Building governance and energy efficiency: Mapping the interdisciplinary challenge

Improving the energy efficiency of multi-owned properties (MoPs)—commonly known as apartment or condominium buildings—is central to the achievement of European energy targets. However, little work to date has focused on how to facilitate retrofit in this context. Drawing on interdisciplinary Social Sciences and Humanities expertise in academia, policy and practice, this chapter posits that decision-making processes within MoPs might provide a key to the retrofit challenge. Existing theories or models of decision-making, applied in the MoP context, might help to explain how collective retrofit decisions are taken—or overlooked. Insights from case studies and practitioners are also key. Theories of change might then be employed to develop strategies to facilitate positive retrofit decisions. The chapter maps the issues and sets an agenda for further interdisciplinary research in this novel area

Optically Mapping Multiple Bacterial Genomes Simultaneously in a Single Run

Optical mapping of bacterial chromosomes provides an unambiguous low-resolution sequence scaffold of the entire chromosome. In comparison to some techniques, such as pulse field gel electrophoresis, cost and throughput limit the application of this technique outside of genome finishing. We have demonstrated the production of multiple bacterial maps using a single set of consumables; this significantly reduces the time and expense of map production

Pseudoclavibacter-like subcutaneous infection: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Arthrobacter</it>-like organisms, including <it>Pseudoclavibacter </it>organisms, have rarely been documented as being responsible for infection in humans.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>An 81-year-old French man developed a subcutaneous infection despite antibiotic treatment combining clindamycin and metronidazole for chronic wound infection. A skin biopsy showed numerous polymorphonuclear cells and no bacteria, but a subcutaneous swab yielded numerous polymorphonuclear cells, a few Gram-positive cocci, Gram-negative cocci, and Gram-positive rods. The Gram-positive rod sequence exhibited 99% sequence similarity with uncultured <it>Pseudoclavibacter </it>sp. [GenBank:<ext-link ext-link-id="EF419350" ext-link-type="gen">EF419350</ext-link>] and 99% sequence similarity with uncultured <it>Pseudoclavibacter </it>sp. [GenBank:<ext-link ext-link-id="EF419347" ext-link-type="gen">EF419347</ext-link>]. The genetic data and unique peptide profile of this <it>Pseudoclavibacter</it>-like isolate, determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry, underscored its uniqueness.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>Pseudoclavibacter</it>-like organisms are identifiable in cutaneous and subcutaneous infections in humans.</p

A Molecular Study on the Prevalence and Virulence Potential of Aeromonas spp. Recovered from Patients Suffering from Diarrhea in Israel

Background: Species of the genus Aeromonas are native inhabitants of aquatic environments and have recently been considered emerging human pathogens. Although the gastrointestinal tract is by far the most common anatomic site from which aeromonads are recovered, their role as etiologic agents of bacterial diarrhea is still disputed. Aeromonas-associated diarrhea is a phenomenon occurring worldwide; however, the exact prevalence of Aeromonas infections on a global scale is unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings: The prevalence and virulence potential of Aeromonas in patients suffering from diarrhea in Israel was studied using molecular methods. 1,033 diarrheal stools were sampled between April and September 2010 and Aeromonas species were identified in 17 (,2%) patients by sequencing the rpoD gene. Aeromonas species identity and abundance was: A. caviae (65%), A. veronii (29%) and Aeromonas taiwanensis (6%). This is the first clinical record of A. taiwanensis as a diarrheal causative since its recent discovery from a wound infection in a patient in Taiwan. Most of the patients (77%) from which Aeromonas species were isolated were negative for any other pathogens. The patients ranged from 1 to 92 years in age. Aeromonas isolates were found to possess different virulence-associated genes: ahpB (88%), pla/ lip/lipH3/apl-1 (71%), act/hlyA/aerA (35%), alt (18%), ast (6%), fla (65%), lafA (41%), TTSS ascV (12%), TTSS ascF-ascG (12%), TTSS-dependent ADP-ribosylating toxins aexU (41%) and aexT (6%) in various combinations. Most of the identified strain

Impact of aeration strategies on fed-batch cell culture kinetics in a single-use 24-well miniature bioreactor

The need to bring new biopharmaceutical products to market more quickly and to reduce final manufacturing costs is driving early stage, small scale bioprocess development. This work describes a comprehensive engineering characterisation of a novel, single-use 24-well parallel miniature bioreactor system. Cell culture performance is also investigated, with particular focus on the aeration strategies adopted at this small scale (7 mL) either by headspace sparging alone or by direct gas sparging into the culture medium. Apparent volumetric oxygen mass transfer coefficient (kLa) values ranged between 3–22 h−1 and 4–53 h−1 for headspace aeration and direct gas sparging respectively. The higher kLa values with direct gas sparging correlated directly with the increase in gas–liquid interfacial area per unit volume. Mixing times (tm) over a range of conditions were generally in the range 1–13 s and decreased with increasing shaking frequency (500–800 rpm). Direct gas sparging also served to reduce tm values by a factor of up to 19 fold. The impact of aeration strategies on cell culture kinetics of a model CHO cell line was also determined. Cultures performed with head space aeration alone showed the highest viable cell density (VCD) (15.2 × 106 cells mL−1), viability retention and antibody titre (1.58 g L−1). These were greater than in conventional shake flask cultures due to the improved control of the μ24 bioreactor system. In all cases the miniature bioreactor managed good control of process parameters such as pH 6.95 ± 0.4, temperature T°C 37 ± 0.4 and DO% 57 ± 32. Cultures performed with direct gas sparging showed a 25–45% reduction in VCD (depending on the aeration strategy used) and a similar reduction in antibody titre. Overall this work shows the successful application of the miniature bioreactor system for industrially relevant fed-batch cultures and highlights the impact of the dispersed gas phase on cell culture performance at the small scale

Crohn's Disease Exacerbation Induced by Edwardsiella tarda Gastroenteritis

Exacerbations of Crohn's disease are not infrequently associated with bacterial gastroenteritis. The recognition of synchronous infections in such patients is vital for the initiation of appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Furthermore, the detection of active bacterial infections may lead the clinician to delay starting biological therapy. We report here a man presenting with an exacerbation of his Crohn's disease during a trip to Thailand. Stool cultures were positive for the unusual gut pathogen Edwardsiella tarda. The patient's symptoms resolved with concurrent antibiotic and steroid therapy. This finding demonstrates the value of performing stool culture in all patients presenting with exacerbations of inflammatory bowel diseases

Severe sepsis caused by Aeromonas hydrophila in a patient using tocilizumab: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p><it>Aeromonas </it>species do not commonly cause disease in humans. However, when disease is seen, it often occurs in patients with underlying immunosuppression or malignancy and has a high fatality rate.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 72-year-old Japanese woman with rheumatoid arthritis treated with tocilizumab (which has an immunosuppressive effect) presented with severe epigastric pain. She had a fever with chills, hypotension and jaundice. She was diagnosed with acute suppurative cholangitis and treated with cefoperazone-sulbactam and an endoscopic drainage was performed. Jaundice was slightly improved, but the shock state and inflammatory reactions were prolonged as typical of septic shock. On the second day after admission, an electrocardiogram showed ST segment elevation and echocardiography showed ventricular wall dysfunction. Coronary arteries were patent in coronary angiography and she was diagnosed with stress-induced cardiomyopathy. Blood cultures showed <it>Aeromonas hydrophila</it>. A stool culture was negative for <it>A. hydrophila</it>. On day six, her white blood cell count and neutrophils were normalized and cefoperazone-sulbactam treatment was halted. Left ventricular function normalized on day twelve and a laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis was performed on the 16th day of hospitalization. A culture from the bile showed <it>A. hydrophila</it>. Eighteen days after surgery, tocilizumab treatment was restarted and there were no complications. Two months after restarting tocilizumab, our patient is stable without any serious events.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We present a rare case of <it>A. hydrophila </it>sepsis and acute suppurative cholangitis in an elderly patient with gallstones and rheumatoid arthritis using tocilizumab. This clinical course may suggest that preemptive treatment for cholelithiasis prior to using molecular-targeting agents might be feasible in elderly patients.</p

Complex Evolutionary History of the Aeromonas veronii Group Revealed by Host Interaction and DNA Sequence Data

Aeromonas veronii biovar sobria, Aeromonas veronii biovar veronii, and Aeromonas allosaccharophila are a closely related group of organisms, the Aeromonas veronii Group, that inhabit a wide range of host animals as a symbiont or pathogen. In this study, the ability of various strains to colonize the medicinal leech as a model for beneficial symbiosis and to kill wax worm larvae as a model for virulence was determined. Isolates cultured from the leech out-competed other strains in the leech model, while most strains were virulent in the wax worms. Three housekeeping genes, recA, dnaJ and gyrB, the gene encoding chitinase, chiA, and four loci associated with the type three secretion system, ascV, ascFG, aexT, and aexU were sequenced. The phylogenetic reconstruction failed to produce one consensus tree that was compatible with most of the individual genes. The Approximately Unbiased test and the Genetic Algorithm for Recombination Detection both provided further support for differing evolutionary histories among this group of genes. Two contrasting tests detected recombination within aexU, ascFG, ascV, dnaJ, and gyrB but not in aexT or chiA. Quartet decomposition analysis indicated a complex recent evolutionary history for these strains with a high frequency of horizontal gene transfer between several but not among all strains. In this study we demonstrate that at least for some strains, horizontal gene transfer occurs at a sufficient frequency to blur the signal from vertically inherited genes, despite strains being adapted to distinct niches. Simply increasing the number of genes included in the analysis is unlikely to overcome this challenge in organisms that occupy multiple niches and can exchange DNA between strains specialized to different niches. Instead, the detection of genes critical in the adaptation to specific niches may help to reveal the physiological specialization of these strains

The relationship between hip abductor muscle strength and iliotibial band tightness in individuals with low back pain

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Shortening of the iliotibial band (ITB) has been considered to be associated with low back pain (LBP). It is theorized that ITB tightness in individuals with LBP is a compensatory mechanism following hip abductor muscle weakness. However, no study has clinically examined this theory. The purpose of this study was to investigate the muscle imbalance of hip abductor muscle weakness and ITB tightness in subjects with LBP.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 300 subjects with and without LBP between the ages of 20 and 60 participated in this cross-sectional study. Subjects were categorized in three groups: LBP with ITB tightness (n = 100), LBP without ITB tightness (n = 100) and no LBP (n = 100). Hip abductor muscle strength was measured in all subjects.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) with the body mass index (BMI) as the covariate revealed significant difference in hip abductor strength between three groups (P < 0.001). Post hoc analysis showed no significant difference in hip abductor muscle strength between the LBP subjects with and without ITB tightness (P = 0.59). However, subjects with no LBP had significantly stronger hip abductor muscle strength compared to subjects with LBP with ITB tightness (P < 0.001) and those with LBP without ITB tightness (P < 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The relationship between ITB tightness and hip abductor weakness in patients with LBP is not supported as assumed in theory. More clinical studies are needed to assess the theory of muscle imbalance of hip abductor weakness and ITB tightness in LBP.</p