The sodium-dependent di- and tricarboxylate transporter, NaCT, is not responsible for the uptake of D-, L-2-hydroxyglutarate and 3-hydroxyglutarate into neurons

Multi-objective evolutionary algorithms (MOEAs) have become increasingly popular as multi-objective problem solving techniques. Most studies of MOEAs are empirical. Only recently, a few theoretical results have appeared. It is acknowledged that more theoretical research is needed. An important open problem is to understand the role of populations in MOEAs. We present a simple bi-objective problem which emphasizes when populations are needed. Rigorous runtime analysis point out an exponential runtime gap between a population-based algorithm (SEMO) and several single individual-based algorithms on this problem. This means that among the algorithms considered, only the populationbased MOEA is successful and all other algorithms fail

Mechanical concept of the neurosurgical robot ‘Minerva'

We describe a robot capable of performing all procedures necessary to carry out a complete stereotactic neurosurgical operation under the control and supervision of a surgeon. The operation consists of the introduction of a small probe with diameter 2-3 mm through a hole without trepanation. The robot has been built and is now being tested and evaluated. The accompanying control software as well as various medical probes are either in development or partially tested. The installation will be able to carry out a complete intervention under the surveillance of a computed tomography scanner. In this article we emphasize the design choices required to eliminate gearing backlash in a crucial degree of freedo

An annotated checklist of the jumping plant-lice (Insecta: Hemiptera: Psylloidea) from the Mercantour National Park, with seven new records for France and one new synonymy

A total of 68 psyllid species are listed from the Mercantour National Park in Southeast France, where a targeted collecting campaign was conducted between 2009 and 2012, as part of the project "ATBI+M" Mercantour. The insects were collected using Malaise traps, flight intercept traps and sweep nets to sample in the vegetation. Additional information on distribution, biology and host-plants is provided for each species. Seven species are recorded for the first time from France: Craspedolepta artemisiae (Foerster, 1848), Craspedolepta nebulosa (Zetterstedt, 1828), Cacopsylla propinqua (Schaefer, 1949), Cyamophila prohaskai (Priesner, 1927), Eryngiofaga cf. refuga (Loginova, 1966), Bactericera parastriola Conci, Ossiannilsson & Tamanini, 1988 and Trioza flixiana Burckhardt & Lauterer, 2002. Trioza (Trioza) rapisardai Conci & Tamanini, 1984 is a new subjective synonym of Trioza brachyceraea Hodkinson & White, 1979, which was previously known only from the male holotype. The abundance, distribution and introduction status of some species are discussed

Estudos de prospecção e biodiversidade de Psylloidea: Hemiptera.

Resumo

New AMP-forming acid:CoA ligases from Streptomyces lividans, some of which are posttranslationally regulated by reversible lysine acetylation

In nature, organic acids are a commonly used source of carbon and energy. Many bacteria use AMP‐forming acid:CoA ligases to convert organic acids into their corresponding acyl‐CoA derivatives, which can then enter metabolism. The soil environment contains a broad diversity of organic acids, so it is not surprising that bacteria such as Streptomyces lividans can activate many of the available organic acids. Our group has shown that the activity of many acid:CoA ligases is posttranslationally controlled by acylation of an active‐site lysine. In some cases, the modification is reversed by deacylases of different types. We identified eight new acid:CoA ligases in S. lividans TK24. Here, we report the range of organic acids that each of these enzymes can activate, and determined that two of the newly identified CoA ligases were under NAD⁺‐dependent sirtuin deacylase reversible lysine (de)acetylation control, four were not acetylated by two acetyltransferases used in this work, and two were acetylated but not deacetylated by sirtuin. This work provides insights into the broad organic‐acid metabolic capabilities of S. lividans, and sheds light into the control of the activities of CoA ligases involved in the activation of organic acids in this bacterium

Intravenous iron preparations transiently generate non-transferrin-bound iron from two proposed pathways

Intravenous iron-carbohydrate complex preparations (IVIPs) are non-interchangeable pro-drugs: their pharmacokinetics (PK) varies determined by semi-crystalline iron core and carbohydrate shell structures, influences pharmacodynamics (PD) and thus efficacy and safety. Examining PK/PD relationships of 3 IVIPs we identify a two-pathway model of transient NTBI generation following single dose administration. 28 hypoferremic non-anemic patients randomized to 200mg iron as ferric carboxymaltose (Fe-carboxymaltose), iron sucrose (Fe-sucrose), iron isomaltoside 1000 (Fe-isomaltoside-1000), n=8/arm, or placebo, n=4, on a 2-week PK/PD study, had samples analysed for total serum iron, IVIP-iron, transferrin-bound iron (TBI) by HPLC-ICP-MS, transferrin saturation (TSAT), serum ferritin (s-Ferritin) by standard methods, non-TBI (NTBI) and hepcidin as published before. IVIP-dependent increases in these parameters returned to baseline in 48-150h, except for s-Ferritin and TSAT. NTBI was low with Fe-isomaltoside-1000 (0.13µM at 8h), rapidly increased with Fe-sucrose (0.8µM at 2h, 1.25µM at 4h), and delayed for Fe-carboxymaltose (0.57µM at 24h). NTBI AUCs were 7-fold greater for Fe-carboxymaltose and Fe-sucrose than for Fe-isomaltoside-1000. Hepcidin peak time varied, but not AUC or mean levels. s-Ferritin levels and AUC were highest for Fe-carboxymaltose and greater than placebo for all IVIPs. We propose 2 mechanisms for the observed NTBI kinetics: rapid and delayed NTBI appearance consistent with direct (circulating IVIP-to-plasma) and indirect (IVIP-to-macrophage-to-plasma) iron release based on IVIP plasma half-life and s-Ferritin dynamics. IVIPs generate different, broadly stability- and PK-dependent, NTBI and s-Ferritin signatures, which may influence iron bioavailability, efficacy and safety. Longer-term studies should link NTBI exposure to subsequent safety and efficacy parameters and potential clinical consequences

Psylloidea na fazenda da Brigada Militar, Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul.

Editores técnicos: Joseani Mesquita Antunes, Ana Lídia Variani Bonato, Márcia Barrocas Moreira Pimentel

Verifying linearizability on TSO architectures

Linearizability is the standard correctness criterion for fine-grained, non-atomic concurrent algorithms, and a variety of methods for verifying linearizability have been developed. However, most approaches assume a sequentially consistent memory model, which is not always realised in practice. In this paper we define linearizability on a weak memory model: the TSO (Total Store Order) memory model, which is implemented in the x86 multicore architecture. We also show how a simulation-based proof method can be adapted to verify linearizability for algorithms running on TSO architectures. We demonstrate our approach on a typical concurrent algorithm, spinlock, and prove it linearizable using our simulation-based approach. Previous approaches to proving linearizabilty on TSO architectures have required a modification to the algorithm's natural abstract specification. Our proof method is the first, to our knowledge, for proving correctness without the need for such modification

Combining bone resorption markers and heel quantitative ultrasound to discriminate between fracture cases and controls

Summary: This nested case-control analysis of a Swiss ambulatory cohort of elderly women assessed the discriminatory power of urinary markers of bone resorption and heel quantitative ultrasound for non-vertebral fractures. The tests all discriminated between cases and controls, but combining the two strategies yielded no additional relevant information. Introduction: Data are limited regarding the combination of bone resorption markers and heel quantitative bone ultrasound (QUS) in the detection of women at risk for fracture. Methods: In a nested case-control analysis, we studied 368 women (mean age 76.2 ± 3.2years), 195 with low-trauma non-vertebral fractures and 173 without, matched for age, BMI, medical center, and follow-up duration, from a prospective study designed to predict fractures. Urinary total pyridinolines (PYD) and deoxypyridinolines (DPD) were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. All women underwent bone evaluations using Achilles+ and Sahara heel QUS. Results: Areas under the receiver operating-characteristic curve (AUC) for discriminative models of the fracture group, with 95% confidence intervals, were 0.62 (0.56-0.68) and 0.59 (0.53-0.65) for PYD and DPD, and 0.64 (0.58-0.69) and 0.65 (0.59-0.71) for Achilles+ and Sahara QUS, respectively. The combination of resorption markers and QUS added no significant discriminatory information to either measurement alone with an AUC of 0.66 (0.60-0.71) for Achilles+ with PYD and 0.68 (0.62-0.73) for Sahara with PYD. Conclusions: Urinary bone resorption markers and QUS are equally discriminatory between non-vertebral fracture patients and controls. However, the combination of bone resorption markers and QUS is not better than either test used alon