A computer-based automated algorithm for assessing acinar cell loss after experimental pancreatitis

The change in exocrine mass is an important parameter to follow in experimental models of pancreatic injury and regeneration. However, at present, the quantitative assessment of exocrine content by histology is tedious and operatordependent, requiring manual assessment of acinar area on serial pancreatic sections. In this study, we utilized a novel computer-generated learning algorithm to construct an accurate and rapid method of quantifying acinar content. The algorithm works by learning differences in pixel characteristics from input examples provided by human experts. HE-stained pancreatic sections were obtained in mice recovering from a 2-day, hourly caerulein hyperstimulation model of experimental pancreatitis. For training data, a pathologist carefully outlined discrete regions of acinar and non-acinar tissue in 21 sections at various stages of pancreatic injury and recovery (termed the ''ground truth''). After the expert defined the ground truth, the computer was able to develop a prediction rule that was then applied to a unique set of high-resolution images in order to validate the process. For baseline, non-injured pancreatic sections, the software demonstrated close agreement with the ground truth in identifying baseline acinar tissue area with only a difference of 1%±0.05% (p = 0.21). Within regions of injured tissue, the software reported a difference of 2.5%± 0.04% in acinar area compared with the pathologist (p = 0.47). Surprisingly, on detailed morphological examination, the discrepancy was primarily because the software outlined acini and excluded inter-acinar and luminal white space with greater precision. The findings suggest that the software will be of great potential benefit to both clinicians and researchers in quantifying pancreatic acinar cell flux in the injured and recovering pancreas

Geometric modeling of 3D woven preforms in composite T-joints

A common method to fabricate net-shaped three-dimensional (3D) woven preforms for composite T-joints is to weave flat 3D preforms via a standard weaving machine with variation in binder yarn path and then separate the preform in the form of a bifurcation. Folding introduces fiber architecture deformation at the 3D woven bifurcation area. In this paper, a geometric modeling approach is proposed to represent the realistic fiber architecture, as a preprocessor for finite element analyses to predict composite structural performance. Supported by X-ray micro-computed tomography (mCT), three important deformation mechanisms are observed including yarn stack shifting, cross-section bending, and cross-section flattening resulting from the folding process. Furthermore, a set of mathematical formulae for simulation of the deformations in the junction region are developed and satisfactory agreement is observed when compared with mCT scan results

A review on approaches to solving Poisson’s equation in projection-based meshless methods for modelling strongly nonlinear water waves

Three meshless methods, including incompressible smooth particle hydrodynamic (ISPH), moving particle semi-implicit (MPS) and meshless local Petrov–Galerkin method based on Rankine source solution (MLPG_R) methods, are often employed to model nonlinear or violent water waves and their interaction with marine structures. They are all based on the projection procedure, in which solving Poisson’s equation about pressure at each time step is a major task. There are three different approaches to solving Poisson’s equation, i.e. (1) discretizing Laplacian directly by approximating the second-order derivatives, (2) transferring Poisson’s equation into a weak form containing only gradient of pressure and (3) transferring Poisson’s equation into a weak form that does not contain any derivatives of functions to be solved. The first approach is often adopted in ISPH and MPS, while the third one is implemented by the MLPG_R method. This paper attempts to review the most popular, though not all, approaches available in literature for solving the equation

New "light" for one-world approach toward safe and effective control of animal diseases and insect vectors from leishmaniac perspectives

Light is known to excite photosensitizers (PS) to produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the presence of oxygen. This modality is attractive for designing control measures against animal diseases and pests. Many PS have a proven safety record. Also, the ROS cytotoxicity selects no resistant mutants, unlike other drugs and pesticides. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) refers to the use of PS as light activable tumoricides, microbicides and pesticides in medicine and agriculture.Here we describe "photodynamic vaccination" (PDV) that uses PDT-inactivation of parasites, i.e. Leishmania as whole-cell vaccines against leishmaniasis, and as a universal carrier to deliver transgenic add-on vaccines against other infectious and malignant diseases. The efficacy of Leishmania for vaccine delivery makes use of their inherent attributes to parasitize antigen (vaccine)-presenting cells. Inactivation of Leishmania by PDT provides safety for their use. This is accomplished in two different ways: (i) chemical engineering of PS to enhance their uptake, e.g. Si-phthalocyanines; and (ii) transgenic approach to render Leishmania inducible for porphyrinogenesis. Three different schemes of Leishmania-based PDV are presented diagrammatically to depict the cellular events resulting in cell-mediated immunity, as seen experimentally against leishmaniasis and Leishmania-delivered antigen in vitro and in vivo. Safety versus efficacy evaluations are under way for PDT-inactivated Leishmania, including those further processed to facilitate their storage and transport. Leishmania transfected to express cancer and viral vaccine candidates are being prepared accordingly for experimental trials.We have begun to examine PS-mediated photodynamic insecticides (PDI). Mosquito cells take up rose bengal/cyanosine, rendering them light-sensitive to undergo disintegration in vitro, thereby providing a cellular basis for the larvicidal activity seen by the same treatments. Ineffectiveness of phthalocyanines and porphyrins for PDI underscores its requirement for different PS. Differential uptake of PS by insect versus other cells to account for this difference is under study.The ongoing work is patterned after the one-world approach by enlisting the participation of experts in medicinal chemistry, cell/molecular biology, immunology, parasitology, entomology, cancer research, tropical medicine and veterinary medicine. The availability of multidisciplinary expertise is indispensable for implementation of the necessary studies to move the project toward product development

Novel SNPs polymorphism of bovine CACNA2D1 gene and their association with somatic cell score

Mastitis is a major cause of economic loss in dairy cattle. In this study, the bovine CACNA2D1 gene was taken as a candidate gene for mastitis resistance. The objective of this study was to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the bovine CACNA2D1 gene and evaluate the association of these SNPs with mastitis in cattle. Through DNA sequencing and PCR-RFLP analysis, three mutations C367400T, A496561G and G519663A were detected in the cattle CACNA2D1 gene. Altogether 240 dairy cattle of three breeds (Holstein, Simmental, and Sanhe cattle) were genotyped and allele frequencies were determined. The effects of CACNA2D1 polymorphisms on somatic cell score (SCS) were analyzed and a significant association was found between G519663A and SCS. The mean of genotype GG was significantly lower than those of genotypes AG and AA. The results of this research will be useful in further studies to determine the role of the CACNA2D1 gene in mastitis resistance and further work will be necessary to investigate whether the CACNA2D1 gene play a role in defending the host from mastitis.Key words: Association analysis, CACNA2D1 gene, dairy breeds, mastitis, somatic cell score

Oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms are associated with human directed social behavior in dogs (Canis familiaris)

The oxytocin system has a crucial role in human sociality; several results prove that polymorphisms of the oxytocin receptor gene are related to complex social behaviors in humans. Dogs' parallel evolution with humans and their adaptation to the human environment has made them a useful species to model human social interactions. Previous research indicates that dogs are eligible models for behavioral genetic research, as well. Based on these previous findings, our research investigated associations between human directed social behaviors and two newly described (−212AG, 19131AG) and one known (rs8679684) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the regulatory regions (5′ and 3′ UTR) of the oxytocin receptor gene in German Shepherd (N = 104) and Border Collie (N = 103) dogs. Dogs' behavior traits have been estimated in a newly developed test series consisting of five episodes: Greeting by a stranger, Separation from the owner, Problem solving, Threatening approach, Hiding of the owner. Buccal samples were collected and DNA was isolated using standard protocols. SNPs in the 3′ and 5′ UTR regions were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction based techniques followed by subsequent electrophoresis analysis. The gene–behavior association analysis suggests that oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms have an impact in both breeds on (i) proximity seeking towards an unfamiliar person, as well as their owner, and on (ii) how friendly dogs behave towards strangers, although the mediating molecular regulatory mechanisms are yet unknown. Based on these results, we conclude that similarly to humans, the social behavior of dogs towards humans is influenced by the oxytocin system

Immunomodulatory Potential of Patchouli Alcohol Isolated from Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth (Lamiaceae) in Mice

Purpose: To isolate and purify patchouli alcohol (PA), a tricyclic sesquiterpene constituent of Pogostemon cablin, and investigate its immunomodulatory potential in Kunming mice.Methods: PA was prepared from an ethanol aqueous extract of P. cablin by silica gel column chromatography, and further purified by crystallization using n-hexane. Purity was assessed by analytical gas chromatography (GC) and confirmation of chemical structure performed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (MS). The effect of PA from Pogostemon cablin on immunological function was studied by macrophage phagocytosis, immune organ index, serum immunoglobulin level and delayed type  hypersensitivity (DTH) in mice that were administered orally doses of 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg.Results: The purity of PA was 99.3%. The oral administration of PA (40, or 80 mg/kg body weight) significantly increased the phagocytic index (p < 0.05), compared with prednisone acetate (PR) group. Administration of PA (80 mg/kg) boosted the production of circulating serum IgM (0.081 ± 0.010) and IgG (1.296 ± 0.120), while IgM and IgG in PR group was 0.069 ± 0.011 (p < 0.01) and 1.180 ± 0.070 (p < 0.01) respectively. However, PA (20 mg/kg) treatment elicited significant decrease in DTH induced by 2, 4-dinitro-chlorobenzene (DNCB) in mice (1.03 ± 0.40, p < 0.05), in comparison to DNCB-induced group (1.67 ± 0.84 mg).Conclusion: These results suggest that PA has significant immunomodulatory properties which probably act by activating mononuclear phagocytic system, augmenting humoral immune response while suppressing cellular immune response.Keywords: Patchouli alcohol, Pogostemon cablin, Immunomodulatory, Phagocytic index, Macrophag

Chromium removal from aqueous solution by a PEI-silica nanocomposite

It is essential and important to determine the adsorption mechanism as well as removal efficiency when using an adsorption technique to remove toxic heavy metals from wastewater. In this research, the removal efficiency and mechanism of chromium removal by a silica-based nanoparticle were investigated. A PEI-silica nanoparticle was synthesized by a one-pot technique and exhibited uniformly well-dispersed PEI polymers in silica particles. The adsorption capacity of chromium ions was determined by a batch adsorption test, with the PEI-silica nanoparticle having a value of 183.7 mg/g and monolayer sorption. Adsorption of chromium ions was affected by the solution pH and altered the nanoparticle surface chemically. First principles calculations of the adsorption energies for the relevant adsorption configurations and XPS peaks of Cr and N showed that Cr(VI), [HCrO4](-) is reduced to two species, Cr(III), CrOH2+ and Cr3+, by an amine group and that Cr(III) and Cr(VI) ions are adsorbed on different functional groups, oxidized N and NH3+