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Wildfire is an integral part of a healthy environment, but it can have significant consequences for water utilities because of drastic effects on source water quality and associated treatment needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The IncX family of plasmids has recently been expanded to include at least four subtypes, IncX1-IncX4. The revised classification provides an opportunity for improving our understanding of the sequence diversity of the IncX plasmids and the resistance genes they carried. We described the complete nucleotide sequence of a novel IncX3 plasmid, pKPC-NY79 (42,447 bp) from a sequence-type 258 Klebsiella pneumoniae strain that was isolated from a patient who was hospitalized in New York, United States. In pKPC-NY79, the plasmid scaffold and genetic load region were highly similar to homologous regions in pIncX-SHV (IncX3, JN247852) and the bla carrying pKpQIL (IncFII, GU595196), respectively, indicating that it has possibly arisen through recombination of plasmids. The bla gene, as part of a transposon Tn 4401a, was found within the genetic load region. The backbone of pKPC-NY79 differs from pIncX-SHV by a deletion involving the gene tandem hns- topB (encoding H-NS protein and topoisomerase III, respectively) and a putative ATPase gene. Unexpectedly, the impact of the hns- topB deletion on host fitness and plasmid stability was found to be small. In conclusion, the findings contribute to a better understanding of the plasmid platforms carrying bla and of variations in the backbone of the IncX3 plasmids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the issue of power deregulation in competitive electric power markets in the United States. Restructuring of the electric power industry in California in 1998; Use of NASH equilibrium analysis for the supply bidding problem; Price spike analysis of the linear demand curve.