Mean Value Of Log Research Articles

Efficacy and safety of losartan in childhood immunoglobulin A nephropathy: a prospective multicenter study

Purpose: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are frequently employed to counteract the detrimental effects of proteinuria on glomerular diseases. However, the effects of ARBs remain poorly examined in pediatric patients with immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy. Herein, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of losartan, an ARB, in pediatric IgA nephropathy with proteinuria.Methods: This prospective, single-arm, multicenter study included children with IgA nephropathy exhibiting proteinuria. Changes in proteinuria, blood pressure, and kidney function were prospectively evaluated before and 4 and 24 weeks after losartan administration. The primary endpoint was the difference in proteinuria between baseline and 24 weeks.Results: In total, 29 patients were enrolled and received losartan treatment. The full analysis set included 28 patients who received losartan at least once and had pre- and post-urinary protein to creatinine ratio measurements (n=28). The per-protocol analysis group included 22 patients who completed all scheduled visits without any serious violations during the study period. In both groups, the mean log (urine protein to creatinine ratio) value decreased significantly at 6 months. After 24 weeks, the urinary protein to creatinine ratio decreased by more than 50% in approximately 40% of the patients. The glomerular filtration rate was not significantly altered during the observation period.Conclusions: Losartan decreased proteinuria without decreasing kidney function in patients with IgA nephropathy over 24 weeks. Losartan could be safely employed to reduce proteinuria in this patient population. <i>ClinicalTrials.gov trial registration (NCT0223277)</i>

Cloth-Air Partitioning of Neutral Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in North Carolina Homes during the Indoor PFAS Assessment (IPA) Campaign.

Partitioning of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to indoor materials, including clothing, may prolong the residence time of PFAS indoors and contribute to exposure. During the Indoor PFAS Assessment (IPA) Campaign, we measured concentrations of nine neutral PFAS in air and cotton cloth in 11 homes in North Carolina, for up to 9 months. Fluorotelomer alcohols (i.e., 6:2 FTOH, 8:2 FTOH, and 10:2 FTOH) are the dominant target species in indoor air, with concentrations ranging from 1.8 to 49 ng m-3, 1.2 to 53 ng m-3, and 0.21 to 5.7 ng m-3, respectively. In cloth, perfluorooctane sulfonamidoethanols (i.e., MeFOSE and EtFOSE) accumulated most significantly over time, reaching concentrations of up to 0.26 ng cm-2 and 0.24 ng cm-2, respectively. From paired measurements of neutral PFAS in air and suspended cloth, we derived cloth-air partition coefficients (Kca) for 6:2, 8:2, and 10:2 FTOH; ethylperfluorooctane sulfonamide (EtFOSA); MeFOSE; and EtFOSE. Mean log(Kca) values range from 4.7 to 6.6 and are positively correlated with the octanol-air partition coefficient. We investigated the effect of the cloth storage method on PFAS accumulation and the influence of home characteristics on air concentrations. Temperature had the overall greatest effect. This study provides valuable insights into PFAS distribution, fate, and exposure indoors.

Comparison of dynamic tumor tracking error measurement methods for robotic radiosurgery.

Dynamic tumor motion tracking is used in robotic radiosurgery for targets subject to respiratory motion, such as lung and liver cancers. Different methods of measuring tracking error have been reported, but the differences among these methods have not been studied, and the optimal method is unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess and compare tracking errors encountered with individual patients using different evaluation methods for method optimization. We compared the beam's eye view (BEV), machine learning (ML), log (addition error: AE), and log (root sum square: RSS) methods. Log (AE) and log (RSS) were calculated from log files. These tracking errors were compared, and the optimal evaluation method was ascertained. A t-test was performed to evaluate statistically significant differences. Here, the significance level was set at 5%. The mean values of BEV, log (AE), log (RSS), and ML were 2.87, 3.91, 2.91, and 3.74mm, respectively. The log (AE) and ML were higher than BEV (p<0.001), and log (RSS) was equivalent to the BEV, suggesting that the log (RSS) calculated with the log file method can substitute for the BEV calculated with the BEV method. As RSS error calculation is simpler than BEV calculation, using it may improve clinical practice throughput. This study clarified differences among three tracking error evaluation methods for dynamic tumor tracking radiotherapy using a robotic radiosurgery system. The log (RSS) calculated by the log file method was found to be the best alternative to BEV method, as it can calculate tracking errors more easily than the BEV method.

Nicotinic acid addition to equine frozen semen extender influences the number of sperm bound to bovine oviduct explants

Usually, equine non-capacitated sperm bind to the isthmus region of the oviduct before ovulation occurs, a process believed essential to prepare them to fertilize the oocyte. However, during semen freezing most of the seminal plasma, a rich source of antioxidants is discarded, resulting in a higher sperm vulnerability to oxidative damage. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of adding nicotinic acid, an antioxidant, to equine frozen semen extender to improve the binding capacity of frozen equine sperm to bovine oviduct cell explants, as an indirect way to investigate the sperm fertilizing capability. To obtain bovine oviducts, reproductive systems of abattoir slaughtered cows were transported in saline solution at 35°C to the laboratory. After sectioning the uterus-tubal junction ipsilateral to the ovaries without a corpus luteum, the isthmus region was pressed towards the uterus and its contents expelled in a Petri dish with culture medium. The oviduct contents with medium were decanted into a tube and after 5 minutes, disaggregated using a needle and syringe three times. Then, the contents were deposited in Petri dishes and cultured for 24 hours in an incubator with 5% CO2 at 38°C. Semen from ten stallions was frozen in INRA96 (control, no nicotinic acid) and with 10mM and 20mM nicotinic acid. Thawed spermatozoa(30 × 106 sperm/mL) were co-incubated with 20 oviduct explants (aggregated oviduct cells) for 30min in an incubator with 5% CO2 at 38°C. Subsequently, the explants were washed with medium to remove the loosened sperm, placed on a glass slide, and covered with a coverslip. The number of sperm bound per nm of oviduct was observed with phase contrast microscopy (40x) and counted with ImageJ software. For statistical analysis, mean and standard error were calculated. When the data did not show normal distribution, logarithmic transformation was performed and the log mean values were evaluated with variance analysis and compared with Duncan's test. The probability of P<0.05 was considered significant. The addition of 10mM nicotinic acid to equine frozen semen extender increased the number of sperm bound to the explants (79.9 ± 9.5 sperm/nm explant) compared to the control (49.1 ± 6.8 sperm/nm explant, P<0.05) and 20mM nicotinic acid treatment (65.6 ± 8.3 sperm/nm explant, P<0.05). In conclusion, the addition of 10mM nicotinic acid to equine freezing extenders improved the number of sperm bound to bovine oviduct explants. Hence, nicotinic acid may be a useful addition to freezing extenders.

Rotation curves and dynamical masses of MaNGA barred galaxies

ABSTRACT In this paper we analyse a sample of 46 barred galaxies of MaNGA. Our goal is to investigate the stellar kinematics of these galaxies and obtain their rotation curves. Additionally, we aim to derive the total stellar and dynamical masses, as well as the maximum rotation velocity, in order to examine their distributions and scaling relations. Using the Pipe3D dataproducts publicly available we obtained the rotation curves, which were fitted considering two components of an axisymmetric Miyamoto–Nagai gravitational potential. We found a wide range of the maximum rotation velocities (117–340 ${\rm km\, s^{-1}}$), with a mean value of 200 ${\rm km\, s^{-1}}$. In addition we found that the total stellar and dynamical masses are in the range of log(Mstar/M⊙) = 10.1−11.5, with a mean value of log(Mstar/M⊙) = 10.8, and log(Mdyn/M⊙) = 10.4−12.0, with a mean value of log(Mdyn/M⊙) = 11.1, respectively. We found a strong correlation between dynamical mass and maximum velocity, between maximum velocity and magnitude, and between stellar mass and maximum velocity. According to these results, barred galaxies exhibit similar behaviour to that of normal spiral galaxies with respect to these relations, as well as in terms of the distribution of their dynamical mass and maximum rotation velocity. However, we found that the distribution of stellar masses of barred galaxies is statistically different from other samples including non-barred galaxies. Finally, analysing the galaxies that show nuclear activity, we find no difference with the rotation curves of normal galaxies.

Food handling practices, the prevalence of aflatoxin dietary exposure and its associated factors among children aged 6–23 months in Bukombe District, Tanzania

BackgroundComplementary foods are provided to newborns and early children to replace breast milk, which, after six months of exclusive breastfeeding, is no longer adequate to meet the child's nutritional needs. However, foods like dairy, grains like maize, sorghum, and millet, as well as nuts like groundnuts, which are frequently suggested as supplemental foods have all been linked to aflatoxin contamination. Understanding how caregiver preparation and storage practices of complementary flour affect children's aflatoxin exposure is crucial. ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of dietary exposure to aflatoxin and its associated factors in children aged 6–23 months complemented with cereal-based foods in the Bukombe District of Geita Region in Tanzania. MethodologyAn analytical cross-sectional study was used to survey 342 households of children aged 6–23 months. Fifty complementary flour samples from 50 of the total households were chosen at random and tested for aflatoxin using the HPLC technique and standard methods. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to assess parents'/caregivers' food handling and preparation practices and the amount of food consumed. The obtained results were used to estimate aflatoxin dietary exposure of children in the study. ResultsMost of the children (86%) were exposed to aflatoxin through diet with a median value of 0.3 μg/kg-bw/day mainly linked to age and breastfeeding status. The majority of the exposed (86%) were above the reference limit of 0.04 μg/kg-bw/day. Most parents (98.5%) chose maize as the main component of complementary flour, either on its own or mixed with other cereals and winnowing and dehulling as the most and least common practices with the proportion of 78.9% and 9.4% respectively. Furthermore, a majority (88%) of flour samples were contaminated with aflatoxin B1 and total aflatoxin with log mean values of 1.2 ± 0.81 and 1.5 ± 0.68 μg/kg respectively which were above the Tanzania reference limit of 5 μg/kg and 10 μg/kg respectively. Contamination was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with location (Fisher's exact value = 6.68, p = 0.036), source of cereals (Fisher's exact value = 56.4 p = 0.025), and storage time (Fisher exact value = 23.8, p < 0.001). ConclusionIn view of the findings, aflatoxin contamination in flours used for complementary feeding was beyond tolerable limits, hence increasing the risk of children's dietary exposure. This suggests that strengthening strategies to control aflatoxin contamination of maize throughout the food chain and teaching parents about preparation and storage methods that reduce aflatoxin in cereals/flour are important.

Assessment of microvascular function using a novel technique Flow Mediated Skin Fluorescence (FMSF) in patients with diabetic kidney disease: A preliminary study.

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) plays an important role in morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus. The pathogenesis of this microangiopathy is mainly due to impaired vascular endothelial function. The Flow Mediated Skin Fluorescence (FMSF) method is an innovative, non-invasive tool for assessing the microcirculation function (especially microcirculatory response to hypoxia), also in patients with complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). The study was conducted at the Medical University of Lodz, Poland. Total of 84 volunteers including 30 patients with DKD, 33 patients with DM without complications, and 21 healthy subjects underwent microvascular function assessments using FMSF. This technique measures changes in the intensity of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) fluorescence from the skin on the forearm as a function of time, in response to blocking and releasing blood flow in the forearm. In this study we asses two key parameters: Reactive Hyperemia Response (RHR) and Hypoxia Sensitivity [log(HS)] to characterize vascular circulation in patients with DKD and their response to transient ischemia. The patients with low reactive hyperemic response (the RHR parameter) had a significantly higher sCr than patients with moderate and high RHR value (p<0.001, p<0.05, respectively) and a significantly lower eGFR than the patients with moderate and high RHR parameter (p<0.001, p<0.01, respectively). The patients with very low and low log(HS) values had a significantly higher sCr than the patients with high log(HS) (p<0.001, p<0.01, respectively), and a significantly lower eGFR than the patients with high log(HS) parameter (p<0.001, p<0.01, respectively). The patients with very low log(HS) had a significantly higher sCr and a significantly lower eGFR than the patients with moderate (p<0.05, p<0.01, respectively). The mean value of the RHR parameter was significantly lower in DKD patients (18.31±5.06%) compared to both healthy subjects (34.37±8.18%, p<0.001) and DM without complications subgroup (28.75±7.12%, p<0.001). Similar trends were noted with the mean value of log(HS) parameter in DKD subgroup (1.03±0.5) vs. healthy subjects (1.59±0.53, p<0.001), and vs. DM without complications subgroup (1.73±0.52, p<0.001). We observed a significant inverse correlation between the RHR parameter and serum creatinine (sCr) and a significant positive correlations with eGFR (R= -0.3; p<0.05, R=0.61; p<0.001, respectively). We found also a significant negative correlations of the log(HS) measure with sCr and a significant positive correlations with eGFR (R=-0.33; p<0.01, R=0.55; p<0.001, respectively). We observed also a significant inverse correlation between the RHR and log(HS) parameters and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) (R=-0.6; p<0.001, R=-0.32; p<0.01, respectively). The AGEs parameter was also a significantly higher in patients with low RHR parameter than in patients with moderate (p<0.01) and high (p<0.001). The FMSF technique makes it possible to identify impairments of the microvascular function in patients with DKD. This study confirms that the simple two-parametric approach diagnostic tool perfectly characterizes the state of the microvascular system in diabetic patients with impaired renal function. These preliminary results require further validation in a larger patients cohort.

The survey of planetary nebulae in Andromeda (M31)

Context. The Andromeda (M31) galaxy presents evidence of recent substantial mass accretion. This is unlike what has happened in the Milky Way, which has experienced a rather quiescent evolution. Aims. We use oxygen and argon abundances for planetary nebulae (PNe) with low internal extinction (progenitor ages of &gt; 4.5 Gyr) and high extinction (progenitor ages &lt; 2.5 Gyr), as well as those of the HII regions, to constrain the chemical enrichment and star formation efficiency in the thin and thicker discs of M31. Methods. The argon element is produced in larger fractions by Type Ia supernovae compared to oxygen. We find that the mean log(O/Ar) values of PNe as a function of their argon abundances, 12 + log(Ar/H), trace the interstellar medium (ISM) conditions at the time of birth of the M31 disc PN progenitors. Thus, the chemical enrichment and star formation efficiency information encoded in the [α/Fe] versus [Fe/H] distribution of stars is also imprinted in the oxygen-to-argon abundance ratio log(O/Ar) versus argon abundance for the nebular emissions of the different stellar evolution phases. We propose using the log(O/Ar) versus (12 + log(Ar/H)) distribution of PNe with different ages to constrain the star formation histories of the parent stellar populations in the thin and thicker M31 discs. Results. For the inner M31 disc (RGC &lt; 14 kpc), the chemical evolution model that reproduces the mean log(O/Ar) values as a function of argon abundance for the high- and low-extinction PNe requires a second infall of metal-poorer gas during a gas-rich (wet) satellite merger. This wet merger triggered the burst of star formation seen by the PHAT survey in the M31 disc, ∼3 Gyr ago. A strong starburst is ongoing in the intermediate radial range (14 ≤ RGC ≤ 18 kpc). In the outer M31 disc (RGC &gt; 18 kpc), the log(O/Ar) versus argon abundance distribution of the younger high-extinction PNe indicates that they too were formed in a burst, though mostly from the metal-poorer gas. Present-day HII regions show a range of oxygen-to-argon ratios, which is indicative of spatial variations and consistent with a present-day rainfall of metal-poorer gas onto the disc with different degrees of mixing with the previously enriched ISM. Conclusions. We implement the use of the log(O/Ar) versus argon abundance distribution for emission nebulae as a complement to the [α/Fe] versus [Fe/H] diagram for stars, and use it to constrain the star formation efficiency in the thin and thicker discs of M31. Diagrams for M31 PNe in different age ranges reveal that a secondary infall of gas affected the chemical evolution of the M31 thin disc. In M31, the thin disc is younger and less radially extended, formed stars at a higher star formation efficiency, and had a faster chemical enrichment timescale than the more extended thicker disc. Both the thin and thicker discs in M31 reach similar high argon abundances (12 + log(Ar/H)) ≃ 6.7. The chemical and structural properties of the thin and thicker discs in M31 are thus remarkably different from those determined for the Milky Way thin and thick discs.

PAH atmospheric log(KP) values in Great Lakes samples are related to black carbon levels near each site

Many semi-volatile organic pollutants are present in the atmosphere both in the vapor and particle phases. About 50 years ago, a partition coefficient (KP) was defined as the compound's concentration in the particle phase (Cpart, in ng/m3 or pg/m3) divided by its concentration in the vapor phase (Cvapor, also in ng/m3 or pg/m3) divided by the atmospheric concentration of total suspended particles (TSP, in μg/m3) or, more recently, by the concentration of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5, also in μg/m3). The original point of this term was to account for surface adsorption of pollutants to the particles, but over the years it has become apparent that absorption, particularly to black carbon (BC, also known as elemental carbon) in the particles, may also be important. This study investigates the importance of this particle term using about 3000 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations measured from 1997 to 2018 (inclusive) in 24-h samples collected once every 12 days at five sites on the shores of the North American Great Lakes and using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency PM2.5 concentrations at the same sites. Analyses of variance of the annual mean log(KP) values show significant differences for all six compounds among the five sites, which we attribute to the composition of the particles at the five sites. For example, the particles from the urban sites are likely to have higher black carbon levels compared to those from the more rural and remote sites. With an additional term for black carbon in these samples, these new ratios are similar across sites for a given compound. These results suggest that a black carbon term is useful and potentially important.

Microbial, Physicochemical and Nutritional Quality Assessment of Fruit Juices in Tangail Municipality, Bangladesh

Analysis of the microbial, physicochemical and nutritional qualities of some commercially bottled and handmade fruit juices showed that total viable bacteria in bottle juices ranged from 9.6×107 to 2.0×1011 cfu/100 ml and handmade juices 1.3×105 to 9.6×107 cfu/100 ml. The log mean values of total bacteria count ranged from 9.14-10.19 cfu/100 ml (bottled) and 6.09-9.08 cfu/100 ml (handmade).Total coliform bacteria ranged from 0-7.6×109 cfu/100 ml (bottled) and 0 - 2.8×105 cfu /100 ml (handmade) with a range of log mean values of 3.18-6.95 cfu/100 ml (bottled) and 3.47-3.48 cfu/100 ml (handmade). The pH was acidic and mean value ranged from 3.14-4.03 for bottled juice and 3.72-3.73 (handmade). It was found that total soluble solids ranged from 10-11.33% for bottle and 11.33-12.33% for handmade juices. The concentration of vitamin C in bottled and handmade juices ranged from 0.74-2.22 mg/100 ml and 2.34-3.7 mg/100 ml, respectively, indicated that vitamin C content was very low. It was also revealed that quality of bottled and handmade juices was unsatisfactory and may not be useful for consumption. It is suggested that proper measure must be taken and manufacturing companies should develop the quality by maintaining hygiene and using good quality ingredients in preparing different types of juices.&#x0D; J. Asiat. Soc. Bangladesh, Sci. 46(1): 37-47, June 2020

Air filtration as a tool for the reduction of viral aerosols

For testing the effectiveness of air purification devices in regard to the reduction of virus-containing aerosols, a test method involving test viruses has been lacking until now. The use of bacteriophages (phiX174 phages) is a method to test the efficiency of air purification devices under experimental conditions. Using air purifiers with a HEPA filter H14, a 4.6–6.1 Log reduction of test viruses can be achieved if bacteriophages are directly aerosolised into the air purifier, which corresponds to a reduction of 99.9974–99.9999%. Due to the complexity and individuality of air flow, an experimental approach was used in which all outside influences were minimised. The experimental setup was practical and chosen to project a scenario of direct transmission by an emitting source to a recipient. The experiments were performed with and without the air purifier at a distance of 0.75 m and 1.5 m each. Using the air purifier at a setting of 1000 m3/h, the concentration of the phiX174 phages in the air could be reduced by 2.86 Log (mean value). Nevertheless, the experiments without the air purifier showed a similar reduction rate of 2.61 Log (mean value) after 35 min. The concentration of phiX174 phages in the air could be additionally reduced up to 1 log step (maximum value) by the use of the air purifier in comparison to the experiments without. Distance was shown to be an important factor for risk reduction.

Properties of five z ∼ 0.3–0.4 confirmed LyC leakers: VLT/XShooter observations

ABSTRACT Using new Very Large Telescope (VLT)/XShooter spectral observations we analyse the physical properties of five z ∼ 0.3–0.4 confirmed Lyman continuum (LyC) leakers. Strong resonant Mg ii λλ2796, 2803 Å emission lines (I(λλ2796, 2803)/I(Hβ) ≃ 10–38 per cent) and non-resonant Fe ii* λλ2612, 2626 Å emission lines are observed in spectra of five and three galaxies, respectively. We find high electron densities Ne ∼ 400 cm−3, significantly higher than in typical low-z, but comparable to those measured in z ∼ 2–3 star-forming galaxies (SFGs). The galaxies have a mean value of log N/O = –1.16, close to the maximum values found for SFGs in the metallicity range of 12 + log O/H ≃ 7.7–8.1. All 11 low-z LyC emitting galaxies found by Izotov et al., including the ones considered in this study, are characterized by high equivalent width (EW) (Hβ) ∼ 200–400 Å, high ionization parameter (log(U) = –2.5 to –1.7), high average ionizing photon production efficiency ξ = 1025.54 Hz erg−1, and hard ionizing radiation. On the Baldwin–Phillips–Terlevich (BPT) diagram we find the same offset of our leakers from low-z main-sequence SFGs as that for local analogues of Lyman-break galaxies (LBGs) and extreme SFGs at z ∼ 2–3. We confirm the effectiveness of the He i emission lines diagnostics proposed by Izotov et al. in searching for LyC leaker candidates and find that their intensity ratios correspond to those in a median with low neutral hydrogen column density N(H i) = 1017–5 × 1017 cm−2 that permit leakage of LyC radiation, likely due to their density-bounded H ii regions.

Torque Teno Virus (TTV) Kinetics Can Predict Complications after Lung Transplantation

New biomarkers reflecting the degree of immunosuppression in transplant recipients are needed to provide an optimal balance between risk for rejection and risk of severe infections. We prospectively measured plasma TTV-DNA dynamics in 365 lung transplant recipients (LuTR) transplanted between 1/2013 and 12/2020. Severe infections, acute cellular and humoral rejection, incidence of CLAD and malignancies were recorded and correlated with dynamic changes in TTV levels. Patient demographics are summarized in Table 1. 95% of patients had detectable TTV levels pre-transplant with a mean log value of 4.0±1.6. Post-transplant, all LuTR became TTV positive with a peak value of log9.6±0.6 (range 5.9-10.9). TTV peaked at a mean of 143±109 days after transplantation. Mean TTV PCR values after 3, 4 and 5 years were log6.9±1,4, log6,4±1,4 and log6.0±1.2, respectively. TTV loads were significantly lower in LuTR who had episodes of acute cellular rejection (TTV PCR <log7.0 for more than 3 months[K1]; p=0.001) or who later developed chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) (p<0.05). Furthermore, TTV loads higher than log9.5 for a longer time [K2] correlated with episodes of severe infections (p<0.05) or the development of malignancies (p<0.05). No correlation between TTV load and episodes of acute/chronic antibody mediated rejection was found[K3]. FK levels were in 95% of all patients within the target levels and didn't correlate with infectious episodes or incidence of CLAD. TTV PCR measurement is a potent tool to predict acute cellular rejection episodes, infectious complications and CLAD. It represents a promising tool to monitor individualized immunosuppressive therapy in near future.

Blazhko-type fundamental-mode RR Lyrae stars in the globular cluster M3

ABSTRACT Blazhko stars from the extended BVIC time series of RRab stars in the globular cluster M3 are analysed. This is the largest sample of Blazhko stars with full details of their Blazhko properties in a homogeneous stellar system. Blazhko periods and light-curve solutions are determined/estimated for 83 fundamental-mode variables. The lack of phase modulation in Oosterhoff type II stars and the diminishing relative strength of the modulation in long-period Oosterhoff type I stars are regular tendencies found between the pulsation and modulation properties of Blazko stars. Similarly to previous results, no modulation of the longest-period stars is detected. The onset of modulation in a previously regular RRab star and the similar distribution of modulated and non-modulated stars imply that the modulation is a temporal property of RR Lyrae (RRL) stars, which may occur at any time in any RRab star except the coolest ones. Comparing the modulation periods in M3 and in other samples of Blazhko stars, the mean log(Pmod) value is found to depend on the metallicity of the system. The separation of temperature- and radius-change induced variations supports our previous finding that the photometric radius variation does not show any modulation. The pulsation-averaged mean brightness and temperature of Blazhko stars are found to be larger in the large-amplitude phase of the modulation than in the small-amplitude phase. The larger the amplitude of the modulation, the larger the changes of the mean parameters detected.

Oxygen abundance and the N/C versus N/O relation for AFG supergiants and bright giants

ABSTRACT Non-LTE analysis (where LTE is local thermodynamic equilibrium) of the oxygen abundances for 51 Galactic A-, F- and G-type supergiants and bright giants is performed. In contrast with carbon and nitrogen, oxygen does not show any significant systematic anomalies in its abundances log ε(O). There is no marked difference from the initial oxygen abundance, within the errors, for the log ε(O) determination across the Teff interval from 4500–8500 K and the $\log \, g$ interval from 1.2–2.9 dex. This result agrees well with theoretical predictions for stellar models with rotation. With our new data for oxygen and our earlier non-LTE determinations of the N and C abundances for stars from the same sample, we constructed the [N/C] versus [N/O] relation for 17 stars. This relation is known to be a sensitive indicator of stellar evolution. A pronounced correlation between [N/C] versus [N/O] is found; the observed [N/C] increase from 0 to 1.6 dex is accompanied by a [N/O] increase from 0 to 0.9 dex. When comparing the observed [N/C] versus [N/O] relation with the theoretical one, we show that this relation reflects a strong dependence of the evolutionary changes in CNO abundances on the initial rotation velocities of stars. Given that the initial rotational velocities of these stars are expected to satisfy V0 &lt; 150 km s−1, it is found that they are mostly post-first-dredge-up (post-FDU) objects. It is important that such initial velocities V0 are typical for about 80 per cent of the stars in question (i.e. stars with masses 4–19 M$\odot$). A constancy of the total C+N+O abundance during stellar evolution is confirmed. The mean value of log ε(C+N + O) = 8.97 ± 0.08 found for AFG supergiants and bright giants seems to be very close to the initial values of 8.92 (the Sun) or 8.94 (unevolved B-type main-sequence stars).

Incidence of enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus in milk and Egyptian artisanal dairy products

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is one of the most concerning foodborne pathogens due to its ability to produce wide varieties of heat-stable enterotoxins. Hence, this study was designed to investigate the prevalence of the enterotoxigenic S. aureus strains and their enterotoxins in milk and in some representative artisanal Egyptian dairy products. Additionally, the prevalence of Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus (MRSA; antibiotic resistant strain) was considered throughout the study. Three-hundred and fifty samples (n = 350) were randomly collected from Assuit city in upper Egypt, including market cow's milk, yoghurt, Domiati cheese, Kareish cheese, Ras cheese, cooking butter and small-scale ice cream. The identification of the S. aureus strains was done using conventional biochemical method (catalase test, egg yolk reaction test, anaerobic utilization of mannitol and coagulase test) and PCR. Furthermore, Staphylococcal enterotoxins genes (SEA and SED) were detected by PCR while the classical enterotoxins were examined in 30 samples of Ras cheese and small-scale ice cream using ELISA technique. S. aureus was isolated from 142 out of 350 (41%) [95% CI: 35.4–45.7%] examined samples at levels of up to 5.79 log10 cfu/ml or g. The prevalence of S. aureus was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in small scale ice cream (74%) than in other food categories with a mean count of 3.74 ± 1.03 log10 cfu/g. MRSA strains were recovered from 54 (15%) [95% CI: 11.6–19.2%] samples with a log mean value of 3.54 ± 0.523 log10 cfu/ml or g. In addition, seventeen (30%) of the S. aureus isolates tested by PCR were found to be positive for enterotoxin genes. Out of these, fifteen strains carried one gene and only two strains harbored both A and D genes. Additionally, 4 (7.4%) of MRSA isolates from the strains recovered from Ras cheese were enterotoxigenic. Finally, the enterotoxin E (SEE) was determined in 8 out of 30 (26.67%) examined samples that were contaminated with high level of enterotoxigenic S. aureus. It is concluded that additional preventive measures must be applied in the artisanal dairy processing chain in Egypt to avoid milk contamination and consumers' exposure to enterotoxigenic strains of S. aureus.

Generalization of cyclic refinements of Jensen inequality by montgomery identity and Green’s function

We consider discrete and continuous cyclic refinements of Jensen’s inequality and generalize them from convex function to higher order convex function by means of Lagrange Green’s function and Montgomery identity. We give application of our results by formulating the monotonicity of the linear functionals obtained from generalized identities utilizing the theory of inequalities for [Formula: see text]-convex functions at a point. We compute Grüss and Ostrowski type bounds for generalized identities associated with the obtained inequalities. Finally, we investigate the properties of linear functionals regarding exponential convexity log convexity and mean value theorems.

In vitro and in vivo activity of Manuka honey against NDM-1-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST11.

To determine the therapeutic potential of Manuka honey against New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-1-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST11 in vitro and in vivo. Carbapenamases and metallo-β-lactamases-producing K. pneumoniae ST11 isolated from blood culture was confirmed by VITEK-2® system, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight and multilocus sequence typing, followed by determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (μg/ml) using VITEK-2 system. Genetic analysis of bla NDM-1 was done by PCR, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and DNA hybridization. In vitro and in vivo efficacy of Manuka honey was performed by microbroth dilution assay and BALB/c mice model respectively. K. pneumoniae ST11 displayed resistance to commonly used antibiotics. bla NDM-1 was located on 150 and 270kb plasmids. Minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of Manuka honey was 30% (v/v) and substantial reduction of bacterial mean log value (>1 log) was observed in mice. Histological analysis of mice liver and kidneys demonstrated mild to moderate inflammation. Manuka honey can be used as an alternate therapeutic approach for management of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-producing pathogens.

Hygienic Status Assessment of Two Lamb Slaughterhouses in Spain

A total of 180 lamb carcasses and 200 inert surfaces were sampled in two commercial abattoirs (plants A and B) from northwest Spain. A higher (P < 0.001) average microbial load (log CFU per square centimeter) on lamb carcasses was observed for total viable counts (TVC; 2.74 ± 1.15) than for Enterobacteriaceae (2.21 ± 1.16). Different microbial counts were found on carcasses from plants A and B, both for TVC (2.56 ± 0.96 versus 3.18 ± 1.47, respectively; P < 0.001) and Enterobacteriaceae (2.09 ± 0.97 versus 2.50 ± 1.61, respectively; P < 0.05). High correlations (P < 0.001) were observed for TVC and Enterobacteriaceae in both plants A (r = 0.708) and B (r = 0.912). The percentages of unsatisfactory daily mean log values for carcasses, according to European Union Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005, were 0.0 (TVC) and 30.8 (Enterobacteriaceae) in plant A and 10.0 (TVC) and 40.0 (Enterobacteriaceae) in plant B. Average counts for inert surfaces were all lower than 10 CFU/cm2 (TVC) or 1 CFU/cm2 (Enterobacteriaceae). The need to improve hygienic practices in order to adhere to the European Union microbiological performance criteria is emphasized. The detected different microbial counts between slaughterhouses could be attributed to differences in external hygiene of livestock and in the number of slaughterhouse workers. Microbiological analysis of carcasses and surfaces allows detection of hygienic concerns in the overall process.

Insight into oil and gas-shales compounds signatures in low field 1H NMR and its application in porosity evaluation

The low field 1H NMR characterization of rock components that are specific for oil- and gas- shales is presented. 1D T2 distributions together with T1-T2 maps and T1/T2 ratios for the samples of smectite, illite, illite-smectite, kaolinite, chlorite and kerogen served to obtain characteristic features. T1-T2 maps measured in three saturation states (native, saturated and dried) allowed the observation of different fractions of water such as water confined in interlayer spaces, filling pore spaces and hydroxyl groups from crystallographic lattice. Differential images are proposed for the evaluation of water distribution in the pore spaces and values of porosity, directly related to the fluid removed after the drying of the sample. Porosity values for exemplary shale samples, calculated for differential results are consistent with the porosity obtained using T2 cut-offs. The relations between cation exchange capacity and T2 log-mean values for the samples at different saturation states are also shown.