Using sophorolipids as an antiadhesive or release strategy to fight <em>S. aureus</em> catheter-related infection

AbstractWhen two or more parasitoid species, particularly candidates for biocontrol, share the same target in the same temporal window, a complex of behaviors can occur among them. We studied the type of interactions (competition and intraguild predation) that existed between the nymphal parasitoids Anagyrus cachamai and A. lapachosus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), two candidate neoclassical biocontrol agents against the Puerto Rican cactus pest mealybug, Hypogeococcus sp. (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). The surrogate native congener host in Argentina, the cactus mealybug Hypogeococcus sp., was studied to predict which species should be released; in the case that both should be released, in which order, and their potential impact on host suppression. In the laboratory we conducted experiments where different densities of the host mealybug were exposed to naive females of A. cachamai and A. lapachosus sequentially in both directions. Experiments were analyzed by combining a series of competitive behavioral and functional response models. A fully Bayesian approach was used to select the best explaining models and calculate their parameters. Intraguild predation existed between A. cachamai, the species that had the greatest ability to exploit the resource, and A. lapachosus, the strongest species in the interference competition. The role that intraguild predation played in suppression of Hypogeococcus sp. indicated that a multiple release strategy for the two biocontrol agents would produce better control than a single release; as for the release order, A. lapachosus should be released first.

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Prehospital emergency medical technicians can perform ultrasonography and blood analysis in prehospital evaluation of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a feasibility study

BMC Health Services Research ◽

10.1186/s12913-021-06305-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Giti Nadim ◽

Christian B. Laursen ◽

Pia I. Pietersen ◽

Daniel Wittrock ◽

Michael K. Sørensen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Pulmonary Disease ◽

Respiratory Insufficiency ◽

Emergency Departments ◽

Emergency Medical Technicians ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Emergency Medical ◽

Short Period ◽

Release Strategy

Abstract Introduction Crowding of the emergency departments is an increasing problem. Many patients with an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are often treated in the emergency departments for a very short period before discharged to their homes. It is possible that this treatment could take place in the patients’ homes with sufficient diagnostics supporting the treatment. In an effort to keep the diagnostics and treatment of some of these patients in their homes and thus to reduce the patient load at the emergency departments, we implemented a prehospital treat-and-release strategy based on ultrasonography and blood testing performed by emergency medical technicians (EMT) or paramedics (PM) in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD. Method EMTs and PMs were enrolled in a six-hour educational program covering ultrasonography of the lungs and point of care blood tests. During the seasonal peak of COPD exacerbations (October 2018 – May 2019) all patients who were treated by the ambulance crews for respiratory insufficiency were screened in the ambulances. If the patient had uncomplicated COPD not requiring immediate transport to the hospital, ultrasonographic examination of the lungs, measurements of C-reactive protein and venous blood gases analyses were performed. The response to the initial treatment and the results obtained were discussed via telemedical consultation with a prehospital anaesthesiologist who then decided to either release the patient at the scene or to have the patient transported to the hospital. The primary outcome was strategy feasibility. Results We included 100 EMTs and PMs in the study. During the study period, 771 patients with respiratory insufficiency were screened. Uncomplicated COPD was rare as only 41patients were treated according to the treat-and-release strategy. Twenty of these patients (49%) were released at the scene. In further ten patients, technical problems were encountered hindering release at the scene. Conclusion In a few selected patients with suspected acute exacerbations of COPD, it was technically and organisationally feasible for EMTs and PMs to perform prehospital POCT-ultrasound and laboratory testing and release the patients following treatment. None of the patients released at the scene requested a secondary ambulance within the first 48 h following the intervention.

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PIN156 Knowledge of Intensive Care Nurses about the Evidence-Based Guidelines of Preventing Centralvenous Catheter Related Infection

Value in Health ◽

10.1016/j.jval.2020.08.997 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 23 ◽

pp. S569-S570

Author(s):

V. Pacsai ◽

B. Szabó ◽

E. Kalamár-Birinyi ◽

L. Horváth ◽

I. Boncz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Catheter Related Infection ◽

Intensive Care Nurses ◽

Evidence Based Guidelines

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Minimizing Potential Allee Effects in Psittacine Reintroductions: An Example from Puerto Rico

Diversity ◽

10.3390/d13010013 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 13

Author(s):

Thomas H. White ◽

Wilfredo Abreu ◽

Gabriel Benitez ◽

Arelis Jhonson ◽

Marisel Lopez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Puerto Rico ◽

Site Fidelity ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Allee Effects ◽

Species Reintroduction ◽

Social Species ◽

Potential Applicability ◽

Amazona Vittata ◽

Puerto Rican Parrot ◽

Release Strategy

The family Psittacidae is comprised of over 400 species, an ever-increasing number of which are considered threatened with extinction. In recent decades, conservation strategies for these species have increasingly employed reintroduction as a technique for reestablishing populations in previously extirpated areas. Because most Psittacines are highly social and flocking species, reintroduction efforts may face the numerical and methodological challenge of overcoming initial Allee effects during the critical establishment phase of the reintroduction. These Allee effects can result from failures to achieve adequate site fidelity, survival and flock cohesion of released individuals, thus jeopardizing the success of the reintroduction. Over the past 20 years, efforts to reestablish and augment populations of the critically endangered Puerto Rican parrot (Amazona vittata) have periodically faced the challenge of apparent Allee effects. These challenges have been mitigated via a novel release strategy designed to promote site fidelity, flock cohesion and rapid reproduction of released parrots. Efforts to date have resulted in not only the reestablishment of an additional wild population in Puerto Rico, but also the reestablishment of the species in the El Yunque National Forest following its extirpation there by the Category 5 hurricane Maria in 2017. This promising release strategy has potential applicability in reintroductions of other psittacines and highly social species in general.

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