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Objective: To document the types of, and mortality from, Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia in Australia and New Zealand, and determine factors associated with mortality. Design and setting: Prospective observational study in 27 independent or hospital pathology laboratories in Australia (24) and New Zealand (3), employing a web-based database to prospectively record demographic features, selected risk factors, principal antibiotic treatment and mortality data on all patients with positive blood cultures for S. aureus from June 2007 to May 2008. Main Outcome Measure(s): 30-day all-cause mortality. Result(s): 1994 episodes of S. aureus bacteraemia were identified, and complete 30-day follow-up data were available for 1865. Most episodes had their onset in the community (60.8%; 95% CI, 58.7%-63.0%). Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) caused 450 episodes (24.1%; 95% CI, 22.2%-25.9%), and 123 of these (27.3%) had a susceptibility profile consistent with community-associated MRSA. All-cause mortality at 30 days was 20.6% (95% CI, 18.8%-22.5%). On univariate analysis, increased mortality was significantly associated with older age, European ethnicity, MRSA infection, infections not originating from a medical device, sepsis syndrome, pneumonia/empyema, and treatment with a glycopeptide or other non-beta-lactam antibiotic. On multivariable analysis, independent predictors of mortality were age, sepsis syndrome, pneumonia/empyema, device-associated infection with a secondary focus, left-sided endocarditis, and treatment with a glycopeptide such as vancomycin, but not MRSA infection. Conclusion(s): S. aureus bacteraemia is a common infection in both the community and hospitals in Australia and New Zealand, and is associated with appreciable mortality. Invasive MRSA infection may be more life-threatening, partly because of the inferior efficacy of the standard treatment, vancomycin. National web-based surveillance of S. aureus bacteraemia and its outcomes is not only import

OBJECTIVE To document the types of, and mortality from, Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia in Australia and New Zealand, and determine factors associated with mortality. DESIGN AND SETTING Prospective observational study in 27 independent or hospital pathology laboratories in Australia (24) and New Zealand (3), employing a web-based database to prospectively record demographic features, selected risk factors, principal antibiotic treatment and mortality data on all patients with positive blood cultures for S. aureus from June 2007 to May 2008. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE 30-day all-cause mortality. RESULTS 1994 episodes of S. aureus bacteraemia were identified, and complete 30-day follow-up data were available for 1865. Most episodes had their onset in the community (60.8%; 95% CI, 58.7%-63.0%). Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) caused 450 episodes (24.1%; 95% CI, 22.2%-25.9%), and 123 of these (27.3%) had a susceptibility profile consistent with community-associated MRSA. All-cause mortality at 30 days was 20.6% (95% CI, 18.8%-22.5%). On univariate analysis, increased mortality was significantly associated with older age, European ethnicity, MRSA infection, infections not originating from a medical device, sepsis syndrome, pneumonia/empyema, and treatment with a glycopeptide or other non-beta-lactam antibiotic. On multivariable analysis, independent predictors of mortality were age, sepsis syndrome, pneumonia/empyema, device-associated infection with a secondary focus, left-sided endocarditis, and treatment with a glycopeptide such as vancomycin, but not MRSA infection. CONCLUSIONS S. aureus bacteraemia is a common infection in both the community and hospitals in Australia and New Zealand, and is associated with appreciable mortality. Invasive MRSA infection may be more life-threatening, partly because of the inferior efficacy of the standard treatment, vancomycin. National web-based surveillance of S. aureus bacteraemia and its outcomes is not only important but also

Silicone rubber formulations used for outdoor high voltage insulation are sometimes reported to be colonized by microorganisms. Different formulations show different sensitivity towards biological growth. In this study five rubbers were tested. Two standard practices were used, ASTM G21-90 and IEC 68-2-10. In addition a new method was developed to measure the rate of colonisation of a sample by biological growth. Results showed that the tested rubbers supported fungal growth when an external carbon source was available. Thus none of the silicones can be called bio-resistant. However the materials are not biodegradable either. This was clearly shown when mould spores were added to the samples in clean water, when none of the rubbers was contaminated. Some of the materials did, however, support growth when only nutrient salts, no carbon source, was added. The most bioresistant formulations contained the flame retardant zinc borate, indicating that this additive suppresses fungal growth. Further investigation with the new method supported that theory., QC 20100908. Uppdaterat från In press till Published (20100908)

Times Cited: 26

The Terrestrial Navigator, or Terregator, is a mobile robot device designed to provide a reliable and rugged testbed for both indoor and outdoor work in robotic navigation, guidance, sensor interpretation, and architectures. The design of mobile robots involves conflicting needs and a wide mix of disciplines. The Terregator design resolves many such needs through flexible and extensible mechanics, electronics, hardware and software. It is a six-wheeled skid-steer machine utilizing compliant tires for suspension, a hybrid power system provides for different modes and environments during operation and a rugged drive system and integral controller provide a complete package for doing robotics research.

The gold veins are hosted by subgreenschist to greenschist facies metasediments and show no spatial association with granitic rocks. They have distinctive mesoscopic textures characteristic of mesothermal veins and are isolated in structural and lithologic domains by post-mineralisation faulting. In some areas the tin mineralisation, which is spatially related to the late Palaeozoic granitoids, appears to postdate the gold mineralisation. Oxygen and hydrogen isotope studies confirm a dominantly magmatic source for tin and tin-tungsten mineralisation. Although a distal magmatic contribution cannot be discounted, the gold-quartz and antimony-gold-quartz veins were probably deposited from deep upwardly migrating fluids generated during regional tectonism., The gold veins are hosted by subgreenschist to greenschist facies metasediments and show no spatial association with granitic rocks. They have distinctive mesoscopic textures characteristic of mesothermal veins and are isolated in structural and lithologic domains by post-mineralisation faulting. In some areas the tin mineralisation, which is spatially related to the late Palaeozoic granitoids, appears to postdate the gold mineralisation. Oxygen and hydrogen isotope studies confirm a dominantly magmatic source for tin and tin-tungsten mineralisation. Although a distal magmatic contribution cannot be discounted, the gold-quartz and antimony-gold-quartz veins were probably deposited from deep upwardly migrating fluids generated during regional tectonism.

Optical and scanning electron microscopy of rare nuggety gold from the south-west corner of the Robbins Hill pit at Fosterville, in Victoria, has shown that its paragenesis was prolonged and complex, with results from fluid inclusions indicating that at least two fluids were involved in primary deposition. Limited microthermometry suggests that the high-grade visible gold, which occurs with stibnite and other sulphides in quartz veins, had been transported by much cooler fluids than those that deposited the main auriferous sulphide orebody. Significant post-depositional modification of the gold is indicated by intricate textures with associated secondary phases and unusual silver distributions. Despite its high Sb content, several hundred tonnes of the ore were stockpiled and eventually processed., Optical and scanning electron microscopy of rare nuggety gold from the south-west corner of the Robbins Hill pit at Fosterville, in Victoria, has shown that its paragenesis was prolonged and complex, with results from fluid inclusions indicating that at least two fluids were involved in primary deposition. Limited microthermometry suggests that the high-grade visible gold, which occurs with stibnite and other sulphides in quartz veins, had been transported by much cooler fluids than those that deposited the main auriferous sulphide orebody. Significant post-depositional modification of the gold is indicated by intricate textures with associated secondary phases and unusual silver distributions. Despite its high Sb content, several hundred tonnes of the ore were stockpiled and eventually processed.

Gold-bearing quartz veins in the Hodgkinson gold field are hosted in fault-bounded domains in subgreenschist facies sandstones, shales and melange rocks. The host shear zones cut three earlier deformation events and contain fault rocks which indicate multiple ductile-brittle and brittle processes. Stibnite-gold-quartz mineralisation is restricted to separate geological domains and vein episodes. Assimilation-textured quartz usually predates ribbon, buck and breccia quartz, although complex mixtures of quartz are common in the ore shoots. Fluid inclusion and isotopic studies suggest a fluid which initially cooled and decreased in salinity upon contact with the host rock and then remained constant during most of the mineralising event. It is possible that the auriferous fluids contained a component of highly evolved, D-poor meteoric water. However, the characteristics of the gold mineralising fluids mainly reflect extensive fluid-rock interaction either at the source or within fluid conduits, and the geological evidence suggests that mineralisation was caused by deeply sourced, upwardly migrating fluids., Gold-bearing quartz veins in the Hodgkinson gold field are hosted in fault-bounded domains in subgreenschist facies sandstones, shales and melange rocks. The host shear zones cut three earlier deformation events and contain fault rocks which indicate multiple ductile-brittle and brittle processes. Stibnite-gold-quartz mineralisation is restricted to separate geological domains and vein episodes. Assimilation-textured quartz usually predates ribbon, buck and breccia quartz, although complex mixtures of quartz are common in the ore shoots. Fluid inclusion and isotopic studies suggest a fluid which initially cooled and decreased in salinity upon contact with the host rock and then remained constant during most of the mineralising event. It is possible that the auriferous fluids contained a component of highly evolved, D-poor meteoric water. However, the characteristics of the gold mineralising fluids mainly reflect extensive fluid-rock interaction either at the source or within fluid conduits, and the geological evidence suggests that mineralisation was caused by deeply sourced, upwardly migrating fluids.