New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM) had been reported to be the predominant carbapenemase among Escherichia coli in Taiwan. However, studies focusing on the clonal background and epidemiology of ...plasmids carrying NDM genes were limited. Between 2016 and 2018, all clinical E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates that were non-susceptible to ertapenem, meropenem, and imipenem were tested for carbapenemase-encoding genes (CEGs) and antimicrobial susceptibilities. Molecular typing was performed on all carbapenemase-producing isolates. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on all NDM-positive E. coli isolates. Twenty-three (29.5%) of 78 carbapenem non-susceptible E. coli and 108 (35.3%) of 306 carbapenem non-susceptible K. pneumoniae isolates carried CEGs. The most prevalent CEGs in carbapenemase-producing E. coli (CPEc) were bla
(39.1%) and bla
(30.4%), while that in carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae was Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) (72.2%). Fifteen sequence types were identified among 23 CPEc, and 55.6% of NDM-positive E. coli isolates belonged to ST410. WGS showed ST410 isolates were highly clonal and similar to those from other countries. All NDM-5-positive E. coli isolates carried identical IncX3 plasmid harboring bla
but no other antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes. In each of the four NDM-1-positive E. coli isolates, the bla
was present in a ∼ 300 kb IncHI2/IncHI2A plasmid which carried an array of AMR genes. NDMs are the most prevalent carbapenemase among CPEc in Taiwan. Awareness should be raised as the prevalence of NDM-positive E. coli might increase rapidly with IncX3 plasmid and globally distributed strain ST410 being the potential vectors for wide dissemination.
Abstract
The Leggett–Garg inequality attempts to classify experimental outcomes as arising from one of two possible classes of physical theories: those described by macrorealism (which obey our ...intuition about how the macroscopic classical world behaves) and those that are not (e.g., quantum theory). The development of cloud-based quantum computing devices enables us to explore the limits of macrorealism. In particular, here we take advantage of the properties of the programmable nature of the IBM quantum experience to observe the violation of the Leggett–Garg inequality (in the form of a ‘quantum witness’) as a function of the number of constituent systems (qubits), while simultaneously maximizing the ‘disconnectivity’, a potential measure of macroscopicity, between constituents. Our results show that two- and four-qubit ‘cat states’ (which have large disconnectivity) are seen to violate the inequality, and hence can be classified as non-macrorealistic. In contrast, a six-qubit cat state does not violate the ‘quantum witness’ beyond a so-called clumsy invasive-measurement bound, and thus is compatible with ‘clumsy macrorealism’. As a comparison, we also consider un-entangled product states with
n
= 2, 3, 4 and 6 qubits, in which the disconnectivity is low.
Shrimp white spot disease (WSD), which is caused by white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), is one of the world's most serious shrimp diseases. Our objective in this study was to use an immunomagnetic ...reduction (IMR) assay to develop a highly sensitive, automatic WSSV detection platform targeted against ICP11 (the most highly expressed WSSV protein). After characterizing the magnetic reagents (Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles coated with anti ICP11), the detection limit for ICP11 protein using IMR was approximately 2 x 10(-3) ng/ml, and the linear dynamic range of the assay was 0.1~1 x 10(6) ng/ml. In assays of ICP11 protein in pleopod protein lysates from healthy and WSSV-infected shrimp, IMR signals were successfully detected from shrimp with low WSSV genome copy numbers. We concluded that this IMR assay targeting ICP11 has potential for detecting the WSSV.
Abstract
Given the rising prevalence of patients with diabetes and increasing treatment burden for patients with vision-threatening diabetic macular edema (DME), we aimed to explore the efficacy of ...modified early intensive and treat-and-extend regimen of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy under the Taiwan National Insurance Bureau reimbursement policy. We obtained data on 69 eyes treated with initial 4-monthly intravitreal injections of aflibercept or ranibizumab, plus individualized treat-and-extend regimen. At 12 months, the mean (SD) change in LogMAR best corrected visual acuity from baseline was − 0.28 (0.31) in all eyes, while that in the aflibercept and ranibizumab groups were − 0.30 (0.34) and − 0.25 (0.28), respectively. Central retinal thickness decreased by 137.2 (122.4) in all eyes, 138.1 (134.2) in the aflibercept group, and 136.2 (110.9) in the ranibizumab group. Additionally, the aflibercept group had a lower mean number of injections than the ranibizumab group (8.5 vs. 8.7). The last extended dosing interval of > 12 weeks was 31.0% and 16.7% of the eyes in the aflibercept and ranibizumab groups, respectively. The modified anti-VEGF regimens effectively managed DME in terms of functional and anatomical outcomes, and efficiently reduced the healthcare burden by reducing the number of injections and extending treatment intervals within 12 months.
1-Isothiocyanato-6-(methylsulfinyl)-hexanate (6-MITC) is a natural compound found in
. The synthetic derivatives 1-Isothiocyanato-6-(methylsulfenyl)-hexane (I7447) and ...1-Isothiocyanato-6-(methylsulfonyl)-hexane (I7557) were obtained from 6-MITC by deleting and adding an oxygen atom to the sulfone group, respectively. We previously demonstrated that extensive mitotic arrest, spindle multipolarity, and cytoplasmic vacuole accumulation were induced by 6-MITC and inhibited the viability of human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cells. In this study, we examined the anti-cancer effects of 6-MITC derivatives on human chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cells. Autophagy was identified as the formation of autophagosomes with double-layered membranes using transmission electron microscopy. Cell cycle and differentiation were analyzed using flow cytometry. Apoptosis was detected by annexin V staining. After treatment with I7447 and I7557, the G2/M phase of cell cycle arrest was revealed. Cell death can be induced by a distinct mechanism (the simultaneous occurrence of autophagy and aberrant mitosis). The expression levels of acridine orange were significantly affected by lysosomal inhibitors. The natural wasabi component, 6-MITC, and its synthetic derivatives have similar effects on human chronic myelogenous leukemia cells and may be developed as novel therapeutic agents against leukemia.
In this Letter, a recorded single channel of 6.915-Gbit/s white-light visible light communication (VLC) system is reported and experimentally demonstrated. By optimising the bit-loading algorithm ...onto the direct-current optical OFDM signal and without using an optical blue filter, the high data rate can be achieved. After a free-space propagation distance of 1.5 m, the white-light beam diameter of 14 cm and illuminance of 795 lux are measured. The proposed white-light VLC system can provide both lighting and communication simultaneously with functional propagation distance.
As switching from GAAP to IFRS causes changes to accounting quality, predictability, and crash risk, this paper empirically investigates whether firms involved in corporate social responsibility ...(CSR) performed better under IFRS adoption. Our sample is broken down into three sub-periods (2002–2005, 2010–2012, and 2013–2015) to meet the EU mandate IFRS in 2005 and Taiwan in 2013, respectively. We find mandatory IFRS adoption results in reducing earnings management, improving in forecast accuracy leading to enhanced earnings predictive ability, and mitigating crash risk. Furthermore, CSR firms behave responsibly in constraining earnings management and increasing financial reporting transparency through interaction with IFRS. Following IFRS adoption, crash risk is significantly improved in Over-The-Counter (OTC) companies and the enhanced transparency attracts increased foreign investment to the OTC market. Finally, the results on IFRS and CSR interaction provide reference for global capital markets, especially for major capital markets without mandatory IFRS adoption, e.g., the US and Japan.
This study aimed to evaluate the systemic impact of periodontitis, previously considered a local disease, on cancer occurrence. We enrolled 683,854 participants, comparing cancer incidence among ...those with and without periodontitis and assessing the impact of periodontal treatment on cancer risk. Regardless of gender, age, Charlson comorbidity index, or the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, periodontitis patients had a lower overall cancer risk than controls. However, men with periodontitis had a higher risk of prostate cancer (adjusted hazard ratio aHR = 1.22; 95% confidence interval CI = 1.10-1.35), and both men and women had a higher risk of thyroid cancer (women: aHR = 1.20, 95%CI = 1.04-1.38; men: aHR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.15-1.99). Patients with periodontitis who received treatment showed a reduced cancer risk (aHR = 0.41; 95% CI = 0.38-0.44) compared to untreated patients. Proper treatment for periodontitis may lower an individual's cancer risk more than if they did not have the disease at all, suggesting that periodontitis is a modifiable risk factor for cancer.
Thallium (Tl) is a rare trace metal element but increasingly detected in wastewater produced by coal-burning, smelting, and more recently, high-tech manufacturing industries. However, the adverse ...effects of Tl, especially cardiotoxicity, on aquatic biota remain unclear. In this study, zebrafish model was used to elucidate the effects and mechanisms of Tl(I) cardiotoxicity in developing embryos. Exposure of embryonic zebrafish to low-dose Tl(I) (25–100 μg/L) decreased heart rate and blood flow activity, and subsequently impaired swim bladder inflation and locomotive behavior of larvae. Following high-level Tl(I) administration (200–800 μg/L), embryonic zebrafish exhibited pericardial edema, incorrect heart looping, and thinner myocardial layer. Based on RNA-sequencing, Tl(I) altered pathways responsible for protein folding and transmembrane transport, as well as negative regulation of heart rate and cardiac jelly development. The gene expression of nppa, nppb, ucp1, and ucp3, biomarkers of cardiac damage, were significantly upregulated by Tl(I). Our findings demonstrate that Tl(I) at environmentally relevant concentrations interfered with cardiac development with respect to anatomy, function, and transcriptomic alterations. The cardiotoxic mechanisms of Tl(I) provide valuable information in the assessment of Tl-related ecological risk in freshwater environment.
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•Tl(I) at low dose interferes swim bladder development and locomotion behavior of larvae.•Tl(I) causes heart morphological defects and cardiovascular malfunction in embryos and larvae.•RNA-seq profile reveals pathways regarding stress response and aberrant cardiac function.•Tl(I) exposure increases expression of genes related to cardiac pathology and metal stress in embryos.
With the rapid development of the electronic medical information systems and Internet technology, the frequency of electronic medical records (EMRs) and electronic patient information (EPIs) ...transmitted over the Internet and shared among authorized medical parties is gradually increased. Reversible data hiding in medical images is an efficient technique to embed an EPI or EMR into a medical image, such as X-ray, MRI etc. In this paper, a reversible data hiding scheme by using enhanced neighbor mean interpolation (ENMI) technology is proposed to expand each <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">2 \times 2 </tex-math></inline-formula> block in the original image to a <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">3\times 3 </tex-math></inline-formula> block. The four original pixels remaining at the four corners in each expanded block. Five derived pixels by using the ENMI interpolation algorithm are used to carry 4-bits secret data and a 1-bit authentication code with our proposed efficient data hiding strategy. Experimental results confirm that the detection performance and the robustness of the hidden data with our proposed scheme are significantly higher than that of the Geeth & Geeth scheme and other six representative schemes.
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