Multilocus sequence typing of Cronobacter spp. from powdered infant formula and milk powder production factories

This study applied the Cronobacter spp. multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme to three strain collections, then known as Enterobacter sakazakii, which had been isolated between 1988 and 2009 from 14 countries. The results revealed the predominance (85%) of C. 29 sakazakii (72 strains) in all three collections. The remaining strains were C. turicensis (10%), C. malonaticus (4%), and C. muytjensii (1%). No strains of C. dublinensis, C. universalis or C. condimenti were identified. Twenty-one out of seventy two C. sakazakii strains were in the clinically significant ST4 clonal complex, and were found in all three strain collections. These results confirm C. sakazakii ST4 is one of the predominant clonal complexes over the past 20 years in several parts of the world. Further understanding of the ecosystem and sources of the organism may be used for the development of improved intervention strategies in the dairy industry

The Management for Global Sustainability Opportunity: Integrating Responsibility, Sustainability, and Spirituality

This study reflects the necessity to incorporate spirituality into business practices while building on a foundation of responsibility and sustainability. The articulation between these three practices is necessary to respond to the three fundamental divides or wounds that our present world lives on: the wounds between the person and society; between the person and nature; and between the person and the best version of themselves. The Research Question guiding this paper is: How can responsibility sustainability and spirituality be understood and interconnected to address, from a Management perspective, the three fundamental wounds of our world? We answer it by comparing two conceptual worlds: Theory U, and the Jesuit Tradition. After presenting both conceptual worlds and comparing them, we discuss how they contribute to a better understanding of the relationships between responsibility, sustainability, and spirituality. We then propose practical implications for Management Education

Tetracycline Selective Pressure and Homologous Recombination Shape the Evolution of Chlamydia suis: A Recently Identified Zoonotic Pathogen

Species closely related to the human pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) have recently been found to cause zoonotic infections, posing a public health threat especially in the case of tetracycline resistant Chlamydia suis (Cs) strains. These strains acquired a tet(C)-containing cassette via horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Genomes of 11 Cs strains from various tissues were sequenced to reconstruct evolutionary pathway(s) for tet(C) HGT. Cs had the highest recombination rate of Chlamydia species studied to date. Admixture occurred among Cs strains and with Chlamydia muridarum but not with Ct. Although in vitro tet(C) cassette exchange with Ct has been documented, in vivo evidence may require examining human samples from Ct and Cs co-infected sites. Molecular-clock dating indicated that ancestral clades of resistant Cs strains predated the 1947 discovery of tetracycline, which was subsequently used in animal feed. The cassette likely spread throughout Cs strains by homologous recombination after acquisition from an external source, and our analysis suggests Betaproteobacteria as the origin. Selective pressure from tetracycline may be responsible for recent bottlenecks in Cs populations. Since tetracycline is an important antibiotic for treating Ct, zoonotic infections at mutual sites of infection indicate the possibility for cassette transfer and major public health repercussions

Evaluation of oil spill trajectory model with the observed SVP drifter track

Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) collaborated with Indian Coast Guard(ICG) and conducted Surface Velocity Program (SVP) drifter experiment at Mumbai High region for evaluating the operational oil spill trajectory model. INCOIS adopted General National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) Operational Modelling Environment(GNOME) from NOAA and customised it in diagnostic mode for Indian ocean. GNOME was operationalised during May 2014. The objective of this experiment is to compare the drift pattern obtained from an oil spill trajectory model with the observed drifter track. SVP drifter was procured from M/s. Pacific Gyre, USA. It gives the Lagrangian trajectory path over the ocean. It was deployed by officials of Indian Coast Guard at Mumbai High region on 20 November 2016,12.45 hrs at 72.2295º E, 18.91035º N off Mumbai. It gave its drifted path along the west coast of India for ten days, before it beached near Diu on 3 December 2016.This observed track was considered for comparing the simulated positions obtained from GNOME when forced with currents of different ocean general circulation models. The results show that the positions of the drifter obtained, while forced with analysed currents of GODAS -MOM4p1 (GM4p1) and Hybrid Co-ordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) are found to be in better agreement with the actual position of the drifter

The speciation and genotyping of Cronobacter isolates from hospitalised patients

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognised all Cronobacter species as human pathogens. Among premature neonates and immunocompromised infants, these infections can be life-threatening, with clinical presentations of septicaemia, meningitis and necrotising enterocolitis. The neurological sequelae can be permanent and the mortality rate as high as 40 – 80 %. Despite the highlighted issues of neonatal infections, the majority of Cronobacter infections are in the elderly population suffering from serious underlying disease or malignancy and include wound and urinary tract infections, osteomyelitis, bacteraemia and septicaemia. However, no age profiling studies have speciated or genotyped the Cronobacter isolates. A clinical collection of 51 Cronobacter strains from two hospitals were speciated and genotyped using 7-loci multilocus sequence typing (MLST), rpoB gene sequence analysis, O-antigen typing and pulsed- field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The isolates were predominated by C. sakazakii sequence type 4 (63 %, 32/51) and C. malonaticus sequence type 7 (33 %, 17/51). These had been isolated from throat and sputum samples of all age groups, as well as recal and faecal swabs. There was no apparent relatedness between the age of the patient and the Cronobacter species isolated. Despite the high clonality of Cronobacter , PFGE profiles differentiated strains across the sequence types into 15 pulsotypes. There was almost complete agreement between O-antigen typing and rpoB gene sequence analysis and MLST profiling. This study shows the value of applying MLST to bacterial population studies with strains from two patient cohorts, combined with PFGE for further discrimination of strains

Joseph L. Ryan, SJ, Collection

All physical materials associated with the New England Province Archive are currently held by the Jesuit Archives in St. Louis, MO. Any inquiries about these materials should be directed to Jesuit Archives. Electronic versions of some items and the descriptions and finding aids to the Archives, which are hosted in CrossWorks, are provided only as a courtesy. Joseph L. Ryan was born on December 4, 1920 in Brighton,MA, the son of John R. Ryan and Mary Ann (Connelly) Ryan. He was educated at Boston Latin School and Boston College High School, graduating in 1938. He entered into the Society of Jesus on June 30, 1938 at Shadowbrook. Both his novitiate and juniorate training were at Shadowbrook, 1938 to 1942, then he studied Philosophy at Weston College from 1942 to 1945. In 1945, he went to Baghdad College,Baghdad,Iraq, for his regency, teaching English, Mathematics and Chemistry. He left Baghdad in 1948 to begin his Theological studies at Weston College and continued until 1952. He was ordained at Weston College on June 16, 1951 by Bishop John J. McEleney, S.J. In 1952, he went to St. Robert’s Hall,Pomfret,CT for his tertianship studies and in 1953 he began a year of study in Chemistry at Boston College. On December 28, 1954, he returned to Baghdad College to teach Chemistry. In 1956, he became the dean of the new Al-Hikma University,Baghdad,Iraq, and a Professor of Theology. He remained at Al-Hikma until 1962, when he left for the St. Joseph’s Residence in Baghdadto study the Arabic language. After his year of study, he returned to Al-Hikma University as the dean until 1966 when he was made academic vice-president. When the Jesuits were expelled from Al-Hikma University in 1968, he returned to New England where he became a research fellow at the Cambridge (Mass.) Center for Social Studies, and to serve as Director of Planning for Jesuit Missions for the Province. In 1971, he returned to the Mid-East, at St. Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon, where he did research at the Center for the Study of the Modern Arabic World (CEMAM) until 1975. In 1976 he returned to the United States where he continued these studies at Loyola House in Boston. From 1972 to 1977, he undertook a series of lecture tours on topics related to the Middle East. He took his Final Solemn Vows on April 12, 1977. Also in 1977, he became rector for the Jesuit community at the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA. In 1983, he spent a year at Oxford University, England, studying religious education. He then began work with the Amman, Jordan religious education ministry and became director for the Pontifical Mission for Palestine. He remained with the program until 1990, when he took a one year sabbatical and returned to the Loyola House for private study, and later Weston, to continue his education. He then spent a year, 1991-1992, at the Center for Religious Development in Cambridge, MA. From 1992 until 1997 he worked in spiritual counseling and direction for retreats at Fairfield University. In 1997, his failing health forced him leave his position. He died on January 31, 1998 and is buried at Campion Center in Weston, MA. Fr. Ryan was member of the National Council of Americans for Middle East Understanding, the Middle East Studies Association, and President of the American Friends of th eMiddle East. He was the author of many articles and book chapters on Middle Eastern affairs and, in particular, on Palestinian-Israeli issues and problems. He testified on conditions in the Middle East, including anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism, before U.S. Congressional committees, and delivered a paper on the Rights of the Palestinian People at the United Nations. Fr. Ryan’s collection consists of papers and photographs. The bulk of the papers are from the 1970s and documents Fr. Ryan’s work presenting the state of affairs in the Middle East, especially the Palestinian and Arab position to American and others. The photographs include family photos and pictures of ceremonies at Al-Hikma University

Joseph G. Doherty, SJ Papers

All physical materials associated with the New England Province Archive are currently held by the Jesuit Archives in St. Louis, MO. Any inquiries about these materials should be directed to Jesuit Archives. Electronic versions of some items and the descriptions and finding aids to the Archives, which are hosted in CrossWorks, are provided only as a courtesy. Historical Background: Joseph Gerard Doherty was born on September 11, 1904 in Charlestown, MA to Patrick and Sarah (Quigg) Doherty. Both his parents were born in Ireland. He was baptized on September 15, 1904 in St. Mary’s in Charlestown. He had one younger brother, Francis A.J. Doherty, who also was ordained a priest. He graduated from Boston College High School in 1921 and completed one year of studies at Boston College before entering the Society of Jesus at St. Andrew-on-Hudson in Poughkeepsie, NY on August 14, 1922. His novitiate and juniorate were completed at St. Andrew’s from 1922-1926. In 1926, he entered Weston College and completed his philosophy studies there in 1929. His regency was in Jamaica, where he taught mathematics at St. George’s College in Kingston from 1929-1931. Then he returned to Weston College to study Theology from 1931-1935. During that time, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Thomas A. Emmet, S.J. on June 20, 1934 at the Chapel of the Holy Spirit of Weston College. His tertianship was at St. Robert’s Hall in Pomfret, CT during 1935-1936. Following tertianship in the fall of 1936, he was sent to St. Edmund’s House, Christ’s College, University of Cambridge, in England, where he was enrolled as a research student working on his Ph.D. in prehistory (anthropology and archaeology). His studies were financed by Boston College with an expectation that he would establish a prehistory department for Boston College once his studies were completed. His research was conducted at excavations at the prehistoric rock shelter of Ksâr ‘Akil, in the Valley of Antelias, a short distance from the town of Antelias on the coastal road, north of Beirut in Lebanon, then part of Syria, from May 1937 until June 1940, although he was away from the site from January to late June of 1938. Fr. Doherty’s main interest was flint tools. On August 23, 1938, he discovered the skeletal remains of a child who had lived about 35,000 years earlier. This skeleton became known as “Egbert.” The skeleton interested Fr. J. Franklin Ewing, S.J., an archaeologist from Fordham University. Fr. Ewing joined Fr. Doherty at Ksâr ‘Akil in 1939. During this time, in the spring of 1939, both Jesuits also worked on excavations of burial jars in Byblos, Lebanon. In 1940, as funds diminished and World War II seriously affected transportation, Fr. Doherty was recalled to the New England Province. “Egbert” had not yet been removed from the ground. The skeleton was protected by encasing it in cement and left in place. Frs. Doherty and Ewing traveled east via India and the Philippines. Fr. Ewing remained in the Philippines and Fr. Doherty continued across the Pacific Ocean to the West Coast of the United States. From 1940 to 1941 he taught prehistory and anthropology at Weston College. The next academic year, 1941-1942, he taught theology at Loyola University in New Orleans. From 1942 to 1952, he taught theology at Boston College. During this time, from July 23 to September 19, 1947, he returned to Ksâr ‘Akil with Fr. Ewing while the skeleton of “Egbert” was excavated. Following that, as well as teaching at Boston College, he served as the spiritual director for alumni from 1948 to 1952. From 1952 to 1961, Fr. Doherty was the Assistant Director of St. Joseph’s Retreat League for Workingmen and resided at St. Mary’s Church in the North End of Boston. In 1961, he was assigned to pastoral work at Holy Trinity Parish in the South End of Boston. From 1961 to 1968 he was assigned to Boston College High School where from 1963-1966 he taught religion. From 1968-1974, he did pastoral work at St. Mary’s in the North End. From 1974 until 1988 he was assigned to Campion Center in Weston, MA. Fr. Doherty died on June 9, 1988 and is buried at Campion Center. He was 83 years old and had been a Jesuit for 65 years. Scope and Content: The collection contains correspondence, poetry, writings, memorabilia, photographs, postcards and photo albums. There are letters to and from his family, his Jesuit superiors and prehistory researchers. Much of the correspondence is carbon copies of letters Fr. Doherty sent related to his work at Ksâr ‘Akil from 1937-40. One letter written in 1946 summarizes the “highlights” of his life from the time he left Lebanon in June of 1940 until 1946. Another provides a biographical sketch of Fr. Ewing and is accompanied by a vita and notes. The Ksâr ‘Akil Papers consist of items related to the two “campaigns” of excavation in Lebanon during 1937-40 and 1947. Of note are two papers, “Oriental ‘orizons” and “Northern Lights”, formatted as if newsletters, with chronological entries describing his work and the locale in Ksâr ‘Akil during 1937. There are also reports, fundraising material, an “interview” with Fr. Doherty, and some articles about Ksâr ‘Akil authored by others. The Pastoral Work Papers contain retreat outlines and blackboard lecture notes. The blackboard lecture was a format used at St. Joseph’s Retreat League for Men. The Other Papers are papers, writings and memorabilia from Fr. Doherty’s novitiate and juniorate years at St. Andrew-on-Hudson in Poughkeepsie, NY, his philosophy studies at Weston College, Weston, MA, some ephemera from his travels, and a variety of writings. The Poetry series contains his own as well as the work of others. The bulk of the photographs are from the 1938-1940 when Fr. Doherty was participating in archeological excavations in Lebanon while pursuing his doctorate in prehistory (anthropology and archaeology). There are photographs of excavations of burial jars at Byblos, Lebanon, and the discovery of a circa 35,000 year old skeleton, “Egbert” at the Ksâr ‘Akil site in Lebanon. The photo albums with descriptive captions can be used to identify photographs that were loose

Capsular profiling of the Cronobacter genus and the association of specific Cronobacter sakazakii and C. malonaticus capsule types with neonatal meningitis and necrotizing enterocolitis

Background: Cronobacter sakazakii and C. malonaticus can cause serious diseases especially in infants where they are associated with rare but fatal neonatal infections such as meningitis and necrotising enterocolitis. Methods: This study used 104 whole genome sequenced strains, covering all seven species in the genus, to analyse capsule associated clusters of genes involved in the biosynthesis of the O-antigen, colanic acid, bacterial cellulose, enterobacterial common antigen (ECA), and a previously uncharacterised K-antigen. Results: Phylogeny of the gnd and galF genes flanking the O-antigen region enabled the defining of 38 subgroups which are potential serotypes. Two variants of the colanic acid synthesis gene cluster (CA1 and CA2) were found which differed with the absence of galE in CA2. Cellulose (bcs genes) were present in all species, but were absent in C. sakazakii sequence type (ST) 13 and clonal complex (CC) 100 strains. The ECA locus was found in all strains. The K-antigen capsular polysaccharide Region 1 (kpsEDCS) and Region 3 (kpsMT) genes were found in all Cronobacter strains. The highly variable Region 2 genes were assigned to 2 homology groups (K1 and K2). C. sakazakii and C. malonaticus isolates with capsular type [K2:CA2:Cell+] were associated with neonatal meningitis and necrotizing enterocolitis. Other capsular types were less associated with clinical infections. Conclusion: This study proposes a new capsular typing scheme which identifies a possible important virulence trait associated with severe neonatal infections. The various capsular polysaccharide structures warrant further investigation as they could be relevant to macrophage survival, desiccation resistance, environmental survival, and biofilm formation in the hospital environment, including neonatal enteral feeding tubes

The linear multiplet and ectoplasm

In the framework of the superconformal tensor calculus for 4D N=2 supergravity, locally supersymmetric actions are often constructed using the linear multiplet. We provide a superform formulation for the linear multiplet and derive the corresponding action functional using the ectoplasm method (also known as the superform approach to the construction of supersymmetric invariants). We propose a new locally supersymmetric action which makes use of a deformed linear multiplet. The novel feature of this multiplet is that it corresponds to the case of a gauged central charge using a one-form potential not annihilated by the central charge (unlike the standard N=2 vector multiplet). Such a gauge one-form can be chosen to describe a variant nonlinear vector-tensor multiplet. As a byproduct of our construction, we also find a variant realization of the tensor multiplet in supergravity where one of the auxiliaries is replaced by the field strength of a gauge three-form.Comment: 31 pages; v3: minor corrections and typos fixed, version to appear in JHE