A method for the interpretation of signals in afferent nerves from muscle spindles

A method is proposed for the interpretation of the signals in sensory nerve fibres. It is applicable to systems in which the transfer function between the input to a sense organ and the action potential firing frequency is known. In the present case, the chelonian muscle spindle is considered since its output to ramphold-relase and sinusoidal stretches can be rather accurately simulated.     

VOCAL BEHAVIOUR OF GREYWING FRANCOLIN FRANCOLINUS AFRICANUS CAN BE USED TO ESTIMATE POPULATION DENSITY

Little, R.M. & Crowe, T.M. 1992. Vocal behaviour of Greywing Francolin Francolinus africanus can be used to estimate population density. Ostrich 63:98-109.

Four common calls of the Greywing Francolin Francolinus africanus are described acoustically, and their functions discussed. Data from 166 crepuscular call count surveys (2 472 counts) and 540 diurnal call counts were analysed to investigate the temporal and meteorological effects on calling activity, and to assess the use of call counts as an index of between year and between area variation in population density. Calling remained at high levels from August to April during the breeding season. Calling was most frequent at sunrise and sunset. Calling frequency and the number of calling coveys were significantly higher at sunrise than at sunset. Calling was concentrated in the 30 minute periods straddling sunrise and sunset, and peaked during the 15-minute periods before sunrise and before sunset. Calling activity was negatively correlated with wind speed and positively correlated with relative humidity. Calling was spuriously negatively correlated with seasonal variation in Greywing population density and strongly positively correlated with between year and between area variations in population density. We therefore suggest that call counts collected during March-April could be used to index annual change in the population density in a particular area from year to year, as well as within-season variation among areas.     

Rapid Copper Acquisition by Developing Murine Mesothelioma: Decreasing Bioavailable Copper Slows Tumor Growth,Normalizes Vessels and Promotes T Cell Infiltration

Copper, an essential trace element acquired through nutrition, is an important co-factor for pro-angiogenic factors including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Decreasing bioavailable copper has been used as an anti-angiogenic and anti-cancer strategy with promising results. However, the role of copper and its potential as a therapy in mesothelioma is not yet well understood. Therefore, we monitored copper levels in progressing murine mesothelioma tumors and analyzed the effects of lowering bioavailable copper. Copper levels in tumors and organs were assayed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Mesothelioma tumors rapidly sequestered copper at early stages of development, the copper was then dispersed throughout growing tumor tissues. These data imply that copper uptake may play an important role in early tumor development. Lowering bioavailable copper using the copper chelators, penicillamine, trientine or tetrathiomolybdate, slowed in vivo mesothelioma growth but did not provide any cures similar to using cisplatin chemotherapy or anti-VEGF receptor antibody therapy. The impact of copper lowering on tumor blood vessels and tumor infiltrating T cells was measured using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Copper lowering was associated with reduced tumor vessel diameter, reduced endothelial cell proliferation (reduced Ki67 expression) and lower surface ICAM/CD54 expression implying reduced endothelial cell activation, in a process similar to endothelial normalization. Copper lowering was also associated with a CD4⁺ T cell infiltrate. In conclusion, these data suggest copper lowering is a potentially useful anti-mesothelioma treatment strategy that slows tumor growth to provide a window of opportunity for inclusion of other treatment modalities to improve patient outcomes.     

Active hexose transport across cultured human Caco-2 cells: characterisation and influence of culture conditions

Human Caco-2 cells (passage 80 to 100) were seeded onto collagen-coated Millipore filter assemblies and these were maintained in culture either (a) floated on the surface of the medium or (b) submerged within the body of the medium. Structural and functional assessments were made over a 30-day period. After seeding, all cells assumed a flattened, squamous configuration and rapidly became confluent. Cells submerged within the medium formed polarised monolayers with well developed junctional complexes, abundant apical microvilli and increasing levels of alkaline phosphatase activity. Cells grown floated on the surface of the medium formed complex multilayers in which polarisation was confined to the surface layer. Junctional complexes and apical microvilli were similar to those seen in submerged monolayers but alkaline phosphatase activities were higher. Transepithelial electrical resistance increased rapidly from day 1, as the layers became confluent. Electrical resistance was higher and short-circuit current and potential differences were lower across monolayers than across multilayers. After 10 days in culture, the addition of D-glucose to the apical bathing solution, of all cell layers, caused a rapid rise in short-circuit current and potential difference. These changes were sodium-dependent and phlorizin-sensitive. Galactose and 3-O-methylglucose induced similar changes and the affinity constants for these hexoses ranked in the order reported for rat jejunum (Km glucose 2.44 +/- 0.52 mM; Km galactose 8.05 +/- 1.33 mM; Km 3-O-methylglucose 22.0 +/- 5.2 mM). Culture conditions had a marked effect on hexose maximum transport rates (glucose Vmax: submerged 2.94 +/- 0.20 microA/cm2; floated 9.94 +/- 0.82 microA/cm2, P less than 0.05) but affinity constants were unchanged. Apical to basolateral mannitol fluxes, used as an index of paracellular permeability, decreased from day 1 to day 5 and then remained steady. Fluxes across monolayers and multilayers were not significantly different. We conclude that sodium-dependent hexose transport occurs in cultured Caco-2 cell layers grown on permeable supports. Culture conditions, however, have a marked effect on both cell layer structure and function, and should be an important factor when considering Caco-2 cells as an in vitro model of enterocyte function.     

The use of environmental DNA metabarcoding and quantitative PCR for molecular detection of marine invasive non-native species associated with artificial structures

Biological Invasions - Artificial coastal structures associated with coastal defences, energy generation, ports, marinas and other developments, are known to support lower levels of biodiversity...     

Effects of intima stiffness and plaque morphology on peak cap stress

Background  

Rupture of the cap of a vulnerable plaque present in a coronary vessel may cause myocardial infarction and death. Cap rupture occurs when the peak cap stress exceeds the cap strength. The mechanical stress within a cap depends on the plaque morphology and the material characteristics of the plaque components. A parametric study was conducted to assess the effect of intima stiffness and plaque morphology on peak cap stress.     

Transplantation of human glial-restricted neural precursors into injured spinal cord promotes functional and sensory recovery without causing allodynia

Background aimsTraumatic injuries of the central nervous system cause damage and degeneration of specific cell populations with subsequent functional loss. Cell transplantation is a strategy to treat such injuries by replacing lost or damaged cell populations. Many kinds of cells are considered candidates for intraspinal transplantation. Human neural precursor cells (hNPC) derived from post-mortem fetal tissue are easy to isolate and expand, and are capable of producing large numbers of neuronal and glial cells. After transplantation into the nervous system, hNPC produce mature neural phenotypes and permit functional improvement in some models of neurodegenerative disease. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the therapeutic effect of different neuronal and glial progenitor populations of hNPC on locomotor and sensory functions of spinal cord-injured (SCI) ratsMethodsDifferent populations of progenitor cells were obtained from hNPC by cell sorting and neural induction, resulting in cell cultures that were NCAM⁺ A2B5⁺, NCAM⁺ A2B5^? or A2B5⁺ NG2⁺. These different cell populations were then tested for efficacy in repair of the injured spinal cord by transplantation into rats with SCIResultsThe A2B5⁺ NG2⁺ population of hNPC significantly improved locomotor and sensory (hindlimb) functional recovery of SCI rats. Importantly, no abnormal pain responses were observed in the forelimbs following transplantationConclusionsThis treatment approach can improve functional recovery after SCI without causing allodynia. Further studies will be conducted to investigate the ability of A2B5⁺ NG2⁺ cells to survive, differentiate and integrate in the injured spinal cord.