Stringent System Research Articles

An Analysis Examining the Way Supply Chain Management-Focused Third-Party Environmental Audits Contributed to Business Sustainability Efforts

A crucial instrument for improving openness and responsibility, third-party environmental audits have become more popular as the focus on corporate sustainability has grown. The role of these audits in propelling sustainability efforts within corporations is the subject of this study. To make sure a business is in line with regulations and finds ways to improve, it can get an impartial opinion by having a third party conduct an environmental audit. The impact of these audits on business practices and sustainability is investigated in this paper through an analysis of case studies and empirical data. Based on the results, it seems that third-party audits help improve environmental performance by encouraging responsibility and constant development. Better resource efficiency, less waste, and reduced emissions are common outcomes of audited companies' adoption of more stringent environmental management systems. In addition, third-party audits boost stakeholder trust—an essential quality for a company's public image and the faith of its investors—due to the audits' impartiality and reliability. The thoroughness of the audit, the auditors' knowledge and experience, and the firm's resolve to follow audit recommendations are the three most important variables that determine how useful these audits will be. Concerns raised by the research include the possibility of superficial compliance and the necessity for uniform audit frameworks to permit comparison and uniformity throughout businesses. Because they offer an impartial assessment of environmental performance and advocate for best practices, third-party environmental audits are crucial in propelling corporate sustainability efforts. It is critical to resolve the highlighted issues and continually improve audit procedures to enhance their efficacy. Policymakers, corporations, and stakeholders can use this research to better understand the value of third-party audits in reaching sustainable development goals and how to improve corporate sustainability initiatives.

Advances in mass spectrometry for metabolomics: Strategies, challenges, and innovations in disease biomarker discovery.

Mass spectrometry (MS) plays a crucial role in metabolomics, especially in the discovery of disease biomarkers. This review outlines strategies for identifying metabolites, emphasizing precise and detailed use of MS techniques. It explores various methods for quantification, discusses challenges encountered, and examines recent breakthroughs in biomarker discovery. In the field of diagnostics, MS has revolutionized approaches by enabling a deeper understanding of tissue-specific metabolic changes associated with disease. The reliability of results is ensured through robust experimental design and stringent system suitability criteria. In the past, data quality, standardization, and reproducibility were often overlooked despite their significant impact on MS-based metabolomics. Progress in this field heavily depends on continuous training and education. The review also highlights the emergence of innovative MS technologies and methodologies. MS has the potential to transform our understanding of metabolic landscapes, which is crucial for disease biomarker discovery. This article serves as an invaluable resource for researchers in metabolomics, presenting fresh perspectives and advancements that propels the field forward.

Do conference-journal articles receive more citations? A case study in physics

Conference-journal articles, which are expanded versions of conference proceedings papers, play an essential role in disseminating scientific knowledge but remain understudied. In the context of increasingly stringent research evaluation systems, this study focuses on conference-journal articles, examining the effectiveness of journals in selecting conference-derived publications. We also explore the factors influencing the citations of conference-journal articles. Here, we focused on Physics, analyzing 59,329 conference-journal articles published between 2012 and 2020, matched with general journal articles and conference proceedings papers based on the conference and journal. Results show that conference-journal articles receive significantly more citations than conference proceedings papers but fewer than general journal articles. Conference-journal articles in special issues receive fewer citations than those in regular issues. A U-shaped pattern emerges between the duration from the conference convening to the journal publication and the citation. We also found that conferences with sponsorship and those held in OECD member countries are more likely to produce highly cited conference-journal articles. Additionally, results indicate that conferences held in the USA, Japan, France, China, and Poland produce the most conference-journal articles, with articles from conferences in the USA, Japan, and France receiving relatively high citation counts. In contrast, articles from conferences held in China and Poland receive relatively low citation counts. This research provides valuable insights for academic conference committees, journal managers, and conference participants.

Phosphorus removal in surface flow treatment wetlands for domestic wastewater treatment: Global experiences, opportunities, and challenges

Treatment Wetlands (TWs) are widely used for the treatment of domestic wastewater, with an increasing emphasis on provision of multiple co-benefits. However, concerns remain regarding achieving stringent phosphorus (P) discharge limits, system robustness and resilience, and associated guidance on system design and operation. Typically, where P removal is intended with a passive TW, surface flow (SF) systems are the chosen design type. This study analysed long-term monitoring datasets (2–30 years) from 85 full-scale SF TWs (25 m2 to 487 ha) treating domestic sewage with the influent load ranging from 2.17 to 54,779 m3/d, including secondary treatment, tertiary treatment, and combined sewer overflows treatment. The results showed median percentage removals of total P (TP) and orthophosphate (Ortho P) of 28% and 31%, respectively. Additionally, median areal mass removal rates were 5.13 and 2.87 gP/m2/yr, respectively. For tertiary SF TWs without targeted upstream P removal, 80% of the 44 systems achieved ≤3 mg/L annual average effluent total P. Tertiary SF TWs with targeted upstream P removal demonstrated high robustness, delivering stable effluent TP < 0.35 mg/L. Seasonality in removal achieved was absent from 85% of sites, with 95% of all systems demonstrating stable annual average effluent TP concentrations for up to a 30-year period. Only two out of 32 systems showed a significant increase in effluent TP concentration after the initial year and remained stable thereafter. The impact of different liner types on water infiltration, cost, and carbon footprint were analysed to quantify the impact of these commonly cited barriers to implementation of SF TW for P removal. The use of PVC enclosed between geotextile gave the lowest additional cost and carbon footprint associated with lining SF TWs. Whilst the P-k-C* model is considered the best practice for sizing SF TWs to achieve design pollutant reductions, it should be used with caution with further studies needed to more comprehensively understand the key design parameters and relationships that determine P removal performance in order to reliably predict effluent quality.

The Registration of Medical Device in FDA, EU and CDSCO: Overview

This comprehensive summary provides a detailed look into the regulatory processes for registering medical devices in three major jurisdictions: the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Union (EU), and India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO). Each regulatory agency plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety, effectiveness, and quality standards of medical devices in their respective markets. The FDA, as the regulatory authority in the United States, has a stringent registration system in place to evaluate and approve medical devices before they can be marketed and sold. Manufacturers must adhere to specific procedures and programs to comply with FDA regulations, which are designed to safeguard patient health and promote innovation in the medical device industry. In the European Union, medical device registration is regulated by the EU's Medicinal Products for Human Use Directive, which sets forth stringent requirements for safety and quality standards. Manufacturers must undergo a thorough review process and obtain a CE Mark certification before their devices can be introduced to the European market. The EU's regulatory framework aims to harmonize standards across member states and ensure consistency in device registration procedures. In India, the CDSCO oversees the registration of medical devices and plays a key role in evaluating the safety and efficacy of products before they can be launched in the Indian market. Manufacturers must comply with CDSCO regulations and submit detailed documentation to demonstrate the safety and performance of their devices.

Challenges encountered by SMMEs in accessing bank credit: a case of Vhembe District Municipality

Policymakers and scholars universally accept and recognize the influence of small, macro, and medium enterprises (SMMEs) on stimulating economic growth and job creation. To succeed and prosper, SMMEs need to establish a sound financial management function; therefore, it is vital to investigate the financial challenges these firms are experiencing. The objective of this paper was, to investigate possible challenges that SMMEs experience when applying for credit from banks. The study sought to answer the main research question - ‘What challenges are encountered by SMMEs when applying for credit from banks? The study adopted a qualitative research methodology. The population used in this research was derived from SMMEs and banking officials in the Vhembe District Municipality area. Stratified random sampling was used to select a sample of 10 research participants. An interview guide was used to gather data from the participants; the data was analyzed using Atlas.ti. The results indicated that most SMMEs in the Vhembe district are not adequately supported, especially in the areas of financial resources, as well as in financial literacy skills and expertise. Specifically, this study identified that the credit application challenges faced by SMMEs are related to - lack of collateral security, lack of financial application education, complex bank credit access regulations, non-satisfaction of banks’ qualifying criteria, as well as stringent credit system, and documentation requirements.

Molecular farming navigates a complex regulatory landscape.

Molecular farming, the practice of engineering plants to produce recombinant proteins, presents novel challenges and opportunities for domestic markets and international trade. This article explores the multifaceted risks associated with these biotechnological advancements, including public health concerns related to recombinant animal proteins produced in plants, cross-contamination and unintended allergens, and the necessity for stringent identity preservation systems to avoid past failures. On the global stage, the trade of such genetically engineered crops brings about unique regulatory concerns, underscoring the need for internationally harmonized policies and reevaluating existing low-level presence (LLP) thresholds to address unexpected allergens. Moreover, molecular farming ventures into complex religious and ethical territories, particularly affecting communities with strict dietary laws, such as Islamic, Jewish, and those following vegan or vegetarian lifestyles. Addressing these concerns requires a collaborative approach among scientists, regulatory bodies, industry leaders, and religious figures, aiming to foster an inclusive dialogue that navigates the ethical, religious, and environmental implications of integrating animal proteins into plant-based systems. Such efforts are essential for ensuring the responsible development of molecular farming technologies, contributing to a future of sustainable, secure, and inclusive food systems that respect diverse cultural and ethical values.

Preferential Secretion of Oxidation-Sensitive Proteins by Unconventional Pathways: Why is This Important for Inflammation?

Significance: Fidelity of intercellular communication depends on unambiguous interactions between protein ligands and membrane receptors. Most proteins destined to the extracellular space adopt the required three-dimensional shape as they travel through the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), Golgi complex, and other organelles of the exocytic pathway. However, some proteins, many of which are involved in inflammation, avoid this classical secretory route and follow unconventional pathways to leave the cell. Recent Advances: Stringent quality control systems operate in the ER and cis-Golgi, restricting transport to native conformers, devoid of non-native disulfides and/or reactive thiols. However, some proteins released by living cells require reduced cysteines to exert their extracellular function(s). Remarkably, these proteins lack the secretory signal sequence normally required by secretory proteins for translocation into the ER lumen. Critical Issues: Why do interleukin-1β, high mobility group box 1, and other proinflammatory proteins avoid the ER-Golgi route to reach the intercellular space? These proteins require reactive cysteines for exerting their function. Therefore, eluding thiol-mediated quality control along the exocytic pathway is likely one of the main reasons why extracellular proteins that need to be reduced utilize unconventional pathways of secretion, where a quality control aimed at oxidating native cysteines is not present. Future Directions: Particularly under stress conditions, cells release redox-active enzymes and nonprotein thiol compounds that exert an extracellular control of redox-sensitive protein activity, shaping inflammatory responses. This post-secretion, redox-dependent editing of protein messages is still largely undefined. Understanding the underlying mechanistic events will hopefully provide new tools to control inflammation.

Genetic engineering of a thermophilic acetogen, Moorella thermoacetica Y72, to enable acetoin production.

Acetogens are among the key microorganisms involved in the bioproduction of commodity chemicals from diverse carbon resources, such as biomass and waste gas. Thermophilic acetogens are particularly attractive because fermentation at higher temperatures offers multiple advantages. However, the main target product is acetic acid. Therefore, it is necessary to reshape metabolism using genetic engineering to produce the desired chemicals with varied carbon lengths. Although such metabolic engineering has been hampered by the difficulty involved in genetic modification, a model thermophilic acetogen, M. thermoacetica ATCC 39073, is the case with a few successful cases of C2 and C3 compound production, other than acetate. This brief report attempts to expand the product spectrum to include C4 compounds by using strain Y72 of Moorella thermoacetica. Strain Y72 is a strain related to the type strain ATCC 39073 and has been reported to have a less stringent restriction-modification system, which could alleviate the cumbersome transformation process. A simplified procedure successfully introduced a key enzyme for acetoin (a C4 chemical) production, and the resulting strains produced acetoin from sugars and gaseous substrates. The culture profile revealed varied acetoin yields depending on the type of substrate and culture conditions, implying the need for further engineering in the future. Thus, the use of a user-friendly chassis could benefit the genetic engineering of M. thermoacetica.

PROBLEMS OF RATIONING THE CONTENT OF CHEMICAL ELEMENTS AND COMPOUNDS IN SOILS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT PRACTICE

Ratuioning of the content of hazardous substances in soil as an object of environmental protection in the Russian Federation is provided by a set of normative acts establishing the principles of assessment, approaches to the use of soils of varying degrees of anthropogenic transformation, the level of their pollution, at which the responsibility of the land user for violation of legislation on soil protection occurs. The analysis of normative acts shows that the most stringent pollution regulation system has been established in Russia, which is based on determining the compliance of the content of chemical elements and compounds in soils with sanitary and hygienic standards in the territories of settlements and agricultural lands. On other lands, as a standard, the excess of which leads to the onset of economic responsibility for pollution, the value of the concentration of the pollutant in the adjacent territory of a similar purpose and type of use, which is not adversely affected by a specific type of violation, is applied. At the same time, chemical elements and compounds are considered as pollutants, regardless of their origin, degree of danger and biological significance. The application of this approach within the framework of law enforcement practice creates significant problems in establishing the fact of negative impact, calculating the amount of damage from pollution, and developing measures for soil remediation. Thus, the current regulations consider as pollutants substances of natural origin, including those that ensure soil fertility and are applied with mineral and organic fertilizers. The use of the background level of substances as the maximum permissible value does not take into account the natural variability of elements and compounds in soils, as well as the errors of their chemical analysis. The excessive rigidity of the applicable standards is the reason for the increased costs of soil remediation measures. The way out of this situation is to revise the rationing system, taking into account the biological significance of elements and compounds, and the need to introduce a multi-level system of soil quality indicators. There is a need to improve the conceptual framework as part of regulatory documents on soil protection.

Granzyme B-activated IL18 potentiates αβ and γδ CAR T cell immunotherapy in a tumor-dependent manner

Interleukin (IL)18 is a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine that is activated upon caspase 1 cleavage of the latent precursor, pro-IL18. Therapeutic Tcell armoring with IL18 promotes autocrine stimulation and positive modulation of the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, existing strategies are imperfect since they involve constitutive/poorly regulated activity or fail to modify the TME. Here, we have substituted the caspase 1 cleavage site within pro-IL18 with that preferred by granzyme B, yielding GzB-IL18. We demonstrate that GzB-IL18 is constitutively released but remains functionally latent unless chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) Tcells are activated, owing to concomitant granzyme B release. Armoring with GzB-IL18 enhances cytolytic activity, proliferation, interferon (IFN)-γ release, and anti-tumor efficacy by a similar magnitude to constitutively active IL18. We also demonstrate that GzB-IL18 provides a highly effective armoring strategy for γδ CAR Tcells, leading to enhanced metabolic fitness and significant potentiation of therapeutic activity. Finally, we show that constitutively active IL18 can unmask CAR Tcell-mediated cytokine release syndrome in immunocompetent mice. By contrast, GzB-IL18 promotes anti-tumor activity and myeloid cell re-programming without inducing such toxicity. Using this stringent system, we have tightly coupled the biological activity of IL18 to the activation state of the host CAR Tcell, favoring safer clinical implementation of this technology.

Regulation of quorum sensing activities by the stringent response gene rsh in sphingomonads is species-specific and culture condition dependent.

Stringent response and quorum sensing (QS) are two essential mechanisms that control bacterial global metabolism for better survival. Sphingomonads are a clade of bacteria that survive successfully in diverse ecosystems. In silico survey indicated that 36 out of 79 investigated sphingomonads strains contained more than one luxI homolog, the gene responsible for the biosynthesis of QS signal acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs). Investigation of the regulatory effects of the stringent response gene rsh on QS related bioactivities were carried out using rsh mutants of Sphingobium japonicum UT26 and Sphingobium sp. SYK-6, both had three luxI homologs. Results indicated that deletion of rsh upregulated the overall production of AHLs and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in both UT26 and SYK-6 in rich medium, but affected expressions of these luxI/luxR homologs in different ways. In the poor medium (1% LB), rsh mutant of SYK-6 significantly lost AHLs production in broth cultivation but not in biofilm cultivation. The regulatory effects of rsh on QS activities were growth phase dependent in UT26 and culture condition dependent in SYK-6. Our results demonstrated the negative regulatory effect of rsh on QS activities in sphingomonads, which were very different from the positive effect found in sphingomonads containing only one luxI/R circuit. This study extends the current knowledge on the intricate networks between stringent response and QS system in sphingomonads, which would help to understand their survival advantage.

Influence of Standalone and Ensemble Classifiers in Face Spoofing Detection using LBP and CNN Models

Background: Artificial intelligence has made significant contributions to facial recognition and biometric identification and is now being employed in a range of applications. Detecting facial spoofing, where someone attempts to pass as an authorized user to gain access to the system, is still difficult. Spoofing-attack-resistant face recognition systems demand efficient and effective solutions. A more stringent recognition system will result in higher false positives and false negatives, which makes such a system questionable for practical use. Eventually, the prominent deep-learning techniques were overtaken by CNN-based architecture. Objective: To analyse classifiers to identify the impact on spoof detection. The intent is not only to get the highest accuracy but also to find strategies to significantly reduce false positives and false negatives. Methods: Face image spoofing detection is implemented in this paper by extracting face embedding using the Local Binary Pattern (LBP) and the VGG16 CNN architecture. To classify real and spoof images, SVM, KNN, Decision Tree, and ensembles of classifier models are utilized. Results: The proposed three models obtained test accuracy of 98%, 94.48%, and 99% when applied to the custom dataset, while in the NUAA photography imposter dataset, they achieved 97%, 99%, and 100% and kept the FN and FP significantly low. Conclusion: Accessing human faces through smart gadgets from various resources is possible, leading to the possibility of spoof attacks. Although spoof detection methods persist, effective methods with high accuracy and low FN and FP are still required. The proposed ensemble techniques significantly outperform the existing classifiers with high accuracy, keeping FN and FP low.

Substrate Matters: Ionic Silver Alters Lettuce Growth, Nutrient Uptake, and Root Microbiome in a Hydroponics System.

Ionic silver (Ag+) is being investigated as a residual biocide for use in NASA spacecraft potable water systems on future crewed missions. This water will be used to irrigate future spaceflight crop production systems. We have evaluated the impact of three concentrations (31 ppb, 125 ppb, and 500 ppb) of ionic silver biocide solutions on lettuce in an arcillite (calcinated clay particle substrate) and hydroponic (substrate-less) growth setup after 28 days. Lettuce plant growth was reduced in the hydroponic samples treated with 31 ppb silver and severely stunted for samples treated at 125 ppb and 500 ppb silver. No growth defects were observed in arcillite-grown lettuce. Silver was detectable in the hydroponic-grown lettuce leaves at each concentration but was not detected in the arcillite-grown lettuce leaves. Specifically, when 125 ppb silver water was applied to a hydroponics tray, Ag+ was detected at an average amount of 7 μg/g (dry weight) in lettuce leaves. The increase in Ag+ corresponded with a decrease in several essential elements in the lettuce tissue (Ca, K, P, S). In the arcillite growth setup, silver did not impact the plant root zone microbiome in terms of alpha diversity and relative abundance between treatments and control. However, with increasing silver concentration, the alpha diversity increased in lettuce root samples and in the water from the hydroponics tray samples. The genera in the hydroponic root and water samples were similar across the silver concentrations but displayed different relative abundances. This suggests that ionic silver was acting as a selective pressure for the microbes that colonize the hydroponic water. The surviving microbes likely utilized exudates from the stunted plant roots as a carbon source. Analysis of the root-associated microbiomes in response to silver showed enrichment of metagenomic pathways associated with alternate carbon source utilization, fatty-acid synthesis, and the ppGpp (guanosine 3'-diphosphate 5'-diphosphate) stringent response global regulatory system that operates under conditions of environmental stress. Nutrient solutions containing Ag+ in concentrations greater than 31 ppb in hydroponic systems lacking cation-exchange capacity can severely impact crop production due to stunting of plant growth.

Innovative Design and Optimization of Adjustable Capacitors for RadioFrequency new MRI Systems

This review delineates significant strides in the evolution of adjustable capacitors tailored specifically for highfrequency Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) applications. The research spans critical phases, meticulously detailing the adaptation of electrode shapes to attain versatile capacitance within a high-frequency spectrum. The prototype, a key focal point, showcases distinctive attributes, featuring silver-fixed and CuNiZn half-disc mobile plates mounted on a MgTiCa ceramic pellet. Comprehensive evaluation, incorporating simulation and measurement at 10MHz, illuminates the prototype's capacitance dynamics. The optimization model scrutinizes pivotal parameters governing capacitor assembly, placing a specific emphasis on the profound influence of air gap thickness on rotor equilibrium. A granular analysis of the air gap's impact on capacitance and self-resonance frequency enriches the study, offering valuable insights into configurations optimized for highfrequency MRI applications. Validation of the prototype's electrical properties through the HP Agilent 4192A LF Impedance Analyzer establishes a robust correlation with simulation results, effectively aligning with stringent MRI system specifications. The intricate assembly process, inclusive of electrode optimization considering frequency nuances and the innovative use of silver glue, is meticulously expounded upon. In-depth discussion encapsulates the rigorous validation of the development process, the stability exhibited by chosen materials across varying frequencies, and the nuanced influence of the air gap on capacitance. After concluding that the prototype meets specifications, the study charts a course for future research toward competitive trimmers for highfrequency MRIs. What distinguishes this research is its meticulous exploration of electrode shapes, the unique composition of the prototype, and a comprehensive analysis of the intricate interplay between air gap variations and capacitor performance. This work is distinguished further by the inclusion of silver glue that enhances practical implementation.

Sword of Damocles hanging over grassroots cadres in China: Understanding the accountability in campaign-style enforcement

The ‘campaign-style enforcement’ is a forceful policy instrument employed by Chinese authorities to address emergencies and intractable issues. However, the accountability embedded in campaign-style enforcement is largely overlooked, leading to the unclear dynamics of political mobilization at the grassroots level. While prior studies suggest that cadres in China are primarily motivated by promotion opportunities based on their political performance, this study, through a grounded-theory approach involving 557 penalized cadres in Hubei Province, argues that grassroots cadres are more likely mobilized by the stringent accountability system rather than by career promotion. Furthermore, this research develops a theoretical framework to elucidate what conditions may trigger accountability and how it drives grassroots political mobilization in the campaign-style enforcement.

Role of short-term campaigns and long-term mechanisms for air pollution control: lessons learned from the "2 + 26" city cluster in China.

Protecting people from air pollution is an important task for developing countries. Over the past several decades, different types of policies have been enacted in developing countries to improve air quality, with policy impact analysis being conducted as well. As for China, while there is some existing literature on the impact of short-term action on air quality, there is much less research to investigate the roles of long-term air quality control mechanism on air quality change. This paper uses the "2 + 26" city cluster in China as a case study area to particularly analyze the roles played by short-term campaigns that compose the Winter Action Plan and a long-term mechanism referred to as the environmental accountability system in pollution control. Based on econometric and descriptive statistical analyses, it is found that the implementation of the Winter Action Plan has significantly improved the air quality, and the environmental accountability system seems to have exerted an impact, as cities with better air quality appear to establish a more stringent environmental accountability system. The paper provides the following insights for other developing countries: short-term campaigns can quickly reduce pollution and protect human health, while long-term mechanisms are needed to ensure sustainable environmental protection.

Genome Analysis of Plasmodium falciparum: A Preliminary Observation - Sierra Leone, 2022-2023.

Sierra Leone, with a gross domestic product (GDP) per capita below $300 and significant poverty, ranks among the world's least developed countries (LDCs). Despite its modest population of 8.6 million, the nation reports approximately 2.6 million malaria cases annually. Previously, there has been no reporting on the malaria genome data from this country. In this study, we present the first reported whole-genome sequence analysis of 19 high parasite-density Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Sierra Leone, providing insights into the genomic epidemiology of this high-prevalence area. We found a high degree of relatedness among infections and substantial genetic diversity, consistent with the gradual reduction in overall case numbers. Moreover, our whole-genome analysis revealed that, beyond drug-resistance genes, gene families related to blood cell invasion, immune evasion, and others are undergoing directional selection. This suggests that the population in Sierra Leone has developed a relatively strong acquired immunity. The genomic data not only facilitate the creation of single nucleotide polymorphism barcodes for case tracking but also enable the analysis of evolving transmission dynamics and selection pressures. Additionally, the samples from Sierra Leone exhibited higher selective pressures on resistance genes compared to those from Asia, a trend not commonly observed in other African samples. This suggests that less stringent healthcare systems and inconsistent treatment strategies can subject parasites to increased drug pressure, thereby accelerating the development of resistant strains.

Surgical site infections - A threat to the health-care system: An observational study from a tertiary care hospital of Bihar

Background: A surgical site infection (SSI) is any infection occurring after a medical intervention. It is the most common nosocomial infection in low- and middle-income countries. It has raised both mortality and morbidity. Resistance to antibiotics due to irrational use has further added to the severity of the problem. Aims and Objectives: The current study was designed with the aim of determining the incidence of SSIs among patients operated on a tertiary care hospital, along with their antibiogram. Materials and Methods: An observational study with a cross-sectional design was conducted on 150 patients with suspected SSI were included in this study over a period of 1 year, from August 2021 to July 2022. An adult patient with pus, serous, or seropurulent discharge from the surgical wound was included in the study. Information was obtained using a pre-designed and pre-tested schedule. Identification of the colony was done by gram staining and inoculation on 5% sheep blood agar and Mac Conkey agar plates. Antimicrobial sensitivity testing was done. The data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Results: A total of 152 patients were included in the study. The incidence of SSI was found to be 38.2%. The mean age of the participants was 47.7 ± 21.6 years. The maximum incidence of SSI was noted in the 5th decade of life. Among the 58 patients’ samples, 65 aerobic bacterial colonies were isolated. Out of which Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were the commonest organisms. On performing an antibiogram, a higher degree of resistance was observed among Gram-negative organisms. Conclusion: SSI adds to the mortality as well as the morbidity of the patients. Not only this, but it also adds to the expenses. A more stringent surveillance system and reinforcement of the guidelines was the need of the hour to overcome this problem of hospital-acquired infections.

Engineering Escherichia coli for cost-effective production of medium-chain fatty acids from soy whey using an optimized galactose-based autoinduction system

Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) are essential chemical feedstocks. Microbial production of MCFAs offers an attractive alternative to conventional methods, but the costly media and external inducers limit its practical application. To address this issue and make MCFA production more cost-effective, an E.coli platform was developed using soy whey as a medium and galactose as an autoinducer. We first designed an efficient, stringent, homogeneous, and robust galactose-based autoinduction system for the expression of pathway enzymes by rationally engineering the promoter of the galactose-proton symporter (GalP). Subsequently, the intracellular acetyl-CoA availability and NADH regeneration were enhanced to improve the reversal of the β-oxidation cycle. The resulting strain yielded 8.20 g/L and 16.42 g/L MCFA in pH-controlled batch fermentation and fed-batch fermentation with glucose added using soy whey as medium, respectively. This study provided a cost-effective and promising platform for MCFA production, as well as future strain development for other value-added chemicals production.