PREVALENCE OF VARIOUS BETA LACTAMASES AMONG GRAM NEGATIVE BACILLI IN URINARY ISOLATES FROM PATIENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF NORTHERN INDIA

Objective: Urinary tract infections are considered among the most common infections, occurring either in the community or health-care setting. We are left with very few options for the treatment due to rapid development of antibiotic resistance among the organisms. To find out the prevalence of various types of β-lactamases among urinary isolates.Methods: Seven antibiotic discs (HiMedia) were placed in combinations and approximation in a particular sequence on a 90 mm diameter MuellerHintonagar plate.Results: Out of a total 165 urinary isolates, 66 (40%) isolates were positive for extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production, AmpC β-lactamases(AmpC) activity was present in 31 (18.78%) isolates, co-production of both ESBL and AmpC was seen in 16 (9.69%) isolates, 3 (1.81%) isolatesproduced metallo β-lactamase (MBL), 2 (1.21%) isolates produced both MBL, and ESBL and 1 (0.60%) isolates were positive for inducible third generation cephalosporin resistance.Conclusion: With the presence of such high prevalence of various β-lactamases in clinical isolates of gram-negative bacilli and also other types ofantibiotic resistance, antibiotic policy should be made, and strict adherence should be followed.Keywords: Extended spectrum β-lactamase, AmpC β-lactamase, Metallo β-lactamase

Thermal and mechanical characterization of epoxy resins (ELO and ESO) cured with anhydrides

In this work we have developed polymeric materials from epoxidized vegetable oils in order to obtain materials with excellent mechanical properties for use as green matrix composites. Epoxidized soybean oil (ESO), epoxidized linseed oil (ELO) and different mixtures of the two oils were used to produce the polymers. Phthalic anhydride (17 mol%) and maleic anhydride (83 mol%) which has a eutectic reaction temperature of 48 °C were used as crosslinking agents while benzyl dimethyl amine (BDMA) and ethylene glycol were used as the catalyst and initiator, respectively. The results showed that samples 100ELO and 80ELO20ESO could be used as a matrix in green composites because they demonstrated good mechanical properties. © 2012 AOCS (outside the USA).This work is part of the project IPT-310000-2010-037,''ECOTEXCOMP: Research and development of textile structures useful as reinforcement of composite materials with marked ecological character'' funded by the "Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion", with financial aid of 189,540.20 EUR, within the "Plan Nacional de Investigacion Cientifica, Desarrollo e Innovacion Tecnologica 2008-2011" and funded by the European Union through FEDER funds, Technology Fund 2007-2013, Operational Programme on R + D + i for and on behalf of the companies.Samper Madrigal, MD.; Fombuena Borrás, V.; Boronat Vitoria, T.; García Sanoguera, D.; Balart Gimeno, RA. (2012). Thermal and mechanical characterization of epoxy resins (ELO and ESO) cured with anhydrides. Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society. 89(8):1521-1528. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-012-2041-yS15211528898Averous L (2004) Biodegradable multiphase systems based on plasticized starch: a review. J Macromol Sci Polym Rev C44:231–274Bledzki AK, Jaszkiewicz A (2010) Mechanical performance of biocomposites based on PLA and PHBV reinforced with natural fibres—a comparative study to PP. Compos Sci Technol 70:1687–1696Raquez JM, Deleglise M, Lacrampe MF, Krawczak P (2010) Thermosetting (bio)materials derived from renewable resources: a critical review. Prog Polym Sci 35:487–509Charlet K, Jernot JP, Gomina M, Bizet L, Breard J (2010) Mechanical properties of flax fibers and of the derived unidirectional composites. J Compos Mater 44:2887–2896Barreto ACH, Esmeraldo MA, Rosa DS, Fechine PBA, Mazzetto SE (2010) Cardanol biocomposites reinforced with jute fiber: microstructure, biodegradability, and mechanical properties. Polym Compos 31:1928–1937Thakur VK, Singha AS (2010) Physico-chemical and mechanical characterization of natural fibre reinforced polymer composites. Iran Polym J 19:3–16Schmitz WR, Wallace JG (1954) Epoxidation of methyl oleate with hydrogen peroxide. J Am Oil Chem Soc 31:363–365La Scala J, Wool RP (2002) Effect of FA composition on epoxidation kinetics of TAG. J Am Oil Chem Soc 79:373–378de Espinosa LM, Ronda JC, Galia M, Cadiz V (2008) A new enone-containing triglyceride derivative as precursor of thermosets from renewable resources. J Polym Sci Pol Chem 46:6843–6850Gerbase AE, Petzhold CL, Costa APO (2002) Dynamic mechanical and thermal behavior of epoxy resins based on soybean oil. J Am Oil Chem Soc 79:797–802Boquillon N, Fringant C (2000) Polymer networks derived from curing of epoxidised linseed oil: influence of different catalysts and anhydride hardeners. Polymer 41:8603–8613Montserrat S, Flaque C, Calafell M, Andreu G, Malek J (1995) Influence of the accelerator concentration on the curing reaction of an epoxy-anhydride system. Thermochim Acta 269:213–229Zacharuk M, Becker D, Coelho LAF, Pezzin SH (2011) Study of the reaction between polyethylene glycol and epoxy resins using N,N-dimethylbenzylamine as catalyst. Polimeros 21:73–77Lozada Z, Suppes GJ, Tu YC, Hsieh FH (2009) Soy-based polyols from oxirane ring opening by alcoholysis reaction. J Appl Polym Sci 113:2552–256

Osmoregulators proline and glycine betaine counteract salinity stress in canola

Salt inundation leads to increased salinization of arable land in many arid and semi-arid regions. Until genetic solutions are found farmers and growers must either abandon salt-affected fields or use agronomic treatments that alleviate salt stress symptoms. Here, field experiments were carried out to study the effect of the osmoregulators proline at 200 mg L-1 and glycine betaine at 400 mg L-1 in counteracting the harmful effect of soil salinity stress on canola plants grown in Egypt. We assessed growth characteristics, yield and biochemical constituents. Results show first that all growth characters decreased with increasing salinity stress but applied osmoregulators alleviated these negative effects. Second, salinity stress decreased photosynthetic pigments, K and P contents, whilst increasing proline, soluble sugars, ascorbic acid, Na and Cl contents. Third, application of osmoregulators without salt stress increased photosynthetic pigments, proline, soluble sugars, N, K and P contents whilst decreasing Na and Cl contents. It is concluded that the exogenously applied osmoregulators glycine betaine and proline can fully or partially counteract the harmful effect of salinity stress on growth and yield of canola.© INRA and Springer-Verlag, France 2012

Enhanced Case Detection and Improved Diagnosis of PKDL in a Kala-azar-Endemic Area of Bangladesh

PKDL is a skin disorder which usually develops in 10–20% and about 60% of patients with visceral leishmaniasis (VL) after treatment respectively in the Indian subcontinent and Sudan. However, cases among people without prior VL have also been reported. Except skin lesion, PKDL patients are healthy and usually do not feel sick. However, persistence of a few PKDL cases is sufficient to initiate a new epidemic of anthroponotic VL. Thus, identifying and treating people with PKDL is a key strategy for the elimination of kala-azar. Diagnosis of PKDL relies upon clinical criteria and a serological test which is not specific for PKDL. The use of the existing laboratory diagnostic tools for confirmation of PKDL among PKDL suspects is unknown. In the Indian subcontinent, PKDL is not self-limited and needs to be treated with sodium stibogluconate injections for 4–6 months. No data are available relating to treatment compliance by patients, particularly in Bangladesh. The results of the present study showed that trained village volunteers were useful for identifying PKDL suspects, and diagnostic confirmation improved with the use of PCR. However, patients' adherence to prescribed treatment was poor

Revisiting the Transit Timing Variations in the TrES-3 and Qatar-1 Systems with TESS Data

We present and analyze 58 transit light curves of TrES-3b and 98 transit light curves of Qatar-1b, observed by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, plus two transit light curves of Qatar-1b, observed by us, using a ground-based 1.23 m telescope. These light curves are combined with the best-quality light curves taken from the Exoplanet Transit Database and the literature. The precisely determined midtransit times from these light curves enable us to obtain the refined orbital ephemerides, with improved precision, for both hot Jupiters. From the timing analysis, we find indications of the presence of transit timing variations (TTVs) in both systems. Since the observed TTVs are unlikely to be short-term and periodic, the possibility of additional planets in orbits close to TrES-3b and Qatar-1b is ruled out. The possible causes of long-term TTVs, such as orbital decay, apsidal precession, the Applegate mechanism, and line-of-sight acceleration, are also examined. However, none of these possibilities are found to explain the observed TTV of TrES-3b. In contrast to this, line-of-sight acceleration appears to be a plausible explanation for the observed TTV of Qatar-1b. In order to confirm these findings, further high-precision transit and radial velocity observations of both systems would be worthwhile

Flexible Indium-Tin Oxide Crystal on Plastic Substrates Supported by Graphene Monolayer

Flexible and crystallized indium-tin oxide (ITO) thin films were successfully obtained on plastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films with monolayered graphene as a platform. The highly crystalline ITO (c-ITO) was first fabricated on a rigid substrate of graphene on copper foil and it was subsequently transferred onto a PET substrate by a well-established technique. Despite the plasma damage during ITO deposition, the graphene layer effectively acted as a Cu-diffusion barrier. The c-ITO/graphene/ PET electrode with the 60-nm-thick ITO exhibited a reasonable sheet resistance of similar to 45 Omega sq(-1) and a transmittance of similar to 92% at a wavelength of 550 nm. The c-ITO on the monolayered graphene support showed significant enhancement in flexibility compared with the ITO/PET film without graphene because the atomically controlled monolayered graphene acted as a mechanically robust support. The prepared flexible transparent c-ITO/graphene/PET electrode was applied as the anode in a bulk heterojunction polymer solar cell (PSC) to evaluate its performance, which was comparable with that of the commonly used c-ITO/glass electrode. These results represent important progress in the fabrication of flexible transparent electrodes for future optoelectronics applications

Salmonella enterica biofilm-mediated dispersal by nitric oxide donors in association with cellulose nanocrystal hydrogels

Protected by extracellular polymers, microbes within biofilms are significantly more resistant to disinfectants. Current research has been instrumental in identifying nitric oxide donors and hydrogels as potential disinfectant additives. Nitric oxide (NO) donors are considered a very promising molecule as biofilm dispersal agents and hydrogels have recently attracted a lot of interest due to their biocompatible properties and ability to form stable thin films. When the NO donor MAHMA NONOate was dissolved in phosphate saline buffer, it was able to reduce the biomass of well-established biofilms up to 15% for at least 24 h of contact time. Encapsulation of MAHMA NONOate and molsidomine within a hydrogel composed of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) has shown a synergistic effect in dispersing well-established biofilms: after 2 h of exposure, moderate but significant dispersion was measured. After 6 h of exposure, the number of cells transitioning from the biofilm to the planktonic state was up to 0.6 log higher when compared with non-treated biofilms. To further explore the transport processes of NO donors within hydrogels, we measured the nitric oxide flux from gels, at 25°C for a composite of 0.1 µM MAHMA NONOate–CNC. Nitric oxide diffuses up to 500 µm from the hydrogel surface, with flux decreasing according to Fick’s law. 60% of NO was released from the hydrogel composite during the first 23 min. These data suggest that the combined treatments with nitric oxide donor and hydrogels may allow for new sustainable cleaning strategies

3D Finite Element Modelling of Cutting Forces in Drilling Fibre Metal Laminates and Experimental Hole Quality Analysis

Machining Glass fibre aluminium reinforced epoxy (GLARE) is cumbersome due to distinctively different mechanical and thermal properties of its constituents, which makes it challenging to achieve damage-free holes with the acceptable surface quality. The proposed work focuses on the study of the machinability of thin (~2.5 mm) GLARE laminate. Drilling trials were conducted to analyse the effect of feed rate and spindle speed on the cutting forces and hole quality. The resulting hole quality metrics (surface roughness, hole size, circularity error, burr formation and delamination) were assessed using surface profilometry and optical scanning techniques. A three dimensional (3D) finite-element (FE) model of drilling GLARE laminate was also developed using ABAQUS/Explicit to help understand the mechanism of drilling GLARE. The homogenised ply-level response of GLARE laminate was considered in the FE model to predict cutting forces in the drilling process