Draft Genome Sequence of an International Clonal Lineage 1 Acinetobacter baumannii Strain from Argentina

In the last few years Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged worldwide as an important nosocomial pathogen in medical institutions. Here, we present the draft genome sequence of the international clonal lineage 1 (ICL1) A. baumannii strain A144 that was isolated in a hospital in Buenos Aires City in the year 1997. The strain is susceptible to carbapenems and resistant to trimethoprim and gentamicin.Fil: Vilacoba, Elisabet. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; ArgentinaFil: Déraspe, Maxime. Laval University; CanadáFil: Traglia, German Matias. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; ArgentinaFil: Roy, Paul H.. Laval University; CanadáFil: Ramirez, Maria Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; Argentina. California State University; Estados UnidosFil: Centron, Daniela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; Argentin

Bacteremia caused by an Acinetobacter junii strain harboring class 1 integron and diverse DNA mobile elements

INTRODUCTION: Infections caused by Acinetobacter junii are rarely reported. However, some outbreaks of septicemia in neonates and pediatric oncology patients, as well as meningitis, peritonitis, and ocular infection have been described. Since it is highly infrequent to find the molecular characterization of A. junii strains in literature, in this study we described the molecular characterization of A. junii isolates recovered from blood samples of a renal transplant patient. METHODOLOGY: The case was defined as a catheter-related bacteremia caused by A. junii. The patient responded favorably after catheter removal and treatment with ciprofloxacin. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The complete molecular characterization of the isolate showed that it harbored a class 1 integron and diverse DNA mobile elements. This explains its genomic plasticity for acquiring antimicrobial resistance determinants and for adapting to a nosocomial niche.Fil: Traglia, German Matias. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; ArgentinaFil: Almuzara, Marisa. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital Interzonal de Agudos ; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Vilacoba, Elisabet. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; ArgentinaFil: Tuduri, Alicia. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital Interzonal de Agudos ; ArgentinaFil: Neumann, Gabriela. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital Interzonal de Agudos ; ArgentinaFil: Pallone, Elida Carmen. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital Interzonal de Agudos ; ArgentinaFil: Centron, Daniela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; ArgentinaFil: Ramirez, Maria Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; Argentin

Sistemas de Garantía participativo en Bogotá

In Colombia, there are several organizations developing agro-ecological processes within the framework of territorial ownership, food sovereignty, fair trade and environmental and cultural heritage conservation. The goal of these rural, indigenous and urban farmers' organizations is to provide good quality food, as well as other products, both for local consumption and for consumption in urban centers. The text it's a quick view of the status of the PGS in colombia

CAMBIOS EN LA PRESIÓN ARTERIAL MEDIA Y FRECUENCIA CARDIACA POSTERIORES A LA ADMINISTRACIÓN DE LIDOCAÍNA VERSUS SULFATO DE MAGNESIO EN LA INTUBACIÓN OROTRAQUEAL EN EL CENTRO MÉDICO ISSEMYM ECATEPEC

RESUMEN Introducción: Uno de los momentos críticos en la anestesia es sin duda durante la realización de la laringoscopia e intubación orotraqueal, ya que constituyen el punto de mayor descontrol en la liberación de catecolaminas y de respuesta adrenérgica; estos cambios son traducidos en hipertensión arterial, taquicardia y arritmias ventriculares; se ha demostrado un aumento hasta del 40 al 50% en la tensión arterial (TA) y del 20% o más en la frecuencia cardiaca (FC); pueden producir eventos isquémicos cerebrovasculares y de falla cardiaca. Los pacientes que presenten factores de riesgo adicionales como la disminución de la reserva fisiológica, alteraciones en la función autonómica y un mayor índice de enfermedades cardiovasculares coexistentes incrementan la morbilidad cardiovascular durante la inducción de la anestesia y la laringoscopia. Diferentes medicamentos como la lidocaína, los beta bloqueadores como el esmolol, los antagonistas NMDA (ketamina, sulfato de magnesio) y los opioides se han utilizado para disminuir la descarga adrenérgica al estímulo nociceptivo. El sulfato de magnesio es un fármaco de creciente interés en anestesiología ya que su acción en los receptores NMDA (N-metil-D-aspartato) son de interés para analgesia previa a la realización de la laringoscopia así mismo la lidocaína un anestésico local el cual tiene un efecto benéfico en los cambios hemodinámicos posteriores a la laringoscopia. Material y métodos: Se realizó ensayo clínico controlado comparativo, longitudinal donde se evaluó a 41 pacientes ASAI y ASAII del Hospital Centro Medico ISSEMYM de Ecatepec que fueron sometidos a laringoscopia y orointubación orotraqueal. Divididos en dos grupos; en el grupo (s) se administró sulfato de magnesio a razón de 30mg/kg y El grupo (L) pacientes a quienes se les administro lidocaína a razón de 1 mg/kg de peso, ambos fármacos administrados previos a la inducción anestésica para disminuir la respuesta en la presión arterial media y frecuencia cardiaca posteriores a la laringoscopia e intubación orotraqueal. Resultados: Los cambios mostrados en la Presión Arterial Media en el grupo sulfato de magnesio durante la inducción y un minuto posterior a la intubación fueron menores que los observados en el grupo de Lidocaína .La Frecuencia cardiaca en el grupo sulfato de magnesio mostró un mayor incremento durante la laringoscopia que la encontrada en el grupo lidocaína. Conclusión: El sulfato de magnesio mostró una estabilidad mayor al momento de la inducción y de la intubación, con menos variaciones en la Presión Arterial Media. Sin embargo, presenta un cambio mayor en la FC al momento de la intubación con respecto a la lidocaína tanto para pacientes ASAI y ASAI

Deep-water chemosynthetic ecosystem research during the Census of Marine Life Decade and Beyond: A Proposed Deep-Ocean Road Map

The ChEss project of the Census of Marine Life (2002–2010) helped foster internationally-coordinated studies worldwide focusing on exploration for, and characterization of new deep-sea chemosynthetic ecosystem sites. This work has advanced our understanding of the nature and factors controlling the biogeography and biodiversity of these ecosystems in four geographic locations: the Atlantic Equatorial Belt (AEB), the New Zealand region, the Arctic and Antarctic and the SE Pacific off Chile. In the AEB, major discoveries include hydrothermal seeps on the Costa Rica margin, deepest vents found on the Mid-Cayman Rise and the hottest vents found on the Southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge. It was also shown that the major fracture zones on the MAR do not create barriers for the dispersal but may act as trans-Atlantic conduits for larvae. In New Zealand, investigations of a newly found large cold-seep area suggest that this region may be a new biogeographic province. In the Arctic, the newly discovered sites on the Mohns Ridge (71°N) showed extensive mats of sulfur-oxidisng bacteria, but only one gastropod potentially bears chemosynthetic symbionts, while cold seeps on the Haakon Mossby Mud Volcano (72°N) are dominated by siboglinid worms. In the Antarctic region, the first hydrothermal vents south of the Polar Front were located and biological results indicate that they may represent a new biogeographic province. The recent exploration of the South Pacific region has provided evidence for a sediment hosted hydrothermal source near a methane-rich cold-seep area. Based on our 8 years of investigations of deep-water chemosynthetic ecosystems worldwide, we suggest highest priorities for future research: (i) continued exploration of the deep-ocean ridge-crest; (ii) increased focus on anthropogenic impacts; (iii) concerted effort to coordinate a major investigation of the deep South Pacific Ocean – the largest contiguous habitat for life within Earth's biosphere, but also the world's least investigated deep-ocean basin

Interspecies DNA acquisition by a naturally competent Acinetobacter baumannii strain

The human pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii possesses high genetic plasticity and frequently acquires antimicrobial resistance genes. Here we investigated the role of natural transformation in these processes. Genomic DNA from different sources, including from carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains, was mixed with A. baumannii A118 cells. Selected transformants were analysed by whole-genome sequencing. In addition, bioinformatics analyses and in silico gene flow prediction were also performed to support the experimental results. Transformant strains included some that became resistant to carbapenems or changed their antimicrobial susceptibility profile. Foreign DNA acquisition was confirmed by whole-genome analysis. The acquired DNA most frequently identified corresponded to mobile genetic elements, antimicrobial resistance genes and operons involved in metabolism. Bioinformatics analyses and in silico gene flow prediction showed continued exchange of genetic material between A. baumannii and K. pneumoniae when they share the same habitat. Natural transformation plays an important role in the plasticity of A. baumannii and concomitantly in the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains.Fil: Traglia, German Matias. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Place, Kori. California State University; Estados UnidosFil: Dotto, Cristian Marcelo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; ArgentinaFil: Fernandez, Jennifer. California State University; Estados UnidosFil: Montaña, Sabrina Daiana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; ArgentinaFil: Bahiense, Camila dos Santos. California State University; Estados UnidosFil: Soler Bistue, Alfonso J. C.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Iriarte, Andres. Universidad de la Republica. Facultad de Medicina; UruguayFil: Perez, Federico. Louis Stokes Cleveland Department Of Veterans Affairs; Estados UnidosFil: Tolmasky, Marcelo E.. California State University; Estados UnidosFil: Bonomo, Robert A.. Louis Stokes Cleveland Department Of Veterans Affairs; Estados UnidosFil: Melano, Roberto Gustavo. Public Health Ontario Laboratories; CanadáFil: Ramirez, Maria Soledad. California State University; Estados Unido

Emergence and Spread of Plasmid-Borne tet(B)::ISCR2 in Minocycline-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Isolates

Resistance to minocycline has emerged in multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates from Buenos Aires Hospitals. Few reports about the description and dispersion of tet genes were published in this species. We observed the presence of tet(B) in all minocycline resistant isolates. This gene was found associated to the ISCR2 mobile element, which could in part explain its dispersion.Fil: Vilacoba, Elisabet. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Microbiología. Cátedra de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Almuzara, Marisa. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital Interzonal de Agudos;Fil: Gulone, Lucía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Biotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Traglia, German Matias. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; ArgentinaFil: Figueroa, Silvia A.. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital Interzonal de Agudos;Fil: Sly, Gabriela Edith. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital Interzonal de Agudos;Fil: Fernandez, Analia. Universidad de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Universidad Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Centron, Daniela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; ArgentinaFil: Ramirez, Maria Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; Argentin

Use and management of information resources: a reality?

pp. 131-13

Pure Random Orthogonal Search (PROS): A Plain and Elegant Parameterless Algorithm for Global Optimization

A new, fast, elegant, and simple stochastic optimization search method is proposed, which exhibits surprisingly good performance and robustness considering its simplicity. We name the algorithm pure random orthogonal search (PROS). The method does not use any assumptions, does not have any parameters to adjust, and uses basic calculations to evolve a single candidate solution. The idea is that a single decision variable is randomly changed at every iteration and the candidate solution is updated only when an improvement is observed; therefore, moving orthogonally towards the optimal solution. Due to its simplicity, PROS can be easily implemented with basic programming skills and any non-expert in optimization can use it to solve problems and start exploring the fascinating optimization world. In the present work, PROS is explained in detail and is used to optimize 12 multi-dimensional test functions with various levels of complexity. The performance is compared with the pure random search strategy and other three well-established algorithms: genetic algorithms (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and differential evolution (DE). The results indicate that, despite its simplicity, the proposed PROS method exhibits very good performance with fast convergence rates and quick execution time. The method can serve as a simple alternative to established and more complex optimizers. Additionally, it could also be used as a benchmark for other metaheuristic optimization algorithms as one of the simplest, yet powerful, optimizers. The algorithm is provided with its full source code in MATLAB for anybody interested to use, test or explore.The APC was funded by Oslo Metropolitan University.publishedVersio

Design of Reinforced Concrete Isolated Footings Under Axial Loading with Artificial Neural Networks

In engineering practice, the design of structural elements is a repetitive task that has proven to be difficult to fully automate. This is mainly because of the complex relations of the design variables and the multiple strength and other requirements that must be fulfilled based on code provisions to ensure safety and endurance, usually under extreme loading conditions or harsh environments. An optimal design can be defined as a set of values for the design variables that correspond to the optimal performance of the structural element in terms of a given criterion, usually related to the minimization of cost, while also satisfying all constraints related to strength, serviceability, functionality and safety. Such a design problem can be formally written as a function that maps a structural element, under given loading conditions, into a unique optimal design. In recent years, Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) have been adopted as a powerful strategy to solve complicated regression and classification problems where the underlying mapping function is generally unknown and difficult to formulate analytically. The ANN learns patterns contained in large databases through an automated process called training and uses that information to make highly accurate predictions. In the present study, a methodology that uses ANNs for the optimal design of structural elements is developed and applied to the design of reinforced concrete (RC) isolated footings under axial loading. First, a Genetic Algorithm is employed for the generation of the training dataset for the ANN, which includes RC footing designs that are optimized in terms of the material cost. Then, the ANN is trained and finally asked to produce new optimal designs for new sets of input parameters. Parametric tests are performed to determine the required size of the dataset and the most suitable network architecture. The results show that the accuracy of the prediction is very good, especially when larger datasets are used. It is shown that training an ANN to design structural elements is a viable option that gives acceptable solutions quickly, requiring extremely low computational cost. Furthermore, it is highlighted that good results can be obtained using a simple ANN architecture and a relatively small training dataset.publishedVersio