Global guidelines on the prevention of surgical site infection.

The first ever Global guidelines for the prevention of surgical site infection were published on 3 November 2016. They include a list of 29 concrete recommendations distilled by 20 of the world’s leading experts from 26 reviews of the latest evidence. The recommendations have also been published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases and are designed to address the increasing burden of health care-associated infections on both patients and health care systems globally, alongside supporting tools issued by WHO. WHO will continue to issue tools in support of guideline implementation throughout 2017. Read it now

Peanut probiotic: Researchers develop commercially viable lactose-free probiotic ‘yoghurt’

Peanut probiotic: Researchers develop commercially viable lactose-free probiotic ‘yoghurt’: A newly developed peanut-based probiotic ‘yoghurt’ could serve as a functional food for those who follow a vegan diet or have lactose intolerance, say researchers.

New Weapon to Kill Bacteria has been biologically engineered.

Recent studies have shown how bacteria can easily adapt and develop antibiotic immunity. The United Nations elevated one case to a crisis, on the same level as Ebola and HIV. A recent study by a UK commission estimates that, if no new antibiotics are made, bacterial infections will kill 10 million people each year by 2050. This problem is one connected to antibiotic use and the adaptation capabilities of bacteria,and as a solution, scientists look to antimicrobial peptides, naturally occurring proteins that can kill bacteria and other known microbes ;fungi and viruses. A team of researchers from MIT, the University of Brasilia, and the University of British Columbia just gave the natural protein a boost, engineering an antimicrobial peptide that could kill many types of bacteria, even those resistant to most antibiotics. The study reported in Scientific Reports, shows that the researchers have engineered a synthetic peptide called clavanin-MO, derived from a marine tunicate antimicrobial peptide [clavanin A], which exhibits potent antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties both in vitro and in vivo. see Clavanin-MO has improved bacterial killing abilities thanks to an added sequence of five amino acids making it more hydrophobic — allowing it to interact with and translocate to membranes more effectively. A test on mice showed that Clavanin-MO could kill strains of E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus that are extremely antibiotic resistant. more

Lifeprint; Portable Tech Lets You Print Moving Photographs.

Lifeprint allows you to instantly print images that turn into videos. With the connected app, you can share the images with friends and family to print around the world.A company is changing the way we send pictures and share memories. One company is changing that, and they are doing it by turning pictures into augmented reality videos. Yes, pictures that turn into videos. It’s called Lifeprint, and it basically lets you print live videos using a tiny, portable printer. Once you have the picture in hand, you just wave your phone over it and watch the wonder. Lifeprint allows you to print a photo, link it to a video that will autoplay with the Lifeprint app, and share that photo and video with others (who can also print the image). This all happens through the app’s built-in social network that lets you instantly share your memories, where others can comment and “like.” Try it now

Electroacupuncture and Constipation.

A new research suggests that acupuncture using a mild electric current can bring some relief to those with severe constipation. The study, which was conducted at the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences in Beijing, found that electroacupuncture may be a safe, effective form of treatment for individuals with chronic constipation. The subjects were 1,075 adults who had all been diagnosed with constipation for a minimum of three months ,the definitions of chronic constipation vary depending on patient symptoms and complaints, but in general it may be considered as two or fewer complete bowel movements per week, often accompanied by hardened stools, straining to defecate, and a persistent feeling of incomplete emptying. All of the participants received 28 treatment sessions over the course of eight weeks. But they were randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group had electroacupuncture performed at traditional acupoints, while the other received a sham treatment involving different needles inserted at incorrect body points. Yet by the end of the trial period, both groups saw improvement in their regularity, which is not necessarily surprising when you consider the medically recognized power of the placebo effect. At the eight-week mark; the conclusion of the treatments were as follows; those who received real acupuncture were having an average of 1.8 more bowel movements per week than they had experienced prior to the experiment VS just 0.9 more bowel movements each week for the sham electroacupuncture group. In other words, although there was still a placebo effect, it was only half as effective as real acupuncture. The group undergoing acupuncture double their bowel movements compared to the sham group, the results continued to improve beyond the end of the treatment sessions. After 12 weeks, the electroacupuncture group had further increased to approximately two additional bowel movements per week compared to where they were at the beginning of the study. In contrast, those in the sham group experienced no improvement beyond what they had at the eight-week point. After 20 weeks nearly 38 percent of those who received electroacupuncture were having at least three bowel movements each week,while among those in the fake treatment group, only 14 percent were having three weekly bowel movements. Constipation can be averted by drinking sufficient quantities of water every day, to soften stools to make them easier to pass. A diet rich in fiber aids the digestive system by bulking up stools to promote more frequent evacuation. Exercise is essential too, as it increases the pace at which food moves through the gastrointestinal tract. The inclusion of vegetables and fruits in the diet will also help stimulate bowel movement to prevent constipation.

Technology converts human waste into bio-based fuel .

Wastewater treatment plants across the United States may one day turn ordinary sewage into biocrude oil, thanks to new research. The technology, hydrothermal liquefaction(HTL), mimics the geological conditions Earth uses to create crude oil, using high pressure and temperature to achieve in minutes something that takes Mother Nature millions of years. A research carried out at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory(PNNL) explains the process; the technology referred to as hydrothermal liquefaction, mimics the geological conditions Earth uses to create crude oil, using high pressure and temperature to achieve in minutes something that takes Mother Nature millions of years. The resulting material is similar to petroleum pumped out of the ground, with a small amount of water and oxygen mixed in. This biocrude can then be refined using conventional petroleum refining operations. Sewage, otherwise known as sewage sludge, has long been viewed as a poor ingredient for producing biofuel because it's too wet. The approach being studied by PNNL eliminates the need for drying required in a majority of current thermal technologies which historically has made wastewater to fuel conversion too energy intensive and expensive. Hydrothermal liquefaction may also be used to make fuel from other types of wet organic feedstock, such as agricultural waste. Using hydrothermal liquefaction, organic matter such as human waste can be broken down to simpler chemical compounds. The material is pressurized to 3,000 pounds per square inch -- nearly one hundred times that of a car tire. Pressurized sludge then goes into a reactor system operating at about 660 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat and pressure cause the cells of the waste material to break down into different fractions -- biocrude and an aqueous liquid phase. In addition to producing useful fuel, HTL could give local governments significant cost savings by virtually eliminating the need for sewage residuals processing, transport and disposal. In addition to the biocrude, the liquid phase can be treated with a catalyst to create other fuels and chemical products. A small amount of solid material is also generated, which contains important nutrients. For example, early efforts have demonstrated the ability to recover phosphorus, which can replace phosphorus ore used in fertilizer production.more

Cassava as food and biofuel.

Global food demand is expected to grow by 110 per cent over the next 30 to 35 years, and for many of the poorest people on the planet, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, cassava is the most important source of calories. Cassava is also important as a crop that is resistant to climate change. The beam of light is on cancer to develop more resistant strains and explore techniques for processing, packaging and distribution so that more people benefit . A new review brings together research on the potential for improving cassava yields, such as by boosting the efficiency with which the plant captures sunlight and converts it into sugars.New ways to utilize starch from cassava can provide food to an additional 30 million people without taking more arable land than today. By 2030, the figure will be 100 million. In addition, the same land can also contribute to an increased production of bioenergy. Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz.) is grown for its high starch content. The large tubers are very starchy and processed into flour or semolina (tapioca). This is the staple food for between 0.5-1 billion people in Africa, Latin America and Asia. The plant is grown on about 19 million hectares of land. A study by researchers at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and China Agricultural University (CAU) and published in the journal Global Change Biology Bioenergy shows how to use cassava effectively. The use of cassava starch for industrial purpose can reduce the amount of food or result in even more land being utilized for production,but researchers at SLU and CAU have found that discarded stems contain surprisingly large amounts of starch, up to 30% of dry mass. Currently, the stems are removed from plantations and are considered a waste problem. A simple water-based technologies, can provide up to 15% of starch stem dry weight by extraction. If this starch can be used for industrial purposes, root starch previously used industrially can provide food for an additional 30 million people in the world today and close to 100 million in 2030. The study also shows that residues and process for the extraction of stem starch can be used for the production of biofuels (solid fuel and biogas) and provide substantial added values. Without land use increases, the researchers show that food and bioenergy in combination can contribute to sustainable development and to combat malnutrition and poverty globally.