Chr. Hansen (Denmark)

Integrated genomic surveillance, combining whole genome sequencing (WGS) of bacterial isolates with patient movement data, promises improved detection and prevention of pathogen transmission. However, evidence on its cost-effectiveness and clinical utility remains limited, not least because the full extent of transmission in hospital settings is difficult to capture. We conducted a 28-month observational study at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, collecting patient movement data and sequencing 18 438 bacterial isolates from 7398 patients across diverse species, infection sites, and resistance profiles. We estimated the hypothetical benefits of implementing integrative WGS surveillance, assuming that continued transmission could be prevented when WGS information was acted upon immediately. We found that 1975 of 7398 of culture-positive hospitalized patients (26.7%) harboured a pathogen genetically related to another patient's isolate. Of those, 1359 (68.8%) had an epidemiological link in the hospital, with Enterococcus faecium by far being the most prevalent bacteria involved in transmissions. WGS-informed prevention could hypothetically generate a net savings of €1.35 million annually if transmission was stopped once a clonal isolate was detected in a second patient. Furthermore, this approach could potentially have prevented an estimated 1284 hospital-acquired infections over the 28-month study period, including 94 cases characterized by the recovery of bloodstream isolates. Our integrated genomic surveillance approach reveals previously unexplored transmission landscapes. We discovered that transmission is widespread, varies between species, and is not limited to resistant isolates. Our results emphasize the potential of integrated genomic surveillance, the identification of local transmission hotspots, potential for greater savings by including susceptible isolates, and an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio classification by pathogen species.

Optimizing black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) production requires a better understanding of how diet composition shapes growth, nutrient allocation, and metabolic efficiency. This study investigated whether respiratory measurements could serve as predictive, non-invasive tools for BSFL performance on diets differing in protein-to-carbohydrate (P:C) ratio. Larvae were reared for seven days on four experimental diets, with growth, survival, gas exchange (O2 consumption, CO2 production, and respiratory exchange ratio (RER)), and body composition (crude protein and lipid contents) measured across seven replicates per treatment. O2 consumption correlated strongly with final larval biomass, while RER was closely associated with protein and lipid deposition. Larvae on low-protein, high-carbohydrate diets accumulated proportionally more lipid, whereas protein-rich diets increased crude protein content but required higher energetic investment. This demonstrates that lipid-rich larvae grew more efficiently in energetic terms per unit accumulated biomass than protein-rich larvae. Across diets, gas exchange variables reliably reflected growth dynamics, metabolic activity, and nutrient assimilation. Integrating respirometry into rearing systems could enable real-time monitoring of insect biomass yield and nutrient composition.

Case management systems (CMSs) are essential to modern criminal investigations but remain underexplored compared to systems for predictive policing and digital forensics. This study examines how investigators use CMSs, which capabilities remain insufficient, and how these systems can better support their work. Through interviews with practitioners across European jurisdictions, we identify an investigative workflow of six concurrent dimensions and propose a two-tier model distinguishing preparation and exploration for knowledge discoveries. While CMSs effectively manage actions and decision-making, critical gaps persist for knowledge discovery, such as text analysis, hypothesis testing, and information retrieval. We derive functional requirements by workflow dimensions, offering guidance on which capabilities should be embedded in core systems and which are better delivered as modular services. These findings inform the design of CMSs that combine stable infrastructure with flexible tools. • Proposes a six-dimensional workflow in Case Management Systems (CMSs). • Proposes a two-tier prepare–explore framework for information analysis in CMSs. • Identifies persistent gaps between current CMS capabilities and investigative needs • Recommends modular architectures to improve CMS design and workflow

Abstract While Standard Italian only displays word-final consonants in loanwords and some function words, Italo-Romance varieties show a wide range of variation in which major classes of consonants can be found in this position. This survey provides a first overview and finds that the northern varieties and the southern varieties are two different systems, the north gravitating to sonorants and the south showing a preference for obstruents. In the vast majority of cases, unattested consonant classes are excluded by non-application of apocope, which, in Optimality Theory, can only be accounted for with positional markedness or licensing, not with positional faithfulness. The typological relationship between different sets of final consonants as well as types of final clusters shows, furthermore, that an account of the southern system in terms of final onsets is undesirable.

Assessment of the pathogenic potential (virulence and toxicity) in non-pathogenic bacterial species is a challenge as it relies on methods developed for assessment of species known to be pathogenic. Here, we have applied and evaluated some of these methods on industrially relevant bacteria to differentiate between 'true' virulence factors applying only to pathogens and niche factors being defined as promoting colonization and survival rather than pathogenicity and as being present also in non-pathogenic bacteria. We examined the pathogenicity of 49 strains from 9 industrially relevant bacterial species (Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus jensenii, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, Limosilactobacillus fermentum, Latilactobacillus curvatus, Ligilactobacillus salivarius, Staphylococcus carnosus and Staphylococcus xylosus), including 14 clinical isolates of the same species, through genomic screening and phenotypically through assays established for pathogenic bacteria. The genomes were screened against the Virulence Factor Database (VFDB), and thresholds (>80% nucleotide or protein identity, >70% coverage) provided by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) were adopted to differentiate between genes of potential concern and genes of no concern. Core genome analysis was performed to determine whether the clinical isolates were phylogenetically related to the industrial isolates. The genotypic assessment did not reveal the presence of true virulence factors in the examined strains, and in the core genome analysis, the clinical isolates could not be distinguished from the industrial strains. Furthermore, cytotoxicity toward Vero cells, negative impact on Caco-2 cell viability and haemolytic activity on blood agar plates were examined, and none of the tested strains exhibited any activity in these assays. Overall, the results suggest that VFDB screening with the EFSA thresholds can be used to differentiate between true virulence factors and niche factors. Furthermore, the use of phenotypic assays supports the genotypic assessment, albeit expert knowledge is required to interpret the results.

BackgroundChild maltreatment impacts the social, physiological, and psychological well-being of affected children, resulting in both short- and long-term consequences. Despite the obligation of dental health personnel to report suspected cases to child welfare services (CWS) or other appropriate authorities, various barriers hinder reporting, leading to underreporting. This scoping review aims to explore the factors that inhibit reporting of child maltreatment among dental health personnel by addressing the following research questions:1. Which factors inhibit reporting of child maltreatment among dental health personnel?2. To what degree do dental health personnel fail to report suspected cases of child maltreatment to CWS?MethodsA scoping review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. Studies were retrieved by performing systematic searches of PubMed, Embase (Ovid), SveMed+, Idunn and The Norwegian Dental Journal (Den norske tannlegeforenings Tidende) for articles published from 2013 to October 2024.ResultsOf 303 identified articles, 34 were included in this review. Identified barriers to reporting child maltreatment among dental health personnel included diagnostic uncertainty, lack of knowledge, and fear of consequences. Targeted education and training programs were shown to improve reporting behaviors. However, overall reporting rates remain low, while the prevalence of failure to report suspected cases of child maltreatment was consistently high across the reviewed studies. These findings underscore the need for continued efforts to address the barriers to report.ConclusionThis study highlights key barriers faced by dental health personnel in reporting child maltreatment, such as diagnostic uncertainty, lack of knowledge, and fear of consequences. Alarmingly, a significant portion of dental health personnel fail to report suspected cases, perpetuating underreporting. This failure not only delays critical intervention but also allows the maltreatment to continue, compounding harm to vulnerable children. Addressing these reporting barriers is imperative to ensure that dental health professionals are equipped to fulfill their safeguarding role effectively. Future research should focus on closing knowledge gaps, expanding geographical representation, and standardizing reporting protocols to create a more robust and responsive reporting system.Trial registrationThe project protocol for this review was preregistered on OSF, accessible via the following registration DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/RBG2H.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12903-025-07287-2.

The integration of CO 2 capture at waste-to-energy (WtE) facilities can provide carbon-neutral electricity and district heating, and treat residual waste streams. However, before full-scale implementation, a better understanding of the production of liquid CO 2 and emissions from the capture process is required. This study investigates the performance of a CO 2 capture demonstration-scale unit, including CO 2 liquefaction at the Amager Bakke WtE facility, covering topics including efficiencies, CO 2 purity, and emission control. The demonstration unit has a capacity of 4 t CO 2 d − 1 and is capable of capturing and conditioning CO 2 to food-grade-compliant purity for utilization by local consumers. The unit was operated for five months, using 35 wt% monoethanolamine (MEA) solvent. During the five months of operation, seven experimental campaigns with different objectives were conducted to optimize energy performance, evaluate flue-gas emissions, and monitor the quality of the produced CO 2 . Across 2002 h of on-stream time the specific reboiler duty (SRD) averaged 3.73–4.18 GJ t CO 2 − 1 , fully consistent with the best values reported for 30–35 wt% MEA systems. Production of liquid CO 2 totalled 193 t CO 2 , corresponding to an 84 % overall recovery, while a 12 % loss was observed between absorber and storage tank. The specific solvent consumption was 2.43 kg MEA t CO 2 − 1 . The most significant contributor to solvent loss was oxidative degradation to NH 3 . Peak NH 3 slip reached 75 ppmv and showed a positive correlation with both absorber temperature and dissolved‑iron level (up to 600 mg L − 1 ). Lastly, the effect of thermal reclaiming is qualitatively reported. Finally, the purity of the produced liquid CO 2 for export was measured and compared with the degradation of the solvent. All consignments met Northern Lights transport limits and EIGA beverage-grade specifications; typical impurities were <5 ppmv O 2 , <1 ppmv SO x , and <0.05 ppmv amine. We produced high-purity liquid CO 2 , with impurity levels in compliance with commercial CO 2 specifications, but found significant challenges related to amine degradation that must be solved before full-scale implementation. • Demonstration-scale CO 2 capture and liquefaction at Amager Bakke WtE • Achieved solvent consumption of 2.43 kg MEA per ton of CO 2 captured • Produced CO 2 met commercial purity standards for industrial use • Oxidative degradation was the main cause of solvent loss. • A correlation was found between solvent degradation and NH 3 slip.

The United Nations has been endowed with the task of maintaining peace and security across the globe, and peacekeeping has been one of its most important aspects since its inception. The Cold War marked a shift from interstate to intra-state conflicts alongside instances of failure of UN peacekeeping missions. While peacekeeping has been traditionally a male-dominated space, the significant rise of gender-based violence highlights the need for women peacekeepers. The adoption of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security in 2000 was an important advance in the UN’s commitment to gender-sensitive peacekeeping. The article attempts to discuss the context of UNSC 1325 and the role of women in UN peacekeeping missions. India has played an important role in the UN peacekeeping missions. As one of the largest contributors to the UNPK missions, this article sheds light on the contribution of Indian women as UN peacekeepers in Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Abyei. It also explores and examines the challenges faced by India in gender mainstreaming in UN peacekeeping missions. Lastly, it proposes some policy recommendations for India to attain gender parity in UN peacekeeping missions.

BackgroundPatients with a life-threatening disease often experience palliative care needs (symptoms and problems) before death, and those with the most complex needs should be those who get access to specialized palliative care. To examine if that is the case, studies are needed comparing palliative care needs of patients with life-threatening cancer and non-cancer diseases admitted to specialized palliative care to patients receiving basic palliative care.AimsTo compare palliative care needs among patients with a life-threatening disease admitted to specialized palliative care and patients receiving basic palliative care.DesignA secondary data analysis of symptoms/problems reported by patients in basic palliative care or at admittance to specialized palliative care in Denmark. Ordinal logistic regression was performed to study differences in the probability of experiencing each symptom/problem among patients receiving specialized palliative care vs. basic palliative care, controlled for possible confounders.Setting/participantsPatients with a life-threatening disease who completed the EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL questionnaire.ResultsThe study included 6367 patients. The odds of experiencing symptoms, impaired physical functioning, impaired emotional functioning, and poor quality of life were higher at admittance to specialized palliative care compared to an ongoing basic palliative care, especially impaired physical functioning (OR 8.3, 95% CI 6.6–10.5) and fatigue (OR 5.1, 95% CI 4.1–6.5).ConclusionsPatients in specialized palliative care had higher levels of symptoms and problems than patients with a life-threatening disease receiving basic palliative care, especially non-cancer patients. Future research should study changes in symptoms/problems during the disease trajectory among patients with life-threatening diseases to improve referrals to specialized palliative care.