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Authority is a fundamental tool of social integration. By selecting the most laudable and exemplary patterns, behaviours, actions or events – whether real or merely imagined – from the entire range of potentialities, it creates a community capable of communal action, by transforming an undifferentiated mass of independent individuals into a somewhat cohesive social group able to find common ground on matters vital for their shared existence, thus turning mere quantity into quality. It is thus evident that the existence of a certain degree of authority is also the basis for the viability of public administration, public policy and public management – to name but a few – in any given society. This paper will examine the conditions, manifestations and correlations of authority in the various domains of its social context, in order to provide a comprehensive account of its existence, its inevitability, but also the dangers inherent in its weakening.

Spaghetti meat (SM), woody breast (WB), and white striping (WS) are myopathies that affect the pectoral muscle of fast-growing broiler chickens. The prevalence and possible risk factors of these myopathies have been reported in other countries, but not yet in Canada. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors associated with these myopathies in a representative population of Canadian broilers. From May 2019 to March 2020, 250 random breast fillets from each of 37 flocks (total, 9,250) were obtained from two processing plants and assessed for the presence and severity of myopathies. Demographic data (e.g., sex and average live weight), environmental conditions during the grow-out period (e.g., temperature), and husbandry parameters (e.g., vaccination) were collected for each flock. Associations between these factors and the myopathies were tested using logistic regression analyses. The prevalence of SM, severe WB, and mild or moderate WS was 36.3% (95% CI: 35.3–37.3), 11.8% (95% CI: 11.2–12.5), and 96.0% (95% CI: 95.6–96.4), respectively. Most (85.1%) of the fillets showed multiple myopathies. Regression analyses showed that the odds of SM increased with live weight (OR = 1.30, 95% CI 1.01–1.69) and higher environmental temperature during the grow-out period (OR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.31–2.34). The odds of WB increased with live weight (OR = 1.23, 95% CI 1.03–1.47) and when flocks were not vaccinated against coccidia (OR = 1.86, 95% CI 1.51–2.29). This study documents for the first time a high prevalence of myopathies in Ontario broilers, and suggests that these lesions may have a significant economic impact on the Canadian poultry industry. Our results indicate that environmental conditions and husbandry are associated with the development of breast myopathies, in agreement with the current literature. Future studies are needed to determine how risk factors can promote the occurrence of these conditions, in order to implement possible mitigating strategies.

Endogenous brain rhythms occurring at various frequencies and associated with distinct behavioral states provide multiscale temporal windows that enable cells to time their spiking activity with high precision, which is thought to be important for the coding of information in neuronal circuits. However, although the selective timing of GABAergic inputs to specific spatial domains of principal cells are known to play key roles in network oscillations, the in vivo firing patterns of distinct hippocampal interneurons in awake animals are not known. Here we used a combination of juxtacellular labeling techniques with recordings from anesthesia-free, head-fixed mice running or resting on a spherical treadmill to study the oscillation-dependent discharges by two major interneuronal subtypes, the perisomatically projecting parvalbumin-positive basket cells (PVBCs) and distal dendritically projecting oriens lacunosum moleculare (OLM) cells. Recordings of the spiking activity of post hoc-identified CA1 interneurons during theta (5–10 Hz), gamma (25–90Hz), epsilon (“high-gamma”; 90–130 Hz), and ripple (130–200 Hz) oscillations revealed both cell type- and behavioral state-dependent entrainments of PVBC and OLM cell discharges in awake mice. Our results in awake mice differed in several respects from previous data on interneuronal discharge patterns in anesthetized animals. In addition, our results demonstrate a form of frequency-invariant, cell type-specific temporal ordering of inhibitory inputs in which PVBC-derived perisomatic inhibition is followed by OLM cell-generated distal dendritic inhibition during each of the network oscillation bands studied, spanning more than an order of magnitude in frequencies.

One of the most ancient forms of thinking about law is what is today known as positivist or normativist. It focuses on the product presented in the name of the law, the textual representation which not only simply includes, but directly embodies the law. In other words, it is a corpus, whether it is a code, a properly issued rule or a set of ad-hoc decisions: this is the law itself. This represents a short-circuited ready form for cognition, which the conscious follower and the professional agent of the law will both use as a tool. In addition, however, presumably ages later, there emerges a completely different version of the idea of law, rooted in a culture that forecasts the hermeneutic way of thinking. If in the former an approach based on epistemology can be discerned, the latter takes a more ontological approach instead. This focuses, beyond the given text, upon its interpretation and on the understanding that may be drawn from the text, and thus ultimately on the content which the law is supposed to message to the law abider and enforcer alike. In other words, it is concerned with the genuine meaning that actually affects and influences its addressees. Moreover, it is clear that, in contrast to text-centricity, the hermeneutic approach is also aimed at what sociological examination relating to the law reveals: finding the lebendes Recht [living law], separated from the positives Recht, setting some law in action next to the law in books.

Medicinal thermal waters consist of a mixture of different organic and inorganic compounds. Traditionally, these waters are only characterized and classified by their inorganic composition; however, the bioavailability of the majority of these inorganic compounds is limited. Many authors investigate the organic fractions of thermal waters. These authors propose that these compounds have a potential effect on health. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, it is crucial to know the composition of the organic fractions. The absorption of these compounds on intact skin or mucosa is notable. Some of them have local anaesthetic effect or affect receptors in the central nervous system. In the knowledge of the chemical composition, we are able to estimate the possible pharmacological effect or might be able to assess possible toxicity risks. In the present article, we aim to review possible health effects of two of the identified organic fractions: benzene and alkylbenzenes and phenolic compounds that might correlate with the therapeutic effect on rheumatological or other diseases.

Combining patch-clamp recordings and subsequent STORM imaging of individual cells, the authors show that the axon terminals of perisomatically- and dendritically-projecting GABAergic interneurons show differences in CB 1 receptor number, active zone complexity, and receptor:effector ratio. Chronic exposure to THC evoked a dose-dependent and long-lasting downregulation of CB 1 at these synapses. A major challenge in neuroscience is to determine the nanoscale position and quantity of signaling molecules in a cell type– and subcellular compartment–specific manner. We developed a new approach to this problem by combining cell-specific physiological and anatomical characterization with super-resolution imaging and studied the molecular and structural parameters shaping the physiological properties of synaptic endocannabinoid signaling in the mouse hippocampus. We found that axon terminals of perisomatically projecting GABAergic interneurons possessed increased CB 1 receptor number, active-zone complexity and receptor/effector ratio compared with dendritically projecting interneurons, consistent with higher efficiency of cannabinoid signaling at somatic versus dendritic synapses. Furthermore, chronic Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol administration, which reduces cannabinoid efficacy on GABA release, evoked marked CB 1 downregulation in a dose-dependent manner. Full receptor recovery required several weeks after the cessation of Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol treatment. These findings indicate that cell type–specific nanoscale analysis of endogenous protein distribution is possible in brain circuits and identify previously unknown molecular properties controlling endocannabinoid signaling and cannabis-induced cognitive dysfunction.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 (STEC O157) is a public health threat. This study analyzed publicly available surveillance data collected by the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) to assess temporal and regional differences and co-resistance patterns in MDR STEC O157 human clinical isolates across the United States. Co-resistance patterns were assessed by hierarchical clustering and Phi coefficient network analyses. A negative binomial regression model estimated the incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for the number of antimicrobial classes to which an isolate was resistant, across years and geographic regions. Out of 1955 isolates, 151 (7.57%) were MDR. The most important clusters were Cluster 1 (n = 1632), which included susceptible isolates, and Cluster 3 (n = 255), comprising the majority of the MDR isolates, having a high resistance prevalence to tetracyclines (TET) (0.97), folate pathway inhibitors (FPI) (0.77), and phenicols (PHN) (0.49). In the co-resistance network, TET, FPI, and PHN served as central hubs, with large nodes and thick edges, suggesting that they are frequently co-selected. The highest IRRs were observed in Regions 6 (IRR = 2.72) and 9 (IRR = 2.00), compared to Region 4. Compared to 2010, a significant increase in the IRR was observed in each year from 2015 to 2021 (IRRs 2.5–4.38). Antimicrobial stewardship programs and public health interventions targeting MDR E. coli O157 are needed to mitigate the emergence of antimicrobial resistance.

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in commensal and pathogenic enteric bacteria of swine is a public health threat. This study evaluated publicly available AMR surveillance data collected by the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) by assessing AMR patterns and temporal trends in commensal E. coli isolated from cecal samples of swine at slaughter across the United States. We applied the Mann-Kendall test (MKT) and a linear regression trend line to detect significant trends in the proportion of resistant isolates to individual antimicrobials over the study period. A Poisson regression model assessed differences among years in the number of antimicrobials to which an E. coli isolate was resistant. Among the 3237 E. coli isolates, a very high prevalence of resistance for tetracycline (67.62%), and high resistance for streptomycin (24.13%), and ampicillin (21.10%) were identified. The MKT and the linear trend line showed a significantly increasing temporal trend for amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, ampicillin, azithromycin, cefoxitin, ceftriaxone, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Compared to 2013 the number of antimicrobials to which an E. coli isolate was resistant was significantly higher in the years 2017, 2018, and 2019. The increasing temporal trend of resistance to important antimicrobials for human medicine (e.g., third-generation cephalosporins) and the increase in multidrug resistance in the later years of the study are concerning and should be followed up by studies to identify sources and risk factors for the selection of AMR.

Inappropriate antimicrobial use in animals and humans has been associated with the emergence of antimicrobial resistance, which has become a global public health concern. Veterinarians’ practice locations and their knowledge and opinions on antimicrobial resistance may influence their antimicrobial prescription practices, which could impact the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. This study used a spatial modeling approach to identify areas where veterinarians are knowledgeable about factors that impact the selection of antimicrobial resistance. In addition, we sought to identify regions with higher- and lower-than-expected response rates to our survey to aid future antimicrobial stewardship efforts. A total of 83 veterinarians who treated dogs and/or cats across 34 different Illinois counties responded to our online survey. Most of the responders (90.9%) considered that insufficient doses or duration of antibiotic treatments contribute the most to the selection of antimicrobial resistance. A high proportion of veterinarians (78.7%) attended educational programs on antimicrobial use and resistance; however, only 46.2% were knowledgeable about the current antimicrobial resistance profiles of prevalent bacteria in their area. A mean knowledge score for each county was calculated based on the responses of veterinarians to the survey questions. Local Moran’s I statistic was used to identify counties with high and low knowledge scores. A high knowledge score area in the northeast region and a low knowledge score area in the southeast of Illinois were identified. Using scan statistics with a Poisson model that accounted for the estimated number of veterinarians in a county, a higher-than-expected response rate area was identified in central-east Illinois and a lower-than-expected area in the northeast. This study showed the effectiveness of using geographic analysis and spatial statistics to identify locations where future antimicrobial stewardship programs should focus.

Antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter, common in poultry, is a global public health issue. The emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistant Campylobacter has been linked to the use of antimicrobials in food animals. Small poultry flocks are becoming increasingly popular not only as a source of food but also as pets, yet not all small flock owners are aware of proper antimicrobial use practices and safe food handling protocols. This trend could contribute to antimicrobial resistance. In order to determine the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter in small poultry flocks, we analyzed data from birds that had been submitted to a diagnostic laboratory in Ontario between October 2015 and September 2017. A pooled cecal sample was obtained from each submission and cultured for Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli. Three isolates were recovered from each positive sample and tested for susceptibility to nine antimicrobials using a broth microdilution method. Overall, 176 isolates were recovered (141 chicken, 21 turkey, 6 duck, and 8 game bird). A high frequency of resistance to tetracycline was observed in the C. jejuni isolates from chickens (77%) and turkeys (100%), and in the C. coli isolates from turkeys (50%) and game birds (40%). Campylobacter jejuni isolates had higher odds of resistance to tetracycline (OR = 3.54, P ≤ 0.01) compared to C. coli isolates. Overall, there was a low frequency of resistance to quinolones and a very low frequency of resistance to macrolides. Multidrug resistance was uncommon. The high prevalence of tetracycline resistance emphasizes the importance of prudent antimicrobial use in small flocks. Although low, the presence of resistance to macrolides and quinolones, which are used to treat campylobacteriosis in humans, highlights the need for proper food safety and infection control practices by small flock owners to prevent exposure to antimicrobial resistant Campylobacter.