Antimicrobial Resistance And Molecular Epidemiology Of Escherichia Coli Isolated From Urban And Rural River Systems

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an emerging public health issue that threatens the efficacy of antibiotic treatment for bacterial infections and human health. Sources of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment include wastewater treatment plants and animal feeding operations that discharge waste into waterways, such as rivers and streams. This retrospective descriptive study describes the presence of AMR, and specific ARGs in Escherichia coli isolates from two distinct watersheds, rural and urban, with the use of antimicrobial susceptibility testing, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to detect ARGs, and multi-locus sequence typing. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed for 143 E. coli isolates, 73 originating from a rural watershed and 70 originating from an urban watershed. E. coli isolates from the rural watershed had a significantly higher prevalence of phenotypic non-susceptibility and ARGs for tetracycline (21.9% vs. 2.9%, p \u3c 0.01) when compared to urban watershed isolates. Based on phenotypic-susceptibility testing, WGS data of 68 isolates were annotated for ARGs. These data were used for the prediction of antimicrobial susceptibility, demonstrating high accuracy for the prediction of non-susceptibility for tetracycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and cephalosporins. WGS multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) yielded 47 sequence types, dominated by ST58 (n=6), ST10 (n=5), and ST155 (n=4). Waterways are important reservoirs and disseminators of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB) and ARGs. The evaluation and monitoring of AMR and ARGs in aquatic environments will lead to improved health through better prevention and control of E. coli infections

Transforming the Fairytale: A Diachronic Study of Utopias of Popular Romance

Popular romance novels have been examined by a number of critics over the past several decades, but each of these studies has analyzed texts within a fixed, synchronic context. Such analyses, while useful, fail to provide the same depth and breadth of a study of a popular culture genre that combines both synchronic and diachronic approaches. This study evaluates the popular romance novels produced during three distinct historical moments: the early mass-market romance novel, popular during the 1960s and 70s; the contemporary erotic romance novel, produced from the 1980s until currently; and the “chick-lit” sub-genre of popular romance, currently rising in popularity. Examining these three snapshots of the popular romance novel and the ways in which the genre has changed over time generates new theoretical paradigms based on the potential of these novels to perform as transformative texts, either culturally and/or economically. Further, a comparison of the structures within the popular romance to those of fairytale allows us to see how the former performs within our culture in ways similar to the latter, which further illustrates the potential of the popular romance novel to perform as a transformative text within our society. Thus, the utopias produced in popular romance are different for each historical moment, as changing social and economic conditions are not only reflected within these texts, but are perhaps even generated as they provide readers with increasingly nontraditional ways of viewing gender performance and heterosexual relationships within the traditional dichotomy ot heterosexual marriage

Le rôle et la régulation du pyroglutamylated RF-amide peptide dans le tissu adipeux lors de l’obésité

L’obésité est définie comme un surplus de masse adipeuse. Cette condition représente un problème de santé publique devenu pandémique dans les pays industrialisés. Elle prédispose à des maladies potentiellement mortelles comme le diabète de type 2, les maladies cardiovasculaires et la stéatose hépatique non-alcoolique. L’accumulation du tissu adipeux intra-abdominal, formé d’adipocytes, est corrélée avec la résistance à l’insuline. L’augmentation de la masse adipeuse se fait par l’hyperplasie des préadipocytes, la différenciation des préadipocytes en adipocytes et l’hypertrophie des adipocytes. La différenciation des préadipocytes se fait selon l’adipogenèse qui est régulée par une multitude de facteurs, mais qui est inhibée pas les stimuli inflammatoires qui sont aussi responsables de la résistance à l’insuline et de l’apparition des problèmes de santé liés à l’obésité. Nous avons identifié un nouveau système de régulation autocrine/paracrine de l’adipogenèse dans les cellules du tissu adipeux. Le pyroglutamylated RF-amide peptide (QRFP), qui était connu pour son rôle dans la régulation de l’appétit, est un activateur de l’adipogenèse par l’activation de son récepteur, le G protein-coupled receptor 103 (GPR103). Le QRFP est exprimé dans les macrophages et les adipocytes alors que le GPR103 de sous-type b est exprimé dans les adipocytes seulement. Un traitement des adipocytes avec le QRFP augmente le captage des acides gras, l’accumulation de lipides ainsi que l’expression et l’activité de l’enzyme LPL. Le QRFP augmente aussi l’expression des gènes des transporteurs d’acides gras CD36 et FATP1, de l’enzyme activatrice d’acides gras ACSL1 et des facteurs de transcription PPAR-γ et C/EBP-α, qui sont tous impliqués dans l’adipogenèse. En plus de ses effets sur l’adipogenèse, le QRFP possède aussi un effet inhibiteur sur l’activité lipolytique induite par les catécholamines. Nous avons montré que l’expression du QRFP est diminuée dans le tissu adipeux des souris obèses. Selon nos résultats, cette diminution pourrait être expliquée par une augmentation des endotoxines circulantes chez les obèses, appelée endotoxémie métabolique, qui agirait, entre autres, par l’induction des interférons dans les macrophages. Les voies de signalisation de ces effets ont aussi été identifiées. Nous avons montré un autre exemple de stimulus inflammatoire qui régule les signaux adipogènes à la baisse.Obesity is defined as an excess of fat tissue mass. Obesity is a public health problem which became pandemic in developed countries. The condition of obesity predisposes to potentially fatal diseases like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. The increase in intra-abdominal adipose tissue mass is intimately associated with the development of insulin resistance. An increase in fat tissue mass occurs by preadipocytes hyperplasia, preadipocytes differentiation into adipocytes and adipocyte hypertrophy. The differentiation of preadipocytes occurs during adipogenesis and is regulated by multiple factors but inhibited by inflammatory stimuli that are responsible for insulin resistance and the emergence of obesity-related dysfunctions. We identified a new autocrine/paracrine system of regulation of adipogenesis in adipose tissue cells. The pyroglutamylated RF-amide peptide (QRFP), previously known for its role in the regulation of appetite, is an activator of adipogenesis by activating its receptor, G protein-coupled receptor 103 (GPR103). QRFP is expressed in adipocytes and macrophages whereas the GPR103 subtype b is expressed in adipocytes only. Treatment of adipocytes with QRFP increases fatty acids uptake, lipid accumulation, LPL enzyme expression and activity. QRFP upregulates gene expressions of fatty acids transporters CD36 and FATP1, of the fatty acid activating enzyme ACSL1 and of transcription factors PPAR-γ and C/EBP-α, which are all involved in adipogenesis. In addition to its effects on adipogenesis, QRFP shows an inhibitory effect on lipolytic activity induced by catecholamines. We have shown that QRFP expression is decreased in adipose tissues of obese mice. According to our results, this decrease could be explained by an increase of circulating endotoxins in obesity, called metabolic endotoxemia, which mediate its effect, in part, by the induction of interferons in macrophages. Signaling pathways of these effects have been identified. We demonstrated another example of inflammatory stimulus downregulating adipogenic signals

Support Factors that Influence Mothers' Decisions to Breastfeed Their Twins and Triplets Beyond 12 Months of Age

This study aims to determine support factors that influence women's decisions to breastfeed their multiples for over 12 months and characterize this group of particularly successful breastfeeding mothers, with the intention of informing breastfeeding promotion interventions. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding exclusively for 6 months. However, it is estimated that only 25% of twins and 15% of triplets still receive some human milk at 6 months. Multiple births comprise a relatively small proportion of births annually but are associated with a high frequency of complications, such as prematurity, that create breastfeeding difficulties. These circumstances make multiples an important target for breastfeeding interventions. Data were collected via a self-administered online survey that was distributed internationally via La Leche League. The survey included questions regarding the breastfeeding experience with each child and about various types of support that influenced the experiences. All the women breastfed multiples for over 12 months and a majority are white, well educated (80% with college degree), and 30 – 39 years old. Most live in the United States and have 2 – 3 children. Only 20% of respondents indicated that their child's primary care provider's recommendations were important/very important to their decision, and only 12% indicated the same regarding their doctor's recommendations. Factors highly rated as important included nutritional value of breast milk, other health benefits of breastfeeding, establishing a strong bond, and mother and child enjoying breastfeeding. A majority of the sample (71%) felt their partner was important/very important to their decision. This relationship is the most highly rated as influential. Including the woman's partner could enhance educational opportunities designed to encourage mothers of multiples to breastfeed. Additionally, emphasis on health benefits of breastfeeding may encourage mothers to breastfeed longer. Further research to test breastfeeding interventions should be completed with these results in mind.Research Scholar AwardA three-year embargo was granted for this item.Academic Major: Public Healt

Feeding ecology of Southern Ocean seastars inferred from stable isotopes ratios

The Southern Ocean is currently subjected to strong and contrasted impacts of climate change. The Western Antarctic Peninsula is one of the most rapidly warming regions of the world, resulting in sea ice cover decreases. Increasing seawater temperature and sea ice cover reduction in Western Antarctic Peninsula and associated regions will likely impact food web functioning through temperature-related changes in consumer physiology, modifications of benthic community structure (e.g. expansion of exogenous species such as predatory crabs), modifications of benthic-pelagic coupling intensity or disruption of benthic production. Asteroids (Echinoderms) are an important group of southern benthos. This group also has a great trophic variability and is potentially more resistant than other organisms to temperature changes (Peck et al. 2008). Consequently, they will be likely impacted by modifications in food webs functioning rather by direct warming and investigating their trophic ecology is necessary to infer how climate change will impact them. In this context, the aim of this study is to use stable isotopes ratios of C, N and S to infer sea stars trophic ecology. 16 species of sea stars spanning 10 different families sampled in multiple and contrasted habitats across Subantarctic (South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands, Falkland Islands) and Antarctic (South Shetland Islands, South Orkney Islands, Western Antarctic Peninsula) locations. In total, tegument samples from 213 specimens was analysed. Diversity and plasticity of asteroid diet along Southern Ocean coasts were explored through isotopic niche parametrisation (e.g. niche width and overlap between species and/or populations; Jackson et al. 2011). The data will also be used in a larger scale research project on the trophic ecology of Antarctic sea stars. This project will notably compare trophic resources supporting asteroid communities in Western Antarctic Peninsula, where sea ice cover is decreasing, and in Terre Adélie, where sea ice cover is increasing (Parkinson & Cavalieri 2012). Ultimately, this project will help understanding which ecological processes determine how an animal group copes with environmental modifications linked to climate change

Covalent Inhibitors of Protein-Protein Interactions Targeting Lysine, Tyrosine, or Histidine Residues.

We have recently reported a series of Lys-covalent agents targeting the BIR3 domain of the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) using a benzamide-sulfonyl fluoride warhead. Using XIAP as a model system, we further investigated a variety of additional warheads that can be easily incorporated into binding peptides and analyzed their ability to form covalent adducts with lysine and other amino acids, including tyrosine, histidine, serine, and threonine, using biochemical and biophysical assays. Moreover, we tested aqueous, plasma stability, cell permeability, and cellular efficacy of the most effective agents. These studies identified aryl-fluoro sulfates as likely the most suitable electrophiles to effectively form covalent adducts with Lys, Tyr, and His residues, given that these agents were cell permeable and stable in aqueous buffer and in plasma. Our studies contain a number of general findings that open new possible avenues for the design of potent covalent protein-protein interaction antagonists

SOT-MRAM 300mm integration for low power and ultrafast embedded memories

We demonstrate for the first time full-scale integration of top-pinned perpendicular MTJ on 300 mm wafer using CMOS-compatible processes for spin-orbit torque (SOT)-MRAM architectures. We show that 62 nm devices with a W-based SOT underlayer have very large endurance (> 5x10^10), sub-ns switching time of 210 ps, and operate with power as low as 300 pJ.Comment: presented at VLSI2018 session C8-