2,184 research outputs found
Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases-producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> in common vampire bats <i>Desmodus rotundus</i> and livestock in Peru
Antibiotic resistance mediated by bacterial production of extendedâspectrum betaâlactamase (ESBL) is a global threat to public health. ESBL resistance is most commonly hospitalâacquired; however, infections acquired outside of hospital settings have raised concerns over the role of livestock and wildlife in the zoonotic spread of ESBLâproducing bacteria. Only limited data are available on the circulation of ESBLâproducing bacteria in animals. Here, we report ESBLâproducing Escherichia coli in wild common vampire bats Desmodus rotundus and livestock near Lima, Peru. Molecular analyses revealed that most of this resistance resulted from the expression of blaCTXâMâ15 genes carried by plasmids, which are disseminating worldwide in hospital settings and have also been observed in healthy children of Peru. Multilocus sequence typing showed a diverse pool of E. coli strains carrying this resistance that were not always host speciesâspecific, suggesting sharing of strains between species or infection from a common source. This study shows widespread ESBL resistance in wild and domestic animals, supporting animal communities as a potential source of resistance. Future work is needed to elucidate the role of bats in the dissemination of antibioticâresistant strains of public health importance and to understand the origin of the observed resistance
Physical Properties, Star Formation, and Active Galactic Nucleus Activity in Balmer Break Galaxies at 0 < z < 1
We present a spectroscopic study with the derivation of the physical
properties of 37 Balmer break galaxies, which have the necessary lines to
locate them in star-forming-AGN diagnostic diagrams. These galaxies span a
redshift range from 0.045 to 0.93 and are somewhat less massive than similar
samples of previous works. The studied sample has multiwavelength photometric
data coverage from the ultraviolet to MIR Spitzer bands. We investigate the
connection between star formation and AGN activity via optical, mass-excitation
(MEx) and MIR diagnostic diagrams. Through optical diagrams, 31 (84%)
star-forming galaxies, 2 (5%) composite galaxies and 3 (8%) AGNs were
classified, whereas from the MEx diagram only one galaxy was classified as AGN.
A total of 19 galaxies have photometry available in all the IRAC/Spitzer bands.
Of these, 3 AGN candidates were not classified as AGN in the optical diagrams,
suggesting they are dusty/obscured AGNs, or that nuclear star formation has
diluted their contributions. Furthermore, the relationship between SFR surface
density (\Sigma_{SFR}) and stellar mass surface density per time unit
(\Sigma_{M_{\ast}/\tau}) as a function of redshift was investigated using the
[OII] \lambda3727, 3729, H\alpha \lambda6563 luminosities, which revealed that
both quantities are larger for higher redshift galaxies. We also studied the
SFR and SSFR versus stellar mass and color relations, with the more massive
galaxies having higher SFR values but lower SSFR values than less massive
galaxies. These results are consistent with previous ones showing that, at a
given mass, high-redshift galaxies have on average larger SFR and SSFR values
than low-redshift galaxies. Finally, bluer galaxies have larger SSFR values
than redder galaxies and for a given color the SSFR is larger for higher
redshift galaxies.Comment: preprint version, 36 pages, 17 figures, 3 tables, accepted for
publication in the Astrophysical Journa
Searching for galactic sources in the Swift GRB catalog
Since the early 1990s Gamma Ray Bursts have been accepted to be of
extra-galactic origin due to the isotropic distribution observed by BATSE and
the redshifts observed via absorption line spectroscopy. Nevertheless, upon
further examination at least one case turned out to be of galactic origin. This
particular event presented a Fast Rise, Exponential Decay (FRED) structure
which leads us to believe that other FRED sources might also be Galactic. This
study was set out to estimate the most probable degree of contamination by
galactic sources that certain samples of FREDs have. In order to quantify the
degree of anisotropy the average dipolar and quadripolar moments of each sample
of GRBs with respect to the galactic plane were calculated. This was then
compared to the probability distribution of simulated samples comprised of a
combination of isotropically generated sources and galactic sources. We observe
that the dipolar and quadripolar moments of the selected subsamples of FREDs
are found more than two standard deviations outside those of random
isotropically generated samples.The most probable degree of contamination by
galactic sources for the FRED GRBs of the Swift catalog detected until February
2011 that do not have a known redshift is about 21 out of 77 sources which is
roughly equal to 27%. Furthermore we observe, that by removing from this sample
those bursts that may have any type of indirect redshift indicator and multiple
peaks gives the most probable contamination increases up to 34% (17 out of 49
sources). It is probable that a high degree of contamination by galactic
sources occurs among the single peak FREDs observed by Swift.Comment: Published to A&A, 4 pages, 5 figures, this arXiv version includes
appended table with all the bursts considered in this stud
Treating hummingbirds as feathered bees : a case of ethological cross-pollination
Hummingbirds feed from hundreds of flowers every day. The properties of these flowers provide these birds with a wealth of information about colour, space and time to guide how they forage. To understand how hummingbirds might use this information, researchers have adapted established laboratory paradigms for use in the field. In recent years, however, experimental inspiration has come less from other birds, and more from looking at other nectar-feeders, particularly honeybees and bumblebees, which have been models for foraging behaviour and cognition for over a century. In a world in which the cognitive abilities of bees regularly make the news, research on the influence of ecology and sensory systems on bee behaviour is leading to novel insights in hummingbird cognition. As methods designed to study insects in the laboratory are being applied to hummingbirds in the field, converging methods can help us identify and understand convergence in cognition, behaviour and ecology.PostprintPeer reviewe
Principios de manejo de control quimico del tizon tardio de la papa en Ecuador.
Es necesario establecer con claridad los principios del manejo quĂmico de la enfermedad antes que recomendaciones explĂcitas del uso de fungicidas. Para establecer los principios de manejo, a su vez es necesario conocer la eficacia de control y los riesgos de resistencia de los patĂłgenos a los fungicidas. Considerando que la base del control de la enfermedad es la rotaciĂłn de fungicidas, posibles sinergias y antagonismos deben ser establecidos. AdemĂĄs, los niveles globales de toxicidad deben ser bajos y la eficacia alta; todos estos aspectos deben ser considerados para establecer los principios de manejo del control quĂmico. Con estos antecedentes, estudios de eficacia, resistencia del patĂłgeno a los fungicidas, rotaciĂłn de fungicidas han permitido identificar los principios de manejo del tizĂłn tardĂo, lo que permitirĂĄ el manejo sustentable de la enfermedad
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