Fto-modulated lipid niche regulates adult neurogenesis through modulating adenosine metabolism.

Adult neurogenesis is regulated by diverse factors including the local environment, i.e. the neurogenic niche. However, whether the lipid in the brain regulates adult neurogenesis and related mechanisms remains largely unknown. In the present study, we found that lipid accumulates in the brain during postnatal neuronal development. Conditional knockout of Fto (cKO) in lipid not only reduced the level of lipid in the brain but also impaired the learning and memory of mice. In addition, Fto deficiency in lipid did not affect the proliferation of adult neural stem cells (aNSCs), but it did inhibit adult neurogenesis by inducing cell apoptosis. Mechanistically, specific deleting Fto in lipid altered gene expression and increased adenosine secretion of adipocytes. The treatment of adenosine promoted the apoptosis of newborn neurons. As a whole, these results reveal the important function of the lipid niche and its associated mechanism in regulating adult neurogenesis.

Effectiveness of Continuous Cuff Pressure Control in Preventing Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

OBJECTIVES: Microaspiration of subglottic secretions is the main pathogenic mechanism for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Adequate inflation of the endotracheal cuff is pivotal to providing an optimal seal of the extraluminal airway. However, cuff pressure substantially fluctuates due to patient or tube movements, which can induce microaspiration. Therefore, devices for continuous cuff pressure control (CCPC) have been developed in recent years. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess the effectiveness of CCPC in VAP prevention. DATA SOURCES: A systematic search of Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform was conducted up to February 2022. STUDY SELECTION: Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs comparing the impact of CCPC versus intermittent cuff pressure control on the occurrence of VAP. DATA EXTRACTION: Random-effects meta-analysis was used to calculate odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI for VAP incidence between groups. Secondary outcome measures included mortality and duration of mechanical ventilation (MV) and ICU stay. The certainty of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. DATA SYNTHESIS: Eleven RCTs with 2,092 adult intubated patients were included. The use of CCPC was associated with a reduced risk of VAP (OR, 0.51). Meta-analyses of secondary endpoints showed no significant difference in mortality but significant differences in durations of MV (mean difference, -1.07 d) and ICU stay (mean difference, -3.41 d) in favor of CCPC. However, the risk of both reporting and individual study bias was considered important. The main issues were the lack of blinding, potential commercial conflicts of interest of study authors and high heterogeneity due to methodological differences between studies, differences in devices used for CCPC and in applied baseline preventive measures. Certainty of the evidence was considered "very low." CONCLUSIONS: The use of CCPC was associated with a reduction in VAP incidence; however, this was based on very low certainty of evidence due to concerns related to risk of bias and inconsistency.

Nurses' competency in electrocardiogram interpretation in acute care settings: A systematic review.

AIMS: Identify and synthesize evidence of nurses' competency in electrocardiogram interpretation in acute care settings. DESIGN: Systematic mixed studies review. DATA SOURCES: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Medline, Scopus and Cochrane were searched in April 2021. REVIEW METHODS: Data were selected using the updated Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis framework. A data-based convergent synthesis design using qualitative content analysis was adopted. Quality appraisal was undertaken using validated tools appropriate to study designs of the included papers. RESULTS: Forty-three papers were included in this review. Skills and attitudes were not commonly assessed, as most studies referred to 'competency' in the context of nurses' knowledge in electrocardiogram interpretation. Nurses' knowledge levels in this important nursing role varied notably, which could be partly due to a range of assessment tools being used. Several factors were found to influence nurses' competency in electrocardiogram interpretation across the included studies from individual, professional and organizational perspectives. CONCLUSION: The definition of 'competency' was inconsistent, and nurses' competency in electrocardiogram interpretation varied from low to high. Nurses identified a lack of regular training and insufficient exposure in electrocardiogram interpretation. Hence, regular, standard training and education are recommended. Also, more research is needed to develop a standardized and comprehensive electrocardiogram interpretation tool, thereby allowing educators to safely assess nurses' competency. IMPACT: This review addressed questions related to nurses' competency in electrocardiogram interpretation. The findings highlight varying competency levels and assessment methods. Nurses reported a lack of knowledge and confidence in interpreting electrocardiograms. There is an urgent need to explore opportunities to promote and maintain nurses' competency in electrocardiogram interpretation.

Itraconazole attenuates the stemness of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells via triggering ferroptosis.

Radiotherapy is a common therapy method for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treatment; however, radioresistance greatly limits the clinical efficiency and prognosis of NPC patients. Therefore, it is extremely urgent to reveal the underlying mechanism contributing to radioresistance and find possible diagnostic biomarkers. Here, we collected the spheroids formed by NPC cells, which had been confirmed to hold the stem cell-like traits, and found that these spheroids exhibited a certain degree of radioresistance. Additionally, NPC spheroids displayed a certain degree of ferroptosis resistance, as evident by the decrease of iron concentration in lysosomes and lipid peroxides oxygen, and increase of glutathione (GSH) level. Furthermore, we revealed that itraconazole triggered the ferroptosis of NPC spheroids, which is characterized as the increase of iron concentration and lipid peroxides oxygen, and decrease of GSH level, and decreased the cell viability of NPC spheroids. Notably, itraconazole partially reversed the radioresistance of NPC spheroids. Mechanistically, we found that itraconazole can sequester iron in lysosome and thus trigger ferroptosis; this is essential for itraconazole-mediated attenuation on NPC spheroid stemness. Therefore, this study provides evidences showing that itraconazole might be used for killing NPC stem cells and thus attenuate radioresistance.

Successful Control of Streptococcus pneumoniae 19A Replacement With a Catch-up Primary Vaccination Program in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus pneumoniae infections in Taiwan mostly occur in children aged 2-4 years. Because of a significant increase in the incidence of serotype 19A-related infections, the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) was initially introduced in the national immunization program for children 2-5 years of age, prior to the national programs for infants. We have assessed the impact of such vaccination programs in reducing the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in Taiwanese children. METHODS: We analyzed the national data on IPDs from the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control between 2008 and 2017. We calculated the incidence rates of IPD and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) between years for different serotypes to estimate the effectiveness of the vaccination programs. RESULTS: The national catch-up primary vaccination schedule successfully reduced the incidence rate of IPD from 17.8/100 000 in 2012 to 5.5/100 000 in 2017 among children aged 0-5 years. The IRR (2017 over 2012) was 0.31, corresponding to a 69% reduction. A modest herd effect was also observed, with a 37% reduction in the incidence of IPD in elderly people (≥70 years) from 2012 to 2017. The incidence of IPD caused by serotype 19A in children aged 0-5 years was reduced by 32.6-44.3% yearly from 2012 to 2017. In 2015, serogroup 15 outnumbered 19A, to become the leading serotypes in children 0-5 years old. CONCLUSIONS: Special catch-up vaccination programs starting from children 2-5 years of age with PCV13 have been highly effective in reducing the incidence of IPD, especially as caused by serotype 19A, in Taiwanese children.

Implementing Same Day Discharge Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Process Evaluation.

BACKGROUND: The safety and effectiveness of same day discharge (SDD) following percutaneous coronary intervention are well demonstrated; however, the uptake of this model of care is low. PURPOSE: The aim was to examine the effectiveness of implementing SDD using a process evaluation methodology. METHODS: This study was undertaken in a cardiac services department of a tertiary teaching hospital in southeast Queensland, Australia. It was anticipated before the implementation that 120 patients could be discharged the same day in a 6 months' time period. Patient selection process and guideline adherence were assessed along with patients' and relatives' satisfaction. RESULTS: During implementation, 22 patients were discharged home the same day. It was found that staff did not follow the guideline consistently, with an overall adherence of 77.3%. CONCLUSION: The uptake of SDD was low in this implementation. The study is important as it provides direction for future improvement both in the criteria and the implementation process.

Lessons learnt from the implementation of same-day discharge after percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Change in healthcare organisations is constant and requires adequate resources for effective implementation. Same-day discharge after percutaneous coronary intervention has been found to be no different from the patients who stayed overnight after procedure; however, its uptake remains low. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to identify what factors helped or hindered the implementation of same-day discharge. METHODS: This interpretive study was conducted in a cardiac catheterisation suite of an Australian tertiary hospital between June and December 2016. Semistructured individual interviews with 26 healthcare professionals were conducted to explore the factors that influenced the implementation. A deductive approach to content analysis was guided by the theoretical domains framework. FINDINGS: Five domains, including beliefs about consequences, professional role and identity, resources, behaviour regulation, and optimism, were identified which were strongly related to the factors that impacted the implementation. The findings showed that participants believed same-day discharge benefits while also concerning about its safety and holding different opinions on eligibility criteria. The findings also showed that participants' involvement in the change process varied with no clear roles and responsibilities and that their understanding about same-day discharge evidence and the guideline also differed. Lack of dedicated resources was also identified as the hindrance to the implementation. Behaviour regulation domain depicted how communication was managed and how the care for same-day discharge patients was improved. Despite several issues identified, participants were optimistic with achievement. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study has provided valuable insight into the factors that influenced the implementation, which will inform policymakers when designing interventions for future improvement. Plan for change and involvement of all stakeholders along with dedicated resources including time, people, and change management expertise are essential if hospitals want to see the success of change.

Implementation Strategies for Same Day Discharge Post Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: An Integrative Review.

BACKGROUND: Same day discharge following percutaneous coronary intervention has emerged worldwide to enhance discharge efficiency and decrease length of stay. However, uptake of this practice is variable and strategies to support its implementation have not been examined. RESEARCH QUESTION: Among patients who undergo nonurgent percutaneous coronary intervention, what components are included in and which strategies are used to facilitate the implementation of same day discharge in clinical practice? METHODS: An integrative review was conducted. Keywords including same day discharge, outpatient, percutaneous coronary intervention, outpatient coronary stenting were used to search databases including Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Excerpta Medica dataBase, Cochrane, and Medline between 1990 and 2014. Data were extracted and summarized specific to: (a) components of same day discharge, (b) patient selection, and (c) strategies used to implement same day discharge. RESULTS: Nineteen articles were included that provided information about implementation strategies for same day discharge. Variability was identified in how same day discharge was operationalized, how patients were selected, and the strategies that were used to implement same day discharge. Culture, patient preference, and acceptance of same day discharge were important for its implementation. Guideline or protocol, physical environment, champion, education, audit or feedback, and team building were all found to be important strategies in implementing same day discharge. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: The results of this integrative review inform our understanding of how same day discharge is operationalized and what strategies can be used to implement same day discharge. The findings of the review highlight that there is a need for more research examining implementation strategies in a detailed manner that can assist others to introduce and sustain same day discharge in routine practice.

Perceptions and attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination among health professional students in Australia: a qualitative study.

Using two qualitative data sources: free-text responses to an open-ended question of an online survey and subsequent interviews and focus groups, we explored perceptions and attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination among health professional students enrolled in Australian universities during the pandemic with data collected from October 2021 to April 2022. Students provided free-text responses to the open-ended question (n = 313) in the online survey and participated in interviews or focus groups (n = 17). Data analysis revealed three themes, including perceptions of COVID-19 seriousness and the risk of contracting the virus, information dissemination, and attitudes toward the vaccine mandate. The study identified evolving perceptions of COVID-19 seriousness among Australian health professional students and their sentiments toward the vaccine mandate. There is a need to ensure the quality of information dissemination related to the vaccine mandate. This may not only support students' uptake of mandatory vaccination but also provide a means for them to address vaccination with healthcare consumers and patients.

Interventions to improve patient admission and discharge practices in adult intensive care units: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: To identify and synthesise interventions and implementation strategies to optimise patient flow, addressing admission delays, discharge delays, and after-hours discharges in adult intensive care units. METHODS: This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines. Five electronic databases, including CINAHL, PubMed, Emcare, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library, were searched from 2007 to 2023 to identify articles describing interventions to enhance patient flow practices in adult intensive care units. The Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) tool assessed the methodological quality of the included studies. All data was synthesised using a narrative approach. SETTING: Adult intensive care units. RESULTS: Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, mainly comprising quality improvement projects (n = 3) or before-and-after studies (n = 4). Intervention types included changing workflow processes, introducing decision support tools, publishing quality indicator data, utilising outreach nursing services, and promoting multidisciplinary communication. Various implementation strategies were used, including one-on-one training, in-person knowledge transfer, digital communication, and digital data synthesis and display. Most studies (n = 6) reported a significant improvement in at least one intensive care process-related outcome, although fewer studies specifically reported improvements in admission delays (0/0), discharge delays (1/2), and after-hours discharge (2/4). Two out of six studies reported significant improvements in patient-related outcomes after implementing the intervention. CONCLUSION: Organisational-level strategies, such as protocols and alert systems, were frequently employed to improve patient flow within ICUs, while healthcare professional-level strategies to enhance communication were less commonly used. While most studies improved ICU processes, only half succeeded in significantly reducing discharge delays and/or after-hours discharges, and only a third reported improved patient outcomes, highlighting the need for more effective interventions. IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: The findings of this review can guide the development of evidence-based, targeted, and tailored interventions aimed at improving patient and organisational outcomes.

Reflections on transitioning from senior nurses to novice nurse academics.

The transition from practicing nurse to nurse academic can be stressful as novice nurse academics need to assume new roles and acquire new skills in addition to having demonstrated mastery over their field of clinical practice. In this reflection, the authors use Gibbs' reflective cycle to reflect on the experience of transition from being senior nurses to novice nurse academics in the Australian university context. A description of the experience of transition is outlined alongside the feelings encountered. The positive and negative aspects of the experience are then evaluated and an analysis of the experience put forward with a conclusion related to the overall experience. An action plan for future practice is offered, which we hope will be of interest to anyone contemplating such a journey or supporting others in this process. The complex and challenging journey ahead for novice nurse academics is outlined, which offers opportunities for growth and development.

Healthcare professionals' cultural safety practices for indigenous peoples in the acute care setting - a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: For Indigenous Peoples the disparities in health status are largely associated with the direct social determinants of invasion and colonisation, marginalisation, intergenerational traumas, and lack of conscious government policy to address these ongoing effects. There is currently limited evidence in the literature on what Cultural Safety practices mean in acute care settings. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to understand the extent and type of evidence in relation to current knowledge and evidence regarding Cultural Safety practices for Indigenous Peoples in acute care settings. DESIGN: This is a scoping review. METHODS: We searched six databases in consultation with a librarian experienced in health research. RESULTS: A total of 16 papers were included in the scoping review. Four main barriers to Cultural Safety in practice were identified; Among the included studies, only one quality improvement study reported an intervention, which improved culturally safe care. CONCLUSION: The four barriers identified each have a variable impact on Indigenous Peoples' health outcomes and are dependent upon the circumstances and experiences of both Indigenous Peoples and healthcare professionals.

Barriers and facilitators to COVID-19 vaccine uptake among Australian health professional students during the pandemic: a nationwide study.

Using a cross-sectional online survey we investigated knowledge, attitudes, and risk perception about COVID-19 vaccination and identified factors influencing vaccine uptake among Australian health professional students from October 2021 to January 2022. We analysed data from 1114 health professional students from 17 Australian universities. Most participants were enrolled in nursing programs (n = 958, 86.8%), and 91.6% (n = 858) of the participants received COVID-19 vaccination. Approximately 27% believed COVID-19 was no more serious than seasonal influenza and that they had a low risk of acquiring COVID-19. Nearly 20% disagreed that COVID-19 vaccines in Australia were safe and perceived they were at higher-risk of acquiring COVID infection than the general population. Higher-risk perception viewing vaccination as their professional responsibility, and vaccine mandate strongly predicted vaccination behaviour. Participants consider COVID-19 information from health professionals, government websites, and World Health Organization as the most trusted information sources. The findings highlight that healthcare decision-makers and university administrators need to monitor students' hesitancy with vaccination to improve students' promotion of the vaccination to the general population.

The EZH2-H3K27me3 axis modulates aberrant transcription and apoptosis in cyclophosphamide-induced ovarian granulosa cell injury.

Chemotherapy-induced ovarian damage and infertility are significant concerns for women of childbearing age with cancer; however, the underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. Our study has revealed a close association between epigenetic regulation and cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced ovarian damage. Specifically, CTX and its active metabolite 4-hydroperoxy cyclophosphamide (4-HC) were found to increase the apoptosis of granulosa cells (GCs) by reducing EZH2 and H3K27me3 levels, both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, RNA-seq and CUT&Tag analyses revealed that the loss of H3K27me3 peaks on promoters led to the overactivation of genes associated with transcriptional regulation and apoptosis, indicating that stable H3K27me3 status could help to provide a safeguard against CTX-induced ovarian damage. Administration of the H3K27me3-demethylase inhibitor, GSK-J4, prior to CTX treatment could partially mitigate GC apoptosis by reversing the reduction of H3K27me3 and the aberrant upregulation of specific genes involved in transcriptional regulation and apoptosis. GSK-J4 could thus potentially be a protective agent for female fertility when undergoing chemotherapy. The results provide new insights into the mechanisms for chemotherapy injury and future clinical interventions for fertility preservation.

HucMSC-EVs Facilitate In Vitro Development of Maternally Aged Preantral Follicles and Oocytes.

Follicle developmental capacity and oocyte quality decline with advanced maternal age. Extracellular vesicles from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HucMSC-EVs) act as a potential therapeutic product in the treatment of age-related ovarian dysfunction. In vitro culture (IVC) of preantral follicles is a useful method for understanding the mechanism of follicle development and is a promising means for improving female fertility. However, whether HucMSC-EVs have beneficial effects on aged follicle development during IVC has not yet been reported. Our research demonstrated that follicular development with single-addition withdrawal of HucMSC-EVs was better than that with continuous treatment with HucMSC-EVs. HucMSC-EVs facilitated the survival and growth of follicles, promoted the proliferation of granulosa cells (GCs), and improved the steroid hormone secretion of GCs during IVC of aged follicles. Both GCs and oocytes could uptake HucMSC-EVs. Moreover, we observed elevated cellular transcription in GCs and oocytes after treatment with HucMSC-EVs. The RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) results further validated that the differentially expressed genes are related to the promotion of GC proliferation, cell communication, and oocyte spindle organization. Additionally, the aged oocytes displayed a higher maturation rate, presented less aberrant spindle morphology, and expressed a higher level of the antioxidant protein Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) after treatment with HucMSC-EVs. Our findings suggested that HucMSC-EVs can improve the growth and quality of aged follicles and oocytes in vitro through the regulation of gene transcription, which provides evidence for HucMSC-EVs as potential therapeutic reagents to restore female fertility with advanced age.

Isolation, identification, and characterization of corn-derived antioxidant peptides from corn fermented milk by Limosilactobacillus fermentum.

Dairy-derived peptides and corn-derived peptides have been identified as essential ingredients for health promotion in the food industry. The hydrolysis based on lactic acid bacteria (LAB) protease system is one of the most popular methods to prepare bioactive peptides. The objectives of this paper are to develop antioxidant fermented milk and to obtain natural antioxidant peptides. In our study, LAB with antioxidant capacity were screened in vitro, and the corn fermented milk with antioxidant capacity was achieved by the traditional fermentation method. Fermented milk was purified by ultrafiltration and molecular sieve, and identified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Our findings demonstrate that Limosilactobacillus fermentum L15 had a scavenging capacity of more than 80% of DPPH radicals, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) of 0.348 ± 0.005 mmol/L. Meanwhile, the peptide content of corn fermented milk prepared with L. fermentum L15 was 0.914 ± 0.009 mg/mL and TAEC of 0.781 ± 0.020 mmol/L. Particularly important, IGGIGTVPVGR and LTTVTPGSR isolated and extracted from fermented milk were found to have antioxidant capacity for the first time. The synthetic peptides IGGIGTVPVGR and LTTVTPGSR demonstrated a scavenging capacity of 70.07 ± 2.71% and 70.07 ± 2.77% for DPPH radicals and an antioxidant capacity of 0.62 ± 0.01 mmol/L and 0.64 ± 0.02 mmol/L Trolox equivalent, respectively. This research provides ideas and basis for the development and utilization of functional dairy products.

Patient and family perceptions and experiences of same-day discharge following percutaneous coronary intervention and those kept overnight.

OBJECTIVE: To explore perceptions and experiences of patients discharged the same day (or not) and their family members towards same-day discharge following percutaneous coronary intervention. DESIGN AND METHODS: A qualitative interpretative design. Semi-structured phone interviews were conducted with consented patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, and their family members (n = 23). Data were analysed using a content analysis approach. SETTING: This study was undertaken in the cardiac services department of an Australian tertiary hospital. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Perceptions and experiences of same-day discharge. FINDINGS: A total of 31 patients and 23 family members were interviewed. Two categories emerged from the analysis: communication challenges with hospital staff and perceptions of same-day discharge. Family members were often not provided discharge instructions, and some same-day discharged patients felt vulnerable following discharge. When asked, most participants perceived same-day discharge as a preferred option because of its comfort and convenience. Some expressed uncertainty towards same-day discharge due to feeling anxious and apprehensive. Others misperceived same-day discharge as a signal that their heart problem was fixed without realising their underlying chronic health conditions. CONCLUSION: Most patients and family members perceived same-day discharge as a preferred option. However, strategies are needed to support their transition from hospital to home, therefore, recognising and improving their long-term disease management.

Final-year nursing students' foundational knowledge and self-assessed confidence in interpreting cardiac arrhythmias: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Graduating nurses should possess knowledge and understanding of cardiac arrhythmia interpretation, so they can assess abnormal and life-threatening arrhythmias. However, literature around nursing students' foundational knowledge in cardiac arrhythmia interpretation remains scarce. OBJECTIVES: To examine final-year nursing students' foundational knowledge and self-assessed confidence in interpreting cardiac arrhythmias. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study design. SETTINGS: Two Australian universities (one regional and the other large metropolitan). PARTICIPANTS: Nursing students in the final year of a program of study leading to initial registration as a registered nurse. METHODS: An online survey was adopted to examine final-year nursing students' foundational knowledge and their self-assessed confidence when interpreting cardiac rhythms. RESULTS: A total of 114 participants completed surveys, representing a response rate of 22%. More than 70% of the participants were able to interpret asystole, sinus rhythm, and sinus bradycardia. Over 50% correctly identified ventricular tachycardia, atrial flutter, sinus tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, and ventricular fibrillation. Under 15% of the participants were able to interpret junctional rhythm, paced rhythm, and unifocal/multifocal premature ventricular contractions. Self-assessed confidence levels were generally lower than the accuracy rates of arrhythmia interpretation. Although many participants acknowledged that learning arrhythmia interpretation was difficult and challenging, most of them had positive perceptions and wanted to learn more. CONCLUSION: Nursing curricula need to be supported and strategies need to be implemented to standardise educational electrocardiogram interpretation programs, which are critical to improving final-year nursing students' foundational knowledge and confidence in interpreting cardiac arrhythmias and enhancing patient safety.

Predicting the Printability in Selective Laser Melting with a Supervised Machine Learning Method.

Though selective laser melting (SLM) has a rapidly increasing market these years, the quality of the SLM-fabricated part is extremely dependent on the process parameters. However, the current metallographic examination method to find the parameter window is time-consuming and involves subjective assessments of the experimenters. Here, we proposed a supervised machine learning (ML) method to detect the track defect and predict the printability of material in SLM intelligently. The printed tracks were classified into five types based on the measured surface morphologies and characteristics. The classification results were used as the target output of the ML model. Four indicators had been calculated to evaluate the quality of the tracks quantitatively, serving as input variables of the model. The data-driven model can determine the defect-free process parameter combination, which significantly improves the efficiency in searching the process parameter window and has great potential for the application in the unmanned factory in the future.

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Bordetella pertussis in Taiwan prompted by a case of pertussis in a paediatric patient.

In Taiwan, pertussis is a notifiable disease with a low incidence in recent years, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing for the causative agent, Bordetella pertussis, has not been reported to date. In May 2007, the Centers for Disease Control, Taiwan, was informed of a 1-month-old pertussis patient who did not respond to erythromycin treatment. In this study, we report the result of antimicrobial susceptibility testing performed for the suspected erythromycin-resistant isolate, as well as for an additional 27 B. pertussis clinical isolates that represented almost all epidemiologically unrelated isolates obtained throughout Taiwan between 2003 and 2007. All isolates were fully susceptible to azithromycin, erythromycin, clarithromycin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (MIC < or =0.047 mug ml(-1)). This result demonstrates the general susceptibility of B. pertussis to antimicrobial agents in vitro in Taiwan.