COVID-19 has caused a major global pandemic and necessitated unprecedented public health restrictions in almost every country. Understanding risk factors for severe disease in hospitalised patients is critical as the pandemic progresses. This observational cohort study aimed to characterise the independent associations between the clinical outcomes of hospitalised patients and their demographics, comorbidities, blood tests and bedside observations. All patients admitted to Northwick Park Hospital, London, UK between 12 March and 15 April 2020 with COVID-19 were retrospectively identified. The primary outcome was death. Associations were explored using Cox proportional hazards modelling. The study included 981 patients. The mortality rate was 36.0%. Age (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.53), respiratory disease (aHR 1.37), immunosuppression (aHR 2.23), respiratory rate (aHR 1.28), hypoxia (aHR 1.36), Glasgow Coma Scale <15 (aHR 1.92), urea (aHR 2.67), alkaline phosphatase (aHR 2.53), C-reactive protein (aHR 1.15), lactate (aHR 2.67), platelet count (aHR 0.77) and infiltrates on chest radiograph (aHR 1.89) were all associated with mortality. These important data will aid clinical risk stratification and provide direction for further research.

A survey of hospital antimicrobial stewardship programs was performed to validate core element achievement data from the National Healthcare Safety Network’s (NHSN) Patient Safety Component Annual Survey. In total, 89% of hospitals met all 7 core elements, compared to only 68% according to the NHSN survey.

Fomesafen is a protoporphyrinogen oxidase–inhibitor herbicide with an alternative mode of action that provides PRE weed control in strawberry [Fragaria×ananassa (Weston) Duchesne ex Rozier (pro sp.) [chiloensis×virginiana]] produced in a plasticulture setting in Florida. Plasticulture mulch could decrease fomesafen dissipation and increase crop injury in rotational crops. Field experiments were conducted in Balm, FL, to investigate fomesafen persistence and movement in soil in Florida strawberry systems for the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 production cycles. Treatments included fomesafen preplant at 0, 0.42, and 0.84 kg ai ha−1. Soil samples were taken under the plastic from plots treated with fomesafen at 0.42 kg ha−1 throughout the production cycle. Fomesafen did not injure strawberry or decrease yield. Fomesafen concentration data for the 0.0- to 0.1-m soil depth were described using a three-parameter logistic function. The fomesafen 50% dissipation times were 37 and 47 d for the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 production cycles, respectively. At the end of the study, fomesafen was last detected in the 0.0- to 0.1-m depth soil at 167 and 194 d after treatment in the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 production cycles, respectively. Fomesafen concentration was less than 25 ppb on any sampling date for 0.1- to 0.2-m and 0.2- to 0.3-m depths. Fomesafen concentration decreased significantly after strawberry was transplanted and likely leached during overhead and drip irrigation used during the crop establishment.

Olivines from igneous rocks generally have low calcium contents. However, olivines crystallized from strongly silica-undersaturated magmas occasionally contain large amounts of kirschsteinite (Ki" CaFeSiO4) and monticellite (Mo: CaMgSiO4) components. The purpose of this note is to report the first natural occurrence of kirschsteinite crystals that have lamite (La: CazSiO4) in the mineralogical norm.

Spinel lherzolite xenoliths from two localities in the Massif Central are undepleted in Al2O3, CaO, and Na2O. One suite from Tarreyres, is K2O depleted and amphibole-bearing whereas the other, from Monistrol d'Allier some 18 km away, is amphibole-free and has a higher mean K2O content of 0.035 wt.%. We present bulk major and minor element abundances in a harzburgite and a lherzolite from each locality and microprobe analyses of their constituent phases. Amphibole-bearing lherzolite and its pyroxenes are light-rare earth element (LREE) depleted, whereas amphibole-free lherzolite and its pyroxenes are LREE enriched. Both harzburgites and their pyroxenes are LREE enriched and one rock contains LREE enriched glass. The harzburgites are like harzburgite xenoliths from elsewhere but each lherzolite represents a previously unrecognized type of mantle in terms of the mineralogy and REE content. The implication for basalt genesis are briefly discussed.

Fomesafen is a protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PROTOX) inhibitor that has the potential to be used as an alternative mechanism of action for PRE nutsedge and broadleaf weed control in Florida production of small fruit and vegetables. Fumigation in the raised-bed plasticulture system may increase herbicide persistence. Fomesafen persistence could dissuade Florida growers from using the herbicide for fear of injury to subsequent susceptible crops. Field experiments were conducted in Balm, FL, in 2015 and 2016 to investigate the effect of fumigation on fomesafen dissipation, eggplant tolerance, and purple nutsedge control. Treatments included fomesafen at 0.42 kg ai ha−1, S-metolachlor at 1.06 kg ai ha−1, and a nontreated control in either a fumigated bed injected with a combination of 39% 1,3-dichloropropene and 59.6% chloropicrin at 336 kg ha−1 or no fumigant. Fomesafen concentration in the soil decreased by 83% and 96% from application to harvest in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Fumigation did not affect fomesafen dissipation in either year. At 2 wk after transplant (WATr), fomesafen caused 14% eggplant injury. Injury decreased to less than 5% at 6 WATr. Fomesafen and S-metolachlor treatments did not reduce eggplant height or yields compared with the nontreated control. Fumigation and fomesafen did not decrease purple nutsedge density; however, S-metolachlor applications resulted in a 48% reduction. Further research is needed to assess efficacy on broadleaf and grass weeds.

Mulches used in plasticulture systems could decrease dissipation of fomesafen, a protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitor, and dissuade producers from using the herbicide for fear of crop injury in subsequent growing seasons. Field experiments were conducted in Balm, FL, in 2015 and 2016 to investigate the effect of different plastic mulches on fomesafen dissipation, squash tolerance, and efficacy on purple nutsedge. Squash was injured less than 5% from fomesafen applications. The use of plastic mulches reduced purple nutsedge density at transplant by 60% compared with the no-mulch treatment. At transplant, treatments with low-density polyethylene mulch (LDPE), virtually impermeable film (VIF), and totally impermeable film (TIF) mulch had greater than 2-fold the fomesafen concentrations than treatments with clear or no mulch. At harvest in 2015, LDPE, VIF, and TIF treatments had greater fomesafen concentrations than clear and no-mulch treatments; however, concentrations in 2016 were similar for all treatments. Fomesafen can persist at high concentrations throughout the growing season in Florida plasticulture possibly limiting producer options for crop rotation and the use of cover crops.

Field studies were conducted in 2007 and 2008 near Lubbock and Lamesa, TX, to determine the effects of propazine alone and in combination with glyphosate applied PRE and POST on cotton growth, yield, and lint value (fiber quality). Propazine at 0.56, 0.84, and 1.12 kg ai ha−1 and in combination with glyphosate at 0.86 kg ae ha−1 was applied PRE, early POST, and mid-POST. Up to 11% injury was observed after propazine applied early POST and mid-POST at Lubbock in 1 of 2 yr, and up to 13% at all three application timings was observed at Lamesa in 1 of 2 yr. The greatest injury was observed 58 d after application following propazine at 1.12 kg ai ha−1 applied PRE; however, no injury was apparent 80 d after application. Cotton yield, lint values, and gross revenues were not affected by any treatment.

AIDA (Asteroid Impact and Deflection Assessment) is a project of a joint mission demonstration of asteroid deflection and characterisation of the kinetic impact effects. It involves the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (with support from members of NASA centers including Goddard Space Flight Center, Johnson Space Center, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory), and the European Space Agency (with support from members of the french CNRS/Cte dAzur Observatory and the german DLR). This assessment will be done using a binary asteroid target. AIDA consists of two independent but mutually supporting mission concepts, one of which is the asteroid kinetic impactor and the other is the characterisation spacecraft. The objective and status of the project will be presented.

Concentrations of air-borne bacteria and particles have been measured in turbulently ventilated operating theatres in full flow, half flow and zero flow conditions. Increased air-borne challenge produced by human activity and by mechanical cleaning procedures is demonstrated: die-away of this contamination is shown to be related to the ventilation rate. Ventilation can be reduced or turned off at night and during weekends, and cleaning can also be carried out, without increased risk of infection if full flow is restored one hour prior to preparation for surgery. Areas surrounding the theatres should remain at positive pressure with regard to the general hospital environment during low or no flow periods. The implementation of such energy-saving policies will substantially reduce theatre running costs without introducing infection hazards.

Instruments designed to assess psychiatric disorders in people with learning difficulties (mental handicap) were critically reviewed from a psychometric perspective. Major trends were found in the assessment of psychopathology related to DSM-III and depressive disorders although research in other areas was patchy. Although some psychometrically sophisticated measures were identified the area was characterized by an absence of important psychometric data for many measures. Future research should attend to developing assessments of schizophrenia, psycho-sexual disorders, adjustment disorders and the validation of screening procedures and instrument formats. Future studies should include more people with severe and profound learning difficulties.

An outbreak of infections due to multiple antibiotic-resistant bacteria took place over a period of approximately 18 months in a renal unit. Strains of Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Citrobacter spp. and Pseudomonas spp. were involved, and a variety of antibiotic resistances was encountered. Closely related plasmids encoding resistance to aztreonam, ceftazidime and piperacillin, possibly derived from an archetypal plasmid of 105 kb were found in the majority of isolates examined. After limiting the use of aztreonam the incidence of new patient isolates of multiple-resistant organisms was greatly reduced. This study demonstrated how molecular studies can contribute to the control of an outbreak situation in a hospital unit by providing an impetus to reduce the use of specific antibiotics.

Two experiments were carried out to determine endogenous excretion of purine derivatives in steers and lambs, and to investigate the relationship between microbial nucleic acid input and urinary excretion of purine nitrogen.

The endogenous excretion of allantoin after conversion of hypoxanthine, xanthine and uric acid to allantoin, was calculated to be 72 and 26 mg/kg W0·75 per day in steers and lambs, respectively, when the dietary protein contained no nucleic acid nitrogen.

The excretion of purine derivatives increased linearly with increasing microbial nucleic acid input in lambs. The excretion of purine derivatives in excess of endogenous contribution was closely related to the theoretically expected values. The average recovery was calculated as 0·96 for one sheep and 1·0 for the other.