Sharing more than friendship - nasal colonization with coagulase-positive staphylococci (CPS) and co-habitation aspects of dogs and their owners

Background Since the relationship between dogs and their owners has changed, and dogs moved from being working dogs to family members in post-industrial countries, we hypothesized that zoonotic transmission of opportunistic pathogens like coagulase positive staphylococci (CPS) is likely between dogs and their owners. Methodology/Principal Findings CPS- nasal carriage, different aspects of human-to-dog relationship as well as potential interspecies transmission risk factors were investigated by offering nasal swabs and a questionnaire to dog owners (108) and their dogs (108) at a dog show in 2009. S. aureus was found in swabs of 20 (18.5%) humans and two dogs (1.8%), and spa types which correspond to well known human S. aureus lineages dominated (e.g. CC45, CC30 and CC22). Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of the two canine strains revealed ST72 and ST2065 (single locus variant of ST34). Fifteen dogs (13.9%) and six owners (5.6%) harboured S. pseudintermedius, including one mecA-positive human isolate (MRSP). Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) revealed that one dog/owner pair harboured indistinguishable S. pseudintermedius- isolates of ST33. Ten (48%) of the 21 S. pseudintermedius-isolates showed resistance towards more than one antimicrobial class. 88.9% of the dog owners reported to allow at least one dog into the house, 68.5% allow the dog(s) to rest on the sofa, 39.8% allow their dogs to come onto the bed, 93.5% let them lick their hands and 52.8% let them lick their face. Bivariate analysis of putative risk factors revealed that dog owners who keep more than two dogs have a significantly higher chance of being colonized with S. pseudintermedius than those who keep 1–2 dogs (p<0.05). Conclusions/Recommendations In conclusion, CPS transmission between dog owners and their dogs is possible. Further investigation regarding interspecies transmission and the diverse adaptive pathways influencing the epidemiology of CPS (including MRSA and MRSP) in different hosts is needed

Sharing More than Friendship — Nasal Colonization with Coagulase-Positive Staphylococci (CPS) and Co-Habitation Aspects of Dogs and Their Owners

BACKGROUND: Since the relationship between dogs and their owners has changed, and dogs moved from being working dogs to family members in post-industrial countries, we hypothesized that zoonotic transmission of opportunistic pathogens like coagulase positive staphylococci (CPS) is likely between dogs and their owners. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: CPS- nasal carriage, different aspects of human-to-dog relationship as well as potential interspecies transmission risk factors were investigated by offering nasal swabs and a questionnaire to dog owners (108) and their dogs (108) at a dog show in 2009. S. aureus was found in swabs of 20 (18.5%) humans and two dogs (1.8%), and spa types which correspond to well known human S. aureus lineages dominated (e.g. CC45, CC30 and CC22). Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of the two canine strains revealed ST72 and ST2065 (single locus variant of ST34). Fifteen dogs (13.9%) and six owners (5.6%) harboured S. pseudintermedius, including one mecA-positive human isolate (MRSP). Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) revealed that one dog/owner pair harboured indistinguishable S. pseudintermedius- isolates of ST33. Ten (48%) of the 21 S. pseudintermedius-isolates showed resistance towards more than one antimicrobial class. 88.9% of the dog owners reported to allow at least one dog into the house, 68.5% allow the dog(s) to rest on the sofa, 39.8% allow their dogs to come onto the bed, 93.5% let them lick their hands and 52.8% let them lick their face. Bivariate analysis of putative risk factors revealed that dog owners who keep more than two dogs have a significantly higher chance of being colonized with S. pseudintermedius than those who keep 1-2 dogs (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS: In conclusion, CPS transmission between dog owners and their dogs is possible. Further investigation regarding interspecies transmission and the diverse adaptive pathways influencing the epidemiology of CPS (including MRSA and MRSP) in different hosts is needed

Knowledge management related training strategies in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia construction industry: An empirical study

The growing popularity of knowledge management (KM) in the construction industry has, unfortunately, not been matched by parallel empirical research in training and benefits of KM for construction industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). This paper discusses the KM related training strategies implemented in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia construction industry. Given the relatively new and unexplored nature of the research problem, qualitative research method was adopted to collect and analyse data. Results are based on the analysis of data from 46 professionals from KSA construction organisations. This paper concludes that training interventions are a complex and context-embedded activity. The current study results suggests that for effective implementation of KM strategies, there is an urgent need for KSA construction industry to develop and deploy appropriate KM related management training programmes. Leadership plays an important role in breaking down barriers in achieving KM strategies. The practical implication of this research is that the KM should not only focus on the specific knowledge to be captured, shared, mapped and transferred between individuals but should also address strategic concerns at group and organisational levels

Relaxed I-SHOT trust-region algorithm for solving multi-objective economic emission load dispatch problem

In this paper, a new algorithm for tackling nonlinear constrained multi-objective optimization problems is introduced. This algorithm, which we call relaxed the interactive sequential hybrid optimization technique (relaxed I-SHOT), is based on a hybrid method between the I-SHOT method and step method (STEM) to transform a multi-objective problem into a single-objective one. An active set strategy is used together with a suggested penalty method to transform a single-objective constrained optimization problem into unconstrained one. A trust-region globalization strategy is added to the algorithm to solve the obtained unconstrained problem to ensure global convergence. The suggested approach is utilized to solve the multi-objective economic emission load dispatch (EELD) problems to assert the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. The proposed algorithm is tested on the standard IEEE 30-bus 6-generator test system. The results of the proposed approach are compared against those reported in the literature. The comparison asserts the potential of the proposed algorithm to solve the EELD problem

Identification of multiple genetic loci in the mouse controlling immobility time in the tail suspension and forced swimming tests

Depression is one of the most famous psychiatric disorders in humans in all over the countries and considered a complex neurobehavioral trait and difficult to identify causal genes. Tail suspension test (TST) and forced swimming test (FST) are widely used for assessing depression-like behavior and antidepressant activity in mice. A variety of antidepressant agents are known to reduce immobility time in both TST and FST. To identify genetic determinants of immobility duration in both tests, we analyzed 101 F2 mice from an intercross between C57BL/6 and DBA/2 strains. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping using 106 microsatellite markers revealed three loci (two significant and one suggestive) and five suggestive loci controlling immobility time in the TST and FST, respectively. Results of QTL analysis suggest a broad description of the genetic architecture underlying depression, providing underpinnings for identifying novel molecular targets for antidepressants to clear the complex genetic mechanisms of depressive disorders

A Hybrid Nash Min-Max Approach for Solving Continuous Static Games

This paper addresses a novel structure of continuous static games (CSGs) called hybrid continuous static games (HCSG). These types of games are based on the fact that the game is presented as a hybrid game between multiple players playing independently using Nash equilibrium solutions (NES) and others playing according to a secure concept using Min-Max solutions (MMS). A Nash Min-Max approach was established to solve such genre games. Also, an algorithm for solving Nash Min-Max hybrid continuous static games (NMMHCSG) has been outlined in clear steps. Moreover, a realistic application of four firms selling replaceable products and seeking to maximize their profits was presented to demonstrate the steps of the algorithm

Trust-Region Based Penalty Barrier Algorithm for Constrained Nonlinear Programming Problems: An Application of Design of Minimum Cost Canal Sections

In this paper, a penalty method is used together with a barrier method to transform a constrained nonlinear programming problem into an unconstrained nonlinear programming problem. In the proposed approach, Newton’s method is applied to the barrier Karush–Kuhn–Tucker conditions. To ensure global convergence from any starting point, a trust-region globalization strategy is used. A global convergence theory of the penalty–barrier trust-region (PBTR) algorithm is studied under four standard assumptions. The PBTR has new features; it is simpler, has rapid convergerce, and is easy to implement. Numerical simulation was performed on some benchmark problems. The proposed algorithm was implemented to find the optimal design of a canal section for minimum water loss for a triangle cross-section application. The results are promising when compared with well-known algorithms