Search

Acne vulgaris is a prevalent chronic inflammatory skin disease, most common in adolescence and often persisting into adulthood, leading to severe physical and psychological impacts. The primary etiological factor is Cutibacterium acnes infection. The overuse of antibiotics for acne treatment over recent decades has led to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant Cutibacterium acnes strains. In this study, we isolated and characterized a novel bacteriophage, vB_CacS-HV1, from saliva samples. The average nucleotide identity analysis indicated that vB_CacS-HV1 is a new species within the Pahexavirus genus, enhancing our understanding of this underexplored group. vB_CacS-HV1 demonstrates favorable stability, lacks potentially harmful genetic elements (virulence factors, antibiotic resistance genes, transposons, and integrases), and exhibits potent lytic and anti-biofilm activities against Cutibacterium acnes at low concentrations. These advantages highlight vB_CacS-HV1's potential as a promising antibacterial agent that could possibly be complementary to antibiotics or other treatments for acne therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID‐19 is currently pandemic and the detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 variants in wastewater is causing widespread concern. Herein, cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is proposed as a novel wastewater disinfection technology that effectively inactivates SARS‐CoV‐2 transcription‐ and replication‐competent virus‐like particles, coronavirus GX_P2V, pseudotyped SARS‐CoV‐2 variants, and porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus in a large volume of water within 180 s (inhibition rate > 99%). Further, CAP disinfection did not adversely affect the viability of various human cell lines. It is identified that CAP produced peroxynitrite (ONOO−), ozone (O3), superoxide anion radicals (O2−), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as the major active substances for coronavirus disinfection. Investigation of the mechanism showed that active substances not only reacted with the coronavirus spike protein and affected its infectivity, but also destroyed the nucleocapsid protein and genome, thus affecting virus replication. This method provides an efficient and environmentally friendly strategy for the elimination of SARS‐CoV‐2 and other coronaviruses from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of phage-resistant bacterial strains is one of the biggest challenges for phage therapy. However, the emerging phage-resistant bacteria are often accompanied by adaptive trade-offs, which supports a therapeutic strategy called "phage steering". The key to phage steering is to guide the bacterial population toward an evolutionary direction that is favorable for treatment. Thus, it is important to systematically investigate the impacts of phages targeting different bacterial receptors on the fitness of the bacterial population. Herein, we employed 20 different phages to impose strong evolutionary pressure on the host Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and examined the genetic and phenotypic responses of their phage-resistant mutants. Among these strains with impaired adsorptions, four types of mutations associated with bacterial receptors were identified, namely, lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), type IV pili (T4Ps), outer membrane proteins (OMPs), and exopolysaccharides (EPSs). PAO1, responding to LPS- and EPS-dependent phage infections, mostly showed significant growth impairment and virulence attenuation. Most mutants with T4P-related mutations exhibited a significant decrease in motility and biofilm formation ability, while the mutants with OMP-related mutations required the lowest fitness cost out of the bacterial populations. Apart from fitness costs, PAO1 strains might lose their resistance to antibiotics when counteracting with phages, such as the presence of large-fragment mutants in this study, which may inspire the usage of phage–antibiotic combination strategies. This work provides methods that leverage the merits of phage resistance relative to obtaining therapeutically beneficial outcomes with respect to phage-steering strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is one of the most common clinical pathogens and a typical multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterium. With the increase of drug-resistant A. baumannii infections, it is urgent to find some new treatment strategies, such as phage therapy. In this paper, we described the different drug resistances of A. baumannii and some basic properties of A. baumannii phages, analyzed the interaction between phages and their hosts, and focused on A. baumannii phage therapies. Finally, we discussed the chance and challenge of phage therapy. This paper aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of A. baumannii phages and theoretical support for the clinical application of A. baumannii phages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the relationship between former chief executive officer (CEO) directors and audit pricing. We find that the former CEO directors negatively impact the company's audit fees. The results do not change after conducting a series of robustness tests. Former CEO directors reduce the company's operating risk, improve the company's earnings quality, and reduce the company's audit fees. Meanwhile, they are more effective at monitoring in companies with less analyst following, lower proportion of female directors, and non-family firms, thus reducing audit fees. Further evidence shows that larger auditors are more likely to reduce audit fees for their clients that have former CEOs retained on the board of directors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the high cost and long lifecycle of manned Mars exploration missions, in-situ resource utilization technology, including Mg/CO 2 processes, has attracted increasing attention. At present, Mg/CO 2 engines face the challenges of long ignition delay, serious carbon deposition, and low combustion efficiency. The root of these challenges lies in the Mg/CO 2 combustion reaction. Therefore, based on an Mg-based powder prepared by mechanical mixing combined with ultrasonic dispersion, the effects of various nano-metal oxides (CuO, Fe 2 O 3 , MnO 2 , MoO 3 , and Bi 2 O 3) on the ignition and combustion of Mg particles in CO 2 were studied through constant volume combustion experiments. It was found that MoO 3 undergoes the optimal covered-type of binding with Mg particles. The other oxides achieved embedded-type binding, of which MnO 2 binding was the worst. The enhanced ignition and combustion effects of Bi 2 O 3 and CuO were best. Thermogravimetric analysis found that CuO and Bi 2 O 3 improve combustion efficiency by lower ignition temperatures, inhibiting low-temperature oxidation reaction and increasing reaction ratio. • The enhancement effects of metal oxides on ignition and combustion of Mg particles in CO 2 are firstly studied. • The binding abilities of different nano-metal oxides to micro-Mg particles are analyzed. • The enhancement effects of CuO and Bi 2 O 3 on ignition and combustion of Mg particles in CO 2 are analyzed. • The influences of metal oxide addition ratio on enhancement are analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt is a necessary condition to produce a surimi product that is based on the gelation of salt-soluble myofibrillar proteins. Recently, there has been a growing concern among consumers to consume healthy foods due to the threat of several chronic diseases caused by an unhealthy diet. Methods of reducing salt content out of concern for health issues caused by excessive sodium intake may affect the gel properties of surimi, as can many health-oriented food additives. Several studies have investigated different strategies to improve the health characteristics of surimi products without decreasing gel properties. This review reports recent developments in this area and how the gel properties were successfully maintained under reduced-salt conditions and the use of additives. This review of recent studies presents a great deal of progress made in the health benefits of surimi and can be used as a reference for further development in the surimi product processing industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coxsackieviruses, a genus of enteroviruses in the small RNA virus family, cause fatal infectious diseases in humans. Thus far, there are no approved drugs to prevent these diseases. Human milk contains various biologically active components against pathogens. Currently, the potential activity of breast milk components against the coxsackievirus remains unclear. In our study, the inhibitory effect of 16 major human milk components was tested on coxsackievirus class A type 9 isolate (CV-A9), BUCT01; 2'-Fucosyllactose (2'-FL) was identified to be effective. Time-of-addition, attachment internalisation assays, and the addition of 2'-FL at different time points were applied to investigate its specific role in the viral life cycle. Molecular docking was used to predict 2'-FL's specific cellular targets. The initial screening revealed a significant inhibitory effect (99.97%) against CV-A9 with 10 mg/mL 2'-FL, with no cytotoxicity observed. Compared with the control group, 2'-FL blocked virus entry (85%) as well as inhibited viral attachment (48.4%) and internalisation (51.3%), minimising its infection in rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells. The cell pre-incubation with 2'-FL exhibited significant inhibition (73.2–99.9%). Extended incubation between cells with 2'-FL reduced CV-A9 infection (93.9%), suggesting that 2'-FL predominantly targets cells to block infection. Molecular docking results revealed that 2'-FL interacted with the attachment receptor αvβ6 and the internalisation receptor FCGRT and β2M with an affinity of −2.14, −1.87, and −5.43 kcal/mol, respectively. This study lays the foundation for using 2'-FL as a food additive against CV-A9 infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The behavior of aluminum droplets impacting a wall critically affects the operation of solid rocket motors. In the present study, the flow and rebound of aluminum droplets with a high surface tension are studied experimentally and numerically. In addition, the impact of aluminum droplets at different inclined angles is monitored experimentally. When the droplet is about to rebound away from the wall, it is stretched to its maximum length. An empirical correlation formula is proposed to predict the maximum length when a droplet is about to bounce off a flat plane. The velocity and pressure distributions of a droplet flowing over a flat plane and an inclined plane are compared by using the volume of fluid method. Furthermore, the restitution coefficient of the droplet is discussed in detail. When normal Weber number We n ranges from 0 to 20, normal restitution coefficient e n ranges from 0.3 to 0.6. When tangential Weber number We t <10, tangential restitution coefficient e t is subject to great uncertainty. When 10 < We t < 80, e t is maintained at 0.75. The formulas for the total restitution coefficient, normal restitution coefficient, and tangential restitution coefficient of the aluminum droplets are also presented. Based on the principle of conservation of energy, we calculate the remaining energy of the aluminum droplets impinging on a wall and provide the relationship between the restitution coefficient and the dissipated energy. The results elucidate the mechanisms at work when aluminum droplets collide with a wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates whether CEO-CFO tenure consistency impacts corporate cash holdings. We find that a company's cash holdings increase when CEO and CFO have the same tenure. The positive relationship between CEO-CFO tenure consistency and cash holdings is more obvious in companies with CEO duality, a smaller proportion of independent directors, and more serious agency problems. Further evidence shows that CEO-CFO tenure consistency decreases the value of cash holdings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spread of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (MDR-KP) has become an emerging threat as a result of the overuse of antibiotics. Bacteriophage (phage) therapy is considered to be a promising alternative treatment for MDR-KP infection compared with antibiotic therapy. In this research, a lytic phage BUCT610 was isolated from hospital sewage. The assembled genome of BUCT610 was 46,774 bp in length, with a GC content of 48%. A total of 83 open reading frames (ORFs) and no virulence or antimicrobial resistance genes were annotated in the BUCT610 genome. Comparative genomics and phylogenetic analyses showed that BUCT610 was most closely linked with the Vibrio phage pYD38-A and shared 69% homology. In addition, bacteriophage BUCT610 exhibited excellent thermal stability (4–75 °C) and broad pH tolerance (pH 3–12) in the stability test. In vivo investigation results showed that BUCT610 significantly increased the survival rate of Klebsiella pneumonia-infected Galleria mellonella larvae from 13.33% to 83.33% within 72 h. In conclusion, these findings indicate that phage BUCT610 holds great promise as an alternative agent with excellent stability for the treatment of MDR-KP infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To assess association between quetiapine treatment and risk of new‐onset hypothyroidism in schizophrenia patients. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a tertiary hospital in China between January 2016 and December 2018. Schizophrenia patients with normal thyroid tests at admission were included. Hypothyroidism, which was defined as thyroid‐stimulating hormone >4.20 mU/L and free thyroxine <12.00 pmol/L, or on L‐thyroxine prescriptions, was the outcome measure, and quetiapine treatment between admission and subsequent thyroid test was the exposure measure of this study. Adjusted relative risks and 95% confidence intervals were used to assess the independent association of quetiapine treatment with risk of new‐onset hypothyroidism. The dose–response association was further analysed by 3 quetiapine doses: low (≤<=0.2 g/d), medium (0.2–0.6 g/d), and high (>0.6 g/d). Results: A total of 2022 eligible patients were included in the final analysis. Sixty patients (15.0%) in the quetiapine group developed hypothyroidism, while 56 patients (3.5%) in the nonquetiapine group developed hypothyroidism. Relative risk (95% confidence interval) of developing hypothyroidism for quetiapine use was 4.01 (2.86–5.64) after adjusting for several potential confounding factors. A strong dose–response association between quetiapine use and risk of developing hypothyroidism was observed: adjusted relative risks (95% confidence intervals) were 1.00 (0.25–2.59), 4.22 (2.80–6.25) and 5.62 (3.66–8.38), respectively, for low‐, medium‐ and high‐dose quetiapine, as compared with no quetiapine. Conclusion: Acute phase quetiapine treatment for schizophrenia patients was strongly associated with increased risk of developing new‐onset hypothyroidism, with a clear dose–response association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humanistic psychology has pioneered in investigating travel as a contributor to personality growth. In this study, 182 native Chinese undergraduates responded to a survey inquiring if they had ever experienced "wonderful happiness" while engaged in tourism, and if so, to indicate the purpose of their travel, how recently and where their peak-experience occurred, whether they were alone or with others at the time, its intensity and subsequent impact on their view of life. Participants were also asked to describe the "trigger" of their peak-experience; these were coded into nine categories. A total of 86.8% (N=158) responded affirmatively, most of whom were touring within China. Peaks involving nature were reported significantly most frequently. A cluster involving interpersonal joy, serenity, and personal growth were reported second-most frequently, with relatively small frequencies relating to culture/aesthetics, culinary delight, and particularly materialism, skill mastery, and external achievement. More than 75% of participants rated their peak as "moderately" or "very" intense and 53.5% reported that it impacted their subsequent view of life. No significant gender differences emerged. The implications of these findings for understanding growth aspects of tourism among Chinese young adults are discussed, and future avenues of research are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]