Learning to Use Illumination Gradients as an Unambiguous Cue to Three Dimensional Shape

The luminance and colour gradients across an image are the result of complex interactions between object shape, material and illumination. Using such variations to infer object shape or surface colour is therefore a difficult problem for the visual system. We know that changes to the shape of an object can affect its perceived colour, and that shading gradients confer a sense of shape. Here we investigate if the visual system is able to effectively utilise these gradients as a cue to shape perception, even when additional cues are not available. We tested shape perception of a folded card object that contained illumination gradients in the form of shading and more subtle effects such as inter-reflections. Our results suggest that observers are able to use the gradients to make consistent shape judgements. In order to do this, observers must be given the opportunity to learn suitable assumptions about the lighting and scene. Using a variety of different training conditions, we demonstrate that learning can occur quickly and requires only coarse information. We also establish that learning does not deliver a trivial mapping between gradient and shape; rather learning leads to the acquisition of assumptions about lighting and scene parameters that subsequently allow for gradients to be used as a shape cue. The perceived shape is shown to be consistent for convex and concave versions of the object that exhibit very different shading, and also similar to that delivered by outline, a largely unrelated cue to shape. Overall our results indicate that, although gradients are less reliable than some other cues, the relationship between gradients and shape can be quickly assessed and the gradients therefore used effectively as a visual shape cue

The Cycad Genotoxin MAM Modulates Brain Cellular Pathways Involved in Neurodegenerative Disease and Cancer in a DNA Damage-Linked Manner

Methylazoxymethanol (MAM), the genotoxic metabolite of the cycad azoxyglucoside cycasin, induces genetic alterations in bacteria, yeast, plants, insects and mammalian cells, but adult nerve cells are thought to be unaffected. We show that the brains of adult C57BL6 wild-type mice treated with a single systemic dose of MAM acetate display DNA damage (O6-methyldeoxyguanosine lesions, O6-mG) that remains constant up to 7 days post-treatment. By contrast, MAM-treated mice lacking a functional gene encoding the DNA repair enzyme O6-mG DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) showed elevated O6-mG DNA damage starting at 48 hours post-treatment. The DNA damage was linked to changes in the expression of genes in cell-signaling pathways associated with cancer, human neurodegenerative disease, and neurodevelopmental disorders. These data are consistent with the established developmental neurotoxic and carcinogenic properties of MAM in rodents. They also support the hypothesis that early-life exposure to MAM-glucoside (cycasin) has an etiological association with a declining, prototypical neurodegenerative disease seen in Guam, Japan, and New Guinea populations that formerly used the neurotoxic cycad plant for food or medicine, or both. These findings suggest environmental genotoxins, specifically MAM, target common pathways involved in neurodegeneration and cancer, the outcome depending on whether the cell can divide (cancer) or not (neurodegeneration). Exposure to MAM-related environmental genotoxins may have relevance to the etiology of related tauopathies, notably, Alzheimer's disease

Cardiovascular disease and the role of oral bacteria

In terms of the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD) the focus has traditionally been on dyslipidemia. Over the decades our understanding of the pathogenesis of CVD has increased, and infections, including those caused by oral bacteria, are more likely involved in CVD progression than previously thought. While many studies have now shown an association between periodontal disease and CVD, the mechanisms underpinning this relationship remain unclear. This review gives a brief overview of the host-bacterial interactions in periodontal disease and virulence factors of oral bacteria before discussing the proposed mechanisms by which oral bacterial may facilitate the progression of CVD

Identification of microbial signatures linked to oilseed rape yield decline at the landscape scale

Background: The plant microbiome plays a vital role in determining host health and productivity. However, we lack real-world comparative understanding of the factors which shape assembly of its diverse biota, and crucially relationships between microbiota composition and plant health. Here we investigated landscape scale rhizosphere microbial assembly processes in oilseed rape (OSR), the UK’s third most cultivated crop by area and the world's third largest source of vegetable oil, which suffers from yield decline associated with the frequency it is grown in rotations. By including 37 conventional farmers’ fields with varying OSR rotation frequencies, we present an innovative approach to identify microbial signatures characteristic of microbiomes which are beneficial and harmful to the host. Results: We show that OSR yield decline is linked to rotation frequency in real-world agricultural systems. We demonstrate fundamental differences in the environmental and agronomic drivers of protist, bacterial and fungal communities between root, rhizosphere soil and bulk soil compartments. We further discovered that the assembly of fungi, but neither bacteria nor protists, was influenced by OSR rotation frequency. However, there were individual abundant bacterial OTUs that correlated with either yield or rotation frequency. A variety of fungal and protist pathogens were detected in roots and rhizosphere soil of OSR, and several increased relative abundance in root or rhizosphere compartments as OSR rotation frequency increased. Importantly, the relative abundance of the fungal pathogen Olpidium brassicae both increased with short rotations and was significantly associated with low yield. In contrast, the root endophyte Tetracladium spp. showed the reverse associations with both rotation frequency and yield to O. brassicae, suggesting that they are signatures of a microbiome which benefits the host. We also identified a variety of novel protist and fungal clades which are highly connected within the microbiome and could play a role in determining microbiome composition. Conclusions: We show that at the landscape scale, OSR crop yield is governed by interplay between complex communities of both pathogens and beneficial biota which is modulated by rotation frequency. Our comprehensive study has identified signatures of dysbiosis within the OSR microbiome, grown in real-world agricultural systems, which could be used in strategies to promote crop yield. [MediaObject not available: see fulltext.

Indicadores de carga del cuidado familiar de personas con enfermedad crónica: relevantes en salud pública / Cost indicators of family care of people with chronic disease: relevant in public health / Os indicadores de maior peso no cuidado familiar de doentes crônicos: são relevantes na saúde pública

Introducción: El abordaje de la enfermedad crónica implica contar con un esquema de mediciones objetivas, pertinentes, precisas, confiables y costo efectivas. Objetivo. Establecer el sistema de indicadores requeridos para medir la carga familiar del cuidado de personas con enfermedad crónica. Metodología. Reflexión derivada de investigación a partir del “Modelo para la Disminución de la Carga del Cuidado de la Enfermedad Crónica” (MDCC- EC) y con base en la Guía Universidad Nacional de Colombia -Sistema de Mejor Gestión (UN SIMEGE), en la que se construyen y formulan los indicadores para la medición y seguimiento de los procesos tendientes a disminuir la carga familiar del cuidado de la enfermedad crónica. Resultados: La metodología planteada en la Guía UN SIMEGE permitió presentar indicadores para medir cinco características asociadas con la carga familiar del cuidado de la enfermedad crónica que están descritas como parte fundamental del MDCC-EC. Estas incluyen el acceso, la continuidad, la seguridad, el fortalecimiento de la propia capacidad y el soporte social con el uso de las tecnologías de información y comunicación (TIC) Conclusiones: Los 19 indicadores establecidos permiten en conjunto medir la carga familiar del cuidado de la enfermedad crónica. Esta medición es necesaria e indispensable para conocer, entender, orientar y corregir la ejecución de las estrategias, acciones y resultados de la aplicación del MDCC-EC en lo referente a las personas con enfermedad crónica y sus familias. Comunicar los resultados de la consecución de las metas para saber cómo se plasman los planteamientos teórico conceptuales del MDCC-EC, dando cumplimiento a los requisitos de los usuarios con el servicio permite, de una parte, evaluar y de otra, continuar agregando valor al sistema de salud. [Barrera-Ortiz L, Carreño SP, Carrillo GM, Chaparro-Díaz L, Gómez OJ, Sánchez-Herrera B, Vargas-Rosero E. Indicadores de carga del cuidado familiar de personas con enfermedad crónica: relevantes en salud pública. MedUNAB 2015; 18(2):125-134] Introduction: Addressing chronic illness implies having an outline of objective, pertinent, accurate, reliable, and cost-effective measures. Objective: This paper’s objective is to establish a system of indicators required to measure the relative cost of family care of people with chronic disease. Metodology: Starting with the “Model for the Reduction of Care Burden of Chronic Disease” MDCC- EC, and based on the UN SIMEGE Guide, for the development of indicators in order to measure and monitor the processes aimed at reducing the cost of family care of chronic disease. Results: The methodology proposed in the UN SIMEGE Guide allowed the construction of indicators for five characteristics associated with family care for people with chronic disease. These characteristics are described as a fundamental component of the MDCC-EC and they include:The care access, care continuity, care safety, the self-care capacity and the social support with the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Conclusions: The 19 indicators established allow the measurement of the cost of family care for people with chronic disease. This measurement is necessary and indispensable to know, understand, guide and correct implementation of strategies, actions and results of the implementation of MDCC-EC in relation to ill people and their families. These indicators are essential in order to communicate the results of the fulfillment of the goals for how the conceptual theoretical approaches of the MDCC-EC are met in compliance with the requirements of users of services and to continue improving the given services adding value to them. [Barrera-Ortiz L, Carreño SP, Carrillo GM, Chaparro-Díaz L, Gómez OJ, Sánchez-Herrera B, Vargas-Rosero E. Cost indicators of family care of people with chronic disease: relevant in public health. MedUNAB 2015; 18(2):125-134] Introdução: Na abordagem da doença crônica é necesario utilizar o esquema de medidas objetivas, relevantes, precisas, confiáveis e custo efetivo. Objetivo. Estabelecer o sistema de indicadores necessários para medir o peso familiar relacinado com o cuidado das pessoas com doenças crônicas. Metodologia. A reflexão é decorrente do "Modelo de Custo Reduzido Chronic Disease Cuidado" (MDCC- CE) além de ter como base a Guia da Universidade Nacional da Colômbia Melhor -Sistema de Gestão (SIMEGE ONU), na qual são construídos os indicadores para medir e observar os processos que visam a redução dos encargos famíliares no cuidado da doença crónica. Resultados: A metodologia proposta na Guia Um SIMEGE possibilitou mostrar indicadores para medir cinco características que permitem medir a sobrecarga familiar de cuidados para doenças crônicas que são descritos como uma parte fundamental do MDCC-CE. Estes incluem o acesso, continuidade, segurança, capacitação e apoio social em si com o uso de tecnologias de informação e comunicação (TIC). Conclusões: Os 19 indicadores estabelecidos permitem medir a carga familiar nos cuidados da doença crónica. Esta medida é necessária e indispensável para conhecer, compreender, orientar e corrigir a implementação de estratégias, ações e resultados na pratica do MDCC-CE em relação às pessoas com doenças crônicas e suas famílias. Comunicar os resultados da aquisição das metas permite conhecer como as abordagens teóricas conceituais do MDCC-CE responde às exigências dos usuários com o serviço, permitindo tanto a avaliação como adicionar valor ao sistema de saúde. [Barrera-Ortiz L, Carreño SP, Carrillo GM, Chaparro-Díaz L, Gómez OJ, Sánchez-Herrera B, Vargas-Rosero E. Os indicadores de maior peso no cuidado familiar de doentes crônicos: são relevantes na saúde pública. MedUNAB 2015; 18(2):125-134

Complete Nucleotide Sequences of Two bla(KPC-2)-Bearing IncN Plasmids Isolated from Sequence Type 442 Klebsiella pneumoniae Clinical Strains Four Years Apart

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)We sequenced the oldest bla(KPC-2)-bearing plasmid isolated in Brazil and another plasmid also carried by a Klebsiella pneumoniae strain of sequence type 442 (ST442), isolated 52 months later. Both plasmids present an IncN backbone and few acquired regions. Because the 2005 plasmid presented deletions and a truncated gene within Tn4401b compared to the 2009 plasmid, we can thus infer that IncN bla(KPC-2)-bearing plasmids pFCF1305 and pFCF3SP had a common ancestor circulating in Brazil prior to May 2005.58529582960Centro de Inovacoes Tecnologicas do Instituto Evandro Chagas, SVS/MS, Ananindeua, Para, BrazilCoordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FAPESP [2012/20915-0]FAPESP [2013/12107-4