Contributions to the functional morphology of fishes part iv. the locking mechanism of the dorsal spine of the catfish Synodontis Zambesensis Peters

Zoologica Africana 3(1): 87-9

A two-step lyssavirus real-time polymerase chain reaction using degenerate primers with superior sensitivity to the fluorescent antigen test

A generic two-step lyssavirus real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), based on a nested PCR strategy, was validated for the detection of different lyssavirus species. Primers with 17 to 30% of degenerate bases were used in both consecutive steps. The assay could accurately detect RABV, LBV, MOKV, DUVV, EBLV-1, EBLV-2, and ABLV. In silico sequence alignment showed a functional match with the remaining lyssavirus species. The diagnostic specificity was 100% and the sensitivity proved to be superior to that of the fluorescent antigen test. The limit of detection was <= 1 50% tissue culture infectious dose. The related vesicular stomatitis virus was not recognized, confirming the selectivity for lyssaviruses. The assay was applied to follow the evolution of rabies virus infection in the brain of mice from 0 to 10 days after intranasal inoculation. The obtained RNA curve corresponded well with the curves obtained by a one-step monospecific RABV-qRT-PCR, the fluorescent antigen test, and virus titration. Despite the presence of degenerate bases, the assay proved to be highly sensitive, specific, and reproducible

CCSDS 131.2-B-1 transmitter design on FPGA with adaptive coding and modulation schemes for satellite communications

Satellite communications are a well-established research area in which the main innovation of last decade has been the use of multi-carrier modulations and more robust channel coding techniques. However, in recent years, novel advanced signal processing has started being developed for these communications due to the increase in the signal processing capacity of transmitters and receivers. Although signal processing capabilities are increasing, they are still constrained by large limitations because these techniques need to be implemented in real hardware, thus making complexity a matter of critical importance. Therefore, this paper presents the design and implementation of a transmitter with adaptable coding and modulation on a field-programmable-gate-array (FPGA). The main motivation came from the standard CCSDS 131.2-B-1 which recommends that such a novel transmitter which has to date not been implemented in a real system The system was modeled by MATLAB with the purpose of being programmed in VHDL following the AXI-stream protocol between components. Behavioral simulation results were obtained in VIVADO and compared with MATLAB for verification purposes. The transmitter logical circuit was synthesized in a FPGA Zynq Ultrascale RFSoC ZU28DR, showing low resource consumption and correct functioning, leading us to conclude that the deployment of new communication systems in state-of-the-art hardware in satellite communications is justified.The research was funded by Projects IRENE (PID2020-115323RB-C33) (MINECO/AEI/FEDER, UE) and MFOC (Madrid Flight on Chip "Innovation Cooperative Projects Comunidad of Madrid" HUBS 2018/ Madrid Flight on Chip)

Systematics and bionomics of the scorpions of South West Africa (Arachnida, Scorpionida)

Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1978.All the taxa of scorpions previously described from South West Africa are revised and a monographic account presented with phylogenetic and biogeographic discussions and conclusions derived in terms of current concepts in systematic zoology which include cladistics and historical biogeography. South West Africa is treated as a subregion of the Afrotropical region and the limits of this subregion coincide broadly with the political borders. All the characters used are defined and illustrated. Many characters previously unstudied for the fauna are investigated. These include comparative studies of trichobothria distributions and detailed structures of the hemispermatophore. Disc electrophoresis of the haemolymph of a few species was carried out and the results discussed. Ecological factors are extensively described and discussed. The nature of the substratum, taken in its broadest possible definition, was found to be the most important single factor determining species distribution. 70 subgeneric taxa were revised, 45 of which are retained as valid, while 11 new species are described bringing the number of known species to 56. These are distributed among seven genera as follows: Buthotus, two species; Karasbergia, one species; Parabuthus, 14 species; Urop1ectes, 10 species; Hadogenes, three species; Lisposoma, two species; Opisthophthalmus, 24 species. Determination keys are provided for all levels of taxa occurring in South West Africa

Circulating non-coding RNAs in head and neck cancer : roles in diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy monitoring

Head and neck cancer (HNC), the seventh most common form of cancer worldwide, is a group of epithelial malignancies affecting sites in the upper aerodigestive tract. The 5-year overall survival for patients with HNC has stayed around 40-50% for decades, with mortality being attributable mainly to late diagnosis and recurrence. Recently, non-coding RNAs, including tRNA halves, YRNA fragments, microRNAs (miRNAs), and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), have been identified in the blood and saliva of patients diagnosed with HNC. These observations have recently fueled the study of their potential use in early detection, diagnosis, and risk assessment. The present review focuses on recent insights and the potential impact that circulating non-coding RNA evaluation may have on clinical decision-making in the management of HNC

Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Triazololactams Structurally Related to Pancratistatin

Four tricyclic lactams that structurally resemble alkaloids with the pancratistatin skeleton were synthetized from bromobenzene by a chemoenzymatic strategy. The sequence involved enzymatic dihydroxylation, efficient stereodirected oxidation of double bonds, inter- or intramolecular Huisgen cycloaddition, and a solvent-free cyclization. The complex structures were obtained in high chemical and optical purity and may be good candidates for biological testing.Fil: de la Sovera, Victoria. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Química. Departamento de Química Orgánica; UruguayFil: Suescun, Leopoldo. Universidad de la República. Laboratorio de Cristalografía, Estado Sólido y Materiales; UruguayFil: Bellomo Peraza, Ana Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Centro de Investigaciones en Bionanociencias ; ArgentinaFil: González, David. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Química. Departamento de Química Orgánica; Urugua

Impact of caspase-1/11, -3, -7, or IL-1β/IL-18 deficiency on rabies virus-induced macrophage cell death and onset of disease

Rabies virus is a highly neurovirulent RNA virus, which causes about 59000 deaths in humans each year. Previously, we described macrophage cytotoxicity upon infection with rabies virus. Here we examined the type of cell death and the role of specific caspases in cell death and disease development upon infection with two laboratory strains of rabies virus: Challenge Virus Standard strain-11 (CVS-11) is highly neurotropic and lethal for mice, while the attenuated Evelyn-Rotnycki-Abelseth (ERA) strain has a broader cell tropism, is non-lethal and has been used as an oral vaccine for animals. Infection of Mf4/4 macrophages with both strains led to caspase-1 activation and IL-1β and IL-18 production, as well as activation of caspases-3, -7, -8, and -9. Moreover, absence of caspase-3, but not of caspase-1 and -11 or -7, partially inhibited virus-induced cell death of bone marrow-derived macrophages. Intranasal inoculation with CVS-11 of mice deficient for either caspase-1 and -11 or -7 or both IL-1β and IL-18 led to general brain infection and lethal disease similar to wild-type mice. Deficiency of caspase-3, on the other hand, significantly delayed the onset of disease, but did not prevent final lethal outcome. Interestingly, deficiency of caspase-1/11, the key executioner of pyroptosis, aggravated disease severity caused by ERA virus, whereas wild-type mice or mice deficient for either caspase-3, -7, or both IL-1β and IL-18 presented the typical mild symptoms associated with ERA virus. In conclusion, rabies virus infection of macrophages induces caspase-1- and caspase-3-dependent cell death. In vivo caspase-1/11 and caspase-3 differently affect disease development in response to infection with the attenuated ERA strain or the virulent CVS-11 strain, respectively. Inflammatory caspases seem to control attenuated rabies virus infection, while caspase-3 aggravates virulent rabies virus infection

N-Aryl-N'-(chroman-4-yl)ureas and thioureas display in vitro anticancer activity and selectivity on apoptosis-resistant glioblastoma cells: screening, synthesis of simplified derivatives, and structure-activity relationship analysis.

A series of chroman derivatives previously reported as potassium channel openers, as well as some newly synthesized simplified structures, were examined for their in vitro effects on the growth of three human high-grade glioma cell lines: U373, T98G, and Hs683. Significant in vitro growth inhibitory activity was observed with 2,2-dimethylchroman-type nitro-substituted phenylthioureas, such as compounds 4o and 4p. Interestingly, most tested phenylureas were found to be slightly less active, but more cell selective (normal versus tumor glial cells, such as 3d, 3e, and 3g), thus less toxic, than the corresponding phenylthioureas. No significant differences were observed in terms of chroman-derivative-induced growth inhibitory effects between glioma cells sensitive to pro-apoptotic stimuli (Hs683 glioma cells) and glioma cells associated with various levels of resistance to pro-apoptotic stimuli (U373 and T98G glioma cells), a feature that suggests non-apoptotic-mediated growth inhibition. Flow cytometry analyses confirmed the absence of pro-apoptotic effects for phenylthioureas and phenylureas when analyzed in U373 glioma cells and demonstrated U373 cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase. Computer-assisted phase-contrast videomicroscopy revealed that 3d and 3g displayed cytostatic effects, while 3e displayed cytotoxic ones. As a result, this work identified phenylurea-type 2,2-dimethylchromans as a new class of antitumor agents to be further explored for an innovative therapeutic approach for high-grade glioma and/or for a possible new mechanism of action

Antiproliferative and Apoptotic Effects Triggered by Grape Seed Extract (GSE) versus Epigallocatechin and Procyanidins on Colon Cancer Cell Lines

Grape seed extract has been proven to exert anticancer effects on different tumors. These effects are mainly ascribed to catechin and procyanidin content. Analytical studies demonstrated that grape seed extract composition is complex and it is likely other components could exert biological activities. Using cell count and flow cytometry assays, we evaluated the cytostatic and apoptotic effects produced by three different grape seed extracts from Italia, Palieri and Red Globe cultivars, on Caco2 and HCT-8 colon cancer cells. These effects were compared to those induced by epigallocatechin and procyanidins, alone or in association, on the same cell lines. All the extracts induced growth inhibition and apoptosis in Caco2 and HCT-8 cells, along the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. On both cell lines, growth inhibition induced by Italia and Palieri grape seed extracts was significantly higher than that it has been recorded with epigallocatechin, procyanidins and their association. In Caco2 cells, the extract from Red Globe cultivar was less effective in inducing growth inhibition than procyanidins alone and in association with epigallocatechin, whereas, in HCT-8 cells, only the association of epigallocatechin and procyanidins triggers a significant proliferation decrease. On both cell lines, apoptosis induced by Italia, Palieri and Red Globe grape seed extracts was considerably higher than has been recorded with epigallocatechin, procyanidins and their association. These data support the hypothesis by which other compounds, present in the grape seed extracts, are likely to enhance the anticancer effects