A Study of Nuclear Transcription Factor-Kappa B in Childhood Autism

BACKGROUND: Several children with autism show regression in language and social development while maintaining normal motor milestones. A clear period of normal development followed by regression and subsequent improvement with treatment, suggests a multifactorial etiology. The role of inflammation in autism is now a major area of study. Viral and bacterial infections, hypoxia, or medication could affect both foetus and infant. These stressors could upregulate transcription factors like nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), a master switch for many genes including some implicated in autism like tumor necrosis factor (TNF). On this hypothesis, it was proposed to determine NF-κB in children with autism. METHODS: Peripheral blood samples of 67 children with autism and 29 control children were evaluated for NF-κB using electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). A phosphor imaging technique was used to quantify values. The fold increase over the control sample was calculated and statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS 15. RESULTS: We have noted significant increase in NF-κB DNA binding activity in peripheral blood samples of children with autism. When the fold increase of NF-κB in cases (n = 67) was compared with that of controls (n = 29), there was a significant difference (3.14 vs. 1.40, respectively; p<0.02). CONCLUSION: This finding has immense value in understanding many of the known biochemical changes reported in autism. As NF-κB is a response to stressors of several kinds and a master switch for many genes, autism may then arise at least in part from an NF-κB pathway gone awry

Assessment of coastal management options by means of multilayered ecosystem models

This paper presents a multilayered ecosystem modelling approach that combines the simulation of the biogeochemistry of a coastal ecosystem with the simulation of the main forcing functions, such as catchment loading and aquaculture activities. This approach was developed as a tool for sustainable management of coastal ecosystems. A key feature is to simulate management scenarios that account for changes in multiple uses and enable assessment of cumulative impacts of coastal activities. The model was applied to a coastal zone in China with large aquaculture production and multiple catchment uses, and where management efforts to improve water quality are under way. Development scenarios designed in conjunction with local managers and aquaculture producers include the reduction of fish cages and treatment of wastewater. Despite the reduction in nutrient loading simulated in three different scenarios, inorganic nutrient concentrations in the bay were predicted to exceed the thresholds for poor quality defined by Chinese seawater quality legislation. For all scenarios there is still a Moderate High to High nutrient loading from the catchment, so further reductions might be enacted, together with additional decreases in fish cage culture. The model predicts that overall, shellfish production decreases by 10%–28% using any of these development scenarios, principally because shellfish growth is being sustained by the substances to be reduced for improvement of water quality. The model outcomes indicate that this may be counteracted by zoning of shellfish aquaculture at the ecosystem level in order to optimize trade-offs between productivity and environmental effects. The present case study exemplifies the value of multilayered ecosystem modelling as a tool for Integrated Coastal Zone Management and for the adoption of ecosystem approaches for marine resource management. This modelling approach can be applied worldwide, and may be particularly useful for the application of coastal management regulation, for instance in the implementation of the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive

AN ASSESSMENT OF TWO METHODS OF DETERMINING THE AMOUNT OF RESIDUAL MILK

International audienc

Geometric morphometrics as a tool for identifying emperor fish (Lethrinidae) larvae and juveniles

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of geometric morphometrics for describing the body shape of fish larvae and juveniles, and identifying them to species, in comparison with traditional linear measurements. Species of emperor fishes (Perciformes: Lethrinidae, genus Lethrinus) were chosen as the model group, as the late larval and early juvenile stages in this genus are particularly difficult to identify. Forty-five individuals of different species of Lethrinus were collected from the south-western lagoon of New Caledonia between May 2005 and March 2006. The individuals were first identified to species by their partial cytochrome-b gene sequence. They were then morphologically characterized using eight linear measurements and 23 landmarks recorded on digital photographs. Except for a small proportion of individuals, geometric morphometrics gave better results to distinguish the different species than linear measurements. A 'leave one out' approach confirmed the nearly total discrimination of recently settled Lethrinus genivittatus and Lethrinus nebulosus, whereas traditional identification keys failed to distinguish them. Therefore, geometric morphometrics is a promising tool for identifying fish larvae and juveniles to species. An effective approach would require building image databases of voucher specimens associated with their DNA barcodes. These images could be downloaded by the operator and processed with the specimens to be identified

Datenbanksystem zur Bestandesbetreuung von Milchviehherden mit Schwerpunkt auf der Eutergesundheit

In der Michviehhaltung ist die integrierte tierärztliche Bestandsbetreuung (ITB) eine wirksame Methode, um Gesundheitsprobleme wie Mastitis und Fruchtbarkeitssörungen langfristig zu bekämpfen. Um den Zeitaufwand und die Kosten für die ITB zu optimieren, müssen entsprechende technische Hilfmittel vorhanden sein, die eine schnelle und komfortable Datenverarbeitung gewährleisten und praxistaugliche Beratungstools zu Verfügung stellen. Das Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau (FiBL) hat ein solches Datenbanksystem für das Bestandsbetreuungsprojekt "Pro-Q" entwickelt. Ziel der Datenbank ist, extern zur Verfügung stehende und selbst erhobene Daten zu gebündelten Informationen auf Herden- und Einzeltierebene (inkl. Euterviertelebene) zusammenzubringen und Landwirt, Tierarzt und Berater regelmässig zur Verfügung zu stellen. Diese erhalten so einen umfassenden Überblick über die Gesundheit der Herde und des Einzeltieres. Die Datenbank erlaubt den gleichzeitigen Zugriff durch mehrere Benutzer. Fernzugriff via Internet ist ebenfalls möglich. In diesem Beitrag sollen die wesentlichen Komponenten im Hinblick auf die Tauglichkeit in praxi dargelegt werden

Correlations between molecular descriptors from various volatile organic compounds and photocatalytic oxidation kinetic constants

International audienceThe photocatalytic oxidation of seven typical indoor volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are experimentally investigated using novel nanocrystalline TiO2 dip-coated catalysts. Not only the role of hydrophilicity of the reactants but also other physico-chemical properties and molecular descriptors are studied and related to kinetic and equilibrium constants. The main objective of this work consists in establishing simple relationships that will be useful to deepen the understanding of gas phase heterogeneous photocatalytic mechanisms and for the prediction of degradation rates of these VOCs using an indoor air treatment process