Search for Gravitational Waves Associated with Gamma-Ray Bursts Detected by Fermi and Swift during the LIGO-Virgo Run O3b

We search for gravitational-wave signals associated with gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) detected by the Fermi and Swift satellites during the second half of the third observing run of Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo (2019 November 1 15:00 UTC-2020 March 27 17:00 UTC). We conduct two independent searches: A generic gravitational-wave transients search to analyze 86 GRBs and an analysis to target binary mergers with at least one neutron star as short GRB progenitors for 17 events. We find no significant evidence for gravitational-wave signals associated with any of these GRBs. A weighted binomial test of the combined results finds no evidence for subthreshold gravitational-wave signals associated with this GRB ensemble either. We use several source types and signal morphologies during the searches, resulting in lower bounds on the estimated distance to each GRB. Finally, we constrain the population of low-luminosity short GRBs using results from the first to the third observing runs of Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo. The resulting population is in accordance with the local binary neutron star merger rate. © 2022. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society

Narrowband Searches for Continuous and Long-duration Transient Gravitational Waves from Known Pulsars in the LIGO-Virgo Third Observing Run

Isolated neutron stars that are asymmetric with respect to their spin axis are possible sources of detectable continuous gravitational waves. This paper presents a fully coherent search for such signals from eighteen pulsars in data from LIGO and Virgo's third observing run (O3). For known pulsars, efficient and sensitive matched-filter searches can be carried out if one assumes the gravitational radiation is phase-locked to the electromagnetic emission. In the search presented here, we relax this assumption and allow both the frequency and the time derivative of the frequency of the gravitational waves to vary in a small range around those inferred from electromagnetic observations. We find no evidence for continuous gravitational waves, and set upper limits on the strain amplitude for each target. These limits are more constraining for seven of the targets than the spin-down limit defined by ascribing all rotational energy loss to gravitational radiation. In an additional search, we look in O3 data for long-duration (hours-months) transient gravitational waves in the aftermath of pulsar glitches for six targets with a total of nine glitches. We report two marginal outliers from this search, but find no clear evidence for such emission either. The resulting duration-dependent strain upper limits do not surpass indirect energy constraints for any of these targets. © 2022. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Serological survey and first finding of Neospora caninum in Taiwan, and the detection of its antibodies in various body fluids of cattle

A serological survey for antibodies against Neospora caninum in cattle, goats and farm dogs in Taiwan was carried out. Sera of 613 cattle from 25 dairy farms, 24 goats from six goat farms and 13 dogs from six dairy cattle farms were tested for antibodies against N. caninum using indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT). The same sera were also tested for antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii using latex agglutination test. Of the 613 cattle sera, 44.9% (275/613) were found to have antibodies against N. caninum. Among these 275 positive cattle, 77 also possessed antibodies against T. gondii. Nevertheless, 92 cattle which were negative for N. caninum showed antibodies against T. gondii. Of the 24 goat sera tested, none was found to be positive for N. caninum but 50% (12/24) were positive for T. gondii. Of the 13 farm dogs tested, three were found to possess antibodies against N. caninum, two of which tested negative for ir: gondii antibodies. Besides sera, antibodies to N. caninum in cattle could be observed in the milk, vaginal secretion and saliva. However, the order of higher frequency of antibodies detection is in sera, milk, vaginal secretion and saliva. This is the first demonstration of the presence of antibodies to N. caninum in vaginal secretion and saliva of cattle. A 50 mu m cyst was observed in the brain of one of the 13 prednisolone-treated SPF ICR mice which had been peritoneally inoculated 4 months earlier with the brain homogenate of a serologically N. caninum positive but T. gondii negative cattle. Thus, we have confirmed for the first time the presence of N. caninum in Taiwan and also observed that it is widespread among dairy cattle and farm dogs. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

An abortion storm in cattle associated with neosporosis in Taiwan

An abortion storm associated with acute neosporosis involving 18 cattle was observed in a dairy farm in Taiwan. Aborted fetus age ranged from 3 to 8 months. Of the 38 cattle in that farm examined during the abortion storm, 52.6% (20/38), 13.2% (5/38) and 10.5% (4/38) contained both IgG and IgM, only IgG and only IgM antibodies to Neospora caninum, respectively. No antibody to N. caninum was detected prior to the abortion storm. Follow-up study conducted a year later showed that 23 out of 28 cattle had seroconverted. Since some cattle were positive to either only IgG or IgM, we suggest that both IgG and IgM should be tested for diagnosing neosporosis. Neosporosis surveillance of naive cattle herd is recommended

Survey of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei in frogs in Taiwan and its experimental infection in cats

Eighteen of 56 (32.1%) wild Rana limnocharis from central and south Taiwan were found to contain plerocercoids of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei. This is the first report of S. erinaceieuropaei infections in frogs in Taiwan, with the plerocercoids being recovered from the thigh and back muscles or under the skin. Other species of frogs examined, including nine wild R. latouchii, one wild Buergeria robustus and 110 cultured R. rugulosa were free of infection. The plerocercoids were orally inoculated into four cats; three of which were each given a single plerocercoid and one a dose of three plerocercoids. Daily faecal examination showed that two cats started shedding eggs of S. erinaceieuropaei on day 8 postinfection (PI) and the other two on day 10 PI. The highest eggs per gram and eggs per day for a single worm was found to be 428,000 and 14,416,000 respectively. Only the cat inoculated with three plerocercoids shed proglottids in its faeces during the 2 month observation period

Finding of Neospora caninum in the wild brown rat (Rattus norvegicus)

Nine rats (16.4%) out of 55 (Rattus norvegicus) from cattle farms were seropositive to Neospora caninum. Two of the seropositive rats were also PCR positive but all were negative by immunohistochemistry and PAS staining. The brains of all the captured rats were homogenized and initially inoculated intraperitoneally into nude mice or into SPF ICR mice, which had been immunosuppressed with prednisolone. One mouse that was inoculated with brain material from a seropositive rat became infected with N. caninum, as demonstrated by the presence of a tissue cyst in the brain and confirmed by immunohistochemistry and PCR. This is the first finding of N. caninum in naturally infected farm rats. The findings show that natural N. caninum infection occurs in wild brown rats and thus rats may serve as a reservoir for the protozoan on the cattle farm

Characteristics of acute febrile illness and determinants of illness recovery among adults presenting to Singapore primary care clinics

10.1186/s12879-016-1958-4BMC Infectious Diseases16161

Patterns of medication use and factors associated with antibiotic use among adult fever patients at Singapore primary care clinics

10.1186/s13756-016-0146-zAntimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control514