Viable mpox virus in the environment of a patient room

We conducted a prospective environmental surveillance study to investigate the air, surface, dust and water contamination of a room occupied by a patient infected with mpox virus (MPXV) at various stages of the illness. The patient tested positive for MPXV from a throat swab and skin lesions. Environmental sampling was conducted in a negative pressure room with 12 unidirectional HEPA air changes per hour and daily cleaning of the surfaces. A total of 179 environmental samples were collected on days 7, 8, 13, and 21 of illness. Among the days of sampling, air, surface, and dust contamination showed highest contamination rates on day 7 and 8 of illness, with a gradual decline to the lowest contamination level by day 21. Viable MPXV was isolated from surfaces and dust samples and no viable virus was isolated from the air and water samples.

Blockchain technology for corporate governance and IT governance: A financial perspectiv

The development of information technology (IT) and the adoption of blockchain have affected the world of finance today. Research on these two matters is still lacking, especially from a financial perspective. This study aims to review the latest research regarding changes in corporate governance with the adoption of IT governance and blockchain. A computerized multi-database literature search was conducted in January–March 2022, using the ScienceDirect and Emerald search engines. The terms “corporate governance”, “IT governance”, and “blockchain” were entered in the descriptor fields, with “language” limited to English and “source” limited to peer-reviewed journal articles. The implementation of good corporate governance will reduce the company's risk and protect investors. Technological advances can be used to develop better IT governance by making information transparent and adopting technological advances to support the implementation of good corporate governance. Under a blockchain framework, corporate governance might evolve in a variety of ways. There are several advantages to issuing and trading corporate securities on blockchains, but there are also certain drawbacks connected to increased ownership transparency. Businesses would seek out board members and outside advisors with various skill sets, and crucial issues like managerial incentives would probably change to account for the shifting character of corporate securities.

Microwave treatment to optimize physicochemical properties of modified Busil (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) starch

COVID-19 pandemic encourages the utilization of local food sources to ensure food availability. Busil (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) was readily available and affordable in Banjarnegara Regency in the Province of Central Java in Indonesia. However, the busil starch utilization was still rare due to the low functional properties of the native busil starch. The objective of this study was to explore busil starch physicochemical characterization enhancement after microwave irradiation treatment, especially on the stability of heat processing. This research was conducted in two steps. First, microwave treatment (with a variation of energy and irradiation time) of native busil starch (NBS), and the second was modified busil starch (MBS) physicochemical characterization. A rise in amylose was observed on MBS. SEM analysis was shown MBS granules are breakdown. Through viscosity, final viscosity, setback viscosity, peak time, and the pasting temperature of MBS generally were increased. Meanwhile, peak viscosity and breakdown viscosity of MBS was decreased. Thermal properties of MBS like onset (To), peak (Tp), and conclusion (Tc) temperatures were also increased. The degree of whiteness index (DW) of MBS was decreased. FTIR analysis has shown that microwave treatment did not cause functional group alteration. XRD analysis has also demonstrated no change in the diffraction pattern but a slight change in the crystallinity index. Generally, microwave treatment leads to MBS thermal stability and potentially broaden MBS utilization on food processing product.

(Co)variance components and genetics parameter estimation for linear traits in Holstein cattle in Indonesia: traits related to foot/leg and udder

The availability of (co)variance components and genetics parameter estimates for traits included in a selection program is crucial since the estimated breeding values of the selected traits are computed based on the available (co)variance components and genetics parameters. The present study aimed to estimate (co)variance components and genetics parameters for linear traits related to foot/leg and udder (i.e. rear legs set, foot angle, udder depth, and teat length) in Holstein cattle in Indonesia. Linear traits were measured (instead of scored) on 310 lactating Holstein cows raised in the National Breeding Centre for Dairy Cattle and Forage of Indonesia (BBPTUHPT Baturraden). These were nearly all cows in lactation owned by the centre at the time of study. Lactating cows which were not measured during study were those which are technically difficult to handle. The Average Information Restricted Maximum Likelihood (AI-REML) method of the DMU program was used to estimate the (co)variances and genetics parameters of the considered linear traits. A four-multivariate animal model was employed by including farm (fixed), animal (random), and age (covariate) effects in the model of analysis. The phenotypic means (standard deviation) for rear legs set, foot angle, udder depth, and teat length were 139.70 (6.03), 50.65 (5.04), 10.67 (6.19), and 5.27 (0.96), respectively. The results showed that the estimated heritability ( h 2 ) was 0.334, 0.236, 0.147, and 0.213 for rear legs set, foot angle, udder depth, and teat length, respectively. The genetic (phenotypic) correlations between linear traits rear legs set-foot angle, rear legs set-udder depth, rear legs set-teat length, foot angle-udder depth, foot angle-teat length, and udder depth-teat length were - 0.08 ( - 0.043 ), - 0.6 (0.002), 0.101 (0.036), 0.002 ( - 0.017 ), - 0.186 ( - 0.146 ), and - 0.834 (0.019), respectively. The present study concluded that the linear traits could be used in the selection program, though the traits should be properly weighted to avoid deteriorating selection response.

Tackling Complexity in High Performance Computing Applications

We present a software framework that supports the specification of user-definable configuration options in HPC applications independently of the application code itself. Such options include model parameter values, the selection of numerical algorithm, target platform etc. and additional constraints that prevent invalid combinations of options from being made. Such constraints, which are capable of describing complex cross-domain dependencies, are often crucial to the correct functioning of the application and are typically either completely absent from the code or a hard to recover from it. The framework uses a combination of functional workflows and constraint solvers. Application workflows are built from a combination of functional components: higher-order co-ordination forms and first-order data processing components which can be either concrete or abstract, i.e. without a specified implementation at the outset. A repository provides alternative implementations for these abstract components. A constraint solver, written in Prolog, guides a user in making valid choices of parameters, implementations, machines etc. for any given context. Partial designs can be stored and shared providing a systematic means of handling application use and maintenance. We describe our methodology and illustrate its application in two classes of application: a data intensive commercial video transcoding example and a numerically intensive incompressible Navier-Stokes solver.

Gelam honey and ginger potentiate the anti cancer effect of 5-FU against HCT 116 colorectal cancer cells

The development of chemopreventive approaches using a concoction of phytochemicals is potentially viable for combating many types of cancer including colon carcinogenesis. This study evaluated the anti-proliferative effects of ginger and Gelam honey and its efficacy in enhancing the anti-cancer effects of 5-FU (5-fluorouracil) against a colorectal cancer cell line, HCT 116. Cell viability was measured via MTS (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2- yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulphenyl)-2H-tetrazolium) assay showing ginger inhibiting the growth of HCT 116 cells more potently (IC50 of 3mg/mL) in comparison to Gelam honey (IC50 of 75 mg/mL). Combined treatment of the two compounds (3mg/mL ginger+75 mg/mL Gelam honey) synergistically lowered the IC50 of Gelam honey to 22 mg/mL. Combination with 35 mg/mL Gelam honey markedly enhanced 5-FU inhibiting effects on the growth of HCT 116 cells. Subsequent analysis on the induction of cellular apoptosis suggested that individual treatment of ginger and Gelam honey produced higher apoptosis than 5-FU alone. In addition, treatment with the combination of two natural compounds increased the apoptotic rate of HCT 116 cells dose- dependently while treatment of either ginger or Gelam honey combined with 5-FU only showed modest changes. Combination index analysis showed the combination effect of both natural compounds to be synergistic in their inhibitory action against HCT 116 colon cancer cells (CI 0.96 < 1). In conclusion, combined treatment of Gelam honey and ginger extract could potentially enhance the chemotherapeutic effect of 5-FU against colorectal cancer.

Accumulation of catalytically active proteases in lacrimal gland acinar cell endosomes during chronic ex vivo muscarinic receptor stimulation

Chronic muscarinic stimulation induces functional quiescence (Scand J Immunol 2003;58:550-65) and alters the traffic of immature cathepsin B (Exp Eye Res 2004;79:665-75) in lacrimal acinar cells. To test whether active proteases aberrantly accumulate in the endosomes, cell samples were cultured 20 h with and without 10-microm carbachol (CCh), incubated with [125I]-bovine serum albumin and then lysed and analysed by subcellular fractionation. CCh decreased total cysteine protease and cathepsin S activities in the isolated lysosome, redistributing them to early endocytic and biosynthetic compartments. CCh decreased [125I] accumulation in all compartments of cells loaded in the absence of protease inhibitors; the cysteine protease inhibitor, leupeptin, prevented the endosomal decrease but not the lysosomal decrease. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography demonstrated [125I]-labelled proteolytic products in endomembrane compartments of both control and CCh-stimulated cells, even in the presence of leupeptin, but analysis indicated that CCh increased the amount in endosomes. Two-dimensional fractionation analyses suggest that the CCh-induced redistributions result from blocks in traffic to the late endosome from both the early endosome and the trans-Golgi network. Therefore, we conjecture that chronic muscarinic acetylcholine receptor stimulation leads to aberrant proteolytic processing of autoantigens in endosomes, from whence previously cryptic epitopes may be secreted to the underlying interstitial space.

Lower extremity above-knee prosthesis-associated erectile dysfunction

Blunt pelvic and perineal trauma has been previously reported to result in site-specific veno-occlusive dysfunction and/or site-specific cavernosal artery insufficiency. We herein describe a case of erectile dysfunction in a young previously potent amputee. We postulate that the erectile dysfunction is associated with a newly described form of blunt trauma, that is, site-specific compression from a perineal weight-bearing lower extremity above-knee prosthetic device. It is hypothesized that when the force exerted by the above-knee prosthesis is directed medially towards the ischiopubic ramus, the penile crura and common penile arterial blood supply become susceptible to crush-like injury, since they are in fixed anatomic locations in the perineum sandwiched between the compressive force and the bone. Clinical evaluation of the erectile dysfunction in this patient revealed site-specific corporal veno-occlusive dysfunction and site-specific common penile arterial occlusive pathology in the precise region of the contact of the above-knee prosthesis with the perineum. Further research is needed in above-knee prosthesis design to prevent erectile dysfunction.

Seroepidemiologic evidence for murine and scrub typhus in Malang, Indonesia

Indonesian military personnel stationed in Malang, East Java were among troops deployed to central Cambodia as part of the United Nations' Transition Authority Cambodia peace-keeping operation in 1992. Predeployment blood samples obtained from a cohort of Indonesian soldiers indicated a high prevalence of antibodies to antigens of Rickettsia typhi or Orientia (formerly Rickettsia) tsutsugamushi, the etiologic agents for murine and scrub typhus, respectively. To evaluate the potential risk of these rickettsial diseases in the Malang area, a subsequent seroepidemiologic survey was conducted. This study involved civilian personnel residing within one of three Malang kelurahans (neighborhoods) representing urban, suburban, and rural communities. The heads-of-households from 197 homes completed a detailed epidemiologic survey. In addition, blood samples were collected from 464 individuals residing within the households surveyed. Examination of civilian blood samples disclosed that 34.7% and 1.3% of the study participants were seroreactive to R. typhi and O. tsutsugamushi, respectively. These results were similar to those obtained earlier from the military samples. In addition, assessment of 78 blood samples obtained from peridomestic rodents trapped from within or near the households surveyed showed that 28 were reactive to R. typhi antigens and four were reactive to O. tsutsugamushi antigens. These data indicate that military and civilian personnel living in the Malang area of East Java are at risk of infection with rickettsiae that are antigenically indistinguishable from those that cause murine and scrub typhus.

Disposition of ceftriaxone in rat: application of a pharmacokinetic-protein binding model and comparison with cefotaxime

1. The pharmacokinetic profile and protein binding parameters of ceftriaxone were determined in rat, and compared with those of cefotaxime. 2. Plasma concentration-time curves of ceftriaxone and cefotaxime (single i.v. bolus; 100 mg/kg each) were described by a two-compartment, protein-binding model. 3. The corrected VTss (ml/kg) of ceftriaxone was lower than that of cefotaxime. The AUCs of both drugs were similar. The t1/2 beta of the two drugs differed significantly, being 29 min for ceftriaxone and 17 min for cefotaxime. 4. In vivo protein binding constants of both drugs were similar, but the concentrations of protein binding sites differed significantly. The average free fractions in plasma (Fp) of ceftriaxone and cefotaxime were 0.22 and 0.48 respectively. 5. Saturation of the binding site for cefotaxime was estimated to occur at about 30 micrograms/ml in plasma, whereas saturation for ceftriaxone was seen at lower concentrations.

Disposition of cefotaxime and its metabolite, desacetylcefotaxime, in rat: application of a pharmacokinetic-protein binding model

1. The pharmacokinetics and protein binding of cefotaxime and desacetylcefotaxime were studied in rat. 2. After i.v. dosing of cefotaxime (100 mg/kg) the concentration-time profiles of cefotaxime and its metabolite desacetylcefotaxime followed biphasic decays, giving the kinetic parameters for cefotaxime: VTss and AUC of 127 ml/kg and 8.2 mg/min per ml, respectively. The beta-elimination half-life was 17 min with Cls of 13.1 ml/min per kg. The average association constant (K x 10(3) M-1) and total protein binding site concentration (Pt x 10(-3) M) for cefotaxime were 3.87 and 0.68, respectively, with saturation of plasma protein binding occurring at about 30 micrograms/ml. The average free fraction of cefotaxime in plasma (Fp) was 0.48. 3. The metabolite desacetylcefotaxime had a plasma Cmax of 74.4 micrograms/ml (35 min). The respective elimination half-life and AUC were 53 min and 7.2 mg/min per ml. The binding profile, unlike that of cefotaxime, was non-saturable with a K value of 13.90M-1. The Fp of desacetylcefotaxime was 0.89. 4. The concentration-time behaviour of total and free desacetylcefotaxime (i.v. bolus, 50 mg/kg) declined biexponentially with respective VTss and AUC of 125 ml/kg and 19.4 mg/min per ml (total drug), and 192 ml/kg and 13.9 mg/min per ml (free drug). The beta-phase half-life of total and free drug was about 36 min, whereas CLs (ml/min per kg) were 2.7 (total) and 3.7 (free). The binding characteristics were in good agreement with those of the metabolite produced in vivo, with a K value of 8.58 M-1. The Fp value of desacetylcefotaxime in plasma was 0.73.

High-performance liquid chromatographic assay of cefotaxime, desacetylcefotaxime and ceftriaxone in rat plasma

A simple and selective high-performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the analysis of the cephalosporins cefotaxime (CXM), desacetylcefotaxime (DACXM) and ceftriaxone (CFX) in rat plasma. Plasma was deproteinized with methanol, and the supernatant was directly injected into the chromatograph and monitored at 254 nm. For determination of the unbound drugs, a centrifugal ultrafiltration method was employed. The calibration curves were linear (r = 0.999) from 2.5 to 500 micrograms/ml; the detection limits were 100 ng/ml for DACXM and 250 ng/ml for CXM and CFX. The method was not interfered with by other plasma components, nor by barbital sodium or caffeine, and has been applied to study the pharmacokinetics of the cephalosporins in rats.