Resistance to carbapenems in non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica serovars from humans, animals and food

Non-typhoidal serovars of Salmonella enterica (NTS) are a leading cause of food-borne disease in animals and humans worldwide. Like other zoonotic bacteria, NTS have the potential to act as reservoirs and vehicles for the transmission of antimicrobial drug resistance in different settings. Of particular concern is the resistance to critical “last resort” antimicrobials, such as carbapenems. In contrast to other Enterobacteriaceae (e.g., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Enterobacter, which are major nosocomial pathogens affecting debilitated and immunocompromised patients), carbapenem resistance is still very rare in NTS. Nevertheless, it has already been detected in isolates recovered from humans, companion animals, livestock, wild animals, and food. Five carbapenemases with major clinical importance—namely KPC (Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase) (class A), IMP (imipenemase), NDM (New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase), VIM (Verona integron-encoded metallo-β-lactamase) (class B), and OXA-48 (oxacillinase, class D)—have been reported in NTS. Carbapenem resistance due to the production of extended spectrum- or AmpC β-lactamases combined with porin loss has also been detected in NTS. Horizontal gene transfer of carbapenemase-encoding genes (which are frequently located on self-transferable plasmids), together with co- and cross-selective adaptations, could have been involved in the development of carbapenem resistance by NTS. Once acquired by a zoonotic bacterium, resistance can be transmitted from humans to animals and from animals to humans through the food chain. Continuous surveillance of resistance to these “last resort” antibiotics is required to establish possible links between reservoirs and to limit the bidirectional transfer of the encoding genes between S. enterica and other commensal or pathogenic bacteria

Center-commissioned external review of International Water Management Institute: Consolidated report, 19-29 May 2003

Agricultural research / Research institutes / Research policy / Research priorities / Planning / Monitoring / Evaluation / Financial resources / Gender

Non-adiabatic effects in long-pulse mixed-field orientation of a linear polar molecule

We present a theoretical study of the impact of an electrostatic field combined with non-resonant linearly polarized laser pulses on the rotational dynamics of linear molecules. Within the rigid rotor approximation, we solve the time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation for several field configurations. Using the OCS molecule as prototype, the field-dressed dynamics is analyzed in detail for experimentally accessible static field strengths and laser pulses. Results for directional cosines are presented and compared to the predictions of the adiabatic theory. We demonstrate that for prototypical field configuration used in current mixed-field orientation experiments, the molecular field dynamics is, in general, non-adiabatic, being mandatory a time-dependent description of these systems. We investigate several field regimes identifying the sources of non-adiabatic effects, and provide the field parameters under which the adiabatic dynamics would be achieved.Comment: 16 pages, 16 figures. Submitted to Physical Review

LEVEL OF MOTIVATIONAL FACTORS OF ATHLETES IN RELATION TO THEIR SPORTS PARTICIPATION

Purpose: This study aimed to measure the level of motivational factors of athletes in relation to their sports participation. The study reveals the highest and lowest motivational factors among athletes and the team that are perceived as most and least motivated. Methods and Materials: The study is quantitative in nature. A purposive sampling technique was chosen to get the sample from the population. The research sample consists of student-athletes from Far Eastern University. These student-athletes are enrolled in the academic year 2022-2023. The research is limited to seven (7) participating sports such as Athletics, Basketball, Cheering Squad, Dance Troupe, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, and Table Tennis. Each sport has seven (7) men and women, a total of ninety-eight (98) participants. The instrument used in this study is a standard questionnaire. The Sports Motivation Scale (SMS-28) of Pelletier et. al was used to measure the level of motivational factors of athletes in relation to their sports participation. The researcher used Weighted mean and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) in this study. Results: The study confirms that the level of motivational factors in the sports participation of athletes is high, with the supporting data of an overall mean of 3.32. The highest motivation factor is intrinsic motivation--to know, with an overall weighted mean of 3.79 and a verbal interpretation of extremely motivated, while the lowest factor is extrinsic motivation- external regulation with an overall weighted mean of 3.27 and a verbal interpretation of highly motivated. However, the researcher excludes amotivation in the choices since amotivation negatively impacts motivation. The athletics is the most motivated team, while the dance troupe is the least motivated team however these two teams have a verbal interpretation of highly motivated. The study also reveals that the alternative hypothesis should be rejected, and the null hypothesis should be accepted, Therefore, there are no significant differences in the motivational factors in sports participation of athletes. Conclusions: Since athletes have no significant differences in motivational factors and are perceived as high, there is good practice in learning new things and providing new experiences for athletes. Coaches need to always look for opportunities wherein their athletes learn best, and athletes need to maintain their extreme source of motivation.   Article visualizations

The Jet-Driven Outflow In The Radio Galaxy SDSS J1517+3353: Implications For Double-Peaked Narrow-Line Active Galactic Nucleus

We report on the study of an intriguing active galaxy that was selected as a potential multiple supermassive black hole merger in the early-type host SDSS J151709.20+335324.7 (z = 0.135) from a complete search for double-peaked [O III] lines from the SDSS spectroscopic quasi-stellar object (QSO) database. Ground-based SDSS imaging reveals two blue structures on either side of the photometric center of the host galaxy, separated from each other by about 5.7 kpc. From a combination of SDSS fiber and Keck/HIRES long-slit spectroscopy, it is demonstrated that, in addition to these two features, a third distinct structure surrounds the nucleus of the host galaxy. All three structures exhibit highly ionized line emission with line ratios characteristic of Seyfert II active galactic nuclei. The analysis of spatially resolved emission-line profiles from the HIRES spectrum reveal three distinct kinematic subcomponents, one at rest and the other two moving at -350 km s(-1) and 500 km s(-1) with respect to the systemic velocity of the host galaxy. A comparison of imaging and spectral data confirm a strong association between the kinematic components and the spatial knots, which implies a highly disturbed and complex active region in this object. A comparative analysis of the broadband positions, colors, kinematics, and spectral properties of the knots in this system lead to two plausible explanations: (1) a multiple active galactic nucleus (AGN) produced due to a massive dry merger, or (2) a very powerful radio jet-driven outflow. Subsequent VLA radio imaging reveals a clear jet aligned with the emission-line gas, confirming the latter explanation. We use the broadband radio measurements to examine the impact of the jet on the interstellar medium of the host galaxy, and find that the energy in the radio lobes can heat a significant fraction of the gas to the virial temperature. Finally, we discuss tests that may help future surveys distinguish between jet-driven kinematics and true black-hole binaries. J1517+3353 is a remarkable laboratory for AGN feedback and warrants deeper follow-up study. In the Appendix, we present high-resolution radio imaging of a second AGN with double-peaked [O III] lines, SDSS J112939.78+605742.6, which shows a sub-arcsecond radio jet. If the double-peaked nature of the narrow lines in radio-loud AGNs are generally due to radio jet interactions, we suggest that extended radio structure should be expected in most of such systems.NSF AST-0507483, AST-0808133University of Texas at AustinAlfred P. Sloan FoundationParticipating InstitutionsNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationU.S. Department of EnergyJapanese MonbukagakushoMax Planck SocietyAstronom

Detection of Tiny Mechanical Motion by Means of the Ratchet Effect

We propose a position detection scheme for a nanoelectromechanical resonator based on the ratchet effect. This scheme has an advantage of being a dc measurement. We consider a three-junction SQUID where a part of the superconducting loop can perform mechanical motion. The response of the ratchet to a dc current is sensitive to the position of the resonator and the effect can be further enhanced by biasing the SQUID with an ac current. We discuss the feasibility of the proposed scheme in existing experimental setups.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figure

Problemas socio-económicos de la educación rural en el Ecuador y sus posibles soluciones

La educación es el medio más importante y más idóneo de movilidad social y de desarrollo económico, pues es la encargada de formular al recurso humano capaz de producir los cambios estructurales que una sociedad necesita en un momento histórico determinado para mejorar la calidad de vida de sus miembros que , en última instancia, es el fin de la educación. Al mismo tiempo que la educación constituye un elemento fundamental para el rápido cambio social y económico que caracteriza a las sociedades modernas, también se ve limitada en su desenvolvimiento cualitativo y cuantitativo por factores sociales y económicos, especialmente en países en vías de desarrollo como el nuestro, en los cuales la explosión demográfica ejerce una presión constante sobre el gobierno por mas educación, más servicios y más fuentes de trabajo, que el Estado por su parte no puede solventar oportuna y globalmente debido a su permanente crisis económica y administrativa y al tratamiento centralista de la problemática nacional. Dentro de este marco la educación rural es la más afectada pues es innegable que la precaria situación económica del campesino, la carencia de servicios básicos, la deficiencia en vías de comunicación y de transporte, la ineficiencia de los servicios de salud, y la falta de fuentes de empleo limitan evidentemente la cantidad y calidad de educación que es el Estado pueda ofrecer la población rural

Manipulating nonequilibrium magnetism through superconductors

Electrostatic control of the magnetization of a normal mesoscopic conductor is analyzed in a hybrid superconductor-normal-superconductor system. This effect stems from the interplay between the non-equilibrium condition in the normal region and the Zeeman splitting of the quasiparticle density of states of the superconductor subjected to a static in-plane magnetic field. Unexpected spin-dependent effects such as magnetization suppression, diamagnetic-like response of the susceptibility as well as spin-polarized current generation are the most remarkable features presented. The impact of scattering events is evaluated and let us show that this effect is compatible with realistic material properties and fabrication techniques.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure