Correction: Internet of Things (IoT) for Smart Agriculture: Assembling and assessment of a low-cost IoT system for polytunnels.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278440.].

Internet of things (IoT) for smart agriculture: Assembling and assessment of a low-cost IoT system for polytunnels.

Internet of things (IoT) applications in smart agricultural systems vary from monitoring climate conditions, automating irrigation systems, greenhouse automation, crop monitoring and management, and crop prediction, up to end-to-end autonomous farm management systems. One of the main challenges to the advancement of IoT systems for the agricultural domain is the lack of training data under operational environmental conditions. Most of the current designs are based on simulations and artificially generated data. Therefore, the essential first step is studying and understanding the finely tuned and highly sensitive mechanism plants have developed to sense, respond, and adapt to changes in their environment, and their behavior under field and controlled systems. Therefore, this study was designed to achieve two specific objectives; to develop low-cost IoT components from basic building blocks, and to study the performance of the developed systems, and generate real-time experimental data, with and without plants. Low-cost IoT devices developed locally were used to convert existing basic polytunnels to semi-controlled and monitoring-only polytunnels. Their performances were analyzed and compared with each other based on several matrices while maintaining the planted tomato variety and agronomic practices similar. The developed system performed as expected suggesting the possibility of commercial applications and research purposes.

The implementation of rifapentine and isoniazid (3HP) in two remote Arctic communities with a predominantly Inuit population, the Taima TB 3HP study.

Background: The incidence of TB among Inuit is the highest in Canada. A significantly shorter latent TB infection (LTBI) treatment with rifapentine and isoniazid once weekly for 12 weeks (3HP) is now available in limited settings in Canada.Methods: A prospective open-label 2-year observational postmarketing study was conducted introducing 3HP for the first time in Canada in Iqaluit followed by a program rollout in Qikiqtarjuaq, Nunavut.Results: A total of 247 people were offered 3HP, 102 in the Iqaluit postmarketing study and 145 in the Qikiqtarjuaq program roll out. Although statistical significance was not reached, more people who started treatment completed treatment in the 3HP group (Iqaluit, 60/73 (82.2%) and Qikiqtarjuaq, 89/115 (77.4%)) than in the historical control 9INHgroup (306/420 = 72.9%) (p = 0.2). Most of the adverse events in 3HP treated patients were associated with mild discomfort but no disruption of normal daily activity. Not drinking alcohol was associated with increased 3HP completion (OR 13.33, 95% CI, 2.27-78.20) as was not taking concomitant medications (OR 7.19, 95% CI, 1.47-35.30).Conclusions: The present study supports the feasibility and safety profile of 3HP for the treatment of LTBI in Nunavut.

Epidemiology of Clostridioides difficile infection in Canada: A six-year review to support vaccine decision-making.

BACKGROUND: Two vaccines against Clostridioides difficile infections (CDI) are currently in phase III trials. To enable decision-making on their use in public health programs, national disease epidemiology is necessary. OBJECTIVES: To determine the epidemiology of hospital-acquired CDI (HA-CDI) and community-associated CDI (CA-CDI) in Canada using provincial surveillance data and document discrepancies in CDI-related definitions among provincial surveillance programs. METHODS: Publicly-available CDI provincial surveillance data from 2011 to 2016 that distinguished between HA-CDI and CA-CDI were included and the most common surveillance definitions for each province were used. The HA-, CA-CDI incidence rates and CA-CDI proportions (%) were calculated for each province. Both HA- and CA-CDI incidence rates were examined for trends. Types of disparities were summarized and detailed discrepancies were documented. RESULTS: Canadian data were analyzed from nine provinces. The HA-CDI rates ranged from 2.1/10,000 to 6.5/10,000 inpatient-days, with a decreasing trend over time. Available data on CA-CDI showed that both rates and proportions have been increasing over time. Discrepancies among provincial surveillance definitions were documented in CDI case classifications, surveillance populations and rate calculations. CONCLUSION: In Canada overall, the rate of HA-CDI has been decreasing and the rate of CA-CDI has been increasing, although this calculation was impeded by discrepancies in CDI-related definitions among provincial surveillance programs. Nationally-adopted common definitions for CDI would enable better comparisons of CDI rates between provinces and a calculation of the pan-Canadian burden of illness to support vaccine decision-making.

A shorter treatment regimen for latent tuberculosis infection holds promise for at-risk Canadians.

Despite recent success in reducing its incidence, tuberculosis remains a considerable challenge in Canada, particularly among foreign-born and Indigenous populations. A key component of the strategy for controlling the disease is the treatment of latent tuberculosis infection. The standard treatment consists of isoniazid (INH) daily for nine months. In recent years, shorter regimens have been developed in the hope of increasing rates of treatment acceptance and completion. Of these, the shortest and most recently developed is a combination of INH and rifapentine taken once weekly for 12 doses (3HP), typically using directly observed therapy (DOT). This regimen has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States but is not yet authorized in Canada. Based on a rapidly expanding number of observational studies and randomized controlled trials, 12 weeks of 3HP appears to have similar efficacy to nine months of INH, a favourable adverse event profile and potentially improved rates of treatment completion. Although rates of treatment acceptance, the role of self-administered therapy and the regimen's cost-effectiveness within the Canadian context remain uncertain, 3HP is a promising alternative to existing treatments for LTBI.

Mycobacterium chimaera infections in post-operative patients exposed to heater-cooler devices: An overview.

A multi-country outbreak of Mycobacterium chimaera infection associated with contaminated heater-cooler devices (HCDs) has been reported, with more than 70 cases in Europe and the United States and two cases in Canada to date. The epidemiological and microbiological characteristics of this outbreak provide evidence for common-source transmission of M. chimaera from the exhaust air of intrinsically contaminated HCDs to patients during cardiac surgery. To date, all reported cases have been associated with Stöckert 3T HCDs manufactured at one plant by LivaNova prior to September 2014. Implantation of prosthetic material increases the risk of infection. Infections usually present as prosthetic valve endocarditis, vascular graft infection or disseminated infection. Reported mortality rates have varied, but were often over 40%. Several measures are recommended to facilitate case-finding and mitigate risk of exposure. The feasibility of some risk mitigation measures and their effectiveness in reducing the risk of exposure are yet to be determined. Until HCDs are redesigned in a manner that prevents water contamination and aerosolization, separating the HCD exhaust air from the operating room air during surgery may be the most effective risk mitigation strategy. However, possible unintended consequences of this approach should be considered. This overview summarizes findings from peer-reviewed and other relevant national documents on key features of the outbreak, including the source, identified risk factors for infection, signs and symptoms of infection, burden of disease, risk mitigation measures, management challenges and knowledge gaps.

Advancing surveillance of antimicrobial resistance: Summary of the 2015 CIDSC Report.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobials are essential for the treatment and control of infectious diseases and therefore, the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health concern. It is recognized that robust AMR surveillance is necessary; however, current gaps in national surveillance programs need to be addressed to enable better evidence-informed program and policy decisions. OBJECTIVE: To describe how an AMR Surveillance Task Group prioritized national AMR surveillance data requirements for high priority AMR organisms for human health in Canada and made recommendations on addressing the current data gaps. METHODS: The 2015 AMR Surveillance Task Group examined the data requirements for previously identified first priority organisms and assessed whether the current system met, partially met or did not meet these requirements. Information was summarized into synopsis tables and a ranking process was used to prioritize the data requirements and develop specific recommendations to address the gaps. RESULTS: First priority organisms identified for AMR surveillance are: Clostridium difficile, Extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing organisms, Carbapenem-resistant organisms (Acinetobacter + Enterobacteriaceae species), Enterococcus species, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Streptococcus pyogenes and S. pneumonaea, Salmonella species, Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Campylobacter species. For these organisms, there were 19 high priority data requirements identified: 10 of these requirements were met by the current surveillance systems, seven were partially met and two were unmet. For the two high priority data metrics in the community setting, the Task Group recommended conducting a point-prevalence community-based study (i.e., every five years) to follow infection rates of C. difficile infection, and community level antibiogram data on an annual basis for susceptibility data for Enterobacteriaceae species (E. coli and Klebsiella) causing genito-urinary infections. There were eight medium priority data requirements identified: one requirement was met by the current surveillance system, five were partially met and two were unmet. The medium priority unmet data requirements included susceptibility of infection isolates for C. difficile (diarrheal disease) and infection rates for Enterobacteriaceae species causing genito-urinary tract infections in community settings. It was noted that the feasibility of obtaining this medium priority in data in the community setting was low. The Task Group identified bloodstream infections as the top priority site of infection for AMR surveillance in the health care setting given the high morbidity and mortality associated with bloodstream infections. The importance of collecting susceptibility data on N. gonorrhoeae in the community was underscored given the rise in resistance and that the current surveillance system only partially collects this data. The Task Group recommended that a review of the national AMR surveillance data requirement priorities should occur on an ongoing basis and when new issues emerge. CONCLUSION: While current national surveillance programs either capture or partially capture many of the identified data requirements for first priority organisms, several gaps still remain, especially in community settings. A national review of the recommendations of the Task Group is underway.

Primary care pearls to help eliminate tuberculosis in Canada.

Although Canada has a low incidence of tuberculosis (TB), certain populations, including the foreign-born and Canadian-born Indigenous peoples, continue to be disproportionately represented among reported cases. The overall incidence rates of active TB in Canada have not significantly changed in the past decade and work still needs to be done to reach TB elimination goals set by the World Health Organization (WHO). In trying to achieve TB elimination in Canada, primary care clinicians, with the support of public health professionals and TB experts, can help by focusing on 1) targeted screening and treatment of latent TB infection (LTBI) and 2) timely diagnosis and referral of active TB disease. The following article focuses on some key primary care considerations to keep in mind in day-to-day patient care. To help conduct targeted screening and treatment for LTBI, several key populations, including immigrants from high TB burden countries, Indigenous peoples and several other at-risk groups, are outlined. Reactivation of LTBI plays a significant role in TB burden and is likely an area of major potential impact in achieving TB elimination. Advancement in LTBI treatment, including short course therapy, is also described. In addition, to help make a timely diagnosis of active TB, several key risk factors, including several co-morbidities which increase the risk of developing TB disease, can be considered. Being front-line in patient care, keeping in mind some of these key pearls may aid primary care providers to have potential impact on eliminating TB in Canada.

Site-directed mutagenesis and X-ray crystallography of the PQQ-containing quinoprotein methanol dehydrogenase and its electron acceptor, cytochrome c(L).

Two proteins specifically involved in methanol oxidation in the methylotrophic bacterium Methylobacterium extorquens have been modified by site-directed mutagenesis. Mutation of the proposed active site base (Asp303) to glutamate in methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) gave an active enzyme (D303E-MDH) with a greatly reduced affinity for substrate and with a lower activation energy. Results of kinetic and deuterium isotope studies showed that the essential mechanism in the mutant protein was unchanged, and that the step requiring activation by ammonia remained rate limiting. No spectrally detectable intermediates could be observed during the reaction. The X-ray structure, determined to 3 A resolution, of D303E-MDH showed that the position and coordination geometry of the Ca2+ ion in the active site was altered; the larger Glu303 side chain was coordinated to the Ca2+ ion and also hydrogen bonded to the O5 atom of pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ). The properties and structure of the D303E-MDH are consistent with the previous proposal that the reaction in MDH is initiated by proton abstraction involving Asp303, and that the mechanism involves a direct hydride transfer reaction. Mutation of the two adjacent cysteine residues that make up the novel disulfide ring in the active site of MDH led to an inactive enzyme, confirming the essential role of this remarkable ring structure. Mutations of cytochrome c(L), which is the electron acceptor from MDH was used to identify Met109 as the sixth ligand to the heme.

The methanol oxidation genes mxaFJGIR (S) ACKLD in Methylobacterium extorquens.

MxaJ is a protein of unknown function encoded by mxaJ in the mxaFJGI operon. We have constructed a mxaJ mutant of M. extorquens with a deletion which does not affect transcription of downstream genes. It contained cytochrome cL (MxaG), but neither subunit of methanol dehydrogenase (MxaF and MxaI). MxaJ is probably involved in processing this enzyme. We have sequenced the region between mxaFJGI and five other methanol oxidation genes, mxaACKLD; it includes one open reading frame (mxaR) and a possible second open reading frame (mxaS), demonstrating the presence in M. extorquens of the following gene cluster: mxaFJGIR(S) ACKLD.