Search

Hospital infection control measures against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are often based on expert discretion due to the lack of detailed guidelines.To survey the current strategies for preventing the transmission of COVID-19 in medical institutions.Thirteen key issues related to the prevention of COVID-19 transmission within medical institutions were selected via discussion among infectious diseases specialists, and related critical questions were obtained following a review of national-level guidelines in government databases. Six hospitals had an open survey between 11All 46 hospitals responded to the survey. All operated screening clinics, but 89.1% (41/46) allowed symptomatic patients without COVID-19-associated symptoms to visit general outpatient clinics. Most hospitals (87.2%, 34/39) conducted polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for all hospitalized patients. Of 35/46 (76.1%) hospitals with pre-emptive isolation policies for hospitalized patients, 31 (88.6%) released patients from isolation after a single negative PCR test, while most (76.9%, 20/26) allowed shared-room accommodation for patients meeting the national criteria for release from isolation despite positive PCR results with above cycle threshold values (34.6%, 9/26), or after a certain period that satisfied the national criteria (26.9%, 7/26).Individual hospitals in South Korea are currently relying on experience to frame relevant guidelines, and responded differently to some infection control issues on hospital settings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Disinfection of shared spaces has become essential to minimize the spread of various diseases. An efficient disinfection device that can simultaneously inactivate airborne bacteria and surface-adhered bacteria in an enclosed space is required.An air-passable plasma filter (APF) was developed and applied to a chamber model to evaluate the efficacy of zone disinfection.The 60 L chamber consisted of a nebulizer, circulation fans, temperature and humidity monitors, an air-sampling port with a sealed gate, airborne bacteria-trapping media, and a built-in fan for evaluation. After spraying each bacterial strain (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Mycobacterium smegmatis) as a bioaerosol, airborne and surface-attached bacteria were quantified simultaneously to evaluate the zone-disinfection effect of APF.The operation of APF in the 60 L chamber showed a complete zone-disinfection effect for E. coli (10 min), S. epidermidis (10 min), and M. smegmatis (60 min) present in the air and on the walls at various locations. The time required to completely disinfect each of the airborne bacteria and surface-attached bacteria within the same space was different.APF has the potential to exhibit significant germicidal effects on various micro-organisms and can be an effective alternative for disinfection of enclosed spaces.

The bacterial effector protein RavZ is secreted by the intracellular pathogen Legionella pneumophila and inhibits host autophagy through an irreversible deconjugation of mammalian ATG8 (mATG8) proteins from autophagosome membranes. However, the roles of the LC3 interacting region (LIR) motifs in RavZ function remain unclear. In this study, we show that a membrane-targeting (MT) domain or the LIR motifs of RavZ play major or minor roles in RavZ function. A RavZ mutant that does not bind to mATG8 delipidated all forms of mATG8-phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) as efficiently as did wild-type RavZ. However, a RavZ mutant with a deletion of the MT domain selectively delipidated mATG8-PE less efficiently than did wild-type RavZ. Taken together, our results suggest that the effects of LIR motifs and the MT domain on RavZ activity are complementary and work through independent pathways. [BMB Reports 2019; 52(12): 700-705].

Mammals conserve multiple mammalian ATG8 proteins (mATG8s) consisting of γ-aminobutyric acid receptor-associated protein (GABARAP) and microtubule-associated protein 1 light-chain 3 (LC3) subfamilies that tightly bind to the autophagic membranes in a lipidated form. They are crucial in selective autophagy and recruit proteins bearing LC3-interacting region (LIR) motifs. However, because limited research tools are available, information about the specific roles of each lipidated mATG8 in selective autophagy is scarce. Here, we identified LIR motifs specific to the lipidated form of each mATG8 and characterized the residues critical for their selective interaction using cell-based assays and structural analyses. Then, we used these selective LIR motifs to develop probes and irreversible deconjugases that targeted selective lipidated mATG8s in the autophagic membrane, revealing that lipidated GABARAP subfamily proteins regulate aggrephagy of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-linked protein aggregates. Our tools will be useful in elucidating the functional significance of each mATG8 protein in autophagy research.

A moored barge alongside quay can be influenced by a nearby passing ship and its ship-generated waves. In this study, a time-domain numerical method based on a three-dimensional potential flow solver is developed to investigate the passing ship problem with a moored barge alongside quay. Potential flows around the passing ship and the moored barge alongside a quay is directly solved by using a classical finite element method. Total computational meshes including a passing ship, a moored barge and a quay is updated at each step with an efficient re-mesh algorithm. To validate the developed numerical method, a conventional ship wave problem and a passing ship problem on the open sea has been solved and the solutions are compared with the existing data. Then, a series of numerical computations were carried out to investigate the passing ship effect on a moored barge alongside quay. The characteristics of the passing ship effects are studied with varying the simulation parameters such as passing ship speed, separation distance, wall distances and waves. Focus is made on hydrodynamic forces due to the passing ship effect and its ship waves. Keywords: Passing ship, Barge, Quay, Time-domain simulation, Potential flow, Finite element method

Kim, Y.-T.; Park, J.-H.; Choi, B.-H.; Kim, D.H., and Kwon, H.-H., 2018. A Bivariate Frequency Analysis of Extreme Wave Heights and Periods Using a Copula Function in South Korea. In: Shim, J.-S.; Chun, I., and Lim, H.S. (eds.), Proceedings from the International Coastal Symposium (ICS) 2018 (Busan, Republic of Korea). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 85, pp. 566–570. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.Sea storms are generally described by a set of variables such as wave height, wave period and wave direction, and these random variables are typically treated as independent of one another. Moreover, univariate wave frequency analysis has been applied to estimate design wave heights corresponding to various return levels (e.g. 20, 50 and 200-year) using significant wave heights under stationary conditions. However, it has been acknowledged that these variables are often correlated with each other, and such dependence structure needs to be considered in the estimation of extreme quantiles. More specifically, a joint estimation of quantiles for different combinations of these variables such as wave heights and wave periods is required to reliably assess optimal design of coastal (or offshore) structures. Over the last several decades, accelerated sea level rise (SLR) and its impact on coastal areas have been reported in many parts of the world. Estimation of extreme quantiles of SLR as a nonstationary process play a crucial role in assessing these impacts. In these contexts, a multivariate frequency model using a copula function approach is introduced to describe sea storm risk, which is mainly characterized by wave heights and periods. The proposed multivariate frequency analysis offers several advantages over widely used univariate stationary frequency analysis including uncertainty estimation, improved representation of inter-dependency and significant improvement of compound risk estimation.

Grazing management practices affect watershed hydrology by altering vegetation cover and soil properties. Long-term success of grazing management depends on how well increased forage harvest efficiency is balanced with the need to maintain soil aggregate stability. The overall objective of this study was to assess the impacts of alternate grazing management practices including the light continuous (LC), heavy continuous (HC), adaptive multipaddock (MP) grazing, and no grazing (EX; exclosure) on hydrological processes at the ranch and watershed scales in a rangeland-dominated (71% rangeland) Clear Creek watershed (CCW) in north central Texas using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). Measured data on vegetation, soil physical and hydrological properties, and grazing management at four study ranches within the watershed (two under MP and one each under LC and HC grazing management) were used to parameterize the SWAT model. The SWAT model was calibrated and validated using the measured standing crop biomass and soil moisture data at the study ranches, and streamflow data at the watershed outlet over a 34-year period from 1980 to 2013. At the ranch scale, when the management was changed from the baseline MP grazing to HC grazing, the simulated average (1980 to 2013) annual surface runoff increased within a range of 106% to 117% and water yield increased within a range of 39% to 53%. While surface runoff was found to be a major contributor (52% to 67%) to streamflow under the HC grazing, baseflow was the dominant (55% to 66%) component of streamflow under the MP and EX practices. At the watershed scale, shifting grazing management from the baseline HC grazing to the improved MP grazing decreased surface runoff by about 47%, increased infiltration by 5%, and decreased streamflow by 29.5%. In addition, improvements to grazing decreased the simulated highest annual streamflow over the 1980 to 2013 period from 8.3 m3 s−1 ([293.1 ft3 sec−1] baseline scenario) to 6.2 m3 s−1 ([219 ft3 sec−1] MP grazing). This reduction in the maximum flow has a potential to reduce the risk of flooding downstream. However, these hydrologic responses vary according to the extent of grazing lands in a watershed. Overall, the MP grazing was found to be the best grazing management practice in terms of water conservation, vegetation regrowth, and the potential to reduce flood risk.

Xenophagy is a selective lysosomal degradation pathway for invading pathogens in host cells. However, invading bacteria also develop survival mechanisms to inhibit host autophagy. RavZ is a protein secreted by Legionella that irreversibly delipidates mammalian autophagy-related protein 8 (mATG8) on autophagic membranes in host cells via efficient autophagic membrane targeting. In this study, we leveraged the autophagic membrane-targeting mechanism of RavZ and generated a new autophagosome probe by replacing the catalytic domain of RavZ with GFP. This probe is efficiently localized to mATG8-positive autophagic membranes via a synergistic combination between mATG8 protein-binding mediated by the LC3-interacting region (LIR) motifs and phosphoinositide-3-phosphate (PI3P) binding mediated by the membrane-targeting (MT) domain. Furthermore, the membrane association activity of this new probe with an MT domain was more efficient than that of probes with a hydrophobic domain that were previously used in LIR-based autophagosome sensors. Finally, by substituting the LIR motifs of RavZ with selective LIR motifs from Fyco1 or ULK2, we developed new probes for detecting LC3A/B- or GABARAP subfamily-positive autophagic membranes, respectively. We propose that these new RavZ-based sensors will be useful for monitoring and studying the function of mATG8-positive autophagic membranes in different cellular contexts for autophagy research.

The recent escalation of the African swine fever (ASF) epidemic around the world has placed the majority of the world’s swine population under direct threat. To respond to this challenge,well-coordinated national, regional and global efforts will be required, not only by governments of the OIE Member Countries,national Veterinary Services and other public institutions, but also by a range of different stakeholders, including but not limited to the pig production industry, universities, research centres, forestry management bodies,hunter’s association, tourism and animal transportation organisations, civil society sector and international organisations. A holistic, inter-sectoral and trans-disciplinary collaborative approach, with effective and participative allocation and management of sufficientresources,will be of paramount importanceto prevent further spread and to control ASF worldwide. On the ground level,Member Countries should ensure the correct implementation of relevant OIE international standards and best practicesin order to effectively control ASF. Theseinclude,among others, the following measures: risk-based prevention and surveillance programmes, adequate biosecurity in pig production sectors and hunting grounds, pig traceability and movement control, effective official controls, wild pigmanagement, safe culling and disposal of animals and their contaminated products, improved collaboration among the multiple sectors involved, and continued education and awareness raising programsfor all relevant parties. Theresponseto the global threat must involve coordinated actionsby international organisations, research and scientific institutions,development partners, pig and meat producers, governmental agencies and other stakeholders to prevent further spread of this virus.It mustensure the wellbeing of farmers and poverty reduction, protect animal welfare,prevent disastrous economic loses, and allow further contribution of the pig sector to global health, wealth, equity and sustainability.Development ofeffective and safe vaccines for domestic pigs and wild boar is more important than ever, given the current global ASF threat associated with the worsening epidemiological situation and the lack of a vaccine to contain ASF outbreaks. There is an urgent need for an international consensus to design an appropriate global strategical framework and to carry out adequate actions related to the reduction of the burden of ASF, promotion of economic prosperity, ensuring food security and facilitating safetrade of pig commodities. Regional and national ASF control strategies should be based on the best practices, appropriate enforcement of the legislation and close coordination with stakeholders. Member Countries shouldincrease their technical capacities and expertise, identify and use the relevant scientific knowledge,and engage inrisk communication with relevant stakeholders.Integration of participatory approaches and stakeholder engagement, participation and ownership intheASF response are as essential for the development of a global agenda for ASF control as they arefor making technical recommendations for use by national Veterinary Services. Well-structured and properly implemented communication campaigns, targeted for establishing behavioural change and intersectoral collaboration should be an essential component of any ASF control programme. Thisarticle explores the global burden of the ASF situation, challengesfor effective control and eradication, lessons learned and thekey factors that need to be considered for a global coordinated response.

Autophagy allows for lysosomal cellular degradation of cytosolic components. In particular, neuronal autophagy is essential for cellular homeostasis and neuronal survival and is tightly regulated by several autophagy-related (ATG) proteins in post-mitotic neurons. Among these ATG proteins, the LC3/GABARAP proteins are known to regulate autophagosome biogenesis/maturation and cargo recognition. However, little is known about the role of GABARAP family proteins in neuronal autophagy despite their abundant expression in post-mitotic neurons. We have previously developed HyD (Hydrophobic Domain)-LIR (LC3-interacting region)-based autophagosome markers. In this study, to monitor GABARAP family proteins in autophagosomes of post-mitotic neurons, we improved the sensitivity of the probes for specifically detecting endogenous GABARAP family proteins by adding one more LIR motif to the LIR probes. We have tested the efficiency of two different LIRs, from ULK2 and Stbd1, in regard to their cellular localization to autophagosomes. HyD-2xLIR(ULK2)-GFP and HyD-2xLIR(Stbd1)-GFP demonstrated specific localization to GABARAP-positive autophagosomes relative to LC3B-positive autophagosomes in MEF/HeLa cells in an autophagy-dependent manner. Indeed, HyD-2xLIR(Stbd1)-GFP could efficiently detect GABARAP-positive autophagosomes in cultured cortical neurons. Our improved GABARAP-sensitive probes will contribute toward understanding the specific role of GABARAP family proteins in regard to neuronal autophagy.

In a general case, due to the axisymmetry of a HVCB (high-voltage circuit breaker), the models for fluid dynamics simulation and electrostatics simulation are created on two-dimensional planar. However, in some particular cases, for instance 8 evenly distributed through-holes machined on the auxiliary nozzle, precise three-dimensional modeling is obligatory for obtaining a reliable analysis result. In this contribution a three-dimensional simulation method is presented, which consists of two parts: a 3D fluid dynamics simulation implemented by Ansys CFX and a 3D electrostatic analysis implemented by COMSOL Electrostatics. The difference between using a precise three-dimensional model and compromised two-dimensional models is also investigated by a time-resolved comparison of analysis result. This provides an available reference for modeling simplification in a similar situation. Finally, the analysis result is utilized by a sophisticated equation to evaluate the transient breakdown voltage for the capacitive current switching test. The capacitive interruption performance in turn can be estimated by comparing the transient breakdown voltage to the transient recovery voltage.

Background Liver transplantation (LT) is the treatment of choice for hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). Recently, acute kidney injury (AKI) due to acute hepatitis A (HA) is increasing, but the outcome of LT is not well established. We investigated the outcomes of LT in patients with AKI due to acute HA compared with those of patients with HRS due to other causes. Methods We investigated the outcomes of LT in 20 patients with AKI associated with acute HA (HAV group) compared with 76 patients with hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) due to other causes (HRS group) at 3 Korea centers. Results Preoperative mean prothrombin time and serum creatinine level were higher in the HAV group than in the HRS group. But mean total bilirubin level was lower in the HAV group. There was no difference in Model for End-Stage Liver Disease scores. Post-transplantation patient and graft survival rates were similar between the 2 groups. More patients in the HAV group needed post-transplantation hemodialysis than in the HRS group (65.0% vs 38.2%; P = .043). However, post-transplantation estimated glomerular filtration rate was significantly higher in the HAV group after post-transplantation month 2 ( P Conclusions Peri-transplantation kidney function of the HAV group was poorer than that of HRS group. However, post-transplantation long-term renal outcome could be better in the HAV group.