Antimicrobial resistance in bacteria from horses: Epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance

Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant threat to the continued successful use of antimicrobial agents for the treatment of bacterial infections. While the epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria from man has been studied extensively, less work has been undertaken in companion animals, particularly horses. Methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus has been identified as a cause of infections, with a low prevalence of nasal carriage by horses in the community but higher for hospitalised horses. Molecular characterisation has shown methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains either to be predominantly of types associated with horses or of sequence type ST398. Antimicrobial‐resistant Escherichia coli (including multidrug‐resistant and extended spectrum β‐lactamase‐producing isolates) have caused infections and been documented in faecal carriage by horses, with many significant resistance mechanisms identified. More sporadic reports and molecular characterisation exist for resistance in other bacteria such as enterococci, Salmonella, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas species. Limited work has been undertaken evaluating risk factors and much of the epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria from horses remains to be determined.     

Effect of fiber reinforcement on mechanical and thermal properties of poly(ɛ-caprolactone)/poly(lactic acid) blend composites

Optimized palm press fiber composites of poly(?-caprolactone)/poly(lactic acid) were produced and their mechanical and thermal properties were studied. The composites were melt blended using twin screw extruder and test specimens were produced by injection molding. The composites mechanical and thermal performances were tested using standard methods. The incorporation of dicumyl peroxide as compatibilizer significantly increased the tensile strength, flexural modulus and impact strength of the composites as compared to the uncompatibilized composites. Crystallization temperature of the composites initially increased after which it dropped as fiber load increased. The composites melting point and percentage crystallinity slightly decreased as fiber load increased.     

Soil radon and elemental mercury distribution and relation to magmatic resurgence at long valley caldera

The response of a large geothermal system to magmatic resurgence was analyzed by a survey of soil gas radon and elemental mercury at 600 sites in the silicic Long Valley Caldera, California. The broad geochemical anomaly over the caldera has superimposed on it a small zone of pronounced radon enrichment and mercury depletion coincident with the surface projection of a postulated dike of rising magma. Soil gas geochemistry studies can complement traditional geophysical and geodetical methods in the evaluation of potential volcanic eruption hazards.