reduced

Method for the production of alkyl lithium compounds by using reduced pressure

Disclosed is a method for producing Alkyllithium compounds by reacting metallic lithium with an Alkyl halide in a solvent. The reaction is performed at a reduced pressure at the boiling point of the solvent.




reduced

Method for production of an alcoholic beverage with reduced content of alcohol

A method for production of an alcoholic beverage with reduced content of alcohol involving treating unfermented beverage starting solution with glucose oxidase and glucose isomerase.




reduced

Model helicopter attitude control and receiving device with reduced size and self-learning features

A model aircraft control and receiving device in a housing, comprising an electronic, gyroscopic multi-axis programmable flight attitude controller, having control inputs for a plurality of control channels and inputs for gyroscope signals, wherein the flight attitude controller provides at least one input for a receiver module disposed inside or outside of the housing of the flight attitude controller. The device may be used in a method for controlling and stabilizing a model helicopter, wherein the control comprises a self-learning function and/or the control comprises a coupling of the tail controller to the swashplate controller and/or the control comprises a stopping support function.




reduced

Valve having reduced operating force and enhanced throttling capability

A flow control valve element has a generally spherical ball. An inlet is formed in the ball. An outlet is also formed in the ball, the outlet opposing the inlet. A hollowed-out portion extends between the inlet and the outlet. A pair of opposing flats are formed in the ball, the flats each having a first flat portion formed in an external portion of the ball and an opposing second flat portion formed in the hollowed-out portion of the ball.




reduced

Varactor device with reduced temperature dependence

The invention discloses a varactor device (100) for improved temperature stability, comprising a first varactor (160) connected to a decoupling network (150). The device further comprises a voltage stabilizer (110), said stabilizer comprising a capacitor (140) and a temperature dependent capacitor (130), and in that the stabilizer comprises means for connection to a DC-feed (120). Suitably, the decoupling network (150) is connected in parallel to the first varactor (160), and the capacitor (140) of the voltage stabilizer (110) is connected in parallel to the decoupling network (150), the temperature dependent capacitor (130) of the voltage stabilizer (110) being connected in series to the diode of the voltage stabilizer (110).




reduced

Reduced travel magnetic strip reader mechanism

A reader for a card having an information strip, the reader comprising a first movable member, a read head capable of reading the information strip, the read head disposed on the first movable member and a second movable member which upon translation causes the first movable member to translate in a direction opposite to the second movable member. The reader includes a guide slot disposed in line with the direction of translation of the second movable element such that when a card is placed in the guide slot and subsequently moved transversely along the guide slot, the card urges the first movable member in the opposite direction and moving the head across the information strip as the information strip is moved in the opposite direction as the read head movement.




reduced

Method for producing hydrogen with reduced CO2 emissions

The present invention relates to a method for producing hydrogen, with reduced carbon dioxide emissions, from a hydrocarbon mixture. In said method, the hydrocarbon mixture is reformed so as to produce a synthetic gas that is cooled, then treated in a shift reactor so as to be enriched with H2 and CO2. Optionally dried, said mixture is treated in a PSA hydrogen purification unit in order to produce hydrogen. The residue is treated by means of partial condensation with a view to capturing CO4 before said residue is sent as fuel to reforming.




reduced

Wind turbines and wind turbine rotor blades with reduced radar cross sections

Wind turbine rotor blades include a shell having a leading edge opposite a trailing edge, a structural support member that supports the shell and is disposed internal the wind turbine rotor blade between the leading edge and the trailing edge and extends for at least a portion of a rotor blade span length, and a resistive cellular support structure disposed at least partially about the wind turbine rotor blade that physically supports at least a portion of the wind turbine rotor blade and at least partially absorbs radar energy.




reduced

Wind turbines and wind turbine rotor blades with reduced radar cross sections

Wind turbine rotor blades with a reduced radar cross sections include a shell having a leading edge opposite a trailing edge, a structural support member that supports the shell and is disposed internal the wind turbine rotor blade between the leading edge and the trailing edge and extends for at least a portion of a rotor blade span length, wherein the structural support member comprises fiberglass, one or more cavities internal the wind turbine rotor blade, and a lightweight broadband radar absorbing filler material disposed in at least one of the one or more cavities to provide the reduced radar cross section.




reduced

Asynchronous operation of a rotary anode with reduced focal spot shake

A method for asynchronous operation of a rotary anode of an x-ray emitter, where a torque is exerted onto the rotary anode by an electromagnetic alternating field of a stator with a first frequency is provided. The method includes increasing the first frequency to a second frequency. The second frequency is a whole number multiple of an x-ray trigger frequency. The method also includes simultaneously changing an output of the alternating field such that a rotational frequency of the rotary anode remains unchanged.




reduced

Modular power converter having reduced switching loss

In one implementation, a modular power converter having a reduced switching loss includes a package, a field-effect transistor (FET) including a gate terminal, a drain terminal, and a source terminal, and fabricated on a semiconductor die situated inside the package, and a driver circuit inside the package. The driver circuit is configured to drive the gate terminal of the FET. The driver circuit is further configured to sample a drain-to-source voltage (VDS) of the FET directly from the drain terminal and the source terminal, thereby enabling the reduced switching loss.




reduced

Reduced salt precipitation in carbohydrate containing binder compositions

Aqueous binder compositions with reduced rates of salt precipitation are described. The compositions may include a carbohydrate and a sequestrant for sequestering one or more multivalent ions (e.g., Ca2+, Mg2+, Ba2+, Al3+, Fe2+, Fe3+, etc.). The sequestrant reduces a precipitation rate for the multivalent ions from the aqueous binder composition. Methods of reducing salt precipitation from a binder composition are also described. The methods may include the steps of providing an aqueous binder solution having one or more carbohydrates. They may also include adding a sequestrant for one or more multivalent ions to the aqueous binder solution. The sequestrant reduces a precipitation rate for the multivalent ions from the binder composition.




reduced

Foot manifolds, apparatuses, systems, and methods for applying reduced pressure to a tissue site on a foot

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for applying reduced pressure to a tissue site on a foot are provided. An apparatus may include an insole and a tissue contacting surface covering at least a portion of the insole. At least one portion of the tissue contacting surface is removable to form a void. The apparatus may also include a reduced-pressure interface for receiving reduced pressure from a reduced-pressure source, and at least one flow channel fluidly coupled to the reduced-pressure interface and the void.




reduced

Process for producing reduced iron pellets, and process for producing pig iron

In a method for producing a reduced iron pellet, when a powder formed article including iron oxide and carbon is heated and reduced in a rotary hearth furnace, a formed article produced using a raw material, in which an average diameter of the iron oxide is 50 microns or less and a ratio of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide in a reduction zone is from 0.3 to 1, is reduced at a temperature of 1400° C. or less, thereby producing a reduced iron pellet in which a metallization ratio of iron is 50 to 85% and a ratio of residual carbon is 2% or less.




reduced

Timepiece barrel assembly with reduced core diameter

A timepiece barrel assembly, including a barrel mainspring mounted between a barrel drum and a receiving surface of a barrel core coaxial to the drum. The spring is made of a multiphase, cobalt-nickel-chromium based alloy, having a Young's modulus of between 200 and 240 GPa and a shear modulus of between 80 and 100 GPa, and having a width to thickness ratio of between 9 and 21, and the maximum radius of the steel or stainless steel core relative to its pivot axis is less than nine times the maximum thickness of the spring, and the barrel assembly includes, on the spring or the drum, a mechanism limiting longitudinal clearance, towards the pivot axis, between the drum and the mainspring.




reduced

REDUCED POWER FOR AVOIDANCE OF INTERFERENCE IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS

In one embodiment, a device of a first wireless communication network determines a link budget from a terminal in the first communication network to an unintended receiver for a communication from the terminal to an intended receiver in the first wireless communication network, based on the communication being configured with initial communication parameters. The device also determines whether one or more adjusted communication parameters would result in reducing a received power at the unintended receiver being below a link budget threshold, while still satisfying a receive sensitivity of the intended receiver. If so, the device causes the terminal to transmit the communication using the adjusted communication parameters. In one embodiment, the device is the terminal, and causing comprises transmitting as the terminal. In another embodiment, the device is a server of the first communication network, and causing comprises instructing the terminal to transmit the communication using the adjusted communication parameters.




reduced

DENTAL POST DESIGNED FOR IMPROVED CROWN BONDING AND REDUCED ROOT DAMAGE

A post for a dental crown is disclosed having improved structural features—including increased post strength and reduced likelihood of root fracture. In one embodiment, the post includes a quadrangle (4-way) split shank for increased compliance and root stress reduction while providing very high mechanical grip strength and pull-out resistance. In another embodiment, a shortened threaded section and a thread-free shank tip minimize the possibility of root fracture while still providing high grip strength and pull-out resistance. Embodiments also include a radiused transition from a primary thread to a secondary thread portion of the shank for stress reduction; and axial grooves, cross-axis through holes and other shape features of the post head for increased crown retention strength.




reduced

Soft tissue having reduced hydrogen bonding

The present invention provides a modified cellulosic fiber having reduced hydrogen bonding capabilities. The modified fiber formed in accordance with the present invention may be useful in the production of tissue products having improved bulk and softness. More importantly, the modified fiber is adaptable to current tissue making processes and may be incorporated into a tissue product to improve bulk and softness without an unsatisfactory reduction in tensile.




reduced

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A REDUCED HARMONIC CONTENT TRANSMITTER FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION

A system includes a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) to generate an output signal based on an input voltage and a multi-stage delay network to receive the output signal from the VCO. Each stage of the delay network produces a phase-shifted output signal. The system includes a multi-stage digital-to-analog converter (DAC) network, where each stage of the DAC network is associated with a corresponding stage of the delay network. Each stage of the DAC network receives the phase-shifted output signal from its corresponding stage of the delay network and generates a weighted output signal based on the received phase-shifted output signal. The DAC network combines the weighted output signal of each stage. A weighting factor for each stage of the DAC network is selected to reduce harmonic content of the combination of weighted output signals.




reduced

Reduced weight equine orthotic pad and method

There is disclosed an improved shock absorbing, light-weight, thermally insulative orthotic pad designed for use in a pad and boot assembly for hoofed livestock. The pad is comprised of a mixture of flexible spheroids and elastomeric materials. In a preferred embodiment, elastomeric material generally is more concentrated at the top portion of the pad, and spheroids dispersed in a matrix of elastomeric material concentrated at the bottom section of the pad. The spheroids have a lower density than the elastomeric materials and possess better thermally insulative properties, and in a particularly preferred embodiment, at least some of the spheroids are comprised of closed-cell polypropylene foam. A method of making the light weight pad is also disclosed.




reduced

Hand-operated striking tool enabling vibrations to be reduced, and method for manufacturing

This tool, which is in particular a hammer, comprises a gripping handle, a striking head, and an intermediate shaft extending the handle and supporting the head, whereas the handle comprises a tube in which the shaft partially extends, this tube and this shaft being made from a rigid material presenting a first hardness. This shaft has a radial area bearing against the tube, with interposition of a link part, for absorbing vibrations, made from flexible material presenting a second hardness that is much lower than the first hardness, and a free terminal area, not covered by the link part, radially separated from the walls of the tube so as to be able to vibrate freely in an internal volume of the tube.




reduced

LIGHTWEIGHT, REDUCED DENSITY FIRE RATED GYPSUM PANELS

A reduced weight, reduced density gypsum panel that includes high expansion vermiculite with fire resistance capabilities that are at least comparable to (if not better than) commercial fire rated gypsum panels with a much greater gypsum content, weight and density.




reduced

Apparel with reduced friction zones

An article of apparel may include a base layer and a cover layer. The cover layer may be stitchlessly-secured to an exterior surface of the base layer and positioned to extend along a side area and from a pelvic region to a leg region of the base layer. A width of the cover layer may be greater in the pelvic region than the first leg region. In some configurations, a frictional resistance of the exterior surface of the base layer may be greater than a frictional resistance of a surface of the cover layer.




reduced

Antenna for wireless communication device chassis having reduced cutback

An antenna having a passive antenna element that is integrated in a wireless communication chassis, is naturally in resonance, and is galvanically coupled to ground, and a passive indirect antenna element feed that is non-galvanically coupled to the antenna element. If the chassis is foldable, a parasitic element may be located opposite an antenna element feed when the foldable chassis is in at least one of a closed mode and a tablet mode.




reduced

Reduced-Friction Catheter Introducer and Method of Manufacturing and Using the Same

A sheath introducer for a catheter includes a sheath having a lumen, a hub positioned on a proximal end of the sheath, and a housing positioned on the hub. The hub can include a splittable penetration member having a port in fluid communication with the sheath lumen. The housing can include a valve having a closed upper surface and a channel surrounding the splittable penetration member. Movement of the housing with respect to the hub can expose the port of the splittable penetration member for insertion of the catheter.




reduced

ELECTRONIC ARRANGEMENT AND VECTOR NETWORK ANALYZER CHARACTERIZED BY REDUCED PHASE NOISE

An electronic arrangement and method for providing a signal characterized by reduced phase noise having a signal source for providing a stimulus signal, a modulator coupled to the signal source for generating a modulated signal as function of the stimulus signal and a local oscillator signal, and a mixer combining the stimulus and modulated signals to generate a mixed signal that includes a component characterized by a mathematical difference of the stimulus signal and the modulated signal. The modulated signal is substantially identical to the stimulus signal and offset by a frequency of the local oscillator signal, so that the difference component of the mixed signal results in a local oscillator signal wherein the stimulus signal phase noise generated by the signal source has been mathematically cancelled.




reduced

AMPLIFYING ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT WITH REDUCED START-UP TIME FOR A SIGNAL INCLUDING QUADRATURE COMPONENTS

An electronic circuit for amplifying signals with two components in phase quadrature, which includes: a feedback amplifier with a feedback capacitor; a switch that drives charging and discharging of the feedback capacitor; an additional capacitor; and a coupling circuit, which alternatively connects the additional capacitor in parallel to the feedback capacitor or else decouples the additional capacitor from the feedback capacitor. The switch opens at a first instant, where a first one of the two components assumes a first zero value; the coupling circuit decouples the additional capacitor from the feedback capacitor in a way synchronous with a second instant, where the first component assumes a second zero value.




reduced

SUPERCONDUCTING NANOWIRE AVALANCHE PHOTODETECTORS WITH REDUCED CURRENT CROWDING

Superconducting nanowire avalanche photodetectors (SNAPs) have using meandering nanowires to detect incident photons. When a superconducting nanowire absorbs a photon, it switches from a superconducting state to a resistive state, producing a change in voltage that can be measured across the nanowire. A SNAP may include multiple nanowires in order to increase the fill factor of the SNAP's active area and the SNAP's detection efficiency. But using multiple meandering nanowires to achieve high fill-factor in SNAPs can lead to current crowding at bends in the nanowires. This current crowding degrades SNAP performance by decreasing the switching current, which the current at which the nanowire transitions from a superconducting state to a resistive state. Fortunately, staggering the bends in the nanowires reduces current crowding, increasing the nanowire switching current, which in turn increases the SNAP dynamic range.




reduced

Systems and methods for producing engineered fuel feedstocks with reduced chlorine content

Systems and methods for producing engineered fuels from municipal solid waste material are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes combining a first waste stream that includes at least one of hard plastic, soft plastic and mixed plastic with a sorbent and increasing the temperature of the combined first waste stream and sorbent to a temperature of at least about 200° C. The method further includes combining the thermally treated first waste stream and sorbent with a second waste stream that includes fiber, and compressing the combined first waste stream, sorbent, and second waste stream to form a densified engineered fuel feedstock.




reduced

Methods and Apparatus for Creating Particle Derivatives of HDL with Reduced Lipid Content

The present invention is directed to systems, apparatus and methods for creating derivatives of at least one form of HDL without substantially affecting LDL. These derivatives of HDL are particles with reduced lipid content, particularly reduced cholesterol content. These particles have the capacity to bind cholesterol and are administered to a patient to enhance cellular cholesterol efflux and reduce cholesterol levels in cells, tissues, organs, and blood vessels. The present method is useful for treating atherogenic vascular disease and may be combined with other therapies such as statins, inhibitors of cholesterol absorption, niacin, anti-inflammatories, exercise and dietary restriction.




reduced

Researchers say too soon to tell if the shutdown has reduced air pollution

Have you seen the photos of the Himalayas, with unusually clear blue skies? These have been matched by reports that China's carbon emissions have dropped by a quarter. Some people are speculating that air pollution has dropped in Australia too, because more of us have been staying at home, driving less and staying away from airports. But is that true? And what happens when things swing back into gear?




reduced

Bundaberg's Paradise Dam capacity to be reduced to 42pc despite drought

Farmers in the drought-declared Bundaberg region are angry 105,000 megalitres of water will be released from Paradise Dam, saying it will go to waste at a time when water availability is so critical.




reduced

Retail Manager Lauren Perkins will reopen her store next week with reduced hours




reduced

Cowangie man who filmed himself running down emus has sentence reduced

A 21-year-old who intentionally drove through a mob of emus at 80 kph, has had his prison sentence cut in half but told to volunteer with an animal charity.




reduced

George Pell will not seek reduced sentence if appeal against guilty verdict fails

Disgraced Cardinal George Pell will not seek a reduced sentence if the Court of Appeal upholds his conviction for sexually abusing two Melbourne choirboys in the 1990s.




reduced

Water allocations for western NSW reduced as drought tightens its grip

Water allocations for farmers and communities in western NSW are reduced in new plans released today.




reduced

CDC Hasn’t ‘Reduced’ COVID-19 Death Toll

Claims on social media have been spreading the falsehood that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention significantly lowered the COVID-19 death toll. There has been no such reduction. These claims confuse two different measures of the number of deaths.

The post CDC Hasn’t ‘Reduced’ COVID-19 Death Toll appeared first on FactCheck.org.



  • Debunking False Stories

reduced

Price-reduced homes for about $800,000 in three Orange County cities

Here's a look at price-reduced properties that can be bought for $800,000 in Irvine, Anaheim and Aliso Viejo in Orange County.




reduced

Bariatric Surgery Rapidly Decreases Cardiac Dietary Fatty Acid Partitioning and Hepatic Insulin Resistance Through Increased Intra-abdominal Adipose Tissue Storage and Reduced Spillover in Type 2 Diabetes

Reduced storage of dietary fatty acids (DFAs) in abdominal adipose tissues with enhanced cardiac partitioning has been shown in subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and prediabetes. We measured DFA metabolism and organ partitioning using positron emission tomography with oral and intravenous long-chain fatty acid and glucose tracers during a standard liquid meal in 12 obese subjects with T2D before and 8–12 days after bariatric surgery (sleeve gastrectomy or sleeve gastrectomy and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch). Bariatric surgery reduced cardiac DFA uptake from a median (standard uptake value [SUV]) 1.75 (interquartile range 1.39–2.57) before to 1.09 (1.04–1.53) after surgery (P = 0.01) and systemic DFA spillover from 56.7 mmol before to 24.7 mmol over 6 h after meal intake after surgery (P = 0.01), with a significant increase in intra-abdominal adipose tissue DFA uptake from 0.15 (0.04–0.31] before to 0.49 (0.20–0.59) SUV after surgery (P = 0.008). Hepatic insulin resistance was significantly reduced in close association with increased DFA storage in intra-abdominal adipose tissues (r = –0.79, P = 0.05) and reduced DFA spillover (r = 0.76, P = 0.01). We conclude that bariatric surgery in subjects with T2D rapidly reduces cardiac DFA partitioning and hepatic insulin resistance at least in part through increased intra-abdominal DFA storage and reduced spillover.




reduced

Reduced Myocardial Perfusion Reserve in Type 2 Diabetes Is Caused by Increased Perfusion at Rest and Decreased Maximal Perfusion During Stress

OBJECTIVE

To examine differences in myocardial blood flow (MBF) at rest and during stress between patients with type 2 diabetes and controls, and to identify potential predictors of changes in MBF at rest and during stress.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study of 193 patients with type 2 diabetes and 20 age- and sex-matched controls. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance was used in order to evaluate left ventricular structure and function, and MBF at rest and during adenosine-induced stress. MBF was derived as the mean of the flow within all segments of a midventricular slice.

RESULTS

Patients with type 2 diabetes had higher global MBF at rest (0.81 ± 0.19 mL/min/g) and lower global MBF during stress (2.4 ± 0.9 mL/min/g) than did controls (0.61 ± 0.11 at rest, 3.2 ± 0.8 mL/min/g under stress; both P < 0.01). Patients with macroalbuminuria had lower MBF during stress (1.6 ± 0.5 mL/min/g) than did patients with microalbuminuria (2.1 ± 0.7 mL/min/g; P = 0.04), who in turn had lower MBF during stress than did normoalbuminuric patients (2.7 ± 0.9 mL/min/g; P < 0.01). Patients with severe retinopathy had lower MBF during stress (1.8 ± 0.6 mL/min/g) than did patients with simplex retinopathy (2.3 ± 0.7 mL/min/g; P < 0.05) and those who did not have retinopathy (2.6 ± 1.0 mL/min/g; P < 0.05). Albuminuria and retinopathy were associated with reduced MBF during stress in a multiple regression analysis. Stress-related MBF inversely correlated with myocardial extracellular volume (P < 0.001; R2 = 0.37), a measure of diffuse myocardial fibrosis. A trend toward lower basal MBF was observed in patients treated with sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (P = 0.07).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with type 2 diabetes have higher global MBF at rest and lower maximal MBF during vasodilator-induced stress than do controls. Reduced MBF during stress is associated with diabetes complications (albuminuria and retinopathy) and is inversely correlated with diffuse myocardial fibrosis.




reduced

Hospitalization for Lactic Acidosis Among Patients With Reduced Kidney Function Treated With Metformin or Sulfonylureas

OBJECTIVE

To compare the risk of lactic acidosis hospitalization between patients treated with metformin versus sulfonylureas following development of reduced kidney function.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This retrospective cohort combined data from the National Veterans Health Administration, Medicare, Medicaid, and the National Death Index. New users of metformin or sulfonylureas were followed from development of reduced kidney function (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 or serum creatinine ≥1.4 mg/dL [female] or 1.5 mg/dL [male]) through hospitalization for lactic acidosis, death, loss to follow-up, or study end. Lactic acidosis hospitalization was defined as a composite of primary discharge diagnosis or laboratory-confirmed lactic acidosis (lactic acid ≥2.5 mmol/L and either arterial blood pH <7.35 or serum bicarbonate ≤19 mmol/L within 24 h of admission). We report the cause-specific hazard of lactic acidosis hospitalization between metformin and sulfonylureas from a propensity score–matched weighted cohort and conduct an additional competing risks analysis to account for treatment change and death.

RESULTS

The weighted cohort included 24,542 metformin and 24,662 sulfonylurea users who developed reduced kidney function (median age 70 years, median eGFR 55.8 mL/min/1.73 m2). There were 4.18 (95% CI 3.63, 4.81) vs. 3.69 (3.19, 4.27) lactic acidosis hospitalizations per 1,000 person-years among metformin and sulfonylurea users, respectively (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.21 [95% CI 0.99, 1.50]). Results were consistent for both primary discharge diagnosis (aHR 1.11 [0.87, 1.44]) and laboratory-confirmed lactic acidosis (1.25 [0.92, 1.70]).

CONCLUSIONS

Among veterans with diabetes who developed reduced kidney function, occurrence of lactic acidosis hospitalization was uncommon and not statistically different between patients who continued metformin and those patients who continued sulfonylureas.




reduced

A description of the arteries of the human body. Reduced to tables / by Adolphus Murray ; Translated from the original by Archd. Scott.

Edinburgh : And Bell and Bradfute, and E. Balfour, 1801.




reduced

Asia-Pacific campaign targets reduced food losses

FAO and its partners have launched an initiative aimed at cutting food waste across the Asia-Pacific region. Save Food Asia-Pacific Campaign targets losses both straight after harvest and between the market and people’s plates. FAO estimates that reducing global food waste by just one quarter would be sufficient to feed the 870 million people suffering from chronic hunger in the world. [...]




reduced

Histologic Chorioamnionitis Is Associated With Reduced Risk of Late-Onset Sepsis in Preterm Infants

Chorioamnionitis is associated with preterm birth and an increased risk of common adverse outcomes of prematurity, including early-onset sepsis and neurodevelopmental impairment. The effect of chorioamnionitis on postnatal immune function and risk of late-onset infection is unknown.

Chorioamnionitis, which complicates many preterm births, is independently associated with a significantly reduced risk of late-onset sepsis in preterm infants. The findings suggest that chorioamnionitis may modulate the development of postnatal immunity in a clinically significant manner. (Read the full article)




reduced

Effects of Reduced Juice Allowances in Food Packages for the Women, Infants, and Children Program

Juice consumption among 2- to 5-year-old children exceeds dietary recommendations. In 2007, the US Department of Agriculture revised the composition and quantities of prescribed foods in WIC food packages to align them with dietary guidelines. Juice allowances were reduced by approximately half.

WIC participants purchased about a quarter less juice volume after implementation of the revised WIC packages. Large reductions in WIC-provided juice were only partly compensated for by extra juice purchases with non-WIC funds. Little compensation occurred for other beverages. (Read the full article)




reduced

Structural basis of reduced susceptibility to ceftazidime-avibactam and cefiderocol in Enterobacter cloacae due to AmpC R2 loop deletion [Mechanisms of Resistance]

Ceftazidime–avibactam and cefiderocol are two of the latest generation β-lactam agents that possess expanded activity against highly drug-resistant bacteria, including carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales. Here we show that structural changes in AmpC β-lactamases can confer reduced susceptibility to both agents. A multidrug-resistant Enterobacter cloacae clinical strain (Ent385) was found to be resistant to ceftazidime–avibactam and cefiderocol without prior exposure to either agent. The AmpC β-lactamase of Ent385 (AmpCEnt385) contained an alanine–proline deletion at positions 294–295 (A294_P295del) in the R2 loop. AmpCEnt385 conferred reduced susceptibility to ceftazidime–avibactam and cefiderocol when cloned into Escherichia coli TOP10. Purified AmpCEnt385 showed increased hydrolysis of ceftazidime and cefiderocol compared with AmpCEnt385Rev, in which the deletion was reverted. Comparisons of crystal structures of AmpCEnt385 and AmpCP99, the canonical AmpC of E. cloacae, revealed that the two-residue deletion in AmpCEnt385 induced drastic structural changes of the H-9 and H-10 helices and the R2 loop, which accounted for the increased hydrolysis of ceftazidime and cefiderocol. The potential for a single mutation in ampC to confer reduced susceptibility to both ceftazidime–avibactam and cefiderocol requires close monitoring.

Importance Ceftazidime–avibactam and cefiderocol are newly approved β-lactam agents that possess broad spectrum activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria. We show here that a two amino-acid deletion in the chromosomal AmpC β-lactamase, identified in a clinical strain of Enterobacter cloacae, confers reduced susceptibility to both agents. By crystallographic studies of free and drug-bound forms of enzyme, we demonstrate that this deletion in AmpC induces slanting of the H-9 helix that is directly connected with the R2 loop, and disappearance of the H-10 helix, is directly responsible for increased hydrolysis of ceftazidime and cefiderocol. These findings provide novel insights into how MDR Gram-negative bacteria may evolve their β-lactamases to survive selective pressure from these newly developed β-lactam agents.




reduced

Mutation of kvrA causes OmpK35/36 porin downregulation and reduced meropenem/vaborbactam susceptibility in KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae. [Mechanisms of Resistance]

Meropenem/vaborbactam resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae is associated with loss of function mutations in the OmpK35 and OmpK36 porins. Here we identify two previously unknown loss of function mutations that confer cefuroxime resistance in K. pneumoniae. The proteins lost were NlpD and KvrA; the latter is a transcriptional repressor controlling capsule production. We demonstrate that KvrA loss reduces OmpK35 and OmpK36 porin production, which confers reduced susceptibility to meropenem/vaborbactam in a KPC-3 producing K. pneumoniae isolate.




reduced

Companies Save Over $4 Million From Reduced Workers’ Compensation Rates

Workplace Safety Program saves $7.6 million for participants The Delaware Department of Insurance has analyzed new filings from the state’s top writers of workers’ compensation insurance after announcing the third consecutive year of decreased rates in November. The top writers represent nearly 10,000 companies that hold policies within the state. Policyholders of these companies will […]




reduced

DART Service Update - Effective Wed., March 18, DART to Operate Reduced Schedule

Wilmington --

Due to the presence of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Delaware, business closures, reductions in staffing and lower ridership levels, effective Wednesday, March 18, DART public transit services will operate on the following reduced service schedule until further notice. On weekdays, regular fixed route services will operate on a Saturday service schedule statewide, with additional service on Routes 15, 18, 43 and 301. DART's regularly scheduled weekend service will operate normal service levels. [More]




reduced

UPDATE - DART to Operate a Reduced Service Level Statewide on Weekdays Beginning Wednesday, March 18

Wilmington --

UPDATE - In addition to the service outlined below, starting Thursday, March 19, Route 301 will add the weekday roundtrip leaving Wilmington at 4:20 AM, arriving in Dover at 5:42 AM; and then leaving Dover at 6:00 AM, arriving in Wilmington at 7:41 AM. Route 303 will be operating the weekday schedule. In Sussex County, Route 206 will operate on the normal weekday schedule. [More]