Evaluation of IFA, MAT, ELISAs and immunoblotting for the detection of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in paired serum and aqueous humour samples from experimentally infected pigs

The study evaluated the efficiency of diagnostic laboratory methods to detect anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in paired serum and aqueous humour samples from experimentally infected pigs. 18-mixed breed pigs were used during the experiment; these were divided into two groups, G1 (infected group, n = 10) and G2 (uninfected group, n = 8). Infection was performed with 4 × 10 4 VEG strain oocysts at day 0 by the oral route in G1 animals. All pigs were euthanized at day 60, when retina, aqueous humour, and blood samples were collected. Anti-T. gondii antibody levels were assessed in serum (s) and aqueous humour (ah) by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), modified agglutination test (MAT), m-ELISA (using crude membranes from T. gondii tachyzoites as antigen) and r-ELISA (using rhoptries from T. gondii tachyzoites as antigen). Polymerase chain reactions (PCR) of samples from the retina were performed by using Tox4 and Tox5 primers. Antibody titers of G1 animals ranged from 128 to 1024 and from 16 to 256 in serum and aqueous humour, respectively. There were differences in the correlation coefficients between IFA(s) × IFA (ah) (r = 0.62, P = 0.05), MAT(s) × MAT (ah) (r = 0.97, P < 0.0001); however, there was no significant difference between r-ELISA(s) × r-ELISA (ah) (r = 0.14, P = 0.7). Antibodies present in serum and aqueous humour recognized similar antigens. Samples of retina were positive by PCR in 30% (3/10) of infected pigs. G2 animals remained without antibody levels and were PCR negative throughout the experiment. These results suggest that the use of a combination of tests and immunoblotting for paired aqueous humour and serum samples could improve the sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Folia de São Benedito: um estudo de mudança em uma manifestação religiosa na comunidade do Silêncio do Matá

A presente dissertação é um estudo de mudança estrutural dentro de uma manifestação de cunho religioso denominado Folia de São Benedito, expressão esta que possui características do catolicismo popular, tendo sua ocorrência na comunidade do Silêncio do Matá, município de Óbidos, estado do Pará. Através da experiência de campo do autor, para elaboração de sua etnografia, foi constatado que as mudanças ocorridas na Folia são impostas por forças exógenas e orquestrada pelos nativos dessa comunidade, dando uma conotação de resignificação para esse evento.

Sink mat for broken glass plate negative

Broken glass plate negative. Goal To design a simple protective enclosure for the two pieces of the glass plate negative, that allows the user to visualize the image as a whole. Treatment A sink mat was created by layering museum board and Volera foam, and "sinks" cut to fit the broken pieces along with thumb notches for ease of lifting. A portfolio of e-flute board, buckram, and cotton ties was built up around the sink mat to provide a protective enclosure that is easily stored on edge.

Sēfer talmîd ṣaḥqān mûsārî : ... ḥibbûr qāṭān ... mē-haw-wikkûaḥ še-hāyā bên 2 talmîdîm ôhāvîm we-rāʿîm mē-ḥāmat haṣ-ṣāḥôq ... ʿim marʿê māqôm mit-Tôrā nevîʿîm û-Ktûvîm û-min-hat-Talmûd... der gilernṭi und bikerṭi špilr ...

[Jehuda Arje aus Modena]

Yoga off the mat: How far and to whom do the benefits extend?

At least 15 million American adults have participated in yoga at least once in their lifetime (Saper, Eisenberg, Davis, Culpepper, & Phillips, 2004). The field of yoga research is relatively new in the United States, and the majority of studies have concentrated on yoga's effect on measures of physiology (cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity) or psychological measures of stress and anxiety. This review attempted to identify studies that had been conducted measuring a different set of outcome measures, specifically violence, trauma, eating, and other behavioral disorders. In 9 of 10 studies reviewed, researchers observed statistically significant effects of yoga interventions. Effects were most evident within multifaceted studies that combined intensive yoga practice with group discussion and training. Only one group (Mitchell, Mazzeo, Rausch, & Cooke, 2007) failed to observe any significant differences between yoga practice groups and control groups. Effects were seen in both sexes, although a majority of the studies were aimed specifically at women. All studies were limited by small sample size and lack of follow-up data. Future research should seek to increase sample size, to diversify recruitment to allow for the randomization of treatment and control groups, and to allow for long-term follow-up.^

'Lo sabía, lo sabía, a los pibes los mató la Policía' : Protestas en casos de violencia policial: familiares y militantes en el caso de Damián Lucero

El artículo que aquí presentamos constituye una reflexión en torno a las acciones colectivas de protesta llevadas adelante con motivo del asesinato de Damián Lucero a manos de efectivos de la Policía de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, en un barrio de la zona sur de la Ciudad de La Plata en el año 2007. El trabajo aborda las sucesivas acciones de protesta en reclamo de "justicia" que tuvieron lugar con posterioridad a la muerte de Damián, a los fines de identificar a los actores presentes y las diferentes significaciones que estos le otorgan a su presencia en el espacio público, a los horizontes de politización del reclamo y a las concepciones sobre el accionar policial que subyacen. Identificando la tensión presente entre "familiares" y "militantes de organizaciones de derechos humanos", este artículo se nutre de una doble vertiente analítica: las teorías de la acción colectiva (o movimientos sociales) y los estudios en torno las conformaciones institucionales de las policías en la Argentina democrática.

'Lo sabía, lo sabía, a los pibes los mató la Policía' : Protestas en casos de violencia policial: familiares y militantes en el caso de Damián Lucero

El artículo que aquí presentamos constituye una reflexión en torno a las acciones colectivas de protesta llevadas adelante con motivo del asesinato de Damián Lucero a manos de efectivos de la Policía de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, en un barrio de la zona sur de la Ciudad de La Plata en el año 2007. El trabajo aborda las sucesivas acciones de protesta en reclamo de "justicia" que tuvieron lugar con posterioridad a la muerte de Damián, a los fines de identificar a los actores presentes y las diferentes significaciones que estos le otorgan a su presencia en el espacio público, a los horizontes de politización del reclamo y a las concepciones sobre el accionar policial que subyacen. Identificando la tensión presente entre "familiares" y "militantes de organizaciones de derechos humanos", este artículo se nutre de una doble vertiente analítica: las teorías de la acción colectiva (o movimientos sociales) y los estudios en torno las conformaciones institucionales de las policías en la Argentina democrática.

'Lo sabía, lo sabía, a los pibes los mató la Policía' : Protestas en casos de violencia policial: familiares y militantes en el caso de Damián Lucero

El artículo que aquí presentamos constituye una reflexión en torno a las acciones colectivas de protesta llevadas adelante con motivo del asesinato de Damián Lucero a manos de efectivos de la Policía de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, en un barrio de la zona sur de la Ciudad de La Plata en el año 2007. El trabajo aborda las sucesivas acciones de protesta en reclamo de "justicia" que tuvieron lugar con posterioridad a la muerte de Damián, a los fines de identificar a los actores presentes y las diferentes significaciones que estos le otorgan a su presencia en el espacio público, a los horizontes de politización del reclamo y a las concepciones sobre el accionar policial que subyacen. Identificando la tensión presente entre "familiares" y "militantes de organizaciones de derechos humanos", este artículo se nutre de una doble vertiente analítica: las teorías de la acción colectiva (o movimientos sociales) y los estudios en torno las conformaciones institucionales de las policías en la Argentina democrática.

Niche differentiation among mat-forming, sulfide-oxidizing bacteria in chemosynthetic ecosystems of the Nile Deep Sea Fan (Eastern Mediterranean Sea)

Sulfidic muds of cold seeps on the Nile Deep Sea Fan are populated by different types of mat-forming sulfide-oxidizing bacteria. The predominant sulfide oxidizers of three different mats were identified by microscopic and phylogenetic analyses as (i) Arcobacter species producing cotton-ball-like sulfur precipitates, (ii) large filamentous sulfur bacteria including Beggiatoa species, or (iii) single, spherical cells resembling Thiomargarita species. High resolution in situ microprofiles revealed different geochemical settings selecting for different mat types. Arcobacter mats occurred where oxygen and sulfide overlapped at the bottom water interface. Filamentous sulfide oxidizers were associated with non-overlapping, steep gradients of oxygen and sulfide. A dense population of Thiomargarita was favored by temporarily changing supplies of oxygen and sulfide. These results indicate that the decisive factors in selecting for different mat-forming bacteria within one deep-sea province are spatial or temporal variations in energy supply. Furthermore, the occurrence of Arcobacter spp.-related 16S rRNA genes in the sediments below all three types of mats, as well as on top of brine lakes of the Nile Deep Sea Fan, indicates that this group of sulfide oxidizers can switch between different life modes depending on the geobiochemical habitat setting.

Biogeochemical measurements of sediments collected at station MSM15/1_377-1 (microbial mat 4) in the Black Sea during the MSM15/1 cruise in 2010

Biogeochemical measurements in sediment cores collected with the submersible JAGO (pusch cores) and a TV-MUC in the Black Sea during MSM15/1, Northwest Crimea (HYPOX Project), at water depths between 152-156 m. A series of microbial mats were sampled on the hypoxic region of the Crimean Shelf. Concentrations of organic carbon (Corg) and nitrogen (N) were measured on finely powdered, freeze-dried subsamples of sediment using a using a Fisons NA-1500 elemental analyzer. For organic carbon determination samples were pre-treated with 12.5% HCl to remove carbonates. Chlorophyll a (chl a), phaeopigments (PHAEO) and chloroplastic pigment equivalents (CPE) was measured according to Schubert et al., (2005) and total hydrolyzable amino acids (THAA) and single amino acid: ASP, GLU, SER, HIS, GLY, THR, ARG, ALA, TYR, MET, VAL, PHE, ILE, LEU, LYS following Dauwe et al., 1998.

Biogeochemical measurements of sediments collected at station MSM15/1_492-PUC3 (microbial mat 2) in the Black Sea during the MSM15/1 cruise in 2010

Biogeochemical measurements in sediment cores collected with the submersible JAGO (pusch cores) and a TV-MUC in the Black Sea during MSM15/1, Northwest Crimea (HYPOX Project), at water depths between 152-156 m. A series of microbial mats were sampled on the hypoxic region of the Crimean Shelf. Concentrations of organic carbon (Corg) and nitrogen (N) were measured on finely powdered, freeze-dried subsamples of sediment using a using a Fisons NA-1500 elemental analyzer. For organic carbon determination samples were pre-treated with 12.5% HCl to remove carbonates. Chlorophyll a (chl a), phaeopigments (PHAEO) and chloroplastic pigment equivalents (CPE) was measured according to Schubert et al., (2005) and total hydrolyzable amino acids (THAA) and single amino acid: ASP, GLU, SER, HIS, GLY, THR, ARG, ALA, TYR, MET, VAL, PHE, ILE, LEU, LYS following Dauwe et al., 1998.

Biogeochemical measurements of sediments collected at station MSM15/1_492-PUC9 (microbial mat 3) in the Black Sea during the MSM15/1 cruise in 2010

Biogeochemical measurements in sediment cores collected with the submersible JAGO (pusch cores) and a TV-MUC in the Black Sea during MSM15/1, Northwest Crimea (HYPOX Project), at water depths between 152-156 m. A series of microbial mats were sampled on the hypoxic region of the Crimean Shelf. Concentrations of organic carbon (Corg) and nitrogen (N) were measured on finely powdered, freeze-dried subsamples of sediment using a using a Fisons NA-1500 elemental analyzer. For organic carbon determination samples were pre-treated with 12.5% HCl to remove carbonates. Chlorophyll a (chl a), phaeopigments (PHAEO) and chloroplastic pigment equivalents (CPE) was measured according to Schubert et al., (2005) and total hydrolyzable amino acids (THAA) and single amino acid: ASP, GLU, SER, HIS, GLY, THR, ARG, ALA, TYR, MET, VAL, PHE, ILE, LEU, LYS following Dauwe et al., 1998.