scholarly journals Metagenomic Evaluation of Bacterial and Fungal Assemblages Enriched within Diffusion Chambers and Microbial Traps Containing Uraniferous Soils

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajneesh Jaswal ◽  
Ashish Pathak ◽  
Ashvini Chauhan
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Chamber ◽  
Bioinformatic Analysis ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Diffusion Chambers ◽  
The Core ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Successful Isolation ◽  
Historically Contaminated Soil ◽  
Abundance And Diversity ◽  
Enrichment Techniques

Despite significant technological advancements in the field of microbial ecology, cultivation and subsequent isolation of the vast majority of environmental microorganisms continues to pose challenges. Isolation of the environmental microbiomes is prerequisite to better understand a myriad of ecosystem services they provide, such as bioremediation of contaminants. Towards this end, in this culturomics study, we evaluated the colonization of soil bacterial and fungal communities within diffusion chambers (DC) and microbial traps (MT) established using uraniferous soils collected from a historically contaminated soil from Aiken, USA. Microbial assemblages were compared between the DC and MT relative to the native soils using amplicon based metagenomic and bioinformatic analysis. The overall rationale of this study is that DC and MT growth chambers provide the optimum conditions under which desired microbiota, identified in a previous study to serve as the “core” microbiomes, will proliferate, leading to their successful isolation. Specifically, the core microbiomes consisted of assemblages of bacteria (Burkholderia spp.) and fungi (Penicillium spp.), respectively. The findings from this study further supported previous data such that the abundance and diversity of the desired “core” microbiomes significantly increased as a function of enrichments over three consecutive generations of DC and MT, respectively. Metagenomic analysis of the DC/MT generations also revealed that enrichment and stable populations of the desired “core” bacterial and fungal microbiomes develop within the first 20 days of incubation and the practice of subsequent transfers for second and third generations, as is standard in previous studies, may be unnecessary. As a cost and time cutting measure, this study recommends running the DC/MT chambers for only a 20-day time period, as opposed to previous studies, which were run for months. In summation, it was concluded that, using the diffusion chamber-based enrichment techniques, growth of desired microbiota possessing environmentally relevant functions can be achieved in a much shorter time frame than has been previously shown.

scholarly journals Thoracic Surgery during Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): The Experience of a Level 1 Trauma Center

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy Smelt ◽  
Gowthanan Santhirakumaran ◽  
Paul Vaughan ◽  
Ian Hunt ◽  
Carol Tan
Keyword(s):  
Thoracic Surgery ◽  
Trauma Center ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
World Health ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Trauma Service ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Level 1 Trauma Center

Abstract Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel coronavirus primarily affecting the respiratory system, was initially diagnosed in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. Identified as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by the World Health Organization, the virus rapidly became a global pandemic. The effects on health care worldwide were unprecedented as countries adapted services to treat masses of critically ill patients.The aim of this study is to analyze the effect that the COVID-19 pandemic had on thoracic surgery at a major trauma center during peak prevalence. Methods Prospective unit data were collected for all patients who underwent thoracic surgery during March 2020 until May 2020 inclusive. Retrospective data were collected from an earlier comparable time period as a comparison. Results In the aforementioned time frame, 117 thoracic surgical operations were performed under the care of four thoracic surgeons. Six operations were performed on three patients who were being treated for SARS-CoV-2. One operation was performed on a patient who had recovered from SARS-CoV-2. There were no deaths due to SARS-CoV-2 in any patient undergoing thoracic surgery. Conclusion This study demonstrates that during the first surge of SARS-CoV-2, it was possible to adapt a thoracic oncology and trauma service without increase in mortality due to COVID-19. This was only possible due to a significant reduction in trauma referrals, cessation of benign and elective work, and the more stringent reprioritization of cancer surgery. This information is vital to learn from our experience and prepare for the predicted second surge and any similar future pandemics we might face.

scholarly journals The Genomics Education Partnership: Successful Integration of Research into Laboratory Classes at a Diverse Group of Undergraduate Institutions

2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher D. Shaffer ◽  
Consuelo Alvarez ◽  
Cheryl Bailey ◽  
Daron Barnard ◽  
Satish Bhalla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genomic Sequence ◽  
Undergraduate Research ◽  
Bioinformatic Analysis ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
The Core ◽  
Undergraduate Institutions ◽  
Genomics Research ◽  
Genomics Education ◽  
Washington University ◽  
Genome Center

Genomics is not only essential for students to understand biology but also provides unprecedented opportunities for undergraduate research. The goal of the Genomics Education Partnership (GEP), a collaboration between a growing number of colleges and universities around the country and the Department of Biology and Genome Center of Washington University in St. Louis, is to provide such research opportunities. Using a versatile curriculum that has been adapted to many different class settings, GEP undergraduates undertake projects to bring draft-quality genomic sequence up to high quality and/or participate in the annotation of these sequences. GEP undergraduates have improved more than 2 million bases of draft genomic sequence from several species of Drosophila and have produced hundreds of gene models using evidence-based manual annotation. Students appreciate their ability to make a contribution to ongoing research, and report increased independence and a more active learning approach after participation in GEP projects. They show knowledge gains on pre- and postcourse quizzes about genes and genomes and in bioinformatic analysis. Participating faculty also report professional gains, increased access to genomics-related technology, and an overall positive experience. We have found that using a genomics research project as the core of a laboratory course is rewarding for both faculty and students.

The Discourses on Post-National Governance and the Democratic Deicit Absent an EU Government

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cesare Pinelli
Keyword(s):  
Time Frame ◽  
Representative Democracy ◽  
Political Life ◽  
Political Accountability ◽  
Joint Decision ◽  
The Core ◽  
Commission President ◽  
The Eu

The enduring joint decision trap in the absence of European government – Postnational constitutionalism – The dismissal of politics – Accountability of government before parliament at the core of representative democracy – Internalising the benefits and of externalising the disadvantages of staying together in the Union possible as long as political accountability is not ensured in the EU system – Breathing political life into the EU through constitutional practice without formal Treaty amendment – A time-frame for approval of treaty amendments – EP and the election of Commission president

scholarly journals Analytical and diagnostic performances of a high-throughput immunoassay for SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Padoan ◽  
Chiara Cosma ◽  
Paolo Zaupa ◽  
Mario Plebani
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Symptom Onset ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Onset Time ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Analytical Imprecision ◽  
Range Of Values

BackgroundAbstractReliable SARS-CoV-2 serological assays are required for diagnosing infections, for the serosurveillance of past exposures and for assessing the response to future vaccines. In this study, the analytical and clinical performances of a chemiluminescent immunoassays for SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG detection (Mindray CL-1200i), targeting Nucleocapsid (N) and receptor binding domain (RBD) portion of the Spike protein, were evaluated.MethodsPrecision and linearity were evaluated using standardized procedures. A total of 157 leftover serum samples from 81 hospitalized confirmed COVID-19 patients (38 with moderate and 43 with severe disease) and 76 SARS-CoV-2 negative subjects (44 healthcare workers, 20 individuals with rheumatic disorders, 12 pregnant women) were included in the study. In an additional series of 44 SARS-CoV-2 positive, IgM and IgG time kinetics were also evaluated in a time-period of 38 days.ResultsPrecision was below or equal to 4% for both IgM and IgG, in all the studied levels, whilst a slightly significant deviation from linearity was observed for both assays in the range of values covering the manufacturer’s cut-off. Considering a time frame ≥ 12 days post symptom onset, sensitivity and specificity for IgM were 92.3% (95%CI:79.1%-98.4%) and 92.1% (95%CI:83.6%-97.0%). In the same time frame, sensitivity and specificity for IgG were 100% (95%CI:91.0%-100%) and 93.4% (95%CI:85.3%-97.8%). The assays agreement was 73.9% (Cohen’s kappa of 0.373). Time kinetics showed a substantial overlapping of IgM and IgG response, the latter values being elevated up to 38 days from symptoms onset.ConclusionsAnalytical imprecision is satisfactory as well as the linearity, particularly when taking into account the fact that both assays are claimed to be qualitative. Diagnostic sensitivity of IgG was excellent, especially considering specimens collected ≥12 days post symptom onset. Time kinetics suggest that IgM and IgG are detectable early in the course of infection, but the role of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in clinical practice still requires further evaluations.

scholarly journals Diversification, Branding, and Performance of Professional Service Firms

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 353-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina Castaldi ◽  
Marco S. Giarratana
Keyword(s):  
Service Providers ◽  
Professional Service ◽  
Panel Regression ◽  
Service Firms ◽  
Professional Service Firms ◽  
Specific Product ◽  
The Core ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Consulting Firms ◽  
And Performance

This article analyzes the effects of diversification and brand breadth on firm performance for professional service firms (PSFs). The research aim is two-fold. First, we test whether moving into products may put at risk the core resources that sustain PSFs’ competitive advantage. Second, we study which branding strategies best match their diversification attempts. Broad (narrow) brands characterize a branding strategy with scarce (plentiful) associations to specific product characteristics. We analyzed trademark portfolios of 47 U.S.-based management consulting firms in the 2000 to 2009 time period. Panel regression results suggest that (1) PSFs always benefit from diversification when they remain pure-service providers; (2) performance is positively related to a strategy of specialized narrow brands.

scholarly journals COVID-19 and thyroid disease: an infodemiological pilot study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ioannis ILIAS ◽  
Charalambos MILIONIS ◽  
Eftychia KOUKKOU
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Disease ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Specific Symptom ◽  
Disease Epidemiology ◽  
Frame Sequence ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Cross Correlation Analysis ◽  
Time Periods ◽  
Per Se

Abstract Introduction: Some studies have linked COVID-19 with thyroid disease. Google Trends (GT) searches may reflect disease epidemiology. Recently, GT searches for COVID-19-associated terms have been linked to the epidemiology of COVID-19. In this study we aimed to assess COVID-19 cases per se vs COVID-19-associated GT searches and thyroid-associated GT searches. Materials-Methods: We collected data on worldwide weekly GT searches regarding “COVID-19”, “SARS-COV-2”, “coronavirus”, “smell”, “taste”, “fatigue”, “cough”, “thyroid”, “thyroiditis” and “subacute thyroiditis” for 92 weeks and worldwide weekly COVID-19 cases' statistics in the same time period. The study period was split in half and in each time period we performed cross-correlation analysis and mediation analysis. Results Significant positive CCF values were noted in both time periods; while COVID-19 cases per se were associated with “thyroid” searches in both time periods, significant CCFs for “fatigue”, “COVID-19” and “SARS-COV-s” were mostly found in the second time period. In the latter period, the effect of “COVID-19” searches on “thyroid” searches was significantly mediated by COVID-19 cases (p=0.048). Discussion COVID-19 cases per se were found to be associated with no lag with GT searches for COVID-19 symptoms in the first time period and in the second time period to lead searches for symptoms, COVID-19 terms as well as thyroid terms. Searches for a non-specific symptom or COVID-19 search terms mostly lead GT “thyroid” searches, in the second time period. This time frame/sequence particularly in the second time period (noted by the preponderance of the SARS-COV-2 delta variant), lends some credence to associations of COVID-19 cases per se with (apparent) thyroid disease (via searches for them).

Introduction

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-43
Author(s):  
Tsolin Nalbantian
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Ottoman Empire ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Armenian Genocide ◽  
Diaspora Studies ◽  
Mandatory Rule ◽  
Political Ideologies ◽  
Time Period ◽  
The Cold War ◽  
Armenian Population

The Introduction contextualizes the Armenian population in Lebanon. It distinguishes between Armenians who lived in Lebanon prior to the division of the Ottoman Empire, in the wake of the Armenian Genocide, and after the establishment of French and British mandatory rule in the Levant. In addition, it outlines the ecclesiastic, class, linguistic, and political gamut of the Armenian population in Lebanon. It analyzes how Armenians organized themselves according to the villages and centers in the Ottoman Empire that they hailed from and reformed their political ideologies, affiliations, and ecclesiastic connections resulting in the establishment of mini-enclaves within Armenian-populated neighborhoods in Lebanon. The introduction also positions the book within four fields: histories of Armenians, Lebanon, the Cold War in the Middle East, and the Diaspora Studies. The innovation of linking these fields together through the themes of identification, belonging, and articulating citizenship produces fresh readings of the time period. This intervention draws attention to experiences that established scholarship does not adequately tackle, increasing the possible ways and methods to study and approach the region, its inhabitants, and historical time frame.

scholarly journals Radioautographic Studies of Bone Marrow Lymphocytes in Vivo and in Diffusion Chamber Cultures

Blood ◽  
1964 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. G. OSMOND ◽  
N. B. EVERETT
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Bone Marrow Cells ◽  
Tritiated Thymidine ◽  
Diffusion Chamber ◽  
Blood Stream ◽  
Turnover Time ◽  
Diffusion Chambers ◽  
Transitional Cells

Abstract Radioautography with tritiated thymidine has been utilized to examine the turnover rate and origin of small lymphocytes in the bone marrow of the guinea-pig. Very few marrow lymphocytes were initially labeled by a single injection of tritiated thymidine, but thereafter the number of labeled lymphocytes rapidly increased to high maximum levels at 3 days. Analysis of the labeling curves and grain counts indicates that the population of marrow lymphocytes is maintained in a dynamic steady state with an average turnover time of 3 days or less. Suspensions of bone marrow cells were isolated from the circulation within intraperitoneal diffusion chambers after short-term labeling with tritiated thymidine in vivo. Although very few small lymphocytes were labeled when introduced into the diffusion chambers, a considerable percentage became labeled during the subsequent culture period. Tritiated thymidine was also administered intravenously whilst excluded from one hind limb by the application of an occlusive compression bandage for 20 minutes. Very few labeled small lymphocytes were found after 72 hours in the tibial marrow of the initially occluded limb, whereas the normal high percentage was labeled in the control tibial marrow. These experiments do not demonstrate any large-scale influx of small lymphocytes from the blood stream into the marrow parenchyma. They suggest that newly formed small lymphocytes appear in the marrow as a result of the division of locally situated precursor cells, but the mechanism of intramedullary lymphocytopoiesis is uncertain. "Transitional" cells, intermediate in morphology between blast cells and small lymphocytes, synthesize DNA and are actively proliferative, but they do not appear to account fully for the rate of lymphocyte production. Certain large, undifferentiated labeled cells appeared in the bone marrow as a result of hematogenous migration. Some implications of these findings are discussed.

Combining temperature rate and level perspectives in emission metrics

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Borgar Aamaas ◽  
Terje K. Berntsen ◽  
Jan S. Fuglestvedt ◽  
Glen P. Peters
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Baseline Scenario ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Global Temperature Change ◽  
Temperature Rate ◽  
Dangerous Anthropogenic Interference ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract. The ultimate goal of the United Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is reconfirmed by the Paris Agreement, is to stabilize the climate change at level that prevents dangerous anthropogenic interference, and it should be achieved within a time frame that allow the natural systems to adapt. Numerous emission metrics have been developed and applied in relation to the first target, while very few metrics have focused on the second target regarding rate of change. We present here a simple and analytical physical emission metric based on the rate of global temperature change and link that to a metric based on a target for the temperature level. The rate of change perspective either can supplement the level target or can be considered together in one commitment that needs one combined metric. Both emission metrics depend on assumptions on a temperature baseline scenario. We give some illustrations on how this framework can be used, such as different temperature rate and level constraints based on the Representative Concentration Pathways. The selection of the time horizon, for what time period and length the rate constraint is binding, and how to weight the rate and level metrics are discussed. For a combined metric, the values for short-lived climate forcers are larger in periods where the critical rate is binding, with larger temporal increases during the rate constraint period as the atmospheric perturbation timescale of the species becomes shorter. Global CO2 emissions remain the most important, or among the most important, drivers of temperature rates even during periods of binding rate constraints.

CHANGES IN PROTEOGLYCAN AND SULFATED PROTEIN SYNTHESIS DURING MEGAKARYOCYTE MATURATION IN VIVO

1987 ◽  
Author(s):  
B P Schick ◽  
C J Walsh ◽  
T Jenkins-West
Keyword(s):  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
The Core ◽  
Small Peak ◽  
Core Proteins ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Sds Page ◽  
Isoelectric Points ◽  
Average Size ◽  
Triton X

We investigated changes in sulfated proteoglycan (PG) and sulfated protein synthesis during megakaryocyte (MK) maturation in vivo by characterizing the (35S)-labeled molecules in MKs and platelets (PLTs) obtained daily from 3 hr to 5 days after injection of guinea pigs with (35S)sulfate. Radioactivity in macromolecules was maximal in MKs 3 hr and in PLTs 3 days after the injection. The cells were solubilized in 8M urea/50mM Tris/0.2% Triton X-100/0.1M NaCl, and PGs and sulfoproteins were separated by DEAE-Sephacel chromatography. PGs (65% of cell 35s) were eluted as two fractions, one (PG-1, 87%) with 4M Gdn HC1 and another (PG-2, 13%) with 4M Gdn HCl/2% TX-100. The Kav of PLT PG-1 on Sepharose CL-6B shifted gradually from 0.18 to 0.10 from 1-5 days after (35S) injection, and the smaller and larger PG-1 species were resolved on SDS-PAGE by fluorography. The size of PG-1 molecules was a function of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chain length. The appearance of the different size PG-1 molecules in PLTs was accounted for by their disappearance from MKs over the same time period. Thus the size of the PG-1 synthesized by MKs decreased with MK maturation. The (35S)-PG-2 appeared in PLTs only 2-3 days after (35S) injection, had Kav 0.07 on CL-6B, but had GAGs of the same average size as those of PG-1. The hydrophobic character of PG-2 suggests that it might be the membrane PG. PG-1 and PG-2 were separated by SDS-PAGE and identified by fluorography. The core proteins of PG-1 and PG-2 were obtained by chondroitinase digestion and identified by SDS-PAGE and fluorography. The GAGs of PG-1 and PG-2 were almost entirely chondroitin-6-sulfate. The average size of PG-1 was 200,000 and its GAGs about 45,000.The sulfated proteins (20-25% of total cell 35S) eluted in the wash-through of the DEAE-Sephacel column and with 0.23M NaCl. Their isoelectric points were 4.0-6.5. They eluted as a small peak near the V0 and a major broad peak from Kav 0.3-0.6 on CL-6B columns, and could be identified as at least 8 distinct bands on SDS-PAGE by fluorography. Digestion with NaOH/NaBH4, Pronase or papain released small (35S)-labeled fragments, and the (35S) appeared to be associated with oligosaccharides. The sulfoproteins appeared in PLTs primarily 2-4 days after (35S) injection, and different proteins were labeled at different time points.

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