Assessment of blue-stain resistance according to the EN 152 and a reverse test method using visual and computer-aided techniques

A computer technique for assessing blue-stained coated wood has been implemented for evaluating the discoloration of coatings and analysing the interior wood staining of samples subjected to testing according to European Standard EN 152. The comparison of visual assessment and computer-evaluated percentages of blue staining is based on a combination of correlation measures, principal components and cluster analysis. It appears difficult to imitate human evaluation with image processing, since computer ratings represent exact percentages, while subjective evaluations do not. Additionally, more specific techniques for exploring fungal growth in coated wood have been described. As EN 152 was specifically developed for testing efficacy of wood preservatives, a modified test methodology was elaborated for testing the efficacy of wood coatings, called here as the EN 152-reverse method. Furthermore three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction is validated as a tool for in-depth analysis of blue-stain disfigurement. This 3D visualisation indicates important differences in fungal infestation and proves its suitability for blue-stain resistance testing.     

Prognostic role of c-met expression in breast cancer patients

Background

Hepatocyte growth factor plays an important role in tumor growth, metastasis and angiogenesis. C-met is HGF''s high affinity receptor.

Aim

The aim of the study was to assess the correlations between c-met expression and clinic-pathological factors in breast cancer tissues. Furthermore, the purpose of the study was to evaluate the prognostic value of the hepatocyte growth factor receptor (HGFR, c-met) expressions in homogenous group of breast cancer patients.

Materials and methods

Tumor samples were collected from 302 patients with breast carcinoma treated with primary surgery. We have assessed the percentage of tumor cells with c-met expression, the intensity of reaction and the ratio of these two factors—immunoreactivity according to the Remmele score.

Results

We have observed no correlations between HGFR immunoreactivities and clinical parameters (tumor size, grade, axillary lymph node status, age). In 5-year observation we have found prognostic value of assessing c-met immunoreactivity in primary tumor.

Conclusion

Our study has revealed prognostic value of c-met. Unlike in other authors’ studies, our patients’ group is very homogenous which might contribute to obtained results.     

Surface enlargement in the rumen of free-ranging muskoxen (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ovibos moschatus</Emphasis>)

The intraruminal papillation pattern indicates the degree of rumen contents stratification and is related to the feeding niche of a ruminant. Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) display a variety of morphophysiological adaptations typical for grazers. We investigated the intraruminal papillation of 22 free-ranging muskoxen from five different months by comparing the surface enlargement factor both between seasons and between individual rumen regions. The seasonal pattern of rumen papillation indicated a distinct seasonality in food quality. The intraruminal papillation indicated a moderate degree of rumen contents stratification typical for intermediate feeders. The nutritional ecology of muskoxen is characterised by specific morphophysiological adaptations to a grass-dominated diet that nevertheless allow extensive seasonal use of browse forage.     

Subunit–subunit interactions are weakened in mutant forms of acetohydroxy acid synthase insensitive to valine inhibition

In acetohydroxy acid synthase from Streptomyces cinnamonensis mutants affected in valine regulation, the impact of mutations on interactions between the catalytic and the regulatory subunits was examined using yeast two-hybrid system. Mutations in the catalytic and the regulatory subunits were projected into homology models of the respective proteins. Two changes in the catalytic subunit, E139A (α domain) and ΔQ217 (β domain), both located on the surface of the catalytic subunit dimer, lowered the interaction with the regulatory subunit. Three consecutive changes in the N-terminal part of the regulatory subunit were examined. Changes G16D and V17D in a loop and adjacent α-helix of ACT domain affected the interaction considerably, indicating that this region might be in contact with the catalytic subunit during allosteric regulation. In contrast, the adjacent mutation L18F did not influence the interaction at all. Thus, L18 might participate in valine binding or conformational change transfer within the regulatory subunits. Shortening of the regulatory subunit to 107 residues reduced the interaction essentially, suggesting that the C-terminal part of the regulatory subunit is also important for the catalytic subunit binding.     

Microgradients of Microbial Oxygen Consumption in a Barley Rhizosphere Model System

A microelectrode technique was used to map the radial distribution of oxygen concentrations and oxygen consumption rates around single roots of 7-day-old barley seedlings. The seedlings were grown in gel-stabilized medium containing a nutrient solution, a soil extract, and an inert polymer. Oxygen consumption by microbial respiration in the rhizosphere (<5 mm from the root) and in bulk medium (>30 mm from the root) was determined by using Fick's laws of diffusion and an analytical approach with curve fitting to measured microprofiles of oxygen concentration. A marked increase of microbial respiration was observed in the inner 0- to 3-mm-thick, concentric zone around the root (rhizosphere). The volume-specific oxygen consumption rate (specific activity) was thus 30 to 60 times higher in the innermost 0 to 0.01 mm (rhizoplane) than in the bulk medium. The oxygen consumption rate in the root tissue was in turn 10 to 30 times higher than that in the rhizoplane. Both microbial respiration and oxygen uptake by the root varied between different roots. This was probably due to a between-root variation of the exudation rate for easily degradable carbon compounds supporting the microbial oxygen consumption.     

Lazy ecologist's guide to water beetle diversity: Which sampling methods are the best?

Biodiversity surveys of aquatic macroinvertebrates in standing water rely on various methods, but a thorough comparison of the techniques is lacking. This hampers analyses across surveys and impedes development of efficient sampling schemes. We compare the selectivity and efficiency of four methods commonly used to collect aquatic insects – activity traps (ATs), box trap (BT), handnetting (HN) and light trap (LT) – using a large dataset on water beetles in a site with ～100 species. We propose to use time investment as a natural basis to compare efficiency, since it applies to any method. The results inherently differ from results based on samples or individuals because methods are neither equally demanding nor equally rewarding. Most differences between methods arise from their size selectivity: ATs select for larger species, while HN and BT seem least selective. Attraction to light is taxon-specific and LT yields more depauperate samples than ATs, BT and HN, limiting the use of LT in community studies. To boost the development of cost-effective protocols, we also identify the best designs for rapid bioassesment by simulating short surveys from the data. Combinations of ATs and BT give most species; the results are robust to partitioning of effort between both methods. However, these rapid surveys miss on average more than 40% of all species in our study. Our results therefore emphasize that long-term studies using multiple methods are vital for measuring diversity in species-rich freshwater habitats.     

Sydney epilepsy incidence study to measure illness consequences: the SESIMIC observational epilepsy study protocol

Background  

Epilepsy affects an estimated 50 million people and accounts for approximately 1% of days lost to ill health globally, making it one of the most common, serious neurological disorders. While there are abundant global data on epilepsy incidence, prevalence and treatment, there is a paucity of Australian incidence data. There is also a general lack of information on the psychosocial impact and socioeconomic consequences of a new diagnosis of epilepsy on an individual, their family, household, and community which are often specific to the health and social system of each country.