Background: In 5 hospitals located in Belo Horizonte city (>3,000,000 inhabitants) a focused survey on surgical site infection (SSI) was performed in patients undergoing CABG surgery. We statistically evaluated such incidences to enable study of the prediction power of SSI through pattern recognition algorithms, in this case the multilayer perceptron (MLP) artificial neural networks. Methods: Data were collected between July 2016 and June 2018 on SSI by the hospital infection control committees (CCIHs) of the hospitals involved in the research. We collected all data used in the analysis during their routine SSI surveillance procedures. The information was forwarded to the NOIS (Nosocomial Infection Study) Project, which uses the SACIH (Automated Hospital Infection Control System) software to collect data from a sample of hospitals participating voluntarily in the project. After data collection, 3 procedures were performed: (1) a treatment of the collected database for use of intact samples; (2) a statistical analysis on the profile of the hospitals collected; and (3) an assessment of the predictive power of 5 types of MLP (ie, backpropagation standard, momentum, resilient propagation, weight decay, and quick propagation) for SSI prediction. MLPs were tested with 3, 5, 7, and 10 hidden layer neurons and a database split for the resampling process (65% or 75% for testing and 35% or 25% for validation). They were compared by measuring the AUC (area under the curve; range, 0–1) presented for each of the configurations. Results: From 666 initial data, only 278 were able for analysis. We obtained the following statistics: 9.35% manifested SSIs; length of stay varied from 1 to 119 days, with ~40% staying between 10 and 19 days; 15.1% of the patients died. Regarding the prediction power of SSI, the experiments have a maximum value of 0.713. Conclusions: Despite the considerable loss rate of >50% of the database samples due to the presence of noise, it was possible to have a relevant sampling to evaluate the profile of hospitals in Belo Horizonte. In addition, for the predictive process, although some configurations had results equal to 0.5, others reached 0.713, which indicates that the automated SSI monitoring framework for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery is promising. To optimize data collection and to enable other hospitals to use the SSI prediction tool (available at www.sacihweb.com), a mobile application was developed.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None

Background: In 5 hospitals in Belo Horizonte (population, 3 million) between July 2016 and June 2018, a survey was performed regarding surgical site infection (SSI). We statistically evaluated SSI incidents and optimized the power to predict SSI through pattern recognition algorithms based on support vector machines (SVMs). Methods: Data were collected on SSIs at 5 different hospitals. The hospital infection control committees (CCIHs) of the hospitals collected all data used in the analysis during their routine SSI surveillance procedures; these data were sent to the NOIS (Nosocomial Infection Study) Project. NOIS uses SACIH software (an automated hospital infection control system) to collect data from hospitals that participate voluntarily in the project. In the NOIS, 3 procedures were performed: (1) a treatment of the database collected for use of intact samples; (2) a statistical analysis on the profile of the hospitals collected; and (3) an assessment of the predictive power of SVM with a nonlinear separation process varying in configurations including kernel function (Laplace, Radial Basis, Hyperbolic Tangent and Bessel) and the k-fold cross-validation–based resampling process (ie, the use of data varied according to the amount of folders that cross and combine the evaluated data, being k = 3, 5, 6, 7, and 10). The data were compared by measuring the area under the curve (AUC; range, 0–1) for each of the configurations. Results: From 13,383 records, 7,565 were usable, and SSI incidence was 2.0%. Most patients were aged 35–62 years; the average duration of surgery was 101 minutes, but 76% of surgeries lasted >2 hours. The mean hospital length of stay without SSI was 4 days versus 17 days for the SSI cases. The survey data showed that even with a low number of SSI cases, the prediction rate for this specific surgery was 0.74, which was 14% higher than the rate reported in the literature. Conclusions: Despite the high noise index of the database, it was possible to sample relevant data for the evaluation of general surgery patients. For the predictive process, our results were >0.50 and were 14% better than those reported in the literature. However, the database requires more SSI case samples because only 2% of positive samples unbalanced the database. To optimize data collection and to enable other hospitals to use the SSI prediction tool, a mobile application was developed (available at www.sacihweb.com).

Funding: None

Disclosures: None

Background: Based on data obtained from hospitals in the city of Belo Horizonte (population ~3,000,000), we evaluated relevant factors such as death, age, duration of surgery, potential for contamination and surgical site infection, plastic surgery, and craniotomy. The possibility of predicting surgical site infection (SSI) was then analyzed using pattern recognition algorithms based on MLP (multilayer perceptron). Methods: Data were collected by the hospital infection control committees (CCIHs) in hospitals in Belo Horizonte between 2016 and 2018. The noisy records were filtered, and the occurrences were analyzed. Finally, the predictive power of SSI of 5 types MLP was evaluated experimentally: momentum, backpropagation standard, weight decay, resilient propagation, and quick propagation. The model used 3, 5, 7, and 10 neurons in the occult layer and with resamples varied the number of records for testing (65% and 75%) and for validation (35% and 25%). Comparisons were made by measuring the AUC (area under the curve (range, 0–1). Results: From 1,096 records of craniotomy, 289 were usable for analysis. Moreover, 16% died; averaged age was 56 years (range, 40–65); mean time of surgery was 186 minutes (range, 95–250 minutes); the number of hospitalizations ranged from 1 (90.6%) to 8 (0.3%). Contamination among these cases was rated as follows: 2.7% contaminated, 23.5% potentially contaminated, 72.3% clean. The SSI rate reached 4%. The prediction process in AUCs ranged from 0.7 to 0.994. In plastic surgery, from 3,693 records, 1,099 were intact, with only 1 case of SSI and no deaths. The average age for plastic surgery was 41 years (range, 16–91); the average time of surgery was 218.5 minutes (range, 19–580 minutes); the number of hospitalizations ranged from 1 (77.4%) to 6 times (0.001%). Contamination among these cases was rated as follows: 27.90% potential contamination, 1.67% contaminated, and 0.84% infected. The prediction process ranged in AUCs from 0.2 to 0.4. Conclusions: We identified a high noise index in both surgeries due to subjectivity at the time of data collection. The profiles of each surgery in the statistical analyses were different, which was reflected in the analyzed structures. The MLP for craniotomy surgery demonstrated relevant predictive power and can guide intelligent monitoring software (available in www.sacihweb.com). However, for plastic surgeries, MLPs need more SSI samples to optimize outcomes. To optimize data collection and to enable other hospitals to use the SSI prediction tool, a mobile application was developed.

Disclosures: None

Funding: None

Background: This research represents an experiment based in surgical site infection (SSI) to patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy surgery procedures in hospitals in Belo Horizonte, (population, 3 million). We statistically evaluated such incidences and studied the SSI prediction power of pattern recognition algorithms, the artificial neural networks based in multilayer perceptron (MLP). Methods: Between July 2016 and June 2018, data on SSI were collected by the hospital infection control committees (CCIH) of the 3 hospitals involved in the research. They collected all data used in the analysis during their routine SSI surveillance procedures. The information was forwarded to the NOIS (Nosocomial Infection Study) Project, which used SACIH (ie, automated hospital infection control system software) to collect data from a sample of hospitals participating voluntarily in the project. After data collection, 3 procedures were performed for SSI prediction: (1) a treatment of the database collected for the use of intact samples; (2) a statistical analysis on the profile of the hospitals collected; and (3) an assessment of the predictive power of 5 types of MLP (ie, backpropagation standard, momentum, resilient propagation, weight decay, and quick propagation). MLPs were tested with 3, 5, 7, and 10 hidden-layer neurons and a database split for the resampling process (65% or 75% for testing, 35% or 25% for validation). They were compared by measuring area under the curve (AUC; range, 0–1) presented for each of the configurations. Results: From 1,166 records collected, only 665 records were enabled for analysis. Regarding statistical data: the average duration of surgery was 100 minutes (range, 31–180); patients were aged 41–49 years; the SSI rate was low (only 10 cases); the average length of stay was 2 days; and there were no deaths among the cases. Moreover, 29% of the operative sites were contaminated and 57% were potentially contaminated, revealing a high rate of potential contamination in the operative sites. The prediction process achieved 0.995. Conclusions: Despite the noise in the database, it was possible to obtain a relevant sampling to evaluate the profile of hospitals in Belo Horizonte. In addition, for the predictive process, although some settings achieved AUC results of 0.5, others achieved and AUC of 0.995, indicating the promise of the automated SSI monitoring framework for abdominal hysterectomy surgery (available in www.sacihweb.com). To optimize data collection and to enable other hospitals to use the SSI prediction tool, a mobile application was developed.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None

Background: In 7 hospitals in Belo Horizonte, a city with >3,000,000 inhabitants, a survey was conducted between July 2016 and June 2018, focused on surgical site infection (SSI) in patients undergoing arthroplasty surgery procedures. The main objective is to statistically evaluate such incidences and enable a study of the prediction power of SSI through pattern recognition algorithms, the MLPs (multilayer perceptron). Methods: Data were collected on SSI by the hospital infection control committees (CCIHs) of the hospitals involved in the research. All data used in the analysis during their routine SSI surveillance procedures were collected. The information was forwarded to the NOIS (Nosocomial Infection Study) Project, which used SACIH automated hospital infection control system software to collect data from a sample of hospitals participating voluntarily in the project. After data collection, 3 procedures were performed: (1) a treatment of the database collected for the use of intact samples; (2) a statistical analysis on the profile of the hospitals collected; and (3) an assessment of the predictive power of 5 types of MLP (backpropagation standard, momentum, resilient propagation, weight decay, and quick propagation) for SSI prediction. MLPs were tested with 3, 5, 7, and 10 hidden layer neurons and a database split for the resampling process (65% or 75% for testing and 35% or 25% for validation). The results were compared by measuring AUC (area under the curve; range, 0–1) presented for each of the configurations. Results: Of 1,246 records, 535 were intact for analysis. We obtained the following statistics: the average surgery time was 190 minutes (range, 145–217 minutes); the average age of the patients was 67 years (range, 9–103); the prosthetic implant index was 98.13%; the SSI rate was 1.49%, and the death rate was 1.21%. Regarding the prediction power, the maximum prediction power was 0.744. Conclusions: Despite the considerable loss rate of almost 60% of the database samples due to the presence of noise, it was possible to perform relevant sampling for the profile evaluation of hospitals in Belo Horizonte. For the predictive process, some configurations have results that reached 0.744, which indicates the usefulness of the structure for automated SSI monitoring for patients undergoing hip arthroplasty surgery. To optimize data collection and to enable other hospitals to use the SSI prediction tool (available in www.sacihweb.com ), a mobile application was developed.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None

Globalization has been one of the biggest driving forces of the last half century. There has been substantial disagreement about the impact that increased international integration has on income inequality. Though most agree that globalization positively affects economic output, it is no surprise that it leads to relative winners and losers within nations. The question that remains is where in the income distribution are these relative gains and losses occurring? We offer a broader picture of globalization's effects on inequality by using a dynamic compositional approach to test the impact of globalization and relative factor endowments on the composition of income. Using data from four countries, we model the effects of globalization on quantiles of the income distribution. Our findings suggest that globalization has substantial (and divergent) effects across income strata, and that these effects differ across nations based on relative factor endowments.

This work describes the effects of different atmospheres used during the thermal treatment of hematite films synthesized on transparent conductive substrates of fluorine-doped tin oxide by a newly reported wet chemical route assisted by microwave. The as-synthesized films were subjected to additional thermal treatment at 750 °C for 30 min in different gas flux (air, O2, and N2) to obtain a desirable phase and surface activation. A series of techniques were used to elucidate effects of each atmosphere used during the thermal treatment. The morphology of the films, as analyzed by top-view and cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy images, showed no significant changes and was composed of rods homogeneously distributed over the substrate, which covered the immersed area with a thickness between 98 and 100 nm. The photoelectrochemical response of the N2-hematite films was found to be 80 and 50% more efficient at 1.23 VRHE (reversible hydrogen electrode) than those of films produced in air and an O2 atmosphere. The photocurrent enhancement achieved by treatment in an oxygen-deficient atmosphere was attributed to the improvement of hematite catalytic activity, which produced a hematite–electrolyte interface favorable for water oxidation. Since an increase in the donor density by one order of magnitude was found for the N2-hematite films, a reduction of charge transfer resistance was expected in these films. However, the Nyquist plot analysis showed that the O2-hematite film had a lower charge transfer resistance. As a result, it is impossible to relate the photocurrent enhancement observed in N2-hematite film to electronic changes or vacancy formation, as previously reported in the literature. Indeed, by performing photoelectrochemical measurements in the presence of hole scavengers, it became clear that the major improvement caused by the oxygen-deficient atmosphere was in the catalytic activity efficiency of the hematite films for water oxidation. It was found that the oxygen-deficient atmosphere could improve the overall photoelectrochemical performance of the hematite by acting as a hole scavengers. This finding contrasts with a previous report, in which the use of an oxygen-deficient atmosphere during the phase transformation from akaganeite to hematite was found to enhance the photocurrent density by inducing an increased donor density caused by the formation of vacancies [Y. Ling et al., Angew. Chem., Int. Ed.51, 4074 (2012)].

Photoelectrochemical cells offer a more elegant, clean, and sustainable way to store solar energy as chemical energy through the splitting of water into its primitive form (H2 and O2). Among many metal oxides pointed as candidates for this application, the fundamental characteristics of hematite (α-Fe2O3), such as abundance, excellent chemical stability in an aqueous environment, and favorable optical band gap, emerged as a promising photoanode. Although attractive, the poor optoelectronic properties necessitate a large application of overpotential for split water assisted by solar irradiation, limiting the high performance of this material. Since the electrode was built using materials in nanoscale, significant advances were achieved. This review highlights new insights and recent progress in the use of a purpose-built material process to build hematite electrodes for improving photocatalytic activity. In addition, reduction on the required overpotential by effective control-treatment of morphology and surface of vertically aligned hematite nanorods will be addressed. An interesting set of results were also discussed revisiting a novel strategy recently presented in the literature and complementary advances was illustrated. These latest efforts aid in pointing out the challenges or obstacles to be overcome using this morphology and in defining new opportunities.

In the present work, the interactions between forsterite-91 with distilled water and forsterite-91 with artificial seawater were studied at two pHs (2.0 and 8.0) using different techniques. A large increase in pH was observed for samples incubated at an initially acidic pH (2.0) due to the dissolution of forsterite-91 in distilled water and artificial seawater. Thus, in acidic hydrothermal vents, an increase in the amount of hydrocarbons and magnetite should be expected due to the release of Fe(II). The pHPZC decreased and the pHIEP increased when forsterite-91 was treated with distilled water and artificial seawater. The ions from the artificial seawater had an effect on zeta potential. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and X-ray diffractograms showed halite in the samples of forsterite-91 mixed with artificial seawater. The presence of halite or adsorption of ions on the surface of forsterite-91 could affect the synthesis of magnetite and hydrocarbons in hydrothermal vents, due to a decrease in the dissolution rates of forsterite-91. The dissolution of forsterite-91 yields low concentrations of Fe(III) and Mn(II) as detected by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Microanalysis of forsterite-91 showed a higher amount of Mn, with an oxidation that was likely not +II, as Mn in supernatant solutions was only detected by EPR spectroscopy after mixing with artificial seawater at pH 2.0. As Fe(III) and Mn(II) are catalyst constituents of magnetite and manganese oxide, respectively, their presence is important for synthesis in hydrothermal vents. Etch pits were observed only in the forsterite-91 sample mixed with distilled water at pH 8.0. Na, Cl, S, Ca and K were detected in the samples mixed with artificial seawater by SEM–EDS. Si, Mg, Fe and Al were detected in almost all supernatant samples due to forsterite-91 dissolution. Cr was not dissolved in the experiments, thus Cr in the mineral could serve as an effective catalyst for Fischer Tropsch Types (FTT) reactions in hydrothermal vent systems. X-ray diffractograms of the original forsterite-91 also showed peaks arising from zeolites and clinochlore. After the samples were treated with artificial seawater, X-ray diffractograms showed the dissolution of zeolite. Experiments should be performed in the natural environment to verify the potential for zeolites to act as a catalyst in hydrothermal vents.

This study investigated the synthesis of goethite under conditions resembling those of the prebiotic Earth. The artificial seawater used contains all the major elements as well as amino acids (α-Ala, β-Ala, Gly, Cys, AIB) that could be found on the prebiotic Earth. The spectroscopic methods (FT-IR, EPR, Raman), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction showed that in any condition Gly and Cys favoured the formation of goethite, artificial seawater plus β-Ala and distilled water plus AIB favoured the formation of hematite and for the other synthesis a mixture of goethite and hematite were obtained. Thus in general no protein amino acids (β-Ala, AIB) favoured the formation of hematite. As shown by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) spectra the interaction between Cys and Fe3+ of goethite is very complex, involving decomposition of Cys producing sulphur, as well as interaction of carboxylic group with Fe3+. SERS spectra also showed that amino/CN and C-CH3 groups of α-Ala are interacting with Fe3+ of goethite. For the other samples the shifting of several bands was observed. However, it was not possible to say which amino acid groups are interacting with Fe3+. The pH at point of zero charge of goethites increased with artificial seawater and decreased with amino acids. SEM images showed when only goethite was synthesized the images of the samples were acicular and when only hematite was synthesized the images of the samples were spherical. SEM images for the synthesis of goethite with Cys were spherical crystal aggregates with radiating acicular crystals. The highest resonance line intensities were obtained for the samples where only hematite was obtained. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and Mössbauer spectra showed for the synthesis of goethite with artificial seawater an isomorphic substitution of iron by seawater cations. Mössbauer spectra also showed that for the synthesis goethite in distilled water plus Gly only goethite was synthesized and in artificial seawater plus Cys a doublet due to interaction of iron with artificial seawater/Cys was observed. It should be pointed out that EPR spectroscopy did not show the interaction of iron with artificial seawater/Cys.

A sediment core was studied to characterize the influences of Holocene sea-level variations in the Barra Seca River valley, in the Atlantic rainforest, Linhares, Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil. Biological proxies (pollen, spores, and sponge spicules), 14C dating, granulometry, δ13C, δ15N, C/N and major chemical elements revealed the establishment and the evolution of a paleo-estuary during the interval from ∼7700–585 cal BP. During the interval ∼7700–7000 cal BP, the study site was occupied by a bay-head delta, the inner portion of the paleo-estuary, presenting the most dense mangrove coverage of the entire record. In the interval ∼7000–3200 cal BP, the site was occupied by the central basin, possibly a consequence of the landward migration of the paleo-estuary. This interval presents reduced mangrove coverage, probably due to the permanent flooding of the valley. From ∼3200 cal BP, the marine influence at the site decreased probably as result of the seaward migration of the coast line. From ∼600 cal BP, the modern floodplain and freshwater lake were established. This interpretation is in agreement with the sea-level curves for the southeastern Brazilian coast, except for the fact that evidence of sea levels lower than the present at ∼4000 and ∼2500 cal BP as suggested by some authors were not found.

Analysis of biological proxies in lake sediment and geochemical analysis of soil profiles reveal natural vegetation dynamics, with climate inferences, since the late Pleistocene in a fragment of the pristine lowland Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil. Carbon isotopes from soil organic matter and 14C ages from the humin fraction indicate the dominance of C3 plants since ∼17,000 cal BP. Palynological analysis of a sediment core indicates the presence of Atlantic Forest vegetation since 7700 cal BP. Changes in the relative abundance of tree ferns and palms suggest the predominance of a humid period from ∼7000–4000 cal BP and establishment of the modern seasonal climate at ∼4000 cal BP. Data indicate maintenance of the regional forest coverage since the late Pleistocene, corroborating previous suggestions that this region was a forest refuge during less humid periods of the late Pleistocene and Holocene. Some plant taxa with currently divided distributions between Amazonia and the Atlantic Forest colonized the region since at least 7500 cal BP, indicating an earlier connection between Amazonia and Atlantic Forest.

This article analyzes the impact of The Community Resources Group Receivership Program undertaken from 1998 to 2002 that provided clean property titles to residents in several informal housing colonias (subdivisions) in South Texas. Survey data were gathered from 260 low‐income households comprising two populations: those who had secure title from the outset, and those who were beneficiaries of the land titling program. Focus group interviews were conducted to explore how the beneficiaries construct the meaning of ownership before and after title “regularization.” Formal titling consolidates understandings of absolute property relations in comparison with de facto rights born of use (legal or not), which strengthens people's sense of self‐esteem and potential for political involvement. We found that, contrary to conventional wisdom, title provision per se appears to have little direct impact either upon home improvement or upon residents' receiving enhanced access to credit and financial services. We also found evidence that informality and illegality is likely to reemerge as owners die intestate, and as they revert to informal land market property transfers.

This is the first report of the weevil Naupactus curtus Boheman favouring Ascochyta disease on coffee plants in Brazil. From August to October 2008 (the period of N. curtus occurrence), six coffee crops were monitored with the evaluation of 565 coffee plants. Leaves showing injuries caused by N. curtus and Ascochyta coffeae strains were found in Ponte Nova and Jaboticatubas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. A positive and significant correlation between the number of lesions caused by the weevil and those resulting from an infection by the Ascochyta disease was observed. These results suggest that insect control may be an alternative in order to reduce disease proliferation.

A new nanocomposite electrolyte was synthesized using a simple non-hydrolytic sol-gel route without specific treatment of the reagents. The nanocomposite ion conductor was prepared with citric acid, tetraethyl orthosilicate and ethylene glycol, forming polyester chains. The time-consuming drying step that is a necessary part of most chemical syntheses was not required in the preparation of the present nanocomposite electrolyte of the polyelectrolyte class, because only Li+ is mobile in the polymeric chain. The effects of the concentration of Li, SiO 2 and SnO2nanoparticles were investigated in terms of Li+ ionic conductivity. Conductivity measurements as a function of the metal oxide nanocrystal content in the nanocomposite revealed a significant increase in conductivity at approximately 5 and 10 wt % of nanoparticles. The new nanocomposite conductor proved to be fully amorphous at room temperature, with a vitreous transition temperature of approximately 228K (−45°C). The material is solid and transparent, displaying an ionic conductivity of 10−4to 10−5 (O.cm)−1at room temperature presenting excellent reproducibility of all these characteristics. Cyclic voltammetry measurements indicate that the hybrid electrolyte possesses outstanding electrochemical stability.

The morphology of Genipa americana seeds and post-seminal development was studied, and its germination response investigated in relation to storage in water, substrate water volume, osmotic potential and temperature and light regimes. The seeds are flattened and seedlings are phaneroepigeal with leafy cotyledons. Seeds stored in water kept viable for up to 6 mo, but germination and seedling emergence were reduced after 4 mo. Germination was not affected under water-logged conditions, but seedling emergence was reduced at the water volume corresponding to a water column two times deeper than the seeds' mean thickness (70 ml). When seeds were osmotically stressed, a reduction in the rate and germination percentage occurred at −0.2 MPa and germination was drastically inhibited at −0.6 MPa. Seeds germinated in a wide range of temperatures (15–40 °C), with optimum at continuous temperatures of 25 and 30 °C. Light was not required for germination, and no dormancy mechanisms were observed. The seed and seedling morphology and the germinative responses of the species may permit its regeneration in periodically flooded lowland forests and riparian habitats and are probably key factors in explaining the species' wide distribution.