Identification of gadoid species (Pisces, Gadidae) by sequencing and PCR–RFLP analysis of mitochondrial 12S and 16S rRNA gene fragments

We applied PCR–RFLP (Polymerase Chain Reaction – Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) analysis to identify seven gadoid species of different biogeographical origin and commercial relevance, namely Gadus morhua (Atlantic ocean); Trisopterus minutus capelanus, Trisopterus minutus minutus, Molva elongata, Phycis blennoides, Micromesistius poutassou (Atlantic ocean and Mediterranean sea); Theragra chalcogramma (Pacific ocean). Two DNA fragments belonging to mitochondrial 12S and 16S rRNA genes of about 430 and 630 bp, respectively, were isolated by PCR amplification. Their direct sequencing showed a significant genotypic diversity among gadoid species, useful for species identification. Digestion of 16S rRNA gene PCR fragment with MvaI or Bsh1285I restriction enzymes, followed by agarose gel electrophoresis of the cleaved products, yielded specific restriction profiles that enabled direct, visual identification of the species analyzed. This PCR–RFLP method allowed a clear and rapid discrimination of the gadoid species studied.     

Microvasculature of the cerebral cortex: A vascular corrosion cast and immunocytochemical study

In mammals, the cerebral cortex microvasculature (CCM) of the neopallium plays important roles in the physiological and pathological processes of the brain. The aim of the present work is to analyze the CCM by use of the SEM‐vascular corrosion cast technique, and to examine the immunocytochemical characteristics of the CCM in adult domestic ruminants (cattle, buffalo, and sheep) by using the SEM‐immunogold technique. The CCM originated from the very small, finger‐like terminal branches of the macrovasculature of the brain. The superficial cortical arterioles were more numerous than the deep straight arterioles which proceeded toward the white matter. The surface casts of the arterioles and capillaries of the cerebral cortex showed ring‐shaped formations in the arterioles and at the origin of the capillaries. All capillaries down‐stream from these ring‐shaped formations were flaccid. Casts of the capillaries showed wrinkles due to the presence of endothelial folds, which is characteristic of varying blood pressure. Formations having intense anti‐GIFAP immunoreactivity were frequently evident along the course of the blood capillaries in the cerebral cortex. These formations were probably astrocytes that might regulate the cerebral microcirculation based on physiological and pathological stimuli, such as neuronal activation. Microsc. Res. Tech. 77:257–263, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Biocompatible nano-micro-particles by solvent evaporation from multiple emulsions technique

In this study, a method based on a multiple emulsions system was developed for the production of polymeric nano and micro-vectors. The possibility to apply an unified preparation technique to different polymers, such as polyesters [polycaprolactone, poly-dl-lactide, poly(dl-lactide-co-caprolactone) = 70/30] and polyacrylates [poly(methylmethacrylate–acrylic acid) = 73/27], loaded with different model molecules (budesonide, tamoxifen, and α-tocopherol) was explored. After selecting the best operating conditions, especially for emulsification and separation, the technique proved to be readily adaptable for production of both nano and micro-particles with different morphologies, depending on type of polymer, and consequently on solvent used for solubilization: nano-particles, with a round shape and a smooth surface, for polyesters, otherwise micro-particles for the polyacrylate polymer, owing to the presence of hydrophilic co-solvents, that caused both an easy coalescence between the oil and water phases, thus enlarged particles size, and a high porosity. Even the yield of encapsulation was influenced by the presence of hydrophilic co-solvents, causing a higher yield for nano-vectors. Polyesters-based nano-vectors showed release times of molecules, linked to their degradation time, higher than 8 months that make them useful to formulate injectable or implantable drug delivery systems. Polyacrylate-based micro-vectors showed an enteric behavior, interesting for designing solid pharmaceutical formulations for oral delivery. Therefore, the technique demonstrated to assure a broad application in drug delivery research.     

Disperse and cationic dyes from 2-(o,m, p-Aminophenyl)oxazolo [4,5-b]pyridine

2-(o,m,p-Aminophenyl)oxazolo[4,5-b]pyridines were diazotized and coupled with N,N-disubstituted anilines, giving monoazo dyes suitable for polyamide fabrics. Some of the dyes were quaternized to give cationic dyes for acrylic fibres. The colour of dyed materials was assessed in terms of tristimulus colorimetry. Electronic spectra of the amines and NMR spectra of the cationic dyes are briefly discussed.     

Design patterns for ubiquitous computing

Design patterns offer a solution to the difficult problem of reusing prior design knowledge. We propose that such patterns also offer an effective way to communicate solutions to ubiquitous computing design problems. Some of the ubicomp design patterns include context-sensitive I/O, physical-virtual associations, global data, proxies for devices, follow-me display, appropriate levels of attention, and anticipation. Design patterns range in scale from a city to a room and, together, form a pattern language that designers can adapt to a project's particular level of complexity or detail.     

Open Source Data Collection in the Developing World

The ability to collect data is key to the success of many organizations operating in the developing world. Given the weaknesses of current tools and the surge in mobile phone growth, there's an opportunity for mobile and cloud technologies to enable timely and efficient data collection. This paper discusses Open Data Kit (ODK), a suite of tools that enable efficient and timely data collection on cell phones. ODK is designed to let users own, visualize, and share data without the difficulties of setting up and maintaining servers. The tools are easy to use, deploy, and scale. They also go beyond open source - they're based on open standards and supported by a larger community.     

Labscape: a smart environment for the cell biology laboratory

Labscape is a smart environment that we designed to improve the experience of people who work in a cell biology laboratory. Our goal in creating it was to simplify, laboratory work by making information available where it is needed and by collecting and organizing data where and when it is created into a formal representation that others can understand and process. By helping biologists produce a more complete record of their work with less effort, Labscape is designed to foster improved collaboration in conjunction with increased individual efficiency and satisfaction. A user-driven system, although technologically conservative, embraces a central goal of ubiquitous computing: to enhance the ability to perform domain tasks through fluid interaction with computational resources. Smart environments could soon replace the pen and paper commonly used in the laboratory setting.     

Multicentre evaluation of a commercial test for the rapid diagnosis of Clostridium difficile-mediated antibiotic-associated diarrhoea

Although histologic studies of mucin distribution in the peribiliary glands have been conducted, a quantitative study of mucin content in intrahepatic bile ducts has yet to be reported. In an attempt to evaluate the mucin content in stone-containing intrahepatic bile ducts, we conducted a study on 25 surgically resected livers with hepatolithiasis. Specimens from 10 livers without stones served as controls. All specimens were fixed in 10% formalin and sectioned for periodic acid Schiffalcian blue double-stain (PAS-AB; pH 2.5) to evaluate the epithelial mucin content of the intrahepatic bile ducts. The PAS-AB positive area and the total epithelial area were measured with a computerized image analyzer and the PAS-AB index was calculated as the proportion of the PAS-AB positive to the total epithelial area. The histochemical study showed that epithelial cells in both the intramural glands and extramural glands of stone-containing intrahepatic bile ducts stained heavily and homogeneously with PAS-AB, while those of controls stained weakly. The PAS-AB indexes in stone-containing intrahepatic bile ducts were 51.8 +/- 15.88% for mucous cells of intramural glands, 52.86 +/- 9.85% for mucous cells of extramural glands, and 77.29 +/- 21.59% for serous cells of extramural glands. These values were all significantly higher than those of control specimens. However, the PAS-AB index of the epithelial lining in both hepatolithiasis and control specimens were similarly low, indicating the epithelial lining does not secrete much mucous glycoprotein. The results of this study led us to conclude that stone-containing intrahepatic bile ducts contain an abundant amount of mucous glycoprotein, and mucin is secreted from the peribiliary glands, not from the epithelial lining of the bile ducts.     

Predictive value of the shunt-to-infarct size ratio as a surgical risk factor in patients with decompensated post-ischemic interventricular septal rupture

Postischemic septal rupture has always been evaluated, in respect of surgical indication, as regards the time lapse between infarct and rupture, interval between rupture and operation, extension of myocardial damage and general risk factors such as age, sex and associated pathologies. But in fact the surgeon is dealing with a two sided problem, the MI and the rupture, and thus surgical results depend upon both the residual ventricular function after MI and the consequences of volume overload on a damaged muscle. Surgical indication could not be based on a single criterion only. Extension of the MI alone is not fully predictive of operative mortality because, aside the reperfusion injury, the repair further jeopardizes viable myocardium and alters ventricular geometry; although the shunt appears unrelated to mortality it certainly interferes with operative outcome at least because of the time elapsed between rupture and repair. So far an index which could correlate the extension of myocardial damage and the entity of the shunt with each other was not available. Patients with septal rupture follow an emergency protocol and are often insufficiently investigated but every patients has a least one echo-Doppler evaluation or even a ventriculography while one or more ECGs are always available. With the presumption that the Qp/Qs is roughly indicative of the right ventricular volume overload and that ecg signs of myocardial infarct are always reliable, we have reviewed among our 24 patients with septal rupture those where a full ecg tracing and a quantitative Echo or angiographic evaluation of the shunt were available.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The metabolism of lithocholic acid and lithocholic acid-3-α-sulfate by human fecal bacteria

Both lithocholic acid and lithocholic acid-3α-sulfate are metabolized by mixed fecal bacteria and by pure strains of the genusClostridium. Mixed fecal bacteria metabolized lithocholic acid to 3-ketolithocholic acid; lithocholic acid-3α-sulfate was metabolized to isolithocholic acid, 5β-cholanic acid and Δ³-cholenic acid under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The results indicate that a specific genus, theClostridium, has a primary role in the metabolism of lithocholic acid-3α-sulfate to Δ³-cholenic acid