1,259 research outputs found

    The effect of anthropogenic arsenic contamination on the earthworm microbiome

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    Earthworms are globally distributed and perform essential roles for soil health and microbial structure. We have investigated the effect of an anthropogenic contamination gradient on the bacterial community of the keystone ecological species Lumbricus rubellus through utilising 16S rRNA pyrosequencing to establish the microbiome of the host and surrounding soil. The earthworm-associated microbiome differs from the surrounding environment which appears to be a result of both filtering and stimulation likely linked to the altered environment associated with the gut micro-habitat (neutral pH, anoxia and increased carbon substrates). We identified a core earthworm community comprising Proteobacteria (~50%) and Actinobacteria (~30%), with lower abundances of Bacteroidetes (~6%) and Acidobacteria (~3%). In addition to the known earthworm symbiont (Verminephrobacter sp.) we identified a potential host-associated Gammaproteobacteria species (Serratia sp.) which was absent from soil yet observed in most earthworms. Although a distinct bacterial community defines these earthworms, clear family- and species-level modification were observed along an arsenic and iron contamination gradient. Several taxa observed in uncontaminated control microbiomes are suppressed by metal/metalloid field exposure, including eradication of the hereto ubiquitously associated Verminephrobacter symbiont, which raises implications to its functional role in the earthworm microbiome

    Infrastructural Speculations: Tactics for Designing and Interrogating Lifeworlds

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    This paper introduces “infrastructural speculations,” an orientation toward speculative design that considers the complex and long-lived relationships of technologies with broader systems, beyond moments of immediate invention and design. As modes of speculation are increasingly used to interrogate questions of broad societal concern, it is pertinent to develop an orientation that foregrounds the “lifeworld” of artifacts—the social, perceptual, and political environment in which they exist. While speculative designs often imply a lifeworld, infrastructural speculations place lifeworlds at the center of design concern, calling attention to the cultural, regulatory, environmental, and repair conditions that enable and surround particular future visions. By articulating connections and affinities between speculative design and infrastructure studies research, we contribute a set of design tactics for producing infrastructural speculations. These tactics help design researchers interrogate the complex and ongoing entanglements among technologies, institutions, practices, and systems of power when gauging the stakes of alternate lifeworlds

    Targeting CBLB as a potential therapeutic approach for disseminated candidiasis

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    We thank J.M. Penninger (University of Toronto) for providing Cblb−/− mice, Y. Iwakura (Tokyo University of Science) for providing Clec4n−/− mice, S. Lipkowitz (National Cancer Institute, US National Institutes of Health) for providing Cblb constructs, X. Lin (MD Anderson Cancer Center) for providing the antibody to mouse dectin-3 and Card9−/− bone marrow cells, P.R. Sundstrom (Dartmouth University) for providing the C. albicans cap1 mutant, and L.D. Chaves (University at Buffalo) for flow cytometric analysis of myeloid cells in the kidneys. We also thank A. Lovett-Racke (Ohio State University) for her advice on in vivo Cblb-knockdown experiments. This work was supported by the US National Institutes of Health (grants R01 AI090901, R01 AI123253, and R21 AI117547; all to J.Z.), the American Heart Association (AHA Great Rivers Associate Grant-in-Aid grant 16GRNT26990004; J.Z.), a start-up fund from the Ohio State University College of Medicine (J.Z.), and the Wellcome Trust (G.D.B.).Peer reviewedPostprin

    Scaffold Diversity of Exemplified Medicinal Chemistry Space

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    The scaffold diversity of 7 representative commercial and proprietary compound libraries is explored for the first time using both Murcko frameworks and Scaffold Trees. We show that Level 1 of the Scaffold Tree is useful for the characterization of scaffold diversity in compound libraries and offers advantages over the use of Murcko frameworks. This analysis also demonstrates that the majority of compounds in the libraries we analyzed contain only a small number of well represented scaffolds and that a high percentage of singleton scaffolds represent the remaining compounds. We use Tree Maps to clearly visualize the scaffold space of representative compound libraries, for example, to display highly populated scaffolds and clusters of structurally similar scaffolds. This study further highlights the need for diversification of compound libraries used in hit discovery by focusing library enrichment on the synthesis of compounds with novel or underrepresented scaffolds

    Internet Outreach / A Guide for Health Promoters & Peer Educators

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    This manual brings together the experiences of an Internet outreach project conducted by theWestern Australian AIDS Council (WAAC) and the Western Australian Centre for Health PromotionResearch (WACHPR) at Curtin University of Technology along with other selected research. It presents guidelines on the development and implementation of Internet outreach programs for health promotion practitioners and peer education workers.It is divided into sections for ease of navigation, including an overview of Internet outreach as a health promotion strategy and the CyberReach project (through the implementation of which the contents were produced). There are additional components to support agencies interested in learning more about whether Internet outreach may be a useful strategy for them in expanding the range of their current services.Who this manual is for: Anyone working in health service delivery with an interest in developing Internet-based health promotion outreach programs. Although based on a project targeting same sex attracted youth (SSAY) and men who have sex with men (MSM), we believe there are aspects applicable to health practitioners working with other groups in a range of health and human services areas

    Региоселективный синтез и свойства ацетильных производных фенолгликозидов

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    Региоселективный синтез и свойства ацетильных производных фенолгликозидов. Работа посвящена выявлению реакционной способности при кислотном дезацетилировании с использованием HCl / EtOH в CHCl3, которая приводит к дезацетилированию на O-3, O-4 и O-6. Описанный реагент оказался общим и уникальным, и была получена серия 2-О-ацетиларилгликозидов. Вообще, частично ацетилированные арилгликозиды широко встречаются в природе. В частности, можно найти множество примеров 2-O-ацетиларилгликозидов.Regioselective synthesis and properties of acetyl derivatives of phenol glycosides. The thesis is devoted to the detection of reactivity during acid deacetylation using HCl / EtOH in CHCl3, which leads to deacetylation at O-3, O-4 and O-6. The described reagent proved to be general and unique and the series of 2-О-acetyl aryl glycosides were prepared. Generally, partially acetylated aryl glycosides are widely found in nature. Particularly, many examples of 2-O-acetyl aryl glycosides can be found

    Contingent electric shock as a treatment for challenging behavior for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities : support for the IASSIDD policy statement opposing its use

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    Issues: The International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IASSIDD) is an international group of researchers, clinicians, students, parents, and self-advocates that promotes worldwide research and exchange of information on intellectual and developmental disabilities. IASSIDD recently developed a policy statement regarding their opposition to the use of contingent electric skin shock (CESS) with individuals with challenging behaviour and intellectual and developmental disabilities. To support the policy, the available literature was reviewed to evaluate the efficacy, side effects, generalization, and long-term effectiveness of the procedure as an intervention for challenging behaviour. Findings: The review provides a history that demonstrates that, although CESS can decrease the frequency of challenging behaviour, it comes at a cost in terms of physical and emotional side effects, and questions remain regarding the long-term effectiveness of the procedure. In addition, we raise several ethical and methodological issues that make the research on the use of CESS even more concerning. Conclusions: Although research continues in some countries, these studies are now rare. In fact, in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has just banned the use of such devices with individuals with self-injury and aggression (Federal Register, 2020). It is hoped that, because there are many other forms of treatment that have shown to be effective for severe challenging behaviour, we can completely avoid the use of CESS

    HIV risk among Australian men travelling overseas: networks and context matter

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    Increasing international mobility presents a risk for communicable disease transmissions. Overseas-acquired HIV infections have been increasingly observed across Australian jurisdictions. This includes a mix of men emigrating from countries with high HIV prevalence and men travelling abroad. There is currently little research exploring international mobility and HIV risk and as a consequence the increase of men acquiring HIV while travelling overseas is poorly understood. This article draws on data from a qualitative study exploring the risk perspectives and experiences of 14 Australian men who acquired HIV while travelling overseas in the years between 2000-2009. Participants articulated a strong desire to distance themselves from the identity of a tourist. Social networks were highlighted as important entry points to engage with other foreign travellers and expatriates. These networks were highly influential and were understood by the participants to provide guidance on how they should negotiate the local scene, including where to meet sex partners. Limited discussion of safe sex and HIV was mentioned in these contexts. The findings suggest that prevalent social norms and social networks play an influential role in how participants negotiate sex and social relations in overseas settings. These networks could potentially provide sites for effective HIV prevention programs. Keywords: male tourists; HIV transmission; social networks; behaviour; sexual risk; HIV preventio
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