Filogenetska analiza dijela gena VP2 pasjeg parvovirusa-2 izdvojenog u sjevernoj Indiji

Canine parvovirus-2 (CPV-2) infection is a serious problem causing a high rate of mortality in puppies. Despite the widespread vaccination of domestic dogs, a major impediment in the control of this deadly disease is the presence of different antigenic variants in field. Regular surveillance and constant monitoring of these variants, which might evade the host immune pressure and laboratory detection, is critically essential. Thus, the present study was aimed at understanding the molecular epidemiology of CPV-2 strains circulating in northern region of India. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) positive samples were subjected to oligonucleotide sequencing and these isolates were found to be identical to CPV-2a except at positions 264, 297 and 440 amino acid residue, and thus typed as an antigenic variant of CPV-2a. The mutation at position 264 has not been reported from India before. Furthermore, global phylogenetic analysis confirmed the molecular relationship of these new CPV-2a isolates with sequences from China.Infekcija pasjim parvovirusom 2 predstavlja ozbiljan problem uzrokujući veliki mortalitet u štenadi. Usprkos proširenom cijepljenju pasa, veliku poteškoću u kontroli ove smrtonosne bolesti predstavljaju različite antigenske varijante terenskih izolata virusa. Od bitnog je značenja redoviti nadzor i trajna kontrola tih varijanti koje mogu izbjeći imunski pritisak domaćina i otežati laboratorijsku dijagnostiku. Stoga ovo istraživanje ima za cilj rasvijetliti molekularnu epizootiologiju sojeva pasjeg parvovirusa 2 koji kolaju na sjevernom području Indije. Uzorci pozitivni lančanom reakcijom polimerazom podvrgnuti su oligonukleotidnom sekvencioniranju. Ustanovljeno je da su ti izolati bili identični pasjem parvovirusu 2a, osim na mjestima aminokiselinskog ostatka 264, 297 i 440 što im upravo određuje pripadnost serotipu 2a. Mutacije na mjestu 264 dosada nisu bile opisane u Indiji. Globalnim filogenetskim analizama utvrđena je molekularna srodnost tih novih izolata pasjeg parvovirusa 2a s izolatima iz Kine

Suitability of the height above nearest drainage (HAND) model for flood inundation mapping in data-scarce regions: a comparative analysis with hydrodynamic models

Unprecedented floods from extreme rainfall events worldwide emphasize the need for flood inundation mapping for floodplain management and risk reduction. Access to flood inundation maps and risk evaluation tools remains challenging in most parts of the world, particularly in rural regions, leading to decreased flood resilience. The use of hydraulic and hydrodynamic models in rural areas has been hindered by excessive data and computational requirements. In this study, we mapped the flood inundation in Huron Creek watershed, Michigan, USA for an extreme rainfall event (1000-year return period) that occurred in 2018 (Father’s Day Flood) using the Height Above Nearest Drainage (HAND) model and a synthetic rating curve developed from LIDAR DEM. We compared the flood inundation extent and depth modeled by the HAND with flood inundation characteristics predicted by two hydrodynamic models, viz., HEC-RAS 2D and SMS-SRH 2D. The flood discharge of the event was simulated using the HEC-HMS hydrologic model. Results suggest that, in different channel segments, the HAND model produces different degrees of concurrence in both flood inundation extent and depth when compared to the hydrodynamic models. The differences in flood inundation characteristics produced by the HAND model are primarily due to the uncertainties associated with optimal parameter estimation of the synthetic rating curve. Analyzing the differences between the HAND and hydrodynamic models also highlights the significance of terrain characteristics in model predictions. Based on the comparable predictive capability of the HAND model to map flood inundation areas during extreme rainfall events, we demonstrate the suitability of the HAND-based approach for mitigating flood risk in data-scarce, rural regions

Diagnosis of tuberculosis in wildlife: a systematic review

[EN] Animal tuberculosis (TB) is a multi-host disease caused by members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC). Due to its impact on economy, sanitary standards of milk and meat industry, public health and conservation, TB control is an actively ongoing research subject. Several wildlife species are involved in the maintenance and transmission of TB, so that new approaches to wildlife TB diagnosis have gained relevance in recent years. Diagnosis is a paramount step for screening, epidemiological investigation, as well as for ensuring the success of control strategies such as vaccination trials. This is the first review that systematically addresses data available for the diagnosis of TB in wildlife following the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The article also gives an overview of the factors related to host, environment, sampling, and diagnostic techniques which can affect test performance. After three screenings, 124 articles were considered for systematic review. Literature indicates that post-mortem examination and culture are useful methods for disease surveillance, but immunological diagnostic tests based on cellular and humoral immune response detection are gaining importance in wildlife TB diagnosis. Among them, serological tests are especially useful in wildlife because they are relatively inexpensive and easy to perform, facilitate large-scale surveillance and can be used both ante- and post-mortem. Currently available studies assessed test performance mostly in cervids, European badgers, wild suids and wild bovids. Research to improve diagnostic tests for wildlife TB diagnosis is still needed in order to reach accurate, rapid and cost-effective diagnostic techniques adequate to a broad range of target species and consistent over space and time to allow proper disease monitoring.SIThis work has been funded by project MYCOTRAINING SBPLY/19/180501/000174 (Junta de Castilla-La Mancha), Agencia Estatal de Investigación grant WildDriver CGL2017-89866 (MINECO, Spain and EU FEDER), project RTI2018-096010-B-C21 (MCIU and AEI; FEDER co-funded), and PCTI 2018–2020 (GRUPIN: IDI2018-000237) (Gobierno del Principado de Asturias and FEDER). J. Thomas was supported by a grant from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-International Fellowship 2014–2015 (ICAR-IF 2014–2015)

Fast inference of polynomial invariants for imperative programs

We propose an abstract interpretation based method to compute polynomial invariants for imperative programs. Our analysis is a backward propagation approach that computes preconditions for equalities like g=0 to hold at the end of execution. It extends previous work by Müller-Olm and Seidl to a language that includes both polynomial equalities and disequalities. Properties are expressed using ideals, a structure that satisfies the descending chain condition, enabling fixpoints computations to terminate without use of a widening operator. In the general case, termination is characterized using ideal membership tests and Gröbner bases computations. In order to optimize computational complexity, we propose a specialized analysis dealing with inductive invariants which ensures fast termination of fixpoints computations. The optimized procedure has been shown by experiments to work well in practice, and to be two orders of magnitude faster than the state of the art analyzer of Carbonell and Kapur

PI3K-Dependent GSK3？(Ser9)-Phosphorylation Is Implicated in the Intestinal Epithelial Cell Wound-Healing Response

Introduction The ability of the intestinal epithelial barrier to respond to various injurious insults is an essential component of intestinal homeostasis. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for wound-healing and repair in the intestine are poorly understood. The glycogen synthase kinase 3？ (GSK3？) has been implicated in various biological processes such as cellular motility, cell spreading and recently inflammation. Aim To investigate the role of GSK3？ in intestinal epithelial cell restitution. Methods Rat intestinal epithelial IEC18 cells were serum-starved for 16 to 24h and wounded by multiple scraping. Akt(Ser473)-, GSK3？(Ser9)- and RelA(Ser536)-phosphorylation were determined by Western blot using specific phospho-antibodies. The inhibitors AG1478 (1 μM) and Ly294002 (25 μM) were used to block EGF-R autophosphorylation and PI3K-activation, respectively. ？-catenin/LEF/TCF dependent transcription was determined by reporter gene assay (TOP/FOP system). C-myc gene expression was evaluated by real-time RT-PCR. GSK3？？/？ mouse embryonic fibroblasts were used to characterize the role of GSK3？ in wounding-induced cell migration. Results Wounding induced GSK3？(Ser9) phosphorylation in IEC-18 cells, which led to ？-catenin accumulation as well as nuclear translocation of ？-catenin. ？-catenin stabilization/nuclear translocation led to enhanced LEF-TCF transcriptional activity and subsequent c-myc mRNA accumulation in wounded cell monolayers. Blocking PI3K/Akt signaling with Ly294002 prevented wound-induced GSK3？(Ser9) phosphorylation as well as ？-catenin nuclear translocation and significantly attenuated restitution. Additionally, wounding induced rapid NF-kB(Ser536) phosphorylation, which was inhibited by AG1478, but not by Ly294002. GSK3？？/？ cells demonstrated significantly attenuated wound-induced restitution compared to wild-type cells. Conclusion We conclude that PI3K-mediated GSK3？ phosphorylation is involved in the intestinal epithelial wound-healing response. Phosphorylation of GSK3？ may be important for intestinal restitution by promoting cell motility in response to wounding

River Cleaning Robot

This Robot is a manually controlled river cleaning intelligent to achieve a sustainable environment. The work has done looking at the current situation of our national rivers which are dump with crore liters of sewage and loaded with pollutants, toxic materials, debris etc. This “River clean-up Robo” is places where there is waste debris in the water body which are to be removed. This machine consists of waterwheel controlled by a joystick which is having lift buttons that collect & remove the wastage, garbage & plastic wastages from water bodies. This also reduce the difficulties which we face when collection of debris take place. A machine will lift the waste surface debris from the water bodies, this will ultimately result in reduction of water pollution and lastly the aquatic animal's death to these problems will be reduced

The Flavonoid Luteolin Worsens Chemical-Induced Colitis in NF-κBEGFP Transgenic Mice through Blockade of NF-κB-Dependent Protective Molecules

BackgroundThe flavonoid luteolin has anti-inflammatory properties both in vivo and in vitro. However, the impact of luteolin on experimental models of colitis is unknown.Methodology/Principal FindingsTo address the therapeutic impact of luteolin, NF-κBEGFP transgenic mice were fed a chow diet containing 2% luteolin- or isoflavone-free control chow (AIN-76), and acute colitis was induced using 3% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Additionally, development of spontaneous colitis was evaluated in IL-10−/−;NF-κBEGFP transgenic mice fed 2% luteolin chow diet or control chow diet. Interestingly, NF-κBEGFP transgenic mice exposed to luteolin showed worse DSS-induced colitis (weight loss, histological scores) compared to control-fed mice, whereas spontaneous colitis in IL-10−/−;NF-κBEGFP mice was significantly attenuated. Macroscopic imaging of live resected colon showed enhanced EGFP expression (NF-κB activity) in luteolin-fed mice as compared to control-fed animals after DSS exposure, while cecal EGFP expression was attenuated in luteolin-fed IL-10−/− mice. Interestingly, confocal microscopy showed that EGFP positive cells were mostly located in the lamina propria and not in the epithelium. Caspase 3 activation was significantly enhanced whereas COX-2 gene expression was reduced in luteolin-fed, DSS-exposed NF-κBEGFP transgenic mice as assessed by Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis. In vitro, luteolin sensitized colonic epithelial HT29 cells to TNFα-induced apoptosis, caspase 3 activation, DNA fragmentation and reduced TNFα-induced C-IAP1, C-IAP2 and COX-2 gene expression.Conclusions/SignificanceWe conclude that while luteolin shows beneficial effects on spontaneous colitis, it aggravates DSS-induced experimental colitis by blocking NF-κB-dependent protective molecules in enterocytes

Effects of food type, feeding frequency, and temperature on juvenile survival and growth of Marisa cornuarietis (Mollusca: Gastropoda)

The present experiments are part of a larger study designed to investigate the influence of husbandry parameters on the life history of the ramshorn snail, Marisa cornuarietis, in order to identify suitable husbandry conditions for maintaining multi-generation populations in the laboratory for use in ecotoxicological testing. In this paper we focus on the effects of a combination of food types and feeding frequencies (i.e., the frequency with which the snails were offered food) on juvenile growth and survival at different temperatures. Offspring produced in the laboratory by wild specimens of M. cornuarietis, from Puerto Rico, were used to test the effects of three types of food (lettuce, alginate with fish food, alginate with snail mix) fed at three frequencies (given ad libitum on 4/4, 2/4, or 1/4 d) on juvenile survival and growth. The 4-d feeding regimens were repeated four times, giving a total of 16 d for the experiments. The experiments were conducted at two temperatures (22° and 25°C) under a 12 h light:12 h dark photoperiod. Juvenile growth rates increased with increasing feeding frequency for all food types. The most rapid growth rates occurred in the high-frequency lettuce treatments and the slowest growth rates in the low-frequency lettuce and alginate with snail mix treatments. Juvenile snails grew faster at 25° than at 22°C, and mortality was about twice as high at the lower temperature. Growth rates were used to provide a rough estimate of time to maturity, which was determined to take about twice as long at 22° than at 25°C. The results showed that lettuce is the best food if supplied in abundance, but effects on growth are very dependent on feeding frequency and temperature. We conclude that 25°C is a more appropriate temperature for maintaining populations than 22°C, that lettuce provides a suitable food source, and that food should be supplied continuously for husbandry and toxicity testing of populations of M. cornuarietis

Recovery of the Alpine lynx Lynx lynx metapopulation

We use the case of the Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx in the Alps to discuss how to implement existing directives and recommendations, as well as how to integrate biological concepts, into practical conservation and wildlife management. Since 1995 the occurrence of lynx in the Alpine countries has been monitored and reported by the Status and Conservation of the Alpine Lynx Population expert group. Both the area of occupancy and the estimated number of individuals increased from 1995-1999 to 2000-2004. The estimated number of lynx is 120-150 across the Alps and the area of occupancy 27,800 km2, in six distinct sub-areas. In the highly fragmented Alpine habitat lynx populations expand slowly, even in situations of high local density and when suitable habitat is available. Thus, almost 40 years after the first reintroduction, < 20% of the Alps have been recolonized by lynx. In addition to biological and ecological factors, the persistent disagreements about the return of the lynx between conservationists and other land-users, including livestock breeders and hunters, and the political fragmentation of the Alps (with different regional priorities and large carnivore policies), has prevented the creation of a consensus regarding pan-Alpine conservation goals for the lynx and the implementation of conservation measures such as translocations and reintroductions. We discuss possible approaches in the light of new guidelines for population level management plans for large carnivores recently developed on behalf of the European Commissio