scholarly journals Atmospheric CO2availability does not equate to increased nodularin production in diazotrophic cyanobacteria, but does induce varying responses in net photosynthesis and N2fixation rates

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Wannicke ◽  
Michelle M. Gehringer
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Net Photosynthesis ◽  
Toxin Production ◽  
Cyanobacterial Blooms ◽  
Concomitant Increase ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Diazotrophic Cyanobacteria ◽  
Near Future

AbstractIncreasing levels of CO2in the atmosphere are suggested to favour increased incidences of cyanobacterial blooms in water bodies, with a potential concomitant increase in toxin production. As nitrogen fixing cyanobacteria are independent of nitrate and ammonium, this pilot study investigated whether elevated atmospheric CO2levels (eCO2), could increase toxin production and net photosynthesis (NP) rates in both terrestrial and aquatic diazotrophic cyanobacteria. Both toxin and non-toxin producing strains ofNostocandNodulariawere grown at present atmospheric levels (PAL) of CO2or near future elevated (eCO2) and net photosynthesis (NP) determined. Short term responses demonstrated CO2associated increases and decreases in NP, withN. harveyanaSAG44.85 showing little change in its NP at eCO2. Long term responses recorded increases in NP for all species in response to eCO2, except forN. harveyanaon day 7. Nitrogen fixation rates were significantly higher by approx. 10 fold in the aquaticNodulariaspecies compared to the terrestrialNostocspecies tested. Moreover, nitrogen fixation rates were not significantly higher at eCO2, except forN. harveyana. There was no direct correlation between increased nodularin production and eCO2in neither aquatic, nor terrestrial nodularin producing species, however there was a significant correlation between nodularin content and POC:PON ratio for the terrestrialNostocsp. 73.1 not observed for the aquaticNodularia spumigenaCCY9414.

scholarly journals Visions of Human Futures in Space and SETI

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason T. Wright ◽  
Michael P. Oman-Reagan
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Science Fiction ◽  
Dark Matter Particle ◽  
Short Term ◽  
National Science ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Near Future ◽  
Far Future ◽  
Made In

We discuss how visions for the futures of humanity in space and SETI are intertwined, and are shaped by prior work in the fields and by science fiction. This appears in the language used in the fields, and in the sometimes implicit assumptions made in discussions of them. We give examples from articulations of the so-called Fermi Paradox, discussions of the settlement of the Solar System (in the near future) and the Galaxy (in the far future), and METI. We argue that science fiction, especially the campy variety, is a significant contributor to the ‘giggle factor’ that hinders serious discussion and funding for SETI and Solar System settlement projects. We argue that humanity's long-term future in space will be shaped by our short-term visions for who goes there and how. Because of the way they entered the fields, we recommend avoiding the term ‘colony’ and its cognates when discussing the settlement of space, as well as other terms with similar pedigrees. We offer examples of science fiction and other writing that broaden and challenge our visions of human futures in space and SETI. In an appendix, we use an analogy with the well-funded and relatively uncontroversial searches for the dark matter particle to argue that SETI's lack of funding in the national science portfolio is primarily a problem of perception, not inherent merit.Also on arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/1708.05318Please cite this version:Wright, Jason T., and Michael P. Oman-Reagan. “Visions of Human Futures in Space and SETI.” International Journal of Astrobiology, 2017, 1–12. doi:10.1017/S1473550417000222.

Differential Effects of Worry and Imagery After Exposure to a Stressful Stimulus: A Pilot Study

1995 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gillian Butler ◽  
Adrian Wells ◽  
Hilary Dewick
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Emotional Processing ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Differential Effects ◽  
Short And Long Term ◽  
Intrusive Cognitions ◽  
Stressful Stimulus ◽  
Do So

Imagery appears to be associated with higher levels of anxiety than does worry. Borkovec has argued that worry could be a way of avoiding distressing imagery and the associated affect. Thus worry could suppress emotional activation, interfere with emotional processing, and contribute to the maintenance of anxiety. This hypothesis suggests that short and long-term effects of worrying after experiencing a distressing stimulus should differ from the effects of engaging in imagery. In the short term, imagery should maintain anxiety while worry should not do so, or should do so less. In the longer term, worry should be a less successful way of reducing anxiety associated with the stimulus than imagery, and should be followed by a greater number of intrusive cognitions (indicating the relative failure of emotional processing). These predictions were tested by asking subjects to worry, engage in imagery or “settle down” after watching a distressing video. The results were broadly consistent with the hypothesis. Other interpretations are also considered.

scholarly journals Control and remediation methods for eutrophic lakes in the past 30 years

2020 ◽  
Vol 81 (6) ◽  
pp. 1099-1113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Zhang ◽  
Pingping Luo ◽  
Shuangfeng Zhao ◽  
Shuxin Kang ◽  
Pengbo Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Cyanobacterial Blooms ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Eutrophic Lakes ◽  
Lake Ecosystems ◽  
The Past ◽  
Incomplete Removal

Abstract Accelerated eutrophication, which is harmful and difficult to repair, is one of the most obvious and pervasive water pollution problems in the world. In the past three decades, the management of eutrophication has undergone a transformation from simple directed algal killing, reducing endogenous nutrient concentration to multiple technologies for the restoration of lake ecosystems. This article describes the development and revolution of three remediation methods in application, namely physical, chemical, and biological methods, and it outlines their possible improvements and future directions. Physical and chemical methods have obvious and quick effects to purify water in the short term and are more suitable for small-scale lakes. However, these two methods cannot fundamentally solve the eutrophic water phenomenon due to costly and incomplete removal results. Without a sound treatment system, the chemical method easily produces secondary pollution and residues and is usually used for emergency situations. The biological method is cost-effective and sustainable, but needs a long-term period. A combination of these three management techniques can be used to synthesize short-term and long-term management strategies that control current cyanobacterial blooms and restore the ecosystem. In addition, the development and application of new technologies, such as big data and machine learning, are promising approaches.

scholarly journals New Scheme of Intermittent Benznidazole Administration in Patients Chronically Infected with Trypanosoma cruzi: a Pilot Short-Term Follow-Up Study with Adult Patients

2015 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 833-837 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Gabriela Álvarez ◽  
Yolanda Hernández ◽  
Graciela Bertocchi ◽  
Marisa Fernández ◽  
Bruno Lococo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Liver Enzymes ◽  
Main Criterion ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Follow Up Study ◽  
End Of Treatment ◽  
Chronic Chagas Disease

ABSTRACTThere is a clinical need to test new schemes of benznidazole administration that are expected to be at least as effective as the current therapeutic scheme but safer. This study assessed a new scheme of benznidazole administration in chronic Chagas disease patients. A pilot study with intermittent doses of benznidazole at 5 mg/kg/day in two daily doses every 5 days for a total of 60 days was designed. The main criterion of response was the comparison of quantitative PCR (qPCR) findings prior to and 1 week after the end of treatment. The safety profile was assessed by the rate of suspensions and severity of adverse effects. Twenty patients were analyzed for safety, while qPCR was tested for 17 of them. The average age was 43 ± 7.9 years; 55% were female. Sixty-five percent of treated subjects showed detectable qPCR results prior to treatment of 1.45 (0.63 to 2.81) and 2.1 (1.18 to 2.78) parasitic equivalents per milliliter of blood (par.eq/ml) for kinetoplastic DNA (kDNA) qPCR and nuclear repetitive sequence satellite DNA (SatDNA) qPCR, respectively. One patient showed detectable PCR at the end of treatment (1/17), corresponding to 6% treatment failure, compared with 11/17 (65%) patients pretreatment (P= 0.01). Adverse effects were present in 10/20 (50%) patients, but in only one case was treatment suspended. Eight patients showed mild adverse effects, whereas moderate reactions with increased liver enzymes were observed in two patients. The main accomplishment of this pilot study is the promising low rate of treatment suspension. Intermittent administration of benznidazole emerges a new potential therapeutic scheme, the efficacy of which should be confirmed by long-term assessment posttreatment.

scholarly journals Assessment of the intellectual capital evaluation practices in Romanian IT companies

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 870-882
Author(s):  
Cynthia Bianka Incze ◽  
Simona Vasilache
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Focal Point ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Evaluation Practices ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Quantitative And Qualitative Research ◽  
Near Future ◽  
Evaluation Patterns

Abstract Intellectual capital started to raise and become a focal point of many businesses as they started invest in their own knowledge based activities and recognize its importance. In today’s world can be observed a more dynamic, flexible and growth oriented business environment than ever. Thus, the need for an increased amount of intangible assets in businesses lead to the recognition of the intellectual capital as a competitive advantage and strategic asset. Due to its expanding importance and relevance a significant number of measurement, valuation and evaluation methods were developed. Consensus regarding different methods was not yet reached, but all these methods are designed to help to get an approximation of the reality, thus contributing in short-term and long-term decision making. The aim of the paper is to assess the level of intellectual capital evaluation practices in multinational IT companies and IT SMEs in Romania. The study is questionnaire based and represents a mix of quantitative and qualitative research. Overall, although the challenge of intellectual capital evaluation remains significant, this study leads to the opportunity to identify evaluation patterns, best practices and a short list of useful evaluation indicators for businesses which already are or could be implemented in the near future.

The repeated cytogenetic analysis of subjects occupationally exposed to nanoparticles: a pilot study

Mutagenesis ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Rossnerova ◽  
Daniela Pelclova ◽  
Vladimir Zdimal ◽  
Pavel Rossner ◽  
Fatima Elzeinova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Human Study ◽  
Inhalation Exposure ◽  
Micronucleus Assay ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Short Term Exposure ◽  
Occupationally Exposed ◽  
Chromosomal Breaks ◽  
Clastogenic Effect

Abstract The application of nanomaterials has been rapidly increasing during recent years. Inhalation exposure to nanoparticles (NP) may result in negative toxic effects but there is a critical lack of human studies, especially those related to possible DNA alterations. We analyzed pre-shift and post-shift a group of nanocomposite researchers with a long-term working background (17.8 ± 10.0 years) and matched controls. The study group consisted of 73.2% males and 26.8% females. Aerosol exposure monitoring during a working shift (involving welding, smelting, machining) to assess the differences in exposure to particulate matter (PM) including nanosized fractions <25–100 nm, and their chemical analysis, was carried out. A micronucleus assay using Human Pan Centromeric probes, was applied to distinguish between the frequency of centromere positive (CEN+) and centromere negative (CEN−) micronuclei (MN) in the binucleated cells. This approach allowed recognition of the types of chromosomal damage: losses and breaks. The monitoring data revealed differences in the exposure to NP related to individual working processes, and in the chemical composition of nanofraction. The cytogenetic results of this pilot study demonstrated a lack of effect of long-term (years) exposure to NP (total frequency of MN, P = 0.743), although this exposure may be responsible for DNA damage pattern changes (12% increase of chromosomal breaks—clastogenic effect). Moreover, short-term (daily shift) exposure could be a reason for the increase of chromosomal breaks in a subgroup of researchers involved in welding and smelting processes (clastogenic effect, P = 0.037). The gender and/or gender ratio of the study participants was also an important factor for the interpretation of the results. As this type of human study is unique, further research is needed to understand the effects of long-term and short-term exposure to NP.

scholarly journals Botulism in Wild Birds and Changes in Environmental Habitat: A Relationship to be Considered

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1034
Author(s):  
Elena Circella ◽  
Antonio Camarda ◽  
Luca Bano ◽  
Giacomo Marzano ◽  
Roberto Lombardi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Activity ◽  
Toxin Production ◽  
Wild Birds ◽  
Natural Area ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Anas Crecca ◽  
Fulica Atra ◽  
Type C ◽  
Wildlife Reserve

Any human activity, even if aimed at the improvement of a natural area, can potentially affect wildlife, leading to possible short-term or long-term changes due to the human–wildlife interaction. In this study, a botulism outbreak which occurred in waterfowl in a nature reserve after a conservative environmental action is reported. More than 180 different species of wild birds, including seventy waterfowl species, live in the area. The wildlife reserve rangers built an artificial pond equipped with draining canals in the wetland in order to improve the environment of waterfowl species and to facilitate their supply of food. Then, presumably due to tidal rides, gray mullets (Mugil cephalus) arrived from the sea and settled in the pond. The number of fishes gradually increased, and several fishes died with a peak of mortality in the summer of 2017, creating a great amount of decaying organic material and the optimal conditions for Clostridium botulinum growth and toxin production. A botulism outbreak then occurred rapidly and was characterised by flaccid paralysis and sudden mortality of the birds. Seven mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos), 4 common teals (Anas crecca), 1 garganey (Anas querquedula), 2 wood sandpipers (Tringa glareola), 1 little egret (Egretta garzetta), 1 little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis), and 4 Eurasian coots (Fulica atra) were found dead. Interestingly, the toxin identified as responsible for the disease outbreak was the mosaic of type C and D toxins (C/D type). The prompt removal of the fish carcasses led to a rapid resolution of the outbreak of the disease, highlighting the relevance of a correct management for any action in environmental contexts. The conclusion is that any human activity in wildlife habitats should be carefully considered in order to assess the possible impacts and to quickly identify the possible risks of changes in wildlife population.

scholarly journals Visions of human futures in space and SETI

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason T. Wright ◽  
Michael P. Oman-Reagan
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Science Fiction ◽  
Dark Matter Particle ◽  
Short Term ◽  
National Science ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Near Future ◽  
Far Future ◽  
Made In

AbstractWe discuss how visions for the futures of humanity in space and SETI are intertwined, and are shaped by prior work in the fields and by science fiction. This appears in the language used in the fields, and in the sometimes implicit assumptions made in discussions of them. We give examples from articulations of the so-called Fermi Paradox, discussions of the settlement of the Solar System (in the near future) and the Galaxy (in the far future), and METI. We argue that science fiction, especially the campy variety, is a significant contributor to the ‘giggle factor’ that hinders serious discussion and funding for SETI and Solar System settlement projects. We argue that humanity's long-term future in space will be shaped by our short-term visions for who goes there and how. Because of the way they entered the fields, we recommend avoiding the term ‘colony’ and its cognates when discussing the settlement of space, as well as other terms with similar pedigrees. We offer examples of science fiction and other writing that broaden and challenge our visions of human futures in space and SETI. In an appendix, we use an analogy with the well-funded and relatively uncontroversial searches for the dark matter particle to argue that SETI's lack of funding in the national science portfolio is primarily a problem of perception, not inherent merit.

scholarly journals Three-Dimensional Nuclear Telomere Profiling as a Biomarker for Recurrence in Oligodendrogliomas: A Pilot Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (22) ◽  
pp. 8539
Author(s):  
Macoura Gadji ◽  
Shubha Mathur ◽  
Brigitte Bélanger ◽  
Jaganmohan Reddy Jangamreddy ◽  
Josée Lamoureux ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Telomere Dysfunction ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Time To Recurrence ◽  
Potential Link ◽  
Touch Preparation

Mechanisms of recurrence in oligodendrogliomas are poorly understood. Recurrence might be driven by telomere dysfunction-mediated genomic instability. In a pilot study, we investigated ten patients with oligodendrogliomas at the time of diagnosis (first surgery) and after recurrence (second surgery) using three-dimensional nuclear telomere analysis performed with quantitative software TeloView® (Telo Genomics Corp, Toronto, Ontario, Canada). 1p/19q deletion status of each patient was determined by fluorescent in situ hybridization on touch preparation slides. We found that a very specific 3D telomeric profile was associated with two pathways of recurrence in oligodendrogliomas independent of their 1p/19q status: a first group of 8 patients displayed significantly different 3D telomere profiles between both surgeries (p < 0.0001). Their recurrence happened at a mean of 231.375 ± 117.42 days and a median time to progression (TTP) of 239 days, a period defined as short-term recurrence; and a second group of three patients displayed identical 3D telomere profiles between both surgery samples (p > 0.05). Their recurrence happened at a mean of 960.666 ± 86.19 days and a median TTP of 930 days, a period defined as long-term recurrence. Our results suggest a potential link between nuclear telomere architecture and telomere dysfunction with time to recurrence in oligodendrogliomas, independently of the 1p/19q status.

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