Characterization of the Fecal Microbiota of Pigs before and after Inoculation with “Brachyspira hampsonii”

In a study of the properties of a Ta-Au metallization system for thin film technology application, the interdiffusion between Ta(bcc)-Au, βTa-Au and Ta2M-Au films was studied. Considered here is a discussion of the use of the transmission electron microscope(TEM) in the identification of phases formed and characterization of the film microstructures before and after annealing.The films were deposited by sputtering onto silicon wafers with 5000 Å of thermally grown oxide. The film thicknesses were 2000 Å of Ta and 2000 Å of Au. Samples for TEM observation were prepared by ultrasonically cutting 3mm disks from the wafers. The disks were first chemically etched from the silicon side using a HNO3 :HF(19:5) solution followed by ion milling to perforation of the Au side.

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Comparative Characterization of Water Quality of Brari-Nambal La goon of Dal Lake Before and After Kashmir Floods

Current Environmental Engineering ◽

10.2174/2212717804666161214143148 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Faizanul Mukhtar ◽

Hamida Chisti ◽

Shabir A. Bhat

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Comparative Characterization ◽

Dal Lake ◽

Before And After

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Modulation of Gut Microbiota and Oxidative Status by β-Carotene in Late Pregnant Sows

Frontiers in Nutrition ◽

10.3389/fnut.2020.612875 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

Author(s):

Xupeng Yuan ◽

Jiahao Yan ◽

Ruizhi Hu ◽

Yanli Li ◽

Ying Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Dietary Supplementation ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Fecal Microbiota ◽

Control Group ◽

Metabolic Activities ◽

The Impact ◽

Positive Effect ◽

Β Carotene

Recent evidences suggest that gut microbiota plays an important role in regulating physiological and metabolic activities of pregnant sows, and β-carotene has a potentially positive effect on reproduction, but the impact of β-carotene on gut microbiota in pregnant sows remains unknown. This study aimed to explore the effect and mechanisms of β-carotene on the reproductive performance of sows from the aspect of gut microbiota. A total of 48 hybrid pregnant sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) with similar parity were randomly allocated into three groups (n = 16) and fed with a basal diet or a diet containing 30 or 90 mg/kg of β-carotene from day 90 of gestation until parturition. Dietary supplementation of 30 or 90 mg/kg β-carotene increased the number of live birth to 11.82 ± 1.54 and 12.29 ± 2.09, respectively, while the control group was 11.00 ± 1.41 (P = 0.201). Moreover, β-carotene increased significantly the serum nitric oxide (NO) level and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity (P < 0.05). Characterization of fecal microbiota revealed that 90 mg/kg β-carotene increased the diversity of the gut flora (P < 0.05). In particular, β-carotene decreased the relative abundance of Firmicutes including Lachnospiraceae AC2044 group, Lachnospiraceae NK4B4 group and Ruminococcaceae UCG-008, but enriched Proteobacteria including Bilophila and Sutterella, and Actinobacteria including Corynebacterium and Corynebacterium 1 which are related to NO synthesis. These data demonstrated that dietary supplementation of β-carotene may increase antioxidant enzyme activity and NO, an important vasodilator to promote the neonatal blood circulation, through regulating gut microbiota in sows.

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Adsorption Studies on Magnetic Nanoparticles Functionalized with Silver to Remove Nitrates from Waters

Water ◽

10.3390/w13131757 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (13) ◽

pp. 1757

Author(s):

Yesica Vicente-Martínez ◽

Manuel Caravaca ◽

Antonio Soto-Meca ◽

Miguel Ángel Martín-Pereira ◽

María del Carmen García-Onsurbe

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Nanoparticles ◽

Nitrate Content ◽

Adsorption Efficiency ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Dependent Behavior ◽

Before And After ◽

Naoh Solution ◽

High Concentrations ◽

Interference Studies

This paper presents a novel procedure for the treatment of contaminated water with high concentrations of nitrates, which are considered as one of the main causes of the eutrophication phenomena. For this purpose, magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with silver (Fe3O4@AgNPs) were synthesized and used as an adsorbent of nitrates. Experimental conditions, including the pH, adsorbent and adsorbate dose, temperature and contact time, were analyzed to obtain the highest adsorption efficiency for different concentration of nitrates in water. A maximum removal efficiency of 100% was reached for 2, 5, 10 and 50 mg/L of nitrate at pH = 5, room temperature, and 50, 100, 250 and 500 µL of Fe3O4@AgNPs, respectively. The characterization of the adsorbent, before and after adsorption, was performed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Nitrates can be desorbed, and the adsorbent can be reused using 500 µL of NaOH solution 0.01 M, remaining unchanged for the first three cycles, and exhibiting 90% adsorption efficiency after three regenerations. A deep study on equilibrium isotherms reveals a pH-dependent behavior, characterized by Langmuir and Freundlich models at pH = 5 and pH = 1, respectively. Thermodynamic studies were consistent with physicochemical adsorption for all experiments but showed a change from endothermic to exothermic behavior as the temperature increases. Interference studies of other ions commonly present in water were carried out, enabling this procedure as very selective for nitrate ions. In addition, the method was applied to real samples of seawater, showing its ability to eliminate the total nitrate content in eutrophized waters.

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Evaluation of fecal microbiota transplantation in Parkinson's disease patients with constipation

Microbial Cell Factories ◽

10.1186/s12934-021-01589-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Xiao-yi Kuai ◽

Xiao-han Yao ◽

Li-juan Xu ◽

Yu-qing Zhou ◽

Li-ping Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Neurodegenerative Disorder ◽

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ◽

Fecal Microbiota ◽

Motor Symptoms ◽

Gastrointestinal Dysfunction ◽

Before And After ◽

Non Motor Symptoms

AbstractParkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder and 70–80% of PD patients suffer from gastrointestinal dysfunction such as constipation. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for treating PD related to gastrointestinal dysfunction. We conducted a prospective, single- study. Eleven patients with PD received FMT. Fecal samples were collected before and after FMT and subjected to 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) gene sequencing. Hoehn-Yahr (H-Y) grade, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) score, and the Non-Motion Symptom Questionnaire (NMSS) were used to assess improvements in motor and non-motor symptoms. PAC-QOL score and Wexner constipation score were used to assess the patient's constipation symptoms. All patients were tested by the small intestine breath hydrogen test, performed before and after FMT. Community richness (chao) and microbial structure in before-FMT PD patients were significantly different from the after-FMT. We observed an increased abundance of Blautia and Prevotella in PD patients after FMT, while the abundance of Bacteroidetes decreased dramatically. After FMT, the H-Y grade, UPDRS, and NMSS of PD patients decreased significantly. Through the lactulose H2 breath test, the intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in PD patients returned to normal. The PAC-QOL score and Wexner constipation score in after-FMT patients decreased significantly. Our study profiles specific characteristics and microbial dysbiosis in the gut of PD patients. FMT might be a therapeutic potential for reconstructing the gut microbiota of PD patients and improving their motor and non-motor symptoms.

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Assessment of Characteristics of Acid Mine Drainage Treated with Fly Ash

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11093910 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 3910

Author(s):

Saba Shirin ◽

Aarif Jamal ◽

Christina Emmanouil ◽

Akhilesh Kumar Yadav

Keyword(s):

Fly Ash ◽

Acid Mine Drainage ◽

Power Plants ◽

Mine Drainage ◽

Thermal Power ◽

Mineralogical Characterization ◽

Acid Mine ◽

Before And After ◽

Abandoned Coal Mines

Acid mine drainage (AMD) occurs naturally in abandoned coal mines, and it contains hazardous toxic elements in varying concentrations. In the present research, AMD samples collected from an abandoned mine were treated with fly ash samples from four thermal power plants in Singrauli Coalfield in the proximate area, at optimized concentrations. The AMD samples were analyzed for physicochemical parameters and metal content before and after fly ash treatment. Morphological, geochemical and mineralogical characterization of the fly ash was performed using SEM, XRF and XRD. This laboratory-scale investigation indicated that fly ash had appreciable neutralization potential, increasing AMD pH and decreasing elemental and sulfate concentrations. Therefore, fly ash may be effectively used for AMD neutralization, and its suitability for the management of coalfield AMD pits should be assessed further.

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Single Step 2-Port Device De-Embedding Algorithm for Fixture-DUT-Fixture Network Assembly

Electronics ◽

10.3390/electronics10111275 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 1275

Author(s):

Simone Scafati ◽

Enza Pellegrino ◽

Francesco de Paulis ◽

Carlo Olivieri ◽

James Drewniak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Standard Technique ◽

Single Step ◽

Scattering Parameters ◽

Linear Set ◽

S Parameter ◽

Parameter Conversion ◽

Before And After ◽

One Step ◽

Typical Measurement

The de-embedding of measurement fixtures is relevant for an accurate experimental characterization of radio frequency and digital electronic devices. The standard technique consists in removing the effects of the measurement fixtures by the calculation of the transfer scattering parameters (T-parameters) from the available measured (or simulated) global scattering parameters (S-parameters). The standard de-embedding is achieved by a multiple steps process, involving the S-to-T and subsequent T-to-S parameter conversion. In a typical measurement setup, two fixtures are usually placed before and after the device under test (DUT) allowing the connection of the device to the calibrated vector network analyzer coaxial ports. An alternative method is proposed in this paper: it is based on the newly developed multi-network cascading algorithm. The matrices involved in the fixture-DUT-fixture cascading gives rise to a non-linear set of equations that is in one step analytically solved in closed form, obtaining a unique solution. The method is shown to be effective and at least as accurate as the standard multi-step de-embedding one.

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Evaluation of changes in intestinal microbiota in Crohn’s disease patients after anti-TNF alpha treatment

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-88823-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Laura Sanchis-Artero ◽

Juan Francisco Martínez-Blanch ◽

Sergio Manresa-Vera ◽

Ernesto Cortés-Castell ◽

Marina Valls-Gandia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Crohn’S Disease ◽

Crohn's Disease ◽

Intestinal Microbiota ◽

Area Under The Curve ◽

Alpha Diversity ◽

Amplicon Sequencing ◽

Fecal Microbiota ◽

Multicenter Observational Study ◽

Partial Restoration ◽

Before And After

AbstractIntestinal dysbiosis is key in the onset and development of Crohn’s disease (CD). We evaluated the microbiota changes in CD patients before and after a six-month anti-TNF treatment, comparing these changes with the microbiota of healthy subjects. This prospective multicenter observational study involved 27 CD patients initiating anti-TNF treatment and 16 healthy individuals. Inflammatory activity was determined at baseline, 3 and 6 months, classifying patients into responders and non-responders. Fecal microbiota was analyzed by massive genomic sequencing thought 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing before and after six months of anti-TNF treatment. The CD cohort showed a decrease in genera of the class Clostridia, short-chain fatty acid producers, and an increase in the phylum Proteobacteria (p < 0.01) versus the healthy cohort. After anti-TNF treatment, the phylum Proteobacteria also increased in non-responders versus responders (13/27) (p < 0.005), with the class Clostridia increasing. In addition, alpha diversity increased in responders versus non-responders (p < 0.01), tending towards eubiosis. An association was found (p < 0.001) in the F.prausnitzii/E.coli ratio between responders and non-responders. The F/E ratio was the most accurate biomarker of anti-TNF response (area under the curve 0.87). Thus, anti-TNF treatment allows partial restoration of intestinal microbiota in responders and the F.prausnitzii/E.coli ratio can provide a reliable indicator of response to anti-TNF in CD.

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Transcriptomic analysis identifies differences in gene expression in actinic keratoses after treatment with imiquimod and between responders and non responders

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-88424-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Megan H. Trager ◽

Emanuelle Rizk ◽

Sharon Rose ◽

Kuixi Zhu ◽

Branden Lau ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽

Distinct Pattern ◽

Study Endpoint ◽

Inflammatory Gene Expression ◽

Immune Modulators ◽

Actinic Keratoses ◽

Before And After ◽

Pre Treatment

AbstractThe presence of actinic keratoses (AKs) increases a patient’s risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma by greater than six-fold. We evaluated the effect of topical treatment with imiquimod on the tumor microenvironment by measuring transcriptomic differences in AKs before and after treatment with imiquimod 3.75%. Biopsies were collected prospectively from 21 patients and examined histologically. RNA was extracted and transcriptomic analyses of 788 genes were performed using the nanoString assay. Imiquimod decreased number of AKs by study endpoint at week 14 (p < 0.0001). Post-imiquimod therapy, levels of CDK1, CXCL13, IL1B, GADPH, TTK, ILF3, EWSR1, BIRC5, PLAUR, ISG20, and C1QBP were significantly lower (adjusted p < 0.05). Complete responders (CR) exhibited a distinct pattern of inflammatory gene expression pre-treatment relative to incomplete responders (IR), with alterations in 15 inflammatory pathways (p < 0.05) reflecting differential expression of 103 genes (p < 0.05). Presence of adverse effects was associated with improved treatment response. Differences in gene expression were found between pre-treatment samples in CR versus IR, suggesting that higher levels of inflammation pre-treament may play a part in regression of AKs. Further characterization of the immune micro-environment in AKs may help develop biomarkers predictive of response to topical immune modulators and may guide therapy.

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