6,870 research outputs found
Toxoplasma on the Brain: Understanding Host-Pathogen Interactions in Chronic CNS Infection
Toxoplasma gondii is a prevalent obligate intracellular parasite which chronically infects more than a third of the world's population. Key to parasite prevalence is its ability to form chronic and nonimmunogenic bradyzoite cysts, which typically form in the brain and muscle cells of infected mammals, including humans. While acute clinical infection typically involves neurological and/or ocular damage, chronic infection has been more recently linked to behavioral changes. Establishment and maintenance of chronic infection involves a balance between the host immunity and parasite evasion of the immune response. Here, we outline the known cellular interplay between Toxoplasma gondii and cells of the central nervous system and review the reported effects of Toxoplasma gondii on behavior and neurological disease. Finally, we review new technologies which will allow us to more fully understand host-pathogen interactions
Application of Probabilistic Neural Networks in Modelling Structural Deterioration of Stormwater Pipes
In Australia, when stormwater systems were first introduced over 100 years ago, they were constructed independently of the sewer systems, and they are normally the responsibility of the third level of government, i.e., local government or city councils. Because of the increasing age of these stormwater systems and their worsening performance, there are serious concerns in a significant number of city councils regarding their deterioration. A study has been conducted on the structural deterioration of concrete pipes that make up the bulk of the stormwater pipe systems in these councils. In an attempt to look for a reliable deterioration model, a probabilistic neural network (PNN) model was developed using the data set supplied from participating councils. The PNN model was validated with snapshot-based sample data, which makes up the data set. The predictive performance of the PNN model was compared with a traditional parametric model using discriminant analysis on the same data set. Structural deterioration was hypothesised to be influenced by a set of explanatory factors, including pipe design and construction factors—such as pipe size, buried depth—and site factors— such as soil type, moisture index, tree root intrusion, etc. The results show that the PNN model has a better predictive power and uses significantly more input variables (i.e., explanatory factors) than the discriminant model. More importantly, the key factors for prediction in the PNN model are difficult to interpret, suggesting that besides prediction accuracy, model interpretation is an important issue for further investigation
Social function in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder: Associations with personality, symptoms and neurocognition
BACKGROUND: Research has indicated that stable individual differences in personality exist among persons with schizophrenia spectrum disorders predating illness onset that are linked to symptoms and self appraised quality of life. Less is known about how closely individual differences in personality are uniquely related to levels of social relationships, a domain of dysfunction in schizophrenia more often linked in the literature with symptoms and neurocognitive deficits. This study tested the hypothesis that trait levels of personality as defined using the five-factor model of personality would be linked to social function in schizophrenia. METHODS: A self-report measure of the five factor model of personality was gathered along with ratings of social function, symptoms and assessments of neurocognition for 65 participants with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. RESULTS: Univariate correlations and stepwise multiple regression indicated that frequency of social interaction was predicted by higher levels of the trait of Agreeableness, fewer negative symptoms, better verbal memory and at the trend level, lesser Neuroticism (R(2 )= .42, p < .0001). In contrast, capacity for intimacy was predicted by fewer negative symptoms, higher levels of Agreeableness, Openness, and Conscientiousness and at the trend level, fewer positive symptoms (R(2 )= .67, p < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, the findings of this study suggest that person-centered variables such as personality, may account for some of the broad differences seen in outcome in schizophrenia spectrum disorders, including social outcomes. One interpretation of the results of this study is that differences in personality combine with symptoms and neurocognitive deficits to affect how persons with schizophrenia are able to form and sustain social connections with others
On-Chip Cavity Optomechanical Coupling
On-chip cavity optomechanics, in which strong co-localization of light and
mechanical motion is engineered, relies on efficient coupling of light both
into and out of the on-chip optical resonator. Here we detail our particular
style of tapered and dimpled optical fibers, pioneered by the Painter group at
Caltech, which are a versatile and reliable solution to efficient on-chip
coupling. First, a brief overview of tapered, single mode fibers is presented,
in which the single mode cutoff diameter is highlighted. The apparatus used to
create a dimpled tapered fiber is then described, followed by a comprehensive
account of the procedure by which a dimpled tapered fiber is produced and
mounted in our system. The custom-built optical access vacuum chambers in which
our on-chip optomechanical measurements are performed are then discussed.
Finally, the process by which our optomechanical devices are fabricated and the
method by which we explore their optical and mechanical properties is
explained. It is our expectation that this manuscript will enable the novice to
develop advanced optomechanical experiments.Comment: 31 pages, 9 figure
A Killing tensor for higher dimensional Kerr-AdS black holes with NUT charge
In this paper, we study the recently discovered family of higher dimensional
Kerr-AdS black holes with an extra NUT-like parameter. We show that the inverse
metric is additively separable after multiplication by a simple function. This
allows us to separate the Hamilton-Jacobi equation, showing that geodesic
motion is integrable on this background. The separation of the Hamilton-Jacobi
equation is intimately linked to the existence of an irreducible Killing
tensor, which provides an extra constant of motion. We also demonstrate that
the Klein-Gordon equation for this background is separable.Comment: LaTeX, 14 pages. v2: Typo corrected and equation added. v3: Reference
added, introduction expanded, published versio
Investigation of bradyzoite differentiation initiation in Toxoplasma gondii
Like other eukaryotic organisms, Toxoplasma gondii promoters feature both constitutive and life-stage regulated cis-elements. Using a transcriptomic microarray approach, a cluster of transcripts upregulated early during bradyzoite differentiation was identified. Computational analysis of the promoter regions of these “up-early” transcripts identified a shared upstream consensus motif, a putative transcription factor binding site. Using a dual luciferase assay adapted for recombinational cloning and reporter gene quantification by qPCR, we demonstrate developmental stage-specific expression of the luciferase reporter gene inserted downstream of the transcription factor binding site. The shared consensus motif was found to be an autonomous cis-element by conversion of a constitutive promoter into a bradyzoite growth condition-inducible promoter. A gel-shift experiment showed the cis-element’s binding to bradyzoite nuclear proteins. Mass spectrometry of the shifted gel band identified a protein possessing an apicomplexan AP2 transcription factor domain. Much detail concerning the mechanism of differentiation is yet to be discovered and this work highlights the mediation of life cycle progression by bradyzoite differential gene expression. Taken together, these data demonstrate the control an early bradyzoite promoter element exercises on stage differentiation
A high-fat diet containing whole walnuts (Juglans regia) reduces tumour size and growth along with plasma insulin-like growth factor 1 in the transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate model.
Prostate cancer (PCa) has been linked to fat intake, but the effects of both different dietary fat levels and types remain inconsistent and incompletely characterised. The effects on PCa in the transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) cancer model of an elevated fat (20 % of energy as fat) diet containing 155 g of whole walnuts were compared to those of an elevated fat (20 % of energy as soyabean oil) diet with matched macronutrients, tocopherols as well as a low-fat (8 % of energy as soyabean oil) diet. Mice, starting at 8 weeks of age, consumed one of the three different diets ad libitum; and prostates, livers and blood were obtained after 9, 18 or 24 weeks of feeding. No differences were observed in whole animal growth rates in either high-fat (HF) diet group, but prostate tumour weight and growth rate were reduced in the walnut diet group. Walnut diet group prostate weight, plasma insulin-like growth factor 1, resistin and LDL were lower at 18 weeks, while no statistically significant prostate weight differences by diet were seen at 9 or 24 weeks. Multiple metabolites in the livers differed by diet at 9 and 18 weeks. The walnut diet's beneficial effects probably represent the effects of whole walnuts' multiple constituents and not via a specific fatty acid or tocopherols. Moreover, as the two HF diets had dissimilar effects on prostate tumour growth rate and size, and yet had the same total fat and tocopherol composition and content, this suggests that these are not strongly linked to PCa growth
Detection of Intestinal Pathogens in River, Shore, and Drinking Water in Lima, Peru
Water quality management is an ongoing struggle for many locations worldwide. Current testing of water supplies can be time-consuming, expensive, and lack sensitivity. This study describes an alternative, easy-to-use, and inexpensive method to water sampling and testing at remote locations. This method was employed to detect a number of intestinal pathogens in various locations of Lima, Peru. A total of 34 PCR primer pairs were tested for specificity and high-yield amplification for 12 different pathogens using known DNA templates. Select primers for each pathogen were then tested for minimum detection limits of DNA. Water samples were collected from 22 locations. PCR was used to detect the presence of a pathogen, virulence factors, or differentiate between pathogenic species. In 22 water samples, cholera toxin gene was detected in 4.5% of samples, C. perfringens DNA was detected in 50% of samples, E. histolytica DNA was detected in 54.5% of samples, Giardia intestinalis DNA was detected in 4.5% of samples, Leptospira spp. DNA was detected in 29% of samples, and T. gondii DNA was detected in 31.8% of samples. DNA from three pathogens, C. perfringens, E. histolytica, and T. gondii, were found in residential samples, which accounted for 10 out of 22 samples
Detection of Intestinal Pathogens in River, Shore, and Drinking Water in Lima, Peru
Water quality management is an ongoing struggle for many locations worldwide. Current testing of water supplies can be time-consuming, expensive, and lack sensitivity. This study describes an alternative, easy-to-use, and inexpensive method to water sampling and testing at remote locations. This method was employed to detect a number of intestinal pathogens in various locations of Lima, Peru. A total of 34 PCR primer pairs were tested for specificity and high-yield amplification for 12 different pathogens using known DNA templates. Select primers for each pathogen were then tested for minimum detection limits of DNA. Water samples were collected from 22 locations. PCR was used to detect the presence of a pathogen, virulence factors, or differentiate between pathogenic species. In 22 water samples, cholera toxin gene was detected in 4.5% of samples, C. perfringens DNA was detected in 50% of samples, E. histolytica DNA was detected in 54.5% of samples, Giardia intestinalis DNA was detected in 4.5% of samples, Leptospira spp. DNA was detected in 29% of samples, and T. gondii DNA was detected in 31.8% of samples. DNA from three pathogens, C. perfringens, E. histolytica, and T. gondii, were found in residential samples, which accounted for 10 out of 22 samples
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