Background: Healthcare services are increasingly shifting from inpatient to outpatient settings. Outpatient settings such as emergency departments (EDs), oncology clinics, dialysis clinics, and day surgery often involve invasive procedures with the risk of acquiring healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). As a leading cause of HAI, Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in outpatient settings has not been sufficiently described in Canada. The Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program (CNISP) aims to describe the epidemiology, molecular characterization, and antimicrobial susceptibility of outpatient CDI across Canada. Methods: Epidemiologic data were collected from patients diagnosed with CDI from a network of 47 adult and pediatric CNISP hospitals. Patients presenting to an outpatient setting such as the ED or outpatient clinics were considered as outpatient CDI. Cases were considered HAIs if the patient had had a healthcare intervention within the previous 4 weeks, and they were considered community-associated if there was no history of hospitalization within the previous 12 weeks. Clostridioides difficile isolates were submitted to the National Microbiology Laboratory for testing during an annual 2-month targeted surveillance period. National and regional rates of CDI were stratified by outpatient location. Results: Between January 1, 2015, and June 30, 2019, 2,691 cases of outpatient-CDI were reported, and 348 isolates were available for testing. Most cases (1,475 of 2,691, 54.8%) were identified in outpatient clinics, and 72.8% (1,960 of 2,691) were classified as community associated. CDI cases per 100,000 ED visits were highest in 2015, at 10.3, and decreased to 8.1 in 2018. Rates from outpatient clinics decreased from 3.5 in 2016 to 2.7 in 2018 (Fig. 1). Regionally, CDI rates in the ED declined in Central Canada and increased in the West after 2016. Rates in outpatient clinics were >2 times higher in the West compared to other regions. RT027 associated with NAP1 was most common among ED patients (26 of 195, 13.3%), whereas RT106 associated with NAP11 was predominant in outpatient clinics (22 of 189, 11.6%). Overall, 10.4% of isolates were resistant to moxifloxacin, 0.5% were resistant to rifampin, and 24.2% were resistant to clindamycin. No resistance was observed for metronidazole, vancomycin, or tigecycline. Compared to CNISP inpatient CDI data, outpatients with CDI were younger (51.8 ± 23.3 vs 64.2 ± 21.6; P < .001), included more females (56.4% vs 50.9%; P < .001), and were more often treated with metronidazole (63.0% vs 56.1%; P < .001). Conclusions: For the first time, CDI cases identified in outpatient settings were characterized in a Canadian context. Outpatient CDI rates are decreasing overall, but they vary by region. Predominant ribotypes vary based on outpatient location. Outpatients with CDI are younger and are more likely female than inpatients with CDI.

Funding: None

Disclosures: Susy Hota reports contract research for Finch Therapeutics.

The Virasoro algebra $\mathcal {L}$ is an infinite-dimensional Lie algebra with basis {Lm, C| m ∈ ℤ} and relations [Lm, Ln] = (n − m)Lm+n + δm+n,0((m3 − m)/12)C, [Lm, C] = 0 for m, n ∈ ℤ. Let $\mathfrak a$ be the subalgebra of $\mathcal {L}$ spanned by Li for i ≥ −1. For any triple (μ, λ, α) of complex numbers with μ ≠ 0, λ ≠ 0 and any non-trivial $\mathfrak a$ -module V satisfying the condition: for any v ∈ V there exists a non-negative integer m such that Liv = 0 for all i ≥ m, non-weight $\mathcal {L}$ -modules on the linear tensor product of V and ℂ[∂], denoted by $\mathcal {M}(V,\mu ,\Omega (\lambda ,\alpha ))\ (\Omega (\lambda ,\alpha )=\mathbb {C}[\partial ]$ as vector spaces), are constructed in this paper. We prove that $\mathcal {M}(V,\mu ,\Omega (\lambda ,\alpha ))$ is simple if and only if μ ≠ 1, λ ≠ 0, α ≠ 0. We also give necessary and sufficient conditions for two such simple $\mathcal {L}$ -modules being isomorphic. Finally, these simple $\mathcal {L}$ -modules $\mathcal {M}(V,\mu ,\Omega (\lambda ,\alpha ))$ are proved to be new for V not being the highest weight $\mathfrak a$ -module whose highest weight is non-zero.

Objective To investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (K-A-P) about food safety and nutrition in Chinese adults who were recruited to the online survey during the epidemic of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Design Participants were recruited by an online snowball sampling method. An electronic questionnaire was sent to our colleagues, students, friends, other professionals, and their referrals helped us recruit more participants. The questionnaire included sociodemographic information, the attention paid to COVID-19, K-A-P about food safety and nutrition. Multiple and logistic regression analysis were used to explore related factors of K-A-P.

Subjects Totally 2272 participants aged 24.09±9.14 years, from 27 provinces, autonomous districts or municipalities, with 18.3% male, and 83.4% with a medical background.

Results The total possible knowledge score was 8.0, the average score was 5.2 ± 1.6, and 4.2% obtained 8.0. The total possible attitudes score was 8.0, the average score was 6.5 ± 1.4, and 36.1% obtained 8.0. The total possible food safety practices score was 5.0, the average score was 3.7 ± 1.0, and 20.7% obtained 5.0. During this public emergency, 79.4% participants changed diet habits, including increasing vegetables, fruit and water intake, and reducing sugary drinks and snacks. Gender, age, educational and professional background, disease history, the attention paid to COVID-19 and related knowledge were associated with K-A-P.

Conclusion There was room for the improvement of K-A-P in participants during this public health emergency and further strengthening education about food safety and nutrition is needed. Findings indicate that education should address biased or misleading information and promote nutritious food choices and safe food practices.

A new, modified version of the cable-suspended Ice and Bedrock Electromechanical Drill (IBED) was designed for drilling in firn, ice, debris-rich ice and rock. The upper part of the drill is almost the same for all drill variants and comprises four sections: cable termination, a slip-ring section, an antitorque system and an electronic pressure chamber. The lower part of the IBED comprises an auger core barrel, reamers, a core barrel for ice/debris-ice drilling and a conventional geological single-tube core barrel or custom-made double-tube core barrel. First, the short and full-scale field versions of the IBED were tested at an outdoor testing stand and a testing facility with a 12.5 m-deep ice well. Then, in the 2018–2019 summer season, the IBED was tested in the field at a site ~12 km south of Zhongshan Station, East Antarctica, and a ~6 cm bedrock core was recovered from a 198 m-deep borehole. A total of 18 d was required to penetrate the ice sheet. The retrieved core samples of blue ice, basal ice and bedrock provided valuable information regarding the Earth's paleo-environment.

The surface topology of biomaterial has a definite effect on the growth behavior of nerve cells for peripheral nerve regeneration. In this study, the silk fibroin (SF) film with different anisotropic microgroove/ridge was constructed by micropatterning technology. The effects of topologies width on the directional growth of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons were evaluated. The results showed that the topological structure of the SF film with higher SF concentration was more clear and complete. The microtopography of the SF film with a concentration of 15% and a groove width of around 30 μm could effectively guide the directional growth of the nerve fibers of DRG. And nerve fibers could obviously form nerve fiber bundles which may have a certain pavement effect on the recovery of nerve function. The study indicated that the SF film with a specific width of the topological structure may have potential applications in the field of directional nerve regeneration.

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Our goal is to develop a silk fibroin scaffold-based neural tissue construct and characterize it in a rat model of cortical injury. We aim to optimize the construct for transplantation, test pharmacologic interventions that may enhance its survival, and evaluate its integration with the host brain. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: To optimize cell density and health, silk fibroin scaffolds varying in porosity and stiffness were seeded with E18 GFP+ rat cortical neurons and imaged at DIV 5. Different seeding methods and loads were similarly tested. Constructs, loaded with an inhibitor of apoptosis (ROCK inhibitor Y-27632) or necroptosis (necrostatin-1) in a fibrin hydrogel, were transplanted into aspiration lesions created in the primary motor cortex of Sprague-Dawley rats, and graft survival was compared to negative control at 2 weeks. Lastly, constructs were transplanted and evaluated via immunohistochemistry at 1, 2, and 4-month time points for survival, differentiation, inflammation, and anatomic integration. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Scaffolds with smaller pore sizes retained more cells after seeding. Softer scaffolds, which enhance hemostasis at transplantation, did not compromise cell health on live/dead assay. We anticipate that seeding concentrated cell suspensions onto multiple surfaces of the construct will produce the most evenly seeded and cell-dense constructs. Based on a prior pilot study, we anticipate that necrostatin-1 will significantly improve intermediate-term construct survival. We have observed up to 15% cell survival at 1 month with retained neuronal identity and abundant axonal projections into the brain despite evidence of persistent inflammation; we anticipate similar outcomes at later time points. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Our construct, due to its exceptional longevity in vitro, manipulability, and modularity, is an attractive platform for neural tissue engineering. In the present work, we optimize and validate this technology for transplantation with the goal of addressing the morbidity burden of cortical injury.

The study investigated novel wear and corrosion resistance of stainless steel and 316 stainless steel samples which were successfully prepared by laser melting deposition. Phase composition, microstructure, microhardness, wear resistance, and electrochemical corrosion resistance were studied. The experimental results showed that novel stainless steel was mainly composed of α-Fe and a few carbide phase (Cr, Fe)7C3. The microhardness of novel stainless steel was about 2.7 times greater than 316 stainless steel. Meanwhile, the specific wear rate of novel stainless steel and 316 stainless steel was 2.63 × 10−5 mm3/N m and 1.63 × 10−4 mm3/N m, respectively. The wear volume of 316 stainless steel was 6.19 times greater than novel stainless steel. The corrosion current and the corrosion potential of novel stainless steel and 316 stainless steel were 1.02 × 10−7 A/cm2 and 1.5 × 10−7 A/cm2, and −138.8 mV, −135.9 mV, respectively, in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. Therefore, both microhardness and wear resistance of novel stainless steel were greatly improved, with high corrosion resistance.

The rhoptry kinase 18 of Toxoplasma gondii (TgROP18) has been identified as a key virulence factor that allows the parasite to escape from host immune defences and promotes its proliferation in host cells. Although much research is focused on the interaction between host cells and TgROP18, the development of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against TgROP18 has not been reported till date. To produce mAbs targeting TgROP18, two hybridomas secreting mAbs against TgROP18, designated as A1 and T2, were generated using cell fusion technology. The subtypes of the A1 and T2 mAbs were identified as IgG3 λ and IgM κ, and peptide scanning revealed that the core sequences of the antigenic epitopes were 180LRAQRRRSELVFE192 and 351NYFLLMMRAEADM363, respectively. The T2 mAb specifically reacted with both T. gondii type I and Chinese I, but not with T. gondii type II, Plasmodium falciparum or Schistosoma japonicum. Finally, the sequences of heavy chain and light chain complementarity-determining regions of T2 were amplified, cloned and characterized, making the modification of the mAb feasible in the future. The development of mAbs against TgROP18 would aid the investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the modulation of host cellular functions by TgROP18, and in the development of strategies to diagnose and treat Toxoplasmosis.

A scalable battery recycling strategy to recover and regenerate solid electrolytes and cathode materials in spent all solid-state batteries, reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gases.

With the rapidly increasing ubiquity of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), sustainable battery recycling is a matter of growing urgency. The major challenge faced in LIB sustainability lies with the fact that the current LIBs are not designed for recycling, making it difficult to engineer recycling approaches that avoid breaking batteries down into their raw materials. Thus, it is prudent to explore new approaches to both fabricate and recycle next-generation batteries before they enter the market. Here, we developed a sustainable design and scalable recycling strategy for next-generation all solid-state batteries (ASSBs). We use the EverBatt model to analyze the relative energy consumption and environmental impact compared to conventional recycling methods. We demonstrate efficient separation and recovery of spent solid electrolytes and electrodes from a lithium metal ASSB and directly regenerate them into usable formats without damaging their core chemical structure. The recycled materials are then reconstituted to fabricate new batteries, achieving similar performance as pristine ASSBs, completing the cycle. This work demonstrates the first fully recycled ASSB and provides critical design consideration for future sustainable batteries.

In 2018, the Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia) finalized its first video compression format AV1, which is jointly developed by the industry consortium of leading video technology companies. The main goal of AV1 is to provide an open source and royalty-free video coding format that substantially outperforms state-of-the-art codecs available on the market in compression efficiency while remaining practical decoding complexity as well as being optimized for hardware feasibility and scalability on modern devices. To give detailed insights into how the targeted performance and feasibility is realized, this paper provides a technical overview of key coding techniques in AV1. Besides, the coding performance gains are validated by video compression tests performed with the libaom AV1 encoder against the libvpx VP9 encoder. Preliminary comparison with two leading HEVC encoders, x265 and HM, and the reference software of VVC is also conducted on AOM's common test set and an open 4k set.

We numerically investigate the mechanism resulting in fate change of a hydrophobic sphere impacting onto a confined pool, that is, at the same impact speed, it does not submerge in a wide pool but does in a narrow pool. We find that the reflection of the impact-induced gravity-capillary waves from the pool boundary is responsible for this phenomenon. In particular, the return of the wave to the symmetry axis may coincide with the rising of the impacting sphere to the water surface, which corresponds to the critical conditions of the fate change. Moreover, for the spheres at the onset of submersion in a wide pool, our analysis suggests that this scenario also accounts for an interesting observation in the numerical simulations. That is, the effective pool size $S_{c}$ , beyond which the submersion of impacting spheres is no longer affected by the pool size $S$ , is mainly dependent on the sphere diameter, no matter whether the surface waves are the capillary or gravity waves. For $S<S_{c}$ , two important pool sizes ( $S_{w,1}$ and $S_{w,2}$ , and $S_{w,2}\geqslant S_{w,1}$ ) are identified at the same impact speed, and the sphere submersion takes place at $S_{w,1}\leqslant S\leqslant S_{w,2}$ . Based on the flow features identified in simulations, a scaling law is proposed to correlate the Weber number and Bond number with $S_{w}$ . The theoretical prediction is shown to agree well with the numerical results.

Both konjac glucomannan (KGM) and inulin oligosaccharide have been shown to improve bowel function, but their effects on the mucosal barrier function and immunity are not fully understood. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of a low-level supplementation of dietary fibres on the colonic mucosal barrier function, antioxidant enzyme defence and immunity. C57BL/6J mice (6 weeks of age, eight per group) were randomly assigned to consume one of the following diets: control or control diet supplemented with 2 % (w/w) of KGM, inulin oligosaccharide (degree polymerisation = 8) or KGM+inulin (1 %, w/w each (K+I)). Fresh faeces were collected on days 19–21. Mice were killed on day 22 after fasting. Segments of colon tissues were processed for histological procedure and stained for acidic mucins and tight junction protein marker zona occludin-1 (ZO-1). The remaining tissues were processed to determine the gene expression of mucin 2, tight junction proteins, antioxidant enzymes and cytokines. The plasma cytokines were measured. Results indicated that KGM, inulin and K+I significantly increased the mucosal layer thickness, mucin density (granule number/crypt) and gene expression of Muc2 as compared with the control. All fibre treatments increased the gene expressions of ZO-1, occludin, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase π, catalase and IL-10. In addition, all fibre treatments increased faecal butyrate and probiotics, and plasma IL-10 concentrations. In conclusion, supplementation of low-level, 2 % (w/w), of K+I was sufficient to enhance the mucosal barrier function and anti-inflammatory status.