The use of artificial intelligence techniques to improve the multiple payload integration process

A maximum return of science and products with a minimum expenditure of time and resources is a major goal of mission payload integration. A critical component then, in successful mission payload integration is the acquisition and analysis of experiment requirements from the principal investigator and payload element developer teams. One effort to use artificial intelligence techniques to improve the acquisition and analysis of experiment requirements within the payload integration process is described

I-Move towards monitoring seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccine effectiveness: lessons learnt from a pilot multi-centric case-control study in europe, 2008-9

Within I-MOVE (European programme to monitor seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccine effectiveness (IVE)) five countries conducted IVE pilot case-control studies in 2008-9. One hundred and sixty sentinel general practitioners (GP) swabbed all elderly consulting for influenza-like illness (ILI). Influenza confirmed cases were compared to influenza negative controls. We conducted a pooled analysis to obtain a summary IVE in the age group of >or=65 years. We measured IVE in each study and assessed heterogeneity between studies qualitatively and using the I2 index. We used a one-stage pooled model with study as a fixed effect. We adjusted estimates for age-group, sex, chronic diseases, smoking, functional status, previous influenza vaccinations and previous hospitalisations. The pooled analysis included 138 cases and 189 test-negative controls. There was no statistical heterogeneity (I2=0) between studies but ILI case definition, previous hospitalisations and functional status were slightly different. The adjusted IVE was 59.1% (95% CI: 15.3-80.3%). IVE was 65.4% (95% CI: 15.6-85.8%) in the 65-74, 59.6% (95% CI: -72.6 -90.6%) in the age group of >or=75 and 56.4% (95% CI: -0.2-81.3%) for A(H3). Pooled analysis is feasible among European studies. The variables definitions need further standardisation. Larger sample sizes are needed to achieve greater precision for subgroup analysis. For 2009-10, I-MOVE will extend the study to obtain early IVE estimates in groups targeted for pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccination.European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC

Cavity Ringdown Spectroscopy of the Hydroxy-Methyl-Peroxy Radical

We report vibrational and electronic spectra of the hydroxy-methyl-peroxy radical (HOCH_2OO^• or HMP), which was formed as the primary product of the reaction of the hydroperoxy radical, HO_2^•, and formaldehyde, HCHO. The ν_1 vibrational (OH stretch) spectrum and the à ← X electronic spectrum of HMP were detected by infrared cavity ringdown spectroscopy (IR-CRDS), and assignments were verified with density functional calculations. The HMP radical was generated in reactions of HCHO with HO_2^•. Free radical reactions were initiated by pulsed laser photolysis (PLP) of Cl_2 in the presence of HCHO and O_2 in a flow reactor at 300–330 Torr and 295 K. IR-CRDS spectra were measured in mid-IR and near-IR regions over the ranges 3525–3700 cm^(–1) (ν_1) and 7250–7800 cm^(–1) (à ← X) respectively, at a delay time 100 μs after photolysis. The ν_1 spectrum had an origin at 3622 cm^(–1) and exhibited partially resolved P- and R-branch contours and a small Q-branch. At these short delay times, spectral interference from HOOH and HCOOH was minimal and could be subtracted. From B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) calculations, we found that the anharmonic vibrational frequency and band contour predicted for the lowest energy conformer, HMP-A, were in good agreement with the observed spectrum. In the near-IR, we observed four well spaced vibronic bands, each with partially resolved rotational contours. We assigned the apparent origin of the à ← X electronic spectrum of HMP at 7389 cm^(–1) and two bands to the blue to a progression in ν15′, the lowest torsional mode of the à state (ν_(15′) = 171 cm^(–1)). The band furthest to the red was assigned as a hot band in ν^(15″), leading to a ground state torsional frequency of (ν^(15″) = 122 cm^(–1)). We simulated the spectrum using second order vibrational perturbation theory (VPT2) with B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) calculations at the minimum energy geometries of the HMP-A conformer on the X and à states. The predictions of the electronic origin frequency, torsional frequencies, anharmonicities, and rotational band contours matched the observed spectrum. We investigated the torsional modes more explicitly by computing potential energy surfaces of HMP as a function of the two dihedral angles τ_(HOCO) and τ_(OOCO). Wave functions and energy levels were calculated on the basis of this potential surface; these results were used to calculate the Franck–Condon factors, which reproduced the vibronic band intensities in the observed electronic spectrum. The transitions that we observed all involved states with wave functions localized on the minimum energy conformer, HMP-A. Our calculations indicated that the observed near-IR spectrum was that of the lowest energy X state conformer HMP-A, but that this conformer is not the lowest energy conformer in the à state, which remains unobserved. We estimated that the energy of this lowest conformer (HMP-B) of the à state is E_0 (Ã, HMP-B) ≈ 7200 cm^(–1), on the basis of the energy difference E_0(HMP-B) – E_0(HMP-A) on the à state computed at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level

Infection prevention and control interventions in the first outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in an equine hospital in Sweden

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The first outbreak of methicillin-resistant <it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>(MRSA) infection in horses in Sweden occurred in 2008 at the University Animal Hospital and highlighted the need for improved infection prevention and control. The present study describes interventions and infection prevention control in an equine hospital setting July 2008 - April 2010.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>This descriptive study of interventions is based on examination of policy documents, medical records, notes from meetings and cost estimates. MRSA cases were identified through clinical sampling and telephone enquiries about horses post-surgery. Prospective sampling in the hospital environment with culture for MRSA and genotyping of isolates by <it>spa</it>-typing and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) were performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Interventions focused on interruption of indirect contact spread of MRSA between horses via staff and equipment and included: Temporary suspension of elective surgery; and identification and isolation of MRSA-infected horses; collaboration was initiated between authorities in animal and human public health, human medicine infection control and the veterinary hospital; extensive cleaning and disinfection was performed; basic hygiene and cleaning policies, staff training, equipment modification and interior renovation were implemented over seven months.</p> <p>Ten (11%) of 92 surfaces sampled between July 2008 and April 2010 tested positive for MRSA <it>spa</it>-type 011, seven of which were from the first of nine sampling occasions. PFGE typing showed the isolates to be the outbreak strain (9 of 10) or a closely related strain. Two new cases of MRSA infection occurred 14 and 19 months later, but had no proven connections to the outbreak cases.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Collaboration between relevant authorities and the veterinary hospital and formation of an infection control committee with an executive working group were required to move the intervention process forward. Support from hospital management and the dedication of staff were essential for the development and implementation of new, improved routines. Demonstration of the outbreak strain in the environment was useful for interventions such as improvement of cleaning routines and interior design, and increased compliance with basic hygienic precautions. The interventions led to a reduction in MRSA-positive samples and the outbreak was considered curbed as no new cases occurred for over a year.</p