Fauna of monogenean trematodes-parasites of some cyprinid fishes from lake Prespa, Macedonia

During parasitological investigations six species of monogenean trematodes were found on the gills of three cyprinid fish species from Lake Prespa (Macedonia), as follows: Dactylogyrus prostae and Dactylogyrus sphyrna in Leuciscus cephalus albus, Dactylogyrus erhardovae, Dactylogyrus sphyrna and Paradiplozoon zeller in Rutilus rubilio prespensis and Dactylogyrus elegantis and Dactylogyrus vistulae in Chondrostoma nasus prespensis. The prevalence in Leuciscus cephalus albus was 62.22%, in Rutilus rubilio prespensis 59.87% while in Chondrostoma nasus prespensis it was the lowest and amounted to 41.59%. The overall, prevalence of monogeneans in the investigated cyprinid fishes from Lake Prespa was 53.65%, and the mean intensity of infestation was 6.08. Among the monogenean species the highest prevalence occurred with Dactylogyrus sphyrna (25.08%), and the greatest intensity of infestation was evident in the cases of infestation with Dactylogyrus erhardovae (12.87). The greatest pathological effect was associated with the monogeneans Dactylogyrus vistulae and Paradiplozoon zeller. All monogenean species found represented the first record for such parasite fauna of fishes in Macedonia.U toku parazitoloških istraživanja ciprinidnih riba iz Prespanskog jezera (Makedonija), kod 3 vrste riba na škrgama pronađeno je 6 vrsta monogenih trematoda, i to: kod Leuciscus cephalus albus su nađeni Dactylogyrus prostae i Dactylogyrus sphyrna, kod Rutilus rubilio prespensis su pronađeni Dactylogyrus erhardovae, Dactylogyrus sphyrna i Paradiplozoon zeller, kod Chondrostoma nasus prespensis su pronađeni Dactylogyrus elegantis i Dactylogyrus vistulae. Ekstenzitet infestacije kod Leuciscus cephalus albus iznosio je 62,22%, kod Rutilus rubilio prespensis 59,87%, a kod Chondrostoma nasus prespensis je bio najniži i iznosio je 41,59%. Ukupno, ekstenzitet infestacije sa monogeneama kod ispitivanih ciprinidnih riba Prespanskog jezera iznosio je 53,65%, a intenzitet infestacije 6,08. Pojedinačno, po vrstama monogenea, najviši ekstenzitet infestacije je bio sa Dactylogyrus sphyrna (25,08%), a najviši intenzitet infestacije je utvrđen u slučajevima infestacije sa Dactylogyrus erhardovae (12,87). Najveći patogeni uticaj su imale monogene trematode Dactylogyrus vistulae i Paradiplozoon zeller. Sve pronađene vrste monogenea predstavljaju prvi nalaz za parazitofaunu riba Makedonije.nul

Ecological cognition : expert decision-making behaviour in sport

Expert decision-making can be directly assessed, if sport action is understood as an expression of embedded and embodied cognition. Here, we discuss evidence for this claim, starting with a critical review of research literature on the perceptual-cognitive basis for expertise. In reviewing how performance and underlying processes are conceived and captured in extant sport psychology, we evaluate arguments in favour of a key role for actions in decision-making, situated in a performance environment. Key assumptions of an ecological dynamics perspective are also presented, highlighting how behaviours emerge from the continuous interactions in the performer-environment system. Perception is of affordances; and action, as an expression of cognition, is the realization of an affordance and emerges under constraints. We also discuss the role of knowledge and consciousness in decision-making behaviour. Finally, we elaborate on the specificities of investigating and understanding decision-making in sport from this perspective. Specifically, decision-making concerns the choice of action modes when perceiving an affordance during a course of action, as well as the selection of a particular affordance, amongst many that exist in a landscape in a sport performance environment. We conclude by pointing to some applications for the practice of sport psychology and coaching and identifying avenues for future research

Environmental, Health, and Safety Risks Associated with Nanotechnology

Their small sizes enable nanomaterials to express novel properties that have created a revolution in science and technology since their discovery in the 1990s. The new transport, morphology and material properties of nano-enabled products, however, have imposed revision of environmental, health, and safety risk assessments and management concepts previously established for conventional materials. At the current stage of nanotechnology development, uncertainties still exist due to the inability to adequately quantify and characterize nano-enabled products properties in complex matrices, including living organisms and the environment. The multidisciplinary effort is required for the development of analytical tools and methods that provide answers to multiple nanomaterial-related properties and help explicate the property exposure and property-hazard relationships from a life cycle perspective

Fauna of monogenean trematodes-parasites of some cyprinid fishes from lake Prespa, Macedonia

During parasitological investigations six species of monogenean trematodes were found on the gills of three cyprinid fish species from Lake Prespa (Macedonia), as follows: Dactylogyrus prostae and Dactylogyrus sphyrna in Leuciscus cephalus albus, Dactylogyrus erhardovae, Dactylogyrus sphyrna and Paradiplozoon zeller in Rutilus rubilio prespensis and Dactylogyrus elegantis and Dactylogyrus vistulae in Chondrostoma nasus prespensis. The prevalence in Leuciscus cephalus albus was 62.22%, in Rutilus rubilio prespensis 59.87% while in Chondrostoma nasus prespensis it was the lowest and amounted to 41.59%. The overall, prevalence of monogeneans in the investigated cyprinid fishes from Lake Prespa was 53.65%, and the mean intensity of infestation was 6.08. Among the monogenean species the highest prevalence occurred with Dactylogyrus sphyrna (25.08%), and the greatest intensity of infestation was evident in the cases of infestation with Dactylogyrus erhardovae (12.87). The greatest pathological effect was associated with the monogeneans Dactylogyrus vistulae and Paradiplozoon zeller. All monogenean species found represented the first record for such parasite fauna of fishes in Macedonia.U toku parazitoloških istraživanja ciprinidnih riba iz Prespanskog jezera (Makedonija), kod 3 vrste riba na škrgama pronađeno je 6 vrsta monogenih trematoda, i to: kod Leuciscus cephalus albus su nađeni Dactylogyrus prostae i Dactylogyrus sphyrna, kod Rutilus rubilio prespensis su pronađeni Dactylogyrus erhardovae, Dactylogyrus sphyrna i Paradiplozoon zeller, kod Chondrostoma nasus prespensis su pronađeni Dactylogyrus elegantis i Dactylogyrus vistulae. Ekstenzitet infestacije kod Leuciscus cephalus albus iznosio je 62,22%, kod Rutilus rubilio prespensis 59,87%, a kod Chondrostoma nasus prespensis je bio najniži i iznosio je 41,59%. Ukupno, ekstenzitet infestacije sa monogeneama kod ispitivanih ciprinidnih riba Prespanskog jezera iznosio je 53,65%, a intenzitet infestacije 6,08. Pojedinačno, po vrstama monogenea, najviši ekstenzitet infestacije je bio sa Dactylogyrus sphyrna (25,08%), a najviši intenzitet infestacije je utvrđen u slučajevima infestacije sa Dactylogyrus erhardovae (12,87). Najveći patogeni uticaj su imale monogene trematode Dactylogyrus vistulae i Paradiplozoon zeller. Sve pronađene vrste monogenea predstavljaju prvi nalaz za parazitofaunu riba Makedonije.nul

Occurence of Anguillicola crassus, ematoda: Dracunculoidea, in eels of lake Ohrid, Macedonia

The first record of the eel parasite Anguillicola crassus Kuwahara (Niimietltagaki, 1974) from Lake Ohrid and the Republic of Macedonia is reported here. Parasitological examinations comprised 68 specimens of the eel Anguilla anguilla Linnaeus, 1758 of which 39.71% were infected with Anguillicola crassus. The prevalence varied depending on the season, with the highest value occuring during the autumn (47.06%). Average intensity of infection was 10.33. Anguillicola crassus was probably introduced into the lake by the artificial stocking with eel young, imported from abroad. It has found convenient conditions for development and multiplication in the lake due to the presence of transitional and paratenic hosts.U periodu od aprila 1995. do marta 1996. godine, na makedonskom delu Ohridskog jezera, parazitološkompretragomobuhvaćenoje68primerakajegulja (Anguilla anguilla Linnaeus, 1758), od kojih je 27 bilo inficirano nematodom Anguillicola crassus (ekstenzitet infekcije je iznosio 39,71%). Ekstenzitet infekcije je varirap u zavisnosti od sezone. Najveći je bio u toku jeseni. Intenzitet infekcije je iznosio između 1-90, a prosecan intenzitet infekcije je iznosio 10,33. Anguillicola crassus je najverovatnije uneta u jezero veštačkim poribljavanjem podmlatkom jegulja, uvezenim iz inostranstva. U jezeru je ovaj parazit našao povoljne uslove za razvoj i razmnožavanje prisustvo prelaznih i parateničnih domaćina. Anguillicola crassus je po prvi put spomenuta u ihtioparazitofauni Ohridskog jezera i Makedonije.nul

PINTA: a web server for network-based gene prioritization from expression data

PINTA (available at http://www.esat.kuleuven.be/pinta/; this web site is free and open to all users and there is no login requirement) is a web resource for the prioritization of candidate genes based on the differential expression of their neighborhood in a genome-wide protein–protein interaction network. Our strategy is meant for biological and medical researchers aiming at identifying novel disease genes using disease specific expression data. PINTA supports both candidate gene prioritization (starting from a user defined set of candidate genes) as well as genome-wide gene prioritization and is available for five species (human, mouse, rat, worm and yeast). As input data, PINTA only requires disease specific expression data, whereas various platforms (e.g. Affymetrix) are supported. As a result, PINTA computes a gene ranking and presents the results as a table that can easily be browsed and downloaded by the user

Emergence of contact injuries in invasion team sports : an ecological dynamics rationale

The incidence of contact injuries in team sports is considerable, and injury mechanisms need to be comprehensively understood to facilitate the adoption of preventive measures. In Association Football, evidence shows that the highest prevalence of contact injuries emerges in one-on-one interactions. However, previous studies have tended to operationally report injury mechanisms in isolation, failing to provide a theoretical rationale to explain how injuries might emerge from interactions between opposing players. In this position paper, we propose an ecological dynamics framework to enhance current understanding of behavioural processes leading to contact injuries in team sports. Based on previous research highlighting the dynamics of performer–environment interactions, contact injuries are proposed to emerge from symmetry-breaking processes during on-field interpersonal interactions among competing players and the ball. Central to this approach is consideration of candidate control parameters that may provide insights on the information sources used by players to reduce risk of contact injuries during performance. Clinically, an ecological dynamics analysis could allow sport practitioners to design training sessions based on selected parameter threshold values as primary and/or secondary preventing measures during training and rehabilitation sessions

Identifying hypothetical genetic influences on complex disease phenotypes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Statistical interactions between disease-associated loci of complex genetic diseases suggest that genes from these regions are involved in a common mechanism impacting, or impacted by, the disease. The computational problem we address is to discover relationships among genes from these interacting regions that may explain the observed statistical interaction and the role of these genes in the disease phenotype.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We describe a heuristic algorithm for generating hypothetical gene relationships from loci associated with a complex disease phenotype. This approach, called Prioritizing Disease Genes by Analysis of Common Elements (PDG-ACE), mines biomedical keywords from text descriptions of genes and uses them to relate genes close to disease-associated loci. A keyword common to, and significantly over-represented in, a pair of gene descriptions may represent a preliminary hypothesis about the biological relationship between the genes, and suggest the role the genes play in the disease phenotype.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our experimentation shows that the approach finds previously published relationships, while failing to find relationships that don't exist. The results also indicate that the approach is robust to differences in keyword vocabulary. We outline a brief case study in which results from a recently published Type 2 Diabetes association study are used to identify potential hypotheses.</p

Quantifying and filtering knowledge generated by literature based discovery

Background Literature based discovery (LBD) automatically infers missed connections between concepts in literature. It is often assumed that LBD generates more information than can be reasonably examined. Methods We present a detailed analysis of the quantity of hidden knowledge produced by an LBD system and the effect of various filtering approaches upon this. The investigation of filtering combined with single or multi-step linking term chains is carried out on all articles in PubMed. Results The evaluation is carried out using both replication of existing discoveries, which provides justification for multi-step linking chain knowledge in specific cases, and using timeslicing, which gives a large scale measure of performance. Conclusions While the quantity of hidden knowledge generated by LBD can be vast, we demonstrate that (a) intelligent filtering can greatly reduce the number of hidden knowledge pairs generated, (b) for a specific term, the number of single step connections can be manageable, and (c) in the absence of single step hidden links, considering multiple steps can provide valid links

Evaluation of SOVAT: An OLAP-GIS decision support system for community health assessment data analysis

Background. Data analysis in community health assessment (CHA) involves the collection, integration, and analysis of large numerical and spatial data sets in order to identify health priorities. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) enable for management and analysis using spatial data, but have limitations in performing analysis of numerical data because of its traditional database architecture. On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP) is a multidimensional datawarehouse designed to facilitate querying of large numerical data. Coupling the spatial capabilities of GIS with the numerical analysis of OLAP, might enhance CHA data analysis. OLAP-GIS systems have been developed by university researchers and corporations, yet their potential for CHA data analysis is not well understood. To evaluate the potential of an OLAP-GIS decision support system for CHA problem solving, we compared OLAP-GIS to the standard information technology (IT) currently used by many public health professionals. Methods. SOVAT, an OLAP-GIS decision support system developed at the University of Pittsburgh, was compared against current IT for data analysis for CHA. For this study, current IT was considered the combined use of SPSS and GIS ("SPSS-GIS"). Graduate students, researchers, and faculty in the health sciences at the University of Pittsburgh were recruited. Each round consisted of: an instructional video of the system being evaluated, two practice tasks, five assessment tasks, and one post-study questionnaire. Objective and subjective measurement included: task completion time, success in answering the tasks, and system satisfaction. Results. Thirteen individuals participated. Inferential statistics were analyzed using linear mixed model analysis. SOVAT was statistically significant (α = .01) from SPSS-GIS for satisfaction and time (p < .002). Descriptive results indicated that participants had greater success in answering the tasks when using SOVAT as compared to SPSS-GIS. Conclusion. Using SOVAT, tasks were completed more efficiently, with a higher rate of success, and with greater satisfaction, than the combined use of SPSS and GIS. The results from this study indicate a potential for OLAP-GIS decision support systems as a valuable tool for CHA data analysis. © 2008 Scotch et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd