Solution and Asymptotic Behavior for a Nonlocal Coupled System of Reaction-Diffusion

This paper concerns with existence, uniqueness and asymptotic behavior of the solutions for a nonlocal coupled system of reaction-diffusion. We prove the existence and uniqueness of weak solutions by the Faedo-Galerkin method and exponential decay of solutions by the classic energy method. We improve the results obtained by Chipot-Lovato and Menezes for coupled systems. A numerical scheme is presented

OqxAB, a quinolone and olaquindox efflux pump, is widely distributed among multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates of human origin

Use of antibiotics among livestock contributes to the selection and dissemination of multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria. Olaquindox and carbadox are quinoxaline derivatives with antibacterial properties that prevent dysentery and enhance weight gain in suckling pigs. Resistance to quinoxalines is mediated by the efflux pump OqxAB, which also extrudes antibiotics such as chloramphenicol and fluoroquinolones. The gene encoding this efflux pump, oqxAB, was initially detected within plasmid pOLA52, which was found in Escherichia coli isolated from swine manure. Dissemination of oqxAB has been noted in Salmonella species, and the original genetic reservoir of oqxAB was traced to the chromosome of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Surprisingly, OqxAB has been reported only in clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae from China, South Korea, and Spain

Blind Deconvolution via Lower-Bounded Logarithmic Image Priors

In this work we devise two novel algorithms for blind deconvolution based on a family of logarithmic image priors. In contrast to recent approaches, we consider a minimalistic formulation of the blind deconvolution problem where there are only two energy terms: a least-squares term for the data fidelity and an image prior based on a lower-bounded logarithm of the norm of the image gradients. We show that this energy formulation is sufficient to achieve the state of the art in blind deconvolution with a good margin over previous methods. Much of the performance is due to the chosen prior. On the one hand, this prior is very effective in favoring sparsity of the image gradients. On the other hand, this prior is non convex. Therefore, solutions that can deal effectively with local minima of the energy become necessary. We devise two iterative minimization algorithms that at each iteration solve convex problems: one obtained via the primal-dual approach and one via majorization-minimization. While the former is computationally efficient, the latter achieves state-of-the-art performance on a public dataset

ARGONAUT-I: Activity of cefiderocol (s-649266), a siderophore cephalosporin, against gram-negative bacteria, including carbapenem-resistant nonfermenters and enterobacteriaceae with defined extended-spectrum β-lactamases and carbapenemases

The activity of the siderophore cephalosporin cefiderocol is targeted against carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. In this study, the activity of cefiderocol against characterized carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii complex, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacteriaceae strains was determined by microdilution in iron-depleted Mueller-Hinton broth. The MIC90s against A. baumannii, S. maltophilia, and P. aeruginosa were 1, 0.25, and 0.5 mg/ liter, respectively. Against Enterobacteriaceae, the MIC90 was 1 mg/liter for the group harboring OXA-48-like, 2 mg/liter for the group harboring KPC-3, and 8 mg/liter for the group harboring TEM/SHV ESBL, NDM, and KPC-2

Emergence of resistance to colistin during the treatment of bloodstream infection caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae

We report the emergence of colistin resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae after 8 days of colistin-based therapy, resulting in relapse of bloodstream infection and death. Disruption of the mgrB gene by insertion of a mobile genetic element was found to be the mechanism, which was replicated in vitro after exposure to subinhibitory concentrations of colistin and meropenem

Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria in Burn Patients

Patients with burn injuries are at high risk for infectious complications, and infections are the most common cause of death after the first 72 h of hospitalization. Hospital-acquired infections caused by multidrug resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) in this population are concerning. Here, we evaluated carriage with MDR GNB in patients in a large tertiary-care burn intensive care unit. Twenty-nine patients in the burn unit were screened for intestinal carriage. Samples were cultured on selective media. Median time from admission to the burn unit to first sample collection was 9 days (IQR 5 – 17 days). In 21 (72%) patients, MDR GNB were recovered; the most common bacterial species isolated was Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which was found in 11/29 (38%) of patients. Two of these patients later developed bloodstream infections with P. aeruginosa. Transmission of KPC-31-producing ST22 Citrobacter freundii was detected. Samples from two patients grew genetically similar C. freundii isolates that were resistant to ceftazidime-avibactam. On analysis of whole-genome sequencing, blaKPC-31 was part of a Tn4401b transposon that was present on two different plasmids in each C. freundii isolate. Plasmid curing experiments showed that removal of both copies of blaKPC-31 was required to restore susceptibility to ceftazidime-avibactam. In summary, MDR GNB colonization is common in burn patients and patient-to-patient transmission of highly resistant GNB occurs. These results emphasize the ongoing need for infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship efforts in this highly vulnerable population

Loop Quantum Gravity: An Inside View

This is a (relatively) non -- technical summary of the status of the quantum dynamics in Loop Quantum Gravity (LQG). We explain in detail the historical evolution of the subject and why the results obtained so far are non -- trivial. The present text can be viewed in part as a response to an article by Nicolai, Peeters and Zamaklar [hep-th/0501114]. We also explain why certain no go conclusions drawn from a mathematically correct calculation in a recent paper by Helling et al [hep-th/0409182] are physically incorrect.Comment: 58 pages, no figure

Evaluation of Sensititre Broth Microdilution Plate for determining the susceptibility of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae to polymyxins

Colistin and polymyxin B MICs were determined for 106 carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-Kp) isolates using Sensititre Research Use Only GNX2F plates (Thermo Fisher) and compared to CLSI broth macrodilution (BMD) as the reference method. For colistin, EUCAST breakpoints were applied and testing of isolates with very major (VM) errors was repeated in duplicate by both methods to determine a majority result. Essential agreement (MIC ± one dilution) of GNX2F with the reference method was 97.1% for polymyxin B and 92.5% for colistin (7 VM errors, 22.6%). After discrepancy testing, there were 28 colistin resistant isolates by BMD and essential agreement was 94.3% with 4 VM errors (14.3%). Colistin and polymyxin B GNX2F results showed acceptable essential agreement with BMD for MICS without interpretation. Colistin VM errors with EUCAST breakpoints were due to MIC variability in the 2 to 4 μg/mL range that could be addressed by establishing an intermediate category

The Role of Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole in the Treatment of Infections Caused by Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae

In the Consortium on Resistance Against Carbapenems in Klebsiella and other Enterobacteriaceae (CRACKLE), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) had a limited role in the treatment of less severe carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections, especially urinary tract infections. Of tested CRE, only 29% were susceptible to TMPSMX. Development of resistance further limits the use of TMPSMX in CRE infections

The BioWipe: a non-invasive method to detect intestinal carriage of multi-drug resistant GRAM-negative bacteria

Colonization precedes infection and facilitates spread of several clinically important multidrug resistant organisms (MDRO). Reliable detection of carriage is important to improve our understanding of risk factors and spread of MDRO. Bacterial culture of stool samples obtained from peri-rectal swabs or whole stool is often used for this purpose. The previously described BioWipe method is a non-invasive stool collection method that resembles the use of toilet paper, and can be self-administered. The BioWipe consists of a 100×160 mm square of soft, absorbent synthetic fiber material attached to a plastic backing layer (Fisher Scientific, USA). It is used prior to using toilet paper after a bowel movement. The wipe with collected stool sample is placed onto the surface of an absorbent pad (3M™ Petroleum Sorbent Pads, Fisher Scientific, USA) containing modified Cary Blair transport media. The two parts are then folded together and placed inside a plastic bag. Prior to use, both components are treated with ultraviolet light irradiation in a biological safety cabinet for 30 minutes. After sample collection, the BioWipe is eluted with 20 mL mix of Phosphate Buffer Saline solution (PBS, pH=7.2) and 0.1% Tween 80 (vol/vol) directly in its original bag in a biosafety cabinet, until the stool sample is completely eluted. The resulting suspended stool sample is used for further processing