Parietochloris incisa is an arachidonic acid rich snow green alga. The main physiological profiles, such as ash free dry weight (AFDW), chlorophyll, carotenoid, protein and total fatty acids (TFA), in this alga expose...Parietochloris incisa is an arachidonic acid rich snow green alga. The main physiological profiles, such as ash free dry weight (AFDW), chlorophyll, carotenoid, protein and total fatty acids (TFA), in this alga exposed to old culture supernatant (OCS) at the decline phase or its crude ethyl acetate extracts (CEAE) were investigated by using tubular photobioreactors of different diameters. Results showed that both OCS and CEAE had strong inhibitory effect on the above physiological parameters. The longer the culture was exposed to OCS and the more CEAE were added into the algal culture, the more the above physiological properties were inhibited. Arachidonic acid (AA), the dominant component of fatty acids in this alga, was also seriously inhibited with respect to total TFA, AFDW of cell mass, or culture volume, due to a probable reduction of enzymes activities catalyzing chain elongation from C18:1ω9 to AA. These results incontestably evidenced that some CEAE dissolving substances existing in OCS, like auto inhibitors, inhibited P. incisa growth through feedback. Hence, any efficient removal of auto inhibitors from algal culture to decrease their bioactivity could be good for maximal production of desired products like AA.展开更多
The Red Palm Weevil （RPW）, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus （Olivier）, （Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Rhynchophorinae）, is an invasive species that is originated from Southeast Asia. It has.invaded Middle East and several...The Red Palm Weevil （RPW）, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus （Olivier）, （Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Rhynchophorinae）, is an invasive species that is originated from Southeast Asia. It has.invaded Middle East and several countries of the Mediterranean Basin during the last three decades where it attacks palm trees. During the last three decades, multiple introductions of RPW to the Middle East, Europe and Caribbean （Island of Curacao, Netherland Antilles）, Lebanon and United States of America （Laguna Beach, Orange County, California） （USA） have occurred and the RPW is now a serious pest of many palm species. Duration of all life parameters varies significantly where the entire life cycle takes about 45 to 298 days. Different artificial diets were developed and were tested for mass rearing of RPW. Control of RPW is difficult due to the concealed nature of the life cycle of the pest. Integrated Pest Management （IPM） strategy has been applied successfully to deal with RPW problem. The IPM strategy consists of various preventive and curative methods; those methods were categorized in nine categories in this review. The main objective of this work was to review the existing knowledge on RPW＇s different aspects, with an ultimate aim of revealing the actual situation of the research on RPW.展开更多
One of the main challenges in consciousness research is widely known as the hard problem of consciousness. In order to tackle this problem, I utilize an approach from theoretical physics, called stochastic electrodyna...One of the main challenges in consciousness research is widely known as the hard problem of consciousness. In order to tackle this problem, I utilize an approach from theoretical physics, called stochastic electrodynamics （SED） which goes one step beyond quantum theory and sheds new light on the reality behind matter. According to this approach, matter is a resonant oscillator that is orchestrated by an all-pervasive stochastic radiation field, called zero-point field （ZPF）. The properties of matter are not intrinsic but acquired by dynamic interaction with the ZPF, which in turn picks up information about the material system as soon as an ordered state, i.e., a stable attractor, is reached. I point out that these principles apply also to macroscopic biological systems. From this perspective, long-range correlations in the brain, such as neural gamma synchrony, can be interpreted in terms of order phenomena induced and stabilized by the ZPF, suggesting that every attractor in the brain goes along with an information state in the ZPF. In order to build the bridge to consciousness, I employ additional input from Eastern philosophy. From a comparison between SED and Eastern philosophy I draw the conclusion that the ZPF is an appropriate candidate for the substrate of consciousness, implying that information states in the ZPF are associated with conscious states. On this basis I develop a conceptual framework for consciousness that is fully consistent with physics, neurophysiology, and Eastern philosophy. I argue that this conceptual framework has many interesting features and opens a door to a theory of consciousness. Particularly, it solves the problem of how matter and consciousness communicate in a causally closed functional chain, it gives a physical grounding to existing approaches regarding the connection between consciousness and information, and it gives clear direction to future models and experiments.展开更多
At the present time, more than one-half of all cancer patients are treated with radiation therapy. Despite a good therapeutic index, radiotherapy can disable normal tissue injury to normal tissues in long-term cancer ...At the present time, more than one-half of all cancer patients are treated with radiation therapy. Despite a good therapeutic index, radiotherapy can disable normal tissue injury to normal tissues in long-term cancer survivors.Thus, an important challenge to modern radiation therapy is to increase the tolerance of normal tissues,展开更多
Leakage currents, tiny currents flowing from an everyday-life appliance through the body to the ground, can cause a non-adequate perception （called electrocutaneous sensation, ECS） or even pain and should be avoided...Leakage currents, tiny currents flowing from an everyday-life appliance through the body to the ground, can cause a non-adequate perception （called electrocutaneous sensation, ECS） or even pain and should be avoided. Safety standards for low-frequency range are based on experimental results of current thresholds of electrocutaneous sensations, which however show a wide range between about 50 pA （rms） and 1000 μA （rms）. In order to be able to explain these differences, the perception threshold was measured repeatedly in experiments with test persons under identical experimental setup, but by means of different methods （measuring strategies）, namely： direct adjustment, classical threshold as amperage of 50% perception probability, and confidence rating procedure of signal detection theory. The current is injected using a I cm2 electrode at the highly touch sensitive part of the index fingertip. These investigations show for the first time that the threshold of electrocutaneous sensations is influenced both by adaptation to the non-adequate stimulus and individual, emotional factors. Theretbre, classical methods, on which the majority of the safety investigations are based, cannot be used to determine a leakage current threshold. The confidence rating procedure of the modem signal detection theory yields a value of 179.5 μA （rms） at 50 Hz power supply net frequency as the lower end of the 95% confidence range considering the variance in the investigated group. This value is expected to be free of adaptation influences, and is distinctly lower than the European limits and supports the stricter regulations of Canada and USA.展开更多
The family of bile acids includes a group of molecular species of acidic steroids with very peculiar physical-chemical and biological characteristics.They are synthesized by the liver from cholesterol through several ...The family of bile acids includes a group of molecular species of acidic steroids with very peculiar physical-chemical and biological characteristics.They are synthesized by the liver from cholesterol through several complementary pathways that are controlled by mechanisms involving finetuning by the levels of certain bile acid species.Although their best-known role is their participation in the digestion and absorption of fat,they also play an important role in several other physiological processes.Thus,genetic abnormalities accounting for alterations in their synthesis,biotransformation and/or transport may result in severe alterations,even leading to lethal situations for which the sole therapeutic option may be liver transplantation.Moreover,the increased levels of bile acids reached during cholestatic liver diseases are known to induce oxidative stress and apoptosis,resulting in damage to the liver parenchyma and,eventually,extrahepatic tissues.When this occurs during pregnancy,the outcome of gestation may be challenged.In contrast,the physical-chemical and biological properties of these compounds have been used as the bases for the development of drugs and as pharmaceutical tools for the delivery of active agents.展开更多
Outstanding progress regarding the pathophysiology of Crohn's disease (CD) has led to the development of innovative therapeutic concepts. Numerous controlled trials have been performed in CD. This review concentra...Outstanding progress regarding the pathophysiology of Crohn's disease (CD) has led to the development of innovative therapeutic concepts. Numerous controlled trials have been performed in CD. This review concentrates on the results of randomized,placebo-controlled trials,and meta-analyses when available,that provide the highest degree of evidence. Current guidelines on the management of CD recommend a step-up approach to treatment involving the addition of more powerful therapies as the severity of disease and refractoriness to therapy increase. The advent of biological drugs has opened new therapeutic horizons for treating CD,modifying the treatment goals. However,the large majority of patients with CD will be managed through conventional therapy,even if they are a prelude to biological therapy.展开更多
Objective In order to characterize the feature of stress response induced by stressor with both physical and psychological natures, the effect of water restriction performed in different experimental modes on the phys...Objective In order to characterize the feature of stress response induced by stressor with both physical and psychological natures, the effect of water restriction performed in different experimental modes on the physiological parameters, psychological behavioral manifestations and brain c-Fos expressions were observed and compared. Methods 58 male Wistar rats were used and randomly divided into three experimental groups （n=18 for each） and a control group （n=4）. In control group, the rats were allowed to access drinking water freely at all experimental period. In the experimental groups the water supply to the rats was restricted. In timed water supply （TW） group, the water was supplied twice a day, 10 min for each in fixed hours every day. In empty bottle-served （EB） and water-restricted （WR） groups, the water was served only once a day for 10 min, either in the early morning or evening, and in the other time point scheduled for water supply only an empty bottle without water was provided in the EB group and nothing was given in the WR group. The quantities of drank water and eaten food, weight-gaining, and behavior score were observed every day. The serum level of corticosterone was assayed and the rats were sacrificed with fixative perfusion of 3 d, 7 d or 14 d respectively, following water restriction （n=6 for each time point in each group）. The brain c-Fos expressions were examined with immunohistochemistry. Results The slowing down of weight-gaining, rise of serum corticosterone level, occurrence of psychological behavioral manifestations of unpeaceful restlessness such as exploring and attacking, enhance of c-Fos expression in the subfomical organ （SFO）, median preoptic nucleus （MnPO）, area postrema （AP）, hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus （PVN）, supraoptic nucleus （SON）, medial （MeA） and central （CeA） amygdaloid nucleus and ventrolateral septum （LSV） were noticed in both EB and WR groups, except the nucleus of solitary tract （NTS） in which the Fos expression was decreased. The changes of Fos expression in most of nuclei in EB group began at day 3, at least persisted till day 7, and backed down at day 14. While in WR group, similar changes started at day 7 and reached its peak at day 14. In TW group, only the concentration of corticosterone at day 7 was slightly increased and the rest indexes observed were unchanged. Conclusion The results indicate that water restriction induces physical as well as psychological stress responses. And the water restrictions experimentally executed in different modes result in different manifestations of behavioral response and brain immediately early gene expression in discrete brain nuclei/regions.展开更多
The community of Figuig is located in a desert area, east of Morocco. It is characterized by an arid climate. Part of the aquifers of the area has a high salinity which creates even worst conditions for the use of the...The community of Figuig is located in a desert area, east of Morocco. It is characterized by an arid climate. Part of the aquifers of the area has a high salinity which creates even worst conditions for the use of the scarce water available in the area. Therefore, it is essential to develop new water resources, especially for agriculture. For this reason, reclaiming wastewater for agricultural use is an essential strategy to increase water resources. The studied system is a wastewater treatment plant （WWTP） with stabilisation ponds; it treats a part of the wastewater of Figuig. The monitoring of the WWTP will allow to the physico-chemical and biological characterization of the treated water, and then, to verify two principal points： （1） the physico-chemical and pathogen parasites elimination; （2） the possibility of the treated water reuse in agricultural irrigation. The reductions recorded at the WWTP show a relatively preferment operation with an average decrease of 3.17 Ulog for faecal coliforms and 50-60% for organic matter. It was observed that the taxonomic density is slow in the WWTP; observed species are generally Cyanobacteria, Euglénophycea and Chlorophycea characteristic of eutrophic water sources.展开更多
Haemangiopericytoma(HPC) is a rare vascular tumor with borderline malignancy, considerable histological variability, and unpredictable clinical and biological behavior. HPC can present a diagnostic challenge because o...Haemangiopericytoma(HPC) is a rare vascular tumor with borderline malignancy, considerable histological variability, and unpredictable clinical and biological behavior. HPC can present a diagnostic challenge because of its indeterminate clinical, radiological, and pathological features. HPC generally presents in adulthood and is equally frequent in both sexes. HPC can arise in any site in the body as a slowly growing and painless mass. The precise cell type origin of HPC is uncertain. One third of HPCs occur in the head and neck areas. Exceptional cases of hemangioblastoma arising outside the head and neck areas have been reported, but little is known about their clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features. This study reports on a case of a large sacro-anterior HPC in a 65-year-old male.展开更多
The axiomatization of physical theories is a fundamental issue of science. The first-order axiomatic system SpecR el for special relativity proposed recently by Andr′eka et al. is not enough to explain all the main r...The axiomatization of physical theories is a fundamental issue of science. The first-order axiomatic system SpecR el for special relativity proposed recently by Andr′eka et al. is not enough to explain all the main results in the theory, including the twin paradox and energy-mass relation. In this paper, from a four-dimensional spacetime perspective, we introduce the concepts of world-line, proper time and four-momentum to our axiomatic system SpecR el^+. Then we introduce an axiom of mass(Ax Mass) and take four-momentum conservation as an axiom(Ax CFM)in SpecR el^+. It turns out that the twin paradox and energy-mass relation can be derived from SpecR el+logically. Hence,as an extension of SpecR el, SpecR el^+is a suitable first-order axiomatic system to describe the kinematics and dynamics of special relativity.展开更多
文摘Parietochloris incisa is an arachidonic acid rich snow green alga. The main physiological profiles, such as ash free dry weight (AFDW), chlorophyll, carotenoid, protein and total fatty acids (TFA), in this alga exposed to old culture supernatant (OCS) at the decline phase or its crude ethyl acetate extracts (CEAE) were investigated by using tubular photobioreactors of different diameters. Results showed that both OCS and CEAE had strong inhibitory effect on the above physiological parameters. The longer the culture was exposed to OCS and the more CEAE were added into the algal culture, the more the above physiological properties were inhibited. Arachidonic acid (AA), the dominant component of fatty acids in this alga, was also seriously inhibited with respect to total TFA, AFDW of cell mass, or culture volume, due to a probable reduction of enzymes activities catalyzing chain elongation from C18:1ω9 to AA. These results incontestably evidenced that some CEAE dissolving substances existing in OCS, like auto inhibitors, inhibited P. incisa growth through feedback. Hence, any efficient removal of auto inhibitors from algal culture to decrease their bioactivity could be good for maximal production of desired products like AA.
文摘The Red Palm Weevil （RPW）, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus （Olivier）, （Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Rhynchophorinae）, is an invasive species that is originated from Southeast Asia. It has.invaded Middle East and several countries of the Mediterranean Basin during the last three decades where it attacks palm trees. During the last three decades, multiple introductions of RPW to the Middle East, Europe and Caribbean （Island of Curacao, Netherland Antilles）, Lebanon and United States of America （Laguna Beach, Orange County, California） （USA） have occurred and the RPW is now a serious pest of many palm species. Duration of all life parameters varies significantly where the entire life cycle takes about 45 to 298 days. Different artificial diets were developed and were tested for mass rearing of RPW. Control of RPW is difficult due to the concealed nature of the life cycle of the pest. Integrated Pest Management （IPM） strategy has been applied successfully to deal with RPW problem. The IPM strategy consists of various preventive and curative methods; those methods were categorized in nine categories in this review. The main objective of this work was to review the existing knowledge on RPW＇s different aspects, with an ultimate aim of revealing the actual situation of the research on RPW.
文摘One of the main challenges in consciousness research is widely known as the hard problem of consciousness. In order to tackle this problem, I utilize an approach from theoretical physics, called stochastic electrodynamics （SED） which goes one step beyond quantum theory and sheds new light on the reality behind matter. According to this approach, matter is a resonant oscillator that is orchestrated by an all-pervasive stochastic radiation field, called zero-point field （ZPF）. The properties of matter are not intrinsic but acquired by dynamic interaction with the ZPF, which in turn picks up information about the material system as soon as an ordered state, i.e., a stable attractor, is reached. I point out that these principles apply also to macroscopic biological systems. From this perspective, long-range correlations in the brain, such as neural gamma synchrony, can be interpreted in terms of order phenomena induced and stabilized by the ZPF, suggesting that every attractor in the brain goes along with an information state in the ZPF. In order to build the bridge to consciousness, I employ additional input from Eastern philosophy. From a comparison between SED and Eastern philosophy I draw the conclusion that the ZPF is an appropriate candidate for the substrate of consciousness, implying that information states in the ZPF are associated with conscious states. On this basis I develop a conceptual framework for consciousness that is fully consistent with physics, neurophysiology, and Eastern philosophy. I argue that this conceptual framework has many interesting features and opens a door to a theory of consciousness. Particularly, it solves the problem of how matter and consciousness communicate in a causally closed functional chain, it gives a physical grounding to existing approaches regarding the connection between consciousness and information, and it gives clear direction to future models and experiments.
文摘At the present time, more than one-half of all cancer patients are treated with radiation therapy. Despite a good therapeutic index, radiotherapy can disable normal tissue injury to normal tissues in long-term cancer survivors.Thus, an important challenge to modern radiation therapy is to increase the tolerance of normal tissues,
文摘Leakage currents, tiny currents flowing from an everyday-life appliance through the body to the ground, can cause a non-adequate perception （called electrocutaneous sensation, ECS） or even pain and should be avoided. Safety standards for low-frequency range are based on experimental results of current thresholds of electrocutaneous sensations, which however show a wide range between about 50 pA （rms） and 1000 μA （rms）. In order to be able to explain these differences, the perception threshold was measured repeatedly in experiments with test persons under identical experimental setup, but by means of different methods （measuring strategies）, namely： direct adjustment, classical threshold as amperage of 50% perception probability, and confidence rating procedure of signal detection theory. The current is injected using a I cm2 electrode at the highly touch sensitive part of the index fingertip. These investigations show for the first time that the threshold of electrocutaneous sensations is influenced both by adaptation to the non-adequate stimulus and individual, emotional factors. Theretbre, classical methods, on which the majority of the safety investigations are based, cannot be used to determine a leakage current threshold. The confidence rating procedure of the modem signal detection theory yields a value of 179.5 μA （rms） at 50 Hz power supply net frequency as the lower end of the 95% confidence range considering the variance in the investigated group. This value is expected to be free of adaptation influences, and is distinctly lower than the European limits and supports the stricter regulations of Canada and USA.
基金Supported by The Junta de Castilla y Leon(Grants GR75-2008,SA033A08,SA03508 and SA03608)Ministerio de Cienciae Innovacion(Grants BFU2006-12577,MAT2001-2911,MAT2004-04606 y BFU2007-30688-E/BFI)
文摘The family of bile acids includes a group of molecular species of acidic steroids with very peculiar physical-chemical and biological characteristics.They are synthesized by the liver from cholesterol through several complementary pathways that are controlled by mechanisms involving finetuning by the levels of certain bile acid species.Although their best-known role is their participation in the digestion and absorption of fat,they also play an important role in several other physiological processes.Thus,genetic abnormalities accounting for alterations in their synthesis,biotransformation and/or transport may result in severe alterations,even leading to lethal situations for which the sole therapeutic option may be liver transplantation.Moreover,the increased levels of bile acids reached during cholestatic liver diseases are known to induce oxidative stress and apoptosis,resulting in damage to the liver parenchyma and,eventually,extrahepatic tissues.When this occurs during pregnancy,the outcome of gestation may be challenged.In contrast,the physical-chemical and biological properties of these compounds have been used as the bases for the development of drugs and as pharmaceutical tools for the delivery of active agents.
文摘Outstanding progress regarding the pathophysiology of Crohn's disease (CD) has led to the development of innovative therapeutic concepts. Numerous controlled trials have been performed in CD. This review concentrates on the results of randomized,placebo-controlled trials,and meta-analyses when available,that provide the highest degree of evidence. Current guidelines on the management of CD recommend a step-up approach to treatment involving the addition of more powerful therapies as the severity of disease and refractoriness to therapy increase. The advent of biological drugs has opened new therapeutic horizons for treating CD,modifying the treatment goals. However,the large majority of patients with CD will be managed through conventional therapy,even if they are a prelude to biological therapy.
文摘Objective In order to characterize the feature of stress response induced by stressor with both physical and psychological natures, the effect of water restriction performed in different experimental modes on the physiological parameters, psychological behavioral manifestations and brain c-Fos expressions were observed and compared. Methods 58 male Wistar rats were used and randomly divided into three experimental groups （n=18 for each） and a control group （n=4）. In control group, the rats were allowed to access drinking water freely at all experimental period. In the experimental groups the water supply to the rats was restricted. In timed water supply （TW） group, the water was supplied twice a day, 10 min for each in fixed hours every day. In empty bottle-served （EB） and water-restricted （WR） groups, the water was served only once a day for 10 min, either in the early morning or evening, and in the other time point scheduled for water supply only an empty bottle without water was provided in the EB group and nothing was given in the WR group. The quantities of drank water and eaten food, weight-gaining, and behavior score were observed every day. The serum level of corticosterone was assayed and the rats were sacrificed with fixative perfusion of 3 d, 7 d or 14 d respectively, following water restriction （n=6 for each time point in each group）. The brain c-Fos expressions were examined with immunohistochemistry. Results The slowing down of weight-gaining, rise of serum corticosterone level, occurrence of psychological behavioral manifestations of unpeaceful restlessness such as exploring and attacking, enhance of c-Fos expression in the subfomical organ （SFO）, median preoptic nucleus （MnPO）, area postrema （AP）, hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus （PVN）, supraoptic nucleus （SON）, medial （MeA） and central （CeA） amygdaloid nucleus and ventrolateral septum （LSV） were noticed in both EB and WR groups, except the nucleus of solitary tract （NTS） in which the Fos expression was decreased. The changes of Fos expression in most of nuclei in EB group began at day 3, at least persisted till day 7, and backed down at day 14. While in WR group, similar changes started at day 7 and reached its peak at day 14. In TW group, only the concentration of corticosterone at day 7 was slightly increased and the rest indexes observed were unchanged. Conclusion The results indicate that water restriction induces physical as well as psychological stress responses. And the water restrictions experimentally executed in different modes result in different manifestations of behavioral response and brain immediately early gene expression in discrete brain nuclei/regions.
文摘The community of Figuig is located in a desert area, east of Morocco. It is characterized by an arid climate. Part of the aquifers of the area has a high salinity which creates even worst conditions for the use of the scarce water available in the area. Therefore, it is essential to develop new water resources, especially for agriculture. For this reason, reclaiming wastewater for agricultural use is an essential strategy to increase water resources. The studied system is a wastewater treatment plant （WWTP） with stabilisation ponds; it treats a part of the wastewater of Figuig. The monitoring of the WWTP will allow to the physico-chemical and biological characterization of the treated water, and then, to verify two principal points： （1） the physico-chemical and pathogen parasites elimination; （2） the possibility of the treated water reuse in agricultural irrigation. The reductions recorded at the WWTP show a relatively preferment operation with an average decrease of 3.17 Ulog for faecal coliforms and 50-60% for organic matter. It was observed that the taxonomic density is slow in the WWTP; observed species are generally Cyanobacteria, Euglénophycea and Chlorophycea characteristic of eutrophic water sources.
文摘Haemangiopericytoma(HPC) is a rare vascular tumor with borderline malignancy, considerable histological variability, and unpredictable clinical and biological behavior. HPC can present a diagnostic challenge because of its indeterminate clinical, radiological, and pathological features. HPC generally presents in adulthood and is equally frequent in both sexes. HPC can arise in any site in the body as a slowly growing and painless mass. The precise cell type origin of HPC is uncertain. One third of HPCs occur in the head and neck areas. Exceptional cases of hemangioblastoma arising outside the head and neck areas have been reported, but little is known about their clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features. This study reports on a case of a large sacro-anterior HPC in a 65-year-old male.
基金Supported by the National Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos.11235003 and 11475023National Social Sciences Foundation of China under Grant No.14BZX078+1 种基金the Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of Chinathe Undergraduate Training Program of Beijing
文摘The axiomatization of physical theories is a fundamental issue of science. The first-order axiomatic system SpecR el for special relativity proposed recently by Andr′eka et al. is not enough to explain all the main results in the theory, including the twin paradox and energy-mass relation. In this paper, from a four-dimensional spacetime perspective, we introduce the concepts of world-line, proper time and four-momentum to our axiomatic system SpecR el^+. Then we introduce an axiom of mass(Ax Mass) and take four-momentum conservation as an axiom(Ax CFM)in SpecR el^+. It turns out that the twin paradox and energy-mass relation can be derived from SpecR el+logically. Hence,as an extension of SpecR el, SpecR el^+is a suitable first-order axiomatic system to describe the kinematics and dynamics of special relativity.
