Search Results (6)

One of the major global health threats in the present era is antibiotic resistance. Biosynthesized iron oxide nanoparticles (FeNPs) can combat microbial infections and can be synthesized without harmful chemicals. In the present investigation, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to discover Streptomyces sp. SMGL39, an actinomycete isolate utilized to reduce ferrous sulfate heptahydrate (FeSO₄.7H₂O) to biosynthesize FeNPs, which were then characterized using UV–Vis, XRD, FTIR, and TEM analyses. Furthermore, in our current study, the biosynthesized FeNPs were tested for antimicrobial and antibiofilm characteristics against different Gram-negative, Gram-positive, and fungal strains. Additionally, our work examines the biosynthesized FeNPs’ molecular docking and binding affinity to key enzymes, which contributed to bacterial infection cooperation via quorum sensing (QS) processes. A bright yellow to dark brown color shift indicated the production of FeNPs, which have polydispersed forms with particle sizes ranging from 80 to 180 nm and UV absorbance ranging from 220 to 280 nm. Biosynthesized FeNPs from actinobacteria significantly reduced the microbial growth of Fusarium oxysporum and L. monocytogenes, while they showed weak antimicrobial activity against P. aeruginosa and no activity against E. coli, MRSA, or Aspergillus niger. On the other hand, biosynthesized FeNPs showed strong antibiofilm activity against P. aeruginosa while showing mild and weak activity against B. subtilis and E. coli, respectively. The collaboration of biosynthesized FeNPs and key enzymes for bacterial infection exhibits hydrophobic and/or hydrogen bonding, according to this research. These results show that actinobacteria-biosynthesized FeNPs prevent biofilm development in bacteria. Full article

Determining the type and properties of saturated groundwater for complex sedimentary facies, as well as the various properties of these sedimentary facies, requires extensive geological, hydrogeological, and geophysical studies. Therefore, identifying the different types of subsurface deposits and their physical properties as well as their geological, hydrogeological, and structural settings are the interesting features in this study which play an important role in achieving its objectives. To achieve these objectives, the Direct Current (DC) resistivity method and the Direct Current Time-Domain Induced Polarization (DC-TDIP) method were used. These two methods were applied because they are complementary methods, one of which is more accurate in sediments saturated with fresh water (the DC resistivity method) and the other in sediments saturated with salt water (DC-TDIP method). Also, the DC-TDIP method was applied to avoid ambiguity in the resistivity results, as well as their results were compared with the available geological and hydrogeological field data. Accordingly, 2D and 3D resistivity values were designed to describe the hydro-lithological environment of the recorded sediments, and their hydrogeoelectric properties and groundwater zones were also identified and divided. Also, 2D and 3D chargeability values were designed to distinguish between sediments, their depositional facies, and their saturated water properties. These values also succeeded in separating clay from non-clay layers, and clay layers from layers containing salt water. Therefore, it was found that the integration between the two methods helped in identifying and visualizing the characteristics of the sediments and determining their facies and their water content, which helped in understanding the complex sedimentary facies recorded in the study area as well as identifying the types and characteristics of groundwater contained in these facies. Therefore, it can be recommended to apply the previous methodology and include the two geophysical methods and their results to study complex facies deposits and determine their water content and type, especially in similar depositional environments that are located next to a source of salt water mixed with other types of water. Full article

Aortic valve defects are among the most prevalent clinical conditions. A severely damaged or non-functioning aortic valve is commonly replaced with a bioprosthetic heart valve (BHV) via the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure. Accurate pre-operative planning is crucial for a successful TAVR outcome. Assessment of computational fluid dynamics (CFD), finite element analysis (FEA), and fluid–solid interaction (FSI) analysis offer a solution that has been increasingly utilized to evaluate BHV mechanics and dynamics. However, the high computational costs and the complex operation of computational modeling hinder its application. Recent advancements in the deep learning (DL) domain can offer a real-time surrogate that can render hemodynamic parameters in a few seconds, thus guiding clinicians to select the optimal treatment option. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of classical computational modeling approaches, medical imaging, and DL approaches for planning and outcome assessment of TAVR. Particularly, we focus on DL approaches in previous studies, highlighting the utilized datasets, deployed DL models, and achieved results. We emphasize the critical challenges and recommend several future directions for innovative researchers to tackle. Finally, an end-to-end smart DL framework is outlined for real-time assessment and recommendation of the best BHV design for TAVR. Ultimately, deploying such a framework in future studies will support clinicians in minimizing risks during TAVR therapy planning and will help in improving patient care. Full article

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a common Fusarium toxin in poultry feed. Chickens are more resistant to the adverse impacts of deoxynivalenol (DON) compared to other species. In general, the acute form of DON mycotoxicosis rarely occurs in poultry flocks under normal conditions. However, if diets contain low levels of DON (less than 5 mg DON/kg diet), lower productivity, impaired immunity and higher susceptibility to infectious diseases can occur. The molecular mechanism of action of DON has not been completely understood. A significant influence of DON in chickens is the impairment of immunological functions. It was known that low doses of DON elevated the serum IgA levels and affected both cell-mediated and humoral immunity in animals. DON is shown to suppress the antibody response to infectious bronchitis vaccine (IBV) and to Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in broilers (10 mg DON/kg feed) and laying hens (3.5 to 14 mg of DON/kg feed), respectively. Moreover, DON (10 mg DON/kg feed) decreased tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in the plasma of broilers. DON can severely affect the immune system and, due to its negative impact on performance and productivity, can eventually result in high economic losses to poultry producers. The present review highlights the impacts of DON intoxication on cell mediated immunity, humoral immunity, gut immunity, immune organs and pro-inflammatory cytokines in chickens. Full article

It has been shown that DON has negative effects on the active transport of some nutrients in the small intestine of chickens. The plausible interactions between food contaminants and natural components could be high. The present study investigated the effects of DON on the presence or absence of dietary inulin on the electrophysiological response of the gut to glucose. Ussing chamber studies were conducted with isolated jejunal epithelia at the age of 35 days. Electrophysiology of the epithelia was recorded and the changes of the short-circuit current (Isc) were determined. The addition of Dglucose on the luminal side of the isolated mucosa increased (P < 0.05) the Isc in the control group and inulin supplemented group. The oligosaccharides did not increase glucose absorption in young healthy chickens compared with the controls. In the second experiment, after preincubation of tissues with DON, the addition of glucose did not increase the Isc in jejunum and colon in the control group (P > 0.05). However, in the dietary inulin supplemented group in both jejunum and colon, the addition of glucose after preincubation of tissues with DON increased the Isc, suggesting that the dietary inulin supplementation of the broilers regulated and improved the glucose absorption in the presence of DON and kept it at normal levels. Full article

A feeding trial was conducted on broiler chickens to study the effects of the synbiotic BIOMIN IMBO [a combination of Enterococcus faecium, a prebiotic (derived from chicory) and immune modulating substances (derived from sea algae)], with a dose of 1 kg/ton of the starter diets and 0.5 kg/ton of the grower diets on the intestinal morphometry and nutrient absorption. The general performance was improved (P < 0.05) by the dietary inclusion of synbiotic compared with the controls. Furthermore, the addition of synbiotic increased (P < 0.001) the villus height/crypt depth ratio and villus height in ileum. However, the ileal crypt depth was decreased by dietary supplementation of synbiotic compared with control. The addition of glucose in Ussing chamber produced a significant increase (P ≤ 0.001) in short-circuit current (Isc) in jejunum and colon relative to the basal values in both synbiotic and control groups. However, in jejunum the percentage of Isc increase after glucose addition was higher for synbiotic group (333 %) than control group (45 %). In conclusion, dietary inclusion of synbiotic BIOMIN IMBO increased the growth performance and improved intestinal morphology and nutrient absorption. Full article