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Tuberculosis (TB), a grave infectious disease affecting millions globally, is often diagnosed using chest X-rays. For accurate diagnosis, especially for detecting early stage, medical practitioners require the assistance of advanced technologies. In contrast to existing models, which focus largely on TB detection in the images, the proposed work aims to classify the images affecting TB such that an appropriate method can be chosen for accurate chest TB detection in chest X-ray images. Thus, we aim to combine the powerful features of the VGG16 architecture with a convolutional neural network (CNN) for classification purposes. Drawing inspiration from VGG16, known for its effective method of capturing essential image information, we aim to modify VGG16 for feature extraction to identify signs of tuberculosis (TB) in images. For the classification task, we employ a CNN to categorize images impacted by TB. Our proposed technique is evaluated on a standard dataset, demonstrating its superiority over current leading methods in accuracy, recall, and precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a longstanding and challenging task to develop sustainable environment-friendly and cost-effective corrosion-protection technologies for Mg alloys, especially under marine conditions in which corrosion can normally be significantly accelerated by bacterial activity. However, this paper reports on the corrosion of highly active Mg interestingly inhibited by an algal-symbiotic bacterium Bacillus altitudinis. The corrosion of Mg in the presence of the bacterium drastically reduced by one order of magnitude after 14 days of immersion. This means that the algal-symbiotic bacterium widely available in natural ocean environments may be employed as a green and sustainable inhibitor in the marine industry. Based on electrochemical measurements, surface analyses and microbe experiments, a combined inhibition mechanism is proposed in the paper to interpret the interesting corrosion behavior of Mg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haloxylon aphyllum Minkw., Halostachys belangeriana (Moq.) Botsch. and Halocnemum strobilaceum (Pall.) M.Bieb are widely distributed halophyte plants in the desert regions of Uzbekistan. Their resistance to salinity stress is directly related to the activity of endophytic bacteria found in them. The evaluation of the effect of temperature on their growth and the selection of the optimum temperature for growing endophytic bacteria of halophytes are of great scientific and practical importance. Therefore, in our research, we aimed to study the effect of temperature on the growth of endophytic bacteria of halophytic plants. This article presents the results of experiments aimed at evaluating the effect of temperature on the growth of endophytic bacteria in halophytic plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

[Display omitted] • Symbiont bacteria of Rasht and Karaj Tuta absoluta categorized in two phylum. • The bacterial communities of both populations showed differences. • The cultured bacteria had a distant evolutionary correlation with other Lepidoptera. The tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is a highly destructive insect pest in Solanaceae, particularly in tomato crops. In this study, bacteria symbionts of eggs, the whole body, and different tissues of the fourth instar larvae of two populations, Rasht and Karaj, were isolated and identified. Using the 16S rRNA procedure, all symbiont bacteria, whether cultured or non-cultured, were classified at the phylum level as Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. BLASTn analyses revealed an overlap of Wolbachia, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, and Acinetobacter genera in both populations. However, Bacillus subtilis , and Serratia marcescens were found only in Rasht, while Paenibacillus sp. and P. pasadenensis were identified solely in the Karaj population. Phylogenetic analysis of all bacterial sequences, except Wolbachia , revealed a distant evolutionary relationship between the leafminer's symbionts and those of other lepidopterans. Thus, we could demonstrate the microbiota diversity of this insect pest across different locations. Furthermore, this research will provide insights for discovering new biorational control methods for T. absoluta based on the parasitic or mutualist symbionts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquaculture is undoubtedly a flourishing industry that ensures food security for the increasing population. However, this industry is under severe threat from bacterial, viral, parasitic, and fungal infections besides environmental contamination. Hence, in the recent days, new technologies are surfacing to confront these challenges efficiently. Nanotechnology is one of the novel and pioneering skills with a wide continuum of applications ranging from aquatic pond sterilization, water treatment, nutrient delivery, diagnosis, drug delivery, aquatic disease control, etc. The present review is mainly focused on the application of nanomaterials in fish disease management to promote sustainable aquaculture. Specifically, the effects of gold, silver, copper oxide, zinc oxide, selenium, chitosan, platinum, etc., nanoparticles on pathogen identification and treatment of fish diseases are discussed in detail. In addition, the role of these nanoparticles in fish disease control is highlighted in this review. In contrast, this review also emphasizes the toxicity associated with nanoparticle-based fish disease management which will be helpful for fish culturists. • Fish is facing severe threat from different pathogens. • Nanoparticles are being used for diagnosis of diseases. • Various nanoparticles are in use for disease treatment. • Nanoparticles are being used to control the diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Ambiente e Água is the property of Revista Ambiente e Agua and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

All sea turtle species are listed on the Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature due to multiple threats. Among these, disease is a frequent cause of stranded sea turtles encountered in rehabilitation centers. Since 2013, we found joint swelling in 13 sea turtles belonging to all four sea turtle species submitted to the Kélonia Sea Turtle Observatory of Reunion Island, France. Affected sea turtles presented with lameness, anorexia, and lethargy. Polyarthritis was radiographically confirmed and lesions were characterized by progressive osteolysis of bones surrounding joints. Anterior flippers were affected in all cases and posterior flippers were also involved in some cases. We isolated several bacterial agents from blood and synovial fluid. We attempted a collective treatment with injectable florfenicol, based on sensitivity results, which was continued for 4 wk and then as needed based on radiographic evolution of the lesions. Radiographic stabilization of the lesions occurred in nine of 13 cases. We reviewed environmental conditions and optimized them to minimize stress that could predispose these rehabilitated sea turtles to opportunistic infections. Handling techniques used to move sea turtles were also improved. While we can make no conclusion regarding the cause of polyarthritis in this population of sea turtles, we successfully managed this poorly described problem in a rehabilitation setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current developments in the researches of the geochemical cycling in ocean are reviewed in this paper. The achievements in the studies of microbial loop are introduced. The relationship between phytoplankton and bacterium as well as their effects to the geochemical cycling in ocean are discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two kinds of biochars, one derived from corn straw (CBC) and one from pig manure (PBC), were used as the carriers of a bacterium (B38) to adsorb heavy metals in solution. CBC exhibited high affinity to Hg(II), while PBC showed large adsorption capacity of Pb(II). After loading with B38, the sorption capacity of the co-sorbents were enhanced for Pb(II), but weakened for Hg(II). In a binary system, the overall adsorption capacity to Hg-Pb (CBC+B38, 136.7 mg/g; PBC+B38, 181.3 mg/g) on co-sorbents was equal to the sum of the single-component values for Hg(II) and Pb(II). Electrostatic interactions and precipitation are the major mechanisms in the adsorption of Hg(II). In contrast, cation-π interactions and precipitation were involved in the sorption process of Pb(II). Moreover, the sorption sites of Hg(II) and Pb(II) partially overlapped on the biochar surface, but were different on co-sorbents. Hence, the co-sorbents have an advantage over the biochar alone in the removal of heavy metal mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Harbin Institute of Technology. Social Sciences Edition / Haerbin Gongye Daxue Xuebao. Shehui Kexue Ban is the property of Harbin Institute of Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As an innovative non-antibiotic approach, antimicrobial blue light in the spectrum of 400–470 nm has demonstrated its intrinsic antimicrobial properties resulting from the presence of endogenous photosensitizing chromophores in pathogenic microbes and, subsequently, its promise as a counteracter of antibiotic resistance. Since we published our last review of antimicrobial blue light in 2012, there have been a substantial number of new studies reported in this area. Here we provide an updated overview of the findings from the new studies over the past 5 years, including the efficacy of antimicrobial blue light inactivation of different microbes, its mechanism of action, synergism of antimicrobial blue light with other angents, its effect on host cells and tissues, the potential development of resistance to antimicrobial blue light by microbes, and a novel interstitial delivery approach of antimicrobial blue light. The potential new applications of antimicrobial blue light are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AgBr–Ag3PO4nanostructures, prepared by an ionic liquid-assisted precipitation method, were used as the effective visible-light driven photocatalytic system for the treatment of wastewaters. The prepared samples were characterised by X-ray diffraction powder (XRD), Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms (BET) methods. The photoactivity of the products was studied by degradation of rhodamine B dye andStaphylococcus aureus(S. aureus) Gram-positive bacteria. The photoreaction kinetics and mechanism over the nanostructures was investigated and according to the results, the kinetic of dye degradation was realised to be pseudo-first order. Moreover, we observed that the bacterial regrowth was at the lowest level after the photocatalytic treatment. The photogenerated electron–holes reacted with the species in the solution and produced the reactive radicals such as OH•, HO2•and O2•‾ which can attack the organic pollutants and pathogenic micro-organisms. The reuse ability tests indicated that the prepared nanostructures had considerable capacity for the photodegradation of the dye after five times of repeated using. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large diversity of marine microorganisms harboured by oceans plays an important role in planet sustainability by driving globally important biogeochemical cycles; all primary and most secondary production in the oceans is performed by microorganisms. The largest part of the planet is covered by cold environments; consequently, cold-adapted microorganisms have crucial functional roles in globally important environmental processes and biogeochemical cycles cold-adapted extremophiles are a remarkable model to shed light on the molecular basis of survival at low temperature. The indigenous populations of Antarctic and Arctic microorganisms are endowed with genetic and physiological traits that allow them to live and effectively compete at the temperatures prevailing in polar regions. Some genes, e.g. glycosyltransferases and glycosylsynthetases involved in the architecture of the cell wall, may have been acquired/retained during evolution of polar strains or lost in tropical strains. This present work focusses on temperature and its role in shaping microbial adaptations; however, in assessing the impacts of climate changes on microbial diversity and biogeochemical cycles in polar oceans, it should not be forgotten that physiological studies need to include the interaction of temperature with other abiotic and biotic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are two widely used polyfluorinated compounds (PFCs) and are persistent in the environment. This study for the first time systematically investigated their toxicities and the underlying mechanisms to Escherichia coli . Much higher toxicity was observed for PFOA than PFOS, with the 3 h half growth inhibition concentrations (IC 50 ) determined to be 10.6 ± 1.0 and 374 ± 3 mg L −1 , respectively, while the bacterial accumulation of PFOS was much greater than that of PFOA. The PFC exposures disrupted cell membranes as evidenced by the dose-dependent variations of cell structures (by transmission electron microscopy observations), surface properties (electronegativity, hydrophobicity, and membrane fluidity), and membrane compositions (by gas chromatogram and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses). The increases in the contents of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde and the activity of superoxide dismutase indicated the increment of oxidative stress induced by the PFCs in the bacterial cells. The fact that the cell growth inhibition was mitigated by the addition of ROS scavenger ( N -acetyl cysteine) further evidenced the important role of oxidative damage in the toxicities of PFOS and PFOA. Eighteen genes involved in cell division, membrane instability, oxidative stress, and DNA damage of the exposed cells were up or down expressed, indicating the DNA damage by the PFCs. The toxicities of PFOS and PFOA to E . coli were therefore ascribed to the membrane disruption, oxidative stress, and DNA damage induced cell inactivation and/or death. The difference in the bactericidal effect between PFOS and PFOA was supposed to be related to their different dominating toxicity mechanisms, i.e., membrane disruption and oxidative damage, respectively. The outcomes will shed new light on the assessment of ecological effects of PFCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bicyclic depsipeptide, chromopeptide A ( 1 ), was isolated from a deep-sea-derived bacterium Chromobacterium sp. HS-13-94. Its structure was determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis and by comparison with a related known compound. The absolute configuration of chromopeptide A was established by X-ray diffraction analysis employing graphite monochromated Mo K α radiation ( λ =0.71073 Å) with small Flack parameter 0.03. Chromopeptide A suppressed the proliferation of HL-60, K-562, and Ramos cells with average IC 50 values of 7.7, 7.0, and 16.5 nmol/L, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Among the five superfamilies of helicases involved in RNA and DNA metabolism, superfamily 2 and superfamily 5 include bacterial RNA-helicases. These enzymes have been shown to be involved in ribosome biogenesis and post-transcriptional gene regulation. Here, we focus on bacterial regulatory mechanisms that are mediated by RNA helicases belonging to superfamily 2, which includes DEAD-box and DEAH-box helicases. Some of these helicases are part of bacterial degradosomes and were shown to unwind RNA duplexes. We will review examples where these enzymes have been implicated in translatability and metabolic stability of bacterial transcripts. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: The Biology of RNA helicases — Modulation for life. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Antarctic marine environment is one of the most extreme on Earth due to its stably low temperature and high oxygen content. Here we discuss various aspects of the molecular adaptations evolved by Antarctic fish and marine microorganisms living in this environment. This review will in particular focus on: (i) the genetic/genomic bases of adaptation in Antarctic notothenioid fish; (ii) the role of neuroglobin recently identified in the brain of Antarctic icefish; (iii) the structural and functional features of globins of the Antarctic marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis TAC125. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Revista de la Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales is the property of Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicas y Naturales and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista de la Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales is the property of Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicas y Naturales and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: Marine organisms, living in the cold waters of the Southern Ocean, are exposed to high oxygen concentrations. Cold-adapted organisms have developed networks of defence mechanisms to protect themselves against oxidative stress. The dominant suborder Notothenioidei of the Southern Ocean is one of the most interesting models, within vertebrates, to study the evolutionary biological responses to extreme environment. Within bacteria, the psychrophilic Antarctic bacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis TAC125 gives the opportunity to explore the cellular strategies adopted in vivo by cold-adapted microorganisms to cope with cold and high oxygen concentration. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying how a range of Antarctic organisms have responded to climate change in the past will enable predictions as to how they and other species will adapt to global climate change, in terms of physiological function, distribution patterns and ecosystem balance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The role of bacterially derived compounds in Cd(II) complexation and uptake by bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti wild type (WT) and genetically modified ExoY-mutant, deficient in exopolysaccharide production, was explored combining chemical speciation measurements and assays with living bacteria. Obtained results demonstrated that WT- and ExoY-strains excreted siderophores in comparable amounts, while WT-strain produced much higher amount of exopolysaccharides and less exoproteins. An evaluation of Cd(II) distribution in bacterial suspensions under short term exposure conditions, showed that most of the Cd is bound to bacterial surface envelope, including Cd bound to the cell wall and to the attached extracellular polymeric substances. However, the amount of Cd bound to the dissolved extracellular compounds increases at high Cd(II) concentrations. The implications of these findings to more general understanding of the Cd(II) fate and cycling in the environment is discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Effects of some bacterium inoculation on yield and some yield components of cucumber were investigated. Sandes F1 cucumber cultivar was used as plant material and planted as 50X50X100 with completely randomized design on 14th April in 2010. In the trial, there were totally seven different applications, N-52/1, N-17/3, FE-43, F-21/3, 637 Ca, MfdCa1 bacterium and control. According to the results, yield per decade, fruit per plant, plant height, fruit weight, pH and fruit strength were found statistically important, but fruit length, fruit diameter, water soluble dry matter and internodes length were found unimportant. The yields were changed between 12545 kg da-1 and 9596 kg da-1 in the research and Fe-43 application was the best for the yield. Fruit per plant were changed between 33.75 numbers and 26.67 numbers and the Fe-43 was also the best. Plant lengths were between 266 cm and 202 cm and the control had the highest value. Average fruit weights were between 147 g and 135 g and the 637 Ca had the highest value. The pH changed between 5.85 and 5.53. Fruit strengths were changed between 69.05 and 61.75. Bacterium applications were exposed to different results in cucumber growing according to the results of the research. FE-43, N-17/3 bacterium applications had shown best positive effects on yield and yield components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This review highlights some aspects of the biochemistry of cold-adapted hemoproteins in fish and bacteria, without claiming to be exhaustive. Heme hexacoordination where the sixth ligand is provided by an internal amino-acid residue, in cold-adapted hemoproteins will be discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract Extracellular glucoamylase producing microorganisms were screened from soil. The potent organism was identified as Paenibacillus amylolyticus strain NEO03 based on microscopic examinations and 16S rDNA molecular sequencing. The production of glucoamylase from the isolated bacterium was optimized by one factor at a time approach and the significant factors were evaluated by response surface methodology. Under submerged fermentation conditions, maximum activity was observed after 48 h of incubation, pH 7.0, temperature 37 °C and inoculum level of 6% (v/v). The optimum nutrient sources were rice bran and yeast extract. Furthermore, the significant medium factors were statistically evaluated. The fast growing P. amylolyticus strain possessed good fermenting ability to utilize agro-wastes for enzyme production. The extracellular glucoamylase can be used as a beneficial candidate for industrial applications, especially for saccharification processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]