development,compounded by uncertain market returns.Extensive research durations,special patient populations and rigorous regulatory demands pose significant barriers to bringing novel antifungal agents to market.In response,the“push-pull”incentive model has emerged as a vital strategy to invigorate the pipeline and encourage innovation.This editorial critically examines the current clinical landscape and spotlights emerging antifungal agents,such as Fosmanogepix,Ibrexafungerp,and Olorofim,while also unraveling the multifaceted challenges faced in new antifungal drug development.The generation of novel antifungals offers a beacon of hope in the battle against antimicrobial resistance,but it is premature to declare them as definitive solutions.Their future role hinges on thorough clinical validation,costeffectiveness assessments,and continuous post-marketing surveillance.Only through strategic implementation and integration with market strategies we can transform the landscape of antifungal development,addressing both the resistance crisis and the treatment challenges.
文摘Candida auris since it discovery in 2009 is becoming a severe threat to human health due to its very quickly spread, its worldwide high resistance to systemic antifungal drugs. In resource-constrained settings where several conditions are met for its emergence and spread, this worrisome fungus could cause large hospital and/or community-based outbreaks. This review aimed to summarize the available data on C. auris in Africa focusing on its epidemiology and antifungal resistance profile. Major databases were searched for articles on the epidemiology and antifungal resistance profile of C. auris in Africa. Out of 2,521 articles identified 22 met the inclusion criteria. In Africa, nearly 89% of African countries have no published data on C. auris. The prevalence of C. auris in Africa was 8.74%. The case fatality rate of C. auris infection in Africa was 39.46%. The main C. auris risk factors reported in Africa were cardiovascular disease, renal failure, diabetes, HIV, recent intake of antimicrobial drugs, ICU admissions, surgery, hemodialysis, parenteral nutrition and indwelling devices. Four phylogenetic clades were reported in Africa, namely clades I, II, III and IV. Candida auris showed a pan-African very high resistance rate to fluconazole, moderate resistance to amphotericin B, and high susceptibility to echinocandins. Finally, C. auris clade-specific mutations were observed within the ERG2, ERG3, ERG9, ERG11, FKS1, TAC1b and MRR1 genes in Africa. This systematic review showed the presence of C. auris in the African continent and a worrying unavailability of data on this resilient fungus in most African countries.
文摘Lawsonia inermis is a hairless plant growing in various regions of North Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and the Middle East. It possesses many medicinal attributes, including curative properties against infectious dermatoses. This study was carried out to evaluate the phytochemical profile of the crude ethanolic extract of the plant leaves and its fractions as well as their antimicrobial activities. The phytochemical profile was performed using high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Additionally, the phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu spectrophotometric and the aluminum trichloride methods. Antimicrobial activity was tested using disc diffusion and microdilution methods. The presence of flavonoids, tannins, sterols, and triterpenes was revealed. GC-MS detected twelve compounds main compounds consisting of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and phenolic and terpenoid compounds among twenty-seven components. HPLC also detected high contents of phenolic acids and flavonoids. The most abundant triterpene and sterols were ursolic acid (around 43.14 g/100g DW, 13.9 g/100g dry weight (DW), and 0.68 g/100g DW) in the crude ethanolic extract of leaves (FeLi), hexane fraction (FHLi) and dichloromethane fraction (FDLi), respectively and, β-sitosterol in FeLi (56.7 mg/100g DW), FHLi (10.55 g/100g DW), FDLi (106.1 mg/100g DW) and butanol fraction (FBLi) (357.4 mg/100g DW). Among the flavonoids, rutin = 3.24 g/100g and quercetin = 0.63 g/100g in the ethanolic extract, rutin = 15.73 g/100g in the dichloromethane fraction, and rutin = 0.23 g/100g) in the aqueous fraction;and among phenolic compounds, caffeic acid (37.65 g/100g DW) and vanillic acid (22.70 g/100g DW) were the most important in the ethyl acetate fraction (FAeLi). All organic fractions exhibited interesting antibacterial and antifungal activities against the tested strains, with the best activity recorded with the dichloromethane and ethyl acetate fractions. The leaf extracts’ phytochemical profile and antimicrobial activity support the use of Lawsonia inermis against infectious skin diseases.
文摘Research Background: Compared to the general population, people experiencing age-related cognitive decline are more likely to have low levels of physical activity and sleep problems. Sufficient physical activity and quality sleep are protective factors against cognitive decline and poor health and can improve coping with stressors. The “Active Feedback” intervention comprises a wearable activity and sleep tracker (Fitbit), access to Fitbit software healthy lifestyle software apps;one session with Memory Assessment Service (MAS) staff providing physical activity and sleep hygiene advice and two further engagement, discussion, and feedback sessions. Purpose/Aim: This study investigates the acceptability and feasibility of Active Feedback and the effect on stress, mental wellbeing, and sleep quality, and the links between these factors. Methods: An open-label patient cohort design with no control group was used. Pre-intervention, 4-week and 8-week intervention assessments were performed using participant self-report measures: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS), and Sleep Conditioning Index (SCI). Twenty-five participants completed an eight-week three-session intervention (18 males and 7 females), with the age range of 66 - 84 years old, and average age of 73.8 years (SD = 5.09). Fifteen participants had a diagnosis of MCI, ten participants did not. Results: There were non-significant improvements in SCI scores from 21.0 (SD = 8.84) to 21.6 (SD = 6.20) at 8 weeks, PSS scores from 17.5 (SD = 5.89) to 17.0 (SD = 6.20) at 8 weeks, and WEMWBS scores from 46.9 (SD = 9.23) to 48.8 (SD = 9.69) at 8 weeks. There were negative correlations between WEMWBS and PSS. Conclusion: Active Feedback intervention was found to be feasible and acceptable. Active Feedback could be enhanced to include motivational interviewing and goal setting.
文摘Anthropogenic activities have contributed to pollution of water bodies through deposition of diverse pollutants amongst which are heavy metals. These pollutants, which at times are above the maximum concentration levels recommended, are detrimental to the quality of the water, soil and crops (plant) with subsequent human health risks. The objective of the work was to evaluate the impacts of human-based activities on the heavy metal properties of surface water with focus on the Kumba River basin. Field observations, interviews, field measurements and laboratory analyses of different water samples enabled us to collect the different data. The results show four main human-based activities within the river basin (agriculture, livestock production, domestic waste disposal and carwash activities) that pollute surface water. Approximately 20.61 tons of nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural activities, 156.48 tons of animal wastes, 2517.5 tons of domestic wastes and 1.52 tons of detergent from carwash activities were deposited into the river each year. A highly significant difference at 1% was observed between the upstream and downstream heavy metal loads in four of the five heavy metals tested except for copper that was not significant. Lead concentrations were highest in all the activities with an average of 2.4 mg∙L<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> representing 57.81%, followed by zinc with 1.596 mg∙L<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> (38.45%) and manganese with 0.155 mg∙L<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> (3.74%) for the different anthropogenic activities thus indicating that these activities highly lead to pollution of the Kumba River water. The level of zinc and manganese was significantly influenced at ρ 005 by anthropogenic activities though generally the variations were in the order: carwash (3.196 mg∙L<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>) < domestic waste disposal (3.347 mg∙L<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>) < agriculture (4.172 mg∙L<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>) < livestock (4.886 mg∙L<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>) respectively and leading to a total of 14.04 tons of heavy metal pollutants deposited each day.
基金supported by Fundamental Research Program of Shanxi Province,China(202203021212245)the Science and Technology Achievement Transformation Guidance Special Program of Shanxi Province,China(202104021301052)the Patent Transformation Program of Shanxi Province,China(202306013).
文摘The removal of organic sulfur through catalytic hydrolysis is a significant area of research in the field of desulfurization.This review provides an overview of recent advancements in catalytic hydrolysis technology of organic sulfur,including the activity,stability,and atmosphere effects of hydrolysis catalysts.The emphasis is on strategies for enhancing hydrolysis activity and anti-oxygen poisoning property of catalysts.Surface modification,metal doping and nitrogen doping have been found to improve the activity of catalysts.Alkaline components modification is the most commonly used method,the formation of oxygen vacancies through metal doping and creation of nitrogen basic sites through nitrogen doping also contribute to the hydrolysis of organic sulfur.The strategies for anti-oxygen poisoning are discussed in a systematic manner.The structural regulation of catalysts is beneficial for the desorption and diffusion of hydrogen sulfide(H_(2)S),thereby effectively inhibiting its oxidation.Nitrogen doping and the addition of electronic promoters such as transition metals can protect active sites and decrease the number of active oxygen species.These methods have been proven to enhance the anti-poisoning performance of catalysts.Additionally,this article summarizes how different atmospheres affect the activity of hydrolysis catalysts.The objective of this review is to pave the way for the development of efficient,stable and widely used catalysts for organic sulfur hydrolysis.
基金the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDC02040300)for this study.
文摘RFID-based human activity recognition(HAR)attracts attention due to its convenience,noninvasiveness,and privacy protection.Existing RFID-based HAR methods use modeling,CNN,or LSTM to extract features effectively.Still,they have shortcomings:1)requiring complex hand-crafted data cleaning processes and 2)only addressing single-person activity recognition based on specific RF signals.To solve these problems,this paper proposes a novel device-free method based on Time-streaming Multiscale Transformer called TransTM.This model leverages the Transformer's powerful data fitting capabilities to take raw RFID RSSI data as input without pre-processing.Concretely,we propose a multiscale convolutional hybrid Transformer to capture behavioral features that recognizes singlehuman activities and human-to-human interactions.Compared with existing CNN-and LSTM-based methods,the Transformer-based method has more data fitting power,generalization,and scalability.Furthermore,using RF signals,our method achieves an excellent classification effect on human behaviorbased classification tasks.Experimental results on the actual RFID datasets show that this model achieves a high average recognition accuracy(99.1%).The dataset we collected for detecting RFID-based indoor human activities will be published.
基金supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council(NHMRC)Investigator Grant(APP2008702)supported by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Developments-CNPq(process number 308772/2022-9)。
文摘Background:Optimal patterns of accrual of recommended levels of physical activity(PA)for prevention of hypertension and obesity are not known.The overall aim of this study was to investigate whether different patterns of accumulation of PA are differentially associated with hypertension and obesity in Australian women over 21 years.Specifically,we investigated whether,for the same weekly volume of PA,the number of sessions(frequency)and vigorousness of PA(intensity)were associated with a reduction in the occurrence of hypertension and obesity in women.Methods:Data from the 1973-1978 and 1946-1951 cohorts of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health were analyzed(n=20,588;12%-16%with a Bachelor's or higher degree).Self-reported PA,hypertension,height,and weight were collected using mail surveys every 3 years from 1998/2000 to 2019/2021.Generalized Estimating Equation models with a 3-year lag model were used to investigate the association of PA volume(metabolic equivalent min/week)(none;33-499;500-999;≥1000,weekly frequency(none;1-2 times;3-4times;5-7 times;≥8 times),and the proportion of vigorous PA to total volume of PA(none;0%;1%-33%;34%-66%;67%-100%)with odds of hypertension and obesity from 2000 to 2021.Results:The cumulative incidence of hypertension was 6%in the 1973-1978 and 23%in the 1946-1951 cohort;27%of women in the 1973-1978;and 15%in the 1946-1951 cohort developed obesity over the period.Overall,a higher volume of PA was associated with reduced odds of hypertension and obesity.When the volume of PA was considered,the odds of hypertension did not vary according to the frequency or intensity of PA.However,increased proportion of vigorous PA to the total volume of PA was associated with a small additional reduction in the risk of obe sity.Conclusion:PA volume appears to be more important than the pattern of accumulation for the prevention of hypertension and obesity.Incorporating more sessions,particularly of vigorous-intensity PA,may provide extra benefits for the prevention of obesity.
文摘This study aimed to compare the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activities of A. rigidula extracts. It also aimed to identify phenolic acids present in the extracts. The 2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and ferric thiocyanate lipid peroxidation antioxidant assays were performed. High performance liquid chromatography was used to identify phenolic acids. There was no solvent effect on TPC nor on scavenging activities, and inhibition of lipid peroxidation (p > 0.05) among solvent extracts. On the other hand, 1:1:3 water: acetone: methanol extract (10.22 mg GAE/g sample) had significantly higher reducing potential than 50% ethanol extract (EE) (9.259 mg GAE/g sample) (p < 0.05);but EE was not significantly different from 80% methanol extract (9.781 mg GAE/g sample) (p > 0.05). Phenolic fraction designated as fraction 4 had the highest antioxidant activity (p < 0.05) with 69.49% ABTS scavenging activity and FRAP reducing potential, 22.26 mg of GAE/g sample. DPPH scavenging activities of fractions 4 (55.59%) and 5 (55.64%) were significantly higher than the other fractions (p A. rigidula extracts contain gallic, caffeic, vanillic, p-coumaric, salicylic acids and vanillin.
文摘Background: Women are thought to be more susceptible to stress than men in a stressful society, and reducing stress is crucial for women to maintain their health. Static stretching (SST) is applied in various fields to not only increase muscle flexibility but also reduce stress. Additionally, conscious slower breathing (CSB) predominates parasympathetic activity, causing a relaxing effect. These results indicate that combining SST and CSB may be more useful in reducing stress. However, to the best of our knowledge, the effect of this combination remains unclear. Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the effects of the combination of SST and CSB on autonomic activity and stress in adult women. Methods: Eleven healthy Japanese adult female participants performed SST with nonconscious natural breathing for 20 min. The same participants performed SST in combination with CSB (2 s inspiratory and 4 s expiratory) for 20 min on another day. Salivary cortisol and chromogranin A levels were measured before and after stretching as stress markers of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and sympathetic nervous system. The coefficient of variation of the R-R interval (CVR-R) and high-frequency component (HF), which reflect parasympathetic nerve activity, and heart rate and low-frequency component (LF)/HF ratio, which reflect sympathetic nerve activity, were measured before, during, and after stretching. Results: SST decreased cortisol levels but with no significant changes in chromogranin A, heart rate, CVR-R, HF, or LF/HF ratio. The combination of SST and CSB increased CVR-R and HF levels in addition to decreasing cortisol levels but with no significant changes in chromogranin A, heart rate, or LF/HF levels. Conclusion: These results indicate that the combination of SST and CSB may increase parasympathetic activity and reduce stress. However, future randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes should support this conclusion.
文摘Purpose This scoping review aimed to offer researchers and practitioners an understanding of artificial intelligence(AI)applications in physical activity(PA)interventions;introduce them to prevalent machine learning(ML),deep learning(DL),and reinforcement learning(RL)algorithms;and encourage the adoption of AI methodologies.Methods A scoping review was performed in PubMed,Web of Science,Cochrane Library,and EBSCO focusing on AI applications for promoting PA or predicting related behavioral or health outcomes.AI methodologies were summarized and categorized to identify synergies,patterns,and trends informing future research.Additionally,a concise primer on predominant AI methodologies within the realm of PA was provided to bolster understanding and broader application.Results The review included 24 studies that met the predetermined eligibility criteria.AI models were found effective in detecting significant patterns of PA behavior and associations between specific factors and intervention outcomes.Most studies comparing AI models to traditional statistical approaches reported higher prediction accuracy for AI models on test data.Comparisons of different AI models yielded mixed results,likely due to model performance being highly dependent on the dataset and task.An increasing trend of adopting state-of-the-art DL and RL models over standard ML was observed,addressing complex human–machine communication,behavior modification,and decision-making tasks.Six key areas for future AI adoption in PA interventions emerged:personalized PA interventions,real-time monitoring and adaptation,integration of multimodal data sources,evaluation of intervention effectiveness,expanding access to PA interventions,and predicting and preventing injuries.Conclusion The scoping review highlights the potential of AI methodologies for advancing PA interventions.As the field progresses,staying informed and exploring emerging AI-driven strategies is essential for achieving significant improvements in PA interventions and fostering overall well-being.