Three-dimensional structure of Rubella virus factories

AbstractViral factories are complex structures in the infected cell where viruses compartmentalize their life cycle. Rubella virus (RUBV) assembles factories by recruitment of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), mitochondria and Golgi around modified lysosomes known as cytopathic vacuoles or CPVs. These organelles contain active replication complexes that transfer replicated RNA to assembly sites in Golgi membranes. We have studied the structure of RUBV factory in three dimensions by electron tomography and freeze-fracture. CPVs contain stacked membranes, rigid sheets, small vesicles and large vacuoles. These membranes are interconnected and in communication with the endocytic pathway since they incorporate endocytosed BSA-gold. RER and CPVs are coupled through protein bridges and closely apposed membranes. Golgi vesicles attach to the CPVs but no tight contacts with mitochondria were detected. Immunogold labelling confirmed that the mitochondrial protein p32 is an abundant component around and inside CPVs where it could play important roles in factory activities

Low-dose coronary artery calcium scoring compared to the standard protocol.

BACKGROUND We aimed to compare coronary artery calcium scoring (CACS) with computed tomography (CT) with 80 and 120 kVp in a large patient population and to establish whether there is a difference in risk classification between the two scores. METHODS Patients with suspected CAD undergoing MPS were included. All underwent standard CACS assessment with 120-kVp tube voltage and with 80 kVp. Two datasets (low-dose and standard) were generated and compared. Risk classes (0 to 25, 25 to 50, 50 to 75, 75 to 90, and > 90%) were recorded. RESULTS 1511 patients were included (793 males, age 69 ± 9.1 years). There was a very good correlation between scores calculated with 120 and 80 kVp (R = 0.94, R2 = 0.88, P < .001), with Bland-Altman limits of agreement of - 563.5 to 871.9 and a bias of - 154.2. The proportion of patients assigned to the < 25% percentile class (P = .03) and with CACS = 0 differed between the two protocols (n = 264 vs 437, P < .001). CONCLUSION In a large patient population, despite a good correlation between CACS calculated with standard and low-dose CT, there is a systematic underestimation of CACS with the low-dose protocol. This may have an impact especially on the prognostic value of the calcium score, and the established "power of zero" may no longer be warranted if CACS is assessed with low-dose CT

O Nacionalismo de Vieira Brandão na Tocata 1 (Estudo n.4) para piano solo

O presente estudo discute a postura e o engajamento do compositor José Vieira Brandão (1911-2002) frente às correntes nacionalistas brasileiras a partir dos escritos teórico-analíticos do compositor na Tese de Livre Docência (1949). Este posicionamento se evidencia na sua prática composicional. A análise da Tocata n.1 (Estudo n.4) foca na obra dedicada a Villa-Lobos, acatado como o representante máximo do modernismo nacionalista e com quem Brandão teve uma maior proximidade. Este procedimento analítico leva em consideração alguns dos principais aspectos socioculturais compartilhados por Brandão. Como ferramentas analíticas para o discurso musical, são adotados alguns parâmetros estabelecidos por Agawu (2009) com foco nas tópicas, adaptadas para a música latino-americana por Plesch (1996) e para a brasileira por Piedade (2013). Através desta obra torna-se possível compreender como os “novos rumos estéticos” (BRANDÃO, 1949) retratam em música a construção de um ideário nacional brasileiro. Por fim, é possível compreender como a Tocata 1 para piano representa a maneira como o compositor apropria-se de elementos musicais característicos desta época para se posicionar quanto ao seu meio cultural e sua visão artística

Theory of Double-Sided Flux Decorations

A novel two-sided Bitter decoration technique was recently employed by Yao et al. to study the structure of the magnetic vortex array in high-temperature superconductors. Here we discuss the analysis of such experiments. We show that two-sided decorations can be used to infer {\it quantitative} information about the bulk properties of flux arrays, and discuss how a least squares analysis of the local density differences can be used to bring the two sides into registry. Information about the tilt, compressional and shear moduli of bulk vortex configurations can be extracted from these measurements.Comment: 17 pages, 3 figures not included (to request send email to [email protected]

Interstitials, Vacancies and Dislocations in Flux-Line Lattices: A Theory of Vortex Crystals, Supersolids and Liquids

We study a three dimensional Abrikosov vortex lattice in the presence of an equilibrium concentration of vacancy, interstitial and dislocation loops. Vacancies and interstitials renormalize the long-wavelength bulk and tilt elastic moduli. Dislocation loops lead to the vanishing of the long-wavelength shear modulus. The coupling to vacancies and interstitials - which are always present in the liquid state - allows dislocations to relax stresses by climbing out of their glide plane. Surprisingly, this mechanism does not yield any further independent renormalization of the tilt and compressional moduli at long wavelengths. The long wavelength properties of the resulting state are formally identical to that of the ``flux-line hexatic'' that is a candidate ``normal'' hexatically ordered vortex liquid state.Comment: 21 RevTeX pgs, 7 eps figures uuencoded; corrected typos, published versio

The nitric oxide response in plant-associated endosymbiotic bacteria

Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous signalling molecule which becomes very toxic due to its ability to react with multiple cellular targets in biological systems. Bacterial cells protect against NO through the expression of enzymes that detoxify this molecule by oxidizing it to nitrate or reducing it to nitrous oxide or ammonia. These enzymes are haemoglobins, c-type nitric oxide reductase, flavorubredoxins and the cytochrome c respiratory nitrite reductase. Expression of the genes encoding these enzymes is controlled by NO-sensitive regulatory proteins. The production of NO in rhizobia–legume symbiosis has been demonstrated recently. In functioning nodules, NO acts as a potent inhibitor of nitrogenase enzymes. These observations have led to the question of how rhizobia overcome the toxicity of NO. Several studies on the NO response have been undertaken in two non-dentrifying rhizobial species, Sinorhizobium meliloti and Rhizobium etli, and in a denitrifying species, Bradyrhizobium japonicum. In the present mini-review, current knowledge of the NO response in those legume-associated endosymbiotic bacteria is summarized

Causal Structure of Brain Physiology after Brain Injury from Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

High frequency physiologic data are routinely generated for intensive care patients. While massive amounts of data make it difficult for clinicians to extract meaningful signals, these data could provide insight into the state of critically ill patients and guide interventions. We develop uniquely customized computational methods to uncover the causal structure within systemic and brain physiologic measures recorded in a neurological intensive care unit after subarachnoid hemorrhage. While the data have many missing values, poor signal-to-noise ratio, and are composed from a heterogeneous patient population, our advanced imputation and causal inference techniques enable physiologic models to be learned for individuals. Our analyses confirm that complex physiologic relationships including demand and supply of oxygen underlie brain oxygen measurements and that mechanisms for brain swelling early after injury may differ from those that develop in a delayed fashion. These inference methods will enable wider use of ICU data to understand patient physiology

Protocolo de exercícios de kegel associado à eletroestimulação no tratamento pós bartolinectomia: um estudo de caso

Introdução: as glândulas de Bartholin, também conhecidas como vestibulares maiores, são estruturas bilaterais, tubuloacinares, secretoras de muco, localizadas dentro da submucosa da vulva. Os cistos da glândula de Bartholin se desenvolvem por obstrução do ducto, localizados na altura ou abaixo da sínfise púbica; ocorrendo decréscimo na secreção das glândulas sudoríparas, sebáceas e atrofia das glândulas de Bartholin, propiciando a secura, estreitamento da vagina, redução de sua rugosidade e elasticidade. A menor capacidade de lubrificação frente à estimulação sexual pode causar a dispareunia, o que prejudicará o funcionamento sexual da mulher. O padrão-ouro de tratamento é a remoção cirúrgica. Contudo, este tratamento muitas vezes não é realizado porque afeta a lubrificação vaginal fisiológica e está associado a outras complicações. Objetivo: verificar os efeitos do protocolo de exercícios de Kegel associado com eletroestimulação para o fortalecimento do assoalho pélvico. Método: relato de caso de uma paciente de 37 anos, do sexo feminino, solteira, nulípara, que refere não ter vida sexual ativa. O tratamento foi composto por seis sessões, sendo uma vez por semana durante 45 minutos; baseado na realização de exercícios de Kegel, eletroestimulação com Neurodyn, através de eletrodos adesivos colocados na região paralela aos grandes lábios, com frequência de 50 Hz, sustentação de 600 μs, com intensidade conforme a tolerância da paciente. Resultados: observou-se melhora na força muscular através da avaliação funcional do assoalho pélvico (AFA) onde se obteve grau 4 de contração perineal, sem uso da musculatura acessória, e diminuição da frequência miccional. Conclusão: em poucas sessões o protocolo de exercícios de Kegel associado com a eletroestimulação melhorou a força muscular e a sensibilidade do assoalho pélvico, além de aumentar sua autoestima e qualidade de vida

Helping parents to understand and support their children with autism through parent training in south east Europe: the ‘ESIPP’ project

Autism is a lifelong condition which can have a significant impact not only upon the individual with autism, but also parents, siblings and the wider family. Parent training has been shown to be an important source of social support to families, helping them adjust to the reality of living with autism, and improving outcomes and quality of life for family members. However, such training is not universally available, and nor may existing models of parent education be universally appropriate. This paper discusses the activity undertaken to date (November 2016) in the Equity and Social inclusion through Positive Parenting (ESIPP) project. This is a partnership of academics, professionals and parents, funded by the European Union, working to develop and evaluate the impact of providing such training in Croatia, Cyprus and the Former Yugoslav Republic (FYR) of Macedonia. The paper reviews the literature regarding parent training, highlighting key benefits and barriers. It then moves on to introduce the ESIPP project, outlining key aspects of the project – the identification of the core curriculum, the parent training courses and the evaluation process – and summarising what we have learned in developing and providing training across cultures