Pretreatments for Microbial Analysis and Evaluation of Hygiene of Wet Towels and Wet Wipes

The demand for hygiene products has increased worldwide since the outbreak of global COVID-19. As the hygiene products market is expanding, it is necessary to manage microbial contamination in wet towels and wet wipes. This study evaluated pretreatment methods for microbial recovery from wet towels and wipes and microbial contamination levels in wet towels and wipes with the pretreatment method. Escherichia coli (NCCP14038 and NCCP14039), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC25923 and ATCC29213), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (NCCP10250 and NCCP11229) were inoculated on five fabric materials of wet towels and wet wipes. The recovery rates of the bacteria from wet towels and wet wipes using three pretreatment methods (pummeling, hand shaking, and portion cutting method) were investigated. Using the selected pretreatment method, the contamination levels of E. coli, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa were evaluated for 238 wet towels and 244 wet wipes, which were collected in April to August, 2019. The presence of toxA and antibiotic resistance of P. aeruginosa isolated from wet towels were evaluated. The overall recovery rates of the pummeling method and hand shaking method were higher than the portion cutting method. Considering the convenience, the pummeling method was used to investigate the microbial contamination in the wet towels and wet wipes. P. aeruginosa was detected in two wet towels at an average of 9.9x102 CFU/towel. E. coli and S. aureus were not detected in both wet towels and wipes. P. aeruginosa isolates showed no resistances to piperacillin, piperacillin-tazobactam, aztreonam, and gentamicin, but had toxA. The results indicate that the pummeling method is the most appropriate pretreatment method for the recovery of microorganisms, and microbial analysis showed that this method could be useful in monitoring microbial contamination in wet towels and wet wipes.

Factors Evaluating the Crisis Preparedness of a City in the Era of New Normal: Based on an Analytic Hierarchy Process Survey of Korean Experts *

This study aimed to identify the key components of crisis preparedness and understand the relative importance of various public relations (PR) factors to suggest efficient ways to prepare for a pandemic crisis, such as COVID-19. We highlight the process-oriented approach of crisis preparedness in addition to the static readiness in response to a crisis. Specifically, we conducted an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) using focus group interviews and a pairwise comparison questionnaire with 25 PR experts írom academia, industry, and local governments. The experts highlighted a three-level hierarchical structure of crisis preparedness. At the highest level, issue management (43.3%) was relatively more important than crisis communication (30.4%) and risk communication (26.3%). Overall, we observed that process-oriented crisis preparedness (e.g., monitoring issues, building positive and resolving negative issues, and reporting crisis) are relatively more important than the static preparedness system (e.g., budgets and printing periodicals, or classic offline PR tactics such as communication with different stakeholders and interest groups). Overall, we highlight the importance of pre-crisis readiness over post-crisis readiness, preemptive PR over typical offline PR activities, and intangible trust-building based on systematic information monitoring.

Do multilingual employees better adjust to work environment changes? Examining the case of a credit union during the COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose Organizations have been challenged to identify antecedents to improved employee adjustment to the work environment changes that arose in the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic. This study aims to explore the effect of multilingualism on employee ability to adjust to workplace changes based on the concept that multilinguals have been found to switch between tasks more efficiently as compared to monolinguals. Design/methodology/approach Applying a sequential explanatory mixed methods research approach, quantitative performance evaluation data on 207 credit union employees is analyzed using hierarchical linear modeling to predict employee performance, and thematic analysis of qualitative data representing the adjustment narratives of six monolingual and six multilingual employees within the sample is conducted, corresponding to the period during which employees were adjusting to broad workplace changes after the onset of the global pandemic. Findings The results suggest greater predicted improvement in the performance of multilingual employees. Reliance on the task-switching ability associated with multilingualism is found to be the primary self-evaluative factor for successful change adjustment among multilingual employees. Practical implications In light of work performance benefits identified in this study, organizations may consider multilingualism as a characteristic preceding better adjustment to organizational change, and not simply as a skill applicable to tasks requiring language proficiency, suggesting practical implications for human resource and organizational management. Originality/value This is the first sequential explanatory study focusing on the task-switching ability of multilinguals as an antecedent to change adjustment evidenced by improved work performance within an organizational context.

Factors in Evaluating Online Learning in Higher Education in the Era of a New Normal Derived from an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) Based Survey in South Korea

Before COVID-19, online learning in higher education was more of a choice than a requirement. The majority of universities in South Korea are currently not utilizing an evaluation index tailored specifically to online courses and are instead using the traditional in-person class evaluation standards. The study, hence, examines the factors that could be used to evaluate the quality of online learning in higher education taking place due to the COVID-19 pandemic from the point of views of the main subjects of online education: e-learning system administrators, instructors, and students. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method was used to determine the relative importance of factors in evaluating online learning. The conclusions derived from this research can be used as foundational material for evaluation factors of online learning in higher education.

Inflammation of sars-cov2-infected human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and the effects and side effects of remdesivir

Introduction: The global pandemic of the coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In addition to respiratory failures, COVID-19 patients exhibited cardiac complications. Studies observed the direct infection and replication of SARS-CoV2 in human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) accompanied by cytopathic effects. However, the underlying mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2-mediated CM death remain poorly understood. In addition, the therapeutic potential of remdesivir (RDV) on CMs has yet to be answered. Methods and Results: We confirmed that SARS-CoV-2 is infectious to and effectively replicates in hPSC-CMs and is cytopathic to hPSC-CMs. We also found that RDV effectively inhibited viral replication at a concentration of 50 nM. RNA-seq analyses demonstrated that expression of immune responsive genes was elevated in SARS-CoV-2 infected hPSC-CMs. Immunostaining and an ELISA assay further revealed formation of inflammasomes and secretion of inflammasome-mediated cytokines, such as IL-1β, IL-18, and IL-6 in SARS-CoV-2 infected hPSC-CMs. RNA-seq analyses showed gene profile changes in SARS-CoV-2 infected hPSC-CMs corroborating with activation of inflammatory signals and cell death pathways. While gene profiles of 0.1 μM RDV-treated SARS-CoV-2-infected hPSC-CMs showed reversal of such changes, a high dose (10 μM) RDV-treated CoV-2-infected hPSC-CMs showed changes in 44% of genes expressed compared to non-RDVtreated CoV2-infected hPSC-CMs. Among those, expression of protein stability related genes, such as genes associated with autophagy and protein ubiquitination increased while expression of antiviral responsive genes decreased. In addition, a high dose of RDV inhibited expression of mitochondrial genes, particularly MitoComplex I and V compositions, which are related to energy production. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that SARS-CoV2 induced inflammasome in hPSC-CMs, which can underlie cardiac damage in addition to direct cytopathic effects. In addition, RDV can reduce inflammasome when introduced early after SARS-CoV2 infection while a high-dose can aggravate cytopathic effects by potential toxicity to mitochondria.

A case of dupilumab-induced eosinophilic pneumonia

Introduction: Eosinophilic pneumonia is a condition defined by eosinophilic infiltration of the lung parenchyma. Eosinophilic pneumonia is a known side effect of Dupilumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the alpha chain of interleukin-4 (IL-4) that is used to treat moderate to severe atopic dermatitis and asthma by its inhibition of IL-4 and IL-13, which are key drivers in the TH2 response. We present a case of a patient presenting with eosinophilic pneumonia ten weeks after being started on Dupilumab. Case report: A 55-year-old female with history of asthma, bullous pemphigoid and chronic dermatitis who was started on Dupilumab (Dupixant) by her rheumatologist for treatment of her dermatitis and bullous pemphigoid ten weeks prior to presentation. Patient presented to the pulmonary clinic with four weeks history of worsening cough, shortness of breath, generalized body aches, lowgrade fevers, chills, chest pains and non-drenching night sweats. She had been treated by primary physician with a course of antibiotics without improvement in her symptoms. Outpatient chest computed tomography (CT chest) showed extensive bilateral reticular nodular opacities and scattered ground glass opacities (Panel A) for which she was admitted to the hospital for further evaluation. Patient was hypoxic and required 4 liters/minute oxygen by nasal cannula. Her laboratory testing showed normal leucocyte count 9.57 X 103/uL with eosinophilia of 17% (total eosinophilic count 17,000). Her immunoglobulin E was 2096 U/mL. Covid testing was negative. Rheumatologic workup was negative. Patient underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) which showed 29% eosinophil count (Panel B) and was negative for bacterial and fungal cultures.Following BAL results, Dupilumab was discontinued and patient received single dose 60mg intravenous methylprednisone then oral prednisone 40 mg daily, resulting in rapid improvement in her symptoms, oxygen requirements and complete resolution of peripheral eosinophilia. She was discharged on oral prednisone taper. Discussion: Drug induced eosinophilic pneumonias are reported with medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), and antibiotics. There are very few described cases of Dupilumab-induced eosinophilic pneumonia in the medical literature. Eosinophilic pneumonia and eosinophilic conditions are listed side effects of Dupilumab which inhibits Th2 pathway by inhibiting IL-4 and IL-13 and should in theory decrease tissue eosinophilia, eosinophil degranulation, and reduce eosinophil survival. This case illustrates Dupilumab-induced eosinophilic pneumonia, suggesting that despite the drug's effect on Th2 cytokines, it can cause eosinophilic tissue infiltration and eosinophilia which if promptly identified and treated can lead to excellent outcomes. .

A rotationally focused flow (RFF) microfluidic biosensor by density difference for early-stage detectable diagnosis

Label-free optical biosensors have received tremendous attention in point-of-care testing, especially in the emerging pandemic, COVID-19, since they advance toward early-detection, rapid, real-time, ease-of-use, and low-cost paradigms. Protein biomarkers testings require less sample modification process compared to nucleic-acid biomarkers'. However, challenges always are in detecting low-concentration for early-stage diagnosis. Here we present a Rotationally Focused Flow (RFF) method to enhance sensitivity(wavelength shift) of label-free optical sensors by increasing the detection probability of protein-based molecules. The RFF is structured by adding a less-dense fluid to focus the target-fluid in a T-shaped microchannel. It is integrated with label-free silicon microring resonators interacting with biotin-streptavidin. The suggested mechanism has demonstrated 0.19 fM concentration detection along with a significant magnitudes sensitivity enhancement compared to single flow methods. Verified by both CFD simulations and fluorescent flow-experiments, this study provides a promising proof-of-concept platform for next-generation lab-on-a-chip bioanalytics such as ultrafast and early-detection of COVID-19.

Work in Progress: NSF IRES - Interdisciplinary Research in Korea on Applied Smart Systems (IRiKA) for undergraduate students

Interdisciplinary Research in Korea on Applied smart systems (IRiKA) for Undergraduate Students is an NSF International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) program that provides a cohort of five US undergraduate students per year with the opportunity to conduct research for eight (8) weeks at Seoul National University (SNU), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and Ewha Womans University in Korea. The purpose of this program is to engage undergraduate students in interdisciplinary research, help them develop a global perspective on collaboration, and motivate them to pursue a career in STEM research. Over the lifetime of this 3-year project (2019-2021), the participating institutions will have a cohort of 5 students every year for a total of 15. The unifying research theme of IRiKA is smart systems with the subtopics of sensors, emerging electronics, and materials & process development. The theme leverages previous, ongoing, and new collaborations between the three US-based lead investigators and the Korean partner institutions. In addition to lab work and weekly cohort meetings to discuss progress, IRiKA students have the opportunity to visit Korea's government research institutions and global leaders in the tech industry such as Samsung, LG, and Hyundai and engage in cultural experiences. IRiKA includes a series of professional development sessions on research mentorship and science communication for both US participants and Korean partners. In this Work-in-Progress paper, the three US-based lead investigators report and reflect on the first year of the IRiKA program, which ran from June 2019 to August 2019. The investigators are currently analyzing data collected from the Summer 2019 cohort. In response to the preliminary findings, adjustments have been made for the Summer 2020 program. Summer 2020 applicant data collection has been completed. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Summer 2020 program was cancelled. © American Society for Engineering Education 2020.