Multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae clones from wild chimpanzees and termites in Senegal.

Antibiotic resistance genes exist naturally in various environments far from human usage. Here, we investigated multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, a common pathogen of chimpanzees and humans. We screened antibiotic-resistant K. pneumoniae from 48 chimpanzee stools and 38 termite mounds (N=415 samples) collected in protected areas in Senegal. The microsatellite method was used to identify chimpanzee individuals (N=13). Whole genome sequencing was performed on K. pneumoniae complex isolates to identify antibiotic-resistant genes and characterize clones. We found a high prevalence of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae among chimpanzee isolates (18/48 samples from 7/13 individuals) and ceftriaxone resistance among both chimpanzee individuals (19/48) and termite mounds (7/415 termites and 3/38 termite mounds). The bla OXA-48 and the bla KPC-2 genes were carried by international pOXA-48 and pKPC-2 plasmids respectively. The ESBL plasmid carried bla CTX-M-15 , bla TEM-1B and bla OXA-1 genes. Genome sequencing of 56 isolates identified two major clones associated with hospital-acquired infections of K. pneumoniae (ST307 and ST147) in chimpanzees and termites, suggesting circulation of strains between the two species, as chimpanzees feed on termites. The source and selection pressure of these clones in this environment need to be explored.

Ion Channels as Therapeutic Targets for Viral Infections: Further Discoveries and Future Perspectives

Ion channels play key roles in almost all facets of cellular physiology and have emerged as key host cell factors for a multitude of viral infections. A catalogue of ion channel-blocking drugs have been shown to possess antiviral activity, some of which are in widespread human usage for ion channel-related diseases, highlighting new potential for drug repurposing. The emergence of ion channel–virus interactions has also revealed the intriguing possibility that channelopathies may explain some commonly observed virus induced pathologies. This field is rapidly evolving and an up-to-date summary of new discoveries can inform future perspectives. We herein discuss the role of ion channels during viral lifecycles, describe the recently identified ion channel drugs that can inhibit viral infections, and highlight the potential contribution of ion channels to virus-mediated disease.

ANALYSIS OF PHYSICO CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CAUVERY RIVER PALLIPALAYAM, ERODE DISTRICT,TAMILNADU

This study was designed to assess the physico-chemical characteristics of Cauvery river three stations (S1- Domestic sewage release place, S2- Pooja waste release place and S3- People dress washing place. Erode. The parameters were analysed such as Temperature, pH, Colour, Odour, Turbidity, DO2, BOD, COD, Salinity, Total alkalinity and Total hardness. The pH ranged from (8.2 to 8.7), Dissolved oxygen (4.987 to 6.253mg/lit), BOD (13.768 to 17.564mg/lit), as recorded in S1 Place. COD (34.7 to 36.7mg/lit), Calcium (89 to 105mg/lit), Salinity (7.12 to 12.6mg/lit), as observed in S2 place. Total Alkalinity (164 to 198mg/lit), Nitrate (0.32 to 0.45mg/lit) and Phosphate (0.34 to 0.40mg/lit) as analyzed in S3 Place. The nding of the study revealed that the river water is polluted not advisable for human usage without any treatment. This study concluded that the seriousness and responsibility of public to conserve our water resources for healthy living.

Perfluorocarbons for the treatment of decompression illness: how to bridge the gap between theory and practice

Decompression illness (DCI) is a complex clinical syndrome caused by supersaturation of respiratory gases in blood and tissues after abrupt reduction in ambient pressure. The resulting formation of gas bubbles combined with pulmonary barotrauma leads to venous and arterial gas embolism. Severity of DCI depends on the degree of direct tissue damage caused by growing bubbles or indirect cell injury by impaired oxygen transport, coagulopathy, endothelial dysfunction, and subsequent inflammatory processes. The standard therapy of DCI requires expensive and not ubiquitously accessible hyperbaric chambers, so there is an ongoing search for alternatives. In theory, perfluorocarbons (PFC) are ideal non-recompressive therapeutics, characterized by high solubility of gases. A dual mechanism allows capturing of excess nitrogen and delivery of additional oxygen. Since the 1980s, numerous animal studies have proven significant benefits concerning survival and reduction in DCI symptoms by intravenous application of emulsion-based PFC preparations. However, limited shelf-life, extended organ retention and severe side effects have prevented approval for human usage by regulatory authorities. These negative characteristics are mainly due to emulsifiers, which provide compatibility of PFC to the aqueous medium blood. The encapsulation of PFC with amphiphilic biopolymers, such as albumin, offers a new option to achieve the required biocompatibility avoiding toxic emulsifiers. Recent studies with PFC nanocapsules, which can also be used as artificial oxygen carriers, show promising results. This review summarizes the current state of research concerning DCI pathology and the therapeutic use of PFC including the new generation of non-emulsified formulations based on nanocapsules.

SAR Calculations of Novel Dual-band PIFA for Mobile Phone Applications

Aims: The objective of this paper is to design a new PIFA for cell phone applications with low SAR. Study Design: The designed PIFA antenna involves a patch with slots on the upper side of first substance layer FR-4, shorting wall, and a ground plane in the bottom side of second substance layer FR-4 and exciting (feeding port). Place and Duration of Study: Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Zagazig. Between December 2017 to March 2019. Methodology: it will be utilized SAM head model and a hand phantom as a user’s head and hand. Time-domain solver considers hexahedral mesh with adaptive meshing scheme used in this simulation. Results: The simulation result has been obtained using MWS CST tools which constructed on the finite integration technique. And the measurement results are accomplished with vector analyzer ZVA 67. The simulated and the investigational results are the same approximately. Conclusion: The antenna provides high gain for both frequency bands (900MHZ and 1800MHZ) with approximately 90% radiation efficiency. Moreover, The SAR analysis of the suggested antenna clearly demonstrates little SAR characteristics suitable for human usage competed with the standards of the safe SAR values.

First Report of the Association of Myriogenospora atramentosa with the Plant Genus Hemarthria

Myriogenospora atramentosa is an epibiont fungus that produces black, linear stromata on the leaves of warm-season grasses including Paspalum and Andropogon. Because M. atramentosa is in the family Clavicipitaceae containing several ergot alkaloid-producing fungi, its mycotoxin production and the potential risk to cattle health are of concern. Limpograss (Hemarthria altissima) is a warm-season perennial grass that plays a key role in the cattle industry of the southeastern United States. Limpograss plants with tangletop signs and symptoms were collected in October 2018 from Osceola County, Florida, U.S.A. M. atramentosa was confirmed. M. atramentosa is reported to be associated with the plant genus Hemarthria for the first time, through morphological and molecular investigations. Because of the increasing human usage, animal consumption, and global distribution of H. altissima, understanding its codistribution with M. atramentosa and the potential mycotoxin content is critical to protect plants and animals.

Losses and environmental aspects of a byproduct metal: tellurium

Environmental contextStudies involving modelling are increasingly being performed to better understand how technology-critical elements such as tellurium are transported and accumulated in man-made technological systems. The resulting ‘anthropogenic cycles’ provide estimates of current and anticipated future material releases to the environment, and their associated environmental implications. This information complements data on natural cycles in which the subsequent transport and fate of tellurium in the environment can be examined. AbstractGlobal demand for tellurium has greatly increased owing to its use in solar photovoltaics. Elevated levels of tellurium in the environment are now observed. Quantifying the losses from human usage into the environment requires a life-cycle wide examination of the anthropogenic tellurium cycle (in analogy to natural element cycles). Reviewing the current literature shows that tellurium losses to the environment might occur predominantly as mine tailings, in gas and dust and slag during processing, manufacturing losses, and in-use dissipation (situation in around 2010). Large amounts of cadmium telluride will become available by 2040 as photovoltaic modules currently in-use reach their end-of-life. This requires proper end-of-life management approaches to avoid dissipation to the environment. Because tellurium occurs together with other toxic metals, e.g. in the anode slime collected during copper production, examining the life-cycle wide environmental implication of tellurium production requires consideration of the various substances present in the feedstock as well as the energy and material requirements during production. Understanding the flows and stock dynamics of tellurium in the anthroposphere can inform environmental chemistry about current and future tellurium releases to the environment, and help to manage the element more wisely.

Application of tuned-mass dampers to the control of floor vibrations

This article proposes a standardized solution for the application of Tuned-Mass Dampers to the control of floor vibrations based on the characteristics of the acting loads associated to human usage and the characteristics of the most common structures of the contemporary engineering practice. In order to simplify its usage by the technical community, the tuning is proposed through the selection of pre-determined components for the assembly of the TMD and the choice of disposition and spacing of the mechanisms. The system efficacy is then verified through the computational case study of a floor before and after the application of the mechanisms.