Nomenclatural notes on some species of Arthothelium (Lichenized Ascomycotina)

Nomenclatural changes are presented for eleven species of the genus Arthothelium, resulting in four new combinations and five new synonyms. The new combinations are: Arthothelium subbessale (Nyl.) comb. nov., Cyclographina circumscissa (Vain.) comb. nov., Minksia angolensis (Nyl.) comb. nov. and Thelotrema puniceum (Müll. Arg.) comb. nov. In addition, a new species is described, Arthothelium endoaurantiacum

Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Comparative Overview

Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicine (TIM) and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) remain the most ancient yet living traditions. There has been increased global interest in traditional medicine. Efforts to monitor and regulate herbal drugs and traditional medicine are underway. China has been successful in promoting its therapies with more research and science-based approach, while Ayurveda still needs more extensive scientific research and evidence base. This review gives an overview of basic principles and commonalities of TIM and TCM and discusses key determinants of success, which these great traditions need to address to compete in global markets

Novel Approaches Reveal that \u3cem\u3eToxoplasma gondii\u3c/em\u3e Bradyzoites within Tissue Cysts Are Dynamic and Replicating Entities \u3cem\u3eIn Vivo\u3c/em\u3e

Despite their critical role in chronic toxoplasmosis, the biology of Toxoplasma gondii bradyzoites is poorly understood. In an attempt to address this gap, we optimized approaches to purify tissue cysts and analyzed the replicative potential of bradyzoites within these cysts. In order to quantify individual bradyzoites within tissue cysts, we have developed imaging software, BradyCount 1.0, that allows the rapid establishment of bradyzoite burdens within imaged optical sections of purified tissue cysts. While in general larger tissue cysts contain more bradyzoites, their relative occupancy was typically lower than that of smaller cysts, resulting in a lower packing density. The packing density permits a direct measure of how bradyzoites develop within cysts, allowing for comparisons across progression of the chronic phase. In order to capture bradyzoite endodyogeny, we exploited the differential intensity of TgIMC3, an inner membrane complex protein that intensely labels newly formed/forming daughters within bradyzoites and decays over time in the absence of further division. To our surprise, we were able to capture not only sporadic and asynchronous division but also synchronous replication of all bradyzoites within mature tissue cysts. Furthermore, the time-dependent decay of TgIMC3 intensity was exploited to gain insights into the temporal patterns of bradyzoite replication in vivo. Despite the fact that bradyzoites are considered replicatively dormant, we find evidence for cyclical, episodic bradyzoite growth within tissue cysts in vivo. These findings directly challenge the prevailing notion of bradyzoites as dormant nonreplicative entities in chronic toxoplasmosis and have implications on our understanding of this enigmatic and clinically important life cycle stage. IMPORTANCE: The protozoan Toxoplasma gondii establishes a lifelong chronic infection mediated by the bradyzoite form of the parasite within tissue cysts. Technical challenges have limited even the most basic studies on bradyzoites and the tissue cysts in vivo. Bradyzoites, which are viewed as dormant, poorly replicating or nonreplicating entities, were found to be surprisingly active, exhibiting not only the capacity for growth but also previously unrecognized patterns of replication that point to their being considerably more dynamic than previously imagined. These newly revealed properties force us to reexamine the most basic questions regarding bradyzoite biology and the progression of the chronic phase of toxoplasmosis. By developing new tools and approaches to study the chronic phase at the level of bradyzoites, we expose new avenues to tackle both drug development and a better understanding of events that may lead to reactivated symptomatic disease

Reexamining Chronic \u3cem\u3eToxoplasma gondii\u3c/em\u3e Infection: Surprising Activity for a Dormant Parasite

Purpose of Review Despite over a third of the world’s population being chronically infected with Toxoplasma gondii, little is known about this largely asymptomatic phase of infection. This stage is mediated in vivo by bradyzoites within tissue cysts. The absence of overt symptoms has been attributed to the dormancy of bradyzoites. In this review, we reexamine the conventional view of chronic toxoplasmosis in light of emerging evidence challenging both the nature of dormancy and the consequences of infection in the CNS. Recent Findings New and emerging data reveal a previously unrecognized level of physiological and replicative capacity of bradyzoites within tissue cysts. These findings have emerged in the context of a reexamination of the chronic infection in the brain that correlates with changes in neuronal architecture, neurochemistry, and behavior that suggest that the chronic infection is not without consequence. Summary The emerging data driven by the development of new approaches to study the progression of chronic toxoplasma infection reveals significant physiological and replicative capacity for what has been viewed as a dormant state. The emergence of bradyzoite and tissue cyst biology from what was viewed as a physiological “black box” offers exciting new areas for investigation with direct implications on the approaches to drug development targeting this drug-refractory state. In addition, new insights from studies on the neurobiology on chronic infection reveal a complex and dynamic interplay between the parasite, brain microenvironment, and the immune response that results in the detente that promotes the life-long persistence of the parasite in the host

Micro-Capsules in Shear Flow

This paper deals with flow-induced shape transitions of elastic capsules. The state of the art concerning both theory and experiments is briefly reviewed starting with dynamically induced small deformation of initially spherical capsules and the formation of wrinkles on polymerized membranes. Initially non-spherical capsules show tumbling and tank-treading motion in shear flow. Theoretical descriptions of the transition between these two types of motion assuming a fixed shape are at variance with the full capsule dynamics obtained numerically. To resolve the discrepancy, we expand the exact equations of motion for small deformations and find that shape changes play a dominant role. We classify the dynamical phase transitions and obtain numerical and analytical results for the phase boundaries as a function of viscosity contrast, shear and elongational flow rate. We conclude with perspectives on timedependent flow, on shear-induced unbinding from surfaces, on the role of thermal fluctuations, and on applying the concepts of stochastic thermodynamics to these systems.Comment: 34 pages, 15 figure

Site selection for vascular access creation in hemodialysis in end stage renal disease

Background: Chronic kidney failure is characterized with progressive and irreversible diminishing of glomerular filtration rate. AVF has been unanimously considered the gold standard vascular access of choice for hemodialysis. Arterio-venous fistula (AVF) for hemodialysis should be created in patients with endogenous creatinine clearance < 20 mL/min/1,73m2. Aim of current study was to choose the proper site for arteriovenous fistula creation with minimal complications.Methods: It was a prospective study, carried out in the dept. of surgery from April 2008 to August 2013. A total of 140 patients were studied over the period. The fistulae were created using radial artery cephalic vein side to side and brachial artery cephalic vein side to side or end to side anastomosis. Statistical analysis used: Mean, Standard deviation, Standard error.Results: A total 140 patients were studied, out of them 104 were males and 36 were females. The radiocephalic site was used for 82 (58.57%) patients and 58 (41.43%) patients were operated on brachiocephalic site. The mean inner diameter of radial artery, brachial artery and cephalic vein (intima to intima) at elbow and wrist were 21.49001 ± 0.901 (SE - 0.28492), 3.72533 ± 1.06837 (SE - 0.30841) and 0.68079 ± 0.49551 (SE - 0.116790) respectively. The mean flows velocity of brachial and radial artery were 76.10526 ± 4.54477 (SE - 1.04264) and 52.64286 ± 5.5968 (SE - 1.495810) respectively. The success rate of AV fistula on table was 97.85% (137 out of 140). The incidence of complication was 18.57%.Conclusion: The site for fistula creation depends on the quality of the artery and vein. To achieve good success rates preoperative color Doppler is essential to evaluate the vessels. The complication rates can be minimised by following standard operating protocols.

Effect of synthesis conditions on formation pathways of metal organic framework (MOF-5) Crystals

Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) represent a class of nanoporous crystalline materials with far reaching potential in gas storage, catalysis, and medical devices. We investigated the effects of synthesis process parameters on production of MOF-5 from terephthalic acid and zinc nitrate in diethylformamide. Under favorable synthesis conditions, we systematically mapped a solid formation diagram in terms of time and temperature for both stirred and unstirred conditions. The synthesis of MOF-5 has been previously reported as a straightforward reaction progressing from precursor compounds in solution directly to the final MOF-5 solid phase product. However, we show that the solid phase formation process is far more complex, invariably transferring through metastable intermediate crystalline phases before the final MOF-5 phase is reached, providing new insights into the formation pathways of MOFs. We also identify process parameters suitable for scale-up and continuous manufacturing of high purity MOF-5

Cationic Amino Acids Specific Biomimetic Silicification in Ionic Liquid: A Quest to Understand the Formation of 3-D Structures in Diatoms

The intricate, hierarchical, highly reproducible, and exquisite biosilica structures formed by diatoms have generated great interest to understand biosilicification processes in nature. This curiosity is driven by the quest of researchers to understand nature's complexity, which might enable reproducing these elegant natural diatomaceous structures in our laboratories via biomimetics, which is currently beyond the capabilities of material scientists. To this end, significant understanding of the biomolecules involved in biosilicification has been gained, wherein cationic peptides and proteins are found to play a key role in the formation of these exquisite structures. Although biochemical factors responsible for silica formation in diatoms have been studied for decades, the challenge to mimic biosilica structures similar to those synthesized by diatoms in their natural habitats has not hitherto been successful. This has led to an increasingly interesting debate that physico-chemical environment surrounding diatoms might play an additional critical role towards the control of diatom morphologies. The current study demonstrates this proof of concept by using cationic amino acids as catalyst/template/scaffold towards attaining diatom-like silica morphologies under biomimetic conditions in ionic liquids