Effect of Honey and Syrup Diets Enriched with 1,3-1,6 β-Glucans on Honeybee Survival Rate and Phenoloxidase Activity (Apis mellifera L. 1758)

β-glucans can activate the animal innate immune system by acting as immune-modulators and inducing various stimulatory effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 1,3-1,6 β-glucans administered orally for 96 h on Apis mellifera workers (newly emerged and nurse bees). β-glucans were included in honey and syrup. Survival rate and phenoloxidase activity were measured. In both newly emerged and nurse bees, β-glucans supplementation did not affect survival rate (p > 0.05). Conversely, phenoloxidase activity was higher in both newly emerged bees (p = 0.048) and nurse bees (p = 0.014) fed with a honey diet enriched with β-glucans compared to those fed with only honey. In both the newly emerged and nurse bees, no statistical differences in phenoloxidase activity were recorded between the group fed with a syrup-based diet enriched with β-glucans and the control group (p > 0.05). The absence of significant variation in survival suggests that the potential negative effect of β-glucans in healthy bees could be mitigated by their metabolism. Conversely, the inclusion of β-glucans in a honey-based diet determined an increase of phenoloxidase activity, suggesting that the effect of β-glucan inclusion in the diet of healthy bees on phenoloxidase activity could be linked to the type of base-diet. Further investigations on β-glucans metabolism in bees, on molecular mechanism of phenoloxidase activation by 1,3-1,6 β-glucans, and relative thresholds are desirable. Moreover, investigation on the combined action of honey and β-glucans on phenoloxidase activity are needed.

Influence of Mechanical Damage under Repeated Loading on the Resistance of Geogrids against Abrasion

Geogrids are building materials widely used for soil reinforcement that can be affected by the action of many degradation agents throughout their service life. The potential negative effect of the degradation agents should be properly estimated and accounted for during the design phase. The main aim of this work was to study the influence of mechanical damage under repeated loading on the resistance of geogrids against abrasion. Three geogrids (one extruded and two woven) were exposed in isolation to mechanical damage under repeated loading and abrasion tests, followed by the successive exposure to both degradation tests. The damage suffered by the geogrids was evaluated by visual inspection and by tensile tests. Based on the changes found in tensile strength, reduction factors were determined. The reduction factors obtained directly from the successive exposure were compared to those resulting from a method in which the reduction factors obtained for the isolated effect of each degradation agent were multiplied. Results indicated that the abrasion process tended to be affected by a previous exposure to mechanical damage under repeated loading and that the multiplication of the reduction factors obtained for the isolated effects of the degradation agents may not correctly represent their combined effect.

The relationship between social media use, anxiety and burden caused by coronavirus (COVID-19) in Spain

The outbreak of COVID-19 and national restrictions to slow down its spread have significantly changed people’s everyday lives. Many people engage in intensive social media use (SMU) to stay up-to-date about the pandemic. The present study investigated the extent of SMU as source of COVID-19 information, and its relationship with anxiety and the experienced burden caused by the pandemic in Spain. Of the 221 participants, 52.5% reported to frequently use SM as information source. The use of other information sources such as print and online newspaper reports, television reports, and official governmental online sites was not associated with anxiety and burden caused by the current COVID-19 situation. However, SMU was significantly positively linked to both variables. Moreover, anxiety significantly mediated the relationship between SMU and the experienced burden. The findings show the potential negative effect of SMU on individual emotional state and behavior during the pandemic. They emphasize the significance of an accurate and conscious use of SM specifically during extraordinary circumstances such as the COVID-19 outbreak.

Effect of moderate physical exercise on the immune system modulation in patients with breast cancer during preoperative chemotherapy: The NEO-RUNNER study.

581 Background: The link between physical activity (PA) and the immune system (IS) is known. However, it is not yet fully understood the immune mechanisms activated by PA. We investigated the immune effect of moderate PA (MPA), nordic or fit walking, during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in patients (pts) with breast cancer. Methods: Pts received sequential epirubicin and cyclophosphamide for 4 cycles followed by paclitaxel for 12 weeks. Blood samples from pts underwent MPA (TR) were collected before starting chemotherapy (CT) at baseline (T0), at day 1 of week 6 of paclitaxel (before starting MPA) (T1), before surgery (S) (T2) and after S (T3). Samples were also collected in a group of pts who declined MPA (UN) at the same time points and in 15 healthy volunteers (HV). MPA consisted of 3 workouts per week, 1 hour each, in the 9 weeks before S. At each time point the level of 17 cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-15, CCL-2, CCL-4, CXCL-10, CCL-22, IFN-γ, TGF-β, TNF-α, VEGF) was measured. The difference among the median value of cytokines was analyzed using non parametric Mann Whitney U test. Principal component analysis (PCA) was computed to compare the best discriminating cytokine, identified by ROC analysis, of pts at T1, T2, T3 and in HV. Each patient was distributed in the PCA. Pts having similar cytokine values were plotted in the near position. Normalized values of 8 cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, IL-15, CCL-2, VEGF) were used in PCA. Results: Data from 27 pts are available: 10 TR and 17 UN. A significant increase of IFN-γ, IL-5, IL-8, CCL-2 and CXCL-10 between T0 and T1 (P = 0.004, P = 0.013, P = 0.032, P = 0.046, P = 0.046, respectively) was found in the whole population. CXCL-10 significantly increased also between T1 and T2 in UN pts (P = 0.033). TR pts showed a significant lower level of IL-6, IL-13, CCL-2 at T2 (P = 0.012, P = 0.038, P = 0.023) and higher IL-15 level at T3 (P = 0.047) compared to UN pts. Moreover, a significant decrease of IL-5 was observed between T2 and T3 (P = 0.031). PCA showed that TR and UN pts were mixed at T1. HV were clustered all together and distinct from pts. At T2 TR pts moved toward HV and mixed with them while UN remained separated. TR pts tended to separate from HV at T3, while UN pts still remained distinct. Conclusions: NACT upregulated median values of IFN-γ, IL-5, IL-8, CCL-2 and CXCL-10; CXCL-10 value continues to increase during CT only in UN pts supporting the inflammatory effect of CT. On the contrary, during MPA the level of IL-6, IL-13, CCL-2 decreases in TR compared to UN pts. All together these data suggest that MPA damps the inflammatory response to NACT. Our results show that the majority of TR pts reach an immune profile similar to that of HV in PCA. However, at T3 the effect of MPA is dampened, suggesting a potential negative effect of S.

Effect of high temperatures on the efficiency of sub-critical CO2 cycle

Thermodynamic efficiency is a crucial factor of a power cycle. Most of the studies indicated that efficiency increases with increasing heat source temperature, regardless of heat source type. Although this assumption generally is right, when the heat source temperature is close to the critical temperature, increasing the heat source temperature can decrease efficiency. Therefore, in some cases, the increase in the source temperature, like using improved or more collectors for a solar heat source can have a double negative effect by decreasing efficiency while increasing the installation costs. In this paper, a comparison of the CO2 subcritical cycle and the Trilateral Flash Cycle will be presented to show the potential negative effect of heat source temperature increase.

Determination of Heavy Metals in Selected Tissues of Cattle Slaughtered across Nasarawa State, Nigeria

This study was conducted to determine the concentrations of some toxic heavy metals in cattle slaughtered from the three agricultural zones of Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Selected tissues of muscle, intestine, skin, kidney and liver were analyzed for the presence of Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Lead (Pb), Copper (Cu) and Nickel (Ni) using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Thirty cattle were used for sampling. Five samples of the tissues were collected from each of the cattle, making a total of one hundred and fifty samples. Values obtained were compared with that of FAO/WHO guidelines. Statistical analysis was done using descriptive statistics, t-test and ANOVA. The mean concentrations (mg/kg) of Ni, Cd, Pb and Cu in all the sampled tissues were generally low and below the codex standards. Cr was detected above permissible limit with mean concentrations (mg/kg) of 1.19±5.94, 1.07±4.42, 3.01±6.65, 1.18±5.56 and 1.35±6.94 in intestine, kidney, liver, muscle and skin respectively. There was a significant (P < 0.05) difference in the level of Ni and Cd across two agricultural zones. Government and private sectors should establish cattle ranch and colonies across Nigeria so as to reduce pasture contamination. Public enlightenment on the grazing of cattle in heavy metals prone areas such as automobile workshops, construction sites and paint factory premises should be advocated. Measures should be put in place for continuous monitoring of heavy metals in Nasarawa state in order to curtail their potential negative effect in human and animal tissues. Key words: cattle, heavy metals, AAS, Nasarawa state.

Association Between Obesity Grade and the Age of the First Acute Coronary Syndrome: Cross-sectional Observational Study

Background: The study evaluates how obesity grade is associated with age during the first acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and examines the effect of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and the age of first ACS in patients with severe obesity. The effect of the degree of obesity on the age of first ACS may disappear in the absence of other CV risk factors Methods: We enrolled consecutive patients diagnosed with first episode of ACS between 2014 and 2019, and categorized them by body mass indices (BMI). Independent variables affecting the age of first ACS were examined by linear regression analysis. Results: A total of 1005 patients (mean age, 57.5 ± 12.3 years; 19.3% female) were included. Patients with ACS with severe obesity were younger than those with ACS in the grade-I obesity, overweight, and normal-weight groups (52.8 ± 9.9 vs.55.3 ± 10.9, 56.8 ± 11.4, and 61.4 ± 4.2, respectively, p < 0.001). BMI had a strong, inverse linear relationship with earlier age of first ACS. After adjustment CV risk factors, patients with severe obesity may experience first ACS sooner than those with normal-weight, overweight, and grade-I obesity (–3.4, −5.6, and –7.1 years, respectively; p < 0.001). However, males and females with severe obesity without CV risk factors experienced first ACS episode 22 and 27 years later, respectively. Conclusion: Patients with severe obesity experience first ACS episode 7.1 years earlier than those with normal-weight. Absence of CV risk factors in people with obesity can improve the potential negative effect of obesity on the ACS age. Trial registration: NCT04578964, 08 October 2020

Medicago-Sinorhizobium-Ralstonia a model system to investigate pathogen triggered inhibition of nodulation

How plants deal with beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms and how they can tolerate beneficial ones and face to pathogens in the same time are questions that remain puzzling to plant biologists. Legume plants are good models to explore those issues as their interactions with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, rhizobia, results in a drastic and easy to follow phenotype of nodulation. Intriguingly, despite massive and chronic infection, legumes defense reactions are essentially suppressed during the whole symbiotic process rising the question about a potential negative effect of plant immune responses on the establishment of nodulation. In the present study, we used the model legume, Medicago truncatula, co-inoculated with a mutualistic and with a phytopathogenic bacteria, Sinorhizobium medicae and Ralstonia solanacerarum. We show that the presence of R. solanacearum drastically inhibits the nodulation process. The type three secretion system (TTSE) of R. solanacearum, that is important for the inhibition of PAMP (Pathogen Associated Molecular Patterns) triggered immunity (PTI), strongly contributes to inhibit nodulation. Thus, our results question the negative effect of PTI on nodulation. By including a pathogenic bacterium in the interaction system, our study provides a new angle to address the influence of the biotic environment on the nodulation process.

Digital Pollution and Its Impact on the Family and Social Interactions

The present study was an attempt to identify the most prevailing means of digital devices and its impact as digital pollution on family and social interactions. Despite the obvious benefits of digital devices, in recent years researchers have taken more concern about its potential negative effect on human attitude and behavior, which in turn affects our society. A total of 613 usable responses were collected from Bangalore, India of excessive users of digital devices, such as a smartphone, computer/laptop, and television. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 23.0, AMOS 23.0, and SmartPLS 3.0. The results indicated that as the use of smartphone and computer/laptop increases, levels of digital pollution also increase, which in turn significantly triggers unfavorable impact on family and social interactions. The study indicated that digital pollution appears as an important predictor, which significantly affects social interaction unfavorably. The present study explored the various critical dimensions within this domain and delineated gaps in our knowledge of digital pollution. It was found that smartphones are more responsible for digital pollution among all the identified digital devices, followed by computer/laptop.