Monocrotophos: Toxicity Evaluation and Respiratory Responses of Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus)

Static rencval bioassay method was used to determine the 96 hr LC50 of monocrotophos on Cyprinus carpio. Oxygen consumption and behavioral responses were recorded at lethal and at two sublethal (1/10th and 1/15th) concentrations.  Oxygen consumption responses were concentration dependent. The data indicated maximum decrease in oxygen consumption at lethal exposure (86.4 µg/L) over control on 4th day followed by 2nd, 3rd, 1st days.  At 1/10th of lethal concentration (8.64 µg/ L) continuous decrease on 1st, 10th and 20th day but decrease was reduced on 30th day. Similar variations were observed at 1/15th of lethal exposure (5.76 µg/ L) from day 1 to day 10. The decrease continued on 30th day which was witnessed to be very less amongst all. Behavioral responses were significant in lethal exposures due to intoxication.  Fish showed hyper excitation, erratic swimming, jumping, and lethargy due to low breathing frequency followed by muscular rigidity and abundant mucous secretion over the gills

Desirable Ontologies for the Construction of Semantic Applications

The intended goal of semantic web is to provide the search results to the user with at most accuracy and good precision. To make possible, the object of semantic web is to add semantics to the existing information on the Web using semantic web languages. These web languages have been to express detail information of the content present on the web with help of Ontologies. Ontology is expressed in a knowledge representation language, which provides a formal frame of semantics. Therefore we provide a brief explanation of semantic web languages in which some of them uses description logic and frames as basis. These semantic languages used in construction and understanding of ontologies clearly. The goal of this paper is to provide a brief survey of state-of-the-art ontology languages which are used to express ontology over the Web, a basic understanding of ontologies and how the ontologies are constructed

The BARD1 C-Terminal Domain Structure and Interactions with Polyadenylation Factor CstF-50†

The BARD1 N-terminal RING domain binds BRCA1 while the BARD1 C-terminal ankyrin and tandem BRCT repeat domains bind CstF-50 to modulate mRNA processing and RNAP II stability in response to DNA damage. Here we characterize the BARD1 structural biochemistry responsible for CstF- 50 binding. The crystal structure of the BARD1 BRCT domain uncovers a degenerate phosphopeptide binding pocket lacking the key arginine required for phosphopeptide interactions in other BRCT proteins.Small angle X-ray scattering together with limited proteolysis results indicates that ankyrin and BRCT domains are linked by a flexible tether and do not adopt a fixed orientation relative to one another. Protein pull-down experiments utilizing a series of purified BARD1 deletion mutants indicate that interactions between the CstF-50 WD-40 domain and BARD1 involve the ankyrin-BRCT linker but do not require ankyrin or BRCT domains. The structural plasticity imparted by the ANK-BRCT linker helps to explain the regulated assembly of different protein BARD1 complexes with distinct functions in DNA damage signaling including BARD1-dependent induction of apoptosis plus p53 stabilization and interactions. BARD1 architecture and plasticity imparted by the ANK-BRCT linker are suitable to allow the BARD1 C-terminus to act as a hub with multiple binding sites to integrate diverse DNA damage signals directly to RNA polymerase

Enhancement of cranial nerves in Lyme neuroborreliosis: incidence and correlation with clinical symptoms and prognosis

Purpose Symptoms of cranial neuritis are a common presentation of Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB). Imaging studies are scarce and report contradictory low prevalence of enhancement compared to clinical studies of cranial neuropathy. We hypothesized that MRI enhancement of cranial nerves in LNB is underreported, and aimed to assess the prevalence and clinical impact of cranial nerve enhancement in early LNB. Methods In this prospective, longitudinal cohort study, 69 patients with acute LNB were examined with MRI of the brain. Enhancement of cranial nerves III–XII was rated. MRI enhancement was correlated to clinical fndings of neuropathy in the acute phase and after 6 months. Results Thirty-nine of 69 patients (57%) had pathological cranial nerve enhancement. Facial and oculomotor nerves were most frequently afected. There was a strong correlation between enhancement in the distal internal auditory canal and parotid segments of the facial nerve and degree of facial palsy (gamma=0.95, p<.01, and gamma=0.93, p<.01), despite that 19/37 nerves with mild-moderate enhancement in the distal internal auditory canal segment showed no clinically evident palsy. Oculomotor and abducens nerve enhancement did not correlate with eye movement palsy (gamma=1.00 and 0.97, p=.31 for both). Sixteen of 17 patients with oculomotor and/or abducens nerve enhancement had no evident eye movement palsy. Conclusions MRI cranial nerve enhancement is common in LNB patients, but it can be clinically occult. Facial and oculomotor nerves are most often afected. Enhancement of the facial nerve distal internal auditory canal and parotid segments correlate with degree of facial palsy.publishedVersio

Blinding for precision scattering experiments: The MUSE approach as a case study

Human bias is capable of changing the analysis of measured data sufficiently to alter the results of an experiment. It is incumbent upon modern experiments, especially those investigating quantities considered contentious in the broader community, to blind their analysis in an effort to minimize bias. The choice of a blinding model is experiment specific, but should also aim to prevent accidental release of results before an analysis is finalized. In this paper, we discuss common threats to an unbiased analysis, as well as common quantities that can be blinded in different types of nuclear physics experiments. We use the Muon Scattering Experiment as an example, and detail the blinding scheme used therein.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

Does the external remote controller’s reading correspond to the actual lengthening in magnetic-controlled growing rods?

Purpose Magnetic-controlled growing rods (MCGRs) are now routinely used in many centres to treat early-onset scoliosis (EOS). MCGR lengthening is done non-invasively by the external remote controller (ERC). Our experience suggests that there may be a discrepancy between the reported rod lengthening on the ERC and the actual rod lengthening. The aim of this study was to investigate this discrepancy. Methods This was a prospective series. Eleven patients who were already undergoing treatment for EOS using MCGRs were included in this study. Results One hundred and ninety-two sets of ultrasound readings were obtained (96 episodes of rod lengthening on dual-rod constructs) and compared to their ERC readings. Only 15/192 (7.8%) readings were accurate; 27 readings (14.9%) were false positive; and 8 readings (4.2%) were an underestimation while 142 readings (74.0%) were an overestimation by the ERC. Average over-reporting by the ERC was 5.31 times of the actual/ultrasound reading. When comparing interval radiographs with lengthening obtained on ultrasound, there was a discrepancy with an average overestimation of 1.35 times with ultrasound in our series. There was a significant difference between ERC and USS (p = 0.01) and ERC and XR (p = 0.001). However, there was no significant difference between USS and XR (p > 0.99). Conclusion The reading on the ERC does not equate to the actual rod lengthening. The authors would recommend that clinicians using the MCGR for the treatment of early-onset scoliosis include pre- and post-extension imaging (radiographs or ultrasound) to confirm extension lengths at each outpatient extension. In centres with ultrasound facilities, we would suggest that patients should have ultrasound to monitor each lengthening after distraction but also 6-month radiographs