The cold storage of biological control agents, such as parasitoids, is a valuable method utilised in mass rearing to ensure the availability of sufficient individuals when needed. This study evaluated the effects of storage temperatures of 9°C and 12°C, along with incubation periods of 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 days, on the biological fitness of Bracon adoxophyesi Minamikawa (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). The results demonstrated that the survival rates of adult wasps exceeded 90.0% after being stored at both 9°C and 12°C for 35 days. At these temperatures, female wasps exhibited their longest lifespan at 14 days, whereas male longevity decreased progressively from 7 to 35 days. The parasitism rates observed were 43.0% at 9°C and 46.0% at 12°C after 7 days of refrigeration, with a subsequent reduction noted after 35 days. The fecundity of parasitic wasps decreased with the extension of storage time, but no significant difference was found in total egg production within 28 days of storage. Additionally, cold storage did not significantly affect the survival of the offspring; however, the proportion of females among the raised offspring was higher than in the control group. In comparing fitness parameters to the control, wasp vitality was notably higher after 21 days of storage at 9°C or 14 days at 12°C, indicating that these combinations of temperature and time are optimal. The findings of this study serve as a reference for optimising cold storage techniques and facilitating the large-scale application of B. adoxophyesi.

Propagation characteristics (propagation regions and cutoffs) of parallel propagating modes (Langmuir, right- and left-handed circularly polarized waves) are studied for relativistic, weakly relativistic and non-relativistic magnetized electron plasma using the kinetic model. The dispersion relation for parallel propagating modes in relativistic electron plasma is investigated by employing the Maxwell–Boltzmann–J üttner distribution function and the final dispersion relation obtained is more general since no approximation is used. As the integrals in the relativistic dispersion relation cannot be done analytically so these integrals have been solved with the numerical quadrature approach. For $\eta \leq 1$ (ratio of rest mass energy to thermal energy), the increase in the effective mass of electrons will result in a change in the mass-dependent quantities (plasma frequency, electron cyclotron frequency, electron sound velocity, etc.) which in turn significantly affect the propagation characteristics of parallel propagating modes. It is observed that the propagation region for these parallel propagating modes decreases and cutoff points are shifted to lower values when we consider a relativistic plasma environment. Moreover, a low-density and high-temperature plasma is more transparent as compared with a high-density and low-temperature plasma for these modes.

Owing to their ultra-high accelerating gradients, combined with injection inside micrometer-scale accelerating wakefield buckets, plasma-based accelerators hold great potential to drive a new generation of free-electron lasers (FELs). Indeed, the first demonstration of plasma-driven FEL gain was reported recently, representing a major milestone for the field. Several groups around the world are pursuing these novel light sources, with methodology varying in the use of wakefield driver (laser-driven or beam-driven), plasma structure, phase-space manipulation, beamline design, and undulator technology, among others. This paper presents our best attempt to provide a comprehensive overview of the global community efforts towards plasma-based FEL research and development.

According to Tocqueville, the freedom of the press, which he treats as an extension of the freedom of speech, is a primary constituent element of liberty. Tocqueville treats the freedom of the press in relation to and as an extension of the right to assemble and govern one’s own affairs, both of which he argues are essential to preserving liberty in a free society. Although scholars acknowledge the importance of civil associations to liberty in Tocqueville’s political thought, they routinely ignore the importance he places on the freedom of the press and speech. His reflections on the importance of the free press and speech may help to shed light on the dangers of recent attempts to censor the press and speech.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly spread globally, forcing countries to apply lockdowns and strict social distancing measures. The aim of this study was to assess eating habits and lifestyle behaviours among residents of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region during the lockdown. A cross-sectional study among adult residents of the MENA region was conducted using an online questionnaire designed on Google Forms during April 2020. A total of 2970 participants from eighteen countries participated in the present study. During the pandemic, over 30 % reported weight gain, 6·2 % consumed five or more meals per d compared with 2·2 % before the pandemic (P < 0·001) and 48·8 % did not consume fruits on a daily basis. Moreover, 39·1 % did not engage in physical activity, and over 35 % spent more than 5 h/d on screens. A significant association between the frequency of training during the pandemic and the reported change in weight was found (P < 0·001). A significantly higher percentage of participants reported physical and emotional exhaustion, irritability and tension either all the time or a large part of the time during the pandemic (P < 0·001). Although a high percentage of participants reported sleeping more hours per night during the pandemic, 63 % had sleep disturbances. The study highlights that the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic caused a variety of lifestyle changes, physical inactivity and psychological problems among adults in the MENA region.

Background: Infection prevention and control (IPC) workflows are often retrospective and manual. New tools, however, have entered the field to facilitate rapid prospective monitoring of infections in hospitals. Although artificial intelligence (AI)–enabled platforms facilitate timely, on-demand integration of clinical data feeds with pathogen whole-genome sequencing (WGS), a standardized workflow to fully harness the power of such tools is lacking. We report a novel, evidence-based workflow that promotes quicker infection surveillance via AI-assisted clinical and WGS data analysis. The algorithm suggests clusters based on a combination of similar minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data, timing of sample collection, and shared location stays between patients. It helps to proactively guide IPC professionals during investigation of infectious outbreaks and surveillance of multidrug-resistant organisms and healthcare-acquired infections. Methods: Our team established a 1-year workgroup comprised of IPC practitioners, clinical experts, and scientists in the field. We held weekly roundtables to study lessons learned in an ongoing surveillance effort at a tertiary care hospital—utilizing Philips IntelliSpace Epidemiology (ISEpi), an AI-powered system—to understand how such a tool can enhance practice. Based on real-time case discussions and evidence from the literature, a workflow guidance tool and checklist were codified. Results: In our workflow, data-informed clusters posed by ISEpi underwent triage and expert follow-up analysis to assess: (1) likelihood of transmission(s); (2) potential vector(s) identity; (3) need to request WGS; and (4) intervention(s) to be pursued, if warranted. In a representative sample (spanning October 17, 2019, to November 7, 2019) of 67 total isolates suggested for inclusion in 19 unique cluster investigations, we determined that 9 investigations merited follow-up. Collectively, these 9 investigations involved 21 patients and required 115 minutes to review in ISEpi and an additional 70 minutes of review outside of ISEpi. After review, 6 investigations were deemed unlikely to represent a transmission; the other 3 had potential to represent transmission for which interventions would be performed. Conclusions: This study offers an important framework for adaptation of existing infection control workflow strategies to leverage the utility of rapidly integrated clinical and WGS data. This workflow can also facilitate time-sensitive decisions regarding sequencing of specific pathogens given the preponderance of available clinical data supporting investigations. In this regard, our work sets a new standard of practice: precision infection prevention (PIP). Ongoing effort is aimed at development of AI-powered capabilities for enterprise-level quality and safety improvement initiatives.

Funding: Philips Healthcare provided support for this study.

Disclosures: Alan Doty and Juan Jose Carmona report salary from Philips Healthcare.

Background: Infection prevention surveillance for cross transmission is often performed by manual review of microbiologic culture results to identify geotemporally related clusters. However, the sensitivity and specificity of this approach remains uncertain. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analysis can help provide a gold-standard for identifying cross-transmission events. Objective: We employed a published WGS program, the Philips IntelliSpace Epidemiology platform, to compare accuracy of two surveillance methods: (i.) a virtual infection practitioner (VIP) with perfect recall and automated analysis of antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST), sample collection timing, and patient location data and (ii) a novel clinical matching (CM) algorithm that provides cluster suggestions based on a nuanced weighted analysis of AST data, timing of sample collection, and shared location stays between patients. Methods: WGS was performed routinely on inpatient and emergency department isolates of Enterobacter cloacae, Enterococcus faecium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa at an academic medical center. Single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) were compared within core genome regions on a per-species basis to determine cross-transmission clusters. Moreover, one unique strain per patient was included within each analysis, and duplicates were excluded from the final results. Results: Between May 2018 and April 2019, clinical data from 121 patients were paired with WGS data from 28 E. cloacae, 21 E. faecium, 61 K. pneumoniae, and 46 P. aeruginosa isolates. Previously published SNV relatedness thresholds were applied to define genomically related isolates. Mapping of genomic relatedness defined clusters as follows: 4 patients in 2 E. faecium clusters and 2 patients in 1 P. aeruginosa cluster. The VIP method identified 12 potential clusters involving 28 patients, all of which were “pseudoclusters.” Importantly, the CM method identified 7 clusters consisting of 27 patients, which included 1 true E. faecium cluster of 2 patients with genomically related isolates. Conclusions: In light of the WGS data, all of the potential clusters identified by the VIP were pseudoclusters, lacking sufficient genomic relatedness. In contrast, the CM method showed increased sensitivity and specificity: it decreased the percentage of pseudoclusters by 14% and it identified a related genomic cluster of E. faecium. These findings suggest that integrating clinical data analytics and WGS is likely to benefit institutions in limiting expenditure of resources on pseudoclusters. Therefore, WGS combined with more sophisticated surveillance approaches, over standard methods as modeled by the VIP, are needed to better identify and address true cross-transmission events.

Funding: This study was supported by Philips Healthcare.

Disclosures: None

The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology of COVID-19 in Nigeria with a view of generating evidence to enhance planning and response strategies. A national surveillance dataset between 27 February and 6 June 2020 was retrospectively analysed, with confirmatory testing for COVID-19 done by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The primary outcomes were cumulative incidence (CI) and case fatality (CF). A total of 40 926 persons (67% of total 60 839) had complete records of RT-PCR test across 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory, 12 289 (30.0%) of whom were confirmed COVID-19 cases. Of those confirmed cases, 3467 (28.2%) had complete records of clinical outcome (alive or dead), 342 (9.9%) of which died. The overall CI and CF were 5.6 per 100 000 population and 2.8%, respectively. The highest proportion of COVID-19 cases and deaths were recorded in persons aged 31–40 years (25.5%) and 61–70 years (26.6%), respectively; and males accounted for a higher proportion of confirmed cases (65.8%) and deaths (79.0%). Sixty-six per cent of confirmed COVID-19 cases were asymptomatic at diagnosis. In conclusion, this paper has provided an insight into the early epidemiology of COVID-19 in Nigeria, which could be useful for contextualising public health planning.

The aim of this study was to understand the universe of a group of Muslim women, focusing their experiences in a western society, their perception of cultural differences and the repercussion of these factors mental health. for such, we applied the qualitative method using the semidirected interview in eight Muslim women who live in Brazil. the sample was constructed using the snow-ball technique, closed according to the criterion of saturation of data. the emergent categories starting from the statements were analyzed and explained in the light of psychosocial theories. the interviewers showed great interest in bringing up visibility to the religious questions which permeate the life of the Muslim people, emphasizing the lack of knowledge of the Western world concerning these issues. They say they are discriminated in several aspects, especially in relation to their clothes; they questioned the Western idea of the subdued woman, introducing as counterpoint the submission to the rigid patterns of beauty and health which permeate the female western universe. General aspects of Islam were also dealt with, including sexuality, marriage, raising children and the relations with the people of a country with habits and traditions different from their own. the impact of September 11th on the lives of these women was evident, promoting fear and social exclusion. as these issues are closely related to mental health, the study of the religious and ethnic minorities aiming the comprehension of mental disease through a culturally sensitive medicine is urgent.