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AbstractRhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplusis tick parasite that affects the cattle industry worldwide. In R. (B.) microplus, acaricide resistance develops rapidly against many commercial acaricides. One of main resistance strategies is to enhance the metabolic detoxification mediated by R. (B.) microplusglutathione-S-transferase (RmGST). RmGST detoxifies acaricides by catalyzing the conjugation of glutathione to acaricides. Although structural and dynamic details of RmGST are expected to elucidate the biologic activity of this molecule, these data have not been available to date. Thus, Molecular Dynamics simulations were employed to study ligand-free RmGST at an atomic level. Like other m-class GSTs, the flexible m loop (m1) of RmGST was observed. M1 seems to shield the active sites from the bulk. A RmGST dimer is stabilized by the lock-and-key motif (F57 as “key”) and hydrogen bonds of R82-E91 and R82-D98 at the dimer interface. Without substrates, conserved catalytic Y116 and N209 can interact with V112, G210 (for Y116) and F215 (for N209). Overall, most residues involving in RmGST function and stability are similar to other m-class GSTs. This implies similar structural stability and catalytic activity of RmGST to other GSTs. An insight obtained here will be useful for management of acaricide resistance and tick control.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Wastes from oil palm plantations and mill processing are renewable resources for bio-energy and biochemicals development. The five most abundant oil palm wastes are empty fruit bunch (EFB), palm kernel shell (PKS), palm mesocarp fiber (PMF), palm frond (PF), and palm trunk (PT). These different types of biomass have different properties which can significantly influence the bio-oil products and pyrolysis performance. Bio-oil and biochar were produced by slow pyrolysis of these wastes in a fixed-bed reactor at 600 °C for 60 min. The biomass and pyrolysis products were comparatively characterized using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The highest yield (25.5 wt%) of bio-oil was obtained from PF, while the highest yield (29.7 wt%) of biochar was obtained from PMF. Fatty acids were the main compounds in bio-oil obtained from EFB and PMF, while those from PKS, PF, and PT contained more aromatics and their boiling point distributions were lower than EFB and PMF bio-oils. Biochar from all the materials decomposed in two stages and showed similar compositions. The variations in the yields and properties of products resulted from differences in the properties of feedstocks. The results could contribute useful data for selection and controlling the pyrolysis of oil palm wastes.

Fully printable perovskite solar cells (PPSCs) attract attention in the photovoltaic industry and research owing to their controllable and scalable production with reduced material waste during manufacturing. However, the commercialization of PPSCs has been impeded by their inherent vulnerability to ambient moisture, leading to a rapid loss of device efficiency and lifetime. Here, we propose a novel idea to enhance the photovoltaic performance and stability of PPSCs in humid air (relative humidity exceeding 80%) using electrospun hydrophobic polymer membranes, i.e., polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), and PLA/PCL blends, as moisture-resistant layers for PPSCs. After optimizing the morphologies, hydrophobicity, and thermal properties of the electrospun membranes by varying the contents of the polymer components in the membranes, the unencapsulated devices with these membranes demonstrated power conversion efficiencies of up to 8.2%, which was significantly higher than for devices without the membranes (6.8%). Moreover, devices with the optimum electrospun membrane retained more than 85% of their original efficiency after being stored in humid air for over 35 days. In comparison, devices without the electrospun membranes lost about 50% of their initial efficiency over the same time. Our work is very useful for the development of highly efficient and stable commercial PPSCs.

The emergence of the COVID-19 situation has become a global issue due to the lack of effective antiviral drugs for treatment. Flavonoids are a class of plant secondary metabolites that have antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 through inhibition of the main protease (3CLpro). In this study, 22 flavonoids obtained from natural sources and semisynthetic approaches were investigated for their inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro, along with cytotoxicity on Vero cells. The protein–ligand interactions were examined using molecular dynamics simulation. Moreover, QSAR analysis was conducted to clarify the structural effects on bioactivity. Accordingly, the in vitroinvestigation demonstrated that four flavonoids, namely, tectochrysin (7), 6″,6″-dimethylchromeno-[2″,3″:7,8]-flavone (9), panduratin A (19), and genistein (20), showed higher protease inhibitory activity compared to the standard flavonoid baicalein. Finally, our finding suggests that genistein (20), an isoflavone discovered in Millettia brandisiana, has potential for further development as a SARS-CoV-2 3CLproinhibitor.

Background: Peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) are now established curative treatment for patients with various hematologic malignancies and are proposed to be superior to other cell sources for cell based therapy. Aims: The aims are to characterize the PBSCs by constructing proteome using 2D-gel electrophoresis and analyze the kinetic parameters of pirarubicin transport of PBSCs compared with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and erythromyelogenous leukemic (K562 and K562/adr) cells. Methods: Whole cell proteomes of PBMCs, PBSCs and erythromyelogenous leukemic cells were separated by 2D-gel electrophoresis and analyzed by multivariate and principle component analysis. The parallel series of experiments were measured by pirarubicin transport parameters by the cells using spectrofluorometer. Results: The PBSCs were initially found in 1% in the fraction of PBMCs and majority of them were found in the culture after 14 days. Multivariate and principle component analysis revealed the proteins that might be considered as biomarkers of PBSCs (4 proteins), PBMCs (9 proteins), K562 (4 proteins) and K562/adr (9 proteins) cells. The analysis of transport of pirarubicin by these cell models indicated that PBSCs and PBMCs possessed exocytotic pathway by which the mean rate constant was equal to 0.056 + 0.001 and 0.56 + 0.01 pL.cell-1.sec-1, respectively. While the two cancer lines showed the lack of the exocytosis activity. Conclusion: The overall results suggested that both whole cell proteome and kinetic parameter of exocytosis should be considered as characteristics of PBSCs, PBMCs, K562 and K562/adr cells.

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in December 2019 has become a global issue due to the continuous upsurge in patients and the lack of drug efficacy for treatment. SARS-CoV-2 3CLProis one of the most intriguing biomolecular targets among scientists worldwide for developing antiviral drugs due to its relevance in viral replication and transcription. Herein, we utilized computer-assisted drug screening to investigate 326 natural products from Thai traditional plants using structure-based virtual screening against SARS-CoV-2 3CLPro. Following the virtual screening, the top 15 compounds based on binding energy and their interactions with key amino acid Cys145 were obtained. Subsequently, they were further evaluated for protein–ligand complex stability viamolecular dynamics simulation and binding free energy calculation using molecular mechanics Poisson–Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) approaches. Following drug-likeness and ADME/Tox assessments, seven bisbenzylisoquinolines were obtained, including neferine (3), liensinine (4), isoliensinine (5), dinklacorine (8), tiliacorinine (13), 2′-nortiliacorinine (14), and yanangcorinine (15). These compounds computationally showed a higher binding affinity than native N3 and GC-373 inhibitors and attained stable interactions on the active site of 3CLproduring 100 ns in molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Moreover, the in vitroenzymatic assay showed that most bisbenzylisoquinolines could experimentally inhibit SARS-CoV-2 3CLPro. To our delight, isoliensinine (5) isolated from Nelumbo nuciferademonstrated the highest inhibition of protease activity with the IC50value of 29.93 μM with low toxicity on Vero cells. Our findings suggested that bisbenzylisoquinoline scaffolds could be potentially used as an in vivomodel for the development of effective anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs.

This work evaluated the indoor navigation with the WLAN-fingerprinting technique and k-inverse harmonic mean clustering. During offline phase, the RSS of references node are grouped by KIHM clustering algorithm. In addition, the flag parameter that means the member of each cluster will be added to database. Then, the KIHM membership values will be used to find the cluster and using fingerprinting technique to estimate the target node positions. The best result derived from the KIHM clustering techniques with 3 clusters. The average distance error is approximate 3.73 meters with the 18.41% no error estimated position.

Nowadays, mobile robot tracking is the one of application in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). A one of promising localization algorithm in range-free algorithm is the weighted centroid localization (WCL) algorithm. This work proposed the improved WCL algorithm with quadratic means based on received signal strength (RSS). The ZigBee operated at 2.4 GHz frequency is used to measure in the indoor environment. The final results will be discuss about the comparison of the typically WCL algorithm and the improved WCL algorithm. From the results, the 1-meter-precision of improved WCL is 91.67% and WCL is 83.33%. Moreover, the improved WCL obtained the 16.67% no error of estimated position.

To determine the changes in prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension and their metabolic risk factors in Thai population between 2004 and 2009.

Can adding an inspiratory load enhance the antihypertensive effects of slow breathing training performed at home?

Workplace Violence Directed at Nursing Staff at a General Hospital in Southern Thailand: Chalermrat Kamchuchat, et al. Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand—This study aimed to document the characteristics of workplace violence directed at nursing staff, an issue which has rarely been studied in a developing country. Two study methods, a survey and a key informant interview, were conducted at a general hospital in southern Thailand. A total of 545 out of 594 questionnaires sent were returned for statistical analysis (response rate=91.7%). The 12‐month prevalence of violence experience was 38.9% for verbal abuse, 3.1% for physical abuse, and 0.7% for sexual harassment. Psychological consequences including poor relationships with colleagues and family members were the major concerns. Patients and their relatives were the main perpetrators in verbal and physical abuse while co‐workers were the main perpetrators in cases of sexual harassment. Common factors to incidents of violence were psychological setting, illness of the perpetrators, miscommunication, and alcohol use. Logistic regression analysis showed younger age to be a personal risk factor. Working in the out‐patient unit, trauma and emergency unit, operating room, or medical or surgical unit increased the odds of violence by 80%. Training related to violence prevention and control was found to be effective and decreased the risk of being a victim of violence by 40%. We recommend providing training to high risk groups as a means of controlling workplace violence directed at nursing staff.

Workplace Violence Directed at Nursing Staff at a General Hospital in Southern Thailand: Chalermrat Kamchuchat, et al. Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand—This study aimed to document the characteristics of workplace violence directed at nursing staff, an issue which has rarely been studied in a developing country. Two study methods, a survey and a key informant interview, were conducted at a general hospital in southern Thailand. A total of 545 out of 594 questionnaires sent were returned for statistical analysis (response rate=91.7%). The 12-month prevalence of violence experience was 38.9% for verbal abuse, 3.1% for physical abuse, and 0.7% for sexual harassment. Psychological consequences including poor relationships with colleagues and family members were the major concerns. Patients and their relatives were the main perpetrators in verbal and physical abuse while co-workers were the main perpetrators in cases of sexual harassment. Common factors to incidents of violence were psychological setting, illness of the perpetrators, miscommunication, and alcohol use. Logistic regression analysis showed younger age to be a personal risk factor. Working in the out-patient unit, trauma and emergency unit, operating room, or medical or surgical unit increased the odds of violence by 80%. Training related to violence prevention and control was found to be effective and decreased the risk of being a victim of violence by 40%. We recommend providing training to high risk groups as a means of controlling workplace violence directed at nursing staff.

As obesity continues to run rampant in our society, an understanding of its adverse effect after traumatic injury is starting to unfold. We hypothesize that obesity negatively impacts head-injured patients, and the current study intends to compare obese and lean patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

HYPOTHESIS Computed tomography (CT) can be used to evaluate patients with anterior abdominal stab wounds (AASWs). DESIGN Prospective observational study. SETTING Academic level I trauma center. PATIENTS AND METHODS All of the patients sustaining AASWs, excluding those with hemodynamic instability, peritonitis, or omental evisceration, were admitted for serial abdominal examinations with or without CT depending on attending preference. Patients with associated left thoracoabdominal stab wounds underwent diagnostic laparoscopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Change in patient management as a direct result of the CT scan findings, as well as sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of CT scanning calculated against clinical outcome (the need for laparotomy, uneventful discharge without laparotomy, or return to the hospital for adverse events). RESULTS One hundred fifty-six consecutive patients with AASWs were included over 24 months. Computed tomography was performed for 67 patients (CT group) whereas 89 patients were admitted for serial examination only (no-CT group). Nineteen of the 67 patients in the CT group had positive CT results, leading to laparotomy in 10 patients. Of the 48 patients with negative CT results, 3 underwent diagnostic laparoscopy for an associated thoracoabdominal stab wound and 2 eventually underwent laparotomy for clinical deterioration with negative results. Excluding patients with associated thoracoabdominal stab wounds, the negative predictive value of CT was 100%. CONCLUSIONS In patients with AASWs, CT can be used to identify visceral injuries. It is a promising tool that may identify patients who can be discharged after a shorter period of observation. Further evaluation of its use in patients with AASWs is warranted.Arch Surg. 2006;141:745-752--

HYPOTHESIS The diagnosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) carries significant additional morbidity and mortality among critically injured patients. DESIGN Retrospective case-control study using a prospectively maintained ARDS database. SETTING Surgical intensive care unit (ICU) in an academic county hospital. PATIENTS All trauma patients admitted to the ICU from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2003, who developed ARDS as defined by (1) acute onset, (2) a partial pressure of arterial oxygen–fraction of inspired oxygen ratio of 200 or less, (3) bilateral pulmonary infiltrates on chest radiographs, and (4) absence of left-sided heart failure. Each patient with ARDS was matched with 2 control patients without ARDS on the basis of sex, age (±5 years), mechanism of injury (blunt or penetrating), Injury Severity Score (±3), and chest Abbreviated Injury Score (±1). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Mortality, hospital charges, hospital and ICU lengths of stay, and complications (defined as pneumonia, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, acute renal failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy). RESULTS Of 2042 trauma ICU admissions, 216 patients (10.6%) met criteria for ARDS. We identified 432 similarly injured control patients. Compared with controls, trauma patients with ARDS had more complications (43.1% vs 9.5%), longer hospital (32.2 vs 17.9 days) and ICU (22.1 vs 8.4 days) lengths of stay, and higher hospital charges ($267 037 vs $136 680) (P<.01 for all), but mortality was similar (27.8% vs 25.0%, P = .48). CONCLUSION Although ARDS is associated with increased morbidity, hospital and ICU length of stay, and costs, it does not increase overall mortality among critically ill trauma patients.Arch Surg. 2006;141:655-658--

HYPOTHESIS The use of liberal whole body imaging (pan scan) in patients based on mechanism is warranted, even in evaluable patients with no obvious signs of chest or abdominal injury. DESIGN Prospective observational study. SETTING Academic level I trauma center. PATIENTS All patients admitted following blunt multisystem trauma. INTERVENTION Pan scan, including computed tomography (CT) of the head, cervical spine, chest, abdomen, and pelvis, with the following inclusion criteria: (1) no visible evidence of chest or abdominal injury, (2) hemodynamically stable, (3) normal abdominal examination results in a neurologically intact patient or unevaluable abdominal examination results secondary to a depressed level of consciousness, and (4) significant mechanisms of injury. Radiological findings and changes in treatment based on these findings were recorded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Any alteration in the normal treatment plan as a direct result of CT scan findings. These alterations include early hospital discharge, admission for observation, operative intervention, and additional diagnostic studies or interventions. RESULTS One thousand patients underwent pan scan during the 18-month observation period, of which 592 were evaluable patients with no obvious signs of abdominal injury. Clinically significant abnormalities were found in 3.5% of head CT scans, 5.1% of cervical spine CT scans, 19.6% of chest CT scans, and 7.1% of abdominal CT scans. Overall treatment was changed in 18.9% of patients based on abnormal CT scan findings. CONCLUSIONS The use of pan scan based on mechanism in awake, evaluable patients is warranted. Clinically significant abnormalities are not uncommon, resulting in a change in treatment in nearly 19% of patients.Arch Surg. 2006;141:468-475--

A carbon analog of biotin was prepared and evaluated in three microorganism test systems. The racemic compound was found to have about 15% the growth-promoting activity of d- biotin under conditions where biotin limited growth.