Search Results (3,965)

Based on the cognitive-behavioral model of pathological internet use (PIU), this study examined the longitudinal impact of parenting styles on college students’ PIU and the roles played by rumination and environmental sensitivity. A total of 652 freshmen were tracked three times over one year by means of Parenting Style Questionnaire, the Pathological Internet Use Scale, the Rumination Thinking Scale and the High Sensitivity Personality Questionnaire. T1 positive parenting significantly negatively predicted T3 PIU, while T1 negative parenting significantly positively predicted T3 PIU; T2 rumination partially mediated the longitudinal relationship between T1 parenting styles and T3 PIU; environmental sensitivity plays a moderating role in both the direct pathway and the first half pathway of the mediating effect of parental rearing styles on pathological Internet use through rumination thinking, and the results of the moderating effect support the differential susceptibility model. We found that the indirect effect of parenting styles on PIU among college students through rumination was moderated by environmental sensitivity. Specifically, environmental sensitivity strengthened the pathway from parenting styles and rumination to PIU. Full article

Background and Objectives: Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) is rare, mostly in older males, with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, critical illness, or systemic infection. Antibiotherapy before or after cholecystectomy is important for preventing septic shock and postoperative infections. Increasing antibiotic resistance was recently noted and can complicate antibiotherapy. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of all patients who underwent cholecystectomy between 2018 and 2024 in the Clinical Emergency Hospital of Craiova was performed. The etiology of AAC, complications, hospitalization duration, mortality, positive bile cultures, and in vitro antibiotic resistance were analyzed. Results: A total of 802 calculous and 54 AAC were recorded. Patients with AAC were predominantly males (OR = 1.767, p = 0.043) with diabetes (OR = 2.049, p = 0.014) and were older (66.6 ± 13.2 versus 61.4 ± 15.6, p = 0.014). Mortality was significantly higher in AAC (18.5 versus 3.6%, OR= 6.058, p < 0.001), with longer hospitalization (mean 9.7 versus 8.4 days) and more perforation. Positive bile cultures were recorded in 60.5–66.2% of cases, with a similar etiology in both forms of acute cholecystitis (mostly Gram-negative species, Enterococcus, and Staphylococcus); 10 ESBL Escherichia coli and Klebsiella strains, 11 Staphylococcus aureus MRSA, and 1 Enterococcus VRE strain were recorded. Antibiotic susceptibility in vitro was similar in both AAC and calculous cholecystitis. Significant resistance to cephalosporins and quinolones was recorded; the lowest resistance was noted for amikacin, carbapenems, chloramphenicol, colistin (Gram-negative bacteria), and vancomycin. Conclusions: AAC was encountered in older males with diabetes, with a higher rate of complications and in-hospital mortality. Bile cultures were positive in 60.5–66.2%, predominantly with Gram-negative, Enterococcus, and Staphylococcus species. Significant in vitro resistance to cephalosporins and quinolones was found. Full article

The crystalline structure of cellulose plays a crucial role in its reactivity, which is particularly important in biomass processing involving enzymatic hydrolysis. This study investigates the effect of low-frequency ultrasound (40 kHz) on the efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose in poplar wood and its structure, with a focus on its crystallinity and susceptibility to enzymatic hydrolysis. Two experimental pathways were explored: ultrasound-assisted hydrolysis of raw wood and isolated cellulose. Structural modifications were assessed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy to determine the Lateral Order Index (LOI) and Total Crystallinity Index (TCI), providing insight into the reorganisation of cellulose microstructure. To evaluate hydrolysis efficiency, glucose yields were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. The application of ultrasound to raw wood resulted in minimal improvement in sugar release, whereas pretreatment of extracted cellulose led to a modest acceleration of enzymatic hydrolysis. The results show that ultrasound-assisted hydrolysis of raw wood did not significantly increase glucose yield, reaching only 9.9 ± 0.3% and 10.1 ± 0.8% for two poplar hybrids. Only slight increases in TCI and no significant changes in LOI were observed after 4 h of ultrasonic exposure. It indicates limited disruption of the crystalline structure under the tested conditions. Full article

Background: Efflux-mediated macrolide resistance represents an emerging threat in Streptococcus infections globally. However, molecular epidemiological data from the Gulf region, particularly the United Arab Emirates (UAE), remain limited. This study addresses this knowledge gap by investigating efflux pump resistance mechanisms in clinical Streptococcus isolates. Methods: A cross-sectional study analyzed 100 clinical isolates (99 Streptococcus and 1 Enterococcus) from Thumbay Hospital, Ajman, UAE (October–December 2024). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination was performed using the DxM 1096 MicroScan WalkAway system (Beckman Coulter Inc., Brea, CA, USA; LabProv4.42). PCR detected mef(A/E), msr(D), and tet(K) resistance genes with sequencing confirmation. Comparative genomic analysis was performed using a total of 30 publicly available Streptococcus genomes: 15 from India and 15 from Saudi Arabia. Statistical analysis employed chi-square tests, Fisher’s exact tests, and multivariate logistic regression with Bonferroni correction (α = 0.05). Results: Among the isolates, erythromycin resistance occurred in 39 isolates (39%, 95% CI: 29.4–49.2%) and clindamycin resistance in 31 isolates (31%, 95% CI: 22.1–40.9%). The mef(A/E) gene was detected in 31 isolates (31%, 95% CI: 22.1–40.9%), and msr(D) in 3 isolates (3%, 95% CI: 0.6–8.5%), with co-occurrence in 3 isolates (3%). No isolates harbored tet(K). Multivariate analysis identified mef(A/E) as the strongest predictor of macrolide resistance (OR = 18.7, 95% CI: 7.9–44.2, p < 0.001). Regional comparison revealed significant differences: mef(A/E) prevalence was 31% (UAE), 87% (India), and 0% (Saudi Arabia) (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study provides the first molecular characterization of efflux-mediated macrolide resistance in UAE Streptococcus isolates. The predominance of mef(A/E)-mediated resistance with confirmed efflux activity highlights the clinical significance of active surveillance and targeted antimicrobial stewardship in the region. Full article

The study of the destruction mechanisms of mineral component particles during processing in grinding units is a relevant scientific problem that requires further theoretical and experimental solutions. This work is dedicated to determining the kinetic characteristics of ferromagnetic bodies moving under the influence of an electromagnetic field within a vortex mill. Dependencies of the velocity of these bodies on the radial coordinate for various values of magnetic induction and its gradient were obtained, establishing that velocities can reach approximately 50 m/s. A model for the disintegration of Portland cement particles, caused by their interaction during mechanical processing in a vortex mill, has been developed. It is shown that the average number of disintegration events for the predominant portion of the studied particles is two, which is significantly lower than the total number of collisions. An analysis of the key factors influencing the intensity and nature of particle destruction was conducted, including the magnitude of magnetic induction, the switching frequency of electromagnets, and the magnetic susceptibility of the processed materials. Based on a statistical analysis of the particle size distributions of the mineral raw material after dispersion, a principle for dividing the space within the working volume of the unit into functional zones was formulated: (1) a zone of mixing, grinding, and particle activation (at ferromagnetic element speeds of 0–12 m/s); (2) a zone of intensive grinding and particle activation (with speeds of 12–50 m/s). Full article

Paratuberculosis (Johne’s disease) is a chronic enteric infection of ruminants caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), leading to significant economic losses in livestock production. While the solute carrier family 11 member 1 (SLC11A1) gene has been implicated in resistance to intracellular pathogens in several species, its role in ovine paratuberculosis remains largely uncharacterized. The present study investigated whether polymorphic variation in the SLC11A1 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) (GT)_n microsatellite is associated with resistance or susceptibility to MAP infection in sheep. A total of 138 sheep from three breeds (Karagouniki, Boutsika, and Chios) were genotyped. Gene expression analysis was subsequently performed on a subset of 53 animals, which comprised rigorously phenotyped MAP-resistant (n = 18) and MAP-sensitive (n = 35) individuals from the Karagouniki breed. Four predominant alleles, (GT)₂₁, (GT)₂₂, (GT)₂₃, and (GT)₂₄, were identified. The (GT)₂₁ and (GT)₂₃ alleles were significantly enriched among resistant sheep, while (GT)₂₂ and (GT)₂₄ were more frequent in sensitive animals (χ² = 12.4, p = 0.006; Cramér’s V = 0.38). No significant differences in basal SLC11A1 mRNA expression were detected between phenotypic groups. These findings extend previous GWAS results in sheep by providing the first allele-level evidence linking SLC11A1 3′UTR microsatellite polymorphisms to paratuberculosis resistance in sheep. Although limited by sample size and single-breed representation, the results offer a foundation for future functional and genomic selection studies aimed at enhancing disease resilience in small ruminants. Full article

Bacterial canker of kiwifruit, caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa), poses a serious threat to the global kiwifruit industry. Although flavonoids are widely recognized as natural antibacterial compounds, the transcriptional regulatory networks controlling their synthesis in kiwifruit and their relationship with production of downstream antibacterial metabolites remain poorly understood. In this study, we identified the transcription factor AcMYB5 as a key mediator of salicylic acid (SA) signaling that activates flavonoid biosynthesis and enhances resistance to Psa. Comparative analysis between the resistant cultivar ‘Jinkui’ and the susceptible cultivar ‘Hongyang’ revealed that Psa infection induced a rapid accumulation of endogenous SA, accompanied by a decrease in jasmonic acid (JA) levels in ‘Jinkui’. From a pool of SA-induced candidate genes, we identified AcMYB5, which is rapidly up-regulated by SA and encodes a nuclear localization protein. Overexpression of AcMYB5 in susceptible kiwifruit significantly enhanced resistance to Psa. Mechanistically, AcMYB5 directly binds to and activates the promoter of the chalcone isomerase (AcCHI), a key structural gene in the flavonoid pathway, leading to a marked increase in total flavonoid content. Notably, AcMYB5 did not activate any other genes in the flavonoid synthesis pathway in our assays, underscoring its target specificity. Our findings reveals a novel AcMYB5-AcCHI module that finely tunes flavonoid-mediated defense responses, offering valuable genetic targets and strategic insights for kiwifruit-resistant breeding. Full article

The accuracy of historical landslide data is a key factor affecting the precision of landslide susceptibility mapping. The degree of conformity between mathematical models and disaster-prone environments cannot be predetermined, and the optimal model needs to be determined through comparative studies. In this paper, SBAS-InSAR and the object-oriented classification method were integrated to provide data for landslide susceptibility mapping: SBAS-InSAR was used to process Sentinel-1 images, while the object-oriented classification method was applied to interpret Landsat 8 images. Eleven hazard factors were selected for landslide susceptibility modeling, and the best-performing model was determined. The influences of single and multiple hazard factors on landslide susceptibility were analyzed using Geodetector. The results showed that 246 potential landslides were identified, with a total area of 0.427 km² and a total volume of 2.161 × 10⁶ m³. The Blending-XGBoost-CNN model achieved the highest AUC and Precision, outperforming the XGBoost model and CNN model. The extreme high susceptible areas, high susceptible areas, moderate susceptible areas, minor susceptible areas and extreme minor susceptible areas accounted for 6.24% (91.4 km²), 15.07% (220.6 km²), 29.15% (426.8 km²), 30.58% (447.7 km²), and 18.96% (277.8 km²) of the total area, respectively. NDVI and gradient were key factors determining landslide occurrence. Elevation, slope aspect, distance from river, and land use also played significant roles in landslide occurrence. The contributions of TWI and lithology to landslide occurrence were relatively small, while those of plane curvature and distance from road were minimal. The interaction of hazard factors exhibited NE or BE relationships, not only increasing landslide risk but also potentially leading to more complex disaster patterns. This study can provide a theoretical basis for landslide prevention-oriented land use planning. Full article

The soil freeze–thaw process is a dominant disturbance in the seasonally frozen ground and the active layer of permafrost, which plays a crucial role in the surface energy balance, water cycle, and carbon exchange and has a pronounced influence on vegetation phenology. This study proposes a novel density-based Freeze–Thaw Disturbance Index (FTDI) based on the identification of the freeze–thaw disturbance region (FTDR) over the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP). FTDI is defined as an areal density metric based on geomorphic disturbances, i.e., the proportion of FTDRs within a given region, with higher values indicating greater areal densities of disturbance. As a measure of landform clustering, FTDI complements existing freeze–thaw process indicators and provides a means to assess the geomorphic impacts of climate-driven freeze–thaw changes during permafrost degradation. The main conclusions are as follows: the FTDR results that are identified by the random forest model are reliable and highly consistent with ground observations; the FTDRs cover 8.85% of the total area of the QTP, and mainly in the central and eastern regions, characterized by prolonged freezing durations and the average annual ground temperature (MAGT) is close to 0 °C, making the soil in these regions highly susceptible to warming-induced disturbances. Most of the plateau exhibits low or negligible FTDI values. As a geomorphic indicator, FTDI reflects the impact of potential freeze–thaw dynamic phase changes on the surface. Higher FTDI values indicate a greater likelihood of surface thawing processes triggered by rising temperatures, which impact surface processes. Regions with relatively high FTDI values often contain substantial amounts of organic carbon, and may experience delayed vegetation green-up despite general warming trends. This study introduces the FTDI derived from the FTDR as a novel index, offering fresh insights into the study of freeze–thaw processes in the context of climate change. Full article

Adverse effects of transportation arise from the buildup of various stressors, which collectively compromise animal welfare. This study aimed to assess short-term behavioral responses, physiological stress, and meat quality as indicators of welfare in Japanese Black cattle on arrival at the slaughter facility. A total of 154 animals from different production farms were observed. Generalized linear mixed models were used, with fixed effects including animal type, weight, season, source, loading size, distance, transport experience, and their interaction with time periods. Significant post-transport behaviors and elevated cortisol concentration were observed, particularly in heifers, lighter animals, those transported in summer, from multiple farms, at high loading sizes, or without prior transport experience. Steers, heavier animals, and the same farm groups yielded higher carcass weights, while cattle transported under low loading size had improved marbling scores and a higher probability of achieving A5-grade carcasses. These findings suggest that management practices should focus on animals most susceptible to transport stress and strategies such as mitigating heat stress, transporting animals from the same production farm, and reducing loading sizes should be implemented to improve welfare and meat quality upon arrival. Full article

Ready-to-cook (RTC) meat products provide convenience but are more susceptible to quality degradation during refrigerated storage. This study examined the effects of 1%, 2%, and 3% chitosan coating on the quality parameters and shelf life of pretreated seekh kabab samples compared with non-coated seekh kabab (NC-SK) samples stored at 4 °C for 28 days. The results show that the chitosan-coated seekh kabab (CC-SK) samples had higher lightness and stable redness values during storage compared with the NC-SK samples. The moisture loss was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the NC-SK samples on days 21 and 28. The chitosan coating effectively retarded lipid oxidation, protein oxidation, and total viable basic nitrogen formation and preserved the natural pH during storage from days 14 to 28 compared with the NC-SK samples (p < 0.05). After 21 days, the total viable count, Enterobacteriaceae, LAB, and S. aureus counts were higher (p < 0.05) in the NC-SK samples than in the CC-SK samples. The sensory scores of the NC-SK samples fell below the acceptable limit compared with those of the CC-SK samples on day 28. A combined effect of refrigeration temperature and chitosan coating enables long storage time, prevents microbial growth, and minimizes lipid oxidation. Full article

Background/Objectives: The right diagnostic tests, for the right patient, at the right time, are key to optimising antimicrobial use (AMU) and preventing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study evaluated diagnostic stewardship trends and AMR patterns in Zambian surveillance sentinel sites from 2020 to 2024. Methods: This descriptive, retrospective study analysed routine laboratory data from January 2020 to December 2024 at seven designated AMR surveillance sentinel sites across Zambia. Data on clinical specimens submitted for antimicrobial susceptibility testing were extracted from WHONET and analysed by year, specimen type, and antimicrobial susceptibility profile. Results: A total of 184,788 bacteriology specimens were processed over five years. Urine was the most frequently collected specimen, peaking above 20,000 in 2024. Escherichia coli was the most commonly isolated organism among 15 priority pathogens, comprising 25.9% of the 30,013 isolates. Though a statistically significant increasing trend in total organism isolations was observed annually, only Shigella sp. demonstrated a substantial increase in non-susceptibility to azithromycin (p = 0.027). High resistance was observed with doxycycline, azithromycin, clindamycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, and rifampicin, exhibiting resistance ranging from 50% to 80%. Critical AMR alerts included 65% for Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus (VRE), 72% for linezolid, and 44% for carbapenems, and possible ESBL-producing Enterobacterales showing the highest overall resistance at 35%, across sentinel sites. Conclusions: Zambia faces a concerning and significant increase in AMR, with high resistance prevalence across commonly used antibiotics. Critical resistance alerts for VRE, linezolid, carbapenems, and possible ESBL-producing Enterobacterales underscore an urgent need for robust antimicrobial stewardship and continuous diagnostic surveillance. Full article

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common infections after kidney transplantation and significantly affect patient outcomes. In these immunosuppressed patients, antibiotic resistance is of particular concern due to recurrent infections and limited treatment options. The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution of microorganisms isolated from urine cultures of kidney transplant patients and to assess their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. Methods: This retrospective study included all adult kidney transplant recipients with positive urine cultures during 2023–2024. Microorganisms were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed with the Phoenix System according to European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) guidelines. Results: A total of 363 urine samples from 123 patients (85% female) were analyzed. E. coli (49%) and Klebsiella spp. (24%) were the predominant uropathogens. High resistance rates to ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole (TMP–SMX) were observed in both species, while carbapenem resistance remained low. Elevated resistance to multiple antibiotics was also detected among Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp., highlighting the importance of continued microbiological surveillance in this population. Conclusions: Gram-negative bacteria were the predominant pathogens causing UTIs in kidney transplant recipients. The high resistance rates to ciprofloxacin and TMP–SMX emphasize the need for local antimicrobial surveillance and individualized empirical therapy. Systematic and ongoing monitoring of resistance patterns is essential to optimize infection management in this vulnerable patient group. Full article

This study sought to screen 45 maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines for tolerance to combined drought and heat stress (CDHS) and identify the leaf proteome patterns of two inbred lines with contrasting stress response at early vegetative stage. Biomass accumulation was significantly reduced under CDHS compared to optimum conditions. Furthermore, CDHS-tolerant inbred lines exhibited significantly lower (p < 0.05) leaf temperatures (28.6 °C) and higher sub-stomatal CO₂ concentration (9012 mol mol⁻¹) and photosynthetic yield (0.69) under stress. The tolerant (CIM18) and susceptible (QS21) inbred lines were exposed to stress by maintaining a field capacity of 25% for 7 days and increasing the daily ambient temperature by 5 °C from 25 °C to 40 °C. Conventional two-dimensional electrophoresis analysis was used to compare leaf protein expression profiles, and significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed. Out of a total of 505 proteins, 114 showed significant quantitative variation. Of these, 62 proteins had a twofold upregulation in CIM18, while 52 were downregulated. Twenty upregulated proteins were selected for amino acid micro-sequencing, and 11 proteins were uniquely expressed in CIM18. The other nine proteins had ≥ twofold upregulation in CIM18 compared to QS21. The functions of the identified proteins included defence, metabolism, photosynthesis and structure. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to determine bacteria that grow in spontaneous ascites infection and their antibiotic susceptibility. Materials and Methods: A total of 291 cases of cirrhosis-related ascites were retrospectively analyzed between January 2007 and September 2015. Simple ascites, spontaneous ascites infection, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and culture results were recorded. Due to increasing antibiotic resistance, theoretically appropriate antibiotics were paired, and their susceptibility was evaluated in order to review our empirical antibiotic choices and evaluate new empirical treatment options. Results: In all cultures, 48.1% were Gram-positive cocci and 50.6% were Gram-negative bacilli. Multidrug-resistant bacteria grew in 16 cultures (22.2%). The most common bacterium was Escherichia coli, and the second most common bacteria were coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS). According to all culture data, the rate of antibiotic susceptibility was third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins between 76.4 and 68%, 68% for ampicillin-sulbactam, 81.8% for piperacillin-tazobactam, 66% for ciprofloxacin, 71% for levofloxacin, 30% for tetracycline, and 45% for penicillin. Beta-lactam group antibiotic susceptibility of CoNS was 25% for penicillin and 53% for ampicillin-sulbactam; 52% had methicillin resistance. The rate of resistance to quinolones was 35%. Multidrug resistance was detected in 40% of CoNS (eight cases). When theoretically appropriate antibiotics were paired, combination therapy increased the susceptibility rates. Conclusions: The increase in Gram-positive infections and resistance to other antibiotic groups indicates empirical antibiotic selection based on local microbial culture results and antibiotic susceptibility. Our results are crucial to allowing for more rational and successful use of antibiotics. Full article