A Lightweight CNN and Class Weight Balancing on Chest X-ray Images for COVID-19 Detection

In many locations, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests are used to identify COVID-19. It could take more than 48 h. It is a key factor in its seriousness and quick spread. Images from chest X-rays are utilized to diagnose COVID-19. Which generally deals with the issue of imbalanced classification. The purpose of this paper is to improve CNN’s capacity to display Chest X-ray pictures when there is a class imbalance. CNN Training has come to an end while chastening the classes for using more examples. Additionally, the training data set uses data augmentation. The achievement of the suggested method is assessed on an image’s two data sets of chest X-rays. The suggested model’s efficiency was analyzed using criteria like accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, and F1 score. The suggested method attained an accuracy of 94% worst, 97% average, and 100% best cases, respectively, and an F1-score of 96% worst, 98% average and 100% best cases, respectively

Antimicrobial Resistance Profiling of Biofilm Forming Non Typhoidal Salmonella enterica Isolates from Poultry and Its Associated Food Products from Pakistan

Salmonellosis caused by non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica from poultry products is a major public health concern worldwide. This study aimed at estimating the pathogenicity and antimicrobial resistance in S. enterica isolates obtained from poultry birds and their food products from different areas of Pakistan. In total, 95/370 (25.67%) samples from poultry droppings, organs, eggs, and meat were positive for Salmonella. The isolates were further identified through multiplex PCR (mPCR) as Salmonella Typhimurium 14 (14.7%), Salmonella Enteritidis 12 (12.6%), and other Salmonella spp. 69 (72.6%). The phenotypic virulence properties of 95 Salmonella isolates exhibited swimming and/or swarming motility 95 (100%), DNA degrading activity 93 (97.8%), hemolytic activity 92 (96.8%), lipase activity 87 (91.6%), and protease activity 86 (90.5%). The sopE virulence gene known for conferring zoonotic potential was detected in S. Typhimurium (92.8%), S. Enteritidis (100%), and other Salmonella spp. (69.5%). The isolates were further tested against 23 antibiotics (from 10 different antimicrobial groups) and were found resistant against fifteen to twenty-one antibiotics. All isolates showed multiple drug resistance and were found to exhibit a high multiple antibiotic-resistant (MAR) index of 0.62 to 0.91. The strong biofilm formation at 37 °C reflected their potential adherence to intestinal surfaces. There was a significant correlation between antimicrobial resistance and the biofilm formation potential of isolates. The resistance determinant genes found among the isolated strains were blaTEM-1 (59.3%), blaOxA-1 (18%), blaPSE-1 (9.5%), blaCMY-2 (43%), and ampC (8.3%). The detection of zoonotic potential MDR Salmonella in poultry and its associated food products carrying cephalosporin and quinolone resistance genes presents a major threat to the poultry industry and public health