Common Indicator Research Articles

Agricultural Detection of Norovirus and Hepatitis A Using Fecal Indicators: A Systematic Review.

Fresh-produce consumers may be at risk of pathogen infection due to fecal contamination of the agricultural environment. Indicators of fecal contamination may be used as a proxy to evaluate the potential presence of human pathogens, such as norovirus and hepatitis A, on agricultural samples. The objective of this systematic review was to determine whether the presence of human norovirus or hepatitis A was associated with microbial indicators in agricultural samples including fresh produce, equipment surfaces, and hands. Four databases (Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Agricola) were systematically searched and fifteen articles met inclusion and exclusion criteria. After data extraction, individual indicator-pathogen relationships were assessed using Cohen's Kappa coefficient. The level of agreement between norovirus with adenovirus was 0.09 (n = 16, 95% CI −0.05, 0.23), indicating poor agreement using Landis and Koch's criterion. Similarly, the Kappa coefficient between norovirus with E. coli (κ = 0.04, n = 14, 95% CI −0.05, 0.49) or total coliforms (κ = 0.03, n = 4, 95% CI −0.01, 0.02) was also poor. The level of agreement between hepatitis A with adenovirus (κ = −0.03, n = 3, 95% CI −0.06, 0.01) or fecal coliforms (κ = 0, n = 1, 95% CI 0, 0) was also poor. There were moderate relationships between hepatitis A with E. coli (κ = 0.49, n = 3, 95% CI 0.28, 0.70) and total coliforms (κ = 0.47, n = 2, 95% CI 0.47, 0.47). Based on these limited results, common indicator organisms are not strong predictors of the presence of norovirus and hepatitis A virus in the agricultural environment.

Current Status of Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs in São Paulo Hospitals

OBJECTIVES:Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) comprise coordinated interventions designed to improve antimicrobial use. Understanding the current structure of ASP hospitals will support interventions for the improvement of these programs. This study aimed to describe the status of ASPs in hospitals in São Paulo, Brazil.METHODS:A cross-sectional survey was conducted on the ASPs of hospitals in the state of São Paulo from March to July 2018. Through interviews by telephone or e-mail, we queried which components of the Infectious Diseases Society of America/Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines were implemented.RESULTS:The response rate was 30% (28/93 hospitals), and 26 hospitals (85%) reported having a formal ASP. The most frequently implemented strategies were antimicrobial surgical prophylaxis guidelines (100%), empiric sepsis guidelines (93%), and the presence of ASP team members during bedside rounds (96%). The least commonly implemented strategies included prior authorization for all antimicrobials (11%), pharmacokinetic monitoring, and an adjustment program for patients on IV aminoglycosides (3%). Regarding the metrics of the ASP, the most common indicator was the rate of antimicrobial resistance (77%). Eighteen hospitals evaluated antimicrobial consumption using defined daily dose, and only 29% evaluated the days of therapy; 61% of hospitals reported their results to the hospital administration and 39% to the prescribers.CONCLUSIONS:Most hospitals have a formal and active ASP, but with timely actions. We observed inconsistencies between what program leaders understand as the main objective of ASP and the metrics used to evaluate it. Part of the effort for the next few years should be to improve program evaluation metrics and to provide feedback to physicians and hospital leadership.

A retrospective study comparing creatinine clearance estimation using different equations on a population-based cohort

<abstract> <p>Renal elimination is an important part of drugs' excretion. At the same time, renal function can be impaired as a side effect of medication, particularly during prolonged treatments. Thus, the assessment of patients' renal function is of major consequence, especially in cases where the therapeutic regimen is adjusted taking into consideration renal clearance. Serum creatinine concentration is the most common indicator of renal clearance, since the most accurate indicator, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), is not easily measured. Using equations developed over the last decades, creatinine clearance (CL<sub>Cr</sub>) is readily estimated taking into account patients' biological sex, age, body composition, and sometimes race. In this work, differences in estimated CL<sub>Cr</sub> between different equations were studied and the influence of some patients' characteristics evaluated. Data collected from 82 inpatients receiving antibiotic therapy was analyzed and CL<sub>Cr</sub> was estimated using a total of 12 equations. Patients were stratified according to their sex, age, and body composition to shed some light on the impact of these parameters in the estimations of renal function. More variability between estimation methods was highlighted (a) in patients between 51 and 60 years old, (b) within the normal body mass index group, and (c) in patients with serum creatinine levels below normal criteria. Furthermore, the Cockcroft-Gault equation considering lean body weight produced lower estimated CL<sub>Cr</sub> in almost all groups.</p> </abstract>

Теоретичний системно-спрямований підхід до визначення інтегрального показника ефективності реалізації операцій в транспортних системах

An approach to determining the efficiency of the operation in transport systems, which is a measure of compliance with the actual result of operations desired, and therefore is a measure of guarantee or probability that the service life of the transport service will be no less than necessary. The algorithm of its definition is given and the functions of distribution of result of operation are graphically represented, schemes of estimation of probabilistic guarantee are shown. The list of requirements which the indicator of efficiency and forms of its measurement should satisfy is considered. It was found that in the study of the effectiveness of operations is a common indicator of the average result, which is used in cases where the purpose of the operation is expressed by a numerical variable. It was found that an important property of the indicator of the average result is its additivity, and the increase in the quantitative indicator of periodicity leads to a decrease in the quality of the transport system and failure to fulfill the property of additivity. It is proposed as a result of the operation to increase the reliability of the transport system to assume that the period of its trouble-free operation was not less than the period of time of active operation of this system. The principles of using the scattering characteristic of a real result relative to the required value or mathematical expectation as an indicator of efficiency under the conditions of describing the result by a random variable are given. A graphical illustration of the matching functions with respect to the scattering indices of the result is given. It is found that the period of trouble-free operation of the transport system and the period of time of active work can be random, ie the desired result in these conditions is described by a random variable, which is usually the minimum required result. Forms of efficiency indicators and compliance functions are given. It was found that the performance indicator for these situations includes partial indicators. With any strategy of the opponent and the fixed strategy of the decision-maker, the efficiency of the operation will be less than the mathematical expectation of the correspondence function. Thus, the mathematical expectation of the correspondence function is the lower limit of the average value of the correspondence function of the actual result of the operation required for the decision maker.

Milk production, mortality, and economic parameters in the context of heat-stressed dairy cattle

Abstract As climate change progresses, higher temperatures and longer periods of extreme weather are likely to increasingly impact the production and health of dairy cattle, in turn affecting farm-level profits and economic decision-making. This review identifies and summarizes the currently available research on the effect of climate-related heat stress or heat stress mitigation measures on milk yield, mortality, and economic parameters on dairy farms. A scoping review approach was adopted to map the volume, range, and characteristics of the existing body of evidence and to identify research gaps. Through a comprehensive search, 286 studies published between 2010 and 2020 were identified and underwent data extraction and analysis. These studies were conducted in 46 countries, and encompassed both research and non-research herds as well as simulation models. The Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) was the most common indicator of heat stress, although a range of atmospheric, physiological, and descriptive indicators were used. Three-quarters of these studies examined at least one heat stress mitigation strategy, such as genetic manipulations, mechanical interventions, and diet manipulation. Approximately 97% of studies evaluated the impact of heat stress on milk yield, and 10% of studies examined at least one economic parameter. Research gaps exist in the analysis of economic parameters related to heat stress in dairy cattle. Given the urgent and increasing nature of climate challenges, additional economic analyses of the effects of heat stress in dairy cattle are needed to inform production and animal health decisions in a rapidly changing environment.

Correcting Misclassification Errors in Crowdsourced Ecological Data: A Bayesian Perspective

Abstract Many research domains use data elicited from ‘citizen scientists’ when a direct measure of a process is expensive or infeasible. However, participants may report incorrect estimates or classifications due to their lack of skill. We demonstrate how Bayesian hierarchical models can be used to learn about latent variables of interest, while accounting for the participants’ abilities. The model is described in the context of an ecological application that involves crowdsourced classifications of georeferenced coral-reef images from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. The latent variable of interest is the proportion of coral cover, which is a common indicator of coral reef health. The participants’ abilities are expressed in terms of sensitivity and specificity of a correctly classified set of points on the images. The model also incorporates a spatial component, which allows prediction of the latent variable in locations that have not been surveyed. We show that the model outperforms traditional weighted-regression approaches used to account for uncertainty in citizen science data. Our approach produces more accurate regression coefficients and provides a better characterisation of the latent process of interest. This new method is implemented in the probabilistic programming language Stan and can be applied to a wide number of problems that rely on uncertain citizen science data.

Assessment of small water bodies Sergiev Posad district on the taxonomic diversity of green, blue-green and diatom algae

The purpose of the study was to determine the degree of saprobity of the artificial extension of the Vytravki riverbed (left tributary of the Dubna river) in the Sergiev Posad district of the Moscow region, based on the taxonomic composition of the pelagial and littoral algal flora. For this purpose, the systematic position of algae was determined using a number of domestic and foreign sources, as well as using the electronic database AlgaeBase. The most attention was paid to common indicator types, according to the literature data. Algological samples were taken in accordance with generally accepted methods; the main part of the samples was processed immediately after collection on site, the rest of the material was fixed with a formalin solution and Prat medium for detailed study in laboratory conditions under a microscope. According to the results of the study of hydrobiological samples, the composition of algal flora in the summer-autumn period was determined. There is a large species diversity of algae, represented by most of the divisions characteristic of the Central part of Russia. The green, diatomaceous, and blue-green algae divisions were the most represented. Maximum species diversity was observed for the genera Scenedesmus (9 species) and Pediastrum (10 species). Diatoms are the second group in terms of frequency of occurrence of species that live both in standing water and in rheophilic conditions. Blue-green algae were represented by pelagic forms, with a small frequency of occurrence. Among them, the genera Anabaena (5 species) and Microcystis (3 species) are notable for their high species diversity. The algal flora of the pond was marked divisions, dinophyceae and kropotova, typical for oligotrophic and distrophic reservoirs, indicating a high quality water environment. The established hydrochemical parameters of the reservoir were normal and were similar to the reservoirs of Central Russia at the end of the growing season, which were not exposed to anthropogenic impact.

A Retrospective Study in Dengue Positive Cases - Hematological and Biochemical Parameters (Liver Function Tests, Renal Function Tests) Correlation

Dengue fever is the most common arboviral infection in the world, and it is a disease with a broad clinical spectrum and a wide variety of presentations, ranging from asymptomatic to an undifferentiated fever (viral syndrome) to the more severe forms such as severe dengue (SD) or Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). The diagnosis of dengue fever is carried out based on clinical, epidemiological and laboratory data. Among laboratory tests, both non-specific [blood count, platelet count, tourniquet test, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), liver function tests and serum albumin concentration] and specific tests (viral isolation tests and serology for antibody examination) are used. The principle aim of our study is to assess and compare the biochemical and haematological parameters of patients with dengue. In our study population, the peak frequency of the patients who were dengue positive was on the age group between 21 and 30 years (44%), and it was more common among males. The most common serological indicator of dengue fever was the presence of NS1 antibody. High haematocrit (56%) was found in most of the patients, and the next common finding was thrombocytopenia (51%). Elevated Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase seen in 53% of cases and Elevated Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, Alkaline Phosphatase, Serum Bilirubin, Serum creatinine and Serum urea were found in 41%, 11%,7%, 4%, 3%of cases respectively. The knowledge about these parameters helps the clinician in early diagnosis of the cases and initiation of the management measures before the drastic clinical features of the disease sets.

Experimental measurements of CO2 concentrations in sleeping rooms

People spend nearly one-third of their life on sleeping. Several factors can affect bedroom air quality and comfort of sleep, such as temperature, relative humidity and air quality. The most common indicator of indoor air quality is the concentration of carbon dioxide, its presence in indoor environment being strictly related to respiration and human metabolism. Since 2002, when the European Parliament and Council approved the directive on energy performance of buildings, EU member countries launched various programs for refurbishment of buildings and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems, in order to reduce the energy consumption. Unfortunately, the renovation operations, such as replacing old windows with new tight ones or thermal insulation of the facades, lead to tightly sealed interior spaces. Insufficient infiltration of fresh air and limited natural ventilation result into increased pollutant concentration and deterioration of the indoor microclimate. Permissible concentration of carbon dioxide in the closed spaces according to World Health Organization is 1000 ppm. When the level exceeds this threshold, occupants may complain of headaches, drowsiness, lack of concentration and fatigue. The present study shows the measurements of carbon dioxide concentrations conducted in several sleeping rooms located in refurbished buildings, with or without mechanical ventilation system for fresh air supply, as well as suggested measures.

Recent developments in etiology and disease modeling of biliary atresia: a narrative review.

Biliary atresia (BA) is a rare but severe fibroinflammatory disease of the extrahepatic and the intrahepatic bile ducts. Without prompt interventions, BA has fatal outcomes and is the most common indicator for pediatric liver transplantation (LTx). While the mainstay of treatment involves surgically correcting the extrahepatic biliary obstruction via Kasai hepato-portoenterostomy (KHPE), activation of a multitude of biological pathways and yet-to-be-determined etiology in BA continue to foster liver inflammation, cirrhosis and need for LTx. However, important caveats still exist in our understandings of the biliary pathophysiology, the rapidity of liver fibrosis and progression to liver failure, largely due to limited knowledge of the triggers of biliary injury and the inability to accurately model human BA. Although inconclusive, a large body of existing literature points to a potential viral infection in the early peri- or postnatal period as triggers of epithelial injury that perpetuates the downstream biliary disease. Further confounding this issue, are the lack of in-vivo and in-vitro models to efficiently recapitulate the cardinal features of BA, primarily liver fibrosis. To overcome these barriers in BA research, new directions in recent years have enabled (I) identification of additional triggers of biliary injury linked mostly to environmental toxins, (II) development of models to investigate liver fibrogenesis, and (III) translational research using patient-derived organoids. Here, we discuss recent advances that undoubtedly will stimulate future efforts investigating these new and exciting avenues towards mechanistic and drug discovery efforts and disease-preventive measures. The implications of these emerging scientific investigations and disease modeling in severe fibrosing cholangiopathies like BA are enormous and contribute substantially in our understandings of this rare but deadly disease. These findings are also expected to facilitate expeditious identification of translationally targetable pathways and bring us one step closer in treating an infant with BA, a population highly vulnerable to life-long liver related complications.

The effect of alcohol consumption on clinical outcomes in regional patients with chronic disease: a retrospective chart audit

ObjectiveTo better understand the impact of alcohol consumption on the clinical management of chronic diseases in a regional general practice setting. MethodsA retrospective chart audit was undertaken of individual patient records at two large group general practices in Townsville, a regional Australian city. Three common indicator chronic diseases were selected that have clear management guidelines for general practice: type 2 diabetes; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and chronic kidney disease. The audits were analysed using SPSS software to examine the association between alcohol consumption on acquisition of clinical management targets and primary disease intermediate outcomes (haemoglobin A1c fraction; per cent of normal forced expiratory volume at one second; and estimated glomerular filtration rate). ResultsA total of 457 records were audited. Higher‐risk alcohol consumption is associated with reduced ability of patients to reach management targets (F[3,453]=3.68; p=0.012) and decreased standardised primary disease outcome (F[3,403]=2.86; p=0.037). ConclusionHigher‐risk alcohol consumption is associated with reduced attainment of chronic disease management targets and worse chronic disease outcomes. Implications for public healthAlcohol consumption should be assessed frequently in people with chronic disease, especially when there is difficulty acquiring management targets or worsening of disease outcomes without a clear explanation. Better education about the potential associations between alcohol use and chronic disease would benefit those managing these complex conditions, both clinicians and patients.

THE COURSE OF A COMBINATION OF HIV INFECTION, TUBERCULOSIS, KAPOSI'S SARCOMA IN A PATIENT WHO ARRIVED FROM THE PENITENTIARY SYSTEM (CLINICAL CASE)

The article discusses the problems of polymorbidity in HIV infection, the causes of the unfavorable course of combined diseases, and the influence of social factors on the outcome of diseases. An epidemic variant of Kaposi's sarcoma develops against the background of immunosuppression and is a clinical marker of AIDS. In the first years of the pandemic, it occurred in every third patient and was one of the most common AIDS indicator diseases. In recent years of the HIV and AIDS epidemic, the incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma has decreased by more than 10 times. The course of HIV-associated Kaposi's sarcoma can vary, from long-term stable, lasting for years, to progressive, leading to the patient's death in a few months. The introduction of ARV therapy into practice has also changed the clinical course of Kaposi's sarcoma, its forms with aggressive malignant course are now rare. However, they do occur. A clinical case of a combination of HIV infection, tuberculosis, Kaposi's sarcoma in a patient who arrived from the penitentiary system is presented. It is emphasized that social status and social maladaptation, including stay in prison, has a significant impact on the outcome of combined pathology, along with other aggravating factors. In a patient who has previously had tuberculosis, from the moment of HIV detection to the manifestation of Kaposi's sarcoma, 4 years passed, from the appearance of the first signs of Kaposi's sarcoma to the fatal outcome – 4 months. The clinical case demonstrates the difficulties of differential diagnosis of disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis with Kaposi's sarcoma in a patient with severe immunodeficiency due to HIV; and reflects the influence of social factors on the rapidly progressive course of the combined pathology.

An Empirical Study for European Countries: Factors Affecting Economic Growth and Self-Employment by Gender

In economic literature, the relationship between entrepreneurship and economic growth has been widely discussed for some time now. In addition to the different theoretical approaches, a considerable amount of empirical works in recent decades have sought to verify the direct link between both variables by analyzing datasets from several distinct geographic areas. On one hand, it highlights the absence of a common indicator to measure entrepreneurship in practice relating to a country’s economic growth; on the other hand, it shows a great diversity of factors determining them. With the aim of providing new empirical evidence in the field of European entrepreneurship, this paper has analyzed data relating to 31 European countries over the last decade by introducing self-employment as an empirical proxy of entrepreneurship. In particular, this study contrasts the positive effect of public expenditure, investment, human capital, and entrepreneurship on economic growth for a wide range of countries and examines the impact of some economic and educational variables on self-employment, such as unemployment, taxes, education, and early school leaving. The estimation method used in this research had to consider the Ordinary Least Squares through a multiple regression model of constant coefficients based on annual Eurostat statistics for the period of 2010 to 2019. The results obtained verify the positive effect of public expenditure, investment, human capital, and entrepreneurship on economic growth. Moreover, the analysis of other factors affecting entrepreneurship, segregated by gender, shows how unemployment and the level of education have a positive impact on self-employment, while significant increases in the tax rate on capital and early school leaving harmed such variable. No significant differences were found between males and females.

A network-based approach to deciphering a dynamic microbiome\u2019s response to a subtle perturbation

Over the past decades, one main issue that has emerged in ecological and environmental research is how losses in biodiversity influence ecosystem dynamics and functioning, and consequently human society. Although biodiversity is a common indicator of ecosystem functioning, it is difficult to measure biodiversity in microbial communities exposed to subtle or chronic environmental perturbations. Consequently, there is a need for alternative bioindicators to detect, measure, and monitor gradual changes in microbial communities against these slight, chronic, and continuous perturbations. In this study, microbial networks before and after subtle perturbations by adding S. acidaminiphila showed diverse topological niches and 4-node motifs in which microbes with co-occurrence patterns played the central roles in regulating and adjusting the intertwined relationships among microorganisms in response to the subtle environmental changes. This study demonstrates that microbial networks are a good bioindicator for chronic perturbation and should be applied in a variety of ecological investigations.

Clinical Characterization and Risk Factors Associated with Cytokine Release Syndrome Induced By COVID-19 and Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy

Background: An excessive immune response during coronavirus disease (COVID-19) can induce cytokine release syndrome (CRS), which is associated with life-threatening complications and disease progression.Methods: This study was aimed to investigate the differences and similarities between CRS induced by COVID-19 and CAR-T therapy, then provide valuable experiences for early identification and controlling CRS progression in COVID-19. We retrospectively evaluated the clinical characteristics of severe CRS (sCRS, grade 3-4) induced by COVID-19 (40 patients) or chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy as a comparator (41 patients).Results: Grade 4 CRS was significantly more common in the COVID-19 group (15/40 [35.7%] vs. 5/41 [12.2%], P=0.008). CAR-T group had more more dramatic increase in cytokine than COVID-19 group (Figure1), including IL-2 (7.3pg/mL [IQR: 2.0-12.7] vs.1.7 [0.7-2.7], P<0.001), IL-6 (7120.6 pg/mL [1066.8-15 136.4] vs. 110.3 [41.7-728.1], P<0.001), IL-10 (174.5pg/mL [61.7, 434.6] vs. 10.1 [6.3-20.6], P<0.001) and IFN-γ (1308.5pg/mL [296.6, 3108.2] vs .35.0 [16.9-60.8], P<0.001). Interestingly, COVID-19 group had significantly higher levels for TNF-α (31.1 pg/ml [16.1-70.0] vs. 3.3 [1.8-9.6], P<0.001).The correlations between viral load/ tumor burden and various cytokine levels were shown in Figure 2. Lg viral loads were correlated with lg IL-6 (R2=0.101; P<0.001) and lg IL-10 (R2=0.105; P<0.001) .In CAR-T group, LDH was a common indicator related to tumor burden among patients with ALL, NHL, and MM. The lg LDH concentration was correlated with the lg serum concentration of IL-6 (R2=0.161; P=0.01). The independent risk factors for COVID-19-related sCRS were hypertension history (OR: 7.167, 95% CI: 2.345-21.903; P=0.001) and minimum platelets <100×109 /L during disease course (OR: 9.237, 95% CI: 2.544-33.546; P=0.001).Conclusion:Our study demonstrated that there were similar processes but different intensity of inflammatory responses of sCRS in COVID-19 and CAR-T group. The diagnose and management of COVID-19 related sCRS can learn lessons from treatment of sCRS induced by CAR-T therapy.Keywords: Cytokine release syndrome, COVID-19, Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapyFigure 1DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Utility of rapid tests to assess the prevalence of indicator organisms (Aerobic plate count, Enterobacteriaceae, coliforms, Escherichia coli, and Listeria spp.) in apple packinghouses

The 2014 listeriosis outbreak caused by caramel-coated apples was linked to apples cross-contaminated within an apple packing facility. This outbreak has increased the focus on effective cleaning and sanitation methods that must be validated and monitored during apple packing. Thus, rapid and reliable testing methods are necessary for assessing cleanliness in the apple packing industry. The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of common indicator organisms [Aerobic plate count (APC), Enterobacteriaceae, coliforms, Escherichia coli, and Listeria spp.] on food contact surfaces (zone 1) in apple packinghouses and to evaluate the utility and accuracy of currently used rapid tests (ATP and glucose/lactose residue swabs). Food contact surfaces were sampled over a 100 cm2 area in five commercial apple packinghouses to evaluate populations of indicator organisms APC, Enterobacteriaceae, coliforms, E. coli (n = 741), and rapid test readings (n = 659). Petrifilm plates were used for the quantification of APC, Enterobacteriaceae, and coliform/E. coli. Rapid tests [ATP swabs (UltraSnap) and glucose/lactose residue swabs (SpotCheck Plus)] were processed on-site. A larger area (0.93 m2) was sampled for the detection of Listeria spp. (n = 747), following a modified protocol of the FDA's Bacteriological Analytical Manual method, and confirmed with PCR and gel electrophoresis via the iap gene. No significant association was found between either rapid test and populations of APC, Enterobacteriaceae, coliforms, E. coli, and Listeria spp. detection. However, recovery of APC (log CFU/100 cm2) was higher with a failed glucose/lactose residue swab surface hygiene result (3.1) than a passed result (2.9) (p = 0.03).Populations of APC, Enterobacteriaceae, and coliforms were significantly different at each unit operation during the packing process (p ≤ 0.05). This study concluded that ATP and glucose/lactose residue rapid tests were poorly suited for determining microbial load since they were not related to populations of any common indicator organisms or the detection of Listeria spp. These findings emphasize the need to utilize a rapid test, which can be a good indicator of residual matter on a surface, along with traditional microbiological methods to assess cleaning and sanitation practices in apple packinghouses.

Screening of Lactobacillus plantarum with broad-spectrum antifungal activity and its application in preservation of golden-red apples

Fungal food spoilage is a common problem that leads to both great economic losses and serious health problems. This study screened the antifungal activity of 137 Lactobacillus plantarum isolates against six common food spoilage indicator fungi using an overlay method and indicator strains of the species Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium moniliforme, Penicillium expansum, Penicillium chrysogenum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, and Aspergillus niger. Among Lactobacillus plantarum isolates, strain IMAU80174 was selected as the most effective based on the results of mycelium growth inhibition by its cell-free supernatant (CFS) and tolerance to simulated gastrointestinal juices and bile. The CFS of Lactobacillus plantarum IMAU80174 showed heat and protease resistance, and it was active only in a low pH environment. The application of the CFS to golden-red apples could slow down spoilage caused by inoculation of Penicillium expansum.

River water quality index prediction and uncertainty analysis: A comparative study of machine learning models

The Water Quality Index (WQI) is the most common indicator to characterize surface water quality. This study introduces a new ensemble machine learning model called Extra Tree Regression (ETR) for predicting monthly WQI values at the Lam Tsuen River in Hong Kong. The ETR model performance is compared with that of the classic standalone models, Support Vector Regression (SVR) and Decision Tree Regression (DTR). The monthly input water quality data including Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Electrical Conductivity (EC), Nitrate-Nitrogen (NO3 -N), Nitrite-Nitrogen (NO2 -N), Phosphate (PO43-), potential for Hydrogen (pH), Temperature (T) and Turbidity (TUR) are used for building the prediction models. Various input data combinations are investigated and assessed in terms of prediction performance, using numerical indices and graphical comparisons. The analysis shows that the ETR model generally produces more accurate WQI predictions for both training and testing phases. Although including all the ten input variables achieves the highest prediction performance (R2test=0.98, RMSEtest=2.99), a combination of input parameters including only BOD, Turbidity and Phosphate concentration provides the second highest prediction accuracy (R2test=0.97, RMSEtest=3.74). The uncertainty analysis relative to model structure and input parameters highlights a higher sensitivity of the prediction results to the former. In general, the ETR model represents an improvement on previous approaches for WQI prediction, in terms of prediction performance and reduction in the number of input parameters.

Current Status of Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs in São Paulo Hospitals

Background: Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) consist of coordinated interventions designed to improve and measure appropriate antimicrobial use. Understanding the current structure of ASPs hospitals will support interventions for improvement or implementation of these programs. Objective: We aimed to describe the current status of ASP in hospitals in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey regarding ASP of hospitals in São Paulo state, Brazil, from March to July 2018. Through interviews by telephone or e-mail, we asked participants which components of IDSA/SHEA and CDC guidelines had been implemented. Results: The response rate was 30% (28 of 93 hospitals) and 26 of the hospitals (85%) reported having a formal ASP. Policies, practices, and strategies of surveyed ASP are detailed in Table 1. The most frequently implemented strategies were (1) antimicrobial surgical prophylaxis guideline (100%), (2) empiric sepsis guideline (93%), and (3) presence of ASP team member during bedside rounds (96%). The least commonly implemented strategies included prior authorization for all antimicrobials (11%), pharmacokinetic monitoring and adjustment program for patients on IV aminoglycosides (3%). Regarding metrics of the ASP, the most common indicator was the rates of antimicrobial resistance (77%). Overall, 18 hospitals (19%) used defined daily dose and only 29% used days of therapy. Moreover, 61% of hospitals reported their results to hospital the administration and 39% of hospitals reported their results to the prescribers. Conclusions: Most hospitals have a formal ASP, but there are opportunities for improvement. Future efforts should prioritize tracking and reporting ASP metrics.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

Liquefaction fragility of sewer pipes derived from the case study of Urayasu (Japan)

The damage on supply and drainage water networks is a serious cause of economic disruption for urban systems affected by earthquakes. Among various concerns, the ruptures of sewer pipes and manholes generated by liquefaction determine a particularly severe sanitary hazard and require extensive, costly and time-consuming repairs. Quantitative risk assessment carried out with the characterisation and geographical mapping of seismic hazard, subsoil susceptibility, physical and functional vulnerability of the exposed elements, enables to estimate losses, identify weaknesses, inspire strategies to mitigate the impact of earthquakes and improve resilience. The present study deals with the physical vulnerability of sewer pipelines. Empirical fragility functions are derived from the evidences of liquefaction induced in Urayasu (Japan) by the 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake (Mw9.0). The spatial distribution of seismic signals, subsoil characteristics, pipes and surveyed damages are reconstructed in a GIS platform. An articulated methodology is developed to correlate variables and compensate their limited spatial correspondence, exploiting the complete coverage of the area with terrestrial settlements measured by LiDAR and their strong correlation with damage. Finally, ruptures of pipes are probabilistically quantified adopting a common liquefaction severity indicator as engineering demand parameter and measuring the efficiency of relations with statistical tests.