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The aim of this work was to investigate the potential of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to detect and predict the bacterial load of salmon fillets ( Salmo salar ) stored at 3, 8 and 30 °C under three packaging conditions: air packaging (AP) and two modified atmospheres constituted by a mixture of 50%N 2 /40%CO 2 /10%O 2 with lemon juice (MAPL) and without lemon juice (MAP). Fresh salmon samples were periodically examined for total viable counts (TVC), specific spoilage organisms (SSO) counts, pH, FTIR and sensory assessment of freshness. Principal components analysis (PCA) allowed identification of the wavenumbers potentially correlated with the spoilage process. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) of infrared spectral data was performed to support sensory data and to accurately identify samples freshness. The effect of the packaging atmospheres was assessed by microbial enumeration and LDA was used to determine sample packaging from the measured infrared spectra. It was verified that modified atmospheres can decrease significantly the bacterial load of fresh salmon. Lemon juice combined with MAP showed a more pronounced delay in the growth of Brochothrix thermosphacta , Photobacterium phosphoreum , psychrotrophs and H 2 S producers. Partial least squares regression (PLS-R) allowed estimates of TVC and psychrotrophs, lactic acid bacteria, molds and yeasts, Brochothrix thermosphacta , Enterobacteriaceae , Pseudomonas spp. and H 2 S producer counts from the infrared spectral data. For TVC, the root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) value was 0.78 log cfu g − 1 for an external set of samples. According to the results, FTIR can be used as a reliable, accurate and fast method for real time freshness evaluation of salmon fillets stored under different temperatures and packaging atmospheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although savanna woody encroachment has become a global phenomenon, relatively little is known about its effects on multiple dimensions and levels of savanna biodiversity.Using a combination of field surveys, a species‐level phylogeny, and functional metrics drawn from a morphological dataset, we evaluated how the progressive increase in tree cover in a fire‐suppressed savanna landscape affects the taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity of neotropical ant communities, at both the alpha and beta levels. Ants were sampled along an extensive tree cover gradient, ranging from open savannas to forests established in former savanna areas.Variation in tree cover had a significant influence on all facets of diversity at the beta level, whereas at the alpha level tree cover variation affected the taxonomic and functional but not the phylogenetic diversity of the ant communities.In general, ant community responses to variation in tree cover were largely non‐linear as differences in taxonomic alpha diversity and in the taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic composition of the sampled communities were often much stronger at the savanna/forest transition than at any other part of the gradient. This indicates that savanna ant communities switch rapidly to an alternative state once the savanna turns into forest.Ant communities in the newly formed forest areas lacked many of the species typical of the savanna habitats, suggesting that the maintenance of a fire suppression policy is likely to result in a decrease in ant diversity and in the homogenisation of the ant fauna at the landscape scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the applicability of the Scottish Screen-detected Polyp Cancer Study (SSPoCS) algorithm in managing malignant colorectal polyps. The algorithm is based on two easily obtainable variables: resection margin and lymphovascular invasion. The study included 211 patients from five centers in Portugal, and the main outcome measured was residual/recurrent malignancy. The results showed that the SSPoCS algorithm had good accuracy in predicting residual/recurrent malignancy, with a negative predictive value of 95% in low-risk lesions. The study also found that deep submucosal invasion was relevant in the decision-making process. [Extracted from the article]

Abstract: Inspiratory muscles training in COPD is controversial not only in relation to the load level required to produce muscular conditioning effects but also in relation to the group of patients benefiting from the training. Consequently, inspiratory muscular response assessment during Threshold® therapy may help optimizing training strategy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the participation of the diaphragm and the sternocleidomastoid (SMM) muscle to overcome with a 30% Threshold® load using surface electromyography (sEMG) and to analyze the correlation between SMM activation, maximum strength level of inspiratory muscles (MIP) and obstruction degree in COPD patients (FEV1). We studied seven healthy elderly subjects, mean age of 68±4 years and seven COPD patients, FEV1 45±17% of the predicted value, with mean age 66±8 years. sEMG analysis of SMM muscles and diaphragm were obtained through RMS (root-mean-square) during three stages: pre-loading, loading and post-loading. Results: In the COPD group, the RMS of the SMM increased 28% during load (p <0.05) while the RMS of the diaphragm remained constant. In the elderly there was a trend of a 11% increase in diaphragm activity and of 7% in SMM activity but, without reaching significance levels. SMM activity demonstrated good correlation with the obstruction level (r =−0.537). Conclusion: To overcome the load required by Threshold® therapy, COPD patients demonstrated an increase of accessory muscles activity, represented by SMM. For the same relative load this increase seems to be proportional to the degree of pulmonary obstruction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article, published in the journal Endoscopy, explores the optimal timing for secondary prophylaxis in variceal hemorrhage, a potentially fatal complication of cirrhosis. The study conducted a retrospective analysis of a cirrhotic population that initiated secondary prophylaxis after an episode of variceal bleeding. The results showed that initiating dual prophylaxis after 120 days from the index event was associated with higher mortality, particularly in the first 12 months of follow-up. However, it is important to note that this study is retrospective in nature. [Extracted from the article]

Although the production of extranuptial nectar is a common strategy of indirect defence against herbivores among tropical plants, the presence of extranuptial nectaries in reproductive structures is rare, especially in ant-plants. This is because the presence of ants in reproductive organs can generate conflicts between the partners, as ants can inhibit the activity of pollinators or even castrate their host plants. Here we evaluate the hypothesis that the ant-plant Miconia tococa produces nectar in its petals which attracts ants and affects fruit set. • Floral buds were analysed using anatomical and histochemical techniques. The frequency and behaviour of floral visitors were recorded in field observations. Finally, an ant exclusion experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of ant presence on fruit production. • The petals of M. tococa have a secretory epidermis that produces sugary compounds. Nectar production occurred during the floral bud stage and attracted 17 species of nonobligate ants (i.e. have a facultative association with ant-plants). Ants foraged only on floral buds, and thus did not affect the activity of pollinators in the neighbouring open flowers. The presence of ants in the inflorescences increased fruit production by 15%. • To our knowledge, the production of extranuptial nectar in the reproductive structures of a myrmecophyte is very rare, with few records in the literature. Although studies show conflicts between the partners in the ant-plant interaction, ants that forage on M. tococa floral buds protect the plant against floral herbivores without affecting bee pollination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An Yb3+ to Tm3+ energy-transfer quantum yield close to one has been found in phase-separated yttrium-alumina silicate optical fiber preform glasses. Optical absorption, luminescence, lifetime measurements, and rare-earth concentration dependence have been performed to investigate the feasibility of efficient blue upconversion fiber lasers through convenient Yb3+ sensitation. Luminescence decay measurements have demonstrated the co-existence of two phases. One of the phases is characterized by an yttrium-rich composition. Most of the RE ions partition into the yttrium-rich phase and produce the intense upconversion emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global extinction drivers, including habitat disturbance and climate change, are thought to affect larger species more than smaller species. However, it is unclear if such drivers interact to affect assemblage body size distributions. We asked how these two key global change drivers differentially affect the interspecific size distributions of ants, one of the most abundant and ubiquitous animal groups on earth. We also asked whether there is evidence of synergistic interactions and whether effects are related to species’ trophic roles. We generated a global dataset on ant body size from 333 local ant assemblages collected by the authors across a broad range of climates and in disturbed and undisturbed habitats. We used head length (range: 0.22–4.55 mm) as a surrogate of body size and classified species to trophic groups. We used generalized linear models to test whether body size distributions changed with climate and disturbance, independent of species richness. Our analysis yielded three key results: 1) climate and disturbance showed independent associations with body size; 2) assemblages included more small species in warmer climates and fewer large species in wet climates; and 3) both the largest and smallest species were absent from disturbed ecosystems, with predators most affected in both cases. Our results indicate that temperature, precipitation and disturbance have differing effects on the body size distributions of local communities, with no evidence of synergistic interactions. Further, both large and small predators may be vulnerable to global change, particularly through habitat disturbance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 28-year-old man with a two-week history of intense proctalgia who was diagnose with anal ulceration. It says that the patient who denied trauma, rectal bleeding, and purulent discharge was treated ceftriaxone, while waiting for his laboratory evaluation. It adds that the analysis for Haemophilus ducreyi using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was positive and the diagnosis of mixed chancre was made.

The article discusses the infolding of the Ultraflex self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) during its insertion in an esophageal cancer patient with dysphagia and mentions topics including stent insertion under sedation and the correct repositioning of the stent using biopsy rat-tooth forceps.

The article discusses the cases of two patients with rectal bleeding following transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy. Topics discussed include symptoms of the patients, the results of colonoscopy, and management of the rectal bleeding via argon plasma coagulation (APC) in one patient and elastic band litigation (EBL) in the other patient.