Q fever mimicking herpetic encephalitis

We describe a patient with temporal lobe encephalitis associated with primary Coxiella burnetii infection who lsresented with CT and MRI findings suggestive of herpes simplex encephaktis and an initial improvement during treatment with acyclovir. Q fever should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients whose manifestations suggest herpes encephalitis

The cephalopod prey of the Weddell seal, Leptonychotes weddellii, a biological sampler of the Antarctic marine ecosystem

Weddell seals, Leptonychotes weddellii, are important apex predators in the food web of the Antarctic marine ecosystem. However, detailed information on their trophic relationships with cephalopods is scarce. Moreover, cephalopods play a key role in the marine environment, but knowledge of their feeding habits is limited by lack of data. Here, we have combined the use of this seal as a biological sampler together with measurements of the stable isotopic signature of the beaks of their cephalopod prey. Thus, the aims of the present study were: (1) to examine in detail the cephalopod portion of the diet of Weddell seals by means of scat analysis and (2) to assess the habitat use and trophic level of the different cephalopod prey taxa identified. From January to February 2009, a total of 48 faecal droppings were collected at Hope Bay, Antarctic Peninsula. Cephalopods were mainly represented by beaks (n = 83) which were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. Furthermore, subsamples of beaks were separated for further isotopic analysis. Relative abundance of stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) was determined by continuous-flow isotope-ratio mass spectrometry. Cephalopods were represented uniquely by octopods of the subfamily Eledoninae. Pareledone turqueti was the dominant prey species followed by the papillated Pareledone species group and Adelieledone polymorpha. We conclude that Weddell seals preyed primarily on benthic prey resources. Furthermore, the relatively similar δ13C and δ15N values in beaks of the three octopod prey taxa suggest that these share the same type of habitat and occupy similar trophic level positions

Oxidative stress, lipid metabolism, and neurotransmission in freshwater snail (Pomacea patula) exposed to a water-accommodated fraction of crude oil

Background. Crude oil is a super mixture of chemical compounds and is commonly found in aquatic environments. The tegogolo (Pomacea patula Baker, 1922) is a Mexican freshwater snail endemic to Lake Catemaco in Veracruz; currently, however, its distribution has expanded to many freshwater ecosystems that suffer the impact of crude oil spills and oil byproducts like fuels. Goals. To assess a series of biomarkers involved in oxidative stress, neurotransmission, and fatty acid metabolism in tegogolos exposed to the water-accommodated fraction (WAF) of Maya crude oil (MCO). Methods. Tegogolo specimens were exposed to WAF of MCO obtained from loads of 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 mg/L. We evaluated ROS ( O2 -* and H2O2), oxidative stress (TBARS and RC=O), enzymes involved in antioxidant defense (SOD, CAT, and GPx), some enzymes involved in neurotransmission (AChE, GDA, and CbE activities), and biomarkers of fatty acids metabolism (fatty acids levels and AOX activity). Results. Clear biomarkers responses were observed only in some tissues. ROS were clearly higher than controls in the foot, head, and kidney; however, others biomarkers of oxidative stress remain statistically unchanged. SOD response was irregular with respect to controls and treatments. In contrast, CAT (foot) and GPx (foot and intestine) were the more active enzymes and their activities were higher than in controls. The responses of some enzymes involved in neurotransmission suggest that compensation mechanisms exist between AChE and GDA in the foot and head. Fatty acids metabolism increased with exposure to WAF; however, these types of biomarkers seem unsuitable for monitoring the toxic effects produced by WAF at low environmental concentrations. Conclusions. We can conclude that under the exposure conditions discussed herein, the tegogolos showed acclimation to WAF of Maya crude oil by complex mechanisms.Background. Crude oil is a super mixture of chemical compounds and is commonly found in aquatic environments. The tegogolo (Pomacea patula Baker, 1922) is a Mexican freshwater snail endemic to Lake Catemaco in Veracruz; currently, however, its distribution has expanded to many freshwater ecosystems that suffer the impact of crude oil spills and oil byproducts like fuels. Goals. To assess a series of biomarkers involved in oxidative stress, neurotransmission, and fatty acid metabolism in tegogolos exposed to the water-accommodated fraction (WAF) of Maya crude oil (MCO). Methods. Tegogolo specimens were exposed to WAF of MCO obtained from loads of 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 mg/L. We evaluated ROS ( O2-* and H2O2), oxidative stress (TBARS and RC=O), enzymes involved in antioxidant defense (SOD, CAT, and GPx), some enzymes involved in neurotransmission (AChE, GDA, and CbE activities), and biomarkers of fatty acids metabolism (fatty acids levels and AOX activity). Results. Clear biomarkers responses were observed only in some tissues. ROS were clearly higher than controls in the foot, head, and kidney; however, others biomarkers of oxidative stress remain statistically unchanged. SOD response was irregular with respect to controls and treatments. In contrast, CAT (foot) and GPx (foot and intestine) were the more active enzymes and their activities were higher than in controls. The responses of some enzymes involved in neurotransmission suggest that compensation mechanisms exist between AChE and GDA in the foot and head. Fatty acids metabolism increased with exposure to WAF; however, these types of biomarkers seem unsuitable for monitoring the toxic effects produced by WAF at low environmental concentrations. Conclusions. We can conclude that under the exposure conditions discussed herein, the tegogolos showed acclimation to WAF of Maya crude oil by complex mechanisms.Background. Crude oil is a super mixture of chemical compounds and is commonly found in aquatic environments. Thetegogolo (Pomacea patula Baker, 1922) is a Mexican freshwater snail endemic to Lake Catemaco in Veracruz; currently,however, its distribution has expanded to many freshwater ecosystems that suffer the impact of crude oil spills and oilbyproducts like fuels. Goals. To assess a series of biomarkers involved in oxidative stress, neurotransmission, and fatty acidmetabolism in tegogolos exposed to the water-accommodated fraction (WAF) of Maya crude oil (MCO). Methods. Tegogolospecimens were exposed to WAF of MCO obtained from loads of 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 mg/L. We evaluated ROS ( O2-* and H2O2),oxidative stress (TBARS and RC=O), enzymes involved in antioxidant defense (SOD, CAT, and GPx), some enzymes involvedin neurotransmission (AChE, GDA, and CbE activities), and biomarkers of fatty acids metabolism (fatty acids levels and AOXactivity). Results. Clear biomarkers responses were observed only in some tissues. ROS were clearly higher than controls inthe foot, head, and kidney; however, others biomarkers of oxidative stress remain statistically unchanged. SOD response wasirregular with respect to controls and treatments. In contrast, CAT (foot) and GPx (foot and intestine) were the more activeenzymes and their activities were higher than in controls. The responses of some enzymes involved in neurotransmission suggestthat compensation mechanisms exist between AChE and GDA in the foot and head. Fatty acids metabolism increasedwith exposure to WAF; however, these types of biomarkers seem unsuitable for monitoring the toxic effects produced by WAFat low environmental concentrations. Conclusions. We can conclude that under the exposure conditions discussed herein,the tegogolos showed acclimation to WAF of Maya crude oil by complex mechanisms

Proposing to use artificial neural Networks for NoSQL attack detection

[EN] Relationships databases have enjoyed a certain boom in software worlds until now. These days, with the rise of modern applications, unstructured data production, traditional databases do not completely meet the needs of all systems. Regarding these issues, NOSQL databases have been developed and are a good alternative. But security aspects stay behind. Injection attacks are the most serious class of web attacks that are not taken seriously in NoSQL. This paper presents a Neural Network model approach for NoSQL injection. This method attempts to use the best and most effective features to identify an injection. The features used are divided into two categories, the first one based on the content of the request, and the second one independent of the request meta parameters. In order to detect attack payloads features, we work on character level analysis to obtain malicious rate of user inputs. The results demonstrate that our model has detected more attack payloads compare with models that work black list approach in keyword level

Induction of T Lymphocytes Specific for Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus in Calves with Maternal Antibody

Passive antibody to bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) acquired through colostrum intake may interfere with the development of a protective immune response by calves to this virus. The objective of this study was to determine if calves, with a high level of maternal antibody to bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), develop CD4+, CD8+, or γδ T lymphocyte responses to BVDV in the absence of a measurable humoral immune response. Colostrum or milk replacer fed calves were challenged with virulent BVDV at 2-5 weeks of age and/or after maternal antibody had waned. Calves exposed to BVDV while passive antibody levels were high did not mount a measurable humoral immune response to BVDV. However, compared to nonexposed animals, these animals had CD4+, CD8+, and γδ T lymphocytes that were activated by BVDV after exposure to in vitro BVDV. The production of IFNγ by lymphocytes after in vitro BVDV exposure was also much greater in lymphocytes from calves exposed to BVDV in the presence of maternal antibody compared to the nonexposed calves. These data indicate that calves exposed to BVDV while maternal antibody levels are high can develop antigen specific CD4+, CD8+, and γδ T lymphocytes in the absence of an active antibody response. A manuscript presented separately demonstrates that the calves with T lymphocytes specific for BVDV in this study were also protected from virulent BVDV genotype 2 challenge after maternal antibody became undetectable

Progressive dementia associated with ataxia or obesity in patients with Tropheryma whipplei encephalitis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Tropheryma whipplei</it>, the agent of Whipple's disease, causes localised infections in the absence of histological digestive involvement. Our objective is to describe <it>T. whipplei </it>encephalitis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We first diagnosed a patient presenting dementia and obesity whose brain biopsy and cerebrospinal fluid specimens contained <it>T. whipplei </it>DNA and who responded dramatically to antibiotic treatment. We subsequently tested cerebrospinal fluid specimens and brain biopsies sent to our laboratory using <it>T. whipplei </it>PCR assays. PAS-staining and <it>T. whipplei </it>immunohistochemistry were also performed on brain biopsies. Analysis was conducted for 824 cerebrospinal fluid specimens and 16 brain biopsies.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We diagnosed seven patients with <it>T. whipplei </it>encephalitis who demonstrated no digestive involvement. Detailed clinical histories were available for 5 of them. Regular PCR that targeted a monocopy sequence, PAS-staining and immunohistochemistry were negative; however, several highly sensitive and specific PCR assays targeting a repeated sequence were positive. Cognitive impairments and ataxia were the most common neurologic manifestations. Weight gain was paradoxically observed for 2 patients. The patients' responses to the antibiotic treatment were dramatic and included weight loss in the obese patients.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We describe a new clinical condition in patients with dementia and obesity or ataxia linked to <it>T. whipplei </it>that may be cured with antibiotics.</p

Policy design for the Anthropocene

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Nature Research via the DOI in this recordToday, more than ever, ‘Spaceship Earth’ is an apt metaphor as we chart the boundaries for a safe planet1. Social scientists both analyse why society courts disaster by approaching or even overstepping these boundaries and try to design suitable policies to avoid these perils. Because the threats of transgressing planetary boundaries are global, long-run, uncertain and interconnected, they must be analysed together to avoid conflicts and take advantage of synergies. To obtain policies that are effective at both international and local levels requires careful analysis of the underlying mechanisms across scientific disciplines and approaches, and must take politics into account. In this Perspective, we examine the complexities of designing policies that can keep Earth within the biophysical limits favourable to human life.Stockholm Resilience CentreBECC - Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing ClimateMistra Carbon Exi

Adoption incentives and environmental policy timing under asymmetric information and strategic firm behaviour

We consider the incentives of a single firm to invest in a cleaner technology under emission quotas and emission taxation. We assume asymmetric information about the firm's cost of employing the new technology. Policy is set either before the firm invests (commitment) or after (time consistency). Contrary to conventional wisdom, we find that with commitment (time consistency), quotas give higher (lower) investment incentives than taxes. With quotas (taxes), commitment generally leads to higher (lower) welfare than time consistency. Under commitment with quadratic abatement costs and environmental damages, a modified Weitzman rule applies and quotas usually lead to higher welfare than taxes

Evidence for Avian Intrathoracic Air Sacs in a New Predatory Dinosaur from Argentina

Background: Living birds possess a unique heterogeneous pulmonary system composed of a rigid, dorsally-anchored lung and several compliant air sacs that operate as bellows, driving inspired air through the lung. Evidence from the fossil record for the origin and evolution of this system is extremely limited, because lungs do not fossilize and because the bellow-like air sacs in living birds only rarely penetrate (pneumatize) skeletal bone and thus leave a record of their presence. Methodology/Principal Findings: We describe a new predatory dinosaur from Upper Cretaceous rocks in Argentina, Aerosteon riocoloradensis gen. et sp. nov., that exhibits extreme pneumatization of skeletal bone, including pneumatic hollowing of the furcula and ilium. In living birds, these two bones are pneumatized by diverticulae of air sacs (clavicular, abdominal) that are involved in pulmonary ventilation. We also describe several pneumatized gastralia (‘‘stomach ribs’’), which suggest that diverticulae of the air sac system were present in surface tissues of the thorax. Conclusions/Significance: We present a four-phase model for the evolution of avian air sacs and costosternal-driven lung ventilation based on the known fossil record of theropod dinosaurs and osteological correlates in extant birds: (1) Phase I—Elaboration of paraxial cervical air sacs in basal theropods no later than the earliest Late Triassic. (2) Phase II—Differentiation of avian ventilatory air sacs, including both cranial (clavicular air sac) and caudal (abdominal air sac) divisions, in basal tetanurans during the Jurassic. A heterogeneous respiratory tract wit