Family of quadratic differential systems with invariant hyperbolas: a complete classification in the space R12

In this article we consider the class QS of all non-degenerate quadratic systems. A quadratic polynomial differential system can be identified with a single point of R12 through its coefficients. In this paper using the algebraic invariant theory we provided necessary and sufficient conditions for a system in QS to have at least one invariant hyperbola in terms of its coefficients. We also considered the number and multiplicity of such hyperbolas. We give here the global bifurcation diagram of the class QS of systems with invariant hyperbolas. The bifurcation diagram is done in the 12-dimensional space of parameters and it is expressed in terms of polynomial invariants. The results can therefore be applied for any family of quadratic systems in this class, given in any normal form

CT findings of thoracolumbar spine lesions in dogs

In veterinary medicine, computed tomography (CT) is one of the most commonly used methods for imaging the spine because it provides a detailed examination of the spinal cord and surrounding tissues. The aim of this study was to assess thoracolumbar lesions in a number of dogs studied during the year 2011. There were retrospectively evaluated CT studies from 30 dogs of different breeds (mean age= 6.23 years) presented at the Interdepartmental Center of Radiology in the period January - December 2011, with suspected thoracolumbar vertebral or spinal cord lesions. The CT studies were performed without contrast medium in 27 patients, with contrast medium in subarachnoid space (CT- myelography) in two dogs, and in two patients before and after i.v. administration of contrast medium (Iopamidol 370mgl/ml). In one dog both intravenous and subarachnoid administration of contrast medium were used. There were found 46 disc herniations, 10 degenerative spondylopathies, 5 vertebral malformations, 4 vertebral neoplasia, 4 disc degenerations (mineralization and/or vacuum phenomenon), 4 subdural and epidural hemorrhages, 2 spinal cord degenerations (degenerative myelopathy), 2 radicular neoplasia and 2 discospondylitis. In our sample, there was a prevalence of intervertebral disc herniation and in many cases the same dog showed multiple localizations. Usually, disc herniations were clearly visible without contrast medium, causing different degrees of spinal cord compression. In conclusion, CT demonstrated to be a valuable diagnostic tool for detection and characterization of thoracolumbar spinal lesions in dogs

A P-type ATPase importer that discriminates between essential and toxic transition metals

Transition metals, although being essential cofactors in many physiological processes, are toxic at elevated concentrations. Among the membrane-embedded transport proteins that maintain appropriate intracellular levels of transition metals are ATP-driven pumps belonging to the P-type ATPase superfamily. These metal transporters may be differentiated according to their substrate specificities, where the majority of pumps can extrude either silver and copper or zinc, cadmium, and lead. In the present report, we have established the substrate specificities of nine previously uncharacterized prokaryotic transition-metal P-type ATPases. We find that all of the newly identified exporters indeed fall into one of the two above-mentioned categories. In addition to these exporters, one importer, Pseudomonas aeruginosa Q9I147, was also identified. This protein, designated HmtA (heavy metal transporter A), exhibited a different substrate recognition profile from the exporters. In vivo metal susceptibility assays, intracellular metal measurements, and transport experiments all suggest that HmtA mediates the uptake of copper and zinc but not of silver, mercury, or cadmium. The substrate selectivity of this importer ensures the high-affinity uptake of essential metals, while avoiding intracellular contamination by their toxic counterparts

Cooperation scenarios in multi-agent water monitoring platform

Monitoring as well as achieving related water quality goals for rivers is a challenge on several scales of both space and time. There are several factors influencing the most effective actions to implement, when it comes to water quality. Collecting water quality data can be challenging and expensive as maintaining specialized equipment can raise costs over time. Within the MultiMonD2 project, a multi-agent platform of micro-laboratories specialized in the water quality monitoring of the Danube river and Delta is being developed. Aerial and surface water vectors are used as carrier systems for sensor-based detection equipment along with a technical solution that allows the cooperation between the robotic vectors. To this end the paper presents architectural solutions for realizing the multi-agent monitoring platform as well as analyzes different possible scenarios for cooperation between aerial and surface water vector

Natural history of HFE simple heterozygosity for C282Y and H63D: A prospective 12-year study

Background and Aim - The risk of hemochromatosis-related morbidity for HFE simple heterozygosity for either the C282Y or H63D substitutions in the HFE protein was assessed using a prospective community-based cohort study. Methods - HFE genotypes were measured for 31 192 persons of northern European descent, aged between 40 and 69 years when recruited to the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study, and subjects were followed for an average of 12 years. For a random sample of 1438 participants stratified according to HFE genotype, two sets of biochemical iron indices performed 12 years apart and, at follow-up only, the presence/absence of six disease features associated with hereditary hemochromatosis were obtained. Summary data for 257 (139 female) C282Y simple heterozygotes and 123 (74 female) H63D simple heterozygotes were compared with 330 (181 female) controls with neither HFE mutation. Results - At baseline, mean transferrin saturation (TS) (95% confidence interval) and prevalence of TS > 55% were 35.14% (33.25, 37.04) and 3/112 (3%), 33.03% (29.9, 36.15) and 0/39 (0%), and 29.67% (27.93, 31.4) and 3/135 (2%) for C282Y, H63D and wild-type male participants, respectively. At follow-up, mean TS levels remained similar to baseline levels for both men and women irrespective of simple heterozygosity for either mutation. No HFE C282Y or H63D simple heterozygotes had documented iron overload (based on hepatic iron measures or serum ferritin greater than 1000 mg/L at baseline with documented therapeutic venesection). Conclusion - No documented iron overload was observed for HFE simple heterozygotes for either C282Y or H63D, and morbidity for both HFE simple heterozygote groups was similar to that of HFE wild-type participants

Клинико-эпидемиологические и лабораторные аспекты ботулизма у детей

Catedra Boli Infecţioase, Tropicale şi Parazitologie Medicală a USMF N. Testemiţanu, IMSP SCBI Toma CiorbăSummary. The study reveal the clinical, epidemiological and laboratory particularity of botulism in 86 children. Most of the patients got ill because of the consumption of home-canned meat or meat products. Disease evolved with intoxication, gastrointestinal, ophtalmoplegic and pharyngeal neuropathic syndromes. Severity of the disease was mild or moderate in 89,5% of cases. The diagnosis of botulism was confirmed in 46,5% of cases by serum toxin bioassay performed by a mouse toxin neutralization test. Botulism in children was caused because of the toxin type B in 41,9% of cases or by combination of other types of botulotoxin.Резюме. Нами представлены клинико-эпидемиологические и лабораторные особенности ботулизма у 86 больных детей. Большинство пациентов заболело после употребления мяса или других мясных продуктов, консервированных в домашних условиях. Болезнь клинически проявлялась синдромами интоксикации, гастроинтестинальным, офтальмоплегическим, фагоназоглосоневрологическим. В большинстве случаев (89,5%) болезнь протекала в легкой и среднетяжелой формах. Диагноз ботулизма подтверждался путем выявления ботулинического токсина в крови – в реакции нейтрализации на белых мышах – у 46,5% больных. Ботулизм у больных детей чаще был обусловлен монотоксином В (41,9%) или в комбинации с другими типами ботулотоксинов

SNP selection for genes of iron metabolism in a study of genetic modifiers of hemochromatosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We report our experience of selecting tag SNPs in 35 genes involved in iron metabolism in a cohort study seeking to discover genetic modifiers of hereditary hemochromatosis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We combined our own and publicly available resequencing data with HapMap to maximise our coverage to select 384 SNPs in candidate genes suitable for typing on the Illumina platform.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Validation/design scores above 0.6 were not strongly correlated with SNP performance as estimated by Gentrain score. We contrasted results from two tag SNP selection algorithms, LDselect and Tagger. Varying r²from 0.5 to 1.0 produced a near linear correlation with the number of tag SNPs required. We examined the pattern of linkage disequilibrium of three levels of resequencing coverage for the transferrin gene and found HapMap phase 1 tag SNPs capture 45% of the ≥ 3% MAF SNPs found in SeattleSNPs where there is nearly complete resequencing. Resequencing can reveal adjacent SNPs (within 60 bp) which may affect assay performance. We report the number of SNPs present within the region of six of our larger candidate genes, for different versions of stock genotyping assays.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A candidate gene approach should seek to maximise coverage, and this can be improved by adding to HapMap data any available sequencing data. Tag SNP software must be fast and flexible to data changes, since tag SNP selection involves iteration as investigators seek to satisfy the competing demands of coverage within and between populations, and typability on the technology platform chosen.</p