Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bioleaching of Lizardite by Magnesium- and Nickel-Resistant Fungal Isolate from Serpentinite Soils—Implication for Carbon Capture and Storage

The major goal of this study was to evaluate the potential of fungal species indigenous to mine tailing soils in accelerating Mg release from lizardite (a polymorph of serpentine) at ambient T/P conditions. We characterized the culturable fungal isolates at three sampling sites representative of different degrees of mineral weathering by isolating the genomic subunits and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rRNA genes using PCR and sequencing of cloned fragments. We chose the specific strain primarily identified as Talaromyces sp. for the further experiments with lizardite because of this strain's remarkable tolerance to high [Mg2+] (1 mol·L−1) and [Ni2+] (10 mM·L−1) levels in the screening test and its ubiquity in the most severely weathered samples. Results of dissolution experiments revealed that both magnesium-release rate and efficiency were significantly increased (e.g., by a factor of up to 15) in the presence of fungal cells than those in the abiotic controls. The enhanced dissolution of lizardite was mainly attributed to the fungal production of organic acids including oxalic acid, gluconic acid, formic acid, and fumaric acid added to the solution. The proton-promoted dissolution, however, was indicated not to be the only mechanism for fungus-lizardite interactions as much lesser Mg (in wt.%) was recovered in the abiotic system where the solution pH was constantly adjusted to match that of the fungal system. We also explored the dependence of fungal dissolution (of lizardite) on temperature and mineral particle sizes. In particular, we found that up to ∼ 50 wt. % of Mg was released from mineral particles of ∼ 50 μm within 30 days at 38°C, ∼ 26% and 8% higher than that at 18°C and 28°C, respectively. At the same temperature of 28°C, the Mg-release efficiency increased from 12.2 wt% for particles of ∼ 270 μm to 38.4 wt% for those of ∼100 μm although no apparent difference was recognized when the particle size decreased below 100 μm. The nonlinear correlation of dissolution rates with particle surface areas suggested that the dissolution process was controlled by mineral surface-structural modification along with Mg release and by fungal cells’ interaction with these surface structures. An amorphous layer of Mg-depleted silica was detected at the reacted mineral surface by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Formation of glushinskite (MgC2O4·2H2O) was also observed when oxalate was accumulated to certain concentrations in the solution. Overall, this study showed that the isolated Talaromyces sp. was a promising bioagent to improve the efficacy of cation release from serpentine minerals for the purpose of carbon sequestration and resource recovery.
Persistence of Human Papillomavirus DNA in Benign and (Pre)malignant Skin Lesions from Renal Transplant Recipients

ABSTRACT An extremely diverse group of human papillomavirus (HPV) types consisting of epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV)-associated HPV types and other cutaneous HPV types (e.g., HPV types 2 and 3) is associated with nonmelanoma cancers and benign lesions of the skin. The frequent presence of multiple HPV types in single skin biopsy specimens of renal transplant recipients prompted us to develop PCR techniques for the detection of distinct (sub)groups of genotypically related cutaneous HPV types, i.e., three subgroups of EV-associated HPV types and two groups (A2 and A4) of other cutaneous HPV types. This approach generally allowed a reliable identification of HPV genotypes by direct sequencing of the PCR products, despite the frequent occurrence of multiple infections. The targeted spectrum of HPV types comprises 66 cutaneous HPV types including 21 putative novel HPV types. We also detected 17 putative novel HPV subtypes. We demonstrated that the skin of nearly all renal transplant recipients who developed various benign and (pre)malignant skin lesions was persistently infected with one or more EV-associated HPV types and/or HPV types belonging to groups A2 and A4. The frequency and distribution of EV-associated HPV and HPV types belonging to groups A2 and A4 were similar in biopsy specimens from hyperkeratotic papillomas (77.5%), squamous cell carcinomas (77.8%), and actinic keratoses (67.9%) but appeared to be lower in specimens of basal cell carcinomas (35.7%), benign lesions (38.5%), and clinically normal skin (32.3%). These findings suggest that renal transplant recipients are prone to persistent cutaneous HPV infection. Our data do not support the existence of high-risk cutaneous HPV types.
THE MEDIATOR ROLE OF ORGANIZATIONAL IMAGE ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JEALOUSY AND TURNOVER INTENTION: A STUDY ON HEALTH WORKERS

Problem: Temel bir insan duygusu olarak kiskanclik, insan hayatinin buyuk bir kismini etkiler. Bu baglamda, kiskancligin is hayatinda da muhtemel etkilere sahip olacagi soylenebilir. Ne var ki, Turkiye’de kiskancligin bu muhtemel etkilerini ve bu etkilerin sonuclarini belirlemeye yonelik akademik bir calisma mevcut degildir. Amac: Bu arastirmanin amaci saglik calisanlarinin kiskanclik duygulari ile isten ayrilma egilimleri arasindaki muhtemel iliskinin ve bu iliski uzerinde orgutsel imajin araci etkisinin ortaya cikarilmasidir. Ilgili literatur gozden gecirildiginde, calisan kiskancligi ile isten ayrilma egilimi arasinda pozitif bir iliski oldugu gorulmektedir. Ayrica, literatur taramasi sonucunda orgutsel imaj ile isten ayrilma egilimi arasinda negatif bir iliski oldugu gorulmektedir. Kiskanclik ile orgutsel imaj arasindaki iliskiye bakildiginda, literaturde bu iki degisken arasindaki iliskiyi arastiran bir calisma gorulmemektedir. Literaturde orgutsel imaj degiskeninin araci degisken (ornegin stres ile isten ayrilma egilimi arasinda) olarak kullanildigi gorulmektedir, fakat bu degiskenin kiskanclik ile isten ayrilma egilimi arasinda araci degisken olarak kullanildigi bir calisma mevcut gozukmemektedir. Yontem: Bu calisma, Turkiye’nin Balikesir ili merkezi ve diger ilcelerinde faaliyet gosteren ozel hastanelerde calismakta olan hemsire ve diger yardimci saglik personeli arasindan kolayda orneklem yontemiyle belirlenmis olan 340 saglik calisanina yuz yuze anket yontemi uygulanarak gerceklestirilmistir. Elde edilen veriler, yapisal esitli modeline uygun istatistik programlari kullanilarak analiz edilmistir. Bulgular: Araci degisken analizi gerceklestirebilmek icin degiskenler arasinda bulunmasi gereken ve Baron ve Kenny (1986) tarafindan onerilmis olan iliski sartlari karsilanmistir. Analiz sonuclari, kiskanclik ile isten ayrilma niyeti arasinda pozitif bir iliski oldugunu ve orgutsel imaj degiskeninin bu iliski uzerinde kismi araci etkiye sahip oldugunu gostermistir. Ozgun Deger: Bu calisma, ilk olarak, arastirmanin yurutuldugu ulke ve bolge acisindan orijinaldir. Ikinci olarak, bir degisken olarak kiskancligi arastirma konusu yapan bir cok calisma olmasina ragmen, Turkiye’de bu degiskenin orgutsel arastirmalarda kullanilmadigi gorulmektedir. Bu acidan da calisma bir ilk olma ozelligi tasimaktadir.
A technique for measuring xylem hydraulic conductance under high negative pressures

A technique for measuring hydraulic conductances of excised xylem segments exposed to high negative pressures is described. A centrifugal force is used to generate negative pressures ( P ) in the sample and to create a positive hydrostatic pressure difference ( ∆ P ) between its two ends. ∆ ∆ ∆ P forces water through the sample at a flow rate ( F ) determined optically during centrifugation. The sample hydraulic conductance k is derived from F and ∆ P . The sample vulnerability curve is given by the dependence of k on P . Results for Cedrus atlantica Manetti and Laurus nobilis L. shoots are given. The technique is appropriate for the analysis of xylem refilling under negative pressure.
Comparative effects of crude oil on juveniles Clarias gariepinus and Clarias anguillaris

This study was based on biochemical assessment of the effect of crude oil spillage on marine life. Hence, life sustaining indices such as pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), and free CO2 were analyzed in aquaria. However, a 96 h static acute toxicity test was also investigated on the juveniles Clarias gariepinus (African catfish) and Clarias anguillaris(mudfish) on exposure to different concentrations of crude oil polluted water. Over the period of the experiment there was an overall decrease in pH of the test vessel from 8.64 ± 0.03 to 5.50 ± 0.08. Decrease trend was also found in dissolved oxygen from 6.28 ± 0.07 to 3.01 ± 0.06 and free CO2 levels from 8.35 ± 0.55 to 11.25 ± 0.17. However as the concentration of crude oil increases the haematological parameters such as red blood cell (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), and white blood cell (WBC) reduced significantly (p ≤ 0.05) in both fish species. After 96 h, probit analysis showed the LC50 of crude oil for C. anguillaris to be 1.22 mg/L while that of C. garieinus was 2.19 mg/L. Overall, less insults was observed from the crude oil on C. gariepinuscompare to C. anguillaris that tend to elicit a low tolerance to the crude oil. Key words: Clarias gariepinus, Clarias anguillaris, crude-oil, LC50, and static-acute.
Protein H, an Antiphagocytic Surface Protein inStreptococcus pyogenes

ABSTRACT Surface-associated M protein is a major virulence factor inStreptococcus pyogenes which confers bacterial resistance to phagocytosis. However, many S. pyogenes strains also express additional structurally related so-called M-like proteins. The strain studied here is of the clinically important M1 serotype and expresses two structurally related surface proteins, the M1 protein and protein H. Mutants were generated that expressed only one or none of these proteins at the bacterial surface. For survival in human blood either protein H or M1 protein was sufficient, whereas the double mutant was rapidly killed. The protein-binding properties of protein H, M1 protein, and the mutants suggest that bacterial binding of immunoglobulin G and factor H or factor H-like protein 1, which are regulatory proteins in the complement system, contribute to the antiphagocytic property.
Inactivation of Cryptosporidium parvumOocysts by Ammonia

ABSTRACT The survival of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in soil and water microhabitats may be affected by the environmental production and release of free ammonia. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of increasing free ammonia concentrations and times of exposure on oocyst viability. Wild-type oocysts were obtained from naturally infected calf feces by chemical (continuous-flow) centrifugation and sucrose gradients. Ammonia (NH3) from a commercial solution was applied in concentrations ranging from 0.007 to 0.148 M. Exposure times ranged from 10 min to 24 h at a constant temperature of 24 ± 1°C. Viability of oocysts was determined with a dye permeability assay and an in vitro excystation assay (M. B. Jenkins, L. J. Anguish, D. D. Bowman, M. J. Walker, and W. C. Ghiorse, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 63:3844–3850, 1997). Even the lowest concentration of ammonia decreased significantly the viability of oocysts after 24 h of exposure. Increasing concentrations of ammonia increased inactivation rates, which ranged from 0.014 to 0.066 h−1. At the highest concentration of ammonia, a small fraction of viable oocysts still remained. Exposure to pH levels corresponding to those associated with the ammonia concentrations showed minimal effects of alkaline pH alone on oocyst viability. This study shows that environmentally relevant concentrations of free ammonia may significantly increase the inactivation of oocysts in ammonia-containing environments.
Identification of Cryptosporidium felisin a Cow by Morphologic and Molecular Methods

ABSTRACT Apicomplexan Cryptosporidium parasites infect a wide range of vertebrate hosts. While some species are limited to a single host group, such as Cryptosporidium baileyi, which infects chickens, other species of this genus, such as C. parvum, infect a wide range of mammalian species from mice to humans. During an investigation of Cryptosporidium infection in cattle on a farm in northern Poland, we identified an infection caused by C. felis, in addition to known infections with C. murisand C. parvum. This new infection was identified based on the size of the oocysts (mean size, 4.3 ± 0.4 μm; range, 3.5 to 5.0 μm), as well as by analysis of the molecular sequence of the variable region of the small-subunit rRNA. This finding demonstrates the complex host specificity and circulation in the environment ofCryptosporidium species.
Modulation of emotional prosody and music perception by alexithymia: ERP evidence

Alexithymia, a condition characterized by deficits in interpreting and regulating feelings, is a risk factor for a variety of psychiatric conditions. Little is known about how alexithymia influences the processing of emotions in music and speech. Appreciation of such emotional qualities in auditory material is fundamental to human experience and has profound consequences for functioning in daily life. We investigated the neural signature of such emotional processing in alexithymia by means of event-related potentials. Affective music and speech prosody were presented as targets following affectively congruent or incongruent visual word primes in two conditions. In two further conditions, affective music and speech prosody served as primes and visually presented words with affective connotations were presented as targets. Thirty-two participants (16 male) judged the affective valence of the targets. We tested the influence of alexithymia on cross-modal affective priming and on N400 amplitudes, indicative of individual sensitivity to an affective mismatch between words, prosody, and music. Our results indicate that the affective priming effect for prosody targets tended to be reduced with increasing scores on alexithymia, while no behavioral differences were observed for music and word targets. At the electrophysiological level, alexithymia was associated with significantly smaller N400 amplitudes in response to affectively incongruent music and speech targets, but not to incongruent word targets. Our results suggest a reduced sensitivity for the emotional qualities of speech and music in alexithymia during affective categorization. This deficit becomes evident primarily in situations in which a verbalization of emotional information is required. CHAPTER 3.1: ROLE OF ALEXITHYMIA IN PROSODY PERCEPTION: ERPs 165
Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase-Encoding Gene as a Useful Taxonomic Tool for Staphylococcusspp

ABSTRACT The gap gene of Staphylococcus aureus, encoding glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, was used as a target to amplify a 933-bp DNA fragment by PCR with a pair of primers 26 and 25 nucleotides in length. PCR products, detected by agarose gel electrophoresis, were also amplified from 12 Staphylococcusspp. analyzed previously. Hybridization with an internal 279-bp DNA fragment probe was positive in all PCR-positive samples. No PCR products were amplified when other gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial genera were analyzed using the same pair of primers.AluI digestion of PCR-generated products gave 12 different restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns, one for each species analyzed. However, we could detect two intraspecies RFLP patterns in Staphylococcus epidermidis,Staphylococcus hominis, and Staphylococcus simulans which were different from the other species. An identical RFLP pattern was observed for 112 S. aureusisolates from humans, cows, and sheep. The sensitivity of the PCR assays was very high, with a detection limit for S. aureuscells of 20 CFU when cells were suspended in saline. PCR amplification of the gap gene has the potential for rapid identification of at least 12 species belonging to the genusStaphylococcus, as it is highly specific.
Immunogical Study of Anti-Beta-Lactamase Antibodies by Acidimetric Methods

A beta-lactamase was extracted from an Escherichia coli K-12 strain carrying the R-TEM plasmid and has been purified by affinity chromatography. Antisera to this enzyme were prepared in the rabbit, and the enzyme-antibody neutralization reaction has been evaluated with acidimetric methods (pH stat or pH meter). Under defined experimental conditions, it is now possible to clearly illustrate the enzyme-antibody reaction by means of accurate, rapid, and simple-to-perform methods. These methods are in accord with the specificity of the two reactive partners and allow the detection of the enzyme in a crude bacterial extract which would eventually contain more than one beta-lactamase.
Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 Gag Indeterminate Western Blot Patterns in Central Africa: Relationship toPlasmodium falciparum Infection

ABSTRACT To gain insight on the significance of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) indeterminate serological reactivities, we studied villagers of South Cameroon, focusing on a frequent and specific HTLV-1 Gag indeterminate profile (HGIP) pattern (gag p19, p26, p28, and p30 without p24 or Env gp21 and gp46). Among the 102 sera studied, 29 from all age groups had a stable HGIP pattern over a period of 4 years. There was no epidemiological evidence for sexual or vertical transmission of HGIP. Seventy-five percent of HGIP sera reacted positively on MT2 HTLV-1-infected cells by immunofluorescence assay. However, we could not isolate any HTLV-1 virus or detect the presence of p19 Gag protein in cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from individuals with strong HGIP reactivity. PCR experiments conducted with primers for HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 (HTLV-1/2 primers) encompassing different regions of the virus did not yield HTLV-1/2 proviral sequences from individuals with HGIP. Using 11 peptides corresponding to HTLV-1 or HTLV-2 immunodominant B epitopes in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, one epitope corresponding to the Gag p19 carboxyl terminus was identified in 75% of HGIP sera, while it was recognized by only 41% of confirmed HTLV-1-positive sera. A positive correlation between HTLV-1 optical density values and titers of antibody to Plasmodium falciparum was also demonstrated. Finally, passage of sera through a P. falciparum-infected erythrocyte-coupled column was shown to specifically abrogate HGIP reactivity but not the HTLV-1 pattern, suggesting the existence of cross-reactivity between HTLV-1 Gag proteins and malaria-derived antigens. These data suggest that in Central Africa, this frequent and specific Western blot is not caused by HTLV-1 infection but could instead be associated with P. falciparum infection.
Influence of Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette Guérin on In Vitro Induction of CD1 Molecules in Human Adherent Mononuclear Cells

ANNA GIULIANI, SALVATORE P. PRETE, GRAZIA GRAZIANI, ANGELO AQUINO, ALESSANDRA BALDUZZI, MASAHIKO SUGITA, MICHAEL B. BRENNER, ELENA IONA, LANFRANCO FATTORINI, GRAZIELLA OREFICI, STEVEN A. PORCELLI,* AND ENZO BONMASSAR Department of Neuroscience, University of Rome “Tor Vergata,” Institute of Neurobiology and Molecular Medicine, National Council of Research (CNR), Laboratory of Bacteriology and Medical Mycology, “Istituto Superiore di Sanità,” 4 and “Istituto Dermopatico dell’Immacolata” (IDI-IRCCS), Rome, Italy; Division of Rheumatology, Immunology, and Allergy, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461
Continuous Winter Reproduction and Growth of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Heraklion, Crete, Southern Greece

Abstract The objective of this work was to study the effect of winter low temperatures on survival, reproduction, and growth of immature stages, and the host fruit infestation ability of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis Capitata (Wiedemann), wild population in the southernmost part of Greece. Adult flies were monitored using Jackson and McPhail traps from November to May over a period of 3 yr. In January–March, absolute minimum and maximum air temperatures were 1–4.5 and 19–26°C, respectively, whereas the average monthly minima and maxima were 6.2–9.7°C and 15.4–18.5°C, respectively. Adults were found at every inspection period (every second week) in at least one of the trapping systems used or the years of the study. Until the beginning of April developed eggs and sperm were found in >70% of females trapped. From mid-April until mid-May, 20–70% of females were fecund and fertile. This increased at the end of May– beginning of June to high percentages, >80%. Females survived in cages in the field an average of 4 mo in winter–spring, with some females surviving 5–6 mo. Infested ‘Navel’, ‘Valencia’ oranges, or bitter oranges could be found throughout the experimental period in all 3 yr and live eggs were always detected in infested fruits. Grown larvae were found in relatively high percentages of infested fruits until March, especially in bitter oranges, which appear to be a preferred host (up to 25 pupae per infested fruit). In April–May, grown larvae were seldom detected. In winter, larval development from the time of fruit sampling until larval exit often took 1.5–2 mo. The duration of the pupal stage under field temperatures was ≈2 mo for those pupae formed between December and February. This was reduced progressively to 10–20 d for those pupae formed in May. The mortality of young larvae (still near the oviposition hole) was between 40 and 70% from November until May, whereas adult emergence from pupae kept in the field fluctuated between 20 and 80%. In conclusion, under the conditions of southern Greece (Heraklion, Crete) the Mediterranean fruit fly continues reproduction and growth during the cooler part of the year but at reduced rates and with longer duration of larval and pupal stages. This must be considered in control or eradication applications.
A Thrice-Weekly Ertapenem Regimen Is Practical for Hemodialysis Patients

A change of ertapenem dosage from 500 mg daily to thrice weekly, after each hemodialysis session, can maintain the plasma concentration above 2 mg/liter and be practical for hemodialysis patients. ABSTRACT A change of ertapenem dosage from 500 mg daily to thrice weekly, after each hemodialysis session, can maintain the plasma concentration above 2 mg/liter and be practical for hemodialysis patients.
Seed rain in a tropical agricultural landscape

Abstract: Seed dispersal into fragmented tropical landscapes limits the rate and character of ecological succession between forest remnants. In a novel experiment in recovery of dispersal between forest remnants, 120 1-m2 seed traps were placed in fenced plots in active pasture 90–250 m from forest, and in nearby primary and secondary forests. Total seed rain from December 2006 to January 2008 included 69 135 seeds of 57 woody species. High richness of seed rain of early-successional trees occurred in all habitats, but seed rain of late-successional woody plants was much lower into pastures and secondary forest than into old-growth forest. Non-metric ordination analysis further demonstrated high movement of late-successional species within and between forest and secondary forest, but little movement of species of either forest type to pastures. Most species were dispersed by animals, but most seeds were dispersed by wind. A pattern of seed rain biased strongly towards wind-dispersed species creates a template for regeneration quite unlike that in nearby forest.
Spreading to a limit: the time required for a neophyte to reach its maximum range

The average range size of alien plants in Spain reaches a maximum at 143 years. This is consistent with estimates of such a maximum in Ireland, Britain, Germany and the Czech Republic. A round figure of about 150 years on average for neophytes to reach their maximum range in European countries is indicated.