Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing for Staphylococcus lugdunensis

Evaluation of penicillin and oxacillin susceptibility testing was conducted on two hundred Staphylococcus lugdunensis isolates. Disc diffusion with penicillin 1 IU (P1, EUCAST) and penicillin 10 IU (P10, CLSI) was compared with nitrocefin discs (Cefinase®) and automated broth microdilution (Vitek2®). Oxacillin susceptibility was extrapolated from cefoxitin 30μg disc diffusion (FOX) and compared with Vitek2®. Reference methods were blaZ and mecA PCR. Penicillin zone diameter and zone edge correlated with blaZ in all except two P10 susceptible isolates (VME; very major error) and one P1 resistant isolate (ME). One hundred and forty-eight isolates were blaZ -negative of which one hundred and forty-six and one hundred and forty-nine isolates were susceptible by P1 and P10 respectively. One hundred and twenty-seven isolates were penicillin susceptible by Vitek2®. Vitek2® overcalled resistance in twenty-one blaZ -negative, twenty P1 and twenty-two P10 susceptible isolates (Vitek2® ME rate, 14.2%). Two mecA -positive isolates were oxacillin resistant by FOX and Vitek2® (categorical agreement). However, eighteen FOX susceptible, mecA -negative isolates tested resistant by Vitek2®. In conclusion, Vitek2® over-estimated penicillin and oxacillin resistance compared with disc diffusion and PCR. Disc diffusion with zone edge interpretation was more accurate and specific than automated broth microdilution for S. lugdunensis in our study.

Evaluation of methods for detection of β-lactamase production in MSSA

Objectives Correct determination of penicillin susceptibility is pivotal for using penicillin in the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infections. This study examines the performance of MIC determination, disc diffusion and a range of confirmatory tests for detection of penicillin susceptibility in S. aureus. Methods A total of 286 consecutive penicillin-susceptible S. aureus blood culture isolates as well as a challenge set of 62 MSSA isolates were investigated for the presence of the blaZ gene by PCR and subjected to penicillin-susceptibility testing using broth microdilution MIC determination, disc diffusion including reading of the zone edge, two nitrocefin tests and the cloverleaf test. Results Using PCR-based detection of blaZ as the gold standard, both broth microdilution MIC testing and disc diffusion testing resulted in a relatively low accuracy (82%–93%) with a sensitivity ranging from 49%–93%. Among the confirmatory tests, the cloverleaf test performed with 100% accuracy, while zone edge interpretation and nitrocefin-based tests increased the sensitivity of β-lactamase detection to 96%–98% and 82%–96% when using MIC determination or disc diffusion as primary test, respectively. Conclusions This investigation showed that reliable and accurate detection of β-lactamase production in S. aureus can be obtained by MIC determination or penicillin disc diffusion followed by interpretation of the zone edge as a confirmatory test for apparently penicillin-susceptible isolates. The more cumbersome cloverleaf test can also be used. Nitrocefin-based tests should not be used as the only test for confirmation of a presumptive β-lactamase-negative isolate.

Microstructure Characteristics and Its Effect on the Fracture in the Triple Junction Region of Friction Stir Welded Mg Alloys Subjected to Tension

Because of the tensile strength decreasing of the friction stir welded wrought magnesium (Mg) alloy compared to the base material, the reasons for the failure of weld has been focused on. After the fracture in transverse tension, the crack went through the welded joint from the center of the weld to the transition zone between the thermal-mechanical affected zone and weld zone. In the present study, the microstructure characteristics and its effect on the facture in the triple junction region is investigated. Based on the metallography and the electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) technology, it was observed that a twin band extended from the triple junction region to the middle of weld. The profuse twinning in the twin band was considered to play an important role on the crack propagation from the stir zone edge to the crown zone.

Evaluation of penicillin G susceptibility testing methods for Staphylococcus lugdunensis

Background Staphylococcus lugdunensis belongs to the CoNS group, but is regarded to be more virulent than most other CoNS. It is also remarkably susceptible to antibiotics, including penicillin G. Objectives To evaluate different methods for penicillin susceptibility testing, to assess penicillin susceptibility rates among S. lugdunensis and to describe the clinical presentation including antibiotic treatment. Methods Clinical isolates of S. lugdunensis were tested for penicillin susceptibility using disc diffusion according to CLSI (10 U disc) and EUCAST (1 U disc), assessment of zone-edge appearance, nitrocefin test and Etest for MIC determination. PCR of the blaZ gene was used as a reference method. Results Of the 112 isolates included in the study, 67% were susceptible to penicillin G according to blaZ PCR. The EUCAST disc diffusion test had 100% sensitivity, whereas the CLSI method had one very major error with a false-susceptible isolate. When zone-edge appearance was included in the assessment, the false-susceptible isolate was correctly classified as resistant. Foreign-body infection was the most common focus of infection, affecting 49% of the participants. Only 4% of the patients were treated with penicillin G. Conclusions Penicillin susceptibility is common in S. lugdunensis and the disc diffusion method according to EUCAST had a higher sensitivity than that of CLSI. Assessment of zone-edge appearance could increase the sensitivity of the disc diffusion test. Penicillin susceptibility testing and treatment should be considered in S. lugdunensis infections.

Harmful Gases Wireless Network Monitoring System Design

One web for normal wired and scanning organization in the electrifying, capability of action, empathy and other facet of issue, it describes to Zigbee root, GSM machinery. Now Remote recording terminal is used to detect the area habitat and gas alert to detect site state and absorption state. Control station is worn to hold the head base to attach the mesh of remote observation data, anxiety statistics ship to receiver by GSM module monitoring terminal. In inclusion, across the periodical seaport shift information to a computer detector slave, to reach the position from every remote terminal data perusal, administration. Final reaction displays is proficient of extended-period fixed, valid behavior with low power utilization, unfailingly connected, casing a broad zone edge

Broadband Photo-Excited Coherent Acoustic Frequency Combs and Mini-Brillouin-Zone Modes in a MQW-SESAM Structure

A multiple quantum-well semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (MQW-SESAM) structure has been investigated by femtosecond pump-probe laser spectroscopy at a central wavelength of around 1050 nm. Coherent acoustic phonons are generated and detected over a wide frequency range from ~15 GHz to ~800 GHz. In the optical absorption region, i.e., in the multiple quantum wells (In0.27Ga0.73As), acoustic frequency combs centered at ~365 GHz, with a comb spacing of ~33 GHz, are generated. Most importantly, in the transparent region, i.e., in the distributed Bragg reflector, which is formed by a non-doped long-period semiconductor GaAs/Al0.95Ga0.05As superlattice, the mini-Brillouin-zone center, as well as zone-edge acoustic modes, are observed. The mini-zone-center modes with a fundamental frequency of 32 GHz can be attributed to the spatial modulation of the pump optical interference field with a period very close to that of the distributed Bragg reflector, in combination with the periodic spatial modulation of the electrostriction coefficient in the distributed Bragg reflector. The excitation of mini-zone-edge modes is attributed to the stimulated subharmonic decay of the fundamental center modes. Their subsequent back-folding to the mini-Brillouin-zone center makes them Raman active for the probe light.

Physics of planet trapping with applications to HL Tau

ABSTRACT We explore planet formation in the HL Tau disc and possible origins of the prominent gaps and rings observed by ALMA. We investigate whether dust gaps are caused by dynamically trapped planetary embryos at the ice lines of abundant volatiles. The global properties of the HL Tau disc (total mass and size) at its current age are used to constrain an evolving analytic disc model describing its temperature and density profiles. By performing a detailed analysis of the planet–disc interaction for a planet near the water ice line including a rigorous treatment of the dust opacity, we confirm that water is sufficiently abundant (1.5 × 10−4 molecules per H) to trap planets at its ice line due to an opacity transition. When the abundance of water is reduced by 50 ${{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ planet trapping disappears. We extend our analysis to other planet traps: the heat transition, dead zone edge, and the CO2 ice line and find similar trapping. The formation of planets via planetesimal accretion is computed for dynamically trapped embryos at the water ice line, dead zone, and heat transition. The end products orbit in the inner disc (R < 3 au), unresolved by ALMA, with masses that range between sub-Earth to 5 Jupiter masses. While we find that the dust gaps correspond well with the radial positions of the CO2, CH4, and CO ice lines, the planetesimal accretion rates at these radii are too small to build large embryos within 1 Myr.

En el extremo de la Zona Cantábrica (Artículo de divulgación basado en una conferencia dictada por el autor, en Arbejal, Palencia, a profesores de Enseñanza Media) At the Cantabrian zone edge (Dissemination article based on a lecture given by the author, in Arbejal, Palencia, to Secondary Education teachers)

Resumen: Se describe a grandes rasgos la evolución paleogeográfica y estructural y las condiciones tectonosedimentarias de la Zona Cantábrica, durante las etapas Variscas preorogénica y sinorogénica, con foco principal en la Provincia del Pisuerga-Carrión, y se detalla algo más la estratigrafía del Devónico de la región y las huellas que dejaron en las rocas de esta edad diferentes eventos geo-biológicos con elevado interés como herramientas cronoestratigráficas.Palabras clave: paleogeografía, evolución tectonosedimentaria, Zona Cantábrica, provincia del Pisuerga-Carrión, orogenia Varisca, Silúrico-Carbonífero.Abstract: An overall description of the Variscan paleogeography and tectonosedimentary evolution of the Pisuerga-Carrion Province (eastern Cantabrian Zone, N Spain) is given. The Devonian stratigraphy of that province and the major geologic and paleontological events recorded in these successions are briefly discussed, emphasizing their significance as chronostratigraphic tools.Keywords: paleogeography, tectonosedimentary evolution, Cantabrian Zone, Pisuerga-Carrion province, Variscan orogeny, Silurian-Carboniferous.