Analytical detection of stationary and dynamic patterns in a prey-predator model with reproductive Allee effect in prey growth

Allee effect in population dynamics has a major impact in suppressing the paradox of enrichment through global bifurcation, and it can generate highly complex dynamics. The influence of the reproductive Allee effect, incorporated in the prey's growth rate of a prey-predator model with Beddington-DeAngelis functional response, is investigated here. Preliminary local and global bifurcations are identified of the temporal model. Existence and non-existence of heterogeneous steady-state solutions of the spatio-temporal system are established for suitable ranges of parameter values. The spatio-temporal model satisfies Turing instability conditions, but numerical investigation reveals that the heterogeneous patterns corresponding to unstable Turing eigenmodes act as a transitory pattern. Inclusion of the reproductive Allee effect in the prey population has a destabilising effect on the coexistence equilibrium. For a range of parameter values, various branches of stationary solutions including mode-dependent Turing solutions and localized pattern solutions are identified using numerical bifurcation technique. The model is also capable to produce some complex dynamic patterns such as travelling wave, moving pulse solution, and spatio-temporal chaos for certain range of parameters and diffusivity along with appropriate choice of initial conditions. Judicious choices of parametrization for the Beddington-DeAngelis functional response help us to infer about the resulting patterns for similar prey-predator models with Holling type-II functional response and ratio-dependent functional response.

Optimization of Detection of Gadodiamide Brain Retention in Rats Using Quantitative T2 Mapping and Intraperitoneal Administration

BACKGROUND

Currently, the gadolinium retention in the brain after the use of contrast agents is studied by T₁ -weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (T₁ w) and T₁ mapping. The former does not provide easily quantifiable data and the latter requires prolonged scanning and is sensitive to motion. T₂ mapping may provide an alternative approach. Animal studies of gadolinium retention are complicated by repeated intravenous (IV) dosing, whereas intraperitoneal (IP) injections might be sufficient.

HYPOTHESIS

T₂ mapping will detect the changes in the rat brain due to gadolinium retention, and IP administration is equivalent to IV for long-term studies.

STUDY TYPE

Prospective longitudinal.

ANIMAL MODEL

A total of 31 Sprague-Dawley rats administered gadodiamide IV (N = 8) or IP (N = 8), or saline IV (N = 6) or IP (N = 9) 4 days per week for 5 weeks.

FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCES

A 7 T, T₁ w, and T₂ mapping.

ASSESSMENT

T₂ relaxation and image intensities in the deep cerebellar nuclei were measured pre-treatment and weekly for 5 weeks. Then brains were assessed for neuropathology (N = 4) or gadolinium content using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS, N = 12).

STATISTICAL TESTS

Repeated measures analysis of variance with post hoc Student-Newman-Keuls tests and Hedges' effect size.

RESULTS

Gadolinium was detected by both approaches; however, T₂ mapping was more sensitive (effect size 2.32 for T₂ vs. 0.95 for T₁ w), and earlier detection (week 3 for T₂ vs. week 4 for T₁ w). ICP-MS confirmed the presence of gadolinium (3.076 ± 0.909 nmol/g in the IV group and 3.948 ± 0.806 nmol/g in the IP group). There was no significant difference between IP and IV groups (ICP-MS, P = 0.109; MRI, P = 0.696). No histopathological abnormalities were detected in any studied animal.

CONCLUSION

T₂ relaxometry detects gadolinium retention in the rat brain after multiple doses of gadodiamide irrespective of the route of administration.

EVIDENCE LEVEL

1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 1.

Sierpiński Pyramids by Molecular Entanglement

Planar, terpyridine-based metal complexes with the Sierpiński triangular motif and alkylated corners undergo a second self-assembly event to give megastructural Sierpiński pyramids; assembly is driven by the facile lipophilic-lipophilic association of the alkyl moieties and complementary perfect fit of the triangular building blocks. Confirmation of the 3D, pyramidal structures was verified and supported by a combination of TEM, AFM, and multiscale simulation techniques.

Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of cadmium oxide nanoparticles evaluated using in vitro assays

Cadmium oxide nanoparticles (CdO NPs) are among some of the most studied and industrially used metal oxide NPs. They have been widely used for industrial application, such as paint pigments and electronic devices, and medical therapeutics. With increasing use of CdO NPs and concerns for their potential adverse effects on the environment and public health, evaluation of the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of CdO NPs becomes very important. To date, there is a limited understanding of the potential hazard brought by CdO NPs and a lack of information and research, particularly on the genotoxicity assessment of these NPs. In this study, 10 nm CdO core-PEG stabilized NPs were synthesized, characterized and used for evaluation of CdO NPs' cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. Release of cadmium ions (Cd⁺²) from the CdO NPs in cell culture medium, cellular uptake of the NPs, and the endotoxin content of the particles were measured prior to the toxicity assays. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using the MTS assay, ATP content detection assay, and LDH assay. Genotoxicity was assessed using the Ames test, Comet assay, micronucleus assay, and mouse lymphoma assay. The cytotoxicity of cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) was also evaluated along with that of the CdO NPs. The results showed that endotoxin levels within the CdO NPs were below the limit of detection. CdO NPs induced concentration-dependent cytotoxicity in TK6 and HepG2 cells with the MTS, ATP and LDH assays. Although the genotoxicity of CdO NPs was negative in the Ames test, positive results were obtained with the micronucleus, Comet, and mouse lymphoma assays. The negative response of CdO NPs with the Ames test may be the result of unsuitability of the assay for measuring NPs, while the positive responses from other genotoxicity assays suggest that CdO NPs can induce chromosomal damage, single or double strand breaks in DNA, and mutations. The toxicity of the CdO NPs results from the NPs themselves and not from the released Cd⁺², because the ions released from the NPs were minimal. These results demonstrate that CdO NPs are cytotoxic and genotoxic and provide new insights into risk assessment of CdO NPs for human exposure and environmental protection.

High resolution laser mass spectrometry bioimaging

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) was introduced more than five decades ago with secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and a decade later with laser desorption/ionization (LDI) mass spectrometry (MS). Large biomolecule imaging by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) was developed in the 1990s and ambient laser MS a decade ago. Although SIMS has been capable of imaging with a moderate mass range at sub-micrometer lateral resolution from its inception, laser MS requires additional effort to achieve a lateral resolution of 10μm or below which is required to image at the size scale of single mammalian cells. This review covers untargeted large biomolecule MSI using lasers for desorption/ionization or laser desorption and post-ionization. These methods include laser microprobe (LDI) MSI, MALDI MSI, laser ambient and atmospheric pressure MSI, and near-field laser ablation MS. Novel approaches to improving lateral resolution are discussed, including oversampling, beam shaping, transmission geometry, reflective and through-hole objectives, microscope mode, and near-field optics.

Laser desorption sample transfer for gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

Ambient mass spectrometry can detect small molecules directly, but complex mixtures can be a challenge. We have developed a method that incorporates small molecule separation based on laser desorption with capture on a solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber for injection into a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) system.

METHODS

Samples on a metal target were desorbed by a 3 µm mid-infrared laser focused to a 250 µm spot and 1.2 mJ pulse energy. The desorbed material was aspirated into a metal tube suspended 1 mm above the laser spot and captured on a SPME fiber. The collected material was injected into a GC/MS instrument for analysis.

RESULTS

We have developed a versatile approach for ambient laser desorption sampling onto SPME for GC/MS analysis. The performance of the laser desorption SPME capture GC/MS system was demonstrated for small molecule standards, a mixture of nitroaromatic explosives, and collected cigarette smoke.

CONCLUSIONS

The utility of ambient laser desorption sampling onto SPME for GC/MS was demonstrated. The performance of the method was evaluated by preparing calibration standards of caffeine over a range from 200 to 1000 ng. Laser desorption ambient sampling of complex mixtures was accomplished using SPME GC/MS.

Epithelial mesenchymal transition in lung cancer cells: A quantitative analysis

Cellular auto-fluorescence along with morphological and cytoskeletal features were assessed in lung cancer cells undergoing induced epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). During EMT progression, significant increase was observed in cellular aspect ratio (AR), filamentous (F)-actin and green auto-fluorescence intensities while blue intensity decreased. These features were provided to a kernel classification framework. The classification accuracy were impressive, thus these features along with the classification technique can be considered as suitable tools for automated grading of lung cancer cells undergoing EMT progression.

Wavelength Selection in Gyrotactic Bioconvection

We investigate pattern formation by swimming micro-organisms (bioconvection), when their orientation is determined by balance between gravitational and viscous torques (gyrotaxis), due to being bottom heavy. The governing equations, which consist of the Navier-Stokes equations for an incompressible fluid coupled with a micro-organism conservation equation, are solved numerically in a large cross section chamber with periodic boundary conditions in the horizontal directions. The influence of key parameters on wavelength selection in bioconvection patterns is investigated numerically. For realistic ranges of parameter values, the computed wavelengths are in good agreement with the experimental observations provided that the diffusion due to randomness in cell swimming behaviour is small, refuting a recently published claim that the mathematical model becomes inaccurate at long times. We also provide the first computational evidence of "bottom-standing" plumes in a three-dimensional simulation.

Tip-enhanced laser ablation sample transfer for biomolecule mass spectrometry

Atomic force microscope (AFM) tip-enhanced laser ablation was used to transfer molecules from thin films to a suspended silver wire for off-line mass spectrometry using laser desorption ionization (LDI) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI). An AFM with a 30 nm radius gold-coated silicon tip was used to image the sample and to hold the tip 15 nm from the surface for material removal using a 355 nm Nd:YAG laser. The ablated material was captured on a silver wire that was held 300 μm vertically and 100 μm horizontally from the tip. For the small molecules anthracene and rhodamine 6G, the wire was cut and affixed to a metal target using double-sided conductive tape and analyzed by LDI using a commercial laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Approximately 100 fg of material was ablated from each of the 1 μm ablation spots and transferred with approximately 3% efficiency. For larger polypeptide molecules angiotensin II and bovine insulin, the captured material was dissolved in saturated matrix solution and deposited on a target for MALDI analysis.

Hygroscopic properties of internally mixed particles composed of NaCl and water-soluble organic acids

Atmospheric aging of naturally emitted marine aerosol often leads to formation of internally mixed particles composed of sea salts and water-soluble organic compounds of anthropogenic origin. Mixing of sea salt and organic components has profound effects on the evolving chemical composition and hygroscopic properties of the resulted particles, which are poorly understood. Here, we have studied chemical composition and hygroscopic properties of laboratory generated NaCl particles mixed with malonic acid (MA) and glutaric acid (GA) at different molar ratios using micro-FTIR spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray elemental microanalysis. Hygroscopic properties of internally mixed NaCl and organic acid particles were distinctly different from pure components and varied significantly with the type and amount of organic compound present. Experimental results were in a good agreement with the AIM modeling calculations of gas/liquid/solid partitioning in studied systems. X-ray elemental microanalysis of particles showed that Cl/Na ratio decreased with increasing organic acid component in the particles with MA yielding lower ratios relative to GA. We attribute the depletion of chloride to the formation of sodium malonate and sodium glutarate salts resulted by HCl evaporation from dehydrating particles.

Flocculation properties of polyacrylamide grafted carboxymethyl guar gum (CMG-g-PAM) synthesised by conventional and microwave assisted method

A novel polymeric flocculant based on polyacrylamide grafted carboxymethyl guar gum (CMG-g-PAM) has been synthesised by grafting polyacrylamide chains onto CMG backbone using conventional redox grafting and microwave assisted grafting methods. Under optimum grafting conditions, 82% and 96% grafting efficiencies have been observed in case of conventional and microwave assisted methods respectively. The optimum sample has been characterized using viscometry, spectroscopic analysis, elemental analysis, molecular weight and radius of gyration determination. The flocculation characteristics of grafted and ungrafted polysaccharides have been evaluated in kaolin suspension, municipal sewage wastewater and decolourization efficiency of a dye solution (methylene blue). It is evident from results that CMG-g-PAM synthesised by microwave assisted grafting method is showing best flocculation characteristics.

Non-adenomatous non-epithelial carcinoma (hemangiopericytoma) of prostate treated with conservative surgery followed by adjuvant chemoradiation

Hemangiopericytoma is a malignant vascular tumour of soft tissue. Microscopically, the tumour shows tightly packed cellular areas surrounding thin-walled branching blood vessels. Traditionally these tumours are treated using wide surgical excision. Only a very few cases of hemangiopericytoma of the prostate have been described worldwide. The feasibility of managing such a case with a combination of conservative surgery and adjuvant anti-malignancy treatment is unexplored. Here, we report a case of hemangiopericytoma of the prostate treated with local excision, with preservation of prostate, followed by adjuvant radiotherapy (40 Gy in 20 fractions to pelvis followed by 24 Gy in 12 fractions as boost to prostate) and chemotherapy (doxorubicin and iphosphamide). Post-treatment computed tomography scan after 4 weeks showed regression of pelvic lymph nodes and a normal-appearing prostate. Levels of serum prostate-specific and carcinogenic embryonic antigen were normal throughout the period of treatment. To date, followup has been uneventful, except for occasional bouts of diarrhea.We conclude that conservative surgery followed by adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy, with subsequent close follow-up, may adequately control localized disease in selected cases of hemangiopericytoma of the prostate. The role of conservative surgery in tumours located at other sites has yet to be defined.

Axisymmetric bioconvection in a cylinder

In three-dimensional bioconvection, the regions of rising and sinking fluid are dissimilar. This geometrical effect is studied for axisymmetric bioconvection in a cylindrical cell with stress-free (i.e. normal velocity and tangential stress vanish) lateral and top boundaries, and rigid bottom boundary. Using the continuum model of Pedley et al. (1988, J. Fluid Mech.195, 223-237) for bioconvection in a suspension of swimming, gyrotactic microorganisms, the structure and stability of an axisymmetric plume in a deep chamber are investigated. The system is governed by the Navier-Stokes equations for an incompressible fluid coupled with a microorganism conservation equation. These equations are solved numerically using a conservative finite-difference scheme. Comparisons are made with two-dimensional bioconvection.

Wavelengths of gyrotactic plumes in bioconvection

Bioconvection occurs as the result of the collective behaviour of many micro-organisms swimming in a fluid and is realized as patterns similar to those of thermal convection which occur when a layer of fluid is heated from below. We consider the phenomenon of pattern formation due to gyrotaxis, an orientation mechanism which results from the balance of gravitational and viscous torques acting on bottom-heavy micro-organisms. The continuum model of Pedley et al. (1988, J. Fluid. Mech. 195, 223-237) is used to describe the suspension. The system is governed by the Navier-Stokes equations for an incompressible fluid coupled with a micro-organism conservation equation. These equations are solved numerically using a conservative finite-difference scheme. To examine the dependence of the horizontal pattern wavelengths on the parameters, we consider two-dimensional solutions in a wide chamber using rigid side walls. The wavelengths of the numerical computations are in good agreement with the experimental observations and we provide the first computational examples of the commonly seen 'bottom-standing' plumes.