Associations of Later-Life Education, the BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism and Cognitive Change in Older Adults.

In 358 participants of the Tasmanian Healthy Brain Project, we quantified the cognitive consequences of engaging in varying loads of university-level education in later life, and investigated whether or not BDNF Val66Met affected outcomes. Assessment of neuropsychological, health, and psychosocial function was undertaken at baseline, 12-month, and 24-month follow-up. Education load was positively associated with change in language processing performance, but this effect did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.064). The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism significantly moderated the extent to which education load was associated with improved language processing (P = 0.026), with education load having a significant positive relationship with cognitive change in BDNF Met carriers but not in BDNF Val homozygotes. In older adults who carry BDNF Met, engaging in university-level education improves language processing performance in a load-dependent manner.

Impact of rotavirus vaccine on all-cause diarrhea and rotavirus hospitalizations in Madagascar.

BACKGROUND: Rotavirus vaccine was introduced into the Extended Program on Immunization in Madagascar in May 2014. We analyzed trends in prevalence of all cause diarrhea and rotavirus hospitalization in children <5years of age before and after vaccine introduction and assessed trend of circulating rotavirus genotypes at Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Mère Enfant Tsaralalàna (CHU MET). METHODS: From January 2010 to December 2016, we reviewed the admission logbook to observe the rate of hospitalization caused by gastroenteritis among 19619 children <5years of age admitted at the hospital. In June 2013-December 2016, active rotavirus surveillance was also conducted at CHUMET with support from WHO. Rotavirus antigen was detected by EIA from stool specimen of children who are eligible for rotavirus gastroenteritis surveillance at sentinel site laboratory and rotavirus positive specimens were further genotyped at Regional Reference Laboratory by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Diarrhea hospitalizations decreased after rotavirus vaccine introduction. The median proportion of annual hospitalizations due to diarrhea was 26% (range: 31-22%) before vaccine introduction; the proportion was 25% the year of vaccine introduction, 17% in 2015 and 16% in 2016. Rotavirus positivity paralleled patterns observed in diarrhea. Before vaccine introduction, 56% of stool specimens tested positive for rotavirus; the percent positive was 13% in 2015, 12% in 2016. Diverse genotypes were detected in the pre-vaccine period; the most common were G3P[8] (n=53; 66%), G2P[4] (n=12; 15%), and G1P[8] (n=11; 14%). 6 distinct genotypes were found in 2015; the most common genotype was G2P[4] (n=10; 67%), the remaining, 5, G12[P8], G3[P8], G1G3[P4], G3G12[P4][P8] and G1G3[NT] had one positive specimen each. CONCLUSIONS: Following rotavirus vaccine introduction all-cause diarrhea and rotavirus-specific hospitalizations declined dramatically. The most common genotypes detected in the pre-vaccine period were G3P[8] and G2P[4] in 2015, the post vaccine period.

Gasoline cars produce more carbonaceous particulate matter than modern filter-equipped diesel cars.

Carbonaceous particulate matter (PM), comprising black carbon (BC), primary organic aerosol (POA) and secondary organic aerosol (SOA, from atmospheric aging of precursors), is a highly toxic vehicle exhaust component. Therefore, understanding vehicle pollution requires knowledge of both primary emissions, and how these emissions age in the atmosphere. We provide a systematic examination of carbonaceous PM emissions and parameterisation of SOA formation from modern diesel and gasoline cars at different temperatures (22, -7 °C) during controlled laboratory experiments. Carbonaceous PM emission and SOA formation is markedly higher from gasoline than diesel particle filter (DPF) and catalyst-equipped diesel cars, more so at -7 °C, contrasting with nitrogen oxides (NOX). Higher SOA formation from gasoline cars and primary emission reductions for diesels implies gasoline cars will increasingly dominate vehicular total carbonaceous PM, though older non-DPF-equipped diesels will continue to dominate the primary fraction for some time. Supported by state-of-the-art source apportionment of ambient fossil fuel derived PM, our results show that whether gasoline or diesel cars are more polluting depends on the pollutant in question, i.e. that diesel cars are not necessarily worse polluters than gasoline cars.

Neonatal infections with multidrug-resistant ESBL-producing E. cloacae and K. pneumoniae in Neonatal Units of two different Hospitals in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the molecular mechanism of ß-lactam resistance in extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterial strains isolated in neonatal units of different hospitals in Anatnanarivo, Madagascar. METHODS: Bacteria were identified by standard biochemical methods, disc diffusion antibiograms and Etest. Resistance genes were sought by PCR. Strains were characterized by Rep-PCR (Diversilab), plasmid analysis and rep-typing. RESULTS: From April 2012 to March 2013, 29 ESBL-producing E. cloacae and 15 K. pneumoniae were isolated from blood culture (n = 32) or gastric samples (n = 12) performed at day 0 or 2 from 39/303 newborns suspected of early neonatal infection. These infants were treated with expanded spectrum cephalosporins, due to lack of carbapenems, leading to a high mortality rate (45 %). Isolates recovered were all, but 4, multidrug resistant, particularly to fluoroquinolones (FQ) except for 21 E. cloacae isolates. Isolates produced TEM-1 and CTX-M-15 ß-lactamases and their genes were located on several self-transferable plasmids of variable sizes sizes that could not be linked to a major plasmid incompatibility group. E. cloacae isolates belonged to 6 Rep-types among which two counted for 11 isolates each. The FQ resistant E. cloacae isolates belonged to one clone, whereas the FQ susceptible E. cloacae isolates belonged to four clones. The K. pneumoniae isolates belonged to 9 Rep-types among which one included five isolates. CONCLUSION: This study is the first molecular characterization of ESBL-producing isolates from neonatology units in Madagascar, a country with limited epidemiological data. It revealed an important multi-clonal dissemination of CTX-M-15-producing isolates reflecting both the high community carriage and the very early nosocomial contamination of the neonates.

Short communication: The effect of 4 antiseptic compounds on umbilical cord healing and infection rates in the first 24 hours in dairy calves from a commercial herd.

The objective of this study was to compare the effect of 4 antiseptic compounds on the healing rate and incidence of infection of umbilical cords in newborn calves (n=60). Late gestation Jersey cows were monitored at a commercial farm (Sioux Jersey, Salix, IA) and newborn purebred (n=30) and crossbred (n=30) calves were obtained within 30min after birth. Calves were alternately assigned by birth order to 4 treatment groups: 7% tincture of iodine, 0.1% chlorine created using a novel chlorine disinfectant technology, chlorohexidine gluconate 4.0% wt/vol, and 10% trisodium citrate. Prior to dipping (within 30min of birth), diameter of the umbilical cords (as an indicator of cord drying and healing) were determined using digital calipers. In addition, as an indicator of umbilical infections, surface temperature of the umbilical stump (along with a reference point at the midpoint of the sternum) was determined using a dual-laser infrared thermometer. These measurements were all repeated at 24±1 h of age. All data were analyzed using mixed model methods. All models included fixed effects of breed (Jersey or Jersey cross), sex (bull or heifer), and treatment. Fixed effect interactions were not included in the statistical model due to the relatively small sample size. No treatment differences were noted for healing rate of umbilical cords. Initially, mean umbilical cord diameter was 22.84±3.89mm and cords healed to a mean diameter of 7.64±4.12mm at 24 h of age. No umbilical infections were noted for calves on any treatment during the course of this study. Mean surface temperature of the umbilical stump was 33.1±2.2°C at birth (1.5±1.6°C higher than the sternal reference temperature), and at 24±1 h of age the mean temperature of the umbilical stump was 33.0±4.3°C (0.5±1.8°C lower than the sternal reference temperature). These data suggest that these antiseptic compounds are equally effective for preventing infections and permitting healing of the umbilical cord when used within 30min of birth.

Validating a refractometer to evaluate immunoglobulin G concentration in Jersey colostrum and the effect of multiple freeze-thaw cycles on evaluating colostrum quality.

The objectives of this study were to (1) validate a method using refractometry to rapidly and accurately determine immunoglobulin (IgG) concentration in Jersey colostrum, (2) determine whether there should be different refractive index (nD) and %Brix cut points for Jersey colostrum, and (3) evaluate the effect of multiple freeze-thaw (FT) cycles on radial immunodiffusion (RID) and a digital refractometer to determine IgG concentration in Jersey colostrum. Samples (n=58; 3L) of colostrum were collected from a dairy in northwestern Iowa. Samples were analyzed within 2h of collection for IgG concentration by RID, %Brix, and nD by refractometer and an estimate of IgG by colostrometer. Samples were frozen, placed on dry ice, and transported to the laboratory at Iowa State University (Ames). Samples arrived frozen and were placed in a -20°C manual-defrost freezer until further analysis. On d 7 (1FT), d 14 (2FT), and 1yr (3FT) all samples were thawed, analyzed for IgG by RID, %Brix, nD by refractometer, and IgG estimate by colostrometer, and frozen until reanalysis at the next time point. Fresh colostrum had a mean (±SD) IgG concentration of 72.91 (±33.53) mg/mL, 21.24% (±4.43) Brix, and nD 1.3669 (±0.0074). Multiple FT cycles did affect IgG as determined by RID and colostrometer reading. The IgG concentrations were greater in fresh and 1FT samples as compared with 2FT and 3FT samples (72.91, 75.38, 67.20, and 67.31mg of IgG/mL, respectively). The colostrometer reading was lower in 1FT samples compared with fresh and 2FT samples. Multiple FT cycles had no effect on nD or %Brix reading. In fresh samples, IgG concentration was moderately correlated with nD (r=0.79), %Brix (r=0.79), and colostrometer reading (r=0.79). Diagnostic test characteristics using the recommended cut point of 1.35966 nD resulted in similar sensitivities for 1FT and 2 FT samples (94.87 and 94.74%, respectively). Cut points of 18 and 19% Brix resulted in the greatest sensitivities (92.31 and 84.62%) and specificity (94.74 and 94.74%, respectively). The 18% Brix cut point resulted in 94.83% of the samples being correctly classified based on IgG concentration. These data support the use of digital refractometer to accurately and rapidly determine IgG concentration in fresh Jersey colostrum. Additionally, these data suggest that IgG concentration determined by RID is affected by multiple FT cycles, whereas estimates obtained by refractometer are not affected by multiple FT cycles.

Organic aerosol formation downwind from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

A large fraction of atmospheric aerosols are derived from organic compounds with various volatilities. A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) WP-3D research aircraft made airborne measurements of the gaseous and aerosol composition of air over the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that occurred from April to August 2010. A narrow plume of hydrocarbons was observed downwind of DWH that is attributed to the evaporation of fresh oil on the sea surface. A much wider plume with high concentrations of organic aerosol (>25 micrograms per cubic meter) was attributed to the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from unmeasured, less volatile hydrocarbons that were emitted from a wider area around DWH. These observations provide direct and compelling evidence for the importance of formation of SOA from less volatile hydrocarbons.

Profil bactériologique des infections néonatales à l'unité de réanimation néonatale de la Maternité de Befelatanana

Objectif: Decrire la bacteriologie et l'antibioresistance des infections neonatales dans la maternite de Befelatanana (CHU Antananarivo). Methodes: Les auteurs ont mene une etude de cohorte sur les 2 premiers nouveau-nes de la journee provenant des salles d'accouchements et admis dans le service de neonatalogie de la maternite de Befelatanana; du 06 janvier au 17 juillet 2009. Deux hemocultures et une coproculture etaient effectuees systematiquement a J0 et a J4. Resultats: Le diagnostic d'infection neonatale etait confirme dans 55 cas; soit 52;4des inclus. Par ordre de frequence decroissante; les germes isoles etaient : Staphylocoque a coagulase negative; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Enterocoque; Enterobacter aerogenes; Escherichia coli; Streptococcus pyogene et Pseudomonas sp. La majorite des enterobacteries sont des souches productrices de betalactamase a spectre etendu (BLSE); en particulier les klebsielles (100). Les molecules qui restaient efficaces sont l'amikacine; la colistine et l'imipeneme. Les microorganismes retrouves sont surtout des secreteurs de BLSE; laissant supposer une origine intra-hospitaliere de l'infection. Conclusion: Des mesures d'hygiene et d'asepsie rigoureuses; ainsi qu'une prescription d'antibiotiques rationnelle restent les meilleurs moyens de lutte contre ces infections

Evolution of organic aerosols in the atmosphere.

Organic aerosol (OA) particles affect climate forcing and human health, but their sources and evolution remain poorly characterized. We present a unifying model framework describing the atmospheric evolution of OA that is constrained by high-time-resolution measurements of its composition, volatility, and oxidation state. OA and OA precursor gases evolve by becoming increasingly oxidized, less volatile, and more hygroscopic, leading to the formation of oxygenated organic aerosol (OOA), with concentrations comparable to those of sulfate aerosol throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Our model framework captures the dynamic aging behavior observed in both the atmosphere and laboratory: It can serve as a basis for improving parameterizations in regional and global models.

[Cutaneous tuberculosis: a pediatric case in Madagascar]. / Tuberculose cutanée: une observation pédiatrique à Madagascar.

Cutaneous manifestation of tuberculosis is still observed in countries with high endemicity of tuberculosis such as Madagascar. The purpose of this report is to describe a case of nodular type cutaneous tuberculosis located in the subclavian region of a 5-month-old child living in Antananarivo, Madagascar. In absence of bacteriological evidence, diagnosis was based on epidemiological, clinical and histological findings. Treatment was successful using standard antituberculosis therapy. This case illustrates the diagnostic pitfalls associated with this type of tuberculosis.

Tuberculose cutanee : une observation pediatrique a Madagascar

La manifestation cutanee de la tuberculose est encore presente dans les pays a forte endemicite de tuberculose comme Madagascar. Nous rapportons un cas de tuberculose cutanee de type nodulaire et de topographie sous-claviculaire; associee a une adenopathie axillaire; chez un nourrisson de 5 mois vivant a Antananarivo; Madagascar. En l'absence de preuve bacteriologique; le diagnostic a ete apporte par un faisceau d'arguments epidemiologiques; cliniques et histologiques. La guerison a ete obtenue par le traitement anti-tuberculeux habituel. Cette observation permet de rappeler les difficultes diagnostiques de cette forme particuliere de tuberculose

Coupled partitioning, dilution, and chemical aging of semivolatile organics.

A unified framework of semi-volatile partitioning permits models to efficiently treat both semi-volatile primary emissions and secondary organic aerosol production (SOA), and then to treat the chemical evolution (aging) of the aggregate distribution of semi-volatile material. This framework also reveals critical deficiencies in current emissions and SOA formation measurements. The key feature of this treatment is a uniform basis set of saturation vapor pressures spanning the range of ambient organic saturation concentrations, from effectively nonvolatile material at 0.01 microg m(-3) to vapor-phase effluents at 100 mg m(-3). Chemical evolution can be treated by a transformation matrix coupling the various basis vectors. Using this framework, we show that semi-volatile partitioning can be described in a self-consistent way, with realistic behavior with respect to temperature and varying organic aerosol loading. The time evolution strongly suggests that neglected oxidation of numerous "intermediate volatility" vapors (IVOCs, with saturation concentrations above approximately 1 mg m(-3)) may contribute significantly to ambient SOA formation.

Structure-dependent nonenzymatic deamidation of glutaminyl and asparaginyl pentapeptides.

Nonenzymatic deamidation rates for 52 glutaminyl and 52 asparaginyl pentapeptides in pH 7.4, 37.0 degrees C. 0.15 m Tris-HCl buffer have been determined by direct injection mass spectrometry. These and the previously reported 306 asparginyl rates have been combined in a self-consistent model for peptide deamidation. This model depends quantitatively upon peptide structure and involves succinimide, glutarimide and hydrolysis mechanisms. The experimental values and suitable interpolated values have been combined to provide deamidation rate values in pH 7.4, 37.0 degrees C. 0.15 m Tris-HCl buffer for the entire set of 648 single-amide permutations of ordinary amino acid residues in GlyXxxAsnYyyGly and GlyXxxGlnYyyGly. Thus, knowledge about sequence-dependent deamidation in peptides is extended to include very long deamidation half-times in the range of 2-50 years.

Assessment of potential carbon dioxide reductions due to biomass-coal cofiring in the United States.

Cofiring biomass with coal in existing power plants offers a relatively inexpensive and efficient option for increasing near-term biomass energy utilization. Potential benefits include reduced emissions of carbon dioxide, sulfur, and nitrogen oxides and development of biomass energy markets. To understand the economics of this strategy, we develop a model to calculate electricity and pollutant mitigation costs with explicit characterization of uncertainty in fuel and technology costs and variability in fuel properties. The model is first used to evaluate the plant-level economics of cofiring as a function of biomass cost. It is then integrated with state-specific coal consumption and biomass supply estimates to develop national supply curves for cofire electricity and carbon mitigation. A delivered cost of biomass below 15 dollars per ton is required for cofire to be competitive with existing coal-based generation. Except at low biomass prices (less than 15 dollars per ton), cofiring is unlikely to be competitive for NOx or SOx control, but it can provide comparatively inexpensive control of CO2 emissions: we estimate that emissions reductions of 100 Mt-CO2/year (a 5% reduction in electric-sector emissions) can be achieved at 25 +/- 20 dollars/tC. The 2-3 year time horizon for deployment--compared with 10-20 years for other CO2 mitigation options--makes cofiring particularly attractive.

Near-infrared emissions in single-bubble and multibubble sonoluminescence.

Comparisons of light emissions from multibubble and single-bubble sonoluminescence in the near-infrared band extending from 800 to 1050 nm have been investigated. In argon-water mixtures, single-bubble and multibubble spectra are similar in appearance. In sodium chloride-water mixtures, the multibubble spectrum shows evidence of the 3d-3p sodium emission line, whereas the single-bubble spectrum shows no such emission. For single bubbles, the near-infrared emissions change linearly with driving pressure. No evidence of near-infrared emissions are observed below the visible luminescence threshold.

Measurements of NOx emissions and in-service duty cycle from a towboat operating on the inland river system.

This paper describes measurements of NOx emissions from one engine on a commercial towboat operating on the Upper Ohio River system around the Port of Pittsburgh. Continuous measurements were made over a one-week period to characterize emissions during normal operations. The average NOx emission factor is 70 +/- 4.2 kg of NOx per t of fuel, similar to that of larger marine engines. A vessel-specific duty cycle is derived to characterize the towboat's operations; more than 50% of the time the vessel engines are at idle. Although recently promulgated EPA regulations apply only to new marine engines, these data provide insight into inland-river operations, which can be used to evaluate these regulations within the inland river context. This vessel operates as a courier service, scheduling pickups and deliveries of single- or multiple-barge loads per customers' requests; as many as 30% of the 277 towboats in the Pittsburgh region operate in this fashion. The EPA-prescribed ISO E3 duty cycle does not accurately describe inland-river operations of this towboat: its application overestimates actual NOx emissions by 14%. Only 41% of this vessel's operations fall within the Not-To-Exceed Zone defined by the EPA regulations, which limits the effectiveness of this component of the regulations to limit emissions from vessels that operate in a similar fashion.

Cooperative effects in multi-bubble sonoluminescence.

Theoretical and experimental evidence is presented in support of quantum collective effects in sonoluminescence.