Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anatoxin-a Synthetase Gene Cluster of the Cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. Strain 37 and Molecular Methods To Detect Potential Producers

ABSTRACT Cyanobacterial mass occurrences are common in fresh and brackish waters. They pose a threat to water users due to toxins frequently produced by the cyanobacterial species present. Anatoxin-a and homoanatoxin-a are neurotoxins synthesized by various cyanobacteria, e.g., Anabaena, Oscillatoria, and Aphanizomenon. The biosynthesis of these toxins and the genes involved in anatoxin production were recently described for Oscillatoria sp. strain PCC 6506 (A. Méjean et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 131:7512-7513, 2009). In this study, we identified the anatoxin synthetase gene cluster (anaA to anaG and orf1; 29 kb) in Anabaena sp. strain 37. The gene (81.6% to 89.2%) and amino acid (78.8% to 86.9%) sequences were highly similar to those of Oscillatoria sp. PCC 6506, while the organization of the genes differed. Molecular detection methods for potential anatoxin-a and homoanatoxin-a producers of the genera Anabaena, Aphanizomenon, and Oscillatoria were developed by designing primers to recognize the anaC gene. Anabaena and Oscillatoria anaC genes were specifically identified in several cyanobacterial strains by PCR. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the anaC amplicons enabled simultaneous identification of three producer genera: Anabaena, Oscillatoria, and Aphanizomenon. The molecular methods developed in this study revealed the presence of both Anabaena and Oscillatoria as potential anatoxin producers in Finnish fresh waters and the Baltic Sea; they could be applied for surveys of these neurotoxin producers in other aquatic environments.
Creating and Field-Testing Child Maltreatment Definitions: Improving the Reliability of Substantiation Determinations

The decision to substantiate a case of maltreatment is pivotal to myriad stakeholders; however, the reliability (and therefore, accuracy) of substantiation determinations is suspect. The authors tested if (a) they could develop more reliable substantiation definitions and processes and (b) case workers would be comfortable with and accepting of a new approach. Determinations from five field sites were compared with those of master reviewers (made while listening to the field sites' case presentations). Agreement, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, and negative predictive values were high overall (.87, .96, .97, .89, and .97, respectively) and for each form of maltreatment. Agreement was substantially improved. The definitions and the determination process were well liked by case workers and other stakeholders. Clearly, implementing standardized definitions in a typical child protective environment would pose myriad political challenges. However, our results suggest achieving reliable substantiation determinations may be a feasible goal.
Variable Efficacy of Extended-release Mosquito Larvicides Observed in Catch Basins in the Northeast Chicago Metropolitan Area

Since the mid-1990s, the North Shore Mosquito Abatement District (NSMAD) has applied extended-release formulations of mosquito larvicides to approximately 50,000 catch basins in the suburbs north of Chicago, IL, USA. This is performed as part of NSMAD's efforts to reduce local populations of the West Nile virus vector, Culex pipiens. Analyses from NSMAD's monitoring of larvicide-treated basins throughout the District over the 2014 and 2015 seasons suggest that larvicides intended to provide extended durations of control (30-180 days) failed to provide control for the maximum duration specified on the product label in approximately 25% of the District's basins. For larvicides designed to last up to 180 days (or about 26 weeks), failures were found at 1-15 weeks after treatment with most found at five weeks posttreatment. For larvicides formulated to last up to 30 days, failures were found at one to four weeks after applications with most found at three weeks posttreatment. The highest percentages of failing basins (ie, containing late-stage mosquito larvae or pupae during the specified product effectiveness period) were found in communities on the eastern side of the District, bordering Lake Michigan. As the larvicides appeared to function properly in the majority of monitored basins, it appears that the failures likely resulted from basin-specific physical factors (ie, basin volume, sediment content, and hydrology) that cause either product removal or a reduction in the concentration of the larvicide's active ingredient below the effective levels in these basins.
Does the evidence and theory support the Good Work Design principles? An educational resource

4 1 Learning Objectives. 4 2 Introduction . 5 2.1 Emergence of scholarly interest in the topic . 6 2.2 Policy interest in work design . 7 3 Good work design matters (The ‘why’ principles) . 8 3.1 Legal imperatives . 8 3.2 Evidence that work design affects outcomes . 10 3.3 The need for better work design . 13 4 Understanding good work design (The ‘what’ principles) . 14 4.1 Multiple aspects of work design . 14 4.2 Key Theories of psychosocial work design . 15 4.3 Links to the ‘what' principles . 22 5 Designing/ redesigning work (The ‘how’ principles) . 28 5.1 A multi-system multi-stakeholder intervention . 28 5.2 Links to the ‘How’ principles . 30 6 Future Directions . 35 6.1 Theoretical expansions . 35 6.2 Contemporary challenges . 39 7 Conclusions . 41 8 Discussion Questions . 42 9 Useful Resources. 42 10 References . 45
Calculation of Exposure Profiles and Sensitivities of Options under the Heston and the Heston Hull-White Models

Credit Valuation Adjustment (CVA) has become an important field as its calculation is required in Basel III, issued in 2010, in the wake of the credit crisis. Exposure, which is defined as the potential future loss on a financial contract due to a default event, is one of the key elements for calculating CVA. This paper provides a backward dynamics framework for assessing exposure profiles of European, Bermudan and barrier options under the Heston and Heston Hull-White asset dynamics. We discuss the potential of the Stochastic Grid Bundling Method (SGBM), which is based on the techniques of simulation, regression and bundling (Jain and Oosterlee, Applied Mathematics and Computation, 269:412–431, 2015). By SGBM we can relatively easily compute the Potential Future Exposure (PFE) and sensitivities over the whole time horizon. Assuming independence between the default event and exposure profiles, we give here examples of calculating exposure, CVA and sensitivities for Bermudan and barrier options.
Acute lethal and teratogenic effects of tributyltin chloride and copper chloride on mahi mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) eggs and larvae

Acute and chronic bioassays were used to evaluate the lethal and sublethal effects of copper chloride and tributyltin chloride on mahi mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) embryos, a pelagic life stage often found in the surface microlayer where anthropogenic contaminants can accumulate. Acute bioassay testing determined the median lethal concentration (LC50) for the test organism after 48 h of exposure. Chronic toxicity tests were used to determine the measurement of sublethal parameters, such as developmental abnormalities after 72‐h exposures to the toxicants. Embryos were collected 4 h postfertilization and subsequently exposed to 1, 5, 25, 50, and 100 μg/L of copper chloride and 3, 10, 20, 30, and 50 μg/L of tributyltin chloride. Analysis of hatch rate percentage determined that the mean 48‐h LC50 of copper chloride and tributyltin chloride was 32.8 and 16.7 μg/L, respectively, based on the pooled data of four experiments with four replicates for each metal. Consistent abnormalities, such as yolk sac swelling, spinal deformities, and decreased hatch rates, were observed for each metal. Teratogenic responses to copper chloride and tributyltin chloride demonstrate the need to investigate further the impacts of pollution in the open oceans to a species indigenous to, and commercially important to, the Florida (USA) coasts. This information could then lead to the future development of a surface microlayer bioassay using mahi mahi embryos.
Anaplasma phagocytophilum Infection in American Robins and Gray Catbirds: An Assessment of Reservoir Competence and Disease in Captive Wildlife

ABSTRACT Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Dumler et al.) is the bacterial agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis, an emerging infectious disease. The main vector of A. phagocytophilum in the United States is the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis (Say)) and various small and medium-sized mammals are reservoirs. Previous studies indicate that birds are exposed to A. phagocytophilum; however, because no studies have directly investigated avian susceptibility, reservoir competence, and morbidity for A. phagocytophilum, uncertainty remains as to what role birds could play in its transmission ecology. In a controlled laboratory study, we tested whether two species, the American robin (Turdus migratorius (L.)) and the gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis (L.)), can become infected with and then transmit A. phagocytophilum to feeding ticks, and whether exposed birds develop disease. Wild caught, seronegative birds (n = 10 per species) were exposed to A. phagocytophilum-infected I. scapularis nymphs (day 0). Transmission was assessed by xenodiagnosis on days 7, 14, 42, and 77; blood was assayed for bacteremia and serology. A. phagocytophilum was detected using quantitative polymerase chain reaction targeting the 16s rRNA gene. One robin infected 2 of 13 larval ticks (15%) on day 7; no other birds were found to infect feeding ticks at any time. Birds did not develop bacteremia, specific antibodies or significant illness because of exposure. Mouse controls became bacteremic, infected feeding ticks, and seroconverted. Our results suggest that these two avian species are unlikely to play a significant role in the maintenance of the agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis and that avian serosurveys may not be a reliable indicator of A. phagocytophilum exposure.
Role of circulating cytokines and chemokines in exertional heatstroke

ObjectiveThe interplay between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, as well as chemokines, has not been well explored in exertional heatstroke. DesignProspective, observational study. PatientsSeventeen military recruits who developed exertional heatstroke and 17 exertional controls who did not develop exertional heatstroke during the same training exercises. SettingUniversity teaching hospital. Measurements and Main ResultsThe severity of exertional heatstroke was evaluated using a Simplified Acute Physiology Score. Plasma cytokines and chemokines were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Body temperatures were 41.2 ± 1.2°C and 37.6 ± 0.8°C in exertional heatstroke and exertional controls, respectively. Significantly, plasma cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1&bgr; (3.1 ± 1.6 vs. 1.2 ± 0.8 pg/mL; p < .05), tumor necrosis factor alpha (4.9 ± 4.1 vs. 1.2 ± 2.4 pg/mL; p < .05), IL-6 (15.8 ± 3.2 vs. 1.2 ± 1.2 pg/mL; p < .01), interferon gamma (7.3 ± 4.9 vs. 2.4 ± 4.1 pg/mL; p < .01), IL-2 receptor (1568 ± 643 vs. 610 ± 214 pg/mL; p < .01), IL-4 (2.5 ± 1.2 vs. 1.2 ± 0.8 pg/mL; p < .05), and IL-10 (12.9 ± 9.4 vs. 2.5 ± 4.9 pg/mL; p < .01) and serum chemokines IL-8 (84.2 ± 79.9 vs. 10.4 ± 3.2 pg/mL; p < .01), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (959 ± 589 vs. 158 ± 217 pg/mL; p < .01), and RANTES (12464 ± 10505 vs. 5570 ± 2894 pg/mL; p < .01) were elevated in exertional heatstroke compared with exertional controls. Among cytokines, IL-6, interferon gamma, and IL-2 receptor were positively correlated with Simplified Acute Physiology Score (r = .573, p < .01; r = .625, p < .01; and r = .56, p < .05, respectively). Among chemokines, only serum monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 was positively correlated with Simplified Acute Physiology Score (r = .78, p < .001). There was no correlation between either cytokines or chemokines and body temperature. ConclusionsProinflammatory cytokines IL-1&bgr;, tumor necrosis factor alpha, IL-6; T helper 1 cytokines INF-&ggr; and IL-2 receptor; and chemokines IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, and RANTES are increased in patients with exertional heatstroke. T helper 2 cytokines may play a role as anti-inflammatory cytokines. IL-6, interferon gamma, IL-2 receptor, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 may serve as prognostic indicators of disease severity in exertional heatstroke.
Effects of enhanced extracellular ammonia concentration on cultured mammalian retinal glial (müller) cells

Müller (glial) cells of the neonatal rabbit retina were cultured as confluent monolayers and exposed to enhanced concentrations of ammonia (0.25, 0.5, 1, 3, 7, and IC mM) in medium for various periods (30 min to 10 d). This caused, in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner, similar changes in the Müller cells as had previously been described in cultured astrocytes. The most conspicuous events were (1) an increasing size of cell nuclei, (2) an accumulation of phagocytotic vacuoles, and (3) a rearrangement of intermediate filaments. (4) A considerable number of cells died when higher ammonia concentrations were applied for more than 1 h. Simultaneous application of dibutyrylcyclic adenosine monophosphate (dBcAMP) prevented almost completely both the increase in cell nucleus size and the changes of intermediate filaments, but only partly the early cell death of a subpopulation of cells, and the accumulation of phagocytotic vacuoles. Further changes evoked by enhanced ammonia concentration were (5) an accumulation of lipofuscin‐like material (“fatty degeneration”) revealed by lipophilic stain, (6) reduced immunoreactivity for cathepsin D, and increased immunoreactivity for (7) glial fibrillary acidic protein, (8) glutamine synthetase, and (9) bcl‐2 protooncogene protein. These findings are discussed in respect to the possible underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Decidual relaxins: gene and protein up-regulation in preterm premature rupture of the membranes by complementary DNA arrays and quantitative immunocytochemistry.

OBJECTIVE This study was undertaken to show both decidual relaxin gene and protein up-regulation in preterm premature rupture of the fetal membranes. STUDY DESIGN Membranes after preterm premature rupture (n = 4) have been matched in pairs with preterm intact membranes (n = 4). These tissues were from patients without infection, labor, preeclampsia or intrauterine growth restriction, and none of the patients had a latency period of more than 8 hours. The messenger RNAs from these tissues were used on complementary DNA expression arrays; 488 genes were analyzed. Relaxin gene expression was quantitated from the arrays and in additional tissues by Northern analysis. The two relaxin proteins, H1 and H2, in the decidual cells were immunolocalized and quantitated by microdensitometry with the use of specific antisera that were raised to decapeptides over the region of least homologic features. The expression of five other genes that were selected from the arrays were quantitated by Northern analysis. RESULTS Relaxin gene expression was up-regulated 3.4-fold on the complementary DNA arrays but was not confirmed on Northern analysis. On the other hand, protein analysis for relaxin H1 and H2 in the decidual cells showed them to be significantly up-regulated (P <.0001, for both proteins) in patients with preterm premature rupture of the membranes compared with control subjects. The 20 most highly expressed genes at preterm in tissues without rupture were determined. In addition, analysis of the genes that were up-regulated with preterm rupture of the membranes showed 30 differentially expressed genes. CONCLUSION Relaxin gene expression in the decidua is up-regulated, and its protein expression is significantly increased with preterm rupture of the fetal membranes.
Postoperative Radiotherapy in Salivary Gland Carcinoma: A Single Institution Experience.

BACKGROUND Salivary gland carcinoma are rare tumors and the main treatment is surgical. The addition of radiotherapy to surgery decreases locoregional relapses in high risk patients. Aim of our study is to retrospectively evaluate local control and survival and the factors affecting them in patients who received postoperative radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS The medical records of 30 patients with salivary gland tumors operated on and referred to our clinic for adjuvant RT between January 2004 and June 2015 were retrospectively evaluated. RT was applied to the primary tumor or its lymphatics in a median dose of 60 Gy (48-66 Gy) in 1.8-2 Gy/fraction. The number of patients receiving concomitant chemotherapy was 8 (27%) and 22 (73%), respectively. RESULTS The mean duration of follow-up was 47 months (range: 3-132 months). The mean duration between surgery and RT was 51 days and mean duration of RT was 43 days. Tumors were located in the parotid gland in 25 patients (83%), in the submandibular gland in four patients (14%), and in the sublingual gland in one patient (3%). Histopathologically, the most common tumor was adenoid cystic carcinoma (27%), followed by mucoepidermoid carcinoma (20%), and skin SCC metastatic to the parotid gland. Five-year overall survival (OS), five-year disease specific survival (DSS), and five-year disease free survival (DFS) were 50%, 50%, and 54%, respectively. Regional recurrence and distant organ metastasis developed in 5 (17%) and 9 (30%) patients, respectively. OS, DSS, and DFS were significantly decreased in patients with lymph node metastasis compared to the patients with no metastasis (p=0.002). DFS was better in Stage 1-2 patients compared to Stage 3-4 patients (p=0.019). OS and DFS were significantly in radiotherapy time in less than 45 days (p=0.01). A duration between surgery and radiotherapy of more than 42 days was associated with low DFS (p=0.042). No prognostic significance of age, gender, type of the salivary gland, T stage, tumor diameter, surgical margin, PNI, LVI, and extracapsular involvement was found among the other variables. CONCLUSION Adjuvant RT is an efficacious and safe method of treatment in high risk patients operated on for salivary gland tumor.
Understanding the Corpus of E-Government Research: An analysis of the literature using co-citation analysis and social network analysis

The growing body of published e-government literature highlights the importance of egovernment in society and the need to make sense of e-government by academia. In order to understand the future of e-government, it is important to understand the research that has been conducted and highlight the issues and themes that have been identified as important by empirical study. This paper analyses the corpus of e-government research published from 2000 to 2013 using Bibliometric and Social Network Analysis (SNA) methods to develop an intellectual structure of e-government research. Factor analysis, multidimensional scaling and centrality measurement are also applied to the e-government dataset using UCINET to identify the core influential articles in the field. This study identifies three core clusters of e-government research that centre around (i) e-government development models (ii) adoption and acceptance of e-government, and (iii) e-government using social media and highlights areas for future research in the field. Track: E-Business and E-Government Word count: 5174 words
Nanotoxicity modelling and removal efficiencies of ZnONP

ABSTRACT In this paper the aim is to investigate the toxic effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) and is to analyze the removal of ZnONP in aqueous medium by the consortium consisted of Daphnia magna and Lemna minor. Three separate test groups are formed: L. minor (), D. magna (), and L. minor + D. magna () and all these test groups are exposed to three different nanoparticle concentrations (). Time-dependent, concentration-dependent, and group-dependent removal efficiencies are statistically compared by non-parametric Mann–Whitney U test and statistically significant differences are observed. The optimum removal values are observed at the highest concentration for , for and for and realized at for all test groups . There is no statistically significant differences in removal at low concentrations in terms of groups but test groups are more efficient than test groups in removal of ZnONP, at concentration. Regression analysis is also performed for all prediction models. Different models are tested and it is seen that cubic models show the highest predicted values (R2). In toxicity models, R2 values are obtained at (0.892, 0.997) interval. A simple solution-phase method is used to synthesize ZnO nanoparticles. Dynamic Light Scattering and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) are used to detect the particle size of synthesized ZnO nanoparticles.
The Effectiveness of Aid under Post-Conflict Conditions: A Sector-Specific Analysis

Abstract It is widely believed that foreign aid may help conflict-affected countries to recover after the termination of conflicts. However, the available empirical evidence supporting this view largely neglects the heterogeneous nature of aid. Drawing on the conflict database of the Uppsala Conflict Data Program, we address the hypothesis that the effectiveness of post-conflict aid differs between specific sectors. Our focus is on social and economic infrastructure which is most likely to suffer during conflict episodes so that the need for aid is particularly pressing in this area. We find fairly robust evidence that post-conflict aid is effective in improving social infrastructure. In contrast, aid appears to be ineffective in improving economic infrastructure.
Infection of epithelial cells with dengue virus promotes the expression of proteins favoring the replication of certain viral strains

Dengue virus (DENV) is the causative agent of dengue and severe dengue. To understand better the dengue virus‐host interaction, it is important to determine how the expression of cellular proteins is modified due to infection. Therefore, a comparison of protein expression was conducted in Vero cells infected with two different DENV strains, both serotype 2: DENV‐2/NG (associated with dengue) and DENV‐2/16681 (associated with severe dengue). The viability of the infected cells was determined, and neither strain induced cell death at 48 hr. In addition, the viral genomes and infectious viral particles were quantified, and the genome of the DENV‐2/16681 strain was determined to have a higher replication rate compared with the DENV‐2/NG strain. Finally, the proteins from infected and uninfected cultures were separated using two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis, and the differentially expressed proteins were identified by mass spectrometry. Compared with the uninfected controls, the DENV‐2/NG‐ and DENV‐2/16681‐infected cultures had five and six differentially expressed proteins, respectively. The most important results were observed when the infected cultures were compared to each other (DENV‐2/NG vs. DENV‐2/16681), and 18 differentially expressed proteins were identified. Based on their cellular functions, many of these proteins were linked to the increase in the replication efficiency of DENV. Among the proteins were calreticulin, acetyl coenzyme A, acetyl transferase, and fatty acid‐binding protein. It was concluded that the infection of Vero cells with DENV‐2/NG or DENV‐2/16681 differentially modifies the expression of certain proteins, which can, in turn, facilitate infection. J. Med. Virol. 86:1448–1458, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.