Bovine mastitis caused by rapid-growth environmental mycobacteria

Rapid-growth mycobacteria were isolated from two cases of cow mastitis with similar clinical appearance and within a narrow time frame. Mycobacteria were isolated on blood esculine agar. The isolated mycobacteria were Gram stained, Ziehl-Nielsen stained and tested for growth at 25°C, 37°C and 42°C, iron uptake, growth on Löwenstein-Jensen (LJ) agar with and without 5% NaCl, arylsulphatase (3 days), tween 80 hydrolysis, tellurite reduction, nitrate reductase and niacin synthesis. Molecular identification was performed using the Mycobacteria GenoType CM and AS tests (Hain Diagnostika, Nehren, Germany). One isolate was additionally sequenced for the hsp65, rpoB, 16S rRNA gene sequence and transcribed spacer sequence (ITS) DNA. Susceptibility testing of isolates was performed on the Sensititre Rapmycol plate (TREK Diagnostic Systems Ltd.) for trimethoprim/sulfamethoxasole, linezolid, ciprofloxacin, imipenem, moxifloxacin, cefepime, cefoxitin, amoxicillin / clavulanic acid, amikacin, ceftriaxone, doxycycline, minocycline, tigecycline, tobramycine and clarythromycine. Gram-positive acid-resistant rods were observed in stained smears. Both strains grew at 25°C, 37°C and 42°C on LJ medium, and on LJ medium containing 5 % NaCl. The conventional biochemical tests for iron uptake, arylsulphatase (3 days), Tween 80 hydrolysis, tellurite reduction and nitrate reductase were positive, while the niacin test was negative. Both isolates were identified by the GenoType Mycobacterium CM as Mycobacterium fortuitum II/ Mycobacterium mageritense, while application of the GenoType Mycobacterium AS kit identified both isolates as belonging to the species Mycobacterium smegmatis. Analysis of the isolate sequences (strain DS) for 16S ribosomal RNA confirmed a 100% identical result with Mycobacterium smegmatis strain INHR2. According to the CLSI criteria, both strains were sensitive to sulfametoxazole/trimethoprim, linezolid, doxicycline, amikacin and tobramycin. The strains differed in their sensitivity to cefoxitim, and both strains were resistant to clarithromycin. There was a strong difference between the isolates in sensitivity toward cefoxitime and tigecycline.

Current-Component Independent Transition Form Factors for Semileptonic and Rare D ⟶ π K Decays in the Light-Front Quark Model

We investigate the exclusive semileptonic and rare D ⟶ π K decays within the standard model together with the light-front quark model (LFQM) constrained by the variational principle for the QCD-motivated effective Hamiltonian. The form factors are obtained in the q + = 0 frame and then analytically continue to the physical timelike region. Together with our recent analysis of the current-component independent form factors f ± q 2 for the semileptonic decays, we present the current-component independent tensor form factor f T q 2 for the rare decays to make the complete set of hadronic matrix elements regulating the semileptonic and rare D ⟶ π K decays in our LFQM. The tensor form factor f T q 2 are obtained from two independent sets J T + ⊥ , J T + − of the tensor current J T u v . As in our recent analysis of f − q 2 , we show that f T q 2 obtained from the two different sets of the current components gives the identical result in the valence region of the q + = 0 frame without involving the explicit zero modes and the instantaneous contributions. The implications of the zero modes and the instantaneous contributions are also discussed in comparison between the manifestly covariant model and the standard LFQM. In our numerical calculations, we obtain the q 2 -dependent form factors ( f ± , f T ) for D ⟶ π K and branching ratios for the semileptonic D ⟶ π K ℓ v ℓ ℓ = e , μ decays. Our results show in good agreement with the available experimental data as well as other theoretical model predictions.

Criteria ruling particle agglomeration

Most of the technically important properties of nanomaterials, such as superparamagnetism or luminescence, depend on the particle size. During synthesis and handling of nanoparticles, agglomeration may occur. Agglomeration of nanoparticles may be controlled by different mechanisms. During synthesis one observes agglomeration controlled by the geometry and electrical charges of the particles. Additionally, one may find agglomeration controlled by thermodynamic interaction of the particles in the direction of a minimum of the free enthalpy. In this context, one may observe mechanisms leading to a reduction of the surface energy or controlled by the van der Waals interaction. Additionally, the ensemble may arrange in the direction of a maximum of the entropy. Simulations based on Monte Carlo methods teach that, in case of any energetic interaction of the particles, the influence of the entropy is minor or even negligible. Complementary to the simulations, the extremum of the entropy was determined using the Lagrange method. Both approaches yielded identical result for the particle size distribution of an agglomerated ensemble, that is, an exponential function characterized by two parameters. In this context, it is important to realize that one has to take care of fluctuations of the entropy.

Does GPLv2 Include an ‘Installation Information’ Obligation? A Textual & Historical Analysis

One of the features included in version 3 of the GNU General Public License (GPLv3) was a requirement, in certain circumstances, to provide ‘Installation Information.’ This was a new addition to the licence to address a ‘loophole’ that existed in version 2 of the licence (GPLv2); a loophole that was perceived as being exploited, at the time, by certain device vendors. Recently, it has been asserted that this requirement was inherent, or explicitly called for, in GPLv2. This paper examines the historical record around the time that the ‘Installation Information’ requirement was proposed, and eventually ratified, in GPLv3, to show that this requirement was understood to be both new, and not a part of GPLv2. A textual analysis of GPLv2 yields an identical result.

Does GPLv2 Include an ‘Installation Information’ Obligation? A Textual & Historical Analysis

One of the features included in version 3 of the GNU General Public License (GPLv3) was a requirement, in certain circumstances, to provide ‘Installation Information.’ This was a new addition to the licence to address a ‘loophole’ that existed in version 2 of the licence (GPLv2); a loophole that was perceived as being exploited, at the time, by certain device vendors. Recently, it has been asserted that this requirement was inherent, or explicitly called for, in GPLv2. This paper examines the historical record around the time that the ‘Installation Information’ requirement was proposed, and eventually ratified, in GPLv3, to show that this requirement was understood to be both new, and not a part of GPLv2. A textual analysis of GPLv2 yields an identical result.

Use of water indices in the determination of thermokarst lakes according to remote sensing data

The results of application of six spectral indices (AWEI, MNDWI, NDVI, NDWI, TCW, WRI) for the isolation of thermokarst lakes in tundra landscapes of northern Yakutia are presented. To assess the accuracy of decryption of lakes, an average quadratic error (MSE) was calculated. The minimum MSE value is 0.11 km2 and corresponds to the NDWI index. An almost identical result (0.12 km2) is found in the WRI index, slightly worse (0.15 km2) one — in the NDVI index. An MNDWI index has the highest mean square error (7.02 km2). Visual analysis also showed better decryption of water bodies using the NDWI, WRI and NDVI indices, which allows the use of these indices for automatical isolatation water bodies.

Some features of an interaction of electromagnetic radiation quantums with a gravitational field and a problem of graviton

The problems connected to propagation of a gravitational field are considered. The law of electromagnetic radiation frequency change in gravitational field is shown. The problem of a gravitational field quantization is investigated. Energy of a graviton is found by two ways. First, on the basis of use quantum gravitational eikonal and Lagrangian of a gravitational field the energy of a solitary graviton is found. It is shown that graviton has the mass proportional to its frequency. Second, due to refusal from symmetric stresses tensor in structure of an energy-impulse tensor the quantum form of the energy-impulse tensor in Einstein's equation is found. It has allowed found the energy of a solitary graviton. Both ways of an energy graviton finding has given the identical result. It is shown that the solution of the Einsteins equation with use of the quantum form of an energy-impulse tensor for the certain direction represents the sum of a gravitational wave and a graviton. It is found out that at approach of a graviton to the massive bodies (double stars) radiating gravitational waves there is a resonant pumping of the gravitational field energy of these bodies to the gravitons with increase in their mass and frequency. It enables registration of the gravitons with the help of the detector located near to massive bodies. The assumption is made that dark energy of a gravitational field is all set of the graviton energies of a space.

Torsional and Transversal Stiffness of Orthotropic Sandwich Panels

In the present work, an analytical equation describing the plate torsion test taking into account the transverse shear stiffness in sandwich plates is derived and numerically validated. Transverse shear becomes an important component if the analyzed plate or shell is thick with respect to the in-plane dimensions and/or its core has significantly lower stiffness than the outer faces. The popular example of such a sandwich plate is a corrugated cardboard, widely used in the packaging industry. The flat layers of a corrugated board are usually made of thicker (stronger) material than that used for the corrugated layer, the role of which is rather to keep the outer layers at a certain distance, to ensure high bending stiffness of the plate. However, the soft core of such a plate usually has a low transverse shear stiffness, which is often not considered in the plate analysis. Such simplification may lead to significant calculation errors. The paper presents the generalization of the Reissner’s analytical formula, which describes the torsional stiffness of the plate sample including two transverse shear stiffnesses. The paper also presents the implementation of the numerical model of the plate torsion test including the transverse shear stiffnesses. Both approaches are compared with each other on a wide range of material parameters and different aspect ratios of the specimen. It has been proved that both analytical and numerical formulations lead to an identical result. Finally, the performance of presented formulations is compared with other numerical models using commercial implementation of various Reissner–Mindlin shell elements and other analytical formulas from the literature. The comparison shows good agreement of presented theory and numerical implementation with other existing approaches.

Application of laser capture microdissection and polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis of Trichoderma longibrachiatum infection: a promising diagnostic tool for ‘fungal contaminants’ infection

Although Trichoderma species are usually considered to be culture contaminants, an increasing number of case reports have demonstrated their pathogenicity. Current diagnostic tools, including fungal culture, radiology, histopathology, and direct microscopy examination, are often unable to differentiate the pathogenicity of ‘fungal contaminants’ such as Trichoderma species in patients. Accurate diagnostic tools for ‘fungal contaminants’ infection have become the urgent needs. To that end, we applicated laser capture microdissection (LCM) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to confirm T. longibrachiatum infection for the first time. A 57-year-old man presented with a cough and hemoptysis lasting for more than 40 days. Computed tomography scan revealed a mass at the left hilum. In addition to pulmonary spindle cell carcinoma, fungal hyphae were also detected in histopathological examination. The cultured fungus was identified as T. longibrachiatum using molecular procedures. The results from DNA sequencing of DNA obtained by LCM revealed the identical result. Antifungal susceptibility testing revealed resistance to itraconazole, fluconazole and flucytosine. The patient was managed with oral voriconazole for 4 months. No relapse of Trichoderma infection was observed at a year follow-up visit. Although there are potential disadvantages, LCM-based molecular biology technology is a promising diagnostic tool for ‘fungal contaminants’ infection.

Cost-Based Goal Recognition in Navigational Domains

Goal recognition is the problem of determining an agent's intent by observing her behaviour. Contemporary solutions for general task-planning relate the probability of a goal to the cost of reaching it. We adapt this approach to goal recognition in the strict context of path-planning. We show (1) that a simpler formula provides an identical result to current state-of-the-art in less than half the time under all but one set of conditions. Further, we prove (2) that the probability distribution based on this technique is independent of an agent's past behaviour and present a revised formula that achieves goal recognition by reference to the agent's starting point and current location only. Building on this, we demonstrate (3) that a Radius of Maximum Probability (i.e., the distance from a goal within which that goal is guaranteed to be the most probable) can be calculated from relative cost-distances between the candidate goals and a start location, without needing to calculate any actual probabilities. In this extended version of earlier work, we generalise our framework to the continuous domain and discuss our results, including the conditions under which our findings can be generalised back to goal recognition in general task-planning.