Surgical and Molecular Evaluation of Pediatric Hydatid Cyst Cases in Eastern Turkey

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) caused by Echinococcus granulosus is a major public health problem worldwide, including Turkey. The aim of the current study was to identify the strains and to estimate the potential risk factors of E. granulosus in operated pediatric cases in eastern Turkey. Ten pediatric patients (7 boys and 3 girls) living in rural areas, with ages ranging from 3 to 15 years old and various clinical histories, were included in this study. Eight patients had only liver hydatid cyst, while 1 patient had liver and lung hydatid cyst and the other liver, lung, and spleen, together. There were 2 ruptured liver cysts. After surgery, during follow-up, no increase was observed in hemagglutination levels, there were no mortalities, and there was no evidence of recurrence at 2 years post operation in all patients. Molecular analysis was performed on hydatid cyst samples obtained from the 10 pediatric cases. According to mt-12S rRNA PCR results, all cases were found to be G1/G3 cluster of E. granulosus sensu stricto.     

Attempts to determine the status of electroshock-induced attack in male laboratory mice

An attempt was made using a combination of simple experimental manipulations and videotape recorder (VTR) analysis of bite targets employed to determine whether electroshock-induced attack on anosmic opponents in laboratory mice was an offensive or a defensive behaviour. VTR analysis suggested that ventral surface biting was more evident in this form of attack than in social conflict. Individually- and group-housed males showed similar levels of fighting on exposure to electroshock, but dominant males from pairs showed greater attack than their subordinate partners. Zinc sulphate-induced anosmia, 36 h of food deprivation, castration and lithium chloride treatment reduced electroshock-induced attack. Although significant changes were not obtained, there was some evidence that acute treatment with dexamethasone or ACTH augmented this behaviour. The direction of these changes is similar to that seen with social conflict, and it is suggested that electroshock-induced attack in the mouse (unlike the rat) is largely an aggressive offensive behaviour. The high incidence of ventral surface biting may be a consequence of the upright postures assumed on subjecting the animals to electroshock.     

Perception of Graphical Virtual Environments by Blind Users via Sensory Substitution

Graphical virtual environments are currently far from accessible to blind users as their content is mostly visual. This is especially unfortunate as these environments hold great potential for this population for purposes such as safe orientation, education, and entertainment. Previous tools have increased accessibility but there is still a long way to go. Visual-to-audio Sensory-Substitution-Devices (SSDs) can increase accessibility generically by sonifying on-screen content regardless of the specific environment and offer increased accessibility without the use of expensive dedicated peripherals like electrode/vibrator arrays. Using SSDs virtually utilizes similar skills as when using them in the real world, enabling both training on the device and training on environments virtually before real-world visits. This could enable more complex, standardized and autonomous SSD training and new insights into multisensory interaction and the visually-deprived brain. However, whether congenitally blind users, who have never experienced virtual environments, will be able to use this information for successful perception and interaction within them is currently unclear.We tested this using the EyeMusic SSD, which conveys whole-scene visual information, to perform virtual tasks otherwise impossible without vision. Congenitally blind users had to navigate virtual environments and find doors, differentiate between them based on their features (Experiment1:task1) and surroundings (Experiment1:task2) and walk through them; these tasks were accomplished with a 95% and 97% success rate, respectively. We further explored the reactions of congenitally blind users during their first interaction with a more complex virtual environment than in the previous tasks–walking down a virtual street, recognizing different features of houses and trees, navigating to cross-walks, etc. Users reacted enthusiastically and reported feeling immersed within the environment. They highlighted the potential usefulness of such environments for understanding what visual scenes are supposed to look like and their potential for complex training and suggested many future environments they wished to experience.     

NADPH-cytochrome-c-reductase: Changes in specific activity in gypsy moth larvae

NADPH-cytochrome-c-reductase from guts of gypsy moth, Porthetria dispar, oxidized NADPH at the following rates: 11·6, 41·9, and 57·6 nmol/30 min per 0·6 mg protein, in the third, fourth and fifth instar, respectively. The increase in specific activity may be due to a natural induction process controlled by materials in the food. This could also explain the observed decreases just prior to ecdysis at which time the larvae have ceased feeding.     

Population responses of roe deer to the recolonization of the French Vercors by wolves

In a context of changing carnivore populations worldwide, it is crucial to understand the consequences of these changes for prey populations. The recolonization by wolves of the French Vercors mountain range and the long-term monitoring (2001–2017) of roe deer in this area provided a unique opportunity to assess the effects of wolves on this prey. Roe deer was the main prey of wolves in the west Vercors mountain range during this recolonization. We compared roe deer abundance and fawn body mass in two contrasted areas of a wolf pack territory: a central area (core of the territory characterized by an intense use by wolves) and a peripheral area (used more occasionally). Roe deer population growth rates were lower in the central area between 2001 and 2006, resulting in a decline in roe deer abundance. Roe deer abundance substantially dropped in the two study areas after an extremely severe winter but the abundance of roe deer in the central area facing with wolves was slower to recover and remained at lower abundance levels for 6 years. Fawn body mass was consistently lower in the central area, varied similarly as roe deer abundance, and was not influenced by weather conditions or red deer population abundance. Altogether, the effects of wolves on roe deer in the central area occurred during a 10-year period following the establishment of wolves, through the interplay between wolf predation (before wolves started preying on red deer), harsh winter conditions and possibly naivety of prey to this recolonizing predator.     

Darwin's vexing contrivance: a new hypothesis for why some flowers have two kinds of anther

Heteranthery, the presence of two or more anther types in the same flower, is taxonomically widespread among bee-pollinated angiosperms, yet has puzzled botanists since Darwin. We test two competing hypotheses for its evolution: the long-standing ‘division of labour'' hypothesis, which posits that some anthers are specialized as food rewards for bees whereas others are specialized for surreptitious pollination, and our new hypothesis that heteranthery is a way to gradually release pollen that maximizes pollen delivery. We examine the evolution of heteranthery and associated traits across the genus Clarkia (Onagraceae) and study plant–pollinator interactions in two heterantherous Clarkia species. Across species, heteranthery is associated with bee pollination, delayed dehiscence and colour crypsis of one anther whorl, and movement of that anther whorl upon dehiscence. Our mechanistic studies in heterantherous species show that bees notice, forage on and export pollen from each anther whorl when it is dehiscing, and that heteranthery promotes pollen export. We find no support for division of labour, but multifarious evidence that heteranthery is a mechanism for gradual pollen presentation that probably evolved through indirect male–male competition for siring success.     

First characterization of congenital myasthenic syndrome type 5 in North Africa

Molecular Biology Reports - Congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) are associated with defects in the structure and the function of neuromuscular junctions. These rare disorders can result from...     

Nitric Oxide Mitigates the Salt-Induced Oxidative Damage in Mustard by UpRegulating the Activity of Various Enzymes

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - The salt stress limits the production of mustard throughout the world and it is one of the major abiotic stresses. Crop productivity is declining due to the...