Genetic typing of Candida albicans strains isolated from the oral cavity of patients with denture stomatitis before and after itraconazole therapy

This study determined, by molecular typing of C. albicans species isolated from denture stomatitis patients with a mycological relapse six months after successful itraconazole therapy, whether there had been recurrence of infection with the same strain(s), selection of particular strains or infection with new strains of C. albicans. Forty patients with long-standing Candida-associated denture stomatitis were assigned either cyclodextrin itraconazole solution or itraconazole capsules (100mg b.d. for 15 days). Palatal erythema was measured and imprint cultures undertaken at baseline and at 15 days, four weeks and six months after treatment commenced. Yeast isolates were formally identified and chromosomal DNA was extracted from pairs of isolates from those patients with C. albicans present at baseline and six months after treatment commenced. Southern blotting of EcoRI-digested chromosomal DNA was performed using the C. albicans-specific 27A repetitive element as a probe. Eighteen of 36 patients were infected with C. albicans at baseline and six months after treatment commenced. Overall, 13 genetically different strains of C. albicans were found. However, in 17 of 18 patients, the C. albicans strains isolated prior to itraconazole therapy and six months later were the same. Thus recurrence of denture stomatitis in these individuals was due to re-colonisation by the original strain, rather than re-infection with a different strain. Key words: Genotyping, C. albicans, denture stomatitis

Genetic parameters for milk somatic cell score and relationships with production traits in primiparous dairy sheep

A total of 13,066 first-lactation test-day records of 2,277 Valle del Belice ewes from 17 flocks were used to estimate genetic parameters for somatic cell scores (SCS) and milk production traits, using a repeatability test-day animal model. Heritability estimates were low and ranged from 0.09 to 0.14 for milk, fat, and protein yields, and contents. For SCS, the heritability of 0.14 was relatively high. The repeatabilities were moderate and ranged from 0.29 to 0.47 for milk production traits. The repeatability for SCS was 0.36. Flock-test-day explained a large proportion of the variation for milk production traits, but it did not have a big effect on SCS. The genetic correlations of fat and protein yields with fat and protein percentages were positive and high,indicating a strong association between these traits. The genetic correlations of milk production traits with SCS were positive and ranged from 0.16 to 0.31. The results showed that SCS is a heritable trait in Valle del Belice sheep and that single-trait selection for increased milk production will also increase SCS

Design and Experimental Validation of a Software-Defined Radio Access Network Testbed with Slicing Support

Network slicing is a fundamental feature of 5G systems to partition a single network into a number of segregated logical networks, each optimized for a particular type of service, or dedicated to a particular customer or application. The realization of network slicing is particularly challenging in the Radio Access Network (RAN) part, where multiple slices can be multiplexed over the same radio channel and Radio Resource Management (RRM) functions shall be used to split the cell radio resources and achieve the expected behaviour per slice. In this context, this paper describes the key design and implementation aspects of a Software-Defined RAN (SD-RAN) experimental testbed with slicing support. The testbed has been designed consistently with the slicing capabilities and related management framework established by 3GPP in Release 15. The testbed is used to demonstrate the provisioning of RAN slices (e.g. preparation, commissioning and activation phases) and the operation of the implemented RRM functionality for slice-aware admission control and scheduling

Leadership and the Liberal Arts: Achieving the Promise of a Liberal Education

A collection of essays by presidents of prominent liberal arts colleges and leading intellectuals who reflect on the meaning of educating individuals for leadership and how it can be accomplished in ways consistent with the missions of liberal arts institutions. Edited by faculty from the Jepson School for Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond, the Jepson Studies in Leadership series will reflect the school\u27s broad-based, liberal arts approach to the study of leadership. The Jepson School has faculty representatives from the disciplines of English literature, history, philosophy, political science, psychology, public administration, religious studies, and organizational leadership. No other school or program is better situated to provide a multidisciplinary perspective on this important topic.https://scholarship.richmond.edu/bookshelf/1020/thumbnail.jp

Leadership and the Liberal Arts: Achieving the Promise of a Liberal Education

A collection of essays by presidents of prominent liberal arts colleges and leading intellectuals who reflect on the meaning of educating individuals for leadership and how it can be accomplished in ways consistent with the missions of liberal arts institutions. Edited by faculty from the Jepson School for Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond, the Jepson Studies in Leadership series will reflect the school\u27s broad-based, liberal arts approach to the study of leadership. The Jepson School has faculty representatives from the disciplines of English literature, history, philosophy, political science, psychology, public administration, religious studies, and organizational leadership. No other school or program is better situated to provide a multidisciplinary perspective on this important topic.https://scholarship.richmond.edu/bookshelf/1020/thumbnail.jp

SAX J1808.4-3658, an accreting millisecond pulsar shining in gamma rays?

We report the detection of a possible gamma-ray counterpart of the accreting millisecond pulsar SAX J1808.4-3658. The analysis of ~6 years of data from the Large Area Telescope on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (Fermi-LAT) within a region of 15deg radius around the position of the pulsar reveals a point gamma-ray source detected at a significance of ~6 sigma (Test Statistic TS = 32), with position compatible with that of SAX J1808.4-3658 within 95% Confidence Level. The energy flux in the energy range between 0.6 GeV and 10 GeV amounts to (2.1 +- 0.5) x 10-12 erg cm-2 s-1 and the spectrum is well-represented by a power-law function with photon index 2.1 +- 0.1. We searched for significant variation of the flux at the spin frequency of the pulsar and for orbital modulation, taking into account the trials due to the uncertainties in the position, the orbital motion of the pulsar and the intrinsic evolution of the pulsar spin. No significant deviation from a constant flux at any time scale was found, preventing a firm identification via time variability. Nonetheless, the association of the LAT source as the gamma-ray counterpart of SAX J1808.4-3658 would match the emission expected from the millisecond pulsar, if it switches on as a rotation-powered source during X-ray quiescence.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, accepted by MNRA

The oral microbiome of denture wearers is influenced by natural dentition

Objectives: The composition of dental plaque has been well defined, whereas currently there is limited understanding of the composition of denture plaque and how it directly influences denture related stomatitis (DS). The aims of this study were to compare the microbiomes of denture wearers, and to understand the implications of these towards inter-kingdom and host-pathogen interactions within the oral cavity. Methods: Swab samples were obtained from 123 participants wearing either a complete or partial denture; the bacterial composition of each sample was determined using bar-coded illumina MiSeq sequencing of the bacterial hypervariable V4 region of 16S rDNA. Sequencing data processing was undertaken using QIIME, clustered in Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) and assigned to taxonomy. The dentures were sonicated to remove the microbial flora residing on the prosthesis, sonicate was then cultured using diagnostic colorex Candida media. Samples of unstimulated saliva were obtained and antimicrobial peptides (AMP) levels were measured by ELISA. Results: We have shown that dental and denture plaques are significantly distinct both in composition and diversity and that the oral microbiome composition of a denture wearer is variable and is influenced by the location within the mouth. Dentures and mucosa were predominantly made up of Bacilli and Actinobacteria. Moreover, the presence of natural teeth has a significant impact on the overall microbial composition, when compared to the fully edentulous. Furthermore, increasing levels of Candida spp. positively correlate with Lactobacillus spp. AMPs were quantified, though showed no specific correlations. Conclusions: This is the first study to provide a detailed understanding of the oral microbiome of denture wearers and has provided evidence that DS development is more complex than simply a candidal infection. Both fungal and bacterial kingdoms clearly play a role in defining the progression of DS, though we were unable to show a defined role for AMPs

Growth factor choice is critical for successful functionalization of nanoparticles

Nanoparticles (NPs) show new characteristics compared to the corresponding bulk material. These nanoscale properties make them interesting for various applications in biomedicine and life sciences. One field of application is the use of magnetic NPs to support regeneration in the nervous system. Drug delivery requires a functionalization of NPs with bio-functional molecules. In our study, we functionalized self-made PEI-coated iron oxide NPs with nerve growth factor (NGF) and glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). Next, we tested the bio-functionality of NGF in a rat pheochromocytoma cell line (PC12) and the bio-functionality of GDNF in an organotypic spinal cord culture. Covalent binding of NGF to PEI-NPs impaired bio-functionality of NGF, but non-covalent approach differentiated PC12 cells reliably. Non-covalent binding of GDNF showed a satisfying bio-functionality of GDNF:PEI-NPs, but turned out to be unstable in conjugation to the PEI-NPs. Taken together, our study showed the importance of assessing bio-functionality and binding stability of functionalized growth factors using proper biological models. It also shows that successful functionalization of magnetic NPs with growth factors is dependent on the used binding chemistry and that it is hardly predictable. For use as therapeutics, functionalization strategies have to be reproducible and future studies are needed

GRO J1744-28: an intermediate B-field pulsar in a low mass X-ray binary

The bursting pulsar, GRO J1744-28, went again in outburst after $\sim$18 years of quiescence in mid-January 2014. We studied the broad-band, persistent, X-ray spectrum using X-ray data from a XMM-Newton observation, performed almost at the peak of the outburst, and from a close INTEGRAL observation, performed 3 days later, thus covering the 1.3-70.0 keV band. The spectrum shows a complex continuum shape that cannot be modelled with standard high-mass X-ray pulsar models, nor by two-components models. We observe broadband and peaked residuals from 4 to 15 keV, and we propose a self-consistent interpretation of these residuals, assuming they are produced by cyclotron absorption features and by a moderately smeared, highly ionized, reflection component. We identify the cyclotron fundamental at $\sim$ 4.7 keV, with hints for two possible harmonics at 10.4 keV and 15.8 keV. The position of the cyclotron fundamental allows an estimate for the pulsar magnetic field of (5.27 $\pm$ 0.06) $\times$ 10$^{11}$ G, if the feature is produced at its surface. From the dynamical and relativistic smearing of the disk reflected component, we obtain a lower limit estimate for the truncated accretion disk inner radius, ($\gtrsim$ 100 R$_g$), and for the inclination angle (18$^{\circ}$-48$^{\circ}$). We also detect the presence of a softer thermal component, that we associate with the emission from an accretion disk truncated at a distance from the pulsar of 50-115 R$_g$. From these estimates, we derive the magneto-spheric radius for disk accretion to be $\sim$ 0.2 times the classical Alfv\'en radius for radial accretion.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRA

Despite association, the acute:chronic work load ratio does not predict non-contact injury in elite footballers

Purpose: To examine association and prediction of load-based markers (rate of perceived exertion) with non-contact injuries.Materials and methods: Thirty-four elite Italian football players (age 26 5 y, height 182 5 cm, body mass 78 +/- 4 kg) participated in a 3-seasons prospective study. Markers examined were: RPE, exposure, weekly load, week-to-week load change, cumulative 2, 3, 4 WL, acute:chronic 1:2 (acute:chronic2), 1:3 (acute:chronic3) and 1:4 (acute:chronic4) WL ratios. After checking multicollinearity between markers, a Generalized Estimating Equation analysis was used to examine association with a non-contact injury in the subsequent week. The associated markers were split into four groups based on 15th, 50th, 85th percentile to compare injury risk (IR) in different zones. Prediction was examined with receiver operating characteristic curve, area under the curve (AUC) and Youden index.Results: IR increased when acute:chronic2 of 1.00-1.20, >1.20 were compared to <0.81 (odds ratio (OR), 90% confidence interval (CI): 1.6, 0.79-3.29; 2.2, 1.03-4.74). IR increased when comparing acute:chronic3 of 1.01-1.23, >1.23 vs. <0.80 (OR, 90% CI: 1.9, 0.9-3.8; 2.5, 1.2-5.4). IR increased when comparing acute:chronic4 of 0.78-1.02, 1.02-1.26, >1.26 vs. <0.78 (OR, 90% CI: 2.4, 1.4-3.9; 3.3, 1.6-6.6; 3.5, 1.7-7.4). The AUC 0.60 for all markers and Youden Index (close to 0) showed poor prediction.Conclusion: Acute:chronic markers showed association however with poor prediction ability