Search results for "Dance"

The Severity of Acute Stress Is Represented by Increased Synchronous Activity and Recruitment of Hypothalamic CRH Neurons

2016

The hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis regulates stress physiology and behavior. To achieve an optimally tuned adaptive response, it is critical that the magnitude of the stress response matches the severity of the threat. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) released from the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus is a major regulator of the HPA axis. However, how CRH-producing neurons in an intact animal respond to different stressor intensities is currently not known. Using two-photon calcium imaging on intact larval zebrafish, we recorded the activity of CRH cells, while the larvae were exposed to stressors of varying intensity. By combining behavioral and physiologic…

Sustainability of Fishing Is about Abundance: A Response to Bernatchez et al.

2018

Overfishing together with uncertainty or lack of recovery are characteristic challenges to fisheries management [1]. To realistically account for the multiple drivers of fish population abundances, ecosystem-based fisheries management has been accepted as the future avenue to assess and manage fisheries. However, practical implementations of ecosystem-based fisheries management remain rare, largely because of the lack of methodology and skills [2]. The discrepancy between the aims to conduct ecosystem-based and scientifically sound fisheries management and the prevailing practices becomes even wider when contrasting developed and developing countries [3].

Optogenetically enhanced pituitary corticotroph cell activity post-stress onset causes rapid organizing effects on behaviour

2016

The anterior pituitary is the major link between nervous and hormonal systems, which allow the brain to generate adequate and flexible behaviour. Here, we address its role in mediating behavioural adjustments that aid in coping with acutely threatening environments. For this we combine optogenetic manipulation of pituitary corticotroph cells in larval zebrafish with newly developed assays for measuring goal-directed actions in very short timescales. Our results reveal modulatory actions of corticotroph cell activity on locomotion, avoidance behaviours and stimulus responsiveness directly after the onset of stress. Altogether, the findings uncover the significance of endocrine pituitary cell…

Reproducibility and concordance of 4 clinically developed programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays in triple negative brea…

2019

Abstract Background Atezolizumab (an anti–PD-L1 antibody) has shown clinical activity alone or in combination with nab-paclitaxel in patients (pts) with first-line metastatic TNBC who have PD-L1 expression on their tumour-infiltrating immune cells (IC). We analysed the performance of 4 PD-L1 IHC assays for PD-L1 IC expression in TNBC. Methods Thirty archival TNBC tissue specimens were selected from a set of 107 based on PD-L1 IC expression per VENTANA SP142 ( 5%: 8 cases), to represent the distribution of PD-L1 IC–positivity in the pivotal atezolizumab studies (Emens et al., SABCS 2018; JAMA Oncol 2019). Serial histologic sections were stained with VENTANA SP142 and SP263, and DAKO 22C3 and…

Leukocyte and Skeletal Muscle Telomere Length and Body Composition in Monozygotic Twin Pairs Discordant for Long-term Hormone Replacement Therapy

2017

Estrogen-based hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be associated with deceleration of cellular aging. We investigated whether long-term HRT has effects on leukocyte (LTL) or mean and minimum skeletal muscle telomere length (SMTL) in a design that controls for genotype and childhood environment. Associations between telomeres, body composition, and physical performance were also examined. Eleven monozygotic twin pairs (age 57.6 ± 1.8 years) discordant for HRT were studied. Mean duration of HRT use was 7.3 ± 3.7 years in the user sister, while their co-twins had never used HRT. LTL was measured by qPCR and SMTLs by southern blot. Body and muscle composition were estimated by bioimpedance an…

Prokaryotic assemblages within permafrost active layer at Edmonson Point (Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica)

2018

This study was aimed at gaining insights on the prokaryotic community (in terms of both taxonomic composition and activities) inhabiting the active layer at Edmonson Point, an ice-free area on the eastern slope at the foot of Mount Melbourne (Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica). Samples were collected during the thawing period, when microbial physiological activities are restored to utilize previously frozen organic substrates. Despite the very small cell sizes (600 daltons) substrates, as indicated also by the obtained rates of enzymatic hydrolytic activities over proteolytic, glycolitic and phosphoric compounds. Taxonomical composition showed that Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Firmic…

HCV NS3 sequencing as a reliable and clinically useful tool for the assessment of genotype and resistance mutations for clinical samples with differe…

2016

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the reliability and clinical utility of NS3 sequencing in hepatitis C virus (HCV) 1-infected patients who were candidates to start a PI-containing regimen. METHODS: NS3 protease sequencing was performed by in-house-developed HCV-1 subtype-specific protocols. Phylogenetic analysis was used to test sequencing reliability and concordance with previous genotype/subtype assignment by commercial genotyping assays. RESULTS: Five hundred and sixty-seven HCV plasma samples with quantifiable HCV-RNA from 326 HCV-infected patients were collected between 2011 and 2014. Overall, the success rate of NS3 sequencing was 88.9%. The success rate between the two subtype…

Physical capacity in performing daily activities is reduced in scleroderma patients with early lung involvement

2015

Background and Aims Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) often complain reduced capacity at submaximal exercise; conversely, physical capacity in performing daily duties has never been measured in SSc. The aim of this study is to evaluate this performance and its correlates, in patients with SSc compared with healthy controls, in a free-living setting. Methods Twenty-seven outpatients with stable SSc and 11 controls were recruited. Physical activity was assessed by portable multiple sensor device (SenseWear Armband) worn for at least 6 days. Physical activity duration (PAD; in minutes) for non-sedentary activities and physical activity level (PAL = total daily energy/resting energy expend…

2014

Abstract. Archaea are widespread and abundant in many terrestrial and aquatic environments, and are thus outside extreme environments, accounting for up to ~10% of the prokaryotes. Compared to bacteria and other microorganisms, however, very little is known about the abundance, diversity, and dispersal of archaea in the atmosphere. By means of DNA analysis and Sanger sequencing targeting the 16S rRNA (435 sequences) and amoA genes in samples of air particulate matter collected over 1 year at a continental sampling site in Germany, we obtained first insights into the seasonal dynamics of airborne archaea. The detected archaea were identified as Thaumarchaeota or Euryarchaeota, with soil Thau…

Assessing the Level of Collaborative Writing in a Wiki-Based Environment: A Case Study in Teacher Education

2016

Wikis have received the last few years a growing interest as tools for supporting collaborative writing in teacher education. This paper reports on results from a case study that aimed at assessing the level of collaborative writing among teacher students. Taking advantages of wiki affordances, the proposed theoretical framework uses a taxonomy of category actions that can be carried out on wiki. These provide a powerful instrument to analyze students’ individual contributions to the wiki and level of collaborative writing among students as well. Implications for teacher preparation and professional development are drawn from the results and future research actions are envisaged to enhance …