Search Results (26)

Ofloxacin is one of the most commonly used antibacterial substances in the world. Like most medicines, it ends up in the environment through municipal sewage and undergoes various transformations, e.g., photodegradation. The aim of this study was an extensive analysis of ofloxacin photodegradation in both pure antibiotic and a commercial eye drop forms. In this study, a sunlight simulator, chromatographic methods of quantitative and qualitative determination, and biological methods for the evaluation of toxicity (Microbial Assay for Risk Assessment (MARA), Microtox^® and Spirotox) were used. The results showed that ofloxacin decomposed almost completely over 2 h of irradiation. Based on the high resolution mass spectrometry, 22 photoproducts were identified. The most sensitive strain of bacteria in the MARA test (Delftia acidovorans) responded at a concentration of 7.6 µg L⁻¹ of ofloxacin. The antibacterial activity of the irradiated samples was higher than that predicted based on the ofloxacin concentration. This suggests that the resulting photoproducts may have a bacteriostatic effect. The results of additional acute toxicity tests indicate the formation of toxic photoproducts, so it is reasonable to use other organisms that are not focused on a specific target. Such actions may allow for the capture of other, unexpected effects of formed photoproducts. Full article

Background/Objectives: The spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health concern. Wild animals can play an important role in the amplification and dissemination of AMR and in conservation efforts aiming at controlling diseases in vulnerable wild animal populations. These animals can serve as reservoirs for antibiotic resistance genes and are key in the spread of AMR across ecosystems and hosts. Therefore, monitoring AMR in wild animals is crucial in tackling the spread of resistance in the environment and human population. This study investigated the phenotypic and genotypic resistance of Escherichia coli (E. coli) isolated from semi-wild oryx (Oryx leucoryx) in Qatar. Methods: One hundred fecal samples were collected from oryx in diverse natural reserves across Qatar. A selective agar medium was used to isolate E. coli, and the identity of the isolates was further confirmed using the VITEK^® 2 Compact system. The Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method was used to test antibiotic susceptibility. Genetic resistance determinants were identified through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses and sequencing using the Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT). Results: The results revealed that 18% (n = 18) of the samples harbored E. coli with resistance to a single antibiotic, 28% (n = 28) were resistant to at least one antibiotic, and 2% (n = 2) were multidrug-resistant (MDR). No resistance was observed against colistin. tetA and tetB encode tetracycline resistance were the most frequently detected genes (57.7%). Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was used to expand on AMR gene-PCR analyses and analyze the resistome of 12E. coli isolates. WGS identified several important antibiotic resistance determinates, including bla_CTX-M-encoding Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) resistance, soxR associated with tetracycline target alteration, and mdtE, emrB, AcrE, mdtF, and marA related to ciprofloxacin efflux pump resistance. Conclusions: This study provides essential information regarding AMR in Qatari semi-wild animals, which will guide conservation strategies and wildlife health management in a world experiencing increasing antibiotic-resistant infections. Furthermore, these findings can inform policies to mitigate AMR spread, improve ecosystems, and enhance public and environmental health while paving the way for future research on AMR dynamics in wildlife. Full article

This study investigated the presence of antibiotic-resistance genes in drinking water consumed by the university community in the Peruvian Amazon. Water samples were collected from three primary sources: inflow from the distribution network, a storage cistern, and an underground intake. Conventional PCR was employed to detect genes associated with resistance to erythromycin (ermC), ampicillin (amp), ciprofloxacin (QEP), multidrug resistance (marA), and specific multidrug resistance in E. coli (qEmarA). Physicochemical analysis revealed compliance with most regulatory standards; however, groundwater samples showed lead concentrations exceeding legal limits (0.72 mg/L) and lacked residual chlorine. All sampling points tested positive for the evaluated resistance genes, demonstrating the widespread dissemination of resistance factors in drinking water. Contrary to initial expectations, resistance genes were also prevalent in treated sources. These findings reveal a critical public health risk for the university community, emphasising the need for effective disinfection systems and robust monitoring protocols to ensure water safety. The presence of these resistance genes in water is a critical public health concern as it can facilitate the spread of resistant bacteria, reducing the effectiveness of medical treatments and increasing the risk of infections that are difficult to control. Full article

Background/Objectives: The Child Oral Health Impact Profile—Short Form 19 (COHIP-SF 19) is widely used to measure the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children and adolescents. The current study aimed to validate the Malay language version of the COHIP-SF19 (ML COHIP-SF 19) and to assess its psychometric properties among Malaysian children/adolescents. Methods: Children aged from 9 to 16 years attending the Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) participated in this study. The original English version of the COHIP-SF 19 was translated using forward- and back-translation. The psychometric properties of the final version were tested for reliability and validity using Cronbach’s alpha, a non-parametric Spearman’s correlation test, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results: A total of 252 children aged from 9 to 16 years (mean age = 11.33 ± 1.87 years) self-completed the ML-COHIP-SF 19. The total scores of the ML COHIP-SF 19 ranged from 20 to 75 (mean = 55.67 ± 10.45) with an internal consistency (α) of 0.81. Convergent validity showed a fair correlation between self-perceived oral health rating and total ML COHIP-SF 19 scores, as well as the socio-emotional well-being subscale scores (rs = 0.38–0.42, p < 0.01). Conclusions: The ML COHIP-SF 19 demonstrated reliable psychometric properties and acceptable four-factor model fits, indicating that it is a valid tool to measure the OHRQoL of Malaysian children aged from 9 to 16 years. Full article

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomic analysis was applied to investigate the differences within nineteen Sicilian Nocellara del Belice monovarietal extra virgin olive oils (EVOOs), grown in two zones that are different in altitude and soil composition. Several classes of endogenous olive oil metabolites were quantified through a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) three-experiment protocol coupled with a yet-developed data-processing called MARA-NMR (Multiple Assignment Recovered Analysis by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance). This method, taking around one-hour of experimental time per sample, faces the possible quantification of different class of compounds at different concentration ranges, which would require at least three alternative traditional methods. NMR results were compared with the data of traditional analytical methods to quantify free fatty acidity (FFA), fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), and total phenol content. The presented NMR methodology is compared with traditional analytical practices, and its consistency is also tested through slightly different data treatment. Despite the rich literature about the NMR of EVOOs, the paper points out that there are still several advances potentially improving this general analysis and overcoming the other cumbersome and multi-device analytical strategies. Monovarietal EVOO’s composition is mainly affected by pedoclimatic conditions, in turn relying upon the nutritional properties, quality, and authenticity. Data collection, analysis, and statistical processing are discussed, touching on the important issues related to the climate changes in Sicily and to the specific influence of pedoclimatic conditions. Full article

Sea buckthorn is a promising species that, under the conditions of Eastern Europe, has shown high productivity and is also a good and possible source of a wide range of bioactive compounds that have a positive effect on the human body, especially polyphenols and carotenoids. Due to the content of biologically active substances in sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.), the species is of growing interest to scientists, the food industry, the pharmaceutical industry, the cosmetics industry and consumers. The aim of this study is to investigate the productivity and the correlation between the chemical composition and the antibacterial effect of four cultivars of sea buckthorn (Clara, Dora, Cora, Mara), cultivated in the Republic of Moldova. Sea buckthorn fruits were harvested at the stage of full ripening. Berry samples were frozen at minus 25 °C, stored for 6 months and whole fruits of sea buckthorn were studied. All quantitative characteristics were calculated in terms of absolutely dry raw material (dry weight). The sea buckthorn cultivars tested were found to have a different carotenoid contents (1.79–48.92 mg/100 g), ascorbic acid contents (74.36–373.38 mg/100 g), organic acids (malic acid 5.8–13.4 mg/100 g, citric acid 0.08–0.321 mg/100 g, succinic acid 0.03–1.1 mg/100 g), total dry matter contents (16.71–24.54%), titratable acidities (2.15–8.76%) and pH values (2.73–3.00). The antimicrobial activity of sea buckthorn, evaluated by the diameter of the inhibition zone, constituted for Bacillus pumilus 3.70–15.91 mm/g⁻¹ for whole sea buckthorn fruits and 13.33–26.67 mm/g⁻¹ for sea buckthorn purees. Full article

Phytoremediation supported by bioaugmentation is a promising method considered for cleaning up areas polluted with petroleum hydrocarbons. In this study, phytoremediation was carried out using Echinacea purpurea as a phytoremediant on two types of soil: Soil DW—aged soil taken from an excavation pit, Soil OS—soil taken from an oil spill area. The tests for each soil were carried out in six test systems (non-inoculation, inoculation with the B1 microbial consortium, inoculation with the B2 microbial consortium, inoculation with the B1 microbial consortium with the addition of γ-PGA (γ-poly glutamic acid), inoculation with the B2 microbial consortium with the addition of γ-PGA and inoculation with the γ-PGA solution) for 6 months. The effectiveness of the remediation treatments used was assessed based on chromatographic analyses of soil and plant material (roots, shoots) and toxicological analyses using four types of toxicological tests (Phytotoxkit^TM (MicroBioTests Inc., Gent, Belgium), Ostracodtoxkit^TM (MicroBioTests Inc., Gent, Belgium), Microtox^® Solid Phase Test (Modern Water Inc., New Castle, DE, USA), MARA (NCIMB Ltd., Aberdeen, UK)). The research conducted showed that the most effective method of bioremediation of soils contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons was phytoremediation supported by bioaugmentation with the microbial consortium B2 with γ-PGA, which allowed for reducing the concentration of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the tested soils by 53.98% and 49.54% (Soil DW-5) and 60.47% and 37.55% (Soil OS-5), respectively. In turn, the lowest bioremediation efficiency was recorded in non-inoculated systems, for which the concentration of TPHs and PAHs at the end of the study decreased by 18.40% and 16.14% (Soil DW-1) and 21.87% and 18.20% (Soil OS-1), respectively. The results of toxicological analyses confirmed the relationship between the concentration of TPHs and PAHs in the soil and its toxicity level. Full article

The Internet of things (IoT) accommodates lightweight sensor/actuator devices with limited resources; hence, more efficient methods for known challenges are sought after. Message queue telemetry transport (MQTT) is a publish/subscribe-based protocol that allows resource-efficient communication among clients, so-called brokers, and servers. However, it lacks viable security features beyond username/password checks, yet transport-layer security (TLS/HTTPS) is not efficient for constrained devices. MQTT also lacks mutual authentication among clients and brokers. To address the issue, we developed a mutual authentication and role-based authorization scheme for lightweight Internet of things applications (MARAS). It brings mutual authentication and authorization to the network via dynamic access tokens, hash-based message authentication code (HMAC)-based one-time passwords (HOTP), advanced encryption standard (AES), hash chains, and a trusted server running OAuth2.0 along with MQTT. MARAS merely modifies “publish” and “connect” messages among 14 message types of MQTT. Its overhead to “publish” messages is 49 bytes, and to “connect” messages is 127 bytes. Our proof-of-concept showed that the overall data traffic with MARAS remains lower than double the traffic without it, because “publish” messages are the most common. Nevertheless, tests showed that round-trip times for a “connect” message (and its “ack”) are delayed less than a percentile of a millisecond; for a “publish” message, the delays depend on the size and frequency of published information, but we can safely say that the delay is upper bounded by 163% of the network defaults. So, the scheme’s overhead to the network is tolerable. Our comparison with similar works shows that while our communication overhead is similar, MARAS offers better computational performance as it offloads computationally intensive operations to the broker side. Full article

In this study, sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) pomace resulting from juice extraction was dried and ground in order to obtain a powder that was further used in bread making. Sea buckthorn pomace, an invaluable by-product of the industry, contains bioactive compounds and dietary fibers that promote health. Dried by-products of sea buckthorn are rich sources of nutritional and bioactive compounds, offering great potential for use as nutraceuticals in animal feed, ingredients in functional food, and the pharmaceutical industry. The utilization of sea buckthorn by-products promotes a circular and sustainable economy by implementing innovative methods and strategic approaches to recover high-value products and minimize waste in multiple ways. For this purpose, three organic sea buckthorn varieties were used, namely Mara (M), Clara (C), and Sorana (S). Further, 6%, 8%, and 10% pomace powder were added to wheat flour to prepare functional bread, and its effects on structural, nutritional, and sensorial characteristics were investigated. The volume, porosity, and elasticity of the obtained bread samples were slightly lower compared to the control sample (white bread). The nutritional characteristics revealed that the developed bread presented higher antioxidant activity, polyphenolic content, and crude fiber compared to the control sample. The acceptability test showed that consumer preferences were directed toward the bread samples containing 8% sea buckthorn powder, regardless of the variety, while the addition of 10% pomace powder led to major sensorial changes. The results of this study showed that sea buckthorn pomace powder can be successfully incorporated into bread in order to obtain a food product with enhanced properties. Full article

An underground mine is a very complex production system within the mining industry. Building up the underground mine development system is closely related to the installation of support needed to provide the stability of mine openings. The selection of the type of support system is recognized as a very hard problem and multi-criteria decision making can be a very useful tool to solve it. In this paper we developed a methodology that helps mining engineers to select the appropriate support system with respect to geological conditions and technological requirements. Accordingly, we present a novel hybrid model that integrates the two following decision-making components. First, this study suggests a new approach for calculating the weights of criteria in an objective way named the Modified Preference Selection Index (MPSI) method. Second, the Magnitude of the Area for the Ranking of Alternatives (MARA) method is proposed as a novel multi-criteria decision-making technique for establishing the final rank of alternatives. The model is tested on a hypothetical example. Comparative analysis confirms that the new proposed MPSI–MARA model is a very useful and effective tool for solving different MCDM problems. Full article

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) is consumed mainly in its processed form. Therefore, the investigation of the physicochemical properties of its berries is a current task in the aspect of food processing. The aim of this study was to determine the physicochemical parameters (soluble solid content, total titratable acidity, sugar/acid ratio), color characteristics (L*, a*, b*) and fatty acid profile of five varieties (‘Askola’, ‘Clara’, ‘Habego’, ‘Leikora’, ‘Mara’) and one Hungarian candidate, R-01, to establish a basis for experiments on the processability of the whole berries (e.g., drying). The weight of the berry of ‘Leikora’ (0.64 g) was significantly higher than the other investigated fruits. The differences between the values of soluble solid content (6.3–10.84 °Brix) and titratable acid (1.4–3.7%) content of berries were significant. ‘Mara’ had the highest sugar/acid ratio. Regarding the fatty acid profile, the amount of unsaturated fatty acids was measured between 72.6–83.4%, including polyunsaturated fatty acids, which were between 32.3–58.1%. The seeds of the tested samples contained high concentrations of linoleic acid (17.0–33.2%) and linolenic acid (15.3–24.9%), mainly in the case of the ‘Mara’, ‘Clara’ and ‘Askola’ varieties. Candidate R-01 could be used as a raw material for functional foods due to its significant content of palmitoleic acid and a favourable omega-6/omega-3 ratio. Full article

ELS304 Professional Communication Exercise is a final semester course that the LG120 Diploma in English for Professional Communication students must complete before graduating and was offered for the first time in September 2020 via Open Distance Learning (ODL). For this, students are required to undertake a project that is related to their field of study and present it to a panel of examiners consisting of faculty lecturers and industry panel members. As carrying out the presentation in English was already stressful enough for the students, the presence of these external examiners could lead to a higher level of stress and anxiety. With this in mind, this study intends to examine the students’ perceptions of communication apprehension, fear of negative evaluation and anxiety during the final course presentation and whether the presence of these two additional factors, the ODL method and the inclusion of external examiners could cause communication apprehension on the part of the students that could lead to additional emotional pressure, fear and anxiety. The purposive sampling method was used to obtain responses from 63 final semester LG120 Diploma in English for Professional Communication students from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Cawangan Melaka and Johor who had recently completed the ELS304 Professional Communication Exercise course and had gone through the online presentation involving external examiners. The instrument for this study was administered using Google Forms, which utilized a 5-point rating scale for three components categorized as Communication Apprehension, Fear of Negative Feedback and Test Anxiety. The findings revealed that this group of LG120 students who conducted the presentation of their final project via ODL and in the presence of industry panel members generally experienced a moderate to high level of anxiety. Several other conclusions were made based on the findings. Overall, this study has shown that, although the mode of this assessment was changed to ODL, similar anxiety factors in public speaking that affect students remained a constant presence. Full article

Language instructors have long focused on improving students’ competency. The greatest methods for involving students in the classroom are constantly evolving to meet the demands of the students. To accomplish the goal, new strategies and methods have been developed. As a result, some form of motivation is required to make sure that students are inspired and involved in the class so that it will be more meaningful. In light of this context, the researchers suggest the use of a board game called Headgram. Headgram is a board game developed by the researchers of the present study. A total of 62 students enrolled in the Integrated Language Skills III at Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Pulau Pinang were chosen as participants of the present study, and they played Headgram. This preliminary study is set out with the purpose of examining the students’ perception of Headgram and to learn whether Headgram has helped the students perform better with their writing skills. In doing so, an action research study was conducted, and information was acquired using a combination of methods, including semi-structured individual face-to-face interviews and 15 questions on pre- and post-tests. The results of this study indicate that the students enjoy Headgram, though it is a challenging game, and Headgram effectively encourages a sense of enjoyment while enhancing students’ writing abilities—specifically, sentence structure. Further, it was revealed that Headgram encourages students to work well as a team. Future studies might concentrate on the opinions of the teachers in order to have a balanced viewpoint, whereas the current study concentrated only on student responses using Headgram. Additionally, since technology is a cutting-edge tool, it would be amazing if Headgram became accessible online in the future. Full article

Human rabies can be prevented through mass dog vaccination campaigns; however, in rabies endemic countries, pulsed central point campaigns do not always achieve the recommended coverage of 70%. This study describes the development of a novel approach to sustain high coverage based on decentralized and continuous vaccination delivery. A rabies vaccination campaign was conducted across 12 wards in the Mara region, Tanzania to test this approach. Household surveys were used to obtain data on vaccination coverage as well as factors influencing dog vaccination. A total 17,571 dogs were vaccinated, 2654 using routine central point delivery and 14,917 dogs using one of three strategies of decentralized continuous vaccination. One month after the first vaccination campaign, coverage in areas receiving decentralized vaccinations was higher (64.1, 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) 62.1–66%) than in areas receiving pulsed vaccinations (35.9%, 95% CIs 32.6–39.5%). Follow-up surveys 10 months later showed that vaccination coverage in areas receiving decentralized vaccinations remained on average over 60% (60.7%, 95% CIs 58.5–62.8%) and much higher than in villages receiving pulsed vaccinations where coverage was on average 32.1% (95% CIs 28.8–35.6%). We conclude that decentralized continuous dog vaccination strategies have the potential to improve vaccination coverage and maintain herd immunity against rabies. Full article

Using Enterococcus faecium strains as probiotics raises several controversies related to their antibiotic resistance (AR). In the current study, we examined isolates of E. faecium obtained from human breast milk. Catalase-negative and γ-haemolytic isolates were identified by analyzing the sequences of 16S rRNA gene and their phenotypic resistance to antibiotics was investigated. We examined the expression of genes that were found on plasmids. The majority of isolates tested were resistant to erythromycin (96%), followed by trimethoprim (67%), tetracycline (57%), and gentamicin (55%). Ninety-seven percent of E. faecium isolates were resistant to at least two antibiotics. We detected the presence of the following genes on plasmids: ErmB (erythromycin), dfrA17 (trimethoprim), tetO, tetK (tetracycline), Aph(3′)-IIIa (neomycin), and marA (rifampicin). TetO was not expressed in all cases, dfrA14 was not expressed in CDCP1449, while tetK was only expressed in CDCP1128 and CDCP1331 isolates. In the majority of isolates, AR genes were located on chromosomes since they were not detected on plasmids. Our study shows that due to the spread of AR, human milk could be one of the first sources of the bacteria resistant to antimicrobials to infants. Full article