Evaluation of potential nirs to predict pastures nutritive value

This paper describes the capability of near infra-reflectance (NIRS) to predict the nutritional quality of pastures from southern Chile (39°-40°S). A Fourier transformed near-infrared (FT-NIR) method for rapid determination of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), in vitro digestibility (IVD) and metabolizable energy (ME) was used. Calibration models were developed between chemical and NIRS spectral data using partial least squares (PLS) regression and external validation. The coefficients of determination in calibration (R2c) were high varying between 0.89-0.99 and the root mean square errors of calibration (RMSEC) were low, ranging between 0.46-2.55 for the parameters analysed. The Residual Prediction Deviation (RPD) was higher than 2.5. Our results confirmed the convenience of using a wide range of samples applicability in the calibration set. Data also showed that the use of an independent set of samples for external validation increases the robustness of the models to predict unknown samples. Our results indicated RPD values higher than 2.5 which is the minimum recommended for this type of prediction. Thus, the result showed that NIRS was useful to estimate the nutritional quality of permanent pastures, and has a great potential to be used as a rapid decision tool for the studied analysis.Thanks the Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico (FONDECYT) post-doc grant n°3120069.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Infrared recombination lasers pumped by low energy Nd: YAG and excimer lasers

24 infrared laser lines on atomic and ionic transitions have been observed in recombining plasmas by vaporizing and ionizing Cd, Pb, Sn, Zn, and Mg with low energy Nd:YAG or excimer pump-lasers. For operation and optimization of the recombination lasers separated plasma spots and a plasma confinement have been used. The operation of shorter wavelength systems by isoelectronic scaling is discussed

Cellular responses of Candida albicans to phagocytosis and the extracellular activities of neutrophils are critical to counteract carbohydrate starvation, oxidative and nitrosative stress

Acknowledgments We thank Alexander Johnson (yhb1D/D), Karl Kuchler (sodD/D mutants), Janet Quinn (hog1D/D, hog1/cap1D/D, trx1D/D) and Peter Staib (ssu1D/D) for providing mutant strains. We acknowledge helpful discussions with our colleagues from the Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms Department, Fungal Septomics and the Microbial Biochemistry and Physiology Research Group at the Hans Kno¨ll Institute (HKI), specially Ilse D. Jacobsen, Duncan Wilson, Sascha Brunke, Lydia Kasper, Franziska Gerwien, Sea´na Duggan, Katrin Haupt, Kerstin Hu¨nniger, and Matthias Brock, as well as from our partners in the FINSysB Network. Author Contributions Conceived and designed the experiments: PM HW IMB AJPB OK BH. Performed the experiments: PM CD HW. Analyzed the data: PM HW IMB AJPB OK BH. Wrote the paper: PM HW OK AJPB BH.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Candida species exhibit differential in vitro hemolytic activities

A total of 80 Candida isolates representing 14 species were examined for their respective responses to an in vitro hemolytic test. A modification of a previously described plate assay system where the yeasts are incubated on glucose (3%)-enriched sheep blood agar in a carbon dioxide (5%)-rich environment for 48 h was used to evaluate the hemolytic activity. A group of eight Candida species which included Candida albicans (15 isolates), C. dubliniensis (2), C. kefyr (2), C. krusei (4), C. zeylanoides (1), C. glabrata (34), C. tropicalis (5), and C. lusitaniae (2) demonstrated both alpha and beta hemolysis at 48 h postinoculation. Only alpha hemolysis was detectable in four Candida species, viz., C. famata (3), C. guilliermondii (4), C. rugosa (1), and C. utilis (1), while C. parapsilosis (5) and C. pelliculosa (1) failed to demonstrate any hemolytic activity after incubation for 48 h or longer. This is the first study to demonstrate the variable expression profiles of hemolysins by different Candida species.published_or_final_versio

The mathematical relationship among normal patellar dimensions, to find the pre-diseased patellar thickness in different populations

Whether resurfacing or not resurfacing the patella during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) still is a challenge to orthopedic surgeons. A significant reason for this controversy is the far from perfect outcomes of both techniques, resulting from inadequate knowledge of normal patellar dimensions in a diseased one. The primary purpose of the current study is to find the pre-diseased patellar dimensions and the ethnic differences in patellar dimensions. We measured the patella\u27s dimensions on 927 normal young adult knee MRIs from seven different ethnicities. Besides comparing the dimensions between sexes, ages, and sides, we analyzed the differences among ethnic groups. The average thickness was 25.12±2.33 mm; the average width was 44.57±4.32 mm, the average articular surface length was 32.69±3.75 mm, with significant gender, age, and ethnic differences. There were also significant differences in dimensions among ethnic groups, except for between the Indians and Far Eastern Asians and between the Arabs and North Africans. We could also find a robust mathematical relationship between the patella\u27s width, length, and thickness. The ethnic differences in patellar dimensions found in this study can help optimize surgical technique and implant designs for patellar resurfacing. The mathematical equation will help the surgeons find the normal, pre-diseased patella thickness to prevent over-or understuffing during the patellar resurfacing

Recent trends in molecular diagnostics of yeast infections : from PCR to NGS

The incidence of opportunistic yeast infections in humans has been increasing over recent years. These infections are difficult to treat and diagnose, in part due to the large number and broad diversity of species that can underlie the infection. In addition, resistance to one or several antifungal drugs in infecting strains is increasingly being reported, severely limiting therapeutic options and showcasing the need for rapid detection of the infecting agent and its drug susceptibility profile. Current methods for species and resistance identification lack satisfactory sensitivity and specificity, and often require prior culturing of the infecting agent, which delays diagnosis. Recently developed high-throughput technologies such as next generation sequencing or proteomics are opening completely new avenues for more sensitive, accurate and fast diagnosis of yeast pathogens. These approaches are the focus of intensive research, but translation into the clinics requires overcoming important challenges. In this review, we provide an overview of existing and recently emerged approaches that can be used in the identification of yeast pathogens and their drug resistance profiles. Throughout the text we highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each methodology and discuss the most promising developments in their path from bench to bedside

Activation of the heat shock transcription factor Hsf1 is essential for the full virulence of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans

Peer reviewedPublisher PD