Full analytical evaluation of the line shift and line width of ions in solids for Raman processes

In this paper, we present a new analytical method to evaluate the temperature dependence of the thermal line shift and thermal line width of spectral lines in the Raman process using a simple approximation for the Debye functions. The proposed formulae guarantee the accurate and fast calculation of the thermal line shift and thermal line width. As an example of application, the analytical expression obtained is used to calculate the line shift and line width of the ²E → ⁴A₂ transitions in V²⁺:MgO at temperatures from 0 K up to 500 K. This analytical evaluation shows that our results are satisfactory for the wide range temperature variations.     

An Algorithm to Automate Yeast Segmentation and Tracking

Our understanding of dynamic cellular processes has been greatly enhanced by rapid advances in quantitative fluorescence microscopy. Imaging single cells has emphasized the prevalence of phenomena that can be difficult to infer from population measurements, such as all-or-none cellular decisions, cell-to-cell variability, and oscillations. Examination of these phenomena requires segmenting and tracking individual cells over long periods of time. However, accurate segmentation and tracking of cells is difficult and is often the rate-limiting step in an experimental pipeline. Here, we present an algorithm that accomplishes fully automated segmentation and tracking of budding yeast cells within growing colonies. The algorithm incorporates prior information of yeast-specific traits, such as immobility and growth rate, to segment an image using a set of threshold values rather than one specific optimized threshold. Results from the entire set of thresholds are then used to perform a robust final segmentation.     

Timing of testing and treatment for asymptomatic diseases

Many papers in the medical literature analyze the cost-effectiveness of screening for diseases by comparing a limited number of a priori testing policies under estimated problem parameters. However, this may be insufficient to determine the best timing of the tests or incorporate changes over time. In this paper, we develop and solve a Markov Decision Process (MDP) model for a simple class of asymptomatic diseases in order to provide the building blocks for analysis of a more general class of diseases. We provide a computationally efficient method for determining a cost-effective dynamic intervention strategy that takes into account (i) the results of the previous test for each individual and (ii) the change in the individual’s behavior based on awareness of the disease. We demonstrate the usefulness of the approach by applying the results to screening decisions for Hepatitis C (HCV) using medical data, and compare our findings to current HCV screening recommendations.     

Type VIII collagen signals via β1 integrin and RhoA to regulate MMP-2 expression and smooth muscle cell migration

The extracellular matrix signals and regulates the behavior of vascular cells during the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Type VIII collagen, a short chain collagen, is scarcely present in normal arteries, but is dramatically upregulated in atherosclerosis and after other types of vascular injury. Cell culture studies have revealed that this protein supports smooth muscle cell (SMC) adhesion and stimulates migration, however little is known about the signaling or the mechanisms by which this occurs. SMCs isolated from wild-type C57BL/6 and type VIII collagen deficient mice were studied using assays to measure chemotactic and haptotactic migration, and remodeling and contraction of 3-dimensional type I collagen gels. Col8^?/? SMCs exhibited impairments in migration, and a strongly adhesive phenotype with prominent stress fibers, stable microtubules and pronounced central basal focal adhesions. The addition of exogenous type VIII collagen to the Col8^?/? SMCs rescued the impairments in migration, and restored cytoskeletal architecture so that it was similar to Col8^+/+ cells. We measured elevated levels of active GTP-RhoA in the Col8^?/? cells, and this too was reversed by treatment with exogenous type VIII collagen. We showed that type VIII collagen normally suppresses RhoA activation through a beta-1 integrin dependent mechanism. MMP-2 levels were reduced in the Col8^?/? SMCs, and knockdown of MMP-2 in Col8^+/+ SMCs partially recapitulated the decreases in migration and 3D gel contraction seen in Col8^?/? cells, showing that type VIII collagen-stimulated migration was dependent on MMP-2. Inhibition of Rho restored MMP-2 activity in the Col8^?/? cells, and partially rescued migration, demonstrating that the elevations in RhoA activity were responsible for the suppression of migration of these cells. In conclusion, we have shown that type VIII collagen signals through beta-1 integrin receptors to suppress RhoA, allowing optimal configuration of the cytoskeleton, and the stimulation of MMP-2-dependent cell migration.     

Infections of Larval Stages of Dicrocoelium dendriticum and Brachylaima sp. in Brown Garden Snail,Helix aspersa,in Turkey

The aim of this study was to determine the presence and prevalence of larval stages of Dicrocoelium dendriticum and Brachylaima sp. in the first intermediate host, a species of land snail, Helix aspersa, in Turkey. A total of 211 snails were collected in April-May 2014 from pastures in Mersin District. Larval stages of D. dendriticum were identified under a light microscope. Hepatopancreas from naturally infected H. aspersa snails were examined histologically. The prevalence of larval stages of D. dendriticum and Brachylaima sp. in H. aspersa snails was found to be 2.4% and 1.9%, respectively, in Mersin, Turkey. Cercariae were not matured in sporocysts at the beginning of April; however, it was observed that cercariae matured and started to leave sporocysts by early-May. Thus, it was concluded that H. aspersa acts as an intermediate host to D. dendriticumin and Brachylaima sp. in Mersin, Turkey. A digenean trematode Brachylaima sp. was seen for the first time in Turkey.     

Short aggrecan gene repetitive alleles associated with lumbar degenerative disc disease in Turkish patients

We investigated a possible association between aggrecan gene polymorphism and lumbar degenerative disc disease in Turkish patients. One hundred 20-30-year-old patients with or without low back pain were selected for the study. Lumbar magnetic resonance imaging was performed on all patients. The patient group had low back pain clinically and degenerative disc disease radiographically. The control group included patients with and without low back pain: all were negative radiographically for degenerative disc disease. Genomic DNA was extracted from all participants. A PCR assay were used to evaluate variable number of tandem repeat polymorphism of aggrecan gene alleles to determine if there was any correlation with degenerative disc disease. Significant associations were found between short repeated alleles of the aggrecan gene and severe disc degeneration. A significant association was also found between short repeated alleles of the aggrecan gene and multilevel disc herniation as well as extrusion and sequestration types of disc herniation. In Turkish population, short repeated alleles of the aggrecan gene are associated with increased disc degeneration and disc herniation.