Some physical and mechanical characterization of Tunisian planted Eucalytus loxophleba and Eucalyptus salmonophloia woods

After the independence in 1957 and with the support of the FAO117, Eucalyptus species were planted in Tunisia in different arboreta throughout the country for close observation and adaptation to climate and soil. The objective of this study is to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of two species planted in marginal area in Sousse (arboretum El Hanya) in the east of Tunisia (Eucalytus loxophleba and Eucalyptus salmonophloia). The moisture content, specific gravity and volumetric shrinkage were measured. The Mechanical tests were performed to evaluate the hardness, the static bending and the resistance to compression parallel to fiber direction. Preliminary results showed that Eucalytusloxophleba and Eucalyptus salmonophloia have a low dimensional stability. During the drying period, woods showed signs of collapses. On the other hand, both species were highly resistant to compression strength while they were lower on the static bending. Eucalytus loxophleba and Eucalyptus salmonophloia characteristics established within this study were similar to other Eucalyptus species from Tunisia, Morocco, Australia and Brazil. This wood may be used in furniture, structural material and/or biomass energy. (Résumé d'auteur

Multi-Domain Cognitive Assessment of Male Mice Shows Space Radiation Is Not Harmful to High-Level Cognition and Actually Improves Pattern Separation

Astronauts on interplanetary missions - such as to Mars - will be exposed to space radiation, a spectrum of highly-charged, fast-moving particles that includes 56Fe and 28Si. Earth-based preclinical studies show space radiation decreases rodent performance in low- and some high-level cognitive tasks. Given astronaut use of touchscreen platforms during training and space flight and given the ability of rodent touchscreen tasks to assess functional integrity of brain circuits and multiple cognitive domains in a non-aversive way, here we exposed 6-month-old C57BL/6J male mice to whole-body space radiation and subsequently assessed them on a touchscreen battery. Relative to Sham treatment, 56Fe irradiation did not overtly change performance on tasks of visual discrimination, reversal learning, rule-based, or object-spatial paired associates learning, suggesting preserved functional integrity of supporting brain circuits. Surprisingly, 56Fe irradiation improved performance on a dentate gyrus-reliant pattern separation task; irradiated mice learned faster and were more accurate than controls. Improved pattern separation performance did not appear to be touchscreen-, radiation particle-, or neurogenesis-dependent, as 56Fe and 28Si irradiation led to faster context discrimination in a non-touchscreen task and 56Fe decreased new dentate gyrus neurons relative to Sham. These data urge revisitation of the broadly-held view that space radiation is detrimental to cognition

Dissociation of tau pathology and neuronal hypometabolism within the ATN framework of Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is defined by amyloid (A) and tau (T) pathologies, with T better correlated to neurodegeneration (N). However, T and N have complex regional relationships in part related to non-AD factors that influence N. With machine learning, we assessed heterogeneity in 18F-flortaucipir vs. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography as markers of T and neuronal hypometabolism (NM) in 289 symptomatic patients from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. We identified six T/NM clusters with differing limbic and cortical patterns. The canonical group was defined as the T/NM pattern with lowest regression residuals. Groups resilient to T had less hypometabolism than expected relative to T and displayed better cognition than the canonical group. Groups susceptible to T had more hypometabolism than expected given T and exhibited worse cognitive decline, with imaging and clinical measures concordant with non-AD copathologies. Together, T/NM mismatch reveals distinct imaging signatures with pathobiological and prognostic implications for AD

Protocol of a randomized controlled trial of the Tobacco Tactics website for operating engineers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Recent research indicates that 35 percent of blue-collar workers in the US currently smoke while only 20 percent of white-collar workers smoke. Over the last year, we have been working with heavy equipment operators, specifically the Local 324 Training Center of the International Union of Operating Engineers, to study the epidemiology of smoking, which is 29% compared to 21% among the general population. For the current study funded by the National Cancer Institute (1R21CA152247-01A1), we have developed the Tobacco Tactics website which will be compared to the state supported 1-800-QUIT-NOW telephone line. Outcome evaluation will compare those randomized to the Tobacco Tactics web-based intervention to those randomized to the 1-800-QUIT-NOW control condition on: a) 30-day and 6-month quit rates; b) cotinine levels; c) cigarettes smoked/day; d) number of quit attempts; and e) nicotine addiction. Process evaluation will compare the two groups on the: a) contacts with intervention; b) medications used; c) helpfulness of the nurse/coach; and d) willingness to recommend the intervention to others.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>This will be a randomized controlled trial (N = 184). Both interventions will be offered during regularly scheduled safety training at Local 324 Training Center of the International Union of Operating Engineers and both will include optional provision of over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapy and the same number of telephone contacts. However, the Tobacco Tactics website has graphics tailored to Operating Engineers, tailored cessation feedback from the website, and follow up nurse counseling offered by multimedia options including phone and/or email, and/or e-community. Primary Analysis of Aim 1 will be conducted by using logistic regression to compare smoking habits (e.g., quit rates) of those in the intervention arm to those in the control arm. Primary analyses for Aim 2 will compare process measures (e.g., medications used) between the two groups by linear, logistic, and Poisson regression.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Dissemination of an efficacious work-site, web-based smoking cessation intervention has the potential to substantially impact cancer rates among this population. Based on the outcome of this smaller study, wider scale testing in conjunction with the International Environment Technology Testing Center which services Operating Engineers across North America (including US, Mexico, and Canada) will be conducted.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>NCT01124110</p

Initial sequencing and analysis of the human genome

The human genome holds an extraordinary trove of information about human development, physiology, medicine and evolution. Here we report the results of an international collaboration to produce and make freely available a draft sequence of the human genome. We also present an initial analysis of the data, describing some of the insights that can be gleaned from the sequence.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/62798/1/409860a0.pd

TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits - the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants - determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait‐based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits - almost complete coverage for ‘plant growth form’. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait–environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives

Inducible expression of DTA in nestin-lineage stem/progenitor cells decreases the number of Ki67+ and DCX+ cells 12 days (d) post-tamoxifen (TAM), but DCX+ cell number is normalized 30d post-TAM.

<p><b>(A)</b> Experimental design of immunohistochemical study. TAM was administered to 5–6 week-old control or Cre+DTA+ mice for 5 consecutive days, and brains were collected 12d and 30d post-TAM. <b>(B)</b> Representative photomicrographs of the dentate gyrus from control and Cre+DTA+ mice 12d post-TAM stained with an antibody against Ki67. Scale bar = 200 um <b>(B,</b> applies to <b>B, D). (C)</b> Stereological quantification of Ki67+ cell number in the DG granule cell layer (GCL) 12d (control N = 5, Cre+DTA+ N = 4) and 30d (control N = 6, Cre+DTA+ N = 9) post-TAM. <b>(D)</b> Representative photomicrographs of the DG from control and Cre+DTA+ mice 12d post-TAM stained with antibody against DCX. <b>(E)</b> Stereological quantification of DCX+ cells in the DG GCL 12d (control N = 4, Cre+DTA+ N = 5) and 30d (control N = 6, Cre+DTA+ N = 7) post-TAM. <b>(F)</b> High magnification images of the DG from control and Cre+DTA+ mice 12d post-TAM stained with an antibody against DCX+. Scale bar = 50um. <b>(G)</b> Stereological quantification of postmitotic DCX+ cells in the DG GCL 12d (control N = 4, Cre+DTA+ N = 5) and 30d (control N = 6, Cre+DTA+ N = 7). Data are mean±SEM,.**p<0.01, *p<0.05 by unpaired, two-tailed Student’s t-test.</p

Relative to control mice, stress induced anxiety-like and depressive-like behavior are evident in Cre+DTA+ mice tested less than–but not more than– 4 weeks post-TAM.

<p><b>(A, B)</b> Latency to feed in the novelty induced hypophagia test (NIH) in control vs. Cre+DTA+ mice at short (<b>A,</b> Group 1, control N = 31, Cre+DTA+ N = 10) and long (<b>B,</b> Group 2, control N = 39, Cre+DTA+ N = 16) TAM-behavior intervals. <b>(C, D)</b> Total immobility time in the tail suspension test (TST) in control vs. Cre+DTA+ mice at short (<b>C,</b> Group 1, control N = 27, Cre+DTA+ N = 9) and long (<b>D,</b> Group 2, control N = 38, Cre+DTA+ N = 15) TAM-behavior intervals. <b>(E, F)</b> Interaction time during juvenile interaction training and test sessions in control vs. Cre+DTA+ mice at short (<b>E,</b> Group 1, control N = 30, Cre+DTA+ N = 9) and long (<b>F,</b> Group 2, control N = 40, Cre+DTA+ N = 17) TAM-beh intervals. Data = mean±SEM. *p<0.05, unpaired two-tailed Student’s t-test (A-D). ^<i>b</i>p<0.01,^<i>c</i>p<0.005, ^<i>d</i>p<0.0001, two-way ANOVA with repeated measures and Bonferroni posthoc.</p

Cre+DTA+ mice tested less than or more than 4 weeks post-TAM show similar levels of locomotion and the absence of baseline anxiety-related behaviors.

<p><b>(A, B)</b> Locomotor activity (LM) in both short (<b>A,</b> Group 1, control N = 8, Cre+DTA+ N = 5) and long (<b>B,</b> Group 2, control N = 33, Cre+DTA+ N = 13) TAM-beh interval groups. Insets <b>A, B</b>: total beam breaks over 2 hr. Main panels <b>A, B</b>: beam breaks over 2 hr presented in 5 min bins. X axis * = main effect of time. Posthoc analysis (Bonferroni) revealed all points in main panels were significantly different than the initial locomotor activity data point. However, individual data point asterisks are omitted for clarity, as there was no main effect of genotype or interaction of time X genotype for either Group 1 or Group 2. <b>(C-F)</b> Time spent in the center <b>(C, E)</b> and periphery <b>(D, F)</b> during an open field test (OF) in short (<b>C-D,</b> Group 1, control N = 30, Cre+DTA+ N = 9) and long (<b>E-F,</b> Group 2, control N = 42, Cre+DTA+ N = 17) TAM-beh interval groups. <b>(G-J)</b> Number of transitions between light and dark chambers <b>(G, I)</b> and latency to enter the dark chamber <b>(H, J)</b> in the light/dark test (L/D test) in both short (<b>G-H,</b> Group 1, control N = 30, Cre+DTA+ N = 9) and long (<b>H-I,</b> Group 2, control N = 38, Cre+DTA+ N = 17) TAM-beh groups. Data are mean±SEM. ^<i>d</i>p<0.0001, two-way ANOVA with repeated measures and Bonferroni posthoc <b>(A, B)</b>. *p<0.05, unpaired two-tailed Student’s t-test (<b>insets A, B,</b> and <b>C-H</b>).</p

Experimental design of behavioral study.

<p>TAM was administered to 5–6 week-old control or Cre+DTA+ mice for 5 consecutive days. Behavioral testing began 12d (Group 1) or 33d post-TAM (Group 2), and continued as indicated through day 27 (Group 1, TAM-behavioral [TAM-beh] interval less than 4 weeks) or day 52 (Group 2, TAM-beh interval more than 4 weeks) post-TAM. Both groups were examined in the open field test (OF), locomotor test (LM), novelty induced hypophagia (NIH), light/dark test (L/D), juvenile social interaction test (JI), and tail suspension test (TST). Specifically for Groups 1 and Groups 2, OF was performed 12d or 33d post-TAM, LM 15d or 37d post-TAM, NIH 17-19d or 39-41d post-TAM, L/D 21d or 43d post-TAM, JI 22-25d or 44-47d post-TAM, and TST 27d or 52d post-TAM.</p