Composting: Translation in Remains

Composting is a form of material repurposing of what remains: it is a practice of making the new and the unexpected from decomposition and the alchemy of more-than-human relations. Open to error and to chance, is also potentially a site of 'culpable failure'; as Haraway remarks of compost - 'you can put the wrong things into it' (Haraway and Franklin 2017). Typically associated with waste, for Arthur and Jentink (2018) thinking with compost also involves a negotiation between 'decomposition as the undoing of Western intellectual and political sovereignties' and 'recomposition: making and remaking a different world alongside nonhuman co-constituents of land'. But what happens when the ecosemiotic context of the compost bin meets translation practice? And what creative-critical experiments emerge when we make composting and textual decomposition a part of the translation process? In this creative-critical paper, we will explore the theoretical and speculative possibilities of using composting as a method of translating Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass. Framing composting as a form of multispecies poetics, we suggest that composting Whitman's 'multitudes' has the capacity to attend to new 'critical metabolisms' in a more-than-human context (Hamilton and Neimanis 2018) and to reframe human language and experience as both nonsovereign and permeable

Different scenarios for Candida parapsilosis fungaemia reveal high numbers of mixed C-parapsilosis and Candida orthopsilosis infections

Nosocomial fungal bloodstream infections (BSI) are increasing significantly in hospitalized patients and Candida parapsilosis has emerged as an important pathogen responsible for numerous outbreaks. The objective of this study was to evaluate C. parapsilosis sensu lato infection scenarios, regarding species distribution and strain relatedness. One hundred isolates of C. parapsilosis sensu lato derived from blood cultures and catheter tips were analysed by multiplex microsatellite typing and by sequencing D1/D2 regions of the ribosomal DNA. Our results indicate that 9.5 % of patients presented infections due to C. parapsilosis and Candida orthopsilosis, 57.1 % due to C. parapsilosis, 28.3 % due to C. orthopsilosis and 4.8% due to Candida metapsilosis. Eighty per cent of the C. parapsilosis BSIs were due to a single strain that was also identified in the catheter, but in 10% of the cases C. parasilosis was identified in the catheter but the BSI was due to C. orthopsilosis. There is a significant probability that C. parapsilosis isolates collected from the same patient at more than 3 months interval are of different strains (P=0.0179). Moreover, several isolates were identified persistently in the same hospital, infecting six different patients. The incidence of polyfungal BSI infections with C. parapsilosis and C. orthopsilosis is reported herein for the first time, emphasizing the fact that the species identified in the catheter is not always responsible for the BSI, thus impacting the treatment strategy. The observation that strains can remain in the hospital environment for years highlights the possible existence of reservoirs and reinforces the need for accurate genotyping tools, such as the markers used for elucidating epidemiological associations and detecting outbreaks.Financial support was provided by CAPES Foundation (BEX 19194/12-9), Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brasilia (DF 70.040-020), by FEDER through POFC-COMPETE and by Portuguese funds from FCT (PEst-OE/BIA/UI4050/2014). R.M.Z.-O. is supported in part by CNPq (350338/2000-0) and FAPERJ E (26/103.157/2011). We are grateful to Ronaldo Rozembaun from HSE and SAM and Andrea Pussenti Derossi from HUPE for providing the Candida isolates and technical assistance in sampling. Automated sequencing was done using the genomic platform/DNA sequencing platform at Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, PDTIS/FIOCRUZ (RPT01A), Brazil. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells into cortical neural stem cells

Efficient and effective methods for converting human induced pluripotent stem cells into differentiated derivatives are critical for performing robust, large-scale studies of development and disease modelling, and for providing a source of cells for regenerative medicine. Here, we describe a 14-day neural differentiation protocol which allows for the scalable, simultaneous differentiation of multiple iPSC lines into cortical neural stem cells We currently employ this protocol to differentiate and compare sets of engineered iPSC lines carrying loss of function alleles in developmental disorder associated genes, alongside isogenic wildtype controls. Using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq), we can examine the changes in gene expression brought about by each disease gene knockout, to determine its impact on neural development and explore mechanisms of disease. The 10-day Neural Induction period uses the well established dual-SMAD inhibition approach combined with Wnt/beta-Catenin inhibition to selectively induce formation of cortical NSCs. This is followed by a 4-day Neural Maintenance period facilitating NSC expansion and rosette formation, and NSC cryopreservation. We also describe methods for thawing and passaging the cryopreserved NSCs, which are useful in confirming their viability for further culture. Routine implementation of immunocytochemistry Quality Control confirms the presence of PAX6-positive and/or FOXG1-positive NSCs and the absence of OCT4-positive iPSCs after differentiation. RNA-Seq, flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry (ICC) and RT-qPCR provide additional confirmation of robust presence of NSC markers in the differentiated cells. The broader utility and application of our protocol is demonstrated by the successful differentiation of wildtype iPSC lines from five additional independent donors. This paper thereby describes an efficient method for the production of large numbers of high purity cortical NSCs, which are widely applicable for downstream research into developmental mechanisms, further differentiation into postmitotic cortical neurons, or other applications such as large-scale drug screening experiments.Peer reviewe

Fitotoxicidade de água superficial da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo utilizando bioensaio com Sinapis alba

This research aimed to evaluate the phytotoxicity of surface waters of the São Paulo metropolitan region using bioassays based on Sinapis alba L. (mustard). Three sampling campaigns were carried out during the dry season of 2017 (minimum dilution of pollutants) and samples were collected in triplicate at two locations (Reference and Ribeirão Pires stream). The assays were performed in triplicate to increase the degree of reliability of the information obtained. The observed responses were: root growth of S. alba, relative percentage of germination, relative percentage of root growth, Germination Index (GI). Electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids were also measured in situ using a multiparametric probe. The reference samples were classified as non-phytotoxic (IG = 93.55 ± 0.17%), while Ribeirão Pires stream samples showed moderate phytotoxicity (IG = 70.88 ± 0.25%). Thus the discharge from the Ribeirão Pires stream into the billings dam poses a risk to the water quality of the dam, especially where this stream drains.Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo avaliar a fitotoxicidade de águas superficiais da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo utilizando bioensaios com Sinapis alba (sementes de mostarda), bem como a sua relação com a condutividade elétrica e sólidos dissolvidos totais. Foram realizadas 3 coletas no período de seca de 2017 (menor diluição de poluentes). As coletas foram realizadas em triplicata, em duas estações de amostragem (Referência e Córrego Ribeirão Pires). As variáveis respostas observadas foram: o crescimento radicular da S. alba, a porcentagem relativa de germinação, a porcentagem relativa de crescimento radicular, o Índice de Germinação (IG), além da aferição in locu da condutividade elétrica e dos sólidos dissolvidos totais, utilizando sonda multiparamétrica. As amostras da estação Referência foram classificadas como não fitotóxicas (IG = 93,55 ± 0,17%), enquanto as amostras do Córrego Ribeirão Pires apresentaram fitotoxicidade moderada (IG = 70,88 ± 0,25%). Desse modo, o despejo de águas residuárias no Córrego Ribeirão Pires oferece risco à manutenção da qualidade da água da Represa Billings, onde esse córrego deságua

A network analysis to identify mediators of germline-driven differences in breast cancer prognosis.

Identifying the underlying genetic drivers of the heritability of breast cancer prognosis remains elusive. We adapt a network-based approach to handle underpowered complex datasets to provide new insights into the potential function of germline variants in breast cancer prognosis. This network-based analysis studies ~7.3 million variants in 84,457 breast cancer patients in relation to breast cancer survival and confirms the results on 12,381 independent patients. Aggregating the prognostic effects of genetic variants across multiple genes, we identify four gene modules associated with survival in estrogen receptor (ER)-negative and one in ER-positive disease. The modules show biological enrichment for cancer-related processes such as G-alpha signaling, circadian clock, angiogenesis, and Rho-GTPases in apoptosis

Epidemiological Methods: About Time

Epidemiological studies often produce false positive results due to use of statistical approaches that either ignore or distort time. The three time-related issues of focus in this discussion are: (1) cross-sectional vs. cohort studies, (2) statistical significance vs. public health significance, and (3), how risk factors “work together” to impact public health significance. The issue of time should be central to all thinking in epidemiology research, affecting sampling, measurement, design, analysis and, perhaps most important, the interpretation of results that might influence clinical and public-health decision-making and subsequent clinical research

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London