Activity of species-specific antibiotics against Crohnʼs disease–associated adherent-invasive Escherichia coli

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) is associated with bacterial dysbiosis that frequently includes colonization by adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC). AIEC are adept at forming biofilms and are able to invade host cells and stimulate the production of proinflammatory cytokines. The use of traditional antibiotics for the treatment of CD shows limited efficacy. In this study, we investigate the use of species-specific antibiotics termed colicins for treatment of CD-associated AIEC. Methods: Colicin activity was tested against a range of AIEC isolates growing in the planktonic and biofilm mode of growth. Colicins were also tested against AIEC bacteria associated with T84 intestinal epithelial cells and surviving inside RAW264.7 macrophages using adhesion assays and gentamicin protection assay, respectively. Uptake of colicins into eukaryotic cells was visualized using confocal microscopy. The effect of colicin treatment on the production of proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha by macrophages was assessed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Colicins show potent activity against AIEC bacteria growing as biofilms when delivered either as a purified protein or through a colicin-producing bacterial strain. In addition, colicins E1 and E9 are able to kill cell-associated and intracellular AIEC, but do not show toxicity toward macrophage cells or stimulate the production of proinflammatory cytokines. Colicin killing of intracellular bacteria occurs after entry of colicin protein into AIEC-infected macrophage compartments by actin-mediated endocytosis. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate the potential of colicins as highly selective probiotic therapeutics for the eradication of E. coli from the gastrointestinal tract of patients with CD

Impact of Race and Insurance on Door-to-Appendectomy Time among Pediatric Patients

Racial and ethnic disparities in the rate of appendiceal rupture have been widely reported among the pediatric population. The main reasons for this remain largely unknown given that previous explanations pointing to signs of poor health care access have recently been shown to account for only a small percentage of the difference in perforation rates between white and minority children. Because the risk of perforation increases with time, racial disparities in time delay from emergency department presentation to OR appendectomy may help account for the higher appendiceal perforation rates observed among minority children. This is the first study dedicated to analyzing racial differences in door-to-appendectomy time. Insurance status and language barriers were also considered as variables of interest. Retrospective, observational study using admission and treatment data of 607 consecutive children less than or equal to 18 years of age with surgical confirmation of appendicitis. Patients were admitted from February 2, 2013 (start of electronic medical record use) to April 27, 2017. A significant association was found between race and perforation rate (p0.05 for all). Door-to-appendectomy times were also not significantly longer for Medicaid/uninsured patients (613 minutes) compared to private insurance patients (597 minutes) (p=0.60), nor for patients with language barriers (545 minutes) compared to patients without (612 minutes) (p=0.23). While there was a higher appendiceal perforation rate among minority children, it was not due to differences in door-to-appendectomy time. Insurance status and language barriers also did not lead to differential treatment among pediatric patients

Affiliative Subgroups in Preschool Classrooms: Integrating Constructs and Methods from Social Ethology and Sociometric Traditions

Recent studies of school-age children and adolescents have used social network analyses to characterize selection and socialization aspects of peer groups. Fewer network studies have been reported for preschool classrooms and many of those have focused on structural descriptions of peer networks, and/or, on selection processes rather than on social functions of subgroup membership. In this study we started by identifying and describing different types of affiliative subgroups (HMP- high mutual proximity, LMP- low mutual proximity, and ungrouped children) in a sample of 240 Portuguese preschool children using nearest neighbor observations. Next, we used additional behavioral observations and sociometric data to show that HMP and LMP subgroups are functionally distinct: HMP subgroups appear to reflect friendship relations, whereas LMP subgroups appear to reflect common social goals, but without strong, within-subgroup dyadic ties. Finally, we examined the longitudinal implications of subgroup membership and show that children classified as HMP in consecutive years had more reciprocated friendships than did children whose subgroup classification changed from LMP or ungrouped to HMP. These results extend previous findings reported for North American peer groups

Affiliative Subgroups in Preschool Classrooms: Integrating Constructs and Methods from Social Ethology and Sociometric Traditions

Recent studies of school-age children and adolescents have used social network analyses to characterize selection and socialization aspects of peer groups. Fewer network studies have been reported for preschool classrooms and many of those have focused on structural descriptions of peer networks, and/or, on selection processes rather than on social functions of subgroup membership. In this study we started by identifying and describing different types of affiliative subgroups (HMP- high mutual proximity, LMP- low mutual proximity, and ungrouped children) in a sample of 240 Portuguese preschool children using nearest neighbor observations. Next, we used additional behavioral observations and sociometric data to show that HMP and LMP subgroups are functionally distinct: HMP subgroups appear to reflect friendship relations, whereas LMP subgroups appear to reflect common social goals, but without strong, within-subgroup dyadic ties. Finally, we examined the longitudinal implications of subgroup membership and show that children classified as HMP in consecutive years had more reciprocated friendships than did children whose subgroup classification changed from LMP or ungrouped to HMP. These results extend previous findings reported for North American peer groups

Development and modulation of magnetic responsive supported ionic liquid membranes

The work presented in this thesis aims at developing a new separation process based on the application of supported magnetic ionic liquid membranes, SMILMs, using magnetic ionic liquids, MILs. MILs have attracted growing interest due to their ability to change their physicochemical characteristics when exposed to variable magnetic field conditions. The magnetic responsive behavior of MILs is thus expected to contribute for the development of more efficient separation processes, such as supported liquid membranes, where MILs may be used as a selective carrier. Driven by the MILs behavior, these membranes are expected to switch reversibly their permeability and selectivity by in situ and non-invasive adjustment of the conditions (e.g. intensity, direction vector and uniformity) of an external applied magnetic field. The development of these magnetic responsive membrane processes were anticipated by studies, performed along the first stage of this PhD work, aiming at getting a deep knowledge on the influence of magnetic field on MILs properties. The influence of the magnetic field on the molecular dynamics and structural rearrangement of MILs ionic network was assessed through a 1H-NMR technique. Through the 1H-NMR relaxometry analysis it was possible to estimate the self-diffusion profiles of two different model MILs, [Aliquat][FeCl4] and [P66614][FeCl4]. A comparative analysis was established between the behavior of magnetic and non-magnetic ionic liquids, MILs and ILs, to facilitate the perception of the magnetic field impact on MILs properties. In contrast to ILs, MILs show a specific relaxation mechanism, characterized by the magnetic dependence of their self-diffusion coefficients. MILs self-diffusion coefficients increased in the presence of magnetic field whereas ILs self-diffusion was not affected. In order to understand the reasons underlying the magnetic dependence of MILs self-diffusion, studies were performed to investigate the influence of the magnetic field on MILs’ viscosity. It was observed that the MIL´s viscosity decreases with the increase of the magnetic field, explaining the increase of MILs self-diffusion according to the modified Stokes- Einstein equation. Different gas and liquid transport studies were therefore performed aiming to determine the influence of the magnetic behavior of MILs on solute transport through SMILMs. Gas permeation studies were performed using pure CO2 andN2 gas streams and air, using a series of phosphonium cation based MILs, containing different paramagnetic anions. Transport studies were conducted in the presence and absence of magnetic field at a maximum intensity of 1.5T. The results revealed that gas permeability increased in the presence of the magnetic field, however, without affecting the membrane selectivity. The increase of gas permeability through SMILMs was related to the decrease of the MILs viscosity under magnetic field conditions.(...

3-INput Pre-Amp

There is no commercial available pre-amplifier that takes 3 individual input signals and synthesizes them for an acoustic guitar. The acoustic pre-amplifier takes three separate small signal inputs and combines or isolates to endure amplification depending with user setting. The user deciphers which signal or signal combination is desired. The device features coil pick-up, microphone pick-up, and piezo disc pick-up for variety of tone quality and control

Dinámica empresarial en la industria argentina ¿Qué sucedió en las provincias desde la convertibilidad?

El objetivo de este artículo es describir la dinámica de empresas manufactureras en las distintas regiones argentinas, durante el período 1996-2009, en términos de entradas, salidas y su impacto neto en el stock de firmas. La fuente de información utilizada es la Base de Datos para el Análisis Dinámico del Empleo (BADE), que sistematiza información sobre la totalidad de las empresas registradas en el país. A partir del análisis de las tasas de entrada, salida y cambio neto se identifican las regiones más o menos dinámicas en términos de demografía empresarial. Los principales resultados muestran que las regiones con mejor desempeño relativo son: a) las que poseen menores capacidades territoriales e historia industrial; b) las que tienen una mayor proporción de firmas entrantes pertenecientes a ramas de actividad con mejores condiciones macroeconómicas para desarrollarse en cada etapa estudiada o a ramas con bajas barreras a la entrada; c) las que no se encuentran beneficiadas por regímenes de promoción industrial. No se encuentra evidencia que relacione el tamaño medio de las firmas entrantes con el desempeño de la dinámica empresarial a nivel regional. Estos resultados pueden ser de utilidad para la definición de políticas de desarrollo industrial orientadas a fomentar la radicación de firmas y su permanencia en el mercado.This research describes firm dynamics in Argentinean manufacturing at the regional level, during 1996-2009, in terms of entries, exits and their net impact on the stock of firms. Data comes from the Database for Dynamic Analysis of Employment, and refers to all formal manufacturing firms. Regions are classified into more or less dynamic in terms of regional entry rate, exit rate and net entry rate. The main results show that more dynamic regions are: a) those ones with lower territorial capabilities and industrial history; b) those ones with a higher proportion of new firms belonging to sectors with low barriers to entry or sectors with favorable macroeconomic conditions along the period; c) those ones that do not have industrial promotion benefits. There is no evidence to link the average size of entries to regional performance in terms of firm dynamics. These results may be useful for the design of industrial promotion policies aimed at boosting firm entry or firm survival.Fil: Rotta, Lautaro Daniel. Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero (INIDEP); Argentina.Fil: Calá, Carla Daniela. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Sociales; Argentina

Finding Direct-Collapse Black Holes at Birth

Direct-collapse black holes (DCBHs) are currently one of the leading contenders for the origins of the first quasars in the universe, over 300 of which have now been found at $z >$ 6. But the birth of a DCBH in an atomically-cooling halo does not by itself guarantee it will become a quasar by $z \sim$ 7, the halo must also be located in cold accretion flows or later merge with a series of other gas-rich halos capable of fueling the BH's rapid growth. Here, we present near infrared luminosities for DCBHs born in cold accretion flows in which they are destined to grow to 10$^9$ M$_{\odot}$ by $z \sim$ 7. Our observables, which are derived from cosmological simulations with radiation hydrodynamics with Enzo, reveal that DCBHs could be found by the James Webb Space Telescope at $z \lesssim$ 20 and strongly-lensed DCBHs might be found in future wide-field surveys by Euclid and the Wide-Field Infrared Space Telescope at $z \lesssim$ 15.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, accepted by ApJ