Pathogenicity assessment of Arcobacter butzleri isolated from Canadian agricultural surface water.

Background: Water is considered a source for the transmission of Arcobacter species to both humans and animals. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence, distribution, and pathogenicity of A. butzleri strains, which can potentially pose health risks to humans and animals.

A framework to guide storytelling as a knowledge translation intervention for health-promoting behaviour change.

Background: Stories can be a powerful tool to increase uptake of health information, a key goal of knowledge translation (KT). Systematic reviews demonstrate that storytelling (i.e.

Ruminal pH and its relationship with dry matter intake, growth rate, and feed conversion ratio in commercial Australian feedlot cattle fed for 148 days.

Objectives: Measurement of ruminal pH throughout a 148-day feeding period in cattle fed commercial diets and to relate this to feed intake, growth rate and feed conversion ratio. Factors contributing to variation in rumen pH, including meal frequency, duration and weight, and, total daily intake, were also evaluated.

Methods: Forty-eight cattle were randomly allocated to two pens and 12 randomly selected from each pen had rumen pH monitoring boli inserted.

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification: Development, validation and application of simple and rapid assays for quantitative detection of species of Arcobacteraceae family- and species-specific Aliarcobacter faecis and Aliarcobacter lanthieri.

Aim: The family Arcobacteraceae formerly genus Arcobacter has recently been reclassified into six genera. Among nine species of the genus Aliarcobacter, Aliarcobacter faecis and Aliarcobacter lanthieri have been identified as emerging pathogens potentially cause health risks to humans and animals. This study was designed to develop/optimize, validate and apply Arcobacteraceae family- and two species-specific (A.

Considerations for Health Researchers Using Social Media for Knowledge Translation: Multiple Case Study.

Background: Despite extensive literature describing the use of social media in health research, a gap exists around best practices in establishing, implementing, and evaluating an effective social media knowledge translation (KT) and exchange strategies.

Objective: This study aims to examine successes, challenges, and lessons learned from using social media within health research and to create practical considerations to guide other researchers.

Methods: The Knowledge Translation Platform of the Alberta Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research SUPPORT Unit formed a national working group involving platform staff, academics, and a parent representative with experience using social media for health research.

Real-time quantitative PCR assay development and application for assessment of agricultural surface water and various fecal matter for prevalence of Aliarcobacter faecis and Aliarcobacter lanthieri.

Background: Aliarcobacter faecis and Aliarcobacter lanthieri are recently identified as emerging human and animal pathogens. In this paper, we demonstrate the development and optimization of two direct DNA-based quantitative real-time PCR assays using species-specific oligonucleotide primer pairs derived from rpoB and gyrA genes for A. faecis and A.

Chlorophyll-a, dissolved organic carbon, turbidity and other variables of ecological importance in river basins in southern Ontario and British Columbia, Canada.

Optical sensing of chlorophyll-a (chl-a), turbidity, and fluorescent dissolved organic matter (fDOM) is often used to characterize the quality of water. There are many site-specific factors and environmental conditions that can affect optically sensed readings; notwithstanding the comparative implication of different procedures used to measure these properties in the laboratory. In this study, we measured these water quality properties using standard laboratory methods, and in the field using optical sensors (sonde-based) at water quality monitoring sites located in four watersheds in Canada.

Advanced Training and Job Satisfaction Among Recent Canadian Plastic Surgery Graduates.

Background: In order to increase one's competitiveness in the current job market, Canadian plastic surgery graduates may complete additional degrees and multiple fellowships. The authors sought to determine the impact of this additional training on the practice profile of recent graduates and determine the current state of job satisfaction among this group.

Methods: An anonymous cross-sectional online survey was created and sent to all 250 graduates of Canadian plastic surgery residencies from 2005 to 2015.

Do reductions in agricultural field drainage during the growing season impact bacterial densities and loads in small tile-fed watersheds?

Predicting bacterial levels in watersheds in response to agricultural beneficial management practices (BMPs) requires understanding the germane processes at both the watershed and field scale. Controlling subsurface tile drainage (CTD) is a highly effective BMP at reducing nutrient losses from fields, and watersheds when employed en masse, but little work has been conducted on CTD effects on bacterial loads and densities in a watershed context. This study compared fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) [E.

Novel virulence, antibiotic resistance and toxin gene-specific PCR-based assays for rapid pathogenicity assessment of Arcobacter faecis and Arcobacter lanthieri.

Background: Arcobacter faecis and A. lanthieri are two newly classified species of genus Arcobacter. The prevalence and distribution of virulence, antibiotic resistance and toxin (VAT) genes in these species are required to assess their potential pathogenic health impacts to humans and animals.

Aquatic Bacterial Communities Associated With Land Use and Environmental Factors in Agricultural Landscapes Using a Metabarcoding Approach.

This study applied a 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding approach to characterize bacterial community compositional and functional attributes for surface water samples collected within, primarily, agriculturally dominated watersheds in Ontario and Québec, Canada. Compositional heterogeneity was best explained by stream order, season, and watercourse discharge. Generally, community diversity was higher at agriculturally dominated lower order streams, compared to larger stream order systems such as small to large rivers.

Laser Annealing of TiO Electron-Transporting Layer in Perovskite Solar Cells.

Solution-processed TiO and other metal-oxide electron-transporting layers (ETLs) for perovskite solar cells commonly require high-temperature annealing (>450 °C), causing the underlying indium-tin oxide (ITO) to degrade and inhibiting the use of flexible plastic substrates, such as poly(ethylene naphthalate). Laser-based solar cell manufacturing is attracting increased interest and can enable rapid and low-temperature fabrication of perovskite solar cells. By using novel pulsed ultraviolet laser processing on the solution-processed TiO, we demonstrate a champion 17.

Changes in health-related quality of life (EQ-5D) dimensions associated with community-based musculoskeletal physiotherapy: a multi-centre analysis.

Purpose: To determine the changes in each of the five dimensions of the EuroQol 5-dimension index associated with community-based physiotherapy.

Methods: Four thousand one hundred and thirty-six patients that received community-based musculoskeletal physiotherapy across five NHS centres completed the EQ-5D on entry into the service and upon discharge. Patients were categorised on symptom location and response to treatment based on their EQ-5D index improving by at least 0.

Functional outcomes assessment following free muscle transfer for dynamic reconstruction of facial paralysis: A literature review.

Facial reanimation provides patients affected by chronic facial paralysis a chance to regain basic human functions such as emotional expression, verbal communication, and oral competence for eating and swallowing, but there is still no consensus as to the best way to measure surgical outcomes. We performed a literature review to investigate the different functional outcomes that surgeons use to evaluate facial function after reanimation surgery, focusing on outcomes other than facial expressions such as speech, oral competence, and patient quality of life/satisfaction. A total of 37 articles were reviewed, with the majority reporting outcomes through subjective facial expression ratings and only 15 dealing with other functional outcomes.

Targeted Therapy: Attacking Cancer with Molecular and Immunological Targeted Agents.

Today, personalized cancer therapy with targeted agents has taken center stage, and offers individualized treatment to many. As the mysteries of the genes in a cell's DNA and their specific proteins are defined, advances in the understanding of cancer gene mutations and how cancer evades the immune system have been made. This article provides a basic and simplified understanding of the available (Food and Drug Administration- approved) molecularly and immunologically targeted agents in the USA.

Sedation of sheep following the administration of acepromazine with buprenorphine or morphine is similar.

The aim of this study was to compare sedation of sheep with acepromazine and buprenorphine or morphine. Twenty merino sheep received acepromazine (0.03mg/kg) with buprenorphine (0.

Associations between community-based physiotherapy for musculoskeletal injury and health related quality of life (EQ-5D): a multi-centre retrospective analysis.

Background: Community-based musculoskeletal physiotherapy is used to improve function and health related quality of life (HRQoL). The purpose of this retrospective, multi-centre observational study was to determine the association between community-based physiotherapy management for musculoskeletal disorders and changes in HRQoL.

Methods: Four thousand one hundred twelve patients' data were included in the study.

Enhanced Single-tube Multiplex PCR Assay for Detection and Identification of Six Arcobacter Species.

Aim: A single-tube multiplex PCR (mPCR) assay was developed for rapid, sensitive and simultaneous detection and identification of six Arcobacter species including two new species, A. lanthieri and A. faecis, along with A.

Long-Term Follow-Up of Osseointegrated Orbital Prosthetic Reconstruction.

Background: Osseointegrated implants have been used for craniofacial prosthetic reconstruction since 1979. The authors sought to review long-term outcomes of osseointegrated orbital reconstruction at the Institute for Reconstructive Sciences in Medicine (iRSM).

Methods: Twenty-six patients have undergone osseointegrated orbital prosthetic (OOP) reconstruction at iRSM since 1991.

Room-Temperature Processing of TiO Electron Transporting Layer for Perovskite Solar Cells.

In order to realize high-throughput roll-to-roll manufacturing of flexible perovskite solar cells, low-temperature processing of all device components must be realized. However, the most commonly used electron transporting layer in high-performance perovskite solar cells is based on TiO thin films processed at high temperature (>450 °C). Here, we demonstrate room temperature solution processing of the TiO layer that performs as well as the high temperature TiO layer in perovskite solar cells, as evidenced by a champion solar cell efficiency of 16.

ultraLM and miniLM: Locator tools for smart tracking of fluorescent cells in correlative light and electron microscopy.

In-resin fluorescence (IRF) protocols preserve fluorescent proteins in resin-embedded cells and tissues for correlative light and electron microscopy, aiding interpretation of macromolecular function within the complex cellular landscape. Dual-contrast IRF samples can be imaged in separate fluorescence and electron microscopes, or in dual-modality integrated microscopes for high resolution correlation of fluorophore to organelle. IRF samples also offer a unique opportunity to automate correlative imaging workflows.

Waterborne Viruses and F-Specific Coliphages in Mixed-Use Watersheds: Microbial Associations, Host Specificities, and Affinities with Environmental/Land Use Factors.

Unlabelled: From the years 2008 to 2014, a total of 1,155 water samples were collected (spring to fall) from 24 surface water sampling sites located in a mixed-used but predominantly agricultural (i.e., dairy livestock production) river basin in eastern Ontario, Canada.

Towards a more accurate quantitative assessment of seasonal Cryptosporidium infection risks in surface waters using species and genotype information.

Many Cryptosporidium species/genotypes are not considered infectious to humans, and more realistic estimations of seasonal infection risks could be made using human infectious species/genotype information to inform quantitative microbial risk assessments (QMRA). Cryptosporidium oocyst concentration and species/genotype data were collected from three surface water surveillance programs in two river basins [South Nation River, SN (2004-09) and Grand River, GR (2005-13)] in Ontario, Canada to evaluate seasonal infection risks. Main river stems, tributaries, agricultural drainage streams, water treatment plant intakes, and waste water treatment plant effluent impacted sites were sampled.

Biosolids applied to agricultural land: Influence on structural and functional endpoints of soil fauna on a short- and long-term scale.

Biosolids have well-documented crop and soil benefits similar to other sources of organic amendment, but there is environmental concern due to biosolids-associated pollutants. The present study investigated two field sites that had received biosolids at commercial-scale rates in parallel to associated field sections which were managed similarly but without receiving biosolids (controls). The investigated endpoints were abundance and diversity of soil organisms (nematodes, enchytraeids and earthworms) and soil fauna feeding activity as measured by the bait lamina assay.

Detection of virulence, antibiotic resistance and toxin (VAT) genes in Campylobacter species using newly developed multiplex PCR assays.

Campylobacter species are one of the leading causes of bacterial gastroenteritis in humans worldwide. This twofold study was sought to: i) develop and optimize four single-tube multiplex PCR (mPCR) assays for the detection of six virulence (ciaB, dnaJ, flaA, flaB, pldA and racR), three toxin (cdtA, cdtB and cdtC) and one antibiotic resistance tet(O) genes in thermophilic Campylobacter spp. and ii) apply and evaluate the developed mPCR assays by testing 470 previously identified C.