Understanding myth in consumer culture theory

This paper provides an understanding of the multidisciplinary synthesising of myth conceptualisation in consumer culture theory.Mythology is an umbrella term that has been used in a variety of forms and interpretations. This review draws from psychology, sociology, anthropology, cultural studies, literary criticism, history and political studies to examine the historical and discursive constructions of mythology. We distinguish multiple perspectives of mythology and demonstrate how exemplars of each are used in consumer research. Finally, we suggest new directions for mythology that pertain to consumer culture research

Efficacy and Safety of Meropenem\u2013Vaborbactam Versus Best Available Therapy for the Treatment of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Infections in Patients Without Prior Antimicrobial Failure: A Post Hoc Analysis

open5siIntroduction: Infections due to Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Enterobacteriaceae are associated with increased morbidity and high mortality. Meropenem–vaborbactam (MV) is a novel β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combination active against KPC-producing Enterobacteriaceae. The aim of this post hoc analysis of the TANGO-II randomized controlled trial was to assess the efficacy of MV versus best available therapy (BAT) in the subgroup of patients without prior antimicrobial failure. Methods: The primary outcome measure was clinical cure at the test of cure (TOC). Secondary outcome measures included (1) clinical cure at the end of therapy (EOT), (2) microbiological cure at TOC, (3) microbiological cure at EOT, and (4) 28-day all-cause mortality. Results: First-line MV was associated with a 42.9% absolute increase in clinical cure rate at TOC (95% confidence intervals [CI] 13.7–72.1) in comparison with first-line BAT. A 49.3% absolute increase in clinical cure rate at EOT (95% CI 20.8–77.7), a 42.6% absolute increase in microbiological cure rate at EOT (95% CI 13.4–71.8), and a 36.2% absolute increase in microbiologic cure rate at TOC (95% CI 5.9–66.6) were also observed, in addition to a 29.0% absolute reduction in mortality (95% CI − 54.3 to − 3.7). Overall, fewer adverse events were observed in the MV group than in the BAT group. Conclusion: MV was superior to BAT in the subgroup of patients with serious carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections and no prior antimicrobial failure, with very high rates of clinical success, and was well tolerated. Post approval and real-world studies remain essential to clearly define the most appropriate population for early, empirical MV coverage, in accordance with antimicrobial stewardship principles. Funding: The Medicines Company.openBassetti M.; Giacobbe D.R.; Patel N.; Tillotson G.; Massey J.Bassetti, M.; Giacobbe, D. R.; Patel, N.; Tillotson, G.; Massey, J

Characterization of radiolytically generated degradation products in the strip section of a TRUEX flowsheet

This report presents a summary of the work performed to meet the FCRD level 2 milestone M3FT-13IN0302053, “Identification of TRUEX Strip Degradation.” The INL radiolysis test loop has been used to identify radiolytically generated degradation products in the strip section of the TRUEX flowsheet. These data were used to evaluate impact of the formation of radiolytic degradation products in the strip section upon the efficacy of the TRUEX flowsheet for the recovery of trivalent actinides and lanthanides from acidic solution. The nominal composition of the TRUEX solvent used in this study is 0.2 M CMPO and 1.4 M TBP dissolved in n-dodecane and the nominal composition of the TRUEX strip solution is 1.5 M lactic acid and 0.050 M diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid. Gamma irradiation of a mixture of TRUEX process solvent and stripping solution in the test loop does not adversely impact flowsheet performance as measured by stripping americium ratios. The observed increase in americium stripping distribution ratios with increasing absorbed dose indicates the radiolytic production of organic soluble degradation compounds

Water footprint of Jing-Jin-Ji urban agglomeration in China

A rapidly expanding economy and increasing water demand for agricultural and industrial production is placing enormous stress on water quantity and the aquatic environment in Northern China, especially the so-called Jing-Jin-Ji (Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei) urban agglomeration, home to over 110 million people producing 10% of China's overall GDP. Several studies have focused on energy consumption, air pollution, CO₂ emissions and regional blue water footprint (WF) following release of the Jing-Jin-Ji Integration Strategy by the China government in 2013. However, a comprehensive assessment distinguishing blue, green and grey WF amongst different industrial sectors, ascertaining how WF transfers internally and beyond the region and final demand consumption is not available. We consider this to be crucial in understanding and addressing the deteriorating water situation in the Jing-Jin-Ji. In this study, we quantified the WF and virtual water flow on a sectoral basis for the year 2010 through coupling the multi-regional input-output model (MRIO) with WF assessment. The results showed that Beijing and Tianjin are net importers of green, blue and grey water from Hebei and other China provinces to support their needs. Conversely, Hebei exports all WF colors to Beijing, Tianjin and other provinces in China, and more than 60% of WF is transferred as virtual water. For the overall Jing-Jin-Ji region a small amount of blue water (2086 million m³) is exported, but huge amounts of green water (15,573 million m³) and grey water (30,620 million m³) are outsourced. A “Virtual Water Strategy” is one measure which could alleviate water stress at the regional scale, with consideration of financial compensation from water receiving regions made to water supplying regions in the context of achieving water management targets. We also found that physical water transfer to Jing-Jin-Ji could not balance virtual blue water exports, not to mention compensating for internal water consumption. Our research suggests that a continuation of an export-based economic development model will worsen Hebei's water stress. Reducing the dependency of Hebei's sectoral economy on export of water intensive and low value added agricultural products may be one strategy to reduce the pressure on regional water resources. In addition, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Integration Strategy drives industrial transfer from Beijing to Hebei resulting in the transfer of enterprises with low water utilization efficiency and producing heavy pollution. As a result, the government should consider incentivizing corporations to adopt technologies that reduce water consumption and pollution

p97 Negatively Regulates NRF2 by Extracting Ubiquitylated NRF2 from the KEAP1-CUL3 E3 Complex

Activation of the stress-responsive transcription factor NRF2 is the major line of defense to combat oxidative or electrophilic insults. Under basal conditions, NRF2 is continuously ubiquitylated by the KEAP1-CUL3-RBX1 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex and is targeted to the proteasome for degradation (the canonical mechanism). However, the path from the CUL3 complex to ultimate proteasomal degradation was previously unknown. p97 is a ubiquitin-targeted ATP-dependent segregase that extracts ubiquitylated client proteins from membranes, protein complexes, or chromatin and has an essential role in autophagy and the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS). In this study, we show that p97 negatively regulates NRF2 through the canonical pathway by extracting ubiquitylated NRF2 from the KEAP1-CUL3 E3 complex, with the aid of the heterodimeric cofactor UFD1/NPL4 and the UBA-UBX-containing protein UBXN7, for efficient proteasomal degradation. Given the role of NRF2 in chemoresistance and the surging interest in p97 inhibitors to treat cancers, our results indicate that dual p97/NRF2 inhibitors may offer a more potent and long-term avenue of p97-targeted treatment

It\u27s about the patients: Practical antibiotic stewardship in outpatient settings in the United States

Antibiotic-resistant pathogens cause over 35,000 preventable deaths in the United States every year, and multiple strategies could decrease morbidity and mortality. As antibiotic stewardship requirements are being deployed for the outpatient setting, community providers are facing systematic challenges in implementing stewardship programs. Given that the vast majority of antibiotics are prescribed in the outpatient setting, there are endless opportunities to make a smart and informed choice when prescribing and to move the needle on antibiotic stewardship. Antibiotic stewardship in the community, or smart prescribing as we suggest, should factor in antibiotic efficacy, safety, local resistance rates, and overall cost, in addition to patient-specific factors and disease presentation, to arrive at an appropriate therapy. Here, we discuss some of the challenges, such as patient/parent pressure to prescribe, lack of data or resources for implementation, and a disconnect between guidelines and real-world practice, among others. We have assembled an easy-to-use best practice guide for providers in the outpatient setting who lack the time or resources to develop a plan or consult lengthy guidelines. We provide specific suggestions for antibiotic prescribing that align real-world clinical practice with best practices for antibiotic stewardship for two of the most common bacterial infections seen in the outpatient setting: community-acquired pneumonia and skin and soft-tissue infection. In addition, we discuss many ways that community providers, payors, and regulatory bodies can make antibiotic stewardship easier to implement and more streamlined in the outpatient setting

Aspects of the Fundamental Chemistry of Cesium Extraction from Acidic Media by HCCD

The unique extraction properties of univalent polyhedral borate anions, are well known and have been extensively studied over the past three decades. This is particularly true of the hexachlorinated derivative of the chloro-protected cobalt bis(dicarbollide) anion [(8, 9, 12-Cl3-C2B9H8)2-3-Co]-, (CCD-), typically in the acid form (HCCD) and dissolved in a suitably polar diluent, such as nitrobenzene, which is known to have a high affinity for selective extraction of the Cs+ cation. Recent collaborations between Russian and USA researchers expanded the use of HCCD in the Universal Extraction (UNEX) process where Cs, Sr, actinides (An) and lanthanides (Ln) are all extracted simultaneously by incorporating a neutral extractant (specifically diphenyl-N,N-di-n-butylcarbamoylmethyl phosphine oxide, CMPO) with HCCD and PEG-400 in the organic diluent phenyl trifluoromethyl sulfone (FS-13). In recent efforts to understand the complicated and unique synergistic chemical phenomena associated with simultaneous radionuclide (Cs, Sr, An, Ln) in the UNEX process, additional insight into Cs extraction by the HCCD system has been obtained. Four data sets with 25 experimental measurements of Cs distribution ratios, DCs [Cs]org/[Cs]aq, at a variety of initial conditions (various [HCCD] and [HNO3]) have been modeled using the SXLSQI computer program developed at ORNL. The SXLSQI program was used in this analysis to help elucidate the general chemical equilibria operative in the extraction of Cs+ into an organic phase comprised of HCCD in FS-13. The experimental data is best modeled with the following (simplified) chemical equilibria and the associated equilibrium constants (T = 25°C): (1) (2) (3) Where the over bar represents species formed in the organic phase. The equilibrium constant for the primary exchange reaction (1) of log Keq = 3.07 is in excellent agreement with values reported in the literature of log K = 3.00 for the dicarbollide/ nitrobenzene system. In general, the equilibria representing the mechanism of Cs extraction by HCCD is consistent with earlier works reported in the literature, albeit derived by different experimental and modeling schemes. The details of the experimental and modeling efforts are summarized in this work

Processing Irradiated Beryllium For Disposal

The purpose of this research was to develop a process for decontaminating irradiated beryllium that will allow it to be disposed of through normal radwaste channels. Thus, the primary objectives of this ongoing study are to remove the transuranic (TRU) isotopes to less than 100 nCi/g and remove {sup 60}Co, and {sup 137}Cs, to levels that will allow the beryllium to be contact handled. One possible approach that appears to have the most promise is aqueous dissolution and separation of the isotopes by selected solvent extraction followed by precipitation, resulting in a granular form for the beryllium that may be fixed to prevent it from becoming respirable and therefore hazardous. Beryllium metal was dissolved in nitric and fluorboric acids. Isotopes of {sup 241}Am, {sup 239}Pu, {sup 85}Sr, and {sup 137}Cs were then added to make a surrogate beryllium waste solution. A series of batch contacts was performed with the spiked simulant using chlorinated cobalt dicarbollide (CCD) and polyethylene glycol diluted with sulfone to extract the isotopes of Cs and Sr. Another series of batch contacts was performed using a combination of octyl (phenyl)-N,N-diisobutylcarbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO) in tributyl phosphate (TBP) diluted with dodecane for extracting the isotopes of Pu and Am. The results indicate that greater than 99.9% removal can be achieved for each isotope with only three contact stages

TRUEX Radiolysis Testing Using the INL Radiolysis Test Loop: FY-2012 Status Report

The INL radiolysis test loop has been used to evaluate the affect of radiolytic degradation upon the efficacy of the strip section of the TRUEX flowsheet for the recovery of trivalent actinides and lanthanides from acidic solution. The nominal composition of the TRUEX solvent used in this study is 0.2 M CMPO and 1.4 M TBP dissolved in n-dodecane and the nominal composition of the TRUEX strip solution is 1.5 M lactic acid and 0.050 M diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid. Gamma irradiation of a mixture of TRUEX process solvent and stripping solution in the test loop does not adversely impact flowsheet performance as measured by stripping americium ratios. The observed increase in americium stripping distribution ratios with increasing absorbed dose indicates the radiolytic production of organic soluble degradation compounds