Nonlinear projection filter for target tracking using range sensor & optical tracker**This research is supported by EPSRC Research Grant, EP/N010523/1, Balancing the impact of city infrastructure engineering on natural systems using robots.

Abstract Background Candida parapsilosis has emerged as an important fungal pathogen with mortality rates up to 30%. Recent studies show no difference in treatment outcomes for patients treated both empirically and definitively with either echinocandins or fluconazole. However, the impact of antifungal susceptibility testing and opportunities for antifungal stewardship are less clear in this patient population. The purpose of this study was to assess antifungal susceptibility rates, treatment patterns, and outcomes among patients with C. parapsilosis candidemia. Methods This was a single-center, retrospective cohort review of adult patients with a positive blood culture for C. parapsilosis hospitalized at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, between 2006 and 2016. Patients with mixed or breakthrough candidemia were excluded as well as patients who expired within 3 days of candidemia onset. Results Eighty patients with C. parapsilosis candidemia were identified of which 48 met inclusion criteria. Nine patients had infections caused by fluconazole non-susceptible isolates (19%). The most common empiric treatment choice was an echinocandin (33/48, 69%), followed by fluconazole (9/48, 19%), and combination therapy (6/48, 13%). Of the 39 patients with fluconazole susceptible isolates, only 17 were treated with fluconazole definitively (44%). Among patients who received empiric echinocandin vs. fluconazole therapy, there was no difference in 14-day mortality (9% vs. 11%, P = 1.00) or in-hospital mortality (12% vs. 11%, P = 1.00). Empiric combination therapy was the only independent risk factor for treatment failure (OR, 13.8; 95% CI, 1.4–138.3; P = 0.03). Conclusion Treatment outcomes for patients receiving echinocandins were similar for those receiving fluconazole. At our institution, the increased incidence of fluconazole non-susceptible isolates warrants the use of echinocandins empirically. Patients were more likely to remain on echinocandin therapy even when fluconazole susceptible isolates were identified. This study reinforces the guideline suggestion that neither echinocandins nor fluconazole treatment leads to superior outcomes, but also identifies a cohort of patients in need of antifungal stewardship. Disclosures N. Beyda, Astellas: Grant Investigator and Scientific Advisor, Research grant

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Emergent properties in microbiome networks reveal the anthropogenic disturbance of farming practices in vineyard soil fungal communities

10.1101/2020.03.12.983650 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Rüdiger Ortiz-Álvarez ◽

Hector Ortega-Arranz ◽

Vicente J. Ontiveros ◽

Charles Ravarani ◽

Alberto Acedo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Small World ◽

Fungal Communities ◽

Local Network ◽

Emergent Properties ◽

Farming Practices ◽

Natural Systems ◽

Vineyard Soil ◽

Global Agriculture ◽

Network Properties ◽

The Impact

AbstractAgro-ecosystems are human-managed natural systems, and therefore are subject to generalized ecological rules. A deeper understanding of the factors impacting on the biotic component of ecosystem stability is needed for promoting the sustainability and productivity of global agriculture. Here we propose a method to determine ecological emergent properties through the inference of network properties in local microbial communities, and to use them as biomarkers of the anthropogenic impact of different farming practices on vineyard soil ecosystem functioning. In a dataset of 350 vineyard soil samples from USA and Spain we observed that fungal communities ranged from random to small-world network arrangements with differential levels of niche specialization. Some of the network properties studied were strongly correlated, defining patterns of ecological emergent properties that are influenced by the intensification level of the crop management. Low-intervention practices (from organic to biodynamic approaches) promoted densely clustered networks, describing an equilibrium state based on mixed (generalist-collaborative) communities. Contrary, in conventionally managed vineyards, we observed highly modular (niche-specialized) low clustered communities, supported by a higher degree of selection (more co-exclusion proportion). We also found that, although geographic factors can explain the different fungal community arrangements in both countries, the relationship between network properties in local fungal communities better capture the impact of farming practices regardless of the location. Thus, we hypothesize that local network properties can be globally used to evaluate the effect of ecosystem disturbances in crops, but also in when evaluating the effect of clinical interventions or to compare microbiomes of healthy vs. disturbed conditions.

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Past and Present Farming: Changes in Terms of Engagement

Humans and the Environment ◽

10.1093/oso/9780199590292.003.0020 ◽

2013 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kristin Armstrong Oma

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Social Systems ◽

The Political ◽

Human Environment ◽

Natural Systems ◽

Husbandry Practices ◽

Human Animal ◽

The Moment ◽

The Impact

In archaeology, changes in human–animal relationships are rarely considered beyond the moment of domestication. This is influenced by Ingold’s idea that domestication led to a shift in the human engagement with animals (Ingold 2000: 61–76; see Armstrong Oma 2007: 62–4, 2010 for critique). I do not question the validity of such a claim; however, I argue that changes in terms of engagement also happened beyond domestication, and that various configurations of human–animal relationships have existed throughout history. Further, I argue that such changes also have consequences for the environment, by choice of land use strategies and husbandry regimes. A twofold purpose is pursued: first, to investigate how changes in social systems, in my case changes in terms of engagement between humans and animals, affect land use in such a way as to impinge upon natural systems and ecosystems. Second, I wish to grasp the political underpinnings of the models that are employed by archaeologists and, by doing so, to deconstruct the political use of the past (see also Stump, Chapter 10 this volume). Alternative models regarding economic strategies are sought, and the implications of these are discussed. Human–environment studies frequently deal with the impact of human intrusive land use strategies on ecosystems. Awareness has been created around these processes regarding land use techniques and practices (for example Denham and White 2007; Mazoyer and Roudart 2006). However, in European archaeology the impact of husbandry practices upon ecosystems has received considerably less, if any, attention. People in past societies from the Neolithic onwards made the conscious decision to live with animals as herders or as farmers, blending together social and economic choices that had repercussions for landscape developments and ecosystems. Investigations into the relationship between environmental changes caused by husbandry practices and the social systems that instigated those changes are an important contribution to research on past environmental development. These changes are identifiable in the archaeological record.

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2801. Post-Natal Zika Virus Infection and Impact on Neurodevelopment Among a Cohort of Children in Rural Guatemala

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofz360.2478 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. S990-S991

Author(s):

Daniel Olson ◽

Molly Lamb ◽

Amy Connery ◽

Kathryn Colborn ◽

Muktha S Natrajan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Zika Virus ◽

Receptive Language ◽

Fine Motor ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Zikv Infection ◽

Related Factors ◽

Material Support ◽

And Gender ◽

The Impact ◽

Research Grant

Abstract Background The impact of early post-natal Zika virus (ZIKV) infection on neurodevelopment (ND) is unknown. A prospective study of post-natal ZIKV infection in rural Guatemala (ZIKV study) enrolled a cohort of children ages 1–5 years, including children previously enrolled in a dengue virus (DENV) study during the 2015–2016 ZIKV epidemic. We evaluated ND outcomes by age and ZIKV infection status. Methods Subjects enrolled in the ZIKV study June 2017–April 2018 underwent ND testing using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) at baseline and 12 months later. ZIKV/DENV-1/2 FRNT50 was performed on enrollment and on banked serum samples from the 2015 to 2016 subset. ZIKV serostatus and MSEL scores were correlated using multiple linear mixed models, adjusted for age and gender when appropriate, to evaluate their association. Geolocation was used to explore clustering of ZIKV serostatus and MSEL score. Results We enrolled 183 children (43% female, mean age 3.2 years). Of these, 38 (21%) were classified as ZIKV-positive (+), 111 (61%) ZIKV-negative (-), 31 (17%) ZIKV-possible, and 3 (2%) ZIKV-indeterminate. ZIKV(+) cases and higher composite MSEL scores clustered in more densely populated areas (Figure 1). ZIKV(+) serostatus was associated with higher MSEL composite (increase in log score 0.09, P = 0.003) and subdomain scores: fine motor (0.13, P = 0.011), visual reception (0.15, P = 0.002), receptive language (0.09, P = 0.041), gross motor (0.14, P = 0.09), and expressive language (0.09, P = 0.058) (Figure 2). Of the 78 children (43%) with 2015–2016 samples, 46 (59%) remained ZIKV(−), 16 (21%) seroconverted from ZIKV(−) or possible/indeterminate to ZIKV(+), and 16 (21%) were indeterminate when enrolled in the ZIKV study. ZIKV seroconversion was associated with higher composite (0.13, P = 0.02) MSEL scores compared with ZIKV(−). Conclusion In this exploratory analysis, post-natal ZIKV infection was not associated with adverse ND outcomes in children age 1–5 years. Overall, ZIKV(+) status was associated with higher average ND scores than ZIKV(−), and scores decreased with age for most children, independent of ZIKV status. The correlation of ZIKV(+) status and higher MSEL scores may be confounded by geographic-related factors or other confounders. NIAID Contract HHSN272201300015I Task Order HHSN27200013 (Co-PIs: FMM & EJA). Disclosures Flor M. Munoz, M.D, Biocryst: Grant/Research Support; CDC: Research Grant; Moderna: Other Financial or Material Support, Safety Monitoring Board Member/Chair; NIH: Research Grant; Novavax: Research Grant; UP to Date: Author and Editor - Royalties, Other Financial or Material Support.

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CHNS Modeling for Study and Management of Human–Water Interactions at Multiple Scales

Water ◽

10.3390/w12061699 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 1699 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kumaraswamy Ponnambalam ◽

S. Jamshid Mousavi

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Multiple Scales ◽

Water Cycle ◽

Integrated Water Resources Management ◽

Natural Systems ◽

Institutional Issues ◽

And Control ◽

The Impact ◽

Global Hydrology

This paper presents basic definitions and challenges/opportunities from different perspectives to study and control water cycle impacts on society and vice versa. The wider and increased interactions and their consequences such as global warming and climate change, and the role of complex institutional- and governance-related socioeconomic-environmental issues bring forth new challenges. Hydrology and integrated water resources management (IWRM from the viewpoint of an engineering planner) do not exclude in their scopes the study of the impact of changes in global hydrology from societal actions and their feedback effects on the local/global hydrology. However, it is useful to have unique emphasis through specialized fields such as hydrosociology (including the society in planning water projects, from the viewpoint of the humanities) and sociohydrology (recognizing the large-scale impacts society has on hydrology, from the viewpoint of science). Global hydrological models have been developed for large-scale hydrology with few parameters to calibrate at local scale, and integrated assessment models have been developed for multiple sectors including water. It is important not to do these studies with a silo mindset, as problems in water and society require highly interdisciplinary skills, but flexibility and acceptance of diverse views will progress these studies and their usefulness to society. To deal with complexities in water and society, systems modeling is likely the only practical approach and is the viewpoint of researchers using coupled human–natural systems (CHNS) models. The focus and the novelty in this paper is to clarify some of these challenges faced in CHNS modeling, such as spatiotemporal scale variations, scaling issues, institutional issues, and suggestions for appropriate mathematical tools for dealing with these issues.

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Clinical Impact of Two Different Multiplex Respiratory Panel Assays on Management of Hospitalized Children Aged ≤24 months

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofx162.079 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 (suppl_1) ◽

pp. S32-S33 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ferdaus Hassan ◽

Brian Lee ◽

Jennifer Goldman ◽

Mary Anne Jackson ◽

Rangaraj Selvarangan

Keyword(s):

Antibiotic Therapy ◽

Clinical Impact ◽

Empiric Antibiotic Therapy ◽

Suppressive Therapy ◽

Hospitalized Children ◽

Respiratory Pathogens ◽

Test Results ◽

Molecular Assays ◽

The Impact ◽

Research Grant

Abstract Background Highly multiplexed molecular assays are popular in clinical laboratories due their high sensitivity, specificity and relatively rapid turn-around time (TAT) for results. Luminex™ respiratory viral panel (RVP) detects 12 respiratory viruses, while BioFire™ respiratory panel (RP) detects 20 respiratory pathogens (17 viruses, 3 bacteria). The aim of the current study was to compare the impact of RVP and RP assay on management of hospitalized children aged ≤24 months. Methods Retrospective data were collected to compare the clinical impact from two multiplex molecular assays (RVP, December 2008–May 2012; RP August 2012–June 2015) on management and outcomes of hospitalized patients. Patients aged ≤24 months and positive for at least one respiratory virus were included. Patients who were (1) receiving immune suppressive therapy, (2) neonates requiring intensive care, or (3) hospitalized for >7 days were excluded. Results A total of 810 patients in RVP and 2,095 patients in RP group were included. The median TAT for RVP and RP assay were 29 hours (IQR 26–58 hours) and 4 hours (IQR 2–8 hours), respectively (P < 0.001). Significantly higher number of children in RVP group (44%, 357/810) received empiric antibiotic therapy compared with RP group (28%, 595/2095) (P < 0.001). Following PCR test reporting, the rate of antibiotic discontinuation was higher in the RP group (23%, 135/595) vs. RVP group (16%, 56/357) (P < 0.001). Antibiotics were discontinued more often in older children aged 6–24 months (23%, 113/492) compared with children aged < 60 days (11%, 34/297) (P < 0.001). Following positive influenza test results, more children received timely oseltamivir in the RP group (85%, 48/56) compared with the RVP group (17%, 7/41) (P < 0.001). The median length of hospitalization (LOH) was shorter in the RP group (48 hours, IQR 32–76 hours) than in the RVP group (54 hours, IQR 39–89 hours) (P < 0.001). Conclusion Rapid availability of test results from RP assay was associated with reduced antibiotic use, timely antiviral therapy and decreased LOH. The implementation of a more comprehensive respiratory multiplex molecular assay with rapid reporting of test results has the potential to improve management of hospitalized children, decrease unnecessary antibiotic therapy and reduce overall costs. Disclosures R. Selvarangan, BioFire Diagnostics: Board Member and Investigator, Consulting fee and Research grant; Luminex Diagnostics: Investigator, Research grant

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