Comprehensive Review of High Performing Electrochemical Biosensors for Biomedical and Environmental Applications

Since the outbreak of COVID 19 in 2020, being able to detect diseases and chemicals with quick turn-around time becomes ever so needed and important. We have mounted seven different biocatalysts on a sensor platform to examine the performance of this electrochemical sensing system for the detection of different biomolecules/metabolites and environmental important molecules, with such we also compared how this sensing system fares with literature results of similar measurements. The sensor platform constitutes of a layer of bio composite mounted on different electrodes made out of Au, Ag, Pt, and glass carbon; the bio composite is fabricated with polymers and sol-gel Au nanoparticles with or without an extra layer of branching biomolecules. The targeting species for measurements include NH4+, NO3-, CN-, H2O2, and the biomolecules that post specific biomedical functions/identities. In this report, we provide a systematic update of analyses of this sensing system, including the unique identification potentials and sensitivities. This novel sensing system can be a valuable tool in biomedical diagnosis and environmental forensics; in particular the sensor platform used here, any biomedical diagnosis can be conducted with extremely high sensitivity as long as the biomolecules and their antigens are known.

Integrated PCR testing and extended window contact tracing system for COVID-19 to improve comprehensiveness and speed

Testing and contact tracing are standard tools for controlling the spread of COVID-191. Their effectiveness hinges on a sequence of processes encompassing testing coverage and timeliness, testing quality and speed of reporting, contact tracing speed and comprehensiveness and compliance with advice given2–6. We optimized this sequence of processes in the context of a public health program targeting around 33,000 higher education students through a combination of low barrier PCR testing with rapid turn-around-time, close integration of testing and tracing teams and IT infrastructure, community engagement and the implementation of bidirectional contact tracing by extending the contact tracing window from 2 to 7 days before symptom onset or test of the index case. We anticipate this combined intervention to help improve epidemic control.

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

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.

CXCL13 in laboratory diagnosis of Lyme neuroborreliosis—the performance of the recomBead and ReaScan CXCL13 assays in human cerebrospinal fluid samples

The chemokine CXCL13 is used as complement to serology in the diagnostics of Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB). We evaluated and compared the semi-quantitative, cassette-based ReaScan CXCL13 assay with the quantitative recomBead CXCL13 assay using a collection of 209 cerebrospinal fluid samples. The categorical agreement between results interpreted as negative, grey zone, and positive by the two methods was 87%. The diagnostic sensitivity was higher using the recomBead assay, whereas specificity was higher using ReaScan. Few manual steps, and a short turn-around time with no batching of samples makes the ReaScan CXCL13 assay an attractive complement to serology in the diagnostics of LNB.

Integrated PCR testing and extended window contact tracing system for COVID-19 to improve comprehensiveness and speed

Testing and contact tracing are standard tools for controlling the spread of COVID-191. Their effectiveness hinges on a sequence of processes encompassing testing coverage and timeliness, testing quality and speed of reporting, contact tracing speed and comprehensiveness and compliance with advice given2–6. We optimized this sequence of processes in the context of a public health program targeting around 33,000 higher education students through a combination of low barrier PCR testing with rapid turn-around-time, close integration of testing and tracing teams and IT infrastructure, community engagement and the implementation of bidirectional contact tracing by extending the contact tracing window from 2 to 7 days before symptom onset or test of the index case. We anticipate this combined intervention to help improve epidemic control.

Application of a multiplex immunochromatographic assay for rapid identification of carbapenemases in a clinical microbiology laboratory: performance and turn-around-time evaluation of NG-test Carba 5

Background Prompt and accurate identification of carbapenemase production is essential for appropriate treatment and infection control. NG-Test Carba 5 (termed herein “Carba 5”; NG Biotech, Guipry, France) is a multiplex immunochromatographic assay for the rapid phenotypic identification of five major carbapenemases (KPC, NDM, VIM, IMP, and OXA-48-like) from bacterial isolates. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of Carba 5 and its impact on the turn-around-time in a clinical microbiology laboratory. Results Carba 5 was retrospectively evaluated using 78 carbapenemase producers and 23 non-carbapenemase producers confirmed by PCR and sequencing. The performance and time required for carbapenemase identification were prospectively evaluated using 47 carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates, and the results were compared to those obtained using Xpert Carba-R (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA, USA). For the bacterial isolates included in retrospective and prospective evaluation, the Carba 5 assay correctly identified 147 isolates except one isolate with a sensitivity of 99.13% (95% CI 95.25–99.98%) and specificity of 100% (95% CI 89.42–100%). The Carba 5 assay missed one VIM-1 among 13 VIM producers. The assay showed a sensitivity of 92.31% (95% CI 63.97–99.81%) for detecting VIM and 100% for detecting KPC, NDM, OXA-48-like, and IMP. Compared to the Xpert Carba-R assay, Carba 5 exhibited 100% agreement and was more time-efficient (median time 24 min vs. 1 h 11 min). Conclusions The Carba 5 assay has potential as an alternative to molecular methods for detecting major carbapenemases from bacterial isolates in a clinical microbiology laboratory. Compared to the Xpert Carba-R, Carba 5 turns out to be more affordable and time-efficient while showing a comparable performance, and may accelerate therapeutic and infection control decisions.

Analisis Algoritma Round Robin pada Penjadwalan CPU

ABSTRAK. Penjadwalan adalah konsep penting dalam sistem operasi multiprosesor dan multitasking pada sistem operasi waktu-nyata dengan mengalihkan proses pada CPU. Algoritma Round Robin adalah algoritma yang terkenal pada penjadwalan CPU. Algoritma Round Robin memberikan waktu quantum antara pengalihan proses. Memilih waktu quantum dalam Algoritma Round Robin sangatlah penting, waktu quantum besar akan mengakibatkan context switching lebih sedikit, sementara waktu quantum lebih kecil akan mengakibatkan context switching yang lebih sering. Algoritma Round Robin yang efisien adalah jumlah context switching lebih rendah. Untuk waktu tunggu, ide dasarnya adalah untuk mendapatkan waktu tunggu rata-rata yang lebih kecil, sehingga sistem lebih efisien. Turn around time juga harus minimum, yang berarti juga lebih efisien. Dua studi kasus didiskusikan untuk memahami algoritma ini dengan lebih mendalam. Kata kunci: Algoritma Round Robin, waktu quantum, context switching, rata-rata waktu tunggu, rata-rata turn around time