Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome Caused by Streptococcus suis Serotype 2

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus suis serotype 2 ( S. suis 2, SS2) is a major zoonotic pathogen that causes only sporadic cases of meningitis and sepsis in humans. Most if not all cases of Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) that have been well-documented to date were associated with the non-SS2 group A streptococcus (GAS). However, a recent large-scale outbreak of SS2 in Sichuan Province, China, appeared to be caused by more invasive deep-tissue infection with STSS, characterized by acute high fever, vascular collapse, hypotension, shock, and multiple organ failure. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We investigated this outbreak of SS2 infections in both human and pigs, which took place from July to August, 2005, through clinical observation and laboratory experiments. Clinical and pathological characterization of the human patients revealed the hallmarks of typical STSS, which to date had only been associated with GAS infection. Retrospectively, we found that this outbreak was very similar to an earlier outbreak in Jiangsu Province, China, in 1998. We isolated and analyzed 37 bacterial strains from human specimens and eight from pig specimens of the recent outbreak, as well as three human isolates and two pig isolates from the 1998 outbreak we had kept in our laboratory. The bacterial isolates were examined using light microscopy observation, pig infection experiments, multiplex-PCR assay, as well as restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) and multiple sequence alignment analyses. Multiple lines of evidence confirmed that highly virulent strains of SS2 were the causative agents of both outbreaks. CONCLUSIONS: We report, to our knowledge for the first time, two outbreaks of STSS caused by SS2, a non-GAS streptococcus. The 2005 outbreak was associated with 38 deaths out of 204 documented human cases; the 1998 outbreak with 14 deaths out of 25 reported human cases. Most of the fatal cases were characterized by STSS; some of them by meningitis or severe septicemia. The molecular mechanisms underlying these human STSS outbreaks in human beings remain unclear and an objective for further study

Simple anion receptor with imidazole and phenol groups: Forming hydrogen-bond complex with Cl⁻

748-754A simple anion receptor 2'-(2"-hydroxy-3"-methoxyphenyl)imidazo[4',5'-f]-1, 10-phenanthroline[5,6-f] (1) with imidazole and phenol groups has been synthesized and its interaction investigated with anions (F⁻, Cr⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, AcO⁻ and H₂PO₄⁻) by UV -vis and ¹H NMR titrations. Added with Cl⁻, the change of UV -vis spectra of 1 is different from that of added AcO⁻,F⁻ and H₂PO₄⁻. Also, the change of ¹H NMR titration spectra of 1 with Cl⁻ is different from that of added AcO⁻, F⁻ and H₂PO₄⁻, 1 forms supramolecular complex with Cl⁻ as a receptor and is deprotonated with AcO⁻, F⁻ and H₂PO₄⁻ as a colormetric sensor. The receptor forms H-bond complex with Cl⁻ by NH of imidazole, Hc' of phenanthroline and H₁ of phenyl. As an acid proton donor, the protons of NH of imidazole and OH of phenol are too acidic to form hydrogen-bond complex with AcO⁻, F⁻ and H₂PO₄⁻. So, the interaction of 1 with AcO⁻, H₂PO₄⁻ and F⁻ is acid-basic reaction. The affinity to anions of NH is dramatically more powerful than that of OH

Research on geometric error measurement system of machining center BV75 based on laser interferometer

This paper measures the twenty one geometric errors of numerical control machining center with parameter identification through laser interferometer, the main contents illustrate the measurement system, measurement model and some testing results combined with specific experimental conditions, at the same time provide particular reference value on numerical control machine tool(NC machine tool) geometric precision detection

Sorption of Atrazine in Tropical Soil by Biochar Prepared from Cassava Waste

Biochar (BC) is a carbonaceous and porous product generated from the incomplete combustion of biomass and has been recognized as an efficient adsorbent. This study evaluated the ability of BC to sorb atrazine pesticide in tropical soil, and explored potential environmental values of BC on mitigating organic micro-pollutants. BC was produced from cassava waste via pyrolyzation under oxygen-limiting conditions at 350, 550, and 750 °C (MS350, MS550, and MS750, respectively). Three biochars were characterized and investigated as sorbents for the removal atrazine from tropical soil. BC pyrolyzed at higher temperatures more quickly reached equilibrium. The pseudo-second-order model perfectly simulated the sorption kinetics for atrazine with the coefficients R2 above 0.996, and the sorption amount at equilibrium (qe) was 0.016 mg/g for MS350, 0.025 mg/g for MS550 and 0.050 mg/g for MS750. The isotherms of MS350 displayed relatively linear behavior, whereas the sorption of atrazine on MS550 and MS750 followed a nonlinear isotherm. The sorption data were well described by the Freundlich model with logKF of 0.476 for MS350, 0.771 for MS550, 1.865 for MS750. A thermodynamic study indicated that the sorption of atrazine in BC-added soil was a spontaneous and endothermic process and was primarily controlled by physisorption. In addition, lower pH was conducive to the sorption of atrazine in BC-added soil

An Approach for Modelling Slag Infiltration and Heat Transfer in Continuous Casting Mold for High Mn–High Al Steel

To clarify the characteristics of slag infiltration and heat transfer behaviors in the meniscus region during the casting of high Mn–high Al steel, a mathematical model of a continuous casting mold that couples fluid flow with heat transfer, and solidification is developed. The model is based on the change in slag composition and properties caused by the steel/slag reaction. The formation and evolution of the meniscus profile and slag films for different mold fluxes during mold oscillation are described. The results show that the rapid growth of the slag rim with a high Al2O3 content approaches and deforms the meniscus so that a series of casting problems such as slag infiltration blocking, large fluctuations in heat flux, and even meniscus breaking occur in the continuous casting process. Predictions are in good agreement with plant measurements. These findings provide an improved understanding of the complex phenomena occurring in the meniscus region and give new insights into the evaluation and optimization of mold flux properties for high Mn–high Al steel casting

Prediction model for crack sensitive temperature region and phase fractions of slab under continuous casting cooling rates based on finite number of experiments

Accurate prediction of the crack sensitive temperature region and phase fractions variation of slabs during continuous cooling is an important guide to avoid cracks and effectively control the quality. Based on finite number of measurements, at different cooling rates of the continuous casting process, a prediction model for characteristic temperatures of austenite decomposition, the variation of phase fractions with temperature, the crack sensitive temperature regions, and the final microstructural compositions of casting slabs at different cooling rates has been established and evaluated the accuracy. The results show that austenite decomposition temperature range moves toward the low temperature region as cooling rate increases, and the independent peak of ferrite transition become weaker. The characteristic temperatures of austenite decomposition can be quantitatively calculated by TC(CR) = A−exp(B + C/CR) at different cooling rates, which the maximum relative error for experimental steels is −2.2%. The ferrite and pearlite phase fractions increases with decreasing temperature during continuous casting cooling, which means that the ability of the billet to resist deformation and external force changes. Meanwhile, the final ferrite content of slabs for Steel B and Steel C at different cooling rates are 83.24620−exp(2.59364–13.72283/CR) and 85.07143−exp(1.71320–15.82244/CR), respectively. The crack sensitive temperature region Ae3 ∼ Tα40%(CR) calculated by the prediction model is in good agreement with the low ductility zone measured by experiment. Moreover, the critical temperatures Tα40%(CR) of the crack sensitive temperature regions are 890.35731−exp(2.99719–20.67781/CR), 745.87462−exp(4.83056–44.18511/CR) and 729.46168−exp(2.96621–12.21949/CR) for three experimental steels under different cooling rates

Analysis on the Dynamics of Coastline and Reclamation in Pearl River Estuary in China for Nearly Last Half Century

The Pearl River Estuary is in the geometric center of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, which is one of the main battlefields to drive the high-quality development of China’s economy. This paper uses seven sets of typical satellite images in Pearl River Estuary for nearly half a century (from 1973 to 2021) to analyze the changes of coastline and sea reclamation. The results show that from 1973 to 2021, the total length of the coastline of the Pearl River Estuary increased from 240.09 km to 416.00 km, and that of the continental coastline from 186.87 km to 246.21 km (but the length of natural coastline in the continental coastline decreased from 136.91 km to 15.17 km). In the same period, the total reclamation area of the Pearl River Estuary increased by 28,256.06 ha. Before 2012, the growth rate of reclamation was generally fast. After 2012, the reclamation in China has entered a period of reflection. With reclamation was strictly controlled in the new era, only the previously approved reclamation projects and national major projects have been guaranteed, which makes the average annual growth rate of the coastline length and the reclamation area in the region show a significant downward trend. The reclamation in early days was largely for agriculture and pond culture purposes, but is shifting to transportation, industrial development, and urban construction in recent decades. This study scientifically analyzes the coastline and reclamation changes of the Pearl River Estuary in the past half century, which has a very important reference value for the next step to formulate marine ecological protection and restoration strategies, and construct a new pattern of marine space development and protection

Migration and Enrichment Behaviors of Ca and Mg Elements during Cooling and Crystallization of Boron-Bearing Titanium Slag Melt

Synthetic rutile was prepared from titanium slag melt with low energy consumption and a small amount of additive (B2O3) in our previous work. The modification mechanism of titanium slag was not clear enough. The migration and enrichment behaviors of Ca and Mg elements during cooling and crystallization of boron-bearing titanium slag melt were characterized by XRF, FESEM, EMPA, and XPS. Results show that when additive (B2O3) is added, Ti elements are migrated and enriched in the area to generate rutile, while Ca, Mg, and B elements are migrated and enriched in another area to generate borate. With the additive (B2O3) amount increased, Ca and Mg element migration is complete and more thorough. Additive (B2O3) promotes rutile formation and inhibits the formation of anosovite during cooling and crystallization of titanium slag melt. With the additive (B2O3) amount increasing from 0% to 6%, the proportion of Ti3+ in the modified titanium slag reduces from 9.15% to 0%, and the proportion of Ti4+ increases from 90.85% to 100% under the same cooling and crystallization condition. The result will lay the foundation for the efficient preparation of synthetic rutile by adding B2O3 to the titanium slag melt