Host-parasite interactions of Pomphorhynchus laevis (Müller, 1776) in naturally infected amphipod, Echinogammarus stammeri (Karaman), from the Brenta River (northern Italy) are described. A fully developed acanthocephalan larva occupies a large portion of an amphipod's haemocoelic space; thus, the parasite frequently induces displacement of host digestive tract and other internal organs. However, no apparent damage to the host's internal structures was observed. Within the haemocoel of E. stammeri, each larva of P. laevis is surrounded with a membranous layer, formed by microvilli, which maintains intimate contact with the amphipod's internal organs and haemocytes. Three types of circulatory haemocytes were identified based upon their distinct appearance: hyaline cell, semi-granular cell and granular cell. Echinogammarus stammeri haemocytes surrounded acanthocephalan larvae and in some instances a partially and/or totally melanized P. laevis larva was noticed. Interestingly, no melanized larvae were found in E. stammeri parasitized with other acanthocephalans namely Echinorhynchus truttae (Schrank, 1788), Polymorphus minutus (Goeze, 1782) and Acanthocephalus clavula (Dujardin, 1845).
Thessaly lies on the Aegean (micro-)plate, undergoing internal crustal deformation due to the plate relative motion against the adjacent Anatolian and Nubian plates. As a result, the whole Thessalian Basin was supposed to be under an extensional tectonic regime of N-S direction. However, the recent earthquake sequence of March 2021 which occurred close to the northwestern margin of the basin revealed NE-SW direction of extension. Based on 7-year GPS measurements recorded by stations installed within and around the basin we assessed four deformational parameters for Thessaly aiming at the understanding of the deformation processes that control the region. These parameters are i) the Maximum Horizontal Extension (MAHE), ii) the Total Velocity (TV), iii) the Maximum Shear Strain (MSS), and iv) the Area Strain (AS). The results show that during the monitoring period, Thessaly moved toward the S-SW with a simultaneous clockwise rotation and underwent dispersed deformation mostly associated with dilatation. Focusing on the epicentral area of the 2021 sequence, strain during the 7-year period was rather low in all three strain parameters, implying a mature stage of elastic strain accumulation before the fault rupture., Ilias Lazos, Sotirios Sboras, Konstantinos Chousianitis, Stylianos Bitharis, Evaggelos Mouzakiotis, Vassilios Karastathis, Christos Pikridas, Aristeidis Fotiou and Dimitris Galanakis., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Each artery conduces blood (conduit function, CF) and smoothes out the pulsatility (buffering function, BF), while keeping its wall protected against the high oscillations of the pulse waves (damping function, ξ). These functions depend on each segment viscoelasticity and capability to store and dissipate energy. When a graft/prosthesis is implanted, the physiological gradual transition in the viscoelasticity and functionality of adjacent arterial segments is disrupted. It remains to be elucidated if the cryografts would allow keeping the physiological biomechanical transition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cryografts capability to reproduce the functional, energetic and reflection properties of patients’ arteries and fresh homografts. Common carotid’s pressure, diameter and wall-thickness were recorded in vivo (15 patients) and in vitro (15 cryografts and 15 fresh homografts from donors). Calculus: elastic (Epd) and viscous (Vpd) indexes, CF, BF, dissipated (WD) and stored (WPS) energy and ξ. The graft-patient’s artery matching was evaluated using the reflection coefficient (Γ) and reflected power (WΓ). Cryografts did not show differences in Epd, Vpd, BF, CF, WD, WPS, and ξ, in respect to fresh homografts and patients’ arteries, ensuring a reduced Γ and WΓ. Cryografts could be considered as alternatives in arterial reconstructions since they ensure the gradual transition of patients’ arteries biomechanical and functional behavior., D. Bia, J. G. Barra, R. L. Armentano, Y. Zócalo, H. Pérez, M. Saldíaz, I. Álvarez, E. I. Cabrera Fischer., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Conventional methods to preserve adult nematodes for taxonomic purposes involve the use of fixative or clearing solutions (alcohol, formaldehyde, AFA and lactophenol), which cause morphological alterations and are toxic. The aim of this study is to propose an alternative method based on glycerol-cryopreservation of nematodes for their subsequent identification. Adults of trichostrongylid nematodes from the abomasum of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus Linnaeus) were glycerol-cryopreserved and compared with those fixed in formaldehyde, fresh and frozen without cryoprotectans. Morphology, transparency and elasticity of the anterior and posterior portion of male nematodes were compared, especially the caudal cuticular bursa and genital accessories. The method presented is quick and easy to use, and the quality of nematode specimens is better than that of nematodes fixed by previously used fixatives. Moreover, glycerol cryopreserved nematodes can be stored for a long time at -20°C in perfect condition and they could be suitable for further analyses, such as histological or ultrastructural examinations.
Cross-media semantic retrieval (CSR) and cross-modal semantic mapping are key problems of the multimedia search engine. The cognitive function and neural structure for visual and auditory information process are an important reference for the study of brain-inspired CSR. In this paper, we analyze the hierarchy, the functionality and the structure of visual and auditory in the brain. Considering an idea from deep belief network and hierarchical temporal memory, we presented a brain-inspired intelligent model, called cross-media semantic retrieval based on neural computing of visual and auditory sensation (CSRNCVA). Algorithms based on CSRNCVA were developed. It employs belief propagation algorithms of probabilistic graphical model and hierarchical learning. The experiments show that our model and algorithms can be effectively applied to the CSR. This work provides an important significance for brain-inspired cross-media intelligence framework.
In our previous experiments we demonstrated that osmotic opening of the blood brain barrier (BBB) in rats by administration of mannitol into the internal carotid artery leads to cerebral edema. The aim of this study was to confirm objectively the development of brain edema and determine whether it affects spontaneous locomotor activity in rats (SLA). Brain edema was verified by computer tomography (CT) examination of the brain and SLA was observed during open field test. Twenty four adult male rats were divided into four groups of six: (1) control animals (C), (2) controls with anesthesia (CA), (3) controls with sham surgery (CS), (4) experimental - osmotic opening of the BBB (MA). Osmotic BBB disruption manifested by reducing the density of brain tissue (hypodensity), suggesting a higher water content in the brain tissue. SLA was compared between C, CA, CS and MA groups and between MA and CA groups. Significant difference was found only between the control group and MA group. In the first 30 min of the examination, rats after the mannitol administration revealed a marked limitation of spontaneous locomotor activity. Experimental results demonstrated reduction of spontaneous locomotor activity in rats with induced brain edema., P. Kozler, V. Riljak, K. Jandová, J. Pokorný., and Obsahuje bibliografii
This study focuses on the concept of reading culture. The authors attempt to define its content and scope, while setting it within the context of contemporary issues (such as the digital revolution). They also take account of the key fixed ideas associated with the “reader” and “reading” concepts, while paying specific attention to the opposition of the empirical reader and model reader. They also base their conception of reading culture on a critical comparison with such associated concepts as book culture, written culture, literary culture and media culture, while focusing on the concept of culture itself, particularly on why they have decided on it, as culture might even be considered — in the sense of British cultural studies — to be anything that is communicated (read), and not just produced (written). Hence culture involves the circulation, range, extent and the entire ecosystem of relations and their media. It is the sphere of meaning that is received and not just emitted. One of the features of reading culture — according to the authors — involves the not entirely straightforward search for trace /testimonies, so the authors present a table showing individual trace /testimonies classified from direct empirical proofs to quite indirect ones. The main advantage of the reading culture concept is considered by the authors to be that it integrates all the activities associated with reception (direct and mediated, clear and disputed, complete and partial), so that it presents the entire range of personal testimonies, statistical data, institutions such as school and censorship, the book market and public libraries, discourse on reading, reader iconography and so forth. and Studie se zaměřuje na koncept čtenářské kultury. Autoři se snaží vymezit jeho obsah a dosah, to vše pak zasadit do problémů současné doby (digitální revoluce). Všímají si také základních utkvělých představ, s nimiž je koncept čtenáře a čtení spojován; specifickou pozornost věnují protikladu čtenáře empirického a modelového. Svou koncepci čtenářské kultury opírají také o kritické srovnání s příbuznými koncepty, jako jsou knižní kultura, kultura písma, literární kultura, mediální kultura. Věnují se i samotnému pojmu kultura, především proč se pro ni rozhodli. Za kulturu je totiž možno považovat – v duchu britských cultural studies – až to, co je sdíleno (čteno), nikoli pouze produkováno (psáno). Kultura tak představuje oběh, dosah, rozsah, čili ekosystém vztahů a jejich nositelů. Je to sféra významu recipovaných, nikoli pouze emitovaných. Jedním z rysů čtenářské kultury – soudí autoři – je ne úplně snadné vyhledávání stop/svědectví, proto nabízejí tabulku, v níž jsou jednotlivé stopy/svědectví seřazeny od empirických přímých důkazů až k těm zcela nepřímým. Za hlavní výhodu konceptu čtenářské kultury autoři považují, že integruje všechny činnosti týkající se recepce (přímé i zprostředkované, jasné i sporné, celostní i dílčí); je tedy úhrnem osobních svědectví, statistických dat, institucí jako škola či cenzura, knižní trh či veřejné knihovny, diskurs o čtení, čtenářská ikonografie atd.