Biomechanical Assessment Methods Used in Chronic Stroke: A Scoping Review of Non-Linear Approaches.

Non-linear and dynamic systems analysis of human movement has recently become increasingly widespread with the intention of better reflecting how complexity affects the adaptability of motor systems, especially after a stroke. The main objective of this scoping review was to summarize the non-linear measures used in the analysis of kinetic, kinematic, and EMG data of human movement after stroke. PRISMA-ScR guidelines were followed, establishing the eligibility criteria, the population, the concept, and the contextual framework. The examined studies were published between 1 January 2013 and 12 April 2023, in English or Portuguese, and were indexed in the databases selected for this research: PubMed®, Web of Science®, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers®, Science Direct® and Google Scholar®. In total, 14 of the 763 articles met the inclusion criteria. The non-linear measures identified included entropy (n = 11), fractal analysis (n = 1), the short-term local divergence exponent (n = 1), the maximum Floquet multiplier (n = 1), and the Lyapunov exponent (n = 1). These studies focused on different motor tasks: reaching to grasp (n = 2), reaching to point (n = 1), arm tracking (n = 2), elbow flexion (n = 5), elbow extension (n = 1), wrist and finger extension upward (lifting) (n = 1), knee extension (n = 1), and walking (n = 4). When studying the complexity of human movement in chronic post-stroke adults, entropy measures, particularly sample entropy, were preferred. Kinematic assessment was mainly performed using motion capture systems, with a focus on joint angles of the upper limbs.

Wearables for Monitoring and Postural Feedback in the Work Context: A Scoping Review.

Wearables offer a promising solution for simultaneous posture monitoring and/or corrective feedback. The main objective was to identify, synthesise, and characterise the wearables used in the workplace to monitor and postural feedback to workers. The PRISMA-ScR guidelines were followed. Studies were included between 1 January 2000 and 22 March 2023 in Spanish, French, English, and Portuguese without geographical restriction. The databases selected for the research were PubMed®, Web of Science®, Scopus®, and Google Scholar®. Qualitative studies, theses, reviews, and meta-analyses were excluded. Twelve studies were included, involving a total of 304 workers, mostly health professionals (n = 8). The remaining studies covered workers in the industry (n = 2), in the construction (n = 1), and welders (n = 1). For assessment purposes, most studies used one (n = 5) or two sensors (n = 5) characterised as accelerometers (n = 7), sixaxial (n = 2) or nonaxialinertial measurement units (n = 3). The most common source of feedback was the sensor itself (n = 6) or smartphones (n = 4). Haptic feedback was the most prevalent (n = 6), followed by auditory (n = 5) and visual (n = 3). Most studies employed prototype wearables emphasising kinematic variables of human movement. Healthcare professionals were the primary focus of the study along with haptic feedback that proved to be the most common and effective method for correcting posture during work activities.

Methodological Considerations in the Kinematic and Kinetic Analysis of Human Movement among Healthy Adolescents: A Scoping Review of Nonlinear Measures in Data Processing.

Nonlinear measures have increasingly revealed the quality of human movement and its behaviour over time. Further analyses of human movement in real contexts are crucial for understanding its complex dynamics. The main objective was to identify and summarize the nonlinear measures used in data processing during out-of-laboratory assessments of human movement among healthy adolescents. Summarizing the methodological considerations was the secondary objective. The inclusion criteria were as follows: According to the Population, Concept, and Context (PCC) framework, healthy teenagers between 10 and 19 years old that reported kinetic and/or kinematic nonlinear data-processing measurements related to human movement in non-laboratory settings were included. PRISMA-ScR was used to conduct this review. PubMed, Science Direct, the Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched. Studies published between the inception of the database and March 2022 were included. In total, 10 of the 2572 articles met the criteria. The nonlinear measures identified included entropy (n = 8), fractal analysis (n = 3), recurrence quantification (n = 2), and the Lyapunov exponent (n = 2). In addition to walking (n = 4) and swimming (n = 2), each of the remaining studies focused on different motor tasks. Entropy measures are preferred when studying the complexity of human movement, especially multiscale entropy, with authors also carefully combining different measures, namely entropy and fractal analysis.

Comparison of ubiquitous antibiotic-resistant Enterobacteriaceae populations isolated from wastewaters, surface waters and drinking waters.

This study aimed at assessing the role of ubiquitous (non-Escherichia coli) Enterobacteriaceae in the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance through the urban water cycle. Enterobacteriaceae isolated from a municipal wastewater treatment plant (111 isolates), urban water streams (33 isolates) and drinking water (123 isolates) were compared in terms of: (i) genera distribution, (ii) resistance to 12 antibiotics, and (iii) class 1 and class 2 integrons. The predominant bacterial genera were the same in the different types of water, although with a distinct pattern of species. The most prevalent resistance phenotypes were observed for amoxicillin, ticarcillin, cephalothin and sulphamethoxazole (24-59% in the three types of water). No resistance against ceftazidime or meropenem was observed. Resistance to cephalothin, amoxicillin and sulphamethoxazole was significantly more prevalent in drinking water, water streams and wastewater, respectively, than in the other types of water. It was possible to recognize antibiotic-resistance associations, namely for the pairs streptomycin-tetracycline (positive) and ticarcillin-cephalotin (negative). Class 1 and/or class 2 integrons with similar gene cassettes were detected in the three types of water. This study demonstrated that Enterobacteriaceae are important vehicles of antibiotic resistance, namely in drinking water.

Bacillus purgationiresistans sp. nov., isolated from a drinking-water treatment plant.

A Gram-positive, aerobic, non-motile, endospore-forming rod, designated DS22(T), was isolated from a drinking-water treatment plant. Cells were catalase- and oxidase-positive. Growth occurred at 15-37 °C, at pH 7-10 and with <8% (w/v) NaCl (optimum growth: 30 °C, pH 7-8 and 1-3% NaCl). The major respiratory quinone was menaquinone 7, the G+C content of the genomic DNA was 36.5 mol% and the cell wall contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain DS22(T) was a member of the genus Bacillus. Its closest phylogenetic neighbours were Bacillus horneckiae NRRL B-59162(T) (98.5% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Bacillus oceanisediminis H2(T) (97.9%), Bacillus infantis SMC 4352-1(T) (97.4%), Bacillus firmus IAM 12464(T) (96.8%) and Bacillus muralis LMG 20238(T) (96.8%). DNA-DNA hybridization, and biochemical and physiological characterization allowed the differentiation of strain DS22(T) from its closest phylogenetic neighbours. The data supports the proposal of a novel species, Bacillus purgationiresistans sp. nov.; the type strain is DS22(T) (=DSM 23494(T)=NRRL B-59432(T)=LMG 25783(T)).

Diversity and antibiotic resistance of Aeromonas spp. in drinking and waste water treatment plants.

The taxonomic diversity and antibiotic resistance phenotypes of aeromonads were examined in samples from drinking and waste water treatment plants (surface, ground and disinfected water in a drinking water treatment plant, and raw and treated waste water) and tap water. Bacteria identification and intra-species variation were determined based on the analysis of the 16S rRNA, gyrB and cpn60 gene sequences. Resistance phenotypes were determined using the disc diffusion method. Aeromonas veronii prevailed in raw surface water, Aeromonas hydrophyla in ozonated water, and Aeromonas media and Aeromonas puntacta in waste water. No aeromonads were detected in ground water, after the chlorination tank or in tap water. Resistance to ceftazidime or meropenem was detected in isolates from the drinking water treatment plant and waste water isolates were intrinsically resistant to nalidixic acid. Most of the times, quinolone resistance was associated with the gyrA mutation in serine 83. The gene qnrS, but not the genes qnrA, B, C, D or qepA, was detected in both surface and waste water isolates. The gene aac(6')-ib-cr was detected in different waste water strains isolated in the presence of ciprofloxacin. Both quinolone resistance genes were detected only in the species A. media. This is the first study tracking antimicrobial resistance in aeromonads in drinking, tap and waste water and the importance of these bacteria as vectors of resistance in aquatic environments is discussed.

A survey of the bacterial diversity in the cup filler of dental chair units

Water from the cup filler of dental chair units (CFDC) was observed to contain sphingomonads, environmental mycobacteria and methylobacteria, among other minor bacteria. Some of the bacteria detected are recognized opportunistic pathogens. Some of these, tended to persist over time.

Differential patterns of antimicrobial resistance in population subsets of Escherichia coli isolated from waste- and surface waters.

The species Escherichia coli comprises different subgroups with distinct phylogeny, physiology and ecology and, thus, presumably, with different roles in antimicrobial resistance dissemination. E. coli strains isolated from raw and treated municipal wastewater and from urban water streams were characterized in terms of phylogenetic groups, antimicrobial resistance patterns and the presence of class 1 and class 2 integrons. Our main objective was to investigate the contribution of the different phylo-groups in antimicrobial resistance dissemination in urban waters. Groups A and B1 were predominant in all types of water, evidencing, respectively, the lowest and the highest resistance prevalence. Municipal wastewater treatment was accompanied by significant increases of ciprofloxacin and streptomycin resistance (p<0.01). Antimicrobial resistance prevalence differed significantly between the different phylo-groups and within the same group, mainly in group A. Such differences contributed to explain the higher ciprofloxacin and streptomycin resistance rates observed in treated effluent in comparison with the raw wastewater. We conclude that the dynamics of the bacterial populations has a major role on the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance in the environment.

Candidimonas nitroreducens gen. nov., sp. nov. and Candidimonas humi sp. nov., isolated from sewage sludge compost.

Two bacterial strains (SC-089(T) and SC-092(T)) isolated from sewage sludge compost were characterized by using a polyphasic approach. The isolates were Gram-negative short rods, catalase- and oxidase-positive, and showed good growth at 30 °C, at pH 7 and with 1 % (w/v) NaCl. Ubiquinone 8 was the major respiratory quinone, and phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol were amongst the major polar lipids. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the strains were observed to be members of the family Alcaligenaceae, but could not be identified as members of any validly described genus. The low levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to other recognized taxa, together with comparative analysis of phenotypic traits and chemotaxonomic markers, supported the proposal of a new genus within the family Alcaligenaceae, for which the name Candidimonas gen. nov. is proposed. Strains SC-089(T) and SC-092(T), which shared 99.1 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, could be differentiated at the phenotypic level, and DNA-DNA hybridization results supported their identification as representing distinct species. The names proposed for these novel species are Candidimonas nitroreducens sp. nov. (type strain, SC-089(T) = LMG 24812(T) = CCUG 55806(T)) and Candidimonas humi sp. nov. (type strain, SC-092(T) = LMG 24813(T) = CCUG 55807(T)).

A survey of the bacterial diversity in the cup filler of dental chair units.

Water from the cup filler of dental chair units (CFDC) was observed to contain sphingomonads, environmental mycobacteria and methylobacteria, among other minor bacteria. Some of the bacteria detected are recognized opportunistic pathogens. Some of these, tended to persist over time.

Paenibacillus residui sp. nov., isolated from urban waste compost.

Two bacterial strains, MC-246(T) and MC-247, were isolated from municipal urban waste compost and characterized by a polyphasic approach. Both isolates were Gram-stain-variable, endospore-forming rods that were catalase-, oxidase- and ß-galactosidase-positive, and able to grow at 25-50°C and pH 7.0-9.0, with optimum growth at 37°C and pH 7. The predominant cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0, iso-C15:0, iso-C16: 0, anteiso-C17:0 and iso-C17:0; the major respiratory quinone was menaquinone MK-7; the cell wall peptidoglycan was of type A1γ; and the DNA G+C content was 49 mol%. These characteristics, as well as data from 16S RNA gene sequence analysis, showed that these strains were affiliated with the genus Paenibacillus; the type strains of Paenibacillus ginsengarvi and Paenibacillus hodogayensis were among their closest neighbours (< 94.2 % sequence similarity). Nevertheless, the hypothesis that strains MC-246(T) and MC-247 could represent a novel species was supported by the low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values shared with other members of the genus Paenibacillus and by the observation of distinct biochemical and physiological traits. Strains MC-246(T) and MC-247 shared 99.6 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity and showed almost identical MALDI-TOF mass spectra, but could be distinguished at the phenotypic and genotypic level. However, DNA-DNA hybridization between strains MC-246(T) and MC-247 resulted in values above 70 % indicating that both organisms represent a single species, for which the name Paenibacillus residui sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is MC-246(T) (=DSM 22072(T) =CCUG 57263(T)).