Isolation Of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa from Soil and Production of Lipase Enzyme

The isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria were uncovered in the soil surrounding the roots of palms and public gardens in Baghdad for the production of lipase enzyme. The lipase enzyme has many applications that are included in the textile and food industry, and the manufacture of detergents and medical preparations. Several tests such as temperature change, incubation period, change of lipid sources, nitrogen sources such as peptone and tryptone, and carbon sources such as glucose and lactose were carried out to choose suitable conditions for bacterial growth. The results indicated studying the conditions affecting production, it was noted that the best production was when using the culture medium to which 1% of corn oil was added, pH 7, at a temperature of 37 °C and an incubation period of 24 hours in vibrating incubator at 151 rpm, The soil surrounding the roots of the plant is a good reservoir for the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria

Chronic Rhinosinusitis Outcomes of Patients With Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease Treated With Budesonide Irrigations: A Case Series

Background: Pathophysiology-targeting treatments exist for aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) through aspirin desensitization and biologics, such as dupilumab. With increasing attention paid to these treatments, which may be associated with significant side effects and/or cost, there is little description of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) response to treatment with intranasal corticosteroids and saline irrigations in AERD. Objective: To determine the effect of intranasal budesonide irrigations for the treatment of CRSwNP in AERD. Methods: This is an observational study of 14 AERD patients presenting to a rhinology clinic for CRS who were treated with twice daily high volume, low pressure irrigations with 240 mL of saline to which a 0.5 mg/2 mL respule of budesonide was added. All participants completed a 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) at enrollment and at follow up 1 to 6 months later. Polyp scores were also calculated at each time point. Results: SNOT-22 scores ranged from 26 to 98 (median: 40.5) at enrollment and 3 to 85 (median: 38.5) at follow-up. Polyp scores ranged from 2 to 6 (median: 4) at enrollment at 0 to 6 (median: 2) at follow-up. Over the treatment period, change in SNOT-22 score ranged from −38 to 16 (median: −18) and change in polyp score ranged from −2 to 0 (median: −0.5). Approximately 57% of participants experienced at least 1 minimal clinically important difference in SNOT-22 score and 21% of participants had a SNOT-22 score <20 at follow-up. Conclusion: Medical management with intranasal corticosteroids and saline irrigations alone leads to significant improvement in sinonasal symptomatology in a subset of AERD.

Phase Transition and Magnetoelectric Effect in 2D Ferromagnetic Films on a Ferroelectric Substrate

In this paper, we investigate the behavior of 2D ferromagnetic (FM) films on a ferroelectric (FE) substrate with a periodic structure. The two-dimensional Frenkel–Kontorova (FK) potential simulates the substrate effect on the film. The substrate potential corresponds to a cubic crystal lattice. The Ising model and the Wolf cluster algorithm are used to describe the magnetic behavior of a FM film. The effect of an electric field on a FE substrate leads to its deformation, which is uniform and manifests itself in a period change of the substrate potential. Computer simulation shows that substrate deformations lead to a decrease in the FM film Curie temperature. If the substrate deformations exceed 5%, the film deformations become inhomogeneous. In addition, we derive the dependence of film magnetization on the external electric field.

Avocado Cover Expansion in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Central Mexico

Avocado cultivation has reduced the extent of forest ecosystems in central Mexico, even in natural protected areas such as the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (MBBR) where information on the extent and expansion dynamics of avocado cover is scant. This study aimed to identify avocado plantations within the MBBR through photo interpretation for the 2006–2018 period. Change rates of the avocado cover extent were calculated for the northern, central, and southern zones of the MBBR, and topographic attributes such as elevation, soil type, slope, and slope aspect were identified. A total extent of 958 ha is covered by avocado plantations within the MBBR. The southern zone hosted the largest area under avocado cultivation (570 ha), but the northern zone had the highest change rate between 2006 and 2018 (422%). Most avocado orchards have been established mainly in Acrisol soils, south-facing slopes, on steep hillsides, and in elevations between 2050 and 2800 m. The conversion from traditional agricultural lands has been the main mechanism for the establishment of avocado orchards. However, 40 ha under avocado cultivation derived from deforestation, mainly in the central zone. The expansion of avocado plantations could trigger environmental impacts, even threatening the overwintering habitat and the migratory phenomenon of the monarch butterflies.

The ultra-hot-Jupiter KELT-16 b: Dynamical Evolution and Atmospheric Properties

We present broad-band photometry of 30 planetary transits of the ultra-hot Jupiter KELT-16 b, using five medium-class telescopes. The transits were monitored through standard B, V, R, I filters and four were simultaneously observed from different places, for a total of 36 new light curves. We used these new photometric data and those from the TESS space telescope to review the main physical properties of the KELT-16 planetary system. Our results agree with previous measurements but are more precise. We estimated the mid-transit times for each of these transits and combined them with others from the literature to obtain 69 epochs, with a time baseline extending over more than four years, and searched for transit time variations. We found no evidence for a period change, suggesting a lower limit for orbital decay at 8 Myr, with a lower limit on the reduced tidal quality factor of $Q^{\prime }_{\star }&gt;(1.9 \pm 0.8) \times 10^5$ with $95\%$ confidence. We built up an observational, low-resolution transmission spectrum of the planet, finding evidence of the presence of optical absorbers, although with a low significance. Using TESS data, we reconstructed the phase curve finding that KELT-16 b has a phase offset of 25.25 ± 14.03 ○E, a day- and night-side brightness temperature of 3190 ± 61 K and 2668 ± 56 K, respectively. Finally, we compared the flux ratio of the planet over its star at the TESS and Spitzer wavelengths with theoretical emission spectra, finding evidence of a temperature inversion in the planet’s atmosphere, the chemical composition of which is preferably oxygen-rich rather than carbon-rich.

Impact of Antibiotic Stewardship Rounds in the Intensive Care Setting: a prospective cluster-randomized crossover study

Background Few groups have formally studied the effect of dedicated antibiotic stewardship rounds (ASRs) on antibiotic use (AU) in intensive care units (ICUs). Methods We implemented weekly ASRs using a two-arm, cluster-randomized, crossover study in 5 ICUs at Duke University Hospital from 11/2017 to 6/2018. We excluded patients without an active antibiotic order, or if they had a marker of high complexity including an existing infectious disease consult, transplant, ventricular assist device, or ECMO. AU during and following ICU stay for patients with ASRs was compared to the controls. We recorded the number of reviews, recommendations delivered, and responses. We evaluated change in ICU-specific AU during and after the study. Results Our analysis included 4,683 patients: 2330 intervention and 2353 controls. Teams performed 761 reviews during ASRs, which excluded 1569 patients: 60% of patients off antibiotics, and 8% complex patients. Exclusions affected 88% the cardiac surgery ICU (CTICU) patients. AU rate ratio (RR) was 0.97 (0.91-1.04). When CTICU was removed, the RR was 0.93 (0.89-0.98). AU in the post-study period decreased by 16% (95% CI 11-24%) compared to the AU in the baseline period. Change in AU was differential among units: largest in the neurology ICU (-28%) and smallest in the CTICU (-2%). Conclusion Weekly multi-disciplinary ASRs was a high-resource intervention associated with a small AU reduction. The noticeable ICU AU decline over time is possibly due to indirect effects of ASRs. Effects differed among specialty ICUs, emphasizing the importance of customizing ASRs to match unit-specific population, workflow, and culture.

Widening Socioeconomic Disparities in Pain and Physical Function Among Americans Are Linked with Growing Obesity

Objectives: We investigate whether obesity accounts for widening socioeconomic disparities in pain. Methods: Based on nationally representative samples of Americans aged 25–74 in 1995–1996 and 2011–2014, we use logistic regression to model period change in headaches, backaches, and joint aches as well as physical limitations and to determine whether those changes vary by a multidimensional measure of socioeconomic status. Results: Prevalence of backaches, joint aches, physical limitations, and obesity increased between the mid-1990s and the early 2010s, particularly among more disadvantaged Americans. Socioeconomic disparities in frequent backaches, frequent joint pain, and physical limitations more than doubled over this period. We estimate that obesity and health conditions may account for nearly a quarter of the widening disparity in frequent backaches and about half of the widening disparity in frequent joint pain and physical limitations. Discussion: Widening disparities in backaches, joint pain, and physical limitations have coincided with growing obesity.

Clinical Efficacy of Cerebrolysin and Cerebrolysin plus Nootropics in the Treatment of Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke in Vietnam

Aims: To investigate the efficacy and safety of Cerebrolysin and Cerebrolysin plus nootropics in the routine treatment of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Background: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is a leading cause of disability with unmet treatment needs lacking effective drug therapy. Multimodal drugs modulating stroke pathophysiology as Cerebrolysin constitute a good therapeutic option. Objective: In this study, we assessed the effects of Cerebrolysin and Cerebrolysin plus nootropics, in comparison with other nootropic drugs alone, on functional, neurological and cognitive recovery of patients with AIS in Vietnam. Methods.: This non-interventional, controlled, open-label, prospective and multicenter study included 398 AIS patients (234 males) treated with Cerebrolysin (n=190; 20 i.v. infusions of 10 ml), other nootropics (comparator group; n=86), or a combination of both (n=122). The study primary endpoint was a modified Ranking Scale (mRS) score on day 90. Secondary endpoints included study-period change in NIHSS score; percentage of well-recovered (mRS 0-2) patients, the proportion of good NIHSS response (≥6 points) cases, and MoCA scores at day 90; and safety indicators. Results: Compared with other nootropics, both Cerebrolysin and combined therapy induced significant improvements (p<0.001) in: Functional recovery (mRS scores); percentage of well-recovered patients (Cerebrolysin: 81.6%; combination: 93.4%; comparator: 43.0%); neurological recovery (study-period NIHSS change); proportion of good NIHSS responders (Cerebrolysin: 77.5%; combination: 92.5%; comparator: 47.6%); and MoCA scores (Cerebrolysin: 23.3±4.8; combination: 23.7±4.1; comparator: 15.9±7.7). Compared to Cerebrolysin, combined therapy improved (p<0.01) mRS outcomes and NIHSS change, but not MoCA scores, in moderate-severe stroke (NIHSS>11) cases only. No drug-related adverse events were reported. Conclusion: Cerebrolysin alone or combined with other nootropics was effective and safe in routine AIS treatment, during both acute and recovery phases, which supports its use in daily clinical practice. Other: According to the results of this multicenter study, the importance of reducing differences in the treatment regimens of AIS in Vietnam should be further emphasized.

On the Creation and Destruction of National Wealth: Are Financial Collapses Endogenous?

This paper traces US national wealth from 1914 through 2015 and constructs a multivariate econometric model that combines elements of short-term and long-term dynamics. We find that US wealth depends on a range of macroeconomic variables, including the wealth itself observed in the previous period, change in market capitalization, change in US house price index and inflation. Less impactful, statistically significant factors included unemployment, changes in oil price, and change in debt-to-GDP ratio. Another significant result is that the Glass–Steagall Act, which prohibited commercial banks from speculative activity in the stock market after 1933, had a statistically significant positive impact on wealth in the US. We test the model by asking whether it could have anticipated the actual collapse in 2008, given prior data up to 2000, 2005 and 2010. All three tests forecasted a sharp wealth decline starting in 2008, followed by a recovery. These results suggest the possibility of forecasting future financial collapses. We have found our model to be slightly more accurate in the short run than in the long run.