Novel variants of AbaR resistance islands with a common backbone in Acinetobacter baumannii isolates of European clone II

In this study, the genetic organization of three novel genomic antibiotic resistance islands (AbaRs) in Acinetobacter baumannii isolates belonging to group of European clone II (EC II) comM integrated sequences of 18-, 21-, and 23-kb resistance islands were determined. These resistance islands carry the backbone of AbaR-type transposon structures, which are composed of the transposition module coding for potential transposition proteins and other genes coding for the intact universal stress protein (uspA), sulfate permease (sul), and proteins of unknown function. The antibiotic resistance genes strA, strB, tetB, and tetR and insertion sequence CR2 element were found to be inserted into the AbaR transposons. GenBank homology searches indicated that they are closely related to the AbaR sequences found integrated in comM in strains of EC II (A. baumannii strains 1656-2 and TCDC-AB0715) and AbaR4 integrated in another location of A. baumannii AB0057 (EC I). All of the AbaRs showed structural similarity to the previously described AbaR4 island and share a 12,008-bp backbone. AbaRs contain Tn1213, Tn2006, and the multiple fragments which could be derived from transposons Tn3, Tn10, Tn21, Tn1000, Tn5393, and Tn6020, the insertion sequences IS26, ISAba1, ISAba14, and ISCR2, and the class 1 integron. Moreover, chromosomal DNA was inserted into distinct regions of the AbaR backbone. Sequence analysis suggested that the AbaR-type transposons have evolved through insertions, deletions, and homologous recombination. AbaR islands, sharing the core structure similar to AbaR4, appeared to be distributed in isolates of EC I and EC II via integration into distinct genomic sites, i.e., pho and comM, respectively.     

The Prevalence of Refractive Errors and Visual Impairment among School Children in Brčko District,Bosnia and Herzegovina

In this study we investigate the prevalence of refractive errors and visual impairment among primary school children in the urban population of Br?ko District, Bosnia and Herzegovina. A cross-sectional study included 40 randomly selected classes of children aged 7–16 years attending five different primary schools in Br?ko District. The examination included visual acuity testing, ocular motility evaluation, retinoscopy and autorefraction under cycloplegia, examination of the external eye, anterior segment, media and fundus. A total of 1,005 children were enumerated, and 997 (99.2%) were examined. The prevalence of uncorrected, baseline (presenting), and best corrected visual acuity of 20/40 or worse in the better eye was 9.9%, 5.9% and 0.5%, respectively. The prevalence of myopia and hyperopia measured with retinoscopy was 17.3% and 3.0% eyes, and measured with autorefraction 20.4% and 3.3% eyes, respectively. Astigmatism was found in 12.9% eyes with retinoscopy and in 18.1% with autorefraction.     

Implications for operational control of adult mosquito production in cisterns and wells in St. Augustine, FL using attractive sugar baits

The aim of this study was to further investigate the use of attractive sugar baits as an effective, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly tool for integrated mosquito management programs. Mosquitoes were offered dyed sugar bait in wells and cisterns in an urban tourist area in St. Augustine, FL. Exit traps were constructed to cover the well and cistern openings so the number of resting and emerging mosquitoes stained by feeding on the sugar bait could be monitored. Four mosquito species were collected from these structures: Aedes albopictus (Skuse), Anopheles crucians (Wiedemann), Culex quinquefasciatus Say, and Toxorhynchites rutilus rutilus (Coquillett). Overall, 90% (1482/1644) of the mosquitoes trapped were stained. In general, the number of mosquitoes stained was significantly greater in wells (P<0.0001) and cisterns (P<0.0001) than the numbers that were not stained by the colored bait. Based on the number of mosquitoes stained, we would have expected considerable mosquito mortality had the sugar bait contained an oral toxin. The results of this study support the concept of using attractive toxic sugar baits as an effective tool for integrated mosquito management.     

Pain relief produces negative reinforcement through activation of mesolimbic reward–valuation circuitry

Relief of pain is rewarding. Using a model of experimental postsurgical pain we show that blockade of afferent input from the injury with local anesthetic elicits conditioned place preference, activates ventral tegmental dopaminergic cells, and increases dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens. Importantly, place preference is associated with increased activity in midbrain dopaminergic neurons and blocked by dopamine antagonists injected into the nucleus accumbens. The data directly support the hypothesis that relief of pain produces negative reinforcement through activation of the mesolimbic reward–valuation circuitry.     

Brushite mineralised Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) sapwood – revealing mineral crystallization within a wood matrix by in situ XRD

Dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (CaHPO₄·2H₂O, DCPD, brushite) crystals were synthesised within Scots pine sapwood via a wet-chemistry route from aqueous solutions of Ca(CH₃COO)₂ and NH₄H₂PO₄ salts. SEM/EDS analysis was used to assess the saturation of the wood cell lumina and cell wall as well as morphological features and elemental composition of the co-precipitated mineral. Brushite mineral crystallization and crystallite growth within the wood matrix was studied by in situ XRD. The chemical composition of the mineral before and after the dissolution was evaluated using FTIR spectroscopy. The overall impact of brushite on the thermal behaviour of wood was studied by TGA/DSC and TGA/DTA/MS analysis under oxidative and pyrolytic conditions. Bending and compression strength perpendicular and parallel to the fibre directions as well as bending strengths in longitudinal and transverse directions of the mineralised wood were also evaluated. Results indicate the viability of the wet-chemistry processing route for wood reinforcement with crystalline calcium phosphate (CaP)-based minerals, and imply a potential in producing hybrid bio-based materials that could be attractive in the construction sector as an environmentally friendly building material.

Brushite mineral shows potential in wood reinforcement and development of hybrid calcium phosphate-based wood composites that could be particularly attractive in the construction sector as an environmentally friendly building material.     

Negative and positive life experiences in patients with psoriatic arthritis

Recent data suggest that childhood and adulthood stressors may play a significant role in the development of an autoimmune disease. The present study explores the relationship between psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and positive and negative life events during childhood and adulthood in psoriatic patients. Forty-five patients with psoriatic arthritis and 101 controls (patients with skin conditions considered to be “non-psychosomatic”) were enrolled in the study. All participants completed a specific questionnaire measuring traumatic life experiences [Traumatic Antecedents Questionnaire (TAQ)]. The TAQ assesses positive personal experiences (competence and safety) and negative personal experiences (neglect, separation, secrets, emotional, physical and sexual abuse, trauma witnessing, other traumas and exposure to alcohol/drugs) from early childhood to adulthood. The patients with psoriatic arthritis exhibited lower mean scores of total positive experiences during late childhood (latency) as compared to the control group. Negative experiences during four developmental periods appeared more frequently in patients with psoriatic arthritis than in the controls. The most frequently reported negative experiences were neglect, emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, alcohol/drug abuse and other traumas. The present findings add evidence to the relationship between retrospectively reported childhood experiences and psoriatic arthritis. Furthermore, a high amount of reported emotional and physical abuse occurs in patients with psoriatic arthritis during latency and adolescence.     

Evaluation of attractive toxic sugar bait (ATSB)—Barrier for control of vector and nuisance mosquitoes and its effect on non-target organisms in sub-tropical environments in Florida

The efficacy of attractive toxic sugar baits (ATSB) with the active ingredient eugenol, an Environmental Protection Agency exempt compound, was evaluated against vector and nuisance mosquitoes in both laboratory and field studies. In the laboratory, eugenol combined in attractive sugar bait (ASB) solution provided high levels of mortality for Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus, and Anopheles quadrimaculatus. Field studies demonstrated significant control: >70% reduction for Aedes atlanticus, Aedes. infirmatus, and Culex nigripalpus and >50% reduction for Anopheles crucians, Uranotaenia sapphirina, Culiseta melanura, and Culex erraticus three weeks post ATSB application. Furthermore, non-target feeding of six insect orders, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, and Orthoptera, was evaluated in the field after application of a dyed-ASB to flowering and non-flowering vegetation. ASB feeding (staining) was determined by dissecting the guts and searching for food dye with a dissecting microscope. The potential impact of ATSB on non-targets, applied on green non-flowering vegetation was low for all non-target groups (0.9%). However, application of the ASB to flowering vegetation resulted in significant staining of the non-target insect orders. This highlights the need for application guidelines to reduce non-target effects. No mortality was observed in laboratory studies with predatory non-targets, spiders, praying mantis, or ground beetles, after feeding for three days on mosquitoes engorged on ATSB. Overall, our laboratory and field studies support the use of eugenol as an active ingredient for controlling important vector and nuisance mosquitoes when used as an ATSB toxin. This is the first study demonstrating effective control of anophelines in non-arid environments which suggest that even in highly competitive sugar rich environments this method could be used for control of malaria in Latin American countries.     

Occurrence of Deoxynivalenol in Wheat in Slovakia during 2010 and 2011

In this study, a total of 299 grain samples of wheat were collected from four production regions: the maize, sugar beet, potato and feed sectors of Slovakia. The samples were analyzed for deoxynivalenol (DON) content by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay Ridascreen^® Fast DON. Analysis of variance revealed a significant difference between years in DON contents (p < 0.027). The occurrence of samples with DON was 82.2% in 2010, with maximum DON content of 7.88 mg kg⁻¹, and 70.7% in 2011, with maximum DON content of 2.12 mg·kg⁻¹. The total mean DON content was 0.62 mg·kg⁻¹; in the feed region 0.22 mg·kg⁻¹; 0.63 mg·kg⁻¹ in the maize region; 0.78 mg·kg⁻¹ in the sugar beet region; 0.45 mg·kg⁻¹ the potato region. The limit of 1.25 mg·kg⁻¹ imposed by the European Union (EU) for DON content was exceeded in 13.7% of the studied samples. The average monthly rainfall for May to June played a critical role in DON content of wheat grains for maize and sugar beet producing regions. The present results indicate that DON content was at a high level in grains from wheat grown during 2010.