Antibiotic-resistant Escherichia Coli from Retail Poultry Meat with Different Antibiotic Use Claims

Background We sought to determine if the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli differed across retail poultry products and among major production categories, including organic, “raised without antibiotics”, and conventional. Results We collected all available brands of retail chicken and turkey—including conventional, “raised without antibiotic”, and organic products—every two weeks from January to December 2012. In total, E. coli was recovered from 91% of 546 turkey products tested and 88% of 1367 chicken products tested. The proportion of samples contaminated with E. coli was similar across all three production categories. Resistance prevalence varied by meat type and was highest among E. coli isolates from turkey for the majority of antibiotics tested. In general, production category had little effect on resistance prevalence among E. coli isolates from chicken, although resistance to gentamicin and multidrug resistance did vary. In contrast, resistance prevalence was significantly higher for 6 of the antibiotics tested—and multidrug resistance—among isolates from conventional turkey products when compared to those labelled organic or “raised without antibiotics”. E. coli isolates from chicken varied strongly in resistance prevalence among different brands within each production category. Conclusion The high prevalence of resistance among E. coli isolates from conventionally-raised turkey meat suggests greater antimicrobial use in conventional turkey production as compared to “raised without antibiotics” and organic systems. However, among E. coli from chicken meat, resistance prevalence was more strongly linked to brand than to production category, which could be caused by brand-level differences during production and/or processing, including variations in antimicrobial use

Subclinical myocardial disease by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy in healthy HIV/Hepatitis C virus-coinfected persons.

Objective The contribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection to the risk of heart failure in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-coinfected persons is unknown. The objective was to characterize cardiac function and morphology in HIV-treated coinfected persons. Methods In a cross-sectional study, HIV-infected patients virologically suppressed on antiretroviral therapy without known cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy for measures of cardiac function, myocardial fibrosis, and steatosis. Results The study included 18 male patients with a median age of 44 years. Of these, 10 had untreated HCV coinfection and eight had HIV monoinfection. Global systolic and diastolic function in the cohort were normal, and median myocardial fat content was 0.48% (interquartile range 0.35-1.54). Left ventricular (LV) mass index and LV mass/volume ratio were significantly greater in the HIV/HCV-coinfected group compared with the HIV-monoinfected group. In the HIV-monoinfected group, there was more myocardial fibrosis as measured by extracellular volume fraction. Conclusions There were differences between HIV/HCV-coinfected and HIV-monoinfected patients in cardiac structure and morphology. Larger studies are needed to examine whether HIV and HCV independently contribute to mechanisms of heart failure

Evidence of silicene in honeycomb structures of silicon on Ag(111)

In the search for evidence of silicene, a two-dimensional honeycomb lattice of silicon, it is important to obtain a complete picture for the evolution of Si structures on Ag(111), which is believed to be the most suitable substrate for growth of silicene so far. In this work we report the finding and evolution of several monolayer superstructures of silicon on Ag(111) depending on the coverage and temperature. Combined with first-principles calculations, the detailed structures of these phases have been illuminated. These structure were found to share common building blocks of silicon rings, and they evolve from a fragment of silicene to a complete monolayer silicene and multilayer silicene. Our results elucidate how silicene formes on Ag(111) surface and provide methods to synthesize high-quality and large-scale silicene.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Gender authorship trends in spine research publications - Research across different countries from 1976 to 2020.

•Gender trends in authorship showed an increase in female authors from 1976 to 2020.•In 2020, Europe had the highest and Asia the lowest proportion of female authors.•The Netherlands had the highest proportion of women and Japan the lowest

The translation of cell-based therapies:clinical landscape and manufacturing challenges

Cell-based therapies have the potential to make a large contribution toward currently unmet patient need and thus effective manufacture of these products is essential. Many challenges must be overcome before this can become a reality and a better definition of the manufacturing requirements for cell-based products must be obtained. The aim of this study is to inform industry and academia of current cell-based therapy clinical development and to identify gaps in their manufacturing requirements. A total of 1342 active cell-based therapy clinical trials have been identified and characterized based on cell type, target indication and trial phase. Multiple technologies have been assessed for the manufacture of these cell types in order to facilitate product translation and future process development

Intrinsic activity in the fly brain gates visual information during behavioral choices

The small insect brain is often described as an input/output system that executes reflex-like behaviors. It can also initiate neural activity and behaviors intrinsically, seen as spontaneous behaviors, different arousal states and sleep. However, less is known about how intrinsic activity in neural circuits affects sensory information processing in the insect brain and variability in behavior. Here, by simultaneously monitoring Drosophila's behavioral choices and brain activity in a flight simulator system, we identify intrinsic activity that is associated with the act of selecting between visual stimuli. We recorded neural output (multiunit action potentials and local field potentials) in the left and right optic lobes of a tethered flying Drosophila, while its attempts to follow visual motion (yaw torque) were measured by a torque meter. We show that when facing competing motion stimuli on its left and right, Drosophila typically generate large torque responses that flip from side to side. The delayed onset (0.1-1 s) and spontaneous switch-like dynamics of these responses, and the fact that the flies sometimes oppose the stimuli by flying straight, make this behavior different from the classic steering reflexes. Drosophila, thus, seem to choose one stimulus at a time and attempt to rotate toward its direction. With this behavior, the neural output of the optic lobes alternates; being augmented on the side chosen for body rotation and suppressed on the opposite side, even though the visual input to the fly eyes stays the same. Thus, the flow of information from the fly eyes is gated intrinsically. Such modulation can be noise-induced or intentional; with one possibility being that the fly brain highlights chosen information while ignoring the irrelevant, similar to what we know to occur in higher animals

X-Ray Studies of the Abell 3158 Galaxy Cluster with eROSITA

The most nearby clusters are the best places to study physical and enrichment effects in the faint cluster outskirts. A3158 located at z=0.059 is quite extended with a characteristic radius r$_{200}$=23.95 arcmin. In 2019, A3158 was observed as a calibration target in a pointed observation with the eROSITA telescope onboard the SRG mission. We determined 1d temperature, abundance and normalisation profiles from eROSITA and XMM-Newton and Chandra data as well as 2d maps of temperature distribution from eROSITA data. The velocity dispersion was determined and the cluster mass was calculated. The overall temperature was measured to be 4.725$\pm$ 0.035 keV. The profiles of eROSITA all agree on a ~10% level with those determined with XMM-Newton and Chandra data. From the temperature map we see that the cluster lacks a cool core, as noted before. The presence of a previously detected off-centre cool clump West of the central cluster region is observed. Furthermore there is a bow shaped edge near the location of the cool gas clump West of the cluster centre. An extension of gas is detected for the first time further out in the West. The velocity dispersion of the cluster was measured to be 1058$\pm$41 km s$^{-1}$. The total mass was determined as $M_{200}$=1.38$\pm$ 0.25x10$^{15}$ $M_{\odot}$. The mass estimate from the M-T relation is significantly lower at M$_{200}$=5.09$\pm$ 0.59x10$^{14}M_{\odot}$. An extended X-ray source located South of the cluster also coincides with a galaxy overdensity with redshifts in the range 0.05<z<0.07. These are indications that the cluster may be undergoing merger activity. Another extended source located North of the cluster is detected in X-rays and coincides with an overdensity of galaxies with redshifts in the range of 0.070<z<0.077. This is likely a background cluster not related to A3158. Additionally a known SPT cluster at z=0.53 was detected.Comment: 14 pages, 17 figures in the main text, and 3 figures in the appendix. Accepted by A&A for the Special Issue: The Early Data Release of eROSITA and Mikhail Pavlinsky ART-XC on the SRG Missio

X-ray studies of the Abell 3158 galaxy cluster with eROSITA

Context. The most nearby clusters are the best places for studying physical and enrichment effects in the faint cluster outskirts. The Abell 3158 cluster (A3158), located at z = 0.059, is quite extended with a characteristic radius r$_{200}$ = 23.95 arcmin. The metal distribution in the outskirts of this cluster has previously been studied with XMM-Newton. In 2019, A3158 was observed as a calibration target in a pointed observation with the eROSITA telescope on board the Spektrum-Roentgen-Gamma mission. Bright large clusters, such as A3158, are ideal for studying the metal distribution in the cluster outskirts, along with the temperature profile and morphology. With the deeper observation time of the eROSITA telescope, these properties can now be studied in greater detail and at larger radii. Furthermore, bright nearby clusters are ideal X-ray instrumental cross-calibration targets as they cover a large fraction of the detector and do not vary in time. Aims. We first compare the temperature, metal abundance, and normalisation profiles of the cluster from eROSITA with previous XMM-Newton and Chandra data. Following this calibration work, we investigate the temperature and metallicity of the cluster out to almost r$_{200}$, measure the galaxy velocity dispersion, and determine the cluster mass. Furthermore, we search for infalling clumps and background clusters in the field. Methods. We determined 1D temperature, abundance, and normalisation profiles from both eROSITA and XMM-Newton data as well as 2D maps of temperature and metal abundance distribution from eROSITA data. The velocity dispersion was determined and the cluster mass was calculated from the mass–velocity dispersion (M$_{200}$−σ$_{υ}$) relation. Galaxy density maps were created to enable a better understanding of the structure of the cluster and the outskirts. Results. The overall (i.e. in the range 0.2−0.5r$_{500}$) temperature was measured to be 5.158 ± 0.038 keV. The temperature, abundance, and normalisation profiles of eROSITA all agree to within a confidence level of about 10% with those we determined using XMM-Newton and Chandra data, and they are also consistent with the profiles published previously by the X-COP project. The cluster morphology and surface brightness profile of cluster Abell 3158 appear to be regular at a first glance. Clusters that have such profiles typically are relaxed and host cool cores. However, the temperature profile and map show that the cluster lacks a cool core, as was noted before. Instead, an off-centre cool clump lies to the west of the central cluster region, as reported previously. These are indications that the cluster may be undergoing some sloshing and merger activity. Furthermore, there is a bow-shaped edge near the location of the cool gas clump west of the cluster centre. Farther out west of the X-ray images of A3158, an extension of gas is detected. This larger-scale extension is described here for the first time. The gas metallicity (~0.2 solar) measured in the outskirts (»r$_{500}$) is consistent with an early-enrichment scenario. The velocity dispersion of the cluster member galaxies is measured to be 1058 ± 41 kms$^{-1}$ based on spectroscopic redshifts of 365 cluster member galaxies and the total mass is determined as M$_{200}$,c = 1.38 ± 0.25 × 10$^{15}$ M⊙. The mass estimate based on the X-ray temperature is significantly lower at M200 = 6.20 ± 0.75 × 10$^{14}$ M⊙, providing further indications that merger activity boosts the velocity dispersion and/or biases the temperature low. An extended X-ray source located south of the field of view also coincides with a galaxy overdensity with spectroscopic redshifts in the range 0.05 < z < 0.07. This source further supports the idea that the cluster is undergoing merger activity. Another extended source located north of the field of view is detected in X-rays and coincides with an overdensity of galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts in the range of 0.070 < z < 0.077. This is likely a background cluster that is not directly related to A3158. Additionally, the known South Pole Telescope cluster SPT-CL J0342-5354 at z = 0. 53 was detected

Vibrational Properties of Nanoscale Materials: From Nanoparticles to Nanocrystalline Materials

The vibrational density of states (VDOS) of nanoclusters and nanocrystalline materials are derived from molecular-dynamics simulations using empirical tight-binding potentials. The results show that the VDOS inside nanoclusters can be understood as that of the corresponding bulk system compressed by the capillary pressure. At the surface of the nanoparticles the VDOS exhibits a strong enhancement at low energies and shows structures similar to that found near flat crystalline surfaces. For the nanocrystalline materials an increased VDOS is found at high and low phonon energies, in agreement with experimental findings. The individual VDOS contributions from the grain centers, grain boundaries, and internal surfaces show that, in the nanocrystalline materials, the VDOS enhancements are mainly caused by the grain-boundary contributions and that surface atoms play only a minor role. Although capillary pressures are also present inside the grains of nanocrystalline materials, their effect on the VDOS is different than in the cluster case which is probably due to the inter-grain coupling of the modes via the grain-boundaries.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Supermassive Black Hole Binaries: The Search Continues

Gravitationally bound supermassive black hole binaries (SBHBs) are thought to be a natural product of galactic mergers and growth of the large scale structure in the universe. They however remain observationally elusive, thus raising a question about characteristic observational signatures associated with these systems. In this conference proceeding I discuss current theoretical understanding and latest advances and prospects in observational searches for SBHBs.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures. To appear in the Proceedings of 2014 Sant Cugat Forum on Astrophysics. Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings, ed. C.Sopuerta (Berlin: Springer-Verlag