Risk of Vibrio transmission linked to the consumption of crustaceans in coastal towns of Côte d'Ivoire

The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of Vibrio spp. transmission from crustaceans to humans in two coastal towns of C?te d'Ivoire. Bacteriologic analysis was performed on 322 crustacean samples obtained from six markets in Abidjan and one in Dabou. Suspected Vibrio colonies were identified by morphological, cultural, biochemical, and molecular tests and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. PCR assays were used to further characterize Vibrio strains. A survey on consumption of crustaceans was conducted among 120 randomly selected households in Abidjan. Overall, Vibrio spp. were isolated from 7.8% of the crustacean samples studied, at levels as high as 6.3 log CFU/g. Of the Vibrio strains identified, 40% were V. alginolyticus, 36% were V. parahaemolyticus, and 24% were nontoxigenic V. cholerae; the latter two species can cause mild to severe forms of seafood-associated gastroenteritis. Among interviewed households, 11.7% reported daily consumption of crustaceans, confirming the high probability of exposure of human population to Vibrio spp., and 7.5% reported symptoms of food poisoning after consumption of crustaceans. The absence of genes encoding major virulence factors in the studied strains, i.e., cholera toxin (ctxA and ctxB) in V. cholerae and thermostable direct hemolysin (tdh) and thermostable direct hemolysin-related hemolysin (trh) in V. parahaemolyticus, does not exclude the possibility of exposure to pathogenic strains. However, human infections are not common because most households (96.7%) boil crustaceans, usually for at least 45 min (85.9% of households) before consumption.     

An Ultrasonic Evaluation and Quality Control Tool for Adhesive Bonds

The problem of predicting adhesive bond performance for both surface preparation and undercure defects has been studied using an ultrasonic, experimental test bed system. This experimental test bed incorporates the ultrasonic and computer equipment necessary to acquire and process data from various types of adhesively bonded test specimens. The computer hardware and software has been developed to allow the design of reliable pattern recognition algorithms for the evaluation of surface preparation and bond cure. The specific problem studied is the inspection of the adhesive bond in an aluminum to aluminum step-lap joint whose strength could be affected by improper surface preparation or undercure. A set of 154 bond specimens was used to design an algorithm that is 91% reliable for separating the specimens into a good class, those bonds with no defects, or a weak class, bonds with poor surface preparation or undercured adhesive layer. A Fisher Linear Discriminant function was selected by the test bed as the best pattern recognition routine for this classification problem.     

Application of sol gel spin coated yttria-stabilized zirconia layers for the improvement of solid oxide fuel cell electrolytes produced by atmospheric plasma spraying

Due to its high thermal stability and purely oxide ionic conductivity, yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) is the most commonly used electrolyte material for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Standard electrolyte fabrication techniques for planar SOFCs involve wet ceramic techniques such as tape-casting or screen printing, requiring sintering steps at temperatures above 1300 °C. Plasma spraying (PS) may provide a more rapid and cost efficient method to produce SOFCs without sintering. High-temperature sintering requires long processing times and can lead to oxidation of metal alloys used as mechanical supports, or to detrimental interreactions between the electrolyte and adjacent electrode layers. This study investigates the use of spin coated sol gel derived YSZ precursor solutions to fill the pores present in plasma sprayed YSZ layers, and to enhance the surface area for reaction at the electrolyte-cathode interface, without the use of high-temperature firing steps. The effects of different plasma conditions and sol concentrations and solid loadings on the gas permeability and fuel cell performance have been investigated.     

Failure Analysis and Robust Optimization of an Exhaust Manifold Diffuser Plate

Diffuser plates in exhaust system manifolds are designed to provide uniform flow pattern within the manifold for maximum utilization of the catalytic converter substrate during high-temperature applications. In this paper, failure analysis of a diffuser which survived only 20% duration of a manifold crack test and various design optimization studies of the diffuser plate using computer-aided engineering (CAE) analyses are presented. During the manifold crack test, the failure occurred at the inner and outer periphery of the diffuser. Metallurgical failure analysis coupled with CAE thermal fatigue analysis of the component concluded that thermal fatigue was the root cause of the failure. The new recommended robust design showed considerable improvement in the thermal durability of the diffuser plate assembly.     

The effects of run‐of‐river dam spill on Columbia River microplankton

Dams, increasingly common in riverine systems worldwide, are particularly prevalent on the Columbia River (CR) in the United States. Hydroelectric projects, including both storage and run‐of‐river (i.e., minimal storage) structures, on the mainstem CR highly manage water flow, often by releasing water over (rather than through) dams as “spill.” To test the effects of run‐of‐river dam spill on microplankton abundance and composition, we sampled above and below two dams in the lower CR before and during spill conditions in spring 2016 and during and after spill conditions in late summer 2007. We tested the effects of location (i.e., above vs. below dams), spill condition (i.e., before, during, and after spill), and their interaction on microplankton abundance. Generally, diatoms were most abundant during springtime, whereas cyanobacteria were most abundant in late summer. Most taxa were not significantly different in abundance above and below dams, regardless of spill status; although cyanobacteria abundance was marginally higher below dams in summer 2007 (p = .04). Abundances of all taxa were significantly different between pre‐spill and spill periods in spring 2016, whereas only diatom and flagellate abundances were significantly different between spill and post‐spill periods in summer 2007. We conclude that spill conditions may influence microplankton abundance, but are not likely to affect microplankton communities on either side of run‐of‐river dams on the CR. This is important information for dam managers concerned about ecosystem impacts of spill.     

Access to Pediatric Neurologists - Will Telemedicine Close the Gap?

Many times both physicians and patients take for granted that they are qualified to treat certain ages and certain conditions. Neurological conditions are diagnosed and treated by neurologists, pediatric neurologists, and neurosurgeons. What is the difference and why does it matter? It is a balancing act of risk and benefit and the physician’s obligation to know her/his limitations. Telemedicine may play a key role in enabling a greater access to pediatric neurologists. If telemedicine becomes more available, then access even in more remote areas without child neurologists may be possible. As this article discusses, there may be certain limitations to using telemedicine, which is distinguishable from telehealth, in relation to pediatric neurology. This article examines the type of neurological physician that is the most appropriate; the availability of and access to pediatric neurologists; and the applicability of telemedicine to the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric neurological conditions.     

A fracture criterion for nuclear graphite

Measurements of tensile and flexural strength of a nuclear graphite using small bar specimens are reported. A theoretical model of failure is described in which critical defects are assumed to be associated with cleaved large coke particles. It is further assumed that these subcritical cracks can only extend by the cleavage of small particles which surround them. The size of the critical flaws is defined on the basis of linear elastic fracture mechanics. The model predicts the observed variation in flexural strength in three- and four-point bending as the knife edge spacings are varied. It slightly overestimates the observed ratio of tensile-to-bend strength, and this is thought to be due to some of the simplifying assumptions made in the models formulation. The potential of the model for use in engineering applications is discussed.     

Radon and moisture impacts from interventions integrated with housing energy retrofits

Energy retrofits can reduce air exchange, raising the concern of whether indoor radon and moisture levels could increase. This pre/post-intervention study explored whether simple radon interventions implemented in conjunction with energy retrofits can prevent increases in radon and moisture levels. Treatment homes (n = 98) were matched with control (no energy retrofits or radon intervention) homes (n = 12). Control homes were matched by geographic location and foundation type. t-tests were used to determine whether post-energy retrofit radon and moisture level changes in treatment homes significantly differed from those in control homes. The radon interventions succeeded in preventing statistically significant increases in first floor radon using arithmetic (p = 0.749) and geometric means (p = 0.120). In basements, arithmetic (p = 0.060) and geometric (p = 0.092) mean radon levels statistically significantly increased, consistent with previous studies which found that basement radon levels may increase even if first floor levels remain unchanged. Changes in infiltration were related to changes in radon (p = 0.057 in basements; p = 0.066 on first floors). Only 58% of the change in infiltration was due to air sealing, with the rest due to weather changes. There was no statistically significant association between air sealing itself and radon levels on the first floor (p = 0.664). Moisture levels also did not significantly increase.     

The effect of popping,soaking, boiling and roasting processes on antinutritional factors in chickpeas and red kidney beans

This study was conducted to determine the effect that a popping head (like a rice cake machine), a low-shear and low-water processing technology, has on the concentration of antinutritional factors in chickpeas and red kidney beans. Seeds were popped under several parameters (popping time, sample format and equipment type) and analysed against soaking (1:5 w/v in reverse osmosis water for 24 h), roasting (100 g at 180 °C for 20 min) and boiling (1:5 w/v in reverse osmosis water at 100 ± 1 °C for 1 h) processes. Popping and roasting significantly reduced phytic acid content in chickpeas (6%–22%) and red kidney beans (16%–39%). In contrast, phytic acid content after soaking and boiling was not significantly different to raw seeds. Condensed tannins were significantly reduced in red kidney beans after soaking (74%), boiling (100%) and 4 s popping (28%–42%) treatments and increased in both pulses after roasting (137%) and 8 s popping (21%–47%). Further analysis showed that the soluble phenolic content increased with popping, but total and bound phenolic content was reduced. These results demonstrate that the high temperatures and pressures applied during the popping process effectively reduce antinutritional factors in pulses, compared to conventional processing methods.