Genetic diversity of antibiotic and plant extract resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from hospitalized patients in Ekiti State, Nigeria

This study aimed to determine the genetic diversity of antibiotics and plants extract resistant Staphylococcus aureus using molecular technique. A total of 106 human clinical samples were collected from patients in three different hospitals within Ekiti State. Microbiological and molecular analyses were performed using standard methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility test with common antibiotics and plant leaves extracts was carried out using disk and agar well diffusion methods. Urine samples from male patients recorded a high percentage of S. aureus (57.1%) as compared to female patients (43.1%). Percentage of S. aureus recorded from the ear swab samples in male patients (58.3%) was also high as compared to the female (41.7%). From the nose swab samples, female patients recorded 60% as compared to their male counterparts (40%). Equal percentage (50%) of wound infection caused by S. aureus was observed in both male and female patients. Of the eight antibiotics used in this study, the S. aureus isolated were susceptible to ofloxacin (25 to 36 mm), gentamycin (16 to 23 mm) and erythromycin (11 to 25 mm). All the isolates confirmed resistance to ceftaxidime and cloxacillin. Nine isolates were susceptible to cefuroxime with zones of inhibition that ranged from 10 to 25 mm, while 11 were susceptible to ceftriaxone with zone of inhibition between 11 and 20 mm. Only one isolate was sensitive to augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanate) with zone of inhibition of 20 mm. Out of three plant extracts used in this study, aqueous leaf extract of Terminalia catappa demonstrated highest antibacterial activity on the test isolates with zone of inhibition of 16 to 36 mm followed by Mangifera indica with inhibition ranging from 11 to 32 mm, while least inhibition ranging from 11 to 20 mm was exhibited by Acalypha wikesiena. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) proved to be useful as genetic markers in determining genetic diversity among antibiotic and plant extract resistant S. aureu

An Analysis of repeated examinations in conventional film–screen radiography (FSR).

Background: X-ray is an ionising form of radiation used inconventional radiography and this can result in deleterious biologicalchanges in the body if not regulated. Radiation safety is an importantpractice in a medical facility that utilizes radiation in any form fordiagnosis, intervention or treatment. Repeat of non-diagnosticradiographs add to the radiation received by the patient and thepersonnel. The committee on quality assurance in diagnostic X-rayrecommended a repeat rate of 5 – 7% or less.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine image repeatrate and the causes of repeat in a University Teaching Hospital.Materials and Methods: It was a prospective study involving allroutine radiographic cases in department over a two month periodduring which 1251 examinations were carried out. Radiographs wereassessed for diagnostic quality by Radiologists following the usualclinical protocols in radiology film review. The number ofradiographs in each examination type which did not meet diagnosticcriteria and therefore required repeat, were isolated and counted.Results are presented in simple percentages.Results: The overall repeat rate was 8.6%. The highest repeat ratewas observed in radiographs of the lumbosacral region (53.06%) andthe lowest rate in the leg (2%). Under-exposure was the leadingcause of repeat (41.67%), while film fog was the least cause(0.93%). Inappropriate selection of exposure factors and poor patientpositioning by radiographers who are mainly interns (n=8) andjunior radiographers (n=4) contributed most to the repeats. Patientfaults or poor darkroom practice were the other reasons for repeats.Conclusion: The rate of repeat is above the accepted limitsrecommended by the committee on quality assurance in diagnosticX-ray (5 – 7% or less). It has increased above the 4% previouslyobtained (1992 assessment). The rate can be reduced if the juniorcadre radiographers are better supervised and a quality assuranceprogram instituted

Test Methods for Image-Based Information in Next-Generation Manufacturing

Typical control designs in the process systems engineering literature have assumed that the primary sensing methodologies are traditional instruments such as thermocouples. Dig- italization is changing the landscape for manufacturing, and data-based sensing modalities (e.g., image-based sensing) are becoming of greater interest for plant control. These considerations require novel test/evaluation solutions. For example, process systems engineering researchers may wish to test image-based sensors in simulation. In this work, we provide preliminary thoughts on how image-based technologies might be evaluated via simulation for process systems

Traveling Granular Segregation Patterns in a Long Drum Mixer

Mixtures of granular media often exhibit size segregation along the axis of a partially-filled, horizontal, rotating cylinder. Previous experiments have observed axial bands of segregation that grow from concentration fluctuations and merge in a manner analogous to spinodal decomposition. We have observed that a new dynamical state precedes this effect in certain mixtures: bi-directional traveling waves. By preparing initial conditions, we found that the wave speed decreased with wavelength. Such waves appear to be inconsistent with simple PDE models which are first order in time.Comment: 11 page

Proportion Regulation in Globally Coupled Nonlinear Systems

As a model of proportion regulation in differentiation process of biological system, globally coupled activator-inhibitor systems are studied. Formation and destabilization of one and two cluster state are predicted analytically. Numerical simulations show that the proportion of units of clusters is chosen within a finite range and it is selected depend on the initial condition.Comment: 11 pages (revtex format) and 5 figures (PostScript)

Bulk Properties of Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt(sNN) = 2.76 TeV measured by ALICE

Global variables, such as the charged particle multiplicity and the transverse energy are important observables to characterize Relativistic Heavy Ion collisions and to constrain model calculations. The charged particle multiplicity dNch/deta and transverse energy dET/deta are measured at sqrt(sNN) = 2.76 TeV in Pb-Pb collisions as a function of centrality and in pp collisions. The fraction of inelastic cross section seen by the ALICE detector is calculated either using a Glauber model or the data corrected by simulations of nuclear and electromagnetic processes, or data collected with a minimum bias interaction trigger. The centrality, defined by the number of nucleons participating in the collision, is obtained, via the Glauber model, by relating the multiplicity distributions of various detectors in the ALICE Central Barrel and their correlation with the spectator energy measured by the Zero-Degree Calorimeters. The results are compared to corresponding results obtained at the significantly lower energies of the BNL AGS, the CERN SPS, and the BNL RHIC, and with models based on different mechanisms for particle production in nuclear collisions. Particular emphasis will be given to a discussion on systematic studies of the dependence of the centrality determination on the details of the Glauber model, and the validity of the Glauber model at unprecedented collision energies.Comment: Proceedings of the XXII International Conference on Ultrarelativistic Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions Quark Matter 2011, submitted to J. Phys. G: Nucl. Part. Phys. 8 pages, 7 (multi)figure

Pericardial Fat Thickness Increases with Greater Burden of Adverse Metabolic Factors Among Adults with Normal-Range Body Mass Index: The Framingham Heart Study

Introduction: Greater burden of pericardial fat is associated with increased body mass index (BMI). Obesity is associated with unfavorable metabolic characteristics such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and glucose intolerance. We sought to determine whether unfavorable metabolic profile alone, in the absence of excess BMI, was itself associated with increased pericardial fat thickness (PFT). Methods:From the 1,794 Framingham Offspring cohort adults who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), we identified 446 free of non-skin cancer and prevalent clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) who had 18.5≤BMI2and complete covariates. We calculated a metabolic score (MS) based on ATPIII criteria where 1 point was assigned for each of: a) fasting glucose≥100 mg/dL or diabetes; b) SBP≥130 or DBP≥85 mmHg or antihypertensive treatment; c) triglycerides≥150 mg/dL; d) HDL cholesterol \u3c40(M)/ Results: PFT increased with worsening metabolic score at the fixed locations of the apical and mid-level RV, as well as at maximal PFT. On pairwise comparisons, only the MS3+ group had PFT that was consistently significantly greater than that of MS0. Conclusions: In a community-dwelling cohort, among participants who were free of cancer and clinical CVD and had normal-range or BMI, worsening metabolic profile was associated with increased pericardial fat thickness