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Journal of Chemical Ecology Jun 2024Plant responses to damage by insectivorous herbivores are well-documented in mature leaves. The resulting herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) protect the plant by...
Plant responses to damage by insectivorous herbivores are well-documented in mature leaves. The resulting herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) protect the plant by attracting carnivorous arthropods and even some insectivorous vertebrates, to parasitize or consume the plant invaders. However, very little is known about plant production of HIPVs in developing buds, particularly when herbivorous insects are too small to be considered a prey item. It is additionally unclear whether plants respond differently to generalist and specialist chewing insects that overlap in distribution. Therefore, we compared HIPV production of Downy oak (Quercus pubescens Willd.) buds infested with freshly hatched caterpillars of Tortrix viridana (specialist) and Operophtera brumata (generalist), against uninfested buds. Of the compounds identified in both years of the experiment, we found that (Z)-hex-3-enyl acetate, (E)-β-ocimene, acetophenone, linalool, (E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene (DMNT), methyl salicylate, α-copaene, α-humulene, (E)-caryophyllene, and (E,E)-α-farnesene appeared to be higher in infested buds compared to controls. We found no difference in HIPV production between the specialist and the generalist herbivores. Production of HIPVs was also associated with leaf damage, with higher HIPV production in more severely attacked buds. Thus, our study shows that oak trees already start responding to insect herbivory before leaves are developed, by producing compounds similar to those found in damaged mature leaves. Future work should focus on how Downy oak may benefit from initiating alarm cues at a time when carnivorous arthropods and insectivorous vertebrates are unable to use herbivorous insects as host or food.
PubMed: 38949747
DOI: 10.1007/s10886-024-01520-y -
International Maritime Health 2024In confined waters, ships run a high risk of groundings, contact, sinkings and near misses. In such waters the maritime traffic is dense, the waterway is narrow, the...
BACKGROUND
In confined waters, ships run a high risk of groundings, contact, sinkings and near misses. In such waters the maritime traffic is dense, the waterway is narrow, the depth is limited, and tides and currents are constantly changing.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
From 2009-2019, 75 accidents were investigated in the estuary of the Seine. Weather conditions and perceived fatigue were studied. From May to June 2020, 114 seafarers, 34 pilots and 80 captains, responded to a questionnaire focusing on the use of Pilot Portable Units (PPU) and Electronic Chart Display Information Systems (ECDIS).
RESULTS
The 75 accidents corresponded to an average of 6.8 ± 3.2 accidents per year. Groundings were the most frequent accidents (35%, n = 26) followed by contact accidents with the quayside (25%, n = 19), between ships or tugs while manoeuvring (8%, n = 6) or while sailing (1%, n = 1). There was no loss of vessels nor fatalities of crew members. In poor weather conditions, there were 76% more accidents than in normal conditions (4.4 ± 2.5 accidents/10,000 movements versus 2.5 ± 1.9 accidents/10,000 movements, p < 0.03). Almost all the accidents (96%) were related to human errors of judgment (81%), or negligence (53%), or both (39). Perceived fatigue was probably in cause in 6 accidents. Only 3 accidents were related to mechanical causes. Through the questionnaires, 69% of the pilots complained of difficulties in mastering the devices and software. They felt distracted by alarms which affected their attention while navigating. They requested training on a simulator. Concerning ship captains, 83% felt comfortable with ECDIS devices yet only 20% were able to configure the ECDIS correctly.
CONCLUSIONS
In the Seine estuary, 75 accidents occurred within the 11 year-study. Risk factors were poor weather conditions and human error. PPU and ECDIS were considered as useful tools in the prevention of accidents. However, pilots and captains requested more thorough training in their use.
Topics: Humans; Ships; Accidents, Occupational; France; Adult; Surveys and Questionnaires; Weather; Male; Estuaries; Pilots; Naval Medicine; Fatigue; Female; Middle Aged
PubMed: 38949220
DOI: 10.5603/imh.99407 -
International Maritime Health 2024In a working environment that is predominantly male, very tough physically, with a difficult working environment, occupational exposures and working, verbal and physical... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
In a working environment that is predominantly male, very tough physically, with a difficult working environment, occupational exposures and working, verbal and physical aggression can be more frequent than in other sectors. Fishing, merchant shipping and yachting are all sectors where fitness to sail is reassessed every year by doctors in the Seafarers' Health Service. Seafarers are increasingly reporting insulting, violent or sexist behaviour. The main types of abuse seen on board can be verbal and/or physical aggression, humiliation, whether in private or in front of others. Sexual harassment of women is a very worrying subject.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
It was a retrospective observational study which is part of the professional monitoring of seafarers. The target population was adult seafarers coming for a fitness to sail visit. The group was recruited from seafarers aged over 18 who were being monitored by one of the seafarers' health services (or local centres). The inclusion period was 4 months between January and April 2023. All the information was collected using a self-questionnaire developed from the questionnaires of the Surveillance Médicale des Expositions des Salariés au Risques Professionnels (SUMER) for health status, job satisfaction and the European mini-module, verbal and physical aggression and psychological violence at work (based on the Leymann questionnaire), sexual violence and aggression based on the sexual harassment questionnaire and the PCLS-5 scale validated and translated into French to assess post-traumatic stress. The population studied was therefore 788 sailors.
RESULTS
The study population was predominantly male (82.3%). The average age was 41.4 years (standard deviation = 11.7). 46.7% of seafarers estimate being in very good health. During the past 12 months, overall, 24.5% of seafarers disclaimed having been victim in work-related context of a verbal aggression, with a significant difference according to the gender (21.1% for men and 41.0% for women). During the last 12 months, overall, 3.2% of seafarers have been victim in work-related context of a physical aggression (2.6% for men and 5.8% for women, NS), whereas 10.9% of seafarers reported hostile behaviour at present. Twenty per cent of seafarers reported sexual harassment in the last 12 months. During the entire working life of seafarers, 65.5% of women and 38.2% of men reported sexual harassment, and 38.8% of seafarers stated that they had experienced at least one traumatic event in the last 12 months.
DISCUSSION
A quarter of seafarers say they have been the victim of verbal or physical aggression at work in the last twelve months. These figures are high, and higher than those of the global survey on violence and harassment at work carried out by the International Labour Organization. One of the most alarming results of our study is the overexposure of women working in the maritime industry to the risk of physical, verbal or sexual assault of any kind. Indeed, in all the questions concerning the experience of verbal and physical aggression, the number of women victims is twice as high as that of their male colleagues, and this difference is statistically significant. As far as prevention is concerned, it seems that an effort is needed in terms of information, since only one seafarer in two knows the procedure to follow in the event of aggression within their shipyard. Communication between shipowners and seafarers needs to be stepped up to ensure that everyone is familiar with the procedures.
Topics: Humans; Adult; Sexual Harassment; Female; Male; France; Aggression; Retrospective Studies; Middle Aged; Naval Medicine; Surveys and Questionnaires; Workplace Violence; Ships
PubMed: 38949216
DOI: 10.5603/imh.99382 -
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary... May 2024Telephobia is a kind of anxiety disorder in which the individual is afraid of either answering or making telephone calls. This study was conducted to determine the...
BACKGROUND
Telephobia is a kind of anxiety disorder in which the individual is afraid of either answering or making telephone calls. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of telephobia among medical students and to determine the association of socio-demographic and other factors with this disorder.
METHODS
A total of 320 undergraduate medical students were enrolled at a tertiary medical college in Western India, of which 300 (93.75%) responded to the survey. A stratified sampling strategy with the proportional allocation method was used in which 40 males and 20 females were selected from each year of students, spanning 5 years. A specially designed semi-structured questionnaire was used for the study, consisting of demographic data, purpose of using the internet, gadget used, and a 10-item telephobia questionnaire modified from the Severity Measure for Agoraphobia-Adult (SMA-A) Questionnaire to measure student's avoidance of telephone calling and receiving.
RESULTS
The mean age of the study participants was 21.91 (±1.84) years, and most of the students were urban residents (184, 61.3%). The prevalence of mild, moderate, and severe telephobia was 33.0%, 7.67%, and 1.33%, respectively, giving an overall prevalence of 42%. Univariate analysis revealed that male gender (χ = 9.822, df = 3, = 0.0201), higher duration of internet usage (χ = 41.15, df = 9, value < 0.000), and viewing porn (χ = 15.94, df = 3, = 0.0011) had significant association with higher severity of telephobia. Viewing of porn sites was reported by 65 (21.7%) medical students, exclusively among males.
CONCLUSION
A prevalence of 9% moderate to severe telephobia among medical students is much alarming, which may aggravate further as the students move from academic to clinical settings. The phenomenon of telephobia needs further exploration, to find its determinants and predictors, especially among vulnerable populations.
PubMed: 38948634
DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1673_23 -
Bio-protocol Jun 2024Human babesiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by pathogens. The disease, which presents with malaria-like symptoms, can be life-threatening, especially in individuals...
Human babesiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by pathogens. The disease, which presents with malaria-like symptoms, can be life-threatening, especially in individuals with weakened immune systems and the elderly. The worldwide prevalence of human babesiosis has been gradually rising, prompting alarm among public health experts. In other pathogens, genetic techniques have proven to be valuable tools for conducting functional studies to understand the importance of specific genes in development and pathogenesis as well as to validate novel cellular targets for drug discovery. Genetic manipulation methods have been established for several non-human and species and, more recently, have begun to be developed for human Babesia parasites. We have previously reported the development of a method for genetic manipulation of the human pathogen . This method is based on positive selection using the hDHFR gene as a selectable marker, whose expression is regulated by the ef-1aB promoter, along with homology regions that facilitate integration into the gene of interest through homologous recombination. Herein, we provide a detailed description of the steps needed to implement this strategy in to study gene function. It is anticipated that the implementation of this method will significantly improve our understanding of babesiosis and facilitate the development of novel and more effective therapeutic strategies for the treatment of human babesiosis. Key features This protocol provides an effective means of transfection of , enabling genetic manipulation and editing to gain further insights into its biology and pathogenesis. The protocol outlined here for the electroporation of represents an advancement over previous methods used for [1]. Improvements include higher volume of culture used during the electroporation step and an enhancement in the number of electroporation pulses. These modifications likely enhance the efficiency of gene editing in , allowing for quicker and more effective selection of transgenic parasites.
PubMed: 38948263
DOI: 10.21769/BioProtoc.5016 -
World Journal of Clinical Pediatrics Jun 2024High-saturated fat (HF) or high-fructose (HFr) consumption in children predispose them to metabolic syndrome (MetS). In rodent models of MetS, diets containing... (Review)
Review
High-saturated fat (HF) or high-fructose (HFr) consumption in children predispose them to metabolic syndrome (MetS). In rodent models of MetS, diets containing individually HF or HFr lead to a variable degree of MetS. Nevertheless, simultaneous intake of HF plus HFr have synergistic effects, worsening MetS outcomes. In children, the effects of HF or HFr intake usually have been addressed individually. Therefore, we have reviewed the outcomes of HF or HFr diets in children, and we compare them with the effects reported in rodents. In humans, HFr intake causes increased lipogenesis, hypertriglyceridemia, obesity and insulin resistance. On the other hand, HF diets promote low grade-inflammation, obesity, insulin resistance. Despite the deleterious effects of simultaneous HF plus HFr intake on MetS development in rodents, there is little information about the combined effects of HF plus HFr intake in children. The aim of this review is to warn about this issue, as individually addressing the effects produced by HF or HFr may underestimate the severity of the outcomes of Western diet intake in the pediatric population. We consider that this is an alarming issue that needs to be assessed, as the simultaneous intake of HF plus HFr is common on fast food menus.
PubMed: 38947987
DOI: 10.5409/wjcp.v13.i2.91478 -
Global Medical Genetics Sep 2024Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) have the potential to cause severe illness in wild birds, domestic poultry, and humans. The ongoing circulation of highly pathogenic avian... (Review)
Review
Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) have the potential to cause severe illness in wild birds, domestic poultry, and humans. The ongoing circulation of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) has presented significant challenges to global poultry industry and public health in recent years. This study aimed to elucidate the circulation of HPAIVs during 2019 to 2023. Specifically, we assess the alarming global spread and continuous evolution of HPAIVs. Moreover, we discuss their transmission and prevention strategies to provide valuable references for future prevention and control measures against AIVs.
PubMed: 38947761
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1788039 -
Respirology Case Reports Jul 2024Mediastinal mass-like manifestations often cause alarm and instigate a myriad of investigative testing to rule out insidious malignant processes. However, a unique and...
Mediastinal mass-like manifestations often cause alarm and instigate a myriad of investigative testing to rule out insidious malignant processes. However, a unique and benign finding, the schwannoma can present either incidentally or while in pursuit of a symptomatic presentation. Given its rarity, limited literature exists on these neurogenic tumours with less than three dozen reported cases. No specific guidelines exist regarding the extent of required advanced imaging or degree of invasive evaluation. Therefore, practitioners confronted with these intrathoracic tumours may find management challenging or delayed. We present a case discussing a large benign tumour causing symptomatic burden, the investigative methods implored and treatment modality. We add to the literature another unique presentation of an intercostal nerve sheath tumour with schwannoma pathology.
PubMed: 38947419
DOI: 10.1002/rcr2.1422 -
Journal of Surgery and Research 2024Damage to the peripheral and central nervous systems is frequently irreversible. Surgically induced neurological damage and anesthesia may result in catastrophic...
Damage to the peripheral and central nervous systems is frequently irreversible. Surgically induced neurological damage and anesthesia may result in catastrophic situations for patients and their families. The incidence of significant neurological complications during the perioperative period is examined in this article. In contrast to other organs like the kidney, heart, liver, lungs, and skeletal system, native neurological function cannot be replaced with artificial parts or devices soon. Ignoring brain function during the perioperative period has been a systemic problem in anesthesiology, even though the central and peripheral nervous systems are crucial. This bold claim is intended to draw attention to the fact that, unlike the circulatory and respiratory systems, which have been routinely monitored for decades, the brain and other neural structures do not have a standard monitoring during surgery and anesthesia. Given that the brain and spinal cord are the principal therapeutic targets of analgesics and anesthetics, this deficiency in clinical care is even more alarming. Organs that are notoriously hard to repair or replace after damage have, up until now, received comparatively little attention. In this article, a succinct overview of five neurological complications associated with surgery and anesthesia is presented. After critically reviewing the literature on the subject, the article is focused to common (delirium), controversial (postoperative cognitive decline), and potentially catastrophic (stroke, spinal cord ischemia, or postoperative visual loss) adverse events in the neurological surgery setting. The findings will increase awareness of major neurological complications to the involved surgical and anesthesia team and enhance preventive and treatment strategies during the perioperative period.
PubMed: 38947250
DOI: No ID Found -
Veterinary and Animal Science Sep 2024The emergence of serovars that produce extended-spectrum beta-lactamase and exhibit multi-drug resistance (MDR) poses a substantial global threat, contributing to...
The emergence of serovars that produce extended-spectrum beta-lactamase and exhibit multi-drug resistance (MDR) poses a substantial global threat, contributing to widespread foodborne illnesses and presenting an alarming issue for public health. This study specifically concentrated on the isolation and identification of ESBL-resistant genes ( ) and the antibiogram profiling of serovars found in goat meat samples procured from retail outlets in Bangladesh. During the research in the Sylhet district of Bangladesh, researchers gathered a total of 210 samples of goat meat from 13 different Upazilas. Primarily, cultural and biochemical methods were used for isolation of bacteria from the selected samples. serovars Typhimurium and Enteritidis, along with three ESBL-resistant genes, were identified through polymerase chain reactions (PCRs). The disk diffusion test was used to determine antimicrobial susceptibilities. Out of 210 samples analysed, spp was detected in 18.10 % (38 out of 210), with Enteritidis and Typhimurium found in 9.05 % (19 out of 210) and 5.24 % (11 out of 210) of the samples, respectively. A total of 72.73 % (8/11) of Enteritidis and 100 % (19/19) of Typhimurium isolates were positive by Multidrug-resistant patterns. The positive outcomes were found of Typhimurium tested 63.16 % (12 out of 19) for the gene and 21.05 % (4/19) for the gene. The study proposes that the retail goat meat market channel could be a prominent transmission way of ESBL-producing MDR serovars, representing a significant public health hazard.
PubMed: 38947184
DOI: 10.1016/j.vas.2024.100367