Cryptosporidium infection in patients with gastroenteritis in Sari, Iran

Background: Cryptosporidiosis is a common coccidian parasite infection in patients with diarrhea that has worldwide distribution especially in developed countries. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of Cryptosporidium infection in patients with gastroenteritis admitted to hospitals of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences by parasitological and molecular methods in Sari, Iran. Methods: Stool samples were collected from 348 patients with gastroenteritis admitted to the hospitals of Medical University in the Sari and Ghaemshahr cities in Mazandaran Province, Northern Iran in 2010-2011. Oocysts of Cryptosporidium identified using Formalin-Ether concentration method and stained by Aacidfast staining (AFS) and Auramine phenol fluorescence (APF). Genomic DAN extracted from microscopically positive samples and nested PCR -RFLP by using SSU rRNA that identifies of the species of cryptosporidium. Results: In 348 patients with gastroenteritis, the most clinical symptoms were diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dehydration, fever and weight loss. 2.3% (8 cases) of diarrheal samples tested by both microscopy and molecular methods were positive for the presence of cryptosporidium. Nested PCR products yielded unique bands of 846 bp, correspond to cryptosporidium. Species diagnosis carried out by digesting the secondary PCR product with SspI restriction enzyme, which noted 3 clearly bands of 449, 254, and 108 bp correspond to Cryptosporidium spp. Conclusion: The results of present study on Cryptosporidium spp. in this area can make a background data for control programs and further molecular analyses. Thus, further work needs to determine the origin of Cryptosporidium species in this area

Sayyadi H. Prenatal Stress+Morphine and Postnatal Re-Exposure to Stress Alter Pentylentetrazol-Induced Epileptic Manifestations in Rats

We studied effects of restraint-induced stress and morphine co-administration within the prenatal period and of re-exposure to stress at the end of infancy on the body mass and pentylenetetrazol-induced epileptic manifestations in rats. Pregnant rats were divided into six groups (control, restraint-stressed, saline, morphine, stress+saline, and stress+morphine). In the stressed groups, pregnant rats were subjected to restraint stressing twice per day for three consecutive days (starting on pregnancy day 15). Rats in saline and morphine groups received saline and morphine subcutaneously at the same days. In the morphine/saline+stressed groups, rats were exposed to stress and received morphine/saline simultaneously. Control rats were left intact. The pups were weighed at postnatal days (PD) 1, 15, and 22. On P22, half of the pups were re-exposed to stress; then, pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizures were recorded. The offspring body mass was significantly smaller in stressed, morphine, and stressed+morphine groups compared to the control. The time to onset of the first tonico-clonic seizure was shorter, while the duration and number of tonico-clonic attacks were greater significantly in the stressed+morphine group compared to other groups. Re-exposure to stress decreased the number of clonic seizures. The number of leg-opening and tail rigidity episodes were smaller in female offspring compared to male ones. Co-administration of restraint stress and morphine within the prenatal period reduces the offspring body mass and increases the seizure vulnerability more severely compared to the respective individual effects In addition, prenatal stress exerts stronger effects on the neural development and epileptic behaviors of the offspring than postnatal stress.Ми досліджували на щурах впливи пренатально індукованого іммобілізаційного стресу, який комбінували з уведенням морфіну, а також повторного стресування щурів-нащадків наприкінці «періоду дитинства» на прояви індукованої пентилентетразолом (ПТЗ) епілептиформної активності у цих нащадків. Вагітні самиці щурів були розділені на шість груп (контроль, стресовані іммобілізацією, з уведенням фізіологічного розчину – ФР, з уведенням морфіну, стресовані+ФР та стресовані+морфін). Вагітні самиці стресованої групи були піддані сеансам іммобілізаційного стресування двічі за день протягом трьох послідовних днів (починаючи з 15-го дня вагітності). Щуриці груп ФР та «морфін» отримували відповідні підшкірні ін’єкції протягом тих самих трьох діб. У групах «морфін/ФР+стрес» щури піддавалися комбінації стресування та відповідних ін’єкцій; контрольні щури залишалися інтактними. Народжені щурята зважувались у постнатальні дні ПД, 1, 15 та 22. У ПД 22 половину щурят піддавали повторному стресуванню. Після цього в усіх нащадків реєстрували епілептиформну судомну активність, індуковану введенням ПТЗ. Маса тіла щурят стресованої, «морфінової» груп та групи «стрес+морфін» була вірогідно нижчою, ніж у щурят контрольної групи. Час до проявів першої тоніко-клонічної судоми у тварин групи «стрес+морфін» був вірогідно коротшим, ніж в інших групах. Тривалість та кількість тоніко-клонічних нападів у згаданій вище групі («стрес+морфін») були вірогідно більшими. Повторне постнатальне стресування призводило до зменшення кількості клонічних судом. Отже, комбінація пренатального іммобілізаційного стресу та введення морфіну викликає зменшення маси тіла та підвищення чутливості до судомної активності, і ці ефекти сильніші, ніж впливи вказаних факторів поодинці. Окрім того, пренатальний стрес спричинює сильніші впливи на розвиток нервової системи та прояви епілептиформної активності у нащадків, аніж постнатальний стрес

Phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus by Macrophages Exerts Cytoprotective Effects Manifested by the Upregulation of Antiapoptotic Factors

It is becoming increasingly apparent that Staphylococcus aureus are able to survive engulfment by macrophages, and that the intracellular environment of these host cells, which is essential to innate host defenses against invading microorganisms, may in fact provide a refuge for staphylococcal survival and dissemination. Based on this, we postulated that S. aureus might induce cytoprotective mechanisms by changing gene expression profiles inside macrophages similar to obligate intracellular pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. To validate our hypothesis we first ascertained whether S. aureus infection could affect programmed cell death in human (hMDMs) and mouse (RAW 264.7) macrophages and, specifically, protect these cells against apoptosis. Our findings indicate that S. aureus-infected macrophages are more resistant to staurosporine-induced cell death than control cells, an effect partly mediated via the inhibition of cytochrome c release from mitochondria. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis of human monocyte-derived macrophages during S. aureus infection revealed a significant increase in the expression of antiapoptotic genes. This was confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR analysis of selected genes involved in mitochondria-dependent cell death, clearly showing overexpression of BCL2 and MCL1. Cumulatively, the results of our experiments argue that S. aureus is able to induce a cytoprotective effect in macrophages derived from different mammal species, which can prevent host cell elimination, and thus allow intracellular bacterial survival. Ultimately, it is our contention that this process may contribute to the systemic dissemination of S. aureus infection

Southern African Large Telescope Spectroscopy of BL Lacs for the CTA project

In the last two decades, very-high-energy gamma-ray astronomy has reached maturity: over 200 sources have been detected, both Galactic and extragalactic, by ground-based experiments. At present, Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) make up about 40% of the more than 200 sources detected at very high energies with ground-based telescopes, the majority of which are blazars, i.e. their jets are closely aligned with the line of sight to Earth and three quarters of which are classified as high-frequency peaked BL Lac objects. One challenge to studies of the cosmological evolution of BL Lacs is the difficulty of obtaining redshifts from their nearly featureless, continuum-dominated spectra. It is expected that a significant fraction of the AGN to be detected with the future Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) observatory will have no spectroscopic redshifts, compromising the reliability of BL Lac population studies, particularly of their cosmic evolution. We started an effort in 2019 to measure the redshifts of a large fraction of the AGN that are likely to be detected with CTA, using the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT). In this contribution, we present two results from an on-going SALT program focused on the determination of BL Lac object redshifts that will be relevant for the CTA observatory

An educational model for ensemble streamflow simulation and uncertainty analysis

This paper presents the hands-on modeling toolbox, HBV-Ensemble, designed as a complement to theoretical hydrology lectures, to teach hydrological processes and their uncertainties. The HBV-Ensemble can be used for inclass lab practices and homework assignments, and assessment of students’ understanding of hydrological processes. Using this modeling toolbox, students can gain more insights into how hydrological processes (e.g., precipitation, snowmelt and snow accumulation, soil moisture, evapotranspiration and runoff generation) are interconnected. The educational toolbox includes a MATLAB Graphical User Interface (GUI) and an ensemble simulation scheme that can be used for teaching uncertainty analysis, parameter estimation, ensemble simulation and model sensitivity. HBV-Ensemble was administered in a class for both in-class instruction and a final project, and students submitted their feedback about the toolbox. The results indicate that this educational software had a positive impact on students understanding and knowledge of uncertainty in hydrological modeling

An educational model for ensemble streamflow simulation and uncertainty analysis

This paper presents the hands-on modeling toolbox, HBV-Ensemble, designed as a complement to theoretical hydrology lectures, to teach hydrological processes and their uncertainties. The HBV-Ensemble can be used for inclass lab practices and homework assignments, and assessment of students’ understanding of hydrological processes. Using this modeling toolbox, students can gain more insights into how hydrological processes (e.g., precipitation, snowmelt and snow accumulation, soil moisture, evapotranspiration and runoff generation) are interconnected. The educational toolbox includes a MATLAB Graphical User Interface (GUI) and an ensemble simulation scheme that can be used for teaching uncertainty analysis, parameter estimation, ensemble simulation and model sensitivity. HBV-Ensemble was administered in a class for both in-class instruction and a final project, and students submitted their feedback about the toolbox. The results indicate that this educational software had a positive impact on students understanding and knowledge of uncertainty in hydrological modeling

An educational model for ensemble streamflow simulation and uncertainty analysis

This paper presents the hands-on modeling toolbox, HBV-Ensemble, designed as a complement to theoretical hydrology lectures, to teach hydrological processes and their uncertainties. The HBV-Ensemble can be used for in-class lab practices and homework assignments, and assessment of students' understanding of hydrological processes. Using this modeling toolbox, students can gain more insights into how hydrological processes (e.g., precipitation, snowmelt and snow accumulation, soil moisture, evapotranspiration and runoff generation) are interconnected. The educational toolbox includes a MATLAB Graphical User Interface (GUI) and an ensemble simulation scheme that can be used for teaching uncertainty analysis, parameter estimation, ensemble simulation and model sensitivity. HBV-Ensemble was administered in a class for both in-class instruction and a final project, and students submitted their feedback about the toolbox. The results indicate that this educational software had a positive impact on students understanding and knowledge of uncertainty in hydrological modeling

Scheduling the survey of a thousand exoplanets

Part of a collection: Ariel, the ESA M4 missionAutomatic scheduling techniques are becoming a crucial tool for the efficient planning of large astronomical surveys. A specific scheduling method is being designed and developed for the Atmospheric Remote-sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey (Ariel) mission planning based on a hybrid meta-heuristic algorithm with global optimization capability to ensure obtaining satisfying results fulfilling all mission constraints. We used this method to simulate the Ariel mission plan, to assess the feasibility of its scientific goals, and to study the outcome of different science scenarios. We conclude that Ariel will be able to fulfill the scientific objectives, i.e. characterizing ∼ 1000 exoplanet atmospheres, with a total exposure time representing about 75–80% of the mission lifetime. We demonstrate that it is possible to include phase curve observations for a sample of targets or to increase the number of studied exoplanets within the mission lifetime. Finally, around 12–15% of the time can still be used for non-time constrained observations.This publication has been made possible by grants ESP2016-80435-C2-1-R and PGC2018-098153-B-C33 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe. We acknowledge as well the support of the Generalitat de Catalunya/CERCA programme