Bartonhuber7232

A flexible task-aware FIIA system is built to achieve various facial rendering effects, such as face image relighting and delighting, artistic illumination transfer, illumination-aware face swapping, or transfiguring. Qualitative and quantitative experiments show the effectiveness and flexibility of task-aware FIIA and provide new insights on PDE learning for visual analysis and rendering.As a result of the coronavirus disease pandemic, commercial hand hygiene products have become scarce and World Health Organization (WHO) alcohol-based hand rub formulations containing ethanol or isopropanol are being produced for hospitals worldwide. Neither WHO formulation meets European Norm 12791, the basis for approval as a surgical hand preparation, nor satisfies European Norm 1500, the basis for approval as a hygienic hand rub. We evaluated the efficacy of modified formulations with alcohol concentrations in mass instead of volume percentage and glycerol concentrations of 0.5% instead of 1.45%. Both modified formulations met standard requirements for a 3-minute surgical hand preparation, the usual duration of surgical hand treatment in most hospitals in Europe. Contrary to the originally proposed WHO hand rub formulations, both modified formulations are appropriate for surgical hand preparation after 3 minutes when alcohol concentrations of 80% wt/wt ethanol or 75% wt/wt isopropanol along with reduced glycerol concentration (0.5%) are used.Astro- and kobuviruses infect both humans and animals. Here, we report on the disease history, detection and genomic characterization of novel astro- and kobuviruses from fatal diarrhoea of two juvenile grey squirrels. The virus particles had enterovirus-like morphology and a diameter of 28-32 nm. Next-generation sequencing confirmed astro- and kobuviruses and sequence analysis revealed typical astrovirus and picornavirus genome organizations. The astrovirus ORF2 sequence clustered with a clade of unassigned astroviruses, with marmot and rodent mamastroviruses as closest relatives. For the kobuvirus, divergences greater than 49.4 % for P1 and 43.5 % in the non-structural proteins indicated a novel species. However, phylogenetic analysis of the 3D polymerase showed that it clustered with that of the newly classified ludopivirus A1, suggesting a previous recombination event in the evolution of the kobuvirus. Our data provide further insights into the diversity of astro- and kobuviruses and broaden the spectrum of viruses infecting grey squirrels.Introduction. Biological adhesives and effective topical therapeutic agents that improve wound healing are urgently required for the treatment of chronic ulcers. A biodegradable adhesive based on a carbohydrate polymer with zinc oxide (CPZO) was shown to possess anti-inflammatory activity and enhance wound healing, but its bactericidal activity was unknown.Aim. To investigate the bactericidal activity of CPZO against bacteria commonly present as infectious agents in chronic wounds.Methodology. We examined the bactericidal activity of CPZO against three biofilm-producing bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) through three strategies bacterial suspension, biofilm disruption and in vitro wound biofilm model.Results. In suspension cultures, CPZO had direct, potent bactericidal action against S. aureus within 24 h, whereas E. coli took 7 days to be eliminated. By contrast, P. aeruginosa survived up to 14 days with CPZO. CPZO had biofilm disruption activity against clinical isolates of S. aureus in the anti-biofilm test. Finally, in the in vitro wound biofilm model, CPZO dramatically reduced the bacterial viability of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa.Conclusions. Together with its previously shown anti-inflammatory properties, the bactericidal activity of CPZO gives it the potential to be a first-line therapeutic option for chronic various ulcers and, possibly, other chronic ulcers, preventing or controlling microbial infections, and leading to the healing of such complicated chronic ulcers.Introduction. Klebsiella rods, belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae, are generally opportunistic pathogens commonly associated with nosocomial infections, especially in intensive care units. Interestingly, strains of this genus also show multi-drug resistance. In recent years, multiple studies have indicated that the prevalence of carbapenem resistance has increased rapidly among Klebsiella representatives.Aim. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of selected phenotypic and genotypic methods for the detection of the most important carbapenemases in Klebsiella strains.Methodology. The study involved 51 Klebsiella strains. The ability to produce carbapenemases was determined by phenotypic methods (double disc synergy test, test with four discs and three inhibitors, CarbaNP test, culture on chromogenic medium, panels of automatic method - Phoenix, CIM test and modified Hodge test). The potential for carbapenemase synthesis was also evaluated using real-time PCR, detecting bla VIM/IMP, bla KPC, bla NDM and bla OXA-48 genes.Results. Using the phenotypic methods, positive results were obtained for all of the analysed strains. Using PCR, carbapenemase synthesis potential was confirmed on the molecular level; the bla VIM gene was detected in 23 strains, the bla NDM gene in 26 strains and the bla OXA-48 gene in two strains.Conclusion. There was complete agreement between the carbapenemases detected by the genetic method and the results obtained with phenotypic methods.Introduction. Influenza viruses evolve rapidly and change their antigenic characteristics, necessitating biannual updates of flu vaccines.Aim. The aim of this study was to characterize influenza viruses circulating in Bulgaria during the 2018/2019 season and to identify amino acid substitutions in them that might impact vaccine effectiveness.Methodology. Typing/subtyping of influenza viruses were performed using real-time Reverse Transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and results of phylogenetic and amino acid sequence analyses of influenza strains are presented.Results. A(H1N1)pdm09 (66 %) predominated over A(H3N2) (34 %) viruses, with undetected circulation of B viruses in the 2018/2019 season. All A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses studied fell into the recently designated 6B.1A subclade with over 50 % falling in four subgroups 6B.1A2, 6B.1A5, 6B.1A6 and 6B.1A7. Analysed A(H3N2) viruses belonged to subclades 3C.2a1b and 3C.2a2. Amino acid sequence analysis of 36 A(H1N1)pdm09 isolates revealed the presence of six-ten substitutions in haemagglutinin (HA), compared to the A/Michigan/45/2015 vaccine virus, three of which occurred in antigenic sites Sa and Cb, together with four-nine changes at positions in neuraminidase (NA), and a number of substitutions in internal proteins. HA1 D222N substitution, associated with increased virulence, was identified in two A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses. Despite the presence of several amino acid substitutions, A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses remained antigenically similar to the vaccine virus. The 28 A(H3N2) viruses characterized carried substitutions in HA, including some in antigenic sites A, B, C and E, in NA and internal protein sequences.Conclusion. The results of this study showed the genetic diversity of circulating influenza viruses and the need for continuous antigenic and molecular surveillance.Introduction. Cryptococcus species are pathogens commonly associated with cases of meningoencephalitis in individuals who are immunosuppressed due to AIDS.Aim. The aim was to evaluate the effects of the antiretroviral darunavir alone or associated with fluconazole, 5-flucytosine and amphotericin B against planktonic cells and biofilms of Cryptococcus species.Methodology. Susceptibility testing of darunavir and the common antifungals against 12 members of the Cryptococcus neoformans/Cryptococcus gattii species complex was evaluated by broth microdilution. The interaction between darunavir and antifungals against planktonic cells was tested by a checkerboard assay. The effects of darunavir against biofilm metabolic activity and biomass were evaluated by the XTT reduction assay and crystal violet staining, respectively.Results. Darunavir combined with amphotericin B showed a synergistic interaction against planktonic cells. No antagonistic interaction was observed between darunavir and the antifungals used. All Cryptococcus species strains were strong biofilm producers. Darunavir alone reduced biofilm metabolic activity and biomass when added during and after biofilm formation (P less then 0.05). The combination of darunavir with antifungals caused a significant reduction in biofilm metabolic activity and biomass when compared to darunavir alone (P less then 0.05).Conclusion. Darunavir presents antifungal activity against planktonic cells of Cryptococcus species and synergism with amphotericin B. In addition, darunavir led to reduced biofilm formation and showed activity against mature biofilms of Cryptococcus species. Activity of the antifungals against mature biofilms was enhanced in the presence of darunavir.Introduction. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) deficiency is a rare primary immunodeficiency associated with increased susceptibility to bacterial and fungal infections, notably pulmonary aspergillosis.Aim. We describe the emergence of azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus infections in STAT3-deficient patients.Methodology. During a retrospective study of 13 pulmonary aspergillosis cases in STAT3-deficient patients conducted in France, we identified patients infected with azole-resistant A. fumigatus isolates.Results. Two out of the 13 STAT3-deficient patients with aspergillosis had azole-resistant A. fumigatus infection, indicating an unexpectedly high prevalence of resistance. The first patient with STAT3 deficiency presented several flares of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis-like episodes. He was chronically infected with two azole-resistant A. fumigatus isolates (TR34/L98). Despite prolonged antifungal treatment, including caspofungin and amphotericin B, the patient was not able to clear the azole-resistant A. fumigatus. The second patient had chronic cavitary pulmonary aspergillosis (CCPA). The A. learn more fumigatus isolate was initially azole susceptible but harboured three F46Y, M172V and E427K point mutations. Despite prolonged antifungal therapies, lesions worsened and the isolate became resistant to all azoles. Surgery and caspofungin treatments were then required to cure CCPA. Resistance was probably acquired from the environment (TR34/L98) in the first case whereas resistance developed under antifungal treatments in the second case. These infections required long-term antifungal treatments and surgery.Conclusions. The emergence of azole-resistant A. fumigatus infections in STAT3-deficiency dramatically impacts both curative and prophylactic antifungal strategies. Physicians following patients with primary immune-deficiencies should be aware of this emerging problem as it complicates management of the patient.Introduction. Identification of typhoidal Salmonella (TS) serovars and their discrimination from non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) is conventionally performed by seroagglutination. This method is labour-intensive, requires technical experience and can be inconclusive in some cases. Molecular assays may be reliable alternative diagnostic tools.Aim. This study was designed to evaluate the eazyplex TyphiTyper based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) for fast identification of TS and S. Choleraesuis in culture.Methodology. A total of 121 Salmonella strains and 33 isolates of other Enterobacterales species were tested by the eazyplex TyphiTyper. Simulated and clinical blood cultures (BCs) were used to examine the performance of the assay for diagnosis of systemic infection. Sample preparation took about 5 min and the test running time was 20 min. Amplification was measured by real-time fluorescence detection.Results. All TS and S. Choleraesuis strains were correctly identified. The most common NTS S. Typhimurium (n=34) and S.