269 research outputs found
Bringing the Endangered Barn Owl Back to McLean County, Illinois: Implementing a Local Nest Box Program
Barn owls are an endangered species in Illinois, but populations have been known to increase where nest box programs have been implemented. In conjunction with the John Wesley Powell Audubon Society, a barn owl nest box program was established in McLean County and the surrounding area. Seventeen boxes are now scheduled for construction and installation this winter in the McLean County area in order to enhance existing barn owl populations, and the nest box program will continue in the future through the JWP Audubon
Dublin City University at CLEF 2004: experiments with the ImageCLEF St Andrew's collection
For the CLEF 2004 ImageCLEF St Andrew's Collection task
the Dublin City University group carried out three sets of experiments: standard cross-language information retrieval (CLIR) runs using topic translation via machine translation (MT), combination of this run with image matching results from the VIPER system, and a novel document rescoring approach based on automatic MT evaluation metrics. Our standard MT-based CLIR works well on this task. Encouragingly combination with image matching lists is also observed to produce small positive changes in the retrieval output. However, rescoring using the MT evaluation metrics in their current form significantly reduced retrieval
effectiveness
A Model for Collaborative Relationships In The Digital Humanities
This paper presents a Digital Humanities Collaborative Research Model, describing key linkages between four communities in digital humanities (DH): humanities scholars, data scientists, library/information services, and administrators. The model arises from literature review and original research. Original data was collected via interviews with seven humanities scholars from five institutions. Each participant is a well-known scholar experienced in DH research methods. Interviews evaluate challenges faced by DH scholars in these areas: data access, computational methods, library support services, publication incentives, and collaboration between scholars and other experts. Interview data was analyzed using grounded theory. Key findings: (1) DH scholarship depends on expert human collaboration within the DH ecosystem, especially between scholars and data scientists, as well as scholars and library/information specialists; (2) computational tools enhance, rather than substitute for, human collaboration; (3) publications incentives should be shared among the three major players in DH: humanities experts, data science experts, and information seeking experts.Master of Science in Information Scienc
Winter Abundance and Habitat Preference of Red-Tailed Hawks (\u3cem\u3eButeo jamaicensis\u3c/em\u3e) in Northeastern and Central Illinois
Nuclei in motion: movement and positioning of plant nuclei in development, signaling, symbiosis, and disease
While textbook figures imply nuclei as resting spheres at the center of idealized cells, this picture fits few real situations. Plant nuclei come in many shapes and sizes, and can be actively transported within the cell. In several contexts, this nuclear movement is tightly coupled to a developmental program, the response to an abiotic signal, or a cellular reprogramming during either mutualistic or parasitic plant-microbe interactions. While many such phenomena have been observed and carefully described, the underlying molecular mechanism and the functional significance of the nuclear movement are typically unknown. Here, we survey recent as well as older literature to provide a concise starting point for applying contemporary molecular, genetic and biochemical approaches to this fascinating, yet poorly understood phenomenon
Non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions for the reduction or prevention of topographies of behaviours that challenge in people with intellectual disabilities:a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Background: People with intellectual disability show a high prevalence of behaviours that challenge. Clinical guidelines recommend that such behaviour should first be treated with non-pharmacological interventions, but research suggests off-label pharmaceuticals are commonly used. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions for topographies of behaviours that challenge drawn from randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and CENTRAL databases for RCT studies assessing an intervention (pharmacological or non-pharmacological) for behaviours that challenge (self-injury behaviour, aggression, destruction of property, irritability, and a composite overall measure) in participants with intellectual disability. The primary aim was to assess the efficacy of non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions on behaviours that challenge. Secondary aims were to evaluate how effects varied over time and whether intervention, methodological, and participant characteristics moderate efficacy. We extracted standard mean difference (SMD) effect sizes (Cohen's d) from eligible studies and meta-analysed the data using a series of random effects models and subgroup analyses. This study was registered with PROSPERO 2021, CRD4202124997. Findings: Of 11 912 reports identified, 82 studies were included. 42 (51%) studies assessed non-pharmacological interventions and 40 (49%) assessed pharmacological interventions. Across all studies, 4637 people with intellectual disability aged 1–84 years (mean age 17·2 years) were included. 2873 (68·2%) were male, 1339 (28·9%) were female, and for 425 (9·2%) individuals, data on gender were not available. Data on ethnicity were unavailable. Small intervention effects were found for overall behaviours that challenge at post-intervention (SMD –0·422, 95% CI –0·565 to –0·279), overall behaviours that challenge at follow-up (–0·324, –0·551 to –0·097), self-injury behaviour at post-intervention (–0·238, –0·453 to –0·023), aggression at post-intervention (–0·438, –0·566 to –0·309), and irritability at post-intervention (–0·255, –0·484 to –0·026). No significant differences between non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions were found for any topography of behaviours that challenge (all p>0·05). Interpretation: A broad range of interventions for behaviours that challenge are efficacious with small effect sizes for people with intellectual disability. These findings highlight the importance of precision in the measurement of behaviours that challenge, and when operationalising intervention components and dosages. Funding: Cerebra.</p
Structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis 1-Deoxy-D-Xylulose 5-Phosphate Synthase in Complex with Butylacetylphosphonate
Stagnation in the development of new antibiotics emphasizes the need for the discovery of drugs with novel modes of action that can tackle antibiotic resistance. Contrary to humans, most bacteria use the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway to synthesize crucial isoprenoid precursors. 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase (DXPS) catalyzes the first and rate-limiting step of the pathway, making it an attractive target. Alkylacetylphosphonates (alkylAPs) are a class of pyruvate mimicking DXPS inhibitors that react with thiamin diphosphate (ThDP) to form a stable phosphonolactyl (PLThDP) adduct. Here, we present the first M. tuberculosis DXPS crystal structure in complex with an inhibitor (butylacetylphosphonate (BAP)) using a construct with improved crystallization properties. The 1.6 Å structure shows that the BAP adduct interacts with catalytically important His40 and several other conserved residues of the active site. In addition, a glycerol molecule, present in the D-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (D-GAP) binding site and within 4 Å of the BAP adduct, indicates that there is space to extend and develop more potent alkylAPs. The structure reveals the BAP binding mode and provides insights for enhancing the activity of alkylAPs against M. tuberculosis, aiding in the development of novel antibiotics.</p
A cadaveric case study on lung cancer pathology
INTRODUCTION: Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer amongst both genders, currently accounting for about 18% of all cancer deaths.
OBJECTIVES: The overall purpose of this study was to evaluate the pathology associated with the patient’s cause of death, cardiorespiratory failure and lung cancer. The secondary aims of this study were to confirm the presence of malignant neoplasms within a human cadaver, determine the type of cancer present, and take specimens for histological examination to evaluate the patient’s cause of death.
METHODS: This is a case report from one of the cadavers in the Gross Anatomy laboratory at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, South Georgia campus. Samples were taken from the patient’s lungs and then sent to the Colquitt Regional Medical Center laboratory for histopathological processing.
RESULTS: Histopathological analysis of the lungs demonstrated a non-small cell carcinoma of the adenocarcinoma type with acute bronchopneumonia, pulmonary edema and congestion. The pneumonia was probably due to the weakened immune system caused by the adenocarcinoma. Anthracotic pigment in dust cells was also seen histologically, suggesting the patient may have been a smoker or lived in a heavily polluted area.
CONCLUSION: The histopathological evaluation of the patient provided a valuable lens into the incidence of lung cancer contributing to secondary pathologies associated with cause of death
Cycle threshold values as indication of increasing SARS-CoV-2 new variants, England, 2020–2022
Early detection of increases in infections and/or new variants of SARS-CoV-2, is critical for public health response. In late 2020 we investigated if cycle threshold (Ct) data from PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 could be analyzed to provide an early indicator of epidemic growth. We analyzed daily means of Ct values by gene-target and used iterative sequential regression to detect breakpoints in mean Ct values (and positive tests). We continued these analyses in realtime to monitor the epidemic in England. From Sept 2020 to Jan 2022, 7,611,153 PCR positive SARS-CoV-2 tests with Ct data were reported. Gene target (S+/S-) specific mean Ct values decreased 6-29 days prior to increases in positive test counts, and S-gene Ct values provided early indication of increasing new variants (Delta and Omicron). This approach had substantial benefit in the context of the first waves of the COVID-19 pandemic and can support future
infectious disease monitoring
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