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 $10^4$ 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 $xyz$ 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 $\tau = 70 \pm 15$~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

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

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

‘Pole Test’ Measurements in Critical Leg Ischaemia

AbstractBackgroundFor the quantification of critical limb ischaemia (CLI) most vascular surgery units use sphygmo-manometric and transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO2) measurements. However, measurements obtained by cuff-manometry can be overestimated especially in diabetic patients because of medial calcification that makes leg arteries less compressible. TcPO2 measurements present a considerable overlap in the values obtained for patients with different degrees of ischaemia and its reproducibility has been questioned. Arterial wall stiffness has less influence on the pole test, based on hydrostatic pressure derived by leg elevation, and this test seems to provide a reliable index of CLI.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate the pole pressure test for detection of critical lower limb ischaemia, correlating results with cuff-manometry and transcutaneous oxygen pressure.DesignUniversity hospital-prospective study.Materials and methodsSeventy-four patients (83 legs) with rest pain or gangrene were evaluated by four methods: pole test, cuff-manometry, TcPO2 and arteriography. CLI was present if the following criteria were met: (a) important arteriographic lesions+rest pain with an ankle systolic pressure (ASP) ≤40mmHg and/or a TcPO2 ≤30mmHg, or (b) important arteriographic lesions+tissue loss with an ASP ≤60mmHg and/or a TcPO2 ≤40mmHg. Fifty-seven lower limbs met the criteria for CLI.ResultsMeasurements obtained by cuff-manometry were significantly higher to those obtained by pole test (mean pressure difference: 40mmHg, p<0.001). The difference between the two methods remained statistically significant for both diabetics (50.73, p<0.001) and non-diabetics (31.46, p<0.001). Mean TcPO2 value was 15.51mmHg and there was no important difference between patients with and without diabetes. Overall, there was a correlation between sphygmomanometry and pole test (r=0.481). The correlation persisted for patients without diabetes (r=0.581), but was not evident in patients with diabetes. Correlation between pole test and TcPO2 was observed only for patients with diabetes (r=0.444). There was no correlation between cuff-manometry and TcPO2. The pole test offered an accuracy of 88% for the detection of CLI. The sensitivity of this test was 95% and the specificity 73%

Trace element contamination in the mine-affected stream sediments of Oued Rarai in north-western Tunisia. A river basin scale assessment

High-quality and accurate environmental investigations are essential for the evaluation of contamination and subsequent decision-making processes. A combination of environmental geochemical indices, multivariate analyses and geographic information system approach was successfully used to assess contamination status and source apportionment of trace elements (Ag, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, V and Zn) in surface stream sediments from the Oued Rarai basin in north-western Tunisia, containing various metal and metalloid ores. The contamination level reported in this study indicates a non-negligible potential ecological risk, mainly related to sediment transport along the river. Antimony (concentrations ranged from 0.02 to 297&nbsp;mg&nbsp;kg−1 and Igeo &gt; 5), arsenic (from 0.5 to 1490&nbsp;mg&nbsp;kg−1 and Igeo &gt; 5), lead (from 2.9 to 5150&nbsp;mg&nbsp;kg−1 and Igeo &gt; 5) mercury (from 0.05 to 54.4&nbsp;mg&nbsp;kg−1 and Igeo &gt; 5) and silver (from 0.05 to 9.4&nbsp;mg&nbsp;kg−1 and Igeo &gt; 5) showed the most crucial contamination. Besides, potential ecological risk index values were maximum for arsenic with a median of 302, indicating a very high to serious ecological risk (&gt; 160). Results from correlation analysis and principal component analysis revealed three main geochemical associations related to lithologic, tectonic and anthropogenic sources. V, Cr and Cu mainly originated from natural bedrock and soil. Ag and Cd were more controlled by both natural and mining enrichments. Mercury and Pb were mostly influenced by the ancient ore-related activities at the Oued Rarai site and north-east–south-west trending faults. Finally, Sb, As, Ni and Zn were largely controlled by the siliciclastic continental Neogene sequences. Finally, the physical and chemical dynamics of the watershed system, lithological properties, mineralisation, tectonic settings and mobilisation of subsurface sediments largely controlled both concentrations and spatial patterns of trace elements in the study basin. These results need to be considered in the strategies of suitable environmental management at former and current mining sites in north-western Tunisia

Carcinomes nasopharynges localement avances

Les carcinomes nasopharyngés représentent une entité spécifique différente des cancers de la tête et du cou. L’incidence est plus élevée en Asie du Sud-Est et en Afrique du Nord. Le pronostic reste sombre pour les stades localement avancés (IIB—IVB), plus d’un tiers des cas présenteront une récidive locale et/ou métastatique, la survie globale à cinq ans tous stades confondus est estimée à 50—70 %. L’objectif de ce travail est de préciser les aspects cliniques, diagnostiques, thérapeutiques et pronostiques chez 100 malades porteur de carcinome nasopharyngé localement avancé traités à l’Institut Salah Azaiz (ISA) et de préciser l’impact de la chimiothérapie neoadjuvante (CNA) ainsi que les séquelles thérapeutiques à court et à long terme.Mots clés : carcinome nasopharyngé - chimiothérapie - radiothérapieNasopharyngeal carcinoma represents a specific entity different from cancers of head and neck. The incidence is highest in South- East Asia and North Africa. The prognosis remains poor for locally advanced stages (IIB -IVB), more than one third of cases presented locally recurrent and / or metastatic disease, the overall five-year survival for all stages is estimated at 50-70%. The objective of this study is to clarify the impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on long-term survival among 100 patients treated in Institut of Salah Azaiz by neo adjuvant chemotherapy followed by locoregional radiotherapy for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and identify prognostic factors and clinical long term effect.Key words: nasopharyngeal carcinoma – chemotherapy - radiotherap

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)2_2ClO4_4 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)$_2$ClO$_4$ for various cooling rates through the anion ordering temperature. With increasing the cooling rate, a) the high field phase boundary $\beta_{\rm {HI}}$, observed at 27 T in hydrogened samples for slowly cooled, is shifted towards a lower field, b) the last semimetallic SDW phase below $\beta_{\rm {HI}}$ is suppressed, and c) the FISDW insulating phase above $\beta_{\rm {HI}}$ is enhanced in both salts. The cooling rate dependence of the FISDW transition and of $\beta_{\rm {HI}}$ 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