Cost-Efficient Micro-Well Array-Based Colorimetric Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing (MacAST) for Bacteria from Culture or Community.

Rapid and cost-efficient antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) is key to timely prescription-oriented diagnosis and precision treatment. However, current AST methods have limitations in throughput or cost effectiveness, and are impractical for microbial communities. Here, we developed a high-throughput micro-well array-based colorimetric AST (macAST) system equipped with a self-developed smartphone application that could efficiently test sixteen combinations of bacteria strains and antibiotics, achieving comparable AST results based on resazurin metabolism assay. For community samples, we integrated immunomagnetic separation into the macAST (imacAST) system to specifically enrich the target cells before testing, which shortened bacterial isolation time from days to only 45 min and achieved AST of the target bacteria with a low concentration (~103 CFU/mL). This proof-of-concept study developed a high-throughput AST system with an at least ten-fold reduction in cost compared with a system equipped with a microscope or Raman spectrum. Based on colorimetric readout, the antimicrobial susceptibility of the bacteria from microbial communities can be delivered within 6 h, compared to days being required based on standard procedures, bypassing the need for precise instrumentation in therapy to combat bacterial antibiotic resistance in resource-limited settings.

Development of a trace quantitative method to investigate caffeine distribution in the Yellow and Bohai Seas, China, and assessment of its potential neurotoxic effect on fish larvae.

Caffeine is an emerging contaminant in aquatic environments. The study utilized a validated method to investigate the presence and distribution of caffeine in the surface water of the Yellow and Bohai Seas, urban rivers, and the Yantai estuary area. The analytical method conforms to EPA guidelines and exhibits a limit of quantification that is 200 times lower than that of prior investigations. The study revealed that the highest concentration of 1436.4 ng/L was found in convergence of ocean currents in the Yellow and Bohai Seas. The presence of larger populations and the process of urban industrialization have been observed to result in elevated levels of caffeine in offshore regions, confirming that caffeine can serve as a potential indicator of anthropogenic contamination. Fish larvae exhibited hypoactivity in response to caffeine exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations. The study revealed that caffeine pollution can have adverse effects on marine and offshore ecosystems. This emphasizes the importance of decreasing neurotoxic pollution in the aquatic environment.

Determinants of health insurance ownership in Jordan: a cross-sectional study of population and family health survey 2017-2018.

OBJECTIVES: With about one-third of the population living below the poverty line, Jordan faces major healthcare, social and national development issues. Low insurance coverage among the poor and high out-of-pocket expenditure worsens the financial insecurity especially for the marginalised population. The Government of Jordan aims to achieve universal coverage of health insurance-a bold plan that requires research evidence for successful implementation. In this study, we aimed to assess the proportion of the population covered by any health insurance, and the determinants owing a health insurance. DESIGN: A population-based prospective cohort study. SETTING: Jordan. METHODS: Data for this study were derived from the Jordan Population and Family Health Survey, which was implemented by the Department of Statistics from early October 2017 to January 2018. Sample characteristics were described as percentages with 95% CIs. Binary logistic regression models were used to estimate OR of health insurance ownership. Parsimonious model was employed to assess the sex and geographical differences. RESULTS: Data revealed that in 2017-2018, 73.13% of the 12 992 men and women had health insurance. There was no indication of age of sex difference in health insurance ownership; however, marital status and socioeconomic factors such as wealth and education as well as internet access and geographical location appeared to be the important predictors of non-use of health insurance. The associations differed by sex and urbanicity for certain variables. Addressing these inequities may help achieve universal coverage in health insurance ownership in the population. CONCLUSIONS: More than one-quarter of the population in Jordan were not insured. Efforts to decrease disparities in insurance coverage should focus on minimising socioeconomic and geographical disparities to promote equity in terms of healthcare services.

Coded excitation of ultrasonic guided waves in long bone fracture assessment.

Ultrasonic guided wave (GW) assessment of long bone fracture have conventionally been based on pulse excitation. However, the high attenuation during propagation diminishes the amplitude of received GWs and results in low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The Barker code (BC) excitation and the optimal binary code (OBC) excitation were utilized in this study to overcome this limitation. Both simulations and in vitro experiments were performed on the fractured cortical bone plate model, and measured signals from both the BC and OBC excitations were decoded using the finite impulse response least squares inverse filter (FIR-LSIF) and then compared with sine pulse (SP) excited signals. The results suggest the efficiency of coded excitation for amplitude and SNR improvement. Furthermore, time-frequency representation (TFR) analysis was applied to experimental signals; with increasing fracture depth, energy transformation between predominate GW modes A1 and S2 was confirmed. These results show the potential of using BC and OBC excitations to evaluate the depth of long bone fracture.