Surveillance for Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens in Kentucky

Tick-borne diseases are an emerging threat to human and animal health. In Kentucky, tick-borne disease surveillance has identified rising incidences of spotted fever rickettsiosis, ehrlichiosis, and Lyme disease. Since these diseases occur through the bites of infected ticks, effective prevention efforts are reliant upon knowing where the risk of exposure to tick bites exists. Historical data on tick distribution in Kentucky is variable, with very little reported on a statewide scale, leaving vector control workers, public health personnel, physicians, veterinarians, and others to rely on outdated, intermittent, or out-of-state information. In my dissertation, I surveyed ticks and select tick-borne pathogens causing spotted fever rickettsiosis, ehrlichiosis, and Lyme disease in Kentucky from 2019-2022. Chapter 1 reports data on Ixodes scapularis and Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of Lyme disease. Six hundred and seventy-four I. scapularis were collected from 58 counties and the Lyme disease spirochete, B. burgdorferi, was detected in ticks from 16 of these counties adding to the few previous reports of I. scapularis and B. burgdorferi in Kentucky. This tick was collected each month of the year, though not every month of the study period, and primarily collected from forested environments. Chapter 2 reports data on Amblyomma americanum and Ehrlichia chaffeensis, the primary agent of ehrlichiosis. Eight thousand forty-seven A. americanum were identified from 115 counties and E. chaffeensis was detected in ticks from 44 counties. This tick was collected most frequently in forested environments from March to November, with peak activity in May and June for adults and nymphs, and August for larvae. Chapter 3 reports data on Dermacentor variabilis and Amblyomma maculatum infected with Rickettsia rickettsii and R. parkeri, both of which are agents of spotted fever rickettsiosis. One thousand one hundred seventy-six D. variabilis were collected from 99 counties, primarily in grassland dominant and mixed grassland-forest habitats. The Rocky Mountain spotted fever agent, R. rickettsii, was detected in ticks from three counties. Only 26 A. maculatum were collected from four counties, but no R. parkeri was detected in the ticks tested. This research is the first statewide, multi-year surveillance effort for ticks and tick-borne pathogens in Kentucky. Overall, these data report on the distribution, abundance, and seasonality of these important tick vectors, and the distribution and estimated prevalence of pathogens causing major tick-borne diseases in Kentucky

Self-presentation, privacy and electronic word-of-mouth in social media

Purpose: Focusing on electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) in the context of social media communications, the study explores the nature of eWOM and the key drivers of this consumer-generated brand communication. Design/methodology/approach: The study employs inductive qualitative design, and the data has been collected via 22 semi-structured interviews with individuals who follow brands on Facebook. Findings: Building on interview data, the paper advances a conception of eWOM in the social media context and highlights that eWOM consists of a broad range of brand-related communications, which include such activities as consuming, commenting, posting, and forwarding information. The study also uncovers two major antecedents of eWOM, which are one’s concern for self-presentation and privacy. Research limitations/implications: Further research could examine additional drivers of brand-related eWOM in the context of Facebook brand pages, and investigate eWOM in other social media platforms. Practical implications: The findings have two important implications for brand management. Firstly, considering the importance of self-presentation, brands are advised to develop an in-depth understanding of the types of self-image pursued by their target audience. Secondly, given the concerns about privacy on social media, brands may carefully consider and manage the levels of privacy that should apply when communicating with their followers. Originality/value: The novel insights centre on the individual differences in eWOM activity, and the importance of one’s perceptions of self-image and privacy in explaining these differences. It seems that the propensity to engage in eWOM and the form that this communication takes are the reflections of one’s self-presentation and privacy preferences

Ocena sztuki osób z niepełnosprawnością wzroku przez dzieci i dorosłych

Magdalena Szubielska, Katarzyna Pasternak, Marzena Wójtowicz, Anna Szymańska, Ocena sztuki osób z niepełnosprawnością wzroku przez dzieci i dorosłych [Evaluation of art of people with visual impairment by children and adults]. Interdyscyplinarne Konteksty Pedagogiki Specjalnej, nr 22, Poznań 2018. Pp. 167-183. Adam Mickiewicz University Press. ISSN 2300-391X. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14746/ikps.2018.22.10 The aim of the study was to determine whether the age of the audience of the exhibition influences the assessment of aesthetic preferences of artistic products made up by people with visual impairment. The research was conducted to give an answer if there are differences in the preferences of different categories of artworks created by artists who are blind or low vision. The research consisted in the evaluation of raised-line drawings, photographs, sculptures and the tactile picturebook. These artistic products were presented in the art gallery. The assessments were made on a 5-point scale, where the respondents indicated how much they liked the artworks they were watching. In the study participated 118 people, including 80 children and 38 adults. It turned out that age and type of art had an interactive impact on the aesthetic assessment. Age differences in aesthetic preference werefound in reference to drawings and picture books. The visual art created by people with sight impairment was evaluated very positively.Magdalena Szubielska, Katarzyna Pasternak, Marzena Wójtowicz, Anna Szymańska, Ocena sztuki osób z niepełnosprawnością wzroku przez dzieci i dorosłych [Evaluation of art of people with visual impairment by children and adults]. Interdyscyplinarne Konteksty Pedagogiki Specjalnej, nr 22, Poznań 2018. Pp. 167-183. Adam Mickiewicz University Press. ISSN 2300-391X. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14746/ikps.2018.22.10 The aim of the study was to determine whether the age of the audience of the exhibition influences the assessment of aesthetic preferences of artistic products made up by people with visual impairment. The research was conducted to give an answer if there are differences in the preferences of different categories of artworks created by artists who are blind or low vision. The research consisted in the evaluation of raised-line drawings, photographs, sculptures and the tactile picturebook. These artistic products were presented in the art gallery. The assessments were made on a 5-point scale, where the respondents indicated how much they liked the artworks they were watching. In the study participated 118 people, including 80 children and 38 adults. It turned out that age and type of art had an interactive impact on the aesthetic assessment. Age differences in aesthetic preference werefound in reference to drawings and picture books. The visual art created by people with sight impairment was evaluated very positively

Zróżnicowanie tytułu ubezpieczenia zatrudnionych członków rodziny

Employed family members do not constitute a category of persons assisting as employees. They constitute a separate category of insured persons as assisting persons. In order to qualify for this category of insured persons, they must meet several prerequisites. First of all, basic qualifying criteria for a group of employees must be met. Such persons must also remain in the same household as a person conducting non-agricultural business. This prerequisite is not very well specified and raises a lot of controversy, it will be individually considered in each case. It does not apply to minors signing an employment contract for vocational training as in such a situation, the minor has the status of an employee and not an assisting person. Therefore, the employment of family members is not of a uniform nature and is subject to separate regulations.Zatrudnieni członkowie rodziny nie stanowią kategorii osób współpracujących jako pracownicy, tylko odrębną kategorię ubezpieczonych jako osoby współpracujące. Aby zostać zaliczonym do tej kategorii ubezpieczonych, trzeba spełniać kilka przesłanek. Po pierwsze, należy spełniać podstawowe kryteria kwalifikujące do grupy pracowników. Po drugie, pozostawać we wspólnym gospodarstwie domowym z osobą prowadzącą pozarolniczą działalność gospodarczą. Przesłanka ta jest niedookreślona i budzi wiele kontrowersji, w każdym przypadku będzie indywidualnie rozpatrywana. Nie ma ona zastosowania w sytuacji zawarcia z małoletnim umowy o pracę w celu przygotowania zawodowego, ponieważ w takiej sytuacji małoletni ma status pracownika, a nie osoby współpracującej. W związku z powyższym zatrudnienie członków rodziny nie ma charakteru jednolitego i podlega osobnym regulacjom

Parasite-induced aggression and impaired contest ability in a fish host

Abstract Background Success of trophically transmitted parasites depends to a great extent on their ability to manipulate their intermediate hosts in a way that makes them easier prey for target hosts. Parasite-induced behavioural changes are the most spectacular and diverse examples of manipulation. Most of the studies have been focused on individual behaviour of hosts including fish. We suggest that agonistic interactions and territoriality in fish hosts may affect their vulnerability to predators and thus the transmission efficiency of trophically transmitted parasites. The parasite Diplostomum spathaceum (Trematoda) and juvenile rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, were used to study whether infection can alter aggression rates and territorial behaviour of intermediate fish hosts. Results The changes in behaviour of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, infected with an eye fluke Diplostomum spathaceum (Trematoda), was monitored over the course of an experimental infection for 1.5 months. At the beginning of their development, not yet infective D. spathaceum metacercariae decreased the aggressiveness of rainbow trout. By the time that metacercariae were fully infective to their definitive hosts, the aggressiveness increased and exceeded that of control fish. Despite the increased aggressiveness, the experimentally infected fish lost contests for a territory (dark parts of the bottom) against the control fish. Conclusions The results obtained indicate that the parasitized fish pay the cost of aggressiveness without the benefit of acquiring a territory that would provide them with better protection against predators. This behaviour should increase transmission of the parasite as expected by the parasite manipulation hypothesis

The influence of locked nucleic acid residues on the thermodynamic properties of 2′-O-methyl RNA/RNA heteroduplexes

The influence of locked nucleic acid (LNA) residues on the thermodynamic properties of 2′-O-methyl RNA/RNA heteroduplexes is reported. Optical melting studies indicate that LNA incorporated into an otherwise 2′-O-methyl RNA oligonucleotide usually, but not always, enhances the stabilities of complementary duplexes formed with RNA. Several trends are apparent, including: (i) a 3′ terminal U LNA and 5′ terminal LNAs are less stabilizing than interior and other 3′ terminal LNAs; (ii) most of the stability enhancement is achieved when LNA nucleotides are separated by at least one 2′-O-methyl nucleotide; and (iii) the effects of LNA substitutions are approximately additive when the LNA nucleotides are separated by at least one 2′-O-methyl nucleotide. An equation is proposed to approximate the stabilities of complementary duplexes formed with RNA when at least one 2′-O-methyl nucleotide separates LNA nucleotides. The sequence dependence of 2′-O-methyl RNA/RNA duplexes appears to be similar to that of RNA/RNA duplexes, and preliminary nearest-neighbor free energy increments at 37°C are presented for 2′-O-methyl RNA/RNA duplexes. Internal mismatches with LNA nucleotides significantly destabilize duplexes with RNA

Vitamin C as a weapon against cancer

Since vitamin C (ascorbic acid) has been discovered over 80 years ago, it is known as a “miracle pill” because it possesses a lot of properties which are extremely essential for correct functioning of the organism. For a long time it has been also debated the usage of the ascorbic acid in prevention and cancer treatment. Literature reviewed in this paper provides many valuable information about mechanisms of anticancer effect of the vitamin C and about potential ability of ascorbic acid application in fight against cancer. That includes: parenteral administration of pharmacological doses of vitamin C, its beneficial influence on the final effect of chemo- and radiotherapy and its highly promising co-administration with other active compounds. Onkol. Prak. Klin. 2011; 7, 1: 9–23Odkąd ponad 80 lat temu odkryto witaminę C (kwas askorbinowy) i poznano jej niezwykle istotne dla prawidłowego funkcjonowania organizmu właściwości, zaczęto postrzegać ją jako „cudowną pigułkę”. Od dawna debatowano również na temat wykorzystania kwasu askorbinowego w prewencji i leczeniu raka. Zebrane i przedstawione w niniejszej pracy dane z piśmiennictwa dostarczają wielu cennych informacji na temat mechanizmów przeciwnowotworowego działania witaminy C oraz potencjalnych możliwości jej zastosowania w walce z nowotworem: począwszy od pozajelitowego podawania farmakologicznych dawek kwasu askorbinowego, przez jego korzystny wpływ na końcowy efekt chemio- i radioterapii, aż do bardzo obiecującego efektu podawania witaminy w połączeniu z innymi substancjami aktywnymi. Onkol. Prak. Klin. 2011; 7, 1: 9–2