Assessment of renal damage in patients with multi-drug resistant strains of pneumonia treated with colistin

Background: Treatment of multi-drug-resistant strains of pneumonia with common antibiotics in renal patients is ine ective and physicians are compelled to use Colistin for such cases. Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the mortality, length of stay, and renal damages in the treatment of multi-drug-resistant pneumonia with Colistin among multiple trauma patients admitted to the emergency department and transferred to the ICU. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted between 2011 and 2016. 102 multiple trauma (MT) patients with multidrug-resistant strains of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) admitted to the emergency department then transferred to the ICU were assessed. All patients received Colistin according to their weight. Renal damage was evaluated according to the RIFLE criteria. The mortality and the length of stay were assessed. In order to statistically analyze the data, SPSS version 23 software was used to conduct t-test and chi-square test. Results: Out of 102 patients, 55 (54) died and 50 (49.1) developed acute renal failure; 64 cases had no hypertension. Patients according to the RIFLE index were assessed: Risk (11.01), Injury (14), Failure (18), Loss (6), and End-stage renal disease. The prevalence and prognosis of acute kidney injury in multiple trauma patients treated with Colistin were significantly correlated with drug dosage, body mass index, and use of corticosteroids (when assessed using relevant scoring systems, P < 0.05). Conclusions: The use of a scoring system in the intensive care unit, determining those patients requiring Colistin, and adjusting the dosage of this drug for treatment of MT patients with multi-drug resistant strains of HAP are vital. Creatinine levels must be carefully monitored. © 2018, Trauma Monthly

The Human Ecology and Geography of Burning in an Unstable Savanna Environment

According to new ecological theories, many savannas are inherently in disequilibrium and can flip from tree-dominated to grass-dominated landscapes depending upon the disturbance regime. In particular, a shift in a fire regime to a more frequent and intensive one can radically alter the tree-to-grass ratio in a given savanna. Drawing upon the ecological buffering model we argue that savanna persistence requires a relatively stable fire regime. We hypothesize that anthropogenic burning practices perform this function by producing a regular annual spatiotemporal pattern of fire that is linked to vegetation type. We test this hypothesis using a study of two areas, one in Mali and the other Burkina Faso. We use two sources of satellite data to produce an 11-year time series of the spatiotemporal pattern of fires and an example of the annual burned area pattern these fires produce. We combine the analysis of satellite imagery with interviews of rural inhabitants who set fires to understand the logic underlying the patterns of fire. Analysis of a time series of imagery reveals a strikingly regular annual spatiotemporal pattern of burning for both study areas, which cannot be explained by the regional climatic pattern alone. We conclude that the regularity of the annual fire regime in West Africa is a human-ecological phenomenon closely linked to vegetation type and controlled by people\u27s burning practices. We argue that the anthropogenic burning regime serves to buffer the savanna and maintain its ecological stability

Effect of Soybean and Wheat as Cover Crops on Corn Yield and Weed Control using Different Fertilizer Sources

Introduction: According to the importance of corn in supplying the human food directly and indirectly, it is one of the most important plants among crops. One of the major problems in corn production systems, is competition with weeds that reduce corn yield significantly. Weeds not only reduce crop yields but also decrease the commercial quality and the feeding palatability of main crops. They enhance the soil seed bank of weeds, which may cause continuous weed infestation of field crops as well. Herbicide application is a reliable and highly effective method for weed control. However, demand for safe food products that have been produced with a minimum application of chemical inputs is increasing. Therefore, farmers interested in weed management have to rely on other control approaches. An alternative weed control method is the use of cover crops, which can suppress the growth of weeds by preventing them from light and by producing allelopathic compounds. Cover crops successfully have been integrated into conservational agriculture systems in many areas of the world. Legumes are used as cover crop because of their rapid growth, in addition their potential to provide further nitrogen,along with high ability to compete with weeds. Materials and Methods: In order to study the effect of cover crops (soybean and wheat) and different fertilizers sources on yield of corn and weed control, a filed experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design with three replications in 2012. Treatments included two cover crop (wheat and soybean) and three fertilizer (no fertilizer, chemical fertilizer and compost)..Fertilizer treatments was used according to soil analysis and requirement of corn (as a main plant). Weed-infestation and weed-free plots were used as controls. Study cultivars of corn, wheat and soybean were NS-640, Milan and Sari, respectively. Planting of corn was in June and cover crop was planted with corn simultaneously and between corn rows. The dominant weed species were velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic.), johnson grass (Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.), wild melon (Cucumis melo var. agrestis) and giant foxtail (Setaria glauca L.) in the field. In order to determine the dry weight and density of weeds, three-stage sampling was performed from the middle rows of corn. Corn yield was also measured by mechanical harvesting in middle rows and adjusting to 14% moisture. A week before the final harvest, ten plants of corn were selected randomly from the three middle rows of each plot and yield components including the number of rows in corn, number of kernels per row, weight of 1000 grains was measured. Results and Discussion: The results showed that soybean cover crop reduced weed density compared to control in weed infestated plots, but wheat was not successful in suppressing weeds and reducing their density due to poor biomass and dying at the end of growing season . So, the lowest dry matter of velvetleaf, wild melon and other weeds were related to planted corn with soybean and compost and the maximum was related to monoculture of corn with weed infestation. Results of analysis of variance indicated treatments had significant effect on grain yield. The lowest yield of corn (2733.3 Kg ha-1) was in weed-infestation control while the highest one (12124.0 and 8351.3 Kg ha-1 respectively) was in weed-free control and soybean’ cover crop plus compost. For both cover crops between fertilizer treatments, compost and chemical fertilizer had more corn biological yield than no fertilizer and differences between this two fertilizer treatments wasn’t significant. Reduction of yield under no fertilizer treatments was due to competition for nutrients, light between weed and corn. The maximum and minimum number of rows in corn and number of kernels per row respectively was obtained with monoculture of corn in weed free and weed infestation, while the maximum weight of 1000 grains was observed in soybean with applying compost. Generally, the living mulch as cover crops can reduce competition between weeds and the main crop. Conclusion: As cover crops reduce weeds growth, and there was no significant difference between chemical and organic fertilizer in corn yield, so we can use these two options for producing optimum yield in sustainable agriculture. Results showed application of soybean as cover crop, especially integrated with organic fertilizers, can be an alternative approach for herbicides and are more effective than the others

Experimental-Numerical Investigation of a Steel Pipe Repaired with a Composite Sleeve

Pressure vessels are subjected to deterioration and damage, which can significantly reduce their strength and loading capabilities. Among several procedures nowadays available to repair damaged steel pipelines, composite-repairing systems have become popular over the past few years to restore the loading capacity of damaged pipelines. This study reports a numerical-experimental investigation performed for a composite-repaired pipeline made of API 5L X60 steel. An experimental burst test was carried out on a 4 m long pipe section, closed by two lateral caps, and tested up to failure by means of high-pressure water. In parallel, the test was numerically replicated through a FEM model of the composite-repaired steel tank, allowing for a cross-comparison of results. It was found that the composite repairing system has almost eliminated both the noteworthy thickness reduction of 80% and the related stress concentrations in the pipe body. These outcomes allow for a better understanding of these repairing procedures in order to drive their subsequent optimization

Assessment of renal damage in patients with multi-drug resistant strains of pneumonia treated with colistin

Background: Treatment of multi-drug-resistant strains of pneumonia with common antibiotics in renal patients is ine ective and physicians are compelled to use Colistin for such cases. Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the mortality, length of stay, and renal damages in the treatment of multi-drug-resistant pneumonia with Colistin among multiple trauma patients admitted to the emergency department and transferred to the ICU. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted between 2011 and 2016. 102 multiple trauma (MT) patients with multidrug-resistant strains of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) admitted to the emergency department then transferred to the ICU were assessed. All patients received Colistin according to their weight. Renal damage was evaluated according to the RIFLE criteria. The mortality and the length of stay were assessed. In order to statistically analyze the data, SPSS version 23 software was used to conduct t-test and chi-square test. Results: Out of 102 patients, 55 (54) died and 50 (49.1) developed acute renal failure; 64 cases had no hypertension. Patients according to the RIFLE index were assessed: Risk (11.01), Injury (14), Failure (18), Loss (6), and End-stage renal disease. The prevalence and prognosis of acute kidney injury in multiple trauma patients treated with Colistin were significantly correlated with drug dosage, body mass index, and use of corticosteroids (when assessed using relevant scoring systems, P < 0.05). Conclusions: The use of a scoring system in the intensive care unit, determining those patients requiring Colistin, and adjusting the dosage of this drug for treatment of MT patients with multi-drug resistant strains of HAP are vital. Creatinine levels must be carefully monitored. © 2018, Trauma Monthly

Improving Robustness of LCA Results Through Stakeholder Engagement: A Case Study of Emerging Oil Sands Technologies

Life cycle assessments can help to inform decision-making about greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction opportunities but are often not embraced by stakeholders associated with industries where study results are highly scrutinized and often contentious. This project was motivated by stakeholder interest in understanding open source life cycle models (the Oil Production Greenhouse Gas Emissions Estimator, OPGEE, and the Petroleum Refinery Life Cycle Inventory Model, PRELIM) and how accurately they can estimate emissions for existing oil sands projects and emerging technologies. We evaluate the robustness of these models and improve them using data from three existing oil sands projects (mining + upgrading, mining + dilution, and steam assisted gravity drainage, SAGD, + dilution). The models are then applied to estimate the GHG emissions reduction potential for two emerging in situ oil sands technologies. We find that, when boundaries are aligned, OPGEE can generate upstream GHG emissions estimates for the projects modeled within 1-4% of company reported GHG emissions data. Extending the boundary to include indirect (life cycle) emissions can lead to a doubling in upstream GHG emissions intensity. The two emerging technologies evaluated in the study can reduce upstream emissions by 14-19% compared to a SAGD project operating at the same reservoir, or 1.4-1.9% on a well-to-wheel basis. This work contributes a revised process of conducting LCAs that includes stakeholder input throughout and results in more robust and transparent estimations of emissions from deploying existing and emerging technologies.<br /

Correlation between biofilm formation and carbapenem resistance among clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative enteric bacterium that causes nosocomial infections; this bacterium has survived from harsh condition using biofilm formation in hospital equipment and cause severe infection. In the other hand, the emergence and extension of carbapenem resistance burden among K. pneumonia producing biofilm is the current concern of public health services. There are controversial findings about this subject. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between biofilm formation and resistance to carbapenem among clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae. Methods: A total of 160 K. pneumoniae isolates were collected from various infections of hospitalized patients. The Carba NP test and molecular methods were used for detection of carbapenem resistance isolates of K. pneumonia. Subsequently, the ability for biofilm production was performed from all isolates. Finally, Correlation of biofilm formation among carbapenem resistant isolates was calculated using chi(2) and Fisher's exact tests. Results: Among K. pneumoniae isolates 42.5 have carbapenemase activity by Carba NP test, while carbapenemase genes were detected in 35.6 of isolates in amplification assay. Moreover, there are 52.5 (n= 84) of all isolates were formed a strong biofilm, while 38.1 (n= 61) and 9.3 (n= 15) of isolates were middle and weak biofilm producer, respectively. Among carbapenem resistant cases (n= 68), there are 7Z 9 (n= 53) and 22 (n= 15) of isolates were reported as strong and middle biofilm producer, respectively. We see a significant correlation was seen between biofilm formation ability and carbapenem resistant isolates (p-value < 0.00001). Conclusion: The increase of carbapenem resistance burden in biofilm producing isolates of K. pneumoniae is considered as serious alert and the basic measures to combat this phenomenon is imperative