Methods for Collecting Milk from Mice

Mouse models offer unique opportunities to study mammary gland biology and lactation. Phenotypes within the mammary glands, especially those caused by genetic modification, often arise during lactation, and their study requires the collection of adequate volumes of milk. We describe two approaches for collecting milk from lactating mice. Both methods are inexpensive, are easy to use in the laboratory or classroom, are non-invasive, and yield adequate volumes of milk for subsequent analyses

VICENTE MAURICIO PADRÓN [Material gráfico]

ÁLBUM FAMILIAR CASA DE COLÓNCopia digital. Madrid : Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte. Subdirección General de Coordinación Bibliotecaria, 201

Hierarchical spectral clustering reveals brain size and shape changes in asymptomatic carriers of <i>C9orf72</i>

Traditional methods for detecting asymptomatic brain changes in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease or frontotemporal degeneration typically evaluate changes in volume at a predefined level of granularity, e.g. voxel-wise or in a priori defined cortical volumes of interest. Here, we apply a method based on hierarchical spectral clustering, a graph-based partitioning technique. Our method uses multiple levels of segmentation for detecting changes in a data-driven, unbiased, comprehensive manner within a standard statistical framework. Furthermore, spectral clustering allows for detection of changes in shape along with changes in size. We performed tensor-based morphometry to detect changes in the Genetic Frontotemporal dementia Initiative asymptomatic and symptomatic frontotemporal degeneration mutation carriers using hierarchical spectral clustering and compared the outcome to that obtained with a more conventional voxel-wise tensor- and voxel-based morphometric analysis. In the symptomatic groups, the hierarchical spectral clustering-based method yielded results that were largely in line with those obtained with the voxel-wise approach. In asymptomatic C9orf72 expansion carriers, spectral clustering detected changes in size in medial temporal cortex that voxel-wise methods could only detect in the symptomatic phase. Furthermore, in the asymptomatic and the symptomatic phases, the spectral clustering approach detected changes in shape in the premotor cortex in C9orf72. In summary, the present study shows the merit of hierarchical spectral clustering for data-driven segmentation and detection of structural changes in the symptomatic and asymptomatic stages of monogenic frontotemporal degeneration.© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Guarantors of Brain

Hierarchical spectral clustering reveals brain size and shape changes in asymptomatic carriers of C9orf72

Supplementary data: fcac182_Supplementary_Data - https://oup.silverchair-cdn.com/oup/backfile/Content_public/Journal/braincomms/4/4/10.1093_braincomms_fcac182/1/fcac182_supplementary_data.pdf?Expires=1665138780&Signature=oJFozMlNZiAmxd4~XZaq7YKd7waxislas45NEOp9AiZv-fUYr7X~LhZxFgvYXpCVINyQUQrXe0pgrm9L5kv7xdb0LltVuoEOjwb5uVveMyHMfuqTdCBsEzTVZidx9GuuOB79JsHNYHkUZPsXLiU8-lrosrTb3tasr8Mpv31u7ZVZT~4uGdUf06UsIRu7AEn4bfKf64iwudmFr1QyrLJkXMZm0uJ4e5kh8f7k6Xm~rZGqkaiphsQ~Oat4JHssfuCe5Wibgc4m~rMjQeOmutR3R7KicfH4j3xuab1mzCbf-H~~Ed5Yt8mtlMTsyDB3t-8z3dNVaS2aBrwCABvfa3G2yg__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAIE5G5CRDK6RD3PGA (pdf file).GENFI consortium authors Sónia Afonso, Maria Rosario Almeida, Sarah Anderl-Straub, Christin Andersson, Anna Antonell, Silvana Archetti, Andrea Arighi, Mircea Balasa, Myriam Barandiaran, Nuria Bargalló, Robart Bartha, Benjamin Bender, Alberto Benussi, Sandra Black, Martina Bocchetta, Sergi Borrego-Ecija, Jose Bras, Marta Canada, Valentina Cantoni, Paola Caroppo, David Cash, Miguel Castelo-Branco, Rhian Convery, Thomas Cope, Giuseppe Di Fede, Alina Díez, Diana Duro, Chiara Fenoglio, Catarina B. Ferreira, Nick Fox, Morris Freedman, Giorgio Fumagalli, Alazne Gabilondo, Roberto Gasparotti, Serge Gauthier, Stefano Gazzina, Giorgio Giaccone, Ana Gorostidi, Caroline Greaves, Rita Guerreiro, Carolin Heller, Tobias Hoegen, Begoña Indakoetxea, Vesna Jelic, Lize Jiskoot, Hans-Otto Karnath, Ron Keren, Tobias Langheinrich, Maria João Leitão, Albert Lladó, Sandra Loosli, Carolina Maruta, Simon Mead, Lieke Meeter, Gabriel Miltenberger, Rick van Minkelen, Sara Mitchell, Katrina Moore, Jennifer Nicholas, Linn Öijerstedt, Jaume Olives, Sebastien Ourselin, Alessandro Padovani, Jessica Panman, Janne M. Papma, Georgia Peakman, Yolande Pijnenburg, Enrico Premi, Sara Prioni, Catharina Prix, Rosa Rademakers, Veronica Redaelli, Tim Rittman, Ekaterina Rogaeva, Pedro Rosa-Neto, Giacomina Rossi, Mar tin Rossor, Beatriz Santiago, Elio Scarpini, Sonja Schönecker, Elisa Semler, Rachelle Shafei, Christen Shoesmith, Miguel Tábuas-Pereira, Mikel Tainta, Ricardo Taipa, David Tang-Wai, David L Thomas, Paul Thompson, Hakan Thonberg, Carolyn Timberlake, Pietro Tiraboschi, Emily Todd, Michele Veldsman, Ana Verdelho, Jorge Villanua, Jason Warren, Carlo Wilke, Ione Woollacott, Elisabeth Wlasich, Henrik Zetterberg, Miren ZulaicaCopyright © The Author(s) 2022. Traditional methods for detecting asymptomatic brain changes in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease or frontotemporal degeneration typically evaluate changes in volume at a predefined level of granularity, e.g. voxel-wise or in a priori defined cortical volumes of interest. Here, we apply a method based on hierarchical spectral clustering, a graph-based partitioning technique. Our method uses multiple levels of segmentation for detecting changes in a data-driven, unbiased, comprehensive manner within a standard statistical framework. Furthermore, spectral clustering allows for detection of changes in shape along with changes in size. We performed tensor-based morphometry to detect changes in the Genetic Frontotemporal dementia Initiative asymptomatic and symptomatic frontotemporal degeneration mutation carriers using hierarchical spectral clustering and compared the outcome to that obtained with a more conventional voxel-wise tensor- and voxel-based morphometric analysis. In the symptomatic groups, the hierarchical spectral clustering-based method yielded results that were largely in line with those obtained with the voxel-wise approach. In asymptomatic C9orf72 expansion carriers, spectral clustering detected changes in size in medial temporal cortex that voxel-wise methods could only detect in the symptomatic phase. Furthermore, in the asymptomatic and the symptomatic phases, the spectral clustering approach detected changes in shape in the premotor cortex in C9orf72. In summary, the present study shows the merit of hierarchical spectral clustering for data-driven segmentation and detection of structural changes in the symptomatic and asymptomatic stages of monogenic frontotemporal degeneration.KU Leuven’s ‘Mady Browaeys Fonds voor Onderzoek naar Frontotemporale Degeneratie’

Maturation of endogenous glucose production in preterm and term calves

Glucose disposability is often impaired in neonatal calves and even more in preterm calves. The objective of this study was to investigate ontogenic maturation of endogenous glucose production (eGP) in calves and its effects on postnatal glucose homeostasis. Calves (n = 7 per group) were born preterm (PT; delivered by section 9 d before term) or at term (T; spontaneous vaginal delivery), or spontaneously born and fed colostrum for 4 d (TC). Blood samples were taken immediately after birth and before and 2h after feeding at 24h after birth (PT; T) or on d 4 of life (TC) to determine metabolic and endocrine changes. After birth (PT and T) or on d 3 of life (TC), fasted calves were gavaged with deuterium-labeled water to determine gluconeogenesis (GNG) and intravenously infused with [U(13)C]-glucose to measure eGP and glucose oxidation (GOx) in blood plasma. After slaughter at 26h after birth (PT, T) or on d 4 of life (TC), glycogen concentrations in liver and hepatic mRNA concentrations and enzyme activities of pyruvate carboxylase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), and glucose-6-phosphatase were measured. Preterm calves had the lowest plasma concentrations of cortisol and 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine at birth. Plasma glucose concentrations from d 1 to 2 decreased more, but plasma concentrations of lactate and urea and glucagon:insulin ratio were higher in PT than in T and TC calves. The eGP, GNG, GOx, as well as hepatic glycogen concentrations and PEPCK activities, were lowest in PT calves. Results indicate impaired glucose homeostasis due to decreased eGP in PT calves and maturation of eGP with ontogenic development

Higher education and the graduate labour market in the Western Balkans

This chapter looks at the effectiveness of higher education systems in the Western Balkans in delivering a skilled labour force to the economy. In particular, it analyses the problems facing university graduates in accessing the labour market and the skill gaps among new graduate employees based on data collected through cross-country surveys of recent graduates and of employers of recent graduates and interviews with key stakeholders. The findings cast a worrying perspective on the ability of higher education systems in the Western Balkans to deliver the qualified personnel that are needed to support future economic growth. Many students drop out of studies leading to a low completion rate; of those students who do graduate, many face the prospect of unemployment; of those who do find a job, many are in jobs that are not matched to their level of qualification, reducing their job prospects in relation to graduates in well-matched jobs. Of every hundred new students entering the higher education systems each year, only 13 will eventually graduate and find a well-matched job. In order for the higher education systems to make a better contribution to building human capital and to the competitiveness and growth of the region’s economies, significant reforms of higher education systems and graduate labour markets are needed, while better cooperation between employers and universities should be encouraged

Intestinal glucose absorption but not endogenous glucose production differs between colostrum- and formula-fed neonatal calves

Glucose supply markedly changes during the transition to extrauterine life. In this study, we investigated diet effects on glucose metabolism in neonatal calves. Calves were fed colostrum (C; n = 7) or milk-based formula (F; n = 7) with similar nutrient content up to d 4 of life. Blood plasma samples were taken daily before feeding and 2 h after feeding on d 4 to measure glucose, lactate, nonesterified fatty acids, protein, urea, insulin, glucagon, and cortisol concentrations. On d 2, additional blood samples were taken to measure glucose first-pass uptake (FPU) and turnover by oral [U-(13)C]-glucose and i.v. [6,6-(2)H(2)]-glucose infusion. On d 3, endogenous glucose production and gluconeogenesis were determined by i.v. [U-(13)C]-glucose and oral deuterated water administration after overnight feed deprivation. Liver tissue was obtained 2 h after feeding on d 4 and glycogen concentration and activities and mRNA abundance of gluconeogenic enzymes were measured. Plasma glucose and protein concentrations and hepatic glycogen concentration were higher (P < 0.05), whereas plasma urea, glucagon, and cortisol (d 2) concentrations as well as hepatic pyruvate carboxylase mRNA level and activity were lower (P < 0.05) in group C than in group F. Orally administered [U-(13)C]-glucose in blood was higher (P < 0.05) but FPU tended to be lower (P < 0.1) in group C than in group F. The improved glucose status in group C resulted from enhanced oral glucose absorption. Metabolic and endocrine changes pointed to elevated amino acid degradation in group F, presumably to provide substrates to meet energy requirements and to compensate for impaired oral glucose uptake

Reduction of starch hydrophilicity by grafting lignin derivatives under EB irradiation: A study of model compounds

International audienc

Reduction of starch hydrophilicity by grafting lignin derivatives under EB irradiation: A study of model compounds

International audienc

Reduction of starch hydrophilicity by grafting lignin derivatives under EB irradiation: A study of model compounds

International audienc