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AIM: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are being studied as potential biomarkers in many infections. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the volatile profile of three Gram-positive bacteria of clinical relevance to identify potential volatile biomarkers that allow their differentiation. METHODS AND RESULTS: L. monocytogenes, S. aureus, and E. faecalis clinical isolates were inoculated in a thioglycollate medium until grown. Then, VOCs were extracted by solid-phase microextraction, and the data obtained were subjected to multivariate analysis. According to our results, there was a high production of aldehydes in E. faecalis. In the case of alcohols, they only increased in L. monocytogenes, while ketones were produced significantly in all three bacteria, mainly due to acetoin. Acids were produced significantly in E. faecalis and L. monocytogenes. CONCLUSIONS: Potential biomarkers of L. monocytogenes could be 1-butanol and 2-methylbutanoic acid. In the case of E. faecalis, the VOC most related to its presence was nonanal. Lastly, potential biomarkers of S. aureus could be isoamyl butanoate and methionol, although some pyrazines have also been associated with this bacterium. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The identification of potential biomarkers of these clinically relevant bacteria could open the way for the diagnosis of these infections through the analysis of volatile compounds.
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Mycobacterium bovis (Mb) is the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis (bTb). Genetic selection aiming to identify less susceptible animals has been proposed as a complementary measure in ongoing programs toward controlling Mb infection. However, individual animal phenotypes for bTb based on interferon-gamma (IFNÉ£) and its use in bovine selective breeding programs have not been explored. In the current study, IFNÉ£ production was measured using a specific IFNÉ£ ELISA kit in bovine purified protein derivative (bPPD)-stimulated blood samples collected from Holstein cattle. DNA isolated from the peripheral blood samples collected from the animals included in the study was genotyped with the EuroG Medium Density bead Chip, and the genotypes were imputed to whole-genome sequences. A genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) revealed that the IFNÉ£ in response to bPPD was associated with a specific genetic profile (heritability = 0.23) and allowed the identification of 163 SNPs, 72 quantitative trait loci (QTLs), 197 candidate genes, and 8 microRNAs (miRNAs) associated with this phenotype. No negative correlations between this phenotype and other phenotypes and traits included in the Spanish breeding program were observed. Taken together, our results define a heritable and distinct immunogenetic profile associated with strong production of IFNÉ£ in response to Mb.
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Estudio de Asociación del Genoma Completo , Interferón gamma , Mycobacterium bovis , Polimorfismo de Nucleótido Simple , Sitios de Carácter Cuantitativo , Tuberculosis Bovina , Animales , Bovinos , Mycobacterium bovis/inmunología , Interferón gamma/genética , Interferón gamma/metabolismo , Tuberculosis Bovina/genética , Tuberculosis Bovina/inmunología , Tuberculosis Bovina/microbiología , Fenotipo , GenotipoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) are recommended in nursing homes (NHs), although data are limited. We aimed to determine the clinical and ecological impact of an ASP for NHs. METHODS: We performed a cluster, randomized, controlled trial and a before-after study with interrupted time-series analyses in 14 NHs for 30 consecutive months from July 2018 to December 2020 in Andalusia, Spain. Seven facilities implemented an ASP with a bundle of 5 educational measures (general ASP) and 7 added 1-to-1 educational interviews (experimental ASP). The primary outcome was the overall use of antimicrobials, calculated monthly as defined daily doses (DDD) per 1000 resident days (DRD). RESULTS: The total mean antimicrobial consumption decreased by 31.2% (-16.72 DRD; P = .045) with respect to the preintervention period; the overall use of quinolones and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid dropped by 52.2% (P = .001) and 42.5% (P = .006), respectively; and the overall prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) decreased from 24.7% to 17.4% (P = .012). During the intervention period, 12.5 educational interviews per doctor were performed in the experimental ASP group; no differences were found in the total mean antimicrobial use between groups (-14.62 DRD; P = .25). Two unexpected coronavirus disease 2019 waves affected the centers increasing the overall mean use of antimicrobials by 40% (51.56 DRD; P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that an ASP for NHs appears to be associated with a decrease in total consumption of antimicrobials and prevalence of MDROs. This trial did not find benefits associated with educational interviews, probably due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT03543605.
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Antiinfecciosos , COVID-19 , Humanos , Antibacterianos/uso terapéutico , Antiinfecciosos/uso terapéutico , Casas de Salud , Combinación Amoxicilina-Clavulanato de PotasioRESUMEN
A new roadway eventual obstacle detection system based on computer vision is described and evaluated. This system uses low-cost hardware and open-source software to detect and classify moving elements in roads using infra-red and colour video images as input data. This solution represents an important advancement to prevent road accidents due to eventual obstacles which have considerably increased in the past decades, mainly with wildlife. The experimental evaluation of the system demonstrated that the proposed solution detects and classifies correctly different types of moving obstacles on roads, working robustly under different weather and illumination conditions.
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BACKGROUND: Streptococcus tigurinus was recently described as a new streptococcal species within the viridans group streptococci (VGS). The objectives of the present work were to analyse the clinical and microbiological characteristics of S. tigurinus isolated from patients with bacteraemias, to determine the prevalence of S. tigurinus among VGS endocarditis in Spain, and to compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes of endocarditis caused by S. tigurinus and other VGS. METHODS: Retrospective nationwide study, performed between 2008 and 2016 in 9 Spanish hospitals from 7 different provinces comprising 237 cases of infective endocarditis. Streptococcal isolates were identified by sequencing fragments of their 16S rRNA, sodA and groEL genes. Clinical data of patients with streptococcal endocarditis were prospectively collected according to a pre-established protocol. RESULTS: Patients with endocarditis represented 7/9 (77.8%) and 26/86 (30.2%) of the bacteraemias caused by S. tigurinus and other VGS, respectively (p < 0.001), in two of the hospital participants. Among patients with streptococcal endocarditis, 12 different Streptococcus species were recognized being S. oralis, S. tigurinus and S. mitis the three more common. No relevant statistical differences were observed in the clinical characteristics and outcomes of endocarditis caused by the different VGS species. CONCLUSIONS: In this multicenter study performed in Spain, S. tigurinus showed a higher predilection for the endocardial endothelium as compared to other VGS. However, clinical characteristics and outcomes of endocarditis caused by S. tigurinus did not significantly differ from endocarditis caused by other oral streptococci.
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Endocarditis Bacteriana/diagnóstico , Endocarditis Bacteriana/epidemiología , Infecciones Estreptocócicas/diagnóstico , Infecciones Estreptocócicas/epidemiología , Estreptococos Viridans/aislamiento & purificación , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Bacteriemia/diagnóstico , Bacteriemia/epidemiología , Bacteriemia/microbiología , Endocarditis Bacteriana/microbiología , Monitoreo Epidemiológico , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Pronóstico , Estudios Retrospectivos , Factores de Riesgo , España/epidemiología , Infecciones Estreptocócicas/complicaciones , Infecciones Estreptocócicas/microbiología , Estreptococos Viridans/clasificación , Estreptococos Viridans/fisiología , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Bad data as a result of measurement errors in secondary substation (SS) monitoring equipment is difficult to detect and negatively affects power system state estimation performance by both increasing the computational burden and jeopardizing the state estimation accuracy. In this paper a short-term load forecasting (STLF) hybrid strategy based on singular spectrum analysis (SSA) in combination with artificial neural networks (ANN), is presented. This STLF approach is aimed at detecting, identifying and eliminating and/or correcting such bad data before it is provided to the state estimator. This approach is developed to improve the accuracy of the load forecasts and it is tested against real power load data provided by electricity suppliers. Depending on the week considered, mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) values which range from 1.6% to 3.4% are achieved for STLF. Different systematic errors, such as gain and offset error levels and outliers, are successfully detected with a hit rate of 98%, and the corresponding measurements are corrected before they are sent to the control center for state estimation purposes.
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According to the current clinical practice guidelines for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the addition of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) to long-acting ß2 agonist therapy is recommended in patients with moderate-to-severe disease and an increased risk of exacerbations. However, ICS are largely overprescribed in clinical practice, and most patients are unlikely to benefit from long-term ICS therapy.Evidence from recent randomized-controlled trials supports the hypothesis that ICS can be safely and effectively discontinued in patients with stable COPD and in whom ICS therapy may not be indicated, without detrimental effects on lung function, health status, or risk of exacerbations. This article summarizes the evidence supporting the discontinuation of ICS therapy, and proposes an algorithm for the implementation of ICS withdrawal in patients with COPD in clinical practice.Given the increased risk of potentially serious adverse effects and complications with ICS therapy (including pneumonia), the use of ICS should be limited to the minority of patients in whom the treatment effects outweigh the risks.
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Corticoesteroides/administración & dosificación , Corticoesteroides/efectos adversos , Agonistas de Receptores Adrenérgicos beta 2/administración & dosificación , Agonistas de Receptores Adrenérgicos beta 2/efectos adversos , Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva Crónica/tratamiento farmacológico , Privación de Tratamiento , Administración por Inhalación , Broncodilatadores/administración & dosificación , Broncodilatadores/efectos adversos , Humanos , Neumonía/inducido químicamente , Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva Crónica/epidemiología , Ensayos Clínicos Controlados Aleatorios como Asunto/métodos , Privación de Tratamiento/tendenciasRESUMEN
Chalcographic printer is the name given to a specific type of press which is used to transfer the printing of a metal-based engraved plate onto paper. The printing system consists of two rollers for pressing and carrying a metal plate onto which an engraved inked plate is placed. When the driving mechanism is operated, the pressure exerted by the rollers, also called contact pressure, allows the engraved image to be transferred into paper, thereby obtaining the final image. With the aim of ensuring the quality of the result, in terms of good and even transfer of ink, the contact pressure must be uniform. Nowadays, the strategies utilized to measure the pressure are implemented off-line, i.e., when the press machines are shut down for maintenance, which poses limitations. This paper proposes a novel sensor system aimed at monitoring the pressure exerted by the rollers on the engraved plate while chalcographic printer is operating, i.e., on-line. The purpose is two-fold: firstly, real-time monitoring reduces the number of breakdown repairs required, reduces machine downtime and reduces the number of low-quality engravings, which increases productivity and revenues; and secondly, the on-line monitoring and register of the process parameters allows the printing process to be reproducible even with changes in the environmental conditions or other factors such as the wear of the parts that constitute the mechanical system and a change in the dimensions of the printing materials. The proposed system consists of a strain gauge-based load cell and conditioning electronics to sense and treat the signals.
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BACKGROUND: Over 50% of treated patients with asthma in Europe are not well controlled. Their management in primary health care (PHC) differs from that in specialized care, and there is no real coordination between the two. OBJECTIVES: To identify barriers and solutions to improving the management of patients with severe and poorly controlled asthma and the communication between specialists and PHC, and to reach a consensus on the criteria for referral patients. METHODS: An observational study using a modified Delphi technique. About 79 physicians from PHC, pneumology and allergy fields from different Spanish regions were invited to participate via an online questionnaire. Consensus was reached on an item when more than two-thirds of the panel members scored within the 3-point category (1-3 or 7-9) containing the median and the interquartile range of answers had to be ≤4 points. RESULTS: Response rate: 52%. After the second round, consensus items were 40 (62.5%): of which 37 in agreement and 3 in disagreement. Around 92.68% of respondents agreed that it would be useful to incorporate questionnaires for asthma control into PHC computer-based searches. About 100% of participants agreed that clear consensus criteria between PHC and specialists must be determined to decide when a patient with asthma is referred from PHC to specialist or vice versa. Ten of the proposed criteria reached consensus agreement. CONCLUSION: The failure to use guidelines and specific questionnaires for asthma control in PHC is one reason why there is underdiagnosis and poor control of asthma. Some strategies to improve the asthma care management emerged from the survey results.
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Alergia e Inmunología/normas , Asma/terapia , Comunicación Interdisciplinaria , Atención Primaria de Salud/normas , Neumología/normas , Derivación y Consulta/normas , Asma/fisiopatología , Consenso , Técnica Delphi , Humanos , Guías de Práctica Clínica como Asunto , Índice de Severidad de la Enfermedad , España , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To assess the relevance of correct identification and interpretation of susceptibility testing of Aeromonas spp. bacteremia isolates using newly developed molecular methods in comparison to previous conventional methods. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 22 patients with bacteremia due to Aeromonas hydrophila group, microbiologically characterized using the MicroScan system. Further identification to species level was performed by mass spectrometry, and confirmed by sequencing the rpoB gene. The MIC of imipenem, cefotaxime, piperacillin-tazobactam, ciprofloxacin and cotrimoxazole was studied using a commercial broth microdilution and antibiotic gradient strips with low and high inocula. Detection of carbapenemase production was performed using the modified Hodge test, and was confirmed by amplifying the cphA gene by PCR. RESULTS: A total of 9 (40.9%) isolates were identified as Aeromonas hydrophila, 8 (36.4%) as Aeromonas veronii, and the remaining 5 (22.7%) isolates as Aeromonas caviae. Resistance to beta-lactams according to both the commercial microdilution and MIC gradient strips methods was: 36%-50% to imipenem; 4%-56% to cefotaxime, and 27%-56% to piperacillin/tazobactam. The agreement between results generated by the automated system and the diffusion antibiotic gradient strip was, for all 3 species, 68% for imipenem, 50% to cefotaxime, and 46% to piperacillin/tazobactam. No resistance to cotrimoxazole and ciprofloxacin was found by either of the two methods, although 22.7% of the strains were resistant to nalidixic acid. CONCLUSIONS: It is essential to identify the isolates of Aeromonas spp. at the species level, due to the fact that beta-lactam resistance is species- and method-dependent. The high rate of resistance to beta-lactam and quinolones reduce their application as empiric treatments for invasive infection by Aeromonas ssp.
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Aeromonas/efectos de los fármacos , Bacteriemia/microbiología , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Resistencia betalactámica , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Humanos , beta-Lactamas/farmacologíaRESUMEN
In recent years, Secondary Substations (SSs) are being provided with equipment that allows their full management. This is particularly useful not only for monitoring and planning purposes but also for detecting erroneous measurements, which could negatively affect the performance of the SS. On the other hand, load forecasting is extremely important since they help electricity companies to make crucial decisions regarding purchasing and generating electric power, load switching, and infrastructure development. In this regard, Short Term Load Forecasting (STLF) allows the electric power load to be predicted over an interval ranging from one hour to one week. However, important issues concerning error detection by employing STLF has not been specifically addressed until now. This paper proposes a novel STLF-based approach to the detection of gain and offset errors introduced by the measurement equipment. The implemented system has been tested against real power load data provided by electricity suppliers. Different gain and offset error levels are successfully detected.
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Human biomonitoring (HBM) is an effective tool for assessing actual exposure to chemicals that takes into account all routes of intake. Although hair analysis is considered to be an optimal biomarker for assessing mercury exposure, the lack of harmonization as regards sampling and analytical procedures has often limited the comparison of data at national and international level. The European-funded projects COPHES and DEMOCOPHES developed and tested a harmonized European approach to Human Biomonitoring in response to the European Environment and Health Action Plan. Herein we describe the quality assurance program (QAP) for assessing mercury levels in hair samples from more than 1800 mother-child pairs recruited in 17 European countries. To ensure the comparability of the results, standard operating procedures (SOPs) for sampling and for mercury analysis were drafted and distributed to participating laboratories. Training sessions were organized for field workers and four external quality-assessment exercises (ICI/EQUAS), followed by the corresponding web conferences, were organized between March 2011 and February 2012. ICI/EQUAS used native hair samples at two mercury concentration ranges (0.20-0.71 and 0.80-1.63) per exercise. The results revealed relative standard deviations of 7.87-13.55% and 4.04-11.31% for the low and high mercury concentration ranges, respectively. A total of 16 out of 18 participating laboratories the QAP requirements and were allowed to analyze samples from the DEMOCOPHES pilot study. Web conferences after each ICI/EQUAS revealed this to be a new and effective tool for improving analytical performance and increasing capacity building. The procedure developed and tested in COPHES/DEMOCOPHES would be optimal for application on a global scale as regards implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
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Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Monitoreo del Ambiente/normas , Contaminantes Ambientales/análisis , Cabello/química , Laboratorios/normas , Mercurio/análisis , Niño , Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales/análisis , Contaminantes Ambientales/farmacocinética , Europa (Continente) , Femenino , Humanos , Cooperación Internacional , Mercurio/farmacocinética , Madres , Desarrollo de Programa , Control de Calidad , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
The mechanisms underlying host resistance to Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) infection are largely unknown. In the current study, we hypothesize that cows with an ability to produce higher levels of interferon-gamma (IFNÉ£) might control MAP infection more successfully. To test this hypothesis, IFNÉ£ production was measured using a specific IFNÉ£ ELISA kit in avian purified protein derivative (aPPD)-stimulated blood samples collected from 152 Holstein cattle. DNA isolated from peripheral blood samples of the animals included in the study was genotyped with the EuroG Medium-Density Bead Chip, and the genotypes were imputed to whole-genome sequencing. A genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) revealed that high levels of IFNÉ£ in response to the aPPD were associated with a specific genetic profile (heritability = 0.64) and allowed the identification of 71 SNPs, 40 quantitative trait loci (QTL), and 104 candidate genes. A functional analysis using the 104 candidate genes revealed a significant enrichment of genes involved in the innate immune response and, more specifically, in necroptosis. Taken together, our results define a heritable and distinct immunogenetic profile associated with the production of high IFNÉ£ levels and with the capacity of the host to lyse MAP-infected macrophages by necroptosis.
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BACKGROUND: The treatment of choice for retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomas (RPS) is surgical resection; the outcomes with more radical surgeries, notably compartmental resection, remains a subject of debate. Arguments against it, include the complexity of the technique and high morbidity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of cases treated in a single center from January 2010 to December 2019 is presented. Two time periods were evaluated: 2010-2015 and 2016-2019, corresponding to before and after the implementation of routine compartmentectomy. We evaluated the short- and long-term outcomes of compartmental resection compared to limited surgeries through a multivariate analysis of prognostic factors. RESULTS: A total of 176 cases were included, of which 102 met the inclusion criteria. The sex distribution was similar. The average age was 52.9 years, and the average tumor size was 24.5 cm. The most frequent histology was liposarcoma (65.7%), followed by leiomyosarcoma (12.7%), and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (8.8%). The median follow-up period was 40 months. We found a lower local recurrence in the group treated in the recent period (compartmentectomy) 42.3% vs 20% p = 0.007. The median overall survival (OS) was 38.7 months, and there was no difference in distant recurrence between the two time periods. Postoperative morbidity was higher in the recent period (25% vs 10% p 0.041), with no difference in 30-day mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of extensive surgery, specifically compartmentectomy, for retroperitoneal sarcomas has been linked to reduced local recurrence. We recommend considering this surgical approach for RPS in alignment with current expert consensus guidelines, as highlighted by the updated TARPSWG consensus.
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Leiomiosarcoma , Liposarcoma , Neoplasias Retroperitoneales , Sarcoma , Neoplasias de los Tejidos Blandos , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estudios Retrospectivos , Sarcoma/patología , Leiomiosarcoma/patología , Liposarcoma/patología , Derivación y Consulta , Neoplasias Retroperitoneales/cirugía , Neoplasias Retroperitoneales/patología , Recurrencia Local de Neoplasia/patología , PronósticoRESUMEN
Oleotourism (olive oil tourism) is a new form of gastronomic tourism that satisfies increasingly challenging tourist demand, especially in the wake of the pandemic and for tourists who seek not only quality food products but also a safe environment to enjoy their chosen activity. Córdoba is a province in southern Spain where olives play a very important role, accounting for 50% of its cultivated area, and whose agricultural activity can be complemented with tourism due to its 189 oil mills that can welcome visitors for oil tasting. However, this type of tourism is not seeing an expected boom. This research analyzes, through a varimax analysis, the factors that attract and drive oleotourists as well as the components of such tourism. As a result, four principal components related to tourists and tourism offers were obtained, finding a high degree of satisfaction of oleotourist with the routes explored as well as a lack of knowledge of this type of tourism in international markets.
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Pandemias , Viaje , España , Satisfacción Personal , TurismoRESUMEN
The profile of tourists during the COVID-19 pandemic is changing toward those seeking health, safety and quality products. One of the modalities that best adapts to these needs is gastronomic tourism and, within this segment, wine tourism (enotourism), which can be enjoyed in many areas across the world. The great diversity of grapes, climates, terrains and winemaking processes gives rise to an enormous variety of wines that ensures that no two wines are alike. The current situation of the tourism market necessitates enhancing the uniqueness of areas that offer differentiated products, helping to position such locations as benchmarks for gastronomic tourism. Gastronomic routes provide a way to unify and benefit rural areas through the recently increased demand of tourists seeking to experience regional foods. In this study, the Montilla-Moriles Wine Route is analyzed with the objective of forecasting the demand (using autoregressive integrate moving average, ARIMA models), establishing a tourist profile and calculating the probability that a wine tourist is satisfied with the visit based on their personal characteristics (logit model). The results obtained indicate a slight increase (3.6%) in wine tourists with a high degree of satisfaction, primarily derived from the gastronomic or catering services of the area, from the number of wineries visited, from the treatment received and from the age of the tourist. Consequently, a high percentage of these tourists recommend the route. By increasing the demand for enotourism in this area and applying the results obtained, marketing initiatives could be established, particularly for wine festivals to improve this tourist segment and generate wealth in that area.
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COVID-19 , Vitis , Vino , COVID-19/epidemiología , Humanos , Pandemias , España , Vino/análisisRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The excessive use of piperacillin/tazobactam (P/T) has promoted the emergence of P/T-resistant Enterobacterales. We reported that in Escherichia coli, P/T contributes to the development of extended-spectrum resistance to ß-lactam/ß-lactamase inhibitor (BL/BLI) (ESRI) in isolates that are P/T susceptible but have low-level resistance to BL/BLI. Currently, the detection of P/T resistance relying on conventional methods is time-consuming. To overcome this issue, we developed a cost-effective test based on MALDI-MS technology, called MALDIpiptaz, which aims to detect P/T resistance and ESRI developers in E. coli. METHODS: We used automated Clover MS Data Analysis software to analyse the protein profile spectra obtained by MALDI-MS from a collection of 248 E. coli isolates (91 P/T-resistant, 81 ESRI developers and 76 P/T-susceptible). This software allowed to preprocess all the spectra to build different peak matrices that were analysed by machine learning algorithms. RESULTS: We demonstrated that MALDIpiptaz can efficiently and rapidly (15â min) discriminate between P/T-resistant, ESRI developer and P/T-susceptible isolates and allowed the correct classification between ESRI developers from their isogenic resistance to P/T. CONCLUSION: The combination of excellent performance and cost-effectiveness are all desirable attributes, allowing the MALDIpiptaz test to be a useful tool for the rapid determination of P/T resistance in clinically relevant E. coli isolates.
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Infecciones por Escherichia coli , Escherichia coli , Antibacterianos , Humanos , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Combinación Piperacilina y Tazobactam , beta-LactamasasRESUMEN
The antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition of the normal ZnFe2O4 has been intensively investigated with results showing a lack of long-range order, spin frustrations, and a "hidden" entropy in the calorimetric properties for inversion degrees δ ≈ 0 or δ = 0. As δ drastically impacts the magnetic properties, it is logical to question how a δ value slightly different from zero can affect the magnetic properties. In this work, (Zn1-δFeδ)[ZnδFe2-δ]O4 with δ = 0.05 and δ = 0.27 have been investigated with calorimetry at different applied fields. It is shown that a δ value as small as 0.05 may affect 40% of the unit cells, which become locally ferrimagnetic (FiM) and coexists with AFM and spin disordered regions. The spin disorder disappears under an applied field of 1 T. Mossbauer spectroscopy confirms the presence of a volume fraction with a low hyperfine field that can be ascribed to these spin disordered regions. The volume fractions of the three magnetic phases estimated from entropy and hyperfine measurements are roughly coincident and correspond to approximately 1/3 for each of them. The "hidden" entropy is the zero point entropy different from 0. Consequently, the so-called "hidden" entropy can be ascribed to the frustrations of the spins at the interphase between the AFM-FiM phases due to having δ ≈ 0 instead of ideal δ = 0.
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Among the materials that might be manufactured with laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), one can highlight maraging steels, with excellent weldability, strength and fracture toughness. However, the effects of the processing parameters and the mechanisms governing the as-built texture are not clear yet. A recent publication showed a low texture index in the prior austenite, in contrast to other alloys subjected to LPBF with the same strategy. Authors suggested several hypotheses, although no conclusions were drawn. This work aims to investigate these findings by using a 300 maraging steel processed under different conditions, i.e. different printer, powder layer thickness and laser emission mode. To do so, X-Ray Diffraction, Electron Backscattered Diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopy have been used. Results show that the heat treatment intrinsic to the LPBF process does not affect the prior austenite grains, whose texture and morphology remain unchanged throughout the process. Also, for the studied ranges, the microstructure texture is not related to the powder layer thickness or to the laser emission mode, although it could be affected by the laser power or the scan strategy. Finally, a low degree of variant selection has been observed, where the selected variants are those that contribute to a martensite cubic rotated texture.
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Different studies carried out in the last three decades on the magnetic susceptibility of the spinel ZnFe2O4 ferrite have revealed the positive character of its Curie-Weiss temperature, contradicting its observed antiferromagnetic behavior which is characterized by a well-defined susceptibility peak centered around the Neel temperature (10 K). Some approaches based on ab initio calculations and mixture of interactions have been attempted to explain this anomaly. This work shows how for very low values of the inversion parameter, the small percentage of Fe atoms located in tetrahedral sites gives rise to the appearance of ferrimagnetic clusters around them. Superparamagnetism of these clusters is the main cause of the anomalous Curie-Weiss behavior. This finding is supported experimentally from the thermal dependence of the inverse susceptibility and its evolution with the degree of inversion.