Cape Blanc (NW-Africa) & Chile (30 °S)

Coccolithophores, a major group of the nanophytoplankton, belong to the class Prymnesiophyceae.The cells of coccolithophores are typically surrounded by layer(s) of calcium carbonate plates, the coccoliths. Certain coccolithophores can be assigned to particular water masses or to photic zone characteristics and, therefore, single species as well as whole assemblages can be used as oceanographical indicators for the present and the past. Due to their ocean wide distribution, their large contribution to the fine grained carbonate ooze of the deep sea, their ability to photosynthesize and to calcificate they play an important role in the global carbon cycle...thesi

Effect of Nigella sativa L. on heart rate and some haematological values of alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits

This study was designed to investigate the effect of an extract of Nigella sativa L. on the heart rate and  some haematological values in alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits. Fifteen New Zealand male rabbits were  divided into three experimental groups: control, diabetic and N. sativa L.-treated diabetic. At the end of the  experimental period (2 months), animals in all three groups were fasted for 12 hours and blood samples  were taken for the determination of glucose levels, RBC and WBC (red and white blood cell) counts,  packed cell volume (PCV), and haemoglobin (Hb) concentration. Heart rates were also measured by a  direct-writing electrocardiograph before the blood withdrawals. It was found that N. sativa L. treatment  increased the lowered RBC and WBC counts, PCV and neutrophil percentage in diabetic rabbits. However,  the WBC count of the N. sativa L. treated diabetic group was still lower than the control. N. sativa L.  treatment also decreased the elevated heart rate and glucose concentration of diabetic rabbits. It is concluded  that oral N. sativa L. treatment might decrease the diabetes-induced disturbances of heart rate and some  haematological parameters of alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits.

A rat model for the immune response to the intrauterine administration of BCG

This study was designed to investigate the changes in the numbers of lymphocytes, macrophages and plasma cells in the uterus and ileocecal lymph nodes of rats exposed to the intrauterine administration of Baeillus-Calmette Guerin (BCG). Thirty female Wistar Albino rats, age 6 months and weighing between 200-250 g, were assigned to the two experimental groups BCG treated and controls (n = 15). The intrauterine BCG injections were made using laparatomy in the diestrous cycle under Rompun and Ketalar anesthesia. 0.1 ml BCG were injected for each into cornu uteri while the control group received 0.1 ml sterile saline in the same place. Two weeks later, the rats in both groups were anesthetized with ether and decapitated. Uterus and ileocecal lymph nodes were processed to determine alpha naphthyl acid esterase (ANAE) - positive T lymphocytes and macrophages. The plasma cells were stained with the methyl green-pyronin method; It was found that the numbers of lymphocytes macrophages and plasma cells on the uterus increased (P<0.01) in BCG treated rats. In addition, the number of these cells also increased in the ileoeeeal lymph nodes indicating the presence of an immune response to the intrauterine BCG administration, It is concluded that although the rat was chosen as a model and ECG was given by the process of laparatomy in this study, intracervical administration of BCG tn the uterus should be studied clinically in cases of immune deficiency disorders related to the uterus. such as endometritis, myometritis, pyometra, endometriosis. infertility and implantation problems of domestic animals, to see if there is an increase in the immune response

Social Ball: An immersive research paradigm to study social ostracism

We introduce “Social Ball,” a new research paradigm to study ostracism via an online ball tossing game based on Cyberball (Williams & Jarvis, 2006) designed with both researchers and participants in mind. For researchers, the game incorporates a variety of features which are easily accessible from the software’s interface. Some of these features have already been studied with Cyberball (e.g., tossing different objects) but some are novel (e.g., end-game communication or hand-waving during the game). From the participants’ perspective, the game was designed to be more visually and socially immersive to create a more video-game- like online environment. We discuss two previous implementations. Study 1 showed that Social Ball successfully induced need threat and negative affect among ostracized (vs included) participants (n = 247). Study 2 empirically demonstrated how a new feature of the game (i.e., hand-waving) can be used to answer various questions. The results suggested that people waved their hands to varying degrees yet the frequency of which was not associated with post game need satisfaction (n = 2578). Besides describing the features of the game, we also provide a configuration manual and an annotated R code (both as online supplementary materials) to make the paradigm and associated analyses more accessible, and in turn, to stimulate further research. In our discussion, we elaborate on the various ways in which Social Ball can contribute to the understanding of belonging and ostracism

Appetitive reversal learning differences of two honey bee subspecies with different foraging behaviors

We aimed to examine mechanistically the observed foraging differences across two honey bee, Apis mellifera, subspecies using the proboscis extension response assay. Specifically, we compared differences in appetitive reversal learning ability between honey bee subspecies: Apis mellifera caucasica (Pollman), and Apis mellifera syriaca (Skorikov) in a “common garden” apiary. It was hypothesized that specific learning differences could explain previously observed foraging behavior differences of these subspecies: A.m. caucasica switches between different flower color morphs in response to reward variability, and A.m. syriaca does not switch. We suggest that flower constancy allows reduced exposure by minimizing search and handling time, whereas plasticity is important when maximizing harvest in preparation for long winter is at a premium. In the initial or Acquisition phase of the test we examined specifically discrimination learning, where bees were trained to respond to a paired conditioned stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus and not to respond to a second conditioned stimulus that is not followed by an unconditioned stimulus. We found no significant differences among the subspecies in the Acquisition phase in appetitive learning. During the second, Reversal phase of the experiment, where flexibility in association was tested, the paired and unpaired conditioned stimuli were reversed. During the Reversal phase A.m. syriaca showed a reduced ability to learn the reverse association in the appetitive learning task. This observation is consistent with the hypothesis that A.m. syriaca foragers cannot change the foraging choice because of lack of flexibility in appetitive associations under changing contingencies. Interestingly, both subspecies continued responding to the previously rewarded conditioned stimulus in the reversal phase. We discuss potential ecological correlates and molecular underpinnings of these differences in learning across the two subspecies. In addition, in a supplemental experiment we demonstrated that these differences in appetitive reversal learning do not occur in other learning contexts.National Science Foundation (NSF)Publisher's Versio

A Randomized Controlled Phase Ib Trial of the Malaria Vaccine Candidate GMZ2 in African Children

BACKGROUND: GMZ2 is a fusion protein of Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 3 (MSP3) and glutamate rich protein (GLURP) that mediates an immune response against the blood stage of the parasite. Two previous phase I clinical trials, one in naïve European adults and one in malaria-exposed Gabonese adults showed that GMZ2 was well tolerated and immunogenic. Here, we present data on safety and immunogenicity of GMZ2 in one to five year old Gabonese children, a target population for future malaria vaccine efficacy trials. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Thirty children one to five years of age were randomized to receive three doses of either 30 µg or 100 µg of GMZ2, or rabies vaccine. GMZ2, adjuvanted in aluminum hydroxide, was administered on Days 0, 28 and 56. All participants received a full course of their respective vaccination and were followed up for one year. Both 30 µg and 100 µg GMZ2 vaccine doses were well tolerated and induced antibodies and memory B-cells against GMZ2 as well as its antigenic constituents MSP3 and GLURP. After three doses of vaccine, the geometric mean concentration of antibodies to GMZ2 was 19-fold (95%CI: 11,34) higher in the 30 µg GMZ2 group than in the rabies vaccine controls, and 16-fold (7,36) higher in the 100 µg GMZ2 group than the rabies group. Geometric mean concentration of antibodies to MSP3 was 2.7-fold (1.6,4.6) higher in the 30 µg group than in the rabies group and 3.8-fold (1.5,9.6) higher in the 100 µg group. Memory B-cells against GMZ2 developed in both GMZ2 vaccinated groups. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Both 30 µg as well as 100 µg intramuscular GMZ2 are immunogenic, well tolerated, and safe in young, malaria-exposed Gabonese children. This result confirms previous findings in naïve and malaria-exposed adults and supports further clinical development of GMZ2. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00703066