Antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella serovars isolated from imported foods

A total of 187 Salmonella isolates representing 82 serotypes recovered from 4072 imported foods in the year 2000 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration field laboratories were tested for their susceptibility to 17 antimicrobials of human and veterinary importance. Fifteen (8%) isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial, and five (2.7%) were resistant to three or more antimicrobials. Most of the isolates (n=9) exhibited resistance to tetracycline. Four isolates from catfish or tilapia from Taiwan or Thailand also demonstrated resistance to nalidixic acid. These nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella isolates possessed a point mutation at the Ser83 or Asp87 position in DNA gryase, resulting in amino acid substitutions to phenylalanine, tyrosine, or asparagine. One Salmonella Derby isolated from frozen anchovies imported from Cambodia was resistant to six antimicrobials including ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, chloramphenicol, sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Of seven isolates displaying resistance to sulfonamides, only one S. Derby and one Salmonella Agona contained class 1 integrons that were further shown to possess the aadA and pse-1 genes conferring resistance to streptomycin and ampicillin, respectively. This study indicates that antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella are present in imported foods, primarily of seafood origin, and stresses the need for continued surveillance of foodborne zoonotic bacterial pathogens from imported foods entering the United States.     

Phosphorus fractionation in soil and sediments along a continuum from agricultural fields to nearshore lake sediments: Potential ecological impacts

The movement of phosphorus (P) from agricultural fields to streams and deposition in the nearshore of the lake presents a continuum of related physical and chemical properties that act to partition P into different physico-chemical fractions. We investigated changes in soil and sediment P fractionation as material was eroded from predominantly agricultural fields, transported via stream sediments, and deposited in a nearshore lake environment. Total phosphorus content of the soils and sediment decreased from field soils with an average concentration of 553.81 mg P kg^? 1 to 202.28 mg P kg^? 1 in stream sediments to 67.47 mg P kg^? 1 in lake sediments. Significant changes in P fractionation occurred during erosion, transport, and deposition of the particulate or sediment phase. The fractionation of P within the soils and sediments changed significantly from aluminum and organic matter associated P dominant in field soils to calcium associated P dominant in nearshore lake sediments. Various physical and chemical processes appear to be responsible for these transformations which impact the mobility and bioavailability of P. A significant amount of P was lost from field soils as they were transported and deposited. This P has either become available to biota or deposited in deeper portions of the lake system. Ultimately, the impact of P export on the nearshore lake environment may be influenced by the changes in P fractionation that occurred during transport and deposition and by the influence of macrophytes on the biogeochemical cycling of P in the sediment.     

High‐molecular‐weight glutenin subunit composition of Pakistani hard white spring wheats grown at three locations for 2 years and its relationship with end‐use quality characteristics

Eleven Pakistani hard white spring wheat cultivars, along with one durum wheat and two hard white American‐grown wheat cultivars, were evaluated for their high‐molecular‐weight (HMW) glutenin subunit composition via sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE). The relationships among different quality characteristics and between these characteristics and HMW glutenin subunits were computed. Three to six HMW glutenin subunits were observed in Pakistani bread wheat cultivars. The presence of HMW glutenin subunits was not affected by growth locations or crop years. However, variations in intensities were observed. Correlations were noticed between certain HMW glutenin subunits and some quality attributes, such as protein, farinograph dough development time, farinograph water absorption, loaf volume and mixograph peak height. The presence of HMW glutenin subunit 20 in the older wheat cultivars C591 and C273, known for excellent chapati quality, indicated a possible relationship between this band and chapati quality. This observation will need to be confirmed by testing a larger number of wheat samples known to have characteristics for both good and poor chapati quality. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Breeding birds and anurans of dynamic coastal wetlands in Green Bay,Lake Michigan

Breeding birds and anurans (frogs and toads) in coastal wetlands of Green Bay, Lake Michigan vary dynamically with changing water levels, habitat type, and geography. We describe species assemblages over a seven-year period (2011–2017) beginning with historic low water levels followed by an increase in average lake level of 0.85?m. In general, species richness and abundance of marsh-obligate species responded positively to increasing water levels, although several species of shallow wetlands (sandhill crane, sedge wren, swamp sparrow, and American toad) showed the opposite trend. Anuran assemblages were more diverse in the middle and upper bay, coinciding with a well-established nutrient gradient from the hypereutrophic lower bay to more oligotrophic waters of the upper bay. Three marsh-obligate bird species (black tern, sandhill crane, and sedge wren) were significantly more abundant in the middle or upper bay while sora, American coot, and common gallinule were more abundant in the eutrophic lower bay. Our findings have several important implications for conservation. Inland wetlands near the coast (including diked wetlands) might play a key ecological role by providing refugia for some species during low water years. However, the importance of shallow coastal wetlands and nearshore gradients of wetland habitat might be overlooked during low water years; when high water returns, these areas can become extremely productive and species-rich.     

Design and construction of expanded polystyrene embankments Practical design methods as used in the United Kingdom

This paper covers the history of the use of expanded polystyrene ( ) in light weight fill for road embankments. UK design requirements and physical properties of the foam are covered together with two case studies.     

Review of Motivational interviewing in the treatment of psychological problems.

Reviews the book, Motivational interviewing in the treatment of psychological problems by Hal Arkowitz, Henny A. Westra, William R. Miller, and Stephen Rollnick (2007). The purpose of this book is to describe applications of motivational interviewing (MI) to the treatment of a variety of psychological disorders. This excellent book, edited by the originators of MI (Miller and Rollnick) along with two highly regarded scientist-practitioners (Arkowitz and Westra), begins with an introduction to the spirit and techniques of MI and provides an overview of the ways in which MI has been applied in clinical practise. The main portion of the book consists of 11 chapters written by foremost MI experts describing the use of MI in their research and clinical work treating anxiety disorders, depression, pathological gambling, eating disorders, and schizophrenia spectrum disorders, as well as the use of MI in the corrections system and with suicidal and dually diagnosed patients. Each chapter is similarly organised and offers a brief overview of the clinical population and treatment as usual, a rationale for using MI in treatment, a summary of available research regarding the use of MI in the population, and detailed examples of clinical applications of MI to treatment, including problems and suggested solutions. The chapters are well written and informative, with many offering vivid clinical examples. It is difficult to identify any significant weaknesses. There is some redundancy throughout the text, particularly with regard to the general spirit, principles, and techniques of MI. This is likely intentional and meant to reiterate important points; it also nicely allows each chapter to stand alone. In sum, this terrific book provides a highly readable and informative account of the application of MI to the treatment of psychological problems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Vertical and Radial Consolidation Analysis of Multilayered Soil Using the Spectral Method

A new, easy to implement, solution to the consolidation of multilayered soil based on the spectral method is presented. Combined vertical and radial drainage under instantaneous or single ramp loading is considered, ignoring well resistance. Flow in the vertical direction is based on the average hydraulic gradient at a particular depth which allows smear effects to be included. The excess pore-water pressure profile across all soil layers is described by a single expression calculated with common matrix operations. Average excess pore pressures within or across any number of layers are easily calculated from the single expression. The new model is verified against other solutions from the current literature indicating that the more general spectral method model can replace the separate solutions developed for specific problems.     

Thermal and mechanical analysis of the ITER plasma-position reflectometry antennas

The antennas of the ITER plasma-position reflectometer are the components most exposed to the plasma. High thermal loads can cause high temperatures and excessive stress, so the first constrains on the antenna design arise from thermal simulations results. Therefore, the first step of the analysis is to develop a finite element thermal model with ANSYS. Once the temperatures are kept at acceptable levels, structural analysis is performed to know the thermal stress. Simulations performed using different materials and support structure geometries are discussed. Further, it has been checked that the components can withstand the electromagnetic loads expected during disruptions and vertical displacement events. The stress due to these electromagnetic loads is calculated analytically as well as with ANSYS simulations. The proposed antenna arrangement is properly designed against thermal and mechanical loads.