2,163 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 extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamase (ESBL) is a global threat to public health. ESBL resistance is most commonly hospital‐acquired; however, infections acquired outside of hospital settings have raised concerns over the role of livestock and wildlife in the zoonotic spread of ESBL‐producing bacteria. Only limited data are available on the circulation of ESBL‐producing bacteria in animals. Here, we report ESBL‐producing 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 blaCTX‐M‐15 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 species‐specific, 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 antibiotic‐resistant strains of public health importance and to understand the origin of the observed resistance
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
Knowledge and degree of training of Primary Education teachers in relation to ICT taught to disabled students
The integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) into the inclusive classroom requires competent teaching staff from both the technological and pedagogical points of view. Within this context, and with the aim of looking at one of these theoretical premises, this study aimed to identify the degree of training and technological knowledge of primary school teachers in Spain with respect to the use of ICT with individuals with disabilities (functional diversity). A descriptive ex post-facto research method was used, where the sample comprised 777 teachers. An ad-hoc questionnaire was used as the data-collection instrument. The results revealed the low skill levels of the teachers with respect to the use of ICT with students with disabilities, where the level of training of the teaching staff was determined by personal (gender, age), professional (teaching experience) or educational (qualifications) variables. The findings of this study point to the need for teacher training that instructs teachers on the use of ICT in order to favour the learning and educational innovation of students with disabilities
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
The afterglow and kilonova of the short GRB 160821B
GRB 160821B is a short duration gamma-ray burst (GRB) detected and localized
by the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory in the outskirts of a spiral galaxy at
z=0.1613, at a projected physical offset of 16 kpc from the galaxy's center. We
present X-ray, optical/nIR and radio observations of its counterpart and model
them with two distinct components of emission: a standard afterglow, arising
from the interaction of the relativistic jet with the surrounding medium, and a
kilonova, powered by the radioactive decay of the sub-relativistic ejecta.
Broadband modeling of the afterglow data reveals a weak reverse shock
propagating backward into the jet, and a likely jet-break at 3.5 d. This is
consistent with a structured jet seen slightly off-axis while expanding into a
low-density medium. Analysis of the kilonova properties suggests a rapid
evolution toward red colors, similar to AT2017gfo, and a low nIR luminosity,
possibly due to the presence of a long-lived neutron star. The global
properties of the environment, the inferred low mass (M_ej < 0.006 Msun) and
velocities (v > 0.05 c) of lanthanide-rich ejecta are consistent with a binary
neutron star merger progenitor.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures, MNRAS, in press. Moderate revision, added Figure
5 and X-ray data to Table
Genetic variation and association analyses identify genes linked to fruit set-related traits in grapevine
Grapevine is one of the most valuable fruit crops in the world. Adverse environmental conditions reduce fruit quality and crop yield, so understanding the genetic and molecular mechanisms determining crop yield components is essential to optimize grape production. The analysis of a diverse collection of grapevine cultivars allowed us to evaluate the relationship between fruit set-related components of yield, including the incidence of reproductive disorders such as coulure and millerandage. The collection displayed a great phenotypic variation that we surveyed in a genetics association study using 15, 309 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) detected in the sequence of 289 candidate genes scattered across the 19 grapevine linkage groups. After correcting statistical models for population structure and linkage disequilibrium effects, 164 SNPs from 34 of these genes were found to associate with fruit set-related traits, supporting a complex polygenic determinism. Many of them were found in the sequence of different putative MADS-box transcription factors, a gene family related with plant reproductive development control. In addition, we observed an additive effect of some of the associated SNPs on the phenotype, suggesting that advantageous alleles from different loci could be pyramided to generate superior cultivars with optimized fruit production
SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE SPANISH INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY
EMODNet High Resolution Seabed MappingEMODNET-HRS
Fungal microbiota from rain water and pathogenicity of Fusarium species isolated from atmospheric dust and rainfall dust
In order to determine the presence of Fusarium spp. in atmospheric dust and rainfall dust, samples were collected during September 2007, and July, August, and October 2008. The results reveal the prevalence of airborne Fusarium species coming from the atmosphere of the South East coast of Spain. Five different Fusarium species were isolated from the settling dust: Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani, F. equiseti, F. dimerum, and F. proliferatum. Moreover, rainwater samples were obtained during significant rainfall events in January and February 2009. Using the dilution-plate method, 12 fungal genera were identified from these rainwater samples. Specific analyses of the rainwater revealed the presence of three species of Fusarium: F. oxysporum, F. proliferatum and F. equiseti. A total of 57 isolates of Fusarium spp. obtained from both rainwater and atmospheric rainfall dust sampling were inoculated onto melon (Cucumis melo L.) cv. Piñonet and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cv. San Pedro. These species were chosen because they are the main herbaceous crops in Almeria province. The results presented in this work indicate strongly that spores or propagules of Fusarium are able to cross the continental barrier carried by winds from the Sahara (Africa) to crop or coastal lands in Europe. Results show differences in the pathogenicity of the isolates tested. Both hosts showed root rot when inoculated with different species of Fusarium, although fresh weight measurements did not bring any information about the pathogenicity. The findings presented above are strong indications that long-distance transmission of Fusarium propagules may occur. Diseases caused by species of Fusarium are common in these areas. They were in the past, and are still today, a problem for greenhouses crops in Almería, and many species have been listed as pathogens on agricultural crops in this region. Saharan air masses dominate the Mediterranean regions. The evidence of long distance dispersal of Fusarium spp. by atmospheric dust and rainwater together with their proved pathogenicity must be taken into account in epidemiological studies
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