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Tissue engineering predominantly relies on trial and error in vitro and ex vivo experiments to develop protocols and bioreactors to generate functional tissues. As an alternative, in silico methods have the potential to significantly reduce the timelines and costs of experimental programs for tissue engineering. In this paper, we propose a methodology to formulate, select, calibrate, and test mathematical models to predict cell population growth as a function of the biochemical environment and to design optimal experimental protocols for model inference of in silico model parameters. We systematically combine methods from the experimental design, mathematical statistics, and optimization literature to develop unique and explainable mathematical models for cell population dynamics. The proposed methodology is applied to the development of this first published model for a population of the airway-relevant bronchio-alveolar epithelial (BEAS-2B) cell line as a function of the concentration of metabolic-related biochemical substrates. The resulting model is a system of ordinary differential equations that predict the temporal dynamics of BEAS-2B cell populations as a function of the initial seeded cell population and the glucose, oxygen, and lactate concentrations in the growth media, using seven parameters rigorously inferred from optimally designed in vitro experiments., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Mostofinejad et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Introduction: Electronic medical record-based tools have been demonstrated to improve timeliness of x-ray order placement in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with coin-shaped foreign body ingestion. Similar efforts directed towards downstream processes are necessary to expedite diagnosis of an esophageal button battery. We predicted that improvement tools such as electronic medical record-based alerts and process standardization could be utilized to expedite x-ray completion., Methods: Using Plan, Do, Study, Act methodology, iterative interventions were implemented. In July 2017 a previously designed best practice advisory was linked to an automated notification page to the x-ray technician. Next, a standardized process was created where patients were gowned in triage and placed in a designated space awaiting x-ray. Workflow planning began in December 2018 and was formalized in February 2019. Time from arrival to x-ray completion was tracked for patients presenting with coin-shaped foreign body ingestion. Control charts were used to determine special cause variation., Results: An average of 10.1 patients (Range 4-21) presented monthly to the ED with coin-shaped foreign body ingestion. Automated pages to the x-ray technician were not associated with improved time to x-ray completion. Upon initiation of the new patient workflow, median time to x-ray completion decreased from 37.4 to 23.3 min., Conclusion: Time to x-ray completion in children presenting to the ED with ingestion of coin-shaped foreign bodies is not improved solely through electronic notification of the imaging technologist. Efforts to standardize processes for patient intake and placement are associated with more timely completion of imaging studies. Generalizability of findings may depend on contextual elements of individual healthcare units., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aims: To (a) evaluate the attitudes of local businesses, residents, and visitors regarding the trial of a voluntary smokefree and vapefree zone covering the central business streets of a popular tourist town in the South Island of New Zealand, and (b) observe smoking and vaping prevalence before and during the trial, to inform national and local smokefree environment advocacy work., Methods: The six-month smokefree and vapefree trial included an embedded mixed methods project evaluation to capture a range of stakeholder groups' views about the smokefree and vapefree zone. Data collection methods included face-to-face interviews, non-random pen and paper and online surveys, and observational scans. Qualitative data were analysed using a systematic iterative thematic approach, and simple descriptive quantitative analyses were applied to the survey data., Results: The analysis synthesised information from almost 1,000 respondents. A large majority of respondents supported smokefree and vapefree within the zone (visitors 84%; residents 67%; businesses 63%). A majority of responding visitors indicated that the same rules should apply to both smoking and vaping and that they would be either more likely or as likely to visit other tourist destinations in New Zealand if they had smokefree and vapefree zones. Implementing the initiative was associated with a reduction in the number of people visibly smoking and vaping within the zone., Conclusion: The weight of evidence from the project evaluation points towards a net benefit both for individuals and for the community from implementing voluntary smokefree and vapefree zones in tourist destinations in New Zealand., Competing Interests: Nil., (© PMA.)

Objectives/hypothesis: Children presenting to the emergency department with coin-shaped foreign body (FB) ingestion must be evaluated urgently to rule out a button battery. As many of these ingestions are well-appearing on presentation, delays in triage put patients at risk for further injury., Study Design: Quality initiative., Methods: A quality initiative, utilizing electronic medical record (EMR)-based tools, was implemented at our academic children's hospital. A chief complaint pertaining to coin-shaped FB ingestion was created and was linked to a best practice advisory, instructing assignment of acuity level 2 and the order of a Stat x-ray. A link to the hospital's relevant algorithm was provided. A review was conducted comparing children who underwent FB removal preinitiative (January 1, 2016-January 28, 2017) and postinitiative (January 31, 2017-August 30, 2017). Primary outcomes were frequency of assignment of acuity level 2 and time from patient arrival to x-ray order placement and x-ray completion., Results: Thirty-six patients in the baseline group and 30 in the postintervention group underwent FB removal. The rate of appropriate acuity assignment increased from 63.8% (23/36) pre implementation to 100% (30/30) postimplementation (P = .0003). Median time from arrival to imaging ordered and completed decreased from 36.5 to 4 minutes (95% confidence interval [CI]: -44 to -17) and 59 to 41 minutes (95% CI: -39 to -1), respectively., Conclusions: Utilization of EMR-based tools was associated with improved timeliness in initiation of care in metallic FB ingestion patients. Further initiatives will be aimed at downstream events in the diagnosis and treatment of these patients., Level of Evidence: NA Laryngoscope, 128:2697-2701, 2018., (© 2018 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Chicken infectious anaemia virus (CIAV) is a widely distributed immunosuppressive agent. SPF flocks and eggs used for vaccine production and diagnostics must be CIAV-free. Detection of CIAV infection in SPF flocks involves primarily serology or other invasive methods. In order to evaluate different types of samples for rapid detection of CIAV infection, a trial was conducted in serologically negative broiler breeder pullets vaccinated with a commercial live-attenuated CIAV vaccine. Controls and vaccinated groups were sampled before and after vaccination. Invasive and non-invasive samples were used for CIAV DNA detection by real-time PCR. Seroconversion occurred at 14 days post-inoculation (DPI) in the vaccinated group, whereas CIAV genome was detected by qPCR at 7 DPI in both invasive and non-invasive samples. Only invasive samples remained qPCR positive for CIAV DNA by 21 DPI despite seroconversion of the chickens.

Human salmonellosis linked to contact with live poultry is an increasing public health concern. In 2012, eight unrelated outbreaks of human salmonellosis linked to live poultry contact resulted in 517 illnesses. In July 2012, PulseNet, a national molecular surveillance network, reported a multistate cluster of a rare strain of Salmonella Braenderup infections which we investigated. We defined a case as infection with the outbreak strain, determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, with illness onset from 25 July 2012-27 February 2013. Ill persons and mail-order hatchery (MOH) owners were interviewed using standardized questionnaires. Traceback and environmental investigations were conducted. We identified 48 cases in 24 states. Twenty-six (81%) of 32 ill persons reported live poultry contact in the week before illness; case-patients named 12 different MOHs from eight states. The investigation identified hatchery D as the ultimate poultry source. Sampling at hatchery D yielded the outbreak strain. Hatchery D improved sanitation procedures and pest control; subsequent sampling failed to yield Salmonella. This outbreak highlights the interconnectedness of humans, animals, and the environment and the importance of industry knowledge and involvement in solving complex outbreaks. Preventing these infections requires a 'One Health' approach that leverages expertise in human, animal, and environmental health.