Source Control Research Articles

Cleavage and in vitro cultivation rates monitoring in culture media supplemented with energy sources, non-essential amino acids, and antioxidants in the buffalo embryos

AbstractThe study was designed to monitor the cleavage rate (CR) and in-vitro cultivation rate (IVC) after addition of energy sources, non-essential amino acids, and antioxidants to the Synthetic oviductal fluid (SOF) and FertiCult. After in-vitro maturation and in-vitro fertilization, presumptive zygotes were cultured in one of two culture media: FertiCult media and SOF medium, supplemented with pyruvate, glucose, and sodium lactate as energy sources, as well as 10, 20, 250, 500, and 750 mg non-essential amino acids, and antioxidants. All stages of cleavage rate (CR), and in-vitro cultivation rate (IVC) of embryonic development including morula stage (MOR) and blastocyst (BLAS) have been assessed. The findings revealed that there were no significant differences in the CR between the control and other treated groups with sources of energy when added to SOF media (P > 0.05), while there were significant differences (P < 0.05) in the IVC of embryonic development between groups (The percentages of MOR stage in the control, pyruvate, glucose and mixture of source of energy (MIX) were at 50%, 62.5%, 60%, and 63.6%, respectively). The highest percentage of the BLAS was recorded after SOF supplementation with glucose (40%). Similarly, there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in the CR between control and FertiCult supplemented with sources of energy, while the IVC stages increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the FertiCult media supplemented with glucose, pyruvate, sodium lactate, and MIX. The percentages of the MOR stage in the control, pyruvate, glucose and mix media were at 50%, 55.6%, 55.6%, 54.5%, 57.1% respectively. The lowest percentage of the BLAS was recorded after FertiCult supplementation with pyruvate (11.1%). Replenishing the SOF maturation media with 20 mg of non-essential amino acids significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced the MOR stage (100%). There was also an improvement in the development of BLAS stage, where it reached 31.2% and 47.4% in the SOF maturation media supplemented with 10, and 750 mg non-essential amino acids, respectively. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in neither CR nor IVC between control and FertiCult supplemented with antioxidants. There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in the MOR stages (control, 42.9% & treated, 57.9%) and BLAS stages (control, 21.4% & treated, 42.1%) in antioxidant supplemented SOF maturation media compared to control. In conclusion, supplementation of SOF cultivation medium with energy sources, 20 mg of non-essential amino acids and antioxidant addition may improve the cleavage rate (CR) and in vitro cultivation rate (IVC) of buffalos’ embryonic development.

Increasing phosphorus loss despite widespread concentration decline in US rivers

The loss of phosphorous (P) from the land to aquatic systems has polluted waters and threatened food production worldwide. Systematic trend analysis of P, a nonrenewable resource, has been challenging, primarily due to sparse and inconsistent historical data. Here, we leveraged intensive hydrometeorological data and the recent renaissance of deep learning approaches to fill data gaps and reconstruct temporal trends. We trained a multitask long short-term memory model for total P (TP) using data from 430 rivers across the contiguous United States (CONUS). Trend analysis of reconstructed daily records (1980–2019) shows widespread decline in concentrations, with declining, increasing, and insignificantly changing trends in 60%, 28%, and 12% of the rivers, respectively. Concentrations in urban rivers have declined the most despite rising urban population in the past decades; concentrations in agricultural rivers however have mostly increased, suggesting not-as-effective controls of nonpoint sources in agriculture lands compared to point sources in cities. TP loss, calculated as fluxes by multiplying concentration and discharge, however exhibited an overall increasing rate of 6.5% per decade at the CONUS scale over the past 40 y, largely due to increasing river discharge. Results highlight the challenge of reducing TP loss that is complicated by changing river discharge in a warming climate.

Soil Emissions of Reactive Oxidized Nitrogen Reduce the Effectiveness of Anthropogenic Source Control in China.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) has decreased by ∼33% across over 1200 monitoring sites in China during 2015-2023, following a series of clean air policies. However, most of these sites are located in or near cities, leading to uncertainties in NO2 trends beyond urban regions due to limited observations. Here, we used satellite measurements to examine the differences in NO2 trends between urban and rural China. In urban areas, NO2 columns decreased by 4.0% per annum (a-1) during summer 2011-2023, consistent with bottom-up anthropogenic emission inventory and in situ measurements. In contrast, rural NO2 columns showed a slower than expected reduction (-2.6 to -0.0% a-1) during the same period. Model simulations with updates in the soil reactive oxidized nitrogen (Nr) scheme indicated that increasing soil Nr emissions can be an important factor contributing to the observed slow NO2 decrease in rural areas. This unregulated source increased summertime pollutant levels, partially offsetting the national efforts to mitigate NO2, ozone (O3), and particulate nitrate (NO3-) levels by 20.9%, 15.4%, and 4.7%, respectively, from 2011 to 2020. In the agriculture-intensive North China Plain, the increase in soil Nr emissions offset 46.6% of the NO2 reductions achieved by clean air policies. Our results highlight the increasing significance of soil emissions and the need to control them in future air-quality policies.

HPB SO30 - Evaluation of efficiency of Co-amoxiclav as an empiric antimicrobial treatment for grade II/ III acute cholecystitis

Abstract Background Acute cholecystitis is associated with considerable mortality. The risk of mortality ranges between 2.4% to 8.4% according to severity. The main line of managing patient presenting with grade II/ III acute cholecystitis is source control through insertion of cholecystostomy drain (if patient is not suitable for emergency cholecystectomy) and anti-microbial treatment. Tokyo 2018 guidelines recommends against use of Co-Amoxiclav as an empiric antimicrobial therapy for cases of acute cholecystitis as most common organism isolated is E. Coli. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of Co-amoxiclav as an empiric antimicrobial treatment for grade II/ III acute cholecystitis. Method The medical records were searched retrospectively for patient presented with acute severe cholecystitis grade II/ III who treated with cholecystostomy drain insertion as a temporary measure during 2020 and 2021. The culture and sensitivity (C&S) of cholecystostomy drain aspirate at time of insertion of the drains were reviewed to determine the type of appropriate antimicrobial therapy. The results were analysed using both best and worst case scenario to find about the efficacy of Co-Amoxiclav as an empiric antimicrobial treatment. Results 105 sample of cholecystostomy drain aspirate sent for culture and sensitivity, 27 samples were resistant to co-amoxiclav (25%), while 22 samples were sensitive to co-amoxiclav(20.9%) . 56 of samples (53.1%) showed no mention of testing of Co-Amoxiclav. On further analysis on best case scenario basis, the sensitivity to co-amoxiclav will be 74% considering all the 56 non-tested samples are sensitive to co-amoxiclav. While on worst case scenario, the sensitivity to co-amoxiclav will be 74% considering all the 56 non-tested samples are resistant to co-amoxiclav. Conclusion Use of co-amoxiclav as an empirical antimicrobial treatment for cases of grade II/ III acute cholecystitis is associated with considerable antimicrobial resistance ranges from 25% in the best case scenario and 79% in worst case scenario. The most common organism isolated from these samples was E.coli. These results are in complete agreement with Tokyo 2018 guidelines, which states that Co-amoxiclav is associated with more than 20% resistance.

EGS SO24 - Endoscopic Vacuum Therapy for Oesophageal Perforation and Anastomotic Leaks

Abstract Background Oesophageal perforations and oesophago-gastric (OG) anastomotic leaks are challenging conditions, associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In recent years, endoscopic vacuum (EndoVac) therapy has emerged as a novel, alternative intervention for source control and to promote healing. Introduced to our unit in 2019, this cohort study presents our experience with EndoVac management of both post operative OG anastomotic leaks and primary oesophageal ruptures. Method Retrospective analysis of patient electronic records was conducted for all patients who received EndoVac management between the study period of October 2019 to June 2023. Pertinent outcome variables included length of vacuum therapy, number of changes, length of admission, in hospital and 90 day mortality rates. Results 37 patients were identified within the study period. The average age of this study cohort was 68 years with a mode ASA of III. The most common indication for EndoVac therapy was anastomotic leak (56%), followed by oesophageal perforation (31%). Defect resolution was achieved in 72% of patients. The median duration of treatment was 26 days (range 2-157), whilst the median number of changes was 7 (range 2-31). The overall in hospital complication (Clavien Dindo I-V) rate was 34%. The 90-day mortality rate was 22% whilst the morbidity rate was 13% in the form of anastomotic stricturing requiring serial dilatations. Conclusion EndoVac therapy is an effective minimally invasive treatment for post operative OG anastomotic leaks and oesophageal ruptures. With ongoing expansion in it’s use in our unit and throughout the UK, further work is required to assess the long-term outcomes and develop guidelines around its use in both oesophageal leaks and perorations.

Sepsis management of the acute care surgery patient: What you need to know

ABSTRACT Increasingly, acute care surgeons have taken over the management of general surgery consult patients in the hospital, many of whom present with sepsis and/or in septic shock. In this article, we will discuss the intricacies of sepsis management for acute care surgery. The underlying tenants of sepsis management will be outlined with specific attention to the nuances associated with surgical patients. Ultimately, when a surgical problem is identified, this management will culminate with the need for specific source control — the unique aspect when a surgical as opposed to a medical disease process is the cause of sepsis. However, surgeons must also be competent in the other components of sepsis management including antimicrobial therapy and hemodynamic support. This article is designed for the surgeon or for any provider caring for patients with a potential acute care surgical problem, recognizing that different practice settings will vary with regard to resource availability for laboratory tests, invasive monitoring, diagnostics, and surgeon availability.

Seasonality, sources apportionment, human health risks assessments, and potential implications on the atmospheric chemistry of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in size-segregated aerosols from a Romanian metropolitan area.

Urbanization and industrialization are important transformations shaping the current statement of the society, enhancing significantly the combustion emissions which are threatening the global climate system, air quality, and human health. These emissions contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which are well known for their high toxicity. The present study is the first assessing the seasonal variation of 17 PAHs in size segregated fractions of atmospheric aerosol particles from a Romanian metropolitan area. In addition to sources apportionment and health risks, the potential role of PAHs on the atmospheric chemistry in the area was also addressed. Higher PAHs concentrations were determined in winter season, the highest values being quantified for benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene. Each analyzed PAH exhibited a dominant peak in the accumulation mode (0.1-1.0 μm), with maxima at 381 nm. Gasoline combustion was identified as a significant contributor to the PAHs levels in the atmospheric aerosols from the area. Biomass-burning contributions were highlighted during the winter and autumn seasons. The positive matrix factorization (PMF) model apportioned four PAHs sources, as follows: vehicular (31%), mixed combustion (33%), biomass and wood burning (19%), and coal and natural gas combustion (18%) sources. Concentration-weighted trajectory (CWT) analysis method revealed clear contributions to PAHs abundances from local and regional air masses. Alveolar region of adults seems to have the highest susceptibility for PAHs deposition. Values exceeding acceptable limits for carcinogenic risk throughout the year are associated with benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene etc. The present study can be considered as a reference in the region in order measures of mitigation and control for PAHs emission sources to be introduced.

Abstract 4138717: Infective Root Aortitis: Medical Therapy Alone or Medical Therapy and Surgery?

Clinical presentation: A 75-year-old male with previous 3 vessel CABG and bioprosthetic aortic valve (BAV) surgical replacement in 2013 was admitted with severe sepsis from diabetic foot ulcer complicated with Group A Streptococcus bacteremia and infective root aortitis. Imaging Findings: Initial technically limited transthoracic echocardiogram was followed by a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) that demonstrated a well seated BAV with mildly thickened leaflets but no vegetations, mild intra-valvular regurgitation, and 9 mm end-diastolic soft tissue echoreflectant thickening of the posterior aortic root (AoR) extending up 3 cm from the aortic annulus to the ascending aorta (Fig 1A,B). There were no signs of perivalvular abscess formation. Initial FDG PET-CT demonstrated heterogenous hypermetabolic activity at the annulus of the BAV (Fig 1C) and AoR (Fig 1D) consistent with aortitis. Decision-making: In the absence of guidelines for the management of these patients, a multidisciplinary team including cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, and infectious disease opted for a conservative medical therapy instead of high-risk surgery. Patient then underwent left foot first digit amputation to achieve infectious source control. Upon completion of 4 out of 6 weeks of intravenous ceftriaxone 2 grams daily, repeat TEE showed improved AoR thickening to 6 mm (Fig 1E,F), no AoR abscess, and unchanged BAV structure and function. Repeat FDG PET-CT at the same time of TEE demonstrated persistent but improved hypermetabolic activity of the BAV annulus and AoR. After 10 weeks of IV antibiotics, repeat FDG PET-CT showed further decrease in metabolic activity on both areas. However, an Indium-111 labeled leukocyte scan showed no activity at the BAV annulus and root (Fig 1G) and therefore indicated healed AoR aortitis, which was further supported by significant decrease of ESR and CRP initial values of 126 mm/hr and 122.7 mg/L to 11 mm/hr and 3 mg/L, respectively. Patient is currently clinically stable 8 months later. Conclusion: This case illustrates that a conservative management of infective AoR aortitis with an extended course of intravenous antibiotics is a reasonable alternative to high-risk re-do valve and root surgery.

Effects of fine particulate matter bound heavy metals on intentional self-harm deaths in Guangzhou, China, insight from core chemical constituents.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is one of the major threats to human health, and may partly responsible for intentional self-harm deaths, while the limited results seemed contradictory. Further analysis on PM2.5 constituents may provide more reliable evidence. Heavy metals are crucial toxic components of PM2.5 that may induce suicide behavior. What role do PM2.5-bound heavy metals play in a threat to intentional self-harm death is still unclear. Two-year data of daily PM2.5-bound heavy metals (including metalloids) and daily intentional self-harm deaths were collected in Guangzhou. Bayesian kernel machine regression, weighted quantile sum, and quantile-based g-computation models were employed to depict the relationships between heavy metals and intentional self-harm deaths. The number of intentional self-harm deaths was 217 and 283 for 2015 and 2016, respectively. A positive correlation was found between the combined effect of the 13 heavy metals and intentional self-harm deaths. Nickel, cadmium, and iron were the primary contributors to this positive correlation. Heavy metal components play significant roles in PM2.5-related intentional self-harm deaths, and targeted source control measures are warranted to protect residents from suicide.

How Has the Source Apportionment of Heavy Metals in Soil and Water Evolved over the Past 20 Years? A Bibliometric Perspective

Exploring soil heavy metal sources is of great significance for ensuring the safety of ecological environments and agricultural product safety, as well as for guiding pollution control and management policies. This paper retrieved 452 research papers on soil heavy metal source analysis published over the 2004–2024 period from the Web of Science database. The collected literature was subjected to multidimensional bibliometric analysis using the CiteSpace 6.3.R1. The results showed significantly increasing trends in the scientific outputs and the number of papers on heavy metal source analysis in soils and water over the study period. In addition, related research topics have expanded from single to multiple heavy metal elements in environmental media and have increasingly recognized the impact of water pollution on soil contamination. Research methods have also evolved from basic statistical analysis to complex spatial analysis techniques, covering agricultural and urban soils. Previous related studies have focused on heavy metal pollution in different areas, and related research on heavy metal source analysis has now extended from ecological environments to associated human health risks. The present study provides directions for future related research and guidance for ensuring effective source control of heavy metal pollution and safe utilization of land and water resources.

Antimicrobial susceptibility of enterobacterales causing bloodstream infection in United States medical centres: comparison of aztreonam-avibactam with beta-lactams active against carbapenem-resistant enterobacterales

BackgroundBloodstream infection (BSI) is associated with poor outcomes especially when effective antimicrobial therapy and control of infection source are delayed. As the frequency of Enterobacterales producing metallo-β-lactamases (MBL) and/or OXA-48–like carbapenemases is increasing in some United States (US) medical centres, effective antimicrobials to treat the infections caused by these organisms are urgently needed. Aztreonam-avibactam is under clinical development for treatment of infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria, including MBL producers.ObjectivesTo evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility of Enterobacterales causing BSI in US medical centres and compare the activity of aztreonam-avibactam with ceftazidime-avibactam, meropenem-vaborbactam, imipenem-relebactam, cefiderocol, and other antimicrobials used to treat BSI.Methods4,802 Enterobacterales were consecutively collected (1/patient) from 72 US medical centres in 2020–2022 and susceptibility tested by broth microdilution. Aztreonam-avibactam was tested with avibactam at a fixed concentration of 4 mg/L. A pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic susceptible breakpoint of ≤ 8 mg/L was applied for aztreonam-avibactam for comparison. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) isolates were tested for β-lactamase–encoding genes using Next-generation sequencing.ResultsAztreonam-avibactam was highly active against Enterobacterales; only 2 isolates showed aztreonam-avibactam MICs > 8 mg/L: 1 meropenem-susceptible E. coli and 1 K. aerogenes (CRE). All carbapenemase producers and 98.0% of CRE were inhibited at an aztreonam-avibactam MIC of ≤ 8 mg/L. CRE susceptibility rates were 81.6% for ceftazidime-avibactam, 65.3% for meropenem-vaborbactam, 61.2% for imipenem-relebactam, and 87.8% for cefiderocol. Aztreonam-avibactam retained activity (MIC, ≤ 8 mg/L) against all (100.0%) meropenem-vaborbactam nonsusceptible (n = 17), 99.5% of imipenem-relebactam nonsusceptible (n = 206), and 90.0% of ceftazidime-avibactam nonsusceptible (n = 10) isolates. The most common carbapenemases were KPC-2/3 (57.1% of CREs), OXA-48–like (16.3%), and NDM (14.3%). A carbapenemase gene was not observed in 12.3% of CREs. Ceftazidime-avibactam and meropenem-vaborbactam were active against 100.0% of KPC producers, but ceftazidime-avibactam showed limited activity against MBL producers and meropenem-vaborbactam showed limited activity against OXA-48–like and MBL producers. The most active non–β-lactam comparators against CRE were gentamicin (49.0% susceptible) and amikacin (44.9% susceptible).ConclusionsAztreonam-avibactam demonstrated potent activity against a large collection of Enterobacterales isolated from patients with BSI in US hospitals, including CRE, MBL producers, and isolates resistant to recently approved β-lactamase inhibitor combinations.

098. Report in Emergency repair for Duodenum Part 1 Perforation in Referral Hospital Banyumas

Introduction: Duodenal perforation was frequent cause of hollow viscus perforation beside to gastric perforation. Immediate source control properties, reproducibility, simplicity and applicability was the prefer method in emergency setting to repair this perforation. Case: We present one case of female, 46 years old patient with duodenal part 1 perforation with Boey Score 1, where we performed repair with primary suturing, gastrojejunal – braun anastomosis and omental patch. We found part 1 duodenal perforation 1.5cm in diameter. Patient was in hospital for 5 days before being discharged. Conclusions: Primary suturing, gastrojejunal – braun anastomosis and omental patch applicable in referral hospital, were preferable method that has best result and easy repair technique based on this report.

Multimodel-based quantitative source apportionment and risk assessment of soil heavy metals: A reliable method to achieve regional pollution traceability and management

To strengthen the control of pollution sources and promote soil pollution management of agricultural land, this study constructed a comprehensive source apportionment framework, which significantly improved the reliability of potential source analysis compared with the traditional single model. The spatial distribution pattern of agricultural soil heavy metals (SHMs) content in Lintong, a typical river valley city in China, was determined and the degree of contamination was evaluated. A scientific source apportionment methodological framework was constructed through correlation analysis methods together with multiple source apportionment receptor models. Finally, the Monte Carlo simulation method was used to derive the results of the human health risk assessment (HHRA). The results revealed the following: (1) Agricultural soils were moderately and mildly polluted, accounting for 28.8 % and 71.2 % of the total number of sampling points, respectively. (2) The overall correlation of heavy metals (HMs) was strong according to the coupling analysis of the SHMs, in which a strong correlation (0.8–1) was reached among Cu, Ni, Pb, Cr and Zn, indicating that these HMs were most likely homologous or composite. (3) Multimodel analysis of the SHMs sources revealed that the first and second principal components were agricultural (41.36 %) and industrial (19.69 %) sources, respectively, and the remaining principal components were road traffic, natural factors, and atmospheric deposition or surface runoff, respectively. (4) The average comprehensive noncarcinogenic health risk indices for adults and children were 4.2259E-02 and 1.4194E-01, respectively, which were within the slight risk range, indicating that the risk caused by SHMs to the human body can be almost negligible. This study adopted a mixed method to reveal the risk of SHMs pollution and its sources, which provides some reference and technical support for traceability analysis, zoning control, and health risk studies of regional pollutants and is helpful for formulating scientific management measures and targeting control policies.

Beyond inhalation protection: Assessing cloth mask effectiveness as source control devices

This study investigates the effectiveness of cloth masks as source control devices during violent respiratory events such as coughing and sneezing. Utilizing a novel experimental platform integrating a mechanical cough simulator and high-speed laser visualization, we quantitatively assess the filtration efficiency of various cloth mask materials. Our results reveal significant variability in the cumulative escaped droplet volume across different fabrics, challenging the assumption that fabrics with similar porosity yield comparable performance. We introduce the concept of active porosity, highlighting its critical role in mask performance for source control, and demonstrate that masks with lower active porosity more effectively mitigate droplet transmission. Furthermore, our findings suggest that a mask's performance in inhalation protection does not directly correlate with its efficacy in source control, emphasizing the need for tailored testing standards. The study also explores the impact of water content on mask performance, revealing that moisture accumulation can significantly alter the filtration efficiency and pressure dynamics of the mask, potentially compromising its protective seal. These insights provide a foundation for improving cloth mask design and standards to better address the challenges of airborne transmission during pandemics.

Managing Acidic Mine Water Pollution in Karst Regions Based on Hydrogeological Structures

Acidic mine drainage (AMD) is one of the primary pollutants from abandoned mines. This type of pollution is characterized by its extensive area, prolonged duration, and challenging detection process, especially in karst region with intricate hydrological systems, thereby posing a significant threat to the sustainable development of the economy. This paper focuses on the pollution of acidic mine water in the karst region of Southwest China and adopts a comprehensive watershed pollution management strategy. Considering the unique hydrogeological structure of the karst mines, the active water cycle, and the sensitivity and fragility of the ecological environment, this study proposes a set of acid mine drainage pollution control methods based on hydrogeological structures. These include “zonal management, one policy per mine; source control, pollution reduction; and end-of-pipe treatment, standard discharge.” This study applies coal mine water prevention and control techniques to environmental management, developing a series of source control methods including “filling, isolating, blocking, intercepting, draining, and controlling”. It also integrates physical, chemical, and biological methods for the end-of-pipe treatment of acidic mine water. This approach has been successfully applied to the management of acidic mine drainage in the Yudong River basin in Kaili, Guizhou. Long-term monitoring of the "three-fields and four-water” revealed that rainfall significantly influences mine water quality. The study identified a “U-tube effect” whereby mine water exacerbates the pollution of karst water, leading to the development of a comprehensive prevention and control strategy termed the “three blocking (obstruction) and one guarantee” project. A comparative analysis of total iron content in the basin before and after treatment demonstrated a marked reduction, from 97.8mg/L to less than 0.3mg/L. This study provides a typical example for the prevention, control, and management of acid water pollution in karst areas across the watershed, and can serve as a reference for similar pollution management efforts.

“Dandelion” magnetic bead-driven CDs@CeO2 based-multifunctional nanoplatform for tri-modal ultrasensitive detection and efficient eradication of pathogenic bacteria

To address the challenge of foodborne pathogens, we have developed an ultra-sensitive tri-modal detection and effective pathogen eradication strategy utilizing a “dandelion” magnetic bead-driven cerium dioxide doped with carbon dots (CDs@CeO2) multifunctional nanoplatform. Aptamer (Apt) modification CDs@CeO2 specifically recognizes and binds to the outer membrane proteins of Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium). Concurrently, mannose-functionalized dandelion-like magnetic beads selectively recognize adhesins of S. typhimurium, avoiding competition with Apt for binding sites and leveraging the strong bacterial capture capability for high-sensitivity detection. The prepared CDs@CeO2 has been demonstrated to exhibit favourable fluorescence characteristics. In the presence of H2O2, CDs@CeO2 is capable of oxidising colourless 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) into blue oxide, displaying exceptional photothermal properties. CDs@CeO2 have the potential to generate •OH through a Fenton-like reaction, which could directly damage cells. Notably, coupling the photosensitizer Ce6 to CDs@CeO2 and subsequent illumination generates 1O2, which synergistically eradicates bacteria with •OH. Detection limits of the fluorescence, colorimetry, and photothermal methods were 3.85 cfu/mL, 9.44 cfu/mL, and 5.00 cfu/mL, respectively. The platform successfully achieves precise detection of S. typhimurium in actual pre-prepared food samples through fluorescence, colorimetry, and photothermal tri-modal signals, and effectively kills bacteria, achieving trace detection and source control.

Application of Real-Time Control and Source Control Solutions to Reduce Combined Sewer Overflows: A Review of Approaches and Performances

Application of Real-Time Control and Source Control Solutions to Reduce Combined Sewer Overflows: A Review of Approaches and Performances

The impact of leak gap size and position on surgical mask performance of source control: A numerical study

Surgical masks are widely used for infectious source control by preventing infected individuals from transmitting pathogens. However, poor fit can create gaps between the mask and face, reducing their effectiveness. In this study, a numerical model was developed based on realistic surgical mask geometry with peripheral gaps of varying sizes and positions, fitted onto a breathing manikin. Exhalation leakage airflow dynamics and aerosol pathogen dispersion were investigated using a validated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model with porous media. Results indicate that despite the presence of leaks, surgical masks are effective in controlling the spread of pathogens, with maximum airflow leakage at 9.11% and pathogen leakage at 16.83%. The average velocity of leaked airflow ranged from 0.12 m/s to 1.43 m/s, depending on the gap size and position. The position of the gap had little impact on the airflow and pathogen leakage fractions. Correlations between the average velocity of net leakage flow, leakage fractions of airflow and pathogens, and gap size were developed. Pathogens spread most widely from bottom leaks, followed by side and top leaks, with bottom leaks releasing up to 9.7 times more contaminated air than top leaks and 6.5 times more than side leaks. The findings also suggest that smaller gaps are associated with higher initial velocities of leakage, which in turn lead to wider dispersion of pathogens.

Non-Surgical Management of Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteremia-Related Mediastinitis.

Acute mediastinitis is rarely caused by haematogenous spread of a remote infection. In this respect, since the only medical therapy is usually unsuccessful, treating acute mediastinitis with no source of infection detected is very challenging and management not standardized. In this case report, we describe non-surgical management experience of acute mediastinitis caused by methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. In a 79-year-old man judged not eligible for cardiac surgery, we attempted the infection source control through vacuum-assisted closure therapy, together with antimicrobial therapy. We observed gradual clinical, laboratory and radiologic improvements: reduced swelling and normalization of the white blood cell count and C-reactive protein level were associated with reduction in size of a periaortic abscess. We managed a clinical condition with high mortality risk with chronic antimicrobial therapy alone, a strategy that is rarely considered. With this medical strategy we achieved an optimal response to a clinical picture that does not allow any other approach. Mediastinitis is a rare but severe infection with a high mortality rate.Chronic antimicrobial therapy can be an effective strategy in high surgical risk patients.The present case demonstrates good tolerability of lifelong antibiotic therapy.

Indoor Environmental Quality in Portuguese Office Buildings: Influencing Factors and Impact of an Intervention Study

Office workers spend a considerable part of their day at the workplace, making it vital to ensure proper indoor environmental quality (IEQ) conditions in office buildings. This work aimed to identify significant factors influencing IEQ and assess the effectiveness of an environmental intervention program, which included the introduction of indoor plants, carbon dioxide (CO2) sensors, ventilation, and printer relocation (source control), in six modern office buildings in improving IEQ. Thirty office spaces in Porto, Portugal, were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. Indoor air quality, thermal comfort, illuminance, and noise were monitored before and after a 14-day intervention implementation. Occupancy, natural ventilation, floor type, and cleaning time significantly influenced IEQ levels. Biophilic interventions appeared to decrease volatile organic compound concentrations by 30%. Installing CO2 sensors and optimizing ventilation strategies in an office that mainly relies on natural ventilation effectively improved air renewal and resulted in a 28% decrease in CO2 levels. The implementation of a source control intervention led to a decrease in ultrafine particle and ozone concentrations by 14% and 85%, respectively. However, an unexpected increase in airborne particle levels was detected. Overall, for a sample of offices that presented acceptable IEQ levels, the intervention program had only minor or inconsistent impacts. Offices with declared IEQ problems are prime candidates for further research to fully understand the potential of environmental interventions.