scholarly journals Impact of environmental factors on growth and satratoxin G production by strains of Stachybotrys chartarum

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Frazer ◽  
J. Pestka ◽  
J. Kim ◽  
A. Medina ◽  
D. Aldred ◽  
...  

The black mould Stachybotrys chartarum and its mycotoxins have been linked to damp building-associated illnesses. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of water availability (water activity, aw) and temperature on growth and production of satratoxin G (SG) by a macrocyclic trichothecene-producing strain (IBT 7711) and non-producing strain (IBT 1495) of S. chartarum. Growth studies were carried out on potato dextrose agar modified with glycerol to 0.995-0.92 aw at 10-37 °C. Growth extension was measured and the cultures were extracted after 10 days and a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method used to quantify the SG content. Growth was optimal at 25 to 30 °C at 0.995 aw, but this was modified to 0.98 aw at 30 °C for both strains (1.4-1.6 mm/day, respectively). The ELISA method revealed that, in contrast to growth, SG production was maximal at 20 °C with highest production at 0.98 aw (approximately 250 μg/g mycelia). When water was freely available (0.995 aw), SG was maximally produced at 15 °C and decreased as temperature was increased. Interestingly, the strain classified as a non-toxigenic produced very low amounts of SG (<1.6 μg/g mycelia) that were maximal at 25 °C and 0.98 aw. Contour maps for growth and SG production were developed from these data sets. These data have shown, for the first time, that growth and SG production profiles are very different in relation to key environmental conditions in the indoor environment. This will be very useful in practically determining the risk from exposure to S. chartarum and its toxins in the built environment.

2010 ◽  
Vol 8 (54) ◽  
pp. 117-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Schmidt-Heydt ◽  
R. Parra ◽  
R. Geisen ◽  
N. Magan

The effect of changes in temperature/water activity ( a w ) on growth, deoxynivalenol (DON) production and trichothecene gene cluster expression (18 genes) for strains of Fusarium culmorum and Fusarium graminearum was studied. The expression data for six key transcription genes ( TRI4, TRI5 , TRI6, TRI10, TRI12 and TRI13 ) were analysed using multiple regression analyses to model the relationship between these various factors for the first time. Changes in a w and temperature significantly ( p = 0.05) affected growth and DON. Microarray data on expression of these genes were significantly related to DON production for both strains. Multi-regression analysis was done and polynomial models found to best fit the relationship between actual/predicted DON production relative to the expression of these TRI genes and environmental factors. This allowed prediction of the amounts of DON produced in two-dimensional contour maps to relate expression of these genes to either a w or temperature. These results suggest complex interactions between gene expression ( TRI genes), environmental factors and mycotoxin production. This is a powerful tool for understanding the role of these genes in relation to environmental factors and enables more effective targeted control strategies to be developed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 32
Author(s):  
Mulyadi Adam ◽  
Raja Nurul Huda ◽  
Widya Zahara ◽  
Tongku Niswan Siregar ◽  
Sri Wahyuni ◽  
...  

The experiment was conducted to compare estrous performance between and estradiol level kacang and Nubian goats estrous induction by prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2α). Eight female goats were divided into two groups, groups 1 (K1) consisted five Nubian goats and group 2 (K2) included three kacang goats with criterias as follows: age 1.5-3.0 years old, not pregnant, at least two months postpartum, and healthy clinically. All goats were estrous synchronized by double injection 7,5 mg PGF2α intramuscularly with 10 days interval. Goats that appeared estrus symptoms were mated naturally to a male goat. Determination of estrous intensity was performed using scoring method. Blood samples were taken at the first time the goats were mated (day 0). The measurement of estradiol concentration was done by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Data of intensity, onset, duration, and estradiol level were analyzed using t test. The results showed that the rate of intensity, onset, duration, and estradiol level of estrous at KI vs KII were 2.08±0.52 vs 1.85±0.67, 56.00±34.11 vs 40.80±18.20 hours, and 24.00±26.15 vs 33.80±9.10 hours, and 103.51±42.49 vs 67.95±38.44 pg/ml (P>0,05). It can be concluded there was no difference of estrous performance and estradiol level between kacang and Nubian which estrous induction with PGF2α. The relationship between the intensity of estrus estradiol level in the Nubian goats was 0.995 while the kacang goats was 0.890.


2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 108
Author(s):  
Hasbi Hasbi ◽  
Herry Sonjaya ◽  
Sudirman Baco ◽  
Reski Amalia ◽  
Sri Gustina

Bali cattle are one of the original Indonesian germplasm, which in its development were found to be hornless or polled. Polled are Balinese cattle whose horns do not grow naturally, but have the same characteristics as those with horns. However, there are indications that polled have a lower libido. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of libido and testosterone concentration after gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) injection. In this study each of 7 male polled and horned Bali cattle aged 3.5-6 years were used. Libido characteristics were observed by recording the first time the male fondled the teaser until ejaculation, while the testosterone concentration was measured using blood plasma taken on day 0 or before injection, day 7<sup>th</sup>, and day 14<sup>th</sup> after GnRH injection. Testosterone analysis used enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. The results showed that the libido of polled was not different (P&gt;0.05) compared to that of the horned on the 0, 7<sup>th</sup> and 14<sup>th</sup> days after GnRH injection. However, in polled on the 7<sup>th</sup> day after GnRH injection, it was significantly lower than on day 0 and 14, but on day 0 it was not different with day 14. Testosterone concentration on day 7 after injection of GnRH was not different (P&gt;0.05) compared to day 0 both in polled and horned bulls, but on day 14 after injection was significantly higher (P&lt;0.05) in horned than polled. In conclusion, polled and horned Bali bulls had high libido with a score of +1, but on the 7<sup>th</sup> day after GnRH injection, polled had lower libido than horns. The testosterone concentrations of polled and horned on day 7 after GnRH injection were not different compared to day 0, while the 14<sup>th</sup> day was higher in horned bull.


Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) was isolated for the first time in Sweden in 1958 (from ticks and from 1 tick-borne encephalitis [TBE] patient).1 In 2003, Haglund and colleagues reported the isolation and antigenic and genetic characterization of 14 TBEV strains from Swedish patients (samples collected 1991–1994).2 The first serum sample, from which TBEV was isolated, was obtained 2–10 days after onset of disease and found to be negative for anti-TBEV immunoglobulin M (IgM) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), whereas TBEV-specific IgM (and TBEV-specific immunoglobulin G/cerebrospinal fluid [IgG/CSF] activity) was demonstrated in later serum samples taken during the second phase of the disease.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 2559
Author(s):  
Daniele Cerra ◽  
Miguel Pato ◽  
Kevin Alonso ◽  
Claas Köhler ◽  
Mathias Schneider ◽  
...  

Spectral unmixing represents both an application per se and a pre-processing step for several applications involving data acquired by imaging spectrometers. However, there is still a lack of publicly available reference data sets suitable for the validation and comparison of different spectral unmixing methods. In this paper, we introduce the DLR HyperSpectral Unmixing (DLR HySU) benchmark dataset, acquired over German Aerospace Center (DLR) premises in Oberpfaffenhofen. The dataset includes airborne hyperspectral and RGB imagery of targets of different materials and sizes, complemented by simultaneous ground-based reflectance measurements. The DLR HySU benchmark allows a separate assessment of all spectral unmixing main steps: dimensionality estimation, endmember extraction (with and without pure pixel assumption), and abundance estimation. Results obtained with traditional algorithms for each of these steps are reported. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that real imaging spectrometer data with accurately measured targets are made available for hyperspectral unmixing experiments. The DLR HySU benchmark dataset is openly available online and the community is welcome to use it for spectral unmixing and other applications.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (14) ◽  
pp. 3058
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Mielczarek-Palacz ◽  
Celina Kruszniewska-Rajs ◽  
Marta Smycz-Kubańska ◽  
Jarosław Strzelczyk ◽  
Wojciech Szanecki ◽  
...  

The aim of the analysis was for the first time to assess the expression of genes encoding IL-21 and IL-22 at the mRNA level in ovarian tumor specimens and the concentration of these parameters in serum and peritoneal fluid in patients with ovarian serous cancer. The levels of IL-21 and IL-22 transcripts were evaluated with the use of the real-time RT-qPCR. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the concentration of proteins. Quantitative analysis of IL-21 gene mRNA in the tumor tissue showed the highest activity in the G1 degree of histopathological differentiation and was higher in G1 compared to the control group. The concentration of IL-21 and IL-22 in the serum and in the peritoneal fluid of women with ovarian cancer varied depending on the degree of histopathological differentiation of the cancer and showed statistical variability compared to controls. The conducted studies have shown that the local and systemic changes in the immune system involving IL-21 and IL-22 indicate the participation of these parameters in the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer, and modulation in the IL-21/IL-22 system may prove useful in the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies used in patients, which require further research.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1420326X2097546
Author(s):  
Richard A Sharpe ◽  
Andrew J Williams ◽  
Ben Simpson ◽  
Gemma Finnegan ◽  
Tim Jones

Fuel poverty affects around 34% of European homes, representing a considerable burden to society and healthcare systems. This pilot study assesses the impact of an intervention to install a new first time central heating system in order to reduce fuel poverty on household satisfaction with indoor temperatures/environment, ability to pay bills and mental well-being. In Cornwall, 183 households received the intervention and a further 374 went onto a waiting list control. A post-intervention postal questionnaires and follow-up phone calls were undertaken ( n = 557) to collect data on household demographics, resident satisfaction with indoor environment, finances and mental well-being (using the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing scale). We compared responses between the waiting list control and intervention group to assess the effectiveness of the intervention. A total of 31% of participants responded, 83 from the waiting list control and 71 from the intervention group. The intervention group reported improvements in the indoor environment, finances and mental well-being. However, these benefits were not expressed by all participants, which may result from diverse resident behaviours, lifestyles and housing characteristics. Future policies need to consider whole house approaches alongside resident training and other behaviour change techniques that can account for complex interactions between behaviours and the built environment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (14) ◽  
pp. 6452
Author(s):  
César Ricardo Soto-Ocampo ◽  
Juan David Cano-Moreno ◽  
José Manuel Mera ◽  
Joaquín Maroto

Increasing industrial competitiveness has led to an increased global interest in condition monitoring. In this sector, rotating machinery plays an important role, where the bearing is one of the most critical components. Many vibration-based signal treatments are already being used to identify features associated with bearing faults. The information embedded in such features are employed in the construction of health indicators, which allow for evaluation of the current operating status of the machine. In this work, the use of contour maps to represent the diagnosis map of a bearing, used as a health map, is presented for the first time. The results show that the proposed method is promising, allowing for the satisfactory detection and evaluation of the severity of bearing damage. In this initial stage of the research, our results suggest that this method can improve the classification of bearing faults and, therefore, optimise maintenance processes.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gangadhar Ch ◽  
S. Jana ◽  
Sankararao Majji ◽  
Prathyusha Kuncha ◽  
Fantin Irudaya Raj E. ◽  
...  

Purpose For the first time in a decade, a new form of pneumonia virus, coronavirus, COVID-19, appeared in Wuhan, China. To date, it has affected millions of people, killed thousands and resulted in thousands of deaths around the world. To stop the spread of this virus, isolate the infected people. Computed tomography (CT) imaging is very accurate in revealing the details of the lungs and allows oncologists to detect COVID. However, the analysis of CT scans, which can include hundreds of images, may cause delays in hospitals. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in radiology could help to COVID-19-positive cancer in this manner is the main purpose of the work. Design/methodology/approach CT scans are a medical imaging procedure that gives a three-dimensional (3D) representation of the lungs for clinical purposes. The volumetric 3D data sets can be regarded as axial, coronal and transverse data sets. By using AI, we can diagnose the virus presence. Findings The paper discusses the use of an AI for COVID-19, and CT classification issue and vaccination details of COVID-19 have been detailed in this paper. Originality/value Originality of the work is, all the data can be collected genuinely and did research work doneown methodology.


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