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Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESβL) producing E. coli pose a significant medical challenge. It has spread worldwide, making it as the source of a variety of urinary tract and wound infections. Recently, nanosilver has been widely utilized in the medicinal applications. We aimed at fabricating silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and observing how they affected the ESβL-producing E. coli isolated from different human anatomical regions. Under optimal circumstances, AgNPs were biosynthesized using Bacillus thuringiensis isolated from raw milk and they were wholly characterized. The AgNPs were occurred to be crystalline and have a stable structure. AgNPs are hexagonal and spherical in form with no considerable agglomeration, according to TEM-results. The particle diameters varied between 13.2 and 36.8 nm. AgNPs and AgNPs-cotton clothing for wound treatment and self-sterilizing coats were displayed to have an antimicrobial action versus ESβL-producing E. coli. AgNPs, and their application i.e., AgNPs-wound dressing, shown a considerable antibacterial efficiency against ESL-producing E. coli. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of AgNPs against ESβL-producing E. coli ranged from 7 to 9 μg mL−1, while the MIC of AgNPs with ampicillin was 1.25–4 g mL−1. This is mostly due to the AgNPs plus ampicillin have a synergistic efficiency, increasing the antibacterial effectiveness of AgNPs by 2–4 times. Our findings implied that the generated AgNPs might be applied as a nano-drug individually or combined with ampicillin against ESβL-producing E. coli.

International audience; BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic led to severe health systems collapse, as well as logistics and supply delivery shortages across sectors. Delivery of PCR related healthcare supplies continue to be hindered. There is the need for a rapid and accessible SARS-CoV-2 molecular detection method in low resource settings.ObjectivesTo validate a novel isothermal amplification method for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 across seven sub-Sharan African countries.Study designIn this multi-country phase 2 diagnostic study, 3,231 clinical samples in seven African sites were tested with two reverse transcription Recombinase-Aided Amplification (RT-RAA) assays (based on SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid (N) gene and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) gene). The test was performed in a mobile suitcase laboratory within 15 min. All results were compared to a real-time RT-PCR assay. Extraction kits based on silica gel or magnetic beads were applied.ResultsFour sites demonstrated good to excellent agreement, while three sites showed fair to moderate results. The RdRP gene assay exhibited an overall PPV of 0.92 and a NPV of 0.88. The N gene assay exhibited an overall PPV of 0.93 and a NPV 0.88. The sensitivity of both RT-RAA assays varied depending on the sample Ct values. When comparing sensitivity between sites, values differed considerably. For high viral load samples, the RT-RAA assay sensitivity ranges were between 60.5 and 100% (RdRP assay) and 25 and 98.6 (N assay).ConclusionOverall, the RdRP based RT-RAA test showed the best assay accuracy. This study highlights the challenges of implementing rapid molecular assays in field conditions. Factors that are important for successful deployment across countries include the implementation of standardized operation procedures, in-person continuous training for staff, and enhanced quality control measures.

Starting voltage and current transients in slip energy recovery drives (SERD) may damage the stator and rotor windings. The resulting torque oscillations damage the induction machine mechanical parts. In this paper three schemes for damping starting transients and torque oscillations are proposed. In the first scheme a parallel RL impedance is connected between the supply and the stator coils, in the second scheme a parallel RL impedance is added in the rotor circuit, and in the third scheme the two impedances are connected simultaneously. Transient performance is simulated and the results of the three schemes are compared. Also, the effect of each proposed scheme on the steady state values of the SERD currents, voltages, and electric torque is studied and demonstrated. Lower current and voltage transients, and lower torque oscillations resulted in all schemes, with optimum transient performance observed when adding the two impedances simultaneously.

Dental infections cause chronic diseases, such as periodontitis and dental caries, thereby leading to the tooth loss. Antibacterial and antibiofilm efficiencies of silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles combined with chitosan and erythromycin against several bacterial oral diseases have been, therefore, demonstrated. Silver nanoparticles (TVE-AgNPs) were compared with a commercial ZnONPs that conjugated with chitosan to form TVE-AgNPs-CS and ZnONPs-CS. The synergistic efficiency of TVE-AgNPs-CS or ZnONPs-CS combined with erythromycin against Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) was estimated by broth micro-dilution assays, agar diffusion and biofilm formation. Herein, TVE-AgNPs were produced using Thymus vulgaris extract (TVE) and the peak obtained of TVE-AgNPs at 450 nm indicated the formation of TVE-AgNPs. Furthermore, results displayed the creation of spherical TVE-AgNPs with diameters a ranging from 10 to 24 nm. The FTIR analysis suggested that TVE contains reducing agents that consequently had a function in silver ions reduction and TVE-AgNPs formation. The minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) value of TVE-AgNPs-CS and ZnONPs-CS with erythromycin exhibited an MIC value of 4–8 and 8–16 μg mL−1, respectively. The inhibition ratio versus biofilm was evaluated to be 75, 77.7, and 65.5% for S. mutans, B. subtilis and P. aeruginosa, respectively at TVE-AgNPs-CS/erythromycin concentration of 4 μg mL−1, while it was 91.6, 83.3, and 79.3% at ZnONPs-CS/erythromycin concentration of 8 μg mL−1. Our results provided an evidence of TVE-AgNPs-CS and ZnONPs-CS with erythromycin being antibacterial and antibiofilm agents against the tested bacteria. Also, they caused cell membrane damage of bacterial cells. Thus, ZnONPs-CS/erythromycin could be used in dental applications due to its non-toxicity profile and may be an important in the future development of more effective therapies for control of dental diseases.

To evaluate the efficacy of physical therapy or exercise intervention on quality of life (QOL), fatigue, sleep, and psychological and physical functioning in adults diagnosed with Lymphoma.A systematic literature search of the PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and PEDro databases was carried out to identify articles published from March 2010 until December 2020. The risk of bias, methodological quality, and level of evidence was evaluated using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) checklist.Out of the 577 articles identified from the initial search, a total of 12 randomised control trials were shortlistd for this systematic review. From the 12 articles, 9 studies included participants with Lymphoma who were at various stages of chemotherapy or had completed treatment and 3 studies included participants with various haematological malignancies and had stem cell transplantation. The quality of each study was assessed using the PEDro scale with the a mean score of 6.3±0.89. The PEDro scores regarding the quality of studies ranged from 5-8 (fair to good).There is moderate evidence strength suggesting that exercises therapy for persons diagnosed with Lymphoma can include aerobic or cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and mind-body exercise has beneficial effects on fatigue, physical performance, and QOL in persons diagnosed with Lymphoma patients.PROSPERO No.: CRD42021227418.

There are several factors were taken in consideration such as time, ratio, temperature and pH to improve the chelation process between the amino acids and inorganic ions. The current study aims to optimize the physical factors controlling the synthesis of chelated amino acids with different minerals and to enhance antioxidant and biodiesel production from Arthrospira platensis cultivated in culture enriched with different chelated minerals. In this study; various physical factors such as (ratio of amino acids and minerals; temperature, time and pH) were used for optimization of chelation formation. The blue -green alga Arthrospira platensis was cultivated under different synthesized chelated minerals (T1-T13), the growth rate, antioxidant, antiradical and biodiesel production were determined in all treated alga. The obtained results showed that the optimum conditions for production of chelated amino acid were ratio (2:1 M), temperature at 60 °C, the duration between 4:5 days and the suitable or stability of chelation at pH = 4, Also, the growth rate of A. platensis with Cu-glycinate higher than Cu-leather waste and Zarrouk media. The antioxidant activity results of different extracts of Arthrospira platensis showed that the water extract gave high antioxidant activity against DPPH radical assay than acetone extract in all treatments when compared with untreated culture (Zarrouk’s medium). Arthrospira platensis cultivated on Zarrouk medium supplemented with chelated amino acids with metals was showed an increase in algal pigments and lipids with Mn-LW, Zn-LW and Mg-LW treatments. Also, the results showed that the produced biodiesel was observed with M-LW treatments, which was more than that of glycinate treatments, untreated culture (Zarrouk) and LW biodiesel. Therefore, the highest biodiesel percentages were founded with Zn, Mn and Mg-LW (5.37, 5.25 and 4.86% respectively). The recorded results and material balance data concluded that possibility for use the chelated minerals (glycine and leather wastes) as plant fertilizer in future because its high yield and low fees for production. Graphical Abstract

Talent Management plays a crucial role to support the business continuity and empower the most important asset for the company – its people. The role that Talent Management has played was highlighted in different aspects across the organization, starting from developing competent HR team and HR department structure that can influence company culture by taking an active approach in this regard. The journey started by working with the executives and stakeholders across the business to evaluate the current company culture, assess potential gaps or opportunities, and create a strategic plan to align the organization's culture with its values and goals. Moreover, a deliberate building of core and supplementary HR systems serving the business strategy while respecting culture readiness has taken place. This started off with developing leadership development programs, conducting a competency management system for better training and skills development, relying on assessment tools in recruitment and using these tools in the on-boarding, knowledge sharing approach, creating a performance management culture and working on continuous development and improvement. The Leadership Development Program was achieved on 3 phases: Assessment phase, Development phase and re-assessment phase. One of the main objectives that we tried to focus on while implementing the leadership development program was to find employees who are potential leaders and nurture them early enough. In addition, it was crucial to identify a Leadership Competency Profile to have a clear, compelling vision of how the skills we were building in the leadership development program connect to the leadership road map in the company. In addition, and in the light of Covid-19 and the absence of Employee Training in 2020, the HR department came out with an initiative to carry out internal knowledge sharing workshops across the company. These workshops aimed at increasing employees’ awareness with the different functions across the company in addition to increasing the level of engagement, communication, and presentation skills for employees. There is always a need to measure where we are and the progress done so far to know where we want to be and adjust the process accordingly. Therefore throughout all of these processes and programs, different feedback surveys were conducted to take necessary action plans. This helped in getting all employees onboard with us. Ultimately the alignment that was made between the Talent Management and the overall company's business strategy resulted in the company's ability to maintain a competitive advantage. A huge progress was made but the process continues to sustain this role.