Testing for the Dual-Route Cascade Reading Model in the Brain: An fMRI Effective Connectivity Account of an Efficient Reading Style

Neuropsychological data about the forms of acquired reading impairment provide a strong basis for the theoretical framework of the dual-route cascade (DRC) model which is predictive of reading performance. However, lesions are often extensive and heterogeneous, thus making it difficult to establish precise functional anatomical correlates. Here, we provide a connective neural account in the aim of accommodating the main principles of the DRC framework and to make predictions on reading skill. We located prominent reading areas using fMRI and applied structural equation modeling to pinpoint distinct neural pathways. Functionality of regions together with neural network dissociations between words and pseudowords corroborate the existing neuroanatomical view on the DRC and provide a novel outlook on the sub-regions involved. In a similar vein, congruent (or incongruent) reliance of pathways, that is reliance on the word (or pseudoword) pathway during word reading and on the pseudoword (or word) pathway during pseudoword reading predicted good (or poor) reading performance as assessed by out-of-magnet reading tests. Finally, inter-individual analysis unraveled an efficient reading style mirroring pathway reliance as a function of the fingerprint of the stimulus to be read, suggesting an optimal pattern of cerebral information trafficking which leads to high reading performance.     

Analysis of the Wnt/B-catenin/TCF4 pathway using SAGE,genome-wide microarray and promoter analysis: Identification of BRI3 and HSF2 as novel targets

The Wnt signaling pathway is involved in many differentiation events during embryonic development and can lead to tumor formation after aberrant activation of its components. β-catenin, a cytoplasmic component, plays a major role in the transduction of canonical Wnt signaling. The aim of this study was to identify novel genes that are regulated by active β-catenin/TCF signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma-derived Huh7 cells with high (transfected) and low β-catenin/TCF activities. High TCF activity Huh7 cells led to earlier and larger tumor formation when xenografted into nude mice. SAGE (Serial Analysis of Gene Expression), genome-wide microarray and in silico promoter analysis were performed in parallel, to compare gene expression between low and high β-catenin/TCF activity clones, and also those that had been rescued from the xenograft tumors. SAGE and genome-wide microarray data were compared and contrasted. BRI3 and HSF2 were identified as novel targets of Wnt/β-catenin signaling after combined analysis and confirming experiments including qRT-PCR, ChIP, luciferase assay and lithium treatment.     

In vitro distribution and characterization of membrane-associated PLD and PI-PLC in Brassica napus

Two types of phospholipid degrading enzyme, phospholipase D (PLD; EC 3.1.4.4) and phosphatidyl- inositol-specific phospholipase C (PIP(2)-PLC; PI-PLC 3.1.4.11) were studied during the development of seeds and plants of Brassica napus. PLD exhibits two types of activity; polyphosphoinositide-requiring (PIP(2)-dependent PLD) and polyphosphoinositide-independent requiring millimolar concentrations of calcium (PLDalpha). Significantly different patterns of activity profiles were found for soluble and membrane-associated forms of all three enzymes within both processes. Membrane-associated PIP(2)-dependent PLD activity shows the opposite trend when compared to PLDalpha, while the highest PI-PLC activity appears in the same stages of development of seeds and plants as for PLDalpha. In subcellular fractions of hypocotyls of young plants, phospholipases were localized predominantly on plasma membranes. The biochemical characteristics (Ca(2+), pH) of all three enzymes associated with plasma membrane vesicles, isolated by partitioning in an aqueous dextran- polyethylene glycol two-phase system, are also described. Direct interaction of PLDalpha with G-proteins under in vitro conditions was not confirmed.     

Selective synthesis and reactions of 6-substituted-2-beta-galactosyl-1,2,4-triazines of potential anticancer activity

Selective synthesis and reactions of different 6-substituted-2-beta-D-galactosyl-3-thioxo-2,3-dihydro-1,2,4-triazin-5(4H)-ones using the developed amino or aryl protecting group strategy were investigated. Primary human anticancer screening of twelve selected compounds (in vitro) resulted in an active compound against both MCF7 (Breast) and SF-268(CNS) cell lines.     

Process of nuclear envelope reduction in spermiogenesis of a mosquito,Culex tigripes

When the Culex tigripes spermatid begins to elongate, the nucleus exhibits on its surface invaginations of the nuclear envelope. These invaginations have a uniform diameter of 0.3 μm. They separate from the envelope of the nucleus and form spherical intranuclear vesicles. In the old spermatids these vesicles are imprisoned in the condensed chromatin. The spermatozoon also possesses these vesicles which are then ovoid in shape. This process of vesiculation permits the diminution of the surface of the nucleus when it decreases in volume during spermiogenesis. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The influence of naringin on the oxidative state of rats with streptozotocin-induced acute hyperglycaemia

The effect of various doses (0, 10, 20, 40, or 80 mg/kg body weight) of naringin (a citrus flavonone) was studied on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced hyperglycaemic rats to evaluate the possible hypoglycaemic and antioxidant activity of naringin in diabetes. In comparison to the normoglycaemic group the treatment of rats with a single dose of STZ (65 mg/kg body weight) only revealed a significant increase (P < 0.05) in plasma hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by 230%, increased the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) as index of the lipid peroxidation level by 69%, while total antioxidant activity was decreased by 36%, with a consistent significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the activity of erythrocytes antioxidative enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and paraoxonase (PON). Exogenous administration of individual gradual doses of naringin to hyperglycaemic rats causes a dose-dependent decrease of the glucose level, an increase of the insulin concentration, a decrease of the H2O2 and TBARS levels, as well as the increase of the total antioxidant status with an increase of antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT, SOD, GPx, and PON). From this study, it may be concluded that all doses of naringin provided a significant amelioration of hypoglycaemic and antioxidant activity in STZ-induced diabetic rats, however, the greatest effect of naringin was observed at 80 mg/kg body weight.     

Phenotypic convergence mediated by GGDEF-domain-containing proteins

GGDEF domain-containing proteins have been implicated in bacterial signal transduction and synthesis of the second messenger molecule cyclic-di-GMP. A number of GGDEF proteins are involved in controlling the formation of extracellular matrices. AdrA (Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium) and HmsT (Yersinia pestis) contain GGDEF domains and are required for extracellular cellulose production and biofilm formation, respectively. Here we show that hmsT is able to restore cellulose synthesis to a Salmonella serovar Typhimurium adrA mutant and that adrA can replace hmsT in Y. pestis Hms-dependent biofilm formation. Like Y. pestis HmsT overproducers, Y. pestis cells carrying adrA under the control of an arabinose-inducible promoter produced substantial biofilms in the presence of arabinose. Finally, we demonstrate that HmsT is involved in the synthesis of cyclic di-GMP.     

Ultrastructural studies of mosquito ovogenesis

The ovogenesis of four mosquito species belonging to the genera Aedes, Anopheles and Culex, are investigated using Electron microscopes. Three ovogenetic phases named previtellogenesis, vitellogenesis, postvitellogenesis and mature eggs are described using transmission electron and light microscopes. Egg ornamentations are described with scanning electron microscopy. The controversial nomenclature of the mosquito egg envelopes is discussed.