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Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase producing E. coli have emerged as important food-borne pathogens. Food producing animals, especially poultry have been discussed as an important source for transmission of ESBL producing pathogens to human being. In the present study, samples were collected from poultry (n=515) from north-eastern Karnataka region during the period November 2017 to April 2018 were analysed. The samples were processed and analysed for the cultural isolation, biochemical characterization and confirmation of E. coli by PCR. ESBL production was detection by phenotypic confirmation test as per guidelines given by CLSI (2012). An mPCR method for the molecular characterization of major genes of ESBL E. coli was adopted using primer pairs targeting genes; blaTEM, blaCTX-M and blaSHV. The results obtained by conventional methods were compared with that of mPCR. The percent of ESBL E. coli detection by phenotypic method was 45.04 percent and by mPCR method targeting major genes was 18.25 percent among the samples(n=515) analysed. ESBL producing E. coli was found among the poultry population under study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was planned to study the phenotypic characterization of Extended Spectrum Betalactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) in poultry. North-Eastern region of Karnataka was selected for the study. Samples were collected from broiler farms (n=98), layer farms (n=99), backyard poultry (n=67) and poultry retail shops (n=133). Samples like cloacal swab, litter, soil, water, feed, hand swabs of butcher, processing table, cutting knives were collected. The samples were inoculated in McConkey broth followed by McConkey agar plates. The plates showing pink coloured tiny colonies were further inoculated on EMB agar plates. The EMB plates showing tiny, dark purple coloured colonies with metallic sheen were considered as positive further confirmed by biochemical tests. The phenotypic identification of Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase producing E. coli was carried by subjecting the E.coli isolates to antibiotic sensitivity test using Ceftazidime (30 mcg) alone and Ceftazidime(30mcg) in combination with Clavulanic acid(10mcg). In the present study out of 397 samples, 163(41.05%) samples were positive for ESBL E.coli. In broilers out of 98 samples, 51 (52.04%) were found positive, in layers out of 99 samples 54(54.54%) were found positive, in backyard poultry out of 67 samples 21(31.34%) were found positive and in poultry retail shops out of 133 samples 47(41.59%) were found positive. It was concluded that the ESBL producing E.coli is prevalent in North-Eastern region of Karnataka. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton is one of the most important commodity fibres and is widely employed in apparels. At present, the share of natural fibres in production of nonwoven fabrics is low and are used in opt applications. The cotton fibre is conventionally converted into woven and knitted fabrics by short staple spinning methods. The comber noil is short fibre waste produced when cotton yarns are combed. The aims of the current study were to employ comber noil for the preparation of hydroentangled cotton nonwovens at varying water jet pressures and conveyor speeds. The effect of these parameters was studied with respect to mechanical and comfort properties of the prepared fabrics. The results showed that these variables can help to manufacture fibrous assemblies with engineered properties, according to required application area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Haralick features Texture analysis is a recent oncologic imaging biomarker used to assess quantitatively the heterogeneity within a tumor. The aim of this study is to evaluate which Haralick’s features are the most feasible in predicting tumor response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in colorectal cancer.Materials and Methods: After MRI and histological assessment, eight patients were enrolled and divided into two groups based on response to neoadjuvant CRT in complete responders (CR) and non-responders (NR). Oblique Axial T2-weighted MRI sequences before CRT were analyzed by two radiologists in consensus drawing a ROI around the tumor. 14 over 192 Haralick’s features were extrapolated from normalized gray-level co-occurrence matrix in four different directions. A dedicated statistical analysis was performed to evaluate distribution of the extracted Haralick’s features computing mean and standard deviation.Results: Pretreatment MRI examination showed significant value (p < 0.05) of 5 over 14 computed Haralick texture. In particular, the significant features are the following: concerning energy, contrast, correlation, entropy and inverse difference moment.Conclusions: Five Haralick’s features showed significant relevance in the prediction of response to therapy in colorectal cancer and might be used as additional imaging biomarker in the oncologic management of colorectal patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to model the effect of knitting parameters on the air permeability (AP) of polyester/cotton interlock fabrics. Fabric samples of areal densities ranging from 105 to 654 g/m2 were knitted using yarns of three different polyester/cotton blends, each of the three different linear densities by systematically varying knitting loop lengths for obtaining different cover factors. It was found that changing the polyester/cotton blend ratio from 65/35 to 52/48 and 40/60 did not have a statistically significant effect on the fabric AP. AP sharply decreased with decrease in knitting loop length owing to increase in fabric areal density. Increase in yarn linear density (tex) resulted in a decrease in AP due to increase in fabric thickness as well as the areal density. It was concluded that response surface regression modeling could adequately model the effect of knitting parameters on the fabric AP. The model was validated by unseen data-set and found that predicted and actual values were in good agreement with each other with less than 5% absolute error. Sensitivity analysis was also performed to determine the relative contribution of each input variable on the AP of the interlock fabrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study deals with measurement of indoor radon concentrations in dwellings of the district Poonch of the state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. In this context, CR-39-based box-type radon detectors were installed in drawing rooms and bedrooms of 80 selected houses and were exposed to indoor radon for 3 months. After exposure, the CR-39 detectors were etched for 9 h in 6 mol NaOH at 70°C and the observed track densities were related to radon concentrations. Measured indoor radon concentrations in the studied area ranged from 27 ± 6 to 169 ± 4, 29 ± 6 to 196 ± 4 and 31 ± 5 to 142 ± 2 Bq m−3 in the drawing rooms and 74 ± 5 to 172 ± 3, 32 ± 6 to 191 ± 4 and 27 ± 5 to 155 ± 2 Bq m−3 in bedrooms of the Abbaspur, Hajira and Rawalakot regions of the district Poonch, respectively; whereas weighted average radon concentration ranged from 93 ± 6 to 159 ± 4, 33 ± 5 to 118 ± 3 and 31 ± 6 to 155 ± 5 Bq m−3 in the dwellings of Abbaspur, Hajira and Rawalakot, respectively. Estimated doses due to the indoor radon ranged from 2.35 ± 0.15 to 4.00 ± 0.10, 0.83 ± 0.08 to 2.98 ± 0.08 and 0.78 ± 0.15 to 3.91 ± 0.13 mSv y−1 for Abbaspur, Rawalakot and Hajira, respectively. Comparing the current indoor radon results with those of the Health Protection Agency UK and US EPA (i.e. 200 and 148 Bq m−3) limits, majority of the houses surveyed in the present study are within the safe limits. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]