A systematic review of gut microbiota composition in observational studies of major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

The emerging understanding of gut microbiota as 'metabolic machinery' influencing many aspects of physiology has gained substantial attention in the field of psychiatry. This is largely due to the many overlapping pathophysiological mechanisms associated with both the potential functionality of the gut microbiota and the biological mechanisms thought to be underpinning mental disorders. In this systematic review, we synthesised the current literature investigating differences in gut microbiota composition in people with the major psychiatric disorders, major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia (SZ), compared to 'healthy' controls. We also explored gut microbiota composition across disorders in an attempt to elucidate potential commonalities in the microbial signatures associated with these mental disorders. Following the PRISMA guidelines, databases were searched from inception through to December 2021. We identified 44 studies (including a total of 2510 psychiatric cases and 2407 controls) that met inclusion criteria, of which 24 investigated gut microbiota composition in MDD, seven investigated gut microbiota composition in BD, and 15 investigated gut microbiota composition in SZ. Our syntheses provide no strong evidence for a difference in the number or distribution (α-diversity) of bacteria in those with a mental disorder compared to controls. However, studies were relatively consistent in reporting differences in overall community composition (ß-diversity) in people with and without mental disorders. Our syntheses also identified specific bacterial taxa commonly associated with mental disorders, including lower levels of bacterial genera that produce short-chain fatty acids (e.g. butyrate), higher levels of lactic acid-producing bacteria, and higher levels of bacteria associated with glutamate and GABA metabolism. We also observed substantial heterogeneity across studies with regards to methodologies and reporting. Further prospective and experimental research using new tools and robust guidelines hold promise for improving our understanding of the role of the gut microbiota in mental and brain health and the development of interventions based on modification of gut microbiota.

Field applications of zein as a precise nanoscale delivery system for methoxyfenozide.

When insecticides are applied in the environment, much of the product does not reach the target pest. Biopolymeric nanoparticles as nanocarriers have the potential to improve insecticide efficacy by improving absorption, coverage, and permeability while protecting the insecticide active ingredient from abiotic conditions and extending efficacy through controlled release. We conducted a series of experiments using a biopolymeric nanoparticle synthesized from zein, a biodegradable maize protein, to compare efficacy of a nanodelivered hydrophobic insect growth regulator (methoxyfenozide) against a commercial formulation. Positively charged zein nanoparticles (empty and loaded with methoxyfenozide) were compared to the formulated product, Intrepid 2F, as a foliar spray in-field on soybean. Chrysodeixis includens (Walker) was used as a model and was fed sprayed soybean leaves to evaluate efficacy of the tested foliar products over time. A separate set of leaves was sampled to measure residue levels of methoxyfenozide (MFZ) over time following foliar application using QuEChERS extraction and high-resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Regression analysis found no differences in mortality slopes between positively charged zein nanoparticles loaded with methoxyfenozide [(+)ZNP(MFZ)] and Intrepid 2F, suggesting comparable efficacy of the synthesized nanoparticles to a commercial product. Higher concentrations of MFZ were present in (+)ZNP(MFZ)-treated in leaf tissue at 3 d following spray when compared to Intrepid 2F. The multiyear study results demonstrate that nanoparticles loaded with MFZ are comparable to Intrepid 2F under field conditions, with potential short-term benefits.

Study of the X-ray radiation interaction with a multislit collimator for the creation of microbeams in radiation therapy.

Microbeam radiation therapy (MRT) is a developing radiotherapy, based on the use of beams only a few tens of micrometres wide, generated by synchrotron X-ray sources. The spatial fractionation of the homogeneous beam into an array of microbeams is possible using a multislit collimator (MSC), i.e. a machined metal block with regular apertures. Dosimetry in MRT is challenging and previous works still show differences between calculated and experimental dose profiles of 10-30%, which are not acceptable for a clinical implementation of treatment. The interaction of the X-rays with the MSC may contribute to the observed discrepancies; the present study therefore investigates the dose contribution due to radiation interaction with the MSC inner walls and radiation leakage of the MSC. Dose distributions inside a water-equivalent phantom were evaluated for different field sizes and three typical spectra used for MRT studies at the European Synchrotron Biomedical beamline ID17. Film dosimetry was utilized to determine the contribution of radiation interaction with the MSC inner walls; Monte Carlo simulations were implemented to calculate the radiation leakage contribution. Both factors turned out to be relevant for the dose deposition, especially for small fields. Photons interacting with the MSC walls may bring up to 16% more dose in the valley regions, between the microbeams. Depending on the chosen spectrum, the radiation leakage close to the phantom surface can contribute up to 50% of the valley dose for a 5 mm × 5 mm field. The current study underlines that a detailed characterization of the MSC must be performed systematically and accurate MRT dosimetry protocols must include the contribution of radiation leakage and radiation interaction with the MSC in order to avoid significant errors in the dose evaluation at the micrometric scale.

The role of diet quality and dietary patterns in predicting muscle mass and function in men over a 15-year period.

A growing body of evidence suggests that diet quality may predict muscle health. This study found that a "Traditional" dietary pattern predicted greater muscle mass, and an anti-inflammatory diet predicted greater muscle mass and better muscle function over 15 years. These findings reinforce the importance of optimising dietary behaviours for healthy ageing. INTRODUCTION: Research investigating the roles of individual nutrients in muscle health fails to account for the synergistic relationships between foods and nutrients. This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of diet quality and dietary patterns for muscle mass and function in men over a 15-year period. METHODS: This longitudinal study was conducted in 522 men from the Geelong Osteoporosis Study with complete dietary and muscle mass or muscle function data at both baseline and 15-year follow-up assessments. Dietary exposures were extracted from food frequency questionnaires and included the Australian Recommended Food Score, the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®), and three a posteriori dietary patterns: Plant-focused, Western, and Traditional (Anglo-Australian). Outcome variables included dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry-derived skeletal muscle index (SMI) and muscle function measured with the timed up-and-go (TUG) test. RESULTS: An anti-inflammatory diet and higher scores on a Traditional dietary pattern both predicted greater SMI ((B: -0.04 (95%CI -0.08, -0.00) kg/m2) and (B: 0.12 (95%CI 0.04, 0.20) kg/m2), respectively), while a pro-inflammatory diet predicted slower TUG (B: 0.11 (95%CI 0.001, 0.21) sec) over the 15-year follow-up period. These associations remained significant following adjustment for confounding variables. There were no associations observed for other dietary exposures. CONCLUSION: A Traditional dietary pattern higher in vegetables, wholegrain cereals, and animal protein was associated with greater skeletal muscle mass, and an anti-inflammatory diet, also rich in vegetables, fruit, and wholegrain cereals, was associated with greater skeletal muscle mass and better muscle function over 15 years.

Trends and Patterns in Reporting of Patient Safety Situations in Transplantation.

Analysis and dissemination of transplant patient safety data are essential to understanding key issues facing the transplant community and fostering a "culture of safety." The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network's (OPTN) Operations and Safety Committee de-identified safety situations reported through several mechanisms, including the OPTN's online patient safety portal, through which the number of reported cases has risen sharply. From 2012 to 2013, 438 events were received through either the online portal or other reporting pathways, and about half were self-reports. Communication breakdowns (22.8%) and testing issues (16.0%) were the most common types. Events included preventable errors that led to organ discard as well as near misses. Among events reported by Organ Procurement Organization (OPOs), half came from just 10 of the 58 institutions, while half of events reported by transplant centers came from just 21 of 250 institutions. Thirteen (23%) OPOs and 155 (62%) transplant centers reported no events, suggesting substantial underreporting of safety-related errors to the national database. This is the first comprehensive, published report of the OPTN's safety efforts. Our goals are to raise awareness of safety data recently reported to the OPTN, encourage additional reporting, and spur systems improvements to mitigate future risk.

Field evaluation of the response of Aedes albopictus (Stegomyia albopicta) to three oviposition attractants and different ovitrap placements using black and clear autocidal ovitraps in a rural area of Same, Timor-Leste.

Known oviposition attractants or stimulants were compared, singly and in combination, using inexpensive autocidal ovitraps designed to trap emerging adults, in a rural area of Timor-Leste during the dry season. In this area, the dengue vector Aedes albopictus (Stegomyia albopicta) Skuse (Diptera: Culicidae) was abundant, but Aedes aegypti (Stegomyia aegypti) L. was not detected. The attractants were: (a) a compound found in Aedes eggs (dodecanoic acid); (b) components of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium-based (NPK) fertilizer, and (c) infusions of discarded cigarette butts. A solution of ammonium phosphate and potassium nitrate was significantly more attractive to gravid Ae. albopictus than water only. Dodecanoic acid and cigarette butt infusions were not significantly more attractive than the control; however, they attracted various other Diptera and many non-culicid larvae developed in ovitraps in which these substances were used; thus, the presence of eggs or larvae of other species may have deterred Aedes oviposition. Significantly more Aedes eggs were found in ovitraps under vegetation than in ovitraps placed inside houses or against external walls. Clear-sided ovitraps in which black mesh was placed over a black ring floating on the water surface collected significantly fewer eggs than black ovitraps with identically placed mesh and rings.

Carriage of methicillin-resistant staphylococci by healthy companion animals in the US.

UNLABELLED: Antimicrobial-resistant staphylococci have been associated with wounded or ill companion animals, but little is known about the prevalence of resistant staphylococci among healthy animals. In this study, 276 healthy dogs and cats from veterinary clinics were tested for the presence of antimicrobial-resistant Staphylococcus spp. Isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility and the presence of select resistance genes, and typed using Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE). Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius were also characterized using multilocus sequence typing (MLST), spa typing and SCCmec typing. Approximately 5% (14/276) of the animals were positive by enrichment for five species of staphylococci [Staph. aureus (n = 11), Staph. pseudintermedius (n = 4), Staphylococcus sciuri (n = 6), Staphylococcus simulans (n = 1) and Staphylococcus warneri (n = 1)]. Seventy-eight per cent (18/23) of staphylococci were resistant to oxacillin and also multidrug resistant (resistance to ≥ 2 antimicrobials). All Staph. aureus isolates were mecA+ and blaZ+, SCCmec type II, spa type t002, ST5 and clonal using PFGE. Staphylococcus pseudintermedius were SCCmec type IV or V, spa type t06 and ST170; two of the isolates were pvl(+) . These results suggest that healthy companion animals may be a reservoir of multidrug-resistant staphylococci, which may be transferred to owners and others who handle companion animals. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: In this study, antimicrobial-resistant coagulase-negative and coagulase-positive staphylococci were isolated from various body sites on healthy dogs and cats. Resistance to 14 antimicrobials was observed including resistance to oxacillin; the majority of staphylococci were also multidrug resistant. Results from this study suggest that healthy dogs and cats may act as reservoirs of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria that may be transferred to people by simple interaction with the animals. Such carriage poses an underlying risk of infection, which should be considered during handling of healthy dogs and cats by pet owners and veterinary personnel.

Stylet penetration behaviors of Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on four Ipomoea spp. infected or noninfected with sweet potato potyviruses.

Myzus persicae (Sulzer) is an efficient vector of potyviruses in sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas (L.). These potyviruses also infect members of the morning glory family Ipomoea cordatotriloba Dennstedt and Ipomoea hederacea Jacqin commonly found within or around sweet potato fields. Infection of sweet potato with potyviruses increases the intrinsic rate of increase of M. persicae. Thus, from the epidemiological stand point, virus infection can modify vector population dynamics, and therefore increase virus spread. To better understand this, stylet penetration behaviors of M. persicae on virus infected and noninfected sweet potato cvs. 'Beauregard' and 'Evangeline', as well as morning glory plants I. cordatotriloba and I. hederacea were monitored. Stylet penetration behaviors associated with nonpersistent virus transmission such as time to first intracellular puncture (potential drop), number of potential drops, duration of potential drop, duration of potential drop subphase II-3, and number of potential drops with subphase II-3 pulses were significantly increased on virus-infected compared with noninfected Beauregard, but greatly reduced on virus-infected compared with noninfected I. hederacea plants. Stylet penetration behaviors associated with host acceptance such as reduced nonprobing duration and nonprobing events were greater on virus-infected compared with noninfected Beauregard plants. In contrast, on Evangeline, I. cordatotriloba and I. hederacea stylet penetration behaviors by M. persicae indicate it had less preference for virus-infected compared with noninfected plants.

High-order harmonic generation from a dual-gas, multi-jet array with individual gas jet control.

We present a gas jet array for use in high-order harmonic generation experiments. Precise control of the pressure in each individual gas jet has allowed a thorough investigation into mechanisms contributing to the selective enhancement observed in the harmonic spectra produced by dual-gas, multi-jet arrays. Our results reveal that in our case, the dominant enhancement mechanism is the result of a compression of the harmonic-producing gas jet due to the presence of other gas jets in the array. The individual control of the gas jets in the array also provides a promising method for enhancing the harmonic yield by precise tailoring of the length and pressure gradient of the interaction region.

The Role of Aphid Abundance, Species Diversity, and Virus Titer in the Spread of Sweetpotato Potyviruses in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV), Sweet potato virus G (SPVG), and Sweet potato virus 2 (SPV2) are sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) potyviruses nonpersistently transmitted by aphids. Our objective was to determine how aphid abundance, aphid species diversity, and virus titers relate to the spread of SPFMV, SPVG, and SPV2 in Louisiana and Mississippi sweetpotato fields. The most abundant aphid species were Aphis gossypii, Myzus persicae, Rhopalosiphum padi, and Therioaphis trifolii. Aphids were captured during the entire crop cycle but virus infection of sentinel plants occurred mainly during the months of June to August. SPFMV was more commonly detected than SPVG or SPV2 in sentinel plants. Virus titers for SPFMV were higher in samples beginning in late June. Because significant aphid populations were present during April to June when virus titers were low in sweetpotato and there was very little virus infection of sentinel plants, low virus titers may have limited aphid acquisition and transmission opportunities. This is the first study to comprehensively examine aphid transmission of potyviruses in sweetpotato crops in the United States and includes the first report of R. maidis and R. padi as vectors of SPFMV, though they were less efficient than A. gossypii or M. persicae.

Population dynamics of three aphid species (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on four Ipomoea spp. infected or noninfected with sweetpotato potyviruses.

Three aphid species, Aphis gossypii Glover and Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (efficient sweetpotato potyvirus vectors) and Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) (an inefficient vector), are commonly found in sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas (L.), in Louisiana. Field-grown sweet potatoes are naturally infected with several potyviruses: Sweet potato feathery mottle virus, Sweet potato virus G, and Sweet potato virus 2. Thus, these aphids commonly encounter virus-infected hosts. What is not known is how each of these aphids responds to sweet potato, either infected or virus-free. The objectives of this study were to 1) determine if these aphid species can colonize mixed virus-infected sweet potato 'Beauregard', and if so, 2) determine the effects of virus infection on the population dynamics of each aphid. A. gossypii failed to larviposit and R. padi deposited a single nymph that died within a day on mixed virus-infected Beauregard. M. persicae larviposited and colonized Beauregard and further life-table analyses were warranted. M. persicae had a significantly greater reproduction on sweet potato cultivars Beauregard and 'Evangeline' with mixed virus infection compared with noninfected plants. On morning glory species, Ipomoea cordatotriloba (Dennestedt) and Ipomoea hederacea (Jacquin), M. persicae had a significantly lower reproduction on Sweet potato feathery mottle virus-infected compared with noninfected plants.

Reducing methylmercury accumulation in the food webs of San Francisco Bay and its local watersheds.

San Francisco Bay (California, USA) and its local watersheds present an interesting case study in estuarine mercury (Hg) contamination. This review focuses on the most promising avenues for attempting to reduce methylmercury (MeHg) contamination in Bay Area aquatic food webs and identifying the scientific information that is most urgently needed to support these efforts. Concern for human exposure to MeHg in the region has led to advisories for consumption of sport fish. Striped bass from the Bay have the highest average Hg concentration measured for this species in USA estuaries, and this degree of contamination has been constant for the past 40 years. Similarly, largemouth bass in some Bay Area reservoirs have some of the highest Hg concentrations observed in the entire US. Bay Area wildlife, particularly birds, face potential impacts to reproduction based on Hg concentrations in the tissues of several Bay species. Source control of Hg is one of the primary possible approaches for reducing MeHg accumulation in Bay Area aquatic food webs. Recent findings (particularly Hg isotope measurements) indicate that the decades-long residence time of particle-associated Hg in the Bay is sufficient to allow significant conversion of even the insoluble forms of Hg into MeHg. Past inputs have been thoroughly mixed throughout this shallow and dynamic estuary. The large pool of Hg already present in the ecosystem dominates the fraction converted to MeHg and accumulating in the food web. Consequently, decreasing external Hg inputs can be expected to reduce MeHg in the food web, but it will likely take many decades to centuries before those reductions are achieved. Extensive efforts to reduce loads from the largest Hg mining source (the historic New Almaden mining district) are underway. Hg is spread widely across the urban landscape, but there are a number of key sources, source areas, and pathways that provide opportunities to capture larger quantities of Hg and reduce loads from urban runoff. Atmospheric deposition is a lower priority for source control in the Bay Area due to a combination of a lack of major local sources. Internal net production of MeHg is the dominant source of MeHg that enters the food web. Controlling internal net production is the second primary management approach, and has the potential to reduce food web MeHg in some habitats more effectively and within a much shorter time-frame. Controlling net MeHg production and accumulation in the food web of upstream reservoirs and ponds is very promising due to the many features of these ecosystems that can be manipulated. The most feasible control options in tidal marshes relate to the design of flow patterns and subhabitats in restoration projects. Options for controlling MeHg production in open Bay habitat are limited due primarily to the highly dispersed distribution of Hg throughout the ecosystem. Other changes in these habitats may also have a large influence on food web MeHg, including temperature changes due to global warming, sea level rise, food web alterations due to introduced species and other causes, and changes in sediment supply. Other options for reducing or mitigating exposure and risk include controlling bioaccumulation, cleanup of contaminated sites, and reducing other factors (e.g., habitat availability) that limit at-risk wildlife populations.

New insights into the proximal tendons of adductor longus, adductor brevis and gracilis.

OBJECTIVE: The adductor muscles are implicated in the pathogenesis of groin strain, but the proximal morphology of this muscle group is poorly defined. The purpose of this study was to investigate the detailed anatomy of the entheses and proximal musculotendinous junctions (MTJs) of adductor longus (AL), adductor brevis (AB) and gracilis. METHODS: The adductors were dissected bilaterally in 10 embalmed cadavers (7 females, mean age at death 79 years (range 57-93 years)), focusing on the type of enthesis, and architecture of the proximal tendons and MTJs. Histology was used to determine if the entheses contained fibrocartilage and to semiquantitatively assess the vascularity of each proximal tendon. RESULTS: All entheses were fibrocartilaginous. The proximal tendons of AB and gracilis were fused, forming a common tendinous insertion in all specimens. AL and AB both contained extensive intramuscular tendons of variable length (AL 11.1 ± 1.5 cm; AB 5.4 ± 1.1 cm); this has not been recorded previously. The vascularity of AL and AB tendons decreased significantly towards the enthesis (p < 0.05), and their entheses were significantly less vascular than that of gracilis (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The proximal anatomy of AL, AB and gracilis is more complex than previously described. The arrangement and fusion of these muscles, their fibrocartilaginous entheses and differences in vascularity of their proximal tendons may be important anatomical considerations in the pathogenesis and pattern of adductor-related groin pain.

Effect of Host Plant, Aphid Species, and Virus Infection Status on Transmission of Sweetpotato feathery mottle virus.

Sweetpotato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV) is a nonpersistently transmitted virus known to infect sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) and wild morning glory plants. SPFMV is vectored by various aphid species, among them the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, and the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii. Our objective was to determine whether differences in acquisition hosts (sweetpotato and morning glory), aphid species (M. persicae and A. gossypii), and infection status (single versus mixed infection) influenced transmission of SPFMV. SPFMV transmission from I. hederacea with a natural mixed infection by A. gossypii (39%) was significantly greater than in other host-virus combinations. Successful transmissions by A. gossypii were significantly greater compared with M. persicae in all host-virus combinations. Virus titers in source leaves were significantly greater in single- and mixed-infected I. hederacea and single-infected I. cordatotriloba compared with other host-virus combinations. There was a significant positive correlation between virus titer and transmission by both aphid species. These results suggest that, under controlled conditions, SPFMV is more readily transmitted from infected morning glory plants than from sweetpotato. Additionally, mixed-infected plants are better virus sources for transmission than single-infected, and A. gossypii is a more efficient vector than M. persicae under laboratory conditions.

Belowground Herbivory to Sweetpotato by Sweetpotato Weevil (Coleoptera: Brentidae) Alters Population Dynamics and Probing Behavior of Aboveground Herbivores.

Aboveground and belowground herbivory can alter host quality and trophic interactions. However, little research has explored the impacts of belowground herbivory on plant virus epidemiology. To understand this interaction in sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas L. (Lam), we studied the impact of herbivory by sweetpotato weevil, Cylas formicarius elegantulus (Summers), to storage roots on vector herbivore, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), the green peach aphid, and Aphis gossypii Glover, the cotton aphid, feeding behavior (M. persicae and A. gossypii) and population dynamics (M. persicae only as A. gossypii does not colonize sweetpotato). In addition, a nonvector herbivore, Chrysodeixis includens (Walker), the soybean looper, weight gain was included for comparison. Infestations of sweetpotato weevil in storage roots reduced C. includens weight gain and M. persicae intrinsic rate of increase (rm), net reproductive rate (Ro), and finite rate of increase (λ) on aboveground portions of the plant. In probing behaviors related to nonpersistent virus spread (30 min trials), M. persicae probed less often, took longer to reach the first pd (potential drop), had shorter II-3 (intracellular subphase sap ingestion) durations, and had fewer archlets on plants infested with C. formicarius elegantulus. Total phloem duration did not differ between treatments, indicating that the lowered performance of M. persicae on infested plants was not due to discrepancies in probing duration. Results were less clear for A. gossypii. Thus, in sweetpotato, belowground herbivory can alter plant virus vector abundance and behavior. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these changes in behavior could improve plant virus vector integrated pest management.

Anatomical distribution and genetic relatedness of antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli from healthy companion animals.

AIMS: Escherichia coli have been targeted for studying antimicrobial resistance in companion animals because of opportunistic infections and as a surrogate for resistance patterns in zoonotic organisms. The aim of our study is to examine antimicrobial resistance in E. coli isolated from various anatomical sites on healthy dogs and cats and identify genetic relatedness. METHODS AND RESULTS: From May to August, 2007, healthy companion animals (155 dogs and 121 cats) from three veterinary clinics in the Athens, GA, USA, were sampled. Escherichia coli was isolated from swabs of nasal, oral, rectal, abdomen and hindquarter areas. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing against 16 antimicrobials was performed using broth microdilution with the Sensititre™ system. Clonal types were determined by a standardized pulsed-field gel electrophoresis protocol. Although rectal swabs yielded the most E. coli (165/317; 52%) from dogs and cats, the organism was distributed evenly among the other body sites sampled. Escherichia coli isolates from both dogs and cats exhibited resistance to all antimicrobials tested with the exception of amikacin, cephalothin and kanamycin. Resistance to ampicillin was the most prevalent resistance phenotype detected (dogs, 33/199; 17%; and cats, 27/118; 23%). Among the resistant isolates, 21 resistance patterns were observed, where 18 patterns represented multidrug resistance (MDR; resistance ≥ 2 antimicrobial classes). Also among the resistant isolates, 33 unique clonal types were detected, where each clonal type contained isolates from various sampling sites. Similar resistance phenotypes were exhibited among clonal types, and three clonal types were from both dogs and cats. CONCLUSIONS: Healthy companion animals can harbour antimicrobial-resistant E. coli on body sites that routinely come in contact with human handlers. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study is the first report that demonstrates a diverse antimicrobial-resistant E. coli population distributed over various sites of a companion animal's body, thereby suggesting potential transfer of resistant microflora to human hosts during contact.

Ultrafast optical multidimensional spectroscopy without interferometry.

We present here the details of a phase retrieval technique that provides access to multidimensional modalities that are not currently available using existing interferometric techniques. The development of multidimensional optical spectroscopy has facilitated significant insights into electronic processes in physics, chemistry, and biology. The versatility and number of available techniques are, however, significantly limited by the requirement that the detection be interferometric. Many of these techniques are closely related to the vast range of multidimensional NMR spectroscopies, which revolutionized analytical chemistry more than 30 years ago. We focus here on the specific case of two-color multidimensional spectroscopy (analogous to heteronuclear NMR) and discuss the details of an iterative algorithm that recovers the relative phase relationships required to perform the Fourier transformation and find the unique solution for the 2D spectrum. A detailed guide is provided that describes the practical implementation of such algorithms. The effectiveness and accuracy of the phase retrieval process are assessed for simulated one- and two-color experiments. It is also compared with one-color experimental data for which the target phase information has been obtained independently by interferometry. In all the cases, the present algorithm yields results that compare well with the solutions obtained by other means. There are, however, some limitations and potential pitfalls that are identified and discussed. We conclude with a discussion of the potential applications and further advances that may be possible by adopting iterative phase retrieval algorithms of the type discussed here.

Three-dimensional electronic spectroscopy of excitons in asymmetric double quantum wells.

We demonstrate three-dimensional (3D) electronic spectroscopy of excitons in a double quantum well system using a three-dimensional phase retrieval algorithm to obtain the phase information that is lost in the measurement of intensities. By extending the analysis of two-dimensional spectroscopy to three dimensions, contributions from different quantum mechanical pathways can be further separated allowing greater insight into the mechanisms responsible for the observed peaks. By examining different slices of the complete three-dimensional spectrum, not only can the relative amplitudes be determined, but the peak shapes can also be analysed to reveal further details of the interactions with the environment and inhomogeneous broadening. We apply this technique to study the coupling between two coupled quantum wells, 5.7 nm and 8 nm wide, separated by a 4 nm barrier. Coupling between the heavy-hole excitons of each well results in a circular cross-peak indicating no correlation of the inhomogeneous broadening. An additional cross-peak is isolated in the 3D spectrum which is elongated in the diagonal direction indicating correlated inhomogeneous broadening. This is attributed to coupling of the excitons involving the two delocalised light-hole states and the electron state localised on the wide well. The attribution of this peak and the analysis of the peak shapes is supported by numerical simulations of the electron and hole wavefunctions and the three-dimensional spectrum based on a density matrix approach. An additional benefit of extending the phase retrieval algorithm from two to three dimensions is that it becomes substantially more reliable and less susceptible to noise as a result of the more extensive use of a priori information.

Role of TNF-α polymorphism -308 in neurosensory irritation.

Neurosensory cutaneous discomfort in response to topical products is common, yet the relationship between symptoms such as stinging and visible irritation is currently unclear. The presence of a polymorphism at position -308 on the TNF-α gene has been associated with skin irritation, i.e., erythema, dryness. Individuals with a G to A transition (AA/GA genotypes) have a lower threshold to experimentally induced irritation than those with the wild type (G allele, GG genotype). We investigated the effect of this polymorphism on neurosensory irritation (NSI). DNA genotyping was used to determine the allele type amongst a population of health care workers. The neurosensory response to lactic acid and water on the nasolabial folds and hands was assessed using a quantitative lactic acid sting test. Both genotypes had a more intense response to lactic acid compared with water on the face. The AA/GA genotypes had directionally higher scores from lactic acid (P = 0.1) and significantly higher stinging intensities from water (P = 0.001) on the face. For the hands, stinging intensities were higher for lactic acid and water amongst the AA/GA genotypes (P = 0.03 and 0.006 respectively). NSI to lactic acid was significantly higher on the face than on the hands (P < 0.05). Our findings indicate that subjects with the A transition at position -308 on the TNF-α gene experience more intense NSI with common ingredients, i.e., lactic acid and water, than those with the wild type. TNF-α polymorphism -308 may account for some of the inter-individual variability in response to skin care practices.