Aspirin commits yeast cells to apoptosis depending on carbon source

The effect of aspirin on the growth of a wild-type Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain (EG103), containing both copper,zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), a strain deficient in MnSOD (EG110) and a strain deficient in CuZnSOD (EG118) was measured in media containing different carbon sources. Aspirin inhibited the fermentative growth of all three strains in glucose medium. It inhibited the non-fermentative growth of the MnSOD-deficient strain very drastically in ethanol medium and had no effect on this strain in glycerol or acetate medium. The non-fermentative growth of the other two strains was not affected by aspirin. The growth inhibition of strain EG110 was associated with early necrosis in glucose medium and late apoptosis in ethanol medium. The apoptosis was preceded by a pronounced loss of cell viability. The growth inhibitory effect of aspirin was not reversed by the antioxidants N-acetylcysteine and vitamin E. Furthermore, aspirin itself appeared to act as an antioxidant until the onset of overt apoptosis, when a moderate increase in the intracellular oxidation level occurred. This suggested that reactive oxygen species probably do not play a primary role in the apoptosis of cells exposed to aspirin.peer-reviewe

Speech and language therapists' management practices, perceived effectiveness of current treatments and interest in neuromuscular electrical stimulation for acquired dysarthria rehabilitation: an international perspective

Background Research is beginning to shed light on the practices employed by speech-language therapists (SLTs) for the management of acquired dysarthria. However, studies that explore SLTs’ satisfaction with the effectiveness of current therapies and their interest in new treatment methods for this population have not been carried out. One potential new method is neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES): the pool of evidence for its use in rehabilitation is increasing, yet it has not been widely explored for use with dysarthria. Aim To extend the understanding of acquired dysarthria management practices employed by SLTs across the globe and determine their satisfaction with current therapy options. To explore their interest in using NMES with this population. Methods and Procedures A cross-sectional international online survey was developed and disseminated to SLTs working with adults with acquired dysarthria through international professional associations. The survey collected information on demographic characteristics, dysarthria management practices, satisfaction with treatment effectiveness and interest in and knowledge of NMES. Survey responses were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, and quantitative content analysis. Outcomes and Results A total of 211 SLTs (North America, 48.8%; Europe, 36%; Asia, 8.1%; Oceania, 5.7%; Africa, 0.9%; South America, 0.5%) completed the survey in full. Management practices varied considerably. There was a clear preference for informal assessments, mainly oral-motor examinations, focusing on body functions and structures. The majority of respondents rejected the use of non-speech oral motor exercises as a clinical or carryover exercise. Variable satisfaction with current speech subsystem treatments was noted; however, overall, there was a general dissatisfaction. Whilst a strong interest in the use of NMES for dysarthria was evidenced, it was noted that most SLTs lacked fundamental knowledge of NMES principles and application. Conclusion SLTs’ management practices and satisfaction with acquired dysarthria treatments differed substantially. Investigations of the potential use of NMES for dysarthria treatment are of interest. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on the subject Recent country-specific surveys have explored speech-language therapists’ (SLTs’) assessment and intervention practices for acquired dysarthria. These studies indicate that although clinical management for this speech disorder mainly involves informal assessment tools and impairment-focused treatment, communication beyond the impairment, such as the activity and participation domains, is also frequently assessed and treated. What this paper adds to existing knowledge The majority of SLTs are dissatisfied with the overall benefits of current acquired dysarthria treatment. Phonatory, respiration and speech rate therapies are perceived to be more effective than prosody, articulation and resonance treatments. Despite a general lack of theoretical knowledge, most SLTs are interested in neuromuscular electrical stimulation treatment for acquired dysarthria. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? New, evidence-based treatments are needed for SLTs to be confident in the effectiveness of their acquired dysarthria treatment

Atividade antimicrobiana do oleorresina de copaíba (Copaifera reticulata) frente a Staphylococcus coagulase positiva isolados de casos de otite em cães.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi investigar o potencial antimicrobiano do oleorresina de Copaifera reticulata Ducke em isolados de Staphylococcus coagulase positiva (SCP) provenientes de casos de otite externa em cães. O método de microdiluição em caldo foi utilizado para determinação da concentração inibitória mínima (CIM) e concentração bactericida mínima (CBM) de oleorresina de copaíba. Em adição, foi determinado o perfil de suscetibilidade aos antimicrobianos dos isolados de SCP pelo método de difusão em ágar. Oito classes de antimicrobianos foram usadas para o cálculo de multirresistência antimicrobiana. A determinação da composição química do oleorresina de copaíba foi realizada por cromatografia em fase gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massas (GC/MS), sendo que β-cariofileno, β-bisaboleno e (E)-a-bergamoteno foram os compostos majoritários. O oleorresina de copaíba demonstrou CIM90 de 0,164mg/mL e CBM90 de 1,31mg/mL. A multirresistência foi verificada em 27% das cepas testadas. Os resultados sugerem que o oleorresina de copaíba exerceu atividade bacteriostática e bactericida mesmo em cepas multirresistentes de Staphylococcus coagulase-positiva

A link between short-range and long-range properties of random sphere packings

We present a high precision particle-by-particle 3D reconstruction of granular systems composed of monodispersed spheres (sphere packings); the experimental approach is based on magnetic resonance imaging techniques. Our measurements revealed a strong correlation between the volume defined by the distance to the first nearest neighbor and the long-range average density. The main contribution to the amplitude decay of the correlation function can be described as exponential rather than power law up to a range equal to 7 sphere diameters. No evidence of geometrical structural changes as a function of the density was observed and neither regular crystallites nor any other statistically significant structures could be ascribed to a specific local arrangement. We concluded that granular compaction is the result of a process through which the system changes the average size of local structures without changing their local geometrical characteristics. These conclusions are supported by two-body correlation functions and Voronoi polyhedra space decomposition. The results provide a different perspective on the mechanisms underlying compaction with respect to previous works, and allow to discriminate between the different existing theoretical approache

Guidelines and recommendations on yeast cell death nomenclature

Elucidating the biology of yeast in its full complexity has major implications for science, medicine and industry. One of the most critical processes determining yeast life and physiology is cellular demise. However, the investigation of yeast cell death is a relatively young field, and a widely accepted set of concepts and terms is still missing. Here, we propose unified criteria for the definition of accidental, regulated, and programmed forms of cell death in yeast based on a series of morphological and biochemical criteria. Specifically, we provide consensus guidelines on the differential definition of terms including apoptosis, regulated necrosis, and autophagic cell death, as we refer to additional cell death routines that are relevant for the biology of (at least some species of) yeast. As this area of investigation advances rapidly, changes and extensions to this set of recommendations will be implemented in the years to come. Nonetheless, we strongly encourage the authors, reviewers and editors of scientific articles to adopt these collective standards in order to establish an accurate framework for yeast cell death research and, ultimately, to accelerate the progress of this vibrant field of research

Assessment of intelligibility in dysarthria: development of a Maltese word and phrase list

This paper describes the development of the Maltese Intelligibility Lists (MIL) for the assessment of word and phrase intelligibility in dysarthria. Two main tools were employed: the Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment-2 (FDA), and the Maltese Language Resource Server (MLRS). Three main criteria served as the basis for the construction of the word and phrase lists: frequency of occurrence of Maltese phonemes, word frequency and an analysis of syllable types and structures. The most common 500 words in the MLRS corpus (Korpus Malti v. 3) were broadly transcribed and an analysis of different types of syllables and their frequency of occurrence was carried out. Based on this analysis, the relevant proportion of different syllable types required for the word and phrase lists for Maltese was calculated in line with the number of items present in the FDA-2. With regards to phoneme frequency, the words chosen demonstrate a similar short-vowel and consonant distribution as reported in a previous large-scale study. The MIL consists of 116 words and 50 phrases which are representative of Standard Maltese and can be used in the clinic to assess speech intelligibility in Maltese individuals with dysarthria

Sowing the seeds of doubt: a narrative review on metacognitive training in schizophrenia

Abstract not availableSteffen Moritz, Christina Andreou, Brooke C. Schneider, Charlotte E. Wittekind, Mahesh Menon, Ryan P. Balzan, Todd S. Woodwar

OSL dating of the Aterian levels at Dar es-Soltan I

a b s t r a c t The Aterian is a distinctive Middle Palaeolithic industry which is very widely spread across North Africa. Its dating and significance have been debated for nearly a century. Renewed interest in the Aterian has arisen because of a recent proposal that its development and spread may be linked to the dispersal of anatomically modern humans. The industry contains technological innovations such as thin bifacially flaked lithic points and pedunculates as well as evidence for personal ornaments and use of red ochre. Such markers as shell beads are believed to be indicative of symbolic behaviour. Dar es-Soltan I on the Atlantic coast of Morocco contains a thick sequence of Aterian deposits that were thought to represent the later stages of development of this industry. New Optically Stimulated Luminescence dates and geomorphological study indicate a much older sequence and so far the earliest yet recorded ages for the Aterian. They suggest an appearance in the Maghreb region during MIS (Marine Isotope Stage) 5

Middle Pleistocene vertebrate fossils from the Nefud Desert, Saudi Arabia: Implications for biogeography and palaeoecology

The current paucity of Pleistocene vertebrate records from the Arabian Peninsula - a landmass of over 3 million km2 - is a significant gap in our knowledge of the Quaternary. Such data are critical lines of contextual evidence for considering animal and hominin dispersals between Africa and Eurasia generally, and hominin palaeoecology in the Pleistocene landscapes of the Arabian interior specifically. Here, we describe an important contribution to the record and report stratigraphically-constrained fossils of mammals, birds and reptiles from recent excavations at Ti’s al Ghadah in the southwestern Nefud Desert. Combined U-series and ESR analyses of Oryx sp. teeth indicate that the assemblage is Middle Pleistocene in age and dates to ca. 500 ka. The identified fauna is a biogeographical admixture that consists of likely endemics and taxa of African and Eurasian affinity and includes extinct and extant (or related Pleistocene forms of) mammals (Palaeoloxodon cf. recki, Panthera cf. gombaszogenis, Equus hemionus, cf. Crocuta crocuta, Vulpes sp., Canis anthus, Oryx sp.), the first Pleistocene records of birds from the Arabian Peninsula (Struthio sp., Neophron percnopterus, Milvus cf. migrans, Tachybaptus sp. Anas sp., Pterocles orientalis, Motacilla cf. alba) and reptiles (Varanidae/Uromastyx sp.). We infer that the assemblage reflects mortality in populations of herbivorous animals and their predators and scavengers that were attracted to freshwater and plant resources in the inter-dune basin. At present, there is no evidence to suggest hominin agency in the accumulation of the bone assemblages. The inferred ecological characteristics of the taxa recovered indicate the presence, at least periodically, of substantial water-bodies and open grassland habitats