The increased population of the Wild Boar (Sus scrofa L.) in Europe

In this paper the recent population changes of the Wild Boar in different European countries is analysed through the study of hunting statistics. A simultaneous increase in numbers is observed throughout the whole area during the period 1965–1975. From 1975 onwards the population stabilizes itself apart from in peripheral areas like Finland. Potentially favourable factors which play a part in this process are discussed and certain reproductive and dispersive characteristics which favour its invasive behaviour are discussed.     

Automatic registration of microarray images. I. Rectangular grid

MOTIVATION: The analysis of high-throughput experiment data provided by microarrays becomes increasingly more and more important part of modern biological science. Microarrays allow to conduct genotyping or gene expression experiments on hundreds of thousands of test genes in parallel. Because of the large and constantly growing amount of experimental data the necessity of efficiency, robustness and complete automation of microarray image analysis algorithms is gaining significant attention in the field of microarray processing. RESULTS: The author presents here an efficient and completely automatic image registration algorithm (that is an algorithm for spots and blocks indexing) that allows to process a wide variety of microarray slides with different parameters of grid and block spacing as well as spot sizes. The algorithm scales linearly with the grid size, the time complexity is O(M), where M is number of rows x number of columns. It can successfully cope with local and global distortions of the grid, such as focal distortions and non-orthogonal transformations. The algorithm has been tested both on CCD and scanned images and showed very good performance-the processing time of a single slide with 44 blocks of 200 x 200 grid points (or 1 760 000 grid points total) was about 10 s. AVAILABILITY: The test implementation of the algorithm will be available upon request for academics. Supplementary information: http://fleece.ucsd.edu/~vit/Registration_Supplement.pdf     

Hydrotropic polymeric micelles for enhanced paclitaxel solubility: in vitro and in vivo characterization

The purpose of this investigation was to characterize the in vitro stability and in vivo disposition of paclitaxel in rats after solubilization of paclitaxel into hydrotropic polymeric micelles. The amphiphilic block copolymers consisted of a micellar shell-forming poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) block and a core-forming poly(2-(4-vinylbenzyloxy)-N,N-diethylnicotinamide) (P(VBODENA)) block. N,N-Diethylnicotinamide (DENA) in the micellar inner core resulted in effective paclitaxel solubilization and stabilization. Solubilization of paclitaxel using polymeric micelles of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-P(D,L-lactide) (PEG-b-PLA) served as a control for the stability study. Up to 37.4 wt % paclitaxel could be loaded in PEG-b-P(VBODENA) micelles, whereas the maximum loading amount for PEG-b-PLA micelles was 27.6 wt %. Thermal analysis showed that paclitaxel in the polymeric micelles existed in the molecularly dispersed amorphous state even at loadings over 30 wt %. Paclitaxel-loaded hydrotropic polymeric micelles retained their stability in water for weeks, whereas paclitaxel-loaded PEG-b-PLA micelles precipitated in a few days. Hydrotropic polymer micelles were more effective than PEG-PLA micelle formulations in inhibiting the proliferation of human cancer cells. Paclitaxel in hydrotropic polymer micelles was administered orally (3.8 mg/kg), intravenously (2.5 mg/kg), or via the portal vein (2.5 mg/kg) to rats. The oral bioavailability was 12.4% of the intravenous administration. Our data suggest that polymeric micelles with a hydrotropic structure are superior as a carrier of paclitaxel due to a high solubilizing capacity combined with long-term stability, which has not been accomplished by other existing polymeric micelle systems.     

The DNLS equation and parametric decay instability

A model that describes the interaction of nonlinear Alfvén packets propagating in opposite directions parallel to the ambient magnetic field is constructed. This model incorporates both (i) the parametric interaction of harmonics propagating in the same direction, which can be responsible for the transportation of the wave energy to the short-wavelength region of the spectrum, and (ii) the parametric interaction of Alfvén waves propagating in opposite directions, which can be responsible for the excitation of backward-propagating waves by the parametric decaylike instability of the forward-propagating fluctuations.     

Chromosome numbers in Brazilian species of Crotalaria (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae) and their taxonomic significance

Chromosome numbers were counted for 23 species of Crotalaria native to Brazil. Among these data there were new counts for 15 taxa, and some confirmed previous reports or represented numbers that were different from those cited previously. The chromosome numbers most frequently found were 2 n  = 16 and 2 n  = 32. Only C. incana L. had 2 n  = 14 and C. tweediana Benth. had 2 n  = 54. The counts 2 n  = 32 and 54 were found in species of section Calycinae and 2 n  = 16 and 14 in species of section Chrysocalycinae . The data revealed the importance of chromosomal parameters in the characterization of sections Calycinae and Chrysocalycinae in Brazil. We discuss the systematic significance and evolutionary aspects for the genus, comparing the results with the two sections that are native in Brazil.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 151 , 271–277.     

Chromosome numbers and meiotic analysis in the pre-breeding of <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Brachiaria decumbens</Emphasis> (Poaceae)

A total of 44 accessions of Brachiaria decumbens were analysed for chromosome count and meiotic behaviour in order to identify potential progenitors for crosses. Among them, 15 accessions presented 2n = 18; 27 accessions, 2n = 36; and 2 accessions, 2n = 45 chromosomes. Among the diploid accessions, the rate of meiotic abnormalities was low, ranging from 0.82% to 7.93%. In the 27 tetraploid accessions, the rate of meiotic abnormalities ranged from 18.41% to 65.83%. The most common meiotic abnormalities were related to irregular chromosome segregation, but chromosome stickiness and abnormal cytokinesis were observed in low frequency. All abnormalities can compromise pollen viability by generating unbalanced gametes. Based on the chromosome number and meiotic stability, the present study indicates the apomictic tetraploid accessions that can act as male genitor to produce interspecific hybrids with B. ruziziensis or intraspecific hybrids with recently artificially tetraploidized accessions.     

Protective Ventilation of Preterm Lambs Exposed to Acute Chorioamnionitis Does Not Reduce Ventilation-Induced Lung or Brain Injury

Background

The onset of mechanical ventilation is a critical time for the initiation of cerebral white matter (WM) injury in preterm neonates, particularly if they are inadvertently exposed to high tidal volumes (V_T) in the delivery room. Protective ventilation strategies at birth reduce ventilation-induced lung and brain inflammation and injury, however its efficacy in a compromised newborn is not known. Chorioamnionitis is a common antecedent of preterm birth, and increases the risk and severity of WM injury. We investigated the effects of high V_T ventilation, after chorioamnionitis, on preterm lung and WM inflammation and injury, and whether a protective ventilation strategy could mitigate the response.

Methods

Pregnant ewes (n = 18) received intra-amniotic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 2 days before delivery, instrumentation and ventilation at 127±1 days gestation. Lambs were either immediately euthanased and used as unventilated controls (LPS_UVC; n = 6), or were ventilated using an injurious high V_T strategy (LPS_INJ; n = 5) or a protective ventilation strategy (LPS_PROT; n = 7) for a total of 90 min. Mean arterial pressure, heart rate and cerebral haemodynamics and oxygenation were measured continuously. Lungs and brains underwent molecular and histological assessment of inflammation and injury.

Results

LPS_INJ lambs had poorer oxygenation than LPS_PROT lambs. Ventilation requirements and cardiopulmonary and systemic haemodynamics were not different between ventilation strategies. Compared to unventilated lambs, LPS_INJ and LPS_PROT lambs had increases in pro-inflammatory cytokine expression within the lungs and brain, and increased astrogliosis (p<0.02) and cell death (p<0.05) in the WM, which were equivalent in magnitude between groups.

Conclusions

Ventilation after acute chorioamnionitis, irrespective of strategy used, increases haemodynamic instability and lung and cerebral inflammation and injury. Mechanical ventilation is a potential contributor to WM injury in infants exposed to chorioamnionitis.