Currently available data on the field of velocities Vr, Vl, Vb for open star clusters are used to perform a kinematic analysis of various samples that differ by heliocentric distance, age, and membership in individual structures (the Orion, Carina–Sagittarius, and Perseus arms). Based on 375 clusters located within 5 kpc of the Sun with ages up to 1 Gyr, we have determined the Galactic rotation...

The NucliSENS EasyQ KPC assay (bioMérieux SA, Marcy l'Etoile, France) was compared with a routinely used phenotypic method for detection of Enterobacteriaceae producing Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-type carbapenemases, using 806 stool samples and rectal swabs. Compared with the phenotypic method, the EasyQ KPC assay had a sensitivity and specificity of 93.3% and 99.0%, respectively...

We present a unified rotation curve of the Galaxy re-constructed from the existing data by re-calculating the distances and velocities for a set of galactic constants R0 =8 kpc and V0 =200 km s . We decompose it into a bulge with de Vaucouleurs-law profile of half-mass scale radius 0.5 kpc and mass 1.8×10M⊙, an exponential disk of scale radius 3.5 kpc of 6.5× 10M⊙, and an isothermal dark halo o...

We present an analysis of a 40 ksec Chandra observation of the galaxy group AWM 5. It has a small (∼ 8 kpc) dense cool core with a temperature of ∼ 1.2 keV and the temperature profile decreases at larger radii, from ∼ 3.5 keV just outside the core to ∼ 2 keV at ∼ 300 kpc from the center. The abundance distribution shows a “hole” in the central ∼ 10 kpc, where the temperature declines sharply. A...

Class A carbapenemases are a major threat to the potency of carbapenem antibiotics. A widespread carbapenemase, KPC-2, is not easily inhibited by β-lactamase inhibitors (i.e., clavulanic acid, sulbactam, and tazobactam). To explore different mechanisms of inhibition of KPC-2, we determined the crystal structures of KPC-2 with two β-lactamase inhibitors that follow different inactivation pathway...

The emergence of Klebsiella pneumoniae producing carbapenemase (KPC) has now become a global concern. As a part of a nationwide multicentre surveillance study in Cuba, three K. pneumoniae clinical isolates resistant to carbapenems were detected for a 1-month period (September to October 2011). PCR and sequence analysis revealed that the three strains harboured bla KPC-2. They showed resistance ...

BACKGROUND KPC-producing carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) infections are associated with high mortality; however, their virulence determinants are not well defined. METHODS We investigated the virulence and plasmid transferability among KPC-containing K. pneumoniae isolates. RESULTS KPC-2 and -3 were successfully conjugated and retained by a virulent K2 K. pneumoniae recipi...

OBJECTIVES We aimed to evaluate the occurrence and characteristics of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes in KPC-producing (KPC-P) Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kpn) isolates in Tel Aviv Medical Center, Israel. METHODS Forty-seven KPC-P Kpn isolates were studied. Antibiotic susceptibilities were determined by Vitek 2, Etest or agar dilution. Beta-lactamases and PMQR determinants were ...

KPC-2 is the most prevalent class A carbapenemase in the world. Previously, KPC-2 was shown to hydrolyze the β-lactamase inhibitors clavulanic acid, sulbactam, and tazobactam. In addition, substitutions at amino acid position R220 in the KPC-2 β-lactamase increased resistance to clavulanic acid. A novel bridged diazabicyclooctane (DBO) non-β-lactam β-lactamase inhibitor, avibactam, was shown to...