bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
History of Protected Areas in Argentina: A Seesaw of Shifting Priorities and Policies in a Developing Country
Authors: Rivarola María Daniela , Simberloff Daniel , Leppanen Christy
Published: November 2019

Protected Areas (PAs) are key to avoiding habitat destruction and biodiversity loss. Most research conducted in PAs has focused on the geological, biological or ecological aspects of sites, while few studies have examined the policymaking process. However, PA designation might reflect the political history of a country regarding environmental protection and whether PA designation is based on a strong conservation commitment or is instead propaganda yielding 'paper parks'. Argentina, the first Latin American nation to set land aside to protect it, provides a case study of the process of constructing a PA system, and certain elements apply to other developing countries. Its first national park was created in 1922, and the first law concerning PAs was promulgated in 1934. Since then, a succession of democratic governments interrupted by military regimes has modified parks and promulgated laws changing conservation priorities. The conservation goal of PAs was not always manifest in government policies. Despite the number of PAs (48 by 2019) and area covered (14,718,420 hectares total by 2019), most of these lands face the same challenges as PAs in many other developing nations, including limited budgets, lack of field staff, absence of strategic planning, insufficient political support and corruption. Since the return to democracy in 1983, new laws have been enacted based on experience gathered in other nations. However, existence of a law does not guarantee its enforcement. Environmental NGOs, the scientific community and a growing concerned citizenry nowadays constitute the most important forces supporting the conservation function of PAs and environmental conservation in general in Argentina.
On the Question of the Structure of Religious Consciousness
Authors: Fylypovych Oleksand Yosypovych
Published: November 2019

Local scholars have done much in the study of religion as a complex socio-historical phenomenon. Structurally, religion appears to them as a cohesive unity of religious consciousness, religious activity, religious relations and religious institutions and organizations. Such a structural sequence of elements, which in their totality constitute the phenomenon of religion, recognizes as its initial component religious consciousness. A characteristic feature of the latter is its conceptual impact on other structural entities of religion. With the erosion of religious consciousness comes the weakening of other elements of religion.
"Theology of Culture" of Protestantism
Authors: Bodak Valentyna Anatoliyivna
Published: November 2019

Protestantism as a phenomenon of culture, its influence on the development of society, man - the problem is complex and multifaceted. Since Protestantism is a religious and cultural phenomenon, it has a wide range of functionality and, therefore, has a great cultural impact on all spheres of life, both human and social, from a worldview and axiological aspect to a praxeological and ontological one. That is why the analysis of the internal links between Protestantism and culture becomes an urgent research challenge for academic religious studies.
Chiliastic-eschatological sectarian association of Jehovah-Ilinists
Authors: Shuhayeva Liudmyla M.
Published: November 2019

The notion of "Orthodox sectarianism" is much narrower than the concept of "religious sectarianism" and may mean a complete doctrine or individual religious ideas that have formed on the basis of the Orthodox cult. However, this concept causes the existence of a somewhat organized circle of like-minded people.
The Impact of Reformation Ideas on the Understanding of I.Ohienko by the Essence of Ukrainian Orthodoxy
Authors: Nedzelsky K.K.
Published: November 2019

A study of the creative heritage of Ivan Ogienko (Metropolitan Hilarion) provides a solid basis for concluding: Ukrainian Orthodoxy, in its dialectical interrelations with the peculiarities of the Ukrainian national mentality, exists quite realistically. A deep awareness of the reality of the existence of the Ukrainian Orthodoxy phenomenon has given him his whole conscious life to fight for the renewal of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, for its autocephaly, and for proving that Ukrainian Orthodoxy is significantly different from Russian Orthodoxy. Therefore, it is not possible to confuse not only on cult grounds, but also on ideological and existential characteristics side by side, co-existing for two centuries in the territory of Ukraine, two Orthodox Churches - the Russian and Ukrainian
Geopolitical consequences of the transfer of the Metropolitan Department from Kiev to Vladimir over Klyazma (13th c.)
Authors: Sheretyuk Ruslana M.
Published: November 2019

The relocation of two Metropolitan Metropolitan Kirill II (1250-1281) and Maxim (1285-1305) to the North, to Vladimir above Klyazma, put the Galicia-Volyn state and the Ukrainian Church in a difficult position. While Kiev remained the actual Metropolitan Chair, the latter could stay in the northern Russian cities for a long time, without causing much anxiety or dissatisfaction in the South. However, with the relocation of Metropolitan Maxim to permanent residence in the capital of the North-Russian Grand Duke (1299), the rulers of the southwestern region of Russia realized that in this way they were losing significant spiritual and political power, which henceforth gave the North the advantage of the All-Russian genius.
The liquidation of the Uniate Church in the East Podillya in 1794-1796
Authors: Hihlach B.M.
Published: November 2019

The study of the problem of religious relations is of particular interest, since upon the annexation to Russia, during the years 1794-1796, and in some places until 1798, the almost complete elimination of the Uniate Church in Right-Bank Ukraine took place. This issue has been covered extensively in pre-revolutionary historiography, including at the local level. Thus, the history of the existence and liquidation of the Uniate Church in Podillya became the leading topic of research of the "Podolsky Diocesan Historical and Statistical Committee". Another printed organ, where the church-historical information about Podolsk parishes, collected by priests, became Podilskie Eparchial Gazettes. The main idea behind the content of these studies was that Podillya was considered as originally Russian possession, and Orthodoxy was the only possible denomination of the land.
The role of Gerasim Smotrytsky in the Ostroh Bilaya edition
Authors: Shevchuk S.
Published: November 2019

The release of the Ostroh Bible in 1581 was a huge event in the history of Ukrainian culture. The book was recognized by the entire Slavic world, which contributed to its rapid spread among the Slavic peoples. For 170 years the Ostroh Bible has become the most revered publication and not worthy of its rival. The importance of the Ostroh Bible among other cultural and historical circumstances was also conditioned by the fact that its publication was attended by well-known figures of Ukrainian history and culture of the sixteenth century. Among them are the prominent Ukrainian polemicist Gerasim Smotrytsky.
The Spiritual-Conservative Phenomenon of Gregory Skovoroda and the Reality of the Ukrainian Neo-Baroque in the Context of the Revival of Christian Individuality
Authors: Yamchuk P.M.
Published: November 2019

To start thinking about the Gregory Skovoroda phenomenon and its promising interconnectedness with the culture of the hoped for, we want from a series of somewhat unexpected considerations and parallels that we hope will reflect both the subject matter itself and the prospects for the future. It is well-known that Kharkov entered the modern history of Ukraine as the “second capital of our statehood, as the capital of constructivist modern Ukraine of the 1920s, which, and this is often forgotten, favoring Kyiv and the West of Ukraine, became the birthplace and epicenter of a powerful national-cultural movement Ukrainianization. It was in Kharkov that a unique aesthetic phenomenon was born and flourished - literature and art of the firing Renaissance.
Stages of formation of religious and philosophical doctrine of L. Silenko
Authors: Bednarchyk T.R.
Published: November 2019

The religious and philosophical doctrine of L. Silenko is the canonical basis of the doctrine of the religious organization of the Sons and Daughters of Ukraine of the Native Ukrainian National Faith (OSCE RUNVira) in the Western Diaspora and religious organizations that emerged on the basis of RUNVira in independent Ukraine. This doctrine became final in the early 1980's and is in this form the most famous in modern Ukraine. RUNVira is the most studied denomination of the Ukrainian denominational religious movement in the diaspora.
The convergent processes of the religious life of our time
Authors: Martynyuk Eduard
Published: November 2019

The most common tendencies in religious life of the second half of the twentieth century, which I propose to call "convergent processes". The term "convergence" (from the Latin. Convergentio, convergo - converge, approach) was first used by German scholar Henry Frick in his work Comparative Religion. In seeking to approximate the terminology of the natural sciences and social sciences, begun by DF Schlemmacher, G. Frick used the term in the sense in which it was already used primarily in biology, where this concept characterizes the process of appearance of similarities in the structure and functions in distant the origin of the organisms as a result of their adaptation to the same conditions of existence. The term was used by the researcher to refer to similar processes in different religions
Fundamentalism and Liberalism in Contemporary Christianity
Authors: Buchma Oleg Vasyliovych
Published: November 2019

Christian modernism ends with neoclassical nihilism, which, unlike classical nihilism, which denied life in the name of the highest values, denies these values, replacing them with human values - "too human, because morality replaces religion, and progress, history itself, divine values "(J. Deleuze). This is Nietzschean nihilism of the "death of God" and the otherworldly
Christian spirituality and its modern constructs
Authors: Kulagina-Stadnichenko Hanna M.
Published: November 2019

An absurd feature of modernity is the value-meaning vacuum that characterizes not only post-totalitarian countries but also developed countries of the world. That is why the search for spiritual dominance becomes an important feature of the postmodern era. This is especially necessary because social forms of life external to man often give the human existence a marginal, deviant orientation. In this context, the problem of spirituality arises not only as a problem of the survival of society, of civilization as a whole, but also becomes personally relevant.
Problematika Pendidikan di Mesir dalam Cerpen Fî Al-Qithâr Karya Mahmoud Taymour (Analisis Sosiologi Sastra)
Authors: Dzulkifli Mohammad
Published: November 2019

This study aims to reveal the educational problems of Egyptian society contained in the "Fi al-Qithar" short story by Mahmoud Taymur and its relevance to the social reality of Egyptian society in the early 19th century. The reason the researchers chose the "Fi al-Qithar" short story was because it was the first Modern Arabic short story that appeared in Egypt that represented a lot of the social reality of society and the pattern of life in Egypt at that time. This research includes qualitative research by using Sociology of Literary theory, and uses hermeneutic analysis methods to interpret and explain to the reader about the meaning contained in the short story. The results of this study conclude that there are social phenomena adopted by the authors in this short story, including the problem of educational equity, social inequality, urban elite slavery and government officials over ordinary people such as farmers and laborers, and the role of religious leaders in dealing with problems happens in the midst of society.
The Influence of Listening English Pop Songs to Improve Learners' Vocabulary at LKP Nuansa Jaya
Authors: Hendrawaty Nurmala
Published: November 2019

Improving English vocabulary through listening can be done by using English songs that are liked by learners. Therefore, the objectives of this research are to know whether there is an influence of listening to English songs on learners’ vocabulary at LKP Nuansa Jaya English Course in Jakarta or not and to identify and classify the word classes of six selected English pop songs. This is a quantitative and qualitative descriptive research employed by 15 young learners. There is an influence of listening English song on learners’ vocabulary at LKP Nuansa Jaya since the average score of listening test is 75.33. Dealing with identifying and classifying the word classes of six selected English song lyrics, it indicates that the most difficult word class is noun (9.51%); the second is adjective (12.08%); the third is verb (13.37%); the forth is preposition (14.14%); the fifth is adverb (15.17%); the sixth is conjunction (17.22%); the seventh or the easiest one is pronoun (18.51%). As a result, to increase learners’ vocabulary knowledge and mastery, word classes are identified chronologically in every song lyric; then, it is designed into a pocket dictionary. The selection of word classes are based on the results of learners’ vocabulary scores and familiarity. The more difficult the word classes are the more examples are provided. Besides, the meaning of the word classes is translated into Indonesian to make learners easy to understand.

 

Keywords: Listening, English Pop Songs, Vocabulary
Applying Think-Pair-Share Model in Vocabulary Learning
Authors: Ihsan Muhamad
Published: November 2019

This research aims at finding out whether thinkpair-share model of learning can be applied to improve the vocabulary mastery of the second semester of PAI 1 FTIK IAIN Palu. The researcher focused the vocabulary learning with the objectives: 1) to know the meaning of the words; 2) to know the pronunciation of the words; 3) to know the category of the words; and 4) to know how to use the words in sentences or contexts. The subject of this research was 20 students of the second semester of PAI 1 FTIK IAIN Palu. This was a classroom action research which was done in two months. The researcher applied two cycles during the research. The result of the research shows that the application of think-pair-share model can improve the vocabulary learning of the the second semester of PAI 1 FTIK IAIN Palu. This can be proven by the increase from 8 students (40%) in cycle 1 to 15 students (75%) who got score greater than 75 of 20 students in cycle 2. The treatment was stopped after 75% of the classical achievement has met the criteria of success. Therefore, the application of think-pair-share technique was effective to improve the vocabulary mastery.
Integrated Lesson in Teaching Oral Skill
Authors: Amalia Ila
Published: November 2019

This study aimed to identify the integrated lesson as an alternative teaching strategy in pronunciation teaching. The pronunciation teaching mainly focused on word ending of past tense regular verbs. The participants of the study included a lecturer and 30 students of English education department. To collect the data, the researcher used observation and reading test. The result showed that the lecturer employed the integrated lesson based on some criteria: the students, the lecturer, the learning environment, the learning resources, and the classroom activities. The reading test result showed that from 30 students, 11 students got 100% of correctness, 3 students got 95% of correctness, 5 students got 90% of correctness, 4 students got 85% of correctness, 3 students got 80% of correctness, 2 students got 75% correctness, and 2 students got 70% of correctness. It was indicated that integrated lesson accomplished by the lecturer with careful planning and preparation could give positive influence to the students’ language comprehension and performance.
WORK PLACEMENT, ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT AND EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE:
Authors: Sari Puteri Andika , Sa'adah Putri Nur
Published: November 2019

Mismatch between skills, expertise and work placements among civil servants is often a phenomenon that occurs in many public service offices in Indonesia. This condition is exacerbated by low organizational commitment. Because these two aspects can lead to poor public service, this study aims to evaluate the impact of work placements and organizational commitment on employee performance. The results of Partial Least Square (PLS) analysis show that work placements have a positive and significant impact on employee performance. However, despite its positive influence on employee performance, organizational commitment does not have a significant impact on their performance. This study provides an overview of the performance of the tourism agency in one of the regional governments of West Java Province of Indonesia.
WEB USERS’ ATTITUDE TOWARD POP-UP ADVERTISEMENTS IN WESTERN PROVINCE OF SRI LANKA
Authors: Katuwandeniya Ishara Madurangi , Abeywardana Ashani Randi Shanika
Published: November 2019

Advertisers have been able to expose to modern channels and modern platforms of advertising. This enables to create an immediate global presence and generate greater value to the companies. Among these modern platforms, the internet act as a communication medium that allows companies to create awareness, provide information, and influence others. Therefore companies increasingly saw the internet as an important medium through which advertising messages can be directed towards consumers. Using a self-administered questionnaire, a survey study was conducted, and data were collected from 360 university students of four major universities in Western Province. The findings of the study revealed that only entertaining and irritating factors impact on attitude toward pop-up ads. While entertaining factor positively impacts on attitude, irritating factor negatively impacted on the attitude towards pop-ups. Critical consideration by companies before choosing a pop-up as their advertising mode is needed as web users' negative attitude towards it can impact adversely. Further, it will be helpful for advertisers to create more attractive and user-friendly pop-up advertisements.
PROPERTY SALES TAX AND BUYING INTEREST IN INDONESIA
Authors: Upa Vierly Ananta , Karundeng Frandy E.F.
Published: November 2019

The Surabaya city government still applies the old rules, which do not implement a reduction in property sales tax rates. Data from the Office of Revenue and Financial Management (DPPK) The Surabaya city government noted, in 2015 the revenue from property sales tax reached Rp 825 billion. This is the reason behind the Surabaya city government's refusal to reduce property sales tax rates. Based on this, we want to examine whether the policies taken by the Surabaya government to not reduce property sales tax rates can affect the interest of the purchasing power of the people of Surabaya. The population in this study were all people residing in the city of Surabaya. The data collection technique carried out by the researcher was a purposive sampling technique. In this study, researchers used questionnaires as data collection techniques. The results showed that the decision of the Surabaya city government to reject the decline in property sales tax rates did not affect the people's buying interest in property in Surabaya
Composition of Picocyanobacteria Community in The Great Mazurian Lakes: Isolation of Phycoerythrin-Rich and Phycocyanin-Rich Ecotypes from the System – Comparison of two Methods
Authors: JASSER IWONA , KARNKOWSKA-ISHIKAWA ANNA , KOZŁOWSKA EWA , KRÓLICKA ADRIANA , ŁUKOMSKA-KOWALCZYK MAJA
Published: November 2019

The study showed that the picocyanobacteria community of the Great Mazurian Lakes system (GML) was dominated by phycoerythrin-rich (PE) ecotypes and demonstrated a gradual decrease of the ratio between PE and phycocyanin-rich (PC) ecotypes. The Great Mazurian Lakes offer better conditions for the PE ecotype than for the PC one, despite the considerably high trophic status, probably thanks to low turbidity and attenuation of light in the water column. The successful isolation of PE and PC picocyanobacteria was achieved by two methods: the classic plate method and a modified flow-cytometry method. The modified flow-cytometry method proved to be superior: being more selective for PE picocyanobacteria as well as less time consuming and less laborious. The modifications introduced to the method, such us concentration of cyanobacterial cells by centrifugation to the density required by the flow cytometer, did not hinder the isolation while allowing to skip an intermediate phase of enrichment cultures that had been formerly proposed. The first phylogenetic analyses based on cpcBA operon and 16S rRNA gene demonstrated that picocyanobacteria isolates from GML could, with a high bootstrap support, be grouped into five and four clusters, respectively. Based on a cpcBA-IGS analysis and IGS length the study suggests that at least one of the clusters is new and has not been previously described.
A New Report of a Mosaic Dwarf Viroid-Like Disease on Mulberry Trees in China
Authors: WANG WEN-BING , FEI JIAN-MING , WU YAN , BAI XI-CHUAN , YU FENG , SHI GUO-FANG , LI YU-FENG , KUAI YUAN-ZHANG
Published: November 2019

A viroid-like disease causing mosaic leaves and dwarfism was found on mulberry plants in Zhejiang, China. Grafting of stems from infected plants onto healthy plants resulted in the same symptoms on the healthy plants. A circular small RNA (Mmd-v RNA1) was isolated from the infected plant leaves and caused identical symptoms after more than two years. Nucleotide sequencing indicated that the Mmd-v RNA1 contains 356 nt (GenBank accession no. NC_011362) without viroid characteristic regions, only sharing 30 nt sequence identity with that of the Cherry small circular viroid-like RNA 1 (isolate cscRNA1.150, GenBank accession no. DQ357628). This description is the first of viroid-like RNA infection of mulberry trees.
Evaluation of Different Methods for Detection of Metallo-beta-Lactamases in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Clinical Isolates
Authors: BOGIEL TOMASZ , DEPTUŁA ALEKSANDER , GOSPODAREK EUGENIA
Published: November 2019

Metallo-beta-lactamases (MBLs) produced by Pseudomnonas aeruginosa are a serious threat due to their ability to be transmitted between the same as well as different bacterial species. Different methods are applied in the clinical laboratory to detect MBLs. The aim of this study was to compare 4 phenotypic methods and a PCR assay for their ability to detect MBLs in clinical isolates of carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa strains. The study embraced a total of 70 carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa strains isolated in The Department of Microbiology of Dr. A. Jurasz University Hospital in Bydgoszcz. The highest percentage (42.9%) of the strains were isolated from Intensive Care Unit patients, mainly from urine samples (31.4%). Methods used in this study were: double-disc synergy tests in two combinations: using ceftazidime with 2-mercaptopropionic acid and imipenem with EDTA, differences in inhibition zone diameters between discs with imipenem/EDTA and imipenem, Etest MBL (AB Biodisk) and molecular amplification of bla(IMP) and bla(VIM) genes responsible for producing MBLs, using PCR assay. The lowest percentage (1.4%) of positive results in detection of MBLs was obtained using PCR assay, the highest (72.9%) by double-disc synergy tests with imipenem and EDTA, but the specificity of this method may be low.
Evaluation of in vitro Activities of Tigecycline and Various Antibiotics against Brucella spp.
Authors: OZHAK-BAYSAN BETIL , ONGUT GOZDE , OGUNC DILARA , GUNSEREN FILIZ , SEPIN-OZEN NEVGUN , OZTURK FERYAL , AKTEPE ORHAN CEM , GULTEKIN MERAL
Published: November 2019

Brucellosis is a zoonosis with a worldwide distribution and remains a significant public health problem mainly in the developing world. In this study we evaluated the in vitro activities and synergistic effects of antibiotic combinations against blood culture isolates of Brucella spp. In vitro susceptibilities of 76 blood culture isolates of Brucella melitensis and one blood culture isolate of Brucella abortus to doxycycline, streptomycin, gentamicin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, moxifloxacin, rifampin, ciprofloxacin, and tigecycline were examined by Etest method. For 37 patients with Brucella spp. isolates (36 B. melitensis, 1 B. abortus), antibiotic combinations used for treatment were identified with those tested in vitro for synergy using Etest method. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and tigecycline were the most active of the compounds tested with MIC90 value of 0.094 mg/l. Among antibiotic combinations only streptomycin-rifampin combination was synergistic for one Brucella spp. isolate. The other antibiotic combinations revealed antagonistic or indifferent activity. Complete clinical response was achieved in all patients. Further studies are required to determine the correlation between the antimicrobial susceptibility and synergy test results with the clinical course of patients. Brucellosis can be adequately treated with existing regimens in our region.
Analysis of Helicobacter pylori Genotypes in Afghani and Iranian Isolates
Authors: DABIRI HOSSEIN , BOLFION MEHDI , MIRSALEHIAN AKBAR , REZADEHBASHI MARYAM , JAFARI FERESHTEH , SHOKRZADEH LEILA , SAHEBEKHTIARI NAVID , ZOJAJI HOMAYON , YAMAOKA YOSHIO , MIRSATTARI DARIOUSH , ZALI MOHAMMAD REZA
Published: November 2019

The geographical variation in Helicobacter pylori genotypes is an observed phenomenon. Cytotoxin associated genes A (cagA) and E (cagE), and vacuolating cytotoxin (vacA) genotypes of H. pylori are associated with peptic ulcer disease (PUD). This study compared the distribution of these genotypes in Iranian and Afghani isolates and their association with clinical outcomes. H. pylori infected patients, as proven by positive culture, were recruited prospectively. A total of 70 patients, 55 Iranian (26 men and 29 women, mean age 48 +/- 18 years) and 15 Afghani immigrants (13 men and 2 women, mean age 34.8 +/- 11 years) living in Tehran, Iran were enrolled in this study. DNA was extracted from isolated H. pylori and polymerase chain reaction was carried out to determine the cagA and cagE status and vacA alleles. The number of gastric cancer, peptic ulcer and gastritis cases was 11, 23 and 36, respectively. The cagA positive isolates were more common in Iranian (67%) than Afghani isolates (60%). cagE was positive in 53% of Afghani compared to 51% of Iranian isolates. The most common vacA s-region genotype was s1; 80% in Afghani and 67% in Iranian. The slml was a frequently observed genotype in Afghani strains (53%) while s1m2 (47%) was more common in strains isolated from Iranian patients. There is a difference in the H. pylori strains between Iranian and Afghani groups, for instance Iranian isolates were similar to European isolates while Afghani isolates were similar to isolates from India. However, there was no significant association between cagA, cagE and vacA genotypes and clinical outcomes in Iranian and Afghani patients.
Complex Nature of Enterococcal Pheromone-Responsive Plasmids
Authors: WARDAL EWA , SADOWY EWA , HRYNIEWICZ WALERIA
Published: November 2019

Pheromone-responsive plasmids constitute a unique group of approximately 20 plasmids identified, as yet, only among enterococcal species. Several of their representatives, e.g. pAD1, pCF10, pPD1 and pAM373 have been extensively studied. These plasmids possess a sophisticated conjugation mechanism based on response to sex pheromones--small peptides produced by plasmid-free recipient cells. Detailed analysis of regulation and function of the pheromone response process revealed its great complexity and dual role--in plasmid conjugation and modulation of enterococcal virulence. Among other functional modules identified in pheromone plasmids, the stabilization/partition systems play a crucial role in stable maintenance of the plasmid molecule in host bacteria. Among them, the par locus of pAD1 is one of the exceptional RNA addiction systems. Pheromone-responsive plasmids contribute also to enterococcal phenotype being an important vehicle of antibiotic resistance in this genus. Both types of acquired vancomycin resistance determinants, vanA and vanB, as well many other resistant phenotypes, were found to be located on these plasmids. They also encode two basic agents of enterococcal virulence, i.e. aggregation substance (AS) and cytolysin. AS participates in mating-pair formation during conjugation but can also facilitate the adherence ofenterococci to human tissues during infection. The second protein, cytolysin, displays hemolytic activity and helps to invade eukaryotic cells. There are still many aspects of the nature of pheromone plasmids that remain unclear and more detailed studies are needed to understand their uniqueness and complexity.
Optimization of Medium Composition for Enhancing Growth of Lactobacillus rhamnosus PEN Using Response Surface Methodology
Authors: POLAK-BERECKA MAGDALENA , WAŚKO ADAM , KORDOWSKA-WIATER MONIKA , PODLEŚNY MARCIN , TARGOŃSKI ZDZISŁAW , KUBIK-KOMAR AGNIESZKA
Published: November 2019

Response surface methodology was used to optimize media components such as carbon and nitrogen (simple and complex) sources, mineral agents and growth factors (B vitamins, amino acids) for enhancing the biomass production of Lactobacillus rhamnosus PEN. For screening experiment the following carbon sources were selected: glucose, glucose+pyruvate, glucose+citrate, glucose+lactate, galactose, fructose, lactose, sucrose, maltose, lactulose, fructooligosaccharides, maltodextrins DP 4-7 and DP 13-17. Nitrogen sources such as yeast extract, meat extract and peptone K were used in lower concentrations than in MRS medium which served as a control. All experiments were run at 37 degrees C for 24-48 h under stationary conditions. Constituents chosen after the first screening experiments were further screened by the Plackett-Burman design. Glucose and sodium pyruvate, meat extract, potassium phosphate, sodium acetate, and ammonium citrate were chosen as promising medium components for further optimization studies. By solving the regression equation and analyzing the response surface carton, optimal concentrations of the components were determined as: glucose (13.4 g/l), sodium pyruvate (3.4 g/l), meat extract (7.2 g/l), potassium phosphate (2.0 g/I), sodium acetate (5.0 g/1) and ammonium citrate (2.0 g/l). In comparison to MRS broth the optimal medium contained fewer ingredients and in modified amounts but Lb. ihamnosus PEN showed better growth activity. Biomass concentration (as dry cell weight) of bacteria cultivated in optimal medium at bioreactor conditions was 5.5 g/l after 16 h of incubation, being higher in comparison with bacterial growth in MRS medium (1.9 g/l) under the same conditions. Moreover, the new medium was less expensive.
Metabolic Activity of Moulds as a Factor of Building Materials Biodegradation
Authors: GUTAROWSKA BEATA
Published: November 2019

This paper presents the effect of building materials on the growth and metabolic activity of moulds. In cultures of Aspergillus and Penicillium moulds grown on a model medium with the addition of building materials, the biomass of mycelium, its cellular components--glucan, chitin, ergosterol and the spectrum of enzymes and organic acids produced in the medium were investigated. It was found that on the medium with wallpaper moulds produced more biomass and extracellular enzymes, mainly glycolytic ones. On medium with mortar the growth of mycelium was impeded, production of biomass was 60% smaller, the quantity of chitin, glucan and ergosterol decreased 13-41%, and the activity of most enzymes was reduced; however the moulds intensively produced organic acids: malic, succinic and oxalic acid. The largest acid production activity was found in medium with addition of mortar; moulds produced the greatest variety of acids and in greater quantities than in the control medium. Metabolic activity of the moulds depends on the type of building material, and may lead to biodeterioration of these materials.
Resistance for Anti-Tuberculosis Drugs in Central Black Sea Region of Turke
Authors: BILGIN SALIH , UNSAL MEFTUN , CEBI HASAN HAMZA , AKGUNES ALPER
Published: November 2019

One of the primary aims in tuberculosis (TB) management is to detect new cases as early as possible, and instigate the most appropriate therapy, for which it is important to know the characteristics of TB drug resistance in society. The aim of our study was to determine the resistance status of tuberculosis in the Samsun region of Turkey. To achieve that, the medical records of 1,029 pulmonary tuberculosis patients admitted to Samsun Chest Diseases and Chest Surgery Hospital between 2004 and 2006 were analyzed for drug resistance characteristics. In order to define the problem, isolates were tested on Lowenstein-Jensen medium. For drug susceptibility testing, isoniazid (I), streptomycin (S), ethambutol (E), rifampicin (R) and the radiometric Bactec 460 TB system were used. Eighty-six percent (86%) of the cases (623/721) were new patients, and 13.5% (98/721) were previously treated cases. One hundred and thirty-four (134) of the 721 patients (18.6%) had resistance to one or more drugs. Resistance to any drug was determined in 16.9% (105/623) cases of new patients. I resistance was 13.2%, any R resistance was 2.9%, and multi-drug resistance (MDR) was 1.9%. In previously treated cases, resistance to any drug was 29.6%, any I resistance was 26.5%, any R resistance was 15.3%, and MDR was 13.3%. It was concluded that resistance to anti-tuberculosis drugs is an important problem in Samsun.
False Negative Results in High Viremia Parvovirus B19-Samples Tested with Real-Time PCR
Authors: GRABARCZYK PIOTR , KALIŃSKA ALEKSANDRA , SULKOWSKA EWA , BROJER EWA
Published: November 2019

Extremely high viremia is observed during some viruses infection, especialy in immunocompromised patients. False negative results of Parvovirus B 19 DNA tests performed with real-time PCR in high viremic samples are reported. The way of fluorescence diagrams analysis and algorithm of positive result confirmation to exclude such phenomenon are proposed.
The First Case of a Staphylococcus pseudintermedius Infection after Joint Prosthesis Implantation in a Dog
Authors: MIĘDZOBRODZKI JACEK , KASPROWICZ ANDRZEJ , BIAŁECKA ANNA , JAWORSKA OLGA , POLAKOWSKA KLAUDIA , WŁADYKA BENEDYKT , DUBIN ADAM
Published: November 2019

We have reported a bacterial infection in a dog with progressive dysplasia of the hips. Orthopedic surgery was performed. Seven weeks prior to the surgery, the patient was bitten by another dog. The postimplantation wound exuded for four days after the surgery. Microbiological analysis performed by standard identification techniques showed the presence of Staphylococcus intermedius, but an additional molecular analysis indicated S. pseudintermedius. This was followed by an evaluation of antibiotic susceptibility of the strain which showed cefoxitin, ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, doksycycline, erythromycin, and gentamicin resistance. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for selected antibiotics were reported. Resistance for cefoxitin indicates that methicillin resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP) strains were present in individual macroorganisms, but they can expand and persist the colonization of other hosts.
Determination of Toxoplasma gondii Recombinant ROP2 and ROP4 Antigens Diagnostic Value on Mouse Experimental Model
Authors: GATKOWSKA JUSTYNA , DZIADEK BOŻENA , BRZOSTEK ANNA , DZIADEK JAROSŁAW , DZITKO KATARZYNA , DŁUGOŃSKA HENRYKA
Published: November 2019

The aim of this study was to test the potential diagnostic usefulness of recombinant Toxoplasma gondii rhoptry antigens, ROP2 and ROP4, with respect to toxoplasmosis detection and infection phase distinction in laboratory mouce by determining specific serum IgM and IgG antibodies with the use of indirect ELISA technique. The mice antibody response to ROP antigens was significantly higher in the IgM than in the IgG class with the peak on the turn of acute and latent infection, whereas the response to recombinant SAG1 antigen, used as control, revealed preferential synthesis of IgG antibodies with the highest absorbance values measured during latent toxoplasmosis.
Bacteriophage Receptors, Mechanisms of Phage Adsorption and Penetration into Host Cell
Authors: RAKHUBA D.V. , KOLOMIETS E.I. , DEY E. SZWAJCER , NOVIK G.I.
Published: November 2019

Bacteriophages are an attractive tool for application in the therapy of bacterial infections, for biological control of bacterial contamination of foodstuffs in the alimentary industry, in plant protection, for control of water-borne pathogens, and control of environmental microflora. This review is mainly focused on structures governing phage recognition of host cell and mechanisms of phage adsorption and penetration into microbial cell.
Clonal Analysis of Staphylococcus aureus Strains Isolated in Obstetric-Gynaecological Hospital
Authors: SZCZUKA EWA , SZUMAŁA-KĄKOL ANNA , SIUDA ANNA , KAZNOWSKI ADAM
Published: November 2019

Epidemiological studies were carried out on 135 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus strains originating from medical staff, patients, and hospital environment. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis revealed genetic diversity of S. aureus isolates. Some clones were transmitted among nurses, doctors and patients. Our studies also demonstrate contamination of the hospital environment with S. aureus strains and there is a possibility that the patients acquire staphylococci from the environment. Moreover, we found that many medical staff workers were colonized with S. aureus and the transmission of these strains to patients is possible.
Optimisation of Synthetic Medium Composition for Levorin Biosynthesis by Streptomyces levoris 99/23 and Investigation of its Accumulation Dynamics Using Mathematical Modelling Methods
Authors: STANCHEV VESELIN S. , KOZHUHAROVA LUBKA Y. , ZHEKOVA BORIANA Y. , GOCHEV VELIZAR K.
Published: November 2019

The composition of a synthetic culture medium for levorin biosynthesis by Streptomyces levoris 99/23 was optimised using mathematical modelling methods. The optimal concentrations of the medium components were established by means of an optimum composition design at three factor variation levels. An adequate regression model was obtained. Levorin biosynthesis by Streptomyces levoris 99/23 in the optimised synthetic medium was over 38% higher than in the initial medium. The antibiotic biosynthesis dynamics in the optimised culture medium was studied by means of a non-linear differential equation system. The resultant model was valid.
Cytotoxic Activity of Serratia marcescens Clinical Isolates
Authors: KRZYMIŃSKA SYLWIA , RACZKOWSKA MARTA , KAZNOWSKI ADAM
Published: November 2019

Twenty Serratia marcescens isolates from clinical specimens were examined for their cytotoxic activity on four cell lines (HEp-2, Vero, CHO, J774). Most of the isolates were found to be cytotoxic to CHO (70%), Vero (75%) and HEp-2 cells (90%). CHO cells were the most sensitive to cell-free supernatants, followed by HEp-2 and Vero cells. Two strains produced cytotonic toxins which caused elongation of CHO cells. Moreover, twelve isolates (60%) revealed cytotoxic potential to macrophage cell line J774. The results indicate that these bacteria may destroy phagocytes and epithelial cells, which may lead to spread within the host.
Pyogenic Streptococci – Danger of Re-Emerging Pathogens
Authors: SITKIEWICZ IZABELA , HRYNIEWICZ WALERIA
Published: November 2019

Beta-hemolytic, pyogenic streptococci are classified according to type of major surface antigen into A (Streptococcus pyogenes), B (Streptococcus agalactiae), C (multiple species including Streptococcus dysagalactiae) and G (multiple species including Streptococcus canis) Lancefield groups. Group A Streptococcus causes each year hundreds of thousands deaths globally as a result of infections and post-infectional sequelae. An increasing number of severe, invasive infections is caused by selected, specialized pathogenic clones. Within the last 50 years, an increasing number of human infections caused by groups B, C and G Streptococcus (GBS, GCS, GGS) has been observed worldwide. GBS was first identified as animal pathogen but the spectrum of diseases caused by GBS quickly shifted to human infections. Groups C and G Streptococcus are still regarded mostly as animal pathogens, however, an increased number of severe infections caused by these groups is observed. The increasing number of human infections caused worldwide by GCS/GGS can be a sign of similar development from animal to human pathogen as observed in case of GBS and this group will gain much more clinical interest in the future.The situation in Poland regarding invasive infections caused by pyogenic streptococci is underestimated.
Gemini Alkylammonium Salts as Biodeterioration Inhibitors
Authors: BRYCKI BOGUMIŁ
Published: November 2019

To protect materials against biodeterioration, physical, biological or chemical methods can be used. Chemical inhibitors of biodeterioration are the most common and effective. A new class of chemical inhibitors-gemini alkylammonium salts-shows excellent biocidal properties and good ecological profile. These compounds can be applied as biodeterioration inhibitors in a wide variety of materials.
Biofilm Forming Multi Drug Resistant Staphylococcus spp. among Patients with Conjunctivitis
Authors: MURUGAN K. , USHA M. , MALATHI P. , AL-SOHAIBANI A. SALEH , CHANDRASEKARAN M.
Published: November 2019

Biofilm forming multidrug resistant Staphylococcus spp. are major reservoirs for transmission of ophthalmic infections. They were isolated from ocular patients suffering from conjunctivitis. In this study we analyzed biofilm forming ability, antibiotic resistance profile of the Staphylococcus spp. isolated from clinical ocular patients, and their phylogenetic relationship with other community MRSA. Sixty Staphylococcus spp. strains isolated from clinical subjects were evaluated for their ability to form biofilm and express biofilm encoding ica gene. Among them 93% were slime producers and 87% were slime positive. Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis were dominant strains among the isolates obtained from ocular patients. The strains also exhibited a differential biofilm formation quantitatively. Antibiotic susceptibility of the strains tested with Penicillin G, Ciprofloxacin, Ofloxacin, Methicillin, Amikacin, and Gentamicin indicated that they were resistant to more than one antibiotic. The amplicon of ica gene of strong biofilm producing S. aureus strains, obtained by polymerase chain reaction, was sequenced and their close genetic relationship with community acquired MRSA was analyzed based on phylogenetic tree. Our results indicate that they are genetically close to other community acquired MRSA.
β-glucuronidase and β-glucosidase activity of Lactobacillus and Enterococcus Isolated from Human Feces
Authors: MROCZYŃSKA MARTA , LIBUDZISZ ZDZISŁAWA
Published: November 2019

The domination of microorganisms characterized by excessive activity of the so-called fecal enzymes may be one of the reasons of the large intestine cancers. These enzymes are mainly those that belong to the hydrolase and reductase classes and their excessive activity may lead to disorders in the functioning of the digestive tract. The aim of tise research was to determine the activity of beta-glucuronidase and beta-glucosidase of Lactobacillus and Enterococcus strains isolated from the feces of healthy children, aged 1 and 8, and adults, aged 30 and 80. The analysis included 10 strains isolated from the feces of individuals in each of the age groups. beta-glucuronidase activity in the case of the isolates from children, depending on the strain, equaled from about 0.15 mM/h/mg of protein to 0.26 mM/h/mg of protein and was lower, respectively, by 52.35% and 57.81%, than the beta-glucosidase activity. Simultaneously, the activity of the Lactobacillus enzymes from children was 2.4 times higher, and in case of the isolates obtained from adults they were 4.6 and 2.7 times higher than the activity of the Entercoccus enzymes. The highest beta-glucuronidase activity was observed in Lactobacillus isolates coming from an 80-year-old subject. The differences between the activity of Enterococcus beta-glucuronidase isolated from the feces of 1 and 8 year old children were statistically insignificant. On the other hand, in the case of the subjects aged 30 and 8 the isolates were characterized by activity lower by, respectively. 48% and 37% than the isolates coming from children. The highest beta-glucosidase activity was discovered in the case of Lactobacillus and Enterococcus coming from children, which was higher by 32% than the activity of the isolates from adult persons. Therefore, it was determined that the activity of beta-glucuronidase of Lactobacillus strains isolated from feces from people aged 80 was the highest, and the isolates of the examined microorganisms coming from children were characterized by the highest beta-glucosidase activity.
Evaluating the Combined Efficacy of Polymers with Fungicides for Protection of Museum Textiles against Fungal Deterioration in Egypt
Authors: ABDEL-KAREEM OMAR
Published: November 2019

Fungal deterioration is one of the highest risk factors for damage of historical textile objects in Egypt. This paper represents both a study case about the fungal microflora deteriorating historical textiles in the Egyptian Museum and the Coptic museum in Cairo, and evaluation of the efficacy of several combinations of polymers with fungicides for the reinforcement of textiles and their prevention against fungal deterioration. Both cotton swab technique and biodeteriorated textile part technique were used for isolation of fungi from historical textile objects. The plate method with the manual key was used for identification of fungi. The results show that the most dominant fungi isolated from the tested textile samples belong to Alternaria, Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Penicillium and Trichoderma species. Microbiological testing was used for evaluating the usefulness of the suggested conservation materials (polymers combined with fungicides) in prevention of the fungal deterioration of ancient Egyptian textiles. Textile samples were treated with 4 selected polymers combined with two selected fungicides. Untreated and treated textile samples were deteriorated by 3 selected active fungal strains isolated from ancient Egyptian textiles. This study reports that most of the tested polymers combined with the tested fungicides prevented the fungal deterioration of textiles. Treatment of ancient textiles by suggested polymers combined with the suggested fungicides not only reinforces these textiles, but also prevents fungal deterioration and increases the durability of these textiles. The tested polymers without fungicides reduce the fungal deterioration of textiles but do not prevent it completely.