Search

We propose a novel system leveraging deep learning-based methods to predict urban traffic accidents and estimate their severity. The major challenge is the data imbalance problem in traffic accident prediction. The problem is caused by numerous zero values in the dataset due to the rarity of traffic accidents. To address the issue, we propose a grid-clustered feature map with the ideas of grids and cells. To predict the occurrence of accidents in the grid, we introduce an accident detector that combines the power of a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) with a Deep Neural Network (DNN). Then, hierarchical DNNs are supposed to be an accident risk classifier to estimate the risk of each cell in the accident-occurrence grid. The proposed system can effectively reduce instances with no traffic accidents. Furthermore, we introduce the concept of the Accident Risk Index (ARI) to better represent the severity of risk at each cell. Also, we consider all the explanatory variables, such as dangerous driving behaviors, traffic mobility, and safety facility information, that can be related to traffic accidents. To improve the prediction accuracy, we further take into consideration all the explanatory variables, such as dangerous driving behaviors, traffic mobility, and safety facility information, that can be related to traffic accidents. In the experiment, we highlight the benefits of our method for urban traffic accident management by significantly improving model performance compared to the baselines. The feasibility and applicability of the proposed system are validated in the data of Daejeon City, Republic of Korea. The proposed prediction system can dynamically advise and recommend commuters, traffic management systems, and city planners on alternatives, optimizations, and interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raoultella ornithinolytica is an Enterobacteriaceae bacterium that can infect both humans and animals, while luteolin-7-O-glucoside (IOG) is a flavonoid that has broad effects on the intestinal microbiota of healthy animals. However, current studies lack sufficient data on intestinal microbiota dysbiosis and drug resistance transmission caused by R. ornithinolytica and the possible role of IOG. In this study, BALB/c mice were infected with R. ornithinolytica carrying blaNDM-1 gene and treated with IOG (3 mg/kg·d and 6 mg/kg·d) to analyze the diversity of intestinal microbiota and the transfer of blaNDM-1 between bacteria. The findings indicated that R. ornithinolytica B1645-1 exhibited a significant ability to enhance the Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio and increase the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Bacillus after 48 h, where as 6 mg/kg·d IOG had an opposite effect. Moreover, R. ornithinolytica B1645-1 facilitated the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria and promoted blaNDM-1 gene transfer in Enterococcus, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Brevibacterium, and Lactobacillus. Enterococcus was the predominant genus at 48 h. Surprisingly, 6 mg/kg·d IOG significantly inhibited the production of drug-resistant bacteria and promoted blaNDM-1 gene transfer from Enterococcus to Lactobacillus at 144 h. However, the role of Lactobacillus as a recipient for drug-resistant genes should be of more concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antibiotics exert an outstanding selective pressure on bacteria, forcing their chromosomal gene mutations and drug resistance genes to spread. The objective of this study is to evaluate the expression of the New Delhi Metallo-β-Lactamase-1 gene (blaNDM−1) in the clinical isolate (Klebsiella pneumoniae TH-P12158), transformant strains Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3)-blaNDM−1, and Escherichia coli DH5α- blaNDM−1 when exposed to imipenem. Methods: β-Lactamase genes (blaSHV, blaTEM−1, blaCTX−M−9, blaIMP, blaNDM−1, blaKPC, blaOXA, blaGES, and blaDHA) from randomly selected carbapenems-sensitive K.pneumoniae (n = 20) and E.coli (n = 20) strains were amplified by PCR. The recombinant plasmid of pET-28a harboring blaNDM−1 was transformed into E.coli BL21 (DE3) and E.coli DH5α by electroporation. The resistance phenotype and higher blaNDM−1 expression in K.pneumoniae TH-P12158, transformant E.coli BL21 (DE3)-blaNDM−1, and E.coli DH5α-blaNDM−1 were observed when exposed to imipenem with grade increasing, decreasing, and canceling doses, respectively. Results: After being exposed to different doses of imipenem, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of antimicrobial drugs and blaNDM−1 expression of strains increased, which was positively correlated with doses of imipenem. On the contrary, with the decrease or cancellation of imipenem doses, the blaNDM−1 expression was deteriorated, while the MIC and MBC values remained relatively stable. These results demonstrated that low doses of imipenem (˂MIC) could press blaNDM−1 positive strains producing stable drug resistance memory and altered blaNDM−1 expression. Conclusions: Low doses of imipenem could press blaNDM−1 positive strains producing sustained resistance memory and altered blaNDM−1 expression. In particular, the positive correlation between the resistance genes expression and antibiotics exposure shows promising guiding significance for clinical medication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We screened bacterial strains that have strong antagonism against Beauveria bassiana, an important pathogen of silkworm industry, and detected the antagonistic activity of lipopeptide metabolites., Methods: We identified bacterium SWB16 by morphological observation, physiological and biochemical experiments, 16SrRNA, and gyrA gene sequence analysis, tested antagonistic activity of strain SWB16 against Beauveria bassiana by measuring the inhibition zone diameter using filter paper diffusion method (Kirby-Bauer method), obtained lipopeptide metabolites of the strain using methanol extraction and observed the antagonism of strain SWB16 lipopeptide extracts against the conidia and hyphae of Beauveria bassiana, detected main ingredients and genes of lipopeptide metabolites by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and PCR amplification., Results: SWB16 isolated from tissue of plant Dioscorea zingiberensis C. H. Wright belongs to Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and showed high antagonistic activity to Beauveria bassiana, and the lipopeptide extracts of isolate SWB16 exhibited significant inhibition to conidial germination and mycelial growth of Beauveria bassiana. The result of mass spectrometric detection indicated main component of the lipopeptide metabolites were fengcin and iturin, and genes fenB, ituA involved in the synthesis of them were amplified in the genome., Conclusion: Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain SWB16 could produce lipopeptide antibiotics with strong antagonism to the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana, and the results suggested that strain SWB16 has potential application value for controlling white muscardine of economic insects including silkworm.

Objective: We studied the antibiotic activity and selective cytotoxicity of beta-1,3-1,4-glucanase from endophytic Bacillus subtilis SWB8., Methods: Based on gel permeation chromatography, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry methods, protein fragments of beta-1,3-1,4-glucanase from endophytic Bacillus subtilis strain SWB8 were purified and identified. Then, beta-1,3-1,4-glucanase was used to evaluate the antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi A, Shigella dysenteriae, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans and cytotoxicity against human pulmonary adenocarcinoma cells (A549) and human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) by using the disc diffusion, methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium and flow cytometry methods, respectively., Results: Bacterial beta-1,3-1,4-glucanase showed broad antimicrobial spectrum against all nine bacterial and fungal strains. Furthermore, beta-1,3-1,4-glucanase possessed significant anticancer activity against A549 cells that the IC50 and IC90 values were 11.5 and 20.1 microg/mL, respectively. The percentage of apoptotic A549 cells treated with different concentrations of beta-1,3-1,4-glucanase was significantly increased from 4.43% of the control to 43.1% of 19.2 microg/mL glucanase in a dose dependent manner. In contrast, these changes could not be observed in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells., Conclusion: Beta-1,3-1,4-glucanase could be a potential source of desirable antimicrobial agent, or anticancer compounds with higher efficiency and lower toxicity.