Induction of protective immunity to Theileria annulata using two major merozoite surface antigens presented by different delivery systems

Allelic forms (Tams1-1 and Tams1-2) of the major merozoite surface antigen gene of Theileria annulata have recently been expressed in Escherichia coli and in Salmonella typhimurium aroA vaccine strain SL3261. To test the potential of subunit vaccines against T. annulata infection, we immunized four groups of three calves with either recombinant (re-) (Tams1-1 and Tams1-2) proteins or naked DNA encoding these antigens. Group I was immunized intramuscularly with both re-proteins incorporated into immunostimulating complexes (ISCOMs). Group II was inoculated intramuscularly with naked plasmid DNA encoding Tams1-1 and Tams1-2 Groups III and IV received S. typhimurium SL3261 [pSTams1-1][pIP5] and SL3261 [pSTams1-2][pIP5] subcutaneously and orally, respectively. A final group of three animals (Group V) sewed as an unimmunized control group. Four weeks after the last immunization all calves were challenged with a T. annulata stabilate generated from blood of an infected animal with 30% piroplasm parasitaemia. All calves vaccinated with ISCOMs proved to be protected from T. annulata infection and had generated antibodies against both re-(Tams1-1 and Tams1-2) at the time of challenge. In two of these animals the antibody had a surface binding profile by IFAT. Two of three calves immunized with naked DNA also proved to be protected, but none of the animals had generated any de

Yield and distribution of biomass and nutrients in peach palm cropped under irrigation in the semi-arid area of brazilian Northeast.

The objective of this paper was to quantify the biomass and the nutrient concentration in the components of the peach palm (Bactris gasipaes H.B.K.)

Intelligence and ambition are distributed equally around the globe

The impact of freely accessible knowledge distribution platforms is briefly discussed

Levantamento de espécies de plantas daninhas na cultura do pinhão manso em Maringá, PR

Jatropha curcas growth, like any other crop, depends on adequate management. However, there is little information about weed interference on the growth and control of this crop. This study aimed to identify the floristic composition of weeds in a J. curcas cultivation area in Maringá (Paraná, Brazil). The study was carried out in an area of 600 m2, where spacing between plants was 3 x 2 m. For the identification and quantification of weeds, we applied the method of inventory square.  Calculated parameters were: frequency, relative frequency, density, relative density, abundance, relative abundance and relative importance index. We identified 27 species of weeds, inserted in 12 families, that is, 10 dicotyledons and 02  monocotyledons. Among the dicotyledons, Asteraceae presented the highest number of weed species, with nine species. Bidens pilosa L. showed the highest relative importance index (Rii), 58,33  in the first sampling and 44,53 in the second one, followed by Thidax procumbens L., with Rii 8,13 in the first sampling and 7,09 in the second one.A produção de pinhão manso assim como de outras plantas depende do manejo adequado da cultura. Poucas são as informações a respeito da interferência de plantas daninhas na cultura e seu controle.  Assim, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo identificar a composição florística de plantas daninhas na cultura de pinhão manso em Maringá, Paraná. Este trabalho foi realizado em uma área  de 600 m2. O espaçamento entre as plantas foi de 3x2 m. Para a identificação e quantificação de plantas daninhas foi aplicado o método do quadrado inventário. Foram calculados: freqüência, freqüência relativa, densidade, densidade relativa, abundância, abundância relativa e o índice de importância relativa. Foram identificados 27 espécies, distribuídas em 12 famílias, sendo 10 dicotiledôneas e 02 monocotiledôneas. Entre as dicotiledôneas, a Asteraceae apresentou registrou maior número de espécies infestantes com nove espécies. Bidens pilosa L. apresentou maior índice de importância relativa (IIr), 58,33 na primeira coleta e 44,53 na segunda coleta, seguido por Tridax procumbens L. com IIr de 8,13 e 7,09 na primeira e segunda coleta, respectivamente

Evidence of resonant surface wave excitation in the relativistic regime through measurements of proton acceleration from grating targets

The interaction of laser pulses with thin grating targets, having a periodic groove at the irradiated surface, has been experimentally investigated. Ultrahigh contrast ($\sim 10^{12}$) pulses allowed to demonstrate an enhanced laser-target coupling for the first time in the relativistic regime of ultra-high intensity >10^{19} \mbox{W/cm}^{2}. A maximum increase by a factor of 2.5 of the cut-off energy of protons produced by Target Normal Sheath Acceleration has been observed with respect to plane targets, around the incidence angle expected for resonant excitation of surface waves. A significant enhancement is also observed for small angles of incidence, out of resonance.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, 2nd version implements final correction

A Novel Virtual Reality Assessment of Functional Cognition: Validation Study.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive deficits are present in several neuropsychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer disease, schizophrenia, and depression. Assessments used to measure cognition in these disorders are time-consuming, burdensome, and have low ecological validity. To address these limitations, we developed a novel virtual reality shopping task-VStore. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to establish the construct validity of VStore in relation to the established computerized cognitive battery, Cogstate, and explore its sensitivity to age-related cognitive decline. METHODS: A total of 142 healthy volunteers aged 20-79 years participated in the study. The main VStore outcomes included verbal recall of 12 grocery items, time to collect items, time to select items on a self-checkout machine, time to make the payment, time to order coffee, and total completion time. Construct validity was examined through a series of backward elimination regression models to establish which Cogstate tasks, measuring attention, processing speed, verbal and visual learning, working memory, executive function, and paired associate learning, in addition to age and technological familiarity, best predicted VStore performance. In addition, 2 ridge regression and 2 logistic regression models supplemented with receiver operating characteristic curves were built, with VStore outcomes in the first model and Cogstate outcomes in the second model entered as predictors of age and age cohorts, respectively. RESULTS: Overall VStore performance, as indexed by the total time spent completing the task, was best explained by Cogstate tasks measuring attention, working memory, paired associate learning, and age and technological familiarity, accounting for 47% of the variance. In addition, with λ=5.16, the ridge regression model selected 5 parameters for VStore when predicting age (mean squared error 185.80, SE 19.34), and with λ=9.49 for Cogstate, the model selected all 8 tasks (mean squared error 226.80, SE 23.48). Finally, VStore was found to be highly sensitive (87%) and specific (91.7%) to age cohorts, with 94.6% of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that VStore is a promising assessment that engages standard cognitive domains and is sensitive to age-related cognitive decline

Producao e distribuicao de biomassa e nutrientes em pupunha cultivada sob irrigacao na regiao semi-arida do Nordeste brasileiro.

O trabalho teve por objetivo quantificar a biomassa e os nutrientes nos componentes (estipe, folhas e palmito) da pupunha (Bactris gasipaes Kunth), sob irrigacao na regiao semi-arida do Nordeste brasileiro. O estudo foi desenvolvido no Campo Experimental do Bebedouro da Embrapa Semi-Arido, no municipio de Petrolina-PE, latitude 09graus,09'S e longitude 40graus 22'W. A precipitacao media anual varia em torno de 500 mm, com temperatura media mensal de 26graus C, umidade relativa entre 50 e 70%, insolacao media de 2.800 horas/ano e com evaporacao em torno de 2.000 mm/ano. O plantio definitivo foi em espacamento de 2,0 x 1,0 m, com uma adubacao de fundacao de 300 kg/ha de K2 O. Aos 19 meses de idade foram cortadas 24 plantas, selecionadas com base no tamanho otimo (de 1,9 a 2,1 m de altura e de 9,4 a 9,6 cm de diametro a altura de 80 cm do solo) para exploracao do plantio da pupunha em condicoes de irrigacao na regiao. Verificou-se que a producao media de biomassa seca foi de 6.600 kg/ha (50,4%) para estipe, 6.000 kg/ha (48%) para folhas e 200 kg/ha (1,6%) para palmito. O teor de umidade foi de 86,75,84,02 e 67,6%, respectivamente, para palmito, estipe e folhas, enquanto o teor dos macronutrientes foi superior no palmito, seguido das folhas e do estipe. O conteudo de nutrientes na biomassa (parte aerea) seguiu a seguinte ordem decrescente: K (185,3 kg/ha) > N (179,7 kg/ha) > Ca (59,2 kg/ha) > P (33,9kg/ha) > Mg (25,1 kg/ha)

XUV interferometry using high-order harmonics: Application to plasma diagnostics

In this paper, we present and compare the two different XUV interferometric techniques using high-order harmonics that have been developed so far. The first scheme is based on the interference between two spatially separated phase-locked harmonic sources while the second uses two temporally separated harmonic sources. These techniques have been applied to plasma diagnostics in feasibility experiments where electron densities up to a few 1020 e[minus sign/cm3 have been measured with a temporal resolution of 200 fs. We present the main characteristics of each technique and discuss their respective potentials and limitations