482 research outputs found
Performance of 16S rRNA Gene Next-Generation Sequencing and the Culture Method in the Detection of Bacteria in Clinical Specimens
No full textEffective treatment of infectious diseases requires prompt and accurate bacterial identification and tailored antimicrobial treatments. Traditional culture methods are considered the gold standard, but their effectiveness diminishes for fastidious and hard-to-grow microorganisms. In recent years, molecular diagnostic tools such as 16S rRNA gene next-generation sequencing (16S NGS) have gained popularity in the field. We analysed data from samples submitted for 16S NGS between July 2022 and July 2023 at the Department of Advanced Translational Microbiology in Trieste, Italy. The study included samples submitted for both culture-based identification and 16S NGS. Conventional media were used for culture, and bacterial identification was performed using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced using the Ion PGM platform. Among the 123 samples submitted, drainage fluids (38%) and blood (23%) were the most common, with requests predominantly from the Infectious Diseases (31.7%) and Orthopedic (21.13%) Units. In samples collected from patients with confirmed infections, 16S NGS demonstrated diagnostic utility in over 60% of cases, either by confirming culture results in 21% or providing enhanced detection in 40% of instances. Among the 71 patients who had received antibiotic therapies before sampling (mean 2.3 prior antibiotic days), pre-sampling antibiotic consumption did not significantly affect the sensitivity of 16S NGS. In routine microbiology laboratories, combining 16S NGS with culture method enhances the sensitivity of microbiological diagnostics, even when sampling is conducted during antibiotic therapy
The civil position of Alexandru V. Boldur
No full textThe article is devoted to the civil position of the Bessarabian historian Alexandru Boldur in certain life circumstances. The author on the basis of archival materials presents and analyzes a concrete example - two appeals, the first to the Bucharest authorities through the newspaper "Romany Libera", and the second on the occasion of the obituary dedicated to the historian Alexander Gonts. This is a convincing evidence of the personality of a man who was distinguished by courage and perseverance, such as Alexandru Boldur
ON THE MOLECULAR STRUCTURE OF THE CO-AUTHOR NETWORK OF ALEXANDRU T. BALABAN
No full textScientometric networks based on the bibliography of Professor Alexandru T. Balaban are analyzed. His position in the topological index research community and the structure of his own co-author network are considered. An analogy is suggested between coauthor networks and molecular structures.</p
Alexandru Busuioceanu in Spain: poet and teacher
No full textRomanian author, Alexandru Busuioceanu (1896-1961), had a long trajectory as poet, art historian and essayist in Romanian language when he was appointed cultural counselor in Madrid in 1942. The present article proposes an overview of his professional and literary trajectory in Spain, and also an account of the perception that the critics of this country had of him
Metropolitan Alexandru Sterca-Şuluţiu in the National Movement
No full textThis study examines the activities of the Romanian Greek Catholic (Uniate) Metropolitan (Archbishop) of Blaj, Alexandru Sterca-Şuluţiu in support of the Romanian national movement in the Habsburg province of Transylvania between 1860 and 1865. His colleague, the Orthodox Bishop Andrei Şaguna, is the better known Transylvanian Romanian leader in this story, but Sterca-Şuluţiu made a unique contribution through his combative style that reflects his social origin as a member of the minor nobility of Transylvania's western mountain region
Alexandru Busuioceanu en España: poeta y profesor
No full textRomanian author, Alexandru Busuioceanu (1896-1961), had a long trajectory as poet, art historian and essayist in Romanian language when he was appointed cultural counselor in Madrid in 1942. The present article proposes an overview of his professional and literary trajectory in Spain, and also an account of the perception that the critics of this country had of him.El escritor rumano, Alexandru Busuioceanu (1896-1961), tras una larga trayectoria como poeta, historiador del arte y ensayista en lengua rumana, es nombrado consejero cultural en Madrid en 1942. Este artículo pretende hacer un repaso de su trayectoria profesional y literaria en España, así como dar cuenta de la percepción que de él tenía la crítica de este país
ABOUT OTHER KIND OF PRODUCTIVITY AND GROWTH (HOMO-SAPIENS TO HOMO-OECONOMICUS)
No full textPart of a larger research, this paper ranges among the matter of ideas confrontation concerning the causes of the economic crises and those keys to be passed. Paper aims at finding and praising the defining elements of our economy, in the purpose of better understanding the nowadays crisis, and at presenting certain conceptually different approaches. In this purpose, analytical presentations are focussed on the specific realities of the economic life that are in position in the last centuries, which are considered to be favouring the arriving to the critical states in the last years and to be promoting those maintaining, or which allow explaining certain effects and tendencies. The approach is made from the angle of the nature of the productivity that is had in view and highlighted in the market regulating mechanisms, and of the due growth. The paper is grounded on important analysis on the matter (including anterior researches of the author), but their dimensions does not allow their presentation in the abstract. Analysis starts from interpreting the very nowadays crisis, from different sites concerning the core (general) causes, by correlating with certain features of the industrialized consuming society. More recent references are made in the literature on the matter. Modern western economy is defined from the angle of focussing on material-quantitative productivity and growth. Analysis tries to explain certain effects concerning this kind of focus. Interesting effects and tendencies are noticed, that miss to the traditional approaches. Further on an opposed theoretic model is discussed. This is built and developed inside the service economy (on the case of two conceptually similar approaches, came from two different sources of economic thought in the field; original contributions of the author are involved). Adequately to the knowledge society, this last one is considered more favourable for homo sapiens, at least once the visible effects of the last two hundred years model are revealed, which are dominated by homo oeconomicus. This reference model being set up, a short foray is intuitively made in the perspectives of humanity on long run and on very long time, in the supposed maintain of the present economic model. In all those presentations and analyses, connections are made with other papers on the matter, in the purpose of more profound study. The conclusions concern the practical possibility of the model opposed to the industrialist economic crisis. The details highlighted from the analysis of the conceptual comparison between models and prospections bring, in the final, at proposing solutions, grounded on fundamental requirements on the line of humanityâ€(tm)s values, with didactic addressing to the young generation. The elements of contribution of the author are underlined in the presented matter.productivity, modern growth, economic crisis, knowledge society, service economy
Fluoroquinolones and Biofilm: A Narrative Review
No full textBackground: Biofilm-associated infections frequently span multiple body sites and represent a significant clinical challenge, often requiring a multidisciplinary approach involving surgery and antimicrobial therapy. These infections are commonly healthcare-associated and frequently related to internal or external medical devices. The formation of biofilms complicates treatment, as they create environments that are difficult for most antimicrobial agents to penetrate. Fluoroquinolones play a critical role in the eradication of biofilm-related infections. Numerous studies have investigated the synergistic potential of combining fluoroquinolones with other chemical agents to augment their efficacy while minimizing potential toxicity. Comparative research suggests that the antibiofilm activity of fluoroquinolones is superior to that of beta-lactams and glycopeptides. However, their activity remains less effective than that of minocycline and fosfomycin. Noteworthy combinations include fluoroquinolones with fosfomycin and aminoglycosides for enhanced activity against Gram-negative organisms and fluoroquinolones with minocycline and rifampin for more effective treatment of Gram-positive infections. Despite the limitations of fluoroquinolones due to the intrinsic characteristics of this antibiotic, they remain fundamental in this setting thanks to their bioavailability and synergisms with other drugs. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using online databases (PubMed/MEDLINE/Google Scholar) and books written by experts in microbiology and infectious diseases to identify relevant studies on fluoroquinolones and biofilm. Results: This review critically assesses the role of fluoroquinolones in managing biofilm-associated infections in various clinical settings while also exploring the potential benefits of combination therapy with these antibiotics. Conclusions: The literature predominantly consists of in vitro studies, with limited in vivo investigations. Although real world data are scarce, they are in accordance with fluoroquinolones’ effectiveness in managing early biofilm-associated infections. Also, future perspectives of newer treatment options to be placed alongside fluoroquinolones are discussed. This review underscores the role of fluoroquinolones in the setting of biofilm-associated infections, providing a comprehensive guide for physicians regarding the best use of this class of antibiotics while highlighting the existing critical issues
DLPC@ 323K, CHARMM36UA force field
No full text<p>Files required for a simulation of a DLPC bilayer in LAMMPS (<strong>lammps</strong>.sandia.gov/). Force field is taken from http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jp410344g</p>
<p>This data is used in the project "Matching lipid force fields with NMR data", see: http://nmrlipids.blogspot.fi </p>The following lines should be added into in.lmp file instead of "neigh_modify delay 0 every 1 check yes":
kspace_style pppm 1.0e-4
neighbor 2.0 bin
neigh_modify delay
A detailed flowsheet of a 100 MW Solid Oxide Fuel Cell plant modeled in ASPEN PLUS
No full textFiles required for modeling a 100 MW Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Plant (Power-to-Gas Mode) in Aspen Plus. The plant was designed by Butera et al.[1]. A detailed capital cost estimate was made using the AspenTech Process Economic Analyzer and written in ESA.xlsx.
Further details are available upon request: [email protected]
[1] Butera, G., Jensen, S.H., and Clausen, L.R. "A novel system for large-scale storage of electricity as synthetic natural gas" submitted to J. Energ
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