Distribution of Spoligotyping Defined Genotypic Lineages among Drug-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex Clinical Isolates in Ankara, Turkey

Background: Investigation of genetic heterogeneity and spoligotype-defined lineages of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates collected during a three-year period in two university hospitals and National Tuberculosis Reference and Research Laboratory in Ankara, Turkey. Methods and Findings: A total of 95 drug-resistant M. tuberculosis isolates collected from three different centers were included in this study. Susceptibility testing of the isolates to four major antituberculous drugs was performed using proportion method on Löwenstein–Jensen medium and BACTEC 460-TB system. All clinical isolates were typed by using spoligotyping and IS6110-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) methods. Seventy-three of the 95 (76.8%) drug resistant M. tuberculosis isolates were isoniazid-resistant, 45 (47.4%) were rifampicin-resistant, 32 (33.7%) were streptomycinresistant and 31 (32.6%) were ethambutol-resistant. The proportion of multidrug-resistant isolates (MDR) was 42.1%. By using spoligotyping, 35 distinct patterns were observed; 75 clinical isolates were grouped in 15 clusters (clustering rate of 79%) and 20 isolates displayed unique patterns. Five of these 20 unique patterns corresponded to orphan patterns in th

Data Descriptor : A European Multi Lake Survey dataset of environmental variables, phytoplankton pigments and cyanotoxins

Under ongoing climate change and increasing anthropogenic activity, which continuously challenge ecosystem resilience, an in-depth understanding of ecological processes is urgently needed. Lakes, as providers of numerous ecosystem services, face multiple stressors that threaten their functioning. Harmful cyanobacterial blooms are a persistent problem resulting from nutrient pollution and climate-change induced stressors, like poor transparency, increased water temperature and enhanced stratification. Consistency in data collection and analysis methods is necessary to achieve fully comparable datasets and for statistical validity, avoiding issues linked to disparate data sources. The European Multi Lake Survey (EMLS) in summer 2015 was an initiative among scientists from 27 countries to collect and analyse lake physical, chemical and biological variables in a fully standardized manner. This database includes in-situ lake variables along with nutrient, pigment and cyanotoxin data of 369 lakes in Europe, which were centrally analysed in dedicated laboratories. Publishing the EMLS methods and dataset might inspire similar initiatives to study across large geographic areas that will contribute to better understanding lake responses in a changing environment.Peer reviewe

Vaccination with a non-human random sequence amyloid oligomer mimic results in improved cognitive function and reduced plaque deposition and micro hemorrhage in Tg2576 mice

BACKGROUND: It is well established that vaccination of humans and transgenic animals against fibrillar Aβ prevents amyloid accumulation in plaques and preserves cognitive function in transgenic mouse models. However, autoimmune side effects have halted the development of vaccines based on full length human Aβ. Further development of an effective vaccine depends on overcoming these side effects while maintaining an effective immune response. RESULTS: We have previously reported that the immune response to amyloid oligomers is largely directed against generic epitopes that are common to amyloid oligomers of many different proteins and independent of a specific amino acid sequence. Here we have examined whether we can exploit this generic immune response to develop a vaccine that targets amyloid oligomers using a non-human random sequence amyloid oligomer. In order to study the effect of vaccination against generic oligomer epitopes, a random sequence oligomer (3A) was selected as it forms oligomers that react with the oligomer specific A11 antibody. Oligomer mimics from 3A peptide, Aβ, islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), and Aβ fibrils were used to vaccinate Tg2576 mice, which develop a progressive accumulation of plaques and cognitive impairment. Vaccination with the 3A random sequence antigen was just as effective as vaccination with the other antigens in improving cognitive function and reducing total plaque load (Aβ burden) in the Tg2576 mouse brains, but was associated with a much lower incidence of micro hemorrhage than Aβ antigens. CONCLUSION: These results shows that the amyloid Aβ sequence is not necessary to produce a protective immune response that specifically targets generic amyloid oligomers. Using a non-human, random sequence antigen may facilitate the development of a vaccine that avoids autoimmune side effects

Stratification strength and light climate explain variation in chlorophyll a at the continental scale in a European multilake survey in a heatwave summer

To determine the drivers of phytoplankton biomass, we collected standardized morphometric, physical, and biological data in 230 lakes across the Mediterranean, Continental, and Boreal climatic zones of the European continent. Multilinear regression models tested on this snapshot of mostly eutrophic lakes (median total phosphorus [TP] = 0.06 and total nitrogen [TN] = 0.7 mg L−1), and its subsets (2 depth types and 3 climatic zones), show that light climate and stratification strength were the most significant explanatory variables for chlorophyll a (Chl a) variance. TN was a significant predictor for phytoplankton biomass for shallow and continental lakes, while TP never appeared as an explanatory variable, suggesting that under high TP, light, which partially controls stratification strength, becomes limiting for phytoplankton development. Mediterranean lakes were the warmest yet most weakly stratified and had significantly less Chl a than Boreal lakes, where the temperature anomaly from the long-term average, during a summer heatwave was the highest (+4°C) and showed a significant, exponential relationship with stratification strength. This European survey represents a summer snapshot of phytoplankton biomass and its drivers, and lends support that light and stratification metrics, which are both affected by climate change, are better predictors for phytoplankton biomass in nutrient-rich lakes than nutrient concentrations and surface temperature

Laya(s): Ang kasalukuyang kalagayan ng mga Ati ng Boracay sa nagbabagong espasyo ng isla

Ang mga katutubong Ati ang unang nanirahan sa isla ng Boracay bago pa man ito matuklasan at makilala ng buong mundo. Sila ang nangangalaga ng buong isla na pinagkukunan nila ng kanilang ikabubuhay. Tahimik at payapa silang naninirahan dito hanggang sa nagsimula nang dumami ang mga dayuhang pumunta sa Boracay upang maranasan ang isla. Dahil sa hindi maitatangging ganda at yaman ng isla, lalo pang dumami ang mga nagnanais na makita ito. Malaki ang ipinagbago ng espasyo ng Boracay sa mga nagdaang taon. Mula sa pagiging tahimik at payapang isla, ngayon ay puno na ito ng mga tao, gusali, tugtugan, sayawan, at iba pang kasiyahan. Iba-iba ang mga salik na nagdala ng pagbabago rito, nariyan ang modernisasyon, komersalisasyon at turismo. Ang mga salik na ito ay nag-ugat sa iisang bagay - ang kagustuhan ng mga taong umunlad at mapadali ang kanilang pamumuhay. Sa pagbabagong ito ng espasyo ng Boracay, hindi mapagkakailang may pagbabagong nangyayari sa pamumuhay at kultura ng mga Ati. Ang pagpasok ng mga \u27taga-labas\u27 o mga dayuhan at negosyante sa Boracay at sa pagdadala nila ng iba\u27t-ibang salik na nagmumula sa labas ay siya namang nakaaapekto sa mga taga-loob. Bukod sa pagbabagong nadulot ng mga taga-labas sa pamumuhay ng mga \u27taga-loob\u27 o mga katutubomg Ati, nagawang mapaalis ang mga taga-loob sa kanilang sariling teritoryo. Dahil hindi naman kalakihan ang isla at patuloy pa rin ang pagdami ang mga tao at gusali, lumiit ng lumiit ang espasyo para sa mga Ati na naninirahan dito. Kung noon ay sakop nila ang buong isla, ngayon ay napaalis sila at inilipat na lamang sa isang maliit na espasyo upang doon manirahan. Ang dating pinagkukunan nila ng kabuhayan na mga kabundukan at karagatan ay inangkin at pagmamay-ari na ng mga pribadong indibidwal at korporasyon. Naapektuhan nito ang kanilang pamumuhay sapagkat sa buong isla nakaugat ang kanilang kultura at identidad. Kasabay pa nito, madaming paghihirap ang kanilang dinanas sa pagpapaalis sa kanila sa isla. Nagkaroon ng mga demandahan, sakitan, siraan ng tahana, at patayan. Marami ang pagbabagong dinanas ng mga katutubong Ati ng Boracay mula sa kanilang pamumuhay hanggang sa sistemang pang-edukasyon. Nang nakasalamuha na nila ang mga taga-labas, nagbago rin ang kanilang mga paniniwala at tradisyon. Ang mga dati nilang kagawian ay hindi na nila nagagawa sa kasalukuyan. Sa paglipas ng panahon, habang nagbabago ang isla ng Boracay ay binabago rin nito ang mga taong naninirahan dito - ang mga Ati

Utilizing Flipped Classroom and the First Principles of Effective Instruction in Teaching Finite Geometry

The flipped classroom approach has been used as a variation of digital learning even before the covid-19 pandemic. Using this approach and the First Principles of Effective Instruction, this study determined and compared the proving skills of higher education students in finite geometries using true experimental research involving two equivalent classes in Modern Geometry. Data on proving competencies were gathered from the 27 pairs of randomly selected respondents and were subjected to data exploratory analysis to ensure the appropriateness of statistical tools for data analysis. Results reveal that both classes performed equivalently in the pretest. However, the flipped class exhibited a statistically significant improvement in the posttest and in-class activities than the non-flipped class. Additionally, the flipped class was found to have equivalent performances in both individual and group in-class activities. The results showed that necessary competencies in proving theorems can be attained using the flipped classroom approach following the activation, demonstration, application, and integration phases of instruction. The study recommended using the approach to support students learning achievement, performance enhancement, and active learning environment. It can also be incorporated into crafting an adaptive learning continuity plan for the post-pandemic recovery period and beyond

Seasonal dynamics of freshwater pathogens as measured by microarray at Lake Sapanca, a drinking water source in the north-eastern part of Turkey

Monitoring drinking water quality is an important public health issue. Two objectives from the 4 years, six nations, EU Project μAqua were to develop hierarchically specific probes to detect and quantify pathogens in drinking water using a PCR-free microarray platform and to design a standardised water sampling programfrom different sources in Europe to obtain sufficient material for downstream analysis. Our phylochip contains barcodes (probes) that specifically identify freshwater pathogens that are human health risks in a taxonomic hierarchical fashion such that if species is present, the entire taxonomic hierarchy (genus, family, order, phylum, kingdom) leading to it must also be present, which avoids false positives. Molecular tools are more rapid, accurate and reliable than traditional methods, which means fastermitigation strategies with less harm to humans and the community.We present microarray results for the presence of freshwater pathogens from a Turkish lake used drinking water and inferred cyanobacterial cell equivalents from samples concentrated from 40 into 1 L in 45 min using hollow fibre filters. In two companion studies from the same samples, cyanobacterial toxins were analysed using chemical methods and those dates with highest toxin values also had highest cell equivalents as inferred from this microarray study