scholarly journals Visual multiple cross displacement amplification for the rapid identification of S. agalactiae immediately from vaginal and rectal swabs

AMB Express ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xueqin Cheng ◽  
Zhiqian Dou ◽  
Jing Yang ◽  
Dexi Liu ◽  
Yulong Gu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pathogen Detection ◽  
Clinical Specimen ◽  
Rapid Identification ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Special Equipment ◽  
Multiple Cross ◽  
Rectal Swabs ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Positive Results

AbstractStreptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae) is an important pathogen that can lead to neonatus and mother infection. The current existing techniques for the identification of S. agalactiae are limited by accuracy, speed and high-cost. Therefore, a new multiple cross displacement amplification (MCDA) assay was developed for test of the target pathogen immediately from vaginal and rectal swabs. MCDA primers screening were conducted targeting S. agalactiae pcsB gene, and one set of MCDA primers with better rapidity and efficiency was selected for establishing the S. agalactiae-MCDA assay. As a result, the MCDA method could be completed at a constant temperature of 61 °C, without the requirement of special equipment. The detection limit is 250 fg (31.5 copies) per reaction, all S. agalactiae strains displayed positive results, but not for non-S. agalactiae strains. The visual MCDA assay detected 16 positive samples from 200 clinical specimen, which were also detected positive by enrichment/qPCR. While the CHROMagar culture detected 6 positive samples. Thus, the MCDA assay is prefer to enrichment/qPCR and culture for detecting S. agalactiae from clinical specimen. Particularly, the whole test of MCDA takes about 63.1 min, including sample collection (3 min), DNA preparation (15 min), MCDA reaction (45 min) and result reporting (6 s). In addition, the cost was very economic, with only US$ 4.9. These results indicated that our S. agalaciae-MCDA assay is a rapid, sensitive and cost-efficient technique for target pathogen detection, and is more suitable than conventional assays for an urgent detection, especially for 'on-site' laboratories and resource-constrained settings.

scholarly journals A retrospective observational study of the impact of 16s and 18s ribosomal RNA PCR on antimicrobial treatment over seven years: A tertiary hospital experience

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. e0258552
Author(s):  
TeeKeat Teoh ◽  
Rachel McNamara ◽  
James Powell ◽  
Nuala H. O’Connell ◽  
Colum P. Dunne
Keyword(s):  
Ribosomal Rna ◽  
Pathogen Detection ◽  
Enrichment Culture ◽  
Tertiary Hospital ◽  
Antimicrobial Treatment ◽  
18S Ribosomal Rna ◽  
Turn Around Time ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Positive Results

Background Although culture-based methods remain a staple element of microbiology analysis, advanced molecular methods increasingly supplement the testing repertoire. Since the advent of 16s and 18s ribosomal RNA PCR in the 2000s, there has been interest in its utility for pathogen detection. Nonetheless, studies assessing the impact on antimicrobial prescribing are limited. We report a single-centre experience of the influence of 16s and 18s PCR testing on antimicrobial treatment, including a cost-analysis. Methods Data were collected retrospectively for all samples sent for 16s and 18s PCR testing between January 2014 and December 2020. Results were compared to any culture-based result. Assessment focused on any change of antimicrobial treatment based on PCR result, or use of the result as supportive evidence for microbiological diagnosis. Results 310 samples relevant to 268 patients were referred for 16s/18s rRNA PCR testing during the period. Culture was performed for 234 samples. Enrichment culture was performed for 83 samples. 82 of 300 samples sent for 16s PCR had positive results (20.8%). When culture was performed, enrichment reduced the outcome of 16s PCR only positive results (4/36 [11.1%] versus 14/35 [40.0%], p = 0.030 where a pathogen found). 18s PCR yielded 9 positive results from 67 samples. The 16s PCR result influenced antimicrobial change for 6 patients (2.2%). We estimated the cost for 16s PCR testing to result in one significant change in antimicrobial therapy to be €3,340. 18s PCR did not alter antimicrobial treatment. Conclusion There was limited impact of 16s PCR results on antimicrobial treatments. Relevance to practice was affected by relatively long turn-around-time for results. Utility may be increased in specialised surgical centres, or by reducing turn-around-time. Enrichment culture should be considered on samples where 16s PCR is requested. There remains limited evidence for use of 18s PCR in clinical management, and further studies in this area are likely warranted.

scholarly journals Comparison of LPWAN Technologies: Cost Structure and Scalability

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Istiak Hossain ◽  
Jan I. Markendahl
Keyword(s):  
Communication Technology ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Cost Structure ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Area Network ◽  
Wide Area Network ◽  
Generic Framework ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
The Cost

AbstractSmall-scale commercial rollouts of Cellular-IoT (C-IoT) networks have started globally since last year. However, among the plethora of low power wide area network (LPWAN) technologies, the cost-effectiveness of C-IoT is not certain for IoT service providers, small and greenfield operators. Today, there is no known public framework for the feasibility analysis of IoT communication technologies. Hence, this paper first presents a generic framework to assess the cost structure of cellular and non-cellular LPWAN technologies. Then, we applied the framework in eight deployment scenarios to analyze the prospect of LPWAN technologies like Sigfox, LoRaWAN, NB-IoT, LTE-M, and EC-GSM. We consider the inter-technology interference impact on LoRaWAN and Sigfox scalability. Our results validate that a large rollout with a single technology is not cost-efficient. Also, our analysis suggests the rollout possibility of an IoT communication Technology may not be linear to cost-efficiency.

Identification of Agricultural Management Zones Through Clustering Algorithms with Thermal and Multispectral Satellite Imagery

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (Suppl. 1) ◽  
pp. 121-140
Author(s):  
R. B. Arango ◽  
A. M. Campos ◽  
E. F. Combarro ◽  
E. R. Canas ◽  
I. Díaz
Keyword(s):  
Satellite Imagery ◽  
Precision Agriculture ◽  
Clustering Algorithms ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Agricultural Management ◽  
Landsat 8 ◽  
Special Equipment ◽  
Management Zones ◽  
Ndvi Index ◽  
Cost Efficient

Precision Agriculture entails the appropriate management of the inherent variability of soil and crops, resulting in an increase of economic benefits and a reduction of environmental impact. However, site-specific treatments require maps of the soil variability to identify areas of land that share similar properties. In order to produce these maps, we propose a cost-efficient method that combines clustering algorithms with publicly available satellite imagery. The method does not require exploring the parcels with any special equipment or taking samples of the soil for laboratory analysis. The proposed method was tested in a case study for three vineyard parcels with topographical dissimilarities. The study compares different spectral and thermal bands from the Landsat 8 satellite as well as vegetation and moisture indices to determine which one produces the best clustering. The experimental results seem promising for identification of agricultural management zones. The findings suggest that thermal bands produce better clustering than those based on the NDVI index.

scholarly journals Cost Analysis of a Novel Method for Ecological Compensation—A Study of the Translocation of Dead Wood

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6075
Author(s):  
Ola Lindroos ◽  
Malin Söderlind ◽  
Joel Jensen ◽  
Joakim Hjältén
Keyword(s):  
Cost Efficiency ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Road Transportation ◽  
Ecological Value ◽  
Ecological Compensation ◽  
Work Time ◽  
Delivery Times ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
The Cost

Translocation of dead wood is a novel method for ecological compensation and restoration that could, potentially, provide a new important tool for biodiversity conservation. With this method, substrates that normally have long delivery times are instantly created in a compensation area, and ideally many of the associated dead wood dwelling organisms are translocated together with the substrates. However, to a large extent, there is a lack of knowledge about the cost efficiency of different methods of ecological compensation. Therefore, the costs for different parts of a translocation process and its dependency on some influencing factors were studied. The observed cost was 465 SEK per translocated log for the actual compensation measure, with an additional 349 SEK/log for work to enable evaluation of the translocation’s ecological results. Based on time studies, models were developed to predict required work time and costs for different transportation distances and load sizes. Those models indicated that short extraction and insertion distances for logs should be prioritized over road transportation distances to minimize costs. They also highlighted a trade-off between costs and time until a given ecological value is reached in the compensation area. The methodology used can contribute to more cost-efficient operations and, by doing so, increase the use of ecological compensation and the benefits from a given input.

scholarly journals Mitigating Future Respiratory Virus Pandemics: New Threats and Approaches to Consider

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 637
Author(s):  
Gregory C. Gray ◽  
Emily R. Robie ◽  
Caleb J. Studstill ◽  
Charles L. Nunn
Keyword(s):  
Pathogen Detection ◽  
Respiratory Virus ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Animal Virus ◽  
Virus Surveillance ◽  
Human Animal ◽  
Cost Efficient

Despite many recent efforts to predict and control emerging infectious disease threats to humans, we failed to anticipate the zoonotic viruses which led to pandemics in 2009 and 2020. The morbidity, mortality, and economic costs of these pandemics have been staggering. We desperately need a more targeted, cost-efficient, and sustainable strategy to detect and mitigate future zoonotic respiratory virus threats. Evidence suggests that the transition from an animal virus to a human pathogen is incremental and requires a considerable number of spillover events and considerable time before a pandemic variant emerges. This evolutionary view argues for the refocusing of public health resources on novel respiratory virus surveillance at human–animal interfaces in geographical hotspots for emerging infectious diseases. Where human–animal interface surveillance is not possible, a secondary high-yield, cost-efficient strategy is to conduct novel respiratory virus surveillance among pneumonia patients in these same hotspots. When novel pathogens are discovered, they must be quickly assessed for their human risk and, if indicated, mitigation strategies initiated. In this review, we discuss the most common respiratory virus threats, current efforts at early emerging pathogen detection, and propose and defend new molecular pathogen discovery strategies with the goal of preempting future pandemics.

DURATION OF ACARICIDAL ACTION OF THE DRUG «KENEM» AND ECONOMIC JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF CATTLE FROM IXODIC MITES

Habarshy ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 50-60
Author(s):  
A.B. Myrzhiyeva ◽  
M.Zh Suleimenov ◽  
Uslu Ugur ◽  
A.S. Ibazhanova ◽  
L.O Zhanteliyeva L.O
Keyword(s):  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Scientific Article ◽  
Special Equipment ◽  
Practical Point ◽  
Acaricidal Efficacy ◽  
Economic Justification ◽  
Long Duration ◽  
Similar Drug ◽  
The Cost

The scientific article presents the duration of acaricidal effect of «Kenem» drug, and its economic feasibility for protecting cattle against ixodic ticks. As a result of the study, the acaricidal efficacy and the duration of the residual acaricidal effect of drugs are important components in the planning of anti-tick measures. From a practical point of view, the economic feasibility of treating cattle against ixodic ticks in the presented conditions of acaricides in the southern regions is considered important. Despite the fact that the cost of the drug per 100 head exceeds the cost of a similar drug by 1 788.15 tenge, the frequency of its use is less, and additional installations are not required. This is due to the long duration of residual acaricidal effect of Kenem, which is 30 days, which allows to reduce the number of therapeutic measures.When calculating the economic feasibility for the use of acaricides to protect cattle against ixodic ticks, the most convenient way to prevent the sucking of ixodic ticks to animals is the local application of Kenem, which does not require special equipment and special skills of technical staff. Drug duration is 30 days, therefore the cost of its use for the entire season of active ticks per 1 animal is 44% cheaper, compared to veteran, i.e. 1,421.4 tenge.

CURRENT RATIONALE ISSUES LABOR COSTS IN THE COST OF MILITARY PRODUCTS AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF THE LIFE CYCLE

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 52-61
Author(s):  
D. V. ZVEREV ◽  
◽  
I. I. SAVELEV ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
The State ◽  
Regulatory Framework ◽  
Labor Intensity ◽  
Labor Costs ◽  
Special Equipment ◽  
Frame Work ◽  
The Cost

Based on the experience of checking the validity of prices for military products supplied within the frame-work of the state defence order, problematic issues of rationing of labor costs have been identified. The im-perfection of the current regulatory framework in the field of substantiating the labor intensity of work is shown. Proposals for the standardization of labor at various stages of the life cycle of weapons, military and special equipment are reasoned.

ASSESSMENT OF THE APPLICABILITY OF LARAWAN TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF A BACKUP COMMUNICATION CHANNEL FOR METEOROLOGICAL SUPPORT OF AIRFIELDS

2021 ◽  
pp. 25-31
Author(s):  
Д.К. Тунеголовец
Keyword(s):  
Communication Channel ◽  
Block Diagram ◽  
Essential Feature ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variability ◽  
Weather Forecasts ◽  
Economic Problems ◽  
Present Information ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Positive Results

В настоящее время информация о состоянии атмосферы широко используется как при составлении прогнозов погоды, так и при решении многих экономических задач. Существенная особенность метеорологических явлений - их пространственно-временная изменчивость. Это вызывает необходимость такой организации наблюдений, которая позволит своевременно отметить возникновение явления и проследить за ходом его развития. Статистика показывает, что в период с 1997 по 2000 годы произошло порядка 193 авиационных инцидентoв, которые обусловлены недостатками метеорологического обеспечения полетов. Поэтому задача повышения качества метеорологического обеспечения является актуальной. На основе модельных и практических экспериментов показано, что беспроводной канал связи LoRaWaN способен объединить весь поток данных, поступающих с удаленных метеорологических датчиков, которые используют разные протоколы для взаимодействия друг с другом. В ходе выполнения эксперимента получены положительные результаты, доказывающие возможность организации таких каналов связи для задач метеообеспечения аэродромов. Также приводится структурная схема для организации канала связи. При этом не требуется прокладка кабельных коммуникаций связи, когда стоимость такого вида работ, включая согласование, зачастую значительно превышает стоимость самого метеорологического оборудования At present, information on the state of the atmosphere is widely used both in the preparation of weather forecasts and in solving many economic problems. An essential feature of meteorological phenomena is their spatial and temporal variability. This makes it necessary to organize observations in such a way that will allow timely noting the occurrence of the phenomenon and monitoring the progress of its development. Statistics show that in the period from 1997 to 2000 there were about 193 aviation incidents, which were caused by shortcomings in the meteorological support of flights. Therefore, the task of improving the quality of meteorological support is urgent. This article shows, based on model and practical experiments, that the LaRaWAN wireless communication channel is able to combine the entire data stream coming from remote meteorological sensors using various communication protocols among themselves. During the experiment, I obtained positive results, proving the possibility of organizing such communication channels for the tasks of meteorological support of airfields. A block diagram for the organization of a communication channel is also provided. At the same time, the laying of cable communications is not required, when the cost of this type of work, including coordination, often significantly exceeds the cost of the meteorological equipment itself

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