Examination of the cellular stress response and post-transcriptional regulation of RNA during Ebola virus infection

Ebola virus (EBOV) causes severe disease in humans characterized by high case fatality rates and significant immune dysfunction. A hallmark of EBOV infection is the formation of viral inclusions in the cytoplasm of infected cells. These inclusions contain the EBOV nucleocapsids and are sites of viral replication and nucleocapsid maturation. Although there is growing evidence that viral inclusions create a protected environment that fosters EBOV gene expression and genome replication, little is known about their role in the host response to infection. The cellular stress response is an antiviral strategy that leads to stress granule (SG) formation and translational arrest mediated by the phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2α). Related to this response is the post-transcriptional regulation of RNA mediated by stability elements called AU-rich elements (AREs) and their associated binding proteins (ARE-BPs), many of which are found in SGs. Because these processes have antiviral implications, many viruses have evolved strategies to interfere with SG formation, or appropriate ARE-BPs to benefit viral replication. However, it is unknown if EBOV interacts with these cellular systems. Here, we show that SG proteins were sequestered within EBOV inclusions where they formed distinct granules that colocalized with viral RNA. The inclusion-bound aggregates were not canonical SGs, and did not lead to translational arrest in infected cells. EBOV did not induce cytoplasmic SGs at any time post infection, but was unable to overcome SG formation induced by additional stressors. Despite the sequestration of SG proteins, canonical SGs did not form within inclusions. At high levels of expression, viral protein 35 (VP35), the viral polymerase co-factor that also mediates various immune evasion functions, disrupted SGs formation independently of eIF2α phosphorylation. Finally, we found that the cellular ARE-BP tristetraprolin (TTP) specifically targeted the 3’untranslated region (UTR) of the viral nucleoprotein (NP) mRNA and promoted its degradation. Interestingly, TTP was not found within viral inclusions, leading us to speculate that inclusions might serve to prevent viral RNA from encountering TTP. These results indicate that EBOV interacts with the cellular stress response and associated RNA regulatory proteins in ways that promote viral replication

Assessment– Are Grade Descriptors the Way Forward?

The debate on how best to assess clinic, or indeed if it should be assessed at all has raged for decades and shows no sign of abating. The passage of time has been unable to resolve the question of assessment, no doubt due in part to the expansion and diversification of clinical legal education. The scope of clinic and its role in both society and as a teaching method is constantly evolving and assessment methods must develop to reflect the ever changing clinical profile. In an attempt to bring its assessment regime up to date, in 2007/2008 Northumbria University’s Student Law Office modified its assessment regime, replacing outmoded criteria with grade descriptors. This paper focuses on the use of grade descriptors and criterion referenced assessment in clinical legal education, addressing whether clinic should be assessed and which of the two methods is best suited to clinical legal education. The article draws on the experiences of clinicians and students to determine what issues this change in assessment regime has raised for the assessors and the student body. It concludes that it is appropriate to assess clinic by fully grading and suggests grade descriptors are the way forward

Upcoding Medicare: Is Healthcare Fraud and Abuse Increasing?

Medicare fraud has been the cause of up to $60 billion in overpaid claims in 2015 alone. Upcoding occurs when a healthcare provider has submitted codes for more severe conditions than diagnosed for the patient to receive higher reimbursement. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of Medicare and Medicaid fraud to determine the magnitude of upcoding inpatient and outpatient claims throughout reimbursements. The methodology for this study utilized a literature review. The literature review analyzed physician upcoding throughout present on admission infections, diagnostic related group upcoding, emergency department, and clinic upcoding. It was found that upcoding has had an impact on Medicare payments and fraud. Medicare fraud has been reported to be the magnitude of upcoding inpatient and outpatient claims throughout Medicare reimbursements. In addition, fraudulent activity has increased with upcoding for ambulatory inpatient and outpatient charges for patients with Medicare and Medicaid

Where is the African culture? Assessing the uniqueness of indigenous communication in galvanising women’s political participation at the local level

Indigenous communication systems are essential element of the socio-cultural tradition of Africans. These systems have been used to promote co-operation, mobilization and participation among African people. This paper takes into account the uniqueness of indigenous communication especially on women’s political participation and was laid on two-step flow (Multi-step flow) theory. Empirical study was looked into and the researchers conclude that since indigenous communication provides women with knowledge and information on political activities at the local level, it follows that women should be trained with a view to acquiring the knowledge and know-how required for standing for elections or applying for decision-making posts. Key words: African culture, Indigenous communication, politics, participation, wome

Ohio State University's Wetlands Watercolors Eco Art Exhibition Proposal

Course Code: ENR 2367A proposal for the implementation of an environmental art show at the Ohio State University's Wetlands.Academic Major: Agribusiness and Applied EconomicsAcademic Major: Environment, Economy, Development, and SustainabilityAcademic Major: Environmental ScienceAcademic Major: ExplorationAcademic Major: Financ

Where is the African culture? Assessing the uniqueness of indigenous communication in galvanising women’s political participation at the local level

Indigenous communication systems are essential element of the socio-cultural tradition of Africans. These systems have been used to promote co-operation, mobilization and participation among African people. This paper takes into account the uniqueness of indigenous communication especially on women’s political participation and was laid on two-step flow (Multi-step flow) theory. Empirical study was looked into and the researchers conclude that since indigenous communication provides women with knowledge and information on political activities at the local level, it follows that women should be trained with a view to acquiring the knowledge and know-how required for standing for elections or applying for decision-making posts. Key words: African culture, Indigenous communication, politics, participation, wome

Sperm Discharge and Retention by the Reproductive Tract of the Cow Following Artificial Insemination

Animal Scienc

Análisis cualitativo del significado de la violencia conyugal en mujeres del municipio de Cajicá, Colombia

La violencia conyugal contra la mujer es uno de los flagelos más importantes que las mujeres alrededor del mundo deben enfrentar UNIFEM (2012) y es considerado como un fenómeno complejo y multidimensional. La investigación tuvo como objetivo el análisis de los significados de la violencia conyugal en mujeres del municipio de Cajicá, Cundinamarca, Colombia. Se realizaron entrevistas en profundidad a 20 mujeres que asistían a la comisaria de familia. La muestra cualitativa utilizada fue homogénea y se realizó análisis de contenido a entrevistas en profundidad. Se encontraron 15 categorías (cinco negativas y 10 positivas) divididas en cinco temáticas. Se realizó un análisis de los significados positivos y negativos de la relación conyugal, la familia, la comunicación, la crianza y la capacidad de empoderamiento.Conjugal violence or spousal violence against women is one of the most important scourges that women around the word have to endure (UNIFEM, 2012), and is considered as a complex, multidimensional phenomenon. The study had the purpose of analyze the meaning of conjugal violence in women that lives in the municipality of Cajicá, Colombia.20 in-deep interview where conducted with women attending a family intervention bureau.The qualitative sample used was homogeneous. Content analysis was performed to the indeep interviews. The analysis found 15 categories (5 negatives and 10 positives). A discussion was made of the positives and negatives meanings about spousal violence, family, communication, nurturing and empowerment

An analysis of cataloged December 2020 landslides near Haines, Alaska

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2023From November 30 to December 2, 2020, an atmospheric river event brought high winds, heavy precipitation, and unseasonably warm temperatures to Southeast Alaska. In a 48-hour period, weather stations located in the Haines, Alaska, area recorded record-breaking amounts of precipitation. This resulted in 160 landslides around the community, some of which cut off evacuation routes and access to the community's fuel supply, and caused power outages and evacuations. The largest of the landslides occurred along Beach Road on December 2, 2020; it destroyed or severely damaged four residences and killed two occupants. This report focuses on 58 of the landslides, chosen based on their proximity and impact to road corridors or private property. During field investigations in 2021 and 2022, I observed and described landslides, took in situ strength measurements, and sampled soils that I subsequently tested in the laboratory for engineering index properties such as soil classification, moisture content, and organic content. I mapped landslide extents and evidence of previous landslides using high-resolution lidar data. Using all of these data, I developed a landslide catalog of the 58 landslides, which contains information about location, impact on the road system in 2020, field observations, stratigraphy, laboratory test results, landslide classification, maps, and relevant photographs. Analysis of the collected data suggests that the most significant factor that contributed to the December 2020 landslides was the amount and intensity of precipitation. This precipitation exacerbated the preexisting condition of high slope angles in the surrounding area, and resulted in excess pore pressure in soil types that usually drain well. Anthropogenic factors, such as removal of vegetation and the toe of slopes, also likely played a role in the distribution of the landslides. Recommendations for further study based on results in this report are: 1) to date previous landslides in the study area to determine the frequency of these events; 2) to install additional weather stations in the Haines area for widespread real-time weather monitoring and studying effects of localized high precipitation and/or wind on landslide occurrence; and 3) to conduct additional strength testing on soil and bedrock within the failed areas.National Science Foundation Grant No. 2114015, FEMA Cooperating Technical Partners Grant No. EMS-2021-CA-00013Chapter 1: Introduction. Chapter 2: Regional setting and climate -- Bedrock geology -- Glaciation and surficial geology -- Climate in Southeast Alaska -- Defining atmospheric rivers and their impact on Alaska -- Characterizing the December 2020 storm event. Chapter 3: Methodology -- Field investigations -- Laboratory testing -- Mapping using geographic information system (GIS). Chapter 4: Landslide catalog. Chapter 5: Analysis -- Overall summary of mass wasting events -- Soil type and depositional environment -- Defining the depositional environments -- Explaining length-to-width (L/W) ratios -- In situ shear strength soil testing along Lutak Road -- Role of soil type in slope failure -- Lutak Spur: a unique formation in the study area -- Slope analysis -- Slope angle at head scarps in the study area -- Slope angles of studied landslides with mapped extents -- Role of vegetation in slope stability -- Potential anthropogenic influences -- Evidence of previous landslides -- Cunningham Creek -- Lutak Spur. Chapter 6: Conclusions -- References -- Appendix A: 2021 seven column sheets -- Appendix B: 2022 seven column sheets

First Report of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Causing Anthracnose of Tejocote (Crataegus gracilior) Fruits in Mexico

Crataegus, is a genus classified in family Rosaceae and includes several tree species commonly called Tejocote that are widely cultivated for their pome fruits in Mexico. During fall of 2014, 2015, and 2016, severe symptoms of anthracnose were observed on approx. 60% of tejocote (Crataegus gracilior) fruits in an orchard located in Tulancingo, Oaxaca, Mexico. Affected fruits showed sunken, prominent, dark brown to black necrotic lesions, and were exuding salmon spore masses. To isolate the fungus, small pieces from tissue adjacent to the lesions of 10 symptomatic fruits were excised and surface disinfested by immersion in a 1% sodium hypochlorite solution for 2 min, rinsed three times in sterile distilled water, placed in Petri plates containing potato dextrose agar (PDA), and incubated at 25ºC for 5 to 7 days in darkness. Mycelial plugs were excised from the edge of the actively growing fungal colony and aseptically transferred to fresh PDA medium and incubated at 25°C for 6 days. Five monoconidial cultures were obtained by transferring germinated spores to Petri plates with fresh PDA. One isolate was selected as representative for morphological and molecular identification. Colonies of pure cultures exhibited greyish-white aerial mycelium and abundant salmon-pink conidial masses. Conidia (n= 100) were subcylindrical, hyaline, straight, one-celled, with rounded ends, measuring 13.6 to 17.7 × 4.4 to 5.9 μm. Conidial appressoria were ovoid and brown to dark brown. Based on morphological characteristics, the fungus was identified within the Colletotrichum gloeosporioides species complex (Weir et al. 2012). The isolate was designated UACH-177 and deposited in the Culture Collection of Phytopathogenic Fungi at the Chapingo Autonomous University. For molecular identification, the ITS region (White et al. 1990), and fragments of (Apn2) (Rojas et al. 2010), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and β-tubulin 2 (TUB2) genes (Weir et al. 2012) were amplified by PCR, and sequenced. The sequences were deposited in GenBank (Accessions numbers ITS:MG821312; Apn2:MG821310; GAPDH:MG821311; and TUB2:MG821313). A phylogenetic analysis using Bayesian inference and including published ITS, Apn2, GAPDH, and TUB2 data for C. gloeosporioides and other Colletotrichum species was performed. The phylogenetic analysis showed the sequences were grouped into the clade of C. gloeosporioides. To confirm the pathogenicity of the fungus, 20 tejocote fruits were surface disinfested by immersion in a 1% sodium hypochlorite solution for 1 min, washed three times with sterile distilled water and dried on sterilized filter paper. Inoculations were performed by deposition of 10 μl of a conidial suspension (106 spores ml-1) on the fruit surface. Ten fruit were mock inoculated with distilled water as a control. All fruits were kept in a moist chamber at 25°C for 10 days. Pathogenicity test was repeated twice. Disease symptoms were observed on all inoculated fruit after 7 days, whereas control fruit did not develop symptoms. Fungal colonies were re-isolated from all symptomatic fruits and were found to be morphologically identical to the original isolate inoculated on tejocote fruits, thus fulfilling Koch´s postulates. In Mexico, García-Alvarez (1976) reported Colletotrichum sp. on fruits of Crataegus mexicana, however, that report was not supported by morphological characterization nor pathogenicity tests. To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. gloeosporioides causing anthracnose of Crataegus gracilior in Mexico and worldwide.Fil: Nieto López, Edgar Humberto. University of Nebraska; Estados UnidosFil: Everhart, Sydney. University of Nebraska; Estados UnidosFil: Ayala Escobar, Victoria. Colegio de Postgraduados; MéxicoFil: Camacho Tapia, Moises. Universidad Autónoma Chapingo; MéxicoFil: Bernardi Lima, Nelson. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Instituto de Patología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Nieto Angel, Raúl. Universidad Autónoma Chapingo; MéxicoFil: Tovar Pedraza, Juan Manuel. Universidad Autónoma Chapingo; Méxic