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Psychodinae (Diptera: Psychodidae), commonly known as "drain flies", are a subfamily of insects adapted to environments modified by humans. While often regarded as harmless, it has been reported that they may carry pathogenic microorganisms, contributing to hospital environmental contamination and potentially playing a role in healthcare-associated infections. This study aimed to investigate drain flies in a hospital setting to assess their role in carrying microbial pathogens. Twenty-six drain flies were collected from a tertiary hospital using sterile tubes and processed within two hours. The insects were identified as Clogmia albipunctata (Williston, 1893). Whole-body macerates were cultured on EMB media, and fungal isolates were identified using MALDI-TOF MS and ITS region sequencing. The emergent pathogen Trichosporon asahii was isolated, highlighting the potential role of C. albipunctata as a mechanical vector of fungal pathogens associated with HAIs. These findings underscore the importance of monitoring drain flies as part of infection prevention and control strategies in healthcare settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Pectinases are enzymes used in several industrial processes. Seven agroindustrial wastes—jackfruit seed meal (Artocarpus heterophyllus), cocoa seed peel (Theobroma cacao), cocoa husks (Theobroma cacao), passion fruit husks (Passiflora edulis), mangosteen husks (Garcinia mangostana), malt residue (Hordeum vulgare) and the peach palm waste (Bactris gasipaes Kunth.)—were evaluated to produce a crude extract containing pectinase activity by Penicillium rolfsii CCMB 714. The jackfruit seed meal was chosen as the best substrate for solid-state fermentation, which was optimized with 4 mL of water as a wetting agent for 2 days at 35 °C and with a 0.5% nitrogen source, whereby the pectinase production increased by 44% (362.09 U/g). The obtained crude extract was characterized and applied to wastes saccharification and orange juice clarification. The pectinase showed better activity at a pH of 3.0 to 5.0 and 55 °C, it stably maintained over 80% of activity at 30–50 °C for up to 60 min and 1 mM CuSO4 increased the pectinase activity by 17%. The saccharification of agroindustrial wastes (cocoa husks, mangosteen husks and passion fruit husks) resulted in 126.55 µmol/mL of reducing sugars from passion fruit husks, which represents an increase of 126% after optimization (45 °C for 22 h). For the clarification of orange juice, it was possible to reduce the absorbance of the juice by 55%. These results elucidate the potential of the low-cost pectinase solution from P. rolfsii CCMB 714 cultivated in jackfruit seed meal for both the enzymatic pretreatment of plant biomass and the application in beverage industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide, companies are increasingly making claims about their current climate efforts and their future mitigation commitments. These claims tend to be underpinned by carbon credits issued in voluntary carbon markets to offset emissions. Corporate climate claims are largely unregulated which means that they are often (perceived to be) misleading and deceptive. As such, corporate climate claims risk undermining, rather than contributing to, global climate mitigation. This paper takes as its point of departure the proposition that a better understanding of corporate climate claims is needed to govern such claims in a manner that adequately addresses potential greenwashing risks. To that end, the paper reviews the nascent literature on corporate climate claims relying on the use of voluntary carbon credits. Drawing on the reviewed literature, three key dimensions of corporate climate claims as related to carbon credits are discussed: 1) the intended use of carbon credits: offsetting versus non‐offsetting claims; 2) the framing and meaning of headline terms: net‐zero versus carbon neutral claims; and 3) the status of the claim: future aspirational commitments versus stated achievements. The paper thereby offers a preliminary categorization of corporate climate claims and discusses risks associated with and governance implications for each of these categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated the genetic relationship of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolated from inpatients during 2008-2011 from 11 Brazilian states. Antimicrobial susceptibility profile was determined by disc diffusion method and Etest. Polymerase chain reaction was applied for carbapenemase genes, and IS Aba1 . Isolates were subjected to pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) for molecular typing. Most of the isolates showed high resistance rates to antibiotics tested. The bla OXA-51-like gene was found in all isolates, and 146 (94.2%) isolates were positive for bla OXA-23-like . In the most OXA-23-producing isolates, the bla OXA-23-like gene was accompanied by IS Aba1 . A total of 146 OXA-23-producing isolates were clustered into 28 genotypes by PFGE. Molecular analysis by MLST identified 13 sequence types (STs). The most prevalent PFGE profiles were designated as ST15 (CC15), ST1 (CC1), and ST79 (CC79). This study showed the widespread of clonal complexes of A . baumannii harboring the bla OXA-23-like gene in different Brazilian states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outcomes of the Durban climate change conference leave plenty of room for interpretation and are generally ambivalent. Climate negotiators launched a new negotiation track that is expected to result in a legally meaningful agreement by all parties (developed and developing) to kick-in in 2020. The establishment of the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action signaled a significant departure from the developed/ developing country divide that permeates the Protocol. It further committed countries to a process leading an 'outcome with legal force'; arguably more than a mere political agreement. Durban also succeeded in securing a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol, albeit with fewer developed countries. However, the conference did not succeed in extracting any new substantive commitments from countries. The wording of the Durban Platform is unspecific and contains ample room for interpretation. The diversity and complexity of the issues at hand help explaining the slow progress on the substance. While international negotiators continue to seek compromise on many issues, subnational governments, private actors, and civil society have started implementing climate solutions. If the climate challenge is to be overcome, international climate talks must be able to pick up on these initiatives and more quickly step-up to its role as a central coordinator and catalyst of efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of CP16/CMP6 held from November 29 through December 10, 2010 in Cancun, Mexico, offer reason for optimism even though a post-2012 climate deal was not struck and many thorny issues were moved forward to CP17 to be held in Durban in December 2011. Both the UNFCCC as well as the Kyoto Protocol governing bodies adopted comprehensive, new and substantive decisions in Cancun. These make further steps toward a new legally-binding climate agreement, legitimize emission targets in the Copenhagen Accord and, most importantly, restore the diplomatic trust needed to reach consensus on a climate deal in 2011. This final achievement, perhaps more than anything else, revived the often contentious UNFCCC negotiating process among more than 190 countries. This policy brief provides an overview of the negotiations leading up to CP16/CMP16 and an analysis of the most important decisions taken in Cancun, as well as a 'to-do-list' of the more and less controversial issues for which the Cancun Agreements laid the groundwork, but which will have to be negotiated and decided in South Africa later this year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated an overuse of antimicrobials in critically ill patients. Acinetobacter baumannii frequently causes nosocomial infections, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs), where the incidence has increased over time. Since the WHO declared the COVID-19 pandemic on 12 March 2020, the disease has spread rapidly, and many of the patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 needed to be admitted to the ICU. Bacterial co-pathogens are commonly identified in viral respiratory infections and are important causes of morbidity and mortality. However, we cannot neglect the increased incidence of antimicrobial resistance, which may be attributed to the excess use of antimicrobial agents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients with COVID-19 could be vulnerable to other infections owing to multiple comorbidities with severe COVID-19, prolonged hospitalization, and SARS-CoV-2-associated immune dysfunction. These patients have acquired secondary bacterial infections or superinfections, mainly bacteremia and urinary tract infections. This review will summarize the prevalence of A. baumannii coinfection and secondary infection in patients with COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we report the isolation of OXA-72-producing Acinetobacter pittii in Brazil. A carbapenem-resistant A. pittii strain was recovered from a hospitalized female patient from Espírito Santo, Southeastern Brazil. PCR screening and DNA sequencing allowed us to identify the presence of bla OXA-72 . We observed bla OXA-72 in a ~11 kb plasmid and flanked by XerC/XerD-binding sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infections due to multidrug resistant Gram-negative pathogens are of great concern worldwide, as they are frequently associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. The occurrence of Pseudomonas spp. producing Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases (KPCs) imposes a great challenge through treatment course of bloodstream infections (BSIs). Pseudomonas putida has been recognized as an emerging pathogen of healthcare associated infections (HAIs). Therefore, we aimed to report a case of a non-fatal case of peripheral line associated BSI (PLA-BSI) in an immunocompromised host due to P. putida harboring blaKPC-2 gene in Brazil. A P. putida isolate was recovered from a blood culture of a 72-year-old man admitted at a University Hospital, identified by BD Phoenix? 100 (Becton, Dickinson and Company), causing PLA-BSI. The species identification was confirmed by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and resistance to carbapenems were confirmed by Epsilometer test (E-test®). Additionally, the presence of important carbapenemases genes (blaKPC, blaNDM, blaOXA-48-like, blaSPM, blaIMP, blaVIM) was investigated by Polymerase Chain Reaction. The bacterial isolate was confirmed as meropenem resistant P. putida harboring blaKPC-2 gene. Thereofre, these fidings suggest that P. putida can work as a reservoir for resistance genes as this bacterium has the ability to disseminate through water-fluids inside hospital and community settings. Moreover, this paper highlights that a frequent and worldwide disseminated mechanism of resistance (blaKPC-2) is currently occurring among uncommon agents of BSI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare accuracy, precision, and residual volume of commonly used syringes for intravitreal injections (IVIs) and to assess the intraocular pressure (IOP) rise by variations in volumes delivered., Design: Experimental laboratory study., Subjects: No subjects were involved in this study., Methods: We tested 8 syringe models with 2 different needle setups, with 2 different solutions (distilled water or glycerin) and target volumes (50 and 70 μL). To obtain the delivered and residual volumes, we weighed the syringe-needle setups with scale before liquid withdrawal, with liquid, and after liquid release. We also created an experimental eye model to determine the transient rise in IOP following stepwise 10-μL increases in injection volumes., Main Outcome Measures: Delivered and residual volumes, IOP rise., Results: We tested a total of 600 syringe-needle setups. Becton Dickinson (BD) Ultra-Fine (0.34 ± 0.28 μL), Zero Residual (1.53 ± 1.15 μL), and Zero Residual Silicone Oil-free (1.40 ± 1.16 μL) syringes showed the lowest residual volume (P < 0.001) in comparison with the others (range: 24.86 ± 1.78 μL for Injekt-F to 51.97 ± 3.37 μL for Omnifix-F). The most accurate setups were (percentage deviation from target volume): Zero Residual Silicone Oil-free (+ 0.70%), Zero Residual 0.3 ml (+ 4.49%), BD Ultra-Fine (+ 7.83%), Injekt-F (9.42%), Norm-Ject (+ 15.88%), Omnifix-F (+ 16.96%), BD Plastipak Brazil (+17.96%), and BD Plastipak Spain syringes (+ 19.41%). There was a statistically significant difference between the Zero Residual Silicone Oil-free syringe and all other syringes (P < 0.0001), except for the Zero Residual 0.3-ml syringe (P = 0.029). The coefficient of variation was low for all syringes. The modeled IOP rise ranged from 32.3 (standard deviation [SD], 1.4) mmHg for 20-μL injection volume to 76.5 (SD, 1.0) mmHg for 80-μL injection volume. For the standard 50-μL injection volume, the peak pressure was 50.7 (SD, 0.1) mmHg, and the pressure rise duration was 28 (SD, 2) minutes., Conclusions: There were significant differences in accuracy and residual volume between syringes, whereas they showed a high precision. Volume excess results in a considerable increase in IOP rise after injection. These findings may provide a relevant overview to clinicians and to both device and drug manufacturers regarding pharmacoeconomic, safety, and efficacy issues., Financial Disclosure(s): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article., (Copyright © 2023 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)