Plasmid-encoded Tet B tetracycline resistance in Haemophilus parasuis

The complete sequence of two plasmids, pHS-Tet (5.1 kb) and pHS-Rec (9.5 kb), isolated from Haemophilus parasuis strain HS1543 has been obtained. Plasmid pHS-Tet contains four open reading frames including a tet(B) tetracycline resistance gene which unusually did not have an associated tetR repressor gene. From a total of 45 H. parasuis isolates surveyed (15 international reference strains, 15 field isolates selected for their genetic diversity, and 15 recent Australian field isolates), 2 tetracycline-resistant field isolates (HS226 and HS1859) were identified. Analysis of three additional isolates from the same disease outbreak as strain HS1859 revealed a further tetracycline-resistant H. parasuis strain (HS1857, serovar 8) and a tetracycline-resistant Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae strain (HS1861). An approximately 10.6-kb plasmid was identified in field isolate HS226 and outbreak strains HS1857, HS1859, and HS1861. Southern hybridization analysis of these plasmids showed that the Tet B determinant was present, and restriction digest comparisons suggest that these plasmids are related. This is believed to be the first report of native H. parasuis plasmids and Tet B-mediated tetracycline resistance in this microorganism

Peningkatan Aktivitas Pembelajaran dan Hasil Belajar Pendidikan Kewarganegaraan dengan Metode Diskusi Kelompok pada Siswa Kelas IV S Ekolah Dasar Negeri 03 Semayang Kabupaten Sanggau

The pourpose of the research iis to know the improving studeng activity of civics at grade IV student of SD 03 Semayang by using group discussion method. The method of this research is descriptive method using qualitative way in which the data or evidence is analyzed after collecting the data from the field. The subject of the research is 22 students of grade IV at elementary school 03 Semayang. The result of data analyzing show that after using group discussion method for 2 cycles, the student learning activity improves 19% at first cycles become 59 at second cycles. Increasing the presentage of student learning activity influences the improving students outcome in achiving KKM of Civic at school that is 60. In wich, the research shows that the student can achive KKm about 41% at first cycle increase 91% at the second cycle. So that, it can be conduded that by improving student learning activity using group discussion method can influence the improving student aoutcome at grade IV student of elementary school 03 Semayang

Conserve Epitopes of Influenza Virus Induce Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses to Produce Specific Antibody Against M2e Protein

The existing vaccines against influenza are based onthe generation of neutralizing antibody primarilydirected against surface protein, haemagglutinin(HA) and neuraminidase (NA). However, antigenicdrift and occasional shift of these two membraneglycoproteins, HA and NA, make vaccine productioncumbersome and necessitate yearly revision ofthe vaccine seed strains by the World HealthOrganization. For these reasons, many investigatorshave often tried to look at the possibility of generatinga universal vaccine useful against more than oneinfluenza strain. The objective of research was toobtain an alternative antigen as vaccine candidatefor universal flu vaccination, instead of HA and NAcomponents. In this study, we use conserved epitopeM2e which is consist of three major componentsuch as N-terminal M2e2-24 (24 amino acids),transmembrane(59 amino acids) and C-terminal (19amino acids). We design two components of antigen,linier and branched structures. The antigens thenformulated with aluminium hydroxide gel comparedto FCA/IFA adjuvant. These vaccines were testedtheir immunogenicity, and the potency to mature thedendritic cells for stimulating either CD8+ T cell orantibody-mediated immune responses. The antibodytitre and the maturity of dendritic cell indicated bycytokines concentration such as; IFN-ã, IL2 and IL4were measured by ELISA test.The result of researchshowed that the conserved epitope of Me2 2-16 whenincorporated with P25 protein from canine distempervirus (linear structure) in alhydrogel adjuvant hasgreater potential to produce anti-M2e antibodiesthan in Freund adjuvant. Alhydrogel adjuvant hada stronger effect than Freund adjuvant. Alhydrogelalso stimulate the release of IL-2 and IL-4

Measurement of ammonia emissions from temperate and sub-polar seabird colonies

The chemical breakdown of marine derived reactive nitrogen transported to the land as seabird guano represents a significant source of ammonia (NH3) in areas far from other NH3 sources. Measurements made at tropical and temperate seabird colonies indicate substantial NH3 emissions, with emission rates larger than many anthropogenic point sources. However, several studies indicate that thermodynamic processes limit the amount of NH3 emitted from guano, suggesting that the percentage of guano volatilizing as NH3 may be considerably lower in colder climates. This study undertook high resolution temporal ammonia measurements in the field and coupled results with modelling to estimate NH3 emissions at a temperate puffin colony and two sub-polar penguin colonies (Signy Island, South Orkney Islands and Bird Island, South Georgia) during the breeding season. These emission rates are then compared with NH3 volatilization rates from other climates. Ammonia emissions were calculated using a Lagrangian atmospheric dispersion model, resulting in mean emissions of 5 μg m-2 s-1 at the Isle of May, 12 μg m-2 s-1 at Signy Island and 9 μg m-2 s-1 at Bird Island. The estimated percentage of total guano nitrogen volatilized was 5% on the Isle of May, 3% on Signy and 2% on Bird Island. These values are much smaller than the percentage of guano nitrogen volatilized in tropical contexts (31-65%). The study confirmed temperature, wind speed and water availability have a significant influence on the magnitude of NH3 emissions, which has implications for reactive nitrogen in both modern remote regions and pre-industrial atmospheric composition and ecosystem interactions

A method for dynamic subtraction MR imaging of the liver

BACKGROUND: Subtraction of Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced 3D Magnetic Resonance (DCE-MR) volumes can result in images that depict and accurately characterize a variety of liver lesions. However, the diagnostic utility of subtraction images depends on the extent of co-registration between non-enhanced and enhanced volumes. Movement of liver structures during acquisition must be corrected prior to subtraction. Currently available methods are computer intensive. We report a new method for the dynamic subtraction of MR liver images that does not require excessive computer time. METHODS: Nineteen consecutive patients (median age 45 years; range 37–67) were evaluated by VIBE T1-weighted sequences (TR 5.2 ms, TE 2.6 ms, flip angle 20°, slice thickness 1.5 mm) acquired before and 45s after contrast injection. Acquisition parameters were optimized for best portal system enhancement. Pre and post-contrast liver volumes were realigned using our 3D registration method which combines: (a) rigid 3D translation using maximization of normalized mutual information (NMI), and (b) fast 2D non-rigid registration which employs a complex discrete wavelet transform algorithm to maximize pixel phase correlation and perform multiresolution analysis. Registration performance was assessed quantitatively by NMI. RESULTS: The new registration procedure was able to realign liver structures in all 19 patients. NMI increased by about 8% after rigid registration (native vs. rigid registration 0.073 ± 0.031 vs. 0.078 ± 0.031, n.s., paired t-test) and by a further 23% (0.096 ± 0.035 vs. 0.078 ± 0.031, p < 0.001, paired t-test) after non-rigid realignment. The overall average NMI increase was 31%. CONCLUSION: This new method for realigning dynamic contrast-enhanced 3D MR volumes of liver leads to subtraction images that enhance diagnostic possibilities for liver lesions

Universal WBC reduction

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75583/1/j.1537-2995.2000.40060751.x.pd

Quantitative image analysis for the characterization of microbial aggregates in biological wastewater treatment : a review

Quantitative image analysis techniques have gained an undeniable role in several fields of research during the last decade. In the field of biological wastewater treatment (WWT) processes, several computer applications have been developed for monitoring microbial entities, either as individual cells or in different types of aggregates. New descriptors have been defined that are more reliable, objective, and useful than the subjective and time-consuming parameters classically used to monitor biological WWT processes. Examples of this application include the objective prediction of filamentous bulking, known to be one of the most problematic phenomena occurring in activated sludge technology. It also demonstrated its usefulness in classifying protozoa and metazoa populations. In high-rate anaerobic processes, based on granular sludge, aggregation times and fragmentation phenomena could be detected during critical events, e.g., toxic and organic overloads. Currently, the major efforts and needs are in the development of quantitative image analysis techniques focusing on its application coupled with stained samples, either by classical or fluorescent-based techniques. The use of quantitative morphological parameters in process control and online applications is also being investigated. This work reviews the major advances of quantitative image analysis applied to biological WWT processes.The authors acknowledge the financial support to the project PTDC/EBB-EBI/103147/2008 and the grant SFRH/BPD/48962/2008 provided by Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (Portugal)

Minimizing errors in RT-PCR detection and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA for wastewater surveillance

Wastewater surveillance for pathogens using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is an effective and resource-efficient tool for gathering community-level public health information, including the incidence of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). Surveillance of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in wastewater can potentially provide an early warning signal of COVID-19 infections in a community. The capacity of the world's environmental microbiology and virology laboratories for SARS-CoV-2 RNA characterization in wastewater is increasing rapidly. However, there are no standardized protocols or harmonized quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) procedures for SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance. This paper is a technical review of factors that can cause false-positive and false-negative errors in the surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater, culminating in recommended strategies that can be implemented to identify and mitigate some of these errors. Recommendations include stringent QA/QC measures, representative sampling approaches, effective virus concentration and efficient RNA extraction, PCR inhibition assessment, inclusion of sample processing controls, and considerations for RT-PCR assay selection and data interpretation. Clear data interpretation guidelines (e.g., determination of positive and negative samples) are critical, particularly when the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater is low. Corrective and confirmatory actions must be in place for inconclusive results or results diverging from current trends (e.g., initial onset or reemergence of COVID-19 in a community). It is also prudent to perform interlaboratory comparisons to ensure results' reliability and interpretability for prospective and retrospective analyses. The strategies that are recommended in this review aim to improve SARS-CoV-2 characterization and detection for wastewater surveillance applications. A silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic is that the efficacy of wastewater surveillance continues to be demonstrated during this global crisis. In the future, wastewater should also play an important role in the surveillance of a range of other communicable diseases