Effective Control Research Articles

Prevalence Study and Overview of Rabies in the Province of Ouarzazate-Morocco

Background: Rabies is a cosmopolitan anthropozoonosis for which humans are accidental victims. In Morocco, rabies is an endemic disease, with new cases of human rabies reported every year. The aim of our study is to analyze the epidemiological aspects of rabies in the province of Ouarzazate. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study using records available at the Ouarzazate Municipal Hygiene Office. It includes 1,759 cases of exposure to animal bites between 2016 and 2019. Results: We identified 1,759 cases of animal bites during the period of 4 years of study, representing an average annual exposure rate of 190/100,000 inhabitants. Most cases were rural (65%). The median age of bitten cases was 28 years, with people under 15 years of age exposed in 32% of cases. Males predominate, with 61.3% of cases. Dogs are the main animal aggressors at 47.8%, followed by cats at 33%. The upper limbs are the preferred sites of aggression (89.2%). Exposure was grade III in 76.8% of cases. Lesions were multiple in 52.1% and superficial in 62.6%. No cases of human rabies have been recorded since 2001, despite 20 cases being exposed to a biologically confirmed rabid animal during our study. Conclusion: Rabies remains a public health concern in the province of Ouarzazate, despite the presence of a national rabies control program. Effective control of this zoonosis requires strengthening education and community engagement, as well as close collaboration between animal health and human health sectors for integrated management of bite cases.

Initial therapeutic evidence of a borosilicate bioactive glass (BSG) and Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticle scaffold on implant-associated Staphylococcal aureus bone infection

Implant-associated Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) osteomyelitis is a severe challenge in orthopedics. While antibiotic-loaded bone cement is a standardized therapeutic approach for S. aureus osteomyelitis, it falls short in eradicating Staphylococcus abscess communities (SACs) and bacteria within osteocyte-lacuna canalicular network (OLCN) and repairing bone defects. To address limitations, we developed a borosilicate bioactive glass (BSG) combined with ferroferric oxide (Fe3O4) magnetic scaffold to enhance antibacterial efficacy and bone repair capabilities. We conducted comprehensive assessments of the osteoinductive, immunomodulatory, antibacterial properties, and thermal response of this scaffold, with or without an alternating magnetic field (AMF). Utilizing a well-established implant-related S. aureus tibial infection rabbit model, we evaluated its antibacterial performance in vivo. RNA transcriptome sequencing demonstrated that BSG + 5%Fe3O4 enhanced the immune response to bacteria and promoted osteogenic differentiation and mineralization of MSCs. Notably, BSG + 5%Fe3O4 upregulated gene expression of NOD-like receptor and TNF pathway in MSCs, alongside increased the expression of osteogenic factors (RUNX2, ALP and OCN) in vitro. Flow cytometry on macrophage exhibited a polarization effect towards M2, accompanied by upregulation of anti-inflammatory genes (TGF-β1 and IL-1Ra) and downregulation of pro-inflammatory genes (IL-6 and IL-1β) among macrophages. In vivo CT imaging revealed the absence of osteolysis and periosteal response in rabbits treated with BSG + 5%Fe3O4 + AMF at 42 days. Histological analysis indicated complete controls of SACs and bacteria within OLCN by day 42, along with new bone formation, signifying effective control of S. aureus osteomyelitis. Further investigations will focus on the in vivo biosafety and biological mechanism of this scaffold within infectious microenvironment.

In vitro phenotypic characterisation of two genotype I African swine fever viruses with genomic deletion isolated from Sardinian wild boars

African swine fever virus (ASFV) causes a devastating disease affecting domestic and wild pigs. ASF was first introduced in Sardinia in 1978 and until 2019 only genotype I isolates were identified. A remarkable genetic stability of Sardinian ASFV isolates was described, nevertheless in 2019 two wild boar isolates with a sustained genomic deletion (4342 base pairs) were identified (7303WB/19, 7212WB/19). In this study, we therefore performed in vitro experiments with monocyte-derived macrophages (moMФ) to unravel the phenotypic characteristics of these deleted viruses. Both 7303WB/19 and 7212WB/19 presented a lower growth kinetic in moMФ compared to virulent Sardinian 26544/OG10, using either a high (1) or a low (0.01) multiplicity of infection (MOI). In addition, flow cytometric analysis showed that both 7303WB/19 and 7212WB/19 presented lower intracellular levels of both early and late ASFV proteins. We subsequently investigated whether deleted virus variants were previously circulating in wild boars in Sardinia. In the four years preceding the last genotype I isolation (February 2015–January 2019), other eight wild boar isolates were collected, all belonging to p72 genotype I, B602L subgroup X, but none of them presented a sustained genomic deletion. Overall, we observed the deleted virus isolates in Sardinia only in 2019, at the end of a strong eradication campaign, and our data suggest that it might possess an attenuated phenotype in vivo. A better understanding of ASFV evolution in endemic territories might contribute to development of effective control measures against ASF.

Utilizing Copper Nanoclusters as a Fluorescent Probe for Quantitative Monitoring of Doxorubicin Anticancer Drug.

Monitoring the amount of chemotherapeutic drugs in biological fluids is extremely important for dose adjustment or control of side effects during the treatment process. In this study, copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) were synthesized via a one-pot method using ammonium citrate as the reducing agent. Cu NCs exhibited bright blue fluorescence, good optical properties and outstanding photostability. The produced Cu NCs were characterized in detail by UV‒vis absorption, fluorescence spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The produced Cu NCs showed a high quantum yield of 0.97. A fluorescence system was used for doxorubicin (DOX) determination using Cu NCs as a nanoprobe. The presence of DOX decreased the fluorescence intensity of the CuNCs at 445nm but increased the fluorescence intensity of the CuNCs at 619nm. As a result, quantitative detection of DOX can be achieved by measuring the ratio of fluorescence intensities at 445 and 619nm (F619/F445). The fluorescence quenching activity of the Cu NCs was determined to have a linear relationship with the amount of DOX anticancer drug in the range of 1-15 ppb, and the usability of the Cu NCs as a sensor for detection in biological fluids was demonstrated. It was determined that this method can be used to measure the amount of DOX in biological samples effectively.

Investigation on the Tea Polyphenol/Swelling Gels to Inhibit Coal Spontaneous Combustion: An Experimental Study

ABSTRACT Developing new fire-fighting material is most significant for effective prevention and control of coal spontaneous combustion. To enhance the flame-retardant performance of the gel, the tea polyphenol/swelling gels are developed using a water-soluble polymerization method. Thermogravimetric analysis, programmed temperature experiments, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy are used to reveal the structural characteristics, microscopic morphology, and thermal stability of the gel. Experimental testing the tea polyphenol/swelling gels’ water absorption, water retention, and reusability as well as their inhibitory effect on coal spontaneous combustion. The results showed that the prepared tea polyphenol/swelling gels exhibited a porous three-dimensional network structure, with a maximum swelling ratio of 607.2 g/g and a salt absorption rate of 121.4 g/g. After the testing coal sample is treating by the tea polyphenol/swelling gels, its CO production rate is sharply decreased, but the corresponding ignition point temperature and flame-retardant rate are significantly increased. The activation energy in the first stage is increased by 32.2 kJ·mol−1, in the second stage by 4.0 kJ·mol−1, and in the third stage by 23.2 kJ·mol−1. Additionally, the active functional groups such as hydroxyl and methyl in the coal are also reduced by the treatment of tea polyphenol/swelling gels. Correlation analysis indicate that the inhibition effect of coal spontaneous combustion can be achieved by reducing -OH, CH3/CH2 groups, while the increasing of C = C, C- O, C- H functional groups in the coal. Moreover, the tea polyphenol/swelling gels performing the characteristics of excellent water absorption, inhibiting coal spontaneous combustion by absorbing heat, covering the coal microstructure, and inhibiting the oxidative activity of coal molecules. This study can provide theoretical guidance for the application of swelling gels in inhibiting coal spontaneous combustion.

Protective function and differentiation cues of brain-resident CD8+ T cells during surveillance of latent Toxoplasma gondii infection

Chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection induces brain-resident CD8+ T cells (bTr), but the protective functions and differentiation cues of these cells remain undefined. Here, we used a mouse model of latent infection by T. gondii leading to effective CD8+ T cell-mediated parasite control. Thanks to antibody depletion approaches, we found that peripheral circulating CD8+ T cells are dispensable for brain parasite control during chronic stage, indicating that CD8+ bTr are able to prevent brain parasite reactivation. We observed that the retention markers CD69, CD49a, and CD103 are sequentially acquired by brain parasite-specific CD8+ T cells throughout infection and that a majority of CD69/CD49a/CD103 triple-positive (TP) CD8+ T cells also express Hobit, a transcription factor associated with tissue residency. This TP subset develops in a CD4+ T cell-dependent manner and is associated with effective parasite control during chronic stage. Conditional invalidation of Transporter associated with Antigen Processing (TAP)-mediated major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I presentation showed that presentation of parasite antigens by glutamatergic neurons and microglia regulates the differentiation of CD8+ bTr into TP cells. Single-cell transcriptomic analyses revealed that resistance to encephalitis is associated with the expansion of stem-like subsets of CD8+ bTr. In summary, parasite-specific brain-resident CD8+ T cells are a functionally heterogeneous compartment which autonomously ensure parasite control during T. gondii latent infection and which differentiation is shaped by neuronal and microglial MHC I presentation. A more detailed understanding of local T cell-mediated immune surveillance of this common parasite is needed for harnessing brain-resident CD8+ T cells in order to enhance control of chronic brain infections.

Insights Into Preaggregation Control of Y-Series Nonfullerene Acceptors in Liquid State for Highly Efficient Binary Organic Solar Cells.

Leveraging breakthroughs in Y-series nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs), organic solar cells (OSCs) have achieved impressive power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) exceeding 19%. However, progress in advancing OSCs has decelerated due to constraints in realizing the full potential of the Y-series NFAs. Herein, a simple yet effective solid additive-induced preaggregation control method employing 2-chloro-5-iodopyridine (PDCI) is reported to unlock the full potential of the Y-series NFAs. Specifically, PDCI interacts predominantly with Y-series NFAs enabling enhanced and ordered phase-aggregation in solution. This method leads to a notable improvement and a redshifted absorption of the acceptor phase during film formation, along with improved crystallinity. Moreover, the PDCI-induced preaggregation of NFAs in the solution enables ordered molecule packing during the film-formation process through delicate intermediate states transition. Consequently, the PDCI-induced preaggregated significantly improves the PCE of PM6:Y6 OSCs from 16.12% to 18.12%, among the best values reported for PM6:Y6 OSCs. Importantly, this approach is universally applicable to other Y-series NFA-based OSCs, achieving a champion PCE of 19.02% for the PM6:BTP-eC9 system. Thus, the preaggregation control strategy further unlocks the potential of Y-series NFAs, offering a promising avenue for enhancing the photovoltaic performance of Y-series NFA-based OSCs.

Identification, phylogeny, pathogenicity and management of Alternaria burnsii (Uppal, Patel and Kamat) causing blight of cumin

Alternaria blight is one of the important diseases of cumin. The disease initiation was observed at nearly one month age of the crop during warm humid weather in the epidemic form at flowering stage and seeds could not mature to full size. The pathogen was isolated by tissue isolation technique. Pathogenicity test was proved by following Koch’s postulates. The pathogen was identified as Alternaria burnsii based on morphological characters and ITS sequencing. The sequence was submitted to gene bank NCBI and it was accepted by NCBI with accession number MT856660. For effective control of cumin blight with fungicides a field experiment was conducted. Efficacy of eight fungicides was tested under field condition for disease intensity and yield of cumin. Among the eight combined and single fungicides, Azoxystrobin 11% + Tebuconazole 18.30% SC at concentration 0.044% was most effective with 14.76% least mean disease intensity and highest yield of 907 kg/ha followed by Metiram 55 % + Pyraclostrobin 5 % WG at concentration 0.18% with 18.27% least mean disease intensity and yield of 889 kg/ha.

Effective Nonlinear Predictive and CTC-PID Control of Rigid Manipulators

Effective nonlinear control of manipulators with dynamically coupled arms, like those with direct drives, is the subject of the paper. The main proposal of the paper are model-based predictive control (MPC) algorithms, with nonlinear state-space models and most recent disturbance attenuation technique. This technique makes controller design and calculations simpler, avoiding necessity of dynamic modeling of disturbances or resorting to additional techniques like SMC. The core of the paper are computationally effective MPC-NPL (Nonlinear Prediction and Linearization) algorithms, where computations at every sample are divided into two parts: prediction of initial trajectories using nonlinear model, then optimization using simplified linearized model. For a comparison a known CTC-PID algorithm, which is also model-based, is considered. It is applied in standard form and also proposed in more advanced CTC-PID2dof version. For all algorithms a comprehensive comparative simulation study is performed, for a direct drive manipulator under disturbances. Additional contribution of the paper is an investigation of influence of sampling period length and computational delay time on performance of the algorithms, which is practically important when using model-based algorithms and fast sampling.

Dynamic Modeling and Control of a 4-Wheel Narrow Tilting Vehicle

The automotive industries currently face challenges such as emission limits, traffic congestion, and limited parking, which have prompted shifts in consumer preferences and modern passenger vehicle requirements towards compact vehicles. However, given the inherent limited width of compact vehicles, the potential risk of vehicle rollover is greater than that of regular vehicles. This paper addresses the safety concerns associated with vehicle rollover, focusing on narrow tilting vehicles (NTVs). Quantifying stability involves numerical indicators such as the lateral load transfer ratio (LTR). Additionally, a unique approach is taken by applying ZMP (zero moment point), commonly used in the robotics field, as an indicator of vehicle stability. Effective roll control requires a detailed analysis of the vehicle’s characteristic model and the derivation of lateral and roll dynamics. The paper presents the detailed roll dynamics of an NTV with a MacPherson strut-type suspension. A stability-enhancing method is proposed using a cascade structure based on the internal robust position controller and outer roll stability controller, addressing challenges posed by disturbances. Experimental verification using Simscape Multibody and CarSim validates the dynamic model and controller’s effectiveness, ensuring the reliability of the proposed tilting control for NTVs in practical scenarios.

Tunable linear feedback control of urban drainage systems using models defined purely from data.

Real-time and model-predictive control promises to make urban drainage systems (UDS) adaptive, coordinated, and dynamically optimal. Though early implementations are promising, existing control algorithms have drawbacks in computational expense, trust, system-level coordination, and labor cost. Linear feedback control has distinct advantages in computational expense, interpretation, and coordination. However, current methods for building linear feedback controllers require calibrated software models. Here we present an automated method for generating tunable linear feedback controllers that require only system response data. The controller design consists of three main steps: (1) estimating the network connectivity using tools for causal inference, (2) identifying a linear, time-invariant (LTI) dynamical system which approximates the network, and (3) designing and tuning a feedback controller based on the LTI urban drainage system approximation. The flooding safety, erosion prevention, and water treatment performance of the method are evaluated across 190 design storms on a separated sewer model. Strong results suggest that the system knowledge required for generating effective, safe, and tunable controllers for UDS is surprisingly basic. This method allows near-turnkey synthesis of controllers solely from sensor data or reduction of process-based models.

Native bacterial bioagents for management of potato soft rot disease caused by Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum

BackgroundThe reduced rate of potato production may occur under different conditions such as field, transit, storage, and marketing. Potato cultivation is frequently affected by various pathogens, among which Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum is a notorious bacterial pathogen responsible for causing bacterial soft rot disease. This pathogen poses a significant threat to potato production worldwide, resulting in substantial economic losses and food security concerns. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of three bacterial bioagents, namely Brevundimonas bullata, Bacillus siamensis, and Bacillus velezensis, against P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum, a notorious bacterium responsible for causing potato tuber soft rot disease.ResultsFifteen isolates were isolated from rhizosphere of potato plants. Out of 15 isolates, 3 isolates, No. 1, 11, and 12, showed highly antagonistic property to control the growth of P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum in vitro. They were identified as B. bullata, B. velezensis, and B. siamensis, by using 16S rRNA nucleotide sequence analysis. Results from these experiments revealed that three bioagents exhibited notable inhibitory effects on the growth of the pathogenic bacterium. However, B. velezensis stood out as the most effective inhibitor among the tested bioagents, showcasing the highest level of bacteriostatic activity (2.6 cm). The findings from the in vitro experiments provided promising insights into the potential of these bacterial bioagents as natural antagonists against potato tuber soft rot disease. Building upon these promising results, the study recommended the utilization of all tested bioagents for controlling soft rot disease in potato tubers, especially during storage conditions where the risk of bacterial proliferation is heightened. Treatment with B. bullata, B. siamensis, and B. velezensis demonstrates varying degrees of efficacy in controlling the progression of soft rot disease. Notably, B. velezensis shows promising results with relatively low disease severity scores across all time points compared to the other treatments. B. velezensis demonstrates the lowest disease severity percentage at 7.00% compared to the other treatments.ConclusionsThe study underscores the significant potential of B. bullata, B. siamensis, and B. velezensis as effective biological control agents against potato tuber soft rot disease. By targeting the causative agent directly, these bioagents offer a promising avenue for mitigating the detrimental impact of soft rot disease on potato production, thereby contributing to improved crop yield and quality.

Circulating GDF-15: a biomarker for metabolic dysregulation and aging in people living with HIV.

Despite effective control of HIV replication by antiretroviral therapy (ART), a significant number of people living with HIV (PLWH) fail to achieve complete immune reconstitution and thus are deemed immune non-responders (INRs). Compared with immune responders (IRs) who have restored their CD4 T cell numbers and functions, CD4 T cells from these INRs exhibit prominent mitochondrial dysfunction and premature aging, which play a major role in increasing the incidence of non-AIDS, non-communicable diseases (NCDs). To date, there are no reliable biomarkers that can be used to typify and manage PLWH, especially INRs with non-AIDS NCDs. Growth differential factor-15 (GDF-15) is a transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family member known to regulate several biological processes involved in cell aging and stress responses. Since PLWH exhibit premature aging and metabolic dysregulation, here we measured the plasma levels of GDF-15 by ELISA and metabolic proteins by proteomic array and correlated the results with clinical parameters in ART-controlled PLWH (including INRs and IRs) and healthy subjects (HS). We found that GDF-15 levels were significantly elevated in PLWH compared to HS. GDF-15 levels were positively correlated with age and negatively associated with body mass and LDL cholesterol levels in the study subjects. Also, elevated GDF-15 levels were correlated with differential dysregulation of multiple metabolic proteins in PLWH. These results suggest that GDF-15 protein may serve as a biomarker of metabolic dysregulation and aging, and this biomarker will be useful in clinical trials targeting aging and metabolic disorders in ART-treated PLWH.

Control on Flow Separation over a Cylinder by a Ferrofluid Film Adsorbed by a Magnet

Flow separation can lead to increased resistance and vibration generation, which is a difficult problem that cannot be ignored in engineering. In this paper, we propose a method of controlling flow separation by adsorbing ferrofluid onto the surface of a magnetized cylinder, taking the common flow around a cylinder as an example. Parametric effects of the ferrofluid film, including its viscosity and thickness, on the flow behavior were investigated in terms of the vortex shedding process, velocity distribution, dominant frequency, pressure distribution, and the flow motion inside the ferrofluid film. The results indicate that the ferrofluid film can suppress the generation of flow separation and achieve effective control, which is mainly caused by wall slip and the internal movement of the ferrofluid film. Furthermore, the flow separation control effect of ferrofluid thin films with different parameters varies, with low-viscosity ferrofluid exhibiting a superior control effect.

Determination of the Collins-Soper Kernel from Lattice QCD.

This Letter presents a determination of the quark Collins-Soper kernel, which relates transverse-momentum-dependent parton distributions (TMDs) at different rapidity scales, using lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD). This is the first such determination with systematic control of quark mass, operator mixing, and discretization effects. Next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic matching is used to match lattice-calculable distributions to the corresponding TMDs. The continuum-extrapolated lattice QCD results are consistent with several recent phenomenological parametrizations of the Collins-Soper kernel and are precise enough to disfavor other parametrizations.

Global warming’s grip on agriculture: Strategies for sustainable production amidst climate change using regression based prediction

The intersection of climate change and food production is emerging as a critical area of research, focusing on both the potential benefits and the significant challenges posed by changing climate conditions. Elevated levels of carbon dioxide alongside rising global temperatures could theoretically boost crop yields, benefiting both human and animal consumption. This study examines the impact of various climate variables—temperature, humidity, precipitation, and soil moisture—on the primary production of essential foods such as rice, wheat, livestock, milk, eggs, vegetables, and fruits. Utilizing data from different countries spanning from 2000 to 2020, drawn from world development indicators, this research employs econometric analysis coupled with deep learning-based cluster analysis. Additionally, it projects future production trends up to 2100 using the moving average time series forecasting method. The findings reveal a direct correlation between climate variables and the production levels of vegetables and other food items, highlighting the immediate effects of climatic changes on agriculture. The study also points out the uneven distribution of these climate impacts, with developing countries facing more severe challenges due to their limited resources and adaptive capacities. This uneven impact contributes to increased uncertainty in food supply and affects market stability. Furthermore, concerns about food safety are intensifying under the influence of climate change, although some regions have implemented effective food conservation and control measures to mitigate these risks. This research underscores a complex landscape where the risks and benefits of climate change on food production are not uniformly distributed, but rather are influenced by a myriad of factors including geographic location, economic conditions, and the level of technological advancement in food safety practices. The nuanced understanding of these dynamics is crucial for developing targeted strategies to enhance food security in the face of a changing climate.

The new layout and regulation of the “pulsating” power conversion system of EU DEMO WCLL for an effective and safe control of pulse-dwell transition and increase of plant efficiency

Abstract EUROFUSION DEMO is a Fusion Power Plant concept under assessment, based on Tokamak technology. Regarding Balance of Plant (BoP) definition, particular effort have been posed to the design of the Power Conversion System (PCS), thermally coupled to the Primary Heat Transport System (PHTS). Several architectures of the PCS have been assessed, present work is focused on the PCS -based on the Rankine Cycle technology- equipped with a Small Energy Storage System (ESS) operated with Molten Salt. A new Energy Map has been released in 2021, revealed uncertainties on the thermal power deposited on the different in-Vacuum Vessel components (i.e., Breading Blanket, Divertor, Limiters and Vacuum Vessel) and rejected to the coolant of related cooling circuits. This fact leads to several (twelve) possible operating scenarios. In the following treatment will be analyzed the 2022 PCS Small ESS concept design review, performed by the Industry with the main aim to align the new layout with the updated Thermal inputs and its comparison with the preliminary design developed in 2018. Design novelties will be highlighted, especially those dealt improving the cycle control, robustness, safety of the operation and efficiency. The outcomes of the transient analysis will be shown and compared, to verify the mechanical and thermal stress during the DEMO period (pulse/dwell). Finally, a performance and efficiency analysis of the 2022 PCS layout will be also presented and compared to 2018 configuration.

Sheep anthrax outbreak in Muddaballi Village, Karnataka, India: a comprehensive study of factors

Anthrax, caused by Bacillus anthracis, remains a persistent threat to global public health and livestock industries. This study investigates a sheep anthrax outbreak in Muddaballi Village, Karnataka, India. Muddaballi has a population of 2,450 people and a livestock population of 2,279 animals, including 756 cows, 82 buffaloes, 1,129 sheep, and 312 goats. The village experienced anthrax outbreaks in 2016, 2021, and 2023, with significant sheep mortalities: 4 out of 200 sheep in 2016, 25 out of 150 sheep in 2021, and multiple incidents in 2023 affecting different farmers with mortality rates ranging from 4 to 20 sheep. The ecological characteristics, including an average annual temperature of 27.0°C and annual rainfall of 587 mm, alongside proximity to the Tungabhadra reservoir, played a crucial role in spore survival and transmission. The study highlights socioeconomic factors and Risk Exposure and Mitigation Behaviour (REMB) as critical determinants of anthrax incidence, with farmers reporting strong agreement on the influence of these factors (Likert scale: 4-5). The integration of AI tools for early detection and rapid response, comprehensive disease surveillance, and ensuring vaccine accessibility are essential measures. Training initiatives for local veterinarians and farmers are also crucial to mitigate future outbreaks. This multifaceted approach is vital for effective anthrax prevention and control in Muddaballi and similar regions.

Factors associated with underreporting of tuberculosis cases among private healthcare providers in Semarang City

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a global public health challenge, with accurate case reporting being crucial for the implementation of effective control measures. In Semarang City, Indonesia, private healthcare providers play a pivotal role, yet the under-reporting of TB cases in this sector compromises the management and containment of the disease. This study investigates the factors influencing the under-reporting of TB cases among private healthcare providers and explores their consequences for public health strategies. The primary aim of this research is to elucidate the relationship between various determinants such as physicians’ knowledge of TB notification protocols, their commitment to notification processes, the availability of dedicated staff for notification, incentive mechanisms, and the notification format used, and the phenomenon of TB case under-reporting. Methods: Employing the Spearman correlation coefficient, this study evaluates the associations between the identified factors and the under-reporting of TB cases. The findings indicate significant correlations between under-reporting of TB cases and several variables: the physicians' awareness of notification requirements, their commitment to notification procedures, the existence of incentives, the appointment of designated staff for notification tasks, and the format of the notification system (Sig < 0.05). Discussion: The under-reporting of TB cases hinders accurate disease surveillance and timely intervention, thereby perpetuating transmission and increasing the risk of drug-resistant TB strains. The results underscore the necessity for targeted interventions aimed at enhancing TB reporting practices among private healthcare providers. Enhancing these practices is crucial for strengthening the overall TB control strategy and protecting public health.

Antifungal Activity, Synergism with Fluconazole or Amphotericin B and Potential Mechanism of Direct Current against Candida albicans Biofilms and Persisters.

Candida albicans, as a notorious fungal pathogen, is associated with high morbidity and mortality worldwide due to its ability to form biofilms and persisters that can withstand currently available antifungals. Direct current (DC) has demonstrated a promising antimicrobial effect and synergistic effect with antimicrobials against various infections. Here, we first found DC exerted a killing effect on C. albicans planktonic and biofilm cells. Moreover, DC showed a synergistic effect with fluconazole (FLC) and amphotericin B (AMB). Notably, near-to-complete eradication of AMB-tolerant C. albicans biofilm persisters was achieved upon DC treatment. Next, the mechanism of action of DC was explored through mapping the genes and proteomic profiles of DC-treated C. albicans. The multi-omics analysis, quantitative real-time PCR and assay of reactive oxygen species (ROS) demonstrated DC exerted an antifungal effect on C. albicans by increasing cellular oxidative stress. As revealed by multiple analyses (e.g., protein assay based on absorbance at 280 nm and rhodamine 6G assay), DC was able to enhance membrane permeability, inhibit drug efflux and increase cellular FLC/AMB concentration of C. albicans, thereby mediating its synergism with the antifungals. Furthermore, DC inhibited superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) expression and manganese-containing SOD (Mn SOD) activity, leading to ROS production and enhanced killing of C. albicans biofilm persisters. The current findings demonstrate that the adjunctive use of DC in combination with antifungals is a promising strategy for effective control of C. albicans infections and management of antifungal resistance/tolerance in Candida biofilms.