College of Letters & Science
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The College of Letters and Science, the largest center for learning, teaching and research at Montana State University, offers students an excellent liberal arts and sciences education in nearly 50 majors, 25 minors and over 25 graduate degrees within the four areas of the humanities, natural sciences, mathematics and social sciences.
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Item Imaging and plate counting to quantify the effect of an antimicrobial: A case study of a photo‐activated chlorine dioxide treatment(Wiley, 2022-09) Parker, Albert E.; Miller, Lindsey; Adams, Jacob; Pettigrew, Charles; Buckingham‐Meyer, Kelli; Summers, Jennifer; Christen, Andres; Goeres, DarlaAim. To assess removal versus kill efficacies of antimicrobial treatments against thick biofilms with statistical confidence. Methods and results. A photo-activated chlorine dioxide treatment (Photo ClO2) was tested in two independent experiments against thick (>100 μm) Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. Kill efficacy was assessed by viable plate counts. Removal efficacy was assessed by 3D confocal scanning laser microscope imaging (CSLM). Biovolumes were calculated using an image analysis approach that models the penetration limitation of the laser into thick biofilms using Beer's Law. Error bars are provided that account for the spatial correlation of the biofilm's surface. The responsiveness of the biovolumes and plate counts to the increasing contact time of Photo ClO2 were quite different, with a massive 7 log reduction in viable cells (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.2, 7.9) but a more moderate 73% reduction in biovolume (95% CI: [60%, 100%]). Results are leveraged to quantitatively assess candidate CSLM experimental designs of thick biofilms. Conclusions. Photo ClO2 kills biofilm bacteria but only partially removes the biofilm from the surface. To maximize statistical confidence in assessing removal, imaging experiments should use fewer pixels in each z-slice, and more importantly, at least two independent experiments even if there is only a single field of view in each experiment. Significance and impact of study There is limited penetration depth when collecting 3D confocal images of thick biofilms. Removal can be assessed by optimally fitting Beer's Law to all of the intensities in a 3D image and by accounting for the spatial correlation of the biofilm's surface. For thick biofilms, other image analysis approaches are biased or do not provide error bars. We generate unbiased estimates of removal and assess candidate CSLM experimental designs of thick biofilms with different pixilations, numbers of fields of view and number of experiments using the included design tool.Item Interlaboratory study for the evaluation of three microtiter plate-based biofilm quantification methods(2021-07) Allkja, Jontana; van Charante, Frits; Aizawa, Juliana; Reigada, Ines; Guarch-Perez, Clara; Vazquez-Rodriguez, Jesus Augusto; Cos, Paul; Coenye, Tom; Fallarero, Adyary; Zaat, Sebastian A. J.; Felici, Antonio; Ferrari, Livia; Azevado, Nuno F.; Parker, Albert E.; Goeres, Darla M.Microtiter plate methods are commonly used for biofilm assessment. However, results obtained with these methods have often been difficult to reproduce. Hence, it is important to obtain a better understanding of the repeatability and reproducibility of these methods. An interlaboratory study was performed in five different laboratories to evaluate the reproducibility and responsiveness of three methods to quantify Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation in 96-well microtiter plates: crystal violet, resazurin, and plate counts. An inter-lab protocol was developed for the study. The protocol was separated into three steps: biofilm growth, biofilm challenge, biofilm assessment. For control experiments participants performed the growth and assessment steps only. For treatment experiments, all three steps were performed and the efficacy of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) in killing S. aureus biofilms was evaluated. In control experiments, on the log10-scale, the reproducibility SD (SR) was 0.44 for crystal violet, 0.53 for resazurin, and 0.92 for the plate counts. In the treatment experiments, plate counts had the best responsiveness to different levels of efficacy and also the best reproducibility with respect to responsiveness (Slope/SR = 1.02), making it the more reliable method to use in an antimicrobial efficacy test. This study showed that the microtiter plate is a versatile and easy-to-use biofilm reactor, which exhibits good repeatability and reproducibility for different types of assessment methods, as long as a suitable experimental design and statistical analysis is applied.Item Investigation of the role of infusate properties related to midline catheter failure in an ovine model(2020-08) Ryder, Marcia; Gunther, Robert A.; Nishikawa, Reid A.; Stranz, Marc; Meyer, Britt M.; Spangler, Taylor A.; Parker, Albert E.; Sylvia, CharlesPurpose Infusate osmolarity, pH, and cytotoxicity were investigated as risk factors for midline catheter failure. Methods An experimental, randomized, controlled, blinded trial was conducted using an ovine model. Two 10-cm, 18-gauge single-lumen midline catheters were inserted into the cephalic veins of sheep. The animals were divided into 6 study arms and were administered solutions of vancomycin 4 mg/mL (a low-cytotoxicity infusate) or 10 mg/mL (a high-cytotoxicity infusate), doxycycline 1 mg/mL (an acidic infusate), or acyclovir 3.5 mg/mL (an alkaline infusate) and 0.9% sodium chloride injection; or 1 of 2 premixed Clinimix (amino acids in dextrose; Baxter International) products with respective osmolarities of 675 mOsm/L (a low-osmolarity infusate) and 930 mOsm/L (a mid-osmolarity infusate). Contralateral legs were infused with 0.9% sodium chloride injection for control purposes. Catheter failure was evaluated by assessment of adverse clinical symptoms (swelling, pain, leakage, and occlusion). A quantitative vessel injury score (VIS) was calculated by grading 4 histopathological features: inflammation, mural thrombus, necrosis, and perivascular reaction. Results Among 20 sheep included in the study, the overall catheter failure rate was 95% for test catheters (median time to failure, 7.5 days; range, 3–14 days), while 60% of the control catheters failed before or concurrently (median time to failure, 7 days; range, 4.5–14 days). Four of the 6 study arms (all but the Clinimix 675-mOsm/L and acyclovir 3.5-mg/mL arms) demonstrated an increase in mean VIS of ≥77% in test vs control legs (P ≤ 0.034). Both pain and swelling occurred at higher rates in test vs control legs: 65% vs 10% and 70% vs 50%, respectively. The mean difference in rates of occlusive pericatheter mural thrombus between the test and control arms was statistically significant for the vancomycin 10-mg/mL (P = 0.0476), Clinimix 930-mOsm/L (P = 0.0406), and doxycycline 1-mg/mL (P = 0.032) arms. Conclusion Administration of infusates of varied pH, osmolarity, and cytotoxicity via midline catheter resulted in severe vascular injury and premature catheter failure; therefore, the tested infusates should not be infused via midline catheters.Item Impact of an automated hand hygiene monitoring system and additional promotional activities on hand hygiene performance rates and healthcare-associated infections(2019-07) Boyce, John M.; Laughman, Jennifer A.; Ader, Michael H.; Wagner, Pamela T.; Parker, Albert E.; Arbogast, James W.Objective: Determine the impact of an automated hand hygiene monitoring system (AHHMS) plus complementary strategies on hand hygiene performance rates and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Design: Retrospective, nonrandomized, observational, quasi-experimental study. Setting: Single, 93-bed nonprofit hospital. Methods: Hand hygiene compliance rates were estimated using direct observations. An AHHMS, installed on 4 nursing units in a sequential manner, determined hand hygiene performance rates, expressed as the number of hand hygiene events performed upon entering and exiting patient rooms divided by the number of room entries and exits. Additional strategies implemented to improve hand hygiene included goal setting, hospital leadership support, feeding AHHMS data back to healthcare personnel, and use of Toyota Kata performance improvement methods. HAIs were defined using National Healthcare Safety Network criteria. Results: Hand hygiene compliance rates generated by direct observation were substantially higher than performance rates generated by the AHHMS. Installation of the AHHMS without supplementary activities did not yield sustained improvement in hand hygiene performance rates. Implementing several supplementary strategies resulted in a statistically significant 85% increase in hand hygiene performance rates (P < .0001). The incidence density of non–Clostridioies difficile HAIs decreased by 56% (P = .0841), while C. difficile infections increased by 60% (P = .0533) driven by 2 of the 4 study units. Conclusion: Implementation of an AHHMS, when combined with several supplementary strategies as part of a multimodal program, resulted in significantly improved hand hygiene performance rates. Reductions in non–C. difficile HAIs occurred but were not statistically significant.Item Randomized controlled trial evaluating the antimicrobial efficacy of chlorhexidine gluconate and para-chloro-meta-xylenol handwash formulations in real-world doses(2019-06) Arbogast, James W.; Bowersock, Lisa B.; Parker, Albert E.; Macinga, D. R.Chlorhexidine gluconate-based soaps have become the gold standard for handwashing in critical care settings and para-chloro-meta-xylenol is an effective alternative antibacterial active ingredient. This study benchmarked 2 novel foaming handwashes, compared to a bland soap for antimicrobial effectiveness using the health care personnel handwash method at realistic soap doses (0.9 mL and 2.0 mL). To our knowledge, this is the first published efficacy study on realistic soap doses. Both soaps met Food and Drug Administration success criteria.Item Quorum sensing inhibition as a promising method to control biofilm growth in metalworking fluids(2019-04) Ozcan, Safiye S.; Dieser, Markus; Parker, Albert E.; Balasubramanian, Narayanaganesh; Foreman, Christine M.Microbial contamination in metalworking systems is a critical problem. This study determined the microbial communities in metalworking fluids (MWFs) from two machining shops and investigated the effect of quorum sensing inhibition (QSI) on biofilm growth. In both operations, biofilm-associated and planktonic microbial communities were dominated by Pseudomonadales (60.2–99.7%). Rapid recolonization was observed even after dumping spent MWFs and meticulous cleaning. Using Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 as a model biofilm organism, patulin (40 µM) and furanone C-30 (75 µM) were identified as effective QSI agents. Both agents had a substantially higher efficacy compared to α-amylase (extracellular polymeric substance degrading enzyme) and reduced biofilm formation by 63% and 76%, respectively, in MWF when compared to untreated controls. Reduced production of putatively identified homoserine lactones and quinoline in MWF treated with QS inhibitors support the effect of QSI on biofilm formation. The results highlight the effectiveness of QSI as a potential strategy to eradicate biofilms in MWFs.Item Dynamic processing of DOM: Insight from exometabolomics, fluorescence spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry(2018-06) Smith, Heidi J.; Tigges, Michelle M.; D'Andrilli, Juliana; Parker, Albert E.; Bothner, Brian; Foreman, Christine M.Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in freshwater environments is an important source of organic carbon, supporting bacterial respiration. Frozen environments cover vast expanses of our planet, with glaciers and ice-sheets storing upwards of 6 petagrams of organic carbon. It is generally believed that DOM liberated from ice stimulates downstream environments. If true, glacial DOM is an important component of global carbon cycling. However, coupling the release of DOM to microbial activity is challenging due to the molecular complexity of DOM and the metabolic connectivity within microbial communities. Using a single environmentally relevant organism, we demonstrate that processing of compositionally diverse DOM occurs, but, even though glacially derived DOM is chemically labile, it is unable to support sustained respiration. In view of projected changes in glacier DOM export, these findings imply that biogeochemical impacts on downstream environments will depend on the reactivity and heterogeneity of liberated DOM, as well as the timescale.Item Accelerated Gibbs sampling of normal distributions using matrix splittings and polynomials(2017-11) Fox, Colin; Parker, Albert E.Standard Gibbs sampling applied to a multivariate normal distribution with a specified precision matrix is equivalent in fundamental ways to the Gauss Seidel iterative solution of linear equations in the precision matrix. Specifically, the iteration operators, the conditions under which convergence occurs, and geometric convergence factors (and rates) are identical. These results hold for arbitrary matrix splittings from classical iterative methods in numerical linear algebra giving easy access to mature results in that field, including existing convergence results for antithetic-variable Gibbs sampling, REGS sampling, and generalizations. Hence, efficient deterministic stationary relaxation schemes lead to efficient generalizations of Gibbs sampling. The technique of polynomial acceleration that significantly improves the convergence rate of an iterative solver derived from a symmetric matrix splitting may be applied to accelerate the equivalent generalized Gibbs sampler. Identicality of error polynomials guarantees convergence of the inhomogeneous Markov chain, while equality of convergence factors ensures that the optimal solver leads to the optimal sampler. Numerical examples are presented, including a Chebyshev accelerated SSOR Gibbs sampler applied to a stylized demonstration of low-level Bayesian image reconstruction in a large 3-dimensional linear inverse problem.Item Micropatterned Endotracheal Tubes Reduce Secretion-Related Lumen Occlusion(2016-12) Mann, Ethan E.; Magin, Chelsea M.; Mettetal, M. Ryan; May, Rhea M.; Henry, MiKayla M.; DeLoid, Heather; Prater, Justin; Sullivan, Lauren; Thomas, John G.; Twite, Mark D.; Parker, Albert E.; Brennan, Anthony B.; Reddy, Shravanthi T.Tracheal intubation disrupts physiological homeostasis of secretion production and clearance, resulting in secretion accumulation within endotracheal tubes (ETTs). Novel in vitro and in vivo models were developed to specifically recapitulate the clinical manifestations of ETT occlusion. The novel Sharklet™ micropatterned ETT was evaluated, using these models, for the ability to reduce the accumulation of both bacterial biofilm and airway mucus compared to a standard care ETT. Novel ETTs with micropattern on the inner and outer surfaces were placed adjacent to standard care ETTs in in vitro biofilm and airway patency (AP) models. The primary outcome for the biofilm model was to compare commercially-available ETTs (standard care and silver-coated) to micropatterned for quantity of biofilm accumulation. The AP model's primary outcome was to evaluate accumulation of artificial airway mucus. A 24-h ovine mechanical ventilation model evaluated the primary outcome of relative quantity of airway secretion accumulation in the ETTs tested. The secondary outcome was measuring the effect of secretion accumulation in the ETTs on airway resistance. Micropatterned ETTs significantly reduced biofilm by 71% (p = 0.016) compared to smooth ETTs. Moreover, micropatterned ETTs reduced lumen occlusion, in the AP model, as measured by cross-sectional area, in distal (85%, p = 0.005), middle (84%, p = 0.001) and proximal (81%, p = 0.002) sections compared to standard care ETTs. Micropatterned ETTs reduced the volume of secretion accumulation in a sheep model of occlusion by 61% (p < 0.001) after 24 h of mechanical ventilation. Importantly, micropatterned ETTs reduced the rise in ventilation peak inspiratory pressures over time by as much as 49% (p = 0.005) compared to standard care ETTs. Micropatterned ETTs, demonstrated here to reduce bacterial contamination and mucus occlusion, will have the capacity to limit complications occurring during mechanical ventilation and ultimately improve patient care.Item The mathematical structure of information bottleneck methods(2012-03) Gedeon, Tomas; Parker, Albert E.; Dimitrov, Alexander G.Information Bottleneck-based methods use mutual information as a distortion function in order to extract relevant details about the structure of a complex system by compression. One of the approaches used to generate optimal compressed representations is by annealing a parameter. In this manuscript we present a common framework for the study of annealing in information distortion problems. We identify features that should be common to any annealing optimization problem. The main mathematical tools that we use come from the analysis of dynamical systems in the presence of symmetry (equivariant bifurcation theory). Through the compression problem, we make connections to the world of combinatorial optimization and pattern recognition. The two approaches use very different vocabularies and consider different problems to be “interesting†. We provide an initial link, through the Normalized Cut Problem, where the two disciplines can exchange tools and ideas.