The role of the plasmid-mediated fluoroquinolone resistance genes as resistance mechanisms in pediatric infections due to Enterobacterales.

Introduction: Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are not commonly prescribed in children, yet the increasing incidence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Enterobacterales (Ent) infections in this population often reveals FQ resistance. We sought to define the role of FQ resistance in the epidemiology of MDR Ent in children, with an overall goal to devise treatment and prevention strategies.

Methods: A case-control study of children (0-18 years) at three Chicago hospitals was performed.

Room to improve: The diagnostic journey of Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

Aims: To highlight the current diagnostic pathway for children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in Ireland. We look to identify points along the diagnostic pathway that may impede a timely diagnosis, and argue that newborn screening for SMA is the single best measure to remediate these delays.

Methods: Through retrospective chart review and an online questionnaire, we gathered SMA patient data outlining clinical characteristics and the route to diagnosis of the SMA cohort attending the National SMA Treatment centre at Children's Health Ireland.

NASA GEOS Composition Forecast Modeling System GEOS-CF v1.0: Stratospheric Composition.

The NASA Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) Composition Forecast (GEOS-CF) provides recent estimates and 5-day forecasts of atmospheric composition to the public in near-real time. To do this, the GEOS Earth system model is coupled with the GEOS-Chem tropospheric-stratospheric unified chemistry extension (UCX) to represent composition from the surface to the top of the GEOS atmosphere (0.01 hPa).

Feasibility and acceptance of a cloud-based mobile app for antimicrobial stewardship and infection control in Colombian hospitals.

Infection control and antimicrobial stewardship programs (ICASPs) are essential to reduce the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. The primary objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of extending a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software for ICASPs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This project involved three hospitals in Colombia, including Centro Médico Imbanaco, Clínica San Francisco, and DIME Clínica Neurocardiovascular.

GEOS-S2S Version 2: The GMAO High Resolution Coupled Model and Assimilation System for Seasonal Prediction.

The Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) has recently released a new version of the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) Sub-seasonal to Seasonal prediction (S2S) system, GEOS-S2S-2, that represents a substantial improvement in performance and infrastructure over the previous system. The system is described here in detail, and results are presented from forecasts, climate equillibrium simulations and data assimilation experiments. The climate or equillibrium state of the atmosphere and ocean showed a substantial reduction in bias relative to GEOS-S2S-1.

Recent decline in extratropical lower stratospheric ozone attributed to circulation changes.

1998-2016 ozone trends in the lower stratosphere (LS) are examined using the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications Version 2 (MERRA-2) and related NASA products. After removing biases resulting from step-changes in the MERRA-2 ozone observations, a discernible negative trend of -1.67±0.

An evaluation of gravity waves and gravity wave sources in the Southern Hemisphere in a 7 km global climate simulation.

In this study, gravity waves (GWs) in the high-resolution GEOS-5 Nature Run are first evaluated with respect to satellite and other model results. Southern Hemisphere winter sources of non-orographic GWs in the model are then investigated by linking measures of tropospheric non-orographic gravity wave generation tied to precipitation and frontogenesis with absolute gravity wave momentum flux in the lower stratosphere. Finally, non-orographic GW momentum flux is compared to orographic gravity wave momentum flux and compared to previous estimates.

Dynamics of the Disrupted 2015-16 Quasi-Biennial Oscillation.

A significant disruption of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) occurred during the Northern Hemisphere (NH) winter of 2015-16. Since the QBO is the major wind variability source in the tropical lower stratosphere and influences the rate of ascent of air entering the stratosphere, understanding the cause of this singular disruption may provide new insights into the variability and sensitivity of the global climate system. Here we examine this disruptive event using global reanalysis winds and temperatures from 1980-2016.

Transgender and Gender Nonconforming in Emergency Departments: A Qualitative Report of Patient Experiences.

Individuals who have a transgender or gender nonconforming (TGGNC) experience belong to a marginalized segment of the U.S. population, and healthcare can be difficult for them to navigate.

Gravity Wave Spectra in the Lower Stratosphere Diagnosed from Project Loon Balloon Trajectories.

Project Loon has been launching super-pressure balloons since January 2013 to provide worldwide Internet coverage. These balloons typically fly between 18-21 km and provide measurements of winds and pressure fluctuations in the lower stratosphere. We divide 1,560 Loon flights into 3,405 two-day segments for gravity wave analysis.

The Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA-2).

The Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA-2) is the latest atmospheric reanalysis of the modern satellite era produced by NASA's Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO). MERRA-2 assimilates observation types not available to its predecessor, MERRA, and includes updates to the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) model and analysis scheme so as to provide a viable ongoing climate analysis beyond MERRA's terminus. While addressing known limitations of MERRA, MERRA-2 is also intended to be a development milestone for a future integrated Earth system analysis (IESA) currently under development at GMAO.

Robust tribo-mechanical and hot corrosion resistance of ultra-refractory Ta-Hf-C ternary alloy films.

In this work we report the hot corrosion properties of binary and ternary films of the Ta-Hf-C system in VO-NaSO (50%wt.-50%wt.) molten salts at 700 °C deposited on AISI D3 steel substrates.

Structure and Dynamics of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation in MERRA-2.

The structure, dynamics, and ozone signal of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation produced by the 35-year NASA MERRA-2 (Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications) reanalysis are examined based on monthly mean output. Along with the analysis of the QBO in assimilation winds and ozone, the QBO forcings created by assimilated observations, dynamics, parameterized gravity wave drag, and ozone chemistry parameterization are examined and compared with the original MERRA system. Results show that the MERRA-2 reanalysis produces a realistic QBO in the zonal winds, mean meridional circulation, and ozone over the 1980-2015 time period.

Louisiana and Mississippi Family Physicians' Contraception Counseling for Adolescents with a Focus on Intrauterine Contraception.

Study Objective: The adolescent pregnancy rate in Louisiana (LA) and Mississippi (MS) is one of the highest in the United States. One approach to decrease that rate is to increase contraceptive use. We sought to characterize LA and MS family physicians' (FPs) contraception counseling for adolescents with a focus on the intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD).

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy of Polydopamine Radicals.

A thorough investigation of biomimetic polydopamine (PDA) by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) is shown. In addition, temperature dependent spectroscopic EPR data are presented in the range 3.8-300 K.

Nb-C nanocomposite films with enhanced biocompatibility and mechanical properties for hard-tissue implant applications.

One of the key challenges in engineering of orthopedic implants is to "bioactivate" their surface by using different surface techniques and materials. Carbon, especially amorphous (a-C) and diamond-like carbon down (DLC) films have attracted much attention in biomedical fields due to their biocompatibility and low coefficient of friction. However, they are unsuitable for uses as a "bioactivity enhancer" of orthopedic implants due to their bioinertness.

Extracellular pH defense against lactic acid in untrained and trained altitude residents.

The assumption that buffering at altitude is deteriorated by bicarbonate (bi) reduction was investigated. Extracellular pH defense against lactic acidosis was estimated from changes (Delta) in lactic acid ([La]), [HCO3-], pH and PCO2 in plasma, which equilibrates with interstitial fluid. These quantities were measured in earlobe blood during and after incremental bicycle exercise in 10 untrained (UT) and 11 endurance-trained (TR) highlanders (2,600 m).

Hemoglobin mass and peak oxygen uptake in untrained and trained female altitude residents.

Total hemoglobin mass has not been systematically investigated in females at altitude. We measured this quantity (CO-rebreathing method) as well as peak oxygen uptake in 54 young women (age 22.5 +/- 0.

Hemoglobin mass and peak oxygen uptake in untrained and trained residents of moderate altitude.

Blood composition, hemoglobin mass (CO rebreathing method) and VO2peak were measured in 15 untrained (UT-Bogotá) and 14 trained males (TR-Bogotá) living at 2600 m of altitude, and in 14 untrained lowlanders (UT-Berlin). [Hb] amounted to 15.3 + 0.

Prouroguanylin overproduction and localization in the intestine of zinc-deficient rats.

Identification of the upregulation of preprouroguanylin mRNA in the rat small intestine during zinc deficiency provides a potential mechanistic link between production of the intestinal hormone uroguanylin and the diarrhea that may accompany zinc deficiency. In the current study, in situ hybridization demonstrated that the number of preprouroguanylin mRNA-expressing cells was significantly higher in zinc-deficient rats than in zinc-adequate rats. Immunohistochemical studies, with a uroguanylin peptide affinity-purified antibody, demonstrated that immunoreactivity was localized to the tips of villi of the duodenum and jejunum in zinc-adequate rats.

[Spirometric parameters of the working population of young non-smoking males of the Murcia area].

A prospective study on dynamic spirometric parameters on 195 healthy non-smoking men-workers, representing the non-smoking labor population from 16 to 40 years of age, in the Murcia Region (Spain), has been carried out. Men were selected upon two criteria: age and height. Lower normality limits, have been estimated with 95% reliability by developing regression equations for the following spirometric parameters: forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume (timed and relative), peak flow and forced mid-expiratory flow.