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This work explores methodologies for dynamic trajectory generation for urban driving environments by utilizing coarse global plan representations. In contrast to state-of-the-art architectures for autonomous driving that often leverage lane-level high-definition (HD) maps, we focus on minimizing required map priors that are needed to navigate in dynamic environments that may change over time. To incorporate high-level instructions (i.e., turn right vs. turn left at intersections), we compare various representations provided by lightweight and open-source OpenStreetMaps (OSM) and formulate a conditional generative model strategy to explicitly capture the multimodal characteristics of urban driving. To evaluate the performance of the models introduced, a data collection phase is performed using multiple full-scale vehicles with ground truth labels. Our results show potential use cases in dynamic urban driving scenarios with real-time constraints. The dataset is released publicly as part of this work in combination with code and benchmarks.

Statistical learning techniques and increased computational power have facilitated the development of self-driving car technology. However, a limiting factor has been the high expense of scaling and maintaining high-definition (HD) maps. These maps are a crucial backbone for many approaches to self-driving technology. In response to this challenge, we present an approach that fuses pre-built point cloud map data with images to automatically and accurately identify static landmarks such as roads, sidewalks, and crosswalks. Our pipeline utilizes semantic segmentation of 2D images, associates semantic labels with points in point cloud maps to pinpoint locations in the physical world, and employs a confusion matrix formulation to generate a probabilistic bird’s-eye view semantic map from semantic point clouds. The approach has been tested in an urban area with different segmentation networks to generate a semantic map with road features. The resulting map provides a rich context of the environment that is valuable for downstream tasks such as trajectory generation and intent prediction. Moreover, it has the potential to be extended to the automatic generation of HD maps for semantic features. The entire software pipeline is implemented in the robot operating system (ROS), a widely used robotics framework, and made available.

Escherichia coli sequence type 131:H:22 is a consequential lineage of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli, associated with human pyelonephritis and sepsis. We report the transmission of avian pathogenic E. coli in a parrot rehabilitation center in Brazil and the presence of a high-risk zoonotic lineage of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli sequence type 131-H22.

This study examines how characteristics of participatory processes affect citizens’ evaluations of such processes and thereby establish what kind of participatory process citizens demand. The literature on democratic innovations has proposed different criteria for evaluating participatory innovations. What remains unclear, however, is how citizens evaluate these participatory mechanisms. This is here examined in a conjoint analysis embedded in a representative survey of the Finnish population ( n = 1050). The conjoint analysis examines the impact of inclusiveness, popular control, considered judgment, transparency, efficiency, and transferability on citizens’ evaluations of participatory processes. Furthermore, it is examined whether the evaluations differ by the policy issues and process preferences of the respondents. The results show that people want transparent participatory processes with face-to-face interaction among participants and expert advice to deal with complicated issues. The participatory processes should also be advisory and should not include too many meetings. These effects appear to be uniform across policy issues and do not depend on the process preferences of citizens.

Nature Communicationshttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41987-z (2023) The article ‘Pasteurella sp. associated with fatal septicaemia in six African elephants’ by Foggin et al.1 shows that the mass die-off event involving 35 elephants in north-western Zimbabwe during the hot dry season (August–November) of 2020 was likely due to haemorrhagic septicaemia caused by sucrose-negative Pasteurella multocida-like bacteria belonging to Bisgaard taxon 45. [...]we sequenced eight sucrose-negative capsular serogroup A isolates belonging to P. multocida subsp. multocida (n = 4) and P. multocida subsp. septica (n = 4) and downloaded the genomes of five existing genomes of P. multocida expressing capsular serogroup E, the causative agent of haemorrhagic septicaemia in cattle and buffaloes in Africa8; these isolates were selected because the former share phenotypic traits (unable to utilise sucrose) with Bisgaard taxon 45 and the latter share geographical range with the outbreak strain and cause similar pathological lesions. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the three isolates from elephant VF20/112, the lion isolate, the calf isolate, and the six Bisgaard taxon 45 isolates clustered together, whereas the two cheetah isolates, the sucrose-negative P. multocida subsp. multocida and septica capsular serogroup A isolates, and the P. multocida subsp. multocida capsular serogroup E isolates formed separate clusters within the P. multocida subsp. multocida/gallicida clade (Fig. 1 and Supplementary Data 3). The frpC locus in N. meningitidis contains the frpD gene, which encodes an outer membrane lipoprotein FrpD that binds to the amino-proximal portion of FrpC, whereas it lacks the genes encoding an acyltransferase (rtxC) and the type I secretion system (rtxB and rtxD) that are responsible for posttranscriptional activation and secretion of many RTX proteins, respectively13.

This guidance document is intended to assist the applicant in the preparation and the presentation of an application, as foreseen in Article 7.6 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, for the authorisation of additives used in animal nutrition. It specifically covers the assessment of the safety for the environment. Draft endorsed by the FEEDAP Panel 2 October 2018 Submitted for public consultation 8 October 2018 End of public consultation 19 November 2018 Adoption by the FEEDAP Panel 27 February 2019 Implementation date 1 September 2019 This publication is linked to the following EFSA Supporting Publications article: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/sp.efsa.2019.EN-1595/full

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) can cause colibacillosis in poultry, characterised by localised or systemic infections. Colibacillosis is considered one of the leading causes of economic losses in the poultry industry due to reduced performance, increased mortality, treatment costs and carcass condemnations. A live attenuated Escherichia coli O78 aroA gene mutant is widely used to prevent disease. However, no effective strategies to differentiate the vaccine strain from field strains are available, hampering follow-up of vaccination campaigns. In the current study, we report a PCR-based method to simultaneously detect the vaccine strain by targeting the vaccine-specific mutation in the aroA gene, as well as the wild type E . coli strains by targeting the xanQ gene. The specificity of this PCR was evaluated using 123 E . coli isolates, form which 5 WT aroA auxotrophic strains (WT strains with a natural aroA deficiency), as well as 7 non- Escherichia isolates. The PCR showed 100% sensitivity of the xanQ primers for E . coli detection and 100% sensitivity of the Δ aroA primers for the vaccine strain. In order to allow quantification of the vaccine strain in complex samples containing many different E . coli strains and other related organisms, such as chicken faeces, a probe-based duplex qPCR was developed. The limit of detection (LOD) of this duplex qPCR method was 8.4*10 3 copies/g faeces. The specificity of the duplex qPCR was confirmed by determining both the vaccine strain levels, and the total E . coli load in intestinal digesta from both vaccinated and non-vaccinated birds. E . coli could be detected in both vaccinated and non-vaccinated birds. The duplex qPCR was specific for the vaccine strain as this strain was detected in all vaccinated birds, whereas no signal was detected in non-vaccinated birds. The duplex qPCR is helpful in monitoring colonization and shedding of the vaccine strain.

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the assessment of the application for renewal of the authorisation of Enterococcus lactis NCIMB 11181 (Lactiferm®) as a zootechnical additive for weaned piglets, calves for fattening and calves for rearing. The product under assessment is based on a strain originally identified as Enterococcus faecium. During the current assessment, the active agent has been reclassified as Enterococcus lactis. The additive currently authorised is marketed in two formulations: Lactiferm Basic 50 (a solid formulation to be used in feed), and Lactiferm WS200 (a solid ‘water‐soluble’ formulation to be used in water for drinking). The applicant has provided evidence that the additive currently on the market complies with the existing conditions of authorisation. The Panel concludes that the use of Lactiferm® under the authorised conditions of use remains safe for the target species (calves up to 6 months and weaned piglets up to 35 kg), consumers and the environment. The Lactiferm WS200 formulation of the additive is not irritant to skin or eyes. Owing to the proteinaceous nature of the active agent, both formulations of the additive are considered respiratory sensitisers. It is not possible to conclude on the irritating potential for skin and eyes of the Lactiferm Basic 50 formulation or on the potential of both forms of the additive to cause skin sensitisation. There is no need for assessing the efficacy of the additive in the context of the renewal of the authorisation.

The gut microbiome of wild animals is subject to various environmental influences, including those associated with human-induced alterations to the environment. We investigated how the gut microbiota of a synurbic rodent species, the striped field mouse ( Apodemus agrarius ), change in cities of varying sizes, seeking the urban microbiota signature for this species. Fecal samples for analysis were collected from animals living in non-urbanized areas and green spaces of different-sized cities (Poland). Metagenomic 16S rRNA gene sequencing and further bioinformatics analyses were conducted. Significant differences in the composition of gut microbiomes among the studied populations were found. However, the observed changes were dependent on local habitat conditions, without strong evidence of a correlation with the size of the urbanized area. The results suggest that ecological detachment from a more natural, non-urban environment does not automatically lead to the development of an “urban microbiome” model in the studied rodent. The exposure to the natural environment in green spaces may serve as a catalyst for microbiome transformations, providing a previously underestimated contribution to the maintenance of native gut microbial communities in urban mammals.

Multidrug-resistant ESBL-producing Escherichia coli are a leading cause of infections in hospital and community settings. Based on samples from two hospitals in Uganda and households of inpatients we tested the hypothesis that ESBL E. coli and/or their resistance determinants could spread within the healthcare and community settings through discharged patients that were still colonized. We used bacterial culture, susceptibility testing whole genome sequencing and detailed bioinformatics analysis to test the above hypothesis. Genome analysis revealed presence of predominantly bla CTX-M-15 and bla OXA-1 genes with a total resistome with genes belonging to 14 different classes of antimicrobials. Short-term cases of strain sharing were reported within each setting and strains from the two settings were found to cluster together based on their overall resistome. Long-term horizontal transfer of ESBL genes by various Inc F and Inc Y types of plasmids shared between healthcare and community settings was demonstrated. Based on hybrid assembly, plasmid reconstruction and phylogenetic analyses, our study suggests that while the dissemination of AMR between healthcare and community settings in the short-term is possible at whole strain level, the long-term transmission between healthcare and communities is sustained by the transfer of plasmids circulating across niches and disseminating related resistomes.