324 research outputs found
Fast determination of coarse grained cell anisotropy and size in epithelial tissue images using Fourier transform
Mechanical strain and stress play a major role in biological processes such
as wound healing or morphogenesis. To assess this role quantitatively, fixed or
live images of tissues are acquired at a cellular precision in large fields of
views. To exploit these data, large numbers of cells have to be analyzed to
extract cell shape anisotropy and cell size. Most frequently, this is performed
through detailed individual cell contour determination, using so-called
segmentation computer programs, complemented if necessary by manual detection
and error corrections. However, a coarse grained and faster technique can be
recommended in at least three situations. First, when detailed information on
individual cell contours is not required, for instance in studies which require
only coarse-grained average information on cell anisotropy. Second, as an
exploratory step to determine whether full segmentation can be potentially
useful. Third, when segmentation is too difficult, for instance due to poor
image quality or too large a cell number. We developed a user-friendly, Fourier
transform-based image analysis pipeline. It is fast (typically cells per
minute with a current laptop computer) and suitable for time, space or ensemble
averages. We validate it on one set of artificial images and on two sets of
fully segmented images, one from a Drosophila pupa and the other from a chicken
embryo; the pipeline results are robust. Perspectives include \textit{in vitro}
tissues, non-biological cellular patterns such as foams, and stacks.Comment: 13 pages; 9 figure
A migrating epithelial monolayer flows like a Maxwell viscoelastic liquid
We perform a bidimensional Stokes experiment in an active cellular material:
an autonomously migrating monolayer of Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK)
epithelial cells flows around a circular obstacle within a long and narrow
channel, involving an interplay between cell shape changes and neighbour
rearrangements. Based on image analysis of tissue flow and coarse-grained cell
anisotropy, we determine the tissue strain rate, cell deformation and
rearrangement rate fields, which are spatially heterogeneous. We find that the
cell deformation and rearrangement rate fields correlate strongly, which is
compatible with a Maxwell viscoelastic liquid behaviour (and not with a
Kelvin-Voigt viscoelastic solid behaviour). The value of the associated
relaxation time is measured as ~min, is observed to be
independent of obstacle size and division rate, and is increased by inhibiting
myosin activity. In this experiment, the monolayer behaves as a flowing
material with a Weissenberg number close to one which shows that both elastic
and viscous effects can have comparable contributions in the process of
collective cell migration.Comment: 17 pages, 15 figure
Characterization of Streptomyces strain SLO-105 isolated from Lake Oubeira sediments in North-East of Algeria
A microbial strain, SLO-105, isolated from Lake Oubeira sediment was screened for its antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria and fungi. The strain showed broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus MRSA, Bacillus subtilus, Micrococcus leutus,Streptococcus fecalis and fungi Aspergillus niger and Rodotorulla mucilaginosa. However, no activity of the strain was observed against Gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa as well as on fungi Candida albicans. Analysis of 16S rDNA sequence and themorphological and physiological characteristics of the strain suggested that the isolate belonged to Streptomyces genus
High-level cefotaxime-resistant Proteus mirabilis strain isolated from a Tunisian intensive care unit ward: CTX-M-8 extended-spectrum β-lactamase coproduced with a plasmid mediated AmpC lactamase
The aimed of this study was to determine the implication of the biochemical and the molecular mechanism and to describe the properties of an extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) CTX-M-8 which was reported for the first time in Africa. A clinical isolate of Proteus mirabilis FS6449 was isolated from a patient hospitalized at an intensive care unit of the Military Hospital in Tunisia in 2009. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined with the disk diffusion method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines and revealed that this strain was resistant to expanded-spectrum β-lactams. Analysis of P. mirabilis FS6449 by double-disk synergy test yielded a positive result suggesting the production of ESBLs. Sonicate of the isolate hydrolysed cefotaxime and benzylpenicillin. Isoelectric focusing exhibited four β-lactamase bands of isoelectric points (pIs) 5.6, 6, 6.5 and over 7.6. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing experiments revealed the presence of four β-lactamase genes encoding TEM-2, CTX-M-8, TEM-24, and an AmpC enzyme. Among them, the genes encoding TEM-24 and an AmpC enzyme were transferred to the recipient by conjugation experiments.Keywords: Resistance, β-lactamase, Proteus mirabilisAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(21), pp. 3278-328
Invariant vector fields and the prolongation method for supersymmetric quantum systems
The kinematical and dynamical symmetries of equations describing the time
evolution of quantum systems like the supersymmetric harmonic oscillator in one
space dimension and the interaction of a non-relativistic spin one-half
particle in a constant magnetic field are reviewed from the point of view of
the vector field prolongation method. Generators of supersymmetries are then
introduced so that we get Lie superalgebras of symmetries and supersymmetries.
This approach does not require the introduction of Grassmann valued
differential equations but a specific matrix realization and the concept of
dynamical symmetry. The Jaynes-Cummings model and supersymmetric
generalizations are then studied. We show how it is closely related to the
preceding models. Lie algebras of symmetries and supersymmetries are also
obtained.Comment: 37 pages, 7 table
Fouling mitigation strategies for different foulants in membrane distillation
Providing clean water to a rapidly growing population is an issue that is currently getting lots of attention to offer a sustainable solution for water scarcity. Membrane distillation (MD) is one of the latest technologies that provides great potential in water treatment. Even though there is a tremendous amount of research done during the past two decades on membrane distillation, the long-term use of this process is still restricted by membrane fouling. Membrane Fouling can be defined as the accumulation of various materials in the pores or surface of the membrane that affect permeate's quantity and quality. This review highlights the recent observations on various foulants in MD process. Moreover, different fouling mechanisms of inorganic fouling, organic fouling, biological fouling, and colloidal fouling were investigated for better understanding and prevention of membrane fouling. In order to achieve a sustainable MD process, various techniques to mitigate fouling were discussed comprehensively including pre-treatment processes and cleaning methods. The benefits and disadvantages of these approaches have been investigated and reviewed in order to provide an overall understanding of fouling minimization in membrane distillation process. Fouling mitigation strategies have been suggested for different foulants in membrane distillation
Constructing an Intelligent Model Based on Support Vector Regression to Simulate the Solubility of Drugs in Polymeric Media
This study constructs a machine learning method to simultaneously analyze the thermodynamic behavior of many polymer–drug systems. The solubility temperature of Acetaminophen, Celecoxib, Chloramphenicol, D-Mannitol, Felodipine, Ibuprofen, Ibuprofen Sodium, Indomethacin, Itraconazole, Naproxen, Nifedipine, Paracetamol, Sulfadiazine, Sulfadimidine, Sulfamerazine, and Sulfathiazole in 1,3-bis[2-pyrrolidone-1-yl] butane, Polyvinyl Acetate, Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), PVP K12, PVP K15, PVP K17, PVP K25, PVP/VA, PVP/VA 335, PVP/VA 535, PVP/VA 635, PVP/VA 735, Soluplus analyzes from a modeling perspective. The least-squares support vector regression (LS-SVR) designs to approximate the solubility temperature of drugs in polymers from polymer and drug types and drug loading in polymers. The structure of this machine learning model is well-tuned by conducting trial and error on the kernel type (i.e., Gaussian, polynomial, and linear) and methods used for adjusting the LS-SVR coefficients (i.e., leave-one-out and 10-fold cross-validation scenarios). Results of the sensitivity analysis showed that the Gaussian kernel and 10-fold cross-validation is the best candidate for developing an LS-SVR for the given task. The built model yielded results consistent with 278 experimental samples reported in the literature. Indeed, the mean absolute relative deviation percent of 8.35 and 7.25 is achieved in the training and testing stages, respectively. The performance on the largest available dataset confirms its applicability. Such a reliable tool is essential for monitoring polymer–drug systems’ stability and deliverability, especially for poorly soluble drugs in polymers, which can be further validated by adopting it to an actual implementation in the future
Evaluating QBF Solvers: Quantifier Alternations Matter
We present an experimental study of the effects of quantifier alternations on
the evaluation of quantified Boolean formula (QBF) solvers. The number of
quantifier alternations in a QBF in prenex conjunctive normal form (PCNF) is
directly related to the theoretical hardness of the respective QBF
satisfiability problem in the polynomial hierarchy. We show empirically that
the performance of solvers based on different solving paradigms substantially
varies depending on the numbers of alternations in PCNFs. In related
theoretical work, quantifier alternations have become the focus of
understanding the strengths and weaknesses of various QBF proof systems
implemented in solvers. Our results motivate the development of methods to
evaluate orthogonal solving paradigms by taking quantifier alternations into
account. This is necessary to showcase the broad range of existing QBF solving
paradigms for practical QBF applications. Moreover, we highlight the potential
of combining different approaches and QBF proof systems in solvers.Comment: preprint of a paper to be published at CP 2018, LNCS, Springer,
including appendi
Role of the dimerized gap due to anion ordering in spin-density wave phase of (TMTSF)ClO at high magnetic fields
Magnetoresistance measurements have been carried out along the highly
conducting a axis in the FISDW phase of hydrogened and deuterated
(TMTSF)ClO for various cooling rates through the anion ordering
temperature. With increasing the cooling rate, a) the high field phase boundary
, observed at 27 T in hydrogened samples for slowly cooled,
is shifted towards a lower field, b) the last semimetallic SDW phase below
is suppressed, and c) the FISDW insulating phase above
is enhanced in both salts. The cooling rate dependence of
the FISDW transition and of in both salts can be explained
by taking into account the peculiar SDW nesting vector stabilized by the
dimerized gap due to anion ordering.Comment: 6pages,6figures(EPS), accepted for publication in PR
Insulating behavior in ultra-thin bismuth selenide field effect transistors
Ultrathin (~3 quintuple layer) field-effect transistors (FETs) of topological
insulator Bi2Se3 are prepared by mechanical exfoliation on 300nm SiO2/Si
susbtrates. Temperature- and gate-voltage dependent conductance measurements
show that ultrathin Bi2Se3 FETs are n-type, and have a clear OFF state at
negative gate voltage, with activated temperature-dependent conductance and
energy barriers up to 250 meV
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